Original subtitles

Hi, I'm Patrick, and I'm a compulsive gambler.

Hi, Patrick.

Here we are again, the Wednesday night participation meeting of the West Side

Group of Gamblers Anonymous.

Okay, newcomers, welcome.

You're in the right place.

Ty, come on up, and let's start off this clambake.

My name is Ty, and I'm a compulsive gambler.

Some of you who attended last Friday's meeting heard me going on about my

138 consecutive days not gambling and about how important the program

is to me and how great it is to feel free again, how great it is to like

I bet you thought he's on a roll.

I bet you thought he's gotten the program.

I bet you looked up here at me, blowing my own horn and said, he's a winner.

If that's your bet, you lose.

Because that's what I am, a loser.

The very next day, the guy who owns the club I'm working in, he started talking

to me about the Atlanta Falcons game, the point spread and how the quarterback

was hurt.

And I started thinking.

Bad move.

You got that right.

Well, we all know the end of the story.

I made a bet.

One bet.

That bet cost me my 138 days and $25 ,000.

I don't have $25 ,000.

You know, they say you have to suffer to sing the blues.

Hell, I'm singing better than ever.

I was raised up on any field.

Cold red collard greens and black -eyed peas.

Took my first bath on muddy water.

Call your mama.

Better watch your daughter.

I'm a blue man.

This guy is...

Then I dare you.

Sure. Come here.

I want you to take a picture of me with my three oldest buddies in the entire

world. Four gorgeous punks. Sweet bit, come on. Come on, guys.

I was wondering if you could help me out.

I can't handle it anymore.

Conrad McMahon.

Conrad. You were great. How long are you going to be here?

Actually, it looks like this might be my home for a while.

All right. You'll see a lot of us.

Want a drink?

Sure.

You know, I have some business to take care of. Can I take a rain check?

You got it.

Hey, Conrad. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

Dan, it's always great to see you later.

It's great, huh? Yeah. Didn't I tell you?

Come on, fellas. Relax.

It's not like you have a whole lot of choice.

Eric.

Eric, I need to talk to you. Later.

Look, man, you owe the guys more than a grand. My, oh.

You owe me 25 grand, see. Don't you start leaning on me. Look, I'm not

for myself. I'm asking for the band.

Badass. Not until you pay them.

Look, let's, uh, calm down.

We'll settle this tomorrow in my office.

Cash money.

Sorry about that.

That's what you say, fellas.

50 ,000 apiece ought to do it.

Damn bloodsucker.

This is the last time you've got that.

It's worth it.

Come on, fellas. I don't hit you up on a regular basis.

Just what I needed.

Did you bring the money?

It's the Gaston's Blues Club.

There's a man shot here.

Hurry!

I don't know how the money or the gun got in my car. I swear.

It's not your gun? I hate guns.

I've never owned one in my life.

The police assume the money came from the safe in Eric's office.

I didn't take it, Ben.

Who knew you were going to be there this morning?

Nobody. At least I didn't tell anybody.

Maybe Eric told Sherry, but I... Who's Sherry?

Sherry Brown. She's a hostess at the club. He used to date her.

Wait a minute.

There were three men sitting with Eric when I went to talk with him last night.

They all knew I was going to be there. Who were they? I don't know.

Would this Sherry know?

She might.

John, I like you.

You're certainly one of the best singers I ever heard.

And I want to hear you sing some more.

I'm going to take you on.

What's her name?

Sherry Brown.

Maybe I better have a talk with her.

Thank you, Ben.

But, look, you know I like to sing, but there's something you don't know about

me. What's that?

I like to gamble.

Well, I like to be on the edge once in a while. You don't understand. I like to

make a bet.

Well, everybody puts a dollar or two on the home team every now and then. Last

bet I made was for 25 grand.

You bet $25 ,000?

On a football game that I lost. You lost $25 ,000?

Well, actually, I owed it to my bookie, who just happened to be Eric Gaston.

You owed $25 ,000 to the man you're charged with murdering? Yeah.

With him dead, the debt's wiped out. Oh, the DA's gonna have fun with this one.

Thought I had it lit. I quit going to the gamblers anonymous meetings.

I thought I was cured Have you got any other

surprises for me?

No, thank God

Mullins told me he knew you. Going to represent him? Yeah.

What's that?

The victim was wearing that ring.

Apparently he and the killer had a real dust -up because Eric Gaston arrived at

the morgue with a big cut and bruise on his jaw.

But he gave as good as he got, at least one good right, because that's what's

left of the ring.

You mean he hit the killer so hard he shattered the stone in the ring? That's

right.

Well, there you go.

There I go where? My client doesn't have a mark on him.

So, maybe Gaston didn't connect with his face. Maybe he hit his belt buckle or

something.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, is there Mr. Ben Matlock here? Yeah, I'm Ben Matlock.

Hi, I'm Sherry Brown. I brought the picture. Oh, thank you for coming down.

Can we talk someplace else, please? Oh, sure.

I took this when I first came in.

Eric asked me to.

Oh.

Why does this guy look so familiar?

That's Roy Stevens.

He's a network sportscaster, channel four.

Oh, yeah.

You know these other guys?

Oh, yeah.

That's John Delaney. He's a big agent, movie star, basketball, football

superstars, too.

That's Tom Hermanski. He breeds racehorses. One of his horses won a

about four years ago.

Oh.

How did they get to know one another?

College. They played football together at Baxter University.

Well, what did Eric want to talk with him about?

I don't know.

He didn't tell me.

You and he were close?

Yeah.

Hey, Ben.

Oh, Sherry Brown, this is Conrad McManus, investigator.

We were just talking about Eric Gaston.

Did you know he was a bookie?

Mr. Matlock, he had a lot of phones and a ledger by his bed. I know he wasn't

selling magazine subscriptions.

This ledger, you know where it's at?

I have no idea. It's in his office, I suppose. Listen, you can hang on to

What a day.

The guys I'm with, I usually dump them or they run back to their wives. No

ever died on me before.

It must be a shock.

Well, thank you. You've been a big help.

I'll tell you exactly what I want, Norm.

I want a signing bonus, I want a fair salary, and I want performance

and I want to know today. You've got that?

No.

No.

Come on, Norm. You're not even in the ballpark.

You want Hutchison or not, yes or no?

No, thank you. Uh -uh.

No.

No, Norm, you don't understand.

Tomorrow's too late. You got five minutes to call me back or I'm on the

with the Raiders. You got that?

John Delaney, you must be Ben Matlock. Yeah, I'm Ty Mullins, lawyer.

A bruise on your chin?

No, no, it's just a shadow. That's a shadow.

I understand that you and Eric Gaston were great friends.

Uh -huh, yeah. Played college football with him.

Eric was a star running back, and I was his right tackle. Won the championship

my sophomore year.

Hey.

Yeah, and I hear that you and a couple of other ex -football buddies were at

place the night before he was murdered.

Yeah, one of our regular get -togethers. You know, a few beers, a lot of laughs.

Well, mostly bragging about the glory days.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess that.

Did you know that Eric was a bookie?

Of course I did.

Did you ever place any bets with him?

Gambling's for losers, Mr. Matlock.

Well, you got that right.

It still seems strange for a sports agent to be friends with a bookie.

Did he ever ask you for tips, you know, like who was injured and who wasn't? No.

I mean, a bookie would pay big money for that kind of information.

I said he never asked.

Somebody told me that you and he almost came to blows at his club a couple years

ago. It was over a girl.

Oh, don't tell me. Next question you're going to ask is where was I at the time

of the murder, right?

It wouldn't hurt.

I was right here.

Yeah, Delaney.

Yeah, Norm.

No.

No.

No, I can't give him those figures, Norm.

That insults me, you know that?

Quick, where's the kitchen?

This look is heavy.

What in the world have you got in there?

Supper. You're a kid.

Yeah, boy.

Ooh, it's still hot, too.

Well, don't just stand there, man.

We'll get us some plates and silverware.

You don't want to eat Morocco style, do you?

Boy,

I'm full as a dick.

You eat like this all the time.

I think I got this the way you eat salads, do you?

Now, what's some of this stuff called?

Let's see here.

Well, this one was called Evelyn Walters' Never Fail Sunday Baked

We had a little bit of Rebecca Venerable's Sauerkraut Salad.

And last but not least, Goldie's Yo -Yo Pudding.

Outstanding.

All of them.

And to help you clean up this mess. No, no, no. Leave it. I'll get that. Well,

this way.

Go in the other room. Here, little Tim.

You got it.

Go on in here.

Ty, I don't pretend to know much about compulsive gambling, but from now on,

you're not to as much as buy lottery tickets, you understand?

I understand.

Okay.

Did Eric Gaston have a ledger?

Yeah. He kept it in his top drawer on the desk at the club.

It's not there.

How long was he a bookie?

That's something he learned in college.

In college?

Played much?

No, not much.

That's a shame. You know, these things are like women.

They like to be stroked from time to time.

There is a house down in New Orleans.

Hello, John.

What do you have?

Where's your wife?

She's over in Linville visiting her mother. Why?

I just want to make sure we're alone.

So which one of you did it?

Wait a minute. You think one of us killed Eric? All I know is Ben Matlock

I killed Eric. Now, just who the hell am I protecting here? Well, hell, we

thought you killed him. Would you guys cool it? That is not why I brought you

here. We've got a problem.

You, Roy, and John think it's all over, huh?

Well, surprise.

Guess who has you know what?

I was just going to turn him over to the police, but then I thought, I can't do

that to such sexy guys.

So, fellas, they're yours.

For 50 grand apiece.

Think it over.

Call me tomorrow.

Who the hell is Sherry?

That's a blonde bimbo that was always hanging around Eric at the club. When'd

she call?

She called me this morning on my private line, and you wish she was a bimbo,

John. She is smart and dangerous.

a late night.

That's okay.

Have you got the key?

Right here.

Well...

Beats me.

Never the kitchen?

Well, I've never been in the kitchen.

It wasn't my cooking that turned Eric on.

I'm beginning to believe it's not here.

So, where do you think the ledger is?

Whoever killed Eric has it, I guess. Or had it. Maybe it's destroyed by now. Who

knows? Well, thanks for coming over.

On the driver of my eye, that car was heading right for us. You all right?

Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just a little shaken up. I'm going to get going, okay? Yeah,

go ahead.

You didn't get a good look at the driver?

Nor the license plate. Well, you're sure it's one of the suspects?

Or somebody they hired. Who else could it be? But you don't have anything on

of the suspects. Why would anybody bother?

Maybe they think I got something on them.

Or maybe I got something on them and don't know it yet.

Think it'll run?

Yeah, sure, with the tow truck pulling.

Bad joke.

Cherry?

You want me to give you a lift?

No, no, I'm fine.

their 25th year, the Baxter Falcons are celebrating a silver anniversary.

Coming off of what has to be considered their worst year ever, the Falcons are

attempting to bring... Cut, cut.

Oh, whoa, you're not live or anything, are you?

No, no.

If we were, I'd be screaming now.

You're a friend of Eric Gasson's, right?

That's right.

Played football with him at Baxter University.

As a matter of fact, me and two other old friends of his were at the nightclub

the night before he died.

Doing what?

Well, you know, a couple of drinks, a few laughs. Like I said, we were old

friends.

Excuse me, what do you keep staring at?

Oh, that's right, you're wearing makeup.

Of course I'm wearing makeup, I'm doing a show.

I'll bet sometimes that comes in handy.

You caught yourself shaving, nobody noticed, huh?

Yeah, yeah, I guess so.

You ever place bets with Eric?

Yeah, yeah, we all did.

You owe him money when he died?

No.

And I don't appreciate what you're implying. I told you Eric and I were

Even friends have arguments.

Well, we didn't.

Besides, I was taping my interview with the coach of the Atlanta Falcons on the

morning that Eric was killed. We started in at 9 .30 and we finished taping at

10 .30.

You don't believe me, you ask him.

He'll tell you.

And if you don't mind, excuse me.

Excuse me.

Martin Kravitz?

That's right.

How you doing? I'm Comrade McMaster.

Private investigator?

All right, Jubal, that ought to hold you.

A real private eye, huh?

Yeah.

You remember Eric Gaston?

Yeah, I sure do. Best running back this school's ever seen.

No surprise, whatever happened to him.

Why do you say that?

Eric was always in trouble.

He only played by one set of rules, his own.

That's what got him kicked out of here.

He got kicked off the football team? No, he was kicked out of school.

Expelled in the middle of his senior year.

Why'd they expel him from school?

Gambling.

Yeah, he was putting money on Baxter football games.

He would bet on the opposing team, then he would manipulate the point spread by

faking an injury or taking himself out of the game.

The kid was just too damn smart for his own good.

Do you remember John Delaney?

Delaney? Yeah, yeah, he played right tackle.

What about Tom or Mansky and Roy Steven?

Wide receiver and nose doctor.

What about them?

Were they involved in the gambling too?

No, just Gaston. The other guys were. I'd remember.

I'm sure you would.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kravitz.

He made my heart stop out there today.

And his best time.

Uh, Mr. Hermansky?

Uh, hi.

I'm, uh, Ben Matlock, Time Island's lawyer.

Oh, good to meet you. Your wife told me you were back here, said you were

expecting me.

John Delaney, Roy Stevens, said you'd show up. Uh, John, Roy, Eric, and me,

friends from way back.

I've heard that.

You ever come face to face with a Triple Crown winner before?

Won the Triple Crown?

Not yet, but he will.

A lot of money to be made in horses.

A lot to be spent, but a whole lot to be made.

You mean racing them or selling them or betting on them?

All three.

You ever place any bets with Eric?

No, sure.

Maybe you owed him money or he owed you money.

I had no reason to kill Eric, Mr. Matlock.

Mr. Hermansky!

Telephone!

All right.

What's more, I couldn't have killed him. I lift weights every morning from 9 to

10. Here.

Lloyd's gym, if you'll excuse me.

Tom Hermansky.

That was really stupid, Tom.

Who is this?

Sherry, the woman you just tried to run over.

What are you talking about?

That's going to cost you guys an extra $25 ,000.

Now, just a minute. That makes $75 ,000 apiece, and I want it tomorrow.

You're out of your mind. That's impossible.

Well, I hope not for your sake.

I want you to bring the money in cash to the Skyview lounge at the airport

tomorrow at 1 o 'clock. Now, Tom, if the cash isn't all there, or if you bring

company, you guys are in the evening edition, and you can bet on it.

Hi,

Ben.

That's your message. What's up?

I just looked into something that's going to help the kids.

That's Frankie Lance over there. I know. He's a bookie. I know. I just talked to

him a minute ago.

I don't want to hear that. I didn't place a bet with him.

Frankie just told me that Eric was into a couple of loan sharks for $150 ,000.

How did that happen?

Apparently, he took a whooping last weekend on a couple of games.

They put the squeeze on him real hard.

He wanted to squeeze somebody back.

Touchdown.

I told you I'd do the green bay pack.

Oh, yeah.

It's not even a bet.

New York pastor, Albert Roberts, reports getting well.

New York pastor, Albert Roberts, reports... Excuse me, sir. I believe

belongs to me.

Aren't you forgetting something?

You'll get the negatives when I'm sure there's $225 ,000 in here. That wasn't

our deal.

Sorry.

I'll call you tonight.

or worth the waiting for.

Oh, believe me, I don't stay out late, don't care to go.

I'm home about eight, just me and my radio.

Amen's behaving.

I'm saving my love for...

Yeah, it's good. What's it called again?

Aunt Betsy's sweet potato pie.

You know, they say that when Aunt Betsy's husband died, she baked a pie

it in the coffin.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. She was very classy. Went all the way. She put in a linen

napkin, dental floss, and mouthwash.

But, of course, he had to eat it from a paper plate with a plastic fork.

But it was a thought.

I'll give me some more for my turn.

Hey, man, I didn't tell you. We got a gig Saturday, and you won't ever guess

where. Where?

Gaston's Blues Club.

New owner called me today.

Is that the irony for you? Me playing at a club that used to be owned by the guy

I'm on trial for murdering. Yeah.

Where'd this come from?

Oh, man, you spoiled my surprise.

That's the first payment for your services.

You didn't answer my question.

Yeah, where I get it from.

Me and my folks, they're so great. When they found out I was in prison, they

sent over 10 grand.

They mailed you cash?

No, no, they sent a check, which I cashed because it was under my name and

You been gambling?

No, Ben.

I told you I'd stop.

Answer my question.

No. It's not my folks. Honest.

Guy.

You got to do something for me.

Anything, Ben.

Tell your folks I said thank you.

I'll do that.

Say something.

Tattoo? He had a tattoo?

No, he had two tattoos on either forearm.

Some kind of flowers or something.

About six foot, 190 pounds, dark hair?

Yeah, how'd you know that?

Sounds like a guy that works for Tom Hermansky. I saw him out at the ranch.

I think they're looking for Eric's ledger.

They're looking for something.

Sorry to keep you waiting, but I had no idea you'd be dropping by. Oh, that's

okay. I didn't know I was coming over. I just got to thinking about Sherry Brown

and wondering why your man broke into her house.

What are you talking about?

Are you and your two football buddies in on this together or were you acting on

your own?

You totally lost me, okay? You married well.

Your wife could have given you the money to pay Eric off. Why kill him?

Look, I don't have time for this.

I should have gone to the police first, I guess, but I thought I'd give you a

crack at it. Get out.

Well, okay, if that's the way you want it, but I'll just have to come back with

a subpoena.

Maybe bring the police with us. Fine, I'll take my chances.

It's me.

The three of us have got to talk now.

Number 14 on your program, ladies and gentlemen, a fine piece of horse flesh

that has a chance to make you some good money on the track.

4 ,000 now, 4 ,500. Will you bet 4 ,500? Will you bet 4 ,500? Will you bet 4

,500? Now 5.

4 ,500 now, 5 ,000. Will you bet 5 ,000? Will you bet 5 ,000? 5 ,000 now, 6.

5 ,000 now, 6 ,000. Will you bet 6 ,000? Will you bet 6 ,000? Will you bet 6

,000? 5 ,000 now, 6 ,000. Now 6 ,500.

6 ,000 now, 6 ,500. Will you bet 6 ,500? Will you bet 6 ,500? Will you bet 6

,500? 6 ,500 now, 7 ,000.

What do you mean Matlock knows something?

He knows that somebody ransacked Sherry's place.

Somebody working for me.

Did he find the negatives?

Great.

Well, did that crazy broad tell him what the guy was after?

What, are you stupid?

Eric had those negatives for 15 years, and she knows it.

Now... Now, she's not going to tell anybody about him until she's milked his

bone dry. Yeah, well, I can't get any drier.

One more payment to her and I'm finished.

Me too.

So, what are we going to do?

Whatever it takes.

You think about it.

We'll talk tonight, huh?

$8 ,500 down, $9 ,000. Will you bid $9 ,000? Will you bid $9 ,000? $9 ,000

$9 ,500.

$9 ,000 down, $9 ,500. $9 ,500 down, $10 ,000. $9 ,500 down, $10 ,000. Will you

bid $10 ,000? I have $10 ,000. Will I have $10 ,500?

I have $10 ,000. Will you bid $10 ,500? Will you make it $10 ,500? Will you make

it $10 ,500? Will you make it $10 ,500?

$10 ,500 down, $11 ,000. $10 ,500 down, $11 ,000. Will you bid $11 ,000?

Negative.

You mean, you mean they're being blackmailed?

And from what I heard, it's been going on for years. Sherry's just taken up

where Eric left off. They're after the negatives. They're not after the ledger.

Hello?

Hello, Mr. Matlock.

Sherry? Mr. Matlock, I'm scared.

They're going to kill me just like they killed Eric.

Where are you?

I'm at a friend's cottage. I thought it would be safer.

Listen, there's something I haven't told you. We need to talk.

About how you've been blackmailing those three men?

How did you know?

You answer my question first. Now, what have you got on them?

Meet me tomorrow at the parking lot at Lake Wheeler, and I'll tell you

everything. What's wrong with right now?

I hid something that I need to show you.

The negatives?

You know?

Well, I can't get them till tomorrow morning.

The parking lot, Lake Wheeler.

Can you be there at 9 o 'clock?

You bet. See you then.

Well, Conrad, we're going to see the sunrise tomorrow.

9 o 'clock on the butt.

Now that's it.