Original subtitles

Nick, putting in a six -day week, huh?

I've been calling your place since noon.

I got no answer, so I got to figure, Morton, oh, you're some smart guy.

You can't take no for an answer.

Saving the good stuff.

Just take it somewhere calm for the weekend, that's all. Come on!

You think I'm so dumb I don't know? You made the deal, didn't you? No, I didn't,

Nick. Morton, we've been partners for nine years.

You come to me, you want to put a torch to the business, and I say absolutely

no!

Who cares what Nick thinks?

Nine years, hard work.

One of the best seasons we ever had last year, and it all goes up in smoke?

That was last year, Nick. How much further can we go with plastic cups and

saucers? We are doing fine.

Who needs to be a millionaire?

Me, Nick.

Look, you're an old man. For you, it's fine. But I'm still young. We've got a

once -in -a -lifetime chance with this deal Catlin's offering us.

Do you know what you're talking about with this fire?

Fraud! This deal takes cash. No.

No, it takes something else.

Something I don't have.

I can't. You want me to call him? Give me his name. I'll stop him. It's too

late. Don't you understand anything, Nick?

All right.

Have it your own way. But I warn you.

If we have this fire, I talk to the police. I tell them everything I know.

You can't do that, Nick. No, I'm not going to jail.

Not for this business.

Not for you, and especially not for you. Nick, you don't understand.

Nick, you've got to listen to me. You don't understand. Get your hands off me.

Nick!

You told me to check in with you.

Everything's set.

Well, go ahead.

What we talked about. You checked with your partner?

They'll go along.

Are you sure you want to go ahead?

Yes, you've got your deposit. Now do the job. All right, but you better get out

of the city so you have an alibi.

It's already taken care of. I'll see you Monday at the same place?

Right.

It's supposed to be locked. You better pull over.

Hey, you!

They're gonna catch you! No, no, I'll be all right.

I'll follow him. You take her.

Hey, hey!

Don't let me stop you, pal.

Way to go.

Who?

yeah mine's gone too what do you suppose they were doing in that building hey

those people back. Come on.

Oh, yeah. Far out.

What is this, a Guy Fawkes birthday celebration?

Don't ask me, Kojak. I just put them out.

Your stiff's on the third floor and a couple of your men are already up there.

You're going to ask me who Guy Fawkes is?

What do you want from me?

Who's the fire marshal on the job?

I saw Jeff Segan go in about 20 minutes ago.

Shut those hoses up. Come on, let's get out of here.

The red thing.

They used to put out this fire. May as well spray it. They might as well have.

And how are you, Theo?

Hanging in there.

Did you hear this one about the... I forget what it was.

Five alarms.

Started on the floor below some kind of a printing company.

The place was roaring before the engine company could respond.

Your corpse is in here.

Oh.

Now, what was this place before Dante took over?

Tolman Vane Plastics Company. Cups, dishes, containers.

This was Tolman's office.

This him? No, no, Nick Vane. We salvaged part of his wallet. He's the partner.

Oh, yeah? What happened? Well, the engine company found him like that with

bookcase on top of him.

Now, where's the M .E.? He's on his way. In his partner's office. What's he

doing here, and why didn't he get out?

Well, the bookcase must have fallen on top of him before he made it to the

Oh, is that so? And how'd the bookcase fall on top of him?

Fire. Really?

In other words, the victim is so nearsighted that he waits for the room

all ablaze and then a ton of books fall on top of him. Lieutenant, he could have

passed out from the fumes before the fire got up here. It happens that way.

That's right. That's right.

Jesse.

Tell me this.

If the fire made the bookcase fall, would it be more charred on the bottom?

Yeah. I see what you mean. It's evenly charred from top to bottom. And what

that mean to you, Baldy?

Well, it must be that the bookcase fell on top of him before the fire hit the

room. You know something?

You're right.

You thinking homicide?

Me? Never.

Call Forensic. I'm going to get a team down here and then call the ME and tell

them I want to see that report as soon as it becomes official.

What happened?

I don't know yet. Cab driver spotted a boy and girl running away from the

building around 10 o 'clock just before the fire was discovered.

Boy and a girl.

Juvenile vagrancy. I thought their specialty was burning down public

The cab driver got a good look at the boy, but the girl was too far away for

accurate description.

All right. Take a letter, please, James. I want you to get the witnesses

together with the sketch artist, okay?

Get that composite out to everybody.

And then I want you to round up everybody who works in this building and

out what they were doing this evening, all right?

Everybody. Okay.

Hello?

What's this?

I don't know.

It's just there.

Really?

quiz shop, Dortmund Vine Plastics, candle fashions on the fifth floor, and

wholesale furniture showroom on the sixth floor.

All right, I want to run down and all them, okay?

Financial statements, bank accounts, personal files, insurance, oh yeah,

especially insurance, okay?

Go ahead.

Now hold it.

Look, I've got to get inside. My name is Morton Tallman. I own a company in

here. Lieutenant Kojak, New York Police. You can't go in there.

But my partner, Nicholas Vane, they told me... Yeah, we know about that, Mr.

Tallman, but there's nothing you can do for him now anyway.

Nick, I just don't believe it.

I was in White Plains with my sisters when they contacted me. What was he

here? I beg your pardon?

Saturday night. Does he usually work this late? Nick was a widower. The

was his life.

We found him in your office, Mr. Tallman. Why is that, do you suppose?

I don't know.

Any number of reasons. He might have wanted something from my files.

We had no secrets from each other.

You got a telephone number? You know, maybe I want to talk to you later.

What's to talk about?

My best friend and partner dead?

My business a pile of ashes?

Surely the tenants must have had insurance, Mr. Tallman.

Insurance? What is insurance? Money? By the time I take to rebuild, my

customers, where are they? With somebody else.

You can't buy customers with money. You've got to have product.

You can't find a partner like Nick anymore.

Not these days. I had a great business, Lieutenant.

If I could buy it back with every penny of insurance I collect, I'd be the

luckiest man in the world.

Your telephone number?

Ask them.

You know, you ask some guys the time they start giving you a whole dialogue

how to build a watch.

Here, when you start checking your personal, check this guy out first, will

Come on.

So what do you want me to say?

You both been financial problems?

Go ask him, not me.

M .E.'s office online, too, Lieutenant.

The incomparable Nagajanian.

Let me go, Jack. What do you got incomparable?

The deceased Nicholas Vane succumbed to a blow on the head.

Fractured skull, massive cerebral hemorrhage. That must have been

instantaneous.

Was this before or during the fire?

Oh, definitely before.

Insufficiency of toxic waste in the lungs. But there was some toxic waste.

boy, anyone breathing the perfumed airs of Baghdad on the Hudson inhales toxic

matter, but never in the quantity ingested by most fire victims.

Can you pinpoint the time of death? It might take all summer.

Issues like that have stumped greater minds than mine.

Thanks. Would you send me a copy? Thank you.

Okay, Miss, uh... Mrs.

Mrs. Teresa Ryan.

Mrs. Teresa Ryan.

And you're the switchboard operator at the Tolman Vane Plastics.

Yes, sir.

What's the matter? Are you nervous?

Oh, I guess I'm just not too crazy about police stations.

Tell you something. Neither am I.

Lieutenant, this report just came in from the fire marshal's office. Ethan

right. The fire started in the storeroom on the second floor.

Yeah? Does he know how it started?

Well, they're still working on it.

Sounds like a press release from Gracie Mansion.

How are we doing out there?

Men's and men's.

Well, I know this doesn't exactly look like much now, but do you recognize

It looks like Mr. Talman's trophy from the association.

Where exactly did he normally keep it, do you know? I'm not sure.

On the bookshelf?

No. I don't think so. There was a table with three or four trophies all

together. But I went in there very little and I couldn't be certain.

One more thing before I let you go. Mrs. Riley?

Ryan. Ryan.

Do you recognize this man?

No.

Sure? I'm sorry.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

And I guess that's it. Thank you very much.

Lieutenant, maybe we got something here.

Like what?

This is Mrs.

Paulford. No, Paul Ford, Mr. Tolman's secretary.

Yes, Mrs. Paulford.

This man, I'm sure, is Louis Rivera.

He worked in our stockroom about three weeks ago.

Mr. Vane had to let him go. Louis was very upset, but the shipments had slowed

down and we didn't need him.

Would you say that's a good likeness?

It's almost perfect.

And anybody in your office would recognize him.

You'd have to be lying not to remember Lewis. I mean, he wasn't exactly what

call a shrinking violet.

Thank you, Mrs. Palford.

This way, Mrs.

Palford, right through here.

No mustard on mine.

Lots of sauerkraut.

Who is Rivera?

Yeah. I'm Lieutenant Kojak, Manhattan South Detective Division.

You're a friendly cop.

Look, your sister told me I could find you. I got a couple questions to ask

What kind of questions?

Take it easy, dear.

Come on, I'll buy you a hot dog and chat over lunch.

Am I under arrest?

Would you knock it off?

Thanks. Hey, look, if you want to be arrested, I'll arrest you.

Have it your way.

Okay. Okay, your way.

That's a three -second violation, wise guy.

No sauerkraut?

No sauerkraut.

Put some more on.

Recognize that pretty face, Luis?

Come on, what is this?

Two witnesses saw this face leave your ex -employee's building Saturday night.

Torn and veined plastics.

And this morning, it's just one big hunk of goo.

And you, Luis, you're the prime candidate for arson and murder.

amigo? Hey, man, it couldn't have been me. I wasn't anywhere near there. I was

out walking by the river.

Oh, I see. You're going to tell me now you were skinny dipping?

Yeah, the perfect innocent.

I got you one with chili.

You know what I think, Luis?

I think you were bugged at Nick Vane for letting you go.

I also think you went there that night and you creamed him with a trophy and

then set fire to the whole joint to cover it up. What do you think?

You're going to make me take you down and put you in the lineup, right?

You know they're going to ID you, but you're going to let me do it just the

same. Why should I make your job any easier?

Because you bought me a hot dog?

Would it help if I threw in an egg cream?

Come on, let's go.

Mr. Tolman, you told me everything was set with your partner.

It was.

The police are suggesting homicide.

Are you crazy? I don't know what Nick was doing there any more than you do.

Play your games with me.

I read the papers. Your partner was dead before that fire started.

The bookshelf must have fallen on him, that's all.

You were there.

Look.

Look.

You knew there was a risk.

This match job, it was your idea, not mine. You approached me.

I needed some extra money. You needed a fire.

I never would have been a part of anything like this.

Okay, take it easy.

Nobody can connect it.

As long as we don't see each other, the police will never put it together.

Don't worry. Don't worry. I am worried.

They did a good job. They've got nothing to go on.

Let's hope not.

It's all there.

One thing, Mr. Tallman.

I know the law.

There's a statute of limitations on arson, but not on murder.

So don't make any trouble for me.

So long, kid.

You've got to be kidding.

You don't want to book him.

Two impeccable witnesses pick him out of a lineup and place him at the scene?

By his own admission, he's got no alibi.

On top of that, he had means, motive, and mucho opportunity. Now, come on,

what more do you want? I just don't think he's guilty, Mac.

Was that one of your famous hunches, or does it come with some reasons attached?

Let's start with the fact that it's Saturday night.

And Rivera has a beef to settle with Vane. What makes him think he's going to

find him there on the weekend? But more significantly, where does he go looking

for Vane in Tolman's office?

Well, maybe he didn't go up there looking for Vane at all.

Maybe it being Saturday, he figured nobody was there.

Maybe he was burgling the joint and Vane walked in on him. Ran Rivera's prints

through BCI.

Want to know something?

Didn't come up with a yellow sheet.

Not even a juvenile misdemeanor. Hey, Theo.

Sir Han, Sir Han didn't have a yellow sheet either.

Okay.

Let's say you're right.

Let's say that it's a simple case of B &E.

Let's say that Vane comes in and surprises Rivera.

Let's say that Rivera slugs Vane. In order to cover up his crime, he sets

to the joint.

Tell me this.

Why does he go downstairs to the floor below in order to set up the blaze? And

why does he wait until the building's really cooking before he decides to

Maybe he was afraid to leave until he was absolutely certain the flames had

reached Tolman's office.

Ah, all right.

Now, here's a report from Jesse Egan from the fire marshal's office. They

covered the building from head to foot looking for a cause for willful arson.

You know what they come up with?

Zilch. Cause of fire unknown.

So? So what are you saying? A kid who drops out from high school, who gets an

in chemistry. You mean he ad -libs a fire that baffles the entire arson

Hey, look.

I know he's lying. I know he was there.

Well, then why?

Why, because he's frightened.

I mean, wouldn't you be in his place?

If he didn't kill Vane, he didn't start the fire.

Enlighten me.

What the hell was he doing there?

They, Frank, what were they doing there? He was with a girl, remember?

Look, I won't book him, but I can hold him for 36 hours out of an open charge,

right? Why don't I do that? Maybe I can come up with some answers, okay?

Okay.

Yeah.

Captain, the tenants, the insurance records on the four tenants in the

and the rolling crew. In a fire trap like that, that's no surprise.

The biggest insurance policy is on Tolman Vane, $900 ,000. Yes, which

claims doesn't begin to even touch upon their losses.

Well, maybe not. The invoice shows the orders for this year are up about 50%,

they're not doing so bad.

Not much of a reason to order a fire, is it? Not for Tolman, maybe, but for the

print shop, that fire was a death house reprieve. As of two days ago, they were

within spitting distance of the bankruptcy court.

Yeah, sure. Oh, come on, Theo. That is where the fire started.

I know, but the body was found on the floor above.

You making any headway with the bank records?

Well, they're just starting to come in now. All right, keep an eye peeled for

large sums of money on account for it, you understand?

Maybe a check made out to cash.

If this was a professional torch job, and I'm betting that it was, it didn't

come cheap.

Go ahead.

All right, Frank.

Assuming Louis Rivera's innocent.

I'm convinced that Baines' killer knew there was going to be a fire. I'm not

saying he touched it off himself. I'm saying he had advanced knowledge, and he

thought that he could cover up a murder.

And you think it was Tallman? Anything else would be an affront to cosmic

orderliness. Cosmic, my astronaut.

You heard Crocker's report.

Now, just give me one good reason why a man with nothing to gain and everything

to lose would buy himself a matcher.

Well? Well, I can't, Frank.

Brilliant.

One moment, please.

Leonard Tapler.

Leonard, how are you? I'm just fine, Morton.

Just fine? It's you that I'm worried about.

Oh, I'm all right. I was, uh...

I was expecting some more money.

Considering that arson is suspected, that would be rather risky for me right

now, Morton.

But Lenny, you were telling me... But me, no buts, Salman. You're already into

me for 50 big ones.

Now you want 350 more by the end of the month, only I don't hear what you're

telling me on account of the noise the cops are making.

Lenny, I swear to you, nothing... I swear to you, Rabbi.

Not to me. For me, it's enough that the heat goes off.

You're going to take care of that, aren't you, Morton?

Yes, yes, of course.

Good.

Now, once the heat goes off, you give me a call. Only don't make me wait too

long. Bye, Lenny.

Agnes, get me Selwyn, Captain.

Come in, Lieutenant.

Please forgive the mess.

Mr. Holford and I are using this as a temporary office.

Sit down, please. Thank you.

May I offer you some refreshments? Coffee, a highball? No, thanks.

Mr. Tolman is selling Catlin on the line.

I can't speak to him. Tell him I'll call him later. He's going out any minute.

Just apologize to him. Tell him I have a visitor.

Mr. Catlin, the real estate entrepreneur.

Oh, yes. Do you know him?

Entrepreneur is a good word for New York kid.

I don't know him, just by reputation.

We're not actually friends, just occasional golfing partners.

Different lines. The only thing we share in common is a four -handed cat.

Is there some problem, Lieutenant?

I mean, with the insurance, the fire?

What I meant was I understand you've arrested the Rivera boy.

Oh, yes. Well, we detained him for questioning. You see, we now know that

somebody killed your partner and left the body there to burn, you know, to

it look like an accident.

And you think Luis did it?

Of course.

I suppose he could have done it.

He publicly threatened Nick.

I assume you know that. Because Vane fired him.

That's what I don't understand, Mr. Tallman. I mean, you said you had a

business, and yet you let a little stock boy go. Why?

Oh, we were temporarily not shipping. A season of love, that's all.

We had no need for Rivera's services.

I understand.

It's a pity Luis couldn't see it that way.

Nick might be alive if he had.

Oh, I don't think so.

But you said Luis... No, no, you said.

You see, I don't believe that Luis did it.

I'm taking up a little too much of your time.

Thank you.

did it again, did what again?

Who are we talking about?

Foreman.

First he goes into this whole scenario about Luis Rivera, which I didn't ask

for. And then when the name of Subwin Catlin came up, he asked that the only

time he ever saw him was over a nine iron.

Oh, come on, Theo.

You're not suggesting that Catlin, a man with his reputation, would involve

himself in something like this? He'd be crazy.

An operation besides of his?

Foreman's fire insurance wouldn't keep Catlin in real estate brochures. Well,

still there's a connection.

Now, look, more of a connection than a partnership would be in a two -seater

golf cart.

Look, Mac, you've got connections in real estate. Why don't you put out the

hooks there? Maybe you can come up with an angle, Mac. What are you going to be

doing? You want to know why Lou Rivera keeps putting his head in the chopping

bag and lying to me, right?

Well, I think you deserve an intelligent answer.

could use you.

Yeah, well, I'll go down to the garden, man, and try out.

You come to bust my chops?

No, baby.

Maybe I came to help your buddy.

Sure, sure.

You and the Lone Ranger.

Hey, look, uh, Tonto.

We got enough on your buddy Louie to send him away to Ossining for life,

away the key.

Oh, but you think maybe he's telling the truth, right, man?

Lying through his teeth.

I just want to know why.

I mean, why is a guy willing to think a fool rather than to live with me?

What do I know? I wasn't there. How about his girlfriend?

I mean, maybe she can take him off the hook. Yeah, he's got a chick.

An Anglo. Real pretty girl.

Yeah? I think maybe she's married, man.

No applause, please, as I exit.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about Saturday night, Mrs. Ryan. I'm talking about a loft on West

24th Street where a young lady was seen walking out of the building with a one

Louis Rivera.

Yeah. Come on now, Lieutenant.

Okay. Come on.

Which one of you compulsive liars is going to start telling

the truth?

Hey, she's got nothing to do with this. Doesn't she?

Now look, if you start saying something significant, I'll see that you both wind

up in Rikers Island under charge of obstructing justice.

All right, I

was there.

Lewis is worried for me.

Because of my husband. Rita. Lewis!

Hey, look, I'm tougher than anybody's husband.

Now, you let the lady talk.

Go ahead.

There's a customer's lounge on the fourth floor, and a few months ago, we

started meeting there after work.

It just developed into something, that's all.

I mean, we didn't have any other place to go.

You see, because we don't have much money, either of us, and we didn't... We

couldn't afford a hotel room. Look, Lieutenant.

I was 18 when I got married, and I was 18 and a half when I knew I made a

mistake. All right, I was wrong, but I love Lewis.

With me, he's kind and he's gentle.

That's terrific.

But I'm not looking for a character reference.

I just want to know what time you went to the building.

Eight.

Maybe a little after, but we went straight to the fourth floor.

Did you go together?

Yeah.

Around 10 o 'clock, I smell the smoke.

Out in the hall, we saw the flames shooting up the rear stairwell.

That's when we ran.

You see anybody else in the building?

The door was locked, Lieutenant.

That was a beautiful old -fashioned move.

Now, during the time that you were both up on the fourth floor, did Luz Rivera

ever leave your sight?

No, I swear it.

Look, we didn't have anything to do with anything, man.

I just didn't want to make trouble for Teresa.

You know how it is.

Oh, yeah, I know how it is.

Hey, look, Teresa.

The phone logs were destroyed, I know that.

But I also know that Mr. Tolman was making a lot of calls to a Mr. Catlin in

Jersey, right?

Yes. Was he a customer?

I don't know.

Did you ever see him in the office?

I don't think so.

Hey.

Hey. Thank you, Mr. Ryan.

Saperstein, get in here.

Release Luis Rivera.

Let's go.

Hey, I'm releasing you, Luis.

But I have a suggestion for both of you.

Oh, forget it.

Marriage counseling is not my line of work.

You want to know what Morton Tallman and Selwyn Catlin have in common?

Catlin's putting up a retirement village outside Larchmont.

Tallman's one of the investors.

50 grand in front money, another 350 at the end of the month.

50 grand.

Boy, he didn't get that skim out of petty cash.

What a bore.

What's Tolman's bank balance?

A little under $7 ,000.

And withdrawal?

Other than the usual, maybe $4 ,000 over the last month.

Sixth. Checks made out to cash and endorsed by Tolman. And he caught the 50

ones. How?

He knows the warm -hearted Shylock. Yeah, but what's his collateral?

The insurance.

You know, I told you the kid had promise.

Okay. He knows it'll be anyway 90 days before he can get a payoff, right?

And the Cadillac deal won't wait.

So he hits on an understanding.

Shylock? 50 grand now, and the rest when the fire marshal gives his stamp of

approval. All right, give me Jess Eganon.

Yeah, but Theo, Tolman stands to collect 900 ,000. Now, why wouldn't he pour the

entire amount into Catlin's operation?

I'm sure he would like to, but half of that belongs to Nick Bain's heirs or

assignees. Tolman's share is only 450, 50 for the Sherlock's vigorous, and how

much? Lieutenant, Jess Eganon.

Here, hold this. Don't bite it.

Here, Jess.

Yeah, suppose I want to buy a fire. How much?

Ten, fifteen thousand.

Well, if I had four thousand, what kind of a fire does that buy me?

Enough to broil a couple of steaks. Unless, of course, you're dealing with

amateur. What, are you kidding?

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Fry me two marshmallows. Thanks.

Anytime, Theo.

Usual.

Finished your thesis?

Almost.

What's this from, Vince?

It's a bonus from the Insurance Protection Bureau. In cash?

$4 ,500?

Where's the champagne?

I was going to tell you.

Tomorrow, when I didn't have any work to do, so we could celebrate.

Oh, he got fired.

Severance pay or something?

I do good work. They're going to promote me.

In a part -time job?

When they know you're going to quit at the end of the term?

Vince, you're lying to me.

Why?

What's this all about?

I want a break for us.

I want to get my degree, which we are not going to get on the salary of a high

school chemistry teacher.

So?

Vince, I don't understand.

You know how much money I saved for us?

Sure. $2 .12.

Who can save?

$22 ,000.

You have $22 ,000?

We have.

I don't want a second lie between us, ever.

Linda, I inspect people's factories.

If it's too risky for fire insurance, I tell my company.

But I don't always tell them.

I get paid not to.

By people who want to fire, people who want to collect their insurance.

You mean people just come to you and tell you they want to commit arson?

Why don't they think you'll put them in jail?

Because I bring it up to them.

Look, it doesn't take a genius to figure out when a guy is dying to burn up his

bad death, so I help him out. But I know how to do it. I'm a chemistry

professor, right?

Don't worry, I won't get caught.

And anyway, I'm through with it now.

Sure.

Why not?

Vince, tell me everything.

I am, really.

Did you hear anything about a fire in a plastics plant over the weekend?

No.

Well, that's what the $4 ,500 is for. It was the easiest money in the world, but

I... got suckered by this Mr. Tallman.

There was a body in that fireman.

And nothing to do with me, but try to convince the cops of that.

I mean, I got scared.

I'm finished.

For good.

Is this really happening?

Are you telling me that's straight?

I'm sorry, baby.

Can he get you in trouble?

Can he implicate you?

No, Linda.

That's the one thing he can't do.

Okay.

Nice of you to come.

Now, we've got two problems.

One arson, the other murder.

And the only reason I say it's a murder is because the trophy was found

underneath the book stand.

And it didn't fall off any shelf.

Any dissenters?

We're listening, Lieutenant.

That's nice.

Now, we got two perpetrators.

One the matcher and the other the customer.

Now, whoever knocked off Nick Vane knew that the fire would destroy the

evidence. If you're trying to tell me that a matcher would knock off anybody,

you also got to convince me that Tinkerbell knocks off little old ladies

Times Square shuttle.

Okay, we got a deuce here.

Number one, we got the matcher, right?

The matcher.

And?

And I'm going to make it easy for you.

X equals...

Huh?

Captain? I'm not saying your theory doesn't hold water, because it does.

But how do you get past the fact that Tormund Vane Plastics was showing a rise

in income? I mean, you don't throw in the sponge when the referee's your

-in -law.

Only if he just barely wants to win.

Elucidate.

Give me the numbers.

Well, I've checked out a few companies in the same line as Tormund Vane

Products, Captain, and the cost of raw materials used in making Tormund Vane

Products went up 51 % in the last year. Now, if their orders were with old

customers at old prices, they'd barely break even. Mr. Catlin presented Tormund

with a golden opportunity. Oh, come on, Frank.

You check that out yourself.

Catlin's putting up a retirement village outside Lodgemont, right?

What with federal and state aid for those projects.

Catlin's been turning over a profit of 400 % on his last 10 development deals.

And lately, Kaplan's becoming very generous. He's taking in partners,

eliminating his own risk.

Hey, baby, that's perfectly kosher and good business sense.

So enters Tolman. Yeah.

An ambitious guy with a big taste for bread, thank you.

He figures he and his partner go in for almost a mil, which they get from the

insurance company if the business burns down.

Lane says no one gets killed, and Coochie Coo Tolman still collects half

insurance, and if Catlin's operation runs true to form, he stands to make one

and a half mil. It's beautiful if he can make it stand up.

And that's why we've got to find that matcher. Without his testimony, Tolman's

home free.

All right, Crocker, what do you got? Jess and I have gone over the past

and we've come up with 40, maybe 50 in the last couple of years that fit.

Maybe. Maybe?

These are possible, Arsons, that's all.

There doesn't seem to be any link.

50 fires, 50 different kinds of companies, maybe 16 different insurers.

But for 4 ,000 a job?

I don't see it.

Well, you said it yourself, Jess.

Suppose it wasn't one of your standard pros.

How did Tormund find the guy?

You send out a feeler, you get a vet.

Every time.

And you pay the going rate. Or you go begging.

I suppose Tormund doesn't send out feelers.

Suppose the matchers contacts him. First off, the matcher would have to know

about the insurance.

Then he'd have to find out about his prospective customer's business to

determine if he was primed for a fire.

What about an underwriter or a field investigator?

There are investigators.

They check out the company, snoop around, talk to the owners, make

recommendations to the underwriters.

These insurance outfits, they have their own investigators?

Some do. Some hire outside people. Most of the companies on this list hired an

insurance protection agency. Bingo.

Now that's our first common denominator.

All right. Egan.

You stick with every possible case of arson where the insurer's protection

agency was involved, okay?

Go back through each company's financial record prior to that fire.

I mean, don't look for big withdrawals. I'm sure that's been done already. Look

for ones adding up to $3 ,000, $4 ,000, just like Tallman's withdrawals, okay? I

mean, how long is it going to take?

How many men can you get me?

Well, why don't you pull a few strings, Captain, and tell them what a cushy job

it's going to be. Maybe we can get some volunteers.

You're all volunteers, and thanks.

Oh. All right.

We get ourselves a matcher, and we get ourselves a murderer.

Lieutenant, so far we're scoring runs.

Captain? Three, four thousand in cash withdrawals from a half a dozen burned

companies. Take a look at this. So far I've come across three of these.

Inspection reports from Insurers Protection Bureau.

Take a look at the back. Just routine stuff.

At the bottom.

B .J. H., one of these initials?

Must be the man who made out the inspection report.

All right, call the company.

Lieutenant, it's Sunday.

So it's Sunday.

Listen, I wouldn't care if it's the leading cantor at the Mormon tabernacle.

drag him out, I want to find out who B .J. H. is.

You see what a terrible quandary you've put me into, Morton. Three weeks ago, I

lent you $50 ,000 on good faith.

True. With the full expectation that your insurance settlement would

cover the loan, plus my modest carrying fee.

I'm not quarreling about the rate of interest.

Of course not.

You're in no position to quarrel about anything.

But we both know my money is in serious jeopardy now, Morton. You've got to do

something about that.

I just need more time.

Time. That's something I just can't give you.

Perhaps Catlin would let you out of the deal.

No way. I can't go to him. Now, listen.

Nick's death is not going away.

Those homicide dicks are going to hang in there till they find that matcher.

when they do, they'll nail you to the wall.

Frankly, I'd hate to see that happen.

You go to jail, I lose my investment.

Of course, if that matcher was no longer around, they couldn't ever tie you to

that fire, could they?

What are you suggesting?

Oh, I'm not suggesting anything.

It's Sunday. You need more money real soon or your deal with Catelyn goes

And I'm not going to like that, so... Maybe in a day or so, things will have

changed.

I can't do that.

It's your life.

Never on Sundays, baby.

Lieutenant, I just spoke to the office manager. The guy's name is Vincent

Hackley, 211 Lewiston Drive.

Hey.

Let's go.

Yes? Vincent Hackley, please.

Oh, I'm sorry. He just walked over to his lab on the campus.

This is Mr. Stern from the Insurer's Protection Bureau.

It's rather important that I speak to him.

I could give him a message, or you could try City University.

Oh, well, you see, I'm in the area, and perhaps I'll just drop in on him. Which

building is he in?

Chemistry building, second floor.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Mrs. Hackman?

Yes.

Lieutenant Coach Hackman, out in the south.

Come in.

Thank you.

I've got no choice.

Hold it!

Grab him, Crocker!

Against the wall.

All right, hold it. Spread them out.

Got it covered.

He tried to kill me.

What are you, something special? He killed his partner. Why not you?

Go on. After you.

Going along so great.

How many got hurt except a couple of insurance companies? I want to have my

master's degree in June.

Three months more, that's all.

Yeah, well, that's the trouble with the globe, Hackney.

You know, so many dropouts.

That's all right. You can pick it up again.

In about five years.

At 12 .35, Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Babs Windsor and co. provide the laughs

and a fair helping of innuendo in a half -hour instalment of Carry On Laughing.

Next this morning here on ITV3, though, we begin a double bill of Surgical

Spirit.