All language subtitles for Ransom.For.A.Dead.Man.1971

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MAN: ( on tape )
Les, I'll tape a memo for you

on the Bronson
matter tomorrow.

As far as that Delthorne
Corporation suit is concerned,

they've got me.

As far as I can see,
they're holding firm.

They want $300,000

and they want
delivery tomorrow night.

They've got me.

( sighs )

Oh, Leslie, I thought...

( trunk lid slams )

( footsteps departing )

( engine revving )

( tires screeching )

( sighs )

Hello, Pat?

Leslie.

Uh, listen,
about our tennis date...

Yeah, I know I've been
very forgetful lately.

Uh, Pat, please,
call me at the office tomorrow

at 12:15, sharp.

Just say "tennis,"

and I'll remember to put it
on my office calendar.

All right, Pat. Good-bye.

( sighs )

MAN: When did you sustain
these injuries, Mr. Crowell?

This September 16,
Friday, 8:30 in the evening.

You were admitted
to a hospital

for emergency care
on that night?

Yes, I was. St. John's Hospital,
Santa Monica.

Your Honor,
I'd like to introduce

these hospital records
as Exhibit "A".

Mr. Crowell,
what was the extent

of your injuries
due to your fall?

My back was hurt
real bad.

Objection, Your Honor.

The plaintiff
is not competent

to give expert
medical testimony.

Sustained.

MAN: I would like
to introduce Exhibit "B,"

a full doctor's report
on the plaintiff's condition

showing damage to the
lumbar region of the spine

with concomitant
nerve damage,

resulting in partial paralysis
to the left side of his body.

Did you find out
anything?

No one's seen or heard
from him since he left Phoenix.

Did you check
the hospitals?

I've had Nancy calling
all morning. Not a thing.

What about the police?

Zero. Shall we...

Let me think
about it for a while.

Objection.
Irrelevant and immaterial.

Sustained.
The answer may go out.

Shall we put out
a missing person's report?

I'll do it myself
after lunch.

How goes it here?

We have
a nice middle-class jury.

They dislike
the insurance companies,

second only
to their distaste,

for working-class people.
Your witness.

( clears throat )

Mr. Crowell, you are
a punch press operator,

is that correct?
Yes.

Have you ever been
on welfare before?

Objection.

Sustained.

That night that you
fell down the stairs

in the defendant's
apartment house,

where had you been
prior to your accident?

At a café
across the street.

In point of fact,
Mr. Crowell,

according
to the bartender there,

you had at least three drinks
and no dinner

before you
left the café

and returned
to your apartment.

And not being able to see

the stairwell steps properly,
you fell.

Objection, Your Honor.
Counsel is testifying

and assuming facts
not in evidence.

The plaintiff alleges
the stairs were improperly lit.

Although the plaintiff
may well have been.

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained.

( gavel raps )

Court will be recessed
until 1 o'clock.

I've convinced
my client to discuss

a possible settlement.

I'm sure you have.

My office, 10 minutes?

Mine, at 12:3O.

It looks good.

Very good.

I'll get your insurance company
off the hook cheaply this time.

I've been all over
that building of yours

and you better start maintaining
minimum safety standards,

or the next time,
somebody may get killed.

Thank you.

Hi, Mrs. Williams.
Michael.

Have you heard anything?

There's still no word
from Mr. Williams.

I've tried everywhere.

Thank you, Nancy.
Bring in your pad.

We'd better
outline a settlement.

He'll be here soon.

( sighs )

What time
do you have, Michael?

12:15.

Uh, Les, they're asking
150,000.

My guess is that he'll say that
his client is ill and needs cash

and offer
to settle for half.

We'll tell him
that his client is losing

and that he'll take
what he can get,

which is nuisance value
at $10,000.

That's hitting him
pretty hard.

( phone ringing )

I'll get it.

Yes?

Les?
One word: tennis.

Yes.

Don't forget.

What?
Who is this?

Hello?

Hello?

What is it?

You better
call the police.

That man on the phone said
he's got my husband.

( phone ringing )

But keep them out of sight.

I don't want
a lot of worried neighbors

calling the police
every 5 minutes.

Mr. Carlson.

Hoffman,
this is Carlson.

We don't want
any press leaks on this.

Now listen,
I don't want to have

to add up all the favors
you owe me

and I'm sure
you don't want me to either.

Right.

We'll stay out
of the papers

for the time being,
Mrs. Williams.

Thank you.

Is that tap-in ready?

No, not quite yet, sir.

We'll be
able to monitor.

any phone calls that come
in through this, Mrs. Williams.

Will you be able
to trace the calls?

Maybe. Unfortunately,
the kidnapper is usually

smart enough
to keep the call short

so we won't have the time.

But with this tape, we can
make voiceprints at the lab.

That sometimes gives us

a lead on making
identifications.

There's something
I have to ask you.

I want you to be
completely honest with me.

Of course.

After I pay the ransom,

what are the chances
of my getting my husband back?

All right, I'll be honest
with you, Mrs. Williams.

There's no way
of knowing.

All we can do
is hope for the best.

We'll do everything
we possibly can.

Oh, of course, you will.
I know that.

Look,
Mrs. Williams.

Let's try to take an optimistic
point of view on this, hmm?

He's probably
just fine.

You'll have him with you
in another 24 hours.

That's--
That's all I want.

( phone ringing )

Excuse me.

Carlson.
Yes, I'll hold.

( doorbell chimes )

( sighs )

Uh, Mrs. Williams?

Yes?

Uh, Lt. Columbo,
local police.

I, uh,
seem to have

dropped my pen
out here somewhere.

Just a minute.

Would you like
some help?

Oh, no, that won't be necessary.
Thank you very much.

I'll-- I'll just take
another quick look. Uh...

I can get
a flashlight.

Oh, really, don't bother.
It's all right.

I, uh--
I've got some matches.

It's no trouble.

Oh, really, it's
not that important,

it's just a pen.

You see, it was engraved,
that was the only reason.

But I'll buy another one,
and I'll have that one engraved.

You see, the pen itself
was worthless. Uh...

Is that it?
Where?

There.
Oh.

No.
No?

Is everything all right,
Mrs. Williams?

Lt. Columbo's
lost his pen.

Oh, listen, don't bother him
about it.

Lt. Columbo?

Oh, yes. How do you do?
How are you?

Uh, Mrs. Williams,
I think that

we can forget about
the pen now.

Would you like me
to get you a flashlight?

I offered him--

No, really,
it's not that important.

That last call
was from the police.

They found
your husband's car.

Was there any sign
of violence?

None whatsoever.

How do you suppose
they stopped it?

The car was found
near a stop sign.

So we assume
that when your husband

pulled up
to the intersection,

the kidnappers found
the opportunity.

Um, Mr. Carlson,

there's a gentleman here
to see you.

Oh, Lieutenant

Yes, gentlemen,
this is Lt. Columbo,

our local police liaison.

How do you do?

As I was saying,
the stop sign suggests that...

Is there something we can do
for you, Lieutenant?

Uh, well,
I dropped by to tell you

that they found the car.

We already have
that information.

I can see that.

How's the tap-in coming?

Not yet.

Feel perfectly free to stay
if you like, Lieutenant.

Oh, thank you
very much.

Jerry, I'd like you
to get a man,

check out the houses in the area
where the car was found.

Somebody may have seen something
or heard something last night.

Start from Sunset
and work your way up.

Oh, and, Hammond,
be sure to get the lab report

on the briefcase

and the luggage
found in the car.

Mr. Carlson,
do you suppose

that the kidnappers
followed him

all the way
from Phoenix?

Well, I doubt that,
Mrs. Williams.

But they must have known
when he left Phoenix.

Was there a ransom note?

That's what makes us think
they may have had someone there

checking out
the time of departure.

You see,
if that's true,

they could notify
their confederates there. Sir?

Hmm?

Uh, the Lieutenant would like
to see the ransom note.

Oh-oh, certainly.

Do you know
exactly what time

your husband
would have left Phoenix?

I, um...

Excuse me.
May I see the envelope, please?

Oh, surely

No, no.

I-I-I didn't, neither
did anyone in my office.

Hammond,
which police garage

would they have taken
the car to?

Downtown.

I'll arrange for our people
to run a set of fingerprints.

You know,
strange thing, Mrs. Williams.

When you look
at the route

that your husband
must have taken,

the best place
would've been here...

What is that,
an aerial map?

Mm-hmm
...in your own neighborhood.

Oh, I see.

The streets are dark,
secluded.

What's it for?

Excuse me.

Well, it came
with the instructions

from the kidnappers.

Oh, they sent instructions?
Oh, yeah.

What were they?

Well, Mrs. Williams
is to fly alone,

north along this highway.

Once she reaches
this point on the map,

she takes a heading out
across the desert.

Exactly.

There'll be a flashing light
signal right about there,

and the money is to be
dropped in a bag.

The usual warnings,
no cops.

Right.

When is the drop?

Well, that we don't know.

But like it says,
they'll call us tonight.

CARLSON:
Now listen, Miller.

The victim's car
has been picked up by the LAPD.

They've got it
in the downtown garage.

That's right.

What I want you to do
is run a fingerprint check

on it for us, will you?

You fly a plane?

Yes.

By yourself?

Yes.

No kidding?

No kidding.

CARLSON: Yeah, they'll probably
give you a little static, but...

We're going
on the basis

that the victim
crossed the state line.

Excuse me.

How's it going?

Fine, fine.

Be through
in a few minutes.

CARLSON: Working out of Phoenix
as well as here.

We'll have to wait
till he gets off the phone

before we can check it out.

Fascinating.

Right. Well, you let me know
if you have any problems.

Right.

Can I help you,
Lieutenant?

Oh, no, just browsing.

For anything
in particular?

No.

Because if there's anything
you'd like,

I'd be only
too happy to help.

Oh.
Thank you very much.

Uh, Mrs. Williams.

Yes?

Men's room?

Oh, the powder room
is up those steps,

down the hall and first door
on your right.

Have you got that?

Yeah, I got it.

First door on your right

DETECTIVE: It'll be ready
in a minute, Mr. Carlson.

Good.

One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four.

Perfect.

House is cold.

( sniffles )

( sighs )

I must say,
Mrs. Williams,

you're bearing up
through this very well indeed.

Oh.

It may seem like it,
but if it weren't for you...

Well, that's very kind of you,
Mrs. Williams,

but we just do
what we can. That's all.

You're very modest.

Tell me, do you think that
you'll find any trace of

fingerprints
in the car?

Frankly,
I doubt it.

Well, it's a very professional,
well-planned operation.

See, they knew

what time your husband
was coming from out of town.

They know about
your flying a plane.

No, I think the only
fingerprints we'll find

will be your husband's

and yours, of course.

( clears throat )

Did you find it,
Lieutenant?

Oh, yes, very well.
Thank you.

Mm-hmm.

Listen, I've got to tell you,
Mrs. Williams,

that, uh, you've got
some beautiful place here.

You just
make yourself at home.

Say,

you know the soap you have
in the bathroom,

the ones shaped
like little lemons?

Yes.

Well, I was almost afraid
to use him.

But that's
what they're there for,

Lieutenant, to be used.

Well, if you don't mind
my asking,

when you use one and you put it
back in the plate,

how do you keep it
from sticking to the others?

It's a problem.

That's what I figured.

Think of that--
Do you know what I think?

I think since we're all going
to be waiting here that

I'm going
to fix us all dinner.

Oh, that won't be necessary,
Mrs. Williams.

We can have
something sent in.

Oh, please, let me do it.
It will keep me busy.

All right, thank you.

Uh, Mrs. Williams.

Yes?

Don't you have
any live-in servants?

Yes.

Oh, why, it must be the
same problem everywhere.

If you want something done,
you got to do it yourself.

How is that, Lieutenant?
Huh?

Oh, I was just saying,

you know, you pay
a lot of money for help

and you end up
doing the cooking.

Well, you see, my housekeeper's
been on vacation

for the last week, so.

Oh.

Oh, I see then,
so you've been here alone?

Well, listen, if there's,

I mean, anything
I can do to help,

peel potatoes,
whatever, you just feel free.

Oh, oh, you'll-- you'll be
the first to know.

( phone ringing )

PAUL: ( on tape )
Les?

Mrs. Williams.

Hello?

PAUL: Les?

LESLIE: Paul?

They've got me.
They want $300,000.

When?

PAUL: Tomorrow night.
Just follow instructions

Paul? Paul!

Play it back.
Make sure we got all of it.

That's the spot.

From this point
on the highway to here

it's over 150
miles of desert.

There's no way
we can cover all of it.

LES: ( on tape )
Hello?

PAUL: ( on tape )
Les?

LES: Paul?
PAUL: They've got me.

They want $300,000.
LES: When?

PAUL: Tomorrow night.
Just follow instructions.

I'm not going to take any
chances with my husband's life!

Well, there's nothing
to worry about, Mrs. Williams.

We'll arrange to have you
followed by a helicopter.

Give you plenty of room.

Oh, I know
you will. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to sound like that.

It's quite all right,
Mrs. Williams.

We understand
how you feel.

I think I'll go upstairs.

I'll be in my room
if you want me.

That's a good idea.

We'll be
covering the place all night,

so you rest easy.

All right.
That's it for tonight, fellas.

Let's wrap it up
and go home, huh?

I'll get this tape
to the lab right away.

Goodnight, sir.
Goodnight.

Goodnight.
Goodnight.

Check with you
in the morning.

All right.

Well, Lieutenant, I guess
that's it for tonight.

Lieutenant?

Let's call it a night, huh?

Oh.

Hey, sorry.

Thinking and...

Unique woman.

What's that?

Oh, you see,
she's an exceptional woman.

Oh.

What do you mean?

Well, when the phone rang,
you know, she ran to the phone,

she picked up
the receiver and, uh...

She never asked her-her-her
husband if he was all right.

I don't see anything
strange about that.

The woman was frightened
She was under stress.

That's right, yes. She--

She was. She was under
stress. Right.

See, I just can't help
thinking though, but

if I was in the hands
of kidnappers

and my wife didn't ask me
if I was okay,

I'd think about that.

What's your point,
Lieutenant?
Point?

No, no, no, no point,

just that
she's a unique person.

Goodnight, Lieutenant.

Yeah,
goodnight, goodnight.

BANK OFFICER: Now
if you'll just initial here

and sign here
on all three copies.

Three hundred thousand dollars,
all yours.

We got all
the serial numbers?
Yes, sir.

The bank was very cooperative
in helping us mark the money.

Well, we certainly
appreciate your help.

You're welcome.

Apart from your savings,

trust accounts
and municipal bonds,

we naturally were forced
to sell all of your stocks

at a considerable loss.

I'm sorry, but there was
no other alternative.

I know that, Mr. Perkins,

but this is no time
to worry about money.

Of course, Mrs. Williams
I brought a bag, Mrs. Williams.

Oh, thank you.

That won't be
necessary. I have a bag.

All right.
This should do it.

If you don't need me
any longer. Gentlemen.

Thanks again.

Mrs. Williams.

We've got
a priority clearance

on that air corridor
marked on the map.

You'll be all by yourself.

What about you?

Well, we'll be
holding a position

about 2 miles behind you.

You promised to keep
your people clear of the area.

The highway patrol units
all have their instructions.

If they spot a car
picking up the money,

they just make an identification
and then will let it pass.

Chances are they'll get
the money and clear out

before anyone gets a chance
to get near them,

so I wouldn't worry too much
about that, Mrs. Williams.

I'm concerned
about my husband's life.

Oh, of course.

If you gentlemen
will excuse me, I'll change.

All set, Mrs. Williams?

I'm ready.

All right. Let's go.

( helicopter revving )

You ride in the rear.

Certainly, certainly.

When you want to talk,
press this button.

Want to listen,
just release it.

8-3-5-Romeo,
takeoff.

MAN: ( on wireless )
You're clear, 8-3-5-Romeo.

What was that?

What was what?

I think there's something
wrong with the motor.

Take it easy, Lieutenant.
Everything's just fine.

This is 8-3-5-Romeo,
3-5-Romeo.

We read you,
8-3-5-Romeo.

Am approaching
northbound freeway

and descending
to 1,000 feet

LESLIE: Airspeed at 150.

We're holding
a position on your heading,

airspeed 150.

Right.

How much further is it?

How much further is it?

How much further is it?

She'll notify us

as she approaches
the Palmdale turnoff.

Is that near?

Well, do you see that highway
down there to your right?

Yes, I do.

Well, she'll be heading off
across the desert

from the next coordinates.

Oh, good.

This is 3-5-Romeo.
Approaching coordinates.

Begin new heading
20 degrees northwest.

We read you.

Airspeed at 150.

CARLSON: This is 33-Foxtrot
to all ground units.

We're approaching
the Palmdale turnoff.

Maintain radio silence

until visual contact
is established.

Right.

This is 8-3-5-Romeo,
3-5-Romeo.

Have established
visual contact with light

at spot access road
by coordinates 28.

We read you.

Circling now
to make drop.

This is 33-Foxtrot

to special highway patrol
units 12 and 22.

Move toward access road
near map coordinates 28.

Drop completed.
Over and out.

They got it.

Any sign of them?

No, sir.

There's a highway
only a half mile that way

with a lot of heavy traffic.

They must have gotten lost in
that before we even got here.

Well, we knew that going in,
didn't we?

Mr. Carlson?

Want to look at this?

All right. Let's go home.

Lieutenant?
Lt. Columbo!

Let's go!

Hey, Lieutenant.
Lieutenant, I'll take that.

Are you coming,
Lieutenant?

Uh, no.
Why don't you go ahead?

I'm gonna take
a little walk, clear my head.

You know what I mean?

All right.

How is my father?

( exhales )

What are you doing here?

How is he?

Have you heard from him?

No, not yet.

But you paid the kidnappers
the ransom money.

When will
they bring him back?

We don't know

I, uh...

I wasn't expecting you.

After I got your cable,

I caught the first plane
out of Zurich.

There was only
a 3O-minute layover.

You didn't have to come.

What you mean is,
you didn't want me to.

What I mean is that there's
nothing for you to do here.

Let's drop
the polite charade, Leslie.

I hate you
as much as you hate me.

Maybe more.

And you don't have to play
the martyred stepmother

to me anymore.
I've outgrown that.

So you see, all the expensive
education in Switzerland

isn't a total loss.

Margaret, we're both tired
and we're both upset.

I'm sure neither of us wants
to say anything they don't mean

or that we may be
sorry for later.

Why don't we get some sleep?

Tomorrow may be a long day.

Margaret, I'm worried.

I love him, too.

I haven't been
able to sleep.

I'm terribly nervous.

Margaret,
I'm afraid.

I don't want anything
to happen to him.

I know.
I know.

Don't worry.
Don't worry.

WOMAN: ( on TV )
What kind of insurance

could he have?

MAN: ( on TV )
Enough to cover

doctors and hospital bills.

Say, 125 a week
cash benefit.

Around 50,000 capital sum.

Capital sum?
What's that?

In case he gets killed.

Maybe I shouldn't
have said that.

( sighs )

I suppose you have to think
of everything in your business.

Well, your husband
would understand.

I'm sure
I could sell him.

on the idea of some
accident protection.

Why don't I talk
to him about it?

You could try,
but he's pretty tough going.

Oh,
they're all tough at first.

He has a lot
on his mind.

He doesn't seem to want
to listen to anything

except maybe the
baseball game on the radio.

A little early
for the late show?

WOMAN: Sometimes
we sit here all evening

and never say
a word to each other.

MAN: Sounds pretty dull.

WOMAN: So I just sit and knit.

MAN: Is that what
you're waiting for?

No calls?

Except to say
they haven't heard anything.

They've got fuzz of some kind
out on the street,

watching the house.

Federal agents.

And there's nothing in the paper
about daddy or the kidnappers.

No. We've kept it
out of the press.

and off the radio
and the television.

I was waiting for the news.

Where are you going?

I have a date in court.

How can you do that?

I mean,
how can you function?

Seems like a strange
time to play lady lawyer.

Someday, when you take on
responsibilities,

you'll find out that you don't
always have a choice,

that you have to function,
no matter what.

I guess I'm lucky
I'm still irresponsible,

because all I can think about
is my father.

No more than I.

Why don't you try
to occupy yourself

with something, Margaret?

I mean something
besides television

and running up
overseas telephone bills.

You might find that it'll pass
the time more quickly.

I'll call you the moment
I hear anything.

Leslie. Good luck.

With your case.

Thank you, Margaret.

Good afternoon. I sell accident
insurance on husbands.

You got one that's been
around too long?

One you'd like
to turn into cash?

just give me a smile
and I'll help you collect?

Boy, what a dope
you must think I am.

I think you're rotten.

I think you're swell,

so long as I'm not
your husband.

Get out of here.

You bet I'll get out
of here, baby.

I'll get out of here,
but quick.

LESLIE: Now when their
attorney cross-examines

you about the accident,

cry.

About what?

Everything.

Especially when he asks you
how fast you were going

when you hit their car.

Excuse me.
Just sit down there.

Give me the brief,
Michael.

( sights )

Ah.
Les.

Have you found my husband?

Can we talk to you privately
for a moment?

You can tell me here.

I think we'd better
speak privately.

Just tell me,
did you find my husband?

Please, Mrs. Williams.

Will you tell me?
Is he all right?

Your husband is dead,
Mrs. Williams

Oh.

( breathing deeply )

Are you all right,
Mrs. Williams?

Give me a moment.

CARLSON:
Can we get you a doctor?

LESLIE: Yes.

I'll arrange
to have you driven home.

Get my bag and things.

LT. COLUMBO: I'm very sorry.

LESLIE: I know.

CARLSON: Lieutenant.

Uh,

did she ask
where the body was?

No.

I didn't think so.

Oh, listen, one more thing,
Mr. Carlson.

She didn't, uh, ask how her
husband was killed, did she?

No.

That's what I thought.

All right, Lieutenant,
what's bothering you now?

No, nothing.

No, come on.
Something's bothering you.

No, it's just
that up until now,

you know, she was very cool
and she was very composed

and she suddenly fell apart
in front of other people.

I don't see anything
so strange about that?

No?
Convenient maybe?

Conven... Look, Columbo,

if you think she had something
to do with the kidnapping,

just come out and say so.

Look, I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to upset you.

You asked me what was
bothering me and I told you.

Let's understand
this one thing.

If you start
harassing this woman,

I'm going
to take it upstairs.

Uh, just one minute,
Mr. Carlson.

You see,
it's like this.

This is not just a kidnapping.
This is a murder now.

And I kind of figure
that's my department.

I'll see you around.

I gave Margaret an injection,
put her to bed.

She'll be asleep soon.

LESLIE: Oh, good.

Take two of those
before you go to bed.

They'll put you out
all night long.

Thank you.
I can't thank you enough.

Really, all of you. I...

We'll let you get
some rest now.

( sighs )

You're so brave.
Thank you.

Call me if you need me.

I will, I will.

Goodnight, darling.
See you tomorrow.

Goodnight.
Thank you.

Take care of yourself. Bye.

( door closes )

Mrs. Williams, we'll be keeping
a man on the house

for the next few days.

Is there anything else
we can do?

No, thank you.

Goodnight.
Goodnight.

( sighs )

PREACHER: Let us pray.

O Lord, we implore you
to grant this mercy

to your dead servant,

that he who held fast
to your will by his intentions

may not receive punishment
in return for his deeds.

So as the true faith
united him

with the throng
of the faithful on earth,

your mercy may unite him

with the company
of the choirs of angels

in heaven
through Christ our Lord.

Eternal rest
grant upon him, O Lord,

and let perpetual light
shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

May his soul and the souls
of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.

My deepest sympathy to you,
Mrs. Williams.

Thank you.

I pray you be comforted.
Thank you.

God's peace be
with you.

( engine starts )

Leslie.

Yes, Margaret.

This is what you wanted,
isn't it?

( gasps )

Are you all right?

I'm all right.

I'm all right.
It's nothing.

( door closes )

I'm all right.

( doors close )

( engine starts )

Are you all right?

Yes. Thank you.

Who are you?

I'm Lt. Columbo.
I'm from the local police.

If there's
ever anything you want,

you're not alone.
PERKINS: Margaret.

Remember,
I'm always available.

You'd better come.
They're waiting for you.

PAT: I see now
what you mean about her,

Les. She's spoiled
and completely selfish.

LESLIE: No, Pat.
You can't blame her.

Paul and I both indulged
her too much, I guess.

It was our fault, really.

If she were mine,
stepdaughter or not,

I would kick her out
right now without a dime.

Oh, Pat, I think
Les should get some rest.

Yes, I think so, too.

LESLIE: Too much money...

So sad.

You've got to make her
grow up, Les.

Are you all right?

Yes, I am.
Thank you very much.

Good-bye, Leslie.
Good-bye.

Oh, I have to tell you

how much
I appreciate everything.

You have been
such good friends.

Paul loved you.

He loved you all. So do I.

Good-bye, Leslie.
We love you.

I'll call tomorrow.
Okay.

( door closes )

Margaret!

Margaret,
come down here, please.

I know you're up
there listening,

so you might
as well come down.

You called, mother dear?

I think we'd better
have a talk.

Of course, mother dear.

Margaret,
I'm willing

to overlook the incident
at the cemetery.

I'll write it off
to adolescent hysteria.

But I'm in no mood
to tolerate

any further outbursts,
sarcasm, anything.

Of course.

You're making it very difficult
for us to live together.

I think you should go back
to school this weekend.

The school doesn't open
for another month.

There's nobody there.

You have friends
in Paris. Visit them.

Leslie, I'm not going anywhere.
I'm staying right here.

Why?

It's my home, too!

Margaret, while we're on the
subject of school,

I think we better talk about
something else.

Like what?
Finances.

Your father,

well, your father and I have
kept you very sheltered

from our financial affairs,

but now I think that you are
ready to face certain realities.

I have
my own trust account.

You did. I won't bore you
with the details,

but
since you're a minor,

your father and I had
joint control of that account.

What happened to it?

In order to pay the ransom,

I was forced
to close that account out

along with everything else
that we had.

You're trying to tell me
that we're broke. Is that it?

No.
It's not as bad as all that.

My law practice and the firm
will provide us with enough

to keep us off the streets
of Beverly Hills.

But there will have to be
certain re-adjustments.

You mean my allowance.

That's a very good example.

How much of a "re-adjustment"?

I don't know. I'll have to see
what I can come up with.

I'll let you know.

In the meantime,
while you're here

for the next couple of weeks,

why don't you try to find
yourself a job,

pick up some extra cash?

Might come in handy.

May I help you?

Lt. Columbo.
I had an appointment

Oh, of course.
My goodness, you're early.

I know.

How'd you get in?

Oh, the janitor was
nice enough to let me in.

Mrs. Williams should be
here in a moment.

She's never late
for an appointment.

Oh, really? Me, I got
this terrible habit,

I'm always early.

Whenever I have to be anywhere,
I get there ahead of time.

What, you a legal secretary?

Believe it or not,
I'm an attorney.

I'm called an associate

which means that since the
secretary phoned in sick,

I have to fill in.

I don't know
how you do it.

Do what?

Work for a woman.

Oh, it doesn't bother me.

It just so happens
that she's one of the best trial

attorneys in this state.

Good morning.

Good morning.
Have I kept you waiting?

Uh, no, I was early.
Oh, good.

Well, won't you come in?

Shall I hold the calls?

Please, Michael.

I'm sorry
to bother you

on your first day back
and all, but...

Oh, that's all right,
Lieutenant.

I understand
the federal people

haven't come up
with anything.

No, nothing, not a word,
not a clue.

Say,

that's some telephone.

Yes.

What are you, uh...
You big on gadgets, are you?

No.

I just happen to find
that one a great help.

You see, say that I want
to get in touch with a client

to be in court,
say, Monday, for example.

I just tape a message

and this machine
calls my client

and does it for me.

Oh, that's--

That's really something.
Hmm.

You know, today they can
do everything electronically,

I mean,
if they wanted to.

I'd bet on that.

You don't mind if I take down
the name of this, do you?

I mean,
maybe I could

con the department
into getting one for my office.

You have a pen?
Oh, thank you.

These things,
they really fascinate me.

You know, they got a new thing
today,

uh, like if I want to take
my wife to the ball game

I just
dial this service

for the tickets.

And it's all done
by the computer.

It's really, uh...
It's unbelievable.

Hmm.

What did you
want to see me about,

Lieutenant, exactly?

Uh, you see,
Mrs. Williams, now that,

a murder has been
committed, it's--

it's my job to look at this case
from all possible angles.

I would think it would be
your job to catch the kidnapper.

Oh, well,
the federal agents are on that,

and, of course,
we have our men on it, too.

Very reassuring.

Yes, it is,
'cause they do a fine job.

But, uh, you see,
the thing is with me, uh,

I'm a strange guy.

Really?
Yeah, I worry.

I mean, little things
bother me. I'm a worrier.

I mean,
little insignificant details,

I lose my appetite,
I can't eat.

My wife,
she says to me,

"You know,
you can really be a pain."

You know what I mean?

Yeah,
I get the general picture.

Why don't you get on with it?

Oh, yeah, sure, right.

Well, you see, there are
certain things here

about your husband's
kidnapping that

certain details that--

Does this lighter work?

Yes.

Boy, they really nag me.

Such as?

The bag for instance.

Which bag?

The one you dropped
from the plane,

the one with the ransom
money in it.

Oh, didn't I say
which bag it was?

No, you didn't.

I'm sorry
I thought I did.

What about the bag?

Well, I just thought
it's funny

that whoever took the money
out of the bag,

they didn't take
the bag with them.

Well, what's so funny
about that?

You figure a kidnapper,

he's afraid
to get caught, right?

So he's not likely to stop,

open a bag,
take the money out,

then run away
and leave the bag behind.

Well, of course, you know
more than I do, Lieutenant,

but don't people
under stress

act more out of immediate
emotion than logic?

That's absolutely true.

In fact,
I'll go even further.

That's what does
most criminals in, eventually.

Well, then isn't it
safe to assume that, uh,

that they would
open the bag to see

if the money was there?

And then,
after they saw it,

out of fear or panic,

take the money
out of the bag and run.

Yeah,
that's probably right.

That's probably right.
I'm sure that

it's right. I mean,

I don't mean to defend
my point about the bag, but

I was just using
that as an example

to show you
the kind of person I am.

You understand
how details bother me.

In other words,

I'm trying to show you
a whatchamacallit of mine,

a...

An idiosyncrasy.

Right. Idiosyncrasy.

Gee, that's--

That's a good word.

Oh, one of the best.

Anything else?

Uh, no.

No, I guess, that's it.

Listen, I, uh,

I want to thank you for taking
the time to talk to me.

I really appreciate that.

It certainly helped

straighten things
out in my mind.

Hmm.
Anytime, Lieutenant.

Thank you again.

Oh.

What, something else?

I don't know
what's the matter with me.

One other thing,

the angle of the bullet.

What about it?

Well, the bullet entered
your husband's body

at a 45-degree angle.

What's the significance
in that?

Well, that means that
your husband was standing

and

see the way
you're standing?

Oh, Leslie, I thought...

Just the way
you're standing

You see just the way
you're standing.

And the killer was sitting

just the way I am.

And from this position

the killer shot him.

I'm sorry, I...

Uh, would you, uh...

A little water
on the table.

Thank you.

I'm sorry
I didn't mean to upset you.

That's all right.
That's all right.

Please, go on with
what you were saying.

Listen, I can
come back another time.

Mm-mmm. No.

Really, I'm all right.
I want to hear.

Are you sure
you're all right?

Mm-hmm.

There's not much
else to say about it.

It's just--

It's just another
one of those things

that bothers me.

I mean,

what was
your husband doing?

Was he just standing there

while some guy
sitting down shot him?

Well, at this point, uh,

there's no way of really
knowing what happened,

is there?

Right.
You're right about that.

Right. That's...

But the other thing,
now is peculiar.

Something else?

Your husband, he was shot
with a 22-caliber revolver.

So?

Well, most criminals,
they use a 32, maybe a 38.

But this one
was different?

It sure was.

And I tried to figure it.

Why a 22?

Hmm.
That's interesting.

Yes, you see,
that is interesting.

What if he wanted
to fire into someone

and be reasonably certain

that the bullet
didn't have the velocity

to go through the body?

But why?

Because he didn't want
any trace of the crime

in the room
where he shot him.

Well,
you've given these details

of yours a lot of thought,
Lieutenant.

Listen, I know all these
things don't seem like much.

Put them all together,
one of top of the other,

and I'm telling you,

that kidnapping
just doesn't add up.

Let me understand you
correctly.

Are you implying
that this was perhaps

not an ordinary kidnapping?

That's right.
That's interesting, isn't it?

Now what if someone
set out to murder your husband

and he only made it
look like a kidnapping?

And so the ransom money,
all that was a setup.

Yes!
That's possible.

Look how that throws us off.

We're looking for kidnappers
that don't exist

and in the meantime,

the real killer is so close-by,
we can't even see him.

And all these little details
of yours fall into place,

the angle of the gun?

Exactly.

Shot by someone he knew

while the murderer
was sitting down.

Caliber of the bullet.

Right.

Killed in a room where he didn't
want to leave any traces.

No bullet holes
in the wall, for example.

The empty bag?

That's a puzzler.

I can't figure
that one out yet.

Lieutenant,
in all honesty,

I must tell you
you have collected

one of the most
absurd hypotheses

I have ever heard.

Nothing that you
said proves anything

one way or another.

I know that.
I'm not a lawyer,

and maybe my theories are
not as good as they should be.

But, Mrs. Williams,

I've been a cop
for a long, long time

and after a few years,
believe me,

the old nose
gets to be pretty good.

What do you
want from me?

You know
how you could help?

If you would just talk to me
about your husband yourself,

then maybe
I can come up with somebody,

a business associate,
a friend, who knows,

but somebody

who might have
a motive to kill him.

And if you can't?

Federal men are working
on the kidnapping.

There's no harm done.

Lieutenant,
I don't hold with this

murder theory of yours.

Mrs. Williams,

you're perfectly
within your rights.

Lieutenant,
let me finish.

But I will do
whatever I can to help you.

Whoever it was
killed my husband,

for whatever reason,
I want him found.

I was hoping
you'd say that.

Michael, Lt. Columbo
and I will be at the airport

if you need us.

Why will we be there?

I try to get in
a few hours flying

at least two days a week
and this is one of those days.

Besides, I feel as if I want
to get away from here.

Come with me. We'll talk.

Where, in a plane?

Lieutenant,
are you afraid of flying?

Well, it's, uh...

It's not
one of my favorite pastimes.

It's a great release for me
being up here, Lieutenant.

All alone, totally free.

I do some of my best
thinking up here.

No kidding?

No kidding.

Mrs. Williams?
Hmm?

Would you not do that?

You're nervous.

No offense.

I'm like this in a car.

I'm always nervous
when I'm not driving.

Would you
like to take over?

I beg your pardon?

I could teach you

how to handle
the plane in an hour.

Oh, yes, well, really,
that would be wasted on me.

I don't intend to fly again.

You make me feel terrible.

Flying is a wonderful
experience.

I've ruined it for you.

No, you haven't. I've never been
crazy about flying actually.

That's because
you've never done it.

What we don't know,
we fear

Take the controls.

No, I'd rather not,
thank you.

Try it I want you
to feel what happens.

Really, that's very,
very kind of you

and I appreciate that.

Why don't you
just describe it to me?

I want to show you
how easy it is, Lieutenant.

Are you ready?

Ready for what?

Here we go.

Here.

You take the controls.

That's a mountain up ahead.

What do I do?

Turn the wheel
to the left.

Keep your feet off
the rudder pedal.

Pull back on the wheel,
Lieutenant

No, no. Not too much.
Not too much.

You've overcorrected.
Keep the plane's nose up.

You have to treat
the plane like a woman.

You have to treat
her gently.

You have to treat her
very gently.

See?
Watch out for that peak.

Pull it up.
Pull it up.

Come on, Lieutenant.
Up, up,

up. Pull it up.

That was brilliant,
Lieutenant.

You're gonna
make an ace pilot.

There.

Like it?

I'd appreciate it
if we didn't talk for a while.

Sure.

Can you talk yet?

Not yet.

Ready?

Okay.

Ask me anything,

I'll try to help you
any way I can.

Did you ever teach
your husband how to fly?

Ah, no.
He wouldn't learn.

Any other questions?

Um, well,
Mrs. Williams,

did your husband
have any personal enemies?

He didn't have
any personal enemies.

Everyone admired
my husband.

And he was respected
by his fellow attorneys.

They elected him president
of the local bar association

for 5 consecutive years.

But, you know, sometimes
behind the applause,

there might be
somebody who's envious,

somebody who resents
all that success.

If there was such a person,
I never met him.

What else?

Yes?

Um, this is not
an easy question.

You understand that?

Go on.

Did your husband
ever have any relationships

with any other women?

My husband was never
unfaithful to me.

How do you know that?
How can you be sure?

Because he had
a rigid code of ethics

from which he never deviated.

Must have been
quite a man.

There was nobody like him.

I'm sorry I can't be
of more help to you.

No, it's all right.

You've been of help.

This is a process
of elimination.

You understand that?

No other questions?

No. No, I guess not.

Then we'll head back.

You all right?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.
Yeah, I'm fine.

Did you enjoy yourself?

Well, it was, uh,

it was quite an experience.

Mm-hmm?

I mean,
I know what you mean

now about
relaxing up there,

because
when I first started out,

I was very tense,
but now...

Anytime.
Anytime, Lieutenant.

Yeah.

Uh, say,

you know,
I have this cousin, Ralph.

His name is Ralph.

Anyway, Ralph was the greatest
at everything, you know?

I mean, he thought better,
he talked better,

he made out better.

Ralph was the greatest.

But I mean, Ralph,

boy, that Ralph
was something,

I'll tell you that.
I'll never forget him.

Uh, is there a point
to this story, Lieutenant?

A point?

A point.

No, I don't think
there's a point, except--

Well, maybe,

you know, maybe
what it was is that

when you were talking about
your husband in the plane,

I guess that
reminded me of Ralph.

You see,
because Ralph,

he was a bore.

I mean,
he was so perfect,

there were times
I felt like killing him.

Yes, well...

I have to change now,
Lieutenant.

That's all, fellas.

My mind is
someplace else.

Hey, Lieutenant.

What do you say, Bert?

Uh,
what's the use of kicking?

You know
what's your trouble?

You don't have
much imagination.

What do you
mean by that?

You always
look at the menu

and you always
order chili.

By God,
you know, that's true.

What'll it be?

I'll have the chili, Bert.

See what I mean?

Well,
look at it this way.

You'll never be
disappointed.

Hey, you got
something there.

All right,
bowl of chili.

For the Lieutenant.
Make it special.

Lt. Columbo?

Oh, yes?
I'm Margaret Williams.

You remember me?

Oh, yes, of course.

Yes, uh, I just didn't
expect to see you here.

Listen, try the chili.
You won't be sorry.

Lieutenant,
I came to see you.

Well, what-- what about?

My father's murder.

Listen, I'm terribly
sorry about that.

We just haven't
been able to come up

with anything on that.

Well,
I may have something.

Are you sure you won't
have something to eat?

Lieutenant,
this is very important.

Oh, I'm sorry.
Go ahead.

I'm listening.

Could we move
to that booth over there?

Oh, certainly.

You see, it's, uh,

it's the crackers
that make the dish.

I think my stepmother

may have had
something to do with it.

Now you realize
what you're saying?

Yes.

Then tell me.

She never loved him.

She used him to get
what she wanted for herself,

a career.

She used his name,
his influence,

so that she could become
the famous lady lawyer.

And to be a partner
with my father

was instant stature,

instant success.

Well, uh,
when did all this start?

Did this start while your
mother was still alive?

Yes, but he didn't have
an affair with her.

How can you be
sure of that?

I knew him.

He was
faithful to my mother

all through those last years
while she was dying.

Well, when did they get
together romantically?

After my mother died.

She talked him into leaving
the state supreme court,

something he'd worked
for all his life.

But he left it

because he wanted
to be with her.

Is that when they became
partners?

That was the bait.

He did that for her,
so she married him.

Why would
she want to see him dead?

My father came to visit me
in Switzerland

during last vacation.

Then he told me
what a fool he'd been,

how she finally told him

that she thought
he was a bore,

a dull,
tiresome old man

and she wanted
a new arrangement.

He started to cry.

I'd never seen him
cry before.

He was to quit the firm,
turn it over to her.

Then they were to live their
separate lives.

She didn't ask
for a divorce,

just that
they share the house,

nothing more.

He could never stomach
living a lie like that

and he told her so.

She just laughed at him.

I put my arm around him.

Didn't know
what else to do.

So what did he do?

He threatened
to throw her out

and close down the office.

He dared
to stand up to her.

I think
that's why he was killed.

Well,
now, look, Margaret,

you've told me
some reasons

why maybe your stepmother
might have a motive.

But they're all true.

I didn't say
they weren't.

But you don't have
any proof of anything

and you don't have
any evidence.

All you have
is your assumptions.

You understand?

Besides,
how could she do it?

What would she do,
involve some other people?

Hmm?

That would be
very risky, wouldn't it?

No. You see, the only
possible way would be...

No. No, that's crazy.

What is it?

Now it just
occurred to me that

the only possible way

would be if somehow
there never was a kidnapping.

She killed him,

then set it up
to look that way.

Now
I never said that.

I mean,
that's a crazy idea.

I mean,
forget that idea.

Lieutenant,
how do you go about

proving something
like that?

Oh, goodness,
I don't know how to do that.

Listen, I think you got
a crazy idea there.

I think you ought
to forget about it.

Well, I'll be in touch
with you, Lieutenant.

All right, all right.

You know,
there might be something

in the position
of the car seat.

Did you say something?

I said there might be something
in the position of the car seat.

What car seat?

Your father's car.

You know, the night they
picked up your father's car,

somebody noticed
that the car seat

had been moved forward.

I don't understand.

Your father's
a very tall man, isn't he?

I mean,
he's 6 foot or better.

Well, whoever
drove that car last,

they had moved
the seat forward.

Like a woman?

Could be.

And, of course,
there's your father's keys.

What about them?

We never found them.

Keys weren't in the car.

And later on

when we found
your father's body,

the keys weren't
on the body either.

So?

Well,
did you ever notice how,

just out of habit,
when you get out of a car,

you automatically
reach for the keys?

You see, the last person
out of that car

instinctively
took the keys with them.

And may still
have them.

Police Department?

I'd like to speak
to Lt. Columbo please.

Mrs. Williams.

Mrs. Williams.

What is it?

I got the telephone call.
I came right over.

I didn't call you.

Well, I know that.

It was your stepdaughter,
Margaret.

How did you get in here?

She said she was gonna
leave the door open.

I don't understand. Why?

Why did she call you?

She said she had
something to show me.

Oh.

Oh, Margaret?

Margaret!

You want me?

Yes! Lt. Columbo
is here to see you.

No, I think he's here
to see both of us.

Are you?

I thought
he might like to know

that I found these keys,

my father's key ring

and in your bedroom.

Margaret, you say these
are your father's keys?

Lieutenant, could you explain
the importance of these keys?

It isn't at all
clear to me.

Well, you see, Mrs. Williams,
it goes like this.

The keys
were not in the car,

and they were not
on your husband's body,

so we were wondering
what happened to him.

My father was
never kidnapped.

He came home that night
and you killed him

Oh, Margaret.

Margaret,
you really don't know

what you're talking about.

Yes, I do!

Oh, Lieutenant,
I can't do anything with her.

It's true!
You-- you killed him. It's true!

Lieutenant,
you know it's true.

Wait a minute,
just one moment.

Go sit down.
Sit down in that chair.

Now listen to me,
Margaret.

What you're saying might mean
something except for one point.

These are
not your father's keys.

Margaret, I've had
the house watched

and you had
a locksmith up here yesterday.

And I've got an invoice
of every duplicate key

you had made.

Now I'm gonna overlook
what you did this time,

but I want you
to remember something.

Forging evidence is a crime.

But she killed him!

There is no proof of that.

She did it! I know it
and you know it, too!

No, I don't know it!

Yes, you do!
No, I don't know...

Yes, you do!

Young lady,
don't you ever do that again.

How could she think a thing
like that, Lieutenant?

I always knew
that she resented me,

but I never thought
that she would go this far.

I'm gonna have to tell you
the truth, Mrs. Williams.

Um, I knew how she felt.

You see, the

fact is
she came to me the other day

and she told me that
she thought you were involved.

I told her
it was a far-fetched idea.

Yes, but you did
manage to tell her

about the missing keys.

You never
mentioned them to me.

That wasn't among
those "little details"

that was
bothering you so much.

Well, now, Mrs. Williams,

if by some remote chance

your stepdaughter
had been right,

it wouldn't have been

very smart for me
to have told you,

now would it?

I understand.

Good afternoon,
Mrs. Williams

Lt. Columbo?

Yeah?

Thank you for straightening
Margaret out. I appreciate it.

Oh, it was the only thing
I could do.

I mean, I just can't
have you accused of murder

on the wrong evidence.

I know you did it.

I know it.

I think you ought
to see a doctor, Margaret.

Do you?

Yes, I do.

I think
you're a very sick girl.

You listening?

Yes,
but it's very difficult

because I'm so sick.

Margaret.

Why don't you
go back to Switzerland?

I'll put you up at a hotel
until school opens.

I'm staying right here.

You listen to me.

You stay here only
as long as you behave.

One more little drama

and I will not only
cut off your allowance,

I will tie up your estate.

You will be
on Social Security

before you see
a nickel of it.

Where will all your friends
be then, Margaret,

when you haven't the money
to buy them anymore?

( phone ringing )