Original subtitles

Fred, can you see who it is?

I can't. I can't.

Fred, can you spot anything?

I can't. Too fast.

Can you hear me? Can you spot anything?

Can't see.

Can't see.

Who is it?

Fred Reston. They picked him up a few minutes ago.

Fred, a side road. Find a side road.

What's the car? What kind of car?

12 -8 -79 clear.

12 -8 -79 clear.

12 -8 -79 clear.

12 -8 -79 clear.

Manix. Mr. Carlisle, the president of Vancom Industries has been calling.

There's been an explosion. A man has been killed.

They want Agent Reston over there right away. I didn't tell him anything.

All right, I'll go.

There's something else I've got to do first.

early. Hello, Edna.

Joe Mannix.

Well, when was the last time?

Oh, now don't tell me.

Fred asked you for dinner without calling.

Where is he?

You know, the kitchen closes at seven.

A woman has to have some organization too, you know.

Fred's always drifting in at any time.

Hang around Intertech talking to all the other agents.

Well, I finally just laid down the law.

I said, Fred, look. Now, plant security is your specialty. And the kitchen is

my... I'm sorry.

Come on. Sit down.

Can I fix you a drink?

Edna.

He's not coming.

the office not to call you.

Nobody called.

I just... read it in your eyes.

Did Fred say anything this morning before he left?

Anything that... It might give me a clue as to what happened.

You said goodbye.

I'll be home early.

Edna, would you mind if I looked through his reports?

Fred was checking his security at Vancom. He was programming the

Edna, apparently Fred was photographing the installations at Vancom. Would you

have any idea where the pictures might be?

Pictures?

We don't even own a camera.

Nope, not developed yet.

Try tomorrow.

It's like seeing your child run over by a car.

I invented that modification of the laser.

I was its father.

Oh, there you are, Dr. Forrest. I was looking for you. Yes, Mr. Mannix, this

Dr. Carlisle, president of Vancom. How do you do? You saw the lab? Yes, I did.

Dr. Josephus is waiting in my office. Good.

Your man Rustin convinced us that he was the great protector of Vancom security.

It took a lab explosion to tell us what they were up to.

Now we can't even prove that the theft took place or that they were involved.

Well, who are they and just what did they steal?

Andrew, this is Mr. Mannix from Intertec.

Andrew Josephus, our project chief.

Mr. Mannix? How do you do?

Please sit down. Thank you.

Mr. Mannix, do you like cocktail parties?

Electronics invites you to a private demonstration of its exciting new

development in the field of laser technology Tuesday, May.

That's tomorrow night. New development, all right.

But not theirs. Ours.

Stolen. They blew up our laboratory to hide the theft.

And if they're about to go into production as they say they are, they've

man here since we began.

Mr. Mannix, we spend two hard years on a project that is very important to each

of us.

We hire a supposedly competent company to protect our work.

And you come in here and ask us questions as though you didn't know one

thing about what had happened.

Which obviously you don't.

Where's Reston? He said he was on to something.

Reston was just murdered.

I'm sorry.

I'm very sorry to hear that.

We were all very close to Fred.

But Reston should have been more aware.

He should have known what was going on long before this.

We'll pick up Reston's leads.

It may take a little while, but we'll find something.

What do we do while people point at us and play guess the thief?

You seem to think you're on this spot all alone.

Mr. Mannix, I understand. I really do.

You're confused.

Your man is dead and you're upset.

And even though we've come a long ways from the cotton fields back home, this

project does have an unusual chief, or hadn't you noticed that either?

Can't you at least tell us what your plans are?

You seem to think this is an inside job.

Can't very well tell you my plans, can I?

I don't blame them. A technician was killed, our agent in charge was

and they have millions at stake.

I'd have thrown you what on your ear?

I thought the doctor told you to stay in bed.

The doctor told me to take this junk three times a day and avoid hard -nosed

agents the rest of the time.

Now, what have you found out?

Oh, wait a minute, Lou.

The theft at Vancom's been going on for two years.

I just now got into the case.

Well, you have plenty of leads to go on. Two years.

Reston's been on the case for two years. He didn't say a word about it.

Reston was a good man.

Now, look, isn't it just possible that Reston was on a take with the partner

killed him?

Don't you question me. Find his killer. Don't you worry, I will. Where? In here?

Don't tell me...

I,

uh, got an invitation to the Berwyn cocktail party for the industry.

They're gonna unveil a laser tonight.

I figured...

Get me a plane car. No radio. No, uh, nothing. No markings.

Are we gonna both go?

I'm going. I speak several languages. Science is my hobby. I can get by in a

technical conversation.

And I won't blow the job by getting into a fight.

All right, Lou. I'll, uh, I'll just, uh, check on another angle. I don't care

what you do.

I'm busy. What is it?

Who? What does he want?

Oh, tell... No, no, no. I'll tell him.

Hello? Hello, Lou.

Thought I'd call to see how you were feeling.

That medication I gave you can cause side reactions in some individuals.

What kind of reactions?

Well, they vary.

But I want to know if you experience any emotional problems.

If you sense any instability.

I feel fine.

I'll let you know if there's any change.

Good. You do that.

The rest of them was a meticulous man. His run between the two Vancom plants on

the coast was made each day between 2 and 2 .30.

Got to that second plant at 3 o 'clock five different times.

Why?

Stopped to eat.

Maybe.

I could have been meeting somebody.

There shouldn't be too many places to check on that road.

No, thanks.

Tell me, have you ever seen this man around here?

Thanks for the information.

I want to talk to him. You better get out or you'll get hurt.

You ever seen him?

Yeah, yeah.

Are you sure?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a business.

In the morning you get a sales before he sees customers.

with two pals a couple of times.

Bought a pail for each.

Never used half of it.

Have you ever seen any of these fellas?

I needn't explain to you, gentlemen, the fantastic potential of the laser.

The control and safe exercise of this enormous power has been our concern at

Berwyn Electronics for the past three years.

The measure of our success is... This

beam. which has a critical focus of a fraction of a millimeter.

Intercept the beam at any point other than the focus, and the beam is safely

withdrawn.

Feel free to ask for any further demonstration or specification.

Thank you.

Vancom Electronics was very close to something like this now.

Very close is not enough, Mr... Dr.

Feynman. International Petroleum.

What are you working on?

I will tell you that when you speak of billions, it makes me feel here like I'm

starving to death in my little laboratory.

Drink? Well, yes. Water, please.

Perhaps international doesn't feel there's a potential in your work.

Well, what is the...

Potential in low -cost underwater mining?

Doctor, perhaps we should have lunch. This is no place to chat.

I believe I've said too much already.

Call me.

Berwyn Electronics has an excellent profit -sharing program.

The idea was developed for another company.

I am morally obligated. Of course.

George!

I know the potential of the laser.

Took us two years to develop it.

If I knew your job wasn't on the spot because we beat you to the punch, I'd

you for slander.

How are you? You're now back to Forrest? Of course. Yes, we are.

Josephus, how do you do? Good evening.

Yeah, I've been ready a couple of hours.

Just going to call your girlfriend.

How did you know her number?

It's there on the envelope.

It's open.

Who

are

you?

Oh, the name is Maddox. Mallory Finance.

Unpaid bills.

I don't owe any money.

Now, would you mind leaving, please?

You're a friend of Fred Reston's?

I knew him.

Just heard the news on the radio.

Yeah, it's too bad.

Well, now, let's see.

TV set.

Sofa.

One fur jacket.

Well, I'd like to go first class.

It's too bad he stopped payment.

Fight?

Fred Reston didn't buy me any of those things.

You got the paid receipts?

I'm hardly in the mood to look for paid receipts right now.

Well, that's all right. Just take your time.

And while you're looking, you know, I could sure go for a beer.

Hey, I'm not a hard guy to get along with.

No, sir, not when they look like you.

Will you get out of here before I call the police?

Take it easy.

I have to see the wife next.

There's no beer.

He did buy me this.

I shot one roll of film.

I found out that he was married and I said goodbye, Fred, and I've never seen

him since.

Now will you please get out?

Keep this.

That's on me.

I may have to come back after I check the rest of these bills. Do it by mail.

Rustin!

Where is he? Where's who?

The other man.

Just us here, sir.

Dr. Josephus.

Water, please.

I saw you at the cocktail party, the Berwyn Company.

Your call said it was urgent.

Yes.

I can't remember where I'm supposed to take whenever I already did.

The absent -minded professor.

Well, just to make sure.

Steroids. Oh, for a slight infection.

I go easy on that stuff. It causes more problems than it cures.

Now, how is it to work for the Vancom Company?

Another day on the levee.

Another bale of cotton.

I am thinking about a move.

Any more questions?

Or may I leave now, Mr.

Interdict?

I beg your pardon?

Let's make it a game.

I'll say Interdict, and you play dumb.

You're a very bright man, Doctor.

Not really.

You fooled those others because they got where they are by hard work and

circumstances.

I had to crawl up that hill on my knees.

Took a hundred years in the Civil War.

And I still don't belong.

So I can spot someone else who doesn't belong for whatever reason. Sensitive?

Very.

These were taken in Detweiler's office.

This one has your name on it.

It gets better.

A contract for employment between you and Berwyn Electronics.

Double what you're getting at Vancom?

For the whole world, it's okay.

If a guy like me is supposed to be filled with gratitude because there are

more minstrel shows, it pins me to the wall.

Now, that isn't clear. Go to the devil.

He'll explain.

What I'm going to do is hang a thief if the devil wants the help good for him.

It was Reston.

Doctor, you stole the formula day after day. You walked out with pieces of it.

This contract, this contract was your payoff.

You wanted it kept secret until things cooled down. It was Reston, I tell you.

It was Reston. It was Reston.

It was Reston.

Mr.

Indetector, your bale of cotton.

Thank you.

Cremated.

Where is Mr. Wickersham?

I called him a dozen times, but he won't talk to me. I want to know how it feels

to be responsible for another man's death. Edna, control yourself.

Fred hated that job.

But he was loyal.

How are they going to repay his loyalty now?

Please, take it easy.

Yes, I understand.

Reston was insured for $50 ,000 last year. So clients just cancel their

contracts. I don't believe it.

Well, there, read it. It came out of one of your big fat computers.

Makes three cancellations in two days.

Oh, come on, Lou.

Insurance that size suddenly now?

He had a dangerous job.

He's had the job for ten years.

If this hadn't arrested Strike, he was the type that would murder her husband.

Did you ask Panda that?

Now, look, Reston was dating a brunette a few times. Now, maybe Edna found out.

She's a woman, you know. She's not one of your sophisticated data cards. This

company I have built sticks in your throat. It always has. The way I run it,

methods I believe in. Are you either going to work my way or get out?

What do the thoughts of the laser mean to you personally in dollars?

Don't talk to me about money, Mr. Mannix.

What do we talk about?

Glory?

No, don't laugh.

Maybe you've never lived with something 24 hours a day.

When you ate, when you slept, when you held a woman.

For two years I bore that child, Mr. Mannix.

The pain, the discomfort.

And George Carlisle breathing down my neck.

Are we on the right track, Forrest? Are we breaking through, Forrest?

All he cared about was his lousy job.

That's all he cares about now.

What do you care about, Forrest?

One line in the history books.

Norman Forrest, inventor of the laser transmitter.

Here's the special list that you asked for, Mr. Forrest. Thank you, Gail.

Oh, Miss Mason, this is Mr. Mannix from Intertec.

We've met.

Well, it looks fine.

Thanks, Gail.

Here's a list of Vancom employees capable of understanding the data that

stolen. You Intertec people deserve a citation.

Hell or high water, you'll transfer the stench.

I didn't say Rustin was innocent.

I just think he had a partner.

Reston could have done it alone.

And murdered himself, too.

Manic's here.

Yep, Hender.

I'm following Ed and arresting now.

You've changed cabs three times to make sure she isn't being tailed.

Now I can't tell where she's heading.

She sure isn't acting like a grieving widow.

Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute.

No tourists today.

A lady just came aboard.

You like tuna? I can sell you a tuna.

Move.

Thank you.

Practice it.

Logan? Yeah, that's me. My name is Wickersham. Your sister's husband worked

me.

What is this, a convention?

Lou!

Lou!

You identified Reston's body.

You want to buy some tuna fish, too, huh?

I just want to be sure it was resting you buried.

Mister, what do you want from me?

I looked at a piece of charcoal.

It's no good. I thought I told you to stay out of here.

You ran out on me. I told you to stay out of here.

Now. Now, Lou, we're going to talk.

No more.

about Edna Reston.

Edna Reston?

Yeah, Edna Fred's wife.

I shook her up, Lou, and she ran right to the docks.

All you had to do was press a button on one of those computers. You can't test

so much. And you found out that her maiden name is Logan.

Now, listen to me, Lou.

I don't want to fight you.

Her brother owns a tuna boat. Her cousin and two uncles are in the business.

She had a better reason for going down there, Lou.

What reason?

Reston is alive.

Did you hear what I said, Lou?

Wrestling is a lie.

Liar! Liar!

Liar!

Lou, wrestling's a lie. I saw him when I saw he passed you. Where is he now? He

got away.

Get away from you.

Never.

I saw Reston.

Who? Reston sold out. Lou, it can happen. Lou, you never did believe in

Use your head, Lou.

I believed in you. We can get to the bottom of this.

Watch it. Finally, that's how interdict agents work, but not you, Max. You know

the law.

That's it, Lou.

Now you're going to listen to me. Get out!

What's the matter with you?

We've been friends for a long time.

Everything ends.

You're going to listen to me, Lou.

Listen to me, Lou.

Listen to me, Lou.

Listen to me.

Reston is a liar.

He's a bad apple, Lou.

Reston sold out.

Get out of here, liar.

Liar. Get out. Liar. Get out.

Get out. Get out.

Come on, get out of here, liar.

Liar, get out.

All right, Lou.

I'll get out. I'll get out.

And I'll be back.

With Reston.

Get out.

Get out!

Where is he?

I warn you, I'll scream.

Make it loud.

Now, where is he?

What are you talking about?

Fred Reston.

He's dead.

He's alive and kicking.

Don't be ridiculous.

Oh, it was him, all right.

I saw him.

Good old Fred.

But he's dead.

He's alive.

I don't understand.

His body.

Someone's body.

I think I'd better get you a doctor.

All right, now I'll settle for your boyfriend, Reston. Where are you going?

I don't know.

I gotta find Reston.

Like it or not, I'm getting you a doctor.

I gotta find him. I gotta get Brett.

Here.

Drink this.

No, I... I'm gonna get Reston.

You can't drive.

You can.

All right. Finish this drink. I'll get dressed.

What happened? How did you get so badly beaten up?

Somehow.

By whom?

remarks to prove it happened, I still don't believe it.

Who are you talking to?

I phoned Intertech and asked for your doctor.

You drugged me.

And you called Reston.

Now get inside.

I told you. I called your doctor. I called Intertech.

Sit down.

Oh, he isn't.

I sent over the clippers.

The man at the golf range is.

The lab technician is.

But you're not going to put me on that list.