Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones.

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Meriwether.

With guest stars Gary Lockwood, Meg Foster.

Tonight's episode, Blueprint for a Caper.

Thank you.

I like seeing a man dedicated to his job.

What are you doing here? I told you never to come anywhere near this place.

on, take it easy. No insomnia. I just want to make sure you got the plans.

I told you I'd get them tonight.

That's what I like about you, Cleve.

Dependable. Like death and taxes.

I wish I could say the same about you.

Your undisciplined addicts are going to ruin everything for us one day. Okay,

okay.

I, uh, I just got overanxious.

I'm sorry.

Look, I haven't got time.

Who told us?

What you haven't got time

Hey!

Thank you.

minute, Jeff.

Let's see what you got here.

My daddy used to have to tighten it all the time. Yeah, just like a pit stop.

See how that feels.

Great. Thanks, Mr. Jones.

Mary O 'Ann, you ready? Move over.

Just one more thing I have to learn to do now.

Repair race cars.

Mrs. Larkin, according to all the reports, including the medical

your husband's death was an accident.

On the telephone, you indicated that you had some doubts. Why?

I'm not really sure. It's more a feeling I have.

Based on anything in particular?

Shortly before Cleet's death, he began getting these mysterious phone calls.

Mysterious? They'd come late at night, and if I answered, the caller would hang

up. But if Cleet answered, there was always someone there, and Cleet would

very softly to him, as if he didn't want me to hear.

Did you discuss these phone calls with him? He said it was my imagination that

the caller who hung up obviously had dialed the wrong number.

What about the ones that stayed on the line?

Business associates, customers who wanted to talk about policies and make

claims. Well, Cleen always kept a very personal relationship with his

so I guess I believed him.

But now you think that there may have been something else behind the phone

calls? Yes.

and late business meetings at night and long weekend trips to the

Portland office?

Miss Larkin, in my line of work... Oh, I know what you're thinking, Mr. Jones,

another woman.

That's not Cleet. We were very deeply devoted to each other. He loved me very

much, and he loved his son.

He would never be unfaithful to us.

And there's more.

A few days ago, I had to go into the basement to change a fuse, and when I

looking for the fuses, I accidentally came upon a metal box hidden behind some

boards. There was a lot of money in that box, Mr. Jones, $70 ,000.

That's a good bit of money to be lying around in the basement.

Was there anything else in the box? Yes, a gun!

Your husband?

Cleet never had a gun in his life. He was afraid to have one around the house.

That is curious.

Mr. Jones.

If Cleet's death wasn't what it appeared... You mean if it wasn't an

Yes.

Then isn't it possible that we might also be in danger, Jeff and myself?

Mr. Jones, please help me.

I missed you, Gina.

I was going to call you later.

Where you been?

Well, after Cleet's death, I figured the next job was off, so I just started

drifting.

Drifting where?

I drove up the coast. I went up to Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey. It must have been

nice this time of year.

You should have told me you were going. Maybe I could have gone with you.

Well, Cam, I wanted to be alone.

No, I can understand that.

I know you were all upset about Cleet's death. We were all upset.

You know what I did?

I went out and got drunk.

Gina, I really laid one on in Cleet's memory.

And I know you had a lot more memories of Cleet than I did.

Isn't that right, baby?

Ken, please.

Ah, look, I don't blame you.

And what's a pretty girl to do with her boyfriend in prison?

She's got to find someone to take care of her.

Cleet was there.

It was like family, so you turned to him.

How could you know I'd get out on a technicality? I mean, I might have been

inside another five years.

Gina.

I liked Cleet.

He was a good man.

But he's gone now.

And I'm back here.

And it's just you and me again.

You know what you're going to do? You're going to pack your things and you're

going to move in with me.

Cam. I'm not asking you.

I'm telling you, lady.

Cam, I've been doing a lot of thinking.

That's why I went away.

I want out.

Now, if you really love me, let me go.

You're staying with me.

We're going to get things right between us again, baby.

When I kiss you, baby...

you're going to feel it all the way down to your toes, the way you used to.

You remember that, Gina?

Do you?

Yeah.

Ken, look, it's just no good anymore. It's not there.

Well, you better work at it. You hear me, baby? You better work at it real

You've got to start planning that next job.

You better start packing.

What job?

The one we started working on last week when I got out.

Yeah, but we don't have the plans. I mean, Cleve was supposed to get them for

the night he had his accident.

Well, he got them.

Only I have them now.

Well, how could you?

You didn't meet with him.

He never left the building.

Oh, no.

Oh, no. It wasn't an accident.

You were there. It was you!

You want to know why, baby?

Because he wanted to take you away from me.

And no one does that, Gina. No one.

Cheryl Eldridge?

Well, how are you? It's been a long time.

Well, it's probably been a longer time for me than for you. I don't think we

ever met.

Oh. Well, that's funny. You look exactly like... Well, it doesn't matter.

Now, what can I do for you, Mr... Jones.

Barnaby Jones.

Could I talk to you privately?

Well, I have nothing to hide from these lovely young ladies.

They know my bark is worse than my vibe, right?

Well, bloodhounds are my line. I'm a private investigator.

Oh.

Uh, listen, I'll only be a few minutes. I'll be right back.

Well, what did you want to talk to me about?

I understand you're a very close friend of Cleet Larkin.

That's right. We worked together almost ten years.

Could you answer some questions for me?

What sort of questions?

Well, Larkin's wife told me that just about the time of his death, he'd been

spending quite a bit of time in the Portland office.

You know anything about that?

No, I wouldn't know anything about that.

You see, we handle different accounts.

Having worked for California Meridian myself, I know there is no Portland

office.

It's just something that the founder of the firm invented when he wanted to get

away from his wife for a while.

And like anything that serves a practical purpose, it outlived its

Look, Mr. Jones, Cleve Larkin loved his wife and son.

All right, maybe he strayed a little bit now and then, but he was very discreet

about it.

He's dead.

Why don't we just let his personal life rest with him?

I'd like to.

But locked up somewhere in his personal life may be the key to why he died.

If he loved his wife and child, as you say, I'm sure you wouldn't want any harm

to come to him.

Harm?

Yes.

Larkin's death may not have been an accident, and if that's true, then his

family might be in danger.

You may be able to help.

What do you want to know?

Was Larkin straying with anyone at the time of his death?

Well, there was a certain young lady, I believe.

I never saw her, but I heard Cleet talk to her on the phone a few times on his

private line.

You can usually tell when it isn't business.

You happen to recall her name?

Gina. That's all I ever called her.

Do you know where they went?

Restaurants, clubs, places like that? I told you, he was very discreet, Mr.

Jones. I have no idea where they went.

Wait. There was something that might be of help, though.

What's that?

Well, Cleet was a romantic.

He used to send her flowers all the time.

From any particular flower shop?

Yes.

Aphrodite's. It's a few blocks from the office.

Thanks.

Well, you're late.

Well, it took me a little longer to find the right kind of truck I needed.

What were you looking for?

Inside some bar?

Now, wait a minute. I swear to you, I didn't even take one drink on it.

What were you doing with it?

Using it for aftershave lotion?

I can smell it all over you. All right, so here's a drink.

What's the big deal? I'll tell you what's the big deal.

I'm not going to blow the biggest job we've ever pulled.

We make one mistake and we've had it, understand?

I'm running things around here again, so it's going to be my way. You got it?

We did pretty good without you, Cam.

What does that mean?

I said, what does that mean?

I mean, we didn't exactly starve to death while you were inside.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret, Starrett.

I'm not inside anymore. I'm out. And as long as I am, I'll decide the way things

are going to be around here.

Have you got any complaints about that?

I didn't say I had any complaints.

Good.

But when you do, speak up, Starrett.

It's the only way to get ahead in life.

Okay, Holland, show me this truck.

Come on.

I liked it better without him.

Yeah.

There's nothing you can do about it now.

Don't be too sure, Gina.

Something can always be done about everything.

What can I do for you, Mr. Jones?

I wonder if you'd mind taking a look at this picture and seeing if you recognize

this man.

Oh, yeah,

he's a customer of ours, but I don't know his name.

He comes in about once every other week, I guess.

Sends a dozen long stem roses to a lady in Venice.

You wouldn't have that lady's name and address tucked away somewhere, would

Man's dead.

Information.

Could answer some questions about how he died.

I'll have to look in our delivery records.

It won't take long.

I'm Emil Vandorian.

I may just have what you're looking for in our private showroom.

If you'd follow me.

Make yourselves comfortable.

I call this the back room.

Actually, it's a name given to it by the Countess d 'Avignon.

Perhaps you have heard of her?

Well, who hasn't? I mean, her name is mentioned in all the columns, isn't it?

lovely woman.

Must be in her eighties now.

She spends most of her time in the south of France. But whenever she's in town,

she always comes to visit the derrière chambre, as she calls it.

Now, was there anything in particular that you had in mind?

Well, just something in good taste. You see, actually, it's for my wife's

birthday, Mr. Van Dorian, and I wouldn't want to buy her anything, well, she

might be disappointed in.

I understand.

Un moment.

Let's see if there's anything here that you might fancy.

You like it, darling?

It's exquisite.

An excellent choice.

Well, it's all settled then.

Actually, Mr. Van Dorian...

My wife's birthday isn't for another month yet. I'll send you a check the

part of next week.

It's priced at 75 ,000.

Whatever my baby wants.

I'll put it away for you, Mr... Alexander.

Timothy Alexander.

Thank you, Mr. Alexander.

Mrs. Alexander.

It is a pleasure serving you.

Moth -eating looking piece of baggage.

You're all right.

Nice looking bird.

Mockatoo? Talk much?

Only when he ain't supposed to, then I can't shut him up.

I had a dog like that once. He only barked when I was trying to sleep.

What'd you do?

I stayed up a lot.

You're the manager?

That's right.

Well, somebody told me there's a Gina Nelson lives here, but I don't find her

name on the mailboxes.

That's because she moved.

When was that?

Oh, she pulled out of here yesterday.

Did she leave a forwarding address?

You a policeman?

Private investigator.

Ah, well, I don't mind cooperating with the police.

That's public duty.

Couldn't you make this a private one?

Well, I don't mind that either.

But she didn't leave a forwarding address.

At least not with me.

I've never seen this man before.

That's her boyfriend.

I don't know his name, but I used to see him come and visit her.

Sometimes he'd spend the whole weekend here.

I was always kind of curious about him.

In what way?

Well, he didn't seem to belong around here. He always wore a suit.

and tie, and used to polish his shoes, too.

Tell you the truth, I always kind of had the feeling he was married, you know?

Anyway, he seemed like a nice enough fella.

At least a lot nicer than his friends.

Who were they?

A couple of real punks.

They used to visit him, oh, about once a week.

I remember they were making a whole lot of noise one night.

They were having a party or something, and I went up there, Ask him to keep it

quiet. I knew that was a mistake the minute I opened my mouth, but by then it

was too late.

The tougher of the two, I think they called him Doug.

He hit me with a bottle. See here?

Still got the scar.

Anyway, Gina's boyfriend gave me a hundred bucks to get myself patched up.

And that's why I say I think he was a nice enough fella.

Did Gina have any other friends that you remember?

Only one.

A girl named...

Patty, something or another.

She used to come and pick up Gina sometimes.

I think they worked together.

Where'd they work?

I don't know, but I do know something.

Nice to meet a true believer in the private enterprise system.

Both girls always wore costumes to work.

What kind of costume?

Like the old -time sailors used to wear, you know?

Only a whole lot sexier.

Sounds like he agrees with you.

Oh, Sterrett, you better not let Cam smell that on your breath. You know how

is about the juice.

I'm not afraid of Cam.

Sure, you're not.

You just wait and see.

Buddy, I'm all eyes.

Sam. Hey, you're a real fine artist, fella.

What's the matter with him?

Nothing.

Well, sure there is.

Come on, get it off your chest, Eric. Make you feel better.

Well?

It's about the split, Cam.

What about it?

When you were gone, we divided everything up equally.

We like that system.

And that's the way we're going to keep doing it.

Well, if that's all it is, I mean, hey, come on.

In all the years we worked together, didn't I treat you fair?

Just so you know, that's how it's going to be.

I know how it's going to be.

Exactly the way it was.

50 % for me and you three split up the rest. You got it, buddy?

Not anymore, Cam.

Not this time.

Oh, really?

Why so jumpy, Starrett?

You're calling the shots. You're running the show now.

Why be so jumpy?

What do you think, Holland? We got a new boss now.

Jumpy Doug Starrett.

Funny, isn't it?

Don't you think it's funny, Holland?

How about you, Starrett? You think it's funny?

Because I'll tell you, Jumpy Doug Starrett, it's about the funniest thing

ever heard.

Anyone have anything to say about the split now?

No.

Okay.

Now let's get rid of her.

Come on.

Liam, I never met a private eye before.

I guess it's my lucky day.

Well, I guess it's my lucky day too, Patty.

I had just about run out of places down here where girls wore sailor suits like

yours. Well, why all the fuss to find me, Mr. Jones?

Well, I'm looking for a girl named Gina Nelson.

She moved away recently, and nobody seems to know her address. I thought you

might have it.

Well, what's it all about?

Oh, it's insurance business.

Oh, well, we're really not good friends. But she did call me last night to tell

me she moved.

I was going to call her back, but I didn't get a chance.

Oh, here it is.

All I have is her phone number.

Well, that will do splendidly.

Very nice -looking bracelet you're wearing.

You like it?

Yeah.

Jenny gave it to me.

Well, what do you know about that?

She said it was to pay me back for all the rides I'd given.

She only worked with one of the regular girls in her office, so I really didn't

do all that much.

To tell you the truth, I really don't like it. I think it's a little old for

You know, you may be right.

I've got a daughter -in -law that would just love a bracelet like that.

Would you consider selling it?

Father -in -law? Yeah.

True. Same last name and everything.

Oh, you don't have to prove anything to me.

Would you say $25?

I'd say that you just bought yourself a bracelet.

Oh, thank you.

You're welcome. And I hope your daughter -in -law likes it.

She's also my secretary.

Oh, they usually are.

no expert, Barnaby. That looks like pure jade to me.

That's what I thought.

That's what got me to wondering where Gina Nelson got it.

Is there a number on the inside of that clasp?

One, six, three, eight, nine.

Oh, yeah, here it is.

It's one of the pieces taken from the burglary of Lou's Jewelry Store in

Chinatown.

Two months ago.

How much do you have to pay for that?

Twenty -five bucks.

If it's any consolation to you.

You got it for a good price.

Thanks, Lieutenant.

A biddle.

Oh, yeah, sure.

Uh, it's for you.

Yeah. Pardon me.

I have an address to go with that phone number you gave me.

It's 2284 North Thornton Boulevard, Mission Gardens, apartment 307.

Thanks, Betty.

One other thing I want you to do for me.

Check out California Meridian Insurance. See if they were carrying a theft

policy for a loose jewelry store in Chinatown.

And if they were, check out any other burglaries that they paid off on in the

last six months.

All right, I've got it.

Barnaby do you think there's a tie -in between the two would you like to buy

back that question?

Hey, baby

Don't you really like that necklace you picked out at Vandoria?

It was pretty.

Then it's yours.

No, no, I mean it.

You deserve to have nice things like that. You know what I mean, baby?

And where we're going, you'll be able to wear them. Once we've finished the

jewels, we're going to travel to all the right places.

We're going to be just like that couple we pretended to be at Vandoria's.

Only this time we're going to have a little money in our pockets.

How does that sound?

Huh? Did I get a little kiss?

Didn't do better than that.

Who is it?

Gina Nelson.

One second, please.

Ms.

Nelson? Yes.

I'm Barnaby Jones, private investigator.

Could I talk to you for a minute?

Well, what about?

I was hired to look into the death of Cleve Larkin. I understand you're a

of his.

Well, yes, I knew him.

A very good friend, I understand.

He used to bring you flowers and come to see you and even spend the weekend in

your apartment in Venice.

Well, Mr. Jessamy, these things do happen. We're not living in the dark

Well, I'm sure they did happen in the dark ages and probably about the same

Uh, who are you working for?

California Meridian Insurance.

Mr. Larkin carried a rather large accident policy.

Since falling down an elevator shaft is kind of a remote possibility, they feel

that it might have been something other than an accident, thereby relieving them

of their liability.

Well, like what?

Suicide.

Well, why are you coming to me?

Well, there's an old saying that...

Sometimes what a wife doesn't know, the other woman does.

Did Cleet Larkin seem depressed lately?

Well, yes, he did seem upset about his work and... And the what?

Well, I'm afraid that some of his depression had to do with me.

You see, I told him I didn't want to see him anymore.

He offered to get a divorce from his wife, but I didn't want him to do that.

So I had to tell him that I didn't love him anymore, that it was fun while it

lasted, but it was over.

He took it hard.

Yes, but I don't think that Cleet would take his own life.

You're probably right, but then there is another possibility.

What's that?

Murder. You wouldn't know of anyone who wanted to kill him, would you?

No. No, of course not.

I didn't think you would.

Well, thank you for your time.

He knows something.

Finish packing.

Following up.

Don't turn around.

Thank you.

I'm sorry the secretary hasn't gotten here yet.

I'll get through this a lot faster.

Well, Betty's eyes are pretty sharp.

Sometimes it's easier to see the twigs and leaves than someone else's nest.

I'm not sure that's a compliment, but I have found something.

Lou's Jewelry Store was among the California Meridian policyholders.

Is that supposed to mean something?

Could mean a lot.

Did Cleet Larkin have access to the details of the security diagrams of

Jewelry?

Oh, sure.

All the security diagrams are filed here.

But I still don't get it.

Larkin's girlfriend had a jade bracelet that was part of the burglary loot.

It could mean that she was part of the gang that did it.

What about the other clients that were hit in the last six months?

Let's see, there was Maxwell Liquors, over $200 ,000.

They have a tight security.

As a matter of fact, they had just installed all the latest security

The thieves neutralized the entire system.

That would require an electronic genius or somebody selling inside information.

Oh, I get it.

You're saying it was cleat? That would explain the hidden cache that Mrs.

found. It wouldn't explain why Gina and her boyfriend are still hanging around

town. I thought the manager at the Mission Gardens said they checked out.

Yes, he did.

While they were paying their bill, he overheard Gina on the telephone.

He didn't hear it all, but it sounded as if she were making a plane reservation

for Sunday night.

Tonight?

If I were in their shoes, I wouldn't have stayed around for sunrise this

morning. Unless you had another security diagram you wanted to cash in on.

You think they're planning another robbery?

It's Sunday.

Most stores are as deserted as they are at night.

Since they can bypass the alarm system, I'd say they would have a pretty good

shot at it.

Well, a lot better than any chance we'll have of picking their target out of all

these files.

Well, we're going to try.

What time did Ms. Dolan say she was coming in?

Oh, any minute now.

All right.

Yeah.

Make him handle it?

Yeah, as good as Doug any time.

Just remember we haven't got all day.

Come to think of it, I did see Mr. Larkin going through one of the files

evening of his accident.

I remember I came in to say goodnight and asked him if I could help him find

anything.

What did he say?

He shut the drawer, said he found what he was looking for, then he went back

into the office.

I figured he was checking on a date or something because he didn't pull any of

the files.

Miss Dolan...

Do you happen to recall which drawer it was?

Yes, I'm sure I do.

This one.

UVW.

Well, that's some place to start.

I'm almost finished.

Doug would have had it done by now.

Well, you should have thought of that when you killed him.

All I have to do is cut this gap and pay back.

Oh, I hate to admit it, but they are beginning to look exactly alike to me.

Well, here's one that doesn't look like any of the others.

How so?

Well, in the first place, the pages aren't in sequence, and the schematic

drawing of the alarm system is upside down.

This is the first file I've seen this way. Is this normal, Mrs. Dolan?

Very unusual.

Mr. Jones, an insurance policy is a legal document. We're very careful the

we handle them.

Vandorian Jewelry Company?

Maybe just what we're looking for.

Hang on to that. There's only a couple of blocks from here. I'll take a walk

over there and look around.

Call Lieutenant Biddle and tell him.

Wait a minute.

What'd I tell you? Hey, I'm proud of you.

Man, would you look at all this beauty.

Think of all the booze it'll buy, Herman.

Think of more of the broths.

It's beautiful.

You ever see anything like that?

Hurry up.

Yeah.

Gina.

Happy birthday, baby.

Doesn't that deserve a nice big kiss?

That's more like it. You got everything?

What's this all about?

Doug didn't like the way you were dividing things up. Do you remember,

So you two got your heads together.

Well, all right.

All right, you win. We split everything equal.

There's enough there to make us all rich.

Only you want more, right, baby?

Um, this time we're taking it all.

Is that the way you feel?

You don't understand, do you?

You killed Cleet.

I loved him.

Come on.

Come on, we're partners. We can work out something. A brand new shuffle.

It's too late.

No matter what we worked out now, you know you'd come looking for us sooner or

later.

Then we'd be up the same creek as Cleet and Doug.

You just better get going.

Come on.

You ain't got the nerve for that.

But it's an attraction.

A little bird told me that you like racing.

Is it a real one?

Sure is. Try it on.

Oh, is that handsome.

Come on, I'll show you how fast I can go.

Even not too fast.

About to be thankful for him, Ms. Larkin. Beautiful day.

Fine young son.

Both are no small blessings, Mr. Jones.

Just keep counting them.