Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, starring Buddy Ebsen, also starring Lee

Merriweather, with guest stars Don Porter, Joel

Fabiani, Jane Merrill, Stephen

Elliott. Tonight's episode, Web of Deceit.

I was beginning to think you forgot.

The people in the next house were out on their patio.

I was afraid they might see you come in.

And if Mr. Tatum found out... You are afraid, aren't you?

He'd fire me, Stephen.

He's told me so many times that I'm never to let anyone in the house unless

says to.

He won't be back until 11.

Two heavenly hours.

There's no chance the cook will come home, is there?

She has a sister. She stays with him on nights off.

This calls for champagne.

Where does he keep it? He doesn't.

Would 12 -year -old Scotch be acceptable?

Only if there's some sort of snack to go with it.

I'll see what there is in the fridge.

I'll get the drinks.

The drinks are in the living room.

Okay.

I thought you were famished.

I am.

It's Mr. Tatum.

Oh, Stephen, please hurry.

Please. Now, don't worry. He won't see me.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Put your hands behind your head and keep them there.

Take it easy, Mr. Tatum.

Montgomery?

Adam Montgomery?

I found some extremely interesting memos in your file, Mr. Tatum, but I'd be

pleased to forget them if you... I said to keep them there.

If you forget that I dropped in in this informal manner...

Not a chance.

You've been trying to get me and Jim Brock for a long time. Those libelous

innuendos in your filthy column and on television.

They were libelous. Why haven't you sued?

Because you know just how far to go without laying yourself open.

But this time, caught in the act of breaking and entering, that's a tough

beat.

Uh -huh.

But I'll see to it that what I found in those memos comes out at the trial.

Looks like a standoff, doesn't it?

I've got a better way to get you off my back.

I surprised a prowler here and I shot him.

Didn't recognize him in the dark as the famous Adam Montgomery.

He's dead.

He shot himself.

Suicide.

The maid.

She must have heard.

She's in the shower.

But I'm positive it wasn't suicide, Mr. Jones.

My husband wasn't the kind of man who caved in under pressure and gave up.

And when you were away, Mrs. Tatum, isn't it possible that your husband may

been under pressures that you didn't know about?

He wouldn't have taken his life, no matter what.

Here you are, Tatum.

Thank you.

Would you take cream? Yes, thank you.

I called the police after you phoned.

Did you know that your husband was shot at close range?

Yes, I know. They told me.

Powder burns.

Did he also tell you that the test that they conducted indicated that he fired

the weapon?

Well, that doesn't prove he fired it himself.

I was in Europe.

First time we've ever been apart for more than a day or two.

We planned to go together, but he couldn't make it because... Why not,

Tatum? Some sort of crisis in his work.

Have you any idea what the crisis was?

He never talked to me about business.

But it did seem to help to have me around.

Did he ask you to call off the trip?

No, on the contrary.

We arranged to travel with another couple, and he insisted I go.

He said he was going to catch up with us.

And then when he called me that day... He called you in Europe?

It was three hours before he was shot to tell me that he was

flying over the next day to join us.

Would he have made that call if he had suicide on his mind?

Did you tell all this to the police?

Yes.

Well, they considered the physical evidence conclusive.

Maybe it is. Maybe I'm grasping at the drawers of wishful thinking because I

feel so terribly guilty.

Strange, isn't it?

When someone we love dies, we always have those irrational feelings

of guilt.

Why not irrational if it was suicide?

It's my fault.

I should have been here.

When he needed me.

I'm sorry to take him so much of your time, Mr. Jones.

It was clear from the start that you'd already made up your mind.

That's pretty close to the truth, but one way to prove you have a mind is to

able to change it.

Today's question.

Is there any connection between the death of Charles Tatum and the rumors

the mighty empire created by James Everett Brock has been built on shifting

sands? Or should I say, shifty?

Tatum was second in command to Brock.

That shadowy industrial Midas about whom so little is known.

There have been hints that Tatum took his life because the walls were closing

on him and Brock.

In the very near future, I can promise you more than hints.

In upcoming editions of Report from Montgomery.

Adam!

I caught your brother. Broadcast in a monitor room. Why are you still holding

back on the memos? I break the story. Now they might reopen the investigation

Tatum's death.

Well, there's no way they can find out we were there. No.

Brock would know those memos are in Tatum's file.

Well, you could say somebody slipped the copies under your door. Brock has so

many enemies. I will decide what to say and when to say it, Larry.

Did you get anything on the land commissioner's story?

I always get something.

Proof of bribery?

Well, not yet, but enough for a column.

Good opening hook.

Very good.

It's the same all the way through. Like every column with Adam Montgomery's

byline.

You know how long I was at it before I got a byline?

Were you writing columns in Telecaster where you used word for word? Matter of

fact, I was.

Stop pressing, Larry. You'll get there.

When? When I retire.

It'll be a report from Larry Coulter, then.

And you can have that in writing.

Have you seen the Tatum maid?

Now, why would I see her?

Because a jilted girl with a broken heart might start crying on somebody's

shoulder. The less she says about you, the better.

What can she say? A man she knows as Stephen Chadway, a dress unknown, was in

the house?

Do you have your phone number?

I'll change it.

Phone numbers can be traced.

See her, Larry.

Make sure.

I didn't hear the gunshot.

It must have been when I was in the shower.

I came in here later to make sure that the doors and windows were locked.

I always check everywhere before going to bed.

That's a good idea.

If everybody did that, it'd make things much tougher for the burglars.

That's when I found the body.

It was there.

According to the police report, it was a cook's night out and you were home

alone. That's right.

No visitors earlier in the evening?

I'm not allowed to have any guests.

Mr. Tatum was very strict about that.

Well, that's very strict indeed.

What if an old friend dropped in unexpectedly?

I don't have any friends.

Pretty girl like you, I would think that you wouldn't have a boyfriend.

No.

I would think they'd be swarming around like bees in a field of clover.

In the police picture of this room, it seems to me that two of those glasses

were missing.

Yes, I put those back the next day.

They were in my room.

Two glasses?

I had a glass of ginger ale in the morning and another one in the

And you came all the way out here to get them?

Isn't there any ginger ale in the pantry near your room?

No, we don't keep any there.

I have an appointment with my attorney, Mr. Jones, but I can cancel it if you

want to talk to me.

Oh, no, no, Mrs. Tatum. I just want to speak to you a couple more minutes.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Padgett.

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

According to the police report, there was nothing missing.

That's right. I checked carefully.

One thing you might not find in there is the file box was over here.

Mr. Brock had some of his men pick it up after the police investigation was

completed. After the police investigation?

Was James Everett Brock?

My husband worked for him.

Any idea what was in the file?

Just business papers, I suppose.

Well, thank you very much, Miss Tatum.

I won't take any more of your time. Oh, do you happen to have any ginger ale in

your pantry?

Oh, yes. I can have Hillary bring you a glass.

No, thank you.

But I would like to use your phone.

Oh, yes, of course.

I got a little job for you

He's leaving now.

Stephen, I'm worried.

I'm sure he suspects somebody was here that night.

What's his name?

Barnaby Jones.

If he finds out, I've lied to him. There's no way he can prove it.

Mrs. Tatum would fire me.

I'd lose my work permit, have to go back home.

Maybe we'd better get together and talk about this.

I still think it'd be best if I were to tell her the truth now.

No.

See if you can get the afternoon off.

But, Stephen, I... Do as I say.

elevator says i need a pass to see james everett brock my name is adam

montgomery i recognize you right off mr montgomery adam montgomery for mr brock

mr montgomery my name is barnaby jones i never miss your program

or your column tell mr brock it's very important mr montgomery says it's very

important mr brock

Hey, I bet that ties in with what you said on your show about the walls

in.

Sorry, Mr. Montgomery, you'll have to phone for an appointment.

Maybe if I went up and told his secretary what I want to talk to him

Yes, sir.

Oh, would you please call Mr.

Brock and tell him that Mr.

Holmes would like to see Jim Ed?

Jim Ed?

Yes, Jim Ev, that's for James Everett. We're old friends.

A gentleman here to see Jim Ev.

He's an old friend. I'm Mr. Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes.

You ought to go right up, sir.

The executive elevator.

Show the pass to the guard.

Much obliged.

Nice to have seen you Mr. Montgomery.

Come in, Sherlock.

I'll be right with you.

No, no.

No, I'm not interested in any counterproposals.

You have until five o 'clock.

Right.

Now, hold all calls.

It's been a long time, Barnaby. You're looking good, Jim.

What's your secret? Clean living?

I don't swing the way I used to when you handled that case for me.

Never saw so many look -alike redheads in all my life. I couldn't tell one from

the other.

You were able to single out the one who was trying to blackmail me.

Just luck.

You've certainly come a long way since then.

Just luck?

Same kind of luck you had when you had that financial difficulty about five or

six years ago.

I heard that you almost went under. The banks were about to take you over.

Rumors.

I haven't had any real trouble at any time.

Well, you always did have the ability to bounce back or land on your feet.

Beautiful view.

You didn't come up here to see the view.

What is it, Barnaby?

Charles Tatum's wife doesn't believe that he was a suicide.

She thinks he was murdered.

That's what I'm being paid to find out.

Any leads?

Well, I was kind of hoping I might get one from you.

How long ago was it that Tatum came over here to J .E .B. Enterprises?

About five years ago.

About the time you got into your jam, wasn't it?

I wasn't in a jam.

That file that you took out of Tatum's living room, was there anything in that

that somebody may have wanted to latch onto?

Routine business papers.

Mind if I take a look at them?

I'm afraid not.

Government contracts. We have to keep it confidential.

First a routine, now the confidential.

There's some kind of a runaround.

You know me better than that, Barnaby.

Yeah.

Well, I came up here hoping for a lead, and I'm still hoping.

There's nothing I can give you.

Well, I guess it's like my uncle once said.

Hope is like a hen that lays more eggs than she can possibly hatch.

Thanks for seeing me, Jimmette.

Anytime.

Stephen, why were you so anxious to keep me from telling Mrs. Tatum?

Well, you're the one who said she might fire you. Yes, but then I said I thought

it would be best... Hillary, tell me exactly what Barnaby Jones said.

Anybody here earlier that evening?

Stephen, you did leave the house, didn't you?

That's an odd question.

Oh, darling, I'm so upset. I scarcely know what I'm saying.

You don't think I had something to do with Mr.

Tatum's suicide, do you?

Of course not.

You're all wound up, Hillary.

Why don't we drive over to my house for a drink?

I couldn't do that.

It'll do you good. Hey, tonight we'll have a nice barbecue dinner, a bottle of

wine.

I told Mrs. Tatum I'd be back by six.

So call her and tell her you're staying with a sick friend.

Hey, there's a phone over there.

She's not at home now.

Well, okay, you can call her from my place when she gets back.

He just drove off in his car.

Well, it would have been nice of you to follow them and find out where they were

going.

I would have, but a van blocked me in.

I got the license number.

Good. Check it out, Betty.

I'm on my way to the Tatum house. Call me there.

Right.

What? Excuse me.

Excuse me for running off like this.

Well, Miss Snyder, I thought it was a cake in the oven. They had to come out

right away.

Well, I hope you made it in time, Mrs. Snyder. I did.

Oh, maybe you like to have a slice when it cools off. Do you like Linzer Torte?

I think I'd love anything you baked.

Oh, thank you.

But you were talking about Hillary, no?

Yes.

It's too bad she doesn't have friends here.

I think maybe she just met somebody.

Oh? At the bridge club.

She's been going there on her night off.

And if somebody is a man?

Yeah. He called a couple times and she was out. I did not give his name. All he

said was he'll call back later.

He sounded very handsome.

Miss Snyder, that driveway gate out there, is that the only way in and out?

No, there's one right there.

It's almost never used.

What is it?

Looks like a small piece of wood.

Oh, that must have fallen off a tree.

Yeah, it came off a tree.

It was made into a matchstick.

Looks like somebody didn't want this gate to land.

Now, why would somebody want to do something like that?

Well, that is something that could stand looking into.

Oh, a piece of broken matchstick in the latch.

What else did he say?

Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Schneider.

Larry? Yes?

I thought your name was Stephen.

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I know what you're thinking.

The man who lived here before neglected to give the post office a change of

address. And you opened his letter?

The ones that look like junk mail, yes, just to make sure before I throw it

away.

You're lying, aren't you?

What are you talking about?

It's all been a sham, hasn't it? Now, honey, you're not making any sense.

The cook says that detective, Mr. Jones, says that someone wedged the gate open

that night.

That there was someone there.

That Mr. Tatum didn't commit suicide.

Hillary, you know how I feel about you. Now, if you'd just give me a chance, I

can explain everything.

I think I'd better go.

We can talk about it tomorrow.

Now, Miss Jones, leave me. No.

Did you tell anybody I was there that night?

Did you?

Good.

You know, it's a shame I can't depend on you anymore.

Hello. Good morning, Larry.

Don't you ever check with your answering service. I've been trying to get you

all night.

Did you get what I wanted on the land commissioner story?

No. No.

It's about that problem we discussed after your telecast yesterday.

I had to bury it.

You what?

There was a problem. It was the only way to handle it.

Wait a minute.

There's a tall gray -haired guy at the door.

It could be Jones.

He saw Brock yesterday.

I'd better call you back.

Morning.

Morning. What can I do for you?

Well, I hate to bother you this early in the morning, but are you Steve Chadway?

Yes. Who are you?

My name is Barnaby Jones. I'm a private investigator.

Oh, what's this all about?

Looking for a young lady named Hillary Padgett. Her employer called me rather

upset because Hillary hadn't come home and they hadn't heard from her.

Why come here? I barely know her. A friend of mine saw you two driving away

the park yesterday. She picked up the license number, the rental agent. She

the car was checked out to you.

Oh, well, I just happened to run into Hillary yesterday. We started talking,

know.

Where'd you drive her to, Mr. Chadwick?

I dropped her off at the bus stop.

She say where she was going?

Well, home, I figured.

Funny she wouldn't have asked you to drive her there. It's only a few blocks

from the park. It is?

You never been to the Tatum house?

No.

You see, Mr. Jones, she didn't ask to be let off at the bus stop.

I made a play for her, and she got a little huffy, and so I dropped her off.

You always leave your starter in the fire after it's started?

Oh, I forgot to take that out.

What'd you do, plan a little barbecue last night?

Get interrupted by something?

That's exactly what happened.

But there was nobody with me, if that's what you're driving at.

Well, in my line of business, you have to touch all bases.

Incidentally, what's your line?

I'll need that for my report. The salesman.

Got a business address?

You know, I'm between jobs, and I have to leave right away.

I've got an interview about a new job.

I just have one more base to touch.

Do you mind looking at this?

You know this man?

No, I never saw him.

Looks like I've come completely around the barn back to where I started.

Thanks for your time.

Where did you get a copy of this memo that you sent me, Montgomery?

Somebody slipped it under my door, along with copies of other memos.

Just slipped it under the door?

Yeah. Must have been somebody with a grudge against you.

It's all there, Mr. Brock.

It was mob money that bailed you out of the trouble you were in six years ago.

If that information leaks out, you'll lose millions in government contracts.

What do you want?

A job like mine takes a lot out of a man.

And I've been at it for a lot of years.

Nineteen hours a day, seven days a week. Long speeches bore me.

My doctor said I ought to slow down.

There's a bit of a problem.

Money.

Yeah. Made a lot, spent a lot. Just never acquired the habit of saving.

How much do you want?

Well, I want a job.

A man retires, lets down completely.

What kind of a job?

I think you can find a spot for me.

Maybe in one of your foreign branches.

South of France, preferably. I'd like that.

Something not too taxing, but high paying.

Kind of a public relations job.

What if I retire you with a bullet?

There's a codicil to my will.

If something happens to me, those memos are made public.

Maybe I can find a job for a good man like you.

What do you have there?

to drive all the way out here, supposing somebody did see us together?

You're sure nobody followed you?

Of course I'm sure.

Adam, you're getting paranoid.

Now, what is this all about?

Report from Coulter.

On the air and in your favorite papers five days a week. It's all yours, Larry,

beginning tomorrow. I'm retiring, like I said, Elwood.

There has to be a catch. There isn't. Just one condition.

You agree never to use the memo.

Never? Has to be part of the agreement.

So you made a deal with Brock?

Why not?

If I get what I want, you get what you want.

You always wanted to set up a retirement plan. I bet it's a good one.

I take it you're in agreement?

Sure. Why not?

When do I take over? Right away.

But there's one thing you have to take care of first.

What? Well, if Barnaby Jones ever connects you with Tatum's death, you're

trouble.

We're in trouble.

But you are good at handling things like this.

You'll handle this one.

We're both home free.

I telephoned Lieutenant Biddle, as you asked.

He hasn't received the fingerprint report.

Betty, it's getting late. Why don't you go home? I'll wait for him.

Oh, I've got a few more letters to type. Why don't I go out and get us some

hamburgers, hmm?

No.

I'll get the hamburgers.

I wouldn't want you to be raising a furor about the working condition.

Today's question.

Did one of the land commissioners take a bribe?

You'll get the answer to that in tomorrow's broadcast.

But, and this is my scoop for the day, you won't get it from me.

I'll get it.

After giving the matter much thought, your weary reporter has decided to

A man who has been my right arm for years will be taking over.

Instead of telling you who he is, I'll let him make the announcement tomorrow.

so that he can start off with a scoop.

So Adam Montgomery is retiring.

Oh? After all that talk about having Brock on his side, she quits Cole

firing a shot. I wonder why.

I think I have something you're going to like.

What? Lieutenant Biddle got the fingerprint report.

Stephen Chadway's real name is Larry Coulter.

He's an investigative reporter.

That's why his fingerprints are on file. Guess who he works for.

Adam Montgomery.

No, it all keeps coming back to my hunch.

It's all involved with that file.

There's only one way to find out.

See the man with the file. Your old friend, Jim Ev.

How do you out -con a super -con man?

It's gonna be tough.

Right. Thanks.

Mr. Brock is busy, but if it's important, he can see it. Thank you.

Oh, is Adam Montgomery still trying to crash the gate?

Are you ready for this? He came back yesterday, and they said send him right

You never know which way Jim Evans is going to jump. If he fell in the river,

he'd probably float upstream.

Lieutenant Biddle, please.

Lieutenant?

Something I want to ask you.

What is it, Sherlock? I have a meeting to get back to.

Jim Webb, I think I've ward off some trouble for you.

Trouble?

Yeah, I took with a grain of salt what you said about the Tatum file. I put out

the word that I was willing to pay big for information, and I got the word

A moment.

An informant.

Said he knew somebody who had taken something from the file. What?

I don't know.

But I know what the asking price is.

$150 ,000.

$150 ,000?

Well, that's a pretty steep price for a carbon copy of a business letter.

Yep. Even if you knocked off a few zeros, it's too steep for me.

You want to make a bid?

Couldn't be anything I'd be interested in.

Might be able to get the price down a little in exchange for a quick look at

whatever it is.

Bonneby.

I wouldn't give a plug nickel for anything in that file.

Well, if you change your mind, give me a call.

Get me out of Montgomery.

Montgomery. This is Brock.

Somebody's trying to shake me down through a go -between. It wouldn't be

would it? What are you talking about?

The memos.

Somebody said they were up for sale, $150 ,000.

You said nobody else knows about them.

Nobody does.

Except, of course, for whoever it was that slipped them under my door.

Yes, yes, yes. The anonymous tipster.

Well, if it wasn't you, you better find out who it was and do something about it

or our deal is off.

I'll get on it.

Barnaby? He's leaving now.

I'll stay with him.

Okay.

I'll get to the car and stay on the police van.

All right.

Adam, what's up?

You're not on the level with me, or you've had it.

Do you have extra copies or was it just a bluff?

Extra copies? What are you talking about? Come on, Larry. I got it straight

Brock that somebody's been trying to milk him for $150 ,000.

What? Now, Adam, wait a minute. It wasn't me. Nobody else knew we got to

memos. It has to be you. I told you I don't know what you're talking about.

you trying to set me up? I am talking about copies of those memos. And if they

can't get us on those, they keep digging until they get me on the girl's murder.

Is that it? That's very informative.

What is it?

Shut up!

Not very smart of you, Mr. Jones, coming here by yourself.

Meet Lieutenant Biddle of the Los Angeles Police.

You blew it!

Afraid somebody might follow me, and it was you who led them here!

Stay right where you are, Montgomery.

Drop the gun and turn around nice and slow.

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