Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, a Quinn Martin production.

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Merriweather, Mark Schera.

With guest stars James Olsen, Stephen Keats,

Gregory Harrison, special guest star

Christine Belford.

Tonight's episode.

Blood Dungeons.

Barnaby Jones' office. May I help you?

Uh,

well, yes, he is. Just a second.

Someone wants to talk to Big Cousin Barnaby. Would that be you?

There's only one of my relatives that calls me Big Cousin.

Hello.

Is this my little cousin Monroe from Chicago?

You betcha.

I finally made it to Los Angeles. Just now got off the plane.

Well, I'll be doggone... Why didn't you let me know you were coming?

Well, the trip came kind of sudden -like. I got a lead on a man that shot

partner six years ago, Barney.

I thought the Chicago police had given up on that case.

Yeah, they did.

I'm out here on my own time. Look, why don't I get situated in a motel? I gave

you a call, and maybe we can get together later.

Motel? You're not going to any motel. You're going to be my house guest here

long as you want to stay. Now, tell me what airline you came in on, and I'll be

right over to pick you up.

I'm a transcon. I'll meet you out in front of the terminal.

I'll be right over.

Haven't seen him in 20 years.

Well, Betty, you better proofread this. All right.

I'll be back in a little while.

Ritter, what are you doing here?

I couldn't wait to talk to you.

I've got to speak to you now. Come on.

Let's get out of here.

Let's get out of the crowd, huh?

I'm clean, I'm clean. Come on, what do you mean so hard -nosed for all of a

sudden? We're supposed to be on the same team, aren't we?

Turn around.

Look, Art, I thought you and me had a deal, huh?

I'm supposed to help you find the guy who killed your partner and you're

supposed to get me swore with the parole board in Illinois.

I just don't like things getting switched around, that's all.

We're supposed to meet later today at a place that I pick, remember?

Now come and show up here.

That's what I've been trying to tell you.

Look, Art.

I've been following Cahill ever since I phoned Jen.

Oh, I think he spotted me.

You're a real loser, aren't you?

What'd you do, get him running again?

No.

I think he's following me.

Look, there was this car parked outside of my place last night, and then again

this morning.

I think I'm being tailed.

Zide says he's Monroe Jones, Sergeant, Chicago PD.

You say he's a relative?

My cousin.

I talked to him on the phone not 20 minutes ago.

I'm sorry, Barnaby. Were you, uh... Were you very close?

Saw each other once in a blue moon.

But he was Kim.

Monroe was a street cop in Chicago for over 20 years.

How does a thing like this happen to him?

He couldn't carry his gun aboard the plane, so he packed it in his suitcase.

It's still there.

Looks like he was trying to get to it when he was shot.

Any witnesses?

Nobody even heard the shot.

The killer must have used a silencer.

You got any idea what this is about?

No, only what he told me on the phone.

He was out here still looking for somebody who had killed his partner.

Six years ago.

Looks like he found him.

Well, I better get on with it.

Get on with what?

I've got to tell his son.

I'd rather take a whipping than make this call, Lieutenant.

Long distance call, please.

Who's born to be seen?

Yes, he is, but... Hey, wait a minute.

Harvey, I'm sorry. I couldn't have found him.

It's all right, Betty.

It's been a long time, but unless I miss my guests, this is Jedediah, cousin

Monroe's boy from Chicago.

Good afternoon, Jedediah.

Kind of surprising to see you here.

What, did you think I'd be back home sitting on my hands while a guy who

murdered my father runs around loose?

No.

I can see you wouldn't be doing that.

The man hasn't had a vacation in over ten years, ever since my mom died.

All of a sudden he gets a call and a guy who blew up his partner goes off and

gets himself killed.

On his own time.

Are you all right?

I'll be terrific. Just great.

As soon as the guy who did this gets nailed.

So what are you doing about this, Cousin Barnaby? It's been seven hours since my

father was murdered. Seven hours. And from what I can see, you're just sitting

around your office not doing a damn thing about it.

Oh, now, hold on.

Listen, I realize you're upset.

But that's not fair, and it's not true either.

It's all right, Betty. I can speak for myself.

Matter of fact, I was just going over this file.

What is this?

It's a Chicago police file on that shooting six years ago in which your

partner was killed.

How'd you get a hold of it?

Twisted a few arms and a few rules.

Dad had a blow -up of this on his desk at the station and at home.

Getting KO was really an obsession with him.

Maybe you can fill in the gaps for me between six years ago and now.

Look, I will tell you anything you want to know, and what I can't tell you, I

will find out for you.

I'm really sorry about the way I just came charging in here just now.

That's all right.

We're all kind of wound up about this thing.

Maybe it would calm us down a little if we had a bite to eat.

Unless it's too early for you, Jedediah.

Oh, I guess not.

Still on Chicago time.

Well, let's go.

Yeah, it's Richie.

Richie. Richie, it's Tony.

Oh, listen, man, I got problems.

You got to do me a favor.

What are you talking about, favor?

I'm your brother, remember?

You name it. If I got it, it's yours.

Remember that place we met at Saturday night?

I want you to meet me there right away.

Okay, sure.

I'm on my way. Is that the favor?

I'll tell you when I see you.

And, Richie.

Yeah? Make sure nobody's following you.

Just a hamburger for me.

You know, when I first heard about that, it felt like somebody kicked me in the

gut.

Still does.

Yeah.

Well, Jedediah, you just gotta give it time.

Yeah, sure.

So, uh, you graduated from law school?

Yeah, I'm preparing for the bar right now. Look, can we get on with this?

How much does this report have on Walter Cahill?

Well, according to this, the last anyone saw of Cahill, he was running from an

underground garage of a Chicago Loop hotel after having shot and killed a

policeman. He got away with $500 ,000 worth of diamonds that he took from a

jewelry salesman. You know, even after fencing those gems, he could have wound

up with enough of a stake to disappear somewhere and start a new life for

himself. You think he did that?

That's what I would have done if I burned a cop.

You know, he never really forgave himself for not sticking with his

night.

But it says in here that he went back to the car and radioed for backup units

because he knew Cahill was still in the hotel.

I know, I know, but he still blamed himself.

That's why he kept on looking for Cahill.

It's like a crusade with him. I used to think it was bananas on the subject, but

you better believe it's my crusade now.

What was the lead that brought Monroe out here?

Ah, some small -time hood named Tony Ritter. He jumped bail back in Chicago.

Dad got a call from him last night. Ritter knew Cahill from the old days.

Anyway, Ritter said he spotted Cahill in L .A. and he would finger him if Dad

would square things with the parole authorities.

What do you know about Tony Ritter?

What do I have to know? All I have to do is find him and lead us to Cahill. It's

simple.

Yeah, we could probably find Tony Ritter all right, but after that, Jedediah,

it may not be all that... Simple.

Hey, Tony.

What's going on with you?

Spooky phone call.

Spooky ain't the half of it, man.

It's some guy that is trying to blow me away.

Kill you?

You took two shots at me this morning.

Look, I got to get out of town. You got any bread?

Right now, I'm pretty lean, man.

I'm drawing my pay Thursday for the big plumbing job I've been doing. I could be

dead by Thursday.

Can't you ask your boss for an advance, some money, something?

I can try, Tony.

I don't know if it's going to work out. The guy doesn't know me that well. I

worked for him for two weeks.

I'll do it. I mean, I'll try to get the money from him.

Look, if there's anything else that I can do, just tell me. I'll do it.

Barnaby, what are we going to do? Wait around here all morning?

I hope not.

That depends.

On what?

On when my informant comes by.

You mean that's what we're doing here? We're waiting for a pigeon?

Oh, come on, Barnaby. Why don't we go out and look for him instead of just

sitting around here?

I wouldn't know where to start looking this time of day.

See, my informant is in and out of a lot of bars along here.

In and out of bars?

Sounds like a lush.

Well, as far as I know, seldom takes a drink.

Either that or... Hi

there, Mr. Jones.

Morning, Sue Ellen.

Oh, this is my cousin's son, Jedediah, from Chicago.

Pleased to meet you, Jedediah. I just call me J .R.

Almost everyone does.

Sure, J .R. it is.

Something I can help you with, Mr. Jones?

We're looking for a man, Sue Ellen.

Well, that's what I do best, they tell me. Any particular man?

You know a fellow named Tony Ritter, just out here from Chicago recently?

Small world, yeah.

But I haven't seen him around lately.

Seen his brother, though.

Tony had a brother?

Yeah, Richie, but I didn't know he was out here, too.

Any idea where Tony lives, Sue Ellen, or Richie?

Oh, gosh, honey, I wouldn't know that.

What about jobs? They must work.

Well, Richie works, I guess.

Yeah, you know, he must be a working man, because sometimes he comes around

wearing overhauls.

Anything special about the overhauls? Names sewed on, anything like that?

No.

Yeah, there's this picture on the back, and it's one of those things that you

turn out the handle and the water comes out.

Fawcett? Yeah.

that says plumbing.

Yeah, plumbing.

Does that help any?

Yeah, it helps a lot. Thanks.

Don't mention it.

Nice to meet you.

Remember, any friend of Mr. Jones is a friend.

Know what I mean?

Barnaby Jones office, may I help you? Hello, Betty. I got a chore for you.

the local plumber's union and see if you can find out where a Richie Ritter is

working.

Tom?

Would you like to have breakfast out here?

Oh, yeah, sure. Only all I want is juice and coffee. I've got to get into the

office a little early today.

Again? Honey, you work too hard.

That's not the way it's supposed to be when you marry the boss's daughter.

You're supposed to go in late and sit around all day and flirt with

No kidding.

You mean I've been doing it wrong all these past five years?

Absolutely. But it's not too late to change.

So... I'll get you two some coffee.

Okay.

Hello?

Is this the Thomas Brenner, also known as Walter Cahill?

The guy who's been taking pot shots at me since yesterday morning?

I think you've got a wrong number.

Don't you hang up on me.

You want me to call the cops?

What do you want?

That's better.

You know, with the way you've been doing your best to try to waste me, I suppose

I really ought to turn you in.

To cut down the grain, you know what I mean?

I'm listening.

Well, if... You're tired of chasing me around.

Maybe you'd be willing to come up with a little money.

You know, then I'd, uh... Then I'd fade out of town for good.

You know, I mean, leave L .A. and get out.

I see. Well, we might be able to work out something along those lines. How

did you have in mind?

Ten grand and I'm gone.

You throw in another five.

Not only will I get out of the state, I'll get out of the country.

Maybe Mexico.

That sounds more attractive to me.

I'd very much like that kind of deal.

You've got two hours to put the cash together.

I'm going to phone you at your office and set up a meet.

And any handcuffs along the way, any at all, Kay.

the next one.

Hey, Ritter.

Phone call for you.

Sounds like the same guy that's been trying to reach you for about an hour

half.

Yeah. Richie.

Richie, it's Tony.

Listen.

I turned the whole thing around.

You know this guy that's been gunning after me?

Well, I phoned him and he's gonna pay me off.

Now.

What do you say you quit that job and you and me head for Mexico today?

Hey, hey, slow down. Tony, you're not going to meet that guy.

Listen, wait a minute. I didn't tell you the best part.

The payday is 15 big ones, kid.

15. I don't like it, Tony. I mean, how do you know he's not just getting you a

loan someplace so he can...

I'm meeting him at a big shopping center out in Bay Ridge. There are going to be

people all over the place. He wouldn't try anything there.

I don't know.

I got a bad feeling about it, Tony.

Uh, Tony?

Don't go, huh?

I gotta go, kid. I can't keep our money waiting.

Relax. It'll be a piece of cake.

See ya.

Tony, wait!

You could say you just have a lot of running, Mr. Ritter.

Just wanted to talk to you.

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

Had a hound dog like that back in Tennessee.

He was a fool for chasing rabbits.

Used to chase them in a great big circle.

Just stood in one place, your meat would come right to you.

Hold it, hold it, Jedediah. You don't think this creep is going to volunteer

information, do you?

Mr. Ritter, I'm sorry about Jedediah.

He's upset because his father was murdered yesterday.

Unless I missed my guess, the man who did the killing is the man that's

for your brother.

Is that the reason you took off when you saw us coming?

I would have been shot at once with Tony yesterday.

Did you see who did the shooting?

Where's your brother now?

The only reason we want to know is we'd like to get to him before Cahill does,

because if we don't, well, your brother's probably told you the kind of

Cahill is.

Well, that's what's so crazy about it. Tony going to meet Cahill.

He's gonna what?

Some kind of deal going down. Tony's getting money from Cahill to keep quiet

to get out of town.

Where? Where's the meeting?

Bay Ridge Plaza.

Big shopping center.

What kind of a car does your brother drive?

An old beat -up two -door. White.

That's far enough.

How does it feel to be on the other end of the rope, you creep?

Oh, relax. It's all just like you ordered.

15 ,000 in small bills.

Makes a nice bundle, doesn't it?

Open it.

Put it on the hood.

Right here?

That's right.

Now turn around and disappear, sucker.

Have fun in Mexico, but don't drink the water.

There he is.

Well, it looks like Tony Ritter ain't as dear with Cahill.

Yeah.

And it blew up in his face.

I know he wasn't much.

He was in and out of trouble all his life.

He was my brother, you know?

My big brother.

Did Tony spend a night here?

After we got shot at, yeah.

He was...

The year all last night and this morning after I went to work.

He never told me what was going on. He was trying to protect me, I guess.

He probably set up the Cahill payoff by phone from here.

Since the phone company keeps a record of toll calls.

Except I haven't got a phone.

So we'd have to have used the payphone out in the hall.

Well, there goes that lead.

No record of calls on a payphone, right?

Well, it wouldn't do any harm to check.

In case you made any long -distance calls, they might remember.

Barnaby, you got any friends at the phone company?

Whoever wrote this was pretty interested in that last number there. You

recognize the handwriting?

Yeah, it's Tony.

Thank you, Richie. You've been a big help.

Rich.

Listen, man, I'm really sorry about your brother. Really.

I know how you feel.

Oh, hello.

Who'd you say this was?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Martinson Building Supply Company.

Does that mean anything?

Martinson Company has a big office building out in the Topanga area near

Tony was killed.

They do a big business in explosives for a construction job.

Well, I can't be sure.

Underneath all that hair, it could be any one of three or four of the men

working here.

And no one's named Cahill.

Which three or four? It's very important. Please.

Well, it looked quite a bit like our Mr. Thompson.

But then it could just as easily be Mr. Talbot or Mr. Brenner.

I'm sorry I can't be more definite.

That's perfectly all right. We're much obliged. You've been a big help.

Maybe your personnel department could narrow it down.

Oh, they're right through that door, second door on the left.

Thank you. Thank you.

What were those two after?

They're doing some kind of investigation.

They showed me an old police photo and asked if it looked like anyone who works

in the office.

Did it?

Well, like I said, with a lot of imagination, it could have been Jim

Mr. Talbot or even you, Mr. Brenner.

Oh, even me. Maybe my lurid past is catching up with me. Oh, yes, I'm sure.

Harold, this is Mr. Brenner. Look, I'm afraid you're going to have to cancel my

appointment today. Something came up unexpectedly.

No, not tomorrow. I may be out of town for several days.

Yeah, thank you.

No, I told you, Tom came here from Miami. He's not from the Chicago area at

Willie, I wish you'd discuss this with him.

Yes, we tried to do that at his office, but his secretary said that he was out

of town.

Well, I don't understand that at all.

Do you mind looking at this picture?

I suppose so, if it will convince you that Tom is not the man you're looking

for.

This man is a criminal.

That's right.

Could the man in that photo be your husband?

Mrs. Brenner, what do you think?

Is that Thomas Brenner?

No, I've never seen him before.

Are you sure of that?

Yes, I'm sure.

And I resent all of this very much. Will you please leave?

Both of you, please.

Yes, of course.

Sorry to have troubled you, ma 'am.

It's me, Lois.

Tom? What's the matter? You sound upset.

There were two men here just now. They showed me a police photograph.

It was you in the photograph, wasn't it?

The two men. What did you tell them?

I told them they must have you confused with someone else.

I lied.

Good.

Lois, meet me at the swim drift at the marina. Just meet me.

At the spindrift. All right, Tom.

You're right, of course. I'm not going to lie to you.

It was me in the police photo.

Anyway, the man I used to be.

Then you do have a record.

And you want it now.

Yeah. I've got a past.

And one I'm not proud of, Lee King.

But it has nothing to do with the way I am now.

I've changed since then, Laura.

Thanks to you, I'm a different man now.

I want to believe you.

I know this must be a shock for you.

I lived with you for five years.

I thought I knew you better than I know myself.

I love you, Lois. That hasn't changed.

If you never found out about my past, it wouldn't have made any difference,

would it?

No, I guess it wouldn't.

Lois, what we were talking about before, a different kind of life away from all

the pressure.

I want that now for both of us.

You still want me.

Whatever you did before, I love you now.

Lois, this is of my past. It should be catching up with me now.

Well, Santa Barbara isn't far enough. We might have to go farther, a lot

farther, and not look back.

You mean leave my family, all our friends?

It's possible that it might come to that.

Could you do it?

I don't know.

Forget

about

it. There's another way.

I'll handle this so we won't have to worry about that.

Now, those three names that you got from the receptionist at Martinson's

Building Supply.

The two first Thompson and Talbot check out all the way down the line. They are

who they say they are, and they came from where they say they did.

At least Thomas Brenner.

The owner's son -in -law.

The story on him is he came from the Miami area about five years ago, used

money that he got from a sale of a demolition business, and bought into

Martinson's Supply.

Baloney, he used the money from the jewel heist for that.

That's very possible.

Because according to that nice southern gentleman down at the Dade County Hall

of Records, there's nothing to show that Thomas Brenner ever owned or sold such

a business in Miami.

I think Thomas Brenner's a funny.

Brenner is Walter Cahill, all right? There cannot be any more doubt about

Seems to fit all right, especially when you delve into Cahill's record.

Find out that he was once convicted for a safe blowing.

That ties in with the manner in which Tony Ritter was killed.

All we have to do is find him.

Betty.

No answer at the Brenner household.

Well, it hardly seemed likely that he'd be sitting around the phone waiting to

hear from us.

I think I'll go back to the Martinson office and see if Mr. Martinson knows

where to locate his son -in -law.

Want to come along, Jedediah?

For what? Martinson's just going to cover for him like Cahill's wife did.

Yeah, but it's worth a try.

So you don't want to come along? No, you go ahead.

I'll see you later, Jedediah.

Mrs. Brenner?

Mrs. Brenner, this is J .R. Jones.

Listen, it's very important that I talk with your husband. Is he at home right

now? Well, no, he isn't. He said he was driving up to Santa Barbara this

morning. He had some property to look at.

I see. Where exactly in Santa Barbara do you know?

In the Montecito area, I think, on Hillview Drive.

Okay, thank you. That's all I need to know.

Where are you?

What are you doing?

J .R., that's Barnaby's.

Don't worry, I'll take good care of it.

J .R., you don't have a license to carry a gun.

I got a father and a slab in the morgue. It's all a license I've made.

J .R., please.

No, you are going to stop and pick up Barnaby, aren't you? Betty, it has

to do with Barnaby anymore. Just Cahill and me.

J .R., please don't go by yourself.

Oh, Mr. Jones, I've been looking for you. Yes?

Your office phoned and said it was urgent that you call in right away.

You can use this phone if you like. Oh, thank you very much.

Barnaby Jones, office.

Betty, you were looking for me?

Yes, it's J .R.

He's on his way to Santa Barbara, hot on Cahill's Trail.

Barnaby, he took your spare gun.

There was nothing I could do about it.

Where in Santa Barbara?

Montecito area.

Hillview Drive.

talk to you.

So turn around and talk.

Where's the other man?

I thought the two of you would come together.

Have a little talk with your father -in -law.

Got a feeling you're into some major life changes, Brenner.

Or Cahill.

If you live, that is.

Pretty mouthy for somebody at the wrong end of a gun.

Lean up against that wall.

Go on, move.

Spread out.

Thank you.

I hope for your sake that boy's all right.

You've done enough to hurt the Jones family already.

You all right, J .R.? Yeah, I'm okay.

I guess.

I don't know, Barnaby. What do you think? Think he's found his appetite

You probably have time for a little dessert before your plane leaves. What

you say? Sure do.

Anyway, there's always another plane, right?

By the way, I want to thank you for saving my neck.

Yeah, you did cut it a little fine for comfort.

I'm glad I got there in time.

Well, you were right about taking it nice and slow and easy.

Guess I kind of went in there a little too eager.

Almost got myself killed.

Well, who would have known that... that Cahill qualified for a black belt in

karate.

I may have had trouble with him myself.

Well, I certainly found out.

Now, I'll tell you something.

I'm really beginning to like it out here.

I don't know, I think I might want to stick around a while.

That's a great idea.

What about it, Barbie? We can always use some extra help, can't we?

Don't you have to go back to Illinois and study for the bar?

Well, I can...

Always start studying for the California bar. It can't be any tougher for a

young lawyer out here than it is back home.

Now, if you could just pay me enough money to live on.

Well, now, how can you say no? I mean, after all, he is Kim.

Haven't said no yet.

Got to think about this.

You know, Kim or no Kim.

You would have to earn every dollar of your wages. And occasionally take some

advice from somebody older and more experienced.

Because you do tend to be muley now and then.

Well, that trait kind of runs in the family.

What'd you say?

Nothing. You got yourself a deal.

To the three of us?