Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, a Quinn Martin production.

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Merriweather.

Mark Schera.

With guest stars Janice Lind.

Charles Frank.

Robert Ito.

Special guest star Don Gordon.

Tonight's episode.

The fatal die.

If I were you, I'd reconsider going down, Mr. Everett.

It's what you're paying me for anyway, so why don't you stay up here? Just let

me make the decision, Hanson.

If we're this close, we can save a lot of time dividing the search area between

us. That is, of course, we're close if you're certain about what you spotted

yesterday. I know what I saw, right?

If I hadn't run out of air, I could have kept looking and probably hit the

jackpot.

Damn close now.

Close.

It's about time after six months.

Where do you think you're going?

In this outfit?

Cocktails and dinner, can't you tell?

Jeff.

Here, let's get you zipped up.

Thanks. You didn't tell me you were planning on going diving.

You didn't ask.

You two lovebirds can work this out between yourselves.

I'll see you topside in half an hour.

Maybe I better sit close to him.

Maybe.

I think you insist upon going down at all.

You can search west.

And I'll search east from this area.

Whatever you say, boss.

You know, I woke up last night.

You were gone.

Where were you?

Went for a walk on the beach.

For three hours?

That's right.

Now, why don't you relax?

That's supposed to be the point of this sport.

Nice, calm, serene waters.

I couldn't see a thing down there.

Yeah, no, I didn't see anything either.

Hands up yet?

No.

He's been out about 30 minutes. If he doesn't come up soon... It's Jeff.

Oh, my God.

What happened?

No use.

So close. So close!

And that stupid ass gets himself killed and jeopardizes everything.

We can't let anybody know this happened here.

We can't afford to let anybody pinpoint that this was the place where he was

drowned. You got it?

All right.

Hey, you understand.

Who is that?

I don't know.

We weren't out here alone.

Mr. Jones, the Trident Club pooled the money we'd have spent on a drunken wake

for Jeff to hire you.

And we're convinced that Jeff's death wasn't any accident.

Well, the sheriff's department at Watkins Landing and Harbor Patrol both

lot of experience with cases like this.

They're both calling it an accident.

Jeff wasn't just a weekend diver like the rest of us. He was a professional,

ex -Navy frogman. He personally taught all of us. Another thing, the head

The coroner's report theorizes that he hit his head on a rock.

A lump the size of an egg?

Have you any idea the kind of force it would take to crack into some rocks that

fast underwater?

It's inconceivable. What happened to his weight belt? It wasn't on his body. I

mean, Jeff wouldn't have had reason to drop it himself, and he wouldn't have

gone down there without it.

Jeff was reported drowned in shallow water, less than 15 feet. I went up

and dove in that area this morning just to satisfy my suspicions. I couldn't

find any weight belt.

It's a big ocean, Doc.

What was Hanson doing in it?

Well, he hired out on salvage jobs, treasure hunts, that kind of thing. This

was kind of hush -hush, but we were buddies, so he told us he was working

some guy named...

Everett. Carl Everett.

It was Everett who brought in the body.

Look, with or without your help, Mr. Jones, we're getting into this thing.

going back up to Watkins Landing myself tomorrow.

Well, maybe I'll take a run up there with you.

Good. And I'll be available if you need me to do any diving.

Thanks.

Oh, that may not be necessary.

My new young assistant from Chicago is well into that sport.

He's even what you fellas call...

Certified. That's it, certified.

Look, if you can't tell me who's chartered the crest, can you at least

who owns it?

Yeah, hold on.

Yeah, no, I already told you. The crest.

It's a church one.

What was that name again?

Nunley Pier 6.

Got it.

So what are you going to do now?

I'm going to find that boat and find out who's charted it, that's what.

But the police bought your story of recovering Hanson's body not far

so why don't you just lay low for the time being, all right?

Because whoever was out on that boat could pinpoint our location.

But more importantly...

What was he doing out there in the first place, huh?

Could be a coincidence.

Could be our secret zone.

There could have been a diver on that boat.

Whatever you said.

Hey.

Come on.

Both our futures are lying in the bottom of that ocean, baby.

Yeah, well, you say that, but you still won't let me in on exactly what the big

treasure is.

Ah.

Then it wouldn't be a surprise.

You think I'd waste my time diving for nickels?

That thought alone should keep you warm at night.

Now, what do you say?

Are you with me in this or not?

I want what you want.

Yeah, I'm with you.

That's my girl.

Now I'm going into town, and I'm going to find that bum.

Oh, hi, uh, Mr. Everett.

Hi, yes. I'm Barnaby Jones. This is my assistant, Joe Diah. J .R. Uh, what can

do for you, Mr.

Jones? I'm a private investigator.

I'm looking into the death of Jeff Hansen. I thought you wouldn't mind, uh,

answering a few questions.

What kind of questions?

You said in your report that you found a body floating in water that was only 15

feet deep.

I'm Elise Caldwell, Mr. Everett's assistant. I was on hand when Carl

the body, and the answer is yes. According to the coroner's summary, the

of nitrogen found in Hansen's brain was very high.

That's a statement, not a question.

What about it?

The deeper a diver goes, the greater the nitrogen content in his brain.

Now, you said that you found Hansen's body floating in 15 feet of water.

How do you explain that?

Well, uh...

I don't know. I guess the accident happened in deep water and then the body

floated in. It can't be rechecked. Tide at the time was outgoing.

Carl, I think we're going to have to tell them the truth.

All right.

To put it quite simply, I'm here on an archaeological mission for Rutledge

University. My purpose is to find the remains of a Spanish galleon that was

hundreds of years ago.

A potential find of vast historical significance.

And that's why you hired Hanson?

Yes. So you can see why we don't want any publicity on where the accident took

place. Because, well, it'll just attract a lot of amateur treasure seekers.

Now, I hope I can trust in your discretion to keep this confidential,

Well, that depends.

Depends on what?

On whether Mr. Hanson's death was accidental or murder.

I'll be talking to you again, Mr. Everett.

Come along, Jedediah.

Beautiful. Wasn't she, Mr. Everett?

Of course, I realize Everett is merely but a pseudonym.

However, the need for such subterfuge is clear to me.

Who the hell are you?

A colleague.

Shall we say, a fellow seeker of good fortune?

You were at sea yesterday, spying on me, weren't you?

A necessity.

Regardless of our common purpose.

I felt she would feel less intimidated if I were to remain in the background.

At least until such time as you needed me.

Needed you?

For what?

Come, come, Mr. Everett.

The sea holds a more personal concern for both of us.

I know you and Nienko would have been so happy in America had she lived. Your

lives would surely have been enriched by the treasure she so unfortunately took

to her watery grave.

How fortuitous.

that you have finally located that grave for both of us.

Look, I don't know what you're babbling about, and I certainly don't know

anything about any watery graves.

But you mustn't worry that my presence need jeopardize your quest, Mr. Everett.

I fully intend to keep the matter in the family.

You see... Oh, but forgive me.

I've neglected to introduce myself.

My name is Minzu.

I am your brother -in -law.

Let me tell you, Barnaby, I'm the first to defend the sport of treasure hunting.

The California coastline is literally a graveyard of sunken wrecks.

Yeah, sounds like it'd be a lot of fun to explore.

Mm -hmm. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit to the thrill of possibly locating

some treasure of enormous value.

Of course, 99 out of 100 treasure hunts turn out to be nothing more than a waste

of time, finances, and energy.

But try telling that to people like this Everett.

With them, it's a sickness.

It's called greed.

I had Jedediah tail him just in case he got the notion of picking up another

boat and going to sea.

Listen, how are Doc and I going to follow Everett when he goes out? And

tell me that swimming is good exercise.

Another member of the Trident Club brought a boat up the coast this

It's down on the landing now.

Well, let's go say hello to him.

Morning, Mr. Everett.

It seemed like such a nice day for a cruise.

All right, cut the routine, then. We're past that.

Very well.

I've decided to accompany you on the expedition today.

Uh -uh. That wasn't part of the deal.

What deal?

Who's this guy? I'm afraid I must insist on coming along, Mr. Everett.

I happen to be an expert diver, and three people can search more efficiently

than two.

Need I remind you of the undesired alternative to turning me down?

All right.

All right, let's get underway.

Wait a minute.

Are you going to tell me what this thing is all about?

When I want to hear from you, I'll say so.

And until then, you keep your mouth shut.

How'd she handle for you, Tony?

Like a breeze, Doc. A little chop around Point Dune, but nothing I couldn't

handle. You know my assistant, Donna Dyer -Jones? We've met. How are you?

Fine. And my daughter -in -law, Betty.

Betty, this is Doc Porter. Oh, hi there. And Tony Chaff, newest member of the

Tritons. He also works at the diving school. Hi.

Larry's holding down the fort while I'm gone.

Oh, Betty, you're just in the nick of time. Did you run that check on Carl

Everett? He's bona fide, Barnaby. He's one of the associate directors of the

Historical Society of Rutledge University.

Well, it's back to square one, huh, Barnaby?

One thing, though.

I just finished talking to Professor Everett in his office in La Jolla, and

has never heard of Watkins Landing.

Betty, that piece of information was worth the personal trip.

Good.

House rented, car rented, boat rented, all paid for with cash, so that the

Everett... Wouldn't leave any clues as to his identity.

He's not exactly the master imposter, though, is he?

There goes the little G.

Don't follow her too closely. They'll have a sharp lookout and they'll spook

easy. We'll be careful. We'll see you later.

While they're out, what are we going to be up to?

I think we'll do some fishing.

Fishing? Yeah, for answers at Carl Everett's Beach House.

This is breaking and entering.

Who's breaking?

We're just entering.

Barnaby, I found something.

It's an attache case.

Okay, what do we got?

Well, I don't know. Here.

What do those look like?

Business papers, memorandum, Tesla imports.

All signed by Paul Tesla himself.

Same initials that I found on the shirts inside.

Paul Tesler, P .T.

Located in downtown Los Angeles.

How about Paul Tesler's passport?

Betty, you have got the makings of a dedicated second story, ma 'am.

Everett, is Paul Tesler all right?

Lots of globe girdling, which is what you might expect from an import -export

operator.

Last trip was to South Vietnam some time ago.

When? Early April, 75.

Funny place for him to be at that time.

Why that?

If I remember correctly, that's about the time Saigon fell.

I thought we were out of there earlier than that.

The troops were, but the embassy was evacuated in April, along with remaining

military personnel.

Refugees, civilians, they were all airlifted up.

Oh, yes, of course. I remember seeing films of the refugee children arriving

this country by the plane load.

Now, what would a man like Tesler be doing in Saigon when all hell was

loose? And what connection, if any, would that have to a sunken treasure

and possible murder halfway around the world?

Barnaby, what about your friend Jay Leahy with the State Department here?

Couldn't he help?

I think he's still out of the country.

But it's certainly worth a phone call.

Who's fishing in these waters?

Wonder who the new player in the game is.

Tony, we're gonna start looking around here.

Okay, gotcha.

Too close, damn it. A pearl circle.

I'll go down.

Try to locate him.

Warn him if I can.

The Oriental just went over. Yep. Now it's our turn.

Good luck.

Can I help you get in?

No.

Hey, hey, it's no use. He's gone.

What the hell happened down there?

How long has he ever been up? Just a couple of minutes.

That means he and the other guy were down there at the same time Doc and I

Yeah, sure.

What about the girl?

Did you have her inside all the time?

No.

That means she might have gone under, too.

Any one of those three people could have killed Doc.

Well, can you or can't you admit to actually witnessing an underwater attack

Dr. Porter?

Well, no, but come on. Two accidental scuba drownings within days. Both

were expert divers. Now, you can't tell me you're just going to write this off

as another act of God.

Well, the idea doesn't exactly wash with me either.

Sheriff, if you're building up to some kind of accusation, you better be

standing on firm ground.

You're right, Mr. Everett.

There's no proof of homicide.

I can promise you our department is going to be launching an intensive

investigation into this.

I'm betting that the autopsy will show that Porter's brain had roughly the same

amount of nitrogen in it that Hansen's was found to have.

Tie that in with Jedediah finding the weight belt, and it could indicate that

Hansen was killed when he was down there poking around in the same area.

Poking around for what?

You said you found nothing of any significance down there?

That's what I said, yeah.

Will that be all, Sheriff?

You're free to go.

Thank you, Sheriff. We'll stay in touch.

Yes.

That sheriff is sitting on his thumbs while two of my friends are stone cold.

The membership in the Trident Club is dwindling.

But what I'm interested in, Jedediah, is what was the piece of information that

you just now withheld from the sheriff?

It might be we hit the jackpot down there just before Doc was killed.

We found the wreck of a small, private plane.

The serial number was N -3472K.

Why didn't you tell the sheriff that, J .R.? Well, not in front of Everett.

There's no use tipping our hand to him.

I'm inclined to agree. Good work, Jedediah.

Betty, check with FAA.

See if you can find out the name of the registered owner of the plane.

You gotta look inside.

Now, the doors were jammed shut. I'll have to make another dive with a

First thing in the morning.

Now that the killer knows that we know the location of the plane, we have to

move fast.

Jones, I didn't have to invite you in here. Now, why don't you come to the

point?

Well, the point is, I think it would be very helpful to the sheriff if he got an

anonymous phone call filling him in on the exact nature of the sunken wreck you

and somebody else are scratching to get to first.

You're bluffing.

Okay. How's this for openers?

N -3 -4 -7 -2 -K.

The serial number of a small plane registered to Morningstar Air Charter

in San Francisco.

Last chartered by Tesla Imports to fly a routine cargo to Los Angeles.

Had some engine trouble and went down off the coast in April 1975.

Well, you're right about the plane. I admit that.

But what I lost aboard that plane was something of a highly personal nature.

Something you arranged to have brought in from Saigon when you were there

earlier that month?

Okay. All right.

The truth.

My wife was on board that plane.

You never told me you were married.

If I can easily be checked.

Go ahead.

Her name was Ninko.

Our marriage was legally sanctioned by both governments.

All I wanted, all I ever wanted since that plane went down was to recover her

body and to give her a decent and honorable funeral.

Is that what the gentleman from Vietnam wanted also?

Yes, he's Ninko's brother.

I swear to you, there's nothing more of value on that plane.

Do you mean to tell me that I have been hanging in all this time for this and

nothing?

Look, I couldn't...

You couldn't tell me, of course.

Because you knew I'd do exactly what I'm doing.

Splitting.

Please.

Look, I have nothing more to say to you, Mr. Johnson.

Please excuse me.

Do you believe him, Harley?

I believe some of it.

Not all of it.

What part don't you believe?

The part about there being nothing of value on the plane.

Our Mr. Tesler is not a sentimental, grieving widower.

What about the State Department, Jay Leahy?

Well, his office said he won't be back until tomorrow morning.

I hope we can come up with something.

Jedediah's got to dive again in the morning.

Up to now, these have not been friendly waters.

I'm telling you, Mr. Nunley, I heard something behind me, and when I went to

turn around, blam! Are you on the sauce again or what, Harry? What's going on?

My boat's missing. Some joker just waltzed in and stole my boat.

Somebody stole the crest?

How long ago?

About half an hour ago.

They run it onto the rocks. My insurance is going to go through the roof.

Somebody's got a 30 -minute start on us.

Let's go.

Looks like a ghost ship.

Yeah. Quipper Stoller's probably down there now.

Better hurry up.

I didn't count on this.

Guess what we better do is call the Coast Guard and stand by until our

guest returns.

We don't know what they're doing or what they're hiding down there.

We can't afford to sit this one out.

Finally found Elise Caldwell in the last one. She checked in late last night

after falling out with Tesla.

Over. Is she in her room?

No. And there's no answer at Tesla's number.

And I haven't been able to track down mean two either.

Sorry. Over.

What about the call to the State Department? Over. Jay's tracking down

information you wanted now.

He said he'd get back to me as soon as he could.

Over.

Hang on, Betty.

Coast Guard again.

Helen, the crest is now underway, steering a northeasterly course.

Over. You're not going after them, are you, Barnaby?

No, I have to stand by here, Betty.

Jedediah's over the side. Over and out.

Barnaby, it's good to see you again.

Have a seat.

I've been trying to return Betty's call.

Well, that's good news, Jay. I hope you got something for me. I do.

Paul Tesler stated purpose for entering South Vietnam in April 75.

He applied for and received marriage permit and citizenship papers for his

bride.

I have good reason for remembering the case very well.

The woman was something of a celebrity, an actress.

Her name...

Was Ninco at it?

Are you sure you needed me after all, Barnaby?

Well, any case that you remember this well has got to be interesting. What's

story on her?

It seems Ninco dropped out of sight almost immediately on arrival in San

Francisco.

Afterward, it was suspected that she had managed to flee Saigon with a

collection of jade art objects that had been in her family for generations.

What kind of a value would you place on the jade?

Inestimable. Let's just say it's over a million and let it go at that. Jay, you

happen to know whether she has any living family, brothers particularly?

Answer that's no, Barnaby.

Naturally, any surviving blood relative would lay first claim to the jade.

Well, I know of one pretender to the bloodline.

If anyone blew up that plane, it was you to cover up the fact you got to the

collection before I did. You're trying to put me on the defense of Tesla. Well,

I won't fall for it.

You recover the jade, and if you think that I'm...

Mr.

Tesler, I assume that you have learned of the events of this morning?

Yeah, yeah, I heard about it. How's your young assistant?

That's very kind of you to ask.

Jedediah is going to be fine.

Wait a minute.

How can we be certain that this young diver isn't the one who... Stole the

collection and blew up the plane?

You know, seeing as everyone else has laid their cards on the table, don't you

think it's about time you folded your hand?

The late Ninko did not have a living brother.

True.

My real name is unimportant.

What matters is that of all the hunters gathered in competition, I possess the

only valid claim to the prize as an agent of its rightful owners.

And who would they be?

Members of the former South Vietnamese regime.

The jade collection is still considered a national treasure.

I don't care what he says he is or who he says he works for. He still could

stolen the jade for himself.

If you two would stop accusing each other for a moment and listen.

I think I may have an idea of who did take the treasure.

The fact is, nobody searched that plane before it was blown up.

The cabin door hadn't been opened.

How can you be sure of that?

Jedediah told me. He used a crowbar to open the cabin door.

By that time, the killer had been there, planted the explosive, and gone.

Now, wait a minute.

Why would anyone go to the trouble of killing to get to the plane first, then

destroy it, Were the Jade still on board?

But the Jade wasn't aboard.

Jedediah said that he found a body in the plane.

A woman's body. That was your wife, Mr. Tesler.

Of course, she was flying down to Los Angeles to meet me with the collection.

Your wife's body was still in the cockpit, but that was the only body.

It seems to me there's a character missing from this scenario.

Your wife wasn't flying the plane, was she?

Of course not. She hired a pilot, Joe Lynch.

Wait a minute.

If my wife's body was the only one on the plane... That's right. The pilot

have bailed out with the jade before the plane crashed.

That's incredible.

Listen in.

On the day that Mr. Hanson was killed, Mr. Tesler and Miss Caldwell were aboard

the little G.

Now, you approached on the crest.

Who was your skipper? Was it the regular skipper, Mr. Nunley?

No.

As a matter of fact, I had hired a diver myself.

He was piloting the boat that day.

Where did this diver come from?

Well, the same place as Tesla's diver. The Trident Club.

Miss Conwell.

What a surprise.

What are you doing?

I want it, Chad.

What are you talking about?

Go on, don't play games with me. I've had enough from you and the Paul Teslers

all my life.

Now it's my turn.

I still don't know what the treasure is, but I know you've got it.

What makes you think that I've got it?

I saw you put on scuba gear and slip into the water yesterday.

I was on the other boat, remember?

Funny, you didn't mention that to the sheriff back at the landing after the

second diver had been killed.

Now I want what I came for.

Okay, okay, maybe we could come to some kind of agreement.

Can't we, you know, split this thing 50 -50? I mean, there's more than enough to

go around. No, no.

I'm afraid it's all gone, Miss Caldwell.

You see, Mr.

Lynch here, right?

Piloted the airplane, stole the treasure, and that was some time ago.

So I'm afraid by now...

It's all been converted to cash and spent, am I right?

That's right, Joe.

How'd you find out?

Jedediah got into the airplane before your bomb went off.

But he only found the remains of one body. Now, do you mind telling me how

found out about the jade collection?

The lady made the mistake of showing it to me. So you killed her and bailed out

with her property?

After a while, I realized Tesla had hired Jeff Hansen.

I was getting too close to the crash site.

So I joined the Trident Club to stop them. So just in case you ran into

you dyed your hair and shaved your beard off. Shut up.

You're wasting time. Now get in the back.

Come on, move!

You know something?

I think this is the biggest fish I ever caught.

I guess you'd have to call it ironic, but the jade was not found on the

airplane, neither was it in Lynch's possession.

Well, then what did happen to the big treasure?

Well, Lynch probably fenced it when he gained possession.

Well, wait a minute.

There were probably only three or four fences in the whole world who could

handle a collection like that.

Need I remind you, Tesla, that if anyone is to track down the jade, it will be

me, on behalf of its rightful owners.

Right now, I'd say the collection had no rightful owner.

So whoever finds it... Now, wait a minute, Tesla.

You're making a bad mistake.

If you think that you're going to challenge me in this matter, eventually

going to have a... Do you think they're going to be able to track it down?

I think they'll try, to the ends of the earth.

Piece by piece if the collection's broken up.

Treasure hunters.

They're always looking for the other end of the rainbow.

Yeah, but there's never anything there, huh?

Just another rainbow, Jedediah.

Just another rainbow.