Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, a Quinn Martin production.

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Merriweather.

Mark Sheriff.

With guest stars Mary Ann Chin.

Ray Danton.

Brian Montgomery.

Andy Jarrell.

Quinn Redeker.

Special guest star, Cassie Yates.

Tonight's episode, Duet or Danger?

Thank you.

Breathe.

The idea is to keep that guard busy for five minutes, not to go scaring them

off. Like we've been telling you, Maxine, honey, your ideas and our ideas

coincide. There is no more time for your lip.

Floyd's been out there too long. Somebody will spot the car.

You do not seem to understand, Maxine. We do not want to spoil our chances for

parole. Besides, we've got our careers to think of, right?

Your careers?

You're in for murder.

Manslaughter. And it wasn't really our fault, right?

Right.

You don't do like I told you. You'll need a plastic surgeon to put you

again. If he can find all the pieces.

Understand?

What's going on in there?

It's me. It's my sister. She didn't feel well.

What's wrong with her?

Well, I'm sure it's nothing. A little fresh air wouldn't kill her.

Fresh air?

Yeah.

I'll take care of her.

You stay here.

I feel better already.

Still feel weak to me.

No, no, that's better.

You know, I've been watching you, Pearl.

I know.

I don't mean that.

See, you ain't like the rest of these barracuda in here.

An opening act, that's all you'll ever be.

They're going to think we're in on this. What are they going to do?

Do you remember what Mama used to say about being hungry as a sheep for a

Well, I think that's what she had in mind.

Let's get out of here.

Is that you girls?

Sure is.

Hey, hey.

Where's Maxine and Angel? The guard spot is way split up. They're waiting up

there at the north corner of the fence. Okay, I'll be right back.

Lucky here.

I do believe that faith provides for artists in serious ways.

Get this straight, Miss... Wells, Mr. Jones.

Mary Beth Wells?

Miss Wells, you say that you were rehearsing for your wedding last night

young man that you were to marry mysteriously disappeared?

Just like that, Mr. Jones.

We were standing in this little room at the church waiting for the minister when

all of a sudden he looked out the window and saw a young lady standing in front

of the sunrise.

I thought you said it was night.

Oh, that's the name of his van.

He calls it that because it has a picture of a sunrise painted on the

Sounds logical.

Well, anyway, he told me that maybe she was trying to steal something, so he

went out to investigate.

When he didn't come back after a few minutes, I went up to see if anything

wrong.

Well, the young lady was gone, but then so was my fiancé.

And the sunrise.

Did you try calling a young man at home?

Well, he lives in his van.

But I went to where he keeps it parked, the canyon trailer spot out of Ventura.

I waited there half the night, but he never showed up.

He wasn't there this morning either.

You know, Miss Wells, it's kind of a sad truth, but sometimes a young fellow

gets cold feet right before the big day.

I thought about that, Mr. Jones.

I can't believe that that's the case here.

It was Lester's idea to get married in the first place.

Lester who?

Lester Gibson.

You remember him, don't you, Mr. Jones?

Yes. Yes, I do.

Well, that's why I came to you.

Lester told me how you helped him out of that trouble with those two singers a

while back.

Betty? Yeah?

We still have this morning's paper?

Mm -hmm.

Would you bring it in, please?

Uh, Miss Wells, are you sure you didn't see two young ladies standing in front

of Lester's van?

Here you are, brother.

No, just one. Why?

Well, the two singers that Lester was involved with, the Starshine sisters,

escaped from prison last night.

Either of these two look like the one you saw?

Well, I don't know. It was pretty dark.

Barnaby, do you think those two girls have Lester?

Jedediah. Where the Starshine sisters are involved, the possibilities boggle

mind.

Pearl, why do I have this strange feeling that it was a mistake to go to

Leicester for help?

At least we're not still driving around in a stolen car.

That's right. Only now we're just stranded on the side of a dusty old

Mr. should be back with that tire in a minute now.

I don't know, Pearl. Sometimes I wish we never left Macon.

Ruby.

Ruby, honey, don't you ever talk like that.

We got a dream.

And that is what makes us different.

We're going to go to Culverton.

Look up Johnny Blue.

Honey, it is straight on to Nashville.

Oh, you got that look in your eye?

You've been struck by a spear of inspiration I can tell.

Ruby, I got it. What?

The Dream Makers.

Pearl and Ruby Connors, the Dream Makers. I love it!

You're a genius, Pearl. Lester!

Lester, guess what?

I just thought of a new name for the app.

The Dream Makers. What do you think?

I think maybe I shouldn't be helping you. Why not?

Why not? Last time I saw you, you burnt down my trailer.

Tried to frame me for something you did.

But you got this beautiful new van with insurance.

And even had a little left over.

I nearly got thrown in jail with you.

Lester Gibson.

I told you they put us in jail by mistake.

And that's why they let us out. On its... Technicality.

Technicality.

I don't know.

Mary Beth will be worried.

Two. Two.

Miss Wells said she only saw one.

Well, maybe that's because the other one was standing near the back of the van.

I remember they attracted my attention because they were both wearing

And it wasn't raining.

Yeah, that would be an attention getter.

Reverend, would you mind taking a look at this picture?

Are those the two young ladies that you saw?

Oh, heavens no.

These girls are... Well, obviously used to harder times. Well, the girls last

night were innocents. Yes, sweet innocents. Why, one of them even came

church and placed some bills in the contribution box.

Uh, Reverend, do you mind if I have a look?

Well, no.

35 cents, Barnaby. What?

35 cents?

Well, there should be 20 or 30 dollars in there.

If it's any consolation to you, Reverend, you're not the first to have

taken in by Sweet Innocence or the Starshine Sisters.

Uh, Miss Wells, did Lester have any credit cards?

Just one, but to buy gas, as I remember.

All right, I'll get the name of the company and have Betty start checking it

out.

Well, um...

Reverend, thank you very much.

Thank you, John.

Thank you.

A little bit more wine, Pearl.

Wonder how Mary Beth is now.

Lester, must we discuss your old flames over lunch?

You know how I am when that green -eyed monster beats the best of me.

Then what about that Johnny Blue?

That's all you ever talk about.

I told you, he's just an old friend of ours. We grew up together in Macon,

Lester. Yeah, and he said if we ever needed any money to come see him,

This may come as a surprise to you, Lester, but that is exactly what we

Now, would you kindly pay the check?

$52 .71?

Well, pay it.

Pay it?

I only have eight bucks to my name. You told me you had some money.

Yes, but not that much.

Besides, we had to pay for these dresses and wigs, didn't we?

Lester, I think you'd better get the sunrise ready to pick us up.

Don't ask, just do it.

Pink ladies for the ladies.

Oh, I didn't believe we ordered any drinks, did we, honey?

Compliments of the house.

My name is Stan Tolan. I own this place. Minus in San Leon.

Very nice.

My name is Abigail Dubois, and this is my sister Cornelia.

How are you? May I join you?

Of course not. That's why we sent our little brother out to play.

Oh.

Cheers. Cheers.

What's wrong, Cornelia, honey?

Oh, yeah, that's a good idea. Could you get us a glass of water, Mr. Tolan?

Room temperature, please.

A glass of water, room temperature. It's going to be all right.

I got the license number, Mr. Dolan.

Also the credit card number.

I'll get him.

Don't worry.

I'll get him.

I thought over the phone you said there were three of you.

Lester, somebody.

Oh, he... Well, we left him in town at the laundromat. That's his van.

Johnny, we need money.

Well, I didn't think you came all the way to Culverton for the nightlife.

How much?

Five thousand, maybe a little more.

Five thousand?

Johnny, we need it for our new act.

The Dream Makers.

The Dream Makers? Whatever happened to the Starshine Sisters?

Well, that was before I was struck with the spear of inspiration.

You mean that was before you busted out of jail?

We got the papers down here in Culverton, too, you know.

Hey, come on now. Come on.

Let me see them pretty smiles.

Come on now.

You can trust old Johnny Blue.

You know, I never did think he was guilty in the first place.

Then you'll help us, Johnny?

Why do you need so much?

Because we cannot walk into Nashville with our hats in our hands.

Not the dream makers, Johnny. We need a big car, maybe a chauffeur, you know, a

big fancy hotel room and lots of flashy clothes so the record people stand up

and take notice. Right.

What do you say, Johnny?

You're still dealing, aren't you, Johnny?

Yeah, honey, but this isn't Las Vegas. It's just a small backroom casino.

But it could work.

Yeah, but you're gonna need a steak.

How much? Well, you're gonna need a thousand for show.

Now, uh, how much you got?

Twenty dollars and a St. Christopher medal.

And the sunrise.

Oh, come on, Pearl.

That's the Winfield sunrise in a million years.

He doesn't have to.

You're gonna need the pink slip.

He keeps it hidden under the dash. All I have to do is sign his name.

Pearl, he's been awful nice to us.

Ruby, we can pay him back afterwards from our winnings, plus interest.

Mama always said one good turn deserves another.

That's them all right.

They must have been wearing wigs, but I'd recognize those faces anywhere.

That's Abigail, and that's her sister, Cornelia.

Abigail and Cornelia?

Yeah, Dubois.

Why, you mean that's not their real names?

Somewhat like the proverbial Rose, the Starshine Sisters, by any other name,

will still steal your wallet.

Did they say where they were headed?

No.

You know something?

With those two chicks, if they had told me they were broke, I would have given

them the steaks, thrown in a bottle of champagne.

That would have spoiled all their fun.

What do you mean?

What did you find out in the filling station?

Nothing, but Miss Trudy certainly told me a lie.

Miss Trudy? Yeah, she owns the boutique across the way. The station attendant

saw the two girls go in there.

Anyway, Miss Trudy said that they looked at a few wigs and some dresses, finally

settled on a pair of lace handkerchiefs.

Said they didn't want to leave without buying anything.

Did Miss Trudy check her inventory afterward?

No, not until I just asked her to.

She says she thinks she's short some dresses and some shoes, and she's

that two wigs and two handbags are missing.

Well, I hope she made a sufficient profit from the handkerchiefs.

Well, actually, Barnaby, she did more than that. She overheard them talking in

the dressing room about where they were headed.

Where are they headed?

Culverton.

I know they're in here. A guy in the parking lot told me he saw them come in.

Well, you see them?

If I saw them, would I be asking you if you'd seen them?

Well, if you didn't see them, and I didn't see them, what do you want me to

you?

That's him at the bar, Nick.

I'm not leaving till I find them.

Now, look, I've had just about enough. Hey, hey, Joe, that's no way to treat a

new customer, huh?

My name's Nick DeMarco. I own this place. I understand you're looking for a

couple of young ladies, right? You bet I am, and I know they're here. Well,

maybe you're right, Mr., uh, Mr., uh... Gibson.

Lester Gibson.

Okay, let's take a look.

Heaven, if it isn't that little black clover and the one -eyed gentleman

And look at you, Ruby.

Five, four, two, and a lady, and I do believe that's the name of the game.

Are these your lady friends?

They sure are.

Your luck's still holding, Mr. DeMarco.

I have a feeling it's just about to run out, along with Johnny Blues.

Here you go. Buy yourself a yacht. Thank you, ma 'am.

Pearl.

Lester, we've been looking everywhere for you.

Why don't you try the laundromat?

Where's my van?

Oh, Lester, please, my ear.

Where's my van?

We sold it.

You sold the sunrise?

Well, it's not as if I'm a complete stranger to you. Besides, we got $1 ,500

it. I paid $3 ,000.

We'll give you four.

We are winning, Lester. B -I -G.

That means big, Lester.

Ladies, place your bets, please.

Pearl!

Ruby, Mama used to say you cannot expect a bountiful harvest without risking a

few seeds.

I think their luck just ran out.

Boss wants you to take a break, Johnny.

hand there at that story about birds and boogers.

Don't stop.

No, no, no. Let him cash in. It looks good for the house.

$8 ,550.

Tomorrow maybe we can try to buy back the sunrise.

Uh, Lester, Ruby and me kind of have...

Something else in mind.

Like what?

Like, how would you feel about being a chauffeur for just a little while?

Pearl?

Girls?

I think you have something that belongs to me.

Run, Lester! Get him!

Girls, the fun is now over.

we do with them, Nick.

Take them out of the place.

Nice -looking girls, huh, Mary?

But what makes you think they were in here?

Couple of reasons.

Number one, we checked every other place in town, and the other one is...

Your sign out front says live entertainment. We thought they may have

here looking for a job.

Let me take another look at that picture, will you?

There's a good chance they might have been wearing wigs.

You know, something they were in here asking about a job.

Yesterday evening sometime I told them we didn't have anything and I sent them

away. Did they have a young fellow with them?

No, they were alone.

Did you say where they were staying?

It was during the dinner hour. I must have talked to them for all of 30

Did they have talked to anyone else in here?

No, they just asked for a job, then they split.

Well, thank you very much for your help.

Anytime. I'd offer you a drink, but... We're closed now.

Well, that's all right.

I've already had my milk.

A wannabe.

They just drove on last night. They could be 500 miles from here.

It's possible.

But I don't think they'd come to Covington just to perform at the

Wannabe, look at that.

What do you think?

Not a Rembrandt, but I'd say it's a Sunrise.

need to look any farther.

That van is you, or my name's not Smiley Oldswanger, largest used car dealer in

Culverton, California.

That's quite a name. Mind if I just call you Smiley?

Mister, you can call me anything but late for dinner.

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

This is my associate, Jedediah Jones.

Hi there, Smiley.

What can I do for you?

This van here, does that used to belong to a fellow named Lester Gibson?

Yeah. Why?

When did he come in, do you know?

He didn't. His wife bought it in yesterday.

His wife?

Pretty little thing.

Came in with his sister.

But he had signed the pink slip, so everything was on the up and up.

Did she say where her husband was?

Oh, in some hospital.

That's why they needed the money in a hurry, so he could have open -heart

surgery. Did she give you an address where they were staying?

She said they moved around a lot.

What time of day was it?

Around 4 .30.

That would mean they came here before they went to the hideaway.

The hideaway?

They went there.

I sure bet they didn't have much money left over for the operation.

What do you mean?

Nick DeMarco runs a little casino in the back room.

Oh, he didn't tell us about that.

Well, thank you very much, Smiley.

Pleasure.

You know, Bonnevie, I cannot believe that Lester would let them sell his van,

not for gambling money.

Edediah, do you realize that Lester hasn't been seen since yesterday

Mm -hmm.

That's what's got me worried, too.

Esther, we're sorry we got you into this.

But if we ever get out of here, we're going to make it up to you by letting

be our manager.

Any ideas?

Would you like some suggestions?

You? Shut up.

I think we ought to make an example of them, Nick. That's a good idea. Take

out in the desert and waste them.

Be a lesson to anyone else who's even thinking of trying the same sort of

Or we could give them another chance.

I like that idea best.

I understand you two girls are singers.

Would you like us to sing for you?

Not especially, but I have to admit I kind of admire your style.

And your guts.

So I'll tell you what.

You do something for me, and maybe I'll do something for you.

Like letting you live.

All of it?

If you come through.

What do you have in mind?

Just a little poker game between Johnny Blue here and Ben Kingston.

Who's Ben Kingston?

One of the richest ranchers in the state, and a man who appreciates a good

of poker.

So why don't you just invite him to your club?

Well, I tried that once, and now he somehow doesn't quite trust my action.

But he is a sucker for a pretty face, and that's where you two come in.

So what do you say?

Given the choice, Mr.

DeMarco, I'd say it's a whole lot better than being wasted.

Look, how many times must I have to tell you? I don't know what two girls are

talking about, and I don't know anything about a backroom club. Now, if you

gentlemen will excuse me, I've got customers.

Not exactly a know -it -all, is he?

Barnaby, you're not going to believe this.

Lester?

Mr. Jones, what are you doing here? Looking for you.

Mary Beth was worried she thought something happened.

Something did.

I changed my mind about getting married, so I just took off.

Lester, we know about Ruby and Pearl.

Mr. DeMarco's waiting, Lester.

Yeah, I've got to be going, Mr. Jones.

I'll call Mary Beth and explain everything.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Jones.

Nick, that private detective's out there. He spotted Lester. I didn't tell

anything.

Take him back to the place and keep him there.

Well, Mr. Jones, what's up?

Would you mind explaining to me what Lester is doing here with you?

Lester? Oh, Lester. Well, what's there to explain? He works here.

Since when?

Since yesterday, he came in here looking for a job. He seemed like a bright

young kid, so I hired him. Why didn't you tell me that earlier?

Oh, you mean when you asked me if there was a young man with the two singers?

Well, I didn't realize you meant Lester. I just sent him off on an errand. I

don't know when he'll be back.

Mr. DeMarco, I don't understand everything that's going on around here.

little cooperation.

Does the sheriff know that you're running this backroom casino?

Casino?

You mean back there?

Well, Mr. Jones, I really don't know who's been talking to you or what you

think, you know, but you're quite welcome to take a look.

Just a banquet room.

There's no log inside, is there?

Don't need the country.

Home made dinners on Sunday.

Talk with your little brother or your mother.

Baby won't send you no flowers.

Sweet talking for hours.

Love needs no disguises. Just a project.

That was just audition arranged by a friend of ours. Well, I better talk to

management. They owe me a couple of favors.

First, I'd like to buy you two a drink.

I'm sorry we don't drink with strangers.

Oh, I'm no stranger.

Name's Ben Kingston.

I'm really just a country boy that happens to own a lot of the country.

Come on, sit down.

But we can't, Mr. Kingston. We're cousin city.

With our cousin Willie.

Aunt Melody's boy from Macon. Well, why don't we get him a milkshake or

something? How's that?

Willie's 30.

Oh. And he has this terrible... disease.

Aunt Mildy calls it the gambling fever.

It's not like you can't afford it, though.

Do you know the, um, Dubois family, Mr. Kingston?

Dubois? The Dubois from Macon.

Sounds kind of familiar. Listen, I tell you what. Why don't you go look in on

Cousin Willie? I'll wait for you down here. How's that?

I don't know.

I mean, once Cousin Willie starts chewing your ear.

Uh -huh. You know, it sounds like I better go along with you, just to give

an excuse to leave.

You wouldn't mind?

Big cowboy.

Cousin Willie, this is, uh... Cousin Ruby, uh, save the introductions for

please.

Now, uh, you, uh, got that other king under there?

Five hundred says I do.

A thousand says you don't.

What have you got?

A little old pear.

That's enough for me.

I thought you guys came to play.

You know, a man just can't find any action around here.

You don't play, do you, Mr... Kingston.

Ben Kingston.

Yeah, I've been known to sit in now and again.

Well, we got a couple of empty chairs here.

And no, I promised your two good -looking cousins here to buy them a

You suit yourself.

Of course, we could have something sent up.

We'll celebrate over dinner later.

Well, Pearl, I think Cousin Willie's fever is catching.

I do think we should call room service.

What did you sell him?

Much as you can buy.

Well, it doesn't look like Lester's coming back, Barnaby.

Why do I have that same feeling?

Maybe we should call the sheriff.

We got nothing to tell him until we know where Lester is.

I think our best bet is to let DeMarco make the next move.

Want to be?

We'll see where it leads us.

How's it going?

Perfect. Johnny let Kingston win for a while until the stakes went up.

Now Kingston can't figure out why his luck's gone sour.

And the girls?

If I didn't know better, I think they did this kind of work before.

Wish we could get a closer look.

No way, Jedediah.

She came back. Come over there.

Okay, I'll go take a look. I'll jet a dime.

Until we find Lester, they hold all the cards.

I'd better get back.

Hey, congratulations.

I hear you did a real great job.

Let me buy you a drink, huh? Oh, no thanks. I think we'll be on our way.

just the beginning.

Beginning of what?

Ruby, there are suckers like Kingston all over the place, and I don't just

Culverton. I'm talking about Vegas, Monte Carlo, the gambling capitals of

world.

We. Our team.

Oh, no, I'm already a team, the Dream Makers, and all I want to do is get out

here, go to Nashville, and record our music. I'm not asking you what you want.

I'm telling you what you're going to do.

And if I don't? Then Lester gets it.

And after Lester, the Dream Makers.

No, I think you better go.

Partner.

Ruby. Yeah, so you, I'd raise you $200.

Ruby just went in there, Barnaby.

Could you see what's inside?

No, but it sounded like there's a card game going on in there.

Oh, uh, waiter.

How would you like to take the day off and go fishing?

I've had bad luck in the past, but this has changed the meaning of the word.

There you go, $10 ,000.

If this gets any worse, I'm going to be planning my credit cards.

Room service.

Ice cream. Salad.

I hope you're all having a nice day. Where shall I put you, sir? Oh, here.

here.

Anybody in trouble?

Yeah, the place is dirty as they're holding you.

What's going on over here?

Well, actually, sir, I was looking for a place to put these sodas. I know you.

You're the guy with that detective.

Detective? Yeah.

What's a detective doing in here?

I'm so sorry.

John, let me get out of here while you've got a chance.

Wait a minute.

Boy, are we tight to see you.

Where is Lester?

Mr. Jones, you gotta help him. They said they'd kill him if anything went wrong.

We better get out of here.

Where are they holding Lester?

Probably up at the barn. I'll give you directions. I got a better idea. You

us to him.

I was supposed to get married today.

You want my opinion?

You're better off.

Who is it?

Ruby. I got a message from Nick.

Tie him up.

Poor little baby.

Thought I was a goner there for a while.

He ain't out of woods yet, Lester.

We've got company.

What now, boss?

The question is...

Why would they go to all this trouble just for Lester?

Jones!

All I want is the money from the game.

Nobody gets hurt.

Money?

You don't know anything about any money.

Pearl! You didn't! I seem like such a waste, Ruby.

You remember what Mom always said about waste not, want not.

I know.

Don't!

I'm giving you one more chance.

Throw that money out!

What about Lester and the girls?

As long as I get what's mine.

All right, I'm opening the door and throwing the money out.

They'll never let us go. They know we're going to head right for the sheriff.

With that kind of deduction in Jedediah, you should graduate that law school

with straight A's.

driving. You two stay put.

You get on the back. I'll tell you how we do this.

Get his gun, Lester.

Fair, Mr.

Jones, going back to prison. We already played there.

Well, look at it this way, Ruby.

They liked you so much, they want a repeat performance.

Take care, Lester.

And I meant what I said about being our manager when we get out.

Any ideas?

I'll work on it, Pearl.

I'll work on it.

What's your name?

You know something, Barnaby?

I bet you he waits for those girls to get out.

The way that pair operates, he may not have too long to wait.