Original subtitles

♪ (theme music playing) ♪

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Mannix s6e02 Cry Silence

I shouldn't have stayed so long.

Why not?

You didn't think I'd expect a fast hello, did you?

Come on, I know how busy you are, Frank.

Jim, you know, you've been giving me a lot of words,

but the truth is, and we both know it,

that you haven't wanted to see me

any more than you want to see the other guys.

Ah, well.

It's odd, isn't it?

Whole time I was a priest,

the idea was to keep the outside world at arm's length and...

now it's just the opposite.

I gotta make a clean break, Frank,

or I'm just wasting my time.

Not as simple as just turning that collar around, is it?

No, it isn't.

Jim, I've known you a long, long time,

and there's something going on in your mind,

something very specific.

You're in the right business, Frank.

Did anybody ever tell you that?

Well, I should have pushed you.

I didn't think you'd need an invitation.

Yeah, well...

I'll tell you what--

if I find I can't work it out,

I'll come running.

I'm here.

Anytime you're ready.

Thanks, buddy.

(tires screeching)

Welcome to the world.

Is that where we are?

According to this morning's mail.

MANNIX: Bills.

I thought that would wake you up.

(knocking on door)

Good morning.

Morning.

Can I help you?

My name is Conway, James Conway.

I don't have an appointment, but I-l thought...

Can I tell Mr. Mannix what it's about?

No.

Uh... I think I've made a mistake.

Mr. Conway?

Join me for a cup of coffee?

Well, why not?

How do you take it?

Black will be fine. Peggy?

Please, come in.

Thank you.

Have a chair.

A while back, I read a story in the paper about a James Conway

that had left the priesthood and was working with drug addicts.

Are you that James Conway?

That's me.

Well... whatever it is that brought you here,

I can see that it's difficult for you to discuss.

Matter of fact, I shouldn't discuss it at all.

Thank you.

But you're in need of a private investigator,

or, uh, you wouldn't have walked through that door.

Someone tried to kill me yesterday.

How?

I was... I was crossing a street and a car almost hit me.

Are you sure it wasn't just

out of control, or a drunk driver?

Happened before.

Last week, and it was the same car.

Mr. Conway, uh...

can you think of a reason why anyone would want to kill you?

Mr. Mannix...

a long time ago, I took a vow

never to repeat anything I heard in the confessional.

I'm no longer a priest, but that vow still holds.

I can understand.

Well, then...

you have some idea how I feel

because... I'm...

I'm going to break that vow.

It was Friday night, about, oh, two months ago.

I was at St. Anne's.

MAN: Bless me, Father.

I confess to Almighty God and you, Father, that I have sinned.

It's been a month since my last confession.

I... I'm a good man, Father.

I work with the handicapped, full-time--

not just an hour here or there--

full-time, six, seven days a week.

I.. I know what it's like-- see.. their position.

I mean, it could have been me.

It almost was.

I almost went blind.

I.. I was wounded.

It was a miracle they saved any part of my sight.

I'm doing all right now; you'd be surprised.

But I didn't just forget.

Oh, no, never.

That's why I try and help the others who weren't as lucky.

And now you are performing a continuing work of mercy.

That's meaningful, that's good.

But surely that's not what brought you here tonight.

No.

I...

It's a terrible thing.

I can't sleep anymore.

Tell me.

Maybe it's not as bad as you think.

Well, well, it's...

There was this woman...

the... the police found.

She was murdered.

They don't know who did it.

Do you know?

Yes.

Oh, God.

(sobbing): God forgive me.

Are you telling me that you're responsible?

Yes.

I am.

Help me.

I don't know what to do.

Please, help me.

I can't go on much longer.

But I have to go on.

My work.

All right.

Let's talk about this thing that happened.

Maybe we can decide what it is you have to do

that will bring you peace.

What do you mean?

Are you telling me I should go to the police?

Perhaps doing what is right will help you to...

I'm not going to the police. You can't make me!

Please, please listen to me.

Forget I ever came here. I don't need your kind of help.

Forget it, do you hear me? Forget it!

It was too late.

He was gone.

And you think he's the man who's trying to kill you?

I don't know.

He might've read I'd left the church,

assumed my vow was no longer binding,

thought I'd report his confession to the police.

What you want me to do, then, is to protect you.

More important than that--

I want to prevent this man

from having a second murder on his conscience.

Find him.

Tell him there's no need to kill again.

His secret is safe.

Can you do that?

I can try.

But, in the meantime, I'm going to get you off the streets.

Find a place where this man won't be able to find you.

Why, of course, Jim.

You can stay as long as you like,

and we're happy to have you.

Oh, just put it down anywhere, Charlie.

Right there's fine.

Jonathan, Mr. Mannix is doing me a favor, a personal favor.

You said he was an investigator.

Is it that sort of something?

Basically it's a communication problem.

I happen to be in a better position

to deal with it than he is.

Oh, fine.

That's all I had to hear.

Jim and I, we go back a long way, you know.

We made history together, right here.

We showed them that a Scotch Baptist

and an Irish Catholic could both stroke the same war.

Didn't we, Jim?

That we did, Jonathan.

And before it was fashionable.

Well, you find yourself a locker

and get changed out of those fancy clothes.

You're here to work, you know.

I'll be in touch.

Thanks, Joe.

Mr. Mannix, I would not think of prying,

but that's a grand fellow there, that.

Is this business serious?

Could be, Mr. Moresby.

Then how can I help?

See that he stays inside,

and generally keep an eye out for him.

Oh, and if anybody shows up asking questions,

give me a call, will you?

Aye. I'll do that.

Thank you.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Thanks, Vivian.

That should cover it.

Well... we have any idea as to what organizations

he might have been working for?

We've got a lot of choices, Joe.

There are nearly 50 agencies

dealing with physical handicaps of all kinds.

Oh, boy.

Look, suppose we eliminate all except the ones

that deal with visual handicaps.

That brings it down to an even dozen.

Those are the ones that I checked.

Hmm.

Better get out your old army boots on this one.

You got a lot foot slogging to do.

Mm.

Wait a minute, what'd you say?

You've got a big job ahead of you.

It's going to wear out a lot of shoe leather.

No, you said I better get out my old army boots.

Just a figure of speech.

Peggy, the man that confessed to Jim Conway said he was wounded.

Now, most people would've said hurt or injured.

He said wounded.

You mean, maybe he got his handicap in a war?

Exactly.

Now, you wouldn't happen to know

if any of these organizations cater primarily to veterans?

There are four, I think. Here, let me see.

Well, maybe there's one there

that, uh, deals specifically with sight handicaps.

Oh, here it is.

Sightseers Society.

Excuse me.

I'd like to see Mr. Welch, if I may?

Oh, I'm sorry, Mister...

Mannix.

Mr. Mannix.

He's very busy.

I'm afraid today is not the best day.

Well, it's, uh, really very important.

I'll try.

Mr. Mannix?

Come in.

Thank you.

Mr. Welch.

Mr. Mannix.

Won't you sit down, please?

Thank you.

What can I do for you?

I'd like to get a message to a man.

I think you can help.

Oh? Who's this man?

A murderer.

Well, I suggest you take your problems

to the police, Mr. Mannix.

Well, I've been asked not to do that.

You see, this man confessed his crime to a priest.

The priest is sworn to silence.

Well, I'm afraid I don't get the connection.

Well, the priest has since left the church,

and his life has been threatened.

The murderer seems to think

that his secret isn't safe anymore, but it is.

I still don't understand how the Sightseers Society is involved.

The man I'm looking for has a service-connected eye injury.

That would apply to thousands of veterans.

Yes, I'm aware of that.

Take myself for instance-- I lost an eye in Korea.

It so happens, Mr. Welch,

I've narrowed it down to someone in your organization.

I only want to assure this man

that his secret is still safe.

Yes, I appreciate that would be of interest to him,

if you found him.

I hope I have found him.

Then... you think you know who he is.

All that's necessary is to make sure he gets the message,

wouldn't you say, Mr. Welch?

You really wouldn't expect him to confess...

if you confronted him?

No.

No, I wouldn't expect that.

Thank you, Mr. Welch...

for your time.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(gears grind)

(tires screeching)

(tires squeal)

(gunshot)

(two gunshots)

(tires squeal)

(door opens)

Peggy, get me Art Malcolm.

Something wrong, Joe?

Yeah, I was set up on a street downtown.

Some joker in a plumbing truck ran me up a fence

and took a shot at me.

Maybe he's the guy you've been looking for.

Uh, I don't know.

Everything else points

to the head of the Sightseer Society, Ira Welch.

Lieutenant Malcolm, please.

Were you set up after you left Welch?

Yeah, and somebody punctured my gas tank while I was seeing him.

Maybe Welch and the plumber are in this together.

I think so, but the question is how.

Welch had no way of knowing

I was gonna drop in on him today.

Mm.

Suppose Welch knew that Jim Conway came to talk to you,

and told the plumber to keep an eye on you, just in case.

PEGGY: Yes, is he in?

Mr. Mannix calling.

And then, when you did show up at the Society...

Mr. Plumber already had his instructions.

Yeah, well, I don't know.

Right now, I'm working on another theory.

Besides, I don't see Welch as being that calculating.

He's a very disturbed man-- Oh, Art.

Yeah, I need a favor.

Can you give me list of all of the unsolved murders

during the past six months, where a woman was the victim?

Local, I'd say.

Females only.

I'm sorry, Art.

I can't tell you right now.

Yeah, thanks, I'd appreciate it.

Joe, you didn't even tell him someone took a shot at you.

Well, maybe I will when he gets here.

He smelled something.

He's gonna deliver the list himself.

I'm gonna get cleaned up; I'll be right down.

Okay.

(knocking on door)

Package for Mr. Mannix.

This is the place.

Sign here, please.

(pen scratching)

There you are. Thank you.

Have a nice day. Okay.

Joe!

Yeah?

Did I forget your birthday?

What?

A package just came for you.

It's pretty fancy.

Where's it from?

Doesn't say.

Maybe a secret admirer.

No card?

Mm-mm.

Who delivered it?

A delivery man, who else?

What'd he look like?

A delivery man.

What is it?

Get out of here, Peggy. What?

Go on, move! Get out of here!

Get outside! Yell your head off!

Get everybody out of this building.. both sides!

Joe, what about you? Will you move?

Quick, before this thing goes off!

PEGGY: Everybody out of the building! There's a bomb!

Hurry, please. Clear the area!

(ticking)

♪ ♪

(ticking continues)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(ticking stops)

(siren approaching)

(sighs with relief)

ART: You have no idea who the man was?

MANNIX: I told you, Art, I was upstairs.

ART: Peggy?

PEGGY: Looked like a delivery man to me.

It's on its way to the lab, Lieutenant.

You were lucky.

Okay, thanks a lot.

Yeah, thanks, fellas.

Your do-it-yourself routine doesn't impress me, Joe.

That thing could have blown you sky-high.

Yeah, or it could have blown all the people around here sky-high.

I couldn't take that chance.

Oh, Art, uh... did you bring me that list?

Oh...

What case are you working on, Joe?

What does it have to do with that present you just got?

Hmm. What have you found?

One of these murdered women

worked for the Sightseers Society.

Yeah, Lucy Tilden. Age 25.

Single, pretty.

I handled that investigation.

Fill me in, will you, Art?

She was shot with a .38 October three.

Her body was dumped at a construction site

outside of Newhall.

No marks of a struggle, no trace of a weapon.

Not much to go on.

Your case involves the Sightseers, huh?

It could.

We checked Ira Welch out at the time.

What'd you come up with?

A motive.

He had an affair going with the victim,

but he also had a wife.

Oh?

And what did that lead to?

Nowhere.

Welch was in Seattle the night of the murder.

20 people with him, all the time, at a conference.

So, uh... he's off the hook.

Well, he's off the map, let's put it that way.

These are good, try one.

That about takes care of what I know.

Now it's your turn.

I don't know that much, Art.

Come on, Joe, what do you want from me?

Keep the faith, Art.

That's what it's all about.

(doorbell chimes)

Mrs. Welch? Yes.

My name is Joe Mannix.

Is Mr. Welch in?

He's upstairs resting.

But I'd like to talk to you, Mr. Mannix.

Please.

In this room.

Mr. Mannix, my husband tells me you visited him.

I believe you discussed Lucy Tilden.

Not specifically.

Frankly, Mr. Mannix,

I think any reference to that subject this time

is very unfair to my husband.

He was cleared by the police two months ago.

That should have ended it all.

Mrs. Welch, I am not accusing your husband

of killing Lucy Tilden.

I'm certain that it was another man who pulled the trigger.

Then find that man.

I think your husband can help me.

How?

I believe he knows who the man is.

All right, perhaps we can finish this awful business

once and for all.

Excuse me.

Ira?

Ira...!

(gunshot)

(Mrs. Welch screams)

(doorknob rattling)

MRS. WELCH: Oh, my G...!

(screaming, sobbing)

It's locked!

(screams, sobs)

(sobbing): Ira!

Don't let anybody in that room till we check it out.

(Mannix plays two notes on piano)

How's Mrs. Welch doing?

Not too well.

The doctor's giving her a sedative.

Mm.

Joe, this time, I want some answers.

Okay, Art.

You've been scratching around looking for something connected

with Lucy Tilden's murder.

Now, one of the suspects,

a man you've been curious about, commits suicide.

Do you know why?

I think it was guilt.

Over Lucy Tilden.

He couldn't have killed her, Joe.

He could've hired somebody to do the job.

Do you think he did?

Somebody tried to kill me when I left Welch's office.

And it wasn't Welch.

The guy happened to miss me, but he knew his business.

Could that be the man who brought you the bomb?

Well, I think he was afraid Welch might crack

and name him as the contract professional that killed Lucy.

So, he decided to keep you away from Welch permanently?

Where does your client fit in?

Well, the killer knew that Welch had talked

to my client some time earlier.

He probably felt he was in jeopardy again.

Did he make a try for your client, too?

Mm-hmm.

Yep.

Twice.

By now, you must have some idea what he looks like.

No, I don't, Art.

He's different each time, disguises himself.

That's pretty fancy, Joe.

Yes, it is. Particularly the way he does it.

He's good.

I'll bet he's also thorough.

He'll keep gunning for you and your client,

in which case, it's time you brought your client

down to my office.

Not until he gives me the go-ahead, Art.

Joe, you're taking an awfully big chance

just to protect a confidence.

So is my client-- and he's doing it for free.

It's no good, Charlie. Come on down.

Can you use some help?

Oh, Mr. Mannix!

Well, I'm not about to say no. Go to it.

Charlie, would you get Jim Conway for me?

He's gone.

I saw him leave a couple of hours ago.

Did he say where he was going and why?

Didn't say nothing.

Did he get any phone calls today?

Oh, not a one.

Mr. Mannix, I'm certain if this was anything

out of the ordinary, that Jim would've...

(gunshot)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Peggy, any messages?

Joe, I've been trying to reach you.

And I've been trying to reach our client.

Something may have happened to him.

Oh, he's fine.

How do you know?

He's inside.

Been waiting a good hour.

Joe. Jim, why did you leave?

Something happen at the mission?

Well, not exactly.

There was a new man at chapel this morning.

Joe, I think he's the man we want.

What'd he look like?

Typical, like he'd been through the ringer.

Except for his hands.

I noticed them when I passed out the prayer books.

His fingernails were clean.

Now, that's unheard of for a man just in off skid row.

Well, I got a feeling you cut out just in time.

Well, I didn't leave right away.

I went looking for him after chapel.

You what?!

I had to talk to the man, tell him everything was all right.

But he was gone.

Well, he probably came in to make sure it was you,

and then he took off to set up the ambush outside,

where he'd have a better chance of getting away.

Well, he wasn't waiting when I went out.

That's because you left before he was ready.

But he was there when I came out.

I got a hole in my windshield to prove it.

He's a professional killer, Jim.

Ah...

I just didn't have that impression

when he confessed.

Well, that was somebody else-- a Mr. Welch.

He's not a murderer at all.

But he said he was. He commissioned the murder.

The man he hired was the other man you saw in church.

The man we both saw today.

Can't we convince Mr. Welch to call his man off?

He's dead.

He committed suicide.

(phone rings)

Oh, no.

I should never have started this.

You didn't start anything.

Telephone, Joe. Mrs. Welch.

Yeah, thanks. Oh, Peggy--

as of now, we're closed for business.

Button up everything.

Don't answer any knocks

and don't answer the telephone.

Jim, you're staying here.

Peggy, get him upstairs and see that he's comfortable.

Right.

Yes, Mrs. Welch?

Mr. Mannix...

I knew about Ira's affair with Lucy.

I put it in its place.

I think, perhaps, if I had been different,

it might not have happened.

But now I have to know whatever else there is,

'cause I have to deal with today.

Now, you told me that you thought

Ira knew who killed Lucy.

Please!

Well, I, uh...

I believe your husband hired the man who did it.

So do I.

It's the only way I can explain his taking his own life.

And the guilt I saw him struggling with.

Perhaps it will also explain this.

I found it behind one of his books this morning.

Well, these figures have got to be money.

October 3rd.

That's the day Lucy Tilden was killed.

$20,000 must have been the payoff for the killer.

What about the others?

Well, they're all after Lucy's death.

$1,000 first of every month.

Blackmail.

Once your husband opened the door to the killer,

I guess he just couldn't get it closed again.

Will you, uh... turn this over to the police?

Yes.

There's one thing I still don't understand,

why your husband felt it was necessary to kill Lucy,

if you already knew about the affair.

I didn't know about it then.

Not until after she was gone.

Well...

at least, Mrs. Welch,

however misguided your husband was,

it's clear that he was...

very concerned about saving your marriage.

Yes.

Isn't that a marvelous legacy?

(humming)

Howdy, ma'am.

That door was locked.

That's all right, ma'am.

I... I didn't take it personal.

Uh, Mr. Mannix isn't available.

Oh, I know that, ma'am.

Well, if you'd care to leave a number,

Mr. Mannix can get in touch with you.

Oh, don't worry, ma'am.

We'll be in touch.

And I wouldn't go making

any phone calls on my account, ma'am.

That'd be upsetting to my plan.

Plan?

Yes, ma'am.

Sure would be nice, too,

if you see fit to go along with it.

What do you want?

Well, there's a fella used to be a padre.

Name's Conway.

Who?

I don't know what you're talking about.

See this pretty little hand of yours, ma'am?

Well, there's about 30 bones running all through it.

Now, we wouldn't want them all to get broke, would we?

CONWAY: Don't hurt her.

Well, what do you know?

Regular miracle.

Just don't hurt her.

That's all I ask.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

You all right?

Take it easy.

I'll be all right, Joe.

Come on, sit down.

Okay, now drink that.

That'll get the blood circulating again.

Thanks, Joe.

Joe, will you explain something to me?

Come on, drink it-- all of it.

If he were going to kill Jim Conway,

why didn't he kill him here?

Well, he probably thought it was too risky.

Someone would hear the shot.

Besides, he wants me, too.

Well, if you're on his list, too,

why didn't he wait here for you?

'Cause he's a professional, and he knows I'm one.

He's not about to tackle me on my turf.

What now, Joe?

You haven't given up on Jim Conway, have you?

Unless you think he's already...

No, no, no, I don't buy that.

Not as long as our killer still wants me on his hook.

And the fishing goes better when the bait is live.

(ringing)

Mannix.

MAN: Get to see your client again, Mannix,

if you play my game.

You interested?

Sure. How does it go?

You get in your car, alone.

Santa Monica Freeway to the coast,

then west to the Malibu intersection.

Now, drive nicely.

Not too fast, not too slow.

I wouldn't want you getting any tickets.

Now, how do I know Jim Conway is still alive?

Say a few words, padre.

CONWAY: Joe, don't come.

He only means to... (groans)

Jim?

Hello, Jim?

Joe, he only means to kill both of you.

Peggy, call Art Malcolm.

Tell him I'm going to bug my car.

Tell him to make sure

and stay well back and out of sight.

I'm going to use, uh, frequency five.

♪ ♪

(car phone buzzing)

I'm listening.

MAN: About a half mile up the road,

you come to Tapia Park.

What have you got for me, a box lunch?

Pull in and park in the picnic area.

There's a public phone booth there.

You wait for my call.

(birds tweeting, children shouting happily)

(people chattering playfully)

(phone ringing)

Go ahead.

MAN: See that white sedan over there, to your right?

Yeah.

MAN: Walk on over to it,

only don't make any stops along the way.

For the padre's sake, you understand.

About ten, 12 seconds,

my trigger finger starts getting jumpy.

(click, dial tone)

MAN (over walkie-talkie): New wavelength, Mannix.

It's real private, now.

Just you and me.

Okay. Now what?

Get in it. Start it up.

And keep that walkie-talkie open.

What happens to my car?

There's a little character I know--

going to jockey it on down to Newport Beach.

You see, I'm assuming that you put

one them funny little bugs in it.

So whoever's back there plotting you in,

well... he'll just have himself

a pretty little drive down the coast.

(car engine starts)

I see you've got it all figured.

I sure do try.

Okay, move it.

(engine starts)

In about a half a mile, you'll come to a hairpin turn.

Take the smallest road to the top.

Okay, now, here's the rest of the game plan.

You follow that road on down to the gate.

I left it open for you, so come on through.

You mean the radar range?

Yeah, used to be.

Only now it's a place for you and me to play golf.

Except you're going to need a great big club.

What about Jim Conway?

He's here.

He's going to watch.

♪ ♪

(rifles fires)

(rifle fires)

(rifle firing)

(gun fires, bullet ricochets)

Come on, padre. We're going down.

♪ ♪

Hold it right there!

(gunfire)

You all right?

Yeah.

He's still alive.

(weak laugh)

It almost worked.

You got lucky, Mannix.

Take it easy.

We'll get you to a hospital.

(sighs)

No way.

We're going to try.

Skip it, padre.

Wherever I'm going, I can make it without help.

Everyone can use help.

O, Lord, we commend to You the soul of Your servant,

that having departed from this world,

he may live with You.

Amen.