Original subtitles

This one is as crooked as a dog's hind leg

fired in the flesh this afternoon.

There those just this reports.

Yes, sir, I want them now.

three

more units added to security a coastal aircraft,

no progress on the Fairfax insurance investigation.

We're working with their accountants on the audit.

Brooks and Wilcox are in court this morning on the of divorce.

Brooks anticipates no problem.

James case looking very positive, no negative signs and say,

Oh, man of surveillance of checked in except Russell.

But he's in Santa Barbara and at the moment he's under cover.

But they have the afternoon report.

A cluster of similar guest is right.

Yes, sir.

But Mr Kennicott isn't here yet, but he's not due for another 30 seconds.

Is just coming in now.

I want you to listen very carefully.

Please.

My name is Arthur Kennicott, Mr Brimmer is expecting me.

Oh yes, sir.

Would you go right in, please?

Oh, Mr Kennicutt,

you're right on time.

Won't you sit down? Thank you.

Would you give us something to drink that was coffee black?

I was just reading one of your papers.

So you've taken a stand on this federal judgeship that's giving everybody fits.

I'd rather not talk politics right now, Mr.

Brown, if you don't mind. Yes, of course.

Thank you, Henry.

Well, this is your wife's file Kennicutt

fact sheet shows five weeks now of intensive surveillance,

all movement, personal contact, telephone communications.

It's really quite extensive. And

Mr. Kennicutt, you have nothing to worry about.

It's clean bill of health.

You sure.

Well, I'm not in the habit of making mistakes as I'm sorry, of course,

but lately it's been like waiting for a biopsy report.

Benign or malignant?

Well, in this case, benign.

I don't know which I feel most

relief for anger.

Anger at myself.

My idiotic suspicions.

But I suppose when one marries

a much younger woman, one tends to become a little paranoid.

Sometimes it's good cause in this case, not really,

because unless you, there's not a hint of another man.

You know, it's funny.

I love her.

I love her very much.

And I think I know her.

But lately I could have sworn that.

Well, it doesn't matter now.

I feel so guilty, I'm going to start showering her with gifts.

She won't know what hit her.

Mr. Brimmer, I owe you a great deal.

Well, it's a pleasure to set your mind at rest, sir.

Thank you.

And you'll have my check in the morning.

Very kind of you. Thank you again.

Thank you.

Could you hear everything? Yes.

You seem confused.

Well, I don't know why you asked me to come here.

I thought it was obvious.

No, not really.

You what you're

trying to say is that I lied to your husband.

That's correct, Mrs Kennicutt.

I went so far as to falsify the report.

Would you like a reservoir?

No, nothing, thank you.

In point of fact,

we were having an affair.

The man's name was Arthur over Mr Brimmer.

But I'm sure you already know that.

It was a mistake.

A stupid mistake.

But I ended it.

And it won't ever happen again.

Why didn't you tell my husband the truth?

Oddly enough, Mrs Kennicutt,

I am a moralist vanishing specie,

so I'm told.

1000 broken marriages come across my desk,

infidelities and domestic deceit.

In your case, ten years of marriage

and one brief indiscretion, so.

Why not then the truth a little bit.

Then you're not going to tell it.

No, I haven't, and I won't.

Files closed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Premiere.

I'm so grateful.

How grateful.

Mrs Kennicutt.

A detective agency

runs on information that's our raw material.

Your husband owns three newspapers, two on the East Coast and one on the East.

Whenever anything happens on the inside of business or politics or even in the jet

set, I still don't understand how I information Mrs.

Kennicutt.

It is our only stock in trade.

For example, at the moment, I'm working on a case

wherein it would be very beneficial to my client to have certain information

about a federal judge that your husband is supporting.

Are you saying that

you want me to be a pipeline to my husband? No.

Just a good listener.

Is it really asking so much, Mrs Kennicutt?

I can't do this kind of work alone.

I need that kind of help.

Why don't you think about it,

then we'll talk again.

Your terrace door was unlocked, so I trespassed.

There is no car in the front.

I thought you knew everything, Mr Premiere.

We're neighbors.

My husband and I have a weekend house about three miles from here.

Ironic, isn't it?

Why are you here?

Well, why else did discuss your

what shall we call it, your proposition?

I've been walking on the beach for hours thinking,

and you've come to a decision.

Oh yes.

Tell me something, Mr. Bremer.

How many other

Richmond's wives so you favors?

Do they all capitulate easily?

I'm waiting for your answer.

Indulge me.

I should think the black male has some right.

This is kind of cut.

The answer is no.

No deal.

Is that plain enough for you?

If you want to spy, you find someone else.

All right.

I'll have to call your husband in the morning and what?

Tell him I had an affair.

Sorry, it won't work.

I'm going to tell him myself.

I can't believe that you'd want to do that.

Well, what you believe really doesn't matter, does it?

It's what Arthur thinks that's important.

Maybe he'll ask for a divorce or

maybe he'll forgive me.

But it's time I was honest with him.

Are being very foolish.

Only if I lose.

But you can't threaten me anymore, can you?

You just lost your leverage.

Oh, and one other thing.

I'm also going to tell him about the way you run your business.

I wouldn't advise that.

I'm sure you wouldn't, because whether he forgives me

or not, he's going to despise you for lying to him.

And is not the right man to have an enemy.

Good night,

but I want you to reconsider, your husband has

some very powerful friends.

That's right.

Now if you please excuse me, we cannot permit you to do that.

You don't understand it's not your choice.

Let's go, mate. Oh.

And. He. And.

What's the travel officer?

May I see your license and registration?

Turn signal, right?

The right one.

You know, it's the second time I got stopped today.

I'll tell you, I'll I'll get those things straight.

As soon as I can, we'll get them fixed now.

I would, but I'm on my way to a 187 P.S.

Say, Are you a cop?

Yeah. Lieutenant Columbo.

Well, I'm sorry.

That's like you down.

Oh, that's all right, you're just doing your job.

Let's not get those things fixed.

His license expires next week. Oh,

well, thanks.

They better give you an escort.

That way, you'll get where you want to go.

OK. Appreciate that.

Well, listen.

Not too fast.

Right here,

right here, so the anthrax can.

I can't tell for sure, but I don't think she was killed here.

Looks like the body was moved and the cause of death,

probably a severe concussion frenzy.

A.M. Reptile captain nothing.

There were two blows.

Send him on a laceration on the cheek and major contusion at the base of the skull.

How do you read that?

It's hard to say.

Maybe somebody hit her and then she struck her head going down.

Lieutenant, you got that.

I know more about this after the autopsy because the approximate death

got a match. No,

no tire tracks we can you can imagine.

I'm sorry, I don't.

Oh, Prince,

just smudges money, just change no currency.

He had a match.

No, I don't sorry.

I imagine.

Yeah, sure. Oh, we're all finished here.

You can load it up ID and curse Mrs.

Arthur Kennicott, the Arthur Kenny.

How do you know that credit cards made out to Kennicott publications?

What's the problem?

Newspapers, if we don't handle this, according to Kennicutt Satisfaction,

he's got an awful lot of front pages to beat us over the head with

thought I told you to move that out of here.

What are you looking at?

The bruiser the lady has a bruise on the left cheek.

We know that.

I knew you weren't listening.

Got out plenty, Roger

Federer in 2007.

It's Lenore,

I want to get out of here.

Oh, thank you, Lieutenant.

Would you like to be alone for a few moments?

No, I can feel sorry for myself some other time

after you've caught him.

Well, should we get down to business?

Are you sure there's nothing else you want

as the husband and the most likely suspect?

Correct.

You don't have to worry about my feelings, lieutenant.

She was killed last night.

What time between eight and nine?

I was in San Francisco addressing a conference.

I didn't fly back until this morning.

I have the flight numbers on that.

My secretary can give them to you.

Together with my hotel and my schedule, you check them all out naturally.

Yes, sir.

And when you do, you'll dismiss me as a possibility

and you can get down to the real business of finding the real killer.

And I want him found Lieutenant soon.

I'll do my best. I'm sure you will.

Mr. Kennecott, it

would help if you'd tell us a few things.

Did your wife have any enemies?

Lenore never offended a soul.

She was an extraordinary woman.

I see this question is a bit awkward, but

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask it

was there ever another man in a life?

Naturally, more than one.

But that was years ago before we were married.

No, sir.

I meant since you were married, you know, speaking of an affair?

Well, I'm afraid we're going to have to consider it.

Well, don't bother,

Lenore was faithful to me in every way.

She had a clean bill of health.

All right,

kind of help.

So you don't think we ought to go in that direction?

No, I don't.

All right, can you tell us about our habits,

what did she do in her spare time?

Nothing unusual.

Shopping charity work,

sports sports, what kind of sports that you play?

Oh, tennis shoes also very fond of skin diving hands.

Did you do this with you, sir?

Did you do it with friends,

with friends, 210 and female friends?

In case you were wondering? Female friends.

All right, sir, I think I've had enough to start with.

Thank you very much.

Lieutenant,

I want you to understand something.

I married a woman young enough to be my daughter.

A lot of people were skeptical, but it worked for us.

We loved each other,

we loved each other very much.

We even thought of having a child.

I want this man caught,

and I must warn you, I don't intend to be patient.

Yes, sir.

Well, Lieutenant,

thanks for the coffee.

You're welcome, sir.

Good morning,

Lieutenant, wanting to get some coffees and juice.

Nothing for me, no, thank you very much.

Any progress?

Uh, no, sir.

I hate to admit this, but nothing.

Not a single lead.

No, sir. Nothing, no.

Now some of my associates think that

your wife was mugged and the fella ran away with the money. But

you see, they can't really explain how the body was moved.

Now, me, I don't know. I.

I think, you know, the murderer.

Excuse me.

Yes. Yes.

All right.

You're right in.

Why? Well, her behavior seems a little strange there

as she went out to the beach house in the middle of the week,

which is unusual and she said to the caretakers.

She has some thinking

to do, and then she went for a walk,

and then the next morning her body was found on the other side of town.

What are you getting it?

I wish I knew.

Which is that sounds to me like a woman and has a problem.

Now did you watch have any personal problems?

Is a very happy woman.

The and.

Just if she did have a problem, I thought that

maybe it would be connected with the murder.

But, you know, prove of that.

Oh no.

Lieutenant.

I call the city room every half hour to find out

what young people are doing so far, not a word.

No arrests. Not even a promise. Not.

I mean, having to lead.

I'm sorry, Mr. Kennecott.

Looks like it's going to be smooth.

It doesn't have to be.

Lieutenant.

Lieutenant

Columbo, this is Mr.

Brimmer.

How do you do?

You've heard of Brimmer Associates.

No, I haven't.

Well, it's security and investigations.

Lieutenant, do you might say you and I are in the same business?

Oh, really?

Matter of fact, I was talking about you just last night.

I ran into the commissioner at a party.

He speaks very highly of you.

Naturally, you're wondering why Mr.

Brimmer is in.

Now, please don't take this as a reflection on you.

But I've engaged his firm to work on the case.

Well, now Arthur, I'm here in an advisory capacity as supplemental capacity only.

I don't want the lieutenant get the idea that I'm competing with him,

but there's no reason why a private agency in a public one can cooperate.

Is her?

No, you see, I want as much coverage in this case as possible.

And when Mr.

Brimmer called and offered his services, I thought it was an excellent idea.

Sure,

I can understand that.

You two know each other.

Well, Mr. Grimm has done some work for me.

I see I see some kind of security work for the paper.

I was a personal matter.

The point is lieutenant.

I told Arthur on the phone.

I couldn't imagine you wouldn't accept a helping hand.

Considering the manpower shortage in your department, is it Mr.

Premiere used to be a police officer himself?

Well, that was a long time ago,

but at least I can understand your problems, lieutenant.

Well, now listen, I said to Mr.

Kennecott, I'm grateful for all the help I can get.

I'm just not sure how my spirit is going to take that's already been taken care of.

It's just that Mr Kennicutt is anxious for a quick resolution to the case.

You can understand that. Well, naturally.

Well, good.

I hope the association will be beneficial to you.

Oh, I'm sure it will. Yeah.

You know, I suddenly feel

very much more optimistic about this whole thing.

It's not based on anything, no facts, but

you know, I'm a superstitious guy.

You know, I believe besides, I believe

in palmistry and astrology and all that kind of thing.

You don't. I know that. No, definitely not.

Let me see your hand.

You see, Mr.

Kennicutt, that your faith line breaks there.

That was your bad fortune, but it picks up again, and that's interesting.

That's a very good omen.

Matt.

People out of power.

It's a man devoted to his work.

You're Apollo line crosses the monitor,

the Moon, you know, that's very rare and very impressive.

That's the sign of a man who's destined to attain a very particular

kind of distinction. That's a very good sign.

I know you think it's silly,

but I'm going to make a believer out of it before I'm done.

It was very nice meeting you.

Nice to meet you.

Bye bye.

Almost a very, very

large thumb, low amount of Venus

means ambition, purposefulness.

That's a closet lieutenant.

Oh, I'm sorry.

A lot of people make the same mistake.

Say that's a terrific looking set of clocks.

Do you mind?

Go ahead.

You seem like these ladies can't they will endorse.

You didn't say she played golf, did you?

You mentioned tennis and skydiving.

That's because she just started.

I see where she plays at the country club.

I see at the club.

No, I was just wondering why she just didn't keep her clubs in the locker room.

She did.

That's an extra set she used to take lessons with.

Oh, I see. Well, that explains why.

You mean she didn't take lessons at her own club, she took them someplace else.

Skyline.

Why is that important stuff important?

It's just I like to get that background information very precise, if I can

that.

Is this the right time? Yes.

Well, what was that all about?

Well, I think police techniques have changed

a little over the years.

Here, try it again

and remember, keep the back of your left hand

straight of this just.

Stroke, it easy.

All right.

Oh, that was good.

Getting better.

I still don't think I'm ever going to learn this game.

Oh, you just have to

keep your eye on the ball once your concentration comes along fine.

Do we have time for another bucket?

Sorry, Jenny, Time's Up. Tomorrow, 3:00.

Tomorrow, then.

You are a member of the club.

No, no, I'm the lieutenant Columbo.

I'm from the police.

What's the problem?

I'd like to ask a few questions about Eleanor Kennicott, you know her

not very well.

I gave her a few lessons.

I see.

Well, this is your appointment book, isn't it?

Oh, you should know you've been looking at it, but no offense.

I was just given time, but you know, not of you mention it.

I see that you give her analysis.

She likes the game.

I say, OK, here's the thing.

Since you spent a lot of time

with her, I was wondering if you can give me some help.

How was she the type of woman that this is just between you and me?

Was she the type of woman who was on the lookout?

I mean, did you ever notice her give her a ride to any of the men

or her at it to get one thing straight?

I teach them golf

and I play in their tournaments, but I don't get involved in their personal lives

if they want to pair off.

That's none of my business.

All right, well, thanks a lot.

All right.

Make it easy,

I say,

what kind of club is it?

Oh, that's a No.

one word

for 11

listener,

which is giving much

but serious.

You don't like trouble if I want to on the we're out of the office.

I figure this if I could take up a sport, you know, get out in the fresh air

and get some exercise. That'll do me some good.

What do you say?

Well, here's for a few minutes just to, you know,

start to swing.

You know, the funny thing about your appointments with Mrs.

Kennicutt,

the first two were in the morning and all the rest.

And I kind of 13 of them, they were always in the middle of the late afternoon.

So, uh, well, I guess it's not important.

I guess it's nothing.

Let me, I'll check off my coat.

Except that

every time you had an appointment with Mrs.

Kennecott, it was always the last question of the day.

I like to finish at a reasonable hour, doesn't everyone?

Oh, I see.

So those days you left the club?

I thought, maybe you'd hang around to see if we could pick up an eyelash.

Well, I didn't always go home.

Oh sure, anything. We're all going home.

Oh, well, what I mean is I didn't always leave the club.

Hey, listen, can I help you out?

Don't say anything else.

You don't have an attorney.

Wait till you get an attorney.

This way, you can hook your case.

Believe me, I know something about my business.

I don't know anything about golf, you know?

So you know your business?

I know something about my business.

And believe me, you know, down through the years you get shot at here,

you develop a nose for things you see and.

After a while,

your nose just tells you when someone's not giving you the truth.

Now I want to forget about the lesson

because I can never learn this game, but I'll be back to talking.

Ground covered by the police is not our concern.

one thing to bear in mind money was taken.

Granted, it could have been a smoke screen,

but sometimes the obvious answer is a correct one.

Now Brooks Yes, sir.

Check into her banking account with particular attention to withdrawals.

If we will find out how much cash she was

carrying that day, Mr Kennicutt will be glad to cooperate

now. My theory, gentlemen, and you will gear your efforts in this direction.

Mrs Kennicutt was walking along the Pacific Coast Highway.

She was forced into a car

by someone

knowing it was robbery.

She probably fought back and in of case, she was killed.

The murderer drove around in a panic

and finally, all the way out to here the body.

Yes, Lieutenant Columbo, to see you.

00 yes.

Yes, any minute,

gentlemen, we'll finish this later.

I'll call you.

Thank you.

That have come in,

boy is quite a building.

It's all yours, very so

must be a lot of business for your kind of company these days.

We can't handle it all.

Sit down, listen to your secretary cause.

She said he wanted to see the files on the case,

so I thought it'd be a lot safer if I brought you my.

Oh, well, that's very nice of you, but necessary.

But I appreciate it very much.

I've got some coffee. No, no thanks. Thank you.

Those are the duplicates. OK.

Yes, this will help a lot of it.

I wonder if you can give me a little rundown.

Well,

just when I told Mr Kennicutt, no leads,

except, you know, I was looking through that stuff last night

and drives my wife crazy, you know, because we have the lamp

right next to the bed and the poor thing, she can't sleep.

Did you find anything?

No, not really. Well,

let's take the the autopsy report.

Yeah, sure.

You see, now that jive with something that I noticed

about the body the first time I saw it and that bothered me.

You see, Mrs Kennicutt was struck on the left cheek and she had a bruise

and she had a weird kind of cut.

Do you see what I mean?

No, I don't think so.

Well, let's start with the cut, because that's what bothered me.

I said to myself now what in the world could have caused that kind of cut?

This is a lot of work.

Yeah, I think so.

Well, what was it

about the cut? Oh, yes.

What could have caused the cut?

I said to myself

could be a ring, a ring of.

But if you mean a fingering

this kind of ring, yeah, something like that.

Now here's what I figured.

Suppose you were going to strike somebody.

I suppose it was a woman not yet punching?

Well, maybe, but more than likely you hit with your open hand.

Either this way or this one.

Now, if you hit this way, then the ring is not going to cause any cut.

So I figured it was a backhand blow like this. OK.

Well, I still don't follow you too well,

because that would I would put it over and I use my right here, you see?

And if the ring was on the right hand

and the girls would be on the right cheek, but it was on the left cheek, so

the murderer was left handed.

Structure like this.

Which means the murderer is left handed.

Well, that's interesting.

That's provided, of course, all these speculations are valid.

But yeah, I would say that we have a left handed murderer and

and a an premeditated crime.

We have. Oh, I think so. Yes.

I mean, I don't think a man kills with his hands unless he's angry.

Matter of fact, you know, maybe he didn't mean to do it

could be,

you know, maybe it was an accident.

You know, I got a feeling that when we find our friend,

it's going to turn out that he has a terrible temper.

Well, maybe you're right.

I certainly wish I had your Crystal Ball,

Lieutenant.

Won't you let me digest this material and then we'll talk again?

OK. All right, fine.

Good question.

I want to thank you for your time.

And thank you. All right.

Listen, before I forget the

situation, I don't want to forget that.

Like I say, I had a receipt here that I wanted you to sign.

Well, listen, let's just make one up.

It's a receipt for the files.

Isn't that weird?

What a coincidence.

I sat here a moment ago we were talking about left

Left-Handed people and you're left handed.

And right handed,

I'm ambidextrous,

that means I don't favor either hand, particularly it's a character

trait shared by about 10% of the world's population 10%.

No kidding.

Any else?

No, no. I don't think so.

Oh, listen, it's a little bit off the subject.

My sister in law, she wants a flat place out at the beach.

How do you like it out there?

Who told you I was living out of the beach? I know.

I noticed your car out in front of Mr.

Kent a you. You parked it there in the driveway.

And as I was walking by, I saw that the chrome was tarnished.

You know what the salt does to ed sheets the life of me?

Yeah, that part's a problem. All right.

You're a very observant man, lieutenant.

That's not what my wife says.

Well, you tell your sister in law

that she will love it at the beach.

She doesn't mind.

That's the problem with the salt air on the chrome.

I'll give her that message.

And thanks again.

Thank you.

Oh, say,

have you ever been a mistake in a guy's house?

Yes, I met you there.

Well, I didn't mean the big house I'm in out at the meet.

I was just wondering because you have a beach house

and his beach house, they're fairly close.

No, it's a couple of miles that close.

Isn't that a coincidence?

I tell you, this case is just full of. And.

Why don't you and I take a walk?

You showed up today are

kind of

panicked, and he did have an affair with.

Turning on the ladies is about the only thing I do.

Well, I'm not a very good golfer.

Go on.

Well, it was pretty good for a while, at least for me.

She got the gills.

Funny thing.

I think she really loved her husband.

one day, she said, Ken, this is bad for both of us.

Let's call it off.

So we didn't

like to shake you up.

Only found her day.

I couldn't believe it.

And I got to thinking sooner or later, you guys

find out about me, maybe even think I killed him.

The night she died, I was at home watching the two

calls.

No company, no alibi.

That's that's why I started to run.

I can understand that.

You didn't kill it.

I know that, but this afternoon you gave me the impression

that you were in a coma, you got nothing to worry about.

You see whoever did this,

he had to wear a ring.

Now you don't wear a ring.

Well, I could have taken it off.

No, not with that team, because that would show.

Alison, tell me something.

Mrs Kennicutt.

The Mrs.

Kennicutt ever indicate to you

that she was concerned that her husband knew about, you

know?

It's funny that you mention it, though,

because all I was concerned. Why?

Well, the never saw anyone, but

I'm sure we were being followed by who?

Well, there was this one guy in particular.

Sharp, well dressed only in clashes with

me. He had a crew cut kind of

an ex-Marine type.

Yes, Wilcox, Mr.

Bremer, the subject is meeting with Archer,

and they've engaged in conversation and you over here.

Anything? No, sir.

But Archer seems to be doing most of the talking.

Maintain the surveillance you can report to me in the morning.

Yes, sir.

Well, you a little bum, you

know?

Ah, oh yes, he is. Leo.

Mr Premiere Pro.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry to trouble you at home, Leo.

No sweat just playing with Teddy.

Well, I've got something I want you to do for me

and my complicate your life a little bit when they're immediately

set it up through my secretary.

Yes, sir.

I'll be in touch.

Every one of our operatives is a skilled marksman.

Actually, our policy is to avoid the use of the weapon.

This is our memory bank lieutenant.

Millions of bits of information across filed it on tape immediately available.

There are more electrical impulses in this right than in your brain.

Hard to believe

we hear at Burma, associates use the most up to date equipment

years ahead of what you use at police headquarters company cars

custom designed for us.

Most of them with telephonic or radio communication.

Sure, it's very impressive.

Oh, just one moment, lieutenant.

one other thing that might interest you if you just move past

this gate.

It's not working.

Well, it has to be.

You're carrying a gun, aren't you, lieutenant?

Oh no, no.

Oh well, that explains the malfunction.

Look here a special system as built into the gate.

Now, if you had a gun, would have registered.

It's just my God at the airport.

It's a security precaution,

not that we expect our class to be carrying concealed weapons, but.

Well, there have been a few exceptions, really.

Well, a guy came in here just about a month ago,

harmless looking an accountant for mid-century oil.

We were doing a company audit Mr. Denning.

I asked you to show the lieutenant around.

I did not suggest that you discuss

our confidential matters with anyone at any time.

Our clients pay us to be discreet.

Yes, sir.

Once you come in on time.

Sorry about the outburst, but my people have got to learn.

This is a business of trust.

I can't have them gossiping about the class.

Thank you.

I hope you have lunch with me.

Like Canelo, soak up all of its fish.

I love its fish.

Drop your coat and begin

on a kennicutt case.

Why don't you come up with an interesting lead

or two derelicts seen in the area?

I have their description.

Set them over to your office copies.

All right, I'll have that checked out.

Anything new on your end?

Oh yeah.

Yeah, we got a couple of things.

It seems as though Mrs.

Kennicutt was having an affair, you say.

How do you make this stuff?

I have a recipe sent over to you.

You were saying. Oh yeah.

It seems as though it's just kind of cut.

She was having an affair.

And oh, and

when you send the recipe, would you send it to the house?

Don't send it to the office.

Yes, I'll send it to your house.

Yes, she was having an affair with some golf from some country club

and it's the interesting thing not only with having an affair,

but it seems as though they were being watched.

Now I got this nutty notion.

Suppose Mr.

Kennecott.

I'll tell you, it's it's too far fetched.

Sometimes it helps to test it out, try me.

It's really crazy.

Plus, it doesn't cost anything.

Suppose suppose Mr Kennecott hired

somebody to check up on his wife and this somebody.

Light.

He said that Mr Kennecott, look your wife,

she's got a clean bill.

Now there's somebody, whoever it is.

He's in a perfect position to blackmail Mrs.

Kennicutt. Now, suppose she refuses.

See, she says, no, I'm going to go

tell my husband.

I think it's a terrific motive, Duncan.

Lieutenant, you have a marvelously convoluted mind.

I do like it.

Trouble with your theory, is it not only is it very tenuous.

But it's impossible to prove.

And if you got a tomato

there, well, I said it was nutty.

What do you think? You think?

Know, drop it.

If you believe in it, stick to it.

Run it on down.

one other thing you should keep in mind.

Nothing at all to do with the case.

What's that?

Your future.

I'd like you to work

for Premiere Associates.

Me, if I had you taken on a VIP tour where a growing organization,

you can see that can be a valuable piece of manpower for us.

What you really know how to toss a curve?

No, no, I don't mean it that way, I'm quite serious.

You're a good man, Colombo, up here.

It's time you were thinking about advancement.

What is the lieutenant make?

You come with us.

I'm almost positive I can triple your yearly income,

what?

I take it all so sudden.

But they talk it over with my wife,

of course, start over with your wife, think about it, think about it carefully.

But remember, we want you here.

I am very flattered.

I mean, that just got me, mother.

Well, now all your money.

Consider my career.

And if I stay with the force

by now, probably with luck,

I could have been a captain of detectives

with one eye on the promotion list and the other item my car payments,

no house by the ocean, no freedom to travel. No.

What would you say?

Power or sense of accomplishment?

About succeeded in getting through.

And stimulating ethnic.

Yes. Yes, I'm going to give it all a lot of thought.

That's as much as I can ask.

one thing.

If I came with you well,

when I started working on the Kennicutt case.

I want to say I have men

who are perfectly capable of handling the Kennicutt case. No.

I have several other matters are far more important than that

I like to put you on right away.

Well, tell it

to the knock of opportunity.

He got it right, dry well for some reason.

Help yourself.

Yeah.

Hey, I hope I didn't get me into trouble before.

I mean, I'm sorry about what happened.

I'm used to it,

but it was you blow up a lot of steam.

So let's just say our founding father has quite a temper.

OK, and that's funny,

because he looks to me like he's a guy that's always under control.

Correction is under control most of the time,

and when people like that let go stand back, I'll tell you why I'm interested.

Offered me a job.

Oh yeah.

Welcome to the family. It's my problem.

I don't know how much to ask for.

You know, whatever you can get, top man can pull down about 30,000. OK.

That's a lot of money.

Listen, as anybody else, you make more than that.

I mean, besides Mr. Brimmer.

Well,

maybe Leo, what was going up?

Leo Gentry, he's a bogus criminal cases.

Hey, I think I know croquette ex-marine type.

That's Leo.

Teacher's pet. At least this month.

Hey, listen, we can I talk that maybe you can give me a few pointers.

I haven't seen him around today, but

I got his address and personnel.

Don't mention it to Brimmer, whom menon,

it's the last thing I.

Can I ask you, do you go any higher, are you going to go right over the top?

Hey, what's going on?

Mrs. Gentry, I'm going to tell you, you got a terrific kid who had nothing fright.

You can't scare this boy.

I said, Hi. Hi.

All right. Listen, you'll go higher and I'll eat your ice cream.

All right.

So I want to eat it.

You want to eat it?

All right.

Here you go. You're coming down on Earth.

There you are. Get your ice cream.

So we know each other. No.

My name is Columbo.

I'm a lieutenant, I'm from the police.

My dad is a private eye.

I know that Teddy, and he's a very good one.

But do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

Well, is it about me housework? Well, not exactly.

You see, I'm working on a case and I thought

maybe he could help me out, but I can't seem to locate him.

He went away. That's right, Lieutenant.

His boss called last night and sent him on a special assignment.

Oh, I see.

Do you know where he went there, how long he's going to be away?

Sorry.

That's the way it is with Leo.

He took his passport, so I guess he's overseas

somewhere.

So something wrong?

No, no, no, no, not really.

Now, listen, maybe you could help me out.

There was a video recently on a case where he was following a woman.

A married woman.

Well, it's it's possible, but I don't really know.

You never discuss Leo's work.

Oh, it's a household rule.

I mean, I'm not very much

at keeping secrets, if you were to tell me anything, be all over the laundromat.

If you have any questions to ask me,

it's kind of hard to ask him because I can't locate.

He went away.

But why don't you

talk to his boss, Mr Premiere, he can tell you what I was, saw him.

Oh yeah, yeah.

Thanks.

I think I have the feeling he won't be too much help.

But at any rate,

I'm sorry. I bothered you.

Bye bye, then.

F e l

o p z d.

All right.

Try the next the bottom line.

F d, p

t, c e.

Oh, perfect vision.

Well, it should be this is new prescription temporary,

you should have your license in a few weeks.

Thank you very much.

Cheapest Typekit thanks.

Wow. Well, I mark your test, please read from the eye chart

third line that made it say that she just got to know for the last why

she wasn't wearing glasses.

Of course she was.

Excuse me.

Wait, but what about the eye chart?

And all of a sudden I remember this picture.

See, she's wearing glasses.

But there were no glasses on the body.

How could she have dropped them somewhere?

I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but you're on the wrong track. Why?

Well, shortly after that picture was taken, the North gave up wearing glasses.

She switched to contact lenses

and explains just a matter of vanity.

She thought she looked better. Uh-Huh.

Did you wear them off all the time?

She was extremely nearsighted.

Mr Kennicutt, where is your wife's personal effects?

That funeral director send them over.

Avoided going through them.

No, go ahead.

This reminds Kate. Yes.

It's empty.

Well, she was probably wearing them when she died.

Well, then maybe maybe what?

Mr Kennecott, I'm going to ask your permission for something.

This is the world's biggest long shot.

It's going to be painful for you

and I think it's worth a try.

Would it help?

There are no guarantees.

All right, Lieutenant.

You have a blank check.

Mobile operator,

the number I want is four, seven, 67301.

It just arrived and they're entering the vault.

Medical examiners with them. Why?

What's the reason? I haven't been able to find out, sir.

But I did learn one thing kind of concerning exhumation order.

I stay there.

I'll do it over.

Get my car ready.

He says it won't take long.

But struggle.

I don't know, sir.

The battery is OK, but the car won't start.

I'm in a hurry.

Give me another car.

Yes, sir.

Have this one service tell them I want it tomorrow?

Yes, sir.

Right, 125.

In middle age, are you feeling?

Verifying the

105, 1997.

Rather, I should have phoned you, but there wasn't time.

Well, that's all right.

one of my men told me, you were here.

I mean, break. I don't know yet.

They're exhuming the nice body.

Tell me why.

Lieutenant's working on a long shot.

Apparently, she was wearing her contact lenses when she was killed.

How is that significant?

Well, there's a chance that she might have lost one of the

maybe both of them at the scene of the crime.

Well, Arthur,

I don't like to be critical, but that's more than a long shot.

You might as well buy a lottery ticket, maybe not listen to me.

My nephew wears those things and half of the time you have fallen out

on the other morning at breakfast, one of them ended up in the cereal.

Mrs Kennicutt is not your nephew, lieutenant.

That's Mrs Kennecott was struck by somebody.

Now let's bear that in mind.

Why isn't it possible that they were not close?

Anything's possible.

The autopsy report said nothing about any of this at all.

Forget about the autopsy report.

I checked with the medical examiner about that.

They smoked at all. They didn't even bother to look.

All they were concerned about was the cause of death.

Lieutenant.

Well, I hope it's not a waste.

What else can I do?

I've got to pursue every possibility.

Arthur, it's almost a criminal breach

to disappoint you.

Now after what you've been through?

Listen,

we've been rocking the red contact lenses missing, and it's not in the coffin.

Well, it might have fallen out in the morgue, I guess,

or in the ambulance or in the street.

She might have lost it before she was killed.

It could be 100 places.

That's true.

But maybe and this is what we got to hope for.

Maybe it's a place where she was murdered, but we don't know where that place is.

No, sir, we don't.

We don't know for sure.

But I've got a few hunches on.

Unless you can be specific, I can't help.

I think the lieutenant deserves some room, don't you?

As you wish.

You go your own way, lieutenant. Thank you, sir.

I will keep us posted.

Yes, sir, I will. I'll keep you posted.

Only wish one of the things

I wish the murderer knew about this,

why there'd be a piece of conclusive evidence

that might be lying around in his premises and you'd have to find it before we did.

I'll keep you posted, sir.

Mr Mr.

Premiere, listen, I'm sorry to bother you at this hour, but may I come in?

Yeah, sure.

There's something I wanted to talk to you about.

Okay, fine.

You make a little brief and late day.

Oh, sure, sure.

It's just some terrific place.

You got here and you got the shot of the ocean all the time.

Huh? Yeah. Allow me. I love the beach. I love it.

Except when the water gets cold and I don't like to go in, then I cannot.

Do you see it's on your mind?

Oh, yeah,

it's about that job you offered me.

I've been giving it a lot of thought.

As a matter of fact, I haven't been able to sleep and.

Boy, this is a fantastic rub, my wife would love this rug,

we got to get a new rug and this is just the kind she wants.

Fantastic piling, huh?

Very soft.

But she could lose a shoe in here for a week.

You would still get a lot of work to do.

You're talking about my job offer.

I really don't think I'd be very happy making a change.

I like it where I am. It's not a bad life.

Mm hmm. OK,

that final.

I think so. Yes.

No. Hard feelings?

No, no. Certainly not. I just.

Well, I think you're making mistakes or you're probably right.

You know, my wife, she's always said, I don't have enough ambition.

You know, what

was that really made up my mind?

What was that the kennicutt case?

I don't want to give up working on it just now,

not when I'm so close to a solution. Wow.

You're going to be in on it.

Oh, certainly.

Don't worry, you'll be the first to know

the night.

Good night.

Oh, yes, this, Mr Brimmer.

And you took my car in to be repaired and you?

Yes, sir. Just like you said.

They'll try to have it for you as soon as they can.

All right, then goodnight.

You mind telling us what you're doing.

I'd say that was none of your business, lieutenant.

Well, if you say so, but it's going to be kind of hard to explain, isn't it?

I mean, breaking and entering, that's against the law.

Checking the trunk of your car.

What in the world were you looking for?

Papers.

Or a case I thought they were here, it's an emergency.

Why don't you admit it?

You was searching the trunk because that's where you hid the body.

All right.

What's the next step?

Why don't we go downtown and talk to my under arrest?

I guess you could say what evidence?

I think it's going to be more comfortable downtown.

All right.

Let's get this over with.

Grab his arm.

It was an accident, Arthur.

It wasn't.

Premeditated.

I hardly knew your wife.

I didn't want to hurt either one of you.

It happened.

How do you get it?

I got it from the cut

on her cheek in your ring.

You never should have let me read your palm

because then I felt the ring and I felt the two diamond sticking up

in that ray's rectangular border.

That matched up with the cut under cheek.

He should have taken that job.

You know, we're lucky in all of this.

She didn't lose it.

When I spoke to the medical examiner at the cemetery,

he told me that both contact lenses were on the body.

But that's impossible if it isn't hers, whose was it?

Who knows?

Anyway, it doesn't make any difference.

The fact that it's not the real contact lens that doesn't count.

What does count is Mr Bremer's actions coming here tonight,

trying to get rid of that thing and doing it all in front of witnesses.

What would you have done with the car had broken down?

You couldn't set up the strap?

Well,

I guess we would have found some other way.

You know what this place reminds me of?

Just seeing

all these cars, you know, in our neighborhood,

we had a bunch of joggers, I mean, we were a real loud bunch of guys

and we figured out a perfect way to put a car out of commission.

You take a potato, you stick it in the exhaust pipe.

It doesn't cause any damage, but the car won't start.

It was a terrible thing to do, and I got a feeling.

But the reason I became a cop was to make up for all of those jokes

I played when I was a kid.

Hey, hey.