Original subtitles

I'll pick up Benzer in ten minutes. I'm putting him on the Runaway twins case.

You have a call here that seems important. Lexi Gardner wants to see you right away.

Lexi Gardner? Lady G?

Did she say why? Uh, no. She just said it's important, and she'd call you back.

Well, listen, tell her I'm on a case. I'm trying to find two runaway twins.

They've been missing for three days, and their father's going nuts.

Uh, call her tomorrow.

Alexi Gardner.

Uh, Dan's on a case and he said he had reached you in the morning.

We'll reach him again. Explain that it's important, please.

Tell Tana I have to talk to him. I don't want to talk the police.

I'm sorry, Miss Gardner, but he's on the case. He said he'd call you in morning.

Well, there's got to be some way to reach him.

Lexi's boyfriend found her dead early this morning.

Dan, have you got any idea why she tried to hire you? No, no.

Bella, I didn't even know her that well. Just to say hello once in a while.

I'm curious. Why didn't you go see her last night?

I try to stay away from call girl cases. I mean, it's not the girls.

It's the reason they usually want to hire me.

I mean most of them spend damn little money on themselves.

They just let their pimps get in trouble

and they'll spend a fortune to bail them out. I just hate it.

Well, of course, Lexi never had a pimp. Now, when she first came to this town,

she had very respectable friends.

And lately, she's been living with a respectable writer.

Yeah, but the in-between years, she worked this trip as Lady G.

Now listen to me, Dan.

You couldn't have done anything about what happened last night,

so you stop blaming yourself.

That girl was killed within minutes of the time she called me.

It doesn't help, Bella.

How you doing, Dan? Hi.

Excuse me. Are you Dan Turner? Yes, I am.

Well, now that you've got my attention, who in the hell are you?

This is Brad Thomas, Lexi's boy. Turn Lexi down!

You might have been able to save her! She needed you!

I'm sorry about Lexi. Why didn't she need you?

What? Not even a smile? There's somebody here to see you, Mrs. Gardner.

Lexi's mother.

Mrs. Gardner? Well, yes. How do you do? I hope I'm not intruding.

But somebody told me my daughter tried to hire you.

Uh, yes, she did. Have you any idea why?

No.

Mrs Gardner, I'm sorry about Lexi.

Have you talked to the police? Yes, shortly after I arrived.

Well, they're a good department. They'll find out about your daughter.

Will the police be really that concerned about the death of a prostitute?

Yes, Mr. Panna.

I know about that part of my daughter's life.

When she first told me I was shocked and ashamed for both of us.

And I still have that feeling, but I've just learned to live with it.

But I couldn't stop loving my daughter.

I gave life to that body, and I rocked it.

and I held it.

Oh, I need your help, Mr. Tana. If I have to, I'll beg for it.

Well, Mrs. Gardner, the police will find your daughter's murder.

I want more than just my daughter's murderer.

That's Luxie at 18. 12 years ago when she left to become a singer.

12 years ago.

You wouldn't believe she's only 30, would you?

Uh, Mrs. Gardiner, what do you want me to do?

I want to know about her.

I want to find out what happened to that 18-year-old child

that became what she was at 30.

Please.

Well, I'll do what I can't.

Thank you.

Mrs. Gardner, where are you staying? At the desert end.

Mr. Roth arranged a suite there. You know Philip Roth? Well, yes.

He phoned right after the police did. He was a friend of Alex Andreas.

flew me here in his private plane.

Rath was a friend of Lexis.

Yes.

Bye.

Tell me, what's so sneaky about sending a bereaved mother

to visit a private investor? Why didn't you just call and tell me

you were going to send her to me? That's all I'm going to say.

I don't like to argue in the morning. OK. Give me a clue.

Why all the interest in Lexi got? You're a detective. You'll find out.

That's your job. Slick. Now push open that door. I'll send for the owner.

You're the owner? I know. I want to see if you know. Push.

Mr. Roth, I had a hunch you wouldn't break our report. Yes, of course.

I'm two hours late. We still bring hunters. I hope it's what I just commissioned.

Thank you. Please, after you. Thank you, very much.

This back seat comfortably seats four.

Yes, of course. This is so sorry. Thank you. Thank you!

Not bad, huh? It's very nice. You'd like to watch some television?

We'd like a drink? Want me to make you some dinner? Oh, well, no.

I like my TV next to the bed. It's more comfy than that. Oh, yeah, it's quite...

All the accessories work to perfection, Mr. Rob. They certainly do.

He's a little pushy, isn't he? Yes. Slick, I want to talk about Lexi Gardner.

Look, will you hold on a second? I'll get to you. Just wait a minute.

It's all about it, all right?

Mr. Roth? Somebody's been using it as a diner. Oh, no.

I also saw a lot of ashes on the floor. I thought I gave it a homey effect myself.

You don't find anything like that on this side, Mr. Roth.

I promise you, I beg you, please. It's too expensive.

This bottle of Lidl's at two gallons a minute. Shall we go on? Please allow me.

After you.

I want to hear the engine purring. I want know what your connection is with Lady G.

You like gray? I love gray. What's the connection?

I've got 27 gray suits, 27 gray pairs of trousers. Is that right?

Listen, why don't you buy 27 limos and then you'll have matching outfits.

Now, what's the connections? You don't give up at all, do you? I certainly don't.

All right. Lady G, yeah? Lexi. We were friends. Friends.

Yes, really good friends. I know her a long time.

You'll love this next, Mr. Roth. I can't afford to love anything that expensive,

unless, of course, it does housework. Ha, ha, ha. These are brand new cars, right?

Oh, yes, of coarse. Wrong.

Don't you know that when you drive a brand new

car around the block and depreciates maybe 20%?

Oh, I didn't know that. Oh, yes. Besides, that's a blue car, right?

That's blue, yes! Yeah, well, blue burns a lot of oil.

And gray burns a lots of gasoline. But I don't mind that in a used car.

So I tell you what, sweep out the first one. Okay?

Give me a year supply of free gasoline for the second one. One year?

Yes, and you can tell your used car manager I'll take all three.

We don't have a used car manager.

make this deal and you'll be the use commander. I will sure.

Oh Mr. Roth, how can I thank you? I'll never forget you for this.

Never would I tell my wife thank you Mr. Roth.

What was saying? Uh, slick information. I want some information.

If I don't get it, I'm going to pass the word around

that you're an easy mark for all your old girlfriends.

Lexi was a good friend of mine.

I'm saying.

What did the mother have to say? There's some names.

Try a guy named Eddie Banting. Eddie Banting, the singer?

He's rehearsing at the Landmark Hotel.

How could I forget Amy? Eyes is blue as a Nebraska sky.

That's why I chose her to be the team queen.

Oh, you make so many appearances at County Affairs.

I just didn't believe you'd remember her. I remember everybody, darling, everybody.

I'll sign right there for you, okay? Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you, sir.

You're the best. That's right.

Thank you.

Give my love to you, niece.

Ready.

I need a few minutes. Well, you got a few. Lexi Gardner was murdered last night.

I know. I was stunned. I understand you and she went back a long way together.

All right, take him back. Move

it back.

Listen, Dan, you don't have to head with me. I mean, we were lovers years ago.

I never tried to hide it. Why all the questions?

I'm trying to put together a picture of Lexi

from the time she arrived here until last night. How'd you guys meet?

One night she waited for me to come off stage. 18 years old. Look, 16.

She had this notebook full of song lyrics. She asked me to read them.

Preacher couldn't refuse that face. So how are the lyrics?

Uh, take it out, Charlie.

Yeah, the lyrics. Well, they were like her. They were confused with beautiful.

So she wanted to be a singer, huh? Uh-huh. J.B. Boyce.

It's a soft and whispery, but you had no pitch.

And that's something either heavy or haven't got.

Are we getting shorter? Listen, I have to leave at Tahoe in about an hour.

Can we continue this when I get back? Just one last question. Yeah.

How did it end? Well, it's a tired story.

I was career-oriented, had a chance to tour. I didn't think she should come.

I stayed away too long. She learned tennis with the loose bits. The tennis, bro.

Dan, are you on this case?

As long as it takes to nail whoever did it.

Yeah, I don't need a helicopter to get out of here, do I?

All right, take them up.

I need $10,000 cash right away. Go upstairs and get it from the cage. Oh, no.

Hey, please.

You're not in trouble with a young chick again.

You promised me no more young chicks. Well, I kept my promise.

There's something out of my past. She's come back to haunt me.

Now go up and get the money. I'll tell you what to do with it.

Timmy, we've been together in about 10 years. I need your help.

Somehow, Tanner's got to be bored off.

Tana.

meet with you and discuss Lexi Gardner.

Aware and when?

The edge of the vacant lot off Maryland, Parkway and Flamingo.

.

Metropolitan Police, Sergeant Archer. I bought a little pity for a poor lonely man.

I'm fresh out. What kind of trouble you have? I don't know yet, Bella.

I want you to hang in on the phone and listen in.

It's coming on.

He said he dead.

Nice fall.

assistance what's happening over there

I want you to know that there's no funny business from my end.

That looks like the long rangers backing down. Can I put my head down?

I have to reach into my pocket. Sure. Just do it very, very slowly.

There's $10,000 in that envelope. Forget about Lexi Gardner.

You come right to the point. Don't you, Mask Man?

Well, that's what they told me to do. Make the offer. If you accept, fine.

If you don't, no hard...

Except they told me to tell you that a lot of people can get hurt if you don't.

Someone's already been hurt. Very badly.

Who told you to tell me to make the offer? I'm sorry, I can't tell you.

Bella.

How much for a headlight and a brand new LTD?

Don't do it. I mean it, Dan. Don't. Do. It.

How much for the cheapest cremation?

Or how much to weave a rather large hole in a suit coat?

Or would you rather save me the bill and tell me who told you to make the call? Huh?

I said tell me, who told... Eddie, Eddie, any banding. Any

banding?

Thank you very much. Now get out of here.

Weird message. He's found the twins at the Diacocino. I'm practically there, B.

Paging Mr. Cohen.

I want a steak up.

The ladies room?

Binsu we're not looking for the tidyball, man. We're looking for a runaway twins.

It's fine. You don't want to hear me out? Don't hear me up.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

It's OK. It's ok. Come on. What is it?

Look, we know the girls were seen in this casino, right? That's right.

The lights, the excitement, a couple of drinks,

and sooner or later, they have to go to the powder room. I know the process.

Well, if I see the same woman go in there to the store, I'll be sure to tell you.

Twice. In a five minute period. I know that she is them.

You know, I would never have thought of that myself in a million years.

One question. How do you know that identical twins have identical nature calls?

Just think about it.

Mr. Tanner.

Your office told me you were over here. I want to apologize. I'll buy you a drink.

No thanks. One punch a day from you is enough. Lexi's mother said she hired you.

I want help in any way I can. Well, I can use all the help I can get.

Mr. Thomas, did Lexi ever discuss any problems she might have had as Lady G?

We never talked about that period in her life.

Well, did she ever talk about the other men in her life before she became like you?

There are only three. It's Singer, Eddie Banning. Blue Spitz, the tennis bro.

Who's the third?

I can't remember his name. I think he was a contractor. Any bad feelings?

She talked as if she thought very highly of all of them. Yeah.

You found the body, right?

Where were you that night, Mr. Thomas? I was at the Regis.

I do my writing.

Thanks very much for all your time.

Anytime.

B, check on Luxie's known addresses for the last 12 years.

See if you can find one that ties into a contractor some way. OK.

Thanks. Talk to you later.

Excuse me. My pleasure, baby.

Well, it was nice bumping into you.

might be bumping into each other again.

Well, you never can tell.

By the way.

Yes.

Lexi worked the snack bar. That's where she met that tennis snorkeling spitz,

just after he came back from Europe. All right.

Well, it seems to be a bit of a mystery, man.

Bambi, uh, you have any background on it? Well, he is a hot shot tennis pro.

He's already dropped out. When did he even drop out? Till he had it all.

He was like king of the European tour. Then he discovered Zen.

I don't know if this covered him.

Anyway, he found his guru and they went off together

and sat in the top of a mountain for five years. Sounds very cozy.

You know where I can find him? Yeah, I got his card. Give him a call.

There you go. Thanks, Bambi.

How well did you know Lexi's gardener, Mr. Smith?

Well, nothing but good memories about her.

When we first got together, Lexi was just becoming a woman.

You don't think I didn't help it long.

Got any ideas who got to her? I was hoping you did. Oh, huh.

Could have been one of a thousand tricks. Now, well, our town doesn't cover up

$100 mistake with murder one blanket.

Three guys who left Flexi Gardner or vice versa,

that's what I'm playing with right now.

You, Eddie Banning, and a contractor I don't have a line on yet.

I thought you might know him. No.

When I was out of the country, I got hung up in Asia longer than I expected.

By the time I got back, she was already working the strip. You know why? No.

I did a lot of thinking about it. Everybody

wants to be something they're not.

Lexi was writing lyrics and a lot of stuff that was worse than my back end.

She just wanted to be some thing she wasn't. Can't hate her for that.

Oh, nobody hated her.

They just killed her.

They think.

I think you're in a box.

If your public finds out that while you were supposed to

be spending five years on a mountain top with a guru,

you were really rotting in a MIDI's prison under an assumed name,

or smuggling poppies out of Turkey.

Like, they get jets setting days at the old man.

Snowball-y. He's gotta be a way around it.

You paid me to come here.

Look, Mr. Spitz. You and I both know what has to happen.

Dentana has got to be hit.

I'm gonna be sexy for so early in the morning. Early rehearsal. What's your excuse?

I'm getting my heart started to pull.

That's a matter, Slick.

Just a little rest, Lysentz. I didn't sleep much last night.

You got something in your mind? I've always got something on my mind.

How you doing with that chief suspect, I know.

Well, gotta keep digging.

Eddie Banting's got something to hide, but I can't prove he killed Luxie Gartner.

I had his man, Timmy, call him and tell him I took the bribe.

Won't even spec into town. I'll have a little talk with him.

And as a contractor by the name of Virgil, he's got some information I want.

But, Slick, I still think it'd be a whole lot easier if you opened up.

I mean, I've got this crazy off the wall hunch that

you and Lexi Gardner were more than just friends.

town is different with the lights out.

You should have seen this place 20 years ago when I first got here.

It was down in them streets, hustling.

Bustling.

Now I pass through this town like a tourist man.

I see what they see, the glamour, the excitement.

Fun.

Make eight the hard way. Everybody's got to be a winner.

But every now and then, Daniel A.

of what it used to be like.

I tell you something, kid, you really had to be tough to stay straight in this town.

be asking me about Lexi.

I never liked that name.

I used to call Alexandra.

Sandra.

She sure was nice looking when she was young. Yeah,

we were friends, all right.

I used to see a lot of her in those days.

I'd like to rely on Daniel.

Maybe I should have tried harder, I don't know.

Or maybe neither one of us wanted to make any commitments.

I was just too busy down in the streets trying to make a score for myself.

I went down to find her, you know, when I heard.

I saw one night and I, uh... Mm.

I made a big mistake. I offered her money.

I told her I'd send her back home to mother, bring her mother.

Anything she wanted, you know.

She never talked to me again.

I should try harder.

Let's get some breakfast.

They've been looking for you out by the floor.

They've paid you in the year of 15 minutes of the past hour.

Oh, I was in Roth's pool, you know,

and you still look very sexy for this early in the morning. Mr. Dan Tana.

Santa.

This is a friend of Lexi Gardner's.

You want to know what happened in Lexi?

Meet me in the service area behind the hotel.

No.

Who set me up? I want to know and I want know now.

It's any banning, wasn't it? I don't know any banny.

You know it, he's been in.

No, I don't know it.

attracted by tennis ball.

Lose bits.

I did it.

The rocker made me sing her any banning, tries to bribe you,

and loose spits tries to have you killed.

You didn't know I was so popular, did you, Bella?

Did you find anything in Lexi's apartment like a manuscript?

Something she was writing on a diary, maybe. No.

If we did, it'd be listed on the invoice with the rest of the items.

Why the questions?

like one ream typing paper, a typewriter, carbon paper. So?

Her boyfriend's a writer?

No, her boyfriend does his writing at the Regis here in town.

I want to buy some time before you put the alarm out on loose bits. Oh.

Now, what do spits and banding have in common? Just lexie. Right.

They didn't even know each other except in passing. Now, a lady gets murdered.

Two men from a decade ago go to extremes that keep me from finding out why.

Now, they got to have a reason.

Now William Virgil followed Spitz and Banny.

I'm gonna go see Mr. Virgil, let him know I'm digging into Lexi Gardner's past.

Danny, you on to something.

Every bass I touch, someone mentions something about Lexi's writing.

Her poems, her lyrics, but it's always writing.

think that what she wrote down has something to do with her murder.

Listen, get a hold of my buddy Dave Hadley in Washington, DC.

Your buddy with the FBI? Right. When writers don't have publishers,

sometimes they register their work with the Library of Congress.

And the best way to find out if Lexi had anything registered

is through your local friendly FBI agent. Well, I didn't think the public could get

that kind of information. Well, you usually can't be.

If he gives you any resistance, tell him I'm calling in my marker. He'll understand.

Now listen, if he's got any material that, uh, Lexi,

have him send me a copy on the first plank coming west. Dan, what's this all about?

I'll tell you when I get back. You got any messages for me?

That check on Lexi's address really paid off.

She lived for two years in a house owned by one William Virgil.

Virgil, you built half the homes on the west side. You got it.

Right now he's building a new track out there, right outside of Henderson.

Anything else? I checked with transportation.

You're every loving singer, Eddie Bannings,

arriving back here in town tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. Good girl. How about Binzer?

Uh-huh. He left a message. He's, uh, doubling his fun at the DI.

I better check on him and then I'll be right home.

Bye.

Hello.

I thought I'd check and see how you're doing. He's cute. Why can't we meet him, Dan?

Dan?

Uh, would you like to join us, Benzer?

Well, no, no. I don't think so. Can I talk to you for a second, Mr.

Tana? Sure.

Why don't you just... Sit tight and have a little business.

This guy. Damn, please. Don't break my cover.

Oh, well, your cover is not what I was thinking about breaking.

Now listen, Eddie Vanning is coming in tomorrow morning at 7 at the airport.

I want you to be there, follow him wherever he goes.

Every stop he makes, I want to call. Call you. Yes. I'll call you. OK.

Every stop. Good. Thank you. See you. I'm sorry, Dan. OK.

Bye.

Angie, could you give me a glass of milk, please? Oh, sure.

Oh, Pete, did you hear from Dave Hadley in Washington?

I sure did.

I don't know what that marker was. He owed you, but it sure got him moving.

Yes, there is a manuscript registered on Alexei Gardner's name.

And Dave said you'd have it tonight to read yourself to sleep with. Ah, manuscript.

Makes sense.

Here's your milk, Dan. Oh, thank you, Angie. Dan, what makes sense?

What's so important about this manuscript? Well, I'm betting that it was a novel.

And I've got a strong hunch that it was a Romana clasp. Is that an Italian salad?

No, honey. It's a novel in which actual people are written about,

but in a fictional disguise. Oh, you mean like in, uh, the Greek tycoon?

Uh, you said it. I didn't.

Then you think there's something incriminating in Lexi's book?

Well, two of the three men in her past have tried to get me off the case, right?

Oh, what about that contractor, uh... William Virgil?

Well, if he is involved, uh I don't know. But I'm gonna go see him right now

and Daniel will care right in front of his face.

Lexi didn't stay on in that tennis bum's house after he took off.

Where'd you say you met her? Party. Party someplace I can't remember.

We were good friends, good. Believe it.

Now beat it, I got things to do. Hey, Al, don't be afraid you're gonna strike oil,

dig at least another foot further. This is a foundation, not a waiting pool.

Lexi Gardner went from you to being the top calgler on the strip. That's a big step.

I'm going to be digging much deeper in that hole to find out why she made it.

So if you've got anything buried, I suggest you ask Lou Spitz

and Eddie Banting how good I am at scratching up old bones.

For your information, Eddie Banting is flying

in from Tahoe tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock.

I don't want to wake him unless it's important.

Oh, so he's sleeping and I'm out here dying. Listen, when you're hot, you're heart.

And believe me, it's hot. Beatrice, please, I am begging you.

Wake him up and tell him that I followed Eddie Banning

to a construction site in Henderson. OK, bye-bye.

Dan, is Binsery followed Eddie banning out to Henderson?

Ugh! Fix me some tea, would you be, Anna Muffin? What's in Lexi's book?

I've underlined the good parts. And so Virgil was a contractor in the book.

12 people were killed because he violated a building code.

Eddie Banning was poorly disguised as a singer who was a real man.

She's very hung up on very young girls.

Lou Spitz, a tennis pro, has spent five years

in a mid-eastern prison for smuggling poppies. Then Lexi was blackmailing them.

Now, that's what doesn't make sense.

I mean, from the portrait I've put together of Lexi,

she just doesn't sound like a blackmailer.

He got a page at the airport. I don't know who he talked to, and then he came here.

I think he's the only person here. There's no other cars here.

Every now and then, I just see him wandering around. OK, hand me my gun.

Alright, I want you to go up in that direction.

Find a place where you can see cars coming from all directions.

If you see Spitzel Virgil, I want you to scream, OK? Uh, Dan, Dan.

Can I do that here? I could honk the horn. Get going. I could do it there.

Just this way.

We played as kids, I.

from what I've been reading your favorite pastime with 16-year-old kids.

I know what your fans will think of that. Dan, why'd you have to get into this?

I was going to ask you the same question.

There are some things people just can't help.

Get rid of the gun, Tanner!

You heard the man, Tanner?

I'm sorry, Dan.

Tana.

Look, my idea is like this when I was a pro-o-pish, you know?

You don't give us much choice. I want you to let him go. He doesn't know anything.

Honestly, he never tells me a thing. I'm always working in the dark.

You know better. Get in, both of you.

Lexi was killed by one person. Two of you were innocent.

Why should you all take the rap?

All of us paid to have Lexi killed.

Each of us received a call that Lexi was going to Blackmail us.

$50,000 as she'd go to the newspaper. Are you telling me that Lexi called you?

She didn't call. She used the go between a man. Wait a second.

A man called to tell you that Lexie was in a blackmail you?

That's the way it went down. He said she wanted $50 thousand.

And he said if we dealt with her directly,

that she'd be coming back again and again and bleed us dry.

Then he offered a killer for the $50,000 a piece.

One time, the end, finished.

And you paid him without anyone talking through her.

You're so dumb!

That black sea we're gonna black matter you why would you wait ten years?

It had to be a different setup. She wrote a book.

And the man who called you must have known it was about the three of you.

What book? What are you talking about?

Nancy Gardner wrote a novel using the three of you as fictional characters.

To the man who called you, tried to get her to blackmail you,

but Lexi was not a blackmailer. She wouldn't do it until he murdered her.

You're stalling, Tanner. She was killed because we paid for it.

The medical examiner said that she was killed just about the time

she tried to reach me, about 9.30 p.m. What time did you get your call?

Well, congratulations, gentlemen. You paid for a hit on a dead lady.

The C is not the same as murder. It's two to five years at the most.

Probably a suspended sentence if he cooperates.

What are you trying to do? You're going to kill us!

Now Lexi's right her boyfriend must have known she was writing a novel.

Now he had to be the blackmailer, he had be the one who killed Lexi.

me over for today. What are you doing here?

Thank you.

Nobody cares about me.

Too bad, pal.

You just rode your swan, son.

Kiss on the cheek.

Thanks. Bye bye.

Being a private detective sure must be exciting, Mr. Tana.

Well, I don't think of it as exciting. It's just dangerous.

Someone's got to do it, though. But I always have time to take care

of an attractive young woman, especially when she's twins.

And Daddy promised us that we could come back. He did?

Maybe you could bring that really cute friend of yours and we could all go out.

You mean Binzer? He works for me, you know. He does everything I tell him to.

But when it comes to women, he is very nervous. Isn't that for you?

Oh, yes, it is. Thank you very much.

I've only got 50s. I'll get you next time.

Thank you.

Bye.

Oh, no need to explain. You remember me, sir. I work for you, Mr. Antana. Right.

Just forgot for a moment. Oh, No need in reading that.

It's from Sergeant Bella Archie. She wants you to call her regarding the damages

to Mrs. Gardner's rental car. Sit down. There's an $85. Yes, sir, sir?

Yeah, she said you'd take care of it right away, sir

Well, I think we have a little problem here.

Oh, sir remember what you always tell me. What? We have no problems.

Only opportunities.