Original subtitles

One more movement, Miss Paulsen.

Yeah, he needs the practice.

Sorry.

Over and out.

Look what she gave us.

See you tomorrow.

Bye.

Your father's picking you up today.

Sure. It's Wednesday.

Hello, Dr. McKenzie.

I wanted to...

He probably had something on his mind.

Sure.

Himself.

That's why his wife divorced him.

I know.

Keep my bazoo shut.

Yes.

Hi, Janet.

Tell Brian I'm here, will you?

You just picked Brian up, Dr. McKenzie.

What?

A few seconds ago.

I just left the hospital.

Where's Brian? What's happened?

He... The man looked exactly like you.

He drove up in your car.

Where is my son?

Oh, my God...

Where's my son?

♪ ♪

Hey, you shouldn't play with dangerous weapons.

Can a woman be both a good mother

and a lousy seamstress?

Mm... Look at...

There's someone in your office.

My office?

That important?

Dr. Cameron McKenzie,

Chief of Surgery, California Medical.

Hmm.

A heart valve man.

And he looks as though someone just did an incision on him.

Any idea what he wants?

He's not talkative... But it's urgent.

The man's uptight.

Ah, Mr. Mannix.

I'm Dr. Cameron McKenzie.

You don't know me...

Ah, but I do know you, Dr. McKenzie.

Educated, uh... University of Chicago,

Residency: Peter Brent Brigham.

Divorced, make a lot of money,

have part-time custody of your only child, Brian.

You're an American success story, Doctor.

Cigarette?

I'm very impressed.

Well, my secretary dug up your history

while you were waiting.

I want to hire you, Mr. Mannix.

Can I be certain of your discretion?

Can I trust you not to go to the police?

No.

No, you can't.

You see, I'm licensed, inspected

and suspected by the police.

But you're very independent.

You didn't come here to talk about my independence.

My son has been kidnapped, Mr. Mannix.

Oh, I'm very sorry, Doctor.

But that's for the police.

The police are an organization;

organizations have leaks.

If the newspapers ever get hold of this story...

No, I want you to investigate, Mr. Mannix.

I want you to investigate now... today...

Before the kidnappers learn anyone's hunting for them.

Before they panic.

Before... Doctor,

the police can guarantee you no publicity.

And if they're wrong,

what's that guarantee worth to me?

My son's life.

In any case, Mr. Mannix,

I will not cooperate with the police.

You have my word.

Give me 24 hours.

If you haven't found Brian,

we'll call the police in.

All right.

Tell me exactly what happened, Doctor.

The man looked exactly like Dr. McKenzie.

I would swear the man was Dr. McKenzie.

How well do you know the doctor?

Brian's been at school for over a year...

He's very talented.

I'm sorry. It's dizzying.

He's really a marvelous child.

Why didn't you go to the police?

Dr. McKenzie asked me not to.

And you did just what he said.

Brian was kidnapped.

His life is in danger.

You said the car looked just like Dr. McKenzie's.

It was white and that's all?

I'm not a sports car fan, Mr. Mannix.

I don't know the difference

between a Bugatti and a bicycle.

Did you, by any chance, notice the license number?

No, I didn't.

I'm sorry.

I wish I could help.

Karen Shapiro?

Hmm?

My name is Mannix.

I'd like to talk to you about Brian McKenzie. Who?

I'm working for his father.

Private dick, eh?

Private dick.

I saw what happened.

Tres mystérieux, non?

I'm taking French.

Ah, and I'll bet you'll be very good at it.

I should.

My IQ is between the brilliant-to-genius range.

Oh, now I believe.

Tell me, genius, did you notice anything kind of odd

about that car that picked up Brian?

The car was very clean,

but the license plate was filthy.

Absolutely filthy.

All we could see was the first two letters.

SD.

Same as Dr. McKenzie's real license plate.

Ah.

Which was... what?

SDO 437.

I memorize license plates for practice.

Yeah, it figures.

Uh, you said, uh, "we..."

Yes, Miss Paulsen and I talked about it.

She's our music teacher. Uh-huh.

Merci bien.

You saw the license plate.

And you lied about it... why?

I couldn't help it.

He ordered me not to talk to anybody! Who ordered you?

The kidnapper.

He called.

About a half hour after the doctor left.

He called here... a filthy voice.

He said if I told the police,

they'd kill Brian.

What kind of voice?

It was a whisper...

High, almost like a woman's.

"Don't talk," it said.

"Don't talk or the boy will be dead."

Brian... Brian?

It was this afternoon at the music school.

What have you done?

I've, um... I've taken steps.

What steps?

Brian is gone... he's kidnapped.

What have you done?!

I've tried to avoid hysteria, for one thing.

Of course you have.

Your reaction to nuclear war

would be to become the most controlled cinder on Earth.

Have these monsters contacted you?

No, not yet.

And you're just waiting?

I've hired a private investigator.

Instead of going to the police?

Yes.

I was married to you for seven years.

They were devoted largely

to the study of Cameron McKenzie.

I know you. You're hiding something.

What?

Nothing, Katrina.

Mac, don't shut me out, please!

Don't shut me out!

Hmm, no Mercedes-Benzes.

Not white, not black, none.

Hey, look, how about a Jaguar?

No, thanks.

Look, it's a nice car.

Really a hot bomb, you know?

Cars named after animals make me nervous.

Hello!

Ask and ye shall receive.

Are you in charge here?

Ooh, that I am.

King of the night shift.

Don't be misled by my boyish façade.

I'm really a junior executive.

Have you got any Mercedes-Benzes?

We have several Mercedes.

Which model would you like?

Oh, I'm not really interested in renting.

I'd just like to know if you've got a model 250S...

White... with a license number

beginning with the letters, uh, SD.

The word you're searching for is "Eureka."

One day rental, returned the same evening.

John Randolph.

If that's what it says.

He was in a rush.

He was a very cold, and controlled fellow,

but in a considerable rush.

That's him, all right.

Thanks.

My pleasure.

You relieved the tedium of the night.

You're not very curious.

Well, I march to the sound of a very muffled drummer.

I don't want to tune in on the world's troubles.

I work till I'm bread ahead and then drop out.

It's a free country.

Not very. But I manage.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Katrina, this is Mr. Mannix.

My wife... my ex-wife, Katrina.

Mrs. McKenzie.

Mr. Mannix is the private investigator

I've hired to find Brian.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.

This is not a case for one man.

This is a case for the police.

Your husband and I have discussed that.

And what have you found?

Just this.

It's a scalpel, Doctor.

Commonly used by surgeons.

This is a very inferior instrument,

commonly used by students in dissection.

What has that to do with Brian?

Well, I located the kidnap car,

and on my way out,

a student of surgery tried to dissect me.

With a scalpel.

It appears I'm to be implicated in the kidnapping.

Doesn't that bother you, Doctor?

The Iceman?

One of his residents calls him

the only glacier in Southern California.

He's a fine surgeon, however.

No nerves, therefore, no feeling.

I don't think Mr. Mannix is terribly interested

in our tired squabbles, Katrina.

Neither am I.

I'm only interested in Brian.

Doctor, have they contacted you yet?

About the ransom?

No, not yet.

It sounds like they're frightened.

Frightened men are dangerous.

I think we'd better call the police.

Yes. Now, wait a minute now.

You promised you'd handle it yourself,

at least until tomorrow.

You've already done remarkably, Mannix.

I've run into a dead end, Doctor.

I don't know where else to look.

Why don't you want him to call the police?

If the kidnappers are frightened,

a police investigation could panic them.

No, you're wrong!

Katrina, I don't know

whether I'm right or wrong.

- We can only try. - Try what?

I don't know where to start, Doctor.

I can't just wander around

looking for this mysterious double of yours.

I can't just go around corners at random and try...

Is this Brian?

Yes.

I did it six months ago.

Did he sit for it?

No.

It was cast from a... a life mask.

Did you ever have a life mask made of your husband?

Yes.

Years ago.

Drink up, tiger.

Attaboy.

Keeps you healthy.

I'm going back down.

Come in.

I called you.

My name is Mannix.

Yes?

Uh, you made a life mask

of Dr. Cameron McKenzie a few years ago.

Did you, by any chance, keep the mold?

I usually keep a mold if it interests me.

Did McKenzie's face interest you?

Why do you ask?

You recently made a second mask of Dr. McKenzie.

A latex mask, uh, for a disguise.

Who are you?

I'm a private investigator, investigating a private crime.

Tell me, uh,

would a mask of Dr. McKenzie really be a perfect disguise?

It's an imperfect world, Mr. Mannix.

I play at being other people.

How can I deny anybody else that pleasure?

Who ordered the second mask?

A man came for it and paid me.

He, uh... he was masked, too.

Not-Not... Not one of mine.

Just bandages, as though he'd hurt himself.

When was it ordered?

She called me three weeks ago.

A woman ordered it?

Well, there's nothing wrong.

She had every right to order it.

It was Katrina McKenzie.

But that's absurd!

Brian is our son.

Katrina obviously didn't order that mask.

Somebody used her name.

Thank you, Mac.

After all, Mr. Mannix,

I'd have no sane motive.

It's true that

we didn't exactly have a friendly divorce.

There was a fight over the boy.

We have nothing to hide, Mr. Mannix.

Is that true?

Katrina...

You always were terrible at lying.

When you had to lie, you would always

get all tense and stiff like a robot.

I know you're trying to do something, Mac,

but if you can't even tell us what it is,

then how do you know it's right?

I have told you, Katrina, it is nothing.

Now you listen to me, Doctor.

Your son's life is in danger,

and I don't like being kept in the dark!

Mr. Mannix, please, call the police.

He's promised us 24 hours.

Well, I haven't made any promises.

Oh, you've been lying with great consistency, Doctor.

Now if you want to see your son back alive,

you'd better start with the truth.

I told you. You told me you hadn't heard

from the kidnappers, that you were waiting,

getting the money ready for ransom... where is it?

I... I thought tomorrow would be time enough.

For what?

Mac, what is it?

What is it?!

I operate tomorrow.

I have three operations.

All of them are touch-and-go.

What are you talking about?

They did contact me right away.

A man... he... whispered something.

He was... He was enjoying himself.

He told me to keep the police out of it.

He told me Brian would be returned, safe,

tomorrow night.

Wait a minute... In return for what?

For what?

No, for whom, Mr. Mannix.

He's to call me at the hospital tomorrow and

tell me which one.

I'm... I'm sorry, I...

I'm being terribly obscure.

My three patients tomorrow... he...

He's going to tell me...

which one is to die...

on the operating table.

This is Roscoe Bell, age 78, male.

Even if the operation is a success,

the prognosis isn't very good.

What about the other two?

This is Marian Harriman, age nine, female.

Has a good chance to survive because of her age.

This is Robert Goldberg, age 28, male.

Best chance to survive.

Somebody wants one of them dead.

In exchange for Brian.

If any one of them dies on the operating table,

nobody on earth could blame me.

No judge, no jury, no doctor.

I can't even tell you myself if any one of them will live.

What time is your first operation?

10:00, the little Harriman girl.

Bell at 1:00.

Goldberg at 5:00.

Mac... they're supposed to call you here,

and-and tell you which one then, hmm?

This morning, they said, some time this morning.

Hmm.

That gives me about two hours.

Mrs. Goldberg?

Yes, that's right.

Well, you can talk.

He's asleep. Hmm.

Is something wrong?

Oh, no, no.

It's just that, uh,

Mr. Goldberg didn't complete his medical insurance forms,

and I need a little more information, that's all.

Oh, Lord. You scared me stiff.

Now, uh, your husband is, uh, 28,

teaches at UCLA, right?

Well, he teaches part-time.

He's working for his doctorate in philosophy...

"The Relevance of Noumena to Perception."

He's very bright.

Before his illness,

did he, uh, have any personal problems?

You know, difficulties with anyone at the university?

Hmm, not Robert.

The only fight we ever had is that he wouldn't fight back.

You know how a wife likes a good fight.

What about his family?

Oh, they all live in Montana.

They're pillars of society.

They're so respectable, it would kill you.

No, I'm, uh, not a reporter, Mr. Harriman.

I'm, uh, connected with the hospital.

I'm working with Dr. McKenzie.

But why do you want to know about Marian's friends?

After all, her social life is somewhat limited by her age.

She's only nine.

It's a, uh... a new therapeutic approach

we're using on children.

Uh, that's good thinking.

Yes, but it-it doesn't apply in Marian's case.

She's been an invalid for over a year now.

She hasn't been to school, nor to visit anyone.

We're hoping that this operation...

We're hoping very much.

We're not young, Mr. Mannix.

Marian is the only child I can ever have.

She's been very good,

learning to live with a weak heart.

She can't attend school, nor... nor play games.

Just practices her music half the day.

Harpsichord.

You know, she... she's awfully good.

Yes. Yes, she is.

She's bright and-and talented and cursed.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.

I'm afraid I can't help you.

I, uh... I feel the same way,

but I... cannot weep.

We're, uh... We're sure Dr. McKenzie

can make her well.

Uh, where did you meet Dr. McKenzie?

Well, it was coincidence, really.

His son attended the same

school of music as Marian, and...

when her condition was discovered,

well, we... we thought of him.

Uh, that's the Paulsen School?

Oh, Marian loved the place and...

and Janet Paulsen.

She's... you know, she's a remarkable woman.

Yes, yes, I've met her.

Did you know that, uh,

she takes two scholarship students

for every one that pays?

We, um... Mrs. Harriman and I intend

to set up a fund at the school.

Does, uh, anybody else know about that?

Well, everybody.

Including Marian.

I-I told her one afternoon

when Janet Paulsen was visiting.

I... I thought it would cheer her up.

Marian... Marian asked if

the gift could be named after her...

if she were gone.

Mr. Harriman, I'm... well, I'm very sorry.

Would you by any chance be Miss Marian Harriman?

How did you know?

Well, uh, how many nine-year-old harpsichordists

do you meet these days?

Hey, you mind if I watch your TV with you?

That's not a TV.

That's my heart.

You're kidding.

Ask Dr. McKenzie.

He's going to fix it.

My heart, I mean.

Yeah, I know.

At least, there's a chance he can.

I'm sure he will.

I've heard the nurses, especially Miss Hollister,

talking about it.

They don't notice me listening.

I mean, they see me, but they don't notice.

They say the odds are 70-30.

That's good, isn't it?

That's very good, honey.

And Brian's father is a great surgeon.

You know Brian.

Sure, I do.

I went to school with him until I got sick.

Yeah, well, I hear that's a great school.

Makes lots of money.

There's always trouble about money, Miss Paulsen says.

She may have to close the school.

Well, when you're, uh, better,

you'll be able to go back to school and,

uh, help her out.

I'm going to come in and get you ready

in a few minutes, Marian.

For the operation?

Mm-hmm, that's right, darling.

No.

She's just a child.

She's nine years old.

Well, it's not Marian Harriman.

It's the Harriman money.

If she dies, the Paulsen School

stands to get a very large bequest.

Oh, you're implying

that Janet Paulsen is involved? No.

Well, I don't like it much, either.

But who else, Robert Goldberg, student?

If somebody wanted him dead,

they could buy the hit for $1,000.

It's got to be somebody very important;

somebody who couldn't be murdered without a lot of trouble.

But not a child!

What... what about... about that man?

That... Roscoe Bell.

He's been having tests

all morning... I haven't been able

to see him, but it's hard to believe he's the one.

After all, he's 78 years old and dying.

Nah, if somebody wanted him dead,

all they'd need is a little patience.

Nine years old.

Good morning, Dr. McKenzie.

The name is Bell.

Roscoe Bell.

If you want to see your son again... alive,

make sure that Mr. Bell is dead.

Now, look, my name is Mannix.

Dr. McKenzie arranged for me to see Mr. Bell.

Now, just... just wait one second, huh?

Nobody told me anything.

Nurse, did Dr. McKenzie say anything about...

Oh, yes, he called.

I forgot to tell you.

Go on in. It's all right.

I'm sorry, Doctor... what is it, Mannix?

Mannix, yes. Mannix.

He's a... he's a very sick man.

I'll take every precaution.

Bell?!

When did you change the name, Roscoe?

I don't know you.

Joe Mannix, private investigator.

Oh... a cop.

Yeah, that sums me up.

Now, how about you, Roscoe?

How do you add up? Racketeer, mobster?

47688... that's what I am.

For life.

And suddenly you're here, out.

Who put the fix in?

No fix.

The kind of operation I need,

they don't do in prison hospitals.

So they just gave you a leave of absence?

There's a federal man outside.

Anyway, where am I going to go?

I'm 78 years old.

I'm serving life.

I'm not going to make any trouble for anybody.

Oh, would you like a medal?

No!

I just want to be left alone.

You're not gonna be left alone. I'm tired.

Somebody's out to kill you, Roscoe.

Oh?

I am a vain man.

But this... I want to look at very carefully.

Who wants me dead?

That's my question.

There must be 1,000 answers.

You were the regional juice man for the Syndicate in the West.

Hmm.

I'm being operated on today.

Anybody wants me dead, they just have to wait.

Nice try, Roscoe.

But you're scared.

A man isn't scared

unless he's got something to lose. Get off my back.

Are you, uh, finished, Dr. Mannix?

I'm not a doctor, I'm a private investigator.

Somebody wants Bell here dead.

What are you talking about?

Nobody even knows he's here.

Someone found out.

Dr. McKenzie

doesn't even know who Mr. Bell is.

How did he get out for his operation?

He decided to cooperate with the government.

Oh, you finally decided to talk, huh, Roscoe?

Why not?

I'm dying.

I got maybe two months.

Unless the operation works.

Then, if I'm lucky, a year.

Maybe two.

"Buy me that year," I said,

"and I tell all I know... Everything about the Syndicate."

What happens after he talks?

Mr. Bell will remain in prison

with certain privileges,

in return for information.

That's not bad.

But you better see that I'm all right.

If anything goes wrong, you don't get a thing.

Nothing.

Oh, you'll be all right, Roscoe.

Nine-year-old boy I'm worried about.

Well, stay on the line, anyway.

Couldn't trace the kidnapper's call.

Did you put a trace on McKenzie's phone?

Oh, yeah, the minute we heard.

Well, then, why can't you trace it?

Because the call was made from inside the hospital.

Which means the Syndicate has probably got somebody

in the hospital to make sure Bell is dead.

Uh, Roberts...

I want that operating room checked out.

I want everybody in there checked out.

Now, that means everybody.

Right.

You know, uh, it may be a patient.

Yes, Doctor.

The attendant is right here.

The little girl is coming out.

Get Mr. Bell ready now.

Yes, I'm on my way.

Yes, Doctor.

Well, Marian came through it all right.

I think she's going to be fine.

I told her parents.

The old man is next.

Yes.

Roscoe Bell.

You heard what Mannix said about him.

Yes.

He's a gangster.

A criminal.

That's why they want him to die.

They want to keep him quiet.

"And what difference does it make?"

Is that it?

Whatever he was, Katrina, he's my patient.

But he's a criminal!

He's a vicious, brutal man.

How can you balance him against Brian?

How can you balance him against a nine-year-old boy?

Against our son?

I don't make those judgments, Katrina.

I'm asking you... to save our son's life.

By killing another human being?

I don't think I can do it, Katrina.

I mean... I just...

I don't think I can do it.

No, I know you can't.

Oh, Mac.

How are you going to operate?

You haven't had any sleep.

Oh, well, you remember

what they called me in medical school...

McKenzie the Mechanical Marvel.

I don't have any nerves, remember?

I don't know if I ever told you

what a lovely man you are.

Is there anything?

I'm sorry, Doctor.

There's only one way we might get your son back,

but you've got to do exactly what I tell you to do.

Almost done.

Still touch and go.

It's a bit more damage than we'd expected.

Careful.

It's irregular.

Coupled with abnormal deterioration.

He's got no resistance.

He's laboring.

Laboring, he's critical.

What's the matter with you, Hollister?

The odds are always bad when they're this far along.

♪ ♪

It's over.

Uh-oh.

Lungs congested.

Had a massive coronary failure.

It's a brilliant operation and then this.

You can't win 'em all.

Don't be flip, just do your job, Walter!

Yes, my job.

I'll wheel him down to the morgue.

Good-bye, Mr. Bell.

Sorry. Mr. Bell is alive and well

in the recovery room.

So the world turns.

Where's the boy?

"Boy"?

Brian McKenzie!

You wouldn't be making any

criminal accusations against me,

not after playing this revolting

practical joke on me.

I'm a hospital employee.

Also a mechanic.

I do all sorts of odd jobs.

Including kidnapping?

How much the big boys pay you to do the job?

Enough bread to drop out forever?

Tell me all about it.

If you don't talk and something happens to that boy,

you're an accomplice to murder.

No payoff's worth that.

"An accomplice"?

Oh, uh...

♪ ♪

Okay, the police copter's all set.

We'll track him down the minute he leaves the hospital.

Let's go. Now hold it. Hold it.

What? Let's give him enough time

to think he made it.

Otherwise, he might not lead us to the boy.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Come on, let's go. Which way is he heading?

He never left the hospital grounds.

He's had plenty of time.

One of my men spotted somebody

up there on the maintenance roof.

What's up there?

Just a couple of boiler rooms.

Boiler rooms, huh?

Maybe loud enough to hide a kid's cry.

Tell your men to seal off all the exits.

Right.

What is it?

Please, I know you're there.

What is it?

Get the kid ready. Huh?

Get the kid ready.

What do you mean?

Aren't we getting out of here?

Let's leave him.

We might need him.

Why the blanket?

It's just till we get off the roof.

♪ ♪

It's all right, Brian.

It's all right.

I'm a friend.

Your mother and father are right downstairs.

It's all over now.

Brian!

Brian!

Mom!

Brian!