Original subtitles

Ben?

Ben?

Ben?

Please let us in, Ben. Please.

I'm sorry to bother you at this hour, Mr. Holland.

It's my boy, Jim, he's sick, real bad.

Miss Palmer said we should come see you.

He really needs your help, Ben.

Take him into the back room.

You're gonna be all right now, son.

Daddy's here.

You'll be all right.

Take those off.

Okay.

You'll be all right, baby.

Why didn't you call Dr. Lewis?

Doc's away, and the phone lines are down with the flooding.

Andrea said you might be able to help.

You've got to get him to the hospital.

We can't... the roads are out.

Why don't you wait out in the store, Mr. Cooper.

Can't be sure without a lab test,

but it looks like viral encephalitis.

What does that mean?

It means he could die

if Cooper doesn't get him to the hospital.

We told you, the roads are out.

Andrea, I can't treat this boy.

What kind of treatment would they give him at the hospital?

Fluorazone for the immediate crisis,

but I can't treat him.

You have a pharmacy right out there.

Don't you hear anything?!

I can't treat him! I'm not a doctor!

You were!

♪ ♪

Uh, Peggy, when you come in this morning,

don't bother to burn the coffee,

I'll be on my way out of town.

A girl I knew back in college called me needing help.

Now, now, Peggy, don't make noises,

I couldn't turn her down.

After all, she was Queen of the Freshman Ball.

So, he, um, examines the boy,

gives him medication and saves his life...

Now, what's the big problem?

Well, Ben went on trial today

for practicing medicine without a license.

They took it away from him two years ago. Why?

Something happened in the hospital

down in Pleasant Valley.

That's the county seat about 12 miles from here.

What happened?

A man died on the operating table...

An important man in town.

Ben was charged with criminal negligence.

There was some evidence a-about a lab report,

a mistake of some kind.

They didn't believe Ben's story,

and I know he was telling the truth.

How do you know?

I just know.

Are you in love with him?

What difference does that make?

People in love don't always see things too clearly.

I know a mother and father who see things very clearly...

Their little boy is alive today because of what Ben did.

So, just how am I supposed to help?

You can park over there.

Find out who was really responsible

for that man's death two years ago.

Oh, that's all, huh?

There's Ben now.

Ben.

How did it go?

I'm out on bail.

I guess they figure I won't run off to Brazil

with all the big money I get out of this store.

This is Mr. Mannix... He's a friend of mine

and a private detective.

He came here to help.

How do you do?

I don't remember saying I needed help.

Well, if that's a sample of his bedside manner,

he may be better off running that store than playing doctor.

I'll tell you, I may be losing my grip on the situation,

but did he or didn't he tell you to hire a private detective?

Well, not exactly.

But I'm sure he really wants you to help him.

He can help me by leaving me alone.

Ben, Mr. Mannix is here to investigate

the charges against you.

There's nothing to investigate.

I'm guilty.

You saw me give that boy a shot.

I'm talking about the charges they filed two years ago.

I was guilty of that, too.

Now, unless you're interested in some groceries,

I'll go back and finish my inventory.

H-He's just bitter, that's all.

Yeah, I'll go along with that.

Well, he's got every reason to be.

Andrea, he says he's guilty. And I say he's not.

I know you'll find the truth

if you just investigate that Pleasant Valley case.

Wait. Even if he is innocent,

I just can't investigate the case unless I've got a client.

You do have a client, Joe.

Who?

The Queen of the Freshman Ball.

Dr. Escobar, admitting desk, please.

Dr. Escobar, admitting desk, please.

Oh, yes? I'd like to speak to the chief of staff.

Do you have an appointment?

No. No, but it is important.

Well, I'm sorry.

Dr. Bennett is a very busy man.

And I'll have to ask you to leave.

This area is off-limits.

Uh, Miss Kearsage, what is it?

Good morning, Dr. Bennett.

This gentleman wanted to see you.

I was just telling him... Oh, may I help you?

Yes, my name is Mannix... I'm a private investigator.

Oh?

Is there something wrong?

Well, I'm looking into a case

involving a man who once was attached to your hospital...

Dr. Benjamin Holland.

Dr. Graham, admitting desk, please.

Yes. Oh, uh, Miss Hapgood, will you set up those X-rays

in the operating theater? Yes, Doctor.

Mr. Mannix...

I was the surgeon the night that Dr. Holland

left his post of duty

and, uh, sent up the wrong laboratory reports

to the operating theater.

As a result, my patient, Mr. Hilliard, died.

I think you can understand why we here at the hospital

would rather not be reminded of what happened that night.

Naturally.

Well, uh, thank you for your time, Doctor.

Nurse, can I see the, uh, the morning patients?

Oh, certainly, Doctor.

Excuse me.

I'd, uh... like to ask you a few questions

about Dr. Holland.

Um, I'd really rather not talk about it.

Uh, it just brings back all those memories

of that awful night.

I-I'm sorry, I'm... I'm a little shaky.

I'm prone to migraines.

Uh, how close were you to, uh, the Hilliard case?

Very. Uh...

I was there when... Mr. Hilliard died.

And how was Dr. Holland involved?

Uh... Dr. Holland was Chief of Neurological Service

at the time, and...

one of his duties was to wait for a report

from the pathology lab on a cardiac test

made the day before on Mr. Hilliard.

If the results were negative,

we could operate using a general anesthesia.

If the results were positive, uh,

general anesthesia would be too dangerous.

But before the report came in,

another call came up for Dr. Holland.

Dr. Holland.

Telephone call.

Dr. Holland here.

Who?

Yes.

Yes, I understand. How bad is it?

No, I can't... I'm on duty.

Couldn't you call...

I'm trying to understand,

but I can't leave the hospital.

No, of course I haven't forgotten.

All right, look, don't do anything.

Just stay there... I'll be over as soon as I can.

What time is the test report due

on the surgery patient?

11:30, Doctor.

Ring up the lab for me.

Oh, but we're supposed to wait

for that report in writing, Doctor.

Just make the call, Miss Hapgood.

Yes, Doctor.

It's ringing, Doctor.

Dr. Holland later testified

that the lab told him that the test was negative.

So he ordered a general anesthetic,

and then he left the hospital.

Well, when did the operation take place?

At ten minutes after 11:00

right after Dr. Holland gave the authorization

for the general anesthesia.

I was relieved at the nurse's station

and told to report to surgery.

Scalpel.

Cotton.

I'm not getting any pulse, Doctor.

Cardiac massage.

It was no use.

At 11:35, he was pronounced dead.

Ten minutes later, we received a written report from the lab

stating that the test on Mr. Hilliard was positive

for cardiac disease

and that cyclopropane was not to be administered.

I don't get it.

You said that Holland had called the lab.

The lab denied ever receiving the call.

On top of that, Dr. Holland had left his post.

When they asked him why,

he said that he'd left on an emergency call.

Who was the call from?

He refused to say.

And you say the lab denied

ever giving Dr. Holland the test results over the phone?

Yes.

Miss Hapgood, did you actually hear another voice

on the other end answer when you called the lab?

No.

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

I don't feel very well.

Well, you've been very helpful, Miss Hapgood.

If you think of anything else

that happened that night,

I'd appreciate your calling me.

I'm staying at the Panorama Motel.

I'll get you!

Children, time for your baths.

Go on, I said inside. Go on, now.

I'll be right in. Go on.

Yes?

Oh, my name is Mannix.

Hey, those are nice-looking kids.

Yours?

I'm sure you know they're not mine.

Now, how would I know that?

Oh, let's not be cute.

They're the Hilliard children.

I'm their governess, Riva Daniels.

And you're the private detective who's come to town.

Word does get around.

And what do you want here?

Help.

Really? For whom?

Benjamin Holland.

He won't find any help in Pleasant Valley.

Why not?

Benjamin Holland had a responsibility.

He ran away from it.

And the children's father died.

They're orphans because of Benjamin Holland.

Well, there may be more to that story.

What makes you think so?

Well, uh, people around here are just a little too touchy

about something that happened two years ago.

Well, maybe they'd just like to forget what happened.

Well, someone is trying to forget something.

There is nothing for you here.

This is a close-knit community, Mr. Mannix.

They don't like intruders.

Well, I, uh, I certainly understand that.

But I do have a job.

All I want to know is who made that phone call to you

on the night of the operation.

I don't remember.

Come on, Holland, now you don't forget a phone call

important enough to make you leave your hospital post.

Now look, I didn't ask you here,

and I'm getting tired of the quiz show.

Now will you please leave?

It's your store.

Joe.

Are you quitting the case?

I don't know.

I'm beginning to get intrigued by it.

Besides, I've got an obligation to my client.

Do you want me to stay on it? Of course.

You know there are certain things about this case

that he's hiding.

For instance, who called him away

from the hospital that night.

Are you sure you want to find out about those things?

I'll take my chances.

I sure hope he's worth it.

Just a minute!

Just a minute!

Mr. Mannix, you had a phone call.

A Miss Hapgood at the hospital said it was important.

Did she say anything else?

Well, she said she had something for you.

Asked you to meet her at,

52 1/2 Cedar Lane.

It's over on the other side of town.

They tell me you've got some messed-up ribs.

I'm Sheriff Reardon.

How did I get here?

We found you lying in the street.

A clear case of urban blight.

We also found your car and brought it down.

It's parked in the hospital lot.

Thanks.

Just part of the service.

We figured you'd need it to drive out of town

after your hopefully speedy recovery.

I plan to stick around a while.

You might find that embarrassing.

Why?

Trespass, illegal entry,

destruction of private property,

sleeping in a public place.

All of which adds up to a maximum

of 260 days in jail.

Well, you can throw a bunch of phony charges at me,

if you like, Sheriff, that's fine.

I'm beginning to wonder if maybe you've got a few reasons

of your own for wanting me off this case.

What might they be?

If I find out, I'll let you know.

Just be careful, Mannix.

Oh, I see you're alive and well.

Does that surprise you?

Why should it surprise me?

Listen, I know what you're trying to do, but it's hopeless.

All you're going to do

is hurt a lot of innocent people, including yourself.

Seeing that you're so concerned, I hate to disappoint you,

but I've decided to stay.

I kind of like this town.

You're making a big mistake.

I don't think so.

It seems a lot of people have a lot of things

to hide around here.

Now, that makes for a good mystery.

That's how I make my living... Finding out things.

All things come to an end, Mr. Mannix.

Sometimes rather abruptly.

Miss Hapgoo...

I... What is it?

I'll call an ambulance.

Operator, send an ambulance to 19 Maplewood Drive.

Yes, a woman is critically ill.

I think she may have been poisoned. Yes.

Call... Call...

Call to lab...

Wrong... ext... ten... ten... sion.

Oh, can I give you a hand?

No, thanks.

You can follow me out to the trash bin

if you have something to tell me.

You know, Holland, one of the things

my father always used to tell me when I was a kid:

That was never depend on somebody else for approval.

It's been a valuable lesson.

Having troubles, eh?

Well, maybe it just isn't tourist season

in Pleasant Valley.

Maybe you're finding out there's nothing for you to investigate.

On the contrary, there's a lot more now than there was before.

Do you remember a nurse named Miss Hapgood?

What about her?

She's dead.

Dead?

Yes, she was killed last night.

I feel partly responsible.

Why you?

Well, I started the ball rolling by asking a few questions.

Now, does her, uh, death mean anything to you?

Why should it?

Well, I haven't got all the pieces yet.

I was hoping maybe you'd help.

I hardly knew her.

She was going to tell me something about your case.

There's nothing to tell, Mr. Mannix.

So young, so devoted, just taking her life?

Sorry, Doctor, but I think somebody took it for her.

But... Why?

Miss Hapgood was mixed up

in what happened to Dr. Holland two years ago.

Well, you must be mistaken.

She was about to tell me something about the phone call

that night at the lab just before she died.

Oh, I'm very shocked about this, Mr. Mannix.

I knew that she was, uh, very agitated...

and she was taking medication,

but I thought that was because she was working so hard.

And yesterday, when she asked me for a few days off,

well, naturally, I said yes.

I had no way of knowing.

Was she involved with anyone?

Involved? You mean, romantically?

It happens.

No, not to Miss Hapgood.

She was a loner.

Shy. Withdrawn.

If anything was happening, we would have known.

Well, thanks anyway, Doctor.

Well, I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

On the phone, I understood you to say

you have some, uh... tax problems.

Doesn't everyone?

Oh, Riva Daniels seems to think

you're the best tax lawyer in the whole state.

Well, I managed to save her father, Dr. Daniels,

a little money.

Lovely girl, Riva.

I was glad to help. Pull up a stool.

I see, in your case, uh, long term planning:

estate evaluation, insurance evaluation,

business overall, and so forth.

Well, that does sound a little expensive.

Frankly, I'd be very happy

to just settle for some one-shot information.

Such as what?

I'm looking into a case that you were involved in

a couple of years ago.

Mm. Which case was that?

Do you remember a Harrison Hilliard?

I understand you were one of the attorneys for his estate.

Just a minute. Mr. Mannix, who are you?

Well, I'm a private investigator.

You're not a friend of Miss Daniels'.

Well, I never said I was.

It's a matter of public record

that you handle the business affairs

of a number of people here in Pleasant Valley.

That means you came here under false pretenses.

Oh, no, no, no, I didn't.

I do have tax problems.

You see, I'm beginning to doubt my ability

as a private investigator,

and that could have a serious effect on my personal income.

I only handle clients whose income is worth protecting.

Like your own?

Mr. Stillwell, you seem to do pretty well for yourself.

That's hardly any of your concern.

No?

Two years ago, you were an ordinary struggling attorney

with a law firm that handled the Hilliard affairs.

Hilliard dies, and the next thing we know,

you've got a whole building named after you.

Mr. Mannix, if you find anything illegal about my success,

I suggest you bring it to the attention

of the proper authorities.

Well, I hope your success lasts a little longer

than Miss Hapgood's did.

Miss Hapgood?

Yeah, she was a nurse at the hospital.

She was murdered.

It will be in all the papers tonight.

They meant it to look like suicide.

But I guess there's no reason for you to worry

about such sordid affairs.

Hold all calls, and I'm out for the afternoon.

This is Stillwell.

Listen, there was a man here by... by the name of Mannix.

He's a private investigator.

He knows about Hapgood, and he knows it was murder.

Well, what if he finds out about us?

Well, whatever we do, I suggest that you do it now.

Don't shoot. I come in peace.

Pleasant surprise.

I got bored. I... I hope you don't mind.

Not at all.

Would you like me to fix you one?

Yeah, on the rocks, fine.

Really?

I asked the manager to let me in.

Mrs. Tucker is a friend of mine, in case you're wondering.

Well, I was wondering why.

Oh. Yes.

Well, every time I see you, I...

I seem to have a penchant for being rude to you,

and I... I just wanted to apologize.

Well, it didn't bother me.

I'm a hardboiled private eye in the classical tradition.

Oh, you mean you don't have any feelings at all?

Practically none.

Hmm. Somehow I find that hard to believe.

To friendship?

Apology accepted.

Mmm.

Now, why don't you get comfortable, hmm?

Somehow, I think I should have said that line.

Riva.

Yes?

You're really much too nice a girl to get mixed up

in a thing like this.

I enjoy kissing you.

Well, I didn't mean that.

I mean, you're thinking that if I got more interested in you,

I'd be less interested in why I came to Pleasant Valley.

You really have no feelings, have you?

Well, there's a difference

between using love and enjoying it.

You made that phone call to Ben Holland that night, didn't you?

No.

You might as well tell me. I'll find out.

There is nothing to find out.

I'll dig into everything you ever did,

anyone you ever talked to.

You know something I've got to know,

and I'll find out one way or another.

Now, why did Holland leave the hospital that night?

Let go of me!

Who?

My father.

He was a great physician, a great teacher.

Ben Holland owed him everything.

I had to call Holland that night.

He was the only one we could be sure of.

Dr. Holland, telephone call.

Dr. Holland here. Who?

Yes?

Yes, I understand. How bad is it?

No, I can't. I'm on duty.

Why don't you call...

I'm trying to understand, but I can't leave the hospital.

Of course, I haven't forgotten.

All right, look, don't do anything.

Just stay there. I'll be over as soon as I can.

I got here as soon as I could.

- Oh, Ben. - Where is he?

He's in here. Please hurry.

Is he gone? Yes, he is.

Hello, Ben. Thanks for coming.

What's wrong, Dan?

I got a bad pain in the lumbar region.

Don't touch it!

I... I need...

I need morphine, Ben. Half a grain.

If it's that bad, I'd better look you over first.

The morphine will be sufficient, Ben.

Oh, Ben, just give me the morphine!

Good night, Dan.

Thank you for coming, Ben. Good night.

How long has this been going on?

He's had the lumbar condition for a year.

I'm not talking about the lumbar condition!

How long has he been hooked?

He's up to a half grain of morphine!

That's an addict's dosage.

How long has it been going on?

For six months.

It started with the pain and...

He's been retired for a year.

How does he get the stuff?

I don't know!

What are you going to do?

He's dying, you know that.

He'll be asking for the medication several times a day.

You're to call me and only me, do you understand?

You're to tell no one.

Ten days later, my father died.

By that time, all the trouble with Ben had broken out.

Why didn't Ben say

where he'd been that night?

Ben worshipped my father.

He would never have done anything to hurt his good name.

He said that the mix-up with the lab report was enough

of an excuse for the hospital to get rid of him,

and it really didn't matter where he'd been that night.

Mm. Where did your father get his drug supply?

He never told me.

He was a doctor.

I suppose he had some way of obtaining the drugs.

Wh-Why does it matter? I mean, you know the truth now.

Your work's done.

Not all of it.

How did a bright doctor like Ben Holland make

the mistake of getting a simple positive/negative lab report

wrong on the telephone?

I don't know.

Somebody does.

Maybe the same person who arranged a little surprise

for me at Cedar Lane...

Like getting from the second floor to the first floor

without benefit of the stairway.

I wish I could help you, Joe.

And I have, I've told you everything.

I know.

I guess I should have told the truth a long time ago.

But Ben wanted it this way.

I guess I'd better be going.

On your stomach.

I didn't know you made house calls.

Only on special occasions.

And the good lawyer, Stillwell.

It's all coming in loud and clear now.

You're the one that supplied Riva's father, Dr. Daniels,

with the morphine.

He was a man in need.

Well, on the day of the operation,

you withheld his usual dosage.

You knew that by 10:30, he'd be climbing the walls.

You also knew that Dr. Holland was the only other person

he trusted enough to ask for the morphine.

Now, drugs are like watches, Mr. Mannix.

You can time their reactions almost to the second.

And when a woman like Nurse Hapgood is in love,

she doesn't ask questions.

Not even when she's asked to dial the wrong extension

so that a doctor can be given a phony lab report.

Let's get it over with.

It won't take a minute.

So when I came to town

and started asking Nurse Hapgood questions,

she cracked under the strain.

So she had to die before she could talk.

And so do you, Mannix.

Now, you don't think you'll get away with this?

Hello. This is Dr. Bennett.

I want you to send an ambulance to pick up a patient

at the Panorama Motel.

What's next?

I've just given him a dosage of 1 cc morphine.

I had no way of knowing

that he was a dope addict. You understand.

He phoned me and complained of dizzy spells.

When I got here, he was unconscious.

After he's admitted,

I'll prescribe a routine dosage of pirimine

to strengthen the heartbeat.

And it will act quickly in combination

with the morphine... and it'll kill him.

Dr. Bennett, everything's ready for you.

Room 510. Nurse Riley will assist you.

510. Come along, Miss Riley.

Put him right in there.

Have this filled immediately.

Yes.

Here, I'll do it.

You fix his arm.

Get another one, fast!

Yes, Doctor.

Still don't understand it, Mannix.

Well, I'll try and explain, it, Sheriff.

Oh, would you hand me those shoes, please?

You see, Hilliard's estate was worth

about three-and-a- half-million dollars.

Once they got Hilliard out of the way,

there was nothing standing in the way

of anyone who wanted that fortune, except those two children,

and Stillwell had the power to use that money

pretty much the way he and Bennett wanted.

So they needed a patsy to take the blame.

Right.

Mannix, I don't know if you're smart, lucky or talented.

I sometimes wonder the same thing, Sheriff.

I'm also wondering who got you to come after me.

Oh, we got a phone call from a lady friend of yours

when she saw you get

an unexpected visit from Dr. Bennett.

Hmm... Riva Daniels, huh?

I guess she thought you were in a little trouble

when the ambulance carted you away.

Riva... I've known her since the day she was born.

Taking care of those kids, I guess that's her way of trying

to make up to them for what happened to their father.

She's a nice girl, Mannix.

I think somebody ought to tell her that.

I think somebody will.

Say, Mannix...

what'd you get out of all this?

Three cracked ribs.

I've already had two offers.

I've hardly had time to put up the sign.

Maybe it's a mistake switching professions.

It's no mistake, Ben.

You're going to be offered your old job at the hospital.

I've decided not to go back to Pleasant Valley.

I like it here.

The air is clean, the view pleases me.

Besides, there's plenty of work to keep two doctors busy.

Mr. Mannix, if I forgot to say thanks... thanks.

The other day, you said there was a difference

between enjoying love and using it.

You wouldn't care to make that a little clearer, would you?

No harm in trying.