Original subtitles

So then, you're putting the gutter into the classroom.

You're twisting my words again.

I'm for taking sex education out of the gutter,

and making it part of the regular course study.

Along with such other personal subjects

as, uh, reading, writing and arithmetic.

And of course, the home would be left out of this.

The parents will have nothing to say,

isn't that right, Mrs. Landon?

It's Miss Landon.

Oh, I'm sorry.

And I never proposed that sex education

be taken away from the family control.

Hmm, well, now I read this interview...

There's no mention of your concern for parental guidance.

Well, the newspaper didn't quote me entirely.

Oh, in other words, the press is censoring you.

Mr. Hackett, you're trying to make it appear

as if there is a conspiracy against me.

Well, now, you brought up the charge, Mrs. Landon.

Will you please stop calling me Missus.

Oh, forgive me, a natural error.

You see, anyone as interested in the welfare of children

as you are, Miss Landon,

would ordinarily be thought of

as a married woman or a mother.

Mr. Hackett, you are beneath contempt.

Uh, sorry, lady, your time is up.

Thank you very much.

All right, folks, now to where the action really is,

"The Hot Seat."

There it is, still empty.

Third week in a row.

Seems our seat is a little too hot

for invited guest Harry Armitage.

But since he's refused our invitation,

we did the next best thing.

All right, Frank, let's move in for a nice close head shot

of Mr. Armitage.

You see before you a rare photo of Harry C. Armitage.

Harry, by nature, is a shy man,

except when asking for a fee for the special work he does.

By trade I guess you'd call Harry a peddler.

The commodity he peddles is influence.

Now what I wanted to ask

the reluctant Harry Armitage tonight, among other things,

was how was it that a young man of means

could get a hit-and-run charge reduced to a misdemeanor

when actually his car hit, ran and killed?

Now I've asked Mr. Armitage to, uh, reply to that,

among other burning questions,

but so far, nary a word from Mr. Armitage.

So now I'll try him direct on the Hot Line.

Hello.

Ted Hackett calling.

I know.

You've been tuned in, huh?

Find it fascinating, huh, Mr. Armitage?

About as fascinating as a trash can.

Well, one man's trash is another man's truth.

Harry, the invitation still stands.

The Hot Seat is all warmed up, and so are my questions.

How about it?

I wouldn't dignify any of your questions with a reply.

Oh, you're a real authority on dignity,

now aren't you, Armitage? Of course.

You know exactly what it costs to buy off a dignified judge,

or how to get a zoning change by bribing a dignified councilman.

Right?

Armitage?

Sounded like a gunshot.

Armitage.

Armitage?

Armitage? Armitage?!

Hey, Sid, you better call the police.

No, wait a minute, I'll do it, I'll do it.

Uh, get me the police.

Look, this is Ted Hackett. I want to report something.

I don't know exactly what, but there was a gun involved,

and it could be murder or robbery or anything.

His name is Harry Armitage.

No, I'm not there.

I just finished talking with him on the phone.

Yes, yes, I'm sure.

Yes, there were gunshots.

Look, I'm not the only one.

There were two million witnesses.

♪ ♪

Just a minute, Mr. Mannix.

What floor?

Penthouse.

I'm sorry, no one's allowed up there without permission.

Who's in charge? Lieutenant Malcolm.

Ask him.

Lieutenant Malcolm.

Lieutenant, this is Grady.

Mannix wants to come up to see you.

The lieutenant wants to know what it's about.

About my client, Harry Armitage.

About his client, Harry Armitage.

Right.

Okay.

I'd say you were a little late getting here

for your client's sake.

Yeah, I heard the news

while I was driving down from Santa Barbara.

No way to lose a client, Joe.

It's bad for business.

Well, I hadn't actually started work for Armitage.

He'd sent an advance payment over to the office.

I was supposed to meet him here tonight.

What'd he want you for?

I don't know.

Well, in the light of what happened,

it could have been protection, huh?

It could have been.

You got anything?

Not yet.

What do you care? It's not your problem now.

Well, I feel I owe Armitage some work.

Lieutenant.

She was picked up a block from here,

running down the alley.

Name's Muriel Price.

The maintenance man said he saw her leave the building

by the service door,

right after the Hackett telecast.

I had nothing to do with Armitage's death.

Where'd you get it, Frank?

Trash can in the alley,

about 20 yards from where she was apprehended.

Fingerprints?

Yeah, all over it, Lieutenant, fresh and clear.

Now I've got something.

All right, that's my gun, but I didn't kill him.

Please, if you just let me explain...

Miss Price, it's my duty to advise you

of your rights.

You have the right to legal counsel before you say anything.

However, anything you do say now voluntarily

can be used against you.

All right, take her downtown, Frank.

We'll book her on suspicion.

I'll be along.

I didn't kill him, Lieutenant. I really didn't kill him.

I'm sorry, Miss, uh, I'm not with the police department.

My name is Mannix.

I'm a private investigator.

Let's go, Miss.

I... I-I didn't kill him, Lieutenant.

I didn't...

I guess she had you figured for a soft touch.

Maybe she figured right.

Hello.

This Mannix? Joe Mannix?

Yeah, this is Mannix.

Got a job for you.

Look, it's 2:00 in the morning.

I'm at the Opal Club.

It's over on Fifth.

Who is this?

Name's Charlie.

What's it about, Charlie?

It's got to do with the Armitage killing.

Mannix?

I'm Charlie.

Okay, now, what about the Armitage case?

She's got the answers.

Now, uh... how did you get out?

Murder suspects are usually held without bail.

I'm Valerie Price.

Muriel's my twin sister.

Sit down, Mr. Mannix.

You can go, Charlie. I'll lock up.

There are still some things I can do around here

to keep me busy.

I'm all right. Go on.

Okay.

But if you need something, call me at home.

Sure.

I'll fix you a drink.

No, thanks, but you go ahead.

It was Muriel's idea.

She felt you were the man.

For what?

To prove she didn't kill Harry Armitage.

She said you could be trusted.

She doesn't even know me.

Just in passing.

Apparently, that was enough for her.

You've got to take this case, Mr. Mannix...

For both of us.

It's hard for people to understand

the way it is with twins.

Whatever happens to Muriel happens to me.

Her sorrow is my sorrow.

Her pain is mine.

We were one simple little cell,

divided, yet inseparable.

If she trusts you, then I trust you.

And if she needs you, then I need you.

Can you understand that, Mr. Mannix?

Yeah, I think so.

There's something you've got to understand.

Everything is against your sister.

Except one thing.

What's that?

She didn't kill Harry Armitage.

How do you know?

She told me.

It was her gun.

Yes, but it had been missing for over a week.

Why hadn't she reported it?

She didn't have a license.

You don't need a license just to possess a gun.

Tell me, why did she buy it in the first place?

I don't know. A lot of people have guns, don't they?

Yeah, far too many.

But still, very few end up as Exhibit A in a murder case.

Look, it's a stacked case.

She received a phone call to go to Armitage's apartment.

She found him there, dead.

She recognized the gun.

She was afraid it would lead to her.

She took it and ran.

There's only one thing.

Armitage didn't call her.

No.

She didn't recognize the voice.

Tell me, uh, if you were an outsider...

would you believe that story?

Obviously you don't.

And I thought you might be able to help us.

I thought you were going to trust me.

Why don't you tell me everything?

I did.

Except why she went to Armitage's apartment

in the first place.

She was a public stenographer.

She often took dictation from Armitage.

That late at night?

How'd she get into the apartment?

The front door was locked.

She had a key.

A public stenographer that has a key to a client's apartment?

Muriel wasn't just a stenographer to Armitage.

Still, she wasn't as much as she thought to him.

There was a whole parade of women

who went in and out of his life.

And she was on her way out.

Yes.

And that could give the police her motive.

Anything else?

No.

I'll see what I can find out.

Well, don't I have to pay you or anything?

No.

Why should you do this for nothing?

I was paid in advance.

By Harry Armitage.

He just left the club.

Don't worry.

I can handle her.

But you'd better take care of Mannix.

Uh, be with you in a minute, Mannix.

You ready with that stuff?

Almost.

Oh, come on. Get the lead out, will you?

Wait just a minute, huh, Ted?

What for?

Well, it could stand a polish, a little more color.

I'll give it plenty of my own color

when it goes out over the air.

It'll only take me another minute or so.

Paul, if you want to write the great American novel,

do it on your own time.

Right now, you're working for Ted Hackett.

And it's not deathless prose I'm selling.

Remember, that's-that's TV land out there,

the simple people.

And I'm selling simple, unvarnished truth.

Oh, if I left you alone,

you'd rewrite my show right into an early grave.

Oh, uh, coffee, huh?

Mannix?

Uh, no, thanks.

Uh, Paul?

And Danish.

Paul?

Make that prune Danish.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Mannix.

No, you're not.

And I thought this was going to be like old times.

Old times? Oh, it is.

Nothing's changed.

You're still up to your old tricks.

Such as?

Keeping me waiting, cooling my heels, trying to get me uptight.

That's number one.

And number two?

Still pushing your weight around.

You mean with Paul?

Mannix, some people like to know just where they stand.

Gives them a sense of security, which you don't understand.

I understand you, Hackett.

What's to understand?

I'm a simple man, searching for the simple truth.

Seven years ago, I left St. Louis with nothing.

You've still got nothing.

Only money.

Try as hard as you will, Mannix, you can't get me to dislike you.

And my offer still stands.

I could really use an expert like you.

Somebody who could dig deep enough to get the real lowdown.

I'm afraid I just couldn't fill the rest of the bill.

What's that?

Running for coffee, prune Danish.

Still got to have a gimmick, huh?

Yeah, the Hot Seat.

Well, I guess that's show business.

Truth business.

You always were hung up on that, weren't you?

What's wrong with the truth?

The way you use it.

The way I use it appeals to a lot of people.

So did public hangings.

Mannix...

you didn't come here to talk about that.

I came here for help, Hackett.

From me?

For a guy who's looking for a favor,

I guess I got off to a bad start, huh?

No mistake about that.

What kind of help?

Want a line on Harry Armitage...

A list of people who might have killed him or had him killed.

Police have already discussed that with me.

Well, I thought you might have

held out a tidbit here and there.

Now, why would I do a thing like that?

Spring it on the air, boost your ratings a point or two.

Why should I change my mind now?

Because it might help somebody besides yourself, Hackett.

My client's been booked for Armitage's murder.

Yeah, the, uh, Price girl.

What do you say, Hackett?

About killing Armitage?

Well, I don't blame her.

That's what I say.

It's just not your day all around.

Hmm.

You know, in this business, Peggy,

you sometimes get a feeling.

Kind of a gut reaction.

Now, this is one of those times.

This case is just too easy.

Why?

They caught Muriel Price flat-footed,

at the scene of the crime,

with a gun in one hand and a motive in the other.

I know.

That's what's bugging me.

Now, a girl shoots a man with her own gun,

she's caught running away from the scene.

Open-and-shut case.

Why does she spend the rest of her time...

denying it?

Every prison is full of innocent people, Joe.

Just ask them.

Well, I saw this girl.

She's just not the type.

When murder and love are involved, there isn't any type.

Peggy, do me a favor, huh?

Stop, uh, quoting some half-baked philosopher.

Joe, I'm quoting you.

Hmm.

Okay.

They got the right girl.

All the pieces fit.

Then tell me: why have two clowns been tailing me?

What two clowns?

Two clowns who were waiting for me outside the TV studio.

I'll tell you why.

Because somebody else knows this isn't a closed case.

So what do we do?

Hmm.

Well, maybe we, uh... maybe we needle Ted Hackett a little.

Hackett? Yeah.

I got a feeling he knows something and isn't telling.

Why?

Maybe because he's got two million

faithful viewers that, uh, he'd rather tell first.

Yeah.

Maybe that's why he's so successful.

I have to admit it.

I hate him, but I watch him.

Yeah. Doesn't everybody?

Hey, Peggy, uh, you still got that friend

on the switchboard at KDF TV?

Yeah, we had dinner together last night.

What do you want?

I want a list of all the numbers Ted Hackett called

from his hotline during the last month.

Then get me a rundown on the names and addresses, huh?

What do you expect to find?

Someone who might have fed him

a piece of information about Harry Armitage.

Something, anything.

I'll get on it right away.

Joe, there's someone here.

Yeah, who?

Wouldn't leave his name.

What does he want?

Wouldn't say.

Come in.

Hold the calls, Peggy.

We weren't introduced, Mr. Mannix.

My full name is Paul Russell.

Hackett doesn't know I'm here.

I thought we might do each other some good.

Hackett doesn't like you.

That should put me on a long list.

Right at the top now.

Because you're the last person he'd want to know this.

Know what?

Hackett held out on you.

About my client?

No. About her sister.

Those two have more in common than just looks.

Harry Armitage.

Valerie was first with Armitage, and then came Muriel.

Okay?

You said, "do us both good."

That's right.

Hackett's all set to spring this tidbit on his show Friday.

Big scoop.

Won't be much of a scoop by Friday, will it?

What's in it for you?

I'm just putting a little rat poison

on the prune Danish.

Why didn't you tell me?

Might have made things worse for Muriel.

Well, that has a familiar ring.

It happens to be true!

Look, the newspapers would have taken it

and blown it up, way out of proportion.

Twins are special people.

They make special stories.

Particularly where there's a murder.

What else didn't you tell me?

Nothing.

That has a familiar ring, too.

Mr. Mannix, no matter what you think,

Muriel didn't kill Harry Armitage!

She just isn't tough enough.

Are you?

Yes!

But I didn't kill him.

What motive would I have?

Same as your sister.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

I made my arrangement with Harry Armitage at the start.

I'm not the type to let my future just take care of itself.

I made sure Armitage took care of it.

And Mr. Mannix, you're standing

right in the middle of it, this place.

It's mine.

That makes me cold and calculating, huh?

Practical.

Why be nice about it? You don't approve, right?

You don't need my approval.

Somehow, I could use it right now.

Mr. Mannix's office.

It's me, Peggy.

How'd you make out?

Went in like a lion, came out like a lamb.

And those two clowns are still on my tail.

Anything I can do?

Get me a quick check on a license number... 247OJF.

Where will you be? I'll call you back.

I'll call you back, Peggy. I'll be on the move.

Better move faster than that, Mannix.

Okay, Pete.

Well, Mannix, you in more of a mood to talk now?

I told you I got nothing to talk to you about.

Come on. What about all the stuff Armitage spilled to you?

He spilled nothing to me.

You're a hit-and-run candidate, Mannix, unless...

Armitage was already dead when I came into the case.

You're in this case. So, what's what?

What've you dug up?

Nothing.

Get her on the road, Pete.

Now, take it easy.

I'm not gonna hurt you. Just do as I say

and don't scream, you understand?

Look, I'm sorry, but I'm in trouble.

Who'd ever guess?

Losers, that's all I ever get.

Who'd you kill?

Oh, it's nothing like that.

Then why are you running?

A couple of characters would like to see me dead.

Well, what if they come here?

Don't worry. I'll keep you out of it.

You gonna give me a written guarantee?

Well?

I don't see them.

Good-bye.

It's been very nice knowing you.

Look, I'm afraid I'm going

to have to stick around just a little longer.

Oh, typical. Losers.

I don't only pick 'em. They find me from nowhere.

You don't happen to be in sports, do you?

No.

Oh, well, that's a change.

I don't know. Somebody always gets the winners.

Me, I always wind up with the losers:

a football player with a trick knee...

a boxer who gets his brains punched out

in his second professional fight...

and a jockey who gets caught doping horses.

Not exactly the hit parade.

Mister, I'm telling you,

with my luck, if I had a mantis, it wouldn't pray.

Where're you going?

I'd like to use your phone, if you don't mind.

Oh, no, I don't mind,

but it's been cut off.

Now it's your luck.

I guess it can be catching, huh?

Are they out there?

Shh!

Yeah, they're out there.

They gotta figure out that I'm in this building,

and come around searching.

Hey, I could get rid of 'em.

How?

Uh, well, my phone's out of order, see?

And I-I gotta make this very important phone call.

Have you got a dime?

Yeah, I think so.

Here you are. Good.

Wait a minute. Here.

Now what's that for?

Your trouble.

Well, I, I could use it.

Then take it.

Can you spare it?

Sure. Okay.

Okay, wait a minute.

Good evening.

Hey... Pardon me.

Did you see anybody come in here?

Uh, some guy went running up the stairs.

Wait a minute.

Mister, I got to make a phone call.

You got any idea where he went?

Uh, well, the roof, uh, maybe. I...

Excuse me.

I beg your pardon.

Excuse me, please.

What are you doing out in the hall?

What? Look, mister, you see this dime?

Ten lousy cents.

Th-That's the last one I got.

Uh, my own phone's been cut off, see?

And there's this chance I got to pick up a, an easy 20 bucks.

So, so I got to use the phone.

But-But if I don't make that call fast,

a certain party will be gone, and, uh...

and I'll stay as flat as this, okay?

Okay, lady, except you dropped something.

Oh, good heavens. Easy $20.

Hey, wait a minute. Now listen, there's nobody up there.

Gotta be this one with the lights on. I tell you, they're all gone.

Nobody's there. All right, open it.

Hey, Dave?

Anybody come out on this fire escape? No.

Keep your eyes open.

See? Nobody's here.

He ran away before you came.

There's nobody there.

See? There's nobody here.

Hey, Pete.

He went out that way.

It's a big jump.

So if he broke a leg, how far can he get?

Yeah, he probably broke a leg.

How far can he get, huh?

Hey, give me that! That's mine!

Hey, Dave, go around back! He can't be far.

Oh... He took my 20. Can you get my 20?

Eh, you big bozo!

Hey, come on out, they're gone.

Oh, that was... Thanks. What?

I'll see that you get your money.

Oh, no, that comes second.

What counts is you're okay.

Thanks to you.

Well, that's what I mean. A change of luck!

Thank you for coming so quickly, Mr. Mannix.

What's it about?

I guess I'd better explain.

This was more or less my idea, Mr. Mannix.

What was?

Getting a lawyer for Muriel... the best.

He's agreed to take the case.

Well, that's not all you're trying to tell me.

No, I'd like to thank you for everything.

Meaning you'd like me off the case.

The lawyer feels that he can get Muriel off

on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

He feels that her case could be hurt

if you kept digging into it.

Well, now, Valerie, you've done all the talking.

We've heard how your lawyer feels

and how you feel.

What about you, Muriel? It's your life.

How do you feel about it?

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix, but it's the way I feel, too.

Looked straight at me with those big, brown eyes,

and backed up her sister's story 100%.

She doesn't want me on the case, either.

Maybe it was the lawyer's idea.

Ah, no way.

But why, Joe?

Maybe, uh, maybe to keep me from digging.

Maybe to let Muriel be the patsy.

I don't know, Peggy,

but I do know that those two look alike,

but I'll bet it's the first time in a long while

that they've thought alike.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Oh, hi. Did you get it?

Great.

What?

Are you sure?

Thanks.

Yeah, yeah, I think it'll help a lot.

Who was that?

Gloria Oberhansly in DMV.

She checked out that license number you phoned in.

Who does the car belong to?

An old friend out of the past.

The car was registered

to Alliance-Pacific Investment Company.

Carl Dorso!

None other.

Well, now the fog's beginning to lift a little.

Do you think Dorso's involved in that Armitage case?

Enough to want me dead.

That's involved.

Look, Peggy, you stick next to that phone.

I think we're back in business.

Yes, sir, may I help you?

Sir?

You keep your muscle off me, Dorso!

I'm sorry, sir. He rushed right past me.

Don't do that, sonny.

No, Ellis, don't.

What brings you here, Mannix?

Last night, two thugs used a car that just happened

to be registered

to the Alliance-Pacific Investment Company.

When I think of Alliance-Pacific,

I can't help but think of Carl Dorso.

Ellis, what was the plate number of that car

we reported as stolen?

247OJF, sir.

Would it happen to be that particular car, Mannix?

You see?

Nothing up our sleeve.

Except the vice money

that comes out as legitimate investments.

You run a nice laundry, Dorso.

Dirty money to instant clean.

Rumors.

You know, you didn't have to send your hoods out to work me over.

I'd be only too glad to tell you everything I know.

About what?

You've been itching to find out

what I've dug up on the Armitage case.

What is there to dig up?

The police have their suspect.

You know what I think, Dorso?

I think she's just a patsy for a contract

you put out on Armitage.

Contract?

Mannix, that sort of thing went out with running boards.

Ted Hackett found out about the fixes

Armitage put in for you and the Syndicate.

Now you couldn't afford to knock off Hackett.

That would stir up too much trouble.

Armitage was a fixer.

Now who would miss a fixer?

So Armitage drew the short straw.

That's a fairy tale, Mannix.

Is it?

You ought to tell him about it.

Went out with running boards.

We're not open yet.

Tell your boss I want to talk to her.

She isn't here.

I'll wait.

She's taking the day off.

Get lost.

Stop it!

It's all right, Charlie.

I guess I'd better speak to Mr. Mannix, after all.

Dorso really got to you, didn't he?

He scared you, told you exactly what to do,

and sister Muriel backed you up.

All I have is this place.

I could be finished with one snap of Carl Dorso's fingers.

What did you expect me to do?

Think about your sister for a little bit.

I did.

They've hired the best lawyer in town.

They promised to get her off.

And that ends it?

Yes. For Muriel.

What about you?

What is that supposed to mean?

Well, yesterday you told me

that your sister wasn't tough enough to kill Armitage.

Oh. And I said I was, is that it?

Right.

So now you suspect me?

Why shouldn't I?

You're reaching, Mr. Mannix.

After all, I was the one who called you in on this case.

Well, that makes a perfect cover.

Sister worried sick, so she calls in private investigator.

I have no motive.

I have everything I want.

Look, I wasn't near Armitage's apartment that night.

As a matter of fact, I tried reaching him by phone

for over a half hour up till the minute he was killed.

The line was busy.

Only you can't prove that, because you were all alone

in the apartment while you were making the calls.

No.

I was right here.

All night.

And I've got a bar full of witnesses.

I never left.

You, uh, say the line was busy?

Yes.

Where is he?

In the studio.

Did he say what this was all about?

No.

Where are you going?

With you.

Look, I can handle this alone.

Oh, okay, then I'll wait out here.

Go home.

Hackett?

Paul tells me he had to get you out of bed.

I'm sorry, I... couldn't get in touch with you.

He wouldn't give me your private number.

What do you want, Mannix?

I could still use your help.

The Armitage case?

Right.

The Armitage case.

And that's what you dragged me down for

in the middle of the night?

Look, I'm an early riser.

I value my sleep.

Take it easy, Hackett.

I'll make it worth your while. We'll work a deal.

Why, you sound like a man

with his back up against the wall.

Well, I'll play it straight with you, Hackett... I am.

Everybody wants me off the case.

Valerie Price fired me.

Carl Dorso tried to put the arm on me.

Wait a minute, what's Dorso got to do with it?

Aw, now, come on, Hackett.

I said I was going to play it straight.

Let's put the cards on the table.

You know about Armitage's connection with Dorso.

You were going to blow the lid on it, right?

Yes, sir, Mannix, like I said,

I could sure use a good man like you.

Well, I'm afraid I'm just not much

for running after prune Danish.

Now your boy Paul, he's the type.

Yeah, well, I'm thinking of firing him.

Oh?

For feeding you that inside information

about Valerie Price's connection with Armitage.

That's funny.

What?

I was beginning to think that you sent him over

with that little piece of news.

Now why would I do a thing like that?

Your style.

Well, why would I want to make your life miserable?

Okay, so I was wrong.

Anyway, it checked out.

Sure, sure, that's what I deal in,

nothing but the truth.

So, uh... what are you going to do for me, Mannix?

I'm going to give you the straight scoop

on the Armitage case.

And, uh, what do I do for you?

For the time being, just watch the monitor.

Something Valerie Price said has been bugging me.

So I had master control pipe the tape of your last show in here.

I watched it a couple of times.

Here, let's watch it together, huh?

Yeah, this is Mannix.

Uh, could we run that tape again?

Yeah, from the same spot.

Uh, what was it Valerie Price said that bugged you?

Well, she claims she called Armitage

the night he was killed.

So?

Let's watch it.

So now, I'll have to do the next best thing,

and call him direct on the Hot Line.

Hello.

Ted Hackett calling.

I know.

You've been tuned in, huh?

Find it fascinating, huh, Mr. Armitage?

About as fascinating as a trash can.

Okay, now let's roll it back to just before the phone call,

and we'll run it through the same way we did the last time.

Let me know when you're ready.

What's the point?

What Valerie Price said.

You mean, what Armitage told her over the phone?

No, no, she didn't get through to Armitage.

Uh, his line was busy up till the time he was shot.

Well, everybody knows he was talking to me

when that happened.

That's what's bugging me.

Ready, Mr. Mannix. Okay, go ahead.

Just watch and listen,

we're going to run it in slow motion.

So I'll now try him direct on the Hot Line.

That's enough.

Thanks for hanging around. Good night.

What bugged me was, if Valerie Price couldn't get through

to Armitage for over a half hour,

right up to the time he was killed, how could you?

Well, I then had the tape slowed down

so I could count the dial clicks.

That wasn't Armitage's phone number you dialed.

Two million witnesses heard his voice.

What they heard was a recording of his voice.

How do you account for the gunshots?

They were laid in,

just like the bits and pieces of phone conversations

with Armitage which were previously recorded.

The rest is obvious.

Tell me, tell me anyway.

Well, you dialed your own private number,

the one you guard so jealously, right?

Go on.

And you rigged an answering device on your phone.

Harry Armitage was already dead.

You had a talk with a corpse, Hackett,

in view of two million witnesses.

Yes, sir... Mannix, I really admire you.

You are a tiger.

Why did you kill him, Hackett?

You want it straight?

Straight.

Armitage warned me to lay off.

He said if I didn't, he'd nail me.

I didn't think he'd go that far back.

I never figured anyone would find out,

and I thought I'd covered all my tracks.

What'd he have on you?

I was connected with a murder seven years ago in St. Louis.

Armitage dug up that connection.

And you were the one who called Muriel Price that night,

told her to get over to Armitage's place in a hurry.

You made her the patsy.

I had everything working for me.

I had a handful of solid suspects.

If not Muriel, Muriel's sister, Valerie.

If not Valerie, Dorso.

You see, Mannix, how part of the truth can work for you?

Yeah, but then I've got the whole naked truth

right in front of me.

But there are only two of us who know that.

I'd forget that if I were you, Hackett.

You've lost this ball game.

Instant replay.

Why did you kill him, Hackett?

You want it straight?

Straight.

Armitage warned me to lay off.

Said if I didn't he'd nail me.

I didn't think he'd go that far back.

I never figured...

Okay, boys, you can cut it.

Lieutenant Malcolm is on his way down to ask you about the truth.

And as they say, Hackett,

the camera never lies.