Original subtitles

Joe?

Joe Mannix?

Wow, is it good to see you!

Hello, Barney.

What's it been, ten years?

Yeah.

Man, you haven't changed one whisker.

What's your secret, Joe?

Staying away from crowded cocktail parties.

I really appreciate you showing up.

Well, only for my favorite blocking back.

I mean, if it hadn't been for you,

I wouldn't have made All-Conference

and had my pick of the campus beauties.

Hey, come on, let's get to the bar and get you a drink.

You think we can make it?

Sure, follow me.

Once a blocking back, always a blocking back.

Two scotches, Harry... neat.

Right, Joe?

Right.

Well, I bet you were surprised hearing from old Barney

after all these years.

Yeah, I was surprised.

I thought you were permanently settled in Hawaii,

running a public relations firm.

Well, I quit that a couple of months ago.

Thanks, Harry.

I thought it would take a sledgehammer to bust you loose.

Well, come meet the sledgehammer and the next governor of Hawaii.

Feast your eyes on a winner, Joe.

His name's Arthur Danford,

and he's my one and only project from now on.

I'm handling his campaign.

Come on.

Arthur?

I'd like you to meet an old buddy.

This is Joe Mannix.

Arthur Danford.

Mr. Mannix, a pleasure.

Nice meeting you, Mr. Danford.

Good luck with your campaign.

Oh, thank you, thank you very much.

Even though my candidacy isn't official yet.

Come on, you're a shoo-in.

Once the big boys fly down from Washington

and give you their blessings.

That's what I hate about Barney, always trying to tear me down.

Well, now you can meet the real reason some people think

I might be able to attract some votes, Mr. Mannix.

My wife Laura.

Excuse me.

Look at them, Joe.

The all-American couple.

How can I lose?

Mr. Danford, I'm afraid I have an appointment.

Thank you very much for the party.

Well, thank you for coming.

Come on out.

Now.

Darling, I want you to meet a good friend of Barney's.

Mr. Joe Mannix, my wife Laura.

Pleasure, Mrs. Danford.

Welcome to Los Angeles.

Is something wrong, darling?

Oh, no, no.

It's probably all the excitement.

Thank you, Mr. Mannix.

There's Senator Ames and his wife.

Would you excuse us, gentlemen?

Come along.

Lovely evening.

Yes, it is, Mrs. Danford.

You did recognize me, didn't you?

Mmm.

Your name was Laura Rand.

You were hiding in a closet the night Vince Cola was killed

12 years ago.

It was a professional gangland slaying

that you had nothing to do with.

You can say the rest of it, that I was a...

An innocent, stage-struck kid of 18,

who'd been in Hollywood exactly a month.

But...

That's why I got Lieutenant Malcolm

to squash the charge against you.

That's why I put you on the bus and sent you back home.

I believed your story then.

I believe it now.

I guess I never did properly thank you for what you did.

Well, you were pretty upset.

I'd say you still are.

That night never ended.

Someone else knows.

I'm being blackmailed.

How much do they want?

This time, $10,000.

Meaning it's happened before?

In Hawaii.

Right after Arthur and I were married,

our photograph was in the papers.

A few days later, I received a letter.

What was the price then?

Five thousand.

I managed to raise the money and send it to a post office box

here in Los Angeles.

He swore it would never happen again.

Who swore?

Hank Varsey.

He was my boyfriend, the one who drove me

to Hollywood when I ran away from home.

We were in love, were going to be married.

He was so sure I'd become a great actress.

Like most pipe dreams, it ended badly.

When our money ran out,

he talked me into going on dates with men like Vince Cola.

Said it would help my career.

Now he figures it's time to cash in again.

I suppose so.

How did he get in touch with you?

We rented this house for a month.

When we arrived yesterday, there was a letter waiting.

It reminded me again what exposure of my past would do

to my husband's political career.

Anything else?

Just instructions where to leave the money.

When?

Tonight at 11:00.

Do you have it ready?

It's in my bedroom.

I've been trying all day to think of an excuse

to tell Arthur when I leave the party.

I could deliver the money for you.

If you could get it to me.

I don't understand.

Maybe I can persuade Mr. Varsey

that this is the end of the line.

You'd do that for me?

Why?

Well, let's just say that I bet on a girl I met 12 years ago.

The bet's still on.

Peggy, how about the coffee?

Coming right up, Joe.

That party you attended last night at the Danfords'

made the society page.

Pretty fancy.

Very fancy.

I wore my Sunday suit.

May I help you?

It's all right, Peggy.

Mrs. Danford, this is my secretary, Peggy Fair.

Hello.

How do you do, Mrs. Danford.

Would you like some coffee?

Oh, no, thank you.

Come in.

Excuse me.

Did you, um, did you make the payment?

I didn't get a chance to.

What does that mean?

Well, obviously Hank Varsey didn't like

my standing in for you.

He might have figured it was a double-cross.

He took off.

Now what do we do?

Well, uh...

Maybe we try... reaching him.

How?

Is there anyone else you remember

from that period of your life?

Even one name might help.

We've got to find him.

Trust me, Laura.

Well, there was Roy Benson.

Hank knew him from the Army.

He called him the day we arrived.

Roy was a theatrical agent, not very successful.

Anyone else?

Belle Hogan.

Roy introduced me to her.

She ran a telephone service.

Actually, it was to arrange dates for her girls.

Hmm.

And she set you up with Vince Cola.

He liked me.

He told Belle not to send me on any other dates.

The second time I saw him, he was killed.

And you're sure there's no one else who knew you

during that time?

No.

All right.

I'll check out Benson and Belle Hogan.

I'll be in touch with you later.

You know, I was grateful for your help once.

This time I don't think I could survive without it.

No... tell him.

No, Art, he's not, absolutely not.

No, Arty, no, absolutely not.

No, I'm telling you.

Okay, call me back if you want it.

Well, welcome to the Benson Acting Academy.

Before filling out an application for membership,

you should know there's a $50 initiation fee,

which is reimbursed soon as I get your career off and running.

Now, what's your name?

Joe Mannix.

And thanks, but, uh, I've already got a profession.

Oh...

Private investigator?

Hey, I run a legitimate business here,

specializing in stars of tomorrow.

How are you with the ones from yesterday?

What?

Uh, forget it.

I'm looking for Hank Varsey.

I was told you and he were old Army buddies.

So?

Get in touch with him.

Tell him I'm representing

the lady he was supposed to meet last night.

I've got what he's looking for.

What lady is that?

Uh-uh.

That's between Varsey and me.

But there's a hundred dollars in it for you if we connect.

I'll be waiting in my office.

Look, I haven't seen Hank Varsey in years.

So, run him down.

Hundred dollars, you don't even have to audition.

Any calls, Peggy?

One... Hank Varsey.

Bull's-eye.

What?

What did he say?

Well, he got your message and he'll meet you tonight

same time, same place.

Anything on Belle Hogan?

Nothing yet.

But Joe, these people, Roy Benson and Belle Hogan,

their backgrounds are... well, you know.

What can they possibly have to do

with a person like Laura Danford?

Just ships passing in the night, Peggy.

Hey, you're right on time, Mannix.

Benson.

Where's Varsey?

Inside, waiting.

Come on.

Just like you said, 10,000 beautiful dollars.

One grand is mine, right?

How's your head?

Great.

Well, it looks okay.

Well, you ready to talk about the late Roy Benson?

Yeah, well, I met him just once before, earlier today.

Why did you meet him here tonight?

I was making a drop for a client.

Who's being blackmailed?

I can't answer that, Adam.

But just so you won't go away empty-handed,

I'd suggest you put out an APB on Hank Varsey.

The blackmailer.

Yeah.

And the man who murdered Roy Benson.

Wrap it up, Charlie.

Mr. Mannix, hello.

Mrs. Danford, please sit down.

Thank you.

Drink?

Yes, please.

Martini.

Same for me, a martini for the lady.

I read about Roy Benson's death.

Did Hank kill him?

It looks like it.

They were probably working together.

Did he get the money?

I assume he did.

It was gone.

Barney!

Mrs. Danford... Joe.

Barney, sit down, join us.

Mrs. Danford, I must insist that you leave at once.

Why?

Out in public drinking with a man who's not your husband?

What if someone recognized you?

Barney, we were just having a drink.

Have you any idea what even a hint of scandal would do

to your husband's chances at this time?

Oh, come on, Barney.

Joe...

Here we are, sir.

Thank you.

You've been around long enough to know

how damaging a rendezvous like this can be.

Right this minute,

Arthur's meeting with the chairman of his party.

The endorsement is practically in his hands.

And here you two are preparing to flush it down the sewer.

Barney, this was a perfectly innocent meeting.

I don't care if you're a brother-and-sister act.

Laura must not be seen in a place like this

with anyone but her husband.

All right, Barney.

It won't happen again.

I think you better leave first, Joe.

Don't worry about the check.

I'll take care of it.

Maybe you haven't noticed, Barney...

but these days I'm calling my own signals.

Look, Joe, I'm sorry for coming on so strong,

but there's a lot riding on this.

Sure.

Sorry, Mrs. Danford.

That's all right.

Mr. Mannix, phone call for you.

Thank you.

Hello.

Oh, yeah, Peggy.

I just got word on Belle Hogan.

She's working the Hill Street bazaar

under the name of Madame Ondine.

Well, at least she's kept the same first name.

This time she has a fortune-telling setup.

Maybe she can tell me where to find Hank Varsey.

Mmm.

Oh, and Joe...

There's something else.

What's that?

While I was getting a lead on Belle Hogan,

I had the funny feeling I was being followed.

You see anyone?

No, it was just a feeling.

As though I was being watched

by someone who really knew his job, a professional.

Okay, Peggy, you stick close to the office.

I'll phone you later.

Where are you going?

To look into a crystal ball.

Hello?

Anybody home?

Out!

You're not supposed

to be here till Tuesday.

I'm not?

Tuesday.

My crystal ball is never wrong,

and it said that's when you're coming

to turn off my electricity.

I'm afraid your crystal ball is a little fast.

You're a customer?

You might say that.

Oh, well...

Step right this way, sir.

You've come to the fastest fortune teller in the West.

Now, what would you...

What would you like to know?

Someone's address.

This someone got a name?

Hank Varsey.

Are you a cop?

Private.

My crystal ball don't work for cops,

private or otherwise.

How much would it take to get it started?

Ah.

I see some lucky numbers.

I see the number 5.

What do you see?

Nothing.

I see the number 10.

Aha!

And now, now I see the number 2 and the number 0.

Okay.

I ain't seen Hank or his crowd in years.

I got no idea where they are.

His crowd?

Well, you know, that creep he hung around with,

that Roy Benson.

Losers, both of them.

Yeah.

Oh, and those two girls they brought me.

Two?

Yeah.

Laura something.

A real doll.

What about the other girl?

Dark-haired, cute...

They both could have passed for movie stars.

Yeah, what was her name, the second girl?

Oh, I can't think.

They roomed together.

They hit it off real great.

Bobby.

No, that wasn't it.

Brooke.

Brooke something.

Oh, I could have made a fortune off the two of them.

What happened?

It all fell apart.

First this Laura kid disappears.

Then two days later, Brooke was gone.

She took all her clothes and everything.

I haven't seen hide nor hair of either one of them since.

Are you sure about that?

Positive.

And that goes for Var... what is it? Varsey, too.

He thought he was such a big ladies' man.

When his Laura left, he just went to pieces.

Last I seen of him, he was hustling free drinks downtown.

Listen.

Mister...

No offense.

But you've got your 20 bucks' worth.

Do you have any idea why anyone would kill Roy Benson?

When did that happen?

Last night.

Well, what's that got to do with me?

I think it's got something to do with Hank Varsey.

That's why I want to track him down.

Well, I'm sorry, I can't help you.

I told you, they came and they went,

and I never saw any of them again.

What did this "Brooke something" look like?

Like I said, dark-haired, kind of, you know...

Yes, sir?

Are Mr. Danford or Mr. Edmonds in?

No, sir, they're out.

Good. I'll talk to Mrs. Danford.

She's on the terrace, sir, but I'm not sure...

That's quite all right.

I'm expected.

Joe!

What are you doing here?

Did something happen?

Belle Hogan was just murdered.

Murdered?

Why do you look at me like that?

Hank Varsey is using me as a bird dog, and I don't like it.

I want to know everything you've been holding back.

Holding back?

Who's Brooke?

I don't know.

Well, then let's get you reacquainted.

She was your roommate,

the party girl who also used Belle Hogan to set up her dates.

All right.

But Brooke had absolutely nothing to do

with these murders or the blackmail.

What makes you so sure?

I know her.

Brooke was the closest friend I ever had.

She could never be involved in anything like this.

Where can I find her?

Joe, please, don't ask me to do that.

Then you do know.

Yes.

But I can't tell you anything about her.

She mustn't be involved.

What makes her so special?

Please, Joe, leave Brooke out of this.

She has a good life now.

For her, the past is dead.

With Roy Benson and Belle Hogan gone,

she could be the last link to Hank Varsey.

I can't!

Now look, her life is in danger.

She's got to know what's going on.

But her husband might find out!

I'll do everything I can to protect her.

- But... - Laura!

It could save her life.

Her name was Brooke Maxwell.

Her married name is Cornell.

They live in Malibu on Sea Breeze Road.

Laura?

Laura!

Oh, there's my lady.

And Mr. Mannix, how good to see you again.

Mr. Danford.

And it seems I lost a cufflink the other night.

Your wife found it for me.

I was just leaving.

No, no, this is a time for celebration.

The party's just given me its official endorsement.

Oh, Arthur!

Oh, I'm so happy for you!

Please stay, Mr. Mannix.

Barney, break out a bottle of Champagne.

Uh, thanks anyway, but I've really got to get going.

Congratulations.

Thanks again, Mrs. Danford.

Well, tell me all about it.

I told you how I felt, Joe.

You've got it all wrong.

This campaign means more to me

than anything I've ever worked on.

We're a winning team here.

This isn't the Super Bowl.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't come here again.

I hope the winning is worth it, Barney.

Hi, Joe.

Peggy.

Where have you been?

Did you check out that Malibu address, the Cornells?

I did, and you've got official company.

Hello, Adam.

Hello, Joe.

What brings you here this time of day?

You know why I'm here.

I just left a fortune teller who ran out of a future.

Madame Ondine, alias Belle Hogan.

And guess what we found on her crystal ball?

My fingerprints?

Yeah.

You think it's trying to tell me something, Joe?

I called your department the minute she was hit.

Yeah, well, you should have left your name.

- Now listen, before there's... - Adam, don't ask me.

I've got to know who your client is.

I can't tell you that, Adam.

Why don't you settle for the guy

who's behind these deaths, Hank Varsey?

Oh, yeah, yeah, Varsey.

Well, we checked him out all right.

He's got an alibi.

It won't stand up.

Huh.

It's airtight.

Are you sure?

Fairly sure.

He's been dead for five years.

Mrs. Cornell?

Hi.

If you're Fluffy the Clown,

you can change your costume right in that room.

Oh, and you better hurry,

because the kids will be here directly from school.

I'm afraid I'm not Fluffy.

Oh.

My name is Joe Mannix.

Well, you must have the wrong address.

Oh, but while you're here, would you mind handing me that tape?

There you are.

Thanks.

There.

Do you like it?

Very, very nice.

Now you just tell me who you're looking for

and I'll steer you to the right house.

I am at the right house, Mrs. Cornell.

Laura Rand told me about you.

I'm a private investigator.

She really didn't want to give me your name.

But you have my word that no one else will know why I came here.

There's been some mistake.

This is an emergency.

Otherwise I wouldn't have come.

Someone is blackmailing Laura.

They've already killed Roy Benson and Belle Hogan.

I don't want to hear any more.

All I want from you is a name.

Any name you can remember

from that time that you and Laura roomed together.

That was so long ago.

There's got to be someone you remember.

Someone you might have accidentally told

about Laura's past?

I never told anyone about Laura.

You've got to believe me.

Please, look, this is my daughter's eighth birthday.

The children will be coming here.

I swear, I don't know anything or anyone.

All right, Mrs. Cornell.

I'm sorry if I interrupted.

I won't bother you again.

I've got a feeling your daughter's a very lucky girl.

Hold it! Hold it right there!

All right, Mrs. Cornell.

Call the police.

His name was Carl Sampson.

And he's got a police record dating back about 20 years.

Anything else?

Yeah, ballistics confirmed it was his gun that killed

Roy Benson and Belle Hogan.

No mistake?

No, he's strictly a gun for hire.

Matter of fact, we've had a warrant out on him

since last year on another murder case.

Will somebody tell me why it is I always get ham and cheese

when I order pastrami?

How come you haven't been able to get your hands on him?

Well, he slipped out of California

and holed up in Hawaii.

Hawaii?

Yeah, he finally got work on the island of Oahu.

Doing what?

Well, he was a driver for... Danford Shipbuilding Company.

Ever hear of it?

Yeah, I've, uh... heard of it.

Mrs. Danford in?

No, sir, she's gone for the day.

Good. It's a beautiful afternoon to be out.

Where's Mr. Danford?

In the study, but he left orders he's not to be disturbed.

Well, it just isn't his day.

Well, Mr. Mannix.

Don't tell me you lost something again.

Just my good sense.

Well, now, what does that mean?

Ambition is fine, Danford.

But not when it takes second place to murder.

Murder?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about Roy Benson and Belle Hogan, who are dead.

And Brooke Maxwell, who almost died because you were afraid

they could damage you politically.

I've never heard of these people.

Then try Carl Sampson, the killer you hired

to destroy all the links to the past

so that you'd have a clear road to the governor's mansion.

Mr. Mannix, you're making allegations

that you can't prove,

and which I certainly don't have to stand here and take.

Now please get out.

Are you telling me you don't know this man?

That's right, I've never seen him.

For over a year, he worked in your shipyard

as a driver.

Mr. Mannix, I own several shipyards,

and I employ well over 5,000 people.

Obviously I can't be expected to know the names or even the faces

of all my employees.

Maybe this man did work for me.

If you're searching for him,

I suggest you contact my director of personnel.

For that matter, maybe my wife could help you.

Your wife?

Yes, Laura's been a staunch supporter

of minority hiring practices,

so for the past several years, she's been, oh...

unofficially supervising all our employment programs.

And Mrs. Danford would know Carl Sampson?

She might.

Is this the man you suspect of being a murderer?

Where is your wife, Mr. Danford?

She left a little while ago to visit a child care day center.

Then she was going to our California shipyard

to christen a hospital ship.

Barney's idea, you know.

Sort of to get her in the swing of things

for the coming campaign.

Where would she be right now?

Well...

According to the schedule, still at the Windale Child Center.

Mannix!

I'm going with you.

Now look...

If my wife's in trouble, I want to be there.

Laura.

Hi, Barney.

Are you sure this is the place?

Well, we're a little early, that's all.

It looks so deserted.

Well, come on inside.

Let's see if we can find someone to direct us to the ceremony.

Is she there?

She didn't show up.

Somebody called and canceled her visit.

Uh, you said next stop on her schedule was the shipyard?

Yes, but the launching isn't scheduled for another two hours.

We'd better check it out anyway.

Barney?

Did you find anyone?

Not a soul.

Obviously this is the wrong time and place.

I can't believe it.

Precise, punctual Barney Edmonds making a mistake.

I don't make many slip-ups, do I?

As far as I know, this is a first.

Arthur won't believe it either.

That's what I'm counting on.

What?

That's why I brought you here, Laura.

I'm going to have to kill you.

Kill me?

You're a liability, the only flaw in a beautiful dream.

You see, I believe in your husband.

I've studied him.

I've seen the way crowds respond to him,

the excitement he generates.

With the right guidance,

he doesn't have to stop at being governor.

Someday he could win all the marbles.

Barney, please.

Please, I'm his wife.

I wouldn't hurt his chances.

You and your past would destroy him before he even gets started.

You sent the letter in Hawaii.

The first link in the chain to wipe out your past.

The last was finding a man willing to kill for a price.

Carl Sampson, the ex-convict you hired for the company

under your rehabilitation program.

Well, you should have investigated him

more closely, Laura.

The way I investigated you and your little group of friends.

Barney, please.

It happened so long ago.

It happened!

And it has to be erased,

right down to the last blemish, you!

Now move!

Keep moving.

There's a door out there that leads onto the pier.

If you shoot me, they'll know.

There'll be an investigation.

Not if it was an accident.

That's why we came in separate cars.

You arrived first, took a stroll on the dock,

slipped, hit your head, fell into the water.

By the time I arrived and dragged you out,

you were already dead.

It's a tragedy,

but think of all the sympathy it'll generate for Arthur.

Barney... Barney, I've been a good wife to him.

No one has to know.

I'm sorry, Laura,

it's just that when a man is destined for greatness

the way your husband is,

certain sacrifices have to be made.

Hold it!

That's Laura's car and Barney's.

The launching's at the other end of the shipyard.

What are they doing there?

Let's find out.

Laura?

Barney!

Uh, look, why don't you check up this way?

I'll go around the other side.

If you see anyone, give a call, huh?

You do the same.

Barney!

Keep back, Arthur!

You've got to understand, this is all for you.

Let go of her, Barney.

Barney, if you harm her, if you kill her,

you're going to have to kill me too.

Don't be a fool!

She'll ruin you.

She'll ruin everything.

You never knew what she really was... a call girl!

The voters would drop you like you had the plague.

Keep back, Arthur.

Don't you understand?

She has to die.

Barney...

You're going to have to kill me first.

When it's done, you'll understand.

We'll say it was an assassin aiming for you...

Barney!

You invited me to that party

knowing I'd get involved, didn't you?

You used me to bird-dog all the people you wanted to get rid of.

That was the game plan, wasn't it, Barney?

Yeah, well, in the old days when I opened a hole for you,

you always went through.

Yeah, one question, Barney.

Why?

After 20 years of backing losers,

I knew gold when I saw it, and Arthur Danford was solid gold.

A 14-karat winner!

And he was mine, Joe.

I found him.

I could have taken him all the way.

Governor, senator, right up the steps of the White House.

Let's go.

Arthur.

What he said, it's true.

I know.

When I asked you to marry me, I wanted to know all about you.

And when you found out?

It didn't matter?

It mattered.

It mattered, but something mattered even more.

I loved you.

That's never changed.

Joe...

You know something, Barney?

You should have left well enough alone.

A lot different today.

You probably would have made it just the way it was.