Original subtitles

I suppose it was, you

know, you're always imagining that I'm leaping into beds all over town.

Oh, Alex, don't.

I know you.

You know that

every expert in this case believes that Jennifer Wells killed herself.

So why are you here?

Because you don't believe in trying to stop it.

You getting tired of your insecurities?

Stop hounding me.

That's my specialty, you know, homicide. I.

Up. Frank,

let me have that socket wrench, would you please

tell?

We think

that's going to be his nibs again.

Hello, my show.

Why go, oh, you got problems again,

color field problems?

You're a virtuoso, Mike.

Fix this thing for me to win it all.

Let talk to it, do whatever you have to, but fix it. It's not running right.

I got a rattle in the brass section. The woodwinds are flat.

What's this thing over here?

Oh, that's the distributor.

Anyway, fix it.

I'll see you tomorrow around noon. All right.

OK, do you need it right now?

No, my wife is supposed to meet me here.

Oh, there she is now. Right on time, as always.

Hi, honey.

Darling, I have to wash my hands.

I'll be right there. Like.

I myself.

Hello.

All right, darling.

No. Like.

Why should I feel that happens to the improper behavior

for the conductor of the Philharmonic, whatever it is?

I'm just like you.

Well, this is what I do is do you sound like your mother?

I mean, she like me to go around as somber as a ghost, as Augustus

Brahms, as fierce as Beethoven, you know?

Did you know that Brahms used to tell dirty

stories and um, I need to have a cigar and use it

when he was conducting and sometimes in concerts?

And Beethoven, he was.

Yes, I know you told me he was a sixth man, you

so like,

look, we take this thing to the dressing room for me.

I got to see Billy and second, OK,

how's it going him?

Oh, hello, Alex.

I'm just getting a line up on the camera positions.

Are we locked into these positions

or just about frank?

You're in the control room.

Yes, Mr.

Benedict, I would like to vary these camera positions from last time.

How would you like them, Mr. Benedict?

Oh, I'd like one on me as usual and

see I think we should have a camera over this stage left,

and I think we should have a camera while on the orchestra with lots of movement.

I want to get away from these usual dull looks that we get around here.

Yes, Mr. Benedict,

I think we can arrange to make that happen exactly like that during the concert.

Alex, Alex.

I mean, I just don't want any of that during the concert.

Is that clear? Alex, I'll check it out.

A lot of people have to listen to symphonies

before the age of electronics and stupid technicians.

I'll be in my dressing

room until 8:00, I'd like you to have a little problem from that.

I'd rather not be disturbed.

Have something go right, William. Okay,

take care.

Hello.

three.

Hello, Carlos.

Sit down, sit down.

How's your daughter feeling any better?

Oh, fine. Thank you. That flew things all over.

That's good.

That's good.

Listen, I don't want to take calls of visitors.

I mean, I paid right?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, Jamal.

Here's some early telegrams.

Your music.

And here is a kiss.

Well, I'm going to go mother is waiting for me.

You need me now.

Go on, get out.

Hello, darling.

I smile and I scare you.

Hello.

Just for a second.

I was feeling all the hairs on the back of my neck.

That's just sex.

I thought you weren't coming.

I said it would, you know, just don't rely

on your woman's intuition, never correct.

Oh, I thought you might be a little angry.

How could I be angry looking at you?

I just don't like ultimatums.

I don't like being a secret mistress.

It's not my style.

I know that you told me.

Do we have to go into the same arguments again?

It's very simple.

I have to be open and free.

So do I love

Alex.

I want something better than this.

So do you. You

look a little funny.

Well, it's a marvelous choice you given me to divorce my wife

or you'll make a scandal out of our love affair.

Alexander, I'm right.

And you know it.

I know that you told me now.

Darling, I know you.

I know you're not really afraid of hurting Janet,

you are just reluctant to lose her mother's backing

and all that money.

Don't worry,

you're a genius.

You'll always have everything.

You were just a little weak.

Keep inside and all you really need is me

and I need to.

Because I'm the same. See?

And that's why I had to make you decide.

All right.

You're telling us, what choice do I have?

All right. Yes.

Oh, OK.

No, let's not do that now.

Play something for me.

I am so confused

I can understand anything but music tonight.

What would you like me to play Chopin?

I'll fix us a drink of something to

celebrate our last sacred evening together.

Let's tell them everything.

You always have to tell them not to start the canopy too

soon, or they'll get soggy and tastes like Band-Aids.

They're going to be delivered freshly made right after the country mother.

This is Benedict. This is fielding. Carlos,

those films just coming.

Oh yes, Alex invited them.

They're going to be more of these along highlights.

I'll pick them up later. OK?

Alex likes all that glamor, I suppose, but one of the actors got to do with music.

They're people, too.

I doubt it.

Hello.

Hello.

And that was my darling mother.

Mother. Good Lord.

Never mind the charm.

How are your opening night nerves nervous?

I don't even know the word.

I was just taking a nap.

He never gets them before the confidence.

Afterwards, he gets the shakes.

Oh, speaking of nerves, you know?

You know, the Czajkowski got so nervous before a concert he had hallucinations.

And once he was so sure

that his head was about to fall off that he held on to it with his left hand.

And he conducted with his right.

And I'll never tell that story. No, don't.

Whether you have to leave us alone now.

No more chatter for Alex.

Yes, I know. All right.

Be brilliant, Alex.

Of course you will. You always are.

See you afterwards.

Alex.

Alex, who's been there one these gentlemen well, hasn't

shown yet what Jennifer Wells hasn't shown yet.

Wait a minute. Did you follow her?

Yes, I found a line is busy and has been busy for half an hour.

Oh, of course, I'm always late.

This woman has absolutely no sense of time.

Well, I all what are we supposed to do?

Hello.

Operator, I've been trying to reach five, five, 579,

21 for quite some time now, the line's been busy.

Yes, this is an emergency.

Would you cut in, please?

Well, thank you very much. Thank you.

I mean, this woman is late, she's late for everything.

She doesn't think there's anyone else in the world alive.

Well, this is going to change.

No, no, it's ridiculous. Hello.

Hello, operator.

Oh, yes, thank you very much.

OK, thank you.

She says there's no one on the line when she must have left the phone off the hook.

She left the phone off the hook is, I wonder when buying television cameras

are waiting.

All right.

Well, all the houses, all over America waiting for a concert.

And she left the podium, wanted to call the police so you can call the police.

You want to call the police. You call the police.

I want to cancel that.

You can't cancel. All right.

I don't care if she arrives right now.

We have the Beethoven. It's all rehearsed.

You tell the orchestra, William.

All right, then. But what happens?

I've got it.

But. Operator, you give me the police player.

All right, attention, everybody,

I want you all to be real sharp today, we got to have a real good performance.

All right, ready.

Ready on camera three.

Go. And.

Would you hold up a second lieutenant?

Dr Benson,

what I'm sorry, what did you say?

Oh, sure.

Fuel economy.

Yeah, yeah, come on.

Yeah, hi.

Yeah.

Well, I'm not the doctor.

No, it's not serious.

Yes, I'll be there as soon as I can.

Right. But.

That's all there is to it.

You'll need a booster shot in about a week.

It didn't seem to mind.

They hardly feel it, but he will need the booster shot in about a week.

So how old is he?

Kind of hard to say.

You see, I just picked him up at the pound.

Time was up, if you know what I mean.

I say it's pretty full grown, kind of cute.

And hey, you'll be all right.

OK, Doug, thanks for staying open about these peculiar hours.

You know, sweat.

My wife doesn't like music. She watches murder mysteries.

So whenever the concepts on I work, late night

is not going to be any after effects.

Oh no, nothing. Okay.

I haven't named this guy yet.

You don't have any ideas.

There's a name I've always heard and I've never seen a dog that had it title fire.

Yeah, Beetle, the Romans used

to say it's as old is that it means I am faithful.

Well, roughly five.

I want to get that gloomy drunk.

William,

it was lovely.

It was really lovely.

Mozart was as part of

the Beethoven was so magnificent.

The orchestra, all the work we put into it really paid off.

It was so exciting. We were at one together, Alex.

Oh, fantastic.

Did you hear it with Jennifer Wells?

And police say she committed suicide.

I can't stand suicide.

Murder is bad, but suicide is sad.

During his

eyebrows, for him, this is what they gave me.

This is the dossier that they gave me is

female Caucasian piano player born Kenosha, Wisconsin.

This is what they gave me.

Now look what I find in a scrapbook, as well

as random as well as Paris, as well as Miss Wales.

Maxwell's genius, superb, talented, magnificent feeling.

Taste fabulous.

But whether the problem is me.

Female Caucasian piano player

born Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Look what I find in the scrapbook.

Look at these pictures.

Girl has a wonderful shape, don't you think?

Look at those eight bedrooms.

Look what the department gives me.

Female Caucasian piano playing more in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

No breach their regular hair.

No fear their.

No heavy makeup.

Got a girl with a body money and a career

at some time, items that showed a crowd, she went with those people.

Dogs are politicians, big people.

So had that once measure.

Something a man, the man,

a person, somebody's woman like, that's got to have somebody

I like then.

But that's me, I'm paranoid every time I see a dead body,

I think there's been a murder.

Can't imagine anyone murdering themself.

Especially a young girl like that.

Beautiful eyes.

But that's me.

I like to see everyone there will be.

Well,

well,

well,

well,

well.

Well.

What is it, Lieutenant?

Sorry.

Anything wrong?

I don't know.

Just checking on my dog in the car.

Where did you see the note she lost

in a typewriter?

Yeah. Yeah, I thought.

That's not permanent, no, is this going to check on it?

Uh-Huh.

I'll get that printed,

sergeant.

Don't touch the papers.

No, leave the paper just the way it is.

Sure.

Sure. But.

Oh. Sorry, sir, you can't come in.

I'm Alex Benedict.

I don't have.

Well, as was supposed to appear at the poll tonight.

Hello.

I'm the conductor of the symphony there.

We're all deeply concerned about what has happened here.

Our Sergeant Minor.

Oh, I cannot tell us anything about this.

Well. No, not really. Not about this.

I only know her as a great artist.

What time was she do at the ball?

Around 730, we phone when she didn't come.

Her line was busy.

When we finally reached the operator, there was no one on the line.

That's when my assistant, William Johnson, called you the police sergeant.

Radio call.

Excuse me, please.

And. Find something.

I dropped my flower, my coat must have knocked it off.

And it's back, I'm Lieutenant Columbo.

I'm a fan of yours, a really big fan.

In fact, I just got your latest album.

Right? Thank you.

And realize that you were interested in Piano Concerto?

No, no, no. I'm talking about the album.

Strauss was of Double Daniel.

You know the one.

I mean.

Yes, I've forgotten that all my wife and I, we both love it.

We play it.

Every once in a while, he'd given us both a great deal of pleasure.

Thank you. That's very flattering of me.

Do you see this?

And at all.

You don't know

any reason why this world might have taken her own life.

No, I don't.

It's very shocking, but then I didn't know

it very well, except professionally.

By the way, you mentioned that Miss World was to hit the ball at 7:30.

What time were you going to write?

Around 5:30.

I think my wife dropped me off.

You don't drive.

Oh, yes, I drive left my car overnight at my mechanic's.

Why do you ask?

No, I was just trying to establish a time sequence.

You know what time she would have let at 7:00

friend of mine?

Oh, officer, oh yeah.

I know I don't get it. I just don't get it. Why?

Why would she kill herself?

Why? Well, you know it very well.

You you could not know when I get a hold of yourself.

She wouldn't see me tomorrow.

You understand.

You come and see me tomorrow.

Now. All right.

Lieutenant, if there's any way

you think I might help, please don't hesitate to call me,

quote me, right? Yes.

Why don't you do what, Mr.

Benedict? I'm sorry.

The world of music has lost one of its brightest lights.

Jennifer Welles was an incredibly talented artist.

I'm sorry, that's all folks like.

Know what?

All right.

Is this your dog?

Yeah, I guess it is.

How would you like somebody locked you up like that?

The windows closed and everything?

Well, I didn't want him to get out.

OK, then leave the window open a crack.

OK, good idea.

If he is happens to be my first dog and

I just haven't gotten on to the ropes yet.

But I appreciate you telling me that.

Yeah, but you know,

and I got it done

by my name will depend on Columbo.

Okay, then Doris, you want to know.

You live around here, Audrey.

Yes. But if you've going to question,

are you going to have to tell me, No, that's all.

That's wrong.

I only have to tell you, you're right.

If you're a suspect, you're not a suspect.

And besides, I'm just making conversation.

I suppose you heard about this.

Well, of course she was my friend.

I took her cell phone when she had to go away and play a concert.

Now, who should pay her bird a cockatoo?

Didn't you see him?

Oh yeah.

Now I remember Chopin was a composer.

He wrote.

Piano pieces came to Bird after him.

I see.

Well, listen, Audrey, it's been nice talking to you,

and I appreciate the advice about the dog.

What's his name?

You know, I don't know the name yet.

What do you think about Fido?

Oh, wow.

How'd you ever think of that one?

Beethoven

united.

Because Beethoven. Hmm.

I guess none.

Janet?

Janice?

And honestly, how was it?

Now riot police.

It's very depressing.

I thought you were going on Mother's Party.

I didn't go.

But as.

What did you take a sleeping pill?

Yeah.

It a while ago, it's starting to take a.

All right, let's go upstairs.

I know that you know her, Alex.

Oh, you know, I don't know.

And what is that supposed to mean?

You know, her phone number by heart.

I know a lot of telephone numbers of people

I work with by heart and want some water. Yes,

Alex.

What?

To remind.

I had asked me what you're going to ask anyway,

the answer is no, we didn't make love in

the first place.

I have a rule, never any complications with people I work with.

I watched in the second place me,

you're always imagining that I'm leaping into beds all over town.

I've never done that.

Oh, Alex, don't

I know you?

I've always people feel that

they know me at.

I feel like I'm being seen through

as if I'm in some constant masquerade.

I'm just myself.

Look at me.

I'm just me.

I am what you see.

And what do you think happened?

You think I made love to Jennifer and then she killed herself?

No, no, no, no, I don't like

I don't know what I'm thinking.

Sometimes I'm sorry.

I really am sorry, I just.

Nice, sweet little, Janice, nice little, Janet.

I'm awful over things, I think.

Tell me one.

So I can't. Why,

why did you marry me?

Sometimes I wonder why you married me, I mean, I'm not talented, I'm nothing.

Why? Why me?

Just one reason.

What?

I love.

Yes, Mr.

Benedict, home, you musician, no cop cop

policemen.

See, oh, well, you and Bill me.

Oh, come in, please.

Musician.

You stay, Mr.

Benedict. Well, yes.

And I think that.

They got their.

That she will take you back to Canada.

We are all well right now.

All right.

Take it easy now.

Make it easy.

I never got to ask you last night what I wanted to ask you.

There's a time and a place for everything. Last night was the wrong time.

So besides the pressing.

Anyway, I happen to be in the neighborhood today.

That's not true.

I really came out here to see you.

I don't want to be presumptuous. All right.

Let's go inside a little more comfortable.

No, no, I'm not going in there, I'm not messing up the room.

I have a wife.

I know what that is.

You arrive in the morning unannounced.

I never got to ask you last night what I wanted to ask.

Go ahead.

Terrific place.

Terrific.

Thank you.

We like it.

Could I take a look?

Just a quick look.

Go ahead.

It's got to be a 40 foot living room,

40 by 20

dining rooms, 15 feet deep.

I can't see the Windows Windows Windows ideal.

This is a dream house.

I'm glad you like it.

You're from New York.

Yeah, I'm from there better out here, right?

Well, it's more comfortable.

Can I ask you a personal question,

please?

What do you pay in taxes on this place?

$18,000 a year.

three times 18 going to 24, 790

high school shoes.

720,000 750,000.

Could I look in here?

Yeah, go ahead and listen.

How did you arrive at that figure?

750,005 Real estate rule of thumb, it's a trick.

No magic.

I'm not an appraiser or anything like that.

Can I give you something? Go ahead.

How much? You got no furniture.

Oh. 200,000 100,000 give it give or take 1000 something like that.

I'll take it.

Can I ask you a personal question? Yeah.

Did you have anything specific that you wanted to talk to me about?

No, I'm going to get that open, but I'm fascinated by money, aren't you?

I'm fascinated by money.

But what it can do that so. Yeah, yeah.

Anyway, what I was going to ask you is just how much do you make?

I think it's very impertinent.

How much do I make toward?

I don't know.

I don't know. Publishing.

I don't know. Well, it's edited.

I make $11,000 a year, so at $11,000 a year.

I got $750,000 for the house.

$18,000 in taxes. 200 furniture.

How much help here?

I have five, including the garden.

You got that no money plus plus plus 11,000 times ten years on.

10,200 years.

1.1 million. Well, I say 900,000.

That's 90 years. Work for me.

Just the library without eating.

So what's the point?

Well, I guess the point got the because I got so wrapped up in a house.

I told you that my wife and I are big fans of yours tonight.

What does a lot of snobbery among the wives?

It was in my line of business.

We made a lot of people.

So one rule the country brings on one guise

and another opportunity brings home another guy.

So on a wives get together, they can say, I got an act.

I got a district attorney.

I thought it would be nice if my wife were to conduct his autograph.

Would you mind signing this?

What do I need to say,

just put your name, that'd be good enough.

Thank you very much,

I appreciate you taking the time.

I'll see you later, love.

OK, OK, yes.

Oh my, oh.

It's right over there.

Thank you.

Is that?

I don't know.

He said he was a friend of yours.

Lieutenant.

Oh, oh, hi, Michael, how's everything?

Oh, just fine.

If you mind telling me what you think you're doing?

What a car.

What a piece of machinery.

I mean, just sitting in this thing makes me feel good.

I smell this better. I feel the belt.

I look at this what I want to tell you all my life.

I wanted a car like this, of course, on my salary.

Forget, but your car.

I want to know if I really have some work to do.

Oh yeah. Yeah, sorry.

It sounds like a bank bill

might as well, it cost enough.

What was wrong with it?

Oh, you know, the foreign cars are touchy.

Get sick, they have to be cured.

I have Mike.

He's a genius at this sort of thing.

Uh, lieutenant, you didn't come up here to check on my card.

No, no, sir, I didn't.

Now I'm going to be very honest with you, sir.

I came here because I wanted to talk with you.

All right.

I'm here.

I'm very upset by this. Jennifer Wellesley.

Yes, so am I.

You know, I was up half the night. I couldn't sleep.

I kept going over my mind. I couldn't figure it out. Why? Why?

Why would a girl like this young,

beautiful, talented girl with everything to live for?

Why did she take a life like that?

Although I didn't know her very well?

There's

something about artist that I do, you see artists are very, very delicate,

they're strange and they go and they come down and they go up.

And when they come down, they go down, down, down and they get destroyed.

They get full of emotions, they get unable to cope with anything.

And we don't realize this until it's too late.

Yeah.

Oh, you don't sound terribly convinced about it.

No, no, no, you're probably right.

No, well, I have a collection that I would like to make.

May I tell you something?

Yes, I had a lesson.

What if she didn't commit suicide?

Isn't that peculiar,

because that's what I was going to say that that.

I was awake

almost all night thinking about the same thing,

oh, the only I rejected the idea, why is it

because suicide is so complex and we are always,

you know, in our normal everyday life, unable to accept it.

But it happens.

People kill themselves all the time.

And in this instance, this instance, the evidence seems so overwhelming.

Oh, she could have passed out from the gays.

She could have fallen off their chair and she could have bumped her head. But

you know, that was a pretty good bump.

You know, someone could have hit her.

That's just an assumption on your part, right?

Very difficult to prove.

You know, there's something else that bothered.

I was speaking it that little girl next door.

And this thing will hang me up if I live to be.

Aren't they beautiful? Hmm.

They really knew how to make cars in those days and they were.

You look at the lines on that car

spoked wheels. Isn't this honey?

Uh huh. Beautiful.

Oh, if they would make them like that today, it's beautiful.

Beautiful.

And it's well, like

you were saying something about a little girl, right?

How did I get all of that?

Well, was it there about the girl, right?

Yes, she was a very good friend of Jennifer.

She told me that she used to go in there and take care of shopping show

and a little pepper. She had cockatoo.

She never mentioned it thing.

Yes, I just simply forgot.

I guess you forgot the name, right?

Well, anyway, she had this pet food.

Very strange.

But I mean, strange.

How strange had this bird for years?

Now you have to love those birds to keep them

because they have plenty of trouble lately.

This is what I can't figure out.

Why didn't he take the trouble to save that bird before she turned on again?

She was simply distraught and just forgot.

I mean, what about the suicide note?

You know, there's something funny about that.

You know, most of those notes I have written by hand.

This one was typed.

She typed Everything I have to go.

How did you know that?

Come on, let's walk into.

How do you know that?

Well, she had about the most illegible scrawl

in the world, she couldn't read her own handwriting.

And all of her rehearsal notes to me, they were always typed,

Oh, you must have checked the typewriter for her fingers.

Yeah,

yeah, they were all hers.

There you are.

Listen, you don't mind if I go to you on a little late.

Oh. Listen,

I really appreciate you taking the time to chat with me like this,

you know, this is a lonely business and it's nice just to have someone to do

what you say about your thoughts.

You know, it's shocking, shocking

when you think about suicide, the word.

Let's see if I can understand how she might have killed us

for what possible reason for someone

to kill her.

Right.

That's right.

You got me, I feel so sorry for you.

Good luck to you.

Excuse me.

If you have a moment, could you take a look at my car? So.

Oh, we've got some terrific old automobiles here.

Thanks. They are lovely, aren't they?

Oh, that's the love of my life.

That's my favorite, too.

Wonderful cast,

lovely old car, that one, the proud

heritage.

This is your car.

It's my car.

Well, exactly what anything wrong with it?

I'll tell you the truth, I think the engine is missing,

but you know, I can't be sure because the shock absorbers,

they're so old that the whole ride is very bumpy.

Start it up for you.

On the hot.

I guess you don't have these kind of problems with a guy like Mr.

Benedict's not quite know what was wrong with it.

It's got nothing serious, I suppose.

No, it just felt it was idling a little too fast for him.

How do you think it is?

We ever thought about getting a new car?

Oh, you see, I already have to buy, my wife buys my kids, buy

a house for transportation, you understand.

I only work on foreign cars.

Hundreds of phone.

Oh, I know over.

There are limits where, you know.

Listen to excuse me, I just thought of something, you know,

you seem very cramped here, and I was wondering, what do you

do you leave all these valuable cars out at night?

Not the customer's cars?

No, they get locked up every night.

Oh, I see.

You only leave your own cars out, the ones for sale.

That's right.

I do.

Measure teacher

Everett.

Imagine seeing you here every day, Liz.

Hi, Janice. Oh, you don't.

You're just feeling American news service, of course.

Hello, Mrs. Benedict.

Miss, I'm so sorry about the Wells Girl City editor.

Try to reach me last night, but I was out on the yard.

There isn't anything more that you could tell us.

Is there Mrs.

Benedict about why she may have killed herself?

I just I don't didn't even know her.

I thought, perhaps your husband might have an idea.

Poor little thing.

Such a lovely talent. Oh, that reminds me.

I was

dictating some notes to my secretary this morning.

I have asked the symphony board to approve a scholarship donation

in the name of Jennifer Wells.

I'm so glad I bumped into you.

What do you think?

Good idea.

I'll spread it in all my morning papers.

May I keep this?

Yes. Might even replace some of the tabloid stuff.

You can't blame reporters.

There's always a good deal of guessing when someone famous.

But it would be nice

if we could just stop any unpleasant publicity, don't you think?

For the sake of our wonderful symphony organization, you see, Mr.

Durkee, Miss Welles was not, well, she was really not one of us.

She was rather new in town and heaven knows what her background was.

Okay, Lizzy.

I'm still on the board to remember.

We'll see that nobody gets hurt by this. Don't you worry.

I have a nice lunch.

So that's why you wanted to be here.

I don't want Alex to be pestered and upset by any nonsense.

We have a very important season coming up.

What was she like?

Oh, so we ask.

Very nice. And your path?

But I I don't think she had the technique for the consumer.

I mean, personally, machine,

do you think that she was the kind of woman that men were found attractive?

For instance, why would you ask that a silly question.

She was a pianist.

The poor, dear.

It's something that should concern none of us.

Now I'll order for you.

Forgive me, I didn't mean to,

you know, use your piano, but I just couldn't resist this thing.

I've wanted to play the piano ever since I was a kid, but I could never afford it.

Oh, you play beautifully.

Thank you.

I haven't heard chopsticks since I was a little boy.

You know you're

you're quite a magician.

Not too many people could find me here.

How did you do this? Oh, I just called your wife.

She's a very accommodating person.

Oh yeah, she's a very charming woman.

Delightful woman.

All right, Columbo, what can I do for you this time?

Yes, sir.

I came here

because, you know, the other day we were talking about that suicide note,

and I've got something here that I thought you might find interesting.

This is the the typewriter.

This is Jennifer Wells's.

Yeah. How how'd you know?

I simply surmised it.

I was there the other night.

You remember that? Oh,

oh gee, you're very observant.

Oh, thank you very much.

Now, I don't know how much typing you do going on too much.

I have a secretary that handles most of that for me.

Now, look, I'm going to explain something to you in a minute.

You don't understand it. Feel free to stop me.

All right, I will. Okay.

Now this is complicated.

I want to get it clear myself.

A person puts a piece of paper in a typewriter and type something.

Then he takes it out, and then he puts the paper down.

Now he remembers he wants to add something else.

All right.

Picks up the paper, puts it into a typewriter and rolls the paper down

so that the keys are lined up exactly the way they were before.

You're still with me.

I'm standing here, right?

OK, that's good.

That's good.

Now here's the problem.

If you were to type over a letter, you'd always be a little bit off.

Come here. Watch what I mean.

Give me if I show it to you, you'll see what I mean.

I'm going to take the letter right here, and I'm going to type

over the original list.

Take a look.

You see what I mean?

The second test doesn't match with the first days.

That's because you roll the paper back in wrong after you took it out.

That paper is just the way we found.

That paper has never been touched.

I see.

Well, let me see if I can understand what you're saying.

You're suggesting that the paper was tape taken out and then put back.

That's right.

Now here's the problem with that theory.

Why would a woman was going to commit suicide type

a goodbye note, put in a machine and take it out again?

I don't know. All right.

Suppose you didn't Typekit.

Suppose somebody else Typekit.

All right. Who?

Who did it?

Whoever murdered him?

You know, Lieutenant, you're really a cocky fella.

You're very sure of this sergeant.

I think that there's a very distinct possibility of murder in this case. Yes.

I think there's a possibility, but I don't think it's distinct.

Suppose the murder in this case was a friend of I suppose the murder in

this case was a man who had access to her house, came and went whenever he wanted.

The typed up that letter beforehand when she wasn't around.

All right.

Promise me you'll think about it.

When you come up with the correct answer, you'll let me know.

I'm going to take a nap now.

Or you'll excuse.

Suppose it was you,

I heard you say something, but I wasn't sure what I said, suppose it was you.

I'm not saying it was you, sir.

No, I was just thinking out loud.

You know, you're an audacious fellow.

You see, I have a theory, and I would like to use you as an example.

If you don't all, please use me as.

I suppose

here you take your car at Mike's garage,

the wife picks you up, she drives you here.

You know, you're really intrigued with my little car.

Well, I am sort of because you see, Mike didn't find anything wrong with it,

and it would be a wonderful place to leave it

if you wanted to prove that you didn't have a car.

Why would I want to prove that?

Well, if you didn't have a car,

how would you get them as well as a and back here in time for the performance?

You see, you can't take a cab because they keep records.

No busses.

You can't rent a car because you have to show your license.

Getting in and out of here undetected, that wouldn't be good.

You know your way around. Pretty good.

All right.

All right. Come on.

And you walk the Mike's Place.

It's only three and a half minutes at a time.

You get in somehow through an open window.

Whatever you take out the car,

you drive them as well as you

commit the crime.

Replace the car and you walk back.

You said it.

Well, I think it's a

little thin, lieutenant, especially that bit about the car,

you know, that business about the car, I don't think that's very good, right?

Right.

That is then.

The car,

except for the fact that you forgot about the mileage, I forgot the mileage.

Yeah.

You know, when you bring a car into a garage, they note down the mileage.

And I looked at your car the morning after the crime

and the speedometer showed nine miles more than when you brought it in.

Of course, you drove that route from Mike's

garage to Maxwell's house exactly nine miles.

Huh? I think you might have something there, lieutenant.

Of course, one of the

garage mechanics could have taken my car and driven around just to test it.

I don't remember that, sir.

Hey, don't remember that those.

Oh, I'm

having a little difficulty imagining this hypothetical court case.

I mean, there's no real proof the

there's uncertain garage mechanics.

No, I don't think your theory holds up too well, lieutenant.

You see, I didn't kill Jennifer Wells.

And it looks almost like a certainty to me

that her untimely death will go down as an official suicide.

Well, sir, I want to thank you very much for your time.

Any time, lieutenant. Right?

Yeah, I don't want to forget my cigar

today.

Oh, listen, just one more thing.

I know you don't agree, but at least I've convinced my superiors

that Jennifer Wells was murdered was not a suicide.

And they've officially assigned me to the case.

That's my specialty. You know, homicide.

Hey, hey, man, it's nice.

Oh, oh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, say,

aren't you, Paul Rifkin?

Yeah.

Do I know you from the other night, the homicide unit?

Oh, yeah, yeah, of course.

All right.

All right. I thought he played in a symphony.

Oh, well, that's for serious. This is fun.

I get paid for both.

I go to use a little extra bread.

But you guys ready?

Oh yeah.

Oh, really terrific.

Fantastic.

So. Oh, no, I haven't been enabled.

I stopped next door, I bought a cigar later the

I was out of a match and I heard the music I came in.

I thought I'd get a match. Do you have a match?

I got a match.

All right, guys,

run through lover, man.

You're not for real, lieutenant.

The only thing next door is a laundromat.

Well, I used to be a cigar store.

You're not a jazz freak who made a special trip over here to see me. Why?

I thought that you were very upset the other night.

Well,

I'm better now.

Life goes on.

You know that

every expert in this case believes that Jennifer Wells killed herself.

If that's so, why are you here?

Because you don't believe it?

You think she was murdered?

You're the can't you guys just figure it out?

That's what I'm trying to do when I came here for help.

Listen to me.

I was there. The other night I heard what you said.

I have to say to Mr Burnham, that woman cannot kill herself.

No way. That's exactly what she said. I was in shock.

Well, you must've known it pretty well.

00, well, I can just see that little wheels go.

Click, click click.

Yeah,

we had a little number.

She broke it off.

I wasn't destroyed or anything.

I knew we were good friends afterwards.

Why did you break it up?

She said she discovered an important new math important.

What does that mean important?

Does that mean it was important because she was in love with them?

Was important because you are famous, you're playing word games.

Lieutenant, I'm not ready yet, but I do think that if I don't

think I was in shot, all right.

Is that?

Thank you for the time.

This is all.

Do you happen to know the name of

the other guy?

I never asked.

Oh, sure.

I mean, why would a guy is this girl the of the other man? Yes.

Oh, that's now.

Thank you.

OK. Hello.

May I help you?

I'm from the policemen.

Lieutenant Columbo. Huh?

Well,

how do you do?

What can I do to help you?

Oh, well, actually, I just stopped by to see your husband.

The maid gave me permission to wait here. I hope you don't mind.

No, of course not.

Beautiful. Place your head. Thank you.

Thanks very much. Where are you going to be?

You do your own gardening.

Well, we have a gardener, but I like to do the flowers and American

beauty.

What do they carnations?

Yes, that's right.

They are their dialysis courier, Phyllis.

That's the technical name for that's border her.

They they kind of they grow smaller and a little bit

scrubby than the florist carnations.

Terrific for of a powerful.

Well, I grow them, especially for Alex.

You know, he likes to them.

We are near when he conducts.

How about a glass of ice there?

Oh, no, thank you very much.

Sure. You're.

But would you mind ask Mr.

Colombo what what you wanted to talk to Alex about exactly?

Oh yeah, that

wrote.

I think I have a little of that tape.

No, I was just talking to your husband about this.

Well, I want to talk to everyone that you were intimately familiar with.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I really think that Alex knew her better than any of the other artistic works.

Oh no, I meant no offense, ma'am.

No, I only meant working together, but long hours to people.

And we have this new development in the case.

I thought maybe be able to help me.

And I don't know what you mean, what case?

Or maybe you haven't heard

with him as well as his murdered

murdered.

And we think so.

Yeah, I just learned that she was having an affair with someone.

Oh, Alan, I'm really not interested in all of that lieutenant,

and I certainly don't think that Alex can be of any help to you.

Why do you say that?

Well, because Alex doesn't mix in with the private lives of the artists.

Know that for certain.

Well, of course I do.

What are you implying? Oh, I'm not implying anything.

No, I I just didn't know how you know what he didn't do or what.

I'm really not interested in talking about this any further.

Excuse me, please.

And this gentleman would like to speak with you.

He didn't mean to get off on a wrong footwear like that.

Look, Lieutenant, I'm getting a little weary of your arrest.

I'm sorry, I really am.

I better go.

I'll tell you what happened.

I heard him as well as was having an affair with some other man.

I came over here because I thought maybe you had heard something.

Of course you put me straight on it.

Give him my apology because I know him, sir. So.

Well, he's gone.

Why did he come here?

Oh, don't let him annoy you, I think he's just trying to make a name.

What is it, Alex? What is it he's after?

I don't know exactly.

I don't think he knows either.

Is there any sign anything that you should tell me trying to stop it,

getting tired of your insecurities?

Stop hounding me.

I'm sorry,

I didn't mean to get mad at you.

I'm not mad at you.

Give me a smile.

That's too much of a smile,

come on each of us.

I hope

you have any.

Of course you the man at the dock.

Have you been clear?

No, I'm I'm still working on that.

I got to tell you something.

I'm very impressed with you.

Oh, really?

Is it my body or my mind?

Well, it is.

But no, seriously, Audrey, give me a break.

What I'm trying to say is that for a young girl, very independent

minded person to fathom the name of is to compliment that that way.

But I'm sorry.

He tried to butter me up.

That's not the way.

So what do you want to know?

You can ask.

But Jennifer, I can't do that.

Yes, OK.

I don't want to tell you. I won't.

If I do, I will.

All right. That's fair enough. That what I want to ask.

Did you spend a lot of time in Jennifer's apartment?

Sure.

She used to tell me how to handle me.

Did you meet many of them?

Many friends? Not exactly.

Every time he'd come around, I'd have to say, who's he the one in the tuxedo?

So just wanted the one in the tuxedo that he'd come off of?

Yeah.

In fact, I saw him leave her apartment the same day she,

you know, did you know his name?

No. If you saw him again, would you recognize?

Oh, cause.

How are you?

Is there either going up from the police?

Oh, sure, it's just a rehearsal. Fine.

I give him my help. What are they rehearsing?

They're scoring the music for a documentary film.

I see. Thank you.

Is right to smoke pot. It's OK.

All right.

Thank you very much, John.

Jimi, what do you think?

Beautiful. Great. That's it.

Shall we try to make one?

I want to speak to Paul a second.

Just hold on one second, gentlemen.

Paul.

Let me show you something.

When you come in, you know that the top one from the United benediction?

Yeah, well, the more dynamic Mr.

Benedict's explosive excuse me, sir.

My friend.

Enough is enough.

Forgive me.

I'm terribly sorry about bursting in like not, but this is not

this is really important when you explain to the orchestra what's so important.

You see this little girl here.

Well, the night Miss Welles was murdered,

Audrey here, and she's a friend of Miss Wells and a neighbor.

And she saw a man in a tuxedo leaving her apartment and wondering.

You see that man, you know?

Sure, you want to put him on.

That's him.

I know it isn't very nice publicity,

but I hate to see us lose a brilliant musician.

But the man's been accused of murder.

Jennifer Wells was a beautiful musician, too.

He isn't accused of murder. He's being questioned.

That's right. He's just being questioned.

Nevertheless, nevertheless, there are sufficient grounds to dismiss this.

Paul Rivkin.

Why was he trying to hide these unsavory anyway with this

surly manner and his excessive drinking is excessive.

Drinking has nothing to do with this meeting, Louise.

Am I too late for the lynching?

This is not a lynching, Alex.

What do you want?

I just dropped in to defend Paul.

I thought he might need a friend, but it's noble of you to come galloping

to the rescue, but there's no reason to assume that we are planning a hanging.

May I say that Paul Rifkin is a rare and special talent?

So we've heard that surely there are others just as good?

Maybe, maybe. But I don't think that's the point.

I'd say if you fire Paul, you heard the orchestra.

That's my only feeling.

What about the damage caused by the scandal here here?

I think it's an accepted custom to presume innocence until proven guilty.

No. Thank you, Arthur.

I'm positive that Paul will be cleared.

I think you ought to give him a break.

Paul's been in a lot of trouble in his life,

but it's been a long time since then.

I think he's straightened out beautifully.

What kind of trouble, Mr. Benedict?

I really don't think that's the point.

And I really think we should be the judges of that.

You have the floor, Alex.

Well, I

I met Paul at the Juilliard School of Music.

I was lecturing there at the time.

He was suffering from a rather nightmarish family background.

Love music. It was a natural talent.

He bumped into some people and got himself

into a scrape and ended up in jail.

It's been a long climb football, but I think he's made it.

What were the charges?

It's been eight years.

Let's give him a break. What was the charge?

I saw.

I see.

I mention this only to show that Paul needs our sympathy and support

because whatever happened to him was just bad luck.

It could have happened to anyone

might have happened to you.

You have a powerful friend and supporter, Mr.

Rivkin.

Alex Benedict tried his best to defend you.

That's great, but there's nothing to defend.

He won our sympathy by telling us about your unfortunate background,

including your struggle against some bad associations associations.

It seems you had questionable taste in friends.

Well, some of them were busted for smoking grass.

So what?

two members of the Board of Trustees are on indictment for breaking antitrust laws.

I wouldn't try to be funny, Mr. Rivkin.

I smoke grass sometimes just about like you drink gin.

Didn't you ever have a drink of gin during prohibition when gin was illegal?

And let's not get smart about how old I am if you were trying to win me over.

You're not making it, Sonny.

I'm not trying to win anybody over.

I just don't like getting ripped off for something that I didn't do.

Well, you must admit you have a talent for attracting trouble.

You have a jail record for assault on a woman.

Well, Mr. Benedict really

gave me quite a defense.

Yeah, I punched a lady

right in the nose.

She was trying to steal my wallet.

When I was asleep, I woke up swinging and hit her

before I knew what I was doing.

Nobody believed me.

I'm not interested in the sordid details, and I'm not judging you.

I didn't kill Jennifer. I couldn't never.

Why not?

I loved her.

Look, this is feeling

I'm just about flipped out lately it.

It's true.

I was there.

The day that it happened, I've already told this to the lieutenant,

I was really hung up on her.

I mean, all the way.

And it wasn't like that with her.

You don't have to tell me all this.

No, I want to tell you, and I want the lieutenant to tell you.

three months ago, she fell in love with somebody else.

Really bad and it.

Broke me up, I couldn't.

Stop seeing her.

And she let me in between seeing him.

I was there a lot, but whenever he was coming, I had to split.

She wouldn't tell me who it was.

She said it had to be a secret.

And I was there that evening.

I went to the door, nobody answered.

And that's that's all there is to tell.

It's the truth.

The lieutenant believes me.

Tell her.

That's right, ma'am, I don't believe he did it.

You think it was the other man while the other man is always a possibility?

I keep wondering why you tried to hide this,

why you didn't come forward before.

Because I figured I'd lose my job,

but I wouldn't have a chance to explain anything.

Mr. Rivkin, I am concerned with my orchestra.

I have spent 25 years making it what it is today

and gouging people for money to build the symphony association .

Aside from my daughter, this is my baby.

And if anybody tries to hurt either one of them,

he's out the ax, anybody.

But under the circumstances, let's say you're not fired.

However, until this case is cleared

up, you will have to be suspended.

With salary, thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Fielding.

Now be a good boy and vanish quietly.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant

Columbo.

Are you there?

Oh, would you like a drink?

Did you mean that anybody could get ActionScript

without exception?

Would you like a drink?

Even the maestro, he could get axed.

You mean Alex?

Yes, especially Alex.

Not if I have a drink.

OK, with that, here's a tag the proof has rabies shot.

I can get my license and stuff.

License,

she I never thought of that.

You better, it's the law,

the rest, you have to find them,

right?

All right. Come on, Doug.

Hey, you got a name for him.

Yet, you know, I was thinking of watching him

to give him a name that said something they did.

But all he does is sleep and roll.

His dog needs a name that will give him some stature.

All the help he can get.

How about Chet lunch?

So he isn't that

I get the impression I heard this concept before here,

is that the one I played last week, the educational channel

reruns the tapes of the concerts on Saturday mornings.

That was the night that Jennifer Wells was supposed to play.

You know anything about that case.

So I can't say I got it on tape.

I never thought it had.

All right.

I think we should a bow on the fourth

beat by 29.

I have a little crescendo on the downbeat.

All right, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's try it again.

Quasi fantasy, huh?

Excuse me.

So what does that mean? What he just said?

It's Latin for like a fantasy.

Thank you very much.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, that's all for today.

We'll try it again tomorrow when you feel more like working.

Thank you very much.

Darling, shall we go?

Maestro,

excuse me, I hate to keep bothering

you, people, but I have something which I think will interest you.

It's the Colombo.

Nothing you could possibly say could interest me,

I believe down to the TV booth.

So I'm going to take two minutes to get this whole thing cleared up.

It will be the last time you ever think, I promise that the last time.

Absolutely delighted, Alex.

I'm sorry.

We can't play.

Well, let's get this thing cleared up once and for all right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Very.

All right,

this way. Yes.

What is this all about?

Well, this is a film projected Mr.

Benedict, and this is videotape equipment.

You can sit right here any place.

Make yourself comfortable like something to drink coffee something.

Lieutenant, can we please get on with this?

Certainly.

Then.

Hmm. Hmm.

Now you always wear a flower in your lapel when you conduct a concert,

when your wife's gotten flowers.

Is that right?

Yes, I do.

Frank, would you roll the tape?

That's the opening night concert, am I right?

Obviously.

Stop.

Thank you, Frank.

Tell me if you always wear a flower.

Where is it?

I don't always wear a flower,

and that night he probably forgot it

because he was very upset about Jennifer Wills not showing up ,

but I remember you picked up a flower, Mr Wells, a partner under the piano.

You said you drafted.

I don't recall doing anything like that.

Frank, would you turn out the lights?

Frank.

Better turn on the lights

anyway to say the knob on the right and you are right.

Sure.

Frank

want to turn off tonight?

Thanks.

Why you do and most about today.

I'm sorry,

all I can say is the world of music has lost one of its brightest lights.

Jennifer Wells was an incredibly talented artist.

I'm sorry. That's all.

There's the flow

now that's plain as day.

Where did it come from? I don't know.

What difference does it make?

Well, on the tape at the concert, you weren't wearing a flower.

Now on this film coming out of Mrs.

Wells apartment, you have a flower.

Where did it come from?

Are you actually trying to pin this murder on me with that? Yes,

because the only place you could have gotten

it was at Maxwell's apartment when you picked it up the piano.

That means you had to have been there earlier.

I'm very disappointed in you, Columbo.

I simply

went into my dressing room and on my flower

after the concert and left.

Janis always brought in

cut flowers every day, didn't you?

Why would you put it on after the concert?

Why would you put it on after the concert?

I don't know.

I was in shock and confused.

I just heard that Miss Wells was dead.

Mrs. Benedict, is that the way you remember it,

you were there that he put on a flower after the concert?

So, all right, let's go ahead.

No. No,

he didn't, but not a flower afterwards.

Let me just see the long one.

I could have stood for anything, Alex, anything in the world.

I'm guilty.

Just for the record,

I hope.

Oh, I

hope you don't have to corporate life.

May I speak to your.

This is humiliating.

I know you're a great detective.

You know, from the very beginning, didn't you?

I mean, right from the start.

I'd like to go.

Is there anyone that could, officer?

Would you take Mr. Benedict Arnold?

Goodbye, genius.

My Frank

Chow.

I'm sorry that

this cell line.

Officer,

would you escort Mr.

Benedict home?

You want to play that again?

The concert.