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1
00:00:01,500 --> 00:00:05,500
... just before Magic Mountain.
Paramedics are at the scene.
2
00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:08,000
Weather-wise, hardly
a cloud in the sky.
3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,900
Temperature, 76.
But don't let that fool you...
4
00:00:10,900 --> 00:00:16,100
our weatherman warns the storm moving
in will hit this evening. Umbrella time!
5
00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:18,500
Politics - the hot topic
is the guessing game
6
00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:21,700
as to who Governor Montgomery
will pick as his running mate.
7
00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:27,000
No word from the governor, who
continues the careful weighing of options.
8
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,200
From campaign HQ at
the Biltmore Hotel,
9
00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:34,200
a spokesman said we should not expect
an announcement before primary night.
10
00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,800
Polls conducted by the "LA Times"
and among our listeners
11
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,400
show the frontrunner for the VP spot to be
our popular congressman Paul Mackey...
12
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,500
- How do I look?
- Terrific.
13
00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,200
Neil Laxton, please.
Oscar Finch calling.
14
00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:56,800
- San Francisco's our Achilles heel, Oscar.
- That's why we buy Baby new shoes.
15
00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,800
Hello, Neil.
This is Oscar. How are you?
16
00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:02,500
Glad to hear it.
17
00:01:02,500 --> 00:01:04,500
I'm just fine, thanks.
18
00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:07,000
Mackey and I are
on our way to the Biltmore.
19
00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,800
Things are looking good for the primary -
apart from San Francisco, which is slow.
20
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,100
We need some help there, fast.
21
00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:17,100
Mm-hm. How about 750,000?
22
00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:19,600
Ha! A lot of money to whom, Neil?!
23
00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,500
Tell our mutual friend he won't be
forgotten when the governor wins.
24
00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:26,800
Montgomery likes oil wells
on the horizon.
25
00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:39,600
- You ready?
- Do I look ready?
26
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:47,000
Winners are always ready. When this is
a done deal, I'll buy you a frozen yoghurt.
27
00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,000
- I'm nervous as hell.
- Good. Gives you an edge.
28
00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:55,500
Besides, he's not a dentist - just
the next president of the United States.
29
00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:57,400
Morning, Congressmen.
30
00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,300
- Paul! Good to see you.
- Tim, how are you?
31
00:02:03,300 --> 00:02:06,200
- Great, thank you.
- Have you met Oscar Finch?
32
00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,000
- It's about time, sir. It's a pleasure, truly.
- Thank you.
33
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,000
Do you mind waiting a few minutes?
The governor is anxious to meet you.
34
00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,400
- I'd like that.
- Terrific.
35
00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,200
- All right if I use a phone?
- Be our guest.
36
00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,000
Congressman, this way, please.
37
00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:25,800
- Tim.
- Congressman Mackey.
38
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,800
- Thanks for coming.
- My pleasure, Governor.
39
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,400
- Have some coffee?
- No, thanks.
40
00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,800
- Sit down, relax, both of you.
- Thank you.
41
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,000
- Looking good.
- Never felt better.
42
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,900
- Family?
- Just great. Cynthia's like my right arm.
43
00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:45,300
- She thrives on campaigning.
- My wife's the same. We got lucky, huh?
44
00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:50,000
Some speech you delivered last week.
Wish I'd been there to see 'em squirm.
45
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,500
Well, sir, I had an opportunity
to address some of the issues.
46
00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:56,900
Thousands of homeless people
in everybody's hometown.
47
00:02:56,900 --> 00:03:00,400
We're selling off the US -
a piece here, a piece there.
48
00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,000
What's next? General Electric?
Ford Motor Company?
49
00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,200
If we don't take positive action, the United
States of America will be up for grabs.
50
00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,800
It's time the American people
know what's going on.
51
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:17,100
- Amen to that!
- I heard you had them cheering.
52
00:03:17,100 --> 00:03:20,100
Well, Tim, nobody slept through it,
that's for sure.
53
00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:22,500
Yes, sir, a mighty fine speech.
54
00:03:22,500 --> 00:03:25,900
Now, tell the truth, Paul.
Did you write it yourself?
55
00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:34,700
I'm just pulling your leg!
I tend to do that every so often. Right, Tim?
56
00:03:34,700 --> 00:03:38,000
- Yes, sir.
- Of course you wrote it yourself.
57
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,100
You write all your speeches yourself.
58
00:03:40,100 --> 00:03:46,100
If I thought otherwise, I wouldn't talk to
you - I wouldn't know who I was talking to.
59
00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:51,600
Now, how about
we cut to the chase, gentlemen?
60
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,100
We've all heard the rumours in which
your name is connected with mine...
61
00:03:55,100 --> 00:03:58,100
we've read the Washington Post,
the New York Times.
62
00:03:58,100 --> 00:04:02,100
Now I want to make it formal.
Congressman Mackey, sir,
63
00:04:02,300 --> 00:04:06,300
I'd like you to give some serious thought
to joining me in a most noble effort:
64
00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:12,300
That is, as my running mate in an all-out,
no-holds-barred, winner-take-all race
65
00:04:12,300 --> 00:04:14,700
for the presidency of the United States.
66
00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:18,700
"Montgomery and Mackey" - how does
that sound to you, Congressman?
67
00:04:18,900 --> 00:04:21,000
Governor...
68
00:04:21,700 --> 00:04:24,400
sounds to me like a winning ticket.
69
00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:30,100
Mr Finch?
The governor will see you now.
70
00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:32,300
Later.
71
00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:37,800
Let me be the first to congratulate you.
72
00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,700
Your old buddy Paul and I are about
to embark on an exciting journey.
73
00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:44,000
You had a lot to do with
making it possible.
74
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,000
- I'm in your debt, Mr Finch.
- My pleasure, sir.
75
00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,500
- A chance to do what needs to be done.
- You're halfway there already.
76
00:04:55,500 --> 00:04:58,300
- I want you with me, Oscar.
- Every step.
77
00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:02,600
- President Paul Mackey.
- Attorney General Oscar Finch.
78
00:05:02,900 --> 00:05:07,200
- I like the sound of that.
- I like the echoes.
79
00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:23,900
- Cynthia did a nice job, hm?
- Yeah, Paul found himself a great hostess.
80
00:05:23,900 --> 00:05:27,100
Essential to a successful career.
81
00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:29,800
- Only reason I married you!
- Oh, don't tell me!
82
00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,000
Darling, will you get it?
83
00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,000
Got it.
84
00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:40,800
Hello?
85
00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,200
Frank.
86
00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:51,400
Frank, I told you not to bother me again.
There's nothing I can do for you.
87
00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:57,000
I advised you who to get.
They do the best with what they got.
88
00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000
Never mind about them
not being in my league!
89
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:06,400
I'm all through being your problem-solver.
That's over, that's history.
90
00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,300
Frank?
91
00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:13,000
Frank, I am not going to talk
any more about this on the phone.
92
00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:16,300
Fine. Where are you?
93
00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,100
Who's with you?
94
00:06:20,100 --> 00:06:24,400
All right.
Give me half an hour, 45 minutes.
95
00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:25,900
Yeah.
96
00:06:25,900 --> 00:06:27,900
See you.
97
00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,600
Honey?
98
00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,500
- I gotta go out.
- But it's nearly midnight!
99
00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:48,700
A contributor.
Been trying to nail this guy for months.
100
00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:53,400
He's had a couple of drinks - tonight could
be the night his chequebook's itching.
101
00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:58,300
- When are we ever gonna get a break?
- As soon as Montgomery wins California.
102
00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:02,300
- Shopping?
- A little something for the inaugural.
103
00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:05,100
Get your beauty sleep.
104
00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:07,200
Good luck, darling.
105
00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:26,800
- How're you doing, Oscar?
- Let's just get it over with, Frank.
106
00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,200
- You walked?
- You bet I did.
107
00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,300
From my office.
I could use the exercise.
108
00:12:33,300 --> 00:12:37,300
Besides, the last thing I want is for
someone to see my car in your driveway.
109
00:12:37,300 --> 00:12:40,000
Our privacy's as good as gold, Oscar.
110
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,600
As I said, Susan's in Hawaii,
the housekeeper has the week off...
111
00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,900
no one will ever have to know you dirtied
your shoes on Frank Staplin's carpets.
112
00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:51,600
They're only the best.
113
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,700
Step right in.
114
00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,600
How about you get out of that coat?
You'll bake in here.
115
00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,100
Toss it anywhere.
116
00:13:03,100 --> 00:13:06,900
- Oh, er, can I get you a drink?
- No, thanks, I'm fine.
117
00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:10,100
I can't - doctor's orders.
I'm down to this.
118
00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:14,100
I made myself a little snack.
Here, have a nibble.
119
00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:18,200
What gives, Frank?
120
00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,000
I am in real trouble, Oscar.
121
00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,900
So what else is new!
122
00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:28,800
Only this time it's more serious
than anything I've ever had to handle.
123
00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,700
Are you worried about five years
in jail, Frank?
124
00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:36,700
With good behaviour, call it 30 months.
No sweat, Frank.
125
00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:39,500
No, it's not me so much as Susan.
126
00:13:39,500 --> 00:13:42,400
I don't care for her
to have to face the shame of it.
127
00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:46,400
- I need a favour, Oscar.
- Forget it.
128
00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,600
One document.
129
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,400
The DA's case goes out of the window
if he doesn't get one lousy document.
130
00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,100
- Then don't let him have it.
- It'll be on his desk in days.
131
00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:00,900
Then I'll see you in five years, Frank.
132
00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:03,600
I'd like to do this civilised.
133
00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,800
There's nothing to do.
134
00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,900
One document
in the nearest shredder, Oscar.
135
00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:11,100
You got friends in the right places.
136
00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,000
They owe you favours.
That's your game.
137
00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,200
- Forget it.
- We've got a history.
138
00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:21,600
- We've been down this road before.
- 21 years before, Frank.
139
00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,500
Times change.
140
00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:31,200
I'll see that you have any amount,
cash that can't be traced - Swiss cash.
141
00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,600
I'm asking you nicely, Oscar.
142
00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,900
You don't get it, Frank.
143
00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:41,200
I have a family, I have a great big career,
I have a future like you wouldn't believe.
144
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,900
There's no way
I'm gonna risk any of that.
145
00:14:43,900 --> 00:14:46,700
How's your buddy, the congressman?
146
00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:50,000
The word is,
he's going to be Montgomery's boy.
147
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,000
You go way back.
148
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:58,200
Wasn't he working in the DA's office when
you did me that favour a long time ago?
149
00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,000
Your boy in the White House maybe, huh?
150
00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,300
A nice cabinet post
for Oscar Finch perhaps?
151
00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:11,400
- Is that the "big future"?
- That's not a nice way to talk, Frank.
152
00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:18,100
If I go down for five years,
six months, one day, Oscar...
153
00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:22,200
I'm not gonna be happy
with the man that let it happen.
154
00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:28,000
Happy or sad, Frank,
you can't prove a damn thing.
155
00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,500
Who needs proof any more!
156
00:15:30,500 --> 00:15:32,700
You know politics these days.
157
00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:35,300
I only have to mention your name
158
00:15:35,300 --> 00:15:39,300
and a certain little incident
that happened back in 1969...
159
00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:45,900
and you and your buddy
are dead ducks in Washington.
160
00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:51,600
Think it over, Oscar.
161
00:20:12,300 --> 00:20:14,300
What have you got?
162
00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:17,500
Deceased's wife, Mrs Susan Staplin,
163
00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:19,800
she was in Hawaii on vacation.
164
00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,300
Right. Now, I think I heard somebody say
she's on her way back?
165
00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:25,000
Yes, sir.
166
00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,400
- Called husband approximately...
- Could I have it for a minute?
167
00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,600
Come on, guys,
let's give it over to the lieutenant.
168
00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,600
Come on, come on.
169
00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,600
Let's keep 'em quiet out there,
huh, George? Thank you.
170
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:46,500
OK. Called husband approximately
10:30pm, Hawaii time. No answer.
171
00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:50,500
She called again later.
No answer. Got...
172
00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,900
- Lieutenant?
- Keep going. I'm listening.
173
00:20:56,900 --> 00:20:59,300
Got what?
174
00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:01,500
Got worried.
Called security company.
175
00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:03,700
They sent guy over - Officer Rodriguez.
176
00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:08,400
Saw lights in house. No response.
Made entry. Found victim.
177
00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,700
911 got called at 4:21am.
178
00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,100
Ohhh!
179
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,000
- It's Reggiano.
- What's the matter?
180
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,800
That cheese, Sergeant, that's Italian.
181
00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,300
That, Sergeant, is the greatest.
182
00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:40,500
My father loved this Reggiano.
183
00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:44,300
- Oh, we gotta have a taste of that.
- This stuff has got to be checked out.
184
00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:49,400
No, no, no, we're not going to touch
anything that's been used. No...
185
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,300
Wait till you get a load of this.
186
00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:54,500
And this is expensive, too.
187
00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:58,500
A piece like this here? That's $10.
Get a taste of that.
188
00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:03,500
- No, thank you.
- You gotta try it. You just gotta taste it.
189
00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:11,700
Oh!
190
00:22:13,300 --> 00:22:16,500
- How about that?
- It's different.
191
00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:20,300
It happens to be especially good.
192
00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:27,100
Make sure the boys put that aside when
they're done with it. That's gonna travel.
193
00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:30,800
OK, now, the 911 came in at 4:21am?
194
00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:32,800
Yes, sir.
195
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:38,400
Victim expired of head wound -
.32 automatic. Weapon at scene.
196
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,300
No signs, forced entry.
No signs, robbery.
197
00:22:41,300 --> 00:22:44,400
- All the signs, suicide.
- Looks like.
198
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:46,500
What else, Lieutenant?
199
00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:50,800
Read this paper clipping?
The guy was about to get nailed.
200
00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,300
Anybody here know
how to work that machine?
201
00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:56,200
- You mean that thing back there?
- The fax.
202
00:22:56,200 --> 00:23:00,900
I guess the deceased's secretary would.
She's out here someplace.
203
00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:03,900
- Christy. Rebecca Christy.
- Was she here last night?
204
00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:07,300
No, sir. Mrs Staplin gave her address
to the security people.
205
00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:12,400
She was brought over from Westwood
to ID the body. She's pretty upset.
206
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:17,500
Not a nice way to begin the day,
having to identify a body.
207
00:23:17,500 --> 00:23:20,200
There's only one thing that bothers me.
208
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,500
- What's that?
- The gun.
209
00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,600
See what you think.
210
00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,500
You notice anything?
211
00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:37,000
- What?
- Man shoots himself in the head.
212
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,700
The body slumps, arm falls,
the gun drops. Now he bleeds on the floor.
213
00:23:41,700 --> 00:23:46,500
Why do you suppose
that all the blood is under the gun
214
00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:49,700
and there is no blood on top of the gun?
215
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,900
- It's under all right.
- Could I borrow your handkerchief?
216
00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:05,700
Well, what do you know about that!
217
00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:08,600
- What?
- See any blood on that side of the gun?
218
00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:11,700
- Nothing.
- That's what's bothering me.
219
00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:15,000
If the gun fell in the blood,
as it seems,
220
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,900
why didn't any of it stick
to the underside of the gun?
221
00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:26,200
- Doesn't make sense.
- Unless... the blood had already dried.
222
00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,200
Wait a minute. How could a guy
kill himself, then all that time later...
223
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,700
after, when it dries -
he drops the gun?
224
00:24:32,700 --> 00:24:35,100
Good point, Sarge.
225
00:24:35,100 --> 00:24:39,700
Like you said, the blood couldn't dry
right away, could it?
226
00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:42,200
So what I'm trying to figure out is...
227
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,100
why did it take so long
before the gun fell?
228
00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:52,100
Have the guys find out the drying time
for that amount of blood
229
00:24:52,100 --> 00:24:55,600
in a room like this
and on a floor like this.
230
00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,700
Have Forensics back here,
check it out some more.
231
00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,400
Good as done, sir. George!
232
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,000
- George?
- Yo.
233
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,800
Guys? You wanna get back in here?
234
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,500
- What's the secretary's name?
- Rebecca Christy.
235
00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:12,400
I gotta start writing these things down.
236
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,400
- Have 'em wrap up that cheese careful.
- Real careful.
237
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,400
- All through with the stiff, Lieutenant?
- Take it away.
238
00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:24,900
Miss?
239
00:25:26,100 --> 00:25:28,600
Uh, ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Columbo.
240
00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,300
I'm with the Los Angeles
Police Department.
241
00:25:31,300 --> 00:25:35,300
- How do you do?
- I know this is a bad time.
242
00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:37,600
I'm really sorry to have to bother you.
243
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,600
It's all right.
244
00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:45,300
- It's too bad about Mr Staplin.
- Yeah, it's... He was so kind.
245
00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,600
I wonder you could help me out.
None of our boys, they...
246
00:25:51,100 --> 00:25:56,300
they don't seem t o know anything about
that machine in your office - the fax.
247
00:25:56,300 --> 00:26:00,600
- Do you want me to send a letter?
- Oh, no, no, no.
248
00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,700
No, nothing like that, no.
249
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,800
I just would like it if you could
show me how it works.
250
00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,800
I'd appreciate that.
Then I'll see to it that you're driven home.
251
00:26:12,900 --> 00:26:17,700
All these newfangled gadgets they
come out with, they make me nervous.
252
00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:21,700
Now, my wife, last year she got
a home computer. She loves it.
253
00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,700
Me, I never go near it.
Sit down here, ma'am.
254
00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:30,300
I think we were the last people on
the block to get an electric garage-opener.
255
00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:34,200
Now... you can send a letter
on this machine?
256
00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,500
Yes. Any number of pages.
257
00:26:36,500 --> 00:26:39,100
What makes it go?
258
00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:43,100
You dial in a number, just like
a telephone, press start - that's all.
259
00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:47,100
- And you can send it anywhere?
- Anywhere that has a fax machine.
260
00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:50,500
- Anywhere in the world.
- Anywhere in the world?!
261
00:26:50,500 --> 00:26:53,400
- And how long does it take?
- Seconds.
262
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,000
You mean...
just by dialling, like, a phone number,
263
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,600
that letter will come out across the street
264
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,100
or on the other side of the world
in seconds?
265
00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:07,100
It's not the same letter, it's an exact
copy of that letter - a facsimile.
266
00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:09,100
A facsimile!
267
00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:13,300
A fax!
268
00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:16,600
Now I'm getting the hang of this thing.
269
00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,200
OK.
270
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,000
Let me ask you this.
271
00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:30,400
There is a page of a letter
hanging out of the bottom of this machine.
272
00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,300
- What's that?
- It's the last page that was sent through.
273
00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:37,300
- Do you want this left here?
- Please. For now, ma'am.
274
00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,200
- Did you send that letter, Miss Christy?
- No.
275
00:27:42,300 --> 00:27:46,100
- Do you recognise that handwriting?
- It's Mr Staplin's.
276
00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:49,700
- Did he know how to use this machine?
- He used it frequently.
277
00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:54,700
Is there any way that you could determine
what time this letter was sent?
278
00:27:54,700 --> 00:27:59,800
- Yes, but I'll have to remove the page.
- Let me do that, ma'am.
279
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:05,800
"Susan"?
280
00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,700
- Would that be Mrs Staplin?
- Yes.
281
00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:11,300
Aha.
282
00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:20,400
The last transmission
was logged at 12:27 am...
283
00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,000
a one-page document
that took 14 seconds to send.
284
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,000
Excuse me, ma'am.
A one-page document?
285
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:33,300
But I see a second page to the letter here
that's also in Mr Staplin's handwriting.
286
00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:36,400
Would that mean
that there was a two-page letter...
287
00:28:37,500 --> 00:28:40,200
- but only one page was sent?
- I guess.
288
00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:44,700
- It was faxed to this number.
- Isn't that the area code for Hawaii?
289
00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:48,300
It's the fax number of the hotel
where Mrs Staplin was staying.
290
00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:51,100
Isn't that remarkable!
291
00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:56,600
A letter sent 2500 miles across the Pacific
in 14 seconds!
292
00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:04,000
I don't mean to burden you, but could you
come into Mr Staplin's office for a minute?
293
00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:11,800
You know, when I saw the telephone
on Mr Staplin's desk I almost got dizzy...
294
00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,300
that's some device!
There's gotta be 30 buttons there.
295
00:29:15,300 --> 00:29:18,300
And that's not including
the ones that you dial with!
296
00:29:18,300 --> 00:29:20,800
- Would you bag this, please?
- Yes, sir.
297
00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:24,400
- Yes, it's a sophisticated instrument.
- Yeah, it sure is.
298
00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,400
It can memorise 100 phone numbers
for speed-dialling.
299
00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:29,500
There's conference-calling,
300
00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:32,500
date and time,
an appointment-reminder programme,
301
00:29:32,500 --> 00:29:34,700
speakerphone, last-number redial.
302
00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:38,700
That's the one I want to know about.
That's the one feature I heard about.
303
00:29:42,500 --> 00:29:48,300
- Now, how would you work that feature?
- You press the button that says "redial".
304
00:29:48,300 --> 00:29:50,100
- That's it?
- Uh-huh.
305
00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:54,300
It's embarrassing.
Are you finished with the phone?
306
00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:56,200
- We're all done.
- Thank you.
307
00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:01,400
- Just push this button here?
- It will dial the last number called.
308
00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,000
Good morning.
Finch residence. May I help you?
309
00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,000
My housekeeper says
you're from the police.
310
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,300
Uh... Lieutenant Columbo, ma'am.
311
00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:22,300
I, uh...
312
00:30:22,300 --> 00:30:25,200
I apologised to the lady
who answered the door
313
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,100
when she told me
you were having breakfast.
314
00:30:28,100 --> 00:30:30,800
I'd like to say to you personally
how sorry I am...
315
00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,200
What can I do for you, Lieutenant?
316
00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,200
I just have a few questions, ma'am.
317
00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:41,400
We're investigating a matter
concerning a man named Frank Staplin.
318
00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:45,000
- Is that a name that's familiar to you?
- No. Should it be?
319
00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:50,200
Well, we have reason to believe
that Mr Staplin called here last night.
320
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:56,000
That call came in, according to
the phone company, at 11:46pm.
321
00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,600
- Were you home at that time?
- My husband and I had come from dinner.
322
00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:04,100
There was a phone call, yes, but Oscar
took it - I don't know who it was from.
323
00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:06,100
It was a very short call.
324
00:31:06,100 --> 00:31:10,500
Don't you think it would be best
if you spoke with my husband?
325
00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:15,200
I think I do have to speak to him, ma'am,
if it's not disturbing him too much.
326
00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,900
He's not home. Another early bird - he's
long gone to a breakfast appointment.
327
00:31:19,900 --> 00:31:23,000
Where's the best place
that I could reach him, ma'am?
328
00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:27,000
I don't know - he's a busy man. Perhaps
you should make an appointment.
329
00:32:09,100 --> 00:32:12,200
- Don't you dare! Was it you?
- I beg your pardon, ma'am?
330
00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:12,900
Don't you dare light that cigar!
Were you in here last night with one?
331
00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:15,000
No, ma'am, it wasn't me.
332
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,000
And you have my word of honour
I'm not gonna light it.
333
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,700
As a matter of fact,
I've never been in these offices before.
334
00:32:21,700 --> 00:32:23,800
They're very nice. Very nicely done.
335
00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,200
I apologise, Lieutenant.
I'm a bit sensitive this morning.
336
00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,500
- No need to apologise, ma'am.
- This putrid atmosphere!
337
00:32:34,500 --> 00:32:40,900
Left here by someone who smoked
a foul-smelling cigar in Mr Finch's office
338
00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:45,500
without once taking into account
that the air-conditioning in this building
339
00:32:45,500 --> 00:32:47,500
is turned off in the evenings.
340
00:32:48,100 --> 00:32:51,000
- Yes, ma'am.
- How can I help you?
341
00:32:51,500 --> 00:32:55,000
If it's possible,
I'd like a word with Mr Finch.
342
00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,300
He should be here momentarily,
Lieutenant. Take a seat.
343
00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:00,500
Thank you very much, ma'am.
344
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:07,000
You know, it's strange,
when I first came in here,
345
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,200
I began wondering what was the one thing
here that reminded me of home.
346
00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,700
Maybe it was the aroma.
347
00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:18,400
Louise, who parked that
decomposing rattletrap in my space?!
348
00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,800
- I'm sure I don't know.
- Have it towed out of here.
349
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,500
- Perhaps...
- We've got a busy morning.
350
00:33:24,500 --> 00:33:29,900
Someone from the police will be around
to see me. Fit him in this afternoon.
351
00:33:29,900 --> 00:33:33,700
Would that be
a silver Peugeot convertible, sir?
352
00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:38,500
- Who said that?
- I did.
353
00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:41,100
- And who might you be?
- I'm the police.
354
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:46,100
- That oxidised relic is yours?
- It gets me from here to there, sir.
355
00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:49,700
I'm sorry,
I had no idea it was your spot.
356
00:33:49,700 --> 00:33:53,400
Be with you in a moment, uh... Lieutenant.
357
00:33:54,500 --> 00:33:56,600
Come in, Louise.
358
00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:59,700
Here are the notes
from the Thompson breakfast.
359
00:33:59,700 --> 00:34:02,500
Put him down next Monday -
same time, same place.
360
00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:05,500
- What time am I due at the Biltmore?
- 20 minutes, sir.
361
00:34:05,500 --> 00:34:09,500
Call the functions manager and have him
collect the new dignitaries list.
362
00:34:09,500 --> 00:34:11,600
I'll meet with him in the ballroom.
363
00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,400
Here's the new client - Dr Menton.
364
00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:18,100
Put him down for 10:15 at the house.
Call and confirm.
365
00:34:22,500 --> 00:34:25,500
- Then court, right - two cases?
- Kenson and Fleming.
366
00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:29,500
They'll be a breeze. After that,
lunch with Congressman Mackey.
367
00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,800
Afternoon - free for the governor's
campaign manager.
368
00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:36,300
Have Haines call me on the carphone,
confirm the itinerary. That all?
369
00:34:36,300 --> 00:34:40,300
- A few messages, nothing urgent.
- Good. Thanks, Louise.
370
00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:45,100
Now, Lieutenant, you're here to talk to me
about the death of Frank Staplin.
371
00:34:45,100 --> 00:34:48,200
- I can give you just five minutes.
- You astonish me, sir.
372
00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:51,300
I don't see why.
I'm familiar with procedure.
373
00:34:51,300 --> 00:34:55,200
At a quarter to 12 last night,
I received a call from Mr Staplin.
374
00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:58,700
I understand from the news
that he died during the night,
375
00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:02,700
which regrettably means that one of the
last calls he made in his life was to me.
376
00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:08,100
When I heard the news, I realised although
his death was being called a suicide,
377
00:35:08,100 --> 00:35:11,300
it was of a violent nature -
that is, by gunshot...
378
00:35:11,300 --> 00:35:15,300
and part of the procedure of investigation
would certainly include
379
00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:18,600
interviews with the last persons
the victim saw or spoke to.
380
00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,400
The phone company will have supplied
you with a list of his final calls,
381
00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:26,000
and my number will be among them
someplace - in what order, I can't say.
382
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,600
If he called from his house,
you would have a record of that, too.
383
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,400
I would expect the police
to be around to see me.
384
00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,300
My only surprise is
how soon you got here.
385
00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:38,600
I learned one very important lesson
this morning, Mr Finch.
386
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:42,000
- Yeah? What's that?
- Never bet on your opposition in court.
387
00:35:42,700 --> 00:35:44,600
Hmm...
388
00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,600
I never met Frank Staplin,
389
00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:50,200
but in some small way, I feel a
certain responsibility for his death.
390
00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:54,200
- Why is that, sir?
- When he called he was a desperate man.
391
00:35:54,300 --> 00:35:57,500
If I hadn't known him by reputation,
I'd have known from his voice.
392
00:35:57,500 --> 00:35:59,900
His voice, sir?
How did it sound?
393
00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:02,500
Extremely disturbed.
394
00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,400
- You've never met him?
- No.
395
00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:09,200
He called about nine months ago
when he was seeking counsel,
396
00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,800
but I was busy at the time
and I had to turn him down.
397
00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,400
When he called last night,
he said it was a last resort,
398
00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:20,400
that he was about to fire his attorneys -
they were fools and incompetents...
399
00:36:20,500 --> 00:36:25,500
and he needed new counsel, and this time
he was willing to pay any price I asked.
400
00:36:29,500 --> 00:36:32,600
- But you refused him again?
- Yes, indeed I did.
401
00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,100
Now, would you be kind enough
to walk with me to my car?
402
00:36:36,100 --> 00:36:38,700
I detest being late.
403
00:36:38,700 --> 00:36:41,200
An hour or two after the call,
he shot himself.
404
00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,600
I hate the thought that it might've been
because I turned him down.
405
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,600
Strange, isn't it? Until last night,
all I really knew about Frank Staplin
406
00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:52,600
was what I'd read in the newspapers,
magazines, courtroom gossip.
407
00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:56,700
Like everyone else, I'd formed an opinion -
I thought he was guilty,
408
00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,600
perhaps of worse crimes
than he was accused.
409
00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:05,900
But now that he's dead, maybe because a
stranger he turned to for help refused him,
410
00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:10,700
- I can't help feeling a certain pity for him.
- I can understand that, sir.
411
00:37:10,700 --> 00:37:16,000
- What make of car did you say that was?
- It's a Peugeot.
412
00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,600
- Very unusual.
- French.
413
00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,000
Really? Excuse me.
414
00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:24,900
Once again, sir,
sorry I took your parking spot.
415
00:37:24,900 --> 00:37:30,000
Don't give it another thought. And if
you need further assistance, get in touch.
416
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,400
Yes, Lieutenant?
417
00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:53,500
You know, ma'am,
there's none of that odour left.
418
00:37:53,500 --> 00:37:56,200
That's a wonderful spray!
419
00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:58,300
And it has a very nice scent to it.
420
00:37:58,300 --> 00:38:02,600
Could you give me the name of that
for my wife? She might find that useful.
421
00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:05,400
- You know what I mean.
- I'm so glad you like it.
422
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:09,200
Its nontoxic
and it's not easy to come by.
423
00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,800
- I've got an extra can. I'll get it for you.
- No...
424
00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:14,000
No arguments. You shall have it.
425
00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:25,000
- Here you are.
- Let me, ma'am.
426
00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:27,300
It's not office property -
I bring it in.
427
00:38:27,300 --> 00:38:30,100
- My compliments to your wife.
- Thank you, ma'am.
428
00:38:30,100 --> 00:38:32,500
- That's very kind of you.
- You're welcome.
429
00:38:32,500 --> 00:38:37,200
Through the lobby, up the stairs,
past the elevators, take a left,
430
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:40,400
and it's the fourth big double door
on the left?
431
00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,200
That's right.
432
00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:50,400
Mr Finch?
433
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,200
Just one more thing, sir -
when you can spare a minute.
434
00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:58,000
With you directly, Lieutenant.
I'm just finishing up here.
435
00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,100
Everything seems to be
going according to plan.
436
00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:10,100
If you have any problems, you know
where to contact me. You run a nice hotel.
437
00:39:10,300 --> 00:39:14,800
- Thank you.
- Well, no difficulty in finding me?
438
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,300
- None at all, sir. Thank you.
- Something turn up?
439
00:39:18,300 --> 00:39:22,300
I meant to ask you at the
office, but what with one thing and another...
440
00:39:22,700 --> 00:39:26,700
I was rather pressed for time.
I still am, as a matter of fact.
441
00:39:26,700 --> 00:39:29,700
- It's about his voice, sir.
- What voice?
442
00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:35,000
The voice on the telephone - Mr Staplin's.
The late-night call he made to you.
443
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:36,700
Yes. What about it?
444
00:39:36,700 --> 00:39:40,500
You said back at the office
that you could tell he was desperate.
445
00:39:40,500 --> 00:39:44,400
I think you said that he sounded
"extremely disturbed".
446
00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:49,700
L-I think that that's the way that you would
have described it, had you heard him.
447
00:39:49,700 --> 00:39:51,800
But I didn't, sir, and you did.
448
00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:55,200
What were the words?
449
00:39:55,200 --> 00:39:58,700
What did he say -
the exact words?
450
00:39:58,700 --> 00:40:01,400
- If you could remember.
- There's no problem there.
451
00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,700
- I'll never forget them.
- Wonderful, sir. What were they?
452
00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:09,100
- "What the hell am I gonna do?"
- I beg your pardon?
453
00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:11,900
- That's what he said.
- Just that?
454
00:40:11,900 --> 00:40:18,200
He said it twice. "What the hell am I gonna
do? What the hell am I gonna do? Jesus!"
455
00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:26,900
- He said that, too?
- Yeah. Then he hung up.
456
00:40:26,900 --> 00:40:30,800
"What the hell am I gonna do?
What the hell am I gonna do?"
457
00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:33,600
That word. Then he hung up.
458
00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:37,200
Well, that's desperate all right.
Yes, sir, that...
459
00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:41,100
Yeah, you can say that that is
"extremely disturbed".
460
00:40:42,300 --> 00:40:45,200
Oh... dear, dear, dear, dear.
461
00:40:46,500 --> 00:40:49,000
Hm.
462
00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:54,200
Well, if you'll excuse me,
I'd better be running along.
463
00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,600
What?
Oh, yes, sir. Certainly, sir.
464
00:40:56,600 --> 00:41:00,200
- Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
- Don't mention it.
465
00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,700
Good luck.
466
00:41:04,700 --> 00:41:06,500
Oh, Mr Finch?
467
00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:08,400
Sir?!
468
00:41:13,700 --> 00:41:15,300
Yes?
469
00:41:15,300 --> 00:41:18,100
You had a meeting
in your office last night?
470
00:41:18,100 --> 00:41:21,600
- Is that a question?
- Well, all the cigar smoke.
471
00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:24,800
Maybe you didn't notice it
when you arrived this morning.
472
00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:28,700
Your secretary, Miss Louise,
she sure did a number on it. Quite a lady.
473
00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:31,700
Oh, yes, yes.
I don't know what I'd do without her.
474
00:41:31,700 --> 00:41:34,200
I did have a meeting
at my office last night.
475
00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:37,000
Was that before
or after dinner, sir?
476
00:41:40,500 --> 00:41:47,500
You know, you're, uh... you're rather
subtle for a man who appears so overt.
477
00:41:47,500 --> 00:41:52,200
- Is that good, sir?
- Oh, it's not too bad at all.
478
00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:01,400
It was after dinner.
479
00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:05,100
Did my wife also get around to telling you
what we had on the menu?
480
00:42:05,500 --> 00:42:09,500
No, sir. That meeting was very late, then,
wasn't it, sir?
481
00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:12,100
- After midnight probably.
- Yes.
482
00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:16,400
- And after the call from Mr Staplin.
- That's correct.
483
00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:22,600
But the meeting
wasn't with Mr Staplin, was it, sir?
484
00:42:24,700 --> 00:42:28,400
- What o'clock do you have?
- I beg your pardon?
485
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:34,300
My... timepiece says 10:09 and counting.
486
00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:38,700
I'm sure that your
timepiece is correct, sir.
487
00:42:38,700 --> 00:42:42,000
That gives me six minutes
to make my next appointment.
488
00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,800
If I get a speeding ticket,
will you take care of it?
489
00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:46,900
- Well, I...
- I detest being late.
490
00:42:46,900 --> 00:42:51,600
I also detest having to repeat myself.
Come on, don't disappoint me.
491
00:42:56,000 --> 00:43:00,800
A man of your intelligence will not have
overlooked the fact that I told you twice
492
00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:04,100
that I have never met Mr Staplin.
493
00:43:04,100 --> 00:43:06,500
- Does that cover it?
- That covers it, sir.
494
00:43:07,500 --> 00:43:10,300
Have a nice remainder of the day,
Lieutenant.
495
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,700
This'll be real quick, sir, I promise.
496
00:43:25,700 --> 00:43:30,900
Would you mind telling me who it was
you had that meeting with last night?
497
00:43:30,900 --> 00:43:36,600
You know better. I'm sure you've heard of
client-attorney privilege, confidentiality.
498
00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:40,300
Maybe you can help me with
this other thing that I don't understand.
499
00:43:40,300 --> 00:43:46,600
Your wife told me she heard the telephone
ring just after you came home last night.
500
00:43:47,300 --> 00:43:49,600
- Is that your memory, sir?
- Yes.
501
00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:52,900
After the call, you went to your office
and met with someone.
502
00:43:52,900 --> 00:43:53,900
Yes.
503
00:43:53,900 --> 00:43:56,300
- Did you drive, sir?
- Yes, of course.
504
00:43:56,300 --> 00:43:59,300
And the individual you met with,
did he drive himself?
505
00:43:59,300 --> 00:44:01,900
Yes. What's your point?
506
00:44:01,900 --> 00:44:05,400
Was that a meeting
that was previously planned, sir?
507
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:10,600
- It was so late at night.
- There were actually two calls last night.
508
00:44:10,600 --> 00:44:15,800
One was from Staplin, the other from
a client who wished to meet urgently.
509
00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:19,800
But I think that your wife said
there was only one call, sir.
510
00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:24,000
Oh, there's no mystery there, Lieutenant.
We have a call-waiting service.
511
00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:28,300
The second call clicked through
while Mr Staplin was on the line.
512
00:44:28,300 --> 00:44:32,300
Which would account for why your wife
didn't hear the second ring.
513
00:44:32,500 --> 00:44:37,500
- Because there wasn't one.
- Well, that's terrific. That's very good.
514
00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:41,900
We cleared that one up very easily.
And I'm happy about it,
515
00:44:41,900 --> 00:44:47,100
because that was one of the few
loose ends I was still having trouble with.
516
00:44:47,100 --> 00:44:49,500
You know what, sir?
517
00:44:50,800 --> 00:44:54,800
We did it in 72 seconds.
How's that for problem-solving?
518
00:44:54,900 --> 00:44:58,200
- Any more questions?
- I can't think of one at the moment.
519
00:44:58,200 --> 00:45:01,300
Except, why aren't you
on your way to court?
520
00:45:01,300 --> 00:45:04,000
That's a good one.
521
00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:11,400
I loved when you asked him
if he could see in the dark.
522
00:45:11,400 --> 00:45:15,400
- 30 yards on a moonless night.
- And you called him "Mr Cat's Eyes"!
523
00:45:15,500 --> 00:45:18,600
Congratulations.
You did it again - nailed me to the wall.
524
00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:20,800
Better luck next time. Thank you.
525
00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:25,900
The judge nearly died when you played
the tape of the automatic firing 18 rounds.
526
00:45:25,900 --> 00:45:29,400
- That's a lawyer!
- Back to work, folks.
527
00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:32,000
- See you later.
- See you later.
528
00:45:34,900 --> 00:45:37,000
Me too, Lieutenant.
529
00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:42,500
- Did you win another, Mr Finch?
- I acquitted myself reasonably well.
530
00:45:42,500 --> 00:45:45,900
- Wish I could have seen you in action.
- Any time.
531
00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:48,800
I tried to come earlier,
but I had to see Mrs Staplin.
532
00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:53,800
- Really? How's she bearing up?
- Courageous woman. Very courageous.
533
00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:56,000
I gotta say that, uh...
534
00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:04,200
There's something about the case
that's gonna keep me awake tonight.
535
00:46:04,300 --> 00:46:07,900
- Which case is that?
- Oh, you know, sir!
536
00:46:07,900 --> 00:46:10,900
You have a bee in
your bonnet about that suicide.
537
00:46:10,900 --> 00:46:14,300
Not exactly,
but I can't put it to bed yet.
538
00:46:14,300 --> 00:46:16,500
Something about the fax
is puzzling me.
539
00:46:16,500 --> 00:46:21,000
- Which facts are those?
- Not the facts, the fax - f-a-x.
540
00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:24,800
- Oh, I see.
- You are familiar with that instrument?
541
00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:28,400
- We have two.
- What's puzzling me
542
00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:34,900
is what Mr Staplin sent on his fax machine
to his wife in Hawaii at 12:27,
543
00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:37,600
- just before he shot himself.
- A suicide note?
544
00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:42,000
No, sir! That would be very strange -
a suicide note on a fax machine.
545
00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:44,300
You're losing me, Lieutenant.
546
00:46:44,300 --> 00:46:49,300
I have a lunch with Congressman Mackey,
and the primary is just a few days away.
547
00:46:49,300 --> 00:46:52,800
- I really must press along.
- Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
548
00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:58,000
Can you spare a few minutes after lunch?
What restaurant is it? I can wait outside.
549
00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:03,100
I'd hate for you to have to drag yourself
across town on some wild-goose chase.
550
00:47:03,100 --> 00:47:06,200
Tell me, what exactly bugs you?
551
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:09,800
Well, sir, what's bugging me is, uh...
552
00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:14,200
since you were kind enough to tell me
the last desperate words of the deceased,
553
00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:19,400
that "What the hell am I gonna do?
What the hell am I gonna do?" business...
554
00:47:19,400 --> 00:47:22,700
and as far as we know,
those were his last words...
555
00:47:22,700 --> 00:47:27,200
how he could say that and still send
this message on his fax machine
556
00:47:27,200 --> 00:47:30,600
just before he shot himself.
557
00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:33,700
These are copies, sir.
558
00:47:33,700 --> 00:47:35,400
One he sent, and the other one was
beside the machine waiting to be sent.
559
00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:37,200
They're both jokes.
He shot himself between jokes.
560
00:47:37,200 --> 00:47:38,500
- Jokes?
- Jokes.
561
00:47:38,500 --> 00:47:40,000
- What jokes?
- Good jokes.
562
00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:44,000
- Try me.
- Well, I don't know, sir.
563
00:47:50,500 --> 00:47:53,100
The first one's Jewish
and the second one's Irish.
564
00:47:53,100 --> 00:47:55,200
- I hope they won't offend you.
- Maybe the Irish.
565
00:47:55,200 --> 00:47:56,900
Well, then we'll just try the first one.
566
00:47:57,200 --> 00:47:59,100
It's in his own handwriting.
567
00:47:59,100 --> 00:48:00,700
"Susan, what gives?"
568
00:48:00,700 --> 00:48:03,400
"I tried calling you a few times.
You fooling around with some gigolo?"
569
00:48:03,400 --> 00:48:07,000
That's a bit of a joke to start with -
Mrs Staplin, she was nuts about him.
570
00:48:13,500 --> 00:48:15,200
"Anyway, sweetie, we'll talk later."
571
00:48:15,200 --> 00:48:17,200
"I heard a couple of jokes today."
572
00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:18,900
"The first one's a flasher story."
573
00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:21,300
"There was this Jewish lady
walking down Beverly Drive,
574
00:48:21,300 --> 00:48:23,800
and coming the other way,
this flasher guy in his overcoat."
575
00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:30,200
"When he gets up to her,
he whips open the coat."
576
00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:33,000
"She looks at him and says,
'You call that a lining?!"'
577
00:48:40,500 --> 00:48:41,900
Ha!
578
00:49:01,500 --> 00:49:02,900
You... you know what, Lieutenant?
579
00:49:02,900 --> 00:49:05,500
If our Mr Staplin had told me that
last night, instead of his wife,
580
00:49:05,500 --> 00:49:07,400
I might have gone round there
and heard a few more.
581
00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:09,800
And you wouldn't be in a bother,
and I wouldn't be late for lunch.
582
00:49:13,500 --> 00:49:15,400
- Maybe you wanna hear the other one?
- No time.
583
00:49:15,400 --> 00:49:17,500
I can't wait to get that flasher one
to Congressman Mackey.
584
00:49:17,500 --> 00:49:19,500
- So what do you think?
- I thought it was a good one.
585
00:49:23,500 --> 00:49:25,900
No, about a man killing himself
after a thing like that?
586
00:49:25,900 --> 00:49:30,500
If you solve the mysteries of the suicidal
mind, you're a smarter man than I!
587
00:49:30,500 --> 00:49:32,600
"Call that a lining?"!
588
00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:54,000
The congressman will see you now.
589
00:49:55,900 --> 00:49:57,400
Lieutenant Columbo.
590
00:49:57,400 --> 00:49:59,900
A couple of minutes earlier,
you'd have caught me without pants!
591
00:49:59,900 --> 00:50:04,200
How do you do? Let me say right off the
bat that I know how valuable your time is.
592
00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:12,800
I appreciate these few minutes. I'll try
my best not to overstay my welcome.
593
00:50:12,800 --> 00:50:14,500
The man's more of a politician than I am!
594
00:50:14,500 --> 00:50:16,600
Makeup should be
ready for you in five minutes.
595
00:50:21,500 --> 00:50:23,200
Give me a shout.
Have a seat, Lieutenant.
596
00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:25,500
Thank you very much, sir.
597
00:50:25,500 --> 00:50:28,300
I would really prefer
that you did not smoke, Lieutenant.
598
00:50:28,300 --> 00:50:31,400
Toby said that you had
some questions for me.
599
00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:33,100
Yes, sir. I did, yeah.
600
00:50:33,100 --> 00:50:38,100
Uh... are you aware of the death
of a man named... Frank Staplin?
601
00:50:43,000 --> 00:50:45,800
- Of course. The suicide.
- That's what we're trying to determine.
602
00:50:45,800 --> 00:50:48,300
- You see, the law requires...
- You don't have to tell me.
603
00:50:48,300 --> 00:50:51,200
I was a practising attorney for years.
What about Frank Staplin?
604
00:50:51,200 --> 00:50:54,500
- You had lunch today with Oscar Finch?
- Yes, I did.
605
00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:00,200
- The two of you are old friends?
- Going on 20 years now.
606
00:51:00,600 --> 00:51:04,400
Well, it seems that Mr Staplin
called Mr Finch at his house,
607
00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:08,300
and as it turned out, that call came in just
about two hours before Mr Staplin died.
608
00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,500
Did Mr Finch happen to mention that
to you at lunch today?
609
00:51:16,500 --> 00:51:19,400
No. I wonder what reason he had
for calling Oscar.
610
00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:20,700
Um...
611
00:51:21,700 --> 00:51:24,600
- Could I borrow this, sir?
- Help yourself.
612
00:51:29,000 --> 00:51:32,000
According to Mr Finch,
Mr Staplin wanted a new attorney.
613
00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:34,500
I'm not surprised,
considering the fix he was in.
614
00:51:39,000 --> 00:51:41,200
- Can't seem to get this to work, sir.
- Twist it.
615
00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:42,900
Ah, yes.
616
00:51:42,900 --> 00:51:46,300
Were you aware of any prior relationship
between Mr Staplin and Mr Finch?
617
00:51:50,000 --> 00:51:52,100
No. That's not to say that none existed.
618
00:51:52,100 --> 00:51:54,100
Staplin was a notorious racketeer,
619
00:51:54,100 --> 00:51:55,900
Oscar Finch is
one of our finest criminal lawyers.
620
00:51:55,900 --> 00:51:58,700
It's entirely possible
that their paths may have crossed.
621
00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:06,100
And you're not aware
of any particular occasion?
622
00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:09,800
- None at all.
- Aha. I see.
623
00:52:11,900 --> 00:52:13,800
Yeah...
624
00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:18,200
Is that it?
625
00:52:18,200 --> 00:52:20,500
"It"? Yes, sir, that's it.
Thank you very much.
626
00:52:20,500 --> 00:52:23,700
- I wish you a lot of luck.
- Thank you very much, Lieutenant.
627
00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:31,400
Just busting my gut all over town
on behalf of our noble cause.
628
00:52:31,400 --> 00:52:35,100
Your boy made it sound as though
you were in need of intensive care.
629
00:52:35,100 --> 00:52:36,500
- I'm in need of one of those.
- What's going on?
630
00:52:36,500 --> 00:52:39,400
- Come again?
- A homicide detective in my office.
631
00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:46,200
Would you be referring
to a certain Lieutenant Columbo?
632
00:52:46,200 --> 00:52:49,700
Right, Columbo.
Damn near busted in on my interview.
633
00:52:49,700 --> 00:52:53,500
- Guy's got some act.
- Ah, he's harmless. Jumped-up boy scout.
634
00:52:53,500 --> 00:52:56,500
Not funny, Oscar.
And he's not so damned harmless
635
00:52:56,500 --> 00:52:59,900
when he's on my case
about Frank Staplin!
636
00:52:59,900 --> 00:53:03,400
He following us?
How'd he know you and I had lunch?
637
00:53:03,400 --> 00:53:05,000
- I told him.
- You told him?
638
00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:09,900
Sure. He's been snooping around all over the place.
He's just doing his job.
639
00:53:09,900 --> 00:53:14,700
Procedure - they check on the last people
a suicide was in contact with.
640
00:53:14,700 --> 00:53:18,700
He told me you had a call from Staplin
two hours before he died.
641
00:53:18,800 --> 00:53:20,900
- Sure he did.
- And?
642
00:53:20,900 --> 00:53:25,500
He wanted me to represent him in the indictment.
I told the guy to get lost.
643
00:53:25,500 --> 00:53:27,900
Boy, did he ever!
644
00:53:29,600 --> 00:53:31,500
That's it?
645
00:53:32,900 --> 00:53:35,800
That's it.
646
00:53:36,900 --> 00:53:39,800
Come on, Paul!
We've got a lot of work to do.
647
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:42,000
There's a long road ahead.
648
00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:48,400
Or, um... would you rather
forget about the White House?
649
00:53:56,500 --> 00:54:01,500
Hello, sir. I'm glad I caught you
before you go up to see the governor.
650
00:54:01,500 --> 00:54:05,200
- In three minutes.
- They told me when I called your office.
651
00:54:05,200 --> 00:54:10,000
I need to only ask you one question,
then I'll be out of your hair.
652
00:54:10,000 --> 00:54:12,700
Toby, you and Tim go on up.
I'll follow.
653
00:54:12,700 --> 00:54:15,100
Yes, sir.
654
00:54:15,100 --> 00:54:17,900
I'd be obliged
if you would get directly to the point.
655
00:54:17,900 --> 00:54:20,300
Yes, sir.
656
00:54:21,200 --> 00:54:26,100
Remember I asked if you were aware
of any previous relationship
657
00:54:26,100 --> 00:54:28,800
- between Mr Finch and Mr Staplin?
- Vividly.
658
00:54:28,800 --> 00:54:31,400
- And you answered that question.
- Yes.
659
00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:38,400
What I neglected to ask was if...
you had any association with Mr Staplin.
660
00:54:39,300 --> 00:54:44,400
For the record, I never spoke with him -
never in person, never on the phone.
661
00:54:44,400 --> 00:54:49,200
We were never in the same place
at the same time. I never knew him.
662
00:54:49,200 --> 00:54:52,200
- I never met Frank Staplin.
- Thank you, sir.
663
00:54:52,200 --> 00:54:54,900
- Is that all?
- That was the one question, sir.
664
00:54:54,900 --> 00:54:58,100
If only the rest of this case
could wrap up that easily.
665
00:54:58,100 --> 00:55:01,000
Aren't you spending
a lot of time on a suicide?
666
00:55:01,000 --> 00:55:07,200
It's not that any more. It's been officially
classed as a homicide - since yesterday.
667
00:55:07,200 --> 00:55:09,900
Mr Staplin was murdered.
668
00:55:09,900 --> 00:55:13,000
Well... that changes
the tone of your investigation.
669
00:55:13,000 --> 00:55:16,000
It does. We're looking for
a cold-blooded killer now.
670
00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:18,800
- Well, I wish you luck.
671
00:55:18,800 --> 00:55:20,000
- Good day, sir.
- Mr Amir?
672
00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:21,900
- That is who I am.
- Lieutenant Columbo.
673
00:55:21,900 --> 00:55:25,300
- I spoke earlier with your father.
- I've been expecting you.
674
00:55:25,300 --> 00:55:26,900
- How do you do?
- Oh...
675
00:55:26,900 --> 00:55:28,800
- Did you find those items?
- Yes, sir.
676
00:55:32,000 --> 00:55:34,900
This stuff was picked up by your driver
from the Finch residence
677
00:55:34,900 --> 00:55:36,400
- day before yesterday?
- Yes, sir.
678
00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:40,900
We have prepared them for the machine.
679
00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:45,600
Here, sir.
680
00:55:57,000 --> 00:55:59,600
- You search for something, sir, yes?
- Smoke.
681
00:55:59,600 --> 00:56:01,600
- Smoke?
- Cigar smoke.
682
00:56:01,600 --> 00:56:02,900
Ah, yes.
683
00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:12,200
- What caused that?
684
00:56:12,200 --> 00:56:14,300
- Like walking in the rain?
- Like Gene Kelly.
685
00:56:14,300 --> 00:56:16,700
Oh, yes, that would do it every time, sir.
686
00:56:16,700 --> 00:56:19,600
Mr Amir, I'd like to ask you
for a big favour.
687
00:56:19,600 --> 00:56:21,300
Is there someplace we can talk?
688
00:56:21,300 --> 00:56:25,600
Anything I can do for the police
would be my absolute pleasure. This way.
689
00:56:35,000 --> 00:56:37,900
What I would like to do, sir, is I would
like to take that suit for one day.
690
00:56:37,900 --> 00:56:39,700
I'll give you a receipt,
date it and sign it.
691
00:56:39,700 --> 00:56:42,300
I guarantee you
that you won't be held responsible.
692
00:56:42,300 --> 00:56:46,300
Yes, but what do I say
when the client complains
693
00:56:46,500 --> 00:56:46,900
that the item
has not been returned on time?
694
00:56:50,500 --> 00:56:51,500
Mr Amir, there's one thing
I know for sure:
695
00:56:51,500 --> 00:56:53,800
That is not Mr Finch's only suit.
696
00:56:53,800 --> 00:56:55,600
And are your deliveries always on time?
697
00:57:00,100 --> 00:57:01,500
We have an excellent reputation, sir.
698
00:57:01,500 --> 00:57:04,400
Except on very rare occasions when
we have problems with the machines.
699
00:57:04,400 --> 00:57:06,100
But that can happen any time.
700
00:57:06,100 --> 00:57:07,800
Yes, sir, that is true -
it could happen any time.
701
00:57:07,800 --> 00:57:11,800
- I appreciate your cooperation.
- My pleasure, sir. This way.
702
00:57:34,000 --> 00:57:37,100
- Is he?
- Forgive me for disturbing you, sir.
703
00:57:37,100 --> 00:57:40,200
If it's not convenient,
I can come back another time.
704
00:57:40,200 --> 00:57:45,000
If you don't mind, sir,
I just need a little technical advice.
705
00:57:46,400 --> 00:57:49,500
I'm, um... I'm very expensive.
706
00:57:49,500 --> 00:57:52,000
Aw, shucks, sir!
707
00:57:54,000 --> 00:57:57,400
- What do you say, Louise?
- A break would do you good.
708
00:57:57,400 --> 00:57:59,700
All right. Come in, Lieutenant.
709
00:57:59,700 --> 00:58:01,500
- You through, Louise?
- I'm just going.
710
00:58:01,500 --> 00:58:03,900
- Have a good evening.
- Good night, Mr Finch.
711
00:58:03,900 --> 00:58:07,300
- Good night, Lieutenant.
- Good night, ma'am.
712
00:58:07,300 --> 00:58:09,400
At your service, Lieutenant.
713
00:58:16,400 --> 00:58:18,400
Know what this is, sir?
714
00:58:24,600 --> 00:58:28,000
If I'm not mistaken,
that is a.32 automatic.
715
00:58:28,000 --> 00:58:30,500
- That's the gun that killed Mr Staplin.
- Is it?
716
00:58:30,500 --> 00:58:34,800
Well, not the one,
but it's the same model.
717
00:58:34,800 --> 00:58:38,500
- The real one's been impounded...
- Pending closure of the investigation.
718
00:58:38,500 --> 00:58:41,700
- Exactly, sir.
- What about it?
719
00:58:41,700 --> 00:58:45,200
If I could just show you
what's puzzling me, sir.
720
00:58:45,200 --> 00:58:48,500
- Perhaps I could use your desk?
- Be my guest.
721
00:58:48,500 --> 00:58:54,300
Now, sir, I'm gonna need something
to represent a few drops of blood.
722
00:58:54,300 --> 00:58:58,000
- Could I use some water from that thing?
- From the carafe?
723
00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:01,900
- Help yourself.
- I notice you have carpet on the floor.
724
00:59:01,900 --> 00:59:05,300
Mr Staplin had hardwood
under his desk.
725
00:59:06,500 --> 00:59:11,600
- Could you spare a few sheets of paper?
- Paper? Certainly.
726
00:59:14,500 --> 00:59:16,600
Thank you.
727
00:59:17,600 --> 00:59:20,100
Excuse me.
728
00:59:25,900 --> 00:59:26,900
Yes?
729
00:59:26,900 --> 00:59:29,400
How are you?
730
00:59:29,400 --> 00:59:33,300
No, I can't right now.
I'm in the middle of a meeting.
731
00:59:33,300 --> 00:59:36,300
All right.
I'll call you as soon as I'm through.
732
00:59:36,300 --> 00:59:38,300
See you. Bye-bye.
733
00:59:38,300 --> 00:59:41,000
Sorry about that.
We won't be disturbed again...
734
00:59:41,000 --> 00:59:45,300
I've switched all calls through
to the answering service.
735
00:59:45,300 --> 00:59:49,200
- Where were we?
- This is about where the blood was.
736
00:59:49,200 --> 00:59:51,900
Now, let me show you.
737
00:59:53,100 --> 00:59:56,300
This is Mr Staplin's desk.
738
00:59:56,300 --> 00:59:58,100
I'm his body.
739
00:59:58,100 --> 01:00:00,500
Now, sir, after he's dead,
740
01:00:00,500 --> 01:00:03,100
here's his arm...
741
01:00:03,100 --> 01:00:06,300
and there's the gun -
under it, on the floor.
742
01:00:12,000 --> 01:00:15,100
- Uh, how does that look to you, sir?
- You saw it.
743
01:00:16,100 --> 01:00:19,500
Right, sir.
So here's the weird bit.
744
01:00:19,500 --> 01:00:23,400
This is the way it looked after he'd done
what he was supposed to have done.
745
01:00:23,400 --> 01:00:26,600
Something is puzzling me, sir.
746
01:00:26,600 --> 01:00:30,400
I was wondering, maybe with your
expertise, if you could help me.
747
01:00:30,400 --> 01:00:33,600
- I'll do my best.
- If you'll take a closer look, sir.
748
01:00:33,600 --> 01:00:36,900
- Closer? Certainly.
- Thank you.
749
01:00:38,100 --> 01:00:40,100
- In the chair?
- Yeah.
750
01:00:41,500 --> 01:00:46,200
It's the blood underneath the gun.
There was no blood on the gun.
751
01:00:46,200 --> 01:00:49,500
Not on this side
and not on the underside.
752
01:00:50,400 --> 01:00:56,800
So the blood must have dried before
the gun fell from his hand on the floor.
753
01:00:57,300 --> 01:00:59,600
You see, sir?
754
01:00:59,600 --> 01:01:01,800
This water hasn't dried yet.
755
01:01:01,800 --> 01:01:07,200
So how could a man shoot himself,
having a gun dangling from his fingers
756
01:01:07,200 --> 01:01:10,100
and it not drop until some time later?
757
01:01:10,700 --> 01:01:14,300
It just has me baffled, sir.
758
01:01:15,300 --> 01:01:18,700
- Fascinating.
- Yes, sir.
759
01:01:18,700 --> 01:01:21,400
But not beyond explanation.
760
01:01:22,700 --> 01:01:26,400
You mean that there's some way
that that could have happened?
761
01:01:26,400 --> 01:01:30,400
- Did Staplin have arthritis?
- Arthritis?
762
01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:32,600
In the hands?
763
01:01:33,600 --> 01:01:35,700
Oh... I don't know, sir.
764
01:01:35,700 --> 01:01:38,000
- Check it out.
- Oh, yes.
765
01:01:38,000 --> 01:01:43,200
In the finger joints. If there was a certain
amount of calcification in the finger joints,
766
01:01:43,200 --> 01:01:46,800
it could have delayed their extension
before the spasm.
767
01:01:47,700 --> 01:01:49,300
Spasm?
768
01:01:49,300 --> 01:01:53,700
Invariably, there's a spasm
or a digestive quiver
769
01:01:53,700 --> 01:01:57,100
that occurs after
other bodily functions have ceased,
770
01:01:57,100 --> 01:01:59,500
and before the onset of rigor mortis.
771
01:01:59,500 --> 01:02:03,200
So you mean that the gun
could have dangled on his finger,
772
01:02:03,200 --> 01:02:07,700
with the arthritis
delaying it from dropping
773
01:02:07,700 --> 01:02:14,300
until this spasm or quiver
shook it off some time later.
774
01:02:14,300 --> 01:02:16,400
Precisely put.
775
01:02:16,400 --> 01:02:21,400
And that would explain
how the blood had time to dry.
776
01:02:21,400 --> 01:02:24,300
- Possibly.
- Brilliant, sir!
777
01:02:24,300 --> 01:02:27,200
I wouldn't have thought of that
in a million years.
778
01:02:27,200 --> 01:02:30,100
Of course, there might be
another explanation.
779
01:02:30,100 --> 01:02:32,500
That was just a conjectural analysis.
780
01:02:32,500 --> 01:02:35,800
I can't imagine a better
one than that, sir.
781
01:02:35,800 --> 01:02:38,600
I wouldn't hesitate
to use it in a court of law.
782
01:02:38,600 --> 01:02:42,100
No wonder you charge such high fees!
783
01:02:42,100 --> 01:02:46,100
The information that you just gave me
is priceless.
784
01:02:47,400 --> 01:02:50,500
And thanks for the use of the hall,
as they say.
785
01:02:50,500 --> 01:02:53,500
I'll be on my way.
But believe me, sir,
786
01:02:53,500 --> 01:02:58,200
I will never forget
how you helped me out here tonight.
787
01:02:58,700 --> 01:03:01,200
Any time, Lieutenant.
788
01:03:01,200 --> 01:03:03,500
Any time!
789
01:03:03,500 --> 01:03:07,900
Have a good evening.
And, uh...
790
01:03:07,900 --> 01:03:11,000
kindly close the door as you go out.
791
01:03:11,600 --> 01:03:15,600
I, um... still have work to do.
792
01:03:19,100 --> 01:03:21,500
Certainly, sir.
793
01:03:21,500 --> 01:03:23,700
- Good night.
- Good night.
794
01:03:30,000 --> 01:03:31,900
You appear calm...
795
01:03:33,500 --> 01:03:35,700
but you're not.
796
01:03:39,800 --> 01:03:42,000
Staplin was murdered.
797
01:03:44,700 --> 01:03:48,700
- Where did you get that information?
- Our raincoated friend.
798
01:03:48,700 --> 01:03:51,400
- He's bluffing.
- I think he's got a suspect.
799
01:03:51,400 --> 01:03:54,200
- Who might that be?
- You, Oscar.
800
01:03:55,100 --> 01:03:58,300
And, uh... how do you feel about that?
801
01:03:59,400 --> 01:04:01,800
We've known each other
for a very long time,
802
01:04:01,800 --> 01:04:04,300
and I wouldn't be where I am
without you.
803
01:04:04,300 --> 01:04:08,300
I let you lie to me yesterday cos I didn't
wanna hear the truth. Maybe I still don't.
804
01:04:08,900 --> 01:04:11,700
Make up your mind, Paul -
either you do or you don't.
805
01:04:11,700 --> 01:04:14,300
It's, uh... your call.
806
01:04:15,700 --> 01:04:17,700
I'm listening.
807
01:04:20,700 --> 01:04:23,900
- He was extorting me.
- You killed him.
808
01:04:24,700 --> 01:04:28,300
I'd really appreciate
your believing it was necessary.
809
01:04:28,300 --> 01:04:31,700
- Necessary?!
- Essential. For both of us.
810
01:04:32,200 --> 01:04:35,800
- There was too much at stake.
- I wish I wasn't hearing this.
811
01:04:35,800 --> 01:04:38,500
He wanted to turn
the clock back 21 years...
812
01:04:38,500 --> 01:04:40,700
the missing-document routine.
813
01:04:40,700 --> 01:04:44,300
- What was I supposed to do?
- Tell him to got lost, like you said.
814
01:04:44,300 --> 01:04:48,300
And sit back and wait for him
to tell the world what happened in '69,
815
01:04:48,500 --> 01:04:52,500
about the favour we did him,
the cash that changed hands?
816
01:04:53,100 --> 01:04:56,100
If out turns out
the prime suspect in a homicide case
817
01:04:56,100 --> 01:05:00,100
is vice-presidential candidate Mackey's
closest personal friend,
818
01:05:00,300 --> 01:05:04,000
- what's the score then, Oscar?
- It'll never happen.
819
01:05:04,000 --> 01:05:07,900
- What guarantees do I have?
- I'm convinced Columbo is bluffing.
820
01:05:07,900 --> 01:05:12,900
He's been hanging around me like a
limpet and hasn't got a clue. He's fishing!
821
01:05:12,900 --> 01:05:16,900
Before I came here, he reconstructed
the Staplin death scene in my office,
822
01:05:17,100 --> 01:05:20,400
with the gun and all!
That was when you called.
823
01:05:20,400 --> 01:05:24,400
Asking for advice!
Who does he think he's kidding?
824
01:05:24,400 --> 01:05:27,800
Wish you'd been there.
You might have enjoyed it.
825
01:05:28,700 --> 01:05:31,900
Might I?
What about Staplin's phone call?
826
01:05:32,300 --> 01:05:36,000
You can't shoot a man
over the telephone, Paul.
827
01:05:37,100 --> 01:05:41,100
Having guided much of my career,
enlighten me on just one more point:
828
01:05:41,300 --> 01:05:43,400
What's your alibi?
829
01:05:46,800 --> 01:05:49,000
Oscar?
830
01:05:49,000 --> 01:05:51,400
What's your alibi?
831
01:05:51,400 --> 01:05:55,300
You should have seen the congressman
perform on camera in the interview.
832
01:05:55,800 --> 01:06:00,600
It's a natural talent - you either have it or you don't.
Can't give lessons in charisma.
833
01:06:00,600 --> 01:06:01,900
Yeah.
834
01:06:12,400 --> 01:06:16,400
Ah, Lieutenant. Good of you
to respond so quickly to my call.
835
01:06:16,900 --> 01:06:19,700
Paul's upstairs with the governor.
836
01:06:19,700 --> 01:06:23,100
Toby, go check that he's on his way,
would you, please?
837
01:06:23,100 --> 01:06:28,300
Well, Lieutenant, I've, uh... I've been
practising law for a very long time
838
01:06:28,300 --> 01:06:31,700
and I value my professional integrity
above all else,
839
01:06:31,700 --> 01:06:35,700
but today I'm going to do a thing
that I've never done before.
840
01:06:35,800 --> 01:06:40,400
- What is that, sir?
- I'm going to break a trust, an oath.
841
01:06:40,400 --> 01:06:42,800
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, sir.
842
01:06:42,800 --> 01:06:46,800
It's my understanding that you
now believe that Staplin was murdered.
843
01:06:46,800 --> 01:06:49,300
- That's right, sir.
- It's not surprising,
844
01:06:49,300 --> 01:06:54,000
considering how many enemies he must
have made - he was a ruthless operator.
845
01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:58,000
- You got a suspect?
- It's a little early to be sure, sir.
846
01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:00,100
But you do have some clues?
847
01:07:00,100 --> 01:07:02,400
Little things here and there.
848
01:07:02,400 --> 01:07:06,400
- Hypothetical? Circumstantial?
- Yes and no, sir.
849
01:07:06,400 --> 01:07:09,600
- No proof?
- Not yet, no.
850
01:07:09,600 --> 01:07:15,300
I'd hate to think that there was any
suspicion or innuendo attached to me.
851
01:07:15,300 --> 01:07:17,200
So would I, sir.
852
01:07:17,200 --> 01:07:20,900
Remember I told you I had a meeting
with a client that evening?
853
01:07:20,900 --> 01:07:24,900
- Yes, sir.
- And I claimed attorney-client privilege?
854
01:07:25,200 --> 01:07:28,100
- Confidentiality?
- Yes.
855
01:07:29,100 --> 01:07:34,000
Uh... my client -
the client I was with that night.
856
01:07:34,000 --> 01:07:37,600
How are you? Oscar's filled you in
with the gruesome details?
857
01:07:37,600 --> 01:07:43,000
I know it just about killed him to do it,
but it's my doing and I take the blame.
858
01:07:43,000 --> 01:07:46,200
- You, sir?
- When Oscar mentioned your enquiries,
859
01:07:46,200 --> 01:07:49,700
I told him in no uncertain terms
to keep my name out of it.
860
01:07:49,700 --> 01:07:53,300
I'm sure you can appreciate
the delicate political situation.
861
01:07:53,300 --> 01:07:57,600
A word in the wrong place at the wrong
time could upset certain important events.
862
01:07:57,600 --> 01:08:01,500
However, we both now feel
we can rely on your total discretion.
863
01:08:01,500 --> 01:08:04,700
After you told me
that the agenda changed to murder,
864
01:08:04,700 --> 01:08:08,100
I felt it'd be selfish
to further impede your investigation.
865
01:08:08,100 --> 01:08:10,900
I apologise.
866
01:08:10,900 --> 01:08:13,300
I understand, sir.
867
01:08:13,300 --> 01:08:16,500
Goodbye, Lieutenant.
868
01:08:16,500 --> 01:08:19,300
And good luck.
869
01:08:19,300 --> 01:08:21,200
Thank you, sir.
870
01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:27,000
Oh, uh, Lieutenant,
I almost forgot.
871
01:08:27,000 --> 01:08:32,700
For your wife - from Governor
Montgomery, with his best regards.
872
01:08:35,000 --> 01:08:37,700
Congressman, uh...
873
01:08:37,700 --> 01:08:42,800
if you're on the ticket, sir,
you have one vote for sure.
874
01:08:42,800 --> 01:08:46,500
Well, you never know,
it just might be the one we need to win.
875
01:08:46,500 --> 01:08:50,900
Thank you... very much.
876
01:09:01,500 --> 01:09:03,700
Anybody home?
877
01:09:07,800 --> 01:09:09,800
Anybody home?!
878
01:09:09,800 --> 01:09:11,700
Who's there?
879
01:09:13,200 --> 01:09:15,000
Miss Louise?
880
01:09:15,000 --> 01:09:18,800
It's Diane, one of the others.
Who's that?
881
01:09:18,800 --> 01:09:22,700
- Lieutenant Columbo.
- The cigar man.
882
01:09:23,100 --> 01:09:28,300
I'm in the bathroom, fixing my face.
Just a minute. Hang in there!
883
01:09:45,400 --> 01:09:49,300
- Well? How do you like it?
- That's nice, miss. That's real nice.
884
01:09:49,300 --> 01:09:52,600
It's primary day.
Everybody will be at the celebrations.
885
01:09:56,000 --> 01:09:58,700
Nothing like a celebration.
I hope everything works out.
886
01:09:58,700 --> 01:10:02,700
- Mr Finch says it's in the bag.
- Shows you how dumb I am, ma'am.
887
01:10:02,800 --> 01:10:06,500
Expecting to find him here
at the beginning of a night like this.
888
01:10:06,500 --> 01:10:08,600
He'll be in the thick of it someplace.
889
01:10:08,600 --> 01:10:12,300
I'll just wander over to the hotel.
Good night, miss.
890
01:10:14,200 --> 01:10:16,900
- Don't forget to lock up.
- I won't.
891
01:10:17,400 --> 01:10:21,200
Love that dress! Have a ball.
892
01:10:21,200 --> 01:10:25,200
Thanks. Bye-bye.
893
01:10:25,500 --> 01:10:29,200
- Big night, huh?
- Oh, yeah. It's exciting.
894
01:10:29,200 --> 01:10:34,000
- Ever been in one of these?
- No, my first time.
895
01:10:34,000 --> 01:10:36,200
I'll go find him.
Wait here, Lieutenant.
896
01:10:47,400 --> 01:10:50,000
He'll be right out, Lieutenant.
897
01:10:57,600 --> 01:11:01,500
What the hell is going on?!
I thought we had our last little chat.
898
01:11:01,500 --> 01:11:03,800
Tonight is not the time to have another.
899
01:11:03,800 --> 01:11:07,400
I'm sorry, sir.
I think we should go someplace private.
900
01:11:07,400 --> 01:11:11,100
This is, uh... confidential,
you might say.
901
01:11:14,000 --> 01:11:18,900
All right. Step in Haines's room. He won't
mind - he's fully occupied in there.
902
01:11:19,900 --> 01:11:23,400
- How's it going, sir?
- It's looking good. Get to the point!
903
01:11:25,200 --> 01:11:30,000
I'm not going to enjoy this, Congressman,
and I wanted to get into it easier,
904
01:11:30,000 --> 01:11:32,500
but if that's how you feel, I'll oblige.
905
01:11:32,500 --> 01:11:34,700
All right, get to it.
906
01:11:36,200 --> 01:11:41,400
Notice my cigar? When I was in your
office, you asked me not to smoke it.
907
01:11:41,400 --> 01:11:44,800
When did you give up cigars yourself, sir?
908
01:11:44,800 --> 01:11:48,600
- What makes you think I did?
- Your behaviour.
909
01:11:48,600 --> 01:11:52,600
And that beautiful humidor and lighter
that was still on your desk.
910
01:11:53,100 --> 01:11:58,000
Three weeks ago. The image of the
cigar-smoking politician is out of date.
911
01:11:58,000 --> 01:12:00,200
You quit three weeks ago?
912
01:12:00,200 --> 01:12:04,200
But after your late-night meeting
with Mr Finch,
913
01:12:04,200 --> 01:12:07,500
his entire office smelled of cigar smoke.
914
01:12:07,500 --> 01:12:10,900
Well, I didn't say that
I'd quit altogether.
915
01:12:10,900 --> 01:12:16,500
What I have done is avoid smoking
within sight of cameras and gossipers.
916
01:12:16,500 --> 01:12:18,600
I see.
917
01:12:18,600 --> 01:12:22,600
- Did you drive to Mr Finch's that night?
- Of course.
918
01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:25,700
Do you remember where you parked?
919
01:12:26,700 --> 01:12:29,400
In his lot.
920
01:12:29,400 --> 01:12:32,100
Was he there already?
921
01:12:32,100 --> 01:12:35,100
No. We arrived about the same time.
922
01:12:35,100 --> 01:12:37,800
And you left together?
923
01:12:37,800 --> 01:12:39,700
That's right.
924
01:12:39,700 --> 01:12:43,200
About, uh... 2am, as I recall.
925
01:12:43,200 --> 01:12:45,400
Was it raining?
926
01:12:47,500 --> 01:12:51,800
- Raining?
- There was a short rainstorm that night.
927
01:12:51,800 --> 01:12:55,100
Was it raining when you left?
928
01:12:55,100 --> 01:12:57,500
No. I'm sure it wasn't.
929
01:12:57,500 --> 01:13:01,500
It might have happened earlier,
while we were still in Oscar's office.
930
01:13:01,600 --> 01:13:04,000
Or maybe it happened later,
after I got home.
931
01:13:04,000 --> 01:13:05,500
Uh-huh.
932
01:13:05,500 --> 01:13:09,300
The scandal
in the district attorney's office, '69...
933
01:13:09,300 --> 01:13:15,000
the one involving Frank Staplin's stolen
documents - you remember that, sir?
934
01:13:15,000 --> 01:13:18,700
I'll never forget it.
Destroyed the political future of a fine DA.
935
01:13:18,700 --> 01:13:21,400
- Who you worked for.
- As an assistant DA.
936
01:13:21,400 --> 01:13:24,600
You said you never met Mr Staplin.
937
01:13:24,600 --> 01:13:29,500
Dammit, Lieutenant! I wasn't assigned
to the case - we had a large staff.
938
01:13:29,500 --> 01:13:33,200
Mr Finch claims
he never met Mr Staplin either.
939
01:13:33,200 --> 01:13:36,800
- So you told me.
- But it turns out that 21 years ago
940
01:13:36,800 --> 01:13:40,800
Mr Finch worked for the law firm
that represented Mr Staplin.
941
01:13:46,800 --> 01:13:49,000
He was a junior partner at the time.
942
01:13:49,000 --> 01:13:52,400
I doubt if he'd have been assigned
a case of such importance.
943
01:13:52,400 --> 01:13:58,000
In 1969, Frank Staplin was in bad trouble
and he needed a big favour.
944
01:13:58,000 --> 01:14:03,300
I think he got friendly with the ambitious
Mr Finch and they made a deal.
945
01:14:03,300 --> 01:14:07,100
But Mr Finch needed help
in the district attorney's office...
946
01:14:07,100 --> 01:14:10,800
a person who had access to the evidence
that had to be destroyed
947
01:14:10,800 --> 01:14:13,100
in order to save Mr Staplin.
948
01:14:13,100 --> 01:14:16,900
You were Mr Finch's best friend.
You were that person.
949
01:14:22,600 --> 01:14:25,600
You can't have proof of this.
950
01:14:25,600 --> 01:14:28,600
The little house you've built's
floating on thin air.
951
01:14:28,600 --> 01:14:30,300
That's right.
952
01:14:30,300 --> 01:14:34,000
But it's a house made entirely of glass,
953
01:14:34,000 --> 01:14:35,500
and you're inside...
and you can't get out.
954
01:14:35,500 --> 01:14:37,400
If I were you...
955
01:14:41,900 --> 01:14:45,500
I wouldn't perjure myself
for Mr Oscar Finch.
956
01:14:55,200 --> 01:14:58,500
Sounds like the opposition has conceded.
957
01:14:59,500 --> 01:15:02,700
I wish I could say congratulations, sir.
958
01:15:52,000 --> 01:15:56,500
Excuse me, please. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
959
01:15:56,500 --> 01:16:00,300
Excuse me, please. Excuse me, sir.
Thank you very much.
960
01:16:00,300 --> 01:16:03,800
This is an unexpected pleasure,
Lieutenant.
961
01:16:03,800 --> 01:16:07,100
- Somebody send you an invitation?
- Not exactly, sir.
962
01:16:07,100 --> 01:16:11,100
- You might say this is a working visit.
- No rest for the wicked.
963
01:16:11,100 --> 01:16:14,400
- Ever the bloodhound.
- In a manner of speaking, sir.
964
01:16:14,400 --> 01:16:18,200
- Moving in for the kill?
- I hope it doesn't go that far, sir.
965
01:16:18,200 --> 01:16:20,900
What are you doing,
carrying that around?
966
01:16:20,900 --> 01:16:26,600
- You look like a delivery man.
- This? I picked this up at the cleaner's.
967
01:16:26,600 --> 01:16:30,200
- Going in for a new look?
- Not really, no.
968
01:16:32,400 --> 01:16:34,800
- Lost somebody?
- Some friends of mine.
969
01:16:34,800 --> 01:16:37,800
I thought they might be here by now.
970
01:16:37,800 --> 01:16:40,400
- Have you something to say to me?
- What?
971
01:16:40,400 --> 01:16:45,400
You waved to me. You gave the distinct
impression that you wanted to talk to me.
972
01:16:45,400 --> 01:16:48,100
I did, sir. I nearly forgot.
973
01:16:49,400 --> 01:16:51,900
Got too much on my mind, sir.
974
01:16:51,900 --> 01:16:54,900
There are a few things
I wanted to go over with you.
975
01:16:54,900 --> 01:17:00,000
I spoke to management, and they can
let us have a room across the hall.
976
01:17:00,000 --> 01:17:04,500
Somebody just finished a sales
demonstration in there. We can talk.
977
01:17:04,500 --> 01:17:08,800
- More advice?
- Just two or three points I wanna go over.
978
01:17:09,100 --> 01:17:14,700
I honestly think, with your cooperation,
we could wrap this case up, put it to bed.
979
01:17:14,700 --> 01:17:17,400
Well, that's terrific.
That's just terrific.
980
01:17:17,400 --> 01:17:20,600
But tonight's not the night
for that sort of thing.
981
01:17:20,600 --> 01:17:25,400
Why don't you give me a call in the
morning? I'll give you all the help I can.
982
01:17:25,400 --> 01:17:28,800
But right now, I'd hate to miss
the governor's speech.
983
01:17:28,800 --> 01:17:34,100
But by all means, stick around
and enjoy yourself. Be my guest!
984
01:17:36,900 --> 01:17:40,600
This is your suit, sir!
The one you got wet!
985
01:17:44,300 --> 01:17:47,700
- Wet?
- In the rain, the night Staplin was killed.
986
01:17:53,600 --> 01:17:58,400
- I think you did it, sir.
- Where's the room?
987
01:17:59,400 --> 01:18:03,700
That was an extraordinary remark
you made. I'm disappointed in you.
988
01:18:03,700 --> 01:18:06,700
- Sorry about that.
- I thought we had a nice relationship.
989
01:18:06,700 --> 01:18:08,900
Nothing's perfect.
990
01:18:08,900 --> 01:18:11,500
This is your suit, isn't it?
991
01:18:11,500 --> 01:18:13,700
Let me... let me look at it.
992
01:18:17,700 --> 01:18:21,100
Mm, that's nice! Nice fabric.
993
01:18:21,900 --> 01:18:25,200
Yes, I, uh... I have one just like it.
994
01:18:25,200 --> 01:18:27,700
It is yours, sir.
It was at the cleaner's.
995
01:18:27,700 --> 01:18:32,500
And it was at the cleaner's...
because it got wet in the rain.
996
01:18:36,100 --> 01:18:39,800
Oh, yes... so it did.
997
01:18:39,800 --> 01:18:42,500
- Where did it get wet?
998
01:18:43,300 --> 01:18:46,400
- Where?
- Where else.
999
01:18:46,400 --> 01:18:52,100
- Where it rains, of course - outside.
- When were you outside, sir?
1000
01:18:52,100 --> 01:18:56,100
When I walked from my car to my office
for the meeting with Mackey,
1001
01:18:56,300 --> 01:19:00,300
and then when I walked from my office
to my car a couple of hours later.
1002
01:19:01,000 --> 01:19:05,300
Except, according to Congressman
Mackey, the two of you left together
1003
01:19:05,300 --> 01:19:08,800
- and it wasn't raining.
- Then it must have rained earlier.
1004
01:19:08,800 --> 01:19:11,700
No, sir, that's not possible either.
1005
01:19:14,000 --> 01:19:16,700
And how does your crystal ball
deduce that?
1006
01:19:16,700 --> 01:19:21,100
Well, sir, in your parking space,
the ground under your car was dry,
1007
01:19:21,100 --> 01:19:24,000
so it wasn't raining when you arrived.
1008
01:19:24,000 --> 01:19:27,200
It had to start raining after you arrived.
1009
01:19:28,200 --> 01:19:33,800
And I noticed that dry spot the following
morning when I parked in your space.
1010
01:19:33,800 --> 01:19:37,800
But there was only one dry spot... not two.
1011
01:19:39,000 --> 01:19:44,200
That means there was only one car
in the parking lot the previous night.
1012
01:19:44,200 --> 01:19:47,300
That means
Congressman Mackey was lying
1013
01:19:47,300 --> 01:19:50,700
when he said he drove to your office
and parked in your lot.
1014
01:19:51,200 --> 01:19:55,200
And you were lying, sir,
when you said you met him there,
1015
01:19:55,200 --> 01:19:58,000
because he was never there.
1016
01:19:58,000 --> 01:20:00,900
And you walked to Mr Staplin's house
1017
01:20:00,900 --> 01:20:05,600
because you didn't want your car seen
outside his house.
1018
01:20:06,000 --> 01:20:09,900
And you killed Mr Staplin because
he threatened to spill the beans
1019
01:20:09,900 --> 01:20:15,500
about the favour you did him in '69
unless you did him another favour.
1020
01:20:15,500 --> 01:20:19,800
And when you left Mr Staplin's house
it started to rain,
1021
01:20:20,000 --> 01:20:22,700
and that's when you got wet.
1022
01:20:23,100 --> 01:20:26,900
But it stopped raining
before you returned to your car,
1023
01:20:26,900 --> 01:20:30,900
and that's why
the ground under your car was dry.
1024
01:20:42,400 --> 01:20:44,900
- That it?
- That's it, sir.
1025
01:20:49,900 --> 01:20:53,900
Oh, you, uh...
you disappoint me, Lieutenant.
1026
01:20:54,900 --> 01:20:57,500
You are aware that
an accusation of that nature
1027
01:20:57,500 --> 01:21:00,800
requires proof of presence
at the scene of the crime?
1028
01:21:01,300 --> 01:21:04,100
- Yes, sir, I'm aware of that.
- Do you have it?
1029
01:21:05,500 --> 01:21:06,900
No, sir.
1030
01:21:06,900 --> 01:21:10,900
But you do have a dead body
with all the indications of suicide
1031
01:21:11,100 --> 01:21:14,500
and one self-inflicted gunshot wound
to the head.
1032
01:21:14,500 --> 01:21:17,800
Tell me,
was there powder on the gun hand?
1033
01:21:19,000 --> 01:21:20,500
Yes.
1034
01:21:20,500 --> 01:21:23,800
How did it get there
if he didn't shoot himself?
1035
01:21:23,800 --> 01:21:26,800
I have no idea.
1036
01:21:26,800 --> 01:21:29,000
Then all you have is a load of
1037
01:21:29,000 --> 01:21:34,200
unsubstantiated,
circumstantial poppycock!
1038
01:21:37,600 --> 01:21:42,400
If you'll forgive me,
I think I'll return to the festivities.
1039
01:21:42,400 --> 01:21:46,400
But the invitation remains open -
you're welcome to stay.
1040
01:21:46,500 --> 01:21:49,400
Please, enjoy yourself, Lieutenant.
1041
01:21:49,400 --> 01:21:52,500
Um... stick around.
1042
01:22:16,300 --> 01:22:18,500
Excuse me.
1043
01:22:42,500 --> 01:22:44,900
It wouldn't have been possible
without you.
1044
01:22:44,900 --> 01:22:46,900
- My pleasure.
- Thanks.
1045
01:23:15,400 --> 01:23:17,200
- That's it.
- Everything?
1046
01:23:17,200 --> 01:23:19,200
The works.
1047
01:23:21,600 --> 01:23:25,900
Mr Finch? This is a warrant
to bring you in for questioning.
1048
01:23:25,900 --> 01:23:29,500
We'll do it here.
These gentlemen will serve as witnesses.
1049
01:23:29,500 --> 01:23:33,500
You know your rights.
Is there anyone you want present?
1050
01:23:33,500 --> 01:23:36,800
Let's get this farce on the road.
1051
01:23:36,800 --> 01:23:40,300
Mr Finch, where were you
on the night Mr Staplin was killed?
1052
01:23:40,300 --> 01:23:42,800
At my home and in my office.
1053
01:23:42,800 --> 01:23:48,700
- When's the last time you saw Mr Staplin?
- I never met Mr Staplin.
1054
01:23:48,700 --> 01:23:51,400
- Have you ever been in his house?
- Never.
1055
01:23:52,100 --> 01:23:54,400
- Did you kill Mr Staplin?
- Nope.
1056
01:23:55,000 --> 01:24:00,800
- This is a piece of gum. Recognise it?
- Recognise a piece of gum?!
1057
01:24:00,800 --> 01:24:03,200
- Remember chewing it?
- I beg your pardon?
1058
01:24:03,200 --> 01:24:05,600
- Do you chew gum, sir?
- Occasionally.
1059
01:24:05,600 --> 01:24:09,000
This gum was found
in your trash can in your office.
1060
01:24:09,000 --> 01:24:12,100
There were also three full packs
in the top desk drawer,
1061
01:24:12,100 --> 01:24:15,000
plus a fourth with only one stick missing.
1062
01:24:15,000 --> 01:24:17,400
Uh... would you concede, Mr Finch,
1063
01:24:17,400 --> 01:24:23,700
that if the teeth marks in this gum
match exactly with your teeth marks,
1064
01:24:23,700 --> 01:24:28,400
the average person would believe
that it was you that chewed the gum?
1065
01:24:28,400 --> 01:24:32,400
- More hypothetical poppycock?
- It's not poppycock, sir.
1066
01:24:32,600 --> 01:24:35,700
Not if it places you
at the scene of the crime.
1067
01:24:35,700 --> 01:24:39,400
- Enlighten me.
- Have you ever seen this?
1068
01:24:39,400 --> 01:24:42,200
Police Chief magazine, August issue.
1069
01:24:42,200 --> 01:24:46,000
There's an article in here -
that's how I know about this.
1070
01:24:46,000 --> 01:24:49,100
I found out that in Fresno, California...
1071
01:24:49,100 --> 01:24:51,100
Here, let me read this to you.
1072
01:24:52,100 --> 01:24:55,200
Dr Benoff, he's a forensic dentist.
1073
01:24:55,200 --> 01:25:00,300
It says, "He punctured the alibi
of a suspect in a drug-related slaying
1074
01:25:00,300 --> 01:25:04,200
by matching a wad of chewing gum
discarded at the scene
1075
01:25:04,200 --> 01:25:06,400
"to the suspect's teeth."
1076
01:25:06,400 --> 01:25:09,900
"Seeing the matched models,
the suspect pleaded guilty."
1077
01:25:09,900 --> 01:25:13,900
This is getting to be a big thing -
bite-mark evidence.
1078
01:25:13,900 --> 01:25:17,700
That famous serial murderer
in Florida, Bundy?
1079
01:25:17,700 --> 01:25:19,800
They put him to death
1080
01:25:19,800 --> 01:25:24,900
because they could match his tooth marks
with the bite marks on the two girls.
1081
01:25:24,900 --> 01:25:28,200
It's getting to be big!
I'm glad I read this article.
1082
01:25:28,200 --> 01:25:31,600
Fascinating as this is,
even if the gum were mine,
1083
01:25:31,600 --> 01:25:35,000
it was not at the scene of the crime.
1084
01:25:35,000 --> 01:25:38,600
But this was -
this piece of cheese.
1085
01:25:38,600 --> 01:25:42,900
This cheese was on Mr Staplin's desk
on the night of his death,
1086
01:25:43,100 --> 01:25:46,900
and the bite mark
on this piece of cheese...
1087
01:25:48,700 --> 01:25:51,700
matches the bite mark
on this piece of gum.
1088
01:25:54,100 --> 01:25:57,600
This is your dental chart, Mr Finch.
1089
01:25:57,600 --> 01:26:00,700
This is an X-ray of your eye tooth.
1090
01:26:00,700 --> 01:26:03,500
It has a distinct chip
on the right front side,
1091
01:26:03,500 --> 01:26:08,900
and a number of small notches
running along the other lateral edge.
1092
01:26:08,900 --> 01:26:11,800
I haven't taken a mould
of your tooth yet, Mr Finch,
1093
01:26:11,800 --> 01:26:15,100
but when I do it's gonna be
the same thing as a fingerprint...
1094
01:26:15,100 --> 01:26:17,700
the mould of your tooth
is gonna match exactly
1095
01:26:17,700 --> 01:26:19,900
the bite mark on this piece of cheese,
1096
01:26:19,900 --> 01:26:23,500
placing you at the scene of the crime.
1097
01:26:23,500 --> 01:26:25,900
You're under arrest, sir...
1098
01:26:25,900 --> 01:26:28,100
suspicion of murder.
1099
01:26:28,100 --> 01:26:30,100
Excuse me.
1100
01:26:37,800 --> 01:26:40,100
Ladies and gentlemen,
1101
01:26:40,100 --> 01:26:42,700
fellow workers,
1102
01:26:42,700 --> 01:26:45,300
dear friends...
1103
01:26:45,300 --> 01:26:47,600
this is a night to remember!
1104
01:26:50,900 --> 01:26:52,800
One bite of cheese!
1105
01:26:53,900 --> 01:26:57,900
One bite of cheese.
96439
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