Original subtitles

I will kill him like in the old days

with you assisting me

That is crazy

That sounds like blackmail

Lieutenant, would I do such a thing to a fellow police officer?

You're in no condition to fight a bull

Maybe it was homicide

No man could have ripped Rangel open in such a way

No, the bull was the murder weapon, sir

Like a gun

Curro! Curro!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello Dr Leon

Dr Leon, this is Luis Montoya

Fine, thank you Tell me, how is Curro doing?

That's good news I'll tell his father

Then the bull did get him It's a minor wound?

Well, that's a relief When he reawakens,

will you tell him that I called?

And tell him that I'm going to San Diego this evening with his father,

but in the morning, on the way back, I'll stop by

Thank you, Doctor Goodbye

(BANGING ON DOOR)

Enter

Matador?

Excuse me, but do you wish the convertible washed and waxed?

No, I'll be using the hardtop

Have Carlos get it ready

The men were asking me about Curro How is he?

Oh, he regained consciousness I just talked to the doctor

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Yes, he'll be all right

Hector told us what you did, Matador It was a brave thing

Yes?

These young ones, so foolish to try to cape a bull like Marinaro

When Carlos is finished, give him the rest of the day off

Tell all the men to take the rest of the day off

But Yes, I know, I know it's Friday and it's early

But yesterday, we nearly had a tragedy

and tomorrow, the bulls must be sent off early to the bullring

and I think everyone could use a little time off

Matador, who do you want to stay behind?

Let them all go Miguel can play caretaker for the evening

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

(WHINNIES)

Miguel!

I saw some cows roaming outside the south pasture

There must be a fence down

I will take a ride, senor, and find out

Good

Miguel!

To keep you company

Good mescal, senor

You touched the heart of an old vaquero

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

I was hoping you'd change your mind about leaving

No You were right

Everything is different now

I must leave

What do you want me to tell the men?

Tell them whatever you want to

You know, I can't send Marinaro to the ring with the other bulls

He has seen your son's cape He has sentido now

I know He is spoiled He knows too much

I'm going to kill him

But why?

He will make a very good seed bull

When Curro leaves the hospital,

you know he'll want to face Marinaro again

How do you know that?

Dr Leon told me that

Curro is determined to do it

Perhaps, but I don't think my son is that crazy

I won't take that chance That bull would kill Curro this time

Luis, I do appreciate your concern

I know it is not easy to destroy such a valuable bull

But you don't have to There are no "buts"

I'm going to kill Marinaro today

in the ring, face to face

Luis, you don't have to do that

I will kill him like in the old days

with you assisting me

That is crazy

And you know it!

Look, we're both out of shape

That bull would take at least five picks

Besides, your leg,

it has been giving you a lot of trouble lately

If you won't help me, my friend,

I'll have to do it alone

Curro is a son to me also

(HECTOR GRUNTING)

Oh, my God!

Luis!

Luis, I don't Help me, Luis

Luis,

help me

I don't I don't know what's wrong

I Something's wrong

Luis, I was stung

No, Luis

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Luis,

what are you doing?

Help me I can't see straight

Luis, please

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(BULL GRUNTING)

Luis, no

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(MAN SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I have insurance, I have insurance that'll pay for everything

Wait a minute Wait a minute

COLUMBO: Does anybody speak English?

Speak English? You speak English?

Do you speak English? Just a minute now

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)

What did she say? What is he saying?

Broken neck Broke the neck

He broke the neck? How'd he broke the neck?

We were going 10 miles an hour

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Tell him, tell him, we were going five miles an hour

Five

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Sir, your identification, please

My identification Here

MAN: She said all your fault, you hit her car

Insurance, insurance

Where is the man who speaks English?

COLUMBO: Come over here Come over here

Just a minute Where's that man that speaks

Just a minute, darling

(WOMAN CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

COLUMBO: Senor, I have insurance

(ENGINE STARTING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

You don't have to take the car

There is nothing wrong with the car

Senor, there is just a dent in the fender

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

All right One minute One minute

(POLICE SIREN WAILING)

I have to get back to Los Angeles

I need my car My wife is here

(POLICE SIREN BLARING)

(MAN CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

Yes, but what am I gonna do, walk?

(OFFICER SPEAKING SPANISH)

Is your name Columbo? Yes

Lieutenant Columbo?

That's right

Los Angeles Police Department?

That's right

I'm Comandante Emilio Sanchez

Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant I'm at your service

Listen, nothing happened That fellow wasn't hurt

I mean, the bumpers just touched

They took my car I gotta get back

I'm sorry, Lieutenant You may go But the car has to stay

It's a matter of insurance

Oh, I got plenty of insurance

I'm afraid it's not valid here in Mexico

You should have bought the coverage when you drove over the border

Listen, my wife and I, we gotta get back to LA I'm sorry, Lieutenant I'm sorry

I would like to extend to you a professional courtesy,

as a police officer to a police officer,

but the law is very specific about it

Maybe you can go in a bus to Los Angeles and come back on Monday

Oh, I couldn't do that I need the car It's very special

You are very special

What do you mean?

We had it in all the newspapers here in Mexico

That murder on the cruise ship

By the time you landed in Mexico, you had unmasked the killer

Oh, you heard about that Yeah

Oh, that was a hell of a thing Gee That was a

You know the first night out the fellow murdered the girl,

an entertainer?

She went down to change her clothes and she never came back

It was a cruise My wife bought a raffle ticket,

we won a cruise for nothing and got on, and I was seasick

Oh, I'll never forget that

Yeah, I would like to hear more about it

Now that you're gonna remain in the city for the weekend, maybe we could get together

I would be honored if you could join my wife and me for dinner tonight

I thought I was gonna be arrested

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

Just a moment

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(WOMAN SPEAKING SPANISH ON RADIO)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I must go, Lieutenant

There's been a terrible accident at the Montoya ranch

Maybe you'd like to accompany me

We could talk on the way over

My wife is waiting at the hotel

All right I understand

You know, I was thinking that maybe

we could speed up the paperwork on your accident

But of course, you have to go to your wife That's it

That sounds like blackmail

Lieutenant, would I do such a thing to a fellow police officer?

(SANCHEZ CHUCKLING)

(SANCHEZ SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

My house is your house, Lieutenant

Thank you very much

I can't tell you what a relief it is that you speak English

Don Luis is the owner of the ranch He is a ganadero

Ganadero?

At one time, I was paid handsomely to fight bulls

Now I pay handsomely to raise them

An expensive hobby, my friend

The dead man worked for Don Luis for many years at the ranch

and before that, as his assistant

A true friend, loyal, faithful,

forgotten virtues these days

Just be a moment

SANCHEZ: Now Luis, tell me what happened

The shipping box broke

and Marinaro bolted into the ring

and then Curro Rangel, with muleta and sword, jumped in

That was Thursday, right?

Thursday

As soon as the boy eyed the bull,

I know the feeling from my own youth,

he could not resist

He did surprisingly well for a novice

but then he comes from good stock He's a brave boy

But the bull got him

Yes A momentary lapse of concentration,

a sudden gust of wind that caught the muleta, who can say?

Hector managed to drag Curro to safety

while I held the bull at bay, momentarily, of course

With this leg of mine, I would not like to take on that brute in earnest

You're too modest, Don Luis Yeah

Anyway, I could not guess that Hector would climb into the ring alone yesterday

after everyone was gone

Well, why would he do a thing like that, sir?

For his son, Lieutenant

Hector knew that Curro would leave the hospital to fight the bull again

Now, you gave all the men the day off, right?

Mmmhmm

All but Miguel

I myself had to leave for a speaking engagement

in San Diego at the Aficionado Club

And Hector was supposed to come along with me,

but at the last minute, he asked permission

to stay behind to work on the books

It appears now he had a

He had other plans in mind

Excuse me, sir

Is that Senor Hector driving your car?

Hector Rangel

So, Hector Rangel must have gotten into the ring right after you left at

LUIS: 4:30 4:30

He would have waited until I was well on my way,

walked to the ring,

I'd say he faced the bull at 5:00,

perhaps 5:30 5:00, 5:30

All right

I would like to take a look at the body Would you care to join me?

As you wish

SANCHEZ: Lieutenant?

Comandante, how much is a bull like that worth?

Fighting bull? How much is it worth?

I don't know But they're expensive

How much?

It all depends on the bull Ask him

Who, Luis? Yes

Don Luis,

a bull like Marinaro, how much he worth?

$8,000 More with inflation

Seems like a valuable piece of property to destroy without permission

I'm sorry I don't follow you

No, it just occurred to me that

Is there something I can help you with?

No, we were just commenting on the fact

that the man that was killed, Hector Rangel,

that he was planning to destroy

a valuable piece of your property without permission

He's dead

How can you judge the behavior of a man

who almost lost his only son?

Shall we, Luis? Lieutenant?

No, gracias I see enough bodies when I'm working

Thank you I'll just look around

Okay

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Oh, no I speak English, senor

I am Jaime Delgado, the foreman What can I do for you?

I was wondering Could you answer a question for me?

I already told the Comandante all I know, senor

I was in town when Rangel was killed

It was a very sad thing that happened

Oh, yes, it was

Oh, no, no This is about bullfighting

I was wondering, could you tell me,

do you think it's kind of late in the afternoon

to be fighting a bull at 5:00, 5:30?

I mean, because of the sun, it's already down

No, senor

It is the time that all bullfights take place

You see, it's to the bullfighter's advantage

And there's more than enough light at this time of year

It shows you

I don't know much about bullfighting

Yes

Is that all, senor?

You know, I think my wife is right

Something wrong with me

Supposed to be on vacation and right away, I'm thinking like a cop

It's called occupational hazard

"Occupational hazard? " What is that?

That's when wherever you go,

you take your work with you

Oh, I see We call that loco Excuse me

(CLEARING THROAT)

Good afternoon, sir

Good afternoon, sir

This is a wonderful car

I always wanted a car like this for myself

How long has Senor Montoya had this car?

Oh, for many years

I take the best care of it

Could I sit in? Sure Go ahead

(SIGHING)

Oh, boy

This is a workout driving this car

No power gadgets on that one, sir

If you want power, you gotta do it yourself

You know, it must be difficult for Senor Montoya,

I mean, with his bad leg

He'll never drive it

Hector will always do it for him

Hector

Yes I remember the pictures on the wall

Yeah, now that Hector's not here,

probably he'll ask me to drive it for him

So I guess Senor Montoya used this car to go to San Diego in?

Pretty smart, mister

That one is clean, this one is dirty, huh?

Me, I like a motorcycle,

except that I crashed it up last Monday,

now they want to fix it, 2,500 pesos

They must be crazy

They must think I own the place

When was the last time this car was waxed?

Oh

That must have been

Yeah, it was yesterday

The foreman of the ranch asked me to wash it and wax it for him

He said that the patrón was gonna drive it up to San Diego

But I thought the workers, they were let off early yesterday

What time was that?

It must have been around 12:00

What are you asking me all these questions for?

Oh, I'm a policeman, always ask questions

Thank you very much

Yeah

COLUMBO: Wait a minute!

(COLUMBO SPEAKING SPANISH)

Comandante Sanchez? May I see the body?

Go ahead

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I didn't expect that

It's not a pretty sight, Lieutenant

But as you say, you have seen many bodies

You don't realize what a bull can do

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

The doctor said that the wound inside his thigh

must have been the fatal one

It severed the femoral artery

Well, that would kill a man pretty quick, wouldn't it?

Oh, yes

That's the one the bullfighter fears the most

(THUDDING)

(BULL SNORTING)

Is that the one?

Hmm?

Yes Marinaro

I don't know how you fight those things to make a living

It's more than a living, Lieutenant It's a way of life

I'll tell you the truth, sir

I don't think I would enjoy watching a man

kill an animal like that, as big and as mean as he is

Perhaps you do enjoy the spectacle of two men in the prize ring

beating each other senseless

Or murdering an innocent deer with a rifle

Or catching a fish with another one which is still alive

Our culture is different than yours, Lieutenant

No better or worse, perhaps,

but different

Excuse me

(SANCHEZ SPEAKING SPANISH)

Senor Montoya,

this doesn't look like it's been used

I mean, it should be ripped or something

Not if Marinaro got him quickly

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

He would start with this

to test the bull's tendencies

and then he would cut him short to break him down

Then

You see, Lieutenant, a few little passes like those leave no tears

or crease marks on the muleta, as you can see

I see you are a thorough man, Lieutenant

But the bull did kill Rangel

Yes, I can see that

But it's important to be thorough,

especially when a man dies alone

Excuse me, I wanna go look at the bull

Go ahead

Excuse me

Mr Rangel himself would have to open the gate, wouldn't he?

Obviously

Well, when he opened the gate, the bull would charge out, wouldn't he?

Then Rangel closed the gate and challenged the bull

But after he closed the gate, he would be standing right over here, wouldn't he?

Wouldn't the bull then turn around and attack him?

LUIS: As soon as he moved, yes

But the body was found over at the other side of the ring

Lieutenant Columbo, a bull that weighs 2,000 pounds

is capable of throwing a man and a horse all over this place

That explains it

COLUMBO: Why is he tied up?

The oxen that are needed to keep him calm

are being used somewhere else in the ranch

So until they can get them here, he has to be left tied up

Otherwise, he would destroy that gate

He's a big fellow, isn't he?

LUIS: Mmmhmm

Thank you, sir

I hope you understand, Luis,

that the Lieutenant here is merely as my guest He has no official status

So inquisitive I find him amusing

Have you seen this?

Some kind of a skid mark

with a hole at the end

That looks like a pick mark

You see, this ring is used to test the cows for bravery

When is the last time that you tested cows in this ring, sir?

A couple of weeks ago I don't remember

Because this looks very fresh to me

Well, maybe it was made yesterday,

or the day before yesterday when you saved Curro's life

What's this?

LUIS: Let me see

Yes, this is part of the pick

Probably splintered by one of the cows

You see, my cows are very aggressive, Lieutenant

That's why they breed such brave bulls

Gee, this looks awfully fresh to me

Yeah, and if Rangel used it yesterday to fight Marinaro,

there must be more around it

If you'll excuse me, gentlemen

My daughter is arriving tomorrow

and there's much to prepare for

She's driving down from Arizona to attend Hector's funeral

With your permission

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I'm sorry we couldn't get the car released today, Lieutenant

And I'm sorry your wife couldn't have stayed

Well, she's sorry, too, ma'am

It's my cousin Vito's anniversary tomorrow,

so I put her on a bus to Los Angeles

Eleven years

She's very sentimental about these things

Well, home, church, that's what counts these days

Well, I can't argue with you there

(BOY SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

They're bored! But I'll take care of them

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Well, now that we're alone,

I would like to hear more about that murder on the cruise ship

I'd like to talk about the death of Hector Rangel

If that's the way you investigate an accident,

you must be a bull when it comes to homicide

I know this is none of my business

and I'm sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong,

and you certainly know much more about these things than I do

Is it possible that there was something wrong with Hector Rangel?

Perhaps he knew he was gonna die

and he wanted to bring it to an end before

Well, you know, in some kind of a machismo way

Machismo No, no, no, that's impossible

Rangel would not finish his life in such a way,

especially not in a practice ring

Maybe it was homicide

Lieutenant, you saw the body

No man could have ripped Rangel open in such a way

No, the bull was the murder weapon, sir

Like a gun

Somebody could've turned the bull on Rangel

Who would do a thing like that?

Montoya, maybe

Montoya?

That's ridiculous It's unbelievable, Lieutenant

It's like saying that the Pope did it

Anything's possible

Lieutenant,

you're too good a policeman to suggest such a thing without proof

Certain things don't fit

Why does a faithful assistant, an obedient man,

somebody who's used to taking orders,

suddenly take it upon himself

to destroy a valuable piece of property without permission?

You heard Montoya's answer

I didn't believe it

Well, what happens is that you don't understand the temperament of a matador

You see, they must be proud, brave, they must have honor

It's called puro honor Without it, you're nothing

Sí I understand puro honor

Hector knew that his son might climb off the bed in the hospital

to fight the bull himself, mano a mano That's one against one

Hector could not accept that, regardless the risk

The value of the bull had nothing to do with it

Is Montoya a vain man?

Oh, yes

Is he concerned with his public image?

Absolutely

Is it important to him to be seen

in a chauffeurdriven 1931 Cadillac convertible?

Well, that's the way he drives around

On the day that Hector died, when he was a guest speaker in a foreign country,

why did he decide to drive himself in an ordinary hardtop?

Lieutenant, he didn't choose it

Hector asked him to stay behind

so he could work on the books

What time was that?

4:30

I'm going to give you a statement of a man who takes care of Montoya's cars

The ranch foreman told him to wash and wax the hardtop

The patrón was gonna drive it to San Diego

"I finished the job at 12:00"

The question is,

how did Montoya know in the morning

that at 4:30 pm Hector was going to say,

"I can't go with you I have to stay behind and work on the books"?

(MURMURING)

Is that your answer?

There is no answer

There is no answer

I wouldn't close off this case

I don't wanna be presumptuous I realize I have no position here

No, I understand

If there is a crime here, I want to get to the bottom of it

Better yet, I would like you to get to the bottom of it

Me?

You see, you're a foreigner

But I live here

I don't know if you realize what will happen to me

if I was to start an investigation that would lead to nothing

Montoya is that important?

He's a legend in Mexico

He's known throughout the country as the bravest of the brave,

and this man likes the glory that surrounds him

And you want me to take the blame

Exactly

But there's one thing

Montoya must have a motive

Yes, every man has a motive

I don't know what the motive is

Hector was keeping his books Maybe Hector was stealing from him

Maybe it had something to do with his daughter and Curro

They were attracted to one another I don't know

Let's start with small things

Let's finish our coffee

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Maria

Papa!

I don't understand How could this happen?

Hector was always so quiet, so careful Why?

He was a father, sweetheart

And Curro, how is he taking it?

I don't know

He's still in the hospital recovering from the goring I don't know

I must go to him Oh, of course

But first, you must freshen up and have something to eat, huh?

Come on, sweetheart Come on

What is it?

Nothing, nothing Just a visitor

Come

(ROOSTER CROWING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(MOOING)

That scared the hell out of me

He is just a little baby, senor

That's some baby

I'm Lieutenant Columbo I'm from Los Angeles

I understand you're here because of Senor Rangel's unfortunate death, no?

I'm assisting Comandante Sanchez Asking questions

Oh, I see

Have some It will help you

Oh, thank you I am thirsty Thank you very much

I thought that was water I am sorry, senor

What is that stuff?

Mescal, senor

Mescal Yes, sir

I understand, sir, that

you were the only one on the ranch at the time of the murder

Yes, sir You're right

But I was not near the ring where he fight the bull

Otherwise, he would have never died

You know, my name is Miguel Hernandez

Very well known to everybody Even to the bulls

But the patrón said, "Go to the south pasture," and that's what happened

What time was that?

I have no watch, senor

It was afternoon, early

The men had just gone into town

Now where is the south pasture?

South pasture? That way, senor

Now, that's in the opposite direction from the bullring

That's right

When you got back, did you see anybody around?

No, senor

It was almost 6:00 It was getting dark

And the patrón, he had gone across to your country

I thought Senor Rangel had gone with him

And you were down there the whole time?

Yes, sir No one was around

But the patrón was kind enough to give me a bottle of mescal

And I had a very pleasant afternoon But today,

I have a headache, senor

Now, you must excuse me I must go to the tack room

I have to gather things that belonged to Senor Rangel

They must go to his son now

Would you mind if I came along?

Why should I mind?

I'm sorry I just couldn't eat

Of course, darling Of course

I understand

Tell Curro our prayers are with him, hmm?

And drive carefully

Drive carefully

You should've seen it come down in town Friday

I thought the place was gonna wash away

MIGUEL: You know, it is funny, senor, in a desert like this, sometimes you see the rain

But only over there in the mountains It never gets here

What's this?

That's Senor Rangel's luggage

They told me to clean out his locker

Then I have to go to his room and get his clothes out

It's already packed

Well, who packed it? I don't know

Well, who brought the luggage down here?

I don't know Maybe the housekeeper

Do these belong to a bull or an ox?

From a bull, senor

And these are picks?

Yes

This is the inside of the wood?

And this is the outside of the wood?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

This is lighter in color than this Yes

And this is heavier in weight

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

That is not from a pick, senor That is from a lance

Well, what's the difference?

The picks they used in the ring,

they have metal tips to wound the bull, lower his head

And the lance?

They are used in the fields by the vaqueros for herding

They are made of pine, not so strong

Well, now I'm puzzled

Senor Montoya said that this came from a pick

LUIS: Perhaps I was mistaken

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

No, Jaime is right It looked the same to me at a glance

Well, what difference does it make?

Oh, none, I guess

But if this is from a lance, then it wasn't used to test the cows for bravery,

so what was it doing in the ring?

Lieutenant Columbo, a lance on a bull ranch is the same as

as a rope on a cattle ranch

The vaquero, the cowboy,

must carry it with him at all times

so he can herd and round up the bulls when he has to

And I assume Hector would have a lance

Of course

A fascinating world

And this is Hector's pick?

Yes

And those are the lances?

Those are the lances

I notice that Hector's lance is missing

No, he probably misplaced it or broke it out in the fields somewhere

Well, as you said, it probably doesn't make any difference

May I ask you a personal question, sir?

Oh, by all means

Did you injure your leg in the bullring?

In the Plaza de Toros, Mexico

It was the wound that ended my career

And, ironically, it wasn't even the bull I was supposed to fight

You see, I was appearing mano a mano with a young matador who froze,

and the bull gored him

I jumped to his rescue and I, too, was gored

Badly Here

They tried to take me to the infirmary, along with the young matador,

but I refused to go

Despite the blood flowing from my wound, I stayed in the ring,

and I did one of the best faenas of my career

I killed the bull with one thrust

The people loved it

They stood up and gave me an electrifying ovation

Two ears and a tail

That was my last fight

Well, that must've taken a lot of courage, sir

Well, it would be a difficult thing to do now, with this leg

Well, thank you very much for the time

I have to get back to the city

Oh, and then, on home, to the United States?

Yes, sir

Actually, I thought if I got the chance,

I'd like to come out here one more time before I left

I'm fascinated by everything out here,

but I don't want to be a pest

Oh, not at all, Lieutenant You're welcome here any time

Well, thank you very much, sir

I've been fascinated by everything I've seen out here

and I still think there's a lot to learn

(BAND PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)

COLUMBO: I don't understand this medical report

SANCHEZ: What don't you understand?

Well

This is Hector Rangel's name

Right

Well, I don't understand anything after his name

Well, it says what we already know

Hector Rangel died of shock and severe loss of blood

due to wounds inflicted on him by a bull

Dorso is the back?

Yes Yes

What is this pinchazo in the glodio?

Glúteo, that's a puncture in the buttocks

Well, did the bull get him there, too?

Let me see

No It's a

It's a small needle mark that the doctor found

Probably from a previous inoculation

Well, was Hector Rangel under treatment for anything with a doctor?

No, according to his doctor, he was in perfect health

I hope you don't mind my saying so, Comandante,

but I think you ought to order an autopsy on Rangel's body

An autopsy

because of a needle mark?

I can see the newspapers "Don Luis Montoya,

"the idol of Mexico, a murder suspect? "

That's your problem I'm just a tourist here

Yeah, that's my problem

You know,

a policeman who jeopardizes his pension,

he must be loco, right?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I think I'm gonna speak to Curro Rangel

SANCHEZ: For a man who's on a holiday, you're certainly keeping busy

Well, I have the feeling if I wasn't, you wouldn't let me leave the country

Oh, that's right, my friend I got your picture posted in all the border stations

There's one other thing

You remember how hard it rained in town the day that Rangel got killed?

Yes, it rained cats and dogs, as you say

Now, according to Miguel, it did not rain at the Montoya ranch

An old bullfighter like Hector Rangel would never fight a bull in the rain

Yeah However, old Miguel, he could be so bombed on that mascara

Mescal, mescal

Mescal

Right that he wouldn't know whether it was raining

or whether it wasn't raining

Yeah

I'll check the weather bureau,

I'll check the other ranches in the area

That's a good idea

Here, Lieutenant

Thank you

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Here's to your pension

That's my problem

The air will do you good

Nothing will do me good

Oh, Curro, please You cannot blame yourself for your father's death

Yes, I can

If I'd killed that bull, my father'd be alive right now

Curro

There he is, sir Right over there

Thank you Gracias

Curro Rangel?

Yes

I'm sorry to intrude like this

No, it's all right I'm leaving

Keep your spirits up

I'll be out of here tomorrow, Nina

Good I'll see you at home

Oh, that's a pretty girl

Who are you?

My name is Columbo I'm a policeman from the United States

What do you want?

Your father's death hasn't been officially certified as an accident

Not yet, anyhow

So, I'm just getting a few facts for the local police

Well, I'm sorry I don't think I can help you

I was asleep on that bed when it happened

No I want to know about your fight with the bull

The day before Would you tell me about that?

Well, there's nothing to tell

The bull broke out of a shipping box, got into the ring

I went in, tried to cape him, he caught me on the leg

Not seriously

But you were knocked unconscious

Yes And my father and Senor Montoya dragged me from the ring

Well now, actually, Senor Montoya diverted the bull

and your father dragged you from the ring

Yes, that's right

Did you use a lance when you fought the bull?

A what?

I found this in the practice ring It's part of a lance

No No one uses a lance in the ring

Did your father have his lance with him the day you fought the bull?

Yes I think so

He and Senor Montoya were riding out to the range to check on the herd

He would always have his lance with him

I'll tell you why it's funny Because in the tack room now, his lance is missing

Well, maybe, when he came to drag me,

in his desperation, he brought the lance into the ring

But when he went to drag you out while Montoya was diverting the bull,

why would he bring his lance?

I don't know

Where's the rest of the lance?

I haven't been able to find it

Where was your father going?

What do you mean?

His bags were packed

That doesn't make any sense He never went anywhere

Was he due to go on vacation?

No He didn't take vacations

Then who packed his bags and why was he leaving?

If he quit or was fired,

but neither one of those things would ever happen

Thank you very much You've been very helpful

(MAN SPEAKING SPANISH)

(PHONE RINGING)

Lieutenant, I have good news for you

My car?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

It's parked outside, no charge

Oh, what a relief Thank you very much

It's all right Learning anything?

Oh, I have to learn something, since I didn't know anything to start with

Did you know that these bulls are very nearsighted?

Yes, I know that

That's why the matador uses the cape

to attract the bull toward him

Actually, what happens is that the bull goes towards the movement of the cape

That's right I made a note on that

Is that the autopsy?

That's the weather report

It's in Spanish

Yes, I know that

The people at the weather bureau speak it very well

It says there was no rain in the area of the Montoya ranch

the day Rangel died

It was cloudy, overcast, high winds

So, old Miguel was right

Rangel must have fought the bull between 5:00 and 5:30

as Montoya said

Well It was worth a try

I was wrong, that's all But that's all right

I've been wrong before

Don't shake my confidence in you, Lieutenant

The newspapers know about the autopsy already,

so I hope you found out something

I'll tell you the truth,

I got a crazy notion I know why Rangel was killed

What?

Trouble is, I don't think anybody's gonna believe me

(BELL RINGING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Senor Montoya, could I see him?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(LUIS SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Lieutenant Columbo

I came back

So I see

Just a few things to clear up, sir I hope you don't think I'm

Do I understand

that Comandante Sanchez has obtained a court order

and an autopsy is going to be performed on my good friend,

Hector Rangel, God rest his soul?

Yes, sir, that is right, sir

You see, there was a mark on the body that we couldn't quite understand

What kind of mark?

A pin hole, senor

Maybe a needle mark

What can that possibly have to do with Hector Rangel being killed by a bull?

Well, sir, you see, we think, that is, Comandante Sanchez and I, believe

that Hector might have been drugged, then killed by the bull

You are calling Hector's death a murder

No, sir, not yet

But we are interested in whether or not you keep any drugs here on the ranch,

especially tranquilizers

Well, yes

We keep such drugs on the ranch

All ranches must have these drugs

to tranquilize and treat sick animals Yes

Well, there you are, sir

You see, I'm not as dumb about these things as I thought

I had an idea you might have those drugs

Do you think I could see them?

And any records you might keep as to their purchase and use?

(CLEARS THROAT)

Chloral hydrate

I'll tell you, I don't know much about drugs,

but that's the stuff they put in a Mickey Finn

I'm sorry

Oh, of course That's an American expression Knockout drops

They're used and they work about the same way

as a tranquilizer does on a bull

They knock a man out,

or they make him real dizzy, if you give him a small enough shot

May I take this, sir, just to get a small analysis down at the lab?

Take all you want

You know I just thought of something,

something I saw on a television show

How do you get close enough to those bulls to make an injection?

On this show they had an

An air gun with hypodermic darts

Yes, we have one just for that purpose

I thought you might have

The gun A dart

Is there anything else, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir I'd like to see your books What for?

We don't keep any records on the use of these drugs

But you do keep a record of their purchase?

Yes

If you don't mind, sir

Help yourself

You won't find the drug purchases there

They're in a separate section, in the front

Yes, sir, I noticed that

Just a moment, Lieutenant

My financial records are a private matter

If you wish them examined, you'll have to get a court order

No, sir, that won't be necessary

No, I just had a thought

Those entries that I just saw, they were made by Hector That is his handwriting

That is correct

May I see something? Would you open the book?

Then this is your signature, made after each month's entry

That's right

January, February, March, April, May, June, July

Just turn the page for a moment

So this is the last entry

This is the one that Hector said he was working on

the day he said he had to stay behind while you went to San Diego

That's funny

The date is funny, sir

What about it?

He finished the books three days before he was killed

So?

Well, you signed and dated it, sir

Just what are you trying to establish, Lieutenant?

Well, sir, you must see what I'm driving at

If Hector finished the books three days before he was killed,

then why didn't you question him when he said

he wanted to stay behind to work on the books?

You must have known he had no intention of working on the books

I don't appreciate this little war of nerves you are conducting, Columbo

I am Luis Montoya And you are in my country!

Sir, I'm just trying to put together the pieces

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

If you understood the first thing about bullfighting,

you would not question Hector's death!

He walked into the ring to spare his son further injury,

and he lost his life

Now that's all there was to it!

Who packed his bags?

That's right, sir It was packed

Miguel didn't do it He thought the housekeeper did,

but I asked her and she said no

I don't know anything about that

Well, but the fact is, sir, it was packed

Where was he going?

Ah, yes, yes, yes He talked about moving into the main house

Maybe that's what he was doing

Gee, it's curious that no one had any previous information about that,

neither the housekeeper, nor the servants

I'm sorry, Lieutenant

I have tried to be gracious I have answered all your questions

My courtesy has been rewarded with accusation

I must ask you to leave my house and not return

I can find my way out

I probably won't be back, sir

I got to be in Los Angeles on Monday

But someday, somebody's gonna come to your door

Comandante Sanchez, maybe somebody else, but somebody

(PEOPLE CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

SANCHEZ: Bullfighting, baseball

What else do children have to think about?

I guess I'll be headed back to the United States

Leaving me to finish your unfinished business, huh?

I gotta be home Tuesday morning Listen, I'd like to stay

Montoya's your man You can nail him if you keep after him

There is something I don't know what, a key I can't find it

Well, if it means anything, I will continue the investigation

If it goes badly and I can't find the key,

you'll have to get me a job with the Los Angeles Police Department

What're they doing with that jug of water?

Well, it's the wind It's strong

Pepe's imitating the professional matadors at the Plaza

What are you talking about?

Well, in the high wind, the muleta will blow unpredictably

Since the bull goes toward the movement of the muleta,

if it were to blow towards the matador, well, that's it

Oh, so if the cape is wet, it won't blow in the wind

That's right

You Chinese are very clever

(CHUCKLING)

Is that in this book?

I don't know Oh, well, that's your book

(CHILDREN CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

Where you going?

I don't think I'll be leaving just yet

I want to check something out I'll call you later

Curro!

Curro! Where you going in such a hurry?

To Senor Montoya's ranch

You're in no condition to fight a bull

Nothing wrong with my condition I'm fine

You think you have to prove how brave you are?

The longer a matador delays facing the bulls after a goring,

the harder it becomes

Senor Montoya killed your father

What?

Senor Montoya killed your father, Curro

He set it up to look like an accident

as if your father had gone in the ring to kill a bull, but it was murder all the way

You don't know what you're saying

I think I do I have a lot of evidence

all of which I'll show you

Senor Montoya was on his way to San Diego when my father was killed

No, he was in the bullring with him, he tricked him there,

and then he shot him with a tranquilizer gun

You can see the needle mark on the body

Why would he do such a thing?

That's what I'm not certain of

That's where I'm gonna need your help

Will you trust me?

LUIS: That man is no longer welcome here

SANCHEZ: We're here on official business, Don Luis

Both of us Your investigation has gone too far already!

The autopsy of Hector Rangel has cast a shadow on my name

And yet, I am told you found nothing!

That's true There were no discernible traces

LUIS: And yet you persist?

I will call the Governor I'll have your job for this

Well, actually, sir, we didn't expect to find any chloral hydrate

In fact, we would have been surprised

if Hector had been given enough drugs to show up on a test

Either the man was drugged or he wasn't drugged

Well, I've been doing a little checking,

just the rudiments of bullfighting

and the fact is, a bull reacts to movement

If Hector had been totally unconscious,

if he had been immobile,

the bull might never have charged

So, he was only given a little bit

Enough to make him woozy, an easy, moving target

This is slander, Columbo

You have no proof

No proof whatsoever

Matador! Matador!

Curro Rangel is out at the practice ring

He means to kill Marinaro

Father, you must stop him

First, I will attend to this young fool

And then I will talk to my lawyer in regard to the two of you

(GATE BANGING)

Curro!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Stop!

I said stop!

Come here!

Come here

You didn't learn anything

You want to go back to the hospital? Is that it?

Huh?

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Curro! Curro!

Montoya's frozen

Papa!

(SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

(ALL YELLING IN SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

NINA: Papa!

(CAR DOOR SHUTS)

I'm sorry It was the only way

But the way Montoya froze just now,

that's exactly the way he froze the other day

when he and Hector entered the ring

in order to save Curro from the bull

He froze that day, too, and Hector saw the fear

That's why Montoya had to kill Hector

You see,

he didn't save Curro from the bull Hector did

That's how Hector's lance got broken

Holding off the bull

Don Luis Montoya,

unable to live with the knowledge

that another man had seen his fear

Incredible

Your kids

They solved the crime

My kids?

Your kids

Only after watching them play,

one pretending to be a matador

and the other pretending to be a bull,

only then did I know without qualification

that Montoya was lying

This is the official weather report

for the day that Hector was killed

Heavy winds came up in this area between 5:00 and 6:00

Now, that was the time that Montoya said

that Hector was preparing to kill the bull

Heavy winds

30 kilometers an hour

Now, do you remember the first day?

Do you remember how closely we looked at this muleta to see that it wasn't ripped?

Yes

Well, it wasn't something else

Water stains

No water stains on the muleta

And no water jug in the ring

Now, the winds died down after 6:00,

but by then, it was too late

So, Hector entered the ring earlier

before the winds came up

and when Senor Montoya was still with him