Original subtitles

What could be more fitting than that today's success be celebrated by

Summerfield's heroes of yesterday?

I love him, Bob.

I have for years.

That is a classic motive for murder.

Sounds like someone's been carrying a grudge for a long time.

Dick Gillis was murdered last night. The chief thinks your husband was murdered,

too. And by the same person.

High school reunion in Summerfield?

You're actually going?

Well, this one's a little different. This year they're honoring the class of

1940. That's mine.

I threw that invitation away a month ago, at your request.

I received another one.

Oh.

After all these years, you're finally getting sentimental?

It might surprise you to know I always have been where Summerfield is

It's a nice little town.

Well, you're lucky. Where I came from, all we had was winter and cement

wall to wall.

Well, that's not the form. No, no, no. This is from a classmate, Alice Schmidt.

Very close friend of mine at one time.

Well, I'm seeing a very close friend this weekend, too. And I'll be down in

Sur. I hope you have a blast, Chief. And I hope he'll buy the remembrance of my

address. I hope you all have a rotten time.

Well, what are you waiting for?

An unknown, tall, dark, and handsome stranger to ask me out.

My date was called Houston this morning on business.

Well, then I don't suppose he'd mind if you went to a high school reunion.

Well, actually, Chief, I don't know that I go to my own reunion.

You really want me to go?

I know you have a reason. The letter.

Well...

I'll go and pack.

Pick you up in half an hour.

Thumberfield isn't that far away, Chief. I'm surprised you don't go home more

often.

I don't know, Fran.

There never seems to be time.

Of course, I used to make time when my parents were alive.

The funny thing about a hometown, you can go years without ever giving it a

thought. But you never really forget.

Memories are all there waiting to be dredged up.

Don't realize how deep the roots go until you come back for a visit.

Thomas Wolfe said you can't go home again.

He didn't say it wasn't worth a try.

Nothing around here looks much like a schoolhouse.

It's a quick stop, Fran.

See a friend.

Robert T.

Ironside, you look marvelous.

As handsome as ever.

Hello, Maggie.

Maggie Moylan, Fran Belding. How do you do? This is Henry.

How do you do? Robert and I were once an item, you know.

Isn't it terrible about John Schmidt's death? I was just going in to see Alex.

Fell down the stairs at home, I understand.

Everyone feels just terrible about it.

Makes you wish you'd kept in closer touch.

We better get moving.

I'll see you at the reunion dinner, Robert.

Of course. I have to be there early, you know.

I don't know why I keep taking the job. Every year they say, Maggie, will you be

secretary again? And every year I say yes. I don't know why.

Come along, Henry.

Schmidt.

That was the name on the letter.

Alice's husband.

And Alice isn't sure that her husband's death was an accident.

She did mention it. And she asked her old friend, Chief Ironside, to look into

the matter.

And Chief Ironside brought Officer Belding along just in case something

developed. You surprised?

Not really.

Angry? I should be. But you're not, because you like my little hometown and

you're curious.

Well, it might be interesting to see the environment that spawned the man.

Who knows?

He might even turn up some blackmail material.

And don't you think I wouldn't use it?

I appreciate your sympathy, Bob, but don't bother.

I've been in mourning most of my life. This past week has just been business as

usual.

Has John been drinking the night he died?

He didn't have the imagination for that.

You know as well as I do that John could accept his situation.

Or should I say his shortcomings.

But you couldn't.

John spent his whole life falling on his face, so it didn't come as a great

shock to anybody when he fell down the stairs.

He even died dull.

You know, Alice, people don't all dream the same dreams.

Some people don't dream at all.

That was John's problem.

You were more concerned with John's death in your letter.

You sounded suspicious of the whole thing. I never sent you a letter.

No. I never write letters.

Then you've accepted John's death as accidental.

Figured that's the way he'd go.

Not to everybody, Alice.

Not to everybody.

Hey,

Dick. Dick Gillis.

You always were quick off the line. I had to be playing alongside you.

I'm sorry, Bob. I've got some business to take care of. See you a little late.

Time to tell me how Karen is? Karen's fine.

She'll be glad to see you. I get the feeling you're not.

Something wrong, Dick? You always were a little over -curious, weren't you?

Last I heard, we were friends.

My fault, Bob. I'm sorry.

I'm a little on edge.

You'll pay.

See you back at the table.

Did she, Bob?

Here, take a couple of hats now.

Get in the festive mood.

And don't miss the punch. I took care of that myself.

See you later, Slim.

Slim! I haven't heard that in a long time. You know, that was when I was much

younger.

Everybody knows how time flies.

The aliens have a sadistic way of beating you over the head with the fact.

Well, you can't lie to old classmates.

You're all the same age.

Well, well, if it isn't the big city detective.

Hello, Tom.

Hey, you remembered my name.

I mean, it's been a long time since you've been back to the old hometown.

out of action there in San Francisco, it makes it hard to get away.

Man, in your position.

I've decided there's no excuse for that.

Oh, Fran, this is Tom Ames, county sheriff.

My associate, Officer Fran Belden. Hello.

I don't mean to say that we don't get our share of crime here in Summerfield.

You know, you'd be amazed at some of the cases I've had to stay on top of.

Wait a minute, did you say office?

Nice to meet you, Sheriff.

A lady cop, huh?

I'm afraid we haven't gotten that far yet.

Bob, I'd sure like to sit down with you and chat for a while, sort of compare

notes, you know, one officer to another.

First, I'd like to start with you because you're prettier.

Would you care to dance?

Well, if you don't mind dancing with the cop.

I think that might be very interesting.

Excuse us.

And I certainly won't be the last.

You're still the prettiest girl in this school.

You'll never be said as nicely.

From where I was watching, my husband does not seem too hospitable.

I hope you forgive him for taking off like that. He's not usually so rude.

Not that I remember, anyway.

I thought his business was in Boston.

It is.

Of course, you still have some property interests here. Then that must be it. Or

maybe he's been celebrating too much.

It was never that much of a drinker.

It was a shock about John, wasn't it?

Yes. You were always so close.

What was it you used to call yourselves, you and John and Dick?

You know, I was hoping you wouldn't ask.

See you again, Bob.

I'll make sure you're sitting next to her. Come on, I'll show you.

I told the committee we were going to run out of hats. I asked for six dozen

more. Why do they do this to me? Now a very sentimental special number by

request. Gotta get it on.

I need your lovin'. I said I'll...

Young lady, I'll bet this is the one you're looking for.

And I'll bet you've been talking to Maggie Morlain. Now, was it that way or

other way around?

Oh, you're catching on fast to the ways of some of us.

It's Miss Felding, isn't it?

Good. I'll tell you who I am while we're dancing.

The Chiefs talked about you often.

You were his football coach, weren't you?

Yeah, just about the same time he was dancing to this very song.

Oh, what a good day, you know. Now I have to be content with my

too.

But, uh, I've kept a lot of my mentors.

Mom Ironside here, uh, some of you.

Maybe you'd like to see this?

I would, indeed.

All right.

After the ceremony, we'll sneak away.

My husband will be back anytime.

You don't have any idea where he was going?

No. He didn't say.

Well, I know what used to make him late for dinner.

Even keep him out all night sometimes.

Is that shocking? I didn't exactly expect it.

Nobody does.

Perfect couple, meant for each other, marriage made in heaven.

I'm afraid those cliches just don't fit anymore.

You'll probably have a perfectly logical answer when you get back.

Of course.

He always does.

Howard! Howard! Sonny, over here. Good to see you. Good to see you. You look

wonderful. I'm sorry I'm late.

Bob, it's been quite a while.

Howard, Howard, how are you?

Just fine.

It's easy to keep track of you through your horses. Well, I don't make every

race. I stay in Boston, unless I think I've got a winner running.

Well, it seems to be quite often.

Well, it's a business of luck.

Oh, look, why don't you go ahead with your dinner? We'll talk later.

Young lady.

Thank you.

Young lady, you wouldn't believe this. I used to be the best Lindy Hopper in the

40s. Would you care to dance with me?

Oh, yes, I'd love to.

Sandy helped noticing that Dick is missing.

Yes, he had some last -minute business.

I... You understand what? Come on, honey.

I spent a lot of time waiting for him myself.

Remember?

Now, you took him away from me, and now it looks like somebody's taking him away

from you.

Come on, Alice, that was a long time ago.

Well, I have a good memory.

Alice, I think Maggie is about to say something.

Maggie's always about to say something.

Well, what are they doing to me? Where are they?

Attention, please. And now I want to present Mr. Preston Lakes.

to be told why it is so gratifying to me that this class of 1940 is being

honored here at this reunion. Now some of you may know that I had the good

fortune to have been the head coach of Summerfield's first state championship

football team.

That was in that very same year. That was way back there in 1940.

And because some of our boys were seniors, well, it just proved to be our

shot at the state trophy.

Until this year.

So I ask you now, what could be more fitting than that today's success be

celebrated by honoring Summerfield's heroes of the year?

coach, Anthony Petrout.

Tony, come on up here.

Come on.

Get him up here.

Now, Tony, isn't he something?

Now, I want to congratulate you not on only your great achievement, but the

that you have so justly reaped the rewards of your great success. Because

year, you are going to go on to national... fame and fortune and you

my great pleasure to be able to announce

to play your favorite dance music, so enjoy yourselves and make your plans to

see each other next year.

Thank you.

Don't let anybody in this room until I get back.

Come on. Tom, I'd like to talk to you about Dick Gillis.

Dick Gillis? Why? We're concerned about him.

Bob, you're a little late. He was just found dead in the exercise room.

Looks like he fell over something and hit his head while he was drunk.

You're going to do an autopsy, of course.

Now, there you go, being the big city detective.

Bob, there's no mystery about this.

Dick just got himself sauced up at the wrong time, that's all.

Are you sure he'd been drinking? Sure, there was a bottle and... What do you

mean?

Kind of embarrassing if he wasn't drinking and somebody found out about it

later. Tom, if you don't mind, I'd like... to work on this one with you.

you think I can handle it? I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't.

It's just that I would like to work on this one with you.

Oh, okay.

Just remember whose jurisdiction it is and whose it isn't. Fair enough.

Well, I'd better get Doc started on that autopsy.

Chief, I'm so glad I came. Fran, do you know the name of that friend of Ed?

Is it Dave? Yes, it's Dave. Uh, June Pearson.

Call him. Tell him to come by helicopter.

Dick Gillis is dead. Another fall.

I'll find a phone.

Oh, Mr. Lake.

Could you help me? I'm looking for a phone.

Every time I see you, you're looking for something. Of course. Come right this

way, young lady.

Right here in my office.

The phone is right in there.

Thank you very much.

Make yourself at home.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I see you were already looking at my memento. I was just admiring the trophy.

Yes, it's beautiful, isn't it?

1940.

You mean the chief was actually on the team that won this trophy?

Yes, he was center. And a very smart player.

Come here.

I want to show you something.

See if you can pick him out.

Oh, uh... Um... Here. Nope. Good -looking one

right here.

That's John Smith.

That's Nick Gillis.

And this is Toby Gray.

Toby Gray.

I don't believe I met him.

Well, there's not much chance of that, my dear. He died not too long after that

picture was taken.

He was my quarterback.

Heisman sent you if ever I saw one. Oh, what a waste.

Dead.

He's really dead.

You know I can't bring up a tear.

Not a one.

Is that a terrible thing? Not if you don't feel it. There hasn't been any

feeling for years, Bob.

Just pretense for the children's sake.

That's a very good excuse, isn't it, for not facing reality?

Well, pretending is over now.

Karen, can you think of anybody who would want him dead?

You think he was murdered?

We'll be looking into that possibility.

Oh, I am just shocked about this.

He was such a good man, a wonderful athlete.

When did you last see him?

Well, let me see. It was yesterday afternoon. He was talking with Howard

out on the football field.

Reminded me of the old days.

Were they just talking? That's all? No.

Attitudes? No. Wait a minute, Bob.

What are you driving at?

You sound like a detective who thinks that the pieces don't fit. Maybe they

don't.

Hey, look what I found.

Well, thank you for coming, Ed.

Oh, well, I was just hanging around the house. Nothing to do anyway.

Sheriff Ames, Preston Lakes, Sergeant Ed Brown. Now, look, Bob, I said you could

tag along, but not bring the entire San Francisco Police Department here.

Is it your disposal, Tom? We all are. Just tell me where to start, Sheriff.

Um, well, Bob, I better be getting back out there. I've got a lot of folks to

see.

Appreciate it, Drew, letting us use the office.

No, not at all.

Feel free.

Tom, is old Doc Supple still the coroner?

Yeah. If he hasn't slowed down, he should have the autopsy report by now.

Obviously, you want me to start there, right, Sheriff?

Uh, yeah, yeah, I suppose so.

Obviously, you never told the sheriff about the letter you received.

Yeah.

I have a feeling it's better if nobody knows about it except the one who sent

it.

John Schmidt and Richard Gillis had similar breaks.

There were also bruises around the neck indicating there were pressure breaks,

not snaps.

Snaps as in tripping over things and falling down stairs. Yeah.

And what I'd like to know is just how much alcohol was in Gillis' system.

Not a drop.

But you found some on his clothes, right?

Yeah. Must have splashed on him when the bottle broke. Which means the bottle

was thrown down there by someone else.

After Gillis was dead.

The killer must have known his so -called accidents wouldn't hold up.

Maybe he doesn't want them to. Maybe he's trying to tell us something. He

wouldn't be the first one to leave clues on purpose.

Could be a game.

Hello?

Yes, he is.

All right, I'll tell him.

That was Sheriff Ames' office.

He's on his way here now. He wants to meet you in the locker room. Did he say

anything like that to you? No.

Of course, he could have turned up something.

He could meet us here, and we could go to the locker room together.

Wouldn't that make more sense? If the call actually is from Ames, which I

Well, it is a game.

We're going to play it. Come on, Ed.

Are you all right?

You're all right.

Well, what do you think?

I think that barrel was not meant to kill me.

Maybe not.

It doesn't leave very much doubt that you're his next target.

Now we know why he sent that letter, don't we?

I think... I think I've had just about enough reunion

for the day. I went back to the hotel to go to bed.

I've got an early morning breakfast date.

Dick's business had been keeping him out of town for the last several years.

It got to the point where...

He wasn't home much even when he was in town.

What did you do about it? Well, I could never prove there were other women.

I mean, what did you do about being lonely?

I don't think I like that question.

You and Howard are practically next door neighbors in Boston.

Yet when he came to the table last night, he didn't even acknowledge you.

He was late.

He just didn't think about it. He thought about exchanging a glance with

He wasn't concerned as to where Dick was.

He either just didn't care or he already knew.

No, he didn't kill Dick. He wouldn't. You're very sure of that? I'm very sure

Howard Stolling.

I love him, Bob.

I have for years.

That is a classic motive for murder.

I know, but I believe in Howard.

And I also believe in the ability of an old friend to find the truth.

Chief, I'm sorry to interrupt.

Forgive me.

But Sheriff Ames wants to see you in the high school locker room.

Someone just took a shot at Preston Knight.

Gee, I was feeling a lot of nostalgia after last night. I came down here. I do

that often.

Bob, those days were very important to me, too.

Well, I was turning to leave and I saw a figure over there.

And I saw a gun.

And I moved just as it was fired.

Did you get a look at the face?

I did see the gun. And the hand, it was a man's hand.

Okay.

Well, that should do it, Preston.

Oh, thank you, Tom.

Bob, if you don't mind, I'll be getting on back home.

I suppose you'll be picking a powered starlight for questioning.

Yeah, that's the first thing I was going to do.

Well, I'll get a ballistics report on this right away.

Grant told me what happened. I asked her to keep an eye on Stolle and make sure

he doesn't leave town.

These were our lockers that year when we won the

championship.

Richard Gillis, John Schmidt, Toby Graham.

Toby Gray.

He died the night of the game.

A car accident. He died of a broken neck.

Dick and John and I were passengers.

Toby was driving. We had a couple of beers right here in the locker room.

A little celebration.

It was my car he was driving. Sounds like someone's been carrying a grudge

long time.

For a long time.

Family member, maybe?

Brother?

No.

No, he was an orphan.

When he went to school, he lived with John's family.

He and John were like brothers.

And John was the first to be murdered.

Ed, I would like you to make a phone call.

Yes, I'll appreciate that. Thank you.

And please remember, it's very important I get this information as soon as

possible. Tom, I don't understand.

Why am I being brought down here? You know I have to pull you in. You can

understand why.

No, I can't.

You were seen talking with Dick Gillis on the football field yesterday

afternoon. Well, we talk all the time. We live in the same city.

Maybe that's the point, Mr. Stalling.

Why have a meeting in Summerfield on the football field?

Well, it's a reunion. We were there reminiscing about football. I understand

didn't play.

Well, I went to all the games and I was the student manager.

You were kind of late getting to the banquet last night. Well, after my talk

with Dick, I went back to the room to take a nap.

I overslept.

Right through the time someone was killing Dick Gillis.

Oh, just a minute. No, no, I don't think there's any call to say that, Sergeant.

After all, there's such a thing as moaning. Now, you ought to know that.

glad you mentioned that, Sheriff, because I can think of one. Would you

tell us what it is?

What are you talking about? I'm talking about you and Karen Gillis.

Karen had nothing to do with this. Leave her out of it. Somebody took a shot at

Preston Lake this morning.

The time is fixed at about 7 .45. Where were you then?

I was in my room. Not according to your desk clerk. Where were you?

I was... He was with me.

Aaron, please, don't get into this.

Do you want to take my word for it or do you want to check with the desk clerk

at my hotel?

We already have. Howard, you were in her room? Since 7 o 'clock this morning

when I asked him to come over.

Howard, this was kind of bad for you. It confirms the motive.

I would have been there all night if it hadn't been for the small minds in this

town.

I needed him last night.

More than ever.

When I was alone. When I suddenly realized what had happened. And I wanted

to hold me.

And I wanted him to tell me that everything was going to be all right.

Can you understand a thing like that, Tom? Now, Karen, that's not fair. I have

wife, you know. Yeah, well, I hope you love her.

Because if you don't, and you're staying together anyway, you can learn to hate.

Enough to kill? Maybe.

If you have no other love in your life.

But if you have, you're protected.

You don't kill somebody.

I suppose you'll be holding me.

Howard, I'm afraid... I don't think that'll be necessary.

No, it won't be necessary. You can go.

Just, uh... Please don't leave town. Not just yet.

Yeah.

Sheriff Ames.

Yeah, he's here. This one.

This for you. State College.

Thank you very much.

Sergeant Brown.

Yeah.

Yeah?

You're absolutely sure?

Well, uh... Look, if it doesn't show in any of your records, this is gonna sound

like a strange question, but...

Who's the oldest employee you have there in your athletic department?

I want to thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Schmidt.

Alice, please.

The way I look this morning, I don't deserve the formality.

What a night, I tell you.

I suppose Bob sent you here because he's mad at me.

The way I understand, I carried on that night.

Actually, he didn't mention that.

Really, it's all these years.

And I still have this thing about Karen.

Because he took Dick away from me.

Makes me some kind of a nut, I suppose.

You know, I fantasize sometimes about how someday I'm going to take him away

from her.

Mrs. Schmidt.

Alice. I'm afraid someone's already beaten you to it.

Dick Gillis was murdered last night.

I wondered why you came to see me.

Alice, I wish there was time for me to pull my punches, but there isn't.

The chief thinks your husband was murdered, too, and by the same person.

I don't think my head can take this, this morning.

We need your help.

You expect me to know who would want to kill John or Dick, for that matter? I

want to ask you about Toby Gray.

He lived with your husband's parents for about four years. He was a great

quarterback, one you wouldn't forget.

Well, we're looking for someone who remembers him so fondly that he's going

around killing people he holds responsible for Toby's death.

Now, did your husband ever mention anything that might point to that?

You mean someone who wanted him to stay in school?

Well, the money man.

John's parents weren't all that rich that they could afford another mouth to

feed. Someone subsidized Toby? Every month, like clockwork.

Who, Alan? Who was it? I don't know.

Try. Please try. It isn't that I don't remember. It's I never knew.

Nobody knew, not even John's parents.

The donor wanted to remain anonymous.

You've always been the keeper of the records for our class, Maggie.

You know as much about this town as anyone.

What he means is people say I'm always sticking my nose into other folks'

business. I certainly hope that rumor is true.

What he really means is he's counting on you to tell us the name of Toby's

benefactor. I suppose you want me to keep all of this a secret.

Absolutely.

You know that'll be the hardest part.

But I'll do it. I promise.

Now, Bob, don't forget about tonight.

The faculty's getting a little quiet, going away supper for our class at the

hotel.

That's right. That's the name. Yes, sir.

Yeah, do you have a date on that?

Uh -huh.

Uh -huh, 1940.

Okay, yeah, thank you very much, sir.

All right, does it?

It does?

Yeah, I got what I was looking for.

Is that the ballistics report?

Oh, yeah, it just came in.

Let's see here.

Hey, look at this.

Says that the gun was fired at close range.

Well, that means Preston Lakes knows who shot at him.

He must be protecting somebody or something. I'll check with you later.

to see the chief.

Chief, go.

Sure is.

John Regan's the lawyer who handled it. He's dead now.

The information's right.

But I'm surprised.

Do you know how much money that amounted to every month for four years?

And, Bob, I didn't tell a soul what you were up to.

It's all over town. I knew we could count on her.

Now, is there anything else I can help you with?

Well, thank you, Maggie.

That about does it.

Well, there is one thing.

If you extend my apologies to everyone, I won't be able to make the supper

tonight.

Oh, Bob.

That'll be such a disappointment to everybody.

Me too.

But there's something I want to take care of.

And I want to stop by the gym.

The gym? There won't be anybody there.

Just a lot of memories.

Well, what do you know?

Always were a smart player.

And now the game is over.

Not quite, Robert.

Not quite.

One final play from scrimmage. It was Toby Gray, wasn't it?

Superstar Toby Gray.

He was your ticket to the big time. Head coach at State College.

That was the deal they made, wasn't it?

Head coach, if you could deliver Toby.

And you boys had to take that chance away from me.

When the team won again this year and the coach was hired by State, it all

back to you, didn't it? I was the one that should have gone, not Petrella.

It isn't fair that Toby was the only one to die in that car. He had a little too

much beer.

He lost control. It was an accident. You lent him the car, Robert.

It was your car that killed him.

You boys shouldn't have done that.

We were kids.

Just kids, celebrating. Robert, you knew that I fired that bullet in the locker

room myself, didn't you?

I knew it was all part of your game plan. Robert, when did you know?

Was it the barrel?

Oh, Robert, you have played this game so well. So did you.

When I shook hands with you last night, I felt a hand that had been kept strong

through the years.

Strong enough to break a man's neck.

Two necks, in fact.

John Smith and Dick Gillis. They deserve to die.

And so do you!

Get him up.

Thanks, Mom.

Thank you.