All language subtitles for The Streets of San Francisco s04e20 Clown of Death

The Streets of San Francisco, a Quinn
Martin production, starring Carl

Malden. Also starring Michael Douglas.

With guest stars David Burney, Michael
Strong,

Madeline Rue, Dick Van Patten.

Special guest star Lynn Marta.

Tonight's episode, Clown of Death.

What's wrong with this thing?

Code blue, room 351.

We tried to defibrillate him, and when
there was no response, we brought the

body down here.

I'll send you a copy of the preliminary
autopsy. According to your medical

record, Mr. Reiner was terminal?

Yes. Yes, he was completely dependent on
the respirator.

It was really only a matter of time,
perhaps weeks.

Are you sure it couldn't have been an
accident?

Yes, and so is my maintenance
supervisor.

Albert Reiner, 67, retired.

Medicare's picking up his tab. Next of
kin is a brother, same address.

Gentlemen, I'd very much appreciate
knowing the results of your

soon as possible.

Well, we'd like to start by looking at
Reiner's room.

Is that really necessary, Lieutenant?

You know, a thing like this is very bad
for the hospital.

Doctor, we're not too happy about it
either.

Like I told you, it works perfectly.

There's no way this plug could have
worked its way loose.

No way. It's a locking plug.

I just had to put a whole new power
cable on it. See, here's the cable I

off. Now, this locking plug twists in.

And locks.

Now, these leads were ripped out of
here.

And believe me, it took more than one
hard pull to do it.

Was this room sterilized?

In ICU, it's standard procedure.

And the medical team wasn't thinking of
homicide, Lieutenant.

We were only trying to save a life.

Miss Martins, were you the first one in
the room?

I ran in as soon as I heard the cardiac
arrest signal.

Was there anyone in the hall?

No, sir.

What about the other members of the
staff?

I drafted most of the aides to wheel the
patients out to the West Lawn.

The circus gave us a free performance
this morning.

Exhibit A.

Has Reiner's brother been notified?

No, not yet.

We don't have a home phone listed.

But I'm told that he visited Mr. Reiner
every morning.

You know what time he was here today, ma
'am?

Mr. Reiner's had no visitors.

He's had one.

The only prints we find on that cable
belong to the Cleo's. We don't got one

witness.

Why would somebody kill a terminal
patient anyway?

What was the other brother's name?

Uh, Hunt. Hunt, yeah, that's right.

First morning in a month, he doesn't
visit.

Does that suggest anything?

Like what?

Maybe he was there.

To release his brother from that
machine.

A euthanasia?

Unless you have a better theory.

Hi, Jack.

That's what I love about doing benefits.

Coffee and a tinker for breakfast and a
jokey box of bread and bologna for

lunch. Don't tell me. Tell Sterling he
ordered it.

Now, anyhow, Red, you ought to be on
weight watchers.

I mean, they're only four feet off the
ground, right?

Suddenly, an old lady gets out of her
wheelchair.

I hope there's no show tonight. How
about dinner?

Oh, I don't think so. I'm kind of tired.
I'd like to see you today.

I'd like to see you.

What is this? I mean, last week, every
night, this week, nothing?

Tell her I'm serious about it.

He's serious about you. There, you see?
And about acrobats and ballet dancers

and trapeze artists.

I wonder how you have the strength to
stay on the wire.

Oh, that's serious business up there.

I mean, do you know when I'm up there,
every moment I worry.

One misstep, I may never see you again.

Oh.

Oh, all right.

Excellent. I'll pick you up about seven.

I don't know how you stand him. All his
class is in his feet.

Yeah, well, at least you've got it
somewhere.

He's not in.

Do you know where Mr. Reiner is?

What would the police want with him?

We'd like to talk to him about his
brother.

Albert? Oh, no. He died a few hours ago.

Dear God.

It'll be so hard on poor Hans.

Ever since he put Albert in the
hospital, he's just been lost.

Well, do you have any idea where he is?

Well, in the mornings, he always goes to
the hospital. The rest of the time, he

just stays around here.

The circus.

He told me he was going to the circus at
the Cow Palace.

Hans and Albert never missed a one. That
was their profession, you know, until

they retired.

Would you have him call me when you see
him?

Certainly.

Is it all right if I tell him what
happened?

I think you'd be the best one to do it.

I will.

Thank you.

They both belong to the circus.

There was a circus at the hospital at
the time of the homicide.

Could be a connection.

Could be you just want to go see the big
top.

Beats paying $6 .50 a ticket.

Okay, you got the cradle set, now get
the three single traps up.

Jack has been our ringmaster since the
year one.

You know, I'd only be kidding you if I
didn't admit that he ran things.

Or worse, I'd be kidding myself.

Oh, Jack, listen.

Did we ever have a Hans or an Albert
Reiner work for us?

I don't think so, Mr. Sterling. What was
their act? We don't know that.

This is Lieutenant Stone and Inspector
Keller, San Francisco Police. Jack

Leopold. I could ask around. They may
have been on other shows.

How large a troop did you send to the
hospital this morning?

24, sir. All right.

Clowns, acrobats, jugglers, wire act,
pony act.

Something wrong?

We might have a possible homicide.

That makes two.

What do you mean?

That old man that was knifed outside the
arena when we played Denver?

The police said it was a mugging.

All the same, he died in the shadow of
the circus.

Death comes three times.

Circus people live on superstitions.

And luck, and weather, and moods, and
accidents.

I tell you, what I could really use on
this staff is an exorcist.

Well, if I can be of any more help,
please let me know.

We will. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Bye.

May I keep this list for a while?

Of course.

Just what is it you're looking for,
Inspector?

Answers. That's all, just answers.

Well, I don't think you're going to find
any here.

You know, a lot of people have funny
ideas about the circus, but we're just a

business like IBM or the telephone
company.

What are you... Excuse me. Hey!

What are you guys doing with that paint?
I told you, gold leaf.

Not that dingy mustache color.

Watch what you're doing for him. Get a
ground cloth down there. This isn't some

ragged little mud show.

Just like any other business.

So, where do you want to start?

Well, I'll take the clowns and the
jugglers. Good, I'll take the pony

That figures.

Uh, excuse me, I'm looking for the
ponies.

Um, do those look like pony shoes?

No, those look like elephants.

Oh, that's very good. You know the
difference between a pony and an

That I do, yeah.

They're in the shed over there.

You interested in anyone in particular,
sweet face?

Uh, yeah.

Hi. Hello, hi.

Yeah, I'm interested in anyone who was
at the hospital this morning.

We weren't on call.

What are you, an insurance man?

No, a cop.

A cop?

Should have known. Somebody's scarper
was something.

Somebody did what?

Steal something.

Yeah, yeah, something like that.

I assume you said the shed was right
over there? Yeah.

Barbara, will you show him where it is?
I've never met a cop yet who knew his

way out of a paper bag. Thank you very
much.

You're welcome.

You're very kind.

She's always like that?

Always. Especially with cops.

She was married to one.

Isn't this sort of like the car that Lou
Jacobs rigged up, only larger?

Uh -huh.

Know him? No.

No, no, I never had that privilege.

I just read up on clown routines
whenever I can. I did a clown act. I

tried to do a clown act in a police
show.

Strictly amateur.

Listen, I understand you fellas did a
benefit at the hospital.

Clowns always do the benefits.

Yeah, I...

I understand that there was an old
circus hand named Albert Reiner. He died

the hospital.

Do any of you know him?

Oh, sure.

Old -timers. He and Hans.

He worked the Scaloni, uh, one ringer in
London.

Were they clowns?

No, no, no. Al was a wire walker at the
time, and then he was, uh, boss rigger.

Hans was prop man.

Must be, uh, 10, 11 years ago.

You know, seems that, uh...

Neil told me they were, he was related
to them or something.

Neil? High wire guy.

I didn't get anything.

We left the hospital about 11 .30 and
they came back here.

It slipped. I'm sorry. You all right?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm just fine.

Sure. You're Ruggers?

Yeah.

San Francisco police.

I want to ask you a few questions.

My sense of timing is really terrific,
isn't it? I understand that you're

related to Albert and Hans Reiner.

Yeah, they're my uncles.

When was the last time you saw them?

Oh.

I don't know. Back in the dark ages.
Why?

Did you perform at the hospital this
morning?

Yeah.

Well, your Uncle Albert. Did you visit
him?

No. I didn't even know he was in San
Francisco.

What's all this about?

Well, your uncle died this morning.

Oh.

He was such a tough old bird. I always
figured he'd last forever.

How did he get along with his brother?

Hans.

They were like Siamese twins.

Tell us anything about their friends,
habits, enemies, anything.

I can't tell you anything.

I mean, I left a long time ago. You see,
they brought me up after my mother

died, taught me how to work the wire.

But they were perfectionists, you know,
old world, and I just couldn't take it,

so I left.

I guess it's a little late to say I'm
sorry now.

What did he die of?

It's possible he was murdered.

Like I said, my sense of timing is
terrific.

Hans happens to come to see you.

Have him call us.

Thank you.

Sure.

Intensive care ward, please.

Miss Martins, if she's on duty.

I'll hold.

Yeah, Denver's got the case open as a
knife mugging. Sixty -year -old

male, five feet eight. Muggers got the I
.D.

Haven't been able to trace the prints
yet.

Yeah, well, what about a photo?

It's on its way.

Miss Martins?

Lieutenant Stone.

Has Hans shown up yet?

All right.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Yeah, Mrs. Clements said Hans doesn't
come back to the apartment either.

Think he's taken off?

Could be grief.

Or guilt.

Let's get a search warrant. Okay.

Maybe it'll be a lot easier to find if
we know what he looks like.

He's never stayed away this long before.

I told the young man who was here
earlier I have the foggiest idea of who

Reiner could be.

What young man was that?

He didn't give his name, wouldn't leave
a message.

Try to come in once in a while and tidy
up.

Although they don't pay for cleaning
service.

It's got a lot worse since Albert got
sick.

Uh, is he in any of these?

Mike?

Well, the M .E. says he's been dead four
or six hours.

Now, what's that?

Some stuff they found under his
fingernails. A white powder. It's not

Okay, take it to the lab.

Look at this. Scrapbooks. All over the
place.

All on Neil, Neil Rutgers.

They followed his career all the way
from the apprenticeship right to the

ring. Gray and Boston, Circus 68.

Boston, 71.

USA National, 73.

Ruggers said he had no contact with
them, but they should have been

his career.

Lieutenant, the officer said you wanted
to see me.

Yes. I wanted you to take a look at
this.

Was this the young man that was here at
seven tonight?

It is.

Who is he? A nephew.

Name is Neil Ruggers.

Did they ever talk about him?

No.

I don't think so.

Why don't you go to your room?

Thank you.

We'll call you if we need you.

Some safe deposit key of some bank down
the street.

So I'll get a court order for that safe
deposit box.

Let's wrap it up here, and why don't you
hit the circus again?

What, Neil? Yeah.

He was at the hospital this morning. He
was here tonight.

If he isn't part of this, he should be.

Why don't you pick him up?

his room. It was dark.

Well, Neil might be in the blue room.

What is that? What's the blue? That's
any room with a table. The game starts

March down in Florida and it ends back
there in November.

My dad always told me never sit in. I
figured it was one of those don't mingle

with the help snobbery things until they
hung me out to dry a few times.

This is going to cost you everything,
including your big red nose.

Uh -huh. We talking a bit.

75 cents.

Has anybody seen Ruggers?

No. Paul?

We saved a bail for him, but no show.

You know where I might find him?

Well, been seeing a lot of Barbara
lately.

And I don't think it's for riding
lessons.

Gentlemen, jacks and threes.

I keep the nose, huh?

Barbara, I'm sorry to bother you, but
we're looking for Neil.

Did you try the blue room?

He made a big thing about taking me out
to dinner and then decided to play

poker. Well, he hasn't been there all
day.

Hiya, sweet face.

You're still around, huh? Yeah. What's
wrong?

Well, uh, excuse me. Have you ever heard
of Hans and Albert Reiner?

No.

They're Neil's uncles. They both died
this morning.

And? Crystal, keep out of this, would
you?

Well, um, when was the last time you saw
Neil?

Oh, around 6 .30.

Do you know where he is now? I mean,
does he have friends in town?

Not that I know of. I don't know where
he is. Could I take a look in his

dressing room?

I don't have a key, but I can get one
from the manager.

Um, I have a key.

Want some popcorn?

Thank you.

Would you please tell me what's going
on? Was it an accident?

Possible homicide.

Manchester, 1964.

Al, Hans, Boylan, Murdoch, Red.

Mr. Stone, I've got a snapshot here that
I'd like to have blown up.

I'll send it right down.

Rosenberg.

Found it in Neil's trailer.

Hasn't been around the cow palace since
6 .30 this evening.

He miss a show?

No, no, in the dark on Monday, but he
missed his girl. He lied to her.

Well, we still can't touch him. I know,
but he's just got a lot of character

defects, you know? He seems to me might
be possible of murdering his uncles.

So, I'll take down this tunnel lab and
have it checked out. Well, here, while

you're at it, take this down, too, will
you?

Remind him that I want it blown up by 9
o 'clock tomorrow morning.

Did you get the land report? Yeah,
nothing, no match. It wasn't Ross under

Hans' fingernails. It was talcum powder.

Well, which all performers use. They all
use makeup.

That gives us 20 more suspects.

Maybe not.

I found these in the safe deposit box.

Life insurance policies.

$10 ,000 apiece.

One made out to Albert and the other
went to Hans.

Neil is the beneficiary on both of them.

Motive and access.

I just hope old Neil's got a perfect
alibi.

I haven't seen Neil all morning. He's
got to be around someplace.

Never missed a show yet.

What about the photo rent?

That's me, all right.

I went to a dozen little shows on the
continent.

A lot more sexes over there.

But I wasn't with Scaloni except for the
63 -64 season.

What about Murdoch and Boylan? What do
they do?

Performers? They're probably part of Al
Reiner's crew.

But after 11 years...

I can't remember their names. He's not
in his trailer. No one's seen him. You

pick anything up?

I remember some trouble in Scaloni about
the Reiners.

Happened after I left.

Some kind of hassle.

What was it?

Do you know anyone who was involved?
Come on, Red. Can you think of anything?

I'll think on it.

That's us.

Okay. Thank you very much.

Excuse me.

Neil, I've been looking for you. Where
have you been?

I, uh, drank last night.

Later. Neil, they think your uncle was
killed.

Hans.

I had to tell them you broke our date.

Yeah, but what did he say about Hans?

They think he was killed, murdered.

You know, the cops were asking me all
kinds of questions.

Yeah.

Take it easy, kid.

I just remembered some trouble your
uncles got into at the Scaloni Circus.

Maybe it had something to do with their
murder.

What are you talking about?

Hey, let's go.

Speck's lining up.

I'll talk to you right after the show.

We're gonna dig this, aren't ya?

Since I was a kid.

Oh, my gosh, we've been shot.

Go get a searcher.

Hey,

hey, call for an ambulance.

That's not part of the act. Come on.

Where'd you hide the gun?

What? What are you talking about? You
know what I'm talking about. You had

to change your clothes. Now, where'd you
hide them?

Look, I don't have time for this. You
saw your uncle last night, didn't you?

What is this? What are you hassling me
for?

Neil.

20 ,000 bucks insurance money.

Neil?

Neil!

Listen, he's gonna be blowing more than
his whistle if you don't get out there.

Look, I gotta go. No, no, no.

You're gonna come with me and change
your clothes. You're gonna come with me.

Excuse us very much.

Leopold! When they take him to his room,
I want one man standing in front of

that door day and night, 24 hours around
the clock. And nobody gets in, you

understand?

Nobody without the doctor's permission.

Yes?

He's still in shock, but it could have
been worse.

I saw him take a load of shot right in
the chest, point blank.

No, Lieutenant.

That's not quite how it happened.

25 pounds of padding.

Absorbed most of the pellets, slowed
down those that didn't. But it was still

like getting kicked in the guts by a
mule.

Then he'll be all right. If there are no
complications.

I'll keep you notified.

Thanks.

Right. I visited Uncle Hans, and he
wasn't home. So then you go out and get

drunk. Is that it?

It doesn't make you, Neil. No way.

You got the opportunity, no alibi, and a
$20 ,000 motive. So where the hell were

you?

I spent the night with a girl in a motel
near Fisherman's Wharf. What's her

name?

Listen, you're down about two choices
now, public defender or private

The lady is with the circus.

She's married, and I... I don't want
Barbara to find out.

I don't even know if I can make you see
this, but I care about Barbara. The

thing is, I guess I just don't
understand her very well.

I mean, one minute she's terrific, and
an hour later she's ice. Well, last

at 6 .30...

time so i uh i looked elsewhere i don't
want the lady's husband to find heaven

please that's the girl's name and the
motel room number gina

marshall the twilight 224 226 if you
knew anything about makeup you know i

didn't have time to shoot him and then
remove it all before you found me could

have worn a face mask neil the paraffin
test wouldn't show any gunpowder on your

hands either

To the work gloves, didn't he?

Hey, Mike.

Your picture's coming in from Denver PD.

Uh -huh.

Now that's the baby I've been waiting
for.

Ten years older, but that's boiling all
right.

Whatever it was, Red had it figured out.
He was going to tell me.

See, Red, he's not talking too much
right now.

Go right ahead. Don't let me bother you.

You know, I don't care what you think of
me.

I didn't kill him. See, the man can't
come up with anything more original than

the fact that he spent the night with a
lady. Check it. It's very simple. Check

it. Sir, who's Mr. Boylan?

What Mr. Boylan? This one right here.

He was murdered in Denver a month ago.

That's when you and the circus were
there.

This must be one of my uncle's old
photographs.

It is.

Hans, Albert, Red.

I don't recognize the other guys.

Look, it's dated 64. I was in boarding
school in 1964.

You can check the records.

Well, we got a lot of checking out to
do. How long is the circus going to be

town? We open in Vancouver on Monday.

Maybe you ought to plan on being here a
little longer.

All right, you can go for now.

What are you doing?

He's the only suspect we have. He's not
only leaving the state, he's leaving the

country. Can you prove that he was in
that hospital room this morning?

Or that he was in Reiner's apartment?

You can't.

I'm telling you there's a face missing
there.

A clown, the killer clown.

And Sparky Sohn.

Come on.

Let's go find our sketch artist.

Make that tear bigger.

The mouth was droopier.

Well, it all depends on how you make the
bread, Hart.

You know about suspects, I know about
makeup.

Anyhow, I'll never forget that guy's
face.

Well, take a good look, Sparky.

You're our only witness.

Let me have that.

What do you think, fellas?

Now, I read somewhere where there's an
unwritten law that every clown's makeup

is his own personal trademark.

I know you guys will steal gags, but
never a face.

If we knew, we'd tell you.

So who might know?

There is one guy here in town.

Freddy Olburn, ex -kinker, had a clown
museum up on North Beach.

No. We're already at the real thing.

I'd like to see the museum.

I'd appreciate it.

Unbelievable, Freddy. Just beautiful.

Really beautiful.

Listen, you ever seen a clown's face
like that one?

Cesar Warnock.

Performed as a clown.

Later as a joey. A high wire walker.

Never made it big, but a good, solid
performer.

Don't think he ever played in this
country.

Where is he now?

You know, my guess is he's with the USA
National under a different name.

He goes back to the O 'Reilly
Consolidated Shows at 38, Hayden's

46, Long Brothers, McDonald, Edinburgh.

Scaloni, 60 through 64, and then no
employment.

Wollnick died in Brighton, November 71.

The names Boylan and Murdoch, they mean
anything to you? They were riggers in

the Scaloni Circus in 64?

Oh, I didn't follow the working men,
just the performers. Had to draw a line

somewhere.

Boylan, Boylan, Boylan, Boylan.

No, and Murdoch.

Now, here's a Sean Murdoch.

Worked as a ringmaster, drank himself
out of a job.

I got him now living in Vancouver.

Vancouver, that's the next stop for the
circuit.

Mike, Sergeant Holland, Vancouver
Police.

Yes, Sergeant.

We traced Sean Murdock for you,
Lieutenant.

He says he did work with Scaloni Circus
in 1964.

I'm putting him on the phone.

Mr. Murdoch, four men that worked with
you at Scaloni have been victims of a

killer. Albert and Hans Reiner and
Boylan are already dead.

Red Ashburn is in the hospital
unconscious. He's been shot.

Now, I have reason to believe that it's
a high -wired Joey named Cesar Volnack.

Mr. Murdoch, I need all the help I can
get.

That's why I'm asking you, do you know
anything?

That's a long time ago.

I guess it's all of ten years.

I don't know if Red was still with them
then.

I don't remember things too well
anymore.

We, Al,

Hans, Boyle, and me were on the rigging
crew.

A guy wire broke on Caesar's rig.

He came down hard.

Yeah, he was busted up pretty bad.

How bad?

He blamed us for it. We made a lot of
crazy talk.

He claimed we was drunk.

He said he'd kill us.

It's Dr. Mayhill for Mike, but I think
you'd better take him.

Yes, Inspector Keller. Doctor, may I
help you? Inspector, Red Ashburn died

minutes ago.

How? Well, all technical jargon aside...
His heart just gave out. The shock of

the wound.

He lived hard, used up, no reserve left.

It happens.

Okay, can you hang on one second,
please?

Thank you.

Red just died, Hart.

Mr. Murdoch, would you put the sergeant
back on the phone, please?

Yes? Sergeant, Murdoch is a potential
murder victim. He needs protection.

Thanks.

All right, I'll teletype all the
information I have.

Dr. Mayhew, line four.

Dr. Mayhew, I want you to withhold all
the information you can on Red.

Just for a few hours.

Thanks.

I tell you, the one thing that ties it
all together is revenge.

It couldn't be Volnak.

So it had to be somebody who was really
close to him.

Let Interpol get into it, will you? I
mean, they can trace his life story and

they can give you the link.

Oh, come on, Steve. What are you talking
about?

Barring a confession, we don't have a
case against anybody.

Not even if we knew who did it.

How many times have you told me, never
as a police officer, to use yourself as

target? I'm not going in as a target.

These murders were all carefully
planned, except for Red's.

And I tell you... that that killer got
frightened.

He thought that Red knew something.

Well, I'm just gonna crowd him a little
bit... and give him some bait.

I hope he takes it.

What if he doesn't run?

There is no danger, I'm telling you.

If everybody does his job.

I told him I called the hospital and
that he was feeling so good he'd

show up here tonight.

Okay, all units report.

This is Gary, backstage.

I'll have my cover to the arena.

This is Stevens in the main arena. We've
got a good view of the whole area,

Steve. We're set, Steve.

Neil's still in the dressing room.

Mount up.

Showtime. Let's get ready.

Come on, happy faces, smiling faces,
everybody.

Showtime. Watch your spaces. Let's go.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,
girls and boys.

Welcome to the USA National Circus.

internationally famous circus stars in a
frightening promenade of greeting, a

preview of all the joy, happiness, and
laughter of the circus.

In ring number one, ladies and
gentlemen, the loveliest, Loni Ironberg,

famous, most glorious, warrior.

In ring number three, Miss Ernestine
Park, and her miniature equine.

Yeah. He's coming in now.

Ladies and gentlemen, with great pride,
the USA National Circus presents the

greatest fanambulistic star of all time.

He walks where angels fear to tread in
the upper reaches of the Cow Palace.

Ladies and gentlemen, the undisputed
king of the high wire, Mr.

Neil Rugger.

Thank you.

This concludes our service performance
here this evening.

Thank you very much for coming to the
USA National Press.

Seemed like a good idea.

Didn't show.

No.

How did I do?

Well, I don't think Emmett Keller's
going to lose any sleep over you.

The kids liked it. Yeah, we weren't
lucky, I guess.

We weren't?

Could have been a lot worse, you know.

It's all over.

Tell them all to leave.

Come on.

I took care of him for six years and I
watched him die.

He was a good man.

I thought maybe I'd like to have this
for your collection.

Red Axe, Burton?

That's right, kiddies. Break your legs
off.

Go in the back.

Well, what's going to happen to Walnut's
kid?

Well, she's going to go to trial.

See, she used the circus as a cover -up.

She used Neil to find out where the
Rhinas were, and Boley just sort of

in. Guess he couldn't stay away from a
good circus.

Why Red?

He never hurt Volnick.

See, she thought that Red remembered
that Volnick had a daughter who wanted

be a bareback rider.

She's probably right.

You know, I'd sure like to have a
memento of this case.

Oh, no.

You're not asking me to break up that
set.

I didn't mean that.

Oh.

Well, I'll tell you what I will do.

How would you like something personal?

Your own special clown makeup.

I'll register it tomorrow.

An original one for me?

Yeah.

I'd like that.

You know, Steve, if I hadn't been a
cop... I know.

I know Mikey would have been a clown.