Original subtitles

A contract has been taken out of my life. Who took it out on you?

I did.

Tonight on Simon and Simon.

Mr. Lee is to contract killing what Tiffany's is to diamonds.

Tell me what you want me to do. Would it be possible to talk face to face?

People who talk to me face to face wind up dead.

It's going down. It's going down now.

A member of the Deep Cover staff is about to meet for the fifth time with a

who calls himself the Lone Arranger.

A man who has plenty to tell us about the shadowy, murky world of organized

crime. This man, on several occasions, has...

Get on the horn to the station.

Get the police here right away. He's dead. Yeah.

That's it we have here.

Oh, you look almost smug. You must have made your collar.

Well, when you got a guy at the getaway car up on the lube rack with his tires

off, believe me, he's yours.

Oh,

how you doing?

Can I help you?

I hope so.

I'm Brad Daniels.

Oh, yeah, yeah, that guy on Channel 3.

I'm an admirer of yours.

The, uh... Telecom kidnapping case.

You're the one who followed the donut hole.

Thanks.

Oh, and there was the Golden West Bank job.

The way you talked those robbers into surrendering was fantastic.

Thanks again.

Oh, the shootout.

At the airport parking lot. I mean, guns blazing. You taking on ten smugglers

alone. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute now. There was four smugglers and I

28 cops.

You don't have to exaggerate. I'm a public servant.

I'll help you anyway.

All right.

You look like a straight -ahead guy. I'll get right to the point.

A contract has been taken out on my life.

Who took it out on you?

I did.

Uh, what did you do?

A big Lee hitman is after me, and that guy out there with the cane doesn't seem

to be doing much.

Look.

Albert paid for that cane with a bullet in his spine.

Now, he doesn't have to be here, but he is. And you're lucky to have him. Oh,

okay. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sure he's dedicated, but I'm scared.

Look, don't you think someone with a little... Look, look.

Milk's legs may move a little slow, but his mind is hell on wheels.

The guy's a scholar on organized crime.

I don't need a scholar.

I need a SWAT team.

I don't believe this.

It's a nightmare.

I'm about to be murdered.

No one will help me.

Hunter didn't make any promises. We're just going to listen to the man's story.

That's all.

The day after he hires us, he will burst through our office door with a camera

crew. The man did an expose in my dentist.

Oh, come on, Rick.

If it weren't for a few obnoxious reporters, this country would be in sad

Remember freedom of the press?

Remember illegal search and seizure? Remember invasion of privacy?

Look, just think of it as a favor to town.

Listen to a story and we don't like it, we politely say no.

AJ, I'm telling you, the man is a weasel.

When he gets here, just remember, speak right into his briefcase.

An honest man can only benefit from exposure.

Would you like to see the Krellman case on primetime?

All of it, in six parts, with Brad Daniels telling both sides of the story?

Oh, no, wait. We didn't actually do anything that was wrong.

You can explain all that to Mom during the commercials.

AJ, this is Brad Daniels and Alan Turner. How do you do?

Nice to meet you. My brother. Can we start right away?

Well, before we start, we'd like to know that there's actually something that we

can do for the client.

Professional ethics.

You have heard of professional ethics.

All right.

Go ahead.

Take your shot.

Guys who look under rocks for a living sometimes get dirt under their

fingernails.

But I'm not here for you to love me.

I need your help.

And we'll give it to you if we can.

But before we commit, we would like to be reasonably sure that we can, in fact,

help you.

Someone is trying to kill me, and these guys want me to audition.

I thought you squared it with them.

They like to do their own squaring. Why don't you show them the tape?

Alan was working on a gambling story.

When I was undercover, I met a man named Artie Bunsen. He called himself the

Lone Arranger. And we recorded a segment.

Can you turn it up?

The deep cover staff decided to test Mr. Bunsen's connections by having him

arrange a contract for a murder.

That's right.

We hired a professional hitman to kill a familiar, and I hope, beloved San Diego

personality.

Me. What you're about to see... I did the undercover interview. He didn't know

we were taping.

Hardy, I want to take out a contract on that TV guy, Brad Daniels.

Okay.

Celebrity hits can get messy.

It's going to cost you.

It's worth it to keep me off this.

He's $25 ,000.

Mr. Lee.

Mr. Lee.

The only known cure for the common cold.

Some people sue, some people call Mr. Lee.

You want the best, that's the best.

We're in deep cover.

You are too.

What do you think?

We're talking Major League done.

Oh, that goes without saying.

I figured he could use your kind of help more than mine. He could use help

keeping his fingers out of light sockets.

I didn't know it'd go this far.

What am I gonna do?

About the only thing we can do is try and call it off.

How do we get a hold of this Artie guy?

Oh, that'll be easy.

He's at the morgue. Somebody took him out last night.

Oh, boy.

Well, if he's dead, maybe he didn't have time to arrange the contract or even

contact us. Lee.

That's what I was hoping.

Until I got this.

Dear Alan, I got the... Like the torpedoes already left the tube.

The address we gave Artie.

We rented the house in my name so that if he checked, it would look legit.

We'd have film of Artie handing me for leave the money.

Hard evidence of a felony.

Got it.

Every day at 7, the crew drops me off and I come to this door here and head

the back where I keep a motorcycle.

That's when I head to the station.

In the morning, I reverse the order.

The TV comes on at 7 .30.

The lamp's about 8 o 'clock. And the radio in the morning about 6 o 'clock.

They're on timers.

You have to make this place look lived in.

Leave the tap on so you draw a little water. Open and close the curtains

different ways, different times.

Get some food.

Have some dirty dishes in the sink.

Move the answering machine to your office. This will automatically answer

forward all your calls there.

You at least been getting any mail here?

No.

That's the rest of your ingenious plan.

There's organized crime in Moose Jaw, Montana?

Only to the extent that Johnny Cristofoli has a summer cabin there.

Johnny Little Lamb Cristofoli, didn't you put him away a few years back? Yeah,

but his three sons are running the business for him.

Little Lamb Jr.

is a ham radio operator.

And he transmits a lot of orders from Moose Jaw every August.

Why is he called Little Lamb?

He eliminated several competitors by hitting them over the head with frozen

of lamb.

We had the damnedest time pinpointing the murder weapon because Johnny always

ate it for dinner.

Uh, you ever heard of a Mr. Lee?

Mr. Lee is to contract killing what Tiffany's is to diamonds.

Most recently, a wiretap was received from New York with a voice saying, uh,

don't worry about O 'Connell, I've called Mr. Lee.

You know where we found O 'Connell's body?

In an airliner.

Everybody got off the plane except O 'Connell.

A knife? He was injected with Varathion.

It paralyzes all the muscles of the body except the heart.

The guy suffered.

Is that it?

We've eliminated everyone who died before 1900 and most household pets.

Hey, make sure you unpack all that stuff and put it away.

right okay don't touch any of the timers of the appliances okay just go right on

through and outside

This is Temple Hill, reporting live from somewhere that nobody ever wants to be.

The scene of the horrible and tragic death of a dear friend.

The neighbor saw a gas truck out front, but she didn't get a look at it to meet

her man.

Yeah, we'd like to talk to the neighbor. She's over there.

And all of us at Channel 3.

Hold up.

Hi.

What do you want?

Well...

I'd like to know what you know about Brad Daniels and why you've been

him around.

What is this? First degree murder.

I don't know anything.

You do know where the police station is, don't you?

Real easy. Go down here about two blocks on the right.

Yeah, and don't speed. There are a lot of cops around.

But I already... I call for an assignment, then mail in the report.

And that's why you were watching Brad Daniels, Miss Sanborn, because Mr. Lomax

asked you to. Yes, it was my job. I worked for his company, Billing Services

Incorporated. You a bill collector?

No. When people apply for large loans, I watch them for a few days to establish

their habits and lifestyles.

Not here. But don't worry, the search is not yet over.

Lomax, Lomax. The name's familiar.

I'm going to think about this for a minute.

And then six weeks ago, I handed in a report. Right after that, the man died

a boating accident.

We know.

We checked the list you gave to Sergeant Hubbard.

Of your last 15 clients, six were hospitalized with broken bones, three

dead. It's worse than I thought.

I began to get suspicious when I read about the boating accident. And then

Mr. Daniels' house blew up, I really got scared.

Accidental deaths run about 50 per 100 ,000 each year. So when you consider

that... Excuse me, what is the significance of that? Oh, I'm just

it's a statistical improbability.

Accidents account for about five hundredths of a percent of the annual

rate. But two of the 15 people I watched died accidentally.

I have this auxiliary filing system, also known as my back pocket.

I knew I'd heard the name Lomax before, and lo and behold...

Fat Billy Lomax, loan shark extraordinaire.

Loan shark? He runs a billing service. Well, that's his vocation. His avocation

is loan sharking. And it looks like...

Well,

we got the lid screwed on good and tight here.

Good. I think we've kept the bottle up so far.

That's what we need around here. More cops.

Where were you when Brad Daniels was alive?

Look, I understand you're in danger.

Spare me the standard press release, Lieutenant.

I've heard there's a maniac out there with a list of all our names.

Look, there is no maniac. There is no list. That's just a totally unfounded

rumor.

And where did you hear that?

From a cop.

See you in the set.

Temple.

Frank, please.

We've got ten minutes.

Alicia can take over if you want.

Just give me a minute to get it together here.

You know what works for me sometimes?

I stop thinking about how hard the job is to do and think about what happens if

I don't do it.

You know what works for me?

Being left alone.

Sorry. You should be.

He came to you for help.

Now he's dead.

As a rule, I don't make excuses.

But I'm telling you, we did everything we could.

He came to us with just ten seconds on the clock, and we couldn't block the

shot.

Sometimes you do the impossible.

Most of the time, it does you.

Look.

I'm sorry, really.

You know what bothers me the most?

We are so damn hard -nosed in this business, so competitive.

We never give each other an inch or a smile or a pat on the back.

I wanted to tell Brad how much I liked his daycare rip -off story.

And I never got the chance.

Well, why don't you do it now?

Wherever he is, I'm sure he's tuned in.

I'll keep that in mind.

What are you doing here?

I called him.

I'm going to make a tape diary to use after you bag Mr. Lee.

If you do.

Have you talked to anybody?

Does anybody else know?

Of course not. I can keep my mouth shut.

Look, Alan and I have done a hundred undercover gigs together.

You believe this guy? We're trying to save his butt. He's drilling holes in

own boat.

One more foot inside that door and no more you.

We're having enough trouble keeping this thing under control as it is.

You have got to stay with the program.

You are going to wrap up whatever it is you all are doing here, and then no more

traffic in and out of here.

Get on with it.

All right.

Hey.

I'm going to hang around.

Keep an eye on them.

Okay.

Good commercial rock group Critical Mass appeared tonight in Jack Murphy

Stadium.

Young bratty Daniels, weather boy, young reporter Bradford Daniels is

serious, period.

She's really holding up, isn't she?

Well, you better get down into the set, Alan. She's almost finished with the

weather block.

I'll be in the booth.

Brad's retrospective is in BT -10, Frank.

All ready. It's a minute 34.

Okay, good.

All of us at Channel 3 knew and admired him as the consummate professional.

Ready camera one? Take one.

And ready camera three.

Take three.

Thank you, Temple.

Just moments ago I learned of a startling development in the Brad

I've obtained exclusive new evidence of a police plot.

Watch this tape.

to go by it. Go to the next story. Standby tape one. Oh, I'm sorry, Alan. I

guess we're having trouble with that tape.

I hope we can have it for you in just a few minutes.

Ready, camera two. Take two.

Roll one.

Put VT -10 on closer. No, don't show it at all.

I want you to know what it feels like to be dead and alive at the same time.

She's alive.

I want you to know.

Got some no brains.

No, but it's going to get more expensive.

What do you mean?

Because he's going to have to hire somebody to protect him and that other

from being abused.

Better take that thing off on Warner, his producer.

Why would Turner do such a thing? I mean, Brad is supposed to be his friend.

Yeah, well, I guess he figured it was the kind of scoop he needed to launch

own career.

I must face it, when it comes to the news, it ain't friendship anymore.

It's a sickness.

He's going to have to take a baseball bat to you in a dark alley to get a

I think it's time we started to chum the waters.

Did what?

What does that mean?

Chum...

Sergeant Hubbard said that Fat Billy likes to spend his nights at the

Country Club, policing rich suckers in games of Little Champ.

Ah, who'd you have in mind, Morty Gold of the Nevada Golds? No, I think that's

little too flashy.

Let's try Alfred Crumset of the Perpetual Slumber Mortuary.

Lively and exuberant.

What is that, Billy? Four in a row?

Hardly had time to look at my hand.

Well, like I always say, I'd rather be lucky than good -looking.

Well, that's it for me.

Billy may own my money, but the little woman owns my time.

Hey,

how about you, pal?

You play gin?

I'm not much of a gambler, I'm afraid.

You do have money.

Well, all right.

It's my obligation to put the story on the air. If I don't, I lose credibility.

And Daniels loses his life, maybe. And maybe not only Daniels.

I mean, this killer could get real ugly if he finds out he's been duped. I know

that. Now, it's a story.

I have to report it.

It's my job.

Of course.

And you should report it.

As soon as you get all the facts. You just found out.

You gotta work out the... Best wishes.

Temple Hill.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

11 o 'clock wouldn't be 11 o 'clock without you. Thank you.

I'm sorry. This must be awful for you.

Babe, it's part of my job.

Well, dining with someone who's famous for being intelligent and beautiful.

Well, nothing wrong with you. Excuse me, Michelle.

Could you come over to our table and meet my mother?

Mom has a little trouble getting around.

I'd be delighted.

You're out in the first street.

You know, I've seen a lot of poor losers.

But I can't remember seeing anyone who felt so sad for winning.

I'm sorry. It's a professional habit. I own a mortuary.

Oh, come on, pal. I've seen that look before.

You got money problems?

No. Oh, look.

I can spot a guy needs a little help.

That's my professional habit.

I loan people money.

Honestly, I don't need money.

I have a very successful business.

After all, everyone comes to me sometime.

My problems are... a more personal

nature.

Problems you can handle.

All you gotta do is find the right solution.

That perpetual slumber mortuary.

We know that nature provides a way of simplifying human relationships.

Oh, hey.

Suicide, that isn't the answer.

If somebody's got to die, I wouldn't be the one to volunteer.

No, not me.

Well, who then?

You know,

this is a lovely place, and the food's great.

Oh,

I'll take that.

Of course.

Hello. This is the Perpetual Slumber Mortuary.

What may I do for you in your time of need?

Oh, hi, Mom. Hold on a sec.

Hi, yeah, I'm on a case.

Yeah. Okay.

Right, I'll call you back. Bye -bye.

This is Fat Billy.

Good news.

Mr. Lee has agreed to help you in your time of need.

That is indeed wonderful news.

How do we arrange this?

If you give me the name and address of the problem, I'm still willing to take

care of this for you. talk to Mr. Lee myself.

Well, it's up to you.

He says you can meet him on the 15th floor of the Grafton building at 2 .30.

At 2 .30?

This is from my expose on a PCP lab.

Who's that guy? I've seen him before.

Sound man.

He has a remote mic in the car with him.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay, I'll be there.

No, let me have a head start.

Okay.

You got a pen?

Yeah.

I want you to give this to Lieutenant Brown when he gets back from lunch.

And please, do me a favor.

Don't do anything else, all right?

2 .30?

Yeah, 2 .30.

15th floor, Mr. Lee. All we have to do is wait.

That's nice.

Is that Fuller?

Yeah. No Cal on it, though. Ah.

Wine plays music.

Ooh, the hits.

What do you think about the guy with the briefcase?

Could be.

to 2 .30.

Mr. Lindquist is usually more prompt.

You think we missed the order? Two more minutes, I will.

Mr. Benjamin.

Just a moment. I'm sorry.

Go right in.

conversational interlude with Mr. Lee.

Would it be possible to talk face to face?

A lot of people who talk to me face to face wind up dead.

In that case, this will be fine.

Now tell me what you want me to do.

It's... It's my wife.

If this is an insurance thing, it's going to be a little more complicated.

No, she's not the problem.

Well, I mean, she's part of the problem, but...

She's having an affair with another man.

I gotta be here someplace.

You know, try the first floor. Well, that... Leaves the stairs.

And then, after the Bitterman funeral... I came home early and...

He was in there with her.

My fee for the boyfriend is $15 ,000.

But you can spare yourself future expense by taking advantage of my two

-one plan.

Anything? No, did you find A .J.? Wonder if there's another way out of here.

I don't know.

You take 12, I'll take 14. You got it.

I wouldn't do this if I didn't love her so much.

It's just that I know that if he's gone, I can make her happy again.

The name?

He's a private detective.

He's a loathsome individual.

He makes his living peeping through keyholes.

His name is Rick Simon.

Mr. Lee?

Mr. Lee, are you there?

That's Mr. Lemex.

Goodbye.

Did he buy it?

He wants the report on Rick delivered to the country club in two days. He said

it's urgent.

That's great.

It's easy for you to say.

All right.

Let's get back to the report.

All right, here's what we've got.

Cecilia Simon. No, no, no, no, no.

Better to have both parents be deceived.

Nearest living relative brother, A .J.

Andrew Jackson Simon.

What did I say when I followed you?

Uh, 3 p .m. on Thursday, you saw me drive my 1957 Chevrolet convertible to

the... Uh, 6 p .m. A lady dropped me back at the restaurant, and you followed

to, um... Well, you want to set it up at your house? No, no.

The office.

Fewer escape routes, less room to maneuver.

Don't have to worry about the neighbors.

Yeah, Mr. Gorman's just getting his roses looking healthy again.

Live ammo would not be good for them.

Besides, the office would be a lot easier to secure. No, town. Guys like

develop a thick fence about cops. I don't know about that.

We have got to let this man think that this is just an ordinary, normal, garden

-variety... murder.

Yeah.

We also want him to have a limited time down on Saturday, and you don't know

where he's going.

And imply that his office has easier access because he lives in a tight

building. Like that condo near the Del Coronado.

I'll get the address.

Anything else?

Yeah.

His partner will be right there at the office with him.

He'll be less worried about you if he knows where you are.

Okay.

You're driving a slow -moving vehicle on a winding two -lane highway.

You must pull over when followed by...

Barron, we're gonna have to move you down here so that the guy is forced to

another step in the room to get a clear shot.

What do you got?

Um, I got one high, one low.

Oh, okay.

What's the usual dosage for a two -legged assassin?

Whatever it takes to put him out. Probably about the same as for a timber

You should drop after about 20 seconds. Mr. Lee may run, but... Four more

vehicles. Five. Four.

Five? Where's the book?

Hey!

What's going on here?

I didn't order this.

The guy's got the wrong house.

Hey! What's going on here?

Who are you?

Just a man, Billy.

Mr. Lee.

The police already know about you, Billy.

They'll arrest you for extortion or murder, then they'll ask you what you

to trade.

Excuse me. I'm meeting Mr. William Lomax.

Have you seen him? Of course.

Miss Sanborn. Mr. Lomax called to say he'd be detained.

Indefinitely. He asked me to take whatever you have for him. He'll come by

pick it up later.

Thank you.

Okay, a guy in a trench coat just entered the lobby. Roger that.

Passing school grounds where a school warning sign is posted and children are

going to or coming from school.

Time of patient speed limit, 25 miles an hour.

If an individual is convicted of drunk driving offenses occurring twice in five

years, the DMV must suspend that individual's driving privilege for...

Whenever a driver approaches the flashing red traffic signal, he shall...

He is in the case of a stop sign at a through highway.

Some of the duties of a driver involve...

Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway or any paved shoulder

has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the

driver of the motor vehicle.

It is permissible to drive at speeds greater than 55 miles per hour.

the windshield in a 7 -inch square in the lower corner, farthest from the

driver.

Okay, stickers are permitted on the windshield in a 7 -inch square in the

corner, farthest from the driver, on the rear window in a 7 -inch square in the

lower corner on the driver's side.

Seven, you're away, County. Seven, you're away.

Damn it.

He's gone.

No, he's not.

He knows we got a good look at him.

He's out there.

Town?

Town?

Come in, Town.

We're gonna need some backup up here.

Get the chopper moving.

Very gently now because I really would like to shoot you in the worst way the

man's wearing a bulletproof vest That's why he didn't go down

Members

of the deep cover staff working closely with special officers of the San Diego

Police Department have helped me to capture the contract killer known only

mr. Lee

Special officers, that must be me. Are you guys the deep cover staff?

Yeah, I guess we must be.

So ends the career of the infamous Mr. Lee.

A key to dozens of unsolved murders.

A window to organized crime in the United States.

I'd sure like to know how Brad got the news so fast.

I mean, he was there with a camera crew before Mr. Lee was even off the scene.

Yeah, he must have had a contact in the police department.

A reporter's life on the line is clearly worth the risk.

We're in deep... Certainly are.

We're in deep cover.