Original subtitles

Terry, honey, fill in for me. I have to make a phone call.

of these delegates are men. Now, you've got to keep it all moving.

Big! Big!

Okay, now let's go!

C! L!

A!

S! A!

S!

Hello?

No, Mr. Clayman isn't due for about 20 minutes.

Look, this is a matter of life and death.

Well, I'll see if I can get through to his suite. Hang on, please.

I promise to place the government back into the hands of the people. Oh, come

off it, Charlie.

The people's ignorance of what goes on in government is what got them into this

fix in the first place.

Now, you put on your brass knuckles and tell them what I'm really going to do is

go after the special interests.

Wipe out corruption.

Yeah, yeah, I heard you, but I happen to be managing a strange duck with

principles, so I can promise miracles.

Look, if Raleigh delivers his delegation, we'll see that he gets a

I just heard what you want in that speech.

So, what says my trusted aide?

You sound like a holy man.

Come on down.

I'll do my best.

Jim, I think you're just fine.

Oh, please, Rita. I don't think I can stand so much praise this early in the

afternoon.

Especially from my wife.

You're going to win the nomination.

I feel it in my bones.

You want to talk to a constituent?

He says it's life or death.

Hello, this is Jim Clayman.

Sorry to break in on your busy day.

Who is this?

That's not important, but what I've got is.

It could get you the nomination, Mr. Clayman, or finish you for good.

What? I have documented evidence obtained three days ago while you were

speaking tour.

If it gets into the wrong hands, it can blast your campaign into the next

century. Who are you?

We'll meet soon enough.

Five o 'clock this afternoon, up on Corona Mesa.

It's private there. No one to see you.

Oh, and, uh, Mr. Clayman, if you really want to be governor, you just can't

afford not to fill.

Hey, Jim?

Who the devil are you? My name is Maddox. I want to see Jim Clayman. About

Murder. Boy, we've had some real ding -a -lings at this convention, but you ring

the bell. Now, please, leave the way you came in.

Just a minute, Walt.

Hello, Maddox.

You haven't changed much.

Well, I'm the same man.

Except for the added scar tissue I picked up from our previous meeting last

year. Now, let's see, that was Superior Court 17 in your fair state.

Oh, yes, the man with the big chips under his shoulders.

When you were district attorney, you got your kicks pushing around private

detectives. I had some bad experiences.

I felt it necessary at the time to lean a little hard.

Maybe this time you leaned a little too hard.

Is that your way of getting back to murder?

Just exactly who is it I'm supposed to have killed, Mannix?

Maybe nobody.

But you did talk to Richard Newley just before somebody killed him.

Richard Newley?

His wife hired me.

She said he talked to her about coming into a sudden inheritance.

She said he called you. You did talk to him.

That was a crank call, Lennox.

Nothing more.

Except this crank turned up dead.

I don't believe we've been introduced.

Let's keep it that way.

The morning Harold had it down is Walter Webb, attorney and confidential aide to

Jim Clayman. Just a small item underneath a picture of you flying

from a speaking tour by helicopter.

So? Maybe just coincidence, but the helicopter was spotted flying around up

there where Newley was killed.

Let me spell this out for you, Mannix, very clearly.

Any smears directed at Jim Clayman?

will have to get by me first, and I don't like dirt.

Nice meeting you.

Excuse me, uh, Mike Ray, it's still on this place?

And everything else inside.

Where can I find him?

You won't need radar.

Thanks.

Mr.

Ray?

Yeah! I wonder if I could talk to you for a minute. Why, just be my guest,

Hey, Skip, uh, you look familiar.

Ain't I seen you someplace before?

In a way.

I was present when you were back in California testifying before the Rackets

Committee.

I'll be right with you, fellas.

Hey, now, wasn't that something to go around?

They never laid a glove on me, now did they, Skip?

My name is Mannix. I'm a private investigator.

I'm looking into the death of one of your employees.

Richard Newley? Right.

Now, I ask you, wasn't that a crying shame about that boy?

Sure was.

Thought maybe you could tell me something about him. People that knew

know, things like that.

I'm sorry, Skip. You know, I got 173 employees here at this hotel, and Newley

was... Well, just a social security number on the payroll.

I couldn't tell you one single thing about him.

Well, thanks anyway.

Well, any time.

Say, what are you looking for anyhow?

Whoever killed him.

Oh.

Second question.

Can you tell me who in the hotel was close to Richard Newley?

I'll take away the women guests and there was just one.

Who? Me.

You mind telling me a little something about him?

Why should I?

I wonder if you can change at 20. I gotta make a phone call.

All I need's time.

Mr... Mannix.

You're doing business with the biggest mouth in town.

How can I help you?

You know anything about Newley that the police didn't know?

No. Except maybe you ought to check his apartment.

He didn't live here in a hotel?

No, that's what he wanted everybody to think.

But he had this apartment over on 10th and Mason, number 6.

I guess being a tennis pro is a pretty demanding line of work.

Just in case his death wasn't an accident, you got any idea who might

motive to kill him?

Yeah, me.

Motive?

Pure envy.

You say that like it should mean something.

Not unless you want to get your name in the papers. I happen to own six of them

all the way from here to California.

The Hanley chain, after my husband Eric. And we have something to discuss.

Richard Newley. May I drop you someplace?

Didn't take Jim Clayman long to call in the reserves.

What makes you think Jim Clayman called me?

Who else?

Mike Rayet?

You don't look like the type who'd trade confidences with tarantulas.

That's very discerning.

Well, actually, it was Jim Clayman's aide who called me, Walter Webb.

And you're the big, powerful paper lady who's to scare me off.

Well, I don't know that I'd say it was anything quite that dramatic.

Well, I just felt you could probably be reasoned with.

We have an excellent police force in this city, Mr. Mannix.

Excellent. They made a thorough investigation, much more thoroughly than

could, and they concluded Richard Dooley's death was due to an accidental

Well, then the worst that could happen is I waste my time. And possibly start a

whispering campaign that could destroy a man the state sorely needs.

Well, there's no reason to be concerned unless there's something to whisper

about.

thanks for the ride it's not over yet

be locked up. He almost ran me down and he stumbled into the alley and passed

out. You can see how drunk he is.

One dead bottle of red eye and loads of it on your breath.

Now look, Webb, I... No, no, Max, you look.

I've been around the law for years. Don't insult my intelligence by yelling

frame.

Looks like you get a point.

Maybe you saw to it, huh?

Book him.

The only place I'm going is to see Jim Clayman.

You really are a ding -a -ling, aren't you?

That sign that says you're smart can get tarnished if you let him lock me up,

Webb.

What I know now can carry awfully far in a local jail.

I'll handle it.

What's your feeling about the need for a sales tax rise to help balance the

budget? It takes a little more breath to say efficiency than it does to say

money, but it costs less.

Can I see you alone for a minute, Jim?

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Sure. Sorry, boys, that's all for today.

Our state doesn't seem to be wearing too well on you, Mr. Mannix.

I found you much more attractive at our last meeting.

I just can't kick the habit of getting that must -up look when I've been

dragged into an alley, and had liquor poured down my throat.

All of which, I'm sure, is news to you.

No.

Walter Webb called in to say they'd found you.

Any idea how he knew where to look?

I'm afraid that was my doing.

An anonymous phone call came in to the newspaper.

Oh, now, please.

Please don't be angry with me for taking sides.

Jim Clayman is my man.

Politically speaking, that is.

Of course, that does leave me a great deal of elbow room.

Shall we say my house, 8 o 'clock this evening?

Last one at the end of Tower Road.

8 o 'clock, then.

You won't find it, doll.

All right, Mannix, exactly what incriminating words

were you going to bark?

through the halls of our local Bastille.

Well, it seems somebody sat me while I was in Richard Newley's apartment, not

before I found a notebook.

Newley had scribbled down some IOUs. Now, to me, that turned on a couple of

lights. Such as?

Newley had planned on making a bundle from some business dealing with you.

Newley has these IOUs.

Newley turns up dead.

So I'm in hock to someone over a gambling debt, and Newley was going to

on the scandal?

The thought occurred to me.

You know, Mannix, in our last go -round, I thought you were just hard -headed.

But if you thought you heard thunder the last time we locked horns, you better

just wait a while.

Within five minutes, you won't be able to buy a dog license in this state.

Oh, one more thing, Clayman.

There was a phone number in Newley's notebook.

It happens to match the one on your telephone.

Now, sirree, this is sure gonna be an interesting romp around the maypole.

I take it Jim Clayman's being true to his word.

Thank you, John. That'll be all.

Yeah, from the cooperation I got from the DA's Office of Police Department, my

name might as well have been Hitler.

Splendid. I thought you'd see it that way.

As I told you, I want Jim Clayman as the next governor of this state.

And I want it badly enough that, if I have to, I will take off my silk gloves

and fight like a man.

Any kind of a man.

There you go scaring me again.

On the contrary.

Fighting you is the last thing I have in mind.

I, um... I, um... I thought I might help you make a turn in the right direction.

On occasion, I... I had Richard Newley over here to give me tennis lesson.

My backhand needs work.

So does my forehand.

Naturally, I learned quite a bit about him.

Such as?

Such as those gambling debts you discovered in his notebook.

They had nothing whatsoever to do with Jim Clayman.

They were his losses, Newley's losses, to that rogue of the rackets, Big Mike

Raitt.

Newley told you that?

Precisely. And for the very best of reasons. He wanted me to lend him the

to pay the debt off.

It seems that jolly Mike, the innkeeper, might not be quite so jolly as a

creditor.

So you gave him the money?

I played tennis with Richard.

Nothouse.

Well, now that I've done my good deed for country and man, why don't we just

make ourselves comfortable and watch the grass grow?

Excuse me.

One moment, please.

It's for you.

Oh.

Hello.

This is the hotel clerk. You left this number for messages.

Look, I've got to see you now. It's urgent.

Where?

Service garage of the hotel.

They're seeking up on people in the dark and get you a lot of trouble.

Any more trouble, I guess, you're going to have to stand in line. Come on, get

in.

Big Mike fired me today.

Why? Found out I gave you Newley's apartment address.

That leaves me in need of getting out of town money, so how would you like to

buy the rest of my merchandise?

Fifty. I don't have change.

Keep the dime.

Claire Hanley, who latched on to you in the hotel this afternoon, what did she

have to say about her and Newley?

Oh, just that he taught her tennis now and then.

There's something else.

Yeah, the whole nine yards.

Newley spent a lot of time at her place.

Since he wasn't exactly in who's who, he planned to make her pay for keeping him

coming through the back door.

Anything else?

Mm -hmm.

The hotel helicopter made an unscheduled flight, but they newly fell off the

cliff.

to haul our VIP guests around with.

I fired that clerk because he had a big mouth.

If there's anything that a hotel don't need, it's a popping -off room clerk.

Well, let's not overlook the dead man, Ray.

He owed you a lot of gambling money, and in murder, that can be defined as

motive. I suppose you're going to go to the police with that, huh?

I haven't decided yet.

But you got to admit, it's even money that they'd find that pretty

Mannix, I sure hope that you like this little old state of ours.

Because it's pretty near a sense that you're going to get buried in it.

Mannix?

You sure are a caution.

You've got to learn to relax. Knowing people's a kidding you.

Yeah, I guess it was pretty silly of me to take you seriously.

I guess it had to do with all that gangster stuff I keep reading in the

Now you got the right idea.

Let's just sit down and have ourselves a little old talk.

You did come up here to do some horse trading now, didn't you, boy?

You know how we private detectives are, Mike.

Like to follow hot lead.

Since you're so interested in the case, I thought you might slip me a goodie or

two.

I suppose that, uh, well, you'd be willing to forget about the police

Them IOUs and newlies and everything.

Well, now, that depends on how well you hold my interest.

Did you ever hear of the Cornette Trucking Company?

Yeah, it's a business front for laying off underworld money.

About five years ago, Jim Clayman represented Cornette Trucking while he

partnering with one of the local law firms here in town.

Now, isn't it just possible that Clayman didn't know Cornette Trucking was a

front? Maybe you're right, but just the same.

It's a pretty fair bet that... Innocent or not, he might have signed his name to

some mighty incriminating documents.

I'll tell you one thing. Something like that would sure run some awful deep ruts

in Clayman's campaign for governor.

Skip, I do believe I've captured your interest.

How does it look, Charlie?

Gentlemen of the press are smutting fresh meats.

Thanks, Charlie.

Well, there's nothing definite but little innuendos, like why a private

investigator is asking so many questions about a candidate for governor.

It's time we leaned on Mannix, Jim. Hard. No. No, I want to think about it.

go down to the press section right now and see what you can do to spike these

rumors.

Under the right conditions, a lady can get a very clear perspective on

Conclusion? It stinks.

Please, Rita.

Just a moment, dear.

Notice, Jim?

I'm wearing something new.

Jim?

Oh, yes, I've seen that gown before, dear.

Looks lovely. I'm talking about my new accessory.

This little glass of sunshine.

Remember, Jim?

I never touched it before.

Except on our wedding night.

When you bought that magnum of champagne.

We made three toasts to us.

Then the next thing I remember was morning.

Of course I remember, darling.

But do we have to talk about it now?

There you were.

Brilliant young lawyer, briefcase brimming with blackstone, ready to take

to glory land.

And here we are now, ready to knock on the gate.

But it's strange, Jim.

It's as though I were somebody else.

As though I'd lost you somewhere back in those years.

Everything is going to be just fine, darling.

You've just contracted a case of campaign nerves.

Why don't you lie down?

I'll see you at dinner.

Look, boys, there's nothing to it.

Mannix and Jim Clayman had a run in a few years ago, but it's all settled.

Mannix is practically on a plane back to California.

Your words are smooth, Walt, but your timing is lousy. You say this Mannix

bugging Jim Clayman.

But here he comes again.

I guess he missed the plane.

Mannix, unless you've come to deliver some delegates.

Why don't you run along home?

I think that my chances are reasonably good.

I don't make any claims at this time, but I do have... How do you feel the

campaign's going?

Gentlemen, excuse me.

I'll be glad to answer your questions later.

Excuse me.

And what is it this time?

Well, it might be the whole ballgame.

Whatever, it shouldn't take five minutes to find out. Jim, I was about to get

rid of him.

You can throw me out or you can talk to me.

Whichever you think is best for the claimant image.

Has to do with Coronet Trucking. All right.

Maybe. Coronet Trucking was an underworld front.

I didn't know that.

Isn't it just possible that while you were their attorney, you could have

some incriminating documents?

What are you getting at, Max? And Michael Raitt wanted me to know you were

involved with Coronet Trucking. Now, if that's the case, he must have something.

And if he does, then it's my guess that you know what it is.

Mannix, I'm going to be finished with this and with you once and for all.

If coronet trucking was a syndicate operation, I knew nothing about it.

Nothing at all.

However, who would believe me?

So I'm going to cooperate with you. I'm going to open up the gates so that you

can dig up any dirt on me that you can find.

Wait a minute, Jim, you can. Yes, I can.

But if there's something you can use to crucify me with, I'd like to have it

before the convention picks its nominee for governor.

If you find something, anything, incriminating, I'll withdraw from the

Jim, you... Walt, I am not about to hurt a lot of good people and a good party.

I haven't got a fix on you yet, Clayman.

Maybe you are on the up and up.

But then again...

Maybe you've come up with the greatest political con act since kissing babies.

Try me.

One complete photostat report of the Richard Newley accident.

Oh, thanks. You know, I like you people better this way.

I guess it does pay to have friends. Oh, you better keep them, Mannix. We don't

find you exactly irresistible.

I'd like to talk to you.

Be glad to, Mrs. Clayman.

Mr. Mannix, my husband has quite a career ahead of him.

He's young enough to go on to even more important things.

I'm very proud of him.

I don't quite understand what you're getting at.

On the seat.

The envelope.

Take it.

It's yours.

Five thousand dollars, Mr. Mannix.

All you have to do to earn it is to get on a plane and go back to California.

That, of course, is before I finish the case.

You've done your work well.

It started to make waves.

Waves that are going to swamp a very good and very able man.

My husband deserves better than that, Mr. Mannix. And so does this state.

Mrs. Clayman, I have... No, please.

Don't answer just yet.

Meanwhile, think about it.

You know, I've got a hunch about you, Mrs. Clayman.

And if I'm right, I hope your husband deserves you.

Well, you don't even look surprised.

No, I'm not. I'm pleased.

At least this time I didn't get sapped over the head and have a bottle shoved

down my throat.

Now, shall I order up some drinks or do you two want to get right to the point?

Well, the point is, darling, I told you if I had to, I would take off my gloves

and fight like a man.

I had to.

You see, Mannix, Mrs. Hanley and I are not as honorable as Jim Clayman.

I'm afraid we've had to break his promise of cooperation.

And you can hardly wait to tell me how.

It's our duty.

By reason of certain influences, pressures, your detective license has

revoked in this state.

I presume this decision was made as soon as you learned I had the police report

on Newley's death.

Correct.

You're pretty touchy on the subject of Richard Newley, aren't you, Mrs. Hanley?

To borrow a cliche, I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking

According to the report, Richard Newley took a cab to the place he was murdered

the day he had his accident.

He took a cab to the place he was murdered from your house, Mrs. Hanley.

Impossible.

Of course, Richard did spend time at my house giving me tennis lessons, as I

told you. But on that particular afternoon, I'd called him to tell him I

wouldn't be there.

That can be checked out. Not by you, mister.

Any further detecting you two in this state will be considered illegal.

And that spells jail.

Outside call, please. Century Cab Company.

Century Cab Company?

Listen, you've got a driver by the name of Pete Bryan, number 406. I'd like to

talk to him.

Hello.

Hello, Pete Bryan?

Yeah. What can I do for you?

Well, I'm investigating a newly case, and according to the police report, he

took a ride with you on the day he died.

That's right.

Let's see.

I drove him up to Corona Mesa. You picked him up at Mrs. Hanley's? I picked

up at the Hotel Caribbean.

He comes out wearing tennis shoes and a tennis outfit.

I'd hacked him out that way to Mrs. Hanley before.

Was he carrying anything with him?

Yeah, a tennis racket.

Oh, wait a minute.

I thought it was pretty funny. He was also carrying a briefcase.

And then you went straight to Mrs. Hanley's?

What about the briefcase?

Well, he must have left it in the tennis cabana with his white -on -whites, I

guess. Thanks, Pete.

I'll see that you get a picture of General Grant.

An autographed picture by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Start making tracks, old buddy.

You're going up, up, and away.

You're awful quiet.

Yeah, just thinking.

I guess it was you who tapped me over the head at Newly's apartment, huh?

Yeah, and it sure cut me to the quick half.

I'll butt the arm on a good old boy like you.

If you hadn't have stuck to it the way you did, I might not have wound up with

this key to the state.

State's a pretty expensive blackmail price.

That must be first -class dynamite in there.

Dick Neely thought it was anyhow.

Sort of upsets your gravy train if Klayman didn't win that nomination,

it? I gotta admit, it wouldn't be a big disappointment.

and lays out to me.

Richard Newley owed you gambling money, so you used that to force him to get

something on Clayman.

It's a little rough on the edges, but it ain't bad.

And then Newley decided to go into business for himself.

Called me and said if I didn't beat Clayman's price, he's gonna take his

business to the source.

So you take the hotel helicopter and your friend up front here forced him

the cliff.

He spooked himself over that cliff.

Stupid as he was, he still had brains enough not to bring the claimant

with him. This was his whole card.

This is where you get out, son.

I'm afraid you're going to have a mighty nasty accident.

Thank you.

from the imperial empire of Jameson County cast its entire 27 votes

for the next governor of this great state, Jim Clayman!

That puts

you

ahead, Jim.

If Curtis County goes our way, you're in.

Hey. Rita, you hear that?

Our personal guru thinks we're going to head the ticket.

Listen, Rita, why don't you call the desk and reserve this suite for a few

days? It'll give us a little time for ourselves.

No time off, Jim. We'll have to make that banker's conference up north

Want their support in the election? We'll have to be there and smile.

Yeah, yeah, I forgot about that.

Yeah.

What do you want now?

Your boss invited me to dig up whatever dirt I could find, remember?

What's in there? I don't know.

I'm not going to let you destroy a good man's political career.

I figure Mr. Clayman at least deserves first look.

What is all this about?

I found this in the late Richard Newley's personal effects.

My guess is whatever's in here will explain why he called you.

Well, do you want to see it?

Or do you already know?

Oh, Jim, nothing happened.

No thanks to me.

Curtis County, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman, the delegates of Curtis County

33 votes.

In case you're interested, Jim, that was last Wednesday while you were away on

your speaking tour.

I was tempted.

I admit that.

For the first time in our marriage, I was tempted to look beyond

you, Jim.

But it didn't go any further than the pictures.

Mrs. Clayman.

Did you know about these?

No, Mr. Mannix.

I offered you a bribe solely in the interest of my husband.

I knew he hadn't done anything wrong.

I also knew that mud, once it's thrown, sticks to a man.

It's just that you were always gone while Walt was here.

It was always, Walt, make sure you take care of Rita while I'm gone.

That's all he did for a very long time.

And I've been so lonely.

There's no reason to order your wife out of your life.

You did that a long time ago.

And that ghost of her that's left.

It's leaving anyway.

I'd like to order a taxi.

Please, Rita.

Our man can be such a fool.

We were both right and both wrong about so

many things.

But in this ballgame, there are no ties, Mannix.

There has to be a winner.

You're the winner.

You're right, Mr. Clayman.

Every game has a winner.

I was just calling your room. They said you'd checked out. I'm glad I caught

you. Really?

Yes, I think I owe you an apology.

It's just when you were investigating into Richard Newley's death, you began

probe a little too deeply into my relationship with him. Well, I didn't

that would look quite right.

I mean, if it got around.

I mean, I do publish a chain of family newspapers.

Clearly stated and apologies accepted.

Thank you.

Wait.

The past is behind us now.

Why don't we just wrap ourselves in some privacy?

Never can tell. It just could possibly be a bright, new, beautiful world.

Oh, I'm sorry, Claire.

What can I do?

You took away my license to practice in this state.