Original subtitles

And that just about wraps it up, Mr. Gunderson. I'm enclosing a photostat of

lab reports for your files.

Sincerely, except, except, except... Oh,

Peggy, on the Glenville thing, tell him... Come in. Tell him that we

do appreciate his inquiry and his interest, and we'll give every

to the proposal as outlined... In his letter.

However, we... Can I help you, ma 'am?

Jane.

This is a pleasant surprise. How are you? You look great.

And you, Joe.

How have you been?

Fine, fine.

How are things back... Back home?

Summer grows just the same.

Everything's just a little older, but it's the same.

Can I fix you anything? A drink or a... No, thank you.

No?

Well, how is everything?

You and Troy and family?

Troy's been indicted for murder.

He goes on trial in two weeks.

Troy?

Is there anything I can do? A name of a good trial lawyer? Money? Anything?

Leo Collegian is defending him.

But we have no case.

No defense at all.

We've tried everything we can think of except come to you for help.

Now I'm doing that.

I don't know how much help I'd be to you.

Don't say no until you've seen him.

He's just outside.

Troy's waiting out there.

Is Mr.

Crowfootball all of a sudden gone shy?

Please, Joe.

I don't know, Gina, are you telling me that they gave him bail on a murder

charge, that he's walking around free?

Not exactly.

Please?

How you doing, fella?

road makes a sharp turn, remember?

Simpson's Bridge.

I missed the curb.

Got sleepy and dozed off and I missed it.

What did the doctor say, Troy?

Well, this guy Radford that we talked to today at UCLA Medical Center seems to

have more hope than the doctors at Summer Grove General.

That bunch seems to think I'm going to be stuck in here forever.

Which just isn't true.

Uh, Tell me about this man that was killed, Bo Sanders.

Bo came to Summer Grove a couple of years after you left. He bought into our

trucking firm when Ed Barkley sold out. You remember Ed?

I remember him.

I guess he's the greatest blocking back we ever ran behind.

I didn't know he was in business with you.

For years.

Until his wife went through all their money.

So he sold out to Bo and went to work for us as our foreman.

Um, what's the, uh, state's case?

Well, somehow, Bo got the notion I was juggling the company books.

I finally convinced him to go over the accounts, and if he was dissatisfied,

we'd bring in an auditor.

He took the books along with him down to the fishing camp and got killed.

They never found the books.

That's it? That's the prosecution's case?

Well, no, not exactly.

Bo was killed with a fireplace shovel. The police found it a few days later.

It's a munderbrush.

My fingerprints were the only ones on it.

I'm going to go by and have a talk with Leo Collegian and then I'll get back to

you. You're staying at? No doubt.

No friends, no ties. You've really cut the cord, haven't you?

Well, anyway, thanks for coming, Joe.

Yeah, Joe.

Thanks.

Joseph. Janus.

Ah, Shadla.

New suit.

I should hope so. It's been ten years.

No. As one Armenian to another, don't tell people my brain is going.

Has it really been ten years since we put your sainted mother in the ground?

Has it really been so long?

we going to do about that poor boy, Joseph?

Mr. Collegian, do you think Troy's innocent?

I think Gene believes he is.

How shall I doubt such a lovely girl?

Troy filled me in on the details.

Motive, fingerprints, the police placement of vicinity at the time of the

Sounds tough.

Tough?

Did he tell you about the other private investigator?

Other investigator?

Right after the accident, I told him we needed an investigator.

Finally, he let me hire a man.

Oh, not you, but pretty good.

What did he come up with?

Not much.

Gene is convinced there is a witness.

The fellow spent most of his time checking into people who might have been

around River Road that night.

He finally gave that up and began to dig into Troy's habits.

Wednesday night poker parties, that sort of thing.

And? Troy fired him.

Now, the murder took place on a Wednesday night.

Did any of his poker buddies see him? Troy didn't play that night.

He only went maybe once a month.

Nothing very significant.

Unless he went someplace else on a Wednesday night.

Someplace like where?

Oh, maybe he found a good Armenian restaurant over in Fairview.

I should be so lucky.

Well.

You're not leaving before the coffee is ready?

Well, I have to check in at the hotel, rent a car, a few things like that.

Thanks anyway.

Joseph, just one thing more.

Will you be seeing Stefan?

I'm not sure.

Do, Joseph.

I'll see, Mr. Collegian.

Just don't see what those poker bashes had to do with bogey to kill, that's

You let me work it out, Troy.

Now, apparently, you didn't go every Wednesday night, so if you weren't at

poker games... Driving around, like I said before, I wouldn't drive it.

Okay, where?

No place in particular.

Sometimes I'd stop and look at the lights, the

town.

I'd stop and...

I tried to think.

By yourself, Troy?

We're friends, Joe.

Of course we're friends.

Just make your investigation look good, will you?

Go through the motions.

Walk around.

Talk to people.

Don't make waves, okay?

Why, Troy?

Why no waves?

I don't want she to get her hopes up.

We're not going to win this one.

Oh, come on now. That's not the guy I played football next to for three years.

He hated to lose.

What's to lose, Joe?

What are they going to do?

Put me in prison?

Why should you mind if I give this my best shot?

I mind.

Why? There's something worse than prison, Troy?

Something you're holding back on me?

I ask you a favor.

Then I'd consider it.

If I thought you really had killed Bo Sanders... I'd consider it.

Just give that to them.

Joseph.

Joseph.

Tacos.

Inch passes.

How's the world's greatest housekeeper? Love him.

Joseph, who cooks for you in Los Angeles? You are all bones.

Well, it's TV dinners and instant coffee. What are you doing here?

Oh, I come twice a week, straight in the house.

Fix some dolma, sometimes a little amachun.

He is as skinny as you are.

Both of you should marry nice Armenian women who cook for you, make you eat.

Well, maybe soon. Is he around?

Oh, out there somewhere in the vineyard.

He was sick, you know.

Last winter for two weeks.

Wouldn't see the doctors.

What was wrong with him?

You think he tells me?

Might as well be a stick.

Thank you, Brie.

I hear this might be a pretty good year.

Prices up?

$156 a ton.

That's better than 67.

That was a dry year, wasn't it?

It's, uh... Soil seems kind of moist.

Maybe too moist.

Too much rain to make the wine acidy, won't it?

You tell me.

18 years you spend with the grapes.

You tell me.

Maria said you were sick last winter.

I'm glad it wasn't anything serious.

Are you?

Now, look, you and I, we've had some problems.

Problems?

With you, it was always problems. I will give you a problem.

Whether it is better to pick on the 18th of the month or wait for two more days

of good sun and pick on the 20th when it may rain.

That is a problem.

Whether we should buy our fertilizer here in the town at $3 .97 a hundred

pounds, or go to San Francisco, buy it, ship it here, and save maybe a few cents

a bag.

That is a problem.

All right.

I didn't come here to start the same old argument. Why didn't you come? To try

and make things better between us. You came all the way from your successful

business in Los Angeles to tell me you were wrong.

Now, you go.

Who's there?

You are going already?

Goodbye, Maria.

You saw him?

You talked with your father?

I saw him.

Sit down. Finish your coffee.

I still have ten minutes before visiting hours.

I understand you went to see your father.

How did it go?

Well, if you've ever seen a Marine training film on hand -to -hand combat,

imagine it happening in a California vineyard.

Jean, what happened to the other private investigator?

You mean, why was he fired?

I don't really know.

He seemed to be on to something, and then all of a sudden Troy just let him

It's almost... Almost what?

Oh, I don't know, Joe.

Maybe it's the shock of the accident or everything happening at once.

Sometimes I don't think Troy cares whether he's found guilty or not.

Jean, can you be objective about Troy, about the murder?

I think so.

Is there a possibility that Troy could have killed Bo Sanders?

No. Do you think he did?

No.

No way.

I've been meaning to tell you... I have this scrapbook.

Just some clippings and snapshots.

Do you want me to turn that off?

No.

No reason to.

I still like that song.

Well, anyway, this scrapbook is just some...

Clippings of you playing football and basketball and a picture of you in your

uniform before you went away to Korea.

I even have that awful telegram that said you were missing in action.

Your mother gave that to me.

I was wondering if you had any use for it.

I've already cut out all of the pictures of us at the prom and

snapshots.

I would like to have it.

Well, I better get my sweater.

It's just something I thought you should have.

You'll be getting married one of these days and have children.

I'd like them to know as much about Joe Mannix as I do.

He's a pretty remarkable man.

No matter what time of the night you drive by, the lights in Troy's room are

always on. He's afraid of the power going off. The lights seem to reassure

Tell Troy I'll drop in a little later, huh? Sure.

Jean.

Uh, I'd, uh, I'd like to talk to Ed Barkley. Do you know where I might find

Try the warehouse.

He usually works late.

Good night, Joe.

Man, Joe, you would have loved it.

Leesburg Heights got this big fullback. You know, all state last couple of

seasons.

Now, just get this. Our boys held him to a net.

42 yards.

42 yards, Joe.

And we won the game, huh?

Well, sure we won.

You don't follow Grove High no more?

Well, I'm a little out of touch, Ed.

Yeah, yeah, I guess.

You know, me and Louisa May followed a team even in road games.

Yeah, yeah, coaching me just like that.

Hey, how is Louisa May? Still as pretty as ever.

Oh, yeah, great.

Just terrific, Joe.

Here's Red now, you know.

And still knows how to spend a dollar.

Hey, you down here to help old Troy?

Well, I'm here to try.

Just awful, that accident, everything.

Great athlete like that having to spend the rest of his life in an iron lung.

Tell me, Ed, this may help Troy.

Whatever happened to Lorene?

Lorene Wierenski? Hmm.

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Did she ever get married?

No. Her mother died a couple of years ago.

Lorraine still lives up on Wagon Road. Same as always.

She and Ed went together all through high school. Everyone thought they were

going to get married.

Yeah, right.

Did they ever see each other?

Gee, Joe, I don't know.

Come on, Ed. You work with him every day. You heard phone calls he got. You

what time he left work.

No, Troy never ran around with no one.

Well, if not with Lorene, anybody else?

No, no one else. Just... Just Lorene, huh?

Come on, stop worrying.

That may be just the thing I need to get Troy's murder charge dropped.

Really mean that? Could be.

Come on, cheer up. Hey, look, why don't you come down and visit me some weekend

in L .A.? I'll get us a couple tickets to one of the Rams games. We'll go out

and have a few laughs. How about it?

Yeah, sure, Joe.

Okay.

Oh, say hello to Louisa May, huh?

Yeah, sure, Jim.

Hello, Wierenski.

Maddox! How long have you been sitting here?

Well, I came by last night and you weren't in, so I came back this morning

wait you out. I had a nice chat with the milkman.

I went to San Francisco for the weekend. I have some friends there.

Well, it's nice to see you, Joe.

Hi, let me help you with those.

Have you been to see your dad?

Yes, and Troy McBride.

No preliminaries, right?

We're going to get right to it.

I need your help, and you know Troy better than anyone in Summer Grove.

Oh, I knew him in high school, sure.

But since then, he married another woman, remember?

Tell me a little bit about their marriage.

Was it holding together?

Oh, excuse me, Joe. I'll just get rid of this coat.

So, you want to know about their marriage.

The rundown on Gene and Troy.

Well, unfortunately, I can't tell you how Gene feels. We have very little

contact.

Troy.

Glorious young athlete who went as far as he could go on nerve and muscle.

Reasonably smart.

Reasonably straight guy.

Doesn't know where the felled fork goes.

Might have been all pro, but he was way out of her league, and he knows it.

That poor jerk has been terrified that she's going to leave him.

She's sleek, sophisticated, bright, bright.

He's crazy about her.

And where does Wawrinski fit in?

Wawrinski waits.

But you did talk, you and Troy, on Wednesday nights.

Goodbye, Joe.

If you can tell me anything about the Wednesday night Bo Sanders was killed,

may save Troy.

From the iron lung?

From a possible life term in prison.

Troy won't go to prison.

Why?

Don't you think a jury would convict a man in an iron lung?

What if I told you that a specialist in L .A.

thinks Troy has a chance of recovering?

Is that true, Joe? He may recover?

It's possible.

Not a chance.

He said... He said what?

Please, Joe, please don't ask me any more questions.

Lorraine, if Troy does get out of that tank, do you want him to spend the rest

of his life in another prison?

You know better than that. All right, then help him.

Can you prove where he was that night?

Maybe we can clear this up.

Troy made me promise.

Troy didn't kill Bo Sanders.

I want to know who did.

Thank you.

You awake, boy?

How's Lorraine?

She hurt, Joseph.

They took her to surgery.

And if that hurts you, it is because something is broken.

This is what I expected.

You walk around this earth with a gun. A gun is what you get.

I didn't get shot.

Don't argue with your father.

Haven't I been sitting here?

Haven't I been hearing you shouting while you were unconscious?

I know about the brakes.

I know someone is trying to hurt you.

You think I don't see your name in the Los Angeles papers, huh?

Joe Mannix, beaten by criminals. Joe Mannix shot in the shoulder and with

pictures. What kind of a life is this?

Joseph, this is dignity.

You go away to that big godless city with no family, no friends to take care

you when you are sick or hurt.

Pa, I don't mean to worry you. I'm sorry.

Worry?

I shall spend my time worrying.

As far as you're concerned, anything I do that doesn't include working your

is wrong.

My land?

You think I spent 40 years working that land for me, for myself?

No, for you I did it, for your children and your children's children, so they

will have land, a life worth respect.

But no, you're headstrong.

You fight back your own father.

Okay, Pa.

Okay.

If you're doing it for me, I appreciate it.

But you're doing it for yourself, too.

Don't you understand, Pa?

You're doing what you want with your life. I'm doing what I want.

I wasn't cut out to listen to the frost warnings on radio every night. I don't

like chopping weeds.

There is something wrong working with the hedge!

Yeah, if it makes you unhappy.

If you're not suited to it.

Pa, I like working with people.

I was miserable in the vineyards.

You gave it no chance.

No chance.

Now you go to war.

And this girl, she marries a football player so you don't come home again.

It was only part of it, Pa.

The part is you don't like dirt underneath your fingernails. Pa.

Yes.

They told me you were hurt.

That's nothing serious.

Nothing serious.

And now, this time, thanks to the Lord, he wasn't killed.

You're a smart man, Joe.

You understand what he's trying to say to you.

He loves you. He misses you very much.

He's got a strange way of driving that point across.

I go out there every once in a while.

He's given up hope of you ever coming back to Summer Grove to stay.

But he sure would like to have you come visit him once in a while.

He said that?

Of course he didn't say that. When do people ever...

say what they really mean?

He's proud.

Please, keep trying.

Try to understand.

I'm trying, Gene, believe me.

I'll keep trying.

Joe, does Lorene Wierenski have anything to do with your case?

I'm not sure.

I can't tell you, Gene.

This is Joe Maddox.

Who?

Sheriff who?

Cisco, Joe.

Cisco Madieros.

You're the sheriff?

Isn't that a kick in the head?

Yeah, it seems like only yesterday you were throwing the morning paper on

people's roofs.

Well, after I did my thing in Vietnam, I needed a steady job.

This was as close as I could come to one.

When can we get together on the accident?

Anytime.

What do you got?

Not much. A few pictures.

Well, no proof of tampering, Joe.

The car rental agency said that the brake fluid line was deliberately cut.

But the rest of the car was so badly damaged... That all adds up, Sisko.

Somebody besides Troy wants me off the case.

Adds up, but it's not proof.

Here's the fingerprint report from Sacramento on Troy.

I don't know what you expected to tell you. I'm just doing my homework.

If Lorraine doesn't make it, what's Collegian gonna tell the jury?

Hey, Cisco, this says 1948.

Did Troy have a juvenile record?

Well, if he does, it's in Leesburg. No record here in town. If he got into

trouble, he went 35 miles away to do it. Well, how do we find out what the

original charge was?

Selly, get me the sheriff in Leesburg.

You remember old Dick Liggett?

Yeah. He got me out of more scrapes.

Sheriff Liggett, please.

This is Madietos in Summer Grove.

He was sheriff in 48 and 38 and... Buenos dias to you too, Uncle Dick.

Yes, sir.

Just fine. Yeah, family too.

Listen, Uncle Dick, I need some help.

Could you read me the booking slip on Troy McBride?

It was in 48.

Your card number is J -U -V -3258.

Sure, take your time.

Dad was kind of sick a while back, did you know?

Yeah, I heard yesterday.

I found him pulled over in his car, took him to the hospital, had him looked at.

Yeah, great. Go ahead, Uncle Dick.

Grand Theft Auto was booked but later released at request of car owner.

Listen, just a minute, Uncle Dick.

Joe, this is weird.

In 48, Dick was maybe 40 years old and weighed about 200 pounds.

Troy was what?

The fastest quarterback Summer Grove High ever had.

Does that make sense that Dick could catch him?

No, it doesn't.

Okay, Uncle Dick.

Muchas gracias.

The owner.

Oh, hey.

You don't happen to have the name of the owner of that stolen car, do you?

Yeah. I got it. Thanks, Uncle Dick.

Well, who owned it?

Your father, Joe.

He's telling me about the Troy McBride business, Pa.

The boy took the car, he went to Leesburg. What's the finish?

Auto theft in Summer Grove is a pretty big deal. You never mentioned it before.

These are things people don't need to know about a foolish 15 -year -old boy.

Did you ever mention it to Troy?

Yes.

He denied taking the car. He said he had not been in Leesburg that night.

Did you believe him?

The boy gets in trouble, he makes excuses.

The punishment is for the father to decide.

You really think you can fix this?

Sure.

You had the charts dropped. Why would Troy lie to you?

The washer.

What washer?

There, the washer.

Well, that doesn't need a washer, Pa. It needs a washer. Don't argue with your

father. I always use a washer there.

I'll do it myself.

Now, look, Pa, will you listen to me for once?

Don't turn your back on me and just tune me out. Ever since I left her, I've

driven racing cars. I've rebuilt racing motors.

Now, I have a right to have an opinion about a washer and a carburetor. You

put a washer there because I always put a washer there. That doesn't make it

right. It makes it right as long as I am the father and you are the son.

Excuse me.

You want to talk with him, go to the house. I have work.

Well, I wanted to talk to you, Mr. Manning.

Not now.

I guess I was a little late.

I was going to give him the same lecture I gave you.

Well, what we need is not so much of Hollyanna as a referee.

You know, there used to be a picture of me up here.

Some trophies.

Mom on one side, Joe on the other.

I guess that ought to tell me how things are.

How's Troy?

Fine.

I stopped by to see Lorene.

She's still unconscious.

Is she your witness, Joe?

Would you say if I told you that I just went by to see her for old times?

Well, I guess that would be your privilege.

I've got a couple of stops to make, then I'll drop in and see Troy.

If things go right and I'm lucky, I'll be out of Summer Grove by midnight.

Troy. Hi, Joe.

Where you been?

Freddy, go buy yourself a cup of coffee, okay?

Sure, Mr. McBride.

Just call if you need me, Mr. McBride.

Did you see Jean?

A couple hours ago.

Did she ask about Lorraine?

Yeah.

She wondered how Lorraine was involved in Bo's murder.

Well, did you... I didn't tell her.

That's a better break than I deserved, Joe.

Wierenski's a nice girl.

She deserves better than a Wednesday night life.

Did she tell you the whole thing?

No, but then neither did you.

You told me to cool the investigation, remember?

You said you were guilty.

You were very close the first time you came into this room, Joe.

You asked me if I thought there was anything worse than going to prison,

Something to do with Lorene?

No, Gene.

If Gene left me, they could just turn this thing off. I wouldn't care.

If Gene found out about Lorene... You know, there's one obvious

question.

Why did I see Lorraine?

Yeah.

Once in a while, a man has to be himself, Joe.

It comes a time in every man's life when he's got to have someone to be a

failure in front of.

I'm just an ex -pro quarterback, Joe.

That won't even give me a free seat in the bleachers anymore.

Gene knew all about...

Louis XIV's furniture.

Politics. Art.

But with Lorene, I was on my own dead level.

I could tell her my personal troubles.

Stupid mistakes I'd made.

I could be me.

Couldn't you say the same things to Jean?

No, she wouldn't.

What if... What if Wierenski doesn't make it?

You gonna find yourself another dead -level type girl to tell your troubles

No.

So talk to Jean.

Admit she's bright. Give her credit for knowing that life isn't always gonna be

a four -column photo of you in a football jersey.

Take it from me, Troy.

I'm great at solving other people's problems.

Joe, can you keep this quiet till I have a chance to tell Jean in my own way?

You can tell her whenever you like.

Not yet.

Well, there's no pressure on you anymore.

I'm still up on a murder charge, remember?

It's been dropped.

What?

I just came from Cisco's office.

How about the prints on the shovel?

They weren't yours.

They checked the Sacramento files and came up with some prints taken in 48

your name on them. My name? I don't understand you all.

Those prints were made when a 15 -year -old kid was picked up in Leesburg for

auto theft.

Happened to be my father's car.

The kid was scared, and he gave you a name.

He was released before it was checked out, and it stayed on the books.

Yeah.

Yeah, I remember you.

Your old man asked me if I'd learned my lesson.

I didn't know what he was talking about.

He thought you were covering up.

Well, then the kid who stole a car in 48 is the

man who killed Bo Sanders.

Looks that way.

And as long as you're willing to take the rap, he's safe.

Look, Troy, is there anything I can do for you before I leave? A glass of

Turn off the lights?

No, thanks.

The lights stay on.

So long, Troy.

Thanks, Joe.

Dial a phone, will you?

Prop it up here for me. I want to talk to Gene.

Who's there?

Who's there?

a lot of trouble, Troy. I never planned getting you blamed for what I'd done.

It just happened.

The fingerprints and all that.

Everything just snowballed, you know?

I had to do it.

Money's the only thing Louisa may understand.

It's the only reason she stays with me.

Now, I... I gotta do this, Troy. Do what?

If they think it just happened, you know, an accident, maybe it'll get me

the hook.

It really isn't that bad, is it?

I mean, because, well, you're already dead, aren't you, Troy?

Stay down, Ed.

All right, Troy.

Joe, I breathe by myself.

I breathe on my own.

Well, if I leave now, I can get to the hospital and see Wierenski for a few

minutes. Good.

I want to thank you for everything.

What you've done for Troy.

What you told him last night.

He told me.

You should be very proud of your son, Mr. Maddox. And what good is he for

carburetors? Now remember, Pa, you promised to come to L .A. for a few days

visit. Maybe, I said.

Maybe if the rains hold back and the winds stay down. Maybe.

Well, Joe, where's your scrapbook?

I must have left it in the house. I'll pick it up another time.

But I wanted you to have it.

I'll get it. I'll get it.

I just couldn't find it, Gene.

Next time, huh?

Goodbye, Paul.