Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, starring Buddy Ebsen, also starring Lee

Meriwether, with guest stars Christopher Stone, Joanne

Harris, Dick Van Patten, Robert

Hogan.

Tonight's episode, Odd Man Losers.

Can't you train the kids to put these things away?

Aye, aye, Captain.

You want to drive?

Get the feel of it? When we pick up, Mel.

Why, Mel?

Why can't we?

Because we can't afford it, Lorna.

Oh, don't you know any other song?

Well, you go inside. The neighbors are going to see you. What? I don't care.

Please, baby, the fellas will be here any second.

Oh, go ahead.

Save a dollar on your dumb carpool, but don't ever spend one on me.

What's he doing?

He's going to be driving later.

Listen, I've been thinking about it all night.

We ought to forget the whole thing.

We're not criminals.

Well, that's the beauty of it.

Who's going to suspect us, huh?

You're just an accountant at PRC. He's just a draftsman.

I don't even work there.

No, the plan is perfect.

At lunchtime today, we're going to do it.

Come on, get in the car.

If anyone calls, I'm going out to lunch.

Thank you.

Officer, I can't imagine what infraction I... Get out of the car.

Come on, move!

You're not a policeman.

Get over there. Get back. Come on.

Back, back.

That's right.

That's right.

Come

on,

get it open!

You didn't tell me he had a gun, Mal!

I didn't know it!

What are you doing? Put your mask on. If he

comes to and sees your face, we're... He's dead.

Oh, my God.

It's that much a rip -off.

Just got to be murder one for all of us.

It was an accident.

We gotta get out of here. Now, wait a minute!

Look, just let me think, will ya?

Just help me.

Help me and I can cover.

Get the chair and jack up the right rear.

Get the gun clipped from his belt and take his coat off.

You think he can fool the police?

I spent three years on tow trucks. I know what the cops are looking for.

Well, move, will ya?

That was quick.

Well, I did a little name -dropping down at the police records.

Told them Barnaby Jones sent me, and you should have seen how fast they moved to

get a copy of that report.

Mrs. Hogan, this is my daughter -in -law, Betty.

Mrs. Hogan, would you like a cup of coffee?

Please, black.

Investigative officers, Lieb and Trombino. You got the best.

That's what they said about you.

Wondering how you happened to call me.

According to this, your husband had crawled under the car to retrieve a lug

that Jack gave Wayne.

Reasonable under the circumstances.

That report hardly reflects my husband's nature.

Wayne Hogan would not, under any circumstances, even attempt to change a

You're saying you don't believe it was an accident?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

The reason is that in...

Accident doesn't require a motive, but murder does.

Do you have any reason to believe that somebody wanted to kill him?

No.

But somebody did.

Mr. Jones, long before we had money, I saw Wayne pay his last dollar to have a

tire changed.

Well, perhaps he couldn't reach a phone.

That would account for his uncharacteristic behavior.

There was a phone in the car.

According to the report, the phone was working perfectly.

He was my husband.

I think I have a right to know what happened to him.

Of course you do.

Ms. Hogan, I'll get on it right away.

Come on, Steve. It's been nearly a week. Crack a smile, will you? About what?

A man being dead?

No, about the fact that we just split up $335 ,000 and had the guts to take it.

Hey, come on. Come on. Cut it out. What the hell kind of way is that for him to

speak to me?

I'm the one that hit him.

I'm the one that dreams about it at night, not you.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Just remember, he had a gun, too.

That company of yours isn't exactly lily white, either.

I mean, that was hot merchandise they were going to buy with that cash.

And that's why they can't blow the whistle on us.

I'll be glad when they lay me off.

They've started cutting back already.

I gave my two weeks notice at the tire shop this morning.

Yeah? Where are you going?

I'm going to drift down to Florida, work along the way.

Then in about six months, I'm going to start showing some prosperity.

Then what?

Get myself a charter fishing boat and live like a king.

What are you going to do, Steve?

Ed and his sister has a dry cleaning chain in Denver.

We figure we settle there, and if it looks good, we buy in.

Come on, let's go.

Hi, fellas.

Hey, Laura.

Hiya, honey.

How was the movie?

Oh, pretty good.

Had that actor in it I liked.

The one that reminds me of Don.

Hey, Mel, you better watch us.

Oh, don't listen to him. He's just a jealous old bachelor.

Hey, what happened to the card game?

Oh, we started talking.

Oh, I'm drinking.

Well, why don't you fix me one so I can catch up, and I'll go upstairs and fix

some cheese and crackers? Oh, that'll be great, baby.

Okay. See ya.

Uh -huh.

You told her about the money. No, I didn't.

Don't snow me, Mel. In seven months, a car pool... He's right,

Mel.

She knows something.

It's not what you think. I told her that a distant relative died, and that I

know I'm in on the will, but it'll be six months before the estate is settled.

A little lie, that's all.

To make her happy.

Mel, make us happy, huh?

Remember, if any one of us is caught with one -third of the money, it could

right back to the carpool.

You know, I think this ought to be our last meeting together.

Car pool and all.

I gotta go along with Steve.

I'm really gonna miss you guys.

Mr. Jones, I'm Elliot Plum.

Yes, I know.

Come on, sit down.

What can I do for you?

Well, uh, maybe you could tell me why the guard brought me here when all I did

was ask to see Mr. Hogan's secretary.

My instructions.

You see, the girl is no longer with us.

Fire? No, no, no, no.

The afternoon of Hogan's accident, why, she was preparing to leave early, and

when I told her what happened, why, she just went all to pieces, and she'd never

come back.

Well, I'd appreciate the young lady's name and address.

She may be able to tell us who Mr. Hogan planned to see in San Diego.

You know, Mr. Jones...

You're making this awfully hard for me.

How's that, Mr. Plowman?

Well, look, Wayne Hogan is much more to me than just my purchasing agent, like

President George is purchasing.

He and his wife, Pam, and my wife, we were all very cool personal friends.

Now, I'd be very grateful to you if you'd help me spare Pam Hogan any

pain.

Well, I don't see anything painful in trying to find out who Mr. Hogan had

planned to see. Well, there is, Mr. Jones.

You see, there wasn't any San Diego trip.

There never has been.

Shortly after Wayne left on those Fridays, his secretary, Miss Corbett,

follow.

Now, I don't know where their rendezvous was, but... Well, I don't have to spell

it out for you, do I?

No, I get the word.

But what I need is a little definition.

Are you sure that Miss Corbett didn't leave an address?

Sorry.

Well, when she gets over her grief and realizes that she still has a final

coming, she'll probably contact Perth now.

I'll call for you. Oh, don't thank you. I'll find my way. Thank you.

Pearson, I'm Barnaby Jones, private investigator.

The gentleman over there tells me that you worked very closely with Mr. Hogan.

I just handled his vending accounts. There's nothing special about that.

Well, you are aware that he was on his way to San Diego the day he died?

Yes.

Any idea who he was going to see down there?

No, I wouldn't know that.

Catching a cold?

It's that thing. The temperature keeps changing.

Yeah, I guess air conditioning and sweat are the parents of most of the

pneumonia cases in California.

Too bad about Mr.

Hogan's secretary.

Cindy has pneumonia?

No, she just sort of dropped out of sight.

Personnel doesn't seem to have any way of getting in touch with her. I thought

possibly because you worked so closely with Mr. Hogan, he may have given you

phone number.

No, not me.

Sorry.

Well, thank you, and nip that gold in the bud.

Steve? It's Mel.

A man was just here to see me about Hogan.

Private investigator.

I want to be challenged.

Steve.

Somehow he came right to me.

And I was supposed to leave Wednesday night for Hawaii, and these apes

deliberately made me miss my plane, yeah. And here it is Saturday, Saturday,

I'm supposed to start my new job Monday morning.

Can you believe that?

Oh, uh...

Uh, no, I've wasted enough time with you already, because I have a new

boyfriend. I think his name is Barnaby Jones.

And if I was six months older, I would ask him to marry me. Bye -bye.

If I was six months younger, I'd accept.

Mr.

Jones, your secretary said you wanted to speak to me about Wayne Hogan.

This party must seem a little insensitive to you.

Mr. Plowman said that you were so broken up by Mr. Hogan's death that you didn't

go back to work.

He made it sound rather personal.

Well, nobody likes to lose a good boss.

Especially if he's more than a boss.

You mean like something going on between Mr. Hogan and me?

No, no way.

But you didn't go back to work.

Well, there was no reason. Mr. Plowman called and said that with Mr. Hogan

they wouldn't need me.

But... They did set up this great job for me in Hawaii.

I bet they even paid your fare.

You're a pretty foxy detective, Mr. Barnaby Jones.

Now, you tell me. I mean, why did they do that for me?

Maybe you thought you knew something.

Well, like what?

Like why Mr.

Hogan was driving to San Diego the day he got killed.

Well, it was just business. I mean, nothing else would have made him drive

distance twice a month. He flew everywhere else.

Twice a month?

Always on Friday.

He'd leave the office around 10 after 12, and he'd always let me go at 1 o

'clock. Any idea who he went to see in San Diego?

Well, I guess a man named Carl Merrick. At least there was always a lot of

phoning back and forth.

Is Merrick a vendor?

Probably a broker. His name never appeared on a purchase order. The deals

always set up with independent companies that we'd never used before.

What kind of deals?

Supplies and raw materials.

All those precious things it takes to keep PRC running.

And how were all these things paid for?

Well, Mr.

Hogan would take the order up to Mr. Plowman's office, and then he'd come

down and send for a very nervous little man from accounting.

Melvin Pearson?

Yeah.

But I think that's all I know.

I was about to ask you if I could use that.

Instant dial tone.

Thank you.

Barnaby Jones.

That's funny. That's my name, too.

Very funny.

Any luck?

I don't know yet.

Betty, would you call Ben Phillips in San Diego? His agency owes us a favor

tell him to dig up everything he can for me on Carl Merrick.

You're just the best, Daddy.

Oh, everything's so beautiful.

Come on.

Now, what are you doing here?

Hi. Hi. Oh, you just got to come and see Mel. He's buying out the store.

The whole store, huh?

Look at these.

Hey, beautiful.

Listen.

Diamond Mel Pearson.

Last of the big -time spenders. You ought to be a gambler. The two best ones

your size.

Oh, would you wait just a second? I just want to try them. Hey, I wouldn't think

of you.

Would I?

Mel, huh?

Listen, it's not the way it looks.

You called me hysterical yesterday because some Barnaby Jones character's

your tail, and now you pull this?

Well, you said it was only natural that he would come to see me where I work.

Well, I don't remember telling you to throw your money around like it was

confetti. Don, I had to do this.

Lorna was going to pack a bag and leave me last night.

All right, Mel, how are you going to pay for it?

You're tap city, remember, like Steve and me?

I have house taxes set aside.

I can refinance the car. I can get a loan at my credit union.

I'm not going to touch the other.

Honest.

Ta -da!

Isn't it fantastic?

Have you ever seen such a steal for 225?

Well, can I have it?

I won't need anything for years.

Please.

Oh, you're just the best, the best husband in the whole wide world.

Daddy's made all your brunch favorites.

Just finishing my hair, hon.

Morning, Mr. Pearson.

What are you doing here?

Well, I was just taking my Sunday morning ride. I thought I'd come over

hello. Say, I know you'll be happy to hear that Cindy Corbett is fine.

She didn't catch pneumonia.

Matter of fact, I saw her at a party yesterday.

Yeah?

I'm glad.

You look a sight better yourself.

Well, like you said, sometimes the air conditioning.

I'd like to... Oh.

Good morning.

Excuse me.

Honestly, Mel, I could have mentioned that we had company.

Hello.

Miss Pearson, I'm Barnaby Jones, private investigator.

I'm looking into the death of Wayne Hogan.

Oh. Oh, that poor man at work.

Can you believe this? He never even mentioned the accident until I happened

see it on the late news that evening.

Well, it's quite reasonable.

A sudden death.

Shock. Somebody you've been working very closely with? I told you once before,

we didn't work that closely together.

Well, he did come in to see you every time before he made that trip to San

Diego? Yes, I drew his special vouchers for him.

Well, a company voucher is hardly negotiable. What did he do, convert them

cash? Yes, I suppose so.

PRC has a cash surplus for just such emergencies.

How much was the voucher that you drew for him the week that Mr. Hogan had his

accident?

Something over 300 ,000, I think.

300 ,000? Very emergency.

Kind of makes a fellow wonder what's essential.

Come on. Mr. Plowman could have told you all this when he hired you.

Mr. Plowman didn't hire me.

My client believes that Wayne Hogan was murdered.

But the news said he died accidentally while changing a tire.

Perhaps he did, Mrs. Pearson.

But your husband has just given me 300 ,000 reasons why it may have happened

another way.

Thank you very much for the help.

Have a happy brunch.

Now, are you in trouble?

You are in trouble, aren't you, Mel? Now, I can tell. Shut up, Lorna.

Today, would you just keep your mouth closed?

Mel, I didn't mean nothing by it.

I gotta go.

We stay here, do you understand?

All day I'm driving around looking for you.

Dragging me with him. Soon. I had a date at the marina last night and I just got

home. Didn't you understand what I said when you called?

Mel, I heard every word.

Barnaby Jones told you he wasn't hired by the company.

He's looking for evidence for murder, and I never touched Hogan. You're my

witness, Steve, and I'm yours.

You're a real friend, though.

The law says we're just as much a part of it as Don is. You know that.

We'd get life.

We'll get nothing if you just stick to the plan.

Jones hasn't gotten around to you yet. He came to my house. First the office,

now my house. I listen to this all day.

Okay, Steve, but remember I told you. I'm getting out of the country tonight.

Well, come on. You don't want to do that.

They can't trace the money. The company can't even admit it was stolen.

Mel, he's right.

As long as we don't start flashing money around and just act like nothing's

happened, they can't pin anything on us.

I don't know. You guys didn't hear that detective.

I'm going home.

You take care of him.

Mel, we're buddies, right?

How could Jones or anybody suspect you of murder in a 300 grand ripoff?

That's easy enough for you to say. You guys are just taking off.

But we agreed. You have to stay here. You're the only one who worked with

In three months, it'll all be over. You can go where you want. Three months?

Forget it. I'd never make it.

I'm packing Lorna in the car.

We're crossing into Mexico tonight.

Mel!

Mel!

Mel, Mel.

Use your head. How long do you think you'd be gone before they came looking

you? I'm afraid of jail.

What would you want to do alone?

I'll walk you home. I drove.

Just leave me alone.

Mel, I'm warning you. I'm sorry.

Lieutenant, I may have asked about an attache case, but I don't remember.

The investigating officer said it was the first thing you asked about at the

scene. You also asked the lady on the horse, the one who found Mr. Hogan's

Wayne Hogan was an important executive.

It is not inconceivable he might have taken something of value on a business

trip. You're right, Counselor, excepting that Mr. Plowman has been trying to

convince me that Mr. Hogan was not on a business trip that day.

I may be mistaken, but... Do you know Carl Merrick?

I never heard of him.

There's a small trucking and warehouse business in San Diego.

Gentlemen, since you fail to appreciate his cooperation, I'm advising my client

to terminate this interview.

The San Diego police have files for a year now on some pretty big rip -offs

along the docks.

electrical components and other materials. It just happened to coincide

closely with your inventory pattern, Mr.

Plowman.

Miss Corbett said Mr.

Hogan bought a lot of that stuff in San Diego.

I told you I don't know any Carl Merrick.

Were we still talking about Carl Merrick, Lieutenant?

I thought I'd moved along to thefts on the docks.

Were you suggesting that there's some connection between the two, Mr. Plowman?

Well, that's what you implied, isn't it?

Isn't Carl Merrick the man that Hogan went to see in San Diego, carrying the

attaché case your client inquired about but doesn't remember?

Seems to me my memory would be doing flip -flops, too, if I realized that my

vice president was going around carrying $300 ,000 in cash that wound up

missing. Lockridge, you get a court order. Get these two out of here and

them out.

When I come back, it'll be official, and I'll have the court order.

What's the matter? Oh, Mel didn't come home at all last night, and he wasn't at

work today, and I'm worried.

Well, Mel and Steve were at my place last night. Steve left about ten, Mel a

minutes later. Yeah, I already talked to Steve. He has not seen him either.

That's why I called you.

You know, now that I think about it, Mel did say a few weird things last night.

Like that he was going to split from Mexico, but I thought he was bombed.

Well, that's it. He's gone. He's left me. Are you kidding? Hey, why would Mel

anyone leave you?

Don, you don't understand. There was this guy who was killed at PRC.

And I think that Mel had something to do with his death.

There was a private detective right here yesterday questioning.

Mel. Yes.

Don, there was a lot of money involved.

And we're talking about Mel. Yes.

Oh, what am I going to do?

I'll just kill myself if I have to go back to waitressing.

You won't if I have anything to say about it.

Look, I've got a few bucks put away.

I know we joked about it a lot, but I really dig you, Lorna. I always have.

I've never cheated on Mel.

I know that. Why do you think I never said anything before?

But a girl like you with Mel, it just didn't make sense. Even Steve said so.

I'm afraid to be by myself.

Well, you don't have to be afraid anymore.

Not while I'm around.

Go see who that is, quick.

Gone is that private detective again.

Jones.

Yel, you're on the phone.

Mill, I'm on the phone!

It wouldn't look good if you found me here. I'm going to go out the side door.

What did you just say?

Tell him Mill left you.

I'll talk to you later.

Miss Pearson?

Yes, come on in, Mr. Jones.

I was hoping your husband would be home. I wanted to talk to him.

I have not seen my husband all night, Mr. Jones.

Oh, I'm afraid he has left me.

Well, I know that he didn't go to work. The guard at the gate said his car

didn't go through, but he only drives there twice a week.

Yes, he was in a carpool with two other men.

You happen to know their names?

Uh...

One was a Ron or a Don, and I think the other one was Steve or Stan

or something like that.

No last names?

Well, I hardly ever saw them, and then it was just from the door in the morning

when they picked him up, so... Miss Pearson, you're a very attractive young

woman. I find it hard to believe that the man who cooked your brunch yesterday

morning abandoned you last night, unless he were running from something.

Running from what?

I'm not sure.

But he must know, or he wouldn't be running, would he?

You just drove away.

That's right. I just went to the bank to look in the safety deposit box, and I

just happened to see you in the rearview mirror.

Well, I yelled after you.

Don,

you can quit lying now. I happen to know that you and Mel were in on it together

now, weren't you?

Yeah, so was Steve.

I thought the less you knew about it, the better off you'd be.

Mel's dead, isn't he?

It was a stupid accident.

Mel got panicky. The way he was talking, they'd have had him in 24 hours.

The rest of us would have had to go to jail, too.

Why don't you put that thing down?

What, then you're going to kill me?

Uh -uh.

You don't believe that.

You know how I feel about you, and I think I know the way you feel about me.

I wanted to get you away from here quietly, let the money be a surprise.

I'll share in mine. It's almost a quarter of a million You mean it

can't you tell

What if we don't find Mel's share

The world landed Can you think of anything that he was building or fixing

after?

You know Hogan. Oh, I don't know. He was always working on one thing or another

around the house I don't know Don. It could be anywhere What if it's not even

here?

You still have my share.

It's out in the trunk of my car.

That's what I wanted to hear you say.

Do you believe me now?

Why don't we start looking for her?

Why don't we look upstairs?

Mr. Triplett.

The gate guard thought you might be able to help me. I'm Barnaby Jones, a

private investigator.

Uh, what's it about?

Well, it's about Wayne Hogan's death.

The gate guard said he remembers you left the plant that day about noon with

Pearson. Oh, yeah, we went out to lunch, yeah.

Am I telling you where?

Let me think, yeah.

That was Friday.

Oh, yeah, we drove out to Lou's Chowder House.

The guard said you walked out.

Oh, well, Pearson and I carpooled with a guy who works in one of the shops down

the street, and he picked us up at the corner.

What's his name?

Don. Don Brady.

I think he took off for Chicago last week. Anyhow, the pool broke up.

You and Mr. Pearson, too?

Well, yeah, I was due for a layoff. As a matter of fact, I just picked up my

severance check.

Have you seen Mr. Pearson?

No one seems to have seen him since yesterday.

No? What?

What is all this about, anyhow?

Well, confidentially, there is a little over $300 ,000 missing.

Supposition is that Mr. Hogan was killed so somebody could get it.

Reports I heard it was a freak accident.

Could have been contrived.

Now, it looks like Mr. Pearson is involved, although somebody else could

rigged it.

You're not accusing me of something, are you, Mr. Jones?

Mr. Triplett, all those questions I've asked will be asked again sooner or

by the police.

Now, if you go in with answers before the questions are asked, you may come

better. You're not getting my message. I don't have any answers.

About Mr. Pearson?

Well, you did go into his department looking for him today.

Just to say goodbye, Mr. Jones.

Somebody may have already done that for you.

I think Mr. Pearson is dead just as Wayne Hogan is dead.

What do you think?

I hope you're wrong.

Mel was a nice guy.

Hey, now, if you don't mind, I got a wife and two kids who are home waiting

me. Sure.

I'm sorry I'm late.

German Brody wasn't the easiest man to locate. Don't tell me. Let me guess. He

didn't show up for work.

Right. But the owner of the tire shop gave me his address.

But hold on. I'm afraid this is going to ruin your lunch.

No, this Thousand Isle addressing has already beat you to it. Go ahead.

Well, the apartment manager said that Brody checked out this morning.

You don't seem disappointed.

Just disappointed in the sandwich.

Brody's taking off fits in.

The way Hogan's accident was staged, I didn't think Pearson could handle it by

himself. But with somebody that works in a tire shop... And Don Brody was a

member of the same carpool. A carpool which is losing members fast.

Where are you going?

Striplet has drawn his severance pay.

Just may be he's the last man on the bus out of town.

Luna! Yes?

Jackpot!

He hit it right under our noses. Quick, bring a bag down.

I'll be right down.

Clever son of a gun. He hit it right under our noses when we were sitting

the other night.

Steve, what are you doing?

I called it.

You what?

She called me.

Somebody has to look out after Lorna's interest.

Look, Steve, I'm crazy about her. I'm going to take her with me.

Wake up, friend.

She's with me.

You and Lorna?

That's right. It's been going on for months.

Didn't you ever wonder why Steve always left those card games early?

Oh, brother, you didn't see any more than Mel did. We've been planning to

just as soon as I had enough money.

No hard

feelings.

Fill it.

Steve was here only a couple of minutes, Mr. Johns, and then he left.

Well, that seems strange. You gave me the impression he couldn't wait to get

home to you and the kids.

Your children must be very quiet, or they go to bed early.

I left them up the street with a neighbor.

No reason they should suffer because Steve and I are at each other's throats.

Not bad, huh?

I just got tired of finding hair on his lapel.

Hair that wasn't mine.

When I asked him to stop, he just laughed and said, since I knew, he might

well give her his home phone number.

She called just a short time ago, and he took off.

Any idea who she is?

Just a long, silky -haired blonde.

I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm not much help.

Long, silky -haired blonde.

You may have helped a lot more than you think, Mrs. Triplett.

Thank you.

Just keep moving.

You know, I'm going to get you for this.

It's not going to be an accident, either.

That's why you're coming with us, along with your share of the money.

Now, where is it?

No, you don't get that.

He said the money was in his trunk.

You should be more cooperative.

I don't have to run any faster if they find your body back there in the house.

Now open the trunk and get the money. Lorna, put the bag in my car.

Get moving.

Did you call police emergency for an ambulance?

I'll do that. No, Mrs. Person.

We have a special conveyance for all of you.

There'll be a squad car along in a moment.

Three ordinary men in a carpool.

Poor Wayne. He's responsible for his own death, in a way.

Well, in the final analysis, most of us wind up being our own victims.

The important thing is, now what happens to Pam Hogan?

Well, Wayne left me a large block of PRC stock.

And with Elliot Plowman resigning... Hey, when they're through with all the

criminal charges, the company's going to need some good feminine leadership to

restore confidence.

But I didn't intend to go that far.

Why not?

Betty's been running my outfit for years. Doesn't hurt my confidence.