Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, a Quinn Martin production.

Starring Buddy Epson.

Also starring Lee Merriweather.

With guest stars Diana Hyland, Stuart Moss,

Dick Van Patten, special guest star Gary Collins.

Tonight's episode, Deadly Reunion.

All right, that's enough. Don't rub it in.

I mean, you're just very lucky people.

While you're on the slopes at Aspen, I'm down here worrying about who gets

seated at the best table. Right, Nora?

Do anything you favor.

Listen, everybody, listen.

Now, hold it down, will you, please?

I want to thank all of you for coming to my home tonight to help me celebrate

the third anniversary of Lorenzo's. That's right, three years.

That's a lot of lasagna, right?

Anyway, we must be doing something right, because the National Gourmet

just named Lorenzo's one of the top ten restaurants in all of California.

Not bad, huh?

So my thanks to all of you who've helped us get where we are.

Oh, and particularly my personal thanks to the greatest maitre d' in the

business, Vince Bradford.

Well,

that's it, everybody.

That's it. Enjoy.

We didn't say anything about giving you the partnership.

Yeah, I heard.

Aren't you going to say anything to him?

Well, I'm ready, Nora.

You can't keep on letting him break. I'm ready, Nora.

Dita, you've just got to have a taste of the quiche Lorraine. It's great.

Oh, everything looks so yummy. I don't know where to start.

Funny, I was about to use the very same words.

Careful,

my dear.

Food is just a hobby with Rick.

Women are his career.

There you go, trying to hurt my feelings again.

Your feelings?

Oh, Rick, don't make me laugh.

Ooh, what's her problem?

Just a guess, but I think I'm her problem.

That's my wife.

Will you excuse me a moment?

You really look terrific tonight, Edie. Oh, thank you.

Do I know you?

I'm Carl.

Carl Fenton, head waiter at Rick's Place.

Oh, sure. The head waiter.

Thanks, Carl. But I don't need anything.

Hey, Laura.

Get happy. It's a party.

That little speech you made tonight.

You forgot something, didn't you, Rick?

I don't know. Did I?

My husband's partnership in the restaurant.

You promised you were going to announce it tonight.

It's too nice a night to talk about business.

Come on. Let's take a walk. Rick. Come on. Loosen up. Enjoy.

Oh, damn you.

All you do is take and take, and you never give anything back.

The partnership, are you still hopping on that?

You never meant to give Vince that partnership.

You've just been using me. Get off it, Nora. You love being used, so why don't

you admit it? You rotten pig!

You rotten pig!

I'm going back to the party, Nora.

I think you broke a tooth.

Next time, I'll break your neck.

You're finished, Vince.

You're fired.

Get out!

Give me your fanfare.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, here she is.

the delicious, the lovely, the beautiful Dee Dee Danvers.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, for the climax of tonight's entertainment,

Dee Dee here is going to brave the icy ocean and go swimming.

Let's go!

No.

Oh, no.

Rick. Rick. What happened?

Call a doctor, somebody.

It's too late.

He's dead.

The police are already calling it accidental death.

They say my brother slipped on the rocks, hit his head, then drowned.

And you don't think that your brother died that way, Mr. Lorenzo?

I just can't buy it.

Rick lived on that stretch of beach for years. Those rocks were his front yard.

Even with a skin full of booze, he could scramble around them like a mountain

goat.

Well, accidents will happen.

Do you know of any reason that someone may have wanted your brother dead?

Sure. Plenty of reasons.

For one thing, Rick liked to play around, a lot.

And then there was the way he ran that restaurant of his, which I put up most

the money for, by the way.

Oh, thank you, Penny.

What do you mean, the way he ran it? I understand it's a gold mine.

It is.

But Rick had the talent for getting the best people in the business to work for

him. But he did it by springing them along, making promises he never meant to

keep. Made for a lot of bad feelings, believe me.

Well, I can see where it might make somebody mad enough to quit, but not

the boss.

Oh, yeah?

Well, then tell me, why was he out there around the rocks when there was a party

going on in his house?

The only reason I could figure, he was with someone.

You have anyone in mind?

No, but a couple of people were seen coming from that direction.

His wife, widow, I mean, for one.

Oh, yeah, the maitre d' at the restaurant, Prince Bradford.

Anyone else you suspect?

I can't come up with any names.

But Rick left a long trail of unhappy women after he dropped them for whoever

was next in line.

Well, I guess that is sufficient reasoning for me to look into this for

Good.

Very nice meeting you, Betty.

Oh, thank you, Ed. Nice to meet you.

And I expect to be hearing from you. Yes, just as soon as I have anything to

report. Thank you.

Something on your mind, Carl?

Yeah. We got to talk, Vince.

Want to wait till we get inside?

Later, Carl.

I can't believe it.

How many years has it been, Betty?

Too many.

Oh, Vince, how are you?

Well, I'm a little shook up.

I'm sorry.

But other than that, I'm okay.

How about you?

You look fantastic.

You always said no, exactly what I wanted to hear.

This is great.

Just great.

I guess I'm being a little dumb. You just didn't show up here by accident,

you?

Well, what is it?

Well, I was concerned about you, Vince.

About me?

Why?

Well, there seems to be some question about Rick Lorenzo's death.

My father -in -law is a private detective. He's been hired to

Is that right?

Is there someplace we could go and talk?

Yeah, sure.

Not here. I know someplace.

Let's have a drink. I think I could use one.

I don't mind talking to you at all, Mr. Jones, but I am just a bookkeeper around

here. Nobody ever tells me anything.

Well, I really wanted to see Vince Bradford, but it seems that my daughter

-law just drove away in a car with him.

What kind of fellow is Vince, Mr. Overton?

Vince? Nice guy.

One of the halfway decent men around this place.

And I sure am glad to see him get everything that Rick promised him.

What's that?

Well, I guess it's no secret now.

Just hasn't been announced yet.

But this morning, Rick's widow had a meeting with me and Vincent.

He's getting a partnership and a promotion to general manager.

Is that a fact?

Sure. Hey, how about some coffee?

No, thanks.

You know, with Rick gone, Vince is the only man qualified to keep this place

going.

You ask me, I think he's long past due for everything he's getting.

Listen, if it weren't for Vince, Lorenzo's would be nothing but a

house.

The maitre d' makes that much difference?

Oh.

Vince did.

Mostly on account of his wife, Nora.

She's a society girl, you know?

Has a lot of rich jet -set friends.

With all those connections, wouldn't you think they'd open up a place of their

own? Oh, no. It takes a lot of bread to get a big restaurant like this off the

ground.

Sounds like Rick Lorenzo's accident was a big break for Vince, didn't it?

Thought you'd be out.

I was out.

Been back for some time.

Went over to that Lorenzo restaurant, and on the way back, I dropped in on

Lieutenant Biddle.

Oh, uh... Well, I, uh... I just had to run an errand.

Oh.

What'd you find out from John?

Well, I managed to talk him out of a copy of the police report, along with,

uh... Copy of the coroner's findings. I even got an X -ray of the victim's

skull. Anything?

Well, there was a fracture in the back of the skull.

The lips were cut and one tooth chipped.

Well, couldn't that have happened when he fell on the rocks?

That's what the police think, but I don't see how a man who was churned

among those rocks wouldn't be covered with bruises.

What are you thinking, Barnaby?

I'm thinking that the name Vince Bradford keeps cropping up in funny

Arno Lorenzo said was that Rick liked to string people along with promises.

Vince was strung along in spades.

Now, after Rick's accident, Vince is in charge of the restaurant.

Oh, that's ridiculous. Just because...

You saw me at the restaurant, didn't you, today, with Vince?

I thought that was you.

Well, why didn't you just come out and ask what I was doing there?

You know I don't pry into your private affairs.

I know. I'm sorry.

It's just that, well, I used to know Vince Bradford.

We were in college together.

We're good friends.

And when you say that the investigation is pointing to him, I don't believe it.

To believe that Vince Bradford could be a murderer.

For your sake, Betty, I hope he isn't.

Okay, all right, I'm coming.

is it, Carl?

I told you, we gotta talk.

Nice place, Vince.

Real nice.

Don't get comfortable, Carl. You take a quick turnaround and then out.

What's with you?

Is this your idea of a gag?

That's some short fusing idea, Vince.

Hasn't it brought you enough trouble for a while?

What are you talking about?

Vince, baby.

I was there up on the rocks that night.

I saw and I heard the whole thing.

You saw?

There's nothing to see.

You mean before Rick fired you for belting him in the mouth?

Or after?

I don't think the cops would call that nothing, do you?

Look, there wasn't anything after that.

I walked away then.

Maybe.

How do you know he didn't collapse after you left? You hit him pretty hard,

Vince.

That's still manslaughter, right?

For sure you'll lose your job.

Maybe even do some time.

What are you after, Carl?

How about the maitre d' job, now that you're moving up to manager?

That's it.

And a little bonus.

You know, to show good faith.

$5 ,000, Vince, by tonight.

Come on, you gotta be kidding.

Would I kid my employer?

Bye tonight, Vince.

Those bookies are squeezing me. I can't wait.

Oh, Carl!

I didn't know you were here.

Just leaving, Mrs. Bradford.

Bye now.

Bye.

Vince, I was listening. I heard it all.

We're going to have to find the money, pay him somehow.

Didn't you hear what I said?

I didn't kill Rick, Nora.

Carl said he saw the interesting thing. I didn't kill him!

Okay, please, just don't yell, okay?

What about the money? Are you going to pay him? I don't have it.

I know Carl. He's going to make trouble.

Oh, Vince, after everything you've worked for, he's just... Nora, don't

Don't worry. I'll figure something out.

Oh, come on, Vince. I know you.

You're not gonna take care of anything.

Maybe I could go to Carl.

No, I'll go to him, and I can put him off for a little while.

Nora, Nora, you stay out of this.

For once in my life, you let me handle it.

Betty.

Hey there, I need another drinky. I have to talk to you, Vince. It's very

important. Sure, come on.

What's the matter?

I was worried about you.

Barnaby's on his way over here. He wants to see you.

Betty, I didn't expect to find you here.

Well, I wanted to pave the way. I mean, Vince and I are such old friends.

Vince, this is my father -in -law that I told you about, Barnaby Jones.

How do you do?

Mr. Bradford, I was hoping to have a talk with you, but you're a pretty hard

to pin down.

Well, things have been kind of hectic around here since Rick died, and

no exception.

This shouldn't take long. Could we use your office?

Go ahead, Vince. I promise he won't use his rubber hose on you.

Well, sure. Come on, I'll show you the way.

stepped out on the beach to get a little air just as rick left the party about

the same time i didn't say we left with him no i don't think i did either

well anyway once you're on the beach rick started out alone toward the rocks

you and your wife went the other direction that's right and we didn't see

again until they fished him out of the water you see well that's very clear

Thank you very much for all your help. Sure.

Glad to.

I see you skin your knuckles pretty badly.

That's nothing. I must have done that playing handball down at the gym.

Maybe you ought to wear gloves when you play handball.

Good night, now. Good night.

I told you tonight that I'd call the cops. And I told you you'd have to wait

until tomorrow.

Well, you call the cops, Carl, if that's what you want to do.

But that won't get you off the hook with those loan sharks you're in, will it?

Okay. Good night. Good night, fellas. Good night, Merle.

Tomorrow night, be sure of it. Someone stole this.

We're closed for the night.

Carl, it's Nora Bradford. Would you let me in, please?

Your old man just left. You missed him by a couple of minutes.

I know that. I was waiting for him to leave.

I wanted to see you.

Oh, yeah?

That's the best news I've heard all day.

You, uh, care to step into my parlor?

Set this fighter to the fly?

Over here.

Here, I've got some brandy.

30 years old, Napoleon, see?

I've got good taste, too.

And expensive taste.

It's a little too expensive for me, Carl.

Come on, are you kidding?

Hey, I'm not kidding anybody.

I really don't have any money now, and whatever Vince makes on that partnership

deal, well, that's going to be a long time in the future.

Uh -uh, no shame.

Either the money gets paid to me or the whistle gets blowed by me.

You do that?

You go to police and destroy Vince and me?

Sure.

With Vince busted, I still come out with something.

I'm a cinch to get the Maynardese job that way.

Won't you change your mind, Carl?

Honey, what you said helped make up my mind.

I'm not going to let you get away with it.

Now, either you leave Vince alone, or I'm going to have to stop you.

I swear I will, Carl.

You gotta be kidding.

Come on, give me that thing.

Did I wake you?

It's all right. Come on in.

I was just driving around, and the next thing I know, I'm looking you up in the

phone book.

I'm sorry if I woke you up.

Oh, well, if you must know, I wasn't all that sound asleep. It was turning into

a restless night. Oh, well.

What?

I just thought of something.

What?

Do you still like hot cocoa in the wee hours?

What? Coco?

Yeah. Well, sure.

Good. Come on. I'll kiss them. I don't think I've had any Coco since... Since

went our separate ways.

You know, that's probably the dumbest thing I ever did in my life. Letting you

get away.

That's very flattering, Vince.

But I don't think it's altogether accurate.

I seem to recall that it was not I who was doing the getting away.

I don't know. It just all seemed to get away from me.

You, the baseball career, everything.

And I was the guy who had everything going for him, remember? Couldn't miss.

Well, that's how I... The yearbook and I figured it anyway.

Well, I sure missed.

I missed everything.

No, I think you're being kind of hard on yourself.

Do you?

Did you ever hear why I didn't make it playing ball?

My temper.

I got into a beef with an umpire and I broke his jaw.

And that was it.

End of baseball career.

Seems I remember something like that.

You didn't hear about Nora's money, did you?

Well, once my baseball career was finished, I decided I was going to be an

overnight millionaire.

The only trouble was that Nora's family fortune had kind of stretched about as

far as it could go.

So when I finally got my hands on it, it just dried up and blew away.

I'm sorry.

No, I didn't know that.

Vince, didn't you love her?

I don't know. Maybe I... Maybe I thought so then because I wanted to.

But now I feel like I married Nora because of her looks, her family.

Or money.

And I've just kind of used them all up.

Well, I think you've been letting things wear you down.

I suppose we should have realized that life couldn't possibly have fulfilled

the promises that it seemed to be making to you.

Listen, that doesn't mean that you personally ruined everything all by

I mean, listen, from where I stand, it doesn't look to me as though your life

ruined at all.

Well, things have seemed a lot brighter during the past couple of days.

Hey, you haven't said anything about yourself.

I mean, I know I hadn't given you the chance.

Well, after a while, I met Hal.

We were married.

He was really a sweet man.

We had a couple of beautiful years together.

And then he was killed.

That's it.

How long ago?

Three years now.

Anybody since then?

Oh, no, no, not really.

Oh, heavens, I don't have the time, really.

All the work that Barnaby has me doing, I...

No, I meet a lot of interesting people. You know, it's a life.

It sounds lonely.

Mm -mm.

Nope. Not lonely at all.

No, I'm doing work that I never... I never dreamed that I'd really be.

All right, yes.

Hello. No, I'm awake, Barnaby. What's wrong?

Betty, I just got a call from Lieutenant Biddle. There's been a shooting out at

Lorenzo's restaurant.

They're trying to locate Vince Bradford.

You haven't heard from Vince tonight, have you?

No. No, I haven't.

Well, I'm on my way out there now. You want me to swing by and pick you up?

Yes, if you would.

I'll be ready when you get here.

Right.

There's been a shooting at the restaurant.

The police want to talk to you.

His name was Carl Fenton, head waiter.

Looks like somebody came in and robbed him and shot him when he tried to

He passed up a rather expensive looking ring, wouldn't you say?

Rather careless robber.

They're probably a hopped -up amateur.

Or somebody who wanted it to look like a robbery.

Fix a time with this? Yeah, the coroner thinks it was probably around 1 a .m.

Oh, who's this now?

I'm Vince Bradford, the manager here. What's going on? Well, Mr. Bradford,

have you been for the past two hours?

I've just been driving around. I felt restless. I didn't want to go home.

So you were just driving.

That's right.

Did you stop anywhere? Talk to anybody?

No, I'm afraid not.

Would you mind telling me what's going on?

There's been a murder.

Carl Fenton.

He worked for you.

Carl?

Yes, he... He was the last one here when I left tonight.

We'd like you to come downtown with us, Mr. Bradford, make a statement, answer a

few more questions.

Why? Am I a suspect or something?

Vince, I'm sorry.

But I had to tell him what I heard.

Yeah.

Well, should I...

Get a lawyer or something if you want nobody's accusing him.

I'm not arresting you. It's just that Well, I wouldn't say that you're 100 %

the clear you understand Will you come along yes, why not

it's the end of a perfect day

Barnaby

I want to stay with you on this case

Anything that I can do to help, I want to do it.

Even if it starts coming around strongly to Vince?

Yes.

Do you want to go meet Mrs.

Bradford?

Volunteer work at a rest home.

She would be that type.

Makes it tougher not to like her.

Yeah.

Well, Betty, if you want to stay in the car, you may.

Oh, no, no. I said I'd stay with you.

I didn't say I'd like it, though.

It's your game, Fred.

Would you excuse me for a few minutes?

I was watching for you, Mr. Jones. It was very considerate of you to drive

I'd hate to miss one of my two afternoons a week here.

Not at all.

It's just as easy for me to talk to you here as it would have been in your

apartment. You must be Betty.

I've been wanting to meet you for the longest time.

It's nice to meet you, Nora.

I wonder if we could try to clear up this gun business.

Your husband told Lieutenant Biddle last night that he owned a pistol of the

same caliber as the one that killed Carl Fenton.

But you told the police that the gun had been stolen.

You want to tell me a little about that?

Oh, yes, the gun.

Well, I'm afraid it was my fault. I went out of the apartment for a few minutes,

and I left the door unlocked, and when I came back, all the drawers were open

and the gun was gone.

I felt so stupid about it. I knew Vince would be angry, so I didn't tell him. I

just thought I would replace it with another.

Well, it's a shame you did that, Ms.

Bradford. You should have reported it.

The police might even have been able to recover it for you.

Well, I know it was a dumb thing. I'm sorry.

Is there anything else, Mr. Jones?

Actually, I was more interested in pinpointing whether anyone had a reason

wanting Rick Lorenzo dead.

Anything you can tell me about that?

No. I can't think of anything.

When my husband worked for Mr. Lorenzo, we never saw him socially, I mean.

He must have been aware of his reputation. I understand he was quite a

He means there were other women, Mrs. Bradford.

Yes, yes, I know. Well, I have heard some gossip to that effect. You know how

those things are.

Only gossip?

You're such an attractive woman, I'm surprised he didn't make a pass or two

your direction.

There's only one man in my life, my husband.

Thank you.

Something's bothering you, Betty. What is it?

Only that Nora's too good to be real.

I think she only meant one thing she told us. And that was the part about

being the only man in her life.

You didn't buy that stuff about the stolen gun?

You know, I'll call it women's intuition if you like, but I think she was lying.

And I'm afraid she was lying to protect Vince.

That seems like the reason she'd lie, all right.

I have to tell you something about last night.

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

I want to.

When you called and asked if I had heard from Vince, I lied.

He was in the apartment with me. I'm sorry.

Was he there at the time that Carl Fenton was killed?

No. He came by later.

Barnaby, we were more than just friends in college. We were in love.

planning to get married until Nora came along. I see.

I was so positive that he couldn't have killed anyone.

I mean, I really believed.

I wanted to.

Now I'm afraid.

You don't have to give up on the guy yet.

Not until after I sort out who Lorenzo's girlfriends were.

I think I have an idea how to do that.

Over here, dear.

You're the lady who phoned?

That's right, dear. Betty Jones, syndicated press service. I'm so glad

could meet me here today. My goodness, I've been hearing such delicious things

about your career.

Waiter, double martini, please.

As a matter of fact, I was talking about you just the other day with Rhoda

Harris.

Rhoda and I are, as they say, friendly competitors.

Really? Yes. She gave me a nice little hot item about you.

And though I don't usually do those kind of stories much anymore, and Rhoda is

improving her image, I thought I'd find out how you feel about the old

-fashioned tattletale kind of publicity.

Well, you know what they say. Just so you spell my name right.

I'm so glad you feel that way, because I'd like to do a nice little story on

poor dear Rick Lorenzo.

Oh, uh -oh. That might not be so good.

Well, it's just that the studio I'm under contract to, well, they kind of

the law down to me. So if you come out now with an item about Rick and me,

I could get into a lot of trouble. I mean, after all, he is dead and

Dear, that is a bit sticky. You see, my problem is that, well, when a man like

Rick passes away, well, I mean, they're news for a few days, and, well, you have

to cash in right away, or the interest value goes.

Oh, I really wish I could help, but...

Perhaps you can, my dear. Then I can help you later on. I must do this item

about Rick.

Perhaps I could ask you about the other women in his life. Could you help me

there?

Funny you should mention that.

You know, one night we had a date, and then he broke it. No explanation.

I got suspicious.

So I drove out to this motel Rick used to take me to.

The little love nest, huh?

Right. Isn't it too square for words?

But sure enough, there was Rick's car.

And a minute later, she showed up. Walked right in. I mean, you could tell

wasn't the first time she'd been there, either.

Well, come on, dear.

Give me a name. An item isn't an item without a name.

The trouble is, it was kind of dark, and she kind of kept her head down.

Sneaky, you know?

I'm pretty sure she was a blonde.

Did that help?

Well, it's going to have to do, as long as I have the name of the motel.

I thought that was going to be fun.

I wound up feeling depressed.

Well, I guess maybe you even had a hopper out of bad days.

What made you?

I thought I'd go over and check out that motel Dee Dee mentioned, see if I can

find a name for the sneaky blonde lady. You want to come along?

Well, if you don't mind, what I'd like to do is go to the restaurant and try to

get Vince to open up about what happened on the beach.

I thought the restaurant was closed today.

Well, when I talked to Vince, he said that he was going in to do some

Could you drop me in my car?

Sure, I'll catch up with you later.

Listen, this is a respectable place.

If the manager found out I told you about our guest's doings...

Nope,

not her.

She's a stranger, too.

Oh, yeah.

Now, here's a familiar face.

One of our Mrs.

Smiths. The happy one.

The other was kind of shy and sad.

Got her?

Yep. That's the one.

Am I interrupting? No, no, by all means interrupt. Come on in.

How about a drink?

Oh, no, thank you. You go ahead, please.

All right.

Well, make yourself at home.

Well, what brings you down here?

You haven't told me what happened that night on the beach, the night of the

party. I mean, what really happened, have you?

Vince, please trust me.

I am on your side.

You may be.

But what about your father -in -law?

He is too.

Because I told him I don't believe you killed anyone.

Okay.

I followed Rick and Nora down to those rocks on the beach that night.

And when I... I found him, he was pawing her, and she was trying to fight him

off. And I yanked him around and I belted him.

I mean, I was pretty steamed at him anyway.

He'd reneged on a promise he'd made me.

But that was it, Betty.

One shot to the mouth.

That's all that happened.

He was alive and yelling when I walked away from him. You walked away?

Yes. What about Nora?

She'd left a few minutes earlier.

Vince, Nora loves you.

I think she would do anything to protect you.

I mean, I'm convinced of that.

Betty, what are you driving at?

What did you and Carl Fenton argue about last night?

He'd seen me fight with Rick, and he was trying to shake me down.

Did Nora know that?

Well, yes.

When Carl Fenton was shot, where was Nora?

I don't know.

When I left here...

I went home and her car wasn't in the carport.

I just didn't feel like facing an empty apartment.

That's when I came over to your place.

Betty, I don't want to talk about this anymore.

Why?

Because you don't want to face what you're thinking.

That Nora killed Rick and Carl.

Vince.

Don't you think this conversation has gone on long enough, Vince?

Dora, what are you doing?

I'm trying to keep you from doing what you always do, ruining everything.

Me? What did I ruin?

You didn't have to charge in like the cavalry that night.

I mean, I could have handled Rick.

He would have come around and given you that partnership. I just... I needed

more time.

No, no, one manly punch and you ruined it all.

Until you saved the situation by killing Rick and Carl.

That is what happened, isn't it?

You have to understand something about Vince.

I mean, he's got all those lovely muscles, and he's very charming, but

underneath it all, he's just a little boy.

He needs lots and lots of help.

And that's what I do. I help my husband.

It's a full -time career.

That's the only career I've ever wanted or cared about.

I believe that, Nora.

Vince, I have to call the police.

Ah, ah, ah, Betty.

Put the phone down.

For God's sake, Nora.

Thank you, Nora.

You've just told Vince everything he needed to know.

You mean the gun?

Oh, we'll get over there.

And he'll stick by me because I take such good, good care of him.

Hello?

Barnaby, she has a gun!

Give me the gun!

I see you made me hurt you.

Oh, yes, I didn't want to hurt you.