Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, a Quinn Martin production. Starring Buddy Ebsen. Also

starring Lee Merriweather, Mark Schera.

With guest stars Marshall Colt, Jeannie Fitzsimmons,

James Houghton, Peter McClain,

Beeson Carroll,

Barry Jenner.

Tonight's episode, The Protectors.

Would you believe it? We're the last ones here. It goes with the territory,

Frank. Well, I'm going to call it a night.

Why don't you join me for a drink?

Never on Thursdays. It's my one night to catch up.

Besides, our bid on this government contract is due tomorrow.

That's what I wanted to talk to you about.

Over a martini.

Charlie, don't you think we're going in way too low? You look after the

engineering. I'll worry about the bidding.

Okay.

You're calling the shots.

Frank.

On your way out, turn on the alarm, will you?

Hey, listen, take it easy.

The safe's open. There's some money in it. Two thousand. Go ahead, take it.

No. You are coming with us.

Quietly. Or you die on the spot.

Let's go.

No, no, no. Listen, if this is a kidnapping, I am insured. But my company

pay a dime unless I'm alive.

If you want to stay there, Wayne, move.

Now listen, two men are just trying to kidnap me.

I don't know, a windbreaker, leather jacket, a couple of see -through masks.

Yes, pistols.

Hold it right there, mister.

All right, you heard him.

Come on, hop against the wall.

Spread those blades. Let's go.

There's some ID in my coat pocket.

All right.

Inside. Come on, let's go.

from the California Meridian Insurance said you were out here working for

Abbott.

This wouldn't be your fine, upstanding son, Steve McShane, would it? It would.

Steve, this is Barnaby Jones.

Pleased to meet you, sir.

I'm sorry if we were a little rough out front.

It's all right.

The last I heard of you, you were carrying on your father's career in the

department. That's right.

Yeah, I had to ask him to resign. I needed him in the organization.

What's your specialty, son, besides collecting guns?

I'm a driver, sir.

The best. You should have been born with wheels instead of feet.

Sorry about that.

I'll get back out front.

We're installing some electronic surveillance equipment out front. It's

operational yet.

You know, there are a lot of millionaires around.

Why do you suppose they picked Abbott?

Oh, hard to say.

Could be they know about the millions in kidnap insurance the company has on

him. Makes for a quick payoff.

Well, now there's guards up.

Wouldn't you think that they would drop him and pick a new victim?

Well, they spent a lot of time planning this, Mr. Jones. In our experience, guys

that go that far don't give up easily.

I'd better get back on the job. Will you excuse me?

How is Abbott standing up under the pressure?

What pressure?

He's Mr.

Casual. I'm getting a migraine trying to map out changes in his basic life

pattern that he'll go along with.

Mr. Abbott, this is Barnaby Jones.

California Meridian sent him over. Now, they said they would keep this under

wraps if I hired a security firm.

Now they're bringing more people into it. My company is going to sustain a

serious loss if one word of this gets out.

Mr. Abbott, you can rely on my using the utmost discretion.

So if I get in your way, just holler. Well, that's just what I'm talking

Barnaby. I mean, well, this is our kind of ballgame. Aren't you kind of out of

your league?

Maybe you're right, John. Maybe I have fallen behind at times, but maybe I can

learn something from your people.

New angles, if you don't mind.

Yes, I guess you can.

Fine place you have here, Mr. Abbott.

Well, I suppose I should show you around.

It's driving me crazy. I think I'll go into town if someone take a look at it.

I'll go with you.

Mr. Jones, this is my daughter, Kathy.

How do you do?

And her husband, Alan Rogers.

How do you do?

Would you like a drink?

Well, yes, thank you. You don't happen to have any lemonade, do you?

Just so happens we do.

Hi, I'm Lauren Abbott.

How do you do?

My wife.

Mr. Jones is with the insurance company.

They're determined to protect me.

Or rather, their money.

I still think you'd be safer fishing for marlin in Hawaii till this thing blows

over. Charlie, maybe Alan's right.

Besides, this town's dead right now.

Hawaii sounds delicious.

I recommend that you sit tight.

McShane's outfit can put a screen around you here, but if you go somewhere else,

you're an open target. You're all missing the point.

Teletext Electronics is in line for a couple of fat contracts.

People don't buy a company, they buy me.

When I'm out of town, Teletext is out of business.

Excuse me, I'm sorry.

Are you Barnaby Jones?

Yes, I am. I'm Kim Stratton. Mr. McShane said you were coming by.

I hope you don't mind.

I haven't noticed you got a plus magnetic reading.

Right, the intruders opened this door and one other with an electromagnetic

pick. It's an exotic piece of hardware.

They penetrated two doors?

Right, they entered here and they got into Abbott's suite through an inner

They must have known that this room was unoccupied, which means that they could

get in before the alarm was set and wait for Abbott who was alone next door.

That's very clever.

Yeah, I see what you mean.

Boy, they had this place cased.

Or they had inside information.

Why do you say that?

No reason, except I don't like to overlook any possibilities.

Well, it's possible, I guess, but McShane is only interested in hard

This office is my last hope. Abbott's suite is squeaky clean.

Mr. Jones, Mr.

Abbott's partner, Frank Bishop.

Mr. Bishop. Mr. Jones.

I understand it was you who personally arranged the policies for Mr. Abbott.

That's correct.

Charlie's a perfect target for the kind of executive kidnapping that makes

headlines every day.

I'm not going to sit here and see this company go into hock for millions in

ransom. And it also must be nice to know that the insurance company had plenty

of money on hand to arrange your partner's quick release.

Yes, of course.

There's that, too.

Nice touch.

Thanks. But no print.

Mr. Abbott said that they were wearing gloves.

I understand you spent two years in the police forensic lab.

Must have given the boys a May 1 competition.

Well, the lab's always been an all -male stronghold, and they never let me

forget it.

So when Mr. McShane offered me my own lab, I didn't have to take a vote on it.

Has there been anyone in this room since the attempt on Mr. Abbott?

No, Mr. McShane told me to lock it.

Cigarette filter?

Yes, and tobacco, too.

Smells Turkish.

Probably a European cigarette.

I'm sure a lot of people that work here smoke.

Yes, I'm certain of that, but they also probably use the ashtrays that are

provided for that purpose. Somebody tried to scatter this one out the

You are pretty sharp, Mr. Jones.

Maybe you'd like to go rabbit sweet yourself.

No, I've been watching you work, and I'm sure it would be a waste of time. But I

would like to be around when you examine the things we found.

The date?

Your lab or mine?

This microscope really details the shoe scrapings you took from that door.

I'll send our chemical analysis over to one of my ex -chums at the PD lab.

Now, he'll be able to trace the commercial source of the polish and

Oh, that's the bell on the drawing chamber. Your test materials are ready.

You need coloration.

This saliva test indicates that whoever smoked that cigarette had Thai baby

blood. Hey, that'll help narrow the field if we can find a suspect.

Well, folks, how we doing?

Any luck?

A little.

I'll have a report on your desk in half an hour. You said KC was going to

convert Abbott's sedan into an armored car.

I'd sure like to see how it's done.

Well, let's go.

The army car shop's right out back.

Special tires?

Yeah, puncture -proof.

KC calls them run flats because they're filled with foam.

Where'd you find KC?

Oh, stunt driving for one of the studios.

Before that, he won a pile of gold medals on off -road racing. Until he had

too many crack -ups.

His left leg's full of pins and plates.

What you working on?

You got me.

What are you working on, Casey?

I'm working up these high -intensity lamps.

Seen them blind in revenue or in broad daylight.

It's armored?

No, sir.

It's a solid plate with fiberglass webbing.

We even got the bullet -resistant glass.

That stop direct gunfire?

Everything except bazookas and rocket launchers.

Of course, I don't encourage testing it, so I lay in a special power plant.

What's the horsepower?

425.

Superpowered.

You saying? Dad, Mr. Abbott insists on keeping his golf date tomorrow.

No, the pattern's too regular. They could hit him on the road or on the

Can't you talk him out of it?

Not a chance.

All right, hold on.

We need Abbott's car for tomorrow morning. Can do.

Yeah, well, I'll need a big roll of green. I mean, I got to hire more crew,

best. Whatever it takes.

All right, I'm coming over, Steve. Now tell Abbott I want to talk to him.

All right.

I'm sorry to give you a hard time, Steve, but I do more work on the golf

than I do in the office.

Look, one of the men I'm teeing off with tomorrow is the chairman of the Wallace

Aircraft. There's a big contract on the line.

Could you at least change the time? You don't play every week, but when you do,

it's always 7 a .m. I play early so I won't blow a whole work day.

Besides, if I ask those other guys to switch, they may cancel out, and that's

risk I can't afford to take.

Kathy is going to drive me into town to have someone look at my cast.

Is there anything you want me to do in the office?

No, but we should have another talk soon.

Yeah, whenever you think.

Have a desired security team called Counterforce.

The house is like a fortress.

Use the alternate plan.

Good.

I told you, the alternate is a better plan anyway.

I'm sorry to have kept you two after office hours, but I just can't seem to

shake the notion that there's some kind of an inside connection here.

Well, how about if I check out everyone close to Abbott?

That's a good idea.

Why don't you start with Mrs. Abbott?

She's no much older than his daughter.

Why don't I work on Abbott's business partner, Frank Baker?

Barnaby Jones, investigations may help you.

Yes, could you hold on, please?

Steve McShane.

Hello, Steve.

Dad couldn't change Abbott's mind. The golf game's definitely on. We have a

plan, but we'd like your help.

Tell your father thanks. It's nice to be needed.

Sure thing. Could you be out here before daybreak?

I'll be there.

Thanks.

The counterforce folks need me out at the Abbott place before sunrise.

I guess I better get home and try to get some sleep.

Oh, that's a shame, Barnaby. I was kind of hoping we could all go out to dinner

together. Well, you two go. I'll have to take a rain check.

Oh, too bad, Barnaby. You're going to miss a royal spread, you know. A couple

dancing girls, a lot of laughs, a glass of the grape. My treat.

Jedediah, did you come into a recent financial windfall?

No, actually, I was planning on tapping the petty cash drawer, but Betty tells

me it's empty, so I was wondering, could you loan me 20 bucks?

That kitchen is like a restaurant.

The cook asked me my favorite food.

I said prime rib.

Are you ready for this?

Starving? Medium rare.

I saw you checking the monitor.

I just saw Casey come in with Abbott's car.

I don't believe what he can do.

Hey, y 'all.

Dog, looky here.

Well, he burned rubber right through dinner time.

And I am real peckish.

Peckish doesn't seem to quite get it. Dog hungry is more like it.

What, you mean the same for me?

Well, I was thinking of breaking my diet, you know, just for tonight.

I can't let you do that, kiddo. I got more curves than the Monaco Grand Prix.

I see you changed that, right, Steve?

Couldn't have said it better myself, Hot Wheel.

Guys are all hard.

Wine, anyone?

I'm afraid we're going to have to pass, Mrs. Abbott. Some of this machinery gets

a little psychedelic if you mix it with alcohol.

Don't despair, Lauren. I'll join you.

Too good to wait.

And so are you.

Oh, I... must have wheeled and got you off balance here, buddy.

Why don't you try this chair for a size, huh?

I can't take the drop on duty, but I sure can propose a toast.

The Confederate States and all ladies north and south.

Why not?

You know, I'd say that counterforce has this place well covered.

How does that alarm system work?

It works on body heat.

People only. Animals have different temperatures.

My wife said that in the event of an alarm, we're all supposed to come

into here.

It's the command post.

It's easier to protect you if you're all together.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't you just concentrate on my father -in -law?

The rest of us?

I could take care of myself.

I don't know what's the matter with Alan tonight.

The rest of us are grateful for what you're doing.

Well, maybe you could talk to him, explain to him that it's our job to see

none of you gets taken hostage and used against your husband.

He's so young. How can you know so much about protecting people?

Well, I spent a year training with anti -terrorist experts overseas.

Teams like the GST -9 in West Germany, the Siret in Israel. Sounds frightening.

I'd like to hear all about it.

But Charlie's probably wondering what's keeping me.

Could we talk more tomorrow?

Anytime.

Don't you think Steve's a little young for that rich married lady?

Well, his body may be 26, but his soul's over 100.

That's any of them girls in that single's apartment he lives in.

Hey, now, look, if somebody wants to talk...

We're supposed to listen, right?

Can I help it if it's painless?

Thank you, little Kathy.

I understand that your partner, Frank Bishop, is an electronics genius.

That's right, but he can't sell a glass of water in the Sahara Desert.

But lately, he's been sticking his oar into the business end.

Well, maybe I could have a chat with him on a family level. Get him off your

back. I think Alan could be a real help to you, Daddy, if you'd only give him

the chance.

I know.

Alan and I are going to have another talk later.

Oh, it's about that time now.

Mr. Abbott, I'd like to have a word with you. I hope you're not going to try to

convince me not to go.

That subject's been exhausted.

Well, in that case, I'll just see you safely on your way.

wouldn't humiliate me by interfering.

I was only trying to help. I don't need help.

My parents didn't have dime one.

I got out of that neighborhood and threw an Ivy League college on my own hook.

I already talked to him yesterday.

He said he'd go easier on you, and I... That doesn't work.

You've done that a dozen times.

Look, I'm an idea man, and he's frozen in his ways. He just wants me out of the

picture.

Alan, he likes to blow off steam, that's all.

You're my husband. He wouldn't fire you.

Oh, yeah?

Why do you suppose I split to go skiing on my own?

I had to get my head straight because he laid it out for me. Either I punch a

clock like the rest of the jerks and do things his way, or I'm through.

Look, I'm sorry.

It must be this cast.

I'll tell you what.

I'll get cleaned up and we'll go somewhere for a while, okay?

Just the two of us.

I'd love that.

How about a picnic at the beach?

Am I kidding?

I'm not up to going anywhere today.

You comfortable back there, sir?

Not bad, considering I had to rise and shine at four this morning.

You better tighten your seatbelt, because things could get rough.

coming now looks like a driver and one

passenger all right now now i'm gonna slow down now we can get a look at their

faces huh

Oh, we got trouble now.

This machine's hauling an extra ton of armor and that fastback's cooking on a

custom engine.

Maybe we better stop running and start fighting.

Mr. Jones, you talk like Robert E. Lee now.

I can't see!

Hit the brakes!

I can't follow him through there.

Don't take it so hard, Casey. You saved our bacon.

But I think we're all wrong about one thing.

They're not trying to kidnap Abbott.

They're trying to kill him.

As soon as I got your radio call, I pulled Abbott off the course. You both

right?

Be a lot better if we nail them just didn't have enough car owners You give

an even chance and I'll catch anything on the ground that don't bite

Did

you explain to mr.

Abbott the assassination aspect he did and I owe you and Casey an apology mr.

Jones I may be a fool at times, but I don't equate a game of golf with human

lives. Did you get a good look at them?

Yes, but they were wearing masks.

Same kind you said they were wearing in your office.

How about the car's license number?

There was something smeared all over the license plate.

In other words, you came up empty.

Not exactly.

We got photographs front, rear, and side.

Including infrared.

You ought to be able to identify that car.

When you finish the car, Casey, relieve Kim at the command post. I want her to

get this film in the darkroom right away.

Look at this.

The infrared pulled out the license number. While it was still in the soup,

ran it through the PD.

Ten to one, it's a stolen plate. What else?

Where was it stolen?

Why? Well, sometimes criminals have a habit of stealing license plates in

own part of town. This comes from a vehicle in the Belmont District.

Barnaby, Betty and I were really worried when Mr. McShane called. Why didn't you

tell us you were going to sit in for Abbott? I didn't know it myself until I

there and Steve asked me to. Then he wouldn't let us tell anyone, not even

Abbott's family. Just a precaution, Jedediah, Kim, Steve, this is my cousin

Jedediah Romano -Jones. Hi, J .R.

Hi.

You know, Barnaby, I think I ought to devote a little more time to this case.

Uh, later, Jedediah.

What do you got on Lauren Abbott? She's wife number two. They were married last

summer, about three years after his first wife passed away. Anything on the

inheritance angle?

Well, I had to call in a few favors, but I did find out that if anything happens

to Abbott, or if the marriage is dissolved, Mrs. Abbott stands to get a

million, that's all.

The bulk of the estate will go to his daughter.

You know, I think I'm moving the wrong social circle.

Well, the point is that Mrs.

Abbott stands to gain very little from her husband's death.

I figured she'd be in the clear when I saw her expression when Mr.

Abbott returned safely this morning.

Kim, doesn't this green aura in the infrared picture suggest that the car

once painted a metallic green?

Well, I see you're into photography, Barnaby. You kidding? You could write a

book. There's something else I found in this shot.

You can barely make out the number six on the door.

Well, you know, that looks like a...

A racing number of some kind. That's a high -performance racing tire there.

Hey, you're right, JR. Look, there are roll bars inside the car.

Well, KC said that the driver was an expert.

He was wearing driving gloves with the knuckles cut out, which is a fad among

West German race drivers.

These could be international terrorists.

Sure, it all adds up.

Look, that stain from the shoe scraping we had analyzed comes from West Germany.

And that cigarette tobacco you found is Turkish, all right, from a popular

European brand.

With all these pieces, you can't write it off as coincidence.

Kim, let's go after the racing angle. Why don't you jump into some cutoffs and

have Casey give you a little tour around the local stock car racing tracks?

Well, would you like to come along?

Uh, no thanks.

Jedediah and I have got to run down some other leads.

Yeah, but if you're developing film next time, call me. I'd like to look at your

darkroom picnic.

Later, Jedediah.

Hey, Casey.

What's a good word, man?

Well, every day's a holiday. Every meal's a banquet. Good, buddy. How you

Okay. Where you been, Casey?

Oh, he's been pushing choppers and dune buggies all over that desert until I

swear I'm in hand right up to my... Easy on you.

Harvey, I, uh, need some information. I've been checking on the other tracks,

but so far as if. Well, I owe you. Shoot.

Well, I was street dragging this cracker driving a metallic green fastback with

a number six on the side. Yeah.

And I had him clean, but then he threw a wheel into me and I...

Spun into a pole, and now that boy's going to pick up the tab.

Hey, man, there's a lot of number sixes around.

Yeah, but this guy wears those knuckle -like gloves, you know? Yeah. With, you

know, accent, like German or something.

Yeah. Well, wait a minute. I think I might know one guy. His name is Hans

Mueller. What else do you know about him?

Well, not a lot.

Showed up out of nowhere a few months back.

Won a couple of swift races and then stopped coming out.

Like you.

Can you help me find him?

Well, I can make a couple of phone calls. There's some cats that worked on

car, might have his address.

How about right now?

Where'd you say you were in sand up to?

Right up to my... Yeah, her knees.

Start dialing, good buddy.

Take it easy, William.

Okay.

Your secretary said you were only interested in employees who had left the

in the last year and might bear a grudge, and who lived in the Belmont

That is correct, Mr. Bishop. Well, according to our personnel files, these

the only two.

Claire Andrews, secretary.

She works at a local bank now. She was a little bitter when she left, but we

gave her a good recommendation.

What about this Tag Hooper?

He was in customer relations.

We let him go about three months ago.

For what reason?

He had a prison record.

Well, that in itself didn't cost him his job.

It's the fact he lied about it on his application.

I think I'll go see if Mr. Hooper still resides at the same address.

Thanks for your help.

You're quite welcome.

All right, I'll take him.

We'll take him.

A part of the head of a female Yankee.

Well, I knew we were going to see each other again, but this is ridiculous.

We haven't been here five minutes.

Well, at least we're all on the same wavelength.

How'd you get a line on Hooper?

Who's Hooper? We've been tracking a good old German boy named Mueller, the guy

that owns a fastback.

Well, looks like we're all on the right track. Trouble is, we're late.

They've cleared out lock, stock, and barrel.

We've talked it over, and we're cutting out. Yeah.

We did not agree to take on an expert security force. We wouldn't have to if

hadn't blown your chance at Abbott's office.

That's easy for you to say. We get caught and I'm looking at a return trip

the joint. Hans could be shipped back to West Germany to face a half a dozen

murder charges.

I'd never make it to court.

My old comrades would kill me. Because you know too much?

Nein.

Because I kept a half a million dollars ransom from a kidnapping in Austria.

Should have lasted me a lifetime.

I lost it in two weeks at the tables in Monte Carlo.

Then my old friends found me and I ran.

Listen.

I want to help.

Like I told Tag when I phoned to warn you guys, Counterforce has photographs

your car that'll lead right to you.

You gotta get out of the state.

And that takes money.

You will give it to us.

We earned it.

Now listen, I don't have any money to give you, even if I wanted to.

But I'll be rolling in it if you guys waste at it.

My wife's his sole heir.

He's telling it like it is, Hans. I've known him since college.

You never had to die.

Even if we were stupid enough to try again, where would we do it?

The house.

You're out of your tree. You told us the house was like a fortress.

It is.

And that can work for us.

Kim lifted some clean prints from the apartment. We sent them and everything

else we have on Miller by courier to GST9 in Berlin.

Well, if he's wanted in Germany for terrorist activities, the chances are he

entered this country illegally.

If we can document that, we can bring federal agents into the case. It takes

much time, Steve.

With these people loose, I'm concerned about here and now.

Abbott residence?

Oh, hi, Betty. It's Steve. Hold on.

I'm going to go touch base with Kim at the command post.

Yeah, Betty. What is it?

Well, Barnaby, you can scratch Frank Bishop as a suspect.

His stock in the company is minimal. Also, he has no employment contract.

If Abbott's heirs decide to sell, he could lose his job.

You know, Barbie, if there is an inside link, we're down to Abbott's daughter

and or her husband.

Eddie, there's something been bothering me about Alan Rogers. I think I just

found out what it is. A cast of his.

What do you mean? Well, he either has the world's highest pain threshold or...

No pain.

You think he may be hurt less than advertised?

I'm not sure.

I want you to make some calls to Vail, Colorado.

See if you can locate the doctor that treated him up there and find out the

exact nature of his injury.

Can do.

Bye -bye.

Listen, how long am I going to be cooped up here?

Until Mueller and Hooper make their next move, before we catch up with them.

Look, I know all the trouble I caused at the golf match, but I still have a

business to run here.

I can't keep postponing meetings.

And I can't hold the meetings here with all your people crawling around the

place. Well, I wish I had an answer for you, but all I can say now is your

safety comes first.

Thank you. My pleasure, ma 'am.

Southern chivalry is getting a little thick around here.

Look, fella, I didn't mean to cut in. I just thought it might be difficult for

you to get them being all stove up and all, you know?

Yeah.

I think I'll go for a walk out back.

Gain a little privacy for a change.

Will you excuse me a moment?

Hey, relax.

He's out of line.

Look, I'm going to go tell Kim he's headed for the woods. Otherwise, she'll

think the system's been penetrated.

All right? All right.

How

long

has your son -in -law been working for you?

Alan?

Well, ever since he married Kathy.

I don't imagine he can do much work with that cast on his leg.

With or without a cast, he's been a major disappointment to me.

Not having a son, I always presumed whoever Kathy married would someday head

Teletext Electronics.

Does Roger know you feel that way?

Yes, I had to step on him pretty hard recently.

I told him if he was going to stay with the company, he'd have to straighten up

his act.

Did anything in particular prompt this conversation?

He misused his corporate credit cards.

I had to take them away from him.

Even used one to pay for a girl up in San Francisco.

I'm still worried Kathy might find out about it.

Excuse me.

Betty just phoned. She said she talked to the doctor who took care of Rogers at

Vail. Guess what?

Abbott's son -in -law did not have a broken leg.

Just sprained his ankle, but he insisted on a cast. Now, there's something else.

Betty got a call from Frank Bishop.

He checked further into personnel and thought you might be interested to know

that Tag Hooper was recommended by Rogers.

Come on.

Come on, end of the study. Come on.

I think I better wait out here, Barnaby.

Yeah.

What are you picking up?

Rodgers. He's in the woods.

Anybody with him?

No.

That's what I figured.

I have a hunch we're supposed to be.

They went for it.

Let's roll.

Let's go, Rogers.

Where's the counterforce?

They're supposed to be protecting all of us. Hey, you know, there's a guy

shooting at me. You better get down right now. He's probably watching us

this second.

Come off it, Rogers. Where's the gun?

Gun? Me?

What are you talking about? You think I have a gun?

All right, we can find it later. Let's go. You better back off, pal, because

not going anywhere with you.

Hold it.

I think you better go with him, Rogers.

Your two friends are waiting for you back at the house.

Can you beat that? I logged three hard months with GST9 in West Germany, but I

have to come all the way back home to capture a member of the Bader -Meinhof

gang. Hey, you know, but what's unreal to me is how Rogers could flip out so

far, especially with a wife like Kathy.

But then I never could understand you college folks, not even you two rascals.

Barnaby, I've been thinking.

Why don't you bring your office into counterforce?

You handle the investigations, and we'll take care of the security.

That's fine, thank you.

It's very flattering, John.

You have a great bunch of people here, and I've never seen a better technical

setup.

I've learned some things the last few days.

So have we.

With all this hardware, we've been overlooking a basic element.

The gut instinct and know -how that comes from experience.

With you on the team, we'd have it. It's tempting.

You've heard the expression, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

I've always liked to run my own shop.

But maybe we can work together on something else sometime.

I have a feeling that one of the Joneses may be spending a lot of time studying

counterforce's new methods.

Close, but not quite yet. You see, I think the real reason is that I'm going

need protection.

From a beautiful blonde lady in my favorite Italian restaurant.

You're on, J .R. We have to start by changing your life patterns.

I am dying for a prime rib.

And I know a place that has the biggest cut in town.

Very expensive.