Original subtitles

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

starring Lee Merriweather, Mark Schera.

With guest stars Scott Marlowe, Kenneth Tiger,

with special guest star Christine Belford.

Tonight's episode, Fatal Overture.

Oh, hello.

Hello, Betty. Are you all packed?

You must be kidding.

I haven't a thing to wear.

Which gives me a great idea. I think I'll go shopping tomorrow.

Are you going to have time to do that before the plane leaves?

Oh, I didn't tell you. Paula called.

There was some mix -up as to when we could get the condo, so it won't be

Thursday. Betty, listen, why don't you postpone your vacation until after I

finish my exams?

You know, I really don't think it's a good idea to...

Have two lovely ladies unescorted on the beaches of Hawaii.

Well, J .R., I'll tell you, much as we would love to have your company...

Betty, you still there?

No,

I'm sorry. It was just something that distracted me across the way.

What was that you were saying, J .R., about typing for me while I was gone?

Uh, forget it. I can tell when I'm not needed.

Bye, buddy. I'll be talking to you.

Right. Bye -bye, buddy.

Lynette, go! Go!

Go, Lynette, go!

What is she doing here?

Oh, hello.

You're Betty Jones?

Yes. I'm Peter Kirkland, your neighbor from across the courtyard.

I've seen you around the building. I realize we haven't met, but I heard you

private investigations.

Could I talk to you about last night?

Oh, yes.

Come in, please. Thank you.

About last night, I, um... I don't normally watch my neighbors through

windows. I know. But with all the noise you were making, you couldn't help but

see what was going on.

Ah, look.

There's no easy way to lead up to this, so I'll just come to the point.

I want to hire you.

Hire me?

Yes, to investigate a death.

Lynette Atkinson, she was the... What about the girl in your apartment last

night?

Oh, you...

I heard you call her name and then this morning I... Well, I saw the story here

in the paper.

Oh. Well, you see, Lynette was a former student of mine.

I'm a pianist.

Oh, I see.

Why do you want me to investigate her death? The police are already

investigating.

Well, it's just that I'm a little worried the police may make more out of

whole tragic mess than they need to.

You probably feel you ought to report to the police what you saw.

I just wish you'd investigate first.

You see, my wife has some serious problems, emotional problems.

That's why I need your help, Miss Jones.

I just want to spare my wife any unnecessary stress.

Well, um... I am planning to go to Hawaii in a few days.

But I'll do what I can until then.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah. As a matter of fact, I am handling the Adkinson investigation.

What's your interest in it?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Want some coffee?

Oh, no, thank you, John.

I have a client who would like to make sure that the death was an accident.

The way it looks now, it may not have been.

We found what sounds like a suicide note in her apartment.

You did?

Addressed to dearest Peter.

She never finished it, but it went on about feeling desperate.

Can't go on without you, that sort of thing.

The guy she wrote it to is Peter Kirkland. We found some photos of him in

apartment.

Peter Kirkland.

From the look on your face, I would lay odds Kirkland as your client.

Am I right?

Remind me never to play poker with you, Lieutenant.

Yeah, well, we were planning on talking to him before we wrapped up the

investigation anyway. There's a strong rumor that he and Lynette had an affair

about three years back.

Well, from what he told me, he was her teacher.

Also three years back.

Mm -hmm.

How come he hired you if he hadn't seen the girl in all that time?

Well, uh... She was

in their apartment last night.

I'm a neighbor of the Kirklands in our apartment building, and I happened to...

The rather ugly scene last night when Virginia Kirkland came home and caught

Peter and Lynette getting reacquainted.

Yeah.

And this morning, he puts you on the payroll to maybe keep you quiet about

you saw last night.

But you know, John, from what I saw and heard last night, I have the feeling

that Lynette was a third wheel in a romantic triangle situation.

That would tend to make suicide a strong possibility, wouldn't it?

No argument about it.

Would it be possible for me to see your apartment?

I don't know why not.

I'll clear it for you. Great. Thanks a lot.

I'll talk to you later.

I mean, when something like this happens, it's really hard to believe,

Hello, officer. I'm Betty Jones. Did Lieutenant Biddle tell you I was coming

over? Oh, yes, Miss Jones.

He did.

Were you one of Lynette's friends?

Well, no.

Not exactly.

But you were?

Oh, sure.

And living across the hall from somebody, you get to know them pretty

At least I thought I did.

I'd never have guessed in a million years she could have done what she did

night.

Then you think she took her own life?

I mean, I knew that she was upset when she came home last night, but...

I just didn't know how much.

I don't know, Gavin.

Why would she make an appointment with me to have her hair done this morning if

she meant to do that?

She made an appointment with you last night?

Yeah.

It was coming in from a date. It was close to 11.

We ran into each other in the hall.

She said to put her down for this morning.

Excuse me.

you just leave her alone.

A man like you treating a girl that way?

Look, I don't know who you are, mister, but it's none of your business. You

understand?

I know who you are, Kirkland.

Lynette told me all about you.

You're all she could talk about the last few days, and then... Hey! Okay, okay,

let's break it up.

You're right, it's none of my business. I just think that it's a shame.

She had everything to live for.

Well, it looks like I'm... Persona non grata around here.

Officer, would it be all right if Mr. Kirkland came into the apartment?

I'll vouch for it.

Ah, okay.

All right.

Chopin.

He's always a favorite.

You've made a pretty good start at leveling with me, Mr. Kirkland.

Now, I... I have a rather uncomfortable question to ask you.

Better start calling me Peter, then.

Make it a little less uncomfortable.

All right.

Peter.

The question has to do with you and Lynette.

Were you having an affair?

She's a fine pianist.

An important concert artist.

Please, Peter.

All right.

While she was studying with me, yes, we did have an affair.

But it ended. I went back to my wife.

Lynette continued to stay in touch as a friend.

But the affair was over years ago.

From your wife's reaction to Lynette last night, I presume she didn't believe

was over.

My wife doesn't need a reason for the kind of tantrum she threw last night.

At least, none that you or I might understand.

I guess that's what happened.

Mrs. Kirkman?

Your husband told me I could find you here.

Oh, you're the one I saw with Peter.

That's right. I'm Betty Jones.

Betty Jones.

All right.

So?

Didn't your husband tell you that he hired me? I mean, our agency?

My dear Ms. Jones, my husband tells me as little as possible.

He firmly believes that what I don't know won't hurt me.

Or him, or... You know what I mean.

Do you think that's too much?

I always keep at it till I ruin them.

Well, I'm sure your husband meant to tell you that he had hired our agency to

investigate the death of Lynette Atkinson.

Is that what you do?

Investigate? Yes, we're a licensed agency, private investigators.

It also happens that I'm a neighbor of yours.

In our apartment building.

I, um... I couldn't help but overhear and see part of what went on between you

and Lynette last night.

I'm really very embarrassed about that.

I don't know what gets into me sometimes.

Yes, well, um... What I'm really interested in is what happened after she

After?

Well, I was still pretty upset.

Very upset, if you want to know.

So Peter called my doctor, who prescribes some tranquilizers.

And then Peter went out to an all -night drugstore to get the prescription

filled. So you were alone for a while when he was out?

Well, actually, for quite a while.

You see, when I realized that he'd been gone for over an hour, I started to get

worried, so I went out to look for him.

You went to the drugstore?

Yes, but he'd already been there and left.

Long before.

Anyway, he was waiting for me when I got home with my prescription.

And shortly after that, I was happy as the well -known clam.

End of evening.

Lynette Atkinson died about 11 .30 last night.

You were aware of that, weren't you?

Of course, I read it in the newspaper this morning.

But if you're expecting a grieved reaction, don't.

I'm still on tranquilizers.

And she wasn't exactly my favorite person in the whole wide world.

Yes, well, thank you very much, Mrs. Kirkland.

Here, you sit down here.

Oh, thank you.

I understand he's very talented.

Yeah, he's one of the good ones, Pete is.

I mean, not just good people. That goes without saying.

Good musician.

Could have been great.

Really? You know, I've never heard him play.

You and too many other people.

Hey, you want a cup of coffee? Oh, yes, I'd love it. Thank you.

Oh, it's not that he wasn't making it on the concert circuit. He was.

But it takes years.

Hey, you want sugar?

Please.

But he was on his way, though.

Critics were already on his side, like he was the next Horowitz.

Cream? Yes.

Well, um, what happened?

You don't know?

That wife of his, that's what happened.

She flipped out, and they had to put her away for a while. That's when he quit

the tour.

Then, when she bounces out of her rubber room, Pete decides to...

stay at home, look after her.

Hard to tell now whether he's her husband or a male nurse.

So, this is your life, Peter Kirkland.

A little composing, a lot of scoring for commercials, big commercials, but a lot

of wasted talent.

Big waste of talent, thanks to one ding -a -ling wife.

Perhaps someday he'll get back to it.

Yeah.

You know, when I heard about Lynette, the first thing pops into my head.

Crazy Virginia.

That's our affectionate nickname for his wife.

Crazy Virginia is just bonkers enough to do that.

That's what I thought.

I don't know.

Just wishful thinking, I guess.

You're hoping she murdered her?

Be the best thing all around.

Then they put her away for life. Peter gets out from under.

And not to mention getting control of all of her money. She's sort of a

you know.

And he's free to start being the next Horowitz again.

Okay, Eddie, we're going to take a break now.

We'll pick up part 4B after that.

Whatever you say, maestro.

Only don't run away.

You got a yummy visitor here.

That door.

Thank you.

made. It's great.

Well, I've always been fascinated by movie studios. I said you were going to

here. I thought I'd... Actually, I wanted to ask you a few more questions.

Sure. Step in my private office.

Obviously, you found Virginia.

How did it go?

She was reasonably cooperative.

Peter, don't you think you should have told her that you hired me?

Well, I would have gotten around to it in time.

In time?

Oh, very slow time.

Well, how you handle your wife is your business.

You want to tell me about last night?

Why? Was there something you missed from the window?

Yes.

Everything after the drapes closed, I missed.

Well, Virginia was still agitated, and I wasn't about to go through a whole

night of hysterics, so I phoned her shrink.

Name? Dr. Dreyse.

Rhymes with price.

Which is currently 70 bucks an hour, four times a week.

Is it helping?

Doesn't appear to be hurting.

I'm sorry. You called the doctor and... And he phoned the drugstore for the

prescription.

It's the one on Santa Monica. You know, the one in the all -night drugstore?

Yes.

Anyway, I drove over for the prescription and... I don't know. I was

badly shaken by the big scene between Virginia and Lynette that... I just

around. I mean, nowhere in particular.

Though I did have some thoughts of heading toward Puerto Vallarta or Nome.

Well, under the circumstances, I really can't blame you for...

Having some escape fantasies going for you.

Fantasies are all they are.

Anyway, everyone knows the honorable thing is when you have a professional

mental patient for a wife, you nail down the flag to the mast and go down with

the ship.

So I went home.

What time is that?

Oh, it's before midnight.

Yeah, I remember.

I got a bit of a scare because Virginia was gone when I got there.

But she did show up a few minutes later.

Well, that pretty well checks out with what Virginia told me.

I guess that pretty well takes care of it for now.

Betty?

Hang around for a while.

Why?

Until we finish the recording.

Have a drink with me, please.

All right. Yes, I'd like that.

Is it all right if I wait in the booth?

Oh, perfect.

I won't be long.

All right.

Peter, will you be long?

I've had the most marvelous day at the park. Everybody loved my painting. I

can't wait to show it to you. Look, we're about to finish the last of the

recording. Well, good. Listen, I... I want to do something special when you're

done here.

Maybe we could drive up the coast. You know that little place in Montecito and

have dinner?

Look, why don't you go home and I'll be alone a little while.

And then we'll see. We'll see where you go to for dinner, okay?

Well, I'd rather stay here. I can wait in the...

Will you tell Peter that I had something to do and that I

couldn't wait?

Will you tell him I'm sorry?

Yeah, we're all sorry, kid.

To know Pete in Virginia is to be sorry a lot.

Thanks.

Any calls?

Telegram, Betty.

Who do you know in New Delhi?

Can't you tell me? No, paper's too thick.

Well, I would imagine that it's from Paula.

But... Dear Betty, sorry to inform you that I will not be able to get to Hawaii

for two more days. Oh, that's too bad.

Oh, no. It's a relief, really.

It would give me more time on the Kirken case.

I thought I heard you.

What's this about the Kirkland case? Would you believe that she's actually

she has to postpone her vacation two more days to work on this case?

This guy Kirkland wouldn't happen to be good -looking, would he, Betty Johnson?

Yes, J .R. Jones. He's very good -looking.

But he also happens to be married. Not happily, but married just the same.

You're not getting over your head, are you, Betty?

I haven't even gotten my feet wet, Barnaby.

Oh, uh... Lieutenant Biddle called a little earlier. He said to tell you that

he's about to close out the Lynette Atkinson case and rule that her death

probable suicide.

I don't think that's right, Barnaby. But I don't have anything to back up my

feelings.

Well, I think I am going to head on home.

It's about that time. Why don't you have dinner with Jedediah and me?

Oh, I don't know. I'm feeling pretty tired and, frankly, quite depressed.

I don't know. This case is the kind that can do that to you if you don't keep

your guard up.

Thanks anyway.

Betty, baby, Betty, keep your guard up, huh?

Virginia, I don't know why you're doing this, but believe me, there's no reason.

Virginia, please, put down the knife.

Virginia, no! You don't know what you're doing!

Virginia,

no!

Step back.

Step back.

Move away from her.

Put the knife down, Virginia.

Do as I tell you. Put the knife down.

Virginia?

Are you all right? Yes.

I'm all right. She didn't touch me.

Betty, I'm sorry. I'll... It's all right. It's all right.

Go after her.

You do play beautifully, Peter.

Flattery will get you anything you want this morning. How are you? I'm fine.

But, frankly, I'm puzzled.

That was a pretty wild scene last night.

And now it's all peace and quiet. How did you manage it?

Virginia's gone. I hospitalized her last night.

I'd like very much to start making amends for what happened.

How about breakfast for openers?

This is the most fantastic omelet I have ever tasted.

Mr. Kirkland, sir, you are a mighty fine cook.

Comes with the territory.

When you're married to someone as unstable as Virginia, you learn a lot of

domestic skills.

I mean, it is a necessity.

Peter, why didn't you tell me about Virginia?

I mean, the truth about her.

She could very well have murdered Lynette, which you certainly knew.

If you hired me just to prove that... I'll admit I had that fear going in.

But I was hoping you'd find out otherwise.

I haven't found out anything.

Not for certain, anyway.

Except that your wife is one scary lady.

I know.

I'm not kidding myself any longer.

Virginia isn't just all threat and no action.

Betty, last night, I was so afraid that she might try to do some harm to you

that I phoned her doctor and raised hell to have her heart blocked.

I mean, it takes an act of Congress to get someone committed, you know.

Well, luckily, Virginia agreed to it.

Betty.

Peter, please, this is not dumb.

I can't help what I feel, Betty.

It was inevitable that I would feel this way about you, I guess.

I'm sorry.

You do understand, don't you?

Well, doctor, do you consider her a reliable reporter for her own behavior?

Believe me, Virginia doesn't spare herself at all. She is very open to me

incidents like that.

There have been others?

Well, not quite that dramatic, perhaps.

But in any case, I'm convinced she only wanted to frighten you last night.

Which she managed to do very nicely.

Doctor, I wish you could have seen her last night the way I did, coming at me

with a butcher knife.

I'm sure that you wouldn't be so convinced that she just meant to

I'll admit that I cannot be 100 % positive about her.

Psychiatry is anything but an exact science.

But based on Virginia's past history, I am reasonably sure that she is not truly

dangerous.

Well, I hope you're right, Doctor.

But I don't think you are.

Maybe you'd feel better if you talked to Virginia yourself.

I will be releasing her later today.

Wait a minute.

You're releasing her?

No reason to keep her here.

And she wants to go home.

Could you tell me what room she's in? I think I will talk to her.

May I come in, Virginia?

This is incredible. It must be telepathy.

Telepathy? I don't think I understand.

With this letter, I was writing it to you, see?

What is this, something you forgot to mention last night?

I deserve that, I know.

What it is is an apology for the unforgivable way I've behaved.

You seem sincere about this.

I am. I mean every word there and more.

Well, the thing is that we're not just talking about a social faux pas here,

Virginia. You vandalized my apartment, destroyed most of my vacation clothes,

and when you came at me with that butcher knife, I'll tell you something.

thought you were sincere then about using it on me.

I know. I know how it must have seemed to you that I really meant to hurt you,

but I didn't. I swear it.

The truth is, I wanted to frighten Peter more than you.

I was just going to tear up a few clothes, but when you walked in, it just

from bad to worse.

We'll pay for everything.

I just wish you knew how terrible I feel about this whole mess.

I can see you feel badly about it, but couldn't you grieve, Virginia? There

to be better ways to express yourself to Peter than these wild, destructive

rages that leave you feeling this way.

It started with a quarrel about you when Peter got home from the studio.

And it went on from there.

On and on.

Jealousy brings out some very ugly things in me, I'm afraid.

That apology noticed the second I've written in two days.

The second one?

The first was to Lynette.

I mailed it that same night when I went out to look for Peter.

I do wish she'd had a chance to read it.

You mailed it that night? Where?

At the main post office by our building.

I'd hoped she'd get it the next morning.

Our post office is miles from Lynette's apartment.

If your letter was processed overnight, you've given yourself a fairly decent

alibi. The postmark carries the zip code and the date on it.

You mean that would prove where I was about the time Lynette died?

It'd be a pretty strong indication.

And if it was processed and delivered, then it would be in Lynette's mailbox

right now.

I'm not sure there was a letter in her mail.

I remember some magazines, though.

Anyway, I brought it up from her downstairs box while that nice young

was here.

Well, I heard somebody out here.

Oh, you're Peter Kirkland's friend, aren't you?

Well, I'm working for Mr. Kirkland. He hired me to do some investigating.

Oh, really?

Well, he's the one that ought to be investigated, if you ask me.

You know, I think I heard him out here the night that Lynette died.

You did?

Well, did you report that to the police?

No, I couldn't swear that it was Kirkland, but it sure sounded a lot like

though.

You know, Mr. Brewster, if you'd stay in your own apartment with the doors shut

and mind your own business, it'd make life a whole lot pleasanter for all of

There's mail here on the coffee table.

Here it is.

Mailed right where and when she said she did.

Have you seen this before?

No. Can't say as I ever have.

Against our rules, you know, giving out a spare key to someone who isn't a

renter here.

That's the letter P.

Got any idea whose it is?

Yes, I'm afraid I do.

Well, I'm no lawyer, but it's all sounding pretty solid to me.

You think so, Barnaby?

Yeah. I would say there's a good chance Vic Chambers will wind up doing it in a

few years.

Is this a private party or may anyone join?

Betty, don't tell me you're postponing your vacation away from the house,

Right? No, J .R., I didn't. But if this case takes much longer, I may just do

that. Lieutenant, question.

Be my guest.

How thoroughly did your men check out Lynette's apartment after her death?

Why, did you find something?

Sure did.

This little item.

Where'd this turn up?

I found it on the floor next to the couch by the coffee table. My men went

that place with a fine -tooth comb.

I guarantee you they moved the table, the couch, all the furniture when they

searched. That's S .O .P.

I know this little item wasn't there when they did their stuff.

You think it was planted?

Yep.

That's exactly what I think.

Well, thank you, gentlemen.

One and all.

Oh, Betty, I'll take that key.

I'll bring it back.

I have to talk to a couple of people about it.

Betty, hi. Come in.

I just made some coffee. Would you like some?

No, thanks.

Did you find my letter at Lynette's?

Yes, I did.

And the zip code?

And the date check out, just as you said.

That must prove something.

I certainly wouldn't write an apology to someone I was going to murder.

Well, it certainly makes you a lot less likely, but that's for sure.

What's that?

Well, it's a spare key to Lynette's apartment. Have you seen it before?

And it shall pay you about that.

No, I haven't, but then I wouldn't if Peter were still seeing that girl.

I'm supposed to know something about this?

That seems to be the question, Peter, dear.

Well, I don't, Virginia, dear.

I never saw it before.

Where'd it come from?

I found it on the floor in our next apartment earlier.

It's my guess someone's trying to implicate you, Peter. They obviously

it after the police searched the apartment.

Virginia. Virginia, haven't you done enough lately?

Now, you want me suspected of murder?

I didn't. How could you think I'd do such a thing? Why is that any sicker

the other stunts you've pulled lately?

I tell you, I am choking on all this garbage in my life. Don't say that. You

know I'm trying to get better.

No. You like being this way. You like all the chaos.

You like keeping me in line with your emotional blackmail.

That's not true. It's not fair.

Where's Benny?

Where are you going?

Out. Out!

Anywhere, just to get away from you.

Hello?

Anyone here?

Hello, pretty lady. What a pleasant surprise.

I'm sorry your door was open. I was looking for the landlady.

You're out of luck.

Tonight's her bowling night.

Well, perhaps you could help me. You seem to know everything that goes on in

this building.

Sure, what about it?

After the police took the guard off her door, did you see anyone go into

Lynette's?

No.

Why?

Are you saying somebody had a key to that apartment?

Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.

Look, I've got some stuff cooking in the darkroom. Why don't you get yourself a

diet drink, and I'll be right back.

It's in the fridge. Help yourself.

You loved her, didn't you?

Loved?

I still do.

I guess I always will.

She would have loved me too if it hadn't been for him.

Peter Kirkland?

She was obsessed by him.

Couldn't stop talking about him.

The night after the big scene with him and his crazy wife, I said to her,

forget about him.

I love you more than he ever could.

She just laughed at me.

Called me a creep.

You killed her.

I wanted to stop her from laughing.

I must have scared her. She ran her way onto the balcony.

She started screaming.

When was Vogue this Vogue?

Betty, I tried calling you all morning.

There were a few things I had to take care of.

I know.

Lieutenant Biddle told me the whole story.

How Lynette's neighbor planted the key and tried to frame me.

How I nearly killed you.

Well, it was foolish of me to go there by myself.

But it's all over now.

Listen, Virginia wants to apologize.

Let's not disturb her right now.

She looks so much happier.

Yeah.

Probably because of a realization we both came to.

You see, all these years, I thought that her neurotic dependence on me was the

only problem.

But it isn't.

It finally came through to me that I somehow needed her sickness.

That the whole relationship was becoming destructive and just awful.

So I've agreed to go into therapy with her.

I'm really glad, Peter.

You deserve to be so much happier than you've been.

Both. Both do.

I hope so.

We'll see.

Say goodbye to Virginia for me, please. I will.

Well, how about it, Betty?

Today's the day you start on your vacation?

You know what I think?

I think we're going to have to drive you to the airport and shove you on the

plane.

Well, as a matter of fact, I don't know that I'd have all that much fun in the

islands right now.

So if you don't mind, I'd like to come back to work for a while and then maybe

take my vacation later on.

Mind? Are you kidding?

I finished my exams in two weeks. What do you think? In fact, we could all go

a vacation together.

Good thinking, Jedediah.

You know, Betty and I haven't had a vacation all year.

You had one, what, a couple of months ago?

Oh, we'll need somebody to watch the store.

Good thinking, Jedediah. Good thinking.

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