Original subtitles

Barnaby Jones, a QM production, starring Buddy Epson. Also starring

Lee Merriweather, Mark Shera, with guest stars Ed

Begley Jr., Virginia Kaiser, Carl

Weintraub, Robin G. Eisenman, Pat

Delaney,

Edward Walsh.

Tonight's episode.

Death. Is the punchline.

Ladies and gentlemen, before introducing tonight's show, my wife Eileen and I

would like to thank all of you for supporting the Caravan Club the way you

since we opened a month ago.

Believe me, we have put our hearts and souls, not to mention every cent we had,

into bringing you the best restaurant and the finest entertainment that money

can buy. Now let me tell you, although Saturday night is the official opening

for this week's show, the show you're going to see tonight is just as

Please, will you be loud?

I think I'm going to cut the driver's license a bit.

Went over in Fresno. This is Hollywood, June.

These people aren't going to sit for those hokey routines.

Your friend knew you were opening tonight?

You know, the family clown.

Now, let me tell you.

There he is now.

You put her up here on stage for three minutes.

Hey, Lindy. How you doing?

For a minute there, I thought I'd have to go on without my favorite

Lindy Powell, my cousin, Barnaby Jones.

Howdy. Howdy.

Jedediah, I told you all about you.

I hope not everything will all be in jail. Tonight's a very special night.

I'd like to introduce someone to you who is new to the Los Angeles area, but an

old friend of mine.

The Caravan Club is proud to present Mr.

Lindy Powell.

Put him away, okay?

Thank you. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Hey, it is great to be in L

love this town.

Everything is so laid back, so mellow.

Went to disco the other night. Right there on the dance floor, I saw someone

having open -shirt surgery.

They were removing a medallion from his navel.

Very mellow here.

Extremely mellow. I think some of the people have guacamole between their

I'm not sure.

I don't mean to knock, but I just come from a very different background. I come

from a tough neighborhood.

Very tough.

I'd tell you a cat with a tail was a tourist.

Hey, Mr. La Palma, why didn't you tell me you were coming?

I'd have reserved you a front row table.

I never asked for favors, Chapman. Oh, no.

On the house.

Yes,

pop and gobble.

A tasty snack for young and old alike. It has a nutritional value of string as

well as being a mild diuretic. And it's available now in freeze -dried packets

for your convenience.

Of course, if you'd like a square meal, please.

Try our synthetic diced carrots.

Hey, Mr. LaPalma, I just wanted to ask if you'd thought over that favor I

you about. Now, look, look.

I pay my debts, so I expect people who owe me money to be just

as considerate and punctual.

The day ends at midnight.

You don't get a minute more.

I went to college myself and went to Al Capone U in Chicago.

Wonderful establishment.

Wonderful.

I was a speech major there. They called us speakeasies. I was on the gun

-running team.

Did very well there.

Came here to L .A., hit the big time. Everything is show business here.

Hey, T .R.

Hi, Ross.

Boy,

if he keeps this up, I'm going to have to give him their amusement tax back.

All performers have bad nights. Hey, I bleed for the guy. I do.

My wife and I sunk our savings into this place.

I just can't afford to trust Saturday night's crowd to lend me.

All our reviewers will be here. Hey, they will murder us.

The way he's going over now.

It's like looking at a mural out there.

I feel like an Arab at a B 'nai B 'rith luncheon.

Like the cruise director on the Titanic, I'll tell you that.

Well, no, seriously, folks, it has been wonderful and you've been a great

audience. Next round of lewds is on me, okay?

Dennis,

vodka tonic?

Honey, I don't care what they thought. You were terrific.

Sure, sure.

I don't know, Ross must have trucked this crowd in from the zoo.

Lindy.

Congratulations, huh?

Yeah.

Thanks, JR. Thank you.

I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, June. Hi, June. Nice to see you.

Listen, Barnaby's bringing the car around. Why don't we all go out for

somewhere? What do you think?

I don't think so.

I'll call you tomorrow, okay?

Okay. Hey, it's good to see you.

Hey, thanks.

Thanks for coming, JR. Nice to meet you.

Ross, maybe you shouldn't have made him change that material. When we saw him do

that luncheon gig up in Fresno, he was pretty good.

You look beef, hon.

Why don't you go on home?

I'll finish the paperwork in the office.

You take the car, and I'll catch a cab.

Okay? Bye -bye.

Ross, hey, I know that new stuff was a little too slick.

I'll let the kinks out of it by Saturday, okay?

I'm going to call Joey Grand in Vegas, Lindy, and ask him to fly in for

Saturday. Joey?

You mean for my spot?

Look, I made a mistake.

I'm sorry.

She's just not ready.

What? He can go back to the old act. That's your fire. You know it. Look, I

can't take a chance.

Don't you understand?

I need a proven pro like Joey Grand to attract business, not to drive it away.

Maybe in a couple of months I can give you another shot.

Ross, Ross, you promised.

That's a break, Lindy. You heard him.

The only reason they didn't hiss is because they can't hiss and yawn at the

time.

Come on, come on.

Lindy, look.

I'm sorry it worked out this way.

I really am. Yeah, yeah.

Lindy's waiting for this break.

You're supposed to be his friend.

Wannabe Jones Investigations. J .R. June Easton.

Uh, Lindy isn't by any chance with you, is he?

No, June, he isn't. I haven't seen Lindy since we left you guys last night at

the club. What's the matter?

It's... Ron Chapman.

Uh, he's dead.

Somebody killed him right in his office. Um, I just got here looking for Lindy

because he didn't come home last night.

Uh, J .R.?

The police are looking for him, too.

June, give me ten minutes, okay?

Bye.

I'm sorry, Mr. Chapman.

Just a couple more questions, if you don't mind.

You say your husband stayed late to tally the receipts.

Besides him, who else would have been the last ones to leave?

The bartender, Dennis Shea.

He usually stayed around late to clean up.

We'll need to talk to Shea. Do you have his home number?

Inside.

J .R., what are you doing here?

Ross Chapman was a friend of mine. What happened?

Mrs. Chapman found the body about an hour ago.

Apparently somebody broke in last night, killed him, stole whatever cash was

laying around.

It, uh, it looks like he was beaten.

Eileen, are you all right?

I warned Ross he should double -check those locks.

We've had break -ins in this neighborhood.

I'll go in and get...

Dennis's number, Lieutenant.

And it was robbery and homicide?

Yeah, well, it looks that way, but no locks were forced.

So unless this bartender says he left a door unlocked, Chapman could have let

his killer in.

Might have been somebody he knew then.

He had a quarrel with one of the performers earlier. He was witnessed by

of people.

Lindy didn't do it.

He loved Ross like a brother.

Tell him, J .R.

J .R., don't tell me you know this Lindy Powell, too.

Yeah, we all got to know each other in Saigon, Lieutenant.

Just because Lindy and Ross had an argument, you don't think that he came

here and killed Ross.

Well, I want to talk to Powell anyway.

Excuse me.

June, what happened between them?

Ross told Lindy he wasn't good enough to come back Saturday.

And Lindy blew up and tried to hit him.

But nothing happened.

You know Lindy wouldn't have come back. Look, if he didn't go home and he didn't

come to me, where would he have gone?

June, if you know where he is, tell me.

I'm not sure.

But there's a place where he goes when he's down.

Boy, it sure is great to be in L .A.

Laid -back place.

And this lake is pretty laid -back.

Some of you trout must have guacamole between your ears, I tell you.

What does it pay you to work a lake like this, huh?

About a fin a day.

Oh, a scale, huh?

Well, can't carp about that.

You know, my dad used to take me out to lake just like this. Row me out to the

center, let me swim to shore.

Only trouble I had was getting out of the sack.

J .R., you always were my best oddy. You bet I was.

I always knew you'd make it big, too, someday, Louie.

Wouldn't mean someday.

I've already made it big.

All the tank towns with their fleabag motels.

Like they say, comedy's no laughing matter.

Lindy, what happened between you and Ross?

He and Eileen caught my gig up in Fresno.

They're just getting the club on its feet.

He asked me to open Saturday.

Only first he insisted I change my act, polish it up for the big town crowds.

Threw my timing off, that's all. And for that, the guy cans me.

So you blew your top.

Yeah, I blew my top.

Oh, Lindy.

You know, if you didn't mean to hurt Ross, it'll make a difference.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

I shouldn't have lit into Ross that way.

I'll make it up to him.

What do you mean you'll make it up to him?

I'll talk to him and... What the hell? He probably didn't mean what he said

either. Lindy, Ross is dead.

What? Last night in the club after they closed, he was beaten to death.

My... God.

The police want to talk to you. They know you threatened Ross.

They think I?

Back up. Now, Ross and I had it out, but you know how I felt about the guy, J

.R.? Where'd you spend the night?

Right here, asleep.

Did anybody see you?

The fish count.

And you never went back to the club?

No, I swear.

The cops aren't going to buy this, are they?

Well, they're going to have to, because it's the truth.

The truth.

You sure it's not what they believe that counts?

Let's go.

Oh, thanks.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to tell you all that under the circumstances, I'm

going to have to close the club.

I don't know for how long. We'll just have to wait and see how things go.

I'm sorry.

I don't really think it'll be necessary to close the club.

You know, it never fails to impress me how people tap some inner strength in

face of tragedy and carry on.

Who are you?

Jack LaPalma.

Perhaps your husband mentioned my name?

No, I don't think so, Mr. LaPalma.

Oh, well, I'm not surprised.

By the time most men come to me, they've exhausted the more conventional lines

of credit.

Their pride is gone.

Still, as his wife and partner, Ross should have kept you informed.

After all, you've inherited more than just his business enterprise.

You've also inherited his death.

I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.

Those are your late husband's IOUs. I'm sure that you'll recognize the

signature.

They totaled some $90 ,000.

This couldn't be.

Ross's deadline for partial payment was midnight.

In any case, I'm not an insensitive man.

I'm perfectly willing to extend the deadline to accommodate a grieving

Mr. LaPalma, I don't see how I possibly could... If I might offer some advice...

The key to solving your problem is in keeping the club open.

You're in a good location, with proper management, some major attractions,

and with me as your partner, of course.

All in all, money -making proposition, I predict.

Well, you think about it, Mrs. Chapman.

I'll be in touch.

I'm certain that you'll prove more reliable than the late Mr.

Chapman.

And that's your story.

You didn't go back to the club.

He spent the night at the lake asleep.

What is this, an echo chamber? I keep hearing the same questions. Yeah, we've

been through all this, huh?

Excuse me.

See what I told you, buddy? It's what they believe.

Look, relax. You don't have to prove anything. The police do.

As long as you're here, I'd like a vodka tonic.

Dennis here at Ten's Bar at the Caravan Club.

Now, Dennis, would you mind telling us what you saw before you went home last

night?

I'm sorry, there's some things you just can't keep quiet about.

Go on, Dennis.

I saw Mr. Powell come back to see my boss just after closing time.

What? They went into the office, next thing I know there's a shouting match.

I knocked, but Mr. Chapman said he'd handle it and I could go home.

All right, I went back.

To crawl, if that's what it took to get Ross to put me on Saturday.

I was drunk, I was mad, but not enough to kill.

Mr. Powell, you don't have to say anything.

You lied to me.

J .R., you looked me right in the face, and you swore you didn't go back, and I

believed you.

You better get yourself a lawyer, Mr. Powell.

Lock him up.

Lieutenant? June, I'm sorry. I didn't get your message until 20 minutes ago.

Look at this, J .R., a search warrant.

What are they trying to do to Lindy? It'll be all right. Lieutenant, what is

this about a gun?

Mrs. Chapman told us her husband kept a .38 Special in his office, but the crime

team couldn't find it.

Is the bedroom clean?

I told you.

Lindy didn't steal a gun from Ross's office or anything else.

Well, how about it, Lieutenant?

Without evidence to tie a robbery motive onto Lindy, you can't hold him, can

you? Kind of looks that way, doesn't it?

For now.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

Talk to you later, JR. See you.

Lindy's joke file.

If everything's not in its place, he'll hit the roof.

How can he tell? He's got jokes scribbled on the back of envelopes here.

When it comes to his material, believe me, Lindy can tell.

June, look, I know Lindy hasn't been getting the breaks lately, and I can

understand why he was afraid to admit he went back to the club last night, but

he lied to me.

That's not the Lindy I remember.

He hasn't changed, JR, but...

He's in the big league now. That's what's changed.

And he's scared.

You've been hanging around the club these past couple of days.

Besides the incident with Lindy, did you ever see Ross get into any other

arguments? No.

He had a lot more than the show to worry about.

I realize that now.

But he never took his problems out on anybody else.

What problem are you talking about?

A man came to see Eileen today.

Evidently, Ross owed him a fortune.

And since he didn't make a midnight deadline to pay, the guy intends to

from her.

How? Ross didn't leave any life insurance.

The club is a white elephant without him.

According to what the guy told Eileen, he thinks it can be a success.

With him as a partner.

That's how he intends to get his money back.

Do you know the man's name?

I think... LaPalma.

I don't remember if I heard a first name.

Well, it's worth finding out.

I'll see you later.

a loan shark named Jack LaPalma, all right, and his teeth are as sharp as

come. Does he have a record?

I mean, for violence.

Well, the word is he graduated magna cum laude from the Syndicate Bone Crushing

Academy, but nothing has ever been proved.

All right, look, suppose that June did overhear LaPalma say that Ross's

was midnight.

Now, suppose LaPalma and one of his men paid Ross a visit after midnight and

after Lindy left to collect.

Only there was some problem in making the payments, so they decided to teach

a lesson by beating him up. Is that it?

And the beating went too far, and he died.

Well, if that's the case, LaPalma can't be too worried.

I mean, the police are looking elsewhere.

Lindy or the burglar.

Barnaby Jones Investigations. May I help you?

Betty's right, of course.

But we might be able to put Mr.

LaPalma out on a shaky limb if you can turn your supposing into facts.

Well, that's great news. Thank you.

Hi.

I was going to turn a bit off, but Lindy Powell has been released, for lack of a

better word. Oh, that is good news.

Now we just have to keep him out.

For me, I'm going to try and shake that limb.

I'm looking for Jack LaPalma. His office told me I could find him here. You

found him?

Mr. LaPalma, my name is J .R. Jones. I'm with Barnaby Jones Investigations.

We're looking into Ross Chapman's death.

I'll talk to you later about that.

Well, I was, uh... I was under the impression that the police had already

cornered the market on homicide.

Well, if there was enough loose end to keep us freelancers busy.

You, for example.

Well, I, uh...

I've been called a lot of things, but never a loose end.

I take it you want to talk to me about the conversation I had with Mrs. Chapman

today. That, yeah.

And the conversation you had with Ross Chapman about the midnight deadline you

gave him.

Midnight deadline?

Yeah, to pay up.

I understand that in your business, breaking bones is one of the friendlier

forms of persuasion.

I don't know what you're talking about, my man.

The only business I'm in is the restaurant business.

See?

I just bought into this charming little place.

Yeah, the same way you're planning on moving in on Ross's widow?

I wouldn't put it that way.

But Ross did mention the possibility of a partnership.

Really? When was that, after closing time?

I talked to Ross much earlier when I went to see the dinner show.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Well, if that's true...

Mr. LaPalma, then you wouldn't mind me telling the police all of this, having

them run a check on your whereabouts at the time of Ross's death, would you?

Just say the word. No, no, no.

Allison, for reasons that a man of the world

like you must understand, I would rather avoid police harassment.

Oh, it's not for myself, you see, but for the lady that I was with in her

apartment.

About the time that Ross was meeting his maker, a married lady.

Well, let me put it this way. I would be much, much more discreet with your

alibi than the police would.

All right.

Mrs. Joanne Phillips, the Woodward Towers.

But if her name gets dragged through a public investigation, I'll have my

here reprimand you.

Severely.

Don't worry, I didn't break out. Hey, Linda, I hope you understand.

I had to tell him what I thought.

Forget it. Where's Eileen?

In the office.

Yes, but did my husband do business with your agency, Mr. Green?

I see.

Referred by Mr. La Palma.

Yes, very talented.

Just send over the contracts. I'll have a look at them.

Goodbye.

Eileen, what can I say?

Now, you know how close Ross and I were in spite of what happened.

Thank you, Lindy.

I know you'd never hurt Ross.

They'll find out who did it.

I think it's great you're keeping the club open.

Ross would have wanted it that way.

I don't seem to have much choice.

Tell you what, besides my own set, I'll do Ross' turn as emcee Saturday night.

I was thinking about putting you on, Lindy. I got it.

Everybody loved Ross, right?

Let's give him a chance to pay the respects.

We'll make Saturday night a testimonial to him. We'll pack the place.

I can't put you on now, Lindy. I don't have a spot for you.

Why? You saw me in Fresno. If I stick with my own material, I'm dynamite.

That phone call I just got?

It's from a booking agent referred by a man named LaPalma.

LaPalma? Who's LaPalma? A loan shark.

Ross owed him a lot of money. And he thinks the only way he's going to get it

back is by making the club a success.

But I can help you do that. Hey, save my life. I mean, give a guy another

chance, please. It's not up to me, Lindy. LaPalma calls the shots. He

want you. He wants name acts on Saturday night.

I don't believe what I'm hearing.

You're going to let this cheap two -bit crook tell you how to run this place? I

don't believe it. Look, if it were up to me, Lindy... All right, you afraid of

this guy?

Let me handle it. I'll take care of the creep.

What are you going to do, Lindy?

Oh, don't worry.

Yeah, that's it. Good.

Okay, Vivian, just give me a little more profile.

Oh, come on, love. It's supposed to be cold. For 200 bucks an hour, can't you

least look like you're freezing?

Yes? I'm looking for Joanne Phillips.

I'm Joanne Phillips.

Miss Phillips, my name is J .R. Jones. I'm a private investigator.

I'm checking into a matter involving Jack LaPalma. I understand he's a friend

yours.

My husband and I lead a very active social life, Mr. Jones. We have a lot of

friends.

Back to the salt mines, Viv.

I've got an idea.

Pretend the coat's yours.

And this man is from your boyfriend's finance company, and he's coming to

repossess it.

Yes, yes, that's it. That's cooking. That's it. That's the one I want.

Hi.

All right.

In the matter of Jack LaPalma, what?

Well, I promised that I would be discreet.

Discreet?

What is your idea of discreet?

I am a married woman.

What did Jack tell you about me?

Well, that you were together last night from midnight on, is that true?

You know, as I told LaPalma, I could have the police talk to you.

All right.

He picked me up after he left this club he was at last night.

Caravan club.

That's the one.

And we went straight home to my place, and he never went back.

Now, are you satisfied?

Well, one thing.

How did you know that I would be interested in whether or not Jack went

the club?

I heard about that club owner's death.

Why else would you be interested in where Jack was?

That's good. That's very good.

Because for a minute I thought Jack might have called you to rehearse what

say before I got here.

If you'll excuse me, I'm busy.

Harry,

let's try a proper thing that said might work. See what happens.

Okay, Biff?

Take a look at that.

What is it? It's a parking ticket for Jack LaPalma's car, license plate JLAP.

Your parking attendant in your building parked it at 3 .10 a .m. this morning.

See, it's right there.

You already knew that when you came up here?

Yeah. You know what's puzzling is that if you left the club at midnight and

straight home, how come it took you three hours to get there?

Because we had to get out and push.

Take five.

I want to stop by the office first.

Then I want to finish up this McDermott account.

Hey, what the...

Whatever

this ticket may or may not imply, it could become academic.

Jack LaPalma is dead.

What? What happened?

According to Lieutenant Biddle, his body was found in the backseat of his car

about 45 minutes ago. He'd been shot.

You're kidding.

Did the police have any idea who did it?

Did you tell them about June's call?

No, we started talking about La Palma and I... It just slipped my mind.

What about June?

She called and said that she picked up Lindy when he was released by the

She drove him to the club.

She waited in the car while he went inside to talk to Eileen. When he came

he was raving like a madman. Said he was going to find Jack La Palma and... And

what?

And kill him.

How did Lindy LaPalma connect, did you say?

No, she was too upset to say anymore, except that Lindy had run off and she

looking for him.

Did you tell Biddle about it?

I thought you'd want to hear what Lindy had to say first.

If I can find him, I think I can.

I'll see you later.

Lindy?

How you doing, buddy?

I'm fine.

Oh, June came by a little while ago, but I had to hide out.

Because of this.

She said she'd walk out on me if I kept boozing.

So, please, don't tell her, okay?

Of course, she's worried about you, you know.

Especially the way you were acting when you left Eileen at the club today.

Well, what are you going to do when your tonsils go dry?

You know, she said you mentioned a name.

La Palma.

Said you meant to do him great bodily injury.

So what?

Lone sharks aren't exactly an endangered species, you know?

And I'm not the only one that felt that way.

Boom, boom.

Wait, what are you... He was telling me you did it?

Me?

The news guy on the radio. What do you mean, me?

Well, then you also probably heard that his bodyguard might regain consciousness

at any time, Lindy. He could identify the killer.

Sure.

There's another metal they're going to try and pin on me.

I must admit, I got pretty hot after Arlene told me that La Palma's moving in

him because of the money Ross owed her.

Oh, I get it.

No, no, you don't get it.

You see, La Palma wanted name acts, so he had me 86 from Saturday night.

Now that he's been blown away...

The cops are going to think I did it for the same reason they think I killed

Ross. Where did you go after the club?

Stock up on supplies, and then here.

They're the only audience I got left.

The fish.

Take a little poke on this and you can hear them laughing.

Come on, let's go home.

Hey, did you hear the one about the movie star who's a great housekeeper?

Every time she got divorced, she keeps the house.

It's terrible.

Remember, don't tell June about me drinking when she doesn't know I won't

her.

She's probably still out looking for you.

See? Not a lucky day.

Lindy, somebody killed two people.

Right now, a very good case can be made that you are the common denominator,

that you have the motive in both deaths.

Your friendly neighborhood undertaker?

Oh, come on, Lindy. You know, you really make it difficult to help you.

Okay, Sherlock, let's make a list of suspects.

Me, right?

Prime.

Hey, how about Eileen? Word is she couldn't stand Ross's snoring.

How about June?

You know, she really strikes me as the kind of woman who'd do just about

anything for the man she loves.

Yeah.

Except darn my socks.

So much for loving devotion.

Hey.

What about that piano player? Now, there is a man mad enough to kill. What piano

player?

One Ross fired when we got in from Fresno. See?

I'm not the only one that got canned.

Did he threaten Ross because of it?

I don't know.

Hey, maybe I could work this whole mess into my act.

Lindy, what is a piano player's name?

Do a few jailhouse gags, throw in some Eddie G.

Lindy, what is his name?

I don't know his name!

What difference does it make? I'm the one they're going to pin these murders

Hey, what's the difference?

You okay?

Hey.

Did you hear the one about the short jockey and the lady bartender?

I'll see you later, Lindy.

Maybe he's a lady jockey.

The ugly quarterback.

A piano player?

Yeah, the one that Ross had an argument with about a week ago.

Oh, you must mean Chuck Parkins. As a matter of fact, Ross fired the whole

Why did he do that?

I don't know. Ross handled the talent. I'm beginning to see why booking

such a lousy job.

Because of Jack LaPalma, you mean.

You know about that?

Yeah, Lindy told me.

By the way, I think you should tell the police that LaPalma made himself your

partner. Before they find out on their own, it'll look better for you.

Why? I don't see what difference that makes. I mean, Ross did owe him money.

Well, it's just a matter of zeroing in on the motive for two murders as far as

the police are concerned.

Two murders?

I don't understand.

Roth and LaPalma.

You hadn't heard?

LaPalma has been killed.

Yeah, they found his body a couple of hours ago.

No, I... I hadn't heard.

The police are running a ballistics check to see if the bullet that killed

LaPalma came from the same type of gun that was found in this office.

And if so, well, you can see how the two will tie together.

Of course.

I'll go to the police and tell them everything.

And about Chuck Parkins, do you have any idea where I can find him?

No, but the musician's contact service usually keeps tabs on his members.

Good. I'll try him. Thank you.

What he'd want.

We agreed killing Ross would be the end of it.

That was before La Palma came into the picture.

I thought what had to be done and I did it.

For us.

Pretty soon.

After a proper period of mourning for Ross.

We can stop hiding. No more closed doors.

You should have told me. You've been through so much already, I wanted to

protect you.

You sweet fool.

It's all right, Tim.

No.

No, it isn't all right.

Why? What's wrong?

You used Ross's gun, didn't you?

Yeah.

That's what's wrong.

They're going to keep snooping around here.

And around us.

Well, I'll throw it away. I'll get rid of it.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

I hide it in Lindy's apartment.

I mean, the cops already suspect me. They can't prove anything.

It's too late.

They've already searched his place. Besides, as long as Lindy cries frame, J

Jones is going to keep digging.

It's going to have to be arranged in such a way that Lindy isn't around

for J .R. to help.

I mean, Lindy, too.

It's the only way.

Leave it to me.

It has to look like a suicide.

A frustrated performer facing the fact that he'll never make it.

So he puts the gun to his head and he pulls the trigger.

And it's the same gun that killed La Palma.

Or it is gun.

Jeff Parkins?

You got a request, friend?

Well, not the usual kind.

The musician's contact service told me I could find you here. My name is J .R.

Jones.

Don't tell me.

You're with a big -name record label, and Frank Sinatra just happens to need

ivory tickler to go on a world tour.

You think you're good enough for the job?

Oh, I ain't got a lot of fans.

I take it Ross Chapman wasn't one of them.

Number one man on my hit parade.

I heard that.

I heard that you would have liked to have hit him with something about the

of this piano.

You got it.

Only I heard what happened to him, so I guess I'll have to work off my

frustrations in therapy.

Are you a cop?

Private. Oh.

I guess you want to know where I was when Ross bought the store, right?

Yeah. Well, if it happened after 2 a .m., I was probably home. Or on my way

from here.

Alone? Yeah.

Sad, but true.

Do you mind if I ask you why you took it so hard when Ross fired you and your

band? I've got nothing to hide.

Look.

Chapman docked us all without rehearsal pay.

But it's a reason he canned everybody that burns me up.

Ah, don't tell me you were playing so loud the neighbors complained.

You're close.

Chapman just couldn't figure out which one of us his old lady was running

with. Chapman thought his wife was having an affair?

If he just had the guts to accuse one of us to our face.

Hmm. All right.

$64 question.

Was she getting it on with anybody?

That's the kicker. She was.

Thought she was keeping it out.

Pretty big secret, too.

So Eileen is involved with somebody.

Man, that dummy Chapman fired just about everybody. But the right guy.

He wasn't in the band?

Oh, no.

The lady likes them young.

Well, hi, J .R. Hi, where's Lindy?

Don't know. I just got here myself a couple minutes ago. June, did you know

Eileen was cheating on Ross with Dennis Shea, the bartender at the club?

Dennis? Yeah. No.

I guess I figured something was wrong between them, but I had no idea it had

gone that far.

Well, when I asked you about it before, why didn't you say anything?

J .R., Ross was beaten to death, brutally.

Hardly the work of a woman.

So why should I point a finger at her?

Well, why do you think there was a problem between Eileen and Ross?

All Lindy told me was that Eileen had it up to here with Ross putting up the

last of their money to open up the club, and that she threatened to leave him

while there was still some community property left to divide.

I see.

She couldn't control him.

She couldn't stop him from making them pauper, so along the way she picks up

somebody who might be strong enough to handle Ross.

Handle him?

You mean Dennis?

Could be.

See, Dennis said that he left Lindy and Ross arguing and he went home for the

night.

But what if he stayed?

What if he went back inside after Lindy left and he killed Ross? And then he

figured Lindy for the fall guy.

Can you prove that?

No.

But I'd sure like to test that theory out on Eileen and Dennis.

I'll see you later.

JR.

What is that, from Lindy?

He's on his way over to the club. Says Eileen called to offer him the Saturday

night spot.

Stay here. I'll let you know what happens.

He's coming. All right, now remember.

For it to look like a suicide, you've got to be close enough to leave powder

burns.

Eileen?

Eileen.

Letting me do this Saturday night gig, it's tremendous. It means a lot to me. I

really appreciate it.

Yes, and I was thinking about what you said.

You know, about emceeing the show?

Yeah.

I think you should.

Eileen, you are the greatest.

And I'm so sorry about how I shot my mouth off, lost my temper.

And I had an idea.

What about if we set an extra place at the table for Ross?

No,

you're too far away.

Hey, hey, what is this?

If I do, Eileen is going to run away.

He's got no place to go.

Yeah, but why do you want to kill me?

Somebody's got to take the blame for Ross and LaPalma.

Sorry, Lindy.

What are you waiting for? Do it!

Hold it!

Did you hear the one about the kid who was so ugly they had to put him in a

corner and feed him with a slingshot?

What are you waiting for? Go ahead!

All right, I'll do it from here. You're too far away!

I don't care!

There's one audience I didn't want to lose.

You did good, pal.

Get up.

It's only a club, Lindy. There'll be other clubs.

Yeah? Saturday nights? They come around every seven days.

By the way, Lindy... Lindy, I just got a call from Lieutenant Biddle to say that

Eileen and Dennis are putting on quite a performance.

They're telling it all.

Apparently, he murdered both men out of love for her.

Some kind of love, huh?

Yeah. Lindy, where to from here?

Thought I'd check out Vegas, one of the smaller clubs downtown.

Vegas. A lot of wedding chapels in Vegas.

Yeah, so I hear.

I'll send you an invitation. Thanks.

You take care of yourself, okay?

Thank you, JR.

Barnaby, did you ever hear the one about the movie star who was also a good

housekeeper?

Yes.

Well, let's see. How about the one about the jockey and the bartender?

Thank you.

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0