All language subtitles for Barnaby Jones s08e18 Death Is The Punchline

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.