Original subtitles

This is the city, Los Angeles, California.

This is Hollywood and Vine.

There's an old saying... If you're looking for somebody,

pick a corner here and wait.

If you wait long enough,

you'll see everybody in the city pass this intersection.

In my job, I wish it was that easy.

I carry a badge.

It was Monday, November 25th.

It was cold in Los Angeles.

We were working the day watch out of Homicide Division.

The boss is Captain Brown.

My partner's Bill Gannon. My name's Friday.

The captain was on a long distance call from New York.

A woman was calling about her son who lived in Los Angeles.

Her son had telephoned her to say goodbye.

He said he was going to kill himself.

The story you are about to see is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The woman's name is Pauline Harmon

calling from New York.

This is what it comes down to.

Her son's name is Ralph Harmon,

29, architectural artist, married, one daughter.

Full description here. Address 3704 Roseville.

Threatened suicide.

Called his mother to tell her so.

When did this Harmon call her?

About 20 minutes ago.

Where did he place the call from?

- That Roseville address? - She didn't know.

Did he give her a reason for wanting to kill himself?

According to her, none.

- Does she know how? - Don't think so.

I had trouble understanding everything she said.

Pretty hysterical.

Sound like she was leveling?

- I know she was. - Yes, sir.

Let's find out if he is.

4:35 p.m.

The logical place to start was Ralph Harmon's home.

Bill and I headed for the Roseville address.

There were several possibilities to consider.

Pauline Harmon may have misunderstood her son

or he might have threatened suicide

hoping to force her to do something she didn't agree to.

He might even go further, and make an attempt,

using a method that would permit help

to arrive and save him.

But one thing was certain: if he meant business,

if he had a gun, he'd already had enough time.

Do you have to play with the doorbell?

You've got the whole house upset.

Is this the Harmon apartment?

Yes, it is, what do you want?

We're police officers.

Police, well, you've come to the wrong place.

Are you Mrs. Ralph Harmon?

Yes I am, but nobody here sent for the police.

- Is your husband at home? - No, he's not.

Do you know where we can find him?

No I don't, and if he's in trouble,

it's no concern of mine. Is he?

Kind of looks that way. He's threatened to kill himself.

Look, can you keep your voices down?

My little girl's home, and I don't want her to know.

Yes, ma'am.

In case you haven't guessed, Ralph isn't living here now.

- When did he move out? - Over a month ago.

Do you know where he's living now?

The last I heard, with his sister.

May we have her name and address?

Nina Draper.

I don't know her address, but she works

for the Southway Addressing Machine Company.

I wonder if I could use your telephone.

- Just inside the door. - Thanks.

- Please keep your voice down. - Yes, ma'am.

Would you happen to have a recent photograph of your husband?

Not anymore. I tore them up.

I didn't want anything around to remind me of him.

I see.

I suppose his sister will blame me.

How's that?

Nina, she'll say I drove him to it.

Well, I didn't, and I'll tell you why.

Yeah.

Nobody can drive Ralph Harmon to anything.

I ought to know, I tried for five years.

Is that so?

I tried to get him to show a little ambition, that's all.

Not so much talk, a little action.

- Well, I failed. - Yes, ma'am.

Five years in the same spot, Sergeant.

Didn't move an inch.

You know a man like that's never going to make it.

So I wouldn't worry too much about the suicide talk.

Is that right?

Because that's all it is is talk.

You don't think he'll try it?

He may try it,

but it'll be just like everything else with Ralph.

- What's that? - He'll never make it.

Joe, Southway Addressing Machine Company,

1800 block South Olive.

Nina Draper works there as a demonstrator.

Yeah.

She's in and out most of the day.

- Right now, she's out. - When will she be in?

If she comes back today,

it could be any time between now and 5:30.

- I got her home number. - Yeah.

If Harmon's there, he's not answering.

Nina Draper lived

at the Royal Crest Apartments in Westwood.

We asked that a radio car from West Los Angeles division

be sent there to check out the apartment

and to remain at the scene until we arrived.

On the way over, we again telephoned Nina Draper

at her place of employment. She had not returned.

5:05 p.m.

We arrived at the Royal Crest Apartments.

The building manager had already shown

the uniformed officers the apartment.

There was no one there.

Since it was close to the Draper woman's quitting time,

and since there was no way of getting in touch with her,

all we could do was wait.

- Nina Draper? - Yes.

We're police officers.

This is Bill Gannon. My name is Friday.

What's this all about?

We're trying to locate your brother.

Ralph? Whatever for?

- Do you know where he is? - No, no I don't.

Did you check the apartment?

Yes, ma'am, Ralph's not there.

Well, I'm sorry I can't help you.

Mrs. Draper, your brother says he's going to kill himself.

I don't believe that. Who told you that?

Your mother.

I'm afraid there's some mistake.

- My mother's in New York. - He called her.

She called us.

I see. Would you mind coming upstairs?

I had a feeling when you told me

you were police officers what this was all about.

Mrs. Draper, people sometimes threaten to kill themselves

but they don't always mean it.

If Ralph said it, he meant it.

He broke up with his wife, they have a little girl.

Maybe he went out to see her and it didn't work out.

No, ma'am, we've been out there.

Ralph moved in with my husband and me

about a month ago.

We thought they'd be back together by now.

Is this an accurate description of your brother?

Yes, that seems right.

Do you have a recent photograph of him?

No, no I don't.

Ralph was never one for having his picture taken.

- Did you ask his wife? - She doesn't have one, either.

Do you have any idea where your brother might have gone?

No, but he'll call soon. How do you know?

Well, if he called mother in New York,

he'll certainly call me. We've always been very close.

I know he won't do anything until we've talked it over.

I spoke to your secretary, Ms. Draper,

there were no calls for you all afternoon.

But Ralph knows I'm out of the office so much,

he'll call here.

He knows I'm always home by 6.

- 20 minutes to. - We'll wait and see.

Oh, I don't think you need to do that.

I know I can reason with Ralph.

Yes, ma'am, but just to be sure,

we'll try and trace the call. Is that the only phone?

No, there's one in the bedroom with a long extension cord.

We better keep that line clear.

I'll check next door.

Believe me, Sergeant, none of this is necessary.

Ralph always listens to me, ever since he was a little boy.

- Yes, ma'am. - You understand, don't you,

this has to be a family secret.

If people knew he tried to kill himself,

it would only make him more despondent.

But don't worry, I'll be able to talk him out of it.

I hope you have the chance, Mrs. Draper.

- What? - First he's got to call you.

Do you know any of your neighbors well?

The Wagners in 305 right across the hall.

Maybe I'd better explain it to them.

You let us handle it. There's a bigger job for you.

What's that?

You've got to keep Ralph on the line

- until the call is traced. - How long does that take?

About five minutes, maybe a little more.

- I'll try. - You'll do fine.

Now just stay calm. Don't alarm him.

Don't let him know we're here.

Sweetie, what is it?

This man won't tell me a thing.

Of course, it's all right if you use the phone,

but isn't there something we can do?

No, thank you. I'm all right, Jean.

Okay, but if you need anything, Nina,

just you scream. I'll leave my door open.

The phone's just inside on the table.

Thanks, Mrs. Wagner.

Called Intelligence, Joe, they're having the phone company

trace all incoming calls to this number.

- Right. - Still time, only 10 to 6.

- That might be Ralph. - Take it easy.

Wait until I get that phone from the other room.

We'll pick up receivers together.

Now, remember, keep him talking.

I know, I know.

Hello? Yes, Marge.

Nothing, I was expecting somebody else.

Yes, Friday night. No, Marge, we won't forget.

Marge, can I call you back?

I'm expecting a very important phone call.

I know. But, Marge, I've got to hang up now.

I'm sorry, I'll call you back later.

Yes, all right, good bye.

- What time is it now? - 8 minutes to 6.

Then it's all right then. He won't call until after 6.

Yes, ma'am.

If he calls.

Hello?

Oh, Mother, yes. Yes, I know all about it.

The police are with me now.

We're waiting for Ralph to call.

There's nothing they can do until Ralph calls.

I don't know where he is, Mother.

I'm sure he'll call me first.

Yes I will, but I've got to stay off the phone.

Mother, he may be trying to get through right now.

You've got to hang up.

Please, Mother, please, hang up now.

Yes, I promise, Mother, but please hang up, please.

Mrs. Harmon, this is a police officer,

we're trying to keep this line open.

We're hoping your son will call any minute now.

Yes, ma'am, your daughter can hear you.

Yes, Mother, I'll call you the minute I hear. Yes.

Hello?

Ralph, Ralph, is that you?

Where are you, dear? I was worried.

I thought you might be homeless.

I see, well, what would you like for dinner,

I thought I'd make... What, what did you say?

Ralph, you don't mean that.

Why would you do a thing like that?

Ralph, Ralph, now listen to me,

this is stupid, do you understand?

It's absolutely childish.

You're 29 years old, and you're acting like a child.

I'm ashamed of you.

No, no, I didn't mean it to sound that way.

Ralph, don't hang up.

If this is the last time we'll ever talk,

you can surely give me a few more minutes.

Yes, I can tell you're getting sleepy.

Well, how many pills did you take?

All of them?

When? How long ago?

I just wondered how much longer you could talk to me.

You don't seem to realize all the loose ends you're leaving.

It's not like an accident,

somebody hit on the freeway or something.

You might at least give me instructions.

Have you made out a will?

Do you want to be sent back to New York

or do you want to be buried...?

Got to keep him talking. Now, come on, stay with it.

Hello, Ralph... Ralph, are you there?

Ralph, say something.

Harmon, I'm a police officer.

Now I want to know where you are,

and I want to know right now. Don't give me that routine.

No, you're not that far gone.

Well, you look outside and see where you are.

Where?

Say it again. I didn't hear you.

Where? Where did you say?

I can't hear you, Harmon, speak up.

Harmon!

Nearly worked, Joe, he was close to copping out.

Yeah, well, close doesn't count, does it?

Mrs. Draper, was your brother using sleeping pills before?

Not unless I gave him one of mine.

- Where do you keep them? - In the medicine chest.

Would you mind checking to see if they're still there?

Did you pick up anything from what he said?

Nothing to tell us where he is.

There's still the phone company.

Let's hope they rush it.

It's empty.

Try to remember, was it nearly full,

nearly empty, half way?

I don't know. I just don't know.

All right. You got the prescription from a Dr. Sandlund.

Do you have his phone number?

Yes, no, it's in that red book... on the first page.

You got it filled at the Millet Pharmacy

here on October 11th. Does that help?

That's about a month ago.

I couldn't have taken more than four or five.

I don't know how many Ralph has taken.

- All right. - I'm sorry.

- I'm sorry. - Try to take it easy.

Yes, sir. I understand.

Doctor, could you hold on for just a moment?

Anything?

Doctor says the prescription is Sodium Phenobarbital.

The bottle contained 30 red capsules,

a gram and a half apiece. How many would he need?

Whatever it takes,

he's got enough to get the job done.

There were enough left in that bottle?

Doc gave him a prescription yesterday...

Same drug, 30 capsules,

plus what was left in that bottle.

- How much time we got? - Just coming to that part.

Doctor, go ahead with what you were saying.

Mm-hmm, yeah.

Yes, sir, that's about all anybody could ask.

Right. Well, thank you very much, Doctor.

He says the stomach empties out every 20 to 30 minutes.

If it hasn't been any longer than that,

they can use a stomach pump.

Well, even if he's taking the pills right now,

we're not going to find him that soon.

What's the outside?

Figuring he took about 45 grams... Yeah.

If it takes us much longer than two hours,

we can just about forget it.

He was too hazy to be sure when he took those pills.

He thought it was about half an hour ago.

Kind of narrows it down, doesn't it?

He doesn't have many half hours left.

Ralph Harmon had phoned his sister at 6:18 p.m.

Assuming we had kept him on the line long enough,

the phone company would be able to tell us

where he had called from.

Until we had that information, there was nothing we could do.

6:32 p.m.

Friday. Yeah, Shirley.

Good girl. What hotel?

Right, thanks for staying on it.

They got a trace.

- Where is it? - When he made the call,

he was at the Hollywood Elsinore.

We'd better get moving. We can talk on the way.

Can I come with you?

Yes, ma'am, we'd rather you would.

There's a good chance he's still at the hotel.

How do you know that?

We don't know for sure, but in his condition,

he'll want to find a place to lie down and go to sleep

- if he's taking those pills. - I hope so.

The call didn't go through the hotel switchboard.

He used a pay station in the lobby.

What does that mean?

If he's staying at the Elsinore,

why didn't he make the call from his room?

Then we're no closer than we were.

Yes, we are, Mrs. Draper. We've got a place to look.

Now if he's not in that hotel,

changes are he's somewhere near it.

Why do you say that? He could have walked in,

made the phone call and walked out again.

That still brings us a little closer to him.

- Why? - Because right now,

he's not walking very fast.

6:55 p.m.

On the way over to the Elsinore Hotel,

Nina Draper told us that her brother

was driving a 1965 Mustang.

We were convinced he was no longer capable

of operating it at this point.

Eugene Dixon was the night manager at the Elsinore Hotel.

Both Bill and I had known him for several years.

Joe, nice to see you. You guys working tonight?

Yeah, looks like we got a suicide attempt going, Gene.

- Here in the hotel? - Could be.

- Sounds rush rush. - It is.

You got a Ralph Harmon registered?

When do you think he checked in, you know?

- Today or yesterday. - Wait a minute.

What did he say? Is Ralph here?

He's checking.

Hello, Bill. Sorry, Joe, no Harmon.

Anything else to work with? You have a picture of him?

No, but I've got a description.

Could you get everybody over here

- so I just have to say it once? - Right.

Charles, Armand, front.

These men are detectives.

Sergeant Friday, Officer Gannon.

Please cooperate with them.

Now, we're looking for a man.

He's Caucasian, 29 years old, 5'10, 155 pounds.

He has blond hair, blue eyes, fair complexion.

His name's Ralph Harmon. Now this is his sister.

There's a considerable family resemblance.

Well, he made a phone call from one of the pay stations

here in the lobby about 40 minutes ago.

Now, did any of you see anybody

answering the description anyplace here in the hotel?

- You sure? - Joe?

- Thanks, Gene. - Thank you.

You can return to your stations.

Can't you search the hotel?

You've got keys to all the rooms.

Yes, there are 1,209 in this hotel.

That would take several hours.

I understand there's not that much time.

No, there isn't. He's got to be found now.

Gene, do you have some place private

where Miss Draper might sit down?

Use my office, Joe. What are you going to do?

You're not giving up, are you?

We just want you to try and take it easy.

We'll stay with it.

He's got to be found, he's just got to be found.

- Joe, I was just thinking. - Do it out loud.

What would most people do

if they felt low enough to end it all?

Hit the bar, have a drink,

and hope things looked better, right?

It's worth a try. It's all we've got left.

7:05 p.m. We got a break.

The day bartenders changed watch at 6:30

and normally would have been gone.

Tonight, however, one of them was working a party

in one of the private dining rooms.

His name was John Hagan.

Yeah, I think I know the one you mean.

Fella about your height, not as husky.

Sounds like it could be him.

Came in here the middle of the afternoon.

2:00 to 4:00 we don't do a lot of business

so it's easy to remember.

I think I would have noticed him anyway.

Why is that?

He was putting it away and nothing happened.

I mean, most people drink that much, it shows.

They get loud or quarrelsome, or sad and stupid, you know.

This guy belted the stuff for three hours

and never changed color.

- Did he sign for the drinks? - Nope, paid cash.

Do you know if he's registered here at the hotel?

- No, that I couldn't say. - Did he give you a name?

No, nothing. What's the problem?

We're trying to find him.

Can you tell us anything that might help?

Don't know what it would be.

Something he might have said.

No, he was just a drinking customer.

Well, now, he sat here for three hours.

You must have had some conversation.

Sign language.

When he wanted a refill, he'd point to his glass.

If he did any talking, it wasn't to me.

All right. Did he talk to anybody?

That's the trouble. I don't know who she is.

Comes in here a lot,

different guy every time, or nobody at all.

But she never leaves alone, you know what I mean?

Did she leave with him?

I didn't see either of them leave.

Well, tell us about the girl.

She was old enough to drink.

She never got out of line in here,

that's all that matters. Not to us.

Now, come on, Hagan. What else?

Well, I think I heard somebody say

her name was Tami, T-A-M-I.

Sounds phony.

She might have a dozen more like it.

What about her description?

Redhead. Got a build that won't quit.

That much I know.

Anything else is just guesswork.

Try it.

Well, she could be a go-go dancer.

Maybe I was told that, maybe it's just an idea

I got from the build and the way she dresses.

Anyway, that's it, all of it.

- Thanks. - For what?

Getting somebody into trouble?

Maybe getting somebody out of it.

We had a hunch.

Bill followed it up. 7:12 p.m.

If Ralph Harmon had swallowed the pills

a half hour before calling his sister,

his two hours were down to about 45 minutes.

The girl whose name might be Tami

and who could be a go-go dancer,

was our last hope of finding him,

if we could find her.

The hunch was right. Hollywood Vice knows her.

- Yeah? - Tami Avalon.

She's a dancer, works at something called The Oryx.

Do you know where that is, Gene?

Yeah, on Sunset, only about five minutes from here.

- That's good. - I see what you mean.

Any further, and it might not fit

into Harmon's time schedule.

Could you tell us where we could find Tami Avalon.

- She's right over there. - Thank you.

- Miss Avalon? - Maybe.

We're police officers.

This is Bill Gannon; my name's Friday.

I never got a formal introduction before.

- Must be important. - It is.

We need some information, and we need it in a hurry.

What is it this time?

Were you in the Danish Grill at the Hollywood Elsinore today?

- Maybe. - Were you, or weren't you?

Well, I stopped someplace for a drink,

could have been the Elsinore.

You were talking with a man there.

What did he say about me?

Nothing. We haven't talked to him.

Tell us what you know. We're short on time.

I'm in no hurry to get myself into trouble.

You're not going to be.

All we want to do is find this man.

I don't know where he is.

You didn't leave the bar together?

No.

All we did was talk about going up to his room

but nothing came of it.

He's staying at the hotel, is he?

Yes, at the Elsinore. What's his room number?

Now, what makes you think I'd know?

Do you know his room number, lady?

No, I don't.

Can you tell us what floor it's on?

Look, get this straight, will you?

We had a couple drinks and we talked.

He was a nice guy and he liked me,

but he couldn't seem to keep his mind on things,

so I left, all by myself. I don't know what he did.

He took an overdose of sleeping pills.

- You're putting me on. - I wish we were.

You mean, he went the whole route?

There's a chance he isn't dead yet,

but we've got to find him in a big hurry.

Oh, that's weird. That's really weird.

- What's that? - Well, he said

there was a noisy party in one of the rooms

that kept him awake most of the night.

I guess he was making sure he'd get enough sleep tonight.

- Anything else? - I haven't told you anything.

- Yes, you have. - What?

He's got a room at the hotel

and there was a party nearby last night.

There's lots of parties at the Elsinore every night.

All right. Can you narrow it down for us?

No, I wasn't there.

All I'm giving you is what he told me.

No, wait. You know the theater across the street?

What about it?

I remember he said the movie must be pretty good.

There was a lineup at the box office.

He could see it from his window.

That's it.

Thanks very much, Miss Avalon.

For what? I don't figure I gave you the time of day.

Maybe you did someone else.

7:40 p.m.

We gave the information

we'd gotten from the Avalon girl

to Gene Dixon, and he concluded

that Harmon's room would have to be

in the northeast corner of the hotel

and above the fourth floor.

From the housekeeper, he learned

that a large number of empty bottles

had been removed from room 617 that morning.

If a party had been held there the night before,

then Ralph Harmon could be in either 620, 618 or 616.

We would have to check them all.

No, those aren't Ralph's.

What's the matter? What's going on?

That's not Ralph. Sorry, it's a mistake.

Have a drink.

Ralph!

Is he alive? Is he all right?

He's alive.

Are you sure? Are you sure?

Yes, ma'am.

This is a police officer. I need an ambulance fast.

- Room 616. - Is he going to be all right?

Well, I'm no doctor, Mrs. Draper,

but I don't think it's been quite two hours.

Oh, thank God.

Why, Sergeant?

How's that?

Why do people try to take this way out, why?

I wouldn't know.

Only God has the right to give or take a life.

- Yes, ma'am. - Why do people do it?

- Why do they do it? - In my business,

none of them ever seem to have a very good answer.

At the request of his sister,

the subject was committed to the psychiatric ward,

County General Hospital, for observation.