Original subtitles

Janet. Starring William Conrad.

With guest stars Vera Miles, Michael Strong,

Stephen Udis.

Tonight's episode, To Kill a Guinea Pig.

Yes, Mr.

Cannon. Of course the police were called in.

Took them a whole ten minutes to evaluate the problem. Their suggestion

Dr. Adams put in a claim with her insurance company for the smashed

They chalked the entire incident up to some nuts.

Some harmless nuts.

And you obviously don't believe that, Dr. Dean?

Mr. Cannon, there are two ancient and well -tested rules which I learned my

first day as a medical research director.

First...

Never get caught stealing a corpse from your local cemetery.

Second, avoid adverse publicity whenever possible. Let me tell you something,

Doctor. Rule number one is not in my line of work, so that leaves rule number

two, right?

Whoever these men were, I want to know what it's all about before Mr.

Scoop of the Daily Yellow Sheet puts his nose into it. Would you like a very

good sherry?

Fine. Good.

Doctor Adams was working on a...

Very vital and delicate medical research program.

The slightest breath of scandal involving her or the project could kill

Well, why don't you take the doctor off the program?

At least until you get this thing cleared up. That would mean stalling for

months while we try to find someone who's capable of picking up where she

off. Thank you.

Not to mention someone equally dedicated.

That's one reason.

The other is...

I respect Zena Adams too much to just bury a knife into her professional

Has it ever occurred to you that possibly the police were right?

I'm a research man, Mr. Cannon. Of course I've considered that.

As closely as I've considered your reputation as a private detective. And I

might add, your fee. They both come very high.

They're both separate from inflation.

I want to hire you, Mr. Cannon, but I have to be honest.

Money.

is not very plentiful around our institute at this time.

However, if you take on the project, you might find that you're working for

something a little more than money.

A lot of sick and dying people might live to say thank you.

You know something, Doctor?

That kind of fee is hard to turn down.

Is everybody here?

Yes, ma 'am.

The guinea pig platoon's all President accounted for, Doc.

Hey, what do you say we call ourselves a tarnished 20?

Beats a dirty dozen, don't it?

All right, all right.

Let's knock it off.

Before we...

get started with the program and move over to the infirmary, I wanted to call

you all together and meet with you and say a few things.

I'll try to keep it from sounding too corny.

A lot of people may one day owe their lives to you for risking yours in this

medical research program.

Don't fool yourselves. It is a risk, a calculated one within a controlled

environment, but nevertheless a risk.

Your reasons for participating are your own. I know some of you are hoping for

reduced sentences or consideration from the parole board. I hope you get it.

I say hope because I want to make it very clear that no promises have been

More than anything, I want you to understand the important part

you're taking in a war against a hateful disease, hepatitis.

Now, I've talked to Captain Scheer, and he has agreed that for the duration of

the project, you will be assigned light -duty jobs.

Now, let me fill you in on what's going to be happening for the next few months.

Starting today and every Monday morning about this time, you will be taken over

to the infirmary for inoculation and examination.

If at any time you feel sick or just plain down, please report to the

I don't want any heroes.

Half of you will be injected with a live attenuated vaccine.

The other half will be given a saline solution with vitamin B12 and used as a

control group.

No one will know which of these two groups he is in. As far as you're all

concerned, you're...

All in the same boat.

I saw a spook movie once with a mad research doctor.

Turned his human guinea pigs into real weirdos.

You wouldn't do that, would you, Doc?

Come on, move it, man.

Yes?

Just a minute.

Dr. Adams, hello.

This is Dr. Adam.

Who is this?

But why would you want to kill my... Hello?

Hello?

The calls come two, sometimes three times a day.

They're always the same. He laughs, and then he makes some perverted remark.

This time it was about the monkey that I keep at the Institute as a pet.

He's lived through four very tough experiments.

I retired him last month.

What was the threat?

That he'd kill the monkey.

I never thought he'd have the courage to call me here at the prison.

Maybe he wanted to show how resourceful he is.

I'm impressed.

He never demands anything from you?

Money?

Anything he wants from you?

Well, I'm a little older and less attractive than I used to be.

Please don't come up with some obligatory gallant remark.

Well, it had crossed my mind, but I felt no obligation.

He snuck it in anyway.

No, he never asked for anything.

Probably some sick, pathetic little man who needs attention.

I'm sorry, Doctor. That was no sick, pathetic little man who scared you half

death in the garage, you know.

Now, you've got a problem on your hands, and you either stand up and face it, or

you run like a rabbit with an eagle on its tail. But you better make up your

mind what you're going to do pretty soon before somebody else makes the decision

for you.

Meaning the Institute.

Yeah.

They hired me. They're shook up a little bit.

That's understandable.

Bad publicity would cause the prison to withdraw their support, and the

financial backing would dry up.

Believe me, Mr. Cannon, I don't want that to happen any more than the

Oh, I believe you, but you're leaving something out.

What's that?

They're all so afraid that you may be in real trouble.

Hi, Mom.

Hi, Lee.

Is that your son?

Yes. This is Mundy. No school?

Well, I thought...

Until this is over, I'd sort of keep an eye on him.

I'm delighted to see that you don't believe everything you say.

Or everything you expect me to believe.

I'm no fool, Mr. Cannon. I've already lost a husband and a son. I don't intend

on taking any chances with Lee.

Are we going now, Mom?

Yes, we are. Have a gun, please.

Thank you.

Lee, this is Mr. Cannon.

Hello, Lee. How are you?

Are you a cop?

The guard says you're some kind of cop.

Really?

Well, Mr. Cannon is a private detective, like Mickey Spillane. I would say

Bulldog Drummond would be more appropriate.

I never heard of either one of them.

Doctor, in case you want to get in touch with me.

Bye -bye, Lee.

That little talk, remember?

I'm sorry. It completely escaped my mind.

Look, why is a private detective hooked on a medical research program?

It's a confidential matter, I'm afraid.

Not when you step through those gates, it isn't.

Look, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me whatever you can about this.

Well, not going to be much.

Let me check my gun.

We're getting close.

Yes, I know.

Mom, we're getting squeezed in.

Look out, Mom! Look out!

Let's go, kid.

Don't sweat it, Doc. Nobody gets hurt. We just want to talk to them. You tell

him, Doc. Lee, Lee, stop it. Go with them. They won't hurt you. What about

I'll be all right. Just go with them.

Let's go, Doc.

Sorry for the inconvenience, Doctor.

What do you people want?

Won't you step in, please?

I need a favor.

Not a very big one, really.

There's a friend of mine in a prison.

He tried to get into your program.

But you turned him down, I'm sorry to say.

You turned down his offer to help... Wipe out hepatitis.

Who are you?

I told you.

I'm his friend.

Now you can let him in.

What do you say?

I can't do that.

This is a scientific experiment.

If any of the subjects are in poor health or have medical histories of

diseases, I can't use them. It would invalidate the entire project.

Scientists all over the world would refuse to accept any conclusions I

I think you should reconsider.

I just can't use your friend, don't you understand that?

His name is Carr.

Stephen Carr.

Get the kit!

Hang on a 13 -year -old boy.

You better talk faster or I'll break all of your ribs.

Where's his mother?

Mr. Gannon, watch out!

What is it, Mom?

What do those guys want?

They want me... Lee, I don't want you to say anything to anyone

about this. Not Mr. Cannon, not to anyone. Do you understand?

Hey, what are you doing up there?

Hey.

You're lucky.

Yeah, tell me about it.

You just need some rest.

But I need a drink.

Coffee?

Scotch.

Coffee. Coffee.

Where's Lee?

Oh, he's outside with the monkey.

I thought I'd bring him home as a pet.

I called the institute and a friend of mine brought him over a little while

After that call at the prison, I thought he might as well be with the rest of

the endangered ones.

Instant. I hope you don't mind.

Oh, thank you. That's my husband just before he died.

And my oldest son.

That's Ricky.

He died 11 years ago of hepatitis.

Yes. And six months later, you gave up your pediatric practice to go into

hepatitis research.

But you'd be an asset to any research program.

Doctor, what happened on the road today?

Nothing. Same as at the garage.

Now, come on, Doctor. Don't try holding snow in your hands. It always melts and

runs through your fingers.

Now, it's very simple. You either tell me what you know or I tell Dr. Dean what

I know.

They want me to let a friend of theirs at the prison in the project.

What's his name?

Carr. Stephen Carr.

I won't do it, Mr. Cannon.

I won't jeopardize this project for Stephen Carr or for anyone else.

It represents ten years of my life, and it's my only link with my dead son.

This also involves convicts and their playmates, and that could be a dangerous

game.

If you go to Dr. Dean and tell him what you know, he'll take me off the program

and he'll close it down.

You were hired to save the project, not kill it.

Is all this something I should know about?

I'm not sure yet.

Senator, a lot of people from the warden on down are stretching the rules for

you.

I don't mind telling you I'm nervous.

If you get your finger on anything that might trigger off another Attica, you

ought to let someone in on it. Oh, that's not that newsworthy, Captain.

However, if the TV cameras do come around, I'll see that you get a close

two.

How far would you go to get a year taken off your son?

What, you selling tickets?

Call up your jackal's car. Leave her alone.

Are you finished?

Not quite. Sit down.

If anything happens to her, it's going to cost you a lot more than a year, and

that's a promise from me to you.

I've been in this cage for three years for embezzling $50 ,000 I never saw.

So not much throws me anymore.

So why don't you tell me what we're talking about?

Dr. Zena Adams.

You've heard of her?

Sure.

So has every con on the plate.

You tried to get in on the experiment?

Yeah, I tried.

I was turned down. I'd had hepatitis when I was a kid.

Well, some of your friends are working on it out there to get her to change her

mind.

No, look at me.

A good nurse.

Oh, I believe you.

Just like the jury did at your trial.

Look.

When I ran my chapter at the Petroleum Construction Workers Union, it was

Then the boys from the National started poking around.

They saw something they could fill their pockets with. They wanted in. I

wouldn't let them.

That's when they sent their accountant down, Ted Croft, for an audit, they

Yeah, I know about Croft. I read your transcript.

You know, it was a frame.

Isn't it amazing how many people there are in prison who are innocent?

Look, I don't care what you believe.

You are right about one thing.

I want out of here.

And that is anybody out there helping me.

I'm for them.

Lee, it's time to go.

Lee?

We're going to be late.

Lee?

I wanted to cut him down.

I didn't want you to see.

But I couldn't.

Why'd they have to kill him?

He didn't do nothing to them.

Oh, I'm afraid.

old, I know.

But I can't fit.

Don't be afraid, Lee.

Don't be afraid, darling.

Nothing's gonna happen.

It isn't all that tragic.

Well, I'm glad you told me. I wasn't sure.

Why did you change your mind about the car, Doctor?

Common sense.

Easy way out. Call it whatever you want. It doesn't make any difference.

The last time I talked to you, it did.

You were the last of the uncompromising research scientists. Now, all of a

sudden, you've caved in. I want to know why.

Maybe I was too rigid.

You think it's over?

Yes, I do.

All I want is to save the project.

All they want is Carr in the program.

Well, you're wrong, Doctor.

These men have put you through the wringer. Why?

Because they want to get Carr on the program so they can maybe get a few days

taken off his sentence?

That's an awful lot of trouble to go to for a maybe, isn't it?

Now, this thing doesn't balance, not by a long shot.

That's an interesting theory.

Do you have any proof, Mr. Cannon?

Not yet, Doctor.

Good afternoon, Doctor.

We came over to thank you for what you did for Steve Carr.

I'm sorry if I'm holding you up. I know you're busy.

There's just one more thing I want you to do for my friend.

What's that?

Kill him.

Hello? Mr. Cannon, this is Dr. Dean.

Dr. Adams didn't show up for our weekly staff conference, which is not at all

like her.

I've just called her home and there's no answer.

Could she be in some kind of trouble? Well, to be honest with you, she could

That doesn't... I'm taking her off the project. No, not yet.

Look, Mr. Cannon, I should have done it as soon as you told me that she put

Stephen Carr on the program.

You talked me out of it once.

Don't try again.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to.

I don't know whether she's in trouble or not or what the trouble could be.

But by Monday, I want some answers or I'll have no choice.

I'll have to move.

Anybody home?

Hey, that's the guy I fought with on the road.

It's Phil Woodward.

Associates frequently with Arnie Samples.

They're small -time punks. Assault, robbery.

Minor league, but tough.

They work most of the time for this man.

Theodore Croft. He fenced their hot merchandise.

He's been indicted, but never convicted.

Retired now.

His last... Legal job was as accountant for the Petroleum Construction Workers

Union.

What about the guy who heads Steve Carr's local now, Les Brooks?

Got anything on him?

No record, no make. No, he's clean.

I'm telling you, if we stick together...

Your kid is going to have a good Christmas. Don't worry about it. You're

to get more this year.

I'll take care of you.

How are you, boy?

How's it going, Benji?

You up on your dues, Benji?

To the last penny.

Good man.

There's a spot opening up in the local. A few of the boys thought you might be

interested.

Not me.

You got some trouble, Benji?

Tell me about it.

Thanks for the offer.

But I think working for you might be more of a risk than I want to take.

We all take risks in this business.

Some are foolish than others.

Nobody can be responsible for people like that.

Can they, Benji?

Excuse me.

I was told that I might find less Brooks around here.

Well, with a clean hand.

Thank you.

I think you better get up to your spot.

Frank Cannon. I'd like to talk to you.

About what?

Arnie Samples. He works for you, doesn't he?

Well, he works for the union, if that's what you mean.

You know who he is?

I'm the head of the local, Mr. Cannon.

Not of his household.

Sorry, I can't be of any more help.

I've got a few other names I'd like to try on you.

If it's union information you're after, this isn't my office.

Shall we start with Dr.

Zena Adams?

Don't know the name.

I'll tie that to Stephen Carr and what do you get?

Fed up.

Where's Xena Adams?

Hey, the man just told you to beat it.

Hey, I'd like to get a delivery message to your friend up there, would you?

Yeah, what?

Sure, Steve Carr and Brooks were close.

Not because Steve wanted it that way.

Thank you. See, Brooks was set down here from the National when this local was

set up to help Steve organize, you know.

Steve didn't need no help.

He was a man.

You could go to him when you needed somebody.

We had a good, clean union then.

You know, Cannon, most of the guys around here are just waiting for the day

Steve gets out.

There's no getting rid of Brooks without him.

Brooks says his goon's all over the place.

Anybody says anything, an accident happens.

Like the one today.

From the looks of you, he didn't appreciate your helping me.

Thanks again.

Forget it.

Look, Steve never took $50 ,000.

He never had more than 50 bucks in a bank.

Two days before he was indicted, he borrowed 10 bucks from me for his kid's

birthday.

Les Brooks was making the same salary that Steve was getting.

But after he took over, he started living like a fat cat, big executive.

It doesn't take long to figure out where the extra money was coming from.

The till, that's where.

Yeah.

I suppose Les Brooks isn't going to put out the welcome mat for Carr when he

gets out of prison.

The last thing he wants is Steve out.

Oh, drink up, gentlemen.

Next one's on me.

Unless they're putting up for the night.

Retail them to a motel.

Want it to fall on them?

No.

Just tell me where you are and I'll be there by morning.

Yes, ma 'am. Fill her up. Oh, yes, please.

They're there, Mom.

What are we going to do?

I don't know.

I'll ask the gas station man if he's got a phone. No, Lee, don't.

We can't just sit here.

Even if we keep driving, they'll follow us again.

I know, but if we make a phone call, they might try to stop us.

I wish Mr. Cannon was here.

Didn't take much. $1 .15.

Would you please call this number for me and read the message on the back to the

man? This is more than enough to take care of the gas and the phone call.

Thanks, ma 'am.

It's very important.

I'll take care of it.

Mr. Croft, may I see you for a moment?

I would suggest that you tell your friends to go on without you, and

you'll join them later in the game.

I beg your pardon?

I want to talk to you about Stephen Carr and $50 ,000.

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

Who are you?

My name's Cannon. I'm a private investigator.

You know, perjury is a felony, punishable by imprisonment, Mr. Croft.

Of course, compared to murder, it's a lot easier to live with, isn't it?

What murder?

Stephen Carr's.

Les Brooks has set Carr up in a medical research program at the prison, and only

for one reason, so he can kill him.

And it'll probably happen by a medical accident.

You could be an accessory before the facts, you know.

since it was your testimony that sent Carr to prison in the first place.

But you can't prove that.

If you could, you wouldn't be here. The police would.

Or one of Brooks' men with a gun pointed at the base of your skull.

Look, I don't have anything more to do with Brooks or the union.

I'm retired.

I don't think Mr. Brooks will make that distinction, especially after I pass the

word around that you've decided to turn state's evidence against him.

You fellas better go on. I'll catch up with you later.

You're a wise man.

Hello?

Yes, this is Frank Cannon.

Yeah, well, I got your card here. A woman gave it to me. She asked me to

you and give you the message she wrote on the back.

It's from Zena Adams.

It says...

It says what?

It says, Happy New Year.

My instructions were clear, Dr. Adams.

No police, no cannon, no running.

Yet you chose to disregard them. What did you expect me to do? You either make

me the murderer or the victim. What choice do I have?

That was the point.

There was no choice.

Arnie, take the kid in the other room.

No, please, please. Please, please don't hurt him. Don't worry, he'll be all

right.

Providing you do exactly what I tell you.

You, George, and I will drive back to the state prison and arrange a little

medical accident.

A simple error.

A lethal strain of your vaccine.

Nobody will think of it in terms of murder.

Nobody except me. I won't do it.

Yes,

you will.

You see, your son will remain here with Arnie and my other friend.

If you should decide not to kill Carr, well, I don't think I need to explain

what will happen.

Are you ready for him?

Oh, yes.

I'd like to see the men one at a time today, please.

Start with the new man, Stephen Carr.

Give me a minute, will you, please?

Yes, ma 'am.

Where's Lee?

I can't tell you.

Look, you've got to tell me. Where is he? Brooks will kill him. Listen to me.

I can nail Brooks. I've got enough on him to put him behind these walls for

rest of his life, but you must tell me where Lee is.

Zena, you've got to trust me.

He's in a cabin on Mount Wyatt Road.

Oh, Frank, don't let him hurt him.

The car's still alive. She didn't do it. I don't know what you're talking about.

You're finished, Brooke.

Yes, that's right, Dr. Dean. Steve Carr's being released from prison

and probably be the head of his union again the day after.

Yes.

Of course I'll tell him. Thank you.

Well... What did he say?

He said, right on with your project.

Thank you, Frank.

That's really the important thing.

Of course it's important.

And that's kind of important, too.