Original subtitles

Flight 19 for Phoenix

departing on schedule at Gate 4.

Flight 19 for Phoenix, Arizona,

departing on schedule at Gate 4.

Mr. John Pear, please report to the ticket reservation counter.

Mrs. Sargent?

I'm Lynn Sargent, yes. You're Joe Mannix?

Yes.

Do you have identification?

Uh...

My letter mentioned an identifying address.

What is it?

Now look, Mrs. Sargent...

Please, Mr. Mannix.

Stone Wheel at Oak Canyon.

Thank you.

I had to be sure you were Joe Mannix.

Your letter also said something about a life and death emergency.

$1,000. That's very generous.

To do exactly what?

Deliver this package to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Round trip air fare, $1,000...

Just to save the cost of mailing this?

Please, Mr. Mannix!

I told you it was life and death.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Sargent,

Not unless I must have a complete explanation.

But I need your help...

Hold it, Mister!

I'll take the package.

Well, this doesn't belong to me.

But this belongs to me.

Guards!

Okay. What happened?

Well, uh...

a couple of guys tried to take this package from me.

What is it?

Well, I don't know.

It was given to me a few minutes ago by a Mrs. Sargent.

Couldn't spot 'em.

Okay. It's all over, just break it up folks.

Who are you?

Joe Mannix, private investigator.

What's the thousand for?

Delivering the package.

But you don't know what's in the package?

Mrs. Sargent got me up here from L.A.

with a letter about some life and death problem.

When I got here she gave me the package and the check.

And she took off when the trouble started.

Yeah.

You better come along with us,

Mannix.

Why?

The package.

Well, I told you. I don't know what's in it.

Suppose we find out. Down at headquarters.

Yeah.

♪♪

Come in.

Thank you.

Go on, Mr. Mannix.

Well, I took a flight from L.A.

and was met at the airport by Mrs. Lynn Sargent.

And all I know is her name.

I never met or heard of her before she wrote the letter.

And so you decided to fly out here.

The letter said life and death. So I came.

"Life and death"?

That's very apt from Mrs. Sargent.

Why is that?

Recognize this?

Looks like the girl who met me at the airport.

Lynn Sargent.

Why?

It's new paper. Amateur wrapping.

This package technically belongs to you, Mr. Mannix.

Do I have your permission to open it?

That's a very polite way of putting it, Chief Belden.

San Plumus is a small town but extremely wealthy.

I'm diplomatic. It goes with the territory.

Be my guest.

Airline tickets and $1,000.

That's a high fee for delivering

a half-a-dollars’ worth of blank paper, Mr. Mannix.

Can you think of a reason?

Not a one.

I'd suggest you work up an answer.

Because until your story improves, your situation won't.

And as it stands now, it's a very ugly sort of hoax.

A hoax?

This is Lynn Sargent's signature card.

It matches the signature on the check.

The bank says it's good.

It was drawn three days ago

by a woman matching that photograph and your description.

Which proves it all happened.

Except that Lynn Sargent is dead.

Killed in a hit-and-run accident.

A month ago.

She was buried three days later.

Now she's dead, Mr. Mannix.

And I'd like to know exactly who met you at the airport.

So would I.

Come on, Mr. Mannix, who sent you?

Somebody signing herself as Lynn Sargent.

Why?

I don't know!

This woman met you at the airport?

That's right.

And handed you a check for $1,000?

I told you!

A check drawn by a dead woman?

A package of blank paper?

A delivery boy's job at $500 an hour, plus expenses?

Come on, Mr. Mannix!

Now look!

Don't you think I could work up a better story than that

if it wasn't the truth?

Lt. Tobias in L.A. said you were clean.

Honest, loyal to your clients.

She is no client.

All I know is I came here,

met a dead woman at the airport

and was jumped by a couple of thugs.

All right, Mr. Mannix...

You can go.

Just like that?

I have no cause to hold you.

Then you do believe me?

Not particularly.

But neither have I any evidence of illegal action on your part.

As yet.

Look, Chief, uh...

can you tell me a little bit about Lynn Sargent?

Why?

Well maybe I can help find out what this is all about.

All right.

Her husband's a prominent local citizen.

Anthony Sargent, investment broker.

Mrs. Sargent was run down near her house about a month ago.

Killed instantly.

That's not much to go on.

That's all we have.

The Highway Patrol have investigated the case thoroughly.

If you want the details, ask them.

Mrs. Sargent went for a walk at approximately

4:00 in the afternoon along Oak Canyon Road.

It's a back road, not much traffic.

And judging by the footprints,

she saw the car come around this curve.

As it got closer, she tried to dodge.

The tire marks indicate the car skidded and hit her about here.

You mean she turned around

and just stood there waiting?

Well, it happens that way, Mr. Mannix.

An individual is shocked... They freeze for a few seconds.

That's all it takes.

You're sure it was an accident?

Only her husband knew she'd gone out for a walk,

and he was at home talking to some business clients.

We checked it all out, Mr. Mannix.

So did the San Plumus Police.

Chief Belden told me.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's a little uptight about it.

He runs a good department and doesn't much like this sort of thing.

It's still an open case.

There were no witnesses,

no clues on the car. Nothing.

It just... hit her and vanished.

It was a very nice funeral.

Mr. Sargent spared no expense.

Terrible, of course.

She was a lovely person.

And she was definitely Mrs. Sargent?

What?

Well, who else could she be, sir?

After all, we knew her.

She was a prominent person in San Plumus.

Who attended the funeral?

Mr. Sargent, of course.

And many friends.

And her sister.

Sister?

Miss Janet Kirby.

Charming girl.

She took it badly.

But the loss of a loved one...

She attended the funeral and then returned immediately

to San Francisco.

Mr. Sargent was a trifle upset.

I think he expected her to stay.

But she insisted on leaving.

How do you know?

What?

I mean, did they confide in you?

I'm just curious, Mr. Prescott.

Well...

actually there was a touch of bad feeling between them.

Yeah, I was a trifle concerned,

I mean, I heard the... the exchange.

Only because I was most anxious

to avoid any... difficulties.

I see.

Well, thank you, Mr. Prescott.

Yeah, Miss Kirby was emotional.

She had strong feeling.

And I...

well I was certain that nobody wanted any trouble

especially Mr. Sargent.

Trouble? No!

I don't want any more, Mr. Mannix.

I've had enough.

You see, I loved my wife.

Now she is dead.

Dead!

It's strange you... you say that

and you go through the motions,

cleaning up the bits and pieces of your life.

Then I woke up one morning

and I turned over to look at her.

She always looked so... Vulnerable asleep.

I looked and saw she wasn't there.

I broke.

Like a plate dropped on a stone floor.

I just broke.

I spent all that day and all that night

trying to face it.

Well, I came through it all right, Mr. Mannix.

But I'm still vulnerable.

Like that plate, glued together,

but ready to come apart if anybody hits me

in the wrong place...

I'm sorry, Mr. Sargent.

But, uh... somebody's using your wife's name.

And I was jumped by two thugs.

I don't like being used as a target.

I'd like to know why it happened.

I can't help you.

Mr. Sargent...

I wonder if you could tell me a little something

about your wife's family?

Her mother's dead.

Her father lives in Florida.

He's retired.

And she has a sister in San Francisco,

Janet Kirby.

Did they resemble each other?

Yes, a little, the way sisters do.

But Janet's dark, a little younger.

Would you know if their handwriting was similar?

What?

Oh, the check.

No. The handwriting was nothing alike.

The check must be a forgery.

Now look, I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.

Maybe you're just innocently involved

in somebody's idea of a practical joke.

But I don't appreciate it.

I understand.

Thank you.

Mr. Sargent, I'm sorry if I bothered you.

Get in, Mr. Mannix.

I hope I didn't keep you waiting.

No, you're right on time.

Let's go.

What's the hurry?

We know where they're going.

The stone wheel at Oak Canyon.

Don't tell me.

This is Lynn Sargent's house.

That's right.

You're a very disconcerting man, Mr. Mannix.

20 minutes from San Plumus.

All of it in silence.

Don't you have any questions?

Like just who you are?

At least.

I know. Janet Kirby out of San Francisco with a wig.

I repeat... You're a very disconcerting man.

I figured it was too elaborate and expensive

to be a practical joke.

Somebody who knew Lynn Sargent

and cared for her very much brought her back to life.

Like her sister.

Do you also know why?

No. But I imagine you'll get around to telling me.

Come inside, Mr. Mannix.

It's been closed down since Lynn's death.

The stone wheel.

Lynn found them in Mexico.

They're primitive cartwheels.

She brought them up here for her house.

For her beloved husband.

I understand you had a quarrel with him at the funeral.

I had reason to...

He murdered my sister.

Why do you say that?

Anthony Sargent...

Loving husband, successful investment broker.

Only that's not all of it.

He's a front man for the Syndicate.

He invests their money in legitimate businesses.

The new economics.

He has legitimate business people as partners.

They don't know.

All those nice people who let him make their deals.

And they cover up the dirty money.

He needed a front.

A home, a wife...

My sister Lynn.

Do you have any proof of all of this?

No.

Lynn found out.

She was the proof that it was all happening.

And she's dead.

He killed her.

Miss Kirby, he has an alibi.

Of course!

He's an executive.

He wouldn't dirty his own hands.

He ordered it done.

But you can't prove it?

No.

I talked to Chief Belden.

Oh, he was very polite.

Yeah, he heard me out.

And then he warned me about slander.

He said... I probably just needed a rest.

What makes you so sure about all this?

Lynn told me.

Before she died.

She found out about Tony, and she told me.

We were very close.

She was going to meet me up in San Francisco,

so we could...

so we could talk it out.

But she never got there.

Hmm. So you, uh... decided to pay them back?

Yes.

And you used me to knock Anthony Sargent off balance.

Tell me, uh...

what was supposed to be in that package

you gave me at the airport.

Evidence?

I... I told Tony that Lynn kept a diary.

I wanted him to think there was proof of what he did.

I guess he believed it.

I'm sorry.

About using you, I mean.

But I wanted to make it all seem real.

Hmm.

Why didn't you just tell me about this in the first place?

Would you have believed it?

Without any evidence?

Now there's proof!

Those two men who attacked you at the airport.

The police can't ignore that!

Tony sent them!

It won't stand up as evidence.

It's not enough, of course.

But there will be real proof.

I called Tony.

I told him that I'd be here waiting.

Ready to talk about what was in Lynn's diary.

If you're right,

you're taking a very dangerous gamble.

I've worked it all out.

I talked to Chief Belden.

He's keeping an eye on Tony.

Now if Tony comes out here after me,

the police will be following,

and they'll have their proof.

Stay here!

Lock the door!

There's at least two of them.

One of them drove your car away while the one was using a gun.

Well, Chief Belden should be here any minute.

That may not be soon enough.

If you're right and Sargent had your sister killed,

he could have hired professionals

to come after you.

And I got you into this.

Forget it! You did tell the police.

Now all we've got to do is figure out a way

to delay our friends out there.

How far are the nearest neighbors?

Over a mile.

Lynn loved this place because it was so out of the way.

You stay here.

They've got the back covered, too.

The telephone!

Forget it!

I'm sure the lines are cut.

They're pros, all right.

What's upstairs?

Uh, bedrooms, study.

Well, I have a hunch all they intend to do

is keep us pinned down until Sargent gets here.

Why?

Well, he can't afford to have you killed

until he's sure how much evidence you have

or who you might have talked to.

Or until he finds out

there never was any evidence.

In the meantime, we've got to try to keep stalling them.

I hope that Chief Belden gets here in time.

How did your sister find out

Sargent was working for the Syndicate?

She heard Tony talking on the phone one day.

He thought she was out shopping.

Wait a minute.

What's the matter?

I just want to make sure there's nobody in the house.

Janet!

Now you wait here.

I'm going to check out the rest of the upstairs.

I'll be right back, huh?

Joe!

Outside!

One of the men who attacked you at the airport.

We better get downstairs.

While I'm making my move to the back,

I want you to push this furniture out in front of the window

so that they can see it from out front, okay?

Why?

I want to confuse them.

Keep them wondering what we are up to.

All right. But what are we up to?

I'm going to open up the hunting season.

Be careful.

Janet, look out!

Come on!

Why didn't you burn him?

You heard the orders.

Nobody gets hurt. Now, come on!

The distributor's gone.

We'll have to make a run for it.

Hi, I've been looking for you two.

We were held prisoner at the house by two men.

Take it easy, Miss Kirby.

We're all okay now.

Where'd you get that?

I took it from one of the men.

They're the same two men who jumped me at the airport.

And you just took it?

That's right.

Very impressive.

Very good try.

Try?

Try. As in try and fail.

Go get in the car, Mr. Mannix.

Those men? They work for you?

That's right.

Just as Mr. Sargent and I work for the same people.

You see, it's a very large organization.

Come on.

Clowns!

You told us not to hurt the girl.

We didn't want to take any chances.

Aw, you wouldn't.

You can't imagine the labor problems we have these days.

Well, what about the girl?

We'll wait for Mr. Sargent. He'll talk to her.

I'm going to bring up my car.

Here. Put these on them,

if you can figure out the mechanism.

What are you going to do with us?

That's up to your brother-in-law.

Come on, get 'em on.

Get your hands out.

I don't believe it.

Now get up there and wait for Sargent!

Then what?

That's up to him.

We could go in after them.

And get the girl killed?

It'll be dark soon.

There have no way out.

We wait.

They're going to have to come in after us soon.

Belden's office may call in for him.

Somebody might go by.

They can't let this run on too long.

Heh. It's almost funny, isn't it?

Counting on Belden to go after Tony when he works for Tony.

That's what the law of statistics says about long shots.

Mostly, they lose.

The dice are still rolling.

Sargent still has to find out how much you know.

I saw myself as a one-girl crusade.

But I couldn't live with it.

Knowing that Lynn had been killed

and not trying to do something about it.

So I just went ahead and did everything wrong, didn't I?

No.

You did force Sargent out into the open.

And now Chief Belden.

My office knows where I am and why.

Belden can't keep a lid on it forever.

Either way, we've got a chance.

He and Sargent don't.

Well, Tyson told me.

What a mess.

But we can't risk killing the girl until we know what she has.

So we go in.

He's got a rifle.

How many cartridges?

Five in the clip. Maybe one in the chamber.

All right. Start diverting him.

Keep him busy. I'll go in through the side.

Now, Belden, you cover this area.

Blake, you come with me.

Sargent just arrived.

What are they doing?

I don't know.

But I can cover the front more easily from upstairs.

Come on.

Here, this will do.

It's okay.

They're just putting lights on the target.

They have no way of knowing we're not down there.

Now you stay here.

I'm going to check our friends outside.

They must be in the house by now.

Hit the brights!

Joe!

Get him out of the way first.

Then we can talk.

Here. That convince you?

Put him in the closet.

Let's get into the other room.

Janet!

Over there.

Okay.

For openers, I'm here to help you.

Why?

Did she tell you who I am?

Really am, I mean?

Some of it.

Okay.

Fact... I front for a combine of hot money.

I find places to put it, legitimate places.

And your wife discovered that.

Yes.

And it hurt her.

I thought she was going to walk out on me.

So you had her killed!

No, Janet.

I told you I loved her.

Look, what if she had turned me in.

What do you think would have happened?

I'd've wound up with a small fine and a tax audit.

I don't understand.

Oh, Janet...

Maybe I am a little outside of the law.

But I don't kill people.

I don't throw bombs.

I just play a little cute with money.

And that's a sin only if you're caught.

Certainly not enough to kill somebody for...

much less, Lynn.

But she was killed.

I didn't think so at the time.

I really thought it was an accident.

I never believed they would do it.

Maybe I wanted to forget who my bosses are,

where the money comes from.

You know, I said I don't kill people.

But they do.

They killed her...

because it was good business.

Belden.

He has his own connections with my people.

But I'm going to use him.

My wife was murdered.

And I'm going to find out exactly who did it.

Tony...

Janet, I really loved her.

You know, when I heard Belden had you two bottled up,

I thought I could get you out.

Well, the odds are a little more even.

At least, we both have guns.

Tell me...

does Belden take orders from you?

If it's business, yes.

We might have a chance.

Belden, I got them!

Well, well...

Where's Blake?

Mannix got him.

No loss.

What does she know?

She doesn't know a thing.

There's no evidence.

No diary, nothing.

You're positive?

Oh yeah.

I checked her out on some of the things

that Lynn would have put in her diary.

She came up empty.

She doesn't know a thing.

Just a nasty suspicious little mind, huh?

Well, I must say,

you certainly caused a lot of trouble, Miss Kirby.

I meant to.

It'll be forgotten.

When they're dead.

Mm-hmm.

But I want it done professionally

like last time, like my wife.

That was an accident.

Aw come on.

It was a neat job, but it was a job.

You don't have to spare my feelings.

She found out what I did for a living,

and she had to be eliminated.

And here I thought you were mourning her loss.

I was her husband. I had to look sad.

I was fond of her, all right.

Not enough to be stupid.

I'll keep these two here with me.

It's my house, nobody will suspect a thing.

You two can go.

Make a call.

I want the same guy to take care of them

that killed my wife.

The same way.

One neat accident.

I don't think so.

I'm telling you.

And I say "no".

I'm still the Police Chief of this town, remember?

I can't cover up two more accidental deaths.

Especially your wife's sister and a private detective.

Miss Kirby here has gone to an awful lot of trouble

to raise a ghost.

Well, she raised it. People are talking.

Then you'd better let us go.

I'll do it for half the money, Mr. Sargent.

And you'd probably mess it up.

No, I say we take them out of the State.

Arizona, in the boondocks.

Dump the bodies down an abandoned mine shaft.

You know something, Belden.

I couldn't care less what you think.

I want it done my way.

Mr. Sargent, you're the financial wizard.

Anything this heavy, I'll handle.

That's my end.

Or should I say theirs.

Sargent!

Did you ever wonder how the killer

pinpointed your wife's hit?

What?

You were the only one who knew when she went for that walk...

He's stalling. He's tricky.

Come on, bring him along, Tyson.

No, no, no. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

We have some time.

And I'm curious.

Somebody had a string on your wife, Sargent.

It had to be somebody local, who wouldn't be noticed.

Somebody who knew the area.

One of the locals. It adds up.

It had to be somebody that your wife trusted.

She didn't run from that car until the last minute.

She stood still while that car was bearing down on her

as if she couldn't believe it.

Or she knew the driver and felt safe.

Janet, I was in a business meeting.

You could have rigged that alibi.

But he didn't.

He really did love your sister, Janet.

But the Chief here,

when I showed him the signature on that check you gave me.

He said it was Lynn Sargent's.

All the time he knew it was a forgery.

He was in charge of the investigation all along!

Your wife just stood there, Sargent.

While that car was racing down on her.

A police car.

She was a law-abiding citizen.

And she trusted the police.

Right, Chief?

You, Belden?

All right.

Nothing personal, Mr. Sargent.

But our mutual friends felt that your wife was going

to ruin a very profitable arrangement.

You kept reassuring them.

They kept saying, "But he loves her".

You killed her?

It was very quick, painless.

She didn't feel a thing.

Are you okay?

It's all right.