Original subtitles

♪ (THEME) ♪

Mannix s5e15 Nightshade

Art.

I wouldn't have called you, Joe, but knowing how you felt about Charlie,

I thought you'd want to be here.

What've you got?

So far it looks like a hit and run. More hit than run.

Deliberate? No skid marks.

They didn't even try to miss.

Okay to move him, Lieutenant? Did you mark?

Yes, sir. Yeah, all right.

You got a make on the car?

A couple of paint specks, that's about it.

I don't suppose you have any idea what Charlie Frome was doing down here.

He must have been on a case.

This isn't exactly the neighborhood for social calls.

What about Charlie's car?

It's over there. The boy checked it out. It's clean.

A cassette recorder on the seat.

It's a dead end. The tape was blank.

So far we haven't got much to go on.

Maybe I can find something.

Hey, Charlie, is that--

Who are you?

Joe Mannix.

Oh. Oh, sure.

Charlie talks about you all the time.

I'm Ceil Porter. I live across the hall.

How do you do?

We have each other's keys in case of an emergency.

Charlie borrowed my cassette recorder.

I needed it back. I figured I'd wait here for him.

I'm afraid the police have your recorder.

The police?

Why?

Charlie had an accident.

An accident?

It's not serious. I mean--

He's.. he's dead.

Take it easy. Here, sit down.

You all right?

How.. how did it happen?

Hit and run.

Can I get you something?

How about some coffee?

I just made some for him.

I'll get it.

No, no, please let me.

You're still pretty shaky.

Please, I'd rather.

I feel better doing something.

There was nothing between us, you know?

We're just friends.

He was like a big brother to me.

Watching when I came home at night,

in case some date decided to play it too heavy.

He was even helping me with my career.

What do you do?

Singer.

Charlie said he thought he could get me an audition

with Danny Brite.

The Danny Brite?

Charlie was working for him.

Doing what?

He never said.

Boy, was I excited when Charlie told me

he was gonna talk to Danny Brite about me.

Let's face it, one shot on that Danny Brite Show and--

Listen to me, will you?

Charlie's dead and I'm talking about my career.

When did Charlie start to work for Danny Brite?

Three weeks ago, maybe four.

You're sure he never said what he was doing for him?

Positive.

Why did Charlie borrow your cassette recorder?

I don't know. He asked for it, so I gave it to him.

By the way, would you like some cream?

Yes, thank you.

Why are the police keeping my cassette recorder?

Oh, it's just routine. I'm sure you'll get it back.

Why would he put it in there?

Maybe Charlie thought it was too hot to handle.

(Charlie's voice) June 23rd, telephone interception.

Ella Holland's apartment. Time, 3: 14 p.m.

(Man's voice) Ella, It's me.

(ELLA GASPS) Listen, I'm okay.

I'm all right. Look, I don't have too much time to talk.

Stan, where are you? They didn't tell me you were--

(Stan) You should have gotten a letter by now

Just do as you're told. We'll be together again soon.

Stan, what's this all about? What--

(Stan) I love you, honey

Stan, listen, please.

(CLICK) Stan?

What do you make of that?

Only that someone named Ella was surprised

to hear from someone named Stan.

Only what is it? And whatever it is,

how does Danny Brite fit in?

(CROWD LAUGHING) You like that one, huh?

Thank you. I can't tell you-- I can't tell you what a thrill it was

entertaining our boys stationed up in Alaska.

No, really. You've got to hand it to those kids. Someone's gotta hand it to them.

At 40 below zero, nobody takes their hands out of their pockets.

(LAUGHTER)

I'll tell you how cold it is in Alaska.

The panhandlers have to do their begging by mail order.

I'll tell you one thing--

I didn't know Alaska had three time zones.

Alaska really has three time zones.

Really, they got Alaska time, Yukon time

and "who cares, we got no place to go anyway."

But I want to just say this.

The boys may not have anyplace to go,

but as long as Danny Brite's around, I'll come to them.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, I guess that does it for tonight. That's our show.

Bless our kids all over the country.

Bless you all, and good night, everyone.

Thank you very much.

Good night, everyone. Thank you, good night.

Thank you. Thank you very very much.

Great show, Danny, great!

Good. Not great. Why didn't you tell me there was a new guy on the cue cards?

I didn't know. You don't know anything.

Get the lighter. Come on, move it, move it.

I'll do it myself.

Where's the towel? Gimme that towel.

Mr. Brite, my name is Mannix.

What's so funny about that? I'd like to talk to you.

These boys are just back from Vietnam. Why don't you talk to them?

Give a couple of heroes a break.

Where's the coffee, Sam, the coffee?

Coming right up, Dan. No, no, I'll--

Dad!

Mr. Brite.

My boy, my kid, my own little throwback.

22 years later, still watching the old man do his number.

He has to or go without dinner.

And I want to tell you something,

he missed lots of meals in Vietnam.

He was one of the grunts over there,

in the thick of the really tough fighting in Phen Trang.

Come on, Dad,

What do you need, kid? Need a few bills or something?

(Man) If I did, I'd ask. That's what I don't want you to do.

I don't want you to have to ask. Here, take it, go on, take it.

Take it. Go. Go liberate a woman.

Go on, Joey. Make it a pretty one.

Mr. Brite, I'd still like to talk to you.

I'm busy, pal. Do you mind if I ignore you later?

I think we should talk.

I only play to live audiences.

Which eliminates Charlie Frome.

Listen, Mannix, don't think I don't feel bad about what happened to Charlie.

Funny men bleed, too, you know?

Wish there was something I could do.

Sam, you gonna let the man stand there? Ask the man to sit down.

Sure, won't you sit down, Mr. Mannix?

See if the man wants a drink. Would you like a drink, Mr. Mannix?

Dad, I'll do that.

If I want your help, I'll ask you for it.

What'll you have? Nothing, thank you.

There is something you can do for me, Danny.

Yeah.

Tell me what Charlie Frome was working on.

Now that's confidential. You know that.

Now if you could use some money, funeral expenses.

All I want is information.

Look, you heard what the man said. It's confidential.

Sam, stop shooting off your mouth.

The man wants some information.

Okay, that confidential it's not.

Charlie was trying to track down an old hoofer I used to know.

Who'd think he'd meet with an accident?

It wasn't an accident. They said it was hit and run.

Whoever was driving that car meant to hit Charlie.

Now hold it, Mannix, just hold it.

You trying to tie me into something?

All I'm trying to say is that Charlie Frome was killed purposely

and yours seems to be the only case he was working on. It's as simple as that.

I told you! You don't listen, do you?

Charlie was trying to track down an old broken down hoofer I used to know.

Why would anybody want to kill him for that?

Well, when you're looking for people, things happen.

Oh.

By the way, who is that hoofer?

A guy by the name of Harry Henderson.

Well, look Mr. Mannix, you know, if the papers get a hold of a story like this

and with Danny's name-- Sam's right.

Why don't you just let it cool off, huh?

I mean, there's nothing we can do for Charlie now.

Unless a couple of hundred.

Now that's funny, Danny. That's really funny.

You ought to keep it in the act.

I'm sorry, Danny.

Forget it.

(CAR TELEPHONE RINGING)

Mannix. Yeah, Peggy, what've you got?

No listing for an Ella Holland, but I did find one for Stan Holland.

5757 North Hollywood Drive.

Maybe she's there.

Mrs. Holland? Yes.

My name is Joe Mannix. I'm a private investigator.

I wonder if we could talk.

About what, Mr. Mannix?

Danny Brite. I don't know him.

The Danny Brite. I still don't know him.

How about Charlie Frome?

I don't know him, either. If you'll excuse me--

How about Stan?

Please come in.

What about Stan?

I'd like to talk to him as well.

I'm afraid that's impossible, Mr. Mannix.

Why?

Stan is dead.

He was killed in Vietnam.

This came from the Defense Department five months ago.

This says your husband is missing in action.

There's a chance he's still alive.

He's dead, Mr. Mannix.

(SIGHS) There's nothing to talk about.

Now you know as much as I do, Art.

The tapes, Danny Brite and Ella Holland.

Somehow they're all tied in to Charlie Frome's death.

And this rifle almost tied into yours.

Any prints on it? No.

(BUZZER SOUNDS)

Malcolm. Yeah.

Anything else?

All right. Thanks.

Well, this rifle was issued to Corporal Stanley P. Holland.

Reported missing in action five months ago in Vietnam.

He's not missing any longer.

All right, supposing he is here. How'd he get here without the Army knowing about it?

He could have switched IDs with someone.

Could have. But why go to all that trouble?

Unless it's a cover for something Holland intends to do?

Considering that Charlie Frome is dead and you've been shot at,

he's already doing it.

Oh, but even so, it's a pretty shaky theory

with several large holes in it.

Well, the thing to do is plug them.

Be careful, Joe, or you'll get plugged first!

Mr. Mannix.

I'm glad you could make it, Mrs. Holland. Please sit down.

Thank you, Paul.

You did say it was important. Yes.

Do you wish to order now? Mrs. Holland.

Martini, please. I'll have another one of these, thanks.

What was so important, Mr. Mannix?

It's about your husband, Mrs. Holland. (TELEPHONE RINGS)

I thought we'd cleared that up. No, not quite.

You told me he was dead.

Missing in action. It's the same thing.

A call for you, Mrs. Holland.

There must be some mistake.

Are you sure, Paul? The party asked for Mrs. Holland.

Hello.

(Stan) Ella, it's me.

How did you know where-- Listen, I'm okay. I'm all right.

I can't talk now. Look, I don't have too much time to talk.

Excuse me. All right, Peggy, that's fine.

Thank you.

Now about your husband Stan.

I don't understand.

Thank you.

I don't understand.

That was Stan's voice you just recognized.

But what you heard, Mrs. Holland, was one side of a conversation

you had with Stan about three weeks ago,

a conversation that Charlie Frome recorded on tape.

That may be the reason Stan killed him.

No, that isn't true!

And he also took a shot at me

when I left your apartment this afternoon.

Now the police have the weapon, an M16 rifle,

Stan's rifle when he was in Vietnam.

Now I think maybe you'd better start telling me what this is all about.

I don't know. I don't know!

Stan said something about our receiving instructions, a letter.

Did you get it? Yes.

What did it tell you to do?

Go to a place on Monogram Drive

and wait.

A car would drop off an attaché case.

I was to take it somewhere and leave it.

Where?

An abandoned warehouse.

Where Charlie Frome was killed.

I didn't know. I swear.

I saw the man.

He was in the middle of the street.

He was already dead.

I didn't know who it was.

It it looked like an accident.

I was afraid to call the police.

I couldn't explain what I was doing there myself.

So you ran?

Did you see anyone else?

No. No one.

Stan had nothing to do with this. I know he didn't.

He could never deliberately hurt anyone.

Never! He hated violence of any kind.

People sometimes change in a war.

Not Stan.

He couldn't.

Any idea where he is?

You must believe me.

One more question.

That attaché case, did you see what was in it?

No.

I just left it there and ran.

Mrs. Holland, right now your husband is suspected

of murdering Charlie Frome and making an attempt on my life.

Now if he does try to get in touch with you,

I'd suggest that you tell him to give himself up.

Now if he's innocent, he'll get a chance to prove it.

All right, Mr. Mannix. If I hear from Stan, I'll let you know.

I'm going to Danny's place, Sam. I'll meet you there.

I just can't make it, that's all.

I can't hack it. It's too heavy.

You just can't seem to make it anywhere, Joey.

You got your head on upside down and you keep tripping over it.

Greg, talk to him. Knock some sense into him.

My father runs errands for you, Danny, not me.

Your father and I have been together a long time and--

We'll talk about it later.

Well here today,

here tomorrow.

What is it this time, Mannix?

You tell me, Danny. Tell you what?

Why you had Sam tail me. I'm sorry, Dan. I did the best I could.

I heard what you said a second ago.

Where do you come off talking to Danny like that?

Ease up, Sam. Heroes, they like to make noise.

Come on out, both of you. Move.

Out. Out.

Look at them.

They fight a war. Still kids.

Okay, so Sam was keeping an eye on you.

Anything illegal about that?

No, but I would like to know why.

Because I still think you're trying to tie me in with Charlie Frome's death.

And I got a right to protect myself.

Maybe you don't need protection. I don't know.

Maybe I'm trying to help. When I need you, I'll rattle your cage.

You better start rattling, Danny.

That Harry Henderson story is about as phony as a tap dancer's smile.

You didn't send Charlie Frome out looking for Harry.

He's right where you left him. You ought to know.

You paid for his funeral three years ago.

Okay, but it's still none of your business.

Maybe he can help. Shut up, Sam.

Danny, they're trying to bleed you to death.

You'll have to excuse Sam. He has a very big problem.

He opens things by mistake. Mainly his mouth.

So that's it, huh, Danny? Someone's blackmailing you.

Blackmail? Who said anything about blackmail?

Did you hear anybody say anything about blackmail?

It's just like Sam said, the guy will bleed you forever, Danny,

unless you get smart.

Come on, Mannix even a train comes to a stop.

Now you listen to me.

You want to keep your license, keep your nose out of my business.

See them?

I've got important friends.

Friends who can make things happen.

I don't like to deprive a guy of his living, but--

Charlie Frome was working for you, Danny.

Somebody deprived Charlie of his living.

I'll see you around,

as soon as I find out who.

I'm sorry, Danny.

Yeah, sure, Sam.

(EXPLOSION)

(TIRES SCREECH)

How's the ringing in the ears?

I can almost hear you.

You said the grenade was thrown from a car. Did you get a good look at the car?

Not really. Red sports car.

That's all?

I was a little busy getting out of the way, Art.

This guy apparently has quite an arsenal.

I just wish I knew what the war was all about

other than that Danny Brite is being blackmailed.

Danny Brite said that?

Well, he didn't admit it, but it's a fact.

The question is what's he being blackmailed for?

Joe, a man like Danny Brite makes a lot of enemies over the years.

He gets involved with a lot of shadowy characters.

Yeah, Stan Holland is about as shadowy as they come.

Mr. Mannix's office. Yes, Miss Porter.

Is he there? I want to speak to him right away.

Oh, here he comes now, just a second.

It's Miss Porter and it sounds serious. Yes, Ceil. What is it?

Mr. Mannix, I think there's somebody in Charlie's apartment.

There's a light on under the door.

I was gonna call the police, but then I thought I'd better call you.

Now look, you stay in your apartment. I'll be right over.

Okay.

Call Malcolm. Tell him I want Charlie Frome's building surrounded.

No noise, a prowler. Just tell him Code Two.

This may be our dead man Stan Holland.

He's still there. I heard him. He must be turning the place upside down.

Is there a back door to the apartment? No.

But there's a door at the end of the hallway. It leads to the carport.

Stay in your apartment. Okay.

All right, whoever you are in there, come on out with your hands in sight now!

Did you see him?

No, but I've got an idea who he is.

I take it my Code Two was a few seconds late.

Yeah, it was Sam Westlake's car.

Are you sure?

But I don't think he's found what he was after.

What makes you say that?

He would've been long gone before I broke in.

He was searching right up to the last minute.

Wow, what a mess.

Do you have any idea what he was looking for?

No idea at all.

Sure didn't miss a bet, though.

Wait a minute.

I think I know why he didn't find what he was after.

Why? Because it isn't here.

Makes sense.

Whatever it was, Sam Westlake knew Charlie had it.

So? Charlie could have hidden it anywhere.

Some other place entirely.

Safe deposit box or maybe he gave it to someone to hold

Or both.

Would you mind making that a little clearer?

Ceil, have they given you back that cassette recorder yet?

Mm-hmm.

Our property clerk gave it to her this afternoon, but --

Would you mind getting it for me? Sure thing.

Joe, I told you we checked that tape.

It was blank.

Why would Sam Westlake want a blank tape?

I don't think it was the tape he was after.

The recorder itself. Yeah, I hope so. Thank you.

There's your safe deposit box, Art.

(Art) What do you make of it?

It looks like a fragging on the way to happen right in the middle of combat.

A what?

It's when a superior is killed by one of his own men.

It's usually done with a fragmentation grenade.

Oh, that's ugly.

There's probably a lot more film of the action than just this one shot.

A whole roll, maybe.

Which would be what the blackmailer is using for leverage.

Yeah, and I've got a hunch this is Stan Holland.

He looks dead.

You've heard his voice so we know he survived somehow.

What about the other two, particularly that one with the grenade?

Any hunches about them?

About one of them.

Combat photographers?

I want the man who took that picture at Phen Trang.

But, Joe, there've been hundreds of combat photographers

covering the fighting in Vietnam.

Yeah, I know.

I'm sure there's some office in Washington who's kept track of them

and can tell you exactly when they were assigned to Phen Trang.

Now if you'll turn that picture over, you'll

see a tiny code number along the lower edge.

That ought to help a little.

Of course, you need this information immediately.

I can't wait that long.

Pop, it's my life.

I'll handle it my way.

You're out of touch with reality. Joey, you don't know what's good for you.

I know what I feel. And I know what isn't good for me.

You don't know anything.

And until I'm convinced that you do, you'll listen to me. You got that?

Oh, Pop. Joey, do you understand me?

Do you? Yes.

(DOORBELL RINGS) Now go upstairs.

I don't want you talking to anyone.

Mr. Mannix is here.

What'd you do, Mannix? Pick the lock on your cage?

You don't give up, do you? Not without a fight.

Sam didn't find that. I did.

Rough.

Things happen in a war.

Where's Joey?

What makes you think Joey's got something to do with that?

Oh, come on, Danny, this is part of the blackmail, isn't it?

Mannix, somebody tried to nail you last night.

You don't catch on too quickly, do you?

Now look, the man on the ground is Stan Holland, but he's alive

and he's blackmailing you.

You gave this picture to Charlie Frome and asked him to find Holland for you.

I don't know him, never even heard of him.

Danny!

The man in the back,

that's Joey, isn't it?

Do you think my kid would have something to do with a thing like that?

You do. What are you saying?

Otherwise you wouldn't be paying off Holland.

I'm waiting for the answer.

Danny!

That is Joey throwing the hand grenade, isn't it?

Look, Mannix,

if you're trying to frame my kid, don't. That's a warning.

Now, Danny, come on, use your head.

Holland's not in this alone. There was somebody else there.

Somebody who took this picture.

Behind every camera, there's a cameraman.

Why don't you go down to the local press club? Maybe he's hanging around.

He'd be the one in the trench coat.

Sure, Danny.

I'll do that.

Oh, it's you again.

We just keep running into one another, don't we, Sam?

Of course, that meeting the other night was a little on the rough side,

but then I don't mind.

You see, that crack on the skull knocked a little sense into me.

Sounds more like somebody knocked out whatever brains you had.

I've got the whole picture now, Sam.

You made a blackmail payment the night Charlie Frome was killed.

It's Joey that Stan Holland is really after, isn't it?

You would have made a great poker player, Sam.

Mannix,.

Joey is his only kid. Now what would you do?

I don't know. I really don't know, Sam.

But I do know that Charlie Frome is dead.

I was just trying to call you.

Any luck? Good and bad.

It was in an action at Phen Trang that Stan Holland turned up missing.

The combat photographer who covered that action is here in L.A.

His name is Frank Ferris.

So what's bad?

He's in the hospital, Joe. Hit and run.

You looking for me, Joe?

No, Art, there's a hit and run victim here.. Frank Ferris.

You're about five minutes late. He died?

While I was talking to him.

Was he someone you knew?

No, but he might have been able to put some light on that photograph.

I think he took it.

He was talking about Vietnam when he checked out.

He said the driver of the car that hit him was someone he knew over there.

Stan Holland? Could be. He never got the name out.

You have a visitor.

What are you doing here? I need help

I'd say you do. Not for me. For Danny.

Maybe he isn't the greatest old man in the world.

Hanging this on him is too heavy.

The blackmail?

Yeah.

Stan wants another payoff tonight.

I've begged Danny to stop protecting me,

but he won't do it.

Mr. Mannix, I've gotta pay my dues for what I did.

I've got to.

It's ripping me up inside.

What did you do?

I flipped out.

This sergeant we had, real gung ho type.

He kept moving the squad up,

guys kept getting killed left and right.

I kept begging him to turn back.

We didn't have a chance.

Then there was only the sergeant, Stan and me left.

Then Stan got it.

I thought sure he was dead.

So you threw the hand grenade and ran.

I told you.

I flipped out.

I haven't slept for months. Not one whole night through.

I keep seeing it happen over and over again.

Tell me, how did Stan Holland get a hold of that film?

I don't know.

What really tears me is

why would he use it against me?

We we fought side by side.

Why would he turn on me? What made him do this?

Maybe you'll get a chance to ask him. Where's the payoff taking place?

Down near the Marina. Scott's Lumber Yard.

Mr. Mannix, my father's got a gun.

He's gonna kill him.

It's locked. There's a gate open here.

No, Pop, no!

It's no good. I can't let you got in any deeper.

Stop protecting me!

I told you, I'm turning myself in.

They'll put you in prison, Joey.

You're not ready for that.

You're not tough enough. Pop, please.

I'll find a way. Just let me do what I think is right.

Danny, this is not your bag.

Give Mannix a chance. (CLATTERING)

Stay here!

(GUNSHOTS)

Oh, no!

No! Greg!

Joey, I didn't mean to hurt you.

You gotta to believe me.

Get an ambulance. Use the phone in my car. Go on.

Greg, Greg, how'd you get hold of that film?

I shot it.

Guy offered me a couple of hundred to fill in for him

up at Phen Trang.

Frank Ferris the combat photographer?

Yeah.

I was way back

using a long lens.

I shot the fragging before I even knew it was happening.

Then then the guy who did it

ran by me. I saw it was Joey.

He didn't see me. He didn't even know I was there.

So you decided to use the film to bleed Danny.

I wanted to get even with him for what he'd done to my father all these years.

What about Stan Holland? Where's he?

He's in a shack by the river in Phen Trang.

Friend of mine has him.

He thinks he's surrounded by V.C.

He's blind.

In other words, you taped his voice over there

and then you edited the phone calls to convince everybody

that Holland was the blackmailer.

That's right.

When Charlie Frome started poking around,

you decided to play it safe and you got rid of him and Ferris.

I was afraid you'd find him.

All you had to do was go back and get rid of Holland

and let a dead man take the blame.

I didn't want to end up like my father.

Running for coffee

and doughnuts.

(GASPS)

The ambulance is on its way.

I'm afraid it won't do any good now.

Somebody better notify Sam.

I'll do it.

I'll go with you, all the way.