Original subtitles

♪ (THEME MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Mannix s8e07 A Small Favor For An Old Friend

♪ ♪

We're all set, Mr. Vanaman.

Hello, Endicott.

Angel, why don't you get aboard?

♪ ♪

Keep me company.

(JET ENGINE WHIRRING)

Relax.

Birds were born to fly, not men.

Do you smell anything burning?

San Francisco Control Tower, San Francisco Control Tower,

this is Citation Ten Uncle Charlie.

I smell something burning.

I think I may have a baggage compartment fire.

I'm going aft to take a look.

Citation Ten Uncle Charlie,

San Francisco Control standing by.

Roger.

Watch the store.

He's passing 12,000.

Hey, he's off the screen.

♪ ♪

Hi, Peggy.

Nice to be home.

Let me know when you decide to say hello, huh?

Joe.

It's about Harry Endicott.

This was five days ago.

You were in the Sierras.

I couldn't reach you.

This came last week.

It's from Harry.

"Joe, I think I'm into something way over my head.

"I'm leaving for Acapulco tonight,

"returning day after tomorrow.

"If there's trouble, I may need your help.

Thanks, Harry."

This was mailed the day before he was killed.

Peggy, call Kit Endicott.

Tell her I'm on my way up, huh?

Joe, I called her when I read about it.

The phone number's been disconnected.

And the apartment manager said the Endicotts

haven't lived there for months.

They split up.

Did he have any idea where she went?

No.

And San Francisco information doesn't have a number on her.

Hmm.

Harry used to hang out at a place called, uh,

the Butler's Pantry.

Maybe they know something.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Hello, Art.

What do you say, Joe?

Three days in a row... we should be flattered.

You must like the way Dotty builds drinks.

Irish rocks, Dotty.

Three days in a row?

What are you talking about?

What I'm talking about, Joe,

is that you don't come in here for months at a time,

and suddenly, you're here three days in a row.

Look, Art, you got to cut down on the sauce.

I wasn't in here yesterday or the day before.

Sure, Joe.

Hey, come to think of it, I haven't been here for...

oh, at least a year.

If you say so, Joe.

Irish rocks.

Thank you.

Say, Art, I'm looking for Kit Endicott.

I heard she and Harry split up.

You're asking me?

Yeah, last time I talked to him about six weeks ago,

he didn't say anything about it.

Six weeks ago?

Mm-hmm.

I just heard about the accident this morning.

I was up at Twin Valley Lake.

You've been where?

The Sierras.

For the past three weeks.

Sure, Joe... Twin Valley Lake.

Yeah, what about Kit?

Haven't got a clue.

You have any idea what Harry was up to?

Uh, was he in any trouble?

When wasn't he in trouble?

That was a lousy trick, Joe.

You could have at least called.

Do we know each other?

I waited an hour and a half last night.

Well, I'm sorry about that.

It won't happen again.

You bet it won't.

Don't call me; I'll call you.

Hey, Art, uh...

maybe you can tell me what that was all about, huh?

Off the top of my head,

I'd say that was a lady you stood up last night.

I never saw the lady before in my life.

Okay, Joe.

Like I told you, whatever you say.

Freshen his drink.

ART: Hey, Joe.

If you weren't in here yesterday,

how did I get your key?

My key?

To your apartment.

MAN: Mr. Mannix?

I got your message.

That dishwasher that was on the fritz...

somebody broke a whiskey bottle in it.

Great big chunks of glass all over the bottom.

That's why it wouldn't work.

Boy, that must have been some party.

(DROPS LETTERS ON TABLE)

♪ ♪

(MANNIX GROANS SOFTLY)

You'll live.

Who are you?

(LIQUID POURING, GLASSES TINKLING)

The name is Shaeffer.

Carl Shaeffer.

I'm pretty sure I saw the man who did all this.

Big black gentleman.

He had an attaché case,

so maybe he found

whatever he was looking for.

I suppose you were just passing by?

I'm with the Aviation Underwriters of America.

We're carrying most of the coverage

on Harry Endicott's aircraft.

I heard you and Endicott were old wartime buddies.

Yeah, Korea.

When my company stands to take a $680,000 loss

for an airplane that exploded in mid-air,

we'd like to know how it happened, and why.

Sounds reasonable.

If the insured was involved in illegal activities,

the claim could be invalidated.

That, Mr. Shaeffer,

sounds like a threat.

A fact, Mr. Mannix.

Read it in paragraph two-A of the policy.

Harry Endicott was flying a man named Angel Moreno to Acapulco.

Angel Moreno was employed

by a man named Andrew Vanaman.

Andrew Vanaman is, reputedly,

a syndicate executive.

Very big.

Vanaman has a chauffeur,

looks amazingly like

that black gentleman I saw downstairs.

Now look, Shaeffer,

I know as much about Harry Endicott's business

as I know about why my name

is splattered all over this apartment.

Now for the past three weeks, I was up in the Sierras

at Twin Valley Lake.

And, of course, at that remote place,

nobody saw you in those three weeks?

That's right.

Speaking of three weeks,

I have a friend in the California Department of State.

Just about three weeks ago,

the articles of incorporation

of the Endicott Air Charter Company were amended.

The secretary-treasurer was named

Joseph Mannix.

I heard you were asking about Harry Endicott's wife.

She's staying at an apartment in Pacific Heights.

The Shoreham.

Joe.

Hello, Kit.

Hi.

Come on in.

Uh, can I get you anything, Joe?

You want coffee or a drink or something?

No, thanks.

I...

didn't hear about Harry until just this morning.

Was he in some kind of trouble?

I hadn't talked with him in more than two months.

Kit,

just what happened between you two?

One blonde too many.

Good, old, loyal friend Joe, huh?

You know, if this hadn't happened,

and Harry called on you for help,

I'll bet you'd have just come running, wouldn't you?

He would have done the same for me.

Harry never did anything in his life

for anybody but Harry.

That time he pulled you out of the burning half-track,

he did it to prove he was the better man.

You didn't know your old friend.

You just didn't know him at all.

Kit, he's dead.

Then there's nothing more for you to do,

so you can go back to Los Angeles.

Please.

(SIGHS)

Would you have any idea

why someone would set up an apartment

to make it look as though it were mine?

No, I don't know why.

But he's dead, Joe.

It just doesn't matter any more.

Go home.

I think I'll stick around a while, Kit.

I want to know who Art Butler saw yesterday.

It certainly wasn't me.

Anyway, if you think of something,

give me a call.

I'm sure I'm in the book.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Uh, Mr. Mannix.

That's right.

Mr. V. would like to see you.

Who's he?

Mr. Vanaman.

I'm afraid I don't know him.

I wouldn't say that matters exactly.

(ENGINE STARTING)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Sit down, Mannix.

Get him a drink.

Fresh martinis?

(CHUCKLES)

Beats old ones.

How do you like the place?

I'm impressed.

Now, that's Anita's doing.

She decorated the whole place.

She's a very classy lady.

Also makes a great martini.

Well, that's her thing.

Antique stuff, you know, Chippendale desks,

Queen Anne chairs, Governor Winthrop whatevers.

You know, my old man came from Portugal.

I was born here in North Beach.

You know, I never tasted a steak until I was 14 years old.

I stole a T-bone right out of a restaurant kitchen.

You know, I worked hard for all this, Mannix.

I fought for it.

I fight to keep it,

and nobody's going to steal anything from me.

I'm still impressed.

What's the point?

The other night, with my own eyes,

I saw Angel Moreno get into Harry Endicott's plane,

and with my own eyes, I saw that plane take off.

You with me so far?

I'm trying my best.

Yeah, all of a sudden poor Harry and poor Angel

are at the bottom of that bay.

Want to know something, Mannix?

That case that was attached to Angel's wrist,

it's not on the plane anymore.

Now, how could you know that?

It was found in your apartment, empty.

What was in it before it was empty?

Dollars, lots of them.

A million and a half.

You know, it wasn't a bad plan.

I figure a switch came

between the ramp and the runway.

Angel was probably in on it.

He had to be. Yeah.

I guess the cases were switched at the end of the runway, right?

Thanks.

Enjoy.

How about some air?

Yeah, that's how it was done, all right.

When the delivery was made and the case was opened,

instead of finding a million and a half dollars

in hundred dollar bills,

they'd find old newspapers and magazines.

Since I gave the case to Angel, he couldn't have done it,

and Harry couldn't have done it, but you, you went out

to the end of the runway before the plane took off.

You switched cases with Angel.

I'll bet the bomb was in the case you gave Angel,

or you planted it someplace else.

However you did it,

like I said before, it wasn't a bad plan.

That wasn't a bad double cross you pulled on Angel and Harry.

Honey, what's that, you know,

when somebody gets something they don't expect

and yet they deserve?

Poetic justice.

That's it, poetic justice.

That's what you're gonna get, Mannix,

poetic justice and a lot of it.

- I wasn't even there. - You were there!

I saw you there on the flight line

before the plane took off.

I said to Harry, "Hey",

who was that guy in the blue coveralls and the dark glasses?"

He said, "That's my new partner, Joe Mannix."

Look, Mannix, I'll tell you, I admire a guy with ambition,

but a million and a half dollars worth?

Come on, that's too much ambition.

If I had the money, it would be pretty stupid of me

to sit around and wait for you to find me.

You'd be stupid not to sit around.

Look, Mannix, I'll tell you what I'll do.

You come up with the dough,

we'll forget the whole scam. Okay?

What do I have to do to convince you you're wrong?

Mannix, the money.

One more for the road, Mr. Mannix?

Hand it over, Mannix, before you run out of road.

One thing I'll say for you, Mannix.

You tell a fascinating story.

But you're not buying?

Three weeks in the Sierras?

Not a living soul seeing you there?

Letters from Harry Endicott?

I know what it sounds like.

Did you know Endicott had no life insurance?

Maybe he didn't believe in it.

Just shows you how wrong he was.

I'm trying to make the point

that this would seem to rule out Mrs. Endicott.

Rule her out from what?

Mannix, the plane was destroyed

by an explosive device.

A heavily-insured wife is a prime suspect.

Oh.

So we're back to square one: me.

I said this would seem to rule out Mrs. Endicott.

Look, a third man was at the airport.

We'll call him Mr. X.

Now, why isn't it possible that Mrs. Endicott,

bitter and humiliated, hooked up with this Mr. X,

and together they planned and carried out the double-cross?

Why would Harry identify me to Vanaman?

He was in trouble.

He needed your name to keep him out of a six-foot hole.

It is possible, you know.

The problem is: how do we get Mrs. Endicott

to reveal Mr. X's real identity?

What you mean is, how do I get her to reveal it.

I guess that is what I mean.

And suppose she's not involved and I can't clear myself.

What happens then?

Well, then you'll have a choice:

me, which eventually also means the law,

or Andrew Vanaman.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

A rock and a hard place, huh?

You don't care how you save your company 680,000, do you?

Uh, oh, in case you're interested,

I'm on my way to see Art Butler.

I'd like to find out

who he's been talking to the past few days.

Mannix.

Take the rear elevator.

I guess Mr. V just doesn't trust you.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

Stay with that red cab.

♪ ♪

Thanks.

Hello, Mannix.

Don't you ever wear that coat?

Move.

Uh, not now. I'm looking for someone.

Mr. V says you're not cooperating.

He'd like us to show you how.

Into the car, please.

I'll talk to him later.

Get into the car.

Your choice: with or without a hole in you.

Come on! Come on!

(TROLLEY BELL RINGING)

♪ ♪

(GUNSHOT)

(BULLET RICOCHETS)

(MACHINES HUMMING)

Is there any other way he can get out of here?

Not without us seeing him.

(GUNSHOT)

Go around.

Got you.

(TROLLEY BELL RINGING)

Okay, baby.

- Hey, what is this? - "What is this?"

She leaves the twins at home... still in diapers...

and you ask, "What is this?"

That's it, baby, the party's over. You're going home.

Uh, nice meeting you.

Yeah.

I thought we'd keep our date after all.

Now, about standing you up the other day...

You better let me out of here.

Not till you tell me what it's all about.

It was a joke.

A practical joke, he said.

- Who said? - Art Butler.

He said you'd be in in a couple of days.

Would I play this joke?

So I did.

Did he say why he was playing the joke?

No.

Harry Endicott's wife came in just about then.

His wife?

The one he split up with.

She came in to meet Harry.

Art Butler around?

Haven't seen him all day.

Irish, rocks?

No. Where is he?

Didn't say.

He's probably on a fishing trip, in the Sierras.

I've been looking for you, Mannix.

Come on.

I have a friend at the branch of Northern Bay Trust

where Harry Endicott had an account.

It may be slightly unethical, but he let me see

some of Endicott's recent cancelled checks.

Lombard Photographers.

So he had a few pictures taken.

Passport pictures.

Okay, so he was going abroad.

Endicott's passport was renewed last year;

he wouldn't need another one for a little while.

You get new passport photos for only one reason: a new passport.

Harry didn't need a new one.

That's right.

Unless he was using a different name.

You learn fast, Mannix.

Oh, yeah, I'm a real fast study.

You know what I think?

I think your good friend Harry Endicott is still alive.

And I think you know where he is.

I can help you, Mannix, if you'll let me.

Straight into a five-to-life rap.

Not if you find Endicott for us.

Every man for himself, huh?

Come on, Mannix.

Why do you think you're walking around loose?

You're the decoy.

We're figuring on you taking us to Endicott or the money,

whichever comes first.

I don't particularly care which.

(CHUCKLES)

You're all heart, Shaeffer.

I know.

All right, you were set up.

Well, maybe so.

It's happened to a lot smarter guys.

Yeah.

How much time do I have?

How much time do you need?

Maybe a day or...

Take two.

Thanks.

Oh, just so you know where you stand,

I also have a friend at the FAA.

He let me borrow some of these.

That parachute harness was found

early this morning on the beach near Pillar Point.

He really set you up, your old buddy.

Yeah.

Pigeon of the year.

You were with Harry last week.

You told me you hadn't seen him for months!

All right, I lied.

Why?

He's alive, isn't he?

- Isn't he?! - Yes.

Yes, he's alive.

Joe, I swear to you, I didn't know anything about it

until Harry called me the day after the crash.

I had to lie to you.

He made me promise.

What'd he say?

That you'd be showing up,

and that he was going to leave the country as soon as he could.

He... he wants me to go with him.

He still loves me, Joe.

And what about you, Kit?

Well, I...

I told him I'd think about it.

But no.

I'm going to need your help, Kit.

Now, Harry was still over the coast

when he radioed that he was in trouble.

Now, the way I figured it,

he set the automatic pilot on climb,

and then he bailed out just before the plane exploded...

with Angel Moreno still in it.

Angel was probably already dead.

Harry would have had to kill him to get that attaché case.

Now...

did Harry say where he was?

He called a little while ago.

He said I'm to be at a phone booth

near the Palace of Fine Arts at exactly 4:00 this afternoon.

But I'm not going.

Well, I'm afraid you are.

And I'm going with you.

Harry set me up.

Joe, let him go. Let him have the money.

Kit, Harry killed a man.

He said I'm to take the 5:00 ferry to Alcatraz.

And then I'm supposed to sort of drift away from the tour

and meet him at the north side of the island.

That's it?

That's all he told me.

Hard to believe he'll just be there waiting.

He will, though, Joe.

He really trusts me.

Well,

I'd better call Shaeffer and let him know.

Joe, after that,

after you tell him where Harry is,

can we leave then?

I'm sorry.

You got to show up.

So do I.

Joe.

I thought you said Shaeffer had them on a leash.

Looks like the leash broke.

You disappoint me, Mannix.

I had a hunch you were mixed up in this, Mrs. Endicott.

You made a deal with that insurance man, didn't you?

Frisk him.

Turn around.

What do you do when it rains?

He's clean.

All right, now we walk nice and easy to my car.

And cough up that money... and I mean right now.

I can't get to it yet.

Bruce...

do you think Mrs. Endicott's pretty?

Not bad.

Do you think you could fix it so she doesn't look so pretty?

Any time you say, Mr. V.

Okay.

I thought you'd see it my way.

All right, let's go.

No, Joe.

We don't have a choice, Kit.

They'll kill him.

Kill him? Kill who?

(SNAPS FINGERS)

Of course.

You're talking about Harry, aren't you?

Yes, Mrs. Endicott, we certainly will kill him.

After we get my money.

Let's go.

I'll drive.

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(THUD)

I... I couldn't stop.

She... she ran right in front of me.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Drinks are on me, Joe.

No, thanks, Harry.

I make a great martini.

Almost as good as that, uh, Japanese kid at the Marunouchi.

- Remember him? - I remember.

Yeah, what was his name?

Uh, Toya, Toya, uh, uh, uh...

Toshida, yeah.

Uh, Tooshi, we called him.

Yeah.

His martinis went down like powder.

Three of them, the whole city of Tokyo

was just one small village.

Ah.

You're making a big mistake, Joe.

Won't be the first.

To friendship.

Harry...

Harry, why'd you do it?

Oh, come on, Joe.

Why do you think I did it?

Time, buddy, time.

Nearly five whole days.

While they were all chasing you around for the money,

they stopped thinking about me.

I was dead.

Worked out beautifully.

I'm taking you back, Harry.

You owe me a favor, Joe.

I'm collecting.

You already collected.

The slate's clean.

You mean that, don't you?

Murder is against the rules, Harry.

(HARRY SIGHS)

Where's Kit?

She won't be here.

Yeah, well, I... figured it was even money.

She's dead.

That's a bad joke, Joe.

No joke, Harry.

She was trying to get here ahead of Vanaman.

You sure you don't want this?

That's all you can say?

What do you want me to say?

Nothing, I guess.

Let's go, Harry.

Joe, tonight at 10:00, right out there,

there's going to be a freighter, the Star of Tripoli.

Now, she's headed south... Venezuela, Brazil.

She's sending a dinghy to pick me up.

You can join me.

Some crisp, green cash for walking-around money.

Say, a quarter of a million dollars.

Okay, half a million.

Let's go, Harry.

I should have remembered.

You're straight.

Well, we can't all be perfect.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(SCREAMS)

We found Art Butler

trying to board a plane for Mexico City.

He had $250,000 on him.

Butler was the man

who impersonated you at the airport.

He talked a blue streak.

You're in the clear.

Yeah.

In the clear.