1
00:00:03,103 --> 00:00:04,838
<i>...the freeway just
before Magic Mountain,</i>

2
00:00:04,938 --> 00:00:07,374
<i>over a mile backup there.
Paramedics are at the scene.</i>

3
00:00:07,474 --> 00:00:09,376
<i>Weather-wise, hardly a cloud in the sky.</i>

4
00:00:09,476 --> 00:00:12,512
<i>Temperatures at Civic Center,
76, but don't let that fool you.</i>

5
00:00:12,613 --> 00:00:14,715
<i>Our weatherman warns that</i>
<i>the storm moving in from the northwest...</i>

6
00:00:14,815 --> 00:00:17,751
<i>should hit sometime this evening.
Umbrella time, folks. Keep 'em handy.</i>

7
00:00:17,851 --> 00:00:20,420
<i>On the political front,</i>
<i>the hot topic is the guessing game...</i>

8
00:00:20,521 --> 00:00:22,990
<i>as to who Governor Montgomery will pick
as his presidential running mate.</i>

9
00:00:23,257 --> 00:00:26,093
<i>No word from the governor, who continues
the careful weighing of options...</i>

10
00:00:26,193 --> 00:00:28,529
<i>that has been his style</i>
<i>since the beginning of the campaign.</i>

11
00:00:28,629 --> 00:00:30,631
<i>From campaign headquarters
at the Biltmore Hotel,</i>

12
00:00:30,731 --> 00:00:33,066
<i>a spokesman indicated we should not
expect an announcement...</i>

13
00:00:33,166 --> 00:00:35,736
<i>before primary night,
now only four days away.</i>

14
00:00:35,836 --> 00:00:37,771
<i>Reflecting speculation
across the country,</i>

15
00:00:37,871 --> 00:00:39,339
<i>polls conducted by the L.A. Times...</i>

16
00:00:39,439 --> 00:00:42,075
<i>and among our listeners</i>
<i>show the front-runner for the VP spot...</i>

17
00:00:42,175 --> 00:00:45,345
<i>to be our own popular Congressman,
Paul Mackey. In sports...</i>

18
00:00:45,579 --> 00:00:47,848
– How do I look?
– Terrific.

19
00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:52,719
Neil Axton, please.
Oscar Finch calling.

20
00:00:52,819 --> 00:00:54,788
San Francisco's our
Achilles' heel, Oscar.

21
00:00:54,888 --> 00:00:57,925
That's why we're about to buy baby
a new pair of shoes.

22
00:00:58,258 --> 00:01:02,229
Hello, Neil.
This is Oscar. How are you?

23
00:01:02,429 --> 00:01:05,732
Glad to hear it.
Oh, I'm just fine, thanks.

24
00:01:05,832 --> 00:01:08,268
Paul Mackey and I are on
our way to the Biltmore,

25
00:01:08,368 --> 00:01:10,070
and things are looking
pretty good for the primary...

26
00:01:10,170 --> 00:01:13,106
apart from San Francisco,
which is a bit slow.

27
00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,410
We need some help there,
fast. Mmm-hmm.

28
00:01:16,510 --> 00:01:18,679
How about 750,000?

29
00:01:18,779 --> 00:01:21,114
A lot of money to whom, Neil?

30
00:01:21,214 --> 00:01:23,684
Just tell our mutual friend
that he won't be forgotten...

31
00:01:23,784 --> 00:01:24,985
when the governor wins.

32
00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:28,555
Montgomery likes oil wells
on the horizon.

33
00:01:39,433 --> 00:01:41,001
– You ready?
– Do I look ready?

34
00:01:41,101 --> 00:01:43,770
Winners are always ready.
When this is a done deal,

35
00:01:43,870 --> 00:01:46,373
I'm gonna buy you
the best frozen yogurt in town,

36
00:01:46,473 --> 00:01:48,241
and you can pick your own topping.

37
00:01:48,542 --> 00:01:49,776
I'm nervous as hell, Oscar.

38
00:01:49,876 --> 00:01:53,046
That's good. It gives you an edge.
Besides, he's not a dentist,

39
00:01:53,146 --> 00:01:55,782
just the next president
of the United States.

40
00:01:57,050 --> 00:01:58,652
Good morning, Congressman.

41
00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:03,857
Paul. Paul, good to see you.

42
00:02:03,957 --> 00:02:06,059
– Tim, how are you?
– Great, just fine, thank you.

43
00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:07,728
I don't think you've met
Oscar Finch.

44
00:02:07,828 --> 00:02:09,596
No. It's about time, sir.

45
00:02:09,696 --> 00:02:11,598
– It's a pleasure, truly.
– Thank you.

46
00:02:11,898 --> 00:02:16,069
Do you mind waiting a few minutes?
The governor is anxious to meet you.

47
00:02:16,169 --> 00:02:17,938
– I'd like that.
– Terrific.

48
00:02:18,038 --> 00:02:19,639
All right if I use
one of your phones?

49
00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:23,176
Be our guest.
Congressman, this way please.

50
00:02:25,512 --> 00:02:27,481
Jim. Congressman Mackey.

51
00:02:27,581 --> 00:02:29,216
Thanks for coming on
such short notice, Paul.

52
00:02:29,316 --> 00:02:30,350
My pleasure, Governor.

53
00:02:30,450 --> 00:02:31,752
– Have some coffee?
– No, thanks.

54
00:02:31,852 --> 00:02:32,986
– Tim?
– No, no. I'm fine.

55
00:02:33,086 --> 00:02:34,588
Sit down, sit down. Relax, both of you.

56
00:02:34,688 --> 00:02:35,689
Thank you.

57
00:02:36,657 --> 00:02:38,558
– You're looking good, Paul.
– Never felt better.

58
00:02:38,659 --> 00:02:39,926
– Family?
– Just great.

59
00:02:40,027 --> 00:02:43,296
Cynthia's like my right arm.
She thrives on campaigning.

60
00:02:43,397 --> 00:02:46,867
My wife's the same.
We got lucky, huh?

61
00:02:46,967 --> 00:02:48,935
That was some speech
you delivered last week.

62
00:02:49,036 --> 00:02:51,505
Wish I'd been there to watch those
chicken hearts squirm.

63
00:02:51,605 --> 00:02:54,508
Well, sir, I had an opportunity to
address some of the issues.

64
00:02:55,042 --> 00:02:58,211
Thousands of homeless people
in everybody's hometown.

65
00:02:58,311 --> 00:03:00,247
We're selling off the United States.

66
00:03:00,347 --> 00:03:02,883
A piece here, a piece there.
What's next?

67
00:03:02,983 --> 00:03:05,519
General Electric?
Ford Motor Company?

68
00:03:05,619 --> 00:03:07,921
If we don't take
positive action, Governor,

69
00:03:08,021 --> 00:03:10,724
these United States
of America will be up for grabs.

70
00:03:10,824 --> 00:03:12,492
And I sincerely believe it's time...

71
00:03:12,592 --> 00:03:14,294
the American people
know what's going on.

72
00:03:14,394 --> 00:03:15,262
Amen to that.

73
00:03:15,362 --> 00:03:18,432
I heard you actually had some of those
boys out of their eats and cheering.

74
00:03:18,532 --> 00:03:21,468
Well, Tim, nobody slept through it,
that's for sure.

75
00:03:21,568 --> 00:03:24,004
Yes, sir, a mighty fine speech.

76
00:03:24,104 --> 00:03:27,507
Now, tell the truth, Paul.
Did you write it yourself?

77
00:03:30,343 --> 00:03:33,280
I'm just pulling your leg.
You get to know me after a while,

78
00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:35,348
you'll know how
I tend to do that every so often.

79
00:03:35,449 --> 00:03:36,883
– Right, Tim?
– Yes, sir.

80
00:03:36,983 --> 00:03:39,486
Of course you wrote it yourself.
I know you wrote it yourself,

81
00:03:39,586 --> 00:03:41,288
just like you write
all your speeches yourself.

82
00:03:41,688 --> 00:03:44,257
If I thought otherwise, Congressman,
I wouldn't be here talking to you,

83
00:03:44,357 --> 00:03:47,294
because I wouldn't
know who I was talking to, right?

84
00:03:49,296 --> 00:03:52,466
Now, how about we cut
to the chase, gentlemen?

85
00:03:52,933 --> 00:03:56,603
We've all heard the rumors in which your
name has been connected with mine, Paul.

86
00:03:56,703 --> 00:03:59,339
We've read The Washington Post
and The New York Times.

87
00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:03,176
Now I want to make it formal.
Congressman Mackey, sir,

88
00:04:03,643 --> 00:04:05,879
I'd like you to start giving
some serious thought...

89
00:04:05,979 --> 00:04:07,914
to joining me in a most noble effort,

90
00:04:08,014 --> 00:04:12,085
that is, as my running mate
in an all-out, no-holds-barred,

91
00:04:12,185 --> 00:04:15,822
winner-take-all race for the
presidency of the United States.

92
00:04:15,989 --> 00:04:19,126
Montgomery and Mackey.
How's that sound to you, Congressman?

93
00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:25,265
Governor, it sounds to me like
a winning ticket.

94
00:04:28,902 --> 00:04:31,638
Mr. Finch, the governor will
see you now.

95
00:04:31,738 --> 00:04:32,839
Later.

96
00:04:36,576 --> 00:04:39,246
Let me be the first to
congratulate you, Mr. Finch.

97
00:04:39,346 --> 00:04:43,016
Your old buddy Paul and I are about to
embark on a hell of an exciting journey.

98
00:04:43,116 --> 00:04:45,418
And you had a lot to do with making
that possible.

99
00:04:45,519 --> 00:04:47,254
I'm in your debt, Mr. Finch.

100
00:04:47,354 --> 00:04:48,588
My pleasure, sir.

101
00:04:53,126 --> 00:04:54,995
A chance to do the things that need
to be done.

102
00:04:55,095 --> 00:04:56,997
– You think I can make it?
– You're halfway there, already.

103
00:04:57,097 --> 00:04:59,399
– I want you with me, Oscar.
– Every step.

104
00:04:59,499 --> 00:05:01,301
President Paul Mackey.

105
00:05:01,535 --> 00:05:04,237
Attorney General Oscar Finch.

106
00:05:04,337 --> 00:05:05,472
I like the sound of that.

107
00:05:05,572 --> 00:05:07,207
I like the echoes.

108
00:05:20,687 --> 00:05:22,422
Cynthia did a nice job, hmm?

109
00:05:22,522 --> 00:05:25,292
Yeah, Paul found himself
a great hostess.

110
00:05:25,392 --> 00:05:28,361
Essential to a successful career.

111
00:05:28,461 --> 00:05:31,531
– Only reason I married you.
– Oh, don't tell me.

112
00:05:32,532 --> 00:05:35,335
– Darling. Will you get it?
– Yeah, I know. Got it.

113
00:05:40,140 --> 00:05:41,308
Hello?

114
00:05:44,411 --> 00:05:45,478
Frank.

115
00:05:46,479 --> 00:05:48,415
Frank, I told you
not to bother me again.

116
00:05:48,515 --> 00:05:50,684
There's nothing I can do for you.

117
00:05:52,752 --> 00:05:55,422
I advised you who to get.
They're the smartest guys in town.

118
00:05:55,522 --> 00:05:57,624
They'll do the best
with what they've got.

119
00:05:58,124 --> 00:06:01,228
Never mind about them not being
in my league.

120
00:06:01,328 --> 00:06:03,363
I'm all through being
your problem solver.

121
00:06:03,463 --> 00:06:05,632
That's over. That's history.

122
00:06:07,667 --> 00:06:10,503
Frank. Frank.

123
00:06:10,604 --> 00:06:13,974
I am not going to talk anymore
about this on the phone.

124
00:06:15,375 --> 00:06:18,044
Fine. Where are you?

125
00:06:18,778 --> 00:06:20,113
Who's with you?

126
00:06:21,448 --> 00:06:25,619
All right, give me
half an hour, 45 minutes.

127
00:06:25,719 --> 00:06:28,321
Yeah. I'll see you.

128
00:06:41,101 --> 00:06:42,502
Honey?

129
00:06:43,870 --> 00:06:45,505
I gotta go out.

130
00:06:45,705 --> 00:06:46,773
It's nearly midnight.

131
00:06:46,873 --> 00:06:50,043
Big contributor. I've been trying to
nail this guy for months.

132
00:06:50,143 --> 00:06:52,012
He sounds as though
he's had a couple of drinks.

133
00:06:52,145 --> 00:06:54,714
Tonight could be the night.
His checkbook's itching.

134
00:06:54,814 --> 00:06:56,516
When are we ever gonna get a break?

135
00:06:56,650 --> 00:06:59,586
Soon as Montgomery
wins California, we'll take a trip.

136
00:06:59,686 --> 00:07:02,789
– Shopping?
– A little something for the inaugural.

137
00:07:03,723 --> 00:07:05,358
Get your beauty sleep.

138
00:07:06,293 --> 00:07:07,894
Good luck, darling.

139
00:12:23,076 --> 00:12:24,344
How you doing, Oscar?

140
00:12:24,444 --> 00:12:26,946
Let's just get it over with, Frank.

141
00:12:27,981 --> 00:12:30,450
– You walked?
– You bet I did.

142
00:12:32,185 --> 00:12:36,122
From my office. I can use the exercise.
Besides, the last thing I want is...

143
00:12:36,222 --> 00:12:38,491
for someone to see
my car in your driveway.

144
00:12:38,591 --> 00:12:41,160
Our privacy's as good as gold, Oscar.

145
00:12:41,261 --> 00:12:44,864
As I told you, Susan's in Hawaii,
and the housekeeper has the week off,

146
00:12:44,964 --> 00:12:46,432
so no one will ever have to know...

147
00:12:46,532 --> 00:12:50,169
that Oscar Finch dirtied
his shoes on Frank Staplin's carpets.

148
00:12:50,270 --> 00:12:51,437
They're only the best.

149
00:12:52,872 --> 00:12:54,540
Step right in.

150
00:12:58,177 --> 00:13:00,179
How about you get out of that coat?

151
00:13:00,279 --> 00:13:03,383
You'll bake in here.
Toss it anywhere.

152
00:13:04,283 --> 00:13:06,252
Oh, can I get you a drink?

153
00:13:06,352 --> 00:13:08,121
No, thanks. I'm fine.

154
00:13:08,221 --> 00:13:10,990
I can't. Doctor's orders.
I'm down to this.

155
00:13:11,090 --> 00:13:14,727
I made myself a little snack.
Here, have a nibble.

156
00:13:16,529 --> 00:13:18,398
What gives, Frank?

157
00:13:19,165 --> 00:13:23,069
I am in real trouble, Oscar.

158
00:13:23,169 --> 00:13:25,805
So, what else is new?

159
00:13:26,005 --> 00:13:28,241
Only this time, it's a little bit
more serious...

160
00:13:28,341 --> 00:13:30,009
than anything I've ever had to handle.

161
00:13:30,109 --> 00:13:33,112
You worried about
five years in jail, Frank?

162
00:13:33,212 --> 00:13:36,749
Is that it? With good behavior,
call it 30 months.

163
00:13:36,849 --> 00:13:38,084
No sweat, Frank.

164
00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:40,653
Oh, it's not me so much as Susan.

165
00:13:40,753 --> 00:13:43,556
I don't care for her
to have to face the shame of it.

166
00:13:43,923 --> 00:13:46,059
I need a favor, Oscar.

167
00:13:46,993 --> 00:13:47,694
Forget it.

168
00:13:48,394 --> 00:13:50,530
One document.

169
00:13:50,663 --> 00:13:52,799
The DA's case goes right out
of the window...

170
00:13:52,899 --> 00:13:55,435
if he doesn't get his hands on
one lousy document.

171
00:13:55,535 --> 00:13:56,836
Then don't let him have it.

172
00:13:57,036 --> 00:13:58,838
It'll be on his desk
in a couple of days.

173
00:13:59,205 --> 00:14:01,941
Well, then, I'll see you
in five years, Frank.

174
00:14:02,041 --> 00:14:04,744
I'd like to do this civilized.

175
00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:06,713
There is nothing to do.

176
00:14:06,813 --> 00:14:09,916
One document in the nearest
shredder, Oscar.

177
00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:13,886
You have friends in the right places.
They owe you favors.

178
00:14:13,986 --> 00:14:15,822
– That's your game.
– Forget it.

179
00:14:15,922 --> 00:14:19,292
We've got a history. We've been
down this road before.

180
00:14:19,392 --> 00:14:24,530
Twenty-one years before, Frank.
Times change.

181
00:14:25,832 --> 00:14:31,971
I'll see that you have any amount.
Cash that can't be traced. Swiss cash.

182
00:14:32,271 --> 00:14:34,707
I'm asking you nicely, Oscar.

183
00:14:34,841 --> 00:14:36,776
You don't get it, Frank.

184
00:14:36,876 --> 00:14:39,445
I have a family.
I have a great, big career.

185
00:14:39,545 --> 00:14:42,248
I have a future like
you wouldn't believe.

186
00:14:42,348 --> 00:14:44,917
There's no way I'm going
to risk any of that.

187
00:14:45,017 --> 00:14:47,687
How's your buddy, the congressman?

188
00:14:47,787 --> 00:14:50,823
The word is he's going
to be Montgomery's boy.

189
00:14:51,023 --> 00:14:52,525
You go way back.

190
00:14:53,192 --> 00:14:55,495
Wasn't he working in the DA's office...

191
00:14:55,661 --> 00:14:58,531
when you did me
that favor a long time ago?

192
00:14:59,332 --> 00:15:02,335
Your boy in the White House,
maybe, huh?

193
00:15:03,002 --> 00:15:07,707
Nice cabinet post
for Oscar Finch, perhaps?

194
00:15:07,874 --> 00:15:10,409
Is that the big future?

195
00:15:10,576 --> 00:15:12,545
That's not a nice way to talk, Frank.

196
00:15:12,712 --> 00:15:14,981
If I go down five years,

197
00:15:15,548 --> 00:15:19,719
six months, one day, Oscar,

198
00:15:20,019 --> 00:15:23,122
I'm not gonna be too happy with the man
that let it happen.

199
00:15:23,256 --> 00:15:29,328
Happy or sad, Frank,
you can't prove a damn thing.

200
00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:33,733
Who needs proof anymore?
You know politics these days.

201
00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:36,135
I only have to mention your name,

202
00:15:36,235 --> 00:15:40,573
and a certain little incident
that happened back in 1969,

203
00:15:41,808 --> 00:15:47,380
and you and your buddy are
dead ducks in Washington.

204
00:15:49,148 --> 00:15:50,583
Think it over, Oscar.

205
00:20:10,810 --> 00:20:13,813
– Okay, we sent them out.
– Two more black and whites. Right.

206
00:20:22,154 --> 00:20:24,557
– You okay, Mickey?
– Doing fine, Sarge.

207
00:20:25,157 --> 00:20:28,260
Jack, you're wanted outside.
George, is that the shell?

208
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:29,929
– Yeah, that's it.
– Hey, Sarge.

209
00:20:30,029 --> 00:20:31,430
Yeah?

210
00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:35,501
Yes, sir?

211
00:20:35,601 --> 00:20:37,970
– You know anything about these things?
– What things?

212
00:20:38,070 --> 00:20:40,773
This thing here. I think it's what
they call a fax machine.

213
00:20:40,873 --> 00:20:42,208
– A what?
– Fax machine.

214
00:20:42,308 --> 00:20:44,443
– Know anything about them?
– Never even been near one.

215
00:20:44,543 --> 00:20:46,078
Well, me neither.

216
00:20:51,917 --> 00:20:53,552
Okay, Sergeant, what do you got?

217
00:20:53,986 --> 00:20:59,625
Deceased's wife, Mrs. Susan Staplin,
she was in Hawaii on vacation.

218
00:20:59,725 --> 00:21:03,129
Right. Now, I think I heard
somebody say she's on her way back?

219
00:21:03,229 --> 00:21:04,797
– Yes, sir.
– All right.

220
00:21:04,897 --> 00:21:06,932
Called husband approximately...

221
00:21:07,032 --> 00:21:08,400
Fellas, could I have it for a minute?

222
00:21:08,501 --> 00:21:10,669
Come on, guys, let's give it over
to the lieutenant.

223
00:21:11,604 --> 00:21:13,038
Come on, come on.

224
00:21:16,275 --> 00:21:17,777
Let's keep them quiet out there,
huh, George?

225
00:21:17,877 --> 00:21:19,011
Thank you.

226
00:21:19,678 --> 00:21:24,784
Okay, called husband
approximately 10:30 p.m., Hawaii time.

227
00:21:25,050 --> 00:21:28,654
No answer. She called again later.

228
00:21:28,754 --> 00:21:30,990
No answer. Got...

229
00:21:34,460 --> 00:21:35,394
Lieutenant?

230
00:21:35,494 --> 00:21:38,664
Keep going, Sergeant.
I'm listening. Got what?

231
00:21:39,832 --> 00:21:41,801
Got worried.
Called security company.

232
00:21:41,901 --> 00:21:44,103
They sent guy over.
Officer Rodriguez.

233
00:21:44,203 --> 00:21:47,139
Saw lights in house.
No response. Made entry.

234
00:21:47,439 --> 00:21:52,711
Found victim.
911 got called at 4:21 a.m.

235
00:22:09,962 --> 00:22:11,497
It's Reggiano.

236
00:22:12,565 --> 00:22:13,299
What's the matter?

237
00:22:14,133 --> 00:22:16,535
That cheese, Sergeant, that's Italian.

238
00:22:16,635 --> 00:22:21,373
That, Sergeant, is the greatest.
My father loved his Reggiano.

239
00:22:21,473 --> 00:22:23,609
Oh, we gotta have a taste of that.

240
00:22:23,709 --> 00:22:25,377
This stuff has got
to be checked out, sir.

241
00:22:25,477 --> 00:22:29,815
No, no, no, we're not going to
touch anything that's been used. No, no.

242
00:22:30,549 --> 00:22:32,918
Wait till you get a load of this.

243
00:22:33,352 --> 00:22:35,521
And this is expensive, too.

244
00:22:35,621 --> 00:22:38,924
You know, a piece
like this here, that's $10.

245
00:22:39,325 --> 00:22:40,693
– Get a taste of that.
– No, thank you.

246
00:22:40,793 --> 00:22:44,063
Oh, you gotta try it.
You just gotta taste it.

247
00:22:54,707 --> 00:22:55,774
How about that?

248
00:22:56,976 --> 00:22:58,077
It's different.

249
00:22:59,044 --> 00:23:02,081
It happens to be especially good.

250
00:23:03,082 --> 00:23:05,818
Make sure the boys put that aside when
they're done with it,

251
00:23:05,918 --> 00:23:07,553
'cause that's gonna travel.

252
00:23:08,821 --> 00:23:12,625
Okay, now the 9:11 came in at 4:21 a.m.

253
00:23:12,725 --> 00:23:13,759
Yes, sir.

254
00:23:14,693 --> 00:23:18,430
Victim expired of head wound.
.32 automatic.

255
00:23:18,530 --> 00:23:23,068
Weapon at scene. No signs forced entry.
No signs robbery.

256
00:23:23,168 --> 00:23:25,571
All signs, suicide.

257
00:23:25,671 --> 00:23:26,438
Looks like it.

258
00:23:26,705 --> 00:23:27,806
What else, Lieutenant?

259
00:23:28,474 --> 00:23:32,444
You read this paper clipping?
The guy was about to get nailed.

260
00:23:32,845 --> 00:23:35,447
Anybody here who knows
how to work that machine?

261
00:23:35,814 --> 00:23:36,882
You mean that thing back there?

262
00:23:37,583 --> 00:23:38,417
The fax.

263
00:23:38,517 --> 00:23:40,119
I guess the deceased's secretary would.

264
00:23:40,219 --> 00:23:44,924
She's out here someplace.
Christy. Rebecca Christy.

265
00:23:45,024 --> 00:23:46,258
Was she here last night?

266
00:23:46,358 --> 00:23:49,662
No, sir. Mrs. Staplin gave
her address to the security people.

267
00:23:49,762 --> 00:23:52,064
She was brought over
from Westwood to ID the body.

268
00:23:52,164 --> 00:23:54,600
– She's pretty upset.
– Uh-huh.

269
00:23:54,934 --> 00:23:58,837
Not a nice way to begin the day,
having to identify a body.

270
00:24:00,005 --> 00:24:02,408
There's only one thing
that bothers me, Sergeant.

271
00:24:02,508 --> 00:24:03,676
What's that?

272
00:24:04,043 --> 00:24:05,210
The gun.

273
00:24:06,145 --> 00:24:08,113
See what you think.

274
00:24:13,085 --> 00:24:14,853
You notice anything?

275
00:24:17,022 --> 00:24:17,957
What?

276
00:24:18,057 --> 00:24:19,658
A man shoots himself in the head,

277
00:24:19,758 --> 00:24:22,161
the body slumps,
arm falls, the gun drops.

278
00:24:22,661 --> 00:24:24,363
Now he bleeds on the floor.

279
00:24:24,463 --> 00:24:29,234
Why do you suppose that
all the blood is under the gun,

280
00:24:29,335 --> 00:24:32,738
and there is no blood
on top of the gun?

281
00:24:36,075 --> 00:24:37,142
It's under, all right.

282
00:24:37,343 --> 00:24:39,278
Could I borrow your handkerchief?

283
00:24:45,584 --> 00:24:49,588
– Well, what do you know about that?
– What?

284
00:24:49,688 --> 00:24:51,757
You see any blood
on that side of the gun?

285
00:24:51,857 --> 00:24:52,825
Nothing.

286
00:24:52,925 --> 00:24:54,493
That's what's bothering me.

287
00:24:54,927 --> 00:24:58,130
If the gun fell on the blood,
as it seems,

288
00:24:58,230 --> 00:25:02,768
why didn't any of it stick
to the underside of the gun?

289
00:25:03,268 --> 00:25:04,636
Doesn't make sense.

290
00:25:04,737 --> 00:25:09,641
Unless the blood had already dried.

291
00:25:09,742 --> 00:25:10,843
Wait a minute.

292
00:25:11,210 --> 00:25:14,146
How could a guy kill himself,
then all that time later,

293
00:25:14,246 --> 00:25:16,281
after, when it dries, he drops the gun?

294
00:25:16,382 --> 00:25:18,851
Good point, Sarge.
You hit it the first time.

295
00:25:18,951 --> 00:25:23,055
Like you said, the blood couldn't dry
right away, could it?

296
00:25:23,322 --> 00:25:25,958
So what I'm trying to figure out is,

297
00:25:26,058 --> 00:25:30,396
why did it take so long
before the gun fell?

298
00:25:30,829 --> 00:25:33,999
Have the guys find out
the drying time...

299
00:25:34,099 --> 00:25:39,538
for that amount of blood in a room
like this and on a floor like this.

300
00:25:39,638 --> 00:25:42,741
Have forensic back here.
Check it out some more.

301
00:25:43,776 --> 00:25:47,513
Good as done, sir.
George! George!

302
00:25:47,613 --> 00:25:49,415
– I better check out Mrs...
– Guys.

303
00:25:49,548 --> 00:25:50,849
Wanna get back in here?

304
00:25:50,949 --> 00:25:52,551
...that secretary.
What's the secretary's name?

305
00:25:52,651 --> 00:25:53,786
Christy. Rebecca Christy.

306
00:25:53,886 --> 00:25:55,587
I gotta start writing
these things down.

307
00:25:55,687 --> 00:25:56,922
Could I have my handkerchief?

308
00:25:57,022 --> 00:25:58,157
Yeah.

309
00:25:58,257 --> 00:26:00,726
Don't forget, have them
wrap up that cheese careful.

310
00:26:00,826 --> 00:26:01,627
Real careful.

311
00:26:01,727 --> 00:26:03,429
All through with the stiff, Lieutenant?
Can we take him out?

312
00:26:03,529 --> 00:26:04,763
Take it away.

313
00:26:07,266 --> 00:26:08,300
Miss?

314
00:26:10,402 --> 00:26:13,038
Ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Columbo.

315
00:26:13,138 --> 00:26:15,674
I'm with the Los Angeles
Police Department.

316
00:26:15,874 --> 00:26:16,909
How do you do?

317
00:26:17,376 --> 00:26:22,114
I know this is a bad time.
I'm really sorry to have to bother you.

318
00:26:22,214 --> 00:26:23,682
It's all right.

319
00:26:25,083 --> 00:26:27,119
It's too bad about Mr. Staplin.

320
00:26:27,219 --> 00:26:30,155
Yes. He was so kind.

321
00:26:31,323 --> 00:26:35,360
I wonder you could help me out.
None of our boys, they...

322
00:26:35,794 --> 00:26:39,398
They don't seem to know anything about
that machine that's in your office.

323
00:26:39,798 --> 00:26:41,200
The fax machine.

324
00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:42,734
Do you want me to send a letter?

325
00:26:43,335 --> 00:26:47,840
Oh, no, no, no.
No, nothing like that, no.

326
00:26:48,941 --> 00:26:52,811
I just would like it if
you could show me how it works.

327
00:26:52,911 --> 00:26:54,580
I'd appreciate that.

328
00:26:54,847 --> 00:26:56,982
Then I'll see to it
that you're driven home.

329
00:26:57,983 --> 00:27:00,919
All these newfangled gadgets
they come out with.

330
00:27:01,386 --> 00:27:02,855
They make me nervous.

331
00:27:02,955 --> 00:27:06,024
Now, my wife, last year
she got a home computer.

332
00:27:06,124 --> 00:27:09,361
She loves it. Me, I never go near it.

333
00:27:09,461 --> 00:27:10,963
Sit down here, ma'am.

334
00:27:11,063 --> 00:27:15,534
I think we were the last people on the
block to get an electric garage opener.

335
00:27:15,634 --> 00:27:19,538
Now, you can send
a letter on this machine?

336
00:27:19,638 --> 00:27:22,007
Yes. Any number of pages.

337
00:27:22,107 --> 00:27:23,876
What makes it go?

338
00:27:24,610 --> 00:27:27,479
You dial in a number,
just like a telephone.

339
00:27:27,579 --> 00:27:28,881
Press start. That's all.

340
00:27:29,181 --> 00:27:30,716
And you can send it anywhere?

341
00:27:30,983 --> 00:27:33,852
Anywhere that has a fax machine.
Anywhere in the world.

342
00:27:34,386 --> 00:27:37,789
Anywhere in the world.
And how long does it take?

343
00:27:37,890 --> 00:27:38,957
Seconds.

344
00:27:40,192 --> 00:27:43,795
You mean just by dialing,
like, a phone number,

345
00:27:43,896 --> 00:27:46,532
that letter will come out
across the street,

346
00:27:46,632 --> 00:27:48,700
or on the other side
of the world in seconds?

347
00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:52,037
It's not the same letter,
it's an exact copy of that letter.

348
00:27:52,137 --> 00:27:53,071
A facsimile.

349
00:27:53,338 --> 00:27:55,507
A facsimile.

350
00:27:56,608 --> 00:27:58,510
A fax.

351
00:27:59,311 --> 00:28:02,648
Now I'm getting the hang of this thing.

352
00:28:02,748 --> 00:28:07,119
Okay. Let me ask you this.

353
00:28:07,219 --> 00:28:12,624
There is a page of a letter hanging
out of the bottom of this machine.

354
00:28:12,991 --> 00:28:13,725
What's that?

355
00:28:13,992 --> 00:28:16,094
It's the last page that was sent through.

356
00:28:16,261 --> 00:28:18,330
Usually, it's removed. Do you want
this left here?

357
00:28:18,664 --> 00:28:21,900
Please, for now, ma'am.
Did you send that letter, Miss Christy?

358
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:22,968
No.

359
00:28:25,203 --> 00:28:27,573
Do you recognize that handwriting?

360
00:28:27,673 --> 00:28:29,274
It's Mr. Staplin's.

361
00:28:29,541 --> 00:28:31,343
Did he know how to use this machine?

362
00:28:31,443 --> 00:28:32,878
He used it frequently.

363
00:28:32,978 --> 00:28:38,150
Is there any way that you could
determine what time this letter was sent?

364
00:28:38,250 --> 00:28:39,885
Yes. But I'll have
to remove the page first.

365
00:28:39,985 --> 00:28:41,720
Oh, let me do that, ma'am.

366
00:28:47,459 --> 00:28:51,330
Susan?
Would that be Mrs. Staplin?

367
00:28:51,463 --> 00:28:52,664
Yes.

368
00:28:53,365 --> 00:28:54,800
Uh-huh.

369
00:29:00,539 --> 00:29:04,843
The last transmission
was logged at 12:27 a.m.

370
00:29:04,943 --> 00:29:07,913
A one-page document
that took 14 seconds to send.

371
00:29:08,313 --> 00:29:11,283
Excuse me, ma'am,
a one-page document?

372
00:29:11,383 --> 00:29:14,319
But I see a second page
to the letter here.

373
00:29:14,419 --> 00:29:17,823
That's also
in Mr. Staplin's handwriting.

374
00:29:17,923 --> 00:29:21,593
Would that mean that there was
a two-page letter,

375
00:29:22,260 --> 00:29:23,829
but only one page was sent?

376
00:29:23,929 --> 00:29:26,632
I guess.
It was faxed to this number.

377
00:29:27,532 --> 00:29:29,534
Isn't that the area code for Hawaii?

378
00:29:29,635 --> 00:29:32,838
It's the fax number of the hotel where
Mrs. Staplin was staying.

379
00:29:33,138 --> 00:29:35,474
Isn't that remarkable?

380
00:29:36,108 --> 00:29:42,614
A letter sent 2,500 miles
across the Pacific in 14 seconds.

381
00:29:44,449 --> 00:29:46,084
I don't mean to burden you,
Miss Christy,

382
00:29:46,184 --> 00:29:49,621
but could you come into
Mr. Staplin's office for just a minute?

383
00:29:51,323 --> 00:29:55,761
You know, when I saw the telephone
on Mr. Staplin's desk,

384
00:29:55,861 --> 00:29:58,930
I almost got dizzy.
I mean, that's some device.

385
00:29:59,031 --> 00:30:00,999
There's got to be 13 buttons there.

386
00:30:01,099 --> 00:30:04,002
And that's not including
the ones that you dial with.

387
00:30:04,102 --> 00:30:06,538
– Would you bag this, please?
– Yes, sir.

388
00:30:07,072 --> 00:30:09,274
Yes, it's a sophisticated instrument.

389
00:30:09,374 --> 00:30:10,308
Yeah, it sure is.

390
00:30:10,409 --> 00:30:13,412
It can memorize 100 phone numbers
for speed dialing.

391
00:30:13,512 --> 00:30:15,580
There's conference calling, of course.

392
00:30:15,681 --> 00:30:18,784
Date and time. An appointment
reminder program,

393
00:30:18,884 --> 00:30:21,219
speaker phone, last number redial...

394
00:30:21,353 --> 00:30:23,021
That's the one I want to know about.

395
00:30:23,121 --> 00:30:25,524
That's the one feature
I heard something about.

396
00:30:25,657 --> 00:30:27,459
Now, how would you
work that feature?

397
00:30:27,559 --> 00:30:30,395
You just press this button.
The one that says redial.

398
00:30:31,730 --> 00:30:34,166
– That's it?
– Uh-huh.

399
00:30:34,766 --> 00:30:36,168
It's embarrassing.

400
00:30:36,268 --> 00:30:38,036
Excuse me, are you
finished with the phone?

401
00:30:38,136 --> 00:30:40,172
– We're all done, Lieutenant.
– Thank you.

402
00:30:40,272 --> 00:30:42,341
Just push this button here...

403
00:30:42,441 --> 00:30:45,911
And the phone will automatically redial
the last number called.

404
00:30:51,683 --> 00:30:54,453
<i>Good morning,</i>
<i>Finch residence. May I help you?</i>

405
00:30:59,558 --> 00:31:02,461
My housekeeper says
you're from the police.

406
00:31:03,295 --> 00:31:06,798
Lieutenant Columbo, ma'am. I...

407
00:31:07,265 --> 00:31:10,535
I apologized to the lady
who answered the door already,

408
00:31:10,635 --> 00:31:12,537
when she told me you were
having breakfast, ma'am,

409
00:31:12,637 --> 00:31:16,508
and now I would like to say
to you personally how sorry I am...

410
00:31:16,608 --> 00:31:18,477
What can I do for you, Lieutenant?

411
00:31:19,211 --> 00:31:21,813
I just have a few questions, ma'am.

412
00:31:22,347 --> 00:31:27,352
We're investigating a matter concerning
a man named Frank Staplin.

413
00:31:27,652 --> 00:31:29,888
Is that a name that's
familiar to you, ma'am?

414
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:31,790
No, should it be?

415
00:31:31,890 --> 00:31:36,561
Well, we have reason to believe that
Mr. Staplin called here last night.

416
00:31:37,195 --> 00:31:38,764
That call came in,

417
00:31:38,864 --> 00:31:42,934
according to the phone company,
at 11:46 p.m.

418
00:31:43,468 --> 00:31:45,237
Were you home at that time, ma'am?

419
00:31:45,337 --> 00:31:47,172
My husband and I had
just come from dinner.

420
00:31:47,272 --> 00:31:49,241
There was a phone call,
yes, but Oscar took it,

421
00:31:49,341 --> 00:31:51,810
and I really don't know
who it was from.

422
00:31:52,110 --> 00:31:54,146
It was a very short call, ma'am.

423
00:31:54,279 --> 00:31:56,615
Don't you think it would
be best if you spoke with my husband?

424
00:31:56,715 --> 00:31:58,450
That is, if it's really essential.

425
00:31:58,850 --> 00:32:03,255
I think I do have to speak to him, ma'am,
if it's not disturbing him too much.

426
00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:04,923
He's not home.

427
00:32:05,023 --> 00:32:08,693
Another early bird. He's long gone
to a breakfast appointment.

428
00:32:08,794 --> 00:32:11,596
Where's the best place
that I could reach him, ma'am?

429
00:32:12,264 --> 00:32:16,168
I really don't know. He's a very busy man.
Perhaps you should make an appointment.

430
00:32:57,275 --> 00:32:59,411
Don't you dare. Was it you?

431
00:32:59,511 --> 00:33:00,779
I beg your pardon, ma'am?

432
00:33:00,879 --> 00:33:02,280
Don't you dare light that cigar.

433
00:33:02,747 --> 00:33:04,449
Were you in here last night
with one of those?

434
00:33:04,549 --> 00:33:06,551
Oh, no, ma'am, it wasn't me.

435
00:33:06,651 --> 00:33:09,654
And you have my word of honor
I'm not gonna light it.

436
00:33:09,754 --> 00:33:13,458
As a matter of fact, ma'am, I've never
been in these offices before.

437
00:33:13,558 --> 00:33:15,961
They're very nice.
Very nicely done.

438
00:33:19,965 --> 00:33:23,335
I apologize, Lieutenant.
I'm a little bit sensitive this morning.

439
00:33:23,435 --> 00:33:24,903
No need to apologize, ma'am.

440
00:33:25,070 --> 00:33:29,574
This putrid atmosphere left here
last night by someone so inconsiderate...

441
00:33:29,674 --> 00:33:33,445
They smoked a foul-smelling
cigar in Mr. Finch's office...

442
00:33:33,545 --> 00:33:37,449
without once taking into account that
the air conditioning...

443
00:33:37,549 --> 00:33:40,252
in this building is
turned off in the evenings.

444
00:33:40,685 --> 00:33:41,586
Yes, ma'am.

445
00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:43,889
How can I help you?

446
00:33:44,422 --> 00:33:47,158
If it's possible, I'd like
a word with Mr. Finch.

447
00:33:47,859 --> 00:33:50,762
Well, he should be here momentarily,
Lieutenant, if you'd like to take a seat.

448
00:33:51,129 --> 00:33:52,864
Thank you very much, ma'am.

449
00:33:56,801 --> 00:34:00,171
You know, it's strange.
When I first came in here,

450
00:34:00,272 --> 00:34:04,743
I began wondering what was the one
thing here that reminded me of home.

451
00:34:05,343 --> 00:34:07,679
Maybe it was the aroma.

452
00:34:08,146 --> 00:34:11,950
Louise, who parked that decomposing
rattletrap in my space?

453
00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:13,118
I'm sure I don't know.

454
00:34:13,218 --> 00:34:15,487
Get on the phone and have it
towed out of here.

455
00:34:15,587 --> 00:34:17,355
– Perhaps it is...
– We've got a busy morning ahead of us.

456
00:34:17,455 --> 00:34:20,859
There's a new client, and someone from
the police will be around to see me.

457
00:34:20,959 --> 00:34:23,762
Fit him in some time
late this afternoon if you can.

458
00:34:23,862 --> 00:34:27,198
Would that be a silver
Peugeot convertible, sir?

459
00:34:27,799 --> 00:34:28,600
Who said that?

460
00:34:29,100 --> 00:34:30,101
I did.

461
00:34:30,335 --> 00:34:31,670
And who might you be?

462
00:34:31,836 --> 00:34:33,071
I'm the police.

463
00:34:33,171 --> 00:34:35,273
That oxidized relic is yours?

464
00:34:35,373 --> 00:34:38,076
Well, it gets me
from here to there, sir.

465
00:34:38,176 --> 00:34:41,913
I'm sorry, I had no idea
it was your spot.

466
00:34:42,113 --> 00:34:46,318
With you in a moment, Lieutenant.

467
00:34:46,818 --> 00:34:48,486
Come in, Louise.

468
00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:52,223
Here are the notes
from the Thompson breakfast.

469
00:34:52,324 --> 00:34:55,193
Put him down next Monday.
Same time, same place.

470
00:34:55,293 --> 00:34:56,828
What time am I due at the Biltmore?

471
00:34:56,928 --> 00:34:57,696
Twenty minutes, sir.

472
00:34:57,796 --> 00:35:00,332
All right. Well, call the functions
manager and have him collect...

473
00:35:00,432 --> 00:35:02,367
the new dignitaries list
from the governor's suite,

474
00:35:02,467 --> 00:35:04,402
and I'll meet with him in the ballroom.

475
00:35:04,502 --> 00:35:07,472
Now, here's the new client
here, Dr. Menton.

476
00:35:07,572 --> 00:35:10,208
Put him down for 10:15 at the house.

477
00:35:10,308 --> 00:35:12,510
Call and confirm. Then court, right?
Two cases?

478
00:35:12,978 --> 00:35:14,346
Yes, sir. Kinsale and Fleming.

479
00:35:14,446 --> 00:35:16,014
They'll be a breeze, both of them.

480
00:35:16,147 --> 00:35:18,683
Then after that,
lunch with Congressman Mackey,

481
00:35:18,783 --> 00:35:21,987
and the afternoon free for the
governor's campaign manager.

482
00:35:22,087 --> 00:35:25,690
Have Haines call me on the car phone.
Confirm the itinerary. Is that all?

483
00:35:25,790 --> 00:35:27,726
Yes, sir. There are a few messages.
Nothing urgent.

484
00:35:27,826 --> 00:35:29,461
Good. Thanks, Louise.

485
00:35:29,761 --> 00:35:31,262
Now, Lieutenant,

486
00:35:31,429 --> 00:35:34,699
you're here to talk to me about
the death of Frank Staplin.

487
00:35:34,799 --> 00:35:36,468
And I can give you just five minutes.

488
00:35:36,568 --> 00:35:38,036
You astonish me, sir.

489
00:35:38,136 --> 00:35:41,139
I don't see why.
I'm familiar with procedure.

490
00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:43,308
At approximately a quarter
of 12:00 last night,

491
00:35:43,408 --> 00:35:45,343
I received a call from Mr. Staplin.

492
00:35:45,443 --> 00:35:48,847
I understand from the news this morning
that he died during the night,

493
00:35:48,947 --> 00:35:51,316
which regrettably means
that one of the last calls...

494
00:35:51,416 --> 00:35:53,284
he made in his life was to me.

495
00:35:53,385 --> 00:35:54,753
As soon as I heard the news,

496
00:35:54,853 --> 00:35:58,857
I realized that although his death was
being called a suicide,

497
00:35:58,957 --> 00:36:02,127
it was of a violent nature,
that is, by gunshot.

498
00:36:02,227 --> 00:36:05,330
And part of the standard procedure of
investigation would certainly...

499
00:36:05,430 --> 00:36:09,567
include interviews with the last persons
the victim saw or spoke to.

500
00:36:09,667 --> 00:36:12,103
I also know that the phone company
will have supplied you...

501
00:36:12,203 --> 00:36:13,705
with a list of his final calls,

502
00:36:13,805 --> 00:36:17,208
and that my number would be among them
someplace. In what order, I can't say.

503
00:36:17,308 --> 00:36:20,945
And if he called from his house,
you would have a record of that, too,

504
00:36:21,046 --> 00:36:23,882
and I would expect someone
from the police to be around to see me.

505
00:36:23,982 --> 00:36:26,317
My only surprise is
how soon you got here.

506
00:36:26,885 --> 00:36:30,088
I learned one very important lesson
this morning, Mr. Finch.

507
00:36:30,221 --> 00:36:31,322
And what's that?

508
00:36:31,623 --> 00:36:34,059
Never bet on your opposition in court.

509
00:36:34,559 --> 00:36:38,329
Mmm. I never met Frank Staplin.

510
00:36:38,430 --> 00:36:42,400
But in some small way, I feel a certain
responsibility for his death.

511
00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:43,601
Why is that, sir?

512
00:36:43,702 --> 00:36:46,471
When he called last night,
he was a desperate man.

513
00:36:46,571 --> 00:36:48,306
Even if I hadn't
known him by reputation,

514
00:36:48,406 --> 00:36:49,674
I would have known from his voice.

515
00:36:49,974 --> 00:36:52,577
His voice, sir? How did it sound?

516
00:36:52,677 --> 00:36:54,412
Extremely disturbed.

517
00:36:54,913 --> 00:36:57,248
Oh. You never met him?

518
00:36:57,348 --> 00:37:00,185
No. He called about nine months ago...

519
00:37:00,285 --> 00:37:02,253
when he was seeking counsel
in a criminal case,

520
00:37:02,353 --> 00:37:05,957
but I was busy at the time,
and I had to turn him down.

521
00:37:06,124 --> 00:37:09,561
When he called last night,
he said it was a last resort.

522
00:37:09,661 --> 00:37:12,163
That he was about
to fire his attorneys,

523
00:37:12,263 --> 00:37:15,700
they were fools and incompetents,
and he needed new counsel,

524
00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,237
and this time he was willing
to pay any price that I asked.

525
00:37:19,337 --> 00:37:20,772
But you refused him again?

526
00:37:20,872 --> 00:37:22,207
Yes, indeed, I did.

527
00:37:22,307 --> 00:37:25,210
Would you be kind enough
to walk with me to my car, Lieutenant?

528
00:37:25,310 --> 00:37:28,046
I detest being late.

529
00:37:28,913 --> 00:37:31,116
An hour or two after the call,
he shot himself.

530
00:37:31,216 --> 00:37:34,152
I don't relish the thought that it might
have been because I turned him down.

531
00:37:34,252 --> 00:37:35,987
It's strange, isn't it?

532
00:37:36,087 --> 00:37:39,224
Until last night, all I really knew
about Frank Staplin...

533
00:37:39,324 --> 00:37:43,261
was what I'd read in the newspapers,
magazines, courtroom gossip.

534
00:37:43,361 --> 00:37:46,030
Like everybody else, I'd
formed an opinion long ago.

535
00:37:46,131 --> 00:37:50,268
I thought he was guilty. Perhaps
of worse crimes than he was accused.

536
00:37:50,368 --> 00:37:52,971
But now that he's dead,
maybe because...

537
00:37:53,071 --> 00:37:56,875
a stranger that he turned to
for help refused him,

538
00:37:56,975 --> 00:38:00,311
I can't help feeling
a certain pity for him.

539
00:38:00,411 --> 00:38:02,013
I can understand that, sir.

540
00:38:02,113 --> 00:38:03,781
What make of car
did you say that was?

541
00:38:05,416 --> 00:38:07,185
It's a Peugeot.

542
00:38:07,619 --> 00:38:08,953
Very unusual.

543
00:38:09,053 --> 00:38:10,355
French.

544
00:38:10,455 --> 00:38:13,558
Really? Excuse me.

545
00:38:14,159 --> 00:38:16,928
Once again, sir. Sorry,
I took your parking spot.

546
00:38:17,028 --> 00:38:18,530
Don't give it another thought.

547
00:38:18,630 --> 00:38:22,500
And if you need further assistance,
please get in touch.

548
00:38:36,948 --> 00:38:38,016
Yes, Lieutenant?

549
00:38:39,617 --> 00:38:42,754
You know, ma'am, there's
none of that odor left.

550
00:38:42,854 --> 00:38:47,892
That's a wonderful spray.
And it has a very nice scent to it.

551
00:38:47,992 --> 00:38:50,395
I wonder, ma'am, could you give me
the name of that for my wife?

552
00:38:50,495 --> 00:38:53,565
She might find that useful.
You know what I mean.

553
00:38:53,832 --> 00:38:55,266
I'm so glad you like it.

554
00:38:55,366 --> 00:38:59,170
It's nontoxic,
and it's not easy to come by.

555
00:38:59,270 --> 00:39:01,206
But I'll tell you what.
I've got an extra can.

556
00:39:01,306 --> 00:39:02,507
– I'll get it for you.
– Oh, no, ma'am...

557
00:39:02,607 --> 00:39:04,642
No arguments. You shall have it.

558
00:39:05,577 --> 00:39:07,412
Good morning, Mr. Finch's office...

559
00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:11,049
No, he's momentarily out.
Can I take a message?

560
00:39:13,418 --> 00:39:14,552
Here you are.

561
00:39:14,652 --> 00:39:15,920
Well, let me, ma'am...

562
00:39:16,020 --> 00:39:18,590
No, it's not office property.
I bring it in myself.

563
00:39:18,690 --> 00:39:19,858
My compliments to your wife.

564
00:39:20,325 --> 00:39:22,427
Well, thank you, ma'am.
That's very kind of you.

565
00:39:22,894 --> 00:39:23,962
You're welcome.

566
00:39:24,062 --> 00:39:27,565
Through the lobby,
up the stairs, past the elevators,

567
00:39:27,665 --> 00:39:32,904
take a left, and it's the fourth big
double door on the left.

568
00:39:35,773 --> 00:39:37,242
– I liked it back there.
– Yes, sir.

569
00:39:37,342 --> 00:39:38,776
– Keep that the way it is.
– Very well, sir.

570
00:39:38,876 --> 00:39:40,345
And extend the podium...

571
00:39:40,445 --> 00:39:42,180
Mr. Finch?

572
00:39:42,580 --> 00:39:46,751
Just one more thing, sir.
When you can spare a minute.

573
00:39:46,918 --> 00:39:50,855
With you directly,
Lieutenant. I'm just finishing up here.

574
00:39:50,955 --> 00:39:53,858
Well, everything seems
to be going according to plan.

575
00:39:53,992 --> 00:39:55,827
If you have any problems,
you know where to contact me.

576
00:39:55,927 --> 00:39:58,263
Thank you very much, John.
You run a nice hotel here.

577
00:39:58,363 --> 00:39:59,264
Thank you.

578
00:39:59,364 --> 00:40:03,034
Well, no difficulty
in finding me, I trust?

579
00:40:03,134 --> 00:40:05,069
None at all, sir. Thank you.

580
00:40:05,169 --> 00:40:07,005
Uh-huh. Something turn up?

581
00:40:07,105 --> 00:40:09,140
Well, I meant to ask
you back at the office,

582
00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:11,909
but what with one thing
and another, you know how things are.

583
00:40:12,010 --> 00:40:15,747
Yes, I was rather pressed for time.
I still am, as a matter of fact.

584
00:40:15,847 --> 00:40:17,615
It's about his voice, sir.

585
00:40:17,715 --> 00:40:18,650
What voice?

586
00:40:18,750 --> 00:40:20,485
The voice on the telephone.

587
00:40:21,252 --> 00:40:24,589
Mr. Staplin's. The late night call
he made to you.

588
00:40:24,689 --> 00:40:26,724
Yeah. Well, what about it?

589
00:40:26,824 --> 00:40:30,695
You said back at the office
that you could tell he was desperate.

590
00:40:30,795 --> 00:40:34,832
I think you said that he sounded
extremely disturbed.

591
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:38,202
Well, I think that
that's the way that...

592
00:40:38,303 --> 00:40:40,471
you would have described it
had you heard him.

593
00:40:40,638 --> 00:40:42,807
But I didn't, sir, and you did.

594
00:40:43,374 --> 00:40:47,612
What were the words?
What did he say?

595
00:40:47,879 --> 00:40:51,149
The exact words
if you could remember.

596
00:40:51,249 --> 00:40:54,118
There's no problem there.
I'll never forget them.

597
00:40:54,352 --> 00:40:56,354
Oh, wonderful, sir. What were they?

598
00:40:58,056 --> 00:40:59,490
"What the hell am I gonna do?"

599
00:41:00,058 --> 00:41:00,958
I beg your pardon?

600
00:41:01,125 --> 00:41:02,527
That's what he said.

601
00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:03,928
Just that?

602
00:41:04,028 --> 00:41:05,096
Well, he said it twice.

603
00:41:05,196 --> 00:41:09,067
"What the hell am I going to do?
What the hell am I going to do?

604
00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:10,702
Jesus."

605
00:41:11,235 --> 00:41:12,570
Oh, he said that, too?

606
00:41:12,804 --> 00:41:14,405
Yeah. Then he hung up.

607
00:41:15,306 --> 00:41:19,344
"What the hell am I going to do?
What the hell am I going to do?"

608
00:41:19,444 --> 00:41:22,380
And that word, and he hung up.

609
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:25,650
Well, that's desperate
all right, yes, sir.

610
00:41:26,250 --> 00:41:30,555
Yeah, you can say that
that is extremely disturbed.

611
00:41:31,689 --> 00:41:35,827
Oh, dear, dear, dear...

612
00:41:39,163 --> 00:41:43,634
Well, if you'll excuse me, I'll...
I'd better be running along.

613
00:41:44,602 --> 00:41:47,171
What? Oh, yes, sir. Certainly, sir.

614
00:41:47,271 --> 00:41:49,073
And thank you very much.
Appreciate it.

615
00:41:49,173 --> 00:41:50,742
Oh, don't mention it.

616
00:41:52,143 --> 00:41:53,578
Good luck.

617
00:41:55,980 --> 00:41:59,517
Oh, Mr. Finch. Sir!

618
00:42:05,490 --> 00:42:06,624
Yes?

619
00:42:07,191 --> 00:42:10,128
You had a meeting
in your office last night?

620
00:42:10,261 --> 00:42:11,496
Is that a question?

621
00:42:11,696 --> 00:42:13,931
Well, all the cigar smoke.

622
00:42:14,165 --> 00:42:17,335
Maybe you didn't notice it
when you arrived this morning.

623
00:42:17,468 --> 00:42:21,639
Your secretary, Miss Louise, she sure
did a number on it. Quite a lady.

624
00:42:21,739 --> 00:42:24,709
Oh, yes, yes, I don't know
what I'd do without her.

625
00:42:24,809 --> 00:42:27,445
As a matter of fact, I did have
a meeting at my office last night.

626
00:42:27,545 --> 00:42:30,615
Was that before or after dinner, sir?

627
00:42:34,419 --> 00:42:38,456
You know, you're...
You're rather subtle...

628
00:42:38,556 --> 00:42:41,726
for a man who appears so overt.

629
00:42:41,826 --> 00:42:46,364
– Is that good, sir?
– Oh, it's not too bad at all.

630
00:42:46,798 --> 00:42:49,534
It was after dinner.

631
00:42:49,700 --> 00:42:53,805
Did my wife also get around to telling
you what we had on the menu?

632
00:42:53,905 --> 00:42:58,543
No, sir. But that meeting was
very late, then, wasn't it, sir?

633
00:42:58,643 --> 00:43:00,511
After midnight, probably.

634
00:43:00,611 --> 00:43:01,612
Yes.

635
00:43:01,879 --> 00:43:04,615
And after the call from Mr. Staplin?

636
00:43:05,183 --> 00:43:06,584
That's correct.

637
00:43:07,852 --> 00:43:12,924
But the meeting wasn't
with Mr. Staplin, was it, sir?

638
00:43:15,093 --> 00:43:16,928
What o'clock do you have?

639
00:43:18,095 --> 00:43:19,230
I beg your pardon?

640
00:43:19,497 --> 00:43:25,937
My timepiece says 10:09 and counting.

641
00:43:27,672 --> 00:43:30,641
Well, I'm sure that your
timepiece is correct, sir.

642
00:43:30,741 --> 00:43:32,610
That gives me just under six minutes...

643
00:43:32,710 --> 00:43:34,245
to make my next appointment,
the other side of town.

644
00:43:34,345 --> 00:43:37,114
Now, if I get a speeding ticket,
will you take care of it?

645
00:43:37,215 --> 00:43:39,250
– Well, I...
– I detest being late.

646
00:43:39,350 --> 00:43:41,652
And I also detest
having to repeat myself.

647
00:43:41,752 --> 00:43:44,388
Now, come on, Lieutenant,
don't disappoint me.

648
00:43:44,489 --> 00:43:46,491
A man of your obvious intelligence...

649
00:43:46,591 --> 00:43:50,194
will not have overlooked the fact that
I told you twice already, I believe,

650
00:43:50,294 --> 00:43:55,032
that I have never met Mr. Staplin.
Does that cover it?

651
00:43:55,133 --> 00:43:56,434
That covers it, sir.

652
00:43:57,201 --> 00:44:00,238
Have a nice remainder
of the day, Lieutenant.

653
00:44:45,917 --> 00:44:48,452
This will be real quick, sir, I promise.

654
00:44:48,553 --> 00:44:53,090
Would you mind telling me who it was
you had that meeting with last night?

655
00:44:53,691 --> 00:44:56,460
You should know better than that, Lieutenant.
I'm sure you've heard of...

656
00:44:56,561 --> 00:44:58,829
client-attorney privilege, confidentiality.

657
00:44:59,297 --> 00:45:02,934
Well, maybe you can help me with this
other thing that I don't understand.

658
00:45:03,034 --> 00:45:07,071
Your wife told me that she heard
the telephone ring...

659
00:45:07,171 --> 00:45:09,507
just after you two came home last night.

660
00:45:09,907 --> 00:45:12,210
– Is that your memory, sir?
– Yeah.

661
00:45:12,310 --> 00:45:15,479
And after the call, you went to
your office and met with someone?

662
00:45:15,580 --> 00:45:16,514
Yeah.

663
00:45:16,714 --> 00:45:18,783
– Did you drive, sir?
– Yes, of course.

664
00:45:18,883 --> 00:45:21,752
And the individual you met with,
did he drive himself, too?

665
00:45:22,019 --> 00:45:24,221
Yeah. What's your point?

666
00:45:24,622 --> 00:45:28,159
Was that a meeting that
was previously planned, sir?

667
00:45:28,259 --> 00:45:29,560
It was so late at night.

668
00:45:29,827 --> 00:45:32,964
Well, there were actually two calls
last night, Lieutenant.

669
00:45:33,064 --> 00:45:35,666
One was from Staplin,
and the other was from a client...

670
00:45:35,766 --> 00:45:38,569
who wished to meet with me at my office
on a matter of some urgency.

671
00:45:38,836 --> 00:45:42,406
But I think that your wife said
there was only one call, sir.

672
00:45:42,506 --> 00:45:47,044
Oh, there's no mystery there, Lieutenant.
We have call-waiting service.

673
00:45:47,144 --> 00:45:50,214
The second call clicked through while
Mr. Staplin was on the line.

674
00:45:50,381 --> 00:45:54,285
Which would account for why your wife
didn't hear the second ring.

675
00:45:54,619 --> 00:45:55,953
Because there wasn't one.

676
00:45:56,053 --> 00:45:59,957
Well, that's terrific. That's very good.

677
00:46:00,324 --> 00:46:03,995
We cleared that one up very easily.
And I'm happy about it,

678
00:46:04,095 --> 00:46:07,598
because that was one of the few loose
ends I was still having trouble with.

679
00:46:07,698 --> 00:46:10,801
That's great. You know what, sir?

680
00:46:12,837 --> 00:46:16,807
We did it in 72 seconds.
How's that for problem solving?

681
00:46:16,907 --> 00:46:18,075
Any more questions?

682
00:46:18,175 --> 00:46:20,211
I can't think of one at the moment,

683
00:46:20,311 --> 00:46:22,947
except why aren't you
on your way to court?

684
00:46:23,047 --> 00:46:23,814
That's a good one.

685
00:46:30,354 --> 00:46:33,257
I just loved when you asked him,
was he sure he could see in the dark.

686
00:46:33,357 --> 00:46:34,458
Thirty yards on a moonless night.

687
00:46:34,558 --> 00:46:36,994
That was the clincher,
when you called him Mr. Cat's Eyes.

688
00:46:37,094 --> 00:46:39,263
Congratulations, Oscar,
you did it again.

689
00:46:39,363 --> 00:46:40,531
You nailed me to the wall.

690
00:46:40,631 --> 00:46:42,667
Better luck next time, James.
Thank you.

691
00:46:42,767 --> 00:46:44,201
And the judge nearly had
a heart attack...

692
00:46:44,301 --> 00:46:47,271
when you played the tape of the
automatic firing 18 rounds.

693
00:46:47,371 --> 00:46:48,873
At the lawyer.

694
00:46:49,674 --> 00:46:51,042
Back to work, folks.

695
00:46:51,142 --> 00:46:52,877
– See you later.
– See you later.

696
00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:57,848
Me, too, Lieutenant.

697
00:46:58,616 --> 00:47:00,251
Did you win another, Mr. Finch?

698
00:47:00,351 --> 00:47:03,320
Oh, let's say that I acquitted
myself reasonably well.

699
00:47:03,421 --> 00:47:05,690
Wish I could have seen you in action.

700
00:47:05,823 --> 00:47:07,291
Oh, you're most welcome. Anytime.

701
00:47:07,391 --> 00:47:10,061
Yeah, I tried to get here earlier,
but I had to see Mrs. Staplin.

702
00:47:10,161 --> 00:47:12,163
Oh, really? How is she bearing up?

703
00:47:12,263 --> 00:47:15,166
Oh, courageous woman, sir.
Very courageous woman.

704
00:47:15,266 --> 00:47:17,201
I gotta say that...

705
00:47:21,472 --> 00:47:24,175
I was just saying that there's
something about the case...

706
00:47:24,275 --> 00:47:25,676
that's gonna keep me awake tonight.

707
00:47:25,776 --> 00:47:27,211
Which case is that?

708
00:47:27,311 --> 00:47:29,113
Oh, you know, sir.

709
00:47:29,213 --> 00:47:32,083
Oh, you have a bee in your bonnet about
that suicide, don't you?

710
00:47:32,183 --> 00:47:35,286
Not exactly. But I can't put it
to bed yet.

711
00:47:35,386 --> 00:47:37,521
Something about the fax that's puzzling me.

712
00:47:37,621 --> 00:47:39,256
Which facts are those?

713
00:47:39,357 --> 00:47:43,127
Oh, no, sir, not the facts. The fax.
F-A-X. The machine.

714
00:47:43,227 --> 00:47:44,161
I see.

715
00:47:44,261 --> 00:47:45,963
You are familiar with that instrument?

716
00:47:46,063 --> 00:47:47,798
We have two of them in our offices.

717
00:47:47,898 --> 00:47:52,002
Well, sir, what's puzzling me is what
Mr. Staplin sent on his fax machine...

718
00:47:52,103 --> 00:47:57,341
to his wife in Hawaii at 12:27,
just before he shot himself.

719
00:47:57,441 --> 00:47:58,175
Suicide note?

720
00:47:58,275 --> 00:48:01,378
Oh, no, sir. That would be very
strange, wouldn't it?

721
00:48:01,479 --> 00:48:03,180
A suicide note on a fax machine?

722
00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:05,182
You're losing me,
Lieutenant, you're losing me.

723
00:48:05,282 --> 00:48:07,418
I have a luncheon appointment
with Congressman Mackey,

724
00:48:07,518 --> 00:48:11,522
and the primary is just a few days away,
and I really must press along.

725
00:48:11,622 --> 00:48:13,557
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

726
00:48:13,657 --> 00:48:15,593
Maybe you could spare
a few minutes after lunch.

727
00:48:15,693 --> 00:48:18,596
What restaurant you going to?
I could wait outside.

728
00:48:18,763 --> 00:48:20,998
Oh, I'd just hate for you
to have to drag yourself...

729
00:48:21,098 --> 00:48:23,367
all the way across town
on some wild goose chase.

730
00:48:23,467 --> 00:48:26,737
Tell me, what exactly bugs you?

731
00:48:26,937 --> 00:48:30,174
Well, sir, what's bugging me is,

732
00:48:30,541 --> 00:48:32,076
since you were kind enough to...

733
00:48:32,209 --> 00:48:36,046
tell me the last desperate
words of the deceased, that,

734
00:48:36,147 --> 00:48:39,083
"What the hell am I gonna do?
What in the hell am I gonna do?"

735
00:48:39,183 --> 00:48:43,053
That business. And, as far as we know,
those were his last words.

736
00:48:43,154 --> 00:48:47,858
How he could say that and still
send this message on his fax machine...

737
00:48:47,958 --> 00:48:50,361
just before he shot himself?

738
00:48:50,995 --> 00:48:53,664
Now, these are copies, sir.

739
00:48:54,064 --> 00:48:58,469
One he sent, and the other one was
beside the machine, waiting to be sent.

740
00:48:58,569 --> 00:49:02,573
They're both jokes.
He shot himself between jokes.

741
00:49:02,673 --> 00:49:04,875
– Jokes?
– Jokes.

742
00:49:05,176 --> 00:49:07,378
– What jokes?
– Good jokes.

743
00:49:08,145 --> 00:49:08,879
Try me.

744
00:49:09,380 --> 00:49:14,618
Well, I don't know, sir, the first
one's Jewish, and the second one's Irish.

745
00:49:14,785 --> 00:49:16,554
I hope they won't offend you.

746
00:49:16,654 --> 00:49:17,888
Maybe the Irish.

747
00:49:18,055 --> 00:49:20,524
Well, then we'll just
try the first one.

748
00:49:20,925 --> 00:49:23,227
It's in his own handwriting.

749
00:49:23,761 --> 00:49:27,965
"Susan, what gives? I tried
calling you a few times.

750
00:49:28,065 --> 00:49:30,000
You fooling around
with some gigolo?"

751
00:49:30,100 --> 00:49:34,271
Well, that's a bit of a joke to start with.
Mrs. Staplin, she was nuts about him.

752
00:49:34,939 --> 00:49:37,875
"Anyway, sweetie, we'll talk later.

753
00:49:37,975 --> 00:49:40,578
I heard a couple of jokes today.
I think you'll like them."

754
00:49:40,744 --> 00:49:43,414
The first one's the flasher story.

755
00:49:43,581 --> 00:49:46,817
There was this Jewish lady
walking down Beverly Drive,

756
00:49:46,951 --> 00:49:50,387
and coming the other way,
this flasher guy in his overcoat.

757
00:49:50,488 --> 00:49:53,657
And when he gets up to her,
he whips open the coat.

758
00:49:53,757 --> 00:49:56,227
She looks at him and says,

759
00:49:56,894 --> 00:49:58,395
"You call that a lining?"

760
00:50:23,454 --> 00:50:25,556
You know what, Lieutenant?

761
00:50:25,656 --> 00:50:29,560
If our Mr. Staplin had told me that
last night instead of his wife,

762
00:50:29,660 --> 00:50:32,263
I might just have gone round there
and heard a few more,

763
00:50:32,363 --> 00:50:35,766
and you wouldn't be in a bother,
and I wouldn't be late for lunch.

764
00:50:35,900 --> 00:50:37,968
Maybe you ought to hear the other one.

765
00:50:38,068 --> 00:50:42,239
Oh, no time. I can't wait to get
that flasher one to Congressman Mackey.

766
00:50:42,439 --> 00:50:43,507
So, what do you think?

767
00:50:43,607 --> 00:50:44,875
I thought it was a good one.

768
00:50:45,075 --> 00:50:49,013
No, what do you think about a man
killing himself after a thing like that?

769
00:50:49,113 --> 00:50:52,950
Oh, if you solve the mysteries
of the suicidal mind,

770
00:50:53,050 --> 00:50:56,120
you're a smarter man
than I, Lieutenant.

771
00:50:56,220 --> 00:50:58,455
"Call that a lining?"

772
00:51:12,570 --> 00:51:13,737
Right this way, guys.

773
00:51:13,837 --> 00:51:16,140
Over here? Okay.
I'll set up on the desk over here.

774
00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:18,742
Put the tripod in the middle of the room
toward the desk.

775
00:51:18,842 --> 00:51:20,244
Okay, let's make sure we...

776
00:51:24,682 --> 00:51:27,051
Excuse me, sir,
are you with the network?

777
00:51:27,151 --> 00:51:28,953
Lieutenant Columbo, with the police.

778
00:51:29,053 --> 00:51:33,090
I wonder if the congressman could
spare me a few minutes.

779
00:51:33,223 --> 00:51:36,026
I'm Toby Ritt, the congressman's aide.

780
00:51:36,126 --> 00:51:39,229
Lieutenant, this is really the worst time.

781
00:51:39,330 --> 00:51:41,966
He's just getting ready to take a very
important interview with the network.

782
00:51:42,066 --> 00:51:46,337
No doubt you've heard some of the speculation
about his future in the political scene.

783
00:51:46,437 --> 00:51:50,341
Well, I'm real sorry if I'm interrupting
something like that, Mr. Ritt.

784
00:51:50,441 --> 00:51:53,077
I wonder if you could ask him
for maybe just four minutes.

785
00:51:53,177 --> 00:51:56,280
One or two questions. I'll be done
before these fellas are ready.

786
00:51:56,380 --> 00:51:57,881
Word of honor, sir.

787
00:51:58,315 --> 00:52:01,719
Well, I guess it wouldn't
harm anything to ask.

788
00:52:13,564 --> 00:52:16,033
The congressman will see you now.

789
00:52:19,370 --> 00:52:21,171
Lieutenant Columbo.

790
00:52:21,572 --> 00:52:23,474
Couple of minutes earlier,
you'd have caught me without pants.

791
00:52:23,574 --> 00:52:26,243
Yes, sir. How do you do, sir?

792
00:52:26,343 --> 00:52:29,546
Let me say right off the bat that
I know how valuable your time is,

793
00:52:29,813 --> 00:52:31,348
now more than ever,

794
00:52:31,448 --> 00:52:33,350
and I appreciate the few minutes
you've agreed to give me,

795
00:52:33,450 --> 00:52:37,021
and I'm going to try my best not to
overstay my welcome.

796
00:52:37,121 --> 00:52:39,456
The man's more of
a politician than I am.

797
00:52:39,556 --> 00:52:42,659
Makeup should be ready in about
five minutes for you, Congressman.

798
00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:45,329
Fine. You just give me a shout, Toby.
Help yourself to a seat, Lieutenant.

799
00:52:45,429 --> 00:52:46,497
Thank you, very much, sir.

800
00:52:48,799 --> 00:52:50,801
This is a genuine antique, isn't it?

801
00:52:50,901 --> 00:52:53,570
Yes, it is. It's been
in the family for generations.

802
00:52:53,670 --> 00:52:57,341
Yeah. Last time I sat on one
of these things, it broke.

803
00:52:57,441 --> 00:52:58,342
That right?

804
00:52:58,442 --> 00:53:01,545
Yeah, I was in this lady's house,
and...

805
00:53:01,645 --> 00:53:05,182
You know how fragile they are,
and what happened was...

806
00:53:05,282 --> 00:53:09,586
Oh, well, I'm not gonna get into that.
Just let me say it cost me money, sir.

807
00:53:09,687 --> 00:53:12,890
Well, not to fear. That one's built to
last. What's on your mind, Lieutenant?

808
00:53:13,057 --> 00:53:15,059
Oh, this is another antique, isn't it?

809
00:53:16,126 --> 00:53:16,927
Yes, it is.

810
00:53:17,027 --> 00:53:19,630
– May I?
– Go ahead.

811
00:53:20,731 --> 00:53:21,565
What is it, sir?

812
00:53:21,799 --> 00:53:24,368
It's an antique cigar lighter.
Turn-of-the-century English.

813
00:53:24,735 --> 00:53:27,071
Oh. Does it work?

814
00:53:27,171 --> 00:53:30,040
No, it's a family heirloom now.
It belonged to my grandfather.

815
00:53:30,741 --> 00:53:33,777
Well, in that case, sir, if you
don't mind, I'll just use this one.

816
00:53:33,877 --> 00:53:36,780
You know, I would really prefer that
you did not smoke, Lieutenant.

817
00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:39,550
Now, Toby said that you
had some questions for me.

818
00:53:41,785 --> 00:53:45,155
Yes, sir, I did. Yeah. Uh...

819
00:53:45,722 --> 00:53:51,395
Are you aware of the death
of a man named Frank Staplin?

820
00:53:51,762 --> 00:53:53,597
Yes, of course. A suicide.

821
00:53:53,831 --> 00:53:55,799
Well, that's what we're
trying to determine, sir.

822
00:53:55,899 --> 00:53:57,501
You see, the law requires...

823
00:53:57,601 --> 00:53:59,603
You don't have to tell me what the law
requires, Lieutenant.

824
00:53:59,703 --> 00:54:01,972
I was a practicing attorney for years.

825
00:54:02,206 --> 00:54:03,440
What about Frank Staplin?

826
00:54:03,574 --> 00:54:05,409
You had lunch today with Oscar Finch?

827
00:54:06,577 --> 00:54:07,878
Yes, I did.

828
00:54:07,978 --> 00:54:10,214
The two of you are
old friends, I understand.

829
00:54:10,314 --> 00:54:11,415
Going on 20 years, now.

830
00:54:11,882 --> 00:54:17,154
Well, it seems that Mr. Staplin called
Mr. Finch at his house,

831
00:54:17,254 --> 00:54:21,191
and as it turned out,
that call came in just about...

832
00:54:21,291 --> 00:54:23,827
two hours before Mr. Staplin died.

833
00:54:24,394 --> 00:54:27,865
Did Mr. Finch happen
to mention that to you at lunch today?

834
00:54:27,965 --> 00:54:32,269
No. I wonder what reason
he had for calling Oscar.

835
00:54:35,506 --> 00:54:37,307
Could I borrow this, sir?

836
00:54:37,508 --> 00:54:38,909
Help yourself.

837
00:54:39,777 --> 00:54:44,248
According to Mr. Finch,
Mr. Staplin wanted a new attorney.

838
00:54:44,348 --> 00:54:46,784
Well, I'm not surprised,
considering the fix he was in.

839
00:54:49,086 --> 00:54:51,388
Can't seem to get this to work, sir.

840
00:54:51,688 --> 00:54:52,656
Twist it.

841
00:54:53,190 --> 00:54:54,358
Yes.

842
00:54:55,025 --> 00:54:59,696
Were you aware of any prior relationship
between Mr. Staplin and Mr. Finch?

843
00:55:00,097 --> 00:55:03,133
No. That's not to say
that none existed.

844
00:55:03,467 --> 00:55:06,069
Staplin was one of this city's
most notorious racketeers.

845
00:55:06,170 --> 00:55:08,539
Oscar Finch is one of our finest
criminal lawyers.

846
00:55:08,639 --> 00:55:12,910
It's entirely possible that their paths
may have crossed on some occasion.

847
00:55:13,277 --> 00:55:16,246
And you're not aware
of any particular occasion?

848
00:55:16,647 --> 00:55:17,815
None at all.

849
00:55:24,821 --> 00:55:26,056
Okay, Uh...

850
00:55:27,257 --> 00:55:28,425
Is that it?

851
00:55:29,193 --> 00:55:32,696
It? Yes. Yes, sir, that's it.
Thank you very much.

852
00:55:32,796 --> 00:55:34,865
Let me take this opportunity
to wish you a lot of luck.

853
00:55:34,965 --> 00:55:37,234
Well, thank you very much, Lieutenant.

854
00:55:42,239 --> 00:55:44,541
There's one more thing, sir.

855
00:55:45,275 --> 00:55:46,009
Yes?

856
00:55:46,143 --> 00:55:50,614
If it's not too much trouble,
my wife would love to have your autograph.

857
00:55:51,615 --> 00:55:55,252
Why, of course, Lieutenant.
That's no trouble at all.

858
00:55:55,352 --> 00:55:58,255
And when the time comes,
I would sure love to have her vote.

859
00:55:58,455 --> 00:55:59,756
What's her name?

860
00:55:59,856 --> 00:56:01,725
Mrs. Columbo.

861
00:56:08,532 --> 00:56:10,534
Where the hell you been all day, Oscar?

862
00:56:10,867 --> 00:56:14,671
Just busting my gut all over
town on behalf of our noble cause.

863
00:56:14,771 --> 00:56:17,174
What's the matter? Your boy Toby
got me on the car phone.

864
00:56:17,274 --> 00:56:19,509
Made it sound as though you were
in need of intensive care.

865
00:56:19,610 --> 00:56:20,744
And I'm in need of one of those.

866
00:56:20,844 --> 00:56:22,379
– What's going on, Oscar?
– Come again?

867
00:56:22,479 --> 00:56:25,082
A homicide detective in my office
in broad daylight.

868
00:56:25,682 --> 00:56:29,286
Would you be referring to a certain
Lieutenant Columbo?

869
00:56:29,386 --> 00:56:31,088
Right. Columbo.

870
00:56:31,688 --> 00:56:33,757
He damn near busted in
on my interview with Ted Koppel.

871
00:56:33,857 --> 00:56:35,559
The guy's got an act
you could take on the road.

872
00:56:35,659 --> 00:56:37,494
Oh, he's harmless.
Jumped up Boy Scout.

873
00:56:37,594 --> 00:56:40,230
Not funny, Oscar.
And he's not so damned harmless...

874
00:56:40,330 --> 00:56:43,033
when he's on my case
about Frank Staplin.

875
00:56:43,133 --> 00:56:45,969
Is this guy following us? How'd he
know you and I had lunch together today?

876
00:56:46,069 --> 00:56:47,804
– I told him.
– You told him?

877
00:56:47,904 --> 00:56:50,574
Sure. Sure, I told him. He's been
snooping around all over the place.

878
00:56:50,674 --> 00:56:53,210
He's just doing his job.
You know that whole procedure.

879
00:56:53,310 --> 00:56:56,146
They have to check on the last people
that a suicide was in contact with.

880
00:56:56,346 --> 00:57:00,117
Yeah. He told me you had a call from
Staplin two hours before he died.

881
00:57:00,217 --> 00:57:02,352
– Yeah, sure he did.
– And?

882
00:57:02,452 --> 00:57:04,821
Well, he wanted me to represent him
in the indictment.

883
00:57:04,921 --> 00:57:07,090
He didn't have a hope in hell,
so I told the guy to get lost.

884
00:57:07,190 --> 00:57:08,592
And, boy, did he ever.

885
00:57:10,160 --> 00:57:10,928
That's it?

886
00:57:13,263 --> 00:57:14,097
That's it.

887
00:57:16,867 --> 00:57:19,369
Come on, Paul.
We've got a lot of work to do.

888
00:57:19,469 --> 00:57:21,805
There's a long road ahead.

889
00:57:21,905 --> 00:57:25,309
Or would you rather forget
about the White House?

890
00:57:39,222 --> 00:57:40,590
Hello, sir.

891
00:57:41,058 --> 00:57:44,061
Oh, I'm glad I caught you before
you go up to see the governor.

892
00:57:44,161 --> 00:57:45,128
In three minutes.

893
00:57:45,228 --> 00:57:47,564
Yes, sir. They told me that when
I called your office.

894
00:57:47,731 --> 00:57:51,868
I need only ask you one question,
sir, then I'll be out of your hair.

895
00:57:53,036 --> 00:57:55,505
Toby, you and Jim go on up.
I'll follow in a minute.

896
00:57:55,605 --> 00:57:57,107
Yes, sir.

897
00:57:57,908 --> 00:58:00,844
I would be obliged if you would get
directly to the point, Lieutenant.

898
00:58:00,978 --> 00:58:01,878
Yes, sir.

899
00:58:04,147 --> 00:58:07,284
Remember the other day,
I asked you if you were aware...

900
00:58:07,384 --> 00:58:11,054
of any previous relationship between
Mr. Finch and Mr. Staplin?

901
00:58:11,154 --> 00:58:13,390
– Vividly.
– And you answered that question.

902
00:58:13,490 --> 00:58:14,324
Yes.

903
00:58:14,424 --> 00:58:17,694
What I neglected to ask was if...

904
00:58:17,794 --> 00:58:21,932
you had any association with Mr. Staplin.

905
00:58:22,299 --> 00:58:27,337
For the record, I never spoke with him,
never in person, never on the phone.

906
00:58:27,437 --> 00:58:30,540
As far as I know, we were never
in the same place at the same time.

907
00:58:30,640 --> 00:58:33,643
I never knew him.
I never met Frank Staplin.

908
00:58:33,744 --> 00:58:35,812
– Thank you, sir.
– Is that all?

909
00:58:35,912 --> 00:58:37,881
That was the one question, sir.

910
00:58:37,981 --> 00:58:40,851
If only the rest of this case could
wrap up that easily.

911
00:58:40,951 --> 00:58:43,954
Aren't you spending an inordinate amount
of time on a suicide?

912
00:58:44,054 --> 00:58:48,191
Oh, it's not that anymore, sir. It's
been officially classified a homicide.

913
00:58:48,291 --> 00:58:52,229
Since yesterday.
Mr. Staplin was murdered.

914
00:58:52,462 --> 00:58:55,565
Well, that changes the tone of your
investigation, doesn't it?

915
00:58:55,665 --> 00:58:58,869
Indeed it does, sir. We're looking for
a cold-blooded killer now.

916
00:58:58,969 --> 00:58:59,936
Well, wish you luck.

917
00:59:00,070 --> 00:59:03,807
Oh, by the way, sir. I want to thank you
again for that autograph.

918
00:59:03,907 --> 00:59:07,878
My wife was thrilled when she
saw your name in your own handwriting.

919
00:59:07,978 --> 00:59:11,381
Best of all was your putting it on
that paper with the congressional heading.

920
00:59:11,481 --> 00:59:12,416
Well, I'm happy to hear that.

921
00:59:12,516 --> 00:59:14,084
Oh, I don't want to seem a nuisance, sir,

922
00:59:14,184 --> 00:59:17,354
but do you think there's any chance
we could get the governor's autograph?

923
00:59:17,454 --> 00:59:22,092
I think if my wife had that, well,
she would be in seventh heaven.

924
00:59:22,325 --> 00:59:23,627
Let me see what I can do.

925
00:59:23,860 --> 00:59:25,629
Thank you very much, sir.

926
01:00:09,673 --> 01:00:11,141
Excuse me!

927
01:00:14,010 --> 01:00:15,212
– Excuse me.
– Yeah?

928
01:00:15,312 --> 01:00:16,613
I got a question for you.

929
01:00:16,713 --> 01:00:19,449
Give me a try. My wife is convinced
I'm smarter than I look.

930
01:00:19,549 --> 01:00:22,419
Now, you pick up and deliver laundry
in this area, right?

931
01:00:22,519 --> 01:00:25,322
Yeah. I think it says that right on
the side of the van there.

932
01:00:25,422 --> 01:00:26,990
You got something
more tricky than that?

933
01:00:27,090 --> 01:00:29,993
Does one of your customers happen
to be the Finch family?

934
01:00:30,093 --> 01:00:35,298
Finches? No. No finches,
no sparrows, no robins, no larks.

935
01:00:35,398 --> 01:00:37,234
I got a Mrs. Byrd, though,
if that'll do you any good.

936
01:00:37,334 --> 01:00:38,001
No.

937
01:00:38,101 --> 01:00:40,637
And I used to be absurd,
but now you'd hardly know it.

938
01:00:49,012 --> 01:00:50,881
– Good day, sir.
– Mr. Amir?

939
01:00:50,981 --> 01:00:51,848
That is who I am.

940
01:00:51,948 --> 01:00:55,385
Lieutenant Columbo.
I spoke earlier with your father.

941
01:00:55,485 --> 01:00:58,755
Oh, yes, I've been expecting you, sir.
Yes, sir, how do you do?

942
01:00:59,422 --> 01:01:00,924
Did you find those items?

943
01:01:01,091 --> 01:01:01,858
Yes, sir.

944
01:01:01,958 --> 01:01:04,227
Now, this stuff was
picked up by your driver...

945
01:01:04,327 --> 01:01:06,763
from the Finch residence
day before yesterday?

946
01:01:06,863 --> 01:01:09,866
Yes, sir. We have prepared
them for the machine.

947
01:01:17,374 --> 01:01:18,608
Here, sir.

948
01:01:26,416 --> 01:01:28,685
You search for something,
sir, yes?

949
01:01:28,785 --> 01:01:30,820
– Smoke.
– Smoke?

950
01:01:30,921 --> 01:01:32,289
Cigar smoke.

951
01:01:32,656 --> 01:01:33,790
Yes.

952
01:01:37,427 --> 01:01:38,595
What caused that?

953
01:01:40,030 --> 01:01:40,997
Water.

954
01:01:41,531 --> 01:01:42,933
Like walking in the rain?

955
01:01:43,033 --> 01:01:46,436
Like Gene Kelly. Oh, yes,
that would do it every time, sir.

956
01:01:47,237 --> 01:01:51,074
Mr. Amir, I'd like
to ask you for a big favor.

957
01:01:51,308 --> 01:01:53,610
Is there someplace we can talk?

958
01:01:53,910 --> 01:01:57,280
Anything I can do for the police
would be my absolute pleasure, sir.

959
01:01:57,380 --> 01:01:58,582
This way.

960
01:02:04,154 --> 01:02:08,124
What I would like to do, sir, is I would
like to take that suit for one day.

961
01:02:08,224 --> 01:02:10,927
I'll give you a receipt, date it,
and then sign it.

962
01:02:11,027 --> 01:02:14,331
I guarantee you that you
won't be held responsible.

963
01:02:14,464 --> 01:02:17,133
Yes, but what do I say
when the client complains...

964
01:02:17,234 --> 01:02:19,769
that the item has not
been returned on time, sir?

965
01:02:19,869 --> 01:02:22,806
Mr. Amir, there's one
thing I know for sure.

966
01:02:22,906 --> 01:02:25,942
That is not Mr. Finch's only suit.

967
01:02:26,042 --> 01:02:29,045
And are your deliveries always on time?

968
01:02:29,145 --> 01:02:30,981
We have an excellent reputation, sir.

969
01:02:31,147 --> 01:02:34,918
Except only on very rare occasions
when we have problems with the machine, sir.

970
01:02:35,318 --> 01:02:37,320
But that can happen anytime.

971
01:02:37,854 --> 01:02:40,790
Yes, sir, that is true.
It could happen anytime.

972
01:02:41,157 --> 01:02:43,093
Thank you. I appreciate
your cooperation.

973
01:02:43,193 --> 01:02:45,528
My pleasure, sir. This way.

974
01:03:07,884 --> 01:03:09,452
Well, good evening, Lieutenant.

975
01:03:09,586 --> 01:03:13,256
Good evening.
I'm sure glad I caught you.

976
01:03:13,356 --> 01:03:15,458
My wife wanted me to give you this.

977
01:03:15,558 --> 01:03:18,228
It's just a thank-you note
for the spray.

978
01:03:18,328 --> 01:03:22,032
I'll tell you, she's really enjoying it.
It's a whole different house.

979
01:03:22,132 --> 01:03:25,602
What a kind thought.
She must be a very nice lady.

980
01:03:25,702 --> 01:03:26,503
Yes, ma'am.

981
01:03:27,003 --> 01:03:33,043
I see Mr. Finch's car outside
in his own spot. He beat me to it.

982
01:03:34,044 --> 01:03:36,112
Poor man. He's catching
up on his homework.

983
01:03:36,212 --> 01:03:37,614
What with the primaries and all,

984
01:03:37,714 --> 01:03:40,283
I don't know how he has time
to fit everything in.

985
01:03:40,383 --> 01:03:43,053
You think I could duck
in there for a minute?

986
01:03:44,187 --> 01:03:46,089
Let me find out.

987
01:03:48,892 --> 01:03:49,726
Come in.

988
01:03:51,561 --> 01:03:54,531
Mr. Finch,
Lieutenant Columbo is here.

989
01:03:56,766 --> 01:03:57,567
Is he?

990
01:03:57,667 --> 01:03:59,736
Forgive me for disturbing you, sir.

991
01:03:59,836 --> 01:04:02,672
If it's not convenient now,
I can come back another time.

992
01:04:02,772 --> 01:04:06,476
If you don't mind, sir,
I just need a little technical advice.

993
01:04:09,145 --> 01:04:12,716
<i>I</i><i>'m... </i><i>I</i><i>'m </i>very expensive.

994
01:04:12,849 --> 01:04:14,951
Oh, shucks, sir.

995
01:04:16,920 --> 01:04:18,054
What do you say, Louise?

996
01:04:18,354 --> 01:04:20,056
I think a break would do you good.

997
01:04:20,156 --> 01:04:23,560
All right. Come in, Lieutenant.
Are you about through, Louise?

998
01:04:23,660 --> 01:04:24,728
I'm just going, sir.

999
01:04:24,828 --> 01:04:25,528
Have a good evening.

1000
01:04:25,628 --> 01:04:26,996
– Good night, Mr. Finch.
– Good night.

1001
01:04:27,097 --> 01:04:29,165
– Good night, Lieutenant.
– Good night, ma'am.

1002
01:04:30,367 --> 01:04:31,968
At your service, Lieutenant.

1003
01:04:39,943 --> 01:04:41,878
Know what this is, sir?

1004
01:04:47,450 --> 01:04:51,221
If I'm not mistaken,
that is a .32 automatic.

1005
01:04:51,321 --> 01:04:53,456
That's the gun that killed Mr. Staplin.

1006
01:04:53,790 --> 01:04:54,858
Is it?

1007
01:04:54,958 --> 01:04:58,395
Well, not the one,
but it's the same model.

1008
01:04:58,595 --> 01:04:59,963
The real one's
been impounded, pending...

1009
01:05:00,230 --> 01:05:03,800
Pending closure of the investigation.

1010
01:05:04,134 --> 01:05:05,735
Yes. Exactly, sir.

1011
01:05:05,835 --> 01:05:08,004
Oh, what about it?

1012
01:05:08,138 --> 01:05:11,541
If I could just show you
what's puzzling me, sir.

1013
01:05:11,641 --> 01:05:13,376
Perhaps I could use your desk.

1014
01:05:13,476 --> 01:05:14,878
Be my guest.

1015
01:05:14,978 --> 01:05:19,749
Now, sir, I'm going to need something
to represent a few drops of blood.

1016
01:05:20,717 --> 01:05:22,585
Could I use some water
from that thing?

1017
01:05:22,685 --> 01:05:25,688
From the carafe? Help yourself.

1018
01:05:25,789 --> 01:05:28,425
I notice that you have
carpet on the floor, sir.

1019
01:05:28,525 --> 01:05:32,228
Mr. Staplin had hardwood
under his desk.

1020
01:05:33,229 --> 01:05:36,933
– Could you spare a few sheets of paper, sir?
– Paper? Certainly.

1021
01:05:41,371 --> 01:05:42,539
Thank you.

1022
01:05:45,275 --> 01:05:46,776
Excuse me.

1023
01:05:52,849 --> 01:05:54,884
Yes? Oh, how are you?

1024
01:05:56,252 --> 01:05:59,489
No, no, I can't right now. I'm in
the middle of a meeting.

1025
01:06:00,323 --> 01:06:03,359
All right. I'll call you
as soon as I'm through.

1026
01:06:03,493 --> 01:06:05,128
See you. Bye-bye.

1027
01:06:05,495 --> 01:06:07,897
I am sorry about that.
We won't be disturbed again.

1028
01:06:07,997 --> 01:06:10,900
I've switched all calls through
to the answering service.

1029
01:06:11,000 --> 01:06:13,303
Now, where were we?

1030
01:06:13,403 --> 01:06:16,406
This is just about the place
where the blood was.

1031
01:06:16,506 --> 01:06:18,908
Now, let me show you.

1032
01:06:20,176 --> 01:06:23,346
This is Mr. Staplin's desk.

1033
01:06:23,480 --> 01:06:25,014
I'm his body.

1034
01:06:25,248 --> 01:06:29,485
Now, sir, after he's dead,
here's his arm.

1035
01:06:30,320 --> 01:06:33,690
And there's the gun
under it on the floor.

1036
01:06:35,892 --> 01:06:37,660
How does that look to you, sir?

1037
01:06:37,861 --> 01:06:39,062
You saw it.

1038
01:06:39,929 --> 01:06:43,366
Right, sir. So, here's the weird bit.

1039
01:06:43,566 --> 01:06:46,903
This is the way it looked after he'd
done what he was supposed to have done.

1040
01:06:47,003 --> 01:06:50,440
But there's something
that's puzzling me, sir, and...

1041
01:06:50,707 --> 01:06:54,544
I was wondering, maybe with
your expertise, you could help me.

1042
01:06:54,677 --> 01:06:55,945
I'll do my best.

1043
01:06:56,079 --> 01:06:57,647
If you'll take a closer look, sir.

1044
01:06:57,747 --> 01:06:58,948
– Closer?
– Yes, please.

1045
01:06:59,082 --> 01:07:00,750
– Certainly.
– In here.

1046
01:07:02,452 --> 01:07:04,454
– In the chair?
– Yeah.

1047
01:07:05,722 --> 01:07:07,690
It's the blood underneath the gun.

1048
01:07:07,924 --> 01:07:10,527
You see, sir, there was no blood
on the gun.

1049
01:07:10,627 --> 01:07:14,464
Not on this side,
and not on the underside.

1050
01:07:14,998 --> 01:07:17,700
So the blood must have dried...

1051
01:07:17,901 --> 01:07:21,537
before the gun fell from his hand
on the floor.

1052
01:07:21,771 --> 01:07:23,306
You see, sir...

1053
01:07:24,307 --> 01:07:29,279
This water hasn't dried yet.
So how could a man shoot himself,

1054
01:07:29,379 --> 01:07:35,084
having a gun dangling from his fingers,
and it not drop until sometime later?

1055
01:07:35,485 --> 01:07:39,255
It just has me baffled, sir.

1056
01:07:40,156 --> 01:07:41,824
Fascinating.

1057
01:07:42,425 --> 01:07:43,693
Yes, sir.

1058
01:07:43,793 --> 01:07:46,596
But not beyond explanation.

1059
01:07:47,830 --> 01:07:51,067
You mean that there's
some way that, that can happen?

1060
01:07:51,567 --> 01:07:54,337
Did Staplin have arthritis?

1061
01:07:54,437 --> 01:07:55,538
Arthritis?

1062
01:07:55,638 --> 01:07:56,940
In the hands?

1063
01:07:58,675 --> 01:08:00,944
Oh, I don't know, sir.

1064
01:08:01,044 --> 01:08:02,946
– Well, check it out.
– Oh, yeah.

1065
01:08:03,246 --> 01:08:04,781
In the finger joints.

1066
01:08:04,881 --> 01:08:08,685
If there was a certain amount
of calcification in the finger joints,

1067
01:08:08,785 --> 01:08:12,322
it could have delayed
their extension before the spasm.

1068
01:08:13,022 --> 01:08:14,357
Spasm.

1069
01:08:14,457 --> 01:08:19,295
Oh, yeah. Invariably there's a spasm
or a digestive quiver...

1070
01:08:19,395 --> 01:08:22,799
that occurs after
other bodily functions have ceased,

1071
01:08:22,899 --> 01:08:25,301
and before the onset of rigor mortis.

1072
01:08:25,401 --> 01:08:29,005
So, you mean that the gun
could have dangled on his finger...

1073
01:08:29,105 --> 01:08:31,074
with the arthritis,

1074
01:08:31,507 --> 01:08:36,879
delaying it from dropping
until this spasm or quiver...

1075
01:08:36,980 --> 01:08:40,283
shook it off some time later.

1076
01:08:40,516 --> 01:08:42,118
Precisely put.

1077
01:08:42,418 --> 01:08:47,624
And that would explain
how the blood had time to dry.

1078
01:08:48,057 --> 01:08:49,392
Possibly.

1079
01:08:49,492 --> 01:08:50,560
Brilliant, sir.

1080
01:08:50,994 --> 01:08:53,396
I wouldn't have thought
of that in a million years.

1081
01:08:53,496 --> 01:08:56,165
Of course, there might
be another explanation.

1082
01:08:56,299 --> 01:08:58,801
That was just a conjectural analysis.

1083
01:08:58,901 --> 01:09:01,971
I can't imagine a better
one than that, sir.

1084
01:09:02,071 --> 01:09:04,941
I wouldn't hesitate to use it
in a court of law.

1085
01:09:05,041 --> 01:09:08,478
No wonder you charge
such high fees.

1086
01:09:08,578 --> 01:09:12,982
The information that you
just gave me is priceless.

1087
01:09:14,217 --> 01:09:17,153
And thanks for the use
of the hall, as they say.

1088
01:09:17,253 --> 01:09:20,123
I'll be on my way, but believe me, sir,

1089
01:09:20,223 --> 01:09:24,994
I will never forget how you helped me
out here tonight.

1090
01:09:25,495 --> 01:09:29,899
Any time, Lieutenant. Any time.

1091
01:09:30,466 --> 01:09:32,201
Have a good evening,

1092
01:09:32,301 --> 01:09:38,207
and kindly close the door
as you go out.

1093
01:09:38,541 --> 01:09:41,811
I still have work to do.

1094
01:09:44,280 --> 01:09:45,882
Certainly, sir.

1095
01:09:46,716 --> 01:09:48,951
– Good night.
– Good night.

1096
01:10:00,463 --> 01:10:02,398
It's just us, Oscar.

1097
01:10:04,033 --> 01:10:06,335
You appear calm.

1098
01:10:07,537 --> 01:10:09,038
But you're not.

1099
01:10:13,943 --> 01:10:15,111
Staplin was murdered.

1100
01:10:18,881 --> 01:10:20,550
Where did you get that information?

1101
01:10:20,650 --> 01:10:22,585
Where else? Our raincoated friend.

1102
01:10:22,685 --> 01:10:23,853
He's bluffing.

1103
01:10:23,953 --> 01:10:25,288
I think he's got a suspect.

1104
01:10:25,388 --> 01:10:27,023
Who might that be?

1105
01:10:27,123 --> 01:10:28,591
You, Oscar.

1106
01:10:29,092 --> 01:10:32,495
And how do you feel about that?

1107
01:10:33,396 --> 01:10:36,065
I feel like we've known each other
for a very long time,

1108
01:10:36,165 --> 01:10:38,234
and I feel I wouldn't be
where I am without you.

1109
01:10:38,468 --> 01:10:40,236
I let you get by with lying
to me yesterday...

1110
01:10:40,336 --> 01:10:42,772
because I didn't want to hear the truth.
Maybe I still don't.

1111
01:10:42,872 --> 01:10:45,741
Make up your mind, Paul.
Either you do, or you don't.

1112
01:10:45,842 --> 01:10:48,311
It's your call.

1113
01:10:49,579 --> 01:10:50,947
I'm listening.

1114
01:10:54,650 --> 01:10:56,018
He was extorting me.

1115
01:10:57,019 --> 01:10:57,920
You killed him?

1116
01:10:58,621 --> 01:11:02,325
I'd really appreciate
your believing it was necessary.

1117
01:11:02,425 --> 01:11:03,626
Necessary?

1118
01:11:03,726 --> 01:11:07,396
Essential. For both of us.
There was too much at stake.

1119
01:11:07,497 --> 01:11:09,699
I sincerely wish I wasn't hearing this.

1120
01:11:09,832 --> 01:11:12,635
He wanted to turn
the clock back 21 years.

1121
01:11:12,735 --> 01:11:15,838
The missing document routine.
What was I supposed to do?

1122
01:11:15,938 --> 01:11:18,307
You were supposed to tell him
to get lost like you said you did.

1123
01:11:18,407 --> 01:11:21,377
And sit back and wait for him to tell
the rest of the world exactly...

1124
01:11:21,477 --> 01:11:23,813
what happened in '69
about the little favor we did him...

1125
01:11:23,913 --> 01:11:26,549
when you were in the DA's office,
the cash that changed hands?

1126
01:11:26,916 --> 01:11:30,219
If it turns out that the prime suspect
in a homicide case...

1127
01:11:30,319 --> 01:11:34,056
is vice-presidential candidate Mackey's
closest personal friend and advisor,

1128
01:11:34,157 --> 01:11:35,591
what's the score then, Oscar?

1129
01:11:35,691 --> 01:11:37,360
It'll never happen.

1130
01:11:37,860 --> 01:11:39,128
What guarantees do I have?

1131
01:11:39,228 --> 01:11:41,164
I'm convinced that Columbo is...

1132
01:11:41,264 --> 01:11:45,234
bluffing. He's been hanging around me
like a limpet, and he hasn't got a clue.

1133
01:11:45,334 --> 01:11:46,769
He's fishing.

1134
01:11:46,869 --> 01:11:50,173
Just before I came here, he reconstructed
the whole Staplin death scene...

1135
01:11:50,273 --> 01:11:52,241
in my damn office, with the gun and all.

1136
01:11:52,341 --> 01:11:54,210
That was the meeting
I was at when you called.

1137
01:11:54,410 --> 01:11:57,413
Asking for advice.
Who's he think he's kidding?

1138
01:11:58,247 --> 01:12:01,818
Wish you'd been there.
You might have enjoyed it.

1139
01:12:02,618 --> 01:12:05,721
Might I?
What about Stapling phone call?

1140
01:12:06,088 --> 01:12:08,758
You can't shoot a man
over the telephone, Paul.

1141
01:12:10,927 --> 01:12:14,831
Having guided much of my career,
enlighten me on just one more point.

1142
01:12:14,931 --> 01:12:15,998
What's your alibi?

1143
01:12:20,570 --> 01:12:21,904
Oscar?

1144
01:12:22,872 --> 01:12:24,407
What's your alibi?

1145
01:12:25,208 --> 01:12:27,910
You should have seen
the congressman perform on camera...

1146
01:12:28,010 --> 01:12:29,412
in the interview with Koppel.

1147
01:12:29,512 --> 01:12:31,013
Personally,
I think it's a natural talent.

1148
01:12:31,113 --> 01:12:33,783
You either have it or you don't.
You can't give lessons in charisma.

1149
01:12:33,883 --> 01:12:35,418
Uh-huh, yeah.

1150
01:12:46,195 --> 01:12:50,299
Lieutenant, good of you to respond
so quickly to my call.

1151
01:12:50,399 --> 01:12:53,202
Paul's upstairs with the governor.
He should be down in a minute.

1152
01:12:53,302 --> 01:12:56,305
Toby, go check that he's on his way,
would you please? Thank you.

1153
01:12:56,739 --> 01:13:01,978
Well, Lieutenant, I've been practicing
law for a very long time,

1154
01:13:02,078 --> 01:13:05,248
and I value my professional integrity
above all else.

1155
01:13:05,348 --> 01:13:09,385
But today, I'm going to do a thing
that I've never done before.

1156
01:13:09,485 --> 01:13:10,486
What is that, sir?

1157
01:13:10,586 --> 01:13:13,623
I'm going to break a trust. An oath.

1158
01:13:13,923 --> 01:13:16,192
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, sir.

1159
01:13:16,292 --> 01:13:20,196
It's my understanding that you now
believe that Staplin was murdered?

1160
01:13:20,463 --> 01:13:21,564
That's right, sir.

1161
01:13:21,664 --> 01:13:22,932
Come to think of it, it's not surprising,

1162
01:13:23,032 --> 01:13:25,167
considering how many enemies
the man must have made.

1163
01:13:25,268 --> 01:13:28,938
He was a fairly ruthless operator.
You got a suspect?

1164
01:13:29,038 --> 01:13:31,440
It's a little early to be sure, sir.

1165
01:13:31,540 --> 01:13:33,576
But you do have some clues?

1166
01:13:33,676 --> 01:13:35,912
Little things here and there...

1167
01:13:36,012 --> 01:13:38,447
Hypothetical? Circumstantial?

1168
01:13:38,547 --> 01:13:41,150
– Yes and no, sir.
– No proof?

1169
01:13:41,250 --> 01:13:43,185
Not yet, no.

1170
01:13:43,286 --> 01:13:48,591
I'd hate to think that there was any
suspicion or innuendo attached to me.

1171
01:13:48,824 --> 01:13:50,559
So would I, sir.

1172
01:13:50,793 --> 01:13:54,497
Remember that I told you that I had a meeting
at my office with a client that evening?

1173
01:13:54,597 --> 01:13:55,331
Yes, sir.

1174
01:13:55,431 --> 01:13:58,567
Yes. And I claimed
attorney-client privilege?

1175
01:13:58,668 --> 01:13:59,402
Correct.

1176
01:13:59,502 --> 01:14:00,836
Confidentiality?

1177
01:14:00,936 --> 01:14:02,138
Yes.

1178
01:14:03,306 --> 01:14:04,840
My client.

1179
01:14:05,408 --> 01:14:07,476
The client I was with that night.

1180
01:14:07,576 --> 01:14:09,845
How are you, Lieutenant?
I imagine Oscar's filled you in...

1181
01:14:09,946 --> 01:14:12,581
with the gruesome details. I know
it just about killed him to do it,

1182
01:14:12,682 --> 01:14:14,817
but to be entirely frank,
it's actually my doing...

1183
01:14:14,917 --> 01:14:16,485
and I have to take the blame for it.

1184
01:14:16,585 --> 01:14:17,586
You, sir?

1185
01:14:17,687 --> 01:14:19,822
When Oscar first called
and mentioned your inquiries to me,

1186
01:14:19,922 --> 01:14:23,059
I told him in no uncertain terms
to keep my name out of it.

1187
01:14:23,159 --> 01:14:26,295
I'm sure that you can appreciate
the delicate political situation.

1188
01:14:26,662 --> 01:14:29,365
A word in the wrong place
at the wrong time could upset, well,

1189
01:14:29,465 --> 01:14:31,133
certain rather important events.

1190
01:14:31,300 --> 01:14:34,904
However, we both now feel that we can
rely on your total discretion.

1191
01:14:35,004 --> 01:14:37,873
After you told me that the agenda
changed to murder, I...

1192
01:14:38,007 --> 01:14:41,344
I felt it would be selfish
to further impede your investigation.

1193
01:14:41,544 --> 01:14:42,845
I apologize.

1194
01:14:44,347 --> 01:14:45,681
I understand, sir.

1195
01:14:47,049 --> 01:14:48,517
Goodbye, Lieutenant.

1196
01:14:50,119 --> 01:14:51,320
And good luck.

1197
01:14:52,388 --> 01:14:53,923
Thank you, sir.

1198
01:14:57,293 --> 01:15:00,129
Oh, Lieutenant, I almost forgot.

1199
01:15:00,396 --> 01:15:01,530
For your wife.

1200
01:15:01,797 --> 01:15:04,533
From Governor Montgomery,
with his best regards.

1201
01:15:08,304 --> 01:15:13,342
Congressman, if you're
on the ticket, sir,

1202
01:15:13,609 --> 01:15:16,012
you have one vote for sure.

1203
01:15:16,212 --> 01:15:19,281
Well, you never know, Lieutenant.
Just might be the one we need to win.

1204
01:15:19,849 --> 01:15:23,419
Thank you very much.

1205
01:15:36,599 --> 01:15:38,067
Anybody home?

1206
01:15:43,239 --> 01:15:44,874
Anybody home?

1207
01:15:45,307 --> 01:15:46,776
Who's there?

1208
01:15:48,878 --> 01:15:50,446
Miss Louise?

1209
01:15:50,746 --> 01:15:53,883
It's Diane, one of the others.
Who's that?

1210
01:15:54,583 --> 01:15:56,519
Lieutenant Columbo.

1211
01:15:57,253 --> 01:15:58,854
The cigar man.

1212
01:15:59,255 --> 01:16:03,726
I'm in the bathroom, fixing my face.
Just a minute. Hang in there.

1213
01:16:22,378 --> 01:16:23,846
Well, how do you like it?

1214
01:16:23,946 --> 01:16:26,615
Oh, that's nice, miss.
That's real nice.

1215
01:16:26,715 --> 01:16:30,019
It's primary day. Everybody from
the office will be at the celebrations.

1216
01:16:30,119 --> 01:16:33,222
Well, there's nothing like a celebration.
I hope everything works out.

1217
01:16:33,322 --> 01:16:34,824
Oh, Mr. Finch says it's in the bag.

1218
01:16:35,291 --> 01:16:37,359
Shows you how dumb I am, ma'am.

1219
01:16:37,460 --> 01:16:40,129
Coming to the office,
expecting to find him here...

1220
01:16:40,229 --> 01:16:41,464
at the beginning of a night like this.

1221
01:16:41,564 --> 01:16:43,666
Yeah, he'll be
in the thick of it someplace.

1222
01:16:43,766 --> 01:16:47,036
I'll just wander over to the hotel.
Good night, miss.

1223
01:16:49,705 --> 01:16:51,006
Don't forget to lock up.

1224
01:16:51,373 --> 01:16:52,675
I won't.

1225
01:16:53,209 --> 01:16:54,844
Love that dress.

1226
01:16:56,045 --> 01:16:57,012
Have a ball.

1227
01:16:57,246 --> 01:16:59,181
Thanks. Bye-bye.

1228
01:17:08,991 --> 01:17:10,459
Can I help you?

1229
01:17:11,393 --> 01:17:14,463
Lieutenant Columbo.
I have to see Congressman Mackey.

1230
01:17:14,563 --> 01:17:16,832
He's in the governor's suite.
Follow me, Lieutenant.

1231
01:17:17,800 --> 01:17:19,635
<i>Unit 7, I read you, too.</i>

1232
01:17:20,069 --> 01:17:21,170
Big night, huh?

1233
01:17:21,270 --> 01:17:23,405
Oh, yeah. This is exciting.

1234
01:17:23,506 --> 01:17:24,640
Ever been to one of these?

1235
01:17:24,740 --> 01:17:26,509
No, my first time.

1236
01:17:28,310 --> 01:17:30,312
I'll go find him.
Wait here, Lieutenant.

1237
01:17:30,913 --> 01:17:33,415
<i>The polls have been
closed for about an hour,</i>

1238
01:17:33,516 --> 01:17:36,218
<i>and so far, nothing conclusive
has come in.</i>

1239
01:17:36,318 --> 01:17:39,655
<i>Early precincts do not indicate
a clear projected winner,</i>

1240
01:17:39,755 --> 01:17:41,724
<i>but Montgomery supporters are
extremely optimistic...</i>

1241
01:17:41,824 --> 01:17:43,225
He'll be right out, Lieutenant.

1242
01:17:43,893 --> 01:17:47,563
<i>... because the exit polls</i>
<i>show the governor clearly in the lead.</i>

1243
01:17:47,663 --> 01:17:51,867
<i>The governor is expected to make</i>
<i>his appearance within a half an hour...</i>

1244
01:17:51,967 --> 01:17:55,538
What the hell is going on, Lieutenant?
I thought we had our last little chat.

1245
01:17:55,638 --> 01:17:57,773
Tonight is not the time to have another.

1246
01:17:57,940 --> 01:18:01,510
I'm sorry, sir. I think we should go
someplace private.

1247
01:18:01,610 --> 01:18:05,247
This is confidential you might say.

1248
01:18:08,083 --> 01:18:09,919
All right, step into Haines' room.

1249
01:18:10,019 --> 01:18:11,854
He won't mind.
He's fully occupied in there.

1250
01:18:13,856 --> 01:18:15,691
– How's it going, sir?
– Things are looking good.

1251
01:18:15,791 --> 01:18:17,393
Damn it, will you get to the point?

1252
01:18:18,961 --> 01:18:23,866
I'm not going to enjoy this, Congressman,
and I wanted to get into it easier.

1253
01:18:23,966 --> 01:18:26,268
But if that's how you feel
about it, I'll oblige.

1254
01:18:26,368 --> 01:18:27,369
All right, get to it.

1255
01:18:29,872 --> 01:18:30,973
Notice my cigar?

1256
01:18:31,273 --> 01:18:34,843
When I was in your office,
you asked me not to smoke it.

1257
01:18:34,944 --> 01:18:37,580
When did you give up
cigars yourself, sir?

1258
01:18:38,247 --> 01:18:39,882
What makes you think I did?

1259
01:18:40,449 --> 01:18:42,017
Your behavior.

1260
01:18:42,151 --> 01:18:46,088
And that beautiful humidor and
lighter that was still on your desk.

1261
01:18:46,488 --> 01:18:47,923
Three weeks ago,

1262
01:18:48,157 --> 01:18:51,427
the image of the cigar-smoking
politician is out of date.

1263
01:18:51,527 --> 01:18:53,162
You quit three weeks ago?

1264
01:18:53,662 --> 01:18:57,166
But after your late-night meeting
with Mr. Finch,

1265
01:18:57,566 --> 01:19:00,069
his entire office smelled of cigar smoke.

1266
01:19:00,869 --> 01:19:04,073
Well, I didn't say that
I'd quit altogether.

1267
01:19:04,206 --> 01:19:09,712
What I have done is avoid smoking
within sight of cameras and gossipers.

1268
01:19:09,845 --> 01:19:11,347
I see.

1269
01:19:11,814 --> 01:19:14,450
Did you drive to Mr. Finch's
that night?

1270
01:19:14,550 --> 01:19:15,784
Of course.

1271
01:19:15,985 --> 01:19:18,020
Do you remember where you parked?

1272
01:19:19,822 --> 01:19:21,457
In his lot.

1273
01:19:22,491 --> 01:19:24,460
Was he there already?

1274
01:19:25,260 --> 01:19:27,796
No, we arrived about the same time.

1275
01:19:28,130 --> 01:19:30,733
And you left together?

1276
01:19:30,833 --> 01:19:36,138
That's right.
About 2:00 a.m. as I recall.

1277
01:19:36,238 --> 01:19:37,172
Was it raining?

1278
01:19:40,276 --> 01:19:41,243
Raining?

1279
01:19:41,343 --> 01:19:44,680
Yes, sir. There was a short rainstorm
that night.

1280
01:19:44,780 --> 01:19:46,515
Was it raining when you left?

1281
01:19:47,950 --> 01:19:49,685
No, I'm sure it wasn't.

1282
01:19:50,185 --> 01:19:54,056
It might have happened earlier
while we were still in Oscar's office.

1283
01:19:54,390 --> 01:19:56,692
Or maybe it happened later
after I got home.

1284
01:19:56,892 --> 01:20:01,797
Uh-huh. The scandal in the district
attorney's office, '69.

1285
01:20:01,897 --> 01:20:05,434
The one involving Frank Staplin,
stolen documents.

1286
01:20:06,602 --> 01:20:08,837
– You remember that, sir?
– I'll never forget it.

1287
01:20:08,937 --> 01:20:11,140
It destroyed the political future
of a fine district attorney.

1288
01:20:11,240 --> 01:20:14,009
– Who you worked for.
– As an assistant DA.

1289
01:20:14,276 --> 01:20:16,578
You said you never met Mr. Staplin.

1290
01:20:17,046 --> 01:20:19,682
Damn it, Lieutenant,
I wasn't assigned to the case.

1291
01:20:19,782 --> 01:20:22,051
We had a large staff.
I was a very small part of it.

1292
01:20:22,217 --> 01:20:25,387
Mr. Finch claims he never met
Mr. Staplin, either.

1293
01:20:25,487 --> 01:20:26,422
So you told me.

1294
01:20:26,522 --> 01:20:31,393
But it turns out that 21 years ago
Mr. Finch worked for the law firm...

1295
01:20:31,593 --> 01:20:33,395
that represented Mr. Staplin.

1296
01:20:39,001 --> 01:20:41,136
He was a junior partner at the time.

1297
01:20:41,236 --> 01:20:44,573
I doubt very much if he'd have been
assigned a case of such importance.

1298
01:20:44,773 --> 01:20:50,012
In 1969, Frank Staplin was in bad trouble,
and he needed a big favor.

1299
01:20:50,112 --> 01:20:53,649
And I think he got friendly
with the ambitious Mr. Finch,

1300
01:20:53,749 --> 01:20:55,284
and they made a deal.

1301
01:20:55,384 --> 01:20:59,054
But Mr. Finch needed
help in the district attorney's office,

1302
01:20:59,154 --> 01:21:01,623
a person who had access to the evidence...

1303
01:21:01,724 --> 01:21:04,860
that had to be destroyed
in order to save Mr. Staplin.

1304
01:21:04,960 --> 01:21:08,864
You were Mr. Finch's best friend.
You were that person.

1305
01:21:14,336 --> 01:21:16,638
You can't have proof of this.

1306
01:21:17,439 --> 01:21:19,641
The little house
you've built is floating on thin air.

1307
01:21:20,242 --> 01:21:21,477
That's right.

1308
01:21:22,144 --> 01:21:24,980
But it's a house made entirely of glass,

1309
01:21:25,614 --> 01:21:29,651
and you're inside, and you can't get out.

1310
01:21:29,985 --> 01:21:31,553
If I were you,

1311
01:21:36,692 --> 01:21:40,896
I wouldn't perjure myself
for Mr. Oscar Finch.

1312
01:21:51,106 --> 01:21:53,976
Sounds like the opposition
has conceded.

1313
01:21:55,778 --> 01:21:59,248
I wish I could say
congratulations, sir.

1314
01:23:12,254 --> 01:23:15,424
Excuse me, please.
Thank you, thank you very much.

1315
01:23:15,524 --> 01:23:18,861
Thank you. Excuse me, please.
Excuse me, sir.

1316
01:23:18,961 --> 01:23:19,795
Thank you very much.

1317
01:23:19,895 --> 01:23:25,534
Well, this is an unexpected pleasure,
Lieutenant. Somebody send you an invitation?

1318
01:23:25,634 --> 01:23:29,938
Not exactly, sir.
You might say this is a working visit.

1319
01:23:30,038 --> 01:23:33,075
Oh, no rest for the wicked. Ever
the bloodhound. Always on the trail.

1320
01:23:33,175 --> 01:23:34,443
In a manner of speaking, sir.

1321
01:23:34,543 --> 01:23:35,410
Moving in for the kill?

1322
01:23:35,644 --> 01:23:37,446
I hope it doesn't go that far, sir.

1323
01:23:37,679 --> 01:23:40,749
May I ask, what are you doing
carrying that around?

1324
01:23:40,849 --> 01:23:42,417
You look like a delivery man.

1325
01:23:42,518 --> 01:23:46,555
Oh, this? Oh, I picked this up
at the cleaners today, sir.

1326
01:23:46,655 --> 01:23:47,522
Going in for a new look?

1327
01:23:47,623 --> 01:23:49,591
Not really, no.

1328
01:23:52,227 --> 01:23:53,195
Lost somebody?

1329
01:23:53,629 --> 01:23:56,965
Some friends of mine.
I thought they might be here by now.

1330
01:23:57,065 --> 01:24:00,202
– Have you something to say to me?
– What?

1331
01:24:00,302 --> 01:24:01,603
You waved to me in there.

1332
01:24:01,703 --> 01:24:05,073
You gave the distinct impression
that you wanted to talk to me.

1333
01:24:05,173 --> 01:24:08,377
Oh, I did, sir. Gee, I nearly forgot.

1334
01:24:08,977 --> 01:24:11,380
I got too much on my mind, sir.

1335
01:24:11,547 --> 01:24:14,516
Yes, there are a few things I wanted
to go over with you.

1336
01:24:14,616 --> 01:24:16,685
As a matter of fact,
I spoke to management,

1337
01:24:16,785 --> 01:24:19,554
and they can let us have
a room across the hall.

1338
01:24:19,655 --> 01:24:22,324
Somebody just finished
a sales demonstration in there.

1339
01:24:22,424 --> 01:24:24,092
Nice and quiet. We can talk.

1340
01:24:24,192 --> 01:24:25,060
More advice?

1341
01:24:25,160 --> 01:24:28,697
Just two or three points
I want to go over with you, sir.

1342
01:24:28,797 --> 01:24:32,634
I honestly think with your cooperation
we could wrap this case up.

1343
01:24:32,734 --> 01:24:34,036
Put it to bed.

1344
01:24:34,136 --> 01:24:36,939
Well, that's terrific.
That's just terrific.

1345
01:24:37,039 --> 01:24:39,441
But I don't think tonight's the night
for that sort of thing, you know.

1346
01:24:39,541 --> 01:24:41,476
I tell you what. Why don't you give me
a call in the morning,

1347
01:24:41,577 --> 01:24:43,512
and we'll get together
sometime during the day,

1348
01:24:43,612 --> 01:24:44,880
and I'll give you all the help I can.

1349
01:24:44,980 --> 01:24:47,749
But right now, I'd hate
to miss the governor's speech.

1350
01:24:47,849 --> 01:24:51,586
But by all means,
stick around and enjoy yourself.

1351
01:24:51,687 --> 01:24:53,155
Be my guest.

1352
01:24:53,322 --> 01:24:55,490
Pardon me, folks.

1353
01:24:56,258 --> 01:24:59,995
This is your suit, sir!
The one you got wet!

1354
01:25:03,465 --> 01:25:04,132
Wet?

1355
01:25:04,232 --> 01:25:07,002
In the rain, the night
Mr. Staplin was killed.

1356
01:25:12,708 --> 01:25:14,376
I think you did it, sir.

1357
01:25:16,244 --> 01:25:17,646
Where's the room?

1358
01:25:18,447 --> 01:25:21,316
That was an extraordinary remark
you made just now.

1359
01:25:21,416 --> 01:25:22,684
I'm very disappointed in you.

1360
01:25:22,784 --> 01:25:24,052
I'm sorry about that, sir.

1361
01:25:24,152 --> 01:25:25,887
I thought we had
a nice relationship going.

1362
01:25:25,988 --> 01:25:27,756
Well, nothing's perfect, sir.

1363
01:25:27,856 --> 01:25:30,192
This is your suit, isn't it?

1364
01:25:30,292 --> 01:25:32,260
Well, let me... Let me look at it.

1365
01:25:36,465 --> 01:25:40,502
Mmm. That's nice. Nice fabric.

1366
01:25:40,769 --> 01:25:43,939
Yes, I... I have one just like it.

1367
01:25:44,039 --> 01:25:46,508
It is yours, sir.
It was at the cleaners.

1368
01:25:46,608 --> 01:25:51,313
And it was at the cleaners because
it got wet in the rain.

1369
01:25:54,850 --> 01:25:58,453
Oh, yes. Yes, so it did.

1370
01:25:58,553 --> 01:26:00,222
Where did it get wet?

1371
01:26:00,322 --> 01:26:01,323
Where?

1372
01:26:01,923 --> 01:26:02,924
Where.

1373
01:26:03,225 --> 01:26:08,697
Oh, where else?
Where it rains, of course. Outside.

1374
01:26:08,864 --> 01:26:10,032
When were you outside, sir?

1375
01:26:10,465 --> 01:26:14,970
Oh, when I walked from my car to my office
for the meeting with Congressman Mackey,

1376
01:26:15,070 --> 01:26:17,672
and then when I walked
from my office to my car...

1377
01:26:17,773 --> 01:26:19,374
a couple of hours later.

1378
01:26:19,474 --> 01:26:23,445
Except according to Congressman Mackey,
the two of you left together.

1379
01:26:23,812 --> 01:26:25,614
And it wasn't raining at that time.

1380
01:26:25,714 --> 01:26:27,282
Well, then it must have
been raining earlier.

1381
01:26:27,382 --> 01:26:30,152
No, sir, that's not possible, either.

1382
01:26:32,387 --> 01:26:35,123
And how does your crystal ball
deduce that?

1383
01:26:35,257 --> 01:26:39,361
Well, sir, in your parking space,
the ground under your car was dry,

1384
01:26:39,461 --> 01:26:46,234
so it wasn't raining when you arrived.
It had to start raining after you arrived.

1385
01:26:46,501 --> 01:26:48,937
And I noticed that dry spot
the following morning...

1386
01:26:49,037 --> 01:26:51,707
when I parked in your parking space.

1387
01:26:51,940 --> 01:26:56,211
But there was only
one dry spot, not two.

1388
01:26:57,212 --> 01:27:02,084
That means there was only one car
in the parking lot the previous night.

1389
01:27:02,517 --> 01:27:05,620
That means Congressman
Mackey was lying...

1390
01:27:05,720 --> 01:27:09,257
when he said he drove
to your office and parked in your lot.

1391
01:27:09,658 --> 01:27:13,428
And you were lying,
sir, when you said you met him there,

1392
01:27:13,762 --> 01:27:15,897
because he was never there.

1393
01:27:16,698 --> 01:27:19,367
And you walked to
Mr. Staplin's house...

1394
01:27:19,468 --> 01:27:24,039
because you didn't want your car seen
outside his house.

1395
01:27:24,473 --> 01:27:26,274
And you killed Mr. Staplin...

1396
01:27:26,374 --> 01:27:30,846
because he threatened to spill the beans
about the favor you did him in '69...

1397
01:27:30,946 --> 01:27:33,181
unless you did him another favor.

1398
01:27:34,082 --> 01:27:36,184
And when you left Mr. Staplin's house,

1399
01:27:36,284 --> 01:27:41,022
it started to rain,
and that's when you got wet.

1400
01:27:41,757 --> 01:27:45,494
But it stopped raining
before you returned to your car,

1401
01:27:45,727 --> 01:27:49,631
and that's why the ground under
your car was dry.

1402
01:28:01,143 --> 01:28:01,943
That it?

1403
01:28:02,444 --> 01:28:03,979
That's it, sir.

1404
01:28:08,884 --> 01:28:13,221
Oh, you... You disappoint me,
Lieutenant.

1405
01:28:13,855 --> 01:28:16,625
You are aware that an accusation
of that nature...

1406
01:28:16,725 --> 01:28:19,795
requires proof of presence
at the scene of the crime?

1407
01:28:20,295 --> 01:28:21,997
Yes, sir, I'm aware of that.

1408
01:28:22,130 --> 01:28:23,131
Do you have it?

1409
01:28:24,766 --> 01:28:25,867
No, sir.

1410
01:28:25,967 --> 01:28:29,704
But you do have a dead body
with all the indications of suicide,

1411
01:28:29,805 --> 01:28:33,508
and one self-inflicted
gunshot wound to the head.

1412
01:28:33,608 --> 01:28:36,978
Tell me, was there powder
on the gun hand?

1413
01:28:38,046 --> 01:28:39,548
Yes, sir, there was.

1414
01:28:39,648 --> 01:28:42,083
How did it get there
if he didn't shoot himself?

1415
01:28:43,018 --> 01:28:44,553
I have no idea.

1416
01:28:46,121 --> 01:28:48,156
Then all you have is a load of...

1417
01:28:48,256 --> 01:28:53,662
unsubstantiated circumstantial poppycock.

1418
01:28:56,932 --> 01:29:01,670
If you'll forgive me,
I think I'll return to the festivities.

1419
01:29:01,770 --> 01:29:05,807
But the invitation remains open.
You're welcome to stay.

1420
01:29:05,907 --> 01:29:09,911
Please, enjoy yourself, Lieutenant.

1421
01:29:10,478 --> 01:29:12,247
Stick around.

1422
01:30:02,230 --> 01:30:04,733
You know, none of this would have
been possible without your help.

1423
01:30:04,833 --> 01:30:06,701
– My pleasure.
– Thanks.

1424
01:30:35,397 --> 01:30:36,264
That's it, sir.

1425
01:30:36,364 --> 01:30:38,300
– Everything?
– The works.

1426
01:30:38,400 --> 01:30:39,534
<i>...at the Biltmore Hotel.</i>

1427
01:30:39,634 --> 01:30:41,636
<i>Governor Montgomery
has just been declared...</i>

1428
01:30:41,736 --> 01:30:45,774
Mr. Finch, this is a warrant to
bring you in for questioning.

1429
01:30:45,874 --> 01:30:49,577
We'll do it here.
These gentlemen will serve as witnesses.

1430
01:30:49,678 --> 01:30:53,248
You know your rights.
Is there anyone you want present?

1431
01:30:53,581 --> 01:30:56,651
Let's get this farce on the road.

1432
01:30:56,918 --> 01:30:58,420
Just for the record, Mr. Finch,

1433
01:30:58,520 --> 01:31:00,555
where were you on the night
Mr. Staplin was killed?

1434
01:31:00,655 --> 01:31:02,590
At my home and in my office.

1435
01:31:03,024 --> 01:31:05,460
When's the last time you saw
Mr. Staplin?

1436
01:31:07,162 --> 01:31:08,897
I never met Mr. Staplin.

1437
01:31:09,030 --> 01:31:10,765
Have you ever been
in Mr. Staplin's house?

1438
01:31:10,865 --> 01:31:11,766
Never.

1439
01:31:12,300 --> 01:31:13,968
Did you kill Mr. Staplin?

1440
01:31:14,069 --> 01:31:14,836
No.

1441
01:31:15,337 --> 01:31:18,139
This is a piece of chewing gum.
Do you recognize it?

1442
01:31:19,674 --> 01:31:21,176
Recognize a piece of chewing gum?

1443
01:31:21,343 --> 01:31:22,444
Do you remember chewing it?

1444
01:31:22,544 --> 01:31:23,445
Beg your pardon?

1445
01:31:23,578 --> 01:31:24,846
Do you chew gum, sir?

1446
01:31:24,946 --> 01:31:25,981
Occasionally.

1447
01:31:26,281 --> 01:31:29,351
This gum was found
in your trash can in your office.

1448
01:31:29,451 --> 01:31:32,687
There were also three full packs
in the top desk drawer,

1449
01:31:32,787 --> 01:31:35,423
plus a fourth with
only one stick missing.

1450
01:31:35,523 --> 01:31:39,060
Would you concede, Mr. Finch, that...

1451
01:31:39,260 --> 01:31:44,099
if the teeth marks in this gum
match exactly with your teeth marks,

1452
01:31:44,199 --> 01:31:46,801
would you concede that
the average person would believe...

1453
01:31:46,901 --> 01:31:48,436
that it was you that chewed the gum?

1454
01:31:48,937 --> 01:31:50,872
More hypothetical poppycock?

1455
01:31:51,072 --> 01:31:53,141
Oh, it's not poppycock, sir.

1456
01:31:53,241 --> 01:31:55,543
Not if it places you
at the scene of the crime.

1457
01:31:56,378 --> 01:31:57,345
Enlighten me.

1458
01:31:57,445 --> 01:31:59,013
Have you ever seen this?

1459
01:32:00,081 --> 01:32:02,550
Police Chief magazine, August issue.

1460
01:32:02,884 --> 01:32:06,488
There's an article in here.
That's how I know about this.

1461
01:32:06,588 --> 01:32:09,657
I found out that in Fresno,
California...

1462
01:32:09,824 --> 01:32:11,993
Here, let me read this to you.

1463
01:32:12,927 --> 01:32:15,930
Dr. Benoff, he's a forensic dentist.

1464
01:32:16,030 --> 01:32:19,401
It says, "He punctured
the alibi of a suspect...

1465
01:32:19,501 --> 01:32:23,438
in a drug-related slaying
by matching a wad of chewing gum...

1466
01:32:23,538 --> 01:32:27,142
discarded at the scene
to the suspect's teeth.

1467
01:32:27,242 --> 01:32:30,745
Seeing the matched models,
the suspect pleaded guilty."

1468
01:32:30,845 --> 01:32:34,282
This is getting to be a big thing.
Bite mark evidence.

1469
01:32:34,883 --> 01:32:38,553
That famous serial murderer
in Florida, Bundy.

1470
01:32:38,787 --> 01:32:40,688
They put him to death...

1471
01:32:40,789 --> 01:32:45,093
because they could match his
tooth marks with the bite marks...

1472
01:32:45,193 --> 01:32:47,562
on the two girls.
It's getting to be big.

1473
01:32:47,662 --> 01:32:49,297
I'm glad I read this article.

1474
01:32:49,631 --> 01:32:52,634
Fascinating as this is,
even if the gum were mine,

1475
01:32:52,734 --> 01:32:54,769
it was not at the scene of the crime.

1476
01:32:56,171 --> 01:32:57,338
But this was.

1477
01:32:57,972 --> 01:32:59,674
This piece of cheese.

1478
01:32:59,974 --> 01:33:04,312
This cheese was on Mr. Staplin's desk
on the night of his death,

1479
01:33:04,412 --> 01:33:07,782
and the bite mark
on this piece of cheese...

1480
01:33:09,951 --> 01:33:13,088
matches the bite mark
on this piece of gum.

1481
01:33:15,356 --> 01:33:17,525
This is your dental chart, Mr. Finch.

1482
01:33:18,860 --> 01:33:21,863
This is an X-ray of your eyetooth.

1483
01:33:21,963 --> 01:33:24,999
It has a distinct chip
on the right front side,

1484
01:33:25,100 --> 01:33:29,704
and a number of small notches
running along the other lateral edge.

1485
01:33:30,305 --> 01:33:33,007
I haven't taken a mold
of your tooth yet, Mr. Finch,

1486
01:33:33,107 --> 01:33:36,478
but when I do, it's gonna be the
same thing as a fingerprint.

1487
01:33:36,644 --> 01:33:41,449
The mold of your tooth is gonna match exactly
the bite mark on this piece of cheese,

1488
01:33:41,549 --> 01:33:44,752
placing you at the scene of the crime.

1489
01:33:45,019 --> 01:33:49,290
You're under arrest, sir.
Suspicion of murder.

1490
01:33:49,624 --> 01:33:51,359
Excuse me.

1491
01:33:59,267 --> 01:34:03,771
<i>Ladies and gentlemen, fellow workers,</i>

1492
01:34:04,439 --> 01:34:06,641
<i>dear friends,</i>

1493
01:34:06,908 --> 01:34:10,245
<i>this is a night to remember!</i>

1494
01:34:12,614 --> 01:34:15,316
One bite of cheese.

1495
01:34:15,683 --> 01:34:17,552
One bite of cheese.