Original subtitles

There it is, honey,

Welcome to Avalon Harbor,

What's the matter with him?

I've lost respiration. His heart has stopped.

But this is the height of the season. A panic could be started.

Think of the panic that would be started

if they find a few more bodies.

Nothing must stop this transaction, do you understand?

She just gave him a slight jolt.

To catch fish, you need a good lure.

I only promise to... to make you happy, not to make you sad.

I think we're dealing with murder.

A homicide?

I told you we might have need for another stonefish accident.

We made it, Alex.

Only to the roof, Liza.

Hard part's still ahead.

How's the time?

Right on schedule.

The guard should be making his rounds right now.

We have three minutes flat

from the time he gets out of the display room.

Secure that rope.

Wow, look at that.

Exquisite.

Our fences were right.

$1 million, easy.

What do you say we try for $4 million?

Don't get greedy, sweetheart.

You don't have enough time to get them all.

I can do it.

It's not in the game plan.

How much more time do we have?

Less than a minute. Let's get going.

I'm going back down.

You'll never make it.

Yes, I can.

No!

I told you I could make it.

You know something?

You're crazy.

And rich.

I told you I could do it.

You know, it's a shame to destroy anything so beautiful.

Darling, this is one time

when the pieces are greater than the whole.

How long will it take you

to remove the diamonds from the setting

and implant them in the deck of the boat?

Just a few days of hard work,

and then we'll have a nice, leisurely cruise

up the coast to Catalina,

get there in time for the Fourth of July fireworks.

That'll be a perfect cover for the transaction.

How about the three fences?

Will they get there in time?

I have a feeling, when I tell those turkeys

it's $4 million instead of $1 million,

an earthquake couldn't keep 'em away.

Nothing can stop us.

There it is, honey,

Welcome to Avalon Harbor,

And a glorious Fourth of July weekend.

Take the helm, will you, honey?

Steady as she goes, will you?

Honey, steady! Steady!

Quincy, be careful!

Into the wind! Into the wind! Starboard.

To the right. Starboard. To the right.

Into the wind, will you? Into the wind! To the right!

Holy... To the right!

Into the wind, honey. Oh, boy, look at that.

Holy mackerel, honey.

Get in here!

That's what you get for being a back-seat driver.

Liza, Alex Cale.

But I still see only one of the fences,

Jacques de Fame.

They're probably still waiting for the others.

Uh-uh, Norkwist. Everything's set.

Can't be put off now.

I'm sorry, I have a last-minute problem.

Well, you better fix it when you get back,

Alex

I insist you postpone the unveiling.

Sorry, can't be done.

Horst Mueller's already here, and so is Jacques de Farge.

Now, are you gonna be here, or not?

Ja, all right.

As soon as you get to Los Angeles,

catch a cab to the Long Beach seaplane port.

Just a hop from there to Avalon.

All right.

Hmm, what's the problem?

We caught him in the salon with this.

They have Juan.

Juan, when I found you in Mexico City,

you convinced me you'd be loyal,

someone I could trust.

Senor Alex, I am sorry. Please don't be angry.

Oh, I'm not angry.

Just a little disappointed, I suppose,

but I understand where you're coming from

too well to be angry.

I'm just a little surprised.

Never thought you'd try to double-cross me.

Take him down to the study.

These are some yachts, huh?

They sure are.

They're ego trips for people with lots of bucks

who don't know the first thing about real seamanship.

Well, I admit, this, uh, craft you borrowed

from your hippie friend at Danny's Bar

does test one's seamanship.

How many times do I have to tell you?

Freddie is not a hippie. He walks to his own drummer.

Crawls, you mean.

I never saw a man stagger like that in my life.

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Freddie only staggers because he suffers from polydipsia.

That's why he rarely uses the boat.

I'm sorry.

You should be.

What's polydips... Whatever you call it?

Overdrinking.

Put him on the bed.

Juan, there's just one thing I'm curious about.

How'd you find out the diamonds were cemented into the deck?

I saw them when they were first brought aboard, Senor Alex.

Sorry about that.

But I was only going to take one.

You know, to give me a start?

I got it, Juan.

Everybody needs a little boost up the ladder, don't they?

What's that?

That's the spine from the most poisonous fish in the world,

the stonefish.

You just might as well lie still, Juan.

This isn't going to hurt a bit.

Hold that, please.

Take him up on deck.

Thank you.

He tried to steal our diamonds.

Well, I don't think

he'll be too ambitious from now on.

So what happens when they find the body?

Won't it cause a fuss?

Only among ichthyologists.

Uh, fish scientists.

Here's a perfect toast to a near-perfect crossing.

And to a perfect holiday weekend.

To Quincy's Catalina.

Mmm.

Hey, honey, now you gotta admit I've kept my promise.

It's been all play and no work, right?

And no telephones.

No telephone, no way anybody can reach me.

Later, I'm gonna take you out

for the best lunch you've ever had.

Hiya, Quincy!

Oh, no.

Hey, it's been a long time.

Yeah, I've been saving up for your heavy touch, Dan.

Hold this thing.

Let's see, it's 14 feet times three,

$42.

$42? I could get a hotel for that.

Not over here, you can't.

Patrol One to Dispatch,

we found a diver off the breakwater,

He's in a lot of pain.

I don't know what's wrong with him,

We're bringing him in,

You better get Dr. Egan down to the pier.

This is Dispatch,

We'll try and locate the doctor.

Dispatch, this is Patrol Two.

I have a doctor right here.

Oh, come on, Dan!

I'll bring him on over.

Oh, Quince.

10-4,

I don't have much of a choice, do I, hon?

Great, okay.

Let's go.

All right, stand back.

Give him a break. Come on, get back.

What the matter with him?

I've lost respiration.

Get an ambulance down here right away, will you?

A taxi will have to do.

Henry, find Pete. Tell him it's an emergency.

It's Juan.

His heart has stopped.

See if they have an extension cord, will you?

Then rip off the end.

And see if you can get me a slab of cooking grease.

Hey, Duke, we got a problem. We need an extension cord.

Great. Hold that end.

This is gonna be quite a trick.

Think it's gonna work?

I don't have much choice.

All right, let me have that grease, will you?

Plug it in.

I got a pulse.

Taxi's here.

Get him to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Call ahead and alert the Intensive Care Unit.

It'd be a lot better if you went along with him.

Oh, I intend to.

I wanna be there when he regains consciousness.

I gotta talk to him.

Well, what do you have to question him for?

I've never seen symptoms like that before.

I wanna find out if he has a negative medical history,

so I can combat it as quickly as possible.

What do you have that can replace the best lunch in town?

Excuse me.

What are you doing?

I'm about to transform

this desert of yours into a garden.

You know, my... my sister and I couldn't help noticing

the heroics of your husband.

Oh, no, not husband.

Oh, no?

Well, then, uh, your doctor friend.

I saw you come ashore with him.

That's right.

We came ashore for the best lunch in town.

You're holding it in your hand.

That's right.

Well, my cook will do much better.

Cook?

Yes, on my boat.

I insist, you must have lunch with us.

Oh.

Uh, thank you very much, but, uh, I don't want to impose.

Oh, please. Please, my sister will be so crushed.

Okay.

Give me a clamp, will you?

What's going on here?

Who are you?

I think you better answer that question first.

I run this hospital.

Oh, the missing doctor.

I happen to be in charge of the Fourth of July celebration in Avalon.

I was over at the pavilion seeing to the preparations...

Well, you make me proud to be a doctor,

proud to be an American. Can I have the clamp, please?

The clamp!

Give him the clamp.

Tell me, what is your, uh... What is your etiology?

The symptoms suggest

the introduction of a highly toxic substance.

Maybe venom from this.

Are you suggesting a venomous sea animal or fish?

You have a better guess?

My idea of medicine

is not to engage in guessing games.

Oh, come on, Doctor, we can fool the public,

not each other, huh?

So believe me when I tell you I have no intention

of walking around your territorial imperative.

I know this is your bailiwick,

I give it back to you. He is now your patient.

But I do suggest you keep him on a monitor...

Nurse, put this patient in high Fowler's position.

It's a precautionary move.

Just in case it is an embolism.

Couldn't hurt.

Then, on the other hand, couldn't help, either.

You will excuse me.

Parsons.

Oh, Quincy. How's the boy?

He's out of the woods.

Oh, thank goodness for that.

What is that, a rundown on the case?

No, no, this is a weekly report

that goes to the mainland every Friday,

come rain or shine.

Parsons, listen, I want you to do a favor for me.

What's the favor?

Well, do you know who Prof. Wren is?

For sure. He's the best marine biologist we have.

Right. Look, I want you to call him, 'cause I want to meet him.

Well, I'm not so sure that's a good idea,

butting into his Fourth of July weekend.

You know, the man's got a temper.

How do you know he's gonna lose it?

You don't know what I'm gonna ask him yet.

Unless it's to do with keeping the peace on this island,

I don't want any part of it.

Listen, Parsons, tell me, when is the last time

you made a positive decision about something?

27 months, three days ago.

You sound like a prisoner counting off time.

Right the first time.

Okay, okay, forget the introduction.

But I called the institute, there was no answer.

The least you could do is give me his unlisted phone number.

Parsons, like you said,

he's the best marine biologist we have.

And if what I suspect is true,

there is going to be an epidemic of bodies

floating up to the shore,

and if you don't give me the number,

you're gonna be held responsible.

I gotta talk to him.

If he wants to know where you got the number,

you didn't get it from me. Agreed?

Is a blood oath good enough?

Quincy!

Quincy, over here!

Over here!

Hi, Quincy!

What're you doing up there?

I just finished lunch.

I took the liberty of fulfilling your promise.

What promise?

He gave me the best lunch on the island.

I hope you won't mind.

Oh, why should I mind?

I'm glad to see Lee's having a great time.

Listen, there's quite a bit left here.

Why don't you join us?

Oh, thanks a lot. No, thanks, though.

His sister will be crushed.

Right, better forget it. It's all right. Forget it.

Quincy, for hors d'oeuvres

there's a cold plate assortment

of corned beef, pastrami... Lean?

Lean.

Uh, roast beef... Rare, I'll bet.

Rare.

And German salami.

And then, for the main course...

The main course?

It was terrible, just terrible.

I've never seen anybody in worse pain.

A fish bit him?

No, it stung him.

The stinger was still in his leg.

But he will be all right?

I think so.

Well, I hate to eat and run, and it was delicious,

but I did promise Lee

I'd take her on a tour of the island.

Listen, I did happen to notice you in the crowd,

you know, where the excitement was.

You didn't recognize the boy, did you?

Did he say he knew me?

Oh, no, he didn't say anything. He hasn't come to yet.

We have very little chance of knowing each other.

You see, I'm not from around here.

I'm from Mexico.

Well, thanks again. It really was delicious. Let's go.

Boy, did you ever see a strawberry like that? May I?

By all means.

So big. Here, Lee, go ahead.

May I take a piece of cheese? Please.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Bye.

You think he suspects?

It's hard to tell.

Maybe we should make a try at Juan.

No.

As long as he's unconscious, there's no trouble.

It's hard to believe

you're taking me for a ride without any ulterior motives.

You're getting to be a very suspicious person, you know that?

Steps too much for you, Quince?

It's high up here.

They should have an elevator, anyway.

Oh, boy.

Oh-oh, I think we're trespassing.

Dr. Quincy.

We're not trespassing.

Prof. Wren, nice meeting you. Lee Porter.

You know each other? No.

Your call from Avalon was quite a surprise.

You called him?

Well, it's not polite just to drop in, now, is it?

This Fourth is my first weekend off all year.

I was just starting a barbecue for my wife and some friends.

Now what you have better be good.

It may not be good,

but I can assure you, it's deadly.

Well, let me have the spine.

I've been doing some homework.

A tour to see the sights, huh?

Honey, look around you, will you? Look.

People come from all over the world

to see this wonderful place.

I won't be long, honey.

That doctor really has you worried, doesn't he?

Well, he is a fly in the soup.

I sent de Farge over to see what he could find out.

If I know de Farge, he'll have better luck

with the woman than with the doctor.

This could possibly be the dorsal fin

of a Synanceja verrucosa.

What's that?

A stonefish.

The most venomous fish known to man.

Well, what about an antivenin?

If it was a stonefish, there isn't any.

But if the victim makes it through the first six hours,

your worries are over. It's all in there.

May I borrow this?

Of course.

So it was venom.

My diagnosis was right on the nose.

Not quite. About 6,000 miles off.

You see, the stonefish is found in abundance here,

off the coast of Africa,

east all the way to the mid-Pacific,

as far north as the Red Sea, as far south as Australia,

but never, never to my knowledge,

on the Pacific coast.

What about a freak migration?

It's highly unlikely, Doctor.

There's absolutely no chance

of a stonefish being found off the coast of Avalon.

Despite this spine.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I have important things to do: a barbecue.

Professor.

I read in the paper a couple of years ago

about a school of something or other

swimming into the Los Angeles Harbor

from the Chilean coastline.

Oh, yes. That was the, uh...

The Allothunnus sallai, a slender tuna.

Now, they said that was impossible, too, didn't they?

That sort of thing happens only once in a generation,

believe me.

Well, what if nature tried to do it twice...

"What if"? Yes.

Doctor, I deal in facts.

All right, let me give you a couple. This spine is a fact.

The poisoned boy in the hospital, that's a fact.

And now I'll give you a fact, one that'll top all of them.

If there was a migration of stonefish here,

the Catalina coastline is a deathtrap.

Do you know what you're saying, Doctor?

I sure do. That beach should be closed to all swimmers and boaters.

But this is the height of the season. A panic could be started.

Think of the panic that would be started if they find a few more bodies.

Why don't you do something about it?

Check it out for yourself, make sure.

All right. Give me the spine.

I'll check it out more carefully.

And what about the beaches?

Oh, no. Not until I'm positive.

It might be too late by then.

Now, look, Doctor, you've just ruined my weekend,

you're not going to ruin my career by a million-to-one shot.

Do you realize what would happen

if I closed down the beaches

and they suddenly found out I was wrong?

I'd be the laughingstock of my profession!

That's the chance we take being specialists. Isn't it, Professor?

But if I were right, I'd be alone.

No one would want to be convinced.

Thoreau said, "A man who is right is a majority of one."

I'd back you to the hilt.

Thank you very much.

I'll let you know.

Lee?

Lee!

I hope Quincy takes my note in the right frame of mind.

I wish once, just once, he'd get a little jealous.

I would be happy to do all in my power

to bring that about.

Lee! Lee!

Lee?

Lee?

So, what did de Farge have to say?

That Dr. Quincy is a very dedicated man.

He saved Juan's life.

You tried that once before.

Well,

if at first you don't succeed...

♪ J'

Look at this book Prof. Wren loaned me.

It's very informative.

It says that stonefish

are almost impossible to spot in the water.

Is that because of camouflage, or pollution?

Where'd you get your sense of humor from, a coroner?

Well, it helps.

No, inertia and poison. Those are their trademarks.

They just sit there, food goes by, zap.

Well, for a fish that doesn't like to move around much

isn't the trip from Africa to Catalina

quite a change of pace?

Puzzles me, too.

Is Prof. Wren going to look into it?

Are you kiddin'? He's so upset,

he's afraid his Fourth of July weekend is gonna be ruined.

Mmm, imagine.

I'm sorry, honey.

I ruined yours,

and all the promises I made to you.

It doesn't matter.

One way or another, all the promises have been kept.

Everybody's been so nice.

Now, see, you're saying that to make me feel better.

You shouldn't do that. I should pay for it.

No, I'm not. I mean it. The day was perfect.

And Jacques was a delight.

Jacques? Who's Jacques?

Jacques de Fame.

He's like right out of the Casbah.

You mean like Charles Boyer, out of the Casbah?

Yeah, sort of. Is that right?

Mm-Hmm. You know he sailed all around the world,

all alone, in an 18-foot sailboat?

What's the big deal, huh?

I mean, anybody could do that with the right crew.

Well, he was nice.

Well, it's good to see that you're not so bored, anyway, huh?

Oh, I'm not.

You're not, huh?

That's good. Mmm.

Cheers.

♪ J'

Hi.

How did it go?

Juan's gone. For good, this time.

Then that's that.

Well, I don't know.

That, uh, Quincy fellow's like a bloodhound.

He won't let up.

Why?

Is he involved with the police somehow?

He's a medical examiner. I suppose so.

But that's back in Los Angeles.

What's he doing, digging into this over here?

Mmm, maybe he's got a Don Quixote complex.

Has to hit every windmill.

You know, frankly, that kind of fellow worries me.

But why?

What can he accomplish in two days?

I don't know.

Let's see if he'll let up now that Juan's dead.

What if he doesn't?

If he doesn't,

then the good doctor may find himself

the victim of an epidemic.

This is starting to make me feel warm all over.

My whole body's getting the tingles.

Lee, one more tingle

and we're not gonna wait for the lobster.

Hello.

Oh, hi, Parsons.

Hi.

I heard you made contact with Prof. Wren.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Yeah.

He wasn't as happy about it as you are.

Well, if it wasn't for Quince,

the diver wouldn't have been past the danger period.

The Professor agreed to that much.

Well, it just goes to show you, doesn't it?

What?

How you experts make mistakes from time to time.

What do you mean?

That young fellow? He died.

Respiratory failure.

Respiratory failure? That's impossible!

Well, that's what Dr. Egan wrote on the death certificate.

A death certificate without an autopsy?

♪ J'

Well, we'll see about that.

Oh, Quincy. Honey, I'm sorry.

I gotta move on this right away. I can't waste a second.

An autopsy has to be performed on that kid right away.

I'll take care of the check. Sure, I'll take care of it.

Look at this, I left my wallet at home.

Honey, you got your credit cards with you?

Come on, let's go, Parsons.

Excuse me, Fréulein

but I just noticed the sudden departure of your dinner partner.

Oh, thanks for pointing that out to me.

May I introduce myself? Horst Mueller.

Now let me guess, you're German.

Now, what could have possibly given me away?

It cannot be my accent, or my name.

I know. Of course, sure.

It's my enlarged left eye

where my monocle normally goes, isn't it? Ja?

Herr Mueller,

may I ask you a personal question?

Of course, anything, but it's Horst.

Horst.

Are you trying to pick me up?

Uh, p-pick you up?

Get to know me better?

There will be no autopsy, Quincy, and that's final.

Dr. Egan, this is a clear case

of an autopsy necessary on its own merit.

Now that's the law.

Look, Parsons is the law here.

And I'm the resident physician.

Now, the patient died of respiratory failure.

Prof. Wren will back me up,

because he believes that your diagnosis has no merit.

Oh, he'd say that about Watergate

if it interfered with his barbecue.

Be that as it may.

And you,

what are you gonna do, just stand there

and let him get away with this?

Dr. Egan is one of the most respected men in our community.

If he says he's done his job right,

it's no business of mine to butt in.

Okay, then I'm gonna make it your business.

As an official medical examiner of Los Angeles,

I hereby inform you that that boy's death was suspicious

and warrants an autopsy.

Now, you, as an officer, have to act accordingly

and if you don't have the backbone to do it,

I'll find somebody who has!

Quincy, you come with me.

No, you have something to do here, sir.

I said come with me!

Come on, I said, come on.

In here.

Quincy, I'm sick and tired.

I'm sick and tired of you, and this island,

and everything else that makes me look like

something not worth wiping off a pair of shoes.

I was the best shot at the Academy, you know that?

I could shoot that out of your hand at 50 paces.

Do you believe it?

What's not to believe?

Yeah.

There. Go on, hold this.

What for?

Hold it. Hold it tight.

Black belt. I'm a man of action.

Now, I'm warning you, you keep your mouth shut

or I'll move it to another part of your face.

Parsons.

You can scare me, but you can't stop me.

Why don't you let me help you?

Look, I know my job, and I'm telling you,

I think we're dealing with murder.

A homicide? Yeah.

And if you're the one to solve it

will you tell me how they're gonna keep you out of action?

Well, what about the lab and that stuff?

There aren't any facilities around here.

Well, we can fly the samples to the mainland,

you can send along print cards for identification.

Yeah, I could get your prints for you,

and I could arrange for a plane.

What are we waiting for? Let's get me my autopsy,

get you back on the streets where you belong.

Okay. Okay, let's go.

I know it's wrong

to be made happy by another man's plight,

but I'm glad you were left alone.

You're very charming. Thank you.

♪ J'

Well, Lee. What a pleasant surprise.

Hi.

I want you to meet Horst Mueller,

my new German friend.

And this is David and Maria Moreno,

my new Mexican friends.

I'm beginning to feel like a road company United Nations.

And, uh, how did your trip around the island with Quincy go?

Just like this dinner: it never happened.

All this way for a vacation and all he does is work.

But I thought the young man was out of danger.

Well, so did Quincy, but the boy just died.

Oh.

Then what more can he do,

I... I mean, he's only a doctor, isn't he?

Pathologist.

And if I know Quincy, he's probably convinced

that the boy's death was from unnatural causes,

and he's trying to prove that right now.

Well, we just, uh, wanted to say hello,

but we really must go.

Bye.

What's the rush?

Listen, nothing must stop this transaction,

do you understand?

Now, this Dr. Quincy, with his meddling,

the wrong people could be arrested.

Here are the blood samples.

I assume you have the tissues?

Right here.

I thank you for your cooperation, Doctor.

Tell me, where, uh...

Where's our fearless sheriff?

He's arranging for a plane to meet me at the dock.

I better get these samples right down there.

Uh, Quincy.

Maybe you'll lose some of your arrogance

when those tests come back. Hmm?

Well, at least we'll both be satisfied

we've done all that has to be done

when a human being loses his life.

Won't we, Doctor?

How interesting

that he can determine so much from a dead body.

Mmm.

He probably even knows

what kind of a boat he arrived on.

Oh, that's impossible. How?

Well, from examining traces of things

either in or on the body.

Lee, it's getting late.

Shall I take you back to the boat?

Okay.

No, no, no. I'm not gonna hurt you. Please.

Please, I want you to get me to the hospital.

Um, I think I'll stay in town for a while.

You go ahead.

Whatever you wish, Lee.

Good night.

Good night.

Thank you. Thank you.

But, Lieutenant, I'm telling you, I don't know.

No, it's Quincy.

He's the medical examiner fella.

He was supposed to take it to the plane.

Now, now, now, just take it easy.

I'll get it all worked out.

Well, of course I'm sure. I'm the sheriff, ain't I?

The man is a bulldog. He won't let go.

Good. He can't hurt us with his mouth shut.

I insist we divide it now and be on our way.

We wait for Henrik.

He'll be here tomorrow, on schedule.

By then it could be all over for us.

Have you ever met any of Henrik's associates?

I'll take my chances with the bulldog.

Okay. Okay. Then we put it to a vote.

This isn't a democracy, Herr Mueller.

It was all put together by one man.

We'll follow his game plan right to the end.

He hasn't made a false move yet.

But he must be told what this Quincy is doing.

He already knows, everything.

And if Quincy goes too deep, he'll drown.

Look at me, Alex.

How does the man behind the plan make you feel?

Secure. And let's keep it that way.

Why?

What difference does it make if they find out?

Simple arithmetic. There are two of us,

three of them.

As long as they feel

there's someone out there overseeing things,

the easier it'll be for us to keep them in line.

So, uh, listen to me, lady,

let's not fool around with the old status quo. Hmm?

What about that Quincy? Is he still pressing?

He is making some kind of tests, I gather.

Well, they could give him some answers.

As long as he keeps puttering around some lab till Monday,

I don't care what he finds out.

What are you trying to do to me?

I bit so deep into your hook it's sticking in my craw.

And my supervisor, he called.

He's after my jugular vein, too.

I was mugged.

Mugged?

D-did you say you were mugged?

That's right. What, did they get your money?

They weren't after my money.

Well, what did they take? Did they...

The laboratory stuff and the prints.

They got all of it.

Quincy, show me where you were hit.

I wasn't hit.

I didn't think so.

I was chloroformed.

The people who did this just wanted the specimens.

You expect us to buy that?

Well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it?

That means we're on the right track.

Somebody doesn't want us to know how that diver really died.

Quincy, you gotta do something, and real fast.

If word gets back on this one,

I'm gonna stay on this rock forever.

All we have to do is get some new blood samples, that's all.

Not in my hospital, you don't.

Oh, man. I gotta get myself out of this mess.

Parsons, listen, this guy is crazy.

Now, let's not get in any deeper.

Lives are at stake here!

Now, Quincy, in your paranoiac state of mind

your stonefish could be threatening to invade Chicago.

Look, Parsons, I've gotta write up a report

on everything that happens in this hospital, in detail.

Now, can you imagine how it will read?

Two sets of tests and samples on an imaginary toxin?

I mean, come on, I'll... I'll look like an idiot.

I don't believe you guys.

You're something else, you know that?

All you're worried about are budgets, and barbecues,

and what other people are gonna think about you.

We got a dead boy on our hands!

Come on, let's keep our minds on the issue

and not worry about whether it's a good career move or not.

All right, let's even think of that.

Parsons, I've gotta be right.

Why else are they trying to stop me?

And I'll tell you something,

if they stop me, they're stopping you.

You can take your dream and you can throw it out the window.

You might as well buy yourself a big, nice, comfortable easy chair

'cause you're gonna be here the rest of your life.

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna take those samples to the mainland personally.

Oh!

Come on.

I want to speak to Col. Choate, Washington, DC.

It's urgent.

Place a call to your supervisor,

Tell her it's a Code A-13.

Now, Officer, I'm, uh, sorry, but that's it. I'm sorry.

But he seemed so sure.

Well, you have to understand Dr. Quincy's nature.

He's always so sure.

But he sounded like he knew what he was doing.

Well, Quincy is one of the best men that I have,

but you... you remember the story of, uh, the little boy,

you know, when he was good, he was good,

and when he was bad, he was... he was bad, uh...

And you fellas went over the... over the samples thoroughly, huh?

Sam Fujiyama is my top technician.

Now, I had him do the test personally.

And you're positive about your analysis?

Sam?

Yes, I'm positive about my analysis.

Oh, boy. When It. Chernov hears about this,

my name is gonna be mud.

Vic Chernov, you mean?

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Vic and I are very good friends.

Why, you know, we... we make it a point to have lunch

every, uh, couple of months or so.

Parsons, I, uh, know what you're going through, but, um...

Sam, I like him.

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

You go back to Avalon and I'll just forget

that this incident ever happened.

Well, that's really nice of you, sir. Really nice.

Well, what is this world about,

if one man can't, uh, help another man?

You're a true gentleman. I really appreciate that.

And it just goes to show how you shouldn't listen

to what somebody else has to say about somebody else.

Quincy said something about me?

Well, lies, all lies. No doubt about it.

Do you mind telling me why you made me lie to him?

Sam, all of us are men in the trenches.

A superior gives an order, we obey.

Ours is not to reason why, ours is...

Yes, sir.

See you later.

Sylvia, get me Col. Choate, Washington, DC, the Treasury Department.

Hey, where you been?

You recognize me. How nice.

I was looking for you at the boat.

I didn't get back there last night, either.

Oh, uh, how'd you get the bathing suit and everything?

I went early this morning.

I'm sorry. You waited at the restaurant for me, didn't you?

Only until we finished dinner.

"We"? Who's "we"? Hey, you ran into that Casbah guy again?

No.

Oh, I know, uh, Moreno and his sister, right?

No.

Well, I didn't think you knew anybody else on the island.

I didn't. But the island's so friendly.

Ahhh. You're getting to be a pretty friendly type, aren't you, huh?

Thanks, Quincy. So are you.

Are you kidding?

Everybody on this island hates me.

Not everybody.

Well, everybody except you, honey.

I didn't mean me.

That girl I saw you entwined with last night.

That girl you saw me...

Oh, honey, that?

That girl helped me after I was mugged.

You were mugged? Oh.

And that girl came to the rescue? Shh.

Is that what you're trying to tell me?

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Oh, Quincy.

Hey, what are you doing?

It's the only sleep he's had all of the time he's been here.

It would have been better for all of us

if he never came here in the first place.

How did it go?

A nightmare.

No telling what would have happened

if it wasn't that nice boss of yours.

Nice boss? You don't mean Astin?

He's a first-class fella.

I hope your police work is a lot better than your character analysis.

Huh. It's certainly a lot better

than the sample analysis you had.

Doc Egan was right all along.

Astin told you that?

And the Japanese technician.

I don't understand that.

Well, understand this.

You came here as a tourist, you stay a tourist.

I don't want to see you again.

I was so sure I was right.

Well, right or wrong, it's over now.

And I believe you about the mugging.

You do? Yeah.

You're terrific. You stinker.

So let's listen to the sheriff and enjoy ourselves.

Yeah.

I just don't understand why the analysis...

No, just sun, fun, and us.

Those are the only allowable words

for the whole rest of the vacation.

Come on, I'll buy you a hot dog.

Okay.

And I promise you, I'm not...

No! Don't promise. No, no. Don't promise.

I won't promise.

Every time you promise...

I only promise to make you happy, not to make you sad.

You did go back to the boat last night, didn't you?

No. I didn't go back. Yes, you did.

Look who's there.

Hey, Professor! Going diving?

No, fishing. For stonefish.

Oh? You have a conscience after all, huh?

A curiosity.

I checked that spine again, and it's definitely from a stonefish.

Is that right?

Uh, your enthusiasm sounds like it's waning, Quincy.

For stonefish, it has.

I don't believe there're any in these waters.

Well, let's hope you're right.

Hey, you want a hand?

Thanks.

Help's a little hard to get on the Fourth.

We'll be right there. Come on, honey, we'll have fun.

What's the matter?

I told you not to make any promises.

But you understand I have to do this.

Yeah, I know, that's the problem.

I have this uncanny knack of always understanding you.

That's why you're terrific.

And I promise you this is the last promise I'm gonna break.

Honest, honey.

That Dr. Quincy,

he told the Professor he doesn't believe in the stonefish anymore.

We gotta figure a way to keep him off balance

till Norkwist gets here.

After that, I don't care what they figure out.

Maybe another distraction would help.

What kind of distraction?

A stonefish.

Well, that would keep Quincy off our backs for the few hours we need.

Anything?

Not yet.

I'll take one more sweep around,

and then we'll go back to shore.

Okay.

Would you put this away for me, please?

Why?

We won't be using it again.

That's what you said last time.

Prof. Wren.

Dead.

Dead?

Another stonefish accident?

This was no accident.

All right, boys, let's take him to the morgue.

No, no. His body's going to the hospital for an autopsy.

You stay out of it. Now, leave him alone.

You're interfering with the law.

Oh, don't talk to me about the law.

I'm an official medical examiner,

and I'm taking jurisdiction here.

Government Code, Section 27491.2.

"It shall be unlawful for any person," any person,

"to remove, handle, or touch a dead body

prior to getting approval from the coroner or his representative."

I'm that representative, and I'm telling you

whatever's done to this man will be done on my say-so, not yours.

Mine, you hear?

You're a psycho.

You touch him, you'll see how sick I am.

Don't you realize, you're sitting on two murders,

and you're the only one who can do anything about it.

Now, you cool it. I don't wanna hear another word out of you.

You know, if you were sellin' vacuum cleaners, I'd be owning three of 'em.

Well, I've had it. I'm finished buying anything from you.

So, just stay out of my way.

Please don't ask me to do that, Parsons.

I can't. I may have caused this to happen.

Look, do me a favor.

Please, take him to the hospital for me, will you?

All right, all right.

All right, you guys, let's take him to the hospital.

I'll meet you there, honey.

I'm sorry. But I didn't have a choice.

What do you mean you didn't have a choice?

You could have told Parsons the truth, couldn't you?

Why not?

There was a gun at my head.

A gun? Who?

Astin.

Why?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe there was a gun at his head, too.

All right, Sam.

Tell me what those tests really said,

Quincy. Quincy?

What's the matter?

Trigger finger.

Are you talking to Quincy?

Sam? Sam!

What have you told him?

Happy Fourth.

Happy...

Quincy, this is Astin. How's your vacation?

Just like I never left. Dead bodies all over the joint.

Well, that shouldn't concern you.

You make the most of the little time you have left. Enjoy,

May I ask you a personal question?

Personal?

No. Like what?

Well, don't get flustered, it's easy. True or false.

You lied to Parsons about those tests, didn't you?

Quincy, listen carefully.

You are to dig no further into anything but sand.

You are to stay away from the situation

until at least after tomorrow.

What situation? And what's gonna happen tonight

that I gotta wait until tomorrow to find out about?

Quincy, now, please, you just have to trust me.

Well, there are things that you don't understand.

Why don't you try me?

Quincy, now you listen one last time, now.

You back off. Enjoy your vacation.

Don't hang up, Astin. Astin!

Well, I guess we're gonna have to do it ourselves.

What? The tests.

We can't.

Are you still against me?

No.

No, not since I read that fish book.

And when I saw where the spine had stuck,

in Prof. Wren's neck, of all places,

I knew you were right, Quincy.

But I don't have the necessary facilities for tests.

We'll improvise!

All we need is some blood samples,

we'll go into the aorta for a look, some liver sections...

Excuse me. What's the matter, honey?

Don't you wanna hang around and wait?

It sounds fabulous, but I pass.

Something I said.

Horst! Hi.

Lee Porter, remember?

Uh, certainly, Fréulein, yeah, but I'm busy right now.

I look forward to seeing you another time, ja? Bye.

Norkwist.

Alex, how are you?

All right. How was your trip?

Fine, thank you.

Why don't we go over to my boat and we'll talk things over?

Maria? Hi, what're you up to?

Oh, I'm, uh, I'm looking for David.

Well, that shouldn't be too hard.

Let me help you. No, no, no.

I... I, uh, wouldn't think of letting you waste your day doing that.

Maria. Excuse us, Lee. Come on.

So how do I know they haven't been removed already?

Because if they had, there'd be no floor left.

Who did it?

A young fellow I picked up down in Mexico.

And, uh, where is he now?

I'm sorry, you're too late. He's dead.

So, we are all here

except for the headman.

Is he coming?

No.

He trusts us?

He trusts me.

There comes de Farge, Liza, Mueller,

Norkwist, and Alex. They're all there.

It looks like it's all set.

It better be.

What's this?

That's an official coroner's report.

By whom? Me.

You mean, I came all this way to pick this up?

The toxin found in both victims was not stonefish venom.

It was amphetamines and a synthetic toxin.

Now, they have almost the same symptoms.

Don't you see?

Those deaths were made to look accidental, but they were murder.

How dumb do you think I am?

And how many times do you wanna cry wolf?

This paper gives you a legal obligation to move.

Are you threatening me?

No, I'm pleading with you.

What do you want me to do?

First, I want you to accept these deaths as homicides.

Then, I'd like you to do something about it.

Okay, I'll do something about it.

Where are you going?

I'm going outside to get some fresh air.

Goodbye.

Now, Quincy, Quincy, listen, I'm on my way out to a barbecue.

Astin, please.

Now, do I have to remind you that it is the Fourth of July?

And need I remind you that, unfortunately, death did not take a holiday?

Right. Quincy, what I have to tell...

Can you hold?

Do I have a choice? Of course I'll hold. I'll hold.

Hi.

You all through here?

In a minute, honey.

Quincy? Yeah, Astin.

Now, Quincy, Quincy,

what I have to tell you is highly confidential.

Now, can you be discreet?

Well, of course I can be discrete. This is Quincy, remember?

Now, what's going on?

The Mexican National Museum was robbed of $4 million in diamonds.

Two agents,

Maria and David Moreno, are in Avalon,

where they believe the diamonds will be auctioned

to an international syndicate of fences,

What?

They'll handle it. Sure.

You stay out of it, Okay.

And have a good time at the barbecue. Yeah.

What do you have to be discreet about?

If I told you, then I wouldn't be discreet. I can't tell you.

Why not?

It's top-secret.

What is?

Two deaths.

Secret? Everyone in town knows about it.

Yeah, but what's behind them?

You were right? They were murdered?

Oh, without question.

Listen, that Mexican couple,

you know, the brother and sister, Moreno, is that their name?

Yeah. Are they involved?

Did you happen to see them around on your way over here?

Mmm, briefly. I think they went back to their boat.

What's this all about, Quincy?

Come on, you owe it to me, after this weekend.

Honey, you know I'd tell you if I could, but I can't.

Besides, the less you know, the better off you are.

Well, where are you goin'?

The Moreno boat.

What are you getting yourself into?

I don't know

but if you don't hear from me by tonight, better send for help.

You mean it's dangerous?

No, probably not.

Probably?

I wanna talk to Moreno.

I was called by Col. Choate in Washington

after your superior, Dr. Astin,

called him about your meddling.

Meddling? I don't know whether you happen to notice,

or not, but two men have been killed.

I'd like to know the reason why.

They don't concern you.

You're only interested in the diamonds, that's all you care about.

Otherwise you'd have blown this case wide apart after the first murder.

The dead boy worked with David Moreno and the Mexican police.

What about you?

U.S. Treasury Department. It's a combined effort.

There's no reason to hang back after two deaths.

We can't move in until we're positive

the diamonds are aboard the Jolly-O.

There isn't any other way to prove they're responsible for the murders as well.

Don't you see? We must wait.

Until when?

Well, we think it's going down tonight.

Well, where's Moreno now?

He sneaked aboard the Jolly-O.

Okay. Fill me in with the rest.

How do you contact Moreno?

He'll contact me after dark. I'll pick him up.

The Coast Guard is standing off, waiting for my signal.

When I push this, they'll move in.

After we have the necessary proof.

Uh, it's always after, isn't it? I don't know.

If we move prematurely, they'll get away with everything.

The diamonds and the killings, yeah.

Only $3,950,000 to go.

Oh, I've been looking all over for you.

Whatever it is that Quincy wants, the answer is no.

But he went to the Moreno boat alone.

He's in terrible danger.

What kind of danger?

I don't know for sure.

Figures.

Oh, you gotta come with me.

Ma'am, I kinda like you, despite the people you've been hangin' out with,

but I'm not stirring.

He grabbed me. He slapped me around.

And then, when I was beaten and helpless

he assaulted me.

Who did? Quincy!

Quincy did that? It was brutal.

And now, I'm filing a complaint against him,

and I want you to act on it immediately.

I'm not getting mixed up in it.

All right.

Then I'll go to someone who will: the Coast Guard.

No, you can't do that.

Oh, all right, come on.

I found him looking through the window.

Who are you?

You spoke excellent English last night in the restaurant.

Well! My compliments.

You speak Spanish very well.

Thank you. What are you doing here?

Well, I might as well tell you, I'm a... I'm a burglar.

Uh, I thought all of you would be ashore watching the fireworks.

He must have been working with Juan.

Who?

The boy we caught before.

I told you we might have need for another stonefish accident.

Alex, let me.

Why not? We won't be needing the spine this time.

And, uh, not in here. I want to go on with the work.

No, wait.

He's had it.

Come on.

Maria, hurry, I'm hurt badly!

I think I better go with you.

It could be dangerous.

I am a doctor, you know, I might be able to help.

Let's go.

What happened?

They caught me.

They injected me with something, I don't know what.

I... I can't breathe!

We gotta get him off the boat.

You gotta help me. All right.

You gotta help. I'm trying.

To catch fish, you need a good lure.

She just gave him a slight jolt.

So he'd have the chance to bring the rest of you here.

Oh, look, that's Quincy's skiff!

Oh, come on, they're probably in trouble.

What makes you say that?

Anything could be going on.

Even a party.

Oh, no, Quincy would have gotten word to me.

What're we gonna do?

You will do nothing.

I'm going up to have a look.

You wait down here.

You don't really expect to get away with killing all of us, do you?

Oh, when we're finished here,

they're gonna rename this place Stonefish Bay.

I've already proved that those two deaths were not caused by stonefish.

But who's gonna believe you when the newspapers report

that three more bodies have been found

with stonefish spines in them?

What difference does it make to us?

So, we kill them. Take them out.

Give me the cuffs, I'll cuff them.

They're not goin' anywhere. You go through the cabin, I'm going aft.

I'm sure you know what to do with that.

Go aft?

Everybody freeze.

Parsons, look out!

Oh.

What...

You stay out of it.

If you say so, honey.

Didn't I tell you I'd get you into a lot of action?

Thanks a lot, pal.

Okay, come on.

When are the fireworks?

They're over.

Yeah?

Well, happy Fourth.

Fifth.

Fifth?

Fifth.

Well, only goes to show you.

What?

How time flies when you're having fun.

Hey!