All language subtitles for Columbo S05E04

I will kill him
like in the old days

with you assisting me.

That is crazy.

That sounds like blackmail.

Lieutenant,
would I do such a thing
to a fellow police officer?

You're in no condition
to fight a bull.

Maybe it was homicide.

No man could have ripped
Rangel open in such a way.

No, the bull
was the murder weapon, sir.

Like a gun.

Curro! Curro!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello. Dr. Leon.

Dr. Leon,
this is Luis Montoya.

Fine, thank you.
Tell me, how is Curro doing?

That's good news.
I'll tell his father.

Then the bull did get him.
It's a minor wound?

Well, that's a relief.
When he reawakens,

will you tell him
that I called?

And tell him that
I'm going to San Diego
this evening with his father,

but in the morning,
on the way back,
I'll stop by.

Thank you, Doctor.
Goodbye.

(BANGING ON DOOR)

Enter.

Matador?

Excuse me, but do you
wish the convertible
washed and waxed?

No, I'll be using
the hardtop.

Have Carlos get it ready.

The men were asking me
about Curro. How is he?

Oh, he regained consciousness.
I just talked to the doctor.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Yes, he'll be all right.

Hector told us what you did,
Matador. It was a brave thing.

Yes?

These young ones,
so foolish to try to
cape a bull like Marinaro.

When Carlos is finished,
give him
the rest of the day off.

Tell all the men
to take the rest
of the day off.

But...
Yes, I know, I know
it's Friday and it's early.

But yesterday,
we nearly had a tragedy

and tomorrow,
the bulls must be sent off
early to the bullring

and I think everyone
could use a little time off.

Matador, who do you
want to stay behind?

Let them all go.
Miguel can play caretaker
for the evening.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING
IN SPANISH)

(WHINNIES)

Miguel!

I saw some cows
roaming outside
the south pasture.

There must be a fence down.

I will take a ride, se�or,
and find out.

Good.

Miguel!

To keep you company.

Good mescal, se�or.

You touched the heart
of an old vaquero.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

I was hoping
you'd change your mind
about leaving.

No. You were right.

Everything
is different now.

I must leave.

What do you want me
to tell the men?

Tell them
whatever you want to.

You know,
I can't send Marinaro to the
ring with the other bulls.

He has seen your sors cape.
He has sentido now.

I know. He is spoiled.
He knows too much.

I'm going to kill him.

But why?

He will make
a very good seed bull.

When Curro
leaves the hospital,

you know he'll want to
face Marinaro again.

How do you know that?

Dr. Leon told me that

Curro is determined
to do it.

Perhaps, but I don't think
my son is that crazy.

I won't take that chance.
That bull would
kill Curro this time.

Luis, I do appreciate
your concern.

I know it is not easy to
destroy such a valuable bull.

But you don't have to...
There are no "buts".

I'm going to
kill Marinaro today

in the ring, face to face.

Luis, you don't
have to do that.

I will kill him
like in the old days

with you assisting me.

That is crazy.

And you know it!

Look, we're both
out of shape.

That bull would
take at least five picks.

Besides, your leg,

it has been giving you
a lot of trouble lately.

If you won't help me,
my friend,

I'll have to do it alone.

Curro is a son
to me also.

(HECTOR GRUNTING)

Oh, my God!

Luis!

Luis, I don't...
Help me, Luis.

Luis,

help me.

I don't...
I don't know what's wrong.

I... Something's wrong.

Luis, I was stung.

No, Luis.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Luis,

what are you doing?

Help me.
I can't see straight.

Luis, please.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(BULL GRUNTING)

Luis, no.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(MAN SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I have insurance,
I have insurance
that'll pay for everything.

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

COLUMBO: Does anybody
speak English?

Speak English?
You speak English?

Do you speak English?
Just a minute now.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)

What did she say?
What is he saying?

Broken neck.
Broke the neck.

He broke the neck?
How'd he broke the neck?

We were going
10 miles an hour.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Tell him, tell him,
we were going
five miles an hour.

Five.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Sir, your identification,
please.

My identification. Here.

MAN: She said all your fault,
you hit her car.

Insurance, insurance.

Where is the man
who speaks English?

COLUMBO: Come over here.
Come over here.

Just a minute.
Where's that man
that speaks...

Just a minute, darling.

(WOMAN CHATTERING
IN SPANISH)

COLUMBO: Se�or,
I have insurance.

(ENGINE STARTING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

You don't have to
take the car.

There is nothing wrong
with the car.

Se�or, there is just
a dent in the fender.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

All right. One minute.
One minute.

(POLICE SIREN WAILING)

I have to get back
to Los Angeles.

I need my car.
My wife is here.

(POLICE SIREN BLARING)

(MAN CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

Yes, but what am I
gonna do, walk?

(OFFICER SPEAKING SPANISH)

Is your name Columbo?
Yes.

Lieutenant Columbo?

That's right.

Los Angeles
Police Department?

That's right.

I'm Comandante
Emilio Sanchez.

Pleased to meet you,
Lieutenant.
I'm at your service.

Listen, nothing happened.
That fellow wasn't hurt.

I mean, the bumpers
just touched.

They took my car.
I gotta get back.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
You may go.
But the car has to stay.

It's a matter
of insurance.

Oh, I got plenty
of insurance...

I'm afraid it's not valid
here in Mexico.

You should have
bought the coverage when
you drove over the border.

Listen, my wife and I,
we gotta get back to LA.
I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
I'm sorry.

I would like to
extend to you
a professional courtesy,

as a police officer
to a police officer,

but the law
is very specific about it.

Maybe you can
go in a bus to Los Angeles
and come back on Monday.

Oh, I couldn't do that.
I need the car.
It's very special...

You are very special.

What do you mean?

We had it
in all the newspapers
here in Mexico.

That murder
on the cruise ship.

By the time
you landed in Mexico,
you had unmasked the killer.

Oh, you heard about that.
Yeah.

Oh, that was
a hell of a thing.
Gee... That was a...

You know
the first night out
the fellow murdered the girl,

an entertainer?

She went down to
change her clothes
and she never came back.

It was a cruise. My wife
bought a raffle ticket,

we won a cruise
for nothing and got on,
and I was seasick.

Oh, I'll never
forget that.

Yeah, I would like
to hear more about it.

Now that you're gonna remain
in the city for the weekend,
maybe we could get together.

I would be honored if you
could join my wife and me
for dinner tonight.

I thought I was
gonna be arrested.

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

Just a moment.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(WOMAN SPEAKING SPANISH
ON RADIO)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I must go, Lieutenant.

There's been
a terrible accident
at the Montoya ranch.

Maybe you'd
like to accompany me.

We could talk
on the way over.

My wife is waiting
at the hotel.

All right.
I understand.

You know, I was
thinking that maybe

we could speed up
the paperwork
on your accident.

But of course, you have to
go to your wife. That's it.

That sounds like blackmail.

Lieutenant,
would I do such a thing
to a fellow police officer?

(SANCHEZ CHUCKLING)

(SANCHEZ SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

My house is your house,
Lieutenant.

Thank you very much.

I can't tell you
what a relief it is
that you speak English.

Don Luis is the owner of
the ranch. He is a ganadero.

Ganadero?

At one time,
I was paid handsomely
to fight bulls.

Now I pay handsomely
to raise them.

An expensive hobby,
my friend.

The dead man worked for
Don Luis for many years
at the ranch

and before that,
as his assistant.

A true friend,
loyal, faithful,

forgotten virtues
these days.

Just be a moment.

SANCHEZ: Now Luis,
tell me what happened.

The shipping box broke

and Marinaro
bolted into the ring

and then Curro Rangel,
with muleta and sword,
jumped in.

That was Thursday,
right?

Thursday.

As soon as
the boy eyed the bull,

I know the feeling
from my own youth,

he could not resist.

He did surprisingly well
for a novice

but then he comes
from good stock.
He's a brave boy.

But the bull got him.

Yes. A momentary lapse
of concentration,

a sudden gust of wind
that caught the muleta,
who can say?

Hector managed to
drag Curro to safety

while I held the bull at bay,
momentarily, of course.

With this leg of mine,
I would not like to
take on that brute in earnest.

You're too modest, Don Luis.
Yeah.

Anyway, I could not guess
that Hector would climb into
the ring alone yesterday

after everyone was gone.

Well, why would he do
a thing like that, sir?

For his son, Lieutenant.

Hector knew that Curro
would leave the hospital
to fight the bull again.

Now, you gave all the men
the day off, right?

Mmm-hmm.

All but Miguel.

I myself had to leave
for a speaking engagement

in San Diego
at the Aficionado Club.

And Hector was supposed
to come along with me,

but at the last minute,
he asked permission

to stay behind
to work on the books.

It appears now
he had a...

He had other plans
in mind.

Excuse me, sir.

Is that Se�or Hector
driving your car?

Hector Rangel.

So, Hector Rangel must have
gotten into the ring
right after you left at...

LUIS: 4:30.
4:30.

He would have waited
until I was well on my way,

walked to the ring,

I'd say he faced the bull
at 5:00,

perhaps 5:30.
5:00, 5:30.

All right.

I would like to
take a look at the body.
Would you care to join me?

As you wish.

SANCHEZ: Lieutenant?

Comandante, how much
is a bull like that won'th?

Fighting bull?
How much is it won'th?

I don't know.
But they're expensive.

How much?

It all depends on the bull.
Ask him.

Who, Luis?
Yes.

Don Luis,

a bull like Marinaro,
how much he won'th?

$8,000. More with inflation.

Seems like
a valuable piece of property
to destroy without permission.

I'm sorry.
I don't follow you.

No, it just
occurred to me that...

Is there something
I can help you with?

No, we were just
commenting on the fact

that the man
that was killed,
Hector Rangel,

that he was planning
to destroy

a valuable piece
of your property
without permission.

He's dead.

How can you judge
the behavior of a man

who almost
lost his only son?

Shall we, Luis?
Lieutenant?

No, gracias.
I see enough bodies
when I'm working.

Thank you.
I'll just look around.

Okay.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Oh, no.
I speak English, se�or.

I am Jaime Delgado,
the foreman.
What can I do for you?

I was wondering...
Could you answer
a question for me?

I already
told the Comandante
all I know, se�or.

I was in town
when Rangel was killed.

It was a very sad thing
that happened.

Oh, yes, it was.

Oh, no, no.
This is about bullfighting.

I was wondering,
could you tell me,

do you think
it's kind of late
in the afternoon

to be fighting a bull
at 5:00, 5:30?

I mean, because of the sun,
it's already down.

No, se�or.

It is the time
that all bullfights
take place.

You see,
it's to the bullfighter's
advantage.

And there's
more than enough light
at this time of year.

It shows you

I don't know much
about bullfighting.

Yes.

Is that all, se�or?

You know,
I think my wife is right.

Something wrong with me.

Supposed to be on vacation
and right away,
I'm thinking like a cop.

It's called
occupational hazard.

"Occupational hazard?"
What is that?

That's when
wherever you go,

you take your work
with you.

Oh, I see.
We call that "loco".
Excuse me.

(CLEARING THROAT)

Good afternoon, sir.

Good afternoon, sir.

This is a wonderful car.

I always wanted a car
like this for myself.

How long has Se�or Montoya
had this car?

Oh, for many years.

I take the best care of it.

Could I sit in?
Sure. Go ahead.

(SIGHING)

Oh, boy.

This is a workout
driving this car.

No power gadgets
on that one, sir.

If you want power,
you gotta do it yourself.

You know,
it must be difficult
for Se�or Montoya,

I mean,
with his bad leg.

He'll never drive it.

Hector will always
do it for him.

Hector.

Yes. I remember
the pictures on the wall.

Yeah, now that
Hector's not here,

probably he'll ask me
to drive it for him.

So I guess Se�or Montoya
used this car to go to
San Diego in?

Pretty smart, mister.

That one is clean,
this one is dirty, huh?

Me, I like a motorcycle,

except that I crashed it up
last Monday,

now they want to fix it,
2,500 pesos.

They must be crazy.

They must think
I own the place.

When was the last time
this car was waxed?

Oh...

That must have been...

Yeah, it was yesterday.

The foreman of the ranch
asked me to wash it
and wax it for him.

He said that the patr�n
was gonna drive it up
to San Diego.

But I thought the workers,
they were let off
early yesterday.

What time was that?

It must have been
around 12:00.

What are you asking me
all these questions for?

Oh, I'm a policeman,
always ask questions.

Thank you very much.

Yeah.

COLUMBO: Wait a minute!

(COLUMBO SPEAKING SPANISH)

Comandante Sanchez?
May I see the body?

Go ahead.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I didn't expect that.

It's not a pretty sight,
Lieutenant.

But as you say,
you have seen many bodies.

You don't realize
what a bull can do.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

The doctor said that
the wound inside his thigh

must have been
the fatal one.

It severed
the femoral artery.

Well, that would kill a man
pretty quick, wouldn't it?

Oh, yes.

That's the one
the bullfighter
fears the most.

(THUDDING)

(BULL SNORTING)

Is that the one?

Hmm?

Yes. Marinaro.

I don't know
how you fight those things
to make a living.

It's more than
a living, Lieutenant.
It's a way of life.

I'll tell you
the truth, sir.

I don't think I would
enjoy watching a man

kill an animal
like that, as big
and as mean as he is.

Perhaps you do enjoy
the spectacle of two men
in the prize ring

beating each other
senseless.

Or murdering an innocent deer
with a rifle.

Or catching a fish
with another one
which is still alive.

Our culture is different
than yours, Lieutenant.

No better or worse,
perhaps,

but different.

Excuse me.

(SANCHEZ SPEAKING SPANISH)

Se�or Montoya,

this doesn't look like
it's been used.

I mean, it should be
ripped or something.

Not if Marinaro
got him quickly.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

He would start with this

to test
the bull's tendencies

and then he would
cut him short
to break him down.

Then...

You see, Lieutenant,
a few little passes like those
leave no tears

or crease marks
on the muleta,
as you can see.

I see you are
a thorough man,
Lieutenant.

But the bull
did kill Rangel.

Yes, I can see that.

But it's important
to be thorough,

especially when
a man dies alone.

Excuse me, I wanna
go look at the bull.

Go ahead.

Excuse me.

Mr. Rangel himself
would have to
open the gate, wouldn't he?

Obviously.

Well, when he opened the gate,
the bull would charge out,
wouldn't he?

Then Rangel closed the gate
and challenged the bull.

But after he closed the gate,
he would be standing
right over here, wouldn't he?

Wouldn't the bull
then turn around
and attack him?

LUIS: As soon as
he moved, yes.

But the body was found
over at the other side
of the ring.

Lieutenant Columbo,
a bull that weighs
2,000 pounds

is capable of throwing
a man and a horse
all over this place.

That explains it.

COLUMBO: Why is he tied up?

The oxen that are needed
to keep him calm

are being used
somewhere else in the ranch.

So until they can
get them here,
he has to be left tied up.

Otherwise, he would
destroy that gate.

He's a big fellow,
isn't he?

LUIS: Mmm-hmm.

Thank you, sir.

I hope you understand,
Luis,

that the Lieutenant here
is merely as my guest.
He has no official status.

So inquisitive.
I find him amusing.

Have you seen this?

Some kind of a skid mark

with a hole at the end.

That looks like a pick mark.

You see, this ring is used
to test the cows for bravery.

When is the last time
that you tested cows
in this ring, sir?

A couple of weeks ago.
I don't remember.

Because this looks
very fresh to me.

Well, maybe it was
made yesterday,

or the day before yesterday
when you saved Curro's life.

What's this?

LUIS: Let me see.

Yes, this is part of the pick.

Probably splintered
by one of the cows.

You see, my cows
are very aggressive,
Lieutenant.

That's why they breed
such brave bulls.

Gee, this looks
awfully fresh to me.

Yeah, and if Rangel used it
yesterday to fight Marinaro,

there must be
more around it.

If you'll excuse me,
gentlemen.

My daughter
is arriving tomorrow

and there's much
to prepare for.

She's driving down
from Arizona to attend
Hector's funeral.

With your permission.

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I'm sorry
we couldn't get the car
released today, Lieutenant.

And I'm sorry your wife
couldn't have stayed.

Well, she's sorry,
too, madam.

It's my cousin Vito's
anniversary tomorrow,

so I put her on a bus
to Los Angeles.

Eleven years.

She's very sentimental
about these things.

Well, home, church,
that's what counts these days.

Well, I can't
argue with you there.

(BOY SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

They're bored!
But I'll take care of them.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Well, now that
we're alone,

I would like to hear
more about that murder
on the cruise ship.

I'd like to talk
about the death
of Hector Rangel.

If that's the way
you investigate an accident,

you must be a bull
when it comes to homicide.

I know this is
none of my business

and I'm sticking my nose in
where it doesn't belong,

and you certainly know
much more about these things
than I do.

Is it possible that
there was something wrong
with Hector Rangel?

Perhaps he knew
he was gonna die

and he wanted to
bring it to an end before...

Well, you know,
in some kind of
a machismo way.

Machismo. No, no, no,
that's impossible.

Rangel would not finish
his life in such a way,

especially
not in a practice ring.

Maybe it was homicide.

Lieutenant,
you saw the body.

No man could have
ripped Rangel open
in such a way.

No, the bull
was the murder weapon, sir.

Like a gun.

Somebody could've
turned the bull on Rangel.

Who would
do a thing like that?

Montoya, maybe.

Montoya?

That's ridiculous.
It's unbelievable,
Lieutenant.

It's like saying that
the Pope did it.

Anything's possible.

Lieutenant,

you're too good a policeman
to suggest such a thing
without proof.

Certain things
don't fit.

Why does a faithful assistant,
an obedient man,

somebody who's
used to taking orders,

suddenly
take it upon himself

to destroy a valuable
piece of property
without permission?

You heard
Montoya's answer.

I didn't believe it.

Well, what happens is that
you don't understand
the temperament of a matador.

You see, they must be proud,
brave, they must have honor.

It's called puro honor.
Without it, you're nothing.

S�. I understand
puro honor.

Hector knew that his son
might climb off the bed
in the hospital

to fight the bull himself,
mano a mano.
That's one against one.

Hector could not accept that,
regardless the risk.

The value of the bull
had nothing to do with it.

Is Montoya a vain man?

Oh, yes.

Is he concerned
with his public image?

Absolutely.

Is it important to him
to be seen

in a chauffeur-driven
1931 Cadillac convertible?

Well, that's the way
he drives around.

On the day that Hector died,
when he was a guest speaker
in a foreign country,

why did he decide
to drive himself in
an ordinary hardtop?

Lieutenant,
he didn't choose it.

Hector asked him
to stay behind

so he could
work on the books.

What time was that?

4:30.

I'm going to give you a
statement of a man who
takes care of Montoya's cars.

The ranch foreman told him
to wash and wax the hardtop.

The patr�n was gonna
drive it to San Diego.

"I finished the job
at 12:00."

The question is,

how did Montoya
know in the morning

that at 4:30 p.m.
Hector was going to say,

"I can't go with you.
I have to stay behind
and work on the books"?

(MURMURING)

Is that your answer?

There is no answer.

There is no answer.

I wouldn't
close off this case.

I don't wanna be presumptuous.
I realize I have
no position here.

No, I understand.

If there is a crime here,
I want to get to
the bottom of it.

Better yet, I would like you
to get to the bottom of it.

Me?

You see,
you're a foreigner.

But I live here.

I don't know if you realize
what will happen to me

if I was to start
an investigation that would
lead to nothing.

Montoya is that important?

He's a legend in Mexico.

He's known
throughout the country
as the bravest of the brave,

and this man likes the glory
that surrounds him.

And you want me
to take the blame.

Exactly.

But there's one thing.

Montoya must have a motive.

Yes, every man has a motive.

I don't know
what the motive is.

Hector was keeping his books.
Maybe Hector was
stealing from him.

Maybe it had something to do
with his daughter and Curro.

They were attracted
to one another. I don't know.

Let's start
with small things.

Let's finish our coffee.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Maria.

Papa!

I don't understand.
How could this happen?

Hector was always so quiet,
so careful. Why?

He was a father,
sweetheart.

And Curro,
how is he taking it?

I don't know.

He's still in the hospital
recovering from the goring.
I don't know.

I must go to him.
Oh, of course.

But first, you must freshen up
and have something to eat,
huh?

Come on, sweetheart.
Come on.

What is it?

Nothing, nothing.
Just a visitor.

Come.

(ROOSTER CROWING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(MOOING)

That scared
the hell out of me.

He is just a little baby,
se�or.

That's some baby.

I'm Lieutenant Columbo.
I'm from Los Angeles.

I understand you're here
because of Se�or Rangel's
unfortunate death, no?

I'm assisting
Comandante Sanchez.
Asking questions.

Oh, I see.

Have some.
It will help you.

Oh, thank you. I am thirsty.
Thank you very much.

I thought that was water.
I am sorry, se�or.

What is that stuff?

Mescal, se�or.

Mescal.
Yes, sir.

I understand, sir, that

you were the only one
on the ranch at the time
of the murder.

Yes, sir.
You're right.

But I was not near the ring
where he fight the bull.

Otherwise, he would
have never died.

You know, my name
is Miguel Hernandez.

Very well known to everybody.
Even to the bulls.

But the patr�n said,
"Go to the south pasture,"
and that's what happened.

What time was that?

I have no watch, se�or.

It was afternoon, early.

The men had just
gone into town.

Now where is
the south pasture?

South pasture?
That way, se�or.

Now, that's in the opposite
direction from the bullring.

That's right.

When you got back,
did you see anybody around?

No, se�or.

It was almost 6:00.
It was getting dark.

And the patr�n,
he had gone across
to your country.

I thought Se�or Rangel
had gone with him.

And you were down there
the whole time?

Yes, sir.
No one was around.

But the patr�n
was kind enough to give me
a bottle of mescal.

And I had a very pleasant
afternoon. But today,

I have a headache,
se�or.

Now, you must excuse me.
I must go to the tack room.

I have to gather things
that belonged to Se�or Rangel.

They must
go to his son now.

Would you mind
if I came along?

Why should I mind?

I'm sorry.
I just couldn't eat.

Of course, darling.
Of course.

I understand.

Tell Curro our prayers
are with him, hmm?

And drive carefully.

Drive carefully.

You should've seen it
come down in town
Friday.

I thought the place
was gonna wash away.

MIGUEL: You know, it is funny,
se�or, in a desert like this,
sometimes you see the rain.

But only over there
in the mountains.
It never gets here.

What's this?

That's Se�or Rangel's
luggage.

They told me to clean out
his locker.

Then I have to go to his room
and get his clothes out.

It's already packed.

Well, who packed it?
I don't know.

Well, who brought
the luggage down here?

I don't know.
Maybe the housekeeper.

Do these belong
to a bull or an ox?

From a bull, se�or.

And these are picks?

Yes.

This is the inside
of the wood?

And this is the outside
of the wood?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

This is lighter in color
than this.
Yes.

And this is heavier in weight.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

That is not from a pick,
se�or. That is from a lance.

Well, what's the difference?

The picks they used
in the ring,

they have metal tips
to wound the bull,
lower his head.

And the lance?

They are used in the fields
by the vaqueros for herding.

They are made of pine,
not so strong.

Well, now I'm puzzled.

Se�or Montoya said
that this came from a pick.

LUIS: Perhaps
I was mistaken.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

No, Jaime is right.
It looked the same to me
at a glance.

Well, what difference
does it make?

Oh, none, I guess.

But if this is from a lance,
then it wasn't used
to test the cows for bravery,

so what was it
doing in the ring?

Lieutenant Columbo,
a lance on a bull ranch
is the same as

as a rope
on a cattle ranch.

The vaquero,
the cowboy,

must carry it with him
at all times

so he can herd and round up
the bulls when he has to.

And I assume Hector
would have a lance.

Of course.

A fascinating world.

And this is
Hector's pick?

Yes.

And those are the lances?

Those are the lances.

I notice that Hector's lance
is missing.

No, he probably misplaced it
or broke it
out in the fields somewhere.

Well, as you said,
it probably doesn't
make any difference.

May I ask you
a personal question, sir?

Oh, by all means.

Did you injure your leg
in the bullring?

In the Plaza de Toros,
Mexico.

It was the wound
that ended my career.

And, ironically,
it wasn't even the bull
I was supposed to fight.

You see, I was appearing
mano a mano with
a young matador who froze,

and the bull gored him.

I jumped to his rescue
and I, too, was gored.

Badly. Here.

They tried to take me
to the infirmary,
along with the young matador,

but I refused to go.

Despite the blood
flowing from my wound,
I stayed in the ring,

and I did one of
the best faenas of my career.

I killed the bull
with one thrust.

The people loved it.

They stood up and gave me
an electrifying ovation.

Two ears and a tail.

That was my last fight.

Well, that must've taken
a lot of courage, sir.

Well, it would be
a difficult thing to do now,
with this leg.

Well, thank you very much
for the time.

I have to
get back to the city.

Oh, and then, on home,
to the United States?

Yes, sir.

Actually, I thought
if I got the chance,

I'd like to come out here
one more time before I left.

I'm fascinated
by everything out here,

but I don't
want to be a pest.

Oh, not at all, Lieutenant.
You're welcome here any time.

Well, thank you
very much, sir.

I've been fascinated
by everything
I've seen out here

and I still think
there's a lot to learn.

(BAND PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)

COLUMBO: I don't understand
this medical report.

SANCHEZ: What don't you
understand?

Well...

This is
Hector Rangel's name.

Right.

Well, I don't understand
anything after his name.

Well, it says what
we already know.

Hector Rangel died of shock
and severe loss of blood

due to wounds
inflicted on him by a bull.

Dorso is the back?

Yes. Yes.

What is this
"pinchazo in the glodio"?

Gl�teo,
that's a puncture
in the buttocks.

Well, did the bull
get him there, too?

Let me see.

No. It's a...

It's a small needle mark
that the doctor found.

Probably from
a previous inoculation.

Well, was Hector Rangel
under treatment for anything
with a doctor?

No, according to his doctor,
he was in perfect health.

I hope you don't mind
my saying so, Comandante,

but I think you ought to
order an autopsy
on Rangel's body.

An autopsy

because of a needle mark?

I can see the newspapers.
"Don Luis Montoya,

"the idol of Mexico,
a murder suspect?"

That's your problem.
I'm just a tourist here.

Yeah, that's my problem.

You know,

a policeman who jeopardizes
his pension,

he must be loco, right?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

I think I'm gonna speak
to Curro Rangel.

SANCHEZ: For a man
who's on a holiday,
you're certainly keeping busy.

Well, I have the feeling
if I wasn't, you wouldn't
let me leave the country.

Oh, that's right, my friend.
I got your picture posted
in all the border stations.

There's one other thing.

You remember how hard
it rained in town the day
that Rangel got killed?

Yes, it rained cats and dogs,
as you say.

Now, according to Miguel,
it did not rain
at the Montoya ranch.

An old bullfighter
like Hector Rangel would never
fight a bull in the rain.

Yeah. However, old Miguel,
he could be so bombed
on that mascara...

Mescal, mescal.

Mescal.

Right.
...that he wouldn't know
whether it was raining

or whether
it wasn't raining.

Yeah.

I'll check
the weather bureau,

I'll check
the other ranches
in the area.

That's a good idea.

Here, Lieutenant.

Thank you.

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Here's to your pension.

That's my problem.

The air will do you good.

Nothing will do me good.

Oh, Curro, please.
You cannot blame yourself
for your father's death.

Yes, I can.

If I'd killed that bull,
my father'd be alive
right now.

Curro.

There he is, sir.
Right over there.

Thank you. Gracias.

Curro Rangel?

Yes.

I'm sorry
to intrude like this.

No, it's all right.
I'm leaving.

Keep your spirits up.

I'll be out of here
tomorrow, Nina.

Good. I'll see you
at home.

Oh, that's a pretty girl.

Who are you?

My name is Columbo.
I'm a policeman
from the United States.

What do you want?

Your father's death
hasn't been officially
certified as an accident.

Not yet, anyhow.

So, I'm just
getting a few facts
for the local police.

Well, I'm sorry.
I don't think
I can help you.

I was asleep on that bed
when it happened.

No. I want to know
about your fight
with the bull.

The day before.
Would you tell me
about that?

Well, there's nothing
to tell.

The bull broke out
of a shipping box,
got into the ring.

I went in, tried to cape him,
he caught me on the leg.

Not seriously.

But you were
knocked unconscious.

Yes. And my father
and Se�or Montoya
dragged me from the ring.

Well now, actually,
Se�or Montoya
diverted the bull

and your father
dragged you from the ring.

Yes, that's right.

Did you use a lance
when you fought the bull?

A what?

I found this
in the practice ring.
It's part of a lance.

No. No one uses
a lance in the ring.

Did your father
have his lance with him
the day you fought the bull?

Yes. I think so.

He and Se�or Montoya
were riding out to the range
to check on the herd.

He would always
have his lance with him.

I'll tell you why it's funny.
Because in the tack room now,
his lance is missing.

Well, maybe,
when he came to drag me,

in his desperation,
he brought the lance
into the ring.

But when he went to drag you
out while Montoya
was diverting the bull,

why would
he bring his lance?

I don't know.

Where's the rest
of the lance?

I haven't been able
to find it.

Where was your father
going?

What do you mean?

His bags were packed.

That doesn't make any sense.
He never went anywhere.

Was he due to go
on vacation?

No.
He didn't take vacations.

Then who packed his bags
and why was he leaving?

If he quit or was fired,

but neither one of those
things would ever happen.

Thank you very much.
You've been very helpful.

(MAN SPEAKING SPANISH)

(PHONE RINGING)

Lieutenant,
I have good news for you.

My car?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

It's parked outside,
no charge.

Oh, what a relief.
Thank you very much.

It's all right.
Learning anything?

Oh, I have to learn something,
since I didn't know anything
to start with.

Did you know that these bulls
are very near-sighted?

Yes, I know that.

That's why the matador
uses the cape

to attract the bull
toward him.

Actually, what happens is
that the bull goes towards
the movement of the cape.

That's right.
I made a note on that.

Is that the autopsy?

That's the weather report.

It's in Spanish.

Yes, I know that.

The people
at the weather bureau
speak it very well.

It says there was no rain
in the area
of the Montoya ranch

the day Rangel died.

It was cloudy,
overcast, high winds.

So, old Miguel was right.

Rangel must have
fought the bull
between 5:00 and 5:30

as Montoya said.

Well. It was won'th a try.

I was wrong, that's all.
But that's all right.

I've been wrong before.

Don't shake my confidence
in you, Lieutenant.

The newspapers
know about the autopsy
already,

so I hope
you found out something.

I'll tell you the truth,

I got a crazy notion
I know why Rangel was killed.

What?

Trouble is, I don't think
anybody's gonna believe me.

(BELL RINGING)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Se�or Montoya,
could I see him?

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(LUIS SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Lieutenant Columbo.

I came back.

So I see.

Just a few things
to clear up, sir. I hope
you don't think I'm...

Do I understand

that Comandante Sanchez
has obtained a court order

and an autopsy
is going to be performed
on my good friend,

Hector Rangel,
God rest his soul?

Yes, sir,
that is right, sir.

You see, there was a mark
on the body that we couldn't
quite understand.

What kind of mark?

A pin hole, se�or.

Maybe a needle mark.

What can that possibly have
to do with Hector Rangel
being killed by a bull?

Well, sir, you see, we think,
that is, Comandante Sanchez
and I, believe

that Hector might
have been drugged,
then killed by the bull.

You are calling
Hector's death a murder.

No, sir, not yet.

But we are interested in
whether or not you keep
any drugs here on the ranch,

especially tranquilizers.

Well, yes.

We keep such drugs
on the ranch.

All ranches must have
these drugs

to tranquilize and
treat sick animals. Yes.

Well, there you are, sir.

You see, I'm not
as dumb about these things
as I thought.

I had an idea you might
have those drugs.

Do you think
I could see them?

And any records you might
keep as to their purchase
and use?

(CLEARS THROAT)

Chloral hydrate.

I'll tell you,
I don't know
much about drugs,

but that's the stuff
they put in a Mickey Finn.

I'm sorry...

Oh, of course.
That's an American expression.
Knockout drops.

They're used and they work
about the same way

as a tranquilizer
does on a bull.

They knock a man out,

or they make him real dizzy,
if you give him
a small enough shot.

May I take this, sir,
just to get a small analysis
down at the lab?

Take all you want.

You know I just
thought of something,

something I saw
on a television show.

How do you get close enough
to those bulls
to make an injection?

On this show they had an...

An air gun
with hypodermic darts.

Yes, we have one
just for that purpose.

I thought
you might have.

The gun. A dart.

Is there anything else,
Lieutenant?

Yes, sir.
I'd like to see your books.
What for?

We don't keep any records
on the use of these drugs.

But you do keep a record
of their purchase?

Yes.

If you don't mind, sir.

Help yourself.

You won't find
the drug purchases there.

They're in a separate section,
in the front.

Yes, sir,
I noticed that.

Just a moment,
Lieutenant.

My financial records
are a private matter.

If you wish them examined,
you'll have to get
a court order.

No, sir,
that won't be necessary.

No, I just had a thought.

Those entries that I just saw,
they were made by Hector.
That is his handwriting.

That is correct.

May I see something?
Would you open the book?

Then this is your signature,
made after each month's entry.

That's right.

January, February, March,
April, May, June, July...

Just turn the page
for a moment.

So this is the last entry.

This is the one
that Hector said
he was working on

the day he said
he had to stay behind
while you went to San Diego.

That's funny.

The date is funny, sir.

What about it?

He finished the books
three days
before he was killed.

So?

Well, you signed
and dated it, sir.

Just what are you trying
to establish, Lieutenant?

Well, sir, you must see
what I'm driving at.

If Hector
finished the books three days
before he was killed,

then why didn't you
question him when he said

he wanted to stay behind
to work on the books?

You must have known
he had no intention
of working on the books.

I don't appreciate
this little war of nerves
you are conducting, Columbo.

I am Luis Montoya.
And you are in my country!

Sir, I'm just trying to
put together the pieces...

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

If you understood
the first thing
about bullfighting,

you would not question
Hector's death!

He walked into the ring
to spare his son
further injury,

and he lost his life.

Now that's all
there was to it!

Who packed his bags?

That's right, sir.
It was packed.

Miguel didn't do it.
He thought
the housekeeper did,

but I asked her
and she said no.

I don't know
anything about that.

Well, but the fact is,
sir, it was packed.

Where was he going?

Ah, yes, yes, yes.
He talked about
moving into the main house.

Maybe that's
what he was doing.

Gee, it's curious that no one
had any previous information
about that,

neither the housekeeper,
nor the servants.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

I have tried to be gracious.
I have answered
all your questions.

My courtesy
has been rewarded
with accusation.

I must ask you
to leave my house
and not return.

I can find my way out.

I probably
won't be back, sir.

I got to be in Los Angeles
on Monday.

But someday, somebody's
gonna come to your door.

Comandante Sanchez,
maybe somebody else,
but somebody.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING IN SPANISH)

SANCHEZ: Bullfighting,
baseball.

What else do children
have to think about?

I guess I'll be headed back
to the United States.

Leaving me to finish your
unfinished business, huh?

I gotta be home
Tuesday morning.
Listen, I'd like to stay.

Montoya's your man.
You can nail him
if you keep after him.

There is something.
I don't know what, a key.
I can't find it.

Well, if it means anything,
I will continue
the investigation.

If it goes badly
and I can't find the key,

you'll have to get me a job
with the Los Angeles
Police Department.

What're they doing
with that jug of water?

Well, it's the wind.
It's strong.

Pepe's imitating
the professional matadors
at the Plaza.

What are you
talking about?

Well, in the high wind,
the muleta will blow
unpredictably.

Since the bull goes
toward the movement
of the muleta,

if it were to blow
towards the matador,
well, that's it.

Oh, so if the cape is wet,
it won't blow in the wind.

That's right.

You Chinese are very clever.

(CHUCKLING)

Is that in this book?

I don't know.
Oh, well, that's your book.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING
IN SPANISH)

Where you going?

I don't think
I'll be leaving just yet.

I want to
check something out.
I'll call you later.

Curro!

Curro!
Where you going
in such a hurry?

To Se�or Montoya's ranch.

You're in no condition
to fight a bull.

Nothing wrong
with my condition.
I'm fine.

You think you have to prove
how brave you are?

The longer a matador
delays facing the bulls
after a goring,

the harder it becomes.

Se�or Montoya
killed your father.

What?

Se�or Montoya
killed your father, Curro.

He set it up
to look like an accident

as if your father had gone
in the ring to kill a bull,
but it was murder all the way.

You don't know
what you're saying.

I think I do.
I have a lot of evidence

all of which I'll show you.

Se�or Montoya
was on his way to San Diego
when my father was killed.

No, he was in the bullring
with him,
he tricked him there,

and then he shot him
with a tranquilizer gun.

You can see the needle mark
on the body.

Why would
he do such a thing?

That's what
I'm not certain of.

That's where I'm gonna
need your help.

Will you trust me?

LUIS: That man is no longer
welcome here.

SANCHEZ: We're here
on official business,
Don Luis.

Both of us.
Your investigation has gone
too far already!

The autopsy of Hector Rangel
has cast a shadow on my name.

And yet, I am told
you found nothing!

That's true. There were
no discernible traces.

LUIS: And yet you persist?

I will call the Governor.
I'll have your job for this.

Well, actually, sir,
we didn't expect to find
any chloral hydrate.

In fact, we would
have been surprised

if Hector had been
given enough drugs
to show up on a test.

Either the man was drugged
or he wasn't drugged.

Well, I've been doing
a little checking,

just the rudiments
of bullfighting

and the fact is,
a bull reacts to movement.

If Hector had been
totally unconscious,

if he had been immobile,

the bull might never
have charged.

So, he was only
given a little bit.

Enough to make him woozy,
an easy, moving target.

This is slander, Columbo.

You have no proof.

No proof whatsoever.

Matador! Matador!

Curro Rangel is out
at the practice ring.

He means to kill Marinaro.

Father, you must stop him.

First, I will attend
to this young fool.

And then I will talk
to my lawyer in regard
to the two of you.

(GATE BANGING)

Curro!

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Stop!

I said stop!

Come here!

Come here.

You didn't learn anything.

You want to go back
to the hospital?
Is that it?

Huh?

(SPEAKS SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

Curro! Curro!

Montoya's frozen.

Papa!

(SHOUTING IN SPANISH)

(ALL YELLING IN SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

(SPEAKING SPANISH)

NINA: Papa!

(CAR DOOR SHUTS)

I'm sorry.
It was the only way.

But the way Montoya
froze just now,

that's exactly the way
he froze the other day

when he and Hector
entered the ring

in order to save Curro
from the bull.

He froze that day, too,
and Hector saw the fear.

That's why Montoya
had to kill Hector.

You see,

he didn't save Curro
from the bull. Hector did.

That's how Hector's lance
got broken.

Holding off the bull.

Don Luis Montoya,

unable to live
with the knowledge

that another man
had seen his fear.

Incredible.

Your kids.

They solved the crime.

My kids?

Your kids.

Only after
watching them play,

one pretending
to be a matador

and the other pretending
to be a bull,

only then did I know
without qualification

that Montoya was lying.

This is the official
weather report

for the day
that Hector was killed.

Heavy winds
came up in this area
between 5:00 and 6:00.

Now, that was the time
that Montoya said

that Hector was preparing
to kill the bull.

Heavy winds.

30 kilometers an hour.

Now, do you remember
the first day?

Do you remember how closely
we looked at this muleta
to see that it wasn't ripped?

Yes.

Well, it wasn't
something else.

Water stains.

No water stains
on the muleta.

And no water jug
in the ring.

Now, the winds died down
after 6:00,

but by then,
it was too late.

So, Hector entered
the ring earlier

before the winds
came up

and when Se�or Montoya
was still with him.