Original subtitles

Terry, honey, fill in for me.

I have to make a phone call.

C-L-A-M-A-N.

Claman! Yay!

No, no, no, now listen, girls,

remember, most of these delegates are men.

Now you've got to keep it all moving.

C-C... Okay, now let's go.

C-L-A-M-... - A-N.

Claman!

Yay!

Hello.

No, Mr. Claman isn't due for about 20 minutes,

Look, this is a matter of life and death.

Well, I'll see if I can get through to his suite.

Hang on, please.

Let's hear it, girls, come on.

C-L-A-M-A-N.

Claman!

"and once elected,

"I promise to place the government

back into the hands of the people..."

Oh, come off it, Charlie.

The people's ignorance of what goes on in government

is what got them into this fix in the first place.

Now you put on your brass knuckles

and tell them what I'm really going to do

is go after the special interests,

wipe out corruption.

Ye-Yeah, yeah, I heard you.

But I happen to be managing a strange duck with principles,

so I can't promise miracles.

Look, if Rolley delivers his delegation,

we'll see that he gets a fair deal.

I just heard what you want in that speech.

So what says my trusted aide?

You sound like a holy man.

Come on down.

I'll do my best.

Jim, I think you're just fine.

Oh, please, Rita.

I don't think I can stand so much praise

this early in the afternoon, especially from my wife.

You're going to win the nomination.

I feel it in my bones.

Do you want to talk to a constituent?

He says it's life or death.

Hello. This is Jim Claman.

Sorry to break in on your busy day.

Who is this?

That's not important.

What I've got is...

It could get you the nomination, Mr. Claman,

or finish you for good. What?

I have documented evidence obtained three days ago

while you were on a speaking tour.

If it gets into the wrong hands,

it can blast your campaign into the next century.

Who are you?

We'll meet soon enough.

5:00 this afternoon up on Corona Mesa.

It's private there. No one to see you.

Oh, and Mr. Claman, if you really want to be governor,

you just can't afford not to show.

♪ ♪

Hey, Jim.

Who the devil are you? The name is Mannix.

I want to see Jim Claman.

About what? Murder.

Boy, we've had some real ding-a-lings

at this convention, but you ring the bell.

Now please leave the way you came in.

Just a minute, Walt.

Hello, Mannix.

You haven't changed much.

I'm the same man, except for the added scar tissue

I picked up from our previous meeting last year.

Now let's see that was Superior Court 17

in your fair state.

Oh, yes, the man with the big chips on his shoulders.

When you were district attorney,

you got your kicks pushing around private detectives,

I had some bad experiences.

I felt it necessary at the time to lean a little hard.

Maybe this time you leaned a little too hard.

Is that your way of getting back to murder?

Just exactly who is it I'm supposed to have killed, Mannix?

Maybe nobody.

But you did talk to Richard Newley

just before somebody killed him.

Richard Newley?

His wife hired me.

She said he talked to her

about coming into a sudden inheritance.

She said he called you.

You did talk to him?

That was a crank call, Mannix.

Nothing more.

Except this crank turned up dead.

Come on, Walt.

I don't believe we've been introduced.

Let's keep it that way.

The morning Herald had it down as Walter Webb...

Attorney and confidential aide to Jim Claman.

Just a small item underneath a picture of you

flying Claman back from a speaking tour by helicopter.

So?

Maybe just coincidence,

but a helicopter was spotted flying around up there

where Newley was killed.

Let me spell this out for you, Mannix, very clearly.

Any smears directed at Jim Claman

will have to get by me first,

and I don't like dirt.

Nice meeting you.

Excuse me, Mike Raitt still own this place?

And everything else in sight.

Where can I find him?

You won't need radar.

Thanks.

Wasn't he a pistol?

Mr. Raitt? Yeah.

I wonder if I can talk to you for a minute.

Well, just be my guest, boy.

Hey, Skip, you look familiar.

Ain't I seen you someplace before?

In a way.

I was present when you were back in California,

testifying before the rackets committee.

I'll be right with you, fellas.

Hey, now, wasn't that some go-round?

They never laid a glove on me now, did they, Skip?

The name is Mannix.

I'm a private investigator. Uh-huh.

I'm looking into the death of one of your employees.

Richard Newley? Right.

Now I ask you, wasn't that a crying shame about that boy?

It sure was.

Thought maybe you could tell me something

about him, the people that knew him, you know, things like that.

I'm sorry, Skip.

You know I got a 173 employees here at this hotel,

and Newley was, well, just a Social Security number on the payroll.

I couldn't tell you one single thing about him.

Well, thanks anyway.

Well, any time.

Say...

what are you looking for anyhow?

Whoever killed him.

Oh.

Boys, like I said...

Second question...

Can you tell me who in the hotel was close to Richard Newley?

Take away the women guests and there was just one.

Who?

Me.

Do you mind telling me

a little something about him?

Why should I?

I wonder if you can change a 20.

I've got to make a phone call.

All I need is a dime.

Mister... Mannix.

You're doing business

with the biggest mouth in town.

How can I help you?

Do you know anything about Newley

that the police didn't know?

Nope, except maybe you ought to check his apartment.

He didn't live here in the hotel?

No, that's what he wanted everybody to think.

He had this apartment

over on Tenth and Mason, Number six.

I guess being a tennis pro is a pretty demanding line of work.

Just in case his death wasn't an accident,

you got any idea who might have a motive to kill him?

Yeah. Me.

Motive?

Pure envy.

Mr. Mannix.

I'm Claire Hanley.

You say that like it should mean something.

Not unless you want to get your name in the papers.

I happen to own six of them all the way from here to California.

The Hanley chain.

After my husband, Eric.

And we have something to discuss? Richard Newley.

May I drop you someplace?

It didn't take Jim Claman long to call in the reserves.

What makes you think Jim Claman called me?

Who else? Mike Raitt?

You don't look like the type

who'd trade confidences with tarantulas.

That's very discerning.

Well, actually, it was Jim Claman's aide

who called me, Walter Webb.

And you're the big, powerful paper lady who's to scare me off.

I don't know that I'd say

it was anything quite that dramatic.

Well, I just felt you could possibly be reasoned with.

We have an excellent police force in this city, Mr. Mannix,

Excellent.

They made a thorough investigation,

much more thoroughly than you could,

and they concluded Richard Newley's death was due

to an accidental fall.

Well, then the worst that could happen is, I waste my time.

And possibly start a whispering campaign

that could destroy a man this state sorely needs.

Well, there's no reason to be concerned.

Unless there's something to whisper about.

Thanks for the ride.

It's not over yet.

He ought to be locked up!

He almost ran me down.

Then he stumbled into the alley and passed out.

You can see how drunk he is!

One dead bottle of red-eye

and loads of it on your breath.

Now look, Webb, I...

No, no. Mannix, you look.

I've been around the law for years.

Don't insult my intelligence by yelling "frame."

Looks like you've got a point.

Maybe, uh, you saw to it, huh?

Book him.

The only place I'm going is to see Jim Claman.

You really are a ding-a-ling, aren't-you?

That sign that says you're smart

can get tarnished if you let them lock me up, Webb.

What I know now can carry awfully far in a local jail.

I'll handle it.

What's your feeling about the need for a sales tax rise

to help balance the budget?

It takes a little more breath to say ”efficiency” than it does

to say ”money,” but it costs less.

Can I see you alone for a minute, Jim?

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Sure.

Sorry, boys, that's all for the day.

Our state doesn't seem

to be wearing too well on you, Mr. Mannix.

I found you much more attractive at our last meeting.

I just can't kick the habit of getting that mussed-up look

when I've been mugged, dragged into an alley

and had liquor poured down my throat.

All of which I'm sure is news to you.

No.

Walter Webb called in to say they'd found you.

Any idea how he knew where to look?

I'm afraid that was my doing.

An anonymous phone call came into the newspaper.

Oh, now, please.

Please don't be don't be angry

with me for taking sides.

Jim Claman is my man...

Politically speaking, that is.

Of course, that does leave me a great deal of elbow room.

Shall we say my house?

8:00 this evening?

Last one at the end of Tower Road.

8:00, then.

You won't find it dull.

All right, Mannix.

Exactly what incriminating words

were you going to bark through the halls of our local bastille?

Well, it seems somebody sapped me

while I was in Richard Newley's apartment...

Not before I found a notebook.

Newley had scribbled down some IOUs. Now, to me,

that turned on a couple of lights.

Such as?

Newley had planned on making a bundle

from some business dealing with you.

Newley has these IOUs.

Newley turns up dead.

So I am in hock to someone over a gambling debt,

and Newley was going to cash in on the scandal...?

The thought occurred to me.

You know, Mannix, in our last go-around,

I thought you were just hardheaded,

but if you thought you heard thunder

the last time we locked horns,

you'd better just wait awhile.

Within five minutes, you won't be able

to buy a dog license in this state.

Oh, one more thing, Claman.

There was a phone number in Newley's notebook.

It happens to match the one

on your telephone.

Yes, sirree, this is sure gonna be

an interesting romp around the maypole.

I take it Jim Claman's being true to his word.

Thank you, John. That'll be all.

Yeah. From the cooperation I got

from the D.A.'s office and police department,

my name might as well have been Hitler.

Splendid.

I thought you'd see it that way.

As I told you, I want Jim Claman

as the next governor of this state,

and I want it badly enough that,

if I have to, I will take off my silk gloves

and fight like a man... Any kind of man.

Hmm. There you go scaring me again.

On the contrary.

Fighting you is the last thing I have in mind.

I, uh... I, um... I thought I might help you

make a turn in the right direction.

On occasion, I, I had Richard Newley over here

to give me tennis lessons.

My backhand needs work.

So does my forehand.

Naturally, I learned quite a bit about him.

Such as?

Such as those gambling debts you discovered in his notebook.

They had nothing whatsoever to do with Jim Claman.

They were his losses... Newley's losses

to that rogue of the rackets, Big Mike Raitt.

Uh... Newley told you that?

Precisely. And for the very best of reasons.

He wanted me to lend him the money to pay the debt off.

It seems that jolly Mike, the innkeeper,

might not be quite so jolly as a creditor.

So you, uh... gave him the money?

I played tennis with Richard, not house.

Well, now that I've done my good deed

for country and man,

why don't we just make ourselves comfortable

and watch the grass grow, hmm?

Excuse me.

Yes?

One moment, please.

It's for you.

Oh.

Hello.

This is the hotel clerk.

You left this number for messages.

Look, I gotta see you now. It's urgent.

Where?

Service garage at the hotel.

Sneaking up on people in the dark

can get you a lot of trouble.

Any more trouble I get

is gonna have to stand in line.

Come on, get in here.

Big Mike fired me today. Why?

Found out I gave you Newley's apartment address.

That leaves me in need

of getting-out-of-town money, so, uh...

how'd you like to buy the rest of my merchandise?

$50? I, I don't have change.

Keep the dime.

Claire Hanley, who latched on to you in the hotel

this afternoon... What did she have to say

about her and Newley?

Oh, just that he

taught her tennis now and then.

There something else?

Yeah, the whole nine yards.

Newley spent a lot of time at her place.

Since he wasn't exactly in Who's Who, he...

he planned to make her pay

for keeping him coming through the back door.

Anything else?

Mm-hmm.

The hotel helicopter made an unscheduled flight

the day Newley fell off the cliff.

That helicopter's to haul our VIP guests around with, and...

I fired that clerk 'cause he had a big mouth.

If there's anything that a hotel don't need,

it's a "poppin' off" room clerk.

Well, let's not overlook the dead man, Raitt.

He owed you a lot of gambling money.

And in murder, that can be defined as motive.

I suppose you're gonna go to the police with that, huh?

I haven't decided yet, but you got to admit,

it's even money that they'd find that pretty interesting.

Mannix, I sure hope that you like

this little old state of ours,

'cause it's pretty near a cinch

that you're gonna get buried in it.

Mannix?

You sure are a caution.

You gotta learn to relax,

know when people's a-kidding you.

Yeah, I guess it was pretty silly of me

to take you seriously.

I guess it had to do

with all that gangster stuff I keep reading in the papers.

Now you got the right idea.

Let's just sit down

and have ourselves a little old talk.

You did come up here

to do some horse trading, now, didn't you, boy?

You know how we private detectives are, Mike.

Like to follow hot leads.

Since you're so interested in the case,

I thought you might slip me a goodie or two.

I suppose that, uh...

well, you'd be willing to forget about...

the police and...

and my IOUs and Newley's and everything.

Well, now that depends on how well you hold my interest.

Did you ever hear of the Coronet Trucking Company?

Yeah. It's a business front for laying off underworld money.

About five years ago,

Jim Claman represented Coronet Trucking

while he was a partner in one of the local

law firms here in town.

Now, isn't it just possible

that Claman didn't know Coronet Trucking was a front?

Maybe you're right, but just the same,

it's a pretty fair bet, that, innocent or not,

he might have signed his name

to some mighty incriminating documents.

I'll tell you one thing.

Something like that'd sure run

some awful deep ruts in Claman's campaign for governor.

Skip, I do believe

I've captured your interest.

How does it look, Charlie?

Gentlemen of the press are smelling fresh meat.

Thanks, Charlie.

Well, there's nothing definite, but, uh...

little innuendos, like...

why a private investigator's asking so many questions

about a candidate for governor.

It's time we leaned on Mannix, Jim, hard.

No. No.

I want to think about it.

You go down to the press section right now

and see what you can do to spike these rumors.

You know...

under the right conditions, a lady can get a very clear

perspective on politics.

Conclusion: It stinks.

Please, Rita, just a moment, dear.

Notice, Jim?

I'm wearing something new.

Jim?

Oh, yes, I've seen that gown before, dear.

It's lovely.

I'm talking about my new accessory.

This little glass of sunshine.

Remember, Jim?

I never touched it before.

Except on our wedding night,

when you bought that magnum of champagne.

We made three toasts... to us.

Then the next thing I remember, it was morning.

Of course I remember, darling.

But do we have to talk about it now?

There you were, the brilliant young lawyer,

briefcase brimming with Blackstone,

ready to take me off to glory land.

And here we are now ready to knock on the gate.

But it's strange, Jim.

It's as though I were somebody else...

as though I'd lost you somewhere back in those years.

Everything is gonna be just fine, darling.

You've just contracted a case of campaign nerves.

Why don't you lie down.

I'll see you at dinner?

Look, boys, there's nothing to it.

Mannix and Jim Claman had a run-in a few years ago,

but it's all settled.

Mannix is practically on a plane

back to California.

Your words are smooth, Walt, but your timing is lousy.

You say this Mannix isn't bugging Jim Claman,

but here he comes again.

I guess he missed the plane.

Mannix, unless you've come to deliver some delegates,

why don't you run along home.

I think that my chances are reasonably good.

I don't make any claims at this time, but I do have...

How do you feel the campaign's going?

Gentlemen, excuse me.

I'll be glad to answer your questions later.

Excuse me.

And what is it this time?

Well, it might be the whole ball game.

Whatever, it shouldn't take five minutes to find out.

Jim, I was about to get rid of him.

You can throw me out,

or you can talk to me,

whichever you think is best for the Claman image.

It has to do with Coronet Trucking.

All right!

Maybe Coronet Trucking was an underworld front.

I didn't know that.

Isn't it just possible that while you were their attorney,

you could have signed some incriminating documents?

What are you getting at, Mannix?

That Michael Raitt wanted me to know

you were involved with Coronet Trucking.

Now, if that's the case, he must have something.

And if he does, then it's my guess that you know what it is.

Mannix...

I'm gonna be finished with this and with you once and for all.

If Coronet Trucking was a syndicate operation,

I knew nothing about it.

Nothing at all.

However, who would believe me?

So I'm gonna cooperate with you.

I'm going to open up the gates so that you can dig up

any dirt on me that you can find.

Wait a minute, Jim, you can't!

Yes, I can.

But if there's something you can use to crucify me with,

I'd like to have it before the convention

picks its nominee for governor.

If you find someth... anything incriminating,

I'll withdraw from the race.

Jim, you... Walt, I am not about to hurt

a lot of good people and a good party.

I haven't got a fix on you yet, Claman.

Maybe you are on the up-and-up.

But then again...

maybe you've come up with the greatest political con act

since kissing babies.

Try me.

One complete photostat report of the Richard Newley accident.

Ah, thanks. You know, I like you people better this way.

I guess it does pay to have friends.

Well, you better keep 'em, Mannix.

We don't find you exactly irresistible.

Mr. Mannix?

I'd like to talk to you.

Be glad to, Mrs. Claman.

Mr. Mannix, my husband has quite a career ahead of him.

He's young enough to go on to even more important things.

I'm very proud of him.

I don't quite understand what you're getting at.

On the seat, the envelope.

Take it.

It's yours.

Mine?

$5,000, Mr. Mannix.

All you have to do to earn it

is to get on a plane and go back to California.

That, of course, is, uh, before I finish the case.

You've done your work well.

It's started to make waves,

waves that are going to swamp a very good and very able man.

My husband deserves better than that, Mr. Mannix,

and so does this state.

Mrs. Claman, I have... No. Please...

don't answer just yet.

Meanwhile, think about it.

You know, I've got a hunch about you, Mrs. Claman,

and if I'm right...

I hope your husband deserves you.

Well, you don't even look surprised.

No, I'm not. I'm pleased.

At least this time I didn't get sapped over the head

and have a bottle shoved down my throat.

Now, uh, shall I order up some drinks,

or do you two want to get right to the point?

The point is, darling, I told you, if I had to,

I would take off my gloves and fight like a man.

I had to.

You see, Mannix, Mrs. Hanley and I are not as...

honorable as Jim Claman.

I'm afraid he had to break his promise of cooperation.

And, uh...

you can hardly wait to tell me how.

It's our duty.

By reason of certain influences, pressures,

your detective license has been revoked in this state.

I presume this, uh, decision was made as soon as you learned

I had the police report on Newley's death.

Correct.

You're pretty touchy on the subject

of Richard Newley, aren't you, Mrs. Hanley?

To borrow a cliché,

I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.

According to the report, Richard Newley took a cab

to the place he was murdered.

The day he had his accident.

He took a cab to the place he was murdered

from your house, Mrs. Hanley.

Impossible.

Of course, Richard did spend time at my house

giving me tennis lessons, as I told you.

But on that particular afternoon,

I had called him to tell him I wouldn't be there.

That can be checked out.

Not by you, mister.

Any further detecting you do in this state

will be considered illegal.

And that spells jail.

Outside call, please... Century Cab Company.

Uh, Century Cab Company?

Listen, you've got a driver by the name of Pete Brine,

number 406.

I'd like to talk to him.

Hello?

Hello, Pete Brine?

Yeah. What can I do for you?

Well, I'm investigating the Newley case,

and according to the police report,

uh, he took a ride with you on the day he died.

That's right.

Let's see, uh...

I drove him up to Corona Mesa.

You picked him up at Mrs. Hanley's.

I picked him up at the Hotel Caribe.

He comes out wearing tennis shoes and a tennis outfit.

I'd hacked him out that way to Mrs. Hanley before.

And was he, uh, carrying anything with him?

Yeah, a tennis racket.

Oh, wait a minute.

I thought it was pretty funny,

he was also carrying a briefcase.

And then you went straight to Mrs. Hanley's?

Yeah. He gets out, goes into a tennis cabana,

stays for about ten minutes,

comes out dressed in his civvies.

What about the briefcase?

Well, he must've left it in the tennis cabana

with his white-on-whites, I guess.

Uh, thanks, Pete.

I'll see that you get a picture of General Grant.

An autographed picture by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Hey, thanks!

Start making tracks, old buddy.

You're going up, up and away.

Whip this thing up, Cal!

I want to get back in time to hear that roll call!

You know, that governor's race is liable

to be tighter than a dead heat.

Sure hope Claman wins.

You're awful quiet.

Yeah. Just thinking.

I guess it was you who tapped me over the head

at Newley's apartment, huh?

Yeah, and it sure cut me to the quick

to have to put the arm on a good ol' boy like you.

If you hadn't of stuck to it the way you did,

I might not have wound up with this key to the state!

A state's a pretty expensive blackmail price.

That must be first-class dynamite in there.

Dick Newley thought it was anyhow.

Sort of upset your gravy train

if Claman didn't win that nomination, wouldn't it?

I got to admit it would be a big disappointment.

The way it lays out to me,

Richard Newley owed you gambling money,

so you used that to force him to get something on Claman.

It's a little rough on the edges, but it ain't bad.

And then Newley decided to go into business for himself.

He called me and said if I didn't beat Claman's price,

he was going to take his business to the source.

So you take the hotel helicopter,

and your friend up front here forced him over the cliff.

He spooked hisself over that cliff.

But, stupid as he was, he still had brains enough

not to bring the Claman documents with him.

This was his hole card.

This is where you get out, son.

I'm afraid you're going

to have a mighty nasty accident.

Come on around, Cal!

We're out of control! We're out of control!

Get ahold of it, Cal!

The delegation from the Imperial Empire

of Jameson County casts its entire 27 votes

for the next governor of this great state, Jim Claman!

That puts you ahead, Jim.

Now, if Curtis County goes our way, you're in.

Hey. Rita, you hear that?

Our personal guru thinks we're going to head the ticket.

Listen, Rita, why don't you call the desk

and reserve this suite for a few more days?

It'll give us a little time for ourselves.

No time off, Jim.

You'll have to make that banker's conference up north tomorrow.

If you want their support in the election,

you'll have to be there and smile.

Yeah, yeah. I forgot about that.

Yeah.

What do you want now?

Your boss invited me

to dig up whatever dirt I could find, remember?

- What's in there? - I don't know.

I'm not going to let you

destroy a good man's political career.

I figure Mr. Claman at least deserves first look.

What is all this about?

I found this in the late Richard Newley's personal effects.

My guess is, whatever's in here will explain why he called you.

Well, do you want to see it?

Or do you already know?

Mr. Chairman, Freehold County casts four votes

for Ty Norton, 12 votes for Jim Claman!

From this great state, Mr. Jeff Lehman!

Oh, Jim, I...

Nothing happened... no thanks to me.

Curtis County?

Mr. Chairman... Mr. Chairman, the delegates of Curtis County

cast 33 votes for our next governor, Jim Claman!

Well, it's... it's worked out all right, hasn't it, Jim?

Now you won't need my help anyway.

In case you're interested, Jim,

that was last Wednesday,

while you were away on your speaking tour.

I was tempted.

I admit that.

For the first time in our marriage,

I was tempted to look beyond you, Jim.

But it didn't go any further than the pictures.

Mrs. Claman?

Did you know about these?

No, Mr. Mannix.

I offered you a bribe

solely in the interest of my husband.

I knew he hadn't done anything wrong.

I also knew that mud,

once it's thrown, sticks to a man.

It's just that you were always gone

while Walt was here.

It was always, "Walt, make sure

you take care of Rita while I'm gone."

That's all he did for a very long time.

And I've been so lonely.

There's no reason

to order your wife out of your life.

You did that a long time ago,

and that ghost of her that's left

is leaving anyway.

I'd like to order a taxi.

Please, Rita.

Oh, a man can be such a fool.

We were both right and both wrong

about so many things.

But, in this ball game,

there are no ties, Mannix.

There has to be a winner.

You're the winner.

You're right, Mr. Claman.

Every game has a winner.

Oh, Joe!

I was just calling your room.

They said you had checked out.

I'm glad I caught you.

Really?

Yes. I... I think I owe you an apology.

It's just, when you were investigating

into Richard Newley's death,

you began to probe a little too deeply

into my relationship with him.

I didn't think that would look quite right.

I mean, if it got around.

I mean, I do publish a chain of family newspapers.

Clearly stated, and apologies accepted.

Thank you. Wait!

The past is behind us now.

Why don't we just wrap ourselves in some privacy?

You never can tell.

It just could possibly be a bright, new, beautiful world.

Oh, I'm sorry, Claire. What can I do?

You took my away my license to practice in this state.