Original subtitles

Think Moonfire's ready, Miss Calder?

Well, if she isn't, she will be when the fair opens.

Would you open the gate, please?

You bet.

All right, let's get it on the truck.

He's dead.

Leave him in the bushes.

♪ ♪

That's my daughter Lynn, Mr. Mannix.

That's Moonfire she's riding, a Tennessee walking horse.

I gave it to her for her 18th birthday.

She's... she's been crazy about horses since she was a child.

This isn't like her, Mr. Mannix.

It isn't like her at all.

When did she first decide

to enter Moonfire in the horse show?

Last month.

She, uh, she wired the Mission Motel for reservations and...

This is their confirmation.

She left two days ago.

Tuesday morning, early.

It's a four-hour drive.

She had Moonfire in the trailer.

Did she, uh, call you when she got there?

Yeah. About noon.

Said everything was fine and that, uh, she'd call

every day just before dinner.

Anything else?

No. Just the usual daughterly things.

Oh, there was one thing.

Well, there was one point

where she practically had to yell over the phone.

Why?

A bell was pealing.

It was very loud.

A bell?

It was the noon bell from the Mission.

She said she could see the tower from her room,

and she said she'd phone again

when she got back from the riding stable.

But she didn't call you that evening?

No.

No. That one phone call was the only time I heard from her.

Mr. Calder...

I hate to say this, but I've got to.

You're a very wealthy man.

You can't rule out the possibility of kidnapping.

Oh, I've thought of that, Mr. Mannix,

but there's been no phone call, no note, nothing.

Yeah, I guess you would have heard from them by now.

You know...

You know, when Lynn didn't phone the next day,

I-I called the motel.

And the clerk who answered said she wasn't registered,

that she'd never been there at all.

I argued with him, but he was positive.

Why didn't you call the police?

I did.

They sent a deputy both to the motel and to the riding stables.

They said there was no sign that she'd ever been to either place.

It's, it's as though she never existed.

Mr. Mannix, you find my daughter for me.

I'm, I'm terribly worried,

and... and I love her very much.

We're full up.

I'm not after a room; just some information.

Such as?

Well, uh... I'd like to talk to the man

that was on the desk Tuesday morning.

You're talking to him.

Can you tell me what time Miss Lynn Calder checked in?

She didn't.

Is your name, uh... Ken Bailey?

That's right.

Is that your signature verifying her reservation?

Don't mean nothing.

Some show and some don't.

Now, she called her father from here

Tuesday, about noon.

Like I said, she didn't show up.

One of your cottages called Santa Maria?

Yep.

Well, she told her father she was staying there.

Which ain't so.

There's been a painter working in there for a week,

and he's still there.

When you pay by the day, they take their time.

Now, look.

Last month, Lynn Calder filed her entry

for the horse show at the county fair.

It was accepted.

She wired here for a reservation and she was accepted.

She arrived here Tuesday morning,

driving a 1970 convertible

with a trailer and a horse,

and she made a call to Los Angeles at exactly noon.

Is that what she told her father?

That's right.

Yeah.

Some kids will tell their folks anything.

Yeah, and some people will tell anybody anything.

Now, you listen to me, young fella.

I'll tell you exactly what I told her father and that deputy.

No Miss Calder checked in here on Tuesday or any other day

with or without a horse!

Now, you got that?

Yeah, I got that, Mr. Bailey.

Now, if I may impose further on your good nature,

can you tell me where the nearest stable is?

Well, that would be The Hitching Post

about a mile down the road.

If you're figuring on boarding a horse, they're full up, too.

Hi, there.

Hi.

Hey, that's a beauty.

What's his name?

Name's Jingo. Real stepper. Yeah?

You think he could beat Moonfire?

Well, that depends on... - Jed!

Yes, sir?

You rub that horse down, you hear me?

Yes, sir.

Anything I can do for you?

You got a program of the fair I can look at?

In the office.

Yeah. Here.

Thank you.

Anything in particular you're looking for?

Yeah. There it is, Tennessee Walking Horse Class.

Miss Lynn Calder on Moonfire.

So?

Well, I was just wondering if maybe she kept her horse here.

What makes you think that?

Well, it happens to be the closest stable to Mission Motel.

She ain't there, either.

How do you know?

'Cause the deputy was here, too, asking for her.

And you haven't seen her?

No, sir, I haven't.

Now, tell me, how do you suppose a horse, a trailer and a girl

all vanish into thin air?

Beats me.

Oh, is that the list of the occupied stalls?

Mm-hmm.

I thought you were all full up.

How come this one is blank?

The horse ain't in yet.

I don't keep track of every hayburner

they stick in the stalls, I just rent out space.

Well, now, you must charge for the services, don't you?

I mean, you've got dates, names, things like that?

What if I do?

Well, I was wondering if I might take a look at them.

Nobody looks at my records.

Why? You got something to hide?

Mister, you're asking for trouble.

You're on my property, and I want you off

right now.

Sure. I was just leaving.

Yeah, thanks for the help.

There you are, sir.

My key, please.

Uh, yes, Mr. Mannix.

Have they cleaned up my room yet?

Oh, I'm sorry, but what with the fair and everything,

we're just swamped.

In other words, the lipstick is still on the bathroom glass.

Beg your pardon?

Never mind. Thanks.

Yeah?

Hello, Mr. Mannix.

You remember me?

Hitching Post Stables?

Yeah, I remember.

I couldn't talk to you... Reasons.

I had an idea.

I got something to tell you.

What?

Not here.

Boss is due back any second.

Okay, where do I meet you?

The Mopado Ironworks.

It's about ten miles out of town on the north road.

You'll see the sign.

How soon?

Half an hour.

I'll be there.

Okay.

Did I do it right.

You did just right.

Mr. Mannix.

I'm over here, Mr. Mannix.

All right, now what is it you had to tell me?

Well, I... Don't turn around, Mannix.

Put your hands on the bars with your feet spread apart.

Get out of town, Mannix.

Don't come back.

I've got a job to do first.

Your job is finished.

Yes, sir? May I help you, sir?

My key, please.

Are you registered here, sir?

Room 412.

412?

The one with the lipstick on the glass.

Let me check my register, please.

Uh-huh. I thought so.

412 is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. McKinney.

They never miss the fair.

Made the reservation a year ago.

Now look, I don't care what your records say,

I checked in here early this morning,

went up to the room and called L.A.

Then I went out again.

Oh, you must be mistaken, sir.

Now please, for heaven's sake, you're disturbing our guests.

Now you look, I want you to turn around

and give me the key to Room 412.

I'm sorry, sir, you are not registered here.

What's the trouble here?

This man claims he's registered here.

When I told him he must be mistaken,

well, you saw for yourself what happened.

You got any identification?

I was slugged and robbed less than an hour ago.

They took everything.

Oh, I see. Did you report it?

No.

You mean you've got no money, no identification,

nothing to prove who you are?

You mind if I make a phone call?

Did they leave you a dime?

Now look, my name is Joe Mannix,

and I've got a car parked out at the curb.

The owner's registration slip is on the steering post.

Uh, well, you could have stolen it.

You could check.

I will. Now, you coming along easy

or are you gonna make it hard on yourself?

You know there's a law that says I'm allowed one telephone call.

You show me the law, and I'll show you the phone.

Nick, Oh, Nick.

Your wife showed up to bail you out, Nick.

Oh, thanks.

Nick, how'd you like to make 50 bucks?

Oh, sure, I could buy a gun and shoot myself.

All you have to do is make one phone call, just one.

Where to?

Call my secretary. I'll give you the number.

Tell her where I am and to come and get me out.

You got it?

Gimme.

Oh, well, uh, I'll pay you the minute I'm out.

You could be in jail for life.

Look, all you're investing in is one phone call.

I'm not thinking of myself.

A girl's life depends on this.

And I can't help her as long as I'm in jail.

I've got to get out.

Okay, what's the number?

That won't be necessary, Mr. Mannix.

Come with me.

Let's go, Mannix.

Where to?

Just follow me.

No. This is as far as I go.

I've been slugged, robbed, and my identity's been wiped out.

I want to know why.

You'll be told why.

Come in.

Sit down.

Not until I make a phone call.

Sheriff!

If this man's hand touches that phone,

shoot him through the head.

Yes, sir.

Now, sit down.

We want you out of town, Mr. Mannix.

I got that impression.

I'm Mayor Lewis.

This is Mr. Hume, our leading banker,

and Mr. Crane is the president of our Chamber of Commerce.

Now look, Mayor, I'm a licensed investigator.

I'm here on legitimate business.

We don't care why you're here.

Just get out of town.

And if I don't?

You'll wish you had, I promise you.

Now simmer down, both of you.

Just do as we ask, Mr. Mannix,

and forget everything that's happened.

Gentlemen, I can think of a lot of places I'd rather be

than in your friendly little town.

But I took a job, and I don't intend to drop it

without a very good reason.

Believe it or not, Mr. Mannix, we're trying to do you a favor.

It seems I'm the only one here

that doesn't know what this is all about.

Mr. Mannix, if you don't leave, you'll be risking the life

of every man, woman and child in this town.

How?

Four days ago, an express freight train was stopped

just outside of town by five armed men.

They overwhelmed the crew and made off with some property

of the United States Army.

The following day, I received this.

"If you value the lives of the citizens of your town

"you will follow these instructions to the letter.

"One: You will not, repeat, not

"notify any outside authorities.

"Two: You will collect the sum of $1 million in unmarked bills.

"Three: You will deliver this sum to us

"after instructions to follow.

"Warning: If you fail to follow any of these directions,

"we will release the contents of the canister

at the moment you officially open the fair."

What was in the canister?

The train was carrying a shipment

of highly classified toxic material,

commonly known as "nerve gas,"

to an area where it would be harmlessly disposed of

in compliance with the recent order of the president.

Now I can't believe anyone

would carry through a threat like that.

They intend to.

Step by step.

You mean you've been in touch with them?

Every day.

They call.

Always at the same time, 3:00 sharp,

and turn the screw just a little tighter.

And you intend to pay them off?

Mr. Mannix, we all have families, children,

and there will be thousands of innocent people coming to the fair.

What do you expect us to do?

What makes you think you'll get what you pay for?

What makes you think they won't trigger that gas anyway?

Why should they?

Because something like this will set off

the biggest man-hunt in history.

Now their best chance for a getaway

is to create a disaster...

To cover up their tracks with dead bodies.

Believe me, Mr. Mannix, none of us has slept

since this happened.

We've gone over and over every alternative.

The consensus is... to pay.

Don't you see, we have no choice?

Yes.

Put him through.

Yes.

I'll give him the message.

If you're not out of town in an hour,

they won't wait for the fair.

My key.

Oh, yes, Mr. Mannix.

Oh, and I'm checking out.

Now that's a pretty neat trick, considering I was never here.

Leave your gun just where it is.

If you're here to escort me out of town, forget it.

I'm on my way.

I don't like it, but I'm pulling out, okay?

There may be some doubt about your leaving, Mannix.

Depends on the answers I get to a few questions.

Just who are you?

Okay, so your name is Lenz, and you're a federal agent.

Now why the gun?

I want to know why you came here,

why you were assaulted and thrown in jail

and why you're now being run out of town.

Well, let's just say that, uh,

it was a misunderstanding.

You've also been consulting with the mayor and the council

behind locked and guarded doors.

Now I want to know why.

Sorry, I can't answer that.

Well, you think it over, Mannix.

No hurry.

I've got all the time in the world.

And if I need someone to spell me,

I've got plenty of help,

right here in this hotel as a matter of fact.

Now look, I'd like to cooperate, but I can't.

And if you don't let me get out of town right away,

you may buy yourself a bigger problem

than you were looking for.

I'll have to be the judge of that.

Now, why don't you call down to the desk

and tell them you've changed your mind about leaving?

I gave the mayor my word.

I guess you're not gonna give me a choice, huh?

Okay.

I came here to find a missing girl.

Her name is Lynn Calder.

Her father, Carl Calder, lives in Bel Air.

You can check that out.

Now that's why I'm here.

The rest of it, the hijacking and the nerve gas

was strictly out of left field.

Hey, wait a minute. How'd you find out about that?

Not one word of it's been released to the public.

Let me sweeten that up for you.

That canister's being used

to squeeze a million dollars out of this town.

How?

Under threat of releasing that nerve gas

at the opening of the fair in less than 48 hours.

Are you telling me the truth?

Mm.

That'd be mass slaughter.

Is there any defense against it?

Total evacuation of everyone within a radius of ten miles.

Well, you'd better get started.

Nah, it'd never work.

An airport that can't even land a DC3?

Thousands of cars trying to pile out of town

on a single main highway?

You know what one flat tire would do, Mannix?

One vapor lock?

No, I've seen what happens

to decent average people when they start to panic.

You can't just stand by and let it happen.

No, we're gonna find that canister

if we have to tear this whole town apart.

Before the fair opens?

That would seem to be desirable.

Now wait a minute!

You could blow this deal wide open.

This town promised not to call in any outsiders.

They even levered me out of town!

What you do is your own business, Mannix.

Now give me room 212, please.

Our concern's with national security.

We don't make any deals on that.

Hello, Barney.

This is Lenz. We all meet in five minutes.

Mr. Mannix.

All right, now what?

I'm leaving town like I promised.

May I see your driver's license, please?

What do you want? I'm following instructions.

Play along. Act sore.

This is the only way I can talk to you

in case we're being watched...

and I think we are.

Mannix, I don't go along with pampering criminals.

So?

So that council didn't tell you everything

at that meeting.

Like what?

Like the hijackers are holding the Calder girl.

Yeah, I figured as much.

Anything else?

Yeah, you had a long-distance phone call from Los Angeles.

Who was it?

I don't know. Check with Operator 245.

She said it was an emergency.

Thanks.

Don't mention it.

And I mean don't mention it!

Sign right there, please.

Hey, you threw the book at me.

Had to make it look real, didn't I?

Thank you, Mr. Mannix.

Operator.

Operator, this is LAKG-62114.

Get me Operator 245 in Los Angeles.

This is Operator 245.

This is Joe Mannix. Do you have a phone call for me?

Yes, sir. Mr. Carl Calder's been trying to reach you.

Hold on, sir, and I'll connect you.

Mannix?

Yeah, speaking.

I have wonderful news.

Well, I could use some.

Lynn is home.

What?

She's home safe and sound.

That's all we ever wanted, wasn't it,

to get your daughter back home?

There's only one problem:

I don't believe it.

Mr. Mannix, it doesn't really matter what you believe.

Do you mind if I talk to her?

I, uh, I don't want to wake her.

She's completely worn out.

Now, You wouldn't have to wake her, Mr. Calder.

I'd just like to see for myself that she's all right.

Would you mind showing me to her room?

I, uh, I-I couldn't do that.

Because she isn't upstairs, is she?

They got to you, didn't they, Mr. Calder.

They put the squeeze on you to get me out of their hair.

Mr. Calder, do you honestly believe that you've

bought back your daughter's life by taking me off the case?

The men you're dealing with have a million dollars

riding on this caper!

They won't give your daughter a second thought!

Now all you've done is bought back a couple of days!

Don't say that!

They can't afford to let her live to identify them!

No.

Mr. Calder, by taking me off of the case,

you've played right into their hands.

Don't you realize what you've done?

You've signed your daughter's death sentence.

If I go back, they'll kill the girl.

But if I don't,

I'll never be able to live with myself.

Well, there's always a chance

the federal agents will find the canister in time.

Yeah, well, either way, it's a mess.

Why?

Because if they do find the canister,

those hijackers will definitely cut and run

and leave a corpse behind... Lynn Calder.

Smells like the coffee's ready.

Sit down. I'll get it.

Better stay off of that knee.

Football, at your age?!

It was touch football.

Toby and his friends.

There must be an angle.

I just haven't thought of it.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Collect?

From whom?

The operator says you have a call from someone

that threw the book at you.

Does that make sense?

Put him on.

We'll accept the call, Operator.

Mannix.

Mannix? I've got to talk fast.

I'm due back at headquarters.

Go on.

I thought you ought to know

that some hunters found the body of a man in the woods.

He's been dead three days.

Kicked in the head by a horse.

Go ahead.

A routine check turned up a criminal record

and a lead to the men he usually worked with.

You have their names?

Yeah, I sent a copy to you.

Anything else?

Yeah, the clincher.

We just got our instructions on how to deliver the money.

And the payoff's tomorrow, early.

That's it.

Thanks.

My bag still packed?

I haven't touched it.

I just figured out a way to get back in the case.

How?

By acting as a go-between for the ransom money.

All I have to do is sell the idea to three men

who aren't buying anything.

Say, uh, how do you get up into that tower up there?

Why? What have you got?

Well, we got an order to install a couple speakers.

What for?

So the people can hear the mayor's speech.

It's the first stairway on the left.

But I'll bet you it's the same speech

he made last year and the year before.

A million bucks.

Somehow you always think it'll make a bigger pile.

20 of our leading citizens

each made out a check for $50,000.

Yes?

Put him on.

Yes?

Yes, we have the money right here.

Mannix will deliver it as agreed upon.

What about the girl?

Uh, is the Calder girl safe?

I see.

Yes, he'll be there at 11:00.

I am following orders.

To the letter!

What'd they say about the girl?

They'll let her go right after the pickup

and just before they leave town.

I hope they mean that.

I just hope we never regret allowing you

to act as our messenger.

Did you make all the arrangements?

Yeah, we're all set.

The helicopter pilot's one of our own men.

And we've got this town covered, every approach and every exit.

I'm still not sure I like your plan.

It's too risky.

If anything were to go wrong...

Do you have a better plan, Your Honor?

Now where do I go?

Uh, you'd better have a look at the map.

There's the spot. Dawson's Meadow.

Howdy. Hi.

Uh, you mind backing up a bit, mister?

You're right in our sight line.

Anyplace back by that jeep will be fine.

You fellas gonna be long?

Just as long as it takes to get the job done.

Mm.

Just act nice and natural.

That's a nice-looking piece of luggage.

He's clean.

Aren't you gonna count it?

I don't have to.

We've got the girl, remember?

If this adds up to a million, she goes free.

Mannix, I'll take those keys.

Relax.

Enjoy the scenery.

Calling Mannix.

Calling Mannix. Do you read me?

Mannix here. Do you see them?

Yeah, we've got them.

All right, stay high, but don't lose them.

Attention all units!

Subject approaching warehouse with skylight roof.

Repeat: subject approaching warehouse with skylight roof.

I gotta hand it to you; you come off okay.

I told you there'd be a few problems,

but everything's gonna work out okay.

All we gotta do is not attract any attention

to ourselves, get out of town nice and quiet,

and nobody'll ever know the difference.

What about her?

I say we leave her.

I say you let me take care of it.

Why don't you wait out in the car?

I'll take care of her.

What for? We've got it made. Why buy more heat?

MAN 1 Look, she opened up her mouth,

and that million dollars will pave your way

right to the gas chamber, and his, mine and every one of us.

What is she gonna open her mouth about?

She's gonna say that we're four guys.

Who are the four guys?

She never saw them before.

She's never gonna see them again.

You think she can forget a mug like that

and this and this? What, are you kidding me?

So what? By that time, we're out of the country.

There won't be a thing that they can do.

We'll get away from here... Just hold it right there!

All right, you, untie her.

Don't be a fool, Mannix.

That tank is set to go off,

and it will unless we tell you where it is and how to stop it.

Now, either you make a deal with us,

or you're responsible for the death of this whole town!

Over here, Miss Calder.

You all right?

Yes.

Okay, now the rest of you outside!

Come on, move!

All of you inside, we have the place surrounded!

Come out with your hands up!

Stay down!

Okay, Mannix,

you take me in, and that tank goes off on schedule.

Is that what you want?

Or do we make a deal?

I'm not taking you in.

What does that mean?

It means we go into town and we watch the parade.

Are you...?!

That thing is set to go off!

What time?

Noon!

Where is it?

Do we make a deal?

Now you're gonna show me where it is

or I drop you off on Main Street

and you choke to death right in the middle of that parade!

You'd go... You'd go, too.

I'm betting you want to keep breathing.

Now let's go!

Give me that dime!

Tell me what to do!

Turn those four bolts to your left.

Now what?

Unscrew that cylinder.

What next?

What next?!

Take that cylinder out very carefully.

Disconnect the batteries.