Original subtitles

[crowd chatter]

[cheering]

-It just seemed like a funny place to make a funeral

arrangement.

Well, I guess she would inherit everything he owned.

-Why did I have to hear about this on the news?

-Don't feel bad.

It could happen to anybody.

-He'll make another $2 million the first year.

COLUMBO [OFFSCREEN]: It's also my problem to find somebody

who might even have a motive to kill Mr. Wagner.

[clatter]

COLUMBO [OFFSCREEN]: You looking for something?

-Columbo, I'm going to throw you out of here on your ear!

-I mean, you'll miss the best part.

[music playing]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Hello, everybody, from Los Angeles,

the jam-packed Coliseum on a brilliant, sunshiny day.

Welcome to professional football!

And, oh, what a game this is going to

be, ladies and gentlemen.

Both teams have finished their warm-ups.

Both coaches have finalized their game plans.

And yours truly and an old buddy, that old linebacker,

Virgil Tower, is here with all the action.

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: It's the final meeting of the season

between the local Rockets and the powerful Pioneers--

JIMMY [OFFSCREEN]: Good afternoon, Mr. Hanlon.

-It's Jimmy, isn't it?

You should have called the office.

I won't be having any people this afternoon.

-Oh, well, I thought maybe Mr. Wagner might be bringing by

some people.

-Well, you're new in the organization, kid.

Eric Wagner owns the team, but football's not his game.

-Well, would you like a drink, sir?

-Well, let's see.

There's, uh, tomato juice in the icebox?

-Yes, sir.

-OK, why don't you get yourself an empty seat?

Or take your girl to the movies or something?

I won't need you at all this afternoon.

-Gee, thanks, Mr. Hanlon.

-Right.

-There's plenty of ice in there, sir.

-OK, you scoot, now.

-Yes, sir.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: --be able to stop last year's Pro Bowl

sensation, Mike Dobbs.

-Uh, lock that one on the way out.

-Yes, sir.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: --looks like somebody's planning to march

right on into that Super Bowl.

Let's listen to some music.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Hey, say, you mentioned Dobbs.

Now, there's quite a story about that

courageous young man.

His right leg's been broken four times.

[phone rings]

[phone rings]

-[clears throat]

Yeah?

-Eric?

Eric, is that you?

-Ah, I'm not sure.

Oh, what a night.

-You're not still in bed?

Of all the--

[clears throat]

at least, you're alone, aren't you?

-Hm.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, listen, Paul, I got to tell you.

[chuckles]

That--

that chick that you put me on to?

She brought her little sister along.

-Look, will you ge-- get yourself out of there?

And dunk yourself in some coffee.

And get out to the pool, you hear me?

-Now, hold it, Hanlon.

I'll do whatever I want.

-Kid, this is an emergency.

I stopped by the travel agency and picked up our tickets.

We're on our way to Montreal at 6:30.

ERIC WAGNER [OFFSCREEN]: We're what?

-If we move fast enough, I can still pin down that hockey

franchise for you.

I've been on the horn to the Canadians--

-What am I going to do with another sports franchise?

Anyway, hockey's for penguins.

-You'll make another $2 million the first year, kid.

I guarantee it.

-Who needs it?

Look.

Let's put the money into, uh, something constructive.

-Now, look.

You just get yourself out of there and haul it to the pool.

Get in and get a workout.

I don't want you daydreaming when we get to Canada.

I need your signature, kid.

-Hey, look.

Hold it, Hanlon.

I'm going to fire you one of these days.

Next time you call me "kid," you've had it!

-Well, son, this isn't for me.

I just work here.

It's for your dad, remember?

Biggest sports empire in the world, that's all he ever

dreamed of.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah, Paul.

I don't need to hear that again.

All right.

6:30, I'll be ready.

What's all that noise?

Oh, you're at the game.

-Sure, kid.

I'm minding your store, as usual.

I'll talk to you later.

-Yeah.

Bye.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Now what are all those figures, Virgil?

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Well, these are the stats on the

first meeting between these two teams.

The score was 29 to 28, remember, with the Pioneers--

[phone rings]

-Yeah?

-I want Rizzo.

-[chuckles]

This is me.

It's Rizzo, Paul.

What's on your-- hey, look, you know the game is just

about ready to start.

-I've got eyes!

Rizzo, I want you up here at halftime!

RIZZO [OFFSCREEN]: Oh, yeah?

why?

-I don't like your game plan, that's why.

I may make some changes in the second half.

-You may make some changes?

Listen, Paul.

Come on, we settled all this last night.

-Last night's last night.

Today, we got to win this one!

-All right.

But I'm not going to start Ludden, if that's what you're

getting at.

Now, you know what the doc said, his bad knees.

-I don't care about his knees.

What do you think of that?

RIZZO [OFFSCREEN]: Han, I'm going with the long game.

-Use the long game if you have to, as long as it works.

-Listen, Paul.

Who the--

I mean, what do you mean, calling me up like this,

right, right before a kickoff?

-Rizzo, I'll call you anytime I feel like it.

And get this straight!

You can't make up your mind on third down, you call me on the

field phone.

I'll make your decisions.

-[MIMICS BUTLER] Oh, yes, sir, Mr. Hanlon, sir.

Mr. Paul Hanlon, yes, sir.

You--

Who the--

Hmph.

Here.

-What's this for?

-Shove it up the field telephone!

Huh.

[cheering]

[cheering]

[clock bell rings]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: And there they were, their backs against

the wall on their own 47-yard line.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: And that's what happens.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Thank you, Virgil,

for a brilliant analysis.

But that was last time.

Today, is another Sunday, fans.

Today, all holds are barred.

Today, we'll find out who's really the

best in this division.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, from the Coliseum in Los

Angeles, our national anthem.

[MUSIC - "STAR-SPANGLED BANNER"]

[applause]

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Two weeks ago, he made that beautiful

game-saving tackle of Murdoch in the last five seconds to

put these Rockets right where they ought to be.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: And here go, Jefferson approaches the ball.

[cheers]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: And taken by Dudley.

Goes right and then cuts back to the left.

But the Pioneers are at him.

And down he goes under a whole host of white shirts.

It'll be 1st and 10 for the Rockets on their own.

Let's make it the 28-yard line.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Did you notice how fast old Billy

Murphy got down there, Tom?

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: I sure did.

He's one of the best on those special teams.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Yeah, we'll be watching him a lot

this afternoon, along with Sandusky, 14 tackles, 10

assists last week for the pair of them.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: All right, they're out of the huddle.

Sedovich is wide.

First play of the game, fans, 38-yard line.

Rockets' ball.

[cheering]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Down he goes, back at the 33-yard line.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: You know, it-- it didn't even look like

he was looking for a receiver.

Do you, Tom?

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Loss of 5 yards, 2nd down, 15.

Jones over the ball.

Dunkel barks them out.

Snapped to old number 11.

This one's going to be a pass.

Intercepted by number 33!

And, oh!

He's long gone!

Down the right sideline!

35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown!

35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown!

35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown!

[busy signal]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Mason has him and sacks him.

They bury him!

Four Pioneers all over him this time.

So back--

ERIC WAGNER [OFFSCREEN]: Hold it..

Listen, I placed the order for that juice 20 minutes ago.

I, uh, I need reviving, man.

All right.

All right, hey, stick in a couple of little

half-pints, will you?

For, uh, travel size, all right?

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Drops back.

Rockets need to get on the scoreboard.

It's in the air.

And Mazlowski, number 25, has it at the 35.

And he's tackled at the 38.

Sanders at quarterback now.

Drops back.

Rockets need to get on the scoreboard.

It's in the air.

And they wrestle for it!

Neither one gets it.

The ball bounces off out into the end zone.

Might be interference.

And it is!

It's on the 2-yard line!

[phone rings]

-Hello.

HANLON [OFFSCREEN]: Yeah, Eric.

It's Paul again.

-What's the matter?

You afraid I'd fall back asleep?

-[laughs]

Hey, kid, I'm sorry I was a little hard on you.

I was just calling to see if you want me to pick you up.

There's no sense in taking two cars to the airport.

-Well, you're our leader.

What are you doing now?

Playing right tackle?

-Uh, I got the radio on here in the box.

I guess it's a little loud.

-Yeah.

So how are my gladiators doing?

-They're getting murdered.

Listen, is your head clear yet?

-Hm, clear as mud.

I'm out by the pool now.

-Are you in it yet?

-Will 20 more laps satisfy you?

I told you I'd be ready, didn't I?

Now, get off my back, Hanlon.

Pick me up at 5:30.

You got that?

[music playing]

-Hey, Mister!

Stop, I want an ice cream!

Please stop!

Mister, stop!

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

-Paul, how'd you get here?

What are you doing wearing that--

ugh!

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Pioneers' ball.

Hands off to Old Faithful, number 44, Billy Tarr.

But it's a big 63 coming up.

And they're both down in the bottom of a pile.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: There's not too much

left in this half.

Well, there's maybe time for a few more plays.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: And here they come, Pioneers break out of

the huddle.

2nd and 7.

Defense is deep.

They're looking for the pass.

Here's the count.

Ball handed off to Burgess in number 20.

Hold on!

There's a fumble.

[cheering]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Time perhaps for the Rockets to make one

more attempt to get on that scoreboard before halftime.

It would be a great psychological boost.

Sanders, again at quarterback.

The ball is snapped.

Play action fake, straight up the middle.

Not enough.

A great play, a great call.

But it just didn't work.

This first half at the Coliseum in

Los Angeles is over.

[music playing]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Well, as expected, fans, a great first

half of football.

And as usual, a spectacle down on that playing field.

Here at halftime, the bands, all the great colors, these

youngsters marching.

-All right, Mr. Hanlon?

Paul?

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Take a look at that little girl down

there, uh, if we can get a camera on her.

Uh, take a look at that.

Boy, she's a pretty one, huh?

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Listen, uh, Virg, uh.

You've got an eye for the ladies, we all know that.

We had a good time Monday.

Now, come to think of it--

-Coach?

-Yeah?

-There's nobody answering your field phone.

I've been trying to reach you.

-Yes, I know.

So we trail them by a few points.

I'm still not going to take a chance, put Ludden in there

with his bad knees.

-OK, Rizzo.

Let's skip the whole thing.

I had a couple of plays, would have worked better than yours.

-[chuckles]

Oh, yeah.

-But I can't do everybody's job.

And I know it.

I'll stick to what we agreed on last night.

You run your team.

-Good.

-I got bigger fish to fry.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: And obviously these men are smelling that--

that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

They're hitting as if there's no tomorrow.

Rockets' ball.

Break huddle.

New ball game, fans, this half.

But the Rockets are moving again.

Here's the count.

Yodel in motion.

Miller wide left.

Snapped to Ransky.

Takes the handoff.

Oh, and--

-Over here, Lieutenant.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: --Shakes one man, two.

Breaks another tackle, twists away.

And here comes Shays to cut him down at the 45-yard line.

In fact, I don't think he quite made it for that first

down, did he, Virg?

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Well, it was a pretty fast whistle,

there.

-They've been waiting for you by the pool.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: All right, here's the play.

Second down, Rockets.

3 yards to go.

Rockets break huddle.

Handoff to Phelps.

Drives straight ahead.

Wait a minute.

Fumbles!

-Uh, I just wanted to hear the end of that play.

I just got here, Sergeant.

-Sir, the, uh, deputy coroner is all ready to leave.

He needs your OK to remove the body.

-[grunts]

Sunday afternoon.

-This shouldn't take you long, Lieutenant.

-I hope not.

What happened here anyway?

-The decedent's name is Wagner, owns this place.

The delivery boy from the liquor store found him

floating in the pool at 2:50 PM.

Fished him out.

Yelled to the neighbor for help.

They couldn't revive him.

Called the police in a big panic.

-Lieutenant, I've got some guests waiting for me at home.

-Oh, sorry, Doc.

I got here as fast as I could.

-Where were you?

At the golf course?

-No.

No, my wife went bowling.

And I was sort of testing out this new hammock

listening to the game.

Then I ran into this Sunday--

-Yeah, well, uh, you want to take a look?

-You said somebody was in a big panic?

-The neighbor.

-What did you say?

The neighbor?

-The neighbor.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: It's another one of those crucial plays.

Third down, 2 yards to go.

-Lots of blood.

And here, a severe concussion.

You see that?

-They make it?

-Yeah.

-Uh, what time do you think this thing happened, Doc?

-Oh, he's been dead about an hour now.

Let's, uh, put it around, uh, 2:30.

OK, we're going now?

-No, listen, Doc, I kind of like--

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: The ball is snapped.

He still drives for it.

One, two, and they're untangling now.

Pretty good game.

-[clap]

Uh, I'd kind of like to know a little bit more about what

happened here.

-Why?

It's a false alarm, Lieutenant.

-Well, how do you know that?

-Well, look over there.

From the water that splashed on the decking, he must have

been diving.

He slipped on the board.

And that contusion would have knocked him unconscious.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: --a 5-yard penalty.

DOC [OFFSCREEN]: All right, boys.

-How do you know it happened on the board?

I mean, there's water up around the steps, too.

-The board, the steps, the bottom of the pool.

What difference does it make?

He was knocked out.

And he was drowned.

That's all.

I've seen it a dozen times.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: 30 yards on the play.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: That's another big third coming up,

though.

-You're going to, uh, do an autopsy, aren't you?

-We have to, Lieutenant.

It's routine, remember?

Or maybe you've forgotten.

-I think he may be right, Lieutenant.

Detective there in the house says the same thing.

-Well, as long as I'm here, I better see

anybody who was in there.

-There isn't anybody, Lieutenant, except maybe the

delivery boy and the neighbor.

-You mean, a house like this, there are no servants?

-Couldn't find any.

-Send the detective out.

-Yes, sir.

-Officer, is there a gardener?

-Wagner had a party last night, Lieutenant.

I'm Sgt. Clemens, sir.

-What was that?

A party?

-Pretty good one, too, I guess.

You see, the neighbor said Wagner's wife is out of town,

some place.

So maybe Wagner let the servants go for

a while, and, uh--

you know what I mean?

You've read about Eric Wagner, haven't you?

-Eric?

You mean, the one whose father used to own the football?

You mean, that's who this was?

-Kid still owned it, I think.

Paul Hanlon.

You must have heard of him.

He's the general manager or something.

-Yeah.

I was just listening to the game.

-Sir, I'd like to release the delivery boy, you know, and

the neighbor.

-No.

I mean, yes, as soon as you get their statements.

But I want a full team out here.

I want prints and pictures, the whole inside of the house.

Oh, and the diving board and the pool coping all around.

Your name is Clemens?

I'll leave you in charge of that.

I'll be in touch.

-Uh, yes, sir.

But--- but where are you going, sir?

-Uh, to the football game.

[music playing]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Wide left this time.

A handoff to Ransky again.

Blockers in front of him.

5 yards across the 40, the 35.

And he's down at the 31-yard line.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Well, with that holding penalty, of

course, they're still way short of the first down.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: But here comes that

talented toe from Sweden.

Yes, here comes Swenson.

The fans love him.

Fourth down.

His club needs 3 points.

3 points to tie.

It's all up to the old Swede now.

[knocking on door]

-It's a private box, Mister.

-Well, I knocked.

You are Mr. Paul Hanlon, aren't you?

I've seen your pictures in the newspaper.

-I'm busy now.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: The score is tied!

-Tied it up!

-Who are you?

What do you want?

-Uh, Lt.

Columbo, sir, LAPD.

-Police?

-I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, Mr. Hanlon.

And since we can't locate Mrs. Wagner--

well, Eric Wagner was found dead a little while ago in the

swimming pool.

-Eric?

-Sorry, sir.

-Oh, no, no.

[grunts]

But I just talked to him.

-You did?

-Yeah, about a couple hours ago, I guess.

I called him from here before the game.

And I called him again a little time later.

We're supposed to fly to Montreal tonight, 6:30.

Wait a minute, I don't get this.

Look, uh, Eric was by the pool.

He was alone as far as I could tell.

And he's a terrific swimmer.

What--

-Oh, it was-- looked like a typical accident, sir.

There was this bump on his head.

Anyway, we're trying to locate his wife.

And there were no servants in the house.

-There weren't?

-No, sir.

And it's my understanding, at least from the newspapers,

that you're like one of the family.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

OK, Lieutenant.

I'll--

I'll come right over.

Uh, Shirley's in Acapulco.

She went down about a week ago.

Some kind of charity function.

[exhales sharply]

I'll contact her.

I'll talk to her myself.

Thank you.

-Don't worry, sir.

I won't bother her with any questions just yet.

Nor you either, for that matter.

-What questions?

-Oh, well.

It looked like Mr. Wagner had some kind of a party out there

last night.

-I don't think that's any concern of yours, Lieutenant,

any more than it is mine.

Now, you've done your duty, that's enough, isn't it?

-Well, I did kind of wonder about the pool service.

By any chance, you don't happen to know whether they

come to the Wagner house on Sundays?

-I don't know of any pool service that works

on Sunday at all.

Why?

-Oh, there was just this water around the pool decking.

-Well, that's normal for there to be water around

a pool, isn't it?

-Yes, sir.

[clock bell rings]

-But not fresh water.

No chlorine in it.

-So his death was an accident.

There must be some simple explanation.

-Well, that's why I said it looked like an accident, sir,

because if someone had used a hose around there, like, to

maybe hide something or make it look like

Mr. Wagner was diving?

Well, that's my problem, sir.

I sure don't want to bother you with that now.

[sighs]

[door shuts]

-Coach Rizzo?

Coach Rizzo?

Excuse me, I'm looking for Mr. Rizzo?

-I'm, uh, Coach Rizzo, yeah.

Who are you?

-Uh, got a minute?

-Yeah, sure.

What can I do for you?

-My name is Lt.

Columbo.

Uh, I've got some bad news for you, sir.

Eric Wagner drowned this afternoon in his pool by the

house.

-Eric--

huh?

-Yeah.

-Oh.

Oh, no, the--

what a poor boy.

-Sorry to bring you such bad news, sir.

-Huh?

-Like everybody that reads the sports page, I was aware that

you were very close to Eric's father when the man was alive,

so I figured you want to know.

-Yes, uh, that's right, I was.

He's a poor boy.

[breathes deeply]

Never did anything right, of course, you know.

I mean, according to his father's standards.

The old man always wanted him to be a big-time quarterback,

professional, touchdown, rah, rah.

[sigh]

So what happens?

Poor kid winds up as a would-be,

half-baked swinger type.

-Maybe you could fill me in there, sir?

I couldn't help noticing his name pop up in some of these

scandal columns now and then.

Or was there anything to that?

-Oh, come on, Lieutenant.

The kid sowed a couple of wild oats, uh, like anybody it's--

why do you asking me all these questions?

-Well, uh, [clears throat]

I happen to be from Homicide.

-Homicide?

But you said the boy drowned in the pool, had an accident.

-Oh, just routine, sir.

We investigate everything.

Actually, I would have asked us Mr. Hanlon

some of these questions.

But he's a very busy man and excitable fellow.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

Busy.

Excitable.

This was one of his days.

Dive for the bomb shelters, if you--

-What did you say, sir?

-[chuckles]

I'm sorry, Lieutenant, that's a bad joke.

I--

I suppose it's his privilege sometimes to--

-You mean, Mr. Hanlon was sort of upset today?

-Yeah, yeah, you could say he was sort of upset.

He called me up on the field from the owner's box, you

know, up on top of the stadium just before the game

was about to start.

Chewed me out something awful.

So at halftime, I scooted up there.

I was going to give him a piece of my mind.

I get up there.

And, well, you know, he was all right.

Everything seemed to be just fine--

-Hm.

-He--

-Gee, I didn't think we did that good

during the first half.

Uh, no offense, sir.

Oh.

Uh, I wanted to ask you a question about Mr. Hanlon.

I read some of the publicity.

Now, he is very new here with the Rockets, isn't he?

-No, not that new, really.

He was a PR man first when he came here.

You know, public relations?

And then about two years ago, when Mr. Wagner died, well,

Eric didn't know anything about running a ball club, so

he got Hanlon to come in and take over, run the business

for him.

-So Hanlon just stepped in.

-[chuckles]

No, he didn't just step in.

Don't go getting any bright ideas, Lieutenant, will you?

Look, maybe I'm not the biggest fan of Paul Hanlon.

But let me tell you this, he's one of the sharpest, shrewdest

general managers in this business.

Put this club on its feet, he got another basketball

franchise, built a couple of stadiums.

He made the kid a couple of million dollars.

And, uh, were the best of friends.

-Really?

-Yeah, really.

And that goes for just about everybody else

around here, too.

-What do you mean by that, sir?

-What I mean is you're wasting your time.

Look, I grant you, I don't say Eric was the

greatest in many things.

But he was a--

ah, he was an all right kid.

I don't know anybody, anybody in the--

in the whole world who would want to see him dead.

[music playing]

MS. JOHNSON [OFFSCREEN]: He's been so busy late-- no, he

hasn't talked to anyone all day.

No, sir.

The funeral arrangements aren't being

announced just yet.

Yes, Mr. Hanlon will make an announcement when it's

appropriate.

Thank you, sir.

-Pardon.

Excuse me--

-Well, just leave it.

Just leave them right there.

That's fine.

Oh, do I have to sign?

[phone rings]

-Wagner residence.

Hold a moment please?

-I, I was looking for the housekeeper.

-Oh, I'm afraid she's busy with Mr. Hanlon.

She just got here herself.

And she's quite upset.

So I don't think--

-Well, I'm Walter Cunnell.

I was Eric Wagner's lawyer.

I was his father's attorney and best friend

for about 40 years.

-Oh, please, sir.

I am sorry.

You see, I'm new in the office.

And well, I replaced Ms. Babcock.

And she was only there for a couple days.

So I--

I really haven't gotten everybody's name straight yet.

-Oh, now, now.

That's nothing to worry about.

That's all right.

-Oh, that's fine.

Right over there.

-But, uh, whose office, uh--

-Pardon?

-Well, the-- the office that you were new in, whose-- whose

office is that?

-Oh, Mr. Hanlon's.

-Mr. Hanlon's, oh.

-You can go now, thank you.

-Oh, no.

I just helped him carry it in, ma'am.

I'm from the police, Lt.

Columbo.

[phone rings]

-Oh.

Wagner residence, hold please.

Well, Mr. Hanlon said he just wouldn't be able to see you

for a while, sir, so--

-No problem.

I don't mind waiting.

-Lieutenant, uh, what are you doing here?

-Well, actually, sir, we've had a little trouble locating

Mrs. Wagner.

We've checked all the hotels in Acapulco.

-That's so funny.

Of course, Shirley is a bit of a whirling dervish, on every

committee there is.

Very sociable.

-Uh, sir?

-Yes?

-You don't mind if I ask you a personal question, do you?

-No.

-What did you pay for those shoes?

-I think about, uh, $60.

-I stepped into some water yesterday.

I've ruined mine.

You don't know where I could get a pair that looks like

that for around $16 or $17?

-$16 or $17?

Sorry, I, I, I don't really, Lieutenant.

-Thank you.

-Walter, I didn't know you were here.

You should have come on into the study.

-I didn't want to disturb you, Paul.

I thought you might be inside negotiating something.

-Uh, this doesn't seem to be the time or the place to air

bad grievances between you and me, Walter.

-Why didn't you call me this afternoon?

Why did I have to hear about this on the news?

-I really wasn't sure you were back from Washington--

-[phone rings]

-Wagner residence.

What?

Oh, it's you again, Ms. Rakoczy.

Well, wait a minute.

-Walter, you shouldn't get yourself into an uproar.

You know that's bad for your ulcer.

-Where's Shirley?

-She's on her way.

I've spoken to her.

Uh, look, I know this must be very unpleasant for you, so--

-Uh, sir, it's a Ms. Ro--

Ms. Rakoczy.

-I can't take any calls--

-She's called four times.

---now, honey.

-She says it's quite urgent.

-I told you, no calls today.

I don't have time, not till tomorrow.

Got it?

MS. JOHNSON [OFFSCREEN]: Ms. Rakoczy, he says he just can't

talk to you till tomorrow.

HANLON [OFFSCREEN]: Walter, you're going to

have to excuse me.

That's all there is to it.

I mean, there's nothing left to be done

that needs to be done.

Uh, Shirley will be back tomorrow.

And that's it.

-Lieutenant, it's for you.

-I left the number, excuse me.

Lt.

Columbo.

Not a think, huh?

Well, what about the autopsy?

I see.

Thank you very much.

-Lieutenant, if you need me, I'll be back in my apartment

in about two hours.

I've got to finish the funeral arrangements.

-Well, I did want to ask you, sir.

You don't mind if I bring another lab crew in here first

thing in the morning, to kind of recheck everything?

-Uh, whatever you want.

So long, Walter.

-Sure knows how to take charge, doesn't he?

-Lieutenant, what is all this?

Autopsy, lab crews.

-Well, just part of a routine murder investigation, sir.

Excuse me.

-Murder?

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

P.A. ANNOUNCER [OFFSCREEN]: Will Mr. David North please

report to the TransGlobal ticket counter?

Will Mr. David North please report to the TransGlobal

ticket counter?

Ms. Renee Widdel, please go to the nearest

red courtesy telephone.

Ms. Renee Widdel, please go to the nearest

red courtesy telephone.

-Can't talk to you now.

Have to call you back.

Columbo!

What are you doing?

You following me?

-Well, sir, it just seemed like a funny place to make a

funeral arrangement.

You know, you sort of caught me by surprise back there.

I mean, making that telephone call right after you told the

girl back at the house you didn't have time to talk to

anybody.

-That's why I was on the phone.

I was calling off a meeting in Montreal for tomorrow.

I forgot about it earlier.

I don't know why.

-Well, you have to be terribly upset by

everything that's happened.

I can understand that.

Anyway, when you turned off at the airport,

naturally I was curious.

-All right!

Lieutenant, I am meeting Mrs. Wagner's plane

in just a few minutes.

-[breathes deeply]

You know, I kind of thought that's what it might be.

Uh, I just couldn't figure out how she could have

gotten here so soon.

I mean, all the way from Acapulco.

You see, we checked the airline flights--

-I chartered a special flight for her.

-Boy, you really know how to get things done, sir.

-I'm sorry, Lieutenant, I couldn't tell you about it

back at the house, not with all those--

the last thing in the world that Shirley needs now is any

of that bleeding-heart sympathy from Walter Cunnell.

-I can appreciate that, sir.

-I don't want any of those newspaper

people after her, either.

Not till she's had a good night's sleep.

-I understand, sir.

You could be a big help to me, sir, if you just fill me in

with certain details.

Do you think you could do that?

-Well, if you can be brief, Lieutenant.

-I'll certainly try, sir.

I want to be delicate about this, but, uh, I have wondered

about the kind of marriage that the Wagners had.

I mean, in the light of the kind of party that Eric threw

there last night.

-Ah, Mr. Columbo, that boy was like a kid brother to me.

But I couldn't straighten him out.

He was a baby.

He just never grew up.

Shirley understood about that for the better part

of a year, I guess.

She was way out of his class.

They both knew it.

They knew it.

Both of them.

But unfortunately, she could never bring herself to break

off with him.

-Sounds like quite a woman.

-She is.

-Uh, you don't happen to know-- well, I guess, she

would inherit everything he owns, wouldn't she?

-What the hell is this anyway, exactly?

Why follow me?

-It's just that things are happening so fast, sir.

And I thought maybe you'd want to be brought up to date.

Like that autopsy report, I just got it on the phone.

Incidentally, you never asked me about that.

I thought you would.

I guess it slipped your mind.

-No, it didn't slip my mind.

There was going to ask about because there was

nothing new, was there?

-No, sir, there wasn't.

-Lieutenant, you're going find this was an accidental death.

And if, God forbid, it's anything else, then it was one

of those crazy, hippie girls he was mixed up with.

-You see, that's another thing I wanted to

tell you about, sir.

We located every girl that was at that party.

There are no leads there at all.

Nothing.

So it looks to me like, uh, we're just going to have to

look to someone else.

-What does that mean?

-Well, you see, we turned up a neighbor's kid who reported

seeing a Ding-A-Ling ice cream truck in the area around 2:30.

That's just about when Mr. Wagner would have died.

-I don't--

so what?

-So I have to thank my wife, for one, because

she's mad at everybody.

She's even mad at the ice cream man.

Why does the ice cream truck have to come just before lunch

or just before dinner, ruin the child's appetite?

I have to listen to that.

I hear that three times a week.

You know, that's 12 times a month.

Well, anyway, listen, I called the

Ding-A-Ling ice cream company.

Turns out they don't have a route before lunch.

They don't have one before dinner.

They don't have one at 2:30.

They don't even work in that area.

So that's a--

what I call a loose end.

And it's something I got to tie up.

-Well, I wish you luck.

-And the other thing, sir--

I hope you're not offended by this.

I have to find somebody who will substantiate your story

that you were in your box at the football game.

-No, Lieutenant, I'm not offended.

That's your job.

Everybody is a suspect.

Isn't that true?

-Thank you very much.

I'm very happy to hear you say that.

Uh, gee, I thought Mr. Rizzo could do it for us, you know?

But it turns out that he says, he didn't speak to you even

once on the field phone during that whole awful first half.

And then you weren't even angry with him.

-Columbo, I told you, I called Eric from the box

just before the game.

I called him again from the box about the end

of the first quarter.

-Unfortunately, the telephone company's records can't prove

that.

-But that's not my problem, is it?

-No, sir.

That's my problem.

It's also my problem to find somebody who might even have a

motive to kill Mr. Wagner.

-Paul.

-Yes?

-[sobbing]

No!

Oh, Paul.

[weeping]

-OK.

OK.

-I'm sorry.

I've just been holding it in.

-Lieutenant, uh, she's going to be at home.

You won't bother her, will you?

[music playing]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING AND MUSIC PLAYING]

[clatter]

-You're looking for something?

-Hold it right there!

Just raise your hands up.

-Now, wait a minute, Officer.

This isn't what it looks like.

-It's all right.

He won't have a gun.

Just get his wallet.

-Thank you, sir.

-Don't thank me.

Thank that radio over there.

Huh?

-Well, what do you know?

License and everything.

-Of course, I got a license.

My name is Ralph Dobbs.

-What do you mean "radio"?

-Well, let me show you.

Don't feel bad.

It could happen to anybody.

You see, some of these bugs have frequency leakage.

You don't put them in right, it affects the other

electrical systems.

That's what happened to you.

-Hey, take it easy, will you?

Those things are expensive.

-Sorry, won't happen again.

Anyway, you put it in wrong, that's all.

When they used the telephone, it affected the radio.

I noticed the static.

But don't feel bad.

I didn't know anything about this myself till I had trouble

with my TV when my wife used the hair dryer.

So the electrician, he explained it to me.

Do you find this boring?

Then tell me, who told you to take out those bugs?

-Aw, come on, will you?

Business is bad enough without the--

-Answer the lieutenant.

That's what we caught you in the act of doing.

-It's all right.

It's all right, Sergeant.

I got a pretty good idea who might have wanted Eric

Wagner spied on.

And I also remember who I told about coming in

here with a lab crew.

Paul Hanlon, right?

-Come on, Lieutenant.

You know my client's name is privileged information.

Now, I have a perfect right to keep his identity a secret.

-I have got a perfect right to arrest you for breaking and

entering, not to mention illegal wiretapping.

So for the sake of that license of yours, Mr. Dobbs,

who hired you?

-You know, you put me on the spot.

I can't give you his name without his permission.

-Well, I'm not worried, since I can call you an

accessory to a murder.

I know you're going to help me out.

You're going to get me that information.

[music playing]

[music playing]

-My ball, my ball.

[shouting]

-Throw it, man.

-Come on.

-Come on.

-Six seasons?

Where did you spend most of the tour?

PLAYER [OFFSCREEN]: Midwest and east and during the

summer, we went to Europe.

-Europe?

All right.

I spent a number of years in--

-Where did you get those shoes?

-Miller's on Wilshire.

MALE SPEAKER [OFFSCREEN]: Mr. Hanlon!

HANLON [OFFSCREEN]: What's cause--

what's-- what is the reason--

MALE SPEAKER [OFFSCREEN]: Mr. Hanlon!

HANLON [OFFSCREEN]: What?

MALE SPEAKER [OFFSCREEN]: Telephone.

HANLON [OFFSCREEN]: Oh, all right.

Cut it for a minute, guys.

Yes?

Yeah.

They did what?

Who let them in?

No, I want that watchman fired!

You get in touch with my attorneys and get them to meet

me over here.

I want to see them at, uh--

ah, no.

Cancel that.

I'll have to call you back.

What is this?

My office tells me somebody came in there this morning

before dawn with a search warrant.

-We didn't touch anything.

Honestly, I promise.

-What?

You want some more shots with the both of you?

-Uh, no.

Not now.

Just-- uh, finish the interview, uh, with Mark.

And then wrap it up.

-All right.

-You know, I didn't expect to find you here.

Uh, I had some trouble locating you because I didn't

know that you were at a basketball game.

And, you know, the day after Mr. Wagner's death.

-It's not a game.

It's just some pros that live around here,

like to work out together.

That's all.

-Oh, these are professionals?

-Yes.

These are professionals.

That's LeRoy Ellis, Pat Riley, Happy Hairston, Jim McMillan,

and that's Keith Erickson and Flynn Robinson.

In about two weeks, they're all going to

be working for me.

Mark was the first one to sign.

I had to come over here to give-- to get his signature

because he's going to be gone this afternoon!

And what are you up to?

-That's what I came down here to explain, sir.

I mean, I came down here to get you because I made a real

wrong guess last night.

-I think you made a few.

-No, I'm talking about the phones in Mr. Wagner's house.

-What about them?

-Mr. Hanlon, those phones were bugged.

-Bugged?

-Yes, sir.

And I'll admit that, for a while, I thought you had

something to do with it.

So we checked your office.

And you know what?

Your phones are bugged, too.

And by the same equipment and by the same man.

-My phones?

-Yes, sir.

Bugged.

So honestly, that's the only reason we went in there.

-Hah.

-The other thing, sir, is I came down here to get you

because I thought you would like to meet the man who hired

the detective.

-Yes, I'd like to meet him.

-Apparently, they've got tapes of all your conversations for

the past two weeks.

Isn't that something?

-[sigh]

Yeah.

-Our ball.

Our ball.

-Well, Walter, you actually hired a private detective,

huh?

-I'm sorry, Hanlon.

That's all I can say.

-You're sorry?

I think maybe you will be when I report you to the bar

association for spying on your own client.

-Lieutenant, your, uh, your man there is my witness.

I am voluntarily disclosing everything that-- that I paid

Dobbs to do.

-And I-- when I personally sue you for invasion of privacy--

-Gentlemen, please, I know it's kind of irregular.

But Mrs. Wagner is waiting inside.

-I told you to stay away from Mrs. Wagner!

-I'm the one who was insistent.

I haven't the slightest idea what Dobbs has on those tapes

I have, but I want to everyone to hear everything.

Understand?

-Now Columbo, are you in charge of this mess or not?

-Sir--

-This here--

---sir, I'm only trying to solve a murder.

And this gentleman was Mr. Wagner's lawyer.

And it did seem all right with me.

Why don't we proceed?

Uh, Mr. Hanlon, one moment before we go in?

-What is it?

-Bad news.

-What?

-You remember I definitely told you about the Ding-A-Ling

ice cream truck?

-The Ding-A-Ling ice cream-- yes, you did.

-Uh, I checked the main office.

And, uh, I got it right here.

They told me when I originally called

what areas they serviced.

And, um, and I've got all these papers here.

Oh, here we are.

And it turns out that they're in Westwood, Hollywood,

Downtown LA.

It shows you how stupid I am.

It never occurred to me that Downtown LA included the

concession at the stadium.

-I don't understand.

-Well, I'm sorry to say this, sir.

But this makes it even more important that we find some

way to substantiate your story that you were at the stadium

at the time of the crime.

-[laughs]

Well, Lieutenant, you may be right.

Let's go inside, shall we?

[audio playback]

-Oh, you're not still in bed.

Of all the--

at least, you're alone, aren't you?

-Yeah, yeah.

Oh, listen, Paul, I gotta tell you [chuckles]

that, that chick that you put me on to, she brought her

little sister--

[end audio playback]

-Stop it!

Stop it right there.

Shirley, that's the very sort of thing that I suspected.

Paul Hanlon was egging Eric on.

He was just trying to make trouble between the two of

you.

-Walter, we have been listening to this for nearly

three hours.

And that's the very first time there's been the slightest

suggestion of anything.

-But he said, "That little chick that you put me on to,

Paul." Didn't you hear him?

Shirley, that's why I came back from Washington.

That's the whole reason that I hired Dobbs here.

I wanted evidence to prove to you and Eric how Hanlon had

been using him, using you both!

-Wait a minute.

Just hold it a second.

I think I've got it.

Uh, it took me a, a minute to connect with the word "chick."

Eric said that you wanted a new maid.

Do you recall anything about that?

Well, he was trying to find you one as a surprise before

you got back.

And I put him on to the best employment agency

that I could find.

And that's all.

If he found some girl through that--

-Yes, of course.

Will you please get this over with?

-Certainly, ma'am.

[audio playback]

---two cars at the airport.

-Well, you're our leader.

What are you doing now?

Playing right tackle?

-Uh, I got the radio on here in the box.

I guess it's a little loud.

-So how are my gladiators doing?

-They're getting murdered.

Listen, is your head clear yet?

-Clear as mud.

I'm out by the pool, now.

-Are you in it yet?

-Will 20 more laps satisfy you?

I told you I'd be ready, didn't I?

Now, get off my back, Hanlon.

Pick me up at 5:30.

You got that?

[end audio playback]

-That's all there is to that, sir.

There's still a big pile of tapes from Mr. Hanlon's office

phone.

-Uh, Sergeant, do you happen to have the time

that I made that call?

-Uh, the log on my pickup has it at, uh, 2:29.

Of course, if you want to check with the radio station,

they keep a record of those football broadcasts.

-And Eric died at 2:30.

You said.

-Approximately.

-Well, Walter, maybe I ought to thank you.

At least you've managed to prove where I was.

And I guess that's another loose end, as you

call it, tied up.

You see, Shirley, the lieutenant thinks--

I imagine with Walter's help-- that I might have killed Eric.

-Uh, I really don't know what to say to you, Walter, that

would tell you how contemptible I think you are.

-Shirley, you've got to believe me.

I had these tapes made for your sake.

-Look, don't worry, Walter.

I already knew how jealous you were of

Mr. Hanlon's influence.

Now, just get out!

All of you, please leave!

-Mrs. Wagner, um, there's still a lot of investigating

we have to do.

-Just go away!

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[audio playback]

-Hello.

-Yeah, Eric, it's Paul again.

-What's the matter?

You afraid I'd fall back asleep?

[end audio playback]

-Lieutenant, you want to see me?

-Just a minute.

Been listening to that thing, that's the last phone call.

100 times.

Nothing.

-Well, in the last three days, I've called your office at

least 100 times.

Listen, Lieutenant, about my license, I can't operate

without it.

-Didn't I give you that back?

-No.

-OK, I'm sorry.

Must have forgotten.

Doesn't it strike you funny?

Man's watching a football game.

Makes a telephone call just when they call pass

interference against his own team on the 2-yard line.

-Yeah, I suppose so.

Maybe it can prove he wasn't really there.

In the meantime, I got to have my equipment.

-You see, that's my problem.

I can't prove where Hanlon was, that's why I'm

listening to this.

Trying to hear a sound, something that

doesn't belong there.

-Maybe he made the phone call from someplace else.

You ever think of that?

Some place where there was a radio broadcasting, background

noises, boat whistles, dogs barking, things like that.

-Just can't see--

-Listen, will you go find yourself another suspect?

Aw, come on, Lieutenant.

Cut it out!

I got to have my equipment back.

-Oh, listen, by the way, how did you manage to plant those

phone bugs in the first place?

-I didn't.

-Oh, who did?

-Come on, Lieutenant, that would be betraying a trust.

You'd ruin me.

-I don't want to get anybody else in trouble.

-All I can tell you, it wasn't by breaking and entering, OK?

-It wasn't?

-No.

-Then how was it?

-That's all I can tell you.

-Uh, I understand.

Listen, about the equipment, I'm sorry to

hold you up on that.

It's just I've been preoccupied by this case.

What's it worth?

-600 bucks.

-[whistles]

A lot of money.

-All right.

I put a girl into Hanlon's office.

She ran an errand to Wagner's house.

It's as simple as that.

-A girl?

-Yeah.

Part-time operator.

I use her all the time.

She likes it for the change.

-She have a name?

-Eve Babcock.

That's all she did.

She's not there anymore.

-Why?

-How do I know why?

Hanlon fired her after three days.

-Oh, a secretary.

Babcock?

A secretary?

-Well, that's not her usual line of work.

Lieutenant, my equipment.

[music playing]

[doorbell rings]

-Coming!

Hi, darling.

-Ms. Babcock?

-[chuckles]

Don't be so Cincinnati.

My name is Eve.

And don't be embarrassed.

I've been expecting you.

-You have?

-Sure.

Well, uh, our mutual friend called and told me all about

you.

-He did?

-Mm-hmm.

-Oh, I didn't expect that.

-I bet you're starving.

Are you starving?

We'll go to dinner at Chasen's.

-Apartment 2B?

-Yes.

-Eve Babcock?

-Now, will you relax, please?

We'll go to the Luau for drinks.

That will be fun.

Then to Chasen's for dinner.

-No, there's a mistake, ma'am.

I hadn't planned on dinner.

-Oh, you hadn't?

All right, no dinner.

[chuckles]

It's all right.

It just would have been nice to know, you know?

Aah, I mean, I planned the whole evening.

I had no idea you were pressed for time.

I mean, Harry should have told me.

-Who is Harry?

-Harry Stevenson.

[doorbell rings]

-No, I got your name from, uh, uh, from a Mr. Dobbs.

-Ralph?

Oh.

[chuckles]

Wouldn't you know?

Oh, oh, this is really silly.

Look, honey, you should have called before you came up.

I'm busy now.

Um, what about tomorrow?

No, no.

Not tomorrow.

Thursday, I'm free Thursday.

Will that do it?

[doorbell rings]

-Thursday.

Hello, darling.

-Ms. Babcock?

-Eve.

And you're Cincinnati, aren't you?

The broker's convention, right?

-Uh, my name's Smith.

-OK, Smithy.

Uh, Smithy, this is my cousin.

He was just leaving, weren't you, honey?

-Yeah, how are you?

-I'm fine.

-Oh, I know a lot of people in Cincinnati.

Oh, yes.

Incidentally, um, my name is Lt.

Columbo.

I'm from the Los Angeles Police Department.

-Uh, Ms. Babcock, about those stocks, I'll call you, uh.

Nice to have met you, Lieutenant.

[door slams]

-Don't ask me any questions.

I'm calling my attorney.

-Wait a minute.

-No, wait--

-Instead of doing that, why don't you do yourself a favor,

take this appointment book, and put it some place where I

can't see it.

Don't call your attorney because I'm not

here to hurt you.

Now, put that away.

I'm investigating the death of Eric Wagner.

And I just want to ask you a couple of questions.

-Now, why would you want to ask me about--

-I already know you planted the phone bugs for Mr. Dobbs.

-No, no--

-I'm not worried about that.

This is what bothers me.

Why were you fired from that job after only three days?

Because, if you don't mind my noticing, you'd be an ornament

in any office.

-Thank you, Lieutenant.

Perhaps my typing was not good enough.

Who knows?

-Oh.

Oh.

I thought maybe you got offered a better job.

-I really think you should go.

-Well, maybe somebody offered you more

money than Dobbs could.

I mean, Mr. Hanlon, he doesn't miss much.

And he sure wouldn't miss you.

And I thought that maybe he noticed you planting those

phone bugs and he bought you off.

-Hey, wait.

Look, just stop this.

Eric Wagner's death was an accident, right?

Was it not?

That's what all the newspapers have said.

You have absolutely no right to come in here and start

upsetting me, asking me questions, insinuating things,

trying to connect me with--

-Ms. Babcock, you're perfectly right.

I was getting way ahead of myself when I know you want to

get something to eat.

So I'm going to run along.

Good night.

-Good night.

-You know, it just struck me--

you know, when you got upset there, well, the tiniest

little accent came out.

And, you know, I got a nephew who married a girl.

She's got the same kind of accent.

She's also very pretty.

But she's Hungarian.

Do you have another name besides Babcock?

Something more Hungarian, like Rokoczy, Ms. Rokoczy?

Well, just a thought.

Enjoy your meal.

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[music playing]

[clatter]

-Well, good afternoon, sir.

And where would you like to go today?

-Home.

-What?

-To soak my feet, they're killing me.

New pair of shoes.

-Just exactly what is it you wish, sir?

-Mr. Paul Hanlon, did he make a reservation

for Sunday for Montreal?

-Why do you ask?

-I'm from the police.

My name is Lt.

Columbo.

Does Mr. Hanlon usually use this office to make all his

travel arrangements?

-Yes, he does.

-Well, would you check on it?

The Sunday reservation?

-I'll have to consult my files.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Speaking of ankles, he-he, you were

speaking ankles, but how about those drum majorettes?

-Is that the game at the Coliseum?

-Yeah.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: The Badgers have the football.

2nd down, 7, on their own 24-yard line.

-How long has it been on?

-Just started.

-You now, I had tickets for the game?

Didn't even use them.

Couldn't enjoy it.

Till I find the answer, I can't think of anything else.

Boy, the number of times I heard these guys' voices over

and over and over.

Still can't find it.

-Yeah, well, sometimes things are difficult to find, you

know.

-You know, what it's like?

Like you have hold of half of something.

And you can't get a hold of the other half.

-Yeah, right.

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: But now Cinnelli breaks the huddle.

He's going to be wide right.

Smith over the ball.

Here's the count and the snap.

[clock cuckoos]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: --he goes to Cinnelli, open in the flat.

He's complete to the 34-yard line.

[cheering]

TOM [OFFSCREEN]: Sanders at quarterback.

He takes the snap.

Hands off, it's that same play again.

Kelly over, right tackle.

It works again.

Good for 5 solid, no, 6 yards to the 41-yard line.

VIRGIL [OFFSCREEN]: Well, it's sure different from last week,

Brother Tom.

These Rockets are moving today.

Two field goals--

-Uh, Mr. Hanlon.

-Columbo, what is it?

-Sure showing great guts today, aren't we?

-I'll tell the coach.

Kind words from a loyal fan are very rare.

-This Ding-A-Ling ice cream concession?

That's the best in town.

Don't ever change that.

-[clears throat]

All right, Columbo.

Now, what do you want?

-Uh, I've got something to show you, sir.

It won't take long.

Oh, those shoes feel better.

Boy.

They were giving me a lot of trouble earlier.

-[ANGRILY] Columbo, I'm trying to watch this

game, what is it?

-You know, you did the same thing the first time I came in

here last Sunday.

I guess that's what started me wondering.

-I did what?

-You turned the radio down, but not quite off, when I told

you that Eric Wagner was dead.

It's all right.

I do the same thing.

You know, when I'm listening to the game and my wife

interrupts, I can't help myself.

I want to hear that game.

And I don't care how important the interruption.

-Your wife has my sympathy.

-However, when I told you about the fresh water on the

decking, when I told you that Eric Wagner might have been

murdered, do you know what you did?

Turned the radio completely off.

Well, I thought I struck a chord or something.

-No, Columbo.

You struck out.

Now, will you please go find somebody else to pester?

-I won't take long, sir.

Actually, I just came here to talk about Ms. Rokoczy.

-Who?

-You know, Ms. Babcock.

That was the lady who kept trying to

call you at the house.

And then later on, you phoned her from the airport.

-What are you talking about?

-Well, you did try to call her, didn't you?

I mean, you wanted to tell her to be quiet about something,

something like that?

-I don't even know anybody named Rock-- or Rek--

whatever it is.

-But I spoke to her last night.

You see, when I saw the type of woman that she was, it

suddenly occurred to me why you were in such a hurry to

rush out of that house and get to an outside phone.

And the only reason that could have been was because you

already knew that the phones in that house were bugged.

You did know, didn't you?

-Wait a minute.

Wait, wait.

You don't seriously expect me to tell you anything now?

-I don't expect you to admit anything, sir.

-Admit?

-But you see, when I saw the type of lady that she was and

that she liked to have her bread buttered on both sides,

well, she practically admitted it.

-[chuckles]

I don't believe you.

You're really something.

-And I'm sure Ms. Rokoczy is going to do a lot more talking

when she knows that this is really a murder.

And it really is, sir.

This is a murder case.

There is no question about it.

Uh, look, he did it again.

I guess you just can't help yourself.

-Columbo, I'm going to throw you out of here on your ear.

-I wouldn't do that, sir.

I mean, you'll miss the best part.

You see, I'm not finished.

The point is this, um--

[clears throat]

you see the point is this, if you knew that house was

bugged, then you also knew that you could use those

phones to set up your perfect alibi.

[clears throat]

-What you want to call an alibi is the truth.

[chuckles]

Jesus, why can't you get that?

-I knew I had to break that alibi.

They're on the 10, sir.

Oh, yeah.

I knew until I'd broken that alibi, none of these other

things would mean much.

But now, look, they scored a touchdown.

-But now what?

-You don't mind listening to last week's game again, do

you, sir?

-Why?

-Well, just by coincidence, it happens to be exactly the same

time that you made that second phone call to Eric.

Here we go.

[HANLON'S PHONE RECORDINGS PLAY IN BACKGROUND]

-Exactly 2:29, just a minute or two before he was murdered.

You know, I've listened to this thing, I can't tell you

how many times, over and over again figuring maybe I'd hear

something that shouldn't be there.

Some sound that shouldn't be there.

An ambulance, a fire truck, like if you were in a phone

booth, something.

-But you didn't because it isn't there.

I made the call from this booth, from that phone.

-Then it suddenly occurred to me, right there.

I had it backwards.

Maybe there was a sound that should be there and wasn't.

-Like what?

-Something right in front of you.

What kind of sound?

-Oh, shh!

ERIC [OFFSCREEN]: I'm out by the pool now.

HANLON [OFFSCREEN]: But are you in it yet?

[clock bell rings]

ERIC [OFFSCREEN]: Will 20 more laps satisfy you?

I told you I'd be ready, didn't I?

Now, get off my back, Hanlon.

Pick me up at 5:30, you got that?

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