Original subtitles

Do you know what we got here?

Forensic pathologists.

Doctors always think they're gonna live through it, like we're in on a pass.

Are you scared?

The fact is someone is out to get Rollie Dinehart.

Along with 1,500 others?

Could it be Legion fever?

[people clamoring]

I got it?

Now calm down.

You calm down. You ain't got it. I got it.

I suppose the next thing you're gonna tell us to do is strip.

Would be for your own good.

Come on. Behind the rope.

(Angie) ♪ I feel the earth move under my feet ♪

♪ I feel the sky tumblin' down ♪

♪ I feel my heart start to tremblin' ♪

♪ Whenever you're around ♪

♪ Oh, baby ♪

♪ When I see your face ♪

♪ Mellow as the month of May 3

♪ Oh, darlin' ♪

♪ [can't stand it when you look at me ♪

♪ That way ♪

♪ I feel the earth move under my feet ♪

♪ I feel the sky tumblin' down ♪

♪ I feel my heart start to tremblin' ♪

♪ Whenever you're around ♪

♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪

♪ Ah, ah, ah, oh, yeah ♪

♪ I feel the earth move under my feet ♪

♪ I feel the sky tumblin' down, tumblin' down ♪

♪ I feel the earth ♪

[groaning] Oh, no.

♪ Tumblin' down ♪

Oh, no.

What's the matter?

Oh, I don't know. Leo, I feel terrible.

But you've only done only three numbers.

Listen, kid.

Go get Ronnie.

Tell him he's gonna go on. Now.

It just hit me out there.

[gasping]

It's hard to breathe.

What, are you here on a junket or what?

Uh, actually, I'm here with friends.

And lots of them, I hope.

Oh, Leo, Leo, Leo.

I'm sorry. It was all of a sudden.

What happened to you? Did you listen to one of your own records?

Go get drowned. I'm sick.

I feel so sorry for those poor little germs

that have to stay in the bed with you.

They'll be closer than you'll ever get.

I'll bet she's got things all over the microphone.

They cleared the dishes yet?

Ronnie, it was an emergency.

Yeah, well... Nobody eats when I work.

Nobody eats, I say!

Nobody eats when I work!

Spit that out. I'm comin' down there.

I'll take that stuff away.

You finished with that? You are now, pal.

If there's anything in your mouths, spit it out

because I'm takin' it all away.

Are you all right, honey?

(Ronnie) Hey, busboy, I want to do this by myself.

[sighs]

[people laughing]

I can't breathe.

(Ronnie) Nobody eats when I work.

Does this hotel have a doctor?

We have one on call, ma'am.

That's the quickest way to the infirmary.

[people applauding]

Listen, I'm sorry about Angie,

that she had to leave so quickly.

She wasn't feeling so good. But I'll make up for it.

Well, how do you like this place?

Is this class? Is this dynamite?

Other hotels get conventions, you know what they get?

[audience laughing] Plumbers, carpenters.

Do you know what we got here?

Forensic pathologists.

[audience laughing]

They give themselves a whole name, didn't they?

You now what that is? Coroners.

Coroners. Those are the guys...

You always see them in the movies,

they're sayin', "Mmm, man's got a rope around his neck,

"a bullet in his head, an ice pick in his ear...

I suspect foul play."

[audience laughing]

♪ J'[drums playing]

Are there any coroners here now?

None. I wonder where they are.

I wonder what they are doin'.

I hereby declare that this convention is adjourned.

I want to close with some advice

given to me by Dr. Arvid Rieson.

I'll never forget it.

He said, "My son, remember.

"The dealer has to hit 16

"and stand on a soft 17.

"Insurance pays two-to-one,

but it's the worst bet unless you've got blackjack."

Good night and good luck.

[people laughing]

There's a couple of guys who went to play baccarat...

You ever play that? You lose in French.

You don't even know how...

You don't even know how it happens.

And it's Carmine and Angelo.

And they went over to a table and the guy said, ”Bonsoir,”

[speaking French]

He says, "What happened, Carmine?"

[falsetto] "I don't know. He took the $200."

"What did you bet on?"

[falsetto] "Nothin'. I was waitin' for change."

♪ J'[drums playing]

[audience laughing]

AI, I just sent a customer down to the infirmary.

Looked a lot like Angie. You know,

shakes and sweatin' like a hog.

Maybe it's something catching.

Has Dr. Pines shown up yet?

I called his house. There was no answer.

Call his wife. She's got a private line.

[gasping]

Nurse.

He started shaking and he feels like he's burning up.

Would you put him in this bed.

I'll be with you as soon as I can.

(Leslie) Hello?

Oh, hi, Leo.

No. No, he's not here.

Well, unless you've put lights out on the golf course.

Well, he's either playing tennis or he's over at the clinic.

I've never seen him perspire so much.

[muttering]

Another one?

There are two more on the way down.

Get us some wheelchairs and help.

All right.

Easy now.

Well, well, look who we got over here.

[people laughing]

(Ronnie) What happened? Another subpoena?

You know who that is? Rollie Dinehart.

I thought he was in jail.

I don't want to say too much to that guy

because, uh, he is from Harvard.

[audience laughing]

Don't get mad, pal. We all have our own business.

Ha, ha, want to buy a set of hubcaps?

You wanna leave? We do have business to take care of.

There's no rush.

I'm glad you think so.

(Ronnie) You don't like sticks up noses?

It gets better, What's with you, Frank?

You're going to miss my big finish.

Dr. Pines? Listen.

Excuse me. How are you doin', honey?

Oh, great.

Look, take the odds off the nine,

press the others, and, uh, double the hard ways.

Honey, I'm hungry.

Oh, we can eat any time. I'm on a roll.

[people exclaiming]

Where did you learn to play dice?

And don't tell me Bryn Mawr.

Oh, are you kidding?

I fly into Vegas, Monte Carlo, Kingston.

You got to do something in Aruba besides buy towels.

Watch it.

[people cheering]

Honey, really, I'm starving.

Honey, let me teach you something.

When you're on a roll, you press on, double up.

It's the only way to beat the odds.

Yeah, but, honey, I'm...

Sir, don't bother the customers, please.

Meet you back at the coffee shop.

Coming through.

Coming through.

Come on, speed it up. This guy is hardly breathing.

(officer) Out of my way, guys. We're in a hurry.

(operator on PA system) Jim, please report to your station,

Jim, please... How many is that now?

17.

And the switchboard is going crazy.

Something's gone crazy.

(operator) .., desk immediately.

Mr. Burke to the front desk...

Mr. Ringerman,

we only have four beds and they are full.

And the switchboard says there are six calls in for the doctor.

Oh, boy!

Well, Dr. Pines is on his way.

What's going on? I don't know.

They're droppin' like flies.

Hi, Doc. Hi, Leo.

I'll take you around the back.

The ambulance get here yet?

No. Mr. Ringerman didn't want no ambulance. Not until you took over.

What does he think I do that the County Hospital can't do?

Sounds like the flu to me, at least over the phone.

Look, Doc, since we called,

a couple of more have come down with it.

How many is a couple of more, Leo?

The wheel goes one way.

A little white ball spins the other way.

The ball falls into a number that you bet on.

They change the wheel.

[people laughing]

You've been dynamite. Don't want to say good night.

God love you. God bless you.

Treat every performer wherever you see him

as graciously as you treated me,

you'll never see a bad show.

♪ J'[music playing]

[audience applauding]

[man whistling]

It's 148 over 110.

How is he?

103 degrees.

Up one in the last hour.

Doctor, have you noticed...

Skin rashes, swollen tongues, discolored gums.

I'm gonna talk to Ringerman.

[woman chattering on PA system]

I told them to open up the gym on the second floor.

The relaxation room's got 20 cots.

We can't wait any longer.

We've got to get outside help.

Why?

Because I have no equipment, no facilities,

one nurse, I don't like the way she lookin'.

I've got to start workups, upper respiratories,

GIs, even dermatologies.

Seven of these 12 people have got facial rashes.

12?

That's right. Eight more since I got here.

Well, what is it, some kind of stomach flu?

Mr. Ringerman...

What is this "Mr. Ringerman"?

I'm sorry, AI. I get formal when I'm scared out of my wits.

Why are you scared about?

I've never seen anything like this in my life,

or heard or read about it.

The symptoms are flying at me from all directions.

As plain as I can put it, I'm way over my head here.

Yeah, the minute we call in an ambulance,

the County gets in on it, then the State.

I don't see what else we can do.

Well, why don't you start thinking about what else we can do?

This is me.

I gave your wife space downstairs for that boutique.

She's getting rich out of it. I'm not.

I didn't have to give you this job, either.

I could've gotten some kid out of medical school

for half what I'm paying you.

That fact is, Larry, you owe me.

And I'm calling in the debt.

There is one other thing we might do.

What's that?

You got four or five men here,

top men in their field, right here in town.

Couldn't ask for better.

Doctors?

We could try and get a hold of them, see what they say.

[sighs]

Thanks, Larry.

Now you're helping a friend, the way a friend helped you.

I'll tell you something, though.

What?

You ought to go into politics.

[door closing]

[people chattering]

Oh, hi, honey.

Hi, how are you?

Sevened out, huh?

Honey, let me teach you something.

When you're on a roll like that,

you have to grab back some money.

I mean, you keep pressing your bet, you keep doubling,

inevitably the odds have to catch up to you. Huh?

Wow.

[chuckling]

Well, uh, thanks for the dinner, Lee.

You ready to test your luck?

You ready to test yours?

Am I ready.

Hey, what time is the plane back?

10:00 tomorrow morning.

It's possible.

[laughing]

How much did you win all together?

I don't know exactly.

$1,188.

$1,188! Wow!

(woman on PA system) Mr. DeGroot,

please come to the casino cashier's office.

Mr. DeGroot?

You know him?

He's a doctor.

He was one of my eminent colleagues this afternoon.

Mr. Quincy,

please come to the casino cashier's office.

Wonder why they are not saying "doctor"?

Ignore it.

As if you could ignore it.

Go ahead, honey. I'll finish this.

I'll be back. Leave a good tip.

(operator on PA system) Mr. Maxwell, please report to the front desk.

Someone waiting to see you.

Mr. Maxwell.

You have a message for a Mr. Quincy?

Oh, wait. Just a minute. I'll take care of this.

Uh, I'm Leo Burke, the assistant manager.

Now, there is nothing to worry about, Doctor.

Worry?

It's nothing important. Merely routine.

What's routine?

Uh, what's happening.

What is happening?

I'm sure it's nothing at all.

Good. Then I can get back to my friends.

No.

You have to come with me.

But I don't want you to be alone.

Let me see if I've got this straight.

I'm not to be upset? No.

But I can't go back to my friends?

No.

I have to go along with you?

I think we understand each other.

Good, but Who's on First?

Take the limit off?

[people chattering]

I got IVs coming from my clinic

so we can give them some supportive treatment,

but my thinking on this is,

we might have another Philadelphia all over again here.

The temperature is going up, respiration labored.

Same as the other three.

All the same.

Now the closest major hospital is in Reno, isn't it?

That's right.

Would you mind tellin' me why they haven't been notified?

It's somewhat complicated.

You know, the dream of my life

is to spend a week without hearing those words.

You see, the owner of this hotel...

Save it. Just save it.

Where are the rest of the patients?

Upstairs in the gym.

In the gym?

Yeah.

Dr. Pines, I'm Walter DeGroot. This is Dr. Hansen.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Ah, seems like only yesterday.

Walter, Arnie.

Well, what have we got?

Well, we've got high temp,

facial mottling on seven out of 12, nausea, chills.

Where are the... Where are the rest of them?

Don't ask.

Any of the patients down here have the mottling?

How are you feeling?

Tired.

Frank, I don't think this guy is breathing anymore.

[beeping]

Doctor.

[grunts]

Clear his trachea.

100 milligrams IV thiopental.

Where is it?

In the cabinet. Come on.

[cardiograph flatlining]

That's it.

Okay.

It's ready.

[grunts]

[people chattering]

(Walter) Clear.

[cardiograph flatlining]

We're losing him. Clear.

Once again.

He's gone.

What do you mean, he's gone?

[cardiograph beeping]

Was there a gradual drop in blood pressure?

No.

Anything unusual?

Nothing.

He... he just started internal hemorrhaging, that's all.

Arnie, nothing?

No, Quincy.

What is happening here?

A man goes on vacation, suddenly he dies.

We don't have a clue as to why.

He's number one.

If we don't get answers soon, it soon could be 101!

Do you know if he was married?

Yes, he is. His wife brought him in from the lounge.

He was... He was the second patient.

Oh, my!

Oh, my!

How do you tell a woman her husband is dead?

And tell her she has to keep her grief to herself?

Why would you tell her that?

Walter,

we could have a first-class panic in this hotel.

People find out, they'll be jumping out the windows

until we discover what we're dealing with.

Well, I suggest we... we perform an autopsy right away. Come on.

Come on.

Walter, turn on the tape machine, please.

The tape is on.

Body of a well-developed male.

48.

48 years of age.

Measuring 70 inches in length.

[people chattering]

This is no way to get out of a box, Rollie.

This is the way to get into one.

Mind your business.

[man chattering]

That money was supposed to buy us a hotel, Rollie.

(Quincy) Scalp hair is gray.

Eyes show clear sclerae.

Pupils dilated and equal,

measuring five millimeters each.

Nose unremarkable.

[sighs]

Every time I do once of these, it hits me.

There ought to be more you can say about a person

than "nose is unremarkable" or "his hair is gray."

What do you see?

Well, uh, no obvious external puncture marks.

No ecchymosis or lacerations

or other external signs of trauma.

No clubbing of the fingers.

Hmm.

The nail beds are cyanotic.

Appendectomy scar in the right lower quadrant which appears old.

All right, Doctor. Let's go inside.

I thought maybe you gentleman would...

No, no, no. He's your patient.

Why don't you take a walk and get some fresh air?

Plenty of air in here. It's air-conditioned. Don't you feel it?

(Larry) Left lung, 640.

Lower lobes nodular, mottled, focally hemorrhagic and indurated.

Bronchial walls reddened.

Bronchi contain mucopus material consistent with pneumonia.

[sighs]

What is it?

Well, whatever it is, it's frightening.

Quincy?

I don't know.

I don't know what we're going to tell him.

Who?

That doctor who thought

he had three of the most knowledgeable pathologists in the country.

We tell him we got the answers, if it is humanly possible.

Come on, fellas, admit it.

We're all thinking the same thing.

Let's not jump to conclusions.

There are lots of possibilities.

Poison, viral or parasitic infection.

It's endless.

Arnie?

I agree. They are all possibilities.

What about the obvious?

Oh, well, it could be...

Oh, come on. Say it, it's all on our lips.

Legion fever.

How long has it been?

Six months, nine, a year.

Half the country has been working

on what happened at that hotel in Philadelphia.

I don't know how many people have died.

They are still arguing about what it is.

Sorry, Doctors. One more.

(woman) She-She's going to be all right, isn't she?

We'll do everything we can.

Well, it-it's just

some sort of flu, isn't it?

We don't know yet.

The bed against the wall, fellas.

Are all these people sick, too?

Yeah.

With the same kind of thing that Ellen has?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, if they are all from the hotel,

that means they've got the same kind of flu.

I want to stay with her.

Well, it might be contagious.

Please.

Just for a little while.

Thank you.

Doctors, I don't care who's right.

Poisoning, or viral infection,

or contamination, or even Legion fever,

we have to go to work and find the answers, and fast.

(Ringerman) So.

So, nothing.

We don't know what we are looking at.

And we won't know until we start doing some testing.

Now, do you want some good news?

It doesn't look like diphtheria, or small pox, or the bubonic plague.

But I'll tell you something.

If it did look like any of those, I wouldn't be talking to you.

I'd be on the phone to the Disease Control Center in Atlanta.

Could it be Legion fever?

I don't know.

And I'd like to meet the man who does.

All right, give me another 60 seconds.

[sighs]

We've only been open about a year.

My money people, they're a conglomerate.

They don't know from gambling,

or show business, or anything like that.

They make tissue paper and acoustical tiles,

stuff like that. This is an experiment for them.

You got 50 seconds left.

You think they are the only money people around?

You think I haven't been approached

by animals from the Combination

from the day I bid in on this property?

I didn't want that.

I had 20 years of that in other places.

The Gaming Commission checked us out for six months.

We're spotless.

No tie-ins.

There's a future here.

I've got two kids.

Maybe this is something to leave them.

I don't know. That's up to them.

The junkets are starting to fly in here.

Big-name acts are playing the place.

We're turning a corner.

Look, I don't want anybody to die.

But I don't want this place to die, either.

You put this place in the news,

you know what would be left? The animals would be left.

And I'm telling you, I'll let them in if I have to.

Is my time up?

Can you ensure isolation in that clinic of yours?

Yes. I got good central supply,

and I can call nurses in from Reno. Quietly.

You get my boss to say okay, I'll go along with it.

Under certain conditions.

Name 'em.

You call every guest in here

and get the names of their personal physicians.

And tell them it's, uh, an insurance company survey,

anything you want, but don't panic.

Any information we get we'll have to send to those doctors.

Your doctor is going to tell you to help keep this quiet.

I only listen to my bosses when they are right.

The bedrock here is that I'm a doctor.

I don't give a damn about your hotel, or your license,

or the gangsters you are trying to keep outta here.

I want a lid on this for my reason, not yours.

If the guests find out,

they'll be racing out of here for every corner of the country.

If we let that happen, we could have an epidemic everywhere.

Now we have 24 hours, maybe,

to find out what we have and whether we can contain it.

No guest leaves this hotel without a medical examination.

Dr. Quincy,

how do you propose I keep the guests from checking out

who want to go to their families, their own lives?

What do we do, lock them up?

No, we don't lock 'em up.

We very quietly insist on a medical checkup.

Won't that alarm them?

We don't have any choice.

We'll tell them

we are checking for an outbreak of the mumps or wingback flu.

Quincy, what in the world is wingback flu?

I don't know, Walter. Just made it up.

You got a deal.

Sold.

That's the easy part.

Now comes the tough one.

For the next week,

you're going to take the biggest bath of your life.

Not another guest checks into this hotel.

You made a mistake, you're overbooked, you're sorry.

Tell 'em whatever you want.

But I don't want another human being exposed to whatever it is.

That's three junkets I got to cancel.

It's three now or all of them later.

60 seconds were up a long time ago.

All right, all right. I'll start makin' the calls.

[sighs]

♪ Evenin' rolls around, it's time to go to town ♪

♪ Wake up to rock 'n roll ♪

Hey, Rome, you're supposed to have $300,000 in cash.

All you had to do was pick it up in one place

and put it down here, right?

Yeah.

How much did you lose?

As they say, a goodly sum.

How much, Rome“?

$250,000.

$250,000.

What are you, bananas?

Do I have to tell you what Maurie's gonna say?

I'm gonna win it back.

♪ Job in the city ♪

♪ Workin' for the man every night and day ♪

Now, ladies and gentlemen, we've overbooked the hotel.

It's our responsibility, but don't worry. Please.

We'll guarantee you, each and every one of you we'll find you a room.

Well, he's living up to his end of the deal.

You satisfied?

So far.

I still wish you hadn't come.

Honey, are you scared?

I have to get back to the clinic.

Walk me to the car, honey.

[people chattering]

Come on.

Over here.

That's fine. Just fine. Okay.

All right. Now, listen.

There's two more after this and that will be the last trip. Okay?

Okay.

Do it as fast as you can.

And, listen. No lights and remember, no sirens.

[intercom buzzing]

Yes.

(receptionist on intercom) Dr. Quincy on line two.

Quincy, I've been looking for you.

Astin, I ran into quite a problem.

Look. Don't tell me about that car of yours again.

We're shorthanded as hell today as it is.

Astin, I'm not talking about my car. Now this is really serious.

(Astin) Look, Quincy,

it's a bad connection. I can't hear you.

Where are you? In some gas station?

No, I'm not in a gas station. I'm in a hotel room in Lake Tahoe.

You're still in Lake Tahoe?

Do you realize that you were due back here an hour ago?

If you'll give a chance to explain...

Explain?

I am in the middle of an avalanche here

trying to bring a modicum of order

into what is laughingly called written reports,

while you and your class of '65

are having a wonderful time.

Astin, I've got two dead people here.

Dead people?

That's right. I've got two dead people here.

I've got patients getting sicker by the minute.

I've promised these people the use of our facilities.

Are you crazy?

Ship bodies from Lake Tahoe? Qui...

Quincy, are you drunk?

No, I am not drunk.

All I promised them was the use of our laboratory facilities.

Oh, really? And where did you get this authority?

I got this authority from being a human being

that wants to help another human being.

Well, listen, Quincy, I need some help, too.

Look, I had a meeting yesterday.

The Board wants to cut our budget by one-third.

Astin, look, I can't go into detail.

But I guarantee you,

that if we can make a major breakthrough here,

if we could prevent anyone else from dying, you will become a hero.

You will be able to triple your budget.

What are talking about? W-W-What is this?

How many patients have you got there?

I can't talk about it over the phone.

Is it food poisoning?

I don't know.

Well, is this some sort of virus infection?

I don't know.

Will you give me a straight answer?

Now what is it? An epidemic?

I mean, my, God, you're talking as if it's Legion fever or...

Is that what you're saying?

I can't talk about it over the phone.

That is what you are saying.

I'm saying if we make a breakthrough here,

if we could find out what is causing these people to die,

well, the Board couldn't turn you down then, could they?

You're right.

Quincy,

you stay down there and you save all those people.

I'll stay here and clear the decks.

You have my full cooperation.

Thank you, Astin.

Quincy? Yeah?

Don't be wrong.

I knew I could count on you.

Uh, Jerry, this is Dr. Astin.

Um, about those, uh, budget cuts

that you boys are organizing down there,

I thought you might interested to know

that our department is on the verge of solving

a major medical catastrophe.

[people chattering]

I don't understand.

Look, we're going to miss our flight.

One minute, please.

(operator on PA system) Mr. Robinson, please go to the front desk.

Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson, please go to the front desk.

Mr. Robinson.

Miss Randall, Miss Harris, I hope you enjoyed your stay.

Uh, any problems?

What kind of a form is this you gave us?

A medical check out?

Oh, it's just a new procedure we're having to follow.

Purely a formality.

So we have to go up to Room 227 and fill out a form.

No, be examined.

(both) What?

By a doctor.

You see, uh, we live in an agricultural community.

And this is just a new regulation we have to follow.

Purely a formality.

What kind of... Oh, never mind that now.

We're going to miss our flight.

So we go up to Room 227?

Is that your infirmary?

No. It's a guest room,

with a doctor.

Wonderful.

Thank you for coming for your examination.

I'm sorry. I don't know what this is all about.

You don't have to.

Believe me, sir, you are in good shape.

You know, this is the first time

I've had a medical examination in a hotel room.

Well, I hope I didn't disappoint you.

As long as I'm talking to a doctor,

I keep getting these headaches...

Well, take two aspirins, call your doctor in the morning. Okay?

Thank you, doctor.

[telephone rings]

Hello.

(operator on phone) We are sending up two more guests.

I'm not seeing any more people.

Send them to see Dr. DeGroot, will you?

But they are already on their way up.

Okay, I'll see these two.

But, I'm very busy. I have a lot of things to do.

Make sure that everyone else sees Dr. DeGroot.

Right, Okay. Thank you. Bye-bye.

[knocking on door]

Hi, girls. Come on in. Come on, come on.

I've been expecting you.

Well, excuse me.

♪ J'[whistling]

I understand we are supposed to be checked out by you

before we leave the hotel?

That's right.

Look, we've got a flight to catch.

Well, I'll check you as fast as I can, get you out of here.

Checked out for what? What is this all about?

Well, it is kind of difficult to explain.

I suggest you take a stab at it.

We've been coming to this hotel for six months.

Since when do you need a medical examination to check out of a hotel?

Well, you see, you could be a carrier.

Carrier?

What do you mean?

Hey, I've been going with the same guy for four and a half years.

Oh, I didn't mean that kind of carrier.

Are you the house doctor?

No. I'm just a guest here.

Come on.

Oh, listen, please. The reason it's difficult to explain is...

Well, I'm not allowed to tell you exactly what led up to this moment.

Well, we'll settle for what it's all about.

I'm afraid I'm not allowed to tell you that, either.

I suppose the next thing you're gonna tell us to do is strip.

Would be for your own good.

It always is. Come on. Let's get out of here.

Girls, look, look. I know it seems odd, I know it seems bizarre.

But we're all operating under adverse conditions.

I promise you won't get two feet beyond the front door

without the security guard stopping you and bringing you back up here.

It's not a fake. See, I am a doctor.

You're a coroner.

Come on, we may a look a little tired,

[knocking on door] but we're not dead yet.

Well, excuse me.

Oh, nurse, ready the table, please.

Take off your clothes, girls.

What do you suppose he thinks we've got?

Don't worry about it. He's going to find out.

(Quincy) I don't believe it.

Listen, I examined you so that you could still catch the 10:00 flight.

I canceled.

Why?

You might need me.

We're not running a Mardi Gras here.

There's something killing people!

It's not a thing.

You're going about this all wrong.

I personally happen to think

it has got nothing to do with no disease.

Rollie Dinehart, do you know who he is?

Oh, yeah. Look, I got to get...

Do you know?

Yeah. He's supposed to be a mob guy.

[snickering] Supposed to?

All right, Danny.

I know you're a great authority on organized crime.

The fact is someone is out to get Rollie Dinehart.

Along with 1,500 others?

Why, you think they care?

I happen to operate two clubs back east

in very questionable neighborhoods. I have sources.

Ah. He's got sources. Here?

Danny, huh, you're over 21.

I can't tell you where to go or what to do.

But I want you to remember something if you stay here.

Ringerman and I have a deal.

There is not to be a whisper to anyone

that there is the possibility of a contagious disease here.

Now, I mean not a whisper.

Shh.

Sources on the scene at the Nomad Hotel in south Lake Tahoe

have reported an outbreak of what could be Legion fever.

Although there is no accurate report

on how many patrons have been stricken,

at least 10 have been moved to a nearby private clinic

operated by Lawrence Pines,

the Nomad Hotel's house physician.

One of the 10 is Grammy-Award winning singer Angie Coy,

who was performing in the main showroom at the hotel,

[people clamoring]

(policeman) All right, stay calm.

Everybody has got to stay calm. Come on!

[brakes squealing]

Hey, hey! Come on. Give me a hand. Come on!

Back behind the ropes.

Anybody see 'em?

AI, it's been on television.

Turn the damn things off. There's a central switch.

AI, they know. It was on in the bar.

They know now.

That lousy, no-good forensic...

[people clamoring]

Ladies and gentlemen, please.

Please may I have your attention?

Please be quiet. Calm down. Please may I speak to you? I'm a doctor.

Now, look. I don't know what you've heard.

And I know, you're only interested in

getting out that front door, and I don't blame you.

But please, please, don't leave here

until we've checked you over.

It's very important.

Now, we're setting up an examining room.

Now, all we wanna do is take your temperature,

check your blood pressure and take a look at your skin.

It'll only take a few minutes, I promise you.

Now, believe me, they are very, very important minutes

for you and for us.

[people murmuring]

(policeman) Come on, let's hold it back here.

Come on! Behind the rope.

Hey, Tony, give me a hand, will you?

Get back here. Come on. Behind the rope.

[people clamoring]

You can't leave the hotel, sir.

All guests have to be examined by the doctor.

(man) To hell with the doctors, I'm getting out of here!

[car doors slam]

No guests leave the hotel!

[engine starting]

(man) Get out of my way!

I'm taking you back inside the hotel with me, sir.

Go on, shoot. I'm getting my family out of this death trap.

[tires screeching]

(policeman) Stay calm!

[people chattering]

Are you crazy? This is your life you're gambling with.

Huh, even when you win, you lose.

That shouldn't have happened.

Death isn't discriminating.

Well, here's the last of the cultures.

The rest are already loaded in the wagon.

Where's Pines?

When the child died, he broke down.

[sighing]

I guess country-club doctors

aren't used to looking at death.

Especially that kind.

I'll get these down to the airport.

It isn't right.

That child's body should be telling me something.

It should tell me why that young life ended.

But there's nothing.

Now, you guys know that nature never brings you to a dead end.

She always leaves loose ends.

Only man brings it to a dead end.

I can't help feeling that man's hand is here somewhere.

You're not talking about murder?

I'm not? Huh.

Is this based on medicine?

It's based on instinct.

[elevator door opening]

Instinct that comes with living with death for a lot of years.

I'm sorry. But I can't let you come aboard.

I can't come aboard!

What are you talking about? It's in my contract budget.

Private jet, to and from LA.

You brought me up here! Do you remember... Do you remember me?

Yes, sir. I most certainly do remember you.

But the fact is I have orders from Mr. Ringerman to hold this plane

for the exclusive use of somebody else's.

For who and for when?

For whenever he wants it. For a Dr. Quincy.

A doctor? It's too late for doctors.

They got dead people back there.

Do you understand that people are dead?

There's a plague of some kind.

I should've got out of here as soon as Angie got it.

All I know is if I had an airplane and I could fly,

I'd belong out of here.

Yeah, well, it's a little more complicated

when you have a job to do.

[plane engine droning]

A whole world full of pilots, I got a space cadet.

Well, what branch of the service were you in?

I... I mean, you've got an attitude like you was in the service.

Would money sway you?

I mean, money's been known to sway me.

It swayed me to come to this monastery for three weeks.

Monasteries, branches of service?

You guys walk on anything just for a cheap laugh, won't you?

Are you sore about somethin'?

What... what do you... What do you do you want from me?

You Hardee? (Hardee) Yes, Sir.

All this goes on the plane.

Hey, why are they so cold?

Don't worry about that. They're packed in ice.

Now, when you get to L.A.,

I want you to land at the Western Freight Terminal.

A medical technician will be waiting for you, Sam Fujiyama.

He's been briefed. He knows exactly what to do.

He'll take these specimens off your hands.

You're not to give them to anybody else. Get back as fast as you can.

Great.

Hi. Hey, I... I'm Ronnie Fletcher.

Oh, yeah, I recognize you.

Oh, hey, how many people are dead now?

Three.

Three?

Uh, you mean to tell me that with three dead people,

you still don't know what's wrong with 'em?

That's what I mean to tell you.

Uh, would you tell him it's okay for me to go?

Well, I didn't check you over.

I got a doctor, Roy Lautenstein.

I know Roy. He's very good, but he's in Beverly Hills.

We don't want you flying out of here with anything communicable.

You're not packed in ice.

I said, tell him I can go.

That's when you seem to stop listening.

You have no authority.

Take it up with him.

I'm gonna take it up with you. Who are you?

You know, Roy Lautenstein is the head of your organization.

And I can make you more trouble in 10 minutes

than you could smooth out in a year.

You know how many benefits I do for doctors...

You don't do benefits for doctors, Mr. Fletcher. You do them for patients.

And what kind of trouble are you gonna get me in?

Is that why you do benefits?

So you can get on any plane, any time you want,

even if it means it might kill somebody?

Do me a favor, Mr. Fletcher. Don't do any more benefits.

We'll try to struggle along without you.

You, take off!

Mr. Fletcher, I'll make a deal with you.

You promise not to talk to me, I'll give you a lift back to the hotel.

It's either me or the state police.

[car door slamming]

[car engine starting] Oh, hold it!

(policeman) You gotta cooperate with us.

[people clamoring]

Mr. Ringerman, the guests are all fleeing the hotel.

We can't keep them back, they're trampling our men to death.

All right. All right.

We're doing our best to keep them inside the hotel.

But you can see it's impossible.

There are a dozen exits from this place.

We haven't got enough men.

I didn't know whether to call the Sheriff's office or not.

I'm worried about people getting hurt in that mob.

We've already had to take a couple of guests

to the infirmary who were thrown aside or knocked down.

There's just no way to control this crowd.

Not unless we get some help.

You know, none of the boys have had to use their guns, yet.

That money was supposed to put us in the hotel business, Rollie.

Still gonna put us in the hotel business. Relax, will you?

I'm gonna have to make a phone call, Rollie.

Do that. Go make your phone call.

Look, I'm out $270,000. I have $30,000 left to play.

You're out $280,000.

[sighing]

It was nice knowing you, Rollie.

Frank Mason.

Why? I did everything you asked.

Why did you do this to me?

Do what?

Put that story out.

I didn't put out any story.

I heard it on the radio at the clinic myself.

How long do you think you can keep a thing like this quiet?

A sick patient's wife tells a cousin,

a nurse tells her boyfriend.

What happens now? You gonna stay in charge?

I'm gonna stay, but right now the illness is in charge.

[sighing]

Hey, this is his idea.

Look, I gotta get out of here. I got commitments.

Mr. Fletcher, would you please resume your place in line?

Look, I'm being so nice,

I'm behaving so good, I don't even recognize myself.

Let me help out. Give me the thermometer. I'll do it myself, okay?

Come here a second, will you?

Look, I know that you got problems

and we got off on the wrong foot.

Look, I want you to find the security guard at the front entrance.

Now you're talking.

Tell him to get you to the clinic as quickly as possible.

Dr. Pines will take over from there.

The clinic?

The best place for you is in bed.

Have I got it?

It looks that way.

[shouting] I got it?

Now calm down.

You calm down! You ain't got it! I got it!

A security guard? I need an ambulance!

I get an ambulance! Ambulance! Get me an ambulance!

Look out, will you? Ambulance!

[people exclaiming]

Ambulance!

[sighing]

You're in a bad way, Rollie. I'm gonna call a doctor.

What about your call?

I haven't made it yet.

[panting]

I ain't breathing any... any too terrific.

[birds chirping]

Why do you all stay here?

Every doctor in the state will be here pretty soon.

What's the point of leaving?

As long as you don't want to close it out.

Rollie Dinehart.

The winds get pretty high around here, don't they?

Oh, they can.

Is there any metal mining going on in this district,

like antimony or nickel?

The only thing I can think of is a silver mine,

but that's 100 miles away. Why?

Just a possibility.

I was thinking of a strong wind blowing some chemical dust

into the air-conditioning.

No chance. This building's self-contained.

Is that the main duct?

Uh-huh.

Show it to me.

Sure.

If you're planning a tour, doc, maybe I better go.

Just tell me what you're looking for.

Oh, that's the zinger, Jerry. I really don't know.

But when I find it, I will know and you won't. So I better go alone.

Well, you're gonna need this

and this.

Thank you.

I'll wait for you.

[whirring]

[drum beating]

(Danny) Now, remember, I'm a little rusty.

(Stormy) Oh, come on. Go on.

Well, good evening, ladies and germs.

[laughing]

On behalf of the Nomad Hotel,

and I'd like to be half of the Nomad Hotel,

we welcome you.

Now, you'll have to excuse me if I'm a little punchy.

I just flew in from Miami and my arms are tired.

[drum beating]

[cymbals crashing]

You think I look tired, you should see my wife.

She can hardly keep her mouth open.

[drumbeat]

You still winning?

Have you seen Danny?

Speaking of Danny...

Would you guard this, please? Come here.

You're gonna love this. Wait till you hear. Come here.

(Danny) I'd like to close this evening

with a tender little ballad entitled:

I'll Meet You In The Spring If! Can Get Through The Mattress,

[Stormy laughing]

Oh, you missed it. He was dynamite!

I used to finish up with Senza Mamma,

Not a dry eye in the house.

I'll Meet You In The Spring If! Can Get Through The Mattress?

Fletcher pulls down five figures a week with the same material.

[chuckling]

Oh, uh, what, uh, what's happening?

Hmm. You're the one with the sources.

You're supposed to let me know.

You'll nose around, right? Yeah.

The people supposed to know something,

they don't know nothing.

Sounds like Ol' Man River,

They don't know nothing. That means the mob is not involved.

I guarantee you.

So, anyway, I'm taking the noon plane back.

There's nothing more I can do here.

Oh, good work. Good work. Yeah.

How about your end?

My end is waiting for the Fujiyama report.

That's okay.

Thank you.

Excuse me. Mrs. Pines?

That's right.

I'm Dr. Quincy. I've been working with your husband.

Oh, yes, he's mentioned you.

You know, it's quite an honor for a... a doctor like Larry

to work with someone of your stature.

Well, believe me, Dr. Pines has been invaluable to us.

I don't know what we'd have done

without his help and dedication.

Oh, that's quite charitable of you, Doctor.

Excuse me.

Do you have any idea where he is?

Have you tried, uh, the country club?

The country club?

Mrs. Pines, has he told you

we're in the middle of a crisis?

And he's a great doctor. He's a brilliant surgeon.

Well, please forgive me, but I don't get the chance

to observe day-by-day brilliance

treating tennis elbows and arthritic old ladies.

I hate to see talent like that go to waste.

Oh, you get used to it.

Oh, Dr. Quincy.

You looking for me?

No.

No, I'm having lunch with Mrs. Pines.

I'm thinking about expanding the boutique.

Well, I'm glad to see you're a lot more optimistic

about saving your hotel.

Would you tell Dr. Pines I'll be at the clinic, please?

Yes, I will.

Mr. Dinehart, I'm Dr. Quincy.

So?

How are you feeling?

I'm not sweating as much.

That's a good sign.

May I ask you something?

Depends.

Are you in any kind of trouble?

[chuckling]

Hey, doc, I'm supposed to ask you that.

No, no. I don't mean medically.

I was told I'd be barking up the wrong tree,

but I had to check out every possibility.

The people that you know, that you're connected with,

are they trying to lean on the hotel?

Would they be as crazy as to foul up the food,

or the air-conditioning or something like that?

If they would, whoever they were,

I wouldn't tell you.

What are you, writing a book?

Hey, doc, all I've ever been

is maybe a three-part magazine article.

It's never been enough to fill a book.

Now leave me alone, will you?

You Pines?

I'm Pines.

I'm Dr. Michaels of Nevada Disease Control Center.

Six doctors and eight nurses are on their way down here.

Should be here any time.

Nothing.

That's a match. Nothing on my end, either.

We've got relief, Walter.

Oh, yeah. I heard him.

(Sam) And negative all the way down the line.

No bacteria, no rickettsia.

Preliminary is all we've got on the egg culture,

but it doesn't look viral, either.

A real el blanko.

Any sign of botulism or anything in that neighborhood?

No,

How about metallic poisoning through an inhalant?

No levels above normal.

And according to what we've got so far,

there's absolutely nothing wrong with them.

Maybe somebody put a curse on the hotel.

There speaks a true scientist.

[chuckling]

I'll talk to you later, Sam.

My lab says negative.

The dust I collected, negative.

The EKGs, the x-rays,

the potassium and sodium levels are normal.

Anything on the food yet?

So far, nothing.

Maybe there is a curse.

[typewriter clacking]

All my life I've been looking for somebody

who types worse than I do.

Uh, it's a summary

of some of these guys' developments.

I type better when I...

I take my time.

The lab came up empty.

That's what I heard.

No new case except for Fletcher.

Now, that's a puzzlement.

There's nothing different in his workup, is there?

Not so far.

Well, back to whatever.

You're very observant, aren't you?

What?

What bothers you most?

The books?

What are you talking about?

My books. Top two shelves beat-up and dog-eared,

and the bottom two in mint condition.

You're wondering why, right?

I'm not in the mood to have my palm read.

I said observant,

not subtle.

You want to talk about your books?

Okay, let's talk about them.

What are they there for?

Decoration or to impress your patients?

You got it.

Harvard Medical.

Was Hoagland still heading

the Pathology department when you were there?

Yeah. He was my professor.

[typewriter clacking]

Did you like him?

He made me angry.

He made me think. He was the best teacher I ever saw.

What about Lasswell?

Hmm, Lasswell and I got along.

I'll bet you did,

once he saw you use a scalpel.

Yeah, but... Yeah, but what?

Know what you did for four years at Harvard,

three years at Rhode Island General?

You took up space.

You wasted Hoagland's time. You wasted Lasswell's time.

They didn't think so.

They know what type of a practice you have?

A patient is a patient.

Oh, what is that, wisdom from the elders?

I know that a patient is a patient.

Are you happy treating tennis elbow,

gambler's stomach,

playing 18 holes every day once the office is closed,

a... a chorus girl with a chest cold every now and then

to put spice into your life?

What makes you think I'm not happy?

Oh, if I thought you were happy,

I might even envy you.

As it is, there once was a Larry Pines.

You put him on hold nine years ago.

And it's sinful to waste God-given talent.

Why are you trying to drown yourself?

Maybe I had help. 50% of medicine is politics.

Hoagland or no Hoagland,

there were a dozen bureaucratic incompetents

between me and a meaningful job in surgery or pathology.

I had better things to do

than spend five of those nine years

sucking up to one chief resident or another,

wheedling my way on staff

at a good enough hospital with a big enough budget

so that this talent you keep bellowing about

would have decent equipment to work with.

As life goes, this is good enough for me.

It's given my wife a chance to fulfill herself.

Now, what's wrong with that, or wouldn't you know?

Now, if you think you've scolded the child sufficiently,

may he please be excused?

I didn't realize I was bellowing.

I only do that when I think something's important.

It's my mistake.

♪ Callin' out around the world ♪

♪ Are you ready for a brand new beat?:

♪ Down in New Orleans 3

♪ In New York City ♪

Operator, I want to make a credit-card call to Chicago.

♪ Sweet music ♪

♪ There'll be music everywhere ♪

♪ There'll be swingin' swayin' And records playin ♪

♪ Dancin' in the street ♪

Hello, Mr. Stranton?

Uh, listen, we got a couple of problems on this end.

Something is going on.

I mean, people are getting sick.

Uh, I don't know what kind of sick. Just sick.

Well, I... I know it's not your problem, but the thing is,

it's got Ringerman worried. It could work for us.

Well, then, you will be interested in this.

Rollie dumped the $300,000.

[sighing]

At the tables. I don't know, he must have gone bananas.

Yeah.

Right here at Tahoe?

What do I use, an ice pick?

I'll do my best.

I'll get Ringerman to listen.

Yeah, thank... thank you.

You won't be disappointed.

♪ Gotta keep right on movin' ♪

♪ Every day and every night job ♪

♪ You have to keep right on movin' ♪

♪ Yeah, baby! ♪

Not related. Not the death, that is.

But his sickness puts him in the category with every patient we've got

along with the seven that died.

They all checked in this past weekend.

Every single one of them spent Saturday night

from 8:00 to 9:30 in the showroom.

It has to be food-related.

There's no has to be. That's what they thought in Philadelphia.

Tell me about the food analysis.

Too much fat, too few proteins,

but nothing startling so far.

Distension of the stomach,

a lot of the gross changes point toward poisoning.

Let me see that. How come everybody else didn't get sick?

Even with food poisoning, there's no unanimity.

People can be sitting around the same table.

This was the dinner-show menu.

We've been through it all.

Well, we'll have to look where there is a choice.

There's chicken and roast beef. Figure 50-50.

I'm telling you, Quincy.

The trouble with exotic poisons is

they're cleaned out of the system too fast.

Tell me. Why did Fletcher get sick a day after everybody else?

Haw?

I made the call, Rollie.

Eat? I... I never eat before a show.

What about after?

Usually, but not last night. I was so upset, you know,

because people were walking out on my show...

What... what are you doing?

Go ahead. Keep telling.

People were walking out on my show and Angie getting sick and all.

I didn't eat at all.

Do you remember the next time you did eat?

Uh, yeah, just the next day, you know, when they...

When this thing all broke on the television.

Yeah, this time, I was eating when it broke on television.

What... what are you doin'?

I am just going to deaden the area, anesthetize it.

Uh, yeah? What were you eating?

Well, something from the refrigerator.

Ow!

S-Soup, I guess.

Uh, uh, hey, Doc, my foot is... I don't feel nothin'.

[chuckling] Well, it's supposed to be dead.

Was the food from the night before?

Oh, I guess so.

You see, my guy brings up the food from the first show.

When he saw I didn't eat it,

he must have put it in the refrigerator.

What are you gonna do now?

Well, I need a piece of live bone.

Uh... uh, you need a what?

I need a piece of bone from your hip. Just a little tiny piece.

Yeah, my... my liver's not much bigger.

You gonna take a piece of that, too?

You won't even feel it. It'll be just like a little nick.

[grunting] Muggings have been less than that, doc.

I'm gonna go in now and take the bone.

You didn't get it?

Not gonna hurt you.

What did you do before you became a doctor,

tusk remover on the safari?

It's all over. Okay.

Oh, oh, God, you're worse than an agent.

Doc.

Thanks.

Oh.

Get Dr. Quincy.

Right here. What is it?

We've lost another one.

Dinehart? But he was improving.

(Walter) I know, I thought we were starting to

get this thing under control.

There were no new deaths.

That's right.

Well, I guess we better hold a postmortem.

That won't be necessary, Walter.

Excuse me for a minute.

Nurse, has anybody been in this clinic

during the last 15 or 16 minutes,

besides yourself and the doctors?

No one.

Dinehart had no visitors?

Oh, Mr. Bracken was here but I turned him away.

I explained that the patients were in isolation.

Did you see him leave?

Uh, no, I was called away from the desk.

Anybody else here?

Just the patients.

Thank you, nurse.

Yeah, room service. I know, but this is the mountains.

You guys don't know anything about clams.

A little bread crumbs and grated cheese. That's it.

What? Operator, get off the line. I'm talking to room...

Who? An emergency call from...

Oh, Dr. Quincy. Yeah, put him on.

Hi, Danny. Listen, I want you to do something for me.

You name it, Doc, you got it.

Haw Bracken.

Oh, Doc, that's not a name

that's gonna sparkle my enthusiasm.

Listen, I want you to keep an eye on him for me.

I want you to go where he goes, do what he does,

if he tries to leave the hotel, call security.

Tell them he is sick, anything you want. But keep him here.

And I want a full report on him.

Huh, that'll be fun. Do you mind if I ask you why?

I'll tell you later. Bye-bye.

I wouldn't mind knowing just in case I get my lumps.

[sighing]

That's good booze. Good booze.

Thanks very much.

You know with, uh, with all this bad publicity,

by tomorrow we may have to cut our offer in half.

I mean, I had to close down that hotel in Philadelphia.

But what do you say?

Did you guys pull this?

Did you kill all these people just to get my hotel?

Uh, let's just keep our focus on the important issues.

[sighing]

We got a deal or not?

[sighing]

What's so important that it couldn't wait until morning?

[sighing]

I'm selling the hotel.

You are what?

What choice do I have?

How many guests will be coming here

even after this epidemic dies down?

I'm getting mass cancellations for months ahead.

Who are you selling the hotel to?

Don't tell me.

Let me guess.

[sighing]

Well, just where does that leave me?

Oh, I'm not worried about you.

You'll land on your own two feet.

Or thereabouts.

(Leslie) Shaughnessy?

Come here, Shaughnessy.

Shaughnessy!

Larry! Larry!

It's Shaughnessy.

He's dead.

I don't understand. I mean,

he was frisking around as usual this afternoon.

Holy! Feels like he's been baking in an oven.

Larry, w-what's the matter?

Uh, he's got the symptoms.

[sighing]

What are you talking about, the disease?

Did he have anything to eat tonight?

No, he didn't even touch his food.

And yesterday, did he... Yesterday, my God!

I brought leftovers home from the hotel kitchen.

They all assumed it was contagious and infectious. I wonder...

Poor Shaughnessy.

None of this was his fault.

None of what?

Just skip it. What do you have to do?

Autopsy.

Go on. Get dressed.

Where are you going to do it?

Same place I did the others.

Clinic.

What am I doing, going into business for myself?

I've got to wake Quincy.

If I was sure he wouldn't think I was a total idiot.

Larry,

you want to find it yourself if it's there, don't you?

It's not a contest.

This is the most interested

I've seen you in anything since...

Why didn't you tell me you hated what... what you were doing?

Because I didn't.

Might have been different if I'd known.

A lot of past tense in that sentence.

Yes.

[door closing]

AI! Pines has been looking for you everywhere.

He's back in the office now.

More bad news?

I don't know. He won't tell me anything.

But he looked very excited.

[sighing]

(Larry) AI!

Wait. Wait.

What? I got it.

The disease?

No, the answer. It's not a disease and it's not contagious.

You're off the hook.

What?

But, Larry, I just sold the hotel.

♪ Whenever I'm with you ♪

♪ Something inside starts burning ♪

♪ And I'm filled with desire Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Could it be a devil in me ♪

♪ Or is this the way love's supposed to be? ♪

♪ It's like a heatwave ♪

♪ It's burning in my heart ♪

♪ I can't keep from crying ♪

♪ It's tearing me apart ♪

♪ Whenever you call my name ♪

♪ So slow, sweet and plain ♪

♪ Right then, right there ♪

♪ I feel that burning pain ♪

♪ Has high blood pressure got a hold on me? ♪

♪ Is this the way love's supposed to be? ♪

♪ It's like a heatwave, it's burning in my heart ♪

Ham Haw Bracken.

[laughing]

Danny. Danny.

You don't remember me.

I'm afraid not.

I ran a place in Detroit.

You used to come in with Rollie Dinehart.

Danny's Place. You remember now?

No.

Well, we can't all be celebrities. Bartender.

Two more of the same over here, okay?

I'm at the Marina.

What?

I got a place at the Marina.

Oh, the Marina?

Yeah, you know, the Marina.

Yeah, I know the Marina.

Listen, I'm uh,

[clearing throat] sorry to hear about your

friend getting sick, you know, Rollie Dinehart.

Especially after losing all that money

in 21. I, uh, dropped back quite a bit myself.

Don't lose the Marina.

[chuckling] Don't lose the Marina.

Uh, they told me he dumped $50,000 in half an hour.

Yeah, when you lose, you lose fast, you know.

I did know this was one of your places, you know what I mean?

Beautiful. Beautiful, but empty.

It'll change.

[laughing]

Yeah, nice talking to you.

(Larry) I'm... I'm going to try and say all this

in layman's language.

Basically,

the... the discovery was accidental.

Last night, our pet Irish setter died very suddenly.

When I checked him for symptoms,

I found the same symptoms we've been tracking down here.

I had the facilities in my clinic,

so I performed an autopsy on Shaughnessy, the dog.

I don't know what I was looking for.

I, uh, I was somewhat hesitant.

Dr. Quincy and the LA. lab had eliminated all the basic poisons,

virus, bacteria and so on.

All that was left us was exotic metals.

Well, there are over 200 tests for those.

I guess I got lucky. I had fed my dog

some leftovers from the hotel kitchen.

Some filleted chicken and some dumplings.

When I checked the list of human victims and the common denominator

of when and where they'd eaten,

I narrowed it down to the dumplings.

I broke into the hotel kitchen and I got hold of

the, uh, the flour and some baking soda.

It was in the baking soda.

Now, as to how it got there,

I also found, uh, what I will have to call

basic commercial rat poison

in the same cabinet.

Its... its principal component is barium carbonate.

Uh, the easiest explanation is that some of it spilled on to the shelf.

It was mistaken for baking soda

and swept back into the same container.

Barium chloride is incredibly difficult to trace

unless you happen to be looking for it.

But it's a poison that causes all the symptoms

we've been trying to trace down.

And sure enough,

when I tested for it in the substance I took from my dog,

it was there.

Barium carbonate in the dumplings turned into barium chloride

when mixed with the stomach acid

and it became a deadly poison.

In other words, it's been solved and you solved it.

Uh, it was solved a long time ago when I had the great good fortune

of studying under Dr. Miles Hoagland at Harvard.

He used to kick my tail around the block

every time I forgot to show too much curiosity.

Dr. Quincy, do you feel upstaged?

I beg your pardon?

Sir, I said, do you feel upstaged?

Oh, yes, and I'm delighted.

I'm sure Dr. Hoagland would be, too.

(Danny) Quincy, wait up.

I got to revise my earlier opinion.

About what?

About the organization.

You should pardon the expression.

They're trying to take over this hotel.

Listen, I just had an interesting conversation

with one of Rollie Dinehart's associates.

Haw Bracken.

He and I got very cozy over the whole situation.

People in this hotel start to die,

it's bad for business.

The organization moves in,

saves Ringerman from sudden collapse.

And maybe they lose a rat

who owes them $300,000 in the process.

Emma“? Fight.

That's pretty far out, ain't it, Danny?

It's working, trust me.

(woman on PA system) Mr. Caldwell, telephone call.

Mr. Caldwell, please.

What mom is Haw Bracken 'm'?

Oh, Dr. Quincy, yeah, he's in, uh, 604.

Thank you.

But I just called up with a message and Mr. Bracken was out.

Do you have any idea where he is?

No, none at all.

♪ J'[music playing]

Do you know a Mr. Bracken?

Thank you.

So what's the difference?

Mr. Bracken.

No problem. I'll talk to you later.

I'm Dr. Quincy.

I think it's about time you and I had a little talk, don't you?

What about? I ain't sick.

Well, then, why don't we talk about your old friend,

the late Rollie Dinehart.

Oh, yeah, that was a real shame.

I understand you were in the clinic

a couple of minutes before it happened.

So? I came to visit an old friend.

I know you killed him. I want to know why.

Hey, look, Dr. Quincy,

Rollie died just like everybody else in this hotel.

Uh, respiratory failure, isn't that what you call it?

You can't prove anything different.

You a betting man?

You're bluffing.

I'll show you my hole card if you answer a few questions.

Go ahead. Ask a few questions.

Were you sent here to kill Dinehart, or get this hotel, or both?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about all the people here who were poisoned.

You think we were behind all that?

You got to be crazy.

Besides, didn't you hear, they said that was food poisoning.

Accidental.

Maybe.

Doctor, we're businessmen.

We don't go around poisoning people.

But I got to tell you,

when people started dying, it was a blessing.

Suddenly, we were back in the ballpark.

Ringerman has to deal. His back is against the wall.

We're like the Mounties.

We always get our man.

You know, Mr. Bracken, I believe you.

I don't think anybody else will. But I believe you.

I don't think the gaming commission is going to believe you.

I guarantee you guys aren't gonna get this hotel.

One more thing, in case you didn't know it,

forensic medicine is an exact science.

When you smother someone,

you leave teeth indentations on the upper lip.

And since we can place you at the scene

of the homicide minutes before it happened,

I think the D.A. has a pretty good case, don't you?

Ta.

(Sam) I know it's, uh, anticlimactic

but the bone-ashing shows barium.

Was it ingested?

Definitely,

Turned into barium chloride when it mixed with the stomach acid.

Is there a sign of any other poison?

We tested for everything.

I'd give the young doctor a cigar.

Word's out, huh?

Yeah.

They even interrupted the football game.

That figures.

Anything wrong, Quince?

No, no, no, Sam, just tired, that's all. Just tired.

[chuckling]

Well, are you heading home

or are you gonna make your fortune at the tables?

[chuckling]

Uh, they're all waiting for me back at Larry Pines' place.

He's gonna take us to the airport by boat.

Want to check out something first.

It's all over, friend. What are you trying to prove?

That Lee is right. That I'm a hopeless paranoid.

Yeah.

Bye-bye, Sam. Bye-bye.

[sighing]

Hey, hon, is this all their luggage?

Yeah, I think so.

Okay, I'm loading it in the boat.

How about a little refreshment before you go?

Hmm. Thank you.

Hmm?

It's straight.

[chuckling] I'm sorry. We're out of vodka.

Thanks.

Do me a favor.

What's that?

Hurry right back.

Okay.

We got lots to talk about.

Like what?

Oh, like, uh, you, me,

getting away from here.

Medical research? Mmm-hmm, and our future.

I like the agenda.

I'll set a record getting across the lake and back.

Hurry back. Quick. Quick.

(Larry) Hey. How's it going?

Great. Got everything mopped up?

Yeah. Dr. Michaels went back home.

A couple of days, your clinic will be nice and quiet again.

Yeah.

It's always a big letdown after a tough case is cracked.

[chuckling]

Strange,

you don't seem let down.

We beat them, didn't we?

When was it, Larry?

Exactly when did you know it was over

and you'd have to make a move?

Was it when I took the bone sample?

You knew I'd hear from my lab within 48 hours

and know the truth.

Truth? What truth?

Was that when you decided you'd have to poison your dog?

Poison my dog? Shaughnessy? You know I loved that animal.

That's why it was so hard for me

to believe what was there to be seen.

But you really wanted to wait, didn't you?

Wait until we threw our hands up

like they did in Philadelphia.

That would've been a lot more dramatic.

A town full of pathologists. All of us stumped.

[snickering]

And there you are, the hero, the savior.

You know what you're saying?

Oh, yeah.

I poisoned all those people?

And killed seven of them.

[sighing]

Politics never change.

I get a little bit lucky,

I find out I'm stepping all over people's egos.

You really did feel upstaged, didn't you?

Oh, cut it out! Will you stop playing games, Larry?

Stop playing games!

[sighing]

[clicking tongue] Impossible.

Too bad. I honestly thought of us as friends.

I don't understand this kind of jealousy.

[sighing] I never did. You of all people.

(Quincy) You're gonna want to hear what I have to say.

I always felt that man's hand was here somewhere.

But I could never believe it was yours.

I called Dr. Hoagland at Harvard.

[birds chirping]

Well, what has that got to do with anything?

Probably doesn't remember me, anyway. One of his lesser triumphs.

Oh, he remembers you all right, Doctor.

And don't minimize your triumph.

A brilliant young student who diagnosed

that a child ate barium carbonate.

When it mixed with the acid in her stomach,

it became barium chloride, a deadly poison.

He told you about that.

Saved the child's life.

What a wonderful beginning.

How do you go from saving a child's life

to committing murder?

I performed a second autopsy on Shaughnessy.

Ah, you know he ate the dumplings.

Oh, he ate the poisoned dumplings, all right.

But you had to make sure that the poison

worked very fast. Time was running out.

So you injected barium directly into the bloodstream.

What is the point...

I found the needle track!

I turned the evidence over to the police.

Why, Larry? Tell me that. Why?

My wife.

You wanted to get back at Ringerman?

You knew he was having an affair with her?

Who told you that?

Nobody had to tell me. I saw the way she lit up around him.

I know she didn't have a high opinion of you.

Well, she does now.

And that's why you did it, Larry, isn't it?

You wanted to be that brilliant doctor again,

the one she fell in love with.

You poisoned all those people

to recapture a moment.

No, no. Because I needed her back.

I needed her back more than life itself.

You don't know what it's like to have the woman you love

think of you as some kind of microscopic vermin.

And what is she gonna think of you now,

now that you're a murderer?

I only thought it would make a few people sick.

No matter what you think

I'm not a murderer.

Tell that to those seven dead people.