Original subtitles

[dramatic music]

♪

[indistinct chatter]

- son of a gun, There'’s old steve marley.

I thought he was dead.

I mean, I thought He drank himself to death

A long time ago.

- let'’s go over and say hello. - no, wait a minute.

I'’d rather not.

Let'’s find a bar downstairs.

Steve makes me A little uncomfortable.

I'’m with you.

You know what?

- okay, okay. What?

Too much noise.

Place is too stuffy.

This scotch, It just don'’t make it.

I got something a lot better.

It'’s real quality.

Let'’s get out of all this noise.

Take me.

[grunting]

Huh?

- beautiful. Beautiful.

That good stuff?

Ahh, beautiful.

Come on.

Come on.

Let'’s go over there.

Now look at it,

And that was the last thing Ruth saw.

Ruth?

- you didn'’t even find out Her name, did you?

What the hell'’s going on?

Ugh!

[moaning]

Ahh!

Excuse me, please.

Excuse me, excuse me.

How you doing, baby?

His name is steven marley.

This was pinned to his jacket, A name tag.

- national society of industrial Engineers and designers.

- they'’re having Their convention in the hotel.

He was in the bar last night Lapping it up.

We'’re checking now to see If he had a good friend,

Maybe a broad.

Then there'’s this,

One of the few things In his wallet.

- "Congratulations From the national society

"For the grand prize In design awards

For the year 1970."

Important guy, huh?

Yeah, just like icarus.

- marley conned drinks Out of everybody.

There was one guy He could have left with--

Short hair, Young looking, athletic,

But nobody remembers him good.

The bar was loaded And so were all the designers.

- yeah, The usual not-so-hot time

In the old town tonight.

All right, What time did he go off?

- according The medical examiner,

The time of the subject'’s death

Was between 1:00 and 2:00 In the morning.

Constant use of alcohol Is indicated by hyperemia

And irritative elements In the digestive tract mucosa.

You'’re kidding?

- blood sugar concentration At the time of decease was 35%.

- 35%? Where'’s the decimal point?

- right here, In front of the 3.

In front of the 3?

Would you tell him What the difference

Between 35% is and .35--

Yeah, forget about it.

What do you got?

- last known address Is west 60th street.

How'’s that for a yellow sheet?

- drunk and disorderly, Drunk and disorderly,

Drunk and disorderly, Trespassing, b and o, b and o...

How many, maybe 40?

- 37, first one started About almost three years ago,

Skipped a month, And then the guy never stopped.

He was trying To drown himself.

- top designer to bum In less than a year.

How do you figure that?

Give me that address,

And would you explain to him

The difference About the decimal point?

So I'’m officially a widow.

Well, what do you know?

The booze Finally drowned poor steven.

No, not exactly.

He went off a roof.

Oh, my god.

- when was the last time You saw him?

Well, let me see.

Six months ago, maybe five, Something like that.

I found him drunk In the hallway,

So I gave him a bath, A kiss on the cheek,

And a $10 bill And sent him on his way.

- I mean, have you spoken to him In the interim?

About a week ago.

He called to tell me They were going to one

Of those conventions they have,

Something he hadn'’t done In two years--

Make contacts, Pull himself together again.

- what was it that pulled him Apart to begin with?

I have no idea.

Suddenly he couldn'’t sleep,

So he drank To knock himself out.

I caught him-- Arguments, no explanations.

We screamed at each other.

He left. He came back.

He drank, And finally I'’d had it.

I threw him out.

- why would anybody Want to kill him?

Did someone do that?

Maybe.

Look, I'’m going to need some--

Some names, Some people in his past.

- I'’m not gonna be much help To you, lieutenant.

His men friends from skid row I managed to avoid.

The old ones from before Would be at the convention.

As for his lady friend, However,

I guess I'’m bitter enough To drop her name--

Linda miller.

[woman singing opera]

♪

Ruth...

Over?

Is it all over?

Paul?

No, shelby, it'’s not.

Not yet.

Soon?

[opera music plays]

♪

[woman singing opera]

♪

He was mental, you know?

He brought books Like the prophet,you know,

And this is my beloved.

Oh.

"To linda with karma, Love, steven."

That'’s nice.

We discussed,

And when he wasn'’t drunk, We talked about things,

Oh, like current events, The stage.

I really learned a lot From steven.

It was kind of his contribution, You know?

Oh, yeah.

- I used to just like To hold him,

And I'’ll tell you something.

Do you want me to tell you Something, lieutenant?

- please tell me something, Miss miller.

- that'’s all steven wanted me To do,

Just hold him, Until he got crazy.

- well, let'’s see, a man reads this is my beloved.

He likes to be held. That'’s nice.

Gets himself arrested 37 times,

Sounds like a man in conflict, Miss miller.

Tell me.

Carrot juice.

One night, he hit me.

One time and then...

[whooshes] Out the door.

Boy, I never let him back In here again, you know?

- mm-hmm.

Well, how long Did you know him?

Mmm.

I met steven two years ago, Maybe not quite,

And he was around, I guess, six months.

How'’d you meet him?

Through louis, I think.

Louis who?

Louis o'’reilly.

I'’ve got his card Here some place.

Let me see.

Ah, here we go.

Louis o'’reilly.

- well, I shouldn'’t Be surprised, but I am.

Louis o'’reilly, Industrial designer.

- I don'’t care What the display models wear,

Bikinis, evening gowns, Or elastic bottom drawers,

The rate is $10 an hour.

Tell her that.

If she quits, she quits, Okay?

Help you?

I'’m lieutenant kojak.

I'’m looking to locate One of your convention guests.

Sure, what'’s his name?

- his name Is louis o'’reilly.

- you don'’t want To locate mr. O'’reilly.

Surely, you'’re investigating His death.

Oh, am I?

- two suicides in just A few days at the same hotel.

I'’ve been marveling The papers

Haven'’t made something ghastly Out of it.

Indulge me, miss,

I mean, people have accidents All the time,

People die all the time,

And you know something, I never get to hear about them.

- late yesterday, Mr. O'’reilly

Was found on the pavement Beneath his room.

He committed suicide, Out of his window, lieutenant,

From the 12th floor.

- lieutenant, You have a mr. O'’reilly here.

Claims he has an appointment With you.

- I'’m lieutenant kojak, Mr. O'’reilly.

- sit down? - thank you.

Get out of here.

What happened to my brother?

- well, mr. O'’reilly, Our records

List him as a probable suicide.

Oh, the hell with that.

There'’s no way I'’m gonna believe that.

Oh, why not?

- louis was a man Eager to live.

He'’d recently met A lovely woman,

And they were planning To be married in a month

In tucson, Where I just flew in from.

- is that where she is now, Tucson?

Yes.

Who pushed my brother Out of that window?

- mr. O'’reilly, How well did your brother

Know a steven marley?

Steven, fairly well.

Why?

- and has he been in touch With him lately?

- not lately. I don'’t think so.

When was the last time?

- after that last convention At the saint teresa,

Louis didn'’t mention a steven Very much.

- mr. O'’reilly, Steven marley is dead.

Dead?

- early this morning. I'’m sorry.

What an awful thing.

What a terrible, Awful coincidence.

Mm.

Myron joyce, operator.

Are you sure You rang his room?

Okay.

Did he leave word When he'’d be in?

No, there'’s no message.

Now, the guy I talked to

Says he can'’t remember anything Unusual happening.

Wrong.

You mean two years ago At the saint teresa hotel?

- yeah. - a jumper.

In the unusual occurrence Reports of that week,

A jumper At the saint teresa hotel

On the night Of september the 17.

Right there Where it says "Defenestration."

That means "Out the window".

[chuckles]

Nice talking to you.

[woman singing opera]

♪

Enough already, okay?

- oh, you want a downer Or something?

No.

Make you feel mellow.

- no. No drugs, shelby.

That'’s not my scene.

I got to keep a cool head Anyhow.

Baby.

You'’re quite a guy, You know?

I respect you. You got dedication.

You'’re a strong human being.

- I got to tell you the truth, Shelby.

I'’m scared.

I was scared in '’nam too,

Not about dying, About killing.

That scared me.

- hey, you got medals, You were a terrific soldier.

- somehow, You get the hang of it.

You have to.

I don'’t know.

- you know, I think my sister Ruth was a very lucky girl.

She never should Have been killed, paul.

It wasn'’t fair.

They had her all to themselves, And she was just a child.

Stop it, shelby.

Well, you'’re making 'em pay.

How much time do you have?

- I got to be finished today, By tonight.

Is that enough time?

Paul, I'’m talking to you.

Hm?

- on september 20th, Two years,

A female caucasian, age 22 Fell or jumped

From approximately The 16th story

Of the saint teresa hotel

During the time That some designers

Were having their convention.

How do you like Those apples?

- fell, jump, pushed; What?

- it was closed out fell Or jumped, but it'’s all there.

You read it.

You know, it'’s hard to tell, The saint teresa hotel,

It'’s an old one, remember?

The fire escape on the outside, She was found beneath it.

- I thought you wanted me To read it.

- and during the time That all of these conventioneers

Were getting ready to go home

With their bloody mary Breakfasts,

Not one of these good people Ever heard of the young lady.

- are you ready? - this is crazy.

Some madman starts pushing

People out of windows Two years ago,

And gets back On the job again this year?

What'’s he got against designers?

- oh, no, no, no, She'’s no designer,

Just a simple, Young little housewife

Waiting to join Her soldier husband overseas.

- ruth nelson, et cetera, Et cetera, et cetera,

Height, weight, Next of kin,

Husband paul, United states army.

- yeah, He got compassionate leave

From his post in germany.

Returned there Right after the funeral.

We got world wide locators On him now,

Getting the scam on him.

Maybe he can shed some light On her death.

Maybe she was a suicide.

- well, there'’s a surviving Older sister,

Shelby philips, Local address.

- maybe she was being shopped Around like marley'’s mistress.

What'’s her name, Linda miller?

Hey, frank, it'’s possible.

Husband far, far away overseas, Huh?

Whose room? Was she in o'’reilly's room?

What room? Like that.

- it'’s gonna be pretty tough To find out.

Saint teresa'’s Now a parking lot.

You got to be kidding.

This whole country Is an information bank.

Nobody throws away records Anymore,

And besides that,

We got a room full Of bright ones out there.

What'’s ruth nelson's sister'’s Name?

- shelby philips, 668 tremaine avenue, brooklyn.

Yeah.

[knocking]

Yeah?

- hello, I'’m lieutenant kojak, Manhattan south.

I'’m looking for A shelby philips.

Oh, I am she.

Oh.

Can I talk to you for a couple Of minutes, miss philips?

Please, come in.

- mm-hmm.

Thank you.

It'’s about your sister, ruth.

She fell to her death Two years ago.

Committed suicide, yeah.

- well, There have been recent deaths

Under similar circumstances,

And I kind of find it hard To accept.

Maybe it was an accident.

I mean, something other Than a suicide.

- how could I know, Lieutenant?

How could even I be sure?

I mean, I was--

I was outside someplace Hooting around,

And I came home,

And they told me About my sister.

You want something cold, A cold drink?

- oh, no, no, no. No thanks.

Did you get that in switzerland?

What?

- the alps skiing, ski resort, Or something like that?

Me? No.

That thing.

Well, I rent furnished,

And it...

Just came with the...

Things.

- how about your brother-in-law?

- my brother-in-law?

- paul, Your sister'’s husband,

When did you see him last?

At ruth'’s funeral.

The army sent him home, Some kind of leave they give.

They flew him home All the way from germany.

I know. I really do know.

You see, that'’s where That comes from,

From paul.

He visited there when he was Stationed in germany.

Paul sent it.

Still a g.I.?

We don'’t keep in touch

Since the tragedy Of my sister'’s death.

- what do you do, Miss philips?

Me?

For a living?

I'’m on call.

I substitute for secretaries Who get sick,

And I listen to music

And wait for the phone To ring.

- mm-hmm.

Listen,

This isn'’t the only record I have,

But, you know, Sometimes you get, you know,

Really stuck on something,

And you don'’t hear enough of it, Right?

[operatic music plays]

♪

[woman singing opera]

♪

Groovy.

♪

Thanks for your time, Miss philips.

♪

What'’d he want?

Nothing.

Nothing!

It'’s all right, baby.

They killed ruth, And what you'’re doing is right.

I know.

- well, anyway, What worried me about her

Was that little yellow pillow.

She said it came with the house,

And then she remembered That her brother-in-law

Gave it to her.

Why don'’t you taste it first?

Hey, that'’s good.

It'’s good coffee.

You got to be kidding?

Yeah.

Well, anyway, she was smart Enough to cover up.

She figured that I knew That garmisch was r and r

For german-based troops.

She'’s a smart cookie, This shelby,

But I spotted her for a user From the word go.

She got a yellow sheet?

Two arrests for possession,

And one parole for a cure At lexington.

- world wide locators On paul nelson.

He'’s alive and well And a master sergeant,

Been assigned To the 12th tactical group

Stationed at fort benning, Georgia.

He'’s an instructor With the rangers,

Just got back from overseas.

Yeah, how long ago?

Two weeks.

He was stationed over there For 3 1/2 years in germany.

Right now He'’s on a ten-day furlough.

Where to?

They said he took a jeep

And went to climb rocks In the georgia mountains.

He'’s due back on post Tomorrow morning.

So nobody knows where he is?

- nope. - well, I want to know.

Get a description up, And get it out on the street,

Especially around that hotel.

I'’m already working on that,

And the army'’s sending it out On the wire too,

Picture included.

- well, I want to take a peek At him on the inside.

Complete psychological profile,

A 24-hour surveillance On his sister-in-law,

Shelby philips,

Just in case He decides to deliver

Another little yellow pillow.

Oh, are you comfortable?

Who made the coffee This morning?

I don'’t know.

It must have been saperstein.

It'’s pretty good.

Saperstein?

Later for saperstein.

I was a little musty, But I made the coffee.

I followed the directions On the can to the letter.

- oh, With your own razzle-dazzle?

What do you mean You were musty?

- well, going through All those cartons in the cellar.

They gave me a brownie to help, But she wore a smock.

Who gave you a brownie?

- the holding company that owns The saint teresa hotel.

They were very cooperative.

They gave me a brownie,

They pointed me to the cellar And said "Go."

Oh, and was it worth it?

Oh, yes.

Louis o'’reilly, Registration card,

Two years old.

- louis o'’reilly, Address, home;

Checked in september 20, 1972, Room 1506, single.

Daily rate, $35. I'’m going blind.

Bill all charges To donald calder,

670 central park west.

Write that down for me.

670...

Donald calder.

- turn the card over, Lieutenant.

Due to lack of facilities,

Room shared By myron joyce,

Chicago, illinois, No charge.

- are you looking For the list of persons

At the convention?

Yeah.

- I already checked Myron joyce'’s name against it.

And?

- he'’s registered At the aurora...

But he'’s not there.

He went out with some group To check out some factory.

They said he'’d be back later This afternoon.

Oh, you'’re fantastic.

You know, I think I'’m your biggest fan.

If you can'’t reach me here, I'’ll be with donald calder.

I want to talk To this myron joyce.

Okay, lieutenant.

- o'’reilly was a dear friend Of yours, you said.

- mmm, I didn'’t see enough of him,

Only when he got to new york

Or business took me To his part of the country.

His death was a shocker.

- well, the reason I'’m here mr. Calder, is

The fact that, two years ago, You picked up his tab

At the saint teresa.

At the convention, yes.

It'’s curious You should even mention that.

You see, I admired his talent And his conversation,

And it was my pleasure To pay his way.

Are you in the same business?

- I manufacture toys and games, And louis did some work for me.

- well, at that convention, Did you see louis there?

- oh, yes, I picked him up At the plane,

And we had a couple of lunches.

That'’s about it.

- on the night Of september 20th,

Did you see him then?

I'’m sure I didn't.

I never go out nights.

I bring whatever foolishness I need right into here.

[women giggling]

Do you know a steven marley?

Marley, I think we met.

He'’s a friend of louis's.

Why do you ask?

He died yesterday morning.

He was pushed off a roof.

Oh.

That'’s pretty scary, Isn'’t it?

Why'’s that?

- two men, Friends,

Who died the same way So close in time.

- one final question, Mr. Calder.

Did you know a ruth nelson?

No, I don'’t know the name.

[women giggling]

- I'’ll let you get back To your guests.

- if I can be of any help At any time,

Please don'’t hesitate.

I'’m mostly right here.

- well, I'’m gonna remember that.

- the description Of paul nelson

Just came over the wire And the photo also.

They'’re already on the street.

- what about The psychological profile?

Yeah, they sent that too.

He has a pretty high I.Q.

He'’s quiet, a good soldier, A hell of a mountain climber,

Pretty much of a loner, Like that.

I see.

Nothing kinky?

No, not on paper.

- well, look, I'’ll be back around 3:00.

If myron joyce calls,

Tell him I'’m on my way To the hotel.

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

- myron? - yeah.

Donald calder here.

You remember me, Don'’t you?

Are you kidding?

You'’re in half of my nightmares.

- I'’d stay away from high places If I were you, myron.

Louis is dead So is steve marley.

- you think I don'’t know that?

You think I'’m not going crazy Trying to figure out

If this is because Of what happened

At the saint teresa hotel?

Listen, I think I'’d better Just go to the police.

I wouldn'’t do that.

- well, look, I'’m frightened.

What do you think I should do?

Get out of town.

- well, I can'’t do that, Not until tomorrow.

I'’ve got too many commitments.

Then protect yourself.

Be careful.

- well, Is that what you'’re gonna do?

Something like that.

- pardon me, Have you got a match?

Oh, sorry, I don'’t smoke.

- how you been, Mr. Quimby?

You miss seattle?

No, not at all.

[knocking on door]

Yup?

- john quimby, myron, From seattle.

Oh!

What is this?

Who are you?

Paul nelson.

Ruth.

Yes, ruth.

I was married to ruth, And then you killed her.

- oh, no, oh, no, no, Listen--

It'’s not, it's not-- I did nothing.

I was there, But I did nothing.

Now, listen to me.

Just listen to me. Just listen to me.

I can tell you what happened.

I can tell you Just what happened.

- I know what happened--

Ruth died.

Ahh!

[sirens wailing]

- my god, it'’s myron, Myron joyce.

Oh, my god, what'’s happening At this convention?

What about paul nelson?

- well, the pictures Are all out.

Everybody'’s looking for him.

He'’s got to be our man, frank.

So far, nothing, nada, But he'’s an army ranger.

He'’s lethal. His profession is to kill.

- since he'’s due back At his outfit in the morning,

We'’ll have him return For questioning,

If he shows, but suppose his job Here isn'’t done?

How do we figure this guy out?

- two years ago, he'’s away In the army in europe, okay?

Then we have this convention At saint teresa'’s.

Maybe ruth was hired To display toasters, who knows,

But anyway, she finds herself Up on the 16th floor

Mixed up with a bunch of guys Who got to go back

To the office with a story For the boys, right?

The booze, the broads, And who nailed who--

- all right, so ruth Is in one of those rooms,

More than one guy with her, Maybe three.

There'’s o'reilly, Steven marley,

And maybe this last guy, Myron joyce.

Now, something happened.

She ran down the hall, And the next thing we know,

She takes a 15-story dive.

- who knows What they were doing to her.

Maybe she was coming to us.

- paul comes home On compassionate leave,

Attends her funeral, And gets back to germany.

And two years later,

Our same buddy boys Are having a convention,

So he figures Whatever they did to my wife,

I'’m gonna do to them.

- yeah, but if we marked it A probable suicide

And closed the case out,

How did he find out different,

And how did he know Who was in that room?

- oh, frank, I just ran out of theories.

- excuse me, captain. - yeah.

- lieutenant, Crocker and saperstein

Just checked in, In case you want to know.

- oh, well, I'’m always interested

In a day in the lives of crocker And saperstein, stavros.

- well, they were doing the tail On shelby philips.

She was cruising, So they were cruising.

Cruising what?

7th avenue.

Seems like she'’s got A frailty.

She checked in At the admiralty hotel,

You know, that fleabag on 37th, With a customer.

- she'’s still in there, Lieutenant.

- maybe she'’ll score enough For a fix.

Hey, there'’s the john.

- saperstein, You tail him.

He could be a messenger From paul nelson.

I got it.

Careful now.

Hey, lieutenant, She'’s flagging a cab.

Let'’s see where she's going.

She'’s heading uptown.

747 to central, over.

Central to 747, go ahead.

- paul nelson, Subject under surveillance,

Seen entering 668 tremaine.

Request backup immediately, 747 out.

- 10-4, 747.

Central to all units In the vicinity of 668 tremaine,

Unit 747 requesting backup.

Hold it, police!

Hey, lieutenant.

- yeah, Looks like she made her score.

She'’s heading home.

Go away.

It'’s the fuzz, baby.

Open up.

What the hell do you want?

Oh!

- no time to flush the juice Down the tubes, baby?

- look, say your say And get out, huh?

Might take a little time.

It all depends on you, Shelby.

Why don'’t you come back?

Why don'’t you Be really beautiful

And come back, Huh, ten minutes?

- mm-hmm.

What happened At the saint teresa hotel?

[panting]

Come back, huh?

- two years ago At the saint teresa hotel,

What happened?

Oh.

[sobbing]

Look, I can'’t talk to you now.

I really can'’t.

Where you there, shelby?

But you had to be,

Otherwise how would paul know Exactly what happened?

You know something, kid, You'’re the missing link.

- I'’m gonna die, You know that?

Talk to me!

- yeah, yeah, I was there! Now go, please, go!

All right, what else?

What else?

[panting]

Wait.

Look, whatever you want,

I mean, Whatever you really want,

Just come back.

- they tried to rape Your sister, is that it,

And then she ran?

They chased her, And then she ran,

And then she fell, Is that what happened?

- [crying] Oh, my god!

Oh, my god!

[sobbing and gasping]

Why were you there, shelby?

[gasping]

A model.

- demonstrating products, Like that?

What else?

Um...

I went up to a room With some man.

O'’reilly's room?

Only...

There were others there,

And finally...

Just me and them

And...

Uppers and downers And amyls and whatever,

And--and she walked in,

And my little sister ruth Saw it all!

She saw all of it!

[sobbing]

- just a little bit more, Shelby.

I ran after her,

And at first--

I couldn'’t find her at first

And then I did.

She was On the fire escape crying,

And I--

I tried to talk to her.

She hit me.

That was okay.

[sobs]

But she--she kept on hitting me

And hitting me And hitting me and hitting me

And screaming.

[sobs]

And the...

Men were on the fire escape...

Trying to stop her.

She hit him,

And he pushed her and...

I don'’t--

I don'’t even know which one!

Oh!

[gasps]

Who?

Shelby?

Who pushed her?

[gasping]

My fault.

[sobbing]

If I hadn'’t been there,

She wouldn'’t have--

She--she died Because I was there,

And I'’m guilty...

[panting]

But they know about it,

Those men,

So they have to die.

They all--

They had to die,

So no one would find out About it.

So you pointed paul at them,

The men who knew the truth, To kill them?

- I-I just shouldn'’t have Told him.

Come here.

[sobbing]

- why didn'’t you go To the police

About who pushed your sister?

Oh, they paid me...

$5,000.

[gasps]

$5,000, I took--

[sobbing]

I was paid to cover up My own sister'’s death.

Who paid, shelby?

- I can'’t let anybody find out About it!

I can'’t let anyone find out!

Who paid, shelby?

[sobbing]

Don!

Donald calder?

Was he the one who pushed Your sister?

Oh, yes!

[gasping and sobbing]

- yeah, frank, I want a stakeout

On donald calder'’s apartment House on central park west.

[siren wailing]

Stay with her, saperstein.

- is calder in? - yes, sir.

- you call him And tell him lieutenant kojak

Wants to talk to him.

[telephone rings]

Yes?

- mr. Calder, This is security.

There'’s a lieutenant kojak Who wants to see you.

Tell him to come right up.

Go right up, lieutenant.

Anybody with him?

- yes, sir, a guest Who came in with him.

And what did he look like?

- very tall, big man, Kind of blonde.

Not paul nelson?

You should know.

[thumping]

You killed my wife.

No, no!

I want you out on the roof!

- ah! I won'’t do that!

[gasping]

You'’re gonna die.

Maybe not the same way, But you'’re gonna die.

Hold it, nelson.

You won'’t kill him.

He'’ll buy his way out.

Do you know what he did?

Paul.

The gun.

He'’s the last one.

I have a right.

He'’s a murderer.

- we'’ll take care of that, Paul.

Shelby,

Ruth'’s sister,

She saw it happen.

She can tell you.

You can trust her.