All language subtitles for Kojak.S02E16.Close.Coverbeforekilling.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

Nick.

Putting in
A six day week, huh?

I'’ve been calling
Your place since noon.

I got no answer,
So I got to figure, morton,

Oh, you'’re some smart guy.

You can'’t take
No for an answer?

Saving the good stuff, hm?

Just taking some work
Home for the weekend,

- that'’s all, nick.
- come on!

You think I'’m so dumb
I don'’t know?

You made the deal,
Didn'’t you?

No, I didn'’t, nick.

We'’ve been partners
For nine years.

You come to me, you want to
Put a torch to the business

And I say, "Absolutely no!"

So who cares
What nick thinks?

Nine years hard work.

One of the best seasons
We ever had last year,

And it
All goes up in smoke?

That was last year, nick.

How much further can we go
With plastic cups and saucers?

We are doing fine.

Who needs to be a millionaire?

Me, nick.

Look, you'’re an old man.

For you it'’s fine,
But I'’m still young.

We'’ve got
A once-in-a-lifetime chance

With this deal
Catlin'’s offering us.

Do you know what you'’re
Talking about with this fire?

Fraud.

This deal
Takes cash, nick.

No! No, it takes
Something else.

Something I don'’t have.

Call it off.

- I can'’t!
- you want me to call him?

Give me his name.
I'’ll stop him.

It'’s too late.

Don'’t you understand
Anything, nick?

All right.

Have it your own way,
But I warn you,

If we have this fire,
I talk to the police.

I tell them
Everything I know.

You can'’t do that, nick.

No, I'’m not going to jail.

Not for this business.

Not for you,
And especially not for you.

Nick, you don'’t understand.

Nick, you got to listen to me!

You don'’t understand.
Nick!

Come on.
Get your hands off me.

Nick!

- yes?
- this is vince hackley.

You told me to
Check in with you.

Everything'’s set.

We'’ll go ahead...
What we talked about.

You checked
With your partner?

He'’ll go along.

Are you sure you want
To go ahead?

Yes, you'’ve got your deposit.
Now do the job.

All right, but you better
Get out of the city

So you have an alibi.

It'’s already taken care of.

I'’ll see you monday,
The same place?

Right.

What are those kids
Doing in that building?

It'’s supposed to be locked.
You better pull over.

Hey, you!

But they'’re gonna catch you.

No, I'’ll be all right.
You go ahead.

I'’ll follow him.

You take her.

Hey!

Don'’t let me stop you, pal.

Where did he go?

Who?

- I lost the other one.
- yeah, mine'’s gone too.

Now, what do you suppose they
Were doing in that building?

Hey.

Hey, nolan.
Move it.

I don'’t want to be
Out here all night.

Keep those people
Back, come on.

Oh, yeah.
Far out.

What is this, a guy fawkes
Birthday celebration?

Don'’t ask me, kojak.

I just put them out.

Your stiff'’s on
The third floor,

And a couple of your men
Are already up there.

Aren'’t you gonna ask me
Who guy fawkes is?

What do you want from me?

Who'’s the fire
Marshal on the job?

I saw jess egan go in
About 20 minutes ago.

Nolan, get those hoses up!

Come on,
Let'’s get out of here!

Terrific.

What did you use to put
Out this fire, nasal spray?

They might as well have.
How are you, theo?

Hanging in there.

Hey, did you hear this one
About the, uh--eh, forget it.

What'’ve you got?

Five alarms.
Started on the floor below.

Some kind of a printing company.

Place was roaring before the
Engine company could respond.

Your, uh, corpse is in here.

Oh.

Hey, what was this place
Before dante took over?

Tallman-vane plastics company.

Cups, dishes, containers.

This is tallman'’s--
Was tallman'’s office.

- is this him?
- no, no, nick vane.

We salvaged part of his wallet.
He'’s the partner.

Oh, yeah, what happened?

Well, the engine company
Found him like that

With the bookcase
On top of him.

All right.
Where'’s the m.E.?

He'’s on his way.

In his partner'’s office--
What'’s he doing here?

Why didn'’t he get out?

Well, the bookcase
Must have fallen

On top of him
Before he made it to the door.

Oh, is that so?

And how did the bookcase
Fall on top of him?

Fire.

Really?

In other words,
The victim is so nearsighted

That he waits for the room
To be all ablaze,

And then he lets a ton
Of books fall on top of him?

Lieutenant, he could have
Passed out from the fumes

Before the fire got up here.

It happens that way.

That'’s right.

- that'’s right.
- ah, jesse.

If the fire
Made the bookcase fall,

Wouldn'’t it be more
Charred on the bottom?

Yeah.
I see what you mean.

It'’s evenly charred
From top to bottom.

And what does that
Mean to you, baldy?

Well, it must be that
The bookcase fell on top of him

Before the fire hit the room.

You know something?
You'’re right.

You thinking homicide?

Me?
Never.

Call forensic.
Have them get a team down here.

And then call the m.E. And tell
Him I want to see that report

As soon as it becomes official.

What happened?

They don'’t know yet.

A cab driver spotted
A boy and girl

Running away from the building
Around 10:00,

Just before the fire
Was discovered.

A boy and a girl.
Juvenile vagrancy, huh?

I thought their specialty
Was burning down public schools.

The cab driver got
A good look at the boy,

But the girl was too far away
For an accurate description.

All right.
Take a letter please, james.

I want you to get the witnesses
Together

With a sketch artist, okay?

Get that composite
Out to everybody.

And then I want you to round up
Everybody who works

In this building and find out
What they were doing

This evening, all right?
Everybody.

Okay.

Hello.

What'’s this?

I don'’t know.
It was just there.

Really?

Uh-huh.

Come on, jess.

What have we got
In the building?

We got a print shop,
Tallman-vane plastics,

Candle fashions
On the fifth floor,

And a wholesale furniture
Showroom on the sixth floor.

All right, I want a rundown
On all of them, okay?

Financial statements, bank
Accounts, personnel files,

Insurance--oh, yeah,
Especially insurance, okay?

- go ahead.
- yes, sir.

Hold it.

Look, I'’ve got to get inside.

My name is morton tallman.
I own a company in here.

Lieutenant kojak,
New york police.

You can'’t go in there.

But my partner, nicholas vane,
They told me that--

Yeah, we know about that,
Mr. Tallman,

But there'’s nothing you
Can do for him now anyway.

Nick,
I just don'’t believe it.

I was I white plains,
My sister'’s,

When they contacted me.

Uh-huh.
What was he doing here?

I beg your pardon?

It'’s saturday night.

Does he usually work this late?

Nick was a widower;
The business was his life.

We found him in
Your office, mr. Tallman.

Why is that, do you suppose?

I don'’t know.

Any number of reasons--

He might have wanted something
From my files.

We had no secrets
From each other.

You got a telephone number?

You know, maybe I want
To talk to you later.

What'’s to talk about?

My best friend and partner dead.

My business a pile of ashes.

Well, surely the tenants
Must have had insurance,

Mr. Tallman.

Insurance?

What is insurance?
Money?

By the time I take to rebuild,

My customers, where are they?
With somebody else.

You can'’t buy customers
With money.

You'’ve got to have product.

And you can'’t find a partner
Like nick anymore.

Not these days.

I had a great business,
Lieutenant.

If I could buy it back with
Every penny of insurance

I collect, I'’d be the luckiest
Man in the world.

You got the telephone number?

Very nice.
Thank you.

- yeah, who asked him?
- huh?

You know, you ask some guys
The time,

And they start giving you
A whole dialogue

On now to build a watch.

Here, when you start
Checking your personnel,

Check this guy out
First, will you?

Come on.

So what do you
Want me to say?

The boss is in
Financial problems?

Go ask him,
Not me.

M.E.'’s office on line
Two, lieutenant.

The incomparable agajanian.

Me kojak.
What have you got, incomparable?

The deceased, nicholas vane,

Succumbed to a blow on the head.

Fractured skull.

Massive cerebral hemorrhage.

Death must have been
Virtually instantaneous.

Was this before
Or during the fire?

Oh, definitely before.

Insufficiency of toxic waste
In the lungs.

But there was
Some toxic waste?

Dear boy, anyone breathing
The perfumed airs

Of baghdad on the hudson
Inhales toxic matter,

But never in the quantity
Ingested by most fire victims.

Can you pinpoint
The time of death?

It might take all summer.

Issues like that have
Stumped greater minds than mine.

Thanks.
Would you send me a copy?

Thank you.

Okay, miss, uh--

Mrs.

Mrs. Teresa ryan.

Mrs. Teresa ryan.

And you'’re the switchboard
Operator

At the tallman-vane plastics?

Yes, sir.

What'’s the matter,
You nervous?

Oh, I guess I'’m just not
Too crazy about police stations.

I'’ll tell you something;
Neither am I.

Lieutenant,
This report just came in

From the fire marshal'’s office.

Egan was right.

The fire started in a storeroom
On the second floor.

Yeah, but does he know
How it started?

Well, they'’re
Still working on it.

Sounds like a press
Release from gracie mansion.

Well,
How we doing out there?

Uh...

Well, I know this doesn'’t
Exactly look like much now,

But, uh, do you recognize this?

It looks like
Mr. Tallman'’s trophy

From the association.

Where exactly did he normally
Keep it, do you know?

I'’m not sure.

On the bookshelf?

No, I don'’t think so.

There was a table with three
Or four trophies all together.

But I went in there
Very little,

And I couldn'’t be certain.

One more thing
Before I let you go,

Mrs. Riley-

Ryan.

Ryan, yeah.

Do you recognize this man?

No.

- are you sure?
- I'’m sorry.

Mm-hmm.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I guess that'’s it.
Thank you very much.

Lieutenant,
Maybe we got something here.

Like what?

This is mrs. Paulfred.

No, paulford,
Mr. Tallman'’s secretary.

Yes, mrs. Paulford.

This man,
I'’m sure, is luis rivera.

He worked in our stockroom
About three weeks ago.

Mr. Vane had to let him go.

Luis was very upset, but the
Shipments had slowed down,

And we didn'’t need him.

Would you say
That'’s a good likeness?

It'’s almost perfect.

And anybody in your
Office would recognize him?

You had to be blind
Not to remember luis.

I mean, he wasn'’t exactly
What you'’d call

A shrinking violet.

Thank you, mrs. Paulford.

This way, mrs. Paulford.

Right through here.

Go over there and get
Three hot dogs, huh?

No mustard on mine.

Lots of sauerkraut.

Luis rivera.

Yeah.

I'’m lieutenant kojak,

Manhattan south,
Detective division.

I'’m your friendly cop.

Look, your sister told me
I could find you here.

I got a couple questions
To ask you.

What kind of questions?

Take it easy, luis, eh?

Come on.
I'’ll buy you a hot dog.

We can chat over lunch.

Am I under arrest?

Would you knock it off?

Thanks.

Hey, look, if you want to be
Arrested, I'’ll arrest you.

Have it your way.

Okay, okay,
Your way.

That'’s a three second
Violation, wise guy.

- no sauerkraut?
- no sauerkraut.

Put some more relish on it.

Recognize that pretty face,
Luis?

Come on, what is this?

Two witnesses
Saw this face leave

Your ex-employer'’s building
Saturday night.

Tallman-vane plastics.

And this morning it'’s just
One big hunk of goo.

And you, luis,
You'’re the prime candidate

For arson and murder.
¿comprende, amigo?

Hey, man.
It couldn'’t have been me.

I wasn'’t anywhere near there.

I was out walking by the river.

Oh, I see.

You'’re gonna tell me now
You were skinny dipping?

The perfect innocent.

Uh, they didn'’t have
Sauerkraut.

I got you one with chili.

You know what
I think, luis?

I think you were bugged at
Nick vane for letting you go.

I also think you went
There that night,

You creamed him
With the trophy

And then set fire to the whole
Joint to cover it up.

What do you think?

You'’re gonna make me
Take you down and put you

In the line-up, right?
You know they'’re gonna I.D. You,

But you'’ll let me do it
Just the same.

Why should I make
Your job any easier?

Because you bought
Me a hot dog?

Would it help if
I threw in an egg cream?

Come on, let'’s go.

Mr. Tallman, you told me

Everything was set
With your partner.

It was.

The police
Are suggesting homicide.

Are you crazy?

I don'’t know what nick
Was doing there

Any more than you do.

Don'’t play your games with me.

I read the papers.

Your partner was dead
Before that fire started.

The bookshelf must have
Fallen on him, that'’s all.

You were there.

Look--

Look,
You knew there was a risk.

This match job,
It was your idea, not mine.

You approached me.

I needed some extra money.
You needed a fire.

But I never would have been
A part of anything like this.

Okay.
Take it easy.

Nobody can connect us.

As long as we don'’t
See each other,

The police will never
Put it together.

Don'’t worry.

Don'’t worry.
I am worried.

You did a good job.
They'’ve got nothing to go on.

Let'’s hope not.

It'’s all there.

One thing, mr. Tallman.

I know the law.

There'’s a statute
Of limitations on arson,

But not on murder.

So don'’t make any trouble
For me.

So long, kid.

You'’ve got to be kidding.

You don'’t want to book him?

Two impeccable witnesses
Pick him out of a line-up

And place him at the scene.

By his own admission,
He'’s got no alibi.

On top of that,
He had means,

Motive and mucho
Opportunity.

Now, come on, theo,
What more do you want?

I just don'’t think
He'’s guilty, mack.

Well, is that one
Of your famous hunches

Or does it come with some
Reasons attached?

All right,
Let'’s start with the fact

That it'’s saturday night.

Now, rivera has a beef
To settle with vane.

What makes him think he'’s gonna
Find him there on the weekend?

But more significantly,

Why does he go looking
For vane in tallman'’s office?

Well, maybe he didn'’t go up
There looking for vane at all.

Maybe it being saturday,
He figured nobody was there.

Maybe he was burgling the joint,
And vane walked in on him.

Ran rivera'’s
Prints through b.C.I.

Want to know something?

Didn'’t come up with
A yellow sheet.

Not even a juvenile misdemeanor.

Hey, theo.

Sirhan sirhan didn'’t have
A yellow sheet either.

Okay,
Let'’s say you're right.

Let'’s say that
It'’s a simple case of b&e.

Let'’s say that vane comes
In and surprises rivera.

Let'’s say that
Rivera slugs vane.

In order to cover
Up his crime,

He sets fire to the joint.

Tell me this: why does he
Go downstairs to the floor

Below in order to
Set up the blaze?

And why does he wait until
The building'’s really cooking

Before he decides to split?

Maybe he was afraid to leave

Until he was absolutely certain

The flames had reached
Tallman'’s office.

Ah.
All right.

Now, here'’s a report
From jess egan

From the fire marshal'’s
Office,

And they covered
The building from head to foot

Looking for
A cause for willful arson.

You know what they come up
With?

Zilch.
Cause of fire: unknown.

- so?
- so what are you saying?

A kid who drops out
From high school,

Who gets an "F" in chemistry--

You mean he adlibs a fire that
Baffles the entire arson squad?

Hey, look, I know he'’s lying.

- I know he was there.
- well, then why?

Because he'’s frightened.

I mean, wouldn'’t
You be in his place?

If he didn'’t kill vane
And he didn'’t start the fire,

Enlighten me.

What the hell
Was he doing there?

They, frank.
What were they doing there?

He was with a girl, remember?

Look, I won'’t book him,

But I can hold him for 36 hours
On an open charge, right?

Why don'’t I do that?

Maybe I can come up
With some answers, okay?

Okay.

Yeah.

Captain, lieutenant,
The insurance records on the

Four tenants in the building,
And they'’re all insured.

In a fire trap like that,
That'’s no surprise.

The biggest insurance
Policy is on tallman-vane,

- $900,000.
- yes, which tallman claims

Doesn'’t begin to even
Begin upon their losses.

Well, maybe not.

The invoice shows
The orders for this year

Are up about 50%,
So they'’re not doing so bad.

That'’s not much of a reason
To order a fire, is it?

Not for tallman, maybe,
But for the print shop,

That fire was
A death house reprieve.

As of two days ago,
They were within

Spitting distance
Of the bankruptcy court.

- yeah, sure.
- oh, come on, theo.

That is where the fire started.

I know, but the body was
Found on the floor above.

You making any headway
With the bank records?

Well, they'’re just starting
To come in now.

All right, keep an eye peeled

For large sums of money
Unaccounted for.

Do you understand?

Maybe a check made out to cash.

If this was a professional
Torch job--

And I'’m betting that it
Was--it didn'’t come cheap.

Go ahead.

All right, frank.

Assuming luis rivera'’s innocent,

I'’m convinced that vane's
Killer knew

There was gonna be a fire.

I'’m not saying
He touched it off himself;

I'’m saying he had
Advance knowledge

And he thought that he
Could cover up a murder.

And you think it was tallman?

Anything else
Would be an affront

To cosmic orderliness.

Cosmic my astronaut.

You heard crocker'’s report.

Now just give me one good
Reason why a man

With nothing to gain
And everything to lose

Would buy himself a matcher.

Well?

Well, I can'’t, frank.

"I can'’t, frank."
Brilliant.

One moment, please.

Leonard doppler.

Leonard, how are you?

I'’m just fine, morton.

Just fine.

It'’s you that I'm worried about.

Oh, I'’m all right.

I was expecting some more money.

Considering
That arson is suspected,

That would be rather risky
For me right now, morton.

But lenny,
You were telling me--

But me no buts, tallman.

You'’re already into me
For 50 big ones.

Now you want $350,000 more
By the end of the month,

Only I don'’t hear
What you'’re telling me

On account of the noise
The cops are making.

Lenny, I swear to you,
Nothing--

Swear to your rabbi,
Not to me.

For me it'’s enough
That the heat goes off.

You'’re gonna take care
Of that, aren'’t you morton?

Yes.
Yes, of course.

Good.
That'’s what I wanted to hear.

Now, once the heat goes off,
You give me a call.

Only don'’t make
Me wait too long.

Good-bye, leonard.

Agnes, get me selwyn catlin.

Come in, lieutenant.

Please forgive the mess.

Miss paulford and I are using
This as a temporary office.

- sit down, please.
- thank you.

My I offer you some
Refreshments--

- coffee, a highball?
- no, thanks.

Mr. Tallman,
Selwyn catlin on the line.

I can'’t speak to him.
Tell him I'’ll call him later.

He'’s going out any minute.

Just apologize to him.

Tell him I have a visitor.

Mr. Catlin, the real
Estate entrepreneur?

Well, yes.
Do you know him?

Entrepreneur is a good
Word for a new york kid.

No, I don'’t know him,
Just by reputation.

We'’re not actually friends,

Just occasional
Golfing partners.

Different lines.

The only thing we share
In common is a 4 handicap.

Is there some problem,
Lieutenant?

I mean, with the insurance,
The fire.

Why, should there be?

What I meant was, I understand

You'’ve arrested the rivera boy.

Oh, yes.

Well, we'’ve detained him
For questioning.

You see, we now know that
Somebody killed your partner

And left the body
There to burn, you know,

To make it look
Like an accident.

And you think luis did it.

Of course.
I suppose he could have done it.

He publically
Threatened nick,

But I assume you know that.

Because vane fired him.

That'’s what I don't
Understand mr. Tallman.

I mean, you said you had
A thriving business,

And yet you let
A little stock boy go--why?

Oh, we were--we were
Temporarily not shipping.

A seasonal lull, that'’s all.

We had no need
For rivera'’s services.

I understand.

It'’s a pity luis
Couldn'’t see it that way.

Nick might be alive if he had.

Oh, I don'’t think so.

But you said luis--

No, no.
You said.

See, I don'’t believe
That luis did it.

I'’m...Taking up a little
Too much of your time.

Thank you.

What do you mean,
You did it again?

Did what again?
Who are we talking about?

Tallman.

First he goes into this whole
Scenario about luis rivera,

Which I didn'’t ask for.

And then when the name of
Selwyn catlin came up,

He acts like the only time
He ever saw him

Was over a 9-iron.

Oh, come on, theo.

You'’re not suggesting
That catlin,

A man with his reputation,

Would involve himself
In something like this?

He'’d be crazy.

An operation the size of his?

Tallman'’s fire insurance
Wouldn'’t keep catlin

In real estate brochures.

Still, there'’s a connection.

Now look,
More of a connection

Than there probably should be
In a two-seated golf cart.

Look, mack, you'’ve got
Connections, in real estate.

Why don'’t you put out
The hooks there?

Maybe you can come up
With an angle for me.

- what are you gonna be doing?
- you want to know why

Luis rivera keeps putting
His head in a chopping bag

And lying to me, right?

Well, I think you deserve
An intelligent answer.

Oh, yeah, the knicks
Could use you.

Yeah?
Well, I'’ll go down

To the garden,
Man, and try out.

You come to bust my chops?

No, baby.

Maybe I came to help your buddy.

Sure, sure.

You and the lone ranger.

Hey, look, tonto.

We got enough on your buddy
Luis to send him away

To ossining for live,
Throw away the key.

Oh, but you think maybe
He'’s telling the truth,

Right, man?

Lying through his teeth.

I just want to know why.

I mean, why is a guy willing
To take a fall

Rather than to level with me?

What do I know?
I wasn'’t there.

How about his girlfriend?

I mean, maybe she can take
Him off the hook?

Yeah, he'’s got a chick.

An anglo,
Real pretty girl.

Yeah?

I think maybe she'’s married,
Man.

No applause,
Please, as I exit.

I don'’t know
What you'’re talking about.

I'’m talking about
Saturday night, mrs. Ryan.

I'’m talking about a loft
On west 24th street

Where a young lady was seen
Walking out of the building

With a one luis rivera.

Yeah?

Want him now, lieutenant?

Okay.
Come on.

Okay, sit down.

Now, which one of you
Compulsive liars

Is gonna
Start telling the truth?

Hey, she'’s got
Nothing to do with this.

Doesn'’t she?

Now look, either you start
Saying something significant

Or I'’ll see that you both
Wind up in rikers island,

And the charge--
Obstructing justice.

All right.
I was there.

Luis is worried for me
Because of my husband.

- teresa.
- luis.

Hey, look, I'’m tougher
Than anybody'’s husband.

Now you let the lady talk.

Go ahead.

There'’s a customers'
Lounge on the fourth floor,

And a few months ago we started
Meeting there after work.

It just developed into
Something, that'’s all.

I mean, we didn'’t have any
Other place to go, you see,

'’cause we don't have much
Money, either of us and, uh,

We didn'’t--we couldn't afford
A hotel room.

Look, lieutenant,
I was 18 when I got married,

And I was 18 1/2 when
I knew I made a mistake.

All right, I was wrong,
But I love luis.

With me, he'’s kind
And he'’s gentle.

That'’s terrific.

But I'’m not looking
For a character reference.

I just want to know what
Time you went to the building.

8:00, maybe a little after,

But we went straight
To the fourth floor.

- did you go together?
- yeah.

Around 10:00,
I smelled the smoke.

Out in the hall
We saw the flames

Shooting up the rear
Stairwell.

That'’s when we ran.

You see anybody
Else in the building?

The door was locked,
Lieutenant.

That was a beautiful
Old fashioned move.

Now, during the time

That you were both up
On the fourth floor...

Did luis rivera
Ever leave your sight?

No, I swear it.

Look, we didn'’t have anything
To do with anything, man.

I just didn'’t want to
Make trouble for teresa.

You know how it is.

Oh, yeah, I know how it is.

Hey, look, teresa,

The phone logs
Were destroyed; I know that.

But I also know that
Mr. Tallman was making

A lot of calls to
A mr. Catlin in jersey, right?

Yes.

Was he a customer?

I don'’t know.

Did you ever see
Him in the office?

I don'’t think so.

Hey, hey.

Thank you, mrs. Ryan.

Saperstein, get in here.

Release luis rivera.

Let'’s go.

Hey, I'’m releasing you, luis,

But I have a suggestion
For both of you.

Oh, forget it.

Marriage counseling
Is not my line of work.

So, you want to know
What morton tallman

And selwyn catlin
Have in common?

Catlin'’s putting up a retirement
Village outside larchmont.

Tallman'’s one
Of the investors.

$50 grand in front money,

Another $350,000
At the end of the month.

$50 grand.

Boy, he didn'’t get that
Skimming off petty cash.

What a boor.

What'’s tallman's bank balance?

A little under $7,000.

And, uh, withdrawal?

Other than the usual,

Maybe $4,000
Over the last month.

Six checks made out to cash
And endorsed by tallman.

And yet he coughed up
50 big ones. How?

He knows
A warm-hearted shylock.

Yeah, but what'’s his
Collateral?

The insurance.

You know, I told you
The kid had promise.

Okay, he knows it will be
Anyway 90 days

Before he can get a payoff,
Right?

And the catlin
Deal won'’t wait.

So he hits on an understanding
Shylock: $50 grand now

And the rest
When the fire marshal

Gives his stamp of approval.

All right, get me
Jess egan on the phone.

Yeah, but theo, tallman
Stands to collect $900,000.

Now, why wouldn'’t he pour
The entire amount

- into catlin'’s operation?
- I'’m sure he would like to,

But half of that belongs to
Nick vane'’s heirs or assignees.

Tallman'’s share
Is only $450,000.

50 for the shylock'’s
Vigorish and how much--

Lieutenant, jess egan.

Here, hold this.
Don'’t bite it.

Yeah, jess.

Yeah, suppose I want to
Buy a fire--how much?

$10,000, $15,000.

What if I had $4,000?

What kind of a fire
Does that buy me?

Enough to broil a couple
Of steaks,

Unless, of course,
You'’re dealing with an amateur.

What, are you kidding?

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Fry me two marshmallows.
Thanks.

Anytime, theo.

Hi, hon.

Hi.

Bad day?

Usual.

Finish your thesis?

Almost.

What'’s this from, vince?

Well, it'’s a bonus from
Insurers protection bureau.

In cash?

$4,500?

Where'’s the champagne?

I was gonna tell you
Tomorrow when I didn'’t

Have any work to do
So we could celebrate.

Oh, you got fired.

It'’s severance
Pay or something?

I do good work.
They'’re gonna promote me.

In a part time job?

When they know you'’re gonna
Quit at the end of the term?

Vince, you'’re lying to me.

Why?

What'’s this all about?

Look, linda,
I want a break for us.

I want to get my degree,
Which we are not going to get

On the salary of a high
School chemistry teacher.

So?

Vince, I don'’t understand.

Do you know how much
Money I'’ve saved for us?

Sure.

$2.12.

Who can save?

$22,000.

You have $22,000?

We have.

Well, where did we
Get it from, vince?

The truth.

I don'’t want a second
Lie between us, ever.

Linda, I inspect
People'’s factories.

If it'’s too risky
For fire insurance,

I tell my company,

But I don'’t always tell them.

I get paid not to

By people who want a fire,

People who want to
Collect their insurance.

You mean people
Just come to you

And tell you they
Want to commit arson?

Why don'’t they think
You'’ll put them in jail?

Because I bring it up
To them.

Look, it doesn'’t take
A genius to figure out

When a guy is dying to burn
Up his bad debt,

So I help him out.

But I know how to do it.

I'’m a chemistry
Professor, right?

But don'’t worry,
I won'’t get caught.

And anyway,
I'’m through with it now.

Sure, why not?

Vince, tell me everything.

I am, really.

Did you hear anything
About a fire in a plastics plant

Over the weekend?

No.

Well, that'’s what
The $4,500 was for.

It was the easiest
Money in the world,

But I...Got suckered
By this mr. Tallman.

There was a body
In that fire, linda.

Nothing to do with me, but try
To convince the cops of that.

I mean, I got scared.

I'’m finished.

For good.

Is this really happening?

Are you telling me
This straight?

Oh, I'’m sorry, baby.

So sorry.

This man, tallman--

Can he get you in trouble?

Can he implicate you?

No, linda.

That'’s the one thing
He can'’t do.

Oh.

Okay.

Nice of you to come.

One arson,
The other murder.

And the only reason I say
It'’s a murder is because

The trophy was found underneath
The bookstand,

And it didn'’t fall off
Any shelf.

Any dissenters?

We'’re listening, lieutenant.

That'’s nice.

We got two perpetrators--

One the matcher
And the other the customer.

Now, whoever knocked
Off nick vane

Knew that the fire would
Destroy the evidence.

If you'’re trying to tell me
That a matcher

Would knock off anybody,
You also got to convince me

That tinker bell knocks off
Little old ladies

On the times square shuttle.

Okay, we got a deuce here.

Number one,
We got the matcher, right?

The matcher.

And "X."

And now I'’m gonna make
It easy for you.

"X" equals...

Well, captain?

I'’m not saying
Your theory doesn'’t hold water,

Because it does.

But how do you get
Past the fact

That tallman-vane plastics
Was showing a rise in income?

I mean, you don'’t throw in
The sponge

When the referee'’s
Your brother-in-law.

Only if he just
Barely wants to win.

Elucidate.

All right,
Give him the numbers.

Well, I'’ve checked out
A few companies

In the same line as tallman-vane
Products, captain.

And the cost of raw
Materials used in making

Tallman-vane products went up
51% in the last year.

Now, if their orders
Were with old customers,

At old prices,
They'’d barely break even.

Mr. Catlin presented tallman
With a golden opportunity.

Oh, come on, frank.

You checked it out yourself.

Catlin'’s putting up
A retirement village

Outside larchmont, right?

What with federal and state
Aid for those projects,

Catlin'’s been turning over
A profit of 400%

On his last ten
Development deals.

And lately catlin'’s
Becoming very generous.

He'’s taking in partners,

Eliminating his own risk.

Maybe, but that'’s perfectly
Kosher and good business sense.

So enters tallman.

Yeah.

An ambitious guy with a big
Taste for bread, thank you.

He figures he and his partner
Go in for almost a mil,

Which they get from
The insurance company

If the business burns down.

Vane says no and gets killed,

And koochie koo tallman still
Collects half the insurance.

And if catlin'’s operation
Runs true to form,

He stands to make
1 1/2 mil.

It'’s beautiful if you
Can make it stand up.

And that'’s why we've got
To find that matcher.

Without his testimony,
Tallman'’s home free.

All right, crocker,
What have you got?

Jess and I have gone over
The past fires

And we'’ve come up with 40,
Maybe 50,

In the last couple
Of years that fit--maybe.

Maybe?

These are possible arsons,
That'’s all.

There doesn'’t seem
To be any link.

50 fires, 50 different
Kinds of companies,

Maybe 16 different insurers.

But for $4,000 a job,
I don'’t see it.

Well, you said
It yourself, jess.

Suppose it wasn'’t one
Of your standard pros.

Then how did
Tallman find the guy?

You send out a feeler,
You get a vet.

Every time.

And you pay the going rate,
Or you go begging.

All right, suppose tallman
Doesn'’t send out feelers.

Suppose the matcher
Contacts him.

First off, the matcher'’d have
To know about the insurance.

Then he'’d have to find out about

His prospective customer'’s
Business

To determine
If he was prime for a fire.

What about an underwriter
Or a field investigator?

There are investigators.

They check out the company,
Snoop around,

Talk to the owners,

Make recommendations
To the underwriters.

These insurance outfits, they
Have their own investigators?

Some do.
Some hire outside people.

Most of the companies
On this list hired

- insurers protection agency.
- bingo.

Now, that'’s our first
Common denominator.

All right.

Egan, you stick with every
Possible case of arson

Where the insurers protection
Agency was involved, okay?

Go back through each
Company'’s financial records

Prior to that fire.

I mean, don'’t look
For big withdrawals.

I'’m sure that's
Been done already.

Look for ones adding
Up to $3,000, $4,000,

Just like
Tallman'’s withdrawals, okay?

Now, how long is
It gonna take?

How many men
Can you give me?

Well, we could pull
A few strings, captain.

Tell them what a cushy
Job it'’s gonna be.

Maybe we could get
Some volunteers.

You'’re all volunteers,
And thanks.

Oh.
All right.

We get ourselves a matcher

And we got ourselves a murderer.

Come on, let'’s go.

Lieutenant,
So far we'’re scoring runs.

Captain, $3,000, $4,000
In cash withdrawals

From 1/2 dozen
Burned out companies.

Take a look at this.

So far I'’ve come
Across three of these.

Inspection reports from
Insurers protection bureau.

Take a look at the back.

It'’s just routine stuff.

At the bottom.

Vjh.

Somebody'’s initials?

Should be the man who made
Out the inspection report.

All right,
Call the company.

Lieutenant, it'’s sunday.

So it'’s sunday.

Listen, I wouldn'’t care if
It'’s their leading cantor

At the mormon tabernacle.

You drag them out; I want
To find out who vjh is.

You see what a terrible
Quandary

You'’ve put me into, morton.

Three weeks ago, I lent
You $50,000 on good faith.

True.

With the full expectation
That your insurance

Settlement would adequately
Cover the loan

Plus my
Modest carrying fee.

I'’m not quarreling about
The rate of interest.

Of course not.

You'’re in no position
To quarrel about anything.

But we both know my money is
In serious jeopardy now, morton.

You'’ve got to do
Something about that.

I just need more time.

Time; that'’s something
I just can'’t give you.

Perhaps catlin would
Let you out of the deal.

No way.
I can'’t go to him.

Now, listen, nick'’s death
Is not going away.

Those homicide dicks
Are gonna hang in there

Until they find that matcher,
And when they do,

They'’ll nail you to the wall.

Frankly, I'’d hate
To see that happen.

You go to jail,
I lose my investment.

Of course, if that matcher
Was no longer around,

They couldn'’t ever tie you
To that fire, could they?

What are you suggesting?

Oh, I'’m not
Suggesting anything.

It'’s sunday.

You need more
Money real soon,

Or your deal
With catlin goes sour.

And I'’m not gonna like that,
So...

Maybe in a day or so,
Things will have changed.

I can'’t do that.

It'’s your life.

Never on sundays, baby.

Lieutenant, I just spoke
To the office manager.

The guy'’s name is
Vincent joseph hackley,

211 lewison drive.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, let'’s go.

- yes?
- vincent hackley, please.

Oh, I'’m sorry.

He just walked over to
His lab on the campus.

Oh, this is mr. Stern from
The insurers protection bureau.

It'’s rather important
That I speak to him.

I could give him the message
Or you could try

City university,
555-2390, extension 290.

Oh, well,
You see I'’m in the area.

Perhaps I'’ll just drop
In on him.

Which building is he in?

Chemistry building.

Second floor.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

Mrs. Hackley?

Yes.

I'’m lieutenant kojak,
Manhattan south.

Come in.

Thank you.

I'’m sorry.
I'’ve got no choice.

Hold it!

Grab him, crocker.

Against the wall.

All right, hold it.
Spread them out.

Crocker, you all right?

Yeah, I got it covered.

Ehh.

He tried to kill me.

What are you,
Something special?

He killed his partner.
Why not you?

Go on.
After you.

It was going along
So great.

Nobody got hurt except
A couple of insurance companies.

I would have my
Master'’s degree in june.

Three months more.
That'’s all.

Yeah, well, that'’s the trouble
With the globe, hackley,

You know, so many dropouts.

That'’s all right.
You can pick it up again

In about, uh, five years.