06x08 - The Upside Down Penny

[bunniefuu]

Hi.

I want to see
Mr. Joe Mannix. Okay?

Well, he's busy right now,
can I help you?

No, I don't want
a girl detective.

I'm Mr. Mannix's secretary.

Oh, well look, can you tell him
I've got a case for him?

It's important, and I'm
supposed to be home by :.

Well, may I have your name,
Mr...

It's not Mister.
Just Kenny.

Kenny Brooks.
I live at Loma Road.

Peggy, uh, you can put this
in the Cummings file.

Well, hi.

He doesn't look busy to me.

This is Kenny Brooks.

Kenny has a case for you.

How do you do?

Look, uh, why don't we
talk in my private office?

Okay.

Okay, Kenny, how why don't
you sit down right there,

and we'll have a little talk.

Now, just what's the case?

I brought $., and I get
two more dollars on Saturday.

Now, wait a minute, uh,
let's not worry about my fee

until I know what
the case is, okay?

Okay.

I want you to
find my stamp book.

Your stamp book?

My Uncle Jimmy gave it to me.

He's not really my uncle,

I just call him that
because he knew my father.

My father's dead.

Anyhow, he gave me this stamp
book of his, and I lost it.

You see, I promised not to
take it out of the house.

But you did?

Well... yeah.

Does your mother know
you're hiring me?

I told Mom and Uncle Jimmy
I was coming to see you.

Did they say it was all right?

Sure, but Uncle Jimmy
said forget it.

He'd get me another album.

But it's my fault.

I wanted that stamp book ever
since I was a little kid.

So he gave it to me
last week for my birthday.

I broke my promise.

I wanted to show it
to some of the kids.

Well, Kenny, uh,
maybe it would be easier

if you just let your Uncle Jimmy
buy you another stamp album.

But it's not the same.

It's like, you have
a dog and lose it,

people will get you another
dog just because you're crying.

They don't understand.
It isn't the same dog.

Yeah, |, uh...
guess you're right.

When did you have it last?

Saturday. We rode our bikes
down to the pier.

We threw baseballs and
watched the merry-go-round,

and things like that.

You think you left it there?

Billy Kypur said
I put it on the counter

at the baseball game.

Then he said he saw me
leave it on the bench

at the merry-go-round.

But he's not sure?

Billy Kypur's never sure.

Well, why don't |
have a look around

and I'll get back to you, okay?

Thanks, Mr. Mannix.

I've already asked
a lot of people,

but people only pretend
they listen to kids.

They'll listen to you.

You just sit tight.

You see, he wasn't busy at all.

You're taking the case.

Yeah, a chance to pick up
an extra $..

And a chance to spend
a day at the beach.

A buck here,
a buck there.

It all adds up.

By

Three balls for a
quarter. Step right up.

Oh, hey! Even the losers win.

Here you are.

Three balls for a quarter.
Three balls for a quarter.

Try your luck. Step right up.

Three balls for a quarter,
mister, step right up.

Try your aim.

You knock everything off the
pedestal, you win a big prize.

Hey, uh, how's your memory?

So-so, why?

Well, I need some information.

Information booth's
down at the end of the pier.

Of course, they don't
know everything.

There were some
kids here Saturday.

One of them thinks
he might have left

his stamp book on your counter.

Stamp book?
Yeah, you know. An album?

Yeah, that's what
I thought you said.

Listen, they've left
everything from

catchers' mitts to comic books,

but never a stamp album.

Here, look for yourself.

See?

Yeah.

Well, thanks anyway.

There you are, pal.

Gee, thanks!

You serious?

All I see is kids.

Well, this kid was probably
carrying a stamp album.

I tell you, Mister,

unless he was playing a piano
and riding a giraffe,

I wouldn't remember him,
and that's the truth.

Well, he thinks he might have
left the stamp album

over there on that bench.

And it disappeared.
Maybe somebody stole it.

You couldn't prove it by me.

I had a horse stolen right off
that rig two years ago.

Gemini might have seen it,
but I doubt it.

Who's Gemini?

An artist.
Draws you while you sit.

I let him use that bench
for his studio. Brings a crowd.

And he was working Saturday?

All day.

Nice young fellow
when he's sober.

But Gemini is twins, you know.

Yeah, I know.

But you say he was
at the bench Saturday?

Yeah, and he did
pretty good, too.

Where can I find him?

He keeps a place
down on Ocean Alley.

I should say his girl keeps it.

What's the number?

Ocean Alley.

Ah, well, thanks a lot.

Oh, and, uh, keep an eye
out for horse thieves.

He's gone!

Don't ask me where.

He's just gone.

Packed that ratty old suitcase
of his and left.

Hope he stays away this time.

Do you mean that,

or are you just saying it
to see how it sounds?

Of course I don't mean it.

He's a rat.

But I love him.

Maybe I can help you find him.

What does a private investigator
want with Gemini?

I'm looking for something
he may have found.

Well, I don't know, Mr. Mannix.

Where do you begin
to look in this town?

It's not another girl.

I don't think.

Well, I'd say the, uh, odds
are definitely in your favor.

We had this fight
a couple days ago.

He thinks he's never
going to make it

as an artist or anything,

and when he gets to
feeling sorry for himself,

he drinks and we fight.

Now you say he took a suitcase.

Can he afford to travel?

No, I don't think so.
He was talking crazy.

"Who needs you?
My Aunt Titty d*ed

and left me a small
inheritance.” Off he went.

Did he have an Aunt Titty?

I don't think he has
any relatives at all.

He invented an Aunt Titty
and an Uncle Foxworth

just to have some
relatives to talk about.

What's his real name?

John Boling.

But he's Gemini,
all right. Believe me.

You have a picture of him?

Sure.

Self-portrait.

Looks just like him, too.

The rat.
He's good.

Hey, mind if I borrow this?
I'll have a snapshot made.

Sure.

And by the way,
who are these others?

Sketches of people he drew
Saturday, I guess.

Why don't I take them along?

If I can put names
to any of them,

they may help us find him.
Sure, anything.

Here, you can put them in this.

Uh, thank you, Jackie.

If I come up with anything,
I'll let you know.

He's really a beautiful guy
when he's all together.

I miss him.

Taking the good with the bad...

I miss him.

Now, don't sell the ranch.
Maybe I can get him back to you

before he's run through
Aunt Tilly's fortune.

By

What's going on?

Who was in that other car?

I don't know.

They sure weren't art lovers.

I hope you're not putting your
money away for your retirement,

Joe, 'cause you're not
going to make it.

Every time I come here for
information, I get a lecture.

Advice.

Come on, Art.

Joe, two guys chase you,
run you off the road,

take some sh*ts at you, and you
don't even file a complaint.

Well, against whom?

The car had
no front license plate.

I didn't get
a close look at them.

Now, what about this Gemini?

John Boling? Not much.

Well, a couple of arrests.

Drunk on a public beach.

Not exactly one of
our master criminals.

Any, uh, fresh addresses on him?

The latest is the one
on Ocean Alley.

You've got that.

Joe, if you're ready to tell me
what case you're working on,

maybe I can be
of some help to you.

I told you, Art.

This kid lost his stamp album.

I'm trying to find it for him.

Oh, yeah, Peggy said.

You're working day and night
for $..

You know the trouble
with you, Art?

The truth just doesn't
satisfy you.

Mr. Mannix?
That's right.

Please come in.

I hope you didn't mind about
Kenny coming to see you.

I mean, he was so upset
about his album.

I didn't mind at all.

I never thought
you'd have the time...

Kenny is pretty hard to resist.

He got here
right after you called.

He's in the living room.

As soon as I paint the racing
stripes on it, I'm through.

Looks just great, Kenny.

Kenny, Mr. Mannix is here.

Hi, Mr. Mannix!

You find it yet?

Not yet, Kenny.

I'm James Cavanaugh.

Uh, that would make you
Uncle Jimmy.

Uncle, race car mechanic,
you name it.

Kenny tells me
you gave him the stamp album.

As a birthday present.

All this isn't really necessary,
Mr. Mannix.

I admit I was
a little disappointed

when Kenny
broke his promise to me...

Don't worry, Uncle Jimmy.

Mr. Mannix will get the album
back for me.

I'm sure trying, Kenny.

Was it very valuable?

Oh, it was worth a few dollars,
I suppose.

No more. Why?

Well, someone was
following me yesterday,

took a couple sh*ts at me.

Hey!

sh*t at you?

I can't understand.

And neither do |, yet.

I can't believe a stamp album
would give anybody

a reason to take a sh*t at you,
Mr. Mannix.

It's when I'm sh*t at
for no reason at all

that it bothers me.

Well, that settles it, Kenny.

If it's lost, it's lost.

If you think you're being
sh*t at just to find the album,

then I think we should drop
the whole thing right now.

Uncle Jimmy, please!

Be glad to pay you
for whatever time you've spent.

I've already made my deal
with Kenny.

Thanks anyway, Mr. Cavanaugh.

Maybe I've seen him,
maybe I haven't.

Well, let's take one "maybe”
at a time.

Maybe you've seen him?

Why do you want to know?

Well, he may be trying
to sell a stamp collection

that belongs
to a client of mine.

Whole collection?

Possibility that you've seen him
seems brighter.

Yeah.

Two days ago.

But he only had one stamp.

One stamp?

An upside down Pan-American
Exposition, one cent.

A one-cent stamp.

How much was it worth?

It was centered, mint condition,
original gum, never been hinged.

How much more than one cent?

Well, it's got a market value
of, uh, close to $,.

I offered him ,.

Can I see this stamp?

He wouldn't sell it.

When I told him what I'd pay, he
just walked out, sort of dazed.

Like he had just come into
a small inheritance.

Into something.

Did he give you an address?

No.

But I gather he lives close to
a bar, if you know what I mean.

Yeah.

Well, look,
if, uh, he does come in again,

would you give me a call?

I'd appreciate it.

Whole collection, you say?

That'd make him rich.

And if I don't
catch up to him fast,

he stands a good chance
of dying poor.

And that's the truth,
Mr. Crawford.

Mannix went to
a lot of stamp dealers.

About ten of them.

Well, we know our friend took
out a contract on Mr. Mannix.

And we know that Cutter
has that contract.

He tried to deliver yesterday
on the highway.

Yeah, but, uh, why?

Now, you said
that Cutter did check out

that folder Mannix had with him?

But he didn't find
what he was looking for.

Our business associates
in Marseilles still insist

there's a half
a million missing.

But how do we know that
they didn't skim it themselves?

I mean, uh, before the shipment.

They questioned their people.

They questioned them
almost to death.

They're clean.

Well, that leaves us
with nothing.

Nothing but a suspicion
about our friend.

A very expensive suspicion.

So, what do we do?

I think it's time we had a talk
with Mr. Mannix.

Let me know
as soon as you hear, Vivian.

Thanks a lot.

Any word from
the world of stamps yet?

The Philatelic Society is
checking, but nothing so far.

Uh, you've got a visitor.

Jackie Miller.

Hi.

Oh, did you find him yet,
Mr. Mannix?

No.

The rat--
he really went in his hole.

Uh, has he mentioned anything in
the past few days about stamps?

What kind of stamps?

The kind you collect
and put in a stamp book.

Doesn't sound like him. Why?

Well, I think
that a certain stamp album

may be his Aunt Tilly's
inheritance.

Did he steal it?

Well, let's just say
he didn't turn it in

to the lost and found.

Now, I'm trying to find it,
and so is somebody else,

but I'm afraid they're going to
be a little rougher about it.

Oh, I got an idea.

About-About how to find him,
I mean.

That's why I came.

Those are liquor stores.

Gemini always calls those two
places to have things delivered.

I was gonna call myself, but it
really should be a man's voice.

Ah, it may work, at that.

Um, you better...

talk a little, you know.

Kelly's.

Hi, this is Gemini.

Uh, where's that order
I called for?

Knock it off.

Pay up the $ you owe me,
and we'll take your orders.

I'm afraid his credit
isn't too good at, uh, Kelly's.

Royalton Party Store.

Royalton Party.

Uh, hi, guys.

Hey, this is Gemini again.

W-What happened to my order?

Are you putting me on?

That was yesterday, man.

You better get yourself
a calendar.

Are you sure?

Come on, man.

I'm busy, okay?

Hey, w-w-wait a minute.

Where'd you send it?
To the old address?

No, the apartment.

You paid, for a change.

Are you sure you got
the right address?

Hold on.

Marina Street

Apartment , right?

Hey, well, I guess it's here.

Hey, guys, it's a great party.

Now you better stay here
with Peggy.

There may be trouble.

Joe, be careful.

It doesn't make sense to get
sh*t for $..

While I'm gone, you two can
decide on the price.

By

by

Who is it?

Gemini?

Who wants to know?

I'm Joe Mannix.

What else are you?

I'm a private investigator.
I want to talk to you.

Look, give me a chance
to get dry.

I, uh, just got out
of the shower.

Hold it, Mannix.

What is this?

Friend of mine wants
to talk to you.

Some other time, huh?
I'm here visiting someone.

You visit with us first.

Come on.

Well, well, well...

Harry Crawford.

Mr. Mannix.

I'm going to ask you
a few questions...

but only once.

Listen to Mr. Crawford.

What kind of questions?

Well, first, we know
that a friend of ours

paid to have you k*lled.

I'd like to know why.

He's your friend, ask him.

What's your interest in this
artist character, Gemini?

Well, I, uh, paid him
to draw my picture,

he didn't deliver it.

What are you working on?

Who hired you?

Sorry, that's confidential.

Your professional silence
will last a long time

in the cemetery.

Yeah...

talking to you will get me in
the same place.

I warned you, Mannix.

I expect you two to get a name
out of him

or he leaves here in
the meat wagon.

Okay, Mannix, recess is over.

On your feet.

Come on, come on.
Over here.

Come on!

Hands on your head.

Okay, Mannix, you got about five
seconds

and the clock is running.

Hold it.

Hey, you decided to talk?

There's no sense in dying
for someone else.

Oh, I'm disappointed in you,
Mannix.

He's not as tough as we heard.

Well, I know when I'm up against
a couple of pros.

So, talk.

I, uh, wonder if I could have
a drink first.

Sure.
Get him a drink.

Okay, Mannix, let's hear it.

Oh, not that kind of drink.

Here, burn rubber.

bucks? Right.

Who roughed you up, Joe?
At least you can tell me that.

Oh, a couple of strong-arm boys.

And all of this is over some
lost stamp album, huh?

It looks that way.
What'd you get on the car?

The car turns out to be
a very popular model.

A needle in
a couple of haystacks.

Yeah, figures.
Tell me, Art,

has Harry Crawford been mixed up
in anything lately?

Crawford?

Oh, looks like I hit a nerve.

Well... we got a tip

that Crawford was supposed to be
involved in

a big narcotic purchase
a while ago.

Came in from Marseilles.

We helped stake out the location

where the sale was supposed
to take place.

And?
And it never took place.

According to the word we got,

the sale took place
at a different location

with a different set of people.

There's been
a rumble ever since.

Apparently, somebody skimmed

a half a million dollars off
the sale.

That's nice skimming.

Joe, were Crawford's boys
the ones

that put you through
the meat grinder?

Yeah.

I'll have them picked up.

No, don't do that, Art.

You lock them up, and my case
comes to a dead end.

I don't lock them up, and you'll
come to a dead end.

Malcolm.

Oh, hi, Peggy.
Yeah, he's here. Joe?

Yeah, what's up, Peggy?

The only big stamp collection
that changed hands recently

according to the local
Philatelic Society,

is the Amherst collection.

Who bought it?

It was sold privately
two weeks ago

through the attorney for the
Amherst estate in Pasadena.

Attorney's name?

Lawrence Riley.

He's in the Honeycutt Building.

Set up an appointment for me,
huh?

I already did.
A half hour from now.

I figured it'd be easier to
break one than to make one.

Nice going, Peggy. Thanks.

I'll, uh, talk to you later,
Art.

Joe, you get anything more on
Harry Crawford,

I want to know about it,

If I'm still around,
you'll be the first to hear.

Are you a stamp collector,
Mr. Mannix?

Well, uh, in a way I am,
Mr. Riley.

Indirectly, at least.

I'm afraid I can't tell you
anything about the sale.

Nothing at all.

I can understand that.

The Amherst collection is
very valuable.

Very.

What I can't understand

is why the heirs didn't sell
at auction.

It probably would have brought
a much higher price.

They wanted a fast settlement.

I think I did quite well
for the estate.

They seem more than satisfied.

I should think so.

It's a very satisfactory price,
$,.

,...

You're not supposed to know
that, Mr. Mannix.

Well, it won't go any further,
believe me.

A half a million dollars?

After all, it contained a mint
sheet

of the Graf Zeppelin .

Uh, how about the upside-down
penny

Pan-American Exposition.

Well, yes. Why?

Well, I have a client
who'd just love

to take a look
at that collection.

I don't care if I ever see
the album again, Mr. Mannix.

Honest.

You, uh, mean you're just gonna
pay me off

and tell me to quit?

Well, yeah.

Kenny, did your Uncle Jimmy tell
you to come here?

No, but it just isn't worth it.

But I thought you wanted
your album back.

A point of honor.

Yeah, well, I guess
I changed my mind.

I didn't mean for you
to get sh*t at or b*at up.

Well, uh, that's all part
of my job.

I guess so.

Only it's not so great when you
can see what really happens.

I don't want people to get hurt.

I feel like it's my fault.

Well, it's really not your fault
at all, believe me.

You're just saying that.

I can get another stamp book.

It won't make any difference.
Honest.

I really didn't mean that stuff
about losing a dog.

Heck, there isn't any comparison
between a dog and a stamp book.

Well, I'll tell you
what we're gonna do.

Now, why don't you give me
the rest of today, okay?

Okay. But don't get in any more
fights about it, all right?

I'll do my best.

What do you got on Uncle Jimmy?

Nothing very exciting in

the life of James Cavanaugh,
I'm afraid.

Up until now, maybe.

Works in investments, real
estate, that sort of thing.

A bachelor, lives
at the Moffitt Towers.

Which means the investment
business is very profitable.

Moffitt Towers.

Headed there?

Well, Uncle Jimmy gives out nice
birthday presents.

I want to see
if he's really a rich uncle.

How many sh*ts
did you hear, Joe?

Two.

A few minutes earlier, and |
might have saved his life.

Are you ready
to fill me in on this now?

All I've got are
educated guesses.

That's more than I've got.

Well, I think my $. case

has got a half-million-dollar
punch line.

The stamp album?

James Cavanaugh may have
been the one who handled

the narcotics transaction
you were talking about.

Think Cavanaugh skimmed
the half million?

I'm guessing.

Crawford wouldn't let him
live five minutes.

Unless he wasn't sure.

If Crawford ordered the hit,

what made him so sure
all of a sudden?

Well, I think they
were close enough

to force the truth out of
Cavanaugh about the stamp album.

You notice that I'm not writing
any of this down, Joe?

Yeah.

And I can't prove
any of it, either,

Unless I can get my hands
on that stamp book.

He was here.

I don't know what to do.

I couldn't just
let him run away.

He wanted you to go with him?

Yes.

But I don't want
to run and hide.

That's no good.

What was he running from?
Did he say?

He said he was being followed.

He sounded scared,

and I have never heard him
sound scared before.

Did he say anything
about having the stamp book?

No.

He just said we could live in
the lap of luxury.

Anywhere in the world.

But I don't want to live
in the lap of luxury.

Not if you have to die trying.

I don't understand any of it.

What is this all about
a stamp album, anyway?

Well, I think Gemini
accidentally found a stamp album

worth a half a million dollars.

Somebody's already been k*lled
today because of those stamps.

Are they gonna k*ll him?

Did you say you'd meet him?

Yes.

Then I called you.

I lied to him.

I've never lied to him before.

I'll try and see he lives long
enough to forgive you.

Where is he?

He's at the San Leone Winery.

He used to work there.

Now, why don't
you wash your face?

You don't want him to come back
and see you've been crying.

Jackie?

Come on, baby.

Is that you, Jackie?

Who are you?

Last time I told you,
you jumped out a window.

Well, what do you want?

Jackie couldn't make it.

She sent me instead.

Well, it won't do, man,
so b*at it.

Hold it, Gemini!

I'm not leaving until
I get what I came for.

Jackie wants you,
I want a stamp album.

Look, you came for nothing
Mannix,

so you can just leave
with nothing.

I know you've got the album.

And I know it's got a half
a million dollars

worth of stamps in it.

A half a million dollars?

And it's not worth a dime
to you, believe me.

It's evidence in a smuggling
case and a m*rder.

And you could wind up dead

if those guys chasing
you catch up with you.

Now, you'd better turn over
your inheritance

before t kills you.

We got company.
Who is it?

You know a back way out of here?

Yeah.
Use it, call the police.

I'll try and keep them busy.
Go on.

Hold it!

It's over.

Is this it?

I guess.

Where's the painter?

I mentioned the word
"police” to him, and he split.

Well, let's go, Mr. Mannix.

Where to?

Mr. Crawford wants
to see if you can swim.

By

Well, well, Mannix.

I guess you never got the word.
Crime doesn't pay.

There's no need to amuse me.

Is that it?
Yes.

Well, I guess it is.

Just how did
a man like Cavanaugh

get mixed up with you
in the first place?

Well, money is a great common
denominator, Mannix.

A lot of people
get mixed up with us,

but unfortunately, Cavanaugh
should have been more careful

with his arithmetic.

You found out Cavanaugh had
hired someone to k*ll me,

you had to find out why.

Well, Cavanaugh wasn't the type.

A thief, perhaps, but, uh, to
hire someone to k*ll,

he'd only do that
to save his own hide.

Then we talked Cutter
out of his contract.

Cavanaugh knew if I found
the stamp album,

I'd discover that it was more

than just a kid's
birthday present.

He skims a half a million,
transfers it into stamps,

and hands the whole thing
over to a kid in an album.

Now, that's clever.

We could have searched
Cavanaugh till doomsday,

but as you see, cleverness
doesn't pay among my employees.

You got your money back.

What do you want with me?

Oh, come now, Mannix.

A question like
that is beneath you.

You don't think I get sh*t at
without telling the police?

A Lieutenant Malcolm has been
reading over my shoulder

ever since I started this case.

Well, then,
he'll be disappointed

you can't tell him how it ended.

After he fishes you
out of the ocean.

Take him below.

Tell the captain
to get underway.

After him!

Get down to the dock!

By

by

sh**t him!

sh**t them both!

Police! Hold it!

I thought I was kidding.
How did you know to come here?

Gemini.

He called and said they were
taking you swimming.

Ah,

And you knew Crawford
had a boat.

On occasion, I've been known
to handle two and two, Joe.

Hey, Kenny, how about a hot dog?

No, thanks.

You know, I'm really sorry
about your Uncle Jimmy.

That's okay.
It's not your fault.

Why did he do it, Mr. Mannix?

Well, Kenny, grownups do strange
things sometimes for money.

Mr. Mannix, I was wondering.

About what?

Well, I'd rather go on
thinking about Uncle Jimmy

the way he was before.
Is that okay?

Yeah, Kenny, I'd
say that's okay.