06x17 - A Matter of Principle

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By

Thank you very much.

Young man,

come back here this instant!

Portia?

I assure you,

he has not heard
the last of this.

Can I help you?

Mr. Joseph Mannix, please.

Uh, may I tell him
what it's about?

Young woman,
I am not accustomed

to making explanations
to secretaries.

Please, announce us at once.

Excuse me.

Joe.

Is something wrong?

I wouldn't know.

The lady does not,
and I quote,

"make explanations
to secretaries.”

One of those, huh?

Two of those
right out of a time machine.

Well, uh, show 'em in, Peggy.
Show 'em in.

Won't you come in, please?

Mr. Mannix?

That's right.

I'm Portia Penhaven.

This is my sister Penelope.

Please, sit down.

Would you, uh,
like some coffee?

Well, a cup of tea
would be welcome.

Peggy?

Tea.

The tannic acid
counteracts the caffeine.

Now, uh, what can I do for you?

At : this morning

a man backed his automobile
into our car,

thereby breaking
one of our headlights.

The one in the middle.

In the middle?

Instead of stopping to learn
the extent of the damage

as the law requires,

he fled the scene of the crime.

And?

That's it.

That's it.

Well, uh, what is it
you would like me to do?

I want that person found,
Mr. Mannix,

found and brought to justice.

Well, now the, uh, police

handle traffic accidents

with great efficiency,
Ms. Penhaven,

and the service is included
in your tax bill.

I have no intention

of going to the police,
Mr. Mannix,

considering
the unpleasant experience

I had with them.

And what experience was that?

I was given a citation,

forced on me
by an arrogant young officer.

He insisted that my automobile
was interfering

with the--what's it called--
flow of traffic.

Hmm.

And, uh, when was this?

Uh, years ago

this coming November.

Ladies.
Oh, thank you.

Cream?

Uh, no, thank you.

Sugar?

Yes.

Now, uh, there may be one point

that hadn't occurred to you,
Ms. Penhaven,

but my services would, uh,
come to considerably more

than the price
of a new headlight.

Oh, excuse me.

Ah, there we are.

Money is incidental,
Mr. Mannix.

Our father taught us
to put principle

above all else.

We are doing exactly
as he would have done.

This man has broken the law,

and he is still at large.

Are you prepared
to be responsible

for any other crimes
that he might commit?

Uh, no, Ms. Penhaven,
I am not.

Well, good.

Well, uh, where did
this accident occur?

At the Palomar shopping center

at Lexington and Holmesby.

Hmm.

And, uh, how would you describe
the driver of the car?

Well--
Well, he was quite

a young man, I believe,
certainly under ,

medium height, slender,
dark hair.

I was not able to distinguish

his facial features.

He had a raincoat.

Well, everyone carries
a raincoat, Penny.

Yes.

Well, now, uh,
this car that hit you--

I'll need to know
the color, make, model, year.

Well, it was
a sort of medium color,

brown, I think.

That's all you can tell me?

I'm not that conversant

with motor vehicles,
Mr. Mannix.

Uh, Ms. Penhaven,

uh, there are some
million automobiles

registered in Los Angeles.

Uh, I'm afraid that, uh,

I just can't find that car,

not without something
more to go on.

Well, there were
a lot of people close by--

Witnesses.
Couldn't you find them?

I'm sorry, Ms. Penhaven,

but these days
breaking somebody's headlight

hardly gets a second glance,
let alone a crowd.

There just simply isn't enough
for me to go on.

Would it help to know
the license number?

Yes. Yes, it would help a lot.

It was EJC.

Are you sure of that, Penny?

Quite sure, dear.

It said "California”
at the top.

And then in one corner there was
a little yellow square,

and that had numbers
on it, too,

but I couldn't make them out.

I'm afraid my eyes
aren't what they used to be.

Yes.

Good gracious, Penny,

how could you possibly
remember all that?

That memory course
we took four years ago.

Oh. I'd completely forgotten.

You will help us, Mr. Mannix?

Yes, I'll, uh, do what I can.

Our telephone number is listed.

We'll expect
to hear from you soon.

Come along, Penny.

Good day.

Oh, uh, there was a dent
in his car,

in the back,
about the middle,

about the size
of a croquet ball.

It would be a croquet ball.

By

Skip Seldon's the name, friend.

I'm here for one reason,
and one reason only--

To make you a happy
and contented man.

Now what kind of car
were you interested in?

Well, I'm looking
for a Plymouth sedan,

license number, uh, EJC.

It's got a dent in the trunk
about the size of a baseball.

What are you, a cop?

Private. The name is Mannix.

Yeah?

Now what is it
about a Plymouth sedan?

Well, it was involved
in a minor traffic accident

about : this morning.
It's registered to your outfit.

So?

I'd like to take a look at it
if it's back on the lot.

Sure, why not?

You know,
we carry full insurance.

Nice, clean car.

Oh, yeah,
that's one of the services

that our customers appreciate.

Who had it out this morning?

Mr. Mannix, this is a busy lot.
I'd have to look that up.

If it's not too much trouble.

All right,
let's have a look.

Yeah, here we are--EJC.

Wait a minute, there's
gotta be a mistake, Mannix.

This, uh, this baby hasn't been
off the lot in almost a week.

Here, look for yourself.

Last customer brought that back
six days ago.

Maybe you'd like to tell me

how it could have banged
into my client's car

four hours ago?

Sip of beer?

Don't try telling me
I got the license number wrong.

You know,
I bet it was a freebie.

You know what I mean?
A guy walks on the lot.

He sees the keys in the car,

and he borrows it
for a couple of hours.

Then he brings it back
and leaves it by the curb.

You know, you'd be amazed
at how many times that happens

on a lot this size.

Except this one is sitting
in the middle of the lot.

Well, that doesn't make
any difference.

These cars get jockeyed
around the lot all day long.

Well, sorry
I couldn't be more help.

Oh, you did fine, Skip,

just fine.

Otis?
Sir?

Take over here, wIllya?
I'll be back in about an hour.

By

Mr. Seldon would like

to see you, Mr. Valine.
He says it's urgent.

Send him in.

I told you there'd be
some feedback on this.

All right, Skip, let's have it.

Well, it's just like you said,
Mr. Valine.

A private detective named Mannix
already showed up at the lot,

looking for the, uh,
Plymouth sedan.

Did he say who for?

No, no, he just wanted
to see the car and, uh,

and the check-out list.

But I--just like you said,
I had Otis make out a new list,

leaving Elmo's name off, so...

It shouldn't have been put on
to begin with.

Well, Otis had to put
the name on.

I mean, the police make us
keep records.

Well, listen,
there's nothing to worry about.

I mean, uh,
nobody's ever gonna be able

to associate Ellmo with that car.
I wiped the car clean myself.

Lose the car right now.
What do you mean, lose it?

Get it over to Pete's
and tell him I want it

put through the crusher.
Report it stolen.

Oh, come on, there's a lot
of miles left on that car.

I could--
Do it.

Do it.

I'll get right on it.

Next job I send you out on,

take driving lessons.

I don't know what them old dames
are so uptight about.

I hardly touched their car.

Sure, except that it happened

one block
from where you plugged Corman.

That gets out,

some smart cop could be putting
the pieces together.

Maybe this private cop,
Mannix,

has already put the pieces
together.

If those old ladies got
a good look at Elmo...

Did they?

It's, uh, it's possible.

Find 'em.

It shouldn't be too tough,
anybody driving a car like that.

Sure, Mr. Valine.

And after I find them?

Do something about it.

I want 'em out of my hair.

By

Art, busy?

Four years ago last September,
the last time I wasn't busy,

I was this close
to double pneumonia.

What can I do for you, Joe?

Well, um...

Does the name Skip Seldon
mean anything to you?

He runs a used car
and a rental lot out on Ventura.

Oh, yeah, I remember Skip.

We busted him
a couple of years ago

for running a hot car farm.

Did one to three in San Quentin,
as I recall.

Anything else?

Word had it that he was fronting
for Anton Valine,

not that we could prove
anything. Why?

What are you working on, Joe?

Well, it's, uh, kind of
a hit-and-run case.

Kind of a hit-and-run?
Anybody hurt?

Uh, no, no.
No, nothing like that.

How bad was it?

Well, um...

a headlight got cracked.

A headlight got cracked?

Yeah.

You wouldn't be holding out
on me, would you, Joe?

Art, you know me
better than that.

Yeah?

Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler

are here, Lieutenant--witnesses
in that Corman k*lling.

All right,
bring 'em in, Charlie.

Nothing as earthshaking

as the maniac
headlight-smasher, Joe,

but somebody has to handle

the routine stuff like m*rder.

Oh, uh, Art,

did he say the Corman k*lling?

That's right.
Yeah, I heard about that.

It happened, uh,
right around the corner

from that, uh, supermarket
on Lexington.

Yeah, that's the one.
Yeah.

Mind if I listen in?

Why?

Just curious.

Suit yourself.

Lieutenant.

Yes, come right in.
This is Mr. Mannix.

Mr. Mannix.
How do you do?

Sit down, won't you?
Thank you.

I-I just don't know what more

me and Harry can tell you,
Lieutenant.

Well, we're just double-checking

some of the main points,
Mrs. Ziegler.

For example,
are you both certain

that you didn't see
anyone acting

in a strange
or a suspicious manner?

No, not a soul.

Everybody was just crowding
around that poor man.

No one running away
from the scene?

Not that me and Harry saw,
no, sir.

And I looked around, too.

If you were to ask me,

I'd say that somebody
was on the roof or something

with a r*fle,
with a telephonic sight on it,

and he sh*t the fellow.

Yes.

Well, I think that'll do
for now.

I do want to thank you
for stopping by.

The least we could do,
Lieutenant.

All these awful things
going on these days.

There was one thing
funny, though.

What was that?

Well, everybody rushed up
to see what happened.

And there was this one fellow
that just walked away,

as if nothing
was going on at all.

Did you get a look at him?

Not his face, no, sir.
He had his back to me.

Uh, Mr. Ziegler,
mind if I ask you something?

No, I don't mind at all.

This man you saw,
was he carrying anything?

No, no, I can't say he was.

Mrs. Ziegler?
Carrying?

A raincoat, for instance?

You know, come to think of it,
he did have a raincoat.

He did, kinda slung
over one arm, like.

And that's funny, isn't it,

with the nice weather
we've been having and all?

Well, thank you.

Thank you.
Bye.

What was all that
about a raincoat?

I don't know yet, Art.

You mind if I take a look
at the file on this case?

No.

Now this says that
Corman was k*lled at :

less then a block
from the shopping center

at Lexington and Holmesby.

So what?

My client's headlight
was broken around :

in front of the supermarket
there.

Are we back at that headlight?

The driver of the car
was carrying a raincoat.

You think the man
that sh*t Arnold Corman

broke that headlight
getting away?

I'm sure beginning to think so.

That's not enough, Joe.

Let me add a couple
of things to that.

Hit-and-run car came off
of Skip Seldon's rental lot.

His records show that the car

hadn't been off the lot
for a week.

I saw only three names
on that record list.

When I talked to the guy
who rented the car last,

he said there were at least
eight to ten names listed.

Now that's a lot
of trouble to go to

to cover up
breaking a headlight.

All right, Joe.
Let's go talk to Seldon.

By

It was right here.

Well, they move 'em
around a lot.

Yeah, especially this one.

Skip Seldon
is the name, friends.

I'm here for one reason
and one reason only,

to make you as happy
and contented as...

Oh, you're back again, huh?

Lieutenant Malcolm
of the homicide division.

Homicide? Now wait a minute,
what's going on?

What makes you think
something is going on?

Well, no, I just meant
if, uh,

if it's about
that Plymouth sedan

that, uh, Mr. Mannix
was checking on be--

That's what
it's all about, Skip.

I'd like to take
another look at it.

Well, it's gone.

What do you mean, gone?

I mean, somebody stole it.

They just drove it
right off the lot.

And this time
they didn't bring it back.

And of course
you reported it.

Sure, I reported it.
I have to report it, don't I?

Otherwise my insurance
is no good, right?

Oh, I mean,
it's happened before.

You know, we have
a lot of traffic through here,

and, uh, somebody just came on
and drove it off.

The same guy
who doctored the ledger.

What ledger?

This ledger.

Al right.

There we are. Look at it.

You don't see any names
rubbed out on that, do you?

I talked to this man, McNeil.

He says that when he rented
the Plymouth,

there was something like
eight names on this page.

He says.

Let's hear what you say.

Otis?

Yes, Mr. Seldon.

Come here.

You done any monkeying
around at all

on the names
on this dispatch ledger?

Why, no, Mr. Seldon.
Y-you know I wouldn't--

Wait, wait,

there was some coffee
spilled on here

a couple of days--here.

See? It's, uh, it ran
all the way down the side.

I had to recopy
a couple of these pages.

Every name?

Every name?

Well, no, just the ones
from last month.

|-I saw no reason
to recopy all the names.

Get me back to my office, Joe.

They're lying, Art,
from beginning to end.

Don't you think
I know that?

How are you gonna prove it?

Seldon's got the answers--

Maybe not all of 'em,
but enough to get you started.

What do you want me
to do, drag him in,

shine bright lights in his eyes,
holler in his ear?

Cars do get stolen.
Coffee does get spilled.

No, you get
on that bookkeeper of his.

A little pressure and he'll fold
like a cafeteria napkin.

Come on, Joe,
these days nobody folds

with permission
from his lawyer.

Without something solid
to go on, we're stymied.

By

You appear to be a person

of some breeding,
Mr. Wilson,

hardly the sort
who one would find

representing a common criminal.

I'm afraid you're being
much too severe

on my client, Ms. Penhaven.

Charles Porter is an honest,
respectable businessman.

Then why, may I ask,
hasn't he come here himself?

At the time of the accident,

he was rushing to catch a plane

on a business matter
that simply couldn't wait.

Yes, I see.

And how was Mr. Porter
able to learn

whose car he had damaged?

He managed to get a look
at your license number.

The moment he reached Chicago
he called me,

asked me to locate the owner
and pay for any damage.

As a matter of fact,
Mr. Porter has authorized me

to pay you $.

Oh, it wouldn't cost
anywhere near that.

I'll handle this, Penny.

I only meant that--

Are you attempting
to bribe me, sir?

Ms. Penhaven, I would never.

I have engaged
a private investigator

to find your Mr. Porter.

He will be arrested

and charged
with hit-and-run driving

and tried in a court of law.

Why?

No one was injured.
The damage is negligible.

And he's offering
a generous settlement.

The reason this country

is suffering from moral decay,
Mr. Wilson,

is because too many people

think nothing
of disobeying the law.

I for one utterly refuse

to condone such conduct.

Let me point out to you

that the fact that my client's
car struck yours

in-in no way means

that he was driving it
at the time.

I saw his face clearly,

Mr. Wilson.

And I could recognize him
with no difficulty whatever

in a police lineup,

as I believe it's called.

He was carrying a raincoat.

Are you sure
you won't reconsider?

I'll ring for Gertrude,

and she will show you out,
Mr. Wilson.

Don't bother,
and thanks for the tea.

I hope you won't end up
regretting your decision.

Good afternoon, ladies.

You think she was
telling it straight

about being able to recognize
Elmo on sight?

She made a believer out of me.

This is one tough old lady.

No kiddin'.

Hi, Peggy.

Hi. You had several calls.

Anything urgent?

Portia Penhaven would like
for you to call upon her

at "your earliest convenience.”

Is that all she said?

She didn't say anything.

It seems the sisters never make
a call personally.

They don't even answer
the phone.

That, Mr. Mannix, sir,
is part of the maid's duties.

Well, it's a whole
different world, Peggy--

Two nice old ladies holding
the fort against changing times.

And as a matter of fact,
I, uh,

intended to take a run
out there anyway.

By

By

by

And what, Mr. Mannix,
is that supposed to be?

It's a b*mb, Ms. Penhaven.

I assume you brought it here
for some reason.

Well, someone was wiring it
under your car.

I ran them off.

Oh.

You may go to your room,
Gertrude.

Yes, ma'am.

An attempt to m*rder
my sister and me--

Is that what you're implying?

Well, no, it's not
that kind of a b*mb.

Would you would get
is one hell of a--

One heck of a lot of noise
and a car full of smoke.

It was put there
as a warning, Ms. Penhaven.

Oh, Portia.

Which proves what I've been
saying all along.

That man belongs in jail.

He was telling you
to call off the hunt.

Now this time it was a warning,
but next time it could be

a lot worse,
if there is a next time.

Portia--

Please, Penny. Please.

We will not be intimidated,
Mr. Mannix.

That man must be punished,

which is exactly
what I told the young man

who was here earlier today.

Oh, which is why I sent for you.

What young man?

An attorney.
Now his name escapes me.

Oh, Dennis Wilson.

He--he claimed
to represent a client...

Charles Porter.

Who drove the car.

And he made some silly excuse
and offered us $

to drop the whole matter.

You turned him down?

Naturally.

Are you sure
this wasn't the man

who broke your headlight?

Oh, quite sure.

In fact, I told him
that I could pick his friend

out of a police lineup.

And I told him
I saw the raincoat.

Well, uh...

you might as well know
that till this thing is settled

you're gonna need protection--
police protection.

I'll try to get
someone assigned.

You'll do nothing of the sort,
Mr. Mannix.

You know my opinion
of the police.

Ms. Penhaven,

ladies,

we're dealing
with dangerous men.

It's getting late.

Good night, Mr. Mannix,

and take that disgraceful object
with you.

Good night.

By

You mean
they actually told that guy

they could recognize the driver
that ran into their car?

They did.

Problem now
is how to keep them alive.

Tell them to leave town
until the case is concluded.

You couldn't get
Portia Penhaven to run away

if you used a flamethrower.

Look, Art, if something
isn't done and now,

those two little old ladies
aren't gonna get any older.

I've done what you wanted, Joe.

Two men are on the clock
in an unmarked car

parked half a block
down the street.

The ladies will never know
they're there.

Yeah, well, I just hope
it's enough.

In the meantime,
I'll see if I can find out

who put that thing together.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Who's calling, please?

Uh, just a moment.

Joe?

Buckingham Palace
is on the phone,

The Queen's
lady in waiting.

Hello?

Mr. Mannix?
Ms. Penhaven calling.

Portia Penhaven,
Mr. Mannix.

Are you and your sister
all right?

Definitely not.

Why? What's wrong?

Two men in an automobile

have been loitering
at the end of our street.

When I demanded an explanation,

they grunted at me,

which leads me to believe
that they are police officers.

I'll look into it
right away, Ms. Penhaven.

I regard that reply

as evasive, Mr. Mannix.

Get rid of them at once.

I'll get right on it.
Thank you for calling.

And there they sit,

targets for a bunch
of cold-blooded K*llers.

How do you get that
through their stubborn heads?

If they won't help themselves,
what can you do?

Maybe set up a different target.

Who is it?

Valine.

Mannix.

All right, what are you
trying to pull?

Who else you gonna open up
that fast for?

All right, you seem to be in.
What do you want?

Oh, a little friendly word.

About what?

I've been putting
in a little overtime

on the Corman k*lling.

I know who did it,
and I know why it was done,

and thanks to a couple
of little old ladies,

I know who ordered it done.

Do me a favor, don't tell me
about it. Go to the cops.

Hey, Skip, you're a businessman.
I'm a businessman.

We're both out for a fast buck.

Now you've got your cut.
I want mine.

That's why you're gonna make
a little phone call for me.

I'd make it myself,
but I got a feeling

that I wouldn't get through
to the right guy.

Just what man
are you talking about?

I'm talking about the boss,
the big sh*t,

the guy who had Arnold Corman
put to sleep.

Valine.

You have got to be crazy
if you think for a minute--

I'm way past the thinking
stage, Skip. I know.

Now you're gonna get on the horn

and tell Valine
my price is $,.

If I don't get it by tonight,

the cops are gonna
drop in on him come sunup.

You're bluffing!

Maybe,

but that's a decision
you can't afford to make,

especially if I'm not bluffing

and Valine finds out
the hard way.

One hour, Skip.

I'll wait in my office.

By

Mannix.

They tell me you're bettin'
it all on a long sh*t.

A habit I picked up
at the track.

I happen to be
in a sensitive business, Mannix.

Rather than risk
a-a police investigation

over a ridiculous story
you dreamed up,

I'm willing to make
a token payment.

That's fine,

as long as the token
isn't under $,.

Out of the question.

$,.

Nice of you to call.

Wait.

All right. $,.

Where and when?

There's a service station

on the corner
of Addison and Palmer

with an outdoor phone booth.
You'll get a call in minutes.

On my way.

And don't have
one of your soldiers waiting.

You'll be alone.

By

Freeze!

By

He had identification
in the name of Simmons

with a Salt Lake City address,
both probably phony.

How much of this
was your doing, Joe?

Somebody had to make
a move, Art.

Your hands were tied.
You said so yourself.

It's just that it didn't
work out the way I had hoped.

I wanted him alive
so I could talk to him.

Well, next time you decide
to set yourself up

as a clay pigeon,

let your friendly police
department in on it, right?

I was set up tonight, Skip!

I don't know what you're
talking about. All I did

was what you asked me to do.
Shut up and listen to me!

You tell Valine
his soldier boy is dead,

and my price has gone up
to $,.

I'll wait for his call,
and you better tell him

it comes quick
and no more funny moves,

or he ends up behind bars
for accessory to m*rder.

And, Skip, you go with him.
Tell him!

Yeah, okay.

I'll be in my office.
Okay.

Okay.

Six Queen Seven,
still code five at Cypress road.

Any more
static from the old girls?

Looks like they're convinced
we've pulled out.

It's just as well. One of them's
got a tongue on her

you could shave
a pineapple with.

I'll check back at :.

Roger and out.

Get out.

By

Mannix.

Portia Penhaven here.

I've just had a most disturbing
telephone call.

I should like
to discuss it with you.

I'm listening.

In person, Mr. Mannix.

Immediately, please.

I'm expecting a call,
Ms. Penhaven, any minute now.

This simply cannot wait.

I shall expect you at once.

Yes?

Ms. Penhaven,
are you all right?

These dramatics are not
at all necessary, Mr. Mannix.

Of course I'm all right.

I assumed you were
on your way already.

You did fine, lady,
just fine.

By

Remember, lady,
the maid answers the door.

One yip outta her,

and your sister gets it.

You'll be sent to prison,
both of you.

Mr. Mannix will see to it.

Sure he will, lady.

I, uh, hear
he's a real tiger.

Freeze!

Drop 'em.

Both of you,
hands on the wall. Move!

All right, Ms. Penhaven,
call the police.

Dial operator.

On the floor, Mannix.

Drop it.

We figured you might be
putting two and two together.

Drop it, lady.

You don't want to bother
the phone company.

I said drop it.

Ruffian!

Don't sh**t, lady.
Don't sh**t!

Portia!

Mr. Mannix,
take this, please.

Oh, please.

It turns out
that one of the mobs back east

wanted to take over
Valine's operation,

and they hired Arnold Corman
to dig out

whatever he could
on the organization

before making their move.

Valine found out about it
and had Corman hit

as a warning
to the out-of-state boys

to stay in their own part
of the country.

What I'm still waiting
to find out

is how did you know
that they were in the house?

Something you told me.

I did?

About the Penhaven maid
handling all calls in and out.

Last night Portia called me
personally.

When I called back,
she answered, not the maid.

Oh, come in, ladies,
come in.

I'd like you to meet
Lieutenant Malcolm.

Hello.
Oh, how do you do?

What branch of the service
are you in, Lieutenant?

I'm a police officer.

Mr. Mannix,

now that you've completed
your assignment,

I should like to take care
of your bill.

Oh, no, no, no, no.
No charge, ladies.

You see,
if you hadn't insisted

on my finding
the hit-and-run driver,

there might still be a k*ller
running around loose.

Nonsense.

Father always said

a laborer is worthy of his hire.

Exactly.

Good day.
Bye-bye.

Good day.

Good-bye.
Bye.

Good-bye.
Good-bye.

Good-bye.
Penny, come along.

Good day.

Thank you.

"Thank you for your efforts
on our behalf.

Sincerely,
Portia and Penelope Penhaven.”

Hmm.