04x06 - A Deadly State of Mind

[bunniefuu]

He was my dog...

my dog...

not hers.

I found him...

he didn't like
Margaret at all...

not really.

She said she fed him...

she lied.

She said...

she took care of him...

but she didn't.

I did.

Daddy...

Daddy...

Daddy.

What about your Daddy?

Daddy knew about...

Margaret.

How she really was.

I told him.

Why did you
tell him?

So...

he would love me.

So he wouldn't love her.

I could swim...

and dive...

from the highest board.

Margaret couldn't.

Daddy used to watch me...

watch me swim...

and watch me dive.

He'd watch you dive?

Yeah.

Just me...

only me.

Margaret...

Margaret was
afraid of water.

Well...

I didn't want Daddy
watching her.

We had a pool...

a beautiful pool.

Margaret hated it.

Why?

She couldn't swim.

Did she dive
into the pool?

Nadia?

Sweet Walter...

my dog. My dog.

All right...

come forward...

...

.

Sleep easy.

Easy.

Everything is all right.

It's the present...

Wednesday.

You're coming awake.

On the count of three...

you will awaken...

very refreshed...

feeling happy...

very satisfied.

One...

two...

three.

That must have been
a short one.

About the same.

Same roadblock?

I want you to stay
here a while...

till the effects wear off.

I've seen so little of you.

Carl's going
out of town today...

San Francisco.

I thought the beach house...

No one's around.

I'd like to...
Mark, please.

You know how much
I need you.

All right.

But you stay here
for a while...

and I'll see you later.

Rest.

Dr. Collier, I thought
perhaps you ought to know...

that we're missing some dr*gs
from the research lab.

Several hundred units of
amobarbital and zilothin.

I suggest you double-check the inventory.

I'm sure
there's a mistake.

I wonder if you've been
using any for your own work.

What?

Mark, I know the book
isn't going terribly well...

but using dr*gs to deepen
Mrs. Donner's hypnotic state...

is at best
a dangerous shortcut.

Anita, don't second-guess
me on my methods.

Hey, you're too good a
doctor. You don't need it.

Besides, she's so utterly
dependent on you.

I'll tell you
what I do need.

I need those results on your
experiments with the rats.

I gave you my results,
and you rejected them.

Because they weren't
properly controlled.

Look, I've got a publisher hovering over
my shoulder like a ravenous vulture...

And, I'm not going to fake lab results
just to get your book into print.

I'm not suggesting
you fake anything.

I do suggest, however...

you show a little bit more
imagination and a lot more diligence.

Diligence?

Hi, darling.
Mark, please, don't.

Yes, yes,
do come in, Doctor.

I'm sorry.
He wouldn't let me call you.

Of course.

It would spoil the fun.

Well, what will it be?

Pistols at ten paces?

Swords? Who gets
the choice of weapons?

Very amusing.

Never at a loss for words.

What do you want? A confession,
that your wife and I are lovers?

That's self-evident, but
you say it with such pride.

Perhaps she hasn't
told you yet.

You're not the first,
you know...

or even the second...

or, even the fifth.

Must you, please?

I must.

Yes, of course,
he must.

You forget, Carl, after seven months
with Nadia, I know everything about her...

and you.

Correct me if I'm wrong...

at this point you usually step
aside, knowing full well that...

the lover at the moment is not about
to accept the responsibility for Nadia.

I know my wife, Doctor...

and the trash
she's attracted to.

You might be surprised.

Nadia, get your coat.

You walk out of that door,
Collier, with my wife...

I'll ruin you.

I'll go to the university, tell
them about the dr*gs you're using...

about the carnal relations you
had with a patient, my wife.

What is it,
the book?

Yes, of course...

without her,
there's no book.

Carl!

No, Carl!

He's dead.

Don't look at him, don't look
at him, don't look at him.

I'm here. I'm here.
I'm gonna help you.

Come over here,
come over here.

I want you to sit down
over here, sit down.

Don't look around.

All right.

All right.

Now, we're going to
have to call the police.

Now, what are we
going to tell them?

We tell them that...

Carl tried to stop me
from taking his wife.

Yeah, but no jury'd ever
believe that.

No, we're going to have to
come up with a different story.

Did anybody see you leave
the apartment, at all?

Now think,
Nadia, think.

Anybody?

The doorman.

Nobody else?

Sure?

No.
Positive. Good, good.

You came here with Carl...

just the two of you,
to be alone. It was : .

: , two men
came to the door...

they forced
their way in.

They wanted...

They wanted jewelry.

They wanted jewelry
and money.

Carl...

Carl wouldn't...

Carl wouldn't let them in,
he resisted them.

You tried to warn him...

but, he wouldn't listen,
his temper. You got that?

I'm scared. I'm scared.

Of course.
Of course, you're scared.

Two men k*lled your husband.
It's perfect, that's perfect.

Nadia. Nadia.

Nadia...

we're going to b*at them.

: ...

you came here with Carl,
just to be alone.

: .
: .

: .

At : ...

At : ...

...two men
came through that door.

...two men came to the door.

They forced their way in.
There was a struggle.

Struggle.

Hello, what's happened?

Are you all right?

Mark?
Don't you ever go home?

I'm just re-correlating
some data...

as requested.

I suppose you noticed today that
I wasn't my usual charming self.

No kidding.

Why don't we have a cup of
coffee in the cafeteria, and talk?

Don't tell me, about
Nadia Donner. Nadia Donner.

I don't think we have
anything to talk about.

We don't.

You say they were
wearing masks? What kind?

Stockings.

They were wearing
stockings over their faces.

It was very ugly,
frightening.

Lieutenant, perhaps if you could
wait until tomorrow. No, no...

it's all right.

That's right, ma'am. The more
information we have now...

the better chance we have
of catching them.

Carl and I were...

sitting relaxing...

having a drink...

listening to music.

And we heard...

a knock at the door.

Carl went to see
who it was...

and we heard
a man's voice...

saying he had...

car trouble on the highway
and could he use the phone?

As soon as...

Carl opened the door...

they forced their way in.

Two men...

carrying g*ns.

They demanded money...

and when Carl said
he didn't have any...

one of them...

the tall man...

went upstairs
to the bedroom.

Carl picked up...

the poker from
the fireplace...

and they struggled...

and the man got
the poker away from Carl...

and he hit him.

Nadia, Nadia,
that's enough now.

That's all right, ma'am.
Just calm down.

And...

when they realized
what they'd done...

he took his wallet
and his watch...

and they took
some of my jewelry...

and then they...

ran out the door
and drove away.

Oh, then the car was
right outside?

Yeah.

I heard them leave.

But you didn't
hear it arrive?

No.

We were
listening to music.

Look, Lieutenant,
I am sorry...

but she is really in no condition
to answer any more questions.

I understand, Doctor.

Thank you
very much, ma'am.

The lab guys are on their
way, Lieutenant. Right.

You got a description of the
intruders? I'll call it in.

Not much of a description. Two
guys in ski caps and stocking masks.

Can you read my writing?
Oh, yeah.

Don't lose my book.
Don't worry about it.

Possible.

What the hell is that?

How is she doing, Doctor?

Well, frankly, I'll feel a lot
better when Dr. Collier gets here.

He should be here by now.

Who is Dr. Collier?

Nadia Donner's been undergoing
treatment for years.

One psychiatrist
after another.

The way she is now...

I think Dr. Collier's better
qualified to deal with her.

Is something wrong,
Lieutenant?

Guys, let's
get started inside.

Louie, you get some pictures of the body...

the wagon's on its way.
Eddie, you come on with me...

You guys, you just came down
the driveway?

It's the only way
to get down here, Lieutenant.

You're right, Lieutenant,
we got very little to go on.

What about the car,
she didn't see it, huh?

That's what she said.

Sorry to disturb you, ma'am.
Just one question.

You said that you were
having a drink. Could I ask...

what it is
that you were drinking?

Martini.
Dry martini. Why?

Just want to make sure of the
details. Sorry to disturb you.

You got enough there, Lou?

Just a few more, please.

Lot of dust
around this place.

The house was locked up
since Thanksgiving.

They didn't use it
very much.

They picked a great night
to start again.

How do you like this?
Nice, huh?

What do you bet
it's clean?

What do you want,
you want it easy?

Maybe we got lucky.

Don't hold your breath.

Lieutenant?

Lieutenant?

Yeah. We might have a break on the car.

Outside.

Sergeant, tell me something.

What is this?

What's what?

I don't know,
a piece of metal?

I found it on the floor
over there.

Yeah.

Follow me.
Right.

What have you got?

I'm not sure.

See that left post?

There's a dent on it.

I don't know if it means
anything, but...

You see something?

Just a second.

You got a piece of paper?

A piece of paper?

What kind of paper?

Any kind of paper,
give me a piece of paper.

She said that when the fellows
left the house...

that she heard a car pull
out, so there should be tracks.

Lieutenant, those tracks
are from my car.

I know...

but I thought I noticed
that this is a thinner track.

Thinner.

Where's the lab guy?

George.

See? This is a European car.

You know,
they have the thin tires.

Yeah, I know,
our tires are wider.

But, I don't see any European
cars here, only my car.

You got a European car?

That's a French car.

Yeah, my car's a French car.

I had these thin tires
for years.

George...

take a photograph of this
tire track right here.

Want to see if we can get a
picture of the design of the tread.

Sure, I'll get Lou.

Let me show you the post.
Yeah.

Now, maybe it's important
and maybe it's not.

Sergeant, check
the area, would you?

Maybe a neighbor saw
something or heard something.

Not many neighbors this time
of the year, Lieutenant...

especially in
the middle of the week.

Well, check anyhow.
Maybe we'll get lucky.

You know, maybe somebody saw a
car or something. Dr. Collier?

Yes. I'm Lieutenant Columbo, LAPD.

This is my associate,
Dr. Anita Borden.

Hello, Lieutenant.
How do you do, ma'am.

Now, what's going on here?
Dr. Hunt called me...

said something about
Carl Donner being hurt.

I'm sorry, sir.
He's dead.

Dead?

How?

Two men, they broke in...

there was a struggle.

What about Mrs. Donner?

She's okay.

Thank God.

Dr. Hunt's inside with her. He's
concerned about her condition.

She's very upset.

I'm sure.
Let's go.

Doctor, may I borrow a match?

Oh, sure, let's go.

Lieutenant.

Mark, I can't.
I can't handle it.

Please, Mark, please,
don't make me lie anymore.

I'm going to help you.

We're going to
do it together.

You expecting anyone?
No.

Sit here.

Good morning, Lieutenant.
Good morning, sir.

I'm sorry, I didn't expect
to find you here.

I wanted to speak
to Mrs. Donner.

But I thought someone should
be with her, you understand.

Certainly.

This won't take long.

Come in, join us, please,
for coffee.

How do you take
your coffee?

Black. I'm trying
to lose weight.

Any news
about those men?

No, sir.

Not that we had
that much to go on.

Let me see.

Oh, yes. I wanted
to ask you, Mrs. Donner...

the beach house...

you and your husband haven't
used the beach house...

since November ,
Thanksgiving, is that right?

Yes...

December and January are very
lonely down by the water.

I was wondering, ma'am...

could you tell me
why you and your husband...

suddenly decided to spend this
particular night at the beach house?

Yes.

Carl...

wanted to get away, and...

Well, as I've told you before,
there aren't...

many people by the beach
this time of year.

I love the beach
this time of year...

not that I could afford
a place like yours.

Excuse me sir, may I borrow your lighter?

Oh, certainly.

I don't know why I smoke these
things so early in the morning.

They taste terrible.

I like a good
Havana myself.

"Love Mark, from Bibby. "
Is that your wife?

No, that's my sister.

You know, she gave me this
when I graduated medical school.

I really treasure it.

I can understand that, sir.

Something wrong?

No, I'm just trying to picture
something in my mind, sir.

Ma'am, last night, you said one
of the men went into the bedroom...

and at that moment, your
husband picked up the poker.

Yes, that's right.

And he and the other man
then struggled.

Uh-huh.

Yes, that's
the problem.

Why didn't he
sh**t him?

The man with the g*n, when your
husband picked up the poker...

why didn't he just
sh**t him?

And what happened
to the g*n?

When they struggled, did he put the
g*n down, or did he hold it in his hand?

I thought I told you...

he put the g*n
in his belt...

to look in the drawers
or something...

and when he turned
his back on him...

that's when Carl att*cked him.

I see.

I thought I'd mentioned
that to you.

No.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, that's all right, ma'am.
No harm done.

I didn't ask you
that before.

Yes, that could happen.

Were they wearing gloves?

Gloves?
I don't remember.

There were no strange
fingerprints in the house, ma'am...

just yours
and your husband's.

He used a handkerchief
to wipe away the prints.

I see.

I can't think
of anything else.

Thank you very much.

Good day, Lieutenant.
Good day, sir.

You lose something,
Lieutenant?

Why, yes, sir,
my notebook.

It's in your belt.

Good day.

Good day.

Mark, I'm so scared.

Please, we have to tell him.

We can't tell him,
we can't tell anyone.

Think how it would sound,
after our little story.

Be strong, Nadia,
be strong.

The zoo, Chuck...

the city's number one collection of
white rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

Very impressive.

This is the lady who can
tell you all about it.

My publisher, Chuck Whelan,
Dr. Anita Borden.

How do you do? Excuse me. Hi.

Fascinating.

He looks just like
one of my junior editors.

We call her Willie.

Sorry,
I don't have a Willie.

What's the purpose?

Well we're measuring
her learning rate.

You see, there's only one
way to get to the food...

and last week we had the
route marked out in red...

today we changed
the route to green.

But, she seems to be...

determined to follow
the red line.

So she's
not getting very far.

We're just going to see
how long it takes her.

All that for
a bite of egg.

Doesn't seem
quite fair.

I'd wager
your junior editors...

sometimes feel the same way.

Perhaps so.

Chuck, I'll walk you
to the car.

Okay. Thanks very much,
Doctor. And thank Willie for me.

All right. Anytime.

Excuse me, ma'am,
how do I find Dr. Collier?

I believe he's
in the laboratory, sir.

And how do
I find that?

Just follow the blue line
to the East Wing.

This way?
Yes, the blue line.

Is this the East Wing?

Yes, it is.
I'm looking for Dr. Collier.

They said I might
find him here.

Perhaps he's in one
of the observation rooms.

This way?
Yes.

Is there any special
color that...

Well, I'm very sorry.

Dr. Borden?

Yeah.

Lieutenant Columbo, we
met last night? Yeah.

Hi. I'm trying to locate Dr. Collier.

I just saw him, he was heading
towards the parking lot.

No kidding.
I just came from there.

Yeah?

While I got you,
I want to double check...

you were working here last
night with Dr. Collier?

Yeah, we weren't exactly
working, but we were both here.

And Dr. Hunt reached Dr.
Collier in the cafeteria?

Yes.
When was that?

About : , I was with him
when the call came in.

He asked me to drive him
there, as a matter of fact.

Thought perhaps I could be of some help.

Is there anything else
I can do for you, Lieutenant?

Let me ask you something.

What kind of place is this?
What do you do here?

You really want to know?

Basically, we're concerned
with the measurement...

and manipulation of human
behavior at all levels.

This, as a matter of fact,
is our test lab, here.

We have all our test animals in here.

Things like...

peer group adaptability...

and anxiety catharsis
through hypnotic suggestion.

Hypnosis,
I'm reading up on that.

Dr. Collier wrote that.

Yes, I know.
I helped him research it.

You like it?

Very much.

It's hard to follow.

Yeah.

Hello, there.

Good afternoon, sir.

I've been looking
all over for you.

Dr. Borden was
very helpful.

Thank you, Doctor.

Not at all.

Thank you, ma'am.

Yeah.

I saw you looking
at my car.

Naturally, I'm curious.

That was because
of the tires, sir.

We found a muddy tire track last
night out at Mrs. Donner's beach house.

You can see
the tread design.

It's very distinctive.

Oh, yeah,
isn't that the...

Isn't that
the , mile XKL?

That's pretty standard
equipment on...

say, a half dozen imported
luxury models...

like my own.

Yes, sir. I knew that,
I use those tires myself.

You have an imported car?
Yes, sir, French.

Of course my tires...

don't let this get around,
they're a little bald.

So I wanted to get a good
look at that tread design.

It's not as though I thought
your car was out there last night.

I know Dr. Borden
drove you there.

You know, Lieutenant...

you're a marvelously
deceptive man.

You know, the way you get to the point,
without really ever getting to the point.

I really think you believe there's
something cockeyed about Carl Donner's death.

Can we talk
off the record, sir?

Please.

Mrs. Donner's a lovely lady...

but I'm having
difficulties with her story.

Oh?

She is either holding something
back or she is deliberately lying.

I believe that she knew
who those men were...

maybe she even hired them.

Is that speculation,
Lieutenant?

No, sir. That is her story, I can't buy it.

There's that business about
the g*n and the fireplace poker.

She explained that.

There is something else.

She said that she and her
husband were listening to music...

and two men came to the door
and broke their way in.

That doesn't make
any sense.

No sense at all...

because of the headlights.

What are you talking about,
Lieutenant?

Husband is sitting here.

This is the stereo.

That's the east window.

She's sitting here, she has
a martini, they're talking.

If a car comes down
that driveway...

the headlights
glare through the window.

You cannot miss
those headlights.

What's the point?

She said...

she heard a man's voice claim that
he had car trouble on the highway...

then after her husband was m*rder*d
and the K*llers ran out of the house...

she said she heard them
drive away.

That means that the car had to drive
down the driveway in the first place...

so she must have
seen the headlights.

But if she saw
the headlights...

and then a man's voice claims that his
car is broken down on the highway...

why open the door?

You see my problem.

I see your problem.

Now what if she got up from
the chair at that moment.

It could be many things.

What if they drove down the
driveway with their lights off?

Drove down with
the lights off.

Sure, if they're gonna rob a place,
why leave their lights blazing?

Yeah, but
on the other hand, sir...

if you intend to claim that your
car broke down on the highway...

why drive down
the driveway at all?

You see, there are too many
inconsistencies, sir. I just have...

problems accepting
her story.

May I make a suggestion?

Why don't you ask her to
submit to a lie detector test?

A lie detector test?
Sure.

Well, that's not
admissible in court.

It's not a question of being admissible
in court, I'm talking about for you.

If you actually believe
that she was innocent...

then you could turn your full
energies to finding the real murderers.

That's a very
good idea, sir...

but there's no way that I can
force her to submit to such a test.

Let me ask her.
She trusts me.

And if I advise it,
I think she'll take it.

And you think that
she'll pass such a test?

I'd stake
my reputation on it.

Lie detector?

I can't. You can and you must.
They don't believe your story.

But how can I fool
a lie detector?

It's quite simple really. Now the
lie detector test does nothing more...

than show your reactions
to a series of questions.

If you really believe
you're telling the truth...

that's what
the test will show.

And through hypnosis...

I can make you believe that
story so no one can dispute it.

It's merely a matter
of post-hypnotic suggestion.

Will it work?

Of course, it'll work. You've
always been a good subject.

I took the liberty of
bringing along the drug.

After the test...

the Lieutenant will have no choice but
to leave you alone and go after intruders.

It's frightening, Mark.

What choice do we have?

The longer the Lieutenant digs
into this, the greater the risk.

We have to convince him now
that he's wrong about you.

Trust me, darling.

Trust me.

Nadia, can you
hear me?

Yes, I hear you.

You will listen
to me carefully.

You will hear my voice...

and only my voice.

You will obey my voice,
do you understand?

Yes, I understand.

It is now : .

You're upset
at Carl's death.

After I leave...

you will lock the door
and bolt it from inside.

You will stay here
in the apartment tonight.

You'll see no one, you'll talk
to no one, do you understand?

Yes.

At : ,
the phone will ring.

You'll hear my voice.

I will mention a man's name,
Charles Whelan.

When you hear that voice, you
will suddenly become very hot.

You will perspire.

You will have an overwhelming
desire to go swimming.

Swimming.

You like to swim,
don't you?

Yes.

Do you remember
when you were a little girl...

how you enjoyed diving into the
pool from the highest diving board?

Yes.

How your father enjoyed
watching you dive?

Yes.

Well, tonight,
you'll swim again.

You'll have to swim.

You'll be so hot,
nothing else will matter...

except to jump in
that cool, refreshing water.

You will put down the phone...

cross over to the balcony...

and dive into the pool
below your window.

Sue just doesn't
understand it.

I still think you should be
writing comic books.

You're awfully quiet
this evening.

I've been thinking about
that police lieutenant.

Columbo?
What on earth for?

Well, I think he suspects you of something.

Oh?

He keeps asking all kinds
of questions, about you, Mark.

How late you were at the Institute
last night. What you've been up to.

And, what did
you tell him?

Just everything I know.

Everything you know?

Everything.

Excuse me.

Good...
Lieutenant!

We were just
talking about you.

Oh, really?

I hope you don't mind. I
know that this is a bad time.

Oh, no.
Come in, please.

I had no idea you
were entertaining.

It's just
a group of friends.

You know, we're having a little
get-together, some of my colleagues.

Can I fix you a drink?

No. Thank you very much. I wanted
to discuss something with you.

Certainly.

Excuse me, everyone.
Hey, excuse me.

Lieutenant Columbo from the
Los Angeles Police Department.

He's investigating
the Carl Donner m*rder.

And I think
you've met Dr. Borden.

Hello, Lieutenant.

Can I get you
maybe a soft drink?

You have
any cream soda?

I'll have to take a look. In the meantime,
why don't you meet some of my friends?

Arnold, Brenda,
Sue, Gary.

Arnold, why don't you
make the introductions...

I'll get the Lieutenant
his cream soda.

How are you,
Lieutenant?

How do you do?
Nice to meet you.

This is my wife, Brenda.

This is Melissa.

Lieutenant,
Gary Keppler.

Nice to meet you, sir.
How do you do?

How are you?
This is my wife, Sue.

Hello.
George. Lydia.

Would you care to come
over and join us, sir?

No, thank you very much.

Please.
I'm on duty. Thank you.

Please, Lieutenant.
I have to talk with the...

Sir, you'd be
doing us a favor.

We're just a bunch
of boring doctors here.

You'd be like a breath of fresh
air. We'd love to have you.

Come on. Just for
a couple of minutes.

Terrific.

Can I take your coat
from you, sir? Thank you.

Here, wait a second.

Please, sit down.
Sit yourself down.

Make yourself
comfortable.

Would, you like something. I mean,
look at all this food, it's...

I'm on a diet.

You're at the wrong party,
Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, you know I find
this absolutely fascinating.

Do you have an interesting
investigation you've been involved with?

We'd love to hear about
something like that. Yeah.

I think that the most
interesting investigation...

is always the one that you're
working on at the moment.

That's usually true, but what's
so interesting about this case?

It's already
been solved.

I thought Carl Donner was
k*lled by burglars. Right.

Intruders, ma'am.

At least, that's the way it appeared.

You mean there's
some doubt about it?

There is always
room for doubt.

In this case,
I would be willing to bet...

that the Lieutenant's
suspicions are very specific.

But Nadia Donner was there.
She told you what happened.

You doubt her story?

Thank you very much.
You're welcome.

Yes, I do have certain problems
in that area, ma'am. Yes.

Like what?

There was someone there last night,
that she didn't tell us about.

That's what I wanted
to talk to you about, Doctor.

She mentioned herself and her
husband, and the two intruders.

We know that there was someone else there.

Really? Well, Lieutenant,
how do you know that?

May I borrow your lighter, sir? Oh, sure.

We know that there was
a smoker there.

And we know that it was
not Mr. or Mrs. Donner...

because neither
of those two people smoke.

How about one of the
intruders? Yeah, right.

That's what
we all thought originally.

Including myself.

But, no...

it is not
one of the intruders.

That would be impossible.

Why?
Why?

Because according to
Mrs. Donner...

the two men that broke in...

were wearing stocking masks
and if that is so...

they wouldn't have
been able to smoke.

Of course.
Make it a little awkward.

Doctor.

Doc, that's why that lie
detector thing is important.

Her story's getting
shakier and shakier.

How would you know
there was a smoker there?

Because of this flint, ma'am.

What do you mean?

A flint from a cigarette lighter.
You see this little nub of a flint...

that had been worn down so thin that
when the person used his lighter...

it popped out.

But, how did you know
it was left there that night.

You'd make
a very good detective.

I don't know if I mentioned
this to you or not, Doctor...

we know that the flint was
dropped there last night.

You see, no one had been in
the place since Thanksgiving.

On November , they closed
up the place for the season...

and brought in
a professional cleaning crew.

And it's been
locked up ever since.

I found this flint
on the rug.

That was a rug
that had been shampooed.

Doctor...

would you mind if I
took the cover off this?

Why, certainly, Lieutenant.
It's your case. Do as you wish.

Extremely British tonight.

It's elementary,
my dear Watson.

We know the following, we know
that there was a smoker there...

a person who was not included
in Nadia Donner's story.

We know that person
used his lighter...

and when he used it, its
flint popped out. Right.

From these two facts,
we go on to a third fact.

That person is either using something
else to light his cigarettes...

or he put in a new flint.

Okay, we'll go
along with that.

That's elementary.

Like this one.

I would say that's a fresh
flint, from the size of it.

Doctor?

Oh, yes, I put that in
myself this morning.

I knew you did...

'cause last night,
out at the beach house...

he lit a cigarette
with a pack of matches...

and he wouldn't have done that
if his lighter had been working.

Yeah, but come on, Lieutenant,
surely you don't suspect Mark.

The lieutenant
suspects everyone.

You know, there must be a dozen
reasons how that flint got on the floor.

Why don't you just throw
it open for discussion?

There's an idea.
Yeah, right.

You know something, I'd make
a very good detective.

Really, I am.

Charles Whelan.

Mr. Charles Whelan, please.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry,
I must have the wrong number.

I mean, how did you
learn to be what you are?

How did you find
little things like flints...

How would you know
how to look for it?

You're really
very bright. I mean...

Chuck?

Hi. I'm sorry to call you
so late.

I told you I'd call you around
: , but I have some people over.

Can we make it
in the morning?

Good. I'll call you
first thing.

You have to swim.

You'll be so hot. Nothing will
matter except to jump into that pool.

To feel that wonderful,
cool, refreshing water.

You like to swim,
don't you?

How your father loved to
watch you dive.

Well, tonight,
you'll swim again.

You'll have to swim.

You'll be so hot,
nothing else will matter...

except to jump in that
cool, refreshing water.

...about what you were doing.
Why would I have to lie?

That's a very
good question.

Yeah?
See?

My husband always
tells me I'm dumb.

Are you convinced that
she was lying, Lieutenant?

I'm convinced of that, yeah.
There was someone else there.

Why would she lie? I mean
that would be silly. Right.

And jump into the pool
below your window.

Your father will be watching.

That's her.

Not very pretty.

Where'd she fall from?

The fifth balcony.

Those railings are
inches high.

Believe me, she didn't fall, she jumped.

Or somebody pushed her.

No way.

What do you mean,
no way?

The door was locked
and bolted from the inside.

Our guys had to use axes to knock
it down. The place was empty.

Did anybody see it?
Yeah.

The guy in went out
for cigarettes.

He heard the scream
and he saw the body hit.

When was that?

A few minutes after : .

He went out for cigarettes
right at the end of a TV show.

Anything else?

Only what she was wearing.

What was that?

Take a look.

Not wearing anything.

This is the door
we knocked down.

That's the balcony
where she jumped.

This is her bedroom.
The bed is still made.

Was her bathtub wet? Was she
taking a bath or a shower?

Nothing was disturbed.

So why was she naked?

I don't know. But her
clothes are right there.

You mean she was dressed when
she came out on the balcony?

So why did she
take off her clothes?

I don't know.

But there they are.

Has anything here been
touched? No, we waited for you.

Nothing was touched,
right, Hendryx?

Just the phone, Sarge.
The what?

The phone. It was off the
hook, so I replaced it.

Off the hook?

What do you mean,
off the hook?

Where was the receiver,
was it knocked to the floor?

Or on the desk?

No, the receiver was on the
desk, near the hook, like that.

And it was making a noise.
It was buzzing.

You know the sound it makes. And
so I picked it up and replaced it.

She was talking to somebody, never hung up.

Means she got
interrupted...

or she decided in the middle of
the conversation to k*ll herself.

Who was she talking to?

You're right about the railing. It's
too high. You can't fall over that.

Gotta jump.

But why take off
your clothes first?

I've seen a lot of pictures of
people jumping off of buildings.

I never saw one naked.

This one took off her
clothes, and she jumped.

Why did she do this?
Do what?

Fold her clothes up into
a nice neat pile.

Sarge, look at this!
What?

Lieutenant,
over here.

What have you got?

A watch, three rings
and a bracelet.

Where did
you find this?

There, in
that potted plant.

Lieutenant!

Just a second.

Lieutenant, you're not
going to believe this.

Are you sure this fits the description
of the stuff stolen last night?

Exactly.

Lieutenant...

this is the stuff that was supposed to
be stolen from the beach house last night.

Excuse me, excuse me, Sergeant. Yeah.

I'll tell you what bothers me. What?

This scarf.

It was tucked in the shoe.
It's not so much the scarf.

It's what's inside.

Her valuables.

A watch and her earring.

Good morning, Lieutenant.

You're up awfully early
this morning, aren't you?

Haven't been to bed.

It's been a bad night.

I just heard about Mrs.
Donner on the radio.

I'm stunned, it's...

It's awful.

By the way, if you're
looking for Dr. Collier...

I'm afraid he's gone
for the day.

He's with his publisher,
out on his boat.

Actually, I'm looking
for you.

Do you go swimming?

Do I go swimming?
You betcha.

Where do you put
your valuables?

Well, last month
I took a trip to Acapulco...

and I rented
one of those cabanas.

Left everything
in there.

What do you do if you don't have a cabana?

Well, when I was a kid...

I used to wrap everything up
in my stockings...

and put it
into my shoes.

I wanna ask
your professional opinion.

Is it possible to
hypnotize Mrs. Donner...

so that with the use of
suggestion you could...

make her jump over that
balcony to her death?

No, it's not possible,
Lieutenant.

You see, a person won't do
anything in a hypnotic state...

that they wouldn't normally
do in a conscious state.

Particularly not anything
that self-destructive.

Suppose she thought
she was jumping into a pool?

Suppose she thought she was
just going swimming?

I think that's
a lot of supposing.

That's Mrs. Donner's shoe.

We found it on the balcony.

She took it off
before she jumped.

This is Mrs. Donner's scarf.

It was shoved in the shoe.

In the scarf
we found her watch...

and her earrings.

She also took off her
clothes before she jumped.

We found them piled up
in a nice neat pile.

What are these?

They're dr*gs.

What are they called?

Amobarbitol and zilothin.

Do you know where we
found them? I have no idea.

The coroner found them
in Mrs. Donner's body.

This is a statement
from the medical examiner.

Medical examiner says that these
dr*gs can be effectively used...

to break down
somebody's will.

They're similar
to truth serum.

To your knowledge...

did Dr. Collier ever prescribe
these dr*gs for Mrs. Donner?

I can't give you that kind
of information, Lieutenant.

You're just gonna have
to ask Dr. Collier.

No, I'm asking you!

I'm asking you
about a m*rder.

What a nice morning.

Well, it's still better than sitting
behind a desk all afternoon, huh?

Why don't we have
some lunch at the club?

You're on.

Dr. Collier!

Brace yourself, Chuck.
It's the law.

You're kidding.

Good morning, Lieutenant.

Good morning, sir.

Oh, Lieutenant Columbo,
this is Chuck Whelan.

How do you do, sir?
How do you do?

Is there someplace where
we could talk privately, sir?

Mark, I'll go in
and make our reservations.

I'll be waiting in the bar
whenever you're finished. Right.

Nice meeting you, Lieutenant.

Now what
seems to be the problem?

That's him.

That's who?

The fellow you were trying to
get a hold of last night, : .

You finally got
a hold of him.

Lieutenant, I'm a little tired
and I'm a little hungry.

Oh, I guess
you haven't heard.

Heard what?

No, sir,
you haven't heard.

About Mrs. Donner.

Go on.

She's dead.

But how?
What happened?

It looks like su1c1de.

She went out on the
balcony of her apartment...

took off her clothes...

and she jumped.

It's unbelievable...

unless...

Unless what?

Unless she actually
had k*lled Carl.

That would be consistent
with her personality.

She.

You mean that you now believe
that she did k*ll her husband?

It's inconceivable, yet...

But psychiatry is an
interpretive science, Lieutenant.

We're all fallible.

No, sir.

I don't think so.

As far as I'm concerned, sir, we
still have to look for an accomplice.

Yeah?

Dr. Collier...

at the time of
Carl Donner's death...

you said that you were
at the university.

I don't say it,
Lieutenant.

Dr. Borden can confirm it.

Doctor Borden cannot confirm
the time of the m*rder.

We only know the m*rder took place at
: because the wife, Mrs. Donner said so.

She said it was
at : ...

but the medical examiner says it
could have taken place a lot earlier.

Now, if that's true, sir...

your alibi is not that strong.

As a matter of fact,
I went to the university.

I couldn't find anybody there
that recalls seeing you earlier.

Am I to presume that I'm
currently your chief suspect?

I'm not sure that suspect
is a strong enough word.

In that case, I should be
locked up. 'Course, I'm not.

Therefore, I presume
that you have no proof.

Not yet.

You'll let me know
when you do, won't you?

You will be
the first to know, Doctor.

I've been looking all over
for you, we got a witness.

Not a great witness,
but a witness.

His name is Morris.
He lives with his brother...

about a half mile up
from the beach house.

He was up walking on
the highway...

about the time
Donner was k*lled.

Did he see Collier
or the car?

That's the problem.

He's blind, Lieutenant.

The most we can get out
of him is the right time.

He's got one of
those Braille watches.

He said the car came out...

at : in the afternoon
not : at night.

He's sure about that?

He is positive.

Now I got Morris
back at headquarters.

I thought maybe you might wanna
ask him a couple of questions.

Good morning, Doctor.
Yeah, good morning.

What the hell is this? I had
to cancel two sessions...

because of your phone call,
idiotic phone call.

I'm sorry, sir,
I thought it was important.

And what do we got here,
the famous Ritz Brothers?

Sergeant Kramer,
Officer Hendryx.

Officer O'Brien.
Get on with it.

May I have that paper?

You wanted me to let you
know when I had proof.

Is that it?

That piece of paper?

Proof?

Well, yes or no?

This is an autopsy report.
So?

Nadia Donner did not
commit su1c1de.

She was m*rder*d.

We found evidence of
barbiturates in her system.

Lieutenant...

Nadia Donner didn't die of barbiturates,
her death was a little bit more dramatic.

A leap from
a fifth floor balcony.

She thought she was
going swimming.

You told her that.

You programmed her.

Have you got
anything or not?

I have a telephone call.
What phone call?

You called her.
I deny it.

That officer found
the receiver off the hook...

when he broke through her
locked door.

Congratulations.
Is that it?

Why did she take her clothes off
before she jumped? You tell me.

Why did she put her
valuables in her shoe?

Because she thought she was
going swimming.

Lieutenant, forgive me,
for interrupting.

We could speculate all day on how Nadia
Donner d*ed. Wouldn't mean a damn thing.

The problem with your theory
is you have no proof, do you?

Yes or no?

You're under arrest.

What for?

m*rder.
You better have a warrant.

I have it.

You're right, Doctor. I can't
prove that you k*lled Mrs. Donner.

But I can prove that you
k*lled Mr. Donner.

I have a witness.

That's right, sir.

I have an eyewitness.

Officer.

Mr. Morris, would you care to
sit down? Certainly, Lieutenant.

Mr. Morris,
do you live around here?

Yes, sir, a short distance up the highway.

Dr. Collier.

You need a match,
Lieutenant?

Thank you.
You're welcome.

Dr. Collier...

do you recognize this man?

No, I do not.

Mr. Morris,

besides myself, have you ever
seen anyone in this room before?

Yes, sir, I have.

Under what circumstances?

I was walking along
the Coast Highway Monday...

getting some air...

when a car suddenly came speeding
out of the Donner driveway.

The driver saw me
at the last minute...

and skidded to avoid me...

then he drove off.

And this driver...

did you get
a good look at him?

Yes, sir, I did.

It was this man standing here.

What time was that?

It was around : .
I checked my watch.

And you're certain that the man
that you see standing here...

in front of you
was the same man...

that you saw drive
out of the Donner driveway?

Positively.

He was driving a late
model Mercedes...

a coupe, blue.

Beautiful, Lieutenant,
it's a gallant effort.

I beg your pardon?
Oh, come now, Lieutenant.

That man couldn't see me or my car.
He didn't see anything. He's blind.

Blind?

I must admit, your little
charade was very good.

The way you had him come in, sit
down, offer you the matches...

identifying where I was
standing by my voice.

What, makes you
think he was blind, sir?

Did you see a blind man
on the highway that day?

Of course not.

You and I both know, I was miles
away from here when Carl d*ed.

But, I do have
a little medical training.

You can tell by
looking at him.

The cast in his eyes...

the way he moves...

but don't take my word for it.

Read a few pages of this,
will you, Mr. Morris?

Just start anywhere,
would you please?

"Always pack
a bulky sweater...

"and some heavy underwear.

"Even in the spring, the mountains
can get pretty cold at night. "

Here, read that.

"Surely it is the most
beautiful of all sports. "

The man is blind.
He's blind.

Mr. Morris?

Stay.

That's right, Doctor, that
man that you saw was blind...

and is blind.

This is Daniel Morris. That's the man
that you saw on the road Monday afternoon.

This other man is
his brother, David.

I'm sure you can
see the problem, sir.

There is no way in the world that you
could have assumed that this man...

this witness was blind
unless, of course...

you had seen this
man that day.

That's the only way
you could have known.

Thank you.
You're welcome.

I have an eyewitness,
Dr. Collier...

an eyewitness that will place you
at the head of the Donner driveway...

at : Monday afternoon.

But the eyewitness is
not Mr. Morris.

The eyewitness is you.