05x04 - A Matter of Honor

[bunniefuu]

I will k*ll him
like in the old days

with you assisting me.

That is crazy.

That sounds like blackmail.

Lieutenant, would I do such a
thing to a fellow police officer?

You're in no condition
to fight a bull.

Maybe it was homicide.

No man could have ripped
Rangel open in such a way.

No, the bull
was the m*rder w*apon, sir.

Like a g*n.

Curro! Curro!

Hello. Dr. Leon.

Dr. Leon,
this is Luis Montoya.

Fine, thank you.
Tell me, how is Curro doing?

That's good news.
I'll tell his father.

Then the bull did get him.
It's a minor wound?

Well, that's a relief.
When he reawakens,

will you tell him
that I called?

And tell him that I'm going to San
Diego this evening with his father,

but in the morning, on the
way back, I'll stop by.

Thank you, Doctor.
Goodbye.

Enter.

Matador?

Excuse me, but do you wish the
convertible washed and waxed?

No, I'll be using
the hardtop.

Have Carlos get it ready.

The men were asking me
about Curro. How is he?

Oh, he regained consciousness.
I just talked to the doctor.

Yes, he'll be all right.

Hector told us what you did,
Matador. It was a brave thing.

Yes?

These young ones, so foolish to
try to cape a bull like Marinaro.

When Carlos is finished, give
him the rest of the day off.

Tell all the men to take
the rest of the day off.

But... Yes, I know, I know
it's Friday and it's early.

But yesterday,
we nearly had a tragedy

and tomorrow, the bulls must be
sent off early to the bullring

and I think everyone
could use a little time off.

Matador, who do you
want to stay behind?

Let them all go.
Miguel can play caretaker for the evening.

Miguel!

I saw some cows roaming
outside the south pasture.

There must be a fence down.

I will take a ride, señor,
and find out.

Good.

Miguel!

To keep you company.

Good mescal, señor.

You touched the heart
of an old vaquero.

I was hoping you'd change
your mind about leaving.

No. You were right.

Everything
is different now.

I must leave.

What do you want me
to tell the men?

Tell them
whatever you want to.

You know, I can't send Marinaro
to the ring with the other bulls.

He has seen your son's cape.
He has sentido now.

I know. He is spoiled.
He knows too much.

I'm going to k*ll him.

But why?

He will make
a very good seed bull.

When Curro
leaves the hospital,

you know he'll want to
face Marinaro again.

How do you know that?

Dr. Leon told me that

Curro is determined
to do it.

Perhaps, but I don't think
my son is that crazy.

I won't take that chance.
That bull would k*ll Curro this time.

Luis, I do appreciate
your concern.

I know it is not easy to
destroy such a valuable bull.

But you don't have to...
There are no "buts".

I'm going to
k*ll Marinaro today

in the ring, face to face.

Luis, you don't
have to do that.

I will k*ll him
like in the old days

with you assisting me.

That is crazy.

And you know it!

Look, we're both
out of shape.

That bull would
take at least five picks.

Besides, your leg,

it has been giving you
a lot of trouble lately.

If you won't help me,
my friend,

I'll have to do it alone.

Curro is a son
to me also.

Oh, my God!

Luis!

Luis, I don't...
Help me, Luis.

Luis,

help me.

I don't...
I don't know what's wrong.

I... Something's wrong.

Luis, I was stung.

No, Luis.

Luis,

what are you doing?

Help me.
I can't see straight.

Luis, please.

Luis, no.

I have insurance, I have insurance
that'll pay for everything.

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Does anybody
speak English?

Speak English?
You speak English?

Do you speak English?
Just a minute now.

What did she say?
What is he saying?

Broken neck.
Broke the neck.

He broke the neck?
How'd he broke the neck?

We were going
miles an hour.

Tell him, tell him, we were
going five miles an hour.

Five.

Sir, your identification,
please.

My identification. Here.

She said all your fault,
you hit her car.

Insurance, insurance.

Where is the man
who speaks English?

Come over here.
Come over here.

Just a minute.
Where's that man that speaks...

Just a minute, darling.

Señor,
I have insurance.

You don't have to
take the car.

There is nothing wrong
with the car.

Señor, there is just
a dent in the fender.

All right. One minute.
One minute.

I have to get back
to Los Angeles.

I need my car.
My wife is here.

Yes, but what am I
gonna do, walk?

Is your name Columbo?
Yes.

Lieutenant Columbo?

That's right.

Los Angeles
Police Department?

That's right.

I'm Comandante
Emilio Sanchez.

Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant.
I'm at your service.

Listen, nothing happened.
That fellow wasn't hurt.

I mean, the bumpers
just touched.

They took my car.
I gotta get back.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant. You may go.
But the car has to stay.

It's a matter
of insurance.

Oh, I got plenty
of insurance...

I'm afraid it's not valid
here in Mexico.

You should have bought the coverage
when you drove over the border.

Listen, my wife and I, we gotta get back to LA.
I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I'm sorry.

I would like to extend to you
a professional courtesy,

as a police officer
to a police officer,

but the law
is very specific about it.

Maybe you can go in a bus to Los
Angeles and come back on Monday.

Oh, I couldn't do that. I need the car.
It's very special...

You are very special.

What do you mean?

We had it in all the
newspapers here in Mexico.

That m*rder
on the cruise ship.

By the time you landed in Mexico,
you had unmasked the k*ller.

Oh, you heard about that.
Yeah.

Oh, that was a hell of a thing.
Gee... That was a...

You know the first night out
the fellow m*rder*d the girl,

an entertainer?

She went down to change her
clothes and she never came back.

It was a cruise. My wife
bought a raffle ticket,

we won a cruise for nothing and
got on, and I was seasick.

Oh, I'll never
forget that.

Yeah, I would like
to hear more about it.

Now that you're gonna remain in the city for
the weekend, maybe we could get together.

I would be honored if you could join
my wife and me for dinner tonight.

I thought I was
gonna be arrested.

Just a moment.

I must go, Lieutenant.

There's been a terrible
accident at the Montoya ranch.

Maybe you'd
like to accompany me.

We could talk
on the way over.

My wife is waiting
at the hotel.

All right.
I understand.

You know, I was
thinking that maybe

we could speed up the
paperwork on your accident.

But of course, you have to
go to your wife. That's it.

That sounds like blackmail.

Lieutenant, would I do such a
thing to a fellow police officer?

My house is your house,
Lieutenant.

Thank you very much.

I can't tell you what a relief
it is that you speak English.

Don Luis is the owner of
the ranch. He is a ganadero.

Ganadero?

At one time, I was paid
handsomely to fight bulls.

Now I pay handsomely
to raise them.

An expensive hobby,
my friend.

The dead man worked for Don Luis
for many years at the ranch

and before that,
as his assistant.

A true friend,
loyal, faithful,

forgotten virtues
these days.

Just be a moment.

Now Luis,
tell me what happened.

The shipping box broke

and Marinaro
bolted into the ring

and then Curro Rangel, with
muleta and sword, jumped in.

That was Thursday,
right?

Thursday.

As soon as
the boy eyed the bull,

I know the feeling
from my own youth,

he could not resist.

He did surprisingly well
for a novice

but then he comes from good stock.
He's a brave boy.

But the bull got him.

Yes. A momentary lapse
of concentration,

a sudden gust of wind that
caught the muleta, who can say?

Hector managed to
drag Curro to safety

while I held the bull at bay,
momentarily, of course.

With this leg of mine, I would not
like to take on that brute in earnest.

You're too modest, Don Luis.
Yeah.

Anyway, I could not guess that Hector
would climb into the ring alone yesterday

after everyone was gone.

Well, why would he do
a thing like that, sir?

For his son, Lieutenant.

Hector knew that Curro would leave the
hospital to fight the bull again.

Now, you gave all the men
the day off, right?

Mmm-hmm.

All but Miguel.

I myself had to leave
for a speaking engagement

in San Diego
at the Aficionado Club.

And Hector was supposed
to come along with me,

but at the last minute,
he asked permission

to stay behind
to work on the books.

It appears now
he had a...

He had other plans
in mind.

Excuse me, sir.

Is that Señor Hector
driving your car?

Hector Rangel.

So, Hector Rangel must have gotten into
the ring right after you left at...

: .
: .

He would have waited
until I was well on my way,

walked to the ring,

I'd say he faced the bull
at : ,

perhaps : .
: , : .

All right.

I would like to take a look at the body.
Would you care to join me?

As you wish.

Lieutenant?

Comandante, how much
is a bull like that worth?

Fighting bull?
How much is it worth?

I don't know.
But they're expensive.

How much?

It all depends on the bull.
Ask him.

Who, Luis?
Yes.

Don Luis,

a bull like Marinaro,
how much he worth?

$ , . More with inflation.

Seems like a valuable piece of property
to destroy without permission.

I'm sorry.
I don't follow you.

No, it just
occurred to me that...

Is there something
I can help you with?

No, we were just
commenting on the fact

that the man that was
k*lled, Hector Rangel,

that he was planning
to destroy

a valuable piece of your
property without permission.

He's dead.

How can you judge
the behavior of a man

who almost
lost his only son?

Shall we, Luis?
Lieutenant?

No, gracias.
I see enough bodies when I'm working.

Thank you.
I'll just look around.

Okay.

Oh, no.
I speak English, señor.

I am Jaime Delgado, the foreman.
What can I do for you?

I was wondering...
Could you answer a question for me?

I already told the Comandante
all I know, señor.

I was in town
when Rangel was k*lled.

It was a very sad thing
that happened.

Oh, yes, it was.

Oh, no, no.
This is about bullfighting.

I was wondering,
could you tell me,

do you think it's kind
of late in the afternoon

to be fighting a bull
at : , : ?

I mean, because of the sun,
it's already down.

No, señor.

It is the time that all
bullfights take place.

You see, it's to the
bullfighter's advantage.

And there's more than enough
light at this time of year.

It shows you

I don't know much
about bullfighting.

Yes.

Is that all, señor?

You know,
I think my wife is right.

Something wrong with me.

Supposed to be on vacation and right
away, I'm thinking like a cop.

It's called
occupational hazard.

"Occupational hazard?"
What is that?

That's when
wherever you go,

you take your work
with you.

Oh, I see. We call that "loco".
Excuse me.

Good afternoon, sir.

Good afternoon, sir.

This is a wonderful car.

I always wanted a car
like this for myself.

How long has Señor Montoya
had this car?

Oh, for many years.

I take the best care of it.

Could I sit in?
Sure. Go ahead.

Oh, boy.

This is a workout
driving this car.

No power gadgets
on that one, sir.

If you want power,
you gotta do it yourself.

You know, it must be difficult
for Señor Montoya,

I mean,
with his bad leg.

He'll never drive it.

Hector will always
do it for him.

Hector.

Yes. I remember
the pictures on the wall.

Yeah, now that
Hector's not here,

probably he'll ask me
to drive it for him.

So I guess Señor Montoya used
this car to go to San Diego in?

Pretty smart, mister.

That one is clean,
this one is dirty, huh?

Me, I like a motorcycle,

except that I crashed it up
last Monday,

now they want to fix it,
, pesos.

They must be crazy.

They must think
I own the place.

When was the last time
this car was waxed?

Oh...

That must have been...

Yeah, it was yesterday.

The foreman of the ranch asked me
to wash it and wax it for him.

He said that the patrón was gonna
drive it up to San Diego.

But I thought the workers, they
were let off early yesterday.

What time was that?

It must have been
around : .

What are you asking me
all these questions for?

Oh, I'm a policeman,
always ask questions.

Thank you very much.

Yeah.

Wait a minute!

Comandante Sanchez?
May I see the body?

Go ahead.

I didn't expect that.

It's not a pretty sight,
Lieutenant.

But as you say,
you have seen many bodies.

You don't realize
what a bull can do.

The doctor said that
the wound inside his thigh

must have been
the fatal one.

It severed
the femoral artery.

Well, that would k*ll a man
pretty quick, wouldn't it?

Oh, yes.

That's the one the
bullfighter fears the most.

Is that the one?

Hmm?

Yes. Marinaro.

I don't know how you fight
those things to make a living.

It's more than a living, Lieutenant.
It's a way of life.

I'll tell you
the truth, sir.

I don't think I would
enjoy watching a man

k*ll an animal like that, as
big and as mean as he is.

Perhaps you do enjoy the spectacle
of two men in the prize ring

b*ating each other
senseless.

Or murdering an innocent deer
with a r*fle.

Or catching a fish with another
one which is still alive.

Our culture is different
than yours, Lieutenant.

No better or worse,
perhaps,

but different.

Excuse me.

Señor Montoya,

this doesn't look like
it's been used.

I mean, it should be
ripped or something.

Not if Marinaro
got him quickly.

He would start with this

to test
the bull's tendencies

and then he would cut him
short to break him down.

Then...

You see, Lieutenant, a few little
passes like those leave no tears

or crease marks on the
muleta, as you can see.

I see you are a thorough
man, Lieutenant.

But the bull
did k*ll Rangel.

Yes, I can see that.

But it's important
to be thorough,

especially when
a man dies alone.

Excuse me, I wanna
go look at the bull.

Go ahead.

Excuse me.

Mr. Rangel himself would have
to open the gate, wouldn't he?

Obviously.

Well, when he opened the gate, the
bull would charge out, wouldn't he?

Then Rangel closed the gate
and challenged the bull.

But after he closed the gate, he would be
standing right over here, wouldn't he?

Wouldn't the bull then turn
around and att*ck him?

As soon as
he moved, yes.

But the body was found over at
the other side of the ring.

Lieutenant Columbo, a bull
that weighs , pounds

is capable of throwing a man and
a horse all over this place.

That explains it.

Why is he tied up?

The oxen that are needed
to keep him calm

are being used
somewhere else in the ranch.

So until they can get them here,
he has to be left tied up.

Otherwise, he would
destroy that gate.

He's a big fellow,
isn't he?

Mmm-hmm.

Thank you, sir.

I hope you understand,
Luis,

that the Lieutenant here is merely as my guest.
He has no official status.

So inquisitive.
I find him amusing.

Have you seen this?

Some kind of a skid mark

with a hole at the end.

That looks like a pick mark.

You see, this ring is used
to test the cows for bravery.

When is the last time that you
tested cows in this ring, sir?

A couple of weeks ago.
I don't remember.

Because this looks
very fresh to me.

Well, maybe it was
made yesterday,

or the day before yesterday
when you saved Curro's life.

What's this?

Let me see.

Yes, this is part of the pick.

Probably splintered
by one of the cows.

You see, my cows are very
aggressive, Lieutenant.

That's why they breed
such brave bulls.

Gee, this looks
awfully fresh to me.

Yeah, and if Rangel used it
yesterday to fight Marinaro,

there must be
more around it.

If you'll excuse me,
gentlemen.

My daughter
is arriving tomorrow

and there's much
to prepare for.

She's driving down from Arizona
to attend Hector's funeral.

With your permission.

I'm sorry we couldn't get the
car released today, Lieutenant.

And I'm sorry your wife
couldn't have stayed.

Well, she's sorry,
too, ma'am.

It's my cousin Vito's
anniversary tomorrow,

so I put her on a bus
to Los Angeles.

Eleven years.

She's very sentimental
about these things.

Well, home, church,
that's what counts these days.

Well, I can't
argue with you there.

They're bored!
But I'll take care of them.

Well, now that
we're alone,

I would like to hear more about
that m*rder on the cruise ship.

I'd like to talk about the
death of Hector Rangel.

If that's the way
you investigate an accident,

you must be a bull
when it comes to homicide.

I know this is
none of my business

and I'm sticking my nose in
where it doesn't belong,

and you certainly know much more
about these things than I do.

Is it possible that there was
something wrong with Hector Rangel?

Perhaps he knew
he was gonna die

and he wanted to
bring it to an end before...

Well, you know, in some
kind of a machismo way.

Machismo. No, no, no,
that's impossible.

Rangel would not finish
his life in such a way,

especially
not in a practice ring.

Maybe it was homicide.

Lieutenant,
you saw the body.

No man could have ripped
Rangel open in such a way.

No, the bull
was the m*rder w*apon, sir.

Like a g*n.

Somebody could've
turned the bull on Rangel.

Who would
do a thing like that?

Montoya, maybe.

Montoya?

That's ridiculous.
It's unbelievable, Lieutenant.

It's like saying that
the Pope did it.

Anything's possible.

Lieutenant,

you're too good a policeman to
suggest such a thing without proof.

Certain things
don't fit.

Why does a faithful assistant,
an obedient man,

somebody who's
used to taking orders,

suddenly
take it upon himself

to destroy a valuable piece of
property without permission?

You heard
Montoya's answer.

I didn't believe it.

Well, what happens is that you don't
understand the temperament of a matador.

You see, they must be proud,
brave, they must have honor.

It's called puro honor.
Without it, you're nothing.

Sí. I understand
puro honor.

Hector knew that his son might
climb off the bed in the hospital

to fight the bull himself, mano a mano.
That's one against one.

Hector could not accept that,
regardless the risk.

The value of the bull
had nothing to do with it.

Is Montoya a vain man?

Oh, yes.

Is he concerned
with his public image?

Absolutely.

Is it important to him
to be seen

in a chauffeur-driven
Cadillac convertible?

Well, that's the way
he drives around.

On the day that Hector d*ed, when he was
a guest speaker in a foreign country,

why did he decide to drive
himself in an ordinary hardtop?

Lieutenant,
he didn't choose it.

Hector asked him
to stay behind

so he could
work on the books.

What time was that?

: .

I'm going to give you a statement of a
man who takes care of Montoya's cars.

The ranch foreman told him
to wash and wax the hardtop.

The patrón was gonna
drive it to San Diego.

"I finished the job
at : ."

The question is,

how did Montoya
know in the morning

that at : p.m.
Hector was going to say,

"I can't go with you.
I have to stay behind and work on the books"?

Is that your answer?

There is no answer.

There is no answer.

I wouldn't
close off this case.

I don't wanna be presumptuous.
I realize I have no position here.

No, I understand.

If there is a crime here, I want
to get to the bottom of it.

Better yet, I would like you
to get to the bottom of it.

Me?

You see,
you're a foreigner.

But I live here.

I don't know if you realize
what will happen to me

if I was to start an investigation
that would lead to nothing.

Montoya is that important?

He's a legend in Mexico.

He's known throughout the country
as the bravest of the brave,

and this man likes the glory
that surrounds him.

And you want me
to take the blame.

Exactly.

But there's one thing.

Montoya must have a motive.

Yes, every man has a motive.

I don't know
what the motive is.

Hector was keeping his books.
Maybe Hector was stealing from him.

Maybe it had something to do
with his daughter and Curro.

They were attracted
to one another. I don't know.

Let's start
with small things.

Let's finish our coffee.

Maria.

Papa!

I don't understand.
How could this happen?

Hector was always so quiet,
so careful. Why?

He was a father,
sweetheart.

And Curro,
how is he taking it?

I don't know.

He's still in the hospital recovering
from the goring. I don't know.

I must go to him.
Oh, of course.

But first, you must freshen up
and have something to eat, huh?

Come on, sweetheart.
Come on.

What is it?

Nothing, nothing.
Just a visitor.

Come.

That scared
the hell out of me.

He is just a little baby,
señor.

That's some baby.

I'm Lieutenant Columbo.
I'm from Los Angeles.

I understand you're here because of
Señor Rangel's unfortunate death, no?

I'm assisting Comandante Sanchez.
Asking questions.

Oh, I see.

Have some.
It will help you.

Oh, thank you. I am thirsty.
Thank you very much.

I thought that was water.
I am sorry, señor.

What is that stuff?

Mescal, señor.

Mescal.
Yes, sir.

I understand, sir, that

you were the only one on the
ranch at the time of the m*rder.

Yes, sir.
You're right.

But I was not near the ring
where he fight the bull.

Otherwise, he would
have never d*ed.

You know, my name
is Miguel Hernandez.

Very well known to everybody.
Even to the bulls.

But the patrón said, "Go to the south
pasture," and that's what happened.

What time was that?

I have no watch, señor.

It was afternoon, early.

The men had just
gone into town.

Now where is
the south pasture?

South pasture?
That way, señor.

Now, that's in the opposite
direction from the bullring.

That's right.

When you got back,
did you see anybody around?

No, señor.

It was almost : .
It was getting dark.

And the patrón, he had gone
across to your country.

I thought Señor Rangel
had gone with him.

And you were down there
the whole time?

Yes, sir.
No one was around.

But the patrón was kind enough
to give me a bottle of mescal.

And I had a very pleasant
afternoon. But today,

I have a headache,
señor.

Now, you must excuse me.
I must go to the tack room.

I have to gather things
that belonged to Señor Rangel.

They must
go to his son now.

Would you mind
if I came along?

Why should I mind?

I'm sorry.
I just couldn't eat.

Of course, darling.
Of course.

I understand.

Tell Curro our prayers
are with him, hmm?

And drive carefully.

Drive carefully.

You should've seen it
come down in town Friday.

I thought the place
was gonna wash away.

You know, it is funny, señor, in a desert
like this, sometimes you see the rain.

But only over there in the mountains.
It never gets here.

What's this?

That's Señor Rangel's
luggage.

They told me to clean out
his locker.

Then I have to go to his room
and get his clothes out.

It's already packed.

Well, who packed it?
I don't know.

Well, who brought
the luggage down here?

I don't know.
Maybe the housekeeper.

Do these belong
to a bull or an ox?

From a bull, señor.

And these are picks?

Yes.

This is the inside
of the wood?

And this is the outside
of the wood?

This is lighter in color than this.
Yes.

And this is heavier in weight.

That is not from a pick,
señor. That is from a lance.

Well, what's the difference?

The picks they used
in the ring,

they have metal tips to wound
the bull, lower his head.

And the lance?

They are used in the fields
by the vaqueros for herding.

They are made of pine,
not so strong.

Well, now I'm puzzled.

Señor Montoya said
that this came from a pick.

Perhaps
I was mistaken.

No, Jaime is right.
It looked the same to me at a glance.

Well, what difference
does it make?

Oh, none, I guess.

But if this is from a lance, then it
wasn't used to test the cows for bravery,

so what was it
doing in the ring?

Lieutenant Columbo, a lance on
a bull ranch is the same as

as a rope
on a cattle ranch.

The vaquero,
the cowboy,

must carry it with him
at all times

so he can herd and round up
the bulls when he has to.

And I assume Hector
would have a lance.

Of course.

A fascinating world.

And this is
Hector's pick?

Yes.

And those are the lances?

Those are the lances.

I notice that Hector's lance
is missing.

No, he probably misplaced it or broke
it out in the fields somewhere.

Well, as you said, it probably
doesn't make any difference.

May I ask you
a personal question, sir?

Oh, by all means.

Did you injure your leg
in the bullring?

In the Plaza de Toros,
Mexico.

It was the wound
that ended my career.

And, ironically, it wasn't even
the bull I was supposed to fight.

You see, I was appearing mano a mano
with a young matador who froze,

and the bull gored him.

I jumped to his rescue
and I, too, was gored.

Badly. Here.

They tried to take me to the infirmary,
along with the young matador,

but I refused to go.

Despite the blood flowing from
my wound, I stayed in the ring,

and I did one of
the best faenas of my career.

I k*lled the bull
with one thrust.

The people loved it.

They stood up and gave me
an electrifying ovation.

Two ears and a tail.

That was my last fight.

Well, that must've taken
a lot of courage, sir.

Well, it would be a difficult
thing to do now, with this leg.

Well, thank you very much
for the time.

I have to
get back to the city.

Oh, and then, on home,
to the United States?

Yes, sir.

Actually, I thought
if I got the chance,

I'd like to come out here
one more time before I left.

I'm fascinated
by everything out here,

but I don't
want to be a pest.

Oh, not at all, Lieutenant.
You're welcome here any time.

Well, thank you
very much, sir.

I've been fascinated by
everything I've seen out here

and I still think
there's a lot to learn.

I don't understand
this medical report.

What don't you
understand?

Well...

This is
Hector Rangel's name.

Right.

Well, I don't understand
anything after his name.

Well, it says what
we already know.

Hector Rangel d*ed of shock
and severe loss of blood

due to wounds
inflicted on him by a bull.

Dorso is the back?

Yes. Yes.

What is this
"pinchazo in the glodio"?

Glúteo, that's a puncture
in the buttocks.

Well, did the bull
get him there, too?

Let me see.

No. It's a...

It's a small needle mark
that the doctor found.

Probably from
a previous inoculation.

Well, was Hector Rangel under
treatment for anything with a doctor?

No, according to his doctor,
he was in perfect health.

I hope you don't mind
my saying so, Comandante,

but I think you ought to order
an autopsy on Rangel's body.

An autopsy

because of a needle mark?

I can see the newspapers.
"Don Luis Montoya,"

"the idol of Mexico,
a m*rder suspect?"

That's your problem.
I'm just a tourist here.

Yeah, that's my problem.

You know,

a policeman who jeopardizes
his pension,

he must be loco, right?

I think I'm gonna speak
to Curro Rangel.

For a man who's on a holiday,
you're certainly keeping busy.

Well, I have the feeling if I wasn't,
you wouldn't let me leave the country.

Oh, that's right, my friend.
I got your picture posted in all the border stations.

There's one other thing.

You remember how hard it rained in
town the day that Rangel got k*lled?

Yes, it rained cats and dogs,
as you say.

Now, according to Miguel, it did
not rain at the Montoya ranch.

An old bullfighter like Hector Rangel
would never fight a bull in the rain.

Yeah. However, old Miguel, he could
be so bombed on that mascara...

Mescal, mescal.

Mescal.

Right...that he wouldn't
know whether it was raining

or whether
it wasn't raining.

Yeah.

I'll check
the weather bureau,

I'll check the other
ranches in the area.

That's a good idea.

Here, Lieutenant.

Thank you.

Here's to your pension.

That's my problem.

The air will do you good.

Nothing will do me good.

Oh, Curro, please. You cannot blame
yourself for your father's death.

Yes, I can.

If I'd k*lled that bull, my
father'd be alive right now.

Curro.

There he is, sir.
Right over there.

Thank you. Gracias.

Curro Rangel?

Yes.

I'm sorry
to intrude like this.

No, it's all right.
I'm leaving.

Keep your spirits up.

I'll be out of here
tomorrow, Nina.

Good. I'll see you
at home.

Oh, that's a pretty girl.

Who are you?

My name is Columbo.
I'm a policeman from the United States.

What do you want?

Your father's death hasn't been
officially certified as an accident.

Not yet, anyhow.

So, I'm just getting a few
facts for the local police.

Well, I'm sorry.
I don't think I can help you.

I was asleep on that bed
when it happened.

No. I want to know about
your fight with the bull.

The day before.
Would you tell me about that?

Well, there's nothing
to tell.

The bull broke out of a shipping
box, got into the ring.

I went in, tried to cape him,
he caught me on the leg.

Not seriously.

But you were
knocked unconscious.

Yes. And my father and Señor
Montoya dragged me from the ring.

Well now, actually, Señor
Montoya diverted the bull

and your father
dragged you from the ring.

Yes, that's right.

Did you use a lance
when you fought the bull?

A what?

I found this in the practice ring.
It's part of a lance.

No. No one uses
a lance in the ring.

Did your father have his lance with
him the day you fought the bull?

Yes. I think so.

He and Señor Montoya were riding out
to the range to check on the herd.

He would always
have his lance with him.

I'll tell you why it's funny.
Because in the tack room now, his lance is missing.

Well, maybe,
when he came to drag me,

in his desperation, he brought
the lance into the ring.

But when he went to drag you out while
Montoya was diverting the bull,

why would
he bring his lance?

I don't know.

Where's the rest
of the lance?

I haven't been able
to find it.

Where was your father
going?

What do you mean?

His bags were packed.

That doesn't make any sense.
He never went anywhere.

Was he due to go
on vacation?

No.
He didn't take vacations.

Then who packed his bags
and why was he leaving?

If he quit or was fired,

but neither one of those
things would ever happen.

Thank you very much.
You've been very helpful.

Lieutenant,
I have good news for you.

My car?

It's parked outside,
no charge.

Oh, what a relief.
Thank you very much.

It's all right.
Learning anything?

Oh, I have to learn something, since I
didn't know anything to start with.

Did you know that these bulls
are very near-sighted?

Yes, I know that.

That's why the matador
uses the cape

to attract the bull
toward him.

Actually, what happens is that the bull
goes towards the movement of the cape.

That's right.
I made a note on that.

Is that the autopsy?

That's the weather report.

It's in Spanish.

Yes, I know that.

The people at the weather
bureau speak it very well.

It says there was no rain in
the area of the Montoya ranch

the day Rangel d*ed.

It was cloudy,
overcast, high winds.

So, old Miguel was right.

Rangel must have fought the
bull between : and :

as Montoya said.

Well. It was worth a try.

I was wrong, that's all.
But that's all right.

I've been wrong before.

Don't shake my confidence
in you, Lieutenant.

The newspapers know about
the autopsy already,

so I hope
you found out something.

I'll tell you the truth,

I got a crazy notion
I know why Rangel was k*lled.

What?

Trouble is, I don't think
anybody's gonna believe me.

Señor Montoya,
could I see him?

Lieutenant Columbo.

I came back.

So I see.

Just a few things to clear up, sir.
I hope you don't think I'm...

Do I understand

that Comandante Sanchez
has obtained a court order

and an autopsy is going to be
performed on my good friend,

Hector Rangel,
God rest his soul?

Yes, sir,
that is right, sir.

You see, there was a mark on the body
that we couldn't quite understand.

What kind of mark?

A pin hole, señor.

Maybe a needle mark.

What can that possibly have to do with
Hector Rangel being k*lled by a bull?

Well, sir, you see, we think, that is,
Comandante Sanchez and I, believe

that Hector might have been
drugged, then k*lled by the bull.

You are calling
Hector's death a m*rder.

No, sir, not yet.

But we are interested in whether or not
you keep any dr*gs here on the ranch,

especially tranquilizers.

Well, yes.

We keep such dr*gs
on the ranch.

All ranches must have
these dr*gs

to tranquilize and
treat sick animals. Yes.

Well, there you are, sir.

You see, I'm not as dumb about
these things as I thought.

I had an idea you might
have those dr*gs.

Do you think
I could see them?

And any records you might keep
as to their purchase and use?

Chloral hydrate.

I'll tell you, I don't
know much about dr*gs,

but that's the stuff
they put in a Mickey Finn.

I'm sorry...

Oh, of course. That's an American expression.
Knockout drops.

They're used and they work
about the same way

as a tranquilizer
does on a bull.

They knock a man out,

or they make him real dizzy, if
you give him a small enough sh*t.

May I take this, sir, just to get
a small analysis down at the lab?

Take all you want.

You know I just
thought of something,

something I saw
on a television show.

How do you get close enough to
those bulls to make an injection?

On this show they had an...

An air g*n
with hypodermic darts.

Yes, we have one
just for that purpose.

I thought
you might have.

The g*n. A dart.

Is there anything else,
Lieutenant?

Yes, sir. I'd like to see your books.
What for?

We don't keep any records
on the use of these dr*gs.

But you do keep a record
of their purchase?

Yes.

If you don't mind, sir.

Help yourself.

You won't find
the drug purchases there.

They're in a separate section,
in the front.

Yes, sir,
I noticed that.

Just a moment,
Lieutenant.

My financial records
are a private matter.

If you wish them examined, you'll
have to get a court order.

No, sir,
that won't be necessary.

No, I just had a thought.

Those entries that I just saw, they were
made by Hector. That is his handwriting.

That is correct.

May I see something?
Would you open the book?

Then this is your signature,
made after each month's entry.

That's right.

January, February, March,
April, May, June, July...

Just turn the page
for a moment.

So this is the last entry.

This is the one that Hector
said he was working on

the day he said he had to stay
behind while you went to San Diego.

That's funny.

The date is funny, sir.

What about it?

He finished the books three
days before he was k*lled.

So?

Well, you signed
and dated it, sir.

Just what are you trying
to establish, Lieutenant?

Well, sir, you must see
what I'm driving at.

If Hector finished the books
three days before he was k*lled,

then why didn't you
question him when he said

he wanted to stay behind
to work on the books?

You must have known he had no
intention of working on the books.

I don't appreciate this little w*r of
nerves you are conducting, Columbo.

I am Luis Montoya.
And you are in my country!

Sir, I'm just trying to
put together the pieces...

If you understood the first
thing about bullfighting,

you would not question
Hector's death!

He walked into the ring to
spare his son further injury,

and he lost his life.

Now that's all
there was to it!

Who packed his bags?

That's right, sir.
It was packed.

Miguel didn't do it.
He thought the housekeeper did,

but I asked her
and she said no.

I don't know
anything about that.

Well, but the fact is,
sir, it was packed.

Where was he going?

Ah, yes, yes, yes.
He talked about moving into the main house.

Maybe that's
what he was doing.

Gee, it's curious that no one had any
previous information about that,

neither the housekeeper,
nor the servants.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

I have tried to be gracious.
I have answered all your questions.

My courtesy has been
rewarded with accusation.

I must ask you to leave
my house and not return.

I can find my way out.

I probably
won't be back, sir.

I got to be in Los Angeles
on Monday.

But someday, somebody's
gonna come to your door.

Comandante Sanchez, maybe
somebody else, but somebody.

Bullfighting,
baseball.

What else do children
have to think about?

I guess I'll be headed back
to the United States.

Leaving me to finish your
unfinished business, huh?

I gotta be home Tuesday morning.
Listen, I'd like to stay.

Montoya's your man.
You can nail him if you keep after him.

There is something. I don't know what, a key.
I can't find it.

Well, if it means anything, I
will continue the investigation.

If it goes badly
and I can't find the key,

you'll have to get me a job with
the Los Angeles Police Department.

What're they doing
with that jug of water?

Well, it's the wind.
It's strong.

Pepe's imitating the professional
matadors at the Plaza.

What are you
talking about?

Well, in the high wind, the
muleta will blow unpredictably.

Since the bull goes toward
the movement of the muleta,

if it were to blow towards the
matador, well, that's it.

Oh, so if the cape is wet,
it won't blow in the wind.

That's right.

You Chinese are very clever.

Is that in this book?

I don't know.
Oh, well, that's your book.

Where you going?

I don't think
I'll be leaving just yet.

I want to check something out.
I'll call you later.

Curro!

Curro!
Where you going in such a hurry?

To Señor Montoya's ranch.

You're in no condition
to fight a bull.

Nothing wrong with my condition.
I'm fine.

You think you have to prove
how brave you are?

The longer a matador delays
facing the bulls after a goring,

the harder it becomes.

Señor Montoya
k*lled your father.

What?

Señor Montoya
k*lled your father, Curro.

He set it up
to look like an accident

as if your father had gone in the ring to
k*ll a bull, but it was m*rder all the way.

You don't know
what you're saying.

I think I do.
I have a lot of evidence

all of which I'll show you.

Señor Montoya was on his way to San
Diego when my father was k*lled.

No, he was in the bullring with
him, he tricked him there,

and then he sh*t him
with a tranquilizer g*n.

You can see the needle mark
on the body.

Why would
he do such a thing?

That's what
I'm not certain of.

That's where I'm gonna
need your help.

Will you trust me?

That man is no longer
welcome here.

We're here on official
business, Don Luis.

Both of us. Your investigation
has gone too far already!

The autopsy of Hector Rangel
has cast a shadow on my name.

And yet, I am told
you found nothing!

That's true. There were
no discernible traces.

And yet you persist?

I will call the Governor.
I'll have your job for this.

Well, actually, sir, we didn't
expect to find any chloral hydrate.

In fact, we would
have been surprised

if Hector had been given enough
dr*gs to show up on a test.

Either the man was drugged
or he wasn't drugged.

Well, I've been doing
a little checking,

just the rudiments
of bullfighting

and the fact is,
a bull reacts to movement.

If Hector had been
totally unconscious,

if he had been immobile,

the bull might never
have charged.

So, he was only
given a little bit.

Enough to make him woozy,
an easy, moving target.

This is slander, Columbo.

You have no proof.

No proof whatsoever.

Matador! Matador!

Curro Rangel is out
at the practice ring.

He means to k*ll Marinaro.

Father, you must stop him.

First, I will attend
to this young fool.

And then I will talk to my lawyer
in regard to the two of you.

Curro!

Stop!

I said stop!

Come here!

Come here.

You didn't learn anything.

You want to go back to the hospital?
Is that it?

Huh?

Curro! Curro!

Montoya's frozen.

Papa!

Papa!

I'm sorry.
It was the only way.

But the way Montoya
froze just now,

that's exactly the way
he froze the other day

when he and Hector
entered the ring

in order to save Curro
from the bull.

He froze that day, too,
and Hector saw the fear.

That's why Montoya
had to k*ll Hector.

You see,

he didn't save Curro
from the bull. Hector did.

That's how Hector's lance
got broken.

Holding off the bull.

Don Luis Montoya,

unable to live
with the knowledge

that another man
had seen his fear.

Incredible.

Your kids.

They solved the crime.

My kids?

Your kids.

Only after
watching them play,

one pretending
to be a matador

and the other pretending
to be a bull,

only then did I know
without qualification

that Montoya was lying.

This is the official
weather report

for the day
that Hector was k*lled.

Heavy winds came up in this
area between : and : .

Now, that was the time
that Montoya said

that Hector was preparing
to k*ll the bull.

Heavy winds.

kilometers an hour.

Now, do you remember
the first day?

Do you remember how closely we looked at
this muleta to see that it wasn't ripped?

Yes.

Well, it wasn't
something else.

Water stains.

No water stains
on the muleta.

And no water jug
in the ring.

Now, the winds d*ed down
after : ,

but by then,
it was too late.

So, Hector entered
the ring earlier

before the winds
came up

and when Señor Montoya
was still with him.