04x13 - Duet for Three

[bunniefuu]

For the lady's husband?

How much?

American dollars.

Genuine Himalayan llama.

Smuggled into Hong Kong
in belly of shark.

Sounds fishy.
I'll take it for ten.

Twelve?
Eleven.

I wrap it up.

Thank you, lady.

Lady?

Thank you.

I know.

Yes, yes, I know.

I know, Mae, darling,

but I told you,
I'll make it all up to you.

Just give me a little time to--

Hello? Hello?

Who is she, Mart?

She?

On the phone.
The one you called "darling".

It isn't another woman, Ellen.

Not this time.

Of course not.

Ellen, listen--

I did listen to you.

I heard you say you wanted to give
our marriage another chance.

Mart, that's the only reason I'm here.

Honey, you have got to believe me.

That was a business call.

Please, Mart, no more lies.

All right, all right.
Believe what you like.

I'll pack your things.

Mart?

I'm sending you home.

You--

Well, you just can't stay here, Ellen.

What are you talking about?

Look, it's something I can't explain.

I, uh...

I got in the wrong kind of deal
with the wrong kind of people,

and, well, I really blew it.

Got myself in a jam,
and there's simply no way out.

Of course there's a way out.
We'll find a way.

Look, Ellen, don't you understand?

I'm contagious, fatal.

As long as I'm alive, you're in danger!

Danger? Mart, do you think

I'd really run away from you
just because I was in danger?

Just tell me what it is.

We'll go to the police, or--

Ellen, you're making things
terribly difficult.

Mart, I'm not leaving you.

Whatever it is, we'll face it together.

All right.

All right, darling, your way.

I'll think of something.

Just give me a little time.

Mart?

Ohh!

Reverend, thank you for everything.

Would you like me
to come home with you?

Thanks, Vic.

I'm all right, really.

Well, if there's anything you need,
Ellen, and I mean anything...

You've done more than enough already.

Time I start doing
a few things for myself.

Have you made any plans?

First, I'd better start looking for a job.

There may be an opening
at the airline.

Would you like me
to check it out for you?

You're very sweet, Vic.
Thank you.

Vic'?

Don't make it obvious, Vic,

but that man standing
over there by the chapel--

Did you ever see him before?

What man?

He was standing there.

I saw him.

Are you sure it was the same man,
Mrs. Gray?

Positive.

He must have followed me
all the way from Hong Kong.

Please sit down.

Can you describe him?

Thin, dark, Oriental.

And he seems to be everywhere,
Mr. Mannix.

How did your husband die?

He--

He, um--

sh*t himself.

Four days ago in Hong Kong.

He was in some kind of trouble.

But he wouldn't tell me about it.

Was he working in Hong Kong?

He was looking
for a job with an airline,

but hadn't found anything steady.

I'd never seen him so upset,
so frightened.

It wasn't like Mart at all. He--

He'd been an Air Force pilot,
a major,

won medals for bravery.

In Vietnam?

How long had he been in Hong Kong?

A few months, I guess.

You guess?

I believe he went there
right after he was discharged.

But you're not sure.

I just joined him last week.
Before he could send for me,

he had to find a house
and get settled.

Mrs. Gray, I can't help you
unless I know the truth.

All right, Mr. Mannix.

Our marriage wasn't exactly
made in heaven.

Is that what you wanted to hear?

If it's the truth, yes.

The w*r kept us apart.

And we made mistakes, both of us.

Created childish stupid little problems.

But I loved my husband very much.

I wanted our marriage to work.

And he didn't?

I think he tried.

When he called me to tell me
to take the next plane to Hong Kong,

it was like starting all over again.

Wild and crazy, wonderful.

Like it used to be.

Those few days we had,

they were more than
just a second honeymoon.

They--

Mrs. Gray, I'm sorry.

Peggy, could you
come in here a minute?

Silly, isn't it.

As if weeping does any good.

Mrs. Gray, your husband's
personal belongings--

Are they still in Hong Kong?

No, I brought them home with me.

Could I see them?
If you like.

Peggy I'd like a complete rundown

on Mrs. Gray's husband,
Major Mart Gray, US. Air Force.

Released from the service when?

Four or five months ago.

Where was he stationed, Mrs. Gray?

Vietnam. Near Saigon.

I'll get on it right away.

I'm so glad you're taking the case,
Mr. Mannix.

Well, I have an investment in it.

My handkerchief.

That's strange.

The door was locked when I left.

You stay right here.

Hold it!

Vic!

Ellen, who is this guy?

It's all right, Vic.

Mr. Mannix is a private investigator.

What's he investigating?

Among other things,
how you got into this house.

The door was open when I got here.

When was that?
Just a few minutes ago.

When Ellen didn't answer, I got worried
and came in to see if she was all right.

Look, I could use a drink.
Anyone joining me?

Mr. Mannix?

No, thanks.

Vic's the best friend I have.

A very good friend.

Then you won't mind
answering a few questions.

About what?

Mart Gray.
How well did you know him?

About as well as any man alive,
I guess.

Mart and I flew together in Vietnam.

We both got out of the Air Force
about the same time.

Mart went to Hong Kong.
I came home.

Why did he choose Hong Kong?

He had some business offers,
I believe.

What kind of offers?

He never talked about them.

Mr. Stanley came to Hong Kong

and took care
of all the arrangements for me.

The police reports,
immigration, everything.

I'd have been lost without him.

Did you know that Mart was in trouble?

Not until Ellen told me.

It really shook me up, too.

I mean, Mart was always
a patsy for the easy buck, but--

Well, I never thought
he'd pull anything crooked.

What makes you think it was crooked?

Oh, come on, Mannix,
what else could it be?

Did you mention that
to the Hong Kong police?

Well...no.
I never got around to it, but I--

Your friend committed su1c1de,

his wife is followed
and probably in danger,

and you never got around
to mentioning it?

Now, look, Mannix.
You're really jumping--

Look!

Did you get the number?
Yeah.

X.

Sure, it's my cab.
What about it?

I'd like a little information.

You picked up a fare
at the Fashion Garden Apartments

about : this afternoon.

Your passenger
was an Oriental gentleman.

Can't help you, pal.

In a very large hurry.

Here, look.
:--I was at the airport.

Looks like you've erased a few entries.

So I'm a lousy speller.

Just a minute
Listen...

I gotta punch out.
I promised the wife I'd be home.

Call her. Tell her to meet you
at police headquarters.

Hey.

Yeah, maybe I did make a quick stop
in that neighborhood.

You know, between fares.

Quick stop?

You were waiting there for him.

Okay, I waited.

A guy pays me, I wait.
What's so terrible?

Where'd you take him?

Listen, I never saw the guy before.
What's he done?

Where did you take him?

McFadden Street.
The Tula Hotel.

Excuse me.

I'm looking for an Oriental gentleman,
a friend of mine.

Just in from Hong Kong.

Oh yeah, Mr. Biem. .

Thank you.

Say, what are you do--

What happened here?

He's dead.

That's-That's not--

That's not Mr. Biem.

Philippe Boulez.

French citizen.

Arrived here from Hong Kong...

the th, three days ago.

You see, him and Mr. Biem
shared this room.

All right. Thanks very much.
That will be all.

Yes, sir.

What do you know
about the dead man, Joe?

Nothing.

Never heard of him before today.

What brought you here?

I'm working on a case.

I was looking for Biem.

With what in mind?

Well, he's been following
a client of mine

all the way from Hong Kong.
I was hired to find out why.

Any idea what's going on?

No. But whatever it is, it's big.

So big, people can't even face up to it.

My client's husband committed su1c1de
in Hong Kong.

Now Biem's roommate,
also from Hong Kong.

Well, I think I'd like to talk
to that client of yours, Joe.

She doesn't know any more
than I just told you, Adam.

Why don't you let me
be the judge of that, huh, Joe?

I want her at headquarters
tomorrow morning, first thing.

Yeah.

Morning, Mannix. Come on in.

Thank you.

Make yourself comfortable.

Hey, Ellen,
your friend Mannix is here.

I'll be right down.

It's not what you think, Mannix.

After that little incident yesterday,

I didn't think that Ellen
should be alone.

Very thoughtful.

Well, I've go to be going.

I've got to get out to the airport
and check in. Paperwork.

I'm taking one of those new birds
to Europe tonight.

Bye, Ellen. I'll be calling you.

Bye, Vic. Thanks for staying.

Now, you take good care of her.

Hi, Mr. Mannix.
Care to join me for some coffee?

I'm afraid not, Mrs. Gray.

Lieutenant Tobias would like to see you
down at police headquarters.

Why?

Oh, routine questions.

A man named Philippe Boulez
was found dead yesterday.

An apparent su1c1de.
Did you know him?

No. I don't recall.

What does that have to do with me?

Well, he shared a room
with Nguyen Biem.

That's the man
who's been following you.

What does all this mean, Mr. Mannix?

What do they want with me?

I don't know.

But whatever it is,
you must be the key.

Now, is there anything--anything--
that you haven't told me?

Did you bring anything
with you from Hong Kong?

No, nothing.

There's really nothing
I can tell the police.

I think we'd better go down
and talk to Lieutenant Tobias anyway.

They may have come up
with something.

Al right.

How long have you known Vic Stanley?

Four or five years.

He and Mart went through
flight school together.

Has he ever been married?

Vic? No.

He's the perennial bachelor.

Always available for that extra girl,
or a fourth at bridge, you know?

Duck!

You all right?
Fine.

Guess we'd better find you
a safe place to stay.

You know, it's funny.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles.

One of the few.

But I've never been
to Malibu Colony before.

Well, I'm sure you'll be safe here.
There's a guard at the gate,

and there's a security patrol
that comes by regularly.

You're sure your friend
won't mind my staying here?

No.

He's in Europe for the month,
and he's given me the key.

What about Lieutenant Tobias?

He's expecting me, isn't he?

Well, he'll just have to muddle through
without you for a while.

Hi, Peggy

I've got some more stuff
out by the front door.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Why don't you go on in the house.
I'll give her a hand.

Any idea who took those sh*ts?

An idea.

But no proof.

Hi, Mrs. Gray.
Hi.

Now, Peggy will be
staying here with you, Ellen.

Remember, stay close to the house.
No phone calls, no visitors.

Right.

Oh, I brought you some things.

And I stopped by the supermarket
so that we wouldn't starve.

I'll check with you later.
Okay, Joe.

I hope you like hamburgers.

I love them.

Peggy? Did you get that information
on Major Gray yet?

Yes. He was separated
from the service officially March th,

at his own request,

then took a job
as a civilian pilot in Saigon.

Saigon?
But he didn't say a word about that.

What airline?
The report didn't go that far.

I can't understand why Mart
didn't say anything about it.

It seems to me
Vic Stanley would have known.

Then why didn't he mention it to me?

Because I didn't want
to get involved, that's why.

I've got a flash for you, Stanley.

If you know what Mart Gray was doing,
you are involved.

Look, Mannix, I've got a flight that
leaves here in less than minutes.

I really don't have time for all this.

And besides, I've told you
everything I know.

Your friend, Mart Gray is dead.

Would you like to be responsible
for Ellen's death?

And just what is that
supposed to mean?

She was almost k*lled this morning.
So was |.

Next time she may not be that lucky.

So, if you've got something to say,
you'd better start saying it right now.

What do you want to know?

Mart took a job as a pilot in Saigon.
Who hired him?

The Oriental
that broke into Ellen's house.

Nguyen Biem?

He was one of them.
Any others?

Well, there was some American
entertainers...

...and a Frenchman.
Philippe Boulez?

Well, he was found dead
in Biem's hotel room yesterday.

They ran a small charter service.

Lotus Airways.

They shipped black market goods
all over the world.

Mart was the pilot?

He was an angle kind of guy, Mart.

Money, women--
that's all he cared about.

Ellen doesn't know it yet,
but she's better off without him.

You seem to know quite a bit
about what was going on.

Yeah, he wanted to cut me in
on the action,

but I wasn't buying any of that.

Why? Scruples?

No. I knew if Mart was involved,
how it would wind up.

And I knew that Ellen
would find out sooner or later.

Well, for a confirmed bachelor, you seem
very concerned about Mrs. Gray.

Is that some sort of crime?

Are you in love with her?

I'm sure she's not paying you
to find that out.

Stanley.

This Lotus Airways--
is that a local office?

On Imperial, by the old airport.

Hello?

Anybody here?

Hello?

You still claim it was self-defense?

Well, I sh*t at Biem
after he sh*t at me.

With this g*n?
Right.

Then you're a lousy sh*t, Joe.

What are you talking about?

Ballistics report.
Your g*n is a ..

Biem was k*lled with a .,
the same g*n we found in his hand.

Another su1c1de?

Well, medical report says no.

He was sh*t from a distance
of at least three feet.

Then he must have been k*lled
before I got there.

Well, the way I see it is...

the k*ller was wearing the mask
when you walked in.

Then, after you sh*t at him,
he put the mask on Biem,

who was already dead,
and then he took off.

Probably the same guy that sh*t
at Ellen Gray and me outside her house.

Well, you didn't tell me that, Joe.

I was going to, Adam,
as soon as I made sure she was safe.

Now everything looks different.

I think he was sh**ting at me all along.

He tried again tonight.
Why you?

I guess because, uh, I'm digging.

Joe?

I still want to see
that client of yours.

She doesn't know anything, Adam.

Not that she can remember anyway.

But if she does think of anything,
you'll be the first to know.

Thanks.

Oh, if you hear
any loud sounds, duck.

Thanks.

Well, everything okay?

So okay we were beginning
to feel unwanted.

We're just having a snack.

Can I get you something?

Well, I'll have a long cold drink, huh?

Coming up.

You look upset.

There's been another m*rder.

Our Oriental friend this time.

He and Boulez and a few others

operated a black market ring.

That could have something
to do with it.

Your husband worked as their pilot.

Mart?

Mm.

Where did you learn that?

From Vic Stanley.

What else did he tell you?

Well, he said that Mart
had two major interests--

Money and women.

Not necessarily in that order.

Is that true?

Mart was one of those men
who never grew up.

Constantly trying to prove something
to himself, and to everyone else.

I told you our marriage
wasn't made in heaven.

That was the reason.

The only reason?

What do you mean?

I was thinking of you and Vic Stanley.

Look, I never claimed
the Miss Purity title,

but at least I tried to treat
our marriage with a little respect.

That's more than Mart ever did.

After a while, I just stopped trying.

And Vic was there
with all the necessary sympathy.

Yes, Vic was there.

My husband was never there.

Mart was busy with other women
right up to the bitter end.

What about those "crazy, wild, wonderful"
days in Hong Kong?

I don't quite understand that myself.

I thought we'd started a whole new life.

I was ready to forget the past--

All the lies, deception.

Stupid little ways we'd hurt each other.

Then I came home
from shopping that day...

that last day

I know.

Yes, yes, I know.

I know, Mae, darling.

But I told you
I'll make it all up to you.

He was talking on the phone...

to a woman, naturally.

When was that?

Just before he--

Mart denied it, of course.

He insisted it was a business call.

But he didn't usually address
his business colleagues as "darling."

Do you have any idea
who the woman was?

All I heard was "Mae, darling."

"Nobody Here But The Blues".

Mae Darling. That's who you were
talking about, wasn't it?

Yeah, that's right, Peggy. Go on.

That was her big record.

Mae Darling?

Yeah. The blues singer, right?

She had some big hits
a few years ago.

Wait a minute.

Biem and Boulez, they were partners
with some American entertainers.

The Los Angeles area, please.

Do you have a listing
for a Mae Darling?

Help you?

Yes, I'm looking for Miss Darling.

She's terribly busy right now.

What sort of an act do you do?

It's a personal matter.
Oh.

One moment.

Miss Darling, there's a gentleman
wants to speak to you.

Says it's personal.

Okay.

All right, doll, thanks a lot.
We'll be in touch.

That's it for today, kids.
Come back tomorrow, am.

Do you want to see me?

Miss Darling?
Yeah.

I'm Joe Mannix. I'm investigating
the death of Mart Gray.

Death?
Sounds like a real bummer.

How'd it happen?

su1c1de, apparently.
A few days ago in Hong Kong.

I understand you knew him.

Well, more or less.
We met in Saigon.

I book shows over there, you know.
For the servicemen.

Believe me, it's a lot easier
than singing in them.

When did you last see him?

Oh, a few months ago.

The last time I was in Saigon.

Listen, doll,
I got some people waiting for me.

Miss Darling, he was heard
talking to you on the telephone

just before he d*ed.

Are you kidding?

What would he want
to talk to me about?

I wasn't his type.

Listen, I'd love to schmooze with you,

but I've got a room full of people.

Miss Darling.
Some other time, okay?

What happened?

She's been sh*t.
Quick, get an ambulance.

Only a few minutes, please.

Miss Darling?

Yes?

I'm Lieutenant Tobias
of the Homicide Division.

Do you have any idea
who sh*t you?

Miss Darling, I'm sorry to have
to ask you these questions now,

but they're important.

Did you know a man
named Nguyen Biem?

Philippe Boulez?

Yes.

Can you tell us how you met them?

Business.

In Saigon.

What kind of business?

It was a black market operation,
wasn't it?

How was Mart Gray involved?

He was our courier.

He flew money to Switzerland.

Secret accounts.

That's why he resigned
his commission,

so he could get in on the gravy.

He--He double-crossed us.

How?

Last trip...

he withdrew our entire account.

$ million.

million?

We traced him.

Found him in Hong Kong.

He knew what would happen to him.

That's why he k*lled himself.

And now somebody else
is after the money. Is that it?

Miss Darling,
can you tell us who it is?

Miss Darling?

Ellen?

Anybody home?

Ellen?

I thought you had
a flight to Europe last night.

It was canceled.

You know, Ellen shouldn't leave
the door open like that.

Where is she, anyway?

Alive and well.

Mannix, will you please answer
my question?

Not until you answer a few of mine.

First of all, how do you
really know so much

about Mart Gray's activities in Saigon?

I was his closest friend.
He confided in me. I told you that.

Did he know his closest friend
was romancing his wife?

Now, where'd you get that idea?

That's not difficult to figure out.

Any relationship between Ellen
and me ended a long time ago.

Her choice, or yours?

Look, she knew all of Mart's faults,
but she loved him anyway.

Now, if she paid
any attention to me at all,

it was just out of desperation.

It was her way of striking back at him,

her own lopsided form of vengeance.

And you were willing to take her,
even on those terms?

On any terms, Mannix.

Sounds futile, doesn't it?

You see, I feel toward her
the way she felt toward Mart.

Is that why you k*lled him?

Wait just a minute.
You don't think that--

Or was it the money?
What money?

Well, you couldn't have his wife,
so you settled for the $ million.

Mannix, what the devil
are you talking about?

You were conveniently in Hong Kong
when Ellen needed help.

She phoned me--

You took care of all the arrangements,
including, I imagine, sealing the coffin.

Of course I sealed it.

If you'd seen how he sh*t himself,
you'd have sealed it, too.

He used a shotgun.

Yeah.

Disinterment?

But why?

There's a good reason for it, Mrs. Gray.
Trust me.

But--

But to open Mart's grave--

I know how it must upset you,
but, uh...

we have to make sure
he wasn't m*rder*d.

I told you how it happened.

It couldn't have been m*rder.
Even the police called it su1c1de.

The Hong Kong police
can make mistakes, too.

Joe is right, Ellen.

If nothing else,
this should remove any doubts.

Do I have to sign this?

We can't open the coffin
without your permission.

I don't know.

Well, why don't you think
about it, Mrs. Gray?

I'll stop by in the morning

Peggy.
I'll be right back.

Joe, do you really think
her husband was m*rder*d?

I'm not sure,
but I think we're about to find out.

News of the disinterment
was in the evening papers.

The man's got to act, and act fast.

You mean come pay us a visit?

Well, he's gonna sure try.

And the bait is Mrs. Gray.

I don't know of any other way
to flush him out into the open.

Where will you be if we need you?

I'll be close by,
troops right behind me.

Okay?

I'll do my best.

Keep your eyes open, Peggy,

and don't let Ellen alone for a minute.

Yes, yes, I know.

I know Mae Darling.

Bull told you
I 'll make it all up to you.

Just give me a little time to--

Look, it's something I can't explain.
I, uh--

I got in the wrong kind of deal
with the wrong kind of people, and--

Ellen, don't you understand?

I'm contagious, fatal.

As long as I'm alive,
you're in danger.

Hello, Ellen.

Mart!

Relax.

Ghosts only happen in stories.

It's me, all right.

You're not going to sign this, are you?
Let them dig me up?

How, Mart? How did you--

Come back to life?

It's very simple.

I never d*ed.

But I--I saw you in the study.

You saw a broken down wino
who looked like me.

I added the watch, the |.D. bracelet,

and the clothes
to complete the picture.

You k*lled him?

A useless bum.
Nobody would miss him.

At least his death served a purpose.

Ellen, I want you
to tell your friend Mannix

that you tore up
the disinterment order.

Tell him it was too ghoulish.

You just couldn't bear
the thought of it.

They can't do anything
without your permission.

And when enough time's gone by,

you can request that they move
the coffin to a cemetery in my hometown,

and that'll give us a chance
to open it up together.

Open it?

What for?

The money.

There's $ million
sealed up in that box.

That's why you called me
and told me to come to Hong Kong,

and you needed me so desperately.

All that talk about a new life together.

That was just so I could bring back
your coffin full of money.

And Vic thought the coffin
had to be sealed because--

Because no one could bear
to look at me.

It worked perfectly.

A modest bribe to the old Chinese
who owned the coffin house,

and the switch was made.

A man without a future
for a box filled with one.

Ellen.

All those promises I made
can still come true.

We can enjoy the money,
live a rich life.

Just the two of us.
No.

I spent a lot of time setting this up,

k*lled a lot of people, including myself.

I don't intend to let you--
Peggy!

She can't help you.

I don't really need you, Ellen.

You know, once I get the money
out of that coffin,

there'll be plenty of room in it for you,
unless you do as I say.

Hold it, Gray! Drop the g*n!

Now back off.

Are you all right, Ellen?

I'm all right.

Well, I knew I'd been followed here,

but you I wasn't expecting.

Where's Peggy?

I don't know.
She didn't come back.

What have you done with her?

Find out for yourself.

Ellen, check out front.

Ohh!

Stop it or I'll sh**t!

Stop it, Mart, or I'll sh**t!

Don't be a fool, Ellen.

That won't do any good.

Come on, give it to me.

All I wanted--

All I ever wanted was your love.

Ellen, listen to me.

I've listened to you for the last time.

Ellen, don't do it.

Don't do it, Ellen.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

Take care of Peggy.

The police will be here any minute.