05x01 - Dark So Early, Dark So Long

[bunniefuu]

Glen?

Glen?

Stop.

Stop!

Leslie?

What is it?

What's happened?

He's dead.

Give me that g*n.

You'd better go upstairs to bed.

Glen, what are you going to do?

What I always do--
clean up after you.

♪♪

Sorry I startled you.
Breakfast is ready.

Mrs. Fielding's downstairs.

Thank you.

Good morning.
Have some breakfast?

Just coffee, please.

Are you going out?

I have to see John Ogilvy
about some contracts.

On Saturday?

All great fortunes
were made on Saturday.

Thank you Mrs. Allen.

Glen?

Last night it did happen, didn't it?

It happened.

I swear I didn't know it was him.

You couldn't pray for anyone
to believe that,

under the circumstances.

Well you believe me, don't you?

Of course I believe you.

But I'm not paid by the city
to doubt your word.

What did you do?

Leslie, you've got to go on
as if nothing had happened.

Just put it out of your mind forever.

How can I do that?

By concentrating on the alternative--

A lifetime spent in a prison cell.

Is that how you want
to punish yourself for him?

Why do you put up with me?

As your mother would say,

the pay is right.

Oh, may I help you?

Well, I...

Mildred?

Mildred Oliver!

Ah, it's good to see you.

Peggy, I want you to meet
Mrs. Mildred Oliver.

Her kitchen sustained me
through my last two years of college.

How do you do?
Hello.

Would you like some coffee?
Oh, no thank you.

I had a late breakfast.

Ah, it's so good to see you, Mildred.
Come in. Come in.

I was just passing by
and |-- I saw the name.

Sit down.
Golly, how long has it been?

Now, don't you dare.
I'm not as old as I look.

You look just as beautiful.

It's talk like that that used to allow you
to raid the refrigerator, as I remember.

Well, after all, I was going
to school on a G.I. Bill--

$ a month
and all you could read.

Those were good days, Joe.

And Mr. Oliver's great barbecues--
what a feast.

Matthew loved to have young people around,
especially you, Joe.

Thank you for that wonderful letter.

Well, he was a great guy.

And Leslie-- how is she?

Fine, as far as I know.

You weren't just passing by,
were you, Mildred?

I'm worried about her, Joe.

She's drinking...

excessively,
I think is the clinical word for it.

She was always a high-spirited girl--

Foolish but forgivable.

But parties are just the public part
of her drinking these days.

It goes on day and night.

When did this all start?

I don't know exactly.

It was as if...

the wind changed
and no one noticed.

She got worse after Matthew d*ed.

I let it go,
hoping she'd find herself.

But she wasn't really looking.

In fact, there was a time when
she lost herself completely for months.

When was that?

Five years ago.
She just dropped out of sight.

I was worried sick.

Why didn't you call me, Mildred?

I thought of it many times.

She turned up, finally--

Married.

Yeah, I know.

I remember seeing his picture.

On a tennis court, no doubt.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I shouldn't say that.
Hardly know Glen, really.

Mothers rarely approve of
their daughters' choice in husbands, do they?

Well, that's all history, Mildred.
What about today?

Something's bothering her terribly, Joe.

We were supposed to go shopping
on Saturday, and she canceled.

Then I called her on Sunday and Glen said
she was out but she never called me back.

Then yesterday we were
supposed to meet for lunch

and she never showed up.

And I still can't get through to her
on the phone.

Something's dreadfully wrong, Joe.

How can I help?

Well...

they're having a cocktail party
today at the house.

Glen's invited, oh, some important buyers
from the East.

I'm still on the board
so they had to invite me.

And you have to invite me
for old times' sake.

Well, I hope they don't mind.

Of course we don't mind, Mr. Mannix.

We'd be delighted to have you.
Thank you.

Joe's an old friend of Leslie's.
I just happened to run into him.

Well, it couldn't have happened
on a better day. Let's have a drink.

I understand that
you and Leslie went to school together.

Yes.

Mrs. Oliver, how good to see you again.
You look marvelous.

John Ogilvy, Joe Mannix.

How do you do?
Mannix?

A pleasure.

Where's Leslie?

Oh, you know Leslie.

She's upstairs
putting on the finishing touches.

Will you excuse us, please?
I'd like you to see something, John.

Excuse me.

Mildred, uh...

where does Ogilvy fit into this?

He's the firm's new attorney--
one of Glen's friends.

Beware of young men

whose income has not yet
reached the level of their ambition.

Joe.

"Leslie Oliver, our homecoming queen...

"Was just sent home
by request of the dean."

It's Joel

Joe Mannix!

Leslie, how are you?

Oh, I'm fine.

Oh, it's been too long.

I can't believe it--
seeing you again.

Yes, it-- it has been a long time.

You all right, Leslie?

Oh, I'm fine. I'm just fine.

Oh, Mrs. Fielding,
it's good to see you.

It's good to see you, too.

It's a very nice party.
Lovely,

except the hostess
doesn't have a drink.

I think that's shocking, don't you?
Thank you.

A little brandy in that, please.
And Mr. Mannix will have...

Scotch and water, tall.

You know I'm disappointed in you, Leslie.
Oh?

I'd figured that you'd have
a whole station wagon full of kids by now.

Did I say something?

Oh, I guess motherhood just isn't one
of my favorite subjects, that's all.

I'm sorry.
It's all right.

How about you?
How many wives?

One? Two?

Zero.

Oh, I've come close a couple of times.

Close doesn't count.

I'd like to see the ones
that came close, though.

You know I threw myself at you
for a whole semester

and you didn't even try to be serious.

The dues were pretty high in your club.

I might have paid them.

Free rides are for hitchhikers, Leslie.

You can get let off
in the middle of nowhere.

The middle of nowhere--

That sounds good.
Everyone should go there once.

Joe?

I need another drink.

Are you sure?

Mm-hmm.

I'll drink and you count, okay?

Did you by any chance
see that marvelous collection of...

Won't you come in?

I'd like to speak with, uh,
Mrs. Leslie Fielding.

I'm sorry.
I'm afraid they're having a party.

Well, it'll just take a few minutes.

One moment.

Mrs. Oliver, please.

What is it, Ellie?
There's a gentlemen to see Mrs. Fielding.

He says he's from the police.

I'm Mrs. Fielding's mother.

I'm Lieutenant Tobias.

I'd like to speak
with your daughter if I may--

Just a couple of questions.

Ellie, please ask Mr. and Mrs. Fielding
to come to the library.

This way, Lieutenant.
Thank you.

Lieutenant, may I ask the nature
of your visit?

Oh, it's routine. That's the nature
of most of our business, I assure you.

Lieutenant, would you mind telling us
what this is all about?

You've come at a very awkward moment.
I'm sorry about that,

but I had to ask
Mrs. Fielding some questions.

As Mrs. Fielding's attorney, I'd really
prefer she didn't answer any questions.

I'm perfectly all right.

Perhaps you'd be more comfortable
if you sat down.

Madame.

Joe.

Mrs. Fielding, do you know
a man called Gantry--

Lloyd Gantry?

No, I don't think so.

Are you certain?

She answered you, Adam.
I'm sorry about that, Joe.

She seemed a little uncertain.

No, no, I'm positive.

Now, Lieutenant, will you tell us
what this is all about?

Lloyd Gantry was found floating
in the harbor. He'd been sh*t.

You're a long way
from the harbor, Adam.

He also had a check in his wallet
for $, in it,

and made out to cash,
signed by Mrs. Leslie Fielding.

What?

May I see that?

Facsimile.

Yes, that's the check.

It was stolen from my briefcase
in my car about a week ago.

Did you report it to the police?

No. I was in a hurry on a business trip,

but I stopped payment.
You can check with the bank.

I see.

Well, sorry to have caused you
the inconvenience.

Oh, that's all right, Lieutenant.

Well, if you're through with us,
we have a party.

You don't mind seeing yourself out?

What are you doing here, Joe?

Strictly pleasure, Adam.

Nice party.
Where are you heading?

Back to my office.
County coroner's report.

Gantry was sh*t twice,
. caliber,

been dead since Saturday.

Saturday?

Come on, Joe.

How long have we known each other?
I don't know.

You keeping track?
No, I'm not keeping track.

But you don't leave a party like that
to come down here and drink stale coffee.

I told you, Adam,
Leslie Fielding's an old friend of mine.

Sure. She's getting older fast, too,
from what I saw.

So she's got a problem.
And one problem leads to another.

Sometimes.

Listen, Joe, are you sure
you're not working on a case?

Is there a case?

Well, when we find the g*n that fired
those two sh*ts, we'll know, won't we?

When you find a g*n.
Oh, we're going to find it.

Then maybe you'll have a case, eh?

Okay, okay, got it.

Is that all?
Thanks, Vivian.

Listen, if you find out anything else,
will you give us a call?

Right.

Good morning, Peggy.
Good morning, Joe.

There's your mail.
Thank you.

I got an early run-down
on the dead man.

You want the preliminaries?
Yeah, go.

Lloyd Gantry,
, ex-musician-- trumpet,

hasn't worked or paid his union dues
in four years.

Last place of employment,
Sea Breeze Bar in North Redondo Beach.

Had a penthouse apartment in Brentwood.
Drove a late model expensive sports car.

Unmarried.

I was afraid of that.
What, that he was a bachelor?

No, that's he was out of work
and in the money. That always spells trouble.

For anyone we know?
I hope not.

What's the name of that bar?

Sea Breeze.

Yeah, we used to have a band,

round about four years ago.

Not good, but loud.

Did Lloyd Gantry play with the band?
Yeah, like I told the Lieutenant.

I wonder who knocked Gantry off.

He left me
with a tab you wouldn't believe.

Did he come in here
after the band folded?

All the time.

Big spender?

Well, he'd start off the month
with a bundle.

Then he'd get broke
and start signing the tabs.

Said a rich uncle of his d*ed
and left him some money,

but he could only get
a certain amount a month.

Did he ever come in with a lady?

Are you kidding?
He never came in without one.

They used to start the party here
and then head for Tijuana and points south.

He loved
those south-of-the-border parties

and the horses.

I wonder how much rich uncles
are leaving these days.

$, a month--
that's what he was spending.

Not bad for an unemployed trumpet player.

Yeah, and every month for four years.
We found his bank book.

Doesn't that strike you as a coincidence?
,

It's a nice round figure,
frequently used.

Yeah. Mrs. Fielding's check
was for the same round figure.

Well, her husband explained that.

Yeah, I know. We checked the bank--
he stopped payment, all right.

Don't act so disappointed
when somebody tells you the truth, Adam.

Why don't you tell me the truth?
Is Leslie Fielding a client of yours?

Are you trying to make her one?

How'd you know Lloyd Gantry
was a trumpet player?

Peggy told me.
She follows bands.

Look, when you find out what's happened,
let me know, eh?

If you don't find out before me, right?

And besides, you don't have a case until you
find a motive or at least find the g*n.

Thanks for the on-the-job-training.

Joe?

That g*n may still be
in the m*rder*r's hot little hand.

Give me an hour, Lieutenant.
I'll tell you if it's the same g*n.

Stop it! Just stop it!
Why can't you leave me alone!

Leslie dear, I only wanted to help.

There!
Leslie!

Are you satisfied?
I've stopped!

Here's another piece, Ellie.
Thank you.

I'll get it.

Joe. Oh, Joe, come in.

Hello, Mildred.
Is Leslie in?

Well, if you want to talk to her,
you've picked a very bad day.

Well, I guess I should have called first.

If you have a moment,
could we have a little talk?

Certainly.

Let's go in the library.

Is she in some sort of trouble, Joe?

Well, I'm not sure yet.

It depends on the truth
and how much I know of it.

I've-- I've never told this to a soul.

Maybe it's time, Mildred.

Leslie's in trouble.

Her secrecy is k*lling her.

I told you she was missing five years ago.

I couldn't come to you, Joe.
It was so personal.

So I hired a big firm that
handles investigations all over the world.

They trace people with computers.

And?

They looked for her
in all her favorite playgrounds in Europe.

This time she wasn't out playing.

No.

She was just down the coast
a few miles,

place called Shepherd of the Angels.

It's an orphanage and--

And hospital for girls in trouble

who can't go to their mothers.

Leslie had a baby.

Isn't it-- isn't it funny, Joe?

How a tiny baby can bring
so much joy to everyone around it

when it comes into the world wanted?

What happened to the child?

She left it there for adoption.

I thought maybe it was for the best.

I couldn't tell her that I knew
and let her know I was spying on her.

She never mentioned the child.

Soon after she--
she met Glen and married him.

I assumed it was a secret
she wanted locked up forever.

I'm afraid forever
is closing in fast on Leslie.

Hello?

Yes, he's here.

It's your secretary.

Yeah, Peggy?

Joe? The police found a g*n

and it may be the one
that k*lled Lloyd Gantry.

This b*llet was taken from Gantry's body.

This one is fired for comparison

from the g*n recovered on the playground.

Playground?

Yeah, a kid found it.
What's your professional opinion, Harry?

Peas in a pod.

Take a look at the blow-up, Lieutenant--

All fired from the same g*n.

Okay. Thanks.

Adam?
Yeah?

Have you put a name to the g*n?

It's registered to Mrs. Leslie Fielding, Joe.

I'm sorry.
I'm going to have to pick her up.

You mind if I go along?

Well, I'd have a hard time stopping you,
wouldn't I?

Come in Mr. Mannix.
Thank heavens you're here.

What's the matter?

She's locked herself in her room
and she won't even answer me.

Which one is it?
Up there, first bedroom on the right.

I've been pounding on her door
and she won't even listen to me.

Leslie! Leslie, it's Joe.

Leslie, are you all right?

Leslie. Leslie!

She's pretty weak, Adam.

Come on, Leslie, on your feet.

Come on, Leslie.
This is Tobias.

Get an ambulance
up to Briar Valley Road.

Let's go. Come on, Leslie!
Tell 'em it's an overdose.

Come on, Leslie, take a deep breath.
Leslie.

Wake up!
Leslie, take a deep breath.

Come on.

Oh, Leslie, why? Why?

Oh, I k*lled him, Joe!

I k*lled him.

Oh, just let it be over.

Dr. Ward, west, please.

Dr. Ward, go to west.

Doc? How is she?

She'll be all right.

A few minutes later
and it would have been all over.

You can talk to her tomorrow, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant?

How is Leslie? Where is she?

She's in the emergency room.
The doctor says she'll be all right.

I have to talk to her.

I'd rather you talk to me first,
Mr. Fielding.

Let me get one thing straight--

Did it occur to you that you were
making yourself an accomplice

by trying to get rid of
Gantry's body and the g*n?

You don't have to say anything, Glen.
You have the right to remain silent.

No.

I forfeited the right to remain silent

when Leslie tried to take her own life.

I had no idea.

I didn't think.

I love my wife.

I was trying to protect her.

Didn't you know your wife had a g*n?

I gave it to her months ago.

We'd had prowlers.

You can check your own records,
Lieutenant.

I thought she'd feel safer.

Was Gantry blackmailing her?

I think so.

I don't know what for.
I don't care.

After Mr. Ogilvy took over
the company's books,

he discovered the payments
that had been made to Gantry by my wife.

How did Mrs. Fielding
explain the payments?

She wouldn't explain.
She was terrified.

Her drinking got worse.

Glen ordered me to stop the payments.
That explains the canceled check.

Blackmailers are half bluff, anyway.

And half greed.
You should have counted on that.

So when the money stopped,
Gantry called on your wife.

He threatened her,
they quarreled and she sh*t him.

I don't know.

There's only one other explanation
for your actions, Mr. Fielding.

You were afraid that she asked him
to come to the house to k*ll him.

Eh?

Yes.

Well...

we'll need a statement.

That can wait until tomorrow.

Thank you, Mr. Fielding.

Adam, you're not
tying a ribbon on this case?

Cut and dried.
Open and shut,

and all the other clichés
we big city cops use, Joe.

Doesn't it make you uncomfortable
when they come this easy?

I don't get paid any more for the hard ones
than I do for the easy ones.

Yeah, well I don't like it at all.

Well, don't go fishing in the bathtub, Joe--
no fish.

I know.

But I keep thinking of the big one
you pulled out of the harbor.

Well, I hope your coffee
is as good as your timing.

Oh, where you able
to reach Derek in Tijuana?

Yes, and you'll have
the phone bill to prove it.

Yeah.
He's got about seven offices--

All phone booths.

Well, you can't b*at the rent.
What did he say?

He said he'd have the information on Gantry
by the time you crossed the border.

He also said, "C.O.D."
and you'd know what that meant.

That means
come on down with cash.

Did he really work for Scotland Yard?
Uh oh.

That means bring an extra $.
Hmm.

It's not.
You going now?

Yeah, I have to make a stop
on the way down.

Where?
An orphanage.

All right, children.
You can go and play now.

Yay!
Sister Angelica?

Yes.
I'm Joe Mannix.

They said at the office you might be able
to tell me about Leslie Oliver.

Leslie Oliver?
Yes. Her name is now Leslie Fielding.

She's an old friend of mine.
She's in serious trouble.

You might be able to help.

I remember.

She was a very troubled young lady.
She had a child.

Leslie doesn't think
she has anything to live for.

I'd like to try and give her something.
I thought I might find it here.

Leslie insisted on giving up the baby
without ever seeing her.

I was very sad for her.

Was she adopted?

It's very difficult, unfortunately,
to place children with handicaps.

Linda was born blind.

But she's quite a remarkable child.

May I see her?

She's over there doing her homework.
Go and speak to her if you like.

Mr. Mannix,

do it without pity in your voice, please.
As I said, she's quite bright.

Thank you.

Linda?

Hello. Who are you?

I'm Joe Mannix.

You're tall, I can tell.

Well, is that better?

You doing your lessons?

Want to watch me spell?
I certainly do.

"A" like in apple.

And that's "B" like a bird.

Hey, before you know it,
you'll be reading whole books.

Are you going to stay here
and help me with my lessons?

Well, I'd like to honey, but I can't.

I'll be back.
Oh.

You see, I have to run down to Mexico.

Black on a red Jack.
Joseph!

Hello, Derek.
What a delightful surprise.

Surprise?

Anyone that keeps an appointment with me,
it's always a surprise.

Always carry a deck of cards, Joseph,

and you'll never be
without companions.

Well, how are you?
You look very prosperous. Business good?

Well, business has been very slow, Derek.
Clients are scarce.

Aha! You're a clever man.

When your client
is as wealthy as Leslie Fielding,

you don't really need too many,
do you, lad?

Have you got something for me, Derek?

Tequila?

Would that entitle me
to buy a whole bottle?

Oh, if you insist.
Nacho, la botella, por favor.

Si, ¢coémo no?

Keeps the inside
the same temperature as the outside.

Poor man's air conditioning.
Derek, I drove a long way.

So you did. So you did.

And a very worthwhile trip.

January first, ,

wedding bells, Joseph,
for Mr. Lloyd Gantry

and Miss Leslie Ann Oliver.

Marriage?
Are you sure, Derek?

I saw the certificate.

And from her signature, it would appear
the young lady might have been,

if you'll pardon the expression,
smashed.

Mr. Gantry, however, knew exactly
what he was doing

when he married a rich young lady.

Let's hear the rest of it.

Well, he was a big gambler
and the ponies never ran well for him.

The bookies have been after him for years,
and getting tougher.

As recently as last week,

he promised some of his very large creditors

he was coming into a sizable fortune.

Do you know anything about that, Joseph?

I'm learning more every minute.

Well, there you are, Derek.
C..D., right?

Joseph, you do, understand why |--
Well, of course.

And I don't care what Scotland Yard says,
you're a genius.

Thanks, Derek.

Gracias.

Hello, Leslie.
How are you feeling?

Just about the way I look, I guess--
shameful.

Leslie--

Joe, please don't get mixed up
in this mess.

Leslie, I need your help.

Oh, isn't that marvelous?

You need my help.

I want you to tell me
exactly what happened that night,

every step you took, everything you heard.

I k*lled him, Joe.
Don't you understand?

Maybe I wanted to.

When I saw his face, I--
No, before that.

Now your dog heard something.

You got a g*n, went down the stairs
and into the living room.

Oh, don't, Joe, please--

Now you've got to remember, Leslie!

I just stood there.

He was closing the doors to the patio

and then he turned around.

I said, "Stop."

And he started to come toward me
and I sh*t him.

I sh*t him.
How many times?

Two or three.
Exactly!

Now it's important.
Try and remember, Leslie.

Try and hear the sh*ts.
Count them.

Three-- three times.

Three.

Lloyd Gantry was your husband,
wasn't he?

You were married in Tijuana.

I was very drunk at the time, Joe.

The next morning when I realized
what I'd done,

I begged him to get an annulment.
And did he?

Well, he said he did.
I gave him money and he left.

And when you married Glen Fielding,
he came back.

There was no annulment, was there?

Bigamy must have been quite a shock.

And you paid for it, a month at a time.

Oh, Joe, whatever happened
to the laughs and the bright lights?

It's like somebody pulled the switch
and everything went dark.

Now there's just nothing.

Not nothing, Leslie.

You've got a beautiful daughter.

You've seen her?

And, she's had a little trouble
with the dark, too.

She's blind.

Oh, no.

Oh, no!

But she hasn't given up, Leslie.

I'm not sure I like this.

I told you there'd be
occasional night work.

What if Fielding comes home?
He won't.

Mildred Oliver's keeping him
very busy tonight.

Now Leslie's dog heard a noise,
woke her up.

She came down those stairs,
across this foyer

and stood right here in the dark.

Now Peggy, stand here where she did.

Now Gantry came through these doors
from the patio.

He closed the doors behind him.

He turned around.

And he started toward her
and she fired three times.

And he must have fallen right about here.

What's this whole charade
supposed to prove?

You see, Peggy,

Leslie is positive
she fired at him three times.

And yet they only found two b*ll*ts
in Gantry's body.

He closed those doors behind him.

What happened to the third b*llet?

The doors were closed.

Now what happened to that third b*llet?

Well, it wasn't in the room.

Now if the doors were open,

I could explain what happened
to the third b*llet.

It could have been
out in the yard someplace.

But Leslie is positive
Gantry closed the doors behind him.

And the glass in the doors
hadn't been replaced recently.

Now why did Gantry
close the doors behind him?

Maybe he wanted to leave by the front.
Oh, thanks a lot.

Okay, okay.
Maybe he was invited.

What did you say?
I said maybe he was invited.

You know I've been putting myself
in everybody's place but Gantry's.

Maybe that's it.

What was he thinking about
when he came through those doors

and closed them?

He didn't expect to have to leave in a hurry.
I think you're right, Peggy.

I think he expected
to leave by the front door.

And we know Leslie didn't invite him there.
So?

So that could explain why he was there.

And that could also explain
why there was no third b*llet.

No, no, no, Joe.
That's no good, believe me.

Look, I got a body, a w*apon,
a motive and a confession.

Man, that's perfect score in my business.

Not quite, Adam.
You still need the missing b*llet.

Oh, come on, Joe.
We searched for that third b*llet.

It's probably outside somewhere.

All right, a sharp lawyer may
try to make something out of it, but...

No, no, no, Leslie said that Gantry
closed those doors before she fired.

Leslie was drunk and frightened.

Then you're not going
to go along with me?

Don't make me say it, Joe.
Say it.

She'll be arraigned tomorrow.

Okay.
Then I'll play a hunch.

Don't get into any trouble, Joe.

What makes you say that?

Because you do some
pretty crazy things sometimes

and I worry about you.

Well, just hang close to your phone, Adam.
You may get a call from me.

Hi.
Hi. Remember me?

Sure. Once I see a face, that's it--
like a camera.

You were asking me about Lloyd Gantry.

Yeah, you said he always came in
with different women.

Yeah, dozens.

Newspaper says it was a babe
that sh*t him-- rich, too.

Did he ever come in with a man?

Oh, once or twice.
Mostly chicks.

Did he ever come in with this man?

No, no, no.

How about him?

Uh-huh.

Put him in a grey business suit,
sit him in that booth over there...

Uh-huh, that's the guy.

He and Gantry were drinking double Scotches.
I remember.

When was that?

Oh, couple of weeks ago, maybe.

You kind of lose track of time in a bar.

Yeah, a whole lifetime, some people.

No. I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.
I can't help you.

To be perfectly candid, I don't intend
to handle Mrs. Fielding's defense.

You abandon ship fast.
I thought it was women and children first.

No, it's not that. It's--

As Mr. Fielding told you,
I was involved-- innocently, mind you--

With the payment of blackmail
to Lloyd Gantry.

Haven't you got your victims mixed up?

I don't follow you.
Leslie is the real victim, isn't she?

Well, yes, I suppose she is
in her own unfortunate way.

Excuse me.

Put another one of these up on the front.

Now Mr. Mannix, I'm a very busy man.
Was there anything else?

Yes.

Gantry was paid $, a month, right?

Yes, that's been established.

$, a month is mere potatoes

compared to what Fielding would get
if his wife went to the gas chamber.

I'm afraid that one escapes me.

Well, I think Fielding k*lled Gantry
and arranged for his wife to take the rap.

Why, that's ridiculous.

Yeah, hear me out--
Gantry needed money, a lot of it.

Fielding offered him a lump sum.

Now all Gantry had to do to get it
was go to the house,

take three blank sh*ts and play dead.

Fielding arrived on cue,
sent Leslie upstairs

and then he and Gantry
just walked out the front door.

That's a pretty fanciful theory.

How did Gantry die?

When Gantry asked for his money later,
Fielding paid him off-- two sh*ts,

real b*ll*ts in Leslie's g*n.

He then planted the check on Gantry
to tie Leslie in with him.

He then threw the body into the harbor

where he knew he would
be found sooner or later

and did the same
with the g*n near the playground.

Now look, Mannix,
you're not trying to tie me in with this.

I found out about the blackmail payments.

Glen told me to keep on paying them
until this last one.

Now that's all I had to do with it.

But you wouldn't want to see
an innocent person

convicted of a crime she didn't commit,
would you?

No. No, of course not.

But if any of this is true,
why haven't you gone to the police?

Well, I need a little more proof.
And you can help me.

How?

Are you meeting Fielding today?

Yes, at pump station at :.

Good. I'll be there.
For what? In my place?

Yes.
I don't know.

You see, Mr. Mannix,

Mr. Fielding has been
a very generous employer.

Of course.

But if there's been a miscarriage
of justice, Mr. Ogilvy,

you'd want to set it straight.

And besides, if Fielding is guilty,
the company will be looking around

for a bright young man
to take the president's place.

Mannix, what's this all about?

I want to talk to you
about how you k*lled Lloyd Gantry.

Well, let's talk.

You covered your tracks
pretty well, Fielding,

except for that third b*llet--

The one you fired into the air

after you remembered that there had to be
three empty shells in the g*n.

You should have put that third b*llet
into Gantry

before you threw him into the harbor.

How do you think you're going
to prove any of that?

Well, with a little digging,
I might even be able to find out

where you bought the blanks
for Leslie's p*stol.

If you're reaching for a g*n, forget it!

Hold it, Mannix!

Get rid of the g*n.

Get down on your knees.

Hands flat on the ground.

Get his g*n, Fielding.

Ah!

Hold it.

Drop your g*n.

Come on down.

Adam?
Joe.

You didn't have to lay back quite so far.
Mm-hmm.

You know, one of these days,

you're going to be
just a couple of seconds too late.

Well, I'll just have to keep trying, Joe.

I can't do it, Joe.
Leslie.

Don't turn away from that.

There's no place left to run.

She's beautiful, isn't she?

Why don't you tell her?

Girls like to hear that
from their mothers.

Linda, it's your mother.