05x15 - Nightshade

[bunniefuu]

♪♪

Art.

I wouldn't have called you, Joe,
but knowing how you felt about Charlie,

I thought you'd want to be here.

What've you got?

So far it looks like a hit and run.
More hit than run.

Deliberate?
No skid marks.

They didn't even try to miss.

Okay to move him, Lieutenant?
Did you mark?

Yes, sir.
Yeah, all right.

You got a make on the car?

A couple of paint specks,
that's about it.

I don't suppose you have any idea
what Charlie Frome was doing down here.

He must have been on a case.

This isn't exactly the neighborhood
for social calls.

What about Charlie's car?

It's over there.
The boy checked it out. It's clean.

A cassette recorder on the seat.

It's a dead end. The tape was blank.

So far we haven't got much to go on.

Maybe I can find something.

Hey, Charlie, is that--

Who are you?

Joe Mannix.

Oh. Oh, sure.

Charlie talks about you all the time.

I'm Ceil Porter. I live across the hall.

How do you do?

We have each other's keys
in case of an emergency.

Charlie borrowed
my cassette recorder.

I needed it back.
I figured I'd wait here for him.

I'm afraid the police
have your recorder.

The police?

Why?

Charlie had an accident.

An accident?

It's not serious. I mean--

He's-- he's dead.

Take it easy. Here, sit down.

You all right?

How-- how did it happen?

Hit and run.

Can I get you something?

How about some coffee?

I just made some for him.

I'll get it.

No, no, please let me.

You're still pretty shaky.

Please, I'd rather.

I feel better doing something.

There was nothing between us,
you know?

We're just friends.

He was like a big brother to me.

Watching when I came home at night,

in case some date decided
to play it too heavy.

He was even helping me
with my career.

What do you do?

Singer.

Charlie said he thought he could
get me an audition

with Danny Brite.

The Danny Brite?

Charlie was working for him.

Doing what?

He never said.

Boy, was I excited when Charlie told me

he was gonna talk to Danny Brite
about me.

Let's face it, one sh*t
on that Danny Brite Show and--

Listen to me, will you?

Charlie's dead and I'm talking
about my career.

When did Charlie start to work
for Danny Brite?

Three weeks ago, maybe four.

You're sure he never said
what he was doing for him?

Positive.

Why did Charlie borrow
your cassette recorder?

I don't know. He asked for it,
so I gave it to him.

By the way,
would you like some cream?

Yes, thank you.

Why are the police keeping
my cassette recorder?

Oh, it's just routine.
I'm sure you'll get it back.

Why would he put it in there?

Maybe Charlie thought
it was too hot to handle.

June rd, telephone interception.

Ella Holland's apartment.
Time, : p.m.

Ella, It's me.

Listen, I'm okay.

I'm all right.
Look, I don't have too much time to talk.

Stan, where are you?
They didn't tell me you were--

You should have gotten a letter by now

Just do as you're told.
We'll be together again soon.

Stan, what's this all about?
What--

I love you, honey

Stan, listen, please.

Stan?

What do you make of that?

Only that someone named Ella
was surprised

to hear from someone named Stan.

Only what is it? And whatever it is,

how does Danny Brite fit in?

You like that one, huh?

Thank you. I can't tell you--
I can't tell you what a thrill it was

entertaining our boys
stationed up in Alaska.

No, really. You've got to hand it to those
kids. Someone's gotta hand it to them.

At below zero, nobody takes
their hands out of their pockets.

I'll tell you how cold it is in Alaska.

The panhandlers have to
do their begging by mail order.

I'll tell you one thing--

I didn't know
Alaska had three time zones.

Alaska really has three time zones.

Really, they got Alaska time,
Yukon time

and "who cares, we got no place
to go anyway."

But I want to just say this.

The boys may not have anyplace to go,

but as long as Danny Brite's around,
I'll come to them.

Well, I guess that does it for tonight.
That's our show.

Bless our kids all over the country.

Bless you all,
and good night, everyone.

Thank you very much.

Good night, everyone.
Thank you, good night.

Thank you.
Thank you very very much.

Great show, Danny, great!

Good. Not great. Why didn't you tell me
there was a new guy on the cue cards?

I didn't know.
You don't know anything.

Get the lighter.
Come on, move it, move it.

I'll do it myself.

Where's the towel?
Gimme that towel.

Mr. Brite, my name is Mannix.

What's so funny about that?
I'd like to talk to you.

These boys are just back from Vietnam.
Why don't you talk to them?

Give a couple of heroes a break.

Where's the coffee, Sam,
the coffee?

Coming right up, Dan.
No, no, I'll--

Dad!

Mr. Brite.

My boy, my kid,
my own little throwback.

years later, still watching
the old man do his number.

He has to or go without dinner.

And I want to tell you something,

he missed lots of meals
in Vietnam.

He was one of the grunts
over there,

in the thick of the really tough
fighting in Phen Trang.

Come on, Dad,

What do you need, kid?
Need a few bills or something?

If I did, I'd ask.
That's what I don't want you to do.

I don't want you to have to ask.
Here, take it, go on, take it.

Take it.
Go. Go liberate a woman.

Go on, Joey.
Make it a pretty one.

Mr. Brite,
I'd still like to talk to you.

I'm busy, pal.
Do you mind if I ignore you later?

I think we should talk.

I only play to live audiences.

Which eliminates Charlie Frome.

Listen, Mannix, don't think I don't feel
bad about what happened to Charlie.

Funny men bleed, too, you know?

Wish there was something I could do.

Sam, you gonna let the man stand there?
Ask the man to sit down.

Sure, won't you sit down,
Mr. Mannix?

See if the man wants a drink.
Would you like a drink, Mr. Mannix?

Dad, I'll do that.

If I want your help,
I'll ask you for it.

What'll you have?
Nothing, thank you.

There is something
you can do for me, Danny.

Yeah.

Tell me what
Charlie Frome was working on.

Now that's confidential. You know that.

Now if you could use some money,
funeral expenses.

All I want is information.

Look, you heard what the man said.
It's confidential.

Sam, stop sh**ting off your mouth.

The man wants some information.

Okay, that confidential it's not.

Charlie was trying to track down
an old hoofer I used to know.

Who'd think he'd meet
with an accident?

It wasn't an accident.
They said it was hit and run.

Whoever was driving that car meant
to hit Charlie.

Now hold it, Mannix,
just hold it.

You trying to tie me into something?

All I'm trying to say is that Charlie Frome
was k*lled purposely

and yours seems to be the only case
he was working on. It's as simple as that.

I told you!
You don't listen, do you'?

Charlie was trying to track down
an old broken down hoofer I used to know.

Why would anybody want
to k*ll him for that?

Well, when you're looking for people,
things happen.

Oh.

By the way, who is that hoofer?

A guy by the name
of Harry Henderson.

Well, look Mr. Mannix, you know,
if the papers get a hold of a story like this

and with Danny's name--
Sam's right.

Why don't you just let it cool off,
huh?

I mean, there's nothing
we can do for Charlie now.

Unless a couple of hundred.

Now that's funny, Danny.
That's really funny.

You ought to keep it in the act.

I'm sorry, Danny.

Forget it.

Mannix.
Yeah, Peggy, what've you got?

No listing for an Ella Holland,
but I did find one for Stan Holland.

North Hollywood Drive.

Maybe she's there.

Mrs. Holland?
Yes.

My name is Joe Mannix.
I'm a private investigator.

I wonder if we could talk.

About what, Mr. Mannix?

Danny Brite.
I don't know him.

The Danny Brite.
I still don't know him.

How about Charlie Frome?

I don't know him, either.
If you'll excuse me--

How about Stan?

Please come in.

What about Stan?

I'd like to talk to him as well.

I'm afraid that's impossible,
Mr. Mannix.

Why?

Stan is dead.

He was k*lled in Vietnam.

This came from the Defense Department
five months ago.

This says your husband
is missing in action.

There's a chance he's still alive.

He's dead, Mr. Mannix.

There's nothing to talk about.

Now you know as much
as I do, Art.

The tapes,
Danny Brite and Ella Holland.

Somehow they're all tied in
to Charlie Frome's death.

And this r*fle almost tied into yours.

Any prints on it?
No.

Malcolm. Yeah.

Anything else?

All right. Thanks.

Well, this r*fle was issued
to Corporal Stanley P. Holland.

Reported missing in action
five months ago in Vietnam.

He's not missing any longer.

All right, supposing he is here. How'd he
get here without the Army knowing about it?

He could have switched IDs
with someone.

Could have.
But why go to all that trouble?

Unless it's a cover for something
Holland intends to do?

Considering that Charlie Frome is dead
and you've been sh*t at,

he's already doing it.

Oh, but even so,
it's a pretty shaky theory

with several large holes in it.

Well, the thing to do is plug them.

Be careful, Joe,
or you'll get plugged first!

Mr. Mannix.

I'm glad you could make it,
Mrs. Holland. Please sit down.

Thank you, Paul.

You did say it was important.
Yes.

Do you wish to order now?
Mrs. Holland.

Martini, please.
I'll have another one of these, thanks.

What was so important, Mr. Mannix?

It's about your husband, Mrs. Holland.

I thought we'd cleared that up.
No, not quite.

You told me he was dead.

Missing in action.
It's the same thing.

A call for you, Mrs. Holland.

There must be some mistake.

Are you sure, Paul?
The party asked for Mrs. Holland.

Hello.

Ella, it's me.

How did you know where--
Listen, I'm okay. I'm all right.

I can't talk now.
Look, I don't have too much time to talk.

Excuse me.
All right, Peggy, that's fine.

Thank you.

Now about your husband Stan.

I don't understand.

Thank you.

I don't understand.

That was Stan's voice
you just recognized.

But what you heard, Mrs. Holland,
was one side of a conversation

you had with Stan about
three weeks ago,

a conversation that Charlie Frome
recorded on tape.

That may be the reason
Stan k*lled him.

No, that isn't true!

And he also took a sh*t at me

when I left your apartment
this afternoon.

Now the police have the w*apon,
an M r*fle,

Stan's r*fle when he was in Vietnam.

Now I think maybe you'd better start
telling me what this is all about.

I don't know. I don't know!

Stan said something about
our receiving instructions, a letter.

Did you get it?
Yes.

What did it tell you to do?

Go to a place on Monogram Drive

and wait.

A car would drop off an attache case.

I was to take it somewhere
and leave it.

Where?

An abandoned warehouse.

Where Charlie Frome was k*lled.

I didn't know.
I swear.

I saw the man.

He was in the middle of the street.

He was already dead.

I didn't know who it was.

It it looked like an accident.

I was afraid to call the police.

I couldn't explain what
I was doing there myself.

So you ran?

Did you see anyone else?

No. No one.

Stan had nothing to do with this.
I know he didn't.

He could never deliberately
hurt anyone.

Never!
He hated v*olence of any kind.

People sometimes change in a w*r.

Not Stan.

He couldn't.

Any idea where he is?

You must believe me.

One more question.

That attache case,
did you see what was in it?

No.

I just left it there and ran.

Mrs. Holland, right now your husband
is suspected

of murdering Charlie Frome
and making an attempt on my life.

Now if he does try to get
in touch with you,

I'd suggest that you tell
him to give himself up.

Now if he's innocent,
he'll get a chance to prove it.

All right, Mr. Mannix.
If I hear from Stan, I'll let you know.

I'm going to Danny's place, Sam.
I'll meet you there.

I just can't make it, that's all.

I can't hack it. It's too heavy.

You just can't seem
to make it anywhere, Joey.

You got your head on upside down
and you keep tripping over it.

Greg, talk to him.
Knock some sense into him.

My father runs errands for you,
Danny, not me.

Your father and I have been together
a long time and--

We'll talk about it later.

Well here today,

here tomorrow.

What is it this time, Mannix?

You tell me, Danny.
Tell you what?

Why you had Sam tail me.
I'm sorry, Dan. I did the best I could.

I heard what you said a second ago.

Where do you come off talking
to Danny like that?

Ease up, Sam. Heroes,
they like to make noise.

Come on out, both of you.
Move.

Out. Out.

Look at them.

They fight a w*r. Still kids.

Okay, so Sam was keeping
an eye on you.

Anything illegal about that?

No, but I would like to know why.

Because I still think you're trying
to tie me in with Charlie Frome's death.

And I got a right to protect myself.

Maybe you don't need protection.
I don't know.

Maybe I'm trying to help.
When I need you, I'll rattle your cage.

You better start rattling, Danny.

That Harry Henderson story is about
as phony as a tap dancer's smile.

You didn't send Charlie Frome
out looking for Harry.

He's right where you left him.
You ought to know.

You paid for his funeral
three years ago.

Okay, but it's still none
of your business.

Maybe he can help.
Shut up, Sam.

Danny, they're trying to bleed you
to death.

You'll have to excuse Sam.
He has a very big problem.

He opens things by mistake.
Mainly his mouth.

So that's it, huh, Danny?
Someone's blackmailing you.

Blackmail?
Who said anything about blackmail?

Did you hear anybody say
anything about blackmail?

It's just like Sam said,
the guy will bleed you forever, Danny,

unless you get smart.

Come on, Mannix even a train comes
to a stop.

Now you listen to me.

You want to keep your license,
keep your nose out of my business.

See them?

I've got important friends.

Friends who can make things happen.

I don't like to deprive a guy
of his living, but--

Charlie Frome was working for you,
Danny.

Somebody deprived Charlie
of his living.

I'll see you around,

as soon as I find out who.

I'm sorry, Danny.

Yeah, sure, Sam.

How's the ringing in the ears?

I can almost hear you.

You said the grenade was thrown from a car.
Did you get a good look at the car?

Not really. Red sports car.

That's all?

I was a little busy getting out
of the way, Art.

This guy apparently has quite an arsenal.

I just wish I knew what the w*r
was all about

other than that Danny Brite
is being blackmailed.

Danny Brite said that?

Well, he didn't admit it,
but it's a fact.

The question is
what's he being blackmailed for?

Joe, a man like Danny Brite makes
a lot of enemies over the years.

He gets involved with a lot
of shadowy characters.

Yeah, Stan Holland is about
as shadowy as they come.

Mr. Mannix's office.
Yes, Miss Porter.

Is he there?
I want to speak to him right away.

Oh, here he comes now,
just a second.

It's Miss Porter and it sounds serious.
Yes, Ceil. What is it?

Mr. Mannix, I think there's somebody
in Charlie's apartment.

There's a light on under the door.

I was gonna call the police,
but then I thought I'd better call you.

Now look, you stay in your apartment.
I'll be right over.

Okay.

Call Malcolm. Tell him I want
Charlie Frome's building surrounded.

No noise, a prowler.
Just tell him Code Two.

This may be our dead man
Stan Holland.

He's still there. I heard him.
He must be turning the place upside down.

Is there a back door to the apartment?
No.

But there's a door at the end of
the hallway. It leads to the carport.

Stay in your apartment.
Okay.

All right, whoever you are in there,
come on out with your hands in sight now!

Did you see him?

No, but I've got an idea who he is.

I take it my Code Two
was a few seconds late.

Yeah,
it was Sam Westlake's car.

Are you sure?

But I don't think he's found
what he was after.

What makes you say that?

He would've been long gone
before I broke in.

He was searching right up
to the last minute.

Wow, what a mess.

Do you have any idea
what he was looking for?

No idea at all.

Sure didn't miss a bet, though.

Wait a minute.

I think I know why he didn't find
what he was after.

Why?
Because it isn't here.

Makes sense.

Whatever it was,
Sam Westlake knew Charlie had it.

So?
Charlie could have hidden it anywhere.

Some other place entirely.

Safe deposit box or maybe he gave it
to someone to hold

Or both.

Would you mind making
that a little clearer?

Cell, have they given you back
that cassette recorder yet?

Mm-hmm.

Our property clerk gave it
to her this afternoon, but --

Would you mind getting it for me?
Sure thing.

Joe, I told you we checked that tape.

It was blank.

Why would Sam Westlake
want a blank tape?

I don't think it was the tape
he was after.

The recorder itself.
Yeah, I hope so. Thank you.

There's your safe deposit box, Art.

What do you make of it?

It looks like a fragging on the way
to happen right in the middle of combat.

A what?

It's when a superior is k*lled
by one of his own men.

It's usually done
with a fragmentation grenade.

Oh, that's ugly.

There's probably a lot more film
of the action than just this one sh*t.

A whole roll, maybe.

Which would be what the blackmailer
is using for leverage.

Yeah, and I've got a hunch
this is Stan Holland.

He looks dead.

You've heard his voice
so we know he survived somehow.

What about the other two,
particularly that one with the grenade?

Any hunches about them?

About one of them.

Combat photographers?

I want the man who took
that picture at Phen Trang.

But, Joe, there've been hundreds
of combat photographers

covering the fighting
in Vietnam.

Yeah, I know.

I'm sure there's some office in Washington
who's kept track of them

and can tell you exactly
when they were assigned to Phen Trang.

Now if you'll turn that picture over, you'll
see a tiny code number along the lower edge.

That ought to help a little.

Of course, you need
this information immediately.

I can't wait that long.

Pop, it's my life.

I'll handle it my way.

You're out of touch with reality.
Joey, you don't know what's good for you.

I know what I feel.
And I know what isn't good for me.

You don't know anything.

And until I'm convinced that you do,
you'll listen to me. You got that?

Oh, Pop.
Joey, do you understand me?

Do you?
Yes.

Now go upstairs.

I don't want you talking to anyone.

Mr. Mannix is here.

What'd you do, Mannix?
Pick the lock on your cage?

You don't give up, do you?
Not without a fight.

Sam didn't find that. I did.

Rough.

Things happen in a w*r.

Where's Joey?

What makes you think Joey's got
something to do with that?

Oh, come on, Danny,
this is part of the blackmail, isn't it?

Mannix, somebody tried
to nail you last night.

You don't catch on too quickly,
do you?

Now look, the man on the ground
is Stan Holland, but he's alive

and he's blackmailing you.

You gave this picture to Charlie Frome
and asked him to find Holland for you.

I don't know him,
never even heard of him.

Danny!

The man in the back,

that's Joey, isn't it?

Do you think my kid would have something
to do with a thing like that?

You do.
What are you saying?

Otherwise you wouldn't be
paying off Holland.

I'm waiting for the answer.

Danny!

That is Joey throwing
the hand grenade, isn't it?

Look, Mannix,

if you're trying to frame my kid,
don't. That's a warning.

Now, Danny, come on,
use your head.

Holland's not in this alone.
There was somebody else there.

Somebody who took this picture.

Behind every camera,
there's a cameraman.

Why don't you go down to the local
press club? Maybe he's hanging around.

He'd be the one in the trench coat.

Sure, Danny.

I'll do that.

Oh, it's you again.

We just keep running into one another,
don't we, Sam?

Of course, that meeting the other night
was a little on the rough side,

but then I don't mind.

You see, that cr*ck on the skull
knocked a little sense into me.

Sounds more like somebody
knocked out whatever brains you had.

I've got the whole
picture now, Sam.

You made a blackmail payment
the night Charlie Frome was k*lled.

It's Joey that Stan Holland is really after,
isn't it?

You would have made
a great poker player, Sam.

Mannix,.

Joey is his only kid.
Now what would you do?

I don't know.
I really don't know, Sam.

But I do know that Charlie Frome
is dead.

I was just trying to call you.

Any luck?
Good and bad.

It was in an action at Phen Trang
that Stan Holland turned up missing.

The combat photographer who covered
that action is here in I A.

His name is Frank Ferris.

So what's bad?

He's in the hospital, Joe.
Hit and run.

You looking for me, Joe?

No, Art, there's a hit and run
victim here-- Frank Ferris.

You're about five minutes late.
He d*ed?

While I was talking to him.

Was he someone you knew?

No, but he might have been able
to put some light on that photograph.

I think he took it.

He was talking about Vietnam
when he checked out.

He said the driver of the car that hit him
was someone he knew over there.

Stan Holland?
Could be. He never got the name out.

You have a visitor.

What are you doing here?
I need help

I'd say you do.
Not for me. For Danny.

Maybe he isn't the greatest old man
in the world.

Hanging this on him is too heavy.

The blackmail?

Yeah.

Stan wants another payoff tonight.

I've begged Danny
to stop protecting me,

but he won't do it.

Mr. Mannix, I've gotta pay
my dues for what I did.

I've got to.

It's ripping me up inside.

What did you do?

I flipped out.

This sergeant we had,
real gung ho type.

He kept moving the squad up,

guys kept getting k*lled left and right.

I kept begging him to turn back.

We didn't have a chance.

Then there was only the sergeant,
Stan and me left.

Then Stan got it.

I thought sure he was dead.

So you threw the hand grenade
and ran.

I told you.

I flipped out.

I haven't slept for months.
Not one whole night through.

I keep seeing it happen
over and over again.

Tell me, how did Stan Holland
get a hold of that film?

I don't know.

What really tears me is

why would he use it against me?

We we fought side by side.

Why would he turn on me?
What made him do this?

Maybe you'll get a chance to ask him.
Where's the payoff taking place?

Down near the Marina.
Scott's Lumber Yard.

Mr. Mannix, my father's got a g*n.

He's gonna k*ll him.

It's locked.
There's a gate open here.

No, Pop, no!

It's no good.
I can't let you got in any deeper.

Stop protecting me!

I told you, I'm turning myself in.

They'll put you in prison, Joey.

You're not ready for that.

You're not tough enough.
Pop, please.

I'll find a way.
Just let me do what I think is right.

Danny, this is not your bag.

Give Mannix a chance.

Stay here!

Oh, no!

No! Greg!

Joey, I didn't mean to hurt you.

You gotta to believe me.

Get an ambulance.
Use the phone in my car. Go on.

Greg, Greg, how'd you get hold
of that film?

I sh*t it.

Guy offered me a couple of hundred
to fill in for him

up at Phen Trang.

Frank Ferris the combat photographer?

Yeah.

I was way back

using a long lens.

I sh*t the fragging
before I even knew it was happening.

Then then the guy who did it

ran by me.
I saw it was Joey.

He didn't see me.
He didn't even know I was there.

So you decided to use the film
to bleed Danny.

I wanted to get even with him for what
he'd done to my father all these years.

What about Stan Holland?
Where's he?

He's in a shack by the river
in Phen Trang.

Friend of mine has him.

He thinks he's surrounded
by V.C.

He's blind.

In other words,
you taped his voice over there

and then you edited the phone calls
to convince everybody

that Holland was the blackmailer.

That's right.

When Charlie Frome
started poking around,

you decided to play it safe
and you got rid of him and Ferris.

I was afraid you'd find him.

All you had to do was go back
and get rid of Holland

and let a dead man take the blame.

I didn't want to end up like my father.

Running for coffee

and doughnuts.

The ambulance is on its way.

I'm afraid it won't do any good now.

Somebody better notify Sam.

I'll do it.

I'll go with you, all the way.