06x04 - Broken Mirror

[bunniefuu]

By

Oh, Gina, that's perfect.

Hold it.

Don't move.

You are an incredibly
lovely woman, Gina.

Wally, I'm your wife.

That's the way
I intend to keep it.

We promised
not to talk about that.

This is going
to be our new beginning.

I'm sorry, darling.

Say, how about one
of my famous San Ramos fizzes?

Ah, fantastic!

Darling?

Would you like
to go for a swim later?

Gina, how about a swim later?

Gina?

Gina!

Gina!

By

I'm Joe Mannix.

Come in, Mr. Mannix.

I'm Ed Lucas, Chief of Security
for Hunter Industries.

Mr. Hunter is expecting you.

Mr. Mannix.

I'm Richard Averill,
Mr. Hunter's attorney.

He's pretty badly
shaken up by this.

He was very much
in love with his wife.

Wallace?

Mr. Mannix is here.

Thank you for
coming so promptly.

What can I do for you,
Mr. Hunter?

Did you read about my wife?
Yes.

I want you to find out
what happened to her.

What do the police think?

Yes, well...

...they have two theories.

Either... either she
fell off the boat accidentally,

or I pushed her off.

The second theory was unspoken,

but it was quite obviously
in their minds.

It happens, apparently.

What do you think
happened to her?

I'm totally confused.

We were off the coast
of Mexico-- Baja.

One minute we were laughing
and enjoying ourselves.

The next...

Was the water rough?

Smooth as glass.

Any sudden change in course?

We were on a*t*matic pilot.

Well, is it possible that she
could have leaned over the rail

for some reason
and fell overboard?

No, she was an expert swimmer.

Besides, she would've called me.

Mr. Hunter, uh...

I have to ask you this.

Could she have gone
into the water deliberately?

Does this look like
the picture of a woman

in a suicidal depression?

One of the newspaper
stories said that, uh,

you and Mrs. Hunter were rumored
to be on the verge of divorce.

I can assure you
that's absolute nonsense.

It's all right, Richard.

We did have
one short separation.

When was that?

It was a few weeks ago.

This cruise was supposed to be
a sort of a... second honeymoon.

Hello?

If it wasn't su1c1de,
and, uh, you're convinced

she didn't fall
overboard accidentally...

what other explanation
could there be?

Mr. Hunter.

It's about your wife.

Yes?

They found her.

Gina.

I'm all right, Wallace.

The Lord was good to her.

And to you, senor.

Mrs. Hunter, uh,
how did it happen?

This is Mr. Mannix, darling.

He's gonna try to find out
what this is all about.

Well, I...
was just sitting there,

and suddenly,
there were two men.

You saw them?

No.

I heard something.

Before I could turn around,

one of them put
a hand over my mouth.

They... put a m-mask on me,

an... an aqualung t*nk.

And they took you
away underwater?

Yes.

“Where to?
A small fishing boat in a cove.

Would you recognize them?

I think so.

They, uh...

they tied me up
and locked me in a cabin.

How did you get away,
Mrs. Hunter?

I managed to loosen the ropes,

and... climbed
out of the porthole

and swam ashore.

Senora, you must rest.

We can tell them
what happened after that.

In the morning,
Juan saw her running.

She fell down,

as if she had been running
all night and all morning.

How far away from the ocean?
Eight kilometers.

I carried her here.

Then I... I went to Villa Nova
to tell Father Francisco.

Who called the police?

I did. Lieutenant Lopez
came at once from San Ignacio.

He found no trace
of the men or their boat.

He went back to town.

She's sleeping.

Gracias.
De nada.

The doctor says we can take her
home as soon as she wakes up.

I think I'll stay down here
awhile, Mr. Hunter,

and have a look around.

You think it'll do any good?
Huh. Those two guys

are long gone by now.

Somebody may have seen them;
I could pick up a lead.

It's worth a try.

He says the people here
in Villa Nova are good people.

If they knew anything,
they would have come to me.

Did you tell them
about the reward?

Yes.

No one here
has seen any strangers

or the fishing boat.

Father, is there a place
I can rent a car?

Where do you wish to go, senor?

To look for that cove.
Oh. I will drive you myself.

Padre.

I must speak to you.

It's about Maria.
Again?!

Oh, this may take some time.

Uh, please, senor, take my car.

Return it to me at the church
when you have finished.

Thank you, Father.

Senor, this reward, how much?

Depends on how much
you have to tell me.

The two men you are looking for,
I know where they are.

You just hit the jackpot.

, American dollars?

Why didn't you speak up inside?

When men talk
of thousands of dollars,

it is better they talk alone.

Where are these two men?

We have a deal, senor?

If I catch up to them.

They are still in the cove.

They must have moved their boat
when the police were here.

Now they are back.

Do you know who
these two men are?

I've never seen them
before around here.

That's why I noticed.

Where's the cove?

Two kilometers south
of the lighthouse.

By

By

by

How do you like your
coffee, Mr. Mannix?

Black.

Thank you.

Those two men knew
I was the only one

who could possibly
identify them.

Why would they take a chance of
being caught for murdering you?

Well, I don't think ransom

was the real reason
for the kidnapping.

And they didn't want me
digging around.

If it isn't ransom,
what is it they want?

If they had insisted
that your husband deliver

the payoff himself,
would he have done it?

Yes, I'm sure he would have.

What's that got to do with it?

Let's suppose
that it was a trick,

to lure him to an isolated spot
to k*ll him and then you.

But why?

Well, your husband
is very rich, isn't he?

A will, you mean?

Mm.

No, no answer there, I'm afraid.

I'm Wallace's sole beneficiary.

Except for a few small bequests
to friends

and some of his relatives.

What about your relatives?

My family goes back to a basket
on the doorstep of an orphanage.

I was adopted
by a Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich.

My adoptive parents were k*lled
six years ago in a car accident.

Mrs. Hunter, uh...
your husband told me

that you were separated
for a while,

that this cruise was sort of
a second honeymoon.

There's no other man
in my life, Mr. Mannix,

if that's what
you're trying to find out.

What I'm trying to find out,
Mrs. Hunter,

is some motive for
what's been going on.

And now you're wondering if
the poor little orphan girl

who married the millionaire
has a lover...

who wants the girl
and the money.

Well, that's what
I'm getting paid for,

to, uh, wonder about things.

I'm sorry.

You're quite right.

Here, I want to show
you something.

To explain why we separated,

I'd have to go back
to the beginning--

Cinderella's invitation
to the ball.

My first and only paycheck
from Hunter Industries.

One of those
temporary help agencies

sent me to Wallace's office
on a two-day job.

This was the first money
I'd earned in months.

A week later,
I was Mrs. Wallace Hunter,

and I was a total bust
as a high-life hostess.

All the men were kind enough,
in a leering sort of way,

but the wives...

Gina Aldrich,
Little Miss Nobody

who'd trapped one of their set
with a wink and a wiggle.

They didn't even try to disguise

how they felt
in front of Wallace.

But he was too wrapped up
in his business to even notice.

I was so unsure of myself,

and so scared
of letting Wallace down

that I started to drown
myself in drink,

and that's why we separated.

That's not true.

Mannix, I'm paying you
to find some kidnappers,

hot run a confessional.
It's all right, Wallace.

Mr. Mannix has to know what kind
of people he's dealing with.

Then give him the real facts.

It was my fault.

I was very much in love
with Gina when we married,

but I simply did
not realize the strain

of pitching her
into my kind of world

without giving her adequate
support and backing.

I blamed her for drinking

without understanding
why she did.

It was only after she left

that I understood
how much I needed her.

How unfair I'd been,

and how little we had seen
of each other.

Does that answer your question?

Yes, it does.

Darling, you know
what the doctor said.

You're still not yourself.

Don't you think you
ought to get some rest?

Oh, thank you, Mr. Mannix.

I haven't done anything yet.

You risked your life,
for one thing.

Lucas, see about the extra
guards for tonight.

Yes, sir.

Forgive me
for barking at you, Mannix.

This uncertainty has
gotten me down.

On the phone, you said
something was wrong.

Yes.

I have always kept
a g*n in the house.

Had it here,
under this letter tray.

Early this morning,
I discovered it was missing.

You mind if I take this with me,
to check on fingerprints?

By

by

Something wrong, Joe?

What happened?

I ran into a road block.
Men at work.

The only thing they were
working on was me.

Are you all right, Joe?
Yeah, I'm fine.

Did you run a check on that
legal eagle, Richard Averill?

Yeah, he's been Hunter's
attorney for six years.

Pillar of society,
distinguished career.

Only, the word is,
he has problems.

What kind?

Money, what else?

He took everything he owned,
and everything he could borrow

to invest in a big real estate

development project
that fizzled.

What about Lucas, the bodyguard?

Three years as a criminal
investigation officer

in the army-- rated superior.

How long has he been working
for Hunter?

Ten months.

Before that, he was two years
in industrial security.

His former employers
recommended him very highly.

Yeah.
Well, thanks, Peggy.

Oh, uh, I dropped something
off at the police lab

for a fingerprint check.

The report should be ready
early tomorrow.

Would you stay on Malcolm?

Right.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Who's calling, please?

Just a minute.

Richard Averill.

Yes, Mr. Averill?

I must see you.

I'll be right over.

No, not here.

I'm sure I'm being watched.

It'll have to be someplace safe.

Tonight.

We... we have a lumberyard
on Ashley Street.

I'll leave the gate unlocked.

I'll be there.

It could be a trap, Joe.

Yeah, I know.

Right now,
it's the only trap in town.

By

I'm up here, Mannix.

Stay where you are.

Why?

Are you sure
you weren't followed?

No one followed me.

If they find out I've talked
to you, they-they'll k*ll me.

Who are they?

If I tell you,
will you keep my name out of it

until they've been arrested?

I'll do what I can.

You've got to stop them, Mannix.

You get tied in with people like
that, you-you-you're trapped.

There's-There's no way out.

Except by telling the truth.

What is the truth?

It's about Gina.

All right, you can take him.

He was afraid
someone was following me.

They must have been
following him.

What's your guess, Joe?

Averill engineered
the kidnapping

to get a chunk
of the Hunter fortune?

It's one possibility.

The g*ons he hired wanted
to try again?

Averill folded, and they didn't
want anybody around

who could identify them.

Maybe we'll get the answer

from the fingerprints
on the letter tray.

Two beautiful sets.

Fingers on both hands.

Did you run it down?

Who is it?

Two people.
One of them Hunter.

And the other?

Margo Moore.

You got a file on her?

Yeah, she was booked six years
ago on an extortion charge.

Released when the victim decided
not to prefer charges.

Where do we find her?

You were talking to her
yesterday.

She's Mrs. Wallace Hunter.

Mr. Mannix.

Oh, come in, Mr. Mannix.

Oh, I tend to do this
under strain, I'm afraid.

Wallace wouldn't like it.

And what particular strain
are you under

right now, Mrs. Hunter?

That's an odd question

coming from the man
who saw Richard Averill sh*t.

How well did you know him?

Well enough
to be sorry he's dead.

Can you think of a reason why
anyone would want to k*ll him?

Well, I thought
because he found out something

about the men who kidnapped me.

He told me
he was working with them.

I don't believe that.

He also started to tell me
who else was involved.

He did mention one name...

before he was sh*t.

What name was that?

Yours.

And you immediately assumed
he was about to implicate me.

Not immediately.

I want my husband
to be in on this.

Might as well.

He's got to find about
Margo Moore sooner or later.

How did you find out?

Your fingerprints
on the letter tray.

You took your husband's g*n,
didn't you?

And you came running
to tell him.

I wanted to talk to you first.

How much?

Blackmail's your racket, Margo.

I want information.

If I've got it to give,
does that buy your silence?

That depends.
On what?

On whether you're involved
in this shakedown

or whatever it is.

I, uh... I don't guess
it would do any good

for me to tell you
that I love Wallace

and would never do anything
to hurt him.

Let's say my confidence has been
just a little bit shaken.

Is there anything I can do?

You can tell me the truth

about Margo Moore
and your kidnapping.

I can see by your look,
I'm dead before I start.

Try me anyhow.

I was when my, uh...

my adoptive parents were k*lled.

Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich?

Yeah.

They'd never been rich, but...

suddenly there wasn't
any money at all.

So, |, uh...

I dropped out of school
and got a job.

A job.

Waitress in a hash house.

Me and my big dreams.

And that's when everything
started to go wrong.

Why did you change your name?

Well, the, uh...

the Aldriches had been good
tome, and I...

I didn't want to drag their name
through the dirt.

Margo Moore kept them out of it.

Huh.

Let's talk
about the blackmail charge.

If you saw the record,

you know
that case was never prosecuted.

That doesn't mean
you were innocent.

He gave your name, address
and a very accurate description.

Yeah, he had a good memory...

for the wrong girl.

Look, you've been around.

He was one of those weepy drunks

who spills his life story
to every girl he meets.

I was the last, so when he gets
a threatening phone call,

he assumes it's me.

Was that unreasonable of him?

I see I flunked
your lie detector test.

Your husband hired me
to dig up the truth.

Now, your past
may be part of it.

I don't expect you
to believe it,

but since I met Wallace,

everything
about Margo Moore is...

like a nightmare
you vaguely remember having.

I'm not even thinking
about myself,

but it would destroy Wallace
to think that I'd lied to him.

It'd also destroy him
if he got a b*llet

in the back of the head.

I'll go this far with you,
Mrs. Hunter--

I won't tell your husband

until I'm sure you're involved.

What about the police?

There's no reason for them

to say anything about it
at this point.

As you said,
there were no charges.

You won't be sorry,
I can promise you that.

I sure hope so,
Mrs. Hunter, for your sake.

Because if I find out
you've been lying to me,

I'm going to nail you
to the wall.

Uh-huh. Got it.

Thanks a lot.

Here you are, Peggy.
Oh, thanks.

Oh, that was Art Malcolm's
office on the phone.

Something else
about Mrs. Hunter?

Mm-hmm.

Six months
after she was arrested here,

under the name of Margo Moore,

she was picked up
using the same name in Vegas.

Uh-huh. On what charge?

Extortion.

Don't tell me--
she was acquitted.

That's right.

Ron Hollis, the man accused
of being her accomplice,

was sent to prison.

He was paroled six weeks ago.

Did Art check him out?

His parole officer said

that Hollis was in Vegas
the night Averill was sh*t.

Uh-huh.

But maybe he knows somebody
who was here.

Yeah?

I'm Joe Mannix.

What else are you?

Private investigator.

I gave at the office.

A man was m*rder*d
in Los Angeles last night.

Richard Averill.

One more or less.

It fills up the papers.

Thought you might know something
about it.

I haven't been
in L.A. for years.

Some of your friends have.

Name a name.

Margo Moore.

Is she in on this?

I'm asking you.

Well, I hope she is.

And gets sent up for life.

She's the one put me
in this rolling coffin.

How'd she do that?

When the cops came
to pick us up, you know...

On the extortion rap?

Yeah. She saw them
through the window

and ducked out
without telling me.

When they knocked,
I ran out back to get my car.

She was driving it
out the garage.

Plowed right into me...

and kept on going.

Uh, did you
tell the police that?

They didn't believe me.

Her story was,

she wasn't anywhere near there
when it happened.

Oh. When was the last time
you saw her?

At the trial.

She gets off,

I get one to five in the pen,

and life in this chair.

Do you know anybody she might be
teamed up with now?

Billie Caprice, maybe.

Who's Billie Caprice?

She's a dame, works the angles
here in Vegas.

Margo roomed with her
for a while.

You all right?

Thanks.

You sure you're all right?

He came in just a minute
before you did.

All of a sudden,
he was just there.

Any idea who he was?

No, I never saw him before.

Did he say anything?

He-He just grabbed me
and started choking me.

Oh... I need a drink.

How about you?

No, thanks.

Why?

I ain't got more than a couple
of bucks in this place.

Well, my guess is
that he tried to total you

to keep you from telling me what
you know about Margo Moore.

What are you, fuzz?

Private investigator.
The name is Mannix.

What about Margo?

Well, she may be
involved in a m*rder.

Oh, oh, good old Margo.

Onward and upward.

When did she live with you?

About three years ago.

Sponged on me for
a couple of weeks

and then split with
a box of my jewelry.

Tell me everything you
remember about her.

All I know is what everyone
else in Vegas knows.

She's a crumb who'd Kn*fe
her best friend.

Who was her best friend
when you knew her?

She never had a friend.

What sewer is Margo
swimming in how?

Oh, she landed on her feet.

She married a fortune.

Figures.

Did Margo ever mention the name
of the orphanage she came from?

No, she just called it
San Quentin South.

Hmm.

I think that's why
our friend was here--

To stop you from talking,
in case you did know.

Any idea how far south?

All I know is it's
in California.

You're sure?
Yeah.

Well, thanks anyway, Billie.

Oh, I don't think he'll be back,

but, uh, if I were you,
I'd keep this place locked up,

and be sure and keep
this door bolted.

Oh, you can bet on it.

Oh! Hey!

Oh, hey, hey!

Margo once said something about

there being a statue
of St. Francis

on the lawn in front.

Keeping an eye on
all the kids, she said.

Does that help?

Sure narrows it down.

Thanks again, Billie.

Sure.

As you can see, Mr. Mannix,

we like to keep track
of our children.

Most of the parents write
to us from time to time.

Mrs. Aldrich was
particularly thoughtful.

You do understand, Mr. Mannix,
this is quite irregular.

I'm sure it must be
very important,

but, normally, our files
are closed to everyone.

Yes, I understand, Sister,
and I appreciate it,

but, uh... but a man
has been m*rder*d and...

I somehow had the feeling
that the answer

might have been here, somewhere.

Have you found what
you were looking for?

No.

No, the only picture I get

is of a child surrounded
by love and security,

devoted to her parents.

And does that surprise you?

The girl I was looking
for led two lives.

I just can't believe
that Gina Aldrich

could do the things
Margo Moore did.

Margo Moore?

Does that name mean something?

It's really very
important, Sister.

Identical twins.

Yes, Mr. Mannix.

But quite different.

Margo was a difficult child;
very difficult.

We found it impossible
to place her.

But the Aldriches took
Gina at months.

Yes.

As Margo grew up,

we didn't want her
to feel rejected,

so we never told her
she had a sister.

I think someone finally did.

This is all so confusing,
Mr. Mannix.

What does it mean?

It means there may already
have been two murders.

Mr. Hunter in?

He'll be back shortly, sir.

I'll wait.
This way, sir.

Oh, Mrs. Hunter,
I thought you were upstairs.

That's all right, Kim.

Come in, Mr. Mannix.

So you decided to tell
Wallace after all?

There's so much more
to report now.

Like what?

Ron Hollis, Billie Caprice.

You do go slumming in your
business, don't you?

Just following in your
footsteps, Margo.

I'm sorry to deprive you
of your little triumph,

but I told Wallace everything
about Margo Moore.

How'd he take it?

Ask him.

Then you won't have any trouble
explaining about your sister.

There were two of you
in that basket.

You're the one with
the pretty smile.

You have been busy.

So have you.

What else do you know?

I think someone spotted
you in Las Vegas--

Someone who knew Mrs. Hunter.

Realized you were her
identical twin,

and he came up with
a very fancy idea.

Coached you for months until

you could pass for Gina,
even with her husband.

Then he arranged for a switch.

How am I doing?

Okay, Mannix, you win.

But it was sure worth a try.

Half of all those millions.

After a messy divorce,
naturally.

Only this time,
it's not just fraud, Margo.

It's m*rder.

Oh, no.

I only agreed
after they promised

nothing would happen to Gina.

You mean she's still alive?

That's right.

In Baja.

Guess that's the one the sisters
taught me that stuck.

Would've been like
k*lling myself-- like su1c1de.

You don't really think
your partners intended

to keep their promise.

Gina alive would always
be a thr*at.

We made a deal.

Sure, to get you to play along

till they could get
their hands on the money.

But Averill's dead
and they got nothing to lose.

Now they're probably scared
because it's all coming apart.

If you want
to see your sister alive,

you'd better check.

Let me speak to Lucas.

What?

When did he leave?

Thanks, Father.

Lieutenant Lopez is
on his way from San Ignacio.

I told him where you were going.

Good.
Senor, it's a long drive.

The road is difficult,
and my car is old.

The helicopter would be easier.

We can't advertise
our arrival, Father.

They may still have a hostage.

May I have some water, please?

It's in the truck.

Just give me enough time
to get down there.

By

Okay.

It's you.

If I hadn't just left
her tied up inside,

I'd have swore she got away.

Where's Lucas?

Johnny's gone to pick him
up at the airport.

How's she doing?
Okay. Thirsty's all.

Hold it right there.

Get the car turned around.

Don't be frightened,
Mrs. Hunter.

I'm here to help you.

It's all right now.

I'm taking you home.

Hi, sis.

I'm Margo.

Been a long time
since the orphanage.

That's what this was all about,
Mrs. Hunter.

She took your place.

Look at us.

No difference at all,

except for all
that lovely money.

Let's go.

We've got to get out of here,
Mrs. Hunter.

Hold it right there!

Keep those hands in sight!
Out!

Turn around!

Vamanos.

Now, take it easy.

We'll get you a hospital;
you'll be all right.

Conning's my racket, remember?

If you knew about us,
why didn't you come to me?

Sure, and ask for a handout.

All my life, people have been
giving me handouts.

But we're part of each other.

We shared a basket
for a couple of hours.

Big deal.

Sorry, kid.

You're looking at the rotten
half of the family apple.