08x17 - A Ransom for Yesterday

[bunniefuu]

♪♪

Oh!

Did you enjoy your ride?

Oh, it was sensational.

Good.

Give him a good breakfast;
he's earned it.

I certainly will, Mrs. Graham.

I'll give him a stack of hay

that would make
Euell Gibbons's mouth water.

Oh, Mrs. Graham,

almost forgot.

Something for you.

What is it?

A letter for you.

Someone dropped it by
while you were out riding.

I wonder why they didn't
deliver it to the house?

Well, perhaps they know
that you're here

more often than anywhere.

Who was it?

Just a lad.

Never saw him before.

Oh, thank you.

I hope it's good news.

So do I.

♪♪

♪♪

Mr. Mannix?
Yes.

I'm Janice Graham.
How do you do?

My secretary told me
you wanted to see me.

She said it was urgent.

Do you... do you mind
if we-we talk over here?

I prefer we weren't overheard.

I might as well tell you,
Mr. Mannix.

I had you checked out
thoroughly.

Well, that makes sense.

I liked what I heard.

Among other things, I was told
you never betray a confidence.

Is that true?

I haven't had
too many complaints.

Does my name
mean anything to you?

Yes, it does.

What?

Well, about six years ago,

your son was kidnapped

while he was playing in a park.

You received a ransom note,

you agreed to the demands,

but something went wrong
at the drop.

The kidnapper escaped,

and there was no trace
of your son.

No trace of Peter has
ever been found, Mr. Mannix.

I just always assumed
that he was dead

until this morning.

And now-now I don't know
what to believe.

What happened this morning?

Another ransom note.

Do you think it's genuine?

I can't say yet.

This was the ransom note
that came six years ago.

Well, except for the different
amounts of money,

I'd say they came
from the same person.

Do you think it's possible
that Peter is still alive?

I'll have to check, Mrs. Graham,

but I'd say it is possible, yes.

Oh.

Six years,
it's like an eternity.

I mean, people change,
lives change,

nothing stays the same,
not even hope.

What about your husband?

Oh, I don't know.

Howard... Howard and |
only stayed together

a couple of years after...
after Peter was kidnapped.

Things got very bad between us.

We started to blame each other
for all the things

we didn't do
when Peter was still with us.

You're separated?

Yes.

Howard has his bank functions,
his racing cars,

spends most of his time
in Paris.

Don't you think
he should be told?

No. Oh, no, absolutely not.

It was his panic

that scared away
the kidnapper the first time.

He must not know, Mr. Mannix.

And you're going to try
and raise the ransom money?

Yes, I'll-I'll start
to try to collect it today.

Suppose this turns out
to be someone's idea of a joke?

Well, that's why I hired you.

Before I get my hopes up,

I want to find out
once and for all

if my son is dead or alive.

Well, I'd like to take
these along with me.

Oh, if anybody calls,

let me know right away, huh?

You know, Peter...

Peter was two years old
when he was taken away from me.

Do you think children

still remember their parents
after all these years?

You loved him?

Oh, yes.

He'll remember.

Oh, hi, Peg.

Hi.

Well, what did you get?

A stiff neck
and more information

on the Graham kidnapping
than I thought existed.

Now, let's start
with the night of the drop.

Now, what went wrong?

Well, a few stories say

that the kidnapper chickened
and never showed up,

but most of the stories
blame Mr. Graham.

He panicked
and revealed the fact

that the police
were in the area.

So, nobody really got a look
at the kidnapper?

Ah, with one exception,

a reporter by the name
of Steve Dorsett.

Steve Dor...

Yeah, I remember him.

He used to write
for one of the scandal sheets

you pick up
at a market checkout stand.

Mm-hmm.

His stories ran a few days,

and then he was fired.

He said that the kidnapper
contacted him

to set up another rendezvous
with the Grahams

after the first one failed.

What happened?
Nothing.

The kidnapper
never contacted him again.

So Dorsett was dismissed
as a fraud,

just someone trying
to cash in on the publicity.

Steve Dorsett.

Steve Dorsett?

Gone to lunch.

But if you're looking
for the latest in postcards,

the police confiscated them
about a week ago.

What do you want with Dorsett?

Well, I was told
that he was the only person

who saw the Peter Graham
kidnapper face-to-face.

Hey, that's going back
quite a ways, isn't it?

Yeah, maybe,
but that's what I was told.

Everybody knows
that story was a phony.

That's why Dorsett was canned.

That's why no other newspaper
would look at him.

The rumor is

that he started hitting
the bottle,

and in the end,
the booze k*lled him.

Well, this is some
burial ground,

Mr. Dorsett.

What do you want?

Well, I've got a client

that's interested
in the Peter Graham kidnapping.

Do you ever pay
for your chances?

How does $ sound?

It's a start.

Oh, uh,

do you mind?

No, no.

There you are.

You're on.

Well, he was young,

Caucasian, mid- s, I would say,

brown hair, six feet tall.

And?

Okay.

It was night.

He was waiting for me
outside my garage.

He knew about me because
of my stuff in the papers.

He told me

he couldn't get
at the ransom dough

because the police
were all over there.

So, he wanted me

to contact the Grahams again

and act as a go-between.

Look, can you think of
anything else about the man

that you didn't mention
to the police?

Well, there is one...

well, take this
for what it's worth.

I remember thinking that the kid
was just a punk,

you know, strictly small-time,
two-bit loser.

Gordon, I understand that.

But with all the collateral
I can provide,

why can't I get a loan without
my husband's co-signature?

I see.

No, please,
I don't want him to know.

Uh, I'm sorry, Gordon,

I really can't talk
about it now.

But thank you for your help.

Bye-bye.

Trouble?

Yes.

There seems to be a limit
on the funds I can withdraw

without my husband trotting out
his co-signature.

Does that mean you won't be able
to raise the money in time?

No. No, I'll manage somehow.

Still like to know
why it's taken him

six years to get back to you.

Extension?

Before you agree to a meeting,

tell him your attorney has
to be in on the negotiations.

My attorney?
I'll stand in for him.

Hello?

Mrs. Graham?

Yes.

Did you get the note
at the stable?

Yes.

So, how are you making out
in the money department?

Well, I've got part of it,

and I'll get the rest
tomorrow afternoon.

My attorney's working on it.

Well, I'll call you at : ,

and we'll do business then.

Now wait, how do I know
if my son is still alive?

Because I say he is.

That's not good enough.

After six years,
I must have proof.

You'll get it.

And my attorney must be with me

to make sure everything
is all right.

No way. It's just you alone.

Now, look,
I'm Mrs. Graham's attorney.

You're not keeping me
out of this.

If you want to collect
the money, I deliver it.

Otherwise, you're out of luck.

Okay, okay, but remember,

if anybody else shows up
except you two,

the deal is dead
and so is the kid.

♪♪

Hi, Janice.

Howard.

Oh, God, you terrified me.

Well, I'm sorry about that.

I, uh, I just thought
a phone call

would not open
the front door, so...

Howard, what are you doing here?

I ran into a business associate

over in Paris and he, uh,

he told me that he'd heard
you were in need of money,

a lot of money.

I thought I'd find out why.

I don't want to talk about it.

No, I think
we'd better talk about it.

I found out you've been tapping
every banker we've ever known.

Why?

It has nothing to do with you.

I have my reasons.

Well, I bet you do.

Doesn't happen
to include blackmail, does it?

And you haven't been indiscreet,
as they say, have you?

Oh, Howard, don't be ridiculous.

Now, don't you be ridiculous.

Now, you either tell me
what's going on here,

or I'll put the word out and you
won't be able to raise a dime.

I got another ransom note
from Peter's kidnapper.

He wants $ , .

What, are you out of your mind?

Peter's dead.

What if he's not?

What if he's not, Howard?

Are you serious?

You really believe
that it's possible

that he's still alive, huh?

I think there's a chance
he might be.

Howard, please let me try
to find out.

Please.

Al right.

You see, I don't...

I don't even know
why you were called in, Mannix.

Janice, you should have
let me handle it.

I'm here now,
and I'm taking over.

Personally, I don't think
that's too wise, Mr. Graham.

Well, I'll be the judge of that.

If anybody delivers that money,
it'll be me.

I just want to get close enough
to that man to...

k*ll him?

Maybe.

Howard, what about your son?

What about Peter?

I thought about that
all last night.

Peter's dead.

We don't know that for sure.

Janice, would you please,

for God's sake,
be realistic about it?

What kidnapper is going to keep
a victim around for six years?

Well, there could have been

other people involved.

What other people?

What does that mean,
other people?

Someone could have
taken care of him.

Look, just forget about that.

The kidnapper is all there is,

and this time he's in
for a surprise.

This time he's not going
to get away with it.

Howard, you are not

going to destroy my life again.

You still blame me
for what happened, huh?

If you hadn't...

set the trap for that kidnapper,

Peter might be
in this house today.

If you'd stayed with him
in the park that day,

instead of leaving him
with that nurse...

You know I have never
forgiven myself for that.

Oh, Howard, please.

Please, do it for me.

My way this time.

At least until we find out
if Peter's alive.

What do you want me to do?

Well, for now,

you can clear the way

so your wife can raise
the rest of the money.

We have to have it
back here at : .

It'll be here.

Good.

What was the big emergency
out at the Graham house?

Mr. Graham.

He came in from Paris
last night

and started making waves.

Don't tell me he doesn't care
about his son, Joe?

Oh, yeah, he cares,
but he's convinced

after six years
that his son is dead.

Can't blame him.

I mean, how do you hide a child
for that many years

without someone
becoming suspicious?

What did you say?

The kidnapper.

How do you hide a child
for that many years

without someone
becoming suspicious?

What if the child wasn't
with him?

What's that?

Recollections
of a certain Steve Dorsett.

...maybe
something you remembered...

And I remember
saying to myself,

"Ooh, this kid is into something
way over his head.”

What, uh,
what gave you that idea?

Well, he let slip something

about a stickup that he pulled
in a gas station

a couple of nights
before the kidnapping.

Said he needed it
for the rent money.

Did you hear that, Peggy?

Rent money.

So?

Well, suppose after
the ransom drop failed,

this guy still needed money.

So, he turned around
and pulled another stickup.

And got caught.

Yeah, caught and tried

and was sent to prison
for armed robbery.

Now that would account for
a couple of years of silence.

In the meanwhile,
where was the Graham boy?

Maybe somebody else
was taking care of him.

Joe, wouldn't they have
contacted the parents?

No, not if that certain someone

didn't know
the true identity of the kid.

Hmm.

Where do we go from here?

Peggy, I want you to check

all the recently parole convicts
in the county,

especially the ones that were
convicted of armed robbery

a couple days
after the Graham kidnapping.

Oh, Joe, that's a tall order.

Not if you stick
to a specific M.O.,

like knocking
over a gas station.

Maybe that was our guy's bag.

That's it.

$ , in s and s,

unless you want

to count it yourself, Mannix?

Mr. Graham,
it's about time you realized

we're all on the same side.

Yeah, only you two
are on the inside,

and I'm still on the outside.

Are you expecting anyone?

No.

This is the way
it was last time.

Okay, it's all yours.

Excuse me,

there's a package for you,
Mrs. Graham.

Thank you.
You're welcome.

Excuse me, who delivered that?

The mailman;
it was special delivery, sir.

Thank you.
You're welcome.

Oh, my God.

It's Peter's.

He wore it the day...

Howard, look.

Janice, it could still be
a trick.

But it's got his name on it.

Look, someone could have
saved it

or they could have found it.

That doesn't prove
Peter's alive.

He is alive.

I know he's alive.

Why won't you believe that?

Excuse me.

I'd like to hear what's on this.

Hello. My name's Peter.

I'm eight years old.

I live here with my Grandma Nora

and my cat, Kibby.

Kibby's my best friend,

and he sleeps in my bed.

Janice,

he was only two years old
at the time.

He could barely talk.

This could be any kid.

Howard, do you remember when...

we bought him a kitten,

and he couldn't pronounce
the word kitten,

so he called it Kibby?

No one else knows that.

Yes?

You get the tape?

Yes, we just heard it.

Well, now do you believe me?

We believe you.

Okay.

Now, this is how it goes.

As soon as I hang up,

you and your attorney
take the money

and drive to the planetarium.

Have you got that?

The planetarium?

Right.

Now, it's closed today.

So, you park right across
from the refreshment stand

in that big empty parking lot.

Just sit tight in the car

and wait
for new instructions, okay?

And remember,
just the two of you.

What-what about my...

What about Peter?

How long do we have to wait?

As long as it takes them
to decide we weren't followed.

Nothing's happening.

I've got a feeling
we're being watched.

What are you going to do?

Let them get a good look at me
and the money.

♪♪

I told you it'd work.

He's got the money.

Let me take a look.

Well, how do you like that?

I got them eating
right out of my hand.

Six long years.

Now I'm home free.

Too bad about you, friend.

What?

You've been taken.

What are you talking about?

I mean, he brought the money
just like I told him to.

It's in that black bag there.

That's not her attorney.

He's a private cop
named Joe Mannix,

and if he's here, it's a trap.

See, I knew...

I knew from the start
it was a rip-off.

Well, now you see, Mannix.

See, anybody can get pulled in,
even a professional.

Oh, it wasn't his fault.

Will you please, Janice.

Look, he should have told you
right away

this was a waste
of time and money.

Why don't you tell her now,
Mannix?

Why don't you tell her
there's no Santa Claus.

That miracles only happen
in movies.

Obviously, Mr. Graham,
something went wrong,

but I still think
your son's alive.

Hello.

Mrs. Graham,

you a real stupid woman.

And you just ruined everything.

What do you mean?

What did I do wrong?

Why don't you ask that fella
who was in the car with you?

Your detective friend, Mannix.

I told you not
to double-cross me.

But m-my husband
was out of town,

and I didn't want
to come there alone.

You're still lying.

No, I'm not, I swear to you.

Please, please,
give me another chance.

I will do anything you want,
I swear to it.

I promise.

I'll think about it.

While I'm thinking,

you be collecting
some more bread,

'cause this time
it's gonna cost you double.

That's half a million,
tomorrow noon.

I'll let you know where.

He recognized you.

He now wants
a half a million dollars.

I'm sorry.

That's beautiful, Mannix.

You ruin the setup,

you jeopardize my son's life,

and that's all you can say
is you're sorry?

Look, Graham, we can't change
what happened today.

The important thing is

that the kidnapper's
still willing to negotiate.

All right, so what do we do now?

Can you raise
the additional money?

I-I think so.

Yeah, yeah,
I can raise the money.

Okay.

Mrs. Graham,

again, I can't tell you

how sorry I am.

I'll do everything possible
to make it work.

Joe.

What's the matter, Joe?

I blew it.

The guy recognized me
and took off,

upped the ante
to a half million.

I'm sorry,

but you can't blame yourself.

So they say.

Who else is there?

Well, if it's any consolation
to you,

I got lucky
down at the Hall of Records.

I'll get some ice.

Forget it, forget it.

What did you find out?

Well, the names
of three convicts

paroled within the last month.

They were all jailed for robbery
approximately six years ago

within a couple of weeks
of the original kidnapping.

And, Joe,

all were gas stations.

Hey, beautiful. Who were they?

The first man, John Reno,

was released a month ago
and went to New York.

His father's sick.

The second man,

Monty Powell, was badly hurt
in a prison riot.

Released a few days
after John Reno

and has been
in a hospital ever since.

Which brings us to number three.

Raymond Bennett.

Five to ten years
for armed robbery.

Gas station on La Brea
near Washington.

Paroled the th.

Ten days ago.

Now residing at Foxx Street.

I checked.

It's a halfway house
for ex-convicts.

Hey, now we're
getting someplace.

Look, is there anything else
on this Bennett?

You know,
special buddies in prison,

visitors, that sort of thing?

Oh, he had one regular visitor,

his mother.

She's a widow,
but no available address.

Name?
Nora Bennett.

Grandma Nora.

Oh, hello, may I help you?

Yes, my name is Mannix.

I'm looking for Ray Bennett.

Oh, he's at the top
of the stairs,

first on the right.
Thank you.

Ray, a Mr. Mannix for you.

♪♪

Hold it.

Now!

All right now,
the punishment for kidnapping

in this state
is the death penalty, Ray,

and that's what's going
to happen to you

unless you tell me
where I can find Peter Graham.

I don't know any Peter Graham.

He's with your mother, Ray;
she's Grandma Nora.

Now, you're going
to take me to her

or we're going down from here
two different ways.

Hey, you wouldn't do that.
“Wouldn't I?

We're talking about the life
of an eight-year-old boy.

You'd be sniffing gas yourself.

Who's going to tell them, Ray?

There was only one witness, you,

and you know where you're going.

Okay.

Ray?

They... double-crossed me.

Well, you can pay them back.

Tell me where the boy is.

W-with my mother.

Told her he was my kid.

She's got a grandson.

No, I'm afraid there's
nothing here, Mr. Mannix.

His mother is the only person
Ray lists as a relative.

What about his friends here
at the halfway house?

Oh, he was a loner.

I don't think I ever saw him
speak to any of our people.

There's no one you can think of

that might be able to help me?

I don't think...

Except perhaps, Jeb Dallas.

Jeb Dallas?
Yes.

According to our files,
he and Ray shared a cell

in the penitentiary
for quite a while.

Then about six months ago,

Ray asked to be transferred
to another cell block.

I'm afraid Jeb is just about
as much of a loner as Ray.

Can you tell me where I can find
this Jeb Dallas?

Oh, yes, yes,
he works in a garage.

Jeb Dallas?

Yeah, I'm Jeb Dallas.

What do you want
to see me about?

Ray Bennett.

You a cop?

Private.

What about Ray Bennett?

He's dead.

So? It's no sweat off my brow.

I take it he wasn't
a close friend of yours.

Look, I've got nothing good
to say about him.

He was a creep.

Now, he's a dead creep,
so if you're finished...

Hey, Jeb, it's important.

Now, during the time you were
sharing a cell with Bennett,

did he ever mention
the Peter Graham kidnapping?

No, never.

You're sure?

Hey, look, long as we were
in the same cell together

we gave each other
the silent treatment.

That way we got along better,
you understand?

Why did Ray Bennett switch

to another cell block
about six months ago?

All of a sudden
he became too good for me.

He got himself moved
into a cell block for big sh*ts.

Guys with a lot of pull
on the outside.

I still can't figure it out.

Like overnight he's being
taken care of by Cappy Cordell.

Any relation to John Cordell?

His brother.

Thanks to Big John,

Cappy practically runs
the joint.

Cappy's still inside?

Ten to

for manslaughter.

It's an easy ride.

Big John sees to that.

Yeah, well, thanks.

You've been a great help.

It didn't help Ray a bit.

Eh, so what?

He was a creep.

♪♪

One move and you're dead.

I had a winning backgammon board
when I got the call

that you were visiting
my place of business.

Sorry I interrupted your game.

You mind telling me what
you're doing in my office?

I'm looking for the kidnapped
Graham boy.

Here?

That's not my line of business.

Kidnapping isn't my style.

Well, it wasn't six years ago.

Ray Bennett kidnapped
the Graham boy,

but he had to go to prison,

so he left him with his mother,
Mrs. Bennett.

He was hoping for a late payoff
when he got out of prison.

But someplace along the line,

he mentioned it
to your brother, Cappy,

who passed it along to you.

Mannix, you must dream
a lot of wild dreams.

Then you decided to cut yourself
in on the action.

Now Ray Bennett
was too much of a punk

to say no
to the great John Cordell.

So, when he got out,
you had him send

the second ransom note
to Mrs. Graham.

Only this time, you upped
the stakes from $ ,

to a quarter of a million
dollars.

Somehow it had a nicer ring.

You really believe all that,
don't you?

You were stupid, Mannix.

If I'm involved,
then you're involved.

Right to the end of your life.

Hello.

Mrs. Graham, I'm calling
for the man who has your son.

I've taken over for him.

Don't waste time
asking questions.

You have the extra money?

Yes. Yes, I have it here.

What about my son?

He's alive and being very well
taken care of.

Just a minute.

Tell her, Mannix.

Mrs. Graham?

This is Mannix.

What's happened?

There's no time to explain,

but I'm pretty sure your son,
Peter, is still alive.

I think...

Mrs. Graham, now there are
two lives at stake--

Your son's and Mannix's.

Well, just tell me what to do.

Go to Griffith Park where Wild
Oak runs into Fern Road.

There's a public phone there.

You go to it and wait
for further instructions.

And this time I think
you know enough to come alone.

Yes... yes...

Yes, I'll be there
at noon tomorrow.

Oh, and Mrs. Graham,

I'm sure I don't have
to remind you...

this is your last chance.

Wait a minute, Janice.

Wait,
just leave the money alone.

Howard, you heard him!

Yeah, it's a trick, Janice!

Mannix is in on it!

I'm calling the police.
No!

You've already ruined
six years of my life.

If you interfere now,

I am going to spend
the rest of it ruining yours.

I swear to it.

You really mean that, don't you?

On Peter's life.

Howard, I know how you feel,

but you have got to let me do it
my way this time.

It's the only way
to bring Peter back alive.

Al right.

Just bring our son back.

Mrs. Graham.

I haven't got time to explain.

Just give me the money,

get in your car
and drive back into town.

Not without my son.

You've got to trust me,
Mrs. Graham.

I promise you'll get him back.

Now go home and wait for me.

For us.

Now go home.

Go.

Okay, Mannix, you did good.

Now get back to the car.

The man who said it
was absolutely right:

All's well that ends well.

Aren't you forgetting about
the boy and Mrs. Bennett?

They're back at
the Westbrook Motel,

about five miles from here.

As soon as we're on the road,
Al's going to phone them.

Does Mrs. Bennett know
who Peter is?

She was told this morning.

She took it pretty well, too.

I think she always
had the feeling

that the kid
wasn't really Ray's.

As soon as she hears from us,

she's going to put him in a cab
and send him home.

What about me?

You?

Well, your home's right here.

Forever.

Meet us back at the office
when you're through.

All right, Mannix.

Keep moving, Mannix.

Bart sure wrapped
that one up fast.

It only takes one b*llet.

Good, quick job, Bart.

Bart, don't you ever put
your feet up on my desk

or sit in my chair!

Don't.

All right, Al, now turn around.

Hands on the wall, come on.

And don't try anything clever.

All right, Mr. Cordell,

you're about to make
another phone call.

Westbrook Motel.

The number's there by the phone.

You're going to ask for
Mrs. Nora Bennett,

and you're going to tell her
about your friend

who's coming to pick up Peter.

Forget it, Al.

I'd like to hear it, Cordell,
loud and clear.

Westbrook Motel.

I want to speak
to Mrs. Nora Bennett, please.

Hmm, that's, uh, .

I'll ring.

You won't forget about
your friend, will you?

Hello.

Mrs. Bennett,
this is Mr. Cordell.

Is Peter there with you?

Yes.

Good. I want you to keep him
there with you, Mrs. Bennett.

I'm sending someone over
to pick him up.

His name's Mannix.

He's a friend of mine.

A very good friend.

Well, if you ask me,
Mr. Cordell,

I think that's very nice.

I didn't like the idea of
putting a young lad like Peter

in a cab all by himself.

I'm glad you changed your mind.

Really very glad.

Yes, we're all very happy
about it.

Well, good-bye.

Good-bye.

All right, Mannix, I see you've
got everything under control.

Yeah.

Well, you didn't say
I couldn't use your phone.

Come on.

Peter, these are the people
I told you about--

Mr. and Mrs. Graham.

Hi.

Hi, Peter.

Hi.

They're the surprise
I promised you.

What kind of a surprise is that?

They're your, uh, mom and dad.

But I don't have a mom and dad.

Oh, yes, you do.

Sure, you do, it's just that...

we've just been apart from each
other for a long time.

But you'll see, everything
is going to be very different.

I promise you.

Do you know how to ride a horse?

Uh-huh.

Would you like me to show you?

Sure, that'd be real neat.