04x18 - The Crime That Wasn't

[bunniefuu]

Your parking stubs, sir.
Here.

Which one first?
The lady's. It's a yellow sedan.

Uh, green wagon.

What happened?

Nothing happened.

Can't you see? Nothing!

♪♪

Hey!

Ooh-- hee hey.

Sorry, ma'am! You all right?

I think so.

What about yourself?

Oh, I'm okay.

I'm looking for Mr. Mannix.

Do you know where his office is?

Well, I ought to. I'm his secretary.

What did you want to see him about?

I want to hire him.

, , , and $..
Hmm.

That's all I've got right now.

Well, why don't you just hang on
to that for the time being?

We'll decide on my fee later.

Do you mind if I ask you
a couple of questions?

No, sir.

What's your name?

Dennis Coverly. I live on Martin Place.

Dennis, how about a doughnut?

And we've got some milk in the refrigerator.

No, thanks.

Sit down, Dennis.

Now, then, what's your problem?

It's my mom and dad, Mr. Mannix.

They're in some kind of trouble.

Oh. Did they send you here?

No. There's been something wrong

ever since they went out
for their anniversary Saturday night.

And then last night, I heard them arguing.

It wasn't just an argument, it was a fight.

And my mom and dad, they don't fight,
Mr. Mannix-- not like that, they don't.

Mom was crying.

Well now, Dennis, you know,
things aren't always as bad as they sound.

I mean, people sometimes argue about
things that seem important at the time.

But then the next day,
they forget all about them.

This was important.

It was about going to the police
or not going.

They were real serious.

Dennis, tell me, uh, do you get along
well with your parents?

Sure.

We don't have a communication gap,
if that's what you mean.

Well, that's exactly what I meant.

Did you try asking them about this?

When you're my age,
you don't handle things that way.

Most kids your age don't go out and hire
themselves a private investigator, either.

If they wanted to tell me,
they would've by now.

They're scared, Mr. Mannix.
I can feel it.

Dennis, tell me,
how much trouble will you be in

if your parents know you came to see me?

I don't know, and I don't care.

What matters is if you are able
to help 'em or not.

Well, why don't we go and find out?

Dennis did? A private detective?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, I heard you talking about
going to the police,

and you were crying, Mom.

Dennis, why didn't you come to us?

You mean there's an explanation?

Why, I'm pretty sure there is.

We were watching television last night--

The late show.

I guess we had the volume up too high.

The heater vent to Dennis' room,
well, it's pretty close to his bed.

It was Humphrey Bogart
in something or other.

Yeah, he was a District Attorney

and was all about corruption
and citizen responsibility,

and a man and his wife were arguing
whether or not to go to the police.

Well, I guess that clears it up.

I'm sorry you were put to all this trouble,
Mr. Mannix.

No trouble at all.
Feel better, Dennis?

Yes, sir.

And it was a pleasure
almost doing business with you.

Thanks, Mr. Mannix.

Nice meeting you, Mrs. Coverly.

Thank you. Dennis, why don't you
show Mr. Mannix to the door?

Oh, I understand it was
your anniversary Saturday night.

Yes, our fifteenth.

We went to the Festival Center,
and then up to the restaurant for supper.

It was nothing elaborate.

Well, congratulations.

Thank you.

Well, Al Borden.
When did they let you out?

That's no business of yours, Mannix.
I served my time.

Who are you working for, Al?
Nobody.

Just looking through the want ads for a job.

Why here?

Why not here?

Look, it's tough enough for an ex-con
to try to find a job

without having private cops buggin' him.

So take a hike, Mannix, will you?

I still got a couple of columns
to go through yet.

Try looking under "locksmiths."

Hello.

How are you today, Mrs. Coverly?

What do you want?

No cause for alarm.

Please, please don't--

I said there was no cause for alarm,
Mrs. Coverly.

At least I don't think there is.

A lot depends on what you told Mr. Mannix.

What did you tell him?

Nothing. We didn't tell him anything.

Surely you must have
talked about something.

Dennis brought him.

He'd heard us arguing,
and he tried to hire Mr. Mannix

to find out what was wrong.

Go on.

We-- We told him that it was
the TV set that Dennis heard.

Did he believe you?

Yes. Yes, he did.

Good.

Did you tell him anything else?
Anything about Saturday night?

Only that we went to the Festival Center
and then on to a restaurant.

You're doing fine, Mrs. Coverly.

But I wouldn't be talking to Mr. Mannix
anymore if I were you.

You'll pass that on
to your husband, won't you?

Yes.

And look after that boy of yours.

I'd hate anything to happen to him.

Nice talking to you, Mrs. Coverly.

She was telling the truth.

Too scared to do anything else.

And I think Mannix bought
what they told him.

Yeah, but now he knows where they went.

I'd better get somebody down
to the restaurant, in case he checks.

You're a little late, Sherwin.

I've had the boys there
since Sunday morning.

Just tell them to keep
an eye peeled for Mannix.

And if something were to happen to him,
I wouldn't mind.

The last I heard about Al Borden,
he was serving one to five for burglary.

He's just a hood--
a common garden-variety hood.

Maybe he was just looking for the want ads.

Come on, Peggy, Borden hasn't done
an honest day's work in his life.

I think he was watching the Coverly house.

Joe, it could've been a coincidence.

Yeah. Well, the Coverlys were lying.
I smell it.

It's your nose.

You could've fooled me.
It checks out.

What checks out?

"Humphrey Bogart Festival Week--
Midnight to dawn."

The Coverlys were watching television
last night,

and that's what Dennis heard,
according to them.

Dialogue from an old Bogart picture.

Uh-uh.

Uh-uh what?

Bogie wasn't on last night.

What do you mean?
I mean he wasn't on last night.

I never miss one of his movies,

and last night something
happened to the film,

and the station substituted an old Western.

Yeah.

Borden outside the Coverly house
is beginning to make sense.

But, Joe,
why would the Coverlys lie to you?

I don't know.
I think I'd better find out.

Where do you begin?

Saturday night.

And you don't know
whether you hit one of them or not?

I'm not sure, but I know I came
close enough to scare them off.

And you didn't recognize them?

I told you, Adam, I never saw them before.

You also told me you don't know
why they're trying to k*ll you.

If I knew who they were,
I might have an idea.

What were you doing
down here, anyway, Joe?

I'm working on a case, okay?

Oh, and you don't think
there's any connection

between the sh**ting
and what you're working on?

I don't know. But something must have
happened around here Saturday night.

What makes you say that?

Why else would they
be watching the Center?

Say Adam, is there still anything open
on the reports for Saturday night?

No, not in this neighborhood, no.

Well, if anything turns up--
You'll, hear from me.

Yeah.
Joe, keep your head down.

They're real b*ll*ts.

Mr. Mannix?
Yes, that's right.

You are a private investigator?

I'd like to ask you a few questions
about Saturday night.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.

Terribly sorry, but we open in one hour,
and I'm busy--

If you'd rather talk to the police,
I can arrange it.

No. No, please.

Something happened
around here Saturday night.

I'd like to know what.

Nothing happened, at least not
in the restaurant, believe me.

Do you remember a couple named Coverly?

Coverly?

Let me see.

Yes, they dropped up here
for dinner after the theater.

They were celebrating an anniversary.

Oh, yes, yes, of course I remember.

I brought them a torte with a candle in it
and had the waiters sing congratulations.

Yes.
What time did they leave?

They were almost the last.

Who was the last?

There was one other couple.

The woman was Miss Henry--
Miss Dorothy Henry.

Who was the man?

I'd never seen him before.

Do you have a reservation card
for Saturday night?

Yes.
Mind if I see it?

Mr. Archer.

Is that Kevin Archer?

Yes.

He has a standing reservation for booth
number every Saturday night.

I hold it until his secretary calls.

Did he use it last Saturday?
No.

He canceled.

Do you have a parking attendant?

Yes. A boy named Jim Salvage.

What time does he come on duty?

.

Do you know where I might find him?

He has an apartment at Winfield Street.

And Miss Henry?

She could be in danger.

I believe she lives
in the Los Feliz district.

Who is it?

Miss Henry?

I'm Joe Mannix.
I'm a private investigator.

I'd like to talk to you.

At the end of the corridor, Mr. Mannix.

Come in, Mr. Mannix.

Sit down, please.

Thank you.

I was wondering how long it would be.

What?

You are here about Dorothy, aren't you?

Yes.

I'm her mother.

And you knew I'd be here?

You or someone like you, sooner or later.

It was decent of you to admit right off
that you're a detective.

But I believe you've wasted the trip.

You probably know more
about the whole affair than I do.

My daughter doesn't confide in me anymore.

Not since I spoke my mind
about George Bowman.

Then you've met him?

Oh, yes, in this very house.

He's no longer welcome here.
I may tell you that.

And Dorothy will find out soon enough
that I was right about him.

And now that his wife knows what he's up to,
do you think she'll divorce him?

Never. No.

She'll scare him to death and tell him
to stop seeing Dorothy.

And he'll do it because he doesn't
want to give up all that money.

Mrs. Henry, do you know if your daughter
was with Mr. Bowman Saturday night?

Hello, Mother. I'm home.

Perhaps you ought to ask her yourself.

Hello, dear.

Mother.

How did it go today?
Fine.

Oh, this is Mr. Mannix.
My daughter Dorothy.

How do you do?
He's a private investigator.

Mother, Mr. Mannix and |
had better talk alone.

We'll go outside.

Oh, no, that won't be necessary.
I was going to take my nap anyway.

What did you say to her?

Not much of anything,
except what I do for a living.

She immediately jumped to the conclusion
that I was hired by Mrs. Bowman.

And were you?

No.

Then why are you here?

Do you know a Mr. and Mrs. Coverly?

No. Should I?

They left the restaurant the same time
you did Saturday night.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine.

Do you mind telling me what you saw
on the way out of the restaurant?

Why, nothing.

You're sure?
Yes.

We just got our cars, and we left.

And nothing unusual happened

from the time you left the restaurant
until you drove away?

What do you mean by unusual?

A crime, maybe.

Miss Henry, if you withhold
knowledge of a crime,

they can charge you as an accessory.

You don't frighten me, Mr. Mannix.

Something's frightened you.

Mr. Mannix, my mother means a great deal
to me. Do you understand that?

I won't do anything or say anything
that might endanger her life.

Well, if you were a witness to something,
the police can protect you and your mother.

For how long? A few weeks?

A few months maybe?

I'm not stupid, Mr. Mannix.

Now will you please leave?

All right, Miss Henry.

But if you do change your mind,
you will call me?

Hello.

How's your mother feeling, Miss Henry?

I asked you a question, Miss Henry.

She's-- She's fine.

Good.

What did Mr. Mannix want?

He thinks I might have been
a witness to something.

But of course you weren't.

No.

You're a very intelligent young lady.

Take care of yourself, Miss Henry.

And of your mother.

Accidents can happen so easily
these days, you know?

Yes.

In fact, I heard Mr. Mannix is about to have
one not too far from your place.

Yeah?

Salvage, do you know it is after ?

Our customers don't like
to park their own cars.

Salvage?

This is Joe Mannix.

Salvage won't be there.

He's dead.

Well, I thought he might have stopped there
with Robbie on his way.

Well, if he does, will you send him home?

Thanks, Ruth.

Nora. Nothing's wrong.

Where is he?

He probably forgot about the time.

He's on his way.

His dinner is ready,
and he has never forgotten about--

Honey, this is silly.
He's only a few minutes late.

Twenty isn't a few.
He is twenty minutes late.

And I am calling the police.

Nora, if we call anybody,
it should be Mannix, shouldn't it?

Al right.

I'd like the number of Joe Mannix.

He's a private investigator.

No, no, I don't know the address.

Hi. What's for dinner?

Dennis, where have you been?

Had a flat and walked my bike home.

What's for dinner?

Meat loaf.

Meat loaf? Yecch!

Uh, don't bother, Operator.

Thank you.

Joe, you said you wanted to know

if something turned up that might have
happened Saturday night.

Yeah, what have you got?

Well, we picked up a floater
a while ago off the Venice pier--

A girl named Beverly North.

Medical examiner says she d*ed some time
between forty and forty-eight hours ago.

That would make it Saturday night.

Homicide?
No, su1c1de. She walked in the ocean.

Well, she could have been put in the water
after she was dead.

There was water in her lungs.

Well, now, a smart k*ller
would know how to do that, too.

It's possible that she could have been
k*lled someplace else--

And someplace else was the parking area
where Salvage worked, right?

If you say so, Adam.

Joe, the North girl's landlady said

she'd been nervous and depressed
the past couple of weeks.

Hit the bottle pretty hard, see?

Uh, I think she just thought
she was better off dead, that's all.

Things aren't always
what they look like, Adam.

Yeah, well, this one is.

We found her clothes, her shoes,
her purse right where she left them--

In a neat little pile
next to the water's edge.

That's typical su1c1de.

Come on now, that could have been
stage-managed, too.

Oh, Joe, people do k*ll themselves,
you know, sometimes on purpose.

Yeah, well, Jim Salvage didn't.

That was accidental overdose.

I don't believe that was an accident, Adam.

I believe that he was paid off
to keep his mouth shut,

used that money to buy the new bike I saw,

thought he could get more,
and it cost him his life.

Joe, he was a user.
Probably a pusher, too.

All right, he made a good score--
he celebrated too long.

And those two attempts on my life today?

Accidental too, huh?

This may come as a severe shock to you,

but you're not too popular
in certain quarters.

You ought to be used to that by now.

Oh, thanks.

By the way, we found this
in the girl's apartment.

What's that?

Sherwin Kane.

Who's he?

A lawyer. Works for Kevin Archer.

Archer?
Why didn't you tell me that before?

Because I didn't want you to get all excited.

I told you, Adam,
Archer has a standing reservation

at that restaurant every Saturday night.

You also told me
he didn't use it Saturday night.

Well, that's what the maitre d' said.
Which doesn't necessarily make it so.

Have you talked to Kane?
Not yet.

You want to come along?

I'll give you one guess.

Beverly North.

When did you see her last?

Oh, several months ago.

We were very close for a while.

Such a lovely girl.

I'm not entirely surprised, though.

She was very unpredictable.

Especially when she drank.

Any particular reason
you stopped seeing her, Mr. Kane?

No.

It just happened.

Her idea or yours?

I don't have to talk to him. You know?

Look, Lieutenant, if you don't mind,
Mr. Kane and I have work to do.

Sure, Mr. Archer.

Thanks for your cooperation, Mr. Kane.

Joe.

You know, Mr. Archer,
you really should do something

about the people who work for you.

Why? I'm satisfied.

After those two foul-ups today?
And the garage and on the road?

You are easy to please.

It's the old story, Mr. Archer.

If you want something done right,
you just have to do it yourself.

Good night, gentlemen.

He's just trying to needle you.

He hasn't got anything-- nothing at all.

No.

But he's right.

I haven't got one good man.

Not one who can find his nose
with both hands.

There's only one sure way
to get rid of Mr. Mannix.

Careful, Kevin.

That temper of yours
is going to get you into trouble.

Just like it did Saturday night.

I told you about that.

Now, nobody walks out on me.

I told her if she got out of that car,
it'd be the last thing she ever did.

Well, I don't know.

Going after Mannix yourself.
Oh, don't be stupid.

Just get someone
who knows what he's doing.

Hm.

In the meantime,

Mannix is going to be busy.

Yeah.

He's contacted everyone
except George Bowman.

He'll get there sooner or later.

Hello.

How are you, Mr. Bowman?

And how's your charming wife?

Fine.

Just fine.

I'm glad to hear that.

And I'm sure you'll be glad to hear
that Miss Henry is just fine, too.

I don't happen to have
those shipping dates with me.

They're at the office.

Oh, Mrs. Bowman is with you, is she?

You're being very smart, Mr. Bowman.
Just keep it up.

And try not to be too upset
just because we keep checking on you.

Well |-- I can understand.

We like to keep an eye on our friends.

And you never know
when one of our people may drop in on you.

I see.

What was the name of your representative?

If he has to call on you, you'll know him.

Nice talking to you, Mr. Bowman.

Yes, thank you. Goodbye.

Will you fix one for me, too,
please, George?

Sure.

Thank you.

That wasn't being very discreet--
phoning you here.

What?

She must be getting very sure of herself
to call you at home.

That was a business call, Clare.

I don't understand
what you're talking about. I really don't.

I know all about it, George.

About what?

George, I tried, but I just couldn't
stand it any longer.

I hired an investigator.

I'm sorry and terribly embarrassed.

But it wasn't easy having to tell a perfect
stranger all about our personal life.

Clare--

Please-- I just didn't know what else to do.

If you'd been the kind of man who had
done this sort of thing quite often,

I guess I'd know how to cope with it,

but I don't think
you've ever looked at another woman

all during our marriage until now.

Clare, I never did.
Believe me.

Please, let me finish
before I make a fool of myself.

If I hadn't thought we had a good marriage,

I don't think I would have done
anything at all.

It is a good marriage, Clare.

For what it's worth, I've made up my mind
not to see her again.

That phone call, that wasn't Dorothy.

It was--

I've got to go out, Clare.

Yes, of course.

It's not what you think.

I've got to go downtown.

Downtown?

To the Police Department.

George, why?

Something I've got to straighten out.

What?
It's better that you don't know.

I see.

Believe me.

Honey, we can straighten things out.
I know we can.

I know I've been stupid
about more than one thing,

but I'm going to straighten everything out.

Clare, I don't want to talk to anybody.

I'll go see who it is.

Yes?

Mrs. Bowman?
Yes.

My name is Mannix.
I'd like to talk to your husband.

I'm sorry.

It's very important.

I don't know--

I think your husband might be
in danger, Mrs. Bowman.

If I could just talk to him for a moment.

Oh. Well--

Come in, Mr. Mannix.

Here.

George?

George?

He was right here.

Do you have any idea
where he might have gone?

He said he was going to the police.

Mr. Mannix, can you tell me what--

I think I'd better get downtown,
Mrs. Bowman,

and see if I can catch your husband.

I'll call ahead and tell him he's on his way.

Adam, Bowman get here yet?

He didn't make it, Joe.

He knew he might be followed,
so he took a back road.

It didn't do him any good.

He skidded off the top of Mulholland Drive.

There were two sets of tire tracks.

Hello.

Good morning. Can I help you?

I'm Mrs. George Bowman.

I'd like to see Mr. Mannix.

Oh, yes.

Mrs. Bowman here to see you.

Please, come in.

Mr. Mannix--

Mrs. Bowman, I'm very sorry.

Thank you.

Please sit down.

Would you like some coffee
or something?

No, thanks.

Mr. Mannix, George and |
were married for a long time.

We had a good marriage.

And it would have been good again.
I'm sure of it.

We had certain problems.

He was seeing another woman.

I think you know about that.

But there was something else, wasn't there?

Something he wanted
to tell the police about.

Yes.

Do you know what it was?

Well, he may have been
a witness to a crime.

Oh.

Well, then, that would explain this.

It came this morning.

Funny.

In all the years we were married,
I never once opened his mail.

But today it didn't seem to matter.

"It is your duty to tell the police."

Does it help you?

Yes. It just might, Mrs. Bowman.

I'm glad.

I feel it's my fault in a way.

If I had told him what I suspected
instead of going out and hiring someone...

then it would have been
out in the open between us,

and then maybe--

Maybe he would never have been
at that restaurant Saturday night.

I don't see what this has to do
with us, Mr. Mannix.

Well, it was addressed
to a Mr. George Bowman.

He was one of the people that came
out of the restaurant Saturday night

the same time you did.

It was delivered to me this morning
by his widow.

His widow?

Bowman was k*lled last night.

And the night before, the parking attendant
d*ed from an overdose of dr*gs.

You could be next. Or Dennis.

Donald?

Nora.

We didn't see anything.

You're not talking because somebody's
putting pressure on you, aren't they?

I'm telling you-- we didn't see anything.

Donald, tell him!

I can't stand it anymore.

Nora!
Please, Donald, tell him.

I can't sleep,
and I can't take another minute of it!

Novv you tell him, or I Will!

All right. Uh--

I don't know where it'll lead us,

but it can't be any worse
than the last few days.

We've been getting phone calls
threatening Dennis if we didn't keep quiet.

And then this morning,
as if it wasn't bad enough already,

this.

It's the same as the others.

Al right.

Now exactly what did you see?

We saw a girl hit by a car--
run down deliberately.

Or at least we think that's what happened.

You meant there's some doubt?

The car drove away before we got there,

and then, when we did,
there was nothing to see.

But it did happen. There was a girl.

Yes. Her name was Beverly North.

Do you think you could recognize the driver
of that car if you saw him again?

You mean
could we pick him out of a lineup?

Yes.

I'll see that you're both protected
and Dennis, too.

No, no. It isn't that.
It's just that it all happened so fast.

Even if we were put face-to-face
with the driver, we couldn't be sure.

Hmm. What about the car?

Sports car-- blue-- that's all.

What does this mean?

Well, it means that somebody else out there
is putting on a different sort of pressure.

If I'm not too far off base,

there'll be a third letter delivered
to the only other witness still alive.

"Miss Dorothy Henry,
Brimmer Street."

I stopped by to show her the other
two letters, and up popped hers.

That makes all three.

That's getting the message out
to the whole constituency, isn't it?

Yeah. Who's your candidate
for Mr. Scissors and Paste, Joe?

Well, whoever it is,
he's out to nail Kevin Archer.

He doesn't want Archer as much as I do.

Let's face it there's no case here.

You claim Archer ran the girl down
in the underground garage,

got somebody to get rid of the body,

then got on the telephone to the witnesses
and scared them out of talking.

So prove it.

It's got to be Archer.
The M.O. is all his.

Trying to have me k*lled,

having Bowman run off the cliff,

arranging an overdose for Jim Salvage.

It's Archer all the way.

And all you've got is theories, Joe,

and some witnesses you can't count on
because it was too dark in the garage.

I'll tell you one thing, Adam.

Whoever sent those letters
knew who the witnesses were

and knew exactly what happened
in that garage.

Why doesn't he come forward
instead of cluttering up the mails?

Well... maybe it just wouldn't be
good for business.

Mr. Mannix,

now, why would I do a stupid thing
like sending these notes?

You're hoping that at least one of them
will cr*ck and go to the police

and then, first thing you know,
Kevin Archer is indicted for m*rder.

Who picks up the marbles?
Sherwin Kane.

You've really got an imagination.

And you'd be in the clear.

You know as much about Archer's
operations as he does himself.

And outside of pure greed,

there could be another reason
you'd like to nail Archer to the wall.

Yeah? What would that be?

Beverly North.

She was your girlfriend,
and Archer took her away.

And then he k*lled her.

Fascinating theory.
Isn't it?

Al right.

Just what do you intend to do about it?

The networks and the newspapers
will have these notes in a few minutes.

By tomorrow, anybody that can read or hear
will know about them, including Archer.

I'd say it would take him about two minutes
to figure out who sent them.

Mannix.

All right, I'll take those.

It's a little late for that, Kane.

The police have copies.

So what do you want from me?

Well, you came here for a reason.

Otherwise, you would have already
published those things.

I want Archer.

I want you to go to the DA
and tell him everything.

The girl's m*rder first
and everything else there is,

including Jim Salvage and George Bowman.

Well, now. Get his g*n. Frisk him.

Kevin, |--

I don't think you can tell me anything
I haven't heard already.

I've had this place bugged
since the first day you moved into it.

All right, Smitty.

The papers.

Goodbye, Sherwin.

Hold it!

Adam!

Freeze!

Thanks, Joe.

Hey, you cut it pretty close,
didn't you, Adam?

Huh?
You cut it close.

Oh, yeah.

Sorry about that.

Dennis, I can't take it, really.

Why not?

Well, now, you've heard
of public relations, haven't you?

Yeah.

Well, uh, this case has probably
done more to help my image

than anything I've done in years.

Why, I'm getting so much business,
I can't handle it.

That phone never stops ringing.

You sure now?
Positive.

See?

Boy, I can sure use this.

I've been saving up for a new bike.

So long, Mr. Mannix. And thanks.

So long, Dennis.

Hey, who was on the phone?

Wrong number.

Maybe I should've kept that money.