Are you Mr. Mannix?
That's right.
My name is Lisa Ralph.
May I come in?
Of course.
I'm sorry to break in like this.
Well, that's perfectly all right, Miss Ralph.
Uh, Mrs. Ralph.
Please, sit down.
Thank you.
I've never hired a private detective before.
Is it all right if I give you
a retainer tonight and--
Oh, now, let's not rush into this,
Mrs. Ralph.
Uh, I like to know a little bit
about a case before I take it.
Yes, of course.
Excuse me.
Now, uh, what makes you think
you need a private detective?
I think someone is trying to k*ll me.
I jumped out of my car
right past the tunnel.
He chased me all the way to the observatory,
and I got away on a bus.
Can you, uh, describe the man?
I didn't get a good look at him.
I was running away.
Have you any idea
why someone would want to k*ll you?
No.
Why didn't you go to the police?
I have personal reasons.
Mmm. Too personal to tell me?
No, I suppose not.
Mr. Mannix, uh, could--
could I please have a brandy?
Of course.
If I go to the police,
my husband will know where I am.
And, uh, you wouldn't want that?
No. I'm leaving him.
Where is your husband?
He's at our home in San Francisco.
Thank you.
All he knows is that I came to Los Angeles
to settle my father's estate.
Uh-huh. Was it a large estate?
I mean, could that be the reason
somebody would want to k*ll you?
There is practically no estate at all.
My father was a professor.
I see.
Tell me, Mrs. Ralph,
exactly what do you want me to do?
I want to know who was after me and why.
And there's my car.
Could you drive me there?
Well, I, uh--
I think I better go after it alone.
I'll grab a cab at the corner.
You see, there, uh, may be somebody
waiting up there,
hoping you'll come back.
I didn't think of that.
Here's the key.
What is it?
I was just thinking that, uh, even though
you were running for your life,
you had the presence of mind
to grab the car key.
A habit, I suppose.
Yeah. Of course.
I'm going to, uh, lock this door.
Don't open it for anyone...except me.
Driver, when you get around
this next bend, slow down.
I'll be leaving you.
You don't want me to stop?
No. I always leave this way.
It saves me from jogging in the morning.
Mrs. Ralph?
Mrs. Ralph!
Hello.
This is Lisa Ralph.
What happened?
When you left, I looked out the window.
There was a man watching your place.
When he was sure you were gone,
he came up to your apartment.
He tried the door.
I was terrified.
I went down the back way,
and then I came here.
Well, it's just as well you did.
I was followed to the park.
Followed?
Well, you can relax.
I lost them.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Mmm.
Your car's in the parking lot.
Thank you.
There seems to be a lot of people
interested in your activities.
Why?
My father was Walter Manfred.
The name sounds familiar.
He was once a leader
of the German Social Democratic Party.
Very outspoken in his opposition to h*tler.
Not a very healthy position at the time.
No.
That still doesn't explain
why there's so many people after you.
I am afraid I have not been completely open
with you, Mr. Mannix.
I told you my father's estate
was not large,
but he did leave something very valuable--
The first two chapters of Das Kapital.
The original?
In the handwriting of Karl Marx.
Mmm.
I've already been in contact with
a representative of the Soviet government.
They want the manuscript
for the Marx Library in Moscow.
Once they are satisfied that it is genuine,
they will pay a great deal.
Mm-hmm.
Well, judging from what happened tonight,
they may be trying to get it for nothing.
Do you think they are the ones
who are after me?
Unless somebody else knows
that you have it.
I do not believe so.
Do you think I could have another?
Coming right up.
Two more martinis, dry, outside.
Sure thing.
Uh-huh.
Okay. Thanks, Vivian.
Good morning, Peggy.
Well, there's your crossword.
Thank you.
I have a complete rundown on Lisa Ralph.
Mmm. Let's hear it,
one lie at a time.
No lies, Joe.
It all checks out.
Walter Manfred was a big wheel in Berlin,
and he was chased out by h*tler.
d*ed recently in Los Angeles.
Had a married daughter.
Name-- Lisa Ralph.
Lives in San Francisco,
and she came down here to settle the estate.
Hmm. Exactly as represented.
Want some coffee?
Yeah, thanks.
I don't understand why she'd run out on you.
She must have had that manuscript in her car,
and it must be why she was so quick
to grab the keys from her car
even though her life was in danger--
why she was so hot to get that car back.
Good morning, Adam.
Hi, Peggy.
Come on in, Adam.
Hey, you're hard at work, I see.
Yeah. What can I do for you?
Well, I thought you two
might like to have a little chat.
Oh? About what?
About my wife.
Your wife?
Joe Mannix, meet Don Ralph.
Mr. Ralph.
Mr. Mannix.
Please, sit down.
Mr. Mannix, I think it's possible
you've already met her.
I meet a lot of people.
You'd remember her, Mr. Mannix.
Let me jog your memory a little bit, Joe.
His wife is the one
Peggy's been making all the inquiries about.
Well, just a routine check, Adam.
Mm-hmm. Why?
Professional curiosity. A case.
Mind telling me who your client is?
Well, my, uh, client would rather
remain anonymous.
Mr. Mannix, ten days ago,
my wife and I came down here
to attend her father's funeral.
I went back to San Francisco,
and she stayed in town to settle the estate.
But she disappeared-- checked out
of the hotel, no forwarding address.
And, uh, you haven't been able
to come up with anything?
Well, not yet.
Mr. Ralph only reported
his wife missing this morning.
Well, uh, what took you so long, Mr. Ralph?
Well, I wasn't alarmed at first,
but then when I didn't hear from her,
I got worried and came back to Los Angeles.
Can you think of any reason
why your wife wouldn't
get in touch with you, Mr. Ralph?
Can you, Mr. Mannix?
No, I'm afraid I can't help you.
He's stalling, Lieutenant.
Are you, Joe?
I'm telling you the truth.
I have no idea where your wife is.
Look, Mannix, my wife is missing.
I intend to find her.
If you're hiding her, you'll pay for it!
Why don't you wait outside
for me for a second?
Come on, Joe. He's got a point.
It's his wife.
I give you my word, Adam.
I don't know where she is.
What do you think, Peggy?
I think that girl
is running from a lot of things.
Mmm.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Mrs. Ralph, my secretary, Peggy Fair.
How do you do?
Hello.
Well, you just missed seeing your husband.
I saw him.
You didn't tell him about me?
No.
Thank you.
Let's talk about that.
Please, sit down.
Thank you.
I'm terribly sorry about last night.
Oh, I understand.
You do?
I hope the manuscript was in the car.
You're an extremely
smart detective, Mr. Mannix.
And I hope you found a safe place to put it.
I did.
All except for these three pages.
I would like for you to deliver those to
the representative of the Soviet government.
His name is Victor Grunyev, and he's staying
at the penthouse at the Marina Towers.
The penthouse.
Does the Kremlin know?
Oh, he's a journalist.
Russian journalists sometimes
have lucrative sidelines.
Is he expecting me?
He's expecting me.
But after all that has happened,
I did not think it was wise
to walk straight into his hands.
No.
Will you do it?
Mm-hmm.
Now, do I discuss price with Mr. Grunyev?
Not until he is satisfied that,
uh, those are genuine.
Mmm. And where will you be?
Last night, I stayed in some motel
on Sunset Boulevard.
I don't know yet where I'll be tonight.
Why don't we meet at the, uh,
Hide Away at , all right?
Yes.
And this time, I hope you'll be able
to stay a little longer.
I promise.
Please be careful of Grunyev.
He's not the sort of man you, uh,
want to turn your back on.
Would you like some coffee, Mr. Mannix?
No, thank you.
You mind if I have some?
Go right ahead.
You know, I'm very particular about coffee.
Perhaps because of all the years
that I couldn't get it.
I use Santos and Java in equal parts
with cold water,
brewed very slowly.
Now, there we are.
Now, who sent you?
I told you. Lisa Ralph.
Do me a favor.
Don't continue the deception.
Is it the men from Amsterdam?
No.
Mr. Mannix, I know they're in the city.
I even know the flight number of the aircraft
that brought them.
Sorry, but it's still Mrs. Ralph.
Why would she do that?
She was doing extremely well
in our direct negotiations.
Well, maybe after yesterday,
she felt that, uh,
indirect negotiations are a lot safer.
Yesterday?
Mm-hmm. Someone was after her.
Oh, you didn't know that.
Why? Should ?
Now, look, we're wasting a lot of time.
I can prove I'm her representative.
That would be very comforting, Mr. Mannix.
Easy now.
You understand it'll take time
to do the proper analysis?
How much time?
Call me this evening.
Right.
Now, you understand this is
a confidential matter, Mr. Mannix?
Naturally.
The claim that my principals make
is legitimate.
However, there are a lot of other people
who also think they have a claim.
If it were known that we were
dealing to acquire the manuscript,
there might be repercussions.
Oh, we wouldn't want that.
Not in earthquake country.
Adam, how awful.
Well, no. No, he's not here now.
I don't know when he'll be back.
Yes. Yes, I'll tell him.
Hi, Peggy.
Hi, Joe.
What's wrong?
Adam Tobias just called.
About what?
Lisa Ralph.
What about her?
Joe, she's dead.
Adam.
Joe.
This is your fault, Mannix. If you'd told us
the truth, this wouldn't have happened!
Hey, hey, hey, take it easy.
Listen, you're upset.
Why don't you go back to your hotel?
I'll get in touch with you there, huh?
Come on.
What happened?
Well, I'd say she was strangled.
Of course,
we don't have the ME report yet.
Is it all right if I, uh...
Yeah, yeah.
Was she your client, Joe?
No, she wasn't.
Then why were you so interested in her?
I wish I knew.
Would you care to make that a little clearer?
I intend to, Adam.
Is that where you found the body?
No, we found it in the closet.
Robbery?
Yeah, a very special kind.
According to her husband, the only thing
of hers that's missing is a manuscript
that she recently inherited from her father.
I thought Mrs. Ralph lived in San Francisco.
Oh, this place isn't hers.
She was staying with a friend.
The friend's name is Julia Stefan.
Who's the man?
No idea yet.
I'll tell you one thing, though.
Whoever did it knew Lisa Ralph.
How do you figure that?
Living room hasn't been touched.
The only signs of a struggle are in here.
So whoever did it came in here
without any protest from Lisa.
Like a friend.
Like a friend.
Her real name is Julia Stefan,
and the apartment is hers.
Find out how long she's lived there
and anything else you can about her.
Get right on it.
You're gonna have to do better than that.
I want to know everything
by the time I meet her tonight.
You don't expect her to keep that date?
on the button.
If I were her, I'd be heading for the hills
wearing a false beard.
She still needs me to complete
her business deal.
What if she decides to complete
her business deal herself?
If she's not there by :,
I'll get on the horn to Homicide.
You want another one?
No, thanks.
You, uh, waiting for someone?
Not anymore.
Lieutenant Tobias, please.
Adam?
Well,
I've been kind of expecting this call, Joe.
Joe, you still there?
Listen, Adam, uh, why don't we
have lunch tomorrow?
Is that what you called me for?
Yeah, sure. Why shouldn't |
invite you for lunch?
You're good company, Adam.
Look, I'll see you tomorrow.
I'd about given you up.
I-- I was outside waiting at :.
I had to be sure no one was with you.
Mmm. Like the police?
Yes.
Then you know about Lisa.
I heard about it on the radio.
I didn't do it, Joe.
Two more of the same, outside.
I suppose I should introduce myself
all over again.
That's not necessary.
Your name is Julia Stefan.
You've lived in Los Angeles for about a year.
Before that, in San Francisco,
where you met your friend, Lisa Ralph.
All I told you about Lisa was true.
Except you're not Lisa.
And it was your friend, Lisa,
who was having the marital problems.
You've learned a great deal.
Not enough.
When Lisa left her husband,
she came to my place to hide
until she sold the manuscript.
She was going to get
one hundred thousand dollars for it.
She wanted me to help her.
And she was going to pay you for helping her?
Not in money.
The only thing I wanted from the Russians
was my husband's freedom.
Thank you.
That, uh, photograph in your apartment--
That's your husband?
Yes. Eric Stefan, the author.
He wrote Extermination.
Yes, I remember.
The, uh, Soviet government
didn't like it very much.
They arrested him as an enemy of the state.
There was a trial, of course.
The verdict was that anyone
who could write such a book
must be insane.
So they put him away in an asylum.
He's been there for years,
all alone in a cell.
And you, uh, love him very much?
No. No, I don't.
It has been so many years since I saw him.
It is as if he--
What we had never existed.
How can you love someone
who does not exist?
But he does exist.
He is a great man.
He must have his freedom.
I owe him that.
Mmm.
And, uh, Lisa
was going to make his freedom
one of the conditions of the sale?
Yes, she promised.
Why didn't you tell me all this last night?
Yesterday, Grunyev was going to see Lisa.
She was nervous about having the manuscript
in the apartment,
so she asked me to put it in the car
and go away until the deal was finished.
That was the last time I saw her.
Why would you attempt to go ahead
with the deal on your own?
Unless I already knew that Lisa was dead?
Is that what you are thinking?
That's what most people would think.
I was afraid that Lisa's husband
would find out about the manuscript.
I knew what he was like.
He would not have cared about Eric in prison.
Only the money.
So I went ahead on my own.
You do believe me, don't you?
I'm trying to.
Please trust me
as I am going to trust you.
This key is to a locker in the bus depot
at Santa Monica.
The rest of the manuscript is there.
After you've arranged for Eric's release,
I will go with you to the police
and help you to find out who k*lled Lisa.
All right, Julia.
I'm at the Regent Motel, near the park.
Bungalow number five.
I'll wait for you there.
I'll be there
as soon as I finish with Grunyev.
I expect you to telephone
before coming here, Mr. Mannix.
Let's just call it an oversight?
Now, listen, we are beginning our
negotiations on the basis of mutual distrust.
It's par for the course these days.
Perhaps you're right.
All right. I won't pretend.
The three pages you left with me are genuine,
obviously from the original manuscript.
However, what happened to Mrs. Ralph
yesterday changes everything.
You see, my principal doesn't want
to deal with murderers.
Are you accusing me of m*rder?
You told me you represent her,
and now she is dead.
Does it matter who my principal is
as long as you get the genuine manuscript?
How do I know you have it, Mr. Mannix?
I had the three pages.
All right. That's true.
I won't argue with you.
The manuscript is valuable to us,
but there's a limit.
How much do you want?
One hundred thousand dollars
for the estate of Lisa Ralph
and the freedom of Eric Stefan.
Eric Stefan?
Mm-hmm.
Why? The man is a raving lunatic.
Do you know that it would be unsafe
to release him?
Oh, I think this country will take a chance
on that kind of a madman.
Hmm.
I suppose it has occurred to you,
Mr. Mannix,
that I might just take the manuscript
and refuse to release Eric Stefan?
Yeah, the thought has occurred to me.
However, I intend
to take certain precautions.
Such as?
We'll discuss that at our next meeting.
Where will that be, Mr. Mannix?
I'll call you in an hour and let you know.
Oh, and, uh,
be sure and bring
the three pages, comrade.
We rent the safe-deposit box jointly,
we both sign the signature card,
and we both have keys.
That way, neither one of us can open the box
without the other being present.
You don't trust me?
Mmm.
I [LIEUTENANT TOBIAS WHISTLING
Oh, lunch.
I forgot all about that. Sorry, Adam.
Yeah, well, we'll make it some other time.
Social visit?
Antisocial.
Oh. Well, uh, come on in.
Joe--
Oh, it's that time of the month again.
Look, I'm a detective--
And a very good one, Adam.
Thank you.
A detective is supposed to detect things.
That's what I'm paid to do.
So?
So Lisa Ralph was k*lled
in her friend Julia Stefan's apartment
by somebody who was probably a friend.
Now, Julia has been missing ever since,
along with a very valuable manuscript,
and I think it's possible
that you know where Julia is,
because it's also possible
that she's your client.
And if she is, you're walkin' on eggs.
Come on, Adam.
I'm sure my client is innocent.
You pretty sure, or are you dead sure?
Dead sure.
Yeah.
This was found in Julia Stefan's apartment
near the body.
Those things usually come in pairs.
Ever see the mate?
Not dead sure now, are you?
Not even pretty sure.
Why did you bring me here?
Well, sometimes with
the night sky and the trees,
people feel like talking-- really talking.
About what?
The truth.
But I told you the truth, Joe.
No, you haven't, Julia.
You told me that you hadn't been back
to your apartment the night of the m*rder.
That was a lie.
When you came to my place,
you were wearing one earring.
As soon as you discovered that,
you took it off, fast.
The, uh, missing earring
was found at your apartment.
I know it is probably too late,
but I'd like to tell you the whole story now.
Sorry, Julia. It is a little late.
But I didn't k*ll her.
I couldn't. She was my friend.
Not even for that manuscript
to free your husband?
I didn't do it, Joe.
All right.
Help me find out who did it.
Now, you said you'd go to the police as soon
as this thing was arranged with Grunyev.
But if it comes out in the newspaper
that I'm connected with this case,
Grunyev may not go through with the deal.
It won't come out.
Lieutenant Tobias will keep
your part in it quiet.
I don't want to go to the police.
Please, Joe, let me tell you
what really happened.
You can tell Tobias.
I'm afraid I might believe you again.
What if I don't go with you?
You don't have a choice, Julia.
I was trying to help you, Adam.
I brought her in for questioning.
So what do you do'?
You book her and you throw her into a cell!
I had to.
I think she k*lled Lisa Ralph.
And I say she didn't.
Why? Because she's got a romantic accent
and a good set of legs?
Evidence says she did it.
DA's office agrees.
She had both motive and opportunity,
and in my league
that's a pretty good batting average.
What about Lisa's husband?
He had just as good a motive to want to get
that manuscript before she left him.
Yeah. That's a nice try,
but he's also got a good alibi.
He didn't get to town until after the m*rder,
and the passenger list
on the Monday morning flight confirms that.
Well, uh, what about that guy
that was chasing Julia on Sunday?
If anybody chased her.
Oh, you mean she staged the whole thing
herself-- chased herself up a hill,
then left her car and came running to me
to put herself into the clear?
You said it. I didn't.
Listen, a clever woman might do exactly that.
Tobias.
Yeah. Thanks. Send her in.
I had Julia Stefan sent over
so you could talk to her privately.
Well, thanks for that, anyway, Adam.
Julia, I'm sorry.
I'd, uh, like to hear your story--
The one I wouldn't listen to last night.
Aren't you afraid you might still believe it?
Probably will,
but that's a risk I'd like to take.
Al right.
I did go back to my apartment that day.
At first, |-- I thought Lisa had gone out.
I started to change my clothes.
I got as far as taking off one earring
when I noticed the bedroom was messed up,
like there had been a struggle.
That's when I found Lisa in the closet.
I panicked and ran out.
That's when I must have dropped my earring.
Julia, why didn't you level with me
from the first?
I knew I would be suspected of it
because of the manuscript.
I didn't know if you would have believed me.
I would have believed you, Julia.
I believe you now.
There's not much future in it
except on visiting days.
I want you to think positive thoughts.
I went to see Grunyev again this morning.
Your husband will soon be free.
Mmm.
Life drives a hard bargain.
Eric will gain his freedom,
and I lose mine.
Not for long.
Not if I can help it.
Well, the timetable is as follows.
Eric Stefan will be flown to Vienna.
The announcement will merely say
that he is being released from the asylum
because he has recovered his health.
There must be no mention
of the manuscript whatever.
The motive of my government
is humanitarian only.
That way, things are going to be
more pleasant for everybody.
Except for Julia.
You still think that she's innocent?
That's right.
But she had so much to gain
from the possession of the manuscript.
So did a lot of others.
You, for instance.
That's true.
Someone was chasing Julia
when she was driving Lisa Ralph's car--
Someone who probably thought she was Lisa.
That's correct. I'm the man.
You see, I had an appointment with her.
When I came to her apartment,
I saw her car driving away.
I assumed that she was in it,
so I followed her and tried to stop her.
I didn't realize until much later
that it wasn't Lisa at all.
You don't seem very convinced, Mr. Mannix.
No.
Now, Mr. Mannix,
we are partners for the moment,
and I think that partners ought to believe
in each other, don't you think?
Why did you continue to follow Julia
when you knew she was the wrong woman?
I was simply curious
about what she was up to.
Mmm.
You see, she went back to her apartment.
Shortly thereafter, she came out again,
and then she went to your place.
And I became very curious
about your connection in the matter.
You must sympathize with me,
because there have been a lot of people
claiming to have that manuscript, you know.
It has been rather confusing.
Who else claimed to have it?
There was a man last Saturday.
He assured me that he could deliver it.
Who is he?
Never saw him before.
The name he gave me was probably false.
Uh, maybe if I could see his picture.
What picture?
Well, you take photographs of everyone
that comes in here, don't you?
Or is it only the important ones?
You amuse me, Mr. Mannix.
Clever people always amuse me.
You're right.
Here is your picture.
Very flattering.
And this is a picture of the man
who came to see me on Saturday.
Do you know him?
We've met.
Shall we go after him?
No.
He's the key to the manuscript.
Let him do the work for us.
...Flight now arriving at Gate .
Southeastern Airways Flight
now arriving at Gate .
Mr. Ralph?
What do you want?
I think we'd better talk.
I don't have to talk to you.
You're a private detective.
You have no authority to bother me.
Okay, here I am.
This better be convincing.
You told me I was in the clear, Lieutenant.
You told me it was all right
if I went back home.
It is all right unless Mr. Mannix here
can change my mind.
His alibi isn't an alibi at all, Adam.
He didn't arrive in Los Angeles
the day after the m*rder.
He arrived before the m*rder.
He found his wife and learned that she
had inherited a valuable manuscript,
and he started
to make arrangements to sell it.
Can you prove that?
I can.
You better go ahead.
Sunday, Mr. Ralph went to see his wife.
She wouldn't give him the manuscript,
so he k*lled her.
But he couldn't find the manuscript
in the apartment
because it was in Lisa's car.
So he drove back to San Francisco,
and then he returned to Los Angeles
on the first flight the next morning
to establish an alibi.
And to make it look even better, he asked
the police to help find his missing wife.
You said you had proof of all this.
He can't prove anything.
The day before you k*lled her-- Saturday,
when you claimed you were in San Francisco--
You were here in Los Angeles
with a man named Grunyev,
trying to sell your wife's manuscript.
He identified you from a photograph,
and he's prepared to testify
that he was here.
Okay, Mr. Ralph, let's go.
Drop it, Ralph!
We can't pin anything on him now.
I couldn't have pinned anything
on him before, Adam.
I was bluffing.
Grunyev never would have testified.
He would have denied everything
rather than embarrass his government.
As an international political authority,
would you care to give us your views
on the release of Eric Stefan?
Yes, of course.
Let me point out that Eric Stefan,
although he has criticized our government
rather heavily in the past,
is being released unconditionally.
I think this ought to be considered
a purely humanitarian gesture
on the part of my government.
But I think very importantly,
it's a further indication
of the easing of tensions
between East and West.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I believe we have an appointment, Mr. Mannix.
When I've seen Eric Stefan.
He'll be here in a few minutes.
His aircraft just arrived.
I'm told that his health is satisfactory.
If it is, we'll go to the bank.
I'll be waiting.
Joe.
What did they do to him?
Give him time.
He'll change. He'll come back.
Mr. Stefan,
may I ask you some questions?