05x12 - m*rder Times Three

[bunniefuu]

♪♪

Morning.
Good morning.

I thought the doctor told you
to get some rest.

Yeah. All night, like a baby.
I'm fine.

What were you doing in my files?

Trying to find a reason for someone
to run me off a cliff.

Probably just somebody doing for kicks, Joe.

No. No, if I were a private citizen, I could
buy it, but I'm a private investigator.

Somebody wanted me, not dead,
but out of commission for a while.

Why?

I think something was going to happen soon,
something important,

and they're afraid I might get in the way.

I think I've got half an answer.

If they k*ll me, the police would be digging
into every case I'm on

and every place I've been.

What I need is the other half
of the answer:

Which case, which enemy...

what motive?

Coffee?

No, thanks.

So you're going through the current files?

And coming up empty.

Telephone thr*at, a missing girl,
a possible embezzlement.

None of which is life and death,
none of which adds up to a motive.

What about all of them?

What?

Yesterday, while you were out
falling off cliffs,

every one of the cases phoned you...
to say you were fired.

All of them?

All three.

Any explanations?

None.

Well, I think I was delivered the message
personally by one of them.

All right, let's start with the first case.

Peggy, make out a check for $,
payable to Jason Barden.

Why?

That's how much he's paying me
not to find his daughter,

so I'm gong to return his money.

It's quite simple, Mr. Mannix:
I hired you, I'm f*ring you.

Then I'm returning your money.

You may keep the money, Mr. Mannix.

Mr. Barden, I'd still like to know why.

I'm no longer interested
in locating my daughter.

My reasons are private.
They do not concern you.

But they do concern me

Mr. Mannix...
Elaine...

I'm Elaine Barden.

How do you do?

What Jason didn't mention is that we've been
advertising in the underground papers,

offering a reward for any
information on Joyce.

Yesterday we got an answer in person.

An answer.

A few choice insults from
an arrogant black man

who called himself "my daughter's friend".

He just might be.

He told us that Joyce was living with a boy
she met named Pete Rivers.

But he wouldn't tell us where she was.

Hmmph.

He just took the money-and laughed
and said not to worry.

Joyce's boyfriend was white.

Boyfriend!

The man she is living with!

It happens, these days.

It is still immoral!

That Rivers boy wants Joyce for one obvious
reason: the money she might be worth.

You can't be sure of that.
I've had him checked out.

He's an ex-convict,
out of jail less than a year,

and my wife defends him!

I'm defending Joyce!

She's my daughter, and We're not going to
abandon her!

She chose him over us.

All right... but give her a chance.

Let's at least find her, talk to her.

Mr. Barden, you paid me for a week.
I still owe you four days.

If you'll tell me the name of the man
who came to you,

maybe I can find your daughter.

Jason, I won't walk out on her.

The one who called wouldn't give us
any address.

He said his name was...

Alex Rainey.

Any description?

He's black, about ,
medium build, about six feet tall.

See if you can get a book on him.

I'll get right on it.

Also, I'll do a rundown on
the Romeo, Pete Rivers.

Oh, and Joe,

about case number two,

your pal Dan Brockway called
from the hospital, twice.

He wants to see you.

I thought he fired me.

He's a private investigator, too.
Maybe he solved it.

Hey, Joe.

Hello, Dan. How are you?

How are you?

Hey, that's a healthy grip.
Yeah, that's what the doctor says.

I'm leaving here tomorrow.
Oh, I'm glad to hear that.

Yeah.

Hey, Joe, can you bring me up to date
on my case?

Did you get anything else?

Well, as of the moment you fired me,
not much.

But Westland Chemical seems to think that
Wayne Jensen's a good executive.

Sure he is.

Except he sold a batch of company secrets
for a lot of illegal bread.

Oh, come on, Dan, you're an experienced
investigator.

There's no proof, and you know it.

Did you get anything else?

Well, I did find out that Wayne Jensen had
been spending every weekend

for the last couple of months with a woman...

at a house he rented at the end of Cliff view.

Any idea who she is?

No. I went over there yesterday to find out.

I kinda got sidetracked.

You mean you got worked over.

Joe, I'm sorry. Peggy told me.

She didn't tell me it was on my case.

Joe...

Oh, forget it, Dan.
I survived.

Joe, I'm grateful, but I don't want you
sticking your neck out for me.

I can handle it from now on.

Besides I got a lot of cases to clear up.

Sure, Dan.

And I need the money.

Hello, darling.

Hey, Barbara!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude
on business.

I brought your graduation suit.

Good. Thanks.

Oh, honey, I want you to meet Joe Mannix.

He's been handling a case for me.

Joe, this is my wife Barbara.

Hello, Mr. Mannix.

Pleasure, Mrs. Brockway.

How are you feeling?

Great, just great.

Well, listen, I'm going to be
running along, Dan.

Hold it a second, Joe.

One of these days you're going to find out
how to keep a wife happy.

Here, honey.

Go ahead, open it.

Well, put it on.

Oh, it's beautiful.

So are you, honey.

See, Joe? Works every time.

Hello.

Joe, I reached case number three,
Mrs. Stabler.

She says you're still fired.

Mr. Stabler said the threatening phone call
was just a joke.

Is she at home?

She was five minutes ago.

It's really very uncomplicated,
Mr. Mannix.

My husband would just like you
to send us a bill.

All right, Mrs. Stabler,
I'm off the case.

But tell me, has your husband received
any more phone threats?

No. One was plenty.

I'm curious, Mrs. Stabler.

That call frightened you to death, and yet
here you are f*ring me before I can help.

Well, it did frighten me,

But Tom, my husband, thinks it was just
some kind of nasty joke.

I see.
What does your husband do?

He's a salesman.
Why?

I was just wondering if the call had
some connection with his work.

Oh, I don't think so.
He sells machine tools.

I mean, it's really very ordinary.

I'd still like to talk to him.

You'd be wasting your time.

There's no charge.

Anyway, he's off on a trip now.

When will he be back?

Tomorrow afternoon about :.
Look, Mr. Mannix--

Mrs. Stabler, it's really
very important to me.

Is it all right if I drop by tomorrow?
About :

Al right.

Frankly, Mr. Mannix, my husband's
a very positive kind of man.

I don't think there's much chance
of his rehiring you.

Well, I'm not trying to drum up business.

Just call it professional pride.

Hi, Peggy.
Lieutenant Malcolm's here.

And we made a deal.

Hot coffee for fresh information.
Hello, Art. What have you got?

Your runaway girl's Romeo, Pete Rivers,

did time at the Men's Facility at Chino
for as*ault with a deadly w*apon.

He tore up a guy who, according to his story,
was trying to steal his motorcycle.

Motorcycle.

Did he belong to a g*ng?

Oh, no.
He's strictly a loner.

Came out a couple of years ago from Chicago.
But he's clean.

He runs a crash pad, works during the day as
an auto mechanic, even does some sculpture.

Sculpture?

Yeah, the boy's an artist,
or so he says.

Anyway, no prior record,
that's why the light sentence.

You got a photograph?
Yeah.

You recognize him?

Did he force you over the cliff?

Those freaky outfits they were wearing,
it's hard to tell.

Peggy, if you find any--

Joe, this is strictly a police matter.
So will you stay out of it?

I'm grateful for the help, Art.

But you're going to keep digging, right?

Until my head stops hurting.

Well, it's a free country...
except for the funeral expenses.

Art...

Thanks.

Are we still off our cases?

As of now, I'm in business for myself.

Now, about that missing Barden girl.

Did you find out anything about the guy that
answered that underground newspaper ad?

Alex Rainey?
Yeah.

I got an address.

But I think I should be the one
to go see him.

Peggy...

Joe, he's young, black and probably militant.

No.

I stand a better chance of getting through
to him than you do.

Maybe you're right.

But be careful.

Now, first I want you to call Dan Brockway
at the hospital.

Tell him I've decided to stay on the case

until I can find out why somebody
wants me off it.

Then call the Bardens and Mrs. Stabler
and give them the same message, huh?

Joe...

You're asking for trouble.

Well, it has been kind of quiet
the last couple of hours.

Good morning, pretty lady.
What's your pleasure?

Oh, that's a heavy question.

Right now, I'd like to talk to Alex Rainey.

You Welfare?

I'm his mama.

Oh, that'll please him no end.
He'll drum up a storm.

What's your pleasure?

Uh, a Honolulu cooler.

Honolulu cooler?

A Honolulu cooler.

The single overriding fact about drumming
is the primitive response it evokes.

Man is a chanting animal.

Drumbeats are heartbeats,
the true sound of the inner world.

I'm hip.

No, you're not.
You're tight with the plastic world.

You're into dates and facts and reality.

That's true, too.

Want to hear a fact?

Listen to a date?

That's my kind.

If it suits you.

What suits you?
What do you want?

A place.
Sho nuff?

I mean, you is one stone fox,
but why is I the subject of your attention?

Well, I reckon it's your natural sense
of rhythm.

Honolulu cooler?

Honolulu cooler.

Lay it on me.

Pete Rivers.

I need to find him.

Parole board
or just a sweet little pig?

No parole. He's not wanted.

I have business with his lady, Joyce Baden.

I find him, I find her.

Call it.

Call it for me.

Heads.

It's tails.

I win and you lose.

I always was a rotten gambler.

You, uh--you don't push.
I like that.

Pete's in Venice with little Joyce.

It's not in sunny Italy.
It's Aqua Road.

That's a rat's nest,
hard by the polluted Pacific.

Mr. Mannix.

Come in.

Aren't you going to ask me the question?

About you and Wayne Jensen?

About me
and Wayne Jensen.

No, thanks.

Well, Mr. Mannix,

the answer is yes.

Or was.

Was?

Past tense.

It's all over.

The end of a love affair.

Love?

Well, I wouldn't call it that.

It was more like two cripples
holding each other up.

Doesn't sound like a very good reason
for cheating on Dan.

I have reasons.

What reasons I don't know,
but I had reasons.

Now you're going back to Dan?

Oh, no.
That's no good, either.

That's all wrong.

Both sides of the coin.

Joel

Hello, Dan.

You knew all along you were leaving the
hospital today, not tomorrow, didn't you?

He's not here.

Well, Dan, did you come here
to k*ll your wife or just Wayne Jensen?

I told you to get off this case, Joe.

Didn't Peggy call you?
I don't know.

Now, look, I'm sorry, Dan,
but I had to keep digging.

You hired me to nail Jensen on embezzling.

When I started to get too close
to your wife and Jensen,

you decided that's when
you wanted me off the case, huh?

You've got it all wrong, Joe, that isn't it.

Dan, stop playing games.

He knows all about Wayne and me,
all about us. I have no secrets.

Mr. Mannix, will you take me
back to town, please?

Why did you do it?

I gave you all the money you needed.

I love you!

That's it right there,
and in that order.

First the money, and then the love,
almost as an afterthought.

I didn't want the money.

I didn't marry money.

I married a man,
and look what became of him.

All those dirty jobs you took,
for all that dirty money.

All for you.

Did you ask me?
You didn't even listen.

You put me in a trophy case and let me
suffocate all by myself.

You know, sometimes I think you wanted
someone other men would envy.

Honey, I thought I was...

I guess I thought I had to pay for you.

How could a beautiful woman like you
go for a guy like me?

I never could understand why you married me.

I'm old, and I've got lumps,

and I'm half-educated.

Why?

I loved you.

We had such a chance.

But we lost.

I guess that's it.

At least we got the truth out.

Barbara, you said I didn't listen.

Now you're not listening.

I don't hear anything.

Do you want to?

What have you got in mind?

Honey, we both did wrong.

Can't we, maybe, both get it right?

Can't we try?

I'll get it.

Mr. Mannix' office.

Oh, hi, Harve.

It is? Oh, good.
Can you run it over right away?

Thanks, Harve.
Bye-bye.

That was Harvey at the garage.
Your car is on its way.

Oh, thanks, Peggy.

Any idea who it was, Joe?

No, but whatever was supposed to happen
hasn't happened yet,

because they're still after me.

So I've got some time.

What do you do with it?

First of all, I keep my appointment
with Mr. and Mrs. Stabler.

Thanks, Peggy.

It was just a crank phone call,
Mr. Mannix.

My wife got upset, but--

You were upset, too, Tom.

Well, I was.. startled for a second, honey,
that's all.

It really disturbed my wife, as you can see.

She even bought me this good-luck charm
to ward off evil.

It didn't just "disturb" me, darling.
I was frightened.

And I guess I still am.

Tom, please--

All right, all right, okay.

Please, come in, Mr. Mannix.

Thank you.

What would you like to know?

I'd like to know exactly what happened.

Well, the phone rang.
I picked it up.

I heard it just as I was coming in.

I didn't see Tom in the living room,
so I picked up the extension in the kitchen.

It was a man's voice,

a whisper, and he said,

"It'll be a neat, bloody death
and you're it."

Lisa, Lisa. Don't exaggerate.

That's what I heard!

Isn't that what she heard?

Well, he wasn't that coherent.

Just some clown mumbling on the phone.
Maybe drunk. I don't know.

Who knows what a kook like that thinks?

He talked about a death.

And then he said-Well, it sounded like
"Look out for the salad, Tom, boy."

He knew your name?

He knew my name,

and he called my phone number,
and he talked about salad.

I mean, man, that's some kind of weirdo.

Look, honey, I'll have the phone number
changed. Will that make you feel better?

Easy. Easy, honey.

Hello?

Yes.

Uh, yeah. Well, what is it you want?

Yes.

I'm selling tombstones.

Yeah, that's right.

And you could sure use one for your grave,
Tom, boy.

You understand what I'm saying?

Yes, I understand, but-but I don't
understand what you want.

We're going to bury you.
That's right, Tommy.

We're going to bury you with that medal
right around your pretty throat.

You listening to me good?

Keep him on the phone.

You get this medal today?

Yes, just when I got back.

Why?

He mentioned it,
which means that he saw it.

He must be outside someplace,
watching this apartment.

Keep talking to him.

Who are you?

If you want money, I'll pay you money.
I mean, just to--

Well, you're driving my wife crazy,
and you're scaring me, too.

Keep stalling.

Tell me what you want,
and I'll give it to you.

Please quit calling us like this.

You don't have to tell you don't have to
tell us your name.

You'll be as dead as a doornail.

Do you hear me, Tom, boy?

We're going to bury you with that medal
right around your--

Excuse me, I think there's something wrong
with this instrument.

What?

Mr. Stabler? It's all right.

I've got him.

Look, I'm sorry.

It was just a joke.

A joke?

Yeah, a bad joke.
I'm sorry.

You scared my wife half to death!

You must be sick!

I said I'm sorry!

Sometimes I get these crazy impulses.

Let's see some identification.

What for?

Okay. We'll let the police ask the questions.

Oh, wait! Wait!

Here.

"Allan Boone. Cerrito Road.
Sacramento."

Yeah. You see, I'm a salesman.

I'm on the road all the time.

Sometimes I get these crazy impulses.

But I'm leaving town tomorrow.

There's a one-way plane ticket to San Jose.

You see'? You see?
I'll be gone!

I'll never come this way again.

Why did you do it?

It's her.

Beautiful girl.

I guess I get jealous.

I don't know. I'm sorry.

You want to prefer charges, Mr. Stabler?

He's out from under his rock now.
Let him go.

Well, he frightened your wife.
He could call somebody else.

The only way you can stop him
is to prefer charges.

No, no, honest!

Mr. Mannix, we don't want any trouble.

I mean, reporters hanging around
and all that.

I don't want to prefer charges.
Let's just drop it.

Thanks a million!

I promise I'll never--
I promise.

Thanks.

It's over.

We're grateful.

Yes, thank you.

Glad I could help.

As a matter of fact, I think I may have
eliminated part of a problem of my own.

Hello, Joyce.

I don't know you.

But I know you.

He's from my parents.
They sent him.

Is that right?
That's right, Pete.

b*at it.

They'd like to talk to you, Joyce.
That's their problem.

But it's not that simple, you see--

Joyce cut the cord, man.

Just let it dangle.

Can't you give them that much, Joyce?
Just talk?

My father.
Who can talk to him?

It's like rapping with a stone.

He's worried about you.
So is your mother.

My mother is a charter member of every good
cause west of the Rockies.

Oh, she's okay, but she's got her own thing.

And there's no room for me.

So I'm making my life...with Pete.

Now b*at it.

I'm just a guy delivering
somebody else's message.

And it's simple: They love you, Joyce,
and they're worried about you.

Yeah, well, she didn't get the message.

Would you like me to repeat it?

What do you mean by that?
You're gonna haul me back there?

No. I'll just call them,

and from then on,
it's between you two and them.

Listen, I love Pete,
but I know they won't buy that.

They're worried about you, Joyce.

You do have a prison record.

One bust!
And I'm straight now.

Look, he's working.

Pete is very creative, and his work is good.

Why don't you tell them that?
Talk to them.

I'm sure they want to understand.

Oh yeah, I'm sure, come the day.

Look, Joyce doesn't want to talk to them,
so just split.

Now.

Pete.

I told you, move!

Pete!

I love her.

So run me in.

I told you.

I love Joyce.

Love.

You've heard the word before, Father.

Darling, please--
I love him, Mom--

Okay, I'm an ex-con, scratching for a living,
and not much going for me.

I consider that an admission that you're
after her money.

Now, Jason, you promised.

Mr. Barden, is Joyce that rich
in her own right?

How much does she actually have?

Well, she won't get the income from
her trust fund for another two years,

and she can't touch the principal
until she's .

Just on the make for your bread, right?

Right.

See, Jason?

All right, maybe it's not the money.

Thanks.

Why did you two run away?

I knew you'd set the cops on me,
so we took off.

Well, at least that's honest.

Thank you, Mr. Mannix.

I want to be honest about something else,
Mr. Barden.

You can't chase me off, scare me off,
or buy me off.

We are going to stay together.

Nothing's going to change that.

Mrs
Why don't we all sit down?

Mr
I'd like to be honest, too.

Okay, so why don't we talk it over?

Joe, what happened?

I solved all three of my cases.

Then why the graveside expression?

Three dead ends.

What's going on?

I think I may have an answer for you.

A witness saw him driving away from the scene
where you were jumped

five minutes after you went over
the cliff.

Is this one of the men?

I've never seen him before.

He's okay, Grove.

Oh, you dumb hunk of lard.

Now hold on!

The pigs busted me.
He got me off.

The dude wants to talk to you.

About what?

I want to know who paid you
to give me a workout.

How did he fix it with the fuzz?

He kept his mouth shut.
He didn't put a make on me.

Nobody paid us, mister.

And you shouldn't come around here
making accusations.

Dig?

I want some information.

I'm willing to buy it.

Why don't you think it over?

I'll wait.

He's all shook up.
Throw him away, Grove.

Hold it. He's mine.

All mine.

All mine.

Hold it!

Wait a minute. Wait a minute

Straight man,

you got yourself a deal.

But it's gonna cost you bucks.

.

It's a deal.

You got some-you got some nice moves.

I'd a settled for .

That's him, pal.

I don't know where my husband is.
He left town.

An important deal, he said.
He'll be back sometime tomorrow.

Now, Mrs. Stabler,
that threatening phone call you heard.

The man said, "It'll be a neat, bloody death,
and you're it?"

That's right.

I thought that was all over.

Well, not quite.
What else did you hear?

Well, he did say it twice,

but that's about all.

That sad, sick man.

I don't like to think about it.

Mrs. Stabler, I'm afraid this is
very important.

Now you told me he said,
"Look out for the salad.”

Well, that's what it sounded like.

What it sounded like, but maybe not
exactly what he said?

Are you sure the word was "salad"?

Well.. "Sally" maybe?

You mean it could've been a name?

Sally.

"Look out for Sally" or...

Sal...

Well, it did sound like "salad."

Could he have said "Look out for Sallah?"

Well, maybe, yes. I'm not sure.

I can't remember exactly.
What's the difference?

Salad? Sally? Sallah?

Sallah?

Yeah, by Sheikdom out of Sally's Girl.
Great horse. Great bloodlines.

Is that what you got me out of bed
at : in the morning for?

And he's running in
the Mountain Stakes tomorrow?

Sure. Be a lot of money bet on him.

Prince Jaffa flew over yesterday just to
cheer him into the winner's circle.

Prince Jaffa flew here with the horse?

To help train him.

He practically lives
with that animal.

You mean Prince Jaffa of
the Dhenbai Federation?

Yeah.

You know, it's funny. He must be worth
$ billion in oil, or his country is,

but I bet he'd spend all of it
just to win that race.

Max, let me ask you a political question.

What would happen if the Prince got himself
sh*t, here, in the United States?

That would be the sh*t heard
'round the world.

Yeah, and someone else would get control
of that $ billion worth of oil.

Pretty high stakes.

Thanks, Max.

Peggy, call Lieutenant Malcolm.

Tell him to meet me at the Santa Anita
racetrack, on the double.

I think someone's out to k*ll Prince Jaffa.

Yeah.

Drop it!

Drop it, Stabler!

Now back off.

How?

Your wife remembered the name of the horse.

Ironic.

Lisa was concerned for me
and the whole thing falls apart.

But it was a nice try, Tom, boy.

And if you'd put me in a hospital,
it might have worked.

That wasn't a threatening phone call your
wife heard,

it was your assignment,
a contract to k*ll the Prince,

from your friend Boone.

And then the two of you planned that second
phone call to get me off your back.

Well, now all the police have to do
is find out who hired Boone.

Get the g*n!

Just hold him.

You okay, Joe?
Yeah, I'm fine.

Well, they're all yours.

Take 'em.

Thanks for the call.

Well, I'll, uh-- I'll see you, Art.

Oh, you can tell the prince that the odds
on Sallah have improved substantially.