05x20 - A Walk in the Shadows

[bunniefuu]

Hello.

Hi.

I asked you not to call here.

Is he with you?

No, he's in the shower.

I missed you.

I think Tom knows.

We'd better get together,
decide what to do about that.

He's going out of town this afternoon.

Perfect. :

Al right.

The boat?

Yes.

♪♪

Mr. Mannix?

I have to talk to you. It's urgent.

Come in.

Please sit down, Mr...

Farnon, Tom Farnon.

Now, what can I do for you,
Mr. Farnon?

It's about my wife. Somebody k*lled her.

When?

This afternoon, a few hours ago.
I was there. I saw the man.

But I don't know who he is.

Did you go to the police?

No. No, I haven't talked to the police.

I'm afraid they'll think
I'm the one who k*lled Linda.

Why?

Unit to Control.

Control. Go ahead, .

Lieutenant, I've located the Farnon car.

It's parked outside Paseo Verde.

I'll be right there.

-.

Let me see if I can
put this all together.

Now, you suspected that your
wife was having an affair.

You overheard her
arranging a meeting with a man.

Scotch? So, you rushed down to
to the Marina to confront them.

To my boat. I started into
the cabin. There was a sh*t.

This man lunged past me,
knocked me aside.

He dropped a g*n and ran out.

I picked up the g*n
and I saw my wife on the floor.

You rushed out of the cabin
with a g*n in your hand.

Yes. And then the boat blew up.

I saw the man racing away
in a yellow sports car.

I tried to follow him, but I lost him.

After that, you just drove around?

I must have been in shock.

All I could think of
was Linda lying there.

And finally,
you decided to come here.

I began to realize how the whole
thing would look to the police.

Excuse me. Why don't you come
right on in, Art?

Sorry, Joe, this is business.
I'm Lieutenant Malcolm,

Los Angeles Police Department.
Are you Thomas Farnon?

Yes.

Is that your sedan parked in front?

Yes.

Well, we've had quite a time
finding you, Mr. Farnon.

Your wife is dead.

She was on your boat
when it was blown up.

I suppose you know that.

Her body was recovered from
the Marina just before dark.

She'd been sh*t.

A security guard at the Marina
saw you running from the scene.

You had a g*n in your hand.

I'll have to ask you to come
down to headquarters.

Wait a minute, Art.
What about the other man?

What other man?

The man that was in the cabin

when Mr. Farnon found
his wife's body.

He drove off in a yellow sports car.

Sorry, Joe. Nobody saw another
man, or a yellow sports car.

We found this on the floor of
Mr. Farnon's car. It's a ..

The b*llet we recovered from
the body was also a .

I found that g*n in the cabin.
The other man dropped it.

The man who k*lled my wife.

We'll be going now, Mr. Farnon.

There was another man, Mr.
Mannix! I swear it!

Your friend Farnon really made
the morning paper -- right

between a mid-East crisis, and
a presidential summit meeting.

Thanks, Peggy.

Joe, I think you've lost a case.

I talked to Vivian, and
according to her, the whole

department's sure
it's open-and-shut.

That's just what bothers me.

That he's guilty?

No, but if it's such a clear-cut case,

why did he come here at all last
night? What did he hope to gain?

Why didn't he just run
for the nearest border?

Maybe that's exactly what he
wanted you to wonder.

Or maybe he didn't run because
he was hoping somebody might

believe the story and help him.

Joe, his story's full of holes.

What about the g*n
they found in his car?

Farnon says he picked it up
when the other man dropped it.

What other man?

He simply vanished
into thin air, I suppose.

Look, Peggy, the lies are so clumsy,

there's got to be
some sort of truth to them.

Joe, when you tell a whopper,
you make sure.

You sprinkle a few grains of
truth in the mixture,

then nobody knows what to believe.

Look, now, if there was no other
man, then we're talking about

premeditated m*rder, and Farnon
just doesn't seem like the type.

Joe, you never saw him
before last night.

Hey, I hired you two minutes
after you walked through that door.

Okay, so you liked the look
in his baby blue eyes.

But that look could be deceiving.

You mean, if he can create
enough doubt about the existence

of another man, he might even
be able to convince a jury?

You said it, I didn't.

Okay, what if I found
the other man?

You'd be chasing a ghost.

Just suppose I put a name to him.

That means you're going to try.

That's right.

Just say it's in the interest
of psychical research.

Art, they told me downstairs
you wanted me to look in.

Oh yeah, I thought
I'd better tell you,

you're spinning your wheels
on that Farnon case.

What makes you say that?

Remember Farnon's
explanation about this?

About how it happened
to wind up in his car?

Yeah, the other man
dropped it in the cabin,

and Farnon picked it up.

I'm afraid that fairy story
about the other man

won't wash anymore.

That's Farnon's g*n.
It's registered in his name.

What?

And ballistics says it's also
the g*n that k*lled Mrs. Farnon.

Here, see for yourself.
Another thing:

the b*mb that destroyed the boat

was primed with fulminate of mercury.

We found traces of it
in the wreckage.

So?

So we also found
traces of fulminate of mercury

in the trunk of Farnon's car.

That's impossible, Mr. Mannix.

My revolver is at home,
in the study, locked away.

No, it's not, Mr. Farnon.

It's upstairs in Lieutenant
Malcolm's possession.

It's a police exhibit.

On the boat, when I picked it up,

I never dreamed
it was my own g*n.

The man I saw.
He must have stolen it.

How do you explain
the fulminate of mercury?

What are you talking about?

The detonator
that blew up your boat.

Mr. Mannix,
I don't know the first thing

about fulminate of mercury.

The police found traces of it
in the trunk of your car.

Then somebody put it there.

The "other man"?

I saw him! He was there.

He called my wife
the day it happened.

You have to believe me.
You have to find him.

Where do I start?

Well, I'm not very proud
of this, Mr. Mannix but,

a few months ago, I hired
a private detective to follow Linda.

Maybe he can give you a lead.

Who is he?

His name is Rand.

Phil Rand?

Yes, you know him?

I know him. What did he find out?

I'm not sure
I know how to answer that.

At first, he gave me
the impression that Linda

was involved with another man.

And then, suddenly,
he said he was wrong,

that there was nothing going on.

And then what?

He dropped the case.
Just like that. But...

But you felt he was holding
something back?

I just didn't know.

I mean, I recognized how jealous
I'd always been about Linda.

I began to think
maybe I was being psychotic.

All right, Mr. Farnon,
I'll have a talk with Phil Rand.

Hi, Joel

Hello, Emma.

Oh, it's good to see you.

Who's that manhandling my woman?

How are you, Joe?

Hello, Phil.

Come on in.

I'll get the coffee.

It's been a while
since you've been by, Joe.

Well, you know how it is
with us bachelors.

We've got to try
and make it on our own.

Say, Phil, have you been reading
about the Farnon case?

Hasn't everyone? Why, you involved?

Well, he wants me
to prove he's innocent.

That's asking a lot.
I don't know what to tell you.

He's got a business partner,
Carl Blake.

Have you talked to him?

No, he's away on a hunting trip.
He's due back today.

I'm going to see him tonight.

Still black, isn't it?

Yeah, still the same. Thanks, Emma.

Phil, I understand
you did some work for Farnon.

Yeah, a few months back. Another
crummy keyhole case. I hate 'em.

What, what was your reading
on Farnon?

Jealous, very jealous.

Do you think
he's capable of m*rder?

No way, Joe.
The guy's a pussycat.

What did you come up with
on his wife?

Same thing I told him, nothing.

As far as I could tell,
she was completely devoted.

Farnon says that,
in the beginning, you led him

to believe that his wife might
have been having an affair.

Well, I guess I have to plead guilty.

I, uh, I don't follow.

It's been a rough year, Joe.
I needed the money.

I kind of strung him along
for a few weeks,

until another job turned up.

I didn't feel too bad
about it at the time, but...

Now that he's on the griddle,

well, I guess it's
a little late to cry about it.

Well, I guess
I'll just have to keep digging.

Thanks, Phil.

For what? I didn't do a thing.

I'll see you to the door.

You know, Emma, you still
make the greatest coffee.

Oh well, yeah, but you always
come by for coffee.

Why don't you try coming by
for dinner one time?

I'll do that.

A lot better. Okay, bye.

Wait here.

Mr. Blake, Mr. Mannix is here.

Mr. Mannix. Thank you, Mary.

Mr. Blake.

Please excuse me
for not shaking hands.

Come in, come in.
Can I fix you a drink?

No, thank you.
Say, this is quite a collection.

This is only part of it.
There's more in my workshop.

You know, I keep telling myself
this is only a hobby.

But, frankly, I think
I'm a frustrated gunsmith.

Please sit down.

This model here
I rebuilt almost totally.

But for some reason, the locking
lugs seem a bit stiff.

But then you're here
to talk about Tom.

I'm anxious to help.

Mr. Blake,
what was your initial reaction

when you heard the news
about Mr. Farnon?

I couldn't believe it.

Do you now?

No. No, I don't think Tom
is capable of m*rder.

How long have you known him?

Hmm, years, at least.
We've been partners for eleven.

I know him, Mr. Mannix.

Mr. Blake, were you aware
that Farnon

believed his wife was having an affair?

Yes, we talked about it.

I told him, in my opinion,
his suspicions were groundless.

Oh, they had rough spots
here and there,

but what marriage hasn't?

"Course being a bachelor, I feel
I have every right to judge.

The trouble is,
if Farnon's story is true,

then his wife was unfaithful
and there was another man.

We can't have it both ways.

I'm afraid you're right.

Is Farnon handy with g*ns?

Tom? Hardly. I tried for years
to get him interested in g*ns.

I even gave him a hunting r*fle
as a present.

He gave it back. Said it made
him feel uncomfortable.

Why, he couldn't even sh**t a rabbit.

But he did have a ..

Mannix, duck!

He's dead.

Any idea who he was, Joe?

Never saw him before.

But I do know he's connected to
the Farnon case.

How?

Yellow sports car that tore out of here
right after the sh**ting.

Yellow sports car?

You remember, Art.

Farnon saw a yellow sports
car at the Marina, too.

That wouldn't be the first
coincidence I've run into.

There are lots of yellow
sports cars around, Joe.

Here it is, Lieutenant.

Oh, here.
That's what went past your ear.

That could have
slowed you down some, Joe.

You all right, Mr. Blake?

You know, a little while ago,

you asked me if I thought Tom
Farnon was capable of k*lling.

Suddenly that question applies to me.

I've had an animal in my sights
more times than I can remember.

I've pulled the trigger and
never thought too much about it.

But tonight I pulled
the trigger on a human being

and I'm forced to think about it.

You saved my life.

I k*lled man, Mr. Mannix.

Yes! That's him.

Are you sure?

That's the man on the boat.
He k*lled my wife.

Who is he?

His name is Edward Cole.

Does that sound familiar?

No.

Ask him the right questions,
Lieutenant.

You'll learn I've been
telling you the truth.

I'm afraid that won't be
possible, Mr. Farnon.

He's dead.

He was sh*t last night.

He was trying to k*ll me at the time.

He must have learned
that I'd hired you,

and was afraid you'd find him
and prove that he k*lled Linda.

He is the man, Lieutenant.

All right. That'll be all
for now, Mr. Farnon. Ryan.

I believe him, Art.

Look, Joe, nobody saw Cole on the boat.

Farnon could have been running a
bluff. What did he have to lose?

But he didn't know he was dead.

How do you know that?

He was in prison.

Joe, the grapevine in there

is faster than your
morning newspaper.

Roughly four hours.

What?

Judging by the look in your eyes,

I'd say you had roughly
four hours sleep last night.

Thanks, Peggy.

There's just too many
questions rattling around.

Such as?

Yellow sports cars.
Farnon saw one at the Marina.

I saw one last night.

was it the same car,
and if so, who was driving it?

Who are you calling?

Somebody that might
know the answer.

Hello. Oh, hi, Joe.

Just about to call you.
You made the papers.

You okay?

Yeah, fine.

This guy Cole who sh*t at you.
Any idea why?

Farnon claims he was the one
that k*lled his wife.

No way to prove that now, is there?

No. Cole d*ed before anyone
could question him.

Say, Phil, did you take any
pictures on the Farnon case?

Yeah, a few. Why?

If Cole's face showed up in one
of them, or a yellow sports car

with a license number,
it might be a start.

I'm not sure, but I think the
pictures are still in the files.

Mind if I have a look at them?

Sure thing, Joe. I'll be
in the office around noon.

Thanks again, Phil.

What is it, Phil?

Huh?

Well, something's bothering you.

You bother me.

Oh, hello. Can I help you?

I'm Joe Mannix. I was supposed
to meet Mr. Rand here.

Oh, yes, he called in earlier
and said you were coming.

He's going to be a little late.
Maybe I could help?

He was supposed to show me some
pictures from the Farnon case.

The Farnon case?
Well, I don't know.

I assure you, it's quite all right Miss...

Thompson.

Miss Thompson. But if you'd
rather I wait for Mr. Rand.

No. No, I'm sure there's no problem.

Here we are.

There don't seem to be any pictures.

I'm not sure there ever were any.

Mr. Rand was quite sure
there were some.

Is this the only file on the case?

It's the only one I set up.

And you don't remember putting
any pictures in this folder?

No, I don't,
but Mr. Rand might have.

It's hard to say. But he'll know.

Yeah, sure.

Oh, I've got to go to the post office.

Since Mr. Rand is on his way in,
I'm sure it would be

all right if I went ahead
and left you here.

Would you mind, Mr. Mannix?

I'll even answer your telephone.

Thank you.

Mr. Rand's office.

Joe?

Yes.

Hi, Emma. May I speak to Phil?

He hasn't come in yet, Emma.

Gee that's funny.
He left over an hour ago.

Said he was going straight to the office.

Oh, he probably had to
stop off some place.

His secretary said he was
going to be a little late.

His secretary?

Miss Thompson.

Phil doesn't have a secretary.

Joe?

Emma, I'll call you right back.

Emma, don't go in there.

I want to see him, Joe.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Rand.

What happened, Joe?

There's nothing we can
tell you, Emma, not yet.

You, uh... you mentioned
something about a secretary?

Yeah, she was here when I arrived,

going through the files.

She k*lled him?

We don't know that, Mrs. Rand.

But if she did, we'll find her.

Ryan, would you take
Mrs. Rand home, please?

Emma, I'll stop by later.

Joe, I think I'd like you to
come downtown and help our staff

artist make a sketch of
your "Miss Thompson."

That's pretty close.

At least that gives us
something to go on.

I don't know.

Any lady clever enough to pull
off the performance I saw

probably wore a wig,
and didn't need glasses.

It's the only lead
we've got at the moment.

Well, if you have any luck, Art,
let me know, will you?

Yeah, you bet.

You'll hear from me, Tom.

Mr. Mannix, my lawyer, Alan Preston.

Mr. Preston.

How do you do, Mr. Mannix.

I have every confidence you'll
be out of here in a few hours.

Do you believe you can arrange
bail, Mr. Preston?

Oh, I am arranging it, Mr. Mannix.

Since Mr. Farnon's arrest,
two men, both principals in

the case, have been k*lled.

In my opinion, the evidence
against Mr. Farnon

has become increasingly
less than compelling.

In light of his position in the community,

I think bail is in order.

It's not uncommon, you know.

Nice to have met you, Mr. Mannix.

Mr. Preston associated
with your company?

He's also my personal attorney.
Has been for years. Why?

Oh, I was just wondering.

What's that?

This is Phil Rand's file on your case.

But the pictures he took are missing.

I think that's why he was k*lled.

I don't understand.

Phil Rand told me
he didn't take any pictures.

What?

It's the first thing I asked
him. He said no pictures.

You sure?

Yes.

Joe.

Hello, Emma.

Thanks for coming by, Joe.

I made some coffee. Come on in.

I put out two cups. Habit.

Emma... can we talk?

I think I know how
you must feel right now.

What I've got to say isn't easy.
And I wish it could wait.

No, no. I understand.

There are some questions I've got to ask.

I'm afraid they're going to hurt.

Maybe not as much as you think,
Joe. It's about Phil?

Yes.

Well... we were married
for almost twenty years.

Oh, I know how he was about
money, people, conscience.

It didn't stop me from loving
him, but I wasn't blind, either.

Just, in the beginning,
he had it all going for him.

He really, he really could have
been something big, you know.

I know.

It's just that everything
had to be his, his own way,

a little off center.

Emma, Phil told me

that there were pictures
on the Farnon case.

And he told Tom Farnon
just the opposite.

Were there any pictures?

Oh, I don't know that, Joe.

I do know, shortly after
he started working on the case,

he made large deposits
in his checking account

for $,, $,.

The money just kept coming in,

even after he told Mr. Farnon
he was dropping the case.

Emma, I think there were
pictures, and I think the money

and the pictures were connected.

You think Phil was k*lled
because of the pictures?

It's possible.

Emma, tell me, where would Phil
keep something like negatives

if he didn't keep them at the office?

Wait a minute.

A couple of weeks ago, yeah, a
couple of weeks ago, he asked me

for my key to the safety deposit
box, said he lost his.

Gosh, I didn't think much about
it, but now that you mention it.

Do you think that the negatives
might be there?

I know there's something in that
box he didn't want me to see.

Would you mind
if I took a look, Emma?

Well, it might help us
to find out who k*lled Phil.

Lieutenant Malcolm just called.

Farnon's out on bail, and the
Lieutenant is not too happy

about it -- Find anything?

Yeah, eight negatives, five prints.

That's a picture of Ed Cole,
with Mrs. Farnon.

And a gentleman in a plaid jacket.

So far, faceless.
Mrs. Farnon again.

And the gentleman
in the plaid jacket again.

Still faceless. He really gets around.

Mrs. Farnon's car going somewhere,
but no yellow sports car.

You know, this looks like
the new Los Cruces development.

Joe, do you think you might find
something in the missing prints?

I don't know.

I'm hoping they'll give us
a clear sh*t of the gentleman

in the plaid jacket.

Phil Rand was blackmailing someone.

He probably sent the prints
to whoever it was

to prove he had the negatives.

Which makes the magic number .

Peggy, I'm going to try and find
the house in Los Cruces.

You run across the way to Barney.

Have him print up those three
negatives. I'll call you.

Okay, Joe.

Anybody home?

Mr. Mannix' office.
Joe, did you find the house?

Yeah, Los Cruces Road.

Has Barney printed up those
negatives yet?

He just got back.
He's working on them now.

He said he'd bring them over
the moment that they're dry.

Give me the number there.

Got it. I'll call you right back.

Mr. Mannix, what are you doing here?

I might ask you the same question.

Tom Farnon called me
and asked me to meet him here.

Farnon? Did he say why?

No. But our company owns
this piece of property.

We've been talking about selling it.

Here you are, Peggy.

Thanks, Barney. Is there a sh*t
of a man in a plaid jacket?

Three, all in sharp focus.

Tom should have been here by now.

That's probably my secretary.

Don't answer that, Mannix!

All right, Mannix, Turn around.

And slowly take your g*n out
with your left hand,

place it on the table.

Easy.

All right, now step aside.

Okay, I'll take those pictures.

What pictures?

I followed you from Rand's apartment.

You went to a bank,
opened his safety deposit box.

Oh, those pictures.

Well, after the bank, didn't you
follow me back to my office?

I did.

That's where they are.

I don't think you could have
found this house without them.

Now, unless you'd care
to die for them...

Where are the other negatives?

Oh, you mean the ones showing
you as Mrs. Farnon's companion?

Where are they?

My secretary
was having them printed up,

and then she was going to
deliver them to the police.

You should have let me answer the phone.

Well, you call her back.

I'm afraid it's too late.

You'd better hope that it isn't.

Now, Mannix, you call her and
you tell her to bring the film

here, prints and negatives.

Margaret will have gone by now.

She answers to Peggy, and if you
try anything like that,

you'll never get to finish the call.

Make it sound good.

Hello.

Peggy?

Joe, I just tried to call you.

I was outside.
Photos back from Barney's yet?

Yes, just came in.

Very clear sh*ts of the man
in the plaid jacket.

Shall I call Lieutenant Malcolm?

No, no, not yet. I've got a few
things I want to clear up first.

Bring the pictures here, Peggy.
Los Cruces Road.

It's important.

Whatever you say, Joe.

Prints and negatives, Peggy.

Prints and negatives.

All four.

Right. I'll get there as fast as I can.

Well, Mannix, you bought
yourself some time.

And what have you bought, Blake?
It must be something big.

Big enough. Three quarters of a
million out of company funds.

It must have taken
quite a bit of juggling.

I had help from another insider.

Mrs. Farnon.

She was a very bright woman.

She took an active interest
in the business,

particularly the financial statement.

She became suspicious.

Fortunately, she was attracted
to me, and she was vulnerable.

And you led her on.

She fell quite hard. Ordinarily
I wouldn't have minded.

But, well, let's say I was
committed to someone else.

The "brunette" in Phil Rand's office.

Her name is Ellen Jeffers,
and actually she's a blonde.

And drives a yellow sports car.

I bought it for her.

With the promise of a lot more to come?

You seem to have added things up
very well, Mannix.

I suppose you're putting
the rest of it in order, too.

I think so.
Cole was someone you hired.

He was playing a part, to bait
Tom Farnon to the boat that day.

Yes.

Mrs. Farnon knew that Tom was
listening in on her phone calls.

When she made the rendezvous
with Cole, she knew that Tom

would rush down to the marina
at the appointed hour.

I take it Mrs. Farnon knew
nothing about the larger plan.

Well, she thought the plan was

that Tom would be blown up
in the expl*si*n.

She didn't know that she was

arranging her own death, of course

and that Tom
would be blamed for it.

Two birds with one b*mb.

It would have been tidy.

And the night Cole came to k*ll me,

he was still on your payroll.

He had no idea
you intended to k*ll him

and make it look as if
you'd saved my life.

It would have worked, too,
except for one hitch.

Phil Rand.

Yeah, Mrs. Farnon was paying him
off to keep quiet about us.

And I didn't find out about it
until later.

You found out about it when
Rand tried to blackmail you.

I was shocked. I must admit,
I almost panicked.

You k*lled Rand in his office
and then took off fast,

while your blonde friend with
the wig stayed behind to search

his files for the pictures.

I'll let you ask her about that.

Come in, Ellen, Tom.

Mr. Mannix, I thought you'd be out--

Working on the case?
I was, Mr. Farnon.

The job is over now.

Carl, what are you doing?
What is this?

Why, Ellen, didn't you explain

to Tom why I wanted you
to drive him out here?

All I said was that you insisted

he take another look at the property.

That it was personal.

That's right, Tom.

Some of your wife's things
are still in one of the closets.

Linda's things!
What are you talking about?

Linda's never been here.

Oh, but she has, Tom.

On so many Tuesday
and Friday afternoons.

It's so private here,
so isolated.

You, you were the one
she was seeing.

Watch it, Mr. Mannix!
I'm very good with this.

I was taught by an expert.

All right, let's everyone
get comfortable.

There's going to be a slight delay

while Mr. Mannix'
secretary drives out with the film.

You're not really going to k*ll us here.

It wouldn't be very smart.

No problem, Ellen and I need

only a few hours
to get out of the country.

We're all packed, and by the
time the police find you

and your secretary dead from
this unregistered .,

and Farnon dead with a b*llet
from your g*n...

Well, by the time they figure
out what questions to ask,

and whom to ask them of,
we'll be safely out of reach.

You have a very efficient
secretary, Mr. Mannix.

She follows orders perfectly.

Too bad you won't have a chance
to give her a raise.

Relax, Mannix.

Peggy, Run!

All right, now, I'll take those pictures.

Now, please!

Well, Thank you.
You've been very helpful.

You all right'? Let's go!

Hold it!

Take him.

What did you do,
stop off for coffee, Art?

Give us credit, Joe.

We figured you'd have a better chance

if Blake thought it was working
and Peggy got him outside.

For a while, I thought
you'd missed my signal.

With all that three-and-four
mumbo jumbo?

You know, Peggy, you've got
a great head for figures.

I've had better compliments.
But I'll settle for that.