06x20 - The Faces of m*rder

[bunniefuu]

...freeway measure

said they would carry
their fight to the governor

to prevent what they term
an ecological disaster

in the Simi mountain area.

On Wall Street,

oils and electronics
led the way

in a last-hour rally
which traders attributed

to a rash of good
quarterly earnings reports.

In superior court today,
it was standing room only

as the bribery trial
of Lucas Hume got under way.

Hume, a consultant

for the city planning
commission,

appeared grimly silent
as he emerged from the courtroom

after hearing the prosecution's
opening salvo against him.

The prosecution said
it would prove that Hume,

prominent
in city cultural circles,

accepted a $, bribe
early last year

for awarding city-owned land
to the land development firm

owned by Gil Ryan.

Ryan, who has been
granted immunity

as a prosecution witness,
promises to be the key figure

in the prosecution's case
against Hume.

I gotta get to the gym.
Puttin' on a few pounds.

...a glimpse
of singing star Linda Cole,

who has been linked
romantically with Ryan

for the past two years.

Ms. Cole interrupted
the filming

of her forthcoming
television special

to be with Ryan
at the opening of the trial.

And now for a look
at the latest in sports.

Don't you want to hear
the rest of the news?

What rest of the news?

You don't like me very much,
do you?

The city assigned me
to protect you.

It doesn't matter
what I think.

You're absolutely right.

What you think makes
no difference at all.

Just make sure you keep
that hall door locked.

Don't worry. I'm not exactly
holding open house.

Who is it?

Loeb's Pharmacy.

Relax.

I ordered something
for my stomach.

It's been k*lling me
since dinner.

You'll see nothing else
kills me, right?

Here, give him this.

Here you are.

You ought to try some of this.
Best on the market.

My stomach's fine.

I don't get
into your kind of trouble.

I hope the next guy
who's assigned to me

comes equipped
with a sense of humor.

Ryan!

Hold it.

Give me the g*n.

Joe, there's a girl here
to see you.

Does she have a name?

Hume. Christina Hume.

Any relation to Lucas Hume?

Sister.

It's an open-and-shut case,
Peggy.

There's nothing
I can do for her.

Oh, Joe, she's very upset.

Just talk to her
and let her down easy, huh?

Okay, Peggy.

Ms. Hume, he'll see you.

Mr. Mannix.

Thank you for seeing me.

Please, sit down, Ms. Hume.

If this is about your brother,

I'm afraid
there's nothing I can do.

You can prove
that he didn't do it.

Your brother was found
standing over Gil Ryan's body

with a g*n in his hand.

My brother is innocent,
Mr. Mannix.

What makes you so sure?

Because...

I k*lled Gil Ryan.

Why me? Why not the police?

I've been to the police.
They don't believe me.

They think that I'm just trying
to protect Lucas.

Was that unreasonable of them?

I k*lled Gil Ryan,
Mr. Mannix.

I'll pay you anything to...

To convict you of m*rder?

Yes.

Why did you do it?

Because he framed my brother.

And because he used me
to do it.

Used you?

We were having an affair.

Until I found out

that all Gil wanted from me

was to get to my brother.

I had dinner with Lucas
last night...

and we discussed the trial.

You don't understand, Lucas.

The man doesn't care
about anything.

He intends to put you in jail.

Chris, don't worry.

It'll be all right.

It won't be all right, Lucas.

You always think everything
will be all right.

He won't get away with it.
He can't. There's no case.

How could I be so stupid?

How could I bring him here
into this house?

How could ?

Chris, you couldn't have known.

How could you?

I believed him, Lucas.

I really believed
that he loved me.

Chris, he hasn't proven
anything yet.

He won't get away with it.
Believe me. I'll be all right.

Come on, a little brandy

and you'll be all right.

I don't want any brandy,
thank you.

Uh, could I have some coffee
instead?

Okay. I won't be a minute.

By

Chris?

Who is it?

Loeb's Pharmacy.

Relax. I ordered
something for my stomach.

It's been k*lling me
since dinner.

Here, give him this.

Here you are.

Just get out of here.
Go straight home.

Make sure no one sees you.
Do as I say.

I shouldn't have gone.

That's exactly the way
it happened, Mr. Mannix.

And the, uh, papers seem to have
a different version.

Lucas keeps insisting
that he did it.

Ms. Hume,

did anybody know you were
seeing Gil Ryan--

Linda Cole, for instance?

No.

No one,

except Lucas.

Will you help me?

Well, I'd hardly call it helping
to put you behind bars.

My brother is innocent,
Mr. Mannix.

"My brother is innocent,
Lieutenant Malcolm."”

I heard it all, Joe.

The girl came to my office
this morning.

It got me right here.

Now you didn't track me down
in this weather

to tell me that.

Art, a girl like Ms. Hume

doesn't confess to a m*rder
just for kicks.

You're underprivileged, Joe.

You haven't been introduced

to the cream
of Los Angeles society.

When a blue blood
gets into trouble,

a decent sister
rushes to his defense.

Art, she admitted having
an affair with Ryan.

It wasn't easy for her to do.

Big deal. On today's market--

Charlie, you're gonna
have to dust this whole room.

I will, Lieutenant.

Joe, I'd like to talk to you,

but I have a homicide
to investigate.

The Hume case
is over and done with.

Over and done with?

It was tough.
I'll admit that.

A crooked politician

puts a couple of slugs
in the guy that fingers him.

He's discovered standing
over the body

holding a g*n
that's registered in his name.

Tough, but I cracked it.

Where did Hume get a key
to the apartment?

How do I know?

With Ryan's
underworld connections,

there could be keys out.

And a lot of his shady friends

are involved
in that bribery case.

Joe, she's a very pretty girl.

Why don't you take her
out to dinner and tell her so?

That's the best you can do.

Thanks, Art.

I didn't think he'd believe you.

If we could prove
you were close to Ryan,

at least it would be a start.

Prove it how?

Well,
when it comes to gossip,

L.A.'s a pretty small town.

Now, someone must have known
what was going on.

Gil was very...

discreet.

We met either at my house
or at his apartment.

You, uh, never went
anywhere together?

W-we had dinner out
a couple of times,

but no place
where anyone would see us.

Where?

A little Italian restaurant
in Long Beach,

Giovanni's.

They had marvelous scampi.

Have you decided?

Hmm. I'll have the linguine
with the clam sauce,

and the lady will have
the usual.

And what would that be,
signorina?

Now don't tell me
you don't remember Ms. Hume.

She's been here several times
with Mr. Ryan.

The signorina is very lovely,

but I don't remember.

Uh, wait a minute.
Now let's start all over again.

Why don't you tell him
it's all right to tell me,

'cause I won't tell anyone.

It's all right.

Please, tell him.

The scampi.

You must understand, signore,

in Giovanni,
the ultimate in discrezione

is almost as important
as the ultimate in food.

As a man of the world,
you appreciate that, certainly.

Certainly.

The police have been here
many times,

asking about Mr. Ryan,
signorina.

I-I didn't think you would like
to get involved in it.

That's all right. Thank you.

By

by

Joe, I don't figure
what you're getting at.

When I broke down the door,

there was nobody in Ryan's
bedroom except Lucas Hume.

You didn't see the door
to the hallway close,

and you didn't see a woman?

What woman?

There's no girl in Ryan's life
except Linda Cole.

Everybody in town knows that.

Lou, there was another woman.

I wouldn't believe it
if you showed me movies.

When we went to dinner
after the court hearing,

Ryan, Ham,
and Linda Cole and me,

the cigarette girl
smiled at Ryan.

I thought Linda
was gonna tear her apart.

Suppose she didn't know
about the other woman.

Not a chance.

Any girl came
within feet of Ryan,

Linda would've known it.

Look, Joe,

I'm in enough trouble
with the department already

for letting Ryan get k*lled.

They can't blame you for that.

Tell that to the commissioner.

Thanks, Lou.

We're all set, Linda.

Linda, we need you!

Linda, we're ready!

I'll be there when I'm ready!

Linda--

Mark, you're the lawyer.

Will you talk some sense
into her?

He's a lover, isn't he?

Huh? Gil isn't
even in his grave,

and I'm supposed
to get out there and just--

I'm supposed to perform
as though nothing ever happened.

Linda, did I know
it was going to happen?

Now we're running behind today.

The whole show's
going over budget.

Okay, okay, okay.

Come on, Linda.

I know it's difficult,

but you're a pro.

Oh, sure, Mark, I'm a pro,

someone who just makes
money for everybody else

and has no feelings.

Come on, baby,

you're gonna cry yourself
into a breach-of-contract suit.

I think it would be much better
if you went out there

and--and go to work.

Okay, but give me a few minutes
to pull myself together.

And tell our friend here

I'm not something
that you wind up.

Sure, sure, sure, sure.

Ms. Cole?

Who are you?

My name is Joe Mannix.
I'm a private investigator.

Not private enough.

Al?! Al

Like all managers,

hangs around till you need him.

All right, what do you want?

I'd like to ask you
a few questions

about the Ryan case.

Look, the police found
Lucas Hume

standing over Gil's body.

Now what do you want me to tell
you, the butler did it?

Well, there was
someone else involved,

a girl Ryan was seeing.

What girl?

There was only one girl
in Gil's life,

and you're speaking to her.

Well, they were, uh,
seen together several times.

Where'd you get
that cock-and-bull story?

Well, Ms. Cole, I, uh,
I didn't mean to upset you.

I just figured you were
a pretty sharp girl,

and you'd know.

I knew there was no one.

You couldn't be with Ryan
hours a day.

No, but Mel Faber could.
Mel Faber?

You hired a private detective?

He happens to be
a friend of mine.

Well, then he must have
told you about Ms. Hume.

Look, I don't have to give you

any explanations about anything.

Al, get this snooper
out of here! Al!

Don't bother, Ms. Cole.

I'll find my way.

Joe Mannix, huh?

Well, um...

okay, Jenny, I'll see him.

Hey, Joe.

Hello, Mel.

Long time, no see.
Yeah.

To what do I owe
this unexpected pleasure?

Well, I happened to be
in the neighborhood.

I thought I'd stop in and see
how the snoop business was.

Oh, I'm not doing much
detective work these days, Joe.

This is where it's at.

This is it, where the money is--

The burglar alarm systems.
Hmm.

It's great. People are
scared to death these days.

Yeah, so I hear.

Hey, I just got in
a new shipment,

a whole batch of new stuff.
Come on, let me show you.

Sure.

All right, Joe.

Why don't we start
the demonstration right here?

A door. A key.
Open it.

How about that?

Unless you use
the proper laminated key,

the magnet is activated,
and the alarm goes off--

Every door, every key.

Well, I'm afraid
I'm not in the market, Mel.

Uh, I feel safe.

But, sir, you ain't seen
nothin' yet.

Right this way, please.

A photoelectric eye.

Any pro would figure it out
in five seconds.

Joe, anybody tries anything
in this place,

it's a minefield.

A couple of guys tried
to break into the office

about a month ago, and the cops
were here in nothing flat.

Come on, it gets better.

My files are around the corner.

Circuits under the carpets.

Jenny.

Joe, I've got something new

that's really beautiful,
really terrific.

If you want
to protect something

that's really valuable,
this is it.

Really--like something
belonging to a client?

Well, in our business,
like the confidential file.

Hmm.

Now here is a combination
that you couldn't break

if you were Houdini.

Joe, look at something
for a second, huh?

You know, Mel, uh,

I run with a different crowd.

There we go.

Unh-unh-unh-unh-unh-unh.

Now observe.

Nothing up the sleeves.

Right.

Pick yourself a file.

Jenny!

Pretty cute, huh?
Hmm.

You get within a foot
of those files,

and your body heat
sets off the alarm.

Uh, speaking of files, Mel,

uh, I understand you did
some work for Linda Cole.

Whatever gave you that idea?

I heard it
from a very reliable source--

Linda Cole.

Oh.

Well, actually,
all I did was to install

a burglar alarm system
in her apartment,

you know, to protect
her jewels and furs.

Why don't we stop wasting time
with this double-talk, Mel?

Let me take a look
at the Cole file

and get it over with.

And if you do look, what do you
think you're going to find?

A lot of unpaid bills,
that's all.

Yeah, even with the money
she makes,

her business manager
doesn't pay easy.

Hmm. When I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

That's right, Joe.

You're wrong.

Look, we're both pros.

You know I can't show you
a client's file.

Oh, I understand, Mel.

Ethics is ethics.

You got it, Joe.

Nice seeing you.

Thanks for the demonstration.

My pleasure.

By

by

Was it worth all the trouble?

Names, dates, and places--
it was worth it.

Pictures, too.

Faber would be that slimy.

Yeah, he was at Ryan's building
the night of the m*rder.

He saw everything.

Faber at Ryan's?

He's got it all.

Followed Chris Hume
to the building,

heard the sh*ts.
He even saw Lucas Hume arrive.

And I've only read two pages.

Did Linda Cole know?

It says right here, uh,

"copy Ms. Linda Cole.”

Why didn't she tell the police?

I haven't gotten that far yet.

What do you suppose Faber
was up to?

Well, he probably smelled
a fast buck.

Peggy, call downtown
and leave word for Malcolm.

Tell him I'll be there tomorrow
morning, : sharp, huh?

Right.

What are you--

Peggy?

Play it cool, Mannix,

or you'll be looking
for another secretary.

He's got a g*n, Joe.

All right,

now just toss
that file out here.

Come on, Mannix,
I don't want to hurt the lady.

Make sure you slide
your g*n out first.

Come on, Mannix.

Now the file.

Now go back to your desk.

It'll make it easier
on everyone.

Don't get any bright ideas,
Mannix.

You stick your head
out the front door,

we'll blow it off.

All right, lady, inside

and close the door behind you.

You all right?

Faber!

Faber?

Morning, Peggy.

Good Morning.
Coffee?

Coming.
Good morning, Art.

There are two schools
of thought about that, Peggy.

Is he in?

Hey, come on in, Art.

What brings you out
on such a busy day?

Oh, never too busy a day
to call on a suspect.

What's the charge?

It's the Faber case, Joe.

I'm looking for the joker
that called in

and reported Faber dead.

Probably some solid citizen.

That solid citizen neglected
to leave his name.

Well, you know how things
are these days, Art.

People just don't like
to get involved.

Faber's secretary said

that you spent some time
with him yesterday.

Hmm. A couple old buddies
talking over old times.

You didn't go back there
last night?

Now, why should I, Art?
He's not open nights.

Thanks, Peggy. Coffee?

No, thanks.

Somebody broke into Faber's
office last night about :.

Seems like they were after
something in one of the files.

You wouldn't have an idea
what that something might be?

I was hoping you could tell me.

Me?

Joe, you wouldn't happen to have

the missing file around here,
would you?

Art, I do not have it,

and that is the truth.

Joe, they're screaming downtown.

Somebody k*lled Faber, and they
want to know who did it.

Yeah.

You know,
the DA's office wants me

to bring you in for questioning.

Would you, uh, like me
to go with you?

No, what good would that do?

It was your suggestion, Art.

Joe, the pressure is on.

Now I know
that you wouldn't call in

and report Faber dead.

I know that you would never
break into Faber's office.

And I know you haven't got
the missing file here.

But the DA's office
isn't so trusting.

They want some answers,
and you better dig some up.

I'll give you hours.

What was that all about?

He thinks
I'm holding out on him.

Well, aren't you?

I wish I was.

I could've sworn Mel Faber
was behind all of this.

I'd sure like to know what was
in the rest of that file.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Just a moment, please.

It's your client.

Hmm. Yes, Chris?

Joe, a-a man's been trying
to get into the apartment.

What happened?

Well, he was outside
the building all morning.

And then he came in and rang
the bell a couple of times.

I didn't answer.

He tried to force the door,
but I had the double lock on.

Where is he now?

Downstairs,

watching the apartment.

He's still there, Joe.

He's on the dock
where the boats are.

What's he wearing?

Kind of a gray tweed jacket

and black pants and shirt.

Now you stay away
from the window.

I'm on my way.

How did he find me?
Do you know who he was?

Some dime-a-dozen punk.

The important thing
is who sent him?

Why would anyone
want to k*ll me?

Well, with you
out of the way,

the trial goes on as scheduled,

your brother
goes to prison for life,

case closed.

Maybe it was
that private detective,

the one that Linda Cole hired.

Faber? He's dead.
He was sh*t.

Do you know who did it?

Someone who knew he had a file.

Faber was there the night
Ryan was k*lled.

If Faber was there,

then he must have seen me.

He, uh, heard the sh*ts.

He saw you leaving,
and he saw your brother.

Joe, that proves
that I was telling the truth.

Why can't you just go
to the police and tell them?

Right now it's only hearsay.

The only witness is dead,
and the file is missing.

If Faber was there that night,
why didn't he go to the police?

Probably because
there was money in it.

Chris,

in your brother's
business dealings with Ryan,

did he ever mention
any of Ryan's friends,

boys who might have put up
the bribery money?

He never did.
Is it important?

There must be information
in that file

that someone wants
to keep hidden,

and it must have something to do
with the night of the m*rder.

Chris, are you sure
there isn't something

that you might have forgotten
to tell me about that night?

I don't think so.

That leaves only one person
unaccounted for.

Who's that?

Delivery boy.

From Loeb's Pharmacy.

Did you actually see him leave?

I, uh...

I was so upset, I really don't
remember anything.

He might have heard the sh*ts
and come back.

He could've seen something,

and he was just too scared
to go to the police.

If someone found out about that,

they might k*ll him, too.

Unless I get to him first.

You ready?
Yes.

By

Hello, Sid.

Joe. I haven't seen you
in months.

You been buying
at the discount stores?

Now, Sid, would I do
a thing like that?

As long as you've been well,
I'll accept it as an excuse.

Sid, I'd like to talk
to one of your delivery boys,

the one who took an order
up to Gil Ryan's

on the night he was m*rder*d.

We didn't send anybody there.

Well, he was wearing
a Loeb's jacket.

I've got a witness
who identified it.

Well, the witness
needs glasses.

Ryan canceled the order.

Are you sure?

Joe, don't I take care of all
of my customers personally?

With the prices I charge,
I've got to.

Ryan called and wanted us to
send over a bottle of antacid.

We send the stuff to him
all the time.

minutes later,
the order was canceled.

Did, uh, Ryan cancel
the order himself?

I didn't answer the phone.
I'll have to check.

Well, Harold isn't sure
who canceled the order,

but he doesn't think
it was Ryan.

Then none of your delivery boys
went up to Ryan's apartment.

Joe, would I send
a delivery boy

if there was no order?

Somebody did.

Thanks, Sid.

Good luck.

Is this the entire report,
Doctor?

Yes.

Two b*ll*ts went
through Ryan's chest wall.

It's right there
on the x-ray report.

Did you check for anything
besides b*llet wounds?

No need to.
They were enough to k*ll him.

How long would it take
to perform a complete autopsy?

Well, there's no point

in wasting the taxpayers' money,
Mr. Mannix.

The wounds were still fresh
when the body was brought in.

What's the matter, Doctor?

Is he trying
to take over your job?

He's already replaced
the police department.

I'm just trying to help him
over some of the rough spots.

I understand you staged
a footrace

at the marina this morning.

We also know you've got
the Hume girl

stashed at Peggy's
apartment. Why?

Well, I'll tell you
all about it, Art,

if you'll do me
a favor in return.

Ask the doctor here to perform
a full autopsy on Gil Ryan.

The Lieutenant
hasn't got the authority.

And Mr. Ryan's attorney

requested the body
be returned for burial.

All right,
I'll, uh, get the authority.

We've got the two b*ll*ts
for evidence, Joe.

What do you want?

The b*ll*ts may not
mean much, Art.

I think it's just possible that
Chris Hume k*lled a dead man.

Say that again.

I think it's possible
Chris Hume sh*t a dead man,

which when you think of it
isn't much of a crime.

You're crazy, Joe.

If I am,
you can have me committed.

But you'd better
stick close behind, Art,

'cause I think
I'm on to something.

I don't see how the police

could have a stronger case
against Lucas Hume.

I'm a pretty good lawyer,

but I'd hate to have to try
to defend him.

I don't think we should
convict him, Mr. Mitchell,

until we have all the evidence.

Well, I don't know
what you're looking for,

but I'll help if I can.

I'd like permission

to have a full autopsy performed
on Gil Ryan's body.

Well, that's not up to me.

Linda Cole is the executor
of the estate.

I'll call her, if you like,
but I'm not too hopeful.

She just wants to get Gil buried
and the whole thing forgotten

as quickly as possible.

Don't bother, Mr. Mitchell.

I'll get in touch
with Ms. Cole myself.

Thank you.

Do you think
this is funny, huh?

Linda--

I mean, do you really expect me
to stand up

in front of million people
with this material?

Linda, the boys
will work on it.

They'll laugh,
all right--at me!

Linda, the boys will give you
anything you want.

I want it funny--
funny, funny!

I'm sorry, fellas.

She's been through a lot.

We'll work on it tomorrow, huh?

Okay, boys, that's a wrap!

We'll see you here same time
tomorrow. Thanks a lot.

What is it this time?

A favor, Ms. Cole.

Like what?

I need your permission

to have another autopsy
performed on Gil Ryan.

You must be kidding.

Get out.

It's possible he was poisoned
before he was sh*t.

Where did you get that?

Do I have your permission?

No, you don't.

Why are you so nervous
about another autopsy?

You afraid we'll find out
you k*lled Ryan?

Me? What are you
talking about?

I loved Gil.

Sure,

till you found out
about Christina Hume.

Then you sent
a phony delivery boy

up to Ryan's apartment,
no fuss, no nothin',

just a little poison
in a harmless antacid.

And then Ms. Hume
made the rest easy for you.

I didn't. I loved him.

Ms. Cole,
I'm gonna get another autopsy

if I have to go to the DA

Now what really happened?

Mel Faber get greedy?

Did you have to take care
of him, too?

No.

Then why didn't you go
to the police

with the copy of that report
Mel Faber gave you?

You certainly weren't out
to protect Christina Hume.

She could rot in jail
for all I care.

Then why?

Acid.

They said they'd throw acid.

This is all I have,

my voice and my face.

Mannix,

you're upsetting the lady.

Get his g*n.

Huh, shall we?

Mark.

Stick to your singing, Linda,

while you've still got a voice
and a face.

The syndicate
wasn't too happy

with what Ryan
was gonna say on the stand.

As their lawyer,

I didn't think
it was in their best interest.

So they had Faber k*lled

because he recognized
the phony delivery boy

and wanted a payoff.

Men get k*lled
for a lot of different reasons.

Go.

I thought I told you
to stick behind me.

You didn't say how far.

Take him.

It isn't over, is it, Joe?

I wish...

It'll never be over.

Never.

Never is the longest word
in the English language.

The point is

I did pull the trigger.

I know.

It may take some time,

but, uh, but one day you'll
be able to live with it.

Promise?

Now would I lie to a client?