07x13 - All the Dead Were Strangers

[bunniefuu]

Don't, Warren. Please.

All right, Carol, let's have it.

I knew that something was wrong

when you asked me
to meet you up here.

Why not your place?
Why not the boat?

Because they're too full
of memories,

and you're very persuasive.

I wanted to tell you last night.

Tell me what?

Up there on the mountain,
we both made a promise.

Carol, we were as good as dead.

There isn't anyone in the world

who wouldn't have made
the same vow,

and then said the hell with it
the second the danger was over.

Warren, we wouldn't
have worked out anyway.

It just became very clear
to me up there,

and I'm going
to keep my promise.

Look, I'll phone Paris tonight.

I'll ask Anne for a divorce.

No. It's too late.

My mind is made up.

Good-bye.

Hello.
Carol!

How marvelous. Come on in.
Hi.

I thought you were still
in the hospital.

I was going to run up to Banning
this week and say hi.

No. They let me out yesterday.

Maybe they shouldn't have.

You look absolutely bushed.

lam.

Jeannie, I am in such a mess.

Could you possibly
put me up tonight?

Well, of course,
Carol. I'd love it.

I couldn't bear
the thought of being alone.

You know, honey, this isn't
a good time for us Gemini.

Man trouble?

Oh, sort of.

Yeah, me, too.

Well, we'll just sing the blues
to each other

and get it off our chest.

Where's your car?
Right outside.

Uh, you better
give me the keys.

All-night parking around here

will get you
a ten-dollar ticket.

Oh, no, no, I can do it.

No, no, no, I've got a slot,
a secret slot in the garage.

It's one I finagled for Bruce.

When I had Bruce.

Listen, you fix the drinks.

I'll be right back, honey.

The thing I can't get out
of my mind is,

if, uh, I hadn't gone there,
Jeannie would still be alive.

You couldn't have known
what was going to happen.

Oh, incidentally, why did you go
to Jeannie's last night?

She was my friend,
my best friend.

I just dropped in.

At : in the morning?

Uh... I was upset.

I needed to talk.

Mind telling me
what you were upset about?

Oh.

Something personal.

You're a fashion designer.

Are there
any professional rivalries

or jealousies that could have
gotten out of hand?

No. None.

Besides, I haven't been at
the office for nearly a month.

I was in a plane crash.

We were on our way
to Sun Valley.

We?

Um, the passengers in the plane.

Six of us and the pilot.

Oh, yeah,
I remember reading about that.

Uh, charter flight.

Cracked up
on Mount San Gorgonio.

After a week,

they were all written off
for dead.

Yes.

Then a helicopter spotted us,

and we all survived, except, um,

for one of the men
who had gone for help.

He was k*lled in a fall.

Hmm.

Now, could there be any possible
connection between the crash

and someone wanting to k*ll you?

Well, uh,
people face-to-face with death,

under great stress--

Things are said and done
that aren't normally...

Why are we here... alive?

Why were we not all k*lled?

Reflect on this.

None of us is dead.

Why?

Do you think the Lord spared us

because he only wanted us
to die here, miserably?

No.

He spared us because each of us
still has work to do.

His work.

Let us do that work.

But first,

let us make ourselves worthy.

Let... let each of us
admit our sins

and pledge to expiate them

if only God will save us.

Purge yourself
and live, brother.

Only the truth
will make you free.

Confess.

Confess to the Lord.

Confess, brother.

Confess, sister.

Confess!

Miss Middleton?

I'm terribly sorry.

I'm...

I'm probably not making
any sense at all.

I just... I can't get Jeannie
out of my mind.

I understand.

Mr. Mannix,

I'm afraid to go back
to my apartment.

Of course.

Yeah, Peggy,
would you come in a minute?

We're going to have
a houseguest for a few days.

Welcome.
Thank you.

I'll show you to your room.
It's upstairs.

Oh, and, Peggy,

uh, then maybe
you can drop by her apartment

and pick up a few
of her things, huh?

Sure.

Not much left of that car.

Whoever the guy was,
he was a pro.

Yeah. Say, Art,
could we get a rundown

on all the others
who were on the plane?

Why? What's your angle?

Uh, no angle.
Just a hunch. You mind?

Why should I mind?

Here we are.

A thumbnail check
on the whole bunch.

Came in about an hour ago.

It sounds like maybe
you have an angle.

Just routine.

Incidentally, there's nothing
here to connect anybody.

It looks like
they were all strangers.

Let's see.
Donald McGrath, age .

He owns a wine shop
in Westwood Village.

He got a bad case
of frostbite on the mountain.

McGrath was the hero, wasn't he?
He went looking for help.

Yeah, he and Henry Philbin,
a writer from the Marina.

Uh, Philbin got worse
than frostbite.

Fell , feet,
never seen again.

Come next spring, he'll show up

and scare the daylights
out of some hikers.

And there's Carol Middleton,
age , fashion designer.

I know about her, Art.

I guess you noticed--
she's got great legs.

What have you got on the pilot?

Uh. Oh, John Clive.

Air Force.

He's held a commercial license
for four years,

and he's flown
for five airlines.

Moves around.

Oh, maybe he's restless.

He got a broken arm
in the crash.

Luckily,
there was a nurse on board.

Let me see.
Lylah Delaney.

She's freelancing
in the Los Angeles area now.

Malcolm.

Yeah, well,
can you patch him through?

Yeah, all right, I'll wait.

Here's a weird guy to be going
to a fashionable

spa like Sun Valley.

Herbert Surtees Breen.

Why weird?

Yeah, I'm waiting.

Well, Mr. Breen
isn't the skiing type.

He's an evangelist.

He bills himself as Little Ned.

Yeah, hello, Benjie.

Yeah?

Well, why me?

Why not Missing Persons?

Oh, I see.

Yeah, that does
make a difference.

All right. Thanks, Benjie.

Judge Warren Lockwood,
Superior Court,

had a full docket this morning.

He didn't show up.

Maybe he overslept.

Maybe.

Judge Lockwood was one
of the passengers on that plane.

Mr. Clive?

That's right.

Well, they told me
over at the airline office

I might find you here.

What's on your mind?

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

So?

I'd like to ask you
a couple of questions.

Such as?

Well, for openers,
can I buy you a drink?

That's the sort of question
I can answer.

How about you, sir?

Irish rocks.

Is this an insurance
investigation about the crash?

I'm representing one of the
passengers, Carol Middleton.

Well, if she's thinking
of a damage suit, forget it.

There was no way
to avoid that crash.

Weather closed in on us,
and that's all she wrote.

Well, I'm not trying
to pin the blame anywhere.

I just want to keep
my client alive.

Alive?

Someone's trying to k*ll her.

Do you think it was somebody
on the plane?

Well, that was, uh,
one of my questions.

Far out.

And, uh, nothing happened
at all, uh, nothing unusual?

Nothing.

Well, uh...

if something does occur to you,
I'd appreciate a call.

Sure.

Sweeten it, Jimmy.

Mannix.

This is John Clive.
Can I buy you a drink?

Where and when?

Whitman Towers,
apartment C, tenth floor.

As soon as you can, okay?

I'll be there in about,
uh, minutes.

Art?

You get around, don't you, Joe?

Clive wanted to talk to me.
How did it happen?

He went off the balcony.

Left a su1c1de note.

I don't buy it.

Why not?

Well, think about it, Art.

A plane crashes,

a girl is blown up
because someone thinks

she's Carol Middleton,
passenger.

Judge Lockwood, missing,
passenger.

Clive, dead out on the sidewalk,
pilot.

Not to mention the guy
that got his

up on the mountain,
Henry Philbin.

Hello?

Yeah, this is Malcolm.

Where?

It's a positive match,
you're sure?

All right. Thanks, Sergeant.

Where's your client
about now, Joe?

Why?

They just found
Judge Lockwood's body

in his car at the bottom
of a cliff in Elysian Park.

And what's that got to do
with my client?

There were two sets
of tire tracks

where the judge's car went off,

his own and a set
of Italian radials,

thick new treads,
that happen to match exactly

the tires on the car
that was blown up.

I want to talk
to your client, Joe.

Carol?

What, no farewell note?

Not funny, Art.

Somebody's cutting down
that list of passengers,

and now Carol's missing.

I'll put out an APB.

Don't bother.
I'll find her myself.

You do that.

I've still got some questions
I want to ask her.

I hope you weren't too worried
about me.

I was.

I'm sorry.

Would you mind telling me
where you've been?

Well, when Peggy went home,

I happened to look
out the window,

and I saw a man in the paseo

who seemed to be watching
the apartment.

A couple of minutes later,
I heard someone at the door.

I was terrified.

I ran down through your office
and went out the back way

and waited across the street.

Then |-I saw a car leave.

It must've been him.

Why didn't you come back here
and wait for me.

Well, I was going to,
but, uh,

I saw you arrive
with the Lieutenant,

and I just didn't feel like
answering any more questions.

About you and Judge Lockwood?

I guess I was stupid to think
you wouldn't find out.

You drove up to Elysian Park
last night to meet him.

Only to tell him
I wouldn't see him again.

He'll tell you the same thing.

He can't, Carol.

He's dead.

He was k*lled last night,
in Elysian Park.

Oh, God.

Oh!

Carol.

I know you don't want
to talk about it...

...but I've got to know what
happened up on that mountain,

after the crash.

I can't talk about it.

We promised.

People are being k*lled.

Now, you don't want to have that
on your conscience.

John Clive is dead, too.

The pilot?

So you see, I've got to know.

We were all freezing to death...

...waiting to die.

At a time like that...

you ask yourself:

"Why me? Why us?

Who put seven people
on a mountaintop to die?"

There was someone up there
who thought he had the answers.

Little Ned?

Yes.

Are you without sin?

All of you?

Well, I'm not.

My friend...

until last night,
when I looked up at the stars

and knew that I would live,
I was in the grip of the devil.

It's true.

I never felt
the call to religion.

It was a way to make money,

money I needed,
money I had to have because...

I---

I am an addict...

a junkie.

Little Ned, saver of souls,

is a dope fiend.

I was on my way
to a mountain retreat

to try to rid myself
of my cravings.

Sister Lylah is traveling
with me.

She's my nurse.

She was going to help me.

But there is no help
unless the Lord gives it.

Confess.

Sister Lylah...

confess.

I didn't turn to nursing
to heal the sick.

It was a way out of the ghetto.

I had a patient, an old man.

He thought I was good, kind.

He liked me...

put me in his will.

Then when he was dying, I...

watched.

I might have been able
to help him,

but I let him die.

Please, don't let me die.

Give me another chance.

Amen, Sister Lylah.

Suddenly, nothing seemed
important except the truth.

I made a promise
that Warren and |

would never see each other again

if my life was spared.

Warren made the same promise...

if my life was spared.

What about the others?

What they said
was in confidence.

Carol...

one of them could have regretted
his confession enough

to want to k*ll the people
who heard him.

It was Little Ned
who convinced the others.

And you, brother,

will you save yourself?

You know why we're up here?

"Cause I'm a drunk.

When we hit that weather front,

I should have turned back.

I thought I could make it.

I'm sorry.

You've got to believe me.

I'm s orry!

I swear, if I get out
of this thing alive,

I've had my last drink.

Amen.

Oh, that's great.

Oh, that's... that's just great.

Here we are freezing to death

because the flyboy's
a boozehound.

You know what I ought
to do to you, Captain?

Look at you.

What a penny-ante g*ng
of second-string sinners.

You know what
my little hang-up is?

I mean, what-what turns me on?

It's this.

I'm a torpedo.

That's right, a k*ller.

I was on my way to Sun Valley
to make a hit.

A grand hit.

Reverend,

there's been
a slight change of plan.

You can chalk one up
for the guy you work for.

N-N-Not that I'm making
my peace with him.

No, none of that bull.

But if we get out of here...

If we get out of here,

then that guy in Sun Valley,
he won't have to worry.

Amen.

By the way, I guess
I won't need this, huh?

Amen, brother.

I may just be sick.

Brothers and sisters,

I've had it.

I'm going to get
my frozen backside out of here.

I'm going to make my way

down to where sin roams as free
as the deer and the antelope.

I'm going to take my leave

of this chapter
of the Bleeding Heart Society.

And if I make it,

I will tell them that you're all
up here b*ating your breasts.

And if I don't,

I will have d*ed trying.

And not on my knees.

Hey, McGrath, wait.

Two of us might stand a chance.
That's up to you.

What have I got to lose?

His life...

that's what he had to lose.

He fell and was k*lled.

But Philbin's body
was never located.

No.

And if he ever came back
to life,

he'd sure want to buy back
his confession.

Are you saying the man
at the door tonight

could have been Philbin?

I'm beginning to think
anything is possible.

Well, anyway,

we've got to find you
another place to stay

for the next day or two.

Obviously, you're not safe here.

Morning.

Hello, there.

Are you Don McGrath?

If you're in the market
for a ' Chateau d'Yquem

at bucks a bottle,
I certainly am.

That's a bit heady for my taste.

I stick to
the California brands.

You could do a lot worse,

but if you quote me,
I'll deny it.

My name is Mannix, Mr. McGrath.

I'm a private investigator.

Are you investigating
this very minute?

I'm trying to run down a man

that was in the airplane crash
with you?

Which man?

Henry Philbin.

Either you have a macabre
sense of humor, Mr. Mannix,

or as a detective,
you are no Sherlock Holmes.

Philbin is dead.

Or supposed to be.
Oh, he's dead all right.

I was there.

We were about half a mile
down the mountain,

on our way to get help.

After an hour or so,
we decided we would, uh,

take different trails.

The next thing I knew
there was a yell, I turned,

Philbin was falling.

There was no actual proof
that he was k*lled.

I can't think
of anything more fatal

than a straight drop
of , feet, Mr. Mannix.

Mr. McGrath,
there's a good chance

that one of the passengers
aboard that plane

is systematically k*lling
all of the others.

I know Philbin had a motive
to get rid of anyone

who was up there with him.

Because he bared his soul
to the Lord,

confessed to what he was?

So much for the vows of silence.

Which one of them told you?

Well, you might say that,
uh, I made a vow, too.

Now, if you won't buy the notion
that Philbin could be alive,

would you have any idea
as to which of the survivors

might be a k*ller?

What about the reverend?

Little Ned?

He was by here last night.

Now, he's a strange fellow.

I, uh...

I made the mistake
of offering him a glass of wine.

You should've heard him.

He called me a pusher.

"Wine is a mocker,
strong drink is raging.”

Um, it's from Proverbs,
I believe,

but it's hardly the most
gracious way of saying "no."

What did he want?

He was in a high state about all
the backsliders from the plane.

Said the wrath of God
would smite down everyone

who went back to sinning.

Sounded like
the avenging angel himself.

And the sinner will pay
in the end.

For the shortcut, the easy way,

the gluttony of the senses.

The bill mounts up.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Repent now.

Repent now.

Repent now!

The Lord loves you, brother.

Repent now. Repent now.

Can I help you, brother?

Yes, I called you.

I'm investigating the death

of two of the survivors
of that airplane crash.

Oh, Mr. Mannix.

Have a seat.

Would you like some tea?

No, thank you.

Human nature is frail.

On the mountain,
my brothers and sisters

made a bargain with the Lord.

He kept his part of the deal.

Did they?

You tell me.

They did not.

When he was saved,

the judge tried to resume
his life of carnality.

How do you know that?

The Lord,
in his infinite wisdom,

shows his children the truth.

And the pilot, John Clive,

he resumed his drunkenness.

You have been busy.

I do his work.

He said, "Thou shalt not k*ll."

Whoever k*lled them
was an instrument of the Lord.

Did you keep your part
of the bargain?

I have, brother.

On the mountain,
the Lord helped me

through the agony of withdrawal.

I will never touch dr*gs again.

What about your nurse?

Sister Lylah?

She, too, has regressed
to the ways of sin.

She accepted employment
with another invalid.

A lady.

A very old, very rich lady.

She was plucked
from the jaws of death.

Now she feels she can live
without the help of the Lord.

They all do.

And that is
the most horrendous sin.

Where can I find Sister Lylah?

At the Clarendon

in Culver City.

Well, uh, thank you.

Brother Mannix?

Tell her it's not too late.

Tell them all...

it's not too late.

Carol?

This girl's got
quite an act, Joe.

She disappears into thin air.

That settles it.

I'm going to have her picked up.

For what?

Too much blood has gone
under the bridge

since she went driving
in Elysian Park.

Oh, sure.

She's an expert on dr*gs,

knows a lethal dose of heroin,

and carries the junk
and the needle with her

around the clock.
Give me a better candidate.

Little Ned.
He kicked the habit.

Well, that doesn't mean
he gave his kit to charity

and took a tax deduction.

He was ready to bring
fire and brimstone

down on all the backsliders.

So?

McGrath said he sounded
like an avenging angel.

Now that the bodies
are falling like bowling pins,

I'd say that's worth
a few questions.

If McGrath would give me a sworn
statement, I'd ask them.

Try him.

Ah, hello, Mr. Mannix.

I was rather expecting you.

And the police, right?

Lieutenant Malcolm.

Why were you expecting us?

I heard
about Sister Lylah's death.

There are only three
of us left, Lieutenant,

and I, for one, am beginning
to look over my shoulder.

If you'll come downtown
and sign a statement

that Little Ned
threatened all of you,

we'll pick him up.
Now?

We're just thinking
of your life, Mr. McGrath.

It's a little late to let me
know you care, Lieutenant.

I haven't seen
too many men in blue

doing watchdog duty
outside my establishment.

We're not that obvious,

but someone's been keeping
an eye on you.

Oh, that accounts
for the energetic man

with the lawn mower.

Much obliged, Lieutenant.

I'll lock up,
be right with you.

We'll take my car.
Oh, Mr. Mannix,

I have discovered a superb
California burgundy.

May I bag a bottle for you?

That's very kind. Thank you.

I'll bring it with me.

Now there's a man
that's happy with his work.

I've known K*llers that were
happier with their work.

You know, you make a hell
of a gardener, Krasny.

By any chance is one of your
watchdogs watching Little Ned?

Joe, there are certain
elementary aspects of my job

that I do understand.

Seven on board that plane.

Five are gone
and only two are left.

Little Ned and your client.

And maybe Henry Philbin.

You may be right about Philbin.

What changed your mind?

We got his phone number
from the airline.

It doesn't exist.

Malcolm.

Yeah, send him in.

It's our friendly
neighborhood informer.

Hey, Lieutenant.

Come in, Willy.

You know Joe Mannix.

Oh, I do believe somewhere
in the past. Mr. Mannix.

But, Lieutenant,
you know I don't like

a third party present when
we're having our conversation.

My lips are sealed, Willy.

If the word gets around

that I've been paying
social calls to you,

I won't be any use
to the department.

I'll be dead.
All right, Willy,

you've registered
your complaint; now listen.

There's a hit man using the name
Philbin-- Henry Philbin.

About five- , brown hair,

maybe pounds,
in his middle s.

Had a contract
for somebody in Sun Valley.

grand.
Any notions?

Not much to go on.

He was in a plane wreck
up in the mountains.

Took a fall and was k*lled.

Maybe you ought to check
with a medium.

They never found his body.

Oh, poor man.

Well, uh...

It's something.

Not much...

but it is something.

Peggy.
Joe.

Oh, uh, by the way,
your client's inside waiting.

I missed you last night. Again.

I'm sorry.

I knew you wouldn't
let me go where I had to go,

so... I went on my own.

Where?

To see Little Ned.

There's a good chance
that Little Ned is the k*ller.

That's why I went to see him.

You mind explaining why?

I thought about what he said
on the mountaintop

about, uh,
not escaping God's justice

if we didn't keep our word.

I figured he might be the one.

I thought
if I could convince him

that I had kept my promise...

then he'd be satisfied.

Yeah.

Okay, Peggy.

I'll, uh... be right back.

Joe.

I've just come from the morgue.

Who this time?

Little Ned.

Somebody spiked his tea
with strychnine.

He had a female visitor
before he was k*lled.

The description sounds
a lot like your client.

Come in, Art.

Miss Middleton,
you don't have to answer this,

but did you see
Little Ned today?

Carol...

before you say anything,

maybe we'd better get you
some legal help.

Why?

I saw him.
I've nothing to hide.

He's dead.

I'll have to ask you
to come with me.

It's all right, Carol.

Joe, you believe she's guilty?

No.

Well, then why did you
let Art take her?

Because she'll be safer in jail.

Okay, Willy, I'm here.

Joe, I got
something for the Lieutenant,

but I'm afraid
my umbrella's showing,

so pass it on to him, wIllya?

I'm listening.

Well, the syndicate put out
a contract on Phil Norden.

He's the head
of the Crime Commission.

And, uh, he was supposed
to get dusted in Sun Valley,

but it seems the hit man--
name of Henry Philbin--

He was on that plane
that crashed.

Now the word is,

Norden's on his way to L.A.
and the contract is still out.

Go on.

That's it, Joe.

Willy, uh,
you wouldn't be playing

both sides of the fence?

Joe...

Me?

Norden was resting up
in Sun Valley

before coming to L.A. to
testify against the syndicate.

And Philbin was on his way to
k*ll him when the plane crashed.

The contract's still out, Joe.

Maybe they hired another
mechanic to make the hit.

No, another mechanic
wouldn't bother

to get rid of
the people on the plane.

They were k*lled because
they could incriminate Philbin.

That makes sense.

When does Norden's plane
land in L.A.?

Train, Joe-- Norden's
a crusader without wings.

He doesn't like to fly.

The Union Terminal?

Nice place to make a hit.

That's what we figured.

If Philbin's alive,

we're gonna give him
a target he can't pass up.

Yeah.

By

Pier Six to -W- .

Pier Six
to -W- .

Riot and ambulance units

in position and ready.

Attention all units,
railroad terminal and hotel.

Train now rounding Toliver curb

and entering freight area.

Estimate arrival:
two minutes and seconds.

It's your baby now, Art.
Good luck.

Pier Six to -W- .

Over and out.
Thanks, -W- .

We're all set here.

Train's on time, Lieutenant.

Sergeant.

Oh, that's all right,
Mr. Mannix.

The Lieutenant's waiting
for you in the baggage car.

Hello, Joe.
Art.

Hey, I suppose
it did occur to you

that Willy might be setting
us up for a double cross.

It occurred to me;
that's why I had him picked up.

Good thinking.

Come here.
I want to show you something.

Take a look.

See that hotel
across the street?

That's the only place
someone could get a perfect sh*t

at Norden when he steps down
onto the platform.

Last night,
after we got the word out

that Norden was arriving
by train,

somebody checked in

to that third room on
the right on the second floor.

But more important, he matches
Philbin's description exactly.

He spend the night?
No, he didn't.

-W- to -W- .

Go ahead, Hank.
Suspect approaching lobby.

Carrying package.

Could be a r*fle.

Suspect has entered elevator.
Over.

-W- to -W- .

Suspect stopping at room.

Getting key.

He just went in the room,
Lieutenant.

Here goes the burn, Lieutenant.

-W- to -W- .

Got him, Lieutenant.
We got him.

Good work.

Tell the boys to relax;
the suspect's on ice.

It's okay for Norden
to get off the train.

-W- to all units.
Code four.

Suspect in custody.

-W- to -W- .

All secure, McGee.

You can unload your cargo.

It's okay, Mr. Norden.
Let's go.

By

-W- to -W- ! Lieutenant!

This guy in the hotel is clean!

That package he was carrying
was curtain rods!

-W- to all units.
Emergency.

Disregard code four.

Suspect not in custody!

Get Norden back on that train!

By

It's McGrath.

Yeah. Come next spring,
when they find Philbin's body,

I'll lay you odds
there'll be a b*llet in it...

from McGrath's g*n.

How do you figure that, Joe?

McGrath and Philbin must've
been in business together.

That's why they were both
on the plane to Sun Valley.

When Philbin started
sh**ting his mouth off

up on that mountain,

McGrath figured
he had to get rid of him

and everyone else
who was on that plane.

Is this where
we're having dinner?

No. Uh, just a drink.

Oh. Are the glasses clean?

I figure straight booze
will sterilize anything.

Irish rocks, twice.

This will only take a second.

You know, Willy, it's really
difficult to be fond of you.

Sorry about the cross.

They had me against the wall.

I'd say that comes
with your line of work.

Joe, I want to hire you--
I mean, starting this minute.

What for?

Somebody's trying to k*ll me.