"♪ (theme song playing) ♪" "♪ ♪" "Mannix s6e17 A Matter Of Principle" "♪ ♪" "(car horn honking)" "(suppressed gunshot)" "(honking ends)" "(indistinct conversation)" "Thank you very much." "(brakes squeal)" "(glass shatters)" "Young man, come back here this instant!" "Portia?" "I assure you, he has not heard the last of this." "(door opens)" "Can I help you?" "Mr. Joseph Mannix, please." "Uh, may I tell him what it's about?" "Young woman, I am not accustomed to making explanations to secretaries." "Please, announce us at once." "Excuse me." "Joe." "Is something wrong?" "I wouldn't know." "The lady does not, and I quote," ""make explanations to secretaries."" "One of those, huh?" "Two of those right out of a time machine." "Well, uh, show 'em in, Peggy." "Show 'em in." "Won't you come in, please?" "Mr. Mannix?" "That's right." "I'm Portia Penhaven." "This is my sister Penelope." "Please, sit down." "Would you, uh, like some coffee?" "Well, a cup of tea would be welcome." "Peggy?" "Tea." "The tannic acid counteracts the caffeine." "Now, uh, what can I do for you?" "At 10:30 this morning a man backed his automobile into our car, thereby breaking one of our headlights." "The one in the middle." "In the middle?" "Instead of stopping to learn the extent of the damage as the law requires, he fled the scene of the crime." "And?" "That's it." "That's it." "Well, uh, what is it you would like me to do?" "I want that person found, Mr. Mannix, found and brought to justice." "Well, now the, uh, police handle traffic accidents with great efficiency, Ms. Penhaven, and the service is included in your tax bill." "I have no intention of going to the police, Mr. Mannix, considering the unpleasant experience" "I had with them." "And what experience was that?" "I was given a citation, forced on me by an arrogant young officer." "He insisted that my automobile was interfering with the-what's it called-- flow of traffic." "Hmm." "And, uh, when was this?" "Uh, 11 years ago this coming November." "Ladies." "Oh, thank you." "Cream?" "Uh, no, thank you." "PORTIA:" "Sugar?" "PEGGY:" "Yes." "Now, uh, there may be one point that hadn't occurred to you, Ms. Penhaven, but my services would, uh, come to considerably more than the price of a new headlight." "Oh, excuse me." "Ah, there we are." "PORTIA:" "Money is incidental, Mr. Mannix." "Our father taught us to put principle above all else." "We are doing exactly as he would have done." "This man has broken the law, and he is still at large." "Are you prepared to be responsible for any other crimes that he might commit?" "Uh, no, Ms. Penhaven, I am not." "Well, good." "Well, uh, where did this accident occur?" "At the Palomar shopping center at Lexington and Holmesby." "Hmm." "And, uh, how would you describe the driver of the car?" "Well-- Well, he was quite a young man, I believe, certainly under 35, medium height, slender, dark hair." "I was not able to distinguish his facial features." "He had a raincoat." "Well, everyone carries a raincoat, Penny." "Yes." "Well, now, uh, this car that hit you" "I'll need to know the color, make, model, year." "Well, it was a sort of medium color, brown, I think." "That's all you can tell me?" "PORTIA:" "I'm not that conversant with motor vehicles, Mr. Mannix." "Uh, Ms. Penhaven, uh, there are some 5 million automobiles registered in Los Angeles." "Uh, I'm afraid that, uh," "I just can't find that car, not without something more to go on." "Well, there were a lot of people close by-- witnesses." "Couldn't you find them?" "I'm sorry, Ms. Penhaven, but these days breaking somebody's headlight hardly gets a second glance, let alone a crowd." "There just simply isn't enough for me to go on." "Would it help to know the license number?" "Yes." "Yes, it would help a lot." "It was 949EJC." "Are you sure of that, Penny?" "Quite sure, dear." "It said "California" at the top." "And then in one corner there was a little yellow square, and that had numbers on it, too, but I couldn't make them out." "I'm afraid my eyes aren't what they used to be." "Yes." "Good gracious, Penny, how could you possibly remember all that?" "That memory course we took four years ago." "Oh." "I'd completely forgotten." "You will help us, Mr. Mannix?" "(chuckles nervously)" "Yes, I'll, uh, do what I can." "Our telephone number is listed." "We'll expect to hear from you soon." "Come along, Penny." "Good day." "Oh, uh, there was a dent in his car, in the back, about the middle, about the size of a croquet ball." "(door closes)" "It would be a croquet ball." "♪ ♪" "Skip Seldon's the name, friend." "I'm here for one reason, and one reason only-- to make you a happy and contented man." "Now what kind of car were you interested in?" "Well, I'm looking for a 1972 Plymouth sedan, license number, uh, 949EJC." "It's got a dent in the trunk about the size of a baseball." "(chuckles) What are you, a cop?" "Private." "The name is Mannix." "Yeah?" "Now what is it about a Plymouth sedan?" "Well, it was involved in a minor traffic accident about 10:30 this morning." "It's registered to your outfit." "So?" "I'd like to take a look at it if it's back on the lot." "Sure, why not?" "You know, we carry full insurance." "Nice, clean car." "Oh, yeah, that's one of the services that our customers appreciate." "Who had it out this morning?" "Mr. Mannix, this is a busy lot." "I'd have to look that up." "If it's not too much trouble." "SKIP:" "All right, let's have a look." "Yeah, here we are--949EJC." "Wait a minute, there's gotta be a mistake, Mannix." "This, uh, this baby hasn't been off the lot in almost a week." "Here, look for yourself." "Last customer brought that back six days ago." "Maybe you'd like to tell me how it could have banged into my client's car four hours ago?" "Sip of beer?" "Don't try telling me I got the license number wrong." "You know, I bet it was a freebie." "You know what I mean?" "A guy walks on the lot." "He sees the keys in the car, and he borrows it for a couple of hours." "Then he brings it back and leaves it by the curb." "You know, you'd be amazed at how many times that happens on a lot this size." "Except this one is sitting in the middle of the lot." "Well, that doesn't make any difference." "These cars get jockeyed around the lot all day long." "Well, sorry I couldn't be more help." "Oh, you did fine, Skip, just fine." "(door closes)" "Otis?" "Sir?" "Take over here, will ya?" "I'll be back in about an hour." "♪ ♪" "WOMAN (over radio):" "Mr. Seldon would like to see you, Mr. Valine." "He says it's urgent." "Send him in." "I told you there'd be some feedback on this." "(door opens)" "All right, Skip, let's have it." "Well, it's just like you said, Mr. Valine." "A private detective named Mannix already showed up at the lot, looking for the, uh, Plymouth sedan." "Did he say who for?" "SKIP:" "No, no, he just wanted to see the car and, uh, and the check-out list." "But I--just like you said, I had Otis make out a new list, leaving Elmo's name off, so..." "It shouldn't have been put on to begin with." "Well, Otis had to put the name on." "I mean, the police make us keep records." "Well, listen, there's nothing to worry about." "I mean, uh, nobody's ever gonna be able to associate Elmo with that car." "I wiped the car clean myself." "Lose the car right now." "What do you mean, lose it?" "Get it over to Pete's and tell him I want it put through the crusher." "Report it stolen." "Oh, come on, there's a lot of miles left on that car." "I could-- Do it." "Do it." "I'll get right on it." "(door closes)" "Next job I send you out on, take driving lessons." "I don't know what them old dames are so uptight about." "I hardly touched their car." "Sure, except that it happened one block from where you plugged Corman." "That gets out, some smart cop could be putting the pieces together." "Maybe this private cop, Mannix, has already put the pieces together." "If those old ladies got a good look at Elmo..." "Did they?" "It's, uh, it's possible." "Find 'em." "It shouldn't be too tough, anybody driving a car like that." "Sure, Mr. Valine." "And after I find them?" "Do something about it." "I want 'em out of my hair." "♪ ♪" "Art, busy?" "Four years ago last September, the last time I wasn't busy," "I was this close to double pneumonia." "What can I do for you, Joe?" "Well, um..." "Does the name Skip Seldon mean anything to you?" "He runs a used car and a rental lot out on Ventura." "Oh, yeah, I remember Skip." "We busted him a couple of years ago for running a hot car farm." "Did one to three in San Quentin, as I recall." "Anything else?" "Word had it that he was fronting for Anton Valine, not that we could prove anything." "Why?" "What are you working on, Joe?" "Well, it's, uh, kind of a hit-and-run case." "Kind of a hit-and-run?" "Anybody hurt?" "Uh, no, no." "No, nothing like that." "How bad was it?" "Well, um... a headlight got cracked." "A headlight got cracked?" "Yeah." "You wouldn't be holding out on me, would you, Joe?" "Art, you know me better than that." "(intercom buzzes)" "Yeah?" "MAN (over radio):" "Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler are here, Lieutenant-witnesses in that Corman killing." "All right, bring 'em in, Charlie." "Nothing as earthshaking as the maniac headlight-smasher, Joe, but somebody has to handle the routine stuff like murder." "Oh, uh, Art, did he say the Corman killing?" "That's right." "Yeah, I heard about that." "It happened, uh, right around the corner from that, uh, supermarket on Lexington." "Yeah, that's the one." "Yeah." "Mind if I listen in?" "Why?" "Just curious." "Suit yourself." "Lieutenant." "Yes, come right in." "This is Mr. Mannix." "Mr. Mannix." "How do you do?" "Sit down, won't you?" "Thank you." "L-I just don't know what more me and Harry can tell you, Lieutenant." "Well, we're just double-checking some of the main points, Mrs. Ziegler." "For example, are you both certain that you didn't see anyone acting in a strange or a suspicious manner?" "No, not a soul." "Everybody was just crowding around that poor man." "No one running away from the scene?" "Not that me and Harry saw, no, sir." "And I looked around, too." "If you were to ask me," "I'd say that somebody was on the roof or something with a rifle, with a telephonic sight on it, and he shot the fellow." "Yes." "Well, I think that'll do for now." "I do want to thank you for stopping by." "The least we could do, Lieutenant." "All these awful things going on these days." "There was one thing funny, though." "What was that?" "Well, everybody rushed up to see what happened." "And there was this one fellow that just walked away, as if nothing was going on at all." "Did you get a look at him?" "Not his face, no, sir." "He had his back to me." "Uh, Mr. Ziegler, mind if I ask you something?" "No, I don't mind at all." "This man you saw, was he carrying anything?" "No, no, I can't say he was." "Mrs. Ziegler?" "Carrying?" "A raincoat, for instance?" "You know, come to think of it, he did have a raincoat." "He did, kinda slung over one arm, like." "And that's funny, isn't it, with the nice weather we've been having and all?" "Well, thank you." "Thank you." "Bye." "What was all that about a raincoat?" "I don't know yet, Art." "You mind if I take a look at the file on this case?" "No." "MANNIX:" "Now this says that Corman was killed at 10:30 less then a block from the shopping center at Lexington and Holmesby." "So what?" "My client's headlight was broken around 10:30 in front of the supermarket there." "Are we back at that headlight?" "The driver of the car was carrying a raincoat." "You think the man that shot Arnold Corman broke that headlight getting away?" "I'm sure beginning to think so." "That's not enough, Joe." "Let me add a couple of things to that." "Hit-and-run car came off of Skip Seldon's rental lot." "His records show that the car hadn't been off the lot for a week." "I saw only three names on that record list." "When I talked to the guy who rented the car last, he said there were at least eight to ten names listed." "Now that's a lot of trouble to go to to cover up breaking a headlight." "All right, Joe." "Let's go talk to Seldon." "♪ ♪" "It was right here." "Well, they move 'em around a lot." "Yeah, especially this one." "Skip Seldon is the name, friends." "I'm here for one reason and one reason only, to make you as happy and contented as..." "Oh, you're back again, huh?" "Lieutenant Malcolm of the homicide division." "Homicide?" "Now wait a minute, what's going on?" "What makes you think something is going on?" "Well, no, I just meant if, uh, if it's about that Plymouth sedan that, uh, Mr. Mannix was checking on be" "That's what it's all about, Skip." "I'd like to take another look at it." "Well, it's gone." "What do you mean, gone?" "I mean, somebody stole it." "They just drove it right off the lot." "And this time they didn't bring it back." "And of course you reported it." "Sure, I reported it." "I have to report it, don't I?" "Otherwise my insurance is no good, right?" "Oh, I mean, it's happened before." "You know, we have a lot of traffic through here, and, uh, somebody just came on and drove it off." "The same guy who doctored the ledger." "What ledger?" "MANNIX:" "This ledger." "All right." "There we are." "Look at it." "You don't see any names rubbed out on that, do you?" "I talked to this man, McNeil." "He says that when he rented the Plymouth, there was something like eight names on this page." "He says." "Let's hear what you say." "Otis?" "Yes, Mr. Seldon." "Come here." "You done any monkeying around at all on the names on this dispatch ledger?" "Why, no, Mr. Seldon." "Y-you know I wouldn't-- wait, wait, there was some coffee spilled on here a couple of days--here." "See?" "It's, uh, it ran all the way down the side." "I had to recopy a couple of these pages." "Every name?" "Every name?" "Well, no, just the ones from last month." "L-I saw no reason to recopy all the names." "Get me back to my office, Joe." "(sighs)" "(door closes)" "MANNIX:" "They're lying, Art, from beginning to end." "ART:" "Don't you think I know that?" "How are you gonna prove it?" "MANNIX:" "Seldon's got the answers-- maybe not all of 'em, but enough to get you started." "ART:" "What do you want me to do, drag him in, shine bright lights in his eyes, holler in his ear?" "Cars do get stolen." "Coffee does get spilled." "MANNIX:" "No, you get on that bookkeeper of his." "A little pressure and he'll fold like a cafeteria napkin." "Come on, Joe, these days nobody folds with permission from his lawyer." "Without something solid to go on, we're stymied." "♪ ♪" "You appear to be a person of some breeding, Mr. Wilson, hardly the sort who one would find representing a common criminal." "I'm afraid you're being much too severe on my client, Ms. Penhaven." "Charles Porter is an honest, respectable businessman." "Then why, may I ask, hasn't he come here himself?" "At the time of the accident, he was rushing to catch a plane on a business matter that simply couldn't wait." "Yes, I see." "And how was Mr. Porter able to learn whose car he had damaged?" "He managed to get a look at your license number." "The moment he reached Chicago he called me, asked me to locate the owner and pay for any damage." "As a matter of fact, Mr. Porter has authorized me to pay you $100." "Oh, it wouldn't cost anywhere near that." "I'll handle this, Penny." "I only meant that" "Are you attempting to bribe me, sir?" "Ms. Penhaven, I would never." "I have engaged a private investigator to find your Mr. Porter." "He will be arrested and charged with hit-and-run driving and tried in a court of law." "Why?" "No one was injured." "The damage is negligible." "And he's offering a generous settlement." "The reason this country is suffering from moral decay, Mr. Wilson, is because too many people think nothing of disobeying the law." "I for one utterly refuse to condone such conduct." "Let me point out to you that the fact that my client's car struck yours in--in no way means that he was driving it at the time." "I saw his face clearly," "Mr. Wilson." "And I could recognize him with no difficulty whatever in a police lineup, as I believe it's called." "He was carrying a raincoat." "Are you sure you won't reconsider?" "I'll ring for Gertrude, and she will show you out, Mr. Wilson." "Don't bother, and thanks for the tea." "I hope you won't end up regretting your decision." "Good afternoon, ladies." "(bell dings)" "You think she was telling it straight about being able to recognize Elmo on sight?" "She made a believer out of me." "This is one tough old lady." "No kiddin'." "Hi, Peggy." "Hi." "You had several calls." "Anything urgent?" "Portia Penhaven would like for you to call upon her at "your earliest convenience."" "Is that all she said?" "She didn't say anything." "It seems the sisters never make a call personally." "They don't even answer the phone." "That, Mr. Mannix, sir, is part of the maid's duties." "Well, it's a whole different world, Peggy-- two nice old ladies holding the fort against changing times." "And as a matter of fact, I, uh, intended to take a run out there anyway." "♪ ♪" "(metal clinking)" "(car door closes)" "(engine starts, tires squeal)" "♪ ♪" "♪ ♪" "And what, Mr. Mannix, is that supposed to be?" "It's a bomb, Ms. Penhaven." "I assume you brought it here for some reason." "Well, someone was wiring it under your car." "I ran them off." "Oh." "You may go to your room, Gertrude." "Yes, ma'am." "(door closes)" "An attempt to murder my sister and me-- is that what you're implying?" "Well, no, it's not that kind of a bomb." "Would you would get is one hell of a" "One heck of a lot of noise and a car full of smoke." "It was put there as a warning, Ms. Penhaven." "Oh, Portia." "Which proves what I've been saying all along." "That man belongs in jail." "He was telling you to call off the hunt." "Now this time it was a warning, but next time it could be a lot worse, if there is a next time." "Portia" "Please, Penny." "Please." "We will not be intimidated, Mr. Mannix." "That man must be punished, which is exactly what I told the young man who was here earlier today." "Oh, which is why I sent for you." "What young man?" "An attorney." "Now his name escapes me." "Oh, Dennis Wilson." "He--he claimed to represent a client..." "Charles Porter." "PORTIA: who drove the car." "And he made some silly excuse and offered us $100 to drop the whole matter." "You turned him down?" "Naturally." "Are you sure this wasn't the man who broke your headlight?" "Oh, quite sure." "In fact, I told him that I could pick his friend out of a police lineup." "And I told him I saw the raincoat." "Well, uh... you might as well know that till this thing is settled you're gonna need protection-- police protection." "I'll try to get someone assigned." "You'll do nothing of the sort, Mr. Mannix." "You know my opinion of the police." "Ms. Penhaven, ladies, we're dealing with dangerous men." "It's getting late." "Good night, Mr. Mannix, and take that disgraceful object with you." "(sighs) Good night." "♪ ♪" "You mean they actually told that guy they could recognize the driver that ran into their car?" "They did." "Problem now is how to keep them alive." "Tell them to leave town until the case is concluded." "(scoffs) You couldn't get Portia Penhaven to run away if you used a flamethrower." "Look, Art, if something isn't done and now, those two little old ladies aren't gonna get any older." "I've done what you wanted, Joe." "Two men are on the clock in an unmarked car parked half a block down the street." "The ladies will never know they're there." "Yeah, well, I just hope it's enough." "In the meantime, I'll see if I can find out who put that thing together." "(telephone rings)" "Mr. Mannix's office." "Who's calling, please?" "Uh, just a moment." "Joe?" "Buckingham Palace is on the phone," "The Queen's lady in waiting." "Hello?" "Mr. Mannix?" "Ms. Penhaven calling." "Portia Penhaven, Mr. Mannix." "Are you and your sister all right?" "Definitely not." "Why?" "What's wrong?" "Two men in an automobile have been loitering at the end of our street." "When I demanded an explanation, they grunted at me, which leads me to believe that they are police officers." "I'll look into it right away, Ms. Penhaven." "I regard that reply as evasive, Mr. Mannix." "Get rid of them at once." "I'll get right on it." "Thank you for calling." "And there they sit, targets for a bunch of cold-blooded killers." "How do you get that through their stubborn heads?" "If they won't help themselves, what can you do?" "Maybe set up a different target." "(soft music playing, knocking on door)" "(music stops)" "Who is it?" "Valine." "Mannix." "All right, what are you trying to pull?" "Who else you gonna open up that fast for?" "All right, you seem to be in." "What do you want?" "Oh, a little friendly word." "About what?" "I've been putting in a little overtime on the Corman killing." "I know who did it, and I know why it was done, and thanks to a couple of little old ladies," "I know who ordered it done." "Do me a favor, don't tell me about it." "Go to the cops." "Hey, Skip, you're a businessman." "I'm a businessman." "We're both out for a fast buck." "Now you've got your cut." "I want mine." "That's why you're gonna make a little phone call for me." "I'd make it myself, but I got a feeling that I wouldn't get through to the right guy." "Just what man are you talking about?" "I'm talking about the boss, the big shot, the guy who had Arnold Corman put to sleep." "Valine." "You have got to be crazy if you think for a minute" "I'm way past the thinking stage, Skip." "I know." "Now you're gonna get on the horn and tell Valine my price is $50,000." "If I don't get it by tonight, the cops are gonna drop in on him come sunup." "You're bluffing!" "Maybe, but that's a decision you can't afford to make, especially if I'm not bluffing and Valine finds out the hard way." "One hour, Skip." "I'll wait in my office." "♪ ♪" "(telephone rings)" "Mannix." "They tell me you're bettin' it all on a long shot." "A habit I picked up at the track." "I happen to be in a sensitive business, Mannix." "Rather than risk a-a police investigation over a ridiculous story you dreamed up," "I'm willing to make a token payment." "That's fine, as long as the token isn't under $50,000." "Out of the question." "$10,000." "Nice of you to call." "VALINE:" "Wait." "(sighs)" "All right. $50,000." "Where and when?" "There's a service station on the corner of Addison and Palmer with an outdoor phone booth." "You'll get a call in 20 minutes." "On my way." "And don't have one of your soldiers waiting." "You'll be alone." "♪ ♪" "(gunshot)" "(tires squealing, gunshot)" "POLICEMAN:" "Freeze!" "(gunshots)" "♪ ♪" "He had identification in the name of Simmons with a Salt Lake City address, both probably phony." "How much of this was your doing, Joe?" "Somebody had to make a move, Art." "Your hands were tied." "You said so yourself." "It's just that it didn't work out the way I had hoped." "I wanted him alive so I could talk to him." "Well, next time you decide to set yourself up as a clay pigeon, let your friendly police department in on it, right?" "I was set up tonight, Skip!" "I don't know what you're talking about." "All I did was what you asked me to do." "Shut up and listen to me!" "You tell Valine his soldier boy is dead, and my price has gone up to $75,000." "I'll wait for his call, and you better tell him it comes quick and no more funny moves, or he ends up behind bars for accessory to murder." "And, Skip, you go with him." "Tell him!" "Yeah, okay." "I'll be in my office." "Okay." "Okay." "Six Queen Seven, still code five at Cypress road." "ART (over radio):" "Any more static from the old girls?" "Looks like they're convinced we've pulled out." "It's just as well." "One of them's got a tongue on her you could shave a pineapple with." "ART (over radio):" "I'll check back at 11:00." "Roger and out." "MAN:" "Get out." "♪ ♪" "(telephone rings)" "(ring)" "Mannix." "Portia Penhaven here." "I've just had a most disturbing telephone call." "I should like to discuss it with you." "I'm listening." "In person, Mr. Mannix." "Immediately, please." "I'm expecting a call, Ms. Penhaven, any minute now." "This simply cannot wait." "I shall expect you at once." "(telephone clicks)" "(telephone rings)" "Yes?" "Ms. Penhaven, are you all right?" "These dramatics are not at all necessary, Mr. Mannix." "Of course I'm all right." "I assumed you were on your way already." "You did fine, lady, just fine." "♪ ♪" "Remember, lady, the maid answers the door." "One yip outta her, and your sister gets it." "You'll be sent to prison, both of you." "Mr. Mannix will see to it." "MAN:" "Sure he will, lady." "(scoffs)" "I, uh, hear he's a real tiger." "Freeze!" "Drop 'em." "Both of you, hands on the wall." "Move!" "All right, Ms. Penhaven, call the police." "Dial operator." "On the floor, Mannix." "Drop it." "(groans)" "DENNIS:" "We figured you might be putting two and two together." "Drop it, lady." "You don't want to bother the phone company." "I said drop it." "Ruffian!" "(grunting)" "Don't shoot, lady." "Don't shoot!" "Portia!" "Mr. Mannix, take this, please." "Oh, please." "It turns out that one of the mobs back east wanted to take over Valine's operation, and they hired Arnold Corman to dig out whatever he could on the organization before making their move." "Valine found out about it and had Corman hit as a warning to the out-of-state boys to stay in their own part of the country." "What I'm still waiting to find out is how did you know that they were in the house?" "Something you told me." "I did?" "About the Penhaven maid handling all calls in and out." "Last night Portia called me personally." "When I called back, she answered, not the maid." "(door opens)" "Oh, come in, ladies, come in." "I'd like you to meet Lieutenant Malcolm." "Hello." "Oh, how do you do?" "What branch of the service are you in, Lieutenant?" "I'm a police officer." "PENELOPE: (chuckles)" "Mr. Mannix, now that you've completed your assignment," "I should like to take care of your bill." "Oh, no, no, no, no." "No charge, ladies." "You see, if you hadn't insisted on my finding the hit-and-run driver, there might still be a killer running around loose." "Nonsense." "Father always said a laborer is worthy of his hire." "Exactly." "Good day." "Bye-bye." "Good day." "Good-bye." "Bye." "Good-bye." "Good-bye." "Good-bye." "Penny, come along." "Good day." "Thank you." ""Thank you for your efforts on our behalf." "Sincerely, Portia and Penelope Penhaven."" "Hmm." "(all laughing)"