"We don't want no detectives up here!" "This whole town is covering up something they're willing to kill to keep secret." "You can't stay here." "Please." "You're already in danger." "This case is beginning to sound more and more like Bad Day at Black Rock." "The two big-time detectives can't admit... they've been outsmarted by a bunch of hicks." "Shh!" "Shh!" "You'll wake the entire town." " We better split up!" "Right." " Left." "[ Thunderclaps ]" "[ Beeping ]" "[ Beeping Continues ]" "[ Thunderclaps ]" "[ Beeping ]" "[ Thunderclaps ]" "[ Ticking ]" "[ Sighs ]" "[ Whispers ]" "[ Chiming ]" "[ Chiming Stops ]" "[ Bang ]" "Hey!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "There's been a mistake!" "Let me out!" "I think you'd better come with me, Professor Thickett." "[ Groans ]" "[ Groaning ]" "I've got it." "We're lost." " Cute. [ Sneezes ]" " Mm-hmm." " Gesundheit." " Thank you." "Ah." "I think we should have turned left at that intersection 1 0 miles back." " You said turn right." " Yes, well, merely a suggestion, Laura." "Well, at least it's invigorating to be out in the countryside, eh?" "Trees, birds, flowers." "Dust, pollen, mosqui" "[ Sneezes ]" " Hay fever." " Oh." "Such antipathy for the great outdoors, Laura." "And here I thought you were the all-American girl." "When I was 1 2, I was drummed out of the Girl Scouts..." " for demanding an electric blanket on an overnight." " Well, I'm shocked." "Well, I'm not ashamed to admit it." "I'm a city girl." "The kind of country I prefer is the country club." " Tennis, golf, cocktails by the cabana." " Ah.!" "That pioneer spirit, eh?" "Well, let's look at this case as an excursion into the real Americana, eh?" "Like being part of a- a Frank Capra movie." "Hmm?" " Who?" " Frank Capra, the director?" "You know." "It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." " Oh." "Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Gary Cooper." "Main Street America." "The town square with a bandstand smack in the middle." "I was really looking forward to the ballet this weekend." "Yes, well, don't worry." "It's only Friday." "We'll locate Professor Thickett and have you back... in plenty of time for a cultural dip in Swan Lake." "It may not be that simple." "His sister said he'd never come back late from a research trip." "Yes." "She also said he was the archetypal absentminded professor." "He probably got caught up in his studies and forgot it was time to come home." "Oh, well." "He can't have gone far in any case." "He looks as helpless as a baby." "What did she say he was working on?" "Another book on small-town America." "It's his specialty." "He's really quite a well-known historian, Arthur Thickett." " I read one of his books in college." " Any good?" " Awful. [ Sneezes ]" " Oh." " God bless ya." " [ Laura ] Thank you." " What can I do for ya?" " Fill it up, please." " Yes, ma'am." " So this is De Nada, eh?" "Yeah. " America's Best Kept Secret," we like to say." "Charming." "Truly charming." "Just, uh, passing through, huh, folks?" "Well, no, actually." "We're looking for a friend who was staying here." "We don't get many strangers in De Nada." "Don't like 'em much." "Oh, well, uh" " Well, perhaps you've seen him." "He's an historian." "Nope." "Never seen him." "That's five dollars even, miss." "[ Dog Barking ]" "[ Dog Barking ]" "[ Growling ]" "Ah, hush, Blue." "[ Growling ]" " Go on." "Go on!" " [ Whines ]" " Ah." " Uh, like I was saying, uh..." "MaryJane isn't around right now, but, uh, I don't remember anybody like that staying here." "Perhaps if we could take a look at the register." "It's rather important." "Oh, gee." "Uh, I don't think I can let you do that." "We're on a bit of a tight schedule." "Surely a little peek wouldn't be any harm?" " Well, I think you better wait for MaryJane to come by." " There a problem, Betty Lynn?" "Uh, they want to look at the register, Sheriff." "Ah." "Damn." "I just got these boots last week." " [ Laughs ] Ward Bond." " What?" "Mm-hmm." "The kindly lawman." "Staple of small-town America." "We're in good hands." "Yes." "Old Adam over at the filling station... tells me you're looking for a friend that might've stayed here." " Is that right?" " News travels fast." "Well, Betty Lynn, why don't you just show these folks the register?" " But, Sheriff, I ca" " MaryJane pitches a fit,just put the blame on me, darlin'." " Oh." " [ Laura ] Thank you, Sheriff." "Let's see." "There seems to be a page missing here." "Really?" "Oh, let me see that." "Oh." "That." "Well, I" " I spilled some ink, so I" " I just tore it out." " Is that the fella right there?" " Hmm?" "Oh, yes." "Well, I remember him." "He come through here asking directions a while back." "Come on outside." "We'll get some air." "I'll fill you in on that." "[ Door Closes ]" " [ Sneezes ]" " Oh, gesundheit." "Thank you." "So he didn't stay in De Nada, huh?" "No, ma'am." "He sure didn't." "He said he changed his mind." "Said that- [ Laughs ] there wasn't as much to research around here as he thought there was." " Uh-huh?" " Ain't it the truth?" "De Nada is always just getting passed over for one reason or another." "Uh-huh." "Did he say where he was going?" "I believe he did." "Yes." "I think he said he was going to Bishop." " Bishop." " Why didn't he call his sister to tell her?" "Well, the phone system around here has been totally unreliable." "You know, the heavy rains we had here last week have just" "Well, they've played havoc with our phone lines, uh, Miss, uh" " You know, I plumb forgot your name." " Bixby." "Carolyn Bixby." "And this is, uh, Felix Hillenbrand." "We're colleagues of Professor Thickett's at UCLA." "Well, Nebbins is my name." "Jed Nebbins." "I'm right glad to meet you." "I wish I could be more help to you, Miss Bixby, but that's the whole story." "He just came and went." "Now, I do believe, you head on up to Bishop, you'll find him up there." "I really do." "Anyhow, lots ofluck to you." " Thank you very much." " Anytime." " Felix?" " I had an uncle named Felix." "Why didn't you tell him who we really are?" "We're going to poke around, Professor Hillenbrand... and I think we'll do a lot better as college professors than big-city detectives." "I really think that you're overreacting, Laura." "I mean, look around you." "These are honest, decent people- the backbone of the country." "Hello, sonny." "How are you doing?" "What's your name, eh?" "Hello, mommy." "Just give it time." "Give it time." "Give it time." "Ah!" "Morning." "Morning." "Lovely." "Lovely paintjob." " [ Clears Throat ]" " Ah, yes. [ Clicks Tongue ]" "Hello, poochie, boy." "Good boy." "[ Whimpers ]" "[ Clears Throat ]" "Okay, Sheriff." "What are you gonna do about this?" "Now,just take it easy, Winslow." "Just take it easy." " They're not stayin', are they?" " For Pete's sake, let the man speak." "Thank you, Mayor." "Now, there's no need to get excited." "They're just college types." "Friends ofThickett." "They'll soon be on their way to Bishop." "Yeah, well, they better be." "[ Laura ] "Last hot food for 40 miles. "" " Quite a recommendation." "What does the guidebook say?" "" Avoid the beef."" "Well, we're looking for information, not a four-star meal." "You can't stay here." "Please." "You're already in danger." " [ Sneezes ]" " Gesundheit." "Ah- [ Clears Throat ]" " Hmm." "She won't even look at us." "" You're already in danger."" "Hmm." "Perhaps we should have a word with her." "Steady, Felix." "IfThickett is in trouble... we don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to ourselves or to that girl." "I still think you're being an alarmist." "Many small-town inhabitants have an exaggerated fear of outsiders." "One must win them over gradually." "Thank you, Profe- [ Sneezes ]" "Gesundheit." "Observe." "[ Clears Throat ]" " Ah, good day." " Hello." "Ah, yes." "Afternoon, gentlemen." "Mmm." "Marvelous day, isn't it?" "[ Inhales Deeply ] Oh,yes." "Yes,yes." "Remarkable atmosphere in here." "So, uh" "So, uh, authentic." "Authentic." "Yeah." "Say, a friend of mine passed through here recently." "Perhaps you've seen him?" "No." "Okay." "Uh" "Just in case you do remember, I'm gonna be around town for a while." "Uh, Felix is the name and" "Good day." "[ Clears Throat ]" "Yes." "Mmm." "Bravo." "Just laying the groundwork, Laura." "Just laying the groundwork." " Mind if we join you?" " Ah, yes." "Ah, delighted." "Delighted." " Felix Hillenbrand, uh, and my associate, um, uh" " Carolyn Bixby." "Amaryllis MacKenzie, mayor of De Nada." " Ah." " Winslow Avery." " How do you do?" " Winslow is the editor of the Weekly Eagle, our local paper." "Haven't I seen you somewhere before, Mr. Hillenbrand?" "Ah" " Professor Hillenbrand." "Uh, UCLA." "Uh, History Department." "Yeah, well, I" " I'm sure I've seen your picture on the regional photo wire." " Ah." " Professor Hillenbrand is constantly making... very important speeches." " Aren't you, Professor?" " Yes." "Constantly, constantly." "Rubber-chicken circuit." "I'm sure." "I understand you've been asking some questions around town." "We're looking for a friend of ours." "We thought he was in De Nada." "Yeah, well, I'm afraid you're mistaken, Miss Bixby." "And, uh... let me give you a little bit of friendly advice." "Don't ask any questions." "People up here might get the wrong idea... think you're prying into their personal affairs." "What Winslow is saying is that we De Nada-ites treasure our privacy." "" America's Best Kept Secret," eh?" "Exactly, Professor." "We like our way of life, and we don't want it disturbed." "We don't mean to be a nuisance, Mayor, but perhaps you saw the man we're looking for." " Sheriff Nebbins told you he went to Bishop." " That's right." "He left." "It would probably be best for all concerned if you did the same." " Is that a threat, Mayor?" " Why, heavens, no." "Whatever gave you such an idea?" "[ Sneezes ] Excuse me." "I've, uh, um, run out of tissue." "You have." "Oh." " I'm sure I've seen you somewhere before." " Really?" "[ Dog Barking In Distance ]" " What's wrong?" " You shouldn't be here." " Why not?" "Just shouldn't." "That's all." "What's the matter?" "Are you afraid someone will see us talking?" "What are you hiding?" "What do you know about Arthur Thickett?" "You're just gonna make it worse for him." "How?" "Where is he?" "What's happened to him?" "He's such a nice little man." "He wouldn't hurt anybody." "He wouldn't even care about that money." "They just shouldn't have done it." "Done what?" "What money?" "Just go away." "I can't do that." "A man is missing, and you know what's happened to him." " Not here." " Where?" "The old mill bridge." "When I get off at 3:00." "Everything all right, Rachel?" "Fine, fine." "Just borrowing some tissue." " [ Groans ]" " Something the matter?" " Yes." "I tried the beef." " Uh-huh." " So what do you think of your all-American town now?" " Ah." "I must admit this case is beginning to sound more and more like Bad Day at Black Rock." " Annotation?" " Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, MGM, 1 954." "Tracy gets trapped in a small town hiding a horrible secret." " So, what's the secret?" " The town killed an innocent man." "Uh-huh." "Maybe we should call Mildred..." " and see what she knows about Thickett." " Good thinking." "[ Rings ]" "Remington Steele Investigations." " Hello, Mildred." "Mr. Steele and" " Oh, Miss Holt." "I've been waiting for your call." "Is the boss there?" "I've got something urgent for him." "Mr. Steele may be the boss, but I'm in charge, Mildred." "Do we have to go through this every wee- [ Sneezes ]" " Gesundheit." " Thank you." " I'm sorry, Miss Holt." "It's just force of habit." " What's the message, Mildred?" "Oh." "Arthur Thickett sent his sister a letter from De Nada four days ago." "It just arrived this morning, and she brought it right over. [ Gasps ]" "You cannot guess what's inside." "Oh, it is unbelievable." " What is it, Mildred?" " Don't you want to guess?" " What is it, Mildred?" " Don't you want to guess?" " Mildred!" " Okay, okay, okay." " You cannot believe this." "You" " He says that the- - [ Dial Tone ]" " Hello?" " [ Dial Tone ]" "[ Woman ] We're sorry." "All phone lines to Los Angeles are temporarily out of order." " Please try later." " No, no, no." "Wait, wait, wait." "Operator." "Operator." " Great." "The phones are out." " Ah." "[ Sneezes ]" "You really ought to do something about that, you know." " How about torching all the ragweed in the state?" " Oh." "Did Rachel tell you where this old mill bridge is?" "No, but it should be near a stream, don't you think?" " All right, all right." "No need to get testy." " [ Sneezes ]" "Remington Steele." "I knew I'd seen him before." "He's a big-time detective from L.A." " [ All Chattering ]" " All right, all right." "Wait a minute." "Hold on here." "Let's not get carried away." "They haven't found anything." "We got less than 2 4 hours to go." "It's still too much time." " You tell him." " They could call someone." " [ All Chattering ]" " Then what?" "Now calm down, everybody." "What do you suggest we do,Jed?" "I'm not sure." "Oh!" "Oh, that's great." "That's just great, Sheriff." "That's just great." "We're supposed to sacrifice seven years of planning because you're not sure?" "I know one thing, Avery." "I've about had it with you." "I know something that'll work." "Guaranteed." "Don't use that tone of voice with me, young lady." "I've been trying to reach De Nada for over an hour on your cockamamy system." "[ Woman ] I'm sorry, ma'am." "You'll have to try again later." "Have a good day." " [ Dial Tone ]" " Wait, wait." "Operator, don't" " Op" " Oh." "It has to be around here somewhere." "Has that truck been following us long?" "No." "I think we're about to have company." "It's them all right." "A trifle faster, Laura." " Faster, Laura." " It's on the floor!" "Hang on." " Where did you learn that?" " I told you." "I'm a city girl." " Oh." " This is basic survival skill in Los Angeles." "Well, we're not out of the woods yet." "We don't want no detectives up here!" "Get down!" "[ Both ] Oh!" " [ Groans ] You all right?" " Yeah." "Sure." " [ Groans ]" " Well, at least we know where the old mill bridge is, eh?" " Yeah." " Yes." " Well, we're here on time." " Uh-huh." "Uh-huh." "No Rachel." "Laura." "Oh." "No." " An accident?" " Are you suggesting Rachel slipped... hit her head on the rock, and then crawled into the bushes to die?" "Until I hear a better explanation, that's exactly what I'm suggesting." " Oh." " The law deals in facts, mister." "Not theories." "We told you." "We were supposed to meet Rachel at 3:00." "She was going to tell us something about Arthur Thickett." "And I told you, miss." "I don't know anything about that... or why that would give anybody a motive for murder." " Rachel's death was an accident." " And what about... the two gentlemen with the shotgun who ran us off the road?" " An accident?" " I don't see the connection." "I'm beginning to wonder about your eyesight, Sheriff." "Wait a minute, Professor Hillenbrand." "Let's not bother the sheriff right now." " I'm sure he has plenty to do." " What?" "Yes." "Yes." "Well, uh, good afternoon, Sheriff." " Yeah." "See you around." " Mm-hmm." "Mm-hmm." "They're all in on it." "We've got to get out of here." " Whoa." "Slow down, will you?" " Remember the man with the shotgun?" " Yes." "Vividly." " Remember what he said?" "Something about not wanting detectives around." "[ Clears Throat ] Hello." " How did he know we were detectives?" " [ Sneezes ]" " Gesundheit." " Thank you." "All I can figure out... is that telephone call we made to Mildred." " If someone were listening in, they'd know who we are." " Yes." "I know, but who could" " Hello." "The sheriff?" " Exactly." "And he told the others." "Think about it." "Everyone we've met has tried to steer us out of De Nada." "This whole town is covering up something they're willing to kill to keep it a secret." "Bad Day at De Nada." "Hmm." "Doesn't seem to make it somehow, does it?" "Thickett must have discovered their secret or at least come very close." "Rachel said something about money." "I wonder how that figures in." "Well, I think we're better off pondering that one... in the relative security of our own office, don't you?" "As soon as we pick up the car, we're on the road to L.A." " Monday?" " Well, maybe Tuesday." " Tuesday?" " May have to order parts." "Not sure." "First I have to figure out what's wrong with it." "They can't do it any faster?" "This is De Nada, young fella." "Not Los Angeles." " We do things our own way here." " [ Laura ] We noticed." "I don't suppose there's a place I could rent a car in town?" " I know. " This is De Nada."" " This is De Nada." "Now what?" "[ Siren Wailing ]" "That wasn't" "It was." "[ Nebbins ] Seventy-five miles an hour, huh?" " [ Man ] That's right." " There's a perfectly good reason." "Keep your seat, young lady." "That's all right, son." "I can handle it from here." "All right, Sheriff." "Now, Miss Krebs, can you tell me why... a perfectly self-respecting woman like yourself... is traveling 7 5 miles an hour in a 30-mile-an-hour zone?" "I am so glad you asked, Sheriff." "Most government employees wouldn't be so polite." " I know." "I used to work" " Please, Miss Krebs.Just answer the question." "Oh, certainly." "I work for the Remington Steele Detective Agency." "In Los Angeles." "Well, it so happens that Mr. Steele and his associate, Miss Holt... are working on a case right here in De Nada." " Is that so?" " Oh, yes." "Well, I can't give you the details, but..." "I received a letter this morning that contains very important information for my boss." " I see." "I see." " I tried calling from Los Angeles... but all your phone lines are out of order." "You really should do something about that." "Anyway, that's why I was speeding." "My boss needs to see this right away." "Well, Miss Krebs, in the eyes of the law... that's no excuse for the serious nature of your offense." "You recklessly endangered the citizens of De Nada, who I'm sworn to protect." " The fine is $500." " $500?" "And if you can't pay it, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to lock you up for the weekend." "Can't this heap go any faster?" "Nope." "1 00, 200... 300, 400, 420, 440." "Oh." "And a traveler's check for $50." "That makes 490." "Oh, I'm sorry." "You're $1 0 short." "Oh." "Well, don't I get a discount for cash?" "[ Chuckles ] Uh-huh." "Aha." "Wait just a minute here." "Little emergency money." "There goes a sawbuck." "$500 even." " Thank you very much." " Now,just a minute." "You also violated local law number 1 5-3-8." "I did?" " Disturbing the peace with a motorized vehicle." " Mm-hmm." " I know." "Don't tell me. $500." " $500." "Huh." "There you are." " You haven't heard the last of this." " Well, I'm sure I haven't, ma'am." "Just make yourself comfortable in there, Miss Krebs." " Arthur Thickett?" " Hello." "We need to talk, Sheriff." "Now." " Well, I've been expecting you there, Professor." " Oh." "Or should I say Mr. Steele?" "All right." "The gloves are off, Sheriff." "Where's Mildred Krebs?" " She's locked up." " On what charges?" " Take your pick." " Miss Krebs is coming with us." "Well, I'm afraid that's not possible, Miss Holt." "Miss Krebs can't make bail." "Ah." "I see." "I see." "How much?" "That's right noble of you, but I'm afraid it's getting a little late in the day for that." "The magistrate's office is closed." "It won't be open again till Monday morning, 9:00." "We'll see about that when we speak to the magistrate." "You are speaking to him." "The office is closed." " Can we visit her?" " Yes, you can." "You sure can." "Visiting hours being again at 9:00 Monday morning." "I hope you're enjoying this, Sheriff." "It'll give you plenty to chuckle about when we see you in court." "Oh, say." "I sure hope you folks... aren't planning' on taking Miss Krebs's car back to Los Angeles." "That's evidence." "Andjust as a precaution..." "I had the distributor cap removed." "I'd sure hate to see a fancy set of wheels like that get stolen, wouldn't you?" "It's quiet around here, you understand, but you never can tell." "Sweet." "Very sweet." "Come on." "And I was reinforcing my thesis... with supporting documentation from the library here... which is quite good, actually, all things considered... when the lights went out." "Well, you know the rest." "Well, that's just- Why, that's unbelievable." "Well, it does beg credulity, to be sure... which is why I expended so much time cross-checking details." "But the townspeople said they didn't know anything about it." "Not the graves or anything." "In a pig's eye, Professor." "Why else have they thrown you in this slammer, the lousy screws?" "Concisely argued, Miss Krebs." " Mildred." " Mildred." "Call me Artie." "My sister does." "Well, Artie... no one's gonna keep us in stir when we've got a story like that to tell." " Let us out, you dirty screws!" " What are you doing?" "I saw this once in a James Cagney movie." "Let us out!" "Shh!" "Shh!" " You'll wake the entire town." " Miss Holt." " Arthur Thickett?" " Hello." " Hello." " What are you doing?" "We've come to save you." "I've always wanted to say that." " Arthur Thickett's in there with her." " Indeed." "Well, shall we get on with it?" "I must confess." "This is the first time I've ever broken into a jail." " [ Laughs ] First time for everything." " Yeah." "Okay." " Voilà." " Right." " Okay." "Give us the rope." " Okay." "[ Grunts ] Okay." " That's Mr. Steele." " Hello." "Nice to meet you." "[ Both Grunt ]" " Lovely form." " [ Sneezes ]" " I'm sorry." " Gesundheit." "Oh, boss, I knew you'd bust us out." " Wait till you hear what Artie has to lay on you." " Artie?" " Go on." "Tell 'em." " Yes, well, it seems that" "Don't you think we should get the keys to the cell first?" " He does have a point, yes." " [ Mildred ] Right." "Yes." "That's, uh- [ Mutters ]" "Ah." "What is this?" " Oh, my God.!" " [ Mildred Gasps ]" " It's the money." " It sure is." " What money?" " [ Mildred ] The armored car money." "From the Cleveland First City Bank." "What?" " Upstairs, quick!" " Oh!" " What about us?" " Sorry." "Have to take a rain check." "Go." "What the hell's that?" " The Cleveland First City Bank." " The armored car money." "Good-bye." " [ Dog Barking In Distance ] - [ Chattering In Distance ]" "[ Chattering Continues ]" "[ Sneezes ]" "[ Chattering Excitedly ]" " Nice night for a barbecue, eh?" " I'm not wild about the menu!" "[ Shouting ]" " We better split up!" "Right!" " Left!" "Oh, splendid!" "[ Chattering ]" "[ Whistles ]" "Some of you go after the girl!" "Bless you, Laura." "Bless you." "[ Man ] You see her?" " Where'd she go?" " Well, she couldn't have just disappeared." "[ Man ] Over there." "Come on." "Over there." "[ Sneezes ]" "Look." "There she goes!" "[ Whinnies ]" "Well, this never happened toJohn Wayne." " Oh, we'll talk about it later." " Come on!" "[ All Shouting ]" "Easy." "There we go." "Let's stop." "Stop." "[ Grunts ]" "[ Steele Sighing ]" "Good boy." "Well, like they say in the movies..." " I think we lost 'em." " Oh, it's cold." " Yes." " Oh." " And we came without a bedroll." " Oh." "I, uh" "I suggest we huddle." "For warmth, Laura." "Strictly for warmth." " Eh?" " Yeah." "[ Both Shivering ]" "Oh, yes." " You're not gonna sneeze, are you?" " It's too cold to sneeze." "Ah." "Good." "Good." "Oh." "Oh." "Ah." "The crisp night air, the open range." "A solitary couple with nothing but" "A murder, two innocent prisoners... and a jail cell full of cash." "Oh." "How resourceful of you, Laura." "" Cleveland First City Bank. 1 977."" "This money is seven years old." "Hundred-dollar bills." "And there were sacks of 20s and 50s as well." "There must be over a million dollars back there." "Yes." "Several millions more likely." "Uh, what did, uh, Mildred and Thickett say?" "Something about a- an armored car robbery?" " It's unbelievable." " What?" "Seven years ago." "The Cleveland armed car robbery." "Six million dollars." " Two men in ski masks." "They were never caught." " Ah." "A fortune from a seven-year-old Cleveland robbery... is locked up, untouched, in a jail cell in De Nada, California." "It is unbelievable." "But what's it doing here?" "That's the six million-dollar question, eh?" "And at the moment I don't even have a two-bit answer." " What a day." " Yes." "And night." "I didn't thank you for saving me." "No need." "Uh,just returning the favor." "We did all right, didn't we?" "Mm-hmm." "Mm-hmm." "First-rate." "I wonder what the money is doing here." "Yes." "Well, that's the question that's been consuming me." "All right." "Let's go over it from the beginning." "Arthur Thickett comes to De Nada to research his new book." "Yes." "Mm-hmm." "Yes." "Go on." "Obviously, he stumbles on a deep, dark, desperate secret." "A secret so terrible that an entire town is willing to kill to protect it." "Mmm." "But why would they kill Rachel and only hold Arthur Thickett?" "It doesn't make sen- [ Sneezes ]" "Gesundheit." "[ Clearing Throat ] I must have dozed off for a minute." "Hmm." " Must have." " Yeah." "[ Groans ] Oh, my back." "Laura." "Propeller blades?" "What in blazes are they doing here?" "[ Laura ] "Unknown." ""Died February 28, 1 977." "They have paid for their sins, and we are grateful. "" "We've been sleeping near graves." "Hmm." "What a strange inscription." "February 28." "That's today." " Seven years ago today." " Yes." "Yes." "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes." "This is all beginning to make sense, Laura." "Yes." "I can see it now." "At least I think it does." "Wait a minute." "Is this the wheel of a- an airplane?" "You've just robbed an armored car of six million dollars." "The police have put roadblocks up everywhere." "There's no place to run to." "But perhaps someplace to fly." "Precisely." "[ Airplane Engine Roaring ]" " [ Steele ] But something goes wrong." " [ Thunderclaps ]" " [ Laura ] Bad weather." " [ Beeping ]" "[ Steele ] Engine trouble." "[ Laura ] Something that brings them down in De Nada." "[ Crash ]" "And so they paid for their sins." "Yes." "But the money was fine." "They must have known who the dead men were, what the money was." " The robbery was a headline story for days." " Mmm." "Well, it's hard to part with a fortune in cash... particularly when no one has the slightest idea you've got it." "Let's suppose they put the money in the jail, just for safekeeping at first." "Eventually they realized that no one outside De Nada ever need know about the accident." "So they waited seven years for the statute of limitations to expire." "That money was easily traceable, but seven years after the crime, there can be no prosecution." "And those seven years are up today." "Now, somehow Arthur Thickett stumbled onto all this... so they put him on ice until the statute ran out." "We've gotta get back to town." "I wonder what they did with the rest of the plane." "[ Chuckling ]" "[ Chuckling ]" " We've been looking at it all the time." " Mm-hmm." "It appears the whole town's there." "Come on." "Let's go." "Let's get Mildred and the professor." "Despite last night's excitement, which I can't say I approve of, we've made it." "For seven years we've held together, resisting temptation... and in 1 0 minutes, we'll have our rightful reward." "Jed." " All right." "Whoa, whoa." "I'm gonna be handing out your shares alphabetically... so there'll be no need for pushing' and shoving'." "What are we going to do now?" "Get the hell out of here if Mr. Steele can hot-wire the sheriff's car." "You all right, Mildred?" "[ Engine Starts ]" "Ah." "Three minutes." "Lookee what we found." "Oh, my, my." "Oh." "Looks like you're getting ready to have quite a party here." "We're sorry for any inconveniences we may have caused you... but I'm sure we can make an amicable settlement." " Fat chance, honey." " Don't upset them, Mildred." "There's nothing more you can do, Mr. Steele." "The statute's almost up." "Think again." "There's no statute of limitations on murder." " We didn't murder nobody." " Not yet anyway." "Now, hold on." "We all agreed when this thing started... that nobody would get hurt, and nobody has been." "Explain that to Rachel, please." "Watch your mouth." "That's my cousin you're talking about." " Rachel was murdered." " My daughter died from a fall." "The sheriff said so." "Unlikely, madam." "Most people who fall forward on their heads... don't end up on their backs, the way we found Rachel." "Someone hit her." "You said it was an accident,Jed." "It was." "Hell, I mean, who- who would want to kill Rachel?" "Someone who wanted a piece of six million dollars... which could be anyone in this room." "They're just trying to confuse us to make us give up the money." "The two big-time detectives... can't admit they've been outsmarted by a bunch of hicks. [ Laughs ]" "You know, in 50 seconds, we're gonna be millionaires." "Now, don't let 'em talk you out of it." " They're gonna get away with it." " Relax, Artie." " Play your ace, boss." " Right." "Play our ace, Laura." "Hmm." "Well, the- the fact that Rachel was found facedown... means that she knew her killer... trusted him." " Or her." " What?" "You were the only one who overheard Rachel telling me to meet her at the bridge." "But I told Jed and Winslow about it." " Don't listen to 'em." " Come now, Avery, old chap." "Why so nervous, eh?" "Catch." "Catch." "Thank you, gentlemen." "That catch just caught a killer." "It's as good as a signed confession." "What in the hell are you talkin' about?" "The injury was on her right temple, which means whoever killed her was left-handed." "You killed my daughter?" "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "Hey, watch it." "Hey." "Give me that." "Give me that." "She was- She was gonna tell them." "I" " I" " I" " I couldn't talk her out of it." "Well, what did" "What did you want me to do?" "Spoil everything?" "Seven years!" "Look, I" " I was doing it all for you." "Y-You-You should- You should be thanking me!" "We're-We're gonna be rich!" "Didn't you hear what I said?" "We're gonna be rich!" "That money is covered in blood." "If any one of you touches it, you're as guilty as he is." "No!" "Get back!" "I" "I'm not kidding!" "Now, I mean it!" " [ Groans ]" " On your feet, bub." "I'll take it from here." "Let's go." "Outside." "We owe you an apology." " You owe a lot more than that." " Mmm." "Not bad detective work, that left-hand, right-hand bit." "Ah, yes!" "In the Heat of the Night." "Uh, Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, United Artists, 1 967." "Yes." "Just one thing." " Mm-hmm?" "Yes?" "Rachel was hit on the left side of her head." "Oh, technicalities, Laura." "You're always getting bogged down with technicalities." "Shall we?" "Okay." "Right." "Yes." "Remarkable story about the small town... that happened to find the money from the famous Cleveland armored car robbery." "Really?" "Did they keep it?" "No." "They turned it over for a huge reward." "Hmm." "What virtue." "Well, you know how upright those small towns can be." "Oh, my." "Mildred, where did you get that coat?" "Oh, this old thing?" "Oh, it's gorgeous, isn't it?" "Oh!" "Mmm." "As you would say, Mildred, knockout city." "It's a gift from Sheriff Nebbins." " He gave it to you?" " Well, it's amazing... what the words " false arrest" can do for a girl's wardrobe." " Ready?" " Oh, yes. [ Chuckles ]" "Oh." "My lunch date." " See you later." " Have a nice time." " Bye-bye." " See you." "Bye." "Bye-bye." "Never would have guessed those two would get along so well." "Speaking of the unexpected... it just so happens that I have two tickets to the ballet tonight." "What does the city girl have to say to that?" "Hmm?" " [ Sneezes ] - [ Clears Throat ]" "Gesundheit." "[ Mews ]"