"Is this where you rent detectives?" "I beg your pardon." "Is this a detective rental place?" "More or less." "I want to rent one." "How come?" "Are you a detective?" "That's right." "Okay, I'll take you." "My name's Betsy." "What's yours?" "My name is Joe." "Would you like to step into my office, Betsy?" "Fine." "There you are, Miss Betsy." "Thank you." "Now then, what can I do for you?" "$28." "Count it." "Say, that's a lot of money." "Is it enough to rent you?" "I think so." "My dad's in jail." "They say he killed somebody." "Oh, I see." "You know, Betsy, sometimes the police make mistakes, but they find out soon enough." "And then they apologize and the person goes free like it never happened." "Could you make like it never happened?" "Could you do it quick?" "It's got to be quick." "What's your father's name?" "William Larkin." "Mannix, would you come into my office, please." "Christie, this is Betsy." "Take good care of her." "She's a potential client." "Break out the bubble gum." "You know the Larkin case?" "Only by the newspapers." "The governor refused a stay of execution." "It's next week." "Uh, get her address." "I'll send her home in a cab." "That won't make it like it never happened." "Neither will you." "Besides, I've got an assignment for you." "Fine." "Tomorrow." "Right now!" "Oh, one day, Lou." "She's put up her life's savings." "We can afford one day." "If I turn up..." "As long as you work for this company, you work on cases I assign you." "How much sick leave have I got coming?" "Mannix!" "Sorry, Lou, I feel a fever coming on." "Let's go, Betsy." "The boss told me to drop everything." "You've rented yourself a detective." "Four, his point is four." "I'll take $1,000 to $500 he makes a four." "You got a bet." "Get those bets down." "Come on, baby, I need another four." "I got you covered here." "You got any... any?" "Here we go." "Looking for a four." "Still looking for a four." "I'll lay it again." "Where's Frankie?" "Who wants him?" "Joe Mannix." "Stay put and I'll check." "$11,000." "New shooter here." "A guy named Mannix." "Shall I let him in?" "Let him in, Eddie." "I'm in." "Shall I toss him out, Mr. Saunders?" "Uh, wait a little while, Eddie." "You looking for some action?" "Just talk." "Press $200." "You've got a bet." "What's on your mind?" "William Larkin." "Four, a winner." "Stick around, Mannix, you're lucky for me." "All ride." "You were a witness for the prosecution on the Larkin case." "You're a smart detective, or maybe you just read newspapers, eh?" "Why did you testify, Frankie?" "Because I'm a good citizen." "Try it again without jokes." "Seven, a natural." "Hey, you are lucky." "Look Mannix," "I was at Houston's place when Santina was killed." "The D.A. came out and he questioned everybody." "I told him the truth." "I told him I saw Larkin running across the grounds." "It was about 9:30 and it was right after the the killing." "And that's it." "You could have been at Custer's Last Stand and you wouldn't admit seeing Indians." "You'd lie just to keep in practice." "You're holding up the game, mister." "Shut up." "Why ride me?" "I told the same story as Aumont, the Brocks, and everybody else out there." "Mister, I ain't gonna tell you again." "We got a game going here." "As the man said, you looking for action?" "I guess I am lucky." "I'll be in touch, Frankie." "Come on, let's go here." "I'm stuck $2,000." "Let's go, shoot the dice." "And give me an estimate on installing electrified fences around Miller Avionics." "Thank you." "I checked payroll." "You're right, you've got 12 days sick leave coming." "Go to the Springs, go on vacation, stay home, knit tea cozies." "How come you're so worried about what I do with my own free time?" "You're still identified with the organization." "Lou, how can Intertect get involved?" "The murder took place at Clint Houston's home." "We supply security personnel for all of Houston's plants." "He's one of our biggest clients." "Do you think he'd object if someone tried to help Larkin?" "I don't know, but we don't make a practice of annoying our clients." "I've got a client, too, Lou." "She may get a little annoyed if they execute her father." "Joe, you're not going to do that child any good making her think you can save her father." "Larkin's conviction was open and shut." "You're that sure?" "He had motive, opportunity, the works." "Witnesses watching him in and out." "It wouldn't have been surer if he'd had a grandstand for spectators." "Would you like to sit in the stands while I tell a little girl her father is a murderer?" "I'll see if we can't pass a law that killers aren't allowed to have kids." "Joe, you promised you'd drop it if you found nothing." "Have you turned up anything?" "I talked to Frankie Saunders." "It made him nervous." "More nervous than he should have been if he were telling the truth." "And that's your case?" "Maybe Larkin is guilty." "But if he isn't, and it's a frame," "I'm going to find out and I'm going to poke around and make a lot of people nervous." "Just, uh, don't file any reports." "I wouldn't want my other men to get the idea that making people nervous is a brilliant..." "Okay, okay, so it isn't a classical way to work, but it's all I've got to go on." "I'm busy, Mannix." "Do whatever you want." "Stay away from Houston." "I'd like to see Mr. Houston." "Do you have an appointment?" "No, but, uh, it is rather important." "Sorry." "Mr. Houston won't see anyone without an appointment." "Maybe if you'd give him a message, he'd see me." "I said out." "You did say it was important, didn't you?" "It'll save a lot of trouble if you'll just ask Mr. Houston." "I don't mind trouble, sir." "Matter of fact, that's what I'm paid for." "Now if you'll just show me where you put your car." "George!" "Don't shoot!" "What does he want?" "Who are you?" "He tried to push his way in, Miss Scott." "I wanted to see Mr. Houston." "He's not here." "Well, do you think he'd mind if I talked to his mechanic?" "Mr. Houston." "That wasn't a question, was it?" "No." "Both your face and your hobby are pretty well known." "So is my penchant for privacy." "I'd just like some answers to a few questions about Santina." "You're not on the police force, not in the district attorney's office." "Those men have better manners." "Joe Mannix, private detective." "How exciting." "Miss Stella Scott... this is Mr. Joe Mannix." "How do you do." "Pleasure." "Mr. Mannix, you're guilty of trespass." "You'd be wise to leave." "There's a man in the death house." "He's scheduled for execution in five days." "You don't care?" "Should I?" "The murder was committed here." "Larkin did work for one of your companies." "If I'd been asked in advance," "I'd have insisted that any murders be committed elsewhere." "I wasn't asked." "Let me show you what I've been doing with your car." "Did you adjust the steering wheel?" "Uh-huh." "Well, you've made your point, Mr. Houston." "You're not interested in Larkin." "What about Santina?" "He was your guest." "What if the wrong man was convicted and Santina's killer is still free?" "This is my home." "I pay well to insure that I'm left alone." "I don't like my privacy disturbed." "I'm not surprised you like privacy." "With the collection of guests like you had here the night Santina was killed, most people would want secrecy, let alone privacy." "Santina, Mr. and Mrs. Brock, Frankie Saunders..." "Oh, there's a ripe one." "Oh." "Mr. Mannix, if I were trying to conceal something, your clumsy attempts to make me lose my temper would merely put me on guard." "Assaulting a guard and trespassing on private property, Officer." "I'll prefer charges." "Good-bye, Mr. Mannix." "See you, fellas." "I thought I'd be enjoying your hospitality for a while." "I sort of doubted my boss was feeling kindly enough to go bail Mannix." "Good guess." "Your office says you're not working for them this week." "They won't take responsibility or go bail." "They say that you can R-O-T in jail." "Then who did?" "Thanks." "Don't mention it." "Your idea or his?" "Clint's got a thing about privacy." "He's got a thing about beautiful women, too." "I'm glad you like his taste." "His taste, not him." "Clint's really not to blame." "Carlos Santina's murder was a nightmare." "The police and the reporters they wouldn't leave us alone." "We thought the trial was the end of it." "And now you." "His comfort" " Larkin's life." "You know, we could choose up sides and debate it over a cup of coffee." "Interested?" "I might be..." "in choosing up sides." "I'd better be going now." "Good-bye." "I'll see you again, sometime." "I'll make sure of it." "Help yourself to toppings." "I've never rented a detective before." "I don't know exactly what's supposed to happen." "Well, I'll tell you, it's not exactly like renting a car or a house." "You see, what happens is, you keep hoping and I keep trying to help and maybe things work out." "I've been thinking-- maybe I could help." "Really, how's that?" "Couldn't I go along with you, carry things or something?" "Now, wait a minute, when you rent a detective, you're kind of stuck with him, so you'd better learn to trust him." "Okay." "I just wish I wasn't a kid." "I never get to do anything that matters, and anything I say, they never believe me on account of I'm a kid." "Well, I believe you." "Well, you're different." "You'd think Grandma would believe me, wouldn't you?" "It all depends on what you tell her." "Like I told her about Daddy kissing me good night." "When was that?" "That night... the night they say Daddy..." "Why don't you tell me about it?" "Well, I just got into bed." "He came home." "I heard the door close, so I called him." "He tucked me in." "What time do you go to bed, Betsy?" "Late." "Almost 9:00." "Sure I hated Santina." "He took off with my wife and then he walked out on her." "She killed herself." "Now, that's a good enough motive for murder." "If I wanted to kill him," "I wouldn't have waited five years." "You waited five years before you got into a fight with him." "That was just another one of my lucky breaks." "My boss gave me some papers to deliver to Mr. Houston." "I saw Santina." "Helen was dead, everything had gone wrong." "I just..." "I kind of exploded." "I'm waiting for the gas chamber because I took a couple of swings at a guy." "One missed, and the other one hit him on the shoulder." "The trial transcript says you were still swinging when Aumont and Brock pulled you away." "Sure." "You want the story of my life in five words?" "Lots of swings, no hits." "Your lawyer asked for clemency." "You haven't appealed the sentence." "Why?" "Guess." "Most people would guess you're guilty." "That's what the trial jury guessed." "That's what an appeals court would guess, too." "So why waste time and money?" "You've got something better to do with your time and money?" "Money, yes." "Not throw what little there is away so I can save something for my daughter." "Time?" "Well, I've got so little left, it doesn't even matter." "Dragging it out would just make it tougher on Betsy." "What about your alibi?" "The transcript shows no record of it." "Why?" "Alibi?" "Yeah, Betsy says you were home before 9:00." "The murder took place some time around 9:30." "A sleepy kid and my own daughter." "Do you really think that would have made any difference?" "Well, I must say, you're right about one thing-- no hits." "But you aren't even taking a swing at the ball." "Guard." "Hey, Guard!" "Get this guy out of here." "Then he rushes to Carlos, started shouting and hitting him." "Steve, my husband, he had to help separate them." "Well, Saunders and Aumont were there, too." "We all helped." "Larkin was five-seven and Santina was six-two and weighed 220." "That Larkin must be all tiger." "We've told you everything we know." "Not quite." "We're expecting a buyer, Mr. Mannix." "You were married to Santina, weren't you, Mrs. Brock?" "We've been divorced for years." "Must have been a real friendly divorce." "You were seeing quite a bit of him after the divorce." "Carlos and I met at a few parties, but there was nothing between us." "You know better than that, don't you, Brock?" "They were a regular twosome at all the night spots." "You and Santina were having an argument at that party." "Were you telling him to lay off?" "Yeah." "I told him to stay away from her." "I told him..." "Steve." "This is a family matter, Mr. Mannix." "It has nothing to do with the trial." "Maybe not." "Then again, maybe it does." "Oh, uh, you weren't planning on leaving town, were you, Mrs. Brock?" "I, uh, I saw the "For Lease" sign." "We're expanding." "We're moving to larger quarters." "I'll visit." "Why can't you keep your mouth shut?" "!" "There you are." "Thank you." "There's not much time, is there?" "No, there isn't." "I told Grandma about you." "She says, "That's nice," the way grownups do when they're not paying attention to kids." "We're going to move to the country, Grandma says." "That's nice." "I'm paying attention." "We're going to buy a house, a big one." "We're going to have a dog." "Grandma says it's good to have money." "She's right." "After all, you had to have money to rent me." "We're gonna have more than that." "Jillions times more." "From some kind of insurance policy." "Check the State Department of Insurance for any policies taken out on Larkin's life." "when they were taken out, by whom and for how much." "Easy." "I got the information you asked for on the others" "Brock, Aumont, and Saunders." "Is that what you want?" "It will sure help." "Thanks, Parker." "Thanks for what?" "Oh, well, uh, just some information I needed." "You're using company facilities." "That's right." "Well, if you have any excuse, I'd like to know it." "None that your accountant won't accept on a profit and loss statement." "You know, this may sound grubby to you, but this company charges fees." "We pay all these people, pay for rent and equipment." "You've never turned down your paycheck that I recall." "I've taken ten minutes of Parker's time." "Bill me." "I will." "Why, Eddie, why?" "!" "I got nothing to say!" "Your boy was clumsy!" "What are you talking about?" "Eddie!" "What about Eddie?" "He planted a bomb on me, and you sent him." "No!" "Yes!" "Look, why would I want to finger you?" "Eddie was a nothing; a bouncer." "He wasn't my guy." "Eddie's nobody's guy now." "He's dead." "I've had it, Frankie." "Everybody's innocence makes makes me sick to my stomach." "The lies buzz in my ear... and in case you haven't noticed, I'm just a little upset." "Oh, I'd like an excuse to think you're holding out on me." "Go ahead." "Ask me anything." "I got nothing to hide." "Look, I didn't even know Larkin, and Santina, he was just another mark." "Okay." "How much did Santina owe you?" "Seven grand, but he was good for it." "There was always some dame who'd come up with the dough for him." "Yeah, and you didn't mind waiting, did you, Frankie?" "You're a very patient man." "Santina was worked over one week before he was killed!" "So I wasn't patient." "Maybe I pushed him a little." "Look, I'd have been a sucker to knock him off." "Dead guys don't pay." "Maybe they don't, but an occasional killing speeds up collections in general, don't they, Frankie?" "You're talking in riddles." "Leave me alone, will you, Mannix?" "Not a chance." "I stay with you one day," "I turn up at least a felony." "Give me 48 hours, and don't rule out murder!" "Why me?" "Larkin was defended by a high-priced lawyer for free; your lawyer." "I didn't pay him." "Who did?" "Or would you rather explain to the police how Eddie the bomber wasn't really your boy?" "A friend of Stella Scott paid the legal fees;" "a dancing teacher named Gilbert Aumont." "All right, kids, let's get the legs up a little higher, right in front, and... up... up." "Right." "Let's try it from the cross step where you do the kick." "Here we go." "And cross step, step, kick." "All right, everybody, let's take it from the beginning." "Here we go." "Hello." "Hello, Joe." "Are you looking for me?" "Well, if I weren't, it's nice to find you." "This a regular thing?" "Oh, no." "I just come here twice a week." "It keeps me in shape." "Very good shape." "Yeah?" "We've got a visitor, Mr. Aumont." "Who is it?" "I've never seen him before." "He's talking to Miss Scott." "You know she isn't to be bothered." "All this exercise, it doesn't improve my looks or my conversation." "I'm a lot better after I stop for a pick-me-up on my way home." "Hmm?" "Uh, what time?" "How about 7:00?" "Name the place." "The, uh... the bar at the Claridge." "You've got a date." "Good." "7:00 at the Claridge." "All right, kids, let's take it again from the beginning." "Here we go." "What's the rush?" "Who are you?" "What do you want?" "You don't know who I am... why duck out the back way?" "Whichever way I leave my studio is..." "None of my business." "Oh, I know the line well." "Sit down." "Stella didn't want us to meet." "Why?" "I don't even know who you are." "Joe Mannix." "Oh, I know you've never really heard of me." "Why did Stella flag you out?" "A complete stranger busts into my studio and asks me stupid questions." "Frankie Saunders call you to, to tell you I was coming over?" "I hardly know Mr. Saunders." "I can afford the time for your lies, but Larkin has another problem." "His time is running out." "I've got nothing to do with Larkin." "He's a face I saw, a name in the papers." "You, uh... you hired a lawyer for a name in the papers?" "I don't have to answer your questions!" "You've no right!" "A man counting the minutes before the State blots him out gives me all the right I need." "He had no money." "It was a gesture." "It's not good enough." "I knew I was gonna to have to testify against him that he was guilty." "Oh, I felt badly." "Who gave you the money?" "Saunders?" "Clint Houston?" "Or was it Stella?" "It was my own." "If you like," "I can show you the cancelled check." "I'm sure you can." "Hello, Pete." "Mannix." "Intertect paying for that or is it pleasure?" "Intertect." "The doll in the doorway." "Not bad." "Stella Scott." "I've been tailing her." "And for whom?" "Clint Houston." "And it's private property." "Hello." "Hello." "Well, the looks have improved;" "now what about the conversation?" "I promise it's going to be brilliant." "Uh, champagne and orange juice and the same for the lady." "We'll take it on the terrace." "Hello?" "Yeah, let me speak to Wickersham" "I could get accustomed to this." "I'd like to help develop the habit." "Mr. Mannix?" "Mr. Mannix, there's a telephone call for you." "Now you hold that pose." "I'll be back in 30 seconds." "Are you out of your mind?" "Dating Stella Scott!" "I had to report that to Mr. Wickersham." "I'm on my own time, Cleary; sick leave." "Was that a gag about the phone call?" "No." "When I called in, the girl at the board said to tell you Steve Brock phoned." "Leave a message?" "No." "He asked to see you as soon as possible." "He said urgent." "He said he'd wait at the shipping platform." "Mrs. Brock?" "It's Steve!" "He's dead!" "Not very convincing." "Did you hear him make the telephone call?" "He was so kind, he was so gentle, he was so loving!" "And nervous!" "You knew he was gonna spill everything." "Who else knew it?" "!" "I don't know what you're talking about!" "Stop it!" "All I know is my husband's dead!" "And you killed him!" "Help!" "Police!" "Police!" "Help!" "Police!" "Help!" "Oh, thank you, Chris." "Would you like to check our personnel records?" "Mannix has been on sick leave, unassigned." "What he's doing has no connection with Intertect." "You didn't answer my question." "Do you know where he is?" "Mannix has certain talents." "He also has some irritating qualities." "Independence is one of them." "He doesn't report in as often as I'd like." "You're still evasive." "However, if you don't know where he is," "I want you to locate him." "Why?" "If he's got any solid evidence of Larkin's innocence," "I'll underwrite a full-scale investigation." "If he hasn't, he stops annoying my friends, or you lose my account." "I decide what is solid evidence." "I do." "I hope, when the time comes, Mr. Houston, that we'll agree." "I hope so." "If not," "Intertect will regretfully terminate its association with Houston Enterprises." "Parker ran down Larkin's insurance." "His only policy is six years old in the amount of $500." "You didn't come over here to run errands for Parker." "I managed to keep the report from Houston that you're romancing his girl." "I want him to know." "I'm romancing the girl so he will know." "Are you trying to get us fired?" "I'm trying to shake up Houston." "So tell him." "No chance." "I don't slap a major client in the face just to satisfy one of your impulses." "What about your obligation to a client?" "Ethically, you're supposed to report everything you know on a case." "Don't teach me ethics, Joe." "Houston will pick up the tab on your investigation if you've got anything." "Houston and his buddies are in this thing up to their ears." "You're playing hunches." "Was it a hunch that planted a bomb in my bed or killed Steve Brock?" "I've shaken up a lot of people." "One of them is a killer." "All right, say Houston disliked Santina." "Does he strike you as a man who'd commit murder?" "No." "Stella?" "If Larkin is innocent-- a big if" "Saunders, Aumont, anybody might have done it." "Why bug Houston?" "Because he knows something." "He's got some sort of financial arrangement he doesn't want to talk about, and it smells an awful lot like payoffs to me." "You bring me cancelled checks, bank withdrawals, security transfers, anything like that and I'll listen." "Now look, Lou," "Larkin is scheduled to die tomorrow night." "The police want me for questioning in the Brock murder." "I haven't got time to find hard evidence!" "You've got nothing, Joe!" "I've got a little girl who wants her father back." "Get off the case." "Get off, or you'll never work for a detective agency again in your life." "That's a promise!" "Look!" "Clint Houston knows something about the Santina murder." "He's protecting somebody." "If he'd like to sue you for libel, I'll give evidence." "What are you doing here?" "Next question." "No, Mannix, please, not here." "Well, I know a bar close by, a nice quiet little bar." "Let's go." "No, I can't." "If Clint found out..." "Come on, honey." "We're good for each other." "Live a little." "Mm, you're fun, Mannix." "And I take chances, but Clint's the money." "In my book, fun's easier to come by than money." "Well, you can have both." "You're not chained to him." "He'll be here when you get back." "Let's go." "No, I can't." "Let's go!" "No!" "Get into the house, Stella." "Stick around, sweetheart." "Stella and I have a date." "Take your hands off her!" "Let me go!" "Don't worry about him." "He's an old man." "He won't do anything." "Please!" "I'll make a deal with you." "One date with pretty Stella here and I'll forget everything I know about Santina." "Get out!" "You've been warned off private property." "Santina was trespassing, too, wasn't he?" "Only Stella was the private property." "You couldn't stand Santina having his arms around Stella, so you beat his head in." "Brock was about to talk, so you had him killed, too." "I knew all that before you told me." "You are lying!" "I didn't tell him." "I didn't!" "You tramp!" "Kill him!" "That's all, Houston." "You're the only one who could afford the payoffs." "Saunders looking to buy a piece of Las Vegas action," "Aumont to back a Broadway play and the Brocks next to bankruptcy" "Shoot him!" "Shoot him!" "Did you get him?" "I think so." "I don't see him." "Look for him!" "Don't stand there!" "Look for him!" "Get up, Houston!" "Come on!" "Stella didn't really tell me." "I only had to fill in one blank:" ""What could get you mad enough to kill?"" "You spent a lot of money on a lot of lies, Houston." "She wasn't really worth it." "Let's go." "Larkin, congratulations." "Another swing, another strike." "What are you waiting for, thanks?" "Forget it." "I had it made till you wrecked it for me." "That's what threw me." "I never figured you in on your own frame-up." "Why?" "For Betsy." "Houston would have paid her a hundred thousand dollars." "Daddy!" "Hi, honey." "How are you, baby?" "Come on." "Let's go home." "You beginning to get the idea she might not have wanted the deal?" "She doesn't need a loser." "You blew the only chance I had of doing anything for her." "What right have you got to mix in with it?" "I wasn't working for you, Larkin." "Betsy here rented me to bring back her father." "Hope to see you soon, Betsy." "Sorry, Mr. Mannix, but I don't think Daddy likes you." "You like him, Betsy?" "Yes." "Well, any friend of yours..." "You over your fever?" "Just this minute." "Good." "I have something for you." "Come on, I'll buy you a drink." "Thanks." "Two chocolate sodas, please." "What's this?" "Oh. that." "That's a bill for Parker's time." "You're kidding." "For ten minutes?" "One scoop?" "Better make it a double."