"[Gunshot]" " Lieutenant, I received a letter from Tony." "Well, he's perfectly all right." "Really." "How big a ransom did the letter ask for, ma'am?" "." "I must say, the lieutenant's investigatory procedures do differ somewhat from my own." "Well, that speaks verywell foryou, Sergeant Wilson." "[Phone Ringing]" "[Ringing Continues ]" "Hello?" "." "[ Man ] Mrs. Goodland?" "." "Yes." "Mrs. Tony Goodland?" "." "Who is this?" "." "Never mind." "I just wouldn't go any place if I was you." "Your old man, he just bought himselfsome trouble." "He's what?" "." "What areyou talking about?" "." "Just stay put, lady." "Ifhe pays up, no hard feelings." "Ifhe don't, we'll be in touch with you." "Get in touch?" "." "What is this?" "." "[ Line Disconnects ] [ Dial Tone Humming ]" "Tony?" "." "Tony?" "." "[ Ringing ]" "Hello?" "." "Whom?" "." "Mrs. Tony Goodland." "And ifmy husband is there, Miss West, I'd like to speakwith him, please." "Well, whywould you-- I mean, what makes you" "I know whatyou mean, dear, and you know what I mean." "Now, is he there or isn't he?" "." "Well, he certainly is not." "Now I was at one time Tony's" "Mr. Goodland's receptionist employee, Mrs. Goodland." "And that is absolutely all!" "I know all about your skills at the office." "Just tell me where Tony is." "Well, I don't know where he is." "Honest, Mrs. Goodland." "[ Line Disconnects ] [ Dial Tone Humming ]" "Jarvis?" "." "I'm looking forTony." "Ah, sweet Catherine." "Looking for Tony, areyou?" "My, what a pleasant surprise for him." "Tell me, my dear." "Have you tried your own home?" "." " I am home." " Well, a double surprise." "Jarvis, look, I'm not in the mood for playing badminton right now." "I got a weird phone call a couple of minutes ago and I" " Did you?" "." "One ofyour friends?" "." " Damn it,Jarvis." "Will you listen?" "." "Oh." "Sounds quite lethal, doesn't he?" "." "Well, I tell you, Cathy, why don'tyou wait an hour, and ifTony doesn't comeweaving in bythen, why don'tyou call the authorities." "Yes, of course, the police." "Drunks and errand husbands are their special province, I believe." "Not at all, my dear." "Oh, and, Cathy, assuming nothing is wrong with Tony, it's been my pleasure to hearyou so upset, my dear." "Torpedoes running straight, hot and normal." "Why doyou always have to talk to her like she was some kind of a" "Well, isn't she?" "." "I've told you before, knock offthat stuff." "And the word foryou is still "gullible!"" "Why doyou insist upon being in love with a wife... who spends all your cash on some skiing instructor?" "." "Maybe I've fooled around a little bit myself." "In self-defense, dear boy." "Of course, you are embarrassinglyweak and far too decent... to compete with your Catherine the great." "UncleJarvis, I'm warning you." "I don't want to hear any more talk about" "Look, this whole thing betterwork." "It just betterwork, that's all." "Oh, it'll work." "I planned it." "And now let's be off to conclude phase one, shall we, nephew?" "." "Now wait a minute." "Wait a minute." "What ifCathy calls you back again later?" "." "She'll get a busy signal." "I thought I told you to listen to the police calls." "I have been." "I just turned it off." "Then turn it on again." "[ Man Over Radio, Indistinct ]" "[ Woman Over Radio ] Three-car collision at the corner ofSepulveda and" "[Police Radio Chatter Continues ] Now, what about tomorrow night?" "." "I make the first phone call to Cathy between midnight and 1 2:30." "From?" "." "That roadside phone just below here." "And the second call?" "." "Twenty minutes later from the same phone." "Toyou, at that gas station on Wilshire." "Good." "Boo." "It's gonna feel like Halloween wearing this thing." "Well, don't forget to wear these." "We don't want some clod trying to match footprints." "Now, where's the letter?" "." "Oh." "Here." "I copied straight from your draft." "Word forword?" "." "Yes!" "What about fingerprints?" "." "Only mine on the letter and the envelope." "[ Woman Over Radio ] Anthony Goodland, age 31." "Hey, listen." "Driving yellow sports car." "Chrome-spoke wheels." "License ZZ0324." "All cars, report ifsubject is located." "Well, we are in business." "And now, dear nephew, to phase two." "Listen,Jarvis." "Couldn't we just hide the Jag?" "." "That thing cost me a bundle." "Did it costyou $300,000?" "." "Headlights off." "I know." "Dashboard clock set back to 1 2:1 8." "Windows up!" "Emergency brake off?" "." "Yes!" " Flaps up, wheels down." " Would you mind?" "." "Well, don't just stand there." "Push!" "Come on!" "The end of a perfect day." "[Man OverRadio ] Standby." "Information incomplete." "Hey, mister, didn't you see me signaling?" "." "I'm a cop, sir." "Right, you're a cop." "Now can you back this up and move it down the hill?" "." "Officer, you don't understand." "I'm a member ofthe force." "Lieutenant." "Lieutenant, don't worry aboutyour car." "The officer will move it foryou." "Officer, right now." "A lieutenant?" "." "This way, sir." "Oh, thankyou." "Thankyou very much." "Thankyou very much." "Sir" " Oh, sir, may I?" "." "Oh, fine." "Sir, the vehicle's point of descent is right over there." "You'll notice the skid marks of course." "These are the, uh-- These are the second set of skid marks here?" "." "No, sir." "The second set is right over here." "It's a bigger, heaviervehicle." "Of course, I don't have to tell you that, sir." "Oh, please." "You could tell me." "Well, the smallervehicle is the vehicle that descended into the canyon." "Here, I'll showyou the quickestway down." "Lieutenant?" "It's a..." "little steep." "Yes, sir." "Sir?" "But I'll tell you, it was the quickest way down." "Oh,yes, byfar." "Here, sir." "[ Groans ] Thankyou." "[ Muttering ] This is the car right here, sir." "Subject vehicle, a Jaguar, registered to subject person... oflast night's missing person report, Anthony Goodland." "Male Caucasian, residing 1 1 Hightower Road." "Discovered approximately one hour ago by two juveniles taking a shortcut to school." "You want their names, Lieutenant?" "." "What?" "." "Who?" "." "I'm sorry?" "." "The juveniles." "I have their names right here when you need them." "Yeah." "Very good." "Very good." "Yes, sir." "Soil moisture tests beneath subject vehicle... indicate residual dew, indicating in turn that subject vehicle... has been here since last night." "That is substantiated by subject vehicle's electric clock... which stopped running at 1 2:1 8." "Bullet hole in window on driver's side, but no blood, indicating preliminarily that bullet missed." "Bullet slug lodged in backofpassenger seat." "Lights, ignition, emergency brake, all off." "[ Chuckles ]" "Well, sir, I guess I don't have to tell you what this all adds up to." "Adds up to?" "." "Yes, you can tell me." "As I reconstruct it, sir, Mr. Goodland was halted... by the shotyou were looking at there, forced out ofthe car, which was then pushed over the side." "This to conceal the fact that he was grabbed by a person or persons unknown." "That jibe with your thinking, sir?" "." "Uh, I was wondering." "Could you tell meyour name?" "." "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, sir." "Detective Sergeant Frederic Wilson." "Sir, please, forgive my rudeness." "Oh, no, that's perfectly all right." "One years experience Homicide, two years Advanced Police School, Berkeley, returned to city Homicide, six July." "Wow." "Well, you're a very efficient officer." "I can see that." "Thankyou, sir." "With permission from Captain Ritchie to work right alongsideyou, sir." "You're gonna work along with me?" "." "I, uh, do hope that's acceptable toyou, sir." "Uh, Captain Ritchie did sayyou were fast becoming a legend in the department." "Oh, Captain Ritchie said that?" "." "Oh, yes, indeed." "Oh." "Well." "Doyou have a pocketknife?" "." "Yes, sir." "Would you hold this for me?" "." "Oh, certainly, sir." "I wonderwhy he said that." "I beg your pardon?" "." "Captain Ritchie, he said that?" "." "Aboutyou?" "Oh, repeatedly, sir." "I wonderwhy he said that." "Thankyou." "Oh, thanks." "I wonder ifyou could get this over to the crime lab as soon as possible." "Oh, yes, sir." "This fella have a wife?" "." "Does she know about this?" "." "I suggested theywait until you had madeyour preliminary report, sir." "Oh, verygood." "Sergeant, I wonder ifyou could hang around here and see ifyou could locate any more physical evidence, something that might do us some good?" "." "Couldyou do that?" "Certainly, sir." "Thankyou." "Fine." "Lieutenant?" "." "Yes?" "." "Um" "I hopeyou don't mind Captain Ritchie assigning me toyou like this." "I mean, that is to say I realize itwas donewithout consulting you, and" "No, Freddie, that's perfectly all right." "Captain Ritchie's a very fine administrator, and I'm sure hejustwanted to expose me to some modern techniques." "No, I appreciate that." "Uh, I think I'll go the long way around." "Oh, yes." "Oh, Lieutenant?" "." "Yes?" "." "Your coat." "Oh, thankyou very much." "I'll carry it." "Thankyou." "[Jarvis ] Well, I mustsay, Catherine, our kidnapper, whoever he is, is certainly no piker." "To demand a ransom of $300,000, why, I'll wager there are weeks here and there even you don't spend that sort of money." "Don'tyou ever stop,Jarvis?" "." "However, leaving our personal affection aside, you must realize that my situation is such that even I couldn't pour... even the smallest drop into such a huge bucket, even though I'm not a weakling with a spendthrift wife." "[Doorbell Chimes ]" "Oh, shut up,Jarvis." "Uh, Mrs. Goodland?" "." "Yes." "Police department, ma'am." "Lieutenant Columbo." "Yes?" "." "Would you mind ifl came in?" "." "Well, I've alreadytold your people everything I know, Lieutenant, in triplicate." "Now, ifyou'll excuse me, I have company." "Uh, ma'am, you see, this time, I've got something to tell you." "Oh." "[ Sighs ]" "Well, come in." "This is Lieutenant, uh-- Columbo." "How doyou do, sir?" "." "This is Jarvis Goodland, Tony's uncle." "Did I hearyou say you have something to tell us?" "." "Uh, yes, sir." "I'm sorry, Mrs. Goodland." "We found your husband's car about an hour ago." "It was in a canyon off Middlecross Road." "Smashed up pretty badly, I'm afraid." "Kindofa long drop offithatparticularspot." "Even worse, we found a bullet hole in the window on the driver's side." "You already heard this?" "." " Uh, no." " Oh." "Well, it kind ofseems to me that if... somebody popped in and told mywife that they found my car... at the bottom of a canyon with a bullet hole in it, you know, I think she would wanna ask if I was in the car, ifl was hurt, ifl was alive" "You're quite right, Lieutenant." "We do knowmuch ofwhat you're telling us." "Jarvis." "It's always better to tell the truth, my dear, especially to the police." "Jarvis, will you let me handle" "Lieutenant, I received a letter from Tony." "He's perfectly all right." "Really." "How big a ransom did the letter ask for, ma'am?" "." " You already knew." " Oh, no, no." "No, uh-- Is that an ashtray?" "." "It's just that letters to wives and relatives saying "don't talk to the police,"" "they often involve a kidnapping." "And I mean, uh, the way I could just barely get into the house here, just now, right here at the door, well, I make these small observations-- I can't help it, ma'am-- sometimes." " May I see the letter, please?" "." " Well, you can't." "Aside from the fact it specifically says not to give the police any information" "Mrs. Goodland, I will do nothing to endangerthe safety ofyourhusband." "But this is a crime." "This is a police matter." "I've already sent it by messenger to Mr.Jameson at the Golden West Bank." "He's gonna verifyTony's handwriting." "He'll do whatever's necessary." "Catherine, I thinkyou'd better cooperate more than that." "The letters asked for $300,000 in small unmarked bills." "$300,000?" "." "Well, that's a lot of money." "I mean, well, doyou mind ifl askyou, doyou have access" "Well, ofcourse I don't have it." "But Tonyhas a trust fund." "Now, in an emergency like this-- Ah, the trust fund." "That's whyyou wanted me here." "Well,Jarvis, I certainly know you wouldn't help me raise the money any otherway." "I'm sorry." "I don't quite understand about that trust fund." "Well, you see, I am coadministrator with the bank... ofa trust fundset up by Tony's father." "And you, Catherine, should know of all people... that he put enough strings in there to protect Tony from his own bad habits... and grasping wives." "I also know, because Mr.Jameson told me on the telephone, that there is an emergency clause for-- well, for problems like this." " Yes, there is that." " Then you can get the money?" "." "I mean, you can break the trust fund." "Boy, that's a lucky thing." "We can ifthe bank verifies the letter." "[Jarvis ] Andifl choose to vote in Tony's favor." "Now there's no use glaring at me like that." "Blood is thicker than martinis." "I'll go and see Jameson right away." "Hmph." "Oh, sir?" "." "You will be careful with the fingerprints, won'tyou?" "." "I mean, we could help with the verification." "Why don't I send one ofthe lab boys over there to meetyou?" "." "Why don'tyou do that?" "." "Delightful, isn't he?" "." "What?" "." "Huh?" "." "Oh." "Well, you know, everybody gets uptight in a situation like that." "I can understand that." "And, Mrs. Goodland, believe me, I understand how concerned you are aboutyour husband." "And rest assured, we will do nothing to interfere." " Just help." " [DoorOpens ]" "I heard the front door close." "I thought you were alone." "Who are you?" "." "Another cop?" "Uh, yes." "Lieutenant Columbo." "Ken Nichols." "Friend ofthe family." "How doyou do, sir?" "." "Hey, you look a little tired." "You go on back upstairs and get some rest." "You let me be the watchdog, fix him a drink orwhatever." "No, he was just leaving." "Uh, yes, I was just leaving." "Now, Mrs. Goodland, you just follow any instructions they giveyou in that letter, and we'll stay in the background till your husband's released." "I mean, uh, don't worry." "Everything's gonna be all right." "Lieutenant?" "." "Yes?" "." "I'm scared about Tony." "And I'll do anything on earth to see him safe." "We lead separate lives." "And I don't really care whatyou might be thinking right now." "Good day!" "[ Bell Jingling ]" "[Rustling]" "Oh, excuse me." "I hope I didn'tstartleyou, sir." "One ofyour men-- I believe it was the gardener-- he said it was all right if I waited here." "And I must say, it's been a real pleasure... because I've never seen so many beautiful flowers in my life." "Orchids, Lieutenant." "One ofthe finest collections in the country, even ifl say so myself." "Mywife loves African violets, but, boy, what a thrill it would be to her" "I can imagine ifl ever brought something like this home to her" "That specimen happens to be called a moth orchid." "Its value is approximately $1 200." "$1 200." "Can you imagine that for one flower?" "." "Mm-hmm." "Hard to believe." "Boy, a fella could go brokewith a hobby like this." "Mm-hmm." "You mean to tell me every one ofthese are worth $1 200?" "." "Lieutenant Columbo, I enjoy talking about my orchids, but I have a feeling you came here with something else on your mind." "Yes, sir." "I'm waiting to hear how you made out at the bank." "Ah." "And to see this I suppose." "Oh, yes, sir, that's very important." "I'd like to keep that for evidence ifl could." "Let's see ifl have a handkerchiefhere." "Oh, go ahead!" "It won't biteyou." "Your expert's alreadyverified that the fingerprints are Tony's... and that the handwriting is his." "Oh, he checked it out, did he?" "." "Oh, yes." "Well, then there's no need to be so careful." "[ Coughs ]" "Let's see. "Cathy," ""there's a man standing over me... making me write this!"" ""Driving in a car on a country road, shot at me!"" "[Mutters ] "Forcedoffithe road. "" ""Don't worry." "I'm not hurt!" That's must have been a relief when you got to that part." " Oh, yes, indeed." " "Demand $300,000." "Whateveryou do, don't tell no police." "Sit tight--"" "Your expert has told you, I'm sure, everything including the text." "Yeah, you know." "He did in his way." "And also that the money will be available." "Yeah, that was a lucky thing, wasn't it?" "." "And also the fact ofyour being here jeopardizes my nephew's life." "Nowsupposing we were watched." "Good point, sir." "You're absolutely right." "Better run along." "Uh, the, uh" "The one or two little things I have, I guess they can wait until, uh" "Yeah." "[ Sighs ]" "Now, it just hit me how much you must love these flowers." "No, whenyou didn't go straight to the bank" "I mean, with your nephew being kidnapped, and they told me you took the time to stop off at the nursery" "You mean I'm being followed already?" "." "Thatyou're interfering andyou promisedyou wouldn't?" "Uh" "I'm gonna call up your superiors!" "No, there's no need to do that, sir." "No, they've told me, and they've made it very clear, I'm to stay in touch, but until your nephew is released, believe me, we're way back." "Wayback." "Nothing to worryabout." "In that case, I don't mind revealing that mynephew isn't worth a sack ofpeat moss." "He's a wife-ridden weakling whom I 've despised for years." "If it wasn't for the fact that he's my only relative," "I'd call up his captors and tell them that they're welcome to him." "[DoorCloses ] [BellJingles ]" "Uh, Lieutenant, sir?" "." "The boys on the new shift, they keep asking me... why a homicide lieutenant has requested to stay on this kidnapping thing, uh" "I" " I don't know what I'm supposed to say." "Are they angry?" "." "I hope they're not angry." "I don't" "Lieutenant, we got a ring." "Oh." "Hold that." "[ Ringing ]" "Answer it." "Yes?" "." "Tony!" "Tony, where areyou?" "." "Yes,Jarvis is here." "Yes, I've got the money." "Yes, Tony, I'm listening." "Tell Jarvis he's to go to..." "Cal-Texas Gas Station, 5835 East Wilshire." "Wait for a call." "[ Straining ] Public phone booth." "You got that?" "." "Yes, I've got that." "Tony, areyou all right?" "." "Have they hurtyou?" "." "You sound so-- [ Dial Tone Humming ]" "They made him hang up." "5835 East Wilshire." "Yes, I think I know the station." "Well, might as well get it overwith." "Ifyou'd just sign this, Mr. Goodland." "Bank rules and all." "Oh, yes, of course." "What about my going with you, Mr. Goodland?" "." "You?" "." "Sure." "I'll hide in the back ofthe car-- My dear boy, there's one thing I don't need, it's a hero." "Now assuming I survive, I shall telephone and letyou know." "Keep him in sight." "No tailgating, understand?" "." "Yes, sir." "[Phone Ringing]" "[ Line Ringing ]" "[ Line Clicks ] It's about time!" "Uh, yeah, yeah." "Okay, okay." "Uh, take Sunset to Surf Road." "North on Surf 4.6 miles." "You got 1 5 minutes to get there." "[ Man ] I think he's stopping, Lieutenant." "[ Wilson ] Pull up and turn offthe lights." "Yes, sir." "Did you ever see one ofthese before, Lieutenant?" "." "Uh" "No, I'm not sure I have." "It, uh, looks kind of familiar, though." "It's a camera-mounted starlight scope." "They use 'em quite a bit at Berkeley for night work." "You mean that takes pictures in the dark?" "." "Yeah." "I bought this one myself." "You used your own money?" "." "Well, I wanted to have the best equipment for the job, sir." "You must be a bachelor." "[ Camera Shutter Clicking]" "Lieutenant!" "We've got some very clear footprints here, going and coming." "Good." "We'll have some moulage casts made." "I thinkwe better go." "Lieutenant, uh" "I believe I'd rather take some three-dimension photographs, ifyou don't mind." "We've pretty much stopped using moulage casts, you know." "We have?" "." "Oh, with footprints, yes, indeed." "You see, we found that when the plasterswells, it makes them appear a half to a full size larger than they really are." " No kidding?" "." " Oh, absolutely." "Well, then maybe we better take pictures." "Oh, very good." "Just as quickly as you can, Sergeant." "Yes, sir." "Oh, it's you, Columbo." "Yes, sir." "I hope we didn't scareyou." "Detective Sergeant Wilson." "You didn't scare me, but the kidnapper did." "That mask and everything, frankly, I'm a little unraveled." "Well, that's quite natural, Mr. Goodland, believe me." "Thankyou, young man." "Uh, sir, we're kind ofinterested in exactlywhat happened up there on that hill." "Well, the man said, "Goodland?" I said, "Yes!"" "He said, "Give me the money!" I gave him the money." "I hopeyou didn'tsurround those trees he ran into." "Oh, no, sir.Just as we agreed, we're gonna stay out of this thing until your nephew's released." "You wouldn't recognize him again, would you, ifyou saw him?" "." "The guyup there in the hill?" "I told you, he had a stocking mask on!" "Yeah." "I guess it was pretty dark up there too." "His voice." "Anything familiar about his voice?" "." "The way he walked maybe?" "." "Lieutenant, I've had a fatiguing and rather frightening evening." "Can't this wait until tomorrow?" "." "Yeah." "I'm sorry, sir." "I guess it must seem toyou that we're not being very considerate." " Have a pleasant night, sir." " I presume that's gallows humor." "Good night, young man." "Sorry it was so long." "I had to be sure that Neanderthal policeman wasn't following us." "[ Panting ] Well, itwas hairywhen he stopped you, I'll tell you that." "Well, I'll take the bag." "No." "I'll take it." "I've really gotta hand it toyou, UncleJarv." "Unbreakable trust broken to the tune of300 thou." "Would you look at these lovely green bricks." "Beautiful." "Far too beautiful foryou to waste your half on that woman." "That woman happens to be mywife, and I wanna keep her." "If money's what it takes, money's what she'll have." "What a waste." "No, Tony, no." "The time has now come for me to explain toyou phase three." "[ Bell Jingling ]" "Columbo." "Oh, good morning, Mr. Goodland." "I was hoping I'd find you up." "Uh, your gardener said I might find you here." "You have something on Tony?" "." "No, sir." "No." "I'm afraid we haven't gotten any kind of report at all, none at all." "Thatsounds ominous." "Oh, he could pop up any minute now, sir." "Of course, uh, there is that possibility that once they get him to write the letter... and make the phone call-- butyou never know." "You mean, they may have waited until the ransom moneywas paid, and then" "That's a grisly thought." "Well, you just never know, but it's good to be positive." "I always like to think positive." "Is that all you came here to talk to me about?" "." "No, sir." "No, I didn't." "Sir, I was hoping that you'd be able to make a suggestion." "Mywife has tried everything she knows to get this thing to grow." "This African violet here." "Uh, I was hoping maybe you'd be able to make a suggestion." "That is the most miserable specimen I've ever seen." "My only advice toyou, Columbo, is to throw it in the trash can." "Yeah." "I was afraid you were gonna say that." "Well, what areyou gonna do?" "." "Listen, as long as I'm here, I might as well bring up one ortwo little things I didn't get to before." "Uh,yournephew's redcar, forinstance." "You know, we found that thing with the ignition and lights off and the gear in neutral." "Neutral?" "." "But the letter said he was forced offthe road." "Perhaps they grabbed Tony and pushed the car over the side to keep it out of sight, don'tyou think?" "." "Yeah, yeah." "Yeah, that's what it looks like, all right." "Of course, only then, one ofthem made that first telephone call to Mrs. Goodland." "Well, that was to make her believe the letterwhen she got it." "She's a very hard woman to convince ofanything, Lieutenant." "Mm." "I wonder how they knew that." "Funny." "And no skid marks." "I mean, a really funny" "Say, what is this thing, sir?" "." "That is a multicolored cattleya bulb from Brazil." "From Brazil?" "." "You don't say?" "." "Really?" "." "Skid marks, Lieutenant?" "." "Huh?" "." " Skid marks?" "." " Oh, yeah." "There were marks of a heavier car on that road too." "But hisJaguar,you know, boy, they can reallytravel." " I don't know how the heavier car caught up with him." " But they took a shot at him." " Isn't that what he said?" "." " Yeah, that's what the letter" "Well, you know something, the line offlight ofthat bullet through thewindow" "Well, that slug would've passed right through him." "I mean, ifhe was driving the car." "But it didn't." "I mean, nothing." "You know?" "." "No blood, nothing." "Just a :32-caliber slug in the seat." "Well, you see, Tony's been ducking things adroitlyforyears." "[ Chuckles ] Right." "Right." "Uh, very good, sir." "You want this?" "." "Here." "Uh, listen, sir, [ Clears Throat ] you've got a gun yourself, haven'tyou, Mr. Goodland?" "." "Also a :32, I think." "Uh-- Mm-hmm." "Uh, yes, yes." "There's one around here somewhere." "I haven't seen it for almost a year." "Uh, Tony gave it to me." "It's around the house somewhere." "Lieutenant, you been checking up on me?" "." "Oh, no, sir." "No." "I just happened to run across a, uh, police reportyou filed, oh, way back there sometime." "Yeah, I hadit here a minute ago." "I don't know what happened to it." "Uh, it had to do with somebody breaking into the, uh-- into the greenhouse here." " Solarium." " Oh, "solarium," right." "I stand corrected." "I got this telephone bill." "I gotta take care ofthat." "Oh, here we are." "Here we are." "Yeah, uh, I guess a guy broke in, and what happened?" "." "You took some potshots at him, orsomething?" "Columbo, you're marvelous-- transparent, but marvelous." "You just happened to run across this report?" "." "Well, uh, it didn't just happen." "I'd forgotten all about it." "I did take a couple ofshots, but all I hit was a pile of dirt over there." "I scared me more than I scared the prowler." "Well, you know, with all the glass you got here, and the prices the way they are, it's a good thing you shot low, believe me." "Well, I confess." "Now I have to change and get to work." "Confess to what, sir?" "." "To having an unregistered weapon somewhere in the house." " That's whatyou're leading up to, isn't it?" "." " Oh, no, sir." "Oh, no, not at all." "Listen, ifl arrestedeverybody with an unregistered weapon in Los Angeles, believe me, I'd have half the population injail." "Then why are you here, Col um bo?" "." "Oh!" "Geez!" "This is magnificent." "I asked you a question." "I'm sorry, sir." "I happen to love this game." "I played it when I was a kid and this is such a beautiful table." "I'm sorry, sir." "I didn't mean to hold you up." "You know, in my house, I don't have room for a table in my basement-- even ifl could afford one." "Uh, I've got these pictures here, sir." "Uh, these were taken with a starlight scope." "That's a new camera." "It's a very sophisticated instrument." "I'd likeyou to take a look at 'em." "Uh, you know, sinceyou were right there." "Right on the spot, so to speak." "Where were these pictures taken from?" "." "Oh, way down at the bottom ofthe hill." "They don't show very much, which is kind offunny too." "You don't mind, doyou?" "What was kind offunny too?" "." "Uh" "Eh, not as rusty as I thought I was." "Uh, what's funny is that, um, the place where they asked you to deliver the ransom, you know, way up on top ofthe hill like that there" "I mean, it's almost as though theywanted to have a place that was exposed... in order to be photographed." "What doyou think?" "." "I think it's very odd." "So do I. I think this whole case is odd." "You know what I mean?" "." "I mean,you got those skidmarks andyou got the bullet hole." "I'll tell ya, in most cases, you don't have any clues." "Gee, I can't miss a shot." "In this case, I got so many clues, I don't know where to start." "You know, it's almost like theyput 'em there just on purpose." "You're the detective." "Don't ask me foryour answers." "Oh, I can't miss a shot." "Isn't that wonderful?" "." "Um, oh, there is one thing that I did wanna askyou, sir." "You know what this whole game is?" "." "It's all in thewrist." "You just gotta keep that loose." "Uh, what I wanted to askyou was, uh, why doyou think, uh, they asked you to deliver the money instead ofthe wife?" "." "Because they probably knew that ifCatherine had that much money in the car, she'd just keep on driving." "Uh-huh." "I wonder how they knew that." "[Phone Rings ]" "Yes?" "." "It's foryou, Columbo." "Oh!" "I told them I was gonna be here." "I hope you don't mind, sir." "Hello." "Yeah, Columbo." "I'll be there as soon as I can." " We've got some very bad news, sir." " What?" "." "They found your nephew's body." "He's been murdered." "[ Clears Throat ] Yeah." "According to the coroner's intern, the bullet, apparently, went directly through the heart, fired at extremely close range, as indicated by the gunpowder traces." "Total envelopment ofthe body by rigor mortis, which is, of course, you know, sir, fixed to the time of death at about 1 0 to 1 2 hours ago." "The caliber ofthe bullet still to be determined, following the autopsy." "Uh, remove the body, men." "Is that all right with you, sir?" "." "Pronto." "Snap to it." "Move it." "Call me soon as you've got it loaded." "I'll come along." "I want that autopsy report quick as I can get it, sir." "Lieutenant." "Lieutenant, as you've probably noticed, there are three cups, three plates, three different brands of cigarettes." "That means there were two persons here besides the victim." "That's obvious." "Yeah" "Awfully obvious." "[ Columbo ] I understandyou were his receptionist forawhile." "Who told you?" "." "Well, his wife sort of mentioned it-- uh, mentioned your name" "Her?" "." "I can just imagine." "Strike that from the record." "Oh, sure." "Don't worry about it." "[ Sniffles ]" "That's a goodpicture ofTony right there, isn't it?" "Oh, I know what you're thinking." "The secret love life of the murdered man, huh?" "." "[ Sniffles ] Well, we sort oflike to contact people who knew him, regardless in what way, and I understand thatyou two have been acquainted for a good" "Well, you get this straight, Lieutenant." "There was no love affair." "I don't care who told you what, there just wasn't any." "Well, did you see him?" "." "Miss West, I'm not here to hurtya." "And I believe everything you tell me." "I just thinkyou can help me, and I'dappreciate it ifyou would cooperate." "Now, why did he come here at night?" "." "His wife played around." "So, he'd come here and he'd tell her so." "Half to try to make herjealous, and halfto show her that... he didn't really care that she played around." "Care?" "." "He cared, all right." "He'd sit here-- right whereyou are now-- talk." "Did he talk a lot about money?" "." "I mean, lately." "Maybe, uh" "He was always going broke from his allowance from some trust thing, I guess." "Did he talk about that-- that trust fund?" "." "[ Sighs ] Well, how should I know?" "." "When Tonywas drinking-- It's like the other night" "No." "Nope." "What about the other night?" "." "No, I said." "Look, Tony's dead now." "Why should people" "Miss West, believe me, it's a lot better foryou to tell me something now, then to have to tell it in front of a jury later on." "In front ofwhat?" "." "I'm not tryin' to scareya, and I believe everything you tell me" "I mean, about the love affair-- I belive everything." "I thinkyou're a very honest person." "Thanks." "Now, what about the other night?" "." "[ Sighs ]" "Well, there's this gentleman that his wife was getting serious about." "I don't know who." "Tony said he made a living getting a suntan-- whatever that is." "And then, about three nights ago," "Tony came in here and he said everything's gonna be okay... because" " Because why?" "." " Because the gentleman had agreed... to go away and not to see Tony's wife ever again if-- ifTony-- ifTonygave him $50,000." "Where was he gonna get the $50,000?" "." "Did he tell you that?" "." "Well, howshould I know?" "I mean, I was just tryin' to pour coffee in him." "Honest, sir, I just don't know any more than that." "Gloria, in your opinion, was Tony the kind of man that would arrange for a fake kidnapping?" "." "Arrange forwhat?" "." "A fake kidnapping." "To raise the money in order to break that trust." "Because ifhe did, whoever helped him do it might be the man who killed him." "Oh, look," "I-I-I mean, I said hewasn't a very strong person, but then, who is?" "." "I mean, look at me." "I eat carbohydrates all the time." "Please, sir, leave me alone now." "Stop asking me about Tony." "See, I just never met another man my whole life... who only wanted to talk." "I understand." "Thankyou very much." "[ Sniffles ]" "Hello, sir." "Is this you," "Mr. Goodland, to whom I speak?" "." "[Cathy] Istilldo not understandyou, Lieutenant." "Just what is it that you're trying to imply?" "." "Nothing, ma'am." "It's just that you've been hard to locate at various times." "Uh, oh." "You still don't approve of my lifestyle, doyou?" "." "I told you before, I really don't care whatyou think." "It's about time." "Where'd he come from?" "." "Homicide, ofcourse." "Oh, theyhandle morals now." " He's objecting to the places I go." " No, ma'am, that's not true." "Uh, look, Lieutenant Columbo, this is, uh-- this is her boat, but it's me that brought her down here." "Take her away from the house, give her a change ofthoughts." "Well, listen, I think that's a terrific idea." "It's such a great day for sailing" "I mean, ifyou like boats." "It'sjust the night ofthe murder." " That's all I wanna ask about." " Well, what about it, Lieutenant?" "." "Well, sir, uh-- What's your first name?" "." " Ken." " Ken, we have a very efficient officer." "His name is Freddie Wilson, and he happened to report... that Mrs. Goodland's car was gone from the house... about the same time that her husband was killed." "So, you came down here to accuse me of murder?" "." "No, ma'am." "It's only that" "Well, you see, something new has come up and, uh," "I have to get rid of all these little things first." "I was out... with Ken." "We took a nice, long drive... andyou can make whateveryou like out ofthat." "Myworry forTony did not require my staying around the house until his return... on pins or needles." "Yes, ma'am." "Yes." "I mean, I figured that." "You knowsomething, Mrs. Goodland?" "You're a very unusual person." "You're not a hypocrite, and I'm not gonna botheryou anymore with these things." "Okay, Charlie, let's cast off." "Oh, there's one little thing, um" "You know, this is gonna sound kindofsilly, I guess." "Take it forwhat it's worth." "You see, somebody tried to convince me that you had a lover, Mrs. Goodland." "Not onlythat, this person, Gloria West" " Young girl, that was her name, Gloria West." "Anyway, she said that, uh, this mysterious lover ofyours, some guy with a deep suntan, that he'd go away and get out ofyour life forever... ifyour husband gave him $50,000." "I'm sure it'sjust malicious gossip." "I probablyshouldn't have mentioned it." "However, for what it's worth." "[Doorbell Chimes ]" "[ Bell J ingling ]" "[ Bell J ingling ]" "Mr. Goodland." "[Ringing]" "Mr. Goodland." "Ah, Miss West." "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you sooner." "You said you wanted to speak to me alone." "Yes, sir." "It's a-- It's" " Oh." "Gee, it's kind of spooky in here, isn't it?" "." "You don't like orchids?" "." "Oh, really, they're my favorite corsage." "Indeed!" "You said something on the phone about seeing Tony the other night." "Yes, sir, and since you're his relative... and you've been so polite the couple oftimes we've met" "Anyway, this detective came to call this afternoon." "Oh." "Rumpled raincoat?" "." "Rumpled face?" "." "That's him." "A lieutenant!" "Of course, I didn't tell him everything-- about Tony and me, I mean." "And some ofit I didn't even think of until later." " Some ofwhat, Miss West?" "." " Well, I think that... he thinks that maybe Tony's kidnapping... wasn't a real kidnapping at all." "I beg your pardon?" "." "Like, maybe, Tony did it himself... to try to get some money out ofhis trust fund." "And, as a matter offact, Tony did mention to me... that he might be able to get me a new car pretty soon." "And you believed his usual drunken promises?" "." "Uh, well, no, not really, I guess." "Tell me more about Columbo's little theory." "I suppose my nephew also murdered himself." "No!" "That was whoever helped Tony, I guess, and now that person has got all that ransom money too." "Mm, it sounds quite absurd to me." "Tell me, why did you come to me with all this nonsense?" "." "Oh, but it's not, maybe, because I also remembered" "Well, a long time ago-- Oh, gosh, over a year ago" "Tony told me-- Well, see, on the radio I heard that Tonywas killed... by a bullet from a :32-caliber gun." "Yes?" "." "Well, a long time ago, like I said," "Tonytold me he had a :32 that he'd given away, and I remember now who he told me he gave it to." "And whowas that, Miss West?" "." "His wife." "Well, don'tyou see how that fits?" "." "Maybe she and Tony planned the kidnapping together." "I betshe never even got that threateningphone call she told the police about." "So, after the ransom was paid, she brought in her boyfriend and killed him" "Uh, Tony, I mean, not the boyfriend." "And so they split the ransom and she gets the estate... and nobody's the wiser, except me." "And, now, me." "But why me rather than the police?" "." "Oh, I don't know." "I always feel funny around policemen." "And, anyway, it's you who's in charge ofTony's trust, isn't it?" "." "In conjunction with the bank, yes." "Well, the radio says there will be a reward... forwhoever gets that ransom money back" "$30,000 reward-- and I'm claiming it." "I'm gonna help put that woman in prison and get paid $30,000 for it too." "I'm sureyou will, my dear." "And you're quite right about the police, especiallythat stupid lieutenant." "Now, why don'tyou let me handle things for awhile, hmm?" "." "Oh, well, butyou won't forget about me, will ya?" "." "I mean, the reward." "Miss West, I'll never forgetyou." "Now, you just run along while I make some phone calls, and when the time comes foryou to giveyour information to the proper authorities," "I'll be in touch." "Thankyou." "[Sheets Rustling]" "[ Sighs ]" "[Sirens Wailing In Distance ]" "[Sirens Approaching]" "[ Car Door Closes ]" " [ Bell J ingling ]" " Mr. Goodland, sir, I came over as quickly as I could." "As soon as I received your message." "Thankyou, Sergeant." "Thankyou." "I heard your sirens from quite a ways off." "Now, I would appreciate it ifyou would hand this gun toyour ballistics experts." "I rummaged around for quite some time this evening, and I finally found it in a wall safe in my bedroom." "Uh, I don't understand." "Well, you see, when I told your Lieutenant Columbo... that I'd owned a :32, but I hadn't seen it for several months, he immediately leapt to accusations that that possibly could be the gun that killed my nephew." "Now, I resent that implication, Sergeant." "Well, sir, different officers do have their different methods." "I must say, the lieutenant's investigatory procedures do differ somewhat from my own." "Well, that speaks verywell foryou, Sergeant Wilson." "Well, thankyou very much." "Now, I've heard things which cast an entirely different light on my nephew's death." "Things so incredible I can hardly believe them." "Let's go into the house, shall we?" "." "Now, I feel it my duty to... tell these things as I see them." "How doyou wantyour chili, Lieutenant, with orwithout beans?" "." "Last night I had it with beans?" "." "Right." "Have itwithout beans-- variety." "All right." "Lieutenant, what areyou doing here?" "." "Just ordering some chili." "Would you excuse us, please?" "." "Sir, didn'tyou get my report on theJarvis Goodland statement?" "." "Yes." "I found that very interesting." "Very interesting." "That gun he gaveyou, checked out okay with Ballistics, huh?" "." "Sure." "Of course." "Sir, uh, he's cracked the case for us." "I have a search warrant and two units right here ready to go." "Ifwe turn Catherine Goodland's place upside down, I guaranteeyou we'll find that murderweapon." "We'll find it." "You really think so?" "." "Well, unless she's already gotten rid ofit." "Tell you what." "You go ahead." "Go ahead on your own." "You find anything, you let me know." "Well, sir, ifyou don't mind my taking charge for a moment." "Not at all." "Thankyou, sir." "Good luck toyou." "Charlie, pull 'em out!" "[ Engines Starting ]" "Who's that?" "." "Wilson?" "." "Oh, very nice fella." "Been a big help to me on this case." "[Voices On Police Radio, Indistinct]" "You needn't have bothered about a search warrant, Sergeant." "All you had to do was to ask." "The pistol's right here where I always keep it." "Would you take it out for us, please?" "." "[ Chuckles ]" "Well, it isn't here." "I can see that." "Well, this can't be." "I saw it last night and I haven't opened this drawer since then." "What's this all about, Sergeant?" "." "The murder ofyour husband, Mrs. Goodland." "Grover, bring in the troops." "[Beeping]" "Jarvis, what doyou want?" "." "I was concerned aboutyou, my dear." "Haveyou called your lawyer?" "." "[Wilson ] Mrs. Goodland?" "Oh, I'm glad to see that you're here." "She may need someone." "Mrs. Goodland, you recognize this?" "." "Well, yes, it was Tony's." " And this?" "." " Tony's." "And how about this?" "." "The ransom bag." "Well, it certainly looks like it." "Good heavens, Cathy." " I don't get it." " Well, it was under a pile ofChristmas decorations... in the storage closet." "Mrs. Goodland, I think it's mydutyto informyou-- Nowjust a moment!" "I n all fairness to the lady, when I said that looked like the ransom bag, that didn't mean I could positively identify it." "It's a very common type." "But, sir, it answers the description in every particular" " Nevertheless, we must be sure." " We?" "." "Sir, ifthere's anything else here at all, I'll find it." "Grover, back upstairs." "Excuse me." "[ Beeping ]" "Sergeant, formymoney, thatpistol is longgone." "Grover, you and I know that a pro drops the gun immediately, but we're dealing with amateurs." "I'm guessing that they're gonna hide the gun somewhere close by." "Nothing." "Nothing." "Nothing." "What about this area over here." "Did you go over this?" "." "We've been through it twice already, Sergeant." "Well, go over it again." "[ Beeping ] Come on." "Let's go." "[ Beeping Rapidly] What's that?" "." "Shoes with metal trees in them, Sergeant." "That's all." "That's what's making the buzzing." "Okay." "Look, there's a linen closet out in the hall." "Go check over that." " Wait a minute." "Did you open all ofthese?" "." " No, sir, there was no point in it." "Well, let's open them." "Hold it." "Hmm." "[ Chuckles ]" "Grover." "Crime lab." "Pronto." "Have Ballistics check the pistol against the two bullets they've got, then call me, understand?" "." "Don'tyou want me to check with Lieutenant Columbo?" "." "I'm in charge here, Grover." "Ifthat's the murderweapon, I'll take Mrs. Goodland into custody." "Step on it." "[ Slaps Back] [ Mouths Words ]" "[Crashing]" "[Rattling]" "What the devil areyou doing here?" "Oh, just sort ofkilling time, looking around." "You know, sir, I could-- I could turn into a real orchid fancier since I metyou." "Will you tell me whatyou're doing here?" "." "It's very serious, sir." "There's been a new development in the case." "Yes, I know." "They found the murderweapon in Cathy's house." "I just came from there." "Things certainly look bad for her." "They certainly do, sir." "That's why I'm waiting here for the lab report." "I'm hoping to straighten a few things out." "Look, it's 3:00 in the morning, Lieutenant." "Will you tell me whatyou're doing here?" "." "I bumped over this empty pot and displaced some ofthe soil here." "I'm sorry about the mess, sir." " I'll see to it that it gets cleaned up." " Look, forget that!" "Will you tell me whyyou're here?" "." "To tell you the truth, sir, I didn't expectyou back so soon." "Oh!" "Don't wanna forget this." " You have a real green thumb, sir." " I what?" "." "This African violet of mywife's, you know there's actually a flower growing out ofthere." "Now, I don't know whatyou did, but whatever it was, that's a miracle." "Lieutenant, it's been a trying evening... and I'm quite distressed." "Now, will you please take your African violet and get out ofhere!" "[ Car Approaching] Wait a minute." "I hear something." "[ CarDoorOpens ]" "That could be the man I'm waiting for." "Grover!" "Grover, is thatyou?" "Lieutenant, I don't understand." "I was halfway downtown with Mrs. Goodland when we were ordered back here." "I'm sorry, Sergeant, I didn't mean to runyou around town like that." "Mrs. Goodland, how are you?" "." "You must be exhausted." "Would you like to sit down?" "." "No." "No, I'll stand." "Thankyou." "Uh, let me get you a chair." "You'll be more comfortable." "I knowyou've been up all night." "Well, I think they'll be plenty oftime to rest in jail, don'tyou?" "." "Sergeant, has this lady actually been arrested?" "." "Well, I, uh" " Sir, I phoned my report into Captain Ritchie." "He was quite complimentary." "She'll be charged, as soon as we" "No, Sergeant." "No." "Mrs. Goodland" "Damn it, Columbo!" "What's this all about?" "." "Well, you see, sir, I'm waiting here for some things from Headquarters." "Ifyou'll all just bearwith me." "What sort ofthings?" "." "[Grover] Lieutenant!" " Lieutenant Columbo!" " Oh." "Oh." "Here you are, Lieutenant." "Thankyou." "Thankyou very much." "Excuse me forjust a moment." "Yes." "I have some bullets here." "This one is from the wrecked car." "A :32-caliber, proven by Ballistics... to have been fired from the murderweapon." "This one is from the body of the victim, also :32-caliber, and proven by Ballistics... to have been fired from the same weapon as the first bullet." "We know all about that." "Tell him, young man." "Both" " Both ofthose came from the gun that was found in her house." "And Sergeant Grover said they confirmed it as the murderweapon." "Right." "That's quite right." "Sergeant, I don't want you to feel badly, because without you, I'd never have gotten this idea." "I mean, those technical things thatyou're so good at." "You see," "I've never used a metal detector before." "That's why it took me nearly an hour." "But,you know, these things really work." "Amazing." "You see that?" "." " What is it?" "." " Third bullet." "Also a.32-caliber, andalso proven by Ballistics... to have been fired by the same weapon... that fired the first two bullets." "Mr. Goodland, I just don't know how you're gonna explain this." "But why should I have to" "That's right." "That's right, sir." "That's what I was doing over there a little while ago." "I found this third bullet... buried here in this pile of dirt." "I guess it was one ofthose bullets thatyou fired at that guy who broke in here a year ago." "You said you only hit dirt." "I don't know howyou're gonna explain, sir, how the same gun that fired this bullet in the dirt, ended up tonight in Mrs. Goodland's dressing room." "Sergeant, would you take Mr. Goodland downtown, please?" "." "Mr.Jarvis Goodland, it's my duty to inform you that anything you--you might" "This way sir." "[ Sighs ]" "Mrs. Goodland, would you allow me to driveyou home?" "." "[ Laughs ] Thankyou, Lieutenant." "Oh!" "One moment." "Ifl forget this, mywife will kill me."