Jake and the Fatman (1987) s01e22 Episode Script

1
I'll say this about the
Fatman: he's a sweet guy.
Listen, creep, I'm going to
take you apart like a clock.
JAKE: He can be
tough when he has to be.
J.L.: Jake Styles?
Don't ask me how
he can live the way he
does on a cop's salary.
Some people do seem
to like him, however.
But he's a damn good
investigator, and he's mine.
(theme playing)
He's a good guy.
Don't you forget it.
♪
♪
♪
Oh.
I didn't know you
were still here.
I wanted to set these
records to exhibits
before tomorrow's meeting.
Oh. Need copies?
Oh, that's all right.
I'll do it myself.
♪
♪
(dog barking)
(humming)
Dealer will open for 100.
I'm in.
Mr. Jennings, I might just be
persuaded to see
where this all leads,
so I'm going to raise 500.
I'm out.
Fold.
Just the three of us?
I didn't become an old
dog by playing bad cards.
Enough.
Oh.
(laughs)
Ah
Ah.
(laughs)
Is that your way of saying
that you'll play those?
I've got to consult with
my business manager.
Just a moment.
What do you think, Max, huh?
Oh, come on, take a look.
What do you think?
You sure?
Thank you.
Well, in that case,
I will play the hand
with two new cards.
Thank you, sir.
And the dealer takes two.
Well, no guts, no glory.
Unfortunately, no cards.
(laughs)
That's the evening.
Gentlemen, thank you.
J.L.: What a lovely way to end
the evening, huh?
Let's see. Ah.
Oh, good, you're back.
I just finished.
Oh, thanks.
Good night.
Good luck on the appointment.
Oh, please.
That's very premature.
Mr. Duncan has a lot of
good years left as president.
That's not what I hear.
And believe me, the coffee
room knows everything.
Maybe,
but it's just bad luck
to say it out loud.
Mr. Duncan will call you.
You've got my word on it.
It's late J.L.,
and you and Max have
a long ride back to town.
What do you say we
get down to business?
All right. I'll be real
direct then.
I ran a check on your
pal Jennings very quietly.
And?
He appears to be clean.
Appears?
I fire men who appear
to be competent.
What the hell does that mean?
Well, he's got
several friends on
a private list I keep,
friends that I've
been trying to indict,
but they're too slippery for me.
So far.
Everybody with a little life
in him knows some of them.
Hell, in Prohibition, those
guys were my best friends.
This isn't Prohibition,
is it, Phil?
Now, look, I checked for
you without asking why.
I was glad to do the
favor, but I got to tell you
that my curiosity is real itchy.
Sorry, J.L., I can't scratch it.
It's very confidential.
Well, good night, Phil. I
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
I wasn't including
his card-playing.
(laughs)
What?
The man's a cheat.
He was dealing a
stacked deck that last hand.
But you won.
Because I took cards.
Your vice president
expected me to stand pat.
The cards I took he
needed for his own hand.
He wound up with garbage.
You didn't say anything.
Hell, no.
I took the pot instead.
(both laugh)
Good night, old boy.
Good night.
Come on, Max, let's go.
You're You're picking
Jennings instead of me?
That's what I heard myself say,
and I never talk for
my own amusement.
The man has no idea
how to run this company.
He's illiterate in
finance, and he
He's tough, Ned, and you're not.
What he is is a crook.
He's tied in with the mob.
You don't know that.
He's capable of anything.
I built this company
from nothing,
and I didn't do that to
turn it over to somebody
who'd negotiate everything
away to the unions.
That's not fair, Phil.
Nobody's worked harder for you.
And maybe nobody will
work harder for Jennings,
because that's who your
future's gonna depend on.
So you'd better
get used to the idea.
Ned
what is it?
What's happened?
Damn him.
Damn him!
It's not possible.
It's done.
The old fool.
Has he lost his mind?
Jennings is
completely unqualified.
That's what I told him.
Didn't you tell him
you know that Jennings
is blackmailing him?
Oh, how? Am I supposed
to tell him that I found out
while I was breaking
into Jennings' office
and rummaging through his desk?
Yes, because that's exactly why
that old man is
giving him your job.
(sighs)
I haven't told
you the worst part.
He all but told me that
when Jennings takes over,
he's gonna fire me.
Does he know about
the money you took?
He didn't mention it.
There's got to be some
way to get rid of Jennings.
Duncan will never pick me.
Jennings could get
hit by a truck tonight.
He'd just go outside
the company.
But if Duncan were dead
the board would have
to make you president.
But he's not, and
I doubt if he will be
by tomorrow when
they pick the
No, darling.
Listen.
He could be if we helped
just a little.
So, what do we do,
sit around here and do nothing
while we lose everything
we've worked for?
Do nothing
while he shoves you
out for that crook?
You're not serious?
You said you killed a man once.
In the army.
He's up there
alone at that lodge.
No witnesses,
no motive.
And you
have an alibi.
You were with me all night
and it will all be
(chamber clicking shut)
too true.
I don't know if I can.
Let's find out.
♪
(keypad beeps)
♪
Do it.
Shoot him!
Shoot him.
(gunshot) Cynthia,
we have to go now.
Come on.
One more thing.
Morning, Caroline.
Oh.
Is Mr. Duncan in yet?
Oh, I'm sorry,
Mr. Covington, he's not.
Oh. Uh, any idea when?
Gee, I don't know
what his schedule is.
I haven't spoken to him
since yesterday afternoon.
Oh.
Okay, thank you, Caroline.
It's, uh, nothing pressing.
NED: I don't understand.
Why haven't they found the body?
Why is it taking so long?
Darling, it's only
been a few hours.
The caretaker probably hasn't
even checked the house yet.
Shouldn't we do
something? Shouldn't we
No!
Absolutely not.
Unless you want to
come home for lunch.
I'd like that, but
I'd better stay.
(knocking)
DUNCAN: Ned?
Excuse me.
I understand you
were looking for me.
Oh, no.
No, uh (hangs up phone)
Ned, are you all right?
You look terrible.
(chuckles)
I'm fine.
Excuse me, Mr. Duncan?
What is it?
Detective Morgan, Homicide.
What can I do for you?
We're here about a murder.
What?
Who?
Your caretaker up at your lodge,
he found the body.
It's one of your employees.
Carl Jennings.
(wheels squeaking lightly)
J.L.: Look, if you had him
up here on business,
what the hell were
you doing in town?
Personal.
Came up all of a sudden.
Oh.
Edna?
How is she, Phil?
Oh, some days are
better than others.
Some days, she's
almost her old self again.
JAKE: Hey, J.L. And then
Oh.
This is Jake Styles,
my investigator.
Phil Duncan. Hi.
How do you do? How do you do?
It's a hell of a place
you got here. Whoa.
Well, the corporation
owns it, actually.
We use it for meetings,
seminars, retreats.
It's very private.
Anybody live on the property?
DUNCAN: Just the caretaker.
He has a house about a
quarter mile up the road.
Who else knew Jennings was
gonna be out here, do you know?
Well, I didn't tell anybody.
When I asked him to come
up, I said it was private.
Of course, we don't know
if he respected that or not.
Phil, would you
excuse us for just a minute?
I got to talk to Jake. Oh, yes.
Think it was robbery?
Nothing taken.
Whoever did it had just
one thing on his mind.
You think it was a pro or not?
Duncan called me last week,
asked me to check Jennings out.
Very privately, of course.
I didn't find anything,
and I told him that.
Did he give you a reason why
he was worried about his boy?
He wanted to know
if he was mixed up
with organized crime.
I couldn't find anything.
Real.
But, Jake
Lots of smoke?
The Chicago fire.
(garbled radio transmission)
(whistling tune)
Damn.
Sap.
Nice place for a tree.
(scoffs)
Great. That's great.
Thank you.
I'd forgotten just how
delicious these taste.
When people are as poor as
we were, they're a real treat.
I remember you used to
call them tube steak alfresco.
(laughs)
You don't have to be
quite so happy about it.
What the hell are we gonna do?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
About Jennings, that is.
What do you mean?
There's nothing that ties
us to Jennings, is there?
No. No, thank God.
But there's someone who's
very mixed up with him,
someone who could have
every reason to want to kill him.
That old man.
What are you saying?
Duncan still won't make
you president, will he?
No.
We killed the wrong
man, for nothing.
Hmm.
Not exactly.
It's so simple, darling.
Elimination.
What, now you
want to kill Duncan?
Cynthia, that's impossible.
No, no, no, that wouldn't work.
Then it would be
obvious we did it.
No.
I'm thinking of letting the
law take care of Duncan.
Well, somebody had
to kill Jennings, right?
You mean, make it
seem like Duncan?
You weren't number one at
business school for nothing.
Now, the practical details.
Can you get
Jenning" ledger sheet?
The one with, uh, Duncan's
blackmail payments on it.
I can break into
his office again.
And the pictures, too?
I'll even help.
Late at night, scared
out of our minds
that security
guard will catch us.
Do you really think we could
frame Duncan for murder?
Why not?
Sorry, Jake.
It's just professional
attention.
No problem. I love this part.
Your message was
you wanted a meeting.
Thanks.
You're here because
I owe you a favor.
Listening to what you
got to say makes us even.
Anything more than
paying attention, well
we negotiate.
(laughs)
Well, lucky for me, I've
got something else to trade.
I need some information,
Sid, about Carl Jennings.
We sent flowers.
Who hit him?
Could be an easy answer.
It all depends
on what you got.
How about your
kid brother Vinnie?
He's got nothing to do with us.
He's got a big problem, Sid.
He was caught dealing.
(chuckling): Hey.
He's an enterprising kid.
Maybe.
But you know,
Sid, even in the
country club kind of jail
where he's doing time,
they kind of frown on
inmates selling dope.
What's that go to
do with Jennings?
Well, you help me, the D.A.
puts in a good word for Vinnie
and maybe he
doesn't go to a real jail.
You wouldn't do that.
Well,
I think you ought to read it.
It's a transfer order,
sending your brother
to a maximum security prison.
It's pretty rough.
I don't think he'd live long
enough to send you a postcard.
Okay. Okay.
Jennings was a
good friend of ours.
Were you in business with him?
We helped him with
certain problems:
labor problems,
transportation problems.
He helped us get certain service
contracts with his company.
Very standard stuff.
So if he took over
the corporation,
he'd be worth a lot
more to you, right?
Hey.
We're talking a
multinational enterprise.
That's like owning your
own country, only better.
We'd be crazy to kill him.
And, Jake,
we may be crooked,
but we sure ain't crazy.
Now,
about Vinnie.
Tear it up.
You still owe me one, Sid.
(door closes)
DEREK: I checked
Jennings' bank accounts.
Lots of cash, no real debt.
I also asked about girlfriends.
It was more like model
of the week. Yeah?
You should have seen
some of those pictures.
(chuckling)
Anyway, he didn't keep
any of them (phone ringing)
around long enough
to get serious,
or at least not serious
enough to murder him.
(phone ringing) Lucille.
Lucille! Mr. McCabe,
she's at the copy machine.
That's a lie, that
woman doesn't know how
to use a copy machine.
Yes, McCabe.
I know who killed Carl Jennings.
You do?
Well, that's very interesting.
Why don't you, uh, start
by telling me your name, huh?
That's not important.
All that counts is I
want Carl's killer to pay.
Sorry, I don't take
anonymous phone
Carl was blackmailing
Phil Duncan.
That's why Duncan was
gonna make him president.
Can you prove any of this?
You'll get the proof soon.
Well, now, let me
get this straight.
You're saying that
What was that?
I'm not sure.
Ooh, nice car.
You, uh, wash the
cars around here, huh?
Maybe.
I'm here to see Mr. Covington,
if that helps make up your mind.
Okay, sure.
But I got to finish
Mr. Duncan's first.
I just got it back
from the lodge,
and it's got this
gunk all over it.
Yeah, you got that
sap on there, huh?
Yeah. Same thing on my car.
I'd sure like to chop
those damn trees down.
I know what you mean.
You know, every time
one of those big shots
comes down from the
lodge, I got two hours
to get his car clean,
and that's if I'm lucky.
I guess when
Duncan goes up there,
there's people running back
and forth all the time, right?
(chuckling)
Hey, that man says, "Jump,"
and they're already driving.
The worst is that
Mr. Covington, though,
up there the day
before yesterday.
I washed his car that afternoon.
Next morning, he
brings it in again
all covered with this stuff.
He was up there twice?
Yeah.
Yeah, when?
Uh, the day somebody
shot Mr. Jennings.
JAKE: Covington was
up at the lodge twice,
once when Duncan told
him he wasn't getting the job,
and the other time was when
he went up there to kill Jennings.
Sounds logical.
What it sounds like
is circumstantial.
Now, let me give you an
example of real evidence, huh?
I got a special delivery
today, anonymous.
Ledger sheets showing Duncan
was making payoffs to Jennings.
And some very
embarrassing photographs.
You mean Duncan killed
him to stop the blackmail?
That means appearing to give
him the big job was just a cover.
That sounds persuasive to me.
How do you explain
the burglar alarm?
Now, the caretaker says that
when Jennings was up there,
he always kept
the burglar alarm on
because he was real paranoid.
As a matter of fact,
he even saw it on
when he made his last rounds.
Well, it didn't go off when
the killer broke the window
because somebody
had already turned it off.
Now, I have a positive
theory about that.
See, whether it was
Covington or Duncan,
either one turns off the alarm
and shoots Jennings,
then breaks the
window to make it look
like someone from outside.
The burglar alarm
is clue neutral.
Clue neutral?
Unless the two of you have
I don't want to hear
about clue neutral.
I've got evidence,
and for the moment,
it points to Duncan.
Except the sap on the car.
How do you explain
Covington's second trip
to the lodge? You
can't explain that.
I'll check out Duncan,
and you look at Covington,
but for Lord's sake, be careful,
because remember,
you've got no case.
Come on, Derek.
(muttering)
(phone ringing)
Oh, my God.
We've been robbed.
But how?
Call the security guard.
(phone continues ringing)
Hello?
Uh, excuse me I can't talk
now, we've been robbed.
I know.
Pretty slick, huh?
Who's this?
I represent some
people who are real upset
about Mr. Jennings'
untimely death.
Real upset.
What's that got to do with me?
Well, we cleaned your
place out to get your attention.
Thought we'd show
you what can happen
in your own security
building in broad daylight.
Kind of makes you
stop and think, doesn't it?
What do you want?
Well, I thought we'd
have a little talk over lunch.
We don't have
anything to discuss.
Before you get too impulsive,
turn around and look behind you.
See, my boss is
getting very upset.
He's convinced you
murdered Mr. Jennings.
Come on, let's go.
MAN: Hey, get the other door.
All right, let it down.
Good, come on forward, come on.
All right, come on.
You're clear.
Whoa, whoa, that's good.
Come on in.
Take it up.
Go ahead.
Got it.
MAN: Come on, keep moving.
Little more.
Hold.
Over here.
(grunting)
(groaning, coughing)
My name is Sid.
Come on in.
JAKE: Chateau Sarmont.
$180 a bottle,
but what the hell,
I think it's a special occasion.
Let's just stop at,
"It's a good wine."
You should know, it
came from your wine closet.
It was a joke.
I knew you had it, so I thought
we'd have some here
to make you feel at home.
What is it you want, Sid?
Exactly.
I like you people.
And I mean that sincerely.
Ned, I'd like to see
you become president.
I think you'd do
a hell of a job.
The only reason we came
is to get our things back
with as little
trouble as possible.
You return them,
we're perfectly willing
to forget the whole thing.
You mean that?
You have our word.
Well, I like dealing
with reasonable people.
I wish I could say the same
for the people I work for.
Now, you want to talk
about unreasonable
and very unpleasant.
Who are your employers?
I hope you won't
take offense, sir
by me saying
this, but your wife
has the most beautiful
eyes I've ever seen in my life.
What color are they, anyway?
They look like
they're blue, but then,
there's this little green
Why don't we cut through this?
We didn't kill Mr. Jennings.
We don't know who did.
Oh, I understand completely.
Personally, if it
was left up to me,
I would be willing to
forget about the murder.
I realize it was
the only alternative.
You really didn't have a choice.
Ned, you feel you
deserve the job.
One thing leads to another,
and things just don't work out.
We're leaving.
Not before the lobster, Ned.
Besides, I have to
finish my speech.
My people would
be very disappointed
if they felt you didn't want
to hear their message.
You know, as far
as I'm concerned,
I say no hard
feelings, but my boss
was really looking forward
to working with Mr. Jennings.
Now, I'm telling him
we can have the same
arrangement with you.
I'll tell you what.
As soon as I'm
appointed president,
we'll sit down, and
we can discuss a deal.
That's just what
I wanted to hear,
but-but then there's
there's one small detail.
Unfortunately, because
of what's happened,
my boss is out a
large sum of cash.
Carrying costs, you
see, he has to wait
till the new
president takes over.
You understand that.
No, we don't understand.
Let me explain it to you.
It's a little embarrassing,
I must admit,
but he's willing
to let things stand,
meaning that you
take over for Jennings
if you pay his
out-of-pocket costs.
Which is a quarter
of a million dollars.
He prefers cash.
(sighs)
That's impossible.
Even if we could raise
that kind of money
I really appreciate the
fact that it's tough for you.
I really do If it
was left up to me,
I'd say pay me
once you got the job,
because I know I
can rely on your word,
but my boss, well (sighs)
my boss he has
no sense of trust.
Let's just leave it at that.
I suggest you enjoy the lunch.
I know you two have
quite a bit to talk about.
And I meant what I
said about your eyes.
(door opening)
Where'd you get this?
Duncan, what's important
is where you were
when Jennings was shot.
I was with Edna.
She was having one of her
attacks, so I went back to town.
I told you that.
And that's a lie.
Phil, I checked
with Edna's nurse.
I'm gonna ask you one more time.
But maybe you want to
call a lawyer first, huh?
I've got nothing to say
except I didn't kill Jennings!
Look, you've done nothing
but lie to me from the beginning!
Damn it, man, tell me the truth!
It's too late for anything else.
He was bleeding me white.
But he wasn't satisfied.
He wanted the company, too.
That's why I asked
you to check on him.
I thought if you could tie him
to organized crime,
I'd have an out.
But I couldn't.
So you killed him.
No, I didn't!
I was I was with her.
Did Jennings set
you up with her?
Yes, he did.
That was the blackmail.
Who is this woman
you were with that night?
Her name is Gloria Connor.
And she can
testify that you were
with her the whole
time? She can.
Where is she?
She has a condo at the beach.
I, uh I bought it for her.
She's out of town today.
She'll be back tomorrow.
All right, we'll
talk to her then.
I'll wait before
making my decision.
Thanks, J.L.
I appreciate it.
♪
Cynthia.
Cynthia, come back to bed.
Soon.
What are you thinking?
Don't you think we
should get rid of that?
Maybe.
Maybe we should
keep it a little longer.
Gloria Connor?
Yes?
We don't have much time.
I'm going to be very direct.
I know about your
relationship to Phil Duncan.
♪
Gentlemen, I've got
to ask you to stop here
while I call up to the
party you're here to visit.
We're here to see Miss Connor.
She's expecting us.
I'm sorry, there's some mistake.
Phil, let me handle this.
I'm J.L. McCabe,
the District Attorney.
Miss Connor has
some information for us.
Well, that may be true,
sir, but you won't get it here.
Why not?
She left.
About a hour ago.
You're wrong.
I talked to her this morning.
She's expecting us.
All I know is she left here,
took all of her
luggage with her.
But where'd she go?
She didn't say.
Well, she must
have said something.
She must have left a
message for me or
All she told me was she
might be gone at least a year.
You!
Hey. What is it with you people?
You're out till all
hours of the night.
I don't know how you can do it.
What in the hell are you doing here?
I tell ya, I can't keep
these kind of hours.
I've got to get
up in the morning.
Listen, I made
myself some coffee.
You got a great coffee
bean grinder in there.
This coffee's terrific.
I thought we were
clear at lunch.
We have nothing to
tell you or give you.
Cindy, honey, let me
share something with you.
I cannot go back
and tell my boss that.
He's got a very,
very bad temper.
Maybe you'd prefer to
tell your story to the police?
Ned, I think that's
a hell of an idea.
I think you ought to go pick
up the phone and call them.
I have to tell you
though I'm a little hurt,
because I am coming here
as a friend to find out how
you're doing raising the
quarter of a million dollars.
We explained. There's no
possible way we can raise
Sweetheart, look, I
think a couple of young,
enterprising people
like yourselves
should be able to work it out.
And by the way,
I think this frame
you're building around
Duncan is terrific; I love it.
The investigation of
Phil Duncan is ridiculous.
I know he's innocent.
That's what I mean Ned.
Exactly the right
amount of sincerity.
I tell you if there's anything
my people can do for you,
all you've got to
do is give me a call.
Because after all,
we are practically
business partners, are we not?
I think you better leave.
Yeah, I think you're right.
I'm beat.
Listen, Ned, Cindy,
I hope you don't mind me, uh
about this money, I don't
mean to pressure you.
It's just I have people
looking over my shoulder,
so you understand.
Thank you for the coffee.
I meant what I said
about those beans, great.
Oh, I almost forgot.
The alarm system you people
have here is pretty cheesy, okay.
Now I know a guy who
can put in a great system
for a terrific price
Top notch stuff.
What the hell, it's
something to think about.
You can never be too careful.
See you later.
(door opens and closes)
CYNTHIA: Quarter of a
millions dollars, Mr. Duncan.
Cash. Tomorrow afternoon.
What the hell is?
Who are you?
A friend of Gloria's.
She's very sorry she left
without saying good-bye.
Where is she?
Traveling.
In fact, that's why
she asked me to call.
The trip is turning out to be
much more expensive
than she planned.
She wants money to come back.
Hardly.
She won't be coming back.
But she does have
something to sell you.
She has nothing.
A piece of evidence
that will convict you.
That's impossible.
I'm innocent.
That's for a jury to say.
And what will they
think when the police
testify how they
found the murder gun
in a place very private
and very personal to you?
What?
What are you talking about?
I've got the gun
that killed Jennings.
Mr. Duncan?
Are you still there?
Yes.
I thought you might be.
Now, listen carefully.
Take Old Mill
Road to the cutoff.
A quarter of a mile
past the bridge turn right.
Continue until you
get to a large dirt lot
with a fence around it.
At the end of
the fence, get out.
You'll see a trash bin.
There'll be bag for you
in it containing the gun.
Leave the money.
And Mr. Duncan,
don't even think about
double-crossing us,
because believe me,
you don't want to
make Gloria your enemy.
(phone ringing)
If you answer it now,
I'll break your arm.
CYNTHIA (on machine):
You've reached the Covingtons.
At the tone, please
leave your message.
(beeps)
JAKE (on machine):
Hey, guys, how's it going?
I sure hope you're having a
good time with that quarter mil,
because today's the deadline.
Bring it to me at the
company lodge tonight.
(receiver clicks)
(keypad beeps)
Sid, here's the quarter
million you asked for. Here.
I told you with the lights out
they couldn't tell
it was Jennings
and not Duncan.
Duncan, this man is a crook.
He made us come up here.
The game's changed.
Now it's called
"you're under arrest."
Duncan told me about
the blackmail call.
We marked the
money he dropped off.
Whoever left the murder gun
for him has that money.
I wouldn't be surprised
if it's the same money
that's in that duffle bag.
We had no reason
to kill Jennings.
Phil had already
made it perfectly clear
that I wasn't going to
be president regardless.
At first, it didn't make
any sense to us either.
Why would you
have shot Jennings?
Then detective Styles
realized about the lights.
Came back up
here the other night,
about the same time we
figured that the murder took place.
With just the firelight,
it's very hard to tell who's
who and what's what.
You made the same mistake twice.
J.L.: No, Jake.
They made just one mistake.
Murder.
Most foul.