Remington Steele (1982) s03e09 Episode Script

Virginia Mayo, Lloyd Nolan.
This is the best case we've worked on.
- That's funny.
- Three Days of the Condor.
Get down! Dorothy Lamour has also heard from that punk.
- You're kidding? - Yeah.
Dorothy Lamour! Road to Singapore.
Moon Over Burma.
How dreadful.
- Miss Lamour- - Get down! We have to come up with another common denominator linking the three of you.
Presumably that is why we're paying you.
We're paying him? Excuse me.
Cou- Oh, pardon me.
Could you tell me where I could find- Go to the admissions desk.
Don't bother the medical staff.
There's no one at the admissions desk.
That's fine.
Insert the cannula right here.
I assure you, Laura, if I had heard you I wouldn't have gone into the building.
I'll bet.
When have you ever listened to me before? Mr.
Steele! Miss Holt! What happened? Well, i-it's a long story.
Champagne, Mildred? - Yes, Mr.
Steele? - Ah, yes, nurse.
Could you get me another beaker for our friend here, please? Thank you.
I thought you two were just going to some awards ceremony this weekend.
That was the first mistake.
Come now, Laura, you can't say it wasn't all worthwhile, now, can you? Can you get back to me when the ligaments heal? Will somebody tell me what happened? Mm.
Certainly.
Mr.
Steele and I had been invited to the opening ceremonies of the Hollywood Archives an organization for the preservation and study of the American movie.
It's a beautiful night for our gala, ladies and gentlemen.
- We may even see some of the more reclusive stars.
Wait a minute.
Who's this? Why it's Dorothy Lamour and Lloyd Nolan.
! Oh, my.
! Doesn't she look radiant.
And Mr.
Nolan appears as dapper as- Quite a few stars had helped the Archives and were going to be recognized that evening with plaques of appreciation.
Oh, hold on.
Who's this? Wait a minute.
I think- I think it's- Yes, it is.
! Ladies and gentlemen, Virginia Mayo.
! Oh, remember her as the voluptuous, slightly cross-eyed blonde in the Technicolor spectacles of the '40s? What a thrill, ladies and gentlemen.
And it's onlyjust begun.
Oh, who's this? Due to, uh, diligent P.
R.
efforts on my part Mr.
Steele had been selected as a presenter.
And so we come to the triumph of White Heat in which Miss Mayo further displayed her versatility oppositeJames Cagney.
As Verna Jarrett, she firmly established herself in the annals of film noir.
It is my great honor now to present this plaque of appreciation to a radiant star, Miss Virginia Mayo.
I didn't know I was so prolific.
Thank you, Mr.
Steele, for those kind words.
And thank you, everyone.
Well, here's hoping the Archives is a big success.
Thank you very much.
Needless to say, Mildred, my speech was a resounding triumph.
It's her performances in the Road pictures - that made Bob Hope and Bing Crosby- - Oh! Oh.
Hello, Cynthia.
How are you? to know who I'm talking about.
Ladies and gentlemen it's my great pleasure to present Miss Dorothy Lamour.
Nice.
Yeah.
Oh, uh, terribly sorry.
I didn't see the sign.
Sorry.
- Ah! Excuse me, Mr.
Nolan.
- Oh, Steele, right? Uh, yes.
You didn't happen to see Virginia Mayo, did you? - I have her plaque here.
- Yes, she's out in the alley there trying to catch her breath after all that hot air.
Only kidding, Steele.
You know, you've got style, but stick with the detective work.
Thank you.
I'm so glad I saw you.
Maybe we can get together next week for lunch, okay? I'll call you.
Bye, bye.
Uh, Miss Mayo, I'm sorry to disturb you, but you forgot your plaque.
Do I have to hear your speech all over again to get it back? No, not at all.
You know you still look as lovely as you did in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Danny Kaye, Boris Karloff.
RKO, 19- - Oh, you flatter me.
- Well, there you go anyway.
Um, listen, I- I don't mean to sound personal but what was it like working with Boris Karloff? Well, he- Move! Mr.
Steele? Mr.
Steele? So that's how you broke your arm and your leg, huh, boss? Not exactly, Mildred.
Well, you're a lucky man, Mr.
Steele.
Other than that scratch on your finger I can't find anything that requires treatment.
- Oh, reflexes like a cat.
- I'm sure.
And landing on that pile of discarded newspapers probably helped.
Oh, damn.
I thought being the house doctor tonight meant I'd have a relaxing evening.
I told my service to call only for an emergency.
So I'm afraid I'm gonna have to run along.
Oh, by the way, Mr.
Steele, do you have a personal physician? - Uh, no, I don't.
- Why don't you call me tomorrow if you have any discomfort.
- Okay.
- Well, good night.
- Good night, all.
- Good night, Doctor.
Thank you.
Miss Mayo, you're certain no one you know has tried to harm you? No recent arguments with friends, creditors, that sort of thing? - Nothing unusual? - Well, there has been something strange come to think of it.
A few weeks ago, I got a letter from someone saying he was soon gonna put my name in the headlines in a most unusual way.
Since then, I've gotten a letter from him every few days saying the deadline is approaching or something like that.
- The Fan.
- What? Lauren Bacall, James Garner.
Paramount, 1981.
A deranged fan, feeling personally rejected by Bacall, attempts to kill her.
Tries to murder her? What Mr.
Steele is saying in his highly original way is that perhaps this correspondent is responsible for tonight's accident.
- Oh, what an awful thought.
- And a bit far-fetched, I assure you.
Nevertheless, perhaps we should take you home and have a look at those letters.
Oh, in that movie you mentioned, Mr.
Steele uh, they stop the killer, don't they? Yes, I think they do.
Let me see now.
The fan brutally slashes Maureen Stapleton- Um- Sorry.
- I'm afraid this is it.
- Well, one letter is better than none.
Postmarked four days ago.
No return address.
"Next week is almost here, a week you'll never forget "the week I come into your life.
G.
E.
M.
" He signed all of his letters like that.
Just initials.
Obviously the furtive type.
I get this image.
I get this image of the character Peter Lorre played in The Maltese Falcon.
Wasn't he some sort of a psychopath? Excuse me a moment, will you? - Mr.
Steele- - Hmm? As a rule, we try to avoid scaring our clients to death.
Now, I know your cinematic references are just meant for inspiration but Miss Mayo doesn't.
Now she thinks she's being stalked by a creepy little man - with buggy eyes and a nervous giggle.
- Hmm.
I see your point.
Perhaps I should have mentioned Sydney Greenstreet instead, eh? Miss Mayo, can you think of anything else that might help? Any possible leads? Well, you know, it's funny.
I was chatting with Lloyd Nolan this evening and he mentioned some strange fan letters he'd been getting lately.
At the time, I didn't give it a second thought, but maybe there's a connection.
We'll check it out tomorrow.
If it would make you feel more comfortable, I'd be glad to stay a while longer.
Oh, thanks! I- I think I'd feel better.
Ah, splendid! Virginia Mayo, Lloyd Nolan.
This is the best case we've ever worked on.
Is that when you got hurt, Miss Holt protecting Virginia Mayo? No, Mildred, the night was uneventful though Miss Mayo and I had a wonderful time talking about the golden age of Hollywood.
I, on the other hand, didn't have time for such trivia.
I got an early start the next morning.
Lloyd Nolan had greatly admired my little talk the evening before so we had no trouble getting on.
- I put out some lines after you called me, Steele.
- Uh-huh? Dorothy Lamour has also heard from that punk.
- You're kidding? - Yeah.
Dorothy Lamour! Road to Singapore.
Moon Over Burma.
Typhoon.
Oh, how dreadful.
Well, I'd better see her about this thing as well, hadn't I? Here they are.
I only saved two.
"You don't know me now, but in two weeks you will.
G.
E.
M.
" "One week until your life changes forever.
G.
E.
M.
" - And you have no idea who this G.
E.
M is? - None.
Okay, well, I'll get my associate onto it straightaway.
- Oh, one more question, Mr.
Nolan.
Um- - Shoot.
I went to a revival house where they were showing Somewhere in the Night but they- they lost the last reel.
Now, John Hodiak realizes that he's not George Taylor anymore, but really Larry Cravat.
I'm dying to know what happened at the end, eh? You know, you're really a strange bird for a dick, Steele.
Well, let's see.
I played Lieutenant Donald Kendall in that one.
Somehow, I rarely rose above lieutenant in those pictures.
And Richard Conte was the bad guy- - Well, that's funny.
- What's wrong? - Is something the matter? - No, but it's odd.
The postman just passed through the yard - but I got the mail an hour ago.
- Hmm.
Well, uh, what were we talking about? Three Days of the Condor.
No, I wasn't in that.
No, an assassin in Three Days of the Condor tries to kill Robert Redford, but he's disguised as a mailman.
- Robert Redford? - The assassin.
No, you have lost me.
Get down! Stay down, Steele.
The Postman Always Rings Twice.
Three times? Steele! I keep meaning to have that refilled.
Oh, that must have been a fright, boss.
A mailman trying to drill you with a tommy gun? Let's just say it gives new meaning to the words "Special Delivery".
Unfortunately, it didn't affect his sense of humor.
So that's how you broke your arm and leg, right? Diving into that empty pool.
Uh- Not exactly, Mildred, no.
Are you okay, Steele? A little damp, but otherwise tip-top.
While Mr.
Steele was having fun mingling with the stars somebody had to get on with the nuts and bolts of the investigation.
"Having fun"? The fan letters were our only lead, Mildred.
Even without a return address and signed only with initials, they had a story to tell if you knew how to read it.
- What do you think, Morris? - Think? About the typewriter, I don't have to think.
It's an Underwood Five.
Good old reliable machine.
This one has seen its share of service.
The right beak of the capital "T"is dented.
The left serif of the small "Y" is gone.
There are other distinguishing characteristics but those should be enough to identify the actual machine.
- When we find it.
- That's your problem.
As to the actual stationery itself, you're in luck.
It's very unusual.
Heavy bond ofJapanese manufacture.
Very handsome.
Very expensive.
Only a few high-class stores in town would handle it.
- I'll make you a list.
- Oh, thanks.
The brown ink used for the initials is also distinctive.
An English brand.
Yeah, you find the store that handles both the paper and the ink you'll be closing in on your man.
Oh, you're terrific, Morris.
Listen, just put this on our tab, okay? Uh, tell me something, Laura.
Does your boss ever do any legwork? Mr.
Steele's skills are hard to define at times, Morris.
Very hard.
Sometimes downright impossible.
See ya around.
The third store on Morris's list paid off.
The credit records produced a name- George Edward Mulch.
The case was coming together.
At the time, Mildred, I was engaged in an utterly charming conversation with Dorothy Lamour.
I had come, of course, to discuss her fan letters but we quickly moved on to other subjects.
Who is it? Oh, uh- Uh, Miss Lamour, it's Remington Steele.
Congratulations.
Uh, I'm the private detective Lloyd Nolan called you about.
Oh.
I expected somebody more like Tom Selleck.
The letters are right over there by the door.
Oh.
Uh- Oh, don't go away, Miss Lamour.
Just a moment, please.
If, uh- If I might just ask you a few questions, please? You know, get some background information.
Fire away.
Uh, perhaps, uh I might go inside, you know, have a cup of tea? I can hear you fine from here.
Uh, is it my imagination, Miss Lamour - or are you very nervous about something? - Well, I- - I am a little concerned about my life.
- I see.
Yes, of course.
Uh, the attempts on Miss Mayo and Mr.
Nolan.
Well, you're perfectly safe with me, rest assured.
Is that what you told Lloyd and Virginia? Miss Lamour, if I could just talk to you for a bit it might help bring this culprit to justice.
Well, what are we doing now, playing Trivial Pursuit? Ah, that marvelously saucy delivery of yours.
No wonder Bing and Bob thought you were the perfect comedic counterpart.
But, you know, I think the critics overlooked your importance as a dramatic actress.
- You do? - Ah, indeed! I mean, take Manhandled.
Dan Duryea, Sterling Hayden.
Uh, Paramount, 1949.
I mean, who could forget your performance as Merl Kramer? Oh, the sweet but unknowing secretary who gets involved in a plot of twisted murder and deceit.
Of such things are movie memories made, Miss Lamour.
I'll be right down.
Mr.
Steele! Mr.
Steele.
I see.
Couldn't resist meeting our lady of the sarong, eh, Laura? - Some other time.
I think I've located the fan.
- Yes? - Yes! - Oh.
Excellent work.
Ah, Miss Lamour, this is my associate, Laura Holt.
- How do you do? - It's a pleasure.
My colleague here, busy little worker bee that she is has just unearthed another clue which demands my immediate attention so I'll have to postpone our little tête-à-tête.
Shall we say later, around cocktail hour - 7:00, my place? - Get down! The address I had written down for George Edward Mulch was an office building in the heart of old Hollywood.
We headed there immediately.
We're dealing with a very highly disturbed personality here, Laura.
The syndrome has become entirely too common.
Someone, usually suffering from schizophrenic or paranoid tendencies decides to become famous by killing someone famous.
Yes.
I'm concerned about what happens when we confront our murderous Mr.
Mulch.
So am I.
That's why I decided to stop by the office before I came to get you.
- Why? - Check the glove compartment.
Ah.
Underwood Five.
Just as Morris said.
Laura, come here.
Have a look.
Ah! We have our man, Mr.
Steele.
Ah! Mind your backs! Mind your backs! Please, mind your backs! Back.
Move! Stop! Laura! So that's how you both got hurt.
You were hit by a car on Hollywood Boulevard, chasing the crazy fan.
Not exactly, Mildred.
The car stoppedjust in time.
Laura! You all right? - Yeah.
- You all right? Ah, excellent reflexes.
Wonderful.
Come on.
Oh! Turn him around.
Let me go! Let me go, will ya? You got no right! We'll see about that! Maybe you caught me, but if you think I'm gonna tell you anything - you got another think comin'.
- All right, tough guy.
The three of us are gonna take a little walk back to your office.
You can either go awake or asleep.
The choice is yours.
We know where you bought the stationery, Mr.
Mulch.
So, I bought some paper.
Big deal.
We can prove you wrote those letters on your typewriter.
I don't know nothin' about any letters.
Virginia Mayo, Lloyd Nolan, Dorothy Lamour! Ring any bells, Mr.
Mulch? - You're crazy.
- Oh, come on, Georgie.
We wouldn't come here if we didn't have any proof.
Look.
Huh? All right, I admit it.
I wrote 'em.
I didn't think anybody would catch on.
Let's go, Mulch.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Maybe we could strike a bargain.
A trade-off, one on one.
Like, uh- I'll give you the Marilyn Monroe Modern Magic Slicer.
I'll keep the mayonnaise recipe.
We're talking about murder, Laura, and this man's talking about mayonnaise.
Mr.
Mulch, I don't think you realize the gravity of the situation.
Three accounts of attempted murder, not to mention- What murder? What are you talking about? We're private investigators.
My name's Remington Steele.
This is, uh, Laura, uh- - Holt.
- Private investigators? Then you're not with, uh General Foods or Rand McNally or Popeil? - We're tracking a killer.
- That's wonderful.
I thought you were trying to steal my idea! Wow! So, uh who's dead? No one yet.
But in the last two days someone has made attempts on the stars we mentioned.
Oh, that's terrible.
That's very bad.
That could throw off my whole campaign.
What campaign? You two sure you don't work for General Foods? - Mm.
- Okay, okay.
Look, I- I knocked around the film biz for a long time, see.
But, recently, I've been funneling all of my energies into G.
E.
M.
Productions, Incorporated.
I like to think of it as a, uh- a free-flowing idea company.
- In other words, you haven't produced anything yet.
- Right.
But about a month ago, I got this dynamite idea! I don't know how they come to me.
They just do! Now, listen, here it is! A whole new national line of products based on Hollywood stars.
For example, you wanna make a sandwich you reach for that bright, shiny bottle of Virginia Mayo! Of course.
Listen to this.
This is a killer.
You're gonna love this one.
Let's say you wanna go visit your Aunt Bernice in Chula Vista.
But you don't have a map.
Where can you turn? The Dorothy Lamour Road to the United States Highway Directory and Restaurant Guide.
You get it? Dorothy Lamour was in all the Road pictures with Hope and Crosby.
The Road to the United States.
! We'll have it for the whole free world! Mr.
Mulch, why didn't you identify yourself in the letters? And why the expensive stationery? Hey, these people, they get offers every day.
I try to create a little mystery, a little allure.
You see, the stationery tells 'em that this is a class act.
The mysteriousness lets them know that they're dealing with a master of hype.
Next week, I was gonna reveal all.
Mr.
Mulch, can you pinpoint your whereabouts in the last two hours? Two hours? Of course.
I was at my usual stool at Musso and Frank's.
I can account for my whereabouts every day for the last two years.
Well, Mr.
Steele, if George Edward Mulch isn't behind the attempted murder, then who is? Presumably that is why we're paying you, Mr.
Steele, to find out.
We're paying him? It's news to me.
Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you, our services are on the house.
It's a privilege to serve such, uh, honored clientele.
And we're very touched, Mr.
Steele but just how do you plan to stop this psycho? Well, we've eliminated the- the fan letters as a clue so, uh, we have to come up with another common denominator linking the three of you.
That's good thinking, Steele.
Well, it's all a part of the deductive process which has, uh, made this agency what it is.
Yes.
Please, Miss Holt - carry on with my thesis, will you? - Yeah, uh-huh.
Well, the, uh-The link could be anything.
For example, did any of you appear in a picture together? Lloyd and I did St.
Louis Blues.
William Frawley and Matty Malneck and his orchestra.
Paramount, 1939.
Yes.
- Don't forget Johnny Apollo, Dottie.
- Oh.
Tyrone Power, Edward Arnold.
Sorry.
Excuse me.
And you, Miss Mayo? I've never had the pleasure.
Okay, uh, let's look for something else.
Are any of you related? Did you ever invest money with the same individual? Did you ever go out with the same people? Well, we're obviously overlooking something.
In the last 24 hours an anonymous killer has come after each of you.
There's got to be a connection.
- You said this all happened in the last day, right? - Right.
Well, there has been one new element introduced into the life of each one of us during that time period.
- What's that? - Him.
That's right.
Me? You.
The notion's absurd, Laura.
The killer isn't after me.
I mean the fault isn't in ourselves, but in our stars.
I mean, all we have to do is just find the proper clue.
The stars may have a point though.
You were with one of them - every time this crazy has struck.
- Coincidence.
You're certain no one from your fabled past has suddenly showed up to settle an old score? Absolutely.
Look out! The D.
A.
's got new evidence on Mickey Dwyer and Brennan gets bumped off.
I suppose that's a coincidence.
- Was Johnny in on that deal? - No, but I was.
Well, the Palermo brothers are dead so that rules them out.
Listen, Daniel, what about Edward O'Shaugnessy? You remember, "The Dublin Crusher.
" Oh, I see.
Well, I guess he had it coming to him, didn't he? All right, mate, okay.
Well, listen if you have an inspiration, don't hesitate to call.
Okay? All right.
And you, mate.
I will, yeah.
Take care, Daniel.
Bye-bye.
- Well? - Well, as far as I can tell all my old adversaries are either deceased, incarcerated - or otherwise accounted for.
- Then you must be forgetting someone.
How many enemies do you think I have, Laura? Mr.
Steele, I have great respect for your ability to generate animosity around the glo- What are you doing? - White Heat is on.
- Someone's trying to kill you and you're gonna watch an old movie? Mm-hmm.
I find it therapeutic.
I think better when I relax.
You like strawberries, don't ya? Well, she just had to get some for her boy.
Anyway, regarding your enemies, need I mention Acapulco, Cannes, South America, Ireland- Now, wait just a bloody minute.
The last time something like this happened someone was after your Remington Steele, remember? Major Descoine is in prison.
I checked.
Yes, but before I tumbled into your life, you managed to put quite a few people away who weren't aware that Remington Steele didn't even exist.
They didn't know you created this shadow man to drum up business.
Now that I've slipped into Mr.
Steele's shoes, there's any number of ill-tempered people out there who'd like to perforate me for your previous efforts! I'm sorry, Laura.
I'm sorry.
Didn't mean to go on.
This case has got me jumpy too.
Yes.
If someone's trying to kill you it's nice to have the relative advantage of knowing who and why.
Don't worry.
I won't let anyone harm Remington Steele.
Yours, mine or ours.
We interrupt this program to bring this special news bulletin.
The body of wealthy socialite Yvette Harwood was taken from her Malibu home last night.
She died of a heart attack.
Harwood, a vivacious and familiar face on the Hollywood scene will be buried tomorrow at Park Grove Cemetery.
We'll have more after this.
- Laura, I know that woman.
- Yvette Harwood? Mm.
Backstage at the dedication ceremonies.
I went looking for Virginia Mayo, went in the wrong door and saw that woman embracing some man.
But, you know, it's odd.
She wasn't really dressed for the ceremonies.
Come to think of it, she wasn't very lively either.
- What do you mean? - I- I don't know.
I mean- At first I thought she was relaxed but her head and her arm were limp.
Right after I saw them, the first attempt happened on my life.
Did the man see you? Yes, tall, good-looking fellow.
Mustache.
Like one of your American football players.
You may have just described a murderer.
It could be that when you saw Yvette Harwood, she was already dead, and not from a heart attack.
Well, if that's the truth, then the man I saw will get rid of me.
The question is, who is he? Oh! So that's what it was all about.
The boss had accidentally seen a murderer.
But how did you two find out who the creep was? Well, Mildred the room was ablaze with ideas, but we didn't have a chance to act upon them.
- Who is it? - Nolan.
- Ah, Mr.
Nolan.
Hello.
- Good evening, Miss Holt.
- Hello, Mr.
Nolan.
- My, you two certainly put in a lot of hours together.
We never close.
You know, Steele I'm sorry to disturb you at home but since you have decided to put your hide on the line in order to save mine however mistakenly, I've done you a favor.
- Oh, really? - Julian! Come in.
This is my cousin's youngster, Julian.
- Oh.
Pleasure to meet you.
- How do you do, sir? You see, having watched you at work, Steele I've decided that you need some muscle.
Now, no disrespect but let's face it, Dirty Harry, you ain't.
Mr.
Steele's residence.
Laura Holt speaking.
Uh, why don't you just come in, uh, Julian? Stay right there, and don't worry.
We'll be right over.
- Let's go.
- Where? That was Virginia Mayo.
It's about Yvette Harwood.
I'll explain in the car.
Mr.
Nolan, thank you for the offer, but this Harwood matter and the attempt on my life and everything like that, I- Listen, will you stop talking and move! - My sentiments exactly.
- Is he always that talky? Yakety, yakety, yakety.
Virginia Mayo and Dorothy Lamour had known Yvette Harwood through her involvement in the Hollywood community.
When they learned ofher death, they were very concerned.
Yvette was vulnerable.
Sweet but not too bright.
After she was widowed, she became easy pickings for every louse in town.
Her latest affair was a disaster.
- She told you? - In so many words.
The guy was using her, but she just couldn't see it that way.
- Who was the deadbeat? - Well, she wouldn't say.
But the last time I saw her, she said she was thinking of dropping the guy.
She was a changed woman.
Very depressed.
She even had trouble getting out of bed.
You told Miss Holt on the phone that you thought Yvette was in some kind of trouble.
Make it a question, Steele.
Short and direct.
Ginny, why did you think Yvette was in trouble? Intuition more than anything.
But when we found out how she died, we were sure.
Yvette was a health nut.
She ate all the right foods.
She ran five miles a day on the beach.
She did theJane Fonda workout tape.
You'll never convince me she died of a heart attack.
That woman never had a sick day in her life.
Julian, would you mind moving your bicep a tad to the left? Thank you.
Thank you.
What kind of artillery you packing, Steele? His gun is back at the office.
I don't know how you made it this far, Steele.
Awfully slow, Steele.
Stage fright.
- What are you doing, Steele? - Looking for a safe.
It might contain something relevant, you know, like documents, papers, diaries- Keep up with the times, Steele.
Wall safes went out with vaudeville.
Yeah.
Ah, yes.
Well, of course.
That was gonna be my next choice.
Thank you.
Prescribed for depression.
Well, somebody's on the ball at least.
The handle on this safe is a little stiff! Julian.
- Excuse me, sir.
- Huh? Oh.
- Thank you very much.
- You're welcome, sir.
Yes.
Thank you.
There we go.
There's one for you.
That's for Laura.
- That's odd.
- What? Most of her jewelry is gone.
It could be in the safe-deposit box.
No.
She liked to keep it around.
Well, it seems most of it was sold off.
There are deposits here from the sales.
Her balance is down to almost nothing though.
For the past few months, she'd written big checks to Templeton Enterprises.
- That heel? - Who? Ernest Templeton.
Calls himself a producer but he's really just a fast-talking con man.
Most ofhis projects never make it to the screen but he always manages to walk away with a fistful of dough.
He had the gall to ask me to do a picture for him a while back.
I told him to get lost.
- Describe him.
- Uh- Broad shoulders.
I think he used to play semipro football.
The man I saw with Yvette backstage at the ceremony.
That fits! He used to donate money to the Archives.
Trying to buy some respectability, huh? Try this for a scenario.
Templeton seduces Yvette into giving him large amounts of money.
Yvette finally realized she had been taken.
She found Templeton backstage at the ceremonies.
She threatened to go to the police.
He killed her and brought her back here.
- Well, I'd buy that.
- Someone's coming.
Quick, scatter.
Come on.
Looking for this? - There's a nice move, Steele.
- Sorry.
Sorry.
He- He's getting away! - Did he go? - Yes! Come on, driver.
Burn some rubber! Miss Holt! By the book, Miss Holt.
We got him trapped.
- Call for backup! - Right.
Mr.
Steele? Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
Come on.
Uh! That tears it.
! No.
Maybe we should wait for the police.
What? He tries to run me over, shoot me full of bullet holes and now he drops a Sopwith Camel on us.
Come on.
Let's grab the bugger.
Oh! Stop admiring your work, and let's get out of here! I don't get it.
That's the end of the story.
So how did the two of you get hurt? Oh.
Not bad, eh? Yeah, but something doesn't add up.
What, Mildred? If Yvette Harwood was killed at the ceremony why was the cause of death listed as heart attack? Who signed the death certificate? Uh, Dr.
Roger Chandler.
Why is that name so familiar? Why don't you give me a call tomorrow if you have any discomfort.
Of course.
The doctor who treated me at the ceremonies.
It says here he was Mrs.
Harwood's personal physician.
As it happened, he was acting as house doctor at the Archives ceremonies when he received an urgent phone call from her at 9:00.
She was complaining of pains in her chest.
Damn.
I thought being the house doctor tonight meant a relaxing evening for me.
That's right.
His beeper went off.
The doctor said that he rushed to her house, but she was already dead.
But that's impossible.
Mrs.
Harwood couldn't have called him because you'd just seen her backstage.
Those beepers can be self-activated, you know.
The doctor was in on it.
Mildred, call the police straightaway.
Well, that's funny.
There's no dial tone.
I'll try at the nurses' station.
Dorothy Lamour said Yvette had become a changed woman since she became involved with Templeton.
Do you remember those pills I found in Yvette's bathroom? Mm-hmm.
Wait a minute.
"For depression.
Prescribed by Dr.
Chandler.
" You know, I'll bet anything that once these are analyzed they'll be found to contain drugs that deepen depression, not cure it.
The pills kept Yvette's mind foggy, making it easier for Templeton to influence her to write him checks.
No doubt Templeton had an insurance policy on her as well.
Templeton and the doctor milked her for all she was worth alive then arranged one, big final payoff.
Chandler and Templeton would have had perfect alibis.
They were both at the awards ceremony.
But Chandler didn't know Yvette had spoiled things by coming to the ceremony.
He proceeded as planned.
He tripped his beeper in the presence of witnesses then went on to Yvette Harwood's house, expecting to find her depressed and in bed- Where he could easily kill her, and then certify that she died of a heart attack.
Chandler and Templeton split the insurance money, walk away, and no one's any wiser.
It would have worked, too, if I hadn't gone looking for Virginia Mayo.
I never thought I'd be grateful for your infatuation with Hollywood.
What is taking Mildred so long? I don't know.
Go check.
No one's on the floor.
It's like a tomb out there.
The Godfather.
Marlon Brando, Al Pacino.
Paramount, 1972.
One of Brando's enemies clears the hospital so he can set up a murder.
Quick, Laura.
Get us out of here.
Come on.
Quick! - Quick, quick, quick! - And how are we this morning? I went through Harwood's house last night after I heard about Templeton and I believe you have something of mine.
A bottle of pills.
Pity.
- Aaah! - Laura- Ow! Laura! Nice right, Mr.
Steele.
A sap the size of DiMaggio's glove.
The world exploded in a kaleidoscope of colors.
I reached for the wall, but it wasn't there.
A black pool opened at my feet, and I fell into the beckoning vortex.
Say, she's good.
"Eat Lead" Krebs, we call her.
I like that.
We want to thank you again for trying to protect us.
Even though you did almost get us all killed.
All in a day's work, eh?