01x08 - Sing a Song of m*rder

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Meriwether.

With guest stars Jackie Coogan,

Arlene Golonka,

Heidi Vaughn,

Jonathan Lippe.

Paul Lambert.

[rock music playing]

♪ Fly ♪

[girls screaming]
♪ Every time I see the lady ♪

♪ Every time
I see the girl ♪

♪ Every time I touch
the woman ♪

♪ Yeah, flips me all
around the world ♪

♪ Every time I touch the lady ♪

♪ Every time
I touch the girl ♪

♪ Every time I touch
the woman ♪

♪ Yeah, she take me all
around the world ♪

♪ And I fly ♪

♪ Fly ♪

♪ Fly ♪

♪ Fly ♪

[cheering and applause]

♪ Just like a flower ♪

♪ Behind the shadow
of a rock... ♪

Don't bug him here.

I'll see him after the show.

But why do I have to spend
all night waiting for him?

I mean, why, Sue?

After all, we're his
business managers.

Because he's the whale

and you're the
scavenger, Mr. Rooney.

♪ Ah, ah-ah-ah, fly. ♪

[cheering and applause]

It's definite?

Uh-huh.

See you later.

Much later.

Lucky.

Rick must be settling down.

Two nights in a row
with the same chick.

Anything I can do
for you, Gloria?

Everything's cool,
Smitty. Thanks.

[laughing]

Oh, you're crazy, Rick.

About you, baby.

Oh, we're here.

Oh, we're here.

[laughing]

Hey, want some?

I want you.

Okay, try and get it.

You can't have it.

Hey, come back with my pool.

I got you.

I'm making you a pool.

No, you can't have it.

[screaming]

Rick?

Rick?

Stop it.

[sobbing]:
Rick, please! Please!

[screaming]

Look, Sue, maybe you ought
to wait till tomorrow.

You know, Rick isn't
gonna want to talk contracts.

We're settling it now.

It's 2:00 in
the morning, you know.

He could be dead to
the world already,

or what if he's got
one of his girls?

Please, spare me your
concern for him, huh?

Show a little for us.

Or haven't you looked
at the bank statements

of the mighty management concern

of Rooney and Paige,
Mr. Rooney?

Now Rick happens to be the
only moneymaker we've got.

And that's because
I brought him to you.

And I am not gonna
let him get away.

[sobbing]

Help me.

Gloria!

Gloria!

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Gloria, it's me.

Listen, you've got
to help me, please.

April?

What's wrong?

We were just playing,
that's all!

Just Rick and me!

ROONEY:
Rick?

Rick, are you
back there? Rick?

April, what happened?

[click]

Rick, where are you?

Rick?

Hey, Rick, where...

Sue!

Sue!

SUE:
Rick?

Don't look, Sue.

He must've gone off the board
and right on to his skull.

Where are all those dames

that are usually with
him to stop him?

Whoever stopped Rick Michaels
from doing anything?

Wow.

Oh, boy.

Sue.

Where are you going?

There's a lot of
things I gotta do.

I gotta call an ambulance.
Call the police.

No.

What we've got to do is
not rush into anything.

And what you've got
to do is listen to me.

About what?
That poor kid's dead.

Nobody else knows that.

Oh, you want a scoop

for Variety
or Rolling Stone, huh?

Yeah, I can see the headline:

"Miss Sue Paige
announces that..."

Oh, shut up.

There still could be
money in him for us yet.

I never heard of any lawyer
paying commissions

on dead superstars.

Who else knows that?

Think about it.

What does Karl Ludwig lose

if Rick can't finish
that concert tour?

How much does it
cost Earl Samson

if they don't finish that album

or cut the other two
for this year?

Now, look, honey,
I know you can work miracles,

but this is just
a little beyond that.

All right.

Maybe Ludwig and Samson
lose a million.

Maybe two million.

Maybe four million.

Who cares what they lose?

They care.

That's why they'll pay
a half a million for Rick.

A half a million?

To who?

His kidnappers.

Kidnappers?

You mean kidnap the bod...

Oh, I...

You're-you're crazy.

Am I?

All right, call the police.

We wind up with nothing.

On the other hand, if we get rid
of the body

find a ransom note,
call Samson and Ludwig...

Me make maybe half a million.

All right.

If they pay the money,
they'll expect to get Rick back.

The kidnapers panicked.

And the body was never found.

How do we get rid of the body?

With the rest
of the garbage, darling.

I never knew this place
smelled like this.

It smells like money.

GLORIA:
And the next thing I know, I get
this spaced out call from her.

She didn't make any sense.

I have never heard
anyone sound so scared.

And then, there was nothing.

Was she still with
Rick Michaels when she called?

I have no idea.

That's what's got me so uptight.

She was hung up on him, sure,

but he's way out.

Freaky.

About April, Miss Vickers.

Is she freaky?

Look, I know what
you're thinking,

but April didn't trip out.

Not on hard stuff or on pills.

She drinks a little.

Maybe more than a little.

Then she might've been drunk
when she made the call.

Maybe.

But I know April

and she wouldn't cry wolf
unless there was a problem.

Something was wrong.

Why didn't you call the police?

April is my closest friend.

And Rick is her friend.

And he's a star.

I didn't want to
cause bad publicity.

You didn't want to open
April's can of peas

until you could see
what was on the label.

Look,

I'm worried.

I want somebody to find out
what's happened to her.

This April?

Yes.

I'll keep this if I may.

Please.

Do you happen to have an
address for this Rick Michaels?

Yeah.

That and the address
of the unemployment office

is something we never forget.

[doorbell ringing]

Sue, what is so important you
couldn't tell me on the phone?

I had to change appointments

with two of our
record producers.

I'm flying to London
on the 4:00 flight.

KARL:
Cancel it, Earl.

Karl?

What are you doing here?

Well?

The same reason you are, Earl.

Only it's not
my concert bookings.

Well, it is and it isn't.

Earl, tell your secretary
to cancel your flight.

Use the phone
in the car, please.

Barry, cancel it.

All right, what's happened
with Rick?

He's been kidnapped, Earl.

Kidnapped?

Holy... well, is he all right?

Kidnapped?

Now, are you sure
it's not some joke?

Yeah, Sue and I got over here
about 10:00 this morning.

From the top, Earl.

Phil and I met at the office

this morning at 9:00, as usual.

Compared notes
about the concert.

Phil drove us over.

We found that note.

No sign of Rick anywhere.

H-He hadn't even been to bed.

Did you call the FBI
or the police?

We thought we ought to
call you fellows first.

I mean, after all, you're
close friends of Rick's and...

and he is the biggest star
of both your companies

and so we figured we
sort of owed it to you.

Well, I don't see what good it
did, frankly, except waste time.

The authorities know how
to handle these things.

No, no, Sue, Phil's right.

Don't you think so, Karl?

You call the police in on this,
kidnappers will k*ll Rick.

Look what they threaten.

KARL:
Absolutely. We can't afford
to take any chances.

You pay the ransom
and get him back.

We'll call the police and
play it all by the books.

Well, that's, uh,
easier said than done

about, uh, paying the ransom.

Well, one of you must have
Rick's power of attorney.

Gentlemen,

this may come as a shock to you

but Rick Michaels doesn't have


Let alone 500 thousand.

But I paid him over 800 thousand

last year for 35 concerts.

Three gold record
albums of ours.

Gentlemen, Rick Michaels isn't
even above water with the IRS.

Now, come on.

You know him.

Well, you know how wild he was.

He... you remember when he gave
that $24,000 Maserati to a DJ?

PHIL:
Well, now we know.

All of it.

Guess I'd better call the FBI.

No, Phil, wait.
Hold it there, Phil.

Wait.

We'll raise the money.

Oh, Earl!

Oh, Karl!

Oh, Rick will never
forget you for this.

I-I won't let him.

He'll be thanking you
for the rest of his life.

The important thing right now

is getting him back
as soon as possible.

Now that's the only thing.

We've got a fortune
riding on that kid.

I wouldn't wanna have
anything happen to him,

of course, but
business is business.

We've got to protect
our investment.

All of us.

[doorbell ringing]

Did you call anybody else, Sue?

No, no, of course not.

Well, get rid of whoever it is.

We can't afford to have
anybody else around here.

[doorbell ringing]

Good morning.

My name is Jones, Barnaby Jones.

I'm trying to locate a young
lady, uh, April Dayton.

I understand she was with
Mr. Michaels last night.

Well, there's no
April Dayton here, Mr. Jones.

I'm sorry.

Well, uh, perhaps, uh,
Mr. Michaels might know

where she is or could tell me
where I could find her.

Could I see him?

I'm sure Mr. Michaels
doesn't keep track

of every young girl he knows

or of every groupie
who says she knows him.

Now, look, I'm very busy.

Well, I'd appreciate it

if I could ask him
the question myself.

He was with her last night.

They started off
the evening together.

He's a very busy man, Mr. Jones.

If you give me your card,
I'm sure he'll call you

if he can be of any help.

Well, uh, thank you, Miss, uh...

Ms. Paige.

I'm his manager.

Thank you.

Did you turn that water on?

Not me.

Well, somebody turned it on.

Some idiot.

Now, who'd be so stupid?

I left instructions
that that plaster had to dry.

I'll have to do the
thing all over again.

I have more trouble
with musicians' pools.

What is it with musicians?

I mean you have to be a nut
to be a musician.

How'd you like
to have to re-seed?

Do you appreciate how much
attention it takes

to get grass to take hold
during the rainy season?

What's the trouble, gentlemen?

You from the real estate broker?

Do you handle this rental here?

What's the problem?

Well, I'll tell you
what the problem is.

Some idiot turned on the water

on the new resurfacing
and it's all

completely shot.

When did they turn it on?

When? Oh, six, eight hours ago
judging by the rate of flow.



Right.

Rick Michaels.



Yeah, look at that.

Those ruts, those
footprints all over.

You'd think they could
tell it was new earth.

And those new plantings
back by the fence all trampled.

You know, people
never stop to consider

that plants are
living things, too.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

It's from the shoes
April was wearing.

You positive?
I ought to be.

They're my shoes.

Where'd you find it?

Near Rick's pool.

Did you do that checking
I asked you to?

Yeah, no one's seen her.

What did Rick say?

I didn't get to see him yet.

Do you happen to know
April's blood type?

Why? What happened?

Now, don't jump to conclusions.

Blood type?

You're holding out on me.

There's gotta be
something wrong.

All right, take it easy.
You're my client

and if there was
anything wrong, I'd tell you.

Promise?

Promise.

Well, as a matter of fact,
she does keep a hospital ID.

Come on.

I think it's type A.

Or AO.

I always forget.

Here it is, Mr. Jones.

It is type A.

Is April a diabetic?

How'd you know?

Prescription for Orinase.

You know, if she doesn't
take that medicine every day,

she really gets sick.

[phone ringing]

Barnaby Jones' office,
may I help you?

Betty, try and locate

a Dr. Floyd Hemings
in West Los Angeles.

Tell him it's urgent
that we locate

April Dayton.

If she should happen to call in

or have a pharmacist call in

to renew a prescription
for Orinase,

ask him to notify us
immediately.

Orinase.

Can do.

Anything else?

No, uh, thanks.

I'll be seeing you soon.

Bye.

Mr. Jones,
if April is too uptight

to come back here
for her medicine,

she can really be in trouble.

Well, wouldn't she be sensible
enough to go see her own doctor?

She's not sensible.

That's why I'm worried.

She'd go to street people.

I know she would.

Like who?

You know Smitty?

Instead of John Doe
he calls himself Smith.

Just Smith.

The crowd April runs with,

you need something
under the counter,

Smitty's the first one
you'd ask.

Well, I'll take help
from anybody.

Let's us go see Smitty.

The other one is in the car.

Are you sure they're
exactly alike?

They're twins.

I got one for cash
from a department store

and the other one
on my credit card

from that luggage shop
in Beverly.

[sighing]

Sure wish this thing was over.

Phillip, now in exactly
one half hour,

we get our first instructions
from the kidnappers.

And then we make sure
that Earl or Karl

stick with me and watch me
every step of the way.

[chuckling]

Oh, for 15 years, this town
has kicked me around.

And now I am finally
gonna do it to them.

[laughing]

BETTY: Rick Michael"
recording session's

been temporarily postponed...
No definite date.

His one-nighter in Palo Alto
on Wednesday's been canceled.

The network has no information

regarding rehearsal
for the guest shot.

How about you?

I don't have any yes's,
but I've got a couple of no's.

The blood sample on the heel
of her shoe is not hers.

Neither is the dried blood
on the telephone extension.

Is it Rick Michaels'?

Yeah. Why don't you give him
a call and ask him

what his blood type is?

But it's not all negative.

Take a look at this line.

It's sparkly stuff.
Is it mica?

Yeah.

Gunite; cement and
plaster from the stuff

they used to refinish his pool,

the bottom of his pool.

The sample came
from her heel, too.

Karl?

They-they called.

Just now.

Rick's all right.

They guaran... No, no,
they-they wouldn't let me.

Listen, we've got to have
the money by 5:00 sharp.

We get another call then.

Good.

Yes, Earl does, too.

Okay. You'll bring it?

Fi-fine.
See you then.

Oh, look, we're all hanging in.

You-you know that.

They've got it.

All of it.

Right on time.

Glad you could
make it, Mr. Jones.

Well, Smitty said he could see
us if we could make it by 5:00.

Fine. Where's his office?

Right here, he said.

Of course we all know April.

Lately, yeah, she's been coming
up in the world.

I don't know why she'd wanna
come to me.

We're both professionals.

If you hear from April,
give me a call, Mr...

it is "Smith"?

It is "Jones"?

For a long time.

Here's $50.

Be another $50 when you give me
some information I can use.

Sounds heavy.

I'll do what I can.

Call me anytime.

The service picks up.

Did you get my medicine, Smitty?

I promised, didn't I?

Hey, April, I'm gonna
take care of you.

My place is yours.

You're very important to me.

Me? Why?

Please, Smitty,
give me my medicine!

Lately, you're very important
to a lot of people, April.

How come?

It'll work
on the same instrument?

Sure. We have two
different numbers.

I press the automatic dialer
on the preset number...

In this case,
our other line... and...

[phone rings]

we've called ourself.

Hmm.

You do think of everything.

What's the number of the phone
booth at the gas station?



$420...

$430...

$440...

$450...

$460...

$470...

$480...

$490...

$500.

[phone rings]

Yes?

Of course this is Sue Paige.

You recognize my
voice, don't you?

Is Rick all right?
Can I speak to him?

Yes, yes, I'm listening.

Yes, we've got the money.

No, of course it's not marked.

No, no one's

on an extension.

Please believe me.

We're doing everything
just like you say.

The one up old Sepulveda.

Yes, I know the gas station.

Right.

Look, we'll do anything you say.

We just want Rick back.

In 30 minutes.

Well, let me ask you one thing.

Hello? Hello?

[sighs]

Phil, put the money
in the trunk.

Right.

Now this is what they told me.

Rick's all right.

They want me in 30 minutes

to meet them at
this gas station.

It's right up to you, honey.

Oh, I'm, I'm scared.

Karl, Earl,
somebody come with me.

Do you think
that'd be okay with...?

Nobody said not to.

I'll go with you.

Karl, you and Phil
stay here by the
phones, okay?

Do you think
Rick Michaels is dead?

I think somebody's dead.

Michaels has
certainly been out of
circulation lately.

No telling who's been up there.

Somebody. Probably
a couple of somebodies

from the looks of the ground.

They moved a heavy load
in a wheelbarrow...

Probably a body...

From the pool area down
to a car, probably.

Maybe April isn't a victim.

Maybe she's a criminal
and she's running.

Maybe.

Where do Paige
and Rooney fit in?

Very protective, very uptight,
very uncooperative.

I'll go out on a limb

and suggest that they're guilty

of something
that they want to keep quiet.

Well, if something happened
to Michaels,

wouldn't they want to find out
the truth?

Betty, the answers are
just as tough,

but the questions are getting
better all the time.

How's your drink?

Oh, nothing, Phil.

I'm gonna freshen mine up.

[phone rings]

♪ ♪

What'd they say?

"Take the money to the Sierra
store in the Valley.

Leave it in the luggage
department."

Okay, let's go.

Okay.

MAN:
If you've never taken
a bus tour of Europe,

then all the more reason

for the double-reinforced
lightweight two-suiter.

It's sturdy, it's handsome,

and it closes positively tight.

And your hardware is
guaranteed for ten years.

Come on.

Look, there's
a guy who looks like...

Don't louse it up!

Now, I'd suggest
an English heathertone

for your husband and a lovely...

This waiting is
something else, I mean.

What can any of us do?

Karl, I'm busy.

We've both blown
our whole schedules.

Yes, I suppose you're right.

Sue, any hour of the night.

You know I will.
I'll be right at the phone.

Thanks, Sue.
All the thanks
in the world.

I'll never forget this.

[phone rings]

Hello?

Hello, Ms. Paige?

This is Barnaby Jones.

Mr. Jones, please,
don't bother me.

I wanna keep this line open,

and I have nothing
at all to tell you.

Well, I'm coming out
to talk to you

because I have some new
information about April Dayton,

and I wanna check
the facts with you.

Hold on a minute.

It's nothing at all.

I'll get rid of it.

Look, you know I'll call.

We're all within ten minutes
of each other.

I'll walk out with you fellows.

Sorry, Mr. Jones.

What you ought to know,
Ms. Paige,

is that I think
there's been an accident,

and with Miss Dayton
missing and Mr. Michael,

I'm looking into this
pretty hard.

Well, I guess I can't stop you.

And of course we want
to cooperate, but...

Thank you.
That's all I'm asking.

♪ ♪

Yahoo!
We pulled it off, baby!

We made it work!

And I'm gonna join you
in that little drink.

Do you realize what we've got?

Five, zero, zero, comma,
zero, zero, zero.

Put it in the closet.

Yeah, you know
what I'm going to do?

I... [sighs]

What don't I know?

That Barnaby Jones wants to come
out here and talk about April.

Tell him to fall off.

All we have to do is cool it.

Go quietly crazy
for Earl and Carl's benefit.

Sweat out enough time

for Rick really to be missing.

And now,

that old idiot
has to come and butt in.

You really worried?

Sue?

Oh, of course I'm worried.

I don't like surprises.

What if that sexpot was here?

What if she saw Rick
take that dive?

[sighs]

Oh, I'm going

to pass the word along
to those groupies.

Smitty, anybody, find that girl.

Why bother?

Just for Jones?

He thinks he's lost her.

She just got found.

[rings]

Barnaby Jones.

Mr. Jones? Sue Paige.

Oh, hello, Ms. Paige.

I've got great news.

I was worried about April,
too, of course.

And I just heard from her.

Well, that's wonderful news.

Where is she?

Well, she's down at the Springs.

She called because she was
trying to get in touch with Rick

about a date
she won't be able to keep.

She called from
the Racquet Club.

Oh, but I'm not sure if
she'd still be there.

And she sounded just fine.

Well, Ms. Paige,

thanks for taking
all this trouble to call me.

I appreciate it.
It's a big help.

No trouble at all.

Glad to. Bye.

He's off our backs for a while.

We were playing
around at the pool.

Which was empty?

Well, yes. Of course
it was empty.

Then we...

We got out on the board.

And...

[sobbing]:
And he slipped.

After, he didn't move at all.

If it was an accident,
why didn't you contact

Beverly Hills Emergency
or the police?

I just panicked.

And beside...

I was busted once,
Mr. Jones.

And I heard people, voices.

I knew they'd find Rick
and do whatever.

I was stoned. I split.

You heard voices?

Men's voices?

Women's?

Both?

Both. I think.

Mr. Jones, couldn't she

go home with me now
and talk tomorrow?

Yeah. I guess you're right.

The two of you go on home
and get some rest.

But what about Rick?

Does anybody really know?

If anybody knows,
they're not talking.

Can I help?

Thanks, no.
We parked in the garage.

We're fine now.
Thanks for everything.

Come on.

Price of a car wash
what it is, Mr. Rooney,

I don't blame you.

[laughs]

Well, you know the gag.
"My wife and my car,

not necessarily
in that order."

What's new, Mr. Jones?

Well, I came out,
because I thought I must have

gotten the message wrong
about April Dayton.

She certainly isn't anywhere
in Palm Springs.

When girls like April Dayton
descend on Palm Springs,

they're usually looking
for a very cozy spot

and, uh,
very, very private action.

Nobody could find her if
she didn't want to be.

Hear anything
from Mr. Michaels?

Nada.

Phil! Phone call.

It's important.
You better hurry.

We'll let you know if
we hear anything at all.

You got room enough
to turn around okay?

All by myself, thanks.

Later.

I gave him nothing.

He's coming closer all the time.

Smitty just called.

Oh, so what's
that little hustler got?

Dynamite.

So, there he was,
out in the hot sun,

doing everything all wrong.

$100 Italian shoes soaking wet.

His $400 silk suit
all spattered.

He came up to me

like I was a side
dish of spinach

that he hadn't ordered.

I just had to see
what was so important

about getting his car clean.

Oh, Betty, over there
in that envelope,

there are the scrapings
from the tire treads.

Would you separate them for me?

Sure.

♪ ♪

Smitty!

It's okay, honey.

Well, how did you...

Gloria let me in.
She's out doing some shopping.

And I got the greatest news
in the world for you.

Rick? Oh, tell me.
Is it about Rick?

He wants to see you right away.

He is all right?

Oh, thank the Lord.

Well, where is he, Smitty?

He's up at the house.

He's, uh, not too clear on it.

He's a little fuzzy yet.

But he sure has been
asking for you, honey.

Oh, that's the only
medicine I need.

Orange peel.

Egg shell, coffee grounds
and orange peel.

What does that give you, Betty?

Breakfast?

I couldn't believe it
when Smitty told me.

Oh, Smitty had something to do.

But how is Rick?

At least he's conscious
and all right?

Pure luck or a thick skull.

[chuckling]

Uh, when did you leave, April?

How much after?

Well, I'm getting it
sorted out now.

He fell, you know.

Couldn't have been conscious
when I went beside him.

It scared me.

It really scared me.

Then what did you do?

I was going to call.

I did use the phone.

The, uh, one in the pool house?

Mm-hmm.

But I hung up
when I heard people coming.

Well, I figured they'd take much
better care of Rick than...

What people?

Who, April? W-When?

How long did you stay?

You found him.

Now I remember.

Your voices.

You two found Rick dead!

[screaming]

It's a simple way
to get some idea

of how long this has
been exposed to the air.

Lead acetate turns dark in the
presence of hydrogen sulfite.

Oh. It's not
the prettiest odor.

No. Some people call
dried albumen rotten eggs.

I'd say three, four days.

Betty, get me Lieutenant Valdez.

[sighs]

You know, I still don't get it.

Put it all together
and what have you got?

Garbage.

Plus fragments of aluminum,
bits of tin.

Rooney's car went
to the garbage dump.

And when you add in
this decomposed granite,

that makes it
the dump off Mulholland.

Worth a shot.

[tires screeching]

Is this the way you got
rid of Rick Michaels?

Yes!

And it's the way I'm gonna
get rid of you, you old...

[sirens wailing]

Resuscitator!

Yes, sir.

Ten-four.

That girl's a lot healthier
than some I've seen.

She'll be all right
once she gets over

the effect of the chloroform.
Yes, April is lucky

and those two were lucky
it wasn't m*rder.

[reporters clamoring]
Gentlemen, gentlemen,

please, my clients have
nothing to say
at this time.

Don't look so smug,
Mr. Jones.

The girl's alive.

We gave back all the money.

And we didn't k*ll Rick.

So you can't nail us with much.

I believe you're miscalculating.

We just got a report
from the coroner.

Rick Michaels was still alive

when you two shoved him
into that bag.

He died of asphyxiation.

I believe the charge
will be m*rder one.

[theme music playing]