01x12 - A Little Glory, a Little Death

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Meriwether.

With guest stars Barry Sullivan,

Meg Foster.

MAN: There's no reason...
[clears throat]

no reason in the world why
you can't play that part.

I'll call the producer
tomorrow... yeah.

Great! Thank you!
He's an old friend of mine.

There we go.
Oh, That'd be great.

Good night.
Ciao.

Drive carefully.
Okay.

Good night!

Good night!

[guests chatting,
mellow jazz playing]

Good night, folks,
thanks for coming.

Thanks for coming.

You know, Billy is absolutely
my favorite director

but he always goes home early.

Jason, darling,

you made On a Dark Journey
in '62, didn't you?

I say '64.

Actually, it was 1918.

Thank you, friends,
you sure know

how to make a fellow feel good.

That picture, let's see,
that picture was made in 1962.

We wrapped it in Rome,
I remember.

There.

And, uh, you haven't made

a film since, have you, Jason?

I wouldn't want to, doll.

The garbage they're
turning out today

isn't exactly my cup of tea.

No, of course not.

Good night, doll.
[kisses]

Come on, Don.

Good night, Jason.
Call you for lunch.
All right, darling.

Nice party, Jason.
Bye-bye.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you for coming.

DON: Hey, honey,
want to join us at home?

WOMAN:
Yeah.

DON:
You sure?

WOMAN:
Yes... I'll get my car.

DON: The night is young.
WOMAN: Yeah, uh-huh.

WOMAN:
Okay...

[phone ringing]

[phone continues]

Hello?

Harry? Jason Craig.

He didn't show up.

Big deal.

Harry, he was supposed
to be here with my money.

I took a hell of a chance
bringing that stuff in for you.

You're getting $150,000
for it, dear boy.

If the police find
out what I did,

d'you know how long
I'd be in San Quentin?

Now, Harry, I want my
share of that money.

You promised me and you
promised that it
would be here the...

Hold on, Harry.

Who...

Well, who are you?

Where did you come from?

I... came in
to take a little nap

and I woke to, um...

Looks like little
Gloria's going to be in

for a little luck for a change.

HARRY [over phone]?
Craig?

Craig, who are you talking to?

Well, go on.

Talk some more.

Harry, I'll call you back later.

[wry chuckle]

Now, look...
[clears throat]

Look, I... I'm afraid you've
got the wrong impression.

[chuckling]

Sure.

Now... just
wait a minute.

Hey! Take your
hands off of me!

Take it easy!

I can explain everything...

[screaming]

Are you all right?

Now come on, come on, get up.

We can, we can talk about
this thing; it's...

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[car engine starting]

♪ ♪

And I've been living mostly
in New York with my father,

John Talbot, um,
since their divorce.

Anyhow, I haven't been
out here in over a year.

Until now.

"Gloria Colby, local actress,
after leaving a party

"at actor Jason Craig's,
drove over...

Police divers are still
searching for..."

For my mother's body.

But they haven't found her.

They dragged up the car but...

I don't quite understand

what it is you want
from me, Miss Talbot.

This is a terrible
accident but, uh...

No!

You don't think
it was an accident?

Mr. Jones, see, I-I feel...

No, I'm sure that my mother

never would've been
driving on that road.

You see, it runs around a cliff.

First on one side and then
on the other, all the way.

So?

She had acrophobia.

That's fear of heights.

She hated even
going up in an elevator.

I don't know what
happened to my mother

but I do know that there is
no way that you could get her

up on a high place,
driving around on that road.

She was afraid.

She was scared silly of heights!

I mean, she'd even drive


just to avoid some
kind of lousy little hill.

Excuse me.

BARNABY:
Do you know of anyone

who might've wanted
to harm your mother?

No.

No, it's like I said, uh...

I really haven't
seen that much of her

since she and my father
split up.

I've always wanted
to be an actress.

I hope I can... I can be
as good as she is, you know?

So I'd watch for whenever

she had a part on a
television show.

People even say that we
look a little alike.

You know? But I remember...

that whenever I was
able to visit her,

she was terrified of heights.

She was really terrified.

Can I borrow a pencil and paper?

Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Yes.

I want to show you something.

Okay, X.

Let's say that's
Jason Craig's house, right?

Where the party was.

Y... my mother's apartment.

And here's the lake.

Now, this road is the long road

but it's flat and it's fast

and it would take her
from door to door.

Over here, you have
the other road.

Of course, it's shorter
but it's all uphill.

And there are cliffs
and there is no way

that my mother ever
would've taken that road.

I know it.

Is this all you have,
Miss Talbot?

Oh, no, sir.

And I have some money here

and I would like
to pay you whatever...

Oh, no, that isn't

what I mean, uh, I mean, is
that all the evidence you have?

Do you have any other reason
to suspect foul play?

No, sir, I think
I have enough evidence.

Well, thank you very much.

We have your hotel phone number
and let me check into this.

We'll give you a call.

Thank you very much.

Bye, thank you.
Mm-hmm.

Barnaby, now Miss Talbot says

she hasn't seen her mother
in over a year.

Maybe she got over
her acrophobia.

Maybe, maybe not.

Locate her doctor and
find out about that.

All right.
Anything else?

Yes, call the studios,
Screen Actors Guild,

find out all you can
about Gloria Colby.

Her friends,
everybody she ever knew.

I'll meet you
in a couple of hours.

Back here?

No, uh,
at Ben Frank's on the Strip.

Where are you going?

Gonna see a movie star.

♪ ♪

There's a Mr. Jones
to see you, sir.

I said no visitors!
Lose him!

Yes, I'm sorry, sir,
but he says it's important.

He's a private
investigator, sir.

Oh?

It's about that accident.

That Miss Colby, sir.

All right...
[mutters assent]

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jones?

Great picture,
Trail to the West.

I saw it twice.

Thank you.

My man said you
wanted to talk to me

about this, uh...
Miss Colby.

Could you make it fast,
please, Mr. Jones?

I-I think I'm coming
down with a cold.

I have to stay out of drafts.

Eh, sit down.

Thank you.

You know, it's a good idea
to stay out of drafts,

even though Army
medical research

has never been able to correlate
drafts with the common cold.

Fascinating.

I thought Miss Colby's death
had been cleared up.

The police
have already been here.

Yes, I read that.

They think it was an accident.

You don't?

Oh, I can imagine
that it could happen.

Woman comes to your party,

she has a few drinks,

a dark road, things like that.

Just seems odd

that she would choose
a winding, steep road

with her fear of height...

Acrophobia is what they call it.

I know.

You know that's what she had,
or that's what they call it?

I know that's what it's called!

Look, Mr. Jones, I've already
told the police I...

I didn't know
this Miss Colby at all!

I haven't the vaguest idea
how she came to be at my party!

Just one of those...

spur-of-the-moment
kind of get-togethers.

I-I'd just come back

from a USO tour and, uh...

Well, I had just flown in
from Hong Kong.

But you don't remember
any more about Gloria Colby,

uh, having talked to you?

It's all on a police record.

I told the police
I saw this woman

around 10:00-ish
with a coat.

I assumed she was leaving and
that's really all I know!

Well, thank you
very much, Mr. Craig.

Uh-uh-uh, Jones.

Uh, this, um, fear of heights...

The woman had been drinking.

Now isn't it entirely possible,
if she'd been drinking,

she might have
forgotten her fear?

Good point.

Yeah.

It's worth thinking about.

Well, take care
of your cold and...

Hey, why don't you try
some sassafras tea?

And if it gets you in the
throat, gargle with salt.

Trail to the West...
Great picture.

Thank you, Mr. Jones.

You know, they ought
to rerelease that.

At least, uh,
run it on television.

Don't forget... sassafras tea.

[ringing]

Excuse me.

Importer's Emporium.

Mr. March? Yes.

Oh, just a moment, please.

Mr. March, telephone.

Thank you.

Hello. Harry March.

Jason, Harry.
Where the devil's my money?

Cool it, Jason. Cool it.

Your money's here.

Why don't you come and get it?

You could buy me lunch.

Harry, a detective by the name
of Jones was just here.

The police?

No, no, private detective.

What did he want?

Well, he was saying something

about her having acrophobia...
Fear of heights.

Harry, I'm getting scared.

Now, look, laddie,

but let's not get ourselves
all worked up.

At least until we know if this
Mr. Jones is really a problem.

Okay?

Okay, okay, if you say so.

Oh, but I do.

LANDLORD: Oh, this Gloria Colby
never caused any trouble.

I had to push her for the
rent a couple of times,

but she didn't break
up the furniture,

louse up the plumbing.

No problems like that.

But I don't recall no
particular people

ever coming around here.

Regular loner, she was.

And that's about
all I can tell you.

You know, in a place like this,

you can't ask the tenants
too many questions.

I mean, I figure
that their lives

are their own
business, you know?

Mostly they're actresses,
models, what have you.

They come in, they stay a couple
of months and they move.

Like a, uh,

life cycle, you
know what I mean?

Butterfly?

Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, um, like I said,

uh, you know, I
ain't really sure

that I should've
let you in like this,

because, after all,
you ain't really a cop.

You know?

Well, very kind of you, sir.

Thank you.

[starts engine]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Right on time.

Mmm. Well, in Bangkok,
maybe. What kept you?

The mystery of life.

Check with the doctor?

Mm-hmm.

Now, Doris was right.

Gloria Colby had
severe acrophobia.

The doctor doubts whether
she would ever have driven

near a place with a hill,
let alone a cliff.

Anything from the studio?

Well, only that Gloria Colby
was not beating the town.

Yeah, I just came
from her place.

No mansion.

A casting director told me

that with the bad breaks
the last few years,

Gloria would've done just about
anything for a job.

The italics are his.

Oh, and her answering service
said that she checked in

the night she died,
from Jason Craig's party.

Called in about midnight.

[whispering]:
Betty?

I've got a tickling feeling
in the back of my neck,

like I'm being followed.

Don't look.

Phone's out back.

Uh, play along.

[loudly]: Well, I think I'll
just call 'em and find out

what they're talking about.
Where's the phone?

Uh, out back.

Be a minute.

♪ ♪

Corby Lyons... yes.

Yes, he works for me.

Does deliveries,
things like that.

Why? Has he done
something wrong?

He's been following me.

Why would he do that?

Haven't the least idea.

That's what I wanted
to talk to you about.

Thank you.

Is, uh, is something the matter?

No... no, I was thinking
about your rattan.

All comes from Hong Kong.

Yes.

Real nice.

Thank you.

I was just talking
to a man from Hong Kong today.

That is, he just
got back from there.

You might even know him.

When I talked to him,
he had a towel around his neck

with the same insignia
as your tennis racquet.

Man named, uh, Craig.

Jason Craig.

Craig...

You mean the actor!

Yeah.

Well, yes, I know him.

He's a very pleasant fellow.

We've-We've played tennis
together many times.

He's...

Well, speak of the
devil... Jason!

I was wondering
when you'd get here.

You know I've reserved
the court for 12:00.

We're going to have
to get a move on.

Chop, chop,
as they say in the Orient.

Of course, I could change
it to 1:00, if you'd like.

No, no, no. I think we can
still make it in time.

Mr. Jones, isn't it?

[laughs]

What's the cliché?
Small world.

That's one.

Mr. Jones, have you been able
to find out anything

about that poor,
unfortunate woman?

Gloria Colby. A little.

Matter of fact, when I was
going through her apartment,

I ran across a picture.

She was with, uh,

several of the stock
players from Marathon,

about 1953.

You were there
then, weren't you?

Yes, as a matter of fact I was,

but I'm afraid
I don't remember her.

You know, I have the same
problem with remembering.

Some days I just can't
remember a thing.

You did say she left
your place at 10:00?

That's right.

Well, that's what I
mean about remembering.

Her exchange said
that she called them

from your place around midnight.

Well, Mr. Jones,
it was a very large party.

What I said was that
I saw her with her coat

around 10:00;
I assumed she was leaving.

I just didn't see her
after that.

Who knows when she left.

Exactly.

Well, it's, uh, nice to see

that you're feeling
much better, Mr. Craig.

Feeling better?

Your cold.

Oh.

Yeah, it's nice that you
recovered so suddenly

that you can go out
and play a little tennis.

Well, we just can't
let little things get us down.

Another cliché.

How did Jones get here, to you?

I don't know.
You don't?

I sent Lyons to follow him.

He must have fouled up,
let the old fool
catch him at it.

Old fool?
Old fox, maybe.

Well, it wasn't Lyons
who k*lled that bird

and got us into this mess.

Look, it wasn't my fault.

I only did it to
keep her from...

Want to count it?



Jason, why don't you go home
and quit worrying?

Think about how you're going
to spend all that money.

All that lovely money.

Get me Corby Lyons.

Well, let's see.

That was last Tuesday.

That was the 18th.

Yes, here it is.

Entertainment tour 512
arrived from Hong Kong

by way of Clark Field
at 2:30.

In fact,
I remember it quite well.

Mr. Craig gave me
his autograph.

Made me a big hero with my wife.

Do you remember how they came
through from the airplane?

Well, now, let's see.

The plane came all the way
up to the hangar,

then they all came through...

The dancers and the others.

As I remember it,
there was a chauffeur

waiting for Mr. Craig.

He went directly to the car.

They'd parked it outside.

Then he didn't come through
the regular turnstile.

No, he sent his
larger baggage through.

But it's a little difficult
putting somebody like him

through a detailed customs check

after he's just spent
six weeks of his time

to shake hands with half
the guys still in Indochina.

Yeah.

Yeah, I can see where
that would be difficult.

I can see that.

BETTY:
Right, Martha... Monday.

If Barnaby says it's all right.

I'll see you. Bye.

Barnaby? You here?

Barnaby!

You know, you're lucky
to be alive.

You may very well
have a concussion.

Know who hit you?

I got a pretty good idea.

Who?

We have professional
secrets, too, Doc.

I thought you told me when
you came out here to retire,

you were gonna sit in
the sun and raise horses.

That's what I was trying to do.

That's what we plan
to do for the weekend.

Well, I don't want you out
of this for 48 hours minimum.

And another 48 in the house.

Look, I meant what I said
about a concussion, Barnaby.

[sighing]:
God takes care of fools,
I guess.

Nah, I'll let myself out.

I'll bill you personally.

I'm sure private detectives
don't have a medical plan.

[laughs gently]
Thank you, Dr. Reynolds.

Bye.

Betty, get me a shirt
out of the top drawer.

No!
Betty...

N-O.

Mr. Jones?

The man let me in,
he said that, um...

What happened to you?

Well, a little accident.

I fell; I'm fine.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You see, I called your office
and, um, the message service

said that you were at home
but I didn't realize that...

I really didn't think
you'd mind if I came out.

That's all right;
it's all right.

Well, you see, sir,
I wanted to know

if you found out anything
about my mother's death.

Doris, uh...

why don't you sit down.

Oh, it's okay.

Oh, it's not very nice, is it?

Well, you did
find out something.

I found... smuggling.

There's nothing to indicate that
your mother was mixed up in it.

Well, she couldn't have been.

You realize that I'm
in this thing so far now

that I just can't back off?

Even if I wanted to,
I don't think they'd let me.

They think I know too much.

Could you help me?

Well, how?

What can I do?

Who... Who are "they"?

I won't be up and around
again for a few days,

but I think I know
a couple of fellas...

who would be awfully nervous

if they thought
your mother was still alive.

Now, will you sit down?

Okay.

JASON:
Jack, you know I'm right

when I say that the
business has changed.

We can't go on doing things

the way we used to


You have always
been a conservative.

And very effectively, too.

But the world has changed.

Today... the name of
this ballgame today

is independent production.

And you and I both know
a lot of good pictures

have been made for under
a million dollars.

Mm-hmm.
Now, is there
any reason why

we can't put together a package?

I'll be the star.

We get one of these
bright, young directors...

It's not quite as simple
as that, Jason.

Look, I've read some
great stories lately.

I have enough money to pay
for an option on a screenplay.

Actors... you handle some
of the best actors in town.

All we have to do is show
them a good script and...

Excuse me.

♪ ♪

What's wrong?

You look as if you've seen...

A ghost.

Yeah, a ghost.

That's funny, huh?

The way all these
women look alike today,

with their dark glasses
and their crazy hairdos.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Hello, um, can I have
the city room, please?

Mr. Hartman.

Bob? Jason Craig.

Yes, fine, thank you.

How about yourself?

Good, good.

Bob, what I wanted to ask you
was this...

A small story,
maybe you missed it...

An actress
by the name of Gloria Colby

had an accident after leaving
my house the other night...

Oh, you know about it.

Yeah, yeah, sure.

What I was wondering, Bob,

have the police found anything
more in the search for her body?

They haven't, huh?
Mm-hmm.

Well, as I said, I haven't quite

been able to get it
out of my mind.

Thanks, Bob.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Gloria!

[car door shuts, engine starts]

Wait! Gloria, wait!

[car speeds off]

Gloria...

No...

The messenger
from Marathon said that

that's all they had of her
in the still department.

Gloria Colby.

That's something, isn't it?

That someone could
change that much.

She looks almost like
her daughter does now.

Oh, and she wasn't using her
name then... Gloria Colby...

It was Ellie Hanson,
her real name.

BARNABY:
Trail to the West.

[doorbell rings]

[door closes]

Come on, Doris, he's in here.

How'd it go?

Did he see you?

Well, I-I, I did just like
you told me, Mr. Jones.

I think he was really jolted.

I thought he would be.

Do you want to go through
with the rest of it?

If it'll help.

It could.

You remember what we rehearsed?

Every line.
I'm a good study.

What time is it?

It's a little after 6:00.

Make it for 8:00.

Okay.

[phone ringing]

[ringing continues]

Who is this?

[quiet laugh]

I'm sure you know.

I realize you never expected

to hear from me again,
Mr. Craig,

but I still think we have
something to talk about.

Maybe more now... right?

Who is this?!

[chuckles]

Oh, come on, Mr. Craig.

Now, look, I-I I've never harmed
anyone in my life.

I've never been mixed up
in a crime before.

I... I-I just brought that stuff
in for somebody else.

I didn't mean to.

But you did.

And I'm glad you did.

Mr. Craig, could you meet me
at my apartment?

That's 1810 Courtney,
tonight at 8:00.

Yeah.

Fine.

Good-bye.

Oh! I almost forgot.

Bring $50,000 with you.

I think he's gonna be there.

He sounded really upset.

Mr. Jones, he said something

about, um, "bringing in
the stuff for a friend."

The smuggling?

It fits.

Marseille's tight.

Mexico, too.

More and more coming in
from the Orient, Hong Kong.

Heroin probably.

What better way to bring it in?

A great humanitarian tour
by a big movie star.

Who's gonna bother him
at Customs?

My mother was connected
some way, wasn't she?

It seems so.

[heavy sigh]

[ringing]

Hello.

Harry...
Harry, she's not dead.

Who?

Calmly, Jason.

Gloria Colby. I saw her.

You drunk?

I wish I were.

But, but she was in the car.

You said she was dead
before she went in the water.

Harry, I tell you she's alive!

I've talked to her on the phone!
I've seen her!

Uh, if she's alive...

why hasn't she gone
to the police?

Blackmail.

She wants me to be at her place
at 8:00 this evening.

She wants... $50,000.

Harry, what can we do?

Pay it. What else?

You do like she said.

You go to her place
and you pay it.

I know it'll cut into your take
a little,

but I wouldn't complain too much
about that, if I were you.

After all, it was you
who dropped the ball

when you were so careless,

letting her overhear
the phone call you made!

Barnaby, you know what
the doctor said.

Sure, and he's right,

unless you're chasing
a m*rder*r.

Give me another patch mike
from the desk, will you?

All right.

Let me help you
with that, Doris.

Oh, thanks.

There you go.

There you go.
Got it?

Yeah.
All right.

[grandfather clock chiming]

[knocking on door]

Oh.

I thought I'd go with you.

I was just leaving. Why?

Are you taking a g*n, Jason?

A g*n?
What do I need a g*n for?

Because you fouled it up once,
didn't you, Jason?

♪ ♪

Are you all right?

A little nervous.

How about you?

Yeah.

Your mother's scrapbook.

I don't think I want you
this close to him.

Try sitting in this
chair over here.

Yeah.

♪ ♪

Put on your glasses.

Yeah.

You told me you were
a quick study.

You are.

You're also a good actress.

It's your trade, right?

Right.

I'm a good private detective.

Now we're both on, okay?

Okay.

[knocking on door]

[knocking on door]

Come in.

Close the door.

Did you bring the money?

Yeah, I brought it.
$50,000.

DORIS:
I suppose you probably think
that's a lot to pay.

But besides leaving me for dead,
there's the drugs.

And I'm sure the police
would love to know

that Jason Craig
has been smuggling drugs

into the country.

JASON: I was broke.
I needed the money.

If you hadn't been
listening in...

DORIS:
Yes, but I was.

Don't move.

Well, you almost did it.

If I left it up to Jason here,

you'd have enough on tape
to put us away forever.

Give me an E for effort.

How about D for dumb?

We'll all be going
now... together.

JASON:
Harry...

Harry, isn't there
some other way?

Like what, for instance?

She's alive, isn't she?

When she fell in my house,
she wasn't k*lled!

At least I haven't
k*lled anybody!

Doris, might as well take
off your wig... we've lost.

Doris?

Who are you?

Craig...

Gloria Colby is dead.

The police found her body
earlier today.

And if it was an accident,

as you say, then your
conscience must be clear,

and maybe it can be proved,
but if you let him k*ll her,

that's premeditated m*rder,

and you haven't got a way out.

HARRY:
Jason...

you took a hard $150,000.

You brought in heroin.

You are in deep, deep, deep.

That's Doris Talbot.

She's daughter of the woman
who died in your house.

She's the daughter
of Ellie Hanson.

Ellie?

That strike a chord?

Ellie Hanson.

That's the name that
Gloria Colby used to use

when she was a young stock
player at Marathon.

Hanson...

Ellie Hanson...

Yeah, you remember now?

I think she was even in a
picture that you were in.

Ellie Hanson.

Of course, that was
a long time ago,

and people change in
Hollywood, don't they?

Jason...
time is wasting.

Come on.

Ellie Hanson.

Doris is just a girl

who wants a chance
to be an actress...

Young, innocent, starting out.

Even as Ellie was.

As you were...

Mr. Jason Craig.

Let's go!

No, Harry, no.

We're not gonna harm this girl.

There's been enough k*lling.

[weak gasping]

Come closer.

I didn't want any of this...

smuggling.

I-I just needed the money.

We have an early call
tomorrow, Ellie.

You better get some rest.

He called me Ellie.

♪ ♪

Well, can I take you
to your hotel?

Oh, it's only
just up the street.

If you don't mind,
I think I'd like to walk.

What are you gonna
do now, go home?

I don't know.

You know, when I first
came out here, I thought...

maybe I'd stay a while.

But now, I'm not so sure.

I'll try my luck at acting.

I guess that Hollywood is
really a tough place, huh?

Yeah.

It takes a special kind
of courage, I guess.

Your kind, I'd say.

Well... maybe
I'll think about it.

Walk me home?

I would like to.

[theme music playing]