01x06 - The Loose Connection

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

Starring Buddy Ebsen.

Also starring Lee Meriwether.

With guest stars Lloyd Bochner,

Christine Belford,

Michael Blodgett.

Special guest star
Nico Minardos.

I was told you were
a man who lived well

down here in Mexico,
Mr. Filipe.

Yes. I live well in Mexico.

I live well in Beirut.

I live well in Idra.

I live well in Miami.

In fact, wherever I have
a passport, I do live well.

Very well, I'd say.

You like my little sanctuary?

I'm pleased.

Some of these flowers
are extremely rare.

You see, plants are my hobby.

It follows.

After all, the poppy is
a flower, isn't it?

Oh, it's a lovely,
lovely flower, Mr. Stevens.

It's beautiful and profitable.

A rare combination,
wouldn't you say?

[chuckles]

Mr. Filipe, a business
point, if I may.

Yes?

You take responsibility
for delivery.

When the shipment is in
my hands in Los Angeles,

then I turn over
the million dollars to you.

No. I would prefer to remain
comfortably here

in Angelica for the time being.

With my flowers.

My man, Kirk,

will make the trip up
north with your man...

Cole.
Cole. Of course.

When all is done, Kirk
will accept the payment.

And now the performance.

It has become an expert
chess game nowadays,

delivering heroin.

Our governments are
checking the airplanes,

the ships, the border traffic.

They even search every
vehicle that crosses.

Every one of them.

But watch. Kirk.

This container holds the water
for the windshield washers.

It's a reservoir.

You see, American cars
have all the comforts.

The heroin.

Very neat.

Unless they check this car
too closely at the border.

This car will never
cross the border.

But this one will.

The same model, same reservoir.

Will be driven by a man
above suspicion.

A man that the guard knows
quite well at the border.

Who comes to Mexico often

and who doesn't have any idea
of the part he's going to play.

And this is the man?

His name is Barnaby Jones.

He lives in Los Angeles.

Comes to Mexico often.

He likes Mexican food and
enjoys fishing down here.

If I could just get this
catalyst working properly,

I could develop a compound
that would crystallize

the faintest trace
of oil from our fingers

on any kind of a surface.

[with German accent]:
Ah, yes, Herr Professor.

You'll laugh all the
way to the bank when
I get it working.

I'll be able to take
fingerprints off butterflies.

[footsteps]

Excuse me.

I'm Eleanor Devers.

Your door was open.

Am I too early?

Yes, Miss Devers.

This is Barnaby Jones.

How do you do, Miss Devers?

How do you do, sir?

No, you're not early.

You're right on the button.

This is my daughter-in-law,
Betty Jones.

Hi.
Hi.

You said on the phone

you were trying to locate
your father in Mexico.

Yeah.

It's the first word I've had
in almost two years.

See, Dad just left home...
Cedar Rapids, that is...

And disappeared.

Thank you.

Well, he was having a lot
of business problems.

Thomas Devers.

Age 44. Height...

See, he's the only
family I have.

I just didn't have
anything to go on

until I got that letter
I told you about

from the woman
who used to be my teacher.

She'd seen Dad in Angelica...
Out on the fishing pier.

Mrs. Wiggins is her name.

She was in Mexico
on a sabbatical.

"He sent you his love.

"He's made up his mind that here
is where he wants to be,

like I said,
just beachcombing."

Mr. Jones, I know my dad.

If I could just talk
to him myself.

Well, it's a pretty fair lead.

Like I said, I can't go
to Mexico by myself.

I don't speak the language and,
well, you know, a girl alone.

When do you want to go?

Right away?

I'm all packed.

I have my suitcase
in my car down in your garage.

Well, that's right away.

[tires squealing]

Okay, go ahead.

Hey, Barnaby, you heard, huh?

Heard what?

The marlin are running
real good.

Oh, I won't even have time
to wet a line this trip.

Too bad.

Okay.

♪ ♪

Buenos dias, senor.

Buenos dias, senor, senora.

Do you speak English?

Yes.

Good fishing today.

Nice weather.

Yes, it is.

We need some help.

Good fishing.

Yes, sir.

Have you... have you ever
seen this man, senor?

Si.

Oh, then you know him.

¿Donde esta el hombre?

[speaking Spanish]

No.

Speak in English.

He come once a week.

He fish.

Thomas.

Do you know where he lives, sir?

Uh... casa?

No casa.

On beach. La playa.

Gracias, senor.

De nada, senor.

Good fishing.

Thank you.

Nice weather.

Adios.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Dad,

it's me.

Elly.

How did you get here?

How did you ever find me?

There was a letter
from Mrs. Wiggins.

Well, I found you and
that's all that matters.

Oh, I'm sorry.

This is Mr. Jones.

He helped me find you.

Howdy.

Mr. Jones.

I guess I have to say thanks.

Well, you two probably have
a lot to say to each other.

I'll just take a look around.

I'll see you later, okay?

How am I doing?

Nice performance, kid.

Do you like the
wardrobe I'm wearing?

I'll just be glad when it's
finished, whatever it is.

Kid, I don't ask questions...

I just take the dough.

He seemed very glad to see you.

Yeah, but...

But not enough
to come home with you?

[sighs]

He said there's nothing
back there for him anymore.

Nothing.

He's just given up,
Mr. Jones.

Uh, could you take me away
from here right away?

♪ ♪

Why are they stopping everybody?

Could be anything.

Somebody tried to enter
the country illegally,

contraband, drugs.

Lot of that lately.

Some days, they
search every car.

You an American citizen, sir?

Yes, sir.

And you, Miss?
Yes, sir.

Would you mind opening
the trunk for me, sir?

Not at all.

Now would you open
the hood for me, sir?

Sure.

Fishing that bad, Barnaby?

Found one, but he got away.

Hey, Church, he's a good gringo.

[horn honks]

Okay, Barnaby.
Go ahead.

Thanks.
I appreciate that.

♪ ♪

[tires squealing]

[metal crunching, clattering]

You all right?

Yes.

I really hit it, didn't I?

I'm sorry.

Are you two okay?

We're okay.

It was all my fault.

I wasn't even looking.

I was thinking about
something else.

Eh, good way to drive.

[clattering]

My wife and I saw our
first bullfight yesterday.

Barbaric.
Absolutely barbaric.

You know those fellows on horses
that do the poking, the...

Picadors. Will you
pull on this fender?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, they started to stick
the bull with those...

Bandoleros.
Pull out. Out.

Right.

Right. Right.
Out.

Right.

I-I bought some tacos later.

I bet it was the same animal.

Anyhow, I took my wife
down to the motel

and I was on my way
to a drugstore.

Bitters might help her.

Bitters? Really?

Thanks.

Well, anyhow,
I-I'm gonna call up

and get a tow truck and we'll
get this thing fixed right away.

Where's the phone
around here now?

Oh...

Sure you're all right?

Yeah. I'm fine.

My insurance man in L.A.
will contact you, Mr. Jones.

And thanks a lot
for not blowing your stack

like other people would have.

Well, Mr. Walters,
if I thought blowing my stack

would get that wheel fixed
quicker, I might have done it.

[laughs]

Well, that's all there is.

If, Officer, I'm clear with you?

Okay.

Thank you.
Good-bye.

Any problems?

No sweat.

Give you two a lift
to his garage, if you'd like.

Well, thank you, Deputy.

Uh, Miss Devers.

♪ ♪

Shouldn't be too much longer.

Well, about $20 for labor
and $15 for the tow

ought to get you on the road.

Okay. Can I have
a receipt?

You bet.

I guess that comes under
the heading of "expenses," huh?

We'll work it out.

Here you are.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

♪ ♪

Something bothering you,
Mr. Jones?

That green car's been following
us ever since we left Mexico.

Sorry things didn't
work out better for you.

Good luck.

Well, I tried,
and that's the main thing.

Thank you,
Mr. Jones.

If you're ever in Cedar Rapids,
you look me up, huh?

I just might do that.

Okay.

[tires squealing]

Hey!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[engine starting]

[air brakes hissing]

[tires squeal]

Well, you made good time.

Blue's a divine color on you.

Yeah, except
it doesn't match my red face.

What? What happened?

Did you find the girl's father?

We found somebody,

but I'll bet you a chocolate
soda it wasn't her father.

What?

Later. Let's see
what this tells us.

Don't get any fingerprints
on this stuff.

Lipstick. Compact.

What's that?

Looks like a Keno slip.

Gambling.

There's pill box with
little white pills in it.

What kind of pills?

I don't know.

Come on, Barnaby.
Tell me what happened.

I think I've been had.

Used.

You?

Yeah, the old gray fox.

A chump.

Well, how? By whom?

I don't know.

I don't know why yet.

Now, if I was a courier, I...

The car.

Be right back.

Barnaby, wha...?

Barnaby, wait!

♪ ♪

[door opens]

Barnaby, you know there's just
one special thing...

[chuckles]

Hi, Paul.
How are you?

Fighting the ol' bug
like everybody, Betty.

[chuckles] See ya.

Barnaby?!

Barnaby?!

Barnaby?

[groans]

[engine starts, tires squeal]

Gotta admit,
when I make mistakes,

I make 'em in bunches.

If they were after me,
they've had their chance.

It's got to be the car.

Will you be sensible
and be quiet

and stop thinking about it?

Dr. Reynolds says you're
lucky enough as it is.

Dumb luck make that.

And that girl;
this damsel in distress,

Now where do you think
you're going?

Call Pete down at the garage
and tell him I'm on my way.

Barnaby...

And don't act like

a worried daughter-in-law

right now... act
like a secretary.

Check on that license number

and maybe that stuff
in her purse will
tell us something.

Honey, I'm okay.

Well, there's no doubt about it,
Mr. Jones,

there's some
scratches here;
wrench marks.

And one hose
connection loose
on the container

for the windshield
washing fluid.

Thanks, Pete.

What's this all add up to?

Drugs, heroin probably.

Huh?

Nothing.
Thanks, Pete.

The alkaloid content
of the pills

in her purse is dimenhydrinate.

What's that?

Dramamine.

Oh, for motion sickness.

Yeah. Funny,
she didn't seem

to need any on the ground.

For a plane maybe?
A boat?

Where is the DMV
report on the license?

It's registered to a man.

A Harvey Conwell, 311 Fountain.

There's no telephone
in that name.

Oh, and this keno sheet.

It's from a downtown
Las Vegas casino.

She does all kinds of gambling.

[reading]

Card's marked in ink.
This number's in lipstick.

I thought possibly she used it
to make a note for herself.

Telephone number maybe.

Not in six numbers.

Betty, get me Sun West Air.

Barnaby, you're not planning
to go

to Vegas tonight, are you?

Said his daughter-in-law.

"615" could be
a flight number, too.

Sun West Air?
Hold on, please.

Hello? I need some
flight information, please.

Do you have a flight number 615

or one leaving
at 6:15?

Flight 615.
What time's it leave?



Las Vegas.

Thank you very much.

You're a pretty smart cookie.

About time.

I'm on my way.

Barnaby, you should
be home in bed.

Come on now. Let's, let's get
you home and resting, hmm?

You mean you just want to drop
everything for a little while?

Is that what you're saying?

What else can you do?

Betty, every day some kid
gets a taste of the needle

because that poison is allowed
to get into the country.

Every day new lives
go down the drain.

All right.
Where do we start?

I start at 311 Fountain.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[phone rings]

Barnaby Jones' office.
May I help you?

Hello, Betty.

Hi.

I found Conwell,
our friend's father.

He's dead.

Back of his head caved in.

Call the Lieutenant

and tell him to come over
to 311 Fountain.

I'll call in the details
to him later.

Are you all right?

Sure. I'll be in touch.

WOMAN [over P.A.]:
Trans Western Airlines announces

the arrival of Flight Number
Five...

Well, hello.

Mr. Jones.

Don't you look nice?
So different.

I, uh, this is
a happy coincidence.

Going home?

Uh, yeah, and I don't want
to miss my flight.

I thought you'd be
staying for the funeral.

What funeral?

Your father.

Found m*rder*d, 311 Fountain.

I'd like you to officially
identify the body, Miss Devers.

Look, Mr. Jones, there's
something I have to tell you.

You see, the man we saw
in Mexico, he's not my father.

He's still dead.

Actually, he's a friend.
I stay with him sometimes

when I'm modeling
or acting in L.A.

He's an actor, really.

A dead actor. Harvey Conwell.

Okay, you're a clever dude.
You figured a few things out,

but you've been paid,
and that's all there
is to it, Mr. Jones.

Not quite, lady.

Why did you bring me here?

[man grunting]

Well, let's see
what we have here.

Looks like a classic
case of withdrawal.

You ever see heroin
withdrawal before?

They tell me it feels

like your gut's
full of worms,
hungry worms.

Oh, please!

I see this young
lady has OD'd badly.

You know what "OD" is, don't ya?

That's an overdose.

It's when some poor
soul gets mixed up

and thinks that twice as much

is twice as good,
but it doesn't
work that way.

You step across that line,

and your body starts
dying in pieces.

[sobs]

[man gasping]

[gasps]

[gasping softly]

Mr. Jones...

[sniffles]

[sniffles]

My real name is Laura Tannous.

I work weekends in Las Vegas
as a c*ck waitress

and here
as a photographer's model.

I went to Mexico
with this photographer

on a big picture layout.

Big deal; big phony.

He cut out and left me
with a fat hotel bill.

They were gonna
throw me in jail.

And this man approached me.

And he offered to help you
if you do him a little favor.

Yeah, and the favor seemed
an awful lot cleaner

than most of the favors
men ask me,

if you really want to know.

What was this nice,
clean gentleman's name?

Raul Filipe, he told me.

Who's his buyer in Los Angeles?

I don't know.

A man named Kirk works for him.

I don't know any more.

Believe me.

They took me for a ride
as much as you.

Would you recognize
this Raul Filipe

if you saw his picture?

Yeah, I think so.

Let's go.

Where are we going?

Police headquarters
to look at mug shots.

Mr. Kirk,
I presume.

You got it.

Now, drive.

[revs engine]

You're looking at
an agitated man.

I'll be direct.
I want it back.

Now.

I'm not following you.

What do you want back?

You switched a million dollars
worth of my heroin.

It belongs to me.

If you want to go on living,

give it back.

Isn't that heroin?

No. A substitute.

Ounce for ounce.

Sugar?

Sugar.

Jones, either you're very stupid
or you think I am.

Didn't you figure
that I'd analyze this stuff?

Mr. Stevens,

this is as big a surprise
to me as it is to you.

[sighs]

k*ll the girl.

Don't fool with her first.

Just k*ll her.

No.

Now, Mr. Filipe's going
to be here soon,

and I'm sure he's gonna want
to handle this himself.

I want that stuff now.

[c*ck]

We wait for Filipe.

[tires squealing]

You stay here with them.

Stevens, you don't
give me my orders.

Filipe's going to
want to talk to me.

All right.

You'd be an idiot
to try anything.

Eleanor, listen fast.

We left Mexico
with a fortune in heroin.

Somewhere
between here and there,

somebody
double crossed somebody.

But who? They
think it's us.

That's right.

I want them
to keep thinking that.

Eleanor, if you've ever acted
in your life, act now.

[breathing heavily]

You tr*mp.

I can k*ll each one of you

slow or fast
or in front of each other.

But I've already wasted too
much time eliminating...

Eliminating your father.

You're far beyond your depth.

And you? You're an old man.

I want answers and
I want them now.

I'll give you the answers.

Well, I'm glad you're not so old
that you've grown foolish.

Where is it?

I've got it.

On the way to Mexico,
the lady confided in me

and we decided
to turn a quick profit.

[snickers harshly]

You two amateurs?

You decided you want
to turn a quick profit?

A million dollars
is a pretty big temptation,

even for a solid citizen
like myself.

So we switched sugar
for the heroin

and left the heroin
south of here.

He's already sold it, Filipe.

This is just a stall
to keep alive.

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

You undoubtedly
have a proposal for me.

All I can offer at this time

is your merchandise
for our lives.

Put it away. Please.

He's lying.

And if they're not,

and if you k*ll them,
you've lost nothing,

but I will lose $1 million
worth of heroin.

Give it to me.

I'll only say please once.

You will take us to it.

And believe me, if
you are stalling,

I will give Mr. Stevens
back his g*n.

Seems fair.

Good. We will
take my car.

It is your party,
Mr. Barnaby Jones,

so you drive.

You two, you wait for
me until I telephone.

♪ ♪

Why did you stop here?

You should try
to stay calm, Mr. Stevens.

I read an article last week

that said that many physical
ailments are the direct result

of a, uh, nervous disposition.

Filipe, how much longer you
going to let him waste time?

No longer.
Where is it?

I don't know.

I don't have it.
I never did.

I knew it.

That's a poor choice of words,
Mr. Stevens, for a clever man.

The way he said,

"I knew it."

Well, Mr. Filipe,
how could he know it?

I, uh, come clean.

We don't have it. That
just leaves you two.

And how could Mr. Stevens be
so certain I was lying

unless he has it himself?

He's crazy.

He's playing games again.

The way I figure,
the switch had to be made

while our car was being towed
to that service station.

Your men Cole and Kirk
had us under observation

for every second,
except for one minute

while we were going
through a tunnel.

How much more of this garbage
you going to listen to?

A little bit more.

It costs me nothing.

And the story's fascinating.

One more question.

How do you set up
something like that

unless the "accident"
is arranged?

And Mason, the tow truck man,
is in it all the way?

That character with the
bellyache and the cameras.

That whole scene.

Yes. That really rankled.

Expensive cameras.

And he ran around,
banging them together

like he didn't
know the difference

between a lens cap
and a light meter.

A real camera nut would never
treat his equipment that way.

He didn't even take any pictures
just as insurance

in case I sued later.

No, those cameras
were just props.

And, of course, he was the one
who called the tow truck.

Am I, uh, filling in any holes
for you, Mr. Stevens?

Maybe we can sell this
to the funny papers

so the trip shouldn't
be a total loss.

Come on, get it over with.

I can suggest a way

to get it over with
once and for all.

Please do,
Mr. Jones.

Why don't you
have Mr. Stevens

take a little walk
over to that station?

We'll watch and see
whether he's greeted

as a stranger
or as an old friend.

Please?

To set my mind at ease

and to end all that distrust.

Mason, you don't know me.
Don't pay any attention me.

Just keep on walking.

You don't know me.

That's right.

That's right.

You lose, Mr. Jones.

No, I win.

MAN:
Steve!

What are you doing back?
Behind me!

[car engine starting]

Get out.

[siren wailing]

I think we stopped
the whole shipment.

Looks like the real stuff.

Worth a fortune on the street.

You're gonna have
to go with them now.

I'll be testifying
about you, Eleanor.

Everything.

Including how you helped.

Thank you.

You know, I-I ran so
hard for so long,

it might be good to stop
running for a while.

Maybe I'll figure
out where I belong.

You belong
where you earn your way.

This may cost you...

Time, some hurt.

But you're going
to be all right.

I think you're going to be fine.

Thanks.

[theme music playing]