Columbo

Les, I'll tape a memo for you on the Bronson matter tomorrow.

As far as the Delfor Incorporation suit is concerned... they've got me.

As far as I can see they're holding firm,

They want 300,000 dollars, and they want delivery tomorrow night...

They've got me.

Leslie, I thought...

Hello, Pat. Leslie.

Listen. About our tennis date...

I know. I've been very forgetful lately.

Please call me at the office tomorrow at 12:15 sharp.

Just say "tennis" and I'll remember to put it on my office calendar.

All right Pat. Goodbye.

When did you sustain these injuries, Mr. Crowell?

This September 16, Friday, 8:30 in the evening.

You were admitted to a hospital for emergency care on that night?

Yes, I was. St. John's Hospital, Santa Monica.

Your Honor, I would like to introduce these hospital records as Exhibit A.

Mr. Crowell, what was the extent of your injuries due to your fall?

My back was hurt real bad.

Objection, Your Honor.

The plaintiff is not competent to give expert medical testimony.

Sustained.

I would like to introduce Exhibit B.

A full doctor's report on the plaintiff's condition,

showing damage to the lumbar region of the spine...

...with concomitant nerve damage...

...resulting in partial paralysis to the left side of his body.

Did you find out anything?

No one's seen or heard from him since he left Phoenix.

Did you check the hospitals?

I've had Nancy calling all morning. Not a thing.

What about the police?

Zero. Shall we...

Let me think about it for a while.

Objection. Irrelevant and immaterial.

Sustained. The answer may go out.

Shall we put out a missing person's report?

I'll do it myself, after lunch.

How goes it here?

We have a nice middle class jury. Their dislike of the insurance companies...

...is second only to their distaste for working class people.

Mr. Crowell, you are a punch press operator, is that correct?

Have you ever been on welfare before?

Objection.

Sustained.

That night that you fell down the stairs in the defendant's apartment house,

where had you been prior to your accident?

At a cafe across the street.

In point of fact, Mr. Crowell, according to the bartender there,

you had at least three drinks, and no dinner,

before you left the cafe, and returned to your apartment.

And not being able to see the stairwell steps properly, you fell.

Objection, Your Honor.

Councel is testifying and assuming facts not in evidence.

The plaintiff alleges the stairs were improperly lit.

Although the plaintiff may well have been.

Objection.

Sustained.

Court will be recessed until one o'clock.

I've convinced my client to discuss a possible settlement.

I'm sure you have.

My office, in 10 minutes?

Mine at 12:30.

It looks good. Very good.

I'll get your insurance company off the hook cheaply this time.

I've been all over that building of yours and you'd better start maintaining...

in minimum safety standards or the next time somebody may get killed.

Hi, Mrs.Williams, Michael.

Have you heard anything?

There's still no word from Mr. Williams. I've tried everywhere.

Thank you Nancy. Bring in your pad.

We'd better outline a settlement, he'll be here soon.

What time do you have Michael?

12:15.

At last they're asking $150,000.

My guess is that he'll say that his client is ill and needs cash,

and offer to settle for half.

And we'll tell him that his client is losing and he'll take what he can get...

...which is nuisance value at $10,000.

That's hitting him pretty hard.

Les? One word, tennis.

Don't forget.

What? Who is this?

Hello?

What is it?

You'd better call the police.

That man on the phone said he's got my husband.

I want men posted here and here. But keep them out sight.

I don't want a lot of worried neighbors calling the police every 5 minutes.

Mr. Carlson.

Hoffman, this is Carlson. We don't want any press leaks on this.

Now listen, I don't want to have to add up all the favors you owe me.

And I'm sure you don't want me to either.

We'll stay out of the papers for the time being Mrs. Williams.

Thank you.

Is that tap in ready?

Not quite yet, sir.

We'll be able to monitor any phone calls that come in through this Mrs. Williams.

Will you be able to trace the calls?

Maybe. Unfortunately the kidnapper is...

...usually smart enough to keep the calls short so we won't have the time.

But with this tape we can make voice prints at the lab.

That sometimes gives us a lead on making identifications.

There's something I have to ask you,

I want you to be completely honest with me.

Of course.

After I pay the ransom,

what are the chances of my getting my husband back?

All right, I'll be honest with you Mrs. Williams.

There's no way of knowing. All we can do is hope for the best.

We'll do everything we possibly can.

Oh, of course you will. I know that.

Look Mrs.Williams. Let's try to take an optimistic point of view on this?

He's probably just fine.

You'll have him with you in another 24 hours.

That's all I want.

Excuse me.

Carlson.

Yes, I'll hold.

Mrs.Williams?

Lieutenant Columbo. Local police.

I seem to have dropped my pen out here somewhere.

Just a minute.

Would you like some help?

Oh, no, that won't be necessary, thank you very much.

I'll just take another quick look...

I can get a flashlight.

Oh really, don't bother. It's all right. I've got some matches.

It's no trouble.

Oh really, it's not that important, it's just a pen.

You see, it was engraved, that was the only reason.

But I'll buy another one and I'll have that one engraved.

You see the pen itself was worthless...

Is that it?

Where?

There.

Is everything all right Mrs.Williams?

Lieutenant Columbo's lost his pen.

Oh listen, don't bother him about it.

Lieutenant Columbo?

Oh yes. How do you do? How are you?

Uh, Mrs. Williams, I think that we can forget about the pen now.

Would you like me to get you a flashlight?

No really, it's not that important.

That last call was from the police. They found your husband's car.

Was there any sign of violence?

None whatsoever.

How do you suppose they stopped it?

The car was found near a stop sign.

So we assume that when your husband pulled up to the intersection,

the kidnappers found the opportunity...

Uh, Mr.Carlson, there's a gentleman here to see you.

Oh, Lieutenant.

Yes, gentlemen this is Lieutenant Columbo, our local police liaison.

How do you do?

As I was saying, the stop sign suggests that you...

Is there something we can do for you Lieutenant?

Uh, well I dropped by to tell you that they found the car.

We already have that information.

I can see that.

How's the tap in coming?

Not yet.

Feel perfectly free to stay if you like Lieutenant.

Oh, thank you very much.

Jerry, I'd like you to get a man...

Check out the houses in the area where the car was found.

Somebody may have seen something or heard something last night.

Start from Sunset and work your way up.

Oh, and Hammond, be sure to get the lab report...

...on the briefcase and the luggage found in the car.

Mr. Carlson, do you suppose that the kidnappers...

...followed him all the way from Phoenix?

Well, I doubt that Mrs.Williams.

But they must have known when he left Phoenix.

That's what makes us think that they may have had someone there...

...checking out the time of departure.

You see if that's true,

they could notify their confederates here and they could...

The Lieutenant would like to see the ransom note.

Mmm? Oh, oh certainly.

Do you know exactly what time your husband would've left Phoenix?

Excuse me. May I see the envelope please.

No, no, I didn't. Neither did anyone in my office.

Hammond, which police garage would they have taken the car to?

Downtown.

I'll arrange for our people to run a set of fingerprints.

You know, strange thing Mrs.Williams.

When you look at the route your husband must have taken...

What is that? An aerial map?

Oh, I see.

What's it for?

It came with the instructions from the kidnappers.

Oh, they sent instructions?

What were they?

Well, Mrs. Williams is to fly alone north along this highway.

When she reaches this point on the map,

she takes a heading out across the desert.

Now, there'll be a flashing light signal right about there,

and the money is to be dropped in a bag.

The usual warnings. No cops.