Rogue's Gallery (1968) - full transcript

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---
( mysterious theme playing )

Oh, hello, hi.
How'd you get in?

I thought
I had the gate locked.

What do you want with me?

What are you doing here?

Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!
You hear me!

Leave me alone!

( action theme playing )

Leave me alone,
I say!

( strangled scream )



( tense theme playing )

Bye-bye.
It was fun.

My house tomorrow then?
Sure. I'll call you.

Goodbye, Mrs. Hassanover.
It was so nice meeting you.

Thank you.
It was nice meeting you too.

( chattering )

( Hassanover screams )

( brakes screech )

( horn honking )

( engine whirring )

( pop music playing )

( music stops )

( clears throat )

( yawns )



ROGUE:
Another beautiful day.

( scoffs )

What's so beautiful about it?

( tender theme playing )

No fee there.

Good morning, Maggie.

Your coffee and donut,
Mr. Rogue.

It's gonna be
one of those days.

Mr. Rogue.

What do you want me
to call you, lover? Lover?

Why not?

It's been heard of.

So is eating
three meals a day.

All right.
I keep count.

You haven't been paid in
a couple weeks.

One month
and three weeks.

Look. If there's one thing
I can't stand is

your nagging early
in the morning

before I have my coffee.

What did you do?

Get up on the wrong side
of the couch?

( sighs )

Come on, Maggie.
I'm doing my best.

So am I from now on.

Now, what is that
supposed to mean?

I met a man.

What's the matter?

Not enough sugar
in your coffee lately?

You're always telling me

if I meet anybody
that I really like--

That's right, Maggie.

Yeah. I constantly
say things like that.

Honey,
I can't take it anymore.

That makes two of us.

You're not sore?

About my girl's having coffee
with somebody else?

Of course not.

Why should I be sore
about a thing like that?

At least you were a good
secretary as secretaries go.

You are sore.
Sure.

Good secretaries
are hard to find.

It's not as if
I haven't asked you

to give up this
stupid business.

Oh, it's not that.

Following you around
straying females

and reporting
to their husbands.

Taking on a security job

where you almost get
yourself killed.

And your gallery
of clients.

Now, those are to remind me
of my great successes.

Thos are to remind you of all
the fees you didn't collect.

It's no use talking to you.

No use.

I'm sorry.

Maggie? Maggie!

You haven't had
your morning coffee.

It'd keep me awake tonight.

ROGUE:
A beautiful way to start

a lousy Tuesday.

Beautiful.

Maggie never did know
how to hang up pants.

I gotta get that gun out of
hoc one of these days.

I may need it.

( telephone rings )

Confidential Human Relations.

Who?

Oh, uh, just a moment,
doctor.

Yeah. What was your name again?
Dr. Jonas Pettingill?

What can I do for you, doctor?

Oh, yes, I guess
my staff did sent out

a few of my cards
the other day.

Uh, well, uh, let me check
my appointment pad.

Uh, let's see.
This is, uh,

Tuesday the 30th. Uh-huh.

I have a luncheon date
at the Hilton.

Uh...

I'm tied up
all afternoon.

But, uh, I can see you
this morning.

Uh-huh.
In about 20 minutes.

Let me get that address.

( typewriter keys clacking )

Right. I'll see you
in 20 minutes, doctor. Goodbye.

Sending out my personal cards

to names in a telephone book
had been Maggie's idea.

What she'd said was

if anybody deals
with goonies in trouble

it's a psychiatrists.

They might want to recommend
one of their patients

to a good confidential agent.
Good old Maggie.

It was starting to pay off.

Which just goes to show.

You never know what day
the phone's gonna ring

and who'll be at
the other end of the line

waving money at you.

WOMAN ( on recording ):
...When Jack and I got on--

WOMAN ( over phone ):
Dr. Pettingill?

What is it?

Mr. John Rogue
to see you, sir.

Send him in.

( recording stops )

Mr. Rogue.
Good morning.

Thanks for being so prompt.
Sit down.

Fortunately, I did have
some free time this morning.

I appreciate it.

What I have to discuss with you
is a rather delicate matter.

I've never had the occasion
to hire a--

ROGUE:
Looks like he can afford me.

How much shall I ask? 45? No.

Fifty bucks a day
and expenses.

What can I do for you?

Well, the subject in this case

is a very beautiful girl

who came over here from Europe
a couple of years ago.

She's been a patient of mine
for, uh, about two months.

Cigarette?
Oh, thank you.

Uh...

The point being that...
Do you have a match, doctor?

There's one over on the table
over there.

You always wear
your tie like that?

Yeah.
Little untidy, don't you think?

A little.
You were saying something

about the point being.

Point being that I as a doctor
have no right

to divulge any of her
personal life

especially to a stranger
such as yourself.

You might say a little
untidiness in ethics.

Precisely.

My concern is not that
of a doctor for his patient,

What's the matter with me?

He's concerned.
Sixty a day.

I understand.

The subject...

Valerie York.

What's the matter?

Small world, that's all.

PETTINGILL:
Do you know Miss York?

ROGUE:
No, I never met her.

But a friend of mine did.

In fact,
he was gonna marry her.

You knew, uh, Frank Sawyer?

Close friend
of mine.

He was killed skydiving.

The motivational drive behind
Ms. York's problem.

Her desire
for self-destruction.

You mean she wants
to kill herself?

And will
in a matter of hours.

No longer
than a matter of days.

What exactly do you
want me to do?

I'm gonna hire you on
a strictly confidential basis.

I want you to follow her.
Watch her every move.

Where she goes,
who she sees.

And, should
the occasion arise,

you will have to keep her
from taking her own life.

Even at the risk
of your own.

Well, that's what $75 a day
and expenses buys you, doctor.

My services and,
if necessary, my life.

I'll have my accountant
prepare you a retainer fee.

Meanwhile,
it is my hope that, uh,

through your investigation
we may be able to help her.

It's my hope too.

ROGUE:
So that's where she lives.

My subject: Valerie York.

( tender theme playing )

What was it Frank Sawyer
used to say?

She's like a song
you'll never forget.

Maybe that was the song he used
to hear in his head

all the time he was in Vietnam.

It's really ironic.

To facing the dangers of war,
comes back here,

goes skydiving with her

and his shoot doesn't open.

( tender theme playing )

( engine revs )

Okay, baby.

A little
"follow the leader" time.

You lead and you can be sure
I'll follow.

( suspenseful theme playing )

No, not-- not this one.

Uh, this is our Olympus model.

The handles
are too garish.

Confidentially,
I agree with you.

Much too garish.

This is a very popular model.
It's number 432.

VALERIE:
Is this waterproofed?

MAN:
No. The waterproofed models,

uh, are a little
more expensive.

VALERIE:
Well, then it's out.

MAN:
Uh, this, however,
is waterproof.

VALERIE:
Oh, now, this.

MAN:
May I show you?

Well, sedate, in good
taste, exquisite satin.

And durable. This model will
last throughout eternity.

I always
said in buying jewel,

the box it comes in
must be exquisite.

Yes. A loved on will look
very peaceful in this model.

Uh, serene,
I might add.

Yes. This will do.

I understand the burial plot
has already been selected.

And also
the headstone.

I'll just check
this model number.

Now, the music to be sung
at the funeral.

If I might suggest.

Something that is
not too gloomy.

Inspirational music.

Good.

Well, uh, that leaves
just one last little item.

Inasmuch as the headstone
has been selected,

I can tell the engravers
to start on the markings.

Now, uh, just the name
of the loved one that interred?

Valerie York.

Valerie York.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( tires screech )

ROGUE:
By the way she's driving,

the cemetery engravers
could have the date

on her tombstone in a hurry.

( engine sputtering )

My first good job
in a long time

and I have to run
out of gas.

Out of gas. Out of cigarettes.

I wonder if there's anything
I'm not out of.

( grunting )

( panting )

Hey. I saw you two
at the cemetery.

Yeah. We were pallbearers
at a funeral.

You're lucky
it wasn't yours.

Okay, wise guy.

Why were you following
Valerie York?

Is that who it was?

He's cute.

( grunts )

I gotta be careful, boys.
They're capped.

Who hired you to follow her?
Nobody.

I just like
to chase skirts.

All right.
That's enough.

Keep away from her.

If you don't you're
gonna wake up in an alley

with the cats
looking at you.

( mysterious theme playing )

ROGUE:
Well, that friendly

little visit changed the whole
complexion of this case.

Hmm. Came near to changing
my whole complexion.

If Valerie York wanted to die,
that was her private business.

But those two goons
hit me in the face

with the fact that there was
more to it than that.

A lot more.

But what?

Out of cigarettes.
Out of answers.

Out of luck.

I wonder if Miss York
has some answers.

( line ringing )

Now, let's see.

The penalty for breaking
and entering a girl's apartment

could cost me my license.

Maybe even a few months
in the pokey.

But then for $75 a day
and expenses

a man is expected to stick
his neck out.

( dramatic theme playing )

She was here
and yet she wasn't,

if that makes any sense.

Christmas Night.
Expensive.

MAN:
* Valerie

* Valerie, are you in love
With sorrow? *

* Tempting fate
You can't wait *

* Careless about tomorrow

* Must you be unhappy

* Living each moment only

* In your world
It's wrong to be glad *

* It's right to be sad
And lonely *

* Valerie

* Valerie everything has
It's reason *

* Happiness loneliness

* Even love changes seasons

* And so the riddle
That you are *

* Begins to torment me

* Please help me
Solve the mystery *

* Of your heart, Valerie

WOMAN ( over phone ):
Apartment answering service.

I'd like to speak
with Valerie York, please.

WOMAN:
I'm sorry, Miss York is not in.

May I take a message, please?

Do you have a location on her?
No, we don't.

Who shall I say is calling,
please?

When do you expect her?

If you leave me
your name and number,

I'll have her call you
when she returns.

Thank you.

ROGUE:
Temple of Hope Club.

East Manor Drive.

Young, beautiful, money.

Everything a girl
could want.

Yet she wants
to kill herself.

Valerie York.

Valerie York.

( doorbell rings )

VAN:
Valerie!

Well, now, that can't be
the Avon lady.

Valerie!

Valerie, I picked up
your pictures.

Hurry it up, babe.

We've gotta be there
in 15 minutes.

I don't think we've met.
ROGUE: We have now.

I didn't know
Valerie had company.

I didn't know
she was expecting company.

No, obviously you didn't.

Who shall I say
almost interrupted us?

Van.

And the message?

Tell her I'll be
at the club tonight.

Sure thing, Van.

Afraid I didn't catch
the name.

Reed. Danny Reed.

You, uh....

Of course, uh,
a close friend of hers.

( chuckles )

You could say that.

It's, uh,
odd we've never met before.

Are, uh, you in some sort
of business, Mr. Reed?

Mm-hm.

Confidential
Human Relations.

Very funny fellow.

Try me at card tricks
sometime.

( door closes )

Now, there's a couple of things
I have to know.

Besides Frank Sawyer's death,
what else is bugging Valerie?

Well, ahem, she's a very
glamorous woman

who's had almost
every human experience.

The "almost"
is important.

Of late, she's obsessed
with the idea

that there are some things
un-experienced.

Like dying.

She's done
everything twice.

The third time is a bore.

Of late, she feels compelled
to accept every challenge,

large or small.

Scuba diving
at unheard-of depths.

Racing cars. Skydiving.

What are some of
the small challenges like?

Whatever the whim
of the moment dictates.

Who's Van?
Has she ever spoken of him?

Yes. Edmund Van Dermot.
Family friend.

Ever hear of this place?

Temple of Hope Club?
Yes. Why?

I think she's going
there tonight.

That's the best news
I've heard.

Why?

Well, the Temple of Hope Club
is designed

to help people
like Valerie.

It, uh, might be called, uh,
Suicides Anonymous.

Run by a Mr. Roy Benz.

You mean if you're in
the mood to kill yourself

you call them up
and they talk you out of it?

It means considerably
more than that.

The people of the club meet,
exchange ideas,

freely admit fits
of depression

that often lead
to thoughts of suicide.

It's a form
of therapy through, uh,

which they often find
a new reason for living.

I've been looking for a place
like that for years.

( knocks )

Good evening.

I'm sorry.
This is a private club.

Each member
has his own key.

How do I get one?

Well, I'm afraid
they're restricted.

I think I qualify.
Well, we don't admit strangers.

My name's Danny Reed.

I'm sorry, Mr. Reed.

And, uh, ahem,
I was recommended.

BENZ:
By who, might I ask?

A friend of Valerie York's.
Edmund Van Dermot.

Yes, yes.

Well, you should have
said that at once.

Won't you come in,
please?

In closing,
I'd like to say that

I think the men and women
of this organization

should help
each other.

Well, I admit, too,
I was on the edge of...

Ah, I see Mr. Van Dermot's
engaged at the moment.

Well, that's old Van.
He's always making a speech.

Oh, a testimonial.

You see, our members freely
relate their experiences

with one another.
We'll wait until he's through

and then he'll introduce you
to the others.

Our friend,
our benefactor.

Oh, by the way,
I am Roy Benz.

Nice to meet you,
Mr. Benz.

I've heard a lot about you.
Your good work.

Excuse me, Mr. Benz,
there's a crisis call for you.

Oh, I'll take it in
my office. Excuse me?

Crisis call?

Yes. Yes.

Somewhere in the city,

a human being is
contemplating taking his life.

We get calls of this kind
24 hours a day.

Make yourself comfortable.

VAN:
I don't have to say

in so many words
what we owe Roy Benz.

It can be said
in one word: life.

Our lives.

Yeah?

What happened to
Mrs. Hassanover's life?

ROGUE:
Hassanover?

Now, Mr. Benz
has rehabilitated many.

The man who conceived
the idea and...

Oh, yeah.
Alicia Hassanover.

I guess Benz didn't get her
crisis call.

Maybe the line was busy.

But sometimes,
though rarely,

the fates will not be cheated
of their appointment in Samarra.

As you just mentioned,
poor Mrs. Hassanover,

despite all our efforts,

in the end,
her death wish prevailed.

Nothing could stop her
tragic suicide.

Yeah, she foolishly chose
the fumes of carbon monoxide

to the fresh air
of this earth.

Yes, exactly.

Not only
Mrs. Hassanover.

The same has happened to
Oscar Ludman. He hung himself.

You definitely should
come more often.

We had a very successful
reading last night.

I wish you would have
been here.

You could really understand
what it's all about.

I have a small
challenge for you.

That's been tried before.
Anyway--

I thought there was no challenge
you wouldn't except.

Excuse me.

All right.
Try me.

Even though
I'm a complete stranger,

I want you to pretend
you know me.

Shouldn't be so hard
to do.

Challenge accepted.

VAN:
Hello, Reed.

Good to see you again.
How are things?

Oh, much better.
Thank you.

Oh, I don't know what
you mean by much better.

You seemed to be doing all right
the last time I saw you.

He always does all right.
You should know.

It's your move.
Our move. To the bar.

Would you excuse us?
Mm-hm.

Excuse me, sir.

Do you have
another cigarette?

I'm sorry,
it's my last one.

Thank you.
I have some here.

MAN:
Thank you.

Uh, usual, Miss York?
Mm-hm.

I'll have the same,
whatever that is.

Scotch over the rocks.
I said, I'll have the same.

Now, why did Van mean
when he said I should know?

He thinks that you
and I play house.

How should he get that idea?
He's got a dirty mind.

Miss York. Sir.

Cheerios.
What?

Cheerios.

That's what a man and woman
say to each other in Europe.

You mean
when they're in love.

Maybe.

Cheerios.

( door opens )

I once knew someone
who was in love with you.

Frank Sawyer.

You knew Frank?
ROGUE: He was a friend of mine.

VALERIE:
We were going to be married.

ROUGE:
I know.

Darling, can I see you
for a moment?

Darling, would you mind?

Of course not, darling.

Call me. It's important.
About Frank Sawyer.

( clears throat )

Interesting.

Excuse me.

How come Van Dermot's lost
so many points with you?

He plays games.

You don't like games?

Not his kind.

What kind do you play?

Whatever suits the occasion.

I see, Mr. Rogue.

I didn't tell you my name.

Van just found out
that's your real name.

But what's in a name?

Better question:

What's in a drink?

Something the matter?

Always.

In my racket, seems there's
always something the matter.

Mr. Rogue.

( screams )
Oh!

Mr. Reed.

( pop music playing
over radio )

( music stops )

Call me. It's very important.
It's about Frank Sawyer.

Scotch over the rocks.

Cheerios.

( police siren wailing )

( car tires screech )

You gumshoes always sleep
with your clothes on?

If I didn't,
somebody might steal them.

If you tell me
what you're trying to find,

I'll let you know
if you're getting warm.

You wouldn't know
by chance, would you?

I know you're keeping me
from my sleep.

What happened?
One of my neighbors call

and say I was having
a wild party?

We were told we'd find something
interesting up here.

Perfume.

Yeah,
there was something

interesting up here.

Bare as Mother Hubbard.
Let's go.

( sighs )

Here.

Live it up, Shamus.
Thanks.

( engine starts )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( grunts )

He's dead.

( chuckles )

ROUGE:
Christmas Night perfume.

The office reeked of it.

It added up.

A dead bartender that wanted
to talk about Frank

and some knockout drops
in my drink.

They added up just fine.
Valerie.

( mysterious theme playing )

( screams )

Go ahead and scream!

That's the nice thing about...
( screams )

...these modern apartments.

You can't hear
your neighbors fighting.

( both grunting )

How did you get in here?

Maybe I borrowed
Van Dermot's gold key.

And what do you want?

I want the answers
to a few questions.

Starting with why you
put those knockout drops

in my drink and
a corpse in my office.

You don't know what
you're talking about.

( grunting )

Hey. You're pretty good.
That's quite an act, lady.

When you passed out
last night,

Mr. Benz thought it was because
you cut your wrists recently

and you were in a weakened
condition.

Weakened? I had to be
a sucker for a Mickey.

You had these bandages
on your wrists.

Sure. Those were my tickets
to Suicides Anonymous.

Had it been AA I would
have brought a bottle.

Now start making sense.

I don't know what happened
to you last night in the club.

The truth is
I don't know you.

Oh, bitch.

Look, mister, you're not
a challenge anymore.

Breaking and entering in here,
you've got to be crazy.

Yeah, the way
I was last night at the club,

crazy is the word.

Now, your love for Frank,

tell me some more about your
great love for Frank.

Nobody speaks about Frank
like that.

Not you and not anybody!

He was too nice a guy
to be kicked in the teeth

by a broad like you.

To fight a war
and come back here

and die in a phony
accident.

You don't know
what you're saying!

Get away from me!
Let me go!

Get away from me.

( crying )

( panting )

For 75 bucks a day, I don't know
if you're worth it.

All right.
I was wrong about you.

Has to be
I was wrong about you.

But then what about
that perfume in my office?

Answer to that is anybody
can buy perfume

and sprinkle it around,

make it seem like there
was a woman there.

Hey, do you know that
was a pretty dumb thing

you just tried to pull.

( sighs )

Next time I make it,
you won't be there

and I'll make it all the way.
Oh, yeah?

Won't you be surprised
if I'm down there

at the bottom waiting
to catch you, huh?

Excuse me
if I don't laugh.

Solve a lot of problems
if you would laugh.

You'd solve my problems
if you'd just leave me alone.

( crying )

Dr. Jonas Pettingill,
is that your doctor?

Yes.

( tapping on phone keypad )

Hello. Is this
Dr. Jonas Pettingill?

My name is John Rogue.
Yes.

I'm in the apartment
of a patient of yours.

Her name is Valerie York.

Doctor, she just tried
to take a high dive

out of her window.

I think you'd better
get over here.

Right.

Look, Sam,
nobody really wants to die.

Sam?

I remember Frank said

he used to call you that
sometimes.

Only when
he was angry at me.

Right now
I'm angry with you.

He used to call me Sam
to put me down.

Nobody should
ever put you down.

It's no use.
Thanks, Rogue.

( knocks on door )

It's open.

( sighs )

Glad to see you.

She's in a bad way.

What are you doing here?

My dear, you're gonna be
all right.

It doesn't matter.
Not anymore.

I'll fix a sedative.
It'll calm you.

You had no business
breaking in on her.

I was doing the job
you hired me for.

I hired you to watch her,
not to make love to her.

What?

You're fired.
Now get out of here

before I call the police and
have you booked for breaking in.

This'll make you sleep.

( mysterious theme playing )

ROUGE:
Off the case.

If it turned out Frank Sawyer's
death wasn't an accident,

I'd never be off the case.

Anyway, right now
I have another problem.

A stiff problem lying cold
and glassy-eyed

in the trunk of the car.

Jocko, I think you and
I could use a drink.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( car tires screech )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.

( whistling )

Evening, officer.
OFFICER: What's the trouble?

Oh, no trouble now
but I could have used you

a little while ago.

He's had a little too much
to drink.

Who is he?

Jocko, our bar man
at the club.

If there's one thing
I hate, it's a bartender

who lushes it up
after hours.

On our bonded stock.

Passed out, eh?
Not exactly.

No that was the trouble.
You see, he insisted on driving.

I had to clip him one.

Uh, would you
excuse me, please?

Thank you.

How about you?
Are you all right?

Oh, I don't drink.

Last booze I had packed too much
of a wallop.

Well, he'll thank you
in the morning

for not letting him
drive tonight.

Good night, officer, and
thank you for your courtesy.

WOMAN ( over dispatcher ):
20L36, 20L36, traffic accident.

( engine starts )

( jazzy, seductive theme
playing )

Do me a favor, Jocko.
When you see Frank Sawyer,

say hello for me.

ROGUE:
Good night, Jocko.

Smoggy Wednesday,

beautiful alley.

No Maggie, no coffee,
headache.

Obituary column
in the morning paper

says Alicia Hassanover is laid
in the Quiet Valley cemetery.

Not that she's in the position
to tell me anything,

but maybe somebody else can.

Right this way.

Yes, I did make all
the arrangements

for Mrs. Hassanover,

but I didn't know
that she had a brother.

I was away.
Oh.

I understand it's a custom

of many estates to delay
funeral payment

until after they receive
the insurance money.

That's right.

Was that true with
my sister's estate?

I'm afraid so.

Waiting payment
must be hard on you.

Oh, uh, we manage.

Do you happen to remember
the name

of the insurance company?

Yes. Her husband showed me
the policy.

Oh, it's quite
common practice.

It shows proof that the money
will be paid eventually.

It was the, uh...
Greystone Life.

What kind of coverage?

Well, there was
a $50,000 personal policy

and a $20,000 policy
to the organization.

What organization?

Why, the Temple of Hope.

The $20,000 policy was made
payable to a Mr. Roy Benz.

He's the founder
and president of the club.

I thought it was against
the law to bequeath money

to an uninterested party
or organization.

No.

Not if the policy holder

owes a large amount of money to
a person or to an organization.

I see. My sister owed money
to Mr. Benz.

Well, that was my
understanding of it.

Of course, Mr. Benz must
supply proof of such a debt.

Usually by a promissory note
or an IOU.

But if you're thinking
of making a claim

on this insurance,

I, uh-- I suggest that
you see them about it.

Is that clear?
Very clear.

In fact, you've cleared up
a lot of things.

ROUGE:
I called Mrs. Oscar Ludman.

She was sure her husband
had hung himself. I wasn't.

He also had an insurance
policy made out to Roy Benz.

Twenty Gs.

Frank Sawyer had just one
insurance policy

made out to his parents
in the East.

Looks like he doesn't fit
into the picture.

He wasn't even a member
of the Temple of Hope Club.

Yet I'm sure his so-called
accidental death

ties in somewhere.

Questions with no answers.

If the Temple of Hope Club
was a racket, how does it work?

Suppose the original
applications for insurance

on Oscar Ludman and
Mrs. Hassanover were forgeries.

Suppose the promissory notes
were forgeries.

Who stood to gain?
The beneficiary. Roy Benz.

( suspenseful music
playing on radio )

( wind whistles )

( music stops )

( telephone rings )

Office of confidential--

VALERIE ( over phone ):
Rogue, you were right.

I don't want to die.
I need your help.

Can you help me?
Where are you?

( door opens )

Where are you calling from?

Valerie? Valerie?

Valerie? Valerie?

PETTINGILL:
The underlying motivation

of the patient's problem

dates back to an early
childhood experience.

Where is she?

Isn't it customary
to be announced?

Where's Valerie?

Where she is
and what she does

is no longer any business
of yours.

She called me
and asked me for help.

And you came on the run.

Where do I find her?
Tell me,

do you always fall in love
with your clients?

Just the ones
that wear skirts.

Get out of here.

I said get out of here.

Tell me about
the high recommendation

you give the
Temple of Hope Club, doctor.

That's where you send your
patients, isn't it, huh?

The manic depressives.

And Roy Benz builds them up
with a lot of hot air,

sweetness and light,
making sure

that he gets samples
of their signature.

What are you
talking about?

A suicides anonymous club
that is anything but that.

See, I have the feeling
that Roy Benz is running

a murder mill.
Ah, nonsense.

Temple of Hope?
Some hope.

Attracting the sick
and the desperate

who are clinging
to life by a fingernail.

Giving them a phony salvation
then wiping them out

like so many ants off
a picnic table.

Ridiculous.
Well, I intend to see

whether it is ridiculous and
if you aren't linked with it.

Just a minute. If she's missing,
you're responsible.

What you don't realize
is Miss York was--

"Was," doctor?

You just used
the past tense.

I didn't mean
to say that.

Where is she?
I don't know.

How would you like
to be dead?

Like Mrs. Hassanover, Ludman,
and Frank Sawyer.

Don't threaten me.

I find her dead, dead is gonna
be the way you end up.

And that's not a threat,
that's a fact.

( Rouge whistles )

Oh, hello,
Mr. Rogue, uh...

I didn't hear you come in.

I thought you might
need a new bartender.

I never thought
I'd see you again.

You never expected to see
Jocko again either.

Why did you kill him,
Rogue?

You think I killed him?

Then why don't you pick up
the phone

and call the police?

Oh, that's right,
you did call them.

Told them they'd find something
interesting in my office.

The trouble is you didn't
specify what or who.

That wasn't very fair,
Mr. Benz.

I didn't call anybody.

Let's see,
what did you tell them?

"This is a concerned citizen,"
something like that?

Right now
I'm the concerned citizen.

Ah, you amuse me.

And I'm going to become
even more amusing.

Now, I want to know
what you did with Valerie York.

What I've done with her?
Why, I scarcely know the lady.

( door opens )

( grunts )

( both grunt )

Now, there's a few things
I've gotta find out about, Benz,

and I'll bet they lead me
right back to you.

( grunts )

ROGUE:
I had to find Valerie,

but where do I look?

That soft scared voice
of hers

on the phone asking me
for help.

How can you help someone
you can't find?

Maybe Van Dermot
has the answer.

Six Van Dermots,
but no Edmund.

When all else fails
the confidential

Human Relation manual
on page 16 paragraph B states,

"Return to the scene of."

MAN:
As soon as you find out
anything, call me.

Yes. No, I said before.

It is very important,
I don't care what time it is.

No matter what time you call.

That's the thing that really
is important.

You understand that? I...

Rogue, where is she?
Beat me to the punch.

What have you done with her?
Did it again.

( scoffs )

I've been every place
I can think of she might be.

Called all her friends.
Not a trace.

Maybe she doesn't trust
her friends anymore.

How much do you know?

About her or her friends.

You must think I'm the kind
that kisses and tells.

Don't play cute with me.

I wanna know what you're up to.
Up to my neck.

Using my name to get
into the club last night.

Telling me you were somebody
called Danny Reed.

Pretending footsie
with Valerie.

You're not
in her league.

You're about
to strike out too.

What were you doing
at the club last night?

Having a Mickey Finn
over the rocks.

Roy Benz is very upset.

He said you bothered the widow
of one of our members.

Mrs. Ludman didn't seem upset
when I called her.

You had no right
to call her.

I guess I'm just pushy.
Keep away from our club.

Our club?

Uh, I didn't mean
to imply by that.

I knew if I let you talk
long enough

you'd finally
say something interesting.

Where would I go if I were
Valerie and wanted to hide?

Where would she go
if Frank were still alive?

Hey, the little place
he had down at the beach.

Yeah, it's worth a try.

( mellow theme playing )

( tires screech )

Man, the times Frank and I
had at that beach house.

Hot summer days
and Singapore Slings.

Lots of Singapore Slings.

And broads everywhere.

That's where I learned the
fine points of touch football.

Wonder if the place
has been sold yet.

Real estate people
usually leave a key somewhere.

Everything the same.
But is it?

Is anything ever the same?

VALERIE:
Rogue!

Rogue! Rogue!

Rogue.

Oh, Rogue.
I'm glad to see you.

I have been looking
everyplace for you.

I could hear a car coming,

I didn't know who it was
so I went outside and hid

until I saw it was you.

Now, what is this
all about, hmm?

I'm scared, Rogue.

Why?
Last night,

after Dr. Pettingill
gave me that sedative,

he also gave me a post-hypnotic
command to kill myself.

That's one way
to make a suicide look real.

The sound of a certain music
was to trigger me.

But I found the tape recorder
that was playing it

and managed to turn it off.

That's when you phoned me.
Yes.

While I was on the phone
I saw the doorknob turn,

I didn't wait to find out
who it was.

I raced through the kitchen,
down to where my car was parked

and simply started driving

not knowing
where to go or what to do.

Then I remembered this place
and I came here.

Valerie,
why didn't you call the police?

Dr. Pettingill
is very convincing.

He'd tell them
that I was a patient of his

and convince them that I had
a hallucination of some kind.

They'd probably
believe him too.

What am I gonna do, Rogue?
I can't just keep on hiding.

Can they trace you here?
I don't know.

I might have talked
in one of my sessions

with the doctor about it.

Come on.
If I could think of a reason

why Dr. Pettingill
wants me dead.

ROGUE:
To collect on your insurance.

VALERIE:
I don't have any insurance.

ROGUE:
Frank didn't have
any insurance either,

but he's gotta fit in
someplace.

( tires screech )

Come on.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Oh!

My car,
it's up on the highway.

The keys.
Under the mat.

( engine revs )

( tires screeching )

When I said I want to die,

this wasn't the way
I had in mind.

Yeah, those two goons behind us
are trying to change your mind.

You found this kind of driving,
but just oblige them.

They wanted someone to get
killed and they got it.

( mysterious theme playing )

I like your dress.

Thank you.

Hungry?

Tired.

Tired of running
and being chased and beat up.

Having a body dumped
in my office.

Doesn't make me happy that
a Beverly Hills psychiatrist

threaten to have you committed

because of some records
he holds over your head.

I'm not exactly happy
about it myself.

If we could
get in his office,

get our hands
on your case history file,

that would be a start.

But how do we do that?

We can't.
No, Sam,

not by sitting here we can't.

I like you calling me Sam.

It makes me feel
very safe.

I wonder what
Freudian symbolism

Dr. Pettingill
would read into that.

And what would you read
into that?

( both chuckle )

Microphone, please.
Right this way, sir.

( car engine revs )

A cleaning woman
found the body.

The murdered man's name
was Dr. Jonas Pettingill,

a psychiatrist.

I understand the police
have a suspect.

Yes. You see,
the doctor had a tape recorder

in his office going
when the suspect came in.

Evidently, he didn't realize

that the conversation
was being recorded.

The doctor called the man
with him by name.

And we have a voice track of the
suspect threatening the doctor

and the doctor's voice
calling out,

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"

The last thing on the tape
is the sound of a gunshot.

Can you reveal the name
of the suspect?

All I can say
is we have an APB out

for John Rogue,
private investigator.

We'll have him
in custody very soon.

Can you give a description
of him?

LEE:
Oh, he's 6 feet 2,

fair complexion,
dark hair,

medium build.

Thank you, Detective Lee.

This is KTVX News, channel 85.
Thank you.

OFFICER:
Hold it.

Something wrong?

Can I see
your driver's license?

Sure.

I don't have it with me,

I left my wallet
in my other coat.

Oh, officer, this is my car.
Here's my license.

I've been driving.

We just stopped to see
what all the commotion was.

If you'd have used your eyes,

you'd have seen the curb
is painted red.

Honey, look where you
parked the car.

Now that nice man
is gonna give you a ticket.

I'm so sorry.

Here comes an old friend
of mine.

That's Rogue.
Seal off the area.

( quacking )

( dramatic theme playing )

Rogue, why didn't you tell me
you killed the doctor?

It slipped my mind.

He threatened to harm me
and you lost your temper.

You're losing your marbles.
I didn't kill him.

You didn't?
Of course not.

Then who did?

I don't know.
But we may be next.

Unless those cops
get me first.

An all-points bulletin means

that every cop
in the city's looking for me.

Now come on.

Rogue, let's get out of here.
I'm not wanted by the police.

I can get money.
Let's go to Mexico.

The trouble with that is
I flunked high-school Spanish.

If you're really
so innocent,

why don't you turn yourself
in to the police

and tell them your story?

Because they already
have a story.

It's on tape by a murdered man
that says I kill him.

I don't think they allow
care packages on death row.

At least now
you're being more realistic.

If I could get my hands on those
funny insurance policies,

prove the signatures
are forged

and expose
the Temple of Hope Club,

we'd both be off the hook.

We don't even know
where they are.

Could make an educated guess.
In the safe at the club.

It's a long shot, Sam, but it's
my only bet left on the board.

Let somebody else catch up
with suicides anonymous,

it doesn't have to be you.

ROGUE:
What time does the club close?

Ten o'clock.

I'll get a car.
The parking lot's full of them.

Please don't go.

Sam, I'm wanted for murder,
this is my only chance.

It's locked.

We'll wait here until dark.

If I'm not back in ten minutes,
you take off, all right?

You realize what's
going to happen to you

if you go in there?
Nothing's gonna happen.

Rogue, please.
Please, don't go in there.

Don't you realize?
I do love you, I do need you.

Please, I beg you,
don't go. I do.

Hey, hey, hey.
Listen, listen.

I do love you. I do.

Now you just
keep that motor running,

I'll be back
in ten minutes.

I'll tell you what,
we'll make it nine minutes.

Don't go, please.
I'll be seeing you, Sam.

( both grunting )

I'll bet you carry a gun,
Edmund.

Uh-huh.
All right, open up.

All right, Van, now you did
real nice opening the door.

I want you to do
just as well with the safe.

Well, only Benz
knows the combination.

BENZ:
Van, is that you?

ROGUE:
Hello, Mr. Benz.

You're right on cue.

What seems to be the matter?

Oh, nothing's the matter.
Turn around.

I'm sure man like you
don't carry a gun. Good.

Now, the trouble with framing
a man is it makes him reckless.

If he's gonna die anyway,

he has nothing to lose,
only points to gain.

Nobody framed you.

Surely you can't
mean Jocko?

Ah, that innocent wine
in your voice,

that and 20 cents will get you
a ride on a bus

if you're not going too far.

Now push back that picture
and open the safe.

Well, it's triggered
with an alarm

and if it's opened
before morning,

the alarm goes off.

Mr. Benz.

Open the safe.

Just exactly
what is it you want?

Phony insurance polices
to prove murder

for Mrs. Hassanover
on back.

You're the one
that's wanted for murder.

The murder
of Dr. Jonas Pettingill.

I can't understand

why you didn't deliver
the doc's corpse to my office,

like you did Jocko.
You're not saying

you didn't kill the doctor?
Open it.

The police have tape recording
that proves you did.

Those tapes were gimmicked.

Cops won't buy that, Rogue.
Neither will I.

If you don't open
that safe right now,

I'm gonna open your head.

Rogue. You had to be the one
who shot Dr. Pettingill.

It had to be me that did a lot
of things I didn't do.

( all grunting )

( gunshot )

( groans )

You don't listen good.

I told you I had nothing
to lose.

VALERIE:
Drop the gun, Rogue.

If my back wasn't turned

I'd swear that you were someone
I told to wait in the car.

BENZ:
For awhile we were afraid

you weren't going to come
to your senses.

Just when I thought you were
getting a little squeamish,

trying to run out on us.

Oh, I should have known better.

Let's have the gun, Rogue.

Drop it, Rogue.

I guess I'd better.

You know, I've gotta admit,
I never figured it'd be you.

You wouldn't listen to me.
We didn't have to face this.

You wouldn't go away with me.

Sam, you're a lousy shot.

No she isn't.

She, uh, wants me
to die slowly,

nothing quick and easy.

Slow.

For a minute there,
I thought...

( chuckles )

You've never known
what I thought.

Tell Rogue why
you're going to die slowly.

I'll bet it has something to do
with Frank Sawyer.

And this club.

The whole operation is hers.

She owns this club.

She almost owned me.

They were afraid of Frank.

BENZ:
She was going to marry him.

If Frank ever found out
about this...

So that's why Frank
had to be eliminated.

At first they tried
to convince me

that Frank's death
was an accident.

VAN:
You wouldn't buy that.

And that's
when the trouble started.

And she and Dr. Pettingill
hired you.

Like I said, trouble.

Meaning Valerie wanted revenge
for what you did to Frank,

and out of self protection,
you had to get rid of her.

That's right.
You added it up.

Added it up and pegged it right.
A private vendetta.

But tell me something,

how did I get in the middle
of all this?

Oh, that's easy.
She needed a soldier.

A nice, strong, dumb cluck

who'd be on her side and do
her fighting for her against us

and in the end be a patsy.

She needed a patsy to cover up
her, um, indiscretions.

And Dr. Pettingill
set you up for that

the day he hired you.

Why did you kill
Pettingill?

Because he threw in
with them.

The music in your apartment,
hypnosis and all that junk,

was he really trying
to kill you?

Dr. Pettingill
was a fool.

He was willing to help me,
but only up to a point.

He was in love with you,
Valerie.

By up to a point you mean
giving me the suicide routine.

Having me follow you out
to the cemetery

while you made
your own funeral arrangements?

A real princess in a tower.

And I was the knight
in the un-shiny armor.

At what point
did the good doctor back out?

After she killed Jocko.

And made Dr. Pettingill help her
cart the body to your office.

It was your perfume.

Doesn't matter.
Not anymore.

Thanks, Rogue,
for all your help.

Know something?

The newspapers
are going to play you up big.

Private eye goes
on a murder rampage.

Beautiful.
You're really beautiful.

First I kill Pettingill,
then I kill these two.

This one if for you.

Which you will no doubt
put in Mr. Van Dermot's hand.

See how simple it is?

Valerie, you can't.

You can't do this.

We've been through together,
you, Roy and I.

That's right, Valerie.

Think of all the suicides
they three of you planned.

All the funerals
you've gone to together.

That can't go for nothing,
Sam.

Shut up!
VAN: We can get rid of him,

keep right on going
the way it was before.

It will never be the way it
was before, not without Frank.

( both grunting )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Don't worry.
I won't ask you to let me go.

You wouldn't anyway.
That isn't your kind of a kick.

Come on. Smile
when you say goodbye to Sam.

Losers don't cry
in my life.

And you were in my life,
for awhile.

A brief little while.

ROGUE:
And that was the way
the music played

for the last time
in the Temple of Hope Club.

I spent hours
at police headquarters

while they made out
the report.

Van Dermot was dead,

and Benz wasn't gentleman
enough to take the wrap

for the personal and private
murders committed by Valerie.

He blew the whistle
long and hard.

John Rogue,
Confidential Human Relations.

That was Maggie's idea,

to give me a little class.

Yeah, I've got class.

Good morning, Maggie.

I thought you met a man.

I did.

And?

Didn't work out.

Got a thumbtack?

I was worried sick.

There was an APB out
on your last night.

It was cancelled.

What happened?

I met a woman.

And?

Didn't work out.

Nothing worked out.

( sighs )

Thank you.

Anytime.

( phone ringing )

If that's a case,

you tell them
it's 100 bucks a day.

In advance.

Confidential Human Relations.

Well, Mr. Rogue
is in conference right now,

but if it's important
I can probably interrupt him.

Does it have anything to do
with a collection?

Oh, it doesn't...?

MAN:
* Valerie

* You are in love
With sorrow *

* Tempting fate
You can't wait *

* Careless about tomorrow

* You're a song
I must forget *

* A haunted melody

* But can I ever be
quite free of you *

* My Valerie?