Father Dowling Mysteries (1989–1991): Season 1, Episode 3 - What Do You Call a Call Girl Mystery - full transcript

Dearly beloved in Christ,

on behalf of Robert
and Marsella,

we welcome you to
St. Michael's church.

We are gathered here today
for this marriage ceremony.

Marriage is a
bond, not just of two,

but of three... husband,

wife and Christ.

We begin this
celebration fully...

No!

No!

- Hello, Mrs. Miller.
- Hi.



Well, hello there, Susan.

Yeah.

She's gonna be in the choir.

Great race, Mike.

Any time you want to go
again, just let me know.

Come on boys, let's go.

We're out of here.

- See ya, Sister.
- See ya!

Be careful.

Sister Stephanie, I thought
they were supposed to be

doing community service.

So what are we doing
racing around the block, huh?

My question exactly.

Well, we were cleaning
out the basement,



and we find this old bike.

Oh, and somehow a
sporting proposition developed.

Yeah, the last half hour
of the time today goes off,

if any of them can beat me.

Finish their work
session with a little fun?

Great idea, huh?

Mm.

You didn't, by any chance,
throw the race, did you?

Frank, if they don't keep
up their community service,

they'll do time.

I'm just trying to
keep 'em coming back.

Besides, the place
could use a coat of paint.

Oh, good.

Ah, thank you.

My milk. Where's my milk?

Well, all they had
left was low-fat milk,

and since we were
out of apple juice, I...

Meat loaves don't
just happen, Father.

They take time, effort,
bread crumbs and milk!

Yeah, I'm sorry.

Father Hunnaker always knew
when we were out of something.

I never even had to ask.

That man was a saint.

And a great shopper.

Don't worry, Marie.

I'll pick up some milk
after choir practice.

I think I'll pray.

Me, too.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Let me take this for you.

Whew! It's cold!

Oh, this isn't your evening.

But I... you know, I-I'm really
very glad that you came tonight

because I've got
something to tell you.

I'm going to give up this life.

♪♪

Oh, we're not so very
different, when you think about it.

And because of what
all this means to us?

Yeah. When I was a kid
growing up in the neighborhood,

I-I always hoped things
would get better, you know.

My dad would quit drinking
and stop hitting my mom;

the cops would stop
busting me for shoplifting.

But things never got better,

so I found a home
here, thanks to him.

Father Dowling.

Yeah, he helped me
straighten myself out.

Kind of like you
did for me, huh?

I was a much tougher project.

Ah!

So how many days
till the wedding?

20 days left, and
that's counting today.

And... I've made a decision.

I'm gonna tell him the truth.

You sure about that?

I've got to make
a clean beginning.

How could he ever trust
me if I kept that from him?

But he's not like you and me.

Three men paid me
money to be nice to them.

That's hardly a prostitute

in the hallway of
Women's Detention.

Marsella, I just want the
both of you to be happy.

I trust him, and I
know he loves me.

Steve, he deserves to know.

Yeah.

Now wish me luck.

Good luck.

It's for you, Sister.

Thanks.

Hello?

Steve? It's Marsella.

I've got to see you, please.

What's wrong?

He wouldn't talk to me.

He just went crazy.

He broke off the engagement.

Marsella, just take
it easy, all right?

I'll be right over.

He just walked out!

He left and...

Robert?

Robert, is that you?

Robert?

No...

- No!
- Marsella?

- No!
- Marsella...!

Sorry, folks, no one allowed in.

Oh, we're here to see
Marsella Woolridge.

She's a member of my parish.

Yeah, she was talking to me
when she started screaming.

Is she... is she all right?

It's all right,
Officer, I'll take it.

All right.

I'm Lieutenant McGuire.

What did she say to you?

She was crying. I don't know.

It was really hard
to understand her.

Do you know why she was crying?

She just had a
fight with her fiancé.

Robert Malone?

Yeah, we just saw your
men taking him away.

Well, he was running away
from the building when we arrived,

so we're taking him
in for questioning.

How is Marsella?

Would you stand back, please?

Praying for Marsella?

And for myself.

I'm asking for God's help.

I should have stopped
her from telling him.

It was her choice, Steve.

You can't blame yourself.

I know.

Thanks for saying it, though.

I'm asking God to keep me

from feeling so revengeful.

I got terrible thoughts about
the guy who did this, Frank.

I'm afraid I have some bad news.

They've arrested Robert
for Marsella's murder.

The public defender
said he could cut a deal

for second-degree murder.

Maybe in a couple of days,

he could knock it down
to temporary insanity.

But, damn it... I loved her.

I could never have hurt her.

She loved you very much.

The police say you
were running away.

When she told me
about... herself, I...

I lost it.

I couldn't think straight.

So I left, walked
around for a while.

And then I went back.

I found her...

I-I-I panicked. I ran.

Robert, who called the police?

Look, I-I don't know.

I didn't do it, Father.

I believe you, son.

Yeah, but who can help me?

We can try.

♪♪

♪♪

How's it coming?

Need a hand?

Fine, Frank.

Well, I got it under control.

Lieutenant McGuire said that

we could pack up some
of her personal stuff.

Good.

Well, if you need
me, I'm here to help.

♪♪

Do you know if,
uh, Robert smokes?

Pretty boring guy
in that department.

No vices.

Not that we should
investigate, but...

knowing her the way we did,

we could cultivate...

some leads.

I know what you're
thinking, and you're right.

It's not my color.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I happened to glance
through Marsella's checkbook.

Find anything?

It's what's not in her checkbook

that's intriguing...
Rent, food, car.

Yeah, that's easy.

It's paid for by her johns.

Customers.

Oh, so, if we find the gentlemen
who were picking up the tabs,

then we got some
names to check out.

Hey!

Stop!

What do you think you're doing?

This is Marsella's car.

Well, all I know is,
it's going with me now.

Well, whose name
is on the lease?

Leasing cars is kind
of confidential. Sorry.

Father Dowling, could
you come here a minute?

Don't move.

What is it, Sister?

Do you remember
that ring of car thieves

you were telling me about?

Which one was
that? There's so many.

The one that says they're
from a leasing company

and in a case like this one,
takes away Marsella's car.

I find it extremely suspicious

when the driver won't tell us
whose name is on the lease.

Very suspicious, Sister,

and I think we should
notify the police immediately.

- I'll go call.
- Wait, wait, wait.

I got a work order.
Hold it, okay?

Security Unified Corporation.

No address.

Just a... post office box.

- Not exactly I.T.T.
- No.

Well, can I go now?

With our blessings.

Bye.

- Hey, what's this, Frank?
- What?

There's a receipt in the pocket.

It's 180 bucks from...

the Gourmet Market Boutique.

Now, why does
this sound familiar?

I don't know.

Well, it'll come to me.

Let's go see Lieutenant McGuire.

If we can just find the three
men who were paying her bills.

Maybe one of them got mad
she was quitting and killed her.

Well, that's a very
interesting theory,

but, uh, I don't know
how I can help you.

Isn't there somebody
else you should consider?

I mean, maybe she had a, uh...

a manager, a-a sort of, uh, uh,

- protector, a...
- A pimp.

Well, if she was turning
tricks on the street, sure.

But a class act like this one...

Maybe somebody she was
hooked up with wanted to kill her.

I'm already checking that angle.

Listen, I know you two
really believe in this kid,

but, uh, I have to tell you
my personal gut feeling...

We've already got the killer.

Hi, Father.

Oh, hi, Pete.

What are you painting?

Oh, just this envelope.

Oh.

Here's what you ordered.

Strawberries...

raspberries... and blueberries.

Aw, thanks.

Look, I, uh, I know it's...

it-it's such a small order.

I'm sorry to bring you all
the way over here for nothing.

Hey, for my old
padre, no problem.

Good. Good.

That'll be $50.

Fifty dollars?!

Twenty, fifteen, fifteen.

How can you charge such prices?

When I had the neighborhood
market, no chance.

But I move downtown, call
myself the Gourmet Boutique,

and the yuppies
can't pay enough.

- Mm.
- They're on the house, by the way.

Oh... I accept.

Oh, Pete.

This receipt is from
your place for $180.

You have any idea what it's for?

Amount that small,
could be anything.

Uh-huh.

Oh, uh, would you be kind
enough to mail this for me?

- It's very important.
- Absolutely.

- See you, Father.
- Mm-hmm.

- Bye.
- Bye, Marie.

You guys done for the day?

You got it, Sister.

How about a game of one-on-one?

What's this all about?

Well, Mike, I'll be
straight with you.

See, I need you guys
to do a little job for me,

and I figure if, uh,
you lose, you'll do it.

You got nerve, Sister.

In your face.

You first.

No, you first.

What wins?

Seven baskets.

Hey, I'm giving you the edge.

Good.

♪♪

- Ooh!
- That ain't nothin'! Come on, man!

Oh! Oh, man!

All right! All right! Come on!

Make your move, man!

All right! All right! That's it!

In her face, man!

Oh, man!

Oh! Oh, man!

The job I got for you
is easier than this.

Embarrassing. Embarrassing!

Hey! Come on!

Hold on! Hey!

Hey, you guys!

- Come back here!
- Cut it out! Cut it out!

Come here, you guys!

You boys, come in
here! Come in here!

Stop right there!

And turn around.

Turn around slowly.

Come on.

Put that coat
over on that table.

Okay, put the coat
down right here.

All right, who are you, and
what are you doing here, huh?

Can you tell me that?

What are you doing here?

Security.

Security, I want you
boys out here right away!

And I mean right away!

You're in trouble.

You're Mr. Becker, right?

Yes, I'm Mr. Becker.

Good. Now, just relax.

I'm Sister Stephanie
from St. Michael's.

Come on. You're not a nun.

Look at the way you're dressed.

They-they wear
those-those outfits.

I'm out of uniform.

Look, here's my
driver's license picture.

Okay. So-so maybe you are a
nun, but what are you doing here?

Oh, where have you been?

I spend a fortune in security,

and a little nun can sneak
into my property, huh?

Well, you're all fired.

Now get out of here!

Just get out of here!

Look what I have to...

I came about the coat.

Where did you get this?

I got it from Marsella
Woolridge's apartment.

I looked in the label.

I found out who made it.

Then I went to the store, and
Mrs. McGill, she was very nice.

She told me that you bought it.

Well...

Okay.

If you want the
coat, you can have it.

I really liked Marsella.

We were gonna start a...
a-a magazine together.

The attorney general's
office has been on me, uh,

about pornography in the
mails with my magazine.

And... and-and, well,
the IRS is after me now.

And-and-and the...
And, and the CIA,

and probably the
JDL, for all I know.

They're all after me!

Th... This has been a very
depressing time in my life.

Yeah, well, Marsella
was my friend.

I was sick when
she was murdered.

Tough break.

Do you know who else
was supporting her?

Who else?

Well, I mean, Marsella said

that three guys
were paying her bills.

Well, you see, I really
respected Marsella,

so I would never pry
into her private life.

So where were you
the night she was killed?

Wait a minute, I
don't like that attitude.

I do not have to
answer that question.

You don't have to,
but... but can you?

Sure, I was right here,

and I have several
thousand dollars' worth of help

who could, uh, swear to that.

Well, look, thanks
for the donation.

And, by the way, do
you smoke a pipe?

No, no.

That's Hugh Hefner.

Thanks.

Hello.

Yes, it's me.

I think we've got
a serious problem.

Oh, Lieutenant.

Oh, hi, how's it going?

We found out who
one of her clients was.

Eric Becker.

Oh, him.

What about the other two?

Well, we've got a
couple of angles.

Well, that's great.

You'll have to excuse
me... I have an appointment.

What about you? Did
you find anything new?

Oh, oh, I ran a check on those
records that we talked about.

Marsella Woolridge
called us three times,

complaining about reports
of violence from her fiancé.

Robert?

She didn't make
a formal complaint,

so we couldn't bring him in,

but there's one
thing she said...

She was scared to death of him.

Tighten the chain
and loosen the blade,

little oil, you'll
have no problem.

- Well, thanks.
- Very nice, Sister.

We're ready for your complaint.

Do you have your
product with you?

Oh, yes.

Something wrong with them?

That's why we're here.

Oh. Come on inside the studio.

Walk over in front
of the camera, folks,

and when I tell you to,
sound off with your complaint.

Okay, we're
almost ready to roll.

All right, would you
step over here, please?

On the mark.

There you go.

Roll tape.

Tape!

Three, two, one.

You're on.

Oh, well, uh,
actually, uh, actually,

we wanted to talk to
Mr. Gardner privately.

Mr. Gardner doesn't
talk to consumers.

He only listen to complaints,

so either complain or go away.

It's very important that
we talk to Mr. Gardner.

Mr. Gardner is unavailable,

so talk to the
camera or take a hike.

Oh.

I'm Sister Stephanie
from St. Michael's,

and this is Father
Frank Dowling.

Uh, oh, uh,

we came here today
to talk about a, uh,

a prominent personality who may
not be exactly what he appears.

Yeah, the thing is, he's a
real sleaze and a hypocrite.

Sister!

See, he was
keeping this call girl,

and she's just been murdered.

Now, if we could just
expose him on your show

for the sanctimonious, two-faced
creep that he is, we could...

Stop tape.

Do you think I went too far?

Well, you certainly
got his attention.

Take five, people.

Outside.

Ah, so... this story
sounds like the kind of thing

I can make some noise with,

a kind of Geraldo-style
exposé, you know?

So, what do you have for me?

Did you ever hear of
Marsella Woolridge?

I've heard of a lot of people.

Marsella Woolridge
was a friend of ours.

She was murdered.

Ah!

Yeah, read about that.

Uh, her fiancé
strangled her, right?

We don't think so.

So, what's the inside story?

You are the inside story.

I talked to the manager
at Marsella's apartment.

The rent was
always paid in cash.

The money arrived in an
envelope from this station.

You're not suggesting
that I knew her...

That was the idea.

No, because anybody
who worked here

could've mailed it to her.

Ah.

But how many people
with the initials W.G.

on their hairbrushes?

Where did you get those?

The truth is very
healing, Mr. Gardner.

Why don't you try it?

She gave them to me.

Sh... she was very generous, uh,

it was just completely
spontaneous.

I cared for her... a lot.

A lot.

But, publicly, I'll
deny I ever met her.

Well, I hope the D.A.
is part of your public

because he may be a
little tough to convince.

Wrong! It'll be a snap.

I've got about 350 witnesses
who will prove I'm innocent.

You were here?

Taping the show.

All day?

You know, we can
check, you know.

She's really a nun?

Uh-huh, and has a
very good question.

I was here until
almost midnight.

Case closed.

Oh, uh...

you don't, by any
chance, smoke, do you?

See the "no smoking"
signs in the studio?

I put 'em up myself.

Thank you.

You know, I think he's one

of the most untrustworthy
characters we've ever met.

Bingo.

That's the envelope
that you addressed

to whoever leased
Marsella's car, right?

Yeah, now all we have to
do is see who picks it up,

and we've got our man.

How long do you
think it'll take?

No time at all.

Oh, dear.

McMahon's out of
the game Sunday.

If we don't get back soon, I'm
gonna miss catechism class.

Oh, we still got lots of time.

♪♪

He's gonna turn left.

I know, Frank.

Don't lose him.

I won't, Frank.

You're losing him.

Frank, do you want to drive?

Of course I want to drive.

I just don't know how.

That's a good point, Father.

He-He's getting away.

Can't you do something?

It's okay, Frank.

Oh, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Guy's pulling up in
front of the courthouse.

Pull in right behind him.

♪♪

Well, if it isn't Father
Dowling and Sister Steve.

How did you know?

The judge said you
might be stopping by,

and if you did, I was
to show you right in.

Judge Karnes, the priest
and nun you were expecting...

Please come in, close the door.

I prefer that we
keep this confidential.

I'll bet.

Expecting us?

William and Eric called me
as soon as you visited them.

It was inevitable
that you find me here,

and the return
address is your church.

Mm-hmm.

We know you paid
for Marsella's car.

True.

But I didn't kill her.

Ask him who was crazy about her.

Ask him who wanted to
have her fiancé investigated

to see if he was
good enough for her.

The, the day after... the-the
day after she was killed...

He called me on the phone.

He was saying,
saying that I killed her.

He even wanted money.

We're all guilty...

of not taking
better care of her.

But not murder.

Not that.

Where were you when it happened?

I was with my wife.

We've been married 35 years.

She's... not well.

She's an invalid.

I do whatever I can to
make her comfortable.

At the time of the
murder, we'd gone

to a specialist in New York.

Mm.

You can prove this, of course.

Yes.

Well, if we didn't
do it, who did?

Her fiancé.

Anything else, Father?

One question.

How did the three of you
ever happen to get together?

I'd met Marsella.

I thought she was... wonderful.

I didn't want her
out on the streets,

so I called on my two
old fraternity brothers.

It was really quite innocent.

It wasn't innocent.

You hired a very
expensive prostitute,

and now she's murdered.

Father, aren't you forgetting
to give the-the judge his pipe?

Oh.

Yes, Sister.

Thank you. Here.

No, sorry... it's not mine.

Are you sure?

Oh, yes, I'm positive.

I take much better
care of my pipes and pay

much more for them.

My mistake.

Thank you for your time.

So what do you think, Frank?

Is it his pipe?

Oh, no, no.

I knew that before
I showed it to him.

See, he's got an overbite.

I saw the teeth marks
on his pipes on the desk.

But...

I still think this
is the answer.

I have this theory about the...
Marsella Woolridge's murder.

I've been working with
Lieutenant McGuire.

Funny... he hasn't
mentioned it to me.

Oh, well, uh, uh,

he's probably
keeping it confidential.

At any rate, did she
have an arrest record?

Like pulled in for soliciting?

Exactly.

You see, maybe she
telephoned somebody for help.

Her, uh...

pimp.

- So what?
- Well,

I'm confident that there
was another man in her life.

Someone.

And that when she told him

that she was quitting
the business...

He got mad and killed her.

Father, pimps
don't kill their girls.

They beat them up.

Sometimes they slice
them up where it won't show,

but, uh, they're in business,
and murder isn't good business.

Could I see the file?

Please. Maybe there's a name.

Sorry.

You know I can't show
you a police record.

It's confidential.

I know something about
confidentiality, Sergeant.

You're not, by any chance,
related to Mike Clancy, are you?

And what Clancy is it?

Well, the Mike
Clancy that I knew

was a wonderful man...

and a very good Catholic.

All of a sudden, I've got a
real urge for a cup of coffee.

♪♪

♪♪

Don't slam... the door.

I've got a cake in
the oven for the tea,

- for the confirmation class.
- Where's Frank?

Father is out.

Uh, Lieutenant McGuire, please.

Well, when will he be back?

Yes, this is Stephanie
from St. Michael's.

Would you please tell
him it's very important?

Thank you.

Did...?

No, Father didn't say
when he'd be back.

He's out tracking down
something about tobacco.

I got to find him.

I just figured out a-a clue
that's gonna crack the case.

Of course. Now, why would
I think, even for a moment,

it might be church business?

Don't slam...

Oh, boy!

McGuire, when are you
gonna transfer the phones...?

Lieutenant McGuire,
I got great news.

What's that?

I got some information

that's gonna break
this case right open.

There was a choir practice
today, and I remembered.

When we were first
learning this Mozart mass,

it was in Latin, it
was really tough,

and we-we read it
night and day, you know.

So-So I checked
the list of calls

that Marsella made about
Robert threatening her.

Yeah. What's the clue?

Well, on two of those nights,

when she was supposedly
calling the cops, scared to death,

she was actually singing
her heart out with the choir.

Don't you see?

The calls are phonies.

Look, Steve, I don't
want to say no right away,

but those guys in Records...
They're not always accurate.

- You know what I m...
- Yeah, but don't you get it?

Somebody faked those
calls to frame Robert.

Somebody who would have
no trouble getting to them.

And that somebody has
got to be Judge Karnes.

Judge Karnes?

Yeah.

What does Father
Dowling think about this?

I don't know.

He's chasing down
some fancy tobacco.

He thinks that the killer
smokes a pipe or something.

But I'm telling you, the clue,

the real clue, has
got to be those calls.

You know, you just may be right.

Listen, it's got to
be Judge Karnes.

He can fix the records,

and he's the only
one of the three guys

who smokes a pipe.

I'm gonna check this out.

Thank you.

You smoke very
expensive tobacco,

Lieutenant McGuire.

If you look inside
that canister,

you'll find a receipt
from the shop

where Marsella
bought your tobacco.

I put it there.

Go ahead. Look for yourself.

So what?

You just took that canister
from her apartment.

Shall I go on?

Please do.

You were having an
affair with Marsella.

I was sleeping with her, yeah.

I saw Marsella's police record.

You arrested her for
prostitution two years ago,

and later, when she got
picked up at another station,

you bailed her out.

Now, that's how you started.

So?

So, just now, you used the key

that she gave you
to her apartment

to get the evidence that
tied you to her murder.

Father, I went back there

because it could ruin
me in the department

if they found out I was
sleeping with a prostitute.

You went back there...

because you killed her.

Look, I'll admit to
carnal knowledge,

but not Murder One.

I'm a cop.

This is all
circumstantial evidence.

You don't have a case.

Until you put it together

with the records of the
phone calls that you faked.

An innocent man doesn't
need to frame anyone.

And all of a sudden,

that circumstantial
evidence is enough

to create a real suspicion,
and an investigation.

You should have
left this alone, Father.

Hold it, McGuire!

Frank, are you all right?

A little damp.

I'll take that, Father.

Hmm? Oh.

I suppose you think you
got it all figured out, Father?

Do you have any idea how
much I loved that woman?

So much that you
couldn't let her go?

No.

That may be a lot of
things, Douglas, but...

it isn't love.

Sending Steve to
the police station

was all part of the plan.

McGuire thought she was spilling
the beans about the tobacco.

I wonder if I've got enough.

Maybe I better make
a little more tuna salad.

Yeah, but you see, I went

- to the Gourmet Boutique...
- Excuse me...

to confirm my suspicions
that it was Marsella

who bought the tobacco.

You know, these kids can eat you

out of house and
home, if you let them.

It was all part of
a handcrafted plan

to get Lieutenant McGuire to
come to Marsella's apartment.

That's where I caught
him with that fancy canister.

Would you please
stop interrupting?

This is really
important. If you please.

Marie, for the love
of St. Michael's,

what's going on here?

What's going on?

What's going on?!

Why don't you ask your

new athletic director
what's going on?

All right, let's keep it moving.

Come on. All right.

Come on, put it up there.
Keep it on the outside.

All right, all right.
Come on, come on.

Set it up again.

- All right.
- Take your time with it.

All right, set it up
again. Come on.

- I'm open. Over here, over here.
- Move it around.

New athletic director?

He volunteered...
soon as I told him

how much we needed him
to coach our basketball team.

We don't have a basketball team.

We do now.