Mannix (1967–1975): Season 2, Episode 5 - End of the Rainbow - full transcript

A recently paroled ex-con is killed by a hit-and-run driver. The man had a matchbook with Mannix's phone number in it. Mannix tries to find out why the ex-con was killed. As his investigation, proceeds, Mannix discovers a plot -- and the detective may be its next victim.

(woman laughing)

(engine starts)

(tires screeching)

♪ ♪

(bottles clanging)

♪ ♪

(tapping on glass)

(tires screeching)

(car accelerating away)

(theme music playing)

♪ ♪



Who is he?

Never saw him before, Mannix?

That's a reasonable
deduction, Sergeant.

Name was O'Farrell.

Michael J.

Don't know him.

Released from state
prison a week ago.

Second-term paperhanger.

May he rest in peace.

Okay, Sergeant,
now let's have it.

Why did you drag me
down here to the morgue

on a busy morning?

Well, we found this
in his coat pocket.

He had your name
and number there.



Sorry.

I got no call from
a Mr. O'Farrell.

Well, I guess it couldn't
have been very important.

Sorry to bother you.

Had to check it
out... That's all.

What's this "B.C."?

Before Collision, maybe.

He was killed in a
hit-and-run last night.

You sure it's hit-run?

Well, there's nobody mad
at him that we know of.

You, uh, have any idea

why he might have wanted me?

Forget it, Mannix!

The guy was nothing.

Maybe that's why I'm curious.

I guess that'll be all
for now, Mrs. O'Farrell.

Mr. Mannix can't help us any.

Well, of course not!

What did you expect?

Well... I'll get a car to
drive you home now.

And here, if you want...

Couple more things
from his pockets.

A few trading stamps,
couple of gas station coupons,

and a chance on a
new cabin cruiser.

No sweepstakes ticket?

I was so sure he was going to
use the grocery money yesterday

to buy a sweepstakes ticket.

Well...

we'll be in touch the minute
we get a line on the car.

Thank you.

Mrs. O'Farrell, uh,
do you have any idea

why your husband might
have wanted to call me?

O'FARRELL (laughing):
Well, naturally,

naturally I do.

You were going to help him
find the pot of gold at the end

of the rainbow.

Oh, Sergeant, I'll drive

Mrs. O'Farrell home for you.

Fine.

Why? I don't know anything.

Of course, I could tell you that

the last time my husband
came home from prison,

he had the most beautiful scheme

for gold mining.

He just didn't know

that his cellmate
salted the mine.

And of course, by then
he'd already sold our car

to buy the mining equipment.

Luck of the Irish.

Oh, my husband, Mr. Mannix,

he was a one-man potato famine.

And then, uh, there
was the time that, uh,

he was going to let the
chief of police himself in

on some new kind
of a patent for a siren

that was going to
make us all rich.

And then, uh, there
was a time that the...

What you mean, Mrs. O'Farrell,

is you think I should
just forget about it.

What I mean is,

the last time he came
home from prison,

he knew better than to tell
me why he was so excited.

Maybe it had something
to do with his cellmate...

I don't know.

No.

Whatever his latest
little moonbeam was,

I can only guarantee
you it was worthless.

And as for calling
you, Mr. Mannix,

he could no more have afforded

to pay for five
minutes of your time

than I can.

(laughter)

Any of those yours?

Just three.

My husband, Mr. Mannix,

was nothing but a
writer of bad checks.

Even if he did write most
of them at Christmas time.

Mommy, where have you been?

The television's broken.

I'm coming, sweetheart.

And yes, Mr. Mannix.

If you don't forget
him right now,

then you are almost
as big a fool as I am.

Thank you.

And good-bye.

What sort of a case you on?

Well, I'd just like to see
O'Farrell's last cellmate,

that's all.

Al Charnik.

They were pretty
close buddies, I guess.

Ever since Charnik came
in here two years ago.

Uh... worthless
hood... armed robbery.

Oh, look, you don't have
to bother with the file.

I'd just like to talk to him for
a few minutes, if it's all right.

He won't tell you much.

Tough?

Dead.

Been dead for nearly
three weeks now.

What happened?

Oh, Charnik was a troublemaker.

Did a lot of beefing.

And somebody in
the yard shut him up

with a kitchen knife.

Three weeks, huh?

O'Farrell was here then.

Did he have
anything to do with it?

No, no. I told you. Buddies.

O'Farrell was with him in
the hospital when he died.

Well...

I guess that's the
end of the rainbow.

Wait a minute.

Uh, does that thing
have the next of kin?

Mm-hmm.

Charnik had a wife once.

I remember that.

Pretty.

Name of Betsy.

Betsy Charnik?

That's right.

Betsy Charnik.

Once married to Al Charnik.

Yeah, where she
lives, where she works,

what she's doing...
anything you can turn up.

Look, Sarge, as a special favor.

So, call me back
in a hurry, huh?

All right, I'll tell him.

Tell me what?

He thinks that I
deserve a raise.

As soon as your
coffee gets better.

You made that pot.

As soon as my
coffee gets better.

What's the big deal
with Betsy Charnik?

I think she may have some
answers to our little charade.

Boy, we're really
coming up in the world.

You're working for no money,

a client that's dead

and to solve a problem
that maybe never happened.

Peggy, uh, do you ever
buy any sweepstakes tickets?

It's illegal.

How many?

Two... three maybe this year.

Why?

Well, everybody believes
that lightning can strike once.

Exactly.

And I've got a hunch our
client thought his particular bolt

might strike in
time for Christmas.

What's Christmas
got to do with it?

You've got a kid,
haven't you, Peggy?

So?

Well, figure it out.

He had a family.

Two girls and a boy.

And you think
maybe if it works out,

they wind up with
something under the tree.

Maybe.

You'd look nice
in a white beard.

(phone rings)

Mr. Mannix's office.

Yes, Sarge, what'd you find out?

Uh-huh.

Mm-hmm.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Right.

The raise?

Not yet.

But it's perking.

She's working as a programmer
at Atlas Computing Services

under her maiden
name... Betsy Carroll.

B.C.

She didn't have to
change her match covers.

Most girls aren't that lucky.

Yes, sure, that's me.

It's one of mine.

Can you tell me how
O'Farrell got that?

Talk to your sergeant.

He called me this morning.

I've already explained.

Mr. O'Farrell picked
that up off my desk

yesterday afternoon

to light a cigar... that's all.

Mrs. Charnik, uh,

I'm a private investigator.

My name is Mannix.

The name on the
inside of the match cover.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix.

I just don't know
anything about it.

(rattling)

I used to work in
a place like this.

By any chance, did the sergeant
tell you that O'Farrell is dead?

Yes, but you see,

the only time I ever saw him
was for just about a minute,

over there by my desk.

He said he came
to pay his respects

about my husband, but...

I think he really wanted
to borrow money.

Then he started
talking in that loud voice

about prison and-and
his poor old cellmate Al...

So, you got rid of him,

and, uh, now you'd like
me to get lost, too, huh?

Well, it's not as though

you were the police
coming to bother me again,

but don't you see?

I don't run with people
like that anymore.

I never did really.

It was just one stupid

child marriage to a man

who raced jalopies and blondes

while I was in night school.

I found out.

I wasn't even living with Al

when he started
holding up liquor stores

and got sent to prison.

I mean, I'm sorry, but...

Look, Mrs. Charnik, uh,

suddenly, there are too
many people coming up dead.

Somebody killed your ex-husband,
and then, uh, his prison mate

gets murdered, too.

Gets what?!

Why don't I explain later?

It's almost 6:00.

How about dinner?

Oh. No.

Uh, I have a date
with a girlfriend.

Come on now. You can call her.

Mr. Mannix, I don't know
anything that can help you.

What is it you're
looking for, anyway?

Looking for a pot of gold
at the end of the rainbow.

How about it?

I live out in Malibu Canyon.

Well, that's beautiful.

I know a great spot
right on the ocean.

All right. Follow me
home, and I'll change.

I'll meet you in
the parking lot.

15 minutes? Ten.

(insects chirping)

Just a minute.

I'm going to put my
car in the garage.

(rustling) All right. Hold it.

What's the matter?

You hear that?

(laughing): Oh, sure.

It's tree toads.

Don't drop.

(grunts)

Who was it?

I don't know, but obviously,

he wanted to put
you on a dead list, too.

Me?

Yeah.

And maybe we're
off to the races now.

What's that?

An Irish Sweepstakes ticket.

(ringing)

Mr. Mannix's office.

Mannix, where on
earth have you been?

I tried to wait for you to call
before I locked up the office,

but Toby's supper
is half an hour late.

Get a what?

A baby-sitter?!

I'm sorry, Peggy, but
we've got work to do.

Get a hold of one
of those friends

of yours in gun registry.

I want to know the owner of a
.38 revolver number 883-784.

Yeah, right away.

Who knows?

It may registered to the
guy that just used it on me.

Mannix? Yeah? Hold it, Peggy.

Yeah, what's the matter?

That man came to rob me.

The side window's forced open.

He wasn't just
here to steal, Betsy.

Well, what did he want?

I mean, why shoot at me?

We probably just surprised
him breaking in, and...

Betsy, I want you to
go in and pack a bag.

I'm taking you back to town

where you'll be safe.

Oh, one other thing.

Uh, Peggy, I need a
TV repair man, fast.

And the biggest and
huskiest you can find.

You say he's come to fix
my TV? Oh, no, he's not!

I've only just got the kids
to sit down to their supper.

Oh, well, Mervin likes
kids. Don't you, Mervin?

And he'll also help
with the dishes.

Sure, you don't have to tell 'em
I'm really a bodyguard, ma'am.

A what?

Why?

Why? Did the police
find something?

Mrs. O'Farrell, I
don't know why yet.

I don't even know why
your husband was trying

to get in touch with me.

And I don't know what his
cellmate may have told him

while he was dying
in a prison hospital.

Well, if that don't
beat the rebels!

So now he's got you
pipe dreaming, too?

Yeah, maybe.

But Mervin stays here
until I do find the answers.

Oh, and, uh, don't
worry about his bill.

I'll take care of it.

Now even from beyond the grave,

that no-good husband of mine

has made himself a new sucker!

Oh, Mr. Mannix, I...?

Mrs. O'Farrell, now,
it's going to be all right.

Don't worry.

I really can fix the TV, ma'am.

Joe, why does she
need protection?

I mean, what if you're being
an alarmist about all this?

Betsy, suppose your husband
was murdered in prison

to keep him quiet
about something?

And suppose O'Farrell was
killed for the same reason?

Oh, that's just supposing.

And suppose you'd
been killed by that guy

at your house tonight

because you were
Al Charnik's wife,

and because O'Farrell
came to see you.

Oh.

Uh, well, yeah, but...

that means someone
thinks I know something.

Hmm. And I don't!

Well, it would mean someone's
been watching all the time.

Maybe lots of people.

Maybe right now.

Exactly.

So, what do you want to bet?

What?

That the, uh, color at the
end of the rainbow is green.

(car engine starting)

In five minutes,

I'll have been off
duty for an hour.

I won't need that
five minutes, Sarge.

I think I just found him.

Fred Minelli... a real pro.

Why don't you whistle?

Strong arm.

That's right.

He's worked for some big ones.

There's no warrant
on him, though.

So, now what, Mannix?

You going to prefer charges?

You going to tell me where
you tangled with this bird?

I might... if you can get
me a rundown on the receipt

for this sweepstakes ticket
that fell out of his pocket.

Look, you know the trouble
we had with tracing these.

Against the law, so there's
nothing but a number on them.

You can check the agents

who sell them a
lot faster than I can.

Might take several days.

What if I told
you that you'll find

that sweepstakes ticket
was sold to O'Farrell?

That still wouldn't prove

that O'Farrell's death was
anything but hit-and-run.

Well, you haven't found the
car that hit him yet, have you?

So what?

And we also know
that O'Farrell's cellmate

was murdered in prison.

That still doesn't say anything.

Here, look at this
dope on Charnik.

He was peanuts, too.

A small-time hoodlum.

So, who are you
doing all this for?

Just the widows
and orphans fund?

Maybe.

Armed robbery,
liquor store, March 17.

That's St. Patrick's Day.

(phone ringing)

Yeah?

Yeah, hold a minute.

It's for you.

Hello.

I just got a call
back on that revolver.

Right. It was bought in 1964

by a gun fancier named Haskins.

Who?

Jug Haskins.

Yeah, yeah, that's
all I'll need, Peggy.

Yeah, and tell Betsy
I'm going to win that bet.

Hey, Sarge,

did this hood I tangled
with ever have anything

to do with a guy
named Jug Haskins?

Might have. So?

Well, wasn't Haskins a suspect

in the Harrison heist
about two years ago?

(laughs) Who wasn't?

St. Patrick.

Thanks for the trouble, Sarge.

(drums play jazzy intro)

(saxophone and band join
in, playing sultry jazz tune)

Oh, I'd like to see
the boss. Yeah?

Who'd like to see him?

Some other time, Mannix.

I think we'd better talk.

Sorry, Mr. Haskins.

It's okay, Max.

I'm a very busy man, baby.

You want to meet the girls?

Relax and enjoy yourself.

Okay, after we talk about this.

Oh, I think this belongs to you.

Okay, inside.

You tell her to
repeat. She's lousy.

Put some action into it!

You know what?

This is the same model

some no-good punk
stole from me once.

Guy's name was
Fred. Yeah, I figured.

I haven't seen Fred
in, oh, six months.

Where'd you find it?

What's the difference?

Let's talk about
the Harrison heist.

Mannix, the day after

the Harrison Bank and
Trust Company was heisted

two years ago, I was
hauled in without a warrant.

And you know, at
first I was flattered.

That was a pretty fancy job.

They had organization, planning,

a slick getaway.

But then when the cops couldn't
even hang a part of it on me,

the insurance boys stepped in.

And then the Treasury,
and then the FBI.

Oh, yeah,

I was rousted around
pretty good for a whole year.

Okay, so you know more about
the case than anybody else.

That's why I'm here.

Well, so, why me again?

Why don't you go
to the horse's mouth?

Sure, go to Harrison itself.

There's some bright
punk named Spencer.

He's the big wheel now.

No, no. Not until we
can collect the reward.

Now, there's $6 million
in cash and securities

floating around loose
some place, right?

Never been found.

Now you listen to me, Haskins.

Two years ago, a hood
named Charnik went

to prison for holding up a
liquor store, pleaded guilty.

Charnik?

Go on.

On St. Patrick's Day.

The same day as
the Harrison heist.

Only his job took place
all the way across town.

So what's the connection?

Now, wouldn't you say that
maybe Charnik took a phony rap,

just so he could
get a quick alibi?

Yeah, well, maybe, pal.

Only I never knew this Charnik.

And Charnik is now
dead, murdered.

And so is his prison buddy

who was at his
side when he died.

(instrumental rock music
plays, featuring saxophone)

Yeah, that's better, boys.
Now she's really going!

(laughs)

Mannix, Mannix.

I guess you figured
to come in here

and either scare me
to death with this stuff,

or maybe get me to do your
work for you, is that right?

It was something like that.

Anyway, if you, uh,
want to hear any more,

just, uh, give me a call.

Yeah, well, there's
only one thing

you don't realize, pal.

There's other things
in life besides money.

(soft grunt)

(grunts)

(thudding)

(grunting)

(blows striking)

(grunting)

(instrumental
rock music playing)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(tires screeching)

(car departs)

(knocking at door)

(knocking)

(knocking)

(Peggy screams)

I found some wider bandage.

You got to put it on those ribs.

Those ribs are
going to be x-rayed.

No, no, no... these boys
knew what they were doing.

Ow! Is that so?

Well, just wait
until you fall flat

on what's left of the
rest of your head.

They were real pros.

They didn't break a thing.

Well, aren't you
going to call the police?

There you go again, Betsy.

You know there's
a police sergeant

who'd laugh his
head off over this.

Laugh.

Yeah, I took off

in the wrong
direction, that's all.

On the wrong guy.

On the wrong day,
on the wrong case,

on the wrong crazy rainbow.

Peace, Peggy, peace.

Are these your notes?

Yup.

Has Mervin been
calling in on time?

Of course.

To say he fixed Mrs.
O'Farrell's TV set,

her water heater,

and now he's
keeping himself awake

by mending the light cords.

You see, I told you.

You're just being an
alarmist about all this.

I probably didn't have
to stay here, either.

I'm not in any more
danger than Mrs. O'Farrell.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Who's this Johnson?

He called several times.

Maybe that's what upsets me.

He's a real man with
a real assignment

for M-O-N-E-Y.

Money.

He's from the Great
Pacific Insurance Company,

and he wants you to fly

to Montreal. Montreal?

Right now, maybe?

"Urgent," he said.

I'll bet it is.

Peggy, uh...

Great Pacific
handled the insurance

for the Harrison Company.

Now they want to
get rid of me, too.

Now, you call Johnson

and tell him I've
got an assignment.

And this time, I'm heading
in the right direction.

(groans)

You Mannix?

Come in.

You're lucky to reach me
on a Saturday morning.

James Spencer.

Well, I could have met
you some place else.

Well, I'm on my
way to the airport.

I had to pick up these
papers anyway. Make it fast.

All right.

I called because I was told

you're the horse's mouth
here at Harrison Bank & Trust.

The vice presidents sometimes

say that a little differently.

At least, since the
time of the big robbery.

Hmm, we had a little
reorganization then.

Our public image wasn't
too good until I took over.

But, uh, what is it
you wanted to tell me

about our most
embarrassing withdrawal.

I understand the police
aren't much interested

in the Harrison heist anymore.

Which leads me to believe

that the insurance company
has stopped pressuring them.

They never developed
a single decent lead.

And they never turned up
any of the cash or securities.

Well, that stuff had
serial numbers, didn't it?

Of course. It would've
had to be fenced,

sold at a discount... Some
other country perhaps.

But, no, not one penny anywhere.

Look, Mannix my plane leaves
for Washington in 40 minutes.

How much reward
are you willing to pay

if I should solve
the case for you?

You know, I've
considered it my duty

to listen to every
crackpot with a theory.

You, Mannix, you're
supposed to be an expert.

Don't you realize
how many people

must have been
involved in that robbery?

What planning, intelligence,
split-second organization.

Oh, I don't care
who it is or even how.

Now, you interested in
getting your money back?

You, uh, you really
onto something?

Try me.

I'm flying back here
early Monday morning.

Why don't you meet
me here at 10:00.

But I've got a few
leads of my own,

so don't do anything
until we check.

All right.

Oh, about the reward...

Your usual rate plus expenses.

Plus five percent of
anything you recover, okay?

Fine.

All I needed was a client.

See you Monday morning.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Johnson, I thought you were
going to get him off our backs.

Mannix, he was just here!

Skip it, Johnson, I'll
take care of it myself.

I'm heading straight home now.

I want to get this
thing over with, fast!

♪ ♪

(gunshot)

(steady honking)

(steady honking)

(honking stops)

Well, I'm, uh, sorry
about the noise.

It does that every
once in awhile.

Joe, what's going on?

You all right? Yeah.

Where is Peggy?

Oh, she went to
take her little boy

to his grandmother's.

She'll be back in a minute.

That's not soon enough.

The action's going to be now.

"Action"?

You know, Betsy, the
only reason for anybody

to be killed today... two
years after the Harrison Heist...

Is to keep them from interfering

with something that's
still going to happen.

That's why your
husband was killed

and then O'Farrell.

(laughs)

Joe, how many times
do I have to tell you?

My husband was just too stupid

to be mixed up in
anything that big.

I told you, all he did
was race jalopies.

Jalopies, huh?

Well, maybe he
was only a driver,

getaway driver.

He knew something was coming up,

he blabbed it to O'Farrell,
they're both dead.

Now I'm sure they
must think I'm dead, too.

You're... what?

Can't leave you here alone.

Let's go. Go where?

A $6 million happening.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

What kind of a
license plate is that?

Diplomatic.

Middleman, maybe.

Sure, that figures.

They need a middleman
that nobody can touch.

Will you please explain?

He's going to Spencer's place.

Now that's the home
of J.W. Spencer,

the kind of client I like:

friendly, honest, reliable.

Oh, is he in for a thrill
when I step in on his party.

(clears throat):
We have company.

Break it up, buddy.

Look, now it's a
free country, isn't it?

Not for you, it isn't.

This is all private property.

Try the Love Inn
over the hill in Malibu.

Malibu, yeah, fine.

Well, I guess I wasn't
very convincing.

I don't know.

I thought you were
doing beautifully.

Why don't we do what he says?

I think we'd better
try the back way.

(engine starts)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Yes?

Uh, Mr. Spencer sent me

to get some money for him.

Where is it?

I don't understand.

I just told Mr. Spencer.

He agreed to wait five minutes.

Tell me. Well, how dare you.

I'm only a lawyer, I have
nothing to do with this.

Now get away... I
have immunity, sir.

Where is it?

Mr. Spence...

I told you to stay in the car.

Well, I was frightened.

He'll be all right.

Come on.

Get in the back seat
and stay out of sight.

(engine starting)

(tires squealing)

♪ ♪

Have you gone insane?

I hope not.

What I just saw was a buyback.

I don't understand.

The big robbery can't be solved.

The loot can't be spent, either.

Yeah.

Here we are.

That's not even in English.

Swiss bank transfer.

$2 million in cash...
Spendable cash.

$2 million.

In exchange for
the hot $6 million.

You know, Spencer
was buying that back

from the gang who stole it.

No questions asked.

Who cares if the little guy
in the middle gets hurt?

All they wanted to do was
keep the whole thing quiet.

Where is the loot?

He said five minutes.

(engine starting)

♪ ♪

(horn honking)

What was that?

I told you to stay down.

We're caught in-between,

right in the middle
of the payoff.

Hey, you almost passed me by.

Everything all right, señor?

This time without
friends, Haskins.

(grunting)

Who is he?

Jug Haskins.

A guy who almost had me fooled.

I guess the police
quit watching him,

so he makes the
best delivery man.

Let's get out of here.

No, it's the wrong
car... Let's go.

Get in.

Why don't you
look through there.

There's nothing
here but clothing.

Not quite.

Cash and securities.

$6 million, probably.

The whole Harrison heist.

Well, what are you
gonna do with it?

Listen, let's get out of here.

With that?

That's why you've
been sticking so close,

isn't it, Betsy? What?

This is all you
people from the heist

care about it, isn't it?

I was hoping it was the
other side, maybe Spencer

who was responsible
for the rough stuff,

but it isn't.

He's just a businessman
trying to make a deal.

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

Keep trying to
forget that it was you

O'Farrell came to
see and was killed.

Then, I came to see you.

You had to call a
girlfriend to break a date.

When we got to your house,
there was a man waiting to kill me,

not you... that's
right, isn't it?

Let me go.

What part did you
play in that robbery

two years go, your computers?

Did you plot the whole
thing on those computers?

(car horn honking)

(laughing)

Listen.

There's somebody coming.

Just listen.

Yeah.

The five minutes are up.

It's probably Spencer
and his boys coming

to pick up his loot.

(Haskins groaning)

(clicking)

(gun firing)

(gun firing from outside)

You didn't think
we'd be fools enough

to do this without somebody

covering, did you?

Now give me that briefcase!

Sure.

Here.

(gun firing)

(screaming)

Three... $300,000?

Five percent of the
rainbow, Mrs. O'Farrell.

Oh, less my, uh, services,

plus, uh, the damages to my car.

And there's a foreign lawyer

who's threatening
to sue me for assault.

I just can't understand
why you bothered.

Faith in the Irish, I guess.

Their women are
such lousy liars.

Liars?

My husband was
no good, Mr. Mannix.

It was just one crazy

pipe dream after another.

Sure... oh, I'll be back
to pick you up, later.

Uh, Mr. Spencer will have checks

waiting in his office.

Mr. Mannix?

Who was it?

Who was the dirty thing that
drove the car that killed him?

It was just, uh...
some woman driver.

That's all.

(crying)

(children laughing)

Slob.

(engine starting)

(theme music playing)