Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 6, Episode 16 - To Kill in Plain Sight - full transcript

An assassin killed before the hit has Quincy rushing to expose who the target is before it's too late.

GARRISON: Finally,
of the three choices,

I suggest the most effective
method would be at close range...

The corridor that leads to the
conference room will be used

before and after
the proceedings.

This passageway will be crowded
with guests, security and press,

and will provide
excellent cover.

This party will be
arriving later today.

Would you make it
your personal business

to see that, uh,
this is delivered?

Yes, sir. I'd be happy
to take care of it myself.

Thank you. You're very kind.



(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Package you've been expecting
just came, Mister Casey.

- Thanks.
- Thank you, sir.

(EXPLOSION)

- How you doin', Ed?
- All right, Doc.

He must've been pretty
close to it when it blew.

It looks that way, doesn't it?

The boys think maybe it
was some kind of letter bomb.

Any idea who he was?

Well, he was registered
as William Casey.

But I'll bet you a month's
salary it's an alias.

A camera buff, huh?

Yeah, we found a whole bunch of
cameras and this cassette recorder.

They were all empty. No tape,
no film, no pictures, nothing.



His papers and ID'S were
all phonies, Lieutenant.

So much for William
Casey. Thanks.

We're still looking for a car.

Soon as we find
anything I'll let ya know.

Anybody been to the bathroom?

No. And don't mess
things up in there.

We still have to lift prints.

Let me know when
you're through, will ya', Ed?

Okay, Quince.

Hey, what're you doin'?

I thought I told you
not to touch anything.

You're not gonna be so cranky
when you see what I found.

What do ya got?

Looks like our John Doe
tried to burn something.

Well, looks like he
did a pretty good job.

Oh, no. Listen to this...

- "Use of
a pistol or rifle is..."
- Is what?

The rest of it's burned
off. Wait, there's something.

Here, another piece.

"If you're gonna
take your man..."

- Take your man?
- Yeah.

Take, like in hit.

Another piece here.

I can make out the
words close range,

something,
something, and then...

"On a Sunday afternoon is..."

That's it.

You know what we got here?

We got ourselves an
advance man for a hit.

Someone who goes ahead
and sets the whole thing up.

Well, that sure would explain

the notes, and the camera,
and the tape recorder.

And who's ever doin' the hit...

Is sitting out there with a neat
little package of recommendations

of how, when, and where
to blow his victim away.

One victim in a
city of three million.

Oh, we better get
very hot, Lieutenant,

because if this is gonna
come off on Sunday afternoon,

we've got exactly 24 hours.

- WOMAN: Senator...
- MAN: Senator...

- Senator Pike...
- Hello.

Something, something came off the
wire this morning, I just can't believe it.

Yeah, well, then
don't do it, Mike.

I mean, you've been around long
enough to know you can't trust the news.

It said that you were being
investigated for taking bribes.

Do you believe that?

No, I don't believe it, but
I would like a comment.

Well, didn't you cover ABSCAM?
I mean, it's the thing to do now.

I mean, it's very
much in fashion.

Get yourself a
double-talking con artist

and go set up a
United States Senator.

Then you are denying it?

Categorically.
It's pure hogwash.

Senator, just one
more question...

Senator, the charge is
that you took $50,000

for helping someone
through immigration.

Dorothy, if you really think I
could be tempted by $50,000

I'll bet I could end up selling
you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Oh, she already bought it
from the Vice President...

The night of the Inaugural Ball!

KATE: Senator, what
are you going to do

if the Attorney General
gets involved with this?

Some of your colleagues are
saying you should step aside

and endorse governor Linen or
Governor Kanen for the party leadership.

Ma'am, don't think we ever met
before. What paper are you from?

Catherine Mills, the
Mineola Star Tribune.

Well, Kate, if I were you, I'd tell the
folks back home not to hold their breath.

KATE: Senator, one
more question, please!

(SIGHS)

Well, that's the beginning of
it. God knows where it'll end.

I'm not a man of
violence, Senator...

But if I could get my hands
on the people behind this...

Ezra, anybody who made
All-American backing up a line

is a man of violence.

But I appreciate the sentiment.

We're gonna come
out of this all right.

Don't plan to lose
any sleep, okay?

Alright?

(BEEPS)

Due to the severity
of the bomb blast,

identification is impossible
through facial features or fingerprints.

You know, Sam, there's so
little left of the jaw and teeth,

dental comparisons aren't
gonna help us much either.

Oh, here's something...
What, on the thigh?

Well, it looks like he was
taking regular injections.

- Diabetic?
- I don't know.

Maybe it'll help to
identify him, though.

Well, if you want
my opinion, Quince,

the only chance we've got of
identifying him is through this.

I don't know, Sam, it's not
easy tracking down a tattoo.

SAM: Hmm... Let me
have a scalpel, will ya?

Well, I agree. That's why
I've lined up an expert for you.

Oh, yeah? I'll go see
him after we're through.

From the University,
a professor?

Well, not exactly, but
she is a tattoo virtuoso.

She?

Dainty June? Coroner's Office.

What can I do for you, baby?

I was wondering if you could tell me
the name of the artist that did this work.

And I'm short of time. It's
a matter of life and death.

Oh, who ain't short on time.

50, 60 years. It's a matter
of life and death for all of us.

Excuse me. Can you tell me?

Kinda hard to say.

It could be any one of
a dozen different artists.

Work's pretty good.
Bird part, anyway.

Bar's an amateur job.

They were added later.
But I guess you got that.

No, I don't know anything
about it, so I didn't catch anything.

Oh, uh, your man's done time.

How do you know that?

Bars. Cons think it's pretty
hot stuff to lay in a set of bars.

Too bad, 'cause one of them has

plastered right over the thing
I need to finger your artist.

You tattoo artists
sign your work?

The best of us do.

A symbol or a mark.

No, you're never
gonna know for sure.

'Cause some shaky
fingered con has covered it up.

How do people in
prisons get tattoo ink?

They can't. They use anything
they can get their hands on.

Fountain pen, dye, anything
they can beg, borrow or steal.

Well, then if it's a different kind
of an ink, there might be a chance.

Thank you, very much.
May I call on you later?

Any time, sweetheart.

Eagle, huh?

An eagle?

Sure, I love eagles.

If anyone mentions the
Pike thing, let me handle it.

O'CONNELL: Governor, Governor...

Do you have any comment on the
story that just broke about Senator Pike?

When and if the charges
are substantiated,

the Governor will call a press
conference and give a written statement.

You must have something
to say at this point, Governor.

Nothing, really. Till I
get a lot more information

and get it properly assessed
I rather have nothing to say.

Listen, we're not goin'
for an Emmy here.

Will you do it as fast
as you can, Marc?

That should do her.
Everything looks fine.

Oh, come on, will ya?

Just let me focus a little.

That's good enough. Now
drop in the infra-red filter.

SAM: Umm, now you
see it, now you don't.

The ink they used on him in prison
becomes transparent under infra-red light.

The bars just disappear.

It's very interesting, Quince,
but what does it tell us?

It tells us we need
your beautiful lady again.

Ask Eddie to come down here.

I need quick photos of the tattoo,
now that we got rid of the bars.

Thank you, Marc.

Here it is, Dainty.

What happened to the bars?

Well, forensic magic.

See, right there, see that?

Yeah, that's what I
want you to identify.

What is it? It looks
like an animal's paw.

Right on, sweet man.
That's exactly what it is.

The artist's a dude who
lives in Vegas. Doc Dog.

That paw's the way
he signs his work.

Doc Dog?

I didn't name him, honey,
telling you who he is.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello.

Hi ya, sleepy head. I hope I'm
not interrupting something romantic.

Oh, fat chance. What's up?

We got the ID on
that John Doe of yours.

His name is Lane Garrison.

He spent two years in
the penitentiary in Nevada.

Oh, by the way, the
information you gave us fits.

The tattoo, the
diabetes, everything.

Did ya find out
who he works with?

No, Quincy. He's an
independent contractor.

He arrives in town, pre-pares
a dossier on the target...

And then gets
his fee and splits.

So, we still don't know
who the assassin is.

We're back to square one.

No, not exactly, Quincy.

You see, we know
where he plans to hit.

We found Garrison's rented car,

and under the front seat we
found a phony delegate's pass

to the Governor's Conference.

You mean, he was there?

Well, that's the
general assumption.

If you wanna know the truth, it sends
chills right up and down my spine.

Well, you can't protect
everybody there.

In a situation like this
you can't protect anybody.

Are you following me, Quincy?

What we got here is a murder
I might not be able to stop.

Okay, as I said, his
name is Lane Garrison.

Now, you really gotta
go by his description,

because unless he's an
absolute fool, he used an alias.

Any progress?

Well, if you wanna know the truth
nothing's happened since last night.

Even with the Secret Service?

They can't come.
They're not empowered.

What're you talkin'
about, empowered?

Half of Washington's
batting order is here.

Quincy, they can't
act in local situations

without a
presidential directive.

Have you ever tried
to get one of those?

Next thing you'll tell me
is the FBI is verboten.

- They don't have jurisdiction.
- Okay, then it's very simple.

Let's call the whole thing off.
Send every possible target home.

Oh, sure, I'm gonna hang up
a sign... Meeting Adjourned.

Oh, Dr. Quincy,
Coroner's Office...

Doc, this is Mike
Dunn, Hotel Security.

I already spoke to the
organizers. They won't budge.

They're gonna hold the
conference. It's going through.

This is insane!

Quincy, you know
these public figures.

They get threats as
regular as changing socks.

This is not a threat,
remember? It's a certainty!

We're doing the best we can.

- Uh, I'll have to
try one on my own...
- Where are you going?

- Down to the kitchen.
- What the hell for?

I wanna look at some menus
and some catering receipts.

See what politician's
served what

and see if it matches
what's in Garrison's stomach.

I know it's a long shot, but
the way things are going here,

its beginning to look
better and better.

Could I speak to the
gentleman in charge?

I'm a reporter from the
Mineola Star Tribune, and I...

Ma'am, this is a security
office and it's off limits.

We have a press
spokesman in the lobby.

Something tells me
the story's up here.

On the way to my room I was
almost trampled by an array of cops.

If you're looking for a
scoop, try the delegates bar.

I understand they're
serving free champagne.

Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen,

for your honesty
and your courtesy.

That's cute. That's all
we need, is a press leak.

Good morning, Senator.

Well, Governor...

I didn't figure you'd be up and
about this early in the morning.

You've met my campaign
manager, Jerry Driscoll.

Yes, yes, I have, but I wasn't
aware this was a campaign.

- Sergeant Eckert...
- Senator...

Well, sit down,
gentlemen, sit down.

Have yourselves some coffee.

Or maybe you don't,
uh, drink it, Governor.

I've heard you're
quite a health nut.

Coffee's not a vice to me,
Senator. Oh, at least not yet.

This is Ezra Glidden,
my Chief of Staff.

He's a physical
fitness nut, too.

He played for the
Bear at Alabama.

Senator, you're making a very
important keynote speech this afternoon.

It could influence the
thinking and the philosophy

of the party for the
next several years.

Don't you really mean
that it could influence

our choice for the
White House in '84

I realize that we haven't always
seen eye to eye on certain key issues,

but maybe that's because we
never really got to know each other.

Oh, I think we do.

I think we know
each other quite well.

Bill, I'd make a good president.

I've got the experience, I've got
the talent, I've got the energy...

And we're not just
talking about a dark horse.

Demographics show he
has a damned good chance.

But I need your backing.

In all honesty, the margin of
victory could be your support.

Shall I tell him why he's
wasting his time, Ezra?

Are you sure you want
me to stay for this, sir?

Oh, you gotta be my witness.

I mean, if the historians ever
write about this insipid little moment,

you're gonna make
sure they get it right.

You see, Governor, you
could stand on your head,

you could do back flips, and I
wouldn't give you my support.

We don't differ on certain
key issues, as you put it.

We differ on every fundamental
issue that makes the world spin.

I don't like the way you think,
I don't like the way you act,

I don't even like
the color of your hair.

I wouldn't back you for dog catcher,
let alone president of a country

I happen to value more
than anything on this earth.

Hi...(LAUGHS)

- The bar's straight ahead.
- Oh, well, you uh...

Will you, you think
you could get me there?

Why don't you just bolt
on a set of training wheels,

and I'll bet you can
make it all by yourself.

Listen, I took one look at
you, I knew what you were.

If money's what you
want, I got plenty...

I think what she
wants is to be left alone.

Whoop-dee-doo,
will ya look at that!

John Wayne to the rescue.

Why don't you find your
room and take a little nap?

Don't screw around with me,
jocko... I'll deck you right where you...

(CHOKING)

You gonna be nice?

Find this man a cup of coffee.

Wow, you're terrific.

I come to protect you,
you end up protecting me.

It's called survival
of the fittest.

My job takes me to places
a lot of men wouldn't go.

- Didn't I just see you up...
- In the security room, yeah.

If that impresses
you, buy me a drink,

I'm sorry, I'm in kind
of a rush right now.

Well, what are you, L.A.P.D.?

- Do I react like a cop?
- Not exactly.

I'm a doctor. So,
that's it, someone's sick.

Look... what about
we take a rain check

and I'll buy you a drink
tomorrow? How about dinner?

Oh, some gratitude!

I keep you from being
pulverized by a bully

and you hand me
this kind of phony bit?

Come on, who's sick?
Is it one of the governors?

Okay, I'll tell you what,

I'll meet you here at
seven o'clock tonight.

I'll tell you anything
you wanna know.

The convention will he
over at seven o'clock tonight.

Well, then, there won't be
anything to distract us. See ya then.

The name's Kate. Kate Mills.

If we weren't in a public place,

I would've mashed his face
right into his scrambled eggs.

I never heard you beg
before, in your whole life.

Jerry, what was I gonna do?

Nobody asked you to
get down on your knees.

You can't be subtle with
an egomaniac like Pike.

You either kiss
his ring or you punt.

Yeah, well, you kissed his ring
and you got a finger down your throat.

So, relax. There is another way.

A way to do what, Jerry?

Get him to back me
as, uh, dogcatcher?

I'm talking about his dirty hands.
We can make something out of that.

The bribery charges?
Oh, come on...

The grand jury would laugh it
outta court, even if it got that far.

Supposing I could get
you a piece of evidence

that would absolutely
guarantee an indictment?

Jerry, you're beginning
to scare the hell out of me.

Well, you should
he scared, Governor.

Your entire future political
career is hanging by a string.

And don't look at me
with those righteous eyes,

because I can get you a video
tape of Pike actually taking the bribe.

Where would you ever
get something like that?

Well, let's just say from
a special interest group.

You about ready, sir?

The answer's no, Jerry.

An absolute and unequivocal no.

Asparagus was served in Senator
McKinley's hospitality suite...

Asparagus,
asparagus, asparagus...

Every governor's
served asparagus!

There must've been
a run on it that day.

And there was asparagus
on the hotel menu.

Well, that doesn't help
us. What's left, Sam?

Well, it's the last item in
Garrison's stomach contents.

It looks like abalone.

Abalone, abalone,
abalone, nobody had it.

Wait, wait a minute,
they had abalone

in the Garden Room on Thursday.

Now, that fits with the other
items that Garrison ate that day.

That's terrific. That's
probably where he ate.

We can't even narrow it down.

Well, we can narrow it down that

Garrison was probably
in the hotel on Thursday.

Uh, that's something...

Big deal! We knew that when Monahan
found the phony delegate badge.

So, where are we now, Quince?

We're in a dead end.

Dan, Dan, will ya listen to me?

There are special interest
groups all over the place.

It's part of the American way.

Jerry, I know what kinda
people you're talkin' about.

You're talking about the mob.

They're legitimate now.

They're scum. They
could destroy me.

Jer, where are your brains?

They could destroy
both of us for life!

Dan, it's not that way anymore.
This is not the Roaring Twenties.

They're clean.

They own real estate and
corporations that issue stock.

Dan, it's no great big thing. All
they're asking is one, small favor.

I'll bet.

Well, it's true.

There's an old man
serving a life term

in our penitentiary
in Hagerstown.

He's 74 years old and
he has terminal cancer.

All they're asking is a
simple act of clemency.

And they want me to let him out?

So he can die in the
arms of his family.

Is that too much to ask to
put you in the White House?

You seen the tape?

They're willing to give us a
free preview, with no obligations.

And nothing beyond the clemency?

Nothing whatsoever. Dan,
this could be your last hurrah.

You're not a young man anymore.

I mean, sure, you jog
and you eat health food,

and that's great
for the reporters.

But I've seen you come in from
your exercise and half-die on a couch.

I can still jog you
into the ground.

Maybe you can,
now, and maybe in '84.

But if you miss
that one, what then?

What have I got left
to sell to a country

that worships youth like
it was some kind of God?

Okay, I guess it won't cost
us anything to take a look.

C'mon, Paul... All
right, take me back.

You, you okay?

(GROANS) I guess I'm not in as
good a shape as I thought I was.

Well, you look like you're
in pretty good shape to me.

Not really. I do most of my
running between taxis and airplanes.

Have I seen you someplace?

It was back at the hotel, sir.
She's one of the reporters.

Quite right, Governor.

Hey, what, what
are you doing here?

Did you think I was
lying in wait for you?

Is that what you think
this is, an ambush?

Yes, I do. You'd better
admit it and make amends.

Only if you'll give
me an interview.

Okay, you've got
yourself a deal.

If you can keep up with me
you've got yourself an exclusive.

(SHOT FIRED)

Down, down, down!

Look, I got four men in
the hall and at your door

with instructions to stick
with you like fresh paint.

Now, do me a favor, let
'em do their job, will ya'?

Thank you, very
much, Lieutenant.

The Governor
appreciates your protection.

Yeah, yeah. Right.

What the hell did
I listen to you for?

You and your so-called friends.

You know what it's
like to be shot at, Jerry?

I could've been killed!
You hear me? Dead.

Paul, wait outside
for us, will you?

Oh, no. Not on your life.

- Paul...
- Uh, it's okay.

Very well, Governor. I'll
be just outside this door.

That's it, Jerry.
The deal is off.

You tell your pals they
come within five states of me

and I'll have them bagged for
every statute they can imagine.

Dan, it wasn't them.

Bull!

I'm telling you, it wasn't them.

I was with them.
I've got the tape.

They didn't know a
thing about the shot.

We're not going to bed with
them, Jerry, and that's that.

Dan, will ya just
look at this tape?

15 seconds of tape and
you can knock Pike's butt

right off the golden
throne, once and for all.

MAN 1: Don't you
wanna count it, Senator?

MAN 2: I'll count
it on my own time.

Where am I gonna
put all this stuff?

The only thing standing
between you and the White House.

Shh, wait.

What did I tell ya?
Dynamite, huh?

Yeah, fine. Listen,
I gotta tell my...

I don't believe it.

He's got his greedy
hooks right in the cookie jar!

MAN 2: Gotta
get back to the hill.

That's five more,
makes it an even 50,000.

You gotta do it, Governor,

and you gotta do it
before Pike makes

his keynote address
this afternoon.

Okay, get Pike down here.

We're gonna give the esteemed
Senator a nice big helping of crow.

- Well?
- Nothing.

Sam re-examined the
contents of Garrison's stomach.

If he was ever in
Kanin's hospitality suite,

Sam couldn't find
any evidence of it.

Well, at least we
know who the target is.

I don't know whether I glad or
not that we've got a potential target.

What do you mean by that?

Suppose the assassin wanted
us to think that Kanin was his man?

Wait a minute, you mean
the shot could be a diversion?

Well, we can't
ignore that possibility.

Whoever shot at Kanin
used a high powered rifle.

Even after he missed the first
time he had time for a second shot,

possibly even a third.

You know, Quincy,
you could be right.

Which means our manpower
will be spread thinner.

Just what an assassin wants.

I'll see ya later.

- Doctor, Doctor!
- Oh, hi, Kate.

- Finally got you in the bar.
- Actually,
I was just passing through.

Oh, nobody passes through a bar.
Under it, maybe, but never through.

Now, come on. You told
me I could buy you a drink.

Oh, I wish I could
but I'm in a rush.

Uh, we'll make it a quick one.

- I can't. Really, I can't.
- Doctor,
something's happening here.

Something big, and I
have a right to know.

I mean, I was nearly
killed getting this story,

and now everyone is scurrying
around with clamps on their lips.

Doctor, give me five minutes.

Okay, five minutes.

MAN 1: Don't you
wanna count it, Senator?

I'll count it on my own time.

Where am I gonna
put all this stuff?

You have more room
in your breast pocket.

Huh? Oh, yeah.

- Does it look bulky?
- Yeah, fine.

Listen, I gotta tell my employer
when you're gonna deliver.

The immigration business.

I'll get to it when I get back to
the hill. What's this, five more?

Makes an even 50,000.

All right, Governor...

Just what kind of a filthy
charade are you pulling here?

It's not a charade.

That tape is as good as
gold. I know it and you know it.

Governor, I thought I knew
what I disliked about you,

but I can see I didn't
even scratch the surface.

You are despicable.

A vile disgrace to every man
who ever took an oath of office.

Where the hell do you think
you are, in some banana republic,

where you can pull a
phony tape out of a cesspool

and think you can
get away with it?

Not in this country, you
can't! Not while I'm alive!

You're bluffing, Senator.

Unless you turn aside and throw
your endorsement behind me...

The only thing I'm gonna
throw at you is the book.

Now, this goes beyond
dirty politics, Kanin.

This is a criminal act!

Now, you show this piece
of junk to one person...

And I'll bury you!

I will bury you!

Senator?

That slime wants to be
President of the United States.

Calm down, Senator.
What happened?

They conjured up some
kind of a bogus video tape.

Ezra, we gotta call in some of our
markers and we gotta call them in fast.

I want you to get on
the horn to the FBI.

They still owe me from
that last appropriation.

I want them to produce that two-bit
actor who impersonated me on that tape.

Oh, Ezra, I am going
to bury this worm.

Help me, God, I'm gonna
put him out of his misery.

I'm warning you, Jerry,
if this tape isn't real

I'm kicking your
tail back to the tules.

Now, come on, just relax. Why
don't you just sit down and relax?

Oh, sure, fine, relax.

I'm so far out on a limb,
I'm swaying in the breeze.

What if it's a phony?

It's not a phony.
The tape is real.

Not according to Pike, it isn't.

Well, what'd you
expect him to say.

He's been conning his way
through Washington for years.

Did ya expect him to
roll over and play dead?

Come on, Dan.

I guarantee you, when he steps
on that podium this afternoon

he'll give you the glossiest
endorsement you've ever had.

It's all the way from
now on, buddy boy.

Next stop, the Oval Office.

Not as long as
I'm chief, he said.

- Oh, look how the time going.
- Oh, I know.

Time flies when
you're stonewalling.

- Kate,
I can't tell ya anymore.
- You haven't told me anything!

Okay, tomorrow I'm gonna take you
to a fabulously expensive restaurant

in the marina, run by a friend of
mine named Danny, you'll love it.

Tomorrow I will be winging
my way back to Mineola

without the story
you won't give me.

Now, come on!

Fun is fun, but a gal should get
more than jokes for picking up a tab.

You really gonna
pay for the drinks?

Oh, but of course.

Okay, tomorrow, when
the conference is over,

I'll give you an
exclusive. I promise!

Promises, promises.

Well, I guess I better
go exploit another source.

As charming as you are, you
have been of absolutely no help.

Good. I'll see you tomorrow.

I'll be on an airplane tomorrow.

And out of a job.

That was some very
fancy footwork, little lady.

- Who are you?
- That doesn't matter.

What do you want?
Oh, just settling a score.

Too bad I missed you
in the park this morning.

You just didn't give
me a very clean shot.

- Who sent you?
- Well, let's just say

it's not very polite, blowing
up your advance man.

It's bad business.
Very bad business.

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

Oh, I think you do.

You see, Garrison and me,
we, uh, had sort of a partnership.

I watched his flanks,
he watches mine.

It so happens, he didn't report in
to me when he was supposed to.

So naturally, I
gotta check it out.

Go right to the
source, so to speak.

He was working
for you, little lady,

and the last payment
you sent him sort

of blew up in his face.

Well, that's very bad business.

And that, my stupid friend,

is what separates the
amateurs from the pros.

Any idea who he is.

Well, his ID says Glenn
Henderson. We' re checkin' it out.

The Fire Inspector found him out
here while making a routine check.

What's that? Don't,
don't touch it, Lieutenant.

Looks like the shaft of a dart.

I'll take it out when
I do the autopsy.

You think that's
what killed him?

Not by itself, riot unless
it was filled with poison.

Familiar?

Yeah, too familiar. That's
the pattern that Garrison had.

Our advance man.

Right down to the bars.

Which means we could
be looking at our hit man.

It would be nice to
think so, wouldn't it?

But you don't?

All I'm sayin' is that
we have to make sure,

and we have to make sure fast.

In a couple of hours
they'll be talking and singing

and the conference
will be started.

I'd hate to find out then
that we were wrong.

Let's go, boys.

Quite obviously this couldn't
have caused the fatal wound.

I want you to check
it for toxin, Marc.

And don't touch it. Thanks.

I see you bagged
the hands, Quince.

Yeah. There are traces of
blood and flesh under the nails.

Gimme a scalpel.

He probably fought the
person who killed him.

You're probably right.

He fought until the
poison took effect.

Try to re-spread the skin

and make a smear of
some of the deeper tissue.

And I want you to
run a Giemsa stain,

and see if you can
get a blood type, huh?

What, now? Before we're through?

The sooner the better.

A couple of scratches on his
throat, they look a little peculiar.

I wanna do a dissection
of the cervical region.

Okay, I'll rush this through
just as soon as I can.

Well, my friend,
what's it gonna be?

The clemency's been granted.

Tell the Governor he made a
very wise and humane decision.

And that's it. The
book is closed.

Mister Driscoll,
it's like I said.

You'll never see me
again as long as you live.

426, please.

The idiot bought it, sir.

We have Kanin in
our hip pocket, yes sir.

I'll call her and tell
her it's on. Yes, sir.

How're you doing?

Oh, I just finished the
neck dissection. Look at this.

Contusions all
around the carotid.

Yeah. A broken
cricoid cartilage.

Is that what he died from?

No, but Marc's
working on a possibility.

Let's see what he's found.

What've you got, Marc?

Just got it. D-tubo-curarine.

The dart has a
piston mechanism in it.

When it hit, it injected
a lethal dose of curare.

Well, that explains
the respiratory failure.

But whoever killed him didn't
think the curare was fast enough.

He had to help it along,

or at least immobilize
him until it took effect.

Did ya get an ID on him?

Yeah, Monahan says
his name is Harry Binns.

He's supposed to be a
small time petty hoodlum.

A cheap crook?

Does that sound like a calculating,
professional hit man to you?

Not to me. Not to
Monahan either.

Quince, take a look at this.

We ran a Giemsa stain
on the tissue samples

we took from under our
John Doe's fingernails.

I didn't believe the
results I got the first time

- so I prepped another slide.
- What'd you find?

Bar bodies.

Bar bodies? But
that would mean...

If Binns scratched his killer as he
was dying, his killer was a woman.

Well, that would explain the
strands of hair on his jacket, too.

I'll call Monahan

I'll tell him that he's looking
for a woman with brunette hair.

Wait a minute.

A woman, Binns'
neck that drunk...

That's it. Tell Monahan
I'm on my way,

and tell him I think
I know who did it.

What drunk?

Quincy, I don't
make the connection.

I told you how she handled
that drunk in the lobby.

She went for the carotid arteries.
She disabled him in no time flat.

So?

So, Harry Binns had the
same contusions on his neck.

Unlock the door, quietly.

- I'll check the bathroom.
- What're we lookin' for?

Anything that will connect
her t o Binns or Garrison.

What do ya got?

It's her blouse. I
remember it from the bar.

The sleeve is ripped
and there's dried blood.

Take a look at this.

These cartridges exert a tremendous
amount of pressure when the tip is pierced.

What do ya suppose
she'd use that for?

In a small container,
like a sealed tube,

there would be enough
pressure to fire a small projectile.

Maybe even a poison projectile.

Holy cow! We
better get down there!

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

Let him go first.

Pike won't move in till we
do. He won't go before me.

We've gotta take the initiative.

All right, but move fast. No
stopping, no handshakes.

Let's just go.

Just one second,
please, Governor...

Governor, have you and Senator
Pike resolved your differences?

Yes, have you resolved
your differences?

(PEOPLE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

Let me go. Let me go!

- Are you all right, sir?
- You've got the wrong person!

Yes. Thank you.

MONAHAN: Let's go,
Miss... Clear the way.

There's poison in this dart.

We thought it was
meant for you, Governor.

But it was meant
for you, Senator.

- Does that wrap it up?
- Yeah. I'm sure she worked alone.

You can let the extra men go.

Well, Senator, what
are you gonna do?

I'm going to expose you for
the blackmailer that you are.

I'm not bluffing. I'll
give it to the press.

I'll save you the trouble.
Ladies and gentlemen!

Well, this has been quite
an eventful afternoon.

First, an attempt
on my life, and now...

An attempt to blackmail me!

(PEOPLE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

Now, I don't know what that
young woman's motivation is,

but I do know what
Governor Kanen's is,

blind ambition!

(CROWD EXCLAIMING)

You-asked for it.

Ladies and gentlemen!

I have here evidence

of our illustrious Senator in
the act of accepting a bribe.

He denies it,

but I stake my reputation
on its authenticity.

Governor Kanen is right. The
man who took the bribe is here.

Ladies and gentlemen.

He wasn't easy to find, but a lot of
important people owed me a favor.

His name is Oliver
Vainwright, Governor.

Actor and impersonator.

You made me set
this whole place up,

and now you're tellin' me that

Senator Pike and his
party isn't gonna show?

What do you want from me? He
was called back to Washington.

He had to vote on a
bill. It was very important.

Important? Have you any idea

what it costs to set this place
up to look like the OK Corral?

Ah, ya told 'em it cost ya
$18 to decorate this place.

Old saddlebags... $18?

It cost more than that
for this Buffalo Bill outfit!

- Ah.
- And the chili and beans...

You know how much chili and beans I
made? Enough for the Texas Rangers.

Every business has to
take a loss now and then.

- Take a loss?
- Yeah.

Tell that to the
automobile industry.

- A loss!
- What do ya say, Tex?

- Go ride a horse.
- (LAUGHS) What is this?

What happened?

Quincy, you won't believe it.
You know that little hit lady?

She sang her brains out.
She implicated Victor Strauss

and half the chieftains
of the Los Angeles mob.

Well, I don't understand why
they wanted to assassinate Pike.

What did they
hope to gain by that?

Quincy, you gotta
understand politics.

You see, once Governor
Kanen's man, Driscoll,

made a deal for
the phony video tape

the mob had Kanin
right in their hip pocket.

And Senator Pike was
their only political obstacle

between Kanin and a shot
at the presidential nomination.

They thought they
could own the President?

- Scary, isn't it, hmm?
- Scary doesn't
even come close.

All right, here's
a peace offering.

I know it probably
wasn't your fault.

Oh, I'd love to
eat chili, but I can't.

I knew it's hot. I can't
eat it... My stomach...

Would I make spicy
chili for your stomach?

I know you got a
delicate stomach.

- It's not hot?
- Nah,
just don't use the onions.

Okay.

Hmm, you're right, it's good.