Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 7, Episode 11 - When Luck Ran Out - full transcript

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Could somebody get a vet?

Nelson, I'm sorry.

Shall we begin, Doctor?

If I'm right,

we might be saving the
company two million dollars.

In this case, there's no
reason to suspect anything!

You wanna know how big a
business insurance fraud is?

Some maniac murdered
him Friday night.

Murdered? A horse vet?

Accusing him of murder?



Please let her go!

Please!

Gentlemen, you
are about to enter

the most fascinating
sphere of police work,

the world of forensic medicine.

I'm sorry, but it's like I
told you on the phone.

You don't have any choice.

You know this
business as well as I do,

and there's always
the unexpected...

Yeah...

Remember that horse that
old man Evergreen had?

Let's see...

What was his name?

"Ready to Go"&
"Ready to Ride"...



Well, whatever.

I...

It was a situation
similar to this one.

You know, I never thought the
old man would recover from it.

But, he had a lot of...

What are you complaining about?

He worked five furlongs
at fifty-nine and three.

Pretty good colt... well-bred, he
just doesn't like to change his leads.

Now, what about Star Chaser?

Is he gonna be ready for
the big one this afternoon?

D'you know any trainer that doesn't
think his horse is going to win?

Yeah, you.

Three years ago, you had two
horses going, you touted me off 'em,

and they both won. You
said they didn't have a shot.

You should talk to the horses.

Star Chaser is going
to be a walk-in today.

But you know horse
racing... Anything can happen.

Yeah, especially if I bet.

You're gonna stick around and
watch the horses though, aren't ya?

I'm bringin' a date. But ya know, I
had to stand. I couldn't get a seat.

You don't know the
right people to ask.

Here,

use my box.

Oh, thanks. Where're
you gonna sit?

I have been invited to sit
in the racing secretary's box.

- Hey, I'm impressed.
- Me, too.

I mean it, Quince.

It really feels good.

Hey, you know who I
ran into this morning?

That stable owner,
Bowden, forty-two horses.

He sat down and talked
to me for half an hour.

He wants me to go over
to that sale at Kenwood.

Said that he wanted my opinion
on a couple of brood mares.

Ah, sounds like
you're ridin' high.

I'll tell you one
thing, old friend.

It' been a long way from those
fairgrounds and that bullring.

And horses you had to keep
together with spit and glue.

But, come on Nels, you've been
away from that for a long time.

Well, before Star
Chaser, I was getting by.

But since him, well, he's really
put me back on top for good.

Hey, why don't you stick
around for that interview.

Then I will show you the greatest
horse that ever looked through a bridle.

You got it!

Just like a darn kid.

Old Doc ain't gonna hurt ya...

Doc?

Hey, Doc?

Doc?

You around back?

Doc?

Roll it.

And, we're standing
here with Nelson Spencer,

the owner and
trainer of Star Chaser,

who, today, will attempt to become
the first horse in history to win

three million dollars.

Nelson, many members of the
racing game, and certainly the fans,

hope to see this remarkable
horse of yours break the record.

What do you feel
his chances are?

Excellent.

After all, the odds are
gonna be one to ten.

His chances had
better be excellent.

You've been in
racing a long time,

but you've never...
forgive me for saying this,

but you've never had a
notable horse like this before.

Well, if you're the luckiest horse
trainer in the world, once in your life,

you get a horse
like Star Chaser.

Where did you get him?

A trainer friend of mine in Caliente.
He came across Star Chaser.

He was just a big yearling,
awkward, fell all over himself.

The people who owned him,
they didn't like his actions,

among a million other things.

But those problems
didn't bother you?

No. The horse was well-bred

and I just hoped that his
ability would live up to his size.

I'd seen horses with worse
problems and the price was right

and, I don't know, there was just
something about the look in his eye

that told me that
he was a runner...

Tough and had a big heart.

Me? Now?

I just got the call and
no one's available now.

I know it's only half a
mile from where you are.

Alright, what's the address?

What about all those
animals out back?

We've already made arrangements.
They'll be taken care of.

Was he... Did somebody
kill that nice old man?

I'd rather not say anything
until I've done the autopsy.

I just can't believe it.

He was one of the kindest
people I ever met in my life.

I guess you see a
lot of this kind of thing,

but I can't understand
for the life of me

why anybody would want
to hurt a man like Doc Harris.

He didn't have a
mean bone in his body.

I can't for the life of me
understand these things either.

Riders up...

Attention Mr. James O'Brien.

James O'Brien.

Please report to
the first aid room.

Here ya go... Fifty dollars
on Star Chaser' nose.

Thanks, hon. You didn't mind goin' to
the window? I could've done it myself.

No, I told you, I wanted to.

I like new experiences.

What's that?

That's my bet. Two
dollars on Bug's Boy to win.

Bug's Boy?

That horse has never
finished better than eighth.

Star Chaser could spot
him ten lengths and beat him.

When I was little, I
had a cat named Bug.

Well, that's no
reason to bet a horse.

That's the way I bet horses.

That doesn't matter.
Star Chaser can't lose.

Maybe so.

But you forget the kind
of business I'm in, Quincy.

Being an insurance
claims investigator,

I have to use my instincts
and play the percentages.

If Star Chaser wins,
he's such a heavy favorite,

you're not gonna
make much at all.

But if Bug's Boy comes through, I
make a very tidy bundle, thank you.

Tell you what I'll do.

If Bug's Boy's in the
first half of the pack,

I'll buy you dinner.

If not, I'll buy you dinner.

What a deal!

I get a woman and a free meal!

The horses are on the track
for the eighth and feature race,

the twelfth running of
the Jubilee Handicap,

an outstanding field
of handicap starters.

The favorite at the present
time is number two, Star Chaser,

who is owned and
trained by Nelson Spencer

and ridden, as always,
by Tommy Canfield.

Number one, is
Kingswood Carrier,

number two, Star Chaser,

number three, Wind
Chaser, number four...

Hey, I was beginnin' to think
you weren't gonna show up.

What? Miss this
race? Not on your life.

Number seven, Michaelness,

number eight is Jerry's Delight.

Well, Trainer of the
Year, you're a shoo-in.

Taken a long time...

Remember when none of
the top owners would touch me

with a ten-foot
pole as a trainer?

Well, you can forget that.

You're on top of the
world. You got it all now.

The horses are
approaching the starting gate.

Number two, Star Chaser
is delaying the start.

Is it always that hard to
get a horse in the gate?

Not Star Chaser...

It's a big day for
him. He must sense it.

Oh, yeah. He must've
read the racing form.

They're all in the gate with
the exception of Star Chaser.

Now he's in the starting gate.

They're all in the
gate, the flag is up,

and they're off.

Jerry's Delight is
going down the turn,

is 2nd, is 3rd,

Bug's Boy is 4th.

Then, Star Chaser, Wind
Chaser, and Sunset Hero.

Now, it's Jerry's Delight
in front by a neck.

Michaelness is 2nd by a half length,
Bug's Boy 3rd on the inside by a length,

Hardy Har is 4th, and...

Around the far turn it's Jerry's
Delight and on the outside by a neck.

Michaelness is
2nd by a half length.

Bug's Boy 3rd,
moving up on the rear.

Now, Bug's Boy gets through on the
east side and it's Star Chaser in the lead.

Turning for home, it's Bug's Boy in
front by three-quarters of a length.

Here comes Star Chaser
on the extreme outside.

Into the trenches it's Bug's
Boy in front by two lengths.

Star Chaser is 2nd
moving in from the outside.

Bug's Boy and Star Chaser,

Bug's Boy on the
inside of Star Chaser.

Now, it's Star Chaser on
the outside and Bug's Boy.

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Star Chaser by two lengths.

Star Chaser, Bug's
Boy, and Jerry's Delight.

Star Chaser running in the lead.

Star Chaser is
widening out the field

and Star Chaser is the
winner by six lengths,

Bug's Boy is 2nd,
and Jerry's Delight...

Money in the bank!

- That's the way
to go, Star Chaser!
- Alright, Bug's Boy!

Bug's Boy?

Well, he finished second.

Hey, Nels, Nels, you
won! Congratulations!

A horse like that comes once
in a lifetime for a trainer, Dave.

I'm just overwhelmed!

I'd better get down there.

Now entering the Winner's Circle is
Star Chaser with jockey Tommy Canfield.

Star Chaser is
a five-year-old...

Let's go back to the stable
area and congratulate him.

Who? Bug's Boy
for comin' in second?

No, Nelson Spencer.

It happens to be the
biggest day in his life.

These stables
really look run down.

How come a three-million-dollar
horse has to put up with this?

Most stable areas are the same.

Well, if I were Star Chaser,
I'd complain to the landlord.

And again, our congratulations.

A great race by a great horse.

We wish you and Star Chaser
all the best for the future.

Thanks a lot, Bob.

Thank you.

This is Bob Wright returning
you now to our home studios.

Oh Nelson,
congratulations! What a race!

Thanks, Quince.
You know somethin'?

I'll never get over it. Each
time it seems like the first time.

I'd like you to meet Annie
O'Connor, Nelson Spencer.

- Hello there. Pleasure to meet you.
- Hello. Congratulations.

Well, I lost my two dollar
bet, but I won a big dinner.

I understand. I never bet
on my own horse either.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa,
stop! Whoa, baby!

Mr. Spencer!

Ben! Ben, what is it?

I don't know. He
just started bleeding!

Will somebody get a vet?

Nelson, I'm sorry.

What do you mean, you're sorry?

He's gone.

I don't understand.
What're you saying?

Where's that vet?

Nelson, now listen
to me! Look at me!

He's dead.

Star is gone.

No...

No...

Oh, dear God, no...

Yeah...

Hey, what're you doin' here?

We have a date, remember?

Yeah, I thought I was
gonna pick you up.

Well, seein's how
you're takin' me to dinner,

I thought the least I
could do is pick you up.

Sort of keep it balanced.

Oh, yeah. Heaven forbid everything
between us shouldn't be exactly equal.

I'm glad we
understand each other.

Where're we going?

That's my surprise.

Oh, okay.

I have one for you, too.

Yeah? What?

It's Star Chaser.

I found out today our company
held a fatality policy on him.

- Oh, yeah?
- A whopper,
two million dollars.

Well, money's no solace, but I'm
glad to see he's getting compensated.

After the investigation.

What investigation? The
horse just keeled over and died.

We were there. We
saw it, remember?

But we don't know why he
just keeled over and died.

Hey, you're not
saying you think Nelson

had something to do with
the death of that horse?

Nobody's saying anything.

On a policy that big, there's
a routine investigation.

Well, I hope whoever handles
it knows what he's doing.

I'd hate to see him go through
more grief than he already has.

It should be somebody experienced,
somebody knowledgeable.

- Oh,
it is a top-notch person.
- Good.

Someone who plays the
percentages and uses instincts.

You?

Me.

Thanks for the drink, Danny.

Enjoy it. Ya know what they say,

"Better than havin'
ya sleep in the streets."

Oh...

Quincy?

Oh, Danny. Danny say hello
to Annie. Annie, this is Danny.

Hello, Annie...
Interesting face.

First time here?

Just don't let him
order for ya, okay?

Finally dating Italians, huh?

Showing a little class.

By the way, were you at the
track for the Star Chaser race?

Yeah, we both were.

Isn't it awful?

A great horse like that.

Could've ran for
at least a year,

then put him out to stud.

Ah, you never know what's
in the cards for ya, do ya?

Ah, anyway. Let me whip
up something special for ya.

That's another thing.

Why would Nelson
do anything to his horse

when in syndication, it would be worth
twenty or thirty million dollars to him?

Quincy, you're like
a dog with a bone.

You know the only
person who's said anything

about Spencer doing
something to his horse is you.

I haven't said any such thing.

Then why the investigation?
I don't see the point.

- Oh, you don't, do you?
- No.

I suppose when a body
comes across your table,

you just eyeball it and say,

"Well, that one looks routine.
I won't bother to autopsy it."

All I'm tryin' to do is
do my job, just like you.

It's hardly the same thing.

Oh? Really? Why
isn't it the same?

Because, when a
body crosses my table,

there's already reason to suspect
something out of the ordinary.

In this case, there's no
reason to suspect anything.

You want to know how big a
business insurance fraud is?

How many millions of dollars are
paid out each year in phony claims?

Ah, so you are suspicious of him

and for no other reason except that
other people pull fraudulent claims.

What about the way Star Chaser
was acting just before the race?

You said yourself
it was strange.

Oh, for cryin' out loud.
Sure, it was unusual for him.

But horses get fractious
at the gate all the time.

It doesn't mean anything.

Maybe.

Did you see the way he
looked when that horse died?

I thought he was gonna pass out.

He loved that horse.

Star Chaser was the best
thing that ever happened to him.

D'you know what happens to trainers
when they find a horse like that?

They fall in love with him.

See, you don't know
anything about horses.

That's why you never should've
been assigned to this case.

It should've been
assigned to somebody else.

- Somebody else!
- That's right, somebody else.

Let me tell you
something, Quincy.

By the time I'm finished, I'll
know more about thoroughbreds

- than any ten
people you can find.
- Oh, sure.

And I'll know more about Nelson
Spencer than his own mother.

I may not know horses, but I
do know the insurance business,

and I resent your suggesting
I should do anything

but the most careful,
thorough investigation I can.

That's insulting.

That's definitely Italian.

Well, my mother talked to
my father like that all the time.

And I want to tell you how
sorry I am, Mr. Spencer.

I was there when it
happened. It was horrible.

I still can't believe
it happened.

Every time I look in his stall,

I still expect to see him.

Do you mind if I use this desk?

Oh, please.

You realize,

that an autopsy is customary
procedure in a claim like this.

Oh, that's "necropsy."

What?

Well, you see, in the case of an animal,
the post-mortem is called a necropsy

and the track necropsies any
horse that dies unexpectedly.

As the company
holding the policy,

we have approved the
veterinarian the track chose.

Oh? Oh, I see...

They suggested Lloyd Matson.

He's done work for us before.

Lloyd... Yes, he's fine.

Now I just have a few
items to fill out on this form,

if you don't mind.

Oh, not at all.

Let's see...

Date of acquisition.

When did you get Star Chaser?

May the 14th, 1979.

I can even remember what
the weather was like that day.

And you took out this policy on
his life... a year and a half later?

Yes, right after he
won the Futurity.

Premiums... accidental
death clause...

Medical records...

Have you ever filed a claim
before on a fatality policy?

Why do you ask me that question?

Oh, it's routine...

Right here on the claim form.

Oh, I see.

No, I haven't.

Fortunately, this sort of thing
has never happened to me before,

and I pray to God
it never does again.

Thank you, Mr. Spencer.

We'll be in touch.

Oh, Miss O'Connor,

I'm sorry,

but how long do you think
it will take to pay the claim?

Well, after the au... necropsy,

if there are no problems...

Problems?

What kind of problems?

Anything unforeseen.

As I said, Mr. Spencer,
if there is nothing,

we'll pay you immediately.

Thank you for your time.

Come in.

Hope I'm not intruding, Quincy.

I was in the area, just
thought I'd say hello.

I'm always glad to see ya, Nels.

I'd offer you dinner but I just cooked the
last of my Senor Paco's gourmet delight.

You eat.

I'll mix myself a drink
and keep you company.

I was just reading:

Determination of Leucine Amino
Peptidase in Stains of Body Fluids.

How's that for an
x-rated evening?

You're, you're slipping.

Last time I was aboard,

you were entertaining
a very pretty lady.

Which one?

I forget.

But it certainly wasn't
your insurance lady.

Her I would remember.

She's been to see
you already, huh?

She sure has.

Look, I'm sure everything's
gonna work out smoothly.

See, she's overzealous,
dedicated to her work.

I got that impression.

Not that there's anything
wrong with that. It's...

Well, it's just that...

What?

Well, to tell you the truth,

it's never been easy for me to
ask for somebody else's help.

I've always done it
on my own, you know?

Spit and glue.

Nels, you need my
help, you know you got it.

Well, I wouldn't want to come
between you and your lady friend.

In what way?

Well, here's the thing, Quincy.

They're going to do a
necropsy on Star, of course,

and the track has
appointed Lloyd Matson.

He's a good man, I know,

but they had to get the
insurance company's approval.

Now, not that I don't trust him,

but, well, you know
insurance companies.

They gobble up the premiums but
when it comes to paying off a claim,

it's a different story.

Well, how can I help?

Sit in on that
necropsy, will you?

If you were there, I'd
feel a lot better about it.

Somebody in my camp,
if you know what I mean.

Sure, I'd be happy to do it.

You're sure your friend
wouldn't be upset?

Annie? Of course not.
She'll understand completely.

You're doing what?

Just as a corroborative
expert, Annie.

He's an old friend. Surely
you can't object to that.

He's really rallying
the troops, isn't he.

Is he worried about something?

No, he is not worried
about something.

But as some of us know,

insurance companies are sometimes
reluctant to pay off big claims.

He wants an absolutely
impartial observer there.

Impartial!

Well, he certainly went to
the right person, didn't he?

Someone he's known for
twenty years, a good friend.

All this flak about my investigation
is just because he's a pal of yours.

That's not fair, Annie.

You're questioning my
integrity as a medical examiner.

Oh, but it's all right for you to question
my integrity as an insurance investigator.

Well, I don't mean to do that...

Look, let's just get the
whole thing over with, alright?

You attend the
post-mortem examination,

we'll get the results,

and that'll put
an end to it, right?

You'll settle the claim as soon
as you get the results, huh?

Of course. Why wouldn't I?

Well, you sound upset.

Why would I be upset?

What do I have
to be upset about?

See you tomorrow.

Such a beautiful animal.

It's hard to believe something
so big and strong could be so frail.

Yes... like fine crystal.

The blood specimen taken after
he died didn't show any drugs.

There has to be
something in the body.

Probably the heart or the lungs.

Shall we begin, Doctor?

Yeah, you were right.

The heart is slightly flaccid,

but otherwise perfectly normal.

Obviously, the key is
this pulmonary congestion.

Sure as heck points to
some type of arrhythmia

which compromised the blood
circulation just prior to death.

During the race...

Yes, or right after.

Look at the joint
surface on that bone.

Dark...

Texture of jelly...

Almost like Legg-Perthes
disease. I've seen it in children.

It is. Osteochondrosis
desiccans.

It's not enough to
cause lameness.

At least not yet.

But, it was just a
matter of time, wasn't it?

Any race could
have been his last.

Another year, he probably wouldn't
have been able to run around the barn.

Oh, I'm sorry... would
you like some coffee.

No, thank you.

Ah, Miss O'Connor.

I just want to be sure that
I understand you correctly.

Now, the only thing
that's holding up the claim

is the completion of
the necropsy. Right?

That's right.

Well, I won't keep
either of you in suspense.

Basically, we found
what we expected to find,

pulmonary edema
and vascular collapse.

The horse died of heart failure.

No foreign substances
in the body?

Annie...

The blood sample I drew
after he died was tested.

There wasn't a single trace
of any foreign chemical.

You seem disappointed.

No... no, not at all.

Nels, did you know
about the O.C.D.?

What?

- The horse had O.C.D.?
- What's that?

It's a deterioration of
the cartilage of the joint.

It could've killed him?

No, it isn't life-threatening.

But eventually, it would've crippled
Star Chaser and ended his career.

I never knew...

I had no idea.

That poor beautiful animal...

There were no signs,
nothing to arouse suspicion?

It's not the kind of thing
that's apparent without x-rays.

One day, the horse just comes
up lame... That's the first sign.

You satisfied, Annie?

Of course.

I'll process the
claim immediately.

You've done your
job. I'll do mine.

Annie...

Yes, Mr. Steinhart.

I just got another call
from Spencer's lawyer.

They want to know
what's holding things up.

The autopsy was two days ago.

I told them I didn't
know of any problems.

That's because
you didn't see this.

See what?

I've got Spencer's
records from '53 on.

Take a look at this...

September, '64, Caliente.

His horse, Idol Runner, collapses
right in the middle of the feature race

and has to be
destroyed on the track.

Everything on the up and up?

Yes, but the point is he lied.

He told me he never
filed another fatality claim.

But, according to this record
from Doctor Harris, he did.

So, he had another
horse with a heart attack.

The man's only
been racing all his life.

It's amazing it's only
happened to him twice.

Annie,

I put you on this case

for the precise reason that you
are not an expert on horseracing.

Haven't you ever heard the
adage about "a little knowledge"?

But he lied to me about
another insurance case.

Can you blame him?

You've made him paranoid. You
doubted everything he says or does.

I still don't think it's as
cut-and-dried as you make it out to be.

Annie, my sweet.

If you find insurance
all that boring,

maybe you belong
in another business.

But you can't just
create your own

excitement to make
the job more interesting.

That's not what
I'm trying to do.

What am I supposed
to tell Spencer's lawyer?

Your claim is valid, but
we'd just as soon not pay it?

Just give me a couple more days.

Let me see what I can dig up.

- Annie...
- Just forty-eight hours.

Then I promise I'll give my
John Hancock and be done with it.

I dunno...

Look, if I'm wrong, he
gets his money a little late.

But if I'm right, we might be saving
the company two million dollars.

I know I'm gonna regret this.

Forty-eight hours.
Not a minute more!

Thanks, Gabe.

Hi there.

Hi, how are you.

Annie O'Connor. I'm
from People's Insurance.

Tommy Canfield.

You're an insurance man?

Half right.

My company wrote the
policy on Star Chaser.

I'm the investigator
assigned to the claim,

and the faster I can
complete my report,

the faster we can straighten
things out for Mr. Spencer.

Good. Have a seat.

What can I do for you?

That horse was acting pretty
funny before the race, wasn't he?

Yeah, he was a little nervous.

Was that unusual for him?

You haven't been around
horses much, have you?

I'm a fast learner.

Well, horses like that
usually make it easy for a jock.

It's just like drivin' a caddy.

But not on Saturday?

As a matter of fact, he was a
little tougher in the post-parade

on the way to the starting gate.

And I had a hell of a
time tryin' to rate him, too.

Rate him?

You know, get him to relax behind
the speed horses like he usually does.

Even though he was rank
that day, he still won by five.

I know... I was
there, Mr. Canfield.

Tommy.

Tommy, how do you
account for behavior like that?

I have no idea.

All I know is he's the
best horse I ever rode...

Look, I gotta go.

I'm due at a funeral.

I'm sorry. Someone close?

Yeah, one of the best
vets in the business.

A real stand-up guy. Some
maniac murdered him Friday night.

Murdered?

A horse vet?

Yeah, Doc Harris.

Well, anytime you
want to get together,

to ask some more
questions or whatever,

you know where to find me.

I think you're being paged.

Yeah. Nice meeting you.

Thanks...

Tommy,

do they know
who killed that vet?

Nope. Probably some doper
lookin' for drugs or somethin'.

Whoever it was, I
hope they nail him.

Nels, I couldn't believe it when
they told me you were here.

Hope I'm not
interrupting your work.

No, I'm between cases.

Sit down, sit down. What
brings you down here?

Well, I, I wanted
you to have this.

It's Star Chasers... From his
first time in the winner's circle.

Oh, I can't take this, Nels.

Go ahead. You deserve it.

You really came through
when I needed a friend.

And I'm not about to forget it.

I'll certainly see that it
gets a place of honor.

How's your
insurance claim goin'?

Well, it's funny you should ask.

Your pal, Miss Never-Say-Die,

is making it as
tough as possible.

Even after the necropsy?

It's just a question of
paperwork, I'm sure.

Eventually, they
have to pay you.

Eventually may
not be good enough.

What do you mean?

Well, you know when
you were a kid how,

if your cat or dog died, your parents
rushed out and got you another one?

To sort of ease the grief.

Best therapy in the world.

What's the name
of the new horse?

He doesn't have a name.

At least not one
that I can pronounce.

He's in France.

I saw him the last time I
was over there, in the spring.

The thought never occurred
to me to buy him until Star died.

Congratulations.

For what's it worth, I think
you're doing the right thing.

Well, the only problem is,

if I don't come up with six hundred
thousand dollars in short order,

I'll lose him.

You see, I was depending on
the insurance money from Star.

Oh, I see.

Maybe if she knew
what I was up against,

she'd stop playing games with
my perfectly legitimate claim.

Quince, would you
mind talking to her?

You can depend on it.

Lab, Fujiyama...

No, no he isn't...

Oh, just a sec.

Quince, it's Annie.

I'll talk to you later.

Hey, I've been tryin'
to get a hold of you.

Yeah, I know.

Your messages are
all over my service.

I'm gonna take care of
Spencer's claim immediately.

You are?

Yes, I am... immediately.

Now, are you still sore.

Of course not. And to prove it,
why don't we have dinner together?

Well, seeing as how you
accept victory with such grace,

what would you say to my
buying you dinner tonight?

I'd say "three cheers for
the emancipated woman."

You're on.

Bye.

And, are we enjoying our dinner?

Mmmm good.

Ah, well at least I won't have to
order any unbreakable dinnerware...

In case you run out of words...

No, no, Danny. It's not
gonna be that kind of night.

We're gonna enjoy ourselves
tonight, right, Quince?

Like two peas in a pod.

Good. Well, every couple
has its moments of agreement.

Enjoy...

You're becoming an
expert on the horses, huh?

Hardly.

But I got to admit, the more I get
into it, the more fascinating it is.

Especially when someone
tries to beat the odds.

Like today, for instance.

I was reading
about a famous case

where a big red filly was
killed with an injection of insulin.

Since it naturally occurs
in the horse's body,

it wasn't diagnosed
as the cause of death.

You won't let go, will you?

I'm merely relating
a bit of research...

And you're about as subtle as an
"Inquiry" sign, flashing after a race.

But that's all it
is. Just an inquiry.

It could have been
insulin, couldn't it?

Boy, you really are somethin',
you know that? No, it was not insulin.

We tested Star Chaser's blood
sugar and it was completely normal.

Well, is that the only thing that a horse's
body produces that could kill... Insulin?

No.

There are what we call
endogenous substances,

things that occur
naturally in the body.

Now, several of them can kill
if given in a high-enough dose.

And you tested for those?

There was no need to.

Well, how do you know,
unless you've run the tests?

Is this the kind of slipshod procedures
you'd tolerate at the coroner's office?

I doubt it!

Oh, "Do you mind
if I buy you dinner?"

You are really
terrific, you know that?

You had me conned
six ways from Sunday.

- You lied to me.
- I did not.

You said you were
gonna pay his claim.

I never said that. I said I was
gonna take care of his claim.

Talk about splitting hairs...
What does that mean?

It means I'm just doing my job.

Annie, he needs that money to
rebuild his life out of the ashes.

Where's your heart?

Where's your objectivity?

I spoke with Star
Chaser's jockey.

- Why?
- It's my job!

And he confirmed what
you pointed out to me,

that something was making
the horse highly agitated.

I told you that could
happen to any horse.

Now, why don't you leave
the man alone. He's innocent!

Prove it! Run the test for
the endogenous substance.

Absolutely not!

Boy, if I didn't know better, I'd
say you were protecting a friend.

Hey, now you
better watch it, Annie.

It'd be so much easier
if you'd just cooperate.

Oh, but when I ask for your cooperation,
suddenly it becomes collusion, huh?

I have a headache the
size of Mount Saint Helens.

Yeah, well, maybe
it's contagious.

Boy, am I glad I
brought my own car.

Good night, Quince.

See ya later.

Good night!

Don't worry, Quincy.

On my card, I called it a draw.

Turn off the lights and
pull up by Doc's house.

- Why? What's wrong?
- There's
a light in the window.

Hold it!

Hi there. How ya doin'?

Ow!

Oh, I'm sorry.

What'd you get
yourself into now?

I managed to dislocate my shoulder
and bang my head a good one.

You fell?

Running away from the police?

Going for six over
Doc Harris's back fence.

Oh, you're cute.
You're very funny.

You know the kind of
trouble you would be in

if I didn't have a close
friend on the police force?

No more trouble
than I'm already in.

People's Insurance expressed its gratitude
for the last ten years by firing me.

They sent me flowers
and my termination notice.

Oh, I'm sorry, honey.

Me, too.

'Cause I really liked my work,
Quincy. And I'm good at it.

What really upsets me is they paid off
your friend, Spencer, the full two million.

I don't believe you.

I really don't believe you.

You lost your job, you
almost broke your neck,

and you're still obsessed with something
that is a figment of your imagination.

Oh, is it really?

Read this, Quincy.

It's a bill from Doctor
Harris to Nelson.

Two hundred and
sixty-five dollars

for "complete physical
examination with lab work."

You'll notice the patient's
name was Star Chaser.

There's another charge of
six hundred twenty-eight dollars

"full diagnostic x-ray series

"for determination
of joint disease."

Quincy, that's the
second time he lied.

First about never filing
an insurance claim before

and now about the O.C.D.

At the necropsy, he swore he
didn't know anything about it.

He should've gotten an
Emmy for that performance.

There has to be an explanation.

Oh, there is,

but it's not the one
you want to hear.

And I'll tell you something else
you might find a little peculiar.

That bill was in
Doctor Harris's office,

but every single one of Star Chaser's
medical records was missing from the file.

And it was Doctor Harris
that signed the death certificate

on that other horse of his
that dropped dead at Caliente.

And it was Doctor Harris,

the same Doctor Harris,
that turned up dead last week.

Are you accusing him of murder?

Has your lieutenant
come up with anyone?

No.

Then, I gotta say, it looks
like he's the front runner.

Quincy, please, run
those other lab tests.

Any progress, Sam?

I checked for corticosteroids
and electrolyte levels.

Everything's within
normal ranges.

What are you running now?

Epinephrine...

Hey, I think we've
got something here.

Count's way down.

Twenty-five hundred counts...

That horse must've
been flyin' on epinephrine.

No wonder they can hardly
get 'em in the starting gates.

It's incredible he
lived as long as he did.

It's almost impossible
to believe, Sam.

A man you knew... Or thought
you knew for half your life...

Then, you figure he did do it?

That, when he took Star
Chaser to Doctor Harris,

he found out about the O.C.D.,

so he killed him for
the insurance money.

Yeah, but why, Sam?

Why would he kill a horse
worth two million dollars

when, as a stallion, it's worth
thirty-two million dollars? Unless...

Why? Unless what?

Unless the horse wasn't fertile.

Because with O.C.D. and sterility,
that horse wouldn't be worth a dime.

That has to be it.

After Doctor Harris told
him about the O.C.D.,

he had him run a fertility test.

If Doctor Asten calls, tell him I
had to go see a man about a horse...

A murdered one.

Here we go now.

Let's see what we've got.

I hope it'll help us come up with
a definite answer about sterility.

Hmm...

Only useless sperm cells.

Star Chaser's been dead too long
for them to tell us anything at all.

I'm afraid you're right.

If there weren't any
sperm cells in the section,

then we know for
sure he was infertile.

But this way, he
might've been, might not...

- We'll never know, will we?
- Nope...

- May I use your phone?
- Oh, please...

- Hello?
- Annie, it's me.

Any news?

Well, we ran the tests for
endogenous substances,

and we found a sky-high level
of epinephrine in Star Chaser.

You mean somebody injected him?

Like Nelson Spencer?

I think so, but I can't be sure.

You still doubt that he did it?

No. It's just that
we can't prove it

and if we can't prove it, we
can't prove he had a motive.

I mean, he can scream that Star Chaser
was worth fifteen times the insurance,

and we can't prove
that he wasn't fertile.

So, Spencer gets
off scot free, is that it?

I'm afraid so.

Quincy, he's guilty!

We can't let him
get away with it.

Why don't ya sit
tight. I'll be right over.

Where's Miss O'Connor?

She left.

What d'ya mean, she left?

She checked herself out
against the advice of her doctor.

- Are you Doctor Quincy?
- Yes, I am.

Well, she said as
soon as you got here, I

was to tell you she'd
gone to the race track.

She wanted you
to meet her there.

Operator, this is Doctor Quincy.

I want you to connect me
with Lieutenant Monahan

of the police department,
Central Division.

Homicide.

My, my...

Talk about the walking wounded.

Last I heard, you'd been arrested
for trying to act like an acrobat.

I've gotta talk to you.

Alright,

I tell you what.

I was just about to walk
up to the observation roof

to pick up some
binoculars that I left.

If you want to come along,

we can talk on the way.

It's so quiet here, when
everything's closed up.

Season's over, everyone's gone.

I don't know, there's sort of
a magic about it, a mystery.

Of course, the most exciting
day of all is opening day,

the color, the excitement,

the tension.

Horses going into the
gate for the first time.

I tell you, it sends a
chill right up my back.

Trouble is, I'm getting too old.

I figure every opening,

maybe it's gonna be my last...

That's where the binoculars are.

Best view of the whole place.

That's where I sat the day
that Star won his first race.

I got so excited, I almost
jumped over the edge...

Mr. Spencer, please!

This is all very interesting,

but I'm in a lot of pain,
so let's not play games.

I want ten percent of the two million
dollars you stole from People's Insurance.

I've got proof that you knew
about Star's bone disease

before they told
you at the necropsy.

And proof that Doctor
Harris ran a fertility test

which revealed the
horse was sterile.

And that's why you killed him.

Miss O'Connor, let me
tell you how simple it is.

You cannot prove
anything that isn't true.

This is a copy of a bill
from Doctor Harris' office.

Charges for O.C.D. x-rays,

and charges for fertility tests,

which proved your
horse was worthless.

Well, you've really
done your homework.

Alright.

I'm leaving for Paris
at six o'clock tonight.

Now, I will buy your silence
for the price that you asked,

providing that I never see or
hear of you again in my whole life.

Agreed.

My time is tight.

I'll drive you home and
we can settle it all right now.

No, not agreed.

We'll meet in a public place
and settle it in plain sight.

It's now or never,
Miss O'Connor.

Because when I get to Paris,

I don't care what
the hell you do.

Then it's never.

Well,

damned if you didn't
have me fooled.

"Alright, I'm flying to
Paris at six o'clock tonight.

"Now, I will buy your silence
for the price that you asked

with the provision that I never see or
hear from you for the rest of my life."

Clever ploy,

but I'm afraid it backfired.

Don't be stupid, Mr. Spencer.

I left a message for Quincy.
He's on his way here right now.

You think I'm gonna
buy that twice?

Do you think I'm stupid?

No!

He'll be here any minute.

It's no use. He knows it's you.

He knows everything!

No!

No!

No!

Nels!

Nels!

Don't do it, Nels!

Don't!

Don't!

Stop!

You made one mistake,

don't do it again. You're
not that kind of person.

Please, let her go.

Please!

Let her go.

- Let's get up there.
- No!

It's all over.

He'll bring her down.

Why Nels?

I needed the money.

But the horse made
over three million dollars.

Maybe you know how it is,

between Uncle Sam,
jockies' commissions,

plus big bets on
losing horses...

It just disappeared.

But Nels, you had the
ability, you had the talent.

You could've started over again.

You didn't have
to do it this way.

I didn't have the time.

Oh, I love being up there
in that Turf Club, Quince.

Eating those fine meals,
drinking that cold wine,

being sought after by people
that you admired all your racing life.

I just couldn't
lose any of that.

So, I was gonna
buy another miracle,

that horse in France.

He would've put me back on top.

And I could've handled it...

I'm a good trainer,
one of the very best.

But you gotta have the
right horse or you're nothing.

You gotta have the right horse.

I can't say that I'm sorry
because I don't feel that way.

I just feel,

empty.

I just feel,

cheated.

Alright, let's go.

You have the right
to remain silent.

If you give up that
right to remain silent...

- Well, welcome back.
- Hi, Dan.

Ah, my restaurant
is like your home.

That's the sweetest
thing you can say to me.

He makes everybody
feel like that.

That's why the place
is packed all the time.

He's right. I suit the
ambiance to the customer.

Like Quincy,

I get to know the
individual, his personality,

Et cetera, et cetera, and I fit
this place to them like a silk glove.

Like I've done for
you two tonight.

So, let me escort you to
your table and see for yourself.

Now, when the bell rings,

I want ya to come out and
fight clean, no punches...