The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977): Season 4, Episode 20 - Clown of Death - full transcript
A terminally ill circus rigger is killed in his hospital bed by someone made up as a clown. At first, the detectives suspect the victim's brother may have done it as a mercy killing, but when the brother is murdered as well, suspicion shifts to the nephew of the two men.
(theme music playing)
♪♪
(toy bugle playing)
Arp.
- Coochie, coochie, coo.
- Arp.
MAN: Hey, what's the
matter with this thing?
(light applause)
- Whoa.
- (laughs)
(giggles)
(honks)
(honks again)
(respirator whooshing
rhythmically)
(respirator stops)
(rhythmic beeping)
(flatline)
Code blue, room 351.
MAN: We tried
to defibrillate him,
and when there was no response,
we brought the body down here.
I'll send you a copy of
the preliminary autopsy.
KELLER: According
to your medical record,
Mr. Reiner was terminal?
Yes. Yes, he was
completely dependant
on the respirator.
It was really only
a matter of time,
perhaps weeks.
Are you sure it couldn't
have been an accident?
Yes, and so is my
maintenance supervisor.
Albert Reiner, 67. Retired.
Medicare's picking up his tab.
Next of kin is a
brother, same address.
Gentlemen, I'd very
much appreciate
knowing the results
of your investigation
as soon as possible.
Well, we'd like to start by
looking at Reiner's room.
Is that really
necessary, Lieutenant?
You know, a thing like this
is very bad for the hospital.
Doctor, we're not too
happy about it either.
MAN: Like I told
you, it works perfectly.
KELLER: There's no way this
plug could've worked its way loose?
No way, it's a locking plug.
I just had to put a whole
new power cable on it.
See, here's the cable I took
off. Now, this locking plug
twists in and locks.
Now these leads
were ripped out of here.
And believe me, it took more
than one hard pull to do it.
Was this room sterilized?
In ICU, it's standard procedure.
And the medical
team wasn't thinking
of homicide, Lieutenant.
We were only
trying to save a life.
Miss Martins, were you
the first one in the room?
I ran in as soon as I heard
the cardiac arrest signal.
Was there anyone in the hall?
No, sir.
What about the other
members of the staff?
I drafted most of the
aides to wheel the patients
out to the west lawn.
The circus gave us a free
performance this morning.
Exhibit A.
Has Reiner's
brother been notified?
No, not yet. We don't
have a home phone listed.
But I'm told that he visited
Mr. Reiner every morning.
You know what time he
was here today, ma'am?
Mr. Reiner's had no visitors.
He's had one.
KELLER: So the only
prints we found on that cable
- belong to MacLeod. -Uh-huh.
- And we don't got one witness.
- Uh-huh.
And why would somebody
kill a terminal patient anyway?
What was the other
brother's name?
Uh, Hans.
Hans, yeah, that's right.
First morning in a
month he doesn't visit.
Does that suggest anything?
Like what?
Maybe he was there...
to release his brother
from that machine.
Oh, euthanasia?
Unless you have a better theory.
Hi, Jack.
Ah, that's what I love
about doing benefits.
Coffee and a
sinker for breakfast,
and a jokey box of bread
and baloney for lunch.
Don't tell me, tell
Sterling, he ordered it.
Uh.
Anyhow, Red, you ought
to be on Weight Watchers.
Oh, yeah?
I mean, there I am, four
feet off the ground, right?
Suddenly an old lady
gets out of her wheelchair.
(all laugh)
Look, there's no show
tonight, how about dinner?
Oh, I don't think
so. I'm kind of tired.
- I was sightseeing all day.
- Hmm.
Sightseeing? What is this?
I mean, last week every
night, this week nothing?
Tell her I'm serious about her.
- He's serious about you.
- There, you see?
WOMAN: And about
acrobats, and ballet dancers
- Hey.
- And trapeze artists, and...
(laughs)
I wonder how you have the
strength to stay on the wire.
Oh.
That's serious
business up there.
I mean, do you know
when I'm up there,
every moment I worry.
One misstep, I may
never see you again.
Oh... Oh, all right.
Excellent. I'll, uh, I'll
pick you up about 7:00.
Hmm.
I don't know how you stand him.
All his class is in his feet.
Yeah, well, at least
he's got it somewhere.
(laughing)
He's not in.
You know, uh,
where Mr. Reiner is?
WOMAN: What would
the police want with him?
STONE: Well, we'd like to
talk to him about his brother.
- Albert?
- Mm-hmm.
Oh, no, is he... He
died a few hours ago.
Dear God.
It will be so hard on poor Hans.
Ever since he put
Albert in the hospital,
he's just been lost.
Well, do you have
any idea where he is?
Well, in the mornings, he
always goes to the hospital.
The rest of the time he
just stays around here.
The circus.
He told me he was going to
the circus at the Cow Palace.
Hans and Albert
never missed a one.
That was their profession,
you know, until they retired.
Well, would you have him
call me when you see him?
Certainly.
Uh, is it, uh,
is it all right if I tell
him what happened?
I think you'd be
the best one to do it.
Oh. I will.
KELLER: Thank you.
STONE: Well, they both
belonged to the circus.
There was a
circus at the hospital
at the time of the homicide.
Could be a connection.
KELLER: Could be you just
want to go see the big top.
Beats paying $6.50 a ticket.
Okay, you got the cradle tent,
now get the three
single caps up.
Jack has been our
ringmaster since year one.
You know, I'd
only be kidding you
if I didn't admit
that he ran things.
Or worse, I'd be kidding myself.
Oh, Jack.
Listen, did we ever have a Hans
or an Albert Reiner work for us?
I don't think so, Mr. Sterling.
What was their act?
Uh, we don't know that.
Uh, this is Lieutenant
Stone and Inspector Keller,
- San Francisco Police.
- How do you do?
- Jack Leopold.
- Hello.
Uh, I could ask around. They
may have been on other shows.
How large a troupe did you
send to the hospital this morning?
Uh, 24, sir. I had
clowns, acrobats,
jugglers, uh,
wire act, pony act.
Is something wrong?
Well, we might have
a possible homicide.
LEOPOLD: That makes two.
- What do you mean?
- That old man who was knifed
outside the arena
when we played Denver.
The police said
it was a mugging.
All the same, he died in
the shadow of the circus.
Death comes three times.
Circus people live
on superstitions.
And luck,
and weather, and
moods, and accidents.
I tell you, what I could
really use on this staff
is an exorcist.
Well, if I can be
of any more help,
please let me know.
We will. Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- Bye.
May I keep this, uh,
this for a little while?
- Of course.
- Thank you.
Uh, just, uh, what is it
you're looking for, Inspector?
Answers, that's
all. Just answers.
Well, I don't think you're
gonna find any here.
You know, a lot of people have
funny ideas about the circus,
but we're just a
business, like IBM,
or the telephone company, or...
What are you... Excuse me.
Hey, what are you guys
doing with that paint?
I told you gold leaf, not
that dingy mustard color.
Watch what you're
doing, for heaven sakes,
and get a ground
cloth down there.
This isn't some
ragged, little mud show.
Just like any other business?
Yeah.
So where do you want to start?
Oh, I'll take the
clowns, and the, um,
the jugglers.
Good. I'll take the pony girls.
That figures.
(elephant
trumpeting, lion snarls)
Uh, excuse me, I'm
looking for the ponies.
Um, do those look
like ponies to you?
No, those look like elephants.
Oh, that's very good.
You know the difference
between a pony and an elephant.
That I do, yeah.
They're in the shed over there.
You interested in anyone
in particular, sweet face?
Uh, yeah...
- Hi.
- Hello, hi.
Yeah, I'm interested in anyone
who was at the
hospital this morning.
- Uh-uh.
- We weren't on call.
What are you, an insurance man?
No, a cop.
A cop?
Should of known. Somebody
scarper with something?
Somebody did what?
Steal something.
KELLER: Yeah.
Yeah, something like that.
So you said the shed
was right over there?
Yeah, uh, Barbara, will
you show him where it is?
I never met a cop yet who
knew his way out of a paper bag.
Thank you very much.
- You're welcome.
- Been very kind.
She's always like that?
- Always.
- Right.
Especially with cops.
- She was married to one.
- Oh.
Say, isn't this
sort of like the,
like the car that Lou
Jacobs rigged up,
only larger?
Uh-huh.
- Know him?
- No.
No, no, I never
had that privilege.
I just read up on clown
routines whenever I can.
I-I did a clown act...
I mean, I tried to do a
clown act in the police show.
Strictly amateur.
Uh... listen, uh, I
understand you fellas
did a benefit at the hospital.
Clowns always do the benefits.
Yeah. I, uh, understand
that there was an old circus
hand named Albert Reiner.
He died in the hospital.
Do any of you know him?
RED: Oh, sure.
Old-timers, he and Hans.
He worked the Scaloni,
uh, one-ringer in London.
Were they clowns?
No, no. No, Al was a
wire walker at the time,
and then he was,
uh, boss rigger.
Hans was propman.
Must be, uh, ten, 11 years ago.
You know, seems that,
uh, Neil told me they were...
he was related to
them or something.
Neil?
High-wire guy.
I didn't get anything.
Troupe left the
hospital about 11:30,
then they came
back here... Look out.
Geez, it slipped. I'm sorry.
You all right?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm just fine.
Sure.
- Neil Ruggers?
- Yeah.
San Francisco Police.
I want to ask you
a few questions.
My sense of timing
is really terrific, isn't it?
I understand that you're related
to Albert and Hans Reiner.
Yeah. They're my uncles.
When was the last
time you saw them?
Oh... (sighs)
I don't know. Back in
the Dark Ages. Why?
Did you perform at the
hospital this morning?
Yeah.
Well, your Uncle Albert...
Did you visit him?
No. I, uh...
I didn't even know he
was in San Francisco.
Look, what's-what's
all this about?
Well, your uncle
died this morning.
Oh.
He was such a... tough old bird.
I always figured
he'd last forever.
How did he get
along with his brother?
Hans. Oh, they were
like Siamese twins.
Tell us anything
about their friends,
habits, enemies? Anything?
Man, I can't, uh... I
can't tell you anything.
I mean, I... left
a long time ago.
You see, they brought
me up after my mother died,
taught me how to...
how to work the wire.
But they were perfectionists,
you know, Old World,
and I just couldn't
take it, so I left.
Guess it's a little late
to say I'm sorry now.
What, uh... what did he die of?
It's possible he was murdered.
Like I say, my sense
of timing... it's terrific.
If Hans happens to come
to see you, have him call us.
- Thank you.
- Sure.
STONE: Intensive
care ward, please.
Miss Martins, if she's on duty.
I'll hold.
Yeah, Denver's got the
case open as a knife mugging.
60-year-old Caucasian
male, five feet, eight.
Mugger's got the ID.
Haven't been able
to trace the prints yet.
- STONE: Yeah, well, what about a photo?
- It's on its way.
Miss Martins? Lieutenant Stone.
Has Hans shown up yet?
All right.
Thank you.
Still missing.
Yeah. Mrs. Clemons said
Hans hasn't come back
to the apartment, either.
Think he's taken off?
Mm-hmm. Could be grief.
Or guilt.
Let's get a search warrant.
Okay.
Maybe he'll be
a lot easier to find
if we know what he looks like.
He's never stayed
away this long before.
I told the young man
who was here earlier,
I haven't the foggiest idea
where Mr. Reiner could be.
Now, what young man was that?
Oh, he didn't give his name,
wouldn't leave a message.
(loud, indistinct
shouting of children)
I tried to come in once
in a while and tidy up.
Although they don't
pay for cleaning service.
It's got a lot worse
since Albert got sick.
Uh, is he in any of these?
I... Mike?
(dog barking in distance)
(indistinct radio transmission)
Well, the M.E. says he's
been dead four to six hours.
Now, what's that?
Some stuff they found
under his fingernails...
A white powder.
Uh, it's not smack.
Okay, take it to the lab.
Look at this. Scrapbooks
all over the place.
All on Neil... Neil Ruggers.
They followed his career all
the way from the apprenticeship
right to the center ring.
Grey and Barston Circus, '68.
Barston, '71, USA National, '73.
Ruggers said he had
no contact with them,
but they sure been
following his career.
MRS. CLEMONS: Lieutenant?
The officer said you
wanted to see me.
Yes. I wanted you
to take a look at this.
Was this the young man
that was here at 7:00 tonight?
It is.
Who is he?
A nephew. Name is Neil Ruggers.
Did they ever talk about him?
No. I don't think so.
I...
Come on.
Why don't you go to your room?
(crying) Thank you.
We'll call you if we need you.
It's a safe-deposit key of
some bank down the street.
Say, I'll get a court order
for that safe-deposit box.
- Let's wrap it up here.
- Okay.
And why don't you
hit the circus again?
- What, Neil?
- Yeah.
He was at hospital this
morning, he was here tonight.
If he isn't part of
this, he should be.
Why don't you pick him up?
Okay, yeah.
Went by his room, it was dark.
- Well, Neil might be in the blue room.
- (elephant trumpeting)
What is, uh...?
What's the blue room?
That's any room with a table.
The game starts in
March down in Florida,
and it ends back
there in November.
My dad always told
me, "Never sit in."
I figured it was one of those,
"Don't mingle with the
help," snobbery things
until they hung me
out to dry a few times.
- (elephant trumpeting) -This
is gonna cost you everything,
including your big red nose.
Uh-huh. We talking or betting?
75 cents.
Has anybody seen Ruggers?
- No.
- Call.
(coins clinking)
Uh, we saved a bale
for him, but no show.
You know where I might find him?
Well, been seeing a
lot of Barbara lately.
And I don't think
it's for riding lessons.
(clearing his throat)
Gentlemen, jacks and threes.
Ah.
I keep the nose, huh?
Barbara? I'm
sorry to bother you,
but we're looking for Neil.
Did you try the blue room?
He made a big thing about
taking me out to dinner,
and then decided to play poker.
Well, he hasn't
been there all day.
- Did you ever hear...?
- Hiya, sweet face.
- (elephant trumpeting)
- You're still around, huh?
- Yeah.
- What's wrong?
Well, uh... Uh, excuse me.
Have you ever heard of
a Hans or Albert Reiner?
No.
They're, uh, Neil's uncles.
They both died this morning.
And?
Crystal, keep out
of this, will you?
Well, um, when was the
last time you saw Neil?
Oh, around 6:30.
I mean, do you know
where he is now?
I mean, does he have
friends in town, or...?
Not that I know of. I-I
don't know where he is.
Could I, uh, take a look
in his dressing room?
I don't have a key... but I
can get one from the manager.
Um, I have a key.
Want some popcorn?
Thank you.
(sighs)
Would you please tell
me what's going on?
Was it an accident?
Possible homicide.
"Manchester, 1964.
Al, Hans, Boylan, Murdock, Red."
This is Stone.
I've got a snapshot here
that I'd like to have blown up.
I'll send it right down.
Rosin bag.
Found it in Neil's trailer.
Hasn't been around the Cow
Palace since 6:30 this evening.
- He miss a show?
- No, no, they're dark on Monday.
But he missed his
girl. He lied to her.
Well, we still can't touch him.
I know, but he's just got a lot
of character defects, you know.
Seems to me, he
might be possible
of murdering his uncles.
So, I'll take down...
this down to the lab
and have it checked out.
Oh, here, while you're at it,
take this down, too, will you?
Remind them that I want it blown
up by 9:00 tomorrow morning.
(Stone sighs)
Did you get the lab report?
Yeah, nothing, no match.
It wasn't rosin under
old Hans' fingernails.
It was talcum powder.
Well, which all performers use.
They all use makeup.
Well, that gives us
20 more suspects.
Maybe not.
I found these in
the safe-deposit box.
Life insurance policies.
$10,000 apiece.
One made out to Albert,
and the other one to Hans.
Neil is the beneficiary
on both of them.
It's motive and access.
I just hope ol' Neil's
got a perfect alibi.
Yeah.
RED: No, I haven't
seen Neil all morning,
but he's got to be
around someplace.
Never missed a show yet.
What about the, uh, photo, Red?
Yeah, that's me, all right.
Now, I worked a dozen
little shows on the Continent.
A lot more circuses over there.
But I wasn't with Scaloni,
except for the,
uh, '63-'64 season.
What about Murdock and Boylan?
What do they do? Uh,
performers, or, uh...?
Oh, they were probably
part of Al Reiner's crew.
But after 11 years, I can't
remember their names.
He's not in his trailer,
and no one's seen him.
You pick anything up?
I remember some trouble
in Scaloni about the Reiners.
Happened after I left.
Some, uh, some kind of hassle.
Well, what was it?
Do you know anyone
who was involved?
Come on, Red. Can
you think of anything?
I'll think on it.
(whistle blows)
That's us.
(drumroll, Red sighs)
Okay. Thank you very much.
Excuse me.
(band plays upbeat
instrumental music)
Neil! Neil, the police
have been looking for you.
Where have you been?
I, uh, was drinking last night.
Later, huh?
Neil they think your
uncle was killed.
Hans?
I had to tell them
you broke our date.
Yeah, but what did
he say about Hans?
They think he was
killed, murdered.
You know, the cops were
asking me all kinds of questions.
Yeah.
RED: Take it easy, kid.
Now, I just remembered
some trouble
your uncles got into
at the Scaloni Circus.
Maybe it had something
to do with their murder.
What are you talking about?
Hey! Let's go!
Spec's lining up.
I'll talk to you right
after the show.
(upbeat instrumental
music playing)
You really dig this, don't you?
Since I was a kid.
(applause)
(elephant trumpeting)
(applause)
(hooting)
(applause)
(elephant trumpeting)
(applause)
(applause)
(gunshot)
(applause)
Hey.
Hey, Red! Red, you okay?! Red?
Oh, my gosh, he's been shot!
Go get a stretcher.
What's that all about?
Hey, hey, call for an ambulance!
That's not part of
the act. Come on!
(applause)
(engine starting)
(siren wailing)
Hey. Where did you hide the gun?
What? What are
you talking about?
You know what I'm talking about.
You had time to
change your clothes.
Now, where did you hide it?
Look, I don't
have time for this.
Went and saw your
uncle last night, didn't you?
What is this? What
are you hassling me for?
Neil, 20,000 bucks
insurance money.
CRYSTAL: Neil?
Neil. Listen, he's gonna be
blowing more than his whistle
if you don't get out there.
Look, I got to go.
No, no, no, no, no. You're
gonna come with me.
Change your clothes.
You're coming with me.
Excuse us very much. Excuse us.
Oh.
Leopold?
When they take him to
his room, I want one man
standing in front of
that door day and night,
24 hours, around the clock.
And nobody gets in.
Do you understand?
Nobody without the
doctor's permission.
Yes?
He's still in shock, but it
could have been worse.
Well, I saw him
take a loaded shot
right in the chest, point blank.
No, Lieutenant, that's
not quite how it happened.
25 pounds of padding
absorbed most of the pellets,
slowed down those it didn't.
But it was still like getting
kicked in the guts by a mule.
Then he'll be all right?
If there are no complications.
I'll keep you notified.
Thanks.
Right. I visited Uncle
Hans, and he wasn't home.
So, then you go out
and get drunk. Is that it?
It doesn't make
it, Neil. No way.
You got the opportunity, no
alibi and a $20,000 motive,
so where the hell were you?!
I spent the night... (sighs)
with a girl in a motel
near Fisherman's Wharf.
What's her name?
(Keller sighs)
Listen, you're down to
about two choices now...
Public defender
or private attorney.
(sighs)
The lady is with the circus.
She's married, and I...
I don't want
Barbara to find out.
I don't even know if I can
make you see this, but I...
I care about
Barbara. The thing is,
I guess I just don't
understand her very well.
(sighs)
I mean, one
minute, she's terrific,
and an hour later, she's ice.
Well, last night
at 6:30... (laughs)
it was bad headache
time, so, I, uh...
I looked elsewhere.
I don't want the lady's
husband to find out, please.
What's the girl's name
and the motel room number?
(Neil sighs)
Gina Marshall.
The Twilight. 224, 226.
If you knew anything
about makeup, you'd know
I didn't have time to shoot him
and then remove it all
before you found me.
Could have worn
a face mask, Neil.
The paraffin tests wouldn't
show any gunpowder
on your hands, either.
Killer wore gloves, didn't he?
(scoffs)
(rhythmic whirring,
indistinct chatter)
Hey, Mike?
Your picture's coming
in from Denver PD.
Uh-huh. Now that's the
baby I've been waiting for.
Ten years older, but
that's Boylan, all right.
NEIL: Whatever it was,
Red had it figured out
and was gonna tell me.
KELLER: Well, see, Red...
He's not talking
too much right now.
Go right ahead. Don't
let me bother you.
You know, I don't care
what you think of me.
I didn't kill him.
See, the man can't come
up with anything more original
than the fact that he
spent the night with a lady.
Check it. It's very
simple. Check it.
Say, who's Mr. Boylan?
- What Mr. Boylan?
- This one right here.
He was murdered in
Denver a month ago.
That's when you and
the circus were there.
This must be one of my
uncle's old photographs.
STONE: It is.
Hans, Albert, Red.
I don't recognize
the other guys.
Look, it's dated '64.
I was in boarding
school in 1964.
You can check the records.
Well, we got a lot
of checking out to do.
How long's the circus
gonna be in town?
We open, uh, in
Vancouver on Monday.
Ah. Well, maybe
you ought to plan
on being here a little longer.
All right, you can go for now.
(door closes)
What are you doing?
He's the only suspect we have.
He's not only leaving the
state, he's leaving the country.
Can you prove that he was in
that hospital room this morning?
Or that he was in
Reiner's apartment?
You can't.
I'm telling you, there's
a face missing there.
A clown. The killer clown.
And Sparky saw him.
Come on.
Let's go find our sketch artist.
SPARKY: Uh, make
that tear bigger.
Yeah.
The mouth was droopier.
Huh. Guess it all depends
how you make the bread, huh?
You know about suspects,
I know about makeup.
Anyhow, I'll never
forget that guy's face.
Well, take a good look, Sparky.
You're our only witness.
Let me have that.
What do you say, fellas?
I read somewhere where
there's an unwritten law
that every clown's makeup
is his own personal trademark.
I know you guys will steal
gags, but never a face.
If we knew, we'd tell you.
So who might know?
Uh, there is one
guy here in town.
Freddie Olburn.
Ex-kinker.
Had a clown museum
up on North Beach.
(toy siren sounding,
clinking and whirring)
It's all here, friends.
Everything your
little heart’s desire.
If you're not
happy, you're sick.
(whirring and clinking)
Yeah, Sparky's right.
I have a museum.
It's in the back in
my quarters. Private.
Nice going, son.
Keep that up, and
you'll be at the real thing,
sooner than you think.
You, uh, care to try your luck?
No. We're already
at the real thing.
I'd like to see the museum.
I'd appreciate it.
Unbelievable, Freddie.
Just... It's just beautiful.
- (Freddie laughs)
- Really beautiful.
Listen, you ever seen a
clown's face like that one?
(Freddie laughs)
Cesar Volnak
performed as a clown,
later as a Joey, a
high-wire walker.
Never made it big, but
a good, solid performer.
Don't think he ever
played in this country.
Where is he now?
You know, my guess is,
he's with the USA National
under a different name.
Uh, he goes back to the Raddick
Consolidated Shows of '38.
Haden's London Circus '46.
Long Brothers,
McDonald, Edinburgh.
Scaloni, '60 through
'64, then no employment.
Volnak died in
Brighton, November, '71.
The names, uh,
Boylan and Murdock...
They mean anything to you?
They were riggers at
the Scaloni Circus in '64.
Oh, I didn't follow the working
men, just the performers.
Had to draw a line somewhere.
Boylan. Boylan,
Boylan, Boylan, Boylan...
No.
KELLER: And Murdock.
Ah, here's a Sean Murdock.
Worked as a ringmaster.
Drank himself out of a job.
I got him now
living in Vancouver.
Vancouver?
That's the next
stop for the circus.
Oh, Mike, Sergeant
Hawlins, Vancouver Police.
Yes, Sergeant.
We traced Sean Murdock
for you, Lieutenant.
He says he did work with
Scaloni Circus in 1964.
I'm putting him on the phone.
(sighs)
Mr. Murdock?
Four men that worked
with you at Scaloni
have been victims of a killer.
Albert and Hans Reiner
and Boylan are already dead.
Red Ashburn is in the
hospital unconscious.
He's been shot.
Now, I have reason to
believe that it's a high-wire Joey
named Cesar Volnak.
Mr. Murdock, I need
all the help I can get.
That's why I'm asking
you, do you know anything?
That's a long time ago.
Guess it's all of ten years.
I don't know if Red
was still with them then.
I don't remember
things too well anymore.
We, uh... uh... Al,
Hans, Boylan and me...
Were on the rigging crew.
A guywire broke on Cesar's rig.
He came down hard.
Yeah, he was
busted up pretty bad.
How bad?
MURDOCK: Bad. His legs.
We picked him up,
he was just all broke.
He blamed us for it.
He made a lot of crazy talk.
He claimed we was drunk.
Said he'd kill us.
It's Dr. Mayhill for Mike,
but I think you better take it.
Okay.
Yeah, this is Inspector
Keller, Doctor.
May I help you?
Inspector, Red Ashburn
died ten minutes ago.
How?
Well, all technical
jargon aside,
his heart just gave out.
The shock of the wound.
He lived hard, used
up, no reserve left.
It happens.
Okay, can you hang
on one second, please?
Thank you.
Red just died.
Heart.
Mr. Murdock,
would you put the sergeant
back on the phone, please?
Yes?
Sergeant,
Murdock is a
potential murder victim.
He needs protection.
Thanks.
All right, I'll teletype all
the information I have.
Dr. Mayhill, line four.
Dr. Mayhill,
I want you to withhold all the
information you can on Red.
Just for a few hours.
Thanks.
I tell you,
the one thing that
ties it all together
is revenge.
It couldn't be Volnak,
so it had to be somebody
who was really close to him.
Let Interpol get
into it, will you?
I mean, they can trace his
life story, then give you the link.
Oh, come on, Steve,
what are you talking about?
Barring a confession,
we don't have a
case against anybody.
Not even if we knew who did it.
How many times have you
told me, never, as a police officer,
do you use yourself as a target.
I'm not going in as a target.
These murders were
all carefully planned
except for Red's.
Now, I tell you
that that killer got frightened.
He thought that
Red knew something.
Well, I'm just gonna
crowd him a little bit
and give him some bait
and hope he takes it.
What if he doesn't run?
There is no danger,
I'm telling you.
- Oh, Mike.
- If everybody does his job.
I told them I
called the hospital
and that he was feeling so good
he'd probably show
up here tonight.
(sighs)
Okay, all units report.
This is Gary backstage.
I'll have Mike
covered to the arena.
This is Stevens
in the main arena.
We've got a good view
of the whole area, Steve.
We're set, Steve.
Neil's still in the
dressing room.
(whistle blows)
LEOPOLD: Mount up!
Showtime.
Let's get ready.
Come on, happy faces.
Smiling faces, everybody.
Showtime, walk to your spaces.
Let's go.
(fanfare plays)
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen,
girls and boys.
Welcome to the
USA National Circus.
Our opening display
is a glittering galaxy
of internationally
famous circus stars
in a sprightly
promenade of greeting.
A preview of all the joy,
happiness, and laughter
of the circus yet to come.
(whistle blows)
(snarling)
(man yelling indistinctly)
(laughter)
(laughter)
(laughter)
LEOPOLD: In ring number
one, ladies and gentlemen,
the lovely Miss Loni Ironberg
and her famous
dressage horse, White.
In ring number three,
Miss Ernestine Clark
and her miniature equine revue.
(elephant trumpeting)
(engine sputtering)
(roars)
Yeah?
He's coming in now.
(engine sputtering)
(fanfare plays)
LEOPOLD: Ladies and gentlemen,
with great pride, the
USA National Circus
presents the greatest
funambulistic star
of all times.
He walks where
angels fear to tread.
In the upper reaches
of the Cow Palace,
ladies and gentlemen,
the undisputed
king of the high-wire,
Mr. Neil Ruggers.
(applause)
(drumroll)
(drumroll)
(audience gasps)
This concludes our circus
performance here this evening.
Thank you very much for
coming to the USA National Circus.
Seemed like a good idea.
He didn't show.
Nope.
How did I do?
Well, I don't think
Emmett Kelly's
gonna lose any sleep over you.
The kids liked it.
Ah, we weren't lucky, I guess.
We weren't?
Could have been a
lot worse, you know?
It's all over.
Tell them all to leave.
Okay.
(clicks)
(gunshots)
(door closes)
It's the clown.
Come on.
♪♪
♪♪
He was my father,
and they killed him.
Those drunks.
I took care of
him for six years,
and I watched him die.
He was a good man,
and they killed him.
They killed him.
They killed him...
They killed him.
(sobbing) They killed him.
They killed him.
I thought maybe
you'd like to have
this for your collection.
Red Ashburn's?
(loud clattering)
That's right, kiddies,
break your legs off.
(bell dinging)
Let's go in the back.
Well, uh,
what-what's going to
happen to Volnak's kid?
Oh, she's gonna go to trial.
See, she used the
circus as a cover-up.
Uh, she used Neil to find
out where the Reiners were,
and Boylan, he just
sort of walked in there.
Guess he couldn't stay
away from a good circus.
FREDDIE: But why Red?
He never hurt Volnak.
See, she thought
that Red remembered
that Volnak had a daughter who
wanted to be a bareback rider.
She was probably right.
You know, I'd sure like to
have a memento of this case.
Oh, no.
You're not asking me
to break up that set?
I didn't mean that.
Oh.
Well, I'll tell you
what I will do.
How'd you like
something personal?
Your own special clown makeup?
I'll register it tomorrow.
An original one for me?
Yeah.
I'd like that.
You know, Steve, if
I hadn't been a cop...
I know.
I know, Mike, you
would have been a clown.
♪♪
(toy bugle playing)
Arp.
- Coochie, coochie, coo.
- Arp.
MAN: Hey, what's the
matter with this thing?
(light applause)
- Whoa.
- (laughs)
(giggles)
(honks)
(honks again)
(respirator whooshing
rhythmically)
(respirator stops)
(rhythmic beeping)
(flatline)
Code blue, room 351.
MAN: We tried
to defibrillate him,
and when there was no response,
we brought the body down here.
I'll send you a copy of
the preliminary autopsy.
KELLER: According
to your medical record,
Mr. Reiner was terminal?
Yes. Yes, he was
completely dependant
on the respirator.
It was really only
a matter of time,
perhaps weeks.
Are you sure it couldn't
have been an accident?
Yes, and so is my
maintenance supervisor.
Albert Reiner, 67. Retired.
Medicare's picking up his tab.
Next of kin is a
brother, same address.
Gentlemen, I'd very
much appreciate
knowing the results
of your investigation
as soon as possible.
Well, we'd like to start by
looking at Reiner's room.
Is that really
necessary, Lieutenant?
You know, a thing like this
is very bad for the hospital.
Doctor, we're not too
happy about it either.
MAN: Like I told
you, it works perfectly.
KELLER: There's no way this
plug could've worked its way loose?
No way, it's a locking plug.
I just had to put a whole
new power cable on it.
See, here's the cable I took
off. Now, this locking plug
twists in and locks.
Now these leads
were ripped out of here.
And believe me, it took more
than one hard pull to do it.
Was this room sterilized?
In ICU, it's standard procedure.
And the medical
team wasn't thinking
of homicide, Lieutenant.
We were only
trying to save a life.
Miss Martins, were you
the first one in the room?
I ran in as soon as I heard
the cardiac arrest signal.
Was there anyone in the hall?
No, sir.
What about the other
members of the staff?
I drafted most of the
aides to wheel the patients
out to the west lawn.
The circus gave us a free
performance this morning.
Exhibit A.
Has Reiner's
brother been notified?
No, not yet. We don't
have a home phone listed.
But I'm told that he visited
Mr. Reiner every morning.
You know what time he
was here today, ma'am?
Mr. Reiner's had no visitors.
He's had one.
KELLER: So the only
prints we found on that cable
- belong to MacLeod. -Uh-huh.
- And we don't got one witness.
- Uh-huh.
And why would somebody
kill a terminal patient anyway?
What was the other
brother's name?
Uh, Hans.
Hans, yeah, that's right.
First morning in a
month he doesn't visit.
Does that suggest anything?
Like what?
Maybe he was there...
to release his brother
from that machine.
Oh, euthanasia?
Unless you have a better theory.
Hi, Jack.
Ah, that's what I love
about doing benefits.
Coffee and a
sinker for breakfast,
and a jokey box of bread
and baloney for lunch.
Don't tell me, tell
Sterling, he ordered it.
Uh.
Anyhow, Red, you ought
to be on Weight Watchers.
Oh, yeah?
I mean, there I am, four
feet off the ground, right?
Suddenly an old lady
gets out of her wheelchair.
(all laugh)
Look, there's no show
tonight, how about dinner?
Oh, I don't think
so. I'm kind of tired.
- I was sightseeing all day.
- Hmm.
Sightseeing? What is this?
I mean, last week every
night, this week nothing?
Tell her I'm serious about her.
- He's serious about you.
- There, you see?
WOMAN: And about
acrobats, and ballet dancers
- Hey.
- And trapeze artists, and...
(laughs)
I wonder how you have the
strength to stay on the wire.
Oh.
That's serious
business up there.
I mean, do you know
when I'm up there,
every moment I worry.
One misstep, I may
never see you again.
Oh... Oh, all right.
Excellent. I'll, uh, I'll
pick you up about 7:00.
Hmm.
I don't know how you stand him.
All his class is in his feet.
Yeah, well, at least
he's got it somewhere.
(laughing)
He's not in.
You know, uh,
where Mr. Reiner is?
WOMAN: What would
the police want with him?
STONE: Well, we'd like to
talk to him about his brother.
- Albert?
- Mm-hmm.
Oh, no, is he... He
died a few hours ago.
Dear God.
It will be so hard on poor Hans.
Ever since he put
Albert in the hospital,
he's just been lost.
Well, do you have
any idea where he is?
Well, in the mornings, he
always goes to the hospital.
The rest of the time he
just stays around here.
The circus.
He told me he was going to
the circus at the Cow Palace.
Hans and Albert
never missed a one.
That was their profession,
you know, until they retired.
Well, would you have him
call me when you see him?
Certainly.
Uh, is it, uh,
is it all right if I tell
him what happened?
I think you'd be
the best one to do it.
Oh. I will.
KELLER: Thank you.
STONE: Well, they both
belonged to the circus.
There was a
circus at the hospital
at the time of the homicide.
Could be a connection.
KELLER: Could be you just
want to go see the big top.
Beats paying $6.50 a ticket.
Okay, you got the cradle tent,
now get the three
single caps up.
Jack has been our
ringmaster since year one.
You know, I'd
only be kidding you
if I didn't admit
that he ran things.
Or worse, I'd be kidding myself.
Oh, Jack.
Listen, did we ever have a Hans
or an Albert Reiner work for us?
I don't think so, Mr. Sterling.
What was their act?
Uh, we don't know that.
Uh, this is Lieutenant
Stone and Inspector Keller,
- San Francisco Police.
- How do you do?
- Jack Leopold.
- Hello.
Uh, I could ask around. They
may have been on other shows.
How large a troupe did you
send to the hospital this morning?
Uh, 24, sir. I had
clowns, acrobats,
jugglers, uh,
wire act, pony act.
Is something wrong?
Well, we might have
a possible homicide.
LEOPOLD: That makes two.
- What do you mean?
- That old man who was knifed
outside the arena
when we played Denver.
The police said
it was a mugging.
All the same, he died in
the shadow of the circus.
Death comes three times.
Circus people live
on superstitions.
And luck,
and weather, and
moods, and accidents.
I tell you, what I could
really use on this staff
is an exorcist.
Well, if I can be
of any more help,
please let me know.
We will. Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
- Bye.
May I keep this, uh,
this for a little while?
- Of course.
- Thank you.
Uh, just, uh, what is it
you're looking for, Inspector?
Answers, that's
all. Just answers.
Well, I don't think you're
gonna find any here.
You know, a lot of people have
funny ideas about the circus,
but we're just a
business, like IBM,
or the telephone company, or...
What are you... Excuse me.
Hey, what are you guys
doing with that paint?
I told you gold leaf, not
that dingy mustard color.
Watch what you're
doing, for heaven sakes,
and get a ground
cloth down there.
This isn't some
ragged, little mud show.
Just like any other business?
Yeah.
So where do you want to start?
Oh, I'll take the
clowns, and the, um,
the jugglers.
Good. I'll take the pony girls.
That figures.
(elephant
trumpeting, lion snarls)
Uh, excuse me, I'm
looking for the ponies.
Um, do those look
like ponies to you?
No, those look like elephants.
Oh, that's very good.
You know the difference
between a pony and an elephant.
That I do, yeah.
They're in the shed over there.
You interested in anyone
in particular, sweet face?
Uh, yeah...
- Hi.
- Hello, hi.
Yeah, I'm interested in anyone
who was at the
hospital this morning.
- Uh-uh.
- We weren't on call.
What are you, an insurance man?
No, a cop.
A cop?
Should of known. Somebody
scarper with something?
Somebody did what?
Steal something.
KELLER: Yeah.
Yeah, something like that.
So you said the shed
was right over there?
Yeah, uh, Barbara, will
you show him where it is?
I never met a cop yet who
knew his way out of a paper bag.
Thank you very much.
- You're welcome.
- Been very kind.
She's always like that?
- Always.
- Right.
Especially with cops.
- She was married to one.
- Oh.
Say, isn't this
sort of like the,
like the car that Lou
Jacobs rigged up,
only larger?
Uh-huh.
- Know him?
- No.
No, no, I never
had that privilege.
I just read up on clown
routines whenever I can.
I-I did a clown act...
I mean, I tried to do a
clown act in the police show.
Strictly amateur.
Uh... listen, uh, I
understand you fellas
did a benefit at the hospital.
Clowns always do the benefits.
Yeah. I, uh, understand
that there was an old circus
hand named Albert Reiner.
He died in the hospital.
Do any of you know him?
RED: Oh, sure.
Old-timers, he and Hans.
He worked the Scaloni,
uh, one-ringer in London.
Were they clowns?
No, no. No, Al was a
wire walker at the time,
and then he was,
uh, boss rigger.
Hans was propman.
Must be, uh, ten, 11 years ago.
You know, seems that,
uh, Neil told me they were...
he was related to
them or something.
Neil?
High-wire guy.
I didn't get anything.
Troupe left the
hospital about 11:30,
then they came
back here... Look out.
Geez, it slipped. I'm sorry.
You all right?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm just fine.
Sure.
- Neil Ruggers?
- Yeah.
San Francisco Police.
I want to ask you
a few questions.
My sense of timing
is really terrific, isn't it?
I understand that you're related
to Albert and Hans Reiner.
Yeah. They're my uncles.
When was the last
time you saw them?
Oh... (sighs)
I don't know. Back in
the Dark Ages. Why?
Did you perform at the
hospital this morning?
Yeah.
Well, your Uncle Albert...
Did you visit him?
No. I, uh...
I didn't even know he
was in San Francisco.
Look, what's-what's
all this about?
Well, your uncle
died this morning.
Oh.
He was such a... tough old bird.
I always figured
he'd last forever.
How did he get
along with his brother?
Hans. Oh, they were
like Siamese twins.
Tell us anything
about their friends,
habits, enemies? Anything?
Man, I can't, uh... I
can't tell you anything.
I mean, I... left
a long time ago.
You see, they brought
me up after my mother died,
taught me how to...
how to work the wire.
But they were perfectionists,
you know, Old World,
and I just couldn't
take it, so I left.
Guess it's a little late
to say I'm sorry now.
What, uh... what did he die of?
It's possible he was murdered.
Like I say, my sense
of timing... it's terrific.
If Hans happens to come
to see you, have him call us.
- Thank you.
- Sure.
STONE: Intensive
care ward, please.
Miss Martins, if she's on duty.
I'll hold.
Yeah, Denver's got the
case open as a knife mugging.
60-year-old Caucasian
male, five feet, eight.
Mugger's got the ID.
Haven't been able
to trace the prints yet.
- STONE: Yeah, well, what about a photo?
- It's on its way.
Miss Martins? Lieutenant Stone.
Has Hans shown up yet?
All right.
Thank you.
Still missing.
Yeah. Mrs. Clemons said
Hans hasn't come back
to the apartment, either.
Think he's taken off?
Mm-hmm. Could be grief.
Or guilt.
Let's get a search warrant.
Okay.
Maybe he'll be
a lot easier to find
if we know what he looks like.
He's never stayed
away this long before.
I told the young man
who was here earlier,
I haven't the foggiest idea
where Mr. Reiner could be.
Now, what young man was that?
Oh, he didn't give his name,
wouldn't leave a message.
(loud, indistinct
shouting of children)
I tried to come in once
in a while and tidy up.
Although they don't
pay for cleaning service.
It's got a lot worse
since Albert got sick.
Uh, is he in any of these?
I... Mike?
(dog barking in distance)
(indistinct radio transmission)
Well, the M.E. says he's
been dead four to six hours.
Now, what's that?
Some stuff they found
under his fingernails...
A white powder.
Uh, it's not smack.
Okay, take it to the lab.
Look at this. Scrapbooks
all over the place.
All on Neil... Neil Ruggers.
They followed his career all
the way from the apprenticeship
right to the center ring.
Grey and Barston Circus, '68.
Barston, '71, USA National, '73.
Ruggers said he had
no contact with them,
but they sure been
following his career.
MRS. CLEMONS: Lieutenant?
The officer said you
wanted to see me.
Yes. I wanted you
to take a look at this.
Was this the young man
that was here at 7:00 tonight?
It is.
Who is he?
A nephew. Name is Neil Ruggers.
Did they ever talk about him?
No. I don't think so.
I...
Come on.
Why don't you go to your room?
(crying) Thank you.
We'll call you if we need you.
It's a safe-deposit key of
some bank down the street.
Say, I'll get a court order
for that safe-deposit box.
- Let's wrap it up here.
- Okay.
And why don't you
hit the circus again?
- What, Neil?
- Yeah.
He was at hospital this
morning, he was here tonight.
If he isn't part of
this, he should be.
Why don't you pick him up?
Okay, yeah.
Went by his room, it was dark.
- Well, Neil might be in the blue room.
- (elephant trumpeting)
What is, uh...?
What's the blue room?
That's any room with a table.
The game starts in
March down in Florida,
and it ends back
there in November.
My dad always told
me, "Never sit in."
I figured it was one of those,
"Don't mingle with the
help," snobbery things
until they hung me
out to dry a few times.
- (elephant trumpeting) -This
is gonna cost you everything,
including your big red nose.
Uh-huh. We talking or betting?
75 cents.
Has anybody seen Ruggers?
- No.
- Call.
(coins clinking)
Uh, we saved a bale
for him, but no show.
You know where I might find him?
Well, been seeing a
lot of Barbara lately.
And I don't think
it's for riding lessons.
(clearing his throat)
Gentlemen, jacks and threes.
Ah.
I keep the nose, huh?
Barbara? I'm
sorry to bother you,
but we're looking for Neil.
Did you try the blue room?
He made a big thing about
taking me out to dinner,
and then decided to play poker.
Well, he hasn't
been there all day.
- Did you ever hear...?
- Hiya, sweet face.
- (elephant trumpeting)
- You're still around, huh?
- Yeah.
- What's wrong?
Well, uh... Uh, excuse me.
Have you ever heard of
a Hans or Albert Reiner?
No.
They're, uh, Neil's uncles.
They both died this morning.
And?
Crystal, keep out
of this, will you?
Well, um, when was the
last time you saw Neil?
Oh, around 6:30.
I mean, do you know
where he is now?
I mean, does he have
friends in town, or...?
Not that I know of. I-I
don't know where he is.
Could I, uh, take a look
in his dressing room?
I don't have a key... but I
can get one from the manager.
Um, I have a key.
Want some popcorn?
Thank you.
(sighs)
Would you please tell
me what's going on?
Was it an accident?
Possible homicide.
"Manchester, 1964.
Al, Hans, Boylan, Murdock, Red."
This is Stone.
I've got a snapshot here
that I'd like to have blown up.
I'll send it right down.
Rosin bag.
Found it in Neil's trailer.
Hasn't been around the Cow
Palace since 6:30 this evening.
- He miss a show?
- No, no, they're dark on Monday.
But he missed his
girl. He lied to her.
Well, we still can't touch him.
I know, but he's just got a lot
of character defects, you know.
Seems to me, he
might be possible
of murdering his uncles.
So, I'll take down...
this down to the lab
and have it checked out.
Oh, here, while you're at it,
take this down, too, will you?
Remind them that I want it blown
up by 9:00 tomorrow morning.
(Stone sighs)
Did you get the lab report?
Yeah, nothing, no match.
It wasn't rosin under
old Hans' fingernails.
It was talcum powder.
Well, which all performers use.
They all use makeup.
Well, that gives us
20 more suspects.
Maybe not.
I found these in
the safe-deposit box.
Life insurance policies.
$10,000 apiece.
One made out to Albert,
and the other one to Hans.
Neil is the beneficiary
on both of them.
It's motive and access.
I just hope ol' Neil's
got a perfect alibi.
Yeah.
RED: No, I haven't
seen Neil all morning,
but he's got to be
around someplace.
Never missed a show yet.
What about the, uh, photo, Red?
Yeah, that's me, all right.
Now, I worked a dozen
little shows on the Continent.
A lot more circuses over there.
But I wasn't with Scaloni,
except for the,
uh, '63-'64 season.
What about Murdock and Boylan?
What do they do? Uh,
performers, or, uh...?
Oh, they were probably
part of Al Reiner's crew.
But after 11 years, I can't
remember their names.
He's not in his trailer,
and no one's seen him.
You pick anything up?
I remember some trouble
in Scaloni about the Reiners.
Happened after I left.
Some, uh, some kind of hassle.
Well, what was it?
Do you know anyone
who was involved?
Come on, Red. Can
you think of anything?
I'll think on it.
(whistle blows)
That's us.
(drumroll, Red sighs)
Okay. Thank you very much.
Excuse me.
(band plays upbeat
instrumental music)
Neil! Neil, the police
have been looking for you.
Where have you been?
I, uh, was drinking last night.
Later, huh?
Neil they think your
uncle was killed.
Hans?
I had to tell them
you broke our date.
Yeah, but what did
he say about Hans?
They think he was
killed, murdered.
You know, the cops were
asking me all kinds of questions.
Yeah.
RED: Take it easy, kid.
Now, I just remembered
some trouble
your uncles got into
at the Scaloni Circus.
Maybe it had something
to do with their murder.
What are you talking about?
Hey! Let's go!
Spec's lining up.
I'll talk to you right
after the show.
(upbeat instrumental
music playing)
You really dig this, don't you?
Since I was a kid.
(applause)
(elephant trumpeting)
(applause)
(hooting)
(applause)
(elephant trumpeting)
(applause)
(applause)
(gunshot)
(applause)
Hey.
Hey, Red! Red, you okay?! Red?
Oh, my gosh, he's been shot!
Go get a stretcher.
What's that all about?
Hey, hey, call for an ambulance!
That's not part of
the act. Come on!
(applause)
(engine starting)
(siren wailing)
Hey. Where did you hide the gun?
What? What are
you talking about?
You know what I'm talking about.
You had time to
change your clothes.
Now, where did you hide it?
Look, I don't
have time for this.
Went and saw your
uncle last night, didn't you?
What is this? What
are you hassling me for?
Neil, 20,000 bucks
insurance money.
CRYSTAL: Neil?
Neil. Listen, he's gonna be
blowing more than his whistle
if you don't get out there.
Look, I got to go.
No, no, no, no, no. You're
gonna come with me.
Change your clothes.
You're coming with me.
Excuse us very much. Excuse us.
Oh.
Leopold?
When they take him to
his room, I want one man
standing in front of
that door day and night,
24 hours, around the clock.
And nobody gets in.
Do you understand?
Nobody without the
doctor's permission.
Yes?
He's still in shock, but it
could have been worse.
Well, I saw him
take a loaded shot
right in the chest, point blank.
No, Lieutenant, that's
not quite how it happened.
25 pounds of padding
absorbed most of the pellets,
slowed down those it didn't.
But it was still like getting
kicked in the guts by a mule.
Then he'll be all right?
If there are no complications.
I'll keep you notified.
Thanks.
Right. I visited Uncle
Hans, and he wasn't home.
So, then you go out
and get drunk. Is that it?
It doesn't make
it, Neil. No way.
You got the opportunity, no
alibi and a $20,000 motive,
so where the hell were you?!
I spent the night... (sighs)
with a girl in a motel
near Fisherman's Wharf.
What's her name?
(Keller sighs)
Listen, you're down to
about two choices now...
Public defender
or private attorney.
(sighs)
The lady is with the circus.
She's married, and I...
I don't want
Barbara to find out.
I don't even know if I can
make you see this, but I...
I care about
Barbara. The thing is,
I guess I just don't
understand her very well.
(sighs)
I mean, one
minute, she's terrific,
and an hour later, she's ice.
Well, last night
at 6:30... (laughs)
it was bad headache
time, so, I, uh...
I looked elsewhere.
I don't want the lady's
husband to find out, please.
What's the girl's name
and the motel room number?
(Neil sighs)
Gina Marshall.
The Twilight. 224, 226.
If you knew anything
about makeup, you'd know
I didn't have time to shoot him
and then remove it all
before you found me.
Could have worn
a face mask, Neil.
The paraffin tests wouldn't
show any gunpowder
on your hands, either.
Killer wore gloves, didn't he?
(scoffs)
(rhythmic whirring,
indistinct chatter)
Hey, Mike?
Your picture's coming
in from Denver PD.
Uh-huh. Now that's the
baby I've been waiting for.
Ten years older, but
that's Boylan, all right.
NEIL: Whatever it was,
Red had it figured out
and was gonna tell me.
KELLER: Well, see, Red...
He's not talking
too much right now.
Go right ahead. Don't
let me bother you.
You know, I don't care
what you think of me.
I didn't kill him.
See, the man can't come
up with anything more original
than the fact that he
spent the night with a lady.
Check it. It's very
simple. Check it.
Say, who's Mr. Boylan?
- What Mr. Boylan?
- This one right here.
He was murdered in
Denver a month ago.
That's when you and
the circus were there.
This must be one of my
uncle's old photographs.
STONE: It is.
Hans, Albert, Red.
I don't recognize
the other guys.
Look, it's dated '64.
I was in boarding
school in 1964.
You can check the records.
Well, we got a lot
of checking out to do.
How long's the circus
gonna be in town?
We open, uh, in
Vancouver on Monday.
Ah. Well, maybe
you ought to plan
on being here a little longer.
All right, you can go for now.
(door closes)
What are you doing?
He's the only suspect we have.
He's not only leaving the
state, he's leaving the country.
Can you prove that he was in
that hospital room this morning?
Or that he was in
Reiner's apartment?
You can't.
I'm telling you, there's
a face missing there.
A clown. The killer clown.
And Sparky saw him.
Come on.
Let's go find our sketch artist.
SPARKY: Uh, make
that tear bigger.
Yeah.
The mouth was droopier.
Huh. Guess it all depends
how you make the bread, huh?
You know about suspects,
I know about makeup.
Anyhow, I'll never
forget that guy's face.
Well, take a good look, Sparky.
You're our only witness.
Let me have that.
What do you say, fellas?
I read somewhere where
there's an unwritten law
that every clown's makeup
is his own personal trademark.
I know you guys will steal
gags, but never a face.
If we knew, we'd tell you.
So who might know?
Uh, there is one
guy here in town.
Freddie Olburn.
Ex-kinker.
Had a clown museum
up on North Beach.
(toy siren sounding,
clinking and whirring)
It's all here, friends.
Everything your
little heart’s desire.
If you're not
happy, you're sick.
(whirring and clinking)
Yeah, Sparky's right.
I have a museum.
It's in the back in
my quarters. Private.
Nice going, son.
Keep that up, and
you'll be at the real thing,
sooner than you think.
You, uh, care to try your luck?
No. We're already
at the real thing.
I'd like to see the museum.
I'd appreciate it.
Unbelievable, Freddie.
Just... It's just beautiful.
- (Freddie laughs)
- Really beautiful.
Listen, you ever seen a
clown's face like that one?
(Freddie laughs)
Cesar Volnak
performed as a clown,
later as a Joey, a
high-wire walker.
Never made it big, but
a good, solid performer.
Don't think he ever
played in this country.
Where is he now?
You know, my guess is,
he's with the USA National
under a different name.
Uh, he goes back to the Raddick
Consolidated Shows of '38.
Haden's London Circus '46.
Long Brothers,
McDonald, Edinburgh.
Scaloni, '60 through
'64, then no employment.
Volnak died in
Brighton, November, '71.
The names, uh,
Boylan and Murdock...
They mean anything to you?
They were riggers at
the Scaloni Circus in '64.
Oh, I didn't follow the working
men, just the performers.
Had to draw a line somewhere.
Boylan. Boylan,
Boylan, Boylan, Boylan...
No.
KELLER: And Murdock.
Ah, here's a Sean Murdock.
Worked as a ringmaster.
Drank himself out of a job.
I got him now
living in Vancouver.
Vancouver?
That's the next
stop for the circus.
Oh, Mike, Sergeant
Hawlins, Vancouver Police.
Yes, Sergeant.
We traced Sean Murdock
for you, Lieutenant.
He says he did work with
Scaloni Circus in 1964.
I'm putting him on the phone.
(sighs)
Mr. Murdock?
Four men that worked
with you at Scaloni
have been victims of a killer.
Albert and Hans Reiner
and Boylan are already dead.
Red Ashburn is in the
hospital unconscious.
He's been shot.
Now, I have reason to
believe that it's a high-wire Joey
named Cesar Volnak.
Mr. Murdock, I need
all the help I can get.
That's why I'm asking
you, do you know anything?
That's a long time ago.
Guess it's all of ten years.
I don't know if Red
was still with them then.
I don't remember
things too well anymore.
We, uh... uh... Al,
Hans, Boylan and me...
Were on the rigging crew.
A guywire broke on Cesar's rig.
He came down hard.
Yeah, he was
busted up pretty bad.
How bad?
MURDOCK: Bad. His legs.
We picked him up,
he was just all broke.
He blamed us for it.
He made a lot of crazy talk.
He claimed we was drunk.
Said he'd kill us.
It's Dr. Mayhill for Mike,
but I think you better take it.
Okay.
Yeah, this is Inspector
Keller, Doctor.
May I help you?
Inspector, Red Ashburn
died ten minutes ago.
How?
Well, all technical
jargon aside,
his heart just gave out.
The shock of the wound.
He lived hard, used
up, no reserve left.
It happens.
Okay, can you hang
on one second, please?
Thank you.
Red just died.
Heart.
Mr. Murdock,
would you put the sergeant
back on the phone, please?
Yes?
Sergeant,
Murdock is a
potential murder victim.
He needs protection.
Thanks.
All right, I'll teletype all
the information I have.
Dr. Mayhill, line four.
Dr. Mayhill,
I want you to withhold all the
information you can on Red.
Just for a few hours.
Thanks.
I tell you,
the one thing that
ties it all together
is revenge.
It couldn't be Volnak,
so it had to be somebody
who was really close to him.
Let Interpol get
into it, will you?
I mean, they can trace his
life story, then give you the link.
Oh, come on, Steve,
what are you talking about?
Barring a confession,
we don't have a
case against anybody.
Not even if we knew who did it.
How many times have you
told me, never, as a police officer,
do you use yourself as a target.
I'm not going in as a target.
These murders were
all carefully planned
except for Red's.
Now, I tell you
that that killer got frightened.
He thought that
Red knew something.
Well, I'm just gonna
crowd him a little bit
and give him some bait
and hope he takes it.
What if he doesn't run?
There is no danger,
I'm telling you.
- Oh, Mike.
- If everybody does his job.
I told them I
called the hospital
and that he was feeling so good
he'd probably show
up here tonight.
(sighs)
Okay, all units report.
This is Gary backstage.
I'll have Mike
covered to the arena.
This is Stevens
in the main arena.
We've got a good view
of the whole area, Steve.
We're set, Steve.
Neil's still in the
dressing room.
(whistle blows)
LEOPOLD: Mount up!
Showtime.
Let's get ready.
Come on, happy faces.
Smiling faces, everybody.
Showtime, walk to your spaces.
Let's go.
(fanfare plays)
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen,
girls and boys.
Welcome to the
USA National Circus.
Our opening display
is a glittering galaxy
of internationally
famous circus stars
in a sprightly
promenade of greeting.
A preview of all the joy,
happiness, and laughter
of the circus yet to come.
(whistle blows)
(snarling)
(man yelling indistinctly)
(laughter)
(laughter)
(laughter)
LEOPOLD: In ring number
one, ladies and gentlemen,
the lovely Miss Loni Ironberg
and her famous
dressage horse, White.
In ring number three,
Miss Ernestine Clark
and her miniature equine revue.
(elephant trumpeting)
(engine sputtering)
(roars)
Yeah?
He's coming in now.
(engine sputtering)
(fanfare plays)
LEOPOLD: Ladies and gentlemen,
with great pride, the
USA National Circus
presents the greatest
funambulistic star
of all times.
He walks where
angels fear to tread.
In the upper reaches
of the Cow Palace,
ladies and gentlemen,
the undisputed
king of the high-wire,
Mr. Neil Ruggers.
(applause)
(drumroll)
(drumroll)
(audience gasps)
This concludes our circus
performance here this evening.
Thank you very much for
coming to the USA National Circus.
Seemed like a good idea.
He didn't show.
Nope.
How did I do?
Well, I don't think
Emmett Kelly's
gonna lose any sleep over you.
The kids liked it.
Ah, we weren't lucky, I guess.
We weren't?
Could have been a
lot worse, you know?
It's all over.
Tell them all to leave.
Okay.
(clicks)
(gunshots)
(door closes)
It's the clown.
Come on.
♪♪
♪♪
He was my father,
and they killed him.
Those drunks.
I took care of
him for six years,
and I watched him die.
He was a good man,
and they killed him.
They killed him.
They killed him...
They killed him.
(sobbing) They killed him.
They killed him.
I thought maybe
you'd like to have
this for your collection.
Red Ashburn's?
(loud clattering)
That's right, kiddies,
break your legs off.
(bell dinging)
Let's go in the back.
Well, uh,
what-what's going to
happen to Volnak's kid?
Oh, she's gonna go to trial.
See, she used the
circus as a cover-up.
Uh, she used Neil to find
out where the Reiners were,
and Boylan, he just
sort of walked in there.
Guess he couldn't stay
away from a good circus.
FREDDIE: But why Red?
He never hurt Volnak.
See, she thought
that Red remembered
that Volnak had a daughter who
wanted to be a bareback rider.
She was probably right.
You know, I'd sure like to
have a memento of this case.
Oh, no.
You're not asking me
to break up that set?
I didn't mean that.
Oh.
Well, I'll tell you
what I will do.
How'd you like
something personal?
Your own special clown makeup?
I'll register it tomorrow.
An original one for me?
Yeah.
I'd like that.
You know, Steve, if
I hadn't been a cop...
I know.
I know, Mike, you
would have been a clown.