Magnum, P.I. (1980) s03e08 Episode Script

I'm going to cut you to shreds just as I always have.
You've given me back my life.
He was arrogant and he brutalized my mother.
- Who are you trying to protect? - Don't be preposterous.
I've more pressing matters on my mind than a tryst between you and Velma.
He took from me things that were irreplaceable.
She told me that Jonathan Higgins as good as confessed.
- Higgins, shut up.
- I'm not one of your clients.
Stay out of this! - Go on, Willy! - Go on, Willy! Caught you, Johnjohn, you silly little nob.
Come on, Willy! All right, now.
What's the meaning of all of this? What have you got to say for yourself? Hands.
Higgins, you got a minute? Actually, I don't.
More war relics? Higgins, I didn't know you used swords in your time.
It's not a sword, Magnum, it's a foil.
A Delinchi electrafoil, to be precise.
- It's not for fighting, it's for fencing.
- You fence? I was considered the Maître d'escrime at my school.
- The what? - The best.
Of course.
I've been invited to the Heidelberg Class A fencing tournament at the club.
That's my St Andrews regimental tie.
Yes, I know.
I picked it out.
I thought it went with my outfit.
It does not go with anything of yours.
What are you doing? Playing at dress-up? Carol has me back in court.
The Henderson case.
- I'm her star witness.
- The poor girl must be desperate.
Come on, Higgins, she's a great DA and she said I was a great witness.
- Her only witness.
I wish her luck.
- Higgins, this is fascinating.
This guy Henderson and his wife opened up this wax museum by Pearl.
They brought her sister in as a silent partner.
- Well, one thing led to another - Magnum.
A month later, Mrs.
H.
Disappeared.
- Guess where they found her.
- Magnum.
- Come on, just guess.
- Take the tie and go.
I was kind of hoping you'd show me how to tie it.
A grown man who doesn't know how to tie his own tie? I know how to tie a tie, but not one of your double Winslows.
- Windsors.
- Windsors? - Is it over and under? - Under your collar, broad side - I've already done that.
- Put it over and under.
Then over and under again.
Then over and under again, around the back and through.
It's really quite simple.
Now, if you don't mind, I have a dozen things to do.
- You wore this? - With great pride.
That cap is from one of the most prestigious public schools in England.
Put it on.
Come on, Higgins.
I know you're dying to see how it looks.
Goodbye, Magnum.
Thanks for the knot.
It was good of you to come.
I couldn't tell you on the phone.
Willy was stationed in Croydon while you were gone and we had tea now and then and before either of us knew what was happening Jonathan, we were married last month at the Troubshaw estate in Sussex.
I'm so sorry.
You'll always be very special to me, Jonathan.
Jonathan, it's really you.
Are you all right? Yes.
Yes, I'm quite well, thank you.
I must have written and torn up two dozen letters over the years, but now being here and so close and not to write - You don't mind that I wrote, Jonathan? - Of course not.
I'd have minded terribly if you hadn't.
I tried to find tilling biscuits.
Tilling biscuits? Good Lor', that brings back memories.
Tilling biscuits and pomegranate marmalade.
And rose petal tea.
It's so very good to see you again, Jonathan.
I um I find myself rather nervous, not being with you for so long.
I remember the last time we were together.
- That glorious summer day.
- June 17th.
- Just after two in the afternoon.
- Yes.
Just after two.
Well, well, if it isn't Johnjohn.
Long time, old nob.
You're looking well.
Well-fed, that is.
I see you've been enjoying each other's company.
I contacted Jonathan shortly after we arrived.
- I thought it would be nice if we - Touched base? Everything is perfectly proper here, as it has always been.
- Relax, Johnjohn.
- Jonathan.
As it has always been.
I've more pressing matters on my mind than a tryst.
I think I'd better go.
- Jonathan, please.
- Let him go, darling.
I daresay he's got some preparing to do.
For the fencing tournament.
I heard about it the moment I arrived.
- I'd hoped to surprise you.
- Surprise me? How? I've entered the tournament and drawn you in my first round.
Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say? Magnum, what feeds your neurotic need to take things that don't belong to you? I don't know.
Thirst, I guess.
Thirst? How very amusing.
Higgins, you have been practicing for over three hours.
Save something for tomorrow.
I'm dying to see you in action.
What time's your match? Just about the time you normally retire.
- Besides, it costs money to gain entrance.
- I know the guy at the door.
I doubt you'd enjoy this, Magnum.
No one is maimed, stomped, blocked or clipped.
Blood is not shed, bodies are not broken.
Very pedestrian.
- Sounds interesting.
- Trust me, this really isn't your cup of tea.
The wine cellar is open.
There's a Pinot Noir that doesn't demand much sophistication.
I'm sure you'll be quite comfortable with it.
Lads.
Higgins, you're offering me a bottle of wine? - Free? - If you don't want it, just say so.
No! No.
I accept.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Someone once said there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Higgins' bottle of wine wasn't exactly lunch, but it wasn't free either.
He obviously wanted me out of his hair, last night and today.
What I couldn't figure out was why.
Then again, I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.
This was the first day in a week I wasn't in court and I planned to take full advantage of it.
Outside.
On the beach.
Match number three, foil, will commence in three minutes.
Fencing from the left position, William Troubshaw.
Fencing from the right position, Jonathan Higgins.
Jonathan, I'm so sorry about yesterday.
About Willy.
Velma, you have nothing to apologize for.
Absolutely nothing.
- Are you all right? - Yes, I am.
Nicked my finger polishing my foil this morning.
Nothing serious.
But thank you for your concern.
There are some people I'd like you to meet.
This is Mr.
Keeler.
- He's a business associate of William's.
- How do you do? - That's quite a foil.
- Yes, a Delinchi.
And this is my son Clarke.
It's a great pleasure, Mr.
Higgins.
- My mother's spoken often of you.
- Very nice to meet you.
You've asked for the left position? I don't care which side or which weapon you've got, Johnjohn.
I'm going to cut you to shreds just as I always have.
Shall we dispense with the weapons check? Oui, très bien.
Touché left, one-zero.
Touché left, two-zero.
Touché left, three-zero.
Touché left, four-zero.
Next touché is for the match.
Once, when I had measles, my dad gave me a game book with one of those "What's wrong with this picture?"puzzles inside.
I found six things before my dad stopped me.
I was looking at the wrong page.
It was an ad for cocoa.
Since then I've been real careful about looking for things to be wrong where they shouldn't be.
Like Higgins giving away something that was part of his life since he was a kid.
That's what's wrong with this picture.
- Hi, Higgins.
- Good morning, Magnum.
I got the salve that Doc lbold prescribed for you.
- You're supposed to use it twice a day.
- Fine.
For three months I've done everything to encourage this Waipai ginger to flower.
I'd just about given up hope.
I came out this morning and found these blossoms.
It's really quite fascinating how these things happen.
Just when you least expect it.
Damn it, I'm not a cripple.
- You all right? - No, I'm not all right.
Less than 24 hours ago a man I've known for nearly 50 years died at my hand in front of his wife and son.
Electrocuted, for God's sake.
No, Magnum, I most certainly am not all right.
Higgins, it was an accident.
You can't blame yourself.
For all the years that I've known him, Willy Troubshaw was a self-centered, egotistical, hateful and brutal bully to everyone.
He took from me things that were irreplaceable.
There have been many occasions when I wished he were dead.
As distasteful as that may sound, it's true.
Now suddenly he is dead.
I don't quite know how to feel.
I can only hope that there is some purpose in this.
Some reason.
The reason's simple.
Somebody wanted Troubshaw dead.
Come on, Rick, it was an accident.
- Two sevens.
- Something like this sure makes you think.
The day before yesterday Troubshaw was in my office trying to charter a chopper.
- Then someone's offed him.
- Higgins didn't off him.
Three fours.
I said someone.
You said Higgins.
A lot of people heard Higgins ask for the right side.
Why? Three fives.
Habit, maybe.
You know how Higgins is.
He also waived the weapons check.
Why? Maybe it was some kind of fencing courtesy.
Three fours and two sevens.
- None of this proves anything.
- We're not trying to prove anything.
But it might to the cops.
They were here all last night asking questions.
Four sevens.
Well, that's their job, isn't it? Five sevens.
I hope you got 'em all cos I don't have any.
I got one.
T.
C.
, when Troubshaw tried to charter your chopper, where did he want to go? Never got to that.
I told him I was booked, he was in a hurry and he split.
Well, then, he tried to hire somebody else.
T.
C.
, why don't you check around, find out who took him out and where he went? Thomas, I'm up to my ears coaching the peewees.
We got playoffs next week.
We ran some pretty interesting stuff at the Academy.
We beat Army two out of three years.
I tell you what.
You help me with Troubshaw, I'll show up at the field and run some plays with the kids.
Thomas, the Academy was ages ago.
It's like riding a bicycle, Rick.
You never forget.
What do you say, T.
C.
? Deal? They're lovely.
It's so quiet now.
I'd gotten used to hearing Willy's voice booming over everything and everyone.
Velma, I I can't tell you how badly I feel about what happened.
You mustn't torture yourself, Jonathan.
Our greatest responsibility now is to go on living.
- You are a truly remarkable woman.
- Not, Jonathan.
Not really.
How is Clarke holding up? It won't be so easy.
Clarke always was my baby.
With Willy gone so often I raised him almost completely by myself.
I hoped I could protect him against that horrible, awful man.
- Velma.
- It's true, Jonathan.
I can't go on like this, pretending to mourn.
Willy was a tyrant and I should have left him long ago.
Over the years I grew to hate him as much as I know you always did.
But unlike you, I lacked the courage to do anything about it.
Velma, what are you saying? Jonathan, you've given me back my life.
You've set me free.
- Hi, Carol.
- What's with you? It's nothing.
I just got a little banged up.
What happened? I've been working out with this football team T.
C.
Coaches.
- Must have been rough.
- Yeah.
- Was it semi-pro? - No.
High school? - Peewee.
- What? Peewee.
- They're state champs.
- Oh.
Uh-huh.
What are you doing here, Thomas? We're not due back in court till next week.
Well, it's kind of funny.
I've been coming here so often that I guess I automatically head in this direction every morning.
Maybe we should start a car pool.
Well, lunch is over and I've got work to do.
Take care of yourself, Thomas.
I know a good Pop Warner league, if Carol, I need some information.
What kind of information? The Troubshaw investigation.
- There is an investigation, isn't there? - Is there? Come on.
I know the police have been asking questions.
Sorry, Thomas, I can't talk about it.
Carol, yes, you can.
Just tell me what's developing.
- Sorry.
No.
- Carol! You dragged me into court four times on the Henderson case.
I should be billing your office.
Come on.
All right.
I saw the evidence report.
And? The scoring box had been tampered with.
It was hotter than an electric chair.
- Prints? - Lots of them.
And there were traces of blood inside the box.
Blood in the box.
So whoever was rigging the box probably cut himself.
Oh, Thomas, I'm sorry.
Sorry? Sorry for what? You keep saying you're sorry.
It was definitely not one of my better days in paradise.
As a private investigator, I've spent time in courtrooms and jail cells and prisoner waiting rooms, but not like today.
Higgins.
- You all right? - Really, Magnum, you must learn to retain your dignity and composure under stress.
I'm not under stress.
Good.
I'm glad to hear it.
How are they treating you? Do you need anything? I see you've been watching the late show again.
Higgins, I don't understand you.
Why didn't you call Robin's attorney? I have an attorney.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, an overworked, underpaid public defender who'll be lucky if he can get you out on bail.
- Are you deliberately trying to blow this? - Of course not, Magnum.
I've been in jails that make this look like summer camp.
I once spent almost a month in a three-by-six cell outside Calcutta.
Three-quarters of my daily rice ration went to the rats that occupied the cell with me.
A strangely symbiotic relationship, nevertheless Higgins, shut up.
Now, listen to me.
Please.
That scoring box was rigged.
Whoever did it made sure Troubshaw lit up when you touched him with your sword.
- Foil.
- Foil, whatever.
Your fingerprints are apparently all over it.
Well, of course they're all over it.
I always check the box to make sure it's operating properly.
That's terrific.
The DA will love to hear that.
Magnum, all of this is purely circumstantial.
If I'd wanted to kill Willy, I could have chosen a hundred more discreet ways to do it.
Besides, a motive is usually a sine qua non in a murder case.
I haven't seen Willy Troubshaw in 40 years.
- Why would I want to kill him? - Velma.
Velma Troubshaw has nothing to do with this.
- How dare you even suggest - Higgins.
She was one of the things that Troubshaw took away from you, wasn't she? I will not dignify that with an answer.
My personal life is my own business.
Not in court.
Higgins you need help.
I'm not one of your clients, Magnum.
Stay out of this! - Keep me out of this.
- Come on, T.
C.
What's a little ride out to Walakana Sugar? Busted throttle linkage, that's what.
All right, how about driving out there with me in the Ferrari? Are you crazy? Those people aren't known for their hospitality.
They're not? How come? All I know is a chopper pilot friend of mine said those people out there are weird.
Chopper pilots think you're weird unless you have a propeller on your beanie.
Come on! Every time I go somewhere with you I end up in a mess of trouble.
Besides, what does Walakana Sugar have to do with Higgins offing that guy? - Higgins didn't off him.
- Well, he sure didn't help him.
T.
C.
, the Troubshaw family owns Walakana Sugar.
William's brother Andrew ran the place till he died a couple of months ago.
Troubshaw came to Oahu to check the place out.
- So you gotta do the same thing? - What else? Higgins is sitting in jail.
I still don't like it.
Hey, where's the office? - I told you, they're weird.
- No, they're not.
Hi, guys.
- They're weird.
- I think we've worn out our welcome.
What could these guys possibly have against us? - T.
C.
, my finger.
- You should have thought about that.
Hold it! Hold it! You guys got nothing better to do on your break? Maybe we ought to cut it out.
Next time you want to inspect the plant, call ahead for permission.
Get out of here.
Wait a minute.
- Why would we want to inspect the plant? - You wouldn't unless you wanted to buy it.
- You trying to unload it? - No, I'm not, but the Troubshaws are.
My name's Keeler.
I'm the plant manager.
- T.
C.
- Thomas Magnum.
What can I do for you? - We're here about Troubshaw's death.
- Police? - Yeah.
- No.
- Which is it? - He's a private investigator.
And a friend of Jonathan Higgins.
That's where I know you.
The tournament.
Keeler, what in God's name is going on here? Some of the boys thought they were buyers.
You treat buyers like this, you'll never sell it.
We'll sell it all right.
I'd better get back inside.
Sorry about the mistake.
I've got some ice for that.
It's back in my office.
- Come on, T.
C.
- Uh-uh.
I think my chances will be better out here with the Ferrari with the engine running.
This way.
You can't blame the men.
Most of them have worked here all their lives.
Go on.
They're actually trying to buy the place themselves.
Not having much luck at it, though.
Trying to keep this place running is like trying to breathe life into a dinosaur.
Keeler's doing the best he can, but costs are going up, profits are going down.
That's what killed my Uncle Andrew.
If you sell to someone else, what'll happen to the mill? They'll probably bulldoze it.
- And the men? - Why should they care about the men? - I take it you don't.
- That's not true.
Of course I do.
Your father? I suppose.
I can't really tell you for sure.
You see, my father and I were not exactly what you would call close.
That's the beauty of the boarding school system.
It keeps nonexistent relationships civilized.
He was gonna sell the mill Before he was murdered by your friend, Mr.
Higgins.
Higgins did not kill your father.
I should say that's for a jury to decide.
I get the feeling you don't care one way or the other.
I'll be honest with you.
I'm not the least bit sorry he's dead.
He was a difficult man, my father.
He was arrogant and cold and he brutalized my mother.
But he was my father and I don't feel comfortable chitchatting with a friend of his killer.
Thanks for the ice.
Velma? Is that you? I sent the note.
You're alive.
I'm sorry to have caused you all the inconvenience, Jonathan, but I couldn't resist having you on for old times' sake.
It was good sport, especially in front of Velma.
But it's over now, Johnjohn.
Shall we shake, to friendship? No! No! Higgins! Ow! Higgins, are you all right? - More appropriately, are you? - Ahh! Another torrid night at the Boom Boom Room, I presume? I banged my finger on the knob.
I heard you yelling.
I may have been chuckling out loud.
Noël Coward is such a delight.
- What is it, Magnum? - Higgins, who are you trying to protect? Don't be preposterous.
I don't care if you are protecting someone as long as you protect yourself too.
Unless British honor demands you get convicted of a crime you didn't commit.
Magnum, your understanding of honor is as solid as Attila the Hun's grasp of morality.
I'd like to finish my book.
That public defender got you out on bail but he's just gonna add you to his list of 55 other cases, Higgins.
Higgins! Noël Coward's even better when you can read him.
If it will keep you from barging into my bedroom at all hours of the night, I'll call Mr.
Masters' attorneys tomorrow.
My favorite time in paradise is the morning.
Regardless of what happened the day before, everything seems fresh and clean and ready for a brand-new start.
After my conversation with Higgins the night before, I felt like we were finally making some progress, that something really good was happening.
Of course, I'd been wrong before.
I don't suppose you were just in the neighborhood.
I didn't want to phone.
- Peewees? - What? Oh.
Uh It's a long story.
Well, you want the good news or the not-so-good news? Your choice.
The good news is that you're off the hook as far as the Henderson case goes.
They settled out of court.
What's the bad news? Mrs.
Troubshaw came to my office yesterday.
We talked for nearly three hours.
And? She told me that Jonathan Higgins as good as confessed that he killed her husband.
Higgins, I don't think this is such a good idea.
I see no other way of handling the matter.
It could make things a lot worse.
Magnum, all things considered, I fail to see how things could get worse.
- I'll go with you to Mrs.
Troubshaw's.
- You'll do nothing of the kind.
I've told you before, this is my personal business.
However I am not ungrateful for your concern.
Of course I'm concerned, Higgins.
We're talking murder, remember? - What the devil do you want? - I want to talk to your mother.
- You can't be serious.
- I most certainly am.
It's all right, Clarke.
Velma.
I'm sorry to intrude, but we must talk.
I had to tell them the truth, Jonathan.
I want you to tell me the truth.
That you hated Willy.
When you came to see me you told me that you suddenly had the courage to do something about it.
And that's what you told the assistant district attorney? - Yes.
- But why? Leave her alone.
Haven't you hurt her enough? On the contrary, I've done everything I could to protect her.
To protect me? Why? For what? My God, Jonathan.
You think I killed him? I'm afraid I haven't quite known what to think.
- No, Jonathan.
- You lied to the district attorney.
Why? What possible reason could you have unless What's going on? Why are you both looking at me like that? Mother.
You think I did it? I watched him intimidate and patronize you over the years.
My heart went out to you but there was nothing I could do for you.
So I thought that maybe you had decided to do something.
No.
No, I hated Father too much to kill him.
It's true, Mother.
Why should I waste my life for him? He would have in your place.
Mother maybe I carry his blood but I carry yours as well.
I could no more kill him than you could.
Jonathan, the only person I could sacrifice you for would be my son.
And I'm so ashamed.
Forgive me.
Let me make it up to you.
I'll go to the district attorney and I'll explain and they'll understand.
- Thank you.
- Oh, Jonathan.
It's all right, Velma.
Truly.
I'm very grateful that whoever killed Willy, it wasn't one of us.
- Then who? - It doesn't matter.
It does matter! If you were covering for Velma and she was covering for Clarke, you're the prime suspect again.
- It's not important.
- It is important! What is important is that a friendship I value has not been betrayed.
- I would hope you could understand that.
- Great! Wonderful! What I do understand is someone is running around out there free as a bird - and you're doing your bills - Robin Masters' bills.
Higgins, you're not off the hook.
Magnum, I am innocent.
You know that, I know that.
Velma Troubshaw, for whom I have more than considerable regard, knows that and I am certain that whoever killed Willy, it was not Velma or her son.
- Then who? - That's a matter for the proper authorities.
Let's see It had to be someone with motive and opportunity.
- And access, access to the club.
- That narrows it down to a mere few score.
And it had to be someone with knowledge of the tournament and the schedules.
Now you've got it down to a few dozen.
And it had to be someone who knew about fencing and a little bit about wiring.
I know what you're thinking.
That was kind of a quick jump in logic.
But sometimes you just gotta go with a hunch.
On the other hand it's sometimes wise to think things out.
I could have called the police or Carol.
Of course, that would have been easy.
The only thing was, I didn't have any hard evidence so I had to hope that Keeler would listen to reason.
Except the higher and higher I got, the less and less I was convinced that that would be the case and the more and more convinced I became that this was the dumbest move I'd made in quite a long time.
This is dumb, Magnum.
You could break your neck up here.
It's dangerous.
It's dangerous down there too.
Yeah.
The whole mill's like that if you don't know what you're doing.
- Like a fencing match? - You're standing on treacherous footing.
Yeah, I know.
So is the mill.
Willy Troubshaw was gonna sell it out from under you.
- State your business, Magnum.
- I'm just looking for Troubshaw's killer.
- He's out on bail.
- Higgins? Well, maybe he had a reason to kill him.
But so did a lot of other people.
Including you.
You came up here to tell me I killed him? You tell me.
You're right-handed.
At the tournament you shook hands with your left.
Fencers do that.
I see you know a little bit about wiring.
It'd be real interesting to see if the blood type in the scoring box matches yours.
- Magnum - We can wrestle around up here.
Maybe get ourselves hurt.
Or you can come into town and do some explaining.
What do you say, Keeler? OK.
Let's go, Magnum.
- You know something? - What? This is crazy.
I'm not going.
Enough.
Enough.
Aaargh! That was a lovely tea, Jonathan.
It was entirely my pleasure.
I've missed afternoon tea.
What's this? Tilling biscuits.
- Where did you ever - Family secret.
I've spent so many years thinking of you and what I might do if I were free.
So have I.
And now with everything that's happened, I feel that we're further apart than ever.
We've never been far apart.
We never shall be.
- You forgive me, Jonathan? - Of course.
Would you look in on Clarke at the mill now and again? - He's going to try to make a go of it.
- I'd be very glad to.
Thank you.
Higgins! You won't believe this.
Come here.
I was out shopping at the thrift store and look what I came across.
Ta-da! Your Delinchi.
Isn't that a coincidence? Yes.
Well, I was just out looking for some pants to make into cut-offs and Oh, shoot, I don't have any use for this kind of thing, I just thought maybe you should have it back.
Thank you, Magnum.
Let me at least reimburse you for what you paid for it.
No, that's not necessary.
Well, may I offer you something in exchange? Higgins, I want you to listen to me very carefully.
There is absolutely nothing I want in return for that sword.
- Foil.
- Foil.
- Thank you, Magnum, that's very nice.
- You're welcome.
Oh, Higgins.
There is something we can negotiate for.
What?