Remington Steele S03E13
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00:00That man is an imposter. I'm Atomic Man.
00:03I love that man.
00:05I'll kill you before I'll let you destroy my creation.
00:08Atomic Man is wanted for murder.
00:11I didn't realize the penalty for bad acting was that stiff in this country.
00:14Doc!
00:16We know that Max didn't kill Spooner.
00:19Well, you have to do one more thing.
00:21What's that?
00:22You have to prove it.
00:24But Miss Davenport has an airtight alibi.
00:26Pick, pick. Is that all you can do?
00:28If there are holes in this case, we'll plug them.
00:30Television, Mildred.
00:32Dens the mind, corrupts the soul.
02:28A laboratory experiment explodes, transforming everyday scientist Mark Slate into the Atomic Man.
02:43A force with such power the world has never known.
02:58Mark uses his superhuman strength to rid the world of crime and injustice wherever he finds it
03:23in an endless battle to bring peace to mankind.
03:35What you've just seen is a clip from the original Atomic Man TV series.
03:41A series that, in spite of poor direction, simplistic writing, and, at best, adequate acting by the lead,
03:49is enjoying phenomenal success in syndication today.
03:54Why?
03:57Heroes.
04:01People wanted them then.
04:03People need them now.
04:05When I first saw Atomic Man, I knew I would one day make it into a big-budget feature,
04:11but only if I had the right actor.
04:15My associate, Jennifer Davenport,
04:22and I scoured the country looking for the one man who could embody the virtues of the Atomic Man
04:30and yet still have the look of the 80s.
04:33We didn't want just another hunk.
04:35We wanted an actor with ability.
04:37An actor with depth.
04:39An actor with sincerity.
04:42Ladies and gentlemen, the star of Atomic Man, the movie,
04:47Brit Bostwick.
04:52Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
04:55That man is an imposter! I'm Atomic Man!
04:58Everybody, a hand for my surprise guest.
05:02The main actor who originally portrayed Atomic Man, Maxwell Donahue.
05:07Listen, you can't treat me this way. I gave the best years of my life to that character.
05:11I'm the only one who can play Atomic Man, and I'm the only one who will.
05:14I love that man. You're beautiful, Donahue.
05:17Yeah, well, you're a treacherous snake-spooner.
05:19I'll kill you before I'll let you destroy my creation!
05:23So, you really think it went well?
05:26They thought you were terrific.
05:28They did, didn't they?
05:30Oh, I love this business.
05:33You don't think that has-been Donahue brought things down to you?
05:37No, the press ate it up.
05:39Yeah.
05:41Did you hear the reaction when they heard I landed Roger Foreman to produce?
05:45The man's a legend.
05:47Hasn't made a picture in a decade, and he comes out of retirement to work with me.
05:51Isn't that beautiful?
05:53Why didn't you tell me about Foreman?
05:56We're partners.
05:58You direct, I produce.
06:00That's what you said when we signed the papers.
06:02Listen, baby, it's not me.
06:04We're talking a $25 million project.
06:07The studio wanted somebody with experience.
06:10Well, this whole project was my idea.
06:12I got the studio interested. I got you involved.
06:15I went to the mat to wrestle away the rights.
06:17I'm gonna take care of you, baby.
06:20I'm thinking of making you my assistant, my executive assistant.
06:23Oh, so I can fetch your coffee and polish your ego?
06:26No thanks.
06:29Hey, you don't want to be a part of this project?
06:32It's up to you.
06:37It's not only the project, is it, Stephen?
06:41It's us.
06:44You're bored with me.
06:46I always did have a short attention span.
06:50You're not getting rid of me that easily.
06:53Baby, you're gone.
06:55You're gone.
07:04Though many evil forces have tried,
07:07none have yet discovered the secret source of Atomic Man's great power.
07:17Atomic Man.
07:19I was just waiting for the news.
07:21Quick look at the day's events, weather, stock market quotations.
07:25Our client, Mooney the Carpet King, is waiting in my office.
07:29I hope you know your cut pile from your loot pile.
07:32I'll just gather my notes.
07:35Go ahead and shoot. You can't hurt me. I'm Atomic Man.
07:39I have a great power that radiates from inside me and cannot be extinguished.
07:44Wonderfully dreadful.
07:48That show is timeless.
07:50You're a fan, are you?
07:52I used to watch it as a child.
07:54It reported all the values that my mother wanted me to adopt.
07:58Goodness, truth, justice.
08:00Chastity?
08:02As a matter of fact,
08:04it was those values that I had in mind when I created Remington Steel.
08:09I'm not sure I like the fact that my origins have come from a comic book television hero.
08:14It was that television hero who in some part inspired me to choose this profession.
08:19Well, lucky for Mr. Mooney he had.
08:22Now, what say we join forces to, you know,
08:26do battle with the evil carpet thieves of the world, eh?
08:29Yeah.
08:36Sorry, pal, your name's not on the list.
08:38No, it has to be.
08:40Spooner's office called me no more than an hour ago.
08:42You check with him. You'll see.
08:44All right.
08:49Isn't that the loon they booted out of here?
08:54Stephen Spooner's office.
08:56No, absolutely not.
08:58No, the man has been harassing Mr. Spooner for days.
09:03Oh, and be careful.
09:05He has a violent temper.
09:15Sorry, pal.
09:17But this is ridiculous.
09:19I was told to get into my costume and come down here and see Spooner,
09:23and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.
09:25Hey, Sid!
09:27Come on.
09:29Hey!
09:48Hazel?
09:50Would you mind doing my office now?
09:52I have an important call to make. I don't want to be interrupted.
09:55Oh, sure thing, Miss Davenport.
09:57Thanks.
10:18Hazel?
10:20Can you see the time?
10:22My contacts are making everything blurry.
10:2411 o'clock on the button.
10:26Oh, just in time for Atomic Man.
10:28Hey, would you turn the set on, please?
10:30Oh, sure thing.
10:47Aah!
11:05Go ahead and shoot.
11:07The power of the atom is only realized when it is split.
11:18Hazel, I have to make that call now.
11:21Hmm?
11:23Oh, oh, sure thing, Miss Davenport.
11:47Aah!
12:11Jennifer?
12:14Don't call me baby.
12:32Hey, it's that cook we just tossed.
12:43Aah!
13:13Hazel, I'm sorry. I am just so clumsy.
13:15Oh, don't worry about it, Miss Davenport.
13:19I'm running ahead of schedule tonight anyway.
13:29And turning to the local scene,
13:31all Hollywood is saddened by the tragic death of Steven Spooner,
13:34who was murdered last night in his Studio City office.
13:37The 25-year-old director was preparing his latest film,
13:40Atomic Man, the movie.
13:42Luckily, Maxwell Donahue,
13:44the actor who portrayed Atomic Man on television from 1961 to 1964,
13:48is being sought in connection with the crime.
13:51Homicide detective James Jarvis had this to say at the scene last night.
13:56Well, things are still kind of sketchy,
13:58but we do have several eyewitnesses
14:00who claim they saw Mr. Donahue running from the scene of the crime.
14:03And, of course, you know he did threaten to kill Mr. Spooner
14:06at a press conference earlier this week.
14:08So at the moment, he is our primary murder suspect,
14:11and we have a murder arrest warrant.
14:21Ah, good morning! Yes!
14:24Ready to take a magic carpet ride
14:26into the fascinating world of...
14:29floor coverings? Persian, Chinese, Turkish?
14:32Huh?
14:34Perhaps your interest lies in domestic tuff, sir.
14:36What would you say to a nice little American shag?
14:38Hello, nice little American shag.
14:40What's wrong, Laura?
14:41Atomic Man is wanted for murder.
14:43Really?
14:45I didn't realize the penalty for bad acting was that stiff in this country.
14:48No, real murder. The police are after him.
14:51He's innocent, and he's being hunted down like an animal.
14:55How do you know he's innocent?
14:57Atomic Man could never hurt anyone.
15:00Laura, I realize how important Atomic Man was to you in your formative years,
15:05but you must remember one thing.
15:07What's that?
15:09He's just an actor in a silly suit.
15:17You promised Mooney that we'd meet him there before ten
15:20so it wouldn't interfere with those live television commercials he does.
15:23Remember?
15:25Right!
15:27I am.
15:29Poor man needs help. He's alone. Frightened.
15:33He can't get to us. We'll have to get to him.
15:40Are we still talking about the carpet, Kate?
15:43Huh?
15:58Steel, glad to see you.
16:00Oh, good morning.
16:02Where's Miss Holt?
16:04Well, she was right behind me. I had no doubt she was working on that.
16:07Your security system.
16:09The sooner we install it, the better.
16:11Last week, I had enough indoor-outdoor stolen
16:14from this store alone to blanket the Astrodome.
16:17And I've got 19 outlets.
16:19Oh, excuse me. I have one of my commercials to do.
16:22Go ahead.
16:38Theodore Mooney of Mooney's Carpets,
16:40where we've had happy customers since 1964.
16:43We have a large selection of brand names in stock.
16:46Lifgym, Schlatt, Grubb.
16:51The Flift, Melman, Glimm.
16:56Really, Laura?
16:58You've not only reverted to childhood, you've practically returned to the womb.
17:02I had to let Max know I wanted to help.
17:04Television seemed the best medium for the message.
17:06Lifgym, Schlatt, Grubb is a message?
17:09With the Atomic Man decoder ring, yes.
17:11Yes.
17:13Remington Steel.
17:15Remington Steel Investigations.
17:17Mildred? No, she's not here.
17:19Laura, what makes you so sure this man's going to call?
17:22I mean, the chances of him having seen this...
17:24Allow me.
17:26I guess I could try some filing.
17:28Steel here.
17:31Ziff.
17:33Klimp.
17:35Blurg, blurg, blurg, blurg.
17:37It's for you.
17:39Mr. Donahue?
17:41Yes, I'm Laura Holt.
17:43I believe in your innocence and I want to help.
17:45Is there a place that we can meet?
17:47Mildred, I'm worried.
17:49Miss Holt?
17:51Usually she's the logical one.
17:53I mean, everything by the book, allowing precious little time for emotions to creep in
17:55and cloud her perceptions.
17:57Now look at her.
18:00Laura, where are you going?
18:02To meet Max.
18:04Laura, the man is dangerous. He's already wanted by the police for murder.
18:06The fugitive.
18:08Yes, the fugitive, Maxwell Donahue.
18:10No, the fugitive.
18:12David Janssen, a Quinn Martin production, 1963 to 1967.
18:14Mm-hmm.
18:16But, Mildred, you're an American.
18:18What's she talking about?
18:20It's an old television series.
18:22David Janssen played a man running from the police
18:24for a murder he didn't commit.
18:26He'd been framed.
18:28Is that what you're going to put your innocence on, a television show?
18:30How many times have I followed you blindly
18:32just because you thought one of our cases
18:34bore a faint resemblance to the plot of some silly movie?
18:38Press on, Miss Holt.
18:42I'm with you every step of the way.
18:44Just one moment.
18:46Where does one find an atomic man?
18:50They call themselves Tommies.
18:52They're all fans of the show.
18:54A few times a year they get together for...
18:56Laura!
18:58No costume this year.
19:00I'm sure you look positively fetching
19:02in your little cape and booties, eh?
19:04Never mind that. We've got to find Max.
19:06Oh, yeah? And how do you propose we do that
19:08in this sea of duplicates?
19:10You won't have to.
19:12He just found us.
19:16Miss Holt?
19:22And this is my boss, Remington Steele.
19:24He's a very famous private detective,
19:26and he wants to help you very much.
19:28Yes, Miss Holt has convinced me
19:30that you're the David Janssen of your time.
19:32Um, thank you both really for believing in me.
19:34Are you sure you weren't followed here?
19:36Uh, well, a couple of cops chased me,
19:38but I shook them off.
19:40I'm still pretty fast on my feet.
19:42I do a little jogging and workout.
19:44You know, this damn costume shows every bulge and ripple.
19:46Yes, well, apparently you weren't fast enough.
19:48Have a look, Laura.
19:50Jarvis?
19:52Mm-hmm.
19:54You two slip out the front.
19:56I'll occupy the Huckleberry Finn of Homicide, okay?
19:58Ah, Detective Jarvis!
20:00Good to see you. Remember me?
20:02Oh, Mr. Steele! Mr. Steele!
20:04Hey! I haven't seen you since...
20:06until you hired me for a murder I didn't commit.
20:08Remember that?
20:10Hey, tell me, are you a Tommy, too?
20:12Hmm? Hmm?
20:14Oh, no. No, no, no. Actually, I'm working on a case.
20:16Oh, I see. Fascinating.
20:18Tell me all about it, Detective. Please do. Hmm?
20:20Say, isn't that Miss Holt?
20:22What? No, no, no, no, no, no.
20:28There he is, and I think she has something I'm after.
20:30Hey, look, everybody! It's Jimmy Jones!
20:32Jimmy Jones, right here!
20:34Jimmy Jones, right there!
20:38Coming!
20:40Coming!
20:46Detective Jarvis, what a surprise.
20:48I want Maxwell Donahue.
20:50He's innocent.
20:52He threatened to kill Stephen Spooner.
20:54He was spotted leaving the scene of the crime.
20:56Circumstantial.
20:58His fingerprints were on the murder weapon.
21:02Now, I suggest you get him to the nearest police station
21:04as quickly as possible.
21:06Otherwise, you'll be looking at a few charges yourself.
21:08Such as?
21:10Obstructing justice, aiding and abetting a fugitive,
21:12accessory after the fact.
21:14How does that sound so far?
21:16Impressive.
21:18It's a very nice place you've got here.
21:20It's light and airy
21:22and a hell of a lot more spacious than a jail cell.
21:28Is there no way you can prove
21:30Spooner wanted to see you in costume
21:32at precisely 10.30 last night?
21:34Uh, no, I already told you.
21:36His secretary called me about 9.30.
21:38She said she went home at 6,
21:40and her time card backs her up.
21:42Somebody called her.
21:44It doesn't look good, Max.
21:46Oh.
21:48If you think that looks bad,
21:50wait till you hear this.
21:52The...
21:54murder weapon?
21:56What about it?
21:58Well, it, uh...
22:00just may have my fingerprints on it.
22:02Well, how could that be?
22:04It was a prop in the show,
22:06and when I read that Spooner
22:08was gonna do the movie version,
22:10I sent it to him.
22:12I was telling him that I was Atomic Man.
22:14Good heavens, Max.
22:16The more you explain, the worse it sounds.
22:18Mr. Steele, please,
22:20believe me, I'm not a murderer.
22:22I'm just an actor who wants to act.
22:26Atomic Man was probably
22:28the best and the worst thing that ever happened to me.
22:30As a struggling actor,
22:32it was great.
22:34Money was good, put food on the table,
22:36sent a couple of nieces through college.
22:38But then...
22:40Yeah, and I couldn't get arrested.
22:42I mean, it didn't seem to matter to anybody
22:44that I played Hamlet, I played Tartuffe.
22:46One rave notices
22:48from the San Francisco Theater Guild.
22:50No, I was Atomic Man,
22:52and they didn't think
22:54I could play anything else.
22:56But, you know, in the long run,
22:58it really didn't seem to matter,
23:00because...
23:02everywhere I went,
23:04people still thought of me as a hero.
23:06I like that.
23:08Yes, well,
23:10it can be addictive, can't it?
23:12Mr. Steele,
23:14don't you see?
23:16If I killed someone,
23:18I'd lose the only thing I have left from my career.
23:20My reputation.
23:22You understand that?
23:24You're a hero.
23:26The amazing sleuth who's never been stumped.
23:28Yes, well,
23:30that's me all right, isn't it?
23:32Of course, the only difference is
23:34that you really are Remington Steele.
23:36I'm just an actor playing a part.
23:38Well,
23:40we're all actors, Max,
23:42at one time or another.
23:44Some of us just have better roles.
23:46What now, Chief?
23:48When Jarvis comes up empty at Miss Holt's,
23:50he's sure to look for him here.
23:52Hmm.
23:54Well, Mildred,
23:56what Max needs is...
23:58a new costume.
24:00This is my suit.
24:02This is my costume.
24:04This is my security system.
24:06It's simply a provisional measure
24:08until Mr. Steele can install
24:10the electronic surveillance and protection hardware.
24:12But I have 19 stores!
24:14Oh, and we will take care of each and every one of them,
24:16I assure you.
24:18Now, Officer Kimball here
24:20is merely here to provide uninterrupted service
24:22in the interim.
24:24One officer?
24:26He's the best in the business.
24:28And we're prepared to provide
24:30protection if you have a place for him to stay.
24:32There's a storeroom in the back.
24:34Follow me.
24:40What'd you say your name was?
24:42You look very familiar.
24:44Uh, Kimball.
24:46Kimball.
24:52Oh, oh.
24:54I'm-I'm sorry.
24:56I-I didn't expect to find anyone in here.
24:58I'm Laura Holt.
25:00Jennifer Davenport.
25:02Can I help you?
25:04Yes, I'm a private investigator
25:06working on the Stephen Spooner murder case.
25:08I thought the police had their man.
25:10Well, there are a few things
25:12that don't quite add up.
25:14Such as?
25:16Uh, you and Stephen Spooner
25:18were partners, yes?
25:20Stephen and I were united
25:22in every sense of the word.
25:24Well, I'm-I'm surprised
25:26after a loss like that,
25:28you wouldn't close down for a while.
25:30Well, rather than suffer depression,
25:32I choose to bury myself in work.
25:34Stephen would have wanted it that way.
25:36Ah.
25:38I'm dedicating the picture to him, of course.
25:40Oh!
25:42Jeez.
25:46Ladies,
25:48lovely day, isn't it?
25:50Ah!
25:52Ah!
25:54Oh, thank you.
25:56Oh, God.
25:58Mind your hand, Miss Holt.
26:00Oh, um, Wellington Steel.
26:02Hello.
26:04Odd.
26:06To say the least.
26:08My chalice couldn't support me.
26:10It supposedly held up fine
26:12under Maxwell Donahue,
26:14who has me by pounds.
26:16Another thing that doesn't quite add up.
26:18Now, what exactly troubles you
26:20about Max's guilt, aside from the fact
26:22that you're obviously working for him?
26:24Well, for one,
26:26why throw the murder weapon
26:28with your fingerprints on it
26:30through a window and alert witnesses
26:32to your presence at the scene?
26:34Well, the man panicked.
26:36Ah, that doesn't explain why he wore
26:38his Atomic Man costume to commit a crime.
26:40I mean, hardly an ideal way
26:42to conceal his identity, is it?
26:44Or why he showed up at the main gate
26:46without any questions?
26:48Do you have answers to go with them?
26:50Ah, no, not yet.
26:52But the most important thing is
26:54we know that Max didn't kill Spooner.
26:56Now, all we have to do is figure out who did.
26:58Well, you have to do one more thing.
27:00Oh?
27:02Really? What's that?
27:04You have to prove it.
27:10She did it. I know she did it.
27:12But what's her motive?
27:14I thought she and Spooner were...
27:16cozy under the covers
27:18as well as business partners.
27:20It's there, Mildred.
27:22All we have to do is dig it up.
27:24Laura, I hate to be a wet blanket,
27:26but Miss Davenport has an airtight alibi.
27:28The cleaning lady
27:30puts her in her office at 11 o'clock,
27:32precisely the time the studio guard
27:34saw the killer climbing down the trellis.
27:36Pick, pick. Is that all you can do?
27:38If there are holes in this case, we'll plug them.
27:40Laura, you're going off half-cocked,
27:42letting your emotions cloud your judgment.
27:44Now, I say we sit down, look at this
27:46calmly, logically good lord.
27:48I'm beginning to sound like you, and you'll begin to sound like me.
27:50Nice change of pace, isn't it?
27:52You establish that Jennifer was the one who called Max
27:54while I punched some holes in her alibi.
27:56Television, Mildred.
27:58Dens the mind, corrupts the soul.
28:12Max?
28:14Officer Kimball here. May I help you?
28:16It's Steele.
28:20You can't be too careful.
28:22Max, would you recognize the voice
28:24that told you to come to the studio
28:26the night of the murder?
28:28Oh, gee, I don't know.
28:30Say yes, Max. We're desperate.
28:34What is it now, Mr. Steele?
28:36I don't know.
28:38I don't know.
28:40What is it now, Mr. Steele?
28:42Oh, I just thought I'd give you a call
28:44to see how you're faring up.
28:46How do you think I'm faring
28:48with the man I loved brutally murdered?
28:50Mozart.
28:52When the woman called, there was music playing in the background
28:54just like that.
28:56What about the voice?
28:58Mr. Steele? Are you still there?
29:00I'd stake my life on it.
29:02You are.
29:04Miss... Miss Davenport, rest assured
29:06we're closing in on this murder
29:08as we speak. Yes. Good day.
29:14Good work, Max.
29:16Now, back to your old ends and remnants.
29:18Go on, mate.
29:20Fact.
29:22Stephen Spooner was going to have you
29:24replaced as producer of the
29:26Atomic Man movie.
29:28I'm a great admirer of Roger Foreman.
29:30I think he'll add a lot to the production.
29:32Fact. Your contract with Spooner
29:34for the Atomic Man rights carried a
29:36survivorship clause, which means
29:38now that he's dead, you own it all.
29:40His lawyer insisted
29:42on that clause.
29:44Fact. Maxwell Donahue recognized
29:46your voice as the one who called him to the studio
29:48the night of the murder.
29:50A desperate man will say anything.
29:52Under the circumstances, which one of us
29:54do you think the police will believe?
29:56You killed Stephen Spooner!
29:58I was watching
30:00Atomic Man with Hazel at the exact
30:02moment Maxwell Donahue
30:04dispatched my beloved
30:06to that great soundstage in the sky.
30:08Well,
30:10she has you there.
30:12Only for the moment. There's got to be a way
30:14to nail her for Spooner's murder.
30:16So long as Hazel swears she was watching television
30:18with her, we're going to have a hell of a time proving she's guilty.
30:20That's it.
30:22The time. She changed
30:24the time. Nice try, Laura,
30:26but the station broadcasts Atomic Man at
30:2811 o'clock.
30:30Columbo. Peter Falk.
30:32Hazel Studios, 1975.
30:34In an episode entitled
30:36Playback, Oscar Burner kills his mother-in-law.
30:38He seems to have the perfect alibi
30:40until Columbo discovers he used
30:42a videotape to alter the apparent
30:44time of the murder.
30:46Are you suggesting Spooner wasn't killed at 11 o'clock?
30:48No. I'm saying Hazel
30:50wasn't with Jennifer at 11. She only thought
30:52she was because Atomic Man was on.
30:54But she was actually watching the tape.
30:56Now all we have to do
30:58is find that tape. If Columbo
31:00can do it, so can we.
31:12The fugitive. Columbo.
31:14Really, Laura, I'm learning more about television
31:16than I care to.
31:24Okay, let's go.
31:30Okay.
31:56Have a look.
31:58She had the means.
32:10And the tape.
32:18Psst.
32:20I suggest we watch this one at home. Come on, quick.
32:22Let's go, let's go.
32:28Max.
32:38Max.
32:44Max.
32:46I warn you, I'm armed.
32:48And dangerous.
32:50It's Laura Holt.
32:52Oh, Miss Holt.
32:54Mom.
32:56What are you doing here?
32:58I thought it was time you finally heard
33:00some good news. We're this close
33:02to clearing you.
33:04Oh, that's wonderful.
33:06Atomic Man triumphs again.
33:08Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm afraid Atomic Man
33:10had very little to do with this triumph.
33:12Oh, I don't know.
33:14He gave me the inspiration to press on
33:16with the case.
33:18Well, now, you know, it's fans like you
33:20that have kept me going all these years.
33:22I was, uh...
33:24I was four when the show
33:26first came on.
33:28I couldn't even pronounce
33:30Atomic Man. It came out
33:32Tom Mix Man.
33:34And that's what my father always called it.
33:36I used to...
33:38I used to climb up on his lap
33:40and we'd sit there, the two of us,
33:42entranced by your exploits.
33:44And I'd always cry
33:46when the show was over. I wanted more.
33:48Yeah.
33:50So did I.
33:54After the first season,
33:56my father wasn't around very much.
33:58He and my mother...
34:00Hi.
34:02That's, uh,
34:04how marriages go after a while, you know.
34:06I guess he found
34:08more and more excuses
34:10to stay away from the house.
34:12So I'd have to climb up
34:14into his chair and watch you all by myself.
34:20But I always made believe
34:22I was sitting in my daddy's lap
34:24with his arms around me,
34:28the smell of his aftershave
34:30in my nostrils.
34:34And we were both watching him.
34:38You gave me a lot of happiness, Max,
34:40and a lot of memories
34:42I could call on
34:44after my father finally
34:46left for good.
34:50Where are you going?
34:52To call the police.
34:54Max, you're a fugitive.
34:56Lie low.
34:58Hide.
35:20Come on.
35:50Laura, stop!
35:56My hero.
36:06First-rate, Kimball.
36:08Thank you, sir.
36:12Congratulations.
36:16Congratulations.
36:18You're both under arrest.
36:38Ah, Miss Holt.
36:40Mr. Steele has made your bail.
36:42Would you please get Miss Holt's personal effects?
36:44Really, Miss Holt,
36:46I'm absolutely astounded by your behavior.
36:48I'm seriously going to have to consider your position
36:50within this agency.
36:52After all, I have my reputation to maintain.
36:54You got the wrong man, Jarvis.
36:56That's not what the evidence says.
36:58Max was framed by Jennifer Davenport.
37:00I'll prove it.
37:02Are you going to bully a confession out of her?
37:04Gee, I don't know if there's enough room
37:06on the sheet for harassment.
37:08I assure you, Detective,
37:10Miss Holt would not break any law.
37:12And I promise you that.
37:14A good doctor, the proper drugs, a little shock therapy,
37:16and she'll be as good as new, I promise you.
37:22Okay.
37:24Check them and sign for them.
37:26What's this?
37:28That's, uh, something I bought
37:30at the Atomic Man convention.
37:34You know, you really ought to have him
37:36take off the studio property sticker next time.
37:38It kind of makes it look stolen.
37:41We are not looking at a breaking
37:43and entering charge here, are we, Miss Holt?
37:47Uh, I think I'm going to hang on to it
37:50just until the morning.
37:54I just want to make sure
37:56Miss Davenport's collection is complete.
38:00Perhaps we can see the prison now, hmm?
38:02Things couldn't look better, Max.
38:04You ought to see it from this side.
38:06We know who killed Spooner.
38:08That's great.
38:10And with your help,
38:12we're going to prove it.
38:14How can I help?
38:16By giving the performance of your life, mate.
38:20Okay.
38:22Mr. Donahue,
38:24since it is your confession,
38:26please start wherever you're going.
38:28Mr. Donahue,
38:30since it is your confession,
38:32please start wherever you're going.
38:34It all started
38:36at a 5,000-watt radio station.
38:38Mr. Donahue, I meant the night of the murder.
38:40Oh, oh.
38:42Um, well, um,
38:44after the guards
38:46tossed me off the lot,
38:48I, um,
38:50I doubled back
38:52and I jumped the fence.
38:54I landed in a clump of hydrangea.
38:56I landed in a clump of hydrangea.
39:00Hmm.
39:02Looked around
39:04to make sure no one was watching,
39:06and I slipped into the production building.
39:10I crept down the hall
39:12one step at a time,
39:14planning,
39:16plotting,
39:20knowing what I had to do,
39:22knowing what I'd been driven to do,
39:24I arrived
39:26at Stephen Spooner's office,
39:28and I flung open the door.
39:32There!
39:34Make sure you get all of this.
39:36There sat Stephen Spooner,
39:38the man who told me
39:40I was too old to be a superhero.
39:44Then I saw it.
39:46And?
39:50My atomic scepter.
39:52My atomic scepter.
39:56Actually, um, this looks more like my proton.
40:00Uh, anyway,
40:02I took the scepter in my hand,
40:04and it felt good.
40:08And I crept up
40:10on Spooner,
40:12and I hit him!
40:16Do something! Max is going into his big finish.
40:18Come on!
40:22I missed.
40:26This made Spooner angry.
40:30So, um,
40:32we fought!
40:38I...
40:40I struggled,
40:42and he struggled,
40:44and I...
40:46And I...
40:48choked him!
40:50Yes!
40:52I mean, no.
40:54He died from a blow to the head.
41:00Then obviously I'm not the murderer.
41:02What are you talking about?
41:04Uh, well, I say I choked him,
41:06and you say I hit him.
41:08One of us better get our story straight.
41:10Oh, Max
41:12was nothing short of brilliant tonight.
41:14You see?
41:16Maybe television isn't the vast wasteland
41:18you think it is.
41:20Perhaps I misjudged the medium.
41:22An evil man.
41:24The Commandant dedicates his life
41:26to the task of destroying...
41:28You may be damp in your spirits,
41:30Lieutenant Columbo,
41:32but the fact that Jennifer has a tape
41:34of atomic scepter
41:36in her hand
41:38doesn't prove that she played it
41:40the night of the murder, you know.
41:42One thing at a time, all right?
41:44What's gotten into you anyway?
41:46You used to have such flair,
41:48such style.
41:50Always ready to take a chance,
41:52play a hunch.
41:54Well, one of us has to keep her feet
41:56on the ground, Laura.
41:58You're really enjoying this role,
42:00aren't you?
42:02Punching holes in my theories,
42:04threatening me with shock therapy.
42:06Really trying to keep you from going off the deep end?
42:08Yes, of course, Sam.
42:10You'd like company.
42:12Oh.
42:14Shut up and watch.
42:22Go ahead and shoot.
42:24The power of the atom is only realized
42:26when it is split.
42:36Aah!
42:42Aah!
42:44The power of the atom is only realized
42:46when it is split.
42:48It's still the same.
42:50I keep hoping I'll wake up
42:52and I'll be watching Gone with the Wind
42:54or even Heaven's Gate.
42:56Oh.
42:58Oh.
43:00Come on.
43:04I'm sorry, Miss Hope,
43:06but it took me a while to find anybody
43:08working at the station this early.
43:10Now, here's the broadcast tape
43:12of the atomic man show.
43:14Great.
43:18I'm gonna have a shower.
43:30An evil man,
43:32the Commandant dedicates his life
43:34to the task of destroying
43:36the atomic man
43:38and all that is good.
43:42What are we looking for?
43:44I'll let you know when we find it.
43:48That's fair.
43:54Aha!
43:56Aha!
43:58Aha!
44:00Aha what?
44:02Throw a towel on Mr. Steele, Mildred.
44:04We're going to make
44:06mincemeat out of a murderess.
44:10You almost
44:12got away with it.
44:14You had everything figured.
44:16Everything except this tape.
44:18I hope this dreadfully
44:20boring woman has a point
44:22to all this, Detective Jarvis.
44:24I gave up a racquetball game to be here today.
44:26I wanted to hear her out
44:28before I bust her for stealing police property.
44:30You simply borrowed it, Detective.
44:36Stephen Spooner dumped you.
44:38You knew eliminating him would save your career.
44:42Having seen Max at the press conference,
44:44you knew you had the perfect scapegoat.
44:46So you proceeded with the perfect crime.
44:50You used a prop you knew Max had handled
44:52and then threw it out the window
44:54to attract attention.
44:56When the guards saw you in your borrowed costume,
44:58they naturally assumed you were Max.
45:00How many ways can I say it?
45:02I was right here in this office
45:04watching TV with Hazel.
45:06Ah, yes.
45:08The perfect alibi.
45:10And it was perfect.
45:12Almost.
45:14Like they say in Hollywood, Miss Holt.
45:16Cut to the chase, eh?
45:18It was easy to figure out that you'd set the clock
45:20in your office ahead
45:22and playing a tape of Atomic Man for Hazel
45:24was brilliant.
45:26Hazel?
45:38Handy gadgets, these remote controls.
45:48Watch very carefully.
45:52Ah!
45:56Hazel, do you remember
45:58seeing this scene?
46:00Sure do.
46:02Miss Davenport?
46:04Of course. I was right here with Hazel.
46:06Is all this leading somewhere?
46:08Really, Detective.
46:10Forgetting Miss Holt's criminal tendency,
46:12she is still a brilliant investigator. Brilliant.
46:14All right. Is all this leading somewhere?
46:16Good.
46:22Ah!
46:24Ah!
46:26Ah!
46:28Ah!
46:30Ah!
46:32Ah!
46:38Here's how the show aired that night.
46:40That's impossible.
46:44No, Miss Davenport.
46:46That's syndication.
46:48When a program is broadcast for a local station,
46:50its length is edited
46:52to allow for more commercials.
46:54The scene you both claim you saw
46:56was unceremoniously cut
46:58in the middle.
47:00You and your Atomic Man.
47:04A killer caught by a lousy
47:06television show in a rotten commercial.
47:08There's something poetic about that.
47:10Although for the life of me,
47:12I can't think of what.
47:16You know, I just don't know
47:18how to thank you.
47:20You never lost faith in me.
47:22Well, after all, you are the Atomic Man, eh?
47:24Oh, no, not anymore.
47:26Oh, sorry to hear they killed the movie project.
47:28No, don't be.
47:30My agent just called, and he's got me
47:32the title role in a new TV series.
47:36Laser Man.
47:38Hey, Max, well done.
47:40I must say, Max,
47:42since I've known you,
47:44I've developed a deeper satisfaction
47:46for the small screen.
47:48You know something?
47:50You're not such a bad-looking guy yourself.
47:52You ever consider an acting career?
48:16© BF-WATCH TV 2021