Mike Connors credited as playing...
Joe Mannix
- Lou Morgan: Chuck Noland was a big hero. Besides, it's good business. The insurance pays for the damage, but it doesn't do very much for the reputation of the building. A thing like this scares people off.
- Joe Mannix: And that's the extent of your involvement, Lou?
- Lou Morgan: [chuckles] Come on, Joe.
- Joe Mannix: Just thinking out loud. Any idea who might have done it?
- Lou Morgan: Had to be a lunatic.
- Joe Mannix: Or somebody's hired gun.
- Joe Mannix: [Schaeffer enters the room] Well, right on cue, Schaeffer.
- Schaeffer: Whatever that means, Mannix, I'll bet it's cute.
- Lou Morgan: [about the document Schaeffer hands him] This the casualty deal?
- Schaeffer: All it needs is your signature.
- Schaeffer: [checks his watch as Lou signs the document] We tee off in forty-five minutes. I'll see you at the club.
- Joe Mannix: Stick around a minute, will you, Schaeffer?
- Lou Morgan: He's here on the bombing.
- Joe Mannix: Do you know anyone who might have wanted to kill Noland or Roy Elkins?
- Schaeffer: No, I don't.
- Joe Mannix: How about Joyce?
- Lou Morgan: Joyce? I don't know what you're talking about.
- Joe Mannix: Does the name mean anything to you, Schaeffer?
- Schaeffer: No, no, nothing.
- Lou Morgan: Joe, how is it that you're mixed up in all of this?
- Joe Mannix: My client, Roy Elkins.
- Lou Morgan: Who ran the elevator?
- Joe Mannix: That's right.
- Lou Morgan: Oh, I see. Joe, I owe you. You saved my neck once. I don't forget. So I'll give you a tip. Check the Noland family.
- Joe Mannix: What's that mean?
- Lou Morgan: Chuck Noland's wife was getting a divorce. Lawyer she used to be stuck on was handling it. It was going to be pretty messy. She lives in San Diego.
- Julian Mallory: Come in, Mr. Mannix. I'm Julian Mallory. This is Ben Lorenz, my attorney. I asked him to join us here.
- Joe Mannix: Mr. Lorenz.
- Julian Mallory: I believe you said it was urgent.
- Joe Mannix: Yes, it is.
- Julian Mallory: I'm due at the San Diego plant. My plane leaves in exactly forty minutes, so, please, let's get straight to the point.
- Joe Mannix: Mr. Mallory, I'd like to ask you some questions about financing your experimental plane.
- Ben Lorenz: What's the Tr2 got to do with Chuck Noland's death?
- Joe Mannix: I was hoping Mr. Mallory could tell me.
- Julian Mallory: I'm sorry, I fail to see what you're driving at.
- Joe Mannix: Well, a few years ago, your company almost went under. Whatever cash you had left, you sank into the experimental plane, is that right?
- Julian Mallory: That's right. This plane's a dream I've had ever since I was a kid. Right after World War Two, I thought I could bring it off. Unfortunately, the state of the industry was not then capable of producing a plane reliable and cheap enough to qualify. Now, we have the answers.
- Joe Mannix: Uh, the answers, but you didn't have the money. It took more than you had planned.
- Julian Mallory: Doesn't it always?
- Joe Mannix: So you took in outside investors, specifically Atlas Enterprises.
- Julian Mallory: That's correct.
- Joe Mannix: I know it's correct, I was just wondering if it was wise.
- Ben Lorenz: Julian, do you mind?
- Julian Mallory: Go ahead.
- Ben Lorenz: Mr. Mannix, I don't know what you're implying, but I handled the transaction with Atlas myself. It was all perfectly legal.
- Joe Mannix: Atlas Enterprises is owned by Lou Morgan, who also owns the building where Chuck Noland was killed.
- Ben Lorenz: And you think that's significant?
- Joe Mannix: Mr. Mallory, what do you know about Lou Morgan?
- Julian Mallory: Well, I know that he's a gambler, if that's what you mean.
- Joe Mannix: In Morgan's case, that's the polite way of saying syndicate.
- Julian Mallory: The important thing is he had money, Mr. Mannix. Money was what I needed. He wasn't a philanthropist. He believes that plane will make him a fortune, and so do I.
- Joe Mannix: I've seen what happens to people who let Lou Morgan get a foot in the door.
- Julian Mallory: Mr. Mannix, *I* still control my company. Wherever the money comes from, what I do with it is strictly legitimate. And now, if you'll excuse me, as I told you, I have a plane to catch.
- Joe Mannix: Have a nice flight, Mr. Mallory.
- Ralph Stoner: Mr. Mannix? Ralph Stoner.
- Joe Mannix: How do you do?
- Ralph Stoner: Mr. Mallory said you were coming down.
- Joe Mannix: Uh-huh.
- Ralph Stoner: Well, you look all right. I, uh, read where somebody tried to kill you.
- Joe Mannix: Well, there's a lot of that going around LA.
- Ralph Stoner: Yeah. Well, what, uh, what would you like to see first? I was told to give you the VIP treatment. I can take you over the production line or give you a ride in the plane if you like.
- Joe Mannix: Oh, that'd be fine.
- Ralph Stoner: Why don't you get in the right side there? Roddy, you want to take a coffee break, and I'll make this test, okay?
- Roddy Rodman: Right. Well, tanks are full and venting. Controls are free, and she's ready to go.
- Ralph Stoner: Oh, Roddy, this is Mr. Mannix. This is my assistant, Roddy.
- Roddy Rodman: Hi there.
- Joe Mannix: How do you do?
- Roddy Rodman: Oh, by the way, Cease fixed that aileron you tagged.
- Cease: Yeah, I logged it in the files.
- Roddy Rodman: I'm sure glad you get all the problem flights. See you later.
- Ralph Stoner: [starts the plane and takes off, then talks into a walkie talkie in the plane] San Diego Control, this is Tr2. Request clearance at four thousand feet to Point Bravo and south VFR to test area.
- Controller: Tr2, this is San Diego Control. You are cleared to Point Bravo via direct. Uh, maintain four thousand. Call on 119.3 on departing.
- Ralph Stoner: It's Tr2, thank you.
- [sets the walkie talkie down]
- Ralph Stoner: Now watch this.
- Joe Mannix: [as Stoner takes the plane into the air] Really rifts right off. It's like driving out of a garage.
- Ralph Stoner: Yeah, we're hoping to sell a million of these babies.
- Joe Mannix: Did Chick Noland have anything to do with developing the Tr2?
- Ralph Stoner: No not really. It was all old man Mallory. I mean, Chuck worked with me testing, and did some, uh, promotional work. I guess they figured a hero is always good for PR.
- Joe Mannix: Were you and the Nolands very friendly?
- Ralph Stoner: Well, Chuck and I had a beer every now and then, but that, uh, that was about it.
- Joe Mannix: Did he ever bring anyone along besides his wife?
- Ralph Stoner: Now, look, he was married to the boss's daughter. So I... I made it a point not to know about that kind of thing. His private life, I mean.
- Joe Mannix: Did he ever mention a girl called Joyce?
- Ralph Stoner: Joyce?
- Joe Mannix: She may be able to tell us why he was killed.
- Ralph Stoner: Well, it's like I say, what, uh, what he did off the job was his business. Besides, I've got enough to worry about right here.
- Joe Mannix: Sure.
- Ralph Stoner: Now this is the test area. Do you get airsick?
- Joe Mannix: I try not to. Why?
- Ralph Stoner: Well, I'm supposed to put her through a few paces here.
- Joe Mannix: Go ahead.
- Ralph Stoner: [maneuvering the plane to go upside down and do loops] Stomach okay?
- Joe Mannix: Yeah.