- Joe Mannix: I was trying to help you, Adam. I brought her in for questioning, so what do you do? You book her and you throw her into a cell.
- Lt. Adam Tobias: I had to, I think she killed Lisa Ralph.
- Joe Mannix: And I say she didn't.
- Lt. Adam Tobias: Why? Because she has a romantic accent and a good set of legs?
- Lisa Ralph: Are you Mr. Mannix?
- Joe Mannix: That's right.
- Lisa Ralph: My name is Lisa Ralph. May I come in?
- Joe Mannix: Of course.
- Lisa Ralph: I'm sorry to break I like this.
- Joe Mannix: Well, that's perfectly alright, Ms. Ralph.
- Lisa Ralph: Uh, Mrs. Ralph.
- Joe Mannix: Please, sit down.
- Lisa Ralph: Thank you. I've never hired a private detective before. Is it alright if I give you a retainer tonight and...
- Joe Mannix: Oh, now, let's not rush into this, Mrs. Ralph. Uh, I like to know a little bit about a case before I take it.
- Lisa Ralph: Yes, of course.
- Joe Mannix: Excuse me. Now uh, what makes you think you need a private detective?
- Lisa Ralph: I think someone is trying to kill me.
- [Joe abruptly looks up at her. Outside, the man who was following Lisa Ralph walks up to the outside of Joe's apartment]
- Lisa Ralph: I jumped out of my car right past the tunnel. He chased me all the way back to the observatory, and I got away on a bus.
- Joe Mannix: Can you, uh, describe the man?
- Lisa Ralph: I didn't get a good look at him. I was running away.
- Joe Mannix: Have you any idea why someone would want to kill you?
- Lisa Ralph: No.
- Joe Mannix: Why didn't you go to the police?
- Lisa Ralph: I have personal reasons.
- Joe Mannix: Mmm. Too personal to tell me?
- Lisa Ralph: No, I suppose not. Mr. Mannix, uh, could... could I please have a brandy?
- Joe Mannix: Of course.
- Lisa Ralph: If I go to the police, my husband will know where I am.
- Joe Mannix: And, uh, you wouldn't want that?
- Lisa Ralph: No. I'm leaving him.
- Joe Mannix: Where is your husband?
- Lisa Ralph: He's at our home in San Francisco.
- [Joe gives her the brandy he poured for her]
- Lisa Ralph: Thank you. All he knows is that I came or Los Angeles to my father's estate.
- Joe Mannix: Uh-huh. Was it a large estate? I mean, could that be the reason somebody would want to kill you?
- Lisa Ralph: There is practically no estate at all. My father was a professor.
- Joe Mannix: I see. Tell me, Mrs. Ralph, exactly what do you want me to do?
- Lisa Ralph: I want to know who was after me and why. And there's my car. Could you drive me there?
- Joe Mannix: Well, I, uh... I think I better go after it alone. I'll grab a can at the corner. You see, there, uh, maybe somebody waiting up there, hoping you'll come back.
- Lisa Ralph: I didn't think of that.
- [gives Joe the keys]
- Lisa Ralph: Here's the key.
- [Joe looks at the key]
- Lisa Ralph: What is it?
- Joe Mannix: I was just thinking that, uh, even though you were running for your life, you had the presence of mind to grab the car key.
- Lisa Ralph: A habit, I suppose.
- Joe Mannix: Yeah. Of course.
- [walks towards the door and grabs his coat]
- Joe Mannix: I'm going to, uh, lock this door.
- [Lisa Ralph nods as Joe opens the door]
- Joe Mannix: Don't open for anyone... except me.