Ellery Queen (TV Series)

Too Many Suspects (1975)

David Wayne: Inspector Richard Queen

Quotes 

• Inspector Richard Queen : [referring to the television set that Ellery is examining]  You ever seen one of those things before?

  Ellery Queen : Huh? Yeah, a few.

  Inspector Richard Queen : Damn nuisance. A friend of mine has one. People keep dropping in.

  Ellery Queen : Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. It's just a passing fad.

• Ellery Queen : That's it, I'm going home. You're not gonna suck me in this time.

  Inspector Richard Queen : Son, you're doing me an injustice. Besides, I know you. Let's face it, you're hooked! You can't walk out of here!

  Ellery Queen : Can't I? Night, Dad.

  [Ellery walks out of the apartment, closing the door behind him] 

  Sgt. Velie : Aw, gee, that's too bad, Inspector, I thought you had him out of the water and into the boat!

  [Inspector Queen gestures for Velie to wait, and points his thumb at the door, through which Ellery re-enters] 

  Ellery Queen : I was just thinking...

  Inspector Richard Queen : [smiles, winking at Velie]  Yes?

• Inspector Richard Queen : Almost as far-fetched as one of your books. A dying clue, which makes absolutely no sense, which means, of course, it's right up your alley.

• Ellery Queen : Come on, Dad, I'll drive you home.

  Inspector Richard Queen : Son, you are my only child, and a comfort in my old age, but you are the worst driver in the world. If anybody gets behind that wheel, it'll be me!

• [Ellery and his father, Inspector Queen, examine the television at the crime scene where murder victim Monica Gray was found] 

  Ellery Queen : Channel 4. What was on when she pulled out the plug?

  Inspector Richard Queen : Yeah, we called the station. An experimental program, news and weather. We're getting a script.

  Ellery Queen : News at that hour?

  Inspector Richard Queen : Yeah, big mistake. Who wants to watch the problems of the world before he goes to bed?

• [Ellery tries to decipher the dying clue left by Monica Gray when she pulled out the plugs of the clock and the television set] 

  Ellery Queen : Well, what was she trying to say, and why both plugs? Was she reaching for the clock cord and did she accidentally pull out the television cord, or was it the other way around? Is she saying something about electricity, about the failure of power? No. Or is she relating to the television set as a piece of furniture, a box, a console, screen? And what about that clock?

  Ellery Queen : [snapping his fingers]  Wait a minute!

  Inspector Richard Queen : You got something?

  Ellery Queen : Very clever, Dad, very shrewd.

  Inspector Richard Queen : Who? Who?

  Ellery Queen : [pointing to his father]  You. You know I'm supposed to be home finishing a book. You know I got a deadline to meet, but you drag me up here and you dangle all this catnip in front of me.

• Ellery Queen : It's really very simple. I - I make it a point to be observant and to pay attention to details. Good night, Dad.

  [Ellery turns to leave] 

  Inspector Richard Queen : Son?

  Ellery Queen : [turns back]  Hmm?

  Inspector Richard Queen : You forgot your glasses.

• [Inspector Queen tells his son Ellery about the dying clue left by fashion designer Monica Gray who was found shot to death in her apartment] 

  Inspector Richard Queen : Well, anyway, she crawled past the coffee table, over to the wall, where she pulled out that plug of the clock and that, uh, television gizmo. And then she died. Now that's my reconstruction.

  Ellery Queen : And very good too, Dad. I agree with it.

  Inspector Richard Queen : That's as far as I go, because I haven't the slightest idea of what the lady was trying to tell us!