Columbo (TV Series)

Columbo Goes to College (1990)

Elizabeth Swackhamer: Sara

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Quotes 

• Ollie Sachs : Uh, Lieutenant, in trying to solve a murder case, do the police ever make up evidence that, in fact, they don't really have.

  Lt. Columbo : Well, that's been known to happen.

  Ollie Sachs : Well, have you ever done it?

  Lt. Columbo : Well, recently, I was in an attorney's office. And he wasn't there. And it turns out that the secretary was in the ladies' room. So I took advantage of this moment of privacy to go into his inner office and go through his wastewater basket. I was looking for a piece of gum. And I found it.

  Justin Rowe : [to Cooper]  I wonder who his tailor is.

  Lt. Columbo : And I wanted to match the bite marks in that piece of gum with the bite marks on a piece of cheese that I found at the scene of the crime.

  Ollie Sachs : Yeah, but it--it... Excuse me, though, Lieutenant. That's different. See, in that case, you didn't make up anything, any evidence. That isn't really what I was asking.

  Lt. Columbo : I know what you're asking. I'm trying to avoid the question.

  [laughter] 

  Ollie Sachs : Sorry.

  Lt. Columbo : Let me put it this way: I follow my nose. And when I give the scent, there's very little that I wouldn't do in order to solve the case.

  Sara : Do you have any advice for a young detective?

  Lt. Columbo : I would say don't talk too much.

  Sara : Don't talk too much?

  Lt. Columbo : But sometimes when you know something, it's better you keep it to yourself. You don't have to blab everything right away. Wait. Who knows what will happen. Timing, that's important, and luck. You got to be lucky.