Mannix (TV Series)

Quartet for Blunt Instrument (1975)

Thalmus Rasulala: Perry Riggs

Photos 

Quotes 

• Joe Mannix : [walks into Perry Riggs' jail cell]  Perry.

  Perry Riggs : You're a hard man to convince, Mannix. You still don't believe I'm a loser?

  Joe Mannix : So far, your vibrations are holding up.

  Perry Riggs : Well, what is it going to take to prove to them that I didn't to it? A voice from heaven?

  Joe Mannix : Well, I'd settle for a lead that won't make the local law laugh out loud.

  Perry Riggs : You think Mr. Kurtz's wife or one of his partners is going to come to you with a signed confession, huh?

  Joe Mannix : I'd settle for that, too.

  Perry Riggs : Their word against a guy who was in reform school at age 16? And black? You believe in Santa Claus, too?

  Joe Mannix : Well, uh... why don't we start with Mrs. Kurtz?

  Perry Riggs : Strictly bad news.

  Joe Mannix : Bad enough to kill her husband?

  Perry Riggs : Maybe bad enough for him to wish he was dead.

  Joe Mannix : In what way?

  Perry Riggs : Well, you see, Mr. Kurtz-- he had these high standards for everything. Maybe he finally figured that she wasn't-- she couldn't measure up.

  Joe Mannix : I'd hardly call that a motive for Mrs. Kurtz to kill him, would you?

  Perry Riggs : I'd hardly call myself an expert on murder.

  Joe Mannix : Hmm.

  Perry Riggs : I'm kind of new at this. All I know is, cops got to pin it on somebody to make it come out even. That's simple arithmetic.

  Joe Mannix : That's the best you can do for me, huh?

  Perry Riggs : Mannix, did you come here to try to help me, or you just trying to make yourself feel good?

  Joe Mannix : Little of both, I guess.