Police Story: The Watch Commander (1988) - full transcript
This is the story of policeman who has been on the job for over forty years. And one of his duties is to look out for all of the officers under him cause he is the watch commander. And it seems that a lot of them have a lot of problems including the new lieutenant. And a 15 year veteran who's feeling the stress of the job. And at the same time he is being egged by the captain to retire cause he thinks he's too old. And his wife would like him to retire also.
[VOICE OVER POLICE RADIO]
Eileen, don't move.
Hear 'em?
Hear what?
Back gate.
Somebody's out in the yard.
-Don, there's no one
in the yard.
-Shh!
-You were sound asleep.
-Check the kids' room.
The kids are fine,
I just looked in on them.
I promise you, there's no one
out in the yard.
Just keep the lights off.
Don't be afraid.
I can't help being afraid.
This is three times
in one week...
There's been a prowler,
I know, I know.
This is the last time.
[SWINGS CREAKING]
[THUDDING]
[GUN SHOTS]
Oh, my God!
[BABY CRYING]
They got away.
Did you see them?
Yeah, two, maybe three of 'em.
Dark, Latin.
Not Mexican, I don't think.
Not juvenile.
Damn! I don't know
how I missed them.
Are you all right?
Everything's fine.
Go on back to bed.
Thought we'd be safe
with a police officer
living next door.
[NEIGHING]
You don't like the idea,
do you, buddy boy, huh?
Nobody's gonna put a saddle
on you, huh?
All right.
No television for a week.
You hear me, huh?
Joe! Telephone!
All right.
Okay, saved by the bell.
But, I'll be back. Remember,
Joe Wilson doesn't give up.
-Who's winning?
-The animal kingdom.
They've got two legs on us.
Your family or mine?
Neither. Don Carpenter's wife.
Hello, Eileen?
-Sorry to bother you.
-Oh, it's no problem.
Did the same thing?
Last night he thought he saw
a prowler and he shot at them.
You sure no one was out there?
Yeah, I was gonna wait
until I saw you guys again,
but I don't know what to tell
the neighbors or the kids.
I don't know how to help him.
Well, tell them it was
a prowler and Don ran 'em off.
-Give me a chance
to talk to him.
-Okay.
And, look, we'll work it out,
you just hang in there.
Is it okay if I call you?
Now, you call anytime.
Thanks. Bye.
-Same problem?
-Worse.
He shot at them yesterday.
Eileen's not gonna be able to
hold it together much longer.
I can tell from her voice.
Either he's seeing ghosts or
somebody's really after him.
Either way,
the man's in trouble.
Oh, I really feel for Eileen.
We're talking about an officer
who had three commendations
in the last year.
What about on the job?
Is it beginning to show?
Nah, he's the best
street cop in the Central.
That can change, can't it?
If he goes over that line...
Yeah, it could change.
Meanwhile,
I've gotta worry about it.
You always have.
No, not always.
Just the last 42 years.
Forty-two years,
where'd it go?
It never ends, does it?
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
You wanted to see me, Captain?
Shake hands with Carl Corelli.
Not Gino Corelli's son.
Dad loved working with you.
He used to drag me to all
your Little League games.
And look at you. [CHUCKLES]
I'm assigning Carl to
area duty officer
on your watch.
I lucked out.
Show him the ropes, huh?
Listen, the troops like to
eat up new lieutenants.
So, uh, Sergeant Wilson will
run interference for a while,
and then it's up to you.
He's a Corelli.
He'll do just great.
He'll try.
Head on down to roll call.
Sergeant will join you
in a minute.
Yes, sir. And, uh, thanks.
First day must
be a thrill, huh?
Close the door.
Close the door?
You usually hear that just
before you're fired.
Now, I'm not fired, am I?
I'm late for
a meeting, Sergeant.
So let me get this out.
I got a copy of your physical.
Sixty-two push-ups.
One for each year.
It's very impressive.
But not for a street cop.
Look, you could be riding
your horses all day long.
Why don't you?
Because that's not my job.
Most men count the hours
to their 20th year.
You could have retired twice
by now, and...
Ridden into the sunset?
Captain, I passed my physical,
I passed my mental,
I pass every test
every year.
Now, I don't wanna move up,
I don't wanna move down.
I just wanna stay
on the streets.
The streets, Sergeant,
have changed.
There's a war out there,
you know that.
We need an army to fight it,
a young army.
There's no corners left
for the friendly policeman.
There comes a time,
a time to move over,
a time to move on.
And a time for roll call.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Good afternoon, campers.
Fresh meat.
Doesn't look so fresh to me.
Still looks green.
Thank God it's Monday.
The weekend is history,
and we've got a lot
of follow-ups to make.
First I wanna introduce
Lieutenant Carl Corelli.
Our new ADO.
He'll also command team one.
Lieutenant, anything
you wanna tell them?
Just that I'm happy
to be here, and happy to be
working in Central.
I understand we had another
singles bar murder last night.
That's right, Sarge,
all we got here is a homicidal
maniac in a three-piece suit.
He may look
like a stock broker.
But Saturday night
he chopped the head
off a 20-year-old co-ed
from the Regency Estates.
They found the rest of her
at the 49er Motel.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Sergeant Wilson.
Yes. Yes, Lieutenant.
Oh.
Good, thank you.
Cordova, Johnson,
Lieutenant Cruz.
Your shooting with
the liquor store bandits,
the review board said
it's a good one.
Justified all the way.
You can breathe again.
Thank God. It was the longest
Sunday of my life.
Open it up, Schaeffer.
Hmm.
It's heavier than my gun.
You on a safari tonight?
Every night, Sergeant.
There isn't one shell here
that doesn't violate
departmental regulations.
Where'd you get these?
I poured 'em myself, sir.
Sergeant, confiscate these.
Consider this a warning.
The Captain...
Sir, the creeps that Cordova
and Johnson blew away
Saturday night,
what were they carrying?
Cordova?
One of them had an Uzi,
the other, an AR-15.
If these two guys hadn't been
such good shots,
there might be two less names
here on roll call, sir.
You could take out
a shark with these.
There's no lieutenant
checking the bad guys' ammo.
Well, as long as you're
one of the good guys,
you can expect the same thing
next time in ranks.
DISPATCHER:
1L14, return to base.
JOE: [ON RADIO]
1L14. Roger.
1L14, that's Wilson's car.
Sounds like he's taking
Lieutenant out in the field.
Well, I'd rather have a watch
commander who hates the desk
than one who sleeps on it.
What you doing
on your two off?
I don't know, uh,
Ensenada maybe.
If the weather's good.
New Lieutenant sticks pretty
close to the books, huh?
I hear he's got exactly
18 months on the street.
That's all
West Hills Division, pal.
Yeah, well, he's gonna see
more of action in Central
before he leaves
the parking lot. [CHUCKLES]
That's for you.
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
[CHATTER CONTINUES]
1L18 shows unit code six
at East 15.
The building's a bad setup,
that's why we called for
so much backup.
It's just so quirky, you know?
I usually come over
about this time.
We'd both close,
and she'd fix a cup of coffee.
I understand, Ms. Walter,
but just tell me
what happened.
Well, the door is open.
Now, that in and of itself
is not unusual.
But I noticed
there were no customers,
and the drapes were pulled
in the back,
my hand to God,
she never pulls the drapes.
So, I called to her,
"Edna, Edna."
There was no answer.
Then, I thought I heard, like,
footsteps in the back.
And I knew something quirky
was going on.
You know how
you can just kind of tell?
So, I just got
the hell outta there.
Where's the cash register?
Back corner.
-Notice it when you went in?
-Oh...
I don't really remember.
It was so quirky.
All right.
Thank you, Ms. Walters.
You go over to that police car
and we'll find out
what's happening.
All this because a lady thinks
something quirky's going on?
JOE: Hey, Lieutenant,
she's a taxpayer.
Besides, it'll only take
five minutes.
Ramirez, take these two men
and close down the street.
Right.
Lee, you go around the back.
Johnny, get on the roof.
-You got it.
-Who's going in?
-Me and Carpenter.
-No, really, who?
Hey, now, don't get cute.
Huh?
Besides, I need the exercise.
Now, come on, move.
Lieutenant, let's go.
-No cash register.
-That's quirky.
I heard something.
All right, police officers,
come out with your hands over
your head.
[SCREAMING] No! No!
No! No! God!
You're safe now.
They got mad when they...
When they found 100
in the register.
Are they still in there?
He raped me.
Why?
[SOBBING]
You'll be all right, now.
Come on, I'll take you out.
[GUNSHOT]
There's more than one,
their shots overlapped.
Building's surrounded,
you've got nowhere to go.
We'll bring the SWAT team
in here, I promise
they'll kill you!
Come out now, at least you'll
get as far as the courthouse.
All right, man, we give.
Throw your weapons out!
We only got the 138.
"We"?
Don't bother coming unless
you throw out another one.
All right, come on out.
[SHOUTING]
[GROANING]
-Shut up!
-No!
Shut the hell up!
Read him his rights.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say
can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
You have the right
to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one,
one will be appointed to you.
-Is that clear? Is that clear?
-Yeah.
Here we go, princess.
I'm gonna call Eileen,
you want me to call Margaret
for you?
We're gonna have a long night
with the shooting team.
No, I'll call her as soon
as I finish this coffee.
Unless it finishes
me first.
Where'd you get this?
At the hotdog stand.
Heard what went down,
he gave it to us free.
Must be rooting
for the other side.
Our squeaky clean lieutenant
kind of froze in there, huh?
Hey, I wasn't so fast
to draw myself.
Used to be, I'd get three
rounds off to their one.
-Think I'm slowing down?
-No.
World's sped up.
[SIGHS] Yeah.
-Make you dizzy.
-[CHUCKLES]
We're cops, we're in
the merry-go-round
business, right?
What do you mean?
I mean, we get paid
to be dizzy, don't we?
Ain't your head spinning?
Didn't a stranger just try
to kill us?
We'd be lying in our blood.
He gets a few years,
he goes in,
he comes back out again.
It's a merry-go-round.
It goes faster,
faster every day.
Yeah, it could make you dizzy.
Get so dizzy sometimes,
I could puke.
What else?
[SIGHS]
You got enough
on your mind now,
Sarge, it can wait.
Come on, talk.
We've got a few minutes
before the fireworks start.
I don't know where or what
connects to what bust.
But couple of guys have
started following my car
home at night.
I don't know, maybe
I testified against someone,
maybe I strong-armed
somebody once, I don't know.
You sure?
What do you think,
I made this up?
You know how many
crazies there are out there.
You gotta watch out
for them, Joe.
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Hey.
[RADIO CHATTER]
I asked for a cookie,
not a donut.
That's all they had.
That's great.
Couple of cops,
sitting around, eating donuts,
that's something you don't
see too often.
No, there's something
you don't see too often.
Oh, yeah, looks
like a couple
of neurosurgeons, huh?
Since when do you care
about a woman's mind?
Hey, we're not
in high school anymore.
-Give me some credit
for growing up.
-Growing up, right.
Who's in Chinatown
every night looking
for anything that wiggles?
Yeah, you gotta
join me sometime.
Now, why would a happily
married man wanna do that?
Why?
You getting at something here?
Or you just trying out
your sick sense of humor
on me?
Eat your donut.
This is not even glazed.
I mean, if we're gonna be
cliches here, we might
as well do it right.
Come on, let's get going.
You know, you ought to be
a little more sympathetic
to today's single man.
If they have a telephone,
I'll send in a buck,
all right?
Gee, thanks.
Me? I'll just stay married,
not worry about getting dates
on Saturday night.
Well, you don't know
how lucky you are, partner.
If I'm so lucky, how'd
I get stuck with you, huh?
I didn't say good luck,
I just said luck.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[SIGHS]
Wilson, Central.
Honey, I'm not even sure
Joe likes lasagna.
Well, talk him into trying it.
You got a kiss for me?
See you at 11:30, handsome.
Yeah.
Yeah, I got it.
Bishop to queen four.
All right,
I'll call you tomorrow.
[CHUCKLES]
That watch commander
at East Division thinks
he's got my Queen.
He'll learn.
So, Carl, where did
you get that pretty wife?
I had to go to Kansas City
four or five years ago,
expedition case.
She was a flight attendant,
said either I gave
my gun to the captain
or I get off the plane.
So, you surrendered
your revolver.
Yeah, among other things.
Anyway, Joe, I guess
I've spoken so much about you,
that she sent some
of her lasagna in.
But you don't have to eat it
if you're not hungry
or you don't like it.
Oh, listen, I love lasagna!
You know, that's
the street cop's problem.
He learns to love
all kinds of food.
Mexican, Italian,
Chinese, Japanese...
You know, I envy
some of these younger kids.
Boy, they come in talking
about Mongolian pork,
salad from Thailand.
I never knew
that stuff existed
in the old days.
All right, lasagna it is.
-Bread.
-Mmm.
Enjoy.
Joe, I got the special team's
report back on that incident
in the garment district.
It's now officially justified.
Well, sure, Carpenter shot
because he had to.
You know that, you were there.
There a reason
anybody would think
it any other way?
No. No, no reason at all.
Except that if he hadn't shot,
he might have
been in violation.
What are you saying?
I'm saying that a new
lieutenant and an old sergeant
sat on their guns.
Something to think about.
[SIREN WAILS]
Listen, I gotta check my days
off with the new lieutenant.
Tell Nancy she's got
another 20 minutes or so.
No problem. I'll check
the piece in and sign us out.
Okay.
He had to put in
for his days off,
so he's gonna be a while.
Yeah, his father's coming in,
it's real important to him.
How are you doing?
I've been better.
That job thing work out?
They wanted somebody fulltime.
I'm not about to be
anybody's fulltime.
When do I see you again?
It's gonna be difficult,
isn't it?
You're only off
on Friday and Saturday.
That's the problem
with fulltime.
If Lee gets off
Friday and Saturday,
I'm gonna be stuck
with his father and
the details of World War II.
This whole thing
is getting kind of nuts.
You gonna come back
to the house with him tonight?
No, not tonight.
It's getting tougher and
tougher to sit across the room
from you and pretend...
Well, he's gonna think
it's funny, maybe even
be hurt if you stop.
One of these days, or nights,
he's gonna see it.
I don't think so.
I don't really know how much
my husband trusts me.
But I do know how much
he trusts his partner.
Don, how about a lift?
Sure, no problem.
Margaret dropped me to work
today so she could use
the station wagon.
I'll deliver you to the door.
No, your house will be fine.
We can call from there
and she'll pick me up.
-How is she? You all right?
-Adjusting.
When your last daughter
leaves for college,
the house gets very quiet.
I guess I've got quite a ways
before that.
[COMMENTATOR TALKING ON RADIO]
What's the matter?
The car behind us.
JOE: Same car?
I'll tell you in a minute.
Same car, same couple.
Hey, Don!
They're just
an ordinary couple.
Man and wife
with a car seat for their kid.
No, no, I'm telling you, Joe,
they've been after me
three nights running.
They're a bunch
of cop-hating crazies,
all of them.
Slow down, Don.
We'll pull them over,
drag them out,
and then you'll see.
It's all your imagination,
I mean, it's all in your head.
[CAR HONKING]
No, it's not inside my head,
damn it, Joe!
Take it easy, take it easy!
MARGARET: Eileen's
wound up pretty tight.
JOE: I can imagine.
MARGARET: She's all over
the kids one minute, and then
hugging them the next.
She's beginning
to be afraid of Don.
I wasn't so calm with him.
Doing 360s on Rose Avenue.
He was actually ready to run
down an innocent family.
But he wouldn't hurt
his wife and kids.
He wouldn't hurt his wife
and kids if he knew
they were his wife and kids.
What are you gonna do?
I'm going to give
the horse an apple.
You know what I meant,
about Don.
-I don't know.
-It's not your problem.
Tell your lieutenant.
He's been on the job
exactly seven days.
Besides, he's just a kid.
Still has pimples.
-Then go to Captain MacDonald.
-Ah, it doesn't work that way.
You mean you don't work
that way.
Everything has to be
your problem.
Look, Margaret, I don't
wanna get into it tonight,
all right?
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[HORSE NEIGHS]
Joe?
Joe?
Have you noticed that there
are some things
you never wanna get into?
You come home from work,
you go out there to those
horses and you escape.
But not from your job,
from me!
Because you're still thinking
about Don and all your men.
It'll tear you apart someday,
Joe, it'll tear us apart.
Forty-two years.
For God's sake,
haven't you had enough?
Go inside, Margaret.
It's cold out here.
How many partners you had
so far this year, Jim?
Four. No, five.
You know how these young
kids are, they come and go.
We make them or break them,
right, Joe?
They're not all young kids.
You're driving
with Palmer now.
He's got eight years in.
He ain't that bad.
He wants to work
with another officer, too.
Boy, I knew it.
Sooner or later they all
find something
they don't like.
You don't see me
sandbagging a partner.
In the last two months, I've
had five different officers
come in to me about you.
They weren't
all your partners either.
Some people
from around the station.
You wanna hear a list
of the complaints?
You know, I bet that ammo
I was using
wasn't one of them.
You let the other officer
approach the car
and write a ticket
while you read a newspaper.
You were sloppy
in your searching
of a second suspect.
And you allowed a guy
in an L car
to handle what could have been
a major 415 for 10 minutes,
when you were less than
four blocks away.
That's a bunch of bull.
I mean, these kids,
they're hotdogs.
They're all trying
to set records.
-So?
-So...
This is a notice
to correct deficiencies.
You went to the Captain
with all this stuff?
Well, you gotta talk
to somebody.
Whether it's me, your doctor,
your buddy...
You went to the Captain?
Whatever happened
to a warning shot?
Whatever happened to
Jim Schaeffer?
[SIGHS]
Maybe I've been
slipping a little.
Slipping?
You passed slipping
three months ago.
I got a lot on my mind.
Everything but your job.
In our line of work,
that could cost lives.
Now, you find out
what's eating you
and take care of it.
Right, Sarge.
There's a lot of pressure
on me about you.
Everything at home all right?
Well, home's
a rented room, Joe.
The, uh, ex took the kids.
Back east.
To be with the family.
Oh.
I'm sorry. I didn't know.
Could you get some kind
of a restraining order?
She's got full custody.
She can take them to the moon.
Judge says, "Fine.
"Send the alimony
and the child support there."
I borrowed so much money
from the credit union
for airplane tickets,
I'm lucky I see them.
Well, that is tough.
But so are you.
Now just bear down.
I'm here if you need me.
Joe, I'll try.
It's... It's just been raining
kind of heavy on me lately.
Now, you can go back
out in the field now, Jim.
Let me know if you want
to talk some more.
Thanks.
I'll try.
I've never been any place
but the streets.
I'd hate to think
I couldn't make it there now.
Yeah.
I know what you mean.
Hey. How did he take it?
Oh, good.
He's a bitter man
and he used to be
a pretty good street cop.
Is he going to shape up?
I don't know.
I got him talking anyway.
Captain says if you want to
transfer him out, he'll sign
the papers in five minutes.
Yeah.
The Captain's got
a quick trigger.
Sure he'll sign the papers.
He'll transfer him out.
Whoever gets him
will know
and he'll transfer him again.
Pretty soon he's pushing
a pencil and checking in
witnesses at traffic court.
At least he'll
last out his 20.
Or maybe...
Just maybe
Schaeffer wants a little
more than that.
He's been a street cop, Carl.
Once you play the streets,
you don't want to
finish your carrier
in the minors.
Joe, I'm not the enemy.
I care as much as you do.
Then care about the man.
Not what the file says,
not what the Captain says.
The man, Carl.
Listen to what he says.
Care about him.
-Dad?
-In here, Son.
-How you doing, sport?
-All right.
Catch any crooks?
What, and spoil my record?
-Where's Nancy?
-She's at her mother's.
At her mother's? At midnight?
The old lady was feeling bad
or something.
Hey, listen. I drank a couple
of bottles of your beers.
That all right?
Breaking and entering.
That's a felony, Dad.
But I can't bust
my own dad, so...
I'll give Nancy a buzz,
see if she can pick up
a six pack for both of us.
Now you're not going to
say anything to her about
leaving the apartment, huh?
I mean, poor thing has done
nothing all day
but fuss over me.
She made a good dinner.
I'm not going to say anything.
-NANCY'S MOTHER: Hello?
-Hi, this is Lee.
I'm sorry to call so late.
Is everything okay?
Well, arthritis,
but I'm not complaining.
Oh, good.
Uh, let me say a quick word
to Nance, okay?
Well, she's not
over here, honey.
Well, she was there earlier.
She took me
grocery shopping this morning,
but that was hours ago, Lee.
Um...
My dad must have
gotten her wrong.
That sometimes happens.
-Right.
-You lose track.
-Sorry. Good night.
-No bother.
Her mother all right?
-Yeah, she's fine.
-Was Nancy there?
Just missed her.
Come on, sit down.
We're close to the
cavalry charge.
[GUNFIRE ON TELEVISION]
You know, the first time
we saw this cavalry charge,
I was a little kid.
It's probably what
made you decide to be a cop.
It's too late to
become an Indian.
You know, they don't make
good pictures anymore.
Well, Dad, they sure don't.
Want another beer?
As long as you're up.
You must have grabbed
one of the helicopters
and flown home.
No, not especially.
How are you, Hank?
Okay, gorgeous.
How's your mother?
Oh, she's pretty good.
She, um...
Where did you go, Nancy?
Didn't your father tell you?
He said you were
at your mother's house.
-And?
-And I called your
mother's house.
What are you doing?
Checking up on me?
I was going to ask
you to bring a couple
six packs.
I told your dad I was going to
my mother's 'cause I didn't
want to hurt his feelings.
I mean, I've seen enough
westerns for one weekend.
Nancy, they said he's
got less than a year.
And I know that.
And I try to make
a really nice day for him.
But the walls
were closing in, okay?
Don't make me out a villain.
So where did you go, Nancy?
Out. Away, to get some air.
And where did you
find your air?
The bistro,
the non-smoking section.
I had a couple of drinks,
I listened to some music.
Do you want
the address, Officer?
-Did you go alone?
-No, I picked up
a couple of bikers.
What is this?
I thought we
trusted each other.
I'm sorry.
You know, Lee,
you make me feel...
I said I'm sorry.
It's just the thing
with Dad...
You go out to the cop bars,
two or three nights a week
with Johnny.
They are filled with girls
who want to hop into bed
with anything
with a badge on its chest.
Do I shine the hot light
in your eyes?
I said I'm sorry. Let it go.
Johnny call?
Did Johnny call?
No.
Was he supposed to?
Well, if he didn't go
to Ensenada,
he said he might stop by
and have a beer
with Dad and me.
I'll give him a call.
I'll take the beers out.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
We're okay?
Yeah, we're fine.
Perfect couple.
Hey, it's your midnight
wake-up call.
Who's sleeping?
How's it going, buddy?
All right, gave Ensenada
a pass, huh?
Yeah, all those babes
and bikinis. Can't get
any fishing done.
Must be tough.
You going to stop over?
Not tonight.
I've been working
on the car all afternoon,
went down to Chinatown
and had a couple...
-Couple of what?
-Yeah, that too.
Look, I'll come by tomorrow
night and see your old man.
What do you say?
He'd like that.
That'd be great.
All right.
I'll see you then, pal.
Hey, give my best
to him and Nancy, huh?
All right.
[RADIO CHATTER]
Why so quiet?
You should know
your job is to entertain me.
I was just thinking about
roll call today.
The new singles bar killing.
You're mad 'cause we
missed it again?
Just don't like
the competition, that's all.
Guy goes around knocking
off all the single girls.
Where does that leave me?
You're cute little
partner, pal.
Well, well, look who's here.
Looks like Wilson is
out in the field again, huh?
Must be teaching the new
lieutenant how to drive.
MAN: [ON RADIO] 1L14,
a possible 415 family dispute
at 832 Carter Avenue.
See the woman.
See the woman what? Strip?
Carl, you want to
see the woman?
MAN: All units in the vicinity
in addition to 1L14,
your call is now a shooting.
Ambulance has been dispatched.
Suspect still at location.
1L14, roger.
We're rolling.
Show time.
[SIRENS BLARING]
[WOMAN SPEAKING ON RADIO]
She ain't going anywhere.
Cancel the paramedics.
Call the Coroner.
Get down.
Okay.
He's still inside.
One of us will have to
go around behind that house.
Got anybody around
the back yet?
Negative.
We're just setting up.
Cordova, Johnson,
cover the back.
What do you got inside?
Nothing definite.
A hunting rifle anyway.
I saw a scope.
And one fatality.
The Lieutenant and I
will work our way
down that side.
Call for more units,
we'll gas him out.
[GUNSHOT]
Niko,
trivia question.
I'm ready, shoot.
How many ridges
on the edge of a dime?
How many ridges?
Think about it.
All right, let's go.
[GUNSHOT]
MAN: Come on,
you want to mix it up?
Let's mix it up.
What do you want?
An engraved invitation,
you jerks?
We'll wear him out.
We're in no rush.
One hundred-eighteen.
What?
Don't tell Niko.
There are 118 ridges
on a dime.
Can you believe it?
[GLASS BREAKS]
Get him?
Point blank.
[SIRENS APPROACHING]
Cuff him.
-But, Sarge, he's...
-Policy.
How about that, huh?
Killed his wife on their
40th wedding anniversary.
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Seventy-two.
Seventy-three.
Should I call an ambulance?
Call the Guinness Book
of Records.
-Four.
-It's not how many.
It's how many, how fast.
Joe, what the hell
does all this mean?
It means you'll call
Dr. Shelby and make
an appointment.
And after as many appointments
as he thinks are necessary,
he'll make an evaluation.
What is there for a shrink
to evaluate about me?
That's an official notice.
It's signed by the Captain.
-Stick it.
-Hey, Don.
Look, you may not like it,
but I'm your superior officer.
Superior?
That's not what I hear.
I hear when things
get a little tense,
you soil your pants.
You tell me
who needs a shrink.
At least I don't wake up
in the middle of the night,
shooting at
the imaginary boogie men.
Who told you that?
My wife come to you?
She didn't talk
to the Lieutenant, Don.
Eileen called me.
Oh, and you went to the brass?
Listen, I was lucky
to walk away from
our little ride together.
So was an
innocent Mexican family.
You tell the brass that too?
Look, Don.
The Doctor will just
talk to you.
Maybe he can help.
You've been working too hard
for a long time.
There could be an illness,
it happens.
I'm not going to any shrink.
The day I don't do my job,
you come to me.
Then... Then I'll go.
CARL: Carpenter,
the next step...
I don't give a damn about
the next step, Lieutenant.
I used to be a guy
who had friends around here.
Sorry you feel that way, Don.
How do you expect me to feel?
You're busy sleeping
with the brass.
-I'll have to go the Captain.
-I know it.
Dammit, he's been a good cop
for 10 years.
Look at it this way.
It's things like this
that'll make me an old pro.
Yeah.
It's a lot of fun
being an old pro.
Thanks.
Let me tell you about China.
They make 'em pretty.
-Look at that skin.
-It's satin.
Look, Dad, I sure wish
you let me see if we
can't get you on a flight.
The bus station downtown...
I'll only be in the
bus station five minutes,
and then we're
out on the highway.
I'll sleep for a
couple of hours,
wake up in time to see
the sunrise over the desert.
But it's such a long trip.
It's long when you're 28,
not when you're 63.
I don't have anywhere
I have to go quickly.
Well, if I can't talk
you out of it, I can't.
What time do you
want to take off?
Ten minutes?
I'll hit the john,
we'll finish our drinks,
and we'll be there
in plenty of time.
Now don't tell Nancy
I had three of these.
You look like
your father, Morgan.
I look that old, do I?
How's business been, Irene?
We're making it.
-How's Johnny?
-He's good.
He should
have checked in
with you Sunday night.
No, I don't think I've seen
Johnny since the last time
he was with you.
Where else would he go
in Chinatown?
I'd kill him if he
went anywhere else.
Well, glad you could
join us, Raul, Janice.
Always glad to have
two stars of the homicide team
sitting in our
little gatherings.
We bear gifts.
Hot off the press, Sarge.
We just want to
get them distributed.
Well, step right up
and tell us what you got.
This is a composite
and a general description
of a prime suspect
in the singles bar slayings.
We have evidence
that this guy, whoever he is,
took a girl to the
Blue Haven Motel
last Friday night,
raped and mutilated her.
Hey, he looks just
like Chief Walters.
[ALL LAUGH]
And even harder to find.
We staked out every singles
bar in the downtown
area four nights running.
But he didn't even try
to hit on anybody.
I know, I've been under cover
and I'm insulted.
ALL: Ooh!
RAUL: Keep your eyes open.
The Chamber of Commerce
would like to see
this one go away.
All right, folks,
hit the streets.
Drive carefully
and have a nice day.
-Birdies?
-Yeah, birdies.
That's what they call us.
But you know, it's not all
just crawling around with
binoculars and field books.
To be real bird watcher,
you have to study,
keep records.
It's a lot of work.
I don't know
where you find the time.
On my days off,
I'm either too tired
to do anything
or my wife won't let me
leave her side.
Well, when they marry a cop
they marry the job.
We're not the best catches,
you know.
I'm afraid my wife thought
I'd make chief by now.
Mr. big shot.
Giving press conferences
and going to parties
and dancing in the spotlight.
Is that what you want?
I forgot.
It started out noble enough,
protect and serve
and all that business.
I don't know,
somewhere along the line,
I think my goals
got a little mixed up.
Anyway.
How do people do it?
Do what?
How do people
keep it all going?
The wife, the job, kids.
I mean, and still find time
to watch birds, how?
Carl, what you need
is an Indian head nickel.
I'm not following you.
Now watch this.
You can't do it with
just any nickel,
it has to be an Indian head.
I learned this trick
before you were born.
A cop should it to me
and then gave me
the nickel for good luck.
It's not easy
to keep it going.
Sometimes it's
not even possible.
The trick, the cop told me,
was balance.
Now, believe me,
I don't always get it right,
ask my wife.
But I try.
I try to balance it all out.
It's a good trick
if you can do it.
Well, you're a Corelli,
you can do it.
What makes you so sure?
Well, the cop that
told me that trick
was your father.
You know, it's been a great
reminder to me about balance,
about a man,
God rest his soul.
I liked him an awful lot.
You keep it, for good luck.
[HORNS BLARING]
What do you think?
I think he broke the law.
The trouble with stopping
this kind of car is
they always got warrants.
So we bust him.
Yeah, but you know
how hungry I am.
Run him in.
Aren't we becoming
the model soldiers.
Just do it.
1A17, requesting outstanding
warrants on Nevada plates
491-Adam-Paul-Adam.
DISPATCHER:
1A17, automated warrant shows
three outstanding traffic
and possible felony
for a 245 PC.
Contact Harbor Investigation.
1A17, roger.
[SIRENS WAILING]
You're watching
the female too, right?
I'll watch 'em both, partner.
I'll watch 'em both.
You want to step
out of the car, please?
What's the problem, Officer?
What you stopping me for?
You ran a red light.
You wanna both step out
of the car now, please?
May I see your
driver's license, please?
Take it out
of the wallet, please.
What's the difference,
Officer?
You can see the license.
Take it out of the wallet.
What, no please this time?
Look, man, you got no reason
to harass me, man.
I didn't see no red...
-You Cornell Helms?
-Well, you're looking at
my picture right there.
-You drive, miss?
-Sure, I can drive.
Good. Cause your boyfriend
is going to jail.
Jail?
For what?
For running a red light?
I ain't going to no jail, man.
You can kiss...
Jim, come on.
Look, man,
I know your badge number.
I know your number, too.
Get your white paws
off me then.
Oh, my God.
Cool it. Stand back.
[STRUGGLING]
Hey, Sarge.
Did you ever get a paper cut
under your fingernail?
Yeah. What's this about
Morgan taking another
night off tonight?
He asked for a night off
and I gave it to him.
I'm not questioning that, Joe.
It's just that in reviewing
over the team records,
he's usually the officer
looking for more work,
not less.
He thinks his wife
is fooling around.
-That's why he's off tonight?
-Yeah.
You think that's a good idea?
I don't think it's
a good idea or bad idea.
But I do know that every time
in all the years that
I've been on the force,
when a guy thought his wife
was fooling around,
and asked for time off,
he got it.
It's standard
operating procedure.
But you didn't think
to come to me about it.
No, frankly, I didn't.
Lee Morgan is an
officer on my team.
An officer who could go home,
kill his wife,
kill somebody else,
kill himself,
and I don't even rate
in a share of that decision?
I figured you'd do
the same thing.
You figured wrong.
We haven't said this
out loud to each other,
and even though you're
soft of training me
around here,
a sergeant still reports
to a lieutenant.
That is standard
operating procedure.
So from now on, Sergeant,
consult me before
any decisions are made.
Any questions?
Yeah.
As long as we're
speaking out loud,
why can't you shoot
your gun, Lieutenant?
I looked at your file.
Three-time medalist
at the academy,
marksman class seven.
What's holding you back?
Pardon me, Lieutenant.
Internal Affairs needs to
see both of you right away.
I guess I better get upstairs.
This Helms or Holmes
or whatever his name is,
is in critical condition.
Is this Schaeffer
on your team?
Yeah.
How long has Schaeffer
been in Central?
About three years now.
Would you say
you had a lot of trouble
with him before?
No, I wouldn't
say that at all.
What are you
getting angry for?
[SCOFFS]
I'm not getting angry.
You haven't heard
his side of the story yet.
No, no, no. All I've heard is,
he beat the hell out of
some guy on Lincoln Avenue
in full view
of a dozen witnesses.
-Schaeffer?
-Yes, sir.
I'm Sergeant Layton
of Internal Affairs.
-Walker?
-Yes, sir.
Both of you are relieved
from duty, but not suspended.
We get upstairs,
I will explain what rights
you do and do not have.
Take the young lady
and get here statement.
Wait a minute,
I'm not the one
who did anything.
No, I know that, miss.
I just want your story.
And then you'll be
free to go, all right?
Fine.
All right, I think that's all
we can do for now.
You'll inform the Captain
that Schaeffer and Walker
are relieved of duty
pending investigation
by Internal Affairs.
Sergeant.
Look, I'm sorry.
I told Walker
not to cover for me.
That's all right, Jim.
You better not say any more.
-CARL: Sergeant Layton.
-Yes, Lieutenant.
Schaeffer is one of my men.
I care about him.
I trust he'll get
a fair hearing.
As far as I'm concerned,
all cops are created equal.
But the decision to press
criminal charges rests
with the DA.
And he happens to be
one hell of a bastard.
[GASPS]
Oh, God.
Get out of his bed, Nancy.
LEE: Right idea,
keeping a gun by the bed.
Wouldn't have done you
much good, though,
leaving your doors
unlocked and everything.
I'm surprised,
good cop like you.
How long has it been going on?
Six months.
Six months?
I was really stupid, huh?
No, you weren't stupid, Lee.
I swear to God.
I was going over to your
house for over a year
before I let myself
think of any...
Anything happened with Nancy.
What about you, Nancy?
Did it take a year for you
to get warmed up too?
I don't know,
I don't remember exactly.
You're scaring me.
I fought it, Lee.
I swear to God,
I didn't want this to happen.
I used to envy you.
Bachelor cop, all the freedom.
I didn't know just what
a stud you really were.
I love Nancy.
This isn't just about
getting it on.
You love her?
Lee, put the gun down.
Lee, you have father
with less than a year to live.
-Do you want him
to spend that...
-[SHOUTS] Shut up, slut.
You don't use that on me.
How did you find out?
Does it really matter?
You told me.
He told me.
Little lies.
Lots of little lies
that add up.
You said you went to the
bistro and I left it at that.
Johnny said he was
in Chinatown and I
left it at that.
Until Irene at the Red Dragon
said she hadn't seen him
in weeks.
You checked
the other bars then?
After I put my dad on the bus.
He still loves
to ride the bus.
Loves to see the sun
come up on the desert.
He could tell you
what it means
to love somebody.
And then I checked
the Oasis Cafe last night.
They remember both
of you there.
Acting like newlyweds,
they said.
Were you going to
leave me, Nancy?
No.
I thought about it.
I wasn't sure it would help
or change anything.
Lee, I want to get dressed.
[UNCOCKS GUN]
Sure.
Nancy.
Yes, Lee.
Someday, somebody probably
will kill you.
I know.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Hello, Jim.
Sergeant.
Aren't you taking a chance
coming in here?
Not especially.
Layton can complain
to the Captain
or the Lieutenant,
but they don't like him
any better than I do.
He's out to hang me.
Maybe not.
Emergency ward says
that Cornell Helms
is out of danger.
Oh, thank God.
Do you need anything?
No.
I mean, uh, they ought to put
a magazine or two in here.
I look at my watch, I think
five hours has gone by,
it's been 20 minutes.
I know.
I sweated a couple of these
things out myself.
It's funny...
I've never even
been in this part
of the building before.
One trip in 16 years.
Boy, I don't like this place.
You getting tired of telling
people what happened, then?
I snapped.
I lost my head.
I don't remember most of it.
Now, I just keep trying to
remember back, 10, 20 years,
to when things were better.
Easier to figure out.
I thought maybe
if you took a trip back
to see your kids...
I know, Sarge, thanks.
I found the ticket
in the locker.
I'll pay you back the money.
What happened the last time
you went back there?
It was, uh, pretty bad.
I didn't even seem to be
able to talk to the kids.
Half the time, I'd go back
to pick them up, he's there,
and so I'm angry.
Your wife is living
with somebody else?
Yeah!
Yeah, right there
in front of the kids! My kids!
I mean, what the hell kind
of environment is that
to bring them up in?
This, uh...
This guy she's living with,
is he black?
Yeah.
Young?
Yeah.
Just like the guy you beat up.
Have you told IA any of this?
No.
I didn't think
they'd really care.
You need some cigarettes?
Not now, he doesn't.
Wrap it up, Schaeffer.
You're going upstairs.
Don't leave anything behind.
You're not supposed
to be here.
Well, call a cop.
Your man's through.
Board of Rights
gonna fire his ass.
What about criminal charges?
Yeah, we recommended
it to the DA.
Don't you know?
People go to jail
for what Schaeffer did.
And like I always say,
cops are people, too.
Layton, there ought to
be a law against you.
Eileen?
Eileen?
Joe, the horses look great.
Their coats are
really shining.
Wish that meant I didn't
have to groom them anymore.
You love to complain
about those horses.
[MUTTERS]
What would you do
without them?
Well, I guess I'll
just have to ride you.
You know, Margaret,
about the other night...
No, forget it. It's history.
No, you're right.
I... I do get moody.
Twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week,
times 42 years...
I'd say you're entitled
to get a little moody
now and then.
As long as I'm entitled
not to like it.
All right.
I'll try and snap
out of it, huh?
[SIGHS]
Are you that tired?
No.
I got that rocking
chair to refinish.
Oh, well, go ahead.
And when you finish with that,
the roof needs re-shingling.
And there are a couple
of other things around
here that need attention.
[HORSE NEIGHING]
Oh, Joe, I love you.
You know that.
I just hate the way that
job takes little pieces
out of you every day.
I know, Margaret. I know that.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
I know.
Yeah?
-Joe, this is Don.
-Don?
How's everything?
I just...
I got home and Eileen...
Eileen has taken
the kids, taken all
of her clothes...
I'll be right over.
Trouble?
Eileen left him.
She packed up everything
and took the kids.
You're going over there?
He sounded pretty bad.
You'll see him tomorrow.
He needs me now.
I'm sorry, Margaret.
[DOOR CLOSES]
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Guess Walker's gonna
come out of it okay.
Gets his badge back today.
LEE: Yeah, it's tough
with all those witnesses.
Anyway, I heard Schaeffer
didn't deny anything, so...
How's it going?
It's going.
Going, going, gone.
JOE: Okay, listen up.
Car assignments.
-1Z18, Cordova?
-Here.
-And Johnson.
-Yo.
1A22, Morgan?
-Here.
-You ride with Walker.
Welcome back, Eric.
Thanks, Sarge.
1L34, solo patrol, Reynolds.
1L34 solo.
Okay, Marge, I'll see
you in the morning.
Okay...
Excuse me. Are you Deputy
District Attorney Parkinson?
That's right, Sergeant.
What can I do for you?
I'd like to talk to you
about Jim Schaeffer.
I'm familiar with the case.
I understand it's up to
you what happens to him.
Well, not entirely, Sergeant,
but if you mean
will I prosecute, yes,
if prosecution is indicated.
And I'm not sure you
and I should be having
this conversation.
Well, whether you talk
to me or not is up to you,
but this is important.
What was Schaeffer
to you, Sergeant?
He was on my night watch
for three years.
I think there's some things
you should know.
Internal Affairs made
a very thorough investigation.
Yeah, they usually are
very thorough.
Well, what do you think
they've missed, Sergeant?
Well, he had 16 years in.
Four short of his pension,
which he's as good as lost.
That's a familiar argument
when policemen break the law.
You should have unloaded
this guy years ago.
You know that.
I don't unload people
who give their all.
He's laid his life on the line
a couple of times.
His wife left him
three months ago.
She went east
and took the kids.
They all have stories.
He's now living
in a rented room.
He's going into debt
trying to pay for alimony,
child support, plane tickets.
You see, it's hard enough
to be a cop.
But then,
when you have these...
That's still no reason to
beat up an innocent citizen.
[CHUCKLES]
Wait a minute, the kid
did make a move on him.
The officer overreacted,
Sergeant.
The officer, Mr. Parkinson?
The officer spent half
his life enforcing the law.
Then one day, he breaks it.
Can't the law
give him a break?
What is it about cops?
The last time Schaeffer flew
east, he found his wife
living with another man.
A black man.
Well, I must admit
that IA missed that one.
Well, they usually
are very thorough.
Sergeant, do you realize
you're asking me, a black man,
to feel sorry for a white cop
who nearly beat another
black man to death,
on the grounds that his
ex-wife is now living
with yet a third black man?
Well, I just thought
you should know all the facts.
Thank you for giving me
your time, Mr. Parkinson.
Cops.
They ought to be more careful,
they're gonna screw
up the plumbing.
Is that your dinner?
Yeah, Sarge.
It's no problem.
I'll go around the corner
and get a couple of tacos.
You wanna join me?
It's all over the station
what happened
last night, Reynolds.
Well, I gathered that.
If it doesn't bother you,
riding alone,
and pulling your food
out of the toilet,
it doesn't bother me.
But what happens
if you run into trouble,
and you need some backup?
You think they might
be a little slow
in getting there.
I've seen it happen.
And I don't want
an officer killed.
I'll talk to the Captain.
All you have to do is
put in for a transfer and
you'll be out of Central...
I don't want out of Central.
Last night, Sergeant, when
Lee came through that door,
and found me with Nancy,
I've never been so scared,
felt so guilty
in all my life.
You think that staying
in Central is paying for
some kind of penalty?
I don't know.
I don't know what it is.
I mean, I know it'd be easier
for Lee, it'd be easier
on myself,
it'd be easier
on the department
if I transferred out.
I'm not gonna take
the easy way.
Well, you're gonna be
pretty much alone, Reynolds.
Yeah, well, maybe
that's what I need.
Wilson, I don't know
what you said to the DA,
but you can call Schaeffer
and tell him
no criminal charges
will be filed against him.
I can tell Schaeffer
that, Captain?
Yeah.
Jim?
Jim?
[SNIFFS]
[SNIFFING]
Jim!
Jim!
[COUGHING]
[GAS HISSING]
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Joe...
Hi, honey.
It's almost 3:00.
Guess I lost track.
[CHUCKLES]
-What's the matter?
-You tell me.
You didn't say a single word
all evening.
-Oh, I'm sorry.
-I'm not trying
to criticize you.
It's just that I try to
start a conversation,
I think you're listening,
and then, I lose you.
Well, I guess I'm getting old.
You're not old.
But the older you get,
the more this job
seems to get to you.
Come on, let's go in.
I don't wanna go in.
I wanna talk.
I wanna know.
Why do you stay when
you could quit tomorrow
and never have to worry
about the bills?
Or guys like Morgan
and Carpenter and Reynolds
and Schaeffer.
Well, I won't have to
worry about Schaeffer anymore.
Then why?
What's out there for you?
It's the other half
of my life.
It's my job, Margaret.
It's who I am.
You put me on the front desk?
Handing out visitors' passes,
logging in
the night cleanup crew.
That's a job you give
gray-haired waiting
to go out to pasture,
rookies out of the academy
who are the bottom
of the class!
What is this, Joe?
It's a decision.
Made by more than one man.
I'm going to see the shrink.
I'm on my way right now!
I'm doing exactly what
the department wanted.
That's fine.
If Eileen comes back,
that's all to the good.
But you don't get
sick overnight,
you don't get well overnight.
Now, Don, the department's
only trying to help you.
The department would have
fired me if I hadn't
gone to see a shrink.
What if somebody thought
the garbage man was crazy.
A supervisor's gonna fire
him unless he sees
a shrink, could he?
-No.
-No.
But then, we don't
give guns to garbage men.
Even a sanitation strike isn't
a matter of life and death.
You put me on that damn
desk, I really will
go around the bend.
It's only temporary.
You can't take me
off the street!
Don, you're making
your life hell.
No. No.
You. You, Joe,
you're the one that's
doing that to me.
Garcia and Wesley went in
early and picked up the guy
in the circular.
The singles bar suspect.
Hey...
He's clear on all
but the last murder.
Copycat.
Which puts them only a mile
behind where they were before.
Not quite.
We have a vague description
of another possible suspect.
Male Caucasian, 28 to 35
years old, brown hair,
well-dressed.
JANICE: Our witness was
a bartender who saw the man
with the second victim,
shortly before she died.
We'll be taking him with us
from bar to bar tonight.
We want a couple
of black and whites
to back up any arrest.
All right. 1Z18,
Cordova and Johnson,
1A22, Morgan and Niko,
1Z19, Bass and O'Rourke.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't know.
Maybe I should have
gone to work tonight.
Look for him there.
Maybe.
He's never been known
to take a girl out
of the same bar.
-Another drink?
-Nah.
Hey, I'm not 1,000% sure,
but I think he just came in.
Maybe if I could
hear his voice.
We can arrange that.
DISPATCHER:
Unit 1L14, come in.
1L14, roger.
WOMAN: 1L14, stand by,
patching the landline
on code C.
Go ahead.
Lieutenant Corelli, Garcia.
We're at the Paradise Lounge,
10th and Broadway,
about to positive ID
our suspect.
We're en route,
I'll stay on the line.
[SIRENS WAILING]
-Excuse me.
-Sure.
Hi.
They're the best slopes
I've seen all year.
-And then in summer,
I do Maui...
-What's your name?
So, where do you work?
-I was with
the airlines, but...
-I'll be back.
...I'm between jobs now.
-Yeah?
-Yeah.
I always get along well
with airline stewardesses.
No doubt about it. That's him.
Fine.
Thanks.
Now wait for us outside.
It's going down, Lieutenant.
Just pulling in.
We'll be right up.
Sir, police officers.
We'd like to talk to
you for a few moments.
What about?
I think it'd be easier
and less embarrassing
if we spoke outside.
Are you trying to tell me
I'm under arrest or something?
Not unless you want
it that way, sir.
Whatever you say.
Oh, so you're
one of them, too.
That's right.
Hey, darling,
you don't wanna leave.
-Hey! Hey, hey!
-[JANICE SCREAMS]
Get away from me
or she's dead!
Are you keeping something
from me?
[SHOUTS] Get out!
Get out!
[SCREAMS]
I'm for real!
[SIREN WAILING]
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
What's the latest?
He's got Janice Wesley
up on the roof.
He's got her gun.
He wants a telephone.
-What about SWAT?
-They're on alert.
But he says if he sees
any of our
"Those cops in baseball caps
and flak jackets,"
we're minus one policewoman.
Where's Sergeant Wilson?
I thought he was wounded.
Yeah, he and the Lieutenant
are lining up a shot,
off that building.
When the hell is he
gonna act his age, huh?
All right,
just put the phone down
and get out of here.
Airline stewardess?
You wanna fly tonight, honey?
You may get a chance.
Hello. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
who's this I'm talking to?
This is Captain MacDonald.
What is it you want?
Now, I know you got
a no-hostage policy,
but I want you to remember
she's one of your own.
I'm telling you,
you try and funny business,
and I start throwing down
body parts.
We're not trying anything.
Okay, here's what I want,
and I want it fast.
A helicopter
with a real pilot.
Not FBI agents
in pilot's uniforms.
He lands up here, takes me,
and I let the lady go.
Yes?
Niko, don't let them get
too close.
Get them over the side.
JOE: Even
if he dies instantly,
-he could still squeeze
the trigger.
-Reflex action.
Wilson here.
All right, we're going for it.
We got one chance.
It's gonna take
a perfect shot.
We need a rifle.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
-We don't got time.
-We're too far away.
Not anymore.
Here.
We got one of
Schaeffer's torpedoes.
-Here.
-No, Joe, I can't.
I can't either.
He got me on my shooting hand.
Besides, you got
the lucky nickel.
There's no way, Joe.
Yeah, there's a way.
Imagine a target.
Cardboard cutout on the range.
Just don't put a face on it.
Come on.
Hold on, honey.
We're going for a ride.
But you told me
I wasn't going.
[LAUGHS]
What, you don't like me?
CARL: It's too dark.
I can't get this shot off.
There's one thing
bird watching teaches.
That's patience.
The chopper will
hit its landing lights.
At that moment,
it's target practice.
Joe...
You can do it.
You can do it, Lieutenant.
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
Sergeant...
-How's Janice?
-She's shaken up.
But happy to be alive.
Your new lieutenant
did all right up there.
He said he had some help.
That's my job.
Don't come back
till that thing's healed.
CARL: Anyway,
I gotta get going.
I just wanted to
check up on you,
see how you were doing.
And, uh, thank you again,
for all that you did.
So...
Thanks, Joe.
For everything.
I put your things
in your locker.
They'll be waiting for you.
So will the guys.
Thanks, Carl.
I also put your holster
in your locker.
I noticed it was right-handed.
Your shooting hand was
as good as mine
last night, Joe.
You needed the practice.
Yeah.
I'm gonna break that
horse in with one hand
and I got six weeks to do it.
Correction, Sergeant,
you got four weeks.
I checked
with the travel agent.
He says the only blue
uniform you're gonna see
on that ship is the captain's.
Great.
Another captain?
Hey, Joe. What is this?
I hear you two are vacationing
courtesy of the PD?
MARGARET: Don?
Margaret.
How are you gonna stand it?
Being cooped up all
that time with this guy?
Well, I guess I'll just have
to work real hard at it,
won't I?
How's the wing?
Oh, I'll fly again.
You know, I saw that shrink.
Pretty straight guy.
Eileen came along, too.
Wasn't as bad as I thought.
She hasn't moved back yet,
but, uh,
we'll keep working at it.
Well, listen, takes time.
Yeah.
Joe, about what I said...
You mean about Margaret
being cooped up with me?
No, no. Um...
[SIGHS]
Listen, uh, where
are those brochures?
MARGARET: Oh,
right in the desk drawer.
Hey, how would you fellas
like some cold beer?
-Terrific.
-Sounds great.
Listen, I'm gonna show you
a couple of pictures of the
best ship you've ever seen.
Margaret and I
are gonna get on that ship.
The only thing is,
she tells me
there's a captain...
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
WOMAN: Next onPolice Story.
Domestic violence is one
possibility. What's the other?
Revenge.
She was lucky
to have a friend like you.
What we have
is recreational sex.
What recreational sex?
We get along, we've known
each other for a long time.
You're sleeping with her,
aren't you, Jack?
Being alone is a lot better
than being with someone
who's gonna keep you cut off!
What the hell would you know
about being alone?
You're under a lot of stress.
You need to slow down.
I am worried about you.
-Who killed Janet Wilson,
Julio, you or Urbano?
-Officer!
-[GUN FIRING]
-[SCREAMING]
Freeze!
Eileen, don't move.
Hear 'em?
Hear what?
Back gate.
Somebody's out in the yard.
-Don, there's no one
in the yard.
-Shh!
-You were sound asleep.
-Check the kids' room.
The kids are fine,
I just looked in on them.
I promise you, there's no one
out in the yard.
Just keep the lights off.
Don't be afraid.
I can't help being afraid.
This is three times
in one week...
There's been a prowler,
I know, I know.
This is the last time.
[SWINGS CREAKING]
[THUDDING]
[GUN SHOTS]
Oh, my God!
[BABY CRYING]
They got away.
Did you see them?
Yeah, two, maybe three of 'em.
Dark, Latin.
Not Mexican, I don't think.
Not juvenile.
Damn! I don't know
how I missed them.
Are you all right?
Everything's fine.
Go on back to bed.
Thought we'd be safe
with a police officer
living next door.
[NEIGHING]
You don't like the idea,
do you, buddy boy, huh?
Nobody's gonna put a saddle
on you, huh?
All right.
No television for a week.
You hear me, huh?
Joe! Telephone!
All right.
Okay, saved by the bell.
But, I'll be back. Remember,
Joe Wilson doesn't give up.
-Who's winning?
-The animal kingdom.
They've got two legs on us.
Your family or mine?
Neither. Don Carpenter's wife.
Hello, Eileen?
-Sorry to bother you.
-Oh, it's no problem.
Did the same thing?
Last night he thought he saw
a prowler and he shot at them.
You sure no one was out there?
Yeah, I was gonna wait
until I saw you guys again,
but I don't know what to tell
the neighbors or the kids.
I don't know how to help him.
Well, tell them it was
a prowler and Don ran 'em off.
-Give me a chance
to talk to him.
-Okay.
And, look, we'll work it out,
you just hang in there.
Is it okay if I call you?
Now, you call anytime.
Thanks. Bye.
-Same problem?
-Worse.
He shot at them yesterday.
Eileen's not gonna be able to
hold it together much longer.
I can tell from her voice.
Either he's seeing ghosts or
somebody's really after him.
Either way,
the man's in trouble.
Oh, I really feel for Eileen.
We're talking about an officer
who had three commendations
in the last year.
What about on the job?
Is it beginning to show?
Nah, he's the best
street cop in the Central.
That can change, can't it?
If he goes over that line...
Yeah, it could change.
Meanwhile,
I've gotta worry about it.
You always have.
No, not always.
Just the last 42 years.
Forty-two years,
where'd it go?
It never ends, does it?
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
You wanted to see me, Captain?
Shake hands with Carl Corelli.
Not Gino Corelli's son.
Dad loved working with you.
He used to drag me to all
your Little League games.
And look at you. [CHUCKLES]
I'm assigning Carl to
area duty officer
on your watch.
I lucked out.
Show him the ropes, huh?
Listen, the troops like to
eat up new lieutenants.
So, uh, Sergeant Wilson will
run interference for a while,
and then it's up to you.
He's a Corelli.
He'll do just great.
He'll try.
Head on down to roll call.
Sergeant will join you
in a minute.
Yes, sir. And, uh, thanks.
First day must
be a thrill, huh?
Close the door.
Close the door?
You usually hear that just
before you're fired.
Now, I'm not fired, am I?
I'm late for
a meeting, Sergeant.
So let me get this out.
I got a copy of your physical.
Sixty-two push-ups.
One for each year.
It's very impressive.
But not for a street cop.
Look, you could be riding
your horses all day long.
Why don't you?
Because that's not my job.
Most men count the hours
to their 20th year.
You could have retired twice
by now, and...
Ridden into the sunset?
Captain, I passed my physical,
I passed my mental,
I pass every test
every year.
Now, I don't wanna move up,
I don't wanna move down.
I just wanna stay
on the streets.
The streets, Sergeant,
have changed.
There's a war out there,
you know that.
We need an army to fight it,
a young army.
There's no corners left
for the friendly policeman.
There comes a time,
a time to move over,
a time to move on.
And a time for roll call.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Good afternoon, campers.
Fresh meat.
Doesn't look so fresh to me.
Still looks green.
Thank God it's Monday.
The weekend is history,
and we've got a lot
of follow-ups to make.
First I wanna introduce
Lieutenant Carl Corelli.
Our new ADO.
He'll also command team one.
Lieutenant, anything
you wanna tell them?
Just that I'm happy
to be here, and happy to be
working in Central.
I understand we had another
singles bar murder last night.
That's right, Sarge,
all we got here is a homicidal
maniac in a three-piece suit.
He may look
like a stock broker.
But Saturday night
he chopped the head
off a 20-year-old co-ed
from the Regency Estates.
They found the rest of her
at the 49er Motel.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Sergeant Wilson.
Yes. Yes, Lieutenant.
Oh.
Good, thank you.
Cordova, Johnson,
Lieutenant Cruz.
Your shooting with
the liquor store bandits,
the review board said
it's a good one.
Justified all the way.
You can breathe again.
Thank God. It was the longest
Sunday of my life.
Open it up, Schaeffer.
Hmm.
It's heavier than my gun.
You on a safari tonight?
Every night, Sergeant.
There isn't one shell here
that doesn't violate
departmental regulations.
Where'd you get these?
I poured 'em myself, sir.
Sergeant, confiscate these.
Consider this a warning.
The Captain...
Sir, the creeps that Cordova
and Johnson blew away
Saturday night,
what were they carrying?
Cordova?
One of them had an Uzi,
the other, an AR-15.
If these two guys hadn't been
such good shots,
there might be two less names
here on roll call, sir.
You could take out
a shark with these.
There's no lieutenant
checking the bad guys' ammo.
Well, as long as you're
one of the good guys,
you can expect the same thing
next time in ranks.
DISPATCHER:
1L14, return to base.
JOE: [ON RADIO]
1L14. Roger.
1L14, that's Wilson's car.
Sounds like he's taking
Lieutenant out in the field.
Well, I'd rather have a watch
commander who hates the desk
than one who sleeps on it.
What you doing
on your two off?
I don't know, uh,
Ensenada maybe.
If the weather's good.
New Lieutenant sticks pretty
close to the books, huh?
I hear he's got exactly
18 months on the street.
That's all
West Hills Division, pal.
Yeah, well, he's gonna see
more of action in Central
before he leaves
the parking lot. [CHUCKLES]
That's for you.
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
[CHATTER CONTINUES]
1L18 shows unit code six
at East 15.
The building's a bad setup,
that's why we called for
so much backup.
It's just so quirky, you know?
I usually come over
about this time.
We'd both close,
and she'd fix a cup of coffee.
I understand, Ms. Walter,
but just tell me
what happened.
Well, the door is open.
Now, that in and of itself
is not unusual.
But I noticed
there were no customers,
and the drapes were pulled
in the back,
my hand to God,
she never pulls the drapes.
So, I called to her,
"Edna, Edna."
There was no answer.
Then, I thought I heard, like,
footsteps in the back.
And I knew something quirky
was going on.
You know how
you can just kind of tell?
So, I just got
the hell outta there.
Where's the cash register?
Back corner.
-Notice it when you went in?
-Oh...
I don't really remember.
It was so quirky.
All right.
Thank you, Ms. Walters.
You go over to that police car
and we'll find out
what's happening.
All this because a lady thinks
something quirky's going on?
JOE: Hey, Lieutenant,
she's a taxpayer.
Besides, it'll only take
five minutes.
Ramirez, take these two men
and close down the street.
Right.
Lee, you go around the back.
Johnny, get on the roof.
-You got it.
-Who's going in?
-Me and Carpenter.
-No, really, who?
Hey, now, don't get cute.
Huh?
Besides, I need the exercise.
Now, come on, move.
Lieutenant, let's go.
-No cash register.
-That's quirky.
I heard something.
All right, police officers,
come out with your hands over
your head.
[SCREAMING] No! No!
No! No! God!
You're safe now.
They got mad when they...
When they found 100
in the register.
Are they still in there?
He raped me.
Why?
[SOBBING]
You'll be all right, now.
Come on, I'll take you out.
[GUNSHOT]
There's more than one,
their shots overlapped.
Building's surrounded,
you've got nowhere to go.
We'll bring the SWAT team
in here, I promise
they'll kill you!
Come out now, at least you'll
get as far as the courthouse.
All right, man, we give.
Throw your weapons out!
We only got the 138.
"We"?
Don't bother coming unless
you throw out another one.
All right, come on out.
[SHOUTING]
[GROANING]
-Shut up!
-No!
Shut the hell up!
Read him his rights.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say
can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
You have the right
to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one,
one will be appointed to you.
-Is that clear? Is that clear?
-Yeah.
Here we go, princess.
I'm gonna call Eileen,
you want me to call Margaret
for you?
We're gonna have a long night
with the shooting team.
No, I'll call her as soon
as I finish this coffee.
Unless it finishes
me first.
Where'd you get this?
At the hotdog stand.
Heard what went down,
he gave it to us free.
Must be rooting
for the other side.
Our squeaky clean lieutenant
kind of froze in there, huh?
Hey, I wasn't so fast
to draw myself.
Used to be, I'd get three
rounds off to their one.
-Think I'm slowing down?
-No.
World's sped up.
[SIGHS] Yeah.
-Make you dizzy.
-[CHUCKLES]
We're cops, we're in
the merry-go-round
business, right?
What do you mean?
I mean, we get paid
to be dizzy, don't we?
Ain't your head spinning?
Didn't a stranger just try
to kill us?
We'd be lying in our blood.
He gets a few years,
he goes in,
he comes back out again.
It's a merry-go-round.
It goes faster,
faster every day.
Yeah, it could make you dizzy.
Get so dizzy sometimes,
I could puke.
What else?
[SIGHS]
You got enough
on your mind now,
Sarge, it can wait.
Come on, talk.
We've got a few minutes
before the fireworks start.
I don't know where or what
connects to what bust.
But couple of guys have
started following my car
home at night.
I don't know, maybe
I testified against someone,
maybe I strong-armed
somebody once, I don't know.
You sure?
What do you think,
I made this up?
You know how many
crazies there are out there.
You gotta watch out
for them, Joe.
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Hey.
[RADIO CHATTER]
I asked for a cookie,
not a donut.
That's all they had.
That's great.
Couple of cops,
sitting around, eating donuts,
that's something you don't
see too often.
No, there's something
you don't see too often.
Oh, yeah, looks
like a couple
of neurosurgeons, huh?
Since when do you care
about a woman's mind?
Hey, we're not
in high school anymore.
-Give me some credit
for growing up.
-Growing up, right.
Who's in Chinatown
every night looking
for anything that wiggles?
Yeah, you gotta
join me sometime.
Now, why would a happily
married man wanna do that?
Why?
You getting at something here?
Or you just trying out
your sick sense of humor
on me?
Eat your donut.
This is not even glazed.
I mean, if we're gonna be
cliches here, we might
as well do it right.
Come on, let's get going.
You know, you ought to be
a little more sympathetic
to today's single man.
If they have a telephone,
I'll send in a buck,
all right?
Gee, thanks.
Me? I'll just stay married,
not worry about getting dates
on Saturday night.
Well, you don't know
how lucky you are, partner.
If I'm so lucky, how'd
I get stuck with you, huh?
I didn't say good luck,
I just said luck.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[SIGHS]
Wilson, Central.
Honey, I'm not even sure
Joe likes lasagna.
Well, talk him into trying it.
You got a kiss for me?
See you at 11:30, handsome.
Yeah.
Yeah, I got it.
Bishop to queen four.
All right,
I'll call you tomorrow.
[CHUCKLES]
That watch commander
at East Division thinks
he's got my Queen.
He'll learn.
So, Carl, where did
you get that pretty wife?
I had to go to Kansas City
four or five years ago,
expedition case.
She was a flight attendant,
said either I gave
my gun to the captain
or I get off the plane.
So, you surrendered
your revolver.
Yeah, among other things.
Anyway, Joe, I guess
I've spoken so much about you,
that she sent some
of her lasagna in.
But you don't have to eat it
if you're not hungry
or you don't like it.
Oh, listen, I love lasagna!
You know, that's
the street cop's problem.
He learns to love
all kinds of food.
Mexican, Italian,
Chinese, Japanese...
You know, I envy
some of these younger kids.
Boy, they come in talking
about Mongolian pork,
salad from Thailand.
I never knew
that stuff existed
in the old days.
All right, lasagna it is.
-Bread.
-Mmm.
Enjoy.
Joe, I got the special team's
report back on that incident
in the garment district.
It's now officially justified.
Well, sure, Carpenter shot
because he had to.
You know that, you were there.
There a reason
anybody would think
it any other way?
No. No, no reason at all.
Except that if he hadn't shot,
he might have
been in violation.
What are you saying?
I'm saying that a new
lieutenant and an old sergeant
sat on their guns.
Something to think about.
[SIREN WAILS]
Listen, I gotta check my days
off with the new lieutenant.
Tell Nancy she's got
another 20 minutes or so.
No problem. I'll check
the piece in and sign us out.
Okay.
He had to put in
for his days off,
so he's gonna be a while.
Yeah, his father's coming in,
it's real important to him.
How are you doing?
I've been better.
That job thing work out?
They wanted somebody fulltime.
I'm not about to be
anybody's fulltime.
When do I see you again?
It's gonna be difficult,
isn't it?
You're only off
on Friday and Saturday.
That's the problem
with fulltime.
If Lee gets off
Friday and Saturday,
I'm gonna be stuck
with his father and
the details of World War II.
This whole thing
is getting kind of nuts.
You gonna come back
to the house with him tonight?
No, not tonight.
It's getting tougher and
tougher to sit across the room
from you and pretend...
Well, he's gonna think
it's funny, maybe even
be hurt if you stop.
One of these days, or nights,
he's gonna see it.
I don't think so.
I don't really know how much
my husband trusts me.
But I do know how much
he trusts his partner.
Don, how about a lift?
Sure, no problem.
Margaret dropped me to work
today so she could use
the station wagon.
I'll deliver you to the door.
No, your house will be fine.
We can call from there
and she'll pick me up.
-How is she? You all right?
-Adjusting.
When your last daughter
leaves for college,
the house gets very quiet.
I guess I've got quite a ways
before that.
[COMMENTATOR TALKING ON RADIO]
What's the matter?
The car behind us.
JOE: Same car?
I'll tell you in a minute.
Same car, same couple.
Hey, Don!
They're just
an ordinary couple.
Man and wife
with a car seat for their kid.
No, no, I'm telling you, Joe,
they've been after me
three nights running.
They're a bunch
of cop-hating crazies,
all of them.
Slow down, Don.
We'll pull them over,
drag them out,
and then you'll see.
It's all your imagination,
I mean, it's all in your head.
[CAR HONKING]
No, it's not inside my head,
damn it, Joe!
Take it easy, take it easy!
MARGARET: Eileen's
wound up pretty tight.
JOE: I can imagine.
MARGARET: She's all over
the kids one minute, and then
hugging them the next.
She's beginning
to be afraid of Don.
I wasn't so calm with him.
Doing 360s on Rose Avenue.
He was actually ready to run
down an innocent family.
But he wouldn't hurt
his wife and kids.
He wouldn't hurt his wife
and kids if he knew
they were his wife and kids.
What are you gonna do?
I'm going to give
the horse an apple.
You know what I meant,
about Don.
-I don't know.
-It's not your problem.
Tell your lieutenant.
He's been on the job
exactly seven days.
Besides, he's just a kid.
Still has pimples.
-Then go to Captain MacDonald.
-Ah, it doesn't work that way.
You mean you don't work
that way.
Everything has to be
your problem.
Look, Margaret, I don't
wanna get into it tonight,
all right?
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[HORSE NEIGHS]
Joe?
Joe?
Have you noticed that there
are some things
you never wanna get into?
You come home from work,
you go out there to those
horses and you escape.
But not from your job,
from me!
Because you're still thinking
about Don and all your men.
It'll tear you apart someday,
Joe, it'll tear us apart.
Forty-two years.
For God's sake,
haven't you had enough?
Go inside, Margaret.
It's cold out here.
How many partners you had
so far this year, Jim?
Four. No, five.
You know how these young
kids are, they come and go.
We make them or break them,
right, Joe?
They're not all young kids.
You're driving
with Palmer now.
He's got eight years in.
He ain't that bad.
He wants to work
with another officer, too.
Boy, I knew it.
Sooner or later they all
find something
they don't like.
You don't see me
sandbagging a partner.
In the last two months, I've
had five different officers
come in to me about you.
They weren't
all your partners either.
Some people
from around the station.
You wanna hear a list
of the complaints?
You know, I bet that ammo
I was using
wasn't one of them.
You let the other officer
approach the car
and write a ticket
while you read a newspaper.
You were sloppy
in your searching
of a second suspect.
And you allowed a guy
in an L car
to handle what could have been
a major 415 for 10 minutes,
when you were less than
four blocks away.
That's a bunch of bull.
I mean, these kids,
they're hotdogs.
They're all trying
to set records.
-So?
-So...
This is a notice
to correct deficiencies.
You went to the Captain
with all this stuff?
Well, you gotta talk
to somebody.
Whether it's me, your doctor,
your buddy...
You went to the Captain?
Whatever happened
to a warning shot?
Whatever happened to
Jim Schaeffer?
[SIGHS]
Maybe I've been
slipping a little.
Slipping?
You passed slipping
three months ago.
I got a lot on my mind.
Everything but your job.
In our line of work,
that could cost lives.
Now, you find out
what's eating you
and take care of it.
Right, Sarge.
There's a lot of pressure
on me about you.
Everything at home all right?
Well, home's
a rented room, Joe.
The, uh, ex took the kids.
Back east.
To be with the family.
Oh.
I'm sorry. I didn't know.
Could you get some kind
of a restraining order?
She's got full custody.
She can take them to the moon.
Judge says, "Fine.
"Send the alimony
and the child support there."
I borrowed so much money
from the credit union
for airplane tickets,
I'm lucky I see them.
Well, that is tough.
But so are you.
Now just bear down.
I'm here if you need me.
Joe, I'll try.
It's... It's just been raining
kind of heavy on me lately.
Now, you can go back
out in the field now, Jim.
Let me know if you want
to talk some more.
Thanks.
I'll try.
I've never been any place
but the streets.
I'd hate to think
I couldn't make it there now.
Yeah.
I know what you mean.
Hey. How did he take it?
Oh, good.
He's a bitter man
and he used to be
a pretty good street cop.
Is he going to shape up?
I don't know.
I got him talking anyway.
Captain says if you want to
transfer him out, he'll sign
the papers in five minutes.
Yeah.
The Captain's got
a quick trigger.
Sure he'll sign the papers.
He'll transfer him out.
Whoever gets him
will know
and he'll transfer him again.
Pretty soon he's pushing
a pencil and checking in
witnesses at traffic court.
At least he'll
last out his 20.
Or maybe...
Just maybe
Schaeffer wants a little
more than that.
He's been a street cop, Carl.
Once you play the streets,
you don't want to
finish your carrier
in the minors.
Joe, I'm not the enemy.
I care as much as you do.
Then care about the man.
Not what the file says,
not what the Captain says.
The man, Carl.
Listen to what he says.
Care about him.
-Dad?
-In here, Son.
-How you doing, sport?
-All right.
Catch any crooks?
What, and spoil my record?
-Where's Nancy?
-She's at her mother's.
At her mother's? At midnight?
The old lady was feeling bad
or something.
Hey, listen. I drank a couple
of bottles of your beers.
That all right?
Breaking and entering.
That's a felony, Dad.
But I can't bust
my own dad, so...
I'll give Nancy a buzz,
see if she can pick up
a six pack for both of us.
Now you're not going to
say anything to her about
leaving the apartment, huh?
I mean, poor thing has done
nothing all day
but fuss over me.
She made a good dinner.
I'm not going to say anything.
-NANCY'S MOTHER: Hello?
-Hi, this is Lee.
I'm sorry to call so late.
Is everything okay?
Well, arthritis,
but I'm not complaining.
Oh, good.
Uh, let me say a quick word
to Nance, okay?
Well, she's not
over here, honey.
Well, she was there earlier.
She took me
grocery shopping this morning,
but that was hours ago, Lee.
Um...
My dad must have
gotten her wrong.
That sometimes happens.
-Right.
-You lose track.
-Sorry. Good night.
-No bother.
Her mother all right?
-Yeah, she's fine.
-Was Nancy there?
Just missed her.
Come on, sit down.
We're close to the
cavalry charge.
[GUNFIRE ON TELEVISION]
You know, the first time
we saw this cavalry charge,
I was a little kid.
It's probably what
made you decide to be a cop.
It's too late to
become an Indian.
You know, they don't make
good pictures anymore.
Well, Dad, they sure don't.
Want another beer?
As long as you're up.
You must have grabbed
one of the helicopters
and flown home.
No, not especially.
How are you, Hank?
Okay, gorgeous.
How's your mother?
Oh, she's pretty good.
She, um...
Where did you go, Nancy?
Didn't your father tell you?
He said you were
at your mother's house.
-And?
-And I called your
mother's house.
What are you doing?
Checking up on me?
I was going to ask
you to bring a couple
six packs.
I told your dad I was going to
my mother's 'cause I didn't
want to hurt his feelings.
I mean, I've seen enough
westerns for one weekend.
Nancy, they said he's
got less than a year.
And I know that.
And I try to make
a really nice day for him.
But the walls
were closing in, okay?
Don't make me out a villain.
So where did you go, Nancy?
Out. Away, to get some air.
And where did you
find your air?
The bistro,
the non-smoking section.
I had a couple of drinks,
I listened to some music.
Do you want
the address, Officer?
-Did you go alone?
-No, I picked up
a couple of bikers.
What is this?
I thought we
trusted each other.
I'm sorry.
You know, Lee,
you make me feel...
I said I'm sorry.
It's just the thing
with Dad...
You go out to the cop bars,
two or three nights a week
with Johnny.
They are filled with girls
who want to hop into bed
with anything
with a badge on its chest.
Do I shine the hot light
in your eyes?
I said I'm sorry. Let it go.
Johnny call?
Did Johnny call?
No.
Was he supposed to?
Well, if he didn't go
to Ensenada,
he said he might stop by
and have a beer
with Dad and me.
I'll give him a call.
I'll take the beers out.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
We're okay?
Yeah, we're fine.
Perfect couple.
Hey, it's your midnight
wake-up call.
Who's sleeping?
How's it going, buddy?
All right, gave Ensenada
a pass, huh?
Yeah, all those babes
and bikinis. Can't get
any fishing done.
Must be tough.
You going to stop over?
Not tonight.
I've been working
on the car all afternoon,
went down to Chinatown
and had a couple...
-Couple of what?
-Yeah, that too.
Look, I'll come by tomorrow
night and see your old man.
What do you say?
He'd like that.
That'd be great.
All right.
I'll see you then, pal.
Hey, give my best
to him and Nancy, huh?
All right.
[RADIO CHATTER]
Why so quiet?
You should know
your job is to entertain me.
I was just thinking about
roll call today.
The new singles bar killing.
You're mad 'cause we
missed it again?
Just don't like
the competition, that's all.
Guy goes around knocking
off all the single girls.
Where does that leave me?
You're cute little
partner, pal.
Well, well, look who's here.
Looks like Wilson is
out in the field again, huh?
Must be teaching the new
lieutenant how to drive.
MAN: [ON RADIO] 1L14,
a possible 415 family dispute
at 832 Carter Avenue.
See the woman.
See the woman what? Strip?
Carl, you want to
see the woman?
MAN: All units in the vicinity
in addition to 1L14,
your call is now a shooting.
Ambulance has been dispatched.
Suspect still at location.
1L14, roger.
We're rolling.
Show time.
[SIRENS BLARING]
[WOMAN SPEAKING ON RADIO]
She ain't going anywhere.
Cancel the paramedics.
Call the Coroner.
Get down.
Okay.
He's still inside.
One of us will have to
go around behind that house.
Got anybody around
the back yet?
Negative.
We're just setting up.
Cordova, Johnson,
cover the back.
What do you got inside?
Nothing definite.
A hunting rifle anyway.
I saw a scope.
And one fatality.
The Lieutenant and I
will work our way
down that side.
Call for more units,
we'll gas him out.
[GUNSHOT]
Niko,
trivia question.
I'm ready, shoot.
How many ridges
on the edge of a dime?
How many ridges?
Think about it.
All right, let's go.
[GUNSHOT]
MAN: Come on,
you want to mix it up?
Let's mix it up.
What do you want?
An engraved invitation,
you jerks?
We'll wear him out.
We're in no rush.
One hundred-eighteen.
What?
Don't tell Niko.
There are 118 ridges
on a dime.
Can you believe it?
[GLASS BREAKS]
Get him?
Point blank.
[SIRENS APPROACHING]
Cuff him.
-But, Sarge, he's...
-Policy.
How about that, huh?
Killed his wife on their
40th wedding anniversary.
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Seventy-two.
Seventy-three.
Should I call an ambulance?
Call the Guinness Book
of Records.
-Four.
-It's not how many.
It's how many, how fast.
Joe, what the hell
does all this mean?
It means you'll call
Dr. Shelby and make
an appointment.
And after as many appointments
as he thinks are necessary,
he'll make an evaluation.
What is there for a shrink
to evaluate about me?
That's an official notice.
It's signed by the Captain.
-Stick it.
-Hey, Don.
Look, you may not like it,
but I'm your superior officer.
Superior?
That's not what I hear.
I hear when things
get a little tense,
you soil your pants.
You tell me
who needs a shrink.
At least I don't wake up
in the middle of the night,
shooting at
the imaginary boogie men.
Who told you that?
My wife come to you?
She didn't talk
to the Lieutenant, Don.
Eileen called me.
Oh, and you went to the brass?
Listen, I was lucky
to walk away from
our little ride together.
So was an
innocent Mexican family.
You tell the brass that too?
Look, Don.
The Doctor will just
talk to you.
Maybe he can help.
You've been working too hard
for a long time.
There could be an illness,
it happens.
I'm not going to any shrink.
The day I don't do my job,
you come to me.
Then... Then I'll go.
CARL: Carpenter,
the next step...
I don't give a damn about
the next step, Lieutenant.
I used to be a guy
who had friends around here.
Sorry you feel that way, Don.
How do you expect me to feel?
You're busy sleeping
with the brass.
-I'll have to go the Captain.
-I know it.
Dammit, he's been a good cop
for 10 years.
Look at it this way.
It's things like this
that'll make me an old pro.
Yeah.
It's a lot of fun
being an old pro.
Thanks.
Let me tell you about China.
They make 'em pretty.
-Look at that skin.
-It's satin.
Look, Dad, I sure wish
you let me see if we
can't get you on a flight.
The bus station downtown...
I'll only be in the
bus station five minutes,
and then we're
out on the highway.
I'll sleep for a
couple of hours,
wake up in time to see
the sunrise over the desert.
But it's such a long trip.
It's long when you're 28,
not when you're 63.
I don't have anywhere
I have to go quickly.
Well, if I can't talk
you out of it, I can't.
What time do you
want to take off?
Ten minutes?
I'll hit the john,
we'll finish our drinks,
and we'll be there
in plenty of time.
Now don't tell Nancy
I had three of these.
You look like
your father, Morgan.
I look that old, do I?
How's business been, Irene?
We're making it.
-How's Johnny?
-He's good.
He should
have checked in
with you Sunday night.
No, I don't think I've seen
Johnny since the last time
he was with you.
Where else would he go
in Chinatown?
I'd kill him if he
went anywhere else.
Well, glad you could
join us, Raul, Janice.
Always glad to have
two stars of the homicide team
sitting in our
little gatherings.
We bear gifts.
Hot off the press, Sarge.
We just want to
get them distributed.
Well, step right up
and tell us what you got.
This is a composite
and a general description
of a prime suspect
in the singles bar slayings.
We have evidence
that this guy, whoever he is,
took a girl to the
Blue Haven Motel
last Friday night,
raped and mutilated her.
Hey, he looks just
like Chief Walters.
[ALL LAUGH]
And even harder to find.
We staked out every singles
bar in the downtown
area four nights running.
But he didn't even try
to hit on anybody.
I know, I've been under cover
and I'm insulted.
ALL: Ooh!
RAUL: Keep your eyes open.
The Chamber of Commerce
would like to see
this one go away.
All right, folks,
hit the streets.
Drive carefully
and have a nice day.
-Birdies?
-Yeah, birdies.
That's what they call us.
But you know, it's not all
just crawling around with
binoculars and field books.
To be real bird watcher,
you have to study,
keep records.
It's a lot of work.
I don't know
where you find the time.
On my days off,
I'm either too tired
to do anything
or my wife won't let me
leave her side.
Well, when they marry a cop
they marry the job.
We're not the best catches,
you know.
I'm afraid my wife thought
I'd make chief by now.
Mr. big shot.
Giving press conferences
and going to parties
and dancing in the spotlight.
Is that what you want?
I forgot.
It started out noble enough,
protect and serve
and all that business.
I don't know,
somewhere along the line,
I think my goals
got a little mixed up.
Anyway.
How do people do it?
Do what?
How do people
keep it all going?
The wife, the job, kids.
I mean, and still find time
to watch birds, how?
Carl, what you need
is an Indian head nickel.
I'm not following you.
Now watch this.
You can't do it with
just any nickel,
it has to be an Indian head.
I learned this trick
before you were born.
A cop should it to me
and then gave me
the nickel for good luck.
It's not easy
to keep it going.
Sometimes it's
not even possible.
The trick, the cop told me,
was balance.
Now, believe me,
I don't always get it right,
ask my wife.
But I try.
I try to balance it all out.
It's a good trick
if you can do it.
Well, you're a Corelli,
you can do it.
What makes you so sure?
Well, the cop that
told me that trick
was your father.
You know, it's been a great
reminder to me about balance,
about a man,
God rest his soul.
I liked him an awful lot.
You keep it, for good luck.
[HORNS BLARING]
What do you think?
I think he broke the law.
The trouble with stopping
this kind of car is
they always got warrants.
So we bust him.
Yeah, but you know
how hungry I am.
Run him in.
Aren't we becoming
the model soldiers.
Just do it.
1A17, requesting outstanding
warrants on Nevada plates
491-Adam-Paul-Adam.
DISPATCHER:
1A17, automated warrant shows
three outstanding traffic
and possible felony
for a 245 PC.
Contact Harbor Investigation.
1A17, roger.
[SIRENS WAILING]
You're watching
the female too, right?
I'll watch 'em both, partner.
I'll watch 'em both.
You want to step
out of the car, please?
What's the problem, Officer?
What you stopping me for?
You ran a red light.
You wanna both step out
of the car now, please?
May I see your
driver's license, please?
Take it out
of the wallet, please.
What's the difference,
Officer?
You can see the license.
Take it out of the wallet.
What, no please this time?
Look, man, you got no reason
to harass me, man.
I didn't see no red...
-You Cornell Helms?
-Well, you're looking at
my picture right there.
-You drive, miss?
-Sure, I can drive.
Good. Cause your boyfriend
is going to jail.
Jail?
For what?
For running a red light?
I ain't going to no jail, man.
You can kiss...
Jim, come on.
Look, man,
I know your badge number.
I know your number, too.
Get your white paws
off me then.
Oh, my God.
Cool it. Stand back.
[STRUGGLING]
Hey, Sarge.
Did you ever get a paper cut
under your fingernail?
Yeah. What's this about
Morgan taking another
night off tonight?
He asked for a night off
and I gave it to him.
I'm not questioning that, Joe.
It's just that in reviewing
over the team records,
he's usually the officer
looking for more work,
not less.
He thinks his wife
is fooling around.
-That's why he's off tonight?
-Yeah.
You think that's a good idea?
I don't think it's
a good idea or bad idea.
But I do know that every time
in all the years that
I've been on the force,
when a guy thought his wife
was fooling around,
and asked for time off,
he got it.
It's standard
operating procedure.
But you didn't think
to come to me about it.
No, frankly, I didn't.
Lee Morgan is an
officer on my team.
An officer who could go home,
kill his wife,
kill somebody else,
kill himself,
and I don't even rate
in a share of that decision?
I figured you'd do
the same thing.
You figured wrong.
We haven't said this
out loud to each other,
and even though you're
soft of training me
around here,
a sergeant still reports
to a lieutenant.
That is standard
operating procedure.
So from now on, Sergeant,
consult me before
any decisions are made.
Any questions?
Yeah.
As long as we're
speaking out loud,
why can't you shoot
your gun, Lieutenant?
I looked at your file.
Three-time medalist
at the academy,
marksman class seven.
What's holding you back?
Pardon me, Lieutenant.
Internal Affairs needs to
see both of you right away.
I guess I better get upstairs.
This Helms or Holmes
or whatever his name is,
is in critical condition.
Is this Schaeffer
on your team?
Yeah.
How long has Schaeffer
been in Central?
About three years now.
Would you say
you had a lot of trouble
with him before?
No, I wouldn't
say that at all.
What are you
getting angry for?
[SCOFFS]
I'm not getting angry.
You haven't heard
his side of the story yet.
No, no, no. All I've heard is,
he beat the hell out of
some guy on Lincoln Avenue
in full view
of a dozen witnesses.
-Schaeffer?
-Yes, sir.
I'm Sergeant Layton
of Internal Affairs.
-Walker?
-Yes, sir.
Both of you are relieved
from duty, but not suspended.
We get upstairs,
I will explain what rights
you do and do not have.
Take the young lady
and get here statement.
Wait a minute,
I'm not the one
who did anything.
No, I know that, miss.
I just want your story.
And then you'll be
free to go, all right?
Fine.
All right, I think that's all
we can do for now.
You'll inform the Captain
that Schaeffer and Walker
are relieved of duty
pending investigation
by Internal Affairs.
Sergeant.
Look, I'm sorry.
I told Walker
not to cover for me.
That's all right, Jim.
You better not say any more.
-CARL: Sergeant Layton.
-Yes, Lieutenant.
Schaeffer is one of my men.
I care about him.
I trust he'll get
a fair hearing.
As far as I'm concerned,
all cops are created equal.
But the decision to press
criminal charges rests
with the DA.
And he happens to be
one hell of a bastard.
[GASPS]
Oh, God.
Get out of his bed, Nancy.
LEE: Right idea,
keeping a gun by the bed.
Wouldn't have done you
much good, though,
leaving your doors
unlocked and everything.
I'm surprised,
good cop like you.
How long has it been going on?
Six months.
Six months?
I was really stupid, huh?
No, you weren't stupid, Lee.
I swear to God.
I was going over to your
house for over a year
before I let myself
think of any...
Anything happened with Nancy.
What about you, Nancy?
Did it take a year for you
to get warmed up too?
I don't know,
I don't remember exactly.
You're scaring me.
I fought it, Lee.
I swear to God,
I didn't want this to happen.
I used to envy you.
Bachelor cop, all the freedom.
I didn't know just what
a stud you really were.
I love Nancy.
This isn't just about
getting it on.
You love her?
Lee, put the gun down.
Lee, you have father
with less than a year to live.
-Do you want him
to spend that...
-[SHOUTS] Shut up, slut.
You don't use that on me.
How did you find out?
Does it really matter?
You told me.
He told me.
Little lies.
Lots of little lies
that add up.
You said you went to the
bistro and I left it at that.
Johnny said he was
in Chinatown and I
left it at that.
Until Irene at the Red Dragon
said she hadn't seen him
in weeks.
You checked
the other bars then?
After I put my dad on the bus.
He still loves
to ride the bus.
Loves to see the sun
come up on the desert.
He could tell you
what it means
to love somebody.
And then I checked
the Oasis Cafe last night.
They remember both
of you there.
Acting like newlyweds,
they said.
Were you going to
leave me, Nancy?
No.
I thought about it.
I wasn't sure it would help
or change anything.
Lee, I want to get dressed.
[UNCOCKS GUN]
Sure.
Nancy.
Yes, Lee.
Someday, somebody probably
will kill you.
I know.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Hello, Jim.
Sergeant.
Aren't you taking a chance
coming in here?
Not especially.
Layton can complain
to the Captain
or the Lieutenant,
but they don't like him
any better than I do.
He's out to hang me.
Maybe not.
Emergency ward says
that Cornell Helms
is out of danger.
Oh, thank God.
Do you need anything?
No.
I mean, uh, they ought to put
a magazine or two in here.
I look at my watch, I think
five hours has gone by,
it's been 20 minutes.
I know.
I sweated a couple of these
things out myself.
It's funny...
I've never even
been in this part
of the building before.
One trip in 16 years.
Boy, I don't like this place.
You getting tired of telling
people what happened, then?
I snapped.
I lost my head.
I don't remember most of it.
Now, I just keep trying to
remember back, 10, 20 years,
to when things were better.
Easier to figure out.
I thought maybe
if you took a trip back
to see your kids...
I know, Sarge, thanks.
I found the ticket
in the locker.
I'll pay you back the money.
What happened the last time
you went back there?
It was, uh, pretty bad.
I didn't even seem to be
able to talk to the kids.
Half the time, I'd go back
to pick them up, he's there,
and so I'm angry.
Your wife is living
with somebody else?
Yeah!
Yeah, right there
in front of the kids! My kids!
I mean, what the hell kind
of environment is that
to bring them up in?
This, uh...
This guy she's living with,
is he black?
Yeah.
Young?
Yeah.
Just like the guy you beat up.
Have you told IA any of this?
No.
I didn't think
they'd really care.
You need some cigarettes?
Not now, he doesn't.
Wrap it up, Schaeffer.
You're going upstairs.
Don't leave anything behind.
You're not supposed
to be here.
Well, call a cop.
Your man's through.
Board of Rights
gonna fire his ass.
What about criminal charges?
Yeah, we recommended
it to the DA.
Don't you know?
People go to jail
for what Schaeffer did.
And like I always say,
cops are people, too.
Layton, there ought to
be a law against you.
Eileen?
Eileen?
Joe, the horses look great.
Their coats are
really shining.
Wish that meant I didn't
have to groom them anymore.
You love to complain
about those horses.
[MUTTERS]
What would you do
without them?
Well, I guess I'll
just have to ride you.
You know, Margaret,
about the other night...
No, forget it. It's history.
No, you're right.
I... I do get moody.
Twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week,
times 42 years...
I'd say you're entitled
to get a little moody
now and then.
As long as I'm entitled
not to like it.
All right.
I'll try and snap
out of it, huh?
[SIGHS]
Are you that tired?
No.
I got that rocking
chair to refinish.
Oh, well, go ahead.
And when you finish with that,
the roof needs re-shingling.
And there are a couple
of other things around
here that need attention.
[HORSE NEIGHING]
Oh, Joe, I love you.
You know that.
I just hate the way that
job takes little pieces
out of you every day.
I know, Margaret. I know that.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
I know.
Yeah?
-Joe, this is Don.
-Don?
How's everything?
I just...
I got home and Eileen...
Eileen has taken
the kids, taken all
of her clothes...
I'll be right over.
Trouble?
Eileen left him.
She packed up everything
and took the kids.
You're going over there?
He sounded pretty bad.
You'll see him tomorrow.
He needs me now.
I'm sorry, Margaret.
[DOOR CLOSES]
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Guess Walker's gonna
come out of it okay.
Gets his badge back today.
LEE: Yeah, it's tough
with all those witnesses.
Anyway, I heard Schaeffer
didn't deny anything, so...
How's it going?
It's going.
Going, going, gone.
JOE: Okay, listen up.
Car assignments.
-1Z18, Cordova?
-Here.
-And Johnson.
-Yo.
1A22, Morgan?
-Here.
-You ride with Walker.
Welcome back, Eric.
Thanks, Sarge.
1L34, solo patrol, Reynolds.
1L34 solo.
Okay, Marge, I'll see
you in the morning.
Okay...
Excuse me. Are you Deputy
District Attorney Parkinson?
That's right, Sergeant.
What can I do for you?
I'd like to talk to you
about Jim Schaeffer.
I'm familiar with the case.
I understand it's up to
you what happens to him.
Well, not entirely, Sergeant,
but if you mean
will I prosecute, yes,
if prosecution is indicated.
And I'm not sure you
and I should be having
this conversation.
Well, whether you talk
to me or not is up to you,
but this is important.
What was Schaeffer
to you, Sergeant?
He was on my night watch
for three years.
I think there's some things
you should know.
Internal Affairs made
a very thorough investigation.
Yeah, they usually are
very thorough.
Well, what do you think
they've missed, Sergeant?
Well, he had 16 years in.
Four short of his pension,
which he's as good as lost.
That's a familiar argument
when policemen break the law.
You should have unloaded
this guy years ago.
You know that.
I don't unload people
who give their all.
He's laid his life on the line
a couple of times.
His wife left him
three months ago.
She went east
and took the kids.
They all have stories.
He's now living
in a rented room.
He's going into debt
trying to pay for alimony,
child support, plane tickets.
You see, it's hard enough
to be a cop.
But then,
when you have these...
That's still no reason to
beat up an innocent citizen.
[CHUCKLES]
Wait a minute, the kid
did make a move on him.
The officer overreacted,
Sergeant.
The officer, Mr. Parkinson?
The officer spent half
his life enforcing the law.
Then one day, he breaks it.
Can't the law
give him a break?
What is it about cops?
The last time Schaeffer flew
east, he found his wife
living with another man.
A black man.
Well, I must admit
that IA missed that one.
Well, they usually
are very thorough.
Sergeant, do you realize
you're asking me, a black man,
to feel sorry for a white cop
who nearly beat another
black man to death,
on the grounds that his
ex-wife is now living
with yet a third black man?
Well, I just thought
you should know all the facts.
Thank you for giving me
your time, Mr. Parkinson.
Cops.
They ought to be more careful,
they're gonna screw
up the plumbing.
Is that your dinner?
Yeah, Sarge.
It's no problem.
I'll go around the corner
and get a couple of tacos.
You wanna join me?
It's all over the station
what happened
last night, Reynolds.
Well, I gathered that.
If it doesn't bother you,
riding alone,
and pulling your food
out of the toilet,
it doesn't bother me.
But what happens
if you run into trouble,
and you need some backup?
You think they might
be a little slow
in getting there.
I've seen it happen.
And I don't want
an officer killed.
I'll talk to the Captain.
All you have to do is
put in for a transfer and
you'll be out of Central...
I don't want out of Central.
Last night, Sergeant, when
Lee came through that door,
and found me with Nancy,
I've never been so scared,
felt so guilty
in all my life.
You think that staying
in Central is paying for
some kind of penalty?
I don't know.
I don't know what it is.
I mean, I know it'd be easier
for Lee, it'd be easier
on myself,
it'd be easier
on the department
if I transferred out.
I'm not gonna take
the easy way.
Well, you're gonna be
pretty much alone, Reynolds.
Yeah, well, maybe
that's what I need.
Wilson, I don't know
what you said to the DA,
but you can call Schaeffer
and tell him
no criminal charges
will be filed against him.
I can tell Schaeffer
that, Captain?
Yeah.
Jim?
Jim?
[SNIFFS]
[SNIFFING]
Jim!
Jim!
[COUGHING]
[GAS HISSING]
ANNOUNCER: Police Story
will continue in a moment.
Joe...
Hi, honey.
It's almost 3:00.
Guess I lost track.
[CHUCKLES]
-What's the matter?
-You tell me.
You didn't say a single word
all evening.
-Oh, I'm sorry.
-I'm not trying
to criticize you.
It's just that I try to
start a conversation,
I think you're listening,
and then, I lose you.
Well, I guess I'm getting old.
You're not old.
But the older you get,
the more this job
seems to get to you.
Come on, let's go in.
I don't wanna go in.
I wanna talk.
I wanna know.
Why do you stay when
you could quit tomorrow
and never have to worry
about the bills?
Or guys like Morgan
and Carpenter and Reynolds
and Schaeffer.
Well, I won't have to
worry about Schaeffer anymore.
Then why?
What's out there for you?
It's the other half
of my life.
It's my job, Margaret.
It's who I am.
You put me on the front desk?
Handing out visitors' passes,
logging in
the night cleanup crew.
That's a job you give
gray-haired waiting
to go out to pasture,
rookies out of the academy
who are the bottom
of the class!
What is this, Joe?
It's a decision.
Made by more than one man.
I'm going to see the shrink.
I'm on my way right now!
I'm doing exactly what
the department wanted.
That's fine.
If Eileen comes back,
that's all to the good.
But you don't get
sick overnight,
you don't get well overnight.
Now, Don, the department's
only trying to help you.
The department would have
fired me if I hadn't
gone to see a shrink.
What if somebody thought
the garbage man was crazy.
A supervisor's gonna fire
him unless he sees
a shrink, could he?
-No.
-No.
But then, we don't
give guns to garbage men.
Even a sanitation strike isn't
a matter of life and death.
You put me on that damn
desk, I really will
go around the bend.
It's only temporary.
You can't take me
off the street!
Don, you're making
your life hell.
No. No.
You. You, Joe,
you're the one that's
doing that to me.
Garcia and Wesley went in
early and picked up the guy
in the circular.
The singles bar suspect.
Hey...
He's clear on all
but the last murder.
Copycat.
Which puts them only a mile
behind where they were before.
Not quite.
We have a vague description
of another possible suspect.
Male Caucasian, 28 to 35
years old, brown hair,
well-dressed.
JANICE: Our witness was
a bartender who saw the man
with the second victim,
shortly before she died.
We'll be taking him with us
from bar to bar tonight.
We want a couple
of black and whites
to back up any arrest.
All right. 1Z18,
Cordova and Johnson,
1A22, Morgan and Niko,
1Z19, Bass and O'Rourke.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't know.
Maybe I should have
gone to work tonight.
Look for him there.
Maybe.
He's never been known
to take a girl out
of the same bar.
-Another drink?
-Nah.
Hey, I'm not 1,000% sure,
but I think he just came in.
Maybe if I could
hear his voice.
We can arrange that.
DISPATCHER:
Unit 1L14, come in.
1L14, roger.
WOMAN: 1L14, stand by,
patching the landline
on code C.
Go ahead.
Lieutenant Corelli, Garcia.
We're at the Paradise Lounge,
10th and Broadway,
about to positive ID
our suspect.
We're en route,
I'll stay on the line.
[SIRENS WAILING]
-Excuse me.
-Sure.
Hi.
They're the best slopes
I've seen all year.
-And then in summer,
I do Maui...
-What's your name?
So, where do you work?
-I was with
the airlines, but...
-I'll be back.
...I'm between jobs now.
-Yeah?
-Yeah.
I always get along well
with airline stewardesses.
No doubt about it. That's him.
Fine.
Thanks.
Now wait for us outside.
It's going down, Lieutenant.
Just pulling in.
We'll be right up.
Sir, police officers.
We'd like to talk to
you for a few moments.
What about?
I think it'd be easier
and less embarrassing
if we spoke outside.
Are you trying to tell me
I'm under arrest or something?
Not unless you want
it that way, sir.
Whatever you say.
Oh, so you're
one of them, too.
That's right.
Hey, darling,
you don't wanna leave.
-Hey! Hey, hey!
-[JANICE SCREAMS]
Get away from me
or she's dead!
Are you keeping something
from me?
[SHOUTS] Get out!
Get out!
[SCREAMS]
I'm for real!
[SIREN WAILING]
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
What's the latest?
He's got Janice Wesley
up on the roof.
He's got her gun.
He wants a telephone.
-What about SWAT?
-They're on alert.
But he says if he sees
any of our
"Those cops in baseball caps
and flak jackets,"
we're minus one policewoman.
Where's Sergeant Wilson?
I thought he was wounded.
Yeah, he and the Lieutenant
are lining up a shot,
off that building.
When the hell is he
gonna act his age, huh?
All right,
just put the phone down
and get out of here.
Airline stewardess?
You wanna fly tonight, honey?
You may get a chance.
Hello. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
who's this I'm talking to?
This is Captain MacDonald.
What is it you want?
Now, I know you got
a no-hostage policy,
but I want you to remember
she's one of your own.
I'm telling you,
you try and funny business,
and I start throwing down
body parts.
We're not trying anything.
Okay, here's what I want,
and I want it fast.
A helicopter
with a real pilot.
Not FBI agents
in pilot's uniforms.
He lands up here, takes me,
and I let the lady go.
Yes?
Niko, don't let them get
too close.
Get them over the side.
JOE: Even
if he dies instantly,
-he could still squeeze
the trigger.
-Reflex action.
Wilson here.
All right, we're going for it.
We got one chance.
It's gonna take
a perfect shot.
We need a rifle.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
-We don't got time.
-We're too far away.
Not anymore.
Here.
We got one of
Schaeffer's torpedoes.
-Here.
-No, Joe, I can't.
I can't either.
He got me on my shooting hand.
Besides, you got
the lucky nickel.
There's no way, Joe.
Yeah, there's a way.
Imagine a target.
Cardboard cutout on the range.
Just don't put a face on it.
Come on.
Hold on, honey.
We're going for a ride.
But you told me
I wasn't going.
[LAUGHS]
What, you don't like me?
CARL: It's too dark.
I can't get this shot off.
There's one thing
bird watching teaches.
That's patience.
The chopper will
hit its landing lights.
At that moment,
it's target practice.
Joe...
You can do it.
You can do it, Lieutenant.
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
Sergeant...
-How's Janice?
-She's shaken up.
But happy to be alive.
Your new lieutenant
did all right up there.
He said he had some help.
That's my job.
Don't come back
till that thing's healed.
CARL: Anyway,
I gotta get going.
I just wanted to
check up on you,
see how you were doing.
And, uh, thank you again,
for all that you did.
So...
Thanks, Joe.
For everything.
I put your things
in your locker.
They'll be waiting for you.
So will the guys.
Thanks, Carl.
I also put your holster
in your locker.
I noticed it was right-handed.
Your shooting hand was
as good as mine
last night, Joe.
You needed the practice.
Yeah.
I'm gonna break that
horse in with one hand
and I got six weeks to do it.
Correction, Sergeant,
you got four weeks.
I checked
with the travel agent.
He says the only blue
uniform you're gonna see
on that ship is the captain's.
Great.
Another captain?
Hey, Joe. What is this?
I hear you two are vacationing
courtesy of the PD?
MARGARET: Don?
Margaret.
How are you gonna stand it?
Being cooped up all
that time with this guy?
Well, I guess I'll just have
to work real hard at it,
won't I?
How's the wing?
Oh, I'll fly again.
You know, I saw that shrink.
Pretty straight guy.
Eileen came along, too.
Wasn't as bad as I thought.
She hasn't moved back yet,
but, uh,
we'll keep working at it.
Well, listen, takes time.
Yeah.
Joe, about what I said...
You mean about Margaret
being cooped up with me?
No, no. Um...
[SIGHS]
Listen, uh, where
are those brochures?
MARGARET: Oh,
right in the desk drawer.
Hey, how would you fellas
like some cold beer?
-Terrific.
-Sounds great.
Listen, I'm gonna show you
a couple of pictures of the
best ship you've ever seen.
Margaret and I
are gonna get on that ship.
The only thing is,
she tells me
there's a captain...
[CHATTER OVER RADIO]
WOMAN: Next onPolice Story.
Domestic violence is one
possibility. What's the other?
Revenge.
She was lucky
to have a friend like you.
What we have
is recreational sex.
What recreational sex?
We get along, we've known
each other for a long time.
You're sleeping with her,
aren't you, Jack?
Being alone is a lot better
than being with someone
who's gonna keep you cut off!
What the hell would you know
about being alone?
You're under a lot of stress.
You need to slow down.
I am worried about you.
-Who killed Janet Wilson,
Julio, you or Urbano?
-Officer!
-[GUN FIRING]
-[SCREAMING]
Freeze!