Adam-12 (1968–1975): Season 1, Episode 22 - Log 152: A Dead Cop Can't Help Anyone - full transcript

Malloy tries to shield an impressionable Reed from Officer Ed Wells, a shoot-first ask-questions-later style officer. Wells' reckless philosophy endangers his own safety when he responds to a sniper, forcing them to come to his rescue.

Are you wondering how healthy the food you are eating is? Check it - foodval.com
---
(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12,

possible 459
suspects there now.

1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12,

a 415, man with a gun.

1-Adam-12, no warrant.
Lincoln, X-Ray, Ida 483.

1-Adam-12, a 415, fight group
with chains and knives.

So, I figure this guy
has got to be taken.

Yeah?

Well, you see,

right about here's where things
start to get real hinky.

Now, I know
the guy's carrying a .45,



but I'm not gonna
stand outside forever.

So I say to myself,
"Eddie, get movin'."

(Wells) You know. I crank
one in the chamber.

Ed Wells at it again
with his war stories?

Yeah. Trouble is
he's got 'em listening.

[Ed chattering]

As long as they don't buy it,
they're okay.

...but when the door comes
down, he goes for his .45.

But, uh,
he's a little too late.

(Wells)
Before he knows it,

he's lookin' down
all 12 gauges.

You took him yourself?

What else?

Well, what'd the guy say?



W-what could he say?
I had him cold turkey.

(Reed)
Man, that took some guts.

That's what the job's
all about, isn't it?

Looks like old Ed
has another convert

to his Superman theory
of police work.

Yeah.

You ever work partners
with Ed Wells, Pete?

Once. That was enough.

Why? He's a real charger,
isn't he?

You think so?

You heard how he took
that 211 suspect last night.

I'd say
that took some real guts.

That's one thing I'll say
for him, he's got guts.

Yeah. When a caper goes down,
he's right up front.

(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12,

a 415 family dispute.

315, West Cameron.
Probable gun involved.

1-Adam-12, roger.

It's my mom's boyfriend,
officers. He's crazy.

He's been hittin' us, and now
he's got my mom in there.

He's gonna hurt her!
He's gonna hurt her!

(Malloy)
What apartment is it, son?

Four, straight down the hall.

(Malloy)
Does he have a gun?

Come on, Malloy,
let's get movin'.

Just hold it a minute.

Yes, it's a pistol my Dad
brought back from Korea.

Is it loaded?

L--l don't know.

Come on, Malloy,
let's take him.

Just wait a minute.
ls there a back door here?

Yeah, it's over there.

All right, son,
you stand here.

Wells, you and Sanchez take
the rear, check the windows.

Let's find out where he is
before we go in.

Let's just handle the call,
Malloy.

[gun firing]

[handcuffs clicking]

You can put your gun away
now, Malloy.

Everything's
under control.

(Reed)
What about the shot?

Oh, my drunken friend here
took a potshot at me.

Missed me by a mile, though.

(Wells)
Had a bad aim.

Well, that'll teach him
to drink and shoot.

Okay, friend,
let's get you tucked away.

(Wilbanks)
You rotten fuzz.

A guy can't even have
a little argument

without you cops
buttin' in.

Well, cool off, Malloy.

There wasn't any sense in us
creepin' around outside all day.

There wasn't, huh?

Well, you got to get
the job done, Pete, baby.

And you can't take all day
on one call.

We got lots to do.

Come on, partner. Let's get our
friend here taken care of.

Malloy and Reed can
finish up here, I think.

You've got something on
your mind, let's have it.

We'd better get started
on our reports.

Well,
they're all right now,

for the time being
at least.

I guess so.

Funny how
these things turn out.

Looks like Wells just had
a feel for this one.

Is that the way
you figure it?

Reed, Malloy,
get everything squared away?

Uh, just a little
boyfriend-girlfriend trouble.

That's what I understand.
Wells filled you in?

He did.

Malloy,
you were assigned this call?

Yeah.

You arrived first,
47 came in as back up?

That's right.

Well, I expect officers working
for me to handle their own calls.

47 was back up.
How come they made the bust?

It just worked out
that way.

Malloy, your calls
are your responsibility.

Nobody else's.

Are we reading each other?

Yup.

Okay.
Let's get back on the air.

Well, that's just fine.

What do you think about
Ed Wells now?

I haven't changed my mind.

Looks like the Sergeant doesn't
exactly agree with you.

The Sergeant doesn't have
all the facts.

(female dispatcher) All units
in the vicinity and 1-Adam-12,

1-Adam-12, m,

possible kidnapping
in progress.

Suspect is driving
a blue, 1969 Chrysler

two door hardtop.

Last seen southbound on Park.

Victim is a male Caucasian,
approximately six years.

1-Adam-12, handle. Code 2.

1-Adam-12, roger.

That looks like
it might be him.

Watch yourself.

Sometimes these guys
blow their minds.

(Thurston)
Come back here, you.

(Bobby)
I won't! I wont!

[Thurston muttering]

Up against the car.

What are you trying
to do?

You better get the boy,
he's probably scared to death.

Roger.
Feet back.

Hey, what is this? You've got no
business to treat me like this.

What--what--what...
What are you doing?

All right, stand up.

I'm gonna call my lawyer.

You're gonna do
exactly as I tell you.

Left hand
behind your head.

What are you doing?

You-You're treating me, as if--
as--as if I was a criminal.

Look,
lam a very patient man,

but I am just about
fed up.

First the kid,
now you. Handcuffs.

Suppose you tell me
what this is all about?

You've got things turned
around a little, mister.

What's your name?

Thurston, George Thurston,
if it's any of your business.

Well, Mr. Thurston, when we see somebody
chasing a child down the street,

we make it our business.

Well, can I help it
if the kid runs away?

I didn't want to take him
in the first place.

But my wife is hardheaded.

Wait a minute. Your wife?

Let's start at the beginning.

Are you trying to tell me
that's your boy?

Of course.

You think I'd be chasing some strange
kid around the neighborhood?

I have enough trouble
with my own.

I'm not about to take somebody
else's kid to the barbershop.

The barbershop?

That's right.
He hates haircuts.

(Thurston)
Same thing every time.

World War ll
just getting him there.

Then,
when the clipping starts,

the battle really begins.

I found him hidin'
under a park bench.

Says his name is Bobby.

Couldn't get anything else
out of him.

Better put out
a 4 right away.

Come here, Bobby.

Come on, Bobby.
What's your last name, son?

Come on,
you can talk to us.

Is this man your father?

Bobby, you tell them
who I am or...

Bobby,

son, now you tell
that nice policeman

that I'm your father.

I won't. I won't.

I don't want a haircut.
I don't wanna go with you.

Well,

well, I'm glad you're finally
coming to your senses, Officer.

I'm sorry about the
mistake, Mr. Thurston.

But I'm sure
you can understand our point.

We got a radio call.

Someone must have seen you
struggling with Bobby in the car

and figured it wrong.

Then we roll in and see you
chasing a boy down the street.

Well, you can see
what we thought.

Just what did you think,
Officer?

Well, there are people
who molest children.

In a situation like this,
we have to assume--

You thought that I...

Wow.

Well, I can see how
it must have looked to you.

Yeah. Glad you understand,
Mr. Thurston.

Yeah, well, uh, it's, uh...

It's all right, Officer.

I'm just, uh, happy
to have you guys around.

Thank you.

Yeah, say, uh,
uh, I, uh...

Would you be interested in, uh, taking
the kid here to the barbershop?

Sorry, we got to
get back to work.

Yeah.

Well,
it was worth a try.

All right, let's go.
Come on.

1-Adam-12, clear.

(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, clear.

It's nice to know some people
like to have us around.

Yeah, for a minute there I thought
we might have a problem with him.

When you get right down to it,

there wasn't much else
we could've done.

Anyway,
I'm glad we got the 4 out

before anyone else showed up.

Like, uh, Ed Wells?

Yeah.

(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12,

B.0. traffic signal
Eighth and Bixley.

Watch commander advises to
direct traffic until repaired.

1-Adam-12, roger.

Well,

that'll blow a good chunk
of the rest of the watch.

Guess it's just not our day.

[locker thudding]

(Reed)
Roll call in five minutes.

(Malloy)
Yeah, I'll be right there.

(Wells)
Hey, uh, Malloy.

About that bust yesterday,
you, uh, you cooled down yet?

Should I be?

Well, why not?

Look, I--l didn't mean to jump
the call on you, but, uh...

But what?

Well, you know, Malloy.

When something's goin' down
you gotta move.

Can't take all day.
That's what we're here for.

You gotta get those bad guys
and get them in jail.

(Wells)
Ain't that right, Reed?

Doesn't matter how it's done,
just do it quick. Is that right?

(Wells) That's the ticket.
Now you're learnin', Malloy.

Just do me one little favor,
will you?

What is it, Pete? Anything
you say, just name it.

Don't roll on any of my calls
unless you're assigned.

And if you are, stay out of my
way, 'cause I don't need you.

Oh, now wait a minute.

No, you wait a minute!

You charge around like
some comic strip character,

and the sorry part of it is,

you think you're doing good police work.
Well, you're not.

There's more to this job
than kicking a door down

and taking a gun away
from some nut.

Now, if you haven't learned that
yet, you probably never will.

So I don't need you
and these kids don't need you.

(Malloy) If you don't
get yourself killed,

it'll be your partner
or some other policeman.

You're just mad
'cause I made the bust.

You'll get over it.

Look, Wells,
the sergeant chewed on us

for not handling
that call ourselves.

And I took it
and didn't tell him

what a stupid stunt
you pulled.

But next time,
you might not be so lucky.

So do yourself a favor, too.
Stay away from me.

Kind of blew your cool
back there.

I've just about had it
with that jerk.

Do you ever think
that maybe he sizes things up

a little quicker
than most guys?

He usually comes out smelling
like a rose, doesn't he?

To take an unnecessary chance

and come out
smelling like a rose

is not exactly my idea
of professional tactics.

Well, tell me,

what would you have done
different back there yesterday?

Maybe nothin'.

We might have had to go through
the door the same way.

But we'd have tried
a better way first,

even if it just meant listening
at the door or the window.

We would've had
some kind of a plan.

You're sayin' he didn't
know enough before he went in?

That's part of it.

I didn't hear him telling you,
or me, or his partner

what he was gonna do, did you?

No, but he came out all right.

You say, uh, he could've gotten
killed the way he handled it?

But he didn't.
He made a good bust.

Those are the facts.

What it boils down to
is pure luck on his part.

We have a responsibility

not to stick our necks out
if we can avoid it.

A dead policeman
is no good to anybody.

I understand that.

But maybe
we just overdo it a little.

[radio beeping]

(male dispatcher) All units in
the vicinity and I-Adam-AT,

a 415, man with a gun.
227, South Grape.

1-Adam-47, Code 3.

Looks like Wells
can handle this his way.

He got the Code 3.
We gonna back him up?

You better believe it.

(female dispatcher) All units, additional
on the 415 at 227, South Grape.

Suspect last seen
standing by the swimming pool.

Suspect is armed
with a shotgun.

[siren wailing]

There goes Wells.

Making like
Teddy Roosevelt again.

[shotgun fires]

[tires screeching]

[glass shattering]

[glass breaking]

(Malloy)
Reed, get back in here.

He's been hit!
I gotta get him out!

We both gotta get him out.
Now get back.

Close it.

Come on.

Get in the back seat
and lie down.

1-Adam-12,

an officer's been shot
at 227, South Grape.

Requesting an ambulance,
and a sergeant with a gas kit.

(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, roger.

All units,
an officer needs help.

227, South Grape.
Shots fired.

[glass shatters]

(Reed)
How bad is it?

I can't tell yet.
He's full of buckshot.

[engine humming]

[Malloy grunts]

[groaning]

Reed, you get down there
and stop traffic.

What about Wells?

Ambulance is on the way.

You just take care
of that intersection.

[siren wailing]

The suspect is holed up
at number 227,

using a shotgun.

Davis, you go down the other
end and stop traffic.

Reed handles this end.

Bryant, you and Stevens evacuate the
houses on this side of the street.

The rest of you, let's get
this place sealed off

and hold your positions.
No hero stuff.

[radio chattering]

[tires screeching]

Wounded Officer is in
the back seat of this car.

He was hit by a shotgun.

[radio chattering]

Lay it out for me, Malloy.

Suspect's holed up in that
house using a shotgun.

Wells got hit when he crossed
in front of the window.

We've got traffic stopped
at both ends of the street.

Place is sealed off.

Bryant and Stevens are clearin' out the
houses on this side of the street.

Okay, all we've got left
is getting him out of there.

Get the gas kit ready,

I'll see if
he wants to walk out.

You want to go down to that
second house, get the people out.

Move them up to
this end of the street.

Hold it.

[ambulance wailing]

This is the police.

I will say this just one time,
so listen hard.

You are completely surrounded.

I want you to
come out of that door

with your hands in the air.

If you do not come out

I will order tear gas
and shotgun fire.

This is your only warning.

You have 30 seconds.

All right, let's move in.

[canister clinks]

Evidence, arrest,

[phone ringing]

And crime report.
Is that it?

Except for a 15-7
to the station fund.

Hmm?

We got a couple of jackets
to replace.

I could use some help.
How about you?

Yeah.

Sure glad
Jean won't see it like this.

She might worry.

She'd be a lot more worried
if you were in it.

I wonder who had to tell
Ed's wife?

I did.

I picked her up
at home.

It's a 20 mile drive
to the hospital.

Kind of a rough trip for her.

How's he doing, Sarge?

He's gonna be out of circulation
for a month or more.

Shoulder and arm
are pretty well torn up.

He's out of danger then?

Oh, yeah, no problem.
He's alert as a jack rabbit.

A little worried
about tomorrow.

What about tomorrow?

Well, the buckshot.
It's still in him.

They've got to dig out
about 10 or 12 more pieces.

How's Betty taking it?

Okay. She settled right down

as soon as she saw
he was all right.

Started chewing him out
for not being more careful.

Finish out the watch
in this car.

You won't have any new windows
in yours till tomorrow.

You two used your heads
out there.

Did a good job.

I'll see this one
gets in your package.

Oh, incidentally,
when you finish those reports,

drop by the P. and F. Ward.
Wells wants to see you.

Hello, Sally,
they workin' you hard?

It'd be a lot easier

if you boys would stop getting
in the way of shotguns.

I suppose you're here
to see old talking Ed Wells?

Would it be
all right?

If I said no, you'd
probably sneak in anyway.

Aw, Sally,
you know us better than that.

Sure I do.
He's in Ward Three.

Ten minutes now,
or I'll have your necks.

Thanks Sally.

Hi, Betty.
How's he doing?

Hi. He's okay now.

It sure gave me
a scare though.

This is my partner, Jim Reed.
Betty Wells.

Hi.

Nice to meet you, Jim.

Is he, uh, still awake?

Oh, yes.
He's talking a mile a minute.

Pete,

Ed told me what happened,

and I want to thank you both.

I don't know what I'd do
if I'd lost him.

Hey, come on now.

You said yourself
he was fine.

I'm just
a big baby.

Still tryin' to learn
how to be a policeman's wife

after four years.

I think
you're doing great.

How are the children?

Fine.

Ed's mother is
taking care of them.

Which reminds me,
I better get back.

Do you need a ride?

It's all taken care of.

The efficiency of the Police
Department, you know.

It was nice meeting you, Jim.
Pete.

Take care of yourselves.

Say hi
to the kids for me.

Will do.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

Well, uh,

here comes a couple
of real crime fighters.

How'd you two guys
get in here?

Did you bribe Sally?

No, we promised to
tape your mouth closed

so she could get
some work done.

With her, I can't get
a word in edgewise.

How are you feelin'?

Great, except for the company.

Motor officers,

a whole room full of
two-wheel jocks.

You know, their war stories
are bad enough.

Now, they're trying to
sign me up to ride motors.

For you, that'd be suicide.

I don't know.
Might be exciting.

I met your wife
out in the hall. Nice gal.

Yeah. Yeah, she's tops.

Ah, I don't know.
She worries too much though.

With good reason,
three kids, a home,

and a nut like you
for a husband.

You almost made her
a widow today.

A widow...
No chance.

I'm not gonna let her
get rid of me that easy.

Besides, how am I
gonna get knocked off

with you guys around
to take care of me?

Well, we might not be around
next time.

Well, Pete, if it isn't you,

I guess I'll, uh, just have
to depend on old lady luck.

You know,
this one reminds me

of that time I captured
that bank bandit.

Lever tell you two guys
about that?

No, we'd better get back
on the air.

Tell your roommates about it.

Thanks a lot for dropping by,
fellas.

(Wells) Okay, you guys,
now here's how it went.

(Wells)
There I am standin' there,

and this guy is comin' down on
me with a sawed-off shotgun.

So I say to myself,

"Ed, it is becoming
blatantly obvious

that this man is not
the bearer of glad tales."

That guy has got to be
out of his mind.

This thing didn't even
shake him.

The word's maturity, Jim.
He hasn't grown up yet.

And it's even money
in my book

whether he'll live
long enough to get there.