Adam-12 (1968–1975): Season 1, Episode 23 - Log 12: He Was Trying to Kill Me - full transcript
A call regarding stolen milk turns into a call about child neglect. When the officers knock on the door to question a suspect, they find a 6 year old girl Charlie alone. She says she doesn't know where her mother is and her dad no longer lives there. When the officers tell her they are removing her, she tells them she can't leave Sissy an infant in the bathtub. A man arrives she calls daddy but he is only a friend of the mother. He is arrested on outstanding traffic warrants and juvenile finds the kids have been beaten. Charlie says daddy did it. They are called back to the apartment to find the father beating the mother and they learn the mother is beating the kids.
(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.
It's that apartment
over there, 204.
I'm the one who called. I
live across the hall. I see.
I guess you'll have to
have my name.
It's Jenks, Abbie Jenks.
Miss or Mrs.?
Miss, I don't dig
that kind of hang-up.
The report was
a child left alone.
Yeah, well, as near as I can figure, she's
been alone since yesterday morning.
That stupid mother of hers has no
sense of responsibility. None at all.
Has this ever
happened before?
It's been going on for
the better part of a year.
Sometimes she stays away
two, three nights in a row.
Some mother.
What's her name?
Jeanette Phelps. Look, like it's none
of my business what goes on in there.
I wouldn't have called at all
except she started stealing
the milk.
It's got to be pretty bad to
steal milk, wouldn't you say?
What do you mean?
The kid.
It's got to be that kid.
Every other day
for over a month,
a quart of milk snitched right
out from the front of my door.
Did you speak to her about it?
Well, I never caught her
taking it,
but I figured it out.
It can't be anyone else.
Anything else
you can tell us?
Nope. Look, I don't want
any trouble, man.
That's your bag.
You take care of it.
I just want her to stop taking
Bennie's milk.
Bennie?
Benjamin. My cat.
[knocking on door]
[door opening]
Hi.
I'm Pete Malloy.
This is Jim Reed.
We heard you might
need some help.
I'm all right.
Could we talk
to your parents?
Nobody's home.
Do you know where they are?
My mommy works.
[door closing]
[knocking on door]
Hi.
We forgot to ask you
your name.
Charlie Phelps.
Charlie? Is that short
for Charlene or something?
No. That's my name.
Charlie. Just Charlie.
Well, Charlie Phelps,
we'd like to talk to you.
Would it be okay
if we came in for a minute?
[yelling on TV]
Is that a good show?
Is there something wrong
with the picture?
It doesn't matter.
It's an old movie. I've seen
it six times. It stinks.
You can watch it
if you want.
No thanks, Charlie.
Charlie, where does
your mother work?
I don't know. Are you sure
you don't want to watch it?
Yeah, I'm sure.
When did you see her last,
your mother?
Sometimes
she stays at work.
Was she here this morning?
Not last night, either?
What about your dad? You know
where we can get ahold of him?
My daddy doesn't live
with us anymore.
Charlie, what's your
mother's first name?
Jeanette. But she likes me
to call her Jeanie.
That's her.
She sure is pretty,
isn't she?
Yeah, she is.
I wish I were pretty.
She doesn't like me very much.
She thinks I don't know
but I do.
I'm in bed pretending
I'm asleep
and I hear her talking.
More than enough
for child neglect.
Yeah, you better phone
for pictures.
Call Georgia Juvenile.
We're gonna need a policewoman and a
juvenile officer to pick up Charlie here.
Better use the pay phone
out in the hall.
Oh, Reed, check with AID
on Jeanette Phelps.
Right.
What's an AID?
That's Accident
Investigation Division.
Oh.
Charlie, I want you
to think real hard
and try to remember
if your mother said anything,
anything at all about
where she might be.
No, but she'll be home
sometime.
But you don't know
exactly when.
Sometimes she comes home.
So does daddy,
but not when she's here.
You said your daddy
didn't live with you anymore.
He doesn't.
He likes me though.
Better than her.
Charlie, you're
a big, grown-up girl
so I know you understand
that we're trying to help you.
I don't need any help.
Have you had anything
to eat today?
Sure.
You know, Miss Jenks, the lady
that lives across the hall,
says that somebody's been taking the
milk from in front of her door.
I didn't drink it.
Photographer will be
right out. Nothing from AID.
And Juvenile's sending
someone.
Charlie, we know
a real nice place
where there's some
extra nice people
that are going to take care of you
until we can find your mother.
No, I can't go anywhere.
I don't want to go.
It'll be all right.
No, I can't, I can't.
Sissie needs me.
Who's Sissie?
Will you promise to be quiet?
Then I'll show you.
Sure we'll be quiet.
[shushing]
She's just like
my very own.
(Bartell)
Charlie, where's Charlie?
Oh.
Did you get nabbed with your
hand in the cookie jar, Charlie?
Hello, Daddy.
Is that the best we can do?
No kiss? Don't I get a kiss?
That's better.
Look what I got for you, huh.
[exclaiming]
What's the beef?
Are you Mr. Phelps?
Me? No, no. I'm Bartell,
Phil Bartell.
Could I see your
driver's license, please?
All right.
What's the trouble?
Take it out of the wallet,
please.
Is this your present address,
Mr. Bartell?
No, actually I moved from there.
I'm at 219 Morgan Avenue now.
You ought to have
the license corrected.
Yeah, well, soon as I--
You wanna check it out?
Right.
Hey.
What are you guys doing?
What's going on around here?
Did something happen
to Jeanie?
Maybe you'd better
take Charlie with you, huh.
Come on, Charlie. You want
to help me make a phone call?
Who's gonna keep an eye
on the baby?
My partner will. Besides, we're
not gonna be gone that long.
All right.
Hey, uh...
Listen, did something really
happen to Jeanie?
That's what we're trying
to find out.
Are you Charlie's father?
Look, I just stopped by
for a minute.
Fact is, I'm late for
an appointment, now.
Yeah, wait just a minute,
will you?
Uh, how come Charlie
calls you daddy?
Charlie, she's a...
She just likes
to call me daddy, that's all.
She's a cute kid.
Look, I really gotta go.
Now wait a minute, will you?
You're a friend
of Charlie's mother.
[sighing]
Yeah.
R and I please.
This is Reed, James A.
13985.
Requesting warrants
on Bartell, Philip R.
I'm sure you'd like
to help us if you can.
How can I help?
For a start, you can tell us
where we can contact her.
They're separated.
I mean, I never met him
but I understand
he's no good.
He can't hold a job, doesn't
like to work, you know the type.
Yeah, Bartell,
but I didn't ask you that.
What I asked you is if you knew how we
could get in touch with Mrs. Phelps.
I tell you what.
I'll hang around here,
and when she shows
I'll have her give you a call.
You guys all carry cards. Leave
me one with your number on it.
Then you don't know where
we can find her.
I saw her a couple, three days
ago, as a matter of fact.
She, uh, she tried
to put the bite on me.
I couldn't help her.
She said she lost her job.
You know, things have been
kind of slow for me lately.
Jeanie's a specialty dancer.
Action type, if you know
what I mean.
That's how I met her, in one of
those joints out on the Strip.
Tell you the truth,
she's more looks than talent,
but I guess we all do
what we have to, huh?
What are you doing?
I'm calling a place where they know all sorts
of things about lots and lots of people.
Will they know about me
down there?
No, I don't think so.
Why not?
Well, mostly because
you're too young.
Hey, this is gonna take a while.
Why don't we sit down?
When do they know about you down
there where you're calling?
Well, if somebody
does something wrong...
Hey, what's the matter?
Oh, nothing.
Are you trying to find
something out about Daddy?
Kind of.
I don't think you will.
Oh, why not?
Because he's too nice
to do things wrong.
He brings me things.
I hope you're right, Charlie.
Hello, Charlie.
Hello, Miss Jenks.
Find out where she is yet?
Not yet. We're still
working on it.
Well, there's a few things
I could tell you
that might help.
Not good things, either.
I'd like it if you tell my partner, Miss Jenks.
He's still inside.
Okay, if that's the way
you want it.
Know what?
What?
She's mean.
You know, if you ask me, she'd
be a whole lot better off
if she'd just make things
right with the kid's father.
A whole lot better.
Excuse me. Malloy.
Do you know where
Mr. Phelps lives?
How would I know?
He's a nice guy.
Too bad about his face though.
He used to come around some.
They had terrible arguments.
Fights, I guess you might say.
And sometimes I could hear screaming,
you know, but it was always her fault.
He was always nice.
Respectful to a lady.
Some lady, huh?
What about his face?
Hmm?
You said too bad
about his face.
He must have been
in some accident,
because he's got a big scar across his
cheek and down to the corner of his mouth.
Thank you, we'll try
to locate him.
Oh, did you ask the kid
about the milk yet?
No, we'll take care
of that, too.
Look, I don't know
what you're up to,
but whatever it is I sure hope
they nail you for it.
Yeah.
Hey, get the bathroom, too.
Hey, um...
Listen, Officer, I know things
look kind of bad around here,
but Jeanie, she really,
really does the best she can.
We get a child left alone
call, we check it out.
Yeah, but you could, you could lay
off a little bit, couldn't you?
I don't know what your job is,
mister, we can't just lay off ours.
We get pictures for evidence and
whatever information we can.
In this case, there's plenty of evidence
for child neglect, that's a misdemeanor.
I told you I'd have her call
you as soon as she comes back.
(photographer)
Well, that finishes it.
Okay, thanks.
Right.
We'll find her.
But until we do,
Charlie and the baby will be
taken care of at Juvenile Hall.
What if I said
I'd be responsible for them?
If you know where Mrs. Phelps
is, I suggest you call her now.
Forget it. I'm sorry I tried.
I thought for once I could find
a cop who was a human being.
Get out of my way.
You're under arrest.
There's a warrant on him. Traffic warrants.
Put your right hand out here.
Rogers from Juvenile.
You Reed?
I'm Pete Malloy and that's my partner Reed.
He called you.
One of the little girls should be out in the hall.
Her name's Charlie Phelps.
Your call indicated
only one juvenile.
We turned up another one after I called.
She's in the bathroom.
This is Officer Betty Owens.
Hi.
Hi.
I'll take care of her.
[crying]
Okay, let's go.
Hey, wait a minute.
What about these things?
And what's Charlie
gonna think?
She'll probably think
you're under arrest.
Big day for you two,
isn't it?
You pick up a baby, and a kid
still wet behind the ears.
Arrest me for a couple
of lousy traffic tickets.
It's a big day.
Hey, I'll bet you guys get shiny
gold stars on your records for this.
Gee, I wonder what the real
crooks are doing these days.
[sighing]
Where'd you say
they took the kids?
Georgia Juvenile.
Aren't you afraid they'll thrown
them in with hardened criminals,
six- or seven-
or eight-year-olds?
They'll be placed in foster homes
or cared for at MacLaren Hall
till the court makes
a decision.
MacLaren Hall,
what's that?
It's where children wind up
when nobody cares about them.
You're breaking my heart.
They'll be given baths, clean
clothes, warm beds and plenty to eat.
(Malloy) Yeah, there's just
one thing they can't provide.
Yeah, what's that?
A real mother and father.
Now what happens?
I mean to me?
We're taking you back to the station
to be booked on the traffic warrants.
How much is the bail?
How many tickets
did you throw away?
What do you got, Malloy?
Traffic warrants,
Bartell, Philip R.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, I got a call
for you.
Thanks.
Could I please have
a drink of water?
I'll be back in a minute.
This is Officer Malloy.
I got a message to call you.
Mmm-hmm.
Yes, I am.
She did?
How long ago?
Yeah, I understand.
Okay, thank you.
Reed.
That was the policewoman who drove
Charlie and the baby to MacLaren Hall.
The nurse at the Hall
just discovered something.
Charlie's back and her legs
are covered by cuts and welts.
She's been beaten.
More than once.
A thin belt, maybe an
electrical cord was used,
according to the nurse.
Charlie say who did it?
She told the nurse
daddy did it.
They couldn't tell whether or
not she was telling the truth.
Why would Charlie want to lie
about a thing like that?
Bartell, we want to ask you
some questions,
but before we do I have to
advise you of your rights.
"You have the right
to remain silent.
"If you give up 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 speak
with an attorney
"and to have the attorney
present during questioning.
"If you so desire and cannot afford one,
an attorney will be appointed for you
without charge
before questioning."
You understand these rights as
I've explained them to you? Yeah.
You wish to give up
the right to remain silent?
Yeah, yeah, come on.
Let's get it over with.
You give up the right to speak
with an attorney
and to have him present
during questioning?
What are you guys making such a big
deal out of a few traffic warrants?
We don't wanna talk about
a couple of traffic warrants.
We wanna talk to you
about child beating.
Child beating?
That's right,
child beating.
A felony that's punishable by up
to 10 years in the State Prison.
Oh, you guys
gotta be kidding.
How many unsolved crimes
you gonna try to hang on me?
Look, mister, Charlie's been
severely beaten.
When they asked her
who did it, she said "Daddy."
Now, she calls you daddy.
She's nuts. I never laid a hand on that kid.
You can ask Jeanie.
We will. Maybe you'd like to
tell us where we can find her.
You find her.
All right, let's go.
Wait a minute now. I'm not
the only one she calls daddy.
What about Phelps.
He's her father.
(COP)
Malloy.
Malloy.
Right.
Right, thank you very much.
That was Abbie Jenks. Charlie's
mother just got home.
Put a hold on him for 273-D,
we'll book him when we get back.
Let's go.
1-Adam-12 on a station
call to 2613 Cordolet.
(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, roger.
Makes you sick,
doesn't it?
You wanted to be a cop.
What kind of person
would beat a child?
Somebody who can't handle
their own frustrations
so they take them out
on an innocent kid.
It's a lousy world.
Sometimes.
We only see the bad side.
How many kids are there who get the
same thing Charlie got, or worse,
and nobody ever knows
a thing about it?
Hey, did you ask her?
About what? Charlie,
about stealing the milk.
Oh, yeah, we did.
Well?
She won't do it anymore.
[objects crashing]
[woman screaming]
Hold it!
Step away from her.
[sobbing]
Help me, please.
You tramp.
He hurt me.
All right, over here,
let's go.
Turn around, let's go.
Feet back, let's go.
All right, right hand
behind your head.
He was trying to kill me.
He would have killed me.
I should have done it
months ago.
All right, now, you be quiet.
What's a mother for, huh?
Supposed to take care
of her kids, isn't she?
So what does she do?
You promised.
He promised he'd never
come back. He promised!
I'm Charlie's father,
and I'm still her husband,
and I think that gives me
certain rights.
Such as trying to murder me?
Such as trying
to protect Charlie.
Liar, I never touched her,
never.
All right, take it easy, Mrs. Phelps.
Where's Charlie now?
And where's the baby?
I... I don't know.
They took them, away.
I saw them. I told you but you
wouldn't believe me, would you?
Get him out of here, Reed.
What's the charge?
273-D wife beating,
for a start.
I only tried to knock
some sense into her.
There's a law a husband
can't do that?
That's right, there's a law.
There's also a law
against beating children.
I never laid a hand
on either one of my kids.
Never in my life.
Don't.
She's the one.
You take her in
and I'll testify.
Bill, don't. Please, Bill.
She took a light cord
and she whipped that kid
within an inch of her life.
Please.
If I hadn't stopped her,
I think she might
have killed her.
You promised
you wouldn't say anything!
[sobbing]
Now let's go.
I don't hate her, you know.
I wanted her.
I wanted her to be like me.
Just like me.
He really likes me
better than Charlie.
I'm much prettier.
Charlie didn't want
to go with him.
She wanted to stay here.
Everybody...
I dance, you know.
They gave me a beautiful
blue spotlight
and everybody loved me.
Everybody.
Come on, Mrs. Phelps,
it's time to go now.
Oh.
All right.
Oh.
Oh, she's beautiful.
Isn't she beautiful?
That's what Charlie said, too.
She did?
[screaming]
[picture crashing]
Age?
Six.
Three people,
all supposed to be adults, and
not one of them gives a damn
about a 6-year-old child
and a 10-month-old baby.
Not one of them.
Well?
You just said it all, partner.
I care about these kids.
Better finish that report. We've
got almost two more hours of duty.
[sighing]
What's gonna happen to them?
The Department of Social Services
will find them a good foster home
if they're lucky.
Pete.
Yeah.
Why did Charlie say
her daddy beat her?
Why would she lie about
a thing like that?
It's funny, isn't it?
She loved her mother.
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.
It's that apartment
over there, 204.
I'm the one who called. I
live across the hall. I see.
I guess you'll have to
have my name.
It's Jenks, Abbie Jenks.
Miss or Mrs.?
Miss, I don't dig
that kind of hang-up.
The report was
a child left alone.
Yeah, well, as near as I can figure, she's
been alone since yesterday morning.
That stupid mother of hers has no
sense of responsibility. None at all.
Has this ever
happened before?
It's been going on for
the better part of a year.
Sometimes she stays away
two, three nights in a row.
Some mother.
What's her name?
Jeanette Phelps. Look, like it's none
of my business what goes on in there.
I wouldn't have called at all
except she started stealing
the milk.
It's got to be pretty bad to
steal milk, wouldn't you say?
What do you mean?
The kid.
It's got to be that kid.
Every other day
for over a month,
a quart of milk snitched right
out from the front of my door.
Did you speak to her about it?
Well, I never caught her
taking it,
but I figured it out.
It can't be anyone else.
Anything else
you can tell us?
Nope. Look, I don't want
any trouble, man.
That's your bag.
You take care of it.
I just want her to stop taking
Bennie's milk.
Bennie?
Benjamin. My cat.
[knocking on door]
[door opening]
Hi.
I'm Pete Malloy.
This is Jim Reed.
We heard you might
need some help.
I'm all right.
Could we talk
to your parents?
Nobody's home.
Do you know where they are?
My mommy works.
[door closing]
[knocking on door]
Hi.
We forgot to ask you
your name.
Charlie Phelps.
Charlie? Is that short
for Charlene or something?
No. That's my name.
Charlie. Just Charlie.
Well, Charlie Phelps,
we'd like to talk to you.
Would it be okay
if we came in for a minute?
[yelling on TV]
Is that a good show?
Is there something wrong
with the picture?
It doesn't matter.
It's an old movie. I've seen
it six times. It stinks.
You can watch it
if you want.
No thanks, Charlie.
Charlie, where does
your mother work?
I don't know. Are you sure
you don't want to watch it?
Yeah, I'm sure.
When did you see her last,
your mother?
Sometimes
she stays at work.
Was she here this morning?
Not last night, either?
What about your dad? You know
where we can get ahold of him?
My daddy doesn't live
with us anymore.
Charlie, what's your
mother's first name?
Jeanette. But she likes me
to call her Jeanie.
That's her.
She sure is pretty,
isn't she?
Yeah, she is.
I wish I were pretty.
She doesn't like me very much.
She thinks I don't know
but I do.
I'm in bed pretending
I'm asleep
and I hear her talking.
More than enough
for child neglect.
Yeah, you better phone
for pictures.
Call Georgia Juvenile.
We're gonna need a policewoman and a
juvenile officer to pick up Charlie here.
Better use the pay phone
out in the hall.
Oh, Reed, check with AID
on Jeanette Phelps.
Right.
What's an AID?
That's Accident
Investigation Division.
Oh.
Charlie, I want you
to think real hard
and try to remember
if your mother said anything,
anything at all about
where she might be.
No, but she'll be home
sometime.
But you don't know
exactly when.
Sometimes she comes home.
So does daddy,
but not when she's here.
You said your daddy
didn't live with you anymore.
He doesn't.
He likes me though.
Better than her.
Charlie, you're
a big, grown-up girl
so I know you understand
that we're trying to help you.
I don't need any help.
Have you had anything
to eat today?
Sure.
You know, Miss Jenks, the lady
that lives across the hall,
says that somebody's been taking the
milk from in front of her door.
I didn't drink it.
Photographer will be
right out. Nothing from AID.
And Juvenile's sending
someone.
Charlie, we know
a real nice place
where there's some
extra nice people
that are going to take care of you
until we can find your mother.
No, I can't go anywhere.
I don't want to go.
It'll be all right.
No, I can't, I can't.
Sissie needs me.
Who's Sissie?
Will you promise to be quiet?
Then I'll show you.
Sure we'll be quiet.
[shushing]
She's just like
my very own.
(Bartell)
Charlie, where's Charlie?
Oh.
Did you get nabbed with your
hand in the cookie jar, Charlie?
Hello, Daddy.
Is that the best we can do?
No kiss? Don't I get a kiss?
That's better.
Look what I got for you, huh.
[exclaiming]
What's the beef?
Are you Mr. Phelps?
Me? No, no. I'm Bartell,
Phil Bartell.
Could I see your
driver's license, please?
All right.
What's the trouble?
Take it out of the wallet,
please.
Is this your present address,
Mr. Bartell?
No, actually I moved from there.
I'm at 219 Morgan Avenue now.
You ought to have
the license corrected.
Yeah, well, soon as I--
You wanna check it out?
Right.
Hey.
What are you guys doing?
What's going on around here?
Did something happen
to Jeanie?
Maybe you'd better
take Charlie with you, huh.
Come on, Charlie. You want
to help me make a phone call?
Who's gonna keep an eye
on the baby?
My partner will. Besides, we're
not gonna be gone that long.
All right.
Hey, uh...
Listen, did something really
happen to Jeanie?
That's what we're trying
to find out.
Are you Charlie's father?
Look, I just stopped by
for a minute.
Fact is, I'm late for
an appointment, now.
Yeah, wait just a minute,
will you?
Uh, how come Charlie
calls you daddy?
Charlie, she's a...
She just likes
to call me daddy, that's all.
She's a cute kid.
Look, I really gotta go.
Now wait a minute, will you?
You're a friend
of Charlie's mother.
[sighing]
Yeah.
R and I please.
This is Reed, James A.
13985.
Requesting warrants
on Bartell, Philip R.
I'm sure you'd like
to help us if you can.
How can I help?
For a start, you can tell us
where we can contact her.
They're separated.
I mean, I never met him
but I understand
he's no good.
He can't hold a job, doesn't
like to work, you know the type.
Yeah, Bartell,
but I didn't ask you that.
What I asked you is if you knew how we
could get in touch with Mrs. Phelps.
I tell you what.
I'll hang around here,
and when she shows
I'll have her give you a call.
You guys all carry cards. Leave
me one with your number on it.
Then you don't know where
we can find her.
I saw her a couple, three days
ago, as a matter of fact.
She, uh, she tried
to put the bite on me.
I couldn't help her.
She said she lost her job.
You know, things have been
kind of slow for me lately.
Jeanie's a specialty dancer.
Action type, if you know
what I mean.
That's how I met her, in one of
those joints out on the Strip.
Tell you the truth,
she's more looks than talent,
but I guess we all do
what we have to, huh?
What are you doing?
I'm calling a place where they know all sorts
of things about lots and lots of people.
Will they know about me
down there?
No, I don't think so.
Why not?
Well, mostly because
you're too young.
Hey, this is gonna take a while.
Why don't we sit down?
When do they know about you down
there where you're calling?
Well, if somebody
does something wrong...
Hey, what's the matter?
Oh, nothing.
Are you trying to find
something out about Daddy?
Kind of.
I don't think you will.
Oh, why not?
Because he's too nice
to do things wrong.
He brings me things.
I hope you're right, Charlie.
Hello, Charlie.
Hello, Miss Jenks.
Find out where she is yet?
Not yet. We're still
working on it.
Well, there's a few things
I could tell you
that might help.
Not good things, either.
I'd like it if you tell my partner, Miss Jenks.
He's still inside.
Okay, if that's the way
you want it.
Know what?
What?
She's mean.
You know, if you ask me, she'd
be a whole lot better off
if she'd just make things
right with the kid's father.
A whole lot better.
Excuse me. Malloy.
Do you know where
Mr. Phelps lives?
How would I know?
He's a nice guy.
Too bad about his face though.
He used to come around some.
They had terrible arguments.
Fights, I guess you might say.
And sometimes I could hear screaming,
you know, but it was always her fault.
He was always nice.
Respectful to a lady.
Some lady, huh?
What about his face?
Hmm?
You said too bad
about his face.
He must have been
in some accident,
because he's got a big scar across his
cheek and down to the corner of his mouth.
Thank you, we'll try
to locate him.
Oh, did you ask the kid
about the milk yet?
No, we'll take care
of that, too.
Look, I don't know
what you're up to,
but whatever it is I sure hope
they nail you for it.
Yeah.
Hey, get the bathroom, too.
Hey, um...
Listen, Officer, I know things
look kind of bad around here,
but Jeanie, she really,
really does the best she can.
We get a child left alone
call, we check it out.
Yeah, but you could, you could lay
off a little bit, couldn't you?
I don't know what your job is,
mister, we can't just lay off ours.
We get pictures for evidence and
whatever information we can.
In this case, there's plenty of evidence
for child neglect, that's a misdemeanor.
I told you I'd have her call
you as soon as she comes back.
(photographer)
Well, that finishes it.
Okay, thanks.
Right.
We'll find her.
But until we do,
Charlie and the baby will be
taken care of at Juvenile Hall.
What if I said
I'd be responsible for them?
If you know where Mrs. Phelps
is, I suggest you call her now.
Forget it. I'm sorry I tried.
I thought for once I could find
a cop who was a human being.
Get out of my way.
You're under arrest.
There's a warrant on him. Traffic warrants.
Put your right hand out here.
Rogers from Juvenile.
You Reed?
I'm Pete Malloy and that's my partner Reed.
He called you.
One of the little girls should be out in the hall.
Her name's Charlie Phelps.
Your call indicated
only one juvenile.
We turned up another one after I called.
She's in the bathroom.
This is Officer Betty Owens.
Hi.
Hi.
I'll take care of her.
[crying]
Okay, let's go.
Hey, wait a minute.
What about these things?
And what's Charlie
gonna think?
She'll probably think
you're under arrest.
Big day for you two,
isn't it?
You pick up a baby, and a kid
still wet behind the ears.
Arrest me for a couple
of lousy traffic tickets.
It's a big day.
Hey, I'll bet you guys get shiny
gold stars on your records for this.
Gee, I wonder what the real
crooks are doing these days.
[sighing]
Where'd you say
they took the kids?
Georgia Juvenile.
Aren't you afraid they'll thrown
them in with hardened criminals,
six- or seven-
or eight-year-olds?
They'll be placed in foster homes
or cared for at MacLaren Hall
till the court makes
a decision.
MacLaren Hall,
what's that?
It's where children wind up
when nobody cares about them.
You're breaking my heart.
They'll be given baths, clean
clothes, warm beds and plenty to eat.
(Malloy) Yeah, there's just
one thing they can't provide.
Yeah, what's that?
A real mother and father.
Now what happens?
I mean to me?
We're taking you back to the station
to be booked on the traffic warrants.
How much is the bail?
How many tickets
did you throw away?
What do you got, Malloy?
Traffic warrants,
Bartell, Philip R.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, I got a call
for you.
Thanks.
Could I please have
a drink of water?
I'll be back in a minute.
This is Officer Malloy.
I got a message to call you.
Mmm-hmm.
Yes, I am.
She did?
How long ago?
Yeah, I understand.
Okay, thank you.
Reed.
That was the policewoman who drove
Charlie and the baby to MacLaren Hall.
The nurse at the Hall
just discovered something.
Charlie's back and her legs
are covered by cuts and welts.
She's been beaten.
More than once.
A thin belt, maybe an
electrical cord was used,
according to the nurse.
Charlie say who did it?
She told the nurse
daddy did it.
They couldn't tell whether or
not she was telling the truth.
Why would Charlie want to lie
about a thing like that?
Bartell, we want to ask you
some questions,
but before we do I have to
advise you of your rights.
"You have the right
to remain silent.
"If you give up 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 speak
with an attorney
"and to have the attorney
present during questioning.
"If you so desire and cannot afford one,
an attorney will be appointed for you
without charge
before questioning."
You understand these rights as
I've explained them to you? Yeah.
You wish to give up
the right to remain silent?
Yeah, yeah, come on.
Let's get it over with.
You give up the right to speak
with an attorney
and to have him present
during questioning?
What are you guys making such a big
deal out of a few traffic warrants?
We don't wanna talk about
a couple of traffic warrants.
We wanna talk to you
about child beating.
Child beating?
That's right,
child beating.
A felony that's punishable by up
to 10 years in the State Prison.
Oh, you guys
gotta be kidding.
How many unsolved crimes
you gonna try to hang on me?
Look, mister, Charlie's been
severely beaten.
When they asked her
who did it, she said "Daddy."
Now, she calls you daddy.
She's nuts. I never laid a hand on that kid.
You can ask Jeanie.
We will. Maybe you'd like to
tell us where we can find her.
You find her.
All right, let's go.
Wait a minute now. I'm not
the only one she calls daddy.
What about Phelps.
He's her father.
(COP)
Malloy.
Malloy.
Right.
Right, thank you very much.
That was Abbie Jenks. Charlie's
mother just got home.
Put a hold on him for 273-D,
we'll book him when we get back.
Let's go.
1-Adam-12 on a station
call to 2613 Cordolet.
(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, roger.
Makes you sick,
doesn't it?
You wanted to be a cop.
What kind of person
would beat a child?
Somebody who can't handle
their own frustrations
so they take them out
on an innocent kid.
It's a lousy world.
Sometimes.
We only see the bad side.
How many kids are there who get the
same thing Charlie got, or worse,
and nobody ever knows
a thing about it?
Hey, did you ask her?
About what? Charlie,
about stealing the milk.
Oh, yeah, we did.
Well?
She won't do it anymore.
[objects crashing]
[woman screaming]
Hold it!
Step away from her.
[sobbing]
Help me, please.
You tramp.
He hurt me.
All right, over here,
let's go.
Turn around, let's go.
Feet back, let's go.
All right, right hand
behind your head.
He was trying to kill me.
He would have killed me.
I should have done it
months ago.
All right, now, you be quiet.
What's a mother for, huh?
Supposed to take care
of her kids, isn't she?
So what does she do?
You promised.
He promised he'd never
come back. He promised!
I'm Charlie's father,
and I'm still her husband,
and I think that gives me
certain rights.
Such as trying to murder me?
Such as trying
to protect Charlie.
Liar, I never touched her,
never.
All right, take it easy, Mrs. Phelps.
Where's Charlie now?
And where's the baby?
I... I don't know.
They took them, away.
I saw them. I told you but you
wouldn't believe me, would you?
Get him out of here, Reed.
What's the charge?
273-D wife beating,
for a start.
I only tried to knock
some sense into her.
There's a law a husband
can't do that?
That's right, there's a law.
There's also a law
against beating children.
I never laid a hand
on either one of my kids.
Never in my life.
Don't.
She's the one.
You take her in
and I'll testify.
Bill, don't. Please, Bill.
She took a light cord
and she whipped that kid
within an inch of her life.
Please.
If I hadn't stopped her,
I think she might
have killed her.
You promised
you wouldn't say anything!
[sobbing]
Now let's go.
I don't hate her, you know.
I wanted her.
I wanted her to be like me.
Just like me.
He really likes me
better than Charlie.
I'm much prettier.
Charlie didn't want
to go with him.
She wanted to stay here.
Everybody...
I dance, you know.
They gave me a beautiful
blue spotlight
and everybody loved me.
Everybody.
Come on, Mrs. Phelps,
it's time to go now.
Oh.
All right.
Oh.
Oh, she's beautiful.
Isn't she beautiful?
That's what Charlie said, too.
She did?
[screaming]
[picture crashing]
Age?
Six.
Three people,
all supposed to be adults, and
not one of them gives a damn
about a 6-year-old child
and a 10-month-old baby.
Not one of them.
Well?
You just said it all, partner.
I care about these kids.
Better finish that report. We've
got almost two more hours of duty.
[sighing]
What's gonna happen to them?
The Department of Social Services
will find them a good foster home
if they're lucky.
Pete.
Yeah.
Why did Charlie say
her daddy beat her?
Why would she lie about
a thing like that?
It's funny, isn't it?
She loved her mother.