Adam-12 (1968–1975): Season 1, Episode 3 - Log 11: It's Just a Little Dent, Isn't It? - full transcript
Reed dents the fender of the patrol car while putting gas in it and frets the entire shift about the impact of it on his career. At roll call Mac and the Lieutenant talk to the officers about a man who has been intimidating a woman who is to testify about the man's son's involvement in a crime. They talk to the woman, an influential neighbor, bartender where the man hangs out, and then the man himself. They respond to a call about a man holding a baby as a hostage with a gun. Malloy enters the house and talks the man down who appears to be high on drugs. A call that night by a neighbor leads them to catching the man after he used stones to break the woman's windows. At the end Malloy tells the Lieutentant that the dent is about the size of a reprimand.
(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.
(Sergeant) There's a
private stake-out tonight
on DeLacey
between 43rd and 44th.
How long, Sarge?
Till around three, they say.
That your district?
Yes, sir.
It's Milton Fels Agency.
A blue 68 Mercury.
Murray Adam Queen 162.
Divorce case some...
It'll be somewhere
in that block.
Yeah, it usually is.
Now, which district
has 917 South Haskell?
Twelve.
That sounds like Mrs. Getz.
Yeah, Mrs. Lorena Getz.
Somebody dumped a load of garbage
on her front porch last night.
And heaved a dead cat
in through her window.
She thinks it was
this Claver fella.
She could be right.
She testified against his son.
They sent the kid up
last week.
You didn't make that bust,
did you, Malloy?
No, sir.
For the rest of you,
his name's Joseph Claver.
Do you have
his address here, Mac?
600 block South Jerome,
near the corner, 695, 697.
He's been known to make complaints
against police officers.
The last time he said an officer
burned him with a cigar.
It turns out neither
one of them smokes.
So, if you get involved
with him, watch out.
Uh, Malloy, you ought to
have a talk with Mrs. Getz.
(Malloy)
Yes, sir.
I know this is
a difficult thing to do,
and of course
it could be just mischief
not even related to Claver.
Swing through the neighborhood
every chance you get.
We can't let these witnesses be harassed
or think they're being harassed.
That's all I've got.
Any problems?
Okay, then.
Fall in for inspection.
(Malloy)
Reed.
Yeah?
I've got to get new batteries.
Gas it up, will you?
Right.
What's the matter?
Malloy, I banged up a fender.
It's the right front.
[sighs]
There's half the room
in the world around here.
Well, as I was
pulling over here,
I heard
the safety belt dragging,
I opened the door
to get it.
I didn't look away
for more than a second or so.
I wasn't doin' more than
seven or eight miles an hour.
I tapped that post
over there.
What do we do now?
Don't include me.
I mean, do we put it in the garage
and get another one or what?
Was that all you did to it?
Yeah.
It still runs all right?
I guess so.
[female dispatcher
chattering on radio]
Malloy?
Yeah?
What happens now?
About the dent, I mean.
The Captain will
get the report in a few days,
you'll find out
what it's gonna be.
I suppose
I could get days off?
Yeah. Or a suspension,
maybe just a reprimand.
Or the Captain
could have you put up
in front of
a Fleet Safety Board.
What do they do?
Decide whether or not it was preventable
and whether you were at fault.
[children shouting]
You've never met Mrs. Getz?
Uh-uh.
Well, she's been divorced
a couple of years.
I don't know exactly
what the story is.
You think I was negligent?
You tell me.
I guess I was.
[birds chirping]
[doorbell ringing]
Oh, hello.
Mrs. Getz, my partner,
Off. Reed.
How do you do?
Well, I must say,
you don't look old enough.
Yes, Ma'am.
He's got a driver's license
and everything.
I see you've got the place
pretty well cleaned up.
Oh, yeah. There was trash
up to here.
A whole barrelful.
And a smelly cat
in my living room.
There was glass everywhere.
I'm just gonna put this up.
And then in the morning, I'll go
down and get another window pane.
Can't you get anybody
to help you?
I'd have to pay 'em. I can do it myself.
Probably better.
You talked to Joe Claver yet?
Did you see him do it?
By the time I got out of bed and
got myself decent, he was gone.
What about the neighbors?
Did they see anything?
That bunch. No.
Then it could've been anybody.
Kids, maybe.
You know it was Joe Claver
as well as I do.
Did he ever threaten you?
Three or four times.
I told the other officers.
What did Claver say?
Not a word.
But if I'm out front,
he'll drive by and stare at me
with that mean scowl
on his face.
I told him one time.
I said, "Listen, Mr. Claver.
"You can't scare me
from testifying.
I saw that boy of yours lay that other
boy's face open with a radio aerial."
I wish you'd have
given us a call.
Well, I didn't think
he'd do anything.
Still it took a lotta nerve
to testify like you did.
No, it didn't. I mean,
what am I supposed to do?
Say I didn't see something
I did see?
Is he still comin' by?
Yeah, just the other day.
I don't suppose
you could arrest him?
No.
Well, this doesn't
bother me too much.
It's just I've been thinking
what's he gonna do next?
Well, I'm just gonna
take this hammer
and put it by my bed tonight.
And if he thinks he can
start anything with me--
Now don't go chargin' off
by yourself.
If there's anybody here or you
think anybody's here, call us.
By the time you get here--
We'll get here
as fast as we can.
We'll be in the neighborhood
pretty regularly after dark. Okay?
Okay.
The amount of damage
to the car,
they take that into account,
don't they?
Yeah.
Darned dent's so small
you can hardly see it.
Nobody'd even spot it unless
he knew exactly where to look.
So maybe I'm not
in too much trouble.
Looks like we got company.
What's your name?
Harold.
How about you. What's yours?
That's Bernard.
Hello, Bernard.
Hi.
[laughs]
What're all those
numbers there?
Well?
We've got a minute.
Those are license numbers
of stolen cars.
(Louise)
And you have to find them all?
We'd like to,
but I don't think we will.
Hey, take us for a ride.
We can't do that, Harold.
Why not? Off. Baloney did.
Baloney?
Berlony. Did he come around
to your school?
Yeah, twice.
Showed me how to work the
siren and everything.
That's it right there.
Is that a machine gun?
(Malloy)
That's a shotgun.
Do you shoot people with it?
Oh, no.
Then what do you have it for?
Well, it's there in case,
let's say there's a man
with a gun,
and there's absolutely
no other way
to keep him
from hurting somebody.
Let me hear you say
something on the radio.
This is 1-Adam-12
to headquarters.
We're surrounded
by a group of wild juveniles.
You better send Off. Berlony
out to help us out.
Hey, you're not pushing
the button.
You don't miss much,
do you, Harold?
See, we're only allowed
to make official calls.
How fast will this car go?
Oh, about a 120.
Boy!
You know,
there's a dent in it?
Yeah, I know.
A big old dent.
Well, we better be moving along.
See you guys later.
Step back from the car now.
Don't miss much, do they?
No. And it's not a big dent.
Just say the word,
and I'll turn around
and go back
so you can fight it out
with him.
Phew, sure is hot today,
isn't it?
Yeah. It's gotta be
over 100 easy.
Well, it isn't so much
the heat though. It's--
Reed if you're gonna tell me
it's not the heat,
it's the humidity,
you can get out and walk.
[female dispatcher
chattering on radio]
There's Ed Johnson.
It might be a good idea
to talk to him for a minute.
Hi, Mr. Johnson.
Hi.
How's your wife?
Oh, uh, about the same.
Did you hear about what happened
to Mrs. Getz last night?
Yeah. It's bad business.
Do you know who did it?
No. We thought
maybe we'd talk to you.
See if you could ask some
of the people on the block
to kind of keep an eye
on her house.
Well...
You know everybody. And they
listen to you, Mr. Johnson.
Mrs. Getz isn't what you call
an easy neighbor.
It'd be a big help to us.
Well, I'll talk around.
But they're going to tell me that's
what they got you fellas for.
Yeah, I know. A lot of 'em
don't want to get involved.
All they have to do is
pick up the telephone
if they see anything
or hear anything.
We don't mind answering a call
even if it's a false alarm.
Well, I'll see what I can do.
Have you seen
Joe (Have: around'?
I don't believe I know him.
Lives about four blocks over.
Drives an old black Cadillac.
Mmm-mmm.
Thanks.
Hey, you got a dent, huh?
Yeah.
When you dent up one of these
cars, do they hold you liable?
If it's our fault. Yeah.
Now, I've always wondered
about that.
What I'll do,
is, uh, I'll tell folks to
keep in mind about Mrs. Getz.
'Cause next time
it might be one of them.
Thanks, Mr. Johnson.
We'd appreciate that.
[sneers]
(female dispatcher)
7826, 7826, see the man.
Maybe I should paint that fender
red and put a sign on it.
I don't think you have to.
N'[music playing]
Purdy, how's it goin'?
Oh, no complaints.
What can I do for you fellas?
A couple of fellas hanging
around the alley last night,
the officers that chased them, thought
they might be workin' on your back door.
I didn't see any marks
this morning.
Mind if we take a look?
Oh, no, go ahead.
We just wanted
to get you back here.
Yeah?
Wonder if you
could help us out?
Joe Claver comes in,
doesn't he?
Yeah. Him and his wife.
I hear he's pretty worked up
about his boy.
He sure is.
Did he ever talk
about Mrs. Getz?
No.
Make any threats about her?
Well, Claver runs off at the mouth a lot.
Talks big, you know.
He did say something about runnin'
somebody out of the neighborhood.
Burn 'em out, if he had to.
You never had an accident
or anything like that?
Uh-uh.
You see, what gets me
is the uncertainty,
not knowin' what they're
gonna do about it.
Well, it's gonna be
a few days.
If you're gonna sweat it out
I don't think you can make it.
Yeah, I suppose.
Anyway, there's nothing
you can do about it.
Yeah, what's done
is done.
You might as well
just put it out of your mind.
Yeah, you're right.
Wouldn't be so bad,
but I'm on probation.
Reed.
Well, I am. Right off the bat I get
something like this on my record.
Suppose I have
some more trouble
before my time's up.
It could happen.
Maybe you just like to worry.
It could really louse me up.
The fella with that car.
Yeah?
That's Joe Claver.
Maybe we should have a talk
with him.
Afternoon, Mr. Claver.
We'd like to talk to you.
I'm pretty pushed for time.
I think you can spare
a minute, can't you?
She giving you
some trouble?
It's all taken care of.
What's on your mind?
Did you hear about Mrs. Getz?
What about her?
Somebody gave her
a hard time last night.
Too bad.
Did she put you
on to me?
She's a liar.
Is that so?
A liar! She'll swear
in court and lie.
She's a no-good,
mean woman.
I bet, if you got
to the bottom of it.
She drove her husband
right out of the house.
We wouldn't know about that.
Yeah.
I got to go inside.
Are you gonna stop me?
No reason to.
Don't worry yourself
about Mrs. Getz.
Things even out
sooner or later.
Maybe so.
But you listen to me.
We're gonna be watching
her house pretty close.
If she has any more trouble,
we'll be back to see you again.
Is that clear?
You just wait a minute.
You keep records.
I'm gonna keep some too.
Just for my own protection.
It's Malloy,
isn't it?
You don't have
any objections, do you?
No. Peter Malloy.
Thank you.
Badge number
744.
And you?
James Reed. R-E-E-D.
2430.
Would you like
our serial numbers too?
If I call,
they can find you from this.
You bother me again,
you better have
a good reason for it.
He's a real jewel, isn't he?
Yeah.
A man and woman two doors down
were watching the whole thing.
Get the house number
as we go by.
That was kind of a waste.
Maybe.
He got the message okay.
Let's hope
he got some sense, too.
A reprimand wouldn't
be too bad, I suppose.
Stop letting it bug you.
It's gonna go
into my package.
I'm a probationer.
It's not gonna do me any good.
You know that.
Especially losing days.
(female dispatcher) 1-Adam-12,
1-Adam-12, a 415 man with a gun.
See the woman.
1942 Lakeview.
On the porch. Code 2.
1-Adam-12. Roger.
[tires screeching]
[dog barking]
He saw you and ran over in there.
I think he's crazy.
He was on my porch, banging on the door.
He's got a gun.
Go back inside.
(woman)
Please.
[sobbing] Please, Put him down.
Please.
Stay out here.
He's got a baby.
(man) I don't have to
be frightened anymore.
All I have to do
is find a place to live,
and I don't have
to be frightened anymore.
Then everything
will be all right.
Give him back to me.
Don't take him away.
Now don't be frightened.
I'll blow the kid's head off.
Don't you move.
I won't.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
I want to get out of here.
I don't want you
to get in my way.
I won't.
I just wanna talk to you
for a minute.
I don't have to be frightened.
All I have to do
is find a place to live.
And then I don't have...
I'll kill him.
Is there anybody else
in the house?
Hey.
Get away from the door.
Okay.
(Malloy)
What's the big hurry?
We can talk just a minute.
What's your name?
What's your name?
You been droppin' pills?
No, I'm all together.
You look pretty bad to me.
What's the trouble?
You got a car?
Yeah.
Then gimme the key.
Can't do that.
Come on!
[gun clicking]
You can't drive
with a gun and the baby.
How're you gonna manage that?
I'll make a deal with you.
I'll swap you.
The keys for the baby.
You think I'm stupid?
Well, that's the best
I can do.
What's the problem?
ls somebody buggin' you?
Everybody.
Everybody.
Did you ever talk
to anybody about it?
What for?
Maybe you're talkin'
to the wrong people.
You don't look to me like the kind
of a guy that wants to hurt anybody.
You know, you go out of here
with that baby,
we're gonna have to
follow you.
We won't interfere,
but we're gonna have to stay with you.
You know that.
You do and I'll kill him.
I'll do it.
Come on.
Take a look at that baby.
Take a good look at him.
Now look at his mother
over there.
Please.
How are you gonna do
anything to them?
I'll do it.
What do you think
will happen then?
I don't care.
I want to die. I want to die.
I don't care.
Then shoot yourself.
Go ahead!
You haven't got the guts.
You just want to make
a lot of noise.
You don't know
the trouble I got.
And I don't care.
You want to get it over with,
go ahead.
But first give the baby back to
her, so you don't fall on him.
And then go outside, so you
don't splatter the place up.
Well?
I can't.
Then drop the gun.
Drop it!
Reed!
[woman crying]
That's no way for a policeman
to talk to somebody.
[woman whimpers]
Is he all right?
Thank you.
1-Adam-12, requesting Code
7 at 419 South Bradley.
(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, standby.
I hope we get it.
I'm starving.
It's still there, Reed.
The brownies didn't come along
and tap it out for you.
Yeah.
I can just see myself havin' to
stand up in front of that board
and tell them
the whole stupid thing.
I don't think they'll suspend me though.
It's not that big a deal.
1-Adam-12. Okay. Seven.
1-Adam-12. Roger.
I mean, it must have happened
to lots of guys on the job,
a thing like this.
Reed?
What?
Are you gonna talk
about it all night?
Let's swing by
Mrs. Getz' place.
Yeah.
(female dispatcher) 1-Adam-12,
1-Adam-12, prowler there now.
See the woman.
923 South Haskell. Code 2.
That's one of the neighbors.
1-Adam-12. Roger.
We'll go around back,
first check out the alley.
[tires screeching]
[panting] We're pretty
sure he's in the alley.
I've got two men after him
from this side
and someone going
the other way.
Thanks.
[chatters]
Looks like
we lost him.
[dogs barking]
Hold it right there!
Police officers!
(Malloy)
Claver. It figures.
You just wouldn't get
the message.
I can walk here.
I got the right.
I wasn't doin' anything.
I got two broken windows.
I found these
in my dining room.
(Malloy) Did one of you
ladies make the call?
(Mrs. Freeman)
I did.
Is that the prowler
you saw?
It certainly is.
Since Ed talked to us
this afternoon,
I've been peeking
out of my windows
to your place, Mrs. Getz,
every so often.
And I saw that man on the Harris's
lawn and throwing things.
And I heard
the windows break.
You're sure about this?
As sure as can be.
May I have your name, please?
Yes. Mrs. Dorothy Freeman.
Will I have to go to court?
Let me explain something
to you, Mrs. Freeman.
This is a misdemeanor.
And a police officer can only
make an arrest on a misdemeanor
when he actually
sees it being committed.
You mean you're gonna
have to let him go?
No, ma'am.
But only the person
that witnesses the misdemeanor
can make the arrest.
You mean, you want me
to arrest him?
A private person's arrest,
if you will.
Dorothy, I think
you should.
He's nothing
to be frightened of.
Well, it's...
l-I-it's just that
I've never arrested anyone.
I mean,
I never thought about it.
But I kind of
like the idea.
You tell me what to say.
I want to do this right.
[door slamming]
Lieutenant.
You saw that accident report
of Reed's, the dented fender?
I suppose the Captain
might ask you about it?
It's possible.
What's your point?
You didn't see the accident.
No, sir.
Then it really
doesn't concern you.
No, sir.
I'll try to look
at the car myself.
And if I don't get a chance and
the Captain does bring it up,
I gather
it's not a big dent?
It's about the size
of a reprimand, Lieutenant.
Good night, Pete.
Good night, sir.
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.
(Sergeant) There's a
private stake-out tonight
on DeLacey
between 43rd and 44th.
How long, Sarge?
Till around three, they say.
That your district?
Yes, sir.
It's Milton Fels Agency.
A blue 68 Mercury.
Murray Adam Queen 162.
Divorce case some...
It'll be somewhere
in that block.
Yeah, it usually is.
Now, which district
has 917 South Haskell?
Twelve.
That sounds like Mrs. Getz.
Yeah, Mrs. Lorena Getz.
Somebody dumped a load of garbage
on her front porch last night.
And heaved a dead cat
in through her window.
She thinks it was
this Claver fella.
She could be right.
She testified against his son.
They sent the kid up
last week.
You didn't make that bust,
did you, Malloy?
No, sir.
For the rest of you,
his name's Joseph Claver.
Do you have
his address here, Mac?
600 block South Jerome,
near the corner, 695, 697.
He's been known to make complaints
against police officers.
The last time he said an officer
burned him with a cigar.
It turns out neither
one of them smokes.
So, if you get involved
with him, watch out.
Uh, Malloy, you ought to
have a talk with Mrs. Getz.
(Malloy)
Yes, sir.
I know this is
a difficult thing to do,
and of course
it could be just mischief
not even related to Claver.
Swing through the neighborhood
every chance you get.
We can't let these witnesses be harassed
or think they're being harassed.
That's all I've got.
Any problems?
Okay, then.
Fall in for inspection.
(Malloy)
Reed.
Yeah?
I've got to get new batteries.
Gas it up, will you?
Right.
What's the matter?
Malloy, I banged up a fender.
It's the right front.
[sighs]
There's half the room
in the world around here.
Well, as I was
pulling over here,
I heard
the safety belt dragging,
I opened the door
to get it.
I didn't look away
for more than a second or so.
I wasn't doin' more than
seven or eight miles an hour.
I tapped that post
over there.
What do we do now?
Don't include me.
I mean, do we put it in the garage
and get another one or what?
Was that all you did to it?
Yeah.
It still runs all right?
I guess so.
[female dispatcher
chattering on radio]
Malloy?
Yeah?
What happens now?
About the dent, I mean.
The Captain will
get the report in a few days,
you'll find out
what it's gonna be.
I suppose
I could get days off?
Yeah. Or a suspension,
maybe just a reprimand.
Or the Captain
could have you put up
in front of
a Fleet Safety Board.
What do they do?
Decide whether or not it was preventable
and whether you were at fault.
[children shouting]
You've never met Mrs. Getz?
Uh-uh.
Well, she's been divorced
a couple of years.
I don't know exactly
what the story is.
You think I was negligent?
You tell me.
I guess I was.
[birds chirping]
[doorbell ringing]
Oh, hello.
Mrs. Getz, my partner,
Off. Reed.
How do you do?
Well, I must say,
you don't look old enough.
Yes, Ma'am.
He's got a driver's license
and everything.
I see you've got the place
pretty well cleaned up.
Oh, yeah. There was trash
up to here.
A whole barrelful.
And a smelly cat
in my living room.
There was glass everywhere.
I'm just gonna put this up.
And then in the morning, I'll go
down and get another window pane.
Can't you get anybody
to help you?
I'd have to pay 'em. I can do it myself.
Probably better.
You talked to Joe Claver yet?
Did you see him do it?
By the time I got out of bed and
got myself decent, he was gone.
What about the neighbors?
Did they see anything?
That bunch. No.
Then it could've been anybody.
Kids, maybe.
You know it was Joe Claver
as well as I do.
Did he ever threaten you?
Three or four times.
I told the other officers.
What did Claver say?
Not a word.
But if I'm out front,
he'll drive by and stare at me
with that mean scowl
on his face.
I told him one time.
I said, "Listen, Mr. Claver.
"You can't scare me
from testifying.
I saw that boy of yours lay that other
boy's face open with a radio aerial."
I wish you'd have
given us a call.
Well, I didn't think
he'd do anything.
Still it took a lotta nerve
to testify like you did.
No, it didn't. I mean,
what am I supposed to do?
Say I didn't see something
I did see?
Is he still comin' by?
Yeah, just the other day.
I don't suppose
you could arrest him?
No.
Well, this doesn't
bother me too much.
It's just I've been thinking
what's he gonna do next?
Well, I'm just gonna
take this hammer
and put it by my bed tonight.
And if he thinks he can
start anything with me--
Now don't go chargin' off
by yourself.
If there's anybody here or you
think anybody's here, call us.
By the time you get here--
We'll get here
as fast as we can.
We'll be in the neighborhood
pretty regularly after dark. Okay?
Okay.
The amount of damage
to the car,
they take that into account,
don't they?
Yeah.
Darned dent's so small
you can hardly see it.
Nobody'd even spot it unless
he knew exactly where to look.
So maybe I'm not
in too much trouble.
Looks like we got company.
What's your name?
Harold.
How about you. What's yours?
That's Bernard.
Hello, Bernard.
Hi.
[laughs]
What're all those
numbers there?
Well?
We've got a minute.
Those are license numbers
of stolen cars.
(Louise)
And you have to find them all?
We'd like to,
but I don't think we will.
Hey, take us for a ride.
We can't do that, Harold.
Why not? Off. Baloney did.
Baloney?
Berlony. Did he come around
to your school?
Yeah, twice.
Showed me how to work the
siren and everything.
That's it right there.
Is that a machine gun?
(Malloy)
That's a shotgun.
Do you shoot people with it?
Oh, no.
Then what do you have it for?
Well, it's there in case,
let's say there's a man
with a gun,
and there's absolutely
no other way
to keep him
from hurting somebody.
Let me hear you say
something on the radio.
This is 1-Adam-12
to headquarters.
We're surrounded
by a group of wild juveniles.
You better send Off. Berlony
out to help us out.
Hey, you're not pushing
the button.
You don't miss much,
do you, Harold?
See, we're only allowed
to make official calls.
How fast will this car go?
Oh, about a 120.
Boy!
You know,
there's a dent in it?
Yeah, I know.
A big old dent.
Well, we better be moving along.
See you guys later.
Step back from the car now.
Don't miss much, do they?
No. And it's not a big dent.
Just say the word,
and I'll turn around
and go back
so you can fight it out
with him.
Phew, sure is hot today,
isn't it?
Yeah. It's gotta be
over 100 easy.
Well, it isn't so much
the heat though. It's--
Reed if you're gonna tell me
it's not the heat,
it's the humidity,
you can get out and walk.
[female dispatcher
chattering on radio]
There's Ed Johnson.
It might be a good idea
to talk to him for a minute.
Hi, Mr. Johnson.
Hi.
How's your wife?
Oh, uh, about the same.
Did you hear about what happened
to Mrs. Getz last night?
Yeah. It's bad business.
Do you know who did it?
No. We thought
maybe we'd talk to you.
See if you could ask some
of the people on the block
to kind of keep an eye
on her house.
Well...
You know everybody. And they
listen to you, Mr. Johnson.
Mrs. Getz isn't what you call
an easy neighbor.
It'd be a big help to us.
Well, I'll talk around.
But they're going to tell me that's
what they got you fellas for.
Yeah, I know. A lot of 'em
don't want to get involved.
All they have to do is
pick up the telephone
if they see anything
or hear anything.
We don't mind answering a call
even if it's a false alarm.
Well, I'll see what I can do.
Have you seen
Joe (Have: around'?
I don't believe I know him.
Lives about four blocks over.
Drives an old black Cadillac.
Mmm-mmm.
Thanks.
Hey, you got a dent, huh?
Yeah.
When you dent up one of these
cars, do they hold you liable?
If it's our fault. Yeah.
Now, I've always wondered
about that.
What I'll do,
is, uh, I'll tell folks to
keep in mind about Mrs. Getz.
'Cause next time
it might be one of them.
Thanks, Mr. Johnson.
We'd appreciate that.
[sneers]
(female dispatcher)
7826, 7826, see the man.
Maybe I should paint that fender
red and put a sign on it.
I don't think you have to.
N'[music playing]
Purdy, how's it goin'?
Oh, no complaints.
What can I do for you fellas?
A couple of fellas hanging
around the alley last night,
the officers that chased them, thought
they might be workin' on your back door.
I didn't see any marks
this morning.
Mind if we take a look?
Oh, no, go ahead.
We just wanted
to get you back here.
Yeah?
Wonder if you
could help us out?
Joe Claver comes in,
doesn't he?
Yeah. Him and his wife.
I hear he's pretty worked up
about his boy.
He sure is.
Did he ever talk
about Mrs. Getz?
No.
Make any threats about her?
Well, Claver runs off at the mouth a lot.
Talks big, you know.
He did say something about runnin'
somebody out of the neighborhood.
Burn 'em out, if he had to.
You never had an accident
or anything like that?
Uh-uh.
You see, what gets me
is the uncertainty,
not knowin' what they're
gonna do about it.
Well, it's gonna be
a few days.
If you're gonna sweat it out
I don't think you can make it.
Yeah, I suppose.
Anyway, there's nothing
you can do about it.
Yeah, what's done
is done.
You might as well
just put it out of your mind.
Yeah, you're right.
Wouldn't be so bad,
but I'm on probation.
Reed.
Well, I am. Right off the bat I get
something like this on my record.
Suppose I have
some more trouble
before my time's up.
It could happen.
Maybe you just like to worry.
It could really louse me up.
The fella with that car.
Yeah?
That's Joe Claver.
Maybe we should have a talk
with him.
Afternoon, Mr. Claver.
We'd like to talk to you.
I'm pretty pushed for time.
I think you can spare
a minute, can't you?
She giving you
some trouble?
It's all taken care of.
What's on your mind?
Did you hear about Mrs. Getz?
What about her?
Somebody gave her
a hard time last night.
Too bad.
Did she put you
on to me?
She's a liar.
Is that so?
A liar! She'll swear
in court and lie.
She's a no-good,
mean woman.
I bet, if you got
to the bottom of it.
She drove her husband
right out of the house.
We wouldn't know about that.
Yeah.
I got to go inside.
Are you gonna stop me?
No reason to.
Don't worry yourself
about Mrs. Getz.
Things even out
sooner or later.
Maybe so.
But you listen to me.
We're gonna be watching
her house pretty close.
If she has any more trouble,
we'll be back to see you again.
Is that clear?
You just wait a minute.
You keep records.
I'm gonna keep some too.
Just for my own protection.
It's Malloy,
isn't it?
You don't have
any objections, do you?
No. Peter Malloy.
Thank you.
Badge number
744.
And you?
James Reed. R-E-E-D.
2430.
Would you like
our serial numbers too?
If I call,
they can find you from this.
You bother me again,
you better have
a good reason for it.
He's a real jewel, isn't he?
Yeah.
A man and woman two doors down
were watching the whole thing.
Get the house number
as we go by.
That was kind of a waste.
Maybe.
He got the message okay.
Let's hope
he got some sense, too.
A reprimand wouldn't
be too bad, I suppose.
Stop letting it bug you.
It's gonna go
into my package.
I'm a probationer.
It's not gonna do me any good.
You know that.
Especially losing days.
(female dispatcher) 1-Adam-12,
1-Adam-12, a 415 man with a gun.
See the woman.
1942 Lakeview.
On the porch. Code 2.
1-Adam-12. Roger.
[tires screeching]
[dog barking]
He saw you and ran over in there.
I think he's crazy.
He was on my porch, banging on the door.
He's got a gun.
Go back inside.
(woman)
Please.
[sobbing] Please, Put him down.
Please.
Stay out here.
He's got a baby.
(man) I don't have to
be frightened anymore.
All I have to do
is find a place to live,
and I don't have
to be frightened anymore.
Then everything
will be all right.
Give him back to me.
Don't take him away.
Now don't be frightened.
I'll blow the kid's head off.
Don't you move.
I won't.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
I want to get out of here.
I don't want you
to get in my way.
I won't.
I just wanna talk to you
for a minute.
I don't have to be frightened.
All I have to do
is find a place to live.
And then I don't have...
I'll kill him.
Is there anybody else
in the house?
Hey.
Get away from the door.
Okay.
(Malloy)
What's the big hurry?
We can talk just a minute.
What's your name?
What's your name?
You been droppin' pills?
No, I'm all together.
You look pretty bad to me.
What's the trouble?
You got a car?
Yeah.
Then gimme the key.
Can't do that.
Come on!
[gun clicking]
You can't drive
with a gun and the baby.
How're you gonna manage that?
I'll make a deal with you.
I'll swap you.
The keys for the baby.
You think I'm stupid?
Well, that's the best
I can do.
What's the problem?
ls somebody buggin' you?
Everybody.
Everybody.
Did you ever talk
to anybody about it?
What for?
Maybe you're talkin'
to the wrong people.
You don't look to me like the kind
of a guy that wants to hurt anybody.
You know, you go out of here
with that baby,
we're gonna have to
follow you.
We won't interfere,
but we're gonna have to stay with you.
You know that.
You do and I'll kill him.
I'll do it.
Come on.
Take a look at that baby.
Take a good look at him.
Now look at his mother
over there.
Please.
How are you gonna do
anything to them?
I'll do it.
What do you think
will happen then?
I don't care.
I want to die. I want to die.
I don't care.
Then shoot yourself.
Go ahead!
You haven't got the guts.
You just want to make
a lot of noise.
You don't know
the trouble I got.
And I don't care.
You want to get it over with,
go ahead.
But first give the baby back to
her, so you don't fall on him.
And then go outside, so you
don't splatter the place up.
Well?
I can't.
Then drop the gun.
Drop it!
Reed!
[woman crying]
That's no way for a policeman
to talk to somebody.
[woman whimpers]
Is he all right?
Thank you.
1-Adam-12, requesting Code
7 at 419 South Bradley.
(female dispatcher)
1-Adam-12, standby.
I hope we get it.
I'm starving.
It's still there, Reed.
The brownies didn't come along
and tap it out for you.
Yeah.
I can just see myself havin' to
stand up in front of that board
and tell them
the whole stupid thing.
I don't think they'll suspend me though.
It's not that big a deal.
1-Adam-12. Okay. Seven.
1-Adam-12. Roger.
I mean, it must have happened
to lots of guys on the job,
a thing like this.
Reed?
What?
Are you gonna talk
about it all night?
Let's swing by
Mrs. Getz' place.
Yeah.
(female dispatcher) 1-Adam-12,
1-Adam-12, prowler there now.
See the woman.
923 South Haskell. Code 2.
That's one of the neighbors.
1-Adam-12. Roger.
We'll go around back,
first check out the alley.
[tires screeching]
[panting] We're pretty
sure he's in the alley.
I've got two men after him
from this side
and someone going
the other way.
Thanks.
[chatters]
Looks like
we lost him.
[dogs barking]
Hold it right there!
Police officers!
(Malloy)
Claver. It figures.
You just wouldn't get
the message.
I can walk here.
I got the right.
I wasn't doin' anything.
I got two broken windows.
I found these
in my dining room.
(Malloy) Did one of you
ladies make the call?
(Mrs. Freeman)
I did.
Is that the prowler
you saw?
It certainly is.
Since Ed talked to us
this afternoon,
I've been peeking
out of my windows
to your place, Mrs. Getz,
every so often.
And I saw that man on the Harris's
lawn and throwing things.
And I heard
the windows break.
You're sure about this?
As sure as can be.
May I have your name, please?
Yes. Mrs. Dorothy Freeman.
Will I have to go to court?
Let me explain something
to you, Mrs. Freeman.
This is a misdemeanor.
And a police officer can only
make an arrest on a misdemeanor
when he actually
sees it being committed.
You mean you're gonna
have to let him go?
No, ma'am.
But only the person
that witnesses the misdemeanor
can make the arrest.
You mean, you want me
to arrest him?
A private person's arrest,
if you will.
Dorothy, I think
you should.
He's nothing
to be frightened of.
Well, it's...
l-I-it's just that
I've never arrested anyone.
I mean,
I never thought about it.
But I kind of
like the idea.
You tell me what to say.
I want to do this right.
[door slamming]
Lieutenant.
You saw that accident report
of Reed's, the dented fender?
I suppose the Captain
might ask you about it?
It's possible.
What's your point?
You didn't see the accident.
No, sir.
Then it really
doesn't concern you.
No, sir.
I'll try to look
at the car myself.
And if I don't get a chance and
the Captain does bring it up,
I gather
it's not a big dent?
It's about the size
of a reprimand, Lieutenant.
Good night, Pete.
Good night, sir.