CHiPs (1977–1983): Season 2, Episode 3 - Family Crisis - full transcript

We've had it, I know we have.

Betsy, will you please relax?

I've got biology first period.

Old Larkin's gonna
write my mom if I'm late.

Oh, man. That's my uncle.

Hi, Uncle Jon. What, are you
guys pulling an early shift now?

Ah, just on our way to
work. How you doing, Wes?

- Listen, how's your mother?
- Fine, fine.

Tell her to give me a
call. We'll get together.

- Okay.
- Hey, Wes. Qué pasa?

Hey, Ponch. Just trying
to get to school on time.



- Have you found yourself an apartment?
- Yeah. A little place by the marina.

- Take it easy, now.
- Okay.

They don't need us
here. Let's go in, okay?

I was so scared. I've never
even been in a stolen car before.

Wes goes, "Hi, Uncle Jon," and
Freddy just drives right through.

- I thought for sure they'd noticed.
- Good old Cowboy Cool.

What is Wes, a senior now?

Yeah, Tremont High School.

You know the kids he's with?

No, but I agree with you.

- You don't know what I'm thinking.
- You're thinking mismatch.

The kids and the
car don't match.

How come you always
know what I'm thinking?

Hey.



L.A. 15, 7 Mary 3 and 4 in
pursuit on Vermont south from 3rd.

Attention all units...

15, 7 Mary 3 and 4 in pursuit
of a modified motorcycle...

southbound on Vermont
approaching Pico.

Possible burglary suspect.

Police, lady. Freeze!

- It's all right, officer, I'm...
- Drop the bag.

Put your hands on your head.

Officer, will you please
listen to me? I'm Sindy...

Save it. Later I'll listen to you.
Right now I want you in that car.

You have the right
to remain si... Sile...

Silent.

Anything you say will be held
against you in a court of law.

Thanks.

I caught his accomplice
in the alley with the loot.

- Jon Baker.
- Hey.

Frank Poncherello. This
is the accomplice, huh?

Ooh, a mean-looking thing, huh?

She tried to pass herself
off as one of you guys.

Oh, you gotta be kidding.

Women's lib, I guess, huh?

Think we ought to
search her, Ponch?

Oh, yeah, for weapons at least.

You lay a hand on me, you'll
pull back a stump. I promise.

Listen, aren't you
Officer Sindy Cahill...

badge 4C72 California
Highway Patrol?

Yes.

Must be true. Highway
patrolmen never lie.

My ID's in my hip pocket.

I told him so, but, no.
He wouldn't let me show it.

I thought it was a trick.

If you want her ID, maybe
you'd better let Ponch get it.

He will not. Unlock me.

Don't touch me. Just unlock me.

You know why Sindy
rides a street bike.

To prove she'd be
a good motor officer.

Wouldn't it be something if
Central was the first division...

to have a female motor cop?

If it ever happens,
let it be Sindy.

She's a cop you can
count on any time.

And believe me, she can ride.

The question's academic. She'll
never make it to motor school.

Why not, Grossie?
On account of seniority?

And seniority is a criterion
for motor school, right, sarge?

That's department policy.

I think it should
just be ability.

Besides, I have
seniority as a lady officer.

We don't think of you
as a lady officer, Sindy.

We think of you as a buddy.

Captain wants me to emphasize...

that our Auto Theft Unit is
understaffed and overworked.

Now, part of the
problem is joyriding.

Kids hot-wiring cars and using
them for a few hours of fun.

Let's make a point of
cracking down on this.

Now...

this is a picture of the
special agent's car...

in the motion picture,
Huggermugger.

It was supposed to be moved to
storage from the movie lot this morning.

It was stolen in the process.

Now, it has a reinforced frame,
I'm told, and special shocks.

And if you saw the movie,
you saw it fire machine guns...

spit fire, spray oil, make
smoke and such as that.

Now, the guns were faked...

but the car actually was
equipped to do all the other stuff.

We don't know whether it still
has these capabilities or not.

We also don't know
where the car went.

Studio guard followed it,
but it, uh, well, just vanished.

Now, this is a
very expensive car.

There's no telling what
a car buff might pay for it.

It's a super-special
collector's item.

So check all
exotic-car-buff contacts.

All right, I guess that's it.

Why would a collector steal it? He
couldn't show it. He'd have to hide it.

Um... It's a good point, Cahill.

You keep your eyes open.

- Okay, that's...
- Well, why be so obvious?

Unless time is a factor.

Huh. That's a good question.

Anything else?

Yeah, I get it that it may be
part of a bigger caper, don't you?

Cahill...

let Auto Theft and local
investigators do the detective work.

It's their job.

The rest of you get
out there and do yours.

That's all, Cahill.

Hey, don't you guys think there
had to be an inside man on that job?

Why don't you ask Auto Theft?
They'll probably check it out.

I think I'll do that.
Thanks, buddy.

I won't be a minute.

Just enough time to sign
off and get my money.

Well, I see you got a good eye,
chief. This baby's a real bargain.

I'm not here to buy anything.

Popular style, a popular price.
Ready to put the deal on ice.

No, I'm not interested.

This little beauty is
really in cherry condition.

A little old lady from
Sylmar just turned it in.

Marvelous condition. She was a
good housekeeper. It's spotless.

Her husband passed
away, rest his soul.

She went east to
live with her kids.

Ah, there, see?
Partner's got the right idea.

- Let me show you inside.
- No. That's not my partner.

That's the little old
lady from Sylmar.

Wha...? What say?

Yeah. He bought this
little beauty two years ago.

He just sold it to your boss.

Oh, well, you come back and
see us later, you hear? Hey, Harry.

- Was that a sales pitch?
- I don't know.

People don't believe you when
you say you're not interested.

- How much you clear?
- Twenty-six hundred and twenty-five bucks.

Buys my furniture,
gets me an 8-track...

and finally puts me
into a nice new car.

And I won't have to borrow
your wheels anymore.

How's that, huh?

I can learn to live with it.

I bet the owner was very happy
to get his car back with no damage.

Oh, yeah.

But that's part of
this joyriding game.

Like, this time, they parked the
car and left the engine running.

Made the car
conspicuous. Easy to find.

Yeah, and a pro
wouldn't do that.

It's probably kids from
Tremont High School.

What, it's only three blocks
from where you found the car?

Listen, I'm gonna
give my sister a call.

- Bring your stomach pills, Grossie?
- Yeah, why?

Thing's kind of hard to digest.

I didn't know that.

You recovered a stolen car?

Yeah, a blue hot-wired '77
Mercury four-door, with opera top.

Thanks, Grossie.
Enjoy your lunch.

Maybe I'll just get some yogurt.

How's your sister?

Ah, the office says she's
away on a buying trip.

Wes is staying home alone.

Don't know why he didn't
mention that this morning.

All right, that's it. That's
a ride home. Let's go.

You guys go. I'm
gonna mess around here.

- Oh, come on, Wes. For me?
- Don't be a bore. You'll spoil it for all of us.

I got things to do. You guys
go on. I'll take a bus home.

Okay, so long, turkey.
Let's go, we'll miss it.

Okay, okay. I'm coming.

Yeah, okay. All right,
I'll pick you up tonight.

All right, goodbye.

- How's Wes?
- He's fine.

We're gonna go
to dinner tonight.

- Got your budget figured out?
- Yeah.

Nine hundred down on the car. That
makes my payments 160 a month.

I can make it. I got wheels.

I'm anxious to see
what kind of apartment...

you're gonna rent at the
marina for $250 a month.

It's a great one, Jon.
Comfortable, homey.

- How many rooms?
- Rooms?

- How many?
- One. But with alcoves.

A cooking alcove, a closet.

- Indoor plumbing?
- Yeah.

Sounds like a motel
with a hot plate.

Hey, you guys, guess what I
found out about the movie car.

It was supposed to be stored at
the place it was built, the Cal-Dyno.

I spent a half an hour
there this afternoon.

Cahill...

you were out of service
for over an hour today.

You know the movie car?

The thief crawled into the
sound stage through an air vent.

But the stuntman who drove
it in the movie is in Spain.

I think our thief is someone
connected with the builder, Cal-Dyno.

Sindy, the movie car is
not our special business.

When they want me to
assign somebody to it, I will.

But I don't want you
playing Dick Tracy out there.

Now, please.

You're a good patrol officer.
Just do your job, understand?

You really think I'm good, huh?

Just stay on your
beat from now on.

Hey!

Hey, don't tell me you're
moving out. What happened?

The apartment above me.

The guy's waterbed
broke, flooded my place.

- And what about your furniture?
- Uh...

I canceled delivery on it.
Come on. They got a vacancy.

They're gonna loan it to
me while they dry mine out.

Come on.

Oh. Um...

Put the cot in the bedroom.

And kitchen's in working order.

No charge until
your place is ready.

This is Jon Baker, my
partner. This is the manager.

- Oh, hi.
- Hi.

Hey, this is a pretty
flossy place, Ponch.

- Don't you wish you could afford it?
- I wish I'd never seen it.

- What's it rent for?
- Twice the other one.

Five hundred a month,
and it won't stay vacant long.

- Beautiful view, huh?
- Yeah.

Beautiful kitchen.

Swimming pool right outside.

I can put extra stereo
speakers in the bedroom.

I mean, it's worth $500, but...

I just can't afford it. I mean,
I couldn't even furnish it.

I wanna show you two
something. Come on.

Now, some of our tenants like
to use this balcony for barbecues.

If there was any way I could
go 500, I'd take the place.

I mean, it's right. It's me.

I'd love to take
it, but it's, uh...

too expensive. I mean,
I just can't afford it.

A little too rich
for my blood. I...

Hi, neighbor.

Uh... He'll take it.

You didn't say this morning
that your mom was away.

Oh, I was afraid you'd come
over and make me clean up. Ha-ha.

- What a mess.
- Yeah, I bet.

How's it going, Wes?

Well, you know,
since Dad died...

I know we had to move out
here. Mom needed the job.

But, well, everything's
a little strange.

Well, listen, so you change your lifestyle,
but you don't change your values.

You know, there's a lot
of flashy action out there.

Just gotta pick your
own kind of thing.

Could I get a couple
more Cokes here, please?

I'm your mother's kid brother.

And I really love her,
but she is a woman...

and sometimes a man
needs a man to talk to.

I don't know. Listen, I'm not your
dad, but I'm trying to say I'm here, okay?

Yeah, sure.

Thank you.

- Hey, all right.
- Here comes the drinks.

- Pass on these.
- Hey, the 7UP is for me.

- First one to the 7UP...
- I got it.

- Hey, a piece of pizza.
- All right, gentlemen.

- Wes, you going to college next year?
- Yeah, I'm really into animal husbandry.

You know, breeding and
making the breeds better and stuff.

He got interested from a guy who told
him to cross a centipede with a turkey.

That way, everyone
could have a drumstick.

Boo.

Hey, hey! Wes, I called
you this morning, but, uh...

What's happening?

Everybody, this is Gail Farley,
Betsy Scott and Fred Parton.

Hi. Listen, why don't you
grab a chair? Jon Baker.

- My uncle.
- The cop?

Uh, this is Sue,
Sindy, Grossman...

Wendy, Fritz and I'm Ponch.

Oh, we're not cops. Just dates.

Let's get our own table.

- Why don't you sit down...
- Don't bother.

Really. I hate to eat
under surveillance.

Wes, we'll be around in case
you need us to bail you out.

- Look, if you wanna join them, feel free.
- They're okay, you know.

It's just the way
kids feel about cops.

Yeah, some kids.

This morning after the robbery,
the movie car disappeared again.

Now, their inside man
just blew the safe...

and took $125,000 worth
of industrial diamonds.

Now, the car did throw flame...

so if you spot it, use caution.

Okay, that's all.

You know, $125,000
isn't a big enough haul...

to justify all the trouble
these guys have gone to.

Who in town would know
who's holding diamonds?

Well, I know who's not holding.
The guy they hit. Ask him.

Thanks, Ponch.

You really turn her
on, don't you, Ponch?

Hey, Getraer told her to lay off.
He's really gonna get on her case.

Well, not if she comes
up with something.

And I bet she does.

Hey, Fred, that's our off-ramp.

I know, Wes. I know.

We just gonna leave it here?

You walk away from a car on the
freeway, who pays any attention?

- And who finds it?
- The cops, right?

Right. And we don't steal them,
Wes. We just borrow them, that's all.

Attention all units.

L.A.P.D. reports a robbery in
progress at the Diamond Mart.

Possible movie vehicle involved.

Hey, Ponch...

Robbery in progress at the
Diamond Mart. 1 100 Ducannon.

He's getting close.

Just right. Hit
the smoke and oil.

They don't even try to be clever.
They smash in and smash out...

and count on the
movie car for escape.

They must use a
big van or a truck.

You guys get on traffic control.

There's nothing wrong with me.

Yeah, well I'd like a physician to
confirm that. Maybe a psychiatrist too.

If I were a man, you'd
send me right back to duty.

Nobody who's piled up a car goes
back on duty without a physical checkup.

In, in, in!

Come on in. It's open.

Hey, Ponch!

What's happening?

Mm, a little
unofficial business.

It's my bus pass.

- What's this all about, Ponch?
- You wanna tell me about the car?

The hot-wired hatchback on the
freeway three blocks from here.

Yeah, I remember that car.

You see, this guy I hitched a ride
home with dropped me off there.

Must've dropped my bus pass.

- Yeah, right.
- Wrong.

Listen, Wes, let's
talk about your friends.

Peer pressure, Wes,
I know all about it.

Plus a whole lot you
never even heard of.

Hey, I was your
age once, you know?

I mean, I tried the wild
way, going for thrills.

I'm not saying it's bad or
good. I'm telling you it's dumb.

Okay. Okay, so
it's dumb. So what?

So what?

So I guess you know that riding hot-wired
cars is baby talk for grand theft auto.

Getting nailed after the
fact is a misdemeanor.

Caught doing it,
you buy a felony rap.

- Who says I ever done it?
- Hey, man...

that car you were in yesterday
on the freeway was hot-wired.

I mean, sometimes
there's a reason for that.

But later we recovered a
stolen car, looked just like it.

Now, that's pretty heavy, man.

- My uncle doesn't know.
- Not from me, no.

But look at the way it could've
gone down, with a little bad luck.

He loves you, Wes.

Think about him catching
you in a stolen car.

Think about that.

- Bad news.
- Yeah.

Hey, come on with
me. I borrowed his truck.

I need you to help me move
some stuff into my new pad.

Ponch?

You're not gonna
tell him about this?

What for? It's over, right?

Come on.

- Morning, Harlan.
- Hi.

Hi, Dave.

- See you.
- Okay.

Heel, Dave. Heel.

All right, stay.

Cahill.

- Report to the captain, on the double.
- Captain? How come?

Well, he wants to see
you. Is that good enough?

- Yeah.
- Mm-hm.

Is she in trouble?

It's entirely possible.

- But, sarge, she was right about the heist.
- But, Jon, she disobeyed orders.

- She called you about...
- She violated regulations.

- But she wrote the report...
- And she wracked up a car.

It's your turn.

- I think I hear a speeder.
- Mm-hm.

Hey, don't worry about Sindy.

She'll be okay. She
can handle herself.

It's not Sindy I'm
worried about, it's Wes.

I went by his house last
night and he wasn't home.

Oh, well, hey,
don't sweat it, Jon.

He's a good kid. Wes can take
care of himself. He'll be okay.

To tell you the truth, I think
those kids were in a stolen car...

yesterday morning
on the freeway.

You talk to Wes about it?

I should. Huh.

Maybe I shouldn't.

When it comes right down to
it, am I an uncle or am I a cop?

I don't know.

Your motors are ready.

I tightened your spokes.

And I replaced
your seal-beam unit.

I thought Getraer told you
to leave that dog at home.

Yeah, we're working on it.

I thought he only
growled at sergeants.

- That's true.
- Then how come he's growling at me?

You're drinking out of his cup.

Come in.

You sent for me, captain?

Cahill.

This investigation report
on the Movie Car Gang...

is this yours?

Yes, sir.

Come on.

Whoo! Come on, Freddy!

L.A. 15, 7 Mary 5, I
have two vehicles...

dragging on the unopened section
of the 210 Freeway. I'm in pursuit.

- Come on!
- It's on the floor.

Go faster. You
won't go any faster?

Come on, there's a cop!

Back off, Fred. We're cool.
Remember, it's your mom's car.

Yeah, I know, but she'll kill
me. She doesn't know I took it.

She doesn't know? Ah, come on,
Fred, how could you do this to us?

Attention, all units.
15, 7 Mary 5...

is in pursuit of two
23103 vehicles...

southbound Harbor Freeway
at 7. Units responding, answer.

L.A. 15, 7 Mary 3 and 4
approaching freeway off-ramp.

All right, get out of the car.

Let's go. Turn around.
Put your hand on the roof.

Wes!

We were going to the beach
with Fred. It's his mother's car.

It's not stolen.

Put your hands on your
head and turn around.

Come on.

- What's gonna happen to my friend Freddy?
- His mother got him off for car theft.

But he's going downtown for
booking on five counts of joyriding.

You knew it was a
misdemeanor for the girls and me.

That's right.

How come you put
the handcuffs on me?

How'd they feel, Wes?

Like the end of the world.

I'll see you tonight, huh?

Now, they think the Movie Car
Gang may hit Warren Limited next.

Maybe even today.

And they think the
mastermind may be the broker...

who brought the
diamonds into the country.

Where've I heard that before?

The driver is probably a
mechanic the builder fired.

They're probably escaping
in a big van or truck.

Where've I heard that before?

Now, you'll be
working with L.A.P.D.

Let them do their
job, you do yours.

Now, you heard
that before, Frank?

Engraved on my heart.

See that trash rig?

We saw one like it yesterday.

- Let's stake it out.
- Okay.

7 Mary 3 to Movie Car units,
we have the trash truck...

with two occupants
at 2nd and East Street.

Looks like an escape setup.

7 Boy, assist 7 Adam.

Mary 5, hold your position.

Movie Car units,
it's going down.

Ah.

Three minutes, and the night
alarm would've sealed the building.

Boy, they really have it timed.

He's coming out with the loot.

All units respond as briefed.

Here comes the movie car.

Second unit, he's
headed for you.

Here it comes.

7 Mary 4, I have the movie
car at construction site...

going west on East
Street. In pursuit.

Mary 5, he's headed
your way. Let's box him in.

Ten-four, Mary 3. I'm
rolling toward Corona.

Halt!

They're headed
for the waterfront!

- Hit the oil!
- We're out of oil.

Hit the smoke!

- I guess we've had it now.
- Doggone it!

7 Mary 3 to Mission
Control, we have liftoff.

7 Mary 4 to Mission Control...

we have splashdown at
two minutes past the hour.

Is Getraer here yet? - No!

Listen, I gotta run. Thanks
for the use of the truck.

And, Ponch, good luck
with your new home.

Hey, listen.

Thanks for the card table,
Wes. I can really use it.

Uh, listen, Wes. No
rumrunning, no bootlegging...

no smuggling, no kidnapping...

or contraband.

Uncle Jon, a guy's
gotta have some fun.

There you go.

- Take care. I gotta go.
- Bye, Wes.

So you wind up with a commendation
in your records jacket? That's great.

We all thought you'd
been suspended.

Why? Just because the captain
knew good ideas when he heard them?

How'd you think he
get to be captain?

- Hello, sergeant.
- Welcome to the party.