Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980): Season 11, Episode 17 - Stringer - full transcript

If Alika and his goons
come looking for me,

I gotta have something
I can hold over him.

If you have the pictures,
bring them to Mr. McGarrett.

McGARRETT: Remember
one thing, my friend:

you're playing a dangerous game

with people who
make their own rules.

Unfortunately, this
is the kind of mistake

that, uh, somebody
has to pay for.

- Aw, you are beautiful.
- Heh.

You're steaming up my lenses.

I mean, this is incredible.



- Cheryl Tiegs, eat your heart out.
- Oh, Stringer, I don't know about this.

I don't know if I
wanna be on a poster.

Besides, I don't even
look like an island girl.

There are all kinds
of girls on this island.

Just because you were born
in Shaker Heights in this life

doesn't mean you weren't
Queen HaleKulani in your last.

- Heh, heh. Maybe, but I don't think so.
- Look at the left.

I've got a perfect picture
here, you know that?

You're a beautiful woman, Maren.

And you're a con man. I don't know
how I let you talk me into these things.

Because I give
you $9, that's why.

According to this map,

this road comes out at Banyan Point.
I think that's where they're headed.

Are you sure Alika's
in that first car?



Oh, no doubt about it.

They still there?

They're still back there.

Okay, give the boys the
signal. Get rid of them.

The road gets pretty
narrow up ahead.

We'd better drop back, Duke.

Fantastic.

Uh, Stringer, you know how
uncomfortable I am dressed like this

and when you wet me
down, you can see everything.

- Yes. I know that. I know that.
- Uh!

Come on. I'm embarrassed.

Trust me, nobody
ever comes up here.

Turn around.

You know, my daddy says when
somebody asks you to trust them,

don't.

- Heh, heh.
- Oh!

Trust you?

- What the hell was that?
- I don't know.

- Let's get out of here.
- Okay.

Oh, no, Stringer.

Do you think we could
go and help them or...?

No. Nobody can help them now.

Oh, God.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Steve.

Danno, how about
Duke? How is he?

Why don't you ask him yourself?

Hey, Duke. Hey.

- How do you feel?
- Unh, I'm pretty sore, Steve.

But I'll be okay.

Sit down a second. DUKE: Unh.

I was lucky I was thrown free.

What about Sergeant Napoli?

He's dead.

Oh, my God.

How did it happen?

There was a blowout.

Sergeant Napoli tried to
control it, but he couldn't.

A blowout when you
were tailing Alika?

That's a coincidence, isn't it?

Think maybe that
blowout had a little help?

Why not, Danno?

I'll have the lab give
those tires a hard look.

Good. Duke, um...

You've been assigned to
the Alika surveillance team

ever since he got out on bail.

Was there anything
special about today?

I don't know, Steve. They always
traveled in two cars like that.

What was he doing up in
the mountain in the first place?

Had he ever gone
up there before?

Not since I've been tailing him.

If he went to all that trouble,

my guess is that he
was meeting someone.

Any idea who?

No idea, Steve.

Okay. Well, let's
try to find out.

You get some rest, Duke.

Who is it?

MAREN: A trusting soul.

I'll be right out. I'm in darkroom.
- Hurry up.

I called the photo
editor at The Advertiser

and he's holding the front page.

Yeah, well, don't worry.
He won't be disappointed.

Think he'll pay for that?

- He'll buy it in a second.
- What do you think they'll give?

I don't know. Come
on, we've got a deadline.

Relax, relax.

Speaking of money...

Let me show you something
I took while you were hiding.

Who's that man?

That's Howard Kramer.

What is this?

I don't know.

What's a Howard Kramer?

He's just one of the biggest political
power brokers on the island, is all.

I mean, I see him at all the big
parties that I cover for the newspaper.

- He's a state senator or something?
- No.

No, no, nothing like
that. He's a middle-man.

He gets things done
that nobody else can do.

Like what?

Uh, well, like if you wanted
to build a hotel on Waikiki

and you couldn't get a permit?

- You go to Howard Kramer.
- Go to Howard Kramer

and he talks to the people

who give out the
building permits. I see.

Yeah, he, uh, gives them
something that they want

and then you get the permits.

- Who...?
- He gives them money?

I don't know. Who is this?

The other man is Tony Alika.

- The head of the Kumu?
- Mm-hm.

Oh, Stringer, you have
to take this to the police.

Stringer.

Okay. Look, you take the picture
of the car crash to the paper.

I will take the other
one to the cops, okay?

Oh, wait, Stringer.

Why don't we go together,
then I can drop you off.

No, no, go, go, go.
Do what I tell you. Go.

Tell him to get my photo
credit right this time.

McGarrett.

Welcome to my
little grass shack.

Sit down. Sit down.
Like a little lunch?

- I got some nice fresh opakapaka.
- This is not a social call, Alika.

Caught fresh this morning.

A little, uh, green Chinese
vegetables, some rice and soy sauce?

No?

Suit yourself.

I wanna know what you were doing
up near Banyan Point early this morning.

If you were tailing
me, you should know

I was looking at
some property. Why?

You know damn well why.

One of the men tailing you is dead
and Duke Lukela is lucky to be alive.

Every time something bad happens
on this island, you try to pin it on me.

Now, why is that?

Because whenever something evil
happens, you're likely to be involved.

Well, if that were true, I'm sure
that a big superstar cop like you

would be able to
prove it just once.

I thought at first a blowout caused
the officers' car to go off the road.

And then... And then guess what.

We found this. Familiar?

What's that supposed to be?

It's a rifle slug, in case
you don't recognize it.

It was found by one
of our lab technicians

embedded in one of the tires.

Are you trying to say that
I shot out somebody's tire?

Somebody shot
out somebody's tire.

Now, isn't it interesting that we
can positively place you at the scene

with two of your goons
in a car behind you, huh?

You got witnesses, McGarrett,

or are you just, uh,
grabbing at air as usual?

Not this time, Alika.

I have a feeling... A
premonition, if you will.

I keep seeing your
face behind bars.

My lunch is getting
cold, McGarrett.

- Are you through?
- Yeah. For now.

Oh, uh...

That property you
were looking at,

be a shame to buy it and not be
around long enough to enjoy it, huh?

My friend would just like to have that
Banyan Point property looked at again.

Yeah, heh, you know that would
make a wonderful site for a resort hotel.

Mm-hm.

Harry, look, all I'm asking you is
for you to review the situation. Okay?

Good.

Okay, Harry. Thank you. Bye-bye.

You were expecting this?

Who brought this in?

Some creep. I think
he was a messenger.

Oh. Aw, well. Thank
you, Linda. That's all.

- Yeah?
- Hello, Alika?

What are you doing calling
me? What's the matter?

Somebody just sent me
a picture of me and you.

What picture? Where,
in the mountains?

- Yes.
- That's it? I mean, just the picture?

- No demands?
- Not yet.

Just get a hold of
yourself, all right?

You call me the minute
you hear from them.

Okay.

Billy Swan.

Billy, where the heck are you?

Steve. McGARRETT: Yeah?

Take a look at this.

Well...

- There was a witness, huh?
- Yeah.

"Byline, Tim Powers."

Luana? LUANA Sir?

Get me, uh, Ben Richmond
at The Advertiser, please.

- Right now, sir?
- Yeah, right away. Thank you.

I thought you said you
didn't see anybody?

We didn't exactly hang around,
but, no, we didn't see anyone.

Somebody must've been there.

Somebody took a
picture of me and Kramer.

Now, you go find this
photographer. This, uh, Tim Powers.

Go find him fast.

Yes. Mr. Kramer, please.

Just tell him it's the
call he's been expecting.

Yes?

Mr. Kramer? Call on Line 1.

- Hello?
- Mr. Kramer?

Who is this?

Uh, this is your friendly
neighborhood photographer.

I photographs
weddings, bar mitzvahs,

private meetings in the hills.

What do you want?

It's 10:30.

At exactly 11:00, be
outside your office building.

A pedicab driver will ask you if you
want your picture taken at the beach.

Get in the cab.

Meanwhile, don't do anything
stupid, like calling your partner.

- Tour of Waikiki?
- Oh, yeah.

- Take your picture on the beach.
- Great.

It's, um...

It's under the floor mat.

Now you've got the whole story.

You?

Yeah, I'm sorry, Burt Reynolds
wasn't available for the assignment.

What you see is
what you get. Sorry.

Oh, uh, heh, heh.

Sorry. I didn't
mean to offend you.

Sure you did.

But that's okay.

I'm in a position to,
uh, be big about it.

Uh... What's this all about?

I know who you are, Mr. Kramer.

I know who Tony Alika is.

How much do you want?

250 big old ones.

Oh, gee, heh.

- Look, I don't have that kind of money.
- Tony Alika does.

Well, talk to him then.

I think I'd rather do
business with you.

He has a tendency to get
a little cranky, you know?

I like you better.

And, uh,

you'll give me the prints
and the negative, huh?

You do your part, Kramer,
and I'll take care of mine.

Incidentally, I'm
not in this alone,

so don't get any funny ideas.

Yeah.

Ciao.

Maren Wilson?

Oh, yes. May I help you?

My name is Dan Williams. Five-0.

Ben Richmond, uh, told me you might
be able to help us locate Tim Powers.

Uh, Tim Powers...?

Oh, Stringer.

Oh, uh, see, that's the
nickname that everyone calls him.

- You see, a stringer is a person who...
- I know.

Somebody who sells articles or pictures
to a publication on a freelance basis.

Um, what do you want him for?

A police officer was
killed in an accident.

This accident.

Stringer took this picture.

We'd like to ask
him some questions.

Well, what kind of questions
would you like to ask him?

The questions are for him.
Do you know where he is?

Uh, no.

He shows up here every once in a
while when he has a picture to sell.

Surely he must do something
else besides take pictures?

Look, I really don't
know anything about him.

If you'll just excuse me now, I have
some other business to attend to.

Hey, Danny.

- Hey, Yoshi. YOSHI:
Hey, how's it going, Danny?

- How are you doing?
- Okay.

- Listen, I heard you talking over there.
- Ah, my, what big ears you have.

Well, I know this guy, Stringer,

and he drives a pedicab
around here sometimes.

- What company does he work for?
- He'd call himself an independent.

- What's the guy look like?
- He's a short guy,

late 20s maybe, uh, blond.

That's it.

If you come up with something
else, give me a call at the office.

Okay. Take it easy now.

Now, what's the story?

He wants 250 grand.

- Oh, he does, eh?
- Right.

What's worth that kind of money?

What did he look like?

Well, he's a short blond punk,
drives a pedicab in Waikiki.

Mm-hm.

Uh, how'd he leave it?

He said, get the
money, wait for a call.

Okay. You set up the
meeting. I'll take care of him.

No. We've gotta pay him.
He's not in this thing alone.

He said if anything
happens to him...

The cops are gonna get the
pictures. That's what they always say.

Well,

he's got any partners,
I'll take care of them too.

Can't we just pay him?

It doesn't work that way.
Don't you understand, Howard?

It's like joining one of your
exclusive clubs, blackmail.

First you pay
your initiation fee,

then you gotta pay your dues
every month, like clockwork.

- Look...
- Will you relax?

You take care of our business.
I'll take care of this other thing.

- I wanna talk to you.
- I'm in a lot of trouble.

- You better believe it.
- Mm-hm.

Come with me.

Stand right there.

- Five-0 is looking for you.
- Oh, yeah?

Did I forget to pay a
parking ticket on my pedicab?

Oh, come off it. They wanted
to know if you saw anything else

when you took those
pictures of the car crash.

What are you doing in there?

Ah, Stringer.

Oh, this is my
burglar alarm. I, uh...

If somebody breaks in, I got a
picture of them to show the cops.

Look.

What, uh...?

What did you tell Five-0?

- Okay, what did you tell them?
- Nothing.

Why didn't you take
that picture to the cops?

Oh, I was going to,
but, uh, I got busy.

- I'll do it in the morning.
- You had a whole day to do it in.

Well, I got this call from
a big magazine back east.

They want me to do a
spread for a travel issue.

You know, uh, a lot
of girls in bikinis and...

Hey, Maren, I was their first
choice. They called me first.

Stringer, I don't even believe you. I
don't even know what I'm doing here.

Hey, you're just crazy about me.

I am worried about you.

I think you are in something
way over your head.

Short jokes in a darkroom?

- Stringer, can't you ever be serious?
- Okay. Okay.

Now, I'm serious.
I'm serious, look.

Okay.

Take that picture
to the police. Please.

Okay. First thing
in the morning.

I will.

We've been at it for hours.

Maybe the cops got him.

Hey, you wanna
tell that to the boss?

All right, we'll
keep on rolling.

- Danny, it's been three hours.
- I know. I know.

Three hours and
a handful of air.

Well, let's take
another circuit, Tom.

Stringer's gotta be
out there somewhere.

I hope.

Hey, over there.

Isn't that him?

- The description fits.
- Like a glove.

Hey, you! Powers!

That's him.

Stringer. Halt. Police.

Central, patch me
through to McGarrett.

McGARRETT: What have you got?

We've got that
photographer, Stringer.

McGARRETT: Good
work, Danno. Bring him in.

We will, soon as we dry him off.

McGARRETT: When you
took the picture of the crash

up at Banyan Point, did
you see anything else?

- Like what?
- Like what?

Like who caused the
accident, for instance.

Anyone you can identify?

No, I didn't see nothing
except what's in the pictures.

What were you doing up there?

I was taking some photos of this girl
that I know for, uh, posters. You know.

Who was the girl?

You wouldn't know
her, I don't think.

Who was the girl you talked to?

Maren Wilson. She
didn't mention being there.

No, no, she didn't see anything.

She was changing
her clothes at the time.

So you were the one
and only eyewitness.

Yeah, now that you
mention it, I was.

You know, the story I just told you,
the paper will pay a lot of money for.

I wonder what... I wonder
what they would pay for that.

Okay, you can go.

But just remember
one thing, my friend:

You're playing a dangerous game
with people who make their own rules.

- He's lying through his teeth.
- Sure.

He saw plenty. I have a strong hunch
that Alika's right in the middle of it.

Put a 24 hour tail on
our little friend, Danno.

For his own
protection, of course.

- Yes? LINDA: There's
a call for you, Line 1.

He won't give his name.

That's all right.
Uh, I know who it is.

- Hello?
- You got the money?

Yes. Yes.

Good.

Look, I want you to tell
Tony Alika something for me.

If his boys follow me
again, the whole deal's off.

I'll go straight to McGarrett.

- No. No. Don't do that.
- Okay.

Assuming that you don't
screw things up, this is the plan.

I have a loft in a warehouse
at 223 Pearl Street.

223 Pearl Street. You got that?

Be there in one
hour with the money.

No, wait a minute. I don't
think I can get there that fast.

I think you can.

You're welcome.

Sweetheart.

Did you take that
picture to the police?

Get off my case.

- Did you?
- Yes.

- And...?
- And what?

And what? What did they say?

I'll tell you what I can,

but the less you know,
the safer you'll be.

The safer I'll be?

I just spent an hour
with Steve McGarrett.

You know who he is? He's
the head of Hawaii Five-0.

- You mean it's that important?
- Crucial.

Those are his words,
not mine. "Crucial."

The man took me into his confidence,
I shouldn't even be saying this.

Well, why did he take
you into his confidence?

That's between McGarrett
and me. I can say no more.

- Uh, Stringer, I don't...
- Maren...

Maren, that's all I
can say, sweetheart.

Listen, he said he'd
go straight to McGarrett.

He does that, we're
out of business.

All right, Howard. You can
relax. I'm gonna pay him.

- You mean it?
- I said it, didn't I?

I thought it over. With what we've
got at stake, it's worth 250 grand.

That is, if our
deal's been made.

You needn't worry about that.

- Your money's working for us.
- Okay.

The blackmailer milks
this coconut just one time.

I want the pictures
and the negatives.

And if he comes back
at us, I'll blow him away.

- You be sure to tell him that, eh?
- Right.

- Call me when it's over.
- Okay.

Oh, you'll love the
other side of the island.

The waterfalls are beautiful.

Oh, and, uh, don't forget
the luau tomorrow night.

Of course, there's
Maui. Maui's terrific.

- Miss Wilson?
- Uh, yes. I'll be with you in a moment.

Anyway, I'm sure
you'll have fun.

And if you wanna go to any of
the other islands, it's only $25.

Aloha. Have a good time.

- Yes. Can I help you?
- McGarrett. Hawaii Five-0.

Oh, yes. You know, Stringer told me
that you took him into your confidence.

- He told you what?
- You didn't?

Oh, he didn't.

Miss Wilson, your friend
could be in a lot of trouble.

Oh, it won't be the first time.

How well do you know him?

Well, he's been on the
street for about two years.

Uh, he talks big, but
he's really a very nice guy.

I guess I felt sorry for
him, so we got to be friends.

Anyway, whenever he
has a photo assignment,

I get to be one of his models.

Do you know where
I could find him?

Uh, no, not at the moment.

Miss Wilson, if you have
any feeling at all for this man,

you'll tell me
everything you know.

If you don't, you may
never see him alive again.

You really think he could
be in that kind of danger?

Trust me.

Now, I know these people.

And as I told your little friend,
Alika not a man to play games.

Okay.

He's in a warehouse
loft on Pearl Street.

- The number is 223.
- Thank you. Thank you, very much.

Oh, Mr. McGarrett, wait.

I might as well
tell you everything.

The day that Stringer got
the photo of the car crash,

he got another picture too.

- Of Tony Alika?
- Yeah.

And another man.

Do you know who
the other man was?

Howard Kramer.

Thank you, Miss Wilson.
You were very helpful.

Come in.

Come on, come
on in. We're alone.

- So this is where you live.
- Yeah, but not for long.

- Is that the money?
- Yeah.

Put it down over here.

Open it.

Now, wait, wait.

The pictures, the
negatives, where are they?

That's easy.

The pictures

and the negative.

- I'm not in this alone.
- Shut up, punk.

What are you doing here?

- Those the pictures?
- Yeah.

All right.

Where's the rest of them?

That's all there are.

I don't think you heard me, kid.

Howard, I think it was
a mistake, our, uh...

Our trying to do
business together.

Yeah. Well, Tony, ahem,
I'm willing to forget it if you are.

Oh, I wish it was
that easy, Howard.

Unfortunately, this is the
kind of mistake that, uh,

somebody has to pay for.

No. No, wait. No. No.

Tony, please. Don't. Please.

Please, stop! Tony.
No. Please, don't!

Are you listening now, kid?

One more time.

Where are the other pictures, the
ones you've been holding out on me?

The pictures.

What's that on the floor?

That's everything.
I swear it is.

Okay, kid.

I believe you.

You gonna kill me now?

Well, I could do that.

But, uh, see, kid,
in my business,

it's not good to have too many
unexplained bodies laying around.

It attracts the
guys like McGarrett.

Besides, I need you.

I need you to take
the rap for Kramer.

Now, McGarrett may not buy
that, but the D.A.'s gonna have to.

I could go to the
police, you know,

and I could tell them
what really happened here.

That would be your word
against the three of us.

And it happened in your place

to a man you were
trying to blackmail.

You're my out, kid.

Now, that's worth
something to me.

250 grand.

That should make
you very hard to find.

You mean it?

I said it, didn't I?

You ever show your face on
this island again and you're dead.

No talk. No questions.

That's it. You understand?

Yes, sir.

I wish McGarrett could
be here to see this.

It would give me
a lot of pleasure.

Looks like Kramer
put up quite a fight.

Yeah. One thing for sure, Danno.

Stringer didn't kill Kramer.

I think Stringer was
blackmailing Kramer

with that picture
of him and Alika.

Kramer and Stringer
weren't the only ones here.

Yeah.

- Alika?
- Yeah.

Or some of his goons.

Let's make sure the lab boys
go over every inch of this place.

And put out an APB on Stringer.

- Duke's already doing that.
- Good.

I wanna hear his version
of what happened here.

Oh, one more thing, Danno.

Put a surveillance team
on his girlfriend's apartment.

He might be confused
enough to show up there.

Will do.

Stringer?

McGarrett came to the
hotel again looking for you.

Howard Kramer is dead.

Maren, I didn't kill him.

Well, what happened?

Some guys...

Some guys broke into the
apartment and threw him out a window.

Well, what were you
doing with Kramer?

We had some business.

Oh, Stringer!

Maren, you know how I
always talked about a big score?

I made it. Look at this.

I mean, no more
tips. Look at this.

Stringer, what are you
doing with that kind of money?

Never mind about the money.

Look, after it's dark, I gotta go back
to my place and get some pictures.

Heh, and after
that we got it made.

Pictures?

What pictures?

Pictures of Tony
Alika and his goons

throwing Kramer out the
window like a sack of potatoes.

What are you gonna do with them?

I need them for protection.
Don't you understand?

If Alika and his goons
come looking for me,

I gotta have something
I can hold over him.

If you have the pictures,
bring them to Mr. McGarrett.

He will help you.

No, there may not
be any pictures.

Look, the mirror was
broken. It was cracked.

The camera was ruined,
the film was ruined.

There may not be any
pictures. If there's no pictures,

McGarrett's the last
person I wanna see.

Pictures or no pictures,
you can't keep that money.

Maren...

Maren, this is for us.

I mean, this is our
dreams in a box.

We can... We can go anywhere,

we can do anything
we ever wanted to do.

I mean,

no more tips.

Aw, Stringer, you
are such a sweet guy.

But you have to know

that I couldn't have anything
to do with that kind of money.

I mean, you're a good
photographer and everyone knows it.

If you could just get a
real job and work at it,

then you'd have your
chance at everything you want.

It's not enough.

Looking for these?

Okay. Hold it.
Hold it right there.

- You told him.
- Yes, but it didn't matter.

He'd already found the film.

The film was my only
protection against Tony Alika.

There's only one thing that can
protect you now and that's the truth.

Well, unless I'm mistaken, you've
got the truth in your hands there.

I think that'll show that I
didn't kill Howard Kramer.

Yeah, but this is one time a
picture isn't worth a thousand words.

We're still gonna
need your testimony.

Well, what will happen
to Stringer then?

What happens to him
will be up to the D.A.

But he doesn't have to
worry about Alika. Believe me.

Whatever it is, I
guess I got it coming.

Yeah.

Okay, Kimo, take him
downtown. Book him.

Can I go with him?

McGARRETT: Yeah.

You don't deserve a friend
like her. You know that?

Yes, sir. I do now.

Okay, Danno, come on.

Let's pay Alika that visit I've been
waiting to make for a long, long time.

- Where's Alika?
- Right this way.

Well, McGarrett.

This is a pleasure.

Oh, the pleasure's all mine.

Isn't that considerate of him.

He saved us the trouble
of looking for the others.

Very thoughtful of him.

All right. Enough fencing,
gentlemen. What do you want?

Oh, I got what I want.

- Yeah? What's that?
- You, Alika, you.

You know, McGarrett,

you're beginning to
sound like a broken record.

Ever since you took
over from Pahoa,

I've been telling you that
your time would come.

Well, it's here.

Welcome to hard times, pal.

Ah, I see you've
read the headline.

Howard Kramer's fall is not
a mystery anymore, Alika.

Wait till you read
tomorrow's headline.

Well, I can see them right now.

Sherlock Holmes of Hawaii
solves another big one. Woo.

Hey, that's not bad.

It would make a great front
page with those pictures.

What photos?

These.

Where did you get these?

That little fellow, Stringer,

has a real talent for candid
shots, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, well, that's
not what it looks like.

We was just having a
little argument, that's all.

Oh, that's not
what Stringer says.

He's going to make a
devastating witness against you.

Aw, hey, hey, hey.

All right, gentlemen.
Come on in.

Book them, Danno.

- Let's go, Alika.
- Oh, no. Oh, no.

I want this one for myself.