Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980): Season 11, Episode 20 - The Skyline Killer - full transcript

A serial killer brazenly tries to sell the rights to his story to a greedy book publisher, and then targets the publisher's daughter as his next victim after being turned down. The killer ...

Well, I'm not the only
writer on this investigation.

No, but you're the only one
who pulled a stunt like that.

How many more young women
will die before we find this maniac?

- Hello.
- You wanted proof?

Go to the Bluett Towers.

I warned you.

You inflated this maniac's ego.

You started him dreaming
of making millions.

See how the guys on the
roof are doing now, huh?

- What have we got, Danno?
- Another one, Steve.

- Same as the others?
- Looks that way.



- Who's the victim?
- Erin Black, 27, airline stewardess.

- That makes three stewardesses.
- Yeah.

Two models, three entertainers.

Came in through
the balcony again?

The only entrance
is the front door.

It was dead bolted and
chain locked from the inside.

Yeah. Fits the
pattern exactly, Danno.

Down to the red carnations.

- Any luck with the florist this time?
- Said it was a man.

That's all the
florist remembered.

He popped a name. Uh, we
checked it out. It was a phony.

- And the roof?
- Lab boys are up there,

but it's not promising.

We gotta get a break, Danno.
This is victim number eight. Eight!



We'll get him.

How many guys can there be who
know how to climb up and down buildings?

- It's just a matter of time.
- Time, my God. Time.

How many more young women
will die before we find this maniac?

- Everybody's doing their best, Steve.
- I know, Danno. I know.

This thing is getting to me.

There's a monster
loose out there,

and so far, I haven't been
able to do anything about it.

We'll get him.

Steve, you've got to see this.
Today's paper in the classifieds.

"Skyline killer. Your
story is worth millions"

"Write to P.O. Box 10275."

My God. That's the most
despicable thing I ever heard of.

Duke, get down to the paper
and find out who placed this ad.

Danno, call the post
office department.

We're gonna have a little
surprise for this character

- when he comes to pick up his mail.
- Right.

Are you the holder of Box 10275?

- Why do you want to know?
- Five-0. State Police.

I'm not impressed.
What do you want?

Some conversation, downtown.

Okay.

McGARRETT: Okay, Mr. Klane.

We finally located you, huh?

Now, what is this all about?

News, Mr. McGarrett.

Your Skyline Killer is
news all over the world.

And I'm not the only
writer on this investigation.

No, but you're the only one
who pulled a stunt like that.

He may not answer.

But if he does,

how are you gonna sort
him out from the crazies,

I guarantee you,
will answer that ad?

My reporter's
instinct never fails me.

Yeah? Well, I think it
failed you on this case.

I am well aware of your reputation
and your penchant for theatrics.

But I will not have you
turning this investigation

into some kind of freak show.

Even in a beautiful
place like Hawaii,

cops are stamped
from the same mold.

Mr. McGarrett, have you ever
heard of the first amendment

to the Constitution?

The one that guarantees
the freedom of the press?

And did you ever hear of
obstruction of justice, Mr. Klane?

Many times and in many states.

The Skyline Killer is news and I
intend to do everything, legally,

within my power
to get his story.

Okay, since we're discussing legalities,
you understand that you are obligated,

by law, to provide me
with every piece of evidence

which might be
pertinent to this case.

I think we may have a
difference of opinions

as to what my obligations
under the law are.

Very well, then let me,
uh, clarify them for you.

Any contact, and I
repeat, any contact,

by letter, phone or in person, that
you may have with this monster,

I want to know
about it immediately.

Now, is that clear?

I can't do that, McGarrett.

Any conversation between myself
and any potential news source

is confidential until I
decide how important it is.

- Until you decide?
- Don't worry.

Anything I can tell you, I will.

I'm just as anxious as you
are to get this nut off the streets.

Then why do I get
the distinct impression

that we're working
at cross purposes?

Because you're
accustomed to being the law,

and not having
to work within it.

You're walking a tightrope,
Mr. Klane. Be careful.

Because if you fall
off on the wrong side,

I'll be waiting to catch you.

I wouldn't have
it any other way.

Well, maybe we'll
change your mind.

I'm gonna keep these letters.

Now, technically you can't.

They were acquired through
an illegal search of my person.

But I would have given
them to you anyway.

Okay. Thank you very much.
I'll see that you get copies.

That's the least I could do.
That's all for now, Mr. Klane.

See you around.

That was quite a skirmish.

What's wrong?

Oh, Klane is what's wrong.

Who is that guy, anyway?

Oh, he's a...

One of a growing number of
so-called investigative reporters

who value their bank accounts
above their consciences.

Instead of doing a responsible
job and reporting the facts,

they exploit tragedy
purely to make a profit.

Now, in a case like this, Mr. Klane
is planning to make murder profitable

for the murderer.

Wasn't his book, uh,
Judgment on America,

- a best-seller?
- It was indeed. Did you read it?

- No.
- Well, I did.

It's a perfect example
of what I mean.

The case history of a convicted killer
who blamed society for all his crimes.

And went to the gas
chamber a rich man.

Yeah. Finally, after using all the money
for high priced lawyers and appeals.

He stalled justice in
California for years.

Now, Klane is trying to
get the Skyline Killer's story

before he's caught so that he
can write another best-seller.

Take these, uh, six
answers to Klane's ad.

Get all the help you
need and check them out.

Have H.P.D. put around-the-clock
surveillance on that post-office box.

Right, Steve.

Should we try to get a court
order for a tap on his phone?

I don't think we have
enough evidence, Danno.

So we just continue our
original line of investigation?

Yeah, I think so, Danno.

This maniac has got to be someone
with the instincts of a mountain goat.

Could be a circus performer,

a mountain climber,

or a, tsk, high-rise
construction worker.

- This town is full of high-rise projects.
- Yeah, I know, Danno.

How well I know.

Room 440.

Thank you.

- Hello?
- You put the ad in the paper?

- Yes, I...
- There's a phone booth

in front of the hotel.

Be there in one minute.

It's me.

- Who are you?
- Norman Klane.

I'm a writer. You
might have heard of me.

Uh, Judgment On America?

How do I know you're
really Klane and not a cop?

My picture's been in
the paper plenty of times.

You can check
me out. You'll see.

My story is worth millions?

- How?
- An exclusive interview with a tabloid,

a book I'm planning, a
movie sale. We'll split fifty-fifty.

- What about the cops?
- You're a news source.

They can't compel me
to reveal your identity.

Now, I want to ask
you a few questions.

Not now. I want
to think about this.

- I'll be in touch.
- Wait a minute.

I'm sorry, Steve, but Klane
must be a student of the law,

at least where it
applies to the press.

You mean there's no way
to force him to cooperate?

On occasion, it's been possible to
compel a reporter to reveal sources

and privileged
information to a Grand Jury.

But there's no justification
for that in this instance.

No justification? What do you
mean, Ben, "no justification"?

That maniac he's trying to
interview murdered eight women.

No one realizes that
more than I, Steve.

But if there was some legal way
to make Klane talk, he'd fight it.

You'd be lucky to get him
on a stand in two years.

And obviously, we don't have
that kind of time, huh, Ben?

Okay. Thanks, anyway.
Appreciate you coming over.

- Sorry I couldn't do more.
- Well, you can do more.

Go through the law books
and find me a precedent

to get this reporter into court.

- You're a persistent man, Steve.
- Sure am.

Danno,

I hope you've got
some good news for me.

Wish I did.

Duke checked those six letters,
they're all from ding-dongs.

Danno, this is
one of the most...

One of the most frustrating
cases that I've ever had.

It's like... It's like trying
to catch a shadow.

Well, the guy's a crazy, Steve.

No way to predict his moves.

We can't just sit around and
wait for him to get a parking ticket,

the way they caught
the Son of Sam.

No, no, Danno.

No, it's up to us to

- make something happen here.
- Like what?

Yes, Luana?

Mr. Norman Klane
is here to see you.

Mr. Klane? Send him in.

Yes, Mr. Klane, what
can we do for you?

It's what I can do for
you. These came today.

And since they could be
important evidence with fingerprints,

- you brought them right over. Correct?
- Correct.

After you opened them and ruined
any possibility of detection, huh?

Boy, that was smart.

Mr. McGarrett, I'd like to apologize for
not being more cooperative yesterday.

I was a little out of
line and I'm sorry.

McGARRETT:
Well, that's a switch.

But, there's no reason why we both
can't get what we want out of this.

Oh? What did you
have in mind, Mr. Klane?

As long as I continue to bring
over whatever's in my box,

uh, I can count on you to
share your information with me.

My information?

What information are you
referring to specifically?

Well, as I was reading these letters,
I realized there was a big problem.

See, if this guy
does contact me,

how do I know for
sure that it's really him?

Yes? Get to the point, will you?

All right. Now, in these cases,

the police usually withhold
some bit of information,

which only the real
killer knows about.

It sort of screens out the kooks
and the compulsive confessors,

- doesn't it?
- Yes. That's true in many cases.

Well, what's the
secret clue in this case?

Get this guy, will you?
You know, you amaze me.

Now, if I told you, it wouldn't be a
secret very long, would it, Mr. Klane?

I guess I deserve that.

Keep the letters
coming. Unopened.

Boy, how's that for
a change in attitude.

What would you say?
About, uh, 180 degrees?

You know, Danno, the more
I think about that Klane guy,

the more I realize he may
be the break we're looking for.

That ad of his reeks of the
worst kind of irresponsible,

commercial exploitation.

But frankly,

it just might appeal
to a deranged mind.

- Hello?
- Daddy?

- Mary Ellen?
- I got your message.

- What are you doing in Honolulu?
- Ha, ha.

Well, I'm on a story, what else?

Can you take a break and have
dinner with your only daughter?

Oh, honey, I can't. Not now. I'm
waiting for an important phone call.

If it's that important,
they'll call back.

But I've been waiting
a very long time.

Daddy, I haven't
seen you in months.

Well, it is pretty late for
him to call again tonight.

There's a great place called Sally's.
It's on Kuhio. Right by King's Alley.

All right, I'll find it.

- Fifteen minutes? Bye.
- You talked me into it.

- You look great. How have you been?
- Not bad. Good, in fact.

And how's the new
apartment working out?

Great. It's only 20
minutes from the office

and I have this spectacular
view of the coast.

Sounds expensive. Have you
found a new roommate yet?

Well, one of the girls from the office
is gonna move in with me next month.

- Then you're sure everything's okay?
- Daddy, I'm 23 years old.

- Remember?
- Just barely.

But when I was 23,
girls were a lot different.

Hmm, hmm.

Hello?

Norman Klane?

Norman Klane, the writer?

Is he here?

Hang on, I'll go see.

Excuse me. Are you Norman Klane?

You got me.

There's a phone call for you.

- Come on, I'll show you.
- Okay. Thank you.

I'll be right back.

- Hello?
- Klane?

Yes, this is Klane. Who is this?

Guess.

- How did you know where to...
- Shut up and listen.

There's a high-rise under
construction at Kolakava and Marine.

Meet me there.

You mean now?

Mary Ellen,

I'm sorry, but something
very important has come up.

Oh, Daddy.

I'll make it up to you.

We'll have dinner
tomorrow night. I promise.

Klane?

Where are you? MAN: Over here.

Stay where you are.

I like to see who I'm talking to.
- Later. If things go right.

If I agree to let you tell my
story, it has to be the truth.

I don't want you
changing what I tell you.

Nope.

Don't worry. Your point
of view is what I want.

The world wants to
hear how you think.

They wanna know
why you're doing this.

I'm doing it because
it must be done.

Those tramps, exposing
themselves at their windows,

wearing those clothes that show.

Someone has to do it.

Don't worry, I'll tell it just
the way you give it to me.

You'd better.

Hey, I hear you loud and clear.

It's your story, and
you'll get all the credit.

It's the first time anything
like this has been done before.

Don't waste your time
trying to appeal to my ego.

I'm not a fool.

I'm not implying that you are,
but we have a little problem here.

How do I know you're
really who you say you are?

I mean, you have to admit
I'm pretty wide open for a rip-off.

We're talking about
a lot of money now,

which nobody is
going to give me,

unless I can prove you
are who you say you are.

All right, you want proof.

I'll give it to you.

Yeah? What kind of proof?

- Hello?
- You wanted proof?

Go to the Bluett Towers.

Apartment 2102.

Wait!

I shouldn't be doing this.

If you wanna do it the hard
way, we can always call the cops.

Let's hope that
won't be necessary.

I already tried that.

- Ms. Howard?
- Bedroom?

See. She's not even here.

Oh, she's here.

If you had called me before
you went to meet him last night,

that poor girl
might still be alive.

How could I know
for sure it was him?

Oh, stop trying to
excuse yourself, Klane.

That girl's death is
on your conscience.

He was probably
planning to kill her anyway.

Yeah, well, making
decisions is not your job.

I warned you.

You inflated this maniac's ego.

You started him dreaming
of making millions.

Now, he's killed again just to
show you that he's capable of it.

I thought I could get his story
and talk him into giving himself up.

Oh, boy. You really are
something, aren't you?

If I could bring her back, I would.
What do you want me to do?

When this is over, I want you to
be tried for obstruction of justice,

and anything else
you may be guilty of.

But in the meantime, I
expect your total cooperation.

There's still a killer to stop.

- How can I help?
- Go back to your hotel

and wait for him,

wait for him to
contact you again.

Arrange another
meeting with him.

I don't think he'll go for it.

Well, make him go
for it! Dangle a carrot.

Use some of your famous
powers of persuasion.

Tell him you must
meet him face to face.

Where do you want
the rendezvous?

Where ever we can get to
him. We've got to take him.

You understand that?

I'll try.

Klane, you better do more
than try. You better succeed.

Thanks for the information.

- Mr. Klane decide to cooperate?
- That's what he says, Danno.

- You believe him?
- Not for a second.

Tell Duke I want a
24-hour tail on Klane.

And, uh, take another
run at Judge King.

Tell him what
happened here tonight.

See if he'll change his mind
about that tap on Klane's phone.

Right.

- Sally. SALLY:
Over here, Steve.

Ah.

Ah, rice, eggs, Portuguese sausage,
that's a National dish here, isn't it?

Well, it's the best. Like some?

No, thank you. I've
been up since 4, Sally.

The Skyline Killer's a
real tough one, huh?

Maybe the toughest yet.

Sally, Klane told me you
called him to the phone

when he was in here with
his daughter. Is that correct?

Mm-hm. What about it?

Did you know that call
came from the Skyline Killer?

- Really?
- No doubt about it.

So any detail you can remember
about that call is important.

For instance, what
about background noises?

Could you hear anything like
music or construction sounds?

The sounds of the
surf or traffic noises?

Mm-mm.

What about his voice?

It was ordinary.

By ordinary, what do you mean?

Well, same thing
like yours, you know.

- You mean he had no local accent.
- Uh-uh.

Then he was probably a hoale,

- Caucasian, from the mainland, right?
- Probably.

Sally, you see, you
did know something.

Not much.

Well, on the contrary,
it could mean a lot.

We've been checking the
high-rise construction workers.

Now, thanks to you,

we can concentrate
on a smaller group.

That looks good.

- Sure you don't want some?
- Ha, ha.

I gotta beat it. Keep
in touch, will you?

Hello? MAN: Satisfied?

Well, I... MAN: Shut up.

There's a pay phone by the
towel shack. You got one minute.

No, it's for me.

I'm here.

Now that you have proof,
when do I get the money?

It doesn't work that way.
I've gotta write something.

A sample, at least.

How long will that take?

How can we get together?

Get together?

Sure. We can't talk
about this on the phone.

Why not? KLANE Why not?

If I'm gonna tell your story, properly,
I'm gonna have to get to know you,

and I sure as hell can't
do that on a telephone.

Now listen, if I try to sell something,
and it sounds like I made it up,

they're gonna throw
me out of the office.

Okay. We'll meet at the
bar where you met the girl.

Sally's?

Oh, I was hoping for
something a little more private.

Yeah, I know you were,
but I like it this way.

Okay.

There's a happy
hour between 5 and 7.

Be there at 5. Take
a seat at the bar.

How will I know you?

I'll say I'm a friend
of Mary Ellen's.

How did you know her name?

I'm going inside. Call the office
and tell them where we are.

Hi. What'll you have?

Uh, Scotch on the rocks. And
you'd better make it a double.

You're Norman Klane, aren't you?

Yes.

Well, I read Judgment On
America and it was terrific.

I just wanted to
shake your hand.

Oh, thank you very much.
That's very kind of you.

If you don't mind, I'm
expecting somebody.

Oh, that's okay. I just
wanted to shake your hand.

Norman Klane?

Yes, I'm Klane.

I know Mary Ellen.

McGARRETT: Police! MAN: Hey!

- What are you...?
- Come on.

Okay. Is this the one?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Come on, Klane. Is
this the killer or isn't he?

Hey, man! It ain't me!

All right, Klane. How about it?

No more lies. The
charges are piling up.

- He knew the code.
- What code?

He was supposed to say
he's a friend of Mary Ellen's.

- She's my daughter. MAN:
I don't know any Mary Ellen.

Yeah? Then why did you
say you were a friend of hers?

Some guy gave me
50 bucks to say it.

McGARRETT: Who
gave you 50 bucks?

I don't know. Some guy outside.

Okay. Take him away. Book him.

Well, he outsmarted us.

I just got too anxious.

Any luck?

Keep at it.

Steve, his story checks out.

He's got an ironclad alibi for the
time of at least three of the murders.

I'd go back to my hotel,

but I don't think there's any
chance of his calling me again.

If you had handled this
properly in the first place,

we wouldn't have
needed another chance.

McGarrett.

Mr. McGarrett.

There's a call for
Mr. Klane on line five.

He says he's the Skyline Killer.

It's him. Take it there.

Danno, try to get a trace.

One, two, go!

- It's Klane.
- You tried to set me up.

No. I didn't know they
were going to be there.

Don't give me that, you Judas
goat. I saw you with them.

They made me
go. I'm under arrest.

You ruined everything.
I wanted my story told.

Well, we can still do that.

Why don't you just
give yourself up?

There'll be plenty of time
to tell your side of things.

- You think I'm stupid?
- Of course not.

- But I do think you need help.
- You mean a nuthouse?

Never. Never
again. I'm not crazy.

I didn't say you were. Why don't
you just relax so we can talk?

You mean, so you can
trace this call. No way.

I just called to
tell you one thing.

Because of you,
someone's gonna die tonight.

Now, just...

McGARRETT: Danno?
- Not enough time, Steve.

What are you gonna do? You
can't cover every high-rise in the city.

Yeah, with a little luck,
we may not have to.

We may not know
where he's gonna strike,

but we know when. Tonight.

He just said so himself.

- What about, uh, helicopters?
- No, no.

Too visible. He'd just
wait for another night.

What about putting
a warning on T.V.?

That really could cause a panic.

Frightened women are
already reporting every shadow.

No, no, no.

Now, we're gonna
play our ace in the hole.

Which is?

The killer sent a dozen red carnations
to each of his victims. Remember?

Now, those posies
could be his undoing.

Danno, call H.P.D.

Ask them to check every
flower shop in this city.

I want a list of orders for
red carnations placed today,

- for delivery today.
- Right on it.

Do you mind if I
see this through?

Why?

So you can get your story?

So I can try to get this
girl off my conscience.

Well, that's gonna
take some doing, pal.

Please.

I'd like to help.

I'm sure I'd recognize
his voice again.

When we catch him,
you'll get your chance.

- Hi, Jimmy.
- These just arrived for you.

- What? Another secret admirer?
- It must be tough being so popular.

Not as tough as it would be if
they stopped coming. Thank you.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

Chief, I need all of
your off-duty men.

Yes, I realize that, but this
may be our one shot at the killer.

No. No.

There's no way we can
cover all the possible targets

with the manpower
we have available.

Good.

Good. Thank you, chief. I
appreciate your cooperation.

- Steve.
- Yeah, Danno?

This just came in. These
are the orders of shops

that deliver until midnight.

- There can't be too many, Danno.
- You'd be surprised.

My God. Look at this.

One dozen red carnations
to a Mary Ellen Klane.

- Klane's daughter.
- Yeah.

Can you think of a more
likely victim for his sick mind?

The order came from
a Maui flower shop.

For a psycho, he went to a lot
of trouble to throw us off the track.

Boy, he sure did.

Good work, Danno.

Hold it.

Hold it!

He's coming down
the inside stairs.

Move this arm away
from the building.

McGarrett, Hawaii
Five-0. Move it!

Put him down, right in
the middle of those officers.

Book him, Danno.

Book him.

Sure will, Steve.