Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980): Season 12, Episode 10 - The Kahuna - full transcript

Kimo and Truck are sent to a remote location to help a scientist who is investigating several mysterious deaths by inhalation. Before long, Truck also shows signs of illness which he attributes to unknowingly violating a native curse (actually, in a subplot, we learn that he had been exposed to plutonium on a previous assignment). The attractive doctor and Kimo hit it off, which makes both of them targets for the murderer, who is secretly harvesting coral from offshore and selling it.

Somebody drove up here, went
down there and cut that cable.

The burial must be delayed
until an autopsy can be performed.

It is forbidden.

Cross the Ho'opi'opi'o,

you fall under the
power of the kahuna.

McGARRETT: An evil kahuna?

That sounds like something
out of Captain Cook's voyages.

Twitch and I'll blow
your bloody head off.

Chief Kaana, you know
they can't be buried.

As public health officer, I must
order you to stop this interment.

Dr. Lynch, this island
is privately owned.



You don't have the authority
without an order from the state court.

Inoko was 18 years old.

Kio Mahana couldn't
have been more than 21.

They were in perfect
health on my last visit here,

and now, suddenly,
they're both dead?

You don't think that
justifies an autopsy?

Doc Cooper signed the death
certificates legal and proper.

He said they died from
shell dust poisoning.

Conch shell.

Dr. Cooper is the Trans~Allied
Shipping company doctor.

The man is 70 years old.

He could have missed
something in his examination.

The people in Lono Bay hold
you in high regard, Dr. Lynch.

I wouldn't wanna
see them lose it.



Then, chief, I order
you to stop this.

Excuse me.

May I please have
your attention?

I am very sorry to
interrupt your service.

Truly, I am,

but the burial must be delayed
until an autopsy can be performed.

The Health Department
must be sure

that there is no
communicable disease.

It is forbidden, kapu.

Kapu or not, this is
for your own safety.

Now you're gonna
have to leave the island.

Trans~Allied owns just about
everything in Lono Bay, don't they?

Even the police department.

I will get the authority for the autopsy,
if I have to go all the way to Honolulu.

McGARRETT: I want a clear
channel for the stakeout team,

so keep everything off
channel 6. Is that understood?

Yes, sir. I've got Carew
on channel 6 right now.

Very well. Plug him in, please.

I'm covering the back
entrance to the lab.

Henderson and Neff are
out in front and to the side.

Mr. Numura hasn't come out yet.

Okay, Kimo. Until the
killer makes his move,

I want protective surveillance
on a 24~hour basis.

Let me know the
minute anything happens.

You got it.

Doctor, I still don't understand
why you came to Five~0.

My own department won't help me,

and the state attorney's
office flatly refused

~ to grant an exhumation
petition. ~ Why?

Because there is no proof
that a crime was committed.

Mr. McGarrett, two young
kids died within 24 hours.

Somebody has to care
enough to help me find out why.

Steve?

Yeah, what is it, Kimo?

There's a lab employee
approaching Numura's limousine.

He's wearing some sort of
protective clothing. Maybe a flak vest.

He's trying to jimmy
open the front door.

He's got it.

~ Is he armed? ~ I
can't tell if he's armed.

He's searching
around the front seat.

Opening the back door.

Steve, he's got
something in his hand.

I think it might be a pipe bomb.

All right, move in, Kimo.

Warn Mr. Numura
and take the suspect,

but be careful.

Right.

Truck, get Numura clear.

Hold it. I've got a gun
pointed at Numura.

Now, both of you back off.

Give it up, mister. Police.

Go ahead and shoot, but
Numura gets it at the same time.

Don't do it.

I'll shoot.

Truck.

This was his gun, Kimo.

Well, he's out cold.

~ Hey, do me a favor
will you? ~ What?

Don't hit him again.

Yeah.

McGarrett, this is
Carew. Come in, please.

Yeah, go ahead, Kimo.
What have you got?

Numura is safe and sound, and
the suspect is sleeping peacefully.

As a matter of fact, I think he
might even have a slight concussion.

Caused by?

A 260~pound Hawaiian.

Yeah, I understand.

Okay, keep everyone
away from that limo.

I'm on my way.

~ Your man all right?
~ Excuse me, doctor,

I'll call you
tomorrow, very well?

No detonator, no timer.
It's an open canister.

McGARRETT: Can
you see what's inside?

It looks like a metal rod.

Numura said his lab had
been testing radioactive waste.

~ You think it's hot? ~ I
don't know, let's find out.

Gentlemen.

We've got to get that
damn thing covered.

McGARRETT: Easy.

McGARRETT: Yeah, that's better.

Kimo?

The suspect's
name is Frank Turley.

He's a radiation expert
here at the lab for 21 years.

~ He just got demoted
two months ago. ~ Huh.

So he appropriates a radioactive
rod and decides to get even, huh?

That's it.

Well, let's leave that one
up to the psychiatrists.

Tell the team it was
a job well done, Kimo.

Thank you.

Once the lead canister was opened,
the radiation would do its work silently.

Now, Turley planned
to remove the canister

when Numura died.

That way no one would
know how he was murdered.

Lucky we found it before I
had to chauffeur him home.

Yes.

I Have Mr. Bower on the line.

Dr. Lynch is still waiting.

Yes. I'll take the call, and ask
the doctor to come in Luana.

Good morning, Mr. Bower.

BOWER: Good morning.

McGARRETT: I appreciate
your calling back so quickly.

I have Dr. Lynch in my office
right now and our call is on speaker.

Mr. McGarrett, I'm afraid I
can't help your Dr. Lynch.

What do you mean? The
families won't go for it?

Last night, they had
the bodies disinterred

and reburied at sea.

~ After you requested an
autopsy? ~ Apparently so.

The night foreman saw the
canoes going out just before dawn.

Didn't he ask them
what they were doing?

It's been company policy
for over a hundred years

not to interfere with the
local customs or religion.

The deaths were
a tragic accident.

You can rest assured we'll take
steps to prevent its happening again.

Let me know, McGarrett, if I
can be of further assistance.

Yes, I will. Thank
you, Mr. Bower.

Thank you.

Uh, Dr. Karen Lynch, medical
officer for Lono Bay Island.

My colleagues, Kimo
Carew and Truck Kealoha.

~ Dr. Lynch. KAREN:
Nice to meet you.

~ Aloha. ~ Aloha.

He said further assistance.
What has he given us so far?

Well, there could be a strict
religious kapu against autopsy.

Yeah, maybe, but
a night burial at sea

is a pretty neat way
to cover up a murder.

Murder? That's pretty
heavy stuff, Kimo.

So, what do I do now? Just go
back to making my island rounds

as if nothing had happened?

Truck, I'll arrange with
your divisional commander

to hold you over for another
special assignment, okay?

Okay. As long as I don't have to
wear that chauffeur's uniform again.

No. It will be a
different cover this time.

Doctor, these two men will
fly back with you to Lono Bay.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

You guys got a
nice island over here.

I cannot believe it.

Whatever you guys
need, I got everything.

There. For your children.

For your children.

Just tell your wives the
discount man is here.

I've got radios,
watches, computers.

This Kane's got them all
for sale at discount prices.

And~~ And all the latest
fashions from the mainland.

Beautiful muumuus for the women.

And for each of you, a fine hat.

One,

two.

Pretty good. Not bad. Listen,
you got a beautiful island here.

No condominiums, no
smoky buses. Wanna trade?

Let's~~ Come on, let's go.

Let's try the emporium.
- Uh~huh.

It's Lono Bay's
finest general store.

They've got everything,
even a barbershop.

Hi, Mr. Lamb.

Doc Lynch. Didn't expect
to see you back so soon.

Anything I can do for you, mate?

Oh. Mr. Lamb,
this is Kimo Carew.

A friend of yours?

Welcome to Lono Bay, Mr. Carew.

He's a Five~0 officer.

Welcome still goes, cobber.

Well, gee, thanks a lot.

I'm looking for Chief Kaana.

Saw him earlier today
going up toward the gravel pit.

Uh, since you're Five~0,

I figure you're here about
young Inoko and the Mahana boy?

That's right. Did
you know them well?

Came in my store every day.

Ever since I was washed
up on this bloody island.

Hmm. It's kind
of strange, isn't it,

that somebody would go
out and pick up their bodies

in the middle of the night
and then bury them out to sea?

Not really.

The families didn't like the
idea of an autopsy, you know.

Uh, no offense, doc,

but it wouldn't have brought
their children back, would it?

Nice shells.

You wouldn't think they
could kill a body, would you?

Conch is dangerous when
it's being polished and cut.

The dust, you know.

Half a moment. Back in a minute.

The children did
not die of the shells.

They violated an ancient kapu.

So, what really
caused their death?

It was the power of the kapu.

You believe that?

I don't know.

I mean, I don't not believe it.

It takes a fine figure of a woman
to wear a necklace like that.

I bet you sweet~talk
all the wahines.

Only the pretty ones.

- Ha, ha.
- Oh, aloha, sir.

I was just admiring
your wife's necklace.

I've never seen better.

Swim out to the far
rocks to get them.

If I were to try, which beach
would you recommend?

All are good beaches here.

Except Ilima Beach. I bet.

Many sharks?

No one fishes.

No one dives there. Kapu.

Eh. I got no time for
swimming anyway.

And if I did, I wouldn't
go near that beach.

Maybe you buy from me next time?

Sure.

~ Aloha. ~ Aloha.

Aloha.

Ilima Beach is kapu.

Cross the Ho'opi'opi'o,

you fall under the
power of the kahuna.

I've heard the kahuna only has
powers over those who believe

~ in his witchcraft. ~
You are of our blood.

Uh~huh.

This Hawaiian
respects the old legends,

but he doesn't have
to believe in them.

Things learned in childhood
are not to be forgotten.

Ancient legends
cannot be ignored.

No way, man.

No way.

~ Doc. MAN: Oh!

Hey.

- ~ Ha~ha~ha. Hello there.
- Good to see you.

Good to see you too.

Dr. Cooper, this is Kimo
Carew of Hawaii Five~0.

Hello, doc. ~ How are you?

Good to see you.

Uh, doc, in your opinion,

could you tell me
what killed those kids?

Well, the boy and girl had
symptoms of acute toxemia.

- ~ Poison, huh.
- Lung poisoning.

Caused by the inhalation
of conch shell dust.

Can't make it any plainer.

Can you really be sure
without a postmortem, doctor?

Young lady, in over 40
years of medicine practice,

I've seen all
kinds of poisoning,

every kind that could
afflict the human body.

Were you there
when they died, doc?

No.

If I had been there, things
might have been different.

Then again, maybe not.

Thanks, doc.

~ Take care of
yourself, now. ~ You too.

~ Okay. COOPER: Ha~ha~ha.

Hey, doc, Willy
Nuna needs you bad.

What's the matter with him?

I think it's conch
shell poisoning.

He's dead, just like the others.

No. No, not just like the others.
He's gonna have an autopsy.

In less than an hour, we'll have
a helicopter take him to Honolulu.

How's it? TRUCK:
How's it, how's it?

~ How you guys? ~ Okay, okay.

Good, good. ~ How about you?

Okay, not bad.

Hey, bruddah, when
did I ask you for a trim?

You didn't say no, bro,
no. You owe me $3.

~ You know what I
mean? ~ Three dollars.

~ Three dollars? ALL: Ha~ha~ha.

~ Well, I will say one
thing. ~ What's that?

You have the handsomest
women and the brightest children

- ~ right here in Lono Bay.
- You're right, you're right.

Must be the further you
get away from big cities,

the happier and
healthier you get.

You're right again.

~ I hear you have something
else here. ~ What's that?

Pretty strong kapus, huh?

Hey, hey.

~ Which reminds
me. ~ What's that?

I have this cousin who could
never get used to the mainland ways.

He's twice as big as me

and thought he had
a way with the ladies.

So one night, he walks
into this Frisco bar, see,

and this big kanaka and~~

Hey. What's the matter?

You okay, huh?

Hey, what's the matter? Hey.

What's the matter with this guy?

Any word on the autopsy?

Mm. Tomorrow.

What's the matter with you?

Uh, nothing. I just
twisted my ankle.

Well, Karen makes house calls.

Ha, ha. Oh.

Look, I've got a list of
possible suspects here.

After you eat, guys.

~ Dig in, brother. ~
I'm not hungry, Karen.

You gotta be kidding.

He eats more than the
whole H.P.D. put together.

Let's see your suspects.

I like your suspects.

He's got half the town here,
including the police chief.

And what have
you got, big fella?

One name: Paul Kualu.

The kahuna?

Well, don't you have Dracula
and Frankenstein down there?

Sorry, bro.

There are good kahunas
and evil kahunas,

and this one is an evil one.

He's gonna blow my
cover any time now.

He laid a big
kahuna curse on me.

Truck, you are not eating
my blue~plate special.

I'm really not hungry, Karen.

Gods of the Hawaiian universe.

Ku of the great night,

Ku of the long night,

let him see the hoaka

with eyes shut and head down.

Let him know the
wrath of the kahuna.

My pathology people stayed up
all night on this Lono Bay case.

Now, why the big rush?

Last night, you found
an unidentified drug

in that boy's bloodstream.

Now, what actually killed
him is the big rush, doc.

A strong sedative.

Not the kind you
buy in the drugstore.

A root herb called
'awa by the locals.

But that's the good news.

What he really died from is
the toxic shell dust in his lungs.

Hmm. So we're back to
where we started from.

Not exactly.

The unusually heavy
amount of dust suggests

that it might have been
deliberately inhaled.

Deliberately inhaled?

Strange way to
commit suicide, isn't it?

One other thing, Steve,

we found bruises on the
interior walls of the trachea.

Doc,

what if someone gave that boy
a drink spiked with this 'awa root

and then, after he passed out,
forced a tube down his throat,

then injected that poisonous
shell dust directly into his lungs?

That would certainly explain
the bruises on the throat.

And a new way to
commit murder, huh?

Three premeditated murders,

and we're not even
close to having a motive,

except for that mumbo
jumbo about some evil kahuna.

There's still a state law on the books
that calls for a fine and a year in jail

for anybody that even
pretends to have the power

to condemn a person to death.

By spells or otherwise.

- ~ How does that feel?
- Much better, doc.

Send your bill to Five~0, okay?

You know, it seems odd,
that couple on Ilima Beach.

Three young people died
because they disregarded him.

Cursed to death,
according to the kahuna.

You mean maybe somebody
is doing something on the beach

~ under the cover of that
kapu? ~ Somebody might.

Well, didn't you check it out?

Well, yeah, at high tide.

If anything's there,
maybe it's underwater.

Low tide should be
in about two hours.

Karen, do you think they have any
snorkeling equipment at the store?

The emporium has everything.

Mm, good. I think it's time I spent
some money down there with Mr. Lamb.

~ I'm not a bad diver
myself. ~ I'll get two outfits.

What's that?

I don't know.

What are you doing?

That whole thing has gotta
be underwater most of the time.

What do you think it is?

I don't know. There's
one way to find out.

The water doesn't
look too rough.

~ I'll go down and
take a look. ~ Right.

What did you see?

Fish.

And then there's some
kind of cage down there.

The other end of that cable

is holding it up on the edge of the
reef. I'm gonna take another look.

The cage is gone.

It slipped over the
edge of the reef.

Careful.

There's something
in that cage out there,

but I really couldn't
see what it was.

We'll never know now.

What would anybody
wanna hide down there?

And why all of a sudden
does it just let go?

An accident?

These are accidental
footprints here?

Well, they weren't here
before, that's for sure.

They go right up there.

Karen, it's no accident either.

Somebody drove up
here, then went down there

and cut that cable.

These tracks look like they
came from an off~road vehicle.

You know, we can
make a plaster cast.

Yeah. If we had the plaster.

I know someone who
makes plaster casts.

~ Doc Cooper? ~ That's right.

Let's go.

You no longer live
in my house. You go.

Take your goods and go.

What's the matter?

You kapu, go.

You get the plaster, I'm
gonna give Steve a call.

Right.

Operator.

Hey, operator, this is
Carew, Hawaii Five~0.

Will you patch me in to
Steve McGarrett, please?

One moment.

You can go ahead now.

Hello, Steve.

Yeah, Kimo, what have you got?

Well, it's a big
cage of some kind.

I didn't really get a good look at
it because it was down too deep.

But I thought maybe you'd wanna talk
to your friend Addison Bower about it.

I tried to reach him earlier.

Let me know when you and Truck
get a cast of that tire tread will you?

Well, Truck's not
feeling so good,

so Karen is gonna give
me a hand with that mold.

What's wrong with Truck?

Well, it's a long story.

You see, an evil kahuna
put a curse on him.

An evil kahuna?

That sounds like something
out of Captain Cook's voyages.

Well, it's a little 18th
century around here, Steve.

Okay, Kimo, I'm
coming over by chopper.

~ I'll be there in a couple
of hours. ~ Good enough.

Look, anyway, Steve, all we
have to do is match those tire treads

to one four~wheeler here.

Right, Kimo.

Listen, you, I
haven't much time.

The kahuna.

Where does he live?!

I gotta find out...

I gotta find out what
killed those young people.

No, you don't.

You're not going anywhere until I
know how those young people died.

No, you don't. No, you don't.

Come back here!

You hear me? Come back here!

Oh, there you are.

You kapu, you leave Lono Bay.

No way, man.

You leave now.

Well, it looks like the
rain washed this out.

It was a good idea for a while.

Where is everybody?

Truck!

Truck.

Hey, bro, what happened?

My arms.

I couldn't move my arms.

Come on, squeeze my hand.

~ Squeeze it, Truck,
come on. ~ No feeling.

~ Come on. ~ No
feeling in my arms.

What is it, bro?

Truck.

I do believe.

I believe.

I do.

~ How is Truck? KIMO: Not good.

I have him in my room on IV,

but I can't find any specific infection
or any real cause for his condition.

I wanna see him, doc.

Now what about
the tire tracks, Kimo?

They're gone. The rain
washed them out, Steve.

We got there too late.

He really needs the rest.

Mr. McGarrett, Truck really
believes in the kahuna's curse.

You're saying that his
sickness is self~induced?

Psychosomatic?

Well, we'll know more when I
get the blood samples analyzed.

He just doesn't seem
to be able to resist.

He's not even
putting up a fight.

That would be the first time that big
Hawaiian didn't come out swinging.

The intravenous feeding
isn't helping, huh, doctor?

It's not enough.

Okay, I'm gonna call the Coast
Guard and ask for a helicopter.

Kimo, did anyone
actually see you

when you went back to
make a cast of the tire track?

Just Karen.

Then he couldn't be sure
that you didn't make a cast

before the tracks
were washed away?

Mm~mm.

Who couldn't be sure?

The murderer.

What if you showed
the town a phony tire cast

and let it be known that
we actually got it from a track

made by the killer's vehicle?

And then spread it
all over the island?

Yeah. We could hit every owner
and operator of a four~wheel drive

and see who cracks.

Good. I'll make the cast.

Good. Don't let anyone see you.

Sure.

Hey, chief, uh, do
me a favor, will you?

~ What? ~ Well, I'd
like you to round up

all the jeeps on the island.

Round up all the jeeps on the
island? What for, Carew? Why?

Well, you see, we're
gonna have this little contest.

And when I can find a set of tires
that match up to my plaster mold,

we'll have a winner.

And maybe we'll also find out
who killed those two young people.

Chief, look, don't forget
to bring your jeep, huh?

It wouldn't be a fair
contest if you didn't.

Thank you.

Truck?

Truck, can you hear me?

You've got to forget
all about that curse.

Your partner needs you.

My partner?

Kimo.

Kimo needs your help.

I won't let him down.

Come in.

Dr. Lynch.

Just had a few extra
IVs laying around,

and I thought you
could use them.

I sure can.

I'm down to my last glucose.

Make a diagnosis yet?

It will be hours before I can
get a blood sample to a hospital.

Oh, I have all the necessary
equipment in my office.

It's old, but it works.

You can have the
results in 30 minutes.

That would be wonderful,
doctor. I'll get the blood samples.

~ Heh. Don't you have a
car? ~ No. My legs still work.

Anyway, in an emergency,

I can always use
Mr. Lamb's jeep or the chief's.

~ Mr. Lamb has a
jeep? ~ Oh, sure.

He keeps it in the warehouse,
next to the store there.

Look, doc, you take the
blood samples, okay?

You start the tests and
I'll be back in a little while.

Mr. Lamb?

~ Doc. ~ Oh, hey.

You gave me quite
a start, you did.

Oh. Sorry.

Uh, we're across the street, just
inspecting four~wheel~drive tires.

Inspecting tires?

Just took mine
off. A little worn.

Uh, what's it all about, then?

Oh, you know, police problems.

You wouldn't mind taking that
tire across the street, would you?

So Kimo could
check it off his list.

Anything for a lovely lady.

What's this police business?

You know, Mr. Lamb,

I'm not so sure whether
you were putting that tire on

or you were taking it off.

So?

I have a feeling that
you were putting it on.

Right.

Right. Fair dinkum.
Right as rain.

Hold it.

Get in the car.

We're going for a
little drive. Get in.

Come on.

Get in.

In the car. In.

All this trouble because I thought
the rain would take care of the tracks.

I found a bed of angel
skin coral off Ilima Beach.

Do you know what
angel skin coral is?

Some of the most
precious coral in the world.

There's a bed of it worth
a million dollars out there.

Is that why you killed the kids?

They discovered your secret?

What else could I do?

This modern generation,

they wouldn't respect
the kahuna's kapu.

They wouldn't stay away.
What else could I do?!

So he's in it with you?

Who? Kahuna?

Kahuna?

No.

No. I was lucky there.

He put the kapu on
before I found the coral.

I see.

Technically, the coral
belongs to Trans~Allied.

They're rich enough.

They own everything.

The bloody emporium.

I've put in 25 years
behind that counter.

They don't understand.

They don't care. They
don't~~ They don't care.

Do you know why
they call it angel skin?

Its color is so much like
the color of the skin of a

beautiful woman.

Soft,

gentle,

fragile.

Oh, what a bloody waste.

Twitch and I'll blow
your bloody head off.

You sit still.

You and me, we're gonna
take a little ride together.

Don't try a thing.

Smile!

Nice. Nice.

Nice.

That man's got Karen.

McGARRETT: I'll
follow, go ahead.

No.

No. Let me go.

Hold it.

You two all right?

Fine. Just a little shaky.

~ Nothing I won't get
over, Steve. ~ Good.

He laid it all out for
me, Mr. McGarrett.

He gathered and stored
his own coral out there.

And killed whoever
found out about it, huh?

That's right.

Okay, Kimo, book
him. Murder one.

Three counts.

McGARRETT: A bed of
precious coral off Ilima Beach

is too deep to harvest alone.

Now, we found out
Lamb had two partners

with a small underwater
salvage business.

They had devised a method
of dragging weighted nets

along the ocean floor
to dredge up the coral.

Then the coral was stored

in that large cage
Kimo saw underwater.

Stored until Lamb
could find a buyer.

And you still think it
was that radioactive rod

that made me so
sick, right, Steve?

Did you read the transcript
of Turley's arraignment?

You see, Truck, when that nut
was kneeling down beside the limo,

he was actually taking the
canister out from under the front seat

to put it under the backseat.

You mean he previously
expected Numura to be driving

and not me?

Right. Until Turley found
out you were driving,

you were sitting on
a radioactive hot seat,

low level, and maybe not long
enough for any lasting effects,

but it made you sick enough

to start you thinking the curse
of the kahuna was working.

You mean it was all in my head?

It was in your head,

but that didn't stop the
pain from being real, did it?

It sure didn't. But
you know, you guys,

kahunas have been around a
lot longer than radioactive rods.

Come on, let's get out of
here before we get kahuna'd.