Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980): Season 4, Episode 24 - R & R & R - full transcript
A disturbed ex-GI who was dishonorably discharged and then tried to re-enlist under a false name takes revenge by murdering military officer's wives who fly to Hawaii expecting to meet their husbands on R&R from Vietnam.
( upbeat surf theme playing)
Is there a Mrs. Syzmanski?
Is there a Mrs. Syzmanski?
Yes, that's me.
Your husband is Sergeant
August Syzmanski,
Second Battalion,
Ninth Infantry?
Yes. What's wrong?
Your husband has been delayed.
But he's all right, isn't he?
Just a couple of days
late, ma'am, that's all.
(gunfire)
They're turning us
every way but loose.
Right now I'm waiting for that
fat gnat to pull us out of here.
Lieutenant, I hear it.
There it is.
If you ain't doing
anything special, Augie,
I thought we might
get the hell out of here.
I'll drink to that.
Am I starting to burn yet?
No, you're getting a
nice, deep, Hawaiian tan.
It's real sexy with that suit.
Oh, you don't think
this suit is too sexy?
If Augie is anything like
Frank, there's no such thing.
(laughs)
Hey, why don't we go to the
luau at the Moana tonight?
All right, if Augie
doesn't call.
I wanna do some sightseeing
before Frank gets here.
I have a feeling we
won't be going out much.
Well, I think that's
enough sun for me.
I, uh... I wanna be touchable.
Lieutenant, do you call
that a three-day patrol?
No, sir, more like a
five-day running firefight.
Did you tell those
dirty old dinks
about our boy Syzmanski?
About what?
Your R and R orders, sergeant.
They've been on my
desk since Wednesday.
What? I though it was your turn.
I'll be there in a
few days, man.
Right now, your wife is
lolling on the sands of Waikiki,
just a-pining for her old Augie.
Take the Jeep, man. Go on.
Yeah, but I got leeches
and lice to number and sort.
Go, sergeant. Go.
I'm going.
(engine starts)
Yahoo! I'm going!
(Hawaiian music
playing over speaker)
(volume increases over speaker)
(screams)
( upbeat surf theme playing)
( dramatic theme playing)
We, um... We were
going to a luau.
Did you see her with anyone
beside R and R wives?
No.
Can we take her now?
Yeah, doc, but as
soon as you can,
tell me something, will you?
I can tell you
something right now,
about the murder weapon.
A bayonet.
How do you figure?
Four years in the Medical
Corps, that's how I figure.
You see quite a few of those
punctures in a field hospital.
Steve, your guy's
cool under fire.
Look at that.
He took the time
to wipe the blade.
Thanks, doc. I noticed.
(sighs)
Che, what have you got?
Crude job.
Tried to jimmy the lock,
but didn't know how.
What do you think?
Random kill, psycho, what?
Random, maybe, but he
knew enough to wear gloves.
Hi, Steve. How are you?
Amateur.
Ken, looks like you'll be
working together
on this one, huh?
You know everyone? Mm-hmm.
Mrs. Hurbert,
this is... Hurlburt.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Hurlburt.
This is Colonel Ken Hart,
Army provost marshal.
Mrs. Hurlburt.
Yeah.
Victim was Ella Syzmanski.
She was waiting for
her husband to arrive
on rest and recuperation
leave from Vietnam.
How long has she been waiting?
Four days.
Four long days.
( dramatic theme playing)
It's a pointless, vicious world
we're trying to
stay alive in, isn't it?
Syzmanski?
Syzmanski, that's right.
He had to spell it for me.
Someone called?
A man.
Uh, what did he sound like?
A man.
Was there anything
different about his voice?
Well, he wasn't local.
He had a
mainland-sounding voice.
Gee, I really don't know.
Steve, she had one call, a guy.
Naturally, the operator
wouldn't give him
the room number,
but he must have
hustled it out of Ella.
What time was that call?
DANNO: Five after 2.
And the maid found
the body at 3:45.
That gives us the
approximate time of the murder.
Nothing from the
room clerk or bellboys.
Parking attendants, doormen?
Nothing.
Her husband arrives
in half an hour, Steve.
There are times that I wish
I was anything but a cop.
If you want, I'll
tell him, Steve.
He is one of our guys.
Thanks, Ken. It
happened on my turf.
The sooner, the better, then.
(inaudible dialogue)
I'll have to ask you
some questions, sergeant.
I've gotta get some leads,
try to figure out who did it.
I hope you understand.
Yeah.
How long were you
and Ella married?
A year, almost.
How long have you been overseas?
Seven months, two weeks.
How was the marriage going?
Strong.
Strong, beautiful and forever.
Oh, Jesus.
Was, uh... Ella very lonely?
What are you saying?
You've been away a
long time, sergeant.
Easy. Easy, pal.
Do you think I like to
ask questions like that?
Then don't ask
them, not about Ella.
Okay.
Okay. My fault.
My fault. My fault.
This groove leaves a distinct
mark at the point of entry.
The killer's bayonet was
much sharper than this one.
His had an edge like a scalpel.
Stabbed her once
just below the sternum,
using an upward thrust,
penetrating the right
ventricle, right atrium and aorta,
main chambers of the heart.
Quick and sure, huh?
Okay, doc, thank you.
Jenny, when Colonel Hart...
Oh, come on in, colonel.
Jenny, get everyone in
here who has a report, please.
What have you got, Ken?
Well, a pretty good report on
Sergeant Syzmanski and Ella,
from the Army side anyway.
What does it say?
That Ella and August
Syzmanski were very married.
She's from a small
town, churchgoing people,
thoroughly decent girl.
What about the sergeant?
Regular Army, five years,
sharp noncom, cool, spotless,
sent his wife all but $30 out
of his paycheck every month.
Did you get a C &
C on him, Danno?
Same story, no stains,
criminal and credit-wise.
What did she do
for four days, Kono?
Shopped at the International
Market Place twice,
Fort DeRussy PX once,
visited the R and R
center every afternoon.
KONO: The rest of the
time she was at the hotel.
Breakfast and lunch
in the coffee shop,
sunbathed mornings,
always told the waitresses
and beach boys where she was,
in case her husband called.
It's as if she was
struck by lightning.
No rhyme or reason.
If the guy is a psycho,
where is his ego, his mark?
Ken, if I wanted to talk to
Syzmanski's commanding officer,
how do I go about it?
There you're in luck, Steve.
A Captain Dan Nichols is
due in on R and R, his CO,
tonight or tomorrow.
MAN: Mrs. Nichols?
Mrs. Dan Nichols?
That's right, sergeant.
Aloha, ma'am. I'm Jake Wheeler.
I served under your husband
in the quaint
little land of Nam.
Oh, are you on R and R too?
No, ma'am, I'm stationed
over here at Fort Shafter.
There's no need to
take the limo, ma'am.
I'm authorized to put
you in a soft-riding,
affluent kind of staff car
and convey you in a
style fitting and proper
to the wife of
Captain Dan Nichols.
How nice.
Is this your luggage?
Yes, it is.
Is this your first
trip to Hawaii?
Yes. I've never
been here before.
Oh, you haven't?
Well, I hope you
enjoy your stay.
(engine starts)
( peaceful theme playing)
Somehow I never thought
Hawaii would have freeways.
I want you to sniff
that air, ma'am.
Ain't that just about
the sweetest air
you ever whiffed?
Flowers.
Is this the way to the R
and R center, sergeant?
Yes, ma'am, it sure is.
This is what's known
as the scenic route,
part of the officers'
wives' welcome tour.
Why don't you step out
of there a minute, ma'am.
Oh, look at that.
If you don't have
twenty-twenty vision now,
this will sure give it to you.
Come on.
Well, all right.
If we go up on the point here,
we can see a few more of
the islands: Lanai, Molokai.
You'd better hold
my hand for this.
Okay. It's pretty treacherous.
Well, I didn't
lie to you, did I?
No.
Lovely. Just lovely.
Old Mother Nature sure knew
what she was doing, didn't she?
She certainly did.
(groaning)
( dramatic theme playing)
Aloha, Mrs. Nichols.
(sirens wailing)
( action surf theme playing)
(siren wailing)
(sirens blaring)
She's 20 yards to the
right of where I rappelled off.
(over radio): A hundred
and twenty down.
We'll need the bag. Over.
Danno, is that
Mrs. Nichols' purse?
Driver's license, credit cards
and R and R papers all
say Mrs. Leslee Nichols
Where was it found?
Over there.
Officer Lakea
found it, phoned it in.
There are footprints and
drops of blood near the edge.
McGARRETT: We'll need
some casts and some samples.
I've already called
for the mobile unit.
All right, let's go.
Steve.
A bunch of blood
on these leaves.
Yeah.
As if someone
wiped a blade on it.
A man and a woman's footprints
go to the edge of the cliff.
Only his come back.
Haul away.
There's the signature
you were looking for, Steve.
Yeah.
Just below the sternum.
Why stab her?
It would have been easier to
make it look like suicide here.
This way he leaves
us his message.
Premeditated murder.
( suspenseful theme playing)
Eight-0-two.
MAN (over radio): Go ahead.
Put me to Five-0.
McGarrett, please.
About 5 foot, 9 inches,
150 to 155 pounds,
light brown hair, with
a dandruff problem.
Two rows of decorations
and service ribbons were worn,
perhaps by the original owner.
I'll know more
after analyzing it.
Hold it, Che.
You mean this is a
secondhand uniform?
Right. There's an
odor of insecticide.
Small shops use it to protect
against silverfish and moths.
Well, he could have
stored it himself.
Yes, but there are indications
of staple perforations,
a price tag.
So he's not necessarily
a military man.
Maybe not. What
about the staff car?
Hot-wired, stolen from
the headquarters parking lot
at Fort Shafter.
Mileage adds up to airport
and where Mrs.
Nichols' body was found.
We'll take the photo of
Mrs. Nichols off the ID
and have some duplicates made.
Yeah.
She came in on the noon flight
and the killer was
there to meet the plane.
Now, how did he know about
Captain Nichols' R
and R and her flight?
Steve, that's no secret.
There are orders posted
in hallways and offices,
and a phone call or two
would get her flight number.
We're getting
everything except leads.
Maybe somebody at the
airport can tell us about that face.
( mysterious theme playing)
(speaking in Hawaiian)
He might have
bought this from you.
Lots of soldiers
bought lots of leis.
I don't look at their
faces, just at the money.
(speaking in Hawaiian)
(speaking in Japanese)
Yeah, she was
picked up by a staff car.
A sergeant, E-5 or 6.
What did he look like?
Like a lot of GIs.
Don't fluff me off, Mac.
The guy we're looking
for murdered two women.
What did he look like?
I don't remember.
Honest, I don't.
Okay.
Mrs. D. Nichols.
Flight 28, seat 32-B.
Do you know if she
was traveling alone?
It looks that way.
The seat next to
her was unoccupied.
That's all we know.
Okay, thanks.
Yes, sir.
Well, he was about medium height
and he wore flier glasses
and lots of ribbons.
Could you describe his face?
Yes, very haole.
Thank you.
( dramatic theme playing)
Brandy, captain?
Yeah. Thanks.
She was stabbed?
All right, captain.
Who hates your wife
enough to wanna kill her?
Anybody hate you
enough to wanna kill her?
No old grudges?
How about the present?
What present? I'm in the Army.
Okay, the Army. Any
bad feelings in your outfit?
No conflict between
officers and enlisted men?
There's always conflict between
enlisted men and officers.
No.
No more than usual.
My men are all
good men, all of them.
When is the next man from
Echo company due in on R and R?
About a month.
Lieutenant Carter, I believe.
Your office will notify ours?
About a month before. Okay.
How long will it take
to get the records
of every man in Echo company?
Steve, that's a lot of paper.
Ken, somebody took dead aim
on two wives from that company.
Could be a coincidence.
Could be somebody is
using R and R for revenge too.
( trumpet theme playing)
Hi.
Oh, Mr. Wheeler, isn't it?
Right, right.
I see that you don't
have to stand in line
to join up around here.
How's my application going?
Not too well.
The computer
spit you out, buddy.
They say you're
Thomas Robert Ralston,
recently discharged from
the United States Army.
Ralston? Who's Ralston?
I don't know anything
about any Ralston.
Look, Wheeler, or Ralston,
or whatever your name is,
I don't know what the Army
medics found wrong with you,
but the Marine
Corps doesn't need
used meat with a phony name.
Boy, you really think
you're huckleberry over
persimmon, don't you?
Try the foreign legion.
They don't ask questions.
Shove it, Tinker Bell.
DSC. Mine.
I wasted 11 VC and a
mortar team to get that.
How many did you
get, latrine sergeant?
You fools know what that is?
That's a Distinguished
Service Cross.
That's a genuine hero medal.
For meritoriously wasting
a bunch of Charlies.
Eleven!
( dramatic theme playing)
All right.
"Mrs. Dennis Carter,
129 Ravine Forest
Drive, Lynville, Florida.
Your husband
received R and R early.
He arrives Honolulu
tomorrow for five days only.
Come immediately."
Signed, Captain Dan Nichols.
Is that correct, captain?
Perfect. Pluperfect.
This noncom who was up
for company punishment,
did he ever threaten...?
Sergeant Titus?
No, he just
misunderstood my orders.
We cleared that up.
Titus is all right.
Here's a man with a
DSC, Thomas Ralston.
Platoon sergeant,
Lieutenant Carter's platoon.
Good noncom.
He saved our lives one night.
He closed down a VC
mortar squad all by himself.
That's why I put
him in for the DSC.
Then why did you
transfer him out?
He asked for a transfer.
He'd gone as high as
he could in my company.
He deserved more rank.
It says here he received a
medical discharge in Colorado,
two months ago.
Would you send for that, Ken?
Okay.
Must have been
that malaria of his.
Yeah. That's rough.
He was gung ho to stay in.
Your company records
speak well of you, captain.
Sharp outfit.
I figure the sharper the
outfit, the longer we live.
( suspenseful theme playing)
Hello.
Is there something
I can do for you?
Yes, ma'am.
Yes?
Does Mrs. Dennis
Carter live here?
Yes, she does. I'm her mother.
Is she here?
Oh, no.
She's on her way to Hawaii
to visit her husband
from Vietnam.
Her husband?
Lieutenant Dennis Carter?
Cablegram came yesterday.
They're going to have three
weeks of R and R in Honolulu.
She left here in such a flash.
Why? Is something wrong?
Her husband,
Lieutenant Dennis Carter,
was killed in action yesterday.
( dramatic theme playing)
Denny? Dead?
Oh, Lord.
I'm sorry.
May I use your phone?
Poor Amy.
I have to phone Honolulu.
Are you sure of this?
Okay.
Mrs. Dennis Carter is
on her way to Honolulu.
Denny doesn't
qualify for R and R
for another, uh,
another three weeks.
Well, she received a
cablegram from Honolulu
telling her her husband
was on his way here.
But Carter's in Vietnam.
Lieutenant Carter was
killed in action last night.
Oh, wow.
Who sent that cablegram?
It was signed
Captain Dan Nichols.
I didn't send any cablegram.
Danno, Chin, Kono, in, please.
When is she arriving?
Two hours, 45 minutes.
Danno, get a description
of Mrs. Dennis Carter
from Colonel Hart's office and
find a policewoman to match.
Chin, check ITT, RCA,
Global and Western Union.
I wanna know who sent that
phony message to Mrs. Carter in...
Lynville?
Lynville, Florida.
And, Chin, take a police artist
to the telegraph
office with you.
How are you doing on a
description of the killer?
Lousy.
Maybe we have a break here.
Could you restrict the
news of Lt. Carter's death?
Sure can.
Now, the killer knew that
your name on that cable
would bring Mrs. Carter here.
Now, what is it that
ties you and you
and Lieutenant Carter together?
We're in the same outfit.
No, something more than that.
And we've only got two
hours and 40 minutes
to find out what it is.
Right, 5 feet 4, 110 pounds.
Got it.
( dramatic theme playing)
MAN: His cheeks
were fuller, wider.
Perfect. Perfect.
You know, come to think of it,
he sounded like a southerner,
like a farm boy.
Colonel Hart, please.
Special messenger.
Oh, they're expecting you.
Thank you.
Medical report on
Sergeant Ralston, sir.
Just came in from Colorado.
Thank you, sergeant.
Steve, Ralston was
discharged on a Section Eight.
Paranoid, aggressive-defensive,
tendencies to violence.
There's a bunch of reading here.
Okay, captain.
Tell me again why Ralston
transferred out of your outfit.
He wanted it.
And it was better
for discipline.
Discipline?
After Ralston was
awarded the DSC, he, uh...
he began coming
on kind of strong.
How strong?
Like he wanted to go for OCS.
And one night he, uh...
Augie, you were there. I wasn't.
Well, I told Ralston to shut
off the lights in his bunker
and he wouldn't.
Lieutenant Carter came
in and ordered him to.
Ralston says:
"You want those
lights out, boot looey?
Okay, lights out."
So Ralston shoots
out the lights,
laughing the whole time.
What did you do?
I tried to take his rifle away.
And he hit me a butt stroke.
That's a court-martial
offense, of course,
but it was dark and I wasn't
sure he did it on purpose.
Did your battalion
commander know about that?
How do I bring
charges against a guy
I put in for the DSC?
All right, this is a
verbatim transcript
of his interview
with the psychiatrist.
Now, Ralston really flipped out
when he got back
to the mainland.
You listen to this.
Ralston:
"I was regular Army,
headed for the high cotton,
"wanted to put in for OCS,
"but they wouldn't
recommend me and that tore it,
really tore it."
Doctor: "Who wouldn't
recommend it?"
Ralston:
"Augie, Captain Dan
"and that Benning
baby, Lieutenant Carter.
"I get the DSC and they
stuff me down a rat hole.
Only I ain't staying stuffed."
(sighs)
Okay. I made an
error in judgment.
An error in judgment?
I'd say you were more interested
in keeping your sharp
outfit looking sharp.
The guy needed a head doctor
and you give him a transfer.
And you pass that off
as an error in judgment?
That's what it was,
McGarrett. And I've paid for it.
All right, maybe he
did start flipping out.
When you and Victor Charlie
are out in the boonies every night
trying to kill each other,
we all get pretty weird.
( dramatic theme playing)
Good, Chin. You know him?
Yeah, that could be Ralston.
Clerk mentioned the guy
sounded southern, a farm boy.
That's Tommy Bob, all right.
Okay, let's go.
Steve, this is
Policewoman Cathy Miller.
Our look-alike for Mrs.
Carter. She's been briefed.
Cathy, you know you're playing
the role of target number three.
Yes.
I realize you volunteered,
but if you have any
second thoughts...
Shouldn't we be
getting to the airport?
Yes, we should.
Please.
McGARRETT: Control tower.
This is McGarrett,
Hawaii Five-0. Priority one.
We have received FAA clearance
to talk with captain
of incoming Flight 28.
Over.
MAN (over radio): Please hold it,
Mr. McGarrett. We'll patch you through.
Mrs. Carter?
Yes?
I've been instructed to ask you
to remain in your
seat after landing.
Some people are coming
aboard to talk with you.
Is it Dennis? Is it my husband?
No, I don't think so.
It's someone else.
MAN: Mrs. Dennis
Carter has been instructed
per your request, Mr. McGarrett.
Anything else?
Will you repeat that, captain?
Yes.
Mrs. Dennis Carter
has been instructed
per your request, Mr. McGarrett.
Is there anything else?
Just that when
you land, captain,
follow your normal procedures,
but I repeat, under
no circumstances
is Mrs. Carter to
leave your plane.
Affirmative.
Thank you, Kemo.
Last chance, Cathy.
It's the only way to
draw out the killer, isn't it?
( dramatic theme playing)
Excuse me.
We'll return your bags to
you as soon as possible.
What about...
my husband's things?
They'll be sent to you.
Some of his things are...
are very precious to me
and I wouldn't
want to lose them.
A Bible from our wedding...
and a watch that I gave him...
and a funny snapshot...
taken of us on our honeymoon.
That photograph has been
around the world with him.
Everything will be sent to
you, I promise you, Mrs. Carter.
Mrs. Carter, this is
Steve McGarrett of Five-0.
What can I say, Mrs. Carter?
My deepest sympathy and my
apology for being so brusque,
but your own life is
in danger right now.
So I'll have to ask you
to please stay away
from these windows.
The safest place for you
is right here on the plane.
You have about
an hour and a half
before your flight
returns to the mainland.
Colonel Hart will stay with you
until he can get
you on that safely.
( suspenseful theme playing)
WOMAN (over loudspeaker):
Mrs. Dennis Carter.
Will Mrs. Dennis Carter please
answer the courtesy telephone
at the message desk.
Mrs. Dennis Carter.
Hello? This is
Mrs. Dennis Carter.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
( whimsical theme playing)
(horn honks)
Steve?
Yeah, Danno?
Why do you suppose he
called and didn't show up?
Yeah, that's just what's on
my mind, and I don't like it.
McGARRETT: Kono, when
you get to Fort DeRussy,
you make two rights
to the R and R center.
Right, I know the place.
I want you at the door of
that cab when Cathy gets out.
And remember, Chin is
going to the south door.
I remember exactly. I've
got a photogenic memory.
That's photographic, Kono.
That's what I said.
Photo, photo, photo...
MRS. CARTER: It's been
around the world with him.
( action theme playing)
(moans)
Ralston!
Is that the way you won the DSC?
Killing women?
That sounds like the lint-free,
round-mouthed voice of justice.
Where's that little
handgun you dudes carry?
Don't need one.
I don't think it's gonna make
any difference now anyway,
do you?
Put that down, Ralston.
No need to kill a widow.
A widow?
Lieutenant Carter was
killed in action yesterday.
Now the score is settled.
That's what's known as
a right quick Sunday lie.
It's true...
The only lie around
here is you, Ralston,
you being a hero.
(yells)
You didn't need one?
I was wrong.
( dramatic theme playing)
It's all right.
Steve, you all right?
Yeah. Yeah, I think so.
How about you?
I'm okay.
Ralston?
He's dead.
You'd better call
the coroner's office.
Long day.
The longest.
( dramatic theme playing)
(crowd chattering)
( upbeat surf theme playing)
Is there a Mrs. Syzmanski?
Is there a Mrs. Syzmanski?
Yes, that's me.
Your husband is Sergeant
August Syzmanski,
Second Battalion,
Ninth Infantry?
Yes. What's wrong?
Your husband has been delayed.
But he's all right, isn't he?
Just a couple of days
late, ma'am, that's all.
(gunfire)
They're turning us
every way but loose.
Right now I'm waiting for that
fat gnat to pull us out of here.
Lieutenant, I hear it.
There it is.
If you ain't doing
anything special, Augie,
I thought we might
get the hell out of here.
I'll drink to that.
Am I starting to burn yet?
No, you're getting a
nice, deep, Hawaiian tan.
It's real sexy with that suit.
Oh, you don't think
this suit is too sexy?
If Augie is anything like
Frank, there's no such thing.
(laughs)
Hey, why don't we go to the
luau at the Moana tonight?
All right, if Augie
doesn't call.
I wanna do some sightseeing
before Frank gets here.
I have a feeling we
won't be going out much.
Well, I think that's
enough sun for me.
I, uh... I wanna be touchable.
Lieutenant, do you call
that a three-day patrol?
No, sir, more like a
five-day running firefight.
Did you tell those
dirty old dinks
about our boy Syzmanski?
About what?
Your R and R orders, sergeant.
They've been on my
desk since Wednesday.
What? I though it was your turn.
I'll be there in a
few days, man.
Right now, your wife is
lolling on the sands of Waikiki,
just a-pining for her old Augie.
Take the Jeep, man. Go on.
Yeah, but I got leeches
and lice to number and sort.
Go, sergeant. Go.
I'm going.
(engine starts)
Yahoo! I'm going!
(Hawaiian music
playing over speaker)
(volume increases over speaker)
(screams)
( upbeat surf theme playing)
( dramatic theme playing)
We, um... We were
going to a luau.
Did you see her with anyone
beside R and R wives?
No.
Can we take her now?
Yeah, doc, but as
soon as you can,
tell me something, will you?
I can tell you
something right now,
about the murder weapon.
A bayonet.
How do you figure?
Four years in the Medical
Corps, that's how I figure.
You see quite a few of those
punctures in a field hospital.
Steve, your guy's
cool under fire.
Look at that.
He took the time
to wipe the blade.
Thanks, doc. I noticed.
(sighs)
Che, what have you got?
Crude job.
Tried to jimmy the lock,
but didn't know how.
What do you think?
Random kill, psycho, what?
Random, maybe, but he
knew enough to wear gloves.
Hi, Steve. How are you?
Amateur.
Ken, looks like you'll be
working together
on this one, huh?
You know everyone? Mm-hmm.
Mrs. Hurbert,
this is... Hurlburt.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Hurlburt.
This is Colonel Ken Hart,
Army provost marshal.
Mrs. Hurlburt.
Yeah.
Victim was Ella Syzmanski.
She was waiting for
her husband to arrive
on rest and recuperation
leave from Vietnam.
How long has she been waiting?
Four days.
Four long days.
( dramatic theme playing)
It's a pointless, vicious world
we're trying to
stay alive in, isn't it?
Syzmanski?
Syzmanski, that's right.
He had to spell it for me.
Someone called?
A man.
Uh, what did he sound like?
A man.
Was there anything
different about his voice?
Well, he wasn't local.
He had a
mainland-sounding voice.
Gee, I really don't know.
Steve, she had one call, a guy.
Naturally, the operator
wouldn't give him
the room number,
but he must have
hustled it out of Ella.
What time was that call?
DANNO: Five after 2.
And the maid found
the body at 3:45.
That gives us the
approximate time of the murder.
Nothing from the
room clerk or bellboys.
Parking attendants, doormen?
Nothing.
Her husband arrives
in half an hour, Steve.
There are times that I wish
I was anything but a cop.
If you want, I'll
tell him, Steve.
He is one of our guys.
Thanks, Ken. It
happened on my turf.
The sooner, the better, then.
(inaudible dialogue)
I'll have to ask you
some questions, sergeant.
I've gotta get some leads,
try to figure out who did it.
I hope you understand.
Yeah.
How long were you
and Ella married?
A year, almost.
How long have you been overseas?
Seven months, two weeks.
How was the marriage going?
Strong.
Strong, beautiful and forever.
Oh, Jesus.
Was, uh... Ella very lonely?
What are you saying?
You've been away a
long time, sergeant.
Easy. Easy, pal.
Do you think I like to
ask questions like that?
Then don't ask
them, not about Ella.
Okay.
Okay. My fault.
My fault. My fault.
This groove leaves a distinct
mark at the point of entry.
The killer's bayonet was
much sharper than this one.
His had an edge like a scalpel.
Stabbed her once
just below the sternum,
using an upward thrust,
penetrating the right
ventricle, right atrium and aorta,
main chambers of the heart.
Quick and sure, huh?
Okay, doc, thank you.
Jenny, when Colonel Hart...
Oh, come on in, colonel.
Jenny, get everyone in
here who has a report, please.
What have you got, Ken?
Well, a pretty good report on
Sergeant Syzmanski and Ella,
from the Army side anyway.
What does it say?
That Ella and August
Syzmanski were very married.
She's from a small
town, churchgoing people,
thoroughly decent girl.
What about the sergeant?
Regular Army, five years,
sharp noncom, cool, spotless,
sent his wife all but $30 out
of his paycheck every month.
Did you get a C &
C on him, Danno?
Same story, no stains,
criminal and credit-wise.
What did she do
for four days, Kono?
Shopped at the International
Market Place twice,
Fort DeRussy PX once,
visited the R and R
center every afternoon.
KONO: The rest of the
time she was at the hotel.
Breakfast and lunch
in the coffee shop,
sunbathed mornings,
always told the waitresses
and beach boys where she was,
in case her husband called.
It's as if she was
struck by lightning.
No rhyme or reason.
If the guy is a psycho,
where is his ego, his mark?
Ken, if I wanted to talk to
Syzmanski's commanding officer,
how do I go about it?
There you're in luck, Steve.
A Captain Dan Nichols is
due in on R and R, his CO,
tonight or tomorrow.
MAN: Mrs. Nichols?
Mrs. Dan Nichols?
That's right, sergeant.
Aloha, ma'am. I'm Jake Wheeler.
I served under your husband
in the quaint
little land of Nam.
Oh, are you on R and R too?
No, ma'am, I'm stationed
over here at Fort Shafter.
There's no need to
take the limo, ma'am.
I'm authorized to put
you in a soft-riding,
affluent kind of staff car
and convey you in a
style fitting and proper
to the wife of
Captain Dan Nichols.
How nice.
Is this your luggage?
Yes, it is.
Is this your first
trip to Hawaii?
Yes. I've never
been here before.
Oh, you haven't?
Well, I hope you
enjoy your stay.
(engine starts)
( peaceful theme playing)
Somehow I never thought
Hawaii would have freeways.
I want you to sniff
that air, ma'am.
Ain't that just about
the sweetest air
you ever whiffed?
Flowers.
Is this the way to the R
and R center, sergeant?
Yes, ma'am, it sure is.
This is what's known
as the scenic route,
part of the officers'
wives' welcome tour.
Why don't you step out
of there a minute, ma'am.
Oh, look at that.
If you don't have
twenty-twenty vision now,
this will sure give it to you.
Come on.
Well, all right.
If we go up on the point here,
we can see a few more of
the islands: Lanai, Molokai.
You'd better hold
my hand for this.
Okay. It's pretty treacherous.
Well, I didn't
lie to you, did I?
No.
Lovely. Just lovely.
Old Mother Nature sure knew
what she was doing, didn't she?
She certainly did.
(groaning)
( dramatic theme playing)
Aloha, Mrs. Nichols.
(sirens wailing)
( action surf theme playing)
(siren wailing)
(sirens blaring)
She's 20 yards to the
right of where I rappelled off.
(over radio): A hundred
and twenty down.
We'll need the bag. Over.
Danno, is that
Mrs. Nichols' purse?
Driver's license, credit cards
and R and R papers all
say Mrs. Leslee Nichols
Where was it found?
Over there.
Officer Lakea
found it, phoned it in.
There are footprints and
drops of blood near the edge.
McGARRETT: We'll need
some casts and some samples.
I've already called
for the mobile unit.
All right, let's go.
Steve.
A bunch of blood
on these leaves.
Yeah.
As if someone
wiped a blade on it.
A man and a woman's footprints
go to the edge of the cliff.
Only his come back.
Haul away.
There's the signature
you were looking for, Steve.
Yeah.
Just below the sternum.
Why stab her?
It would have been easier to
make it look like suicide here.
This way he leaves
us his message.
Premeditated murder.
( suspenseful theme playing)
Eight-0-two.
MAN (over radio): Go ahead.
Put me to Five-0.
McGarrett, please.
About 5 foot, 9 inches,
150 to 155 pounds,
light brown hair, with
a dandruff problem.
Two rows of decorations
and service ribbons were worn,
perhaps by the original owner.
I'll know more
after analyzing it.
Hold it, Che.
You mean this is a
secondhand uniform?
Right. There's an
odor of insecticide.
Small shops use it to protect
against silverfish and moths.
Well, he could have
stored it himself.
Yes, but there are indications
of staple perforations,
a price tag.
So he's not necessarily
a military man.
Maybe not. What
about the staff car?
Hot-wired, stolen from
the headquarters parking lot
at Fort Shafter.
Mileage adds up to airport
and where Mrs.
Nichols' body was found.
We'll take the photo of
Mrs. Nichols off the ID
and have some duplicates made.
Yeah.
She came in on the noon flight
and the killer was
there to meet the plane.
Now, how did he know about
Captain Nichols' R
and R and her flight?
Steve, that's no secret.
There are orders posted
in hallways and offices,
and a phone call or two
would get her flight number.
We're getting
everything except leads.
Maybe somebody at the
airport can tell us about that face.
( mysterious theme playing)
(speaking in Hawaiian)
He might have
bought this from you.
Lots of soldiers
bought lots of leis.
I don't look at their
faces, just at the money.
(speaking in Hawaiian)
(speaking in Japanese)
Yeah, she was
picked up by a staff car.
A sergeant, E-5 or 6.
What did he look like?
Like a lot of GIs.
Don't fluff me off, Mac.
The guy we're looking
for murdered two women.
What did he look like?
I don't remember.
Honest, I don't.
Okay.
Mrs. D. Nichols.
Flight 28, seat 32-B.
Do you know if she
was traveling alone?
It looks that way.
The seat next to
her was unoccupied.
That's all we know.
Okay, thanks.
Yes, sir.
Well, he was about medium height
and he wore flier glasses
and lots of ribbons.
Could you describe his face?
Yes, very haole.
Thank you.
( dramatic theme playing)
Brandy, captain?
Yeah. Thanks.
She was stabbed?
All right, captain.
Who hates your wife
enough to wanna kill her?
Anybody hate you
enough to wanna kill her?
No old grudges?
How about the present?
What present? I'm in the Army.
Okay, the Army. Any
bad feelings in your outfit?
No conflict between
officers and enlisted men?
There's always conflict between
enlisted men and officers.
No.
No more than usual.
My men are all
good men, all of them.
When is the next man from
Echo company due in on R and R?
About a month.
Lieutenant Carter, I believe.
Your office will notify ours?
About a month before. Okay.
How long will it take
to get the records
of every man in Echo company?
Steve, that's a lot of paper.
Ken, somebody took dead aim
on two wives from that company.
Could be a coincidence.
Could be somebody is
using R and R for revenge too.
( trumpet theme playing)
Hi.
Oh, Mr. Wheeler, isn't it?
Right, right.
I see that you don't
have to stand in line
to join up around here.
How's my application going?
Not too well.
The computer
spit you out, buddy.
They say you're
Thomas Robert Ralston,
recently discharged from
the United States Army.
Ralston? Who's Ralston?
I don't know anything
about any Ralston.
Look, Wheeler, or Ralston,
or whatever your name is,
I don't know what the Army
medics found wrong with you,
but the Marine
Corps doesn't need
used meat with a phony name.
Boy, you really think
you're huckleberry over
persimmon, don't you?
Try the foreign legion.
They don't ask questions.
Shove it, Tinker Bell.
DSC. Mine.
I wasted 11 VC and a
mortar team to get that.
How many did you
get, latrine sergeant?
You fools know what that is?
That's a Distinguished
Service Cross.
That's a genuine hero medal.
For meritoriously wasting
a bunch of Charlies.
Eleven!
( dramatic theme playing)
All right.
"Mrs. Dennis Carter,
129 Ravine Forest
Drive, Lynville, Florida.
Your husband
received R and R early.
He arrives Honolulu
tomorrow for five days only.
Come immediately."
Signed, Captain Dan Nichols.
Is that correct, captain?
Perfect. Pluperfect.
This noncom who was up
for company punishment,
did he ever threaten...?
Sergeant Titus?
No, he just
misunderstood my orders.
We cleared that up.
Titus is all right.
Here's a man with a
DSC, Thomas Ralston.
Platoon sergeant,
Lieutenant Carter's platoon.
Good noncom.
He saved our lives one night.
He closed down a VC
mortar squad all by himself.
That's why I put
him in for the DSC.
Then why did you
transfer him out?
He asked for a transfer.
He'd gone as high as
he could in my company.
He deserved more rank.
It says here he received a
medical discharge in Colorado,
two months ago.
Would you send for that, Ken?
Okay.
Must have been
that malaria of his.
Yeah. That's rough.
He was gung ho to stay in.
Your company records
speak well of you, captain.
Sharp outfit.
I figure the sharper the
outfit, the longer we live.
( suspenseful theme playing)
Hello.
Is there something
I can do for you?
Yes, ma'am.
Yes?
Does Mrs. Dennis
Carter live here?
Yes, she does. I'm her mother.
Is she here?
Oh, no.
She's on her way to Hawaii
to visit her husband
from Vietnam.
Her husband?
Lieutenant Dennis Carter?
Cablegram came yesterday.
They're going to have three
weeks of R and R in Honolulu.
She left here in such a flash.
Why? Is something wrong?
Her husband,
Lieutenant Dennis Carter,
was killed in action yesterday.
( dramatic theme playing)
Denny? Dead?
Oh, Lord.
I'm sorry.
May I use your phone?
Poor Amy.
I have to phone Honolulu.
Are you sure of this?
Okay.
Mrs. Dennis Carter is
on her way to Honolulu.
Denny doesn't
qualify for R and R
for another, uh,
another three weeks.
Well, she received a
cablegram from Honolulu
telling her her husband
was on his way here.
But Carter's in Vietnam.
Lieutenant Carter was
killed in action last night.
Oh, wow.
Who sent that cablegram?
It was signed
Captain Dan Nichols.
I didn't send any cablegram.
Danno, Chin, Kono, in, please.
When is she arriving?
Two hours, 45 minutes.
Danno, get a description
of Mrs. Dennis Carter
from Colonel Hart's office and
find a policewoman to match.
Chin, check ITT, RCA,
Global and Western Union.
I wanna know who sent that
phony message to Mrs. Carter in...
Lynville?
Lynville, Florida.
And, Chin, take a police artist
to the telegraph
office with you.
How are you doing on a
description of the killer?
Lousy.
Maybe we have a break here.
Could you restrict the
news of Lt. Carter's death?
Sure can.
Now, the killer knew that
your name on that cable
would bring Mrs. Carter here.
Now, what is it that
ties you and you
and Lieutenant Carter together?
We're in the same outfit.
No, something more than that.
And we've only got two
hours and 40 minutes
to find out what it is.
Right, 5 feet 4, 110 pounds.
Got it.
( dramatic theme playing)
MAN: His cheeks
were fuller, wider.
Perfect. Perfect.
You know, come to think of it,
he sounded like a southerner,
like a farm boy.
Colonel Hart, please.
Special messenger.
Oh, they're expecting you.
Thank you.
Medical report on
Sergeant Ralston, sir.
Just came in from Colorado.
Thank you, sergeant.
Steve, Ralston was
discharged on a Section Eight.
Paranoid, aggressive-defensive,
tendencies to violence.
There's a bunch of reading here.
Okay, captain.
Tell me again why Ralston
transferred out of your outfit.
He wanted it.
And it was better
for discipline.
Discipline?
After Ralston was
awarded the DSC, he, uh...
he began coming
on kind of strong.
How strong?
Like he wanted to go for OCS.
And one night he, uh...
Augie, you were there. I wasn't.
Well, I told Ralston to shut
off the lights in his bunker
and he wouldn't.
Lieutenant Carter came
in and ordered him to.
Ralston says:
"You want those
lights out, boot looey?
Okay, lights out."
So Ralston shoots
out the lights,
laughing the whole time.
What did you do?
I tried to take his rifle away.
And he hit me a butt stroke.
That's a court-martial
offense, of course,
but it was dark and I wasn't
sure he did it on purpose.
Did your battalion
commander know about that?
How do I bring
charges against a guy
I put in for the DSC?
All right, this is a
verbatim transcript
of his interview
with the psychiatrist.
Now, Ralston really flipped out
when he got back
to the mainland.
You listen to this.
Ralston:
"I was regular Army,
headed for the high cotton,
"wanted to put in for OCS,
"but they wouldn't
recommend me and that tore it,
really tore it."
Doctor: "Who wouldn't
recommend it?"
Ralston:
"Augie, Captain Dan
"and that Benning
baby, Lieutenant Carter.
"I get the DSC and they
stuff me down a rat hole.
Only I ain't staying stuffed."
(sighs)
Okay. I made an
error in judgment.
An error in judgment?
I'd say you were more interested
in keeping your sharp
outfit looking sharp.
The guy needed a head doctor
and you give him a transfer.
And you pass that off
as an error in judgment?
That's what it was,
McGarrett. And I've paid for it.
All right, maybe he
did start flipping out.
When you and Victor Charlie
are out in the boonies every night
trying to kill each other,
we all get pretty weird.
( dramatic theme playing)
Good, Chin. You know him?
Yeah, that could be Ralston.
Clerk mentioned the guy
sounded southern, a farm boy.
That's Tommy Bob, all right.
Okay, let's go.
Steve, this is
Policewoman Cathy Miller.
Our look-alike for Mrs.
Carter. She's been briefed.
Cathy, you know you're playing
the role of target number three.
Yes.
I realize you volunteered,
but if you have any
second thoughts...
Shouldn't we be
getting to the airport?
Yes, we should.
Please.
McGARRETT: Control tower.
This is McGarrett,
Hawaii Five-0. Priority one.
We have received FAA clearance
to talk with captain
of incoming Flight 28.
Over.
MAN (over radio): Please hold it,
Mr. McGarrett. We'll patch you through.
Mrs. Carter?
Yes?
I've been instructed to ask you
to remain in your
seat after landing.
Some people are coming
aboard to talk with you.
Is it Dennis? Is it my husband?
No, I don't think so.
It's someone else.
MAN: Mrs. Dennis
Carter has been instructed
per your request, Mr. McGarrett.
Anything else?
Will you repeat that, captain?
Yes.
Mrs. Dennis Carter
has been instructed
per your request, Mr. McGarrett.
Is there anything else?
Just that when
you land, captain,
follow your normal procedures,
but I repeat, under
no circumstances
is Mrs. Carter to
leave your plane.
Affirmative.
Thank you, Kemo.
Last chance, Cathy.
It's the only way to
draw out the killer, isn't it?
( dramatic theme playing)
Excuse me.
We'll return your bags to
you as soon as possible.
What about...
my husband's things?
They'll be sent to you.
Some of his things are...
are very precious to me
and I wouldn't
want to lose them.
A Bible from our wedding...
and a watch that I gave him...
and a funny snapshot...
taken of us on our honeymoon.
That photograph has been
around the world with him.
Everything will be sent to
you, I promise you, Mrs. Carter.
Mrs. Carter, this is
Steve McGarrett of Five-0.
What can I say, Mrs. Carter?
My deepest sympathy and my
apology for being so brusque,
but your own life is
in danger right now.
So I'll have to ask you
to please stay away
from these windows.
The safest place for you
is right here on the plane.
You have about
an hour and a half
before your flight
returns to the mainland.
Colonel Hart will stay with you
until he can get
you on that safely.
( suspenseful theme playing)
WOMAN (over loudspeaker):
Mrs. Dennis Carter.
Will Mrs. Dennis Carter please
answer the courtesy telephone
at the message desk.
Mrs. Dennis Carter.
Hello? This is
Mrs. Dennis Carter.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
( whimsical theme playing)
(horn honks)
Steve?
Yeah, Danno?
Why do you suppose he
called and didn't show up?
Yeah, that's just what's on
my mind, and I don't like it.
McGARRETT: Kono, when
you get to Fort DeRussy,
you make two rights
to the R and R center.
Right, I know the place.
I want you at the door of
that cab when Cathy gets out.
And remember, Chin is
going to the south door.
I remember exactly. I've
got a photogenic memory.
That's photographic, Kono.
That's what I said.
Photo, photo, photo...
MRS. CARTER: It's been
around the world with him.
( action theme playing)
(moans)
Ralston!
Is that the way you won the DSC?
Killing women?
That sounds like the lint-free,
round-mouthed voice of justice.
Where's that little
handgun you dudes carry?
Don't need one.
I don't think it's gonna make
any difference now anyway,
do you?
Put that down, Ralston.
No need to kill a widow.
A widow?
Lieutenant Carter was
killed in action yesterday.
Now the score is settled.
That's what's known as
a right quick Sunday lie.
It's true...
The only lie around
here is you, Ralston,
you being a hero.
(yells)
You didn't need one?
I was wrong.
( dramatic theme playing)
It's all right.
Steve, you all right?
Yeah. Yeah, I think so.
How about you?
I'm okay.
Ralston?
He's dead.
You'd better call
the coroner's office.
Long day.
The longest.
( dramatic theme playing)
(crowd chattering)
( upbeat surf theme playing)