Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980): Season 5, Episode 14 - The Child Stealers - full transcript

( upbeat surf theme playing)

( mysterious theme playing)

(gurgles)

Hi there.

Hi.

Hi.

Aren't you a little
cutie? Yes, you are.

Wanna come and see me.
Wanna come to see me?

There you go.

Want to move in circles?
Here we go. Whee!

Whee! Whee.



(whines)

Beautiful. Yeah, that's right.

Come on, let's go.

Oh, yes. Come to Mommy.

(baby crying)

Isn't he beautiful?

Look, we're due
at the pediatrician's

in, uh, half an hour.

Right on schedule.

Hey, look, can't you
keep that kid quiet?

Well, lookit, he's just hungry.
See, he's calming down now.

Back in 10 minutes.

( tense theme playing)

(tires screech)



(keys clink)

Airport. Hurry.

What a lovely baby.

Oh, thank you. It's adorable.

WOMAN (over PA): United
Airlines Flight 23 to Los Angeles

now boarding at Gate 17.

That's ours. Let's go.

( dramatic theme playing)

(tires screeching)

Oh, you're right.

(tires screeching)

Hi, Steve. Hi, Tom.

How come the FBI called
Five-0 in on a kidnapping?

I'll give you the facts,
and you can see.

Danno? Anybody see anything?

(sighs)

Happened too fast. The people
in the drugstore know nothing.

Chin and Ben are checking
the rest of the block.

How do you describe a
baby? That they're that long?

What about the clothes
the kid was wearing?

Yeah, we put out an APB on that.

I only left him
outside for one minute.

Honey, how could you do that?

Oh, I was so dumb.

I couldn't get the cart
through the turnstile.

I only was... Oh, honey.

Oh, honey, come here.

Excuse me. It's all right.

McGarrett, Hawaii Five-0.

Oh, Mr. McGarrett, I...

I'm afraid this doesn't make
much sense to either of us.

W-we're not rich. We don't
know why they picked on us.

Well, that's what's going
through our mind too,

Mr. Empson.

Your son, is he adopted?

No.

McGARRETT: Is he a
child of a previous marriage?

No, no, th-there's no
custody fight going on,

nothing like that.

All right, Danno,

we'll go through the
usual routine anyway.

Phone tap, a stakeout,

just in case there's
a ransom try.

Well, what do you
mean, "in case"?

What else could it be?

Well, you say you're not rich,

so I don't think there'll
be a ransom attempt.

Now, the likelihood
here is that...

we're dealing with
someone who's sick.

( somber theme playing)

McGARRETT:
Grieving woman, maybe,

who thinks your son can
replace her own lost child.

But we still have to go through
the motions of a stakeout

in case we're wrong.

What if you are wrong?

I mean, if they want
ransom, I'll pay it.

I can borrow the money.

Uh, the... The police might
just frighten them away.

Mr. Empson, we've
gone through this before.

Nobody will even
know we're there.

And he's only 8 weeks old.

( melancholy theme playing)

No, uh...

No flashing lights, huh?

No sirens?

No lights, no sirens.

( mysterious theme playing)

(bell rings)

( tense theme playing)

( phone rings)

(rings)

McGarrett.

Yes, Chin. Yeah.

All right. Now, call as soon
as you get a break on anything.

Ben, any fingerprints
on the shopping cart?

Mrs. Empson's,
the clerk's, that's all.

And no witnesses at all.
What about Empson, Danno?

It's like he said, things
are going okay for him,

but he's not rich.

Works as a junior
architect in a big firm.

Just got a raise to 16,000.

Wait a minute. Architect.

What kind of architecture?

Any...? Anything
for the government?

Anything sensitive?

Shopping centers,
Steve. Housing tracts.

That's not exactly
a prime target, is it?

( dramatic theme playing)

(airplane roaring)

(tires screech)

( dramatic theme playing)

( mysterious theme playing)

And now... (both chuckling)

Hey, uh... (laughs)

do people still use
the word "dump"?

(laughs): I don't know.

I think only the people who've
stayed here have used it.

(both chuckle)

Oh, dear.

I wonder when they're gonna...

When do you think they're
gonna bring in the crib?

It'll probably come
just when he wakes up.

You know, I think he
might go to sleep for a while

if you could keep
your voice down.

You see. Just having the
kid around for one night

gets to be a drag.

Nina.

Come on, baby.
You're ruining the kick.

Sorry.

Would you stop remembering
and think about tomorrow?

Think about what
happens after we collect.

Gar, I don't get high
on going the way you do.

No, you get your jollies
thinking about Michael.

Yes. Michael.

Why didn't you name him Gar?

After me?

Good old American custom,
name a boy after his father.

Because as I remember,
his father didn't want him.

His father wanted
the money instead.

Isn't that the way
that it went, Daddy?

Look, um... Nina.

We'll have another baby of
our own when we're ready.

When we've got
everything else that we want.

It's the same old song.

Better fill in the paper.

Hey, um...

what do you say we
call this one Jason?

Kind of like the sound of that.

(gurgles)

How old is he? When was he born?

(gurgling)

He's 2 months old.

The baby was born
at 10:30 p.m. exactly.

(sighs)

Here, you, um... sign over here.

(pops)

(whines)

(sighs)

(gurgles)

Hey... Wasn't he, uh...

wearing those
little boots before?

Yeah.

Well, one of the
booties got lost,

so I took the other one off.

Got lost? Where? I don't know...

I mean, what if
your prints are on it?

(knock at door)

Shh.

Who's there?

MAN: You order a... A crib?

( tense theme playing)

(sighs)

( tense theme playing)

Hey, Mel.

( dramatic theme playing)

(whining)

That's not too cold, is it?

(gurgles)

(car horn honks)

(kids shouting indistinctly)

Hi. Hi.

How are you? Fine.

Good. Good to see
you. What's going on?

Nothing.

What have you been
doing, Shelly, huh?

You been having
a good time? Yeah.

Playing? Huh?

Well, listen, do you wanna
play ball with me afterward?

Okay. Huh? Okay.

I'll see you later, huh?

All right.

(birds chirping)

Well, hello.

Nice to see you again.

I'll be with you
in just a moment.

(inaudible dialogue)

Would you like to, uh,
come into my office?

Is the baby all right?

Yes.

Jason is just fine.

(sighs)

Would you like a drink?

Never touch the stuff.

Oh, that's right, I forgot.

Uh, won't you sit down, please?

Hm.

You know, I, uh...

I really didn't expect
to hear from you again.

Especially so soon.

Well, uh, this chick we knew

had a kid and
nowhere to keep it.

So, uh, we knew you
could help her out.

Mm. That's right.

That's Miss Rogers.

Oh, here are our papers.

Yes, they've all been checked,
and they all look in order.

Well, this, uh...

"chick" has some,
uh, money coming.

A friend, you say.

Well, I hope she's
a good friend.

And trusts you. (opens safe)

Five thousand dollars
is no small sum.

She, uh, trusts us, Mr. Goodman.

Let me see now, that's
the third unwed mother

that you've referred.

Oh, no, I'm sorry.

Uh, the first baby
was your own...

uh, conceived in wedlock.

The second unwed mother
that you referred to me.

You know, I don't mean
to sound, uh, critical,

but, um...

have you people
ever heard of the pill?

Moral judgments, Mr. Goodman?

No, no. I've been an
attorney too long for that.

Call it immorality or amorality.

It certainly hasn't been
good for a great number

of unfortunate couples

who desperately want to adopt.

Your childless clients may
be unfortunate, but, uh...

(chuckles)

they sure can pay.

And they do.

They retain me to provide

the best legal
handling possible.

Why do you think I scrutinize

your documents so carefully?

A good lawyer earns his fees.

(phone beeps)

Chin Ho.

McGARRETT (on phone
): What's happening, Chin?

Nothing. No contact, Steve.
Not by mail. Not by phone.

No, uh, delivery boys,
no TV repairmen?

CHIN HO: None.

Steve, it's been over 24 hours.

I've heard the Empsons' calls.

The way they sound,
they're barely hanging in.

All right, Chin. (door opens)

I'll call them.
I'll talk with 'em.

(door closes)

Steve...

no prints on the
baby's bootie or the car.

It doesn't figure.
Car was stolen.

Wiped clean like that part
of the caper was planned,

while the rest of this...

Still seems pure chance.

( mysterious theme playing)

WOMAN (over PA): Flight
Number 7 now leaving for Honolulu.

Two first-class, one way,
Los Angeles to Honolulu.

GAR: Correct.

Yes, sir.

Back to Hawaii in style,
baby. Can't this be...?

Oh, my God, first-class.
Are you sure we can afford it?

Relax. This is
Jason's treat. Mm.

Hey, uh, what's the movie?

( dramatic theme playing)

( tense theme playing)

EMPSON: But, Mr. Williams,
you can't just give up.

We're not giving up, Mr. Empson.
We're taking another tack.

Your phone will still be
routed through H.P.D.

Take care of the
extension phone, Danny.

Mr. Williams, please.
What does this mean?

Mrs. Empson,
it's been four days,

and there's been no ransom call.

It looks like our
first hunch was right.

But as I said, your
phone is still tapped.

But you don't have
any leads now, do you?

No clues at all.

I've arranged for both of you
to go on television this evening.

To make a public appeal.

Well, a thing like that,
would it do any good?

If we're dealing with an
emotionally disturbed person,

an appeal to emotions may help.

It's worth a try.

Andy's worth anything.

( somber theme playing)

( upbeat theme playing)

(chuckles)

Got you.

Whoo!

Come here.

Kiss me. Mmm.

Kiss me again. Hm.

(both chuckle)

Pretty, huh?

You like to look at
boats, so we look at boats.

Which one you want?

No, I mean it.

(chuckles) Which one you want?

I mean, this is what
we've been after

all our lives, isn't it, huh?

I mean... (gulls squawking)

freedom.

You know a better way than
to own a boat of our own?

Hey. You've been watching
too many old movies.

But those old movies
aren't so wrong, baby.

I mean, the two of us
alone on our own boat.

Eight islands.
Hundreds of coves.

Miles and miles of coastline.

And if that doesn't
satisfy us, we take off.

Heh-heh. Would you
come down out of your tree?

No, listen. We'll
find, uh... Please.

Find what?

People.

Places.

Paradise, Nina.

Enchanted isles.

(chuckles)

Nirvana.

Hey, we would be
free, wouldn't we?

All we gotta do
is buy that boat.

You mean you
don't wanna rip it off?

I don't even wanna liberate it.

Too dangerous. Oh.

I mean, we can't have
the Coast Guard invading

our own private
little Eden, can we?

(chuckles): No, we can't.

(moans)

Oh, Gar, you're crazy.

You're so crazy.

(sighs)

MAN: Almost a week ago,

Andrew Empson, 8
weeks old, was kidnapped.

As of tonight, there's been
no word as to his whereabouts.

Andy's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Martin Empson,

are here with us tonight.

Mr. Empson?

Thank you.

This... isn't an easy
thing for us to do.

One of the troubles is that...

we have so very
much we want to say,

and we just don't know
how to get it all out.

What we're
asking for... is help.

Somewhere, someone
has to know about Andy.

Where he is.

So if you can tell us,

please get in touch with us.

You won't be in any danger.

I've made arrangements
so that we can pay

whatever you want...

but just get in touch with us.

This is our son, Andy.

(whimpers)

We love him...

and we miss him very
much, so please help us.

Surely, you must
know what it's like

to lose someone you love.

(sobs)

If you've ever had
a child of your own...

(mutes volume)

(sobs): Gar, it is no good.
Would you look at those people?

Look at them, honey. Look...

Lookit, our freedom
isn't worth that. Look.

It's just not worth that.
Look. Okay, okay, okay.

So they're unhappy.

But there's a couple
in Los Angeles

who couldn't have kids.

They're jumping up
and down with joy.

Telling me that that equals out?

Nina.

Are you?!

Do you know what
this world is like?

It's a rip-off world!

No, it's not.

So why shouldn't we
pull the ultimate rip-off?

Yeah, why shouldn't we?

Will you stop talking like
I'm the only one in on this?

You took two kids

right there along with
me, Nina. Shut up.

And you wanna know something?

You enjoyed taking those
kids. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

Seems like you
never forgave yourself

for selling off our
own kid. Shut up.

So now you're enjoying
somebody else's suffering too, huh?

Shut up.

(sobs): Gar, I... I
can't take anymore.

I can't do it. I can't do it.

I can't do it.

(sighs)

Not if we don't have to.

(sighs)

Did make us pretty ultimate,
though, didn't it? Hm?

(chuckles)

(sighs)

(sobs): I knew you, uh...

What you said
earlier... might be true.

(sniffles)

But I can't keep doing
what we're doing.

(sighs)

Hey, baby.

I know this isn't the time.

I want you.

And I want a child.

I want our child.

Yeah. Honey, we'll have a kid.

Promise.

And we're raising
him on the boat.

MAN (on TV):
Ladies and gentlemen,

this station will
take all calls.

The number to
call...(clicks off)

Rough.

Something's been
running through my mind.

Do you remember
the Orringer case?

Yeah. Infant kidnapping
on the Big Island.

Six months ago
and still unsolved.

But, Steve, that was
a different kind of case.

The Empsons can pay some money.

Orringer was a dock
worker with six other kids,

and just barely making it.

There wasn't a chance
of a nickel's ransom there.

Exactly.

Now, look at the similarities.

The Orringer baby
was 9 weeks old,

Caucasian, in good health,

and also taken in a quick
and audacious manner.

CHIN HO: Yeah.

Yeah, from a parked car.

DANNO: I remember
though there was

something else
that threw us off.

Another baby was missing,

just a few days before
the Orringer kidnapping.

That infant was
found left at a hospital.

Yeah, but that baby
had a withered arm.

What are you getting at?

Suppose...

just suppose, there was
never any intention of asking

for ransom in either case.

Suppose that those babies

were thought of
strictly as merchandise.

And the first infant, the
one with the withered arm,

was damaged goods, and returned.

Snatch and sell?

McGARRETT: Could be.

Scarcity makes
for a seller's market,

and there are people
who don't wanna wait

the year or so it
often takes to adopt.

People with money.

And there are brokers and
middlemen who cater to them.

That's a special kind of fence.

But even a fence who deals
in babies as a commodity

has to go through
the right channels.

Has to have papers,
birth certificates.

Otherwise, the adoptive
parents would never feel secure.

That's exactly what
I'm counting on, Danno.

Going through channels.

Now, you start
with the hospitals

where the Empson and
Orringer babies were born.

Get footprints and fingerprints.

Now, here's where we need
the Washington computer.

We're gonna have to get in touch

with every state adoption
agency in the country, main office.

We'll need their
complete cooperation

to check the identities
of every Hawaiian infant

born within the last six months

who has been adopted anywhere.

We'll be tying up that
Washington brain bank

for a long time.

I don't care how long it takes.

And I don't wanna
hear anything about

the needle in the
haystack either, gentlemen.

It's the only
way, so... let's go.

( mysterious theme playing)

CHE: Upper set,
footprints from Los Angeles.

Lower set, Andrew Empson's,

as taken for his hospital
identification records.

They match. And so,
for that matter, do these.

Note the double arches
on both sets of fingerprints.

And the way the
centers spiral out.

California. The kid's
done a lot of traveling.

CHE: That's only
the Empson baby.

We have nothing
on the Orringer child.

Another Hawaii-born
baby was adopted

by that Los Angeles
office six months ago, Che.

Soon as we get some prints,

10-to-1 it turns out to
be the Orringer child.

Well, why haven't we
received the baby's prints yet?

DANNO: State adoption agency

doesn't have the
authority to take them.

Parents refused permission.

The adoption is final now.

Or maybe not so final.

Danno, hold the fort.

Ben, pack a bag.

You and I are flying
to Los Angeles.

( airplane engine roaring)

(tires screeching)

(horn honks)

( tranquil theme playing)

GOODMAN: So exciting.
That's, uh... That's good.

(Goodman
speaking indistinctly)

Hello.

Mr. Goodman. That's right, yes.

Eugene Goodman? Yes.

My name is McGarrett.

Well, Mr. McGarrett,
won't you, uh...?

Won't you step this way?

(door closes)

Hawaii State Police.

Well, excuse me, won't
you sit down, Mr. McGarrett?

No, thank you.

Now... what can I do for you?

I'd like to talk to you.

Surely. What about?

About the sale of infants.

Sale?

I'm afraid I don't know
what you're talking about,

Mr. McGarrett.

We arrange adoptions here.

I see.

Have you ever been in Hawaii?

Hawaii? Yes, I have.

Let's see, when
was it, five or...

six years ago, on vacation.

I had a wonderful time.

Mr. Goodman, you're the
attorney of record in the adoption

by a Mr. and Mrs. James
Hallerin of an Hawaii-born infant.

Now, that adoption is not
final yet, is that correct?

That information is privileged,

and I'm sure you
understand that.

You arranged a similar adoption
for a Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mills.

Uh, we have assisted
in the adoption

of over 200 infants in the
last year, Mr. McGarrett.

That's a matter
of public record.

The local agency says
that the number is down

over last year.

Well, that's true. We find,
uh, that, uh, the kind of babies

that my clients want seem
to be more difficult to obtain.

Yet you continue to obtain
them. Now, how's that?

Mr. McGarrett, an unwed
mother who gives up her child

is sure that we'll
place it in a good home.

And it's not because
you pay better?

Paying for a child is
unlawful, Mr. McGarrett.

We do see, however, that the
natural mother is reimbursed

for her obstetrical expenses.

Not that that's your concern.

Kidnapping is my
concern, Mr. Goodman.

And that baby that the
Hallerins adopted was kidnapped.

Impossible.

We have the child's footprints,

fingerprints,

matching exactly those of a baby
kidnapped in Hawaii 10 days ago.

I see.

Of course, I'll cooperate
in any way that I can.

I, uh...

I had no idea.

Of course.

I think that you'll, uh...

find all these papers in order.

Birth certificate.
Power of attorney.

Consent blank.

What can you tell
me about the mother?

Nothing. Um...

A young couple brought in
the baby acting on her behalf.

Then you could
describe this couple?

I'll, uh... I'll have a
police artist sent over.

The Mills baby.

Who... Who brought
the Mills baby in

six months ago, Mr. Goodman?

Was it by any chance
this same couple?

(grunts softly)

Well, to remember after, uh...

200 adoptions, uh...

Well, you can look
it up, can't you?

See what the records say?

Without a court order?

Mr. Goodman... I
gave you the chance

to cooperate voluntarily.

There's your court order.

Now, I have a man
at the Mills' house.

He also has a court order.

If what I suspect is true,

you're gonna have a
lot more to worry about

than the unlawful
buying of babies.

I'm talking about kidnapping.

Now, let's look at
the records, shall we?

( tense theme playing)

(baby crying)

BEN: Now if I can get
the fingers, we'll be all set.

I don't believe a
word about this story

about a kidnapped
child, Mr. Kokua.

Helen is ours, and nobody's
gonna take her away from us.

Mr. Mills, please believe
me, I hope you're right.

Will you be able to
tell us right now? Here?

I should.

Use this. Thank you.

(wailing)

(wailing)

No.

No, she's our baby.
She's our daughter.

I'm sorry. That's not
what the prints say.

MR. MILLS: Nobody is taking

this child away
from us, Mr. Kokua.

Nobody.

Mr. Mills...

I'm afraid that's for
the courts to decide.

( mysterious theme playing)

( upbeat theme playing)

It's everything you
said it was going to be.

Would I lie?

No, you would not lie.

(grunting)

(giggles): Don't. No... Crazy.

(chuckles)

Well? How'd you like it?

What's your best price?

Like I told you, 15,000. Ten.

No. Oh, come on
now, man, listen.

Look, I got $11,000 in here.

Boat's worth 10.

No, man, I just had it
overhauled. New sails.

Take it or leave it.

Hey, li... ( somber
theme playing)

(scoffs)

(tires screech)

( tranquil theme playing)

(chuckles) Oh, thank God.

We never stopped praying,
Mr. McGarrett. Thank you.

(whines)

(car door closes)

(engine starts)

( mysterious theme playing)

( tense theme playing)

Central. Get me Danny Williams.

( dramatic theme playing)

CHE (on phone): Found it, Dan.

Found the typeface used to forge

the phony birth certificates.

DANNO: No mistake?
CHE: Same distinctive breaks

in the printed typeface
in the capital C,

and six-point type in
the capital A. No mistake.

DANNO: Good work, Che. Give.

CHE: Work done by
Speedoprint, Pukui Alley off of King.

DANNO: Got it. On our way.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(door opens)

Why are you here?

We wanna talk to you.

I've been straight
for four years.

That's what we thought.

You made this card up for
one of our men yesterday.

You also made up these.

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

Try kidnapping.

Come on.

DANNO: No, Keale, you come on.

With your record, they'll
throw the key away,

unless you cooperate
with us, and fast.

It's the only bad stuff
I've run, Mr. Williams.

I never knew what they were for.

A kid came in a couple of times.

Freaky guy, jungle type.

He paid heavy bread.

Did he have a girl with him?

No. He came in alone.

Okay, Chin, let's get
him down to H.P.D.

And then we'll get a
police artist to work.

You're gonna give a
complete description, friend.

All right. All right.

Whatever you say.

Hey, Keale.

Date on this is two weeks ago.

Seen this guy since?

Saw him yesterday.

What'd he want?

Another birth certificate.

You mean he ordered
it to be picked up?

No.

He's already got
it, Mr. Williams.

He picked it up this morning.

( dramatic theme playing)

Central, this is Williams.
Patch me through to McGarrett.

( tense theme playing)

(doorbell rings)

Yes?

Hi. I'm from the Woman's
March Against Birth Defects,

and we're collecting money to
research this terrible disease.

Anything that you could give
would be gratefully appreciated.

All right. Wait here
while I get my purse.

Okay.

Here you go.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I see you have a baby.

Oh, yes. Well, that's
the reason I wanna help.

I'm so thankful Carrie's fine.

Bye.

Bye.

( melancholy theme playing)

Second house up.

The baby's in a...

In a jump chair on the lanai.

Okay.

( tense theme playing)

(doorbell rings)

Oh. (giggles)

Hi, again. I'm sorry.

I forgot to give you your
receipt for your taxes.

Oh. Can I have your name?

Oh, yeah. Uh, Mrs. John Lindrom.

( tense theme playing)

NINA: The address?

MRS. LINDROM: Oh, 1703, uh...

(speaks indistinctly)

Thank you. Thank you.

Bye-bye.

(people chattering)

Steve.

McGARRETT: Ben. There's a
couple coming down with a baby.

Check them out.

Excuse me.

Sorry, bruddah.

You really think they'd go
back to L.A. again, Steve?

Depends on whether
they've contacted Goodman.

They might not know
he's under indictment

for child buying.

But if they do know...

that's why we've got
all the airlines covered.

Okay, bring
Mr. Goodman to the phone.

Yes, Mr. Goodman. (crying)

Well, I don't care if he's busy.

Just bring him to
the phone, all right?

Look, all I wanna
do is talk to him.

All right, forget it.

(crying)

What's wrong?

Mr. Goodman wouldn't
even talk to me.

He wouldn't even
come to the phone.

Think he's in trouble.
Well, what are...?

What are we gonna do?

Lookit, Gar, this is for us.

This is for our family.
There's other cities.

There's other Mr. Goodmans.

All we have to do is pick
ourselves a place, okay?

Hey, what...? What if they're
onto us? I mean the police?

(crying) We'll fake 'em out.

( mysterious theme playing)

What time is the
next flight to L.A.?

Twelve-thirty.

(whispers): Twelve-thirty.

One, please. Coach.

WOMAN (over PA): Announcing
Flight 14 from New York and Los Angeles

now arriving at Gate 8.

Passengers arriving on Flight 14

may now claim their luggage

in the baggage claim area.

Thank you.

Gar!

( suspenseful theme playing)

Gar!

Hold it. Gar!

No!

Hold it!

Please, not now.

(baby gurgles)

All units. All units.

10-3.10-3. Gate 11.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(handcuffs click)

We got him.

(baby crying)

What did you do to the baby?

We gave her a sedative.

We wouldn't hurt that kid.

No, of course not.

Damaged merchandise
brings the price down, doesn't it?

GAR: Not the price.

Not money. Freedom.

We did it to be free.

Free?

We'll see how free you'll
be in a cell 6 by 8 feet.

( somber theme playing)

You'd better get that
baby to a doctor, Danno.

Book 'em.

( dramatic theme playing)

( upbeat surf theme playing)