Hunter (1984–1991): Season 4, Episode 16 - Girl on the Beach - full transcript

Sick little freak.

Well, I'm going to
make it real clear.

You two are off this case.

Well, everything looks
pretty good to me too.

Have you been
picking locks again?

No.

Because if you have, I'm
giving you a spanking at lunch.

Good night, my love.

Wait till the news
media gets a hold of this.

Movie star caught
in murder triangle.

Charlie, put the gun down.



Oh. geez.

Hello?

Damn it.

Hello?

All you all right?

Oh, no.

Oh, my god.

Oh.

Help!

Help!

Charlie.

Charlie.

Charlie.

Sara.



Oh, god, Charlie.

I really did it this time.

I really did it.
- What happened?

Sorry.
I didn't know where else to go.

I couldn't think.

I can't help you unless
you tell me what happened.

What happened?

I killed a woman.

Oh, all right.

Look, look, look, look.

Calm down.

Take a couple of deep breaths.

Deep ones, now.

All right.

Now what happened?

She was in a parked
car on the Coast Highway,

and I was coming
home from a party.

Hold it, hold it, hold it.

Let's go in here.

All right.

You were a party.

You've been drinking?

No.

I... hardly at all.

I had a couple of
drinks at the party.

It was foggy.

I didn't see her.

So you ran into her car?

Yes.

Well, Sara, how do you
know you killed her, then?

I went to leave a note,
and that's when I saw her.

So I called out to her.
She didn't answer.

I opened the car door, and she
almost fell out of the car.

Well, did you take
her pulse or anything?

I touched her neck.

I didn't feel anything.

I was just so scared.

I wanted to get out of there.

So you really don't
know if she was dead?

Oh, I'm sure she was.

But you don't know.

I'll tell you what
we're going to do.

We're going to call the
highway patrol right now.

Where did this happen?

Um, in Malibu.

It was near one
of those canyons.

I don't know which one.

Do you think you
could find it again?

Yeah, I think so.

It's... it's right around here.

I think it's... it's close.

It's coming up.

This is... yes.
This is it.

This is it.

Yes, this is it.
That's it.

Right there.

Look.

That's my headlight.

This is where it happened.

All right.

So where's the car?

I don't know.

Well, this is the
place, all right,

but she must have woke
up and drove away.

Oh, Charlie, that
woman was dead.

Sara, I've heard of
bodies with toe tags

on them sitting up and
asking for their trousers.

And that's after they were
pronounced dead by a doctor.

Charlie, you didn't see her.

I will never forget
the way she looked.

That red hair and the ha...

Oh.

Listen, maybe she was knocked
cold by the jolt you gave her.

Maybe she was drunk
or high on dope.

You don't know.

Maybe she was sleeping
it off, which is what

you should have been doing.

Charlie.

Anyway, she woke up, and
she drove away, which is what

we're going to do right now.

Come on.

Charlie, that woman was dead.

Sara, come here.

Come on.

The highway patrol
didn't have a thing.

And the front of your car
just isn't that badly damaged.

You didn't kill anyone.

Oh, god.

I wish I could believe that.

Look, you did the right thing.

You left a note and your number.

You're going to get a call
about the damages soon enough,

believe me.

Listen, why don't you just
leave your car at my place

and pick it up tomorrow.

I'll take you home.

OK.

I got a better idea.

Let's stop over Wiley's and
get a bowl of clam chowder.

Oh, that would be great.

OK.

That's what we'll do, then.

I don't get it.

Oh, take your mind off it.

Believe me.

It's all right.

What a night.

I wish I could say it's
been a wonderful evening.

Me too.

Well, guess I oughta
say good night.

Life sure is
funny sometimes, isn't it?

What do you mean?

Remember when you
were a street cop,

and I was always so scared?

I think I stayed awake every
night, thinking that phone was

going to ring any second, and
the voice on the other end

was going to say you were
never coming home again.

Yeah.

It was a rough
time for both of us.

I loved you so much, and I
was so afraid of losing you.

And then, I realized
when you were home,

I didn't have you anyway.

You were so preoccupied
all the time.

So I had to leave.

I know you did.

Yeah, I know what you
were going through.

And then, I left, and
you got promoted to captain

and that comfortable desk.

It's not that comfortable.

I'm a little spooked tonight.

Stay with me.

I'm afraid if I did, I'm not
so sure I'd be able to leave.

I'm not so sure I'd want you to.

You'll be all right.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Oh, Chucky.

Maybe we made a mistake.

Maybe we should try again.

I'll tell you what.

Let's have dinner tomorrow,
and we'll talk about it.

I'd like that.

- So would I.
- Stay with me.

Good night, Sara Lee.

Good night, my love.

She's only been the
water a few hours.

Can't really tell if she drowned
until I get a closer look.

Maybe she fell in, it a rock.

Or maybe she was pushed.

Let's get back to the office
and see what we can dig up.

Thanks, Bonnie.

Keep me posted here.

Hunter, McCall,
see you a minute?

Have you been
picking locks again?

No.

Because if you have, I'm
giving you a spanking at lunch.

Oh.

I've been picking
a lot of locks.

All week, I'm picking locks.

Have a seat.

Listen, I, uh, read your
report on the DB this morning.

The girl on the beach?

Yeah.

A kind of weird thing happened
this morning about 3 o'clock.

My ex-wife Sara shows
up on my doorstep.

She told me that she
ran into a parked car

out on Pacific Coast Highway.

Well, she got out and
leave a note and all,

and there was a woman
in the front seat Sara

thought maybe she killed her.

Did you report it?

She panicked and ran.

Came over to my place.

I took a look at her car.

There wasn't very much damage.

Anyway, I called
the highway patrol.

The two of us took a
ride back out there.

The car was gone,
so was the woman.

Where was that?

It's about a mile
north of Portuguese Bend.

We'll take a ride
out there today.

Yeah.

Did the highway
patrol get anything?

Not a thing.

I figured the woman was
probably sleeping it off

and woke up after Sara left.

Then I read your report,
and, uh, the description

of the girl on the beach
matches Sara's description

of the woman in the car.

Red hair, youngish.

It's a long shot, I know.

But I thought you guys should
know, just in case there

is some kind of connection.

Well, Barney puts the time of
death at approximately 2:00 AM,

so there's definitely
a connection there.

And Sara will have
to view the body.

I know.

And it's your case.

I want you to be in charge of
setting the whole thing up.

- Good.
- And Hunter?

Be tactful.

What?

Mr. Diplomacy here?

Kidding.

Thanks a lot.

Sara:
Hi, this is Sara.

I can't answer the
phone at the moment,

but leave your name and number.

I'll call you back.

Wait for the beep.

Yeah, it's Charlie again.

Listen, uh, I was
serious about dinner

tonight, so call me, huh?

Well, this must be the place.

Here's the broken tail lights.

Well, if the killer was out here

when Sara ran into the car,
I wonder what he was doing.

Probably looking for a place
to dump the body over here.

Not a very deserted stretch.

Why don't we go check out some
of the businesses up and down

the road?

Yeah, that's a good idea.

Let's start with
that gas station

up around the bend on a highway.

Car 56, please.

Lincoln 56, go.

Hunter, standby on tap two.

Captain Devane is
on the line for you.

Lincoln 56, go.

Hunter, were you
able to talk to Sara?

No, Charlie.

We tried to get
her on the phone.

We couldn't.

So we went over to her
house about 3 o'clock,

knocked on the door,
and got no answer.

I haven't been able
to reach her either,

and we were supposed
to have dinner tonight.

I know she would've called me.

Look, can you two guys meet me
over at her place right now?

We're on our way, Charlie.

L56 out.

Sorry I'm late.

She used to keep her key right
up here in the flower pots.

Sara?

Wait here.

I'm gonna check upstairs.

Sara?

Sara?

Hunter!

McCall!

It's my fault.

It's not your fault, Charlie.

I'm responsible for this.

She asked me to stay.

I told her there was
nothing to be afraid of.

She told me she was scared.

I should have listened to her.

I should have known
she was in danger.

You couldn't have
known, Charlie.

Talk to me, Barney.

Water in the, uh,
windpipe, facial bruises.

She was held under by
someone with fairly

large, strong hands.

It appears she put
up quite a fight.

Sliced into an
artery in her ankle

when she kicked the faucet.

That accounts for the blood.

When?

24 hours at the outside.

I can't be more specific
until I get her downtown.

But possibly within hours
of that girl on the beach

this morning?

Yeah, it's possible, Charlie.

Sick little free.

Charlie.

He's very sorry.

Not half as sorry
as he's going to be.

Charlie?

Hi, Charlie.

I'm taking you two
off this investigation.

I'm giving it to Tom Lester.

Tom Lester's
retiring in six months.

Hell, he has even left
his desk in two years.

It's his case now.

You want this case for
yourself, don't you, Charlie?

That is enough, Hunter.

You want Lester on
this case, because he'll

roll over and stay out of
your way, isn't that right?

This is Lester's case now.

Charlie, when my
husband was killed,

I wanted to get my hands on
the guy that shot him so bad,

it made me nuts.

But it didn't do any good.

It didn't bring Steve back.

I am still running
this department,

whether you realize it or not.

Charlie, you can't be
objective doing that.

Hell, you could be
a suspect yourself.

Well, then, you better
arrest me, Hunter.

'Cause short of
that, I don't care

if I have to take a leave
of absence or even resign.

I'm going nail this
bastard's skin to my wall.

Please, listen, for a minute.

Maybe you are mistaking
this for a discussion.

Well, I'm going to
make it real clear.

You two are off this case.

Clear enough?

Yes?

Captain Devane
is here to see you, sir.

Send him in.

Come on in, Charlie.

I want you to know how
sorry I am about Sara.

Thank you, Chief.

Sit down, Charlie.

I got a call a while ago
from a Bennett Kirgo.

Name doesn't mean
anything to me.

Mr. Kirgo happens
to be a photographer

for the "LA News,"
or to use your words,

"a sick little freak."

Right.

Well, he caught me
at a very bad time.

That doesn't justify
your behavior, Charlie.

I know that, Chief.

Fortunately, Mr. Kirgo is
a very understanding man.

He accepted my apology on
behalf of the department.

He would like to
hear it from you.

Well, I'm afraid
that's impossible, sir.

Why is that?

I don't apologize
to sick little freaks.

Anything else?

Yes, there's something else.

There's a rumor that you
pulled Hunter and McCall

off this investigation.

That's not a rumor, sir.

I'm going to run it myself.

I owe it to Sara.

I understand.

But I want Hunter and
McCall back on this case.

Now, look...

Charlie, I'm recommending

that you take a week's
leave of absence with pay.

Well, who's going to run...

I think Lieutenant Finn
can handle it for a week,

don't you?

Yes, I do.

Anything else?

I want it clearly
understood that you stay

away from this investigation.

Yeah.

You know, a couple of
nights ago, I was just

closing this place up, and there
was a guy who was in a hurry

to use the phone over there.

It looked like somebody plowed
into the back of his car.

What kind of car was it?

It was a red sedan.

As a matter of fact,
when I asked him

who smacked him in
the back, he told

me to mind my own business.

The guy was a real jerk.

What the guy look like?

He was about as tall
as me, wearing a suit.

Maybe a jacket and pants.

Looked sharp, though.

Of course he wasn't
as handsome as myself.

Would you recognize
him if you saw him again?

Sure, within a minute.

Did he something wrong?

Thanks for the information.

We'll get back to
you, all right?

Yeah, thanks.

Oh, hey, isn't there a reward
or something for this guy?

No, that was a
one week offer only.

Thanks.

Homicide, Captain Devane.

Captain, it's Rocklin.

I was looking for
Hunter and McCall.

They're not here right now.

What's up?

Well, see, I just
called about those prints.

We got an ID on the
girl at the beach.

- Fire away.
- Her name was Kim Parker.

Last known address, 24 Ridge
Road, Wells Canyon, California.

24 Ridge Road,
Wells, California.

Got it.

OK, I'll, uh, I'll
pass it along, thanks.

OK.

Thanks, Captain.

Anybody here?

Anybody home?

Howdy.

Put your hands in the air.
- I'm a police officer.

All right.
Police officer.

Come on down here.

Turn around.

I got a piece on my
belt. My badge and ID's

in my right trouser pocket.

All right.

Turn around.

Charlie Devane.

A neighbor spotted you
driving your car in here.

Didn't recognize it.

Now, I don't know what it's
like in LA, but up around here,

a cop needs a warrant
to break in and enter.

Didn't have time
to look up a judge.

Sorry about that.

Mind telling me
just what it was you

were looking for in there?

Kim Parker was murdered
in LA two days ago.

Yeah.

I heard about that last night.

I was looking for her husband.

I thought maybe he
was hiding inside.

Billy?

Forget it.

He hasn't been here
in 18 months or so.

- Divorced?
- Not really.

What then?

Let's take this
out of the wetness.

There's soda's in the ice box.

How do you know that?

I put 'em there.

So, uh, why did Billy go to LA?

Same reason everyone
does, I guess.

Billy loved the movies.

He used to go over
to the valley,

see three or four
movies in a day.

He ran the video shop
over at Wells Canyon.

No movie question that
Billy couldn't answer.

So, what?

He decided to try his luck.

About two years ago,
a movie company came

into town to shoot some stuff.

I work security for them.
- How about Billy?

Well, he was all over the place.

He did everything that
they would let him do.

Hollywood people liked him.

They, uh, even gave
them a little part.

The part was cut out.

There was one guy
gave Billy a card

and said if he ever came to
Hollywood, to look him up.

Who was this guy?

He must have been
pretty important.

All I ever saw him do is sit
around and talk to the actors.

So, uh, Billy just took off?

Left Kim flat?

He promised to send
for her when he could,

and to send money until then.

Did he ever say
what he was doing?

No.

After about a year, the
money stopped coming,

and, uh, Kim didn't hear
from him just a few days ago.

What do you mean?

Kim just dropped
everything and lit out for LA

like she was on fire.

Didn't give me any details.

Now, she's dead.

Poor Kim.

Did Billy Parker kill his wife?

Not the Billy Parker I know.

I never liked the guy
in the first place,

but he's no killer.

Well, they say that
Hollywood changes some people.

Tell me something.

How old's that photograph?

Make yourself at home.

About six years old.

Wanna see something interesting?

Take a look at that.

That guy look familiar?

Strange place to spend your
leave of absence, Charlie.

Deputy Castle, this
is Sergeant McCall.

I was just leaving.

Charlie, just a second.

Would you excuse us a minute?

Look, I'm sorry.

When the ID on Kim
Parker came in,

and you guys weren't around, I
decided to check it out myself.

I was going to fill you in.

So why didn't you
just leave us a message?

Come on, McCall.

I said I was sorry.
Now, look.

I'm gonna stay out of
your way from now on.

Sergeant Hunter?

Yes?

Mr. Michaels will be
with you in just a moment.

Terrific

- Sergeant Hunter?
- Mr. Michaels.

- Yes.
- How are you?

Fine.

Come on in.

So how may I help you?

Well, I'm actually
looking for Tony Baxter.

Tony Baxter?

Really?

Why?

He's wanted in
a double homicide.

Tony Baxter?

Is it Billy Parker,
or is it Tony Baxter?

Sergeant, please, come in.

Sit down.

Tony isn't in today.

I believe he's on
his way to New York.

You, uh, still haven't
answered my question.

I thought it was rhetorical.

Of course, Billy Parker and
Tony Baxter are the same person.

People change their name
in Hollywood all the time.

In fact, I suggested
he change it.

Why is that?

The name Billy
Parker just wasn't

consistent with
the image I wanted.

Tony Baxter has
much more panache.

Don't you think?

It doesn't do a lot for me.

Um, what brought, uh, Tony to
Hollywood in the first place?

Would you like some tea?

No, not for me.

Thank you.

Oh, yes, Darlene,
bring me my tea, please.

Thank you.

I met Tony on a movie set
in the middle of nowhere.

He was a nice kid,
smart, good looking.

I gave him a card.

I give a lot of people cards.

I never really expected
him to show up, but he did.

I've made stars out
of people with less.

I thought Tony might have
a chance as an actor,

so I took him
around, I introduced

him to the right people.

Everybody liked him.

Only one problem.

What's that?

- Tony can't act.
- Oh, well.

Heh.

And by the time all
the votes were in,

I liked him too much to
just throw them away,

so I gave him a job
here at my agency.

Uh-huh.

Would, uh, that job consist
of marrying Rhonda Stark?

Mr. Stark is a client of mine.

I arranged for Tony
to escort Rhonda

to a few social functions, and
the tabloids have turned it

into the romance of the decade.

No, Sergeant.

I'd say you have as good a
chance of marrying Rhonda Stark

as Tony Baxter does.

Maybe better.

I'm not a murder suspect.

When did these murders happen?

Wednesday morning,
about 2:00 AM.

Well, then, there's no
way that Tony's the killer.

He was with me Wednesday
night till after 3:00 AM.

- Doing what?
- Working.

On a publicity campaign.

For Rhonda Stark.
- Where were you?

On my boat, in Paradise Cove.

Was anybody else there
with you, Mr. Michaels?

Rhonda was there.

Here's your tea, Mr. Michaels.

Thank you, Darlene.

I'll be downstairs
in the telex room.

Fine.

Well, uh, I
appreciate your time.

Thanks very much.

My pleasure.

And if you need
any further help,

please don't hesitate to call.

I'll be in touch
for your statement.

My statement?

Yeah, you know, you, Tony,
and Rhonda on the boat.

We'll need that in writing.

Thanks a lot.

It's out of control.

Completely out of control.

Look, I just got to see you.

We can.

Some... I don't know.

We can get a place in
the mountains somewhere.

And you can wear
makeup, sunglasses...

Tony Baxter?

Just a second.

Who the hell are you?

Name's Devane.

LA Metro Police.

I'll call you back.

You ever hear of knocking?
- Yeah.

I rang your buzzer.

Problems with your girlfriend?

That's none of
your damn business.

- I think it is.
- What are you doing?

Are you crazy?

Shit down, Billy boy.

How's the wife in Wells Canyon?

Kim.

Isn't that her name?

Pretty girl with red hair?

I wouldn't know, man.

We've been separated
for over a year.

I said sit down.

Then I guess you don't
know how her body washed up

on the beach, with a
big dent in her skull

where you bashed in her head?

First, I'm going
to call the cop,

then I'm going to call
a lawyer, because I'm

going to sue you blind.

Maybe you didn't catch the name.

Devane?

As in Sara Devane?

You remember Sara don't you?

Charlie, put the gun down.

Give, me the gun Charlie.

What the are you doing?

Wanton disregard for subject's

constitutional guarantees.

Physical abuse, resulting
in bodily injury

and emotional trauma,
not to mention

insufficient evidence,
bad judgment,

and flat out insubordination.

Do you have anything
to say about all this?

No, sir.

Well, you better come up with
something pretty damn quick,

Captain.

One of the top lawyers in
town just waltzed your boy

out of custody on a writ.

They're going to suck you and
everybody in this department

dry.

That creep murdered
his wife and mine.

We have a sworn statement
that Tony Baxter was on a boat

a half mile offshore the
night of the murders.

The statement is false.

How the hell can you know that?

We don't have any
evidence to prove it.

Face it, Charlie.

You blew the case.

Internal Affairs
is investigating.

The DA won't touch it.

I'm gonna... I'm gonna to
relieve you from duty,

pending the outcome.

Anything else?

Yes.

Your ID, your
badge, and your gun.

The bullets are mine.

Yes?

Yes, this is Sergeant
Hunter, Metropolitan.

The front door's open.

Let yourself in.
I'll be right down.

Excuse the mess.

It's the maid's day off.

Everything looks fine to me.

Well, everything looks
pretty good to me too.

I was expecting a shabby
little man in a raincoat.

You got the wrong TV show.

I think I know the
answer to this question

before I even ask it.

You can't drink
while on duty, right?

Right.

Well, I am not on duty.

Tell me, Sergeant,
what can I do for you?

Well, you can start off
by telling me where you were

Wednesday morning at 2 o'clock?

I was Victor Michael's boat
with Victor and Tony Baxter.

Uh-huh.

Mm-hm.

What's your relationship
with Tony Baxter?

Well, that isn't
easy to explain.

I know, but give me a try.

Sergeant, when I go out,
I go out with the very rich,

the very famous, or
the extremely handsome.

You see, to me, men are a
public relations device.

Most men anyway.

Tony Baxter?

Strictly PR.

Also, not bad in bed.

It's part of the job.

You see, when Victor finally
realized he couldn't have Tony

for himself, he gave him to me.

Victor Michaels?

Why do you think Victor
told Tony to look him up?

Because he could act?

Didn't you know
Tony was married?

Separated.

Sure.

He told me that...

That he was separated.

Yeah.

Well, it's unfortunate that
he didn't tell his wife that.

What are you saying?

Well, Tony Baxter, uh,
just up and left his wife.

Didn't he tell you that?

Sergeant, I think,
um, that this interview

may have been a mistake.

I'm sure that you can
find your way out.

Hm?

You're in love with
Tony Baxter, aren't you?

You know, Rhonda, the more I
start to figure this thing out,

the more I realize you're in
this thing up to your neck.

I mean, Tony Baxter's
wife turns up dead.

You appear to be
the other woman.

Wait till the news media
gets a hold of this.

Movie star, caught
in a murder triangle.

I don't need to listen
to anymore of this.

Thank you.

Let me just tell you something.

Tony Baxter is a murderer.

If you lie for him, you
become an accessory to murder.

You understand that?

That's not the way it is.

You can't prove any of this.
- Oh, yes.

I can.

That night Kim
Parker was murdered,

she was seen in
this neighborhood.

Now that's just too
big of a coincidence.

What the hell happened
that night, Rhonda?

Talk to me.

It was me.

Oh, god.

It was me.

What?

I killed that girl.

She just... she showed up,
and she was screaming at Tony.

She called me a whore.

And she came at me,
so I shoved her.

I just... shoved her away, and
she fell over the coffee table

and hit her head
on the fire place.

And she was dead.

She was just lying there, dead.

It was an accident.

Oh, you see that, don't you?

I mean, it was.

It was an accident.

I... Victor was here,
and he just told Tony...

He told Tony to take her down
to the beach to dump the body,

didn't he?
- No.

And when Tony got back,
he saw the car was dented.

The door was open.

And Kim's body was hanging out.

Sara Devane's name and
address was on the window.

Rhonda.

Did Tony Baxter kill
Sara, or was it...

Very nice, Sergeant Hunter.

Truly remarkable.

It was you that Tony called
from the beach that night,

wasn't it, Victor?

Tony, take his gun.

Tony?

You couldn't get
Tony to commit murder,

could you, Victor?

So you went to Sara Devane's
house, and you strangled her.

Tony, come on.

We're driving Mr. Hunter
down to the beach.

Not this time, Victor.

Well, now, what
do we do, Victor?

Come on.

Let's go.

I mean it.

Victor, you're
making a big mistake.

You've already killed
one human being.

Well, one more won't make
that much difference, will it?

Now open that door
very carefully.

Open it.

Easy.

Easy.

Hold it, Michaels.

Police.

You're under arrest for
the murder of Sara Devane.

I'll kill him.

I swear I will.

If you don't drop
it, I'll kill him.

What are you going
to do now, Victor?

Shut up.

I got him.

Hold it, Victor.

Stay right here.

Please.

You're lucky.

And finally, I want to say
thank you for the flowers

and the kind words.

Believe me, Sara's family
and I really appreciate it.

You're a terrific bunch
of people, and I'm...

I'm glad that the
IA's going to allow

me to continue to be your boss.

The DA is going after murder
one on Victor Michaels,

and Tony Baxter
said that he will

fully cooperate against him.

Well, that's good news.

What about the movie star?

Involuntary manslaughter.

I doubt that she'll
serve any time.

Listen, I, uh,
know there's no two

people who I know how much
trouble this whole thing's

cost me.

So I really do
appreciate all your help.

You're welcome, Charlie.

It's good to be back to work.

Yeah.

It's good to hear you say that.

So, let's go back to work.

OK.