Hunter (1984–1991): Season 6, Episode 14 - Unacceptable Loss - full transcript
Hunter and McCall investigate the illegal disposal of poisonous gas that kills a young boy.
-Liquid cyanide was poured
in a manhole somewhere
near the area, mixed
with acid that was already
in the sewer and the
result was cyanide
gas, odorless, colorless.
-Poor kid didn't
know what hit him.
-The DA is not
willing to prosecute
until we can prove intent.
-If you allow us to
treat this is a homicide,
we'll prove it to you.
-It's our stuff.
The cops think they
can trace it back to us.
Can they?
-What was the
truck doing driving
through a residential area?
-Whoever's responsible
for this boy's death
is going to go to prison
for second degree murder.
-Smooth move.
-I been working on it.
Hey you want to come
over for dinner tonight?
-I can't.
The teacher said she might
give us a pop quiz tomorrow.
-Bring your books and we can
play some Nintendo afterwards.
-Cool.
-Cyanide gas, huh?
-Yeah.
Toxic Waste Forces says
that liquid cyanide was poured
in a man hole
somewhere near the area.
Mixed with acid that was
already in the sewer and the result
was cyanide gas,
odorless, colorless.
-Poor kid, didn't
know what hit him.
-Yeah.
There's Frankie.
Frankie Mason.
Head of the Toxic
Waste Strike Force.
This is my partner,
Sergeant Hunter.
-Hello.
-Miss Mason, How are you?
Any idea how this happened?
-Some jerk tried to
save a lot of money
by dumping
cyanide in the streets
instead of going to a
hazardous waste site.
-Any idea who?
-No.
But we've got a good lead.
-Yeah, she's right.
One of the guys found this
glove in an area about six blocks
over from where we think
the cyanide was dumped.
-We found traces
of cyanide on it
and on the street around
the manhole cover.
-Oh good.
I'll run the inside of
this glove for prints.
-Unfortunately,
this isn't a homicide.
You guys can't
really get involved.
You know that.
-She's right.
-I know that.
We'll run it for you anyway.
-I like your style.
Jimmy!
Jimmy!
Jimmy!
That's my boy's bike.
That's his bike.
-Listen to me.
I'm a police officer.
That's my boy's bike.
-I know, but
please listen to me.
Step over here now.
There's been an accident.
-God, yes.
-Mrs. Morgan.
Take this.
You'll feel better.
-Thank you.
-We're very sorry
about your son.
-I know you'll do everything
you can to find out who did this.
-Mrs. Morgan.
We're with homicide.
Your son's death
will be investigated
by the Toxic Waste Task Force.
-I don't understand.
-What she means is, we will
not be treating this as a homicide.
-But he, it's, it's not like he
was riding his bike in front
of a bus or he
fell or something.
Someone poisoned
him with, with cyanide.
He was murdered.
It's murder.
-Hey, I'd love to prosecute
one of these midnight dumpers,
believe me.
Want to know why we
don't in cases like this?
We can never prove intent.
-Well, let me tell
you something.
If some screwball decided
to put bomb in a school yard,
we could prove intent all right.
That's exactly what
this is, a toxic time bomb.
And it went off.
-I know that.
But I have to deal with reality.
There's just no legal
precedent connecting
toxic dumping with homicide.
-Well I think it's about
time we established one.
-Sergeant, a few years ago
a case landed on my desk.
Product liability.
Gross negligence.
A mother of three
young children died.
I tried to make a
criminal case out of it.
In fact, I became a
little obsessed with it.
In the end, the judge threw
it out, with a reprimand.
Now I didn't mind that so much.
But the look on the husband's
face, on the children's faces...
For them, the law
had just flat out failed.
And it was my fault
for trying to stretch it.
-So what are you saying?
We don't even try it?
-Hunter, I'm saying it's
a case for the civil courts.
I'm sorry.
I wish it wasn't.
But it is.
-He's right, you know.
The DA is not
willing to prosecute
until we can prove intent.
-If you allow us to
treat this as a homicide,
we'll prove intent.
-Look, Captain, whoever
dumped the cyanide
is going to do it again.
-I think you're way
out of line on this one.
-Look, Charlie.
Just gives us a couple of days.
-A couple of days, huh?
-All right.
I guess everyone needs at
least one impossible case.
Keeps you humble.
But I think you two
are pushing rocks
up the hill with your
noses on this one.
-Hydrochloric acid is basically
harmless and fairly common
in the city sewers.
But when you mix it with liquid
cyanide you get cyanide gas.
And that gas killed
little Jimmy Morgan.
-Listen, I think you
should know this.
We're now treating
use case as a homicide.
-Oh, Hunter, if you could
find the people who did this
and get the DA's office to
charge them with homicide,
it would pave the way for
other DAs to take a shot.
-Hi.
-Hi.
You were right.
There were latent prints
inside that rubber glove.
NCIC traced them
to a Larry Taylor
and Mr. Taylor is
currently working
at Lender Chemical Company.
-This is William 56.
Currently Code 6 at
Lender Chemical Company.
May I help you?
-I'm Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.
Is Mr. Lender in?
-No.
I'm afraid he's not.
He's in Washington, DC.
-Do you know when he'll be back?
-Tomorrow.
Is there something
that I can do to help?
-Yeah, perhaps so.
Uh, where can I
find Larry Taylor?
Mr. Taylor?
-Yeah.
-Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.
Investigating illegal
dumping of toxic materials
into an LA city sewer.
Young boy was killed last night.
-Damn.
That's awful.
So, you're checking with all the
chemical companies, is that it?
-Well, not exactly.
You see, we found
a glove near the site.
It has your fingerprints
on the inside.
-A glove?
-Yes.
Must have been one I
lost two or three weeks ago.
Fell off the back of the truck.
Where'd you find it?
Right near the manhole where
you dumped the liquid cyanide.
-That's a bunch of bunk.
Everything I do is
strictly by the book.
-Where does this
company dump it's cyanide?
-All the cyanide we
use is processed legally
at the Nelson Disposal in Chino.
-Legally, huh?
-Yeah.
-We'll see about that.
The boy was identified
as 12-year-old Jenny
Morgan of Northridge.
He was pronounced
dead on arrival
at a local emergency hospital...
-Honey.
He was overcome...
-Back from the wars.
-How are you?
-Great.
Just great.
We got the government contract.
-Nice.
I'll tell you, things
keep going like we're
going to have
the best year ever.
What's wrong?
-Oh, there was just something
very upsetting on the news.
A 12-year-old boy died
of cyanide poisoning.
Somebody dumped
it in the sewers.
-Oh, God, that's terrible.
-You know, I wish you
didn't have to work with it.
It's so dangerous.
What if there was an
accident at the plant?
-Julia, I've told you
a thousand times.
All our waste is processed.
-Costs a lot of money, but we
do it just so something like this
won't happen.
-The mother of that poor
child, if you had seen her face.
-That's what you get for
watching the late news.
It just depresses you.
Hey.
I've got a terrific idea.
I was thinking on the plane.
Why don't you and I go up
to the cabin this weekend.
-Hm.
-Do a little fishing.
-You'll fish.
I'll watch.
And you have to
clean what you catch.
-Fine.
-Hm.
-It's so late.
-I bet you ten to one
it's the night foreman.
I'm home, what, five minutes?
Hello?
-Ben, it's Larry.
You see the 11 o'clock
news about that kid?
-Yeah, heard
something about it, why?
-Well, that's our stuff, Ben.
-Really?
-Yeah, really.
The cops have
been out to the plant.
They think they can
trace it back to us.
-Can they?
-I don't know.
Look, there's nothing
we can do about it now.
I'll talk to you in the morning.
-Is something wrong?
-No, no.
It's just a power
shortage at the plant.
They're working on it now.
It'll be done in a couple hours.
-I'm sorry.
-It happens.
Hey, you're just
who I'm looking for.
Lender's secretary called.
Said that he would
like to meet with us.
If it's convenient.
-How long have you
known Larry Taylor?
-Larry?
Oh, ever since I
founded the company.
Actually we go back
farther than that.
He served under
me in the military.
That's why, after
all these years,
I just don't see how
it's possible Larry would
have dumped
cyanide in the sewers.
We both have the same feelings
about corporate responsibility.
-How do you explain the glove?
-Well, you yourself
said that it found
less than two
miles from the plant.
It probably did
just fall off the truck.
-Well, wait a
minute, Mr. Lender.
-What was the
truck doing driving
through a residential area?
-He's was probably
looking for the shortest route.
-Well, I don't buy that.
-Look, Sergeant,
I'm just as concerned
about this as you are.
Remember, it was
me who called you.
-Yeah, after Larry
Taylor called you.
-Of course he did.
He was upset about your
suspicions, and so am I.
-Dianne, do you want to come
in here for a second, please.
The point is I'm willing
to open my books
to you right now, today.
Dianne, would you make copies
of all the transactions between us
and Nelson Disposals and
given them to the officers.
-Certainly.
-Thank you very much.
-You're welcome.
-Look, Mr. Lender, Larry
Taylor may be saying one thing
and doing another.
If you suspect he may be
cutting corners for personal gain,
I suggest you tell us right now.
-Let me tell you something.
I've known Larry
a very long time.
And I'll stand behind
him because I honestly
believe he wouldn't
do something like this.
-Lender's records are
pretty straightforward.
He can account for every
ounce of liquid cyanide
he's disposed of.
-You believe him?
-Please.
If I believed every document
I got from the chemical
companies, we wouldn't
catch anyone for dumping.
It's just that I'd be
more skeptical if it wasn't
Nelson Disposal
handling his waste.
-What do you mean?
-Howard Nelson runs the
most reputable firm in the state.
He's a decent guy.
Not the kind to be involved
in something like this.
-Then you don't think I
should check him out.
-Check him.
-Howard Nelson?
-That's right.
-Sergeant Hunter, LA Homicide.
-Oh, yeah.
Your office called.
-A little off the beaten
track for you, isn't it?
-Well, a little bit.
I'm investigating a homicide
that occurred in Los Angeles.
A little boy, Jimmy Morgan.
Was killed from cyanide gas.
-Yeah, I read about it.
It was terrible.
What can I do for you?
-I understand you
handle all the toxic waste
disposal for Lender Chemical.
-Yeah, I have for more
than five years now.
-Would it be all right if I
took a look at their records?
-You think that Ben
Lender had something
to do with this thing?
-It's a possibility.
-I don't understand.
I mean, we handle the
disposal of all their cyanide.
If there was anything
unusual, we'd know about it.
-What do you know
about Larry Taylor?
-Well, he delivers all of
Lender's waste products
out there, but I
barely know him.
-I see.
-This paperwork only
covers the last 12 months.
I can get the rest for you
on microfilm if you need it.
-Yeah, I'd greatly
appreciate it.
Thank you.
-The Toxic Task
Force people usually
investigate these incidents.
-Yes, they usually do.
But whoever's responsible
for this boy's death
is going to go to prison
for second degree murder.
-It's about time!
-Calm down, Howard.
It's not the end of the world.
-Don't tell me to calm down.
That cop knows this moron
dumped the cyanide in the sewer.
-Watch your mouth.
-That was never the deal.
He was supposed to be
dumping it out in the Mojave desert.
-Listen up now, Howard.
They put the squeeze on Larry.
Nobody ever expected
anything like this to happen.
-The boy's dead, Ben.
Don't you understand?
-God knows, we're all sorry
about what happened to the boy.
But we have to go on.
Nothing anybody can do is
ever going to bring that kid back.
-Well, it's not going
to happen again.
-What does that mean?
-It means I'm out.
Find someone else
to cover for you.
-It's not that simple, Howard.
-I did what you want.
I covered for you with that cop.
But that's it.
-It's not enough.
Look, I just landed a
government contract.
It means we're all going
to make a lot of money.
But I can't do it for the
price I paid without you.
Look, Larry's not going to
dump in the sewers anymore.
We're going to find
something else to do.
Howard, don't let me down.
-I'm sorry, Ben.
-You're sorry.
Well, I'll tell you, you'd
have been a lot sorrier
if I'd let your company
slide into bankruptcy.
I saved your butt.
Now you're going to hang me.
We're going on, Howard.
We're going to be careful.
But we are going on.
-You could be dead wrong
about Lender on this one.
What do you got, a glove?
-Yeah, with Taylor's
fingerprints on the inside.
-There are still people out in
the street killing each other.
I am having a
tough time justifying
the man hours on this one.
-Just a second now.
McCall is doing an
in depth background
check on Nelson
disposal as we speak.
-Sergeant Hunter?
-Oh, Miss.
Morgan.
Yeah, come on in.
This is our Captain,
Charles Devane.
This is Miss Morgan.
Jimmy's mother.
-How do you do.
-I was very sorry to
hear about your son.
-Thank you.
I realize that you're very busy.
But I just spoke to Mr. Rios
in the District Attorney's office.
And he told me
how difficult it was
going to be to prove anything.
-Well, it's, it's a very
complicated case unfortunately.
-I wanted to tell
you how grateful
I am that you're pursuing this.
Something like this
should never happen again.
If one child's life can be
spared... Thank you very much.
-Miss Morgan, we're going to
do everything we possibly can.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
I'll let you get back to work.
-Thanks for coming down.
-Thank you.
-Keep digging.
-Hey, I've been looking for you.
-What's up?
-I've been going over public
records trying to figure who's
behind this dummy corporation
called Majestic Investors.
They bought into
Nelson Disposal at 51%.
And that's when Nelson
was deep in the red.
-Well, who owns Majestic?
-This is the part I like.
The Chief Operations Officer
is listed as a Julia Fitzgibbons.
Fitzgibbons is the maiden
name of Lender's wife.
-Mrs. Lender?
-Yes?
I'm Sergeant
Hunter, LA Homicide.
I was wondering if I
might be able to have
a word with you
and your husband.
-Of course.
-Thank you.
-What is this about?
-It's about your company,
Nelson Disposal.
-I have no idea what
you're talking about.
-Well, Majestic owns 50
percent of Nelson Disposal.
-Majestic?
-Yes, your company.
-Excuse me.
If you want to know
about Majestic,
I suggest you talk to me.
-Excuse me.
-Yes, sure.
-You know, Mr. Lender, the
one thing I still don't understand
is why did you buy
into Nelson Disposal
through a dummy
corporation anyway?
Why didn't you just buy into
it through Lender Chemical?
-What are you implying?
-Why did you
have to disguise it?
-Disguise?
Look, Sergeant,
if my competitors
knew I was doing
business with that company,
Nelson would have
lost all the contracts.
It would have been
a conflict of interest.
Look, you got any more
questions to ask me,
I'll meet you in your
office with my attorney.
-I want to thank
you for your time.
Thank you, Mrs. Lender.
I'll let myself out.
-What's this about
Majestic Investors?
-It's not important.
-Then why was he here?
-Well, they're just
doing their job.
He's probably checking
with every chemical company
in Los Angeles.
I just happen to be on his list.
Hey.
Look at me.
You don't really
think I'm involved
with something
like that, do you?
-No.
No, of course not.
-Hunter.
Ben Lender can own or
purchase any company
he wants under another name.
-I understand that.
But this guy's guilty.
-You can't confuse
circumstances with the hard facts
I need to prove it in court.
-Rios, wait a minute.
What do you think I'm going
to do, give you a bad case?
-Look, I feel the
same way you do.
But you've got to come up
with a strong enough case for me
to justify giving it priority.
There are pressures here
that you don't know about.
-And there's a
mother who deserves
to have an answer
for her son's death.
-You are some piece of work.
-What do you want me to do?
-If I prove intent,
will you prosecute
Ben Lender for
second degree murder?
-Find me that evidence.
-Get that thing out of here.
-What?
-I'm not doing business
with you any more.
-What are you, nuts?
-Move it.
-Hey.
-Tell Lender to find
another dump site.
-Yeah, I'll tell him.
I'll tell him he can't
dump on his own property.
-It's still half mine
and I run this operation.
-You having a
problem, Mr. Nelson?
-Nah, there's no problem.
I'll tell Mr. Lender
what you said.
-Move it now.
-Guy is squirrely, Ben.
-I'm worried.
-Take it easy.
In a few days, this
whole thing will blow over
and Nelson will calm down.
-And what if he
goes to the cops?
-He wouldn't do that.
Well, I'm going to have a
private little conversation
with him, just to make sure.
-You leave him alone.
Don't you understand he's
got the same problem we have?
-What he's got is
a guilty conscience.
-If he talks, he
goes to prison too.
So forget it.
Besides, he's got
a son he adores.
He wouldn't do that.
Now get out of here.
I've got a customer coming.
-Right.
Yes, I understand.
OK, thank you.
Bye, bye.
-What's up?
I've been talking to some
of Lender's competitors.
Every one of them
says that Lender
has been a real problem
for them in the past year.
The guy has underbid all of
them on government contracts.
And some of the
managers have come out
flat and said that
they don't know
how this man can bid so low.
-Well, I know how he's doing it.
He's cutting corners.
-Which allows him to
get the big contracts.
Which means he's
producing more toxic waste.
-Absolutely.
-How much toxic waste do
you think he's dumping illegally?
-Well, I couldn't
tell you exactly.
But it's enough to pose a
major hazard to the community
and Lender has to know that.
-Would you be willing
to testify to that?
-Oh, I would look forward to it.
-Ok, look, What I've
got to find out now
is much toxic waste
he's given to Nelson
and how much he's
putting down the sewers.
-Yeah, but for that, you
need documentation.
-You think he's keeping
two sets of books?
-Possible, but how are you
going to find those books?
-That's my problem.
-Hello.
Hello, short stuff.
OK, so you're big stuff.
What's up?
Of course I haven't
forgotten about your ball game
on Saturday.
I wouldn't miss it for anything.
Look, tell your mom I'll pick
you up at 9 o'clock sharp, OK?
You know I love
you, don't you, Blake?
I love you very much.
So long, slugger.
-Hunter.
Homicide.
Listen, I've got some
information for you
on this illegal dumping case.
And the little boy.
-Yeah.
Who's this?
-Hello?
Hello.
-I don't believe this.
This isn't happening.
-He was on the phone to a cop.
-How could you?
-Your friend, Howard,
was going to sell us out.
-You don't know that.
-Well, now I know he won't.
Don't worry, Ben.
Don't worry.
-Shut up.
-Get your hands off me.
-Get out of my sight.
-Why won't you tell me?
-I told you, I have a
meeting hit the plant.
-At nine o'clock at night?
-The foreman called.
Something came up.
-When?
When did he call?
No, that is not good enough.
-Well it was always good
enough for you before.
Since when are you
worried about my work?
All you ever cared
about was whether or not
the money kept rolling it.
Now I've got to go.
-I want to know the truth
about why you used my name
on that dummy
corporation to buy part
of Howard Nelson's company.
Was it so that you could
dump cyanide in this sewers?
-I told you it was
for tax reasons.
-You tell me what you
think I want to hear.
But right now I want
to know the truth, Ben.
Are you responsible
for that child's death?
-I never expected it to happen.
It was just a freak accident.
-Oh, my God.
-Julia.
If I could have died
instead of that kid,
believe me I would have.
-You did this?
For what?
To save money?
-I did it to keep the
company from going under.
I wanted to keep it alive.
How do you think I made
payments on this house?
How do you think I paid for
every single thing you've got,
your clothes, your car, all
your constant trips to Europe.
-Now, now it's my fault?
-I didn't expect this to happen.
-What are you going to do?
-I could go to this
Sergeant Hunter.
Tell him everything.
I'd go to jail.
Lose every single
thing we've got.
Julia, I would do this I would
this if you would forgive me.
-No, I don't want that.
Oh, Ben.
-I love you.
I have to go.
-Hi.
-What is it?
-You said you would tell her.
-I know.
You think you would tell
her when you come back
from Washington and you're back.
-Dianne, this
isn't the right time.
-Isn't it? Well you know what?
I don't think there's
going to be a right time.
-Wait, wait, wait a second.
Just wait a second, please.
Listen to me.
Just listen.
First of all, I've got a lot of
major problems in the business.
I can't just go to
Julie and tell her
I'm leaving her without,
without lawyers and things.
I want you to have
the best of everything
and I can't do that if the
company goes belly up.
-Why didn't you tell me
were having problems?
-Because I didn't
want you to worry.
I know the kind of
stress you've been under.
Pretending at work.
Meeting in secret.
Besides, I think
you're wonderful.
Come on, let's eat.
-Oh, Ben.
-All right.
So this guy Lender's
cheating on his wife.
Or maybe he's just looking
for some shoulder to cry on.
How does this help us?
-Captain, there's a case
building here somehow.
-I think she's right.
-All right.
So what about you?
What have you got
on Howard Nelson?
-Well, I tried his house.
He's not home.
His secretary said he hasn't
shown up for work this morning.
-Sounds like he got cold feet.
-Yeah, well look, I'm going
to drive back out there.
I got some people to talk to.
-I haven't seen Howard all day.
I'm a little worried.
He's usually the first one here
in the morning and the last one
to leave.
-When's the last
time you saw him?
-About quitting time.
He was still in his office.
-Was his car here this morning?
-No.
-Tell me what's
all this out here?
-Once the toxic waste has
been treated, we bury it in that pit
out there.
-We found Nelson's car about
five blocks away from here
outside a local bar.
No sign of Nelson.
-Sergeant Hunter.
I think we got something.
-Just go through the
whole list and afterwards, I'll
talk to you about
how far we should go.
Sergeant Hunter.
-Mr. Lender.
I have an arrest
warrant for Larry Taylor
for the murder of Howard Nelson.
-Howard?
Dead?
-We found his
fingerprints on the murder
weapon buried with the body.
-It couldn't have been Larry.
I can't believe this.
-Well, I think you can.
-Wait, if you think
I had anything
to do with Nelson's
death, you're crazy.
-We'll see what
Taylor says about it.
-Taylor!
Hold it right there.
Hold it right there,
Taylor, freeze.
Taylor.
-Guess you heard.
I know.
Lender walked.
Sorry.
-Lender claims that Howard
Nelson and Larry Taylor were
responsible for
all of the dumping.
-Yeah, I know and
Rios went for it, right?
Well, he and the
toxic waste people
went through the
paperwork at Lender's office
and they didn't find anything.
-Look, you know the score.
-Without hard documentation that
Lender knew what was going on,
Rios still can't prove intent.
-Now, you know, Larry
Taylor was our only shot
at nailing Lender.
- Yeah, I know.
And he's dead.
So now what do we do?
-There's nothing more we can do.
-It's over.
-Ben.
-Julia.
You shouldn't be here right now.
-I heard what happened.
-I had nothing to
do with the death
of either one of those men.
-I know.
If, if only you haven't
dumped that poison.
-We just have to live with it.
-Can you really do that, Ben?
-What do you suggest?
-Maybe you have
to go to the police.
- That's crazy.
- Tell them everything.
Just explain the circumstances.
-They'd put me
away for twenty years.
They tried.
They can't.
They have no proof.
Because Howard
and Larry are dead.
My going to prison isn't
going to bring them back.
You'd be alone.
-Ben, I got the
papers from the bank.
You... Oh, uh,
hello, Mrs. Lender.
-Julia.
Go home.
We'll talk about this later.
-What's the matter?
-This woman is going
to bury her son today.
The bastard
responsible for his death
is going to get away free.
-I know.
-If we could only nail Lender
for the murder of that boy.
Maybe the next guy decides
to dump toxic waste in the city
sewer would
think twice about it.
At least Miss Morgan
would have that.
Now what am I going to tell her?
-Why don't you
just tell her that?
Come on.
Let's go.
-Mrs. Morgan I just wanted
to say how sorry I am.
-What's Mrs. Lender doing here?
-I don't know.
Kind of peculiar,
don't you think?
-I just read about what
happened and I wanted...
I wanted to say how
badly I feel for your loss.
-I'll go talk to her.
I'll be right back.
Mrs. Lender.
Somewhat surprised
to see you here today.
-I read about it.
I just felt badly and
I wanted to attend.
You know, Your husband's
responsible for that boy's
death, don't you?
-I have to go.
-Are you're going
to the funerals of all
your husband's
victims, Mrs. Lender?
-What do you want?
-I want your help.
Now, there have got to be
records that explain exactly
what's going on at
Lender Chemical.
-Whatever Ben is, he is
my husband, and I love him.
And he loves me.
-Are you sure about that?
-You OK?
-Yeah.
I'm fine.
Kind of a low thing
I did to Mrs. Lender.
-Probably would've found
out about the affair anyway.
-Sergeant Hunter.
-What the hell?
What's going on here?
-I have a warrant
for your arrest
for second degree murder.
-That's nonsense.
-We have the
evidence, Mr. Lender.
-That's impossible.
-Your wife gave us the
key to a safe deposit box.
Inside it we found
your real set of books.
We also found $500,000 in cash.
That's the money Howard
Nelson kicked back to you.
-You ought to feel real good
about yourself, Mr. Lender.
You're about to make history
in California criminal law.
in a manhole somewhere
near the area, mixed
with acid that was already
in the sewer and the
result was cyanide
gas, odorless, colorless.
-Poor kid didn't
know what hit him.
-The DA is not
willing to prosecute
until we can prove intent.
-If you allow us to
treat this is a homicide,
we'll prove it to you.
-It's our stuff.
The cops think they
can trace it back to us.
Can they?
-What was the
truck doing driving
through a residential area?
-Whoever's responsible
for this boy's death
is going to go to prison
for second degree murder.
-Smooth move.
-I been working on it.
Hey you want to come
over for dinner tonight?
-I can't.
The teacher said she might
give us a pop quiz tomorrow.
-Bring your books and we can
play some Nintendo afterwards.
-Cool.
-Cyanide gas, huh?
-Yeah.
Toxic Waste Forces says
that liquid cyanide was poured
in a man hole
somewhere near the area.
Mixed with acid that was
already in the sewer and the result
was cyanide gas,
odorless, colorless.
-Poor kid, didn't
know what hit him.
-Yeah.
There's Frankie.
Frankie Mason.
Head of the Toxic
Waste Strike Force.
This is my partner,
Sergeant Hunter.
-Hello.
-Miss Mason, How are you?
Any idea how this happened?
-Some jerk tried to
save a lot of money
by dumping
cyanide in the streets
instead of going to a
hazardous waste site.
-Any idea who?
-No.
But we've got a good lead.
-Yeah, she's right.
One of the guys found this
glove in an area about six blocks
over from where we think
the cyanide was dumped.
-We found traces
of cyanide on it
and on the street around
the manhole cover.
-Oh good.
I'll run the inside of
this glove for prints.
-Unfortunately,
this isn't a homicide.
You guys can't
really get involved.
You know that.
-She's right.
-I know that.
We'll run it for you anyway.
-I like your style.
Jimmy!
Jimmy!
Jimmy!
That's my boy's bike.
That's his bike.
-Listen to me.
I'm a police officer.
That's my boy's bike.
-I know, but
please listen to me.
Step over here now.
There's been an accident.
-God, yes.
-Mrs. Morgan.
Take this.
You'll feel better.
-Thank you.
-We're very sorry
about your son.
-I know you'll do everything
you can to find out who did this.
-Mrs. Morgan.
We're with homicide.
Your son's death
will be investigated
by the Toxic Waste Task Force.
-I don't understand.
-What she means is, we will
not be treating this as a homicide.
-But he, it's, it's not like he
was riding his bike in front
of a bus or he
fell or something.
Someone poisoned
him with, with cyanide.
He was murdered.
It's murder.
-Hey, I'd love to prosecute
one of these midnight dumpers,
believe me.
Want to know why we
don't in cases like this?
We can never prove intent.
-Well, let me tell
you something.
If some screwball decided
to put bomb in a school yard,
we could prove intent all right.
That's exactly what
this is, a toxic time bomb.
And it went off.
-I know that.
But I have to deal with reality.
There's just no legal
precedent connecting
toxic dumping with homicide.
-Well I think it's about
time we established one.
-Sergeant, a few years ago
a case landed on my desk.
Product liability.
Gross negligence.
A mother of three
young children died.
I tried to make a
criminal case out of it.
In fact, I became a
little obsessed with it.
In the end, the judge threw
it out, with a reprimand.
Now I didn't mind that so much.
But the look on the husband's
face, on the children's faces...
For them, the law
had just flat out failed.
And it was my fault
for trying to stretch it.
-So what are you saying?
We don't even try it?
-Hunter, I'm saying it's
a case for the civil courts.
I'm sorry.
I wish it wasn't.
But it is.
-He's right, you know.
The DA is not
willing to prosecute
until we can prove intent.
-If you allow us to
treat this as a homicide,
we'll prove intent.
-Look, Captain, whoever
dumped the cyanide
is going to do it again.
-I think you're way
out of line on this one.
-Look, Charlie.
Just gives us a couple of days.
-A couple of days, huh?
-All right.
I guess everyone needs at
least one impossible case.
Keeps you humble.
But I think you two
are pushing rocks
up the hill with your
noses on this one.
-Hydrochloric acid is basically
harmless and fairly common
in the city sewers.
But when you mix it with liquid
cyanide you get cyanide gas.
And that gas killed
little Jimmy Morgan.
-Listen, I think you
should know this.
We're now treating
use case as a homicide.
-Oh, Hunter, if you could
find the people who did this
and get the DA's office to
charge them with homicide,
it would pave the way for
other DAs to take a shot.
-Hi.
-Hi.
You were right.
There were latent prints
inside that rubber glove.
NCIC traced them
to a Larry Taylor
and Mr. Taylor is
currently working
at Lender Chemical Company.
-This is William 56.
Currently Code 6 at
Lender Chemical Company.
May I help you?
-I'm Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.
Is Mr. Lender in?
-No.
I'm afraid he's not.
He's in Washington, DC.
-Do you know when he'll be back?
-Tomorrow.
Is there something
that I can do to help?
-Yeah, perhaps so.
Uh, where can I
find Larry Taylor?
Mr. Taylor?
-Yeah.
-Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.
Investigating illegal
dumping of toxic materials
into an LA city sewer.
Young boy was killed last night.
-Damn.
That's awful.
So, you're checking with all the
chemical companies, is that it?
-Well, not exactly.
You see, we found
a glove near the site.
It has your fingerprints
on the inside.
-A glove?
-Yes.
Must have been one I
lost two or three weeks ago.
Fell off the back of the truck.
Where'd you find it?
Right near the manhole where
you dumped the liquid cyanide.
-That's a bunch of bunk.
Everything I do is
strictly by the book.
-Where does this
company dump it's cyanide?
-All the cyanide we
use is processed legally
at the Nelson Disposal in Chino.
-Legally, huh?
-Yeah.
-We'll see about that.
The boy was identified
as 12-year-old Jenny
Morgan of Northridge.
He was pronounced
dead on arrival
at a local emergency hospital...
-Honey.
He was overcome...
-Back from the wars.
-How are you?
-Great.
Just great.
We got the government contract.
-Nice.
I'll tell you, things
keep going like we're
going to have
the best year ever.
What's wrong?
-Oh, there was just something
very upsetting on the news.
A 12-year-old boy died
of cyanide poisoning.
Somebody dumped
it in the sewers.
-Oh, God, that's terrible.
-You know, I wish you
didn't have to work with it.
It's so dangerous.
What if there was an
accident at the plant?
-Julia, I've told you
a thousand times.
All our waste is processed.
-Costs a lot of money, but we
do it just so something like this
won't happen.
-The mother of that poor
child, if you had seen her face.
-That's what you get for
watching the late news.
It just depresses you.
Hey.
I've got a terrific idea.
I was thinking on the plane.
Why don't you and I go up
to the cabin this weekend.
-Hm.
-Do a little fishing.
-You'll fish.
I'll watch.
And you have to
clean what you catch.
-Fine.
-Hm.
-It's so late.
-I bet you ten to one
it's the night foreman.
I'm home, what, five minutes?
Hello?
-Ben, it's Larry.
You see the 11 o'clock
news about that kid?
-Yeah, heard
something about it, why?
-Well, that's our stuff, Ben.
-Really?
-Yeah, really.
The cops have
been out to the plant.
They think they can
trace it back to us.
-Can they?
-I don't know.
Look, there's nothing
we can do about it now.
I'll talk to you in the morning.
-Is something wrong?
-No, no.
It's just a power
shortage at the plant.
They're working on it now.
It'll be done in a couple hours.
-I'm sorry.
-It happens.
Hey, you're just
who I'm looking for.
Lender's secretary called.
Said that he would
like to meet with us.
If it's convenient.
-How long have you
known Larry Taylor?
-Larry?
Oh, ever since I
founded the company.
Actually we go back
farther than that.
He served under
me in the military.
That's why, after
all these years,
I just don't see how
it's possible Larry would
have dumped
cyanide in the sewers.
We both have the same feelings
about corporate responsibility.
-How do you explain the glove?
-Well, you yourself
said that it found
less than two
miles from the plant.
It probably did
just fall off the truck.
-Well, wait a
minute, Mr. Lender.
-What was the
truck doing driving
through a residential area?
-He's was probably
looking for the shortest route.
-Well, I don't buy that.
-Look, Sergeant,
I'm just as concerned
about this as you are.
Remember, it was
me who called you.
-Yeah, after Larry
Taylor called you.
-Of course he did.
He was upset about your
suspicions, and so am I.
-Dianne, do you want to come
in here for a second, please.
The point is I'm willing
to open my books
to you right now, today.
Dianne, would you make copies
of all the transactions between us
and Nelson Disposals and
given them to the officers.
-Certainly.
-Thank you very much.
-You're welcome.
-Look, Mr. Lender, Larry
Taylor may be saying one thing
and doing another.
If you suspect he may be
cutting corners for personal gain,
I suggest you tell us right now.
-Let me tell you something.
I've known Larry
a very long time.
And I'll stand behind
him because I honestly
believe he wouldn't
do something like this.
-Lender's records are
pretty straightforward.
He can account for every
ounce of liquid cyanide
he's disposed of.
-You believe him?
-Please.
If I believed every document
I got from the chemical
companies, we wouldn't
catch anyone for dumping.
It's just that I'd be
more skeptical if it wasn't
Nelson Disposal
handling his waste.
-What do you mean?
-Howard Nelson runs the
most reputable firm in the state.
He's a decent guy.
Not the kind to be involved
in something like this.
-Then you don't think I
should check him out.
-Check him.
-Howard Nelson?
-That's right.
-Sergeant Hunter, LA Homicide.
-Oh, yeah.
Your office called.
-A little off the beaten
track for you, isn't it?
-Well, a little bit.
I'm investigating a homicide
that occurred in Los Angeles.
A little boy, Jimmy Morgan.
Was killed from cyanide gas.
-Yeah, I read about it.
It was terrible.
What can I do for you?
-I understand you
handle all the toxic waste
disposal for Lender Chemical.
-Yeah, I have for more
than five years now.
-Would it be all right if I
took a look at their records?
-You think that Ben
Lender had something
to do with this thing?
-It's a possibility.
-I don't understand.
I mean, we handle the
disposal of all their cyanide.
If there was anything
unusual, we'd know about it.
-What do you know
about Larry Taylor?
-Well, he delivers all of
Lender's waste products
out there, but I
barely know him.
-I see.
-This paperwork only
covers the last 12 months.
I can get the rest for you
on microfilm if you need it.
-Yeah, I'd greatly
appreciate it.
Thank you.
-The Toxic Task
Force people usually
investigate these incidents.
-Yes, they usually do.
But whoever's responsible
for this boy's death
is going to go to prison
for second degree murder.
-It's about time!
-Calm down, Howard.
It's not the end of the world.
-Don't tell me to calm down.
That cop knows this moron
dumped the cyanide in the sewer.
-Watch your mouth.
-That was never the deal.
He was supposed to be
dumping it out in the Mojave desert.
-Listen up now, Howard.
They put the squeeze on Larry.
Nobody ever expected
anything like this to happen.
-The boy's dead, Ben.
Don't you understand?
-God knows, we're all sorry
about what happened to the boy.
But we have to go on.
Nothing anybody can do is
ever going to bring that kid back.
-Well, it's not going
to happen again.
-What does that mean?
-It means I'm out.
Find someone else
to cover for you.
-It's not that simple, Howard.
-I did what you want.
I covered for you with that cop.
But that's it.
-It's not enough.
Look, I just landed a
government contract.
It means we're all going
to make a lot of money.
But I can't do it for the
price I paid without you.
Look, Larry's not going to
dump in the sewers anymore.
We're going to find
something else to do.
Howard, don't let me down.
-I'm sorry, Ben.
-You're sorry.
Well, I'll tell you, you'd
have been a lot sorrier
if I'd let your company
slide into bankruptcy.
I saved your butt.
Now you're going to hang me.
We're going on, Howard.
We're going to be careful.
But we are going on.
-You could be dead wrong
about Lender on this one.
What do you got, a glove?
-Yeah, with Taylor's
fingerprints on the inside.
-There are still people out in
the street killing each other.
I am having a
tough time justifying
the man hours on this one.
-Just a second now.
McCall is doing an
in depth background
check on Nelson
disposal as we speak.
-Sergeant Hunter?
-Oh, Miss.
Morgan.
Yeah, come on in.
This is our Captain,
Charles Devane.
This is Miss Morgan.
Jimmy's mother.
-How do you do.
-I was very sorry to
hear about your son.
-Thank you.
I realize that you're very busy.
But I just spoke to Mr. Rios
in the District Attorney's office.
And he told me
how difficult it was
going to be to prove anything.
-Well, it's, it's a very
complicated case unfortunately.
-I wanted to tell
you how grateful
I am that you're pursuing this.
Something like this
should never happen again.
If one child's life can be
spared... Thank you very much.
-Miss Morgan, we're going to
do everything we possibly can.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
I'll let you get back to work.
-Thanks for coming down.
-Thank you.
-Keep digging.
-Hey, I've been looking for you.
-What's up?
-I've been going over public
records trying to figure who's
behind this dummy corporation
called Majestic Investors.
They bought into
Nelson Disposal at 51%.
And that's when Nelson
was deep in the red.
-Well, who owns Majestic?
-This is the part I like.
The Chief Operations Officer
is listed as a Julia Fitzgibbons.
Fitzgibbons is the maiden
name of Lender's wife.
-Mrs. Lender?
-Yes?
I'm Sergeant
Hunter, LA Homicide.
I was wondering if I
might be able to have
a word with you
and your husband.
-Of course.
-Thank you.
-What is this about?
-It's about your company,
Nelson Disposal.
-I have no idea what
you're talking about.
-Well, Majestic owns 50
percent of Nelson Disposal.
-Majestic?
-Yes, your company.
-Excuse me.
If you want to know
about Majestic,
I suggest you talk to me.
-Excuse me.
-Yes, sure.
-You know, Mr. Lender, the
one thing I still don't understand
is why did you buy
into Nelson Disposal
through a dummy
corporation anyway?
Why didn't you just buy into
it through Lender Chemical?
-What are you implying?
-Why did you
have to disguise it?
-Disguise?
Look, Sergeant,
if my competitors
knew I was doing
business with that company,
Nelson would have
lost all the contracts.
It would have been
a conflict of interest.
Look, you got any more
questions to ask me,
I'll meet you in your
office with my attorney.
-I want to thank
you for your time.
Thank you, Mrs. Lender.
I'll let myself out.
-What's this about
Majestic Investors?
-It's not important.
-Then why was he here?
-Well, they're just
doing their job.
He's probably checking
with every chemical company
in Los Angeles.
I just happen to be on his list.
Hey.
Look at me.
You don't really
think I'm involved
with something
like that, do you?
-No.
No, of course not.
-Hunter.
Ben Lender can own or
purchase any company
he wants under another name.
-I understand that.
But this guy's guilty.
-You can't confuse
circumstances with the hard facts
I need to prove it in court.
-Rios, wait a minute.
What do you think I'm going
to do, give you a bad case?
-Look, I feel the
same way you do.
But you've got to come up
with a strong enough case for me
to justify giving it priority.
There are pressures here
that you don't know about.
-And there's a
mother who deserves
to have an answer
for her son's death.
-You are some piece of work.
-What do you want me to do?
-If I prove intent,
will you prosecute
Ben Lender for
second degree murder?
-Find me that evidence.
-Get that thing out of here.
-What?
-I'm not doing business
with you any more.
-What are you, nuts?
-Move it.
-Hey.
-Tell Lender to find
another dump site.
-Yeah, I'll tell him.
I'll tell him he can't
dump on his own property.
-It's still half mine
and I run this operation.
-You having a
problem, Mr. Nelson?
-Nah, there's no problem.
I'll tell Mr. Lender
what you said.
-Move it now.
-Guy is squirrely, Ben.
-I'm worried.
-Take it easy.
In a few days, this
whole thing will blow over
and Nelson will calm down.
-And what if he
goes to the cops?
-He wouldn't do that.
Well, I'm going to have a
private little conversation
with him, just to make sure.
-You leave him alone.
Don't you understand he's
got the same problem we have?
-What he's got is
a guilty conscience.
-If he talks, he
goes to prison too.
So forget it.
Besides, he's got
a son he adores.
He wouldn't do that.
Now get out of here.
I've got a customer coming.
-Right.
Yes, I understand.
OK, thank you.
Bye, bye.
-What's up?
I've been talking to some
of Lender's competitors.
Every one of them
says that Lender
has been a real problem
for them in the past year.
The guy has underbid all of
them on government contracts.
And some of the
managers have come out
flat and said that
they don't know
how this man can bid so low.
-Well, I know how he's doing it.
He's cutting corners.
-Which allows him to
get the big contracts.
Which means he's
producing more toxic waste.
-Absolutely.
-How much toxic waste do
you think he's dumping illegally?
-Well, I couldn't
tell you exactly.
But it's enough to pose a
major hazard to the community
and Lender has to know that.
-Would you be willing
to testify to that?
-Oh, I would look forward to it.
-Ok, look, What I've
got to find out now
is much toxic waste
he's given to Nelson
and how much he's
putting down the sewers.
-Yeah, but for that, you
need documentation.
-You think he's keeping
two sets of books?
-Possible, but how are you
going to find those books?
-That's my problem.
-Hello.
Hello, short stuff.
OK, so you're big stuff.
What's up?
Of course I haven't
forgotten about your ball game
on Saturday.
I wouldn't miss it for anything.
Look, tell your mom I'll pick
you up at 9 o'clock sharp, OK?
You know I love
you, don't you, Blake?
I love you very much.
So long, slugger.
-Hunter.
Homicide.
Listen, I've got some
information for you
on this illegal dumping case.
And the little boy.
-Yeah.
Who's this?
-Hello?
Hello.
-I don't believe this.
This isn't happening.
-He was on the phone to a cop.
-How could you?
-Your friend, Howard,
was going to sell us out.
-You don't know that.
-Well, now I know he won't.
Don't worry, Ben.
Don't worry.
-Shut up.
-Get your hands off me.
-Get out of my sight.
-Why won't you tell me?
-I told you, I have a
meeting hit the plant.
-At nine o'clock at night?
-The foreman called.
Something came up.
-When?
When did he call?
No, that is not good enough.
-Well it was always good
enough for you before.
Since when are you
worried about my work?
All you ever cared
about was whether or not
the money kept rolling it.
Now I've got to go.
-I want to know the truth
about why you used my name
on that dummy
corporation to buy part
of Howard Nelson's company.
Was it so that you could
dump cyanide in this sewers?
-I told you it was
for tax reasons.
-You tell me what you
think I want to hear.
But right now I want
to know the truth, Ben.
Are you responsible
for that child's death?
-I never expected it to happen.
It was just a freak accident.
-Oh, my God.
-Julia.
If I could have died
instead of that kid,
believe me I would have.
-You did this?
For what?
To save money?
-I did it to keep the
company from going under.
I wanted to keep it alive.
How do you think I made
payments on this house?
How do you think I paid for
every single thing you've got,
your clothes, your car, all
your constant trips to Europe.
-Now, now it's my fault?
-I didn't expect this to happen.
-What are you going to do?
-I could go to this
Sergeant Hunter.
Tell him everything.
I'd go to jail.
Lose every single
thing we've got.
Julia, I would do this I would
this if you would forgive me.
-No, I don't want that.
Oh, Ben.
-I love you.
I have to go.
-Hi.
-What is it?
-You said you would tell her.
-I know.
You think you would tell
her when you come back
from Washington and you're back.
-Dianne, this
isn't the right time.
-Isn't it? Well you know what?
I don't think there's
going to be a right time.
-Wait, wait, wait a second.
Just wait a second, please.
Listen to me.
Just listen.
First of all, I've got a lot of
major problems in the business.
I can't just go to
Julie and tell her
I'm leaving her without,
without lawyers and things.
I want you to have
the best of everything
and I can't do that if the
company goes belly up.
-Why didn't you tell me
were having problems?
-Because I didn't
want you to worry.
I know the kind of
stress you've been under.
Pretending at work.
Meeting in secret.
Besides, I think
you're wonderful.
Come on, let's eat.
-Oh, Ben.
-All right.
So this guy Lender's
cheating on his wife.
Or maybe he's just looking
for some shoulder to cry on.
How does this help us?
-Captain, there's a case
building here somehow.
-I think she's right.
-All right.
So what about you?
What have you got
on Howard Nelson?
-Well, I tried his house.
He's not home.
His secretary said he hasn't
shown up for work this morning.
-Sounds like he got cold feet.
-Yeah, well look, I'm going
to drive back out there.
I got some people to talk to.
-I haven't seen Howard all day.
I'm a little worried.
He's usually the first one here
in the morning and the last one
to leave.
-When's the last
time you saw him?
-About quitting time.
He was still in his office.
-Was his car here this morning?
-No.
-Tell me what's
all this out here?
-Once the toxic waste has
been treated, we bury it in that pit
out there.
-We found Nelson's car about
five blocks away from here
outside a local bar.
No sign of Nelson.
-Sergeant Hunter.
I think we got something.
-Just go through the
whole list and afterwards, I'll
talk to you about
how far we should go.
Sergeant Hunter.
-Mr. Lender.
I have an arrest
warrant for Larry Taylor
for the murder of Howard Nelson.
-Howard?
Dead?
-We found his
fingerprints on the murder
weapon buried with the body.
-It couldn't have been Larry.
I can't believe this.
-Well, I think you can.
-Wait, if you think
I had anything
to do with Nelson's
death, you're crazy.
-We'll see what
Taylor says about it.
-Taylor!
Hold it right there.
Hold it right there,
Taylor, freeze.
Taylor.
-Guess you heard.
I know.
Lender walked.
Sorry.
-Lender claims that Howard
Nelson and Larry Taylor were
responsible for
all of the dumping.
-Yeah, I know and
Rios went for it, right?
Well, he and the
toxic waste people
went through the
paperwork at Lender's office
and they didn't find anything.
-Look, you know the score.
-Without hard documentation that
Lender knew what was going on,
Rios still can't prove intent.
-Now, you know, Larry
Taylor was our only shot
at nailing Lender.
- Yeah, I know.
And he's dead.
So now what do we do?
-There's nothing more we can do.
-It's over.
-Ben.
-Julia.
You shouldn't be here right now.
-I heard what happened.
-I had nothing to
do with the death
of either one of those men.
-I know.
If, if only you haven't
dumped that poison.
-We just have to live with it.
-Can you really do that, Ben?
-What do you suggest?
-Maybe you have
to go to the police.
- That's crazy.
- Tell them everything.
Just explain the circumstances.
-They'd put me
away for twenty years.
They tried.
They can't.
They have no proof.
Because Howard
and Larry are dead.
My going to prison isn't
going to bring them back.
You'd be alone.
-Ben, I got the
papers from the bank.
You... Oh, uh,
hello, Mrs. Lender.
-Julia.
Go home.
We'll talk about this later.
-What's the matter?
-This woman is going
to bury her son today.
The bastard
responsible for his death
is going to get away free.
-I know.
-If we could only nail Lender
for the murder of that boy.
Maybe the next guy decides
to dump toxic waste in the city
sewer would
think twice about it.
At least Miss Morgan
would have that.
Now what am I going to tell her?
-Why don't you
just tell her that?
Come on.
Let's go.
-Mrs. Morgan I just wanted
to say how sorry I am.
-What's Mrs. Lender doing here?
-I don't know.
Kind of peculiar,
don't you think?
-I just read about what
happened and I wanted...
I wanted to say how
badly I feel for your loss.
-I'll go talk to her.
I'll be right back.
Mrs. Lender.
Somewhat surprised
to see you here today.
-I read about it.
I just felt badly and
I wanted to attend.
You know, Your husband's
responsible for that boy's
death, don't you?
-I have to go.
-Are you're going
to the funerals of all
your husband's
victims, Mrs. Lender?
-What do you want?
-I want your help.
Now, there have got to be
records that explain exactly
what's going on at
Lender Chemical.
-Whatever Ben is, he is
my husband, and I love him.
And he loves me.
-Are you sure about that?
-You OK?
-Yeah.
I'm fine.
Kind of a low thing
I did to Mrs. Lender.
-Probably would've found
out about the affair anyway.
-Sergeant Hunter.
-What the hell?
What's going on here?
-I have a warrant
for your arrest
for second degree murder.
-That's nonsense.
-We have the
evidence, Mr. Lender.
-That's impossible.
-Your wife gave us the
key to a safe deposit box.
Inside it we found
your real set of books.
We also found $500,000 in cash.
That's the money Howard
Nelson kicked back to you.
-You ought to feel real good
about yourself, Mr. Lender.
You're about to make history
in California criminal law.