Hunter (1984–1991): Season 6, Episode 18 - Blind Ambition - full transcript
McCall & her boyfriend, a judge, are held captive in his house by the brother of a man the judge convicted, who committed suicide in prison.
Tonight on "Hunter."
Authorities say that
Cooley took his own life.
-Was that the same Douglas
Cooley that you prosecuted.
-He was one of my last
cases before I became a judge.
-You've been spending
a lot of time with this fella.
You like him?
-Yeah, I like him.
-Hey!
Forget the dishes.
-What's going on?
-Tell us so she'll understand
why you're going to die.
-Cooley?
Cooley?
Oh my god.
-How would you like
a little bite of this?
-Mm mm, no way.
That's all yours.
-Well, it's OK.
I only eat the centers.
-I know.
That's one of things
I like about you.
-No wonder you
don't gain any weight.
-Oh, you mean this?
Micheal, it's not how
you eat, it's what you eat.
I mean, look at your dish.
You have a plate that's
filled with nothing but salt
and carbohydrates and sugar,
and preservatives and fat.
I have a plate that's
filled with sustaining,
nourishing food.
This vitamin
C, it's fresh fruit.
It's iron.
This is going to sustain
me through the day.
-You sound like my doctor.
-Well, you can't expect
to keep yourself going
through a long
day on nothing but
a sweet roll and
a come of coffee.
-Are you a little
worried about me?
-Yeah, just a little.
-You know, you could really
become a habit with me.
-Sounds like a Gershwin song.
-Good morning, Dee Dee.
Judge Hayworth.
-How you doing, Art?
-He really enjoyed that.
-I know he did.
I hate it when that happens.
- Don't worry.
Don't worry.
I'll get even with him next
time he's in my courtroom.
-You promise?
-Mm-hm.
Where were we?
-Unfortunately I
have to get going.
I have a possible
suspect on that arson fire.
The one that happened
over on Flowers street.
-Where the janitor was killed?
-Yeah.
It was pretty unfortunate, too.
I really hope this
witness pulls through.
I'd like to get this guy.
-You will.
You will.
In other news,
convicted murderer,
Donald Cooley, was found
dead in his cell in prison last night.
Authorities say Cooley took
his own life slashing his wrists
with a spoon filed
to razor sharpness.
You may recall Cooley
was convicted in the rape
and strangulation murder
of his girlfriend, Terri Lincoln,
a 17-year-old Harbor
Hills high school senior.
The high school cheerleader
was murdered in March of 1987.
Her body was found in
an alley in West Hollywood.
Cooley, who was 18 at the
time, was given a life sentence.
The young man who
claimed he was innocent,
had to be dragged from the
courtroom after his sentencing.
And now the south land weather.
-Oh, was that the same Douglas
Cooley that you prosecuted?
-One of the last cases I
did before I became a judge.
-I'm sorry to hear
that happened.
-Raped and murdered that girl.
Hard to be sorry for him.
You've got an arsonist to catch.
Check, please.
-Mr. Levy, how you doing?
-I'm working on it.
-Everything all right?
-Headache.
A little indigestion.
An occupational hazard
when you're my age.
Take my advice, stay young.
-I'm going to do it.
Now, look, if you're
tired we can take you
home and come back
tomorrow, you know.
-Oh, no.
The man who died in
that fire was a friend.
I want you to find who did it.
-Thank you very, Mr. Levy.
Now, look, when you're
finished with these two books,
there's two more for you.
Thank you very much.
-Hi.
-What's up?
-Sorry I'm late.
I had to run a
couple errands and...
-Having breakfast
with a judge we know?
-How did you know...
-A good detective
knows everything.
-Yeah.
And a few of them
have big mouths.
-Now, look, you've been
spending a lot of time with this fella.
You like him?
-Yeah.
I like him.
-This is good.
Oh, I saw on the TV
the report about Cooley.
That was Micheal's
case, wasn't it?
-Yeah.
It was.
-How does he feel about it?
-Well, you know, he said
that it didn't bother him,
but in reality I think it did.
-So how is Mr. Levy
doing on the ID.
-Oh, yeah. Well, so far OK.
But, you know what?
Considering his eye sight
I don't put too much faith
in him being able to pick
out the photograph out
of the mug book.
Although he says that if the
guy is in there he will find it.
-Sergeant Hunter!
-Yes, Mr. Levy?
-This is the bum.
-Are you sure about that?
-You think I don't see good?
-Who me?
No.
-Good.
Because that's him.
-Dean Haller, four arrests
for arson, two convictions.
OK.
We'll get an address.
-Thanks, Mr. Levy.
-Nice boy.
-Yeah?
Who is it?
-The police.
Open up.
-Hey, what's going on here?
-Just shut up and turn around.
Don't make any stupid moves.
- Hey.
- Yeah.
Come on. Get up there.
Spread them out.
What have you got in here?
Oh good, a cigarette lighter.
Put your right hand
behind your head.
Let's go.
-Another reporter called for a
comment on the Cooley death.
I told them "no comment."
-Good.
-Judge Hayworth's office.
Yes, he is in.
One moment, please.
Mr. Austin from Washington.
-Now that's a call I'll take.
-Line two.
I'm keeping both
my fingers crossed.
Judge Hayworth's office.
-Come in.
Any luck?
-You'll like this.
Haller claims he's had
extensive therapy in the joint.
He doesn't like fires anymore.
The lab boys are over at
his house checking it out now.
-He's a liar.
-Yeah.
My biggest problem
here Charlie is getting
Mr. Levy to pick
Haller out of a lineup.
-Well, Mr. Levy is feeling
a little under the weather
so I sent him home.
Maybe you ought to have somebody
pick him up, say around 5:00?
-I'll pick him up
personally at 5 o'clock.
Thanks.
-Dee Dee.
-Micheal, what
are you doing here?
-Is there some
place we can talk?
-Sure.
Is anything wrong?
-No, everything is fine.
Can we go in there?
-Yeah.
No problem.
This is a nice surprise.
-Tell me.
Do you think that I'd make
a good Federal judge?
-What?
-Listen, I didn't
want to say anything
before because I
didn't want to jinx it.
But for the last
three weeks they
have been kind of
feeling me out about it.
They called yesterday
and offered it to me.
-You're kidding.
-I still can't
believe it myself.
They want me to
fly to Washington
next week for the announcement.
-This is great.
-Listen, we have to celebrate.
Can you get tomorrow off?
-Uh...
-Well, you have to.
I have already made reservations
at Las Primas in La Jolla.
We'll stop and get your
things, drop by my place
and drive out of here
late this afternoon.
We'll have a wonderful
weekend together.
Come on, Dee Dee, how
many times does a guy
get offered a seat
on a Federal bench?
And it doesn't mean
anything if I can't celebrate
with somebody who
I really care about.
-I'm so happy for you.
I have a couple of days
vacation time coming.
-That's quite all right.
Don't fret.
Have a good time.
I will pick up
Mr. Levy and 5 o'clock.
If he identifies
Mr. Haller in the line up
it will be an open
and shut case.
-Great.
OK.
My notes on the Haller
investigation are on my desk
and if you need me,
you'll know where I'll be.
-Las Primas in La Jolla.
-Right.
-Bye.
Rest up.
You'll need it.
-Home, sweet home.
All right, listen, I'm going to
throw a few things in a bag
and then we'll get out of here.
-OK.
-And then we're going to go to
your house and get that racket.
Or do you want me
to buy you a new one?
-Not a sound or I'll
blow your head off.
-Micheal.
We don't have to go
back for my racket...
-Hey, get out of here!
-Hold it!
Your girlfriend carries a gun?
-I'm a police officer.
-Just leave her out of this.
-What's going on, Michael?
-Your girlfriend wants
to know what's going on.
Tell her so she'll understand
why you're going to die.
Tell her what happened.
Tell her so she'll realize
what kind of scum you are.
Tell her!
-About a week ago
a 16-year-old girl
was raped and
murdered in San Francisco
by a drifter named
Derrick Slocum.
A couple of days ago Leon
came to me with this lame idea
that it wasn't his brother
but this Slocum character
who killed Terri Lincoln
about three years ago.
He wanted me to check it out.
-Did you?
-Of course I did.
There wasn't anything to it.
-Damn liar.
Newspaper in San Francisco
said the girl was raped
and strangled with a bicycle
chain just like Terri Lincoln.
-I talked to the
medical examiner.
He wasn't even sure that the
murder weapon in San Francisco
was a bicycle chain.
Now, dammit, Cooley, think.
You can't believe that one
incident in San Francisco
makes your brother innocent.
-You're dead, Hayworth.
-Now, wait a minute.
Maybe it is possible.
Maybe this guy up
north is the killer.
Now, look, I can contact the
DA's office in San Francisco
and I can find out.
-It's too late, lady, my
brother is already dead.
-If this guy up north
is guilty, then at least
your brother's death
would be vindicated.
If it was my brother, I'd do it.
You got to at least me try.
Come on.
Let me make the call, we're
talking about your brother.
Let me at least try.
-Make the call.
-San Francisco.
The number for the District
Attorney's office, please.
Thank you.
It's recording after hours.
We can call back in the morning.
-We'll wait until morning.
-Mr. Levy?
Mr. Levy?
It's Sergeant Hunter.
Mr. Levy, it's 5 o'clock.
-Aren't you having anything?
-Gun pointed at my head
sort of eliminates my appetite.
There's dishes in
the glass cabinet.
-What is it with this guy?
He's got nothing decent
to eat in the house
but he's got plenty of dishes.
This guy has got everything
anybody could want,
but he didn't have the time to
see if my brother was innocent.
-Maybe he wasn't.
-Listen to me.
I've been in trouble
most of my life.
I've been in the
joint twice already.
One time for armed robbery,
one time for shooting a guy.
I've done a lot of bad
things, but I'm not proud of it.
That's why I made
sure that Douglas
wouldn't end up like I did.
All we ever had was each other.
But he ain't never
been in trouble.
Did you know that
he had a scholarship
to the college he went to?
I've seen a lot of punk killers
in the joint, but not Douglas.
He would never kill anybody.
-Yeah, well the
jury thought he did.
-They were wrong!
-Don't you think I know
that every guy in the joint
cops to being innocent?
I've done it myself.
But Douglass was innocent.
-Why do you think
he killed himself?
-Because when I told him
that boyfriend of yours in there
wasn't interested in the
San Francisco murder,
he just kind of lost all hope.
It's like he couldn't
hang on anymore.
Now I should have known that...
Look, you bought your boyfriend
some time, but if you
don't come through for me.
I'm going to kill him.
You understand that?
Now, let's go.
Time to eat, your honor.
-I have to untie him.
-How about you feed him.
-Now, look, Cooley.
-Look, why don't you just eat?
It's going to be a long night.
-Hunter, I just heard
about Mr. Levy.
It's a damn shame.
-Yeah.
He was a very
nice old gentleman.
-I'm sure he was.
I hate to say this but without
him Haller my just walk.
-Yeah.
I know.
I was just going
through McCall's notes.
Here's a list of people
who saw the fire.
There's one note here,
A. Ochoa, possible.
-You think maybe
it's an eye witness?
-I don't know.
I've got McCall's
number in San Diego.
I thought I'd give
her a call here.
RECEPTIONIST: Las Primas hotels.
-Judge Hayworth's room please.
RECEPTIONIST: Oh, Judge
Hayworth is not here as of yet.
-They're not?
Would you care to
leave a message?
-Yes.
Could you have Sergeant
McCall call Sergeant Hunter
tonight as soon as they get in?
It's very important.
Yeah.
She has the number.
RECEPTIONIST:
We'll do that for you, sir.
-Thank you.
They're not there yet?
-Traffic down there is murder.
Give it time.
Just keep trying.
-Hey!
Forget the dishes.
Sit down.
-What are you going to do?
-Put your hands
behind your back.
Now, I'm going to put your
boyfriend's car in the garage
and I'm going to
get me some sleep.
Good morning.
It's time to make that call.
That's for you.
It's so you'll be alert.
-What about him?
-I like him better
with his mouth shut.
Make the call.
-Yes.
Good morning.
This is Sergeant Dee Dee
McCall, LAPD homicide.
I'd like to find out who the
Assistant DA is prosecuting
a case involving a
Derrick Slocum, please.
Eleanor Pearson.
Yes, would you ring?
Thank you.
Well, do you know
when she'll be back?
It's very important
that I speak with her.
Yes.
Right.
The case is involving
Derick Slocum.
Right.
Correct.
Sergeant McCall.
Yeah.
Yeah, please have her call me.
It's urgent.
213-555-0278.
Thank you.
-I'm getting tired of waiting.
-We don't have a choice.
-I have got a choice.
HAYWORTH'S SECRETARY:
No, Sergeant Hunter, they
wouldn't have gone
to another hotel.
It's the only place
that Judge Hayworth
would stay in La Jolla.
You know, it might be possible
that they haven't left yet.
-Yeah.
Could you give the judge's
home phone number?
-555-2078.
-Thanks a lot.
-This has got to be the call.
-OK.
Pick it up.
-Hello?
-McCall, where the
hell have you been?
I've been calling
all over town for you.
I thought you'd be
in La Jolla by now.
-Yeah.
Hi.
We got a late start and we
just stayed over the night.
You know how it is.
-Couldn't wait, huh?
-Yeah.
My partner.
-Get rid of him.
McCall?
-Yeah.
I'm here.
Are you all right?
-Yeah.
I'm just kind of tired.
-Now, look, make
sure you guys rest up
now before you
get on the freeway.
You understand me?
Now, look, I've
got a situation here.
Remember Mr. Levy?
Well, Mr. Levy passed away
last night of a heart attack.
That's awful.
-Yeah.
Now, look, I was going
through your notes
and I saw a name... A. Ochoa
with a possible underneath it.
Does that mean a
possible witness?
-Yes.
Yeah.
I thought that this
guy, Ochoa, was
holding something back from us.
And we had Levy
so I didn't push it.
I figured that this guy was
illegal because he had one
of those ESL textbooks,
so I thought he was probably
studying for his English
lessons for amnesty proceedings,
you know?
Listen, I'm sure that
he will cooperate.
I know that the
guy will cooperate.
-Well, good, because
that's the route
I'm going to have to go now.
So I'll follow up on that.
In the mean time
have a good time.
-Thanks.
Bye.
-Bye.
-I know the DA is going to call.
-Hold it!
Don't even think about it.
-Feeling any better?
-I could use a couple aspirin.
-I have some
aspirin in my purse.
-Nobody's going anywhere
where I can't see them.
This is crazy!
That DA from San Francisco
is never calling back.
This is a total waste of time.
-Leon, A DA will always
call back a police officer.
Now, we've just
got to wait on her.
-Cooley, you know
when you came to me
the other day
about your brother?
It really bothered me.
And when I came home
that night, don't you
think I considered
going through his files?
-Why didn't you, man?
-Because I knew I
wouldn't find anything.
-Micheal, are the
files here in the house?
-What?
-Are they here in the house?
-They're in my study, why?
-We can look through the
transcripts of your brother's
trial and see if they
missed anything.
-Dee Dee.
-It's possible!
-I don't think so.
-I do.
-Hunter, captain told me
you might be down here.
-Any luck on Ochoa?
-Oh, yeah.
I checked out this
guy's home address.
It was a hot dog stand.
-Oh, jeez.
You know, look, McCall said the
guy was taking English classes.
There must be over 300 English
classes given in Los Angeles.
I say we start with the
ones within a five mile area
within the fire.
-You got it.
-This is a waste of time.
-Don't you get it, man?
Your friend is the only
thing keeping you alive.
So shut up.
-Now, here's something.
Apparently there was a
discrepancy in the time
that Terri Lincoln left your
brother's garage on the night
that she was killed.
-That's totally immaterial.
The girl's blood was
found all over the inside
of his brother's car.
-He told you how
that happened, man.
He was doing some
body work and she
cut her hand on a sharp edge.
-Now, wait a minute.
In the medical report
it says that they found
a gash on Terri
Lincoln's right hand.
-That happened during
the struggle with him.
-What about the bicycle chain
that she was strangled with?
They never did prove
it was Douglas's.
-That's right.
They didn't find
any prints on it
and they couldn't trace it
back to the original owner.
-That's because it was stolen.
-My brother never stole
anything his entire life.
I made sure of that.
-Leon, why do
you think that Terri
Lincoln was at your
brother's garage?
-Dee Dee, it's all right
there in the transcript.
Terri Lincoln went
to his brother's house
to break up with him.
-That never was true, man.
OK, look, they had
a couple arguments
but she really liked Douglas.
Look, I don't care what
they said in your courtroom,
I know how the deal
really went down.
She went over there that
night, she cut her hand,
Douglas helped her bandage
it, she went home at 10:30.
Next thing we knew she was dead.
-Well, then why wasn't
there bandage on her hand
when the body was found.
-It could have fallen
off in the struggle.
-No.
They searched
the site completely.
There was no bandage.
This all came out in the trial.
-You got an answer for
everything, don't you?
-Any word on the Ochoa guy?
-Oh, no, I'm waiting
to hear from Schier.
-Well, Haller is going to
skate if you guys don't find him.
We can't hold him
another 12 hours.
His lawyer is bringing
down the DA's neck.
-I'm sure he's breathing
down your neck, too.
-Who says life is fair.
-Yeah.
Thanks Captain.
Homicide.
-This is all legal garbage, man.
We're getting nowhere, lady.
-I haven't even gone
through half the files yet.
-There's nothing in it.
-Leon, I know how you
cared about your brother.
But you've got
to face the facts.
He was guilty.
-Shut up!
Shut up!
-Killing us isn't going to
change the facts, Leon.
I didn't convict your brother.
The jury did.
I just laid out the facts.
I did my job.
-It's what happened after, man.
You wouldn't listen to me.
I told you that guy in San
Francisco, Derrick Slocum,
he did it.
-You don't know that.
-All right.
-Hello?
Yes, this is Sergeant McCall.
Thank you for calling me back.
Well, how long is Miss
Pearson going to be in court?
This is urgent.
-I don't want you talking
to no DA's assistant.
-I think this is the best
we can do right now.
Yeah.
Hi, I was wondering if you could
answer some questions for me
concerning a suspect in a case.
His name is Derrick Slocum.
-Good news.
Picked up Ochoa at
an ESL class about
three miles from the factory.
And she's willing to testify
that Haller set the fire.
-That's great news.
But what do you mean she?
Ochoa is a he?
-Oh, you must have you gotten
your signals crossed, man.
Ochoa is a woman.
The A, it stood for Alejandra.
-I apologize for the confusion.
It's just that I was to
believe that you were a man.
You're sure that
you gave my partner
your full name
the night of the fire.
-Of course.
But she was writing
very fast in her book.
-I see.
Now, tell me how
you know this is
the man that started the fire.
-I saw him.
We both did.
Poor Mr. Levy.
He was such a very nice man.
But that night we
heard a noise and then
we saw this man running
away with a can of gasoline.
-Now what were you doing in
Mr. Levy's office late that night?
-I told the lady, your partner.
-Sergeant McCall.
-I told her... after
hours Mr. Levy has
been teaching me
to be a seamstress.
But no one knows about it.
Your partner said that
Mr. Levy saw this man
and that may be enough.
She could see that
I was very afraid.
-I understand.
-OK.
Alejandra, I want to
thank you for coming in.
Now, I'm going to put
you with Detective Schier
so he can take your
official statement.
-Betty, take her to
Detective Schier.
Thanks very much.
-Thank you, sir.
-Thank you very much.
-That was Ochoa?
I thought McCall
said it was a man?
-I was led to
believe it was a man.
But the funny thing is on the
telephone she had the perfect
opportunity to tell me it
was a woman and she didn't.
-Something is wrong.
-Yeah.
Real wrong.
-And what was that name again?
-Lieutenant Mosac.
Houston PD.
Thank you.
Yeah.
And when Miss Pearson comes
in, please have her call me.
Thank you very much.
I thought you said you talked
to the medical examiner?
-I did.
-Well, the ME says that
that girl in San Francisco
was strangled
with a bicycle chain.
-His findings were inconclusive.
-Didn't you have the slightest
bit of doubt in your mind?
-You could have looked
into Douglas's case, man.
Given him some hope.
I told you what prison
was doing to him.
I told you he couldn't take it.
-You don't reexamine a
case with that kind of evidence.
-That DA mentioned
the girl in Houston
who also got strangled
with bicycle chain.
She also mentioned
some cop, Mosac.
Lieutenant Mosac. Call him.
-When Lieutenant Mosac
comes back, please have him
call me right away
at that number.
Thanks very much.
-Not a word.
Get over here.
Who is this guy?
He looks like a cop.
-It's my partner.
-Get over here.
You stay right there.
He's gone.
-Leon Cooley.
OK.
Yeah, thanks very much.
You're very helpful.
Hey, Greenburg.
-Yeah?
-You arrest a guy named Doug
Cooley about three years ago?
-Yeah.
Did you hear what
happened to the kid?
-Did he have a brother?
-Yeah.
Leon.
Why?
-This is Sergeant Dee
Dee McCall LAPD Homicide
calling again for
Lieutenant Mosac.
Correct, this is
the second call.
He's not in but you're
expecting him back shortly.
When he does return, please
have him call me at that number.
This is urgent.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Bye.
-That curtain was open
the last time I was here.
I think Sergeant
McCall is in there.
I'm going around the side.
If you don't hear from me
in five minutes, come on in.
-I'll have my men in
position in two minutes.
You two take the right rear.
You two take the left rear.
You two stay with me.
-What the hell was that?
Get over here!
Get over here now!
-Police!
Drop the gun, Cooley.
-Get away from that
wall, cop, so I can see you.
-No.
It's not going to happen.
You'll never make
it out of here alive.
Drop the gun.
-I don't care about
getting out of here.
I don't care about anything.
-You do care, Leon.
-You tipped him, didn't you?
This whole thing was a put on.
You don't care about clearing
my brother's name at all.
-That's not true!
-I should have killed you
both when I had the chance.
-But you didn't
because you can't.
You're not a murderer.
-I'm about to become one.
-Is he going to be all right?
-Yeah.
He's going to be all right.
Nigel, come here.
Mike, get an ambulance.
Here, watch him for me.
-Hunter, untie me.
-Hello?
Yes, Lieutenant.
Thank you for calling me back.
Right.
Right.
Slocum.
What?
I don't under...
No, he never did...
He never did tell me that.
Well, I don't know why.
No, that's not the
way we usually
do things in LA, lieutenant.
Thank you.
Thanks very much.
We'll be in touch.
-Dee Dee, what's wrong?
-Mosac says that three months
ago his department contacted
and you didn't do
anything about it.
-You know how many
telephone calls I get?
-This wasn't just a call.
Mosac says that three months
ago in Houston, a Derrick Slocum
was the prime suspect
in the rape and murder
of a 16-year-old girl
and it looked like she'd
been strangled
with a bicycle chain.
-It looked like.
But they weren't sure.
-Mosac was familiar with
the Douglas Cooley case.
He told me that he called you.
He told me that he
told you about Slocum.
He asked you on three
separate occasions
to send an investigative team
to Houston and you ignored it.
-Hunter, will you talk to her.
She's got it all wrong.
-Mosac said they couldn't hold
Slocum due to a technicality.
When they finally arrested
him in San Francisco,
guess what they found
in his possessions?
A credit card belonging
to Terri Lincoln's mother.
-I didn't know
about the credit card.
-That's because you never
bothered to check it out.
-Dee Dee, listen to me.
-Why don't you tell
him to listen to you.
Damn, Micheal.
You sent an innocent
man to prison.
That man is dead.
You're telling me that a
seat on the federal bench
was more important
to you than a man's life?
-There's nothing to see, folks.
Let's break it up.
Let's go.
-You'll probably wind
up doing some jail time.
I'll help you any way I can.
-And then what?
-Well, that will be
up to you, Leon.
-You think my brother's
name will ever be cleared?
-Well, that's up to the courts.
But I think it
looks pretty good.
-What about him?
Authorities say that
Cooley took his own life.
-Was that the same Douglas
Cooley that you prosecuted.
-He was one of my last
cases before I became a judge.
-You've been spending
a lot of time with this fella.
You like him?
-Yeah, I like him.
-Hey!
Forget the dishes.
-What's going on?
-Tell us so she'll understand
why you're going to die.
-Cooley?
Cooley?
Oh my god.
-How would you like
a little bite of this?
-Mm mm, no way.
That's all yours.
-Well, it's OK.
I only eat the centers.
-I know.
That's one of things
I like about you.
-No wonder you
don't gain any weight.
-Oh, you mean this?
Micheal, it's not how
you eat, it's what you eat.
I mean, look at your dish.
You have a plate that's
filled with nothing but salt
and carbohydrates and sugar,
and preservatives and fat.
I have a plate that's
filled with sustaining,
nourishing food.
This vitamin
C, it's fresh fruit.
It's iron.
This is going to sustain
me through the day.
-You sound like my doctor.
-Well, you can't expect
to keep yourself going
through a long
day on nothing but
a sweet roll and
a come of coffee.
-Are you a little
worried about me?
-Yeah, just a little.
-You know, you could really
become a habit with me.
-Sounds like a Gershwin song.
-Good morning, Dee Dee.
Judge Hayworth.
-How you doing, Art?
-He really enjoyed that.
-I know he did.
I hate it when that happens.
- Don't worry.
Don't worry.
I'll get even with him next
time he's in my courtroom.
-You promise?
-Mm-hm.
Where were we?
-Unfortunately I
have to get going.
I have a possible
suspect on that arson fire.
The one that happened
over on Flowers street.
-Where the janitor was killed?
-Yeah.
It was pretty unfortunate, too.
I really hope this
witness pulls through.
I'd like to get this guy.
-You will.
You will.
In other news,
convicted murderer,
Donald Cooley, was found
dead in his cell in prison last night.
Authorities say Cooley took
his own life slashing his wrists
with a spoon filed
to razor sharpness.
You may recall Cooley
was convicted in the rape
and strangulation murder
of his girlfriend, Terri Lincoln,
a 17-year-old Harbor
Hills high school senior.
The high school cheerleader
was murdered in March of 1987.
Her body was found in
an alley in West Hollywood.
Cooley, who was 18 at the
time, was given a life sentence.
The young man who
claimed he was innocent,
had to be dragged from the
courtroom after his sentencing.
And now the south land weather.
-Oh, was that the same Douglas
Cooley that you prosecuted?
-One of the last cases I
did before I became a judge.
-I'm sorry to hear
that happened.
-Raped and murdered that girl.
Hard to be sorry for him.
You've got an arsonist to catch.
Check, please.
-Mr. Levy, how you doing?
-I'm working on it.
-Everything all right?
-Headache.
A little indigestion.
An occupational hazard
when you're my age.
Take my advice, stay young.
-I'm going to do it.
Now, look, if you're
tired we can take you
home and come back
tomorrow, you know.
-Oh, no.
The man who died in
that fire was a friend.
I want you to find who did it.
-Thank you very, Mr. Levy.
Now, look, when you're
finished with these two books,
there's two more for you.
Thank you very much.
-Hi.
-What's up?
-Sorry I'm late.
I had to run a
couple errands and...
-Having breakfast
with a judge we know?
-How did you know...
-A good detective
knows everything.
-Yeah.
And a few of them
have big mouths.
-Now, look, you've been
spending a lot of time with this fella.
You like him?
-Yeah.
I like him.
-This is good.
Oh, I saw on the TV
the report about Cooley.
That was Micheal's
case, wasn't it?
-Yeah.
It was.
-How does he feel about it?
-Well, you know, he said
that it didn't bother him,
but in reality I think it did.
-So how is Mr. Levy
doing on the ID.
-Oh, yeah. Well, so far OK.
But, you know what?
Considering his eye sight
I don't put too much faith
in him being able to pick
out the photograph out
of the mug book.
Although he says that if the
guy is in there he will find it.
-Sergeant Hunter!
-Yes, Mr. Levy?
-This is the bum.
-Are you sure about that?
-You think I don't see good?
-Who me?
No.
-Good.
Because that's him.
-Dean Haller, four arrests
for arson, two convictions.
OK.
We'll get an address.
-Thanks, Mr. Levy.
-Nice boy.
-Yeah?
Who is it?
-The police.
Open up.
-Hey, what's going on here?
-Just shut up and turn around.
Don't make any stupid moves.
- Hey.
- Yeah.
Come on. Get up there.
Spread them out.
What have you got in here?
Oh good, a cigarette lighter.
Put your right hand
behind your head.
Let's go.
-Another reporter called for a
comment on the Cooley death.
I told them "no comment."
-Good.
-Judge Hayworth's office.
Yes, he is in.
One moment, please.
Mr. Austin from Washington.
-Now that's a call I'll take.
-Line two.
I'm keeping both
my fingers crossed.
Judge Hayworth's office.
-Come in.
Any luck?
-You'll like this.
Haller claims he's had
extensive therapy in the joint.
He doesn't like fires anymore.
The lab boys are over at
his house checking it out now.
-He's a liar.
-Yeah.
My biggest problem
here Charlie is getting
Mr. Levy to pick
Haller out of a lineup.
-Well, Mr. Levy is feeling
a little under the weather
so I sent him home.
Maybe you ought to have somebody
pick him up, say around 5:00?
-I'll pick him up
personally at 5 o'clock.
Thanks.
-Dee Dee.
-Micheal, what
are you doing here?
-Is there some
place we can talk?
-Sure.
Is anything wrong?
-No, everything is fine.
Can we go in there?
-Yeah.
No problem.
This is a nice surprise.
-Tell me.
Do you think that I'd make
a good Federal judge?
-What?
-Listen, I didn't
want to say anything
before because I
didn't want to jinx it.
But for the last
three weeks they
have been kind of
feeling me out about it.
They called yesterday
and offered it to me.
-You're kidding.
-I still can't
believe it myself.
They want me to
fly to Washington
next week for the announcement.
-This is great.
-Listen, we have to celebrate.
Can you get tomorrow off?
-Uh...
-Well, you have to.
I have already made reservations
at Las Primas in La Jolla.
We'll stop and get your
things, drop by my place
and drive out of here
late this afternoon.
We'll have a wonderful
weekend together.
Come on, Dee Dee, how
many times does a guy
get offered a seat
on a Federal bench?
And it doesn't mean
anything if I can't celebrate
with somebody who
I really care about.
-I'm so happy for you.
I have a couple of days
vacation time coming.
-That's quite all right.
Don't fret.
Have a good time.
I will pick up
Mr. Levy and 5 o'clock.
If he identifies
Mr. Haller in the line up
it will be an open
and shut case.
-Great.
OK.
My notes on the Haller
investigation are on my desk
and if you need me,
you'll know where I'll be.
-Las Primas in La Jolla.
-Right.
-Bye.
Rest up.
You'll need it.
-Home, sweet home.
All right, listen, I'm going to
throw a few things in a bag
and then we'll get out of here.
-OK.
-And then we're going to go to
your house and get that racket.
Or do you want me
to buy you a new one?
-Not a sound or I'll
blow your head off.
-Micheal.
We don't have to go
back for my racket...
-Hey, get out of here!
-Hold it!
Your girlfriend carries a gun?
-I'm a police officer.
-Just leave her out of this.
-What's going on, Michael?
-Your girlfriend wants
to know what's going on.
Tell her so she'll understand
why you're going to die.
Tell her what happened.
Tell her so she'll realize
what kind of scum you are.
Tell her!
-About a week ago
a 16-year-old girl
was raped and
murdered in San Francisco
by a drifter named
Derrick Slocum.
A couple of days ago Leon
came to me with this lame idea
that it wasn't his brother
but this Slocum character
who killed Terri Lincoln
about three years ago.
He wanted me to check it out.
-Did you?
-Of course I did.
There wasn't anything to it.
-Damn liar.
Newspaper in San Francisco
said the girl was raped
and strangled with a bicycle
chain just like Terri Lincoln.
-I talked to the
medical examiner.
He wasn't even sure that the
murder weapon in San Francisco
was a bicycle chain.
Now, dammit, Cooley, think.
You can't believe that one
incident in San Francisco
makes your brother innocent.
-You're dead, Hayworth.
-Now, wait a minute.
Maybe it is possible.
Maybe this guy up
north is the killer.
Now, look, I can contact the
DA's office in San Francisco
and I can find out.
-It's too late, lady, my
brother is already dead.
-If this guy up north
is guilty, then at least
your brother's death
would be vindicated.
If it was my brother, I'd do it.
You got to at least me try.
Come on.
Let me make the call, we're
talking about your brother.
Let me at least try.
-Make the call.
-San Francisco.
The number for the District
Attorney's office, please.
Thank you.
It's recording after hours.
We can call back in the morning.
-We'll wait until morning.
-Mr. Levy?
Mr. Levy?
It's Sergeant Hunter.
Mr. Levy, it's 5 o'clock.
-Aren't you having anything?
-Gun pointed at my head
sort of eliminates my appetite.
There's dishes in
the glass cabinet.
-What is it with this guy?
He's got nothing decent
to eat in the house
but he's got plenty of dishes.
This guy has got everything
anybody could want,
but he didn't have the time to
see if my brother was innocent.
-Maybe he wasn't.
-Listen to me.
I've been in trouble
most of my life.
I've been in the
joint twice already.
One time for armed robbery,
one time for shooting a guy.
I've done a lot of bad
things, but I'm not proud of it.
That's why I made
sure that Douglas
wouldn't end up like I did.
All we ever had was each other.
But he ain't never
been in trouble.
Did you know that
he had a scholarship
to the college he went to?
I've seen a lot of punk killers
in the joint, but not Douglas.
He would never kill anybody.
-Yeah, well the
jury thought he did.
-They were wrong!
-Don't you think I know
that every guy in the joint
cops to being innocent?
I've done it myself.
But Douglass was innocent.
-Why do you think
he killed himself?
-Because when I told him
that boyfriend of yours in there
wasn't interested in the
San Francisco murder,
he just kind of lost all hope.
It's like he couldn't
hang on anymore.
Now I should have known that...
Look, you bought your boyfriend
some time, but if you
don't come through for me.
I'm going to kill him.
You understand that?
Now, let's go.
Time to eat, your honor.
-I have to untie him.
-How about you feed him.
-Now, look, Cooley.
-Look, why don't you just eat?
It's going to be a long night.
-Hunter, I just heard
about Mr. Levy.
It's a damn shame.
-Yeah.
He was a very
nice old gentleman.
-I'm sure he was.
I hate to say this but without
him Haller my just walk.
-Yeah.
I know.
I was just going
through McCall's notes.
Here's a list of people
who saw the fire.
There's one note here,
A. Ochoa, possible.
-You think maybe
it's an eye witness?
-I don't know.
I've got McCall's
number in San Diego.
I thought I'd give
her a call here.
RECEPTIONIST: Las Primas hotels.
-Judge Hayworth's room please.
RECEPTIONIST: Oh, Judge
Hayworth is not here as of yet.
-They're not?
Would you care to
leave a message?
-Yes.
Could you have Sergeant
McCall call Sergeant Hunter
tonight as soon as they get in?
It's very important.
Yeah.
She has the number.
RECEPTIONIST:
We'll do that for you, sir.
-Thank you.
They're not there yet?
-Traffic down there is murder.
Give it time.
Just keep trying.
-Hey!
Forget the dishes.
Sit down.
-What are you going to do?
-Put your hands
behind your back.
Now, I'm going to put your
boyfriend's car in the garage
and I'm going to
get me some sleep.
Good morning.
It's time to make that call.
That's for you.
It's so you'll be alert.
-What about him?
-I like him better
with his mouth shut.
Make the call.
-Yes.
Good morning.
This is Sergeant Dee Dee
McCall, LAPD homicide.
I'd like to find out who the
Assistant DA is prosecuting
a case involving a
Derrick Slocum, please.
Eleanor Pearson.
Yes, would you ring?
Thank you.
Well, do you know
when she'll be back?
It's very important
that I speak with her.
Yes.
Right.
The case is involving
Derick Slocum.
Right.
Correct.
Sergeant McCall.
Yeah.
Yeah, please have her call me.
It's urgent.
213-555-0278.
Thank you.
-I'm getting tired of waiting.
-We don't have a choice.
-I have got a choice.
HAYWORTH'S SECRETARY:
No, Sergeant Hunter, they
wouldn't have gone
to another hotel.
It's the only place
that Judge Hayworth
would stay in La Jolla.
You know, it might be possible
that they haven't left yet.
-Yeah.
Could you give the judge's
home phone number?
-555-2078.
-Thanks a lot.
-This has got to be the call.
-OK.
Pick it up.
-Hello?
-McCall, where the
hell have you been?
I've been calling
all over town for you.
I thought you'd be
in La Jolla by now.
-Yeah.
Hi.
We got a late start and we
just stayed over the night.
You know how it is.
-Couldn't wait, huh?
-Yeah.
My partner.
-Get rid of him.
McCall?
-Yeah.
I'm here.
Are you all right?
-Yeah.
I'm just kind of tired.
-Now, look, make
sure you guys rest up
now before you
get on the freeway.
You understand me?
Now, look, I've
got a situation here.
Remember Mr. Levy?
Well, Mr. Levy passed away
last night of a heart attack.
That's awful.
-Yeah.
Now, look, I was going
through your notes
and I saw a name... A. Ochoa
with a possible underneath it.
Does that mean a
possible witness?
-Yes.
Yeah.
I thought that this
guy, Ochoa, was
holding something back from us.
And we had Levy
so I didn't push it.
I figured that this guy was
illegal because he had one
of those ESL textbooks,
so I thought he was probably
studying for his English
lessons for amnesty proceedings,
you know?
Listen, I'm sure that
he will cooperate.
I know that the
guy will cooperate.
-Well, good, because
that's the route
I'm going to have to go now.
So I'll follow up on that.
In the mean time
have a good time.
-Thanks.
Bye.
-Bye.
-I know the DA is going to call.
-Hold it!
Don't even think about it.
-Feeling any better?
-I could use a couple aspirin.
-I have some
aspirin in my purse.
-Nobody's going anywhere
where I can't see them.
This is crazy!
That DA from San Francisco
is never calling back.
This is a total waste of time.
-Leon, A DA will always
call back a police officer.
Now, we've just
got to wait on her.
-Cooley, you know
when you came to me
the other day
about your brother?
It really bothered me.
And when I came home
that night, don't you
think I considered
going through his files?
-Why didn't you, man?
-Because I knew I
wouldn't find anything.
-Micheal, are the
files here in the house?
-What?
-Are they here in the house?
-They're in my study, why?
-We can look through the
transcripts of your brother's
trial and see if they
missed anything.
-Dee Dee.
-It's possible!
-I don't think so.
-I do.
-Hunter, captain told me
you might be down here.
-Any luck on Ochoa?
-Oh, yeah.
I checked out this
guy's home address.
It was a hot dog stand.
-Oh, jeez.
You know, look, McCall said the
guy was taking English classes.
There must be over 300 English
classes given in Los Angeles.
I say we start with the
ones within a five mile area
within the fire.
-You got it.
-This is a waste of time.
-Don't you get it, man?
Your friend is the only
thing keeping you alive.
So shut up.
-Now, here's something.
Apparently there was a
discrepancy in the time
that Terri Lincoln left your
brother's garage on the night
that she was killed.
-That's totally immaterial.
The girl's blood was
found all over the inside
of his brother's car.
-He told you how
that happened, man.
He was doing some
body work and she
cut her hand on a sharp edge.
-Now, wait a minute.
In the medical report
it says that they found
a gash on Terri
Lincoln's right hand.
-That happened during
the struggle with him.
-What about the bicycle chain
that she was strangled with?
They never did prove
it was Douglas's.
-That's right.
They didn't find
any prints on it
and they couldn't trace it
back to the original owner.
-That's because it was stolen.
-My brother never stole
anything his entire life.
I made sure of that.
-Leon, why do
you think that Terri
Lincoln was at your
brother's garage?
-Dee Dee, it's all right
there in the transcript.
Terri Lincoln went
to his brother's house
to break up with him.
-That never was true, man.
OK, look, they had
a couple arguments
but she really liked Douglas.
Look, I don't care what
they said in your courtroom,
I know how the deal
really went down.
She went over there that
night, she cut her hand,
Douglas helped her bandage
it, she went home at 10:30.
Next thing we knew she was dead.
-Well, then why wasn't
there bandage on her hand
when the body was found.
-It could have fallen
off in the struggle.
-No.
They searched
the site completely.
There was no bandage.
This all came out in the trial.
-You got an answer for
everything, don't you?
-Any word on the Ochoa guy?
-Oh, no, I'm waiting
to hear from Schier.
-Well, Haller is going to
skate if you guys don't find him.
We can't hold him
another 12 hours.
His lawyer is bringing
down the DA's neck.
-I'm sure he's breathing
down your neck, too.
-Who says life is fair.
-Yeah.
Thanks Captain.
Homicide.
-This is all legal garbage, man.
We're getting nowhere, lady.
-I haven't even gone
through half the files yet.
-There's nothing in it.
-Leon, I know how you
cared about your brother.
But you've got
to face the facts.
He was guilty.
-Shut up!
Shut up!
-Killing us isn't going to
change the facts, Leon.
I didn't convict your brother.
The jury did.
I just laid out the facts.
I did my job.
-It's what happened after, man.
You wouldn't listen to me.
I told you that guy in San
Francisco, Derrick Slocum,
he did it.
-You don't know that.
-All right.
-Hello?
Yes, this is Sergeant McCall.
Thank you for calling me back.
Well, how long is Miss
Pearson going to be in court?
This is urgent.
-I don't want you talking
to no DA's assistant.
-I think this is the best
we can do right now.
Yeah.
Hi, I was wondering if you could
answer some questions for me
concerning a suspect in a case.
His name is Derrick Slocum.
-Good news.
Picked up Ochoa at
an ESL class about
three miles from the factory.
And she's willing to testify
that Haller set the fire.
-That's great news.
But what do you mean she?
Ochoa is a he?
-Oh, you must have you gotten
your signals crossed, man.
Ochoa is a woman.
The A, it stood for Alejandra.
-I apologize for the confusion.
It's just that I was to
believe that you were a man.
You're sure that
you gave my partner
your full name
the night of the fire.
-Of course.
But she was writing
very fast in her book.
-I see.
Now, tell me how
you know this is
the man that started the fire.
-I saw him.
We both did.
Poor Mr. Levy.
He was such a very nice man.
But that night we
heard a noise and then
we saw this man running
away with a can of gasoline.
-Now what were you doing in
Mr. Levy's office late that night?
-I told the lady, your partner.
-Sergeant McCall.
-I told her... after
hours Mr. Levy has
been teaching me
to be a seamstress.
But no one knows about it.
Your partner said that
Mr. Levy saw this man
and that may be enough.
She could see that
I was very afraid.
-I understand.
-OK.
Alejandra, I want to
thank you for coming in.
Now, I'm going to put
you with Detective Schier
so he can take your
official statement.
-Betty, take her to
Detective Schier.
Thanks very much.
-Thank you, sir.
-Thank you very much.
-That was Ochoa?
I thought McCall
said it was a man?
-I was led to
believe it was a man.
But the funny thing is on the
telephone she had the perfect
opportunity to tell me it
was a woman and she didn't.
-Something is wrong.
-Yeah.
Real wrong.
-And what was that name again?
-Lieutenant Mosac.
Houston PD.
Thank you.
Yeah.
And when Miss Pearson comes
in, please have her call me.
Thank you very much.
I thought you said you talked
to the medical examiner?
-I did.
-Well, the ME says that
that girl in San Francisco
was strangled
with a bicycle chain.
-His findings were inconclusive.
-Didn't you have the slightest
bit of doubt in your mind?
-You could have looked
into Douglas's case, man.
Given him some hope.
I told you what prison
was doing to him.
I told you he couldn't take it.
-You don't reexamine a
case with that kind of evidence.
-That DA mentioned
the girl in Houston
who also got strangled
with bicycle chain.
She also mentioned
some cop, Mosac.
Lieutenant Mosac. Call him.
-When Lieutenant Mosac
comes back, please have him
call me right away
at that number.
Thanks very much.
-Not a word.
Get over here.
Who is this guy?
He looks like a cop.
-It's my partner.
-Get over here.
You stay right there.
He's gone.
-Leon Cooley.
OK.
Yeah, thanks very much.
You're very helpful.
Hey, Greenburg.
-Yeah?
-You arrest a guy named Doug
Cooley about three years ago?
-Yeah.
Did you hear what
happened to the kid?
-Did he have a brother?
-Yeah.
Leon.
Why?
-This is Sergeant Dee
Dee McCall LAPD Homicide
calling again for
Lieutenant Mosac.
Correct, this is
the second call.
He's not in but you're
expecting him back shortly.
When he does return, please
have him call me at that number.
This is urgent.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Bye.
-That curtain was open
the last time I was here.
I think Sergeant
McCall is in there.
I'm going around the side.
If you don't hear from me
in five minutes, come on in.
-I'll have my men in
position in two minutes.
You two take the right rear.
You two take the left rear.
You two stay with me.
-What the hell was that?
Get over here!
Get over here now!
-Police!
Drop the gun, Cooley.
-Get away from that
wall, cop, so I can see you.
-No.
It's not going to happen.
You'll never make
it out of here alive.
Drop the gun.
-I don't care about
getting out of here.
I don't care about anything.
-You do care, Leon.
-You tipped him, didn't you?
This whole thing was a put on.
You don't care about clearing
my brother's name at all.
-That's not true!
-I should have killed you
both when I had the chance.
-But you didn't
because you can't.
You're not a murderer.
-I'm about to become one.
-Is he going to be all right?
-Yeah.
He's going to be all right.
Nigel, come here.
Mike, get an ambulance.
Here, watch him for me.
-Hunter, untie me.
-Hello?
Yes, Lieutenant.
Thank you for calling me back.
Right.
Right.
Slocum.
What?
I don't under...
No, he never did...
He never did tell me that.
Well, I don't know why.
No, that's not the
way we usually
do things in LA, lieutenant.
Thank you.
Thanks very much.
We'll be in touch.
-Dee Dee, what's wrong?
-Mosac says that three months
ago his department contacted
and you didn't do
anything about it.
-You know how many
telephone calls I get?
-This wasn't just a call.
Mosac says that three months
ago in Houston, a Derrick Slocum
was the prime suspect
in the rape and murder
of a 16-year-old girl
and it looked like she'd
been strangled
with a bicycle chain.
-It looked like.
But they weren't sure.
-Mosac was familiar with
the Douglas Cooley case.
He told me that he called you.
He told me that he
told you about Slocum.
He asked you on three
separate occasions
to send an investigative team
to Houston and you ignored it.
-Hunter, will you talk to her.
She's got it all wrong.
-Mosac said they couldn't hold
Slocum due to a technicality.
When they finally arrested
him in San Francisco,
guess what they found
in his possessions?
A credit card belonging
to Terri Lincoln's mother.
-I didn't know
about the credit card.
-That's because you never
bothered to check it out.
-Dee Dee, listen to me.
-Why don't you tell
him to listen to you.
Damn, Micheal.
You sent an innocent
man to prison.
That man is dead.
You're telling me that a
seat on the federal bench
was more important
to you than a man's life?
-There's nothing to see, folks.
Let's break it up.
Let's go.
-You'll probably wind
up doing some jail time.
I'll help you any way I can.
-And then what?
-Well, that will be
up to you, Leon.
-You think my brother's
name will ever be cleared?
-Well, that's up to the courts.
But I think it
looks pretty good.
-What about him?