Hunter (1984–1991): Season 7, Episode 12 - Fatal Obsession: Part 1 - full transcript

I'll talk to you
back at the dorm!

I'll walk you back.

Just let me get my stuff.

No, I don't want to wait, and
anyway, you have to meet Sam.

He'll be here when I get back!

No, you meet the
man of your dreams.

I'll talk to you later.

Let go of me!

Oh my God!

Help!

Help!



Hurry up!

I got her!

Ahh!

Ahh!

Help me!

Morning.

Charlie.

This is Sergeant Chris Novak.

Sergeant.

I got a wakeup call at 5:00 AM

this morning from
Commander Clayton.

He wants Metro to jump
in on these campus killings,

and he wants Sergeant
Novak to be part of it.

I'm just along to assist.



I hope that's not
gonna be a problem.

Now, there was a
hit and run last night

down on the campus
of Crawford U.

The preliminary medical
examiner's report says

that the victim may have
struggled with someone

before she ran out on the road.

Now, if that's
true, that someone

may be our campus killer.

We're going to need a
tactical as soon as possible.

All right.

I'm gonna go see Clayton,
and when I get back,

we'll set this off.

Right?

Good luck.

How you been, Rick?

Been just fine.

How about yourself.

Ups and downs, but
overall, I've OK, too.

Good.

How's Allison doing?

She's great.

Rick, I feel really
bad about this.

Clayton called me last night.

I didn't know you were gonna
be involved until this morning.

If this is awkward
for you, I can pull out.

Awkward for me?

Now, it's now awkward for me.

What about you?

I don't know.

I hope you understand.

Oh, I understand all right.

Look, Rick

We have an awful lot
of work to do, Chris,

so why don't we
just get at it, OK?

I say we kill him.

We do the smart
thing, and we kill him.

Smart is only relative.

Let's be better than smart.

Let's be ultimate.

He saw you!

He knows who you are.

Suppose he tells.

Come on.

He killed her and
he left the scene.

He's more afraid
I'm gonna tell on him.

Nietzsche was right.

There are no accidents.

A girl runs into a
road and is hit by a car.

She wouldn't be in that road
if we hadn't forced her to run,

and she wouldn't
have been hit if Gleason

hadn't b driving drunk.

At that moment of impact
when metal met flesh,

a bond was formed.

Professor Gleason became ours.

He belongs to us, Jack.

We belong to him.

It's about the game, isn't it?

It's always about the game.

The game is all there is.

Suppose he doesn't play?

Oh, he'll play.

He has to.

I'll teach him how.

Good morning.

Here's the way
this is gonna work.

We're gonna try to
coordinate this mess

between Homicide and Metro.

Sergeant Hunter's gonna
be in charge at this end,

and all the information
will go through him.

Say hello to Sergeant
Chris Novak here.

She's gonna join us
after a leave of absence.

She's got a lot of experience
in psychopathology.

She'll be assisting
Sergeant Hunter.

She'll be in the chain
of command, too.

OK, Hunter.

OK.

This is what we know so far.

There's been four killings,
all on different campuses.

Two on Tuesday, one on
Wednesday, one on Friday.

All the victims have been taken
from campus to someplace else

and strangled.

So far, we have no leads.

What about the hit and run
last night at Crawford University?

Last night was a
Wednesday night.

Yes.

We think that victim
was assaulted first.

We're looking at
all the campuses.

So we're looking for a
thread a common denominator

that links the victims.

Right.

A sorority they belong
to, their major, the area

they were from
even their dentists.

I think the real break is going
to come on the campuses,

though.

It's a long shot,
but it's all we've got.

OK.

We all know our
assignments and our teams.

Let's get busy with this stuff.

Here it is.

Oh Oh!

Well, this is perfect.

I'll take it.

Good.

You'll be very comfortable here.

It's a nice, safe
neighborhood, too.

Can't be too careful these days.

People are crazy.

Oh, yes, they are.

Well, I'll let you unpack.

If you need anything, just ask.

Hi, it's me.

I got a place.

No, the one that was advertised.

When can you get here?

Well, try and hurry.

I love you.

Bye.

DET.

Now, according to
Nancy's roommate, Jill

Hayward, Nancy was leaving
the library back to her dormitory

on this path when she met
someone right about here.

She was forced off the
path, down this embankment,

all the way down
across the sidewalk

into the street, where
she was hit by the car.

We have to assume that
she was attacked because

of the scratches and
bruises on her neck.

Right.

The driver was almost on
her when he hit the brakes.

The skid marks are
only, what, 15 feet?

It was dark.

Maybe he didn't see
her till the last minute.

There was a full
moon last night.

Plus these lights were enough
to illuminate it to see her.

Yeah, well, whoever
came around that curve

might have been out of control.

Maybe he was drunk.

Whoever chased this
girl down this embankment

stood right about here.

Probably saw the
whole thing happen.

Yeah, that's a possibility.

It's also a possibility
that the driver saw him.

Let's get started, people.

We've got a lot to do today.

We're talking about
"Heart of Darkness."

Now, much has
been said about this.

Hopefully, we will
uncover something

new something
we hadn't expected.

Um, Conrad was, uh
writing about something

he was very familiar with.

Not the darkness of Africa,
but the darkness of his soul.

Forensics made a cast impression

of the prints we found.

Size nine, common
variety athletic shoe.

There must be over
250,000 people in LA

alone wearing these shoes.

That certainly narrows it down.

The particles of paint
in Nancy's clothes

come from a metallic
gray Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Oxidation tells us it's
seven or eight years old.

I'm sure he'll want to
get the damage repaired.

I'll get some people
on it right away.

Good.

I'm gonna run over
to the university

and talk with Nancy
Chamberlain's roommate.

What are you looking for?

I don't know.

Your driving was a bit
sloppy last night, Professor.

A little too much to drink?

You ought to be more careful.

Yeah, it's me.

You and me.

Us.

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

Yeah, sure you do.

I saw you, you saw me.

As simple as that.

What were you doing in my class?

Who the hell are you?

Who are you, Professor?

You're a guy who
gets all liquored up.

You go to parties.

You drink.

You can't hold your booze,
and you can see straight.

Practically everyone on
this campus knows that, sir.

I've got a class to teach.

What are you gonna
do about your car?

Think about that.

It could get you
in a lot of trouble.

I thought I could help.

Wait.

What do you want?

I want to do exactly as I say.

Now, find another
car and hit it.

Make sure you
damage the same part

of the car that hit the girl.

Now, be sure the car
you hit has somebody in it.

That way you have a witness.

Are you getting
all this, Professor?

Again, I knew you would.

Now, after your
little fenderbender,

you file an insurance claim,
take your car to a body shop.

Get it fixed.

That's all there is to it.

You think you can
handle all that stuff?

By the way, make sure
you scrape that parking

decal off your windshield.

We don't want that car to
be traced back to this campus.

It doesn't have a decal.

I was driving my wife's car.

That's even better.

Well, time's a wasting.

I got things to do,
and, uh, so do you.

Why are you doing this?

Cause it's fun.

Jill, I know you're on
your way to your class.

I don't want to keep you.

Is it OK if I walk
along with you?

Sure.

Thank you.

Look, we think that
Nancy was attacked

before she got hit by that car.

What do you mean, attacked?

We have evidence enough
to believe that Nancy was

the victim of the
campus strangler.

Oh, my God.

Nancy.

She was gonna be
a speech therapist.

Did you know that?

She wanted to teach
deaf children how to talk.

She was funny.

She was bright,
and now she's dead.

Know anybody who'd
want to hurt her?

There was this guy named
Dirk Lawson fraternity jock.

He rides a motorcycle.

What about him?

A couple weeks ago,
something happened.

What's that?

The bastard raped her.

Raped her?

Well, did she report it?

No.

Her mother's been very sick.

She didn't want to
put her through that.

Where can I find this Dirk?

Try the student union.

He and his friends
always hang out there.

OK, Jill.

I know this was
very difficult for you.

I really appreciate your time.

Can I tell you a
secret, Sergeant?

Sure.

I carry a gun.

I'm a junior in art
history, and I carry a gun.

How's that for a
liberal education?

Hey.

Thank you.

Two with everything, Sal.

Hi.

Hi.

How you doing?

I'm doing great.

How are you?

Terrific.

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

How do you get to
be a police officer?

I mean, what are
the requirements?

Well, you have to be
over 21 years of age,

have a high school education,
be an American citizen,

and you can't have
a felony arrest record.

Guess I qualify, then.

You interested in
being a police officer?

All my life.

That's all I ever wanted.

Is it hard for a woman?

Depends on the woman.

But if she wants a
career, she can have one.

Good.

Well, thanks for the
information, Officer Paskin.

Paskin.

I'm Loreen Arness.

Maybe we'll meet again sometime.

Hope so.

Well, I've gotta go.

Nice talking to you, Loreen.

See you.

Long day, huh?

Oh, sure is.

I'd forgotten how they could be.

Maybe this will help.

Oh, thank you.

Mm.

You got word on the car
we're looking for, right?

Older model Oldsmobile
Cutlass, metallic gray.

I've already started
checking out body shops.

Boy, no dust on you.

Well, you know our
motto to protect and serve.

Just the same, I've heard
good things about you.

They say you're a hell of a cop.

Well, I work at it.

What about you?

How long have you been away?

Two years.

I took a leave of absence
for personal reasons.

I wanted to spend more
time with my daughter.

How old is she?

Eight going on 30.

Career and family.

Now that's
juggling it, isn't it?

It can be.

I guess I just wanted to
stop juggling for a while.

What about you?

You have a family?

Not yet, but I'd
like to someday.

Well, I hope you
get what you want.

Me, too.

Oh, I better get
down to interrogation.

Thanks again for the coffee.

Any time.

Come on, Dirk.

You can do better than that.

You dated her.

Why'd you like
about knowing her?

I just got scared, all right?

Because you attacked her.

You talked to her roommate, huh?

She doesn't know anything.

She wasn't there!

But you did attack her.

No!

I I didn't.

Look, it's Nancy's word
against mine, and she's dead.

Oh, boy.

You are a piece
of work, aren't you?

What size shoe you wear?

What size shoe?

Looks like about
a nine to me, right?

Yeah, I guess so.

You have a pair
of athletic shoes?

What are you talking about?

Do you have a pair
of athletic shoes?

Yes, I do.

You bite your nails, don't you?

What is it with you guys?

Yeah, he bites them.

Yeah, I bite my nails.

So what?

Can I talk to you for a second?

Don't go away.

The medical report said she had
scratches on her arms and face,

remember?

Yeah, the guy who attacked
her had long fingernails, yeah.

Look, this guy's
not the guy, anyway.

Rick why don't you
give me a ride home.

Yeah.

Look, Rick.

I know that you're angry.

I didn't handle things
very well, and I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

Yeah, That's just great, Chris.

You walk out of my life
without saying goodbye.

You have your
exhusband Al do it.

We were all cops.

He couldn't handle it.

Oh, Al couldn't handle it.

No, you couldn't
handle it, Chris.

You're in the
middle of a divorce,

and Al decides who
you're gonna date.

He didn't decide.

I decided.

You know that.

Try to see it from my side.

I was going through a divorce.

I had a baby.

I had the pressures of the job.

Chris, I was not
asking you to marry me.

I didn't ask you to change
your lifestyle around for me.

All I wanted to do
was be with you.

I was a safe spot
for you, wasn't I?

Wasn't I?

Yes, you were.

But then you became more
than that, and I got scared.

You got scared?

Yes, I did.

Look, for whatever it's
worth, I did the best I could.

Yeah, I know, and you kept
me from doing the best I could.

That's not fair.

Do you want to come
in and see Allison?

No.

I mean, I do want to
see her, but not tonight.

OK.

I'll see you in the morning.

Hey, Chris, I'm
not done with this.

Excuse me!

I need a little help here.

I'm new on this
route, and I'm looking

for the Theta Delta sorority.

OK, that's on the other
side of the campus.

You get...

Holy mother of God!

Is she like the others?

Almost.

We think we have something!

She had scratches and
bruises on her arms and neck

like the other
victims, but she also

had heavy bruises on her ankles.

Ankles?

We know she was
taken from the campus

while she was
still alive, Charlie.

Brought here, held down by the
ankles, and strangled to death.

So that means there
were two of them.

Looks like it.

I think that works for us.

I think our chances of
catching this guy have doubled.

So we're looking for a
guy with a size nine foot

and a partner we
know nothing about.

That's about it.

Hi, Professor.

Got the wood.

Half a cord.

Oak and pine mix,
just like you asked.

What are you thinking about?

We hardly used any
wood from last winter.

Like we discussed, Professor,
you can't beat the price.

And whatever you don't
use this winter, you use next.

We don't even have
a place to store it.

Don't you worry, Nancy.

I'll find a place.

My name isn't Nancy.

That's right.

You didn't tell me your name.

I'm sorry.

I must've been thinking
about someone else.

Honey, um, let
me take care of it.

You're right.

I may have made a mistake.

I'm going inside.

You work it out.

What the hell are you doing?

You come to my house?

You talk to my wife?

Take it easy, Professor.

I just wanted to make sure
you did everything right.

I did what I had to do.

Now, get out of here.

I guess this means
you don't want my wood.

Just get out.

Of course, there
is a carrying fee.

You see, I had to go get
the wood, load it in my truck,

bring it all over
here, and now I've

gotta bring it all the way back.

How much?

$5,000 ought to cover it.

I'll see you in class
tomorrow, Professor.

The game's just begun.

Like I told Officer Molenski, it
came in yesterday afternoon.

Minor damage to the right
front fender, a broken signal light.

Nothing I haven't seen before.

I don't know what
you're looking for,

but this car has definitely
been in an accident

with another one.

I guarantee it.

The insurance adjuster
was here this morning.

The paperwork shows it was
involved with another vehicle,

but I thought we
should take a look at it.

You know, Rick, he
could have staged it.

That would have been
the smart thing to do.

Yeah, you're right, Joanne.

Who brought the car in?

A man named Gleason.

The car was registered
under his wife's name.

That's a copy of the
registration and the address.

Good work, Joanne.

Mrs. Gleason?

Yes?

Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.

This is Sergeant Novak.

We'd like to talk to
you about the accident

you had with your car.

I think you should
talk to my husband.

He was the one who was driving.

I see.

Now, were you in the car?

I was home.

Here's my husband now.

What's going on?

Mr. Gleason, I'm
Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.

This is Sergeant Novak.

Mr. Gleason.

Excuse me.

They want to talk to
you about the accident.

That's no big deal.

I, uh, took a turn
too tight, and, uh, I

wasn't concentrating.

Hit another car.

No one was hurt.

Now, according to
the insurance report,

uh, this accident happened
on Olympic Boulevard?

That's right.

It did.

Mr. Gleason, is this your car?

Yes.

So you were driving your wife's
car when you had the accident?

That's right.

This car has a parking
sticker for Crawford University.

Do you teach there?

Bill?

Everything's all right, Joyce.

Mr. Gleason, would
you mind coming

downtown with us for a while?

Tell me what happened
two nights ago, Mr. Gleason.

I told you.

I got into a little accident.

That happened later.

I'm interested in what
happened before that.

Nothing happened before.

Mr. Gleason, a girl
was run down and killed

on the campus of
Crawford University.

The paint from your
car was embedded

on her body and her clothing.

I don't know anything about it.

An analysis of your
car suggests otherwise.

You're on assigned risk
insurance, aren't you?

And the reason that you are is
because you have three DUIs.

I want to talk to a lawyer.

OK.

That's your right.

But before you do, I want
you to hear something.

There was somebody on that
road that night, wasn't there?

And that somebody is
killing girls on campuses.

He killed another
one last night,

and he's gonna continue
to kill until we stop him.

It was just a faculty party!

I I One of the faculty members

got tenure and
wanted to celebrate.

I was only gonna
stay for a little while,

but I I started
to drink, and I I

came around that damn
corner, and, and, and all

of a sudden, she was there.

Running straight at me.

I couldn't stop.

I swear to God, if I could
trade my life for hers, I would.

You saw him, didn't you?

Yes.

He was standing on the side
of the road, just looking at me.

Um he then, he came to my class.

He said he could help me.

Now he's blackmailing me.

He's crazy!

Where does he live?

Um, I think I remember the
license number on his truck.

Welch, open up!

Police!

We have a warrant
for your arrest!

Yeah, we've got
someone in here sitting

in front of the television set.

Police!

Don't move!

Clasp your hands
behind your head.

Back away from the wall,
and drop down to your knees.

It's always the game.

The game is all there is.

Just do it.

Call the M.E.

Welch's shoe size is a nine.

We couldn't find anything in the
house belonging to anyone else.

You still think there
are two of them?

Sure do, Charlie.

That means there's
one still out there.

We're gonna have to
talk to Gleason again.

You said you have
some questions?

I'd like you to think about some

things for me, Mr. Gleason.

Please, sit down.

I want you to try to
remember everything

you saw as you drove
through the campus.

You mean about Welch?

Not about Welch.

I want you to try and remember
everything you saw as you came

around the curve, just before
you hit Nancy Chamberlain,

and be very, very specific.

There was the road.

I swerved.

I went into the curve.

She was there,
running toward me,

and I slammed on the brakes.

Why did you swerve?

What?

You said that you swerved
before you came to the curve.

Why?

Because I didn't
want to hit her.

But you couldn't see her.

She was on the
other side of the curve.

Why did you swerve before?

The side of the road.

The side of the road?

It was a van.

What kind of van?

A dark color.

Blue?

Black?

Something like that.

I don't know.

Take your time.

Think.

Concentrate on what you saw.

- I - think it was commercial.

How do you know?

Because it had some
kind of writing on the side.

Writing?

What kind of writing?

Was it words?

Um a slogan?

Were there pictures?

Yeah, it was some kind of logo.

A logo?

Campus Cleanery.

Hey, Molenski, where you headed?

Double shift's over.

I'm on my way home
for 24 hours of R&R.

Great.

Hey, you want to kick
it off with a late supper

at the diner with me?

Ah, no thanks.

All I really want now is
a hot bath and a pillow.

You sure now?

Could I like to a
face like yours?

Get out of here.

I'll see you later!

Jack Kane has worked
for me two years.

He's a good worker.

Always on time.

Never a sick day.

DET.

I see.

Which one is he?

There he is.

That's him right there.

DET.

Yeah?

Jack Kane?

LAPD want to talk to you.

Hold it right there, Kane!

Come on, man.

Don't shoot.

I give up.

I give up.

Don't move.

Damn it!

This is R21 Charles to 114.

Go ahead, R21.

I need a make on a
Lincoln Continental,

Mark V, turquoise
blue, light top.

California plate, 463,
Albert, Sam, Louis.

We show nothing on
that make or license.

Show me on a
traffic stop, that plate,

corner Alessandro and Victor.

I don't know what happened.

I'm a new driver, and I
guess I just got confused.

I am so sorry.

May I see your license
and registration, please?

DET.

Charlie?

It's Joanne Molenski.

She was shot and killed.

What?

About an hour ago.

What happened?

Apparently, it was
a routine traffic stop.

Somebody blew her
away and took her badge.