Hunter (1984–1991): Season 7, Episode 8 - The Usual Suspects - full transcript

I've never been
to Europe before.

I've heard it's a long flight.

Well, it can be.

All depends which
way you're going.

Well, I go to New York, and I
switch planes there to Paris.

Really?

Well, it'd be quicker for
you if you go over the pole.

Over the pole?

Yeah, you see, Carol,
London is at a different latitude

than the United States,
you have to understand.

So when you go over the
pole, drop down over London,



go south into Europe, you're
actually going southeast, away

from the setting
sun in the West.

I bet you can't say that
without using your hands.

You maniac!

This is a brand new car!

I'm gonna sue you
for everything you got!

For what?

Time away from your telephone?

Hey, let me see your license!

You miss out on three big
deals in the last 10 seconds?

Hey!

Hey!

Don't do that!

Shut up!



Hey!

Let him go.

Let him go.

Hey, butt out!

I'm a police officer.

I don't care who you are!

Come on.

Now what do we do?

I gotta get him
downtown to book him.

Will you go down there with me?

What are you looking at?

Oh, he's a real
charmer, isn't he?

Look, cop, I got about a
week's pay in my wallet.

Why don't you help yourself
and just forget about this.

The only thing you have
is the right to remain silent.

Anything you say
can and will be used

against you in a court of law.

Look, I'm really sorry
about this Carol, really.

Hey, don't apologize.

This'll be fun.

Yeah.

You have the right
to have an attorney

present during questioning.

Carol, are you sure you
have to make that 10:00 flight?

Yeah.

I'm sorry, really.

But if you can't
afford an attorney,

one will be appointed
for you at no cost.

Hey, Rick, I got an idea.

Why don't you just
handcuff him to the bumper,

and if we're lucky,
someone will run him over.

Nah.

Mr. Slade, I'm shocked.

One acquittal on attempted
murder, three priors in assault

and two in robbery.

Conviction on each account.

Served 18 months.

Let's see.

What else do we
have on you here?

Oh, a warrant for your arrest
on $980 worth of parking tickets?

You're a oneman crime
wave, aren't you, Mr. Slade?

He'll be spending the night.

Good night and good luck.

Sergeant Hunter.

Joanne.

Corbin, this is Elmer Bickey.

Book him on indecent exposure.

So, got a 647A, huh?

OK, you guys.

Get it out of your system.

Did you see it?

He was in the act
when I got there.

She was a wonderful, Sergeant.

I like display windows
big department stores.

She came as soon as the
window dresser called it in.

Very efficient.

She saw it all.

Who else saw it?

Just the person
who phoned it in.

And what did they say about it?

They said she
was wonderful, too.

Really, Sergeant.

OK, Bickey, come on.

That's enough.

Let's go.

Hunter, I thought
you had the night off?

Well, I did have the night off,
but circumstances prevailed.

Have a good night.

Hey, Hunter.

You got that arrest report?

Oh, yeah, I do.

Just one moment here,
Billy, and she is all yours.

Have a good night.

Thanks.

Good luck.

Oh, Joanne, you seem to
handle these types of people

very well.

Let's go, Slade.

Lydell, move it.

You're free, Gonzales.

You're out of here, Bickey.

Yes, sir.

We are on it.

All right, listen up a
second, people. Shut up!

All right.

You came in this
morning to find out

that the perps you arrested
last night had been released.

Do not feel like
the Lone Ranger.

The last count
citywide and praise God,

I hope it's the last
count is 43 released.

Now, apparently, there was
some screw up with the computers.

Needless to say, the
mayor, the commissioner,

and Commander Clayton are
very interested to see that we

straighten this accident
out before it hits the press.

Yes?

I know I just came
in late, but could

anybody tell me
what's happening?

Well, I don't know the details.

It was something to
do with the computer.

I'm not a computer
expert, but I have the man

you want to talk to right
here from computer services.

Hawkins, what happened?

We're not sure.

It could be human error.

It could be mechanical.

We are working on it.

I'm going to review the entire
DOS list and the mainframe.

I'll resector the entire
network looking for changes

in the batch files or any
misplaced directories.

What can I tell you,
ladies and gentlemen?

It's going to be a lot of work.

Well, thanks, Hawkins.

Now, all these guys
who were released

were people arrested last night.

I have pledged Metro
we're going to clean

this mess up right away.

And I'm going to
put Sergeant Hunter

in charge of the
whole shooting match.

Now, you all remember
Sergeant Hunter?

That's right.

Field assignments,
communication, the whole thing.

It's yours.

Here's the list of releases.

Well, give me a minute
to read the material,

and there will be a meeting
in the tactics at about 0900.

Thank you all, and
thank you, Captain.

OK, now you can leave my office.

Any questions, see
Sergeant Hunter.

Let's try to clear
this thing up.

With a little luck,
it'll be 48 hours.

Get in.

I got your message.

I'm the one who
got you released.

I work for the D.A. I just
entered data onto the computer.

I got your address
from your record.

What's the deal?

You lonely or something?

No.

I wanted to tell you that
the police will be after you

in a little while, but you're
still a few jumps ahead.

I want you to do something.

Oh, don't worry.

I'll pay you.

That ain't from a fall.

No, it isn't.

How much?

I have $5,000.

I will pay you half
up front and half after.

Are you serious?

Yes, I am.

What do you want me to do?

Kill my husband.

Look, I'm trying to keep this

to two per team where possible,
so just bear with me, OK?

I appreciate that.

OK, Molenski, you've got
Ernie Lydell, the car thief.

And if you'd be
so kind as to take

Joe Golders, the jewelry
guy, I'd appreciate that.

OK.

Thanks a lot.

Rivera.

Yeah.

You're good with nutcases.

You've got Elmer Bickey.

Bickey, huh?

What's he, a hold up guy?

Well, you might say that.

You see, he goes
into department stores,

takes his clothes off, and holds
himself up against the window.

Hey, look, Hunter,
you know I'm not

good with these type
of guys, you know?

Yeah, you're right.

You're not.

OK, look.

You and Molenski swap.

Yeah, come on, just swap.

It's OK.

Yeah.

There you go.

Good.

Now, look.

The rest of these are
assignments, not draft choices,

OK?

Oh, yeah, Rivera?

Do me a favor.

Take Butch Swyer.

He's a speed
dealer who also took

the woman that works
with him, all right?

Uh, Bobby?

I'm not gonna like
this, am I, Hunter?

I don't think so.

Oh, no, man.

Not the liquor store
guys from last night.

- DET.
- Yep.

I hate those guys!

DET.

I'm sorry about that, Bobby.

Now, look.

We need everybody
we can out in the field,

so I'm gonna be
out there with you.

I'm taking a guy by
the name of Phil Slade.

I brought him in
last night for assault.

Also Al Pendola and
Ramon Gonzales, OK?

Hey, Hunter, you got
an extra one there?

Um

Oh, what do you think?

I've been sitting behind a
desk too long or something?

Well, no, Captain.

If you want one, I
can give you one here.

Let's see.

OK.

Abdul Ferez.

Steals manhole covers.

Manhole covers?

You don't have anything a
little more challenging, huh?

Well, if you don't want that one

No, wait, I'm not
gonna pull rank on you.

Tell you what I'll do.

I'll get this manhole
freak, and then I'll

make myself available,
whatever you need me for.

Fair enough?

We appreciate that, Captain.

Really, thank you very much.

Hawkins?

Just this.

I backtracked, and I
found that the glitch

wasn't in the computer hardware.

It was definitely human error.

I don't know if it was
accidental or deliberate,

whether it came from
the outside or the inside,

but if it was deliberate,
I will find who did it.

Well, that's fine.

Let's just hope it doesn't
happen again, huh?

OK.

Everybody, let's
remember what I said.

I'm trying to get these
guys before the press.

All right?

That's it.

OK.

Good luck, everybody.

See you out there.

You, uh you sure you're
not in over your head

with this manhole thing?

Oh, give me a break,
will you, Hunter?

I mean, what do you think?

I've never been on the
streets or something?

Who's there?

Hi.

I'm Officer Joanne
Molenski, LAPD.

I'd like to ask you a few
questions about your husband.

He doesn't live here.

We're divorced.

This was his last
official residence.

Look, I'm afraid
I can't help you.

He doesn't come around here.

I just got an injunction
to keep him away

from Amanda that's my daughter.

He better not come around.

On what grounds, may I ask?

Sure.

Habitual criminal
activity is, I think,

the way the judge put it.

Well, when was the
last time you saw him?

I don't know.

Maybe two, three weeks ago.

Uh, look.

If you do hear from him, or
if you think of anything that

would point us toward him,
would you give me a call?

If I see him, I'll call you.

You can be sure.

Thanks a lot.

I've been thinking about this.

And?

I'll do it if you give
me another $1,000.

I don't have another $1,000.

I don't have another $20.

What's that worth?

I don't know, maybe $900?

I'll take it.

If you don't want to, I'm
already $2,500 in the black.

I'll just drive away.

How when will you do it?

You don't need to know.

It's better that way
for the both of us.

You just go about
your business as usual.

I'll contact you.

And hey don't try and welsh
on the rest of the money.

I won't.

What are you doing here?

I'm parked legally!

Look, lady, I'm sorry,
but look at the signs.

I could have sworn that
sign wasn't there before.

We all make mistakes.

Well, how was I
supposed to see that?

I don't believe this.

This is outrageous.

I mean, what is a
parking ticket now, $90?

I don't know about that,
but I think you're right.

It is a lot of money.

Look, you really haven't
hooked me up yet, so

Oh, no, it's only gonna
take a couple seconds, really.

Couldn't you just let me go?

Well, it doesn't seem fair that
you have to pay the full $90.

$40, and I'll get
out of your hair.

That's great.

Oh, you don't know how
much I appreciate that.

There's $20 and $40.

Oh, thanks.

Ramon, you're really
wasting your talent

doing this type
of stuff, you know.

But they just let me out.

Let's go.

Got another one here.

Hey, Jo.

How about this?

It's just like old home week.

Where'd you get him?

Oh, the cabron made me
chase him through half of Encino.

Well, mine claims he can't be
booked twice on the same crime.

What do you expect?

Joann, do me a favor, will you?

Book this guy for me.

I'm gonna go over
to Phil Slades, OK?

Sure.

See you.

Hey, you're a lot
cuter than that guy.

Molenski, telephone, line two.

Oh, I'll take it in there.

Would you take care of
Don Juan for me here?

Yeah, I got him.

Come on, Don.

Officer Molenski.

Officer Molenski,
this is Mrs. Lydell.

He's taken her.

What are you talking about?

My husband's got
my daughter Amanda!

He took her the moment
she stepped off the bus!

Are you sure, Mrs. Lydell?

Did you check with the school?

The bust stop's just up
the block from our house.

Amanda's friend said it was
definitely Ernie who took her.

He's got my daughter!

Do you have any idea where
he would have taken her?

No.

No, I don't.

Please find her!

Please!

I'll be right over.

I don't know what
takes you so long.

You get back from
work an hour before I do.

Sorry.

I had to go to the
market tonight.

Then go on the weekends.

Where's your ring?

Oh, the stone was loose.

I took it to have it repaired.

I didn't want to take
a chance of losing it.

You bet you didn't.

Aren't you gonna eat?

Yes.

22 of them back in custody.

Keep up the good work, guys.

I figure 21.

Now, let's see,
we've got 18, and then

Rivera, you got that guy Swyer.

Right.

And Bobby nailed
the liquor store guy.

All right.

And O'Neill got his perp.

The last time I looked,
18 and four was 22.

21, 22, what's the differences.

The difference is, I got
mine, and I get to go home.

Well, congratulations, Rivera.

Good work, Jimmy.

First thing in the morning,

I'm gonna follow
up on a lead I got.

Lydell worked odd jobs
at a body shop owned

by an excon he
served juvvie time with.

That's good.

You're following that one.

OK, everybody.

Have a good night.

Good work.

First thing in the
morning, hit it hard.

We've got 21 left.

So, we got anything
new on that guy Slade?

Yeah, his landlord said he
took off in the middle of the night

like somebody was after him.

Well, we better get
on that guy, huh?

Yeah.

Oh, by the way, we
still on for tomorrow?

Oh, yeah.

All systems are go.

Oh, and Charlie how
we doing on Ed Norton?

Hunter to the moon.

Hidden to prearraignment.

Oh, yes.

Check subdirectories.

Who you talking to, Hawkins?

Oh, Sergeant Hunter.

Yeah.

I just thought I'd pop in
and see how you're doing.

What's going on?

The glitch definitely came
from inside the memory.

Is that good?

We're not sure.

Maybe it was deliberate.

Maybe not.

I'm eliminating departments
where it could have originated.

I see.

Like what?

Like Metro and Homicide.

Next Narcotics,
and then the world.

You like these computers,
don't you, Hawk?

Yes.

They're much easier to
interface with than people.

You need help, Hawkins.

Oh, Hunter it's you who
needs help, and I'm your guy.

Spare me.

Have a good night.

Here we are at
one of the country's

most interesting zoos.

Let's see what we get here.

Chips, cookies,
chocolate, cookies.

Hello?

Eddie, yeah, I've been
trying to get a hold of you.

I got some great
Porsche parts for you, OK?

Look, I promise.

I need an advance.

You know I deliver!

Look, I'm gonna
come down there, OK?

Yeah.

We gotta talk.

Daddy, I think this is a
little too babyish for me.

You're right.

Gosh, I didn't realize
how big you've gotten.

I'll get you the
right stuff next time.

Look.

Look, this is grownup
enough, isn't it?

Look, Amanda, Daddy's
gotta go out for a little while,

and I want to wait here for me.

I want to go with you!

I don't want to stay here alone!

No, Sweetheart, it's only
going to be for a little while.

You can watch TV.

You can color.

You can look at the
pretty magazines.

There's plenty of food
for you if you get hungry.

Just keep the door locked
and don't let anyone in, OK?

Hey, I'll be right back.

I promise.

I love you.

Hi, Al.

Hi, Mort.

You're under arrest.

Hi, Mort.

Hey, Hunter!

How'd you make out?

Hey, I got my guy.

How about you?

Well, this fellow tried to pull
a Bronko Nagurski on me,

but I got him.

Good work.

Ahhh!

Bobby Haines just picked
up numbers 30 and 31.

Hey, that's great news, Captain.

You know, I'm having Hawkins
run Slade's parking citations to s

if he can come up with
some sort of pattern

as to where he
might be hanging out.

Yeah, it's all coming together.

You know, you did a good
job catching that guy today,

Charlie.

Well, thanks.

Listen, if you need any help
with Slade, just let me know.

Thank you.

I think I can handle Slade.

Besides, you've got your
hands full with the manhole guy.

Don't start with
the manhole guy.

He's that close
to being arrested.

Sergeant Hunter?

There's a Mrs.
Beasley downstairs,

and she's pretty hot.

Yeah, why's that?

Well, it seems she was
walking her poodle Fluffy

across the street when it
fell into an open manhole.

Sergeant Hunter, Hawkins
wants to talk to you right away.

He says it's important.

Oh, good, thanks.

And Joe, tell Mrs.
Beasley that Captain

Devane will be right down.

Who would name their
damn dog Fluffy, anyway?

Bickey!

Where'd you find him?

I just caught him pressing
himself up against the jungle

window at the safari shop,
shouting God want to punish me.

Just doing what had to be done.

Get him out of here.

Oh I got another
lead on Ernie Lydell.

He's over at the
Stardust Hotel on Koanga.

Great.

After you book him,
take Rivera with you.

Hawkins.

I was checking out
Slade's traffic citations.

Last of the list is this
one on Abaca street.

Permit parking only, went
into the computer this morning.

Check to see if anything
occurred there this morning.

I've already crossreferenced it.

Here's a printout.

There was a homicide on the
same block of Abaca Street sometime

between 9:00 AM and 12:00 noon.

A 3459, Herbert Bertolian,
vice president, UNIVAC,

Incorporated.

41 years of age, no children.

Wife works as a programmer,
Information Services, D.A.'s

office.

Hawkins, you're doing
a great job on this case.

Let's go.

I want to see Mommy.

Daddy just wants you
to stay with him for a little

while you know, go on that
vacation we talked about.

See the Atlantic Ocean.

Who is it?

I'm Officer Joanne
Molenski, LAPD.

I'm looking for Amanda
Lydell and her father.

What the hell do you want?

Mr. Lydell, Officer Rivera and I

have a warrant for your arrest.

They let me go.

That was a mistake.

A computer error.

Look, I'm sorry, but you
have to come with us.

You can drop your daughter
off at her mother's house.

Ha forget that.

Oh, no way.

Look, you better
just get out of here,

because I'm not
going to do that.

You know, I've
got a gun, and I got

enough explosives
to level this place.

Just get away from the door now.

All right.

Take it easy.

We're going.

Don't do anything.

We're out of here.

Stay calm.

R21 Charles to
114, request backup

to Stardust Motel, 116 Colfax.

Bobby, what about the
hostage negotiations team?

He won't talk to
anyone but Molenski,

and sometimes
he won't talk to her,

but I think she's the only
one who has a shot at him.

What's Lydell's frame
of mind right now?

Well, right now he's calm,
but every time Molenski

mentions surrender,
he gets real edgy.

Well, let's not push him, OK?

We'll keep the lines of
communication open.

So how's the rest of the
roundup going, Charlie?

Not too bad, actually.

We got 34 out of 43.

If we get Lydell without hurting
anybody, I'll be real happy.

Me too, Captain.

You know, I think the key
to this may be Lydell's wife.

Where is she?

A black and white picked
her up about 20 minutes ago.

She's on her way here right now.

Well, maybe she'll talk
some sense into him, huh?

Sometimes there's

a way to bring back information
people think they've erased.

If we're lucky, I may
be able to recreate

Ginny Bertolian's
work of that night.

Thanks very much.

If you can do that,
I'll buy you dinner.

Come on, talk to Papa.

I'm backlogging her inputs.

Oh, yes, you love
me, don't you, Baby,

even though we're just
strangers in the night.

Well, what do we have here?

Phil Slade!

That's the guy I'm looking for.

She should have never been
in this file area, unless uhoh.

Mrs. Lydell?

I'm Captain Devane.

You want to come with
me? What's going on here?

Is Amanda OK?

She's fine.

She's with your husband.

They're both safe.

Where's Ernie?

He's in a motel room
right down at the end here.

Officer Molenski's with him now.

We'd like you to talk to him see

if you can get him to come out.

He says he has a bomb.

A bomb?

Ernie doesn't know
anything about bombs!

Look, we need your help.

Will you talk to him?

Well, yes!

I'll do whatever I can.

The first time Bert beat
me, I couldn't go to work,

because I couldn't walk.

That was years ago.

But the very last time, only
10 days ago, it wasn't so bad.

But he never hit me in the face.

And that's when you
decided to kill him.

Oh, I've been thinking
about it for years,

but I knew I could
never do it myself.

That's why I went looking
for someone like Mr. Slade.

I was hoping that if I got
a whole lot of prisoners

released, he might
get lost in the shuffle.

I never thought you'd
connect him to me.

You know what the sentence
for Murder One is, Miss Bertolian?

Oh, yes.

I looked it up in
the penal code.

Life without possibility
of parole or death.

That's right.

Now, I think we may
be able to help you

if you tell us
where Mr. Slade is.

Miss Bertolian?

You don't want to die, do you?

No, I don't.

Ernie, it's me.

Yeah?

Alice is here.

Ernie?

Mommy!

Hi, sweetheart.

I'll be seeing you soon, Honey,
but first you have to be quiet

so Mommy and Daddy can talk, OK?

Ernie, are you gonna talk to me?

Sure, I I just don't
know what to say.

I'm sorry I gave you a hard
time about visiting Amanda,

but you were very
undependable, Ernie,

and I was worried about her.

I know you love Amanda
more than anything or anyone,

so why don't you come out
and we'll figure something out.

I I I don't think it's
gonna be that easy.

I've, uh I kind of made
a mess of everything.

No, it'll be OK.

I don't want anything to
happen to either one of you.

Amanda means
the world to me, too,

and I'd never forgive, Ernie, if
anything ever happened to you.

What about the police?

Ernie, nothing bad
is gonna happen.

I give you my word.

Hi, honey.

Hi, hi.

It's gonna be all right, Ernie.

I'm sorry, honey.

I'm really sorry.

Will you help me?

Yes, I will.

I want things to
be all right for us.

I want us to be a family again.

That's all I really want.

I'll try, Ernie.

I'll really try.

Good girl.

You're outta here.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Goodbye.

Hey, you want
your money or what?

You?

Yeah!

This one's on me.

You got Slade all
tucked away, huh?

All signed, sealed,
and delivered.

I love it when we
tie these things up.

Nice, neat little loose ends.

Yeah, well, not quite.

There's something
I want to show you.

Sure, sure.

You got a minute?

Absolutely.

You know, Commander
Clayton's really

happy with the
divison's response to this.

You know, Hunter, this business
about going back on the streets

is great idea.

Really reinvigorate
a guy, you know?

Yeah, well, take a
look at this, Charlie.

The mahole covers.

That's right.

How'd you catch the guy?

Well, it seems that
he was on his way

up Grand Avenue north
of Janner Pavilion, got

halfway up the
hill, and stalled out.

He'd been selling
these manhole covers

for scrap metal, Charlie.

Scrap metal?

You know, I would
have got this guy.

Oh, believe me, I know
you would've in time.

There was a lot going on.

We were busy, and

I understand completely.

We had all the faith
in the world in you.

Yeah, well, I appreciate that.

Oh, Miss Beasley called.

They found Fluffy.

Fluffy the dog?

Uh-huh.

Seems the dog washed up
on the beach in San Pedro,

but he made the trip just fine.

He's OK.

Well, I guess that
just goes to show you.

What's that, Charlie?

The system does work.