Kojak (1973–1978): Season 1, Episode 4 - Knockover - full transcript
A newbie from Baltimore is gunned down at a Manhattan bus stop by a thug she knows, who wants only her huge, expensive ring, but can't pry it off before he has to flee. Lt. Kojak discovers the ring was swiped from a safety deposit box, in a recent, unsolved bank knock-over. Few fences will handle such a mammoth heist of insured valuables. Tony Curcheo, a Vegas mobster is in town, and ducks Kojak, who consequently suspects Tony's in NYC to cash out those hot goods.
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Hey, Johnny.
When are you gonna listen
to some good sounds?
Bad girl.
You're a greedy girl.
You made a million dollar boo-boo.
Mindblowers.
The old flicks are too much.
- Dance with me
- Come on!
I'll dance with you
Hey, lady, are you, uh, drunk?
Jimmy.
Jimmy, that is blood.
Lady, is something wrong?
I know you can't see,
but... did you hear anything?
Okay.
Um, a man, that's all.
A man.
He was short, fat, heavy?
What?
I don't know, Officer.
Just a man.
Oh, okay. Um, yeah, I think
that he was around Jimmy's height.
And, um, heavy, you know.
And maybe, like, 30...
32 years old. And he was...
Wrong. Sara, that description's
not even close.
Well, "close" would help.
I mean, we didn't really
see the guy. As I said,
we were just sitting down,
and, you know, like, uh...
Well, he was taller than me.
About six foot tall, easy.
Maybe more. Uh, as I said,
we didn't really see the guy.
Black? Caucasian?
Black man? White man?
I don't know.
A real downer. Oh, God!
Well, see if you can agree
on something and
tell it to the officer, okay?
Now, look, you two.
Let's start right from
the very beginning.
Now tell me exactly what happened,
what did you see?
Okay, well,
we came to this bench.
We werejust fooling around,
you know, and... and
then I saw this woman.
"Leona Crown.
1647 Buxton, Baltimore. Age 27.
In case of accident..."
There's nothing on the thing.
It was blank.
Carrying 16 cents...
16 dollars and 27 cents.
Three lipsticks, a pack of tissues,
mascara, eyebrow pencil.
She was wearing this on her finger.
Wait till you get a load of it.
Took the medical examiner
quite a while to get
that thing offher finger.
Did you ever see anything
the size of that?
Must be nine, 10 carats, huh?
She wasn't dressed all that well
for all that diamond.
Lieutenant, that's about it.
The killer was a "tall, short" guy,
somewhere between
110 and 250 pounds.
One eye brown, one blue,
and the third one green.
That's good work, Gallagher.
I'll make sure there's something a little extra
in your paycheck at the end of the week.
Thanks a lot.
In the meantime, you and Crocker
find out any local rap on the chick...
parking tickets, whatever.
Get a set of prints and follow
through with it. And then you call
the Baltimore Police Department.
Find out what you can
about Leona Crown.
You know, library cards,
old boyfriends,
you know the scene.
Stay on that ring.
There's a lot more than friendship
goes into a rock that size.
In the meantime, I'm on overtime.
I don't know about you guys.
All right, I'll see you back
at the shop at, uh...
You forgot your watch.
Here.
Theo, what was it?
Um, a homicide.
Young girl shot at a bus stop.
About your age, Joannie.
Oh.
The coffee's still hot.
What does that mean?
Do I look that sleepy?
Well, you ought to be.
Oh, I don't know.
The evening wasn't entirely
all that, uh, unpleasant.
Well, you can crash here
if you like.
Just lock up before you leave.
No chance.
It would spoil my image
with the troops if I turned up tardy.
What do you want?
Oh, if you put it that way,
it's a cop.
It's just the uniform.
Come on.
You can give me a lift.
The story of my life.
According to the
Baltimore Police Department,
Leona Crown had no record.
The address in her wallet
was vacated about six months ago.
Landlady says Leona worked
in a downtown department store
as a salesperson.
She took dancing lessons at night.
Landlady thinks no family,
no known friends.
All right, have you got
the medical examiner's report
on Leona Crown?
"Female, white, Caucasian. Age 27.
"Height: 5'4" and one-half.
Weight: 121 pounds.
"Hair: Blonde. Skin: Fair.
Distinguishing marks:
"Dorsal scar from second cervical
vertebra dextral...
"to tip of scapula.
"Bilateral scars
following contour lines
beneath both breasts.
- Projectile enters..."
- Hold it!
What about the scars
under her breasts?
It says "cosmetic procedure...
silicone injections."
Does it say how long ago?
Yeah, four or five months. Why?
Well, about that time
she left the salesgirl's job
to come to the big city.
For what? A whole new life.
Doing what?
She took dancing lessons.
And silicone injections
to make everything else even out.
So, what comes not too talented,
in all sizes, that a little
silicone could help?
Frank, can I see you a minute?
Yeah.
The homicide on the bus stop...
off the dead girl's finger.
Take a look.
The drawing's been on the board
for three months.
- That's part of the Cooper's Point loot.
- Mm-hmm. How much did the gang get?
A million. Who knows?
It was a lot of cash.
Bearer bonds, jewelry.
They've got it down
for about a million.
Sweetjob too.
No clues, no prints.
A quarter of a million in new bills...
tens, twenties, fifties.
Federal Reservejust turned it
over to the bank.
They'd have the numbers.
That'd be tough money to get rid of.
- So what have we got?
- What have we got?
We've got a murder, and we got
a heist. And what's the connection?
And maybe a little bit more.
Maybe the rest of the take is around.
Maybe it's up for sale.
Maybe there's somebody
in town to buy it.
Maybe... Maybe...
They're turning over paperbacks
for what today... 18%?
What does that give you
on a quarter of a million?
About 45,000.
Ken Dimin, when's the last time
you saw him?
The money buyer?
Ayear, maybe longer.
What's today, Saturday?
Well, I saw him on Thursday.
I had the great good fortune.
Out of the blue, Ken Dimin,
what do you know?
I was shooting a rack up at Slauson's.
There he was, coming
out of the men's room.
The first time I'd glommed him
in over a year, and he made me.
Then cut out, without even a nod.
- Why do you think he did that?
- Why?
Ayear ago, Dimin would have
come over, slapped my back hello.
Thursday... not a wave,
not a wink, not a nod.
What do you make of that, gang?
- Well, if Ken's still buying loot...
- Well, he arranges
on behalf of the laundry.
He's been known to get a true friend
as much as 20 cents on a dollar,
no matter the condition of the bill.
That's Ken for you...
a Philistine's Philistine.
Now what you're saying, Theo,
is Ken Dimin's suddenly around...
Yeah, and he's the swag buyer,
and we got a dead girl with swag.
You think we can get a mug shot
of Ken Dimin out on the street?
Maybe a long shot, maybe not.
Okay, Theo, you got it.
I want to see him.
The gang worked at night,
on a weekend, when there
was no one around.
They went through
the roof of the bank,
blasted into the safety-deposit vault,
sandbagged the blasts,
sledgehammered the boxes,
all in a weekend's work.
Sure, I know the chickie.
Leona, right?
Some chickie.
Leona Crown, right?
Right.
Now, let's see.
Leona, she hasn't been with us...
in, uh, make it four...
make it five days.
Chickie gave
an honest performance.
People ask where she's at.
She's missed.
Have you any idea where she is?
To greener pastures.
They latch onto a springer,
you know, a rent payer,
and they don't come back.
- That's the way it is.
- Did she find herself a dude?
Who knows?
They come, they go,
they shake it a little and leave.
Who knows what ripple?
Who asks?
You got an address on her, Charlie?
Are you kidding?
I have to.
I'm an equal rights employer,
ain't I?
Ew. What kind of slob
lives like this?
Lady, what can I tell ya?
Who's gonna pay for all this?
Who's gonna clean up all this mess?
Lady, can we talk about it later?
Who's gonna pay
for that mattress?
Oh, what kind of a girl
would do this to a room?
The minute I see her...
Well, if you want to see her,
she's receiving at the city morgue.
Oh, my God.
Hmm, the table.
Look at the john.
He's being so bashful.
I wonder why.
Terminal acne maybe?
Well, married men are sometimes
camera shy. Have you noticed?
Oh, frequently.
Can you make out the name
on the menu?
No, but then I can't
even read the top line
on an eye chart anymore.
Hmm. Tell me about it.
Hey, get me the photo lab.
Something about her...
that smile, it's got quotes around it.
Hello, Snyder? Kojak.
I need a blowup of a picture.
It's on the way.
How big? Like a poster.
And soon, huh?
And the mattress was ripped apart.
What do you suppose
they were looking for?
More of the Cooper's Point loot?
That's it. I'm through.
Okay.
Stavros, come here.
Yeah, Lieutenant?
Anybody you know?
Nope.
- Get somebody to walk it over
to Safe and Loft Squad.
- Is he a safe man?
Well, we're looking for somebody
who knocked over a bank.
Let's find out.
Okay, Lieutenant.
Take the case.
All right.
You can't go up there!
Lady, those are
detectives up there.
You can't bother them!
If you've got any problems,
go down to the main desk, all right?
Lady. Lady.
No, no, no. No comprende.
No understand.
Yeah, just give me a minute.
Gomez!
Just one minute.
Gomez!
Yes, Lieutenant?
Come here.
Now here's the man for you.
Here, I think you've got a big one.
You ought to learn the language.
Well, I try.
I try. Such a sexy language,
but I don't think
I can handle it.
Okay, I'm ready.
- Car 65 to Central, K.
- Go ahead, 65.
Have car 723...
Car 723, reading you direct.
Car 65, redirect.
Dimin just pulled into the
Bluebird Motel near LaGuardia.
All right, just stay right with him.
He may be expecting
some out-of-town guests.
Lots of time.
Then why don't
we blow it tonight?
Because we need six hours
in the vault.
And six hours will
bring us into daytime.
- We all set for tomorrow?
- Yeah, we're set.
All right, let's go.
Muy bien.
That's pretty good, Lieutenant.
What you ought to do is get yourself
a nice Spanish-speaking girl.
It will help you
with the important words.
Hey, take it from me, sonny.
For the important things,
you don't need words.
But I do admit, a mi amore
every now and then can't hurt.
Hey, Lieutenant, the yellow sheet
on the man in the picture.
Stavros tells me Safe and Loft
made him on the spot.
His name is Mickey Reason.
Two bits for robbery,
explosives, first-rate juicer,
safes, stuff like that.
Last known address... Oh, God.
1210 Moreland,
Scylar on the Hudson.
I haven't been there in four years.
I wonder if they've missed me.
If anyone wants me, I'm on the way
to Scylar on the Hudson.
Mama!
- Mama.
- Hang on, sonny.
You stay there.
Take it easy, sonny.
Got ya.
What are you doing up here?
What do you think you are,
a pussycat?
Hold onto me.
We'll go down here.
Timmy? Oh, Timmy!
Just practicing how to be
a cat burglar, right, Tim?
You shouldn't have left
the ladder against the house.
I just went in to get something to eat.
You ought to get him a trampoline.
Thank you. I don't know
how I can thank you.
You already did.
Excuse me, friend.
I don't want this to happen again.
I'll give you a hand.
Thanks.
Now, Tim, you go in the house,
and stay there.
I'm Lieutenant Kojak,
New York Police Department.
I'm looking for a Mickey Reason.
Do you know him?
Mr. Reason?
Uh, you just missed him.
Oh? How long?
Oh, two weeks.
He used to live here.
I rent a couple of rooms,
and Mr. Reason was a tenant.
But he's gone.
- Any idea where?
- Haven't the foggiest.
How about you, fella?
Never met the gent.
Just moved in the day
before yesterday myself.
George Bradbury, Brotherhood
of Painters and Paperhangers,
Toledo, Ohio.
We got a reciprocity deal
going with the locals around here.
There's a lot of new
construction going on.
I see.
Well, if he should get in touch,
uh, let me know.
Give me a call.
Sure.
Say, you didn't say why
you were looking for this guy.
I'm investigating a homicide.
Thank you.
All right, keep moving.
The car, maybe one
of Dimin's boys dropping by.
No, no, no. That's not...
That's not a Vegas car.
All right, back up.
That man who
just drove off, he's a cop.
A cop investigating a homicide.
Hey, cut that out!
Get back in the house.
Well, what's going on?
Just mind your own business!
We'll be out of here
in a couple of days.
If we didn't have a job to do,
stupid, I would cut you up
and use you for bait.
Man, how's it my fault?
You could blow up
the Empire State Building complete,
and you could leave
the 10th floor hanging.
But your brains wouldn't fill your nose!
How is it your fault?
Who got stupid for that bale of hay
and let her walk off with half
the Cooper's Point take?
Talk to me. Tell me!
I was sleeping.
Anyhow, you got the stuff back
out of her room.
Except the ring.
The ring!
How do you think
the heat got here?
The ring!
Hey, come on.
After tonight, we'll all be gone...
with bundles.
- Car 65 to Central, K.
- Go ahead, 65.
Have car 723 meet this unit at...
Car 723, I read you.
Lieutenant, I'm covering Dimin
at the Lincoln Hotel
in Charley O's bar.
He's got two sharp dudes
with him.
All right, I'm heading back,
I think. Charley O's bar?
- I should be there in about 20 minutes.
- All right.
Three of them, including Dimin.
The two guys with him
are registered at the hotel...
separate rooms.
I checked their names at the desk.
Oh, yeah, wise guys from Vegas.
I know 'em all.
Go ahead.
Well, how nice.
How nice and civilized
when old friends get together.
They talk, they drink,
they bring each other up-to-date
on what's been happening.
You know something?
It warms the cockles of my heart.
- You're intruding, Theo.
- Me? Intruding? Come on.
Can I sit down, Dimin?
Oh, thanks a lot.
Look, you gotta think of me
as the welcome wagon.
Who knows better
than me about that rough trip
to get here from Las Vegas?
Oh, darling, would you let us
have another round, please?
I'll have a vodka
and grapefruitjuice.
So, what's new, fellas?
I mean, what brings you
to Fun City at this time?
Can't be those
Broadway stripjoints, Tony.
All that smog-free excitement
in Vegas, and here you are. Why?
- Why?
- Taking in the shows.
I thought all the talent was in Vegas?
But I guess talent is where
you find it, right, Tony?
How does he do it?
How does Tony do it?
Keeps coming up
with all this fresh talent.
Oh, incidentally, congratulations.
I hear you beat the rape charge.
Ah, but you gotta cop
to the assault, right?
- Right, Tony?
- Yeah, Kojak, you got it.
Look, I hate to take
up your time, fellas.
I just heard there
were some hot items loose
on that Cooper's Point heist.
- You didn't hear
anything about that, did ya?
- You kidding?
No, Mesche, I'm not kidding.
As a matter of fact,
and please forgive me,
I thought maybe you guys were
in town to discount that stuff, huh?
Knock it off, Theo. Drift.
Look, uh, pussycat.
Never ever, ever
talk to me like that, okay?
You and the rest of you
butterflies around me...
I like to see smiling, happy faces.
And when you speak,
speak softly and with respect.
Never, never any harsh words.
You understand?
You?
It's always a pleasure
to see you, Kojak.
Nice. And you?
That's better.
- I'll take care of it.
- On your dying day.
Just stick around.
I want those room numbers.
Right.
Yeah. Hello, Sergeant.
I need a black evening dress.
Now don't be a wise guy!
Besides, I don't fit into a size 12.
That's right,
it's for the commissioner.
He fits.
Yeah, it's basic black and gloves.
They gotta be long gloves,
remember?
A wire set, Al,
and, uh, Joannie Garretty.
Here, hold this.
Wiring you for sound is
gonna get me into Tony's room.
Providing I get into Tony's room.
Oh, you'll get into Tony's room.
Are you kidding?
He'll take one look at you
in basic black and he'll start
talking to himself.
He'll figure out a way
to get you into his room, right,
and then he'll make his big move.
So don't worry.
I'll be right in back of you.
Before he gets rough, please.
Hey, my timing is always precise.
Let's hope so.
Now, look.
Start with the heist...
the ring on the dead girl's finger
from Cooper's Point,
and then find out if these guys
are in from Vegas to pick up
the rest of that loot.
Start from there
and see what happens.
And then maybe it'll lead
to the Cooper's Point robbers.
From whom we find out
how the ring got to Leona,
and then who iced Leona. Here.
Basic black. I've got a lace job
that would blow his mind.
Yours too.
Tell me about it.
Look, Tony Curcio.
Basic black, long hair, gloves.
He falls apart.
Makes him do foolish things.
And come to think of it, me too.
Where'd the dress come from?
Property.
It was evidence
in a wife-beating case.
I don't know if she wouldn't put it on
or wouldn't take it off.
Women are funny.
Zip me?
It's gonna blow my image.
Am I funny?
Sometimes you leave me breathless.
How'd you know my size?
I'm a size man.
Walk over there.
Just testing.
You take care of yourself,
ya hear?
Tony Curcio's got a bad temper.
He likes to hurt pretty things.
I'll be careful.
Do it.
What'll it be, miss?
A Dubonnet, please.
A Dubonnet it is.
Here we go, miss.
They're leaving.
Me too.
You know how you get
when you're drinking.
So be careful.
Be careful, Joannie,
and get off on the sixth floor.
Let me have 611.
711.
I'll see you later.
What, are you crazy?
You know, I have the same trouble.
I never know which way the room is,
left or right?
Are you going too?
The party... Genevieve's?
Yeah, it's this way.
We're probably very late.
Don't worry about it.
Uh, sorry.
Wrong number.
Genevieve can wait.
That's a very naughty thought.
Of course, because
you don't even know me.
And why should you go into
a man's room for just one drink...
when all you know is,
he rides a pretty good elevator,
and who am I anyhow, right?
Okay. Who are you anyhow?
Tony Curcio.
And from where else
but Vegas?
It jumps, doesn't it?
Except that I'm expected
at Genevieve's.
One little drink.
Who's to know?
You ought to be told
about your clichés, Tony.
But okay, just one.
Terrific.
A martini?
Uh, just don't bruise it.
All right!
Mmm, yummy. Great.
Come on. Sit down.
Hi.
So you know Vegas, huh?
A little.
When was the last time
you were there?
About six months ago.
How long did you stay?
Ten days.
Have a good time?
Sure.
Of course. A girl like you
would make out great in Vegas.
Meet some of the right people?
A couple.
That's good.
That's very good.
Behave yourself.
Come on. She's probably having
a boring party anyhow.
Probably.
Then stay here.
Why? What for?
Make your own reasons.
Like, for instance?
Love!
Money?
I'm very bad with decisions,
Anthony.
- Money.
- Instant decision, huh?
Hey, I like to move fast.
I have fun. How much?
- You're serious, aren't you?
- What's it gonna cost me
for a couple of hours, two bills?
How much?
You kidding me?
I don't ever kid. Come here.
Hey.
I said come here.
Hey!
Oh, I'm sorry.
Tony, stop!
What are you, some kind of a teaser?
Is that what you are?
Open up, Curcio.
It's Kojak.!
I thought you were my friend.
I ought to stick your mouth
in a light socket.
What happened to that
old timing I hear you brag about?
Well, you see,
there was a bar mitzvah
on the roof garden and
it drew a cast of thousands.
It was gonna be a misdemeanor, Tony.
Soliciting for immoral purposes.
But now what we got is...
Look, Officer, don't you think
you ought to examine
the proximate premises...
and find out
what you can material relevant
to the commission of a felony?
Mm-hmm.
That's what it is, Tony, a felony...
assault, attempted rape.
- Kojak, she's a cop?
- Oh, yeah.
I don't know.
A rough guess...
half a million.
Half a million.
What does it all mean, Tony?
What were you gonna do
with all that folding stuff?
It's a little too much
to be discounting
that Cooper's Point loot.
So what were you gonna do
with a half a million balloons, huh?
I want to see my lawyer.
Yeah, well, you tell your lawyer
you'll be in the can, all right?
Come on.
Come on.
You had your chance.
Did he hurt you?
Everything but my ego.
He hadn't stopped bidding yet,
and he had half a million.
Officer Garretty, come with me.
And it bugs me.
A half a million dollars.
What were they gonna buy?
And from whom?
Doesn't it bug you?
Lieutenant, when I'm around
this kind of bread,
all's right with the world.
Nothing bugs me.
Nothing.
Mm-hmm.
- What's the matter?
- What's this, a telephone number?
Here. See if it's a working number
and get the exact address.
Gomez!
Gomez.!
Yeah, coming, Lieutenant.
- What, Lieutenant?
- Tell me about this, Gomez.
- What it says in the report.
- Just tell me about it, will ya?
Well, the lady last night,
Mrs. Contreras...
you know, the fat one.
You remember.
With no English?
The kids in the neighborhood are trying
to build a clubhouse, and somebody
ripped them off of some sandbags.
- You put a lot of sandbags.
- Yeah, make that 50.
Fifty sandbags.
Oh, maybe more.
She said that there might
even be more the way...
It's a pay phone booth
out at Scylar, on Moreland.
Scylar?
You know, I was at Scylar this morning.
And I haven't been there for four years.
And I also went to an address
on Moreland Avenue.
Well...
It's coincidence.
Well, if you believe that, Gomez,
you'll never make lieutenant.
Come on. Let's move.
Uh-huh.
Uh, here.
Oh, amigo,
you watch the money, huh?
Right, Lieutenant.
And, uh, it's counted.
It's counted.
Sandbags to protect the ganefs,
direct the blast.
Just like at Cooper's Point...
the presence of the ring, loot.
That means the thieves
are around?
Could be.
I don't know.
All that Vegas money.
Let's assume something.
Assume it's to buy a lot ofhot loot
from a safety-deposit vault.
Like at Cooper's Point.
Mm-hmm. You're a thinker.
You know, at current prices,
a half a million could buy up
ten million dollars...
in securities, jewelry, hot cash.
What kind of a bank could be expected
to hold that kind of money,
like at Cooper's Point?
Only in a much richer community.
Like Scylar on the Hudson.
Three cherries, baby.
Like Scylar on the Hudson.
Same kind of setup,
same kind oflocation.
Only even more remote.
Out in the boondocks.
- No ladder.
- Ladder? What ladder?
This morning there was
a 40-foot ladder here.
Maybe it's around back.
No ladder back here.
Car 723 to Central.
Car 723 to Central, K.
Go ahead, 723.
10-30 signal.
10-30 robbery in progress.
Security Scylar National Bank.
Detectives on way to scene.
Don't use sirens.
10-4, car 723.
- In progress?
- In progress.
Where do you suppose
all that ladder got to?
Who would want all that ladder?
To get to the top
of a bank at night.
Mm-hmm. You know the house?
That house back there
with the phony paint job?
Close to a telephone booth,
close to a playground,
sandbags, close to a bank.
Hold it.! Freeze.!
Get 'em over there.
All right, move!
Come on, over by the car.
Get on the car.
Spread 'em out. Spread 'em out.
Don't try it.
Uh-uh-uh.
Oh! Hi, cannon.
Oh, I think you and I
have met before, cannon.
Maybe on a ballistics report
on my desk.
Do you suppose?
Oh, hi, Mr. Bradbury.
Good union man. Mr. Bradbury,
that wonderful housepainter.
Oh, talk about your generation gap.
What took you so long?
I'm getting too old
for this kid stuff.
All right, go join your mates.
All right, fellas.
Well, all in all it's been
a pretty good night for us.
And maybe I can make it
a little better for you.
Would you like that?
Two nights ago, about this time,
something more important
happened than this,
uh, high-class knock over.
Ayoung chick was taken off
a bus stop in a body bag.
Her name, Leona Crown.
She was a nice, happy-go-lucky kid.
Lots oflaughs.
And her life was cut short.
And the way I figure it,
one of you killed her.
I got the gun.
I gotta be halfway home, right?
I'm gonna coast the rest of the way.
Freewheeling.
It'll be morning in an hour.
Before that, one of you
gonna start chirpin'.
Did I say "one of you"?
I'm gonna have a room
full of canaries.
---
Hey, Johnny.
When are you gonna listen
to some good sounds?
Bad girl.
You're a greedy girl.
You made a million dollar boo-boo.
Mindblowers.
The old flicks are too much.
- Dance with me
- Come on!
I'll dance with you
Hey, lady, are you, uh, drunk?
Jimmy.
Jimmy, that is blood.
Lady, is something wrong?
I know you can't see,
but... did you hear anything?
Okay.
Um, a man, that's all.
A man.
He was short, fat, heavy?
What?
I don't know, Officer.
Just a man.
Oh, okay. Um, yeah, I think
that he was around Jimmy's height.
And, um, heavy, you know.
And maybe, like, 30...
32 years old. And he was...
Wrong. Sara, that description's
not even close.
Well, "close" would help.
I mean, we didn't really
see the guy. As I said,
we were just sitting down,
and, you know, like, uh...
Well, he was taller than me.
About six foot tall, easy.
Maybe more. Uh, as I said,
we didn't really see the guy.
Black? Caucasian?
Black man? White man?
I don't know.
A real downer. Oh, God!
Well, see if you can agree
on something and
tell it to the officer, okay?
Now, look, you two.
Let's start right from
the very beginning.
Now tell me exactly what happened,
what did you see?
Okay, well,
we came to this bench.
We werejust fooling around,
you know, and... and
then I saw this woman.
"Leona Crown.
1647 Buxton, Baltimore. Age 27.
In case of accident..."
There's nothing on the thing.
It was blank.
Carrying 16 cents...
16 dollars and 27 cents.
Three lipsticks, a pack of tissues,
mascara, eyebrow pencil.
She was wearing this on her finger.
Wait till you get a load of it.
Took the medical examiner
quite a while to get
that thing offher finger.
Did you ever see anything
the size of that?
Must be nine, 10 carats, huh?
She wasn't dressed all that well
for all that diamond.
Lieutenant, that's about it.
The killer was a "tall, short" guy,
somewhere between
110 and 250 pounds.
One eye brown, one blue,
and the third one green.
That's good work, Gallagher.
I'll make sure there's something a little extra
in your paycheck at the end of the week.
Thanks a lot.
In the meantime, you and Crocker
find out any local rap on the chick...
parking tickets, whatever.
Get a set of prints and follow
through with it. And then you call
the Baltimore Police Department.
Find out what you can
about Leona Crown.
You know, library cards,
old boyfriends,
you know the scene.
Stay on that ring.
There's a lot more than friendship
goes into a rock that size.
In the meantime, I'm on overtime.
I don't know about you guys.
All right, I'll see you back
at the shop at, uh...
You forgot your watch.
Here.
Theo, what was it?
Um, a homicide.
Young girl shot at a bus stop.
About your age, Joannie.
Oh.
The coffee's still hot.
What does that mean?
Do I look that sleepy?
Well, you ought to be.
Oh, I don't know.
The evening wasn't entirely
all that, uh, unpleasant.
Well, you can crash here
if you like.
Just lock up before you leave.
No chance.
It would spoil my image
with the troops if I turned up tardy.
What do you want?
Oh, if you put it that way,
it's a cop.
It's just the uniform.
Come on.
You can give me a lift.
The story of my life.
According to the
Baltimore Police Department,
Leona Crown had no record.
The address in her wallet
was vacated about six months ago.
Landlady says Leona worked
in a downtown department store
as a salesperson.
She took dancing lessons at night.
Landlady thinks no family,
no known friends.
All right, have you got
the medical examiner's report
on Leona Crown?
"Female, white, Caucasian. Age 27.
"Height: 5'4" and one-half.
Weight: 121 pounds.
"Hair: Blonde. Skin: Fair.
Distinguishing marks:
"Dorsal scar from second cervical
vertebra dextral...
"to tip of scapula.
"Bilateral scars
following contour lines
beneath both breasts.
- Projectile enters..."
- Hold it!
What about the scars
under her breasts?
It says "cosmetic procedure...
silicone injections."
Does it say how long ago?
Yeah, four or five months. Why?
Well, about that time
she left the salesgirl's job
to come to the big city.
For what? A whole new life.
Doing what?
She took dancing lessons.
And silicone injections
to make everything else even out.
So, what comes not too talented,
in all sizes, that a little
silicone could help?
Frank, can I see you a minute?
Yeah.
The homicide on the bus stop...
off the dead girl's finger.
Take a look.
The drawing's been on the board
for three months.
- That's part of the Cooper's Point loot.
- Mm-hmm. How much did the gang get?
A million. Who knows?
It was a lot of cash.
Bearer bonds, jewelry.
They've got it down
for about a million.
Sweetjob too.
No clues, no prints.
A quarter of a million in new bills...
tens, twenties, fifties.
Federal Reservejust turned it
over to the bank.
They'd have the numbers.
That'd be tough money to get rid of.
- So what have we got?
- What have we got?
We've got a murder, and we got
a heist. And what's the connection?
And maybe a little bit more.
Maybe the rest of the take is around.
Maybe it's up for sale.
Maybe there's somebody
in town to buy it.
Maybe... Maybe...
They're turning over paperbacks
for what today... 18%?
What does that give you
on a quarter of a million?
About 45,000.
Ken Dimin, when's the last time
you saw him?
The money buyer?
Ayear, maybe longer.
What's today, Saturday?
Well, I saw him on Thursday.
I had the great good fortune.
Out of the blue, Ken Dimin,
what do you know?
I was shooting a rack up at Slauson's.
There he was, coming
out of the men's room.
The first time I'd glommed him
in over a year, and he made me.
Then cut out, without even a nod.
- Why do you think he did that?
- Why?
Ayear ago, Dimin would have
come over, slapped my back hello.
Thursday... not a wave,
not a wink, not a nod.
What do you make of that, gang?
- Well, if Ken's still buying loot...
- Well, he arranges
on behalf of the laundry.
He's been known to get a true friend
as much as 20 cents on a dollar,
no matter the condition of the bill.
That's Ken for you...
a Philistine's Philistine.
Now what you're saying, Theo,
is Ken Dimin's suddenly around...
Yeah, and he's the swag buyer,
and we got a dead girl with swag.
You think we can get a mug shot
of Ken Dimin out on the street?
Maybe a long shot, maybe not.
Okay, Theo, you got it.
I want to see him.
The gang worked at night,
on a weekend, when there
was no one around.
They went through
the roof of the bank,
blasted into the safety-deposit vault,
sandbagged the blasts,
sledgehammered the boxes,
all in a weekend's work.
Sure, I know the chickie.
Leona, right?
Some chickie.
Leona Crown, right?
Right.
Now, let's see.
Leona, she hasn't been with us...
in, uh, make it four...
make it five days.
Chickie gave
an honest performance.
People ask where she's at.
She's missed.
Have you any idea where she is?
To greener pastures.
They latch onto a springer,
you know, a rent payer,
and they don't come back.
- That's the way it is.
- Did she find herself a dude?
Who knows?
They come, they go,
they shake it a little and leave.
Who knows what ripple?
Who asks?
You got an address on her, Charlie?
Are you kidding?
I have to.
I'm an equal rights employer,
ain't I?
Ew. What kind of slob
lives like this?
Lady, what can I tell ya?
Who's gonna pay for all this?
Who's gonna clean up all this mess?
Lady, can we talk about it later?
Who's gonna pay
for that mattress?
Oh, what kind of a girl
would do this to a room?
The minute I see her...
Well, if you want to see her,
she's receiving at the city morgue.
Oh, my God.
Hmm, the table.
Look at the john.
He's being so bashful.
I wonder why.
Terminal acne maybe?
Well, married men are sometimes
camera shy. Have you noticed?
Oh, frequently.
Can you make out the name
on the menu?
No, but then I can't
even read the top line
on an eye chart anymore.
Hmm. Tell me about it.
Hey, get me the photo lab.
Something about her...
that smile, it's got quotes around it.
Hello, Snyder? Kojak.
I need a blowup of a picture.
It's on the way.
How big? Like a poster.
And soon, huh?
And the mattress was ripped apart.
What do you suppose
they were looking for?
More of the Cooper's Point loot?
That's it. I'm through.
Okay.
Stavros, come here.
Yeah, Lieutenant?
Anybody you know?
Nope.
- Get somebody to walk it over
to Safe and Loft Squad.
- Is he a safe man?
Well, we're looking for somebody
who knocked over a bank.
Let's find out.
Okay, Lieutenant.
Take the case.
All right.
You can't go up there!
Lady, those are
detectives up there.
You can't bother them!
If you've got any problems,
go down to the main desk, all right?
Lady. Lady.
No, no, no. No comprende.
No understand.
Yeah, just give me a minute.
Gomez!
Just one minute.
Gomez!
Yes, Lieutenant?
Come here.
Now here's the man for you.
Here, I think you've got a big one.
You ought to learn the language.
Well, I try.
I try. Such a sexy language,
but I don't think
I can handle it.
Okay, I'm ready.
- Car 65 to Central, K.
- Go ahead, 65.
Have car 723...
Car 723, reading you direct.
Car 65, redirect.
Dimin just pulled into the
Bluebird Motel near LaGuardia.
All right, just stay right with him.
He may be expecting
some out-of-town guests.
Lots of time.
Then why don't
we blow it tonight?
Because we need six hours
in the vault.
And six hours will
bring us into daytime.
- We all set for tomorrow?
- Yeah, we're set.
All right, let's go.
Muy bien.
That's pretty good, Lieutenant.
What you ought to do is get yourself
a nice Spanish-speaking girl.
It will help you
with the important words.
Hey, take it from me, sonny.
For the important things,
you don't need words.
But I do admit, a mi amore
every now and then can't hurt.
Hey, Lieutenant, the yellow sheet
on the man in the picture.
Stavros tells me Safe and Loft
made him on the spot.
His name is Mickey Reason.
Two bits for robbery,
explosives, first-rate juicer,
safes, stuff like that.
Last known address... Oh, God.
1210 Moreland,
Scylar on the Hudson.
I haven't been there in four years.
I wonder if they've missed me.
If anyone wants me, I'm on the way
to Scylar on the Hudson.
Mama!
- Mama.
- Hang on, sonny.
You stay there.
Take it easy, sonny.
Got ya.
What are you doing up here?
What do you think you are,
a pussycat?
Hold onto me.
We'll go down here.
Timmy? Oh, Timmy!
Just practicing how to be
a cat burglar, right, Tim?
You shouldn't have left
the ladder against the house.
I just went in to get something to eat.
You ought to get him a trampoline.
Thank you. I don't know
how I can thank you.
You already did.
Excuse me, friend.
I don't want this to happen again.
I'll give you a hand.
Thanks.
Now, Tim, you go in the house,
and stay there.
I'm Lieutenant Kojak,
New York Police Department.
I'm looking for a Mickey Reason.
Do you know him?
Mr. Reason?
Uh, you just missed him.
Oh? How long?
Oh, two weeks.
He used to live here.
I rent a couple of rooms,
and Mr. Reason was a tenant.
But he's gone.
- Any idea where?
- Haven't the foggiest.
How about you, fella?
Never met the gent.
Just moved in the day
before yesterday myself.
George Bradbury, Brotherhood
of Painters and Paperhangers,
Toledo, Ohio.
We got a reciprocity deal
going with the locals around here.
There's a lot of new
construction going on.
I see.
Well, if he should get in touch,
uh, let me know.
Give me a call.
Sure.
Say, you didn't say why
you were looking for this guy.
I'm investigating a homicide.
Thank you.
All right, keep moving.
The car, maybe one
of Dimin's boys dropping by.
No, no, no. That's not...
That's not a Vegas car.
All right, back up.
That man who
just drove off, he's a cop.
A cop investigating a homicide.
Hey, cut that out!
Get back in the house.
Well, what's going on?
Just mind your own business!
We'll be out of here
in a couple of days.
If we didn't have a job to do,
stupid, I would cut you up
and use you for bait.
Man, how's it my fault?
You could blow up
the Empire State Building complete,
and you could leave
the 10th floor hanging.
But your brains wouldn't fill your nose!
How is it your fault?
Who got stupid for that bale of hay
and let her walk off with half
the Cooper's Point take?
Talk to me. Tell me!
I was sleeping.
Anyhow, you got the stuff back
out of her room.
Except the ring.
The ring!
How do you think
the heat got here?
The ring!
Hey, come on.
After tonight, we'll all be gone...
with bundles.
- Car 65 to Central, K.
- Go ahead, 65.
Have car 723 meet this unit at...
Car 723, I read you.
Lieutenant, I'm covering Dimin
at the Lincoln Hotel
in Charley O's bar.
He's got two sharp dudes
with him.
All right, I'm heading back,
I think. Charley O's bar?
- I should be there in about 20 minutes.
- All right.
Three of them, including Dimin.
The two guys with him
are registered at the hotel...
separate rooms.
I checked their names at the desk.
Oh, yeah, wise guys from Vegas.
I know 'em all.
Go ahead.
Well, how nice.
How nice and civilized
when old friends get together.
They talk, they drink,
they bring each other up-to-date
on what's been happening.
You know something?
It warms the cockles of my heart.
- You're intruding, Theo.
- Me? Intruding? Come on.
Can I sit down, Dimin?
Oh, thanks a lot.
Look, you gotta think of me
as the welcome wagon.
Who knows better
than me about that rough trip
to get here from Las Vegas?
Oh, darling, would you let us
have another round, please?
I'll have a vodka
and grapefruitjuice.
So, what's new, fellas?
I mean, what brings you
to Fun City at this time?
Can't be those
Broadway stripjoints, Tony.
All that smog-free excitement
in Vegas, and here you are. Why?
- Why?
- Taking in the shows.
I thought all the talent was in Vegas?
But I guess talent is where
you find it, right, Tony?
How does he do it?
How does Tony do it?
Keeps coming up
with all this fresh talent.
Oh, incidentally, congratulations.
I hear you beat the rape charge.
Ah, but you gotta cop
to the assault, right?
- Right, Tony?
- Yeah, Kojak, you got it.
Look, I hate to take
up your time, fellas.
I just heard there
were some hot items loose
on that Cooper's Point heist.
- You didn't hear
anything about that, did ya?
- You kidding?
No, Mesche, I'm not kidding.
As a matter of fact,
and please forgive me,
I thought maybe you guys were
in town to discount that stuff, huh?
Knock it off, Theo. Drift.
Look, uh, pussycat.
Never ever, ever
talk to me like that, okay?
You and the rest of you
butterflies around me...
I like to see smiling, happy faces.
And when you speak,
speak softly and with respect.
Never, never any harsh words.
You understand?
You?
It's always a pleasure
to see you, Kojak.
Nice. And you?
That's better.
- I'll take care of it.
- On your dying day.
Just stick around.
I want those room numbers.
Right.
Yeah. Hello, Sergeant.
I need a black evening dress.
Now don't be a wise guy!
Besides, I don't fit into a size 12.
That's right,
it's for the commissioner.
He fits.
Yeah, it's basic black and gloves.
They gotta be long gloves,
remember?
A wire set, Al,
and, uh, Joannie Garretty.
Here, hold this.
Wiring you for sound is
gonna get me into Tony's room.
Providing I get into Tony's room.
Oh, you'll get into Tony's room.
Are you kidding?
He'll take one look at you
in basic black and he'll start
talking to himself.
He'll figure out a way
to get you into his room, right,
and then he'll make his big move.
So don't worry.
I'll be right in back of you.
Before he gets rough, please.
Hey, my timing is always precise.
Let's hope so.
Now, look.
Start with the heist...
the ring on the dead girl's finger
from Cooper's Point,
and then find out if these guys
are in from Vegas to pick up
the rest of that loot.
Start from there
and see what happens.
And then maybe it'll lead
to the Cooper's Point robbers.
From whom we find out
how the ring got to Leona,
and then who iced Leona. Here.
Basic black. I've got a lace job
that would blow his mind.
Yours too.
Tell me about it.
Look, Tony Curcio.
Basic black, long hair, gloves.
He falls apart.
Makes him do foolish things.
And come to think of it, me too.
Where'd the dress come from?
Property.
It was evidence
in a wife-beating case.
I don't know if she wouldn't put it on
or wouldn't take it off.
Women are funny.
Zip me?
It's gonna blow my image.
Am I funny?
Sometimes you leave me breathless.
How'd you know my size?
I'm a size man.
Walk over there.
Just testing.
You take care of yourself,
ya hear?
Tony Curcio's got a bad temper.
He likes to hurt pretty things.
I'll be careful.
Do it.
What'll it be, miss?
A Dubonnet, please.
A Dubonnet it is.
Here we go, miss.
They're leaving.
Me too.
You know how you get
when you're drinking.
So be careful.
Be careful, Joannie,
and get off on the sixth floor.
Let me have 611.
711.
I'll see you later.
What, are you crazy?
You know, I have the same trouble.
I never know which way the room is,
left or right?
Are you going too?
The party... Genevieve's?
Yeah, it's this way.
We're probably very late.
Don't worry about it.
Uh, sorry.
Wrong number.
Genevieve can wait.
That's a very naughty thought.
Of course, because
you don't even know me.
And why should you go into
a man's room for just one drink...
when all you know is,
he rides a pretty good elevator,
and who am I anyhow, right?
Okay. Who are you anyhow?
Tony Curcio.
And from where else
but Vegas?
It jumps, doesn't it?
Except that I'm expected
at Genevieve's.
One little drink.
Who's to know?
You ought to be told
about your clichés, Tony.
But okay, just one.
Terrific.
A martini?
Uh, just don't bruise it.
All right!
Mmm, yummy. Great.
Come on. Sit down.
Hi.
So you know Vegas, huh?
A little.
When was the last time
you were there?
About six months ago.
How long did you stay?
Ten days.
Have a good time?
Sure.
Of course. A girl like you
would make out great in Vegas.
Meet some of the right people?
A couple.
That's good.
That's very good.
Behave yourself.
Come on. She's probably having
a boring party anyhow.
Probably.
Then stay here.
Why? What for?
Make your own reasons.
Like, for instance?
Love!
Money?
I'm very bad with decisions,
Anthony.
- Money.
- Instant decision, huh?
Hey, I like to move fast.
I have fun. How much?
- You're serious, aren't you?
- What's it gonna cost me
for a couple of hours, two bills?
How much?
You kidding me?
I don't ever kid. Come here.
Hey.
I said come here.
Hey!
Oh, I'm sorry.
Tony, stop!
What are you, some kind of a teaser?
Is that what you are?
Open up, Curcio.
It's Kojak.!
I thought you were my friend.
I ought to stick your mouth
in a light socket.
What happened to that
old timing I hear you brag about?
Well, you see,
there was a bar mitzvah
on the roof garden and
it drew a cast of thousands.
It was gonna be a misdemeanor, Tony.
Soliciting for immoral purposes.
But now what we got is...
Look, Officer, don't you think
you ought to examine
the proximate premises...
and find out
what you can material relevant
to the commission of a felony?
Mm-hmm.
That's what it is, Tony, a felony...
assault, attempted rape.
- Kojak, she's a cop?
- Oh, yeah.
I don't know.
A rough guess...
half a million.
Half a million.
What does it all mean, Tony?
What were you gonna do
with all that folding stuff?
It's a little too much
to be discounting
that Cooper's Point loot.
So what were you gonna do
with a half a million balloons, huh?
I want to see my lawyer.
Yeah, well, you tell your lawyer
you'll be in the can, all right?
Come on.
Come on.
You had your chance.
Did he hurt you?
Everything but my ego.
He hadn't stopped bidding yet,
and he had half a million.
Officer Garretty, come with me.
And it bugs me.
A half a million dollars.
What were they gonna buy?
And from whom?
Doesn't it bug you?
Lieutenant, when I'm around
this kind of bread,
all's right with the world.
Nothing bugs me.
Nothing.
Mm-hmm.
- What's the matter?
- What's this, a telephone number?
Here. See if it's a working number
and get the exact address.
Gomez!
Gomez.!
Yeah, coming, Lieutenant.
- What, Lieutenant?
- Tell me about this, Gomez.
- What it says in the report.
- Just tell me about it, will ya?
Well, the lady last night,
Mrs. Contreras...
you know, the fat one.
You remember.
With no English?
The kids in the neighborhood are trying
to build a clubhouse, and somebody
ripped them off of some sandbags.
- You put a lot of sandbags.
- Yeah, make that 50.
Fifty sandbags.
Oh, maybe more.
She said that there might
even be more the way...
It's a pay phone booth
out at Scylar, on Moreland.
Scylar?
You know, I was at Scylar this morning.
And I haven't been there for four years.
And I also went to an address
on Moreland Avenue.
Well...
It's coincidence.
Well, if you believe that, Gomez,
you'll never make lieutenant.
Come on. Let's move.
Uh-huh.
Uh, here.
Oh, amigo,
you watch the money, huh?
Right, Lieutenant.
And, uh, it's counted.
It's counted.
Sandbags to protect the ganefs,
direct the blast.
Just like at Cooper's Point...
the presence of the ring, loot.
That means the thieves
are around?
Could be.
I don't know.
All that Vegas money.
Let's assume something.
Assume it's to buy a lot ofhot loot
from a safety-deposit vault.
Like at Cooper's Point.
Mm-hmm. You're a thinker.
You know, at current prices,
a half a million could buy up
ten million dollars...
in securities, jewelry, hot cash.
What kind of a bank could be expected
to hold that kind of money,
like at Cooper's Point?
Only in a much richer community.
Like Scylar on the Hudson.
Three cherries, baby.
Like Scylar on the Hudson.
Same kind of setup,
same kind oflocation.
Only even more remote.
Out in the boondocks.
- No ladder.
- Ladder? What ladder?
This morning there was
a 40-foot ladder here.
Maybe it's around back.
No ladder back here.
Car 723 to Central.
Car 723 to Central, K.
Go ahead, 723.
10-30 signal.
10-30 robbery in progress.
Security Scylar National Bank.
Detectives on way to scene.
Don't use sirens.
10-4, car 723.
- In progress?
- In progress.
Where do you suppose
all that ladder got to?
Who would want all that ladder?
To get to the top
of a bank at night.
Mm-hmm. You know the house?
That house back there
with the phony paint job?
Close to a telephone booth,
close to a playground,
sandbags, close to a bank.
Hold it.! Freeze.!
Get 'em over there.
All right, move!
Come on, over by the car.
Get on the car.
Spread 'em out. Spread 'em out.
Don't try it.
Uh-uh-uh.
Oh! Hi, cannon.
Oh, I think you and I
have met before, cannon.
Maybe on a ballistics report
on my desk.
Do you suppose?
Oh, hi, Mr. Bradbury.
Good union man. Mr. Bradbury,
that wonderful housepainter.
Oh, talk about your generation gap.
What took you so long?
I'm getting too old
for this kid stuff.
All right, go join your mates.
All right, fellas.
Well, all in all it's been
a pretty good night for us.
And maybe I can make it
a little better for you.
Would you like that?
Two nights ago, about this time,
something more important
happened than this,
uh, high-class knock over.
Ayoung chick was taken off
a bus stop in a body bag.
Her name, Leona Crown.
She was a nice, happy-go-lucky kid.
Lots oflaughs.
And her life was cut short.
And the way I figure it,
one of you killed her.
I got the gun.
I gotta be halfway home, right?
I'm gonna coast the rest of the way.
Freewheeling.
It'll be morning in an hour.
Before that, one of you
gonna start chirpin'.
Did I say "one of you"?
I'm gonna have a room
full of canaries.