Miami Vice (1984–1989): Season 5, Episode 7 - Asian Cut - full transcript

(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(SHUTTER CLICKING)

So, Angie, how much
can I make with this
outcall service?

In a good week?
I'd say about two grand.

Wow, really?
Really.

$150 an hour
plus whatever you pick up
on the stroll.

Look, honey,
here's the number.

The woman's name
is Cheryl Stone.

Give her a call. Okay?
All right.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.



Oh, my God.
I don't believe this.

Oh, my God!
What's wrong?

I gotta go. I gotta go.

Sandy! Excuse me.
Hey, man.

(RINGS)

Hello.

Okay, fine.
I'll see you there.

Excuse me, miss! That girl
you were just with...

Fella, sorry. Later.

No, wait.
You don't understand. Wait!

PROSTITUTE: Hey, Barry!
How's business over there?

SONNY: Stuart Orr Whitley,
the poor man's Oscar Wilde.

RICO: They start giving awards
for bull, the man's
gonna win the Nobel Prize.

Hey, check this out.



Don't be touchin' me!
You wanna talk to me,
you talk to my man!

Hey, something
you ain't gettin', sister.

This is your man.
Come here,
I wanna talk to you.

What you gotta
talk to me about?

Hey, you ain't got to be
so rough. Hey!

Look, we ain't got
nothing to talk about.
Let go of me!

Ow.

Come here, come here,
I got somethin' to show ya.

What?
Hey you! Up against the wall!

Hey, lighten up!
Yeah, yeah, turn around.

Come on, man.

I was just trying
to show the chick
how to defend herself.

Uh-huh, right.
I got you.

Oh! Well, now you're gonna
get to do all your teaching
by correspondence,

from up the cut.

You all right?

That's too cold, Jim.

Take him away,
he's all yours.

Move it.

Oh, look at what
we got here.

I seen the man,
seen the man.

You seen the man?
The big man, the big man.

The big man.
Well how big was he?

Counting
or not counting the fin?

Counting the fin?
Counting
or not counting the fin.

You better go home
and get some sleep, old man.

Man, boss fin man, boss fin.

Lights coming off it.
Steam smoking out
of his feet, man.

He got a girl, he got a knife!
He got a knife, man!

Ain't no good gonna
come out of this, man.

He's got a girl
and a knife?
He got a knife.

He's got a knife?
Yeah, knife.

Show me where.
Right this way.

Where is he?

Oh, man, not again.

The witness gave
us nothing?

Nothin' we could use
on this planet.

Just got a print match-up
on the dead girl, Lieutenant.

Angela Nelson.

She moved here from Tampa
about a year ago.

She's had
two arrests since then.
Both for prostitution.

Four dead and counting.

Check who her pimp was.

MARTIN: How about
the girl before?

Michelle Barr. She was
in Lester Cope's stable.

And we're still trying
to make a line on Lester.

Try looking under a rock.

Homicide's report.

Same MO.

He was torturing this one
when the vagrant dropped in,

so he killed her.

Figure some whacked-out pimp?

Yeah, or one trying
to start a turf war.

We can't rule that out.

Trudy, Rico,
work the pimp detail.

Then I want you back
on the street.

See what the word is
on johns who like to cut.
That'll be all.

Make sure this gets
on the wire right away.

Sonny, can I see you
for a minute?

Take a look at these cuts.
Do they mean anything to you?

Definitely some sort
of symbol. Maybe Asian.

You think this could be
some sort of a ritual thing?

These marks could be
Thai, Japanese.

Check what they've got
in the ritualistic killer file
at the Justice Department.

Can I take these?
Yeah.

Sonny, mate. Remember me?
Stuart Orr Whitley.
Weekly Gazette.

Oh, yeah,
the missing kid case.

You're the jerk that
dressed up like a mailman

to get inside the
grieving parents' home.
Right?

Well, you know
how it is
in this game, mate.

You gotta
pull out all the stops
to get the story.

Here, how's about you and I
go have a little drink...

Hit the bricks, Stu.

Give me a break.

I got a few theories
on who it is been, you know,
knifing these ladies.

Confessions really pouring
into that rag of yours, huh?

Wouldn't do any harm to add
a little information. Come on.

Listen up, Stu, you pay off
any of those witnesses,

and I'll nail you
for abetting justice.

You hold anything back
from me, and I'll send you
back down under so quick

it'll make your head spin.

You know what it is I like
about you, Crockett?

You're like me!
A real stickler
for the First Amendment!

Professor, I guess
you've read the paper
about the prostitute killings.

Mmm.

All the bodies
had the same knife cuts.

They seem to be
some kind of Asian symbols.

I thought
you might be able to help.

Would you mind
taking a look at these?

By all means.

Hmm.

Interesting.

Well, Lieutenant,
you're absolutely right.

These markings
certainly are Asian.
To be exact, they're Japanese.

You're sure about this?

Oh yeah, yes, yes.
Quite sure.

This mark here,
this is used in certain
ancient Japanese rituals.

Here.

Associated with
the storm goddess, Susano.

In her destructive phase,
I don't think I need to add.

Um, the intent is to
let the victim
bleed to death slowly.

The idea is to
bring about purification.

Um, regeneration,
if you like.

It's an ancient custom
dating back hundreds of years.

Now this mark here,
this mark here,
this lunar mark,

I can't quite make this out,
but it's some sort of
Japanese crest.

If you like,
I'll check into it.

Thank you.
I'd appreciate that.

It was her, I tell you!

She was with this hooker!
At this club!

Mixing with street scum!

Detective Joplin,
Detective Tubbs,
this is Mr. Dyson.

His daughter Sandy's
a runaway.

He claims he saw
her with Angela Nelson
the night she was killed.

Claims he saw her? You think
I don't know my own daughter?

Hey, hey, Mr. Dyson,
just relax, take it easy.

Appreciate it.
Why don't you have a seat?

Would you like
a cup of coffee?
No, no.

Now you say
you saw your daughter
at a club.

Do you remember which one?

Yeah. The Razor's Edge.

Beats me how you cops
can let these places
stay open.

Sandy's a kid, Detective.

She shouldn't be
running around
in joints like this!

How old is she, Mr. Dyson?

Eighteen. Here, I uh...
I brought you this picture.

She's a pretty girl.

It was taken last year.

She was just
a senior in high school.

On a camping trip
with her girlfriends
and now...

Can't you issue a warrant
or something?

She's 18.

That's beyond
the age of consent.

That kinda, like, limits us.

You can give a statement
to Trudy.

We'll make copies
of this and pass it out.

You wanna follow me?
Thanks.

Mmm-hmm.

Detective Tubbs,
there's a call for you
on line two.

Thank you.

This is Tubbs.

GINA: Rico, I just got
a line on Lester Cope.

455 East Ocean Avenue.

Call Stan and have him
meet me there.

Right.

(WHISTLES)

Hey, Lester!

WOMAN: Oh, my gosh!

Gee, sorry, Les!

Come on, get up here.

Listen, Les,
you been hiding on us?

We figured one
of your girls gets killed,
you'd come see us.

What?
You think I did it, man?

She was my money chick.
Now, why the hell
would I wanna kill her?

Maybe she wanted to be
traded to another team

and her manager
lost his temper.

No, no way, man.

Cocaine, PCP...

Listen, Les, we been doing
a little checking.

We understand
there's a couple of boys
you burned

just waiting
for your triumphant return
to county cut.

Now we can take you there
right now, if you want to.

Hey, man, get real,
all right?

Tell us something.

Okay, man, look,
the chick went
with this Japanese dude.

Big dope dealer.
Name's Tegoro.

He's a sick guy, man.
Bad news, you dig?

Uses a knife.

Hey, but you never heard it
from me, all right?

Get out of here.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(SIRENS APPROACHING)

Cops!

Ha!

They're not even
after us.

Whew!

Hey, you're new.
I ain't seen you around.

Just trying to make
some extra bread.

I hear you. My name's Cookie.

Sandy. Is that coffee?

Can I get a sip?

Sure. You can have it.

Thanks.

Sandy.

Hey, is you the Sandy
this guy's been looking for?

Which guy?

I dunno. Some older dude.
Said he's lookin' for a girl
called Sandy.

Hey, don't worry.
I'm not gonna say nothing.

I don't want no man
looking for me.

He's my father.

No kidding. You a runaway?

My father's a real creep.

I just couldn't take it
anymore, you know?

Yeah. Well,
nobody digs their old man.

Hey, my dad
was a real piece of work.

Lived it up in all the clubs,
went after every girl
in the neighborhood.

I wish mine did that.
Only thing he ever
went after was me.

Look, I gotta date.
Thanks for the coffee.

Ah, gentlemen.
An unexpected pleasure.

You don't mind if we talk
while my latest acquisition
is being mounted? Do you?

Quite exquisite, isn't it?

Sure, art.
Let's talk about art.

Recognize that?

Is this your
latest trademark?

A little bit
to the left.

Ah, better, better.

What the hell?

Gee, I'm sorry.
I get so clumsy,
especially when I'm ignored,

Now, about the girl.

Do you know her?

I know lots of women,
Detective.

Some living, some dead.

This one?
I don't believe so.

Whatever would
make you believe that
I would do such a thing?

'Cause that's your bag,
Tegoro.

And we've got your sheet
to prove it.

Ah, the excesses of youth.

I'm straight now, gentlemen.

Where were you
night before last?

At a club, I believe.
Razor's Edge.

Charming place.
Appeals to my weakness
for sharp instruments.

A work of art, no?

Cuts beautifully.

Blends well
with the female motif.

Does this excite you,
Detective?

I'll tell you, what
really excites me

is the thought of you
in a cell somewhere

with all the fathers
of the daughters
that you've turned out.

Now, that's exciting.

Hi, baby, it's me.
How're you doin'?

You want me to come now?

Okay, sure.

Hello.

Anybody home?

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(MUFFLED SCREAMS)

(CHATTERING ON POLICE RADIO)

Oh, my God. My baby.

MARTIN: Let Gina stay
with him for a while.

Then take him over
to his daughter's place.

See if there's
anything there for us.

Trudy,

what the hell's eatin' you?

Certainly has
his grief down pat.

Do you know somethin'
I don't?

Yeah, he's not
father of the year.

She was only a kid.
Just starting out.

Kills me to see her like that.

Yeah, some start
you gave her. Right, Dyson?

What'd you hear?

Trudy ran across Sandy
just a couple of hours
before she was killed.

She mentioned that
you were lookin' for her.

Then you know.

I've been through therapy,
Mr. Tubbs.

I'm not like that anymore.

I wanted to take her
home so that

I could prove to her
that I could be a father.

Now this.

Find something?

Yeah, a diary.

"Scored nine
on my motivational
quiz today.

"Means I'm a real
self-starter.

"I've got to get as tough
as Cheryl Stone.
Cheryl's a bitch.

"But no one messes with her.

"If I could just
get with Cheryl,

"I'll really be
on my way to success."

Success?

God!

Cheryl Stone.
Let me keep this.

Hi, may I help you?
Hey! You can't go in there!

This is a legitimate
escort service.

How dare you walk in here
like this? Just who the hell
do you think you are?

Cheryl, allow me to be direct
and straightforward.

What we are, are Vice cops,

and with your
checkered record, we could
shut you down right now.

There's a girl
named Sandy Dyson.

We know she was
one of your escort girls.

We wanna look
at her date list.

Sandy Dyson?
Doesn't ring any bells.

Oh yeah? Is that right?

That's not what she says
right here in her diary.

Oh, so some little broad
wrote a book.

Maybe you should
find her a publisher.

Wrong, Cheryl.
This is non-fiction.

And it's gonna be
a bestseller
at the DA's office.

Okay, wait a minute.

She just started
few days ago.

How many people
did she see?

One, that I know of.
A guy called Carlos.

I took the call myself.
And she met him
at the Walden Hotel.

This guy Carlos,
he ever called here before?

Yeah, a few times.

What the hell
is this all about, anyway?

Sandy was killed last night.

She's not the first,
is she Cheryl?

Who else?

A girl called Angela Nelson.

(KNOCKING)

Mr. Dyson?

Yes.

Yes, I'm sorry to bother you
at a time like this,

but your daughter
often confided in me.

Might I have a word with you?

I guess so, Father.

Hey, what is this?
Get out of here!

No, not so fast,
me old copper.

Here. Stuart Orr Whitley.
New York Times.

You give me an interview,

I may be able to tell you
who it is
killed your daughter.

Fair?

All right, thanks.

Well, Gina talked to a waiter
at the Razor's Edge.

The night
Angela Nelson was killed,

Tegoro was with a guy
called Carlos.

That puts 'em together.
That could make it.

You think that
Carlos is procuring
the girls for him?

Makes sense.

I mean,
with Tegoro's report card,
why risk a direct approach?

He's used
the same dating service twice.

I'm tellin' you, this guy
is playing games with us.

I mean, he's just begin'
for us to catch him.

We have to get somebody
under before he makes
his next move.

It's no problem,
I can handle it.

It's all we've got.
Set it up.

Cheryl Stone's Escort Service.

How may I best help you?

MAN: I need a special girl
for this evening.

A girl who is experienced,
a girl who understands things.

My name is Carlos.

For the whole evening, sir,
that will be $500,

in advance, in cash.

Okay?

No problem.
But I want you to send me
a girl who is talented,

who has sensitivity.

Of course. I know just the one

for a cultured man
such as yourself, sir.

She'll be available
at 9:00 tonight.

Would you like her number?

Yes.

555-8723.

She's there right now.
Waiting for you.

Come on, come on.

Is this Trudy?
Bingo! He's got Trudy
on the line.

My name's Carlos.
Call's being made from
an apartment on West Eighth.

They told me
you're a very
interesting girl.

1421 West Eighth Street.
It's the Bay View Hotel.
Room 38.

Good work, Stan.
Carlos Esteban.

... Bay View Hotel.

Stan, where's Tegoro?

Just going into the club.

You think he wants Carlos
to bring her here?

I doubt it.

I think they'll take her
to a warehouse or a hotel.

Just stay on him.

Right.

Money, money,
money, hmm?

Filth.

Let us never
mention it again.

This is not a bank.
This is not a stock exchange.

This room is a temple.

TRUD Y: A temple of love?

A temple of pain.

Look, made from the hide
of a rhinoceros.

It's called a sjambok.

Can you feel this, my dear?

A very special instrument, no?

It brings pleasure,
such painful pleasure.

(GROANS)

You are so fine.

Rico, he's gonna do her.

I give you all the power.

(WHIPPING)

Yes! Hit me!
Hit me harder!
Whip me!

Rico, you believe
young Carlos?

That chump is a pain freak.

Hit me harder!

Hey, Rico. Yeah.
Jack Dyson just went into
The Razor's Edge.

What the hell's
he doin' there?

I don't know.

You scum!
You killed my daughter!

(GUN FIRES)

(WOMEN SCREAMING)

Look out, police! Police!

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
I'll try and have
something for you

on these lunar cuts
as soon as I can.

I understand
how urgent this is.

Please try. We appreciate
all you're doing.

Thank you.
Thanks again, Doc.

Dr. Halliwell,
I've always been
a great admirer of yours.

I understand
you're assisting the police
with their inquiries.

Who are you?

Who am I? Oh, yes.

Stuart Orr Whitley,
Special Correspondent,
New York Times.

He calls himself a reporter.

But they only use
the papers he writes for
to line trash cans.

Thanks a lot, mate!

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello. This is Trudy.

This is Carlos,
my talented little beauty.

Why didn't you call me back?

Well, you know, I was busy.
You know how it is.

You were very good to me
last night, Trudy. Tonight?

Maybe.

You know what I think, Trudy?
I think you have
a taste for danger.

How would you like
to do something
really exciting, hmm?

That really turns me on,
Carlos.

I'd like you
to meet a friend of mine.

A very interesting friend.

Tell me. Where would you
like me to pick you up?

You know the Parkgrove Motel?

I can find it. Why don't
I meet you there 11.00?

I'll be waiting out front.

Oh, I just can't wait.

I just got the sheet
on Carlos Esteban, Lieutenant.

Guatemalan immigrant.
Came to this country in 1969.

Military services: Vietnam,
Special Forces, 1973 to 1975.

Worked as a mercenary
from 1982 until recently.

Some gaps in between.
We're still checking.

You said
he mentioned a friend.

He said he wants me
to meet someone
but he didn't say who.

Tegoro?

Must be the MO.

Sandy Dyson wasn't killed
the first night.

Maybe Carlos gets to
play with 'em first,

and then he turns 'em over
to Tegoro.

What time
is he supposed to meet you?

11:00.

Cor blimey!

Good afternoon, Mr. Whitley.

(STAMMERING)
Doc! You're back already?

I was just about to
leave you a note.

The door was open.

Hope you don't mind my
barging in like this.

Certainly not.

Something you wanted to
ask me, was there?

Oh yes, yes,
as a matter of fact...

Stay, then. Please.

Have a drink.

Oh, by the way,

this is Carlos.

Carlos.

What's your pleasure,
Mr. Whitley?

Ah, not right now, thanks.
Never was much of a drinker.

What do you have there?

This? Um...

Yes. May I see it?

Find these interesting,
do you?

(STAMMERING)
Most illuminating, Doctor.

(SNICKERING)

Yes, yes, I can tell
they've had
quite an effect on you.

You can say that again.

'Course, I won't
say anything, naturally.

No. Well,
I'm glad to hear that.

I get so tired of people
who adopt psychological
approaches to torture.

I'm sure you...
You know what I mean.

The torturer
as the dual victim, trapped
in the cycle of punishment.

It's absolute nonsense.

Nonsense, ab... Totally.
I could not... I could not
agree with you more.

I learned first-hand,
you see, Whitley.

The Hmong tribesman taught me

in a little hut
outside Vientiane.

It came to me in a flash.

It was a revelation,
actually.

I experienced first-hand
the extraordinary clarity

with which
one views the world
in a moment of agony

and ecstasy.

No, no, I won't say anything!

I know
how to keep my mouth shut!

I swear. I'm not gonna
give the game away!

That's right, Mr. Whitley,
you won't.

(SCREAMS)

You bastard!
You won't get away with this!

(SCREAMING CONTINUES)

Trudy!

Trudy?

Trudy?

We're early, man.
Maybe she stepped out.

You boys looking for rooms?

Uh, no, we're meeting
a lady friend here.

You may have a long wait.
She just drove off with a guy.

What'd the guy look like?

Latin guy.
You know, kind of, uh...

Was he bald?
Did he have a scar
on his cheek?

Yeah. I think.

Yeah, yeah,
that's right.

You wanna know
my personal
philosophy?

No.

I love when you
talk cruel to me.

You know what?
I just remembered
something.

I'm supposed to meet
a girlfriend for a drink.

I better make a phone call.
I'll be right back.

Such mundanities.
Phone calls.

I will not hear of it.
Hmm? Come on.

Aren't there
any lights here?

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

(GASPS)

You?

What the hell is
holdin' up Switek?

We have every available unit
looking for her.

Rico tossed
Carlos' apartment.

Nothing. No papers,
no addresses.

Just a bunch of
mercenary magazines.

And we found Tegoro.
He's at an art opening.
Erotic car crashes.

I got the file on Carlos.

Get this. This guy was
in counterintelligence
after Nam.

He worked for Air America.
Interrogation, guns-for-drugs.

Then he got
thrown out of the agency after
the Church Committee hearings.

Where in the hell have
I heard Air America
before just lately?

Yes.

Ten years
in counterintelligence.

VP of Air America,
Long Tieng, Laos.

The career of H.G. Halliwell.

Coincidence?

Where was Carlos stationed?

Long Tieng, Laos.

You think they
knew each other?

We've been
looking at this case
with blinders on.

MAN 1: Nice.
MAN 2: I like it, I like it.

(SLIDE PROJECTOR CLICKS)

(PEOPLE EXCLAIMING)

(PEOPLE OOHING)

(MEN CHEERING)

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

Thank you.

Lights, please.

(ECHOING)
My mentor, gentlemen.

The late James Carruthers.

A specialist.

A man who understood
that torture is cleansing.

It's worth ten years
of psychotherapy.

Who knows
how many transgressions

James Carruthers
brought to the surface
during his career?

He's gone now,

but his oeuvre lives on.

(WHISPERING)
Check the kitchen.

What'd you find?
Found this in a file cabinet.

It's a lease for a building
in the warehouse district.

It was leased a month ago.
Let's go.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

(SHUTS OFF RECORDING)

I'm extremely pleased
with this class's progress.

And tonight
I have something
very special to announce.

You are about to witness

an actual demonstration
of the techniques

I have described.

Carlos.

Thank you.

A surprisingly delicate area.

Caruthers recognized this
and passed it along
to the Turks.

(WHIMPERING)

A technique known as falanga.

(APPLAUSE)

It involves beating a person
on the soles of the feet.

Of course, today we use
less strenuous methods.

Carlos.

Watch closely.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING ON TAPE)

(MUFFLED SCREAMING)

Now this technique
was developed in Asia.

It's my very own addition
to the modern tradition.

In all modesty,
I don't think the army
gave me enough credit.

It's not that
I demanded a medal.

No, no,
nothing like that.

A mere citation
would have done nicely.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Halliwell, freeze it!

I got him.

You all right?
Yeah, go!

You stay down, you hear me?

Carlos!

(SHUSHING)

Drop it.

Wait, wait, wait,
wait a minute.

You're thinking of yourself
as a victim.

You're not, you know.

I said drop it, now.

You were hand-picked.

(INAUDIBLE)

You were chosen.

Oh, you would have
seen things,

you would have understood.

It's okay.

Let's go home, Trudy.

Let's go home. Come on.