Mod Squad (1968–1973): Season 1, Episode 11 - Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starlet - full transcript
(car horn honking)
(honking)
(woman screaming)
(honking continues)
(tires screeching)
(screaming)
Lew Dickens.
What's your subject?
MAN (over phone): When are the
cops going to catch that scarf killer?
That's my subject.
You've got a lot
of company, friend.
Take a look at these.
Every one of them
asks the same question.
But when do we get an answer?
That is the message,
Mr. Policeman.
Three fine American
girls are dead.
Strangled by a lunatic.
A maniac who's still
running around loose.
What are you waiting
for, Mr. Policeman?
Number four?
When is it going to be safe
to walk the streets again?
American streets?
Americans want to
know, Mr. Policeman.
Americans demand to know.
Ameri... (clicks off)
Don't you love him?
Yeah, he's all heart.
All mouth.
All-American.
But the man has got a point.
What have you
been doing about it,
Mr. Policeman?
Sweating.
Three months. A hundred leads.
And I'm still no place.
It's pretty unfair
for Lew Dickens to
be taking it out on you.
Citizens aren't
doing much better.
Well we almost had a witness.
Got a phone call from a
man driving home last night.
He saw the
beginning of a murder.
And he didn't try and stop it?
Thought about it.
He backed off.
He didn't want to get involved.
It's a national sickness.
A sign of the times.
Not for everybody.
At least there's a pattern.
Sure.
All kids.
All small town.
All... chasing the
big dream, showbiz.
So they all get on a bus
and wind up here.
They all got return tickets.
And a warning to use them.
What kind of a warning?
Notes, phone calls.
Nothing traceable.
But somewhere along the line
the psycho got to them.
Yeah and a psycho that
they knew well enough to date.
And they all wound
up wearing these.
He must have had
a gross of them.
Identical.
So were the girls.
All young.
All pretty.
And all blonde.
Hey, wait a minute, Captain.
It's not up to you.
It's Julie's choice.
She could get hurt.
Not if you do your job.
Julie?
Sure.
Sounds like a gas.
(theme song plays)
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Cab, little lady?
Little lady?
You're something else.
Have to make some bread.
Where to?
A rooming house.
In Greenwood.
That actress chick
that the Captain knows.
She lives there.
The one who knew all three
girls who were murdered?
I guess it's the
only thing he has
and he wants us to stay close.
Okay.
What's her name?
You're not going
to believe this.
Oh, come on, try me.
April Showers.
I don't believe it.
See?
Everyone here is friendly.
You'll see.
That's Pete.
Here it is.
You like?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
It's fine.
Bathroom's right down the hall.
You're living here?
(humming)
(razor whirring)
Peace.
That's my roommate, Linc.
Too much.
Do, uh, you have an objection?
Oh, no.
Oh, that's nice.
That's friendly.
JULIE: Moving in, are you?
In a way.
A bug?
What are you? James Bond?
Don't knock it.
He's still alive.
(water running)
The water's been running
for ten minutes, man.
What's she doing,
washing the walls?
Just doing it to bug you, man.
Small joke.
(footsteps)
Who are you?
What do you want?
Who are you?
LANDLADY: Norman.
I'm terribly sorry.
Did you knock?
He's my son.
He didn't mean any harm.
I-I sent him to fix the window.
It sticks.
Norman...
the window.
He's really a wonderful boy.
He's very good with his hands.
I'll stay here with you...
until he's
finished, if you like.
No, no. That's all
right, that's all right.
(hammering)
WOMAN: Norman!
How do you expect
me to learn my lines?
Go do that someplace else.
Oh, hi.
I didn't know
anybody was in here.
My name's April.
That's the pigeon.
Mind if I come in?
So you really like acting, huh?
Well, I'll tell you
next Wednesday.
I've been out
here for six months
and I just got my first job. No.
Yeah, a commercial.
That really sounds rough.
Yeah.
With a thousand
girls for every part.
It's beaucoup rough.
JULIE: Well, how
do you stand it then?
Well, it's easy. When you say
your first line, you'll
know what I mean.
Oh, no.
Not me.
I don't have any real talent.
I just...
I just want to model.
Oh, now don't be a Clyde.
Come on, acting is easy.
All you need is a few lessons
from a good teacher.
And I've got the very best.
I tell you what.
I've got a lesson tonight.
I'll take you and introduce you.
Mmm...
Oh, no, that's very generous.
But I... Oh, generous?!
Why?
Come on, I get two free lessons
for every student I bring in.
Come on.
Okay.
If you think I can make it.
APRIL: Oh, you're
in like a burglar.
You'll see.
Anybody can act.
Looks like April gets
four more free lessons.
Oh, no, man.
Now what do we
know about acting?
Well, we'd better
learn something.
'Cause one of those chicks
that was killed went to that school.
(students laughing) (grunting)
That is pretty bad.
Now what are you supposed to be?
I thought it was obvious.
I'm a giant turtle.
(laughter)
Now I know what
you're supposed to be...
A tree, hmm? I'm a
tree blowing in the wind.
Some wind.
Your branches
aren't even moving.
My leaves are tired.
(laughing)
(Linc grunting)
Watch it, Turtle.
Don't ever mess with a grizzly.
(grunting)
(laughing) (grunting)
Okay.
What's so funny?
Would somebody tell
me what's so funny?
We're here to act,
not make jokes, right?
All right.
All right, tha-that's enough.
He's right.
You see?
Not quite as easy as
you thought it is, is it?
Now you people are amateurs.
You're trying to
fake it with jokes.
Acting is not jokes.
Acting is guts, it's
hard, it's reality.
Now if you're going
to play something,
you have to become that thing.
If you're going to play a flower
you have to think petals.
If you're going to play
a killer you have to think
murder! But above all...
you must have
discipline and control.
Timmy, come on
up here, show 'em.
What do you want to hear?
Scene, or you want to improvise?
Oh, uh, uh, improvise.
Okay.
April.
April, you be my wife and, uh...
let's say I just caught
you with my best friend.
You're not fooling
me with this, you know.
I've known about it for months.
Well, you're wrong.
Now please, you listen.
Listen to what? Another lie?
You've had it, baby.
There's the door, you close it
from the other side.
All right. All right, all right.
But don't think that
you're fooling anybody.
I know all about it.
Know what?
Huh? I know about you
and that dead girl.
You killer!
You murderer!
(grunts)
(screams) I don't want you
to open your mouth
about this again!
No, get away! Shut up!
APRIL: Get away!
Get away!
Shut up! Get away!
Get away from me! Shut up!
Don't touch me. Timmy! Timmy!
Get away!
(screams)
No, get away! Shut up!
Take your hands off of me!
TEACHER: Timmy,
stop it! (screams)
(rock instrumental plays)
I think somebody's uptight.
Well, you were
there, you saw it.
He gets to me every time.
He's something else, all right.
Was that acting or for real?
He doesn't know the difference.
Well, what's his hang-up?
Oh, he's got them by the ton.
Me, for openers.
The man's got taste.
Thanks, but no, thanks.
I mean, I know I
can play a lot of parts,
but not Big Mama.
What he really wants
is a shoulder to cry on.
Don't we all?
I know, but he's different.
He's weird.
He can't communicate.
People bug him.
He spends all night in that
crummy room watching television.
Baby, you're talking about
half the cats in the country.
Oh, no.
The Lew Dickens Show,
that's all he watches.
It's all he cares about.
You know, it's his thing.
Wait till he
pitches you on that.
Pitches?
Oh, sure, he knows Dickens.
He'll get you a job as
a card girl on the show.
Why me?
He's done it for all my friends,
if they're blonde.
Well, you're blonde.
Were you on the show?
Oh, no, thanks.
I'm not going to accept
any favors from Timmy.
I just can't stand him.
(slow pop instrumental plays)
Pete, please let's go.
I've had it for tonight.
See you later.
Later.
Looks like you're on, Blondie.
Well?
Aren't you going to do it, too?
Do what?
Run out.
No, not if you don't want me to.
Hmm...
Well, that was a lot
of nothing.
The chick knows
something about Timmy
that she is telling no one.
How's your scene?
Dirty.
Oh, I mean that's how I feel.
Like a Peeping Tom.
But you're not
supposed to feel...
Officer.
He's just a lonely guy.
He's sensitive and... gentle.
And confused.
And everything cuts him.
LINC: She's right.
Julie's telling it like it is.
How do you know?
I could see it in his acting.
(mimics choking)
Very charming.
Why the hackles?
It's a job, remember?
I know that.
But I don't
have to like it.
(door closes)
(door closes)
Hey.
Hey, man, come on.
She didn't mean it.
Maybe.
And maybe she's right.
(Julie screams)
(grunting)
Oh, my... Norman!
Norman!
Norman.
Norman's fine.
Everything's fine.
That's right. It's gonna be
all right.
You're gonna be all right.
Everything's fine.
Now you go to your room.
All right? Go to your room.
Right, Norman?
I-I'm sorry if he
frightened you.
He doesn't mean any harm.
You can see that, can't you?
I can see that he broke in here.
No. No, he just
forgets to knock.
He thinks the
whole house is his.
He's...
He-He's a child.
A very big child.
No! Oh, no!
Nothing like that!
I'll show you!
(growling playfully)
LANDLADY: See?
There's no harm in him.
That's his whole life.
Once, a tenant complained
and they almost took
him away from me.
I couldn't stand that.
Please, you're not going
to cause any trouble?
No, everything
will be all right.
There's a lot of love in there.
Solid.
It's a shame more people
don't spread it around.
(indistinct voices)
LEW: Hey, Eddie?
The next time that this kid
walks in front of my cue
cards, you're both fired.
EDDIE: Right, Lew, sorry.
Hey, get out... get out
of the way there, will you?
Heat up my key
light here, will you?
I look like mud
here. Right, Lew.
Phil?
Uh, yeah, Lew?
Coffee.
Come on, baby.
Right, right away, Lew.
See if we can afford
a new cup, will you?
Yeah.
Hey, Philly, how goes it?
Oh, fine, how are you?
Hey, wait a minute.
Wait a minute,
where are you going?
I've got somebody
I want Lew to meet.
Look, kid, I told you
to stay out of his hair.
Oh, that's right, you did.
That's right. Hey,
that's cute, Phil.
Now look, Lew told me
anytime I want to drop in, drop in.
Knock it off over there.
You heard him. Get lost.
Okay, come on, Julie.
Man!
Hey, what's going on here?
PHIL: It's that kook again, Lew.
I told him what you said.
LEW: Oh, well,
that's all right, Phil.
Anybody with a girl that
pretty can't be all bad.
You want to get
the coffee, Phil?
Thank you, Lew.
Yeah, thank you very much.
What do you think, huh?
Wouldn't she make
a lovely card girl?
I think she'd be
good at anything.
See? I told you.
I told you this man is my buddy.
Uh, Lew, you know, I
don't want to bug you,
but that commercial, did
you look into that for me?
Oh, it's done.
You're all set, buddy.
You shoot tomorrow.
I-I got it? Of course.
You mean I really got
it? Of course you got it.
Lew, how can I thank you, man?
What can I say?
Well, I'm sure
you'll think of a way.
You'd better get on the horn.
Yeah? They're
expecting a call from you.
Yeah, yeah, right. Right away.
Julie, y-you relax,
just take it easy.
You're new in town, right?
What makes you say that?
The company you keep.
How did you get mixed
up with that couch case?
That's funny.
He speaks well of you.
Ooh, you've got style, huh?
Yeah. You'll do fine.
Phil? PHIL: Yeah, Lew, yeah?
Will you book Ms. Barnes
the first opportunity?
Uh, get all the information
and take her over to wardrobe.
Look, Lew, I've got an
awful lot of things to do.
I don't think I'm
gonna have a chance...
You have one thing to do
and that's what I
tell you to do, right?
Right. Coffee?
See you soon.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to cause you any trouble.
Why should you be any different?
Come on.
No, no, no, no,
no, no, no. Listen.
I told you a hundred times.
The opening line reads...
"Good evening, loyal
fellow Americans."
That's standard.
No changes ever, right?
EDDIE: Right, Lew.
(jazzy pop music plays)
(sighs)
I tell you, he treated
me like a king, man.
There was nothing
too good for me,
'cause you were there, Julie.
Yes, I was.
Yes, you were.
Yes, you were.
Why don't you try and take
it easy?
(chuckles) You know, there
is not one of these freaks
in here who's ever believed
me, never believed me.
No, but...
they're going to believe me
this time, 'cause you were there.
You were there, Julie.
There he goes again.
Look, wait a minute.
Don't let him get you uptight.
He's stoned. Yes, he's
just ruining the party,
like always, and I'm
not going to take it.
(groans)
April, what's the matter now?
You! You are!
You're never invited, and
yet you always show up.
You drink all my booze, and
you bore everyone to death
with all those hokey
Lew Dickens stories.
Listen, there's a
couple things I want
to straighten out with you.
First place, you
don't know really
what you're talking about.
Lew Dickens is a friend of mine.
Oh, a friend?
That's a fancy word for it.
What happens when
you stop bringing him
all that new talent?
When are you gonna
start to see it like it is?
TIMMY: Oh, well...
See, she's lying.
You don't really know
that you're lying,
but I'll tell you why.
The commercial that you're
preparing to do
in the morning...
That commercial... I'm
working on the same one.
Lew got me that job.
That's the kind of
friend Lew is of mine.
You get out of here!
Hmm.
Mm, I have to go now.
Uh, let me take that.
(mumbles)
Hey, wait a minute. Wait.
(laughs)
Yeah. Yeah.
Just...
(whispers indistinctly)
(guests murmuring)
Kind of stomped on
him with both feet,
didn't you?
Hey, want some coffee?
I don't know why
she does that to me.
That's okay.
Come on, let's have some coffee.
All right.
(door closes)
Oh, boy.
Oh!
(chuckles)
Uh, that's awf...
That's nice, Julie.
Oh! (sighs)
TIMMY: Oh, maybe she's right.
Maybe I am a flip.
(chuckles) I don't know.
She hates me, doesn't she?
I don't know.
Maybe.
(sighs)
But why?
What's the reason?
Oh, I...
I wanted her to
like me, you know?
I really wanted her to like me.
I told her a lot about myself.
Maybe too much.
Oh, no, there's never too much.
People like to share things
and to know each other.
But people don't want
to know the ugliness.
They don't want
to know the secrets.
What secrets, Timmy?
Oh, no.
I'll lose you, too.
Oh, try me.
Please?
Have you ever heard of a
place called Morgantown?
A hospital?
A mental hospital?
JULIE: You were there?
TIMMY: Yeah, I was there.
I was there for a long time.
But they said I was okay.
They released me.
Oh, your hands are trembling so.
(Timmy sighs)
Well, I'm just waiting
for that funny look.
Whenever anybody knows, it's...
it's always there.
Is this a funny look?
He lied.
The kid was at
Morgantown, all right,
but he wasn't released.
He walked out.
Why didn't they go after him?
They couldn't.
The committal was voluntary.
But he was a long way
from being ready to leave.
Dangerous?
Talked to two
staff psychiatrists.
It's a tie.
Well, what are you
going to do, pick him up?
No. I'm setting up a
24-hour surveillance,
and you got the first shift.
(panting)
All right, thank you.
You find out where
they're shooting?
At the western street.
Let's cut 'em off
at the pass, Tonto.
(indistinct conversations)
(distant whistling)
Well, good morning, April.
Look, Timmy, I don't want
to have to tell you again.
Stay away from me.
April. April, listen to me.
Stay away, you kook.
April, I just want to
apologize for the other night.
I don't want any
apologies from you.
I don't want any part of you.
Can't you get that
through your head?
MAN: Is April ready yet?
April!
All right, all
right. I'm coming.
Look, take your hands off of me.
I dig you. I just wanted to tell you
how I feel about
you. Don't touch me.
Don't... April, come on.
(April groans)
Oh! Get your hands
off of me! April, come on!
I just want to tell
you how I feel!
Oh! Oh! Oh...
(April whimpering)
(April mumbles)
(panting)
(crying)
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Well, what's
happening? Anything?
All bad.
A beat man just missed
him in the Maywood section.
Well, what do we do,
just sit back and wait?
Can't afford to.
I don't want him hurt.
If only we could talk to him.
Well, that'd be a good trick.
Maybe I can manage it.
Lew, you can't
change girls like that.
I'll have to pay
the both of them.
Phil, pay the two dollars.
If she wants to be on
tonight, she's on tonight.
What's with the dialogue thing?
I mean, she-she's supposed to...
This is supposed to
be a silent card girl.
Trust me, baby.
It's a great human
interest spot.
The grass roots will eat it up.
Get you right here.
Check her costume,
make sure she's on time.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Five minutes.
LEW: Every once in a while
here on The Lew Dickens
Show, we stop the beefs
and the crabbing long enough
to be good neighbors, as
well as good Americans,
uh, because The Lew Dickens Show
is not only mine,
but it's yours.
It's a public service. Yeah?
So with that in mind...
She looks groovy.
I'd like you to meet
Miss Julie Barnes...
Man, you're a slow study.
Who is not only
our card girl tonight,
but she's a girl with a problem.
All yours, Julie.
Thank you, Mr. Dickens.
You're very kind.
Actually,
this is very personal.
I'm talking to a friend,
and I hope he's listening.
If you are listening...
I know what you're going through
and how desperate it seems,
but believe me...
everything will be all right.
You've got to stop running.
Please contact me.
I'm going to wait here in
the studio until you call.
You've got to trust me.
Everything will be all right.
Julie, telephone.
Timmy?
Timmy, is that you?
♪ ♪
It is the East.
And Julie is the sun.
Timmy, this is real.
We're not acting.
Look at me.
I didn't hurt anybody.
Then why did you run away?
'Cause I lied to you.
I wasn't released
from that hospital.
I ran away.
But Julie, I didn't...
I didn't hurt anybody.
I didn't kill those girls.
Then tell the police.
Uh-uh.
No. They...
They wouldn't believe me.
Who believes me?
You do.
You're the only one.
Trust me.
Come with me.
I can't.
I just can't.
All right, peace, man.
Let's not have any trouble, son.
(sighs)
Not you, too, Julie.
Not you.
♪ ♪
Julie.
Trust me, Timmy.
You can trust me.
I even got paid for it.
Here's my check from
The Lew Dickens Show.
It feels a little slimy now.
Sometimes I
really hate this job.
Julie.
LEW: Well, that's
Hollywood for you.
A star five minutes
and you're giving
old friends the brush.
Hey.
Hello.
Aww, somebody's got the blues.
Well, that's understandable.
He meant a lot
to you, didn't he?
Well, look, it's no
time to be alone.
Come on. No, really.
I don't think I should...
A shoulder to lean on,
and somebody to talk
to, that's what you need.
Okay, I guess
that's what I need.
♪ ♪
Looks like Julie's
got fan mail already.
Who would know where she lives?
Forget it, boys, she's
moved up to the majors.
What does that mean?
It means Lew Dickens.
He picked her up
about an hour ago.
I could smell his after-shave
all the way up here.
Bye.
Dating Lew Dickens must
be the all-American pastime.
What's the matter?
Wait a minute, man.
This is Julie's paycheck
from the Dickens Show.
Look at the envelopes.
So, they're both
from Lew Dickens?
Yes, indeed they are.
What you're thinking is
a federal offense, man.
Yeah...
And so is strangling girls.
♪ ♪
This doesn't look
much like a bar to me.
You don't want to go to a bar.
It's full of autograph
hounds and noise.
Not very good for the blues.
Way out here, there's
nothing to bug you.
It's just the lake
and the trees.
Come on. I'll fix you
a drink, you can relax.
PHIL: Lew?
Lew, is that you?
Yeah.
See? You've got a
built-in chaperone.
What makes you think
I need a chaperone?
(tires squealing)
Oh, and this is the
entertainment center.
Yes, this is the
entertainment center.
Sit.
And you're the entertainment.
This is a video tape recorder.
(switch clicks)
LEW (recording): Julie's
not only our card girl tonight.
She's a girl with a problem.
All yours, Julie.
JULIE: Thank you,
Mr. Dickens. You're very kind.
You've got an instant
replay of tonight's show.
Look, I thought we were
going to forget my troubles.
JULIE: talking to a friend.
I hope he's listening.
(volume rises): If
you are listening...
I know what you're
going through.
And how desperate it seems.
Lew, I don't want to watch this.
Would you turn it off, please?
Baby, you'll
never get over it...
if you don't look it
squarely in the eye.
Lew, look, if you don't
turn it off I'm going home.
That would be a shame, because
then you'd miss the best part of the show.
Don't, Lew!
Don't be coy with me, baby.
No!
(tires squealing)
Sorry, man.
No sweat.
Pete, she'll be all right.
She'd better be.
She might even be
having a groovy time.
Nobody ever walks out on...
Don't touch me!
(groans)
Lew!
Lew, what happened?
Ah, some stupid hayseed chick.
Here, go after her
and give her this.
Tell her to keep her mouth shut.
Ms. Barnes, wait!
What is it? What do you want?
Oh, please, please,
don't be scared.
I... I know what happened. It...
It isn't the first time.
Please, let me...
let me make it up to you.
Are-are you all right now?
I've got my car up on the road.
Why don't you let
me drive you home?
Okay.
Would have been
a long walk, anyway.
May I borrow this?
All right. All right.
Where is she?
She... she was
here. She took off.
She ran through the door.
If she's hurt, I'm coming back.
You punks, wait till the cops
hear about this.
I warned you.
All of you.
Sent you bus
tickets...
Begged you to go home.
Please... Don't!
Dickens' garbage!
You don't want a
decent man, always aloof!
Dickens' garbage!
Garbage!
Garbage!
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Well, I guess that's mine.
Thank you, you know? Thanks.
Good luck.
Hey, man, don't get too healthy.
You've got to be a little
bit crazy to be an actor.
Let's get this stuff on the bus.
Well... it was
nice of the Captain
to let me travel
without an escort.
He trusts you.
No, I know it was you, Julie.
You really did believe me.
Where did I do right?
Julie...
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Feel better?
Do you think he'll
be all right, Pete?
Well, my money's on him.
I'll take a piece
of that action.
Sure is a long way home for him.
Hey...
keep the faith, baby.
And don't spread it thin.
(honking)
(woman screaming)
(honking continues)
(tires screeching)
(screaming)
Lew Dickens.
What's your subject?
MAN (over phone): When are the
cops going to catch that scarf killer?
That's my subject.
You've got a lot
of company, friend.
Take a look at these.
Every one of them
asks the same question.
But when do we get an answer?
That is the message,
Mr. Policeman.
Three fine American
girls are dead.
Strangled by a lunatic.
A maniac who's still
running around loose.
What are you waiting
for, Mr. Policeman?
Number four?
When is it going to be safe
to walk the streets again?
American streets?
Americans want to
know, Mr. Policeman.
Americans demand to know.
Ameri... (clicks off)
Don't you love him?
Yeah, he's all heart.
All mouth.
All-American.
But the man has got a point.
What have you
been doing about it,
Mr. Policeman?
Sweating.
Three months. A hundred leads.
And I'm still no place.
It's pretty unfair
for Lew Dickens to
be taking it out on you.
Citizens aren't
doing much better.
Well we almost had a witness.
Got a phone call from a
man driving home last night.
He saw the
beginning of a murder.
And he didn't try and stop it?
Thought about it.
He backed off.
He didn't want to get involved.
It's a national sickness.
A sign of the times.
Not for everybody.
At least there's a pattern.
Sure.
All kids.
All small town.
All... chasing the
big dream, showbiz.
So they all get on a bus
and wind up here.
They all got return tickets.
And a warning to use them.
What kind of a warning?
Notes, phone calls.
Nothing traceable.
But somewhere along the line
the psycho got to them.
Yeah and a psycho that
they knew well enough to date.
And they all wound
up wearing these.
He must have had
a gross of them.
Identical.
So were the girls.
All young.
All pretty.
And all blonde.
Hey, wait a minute, Captain.
It's not up to you.
It's Julie's choice.
She could get hurt.
Not if you do your job.
Julie?
Sure.
Sounds like a gas.
(theme song plays)
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Cab, little lady?
Little lady?
You're something else.
Have to make some bread.
Where to?
A rooming house.
In Greenwood.
That actress chick
that the Captain knows.
She lives there.
The one who knew all three
girls who were murdered?
I guess it's the
only thing he has
and he wants us to stay close.
Okay.
What's her name?
You're not going
to believe this.
Oh, come on, try me.
April Showers.
I don't believe it.
See?
Everyone here is friendly.
You'll see.
That's Pete.
Here it is.
You like?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
It's fine.
Bathroom's right down the hall.
You're living here?
(humming)
(razor whirring)
Peace.
That's my roommate, Linc.
Too much.
Do, uh, you have an objection?
Oh, no.
Oh, that's nice.
That's friendly.
JULIE: Moving in, are you?
In a way.
A bug?
What are you? James Bond?
Don't knock it.
He's still alive.
(water running)
The water's been running
for ten minutes, man.
What's she doing,
washing the walls?
Just doing it to bug you, man.
Small joke.
(footsteps)
Who are you?
What do you want?
Who are you?
LANDLADY: Norman.
I'm terribly sorry.
Did you knock?
He's my son.
He didn't mean any harm.
I-I sent him to fix the window.
It sticks.
Norman...
the window.
He's really a wonderful boy.
He's very good with his hands.
I'll stay here with you...
until he's
finished, if you like.
No, no. That's all
right, that's all right.
(hammering)
WOMAN: Norman!
How do you expect
me to learn my lines?
Go do that someplace else.
Oh, hi.
I didn't know
anybody was in here.
My name's April.
That's the pigeon.
Mind if I come in?
So you really like acting, huh?
Well, I'll tell you
next Wednesday.
I've been out
here for six months
and I just got my first job. No.
Yeah, a commercial.
That really sounds rough.
Yeah.
With a thousand
girls for every part.
It's beaucoup rough.
JULIE: Well, how
do you stand it then?
Well, it's easy. When you say
your first line, you'll
know what I mean.
Oh, no.
Not me.
I don't have any real talent.
I just...
I just want to model.
Oh, now don't be a Clyde.
Come on, acting is easy.
All you need is a few lessons
from a good teacher.
And I've got the very best.
I tell you what.
I've got a lesson tonight.
I'll take you and introduce you.
Mmm...
Oh, no, that's very generous.
But I... Oh, generous?!
Why?
Come on, I get two free lessons
for every student I bring in.
Come on.
Okay.
If you think I can make it.
APRIL: Oh, you're
in like a burglar.
You'll see.
Anybody can act.
Looks like April gets
four more free lessons.
Oh, no, man.
Now what do we
know about acting?
Well, we'd better
learn something.
'Cause one of those chicks
that was killed went to that school.
(students laughing) (grunting)
That is pretty bad.
Now what are you supposed to be?
I thought it was obvious.
I'm a giant turtle.
(laughter)
Now I know what
you're supposed to be...
A tree, hmm? I'm a
tree blowing in the wind.
Some wind.
Your branches
aren't even moving.
My leaves are tired.
(laughing)
(Linc grunting)
Watch it, Turtle.
Don't ever mess with a grizzly.
(grunting)
(laughing) (grunting)
Okay.
What's so funny?
Would somebody tell
me what's so funny?
We're here to act,
not make jokes, right?
All right.
All right, tha-that's enough.
He's right.
You see?
Not quite as easy as
you thought it is, is it?
Now you people are amateurs.
You're trying to
fake it with jokes.
Acting is not jokes.
Acting is guts, it's
hard, it's reality.
Now if you're going
to play something,
you have to become that thing.
If you're going to play a flower
you have to think petals.
If you're going to play
a killer you have to think
murder! But above all...
you must have
discipline and control.
Timmy, come on
up here, show 'em.
What do you want to hear?
Scene, or you want to improvise?
Oh, uh, uh, improvise.
Okay.
April.
April, you be my wife and, uh...
let's say I just caught
you with my best friend.
You're not fooling
me with this, you know.
I've known about it for months.
Well, you're wrong.
Now please, you listen.
Listen to what? Another lie?
You've had it, baby.
There's the door, you close it
from the other side.
All right. All right, all right.
But don't think that
you're fooling anybody.
I know all about it.
Know what?
Huh? I know about you
and that dead girl.
You killer!
You murderer!
(grunts)
(screams) I don't want you
to open your mouth
about this again!
No, get away! Shut up!
APRIL: Get away!
Get away!
Shut up! Get away!
Get away from me! Shut up!
Don't touch me. Timmy! Timmy!
Get away!
(screams)
No, get away! Shut up!
Take your hands off of me!
TEACHER: Timmy,
stop it! (screams)
(rock instrumental plays)
I think somebody's uptight.
Well, you were
there, you saw it.
He gets to me every time.
He's something else, all right.
Was that acting or for real?
He doesn't know the difference.
Well, what's his hang-up?
Oh, he's got them by the ton.
Me, for openers.
The man's got taste.
Thanks, but no, thanks.
I mean, I know I
can play a lot of parts,
but not Big Mama.
What he really wants
is a shoulder to cry on.
Don't we all?
I know, but he's different.
He's weird.
He can't communicate.
People bug him.
He spends all night in that
crummy room watching television.
Baby, you're talking about
half the cats in the country.
Oh, no.
The Lew Dickens Show,
that's all he watches.
It's all he cares about.
You know, it's his thing.
Wait till he
pitches you on that.
Pitches?
Oh, sure, he knows Dickens.
He'll get you a job as
a card girl on the show.
Why me?
He's done it for all my friends,
if they're blonde.
Well, you're blonde.
Were you on the show?
Oh, no, thanks.
I'm not going to accept
any favors from Timmy.
I just can't stand him.
(slow pop instrumental plays)
Pete, please let's go.
I've had it for tonight.
See you later.
Later.
Looks like you're on, Blondie.
Well?
Aren't you going to do it, too?
Do what?
Run out.
No, not if you don't want me to.
Hmm...
Well, that was a lot
of nothing.
The chick knows
something about Timmy
that she is telling no one.
How's your scene?
Dirty.
Oh, I mean that's how I feel.
Like a Peeping Tom.
But you're not
supposed to feel...
Officer.
He's just a lonely guy.
He's sensitive and... gentle.
And confused.
And everything cuts him.
LINC: She's right.
Julie's telling it like it is.
How do you know?
I could see it in his acting.
(mimics choking)
Very charming.
Why the hackles?
It's a job, remember?
I know that.
But I don't
have to like it.
(door closes)
(door closes)
Hey.
Hey, man, come on.
She didn't mean it.
Maybe.
And maybe she's right.
(Julie screams)
(grunting)
Oh, my... Norman!
Norman!
Norman.
Norman's fine.
Everything's fine.
That's right. It's gonna be
all right.
You're gonna be all right.
Everything's fine.
Now you go to your room.
All right? Go to your room.
Right, Norman?
I-I'm sorry if he
frightened you.
He doesn't mean any harm.
You can see that, can't you?
I can see that he broke in here.
No. No, he just
forgets to knock.
He thinks the
whole house is his.
He's...
He-He's a child.
A very big child.
No! Oh, no!
Nothing like that!
I'll show you!
(growling playfully)
LANDLADY: See?
There's no harm in him.
That's his whole life.
Once, a tenant complained
and they almost took
him away from me.
I couldn't stand that.
Please, you're not going
to cause any trouble?
No, everything
will be all right.
There's a lot of love in there.
Solid.
It's a shame more people
don't spread it around.
(indistinct voices)
LEW: Hey, Eddie?
The next time that this kid
walks in front of my cue
cards, you're both fired.
EDDIE: Right, Lew, sorry.
Hey, get out... get out
of the way there, will you?
Heat up my key
light here, will you?
I look like mud
here. Right, Lew.
Phil?
Uh, yeah, Lew?
Coffee.
Come on, baby.
Right, right away, Lew.
See if we can afford
a new cup, will you?
Yeah.
Hey, Philly, how goes it?
Oh, fine, how are you?
Hey, wait a minute.
Wait a minute,
where are you going?
I've got somebody
I want Lew to meet.
Look, kid, I told you
to stay out of his hair.
Oh, that's right, you did.
That's right. Hey,
that's cute, Phil.
Now look, Lew told me
anytime I want to drop in, drop in.
Knock it off over there.
You heard him. Get lost.
Okay, come on, Julie.
Man!
Hey, what's going on here?
PHIL: It's that kook again, Lew.
I told him what you said.
LEW: Oh, well,
that's all right, Phil.
Anybody with a girl that
pretty can't be all bad.
You want to get
the coffee, Phil?
Thank you, Lew.
Yeah, thank you very much.
What do you think, huh?
Wouldn't she make
a lovely card girl?
I think she'd be
good at anything.
See? I told you.
I told you this man is my buddy.
Uh, Lew, you know, I
don't want to bug you,
but that commercial, did
you look into that for me?
Oh, it's done.
You're all set, buddy.
You shoot tomorrow.
I-I got it? Of course.
You mean I really got
it? Of course you got it.
Lew, how can I thank you, man?
What can I say?
Well, I'm sure
you'll think of a way.
You'd better get on the horn.
Yeah? They're
expecting a call from you.
Yeah, yeah, right. Right away.
Julie, y-you relax,
just take it easy.
You're new in town, right?
What makes you say that?
The company you keep.
How did you get mixed
up with that couch case?
That's funny.
He speaks well of you.
Ooh, you've got style, huh?
Yeah. You'll do fine.
Phil? PHIL: Yeah, Lew, yeah?
Will you book Ms. Barnes
the first opportunity?
Uh, get all the information
and take her over to wardrobe.
Look, Lew, I've got an
awful lot of things to do.
I don't think I'm
gonna have a chance...
You have one thing to do
and that's what I
tell you to do, right?
Right. Coffee?
See you soon.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to cause you any trouble.
Why should you be any different?
Come on.
No, no, no, no,
no, no, no. Listen.
I told you a hundred times.
The opening line reads...
"Good evening, loyal
fellow Americans."
That's standard.
No changes ever, right?
EDDIE: Right, Lew.
(jazzy pop music plays)
(sighs)
I tell you, he treated
me like a king, man.
There was nothing
too good for me,
'cause you were there, Julie.
Yes, I was.
Yes, you were.
Yes, you were.
Why don't you try and take
it easy?
(chuckles) You know, there
is not one of these freaks
in here who's ever believed
me, never believed me.
No, but...
they're going to believe me
this time, 'cause you were there.
You were there, Julie.
There he goes again.
Look, wait a minute.
Don't let him get you uptight.
He's stoned. Yes, he's
just ruining the party,
like always, and I'm
not going to take it.
(groans)
April, what's the matter now?
You! You are!
You're never invited, and
yet you always show up.
You drink all my booze, and
you bore everyone to death
with all those hokey
Lew Dickens stories.
Listen, there's a
couple things I want
to straighten out with you.
First place, you
don't know really
what you're talking about.
Lew Dickens is a friend of mine.
Oh, a friend?
That's a fancy word for it.
What happens when
you stop bringing him
all that new talent?
When are you gonna
start to see it like it is?
TIMMY: Oh, well...
See, she's lying.
You don't really know
that you're lying,
but I'll tell you why.
The commercial that you're
preparing to do
in the morning...
That commercial... I'm
working on the same one.
Lew got me that job.
That's the kind of
friend Lew is of mine.
You get out of here!
Hmm.
Mm, I have to go now.
Uh, let me take that.
(mumbles)
Hey, wait a minute. Wait.
(laughs)
Yeah. Yeah.
Just...
(whispers indistinctly)
(guests murmuring)
Kind of stomped on
him with both feet,
didn't you?
Hey, want some coffee?
I don't know why
she does that to me.
That's okay.
Come on, let's have some coffee.
All right.
(door closes)
Oh, boy.
Oh!
(chuckles)
Uh, that's awf...
That's nice, Julie.
Oh! (sighs)
TIMMY: Oh, maybe she's right.
Maybe I am a flip.
(chuckles) I don't know.
She hates me, doesn't she?
I don't know.
Maybe.
(sighs)
But why?
What's the reason?
Oh, I...
I wanted her to
like me, you know?
I really wanted her to like me.
I told her a lot about myself.
Maybe too much.
Oh, no, there's never too much.
People like to share things
and to know each other.
But people don't want
to know the ugliness.
They don't want
to know the secrets.
What secrets, Timmy?
Oh, no.
I'll lose you, too.
Oh, try me.
Please?
Have you ever heard of a
place called Morgantown?
A hospital?
A mental hospital?
JULIE: You were there?
TIMMY: Yeah, I was there.
I was there for a long time.
But they said I was okay.
They released me.
Oh, your hands are trembling so.
(Timmy sighs)
Well, I'm just waiting
for that funny look.
Whenever anybody knows, it's...
it's always there.
Is this a funny look?
He lied.
The kid was at
Morgantown, all right,
but he wasn't released.
He walked out.
Why didn't they go after him?
They couldn't.
The committal was voluntary.
But he was a long way
from being ready to leave.
Dangerous?
Talked to two
staff psychiatrists.
It's a tie.
Well, what are you
going to do, pick him up?
No. I'm setting up a
24-hour surveillance,
and you got the first shift.
(panting)
All right, thank you.
You find out where
they're shooting?
At the western street.
Let's cut 'em off
at the pass, Tonto.
(indistinct conversations)
(distant whistling)
Well, good morning, April.
Look, Timmy, I don't want
to have to tell you again.
Stay away from me.
April. April, listen to me.
Stay away, you kook.
April, I just want to
apologize for the other night.
I don't want any
apologies from you.
I don't want any part of you.
Can't you get that
through your head?
MAN: Is April ready yet?
April!
All right, all
right. I'm coming.
Look, take your hands off of me.
I dig you. I just wanted to tell you
how I feel about
you. Don't touch me.
Don't... April, come on.
(April groans)
Oh! Get your hands
off of me! April, come on!
I just want to tell
you how I feel!
Oh! Oh! Oh...
(April whimpering)
(April mumbles)
(panting)
(crying)
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Well, what's
happening? Anything?
All bad.
A beat man just missed
him in the Maywood section.
Well, what do we do,
just sit back and wait?
Can't afford to.
I don't want him hurt.
If only we could talk to him.
Well, that'd be a good trick.
Maybe I can manage it.
Lew, you can't
change girls like that.
I'll have to pay
the both of them.
Phil, pay the two dollars.
If she wants to be on
tonight, she's on tonight.
What's with the dialogue thing?
I mean, she-she's supposed to...
This is supposed to
be a silent card girl.
Trust me, baby.
It's a great human
interest spot.
The grass roots will eat it up.
Get you right here.
Check her costume,
make sure she's on time.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Five minutes.
LEW: Every once in a while
here on The Lew Dickens
Show, we stop the beefs
and the crabbing long enough
to be good neighbors, as
well as good Americans,
uh, because The Lew Dickens Show
is not only mine,
but it's yours.
It's a public service. Yeah?
So with that in mind...
She looks groovy.
I'd like you to meet
Miss Julie Barnes...
Man, you're a slow study.
Who is not only
our card girl tonight,
but she's a girl with a problem.
All yours, Julie.
Thank you, Mr. Dickens.
You're very kind.
Actually,
this is very personal.
I'm talking to a friend,
and I hope he's listening.
If you are listening...
I know what you're going through
and how desperate it seems,
but believe me...
everything will be all right.
You've got to stop running.
Please contact me.
I'm going to wait here in
the studio until you call.
You've got to trust me.
Everything will be all right.
Julie, telephone.
Timmy?
Timmy, is that you?
♪ ♪
It is the East.
And Julie is the sun.
Timmy, this is real.
We're not acting.
Look at me.
I didn't hurt anybody.
Then why did you run away?
'Cause I lied to you.
I wasn't released
from that hospital.
I ran away.
But Julie, I didn't...
I didn't hurt anybody.
I didn't kill those girls.
Then tell the police.
Uh-uh.
No. They...
They wouldn't believe me.
Who believes me?
You do.
You're the only one.
Trust me.
Come with me.
I can't.
I just can't.
All right, peace, man.
Let's not have any trouble, son.
(sighs)
Not you, too, Julie.
Not you.
♪ ♪
Julie.
Trust me, Timmy.
You can trust me.
I even got paid for it.
Here's my check from
The Lew Dickens Show.
It feels a little slimy now.
Sometimes I
really hate this job.
Julie.
LEW: Well, that's
Hollywood for you.
A star five minutes
and you're giving
old friends the brush.
Hey.
Hello.
Aww, somebody's got the blues.
Well, that's understandable.
He meant a lot
to you, didn't he?
Well, look, it's no
time to be alone.
Come on. No, really.
I don't think I should...
A shoulder to lean on,
and somebody to talk
to, that's what you need.
Okay, I guess
that's what I need.
♪ ♪
Looks like Julie's
got fan mail already.
Who would know where she lives?
Forget it, boys, she's
moved up to the majors.
What does that mean?
It means Lew Dickens.
He picked her up
about an hour ago.
I could smell his after-shave
all the way up here.
Bye.
Dating Lew Dickens must
be the all-American pastime.
What's the matter?
Wait a minute, man.
This is Julie's paycheck
from the Dickens Show.
Look at the envelopes.
So, they're both
from Lew Dickens?
Yes, indeed they are.
What you're thinking is
a federal offense, man.
Yeah...
And so is strangling girls.
♪ ♪
This doesn't look
much like a bar to me.
You don't want to go to a bar.
It's full of autograph
hounds and noise.
Not very good for the blues.
Way out here, there's
nothing to bug you.
It's just the lake
and the trees.
Come on. I'll fix you
a drink, you can relax.
PHIL: Lew?
Lew, is that you?
Yeah.
See? You've got a
built-in chaperone.
What makes you think
I need a chaperone?
(tires squealing)
Oh, and this is the
entertainment center.
Yes, this is the
entertainment center.
Sit.
And you're the entertainment.
This is a video tape recorder.
(switch clicks)
LEW (recording): Julie's
not only our card girl tonight.
She's a girl with a problem.
All yours, Julie.
JULIE: Thank you,
Mr. Dickens. You're very kind.
You've got an instant
replay of tonight's show.
Look, I thought we were
going to forget my troubles.
JULIE: talking to a friend.
I hope he's listening.
(volume rises): If
you are listening...
I know what you're
going through.
And how desperate it seems.
Lew, I don't want to watch this.
Would you turn it off, please?
Baby, you'll
never get over it...
if you don't look it
squarely in the eye.
Lew, look, if you don't
turn it off I'm going home.
That would be a shame, because
then you'd miss the best part of the show.
Don't, Lew!
Don't be coy with me, baby.
No!
(tires squealing)
Sorry, man.
No sweat.
Pete, she'll be all right.
She'd better be.
She might even be
having a groovy time.
Nobody ever walks out on...
Don't touch me!
(groans)
Lew!
Lew, what happened?
Ah, some stupid hayseed chick.
Here, go after her
and give her this.
Tell her to keep her mouth shut.
Ms. Barnes, wait!
What is it? What do you want?
Oh, please, please,
don't be scared.
I... I know what happened. It...
It isn't the first time.
Please, let me...
let me make it up to you.
Are-are you all right now?
I've got my car up on the road.
Why don't you let
me drive you home?
Okay.
Would have been
a long walk, anyway.
May I borrow this?
All right. All right.
Where is she?
She... she was
here. She took off.
She ran through the door.
If she's hurt, I'm coming back.
You punks, wait till the cops
hear about this.
I warned you.
All of you.
Sent you bus
tickets...
Begged you to go home.
Please... Don't!
Dickens' garbage!
You don't want a
decent man, always aloof!
Dickens' garbage!
Garbage!
Garbage!
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Well, I guess that's mine.
Thank you, you know? Thanks.
Good luck.
Hey, man, don't get too healthy.
You've got to be a little
bit crazy to be an actor.
Let's get this stuff on the bus.
Well... it was
nice of the Captain
to let me travel
without an escort.
He trusts you.
No, I know it was you, Julie.
You really did believe me.
Where did I do right?
Julie...
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Feel better?
Do you think he'll
be all right, Pete?
Well, my money's on him.
I'll take a piece
of that action.
Sure is a long way home for him.
Hey...
keep the faith, baby.
And don't spread it thin.