Mod Squad (1968–1973): Season 1, Episode 7 - Find Tara Chapman! - full transcript
Hey, are you all right?
Tara...
I feel like my head
is gonna explode.
I've never felt so
awful in my whole life.
Well, listen.
Once we find a
place for you to stay...
you'll feel better.
If we can just get out of here.
(horn beeping)
(gasps) Coming.
(horn beeping)
It's a nice car.
Drive it all the way
out from New York?
Oh, please, would
you just fill it?
We're in a hurry.
Sure, will do.
(moaning)
Susie, i-it won't be long.
You're gonna be all right.
Tara, you will stay
with me, won't you?
At least for a little while.
Hey, hey, what you need is...
is a nice cool drink, okay?
Tara!
Oh!
Oh, call an ambulance, please!
Yeah, right.
(moans)
I'll need some information
about Miss Sherrill.
Please, I have to see
her just for a minute.
She's being examined.
You'll have to
wait for the doctor.
If you'll fill in your name,
address and phone number.
Why do you want that?
In case we have to contact
you regarding the patient.
It's a hospital rule.
Yes. Um...
Well, I-I don't have any
permanent address in this city.
(phone rings) You see...
Excuse me.
Hello, Nurse Roy speaking.
Susie, Susie, I
have to leave you.
Now you're going
to be all right...
What are you doing in here?
Nurse, nurse, prepare this girl
for a spinal tap.
No! No!
I'm sorry,
but you're going to have to...
Stay with the patient!
Call downstairs immediately.
Stop that girl. She
may be a carrier.
What?
Her friend has meningitis!
GREER: Meningitis
infects on close contact.
In addition to these shots,
you're going to have to take
booster pills every few hours.
This girl could
infect a lot of people
while we're trying to find her.
What about newspapers
and television?
It could start a panic.
It's got to be done quietly.
Public Health
here is supervising
and we're giving them
every available police officer.
Thank you, nurse.
Well, where do we start?
This was sketched from
the hospital description.
We don't even know her name.
PETE: What about her car?
It was abandoned
about an hour ago.
We're checking it out.
Anything else?
Ah, just a hunch.
Her guitar case.
Witnesses say it was
covered with stickers;
folk festivals and clubs.
Maybe she moves in that crowd.
That's where you come in.
JULIE: It's a pretty big crowd.
Split up.
Hit 'em all.
She'll die if we
don't find her in time.
How much time?
48 hours.
(intercom buzzes)
Greer.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
You sure it's the same girl?
Okay.
Right.
We'll keep in touch.
The girl's name is Tara Chapman.
New York police have
an A.P.B. out on her.
What's she done?
Nothing.
They want to take her
into protective custody.
Why?
They got a tip.
Someone's trying to kill her.
(theme song plays)
♪ ♪
If she's loud, tone deaf and
has no talent whatsoever,
there's a good
chance I handle her.
You got a picture?
Uh, just a sketch. Here.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
You know, I... uh, I'm
not choosy anymore.
I learned my lesson.
I once refused to
listen to a group
because I had a
splitting headache.
Six months later,
they're the hottest
thing in show business.
I mean, heavyweights.
Now if they give me a headache,
I sign 'em like that. (chuckles)
Mr. Frank, the picture.
Uh, yeah. Yeah,
very, very familiar.
Very familiar.
Who is she?
Her name is Tara Chapman.
She's a folk singer.
Well, why do you want her?
Has she got talent?
I don't know.
Uh, well, she borrowed a guitar
from my shop for an audition...
and she never brought it back.
Oh, okay. I'll tell you what.
I'll keep it in case
she shows up.
We'd appreciate that.
Yeah. A pleasure.
I'll just put it here
where I won't forget it.
What? What?
Hmm.
JULIE: She has blonde
hair, kind of like mine.
Her name is Tara Chapman.
Does that help?
She's got a good face.
Gentle face, you know,
like someone who cares.
Do you know her?
No, but I wish I did.
Thanks.
(phone ringing)
Yes?
I've got your number for you...
TY5-2800.
Thank you.
It's ten cents a call, you know.
Yes, you told me that
already, Mrs. Drew.
Of course, honey,
San Pedro's more...
San Pedro's 25 cents.
Yes, well, I'll be glad
to pay for it, Mrs. Drew.
Three minutes, honey,
then you're on overtime.
Yes.
You better hurry, honey.
I'll bet you've wasted
a minute already.
Go ahead, San Pedro.
Hello. I was wondering,
can you tell me
anything about Pretoria?
3:00 p.m. tomorrow?
Yes, thank you very much.
♪ The sun... ♪
♪ Will rise... in the east ♪
♪ But it will set down,
set down in the west ♪
♪ What did I do? ♪
♪ What did I do to you?
♪ To make you leave me
in this great big mess? ♪
♪ Yeah! ♪
♪ Yeah! ♪
♪ Yeah, in the evening ♪
♪ Every evening ♪
♪ Baby, baby, when
the sun goes down ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, every evening ♪
♪ Every evenin', baby,
when the sun goes down ♪
♪ I don't know about you,
but I get so lonesome ♪
♪ I get so lonesome... ♪
♪ When my main
man is not around... ♪
(song ends)
Oh, yeah, that's great.
We'll keep all that
in. Do that tonight.
I think the sound of the mike's
pretty good, too, don't you?
Good. All right,
that'll be it for today.
See you tonight.
Hi. What can I do for you?
Oh, that was mellow.
Oh, thank you.
You sing good. Thank you.
You've got to be
Paula, right, the owner?
Right, I'm the owner
and I'm the booking agent
and I'm the meal
planner and the bill payer,
and every once in a
while I entertain here.
Which one do you want to see?
The booking agent.
You, uh, used to
hire folksingers, right?
Oh, I still do.
I have, uh, jazz, rock
and roll, blues, I dig 'em all.
But, uh... what's up?
'Cause you guys don't look
like you're here
to sell raffle tickets.
We're looking for a girl.
We think she's a folksinger.
She played your
club a while back.
Here's a sketch of her.
It might not be too good.
Her name's Tara Chapman.
Does that help any?
Uh, what's your bag?
I mean, why do you want her?
We're working with the
Public Health Service.
The girl is very sick
and doesn't know it
and we've got to find her.
LINC: If we don't find
her fast, it'll be too late.
I mean, you're straight.
She's really sick?
Very.
Please trust us.
Well, Tara's a real nice kid.
She worked here, uh, oh,
I guess about a year ago.
But the last I heard of her,
she's working upstate
New York somewhere.
If she were around here,
where could we find her?
Well, Burt Koverly
brought her in here.
He's a friend of hers.
He runs a bar out in the Valley.
Sort of a Western
pool hall motif.
You know what the name of it is?
Well, what else?
"Burt's Boots & Billiards".
What happened to
old-fashioned pool halls?
Cigarette butts on the floor,
bright lights and stale air?
Didn't hurt your break any.
Nickel a ball?
All right.
Never hustle a hustler.
My girl tells me
you're looking for me.
Yeah, and she also
said you weren't here.
Yeah, well, I wasn't.
Not till she mentioned
Tara Chapman.
That's kinda something special.
What about her?
Where is she?
She's in New York.
No, she's not.
My name is Peter Cochrane,
and this is Lincoln Hayes.
We, uh, we go to med school
and we're working with
the Health Department.
Tara's a very sick girl
and doesn't know it.
She needs a doctor.
Uh, you wouldn't be
putting me on, would you?
No, we've looked everywhere,
and you're the
only lead we've got.
Well, uh, I don't know
what I can tell you.
She hasn't called me.
Look, look, why don't
you, uh, leave your number,
and if she calls...
Hey, wait a minute,
have you tried her father?
Who's her father?
Edward Chapman,
uh, big movie man.
Uh, producer at
Consolidated Pictures.
Thank you very much.
Yeah, sure, anytime.
Glad to be of help.
Tara's a real great gal.
Thanks.
We'll, uh, we'll keep in touch.
Fine.
What's the area code
for New York City?
212.
Follow them.
Lou...
Burt K.
Your hunch was right.
That party you're
looking for is in town.
I don't know where...
but, uh, by the
time you fly out here,
I just may.
Save the thanks
till you get my bill.
I don't care what it costs.
By tomorrow, I want
to see this entire town
burning to the ground!
Now you spend whatever it takes.
This is the way it works.
The heavies will attack
from that direction,
only now they're pulling a
flaming wagon behind them.
The wagon roll in, crashes
into those buildings...
No, now wait a
minute, wait a minute...
make that a wagon
loaded with dynamite.
Then we'll blow
up that entire side.
That's the finish we
need for this picture.
And we will have to make
a little change in the script,
but that's no sweat.
Mr. Chapman, you're
talking another 200 grand,
and there's no way that
we can do it by tomorrow.
Joe, you've always
found a way before.
Do it.
And, Joe, bring
it in for 150 grand.
I'll see you at the office
on that casting thing.
Mr. Chapman?
Yes?
Can I talk to you
for a minute, sir?
Well, sure.
My name is Peter Cochrane.
Hi.
What have you done, Pete?
What have I done?
Well, you know what I
mean, other pictures?
Oh, no, no...
Oh, look, it doesn't matter.
You've got a nice
look about you.
Say, can you ride?
Look, I'm not an actor.
Oh... oh...
Well, I'm sorry,
that's my mistake.
What can I do for you?
It's personal.
About your daughter.
Tara?
What about her?
We've got to find her.
She's in great danger.
What kind of joke is this?
Mr. Chapman, it's no joke.
Your daughter's sick.
She could even die.
Mr. Cochrane...
Tara is dead.
She was killed two years
ago in an auto accident.
Mr. Chapman.
I'm...
I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
No, I guess... I
guess you didn't.
Oh, man.
Look, I've got to ask
you some questions.
This sketch.
That's not your daughter, right?
Right.
Does she look at all familiar?
She does. Why?
That girl has meningitis
and we've got about
24 hours to find her.
Do you know her
name by any chance?
Yes, her name is Lila Mason.
She was Tara's roommate.
She's a wonderful girl.
This is shocking.
Look, has she tried
to contact you by any chance?
Get in touch with
you or anything?
No. No.
Well, why do you suppose
she'd want to use Tara's name?
Well, Tara was her best friend.
She asked my permission
to use it as a stage name.
You know, it was the only
thing that she ever asked of me.
I offered her a contract
here... she turned it down.
She said she wanted
to make it on her own.
That was typical.
Why?
Well, she'd always
made on her own.
Mother's dead, her
father's a... seaman, I think.
She hasn't seen him in years.
Can you think of anybody
that she could turn to,
that she could go
stay with or anything?
No.
Unless...
You know, I think she
once mentioned a boyfriend.
High school, here.
Come to my office.
Maybe I can find
the name for you.
Thank you.
♪ Every evening ♪
♪ Baby, when the sun goes down ♪
♪ I don't know about you ♪
♪ But I get so lonesome,
I get so lonesome ♪
♪ When my main
man is not around... ♪
(jazz playing)
Tara?
Tara, baby.
Oh, how are you?
It's so good to see you.
And with black
hair, how about that?
Paula...
uh, can I stay at your
place, just for tonight?
I'll be leaving tomorrow.
Sure, honey, you
know you can, but...
don't you think we ought
to see a doctor first?
They were right,
you look terrible.
What do you mean?
Well, there were a
couple of fellas here
looking for you today.
Who?!
One black one, one white one.
A couple of good-looking guys.
Did they... did
they say anything?
I mean, they don't
know I'm in town?
Well, they said that you were
ill and they had to find you.
But you didn't tell
them anything, did you?
I sent them out to Burt's place.
I thought you
might be out there.
No.
Then they know!
Wait a minute, Tara,
they're just trying to help you!
They're trying to
kill me! Wait a...
Get me the Public
Health Service.
(horn honking)
Where've you
been? I tried all night.
Just take easy.
We've been following up
the lead Chapman gave me.
Okay, sorry.
Is that the high
school boyfriend?
Right.
His name is Ken Lacey.
Did you find him?
Dead end until
the city opens up.
Julie's going to
the high school,
and we're gonna check
the Hall of Records.
All right.
Now here's something else:
Lila, I mean Tara, was at
Paula's Cool City last night.
We got there too late.
And here's another thing,
she now has short black hair.
Anything else?
Yeah, trouble.
Kid's running scared.
She thinks we're the ones
that are trying to kill her.
Oh, man.
And the clock is running.
We got eight hours left.
You better hurry.
All right, we're gonna
need another car.
Take mine.
Oh, Captain, uh, there's
a bus stop on the corner.
Lou, I got some news.
Haven't you learned to knock?
Well, sorry about that, but I
just heard from my trail man.
Those kids I told you
about... they're cops.
And that girlfriend
of yours is really sick.
Everyone's looking for her.
You told me you'd have her.
New York's 3,000 miles.
I don't like to fly.
Lou, the whole police department
is doing your job for you.
They think the girl's gonna die.
Why don't you just let
nature take its course?
Haven't you ever heard
about a death bed confession?
Man, what has this
chick got on you?
She see you do a
job or something?
Listen, cowboy,
you don't ask questions,
you just deliver!
Now you find that
girl before she talks
or you'll get a chance
to see me work.
JULIE: Linc, could you
stand some good news?
And a little sleep.
Well, Tara, Lila, whatever
name she's using now,
I checked her
boyfriend's records.
Ken Lacey?
Right.
He runs a lumber
yard near the docks.
401 Harbor Avenue.
Thanks, Julie.
Hey, Ken...
telephone.
Okay if I go to lunch?
Yeah, Al, go ahead.
All right, be back
in a half hour. Right.
Lacey.
Right.
40 sheets of three-ply.
When do you want it?
Well, I'll get on it
right after lunch.
Right.
Kenny?
Lila, baby!
Oh, Kenny, I'm
so glad to see you.
Where you been all this time?
When did you get back?
You know, I never
stopped hoping that...
You're flushed.
Is there anything wrong?
Oh, Kenny, you've
got to help me.
Oh, anything,
baby, you know that.
Now what's the matter?
Well, I, uh...
Uh... I... I left my things
at the Drew Motel
on Third Street.
Would you go there and
get them for me, please?
And... can I stay
here for a few hours?
You can stay forever.
I haven't changed.
That's what I've always wanted.
No... no...
No, just...
just, just for a few hours.
Then I'm gonna see my father.
No... my real father.
Honey, you've been looking
for your father all these years.
Oh, but, he... he wrote to me.
This time, he's coming.
He's always been coming,
but he never shows up.
Look, I'm here. I'll
take care of you.
Oh, Kenny...
I know you've always been here
when I needed you, but...
now I need him.
He can help me get
out of the country.
Out of the country? Why?
Because they're looking for me,
and when they find me,
they're gonna kill me!
Hey, look. You...
you got a fever.
Maybe your... maybe
your imagination's
running away with
you a little bit, huh?
No!
You just don't understand!
Kenny.
Kenny, when I was in New York,
I saw a murder...
A professional murder.
Th-th-the killer tried
to get me there, but...
but now he knows I'm here
and he's hired
two kids to kill me!
You've gotta believe me!
I've always believed in you.
Now, who are these two kids?
I don't know for sure.
They're... they're
just two young guys.
(car horn honking)
Who is that?!
All right, now, just...
just take it easy.
I'll see. Huh?
(honking)
Who is it?
Just a couple of guys.
I-I-Is one negro
and... one white?
Yeah.
Oh, Kenny, it's them!
They're gonna kill me!
(horn blares)
Now, you hide.
If it's them, I'll take
care of everything.
Now, go on. Go on.
(honking)
What can I do for you?
We're looking for a Kenny Lacey.
You found him.
Hey look, you know a
girl named Lila Mason?
We understand
she's a friend of yours.
Lila... Mason?
Yeah.
No, no. I don't know her.
Well, you did go to
Central High School, right?
No. See, you got the wrong guy.
Hey, look, this girl needs help.
Now, she's desperately sick.
You wouldn't be holding
out on us, would you, friend?
No...
Friend.
Thank you.
(sighs)
What do you think?
I think he's the worst
liar I've ever heard.
My question is: What do we do?
Look, you think he
knows where she is?
I'd bet on it.
All right, then what are
we playing games for, man?
Solid.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
You know, we never
have been fond of people
that try to kill us.
You lousy punks!
What punks?!
I'm not gonna let
you get away with this.
With what?!
Killing Lila!
Man, we better take
a look at your office.
She was here
all the time, right?
That's right, but
she's long gone now.
Congratulations.
You're a first-class hero.
But you're gonna
have a real hangover
when you hear the truth.
What do you mean?
LINC: You may have
just cost that girl her life.
Can you possibly think long
enough to understand that?
You did notice she was sick?!
Well, yeah, but she sai...
Yeah, but what?
She's very sick, man.
She's got meningitis...
and you've been
exposed to it, too.
Now, we've got a
couple of hours to find her
and get her to a hospital
or she's dead,
and thanks to you,
we don't know where she is.
Yeah, but she
said that you guys...
Were trying to kill her?
Oh, man, don't you dig?!
We're the good guys!
If you think, man,
if we were trying
to kill her we would
have been all over town
asking questions where she is?
Leaving a perfect
trail for the police?
Huh?
Oh, God, what have I done?
All right.
Now, you talked to her.
Now, you must have
learned something.
Now, where would she go?
I don't know.
She said something
about meeting her father,
but I don't know, she,
she makes things up.
I wish you would have
thought of that sooner, man.
Motel.
She had a room!
All right, where?
Come on, come on, come on!
Drew! Drew Motel
on Third Street.
Julie's closer.
We'll meet her there.
Solid. You got a car? A truck.
All right, you give
us a ride there,
and then you get yourself
to a hospital and get a shot.
Huh?
"Huh"? We're not killers, man,
but spinal meningitis is.
Hey, Julie.
Linc. Now, listen carefully.
Meet us at the Drew
Motel on Third Street.
Yeah, right.
♪ ♪
Yes. Uh...
did Miss Mason make a
phone call to TY 5-2800?
What's happening, Julie?
Yesterday?
Oh, yes, could you? Thank you.
Go ahead, San Pedro.
Who is this?
Right. Um...
do you know anything
about the Pretoria?
Oh, it's in.
Yes, thanks very much.
What is all this?
She called the Port Authority
about a freighter
that had come in,
uh, the Pretoria,
came in an hour ago.
You said her father
was a seaman.
Now maybe she's
really going to meet him.
Does this mean Pier 137? Yeah.
Let's go.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
(panting)
Can I help you?
(gasping breaths)
Are you all right?
You're Lila.
You're Lila Mason, aren't you?
(panting): You... you...
you...
Yeah?
Pier 137, Pretoria.
She alone?
Uh-huh.
No cops?
What about those kid cops?
Good, good.
You'll wait there for me.
Oh, by the way, Sonny,
you do good work.
(panting, gasping)
Here.
Uh, you feel better?
(panting): Y... Yes. Yes.
You need a doctor.
I'll go and find one.
No, no. Wait, wait.
You... y-you knew me.
(chuckles)
You almost had me
fooled with that black hair.
It's not like your pictures.
Who-who are you?
Someone who's known
you for all those years.
My name is Karl Baemmler.
A friend of your father's.
He... he's supposed to be here.
He... he...
he wrote me to meet him,
but he isn't here.
Lila, your father
loves you very much.
You mean he's not coming?
(softly): No.
Why?
Because there were some
islands he hadn't seen yet,
and he just wanted
to stay on a while.
(panting): Oh...
(crying): Oh...!
(tires screech)
Lila, what is it?
(panting): My-my head.
My head's exploding!
I'm going to find
a doctor. No! No!
You-you can't leave me!
Lila, please, lie still.
No! Y-You've got
to believe me...
They're going to k-kill me!
Any luck?
Let's try in here.
Will you stop this nonsense
about murders and killers.
You are ill.
Now, you are going
to lie here quietly
until I come back, do
you understand me?
Nobody is going to hurt you.
What do you want?
No!
No, it is them.
They're going to kill
me! No, that's not true.
PETE: Just take it easy.
Look, she's got to get
to a hospital fast.
Who are you? LINC: We're cops.
That's kind of hard to believe,
isn't it? Believe it!
PETE: She's got meningitis.
Now, if she doesn't
get to a hospital fast,
she's gonna die.
Now, help us. Please.
Yes, you're right.
I'm sorry. No!
Ambulance? LINC: No.
There's no time.
We'll go direct.
You, too... you've
got to get a shot.
All right. (crying): No! No!
KARL: Lila, please!
Lila, please listen to me.
Do you remember your
friend, Susan Sherrill?
Do you remember
how sick she was?
That's what's
happening to you now.
Lila, you saved Susan's life
by getting her to the
hospital just in time.
Now, you've got to let
us get you to the hospital.
Please, please come with us.
Okay? Okay?
(panting): Okay.
(crying)
Let's go.
KARL: All right, you take her.
(gunshot)
(gunfire, bullets ricocheting)
Come on. Hey,
man, I just find 'em,
you kill them.
What is he, some kind
of lunatic or something?
Lila... somebody's
trying to kill her.
He's coming, man!
(tires squeal)
Other side. Come on...
There's a boat down there.
Go down the ladder,
all of you. Come on!
What about you? Go on!
♪ ♪
(grunting)
♪ ♪
(gunshots)
(gunshot)
(gunshots)
(gunshot)
(tires squeal)
(tires screech)
Hey! He's getting a boat!
Danish motor vessel Pretoria,
calling letters O-Y-N-M,
calling letters O-Y-N-M,
calling Harbor Patrol.
(gunshot)
(bullet ricochets)
(siren wailing)
(siren continues)
(siren continues)
(over loudspeaker):
This is Harbor Patrol.
Heave to, and drop your weapon.
(gunshot)
(bullet ricochets, engine stops)
(gunshot)
(gunfire)
(distant ship's horn blows)
Well, was she unconscious
when they took her to the hospital?
No, she was going in and out.
JULIE: She gave a description
of a naval officer
who gave her a lift.
She was afraid that
he might get sick.
She's also worried about you.
She worries about
everyone except herself.
Now, look who's talking.
Is there any way to get
in touch with her father?
Not unless someone
hears from him,
which could take a long time.
He just hates to write letters.
JULIE: That's odd.
When I was going
through Lila's luggage,
I found a stack of old
letters from her father.
I read one very beautiful one.
Well, now,
you don't suppose somebody
else wrote those letters?
Someone who didn't want a young
girl to grow up absolutely alone?
Isn't that what you
policemen call "speculating"?
You have no evidence.
True.
Take care of yourself.
Thank you.
We'll come and see you.
And, Karl? Hmm?
We're grateful. Yes.
So am I.
Well...
not a bad 48 hours work.
Come on, get me out of here.
I need some sleep.
You're riding with us?
No. Just take me to my car.
(laughs)
Uh... your car?
Yeah, you remember?
You... you borrowed it.
Well, where is it?
Well, Captain, you're
not gonna believe this.
♪ ♪
Tara...
I feel like my head
is gonna explode.
I've never felt so
awful in my whole life.
Well, listen.
Once we find a
place for you to stay...
you'll feel better.
If we can just get out of here.
(horn beeping)
(gasps) Coming.
(horn beeping)
It's a nice car.
Drive it all the way
out from New York?
Oh, please, would
you just fill it?
We're in a hurry.
Sure, will do.
(moaning)
Susie, i-it won't be long.
You're gonna be all right.
Tara, you will stay
with me, won't you?
At least for a little while.
Hey, hey, what you need is...
is a nice cool drink, okay?
Tara!
Oh!
Oh, call an ambulance, please!
Yeah, right.
(moans)
I'll need some information
about Miss Sherrill.
Please, I have to see
her just for a minute.
She's being examined.
You'll have to
wait for the doctor.
If you'll fill in your name,
address and phone number.
Why do you want that?
In case we have to contact
you regarding the patient.
It's a hospital rule.
Yes. Um...
Well, I-I don't have any
permanent address in this city.
(phone rings) You see...
Excuse me.
Hello, Nurse Roy speaking.
Susie, Susie, I
have to leave you.
Now you're going
to be all right...
What are you doing in here?
Nurse, nurse, prepare this girl
for a spinal tap.
No! No!
I'm sorry,
but you're going to have to...
Stay with the patient!
Call downstairs immediately.
Stop that girl. She
may be a carrier.
What?
Her friend has meningitis!
GREER: Meningitis
infects on close contact.
In addition to these shots,
you're going to have to take
booster pills every few hours.
This girl could
infect a lot of people
while we're trying to find her.
What about newspapers
and television?
It could start a panic.
It's got to be done quietly.
Public Health
here is supervising
and we're giving them
every available police officer.
Thank you, nurse.
Well, where do we start?
This was sketched from
the hospital description.
We don't even know her name.
PETE: What about her car?
It was abandoned
about an hour ago.
We're checking it out.
Anything else?
Ah, just a hunch.
Her guitar case.
Witnesses say it was
covered with stickers;
folk festivals and clubs.
Maybe she moves in that crowd.
That's where you come in.
JULIE: It's a pretty big crowd.
Split up.
Hit 'em all.
She'll die if we
don't find her in time.
How much time?
48 hours.
(intercom buzzes)
Greer.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
You sure it's the same girl?
Okay.
Right.
We'll keep in touch.
The girl's name is Tara Chapman.
New York police have
an A.P.B. out on her.
What's she done?
Nothing.
They want to take her
into protective custody.
Why?
They got a tip.
Someone's trying to kill her.
(theme song plays)
♪ ♪
If she's loud, tone deaf and
has no talent whatsoever,
there's a good
chance I handle her.
You got a picture?
Uh, just a sketch. Here.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
You know, I... uh, I'm
not choosy anymore.
I learned my lesson.
I once refused to
listen to a group
because I had a
splitting headache.
Six months later,
they're the hottest
thing in show business.
I mean, heavyweights.
Now if they give me a headache,
I sign 'em like that. (chuckles)
Mr. Frank, the picture.
Uh, yeah. Yeah,
very, very familiar.
Very familiar.
Who is she?
Her name is Tara Chapman.
She's a folk singer.
Well, why do you want her?
Has she got talent?
I don't know.
Uh, well, she borrowed a guitar
from my shop for an audition...
and she never brought it back.
Oh, okay. I'll tell you what.
I'll keep it in case
she shows up.
We'd appreciate that.
Yeah. A pleasure.
I'll just put it here
where I won't forget it.
What? What?
Hmm.
JULIE: She has blonde
hair, kind of like mine.
Her name is Tara Chapman.
Does that help?
She's got a good face.
Gentle face, you know,
like someone who cares.
Do you know her?
No, but I wish I did.
Thanks.
(phone ringing)
Yes?
I've got your number for you...
TY5-2800.
Thank you.
It's ten cents a call, you know.
Yes, you told me that
already, Mrs. Drew.
Of course, honey,
San Pedro's more...
San Pedro's 25 cents.
Yes, well, I'll be glad
to pay for it, Mrs. Drew.
Three minutes, honey,
then you're on overtime.
Yes.
You better hurry, honey.
I'll bet you've wasted
a minute already.
Go ahead, San Pedro.
Hello. I was wondering,
can you tell me
anything about Pretoria?
3:00 p.m. tomorrow?
Yes, thank you very much.
♪ The sun... ♪
♪ Will rise... in the east ♪
♪ But it will set down,
set down in the west ♪
♪ What did I do? ♪
♪ What did I do to you?
♪ To make you leave me
in this great big mess? ♪
♪ Yeah! ♪
♪ Yeah! ♪
♪ Yeah, in the evening ♪
♪ Every evening ♪
♪ Baby, baby, when
the sun goes down ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, every evening ♪
♪ Every evenin', baby,
when the sun goes down ♪
♪ I don't know about you,
but I get so lonesome ♪
♪ I get so lonesome... ♪
♪ When my main
man is not around... ♪
(song ends)
Oh, yeah, that's great.
We'll keep all that
in. Do that tonight.
I think the sound of the mike's
pretty good, too, don't you?
Good. All right,
that'll be it for today.
See you tonight.
Hi. What can I do for you?
Oh, that was mellow.
Oh, thank you.
You sing good. Thank you.
You've got to be
Paula, right, the owner?
Right, I'm the owner
and I'm the booking agent
and I'm the meal
planner and the bill payer,
and every once in a
while I entertain here.
Which one do you want to see?
The booking agent.
You, uh, used to
hire folksingers, right?
Oh, I still do.
I have, uh, jazz, rock
and roll, blues, I dig 'em all.
But, uh... what's up?
'Cause you guys don't look
like you're here
to sell raffle tickets.
We're looking for a girl.
We think she's a folksinger.
She played your
club a while back.
Here's a sketch of her.
It might not be too good.
Her name's Tara Chapman.
Does that help any?
Uh, what's your bag?
I mean, why do you want her?
We're working with the
Public Health Service.
The girl is very sick
and doesn't know it
and we've got to find her.
LINC: If we don't find
her fast, it'll be too late.
I mean, you're straight.
She's really sick?
Very.
Please trust us.
Well, Tara's a real nice kid.
She worked here, uh, oh,
I guess about a year ago.
But the last I heard of her,
she's working upstate
New York somewhere.
If she were around here,
where could we find her?
Well, Burt Koverly
brought her in here.
He's a friend of hers.
He runs a bar out in the Valley.
Sort of a Western
pool hall motif.
You know what the name of it is?
Well, what else?
"Burt's Boots & Billiards".
What happened to
old-fashioned pool halls?
Cigarette butts on the floor,
bright lights and stale air?
Didn't hurt your break any.
Nickel a ball?
All right.
Never hustle a hustler.
My girl tells me
you're looking for me.
Yeah, and she also
said you weren't here.
Yeah, well, I wasn't.
Not till she mentioned
Tara Chapman.
That's kinda something special.
What about her?
Where is she?
She's in New York.
No, she's not.
My name is Peter Cochrane,
and this is Lincoln Hayes.
We, uh, we go to med school
and we're working with
the Health Department.
Tara's a very sick girl
and doesn't know it.
She needs a doctor.
Uh, you wouldn't be
putting me on, would you?
No, we've looked everywhere,
and you're the
only lead we've got.
Well, uh, I don't know
what I can tell you.
She hasn't called me.
Look, look, why don't
you, uh, leave your number,
and if she calls...
Hey, wait a minute,
have you tried her father?
Who's her father?
Edward Chapman,
uh, big movie man.
Uh, producer at
Consolidated Pictures.
Thank you very much.
Yeah, sure, anytime.
Glad to be of help.
Tara's a real great gal.
Thanks.
We'll, uh, we'll keep in touch.
Fine.
What's the area code
for New York City?
212.
Follow them.
Lou...
Burt K.
Your hunch was right.
That party you're
looking for is in town.
I don't know where...
but, uh, by the
time you fly out here,
I just may.
Save the thanks
till you get my bill.
I don't care what it costs.
By tomorrow, I want
to see this entire town
burning to the ground!
Now you spend whatever it takes.
This is the way it works.
The heavies will attack
from that direction,
only now they're pulling a
flaming wagon behind them.
The wagon roll in, crashes
into those buildings...
No, now wait a
minute, wait a minute...
make that a wagon
loaded with dynamite.
Then we'll blow
up that entire side.
That's the finish we
need for this picture.
And we will have to make
a little change in the script,
but that's no sweat.
Mr. Chapman, you're
talking another 200 grand,
and there's no way that
we can do it by tomorrow.
Joe, you've always
found a way before.
Do it.
And, Joe, bring
it in for 150 grand.
I'll see you at the office
on that casting thing.
Mr. Chapman?
Yes?
Can I talk to you
for a minute, sir?
Well, sure.
My name is Peter Cochrane.
Hi.
What have you done, Pete?
What have I done?
Well, you know what I
mean, other pictures?
Oh, no, no...
Oh, look, it doesn't matter.
You've got a nice
look about you.
Say, can you ride?
Look, I'm not an actor.
Oh... oh...
Well, I'm sorry,
that's my mistake.
What can I do for you?
It's personal.
About your daughter.
Tara?
What about her?
We've got to find her.
She's in great danger.
What kind of joke is this?
Mr. Chapman, it's no joke.
Your daughter's sick.
She could even die.
Mr. Cochrane...
Tara is dead.
She was killed two years
ago in an auto accident.
Mr. Chapman.
I'm...
I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
No, I guess... I
guess you didn't.
Oh, man.
Look, I've got to ask
you some questions.
This sketch.
That's not your daughter, right?
Right.
Does she look at all familiar?
She does. Why?
That girl has meningitis
and we've got about
24 hours to find her.
Do you know her
name by any chance?
Yes, her name is Lila Mason.
She was Tara's roommate.
She's a wonderful girl.
This is shocking.
Look, has she tried
to contact you by any chance?
Get in touch with
you or anything?
No. No.
Well, why do you suppose
she'd want to use Tara's name?
Well, Tara was her best friend.
She asked my permission
to use it as a stage name.
You know, it was the only
thing that she ever asked of me.
I offered her a contract
here... she turned it down.
She said she wanted
to make it on her own.
That was typical.
Why?
Well, she'd always
made on her own.
Mother's dead, her
father's a... seaman, I think.
She hasn't seen him in years.
Can you think of anybody
that she could turn to,
that she could go
stay with or anything?
No.
Unless...
You know, I think she
once mentioned a boyfriend.
High school, here.
Come to my office.
Maybe I can find
the name for you.
Thank you.
♪ Every evening ♪
♪ Baby, when the sun goes down ♪
♪ I don't know about you ♪
♪ But I get so lonesome,
I get so lonesome ♪
♪ When my main
man is not around... ♪
(jazz playing)
Tara?
Tara, baby.
Oh, how are you?
It's so good to see you.
And with black
hair, how about that?
Paula...
uh, can I stay at your
place, just for tonight?
I'll be leaving tomorrow.
Sure, honey, you
know you can, but...
don't you think we ought
to see a doctor first?
They were right,
you look terrible.
What do you mean?
Well, there were a
couple of fellas here
looking for you today.
Who?!
One black one, one white one.
A couple of good-looking guys.
Did they... did
they say anything?
I mean, they don't
know I'm in town?
Well, they said that you were
ill and they had to find you.
But you didn't tell
them anything, did you?
I sent them out to Burt's place.
I thought you
might be out there.
No.
Then they know!
Wait a minute, Tara,
they're just trying to help you!
They're trying to
kill me! Wait a...
Get me the Public
Health Service.
(horn honking)
Where've you
been? I tried all night.
Just take easy.
We've been following up
the lead Chapman gave me.
Okay, sorry.
Is that the high
school boyfriend?
Right.
His name is Ken Lacey.
Did you find him?
Dead end until
the city opens up.
Julie's going to
the high school,
and we're gonna check
the Hall of Records.
All right.
Now here's something else:
Lila, I mean Tara, was at
Paula's Cool City last night.
We got there too late.
And here's another thing,
she now has short black hair.
Anything else?
Yeah, trouble.
Kid's running scared.
She thinks we're the ones
that are trying to kill her.
Oh, man.
And the clock is running.
We got eight hours left.
You better hurry.
All right, we're gonna
need another car.
Take mine.
Oh, Captain, uh, there's
a bus stop on the corner.
Lou, I got some news.
Haven't you learned to knock?
Well, sorry about that, but I
just heard from my trail man.
Those kids I told you
about... they're cops.
And that girlfriend
of yours is really sick.
Everyone's looking for her.
You told me you'd have her.
New York's 3,000 miles.
I don't like to fly.
Lou, the whole police department
is doing your job for you.
They think the girl's gonna die.
Why don't you just let
nature take its course?
Haven't you ever heard
about a death bed confession?
Man, what has this
chick got on you?
She see you do a
job or something?
Listen, cowboy,
you don't ask questions,
you just deliver!
Now you find that
girl before she talks
or you'll get a chance
to see me work.
JULIE: Linc, could you
stand some good news?
And a little sleep.
Well, Tara, Lila, whatever
name she's using now,
I checked her
boyfriend's records.
Ken Lacey?
Right.
He runs a lumber
yard near the docks.
401 Harbor Avenue.
Thanks, Julie.
Hey, Ken...
telephone.
Okay if I go to lunch?
Yeah, Al, go ahead.
All right, be back
in a half hour. Right.
Lacey.
Right.
40 sheets of three-ply.
When do you want it?
Well, I'll get on it
right after lunch.
Right.
Kenny?
Lila, baby!
Oh, Kenny, I'm
so glad to see you.
Where you been all this time?
When did you get back?
You know, I never
stopped hoping that...
You're flushed.
Is there anything wrong?
Oh, Kenny, you've
got to help me.
Oh, anything,
baby, you know that.
Now what's the matter?
Well, I, uh...
Uh... I... I left my things
at the Drew Motel
on Third Street.
Would you go there and
get them for me, please?
And... can I stay
here for a few hours?
You can stay forever.
I haven't changed.
That's what I've always wanted.
No... no...
No, just...
just, just for a few hours.
Then I'm gonna see my father.
No... my real father.
Honey, you've been looking
for your father all these years.
Oh, but, he... he wrote to me.
This time, he's coming.
He's always been coming,
but he never shows up.
Look, I'm here. I'll
take care of you.
Oh, Kenny...
I know you've always been here
when I needed you, but...
now I need him.
He can help me get
out of the country.
Out of the country? Why?
Because they're looking for me,
and when they find me,
they're gonna kill me!
Hey, look. You...
you got a fever.
Maybe your... maybe
your imagination's
running away with
you a little bit, huh?
No!
You just don't understand!
Kenny.
Kenny, when I was in New York,
I saw a murder...
A professional murder.
Th-th-the killer tried
to get me there, but...
but now he knows I'm here
and he's hired
two kids to kill me!
You've gotta believe me!
I've always believed in you.
Now, who are these two kids?
I don't know for sure.
They're... they're
just two young guys.
(car horn honking)
Who is that?!
All right, now, just...
just take it easy.
I'll see. Huh?
(honking)
Who is it?
Just a couple of guys.
I-I-Is one negro
and... one white?
Yeah.
Oh, Kenny, it's them!
They're gonna kill me!
(horn blares)
Now, you hide.
If it's them, I'll take
care of everything.
Now, go on. Go on.
(honking)
What can I do for you?
We're looking for a Kenny Lacey.
You found him.
Hey look, you know a
girl named Lila Mason?
We understand
she's a friend of yours.
Lila... Mason?
Yeah.
No, no. I don't know her.
Well, you did go to
Central High School, right?
No. See, you got the wrong guy.
Hey, look, this girl needs help.
Now, she's desperately sick.
You wouldn't be holding
out on us, would you, friend?
No...
Friend.
Thank you.
(sighs)
What do you think?
I think he's the worst
liar I've ever heard.
My question is: What do we do?
Look, you think he
knows where she is?
I'd bet on it.
All right, then what are
we playing games for, man?
Solid.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
You know, we never
have been fond of people
that try to kill us.
You lousy punks!
What punks?!
I'm not gonna let
you get away with this.
With what?!
Killing Lila!
Man, we better take
a look at your office.
She was here
all the time, right?
That's right, but
she's long gone now.
Congratulations.
You're a first-class hero.
But you're gonna
have a real hangover
when you hear the truth.
What do you mean?
LINC: You may have
just cost that girl her life.
Can you possibly think long
enough to understand that?
You did notice she was sick?!
Well, yeah, but she sai...
Yeah, but what?
She's very sick, man.
She's got meningitis...
and you've been
exposed to it, too.
Now, we've got a
couple of hours to find her
and get her to a hospital
or she's dead,
and thanks to you,
we don't know where she is.
Yeah, but she
said that you guys...
Were trying to kill her?
Oh, man, don't you dig?!
We're the good guys!
If you think, man,
if we were trying
to kill her we would
have been all over town
asking questions where she is?
Leaving a perfect
trail for the police?
Huh?
Oh, God, what have I done?
All right.
Now, you talked to her.
Now, you must have
learned something.
Now, where would she go?
I don't know.
She said something
about meeting her father,
but I don't know, she,
she makes things up.
I wish you would have
thought of that sooner, man.
Motel.
She had a room!
All right, where?
Come on, come on, come on!
Drew! Drew Motel
on Third Street.
Julie's closer.
We'll meet her there.
Solid. You got a car? A truck.
All right, you give
us a ride there,
and then you get yourself
to a hospital and get a shot.
Huh?
"Huh"? We're not killers, man,
but spinal meningitis is.
Hey, Julie.
Linc. Now, listen carefully.
Meet us at the Drew
Motel on Third Street.
Yeah, right.
♪ ♪
Yes. Uh...
did Miss Mason make a
phone call to TY 5-2800?
What's happening, Julie?
Yesterday?
Oh, yes, could you? Thank you.
Go ahead, San Pedro.
Who is this?
Right. Um...
do you know anything
about the Pretoria?
Oh, it's in.
Yes, thanks very much.
What is all this?
She called the Port Authority
about a freighter
that had come in,
uh, the Pretoria,
came in an hour ago.
You said her father
was a seaman.
Now maybe she's
really going to meet him.
Does this mean Pier 137? Yeah.
Let's go.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
(panting)
Can I help you?
(gasping breaths)
Are you all right?
You're Lila.
You're Lila Mason, aren't you?
(panting): You... you...
you...
Yeah?
Pier 137, Pretoria.
She alone?
Uh-huh.
No cops?
What about those kid cops?
Good, good.
You'll wait there for me.
Oh, by the way, Sonny,
you do good work.
(panting, gasping)
Here.
Uh, you feel better?
(panting): Y... Yes. Yes.
You need a doctor.
I'll go and find one.
No, no. Wait, wait.
You... y-you knew me.
(chuckles)
You almost had me
fooled with that black hair.
It's not like your pictures.
Who-who are you?
Someone who's known
you for all those years.
My name is Karl Baemmler.
A friend of your father's.
He... he's supposed to be here.
He... he...
he wrote me to meet him,
but he isn't here.
Lila, your father
loves you very much.
You mean he's not coming?
(softly): No.
Why?
Because there were some
islands he hadn't seen yet,
and he just wanted
to stay on a while.
(panting): Oh...
(crying): Oh...!
(tires screech)
Lila, what is it?
(panting): My-my head.
My head's exploding!
I'm going to find
a doctor. No! No!
You-you can't leave me!
Lila, please, lie still.
No! Y-You've got
to believe me...
They're going to k-kill me!
Any luck?
Let's try in here.
Will you stop this nonsense
about murders and killers.
You are ill.
Now, you are going
to lie here quietly
until I come back, do
you understand me?
Nobody is going to hurt you.
What do you want?
No!
No, it is them.
They're going to kill
me! No, that's not true.
PETE: Just take it easy.
Look, she's got to get
to a hospital fast.
Who are you? LINC: We're cops.
That's kind of hard to believe,
isn't it? Believe it!
PETE: She's got meningitis.
Now, if she doesn't
get to a hospital fast,
she's gonna die.
Now, help us. Please.
Yes, you're right.
I'm sorry. No!
Ambulance? LINC: No.
There's no time.
We'll go direct.
You, too... you've
got to get a shot.
All right. (crying): No! No!
KARL: Lila, please!
Lila, please listen to me.
Do you remember your
friend, Susan Sherrill?
Do you remember
how sick she was?
That's what's
happening to you now.
Lila, you saved Susan's life
by getting her to the
hospital just in time.
Now, you've got to let
us get you to the hospital.
Please, please come with us.
Okay? Okay?
(panting): Okay.
(crying)
Let's go.
KARL: All right, you take her.
(gunshot)
(gunfire, bullets ricocheting)
Come on. Hey,
man, I just find 'em,
you kill them.
What is he, some kind
of lunatic or something?
Lila... somebody's
trying to kill her.
He's coming, man!
(tires squeal)
Other side. Come on...
There's a boat down there.
Go down the ladder,
all of you. Come on!
What about you? Go on!
♪ ♪
(grunting)
♪ ♪
(gunshots)
(gunshot)
(gunshots)
(gunshot)
(tires squeal)
(tires screech)
Hey! He's getting a boat!
Danish motor vessel Pretoria,
calling letters O-Y-N-M,
calling letters O-Y-N-M,
calling Harbor Patrol.
(gunshot)
(bullet ricochets)
(siren wailing)
(siren continues)
(siren continues)
(over loudspeaker):
This is Harbor Patrol.
Heave to, and drop your weapon.
(gunshot)
(bullet ricochets, engine stops)
(gunshot)
(gunfire)
(distant ship's horn blows)
Well, was she unconscious
when they took her to the hospital?
No, she was going in and out.
JULIE: She gave a description
of a naval officer
who gave her a lift.
She was afraid that
he might get sick.
She's also worried about you.
She worries about
everyone except herself.
Now, look who's talking.
Is there any way to get
in touch with her father?
Not unless someone
hears from him,
which could take a long time.
He just hates to write letters.
JULIE: That's odd.
When I was going
through Lila's luggage,
I found a stack of old
letters from her father.
I read one very beautiful one.
Well, now,
you don't suppose somebody
else wrote those letters?
Someone who didn't want a young
girl to grow up absolutely alone?
Isn't that what you
policemen call "speculating"?
You have no evidence.
True.
Take care of yourself.
Thank you.
We'll come and see you.
And, Karl? Hmm?
We're grateful. Yes.
So am I.
Well...
not a bad 48 hours work.
Come on, get me out of here.
I need some sleep.
You're riding with us?
No. Just take me to my car.
(laughs)
Uh... your car?
Yeah, you remember?
You... you borrowed it.
Well, where is it?
Well, Captain, you're
not gonna believe this.
♪ ♪