Police Woman (1974–1978): Season 4, Episode 11 - Tigress - full transcript

(audience applauding)

- Who's my target?

- The perfect minorities
to hate, Amelia.

- The smut peddlers.

- My name's Amelia, same
as you, and I'm a prostitute.

- But then if you admit it,

why didn't you tell
the voters the truth?

- It was past history, private.

- One flew over the
councilman's nest.

- Get me back to simple
crime in the streets.

You can do it, and I want
it, ask for Captain Barnes.

- Someone is trying to kill me.

Wonderful city.

(gun shot)

(screaming)

(groovy theme music)

(protesters shouting)

- [Woman] Down with the bigot.

- [Man] Down with the bigot.

- [Man] Down with the bigot.

Throw her out.

- [Woman] Throw her out.

- [Woman] Down with the bigot.

- [Crowd] Down with the
bigot, down with the bigot.

Down with the bigot.

Throw her out.

- And now, here once
again, our own Amelia Boyer.

- Thank you, Paul,
I'm going to miss you.

- And we'll miss you too.

- Most of you are
aware this is my last day

as co-anchorperson here at KXLA.

- There she is.

(booing)

- I am throwing my
hat in the political ring

as candidate for city council.

And I would like to say to
those very vocal demonstrators,

who are, at this very moment,
picketing outside the studio,

you are not pressuring
me into this resignation.

On the contrary, I am simply
abiding by the FCC ruling

for equal time for all
political candidates.

Neither picket lines nor
threatening phone calls

can stop me in my
crusade to make this city

a better place for clean-living,
God-fearing Americans

to live and to work.

Thank you.

- I won't do it.

- Afraid you're gonna have to.

- Listen, I couldn't
stand Amelia Boyer

when we were in high school.

I can't stand her now.

I hate what she stands
for and so do you.

- I'll do it.

I'll guard Amelia's body
with my fractured flipper.

- There's your volunteer.

- No? Well, how 'bout me?

Or am I too minority
for Ms. Boyer?

- I got direct orders
from Captain Blye.

Sergeant Pepper
Anderson's the man for the job.

- The man.

- As a matter of fact,

his exact words were
the only man for the job.

- Well, I won't do it.

Tell Barnes I won't do it.

- I told him you wouldn't do it.

- Well?

- You're doing it.

- All right, I'll tell him.

- You tell him, you do that.

Just say, Captain,
you can go to hell.

- Sergeant Crowley
told you what I told him.

And incidentally, it came
from the chief himself.

- Captain Barnes, I
have a good reason

for wanting to be
relieved of this assignment.

- Good reason?

- I think so.

- Hold it, Pepper.

Before you say it, let me
warn you it better be good

and a hell of a lot better
reason than the one

Sergeant Bowdroff gave
me for not wanting to be

Hirohito's bodyguard when
he was visiting our fair city.

Well, it seems that
Sergeant Bowdroff

was a prisoner of war in Japan.

So while he was
a prisoner of war,

he swore that he was
gonna get that guy one day

if he ever caught up with him.

Now that's the excuse
he gave me for not wanting

to carry out my direct orders
to see that no bodily harm

came to our royal guest
while he was visiting here.

Now I ask you, your whole life,

have you ever heard of
a reason as lame as that?

Now, what's your excuse?

(jazzy music)

(doorbell rings)

- Yeah?

- Police, Sergeant Anderson.

- All right, come on in.

We've got certain
rules in this house.

This way.

And one of them is I'm
gonna have to frisk you.

I hope you don't mind.

- I mind.

- Udo, you don't
have to frisk a cop.

Hello, Pepper.

- Hello, Amelia.

- Amazing, simply amazing.

Who'd have ever guessed
that the prettiest girl

in high school would
end up a lady cop?

- Policewoman, and
I wasn't the prettiest.

- Whatever.

Udo, would you take the
policewoman's bag to the guest room?

- With pleasure.

- Thank you.

- Udo's quite an animal.

- I'm sure you'd know.

(laughs)

- The same fun-loving
Pepper, except your hair,

isn't it blonder?

- You, uh, you've
lost a little weight.

- Amusing.

- I try.

- At least I made something
of myself after I left school.

- You certainly did.

- I've come a long way,
baby, if I do say so myself.

And just imagine you, the
girl most likely to succeed,

my bodyguard.

I asked the chief of
police especially for you

and only you.

- Thanks, I really
appreciate that.

- [Amelia] Home.

- Be it ever so cluttered.

(Amelia laughs)

- Say hello to Sergeant
Anderson, Pepper in high school,

my whiz kids June and
Jim Brennan, Mr. and Mrs.

- How do you do?

- Hi.

- Terribly, terribly young
and terribly, terribly bright.

Almost human computers.

You feed in statistics and
out comes campaign strategy.

- What do you think
of this, Sergeant?

How does this grab you?

- Make you want to rush
right out and vote for her?

- For Amelia Earhart, anytime.

- Pepper's hardly
the one to ask.

She even voted against
me for high school president.

I won anyway.

- I remember.

- My kickoff speech,

have you double domes
given it some thought?

- We have.

- Got a great idea.

- Uh, Pepper, darling, I'm
sure all this profound strategy

would bore you silly.

- I'm sure it would.

- Could I help
you find your room

and you can clean
up and whatever?

- Just tell me where it is.

I'll find it.

- I'll call Udo.

- I'll find it.

- Up the stairs,
first door to the left.

- Nice meeting both of you.

- You too.

- How come when
I yell for a cop,

I never get anything like that?

- Uh, down, boy.

- This great idea.

If you can get your mind off
of sex and back to business,

this great idea, I hope
it has something to do

with Councilman Grant.

Did that investigator you
hired find out anything?

- Not yet.

- So far you're most worthy
opponent seems to be just that,

most worthy.

- But something will turn up.

- And what if nothing turns up?

- Oh, it will, Amelia, trust us.

- We'll make sure that it does.

- Did anyone check into his
connection with those landlords

who rent out those smut
shops down on Bailey Street?

- Yeah, there's no proof.

- But we got a letter
definitely stating that Grant...

- Crackpot time, Amelia.

Did you see who signed it?

Queen Victoria.

- Any rumor is potent
before the election.

All right, all right.

So what's this great idea for
my opening speech tonight?

Who's my target?

- The perfect minorities
to hate, Amelia.

- The prostitutes.

The vandals.

The smut peddlers.

The dope addicts.

The sexual perverts who,
with their insidious filth,

are contaminating our lives
and the lives of our children.

(audience applauds and cheers)

I call on you.

I call on you to help me
protect our neighborhoods

against these people,

to exterminate those
who are responsible,

not only those who
commit the crimes,

but those who allow,
allow them to happen.

Protect our neighborhood.

- [Audience] Protect
our neighborhood.

Protect our neighborhood.

Protect our neighborhood.

Protect our neighborhood.

- Hey, all be quiet, please.

Quiet.

- Please, ladies and
gentlemen, please.

Please let the reverend speak.

- I speak, Miss Boyer,
as both a minister

and a private citizen.

And as both, I am all against
pornographers, vandals,

and other true criminals.

But I cannot with any
conscience continue to listen

to your attacks against
Councilman Grant.

(audience boos)

- Please, please, ladies.

Please, ladies and gentlemen.

- I'd like to say something.

I'm a housewife and a mother

and I represent the Better
Government League in this city.

I'd like to go on record in
decrying your heavy-handed use

of extremist tactics, Miss
Boyer, in order to gain votes

for an office that
we feel you are not,

repeat, not qualified.

(audience boos)

(audience applauds)

- Hold it, hold it.

Now quiet, you listen to me.

And you listen.

Miss Boyer, my name's
Amelia, same as you.

And I'm a woman, same as you.

And I'm a prostitute.

(audience boos)

Oh, you may not like what I do.

I can't say I'm
proud of it either.

But I don't know no typing
and I ain't had much schooling.

I don't punch a clock

and I don't gussy
myself up for no office.

But that don't
give you the right

to tell me where
I can or can't live.

I can live anywhere I want to

and nobody here
can tell me I can't.

(audience boos)

- Please, please.

- [Man] Get out of here.

- Ladies and gentlemen, please.

Let us hear

what this unfortunate,
misguided lady has to say.

- Why don't you tell
these folks the truth?

Now I have civil
rights, ain't I?

I can live anywhere
I want to, right?

- You're right.

You're absolutely right.

Her kind can live anywhere,
anywhere they want to now,

and that unfortunate
situation will remain

as long as Councilman
Grant is in the office.

But if I am elected...

- If you are elected,
you know what?

I'll sue you.

I'll take you to court.

I'll take you all the way to
Washington DC if I have to.

I'll give you the
fight of your life.

Oh, I may not win,
but it sure will be fun.

Now, how about that, honey?

(audience yelling)

Oh, I'm leaving,
I'm going, I'm going.

Listen to me.

Any man hear who is without sin,

let him cast the first stone.

I know my rights.

(organ music)

♪ Amber waves of grain ♪

- Listen to this.

I got this out of the
editorial section this morning.

"In Germany, the Nazis
first came for the Communists

"and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Communist.

"Then they came for the Jews,

"and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew.

"Then they came
for the Catholics,

"and I didn't speak up
because I was a Protestant.

"Then they came for me,

"and by that time,
there was no one left

"to speak up for me."

♪ From sea to shining sea ♪

(audience applauds and cheers)

- Why me?

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Morning.

Ah, but soft, what light
through yonder window breaks?

- 'Tis light in yonder truck.

- Why don't you fix it?

- I never knew Shakespeare
too well. (laughs)

- Oh, I may not win,
but it sure will be fun.

Now, how about that, honey?

Oh, I'm leaving,
I'm going, I'm going.

(audience yelling)

- Get lost, sister, we
don't need that kind.

- Take it easy, my darling.

- Goldie, what did
she ever do to you?

- Streetwalkers,
Commies, pre-verts.

They don't belong here.

- Well, where do
they belong, Goldie?

- Anywhere away from
good, upstanding citizens.

Hey, you two aren't sticking
up for that hooker, are you?

- Goldie, I don't care if
she's a hooker or a nun.

I'm talking about rights.

- Hookers got no rights.

- Is that your truck
parked out front?

- Yeah.

- Did you know you
left your lights on?

I got it.

- Oh, thanks.

- You're welcome.

- Now, like I was saying.

- Doesn't matter what
you were saying, my friend.

Everybody's got civil rights.

- Sure, sure,

but that's what makes
Amelia Boyer so terrific.

She'll see that those kind
don't have any anymore.

- For sure.

But whatever happened to
that good old American saying,

live and let live?

- Now that's the
way I used to think.

But then I started looking
around at what's going on

and I don't like what I see.

I mean, I don't like
those people around,

especially not here.

- You know, I'm sure
gonna miss that Amelia

on the six o'clock
news every night.

You know, when she says
something, you can believe it.

And she says Grant
is weak, and he is.

- That's right.

Why, do you know that
he even thinks it's all right

if you're gay?

- Yeah.

- But that Amelia is a living
saint if ever there was one.

(gasps) And when she sings,

♪ O beautiful for
spacious skies ♪

- What are we doing, auditions
for The Gong Show, Goldie?

- Oh, boy, you guys
really have some nerve,

taking good taxpayers
money and then sitting around

defending hookers
and pre-verts and...

Aren't you cops supposed
to defend people like us?

- [Reporter] Boyer's
charged that prostitution

be legally barred from
so-called decent neighborhoods.

- [Grant On TV] Well,
I'm afraid I can't comment

on Miss Boyer's speech.

I've been here at our
fundraising banquet all evening,

so, frankly, I didn't
hear what she had to...

- Protect our neighborhoods.

Your all-American
dream in a catchy slogan.

Ron, how can you
argue with that?

- Easy, you don't
protect neighborhoods

by taking away civil rights.

- Well, how are
you going to stop it?

- Well, we just have to.

These Hitlers and
McCarthys and fringe lunatics

who destroy freedom by
promising so-called decent folks

that they're looking out
for their best interests,

we just can't let them do it.

Every citizen has the
right to express himself,

but legally, honestly.

- Can you hear
yourself, darling?

Can you hear this
pedantic soapbox ring

you're getting into your speech?

Well, the voters won't buy it.

I mean, it's,

well,

more coffee?

- Please.

All right, Barb.

Something's been
bothering you all week, what?

- Nothing.

- That nothing means something.

You hear that
ring in your voice?

It says, what I am
saying, I do not mean.

Thank you.

Now what's wrong?

- Don't let that
woman drag you down.

Withdraw from
this rat race, please.

- What?

- Make an announcement
that you've decided not to run

in this year's election.

- Why would I do
a thing like that?

- You want it in one word?

- Yeah.

- Amelia.

In two words, Amelia Boyer.

Ron, I'm afraid of this woman.

She could crush you.

She can make people
believe anything

she wants them to believe.

- So what can she say about me?

- Think.

For one moment, think.

It doesn't matter now.

We know it doesn't
matter anymore.

But think what she
could do if she found out.

- Daddy, how do you like it?

- Attention all third
graders, that's great.

- Did I spell all
the words right?

- Oh, 100%.

- I'm going to thumbtack it
to the bulletin board at school.

Good idea, huh?

- Well, Marianne, don't you
think it would be a good idea

if someone were to put up
an Amelia Boyer poster, too,

on the same bulletin board?

- Why her?

- Hmm, freedom of choice.

You see, all the third
graders should have a chance

to decide for whom
they want to vote.

- Well, I think it's
pretty dumb myself,

but if you say so.

- I say so.

- Here's your lunch.

You better hurry.

School bus won't wait.

- Bye.

- Bye, have a good day.
- Bye, bye.

We love you.

- Love you, too.

I'll see if someone
wants to put up

an Amelia Boyer poster, too,

even if I still think it's dumb.

(laughing)

- Ron?

You could always
go back to teaching.

I'd like that.

- Well, and lose out on
that crucial third grade vote

for the city council?

- Good morning,
Pepper, over here.

(heavy breathing)

Bravo, Udo, bravo.

Clap, dear, he loves
encouragement.

- Why don't you
throw him a fish?

- Lady cop, how'd
you sleep last night?

- Alone, thank you.

- Udo, go take a shower.

- Yeah, boss lady,
whatever you say.

- Coffee hot?

- Help yourself.

I'll call Marguerite
for your breakfast.

- No, thanks.

Just coffee's fine.

- You don't like me
very much, do you?

You never did.

- I don't like what
you stand for.

- And what does that
mean, what I stand for?

- You're a hypocrite.

You always were.

Throwing around all that garbage

about protecting the good
guys from the bad guys,

the evil, the undesirables,
the untouchables.

It's all as phony as you are.

But there's one consolation.

- Oh, what's that?

- You'll never get away
with any of it constitutionally.

- Oh, you're a lawyer?

- If you are elected, Amelia,
you won't change a thing.

Only the trappings
will be different,

a sense of new
power, a new office,

a new bed to sleep around in.

- Bed to sleep around in?

Grammatically incorrect.

And what's that
supposed to mean?

Are you implying
that I'm a tramp?

- You tell me.

I mean, what's the difference
between doing it for money

or favors?

- I resent that.

- Uh, remember
Beatrice May Jessie?

- Beatrice May was a thief.

That's why no one voted
for her for class president.

- Lucky for you, they
found those stolen supplies

in her locker the day
before the election.

Alan Hunter found
them, didn't he?

I wonder how he
knew they were there.

- Beatrice May was guilty.

Why else would she
take that overdose?

- I don't know why, do you?

- Listen, Pepper, darling,

I don't have to
take this from you.

I could get someone else
from the police department.

- Great.

Get me back to simple
crime in the streets.

You can do it and I want it.

Ask for Captain Barnes.

- I am not letting you
off of this assignment.

(phone rings)

You have the phone, answer it.

- Sergeant Anderson speaking.

- You tell that
Amelia Boyer to cool it

or she'll get her
lousy head shot off.

Good, huh?

- The timing was perfect.

(daunting music)

- Who was that?

(dialing)

- Sergeant Crowley, please.

It's urgent.

- What's happening?

I have a right to know.

- Crowley.

Yeah, Pepper.

What else did he say?

- Get her lousy head shot off.

Uh, better get Pete
and Joe over here,

and forget about springing me.

- Okay, you got it.

- I told you I
needed protection.

Someone is trying to kill me.

(suspenseful music)

- This Sergeant Anderson,
good looking chick?

- Good looking chick?

You sure you know what to do?

- Hey, this isn't the first time

and it won't be the last.

- I'll call to verify
if it's still on.

You know the time and place?

- I know, okay?

I know.

(dramatic music)

(suspenseful music)

- Over here, Crowley.

What's the matter,
can't you see in the dark?

- How's it going, Amelia?

- Rest your weary bones.

- What's that you're drinking?

A Shirley Temple?

- I'm drinking expensive on you.

You see, if you'd come
to my place like I told you

on the phone,
drinks on the house.

- Yeah, and I told you,
you better be careful

how you proposition me.

I just might have to run you in.

- Now you wouldn't do that

to a little old card-carrying
coyote like me,

would you, baby?

(both laugh)

- I just might.

- Yeah, you just might.

Anyway, I'm safe.

You called me,
I didn't call you.

Now what's on
your mind, Crowley?

And that's not a proposition.

- Look, I know how you
feel about Amelia Boyer.

- Aah, don't speak such language
in mixed company, please.

- Level with me,
Amelia, will ya?

- Now who's propositioning?

- Have you heard any
rumbles in your business?

Anybody threatening to blow
her head off with a shotgun,

anything like that?

- Boyer's?

- Boyer's.

- Well, we sure hate her guts,

but we have enough
trouble with the law

in our regular business.

(phone rings)

Why make things tougher?

- Yeah, that's
the way I figure it.

Why?

- [Bartender] Bill Crowley?

- Yeah?
- Telephone.

- Excuse me.

Thanks.

- You're welcome.

- Crowley.

Oh, yes, yes, sir.

Yes, I understand.

Where are you now?

On the corner near you,
there's a coffee shop.

That's right, that's it.

About 15 minutes?

Okay, I'll see you then, thanks.

- Want a drink?

- No, thanks.

Why don't you get the
lady another one, will you?

- Think she needs it?

Here's her bill already.

- You're kidding.

Uh, yeah, Pepper
Anderson, please.

Sergeant Crowley calling.

Forget it.

- Like I figured.

- Yeah, Pep.

How would you like to
join me for a cup of coffee?

- Hey, Fuzz, where's Pepper?

- You mean Sergeant Anderson?

Well, she went out for
coffee if it's all right with you.

- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What's your name?

- Are you talking to me?

- Yeah, I'm talking to you.

- Oh, my name is
Invesigator Pete Royster,

but you may call me Peter.

- Well, Royster, you don't
match the decor around here.

You got no swank.

You get the drift?

- You don't know how
much that hurts me

coming from such a swank.

I always thought I was.

I went to swank schools.

I ate nothing but swank food.

As a matter of fact, I
never talked to anybody

who wasn't swank.

I thought I was the
epitome of swank.

Goodness. (clicks tongue)

- Well, you're not swank,

and they've been lying to you.

Maybe you oughta
do something about it.

- I think this is better, yeah.

- I don't know.

- What's the matter with it?

- Blue, baby blue.

- Terrific audience impact.

Nobody but nobody
doesn't like blue.

- Is this better?

- No, not for today's rally.

Five church groups have
requested blocks of seats

so boobs are out.

Look, if it'll make you happier,

I promise to lower the neckline

for the American
Legion next week,

plunging in glorious red,
white, and blue, okay?

There you go.

- When's Jim
supposed to be back?

- He was meeting the contact
at 10:00, so any minute now.

- Didn't that
investigator give us a hint

of what he'd found?

- Nope, he just phoned
Jim and he said to me

he'd meet him in the
park with the information

and for Jim to bring
$1,000 in small bills.

Yep, blue is your color.

- I don't know.

Where's Pepper?

She has style.

- You don't trust me?

- Don't be a goon.

Of course, I trust you.

It's fine, it's fine.

I'm just furious at
that pigheaded blonde

for running off without telling
me where she was going.

- Listen, maybe we should
lose Sergeant Anderson.

I mean, for some reason or
other, she seems to upset you.

- Coffee, black, please.

Hi, Bill.

- This is Councilman
Grant, Sergeant Anderson.

- How do you do?

- It's a pleasure.

- [Grant] What can we get you?

- A coffee's all I'm
having, thank you.

- It's here.

- That's fast service.

- Faster than you'll get
in the city, believe me.

- I have a feeling

she's not one of my
staunchest supporters.

- I have a feeling you're right.

- Well, first of all, thank
you for meeting me here

instead of police headquarters.

I'd rather not talk
to reporters just yet.

- What's happened?

- Somebody
broke into his office,

took some documents from
his files that could be damaging

to his campaign if they
were made public, right?

- That's right.

- What's in them?

- I'd rather not say,
unless you tell me I have to.

Believe me, nothing
of a criminal nature.

No records of bribes
or illegal contributions,

nothing like that.

I was hoping you could
investigate without any publicity.

Is that possible?

- That's why I wanted
Sergeant Anderson here.

Since she's working at Boyer's,

maybe she'll come
up with something.

- Are you sure the contents
could be used against you

in the campaign?

- Well, an unscrupulous
opponent might be tempted,

but I honestly don't
know about Amelia Boyer.

- Fantastic, utterly fantastic.

- Is it worth $1,000?

- $10,000. $100,000.

This will do it.

This will do it.

What a sensation this will
be at the rally this afternoon.

- Not yet, Amelia, we
stick to the original plan.

- Why? This is all we need.

We simply tell
the voters the truth

about Councilman
Grant, war hero.

- Well, maybe you won't
have to tell them the truth.

Not if we do it our
way and force his hand.

- All right.

- Do it our way, Amelia,

and you won't have to worry
about Councilman Grant anymore.

It's on.

(suspenseful music)

- [Audience] We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

- Very nice.

- Will it sell?

- I'll buy it.

- Love the color.

- See, I told ya.

It needs this.

- Oh, the miracle of
a sweet opening bud.

(June laughs)

- Go sell it.

- Listen to that, Pepper.

Don't you want to go out
there with your pompoms

and lead the cheer?

- Cheerleader, huh?

Someday you'll have to
show me your pompoms.

- [Audience] We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

We want Amelia!

(audience applauds and cheers)

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank
you for your love.

Thank you for your confidence

and thank you for wanting
to help me rid this city

of the sin and
of the corruption.

(audience applauds and cheers)

When I started this campaign,
I made a promise to myself

that I would never, never
say anything personal

against my opponent
Councilman Ronald Grant,

who is a family man and
a hero in the Korean War.

I unfortunately must
now break that promise

in order to be a good
American citizen,

and reveal to you
documented evidence

that has come into my possession,
proving that Ronald Grant

has been less than
truthful with you,

the decent voters
of this wonderful city.

(gun shot)

(screaming)

- Just relax now,
you're all right.

You're all right.

- I'm lucky he missed me.

- Lucky for you,
he's a lousy shot.

(dramatic music)

- Stand back.

(gun shots)

Over here.

- Where'd he go?

(dramatic music)

(phone rings)

- Hello?

- [Jim] Councilman Grant?

- Yes?

- My name is Jim Brennan.

I work for Amelia Boyer.

- [Grant] Oh, yeah.

- Somebody just tried
to assassinate her.

- What?

- I think we oughta talk.

(dramatic music)

- This is Bill Baldwin,
speaking to you live

from in front of the palatial
home of Amelia Boyer.

We're waiting for the arrival
of Councilman Ronald Grant.

According to a
spokesman for Miss Boyer,

the councilman called
her almost immediately

after the attempted
assassination

requesting a meeting
between the two.

Now although Amelia
Boyer has said herself

that she believes that
Councilman Grant was in no way

involved in the
shooting incident

and the attempt on her life,

and even though it
was at the same time

that she was about
to reveal, and I quote,

"documented evidence that
Grant has been less than truthful

"with the voters," end quote.

I'm sure the newspeople
gathered here like myself

will want some
answers to the questions

about his possible involvement
in that shooting incident.

Ladies and gentlemen, I
see a car driving up now.

It is Councilman Grant.

- It's about that time.

- Councilman Grant?

Councilman, we know
you called a meeting.

Now, what's the meeting here?

Councilman, come on,
give us a break here.

We need the news.

You're on television,
Councilman.

Councilman, come on,
we need the words here.

We need the words.

Our people would like to
hear from you, Councilman.

Councilman, please, what is
the purpose of the meeting?

- No comment.

- Yes, but our listeners
are anxious to...

- I'm sorry.

I have no comment.

- Well, you saw and
heard, ladies and gentlemen,

Councilman Grant has refused
to say anything at this time

about the rather extraordinary
events that have taken place

during the day.

Now we'll return
you to our studios,

but we will remain here,

and when the
Councilman comes out,

maybe we can get
an interview with him.

Bill Baldwin, KLXA News.

- There is no need to beat
around the bush, is there?

I think you're familiar with
what transpired this afternoon.

- No, I'm not sure.

I heard on the radio.

Well, you know I had nothing
to do with this terrible thing.

- Take it easy, sir.

We're not accusing you
of trying to kill Amelia.

That's not the reason why I
asked you to meet us here.

- Yeah, on the
radio coming over,

the news reporter
kept saying I called you.

You called me.

- Does it matter
who called whom?

You're here.

And I think deep
down in your soul,

you know why you came
when Jim called, don't you?

Your medical records.

- Those files that were taken,

was that your medical records?

- Yes, yes.

- Well, Amelia, speak up.

- Are you in any way
insinuating that I had something

to do with that burglary?

- Another election,
another thief?

Only no Beatrice
May to blame it on.

- You are
definitely out of line.

Can I help it if someone
happens to send me copies

of perhaps stolen
medical records?

That some loyal, decent
citizen bends the law a bit

because he doesn't want
to see a sick war hero

running our
government and his life?

- I am not sick.

Now I've never used my war
record in any of my campaigns,

never.

- For good reason,
I think, don't you?

Especially since it might
bring up that period of your life

right after the war.

- Mr. Grant, is it true
that right after the war

you needed
psychiatric treatment?

Is that true?

- Yes.

- In fact, at the time, you
were in such a catatonic state

you might even be called insane.

- No, no, not insane.

No, I never was insane.

- But you were committed
to a hospital for nearly a year.

Isn't that true?

- Not that long.

- Almost all of 1953 in
the veteran's hospital,

the wing with the heavy
bars on the windows

and the guards at the door.

It's all in the records.

- One flew over the
councilman's nest.

- Do you deny it?

- Do you?

- Do you, Grant?

- No, I don't deny it.

It's true.

- But then if you admit it,

why didn't you tell the
voters the truth before?

- It was past history,
private history.

I've been treated,
I've been cured.

I've pushed it out of my mind.

- Then we have to push it back.

Let the people decide.

- You're not going to
intimidate me, Miss Boyer.

You may as well know that.

- You're not quitting?

- No, I don't quit.

- All right, then to put it
more tactfully for the press,

you're withdrawing.

- No, not on your life.

- But don't you understand?

We're talking about your life.

You can do an awful lot of
other things, worthwhile things,

you and your lovely family.

- Don't listen to her.

- You stay out of this.

If you don't withdraw,
Grant, you force me

to tell the people the truth,
that you are a sick man,

unable to fulfill the
responsibilities of his office.

I almost told
them this afternoon

when, fortunately for you,

I was interrupted by
a would-be assassin.

- Probably hired by you.

No professional
would miss you that far

unless he did it intentionally.

- Now you've gone too far.

I want you to get
out of here now.

- With pleasure.

- Get out.

- Hang in there,
Councilman, and don't give up.

(somber music)

- So you got canned, yeah?

- Hmm, yeah, she threw me out.

It would be funny if it
weren't so terrifying.

You realize she
could be elected.

- Probably will be.

- Here he comes.

(reporters yelling)

- Now we need an interview.

Councilman, come on, now please.

- Excuse me.

No comment.

- Councilman, come on.

What's the meaning
for the meeting in this?

Come on, Councilman,
please say something.

Would you please
give us a little bit here?

We need the news, come on.

- [Woman On Radio]
12-Y-51, code one.

- 12-Y-51, go ahead.

- 12-Y-51, on your
driver's license search,

we've got a hit.

Call your office
for the information.

- That's a roger.

- Here comes that Brennan lady.

- Listen, you follow her.

It's just a hunch,

but see if you can find out
who she's trying to contact.

- What, you're not coming?

- No, I got a call to make.

Alan?

It's Pepper Anderson.

Yeah, Pepper.

Would I kid you?

Of course it is.

How are you?

It's been a long
time, but not that long.

Listen, could I see
you, I mean, right away?

You haven't changed a bit.

No, it's very important.

Something's come up.

Yeah, I know the place.

10, 15 minutes?

I'll be wearing a carnation.

No, in my ear.

Okay, thanks a lot.

I'll see you there, bye.

(dramatic music)

- Do we follow her?

- Well, Pepper said we
should check on her contact.

She's coming now.

She's getting into the car.

- Let's go.

(suspenseful music)

- Police.

- Police.

Police! Hold it!

(dramatic music)

- [Amelia] So the
would-be assassin is dead?

- Killed by a truck.

Without him to
testify, it'll be tougher,

but I still think we'll
be able to prove

that your would-be assassin
was actually hired by you.

- I hired an
assassin to kill me?

- To miss you.

We dug that slug out
of the auditorium stage

a good five feet away from
where you were standing.

- You've been
listening to Anderson

and her wild accusation
that I hired my own assassin.

- This was in the
dead man's pocket.

Inside were $5,000.

Now we've been very
careful about the way

we handle this thing
because of the fingerprints.

They could be yours.

- Mine?

- Two police officers
saw you leave

the dead man's motel room

just a few minutes
before he was killed.

- Sergeant Crowley, I have
no idea what this is about.

In fact, I may call your chief

and complain about this outrage,

especially Pepper's behavior.

- You want me
to dial it for you?

- I told you to get
out and stay out.

- I realize that you could
carry this I am innocent routine

right through your campaign
and get yourself elected

and your terribly, terribly
bright twosome here

would go along with it.

So I brought some insurance.

Alan?

You remember Alan Hunter,
captain of the basketball team?

- Hello, Amy.

- What are you doing here?

- Pepper called me.

I told her the truth.

It was a relief after all
these years of feeling guilty.

- What are you talking about?

- My planting those supplies
in Beatrice May's locker.

At the time when
you asked me to do it,

I thought it was a joke.

I didn't know she'd
commit suicide over it.

- Why would I ask you to
do a stupid thing like that?

- Because you wanted to
win a high school election.

- We've got to make sure

you never do
anything like that again.

- Are you threatening me?

- In your own way, you
killed Beatrice May Jessie.

- That's a lie.

- And right now, you're
trying to make Ronald Grant

commit political suicide.

- He's already
committed political suicide.

Don't you understand?

He's weak.

Look at his record,
he's ineffective.

I'm strong, efficient.

You have to give
me credit for that.

And I can clear the
streets of the scum.

I can cure some of
society's worst evils.

- Amelia, your kind of cure
is worse than the disease.

- It is with deep sorrow and
after much soul searching

that I have decided to withdraw
from the city council race.

- Oh, don't quit, Amelia.

- One reason is
you can't live through

an attempted assassination
and feel the same.

But let me tell
you, I will run again,

and then I will do
everything in my power

to make our city a
city to be proud of.

So keep your faith.

We shall protect
our neighborhoods.

Thank you.

- Right, we'll do it, Amelia.

- That's called snatching
defeat from the jaws of victory.

You think she'll run again?

- Her?

Her kind has more
lives than a cat

and they always seem
to land on their feet.

- Well, why don't you drink up?

Come on over and help
me protect my neighborhood.

(whimsical music)

(jazzy big band music)