Police Woman (1974–1978): Season 4, Episode 7 - Merry Christmas Waldo - full transcript
In this remake of a "Police Story" episode from that show's first season (but with a different outcome), an old pensioner celebrates the Christmas season by robbing banks through trickery, usually donning a Santa suit and passing a note claiming he has an armed partner (or, in one case, getting a sidewalk Santa to stand by while he robs the bank in civilian clothes). The old man lives very quietly, except that he's a forceful advocate for the elderly. Pepper and Crowley begin to suspect that he's not pulling the robberies for himself, but to benefit other old people.
- Well, then I guess
I should tell you
that he caught a number
120 bus right outside the door.
- A city bus for a getaway car?
- At 2:46, he was
at the Melrose office,
and just about 10
minutes ago, he cleaned
out the central office.
- He hit the phone company?
- Now suppose I
were to take, say five
or $600 from each one?
Welcome to the Christmas club.
- Then to come home
and find this Santa.
- It's Christmas Eve, and
we just busted Santa Claus.
- Oh, thank you.
Merry Christmas.
- You're not getting much.
Oh, don't worry.
Excuse me.
Hello.
Welcome to the Christmas Club.
- Not what you'd call
your everyday type MO,
is it, sergeant?
Would you call it that?
Well, I gotta admit, he's
enterprising, captain.
I mean, three
banks in four hours,
that's some kind
of a record, isn't it?
- If you'll pardon my
saying so, Crowley,
I don't think you're
entirely in the spirit
of the thing here!
- Ah, well, what I
meant, captain...
- What we have
here is a little old man
in a Santa Claus suit
knockin' over banks.
Now, that's the way
folk heroes are born,
and that's what we're gonna have
on our hands unless
you take that thing
that you sit on, get
it down to that bank,
and solve this problem now!
- Yes, sir, right away.
- Be grateful, sergeant.
You know what they
expect me to do?
- What's that, sir?
- They want a feasibility report
so they can turn it down.
They expect me to go through...
Me?
It's your unit.
Uh captain, I want you
to understand that I'm no uh...
- Take it, it's all yours.
The bank first, then this.
- Bust Santa Claus.
- Yes, sir, right away.
You mean that this is his
first time out, this hot shot
just jumps out of nowhere.
You really believe that?
Oh, this is Sergeant
Pepper Anderson.
This is Special Agent...
- Of course, Ted, how
nice to see you.
- Good to see you.
- So what do you think,
Ted, could all this be one guy?
- Well, it almost
has to be, if you can
believe the eye wits.
He leaves in a hurry, and
he seems to leave alone.
We'll be working
together on this, won't we?
- All the way.
You want to go to a
party with us tonight?
- Great.
- What?
- McKnight's party.
Didn't he say Friday night?
This is Friday!
- It's next Friday.
So where's the note?
- Well, that's an
interesting point.
It's written on a letterhead,
Acme Door and
Hardware, St. Louis.
- A holdup note on a letterhead?
- Don't trouble yourself.
Our field office
says that firm went
out of business in 1947.
- So can we have a look at it?
- At the note?
Sorry, he seems to
have taken it along.
- Little old man?
- Well, not so little, actually.
He's about 5'11",
Caucasian, portly,
with crinkly eyes.
- Well, that narrows it down.
- You said he left in a hurry.
How, up the chimney?
- Banks don't have chimneys
these days, old sport.
Perhaps you've noticed.
- Well, actually, I'm
fussy about those
kind of details.
You know, this is why
I love working with you
FBI guys, you're
all so full of info.
You know what I mean?
- Well then I guess
I should tell you
that he caught a number 120
bus right outside the door here.
- He what?
- Why take the Bureau's
word for it, Crowley?
Check it out yourself.
- A city bus for a getaway car?
Look, whatever you can
tell us about him will help.
- Well, that depends.
If it's the fella I think it is,
he got right off again.
- Where?
- Well, let's see...
Must've been
the very next light.
I caught a red, sure,
that's what happened.
- Would you know where he went?
- Yeah.
If it's the fella
I'm thinkin' of,
he went into a bank.
- Wait a minute, now,
you were going south.
That would be the
California National.
- You keep saying if.
- Don't know why.
There's only one Santa Claus.
- California National,
they didn't get hit, did they?
- No, he just asked me
to change some bills.
He had a bunch of small
ones, asked for hundreds.
- Weren't new bills
by any chance?
- I presume you
mean the hundreds.
No.
If you're hoping for
consecutive numbers, I'm sorry.
They were random.
- Figures.
Do you remember
what he looked like?
- I remember his eyes.
They were unusual.
- Unusual in what way, I
mean, what do you mean?
- They twinkled, actually.
He had one $20 bill left over,
and he gave it to me.
I told him I can't accept tips.
He smiled and said, "What
about Christmas presents?"
- Well, he's no fool.
He could spend those
hundreds anywhere.
- Right, the lost
art of conversation.
You're absolutely
right about that, Harry.
Of course, listening is
an art, simply listening.
You know?
Of course, you know all
about those things, Harry.
That's why I value your opinion.
A pearl pendant
for Mrs. Volusia.
How about it, huh?
Suit her personality?
Come on, one way
or the other, out with it.
Oh, Harry, with a
vagueness like that,
you'd have a great
future in politics.
Did you ever think of running?
Did you ever think.
Well, don't.
It'll ruin all your chances.
Let's see, Mrs. Volusia.
Will you look at that?
When you look at all
the work I still have to do,
thank goodness it only
happens once a year.
Be generous, it's Christmas.
- Well?
- I, ah, I'm workin'
on it, captain.
- I have a smoking teletype.
- Reason to bore me?
- That tells us our
Santa has struck again.
- Oh, that's great,
I needed that.
- Department of Water
and Power this time,
and he has a pattern.
- Yeah?
- A good pattern.
You know how he worked it?
The 102 bus, see,
cleverly marked in red.
All the banks are on the
one line, one, two, three.
Hits a bank, catches a bus.
Hits a bank, catches a bus.
Three banks in four hours.
- So where is he now?
- As of 26 minutes
ago, he was right here,
so, if he follows
the pattern, all we
have to do is sit and wait.
- Gonna be that easy, huh?
- Who says it's only
the thought that counts?
- Really?
- What, does it take three
of you to watch this machine?
- I was watchin' them, actually.
- Pepper, listen, where
did you get that pattern?
How did you come up with that?
- We are supposed to
cooperate with the Bureau.
- Ted Felton?
- You had your nose
stuck in all those books.
- Oh, that's a lot of fun.
You talk like I got a choice.
- So what's wrong with Ted?
I mean, somebody had
to get on it, sergeant.
- Well then get on it, sergeant.
I mean, I'm assigning it to you.
To you.
Now, I don't want to
hear about this dude,
I don't want to bother
with him, just come up.
Listen, you just bring
me in Santa Claus, okay?
I got work to do.
- Whoa, bring me in Santa Claus.
Now, that's what I call
the Christmas spirit.
- 2:11, Department of
Water and Power, there it is.
Santa Claus, 1600 block Monroe.
Give me the map.
- Here.
- Oh.
- All right, so he started here,
so he's here, so he's here.
He got the 21 bus
line north to uh,
what's north of here, Joe?
- Well, DWP has an office
on Sixth Street, 2800 block.
- So can we do it?
Can we get there before he does?
- 12Y51.
- 12Y51, go ahead.
- Well, the 21 bus
just came and went
and no Santa Claus.
- Well, let's see
then, the next one
is due in 15 minutes.
Keep an eye out.
- Tell me, friend,
did you ever think
of working that place in there?
- You kidding?
They won't give
me a nickel, man.
Them people in there
is paying their bills.
- Look, I'm in the
same business myself.
I'm gonna tell you
something funny
about those people in there.
They have got to find
something to do with the change.
You dig?
- 12Y51.
- Yes, go ahead.
- Something's
happenin' out here.
- Got you 12Y52.
I see him.
May I help you?
- Oh, definitely.
- What's he doing,
G2-ing the joint?
- It isn't right, Joe.
That's not his MO.
It just can't be.
6 Adam 18 and all units
in the vicinity, a 211
silent at the DWP,
2800 block Sixth, code two.
- 6 Adam 18 responding.
We're right on it.
6 Adam 18 roger.
- Oh, I beg your pardon.
Merry Christmas.
- 51, what the hell is
going on around here?
- What's the matter?
What's happening?
They blew it.
- Grab him!
Stop him, somebody stop him!
Him!
Him right there!
No, not him!
The other man!
- What other man?
I'll take this one,
you take that one.
Crowley's gonna love this.
- Gonna be easy,
huh, just sit and wait.
- It was such a
clear pattern, Bill.
- That's right, a
dummy's pattern.
- Okay, so he's not a dummy.
- Uh huh, well, you think
I'm gonna rub it in, don't you?
You think I'm gonna
give you a bad time
just because you
stood there and you
watched a suspect pull
a 211 right in front of ya,
and then you let him get away.
Well, I tell ya,
just to prove to you
what kind of a guy I am,
just to show you how
you've misjudged me,
I'm gonna go back
to my paperwork
and leave the whole thing
in your hands, sergeant.
- Has he seen it yet?
- You haven't seen
it yet, have you?
- You mean this?
They tell me this is
the best of the bunch.
Let's hope it's a good likeness.
- What time does
the bomb go off?
- You see, that's what I
mean about being misjudged.
Now, where you going?
- I'm leaving before you
become violent, my friend.
- Me too.
- Uh huh, uh huh.
Listen, did you
think about getting
a blow up of this made?
- Yeah.
- Say listen, what ever
happened to good old Ted Felton?
- DWP is out of his
jurisdiction, remember?
I'll see if I can
get Santa to hit
another bank, okay?
- It's kinda hard to
tell anything from that.
I mean, that could be anybody.
- I know, but even a
general resemblance.
Early 60s, portly, about 5'11".
- There's only one
guy I can think of.
He's a regular.
I don't mean every
day, but he always uses
the same stop, you know?
- To be perfectly
honest, I can't really say.
- But you did get a
good look at the suspect?
- It's the strangest thing.
I was perfectly
calm at the time.
I remember him
standing right over there.
But afterwards...
He didn't even
have a gun, did he?
- Let me ask you
this, can you definitely
rule this man out?
- No.
I can't say that.
- Then it is possible.
What if I brought him in,
say, stood him right here?
- Tell you what I remember,
quite clearly, in fact.
His tie.
I could identify that.
- Yeah.
- So what's he's up to?
- Comparing prices.
He's been doing
that on everything.
Hello, Mr. Mims.
What'll it be today?
- Well, uh, I think a
dozen eggs'll do it.
- Yes, sir...
- Oh, wait, wait.
Is that price correct?
- Yes, sir, Mr. Mims.
It went up just yesterday.
It never lets up, does it?
You better make it half a dozen.
- Q. Waldo Mims, Q for Quincy.
He's living on $316 a
month Social Security
and a small pension
from a firm in St. Louis,
not the one on the note.
He's got $129 in
savings, period.
So why are we chasing this guy?
- But you did say St. Louis.
- Bill, this Santa
Claus guy, I mean,
just so far this
week has ripped off,
well, almost 5,000 bucks.
That poor Mims hasn't
got a spare nickel.
- It seems mighty
strange to me, really.
- Could this be him?
- Sure and 600 other guys.
- Yeah, okay.
I can see I'm askin'
too much of you guys.
I mean, why trouble yourselves.
Why don't you just
write up the report
and turn it into Barnes?
Maybe that'll improve
your standing around here,
or is there something
else you maybe
can dream up to do?
- There's no way we're
gonna see in there.
All he's got is those
two little dinky windows.
- Really?
- I guess we better
go around the back.
- You said the angle was lousy.
- Ordinarily that's
true, but with the agility
my partner has here, uh...
Are you sure you
want to do this?
Well, nobody can
say I'm not motivated.
- You know, I'd do
it myself if I didn't
have my lucky break.
- I appreciate
that, Peter, but I've
always wanted to fly.
- Just take it easy
now, really, will ya?
- Okay.
Ah!
12Y51.
- Go ahead.
- Pepper, you better
get over here right away.
- Oh, Joseph, icky poo.
- You're not gonna believe this.
- I already don't believe it.
- No, I mean it.
I saw something on the way down.
- What are you talking about?
- I'm talkin' about Mims.
Look, I went right past
the window, didn't I?
I wasn't gonna waste it.
- Well, what did
you see, quick eyes?
- I saw a Santa Claus suit,
and Mims was puttin' it on.
- Hot damn, all of a
sudden he's lookin' good.
- Merry Christmas.
- Okay, what the hell is this?
- Take a look yourself.
See it?
- What's the matter
with you, Joe?
- Nothin', nothin' at all.
- See, Mims shows
up in a Santa suit,
gets on a bus,
goes to the florist,
buys that bouquet of
flowers, gets on another bus,
and gets off here.
So what?
That's not exactly a bank
or anything over there.
It looks like a bunch
of rooming houses.
See now, that's an
astute observation.
That's why he's
running things, and we're
a bunch of peons.
Hey, hey, hey.
Well, I suppose that
tells us something.
Well, what is he
gonna do, rip her off?
Yeah, really.
She's got money
written all over her.
- You never know about
those little old ladies.
Sometimes they might have
30 thou under the mattress.
- I just saw him.
I just saw him go
through that door in there.
- Are you sure?
- How many Santa Clauses
we got working the building?
- Wait a minute, it's
my turn to kick the door.
- No, no, no, no, you, last
week you kicked the door.
Don't you remember that?
- He kicked it.
- Hold it right there.
- Something I can do for you?
- Oh boy.
What am I doing here?
- We're police officers.
- Police?
Ho ho.
Oh, my conscience.
I thought it was a stick up.
Ho ho, you know, not
meaning any offense,
but look at the two of them.
- Santa.
- How did you get
in here, Mr. Mims?
- Oh, you know my name.
Well, that's reassuring.
The local fuzz is on the ball.
- Uh, you slipped the lock?
- What, that old thing?
I could whistle that open.
No, I used to be a locksmith.
- Than you admit you broke in.
- Well, yes.
- Okay, that's it, let's go.
- I'll get your bag.
- Oh, oh, my God.
She's back early.
- Who?
- The lady who lives here.
Now, you're not gonna like this,
but we're gonna have to go
down that fire escape right now!
- Like hell, come
on, Mims, let's...
- There is no
time to discuss it.
She'll be here any second.
- So what?
- Use your eyes, will you woman?
What you're
looking at is charity.
- You mean, you did all this?
- Yes, and if Mrs.
Volusia finds out about it,
she'll be horrified to the core.
Don't you understand,
this is the one
way to help her that
she cannot refuse.
Please, she'll be
here any moment!
- This turkey talks like
he's out of his gourd.
- She's a proud
and spirited woman
trying to live on her
Social Security check,
which everybody
knows is impossible.
She has nothing for herself.
You can see that.
Please, can we start?
- We're not goin'
out the window.
Now, when we leave,
we're going by the front door.
- Here, you see that?
It's cat food.
She's 76 years of
age, and this is what
she has to eat to stay alive.
Twice a week, it's
all she can afford.
- Bill, there's a lady
comin' up the steps now.
- Oh.
Oh.
- So what are you,
the Easter Bunny?
- You know, you're
being very unreasonable.
I have receipts for
every single article
I brought into that room.
- You're gonna have
to come up with 'em too.
I guess you know that.
- You still haven't answered
the question, Mr. Mims.
- Three banks in four hours
and then three of those other...
- Department of Water
and Power offices.
- Yeah, I don't see
how a man could
move that fast.
A 23-year-old
kid couldn't do it.
And look at me, I'm 73.
- Where did you get the
money for all those gifts?
- Oh, I have resources.
- Yeah, I know, 316 a month.
- We're gonna
have to take a look
at those receipts and
see what they add up to.
- You know, we really
are an extravagant
nation, are we not?
You know, if anything
gets the least bit shabby,
whoopee, we throw it away.
And, you know,
people get shabby too.
Anything over 65 gets junked.
- Did you pull the
job, Mr. Mims?
- You're telling
us that you did it.
- Oh, I don't know.
You see, it is not
my job to answer
questions like that.
That's your job.
- Mine?
- That's what we
pay you for, isn't it?
Huh?
We, the taxpayers?
- You see how it's gonna be.
- Mr. Mims, let's
knock off the chit chat.
Time is pretty
valuable around here.
- Oh, sure, I can
understand that.
- She's serious, Mr. Mims.
- Oh, she is.
All right then,
let's all get serious.
Did you have a
warrant when you came
busting in to that room there?
Did you identify yourself
and announce your intentions?
Did you read me my rights
before you took me into custody?
You have a case, file it.
File it now or let me go,
because if you try to hassle me
with 48 hours in the bucket,
I'll write a 181 on you that'll
melt you right
down to the ground
and you too, Sergeant Crowley.
You and those hinky
looking dudes you
brought into that room.
I'll go right on from
there into false arrest,
malicious prosecution and
everything else that applies.
No hard feelings, I hope.
- Well, we were
holding our own in there.
I'd say it came out about 50-50.
Gonna behave yourself now?
- Certainly not.
- Bet you don't have that
feasibility report, either.
Oh boy.
- Now then, sergeant,
I find I'm confused.
The manager said
something about a commotion.
- Yes, we got
word that there was
a prowler in the building.
- Ah, I see, a prowler.
- In this room, in fact.
- Well, I guess there was.
My dear, I don't care
how tough you are.
It's hard to keep
going sometimes.
When there's but
one check a month
and only four walls,
you can get the feeling,
especially at
night, a feeling that
no one on this earth
really knows you're alive,
much less cares.
And then to come
home and find this Santa,
this, whoever he
is, or perhaps she.
Well, who knows what I
might've come to otherwise?
But there's no doubt
about it, sergeant,
and I mean this, he's gotten me
through the last three years.
- Three years he's
been doing this?
Okay, that's our
answer, now we got him.
- How do you figure that?
- He's got a pattern!
Then he breaks
the pattern, it's okay,
it's all right there
in the computer.
We just have to go dig it out.
Look, older people got habits,
deep ingrained habits.
We just use it against him.
- Just like that.
- Well, no, not just like that,
but it's all there,
Pep, it's all there
right in the computer.
All we gotta do is dig it out
and wait for him to come to us.
- If he's been at
this for three years,
how come we only
found out about it now?
- Right.
- You know, I'm glad
you asked me that, Pete,
because that shows interest,
and interest shows motivation.
So you two get down and
stand in the computer line.
I want you to punch
in everything we know,
age, MO, the whole business.
When you get the right
answer, come back.
I'll be right here.
Let's hope, kid.
- I see a young man
getting off, a woman,
two kids, no Mims.
- What are you
shaking your head for?
- It just bothers me.
- Why, because he's
giving the loot away?
Oh fine, Merry
Christmas and all that.
Except first he steals it.
- I know.
- Okay then.
- I wonder how many
he's got on his list,
how many hungry old
people like Mrs. Volusia.
- What's the difference?
- Just suppose right now,
today, we catch him, dead bang.
- Well then, we'll be
looking good for a change.
- And suppose he's
got, maybe he's still got
like five old ladies to go.
What happens to them?
- Oh boy, you're really gonna
give me trouble, aren't you?
Huh?
- What happens to them, Bill?
You weren't there, Bill.
You weren't there to
see the look on her face,
to hear the
emotion in her voice.
You don't even know
what I'm talking about.
- You think I'm gonna get a
kick out of busting this guy?
I mean, you would
think I really want
to grab some old guy
like that off the street
and throw him in the jail?
I mean, there are a lot
of rotten people in that jail!
- But don't you think this
is just a little different?
I mean, this time,
this one man is just
a little tiny bit more
human than the usual
scum we run into?
- Listen, let's get
something straight, Pepper.
I mean, suppose he
turns around right now
and he pulls a heist.
Suppose we see him
and catch him dirty.
What are you gonna do?
- Bust him.
That's what I'm
gonna do, bust him.
- I don't think I believe you.
- What?
- Well, what do you
expect me to believe?
Pepper...
- Mims.
Where is he?
Where is he?
- We lost him.
That's great.
Losing a suspect.
That's no big deal, sergeant.
It happens all the time.
Sure, it happens to me.
Everybody does it, right?
- That's right, captain.
- What time would you say it was
when you last saw him?
2:30.
- 2:30, well, he shouldn't
be too hard to locate.
Why don't you run on
down to the phone company?
- The what?
- Phone company.
At 2:46, he was at
the Melrose office,
at 3:19 the Lake Street office,
and just about 10 minutes
ago, he was at Sixth and Main,
where he cleaned
out the central office.
- He hit the phone company?
- Yes, that's right.
But I'm a grown
man, and a grown man
shouldn't let a little
thing like that bother him.
- We're in trouble.
- Trouble?
No, sergeant, you too,
Anderson, you're not in trouble.
You're our top unit.
You had the suspect
under close surveillance,
and he pulled off three
robberies right under your nose.
Three!
Nah, you're not in trouble.
Except with me and the chief
and now the phone company!
- Hmm, all right, a little
snow would be nice.
- Morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Merry Christmas.
- Please, I don't
want to see one.
- Oh, come on, Pep,
don't be that way.
It's Christmas Eve.
- This hour of the
morning, to me, it's just
another work day as
far as I'm concerned.
- Moody on Christmas?
Pepper, that's not nice.
- What do you know, it's us.
- What is?
- Joe had an idea, so we
fed it into the computer.
It's Christmas Eve, right?
The way it looks is,
Mims always saves
one last shot for Christmas Eve.
The thing is, where or
when can we predict it?
- Mims, pattern established.
Final operation
December 24 corresponds
to location number four,
initial day of operation.
Who wrote this, a lawyer?
- The computer, come on,
come on, read the rest of it.
- Pattern projection based
on operations previous
indicates California National
Bank, Fifth and Union.
- That's it then, California
National, Fifth and Union.
I think we got him.
What are you talking about?
- I keep telling you
that older people
are creatures of habit, right?
California National,
remember the teller
kept talking about Mims' eyes,
how they twinkled and all...
- Yes, I know, so he
exchanged some money there.
So what?
- But that's the pattern, babe.
Today, he goes back
and he knocks it off!
- Today is Christmas Eve.
- I think we got him.
- You know what, I think so too.
- Let's do it.
- Let's do it.
Come on.
- 12Y50, this is 12Y52.
Bill, he just split.
His ETA is about three
minutes to your location.
- Okay, 52, we read you.
You heard what
they said, let's go.
We're reasonably certain that
there won't be any shooting.
- He isn't armed, Mr. Somers.
He just uses that note.
- Still, I don't know.
Just letting him
walk in here like that.
What if there's trouble?
- I can assure you,
we're not gonna attempt
anything in here.
We have men outside.
We'll let him go
outside with the cash,
and then we'll grab him there.
- Well, all right.
I'm sure you know
what you're doing.
12Y50.
- Yeah, Pete?
- He's comin' in the bank.
- Listen, we can cover
the other exit from here,
so everything's cool.
- Okay.
- May I help somebody?
- 12Y52.
- Yeah, Bill?
- Mims just got in line.
Looks like his wandering
days are just about over.
- All right.
- This is your bust.
You should be feeling
pretty good right now.
- Just make sure you
put the cuffs on him.
Count me out.
- Thank you and
a Merry Christmas.
May I help you?
You sure may.
Well, I'm afraid I must've
lost my withdrawal slip.
I'm sorry.
- He forgot the note.
He forgot the note!
- Well, sit tight.
He'll write another one.
- Old guys like that
they get superstitious.
Geez, how could
he forget the note?
How could he do
a thing like that?
- Well, don't
take it personally!
- 12Y52, he's comin' out.
- What?
- I said let him walk.
He forgot the note.
The old thief forgot his note!
- What did he say?
- The old dink forgot the note.
- That's the second
time he's transferred.
He's not going home.
He's going the other way.
- Listen, you guys dog him.
I know I should talk,
but just don't lose him.
You hear me?
- We got you, William.
- What's the matter?
He got away, didn't he?
- The note.
Bill, if he forgot it...
- Yeah, what?
- Well, if he forgot
it, it could still be
in his room, couldn't it?
- You know, it just could be.
We'd never get
a warrant, though.
It's Christmas Eve.
Who could find a judge
on Christmas Eve?
Even if we could, he
wouldn't talk business.
- Well then, we'll just have
to wait'll next year, won't we?
- I'll find the judge.
- That must be his wife.
Wonder what happened to her.
- Suppose they had any kids?
- No, there'd be pictures.
Lieutenant Q.W. Mims.
He was a flyer in
the First World War.
- Look at this.
Remember in Mrs. Volusia's
room, the day we busted him,
he had three names to go.
- Hmm, looks like we kind
of loused up his schedule.
- 36 names here all together.
Look, he's all through,
everything's crossed off the list.
- So what's with the
California National Bank?
- Yeah, what?
- That's the third
bus that went by.
What's he waiting for?
He's not gonna
believe what you're
gettin' ready to tell him.
Yeah, sure.
- That's right, Bill.
That's just what I
said, a chauffer-driven,
white convertible Rolls Royce.
How about that, huh?
- Pete, what did you expect,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
Just stay with him, would you?
- Creature of habit, huh?
- Yeah, you just keep digging.
- Bill, there's no note.
- Just dig a little
deeper, Pepper.
It's gotta be here somewhere.
- Scrooge!
- I hate to admit it, Pep,
but Waldo's done it to us.
He's licked us.
- Well, 12Y50.
12Y50.
12Y50?
- It's Pepper.
- Well, Pep, we ran
a check on the plates,
and the Rolls is rented.
He's down here at the
wholesale market now
filling it up with food baskets.
- How's he paying for it?
- A very good question.
- Check it out, see
what you can find.
- You know what I
keep thinking about?
When I was a kid,
I read a story called
The Purloined
Letter, where this guy
takes a letter and
he puts it a mantel,
right in front, in plain sight.
Tells the other guy it's hidden,
but it was always
there, right in plain sight.
- I've looked
everywhere so have you.
Can't even find the cat.
- Like I said, I think we're
just kidding ourselves.
- It's just an idea.
Oh no.
- That's what I
call hard evidence.
Okay, that's the ballgame.
Let's go pick him up.
- You're gonna love this, Billy.
- Are they inside?
- Yup.
- Okay, you guys
want to take the back?
Let's go.
There you are, Happy Christmas.
- God bless you.
God bless you, dear.
And here you are, sir.
Merry Christmas.
- Yes, yes, same to you.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas, dear.
- Thank you very much.
♪ Silent night, holy night ♪
- Merry Christmas
to you, my dear.
And a Merry
Christmas to you also.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, darling.
Merry Christmas, sir.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, dear.
And a Merry.
So I did leave it at home, hmm?
- Would you like to step
outside with us, please?
- That's beautiful, man.
It's Christmas Eve, and
we just busted Santa Claus.
♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪
- Right over here, Mr. Mims.
- Oh, please, sergeant,
why not a little style?
After all, it's paid
for until midnight.
- You see ah...
- Right, Mr. Mims, come on.
Why not?
- Okay, why not?
- Good, good.
Justin, will you
give me those gifts?
This is a quaint little
custom, you know,
matching wassail cups.
After all, it's the season.
Sergeant, that's yours.
Here, my dear.
- Thank you very much.
- Uh, Mr. Mims, I
can't accept this.
- Oh, it's paid for with
good honest money.
- Bill, you're not gonna say
no to Santa Claus, are you?
- That's not the point, Pete.
You know the rules.
- Bill, it's Christmas Eve.
- Thank you, Mr. Mims.
- Good, good, and,
gentlemen, here are yours.
- Thank you very much, Mr. Mims.
- Thank you, Mr. Mims,
and Merry Christmas to you.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas
to both of you.
- Pete, would you get my car
back to the garage, please?
- Now, oh, about the car,
it really was a necessity.
If these people didn't
think I was very wealthy,
they wouldn't have
accepted the gifts.
And it was kind of you
not to blow my cover.
Now I can come
back again next year.
- Next year?
- Yes!
Oh my dear, what jury
would convict a nice
little old man like me, huh?
- Faith in blind justice.
- Merry Christmas, Waldo.
- Merry Christmas.
I should tell you
that he caught a number
120 bus right outside the door.
- A city bus for a getaway car?
- At 2:46, he was
at the Melrose office,
and just about 10
minutes ago, he cleaned
out the central office.
- He hit the phone company?
- Now suppose I
were to take, say five
or $600 from each one?
Welcome to the Christmas club.
- Then to come home
and find this Santa.
- It's Christmas Eve, and
we just busted Santa Claus.
- Oh, thank you.
Merry Christmas.
- You're not getting much.
Oh, don't worry.
Excuse me.
Hello.
Welcome to the Christmas Club.
- Not what you'd call
your everyday type MO,
is it, sergeant?
Would you call it that?
Well, I gotta admit, he's
enterprising, captain.
I mean, three
banks in four hours,
that's some kind
of a record, isn't it?
- If you'll pardon my
saying so, Crowley,
I don't think you're
entirely in the spirit
of the thing here!
- Ah, well, what I
meant, captain...
- What we have
here is a little old man
in a Santa Claus suit
knockin' over banks.
Now, that's the way
folk heroes are born,
and that's what we're gonna have
on our hands unless
you take that thing
that you sit on, get
it down to that bank,
and solve this problem now!
- Yes, sir, right away.
- Be grateful, sergeant.
You know what they
expect me to do?
- What's that, sir?
- They want a feasibility report
so they can turn it down.
They expect me to go through...
Me?
It's your unit.
Uh captain, I want you
to understand that I'm no uh...
- Take it, it's all yours.
The bank first, then this.
- Bust Santa Claus.
- Yes, sir, right away.
You mean that this is his
first time out, this hot shot
just jumps out of nowhere.
You really believe that?
Oh, this is Sergeant
Pepper Anderson.
This is Special Agent...
- Of course, Ted, how
nice to see you.
- Good to see you.
- So what do you think,
Ted, could all this be one guy?
- Well, it almost
has to be, if you can
believe the eye wits.
He leaves in a hurry, and
he seems to leave alone.
We'll be working
together on this, won't we?
- All the way.
You want to go to a
party with us tonight?
- Great.
- What?
- McKnight's party.
Didn't he say Friday night?
This is Friday!
- It's next Friday.
So where's the note?
- Well, that's an
interesting point.
It's written on a letterhead,
Acme Door and
Hardware, St. Louis.
- A holdup note on a letterhead?
- Don't trouble yourself.
Our field office
says that firm went
out of business in 1947.
- So can we have a look at it?
- At the note?
Sorry, he seems to
have taken it along.
- Little old man?
- Well, not so little, actually.
He's about 5'11",
Caucasian, portly,
with crinkly eyes.
- Well, that narrows it down.
- You said he left in a hurry.
How, up the chimney?
- Banks don't have chimneys
these days, old sport.
Perhaps you've noticed.
- Well, actually, I'm
fussy about those
kind of details.
You know, this is why
I love working with you
FBI guys, you're
all so full of info.
You know what I mean?
- Well then I guess
I should tell you
that he caught a number 120
bus right outside the door here.
- He what?
- Why take the Bureau's
word for it, Crowley?
Check it out yourself.
- A city bus for a getaway car?
Look, whatever you can
tell us about him will help.
- Well, that depends.
If it's the fella I think it is,
he got right off again.
- Where?
- Well, let's see...
Must've been
the very next light.
I caught a red, sure,
that's what happened.
- Would you know where he went?
- Yeah.
If it's the fella
I'm thinkin' of,
he went into a bank.
- Wait a minute, now,
you were going south.
That would be the
California National.
- You keep saying if.
- Don't know why.
There's only one Santa Claus.
- California National,
they didn't get hit, did they?
- No, he just asked me
to change some bills.
He had a bunch of small
ones, asked for hundreds.
- Weren't new bills
by any chance?
- I presume you
mean the hundreds.
No.
If you're hoping for
consecutive numbers, I'm sorry.
They were random.
- Figures.
Do you remember
what he looked like?
- I remember his eyes.
They were unusual.
- Unusual in what way, I
mean, what do you mean?
- They twinkled, actually.
He had one $20 bill left over,
and he gave it to me.
I told him I can't accept tips.
He smiled and said, "What
about Christmas presents?"
- Well, he's no fool.
He could spend those
hundreds anywhere.
- Right, the lost
art of conversation.
You're absolutely
right about that, Harry.
Of course, listening is
an art, simply listening.
You know?
Of course, you know all
about those things, Harry.
That's why I value your opinion.
A pearl pendant
for Mrs. Volusia.
How about it, huh?
Suit her personality?
Come on, one way
or the other, out with it.
Oh, Harry, with a
vagueness like that,
you'd have a great
future in politics.
Did you ever think of running?
Did you ever think.
Well, don't.
It'll ruin all your chances.
Let's see, Mrs. Volusia.
Will you look at that?
When you look at all
the work I still have to do,
thank goodness it only
happens once a year.
Be generous, it's Christmas.
- Well?
- I, ah, I'm workin'
on it, captain.
- I have a smoking teletype.
- Reason to bore me?
- That tells us our
Santa has struck again.
- Oh, that's great,
I needed that.
- Department of Water
and Power this time,
and he has a pattern.
- Yeah?
- A good pattern.
You know how he worked it?
The 102 bus, see,
cleverly marked in red.
All the banks are on the
one line, one, two, three.
Hits a bank, catches a bus.
Hits a bank, catches a bus.
Three banks in four hours.
- So where is he now?
- As of 26 minutes
ago, he was right here,
so, if he follows
the pattern, all we
have to do is sit and wait.
- Gonna be that easy, huh?
- Who says it's only
the thought that counts?
- Really?
- What, does it take three
of you to watch this machine?
- I was watchin' them, actually.
- Pepper, listen, where
did you get that pattern?
How did you come up with that?
- We are supposed to
cooperate with the Bureau.
- Ted Felton?
- You had your nose
stuck in all those books.
- Oh, that's a lot of fun.
You talk like I got a choice.
- So what's wrong with Ted?
I mean, somebody had
to get on it, sergeant.
- Well then get on it, sergeant.
I mean, I'm assigning it to you.
To you.
Now, I don't want to
hear about this dude,
I don't want to bother
with him, just come up.
Listen, you just bring
me in Santa Claus, okay?
I got work to do.
- Whoa, bring me in Santa Claus.
Now, that's what I call
the Christmas spirit.
- 2:11, Department of
Water and Power, there it is.
Santa Claus, 1600 block Monroe.
Give me the map.
- Here.
- Oh.
- All right, so he started here,
so he's here, so he's here.
He got the 21 bus
line north to uh,
what's north of here, Joe?
- Well, DWP has an office
on Sixth Street, 2800 block.
- So can we do it?
Can we get there before he does?
- 12Y51.
- 12Y51, go ahead.
- Well, the 21 bus
just came and went
and no Santa Claus.
- Well, let's see
then, the next one
is due in 15 minutes.
Keep an eye out.
- Tell me, friend,
did you ever think
of working that place in there?
- You kidding?
They won't give
me a nickel, man.
Them people in there
is paying their bills.
- Look, I'm in the
same business myself.
I'm gonna tell you
something funny
about those people in there.
They have got to find
something to do with the change.
You dig?
- 12Y51.
- Yes, go ahead.
- Something's
happenin' out here.
- Got you 12Y52.
I see him.
May I help you?
- Oh, definitely.
- What's he doing,
G2-ing the joint?
- It isn't right, Joe.
That's not his MO.
It just can't be.
6 Adam 18 and all units
in the vicinity, a 211
silent at the DWP,
2800 block Sixth, code two.
- 6 Adam 18 responding.
We're right on it.
6 Adam 18 roger.
- Oh, I beg your pardon.
Merry Christmas.
- 51, what the hell is
going on around here?
- What's the matter?
What's happening?
They blew it.
- Grab him!
Stop him, somebody stop him!
Him!
Him right there!
No, not him!
The other man!
- What other man?
I'll take this one,
you take that one.
Crowley's gonna love this.
- Gonna be easy,
huh, just sit and wait.
- It was such a
clear pattern, Bill.
- That's right, a
dummy's pattern.
- Okay, so he's not a dummy.
- Uh huh, well, you think
I'm gonna rub it in, don't you?
You think I'm gonna
give you a bad time
just because you
stood there and you
watched a suspect pull
a 211 right in front of ya,
and then you let him get away.
Well, I tell ya,
just to prove to you
what kind of a guy I am,
just to show you how
you've misjudged me,
I'm gonna go back
to my paperwork
and leave the whole thing
in your hands, sergeant.
- Has he seen it yet?
- You haven't seen
it yet, have you?
- You mean this?
They tell me this is
the best of the bunch.
Let's hope it's a good likeness.
- What time does
the bomb go off?
- You see, that's what I
mean about being misjudged.
Now, where you going?
- I'm leaving before you
become violent, my friend.
- Me too.
- Uh huh, uh huh.
Listen, did you
think about getting
a blow up of this made?
- Yeah.
- Say listen, what ever
happened to good old Ted Felton?
- DWP is out of his
jurisdiction, remember?
I'll see if I can
get Santa to hit
another bank, okay?
- It's kinda hard to
tell anything from that.
I mean, that could be anybody.
- I know, but even a
general resemblance.
Early 60s, portly, about 5'11".
- There's only one
guy I can think of.
He's a regular.
I don't mean every
day, but he always uses
the same stop, you know?
- To be perfectly
honest, I can't really say.
- But you did get a
good look at the suspect?
- It's the strangest thing.
I was perfectly
calm at the time.
I remember him
standing right over there.
But afterwards...
He didn't even
have a gun, did he?
- Let me ask you
this, can you definitely
rule this man out?
- No.
I can't say that.
- Then it is possible.
What if I brought him in,
say, stood him right here?
- Tell you what I remember,
quite clearly, in fact.
His tie.
I could identify that.
- Yeah.
- So what's he's up to?
- Comparing prices.
He's been doing
that on everything.
Hello, Mr. Mims.
What'll it be today?
- Well, uh, I think a
dozen eggs'll do it.
- Yes, sir...
- Oh, wait, wait.
Is that price correct?
- Yes, sir, Mr. Mims.
It went up just yesterday.
It never lets up, does it?
You better make it half a dozen.
- Q. Waldo Mims, Q for Quincy.
He's living on $316 a
month Social Security
and a small pension
from a firm in St. Louis,
not the one on the note.
He's got $129 in
savings, period.
So why are we chasing this guy?
- But you did say St. Louis.
- Bill, this Santa
Claus guy, I mean,
just so far this
week has ripped off,
well, almost 5,000 bucks.
That poor Mims hasn't
got a spare nickel.
- It seems mighty
strange to me, really.
- Could this be him?
- Sure and 600 other guys.
- Yeah, okay.
I can see I'm askin'
too much of you guys.
I mean, why trouble yourselves.
Why don't you just
write up the report
and turn it into Barnes?
Maybe that'll improve
your standing around here,
or is there something
else you maybe
can dream up to do?
- There's no way we're
gonna see in there.
All he's got is those
two little dinky windows.
- Really?
- I guess we better
go around the back.
- You said the angle was lousy.
- Ordinarily that's
true, but with the agility
my partner has here, uh...
Are you sure you
want to do this?
Well, nobody can
say I'm not motivated.
- You know, I'd do
it myself if I didn't
have my lucky break.
- I appreciate
that, Peter, but I've
always wanted to fly.
- Just take it easy
now, really, will ya?
- Okay.
Ah!
12Y51.
- Go ahead.
- Pepper, you better
get over here right away.
- Oh, Joseph, icky poo.
- You're not gonna believe this.
- I already don't believe it.
- No, I mean it.
I saw something on the way down.
- What are you talking about?
- I'm talkin' about Mims.
Look, I went right past
the window, didn't I?
I wasn't gonna waste it.
- Well, what did
you see, quick eyes?
- I saw a Santa Claus suit,
and Mims was puttin' it on.
- Hot damn, all of a
sudden he's lookin' good.
- Merry Christmas.
- Okay, what the hell is this?
- Take a look yourself.
See it?
- What's the matter
with you, Joe?
- Nothin', nothin' at all.
- See, Mims shows
up in a Santa suit,
gets on a bus,
goes to the florist,
buys that bouquet of
flowers, gets on another bus,
and gets off here.
So what?
That's not exactly a bank
or anything over there.
It looks like a bunch
of rooming houses.
See now, that's an
astute observation.
That's why he's
running things, and we're
a bunch of peons.
Hey, hey, hey.
Well, I suppose that
tells us something.
Well, what is he
gonna do, rip her off?
Yeah, really.
She's got money
written all over her.
- You never know about
those little old ladies.
Sometimes they might have
30 thou under the mattress.
- I just saw him.
I just saw him go
through that door in there.
- Are you sure?
- How many Santa Clauses
we got working the building?
- Wait a minute, it's
my turn to kick the door.
- No, no, no, no, you, last
week you kicked the door.
Don't you remember that?
- He kicked it.
- Hold it right there.
- Something I can do for you?
- Oh boy.
What am I doing here?
- We're police officers.
- Police?
Ho ho.
Oh, my conscience.
I thought it was a stick up.
Ho ho, you know, not
meaning any offense,
but look at the two of them.
- Santa.
- How did you get
in here, Mr. Mims?
- Oh, you know my name.
Well, that's reassuring.
The local fuzz is on the ball.
- Uh, you slipped the lock?
- What, that old thing?
I could whistle that open.
No, I used to be a locksmith.
- Than you admit you broke in.
- Well, yes.
- Okay, that's it, let's go.
- I'll get your bag.
- Oh, oh, my God.
She's back early.
- Who?
- The lady who lives here.
Now, you're not gonna like this,
but we're gonna have to go
down that fire escape right now!
- Like hell, come
on, Mims, let's...
- There is no
time to discuss it.
She'll be here any second.
- So what?
- Use your eyes, will you woman?
What you're
looking at is charity.
- You mean, you did all this?
- Yes, and if Mrs.
Volusia finds out about it,
she'll be horrified to the core.
Don't you understand,
this is the one
way to help her that
she cannot refuse.
Please, she'll be
here any moment!
- This turkey talks like
he's out of his gourd.
- She's a proud
and spirited woman
trying to live on her
Social Security check,
which everybody
knows is impossible.
She has nothing for herself.
You can see that.
Please, can we start?
- We're not goin'
out the window.
Now, when we leave,
we're going by the front door.
- Here, you see that?
It's cat food.
She's 76 years of
age, and this is what
she has to eat to stay alive.
Twice a week, it's
all she can afford.
- Bill, there's a lady
comin' up the steps now.
- Oh.
Oh.
- So what are you,
the Easter Bunny?
- You know, you're
being very unreasonable.
I have receipts for
every single article
I brought into that room.
- You're gonna have
to come up with 'em too.
I guess you know that.
- You still haven't answered
the question, Mr. Mims.
- Three banks in four hours
and then three of those other...
- Department of Water
and Power offices.
- Yeah, I don't see
how a man could
move that fast.
A 23-year-old
kid couldn't do it.
And look at me, I'm 73.
- Where did you get the
money for all those gifts?
- Oh, I have resources.
- Yeah, I know, 316 a month.
- We're gonna
have to take a look
at those receipts and
see what they add up to.
- You know, we really
are an extravagant
nation, are we not?
You know, if anything
gets the least bit shabby,
whoopee, we throw it away.
And, you know,
people get shabby too.
Anything over 65 gets junked.
- Did you pull the
job, Mr. Mims?
- You're telling
us that you did it.
- Oh, I don't know.
You see, it is not
my job to answer
questions like that.
That's your job.
- Mine?
- That's what we
pay you for, isn't it?
Huh?
We, the taxpayers?
- You see how it's gonna be.
- Mr. Mims, let's
knock off the chit chat.
Time is pretty
valuable around here.
- Oh, sure, I can
understand that.
- She's serious, Mr. Mims.
- Oh, she is.
All right then,
let's all get serious.
Did you have a
warrant when you came
busting in to that room there?
Did you identify yourself
and announce your intentions?
Did you read me my rights
before you took me into custody?
You have a case, file it.
File it now or let me go,
because if you try to hassle me
with 48 hours in the bucket,
I'll write a 181 on you that'll
melt you right
down to the ground
and you too, Sergeant Crowley.
You and those hinky
looking dudes you
brought into that room.
I'll go right on from
there into false arrest,
malicious prosecution and
everything else that applies.
No hard feelings, I hope.
- Well, we were
holding our own in there.
I'd say it came out about 50-50.
Gonna behave yourself now?
- Certainly not.
- Bet you don't have that
feasibility report, either.
Oh boy.
- Now then, sergeant,
I find I'm confused.
The manager said
something about a commotion.
- Yes, we got
word that there was
a prowler in the building.
- Ah, I see, a prowler.
- In this room, in fact.
- Well, I guess there was.
My dear, I don't care
how tough you are.
It's hard to keep
going sometimes.
When there's but
one check a month
and only four walls,
you can get the feeling,
especially at
night, a feeling that
no one on this earth
really knows you're alive,
much less cares.
And then to come
home and find this Santa,
this, whoever he
is, or perhaps she.
Well, who knows what I
might've come to otherwise?
But there's no doubt
about it, sergeant,
and I mean this, he's gotten me
through the last three years.
- Three years he's
been doing this?
Okay, that's our
answer, now we got him.
- How do you figure that?
- He's got a pattern!
Then he breaks
the pattern, it's okay,
it's all right there
in the computer.
We just have to go dig it out.
Look, older people got habits,
deep ingrained habits.
We just use it against him.
- Just like that.
- Well, no, not just like that,
but it's all there,
Pep, it's all there
right in the computer.
All we gotta do is dig it out
and wait for him to come to us.
- If he's been at
this for three years,
how come we only
found out about it now?
- Right.
- You know, I'm glad
you asked me that, Pete,
because that shows interest,
and interest shows motivation.
So you two get down and
stand in the computer line.
I want you to punch
in everything we know,
age, MO, the whole business.
When you get the right
answer, come back.
I'll be right here.
Let's hope, kid.
- I see a young man
getting off, a woman,
two kids, no Mims.
- What are you
shaking your head for?
- It just bothers me.
- Why, because he's
giving the loot away?
Oh fine, Merry
Christmas and all that.
Except first he steals it.
- I know.
- Okay then.
- I wonder how many
he's got on his list,
how many hungry old
people like Mrs. Volusia.
- What's the difference?
- Just suppose right now,
today, we catch him, dead bang.
- Well then, we'll be
looking good for a change.
- And suppose he's
got, maybe he's still got
like five old ladies to go.
What happens to them?
- Oh boy, you're really gonna
give me trouble, aren't you?
Huh?
- What happens to them, Bill?
You weren't there, Bill.
You weren't there to
see the look on her face,
to hear the
emotion in her voice.
You don't even know
what I'm talking about.
- You think I'm gonna get a
kick out of busting this guy?
I mean, you would
think I really want
to grab some old guy
like that off the street
and throw him in the jail?
I mean, there are a lot
of rotten people in that jail!
- But don't you think this
is just a little different?
I mean, this time,
this one man is just
a little tiny bit more
human than the usual
scum we run into?
- Listen, let's get
something straight, Pepper.
I mean, suppose he
turns around right now
and he pulls a heist.
Suppose we see him
and catch him dirty.
What are you gonna do?
- Bust him.
That's what I'm
gonna do, bust him.
- I don't think I believe you.
- What?
- Well, what do you
expect me to believe?
Pepper...
- Mims.
Where is he?
Where is he?
- We lost him.
That's great.
Losing a suspect.
That's no big deal, sergeant.
It happens all the time.
Sure, it happens to me.
Everybody does it, right?
- That's right, captain.
- What time would you say it was
when you last saw him?
2:30.
- 2:30, well, he shouldn't
be too hard to locate.
Why don't you run on
down to the phone company?
- The what?
- Phone company.
At 2:46, he was at
the Melrose office,
at 3:19 the Lake Street office,
and just about 10 minutes
ago, he was at Sixth and Main,
where he cleaned
out the central office.
- He hit the phone company?
- Yes, that's right.
But I'm a grown
man, and a grown man
shouldn't let a little
thing like that bother him.
- We're in trouble.
- Trouble?
No, sergeant, you too,
Anderson, you're not in trouble.
You're our top unit.
You had the suspect
under close surveillance,
and he pulled off three
robberies right under your nose.
Three!
Nah, you're not in trouble.
Except with me and the chief
and now the phone company!
- Hmm, all right, a little
snow would be nice.
- Morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Merry Christmas.
- Please, I don't
want to see one.
- Oh, come on, Pep,
don't be that way.
It's Christmas Eve.
- This hour of the
morning, to me, it's just
another work day as
far as I'm concerned.
- Moody on Christmas?
Pepper, that's not nice.
- What do you know, it's us.
- What is?
- Joe had an idea, so we
fed it into the computer.
It's Christmas Eve, right?
The way it looks is,
Mims always saves
one last shot for Christmas Eve.
The thing is, where or
when can we predict it?
- Mims, pattern established.
Final operation
December 24 corresponds
to location number four,
initial day of operation.
Who wrote this, a lawyer?
- The computer, come on,
come on, read the rest of it.
- Pattern projection based
on operations previous
indicates California National
Bank, Fifth and Union.
- That's it then, California
National, Fifth and Union.
I think we got him.
What are you talking about?
- I keep telling you
that older people
are creatures of habit, right?
California National,
remember the teller
kept talking about Mims' eyes,
how they twinkled and all...
- Yes, I know, so he
exchanged some money there.
So what?
- But that's the pattern, babe.
Today, he goes back
and he knocks it off!
- Today is Christmas Eve.
- I think we got him.
- You know what, I think so too.
- Let's do it.
- Let's do it.
Come on.
- 12Y50, this is 12Y52.
Bill, he just split.
His ETA is about three
minutes to your location.
- Okay, 52, we read you.
You heard what
they said, let's go.
We're reasonably certain that
there won't be any shooting.
- He isn't armed, Mr. Somers.
He just uses that note.
- Still, I don't know.
Just letting him
walk in here like that.
What if there's trouble?
- I can assure you,
we're not gonna attempt
anything in here.
We have men outside.
We'll let him go
outside with the cash,
and then we'll grab him there.
- Well, all right.
I'm sure you know
what you're doing.
12Y50.
- Yeah, Pete?
- He's comin' in the bank.
- Listen, we can cover
the other exit from here,
so everything's cool.
- Okay.
- May I help somebody?
- 12Y52.
- Yeah, Bill?
- Mims just got in line.
Looks like his wandering
days are just about over.
- All right.
- This is your bust.
You should be feeling
pretty good right now.
- Just make sure you
put the cuffs on him.
Count me out.
- Thank you and
a Merry Christmas.
May I help you?
You sure may.
Well, I'm afraid I must've
lost my withdrawal slip.
I'm sorry.
- He forgot the note.
He forgot the note!
- Well, sit tight.
He'll write another one.
- Old guys like that
they get superstitious.
Geez, how could
he forget the note?
How could he do
a thing like that?
- Well, don't
take it personally!
- 12Y52, he's comin' out.
- What?
- I said let him walk.
He forgot the note.
The old thief forgot his note!
- What did he say?
- The old dink forgot the note.
- That's the second
time he's transferred.
He's not going home.
He's going the other way.
- Listen, you guys dog him.
I know I should talk,
but just don't lose him.
You hear me?
- We got you, William.
- What's the matter?
He got away, didn't he?
- The note.
Bill, if he forgot it...
- Yeah, what?
- Well, if he forgot
it, it could still be
in his room, couldn't it?
- You know, it just could be.
We'd never get
a warrant, though.
It's Christmas Eve.
Who could find a judge
on Christmas Eve?
Even if we could, he
wouldn't talk business.
- Well then, we'll just have
to wait'll next year, won't we?
- I'll find the judge.
- That must be his wife.
Wonder what happened to her.
- Suppose they had any kids?
- No, there'd be pictures.
Lieutenant Q.W. Mims.
He was a flyer in
the First World War.
- Look at this.
Remember in Mrs. Volusia's
room, the day we busted him,
he had three names to go.
- Hmm, looks like we kind
of loused up his schedule.
- 36 names here all together.
Look, he's all through,
everything's crossed off the list.
- So what's with the
California National Bank?
- Yeah, what?
- That's the third
bus that went by.
What's he waiting for?
He's not gonna
believe what you're
gettin' ready to tell him.
Yeah, sure.
- That's right, Bill.
That's just what I
said, a chauffer-driven,
white convertible Rolls Royce.
How about that, huh?
- Pete, what did you expect,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
Just stay with him, would you?
- Creature of habit, huh?
- Yeah, you just keep digging.
- Bill, there's no note.
- Just dig a little
deeper, Pepper.
It's gotta be here somewhere.
- Scrooge!
- I hate to admit it, Pep,
but Waldo's done it to us.
He's licked us.
- Well, 12Y50.
12Y50.
12Y50?
- It's Pepper.
- Well, Pep, we ran
a check on the plates,
and the Rolls is rented.
He's down here at the
wholesale market now
filling it up with food baskets.
- How's he paying for it?
- A very good question.
- Check it out, see
what you can find.
- You know what I
keep thinking about?
When I was a kid,
I read a story called
The Purloined
Letter, where this guy
takes a letter and
he puts it a mantel,
right in front, in plain sight.
Tells the other guy it's hidden,
but it was always
there, right in plain sight.
- I've looked
everywhere so have you.
Can't even find the cat.
- Like I said, I think we're
just kidding ourselves.
- It's just an idea.
Oh no.
- That's what I
call hard evidence.
Okay, that's the ballgame.
Let's go pick him up.
- You're gonna love this, Billy.
- Are they inside?
- Yup.
- Okay, you guys
want to take the back?
Let's go.
There you are, Happy Christmas.
- God bless you.
God bless you, dear.
And here you are, sir.
Merry Christmas.
- Yes, yes, same to you.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas, dear.
- Thank you very much.
♪ Silent night, holy night ♪
- Merry Christmas
to you, my dear.
And a Merry
Christmas to you also.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, darling.
Merry Christmas, sir.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, dear.
And a Merry.
So I did leave it at home, hmm?
- Would you like to step
outside with us, please?
- That's beautiful, man.
It's Christmas Eve, and
we just busted Santa Claus.
♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪
- Right over here, Mr. Mims.
- Oh, please, sergeant,
why not a little style?
After all, it's paid
for until midnight.
- You see ah...
- Right, Mr. Mims, come on.
Why not?
- Okay, why not?
- Good, good.
Justin, will you
give me those gifts?
This is a quaint little
custom, you know,
matching wassail cups.
After all, it's the season.
Sergeant, that's yours.
Here, my dear.
- Thank you very much.
- Uh, Mr. Mims, I
can't accept this.
- Oh, it's paid for with
good honest money.
- Bill, you're not gonna say
no to Santa Claus, are you?
- That's not the point, Pete.
You know the rules.
- Bill, it's Christmas Eve.
- Thank you, Mr. Mims.
- Good, good, and,
gentlemen, here are yours.
- Thank you very much, Mr. Mims.
- Thank you, Mr. Mims,
and Merry Christmas to you.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas
to both of you.
- Pete, would you get my car
back to the garage, please?
- Now, oh, about the car,
it really was a necessity.
If these people didn't
think I was very wealthy,
they wouldn't have
accepted the gifts.
And it was kind of you
not to blow my cover.
Now I can come
back again next year.
- Next year?
- Yes!
Oh my dear, what jury
would convict a nice
little old man like me, huh?
- Faith in blind justice.
- Merry Christmas, Waldo.
- Merry Christmas.