Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 2, Episode 6 - Hit and Run at Danny's - full transcript

Quincy helps a football player struck by a car in Danny's parking lot. Later, the car is pulled from the water and there is just one body inside - a young woman who is friends with Quincy's girlfriend and whom police assume caused the accident. That's big trouble for Danny, because if he served her last, he may be liable for the accident. At autopsy, Quincy discovers evidence of extensive plastic surgery, and his investigators hit walls trying to identify the young woman's next of kin. Discovering her identity may be the key to saving Danny's restaurant, but there are people in the government who would prefer the young lady's past remain a mystery

They're still looking for us.

This is the first
place they'd come.

Oh, come on,
it's long forgotten.

Robbi, they don't forget.

Blonde, mid-205,
5'6", good figure.

There are a quarter of a
million dames in this city

that fit that description.

Quincy, I'll be charitable

and I'll ignore your
ill-mannered outburst.

Oh! Well, I'm terribly
sorry about my manners.

I don't like what
happened to Robbi Parker.



Don't you care?
She was your patient.

[tires screeching]

[crashing]

Gentlemen, you
are about to enter

the fascinating
sphere of police work:

the world of forensic medicine.

[people chattering]

[all chattering]

Come on, baby. You've
got to win. Come on!

Come on, Winston.
Come on, baby! Come on!

Winston, come on,
will you? Come on!

Come on!

I knew you'd come here.

So what if I did?



They're still looking for us.

This is the first
place they'd come.

Come on, it's long forgotten.

Robbi, they don't forget.

Please. We can be on
the first flight out of here.

I'm sick of running.

[sighing]

We can't talk here.
Come to the apartment.

I've heard of horses
that were dogs.

What is a turtle
that's "dogging?"

A snail.

What did you do? Run out of gas?

Where did Robbi go? Robbi.

Your turtle won.
We owe you a drink.

I-I'd like you to meet a
friend of mine, Janet Martin.

How do you do? Nice to meet you.

Join us?

Oh, thanks, I'd love
to, but I can't. Please.

Winston, if you don't
win a race for me soon,

I'm going to make
soup out of you.

[laughing]

I have to be going.

But the night's so young.

Well, I'm not as used to
these flight schedules as Jenny.

I need my sleep. It was
nice to have met you.

Same here.

Hey, can I give
you a lift anywhere?

Well, I appreciate it, but
I rented a car. See you.

Okay.

So long, honey.

She's really a
good kid, isn't she?

Since we've been
on the flight together,

we've really
become good friends.

Quincy, remember me?

Oh, I'm sorry, honey. I was
just thinking about Robbi.

Something about
the way she moves.

Easy, boy.

No, nothing like that.

Hey, what's the matter
with you? I don't like her.

Not a sound.

No. Please don't.

Please don't.

What do you want?

The man said not a sound, huh?

[gasping]

(Tomasino) It's her.

[tires screeching]

[mumbling]

Get her off me.

(Tomasino) Get
your hands off him.

[tires screeching]

[crashing]

[water gurgling]

[siren wailing]

Oh, God. Who was it?

I wonder what happened.

Isn't that Mark Berkich,
the football player?

I hope he's going
to be all right.

[crowd chattering]

It's going to hurt
a little bit, son.

You're going to
be all right, son.

What's your name?

Berkich. Mark Berkich.

Football player, huh?
Thought I recognized you.

Do you see who clipped you?

No.

Was moving too
fast, I couldn't see him.

[siren stops]

Get the stretcher.

Move back, folks.
Come on, move back.

Diver says there's a body
of a woman still inside.

(Sam) Morning, Quince.
What's the matter?

Winston run out with the
money again last night?

Everybody ran out of
the money last night.

Friend of Jenny's. New
kid on her flight crew.

We were having a drink
just before it happened.

Do you want me
to handle the case?

No, no, I'm all right.

I want you to see
something here.

What do you make of this?

Hey! Ripped up pretty good.

Huh, not a mark
or a scratch on her.

Normally when it gets
ripped up this badly,

whatever is behind
it gets torn up, too.

That's the way I figured it.

Do a blood alcohol on
her right away, will you?

Give me the results as
soon as you get them.

Okay.

Sam.

Danny. I don't believe
that you're here,

the way you feel
about this place.

I hope that isn't a body.

[chuckling] They've been
known to frequent this place.

I said I'd never, uh, step
in this place dead or alive.

Come on before you pass out.

Where's Quincy?

I don't know. Anything I can do?

Yeah, Robbi Parker.

Did you guys do
the tests on her yet?

Oh, we're doing a
blood alcohol now.

If she's over the limit, I
could be in a lot of trouble.

Even though she didn't have
hardly anything to drink at my place.

Then there's no problem.

Oh, Sam, you know
this new California

inebriation law states
that the bar is responsible

for the condition
of the customer

when they leave the place.

For instance, she could've
had drinks someplace else,

got loaded, leave my place last.

Insurance company can
close me down like that.

That's why I... I kind of
wanted Quincy to do the tests.

You know what I mean, Sam?

I'm not sure that I do.

Well, no offense, Sam,
but I got a lot at stake

and, uh, come on, after
all, wouldn't you rather

have Quincy do the tests anyway?

All right, I'll tell him.

Dr. Quincy?

That's right.

Paul Barkley, attorney.

I understand you're handling
the Robbi Parker case.

Just who do you
represent, Mr. Barkley?

Mark Berkich,
the football player.

I understand you were
with the deceased last night.

Had, uh, Robbi
Parker been drinking?

We have not yet ascertained

whether or not she
was legally intoxicated.

I see. Then you do know

whether she'd been refused
service at Danny's Place.

Why should she be refused
service? She wasn't drunk.

Then she wasn't
refused. She was served.

Yes, she was served,
just like the rest of us.

Doctor, the, uh, police crime
lab has established that, uh,

a piece of fabric jammed

in the headlight rim
of Miss Parker's car

came from Mark Berkich's slacks.

Now, Miss Parker was the renter

of the hit and run vehicle.

I'd be, uh, very interested
in the, uh, results

of the blood alcohol tests.

That drink may have been the
most expensive she ever had.

Good day, Doctor.

What does that look
like to you, Sam?

Silicone.

You ought to consider
doing this for a living.

You're getting good at it.

It's a pre-shaped implant.

This girl has had
extensive reconstructive

plastic surgery
done on her face.

That's not so unusual.

Yeah, if she were in a
terrible accident or a fire.

There's no evidence of that.

Look at the skin,
how smooth it is.

Why would a pretty
young thing like that

have so much work
done on her face?

Her family should be able
to shed some light on it.

Yeah, if we can find them.

There's a doctor I read about,
Redman in Palm Springs.

He's the only guy around
here who does this kind of work.

I want to talk to him.

I want you to do a
series of skull films on her.

(Jenny) Quincy.

Oh, honey.

No, no, no.

They told me when
I got to the airport.

I didn't know you'd
gotten to know her so well.

I guess I really hadn't.

She'd only been with the
company about three weeks.

We really hit it off.

You know how that happens
between two people sometimes?

The chemistry was just right.

She seemed to need somebody.

She was...

I don't know, vulnerable.

She was reaching out for help.

I'll take you to your car.

(Quincy) I was hoping you'd
give us more help than that.

Tell us who she was,
where she came from.

The police can't
get a lead on her.

I mean, it's like she didn't
exist before yesterday.

She never said very much
about a family or friends.

I... I don't know,
it seems to me

that she came from the
East somewhere. I don't know.

You know, it's very strange.

She never really said
anything about herself at all.

I mean, I never really
thought about that before.

See, that's the same
as that Janet Martin,

the girl who came
into Danny's before.

Nobody, no way, nothing.

What about the company?

I mean. they must have some
kind of record of next of kin,

family or something.

Her family lives in an
empty lot in Weehawken.

And the last company she
worked for never heard of her.

She didn't get a
social security number

until about three months ago.

I don't understand.

Who does?

Oh, listen, did she talk to you

about an accident she was in?

No, why do you ask that?

She had extensive
plastic surgery done

in the last few months.

You have to buckle up
to start this car, don't you?

Yeah, otherwise I'd forget it.

Isn't this the same make
and the same model

that Robbi was
driving last night?

Yeah, why?

I'll tell you later.

Quince, I got your
blood alcohol report.

I'll be right with you.

Not a seat belt bruise anywhere.

0.1% alcohol value.
Right on the borderline.

She must have had a drink
before she came to Danny's.

Does Monahan
have a copy of this?

I couldn't hold it back.

Well, I don't think
Danny's in real trouble.

The fact that she was
legally intoxicated or not

doesn't have a lot
to do with hit and run

if she wasn't driving. Does it?

I gotta talk to Monahan.

What do you mean,
wasn't driving?

I'll explain later. You
know where he is?

He's down in Raitsky's
lab working on something.

The guy looked like a floater.

A floater? The plot thickens.

All right. Quincy, what
are you doing down here?

My job. Where did
you find this body?

Floated in from the marina. Why?

I think we might find
seat belt bruises on him.

Not on him you
won't, believe me.

Can I check?

If Dr. Raitsky says
there are no bruises,

there are no bruises.

What have we got to lose?
Let me take a look, will you?

This might be the
driver of the car

that hit that guy at Danny's.

Since seat belts
leave distinctive marks,

and since Robbi Parker
had no such marks on her,

I assume she wasn't doing
the driving. Maybe he was.

Quincy, let's get
this thing settled.

It was as of five minutes ago.

All right, just a minute.

Dr. Raitsky, do you mind?

It's okay with me, but
you're wasting your time.

Thank you.

Satisfied?

Dr. Quincy, on your way out,
would you tell the orderly to,

uh, return Mr. Tomasino
to his locker?

What is this, a private party?

No, Quincy, it's a wake.

A wake?

Yes, that's why I called
you. They closed me down.

Who closed you down?

Insurance company.

Based on a new
California inebriation law

pending the investigation
of Robbi Parker's death.

By the way, what
did you find out?

Well, she was on the
borderline of inebriation.

Could've gone either way.

Borderline? That kid
had two drinks all night

and she was sipping 'em.

I know.

Hey, why don't
you go on vacation?

We've been on a
vacation, remember?

Why don't you take up a hobby?

Hobby? Yeah.

Maybe go hang-gliding
or scuba diving.

[laughing]

Yes, sir.

The doctor will be
with you in a moment.

Won't you have a seat, please?

Thank you.

He's very good, you know.

I beg your pardon?

The doctor.

Oh.

Oh, yes, he'll do
wonders with those.

And this drooping
naso-labial fold.

You'll see, he'll just
make it disappear.

Right in with one of
these little chins. Oh, yes.

Dr. Quincy.

Yes.

I'm due at the clinic, but I
can give you five minutes.

That's all I need. Fine.

Well, Palm Springs
is a long way to go

for some professional
advice, doctor.

What can I do for you?

Well, I'd like to talk
to you about a patient,

a young woman, Robbi Parker.

Three months ago,
extensive facial reconstruction.

Name sounds familiar.
Here, let me see.

I'm afraid you're
mistaken, Dr. Quincy.

Robbi Parker is not
one of my patients.

Well, maybe she
changed her name.

Take a look at that.

Never saw the woman.

Wait a minute.

Take a look at the
picture, will you?

Now this has got to be a
woman you operated on.

The kind of work that was done,

why, it's the same as if
you signed your name to it.

Dr. Quincy, I'll be charitable

and I'll ignore your
ill-mannered outburst.

Oh! I'm terribly sorry
about my manners.

I don't like what
happened to Robbi Parker.

Don't you care?
She was your patient.

I told you she wasn't. Now
please get out of my way.

You're the only man I know

who does this
particular reconstruction.

If there's another
one, tell me who it is.

There's no psychiatric
ward in my hospital.

If there were, I'd recommend

that you be confined
for observation

and as an alternative, I'll call the
police and ask that you be removed,

unless you get out
of my way. Right now.

Oh, uh, Dr. Redman
was so overcome

when I told him
that she had died.

Robbi Parker?

You knew her?

Oh, yes. Such a lovely
girl, what a shame.

When was she here?

Oh, let's see.

That was when I had my vacation.

About three months ago.

Thank you.

Who's crazy now, Doc?

Well, how long is Quincy
going to be in Palm Springs?

I don't know.

He said he'd be back
as soon as possible.

If he can prove Robbi had
some physical condition,

an allergy, a
reaction to alcohol,

something in her
medical history.

Keep thinking. I think
you're getting warm.

We're getting nowhere.

Quincy can't find
out who she is,

so how does he
get medical records?

Anyway, it's a long shot.

Sam, I don't have
too many shots.

So don't throw any of them away.

Quincy's sure the
key's in her past.

Why was it wiped clean?

If we can find
the answer to that,

maybe we'd know why
someone would want to kill her.

Which is what he
believes happened.

Sure, Quincy can work magic.

Remember what he
did with that thigh bone?

He built a whole guy from it.

Now, you said that Robbi
had extensive surgery,

plastic surgery, right?

So, you got a
whole girl to build on.

Hey, I think you've
got something there.

I do?

We'll get on it as soon
as Quincy gets back.

Thanks, Danny. You
really came through for us.

I did. Hmm.

Max, you're making
the eyes too round.

Don't use the picture, use her.

See, they're more exotic.

Max, use her.

All right, Quincy,
you're the boss.

I think the jaw
line is too strong.

We took out the implant,
the chin got a little weaker.

Let's take it back
by that much then?

Yeah.

Boy, what a difference.

It's amazing what
a little silicone does

to someone's physiognomy.

On the nose, do you see that?

Remember the pre-shaped
implant we took out?

See? It widened the
nose. Now I want you

to narrow it couple
of millimeters, okay?

Now, put in some hair.

Quince, take a look at this.

From one Black
Madonna to another.

Oh, my God.

(Sam) Quince, what's the matter?

Oh, my... (Maxwell)
You know her?

Carrie.

[gunshot]

You missed.

Tightest group I
had all day, thanks.

Remember her?

Yeah, Carrie Taylor.

That was her name when
she was a cocktail waitress

at Danny's bar about a year ago.

Remember, we wondered how
come she went away so suddenly?

She's come back as Rabbi Parker.

The same girl
after plastic surgery.

It's too bad. Nice
kid. I liked her.

Too bad? That's a
nice kid, you liked her?

What is that? Her epitaph?

Look, Quincy, if you
show me where it'll help,

I'll deliver a 20-minute eulogy.

Wait a minute, Monahan,
you're not that cool...

You knew.

Yes, I found out
half an hour ago.

How? From whom?
Why didn't you tell me?

Will you drop it? It's
no concern of yours.

But the girl was murdered.

Maybe.

I don't believe this.
Where are you?

Quincy, it'll go down in the
books as a possible homicide.

Now, we'll investigate further
if we get any other leads.

What shut you off?

I said we'd investigate.

Oh, sure, you'll go through
the motions of investigating.

What about Danny?
He'll be wiped out.

Quincy, I can't do any good
for Robbi, but Danny, maybe.

I dug up a rap
sheet on Tomasino.

Sly type. Sex offender.

He forces his victims
to drive their car

to a deserted place
and then rapes them.

Now it's not airtight, but
it should get Danny off.

And if Robbi was under duress,

then she's not responsible
for what happened to Berkich.

Isn't that a wonderful
coincidence,

how you came up with this
whole scoop on Tomasino

when I wouldn't let
go. Who reached you?

The tooth fairy.

Listen, as far as
you've found out,

Robbi only knew two
people in this world.

Jenny, who flew
into L.A. with her,

and that girl, Janet Martin,
who came down to Danny's.

And you haven't been able
to find her. Did you even try?

I tried.

Blonde, mid-205,
5'6", good figure.

There are a quarter of a
million dames in this city

that fit that description.

Well, Robbi had a
complete identity change.

Even her vocal chords
were surgically shortened

to alter the pitch of her voice.

Now that had to be a
government agency.

They only do big alterations.

And they're also big enough to
make you keep your mouth shut.

Quincy, stop guessing.

I'm not Sir Galahad,
I'm just a good cop.

Now, look, I called Sam
about half an hour ago,

and told him to get the
death certificate ready.

Now, you go down there and
sign it for your friend Danny.

Thanks a lot for nothing.

You have Carrie Taylor's
death certificate made out?

You're no ray of sunshine.

You missed eight calls.
All from the same person.

Who?

[phone ringing] She wouldn't
leave her name, but don't worry,

she calls every five
minutes and I think...

Hello. Yeah, this is Dr. Quincy.

I've got to talk to you.

Well, you are talking
to me. Who's this?

Not on the phone. Please.

Who is this?

(Janet) A friend of a friend,

Please. I need your help.

Could you meet me at Chuck's
parking lot in the marina?

When?

(Janet) As soon as possible.

Noon?

[sighing]

Sexy voice.

Yeah, if you're
turned on by terror.

The police want to talk to you.

You didn't tell them... No.

Robbi trusted you.

When I knew her, her
name was Carrie Taylor

and I liked her very much.

She told me all about Danny's,
the people there, mostly you.

She loved Danny's.

What did you want to tell me?

The newspapers said that she...

That... That her
death was an accident

but that the Coroner's
Office was still investigating it.

It was an accident, wasn't it?

Hey, take it easy...

I'm so tired of being scared.

Only tell me what you feel.

I can't.

Look, it'll weigh only half
as much if you share it.

Oh, come on, you can't
run afraid your whole life.

That's what Robbi said.

Where are you going
to run and for how long?

I don't know.

Robbi trusted me. Can't you?

I can't get my head
together, I'm so scared.

You know what that's like,
what it does to you inside?

Listen, I'm not Clark
Kent, you know.

If something doesn't scare
me at least twice a week,

I think something's wrong
with my adrenaline gland.

I feel like my head
is full of cotton,

nothing will penetrate.

Give me some time, maybe
I'll be able to talk to you.

Yeah, but how can I find
you, where will you be?

I don't know. Some place safe.

Listen, if you can't
get me at the office

I'll be on my boat.
It's down here. Fiji.

I have to tell you something.
Her death was not an accident.

Are you absolutely positive?

Absolutely. The
police have evidence

that a known sex
offender, a rapist,

was in the car with Robbi

when it went through the
fence. His name was Tomasino.

I was married to him.

What?

Yeah, he was a lot of
things, none of them nice,

but he wasn't a rapist. That's
one thing I know for sure.

How can you be that sure?

He was impotent.

I want you all to know that
this was a very good month

[pepping]

For the San Fernando Valley.

Wait a minute, how
come you got two glasses?

(man) I need another drink.

It's because it's free!

(man) That's right. It's free.

Quincy. I don't
know how you proved

that the rapist was
in the back of the car,

and I don't care.

All I know is, no more bad
jokes about your profession.

Dead, drunk... they're out.

I want to talk to you.

I want you all to
say hello to Quincy.

If it wasn't for him, you
freeloaders might not be here.

Listen to what I
got to say to you.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Mr. Tovo, this is John Blake.

Insurance company.

Hey, wait a minute, you were
supposed to come to the party.

Just heard from the
Police Department

that the medical examiner

refuses to certify
the cause of death.

Bad joke. The medical
examiner is standing right here

with a glass of
champagne in his hand.

I don't know what
he's celebrating.

In the circumstances,

until a cause of death
has been ascertained,

we cannot continue coverage.

I'm going to have to
withdraw your binder, Danny.

Wait a... I... I just
opened the doors.

Well, you'll have
to close them again.

Now, wait. I, uh... What
are the chances that if...

Until the death
is certified, none.

You've also got a $2 million
lawsuit over your head,

and that's making this
company very nervous.

I'm fighting for you, Danny,
but I've got to tell you,

the board wishes
to close this matter.

You understand what I'm saying?

I understand. I'll talk to you.

Quincy?

This muttonhead just told me

you wouldn't sign
the death certificate.

That's what I was
trying to tell you, Danny.

I just feel like I got
kicked in the stomach.

Now, we're friends.
I-I'm not conning myself.

I mean, we're friends?

Oh, yeah, we're friends.

Then don't tell me that you...

Okay, now, wait
a minute, I'm sorry.

Forget about the
restaurant, will you?

You have your reason, right?

Explain it to me.

I'll try.

You remember Carrie Taylor?

Yeah, what's she
got to do with this?

Well, the girl that was killed
in the car, Robbi Parker,

they're the same person.

Stop it, Quincy.

God, Carrie worked for me
for three years, she's family.

You're saying I
wouldn't recognize her?

She had extensive
facial reconstruction.

Now, trust me, Danny,
they're the same girl.

Well, anyway, what's
this got to do with us?

There was another
girl here that night.

You probably didn't
meet her. Janet Martin.

She's in danger.

If I sign Carrie
Taylor's death certificate

I might be signing Janet's, too.

I need some time.

Well, uh, how much
time do you need?

I don't know.

What do you mean,
you don't know?

Robbi is Carrie, I
got lawyers up...

The place is going
down and you...

Well, I'll tell you,

I just don't have
the time to give.

Excuse me, Quincy,

I... I want to finish up
with some of my friends.

I find your concern
for your friend Danny,

Dr. Quincy, very admirable.
I admit that I'm touched.

Which is not to
say your arguments

have swayed me in the slightest.

I stake my reputation on the
fact that Robbi Parker's drinking

had nothing to do
with Berkich's accident.

I wouldn't be
surprised if you're right.

Well?

Unfortunately, your reputation

is admissible in a court of law,

only in so far as it attests
to your qualifications

as, uh, as an expert witness.

Now if you could swear
that the young woman

had not exceeded the
legal limit of blood alcohol,

that might be different.

Unfortunately, Doctor,
I'm not interested

in any other aspect of the case.

What about right or wrong
or a small matter of justice?

Very important
concepts, all of them.

But I deal in the
law as written.

That's supposed
to insure justice.

But Danny didn't do anything.
Why should he be hurt?

Well, why should my client?

He certainly, at
least, is innocent.

You know, Doctor, we
don't live in a perfect world.

My job is to make the best
I can of its imperfections.

I know a lot of surgeons
like you. Knife-happy.

I've even testified
against them.

Before they get blasted,
they get very, very rich,

but a lot of their
patients suffer or die.

Well, in my profession, the
consequences are rarely fatal.

Doctor? You know,
you're a very rude man.

But I suspect that you're as
dedicated as you are rude.

Now, let me ask you a question.

Suppose it hadn't
been Danny's bar.

Suppose it had been,
uh, Joe's bar or Fred's bar,

and the body of the victim
was brought into your morgue

as a result of an
accident caused by

too many drinks
at Joe's or Fred's.

How would you feel then?

This is a very young
law but it's a good one.

It may need some modification

and it will very likely get it.

How do you feel about all
the accidents that didn't occur

because of some
frightened bartender or owner

who refused to
serve that one drink

that could have
made the difference?

Hi, I decided to take you up
on your invitation to drop in.

I'm glad you're here.

I didn't want to snoop around

or I would've had a
bottle of wine open.

I'll make some coffee.

I can be a lot of fun.

Yeah, if you don't die
from sheer terror first.

I'd be flattered if that was
passion instead of panic.

You know, you're
really very attractive.

Your hands are cold.

Well, it's cold down
here by the water.

But I think boats
are real romantic.

I'll get you some brandy.

And stop playing
the vamp, will you?

You're rotten at it.

I'm sorry.

Just tell me what
happened to Robbi.

Must I, right now?

Yeah, right now.

I just tore the heart out
of a dear friend because

I reacted to your
panic earlier today.

I don't want to play
any games, lady.

Either tell me what you're
afraid of or get out of here.

In a way, I killed Robbi.

How?

[sighing]

Well, I knew
Robbi, Carrie before,

when I was married to Tomasino.

That's how she met all
those people. It's my fault.

We're long past
whose fault it is.

And you haven't told
me what happened.

Okay. Tomasino's boss
was Mr. Big in the rackets.

Robbi got involved
with him, sort of.

But she knew too much.

So when the big
guy was arrested,

the government asked
her to be a witness.

She was.

Oh, they told her they'd
give her a new face,

a new identity, the whole thing.

He got 20 years, but
the word went out from jail

to make her an object lesson.

You know what happened.

You're still the old you, huh?

Yeah.

I pretended that I
didn't know anything,

so they didn't
ask me to testify.

They weren't after me,
but I'm involved again.

The other night at
Danny's, I saw this man.

I... I only know him as Bill.

I'm pretty sure he's the one
that killed Robbi. He saw me.

Well, how can I help you?

If you sign the
death certificate

that it was an accident,
they'll know I didn't talk.

I'm a medical examiner,

I'm supposed to determine
the cause of death.

I don't need you to tell me.

But they don't know that.

Aren't you being naive, Janet?

You're the only one
that can identify this Bill.

You think he's
going to let you live?

Your only hope is to nail him.

Thanks. That's like telling
me that there's no hope at all.

I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have asked you
to lie to hurt Danny. What for?

Look, I'm getting out of here.
I can only cause you trouble.

Hold it, will you? What
are you going to do?

Leave me alone here in
the dark? It's very scary.

Here, us cowards
have to stick together.

[chuckling]

(Quincy) I want a guarantee
that this girl doesn't wind up

the same way that
Carrie Taylor did.

I can assure you, Doctor,
the Bureau deeply regrets

the death of that young woman.

Aw, that's very touching.
Doesn't help her much,

but can't have
everything, can you?

We operate under stringent
legal limitations, Doctor.

We have guidelines for the
treatment of those persons

whose testimony on
behalf of the government

may place them in jeopardy.

We can't act as permanent
nursemaids, you understand?

Right, Mr. Maxwell,
we certainly agree.

Oh, we sure do agree,
don't we? Oh, boy.

I don't really see that you have

any personal
stake in this affair.

I mean, we have
provided a criminal record

on the man who was in the
car with the Parker woman.

That should resolve your
friend's liability problem.

The criminal record is a lie.

The man was a criminal.

He's dead, the
details aren't important.

I grant there's no
perfect solution.

But this will avoid
embarrassment for everyone.

And what could
be more important,

except maybe saving the
life of another young girl.

We want to talk to
Janet Martin Tomasino.

Preferably before
she's murdered, I hope.

Please, Doctor, we're trying
to cooperate and be patient.

Now, that woman may be

a... a material witness
in a Federal case.

You could be
guilty of obstruction.

I hope so. I'm certainly trying.

Uh-uh, that's not what
Dr. Quincy means.

It isn't?

Look, I can promise you
that we'll provide the woman

with the full
protection of the law.

Isn't that the same speech
you made to Carrie Taylor?

Doctor, I do my job.

This is still a government
of laws, not men.

If one or another law works a
hardship on some individual,

it can always be changed.

You know, you just
reminded me of something

I read in college
a long time ago.

Anatole France wrote it.

"The law, in its
majestic equality

"forbids the rich and the poor

"the mighty and the powerless,

"from sleeping under bridges,

begging in the streets
and stealing bread."

Since there's a man still
on the loose trying to kill her,

I'm going to obstruct
justice just a little longer

and not tell you
where Janet Martin is.

I trust you'll be
taking Dr. Quincy

off the Robbi Parker case.

I will? Oh! Uh, why?

He may cause you and us a
great deal of embarrassment.

There's no reason to allow that.

Well, I can think of one.

What?

I happen to be very proud
of Dr. Quincy, that's what.

See you around.

Hello, Westside?

Uh, this is Sam Fujiyama,
Medical Examiner's Office.

I need some information, please.

Did you have an
accident patient admission

on Tuesday night or Wednesday
morning showing seat belt...

Uh, I'm sorry, wrong number.

Hello, Lieutenant.

What was that all about?

What?

Come on, cut it out, Sam.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

You're playing
gumshoe for Quincy.

Would I do that?

Would you do that?

You'd try walking on
water if he asked you to.

Sam, Quincy has a bug
about this Robbi Parker case

and it's bugging me.

Now, things are happening
and I'm the last to know about it,

and I'm getting fed up.

[phone ringing] Did
you try talking to Quincy?

I'd like to try
strangling Quincy.

The feds are in on this case,

I'm getting pressure
from my department.

The lawyers are
giving me a bad time.

All I'm waiting on is

the Women's Temperance
Union to join the party.

Now look, tell me
what Quincy is doing.

I think he's out somewhere.

I know he's out
somewhere. Where?

Doing what? Why? To whom?

I'd sure like to help
you, Lieutenant.

Sam, you were just
on this telephone

talking to the hospital
about accident victims.

Now, what does Quincy know?

Hospital? Oh, yeah, that.

Quincy asked me to make
a couple of calls if I had time.

You know, you're a lousy liar.

Well, I wish there was
a law against lying, I'd...

Oh, what's the use?

Quincy, would you
come over here, please?

Do you realize I've been
looking all over for you?

Now listen, Maxwell's been on
the phone, and he's something.

He wants that witness.
Know what he said to me?

"Tell Quincy that
if he remains silent,

I'll lean on him."
Can you believe that?

Quincy, you've got to
realize that I don't have power

to stop that bureaucrat.

Well, to quote that eminent
philosopher Bertrand Russell,

"Who cares?"

Wait a minute. I'm Tomasino.

I'm the guy that stopped
you in Danny's parking lot.

And I got a gun.

Now move over, lady.
You hear what I said?

Move over. Move over, lady.

Quincy, let's not
get carried away.

Move over now. Okay.

Now I still got the gun on you

and I'm driving, not you. See?

I pull out of the space.

The lights hit Berkich,
the car swerves.

I hit him, I go on. The
car goes out of control

and I still got my gun on you?

You have?

I couldn't. It's impossible.

Besides, you could have
taken the gun away at any point.

Now, I'm Tomasino
and I don't have

a seat belt bruise
on my body. Why?

Because I'm sitting in the back

with my gun pointed towards
your head, while someone else,

a second man, is
doing the driving.

(Sam) Yeah, okay. Thanks.

How's it going with you?

I feel I've only got one piece
missing. How about you?

Couple of accident victims
at the County General,

not promising.

But I got one at the Marina
del Rey that sounds odd.

Home address is Miami.

Paid for the room
in advance in cash.

No driver's license
on him, no wallet.

What's his name? William Legget.

Two G's. Admitted
with multiple injuries

and seat belt bruises
following a crash.

A guy named Bill at the
Marina with seat belt bruises?

This could be the missing piece.

What are you going
to do? I'm a doctor.

I'm going to give the
poor guy a second opinion.

Even if he has
seat belt bruises,

they'll have healed by now.

So you can't use
them as evidence.

Yeah, but I'm a good
doctor, I'll find something.

Mr. Legget, I'm Dr. Quincy.

What do you want?

I want a sample
of your fingernails

to make sure
there's no infection.

What infection? I
was in a car crash.

I know that, take it
easy. Just hold still.

There you go.

What are you going
to do with that?

You see, I'm from
the Coroner's Office.

You're a little early.
I'm still breathing.

You were driving the car
that went into the water

the night that
stewardess was drowned.

My office wants
reckless driving,

I'm going to push
for manslaughter.

I don't even know what
you're talking about.

I saw you at Danny's
Place that night.

So? That doesn't prove anything.

You know anything
about forensic medicine?

No.

Aw! Well, you should learn,
it's a fascinating science.

The night you were
in the car with Robbi,

you tore her blouse.

We found the scratches on
her skin from your fingernails.

Now fingernails
are like fingerprints,

there are no two alike.

And when I put the
tissue from her chest

under the electron microscope,

the ridges and valleys
that your fingernail left,

will be unique.

It will put you right in
that car, Mr. Legget.

And the seat belt
bruise, it'll corroborate it.

[sighing]

File this.

Jack, I've got to be on
that plane for Miami tonight.

You meet me with the ticket.

Feeling better, Mr. Legget?

I'd say sneaking down
the back staircase

is a clear admission
of guilt, wouldn't you?

All right. I was
driving the car,

and the car went
into the marina.

All we're talking
about is an accident.

Do you think any jury in the
world is going to buy that?

You entered the car
with the intent to kill

and the intended victim
was subsequently drowned.

That's not reckless
driving or manslaughter.

I'm afraid I was a
little hasty before.

The man's right. It's murder.

Jim.

Thank you, Doctor.

You see, cooperation
is worthwhile.

Yeah, I'm afraid I
wasn't 100% legal.

I don't think I was
telling the truth before.

You can identify a knife blade
under an electron microscope,

but not a fingernail.
They grow, they break off.

As far as I know, maybe
Legget's been biting his nails

since the accident. You
can't identify anybody by that.

You're telling me that this
was all a bluff on your part?

Well, I learned it from you.

Nobody gets hurt,
and I took my best shot.

Hey, I'm ready to sign
that death certificate.

[crowd chattering]

You know, Quincy, when
you invited me to the races,

I, uh, didn't expect turtles.

Oh, no, it's exciting, it's
the best. Isn't it, Quincy?

(Danny) All right, folks,
lighten up. It is now post time.

Okay, come on.

What's the matter, Quincy?

Aren't you going to
cheer Winston on?

Are you kidding? I
didn't bet a dime on him.

He hasn't won a
race in six months.

I'm thinking of trading
him in for a snail.

Quincy, about the other day.

I'm sorry.

Man, I saw my whole
life go right downhill.

Nobody can fault you for that.

He won! Quincy, Winston won.

And I didn't bet a
dime on him. See?

Aw...