Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 7, Episode 8 - Dead Stop - full transcript
He was moonlighting
and dumping toxic wastes.
You know, he didn't die in that
accident. His death caused it.
Now if they dump
this stuff along
the road somewhere and it rains,
it would produce the kind of gas
that would kill
hundreds of people.
Well, I paid them to
put it here where it's dry.
Well, they're not gonna
be dry much longer.
Oh, what if you can't find
it before the rain comes?
We've got about half
the population evacuated.
How does it look
here? It's still a race.
Keep away from those drums. If
water hits them this whole area could go.
Gentlemen, you're about to enter
the most fascinating
sphere of police work,
the world of forensic medicine.
Damn hood-lifter.
He didn't fix it.
We're still leakin' air
from the rear brakes.
We gotta turn back.
No way, Hank.
I gotta have that money
and I gotta have it tonight.
Now look, you can't
go up the Cajon Pass
and down with these
anchors. You know that, Mickey.
So we don't go all the way.
Take the next off ramp. I've
got a place we can dump it.
No. It's not right. You
heard what Hellworth said.
He wants this dumped
in a dry place. That's it.
But this place I've got's dry.
It's like the Sahara Desert, Hank.
Hey, come on. He
hired us to dump it, right?
We're gonna dump it, so
who in the hell cares where?
Ah, come on.
Besides... you'll get
home to Lonny a lot faster.
Okay.
I see the right, right up here.
You all right?
What is that garbage?
Ah, don't worry about it.
You can wash it off later.
Come on, let's
get rid of this stuff.
Honey, do you have to?
Oh, I wish I didn't. I
mean, work is work.
Anyway, it's a legit run.
I can't pass it up, babe.
You've still got a
fever. You know that.
It's just a cold,
honey, that's all.
You know, I stayed
home all day yesterday.
You know how hard it is
for us wildcatters to get work.
I'll be okay, really.
Don't worry about it.
You need rest.
Hauling machine
parts during the day
and moonlighting
lead pipe at night.
I swear, you're gonna drive
yourself into an early grave.
Just two more
months, baby, that's all.
We're gonna have enough
for our own short haul business.
No more long haulin'.
Just you and me at home, together,
like we've always wanted, huh?
We've got enough now.
Maybe it won't be
easy, but we can do it.
Just two more months,
Lon, that's all. Really.
I... I gotta go.
Look, I tell you
what, honey, I...
No more moonlighting,
okay? I promise.
Come on, give us a kiss, huh?
It's gonna be a long night.
I'll call you tonight, okay?
Mmm-hmm.
What do ya mean, you're out?
Just what I said, Mick.
I ain't runnin' hot for Hellworth
or anybody else anymore.
Hey, come on, Hank.
Gimme a break, will ya'?
I'm broke.
Two midnight runs,
that's all I need. Okay?
You're broke?
What happened to the three
hundred from the other night, huh?
Well, I'm... I've got a bad
streak goin' right now, that's all.
I borrowed the money to win
the other buck and I lost that too,
but my luck'll change.
It always does.
Mickey, what the hell's
the matter with you?
When're you gonna grow up, huh?
Come on, you're always gambling.
Goin' to the track...
That damned cat house.
That's why you're always broke.
Look, two more
runs. That's all I need
and then I'm through,
okay? I promise.
No, Mick. I'm
finished. I mean it.
I've been takin'
care of you since
you were nine years
old and I'm tired of it.
You're gonna have to haul
your own load from now on.
I'm tired of pickin'
up after you.
I've already set 'em up.
Hank, I've got
the best idea. I...
Hank... what's wrong? What...
Help me!
Hank! Look, get up, Hank!
Hank! I said, get up, Hank!
What's the matter with you?
What' wrong with
you? Judas Priest!
Sergeant, like I told you, I
got no idea what happened.
He was just...
He was my...
Best, only friend in the world.
Now, he is like dead. Gone.
I'm sorry about that,
Mister Lankford but, uh,
there are still a few pieces that
we have to put together on this.
Are you sure you haven't
forgotten anything?
I mean, uh, we couldn't find any
breaking skid marks anywhere.
Man, like I told you,
I ain't forgot nothin'.
We were just ridin'
along like we always...
Laughin', talkin', jokin'.
Then he just fell over like,
like maybe he had a
heart attack, or somethin'.
Next thing I could think of was
seein' that embankment
comin' head on.
Oh, God... he's dead.
We been together
since we're little boys.
Went all through school
together, played ball together.
Do you know that?
Yes, well, uh...
I'm gonna let you
get a little rest.
If you can think of
anything that might help us
piece this thing
together, please
call me at this
number, would you?
Ask for the M.A.I.T. unit.
Sure.
And, uh... stay close, will ya'?
We might want to
talk to you again.
According to the C.H.P.
report, the truck was
northbound on
Highway thirty-three.
The driver lost control, ran up
an embankment and turned over.
What about the
other guy in the truck?
Well, when the
truck started to flip,
he was bounced around
in the cab quite a bit.
The paramedics took him to
County General Emergency.
He sustained
only slight injuries.
Too bad we can't say the
same thing about Mister Chesnel.
A couple of broken ribs.
The lungs are hazy.
Now, why is that?
Well, there are a number
of facial lacerations.
Looks like a contusion
on his forehead.
Doesn't look very severe.
Matter of fact, none of
these injuries look lethal.
Look at this, Sam, where
he was hit by the glass.
Yeah.
Very little hemorrhage
around the wounds.
Yeah.
Indicating there wasn't much
circulation. He died pretty quick.
Maybe he had a heart
attack before the crash.
A lot of truckers suffer
from heart disease.
Look at his arm.
These irregular grey pits.
They look like burns.
Yeah, they have a red border.
They're on the front
of his shins, too.
They look like chemical burns.
Like he was splashed
with something caustic.
Okay, I better check
his clothes and shoes.
See if any chemicals
are splashed on them.
Yeah.
Now let's see if we can
find out why this man died.
Sam, look at his lungs.
So firm, heavy.
Yeah, I see.
They're such a dark red.
It feels almost twice
its normal weight.
Look at that...
Nine hundred and
seventy-five grams.
Massive pulmonary edema.
It's a solid edema.
Might be pneumonia, but
there's no smell of infection at all.
I'll run some
cultures, just in case.
Good idea.
Let's take a look at the heart.
No signs of coronary occlusion
or myocardial infarction.
Heart muscles are in good shape.
No gross evidence
of a heart attack, Sam.
I'm sure he was dead
when the truck rolled.
Now, what's going on here?
Maybe the tox'll tell us.
Yeah.
Should get some answers when
I look at the paraffin sections.
Signs of bronchopneumonia
and hyaline membranes.
And we don't know
what caused it.
That's why we don't
have a mode on this death.
He was driving with
a severe lung disease.
There's no
indication of infection,
and the tox on his lungs
didn't show anything.
This is the analysis of the
principal chemical I extracted
from the burned spot
on Hank Chesnel's boots.
Hydrochloric acid?
Um-hmm.
I think you're gonna
have to wait a little longer
for Mister Chesnel's
death certificate.
Several hours before his death,
he breathes a lung full
of hydrogen chloride gas.
You know, he didn't
die in that accident.
His death caused it.
I want to know where
that acid came from.
Yes?
Mrs. Chesnel? Who is it?
I'm Doctor Quincy. I'm
with the coroner's office.
May I speak to you about
your husband, please?
It's very important.
Yes, certainly. Uh, come in.
Uh... can I offer you something?
The neighbors have
been in all afternoon.
I've... all this food.
No, thanks.
Excuse me.
Mrs. Chesnel, before the accident,
was your husband feeling well?
Well... he had a cold.
He stayed at home the
day before with a fever.
Why?
Was he ever involved with
hauling toxic substances?
No.
All he ever hauled
was, fruit, lead pipe,
machine parts,
that sort of thing.
Mrs. Chesnel, your husband
was exposed to hydrochloric acid.
Now, that may have been
as a result of coming in contact
with industrial waste
and substances.
He'd never haul that stuff.
He knew I was
scared to death of it.
He'd never do it. Never.
Well, he had to come in
contact with it someplace.
Do you have any idea
where it might have been?
Mrs. Chesnel?
No.
I... I worked with him.
I kept his books for
the last three years.
If you want to see his
manifests, they're yours.
Here they are.
But you'd be wasting your time.
Thank you.
It's like Mrs. Chesnel said.
I just went over the manifests,
and her husband didn't haul
a drop of toxic substances.
Oh yeah? Then
take a look at this.
The complete analysis of the
material from Hank Chesnel's boots.
Yeah. Phosphorus tri-chloride?
And that's what formed the
hydrochloric and phosphoric acid.
He must have been hauling
phosphorus tri-chloride.
But I just went
through the manifests.
Now, according to these, he didn't
haul anything remotely like that.
It can't be. How can that be?
His wife lied.
I could tell by the way she was
acting she was hiding something.
If he didn't haul this stuff,
how did he come in contact
with phosphorus tri-chloride?
We know he didn't
pick it up fishing.
So, what do we have, then?
Moonlighting,
that's what we have.
I'm sure of it. He was moonlighting
and dumping toxic wastes.
There sure seems to be a
lot of that going on these days.
Most people don't realize
how dangerous it is.
Nobody seems to care.
The question is...
Where did he dump it?
Phosphorus tri-chloride is
an extremely toxic substance,
and as you know, when it
comes in contact with water,
it reacts explosively and
produces hydrogen chloride gas.
Now, if they dumped this stuff alongside
the road somewhere, and it rains,
it would produce a cloud of gas
that could kill
hundreds of people.
I still say we could
have gone the whole way
and dumped this
where the man told us to.
Well, forget what he told us.
This is better. I dumped
the last one here.
Now, let's just get
rid of all this stuff.
I got a lot more
to do with my life
than spend it on
a road to nowhere.
Come on.
Hardwood!
Let's back this
sucker up to the edge.
We're gonna roll
these babies off.
Nobody sings
'em like ol' Willie.
Now, before I pump
the next tune to ya',
let's take a look at
the weather for you all.
We're lookin' at
increasing high cloudiness,
becoming heavier by
the end of the week,
and rain is forecast
for the weekend
in the high deserts
and into inland valleys.
Sorry, all you good buddies
who got plans for sunshine,
it's gonna be a
wet one out there.
And now, our boy Conway,
doin', 'I Can't See Me Without You.'
Kimball, is it me, or are truck
accidents happening more often?
Yep. More often.
Seems every time I go
to work in the morning
I see another truck
turned over on its side.
Why is that? It's crazy.
Well, I can give you a
hundred different reasons.
Bad brakes, bald tires,
retreads, overtired
drivers, drugs.
How do they get away with it?
Ha! There are three million
truckers on the road nationwide,
and only a hundred
and eighty of us.
Does that answer your question?
Well, it sure would be nice to
know what it was they were hauling.
Now, supposing
Chesnel had been hauling
an unmarked load of
chemicals or herbicides.
We wouldn't know what
the hell we were up against.
That's exactly why I
asked you to see his truck.
I think he was involved in
dumping phosphorus tri-chloride.
Phosphorus tri-chloride?
He was supposed to
be hauling machine parts.
Where did the phosphorus
tri-chloride come from?
Well I'd like to find out.
What did you come up with?
Nothing that could have
caused the accident.
No, our motor carrier people
have been over this thing
from brakes to coupling devices.
Now, mind you, his tractor
brakes were not all that great.
But he never had a
chance to use them
to prevent this
particular accident.
How can you tell?
No skid marks.
Now, that's consistent
with your theory, Doctor,
that Chesnel was the
direct cause of the accident.
Well, if we don't find out
where he dumped that waste,
he could be responsible
for a lot of other deaths.
Umm.
Maybe we better
talk to his partner.
He might have been
in on the dumping.
Ha... good luck.
What do ya' mean?
Well, I talked to his partner a
couple of days ago in the hospital.
I called him back
yesterday, he'd vanished.
Well, didn't you get an address
on him in the accident report?
Well, that's another problem
we have with truckers.
He gave me an
out-of-state license.
So?
So, it was a bogus.
See, a lot of truckers do that.
They get three or four
licenses from different states.
That way, all they have to
do is change the middle initial
or use somebody else's address.
Then, if there's an accident or if
they get a traffic ticket, no record.
No record, no insurance hikes.
They got it down to a science.
Well, I'm gonna get
this stuff analyzed.
Then I'm gonna go see
the guys at Public Health.
Yeah, well, I'll keep
on it from our end.
We'll find 'em.
We better.
I thought you guys kept tabs
on all those chemical movements.
I'm sorry, Doctor. All I can
do at this point, and I will,
is have all the Class
One dumps in the area
scan their computers
for a delivery of
phosphorus tri-chloride
in the last two weeks.
Well, that's not gonna help.
I already saw his manifests.
Chesnel didn't haul one
legitimate ounce of that stuff.
Look at this.
That's just a fraction of
what we're up against.
There are twenty thousand
industrial plants out there.
Only seven hundred
and fifty are registered.
It's not that I don't
want to do something.
I wanna do something.
But Doc, I'm lucky
if I catch one out of
a hundred making
an illegal discharge.
I had no idea.
I thought you guys had come up
with a cradle-to-grave tracking system.
Any plant that produces hazardous
waste should be responsible for it,
from the plant to
a Class One fill!
Sure. Lemme tell
you somethin', Doc.
Anybody that thinks
that manifesting is
the answer to our
problem is nuts.
That system will work if a guy
intends to comply with the law.
But if he doesn't,
forget about it.
He'll never fill out
the proper papers.
He'll just take a
detour and he'll dump it
off the side of the
road somewhere.
How can they keep
doing that? How? Why?
Because a small mom-and-pop shop
can save a couple of
thousand dollars a year this way.
Listen, California
has the toughest
health and safety
laws in the country,
and still, statewide, we haven't
got a handful of cases filed.
And we know that's
just the tip of the iceberg.
Doc, we can't police
everyone all the time.
There are twenty
thousand of them out there.
I've only got
eight. Investigators.
Why'd I think you'd
be able to help me?
Doc, give me something
a little more concrete.
Anything. Bring me something
from the samples that you took.
Bring me a witness.
Something, anything, just so
we can narrow this thing down.
Oh, sure.
Excuse me.
Giavelli.
Uh, Doctor Quincy?
Yeah, hold on.
Yeah? Yeah, Sam,
what did you find?
You're kidding!
I owe you a dinner.
No... No, I'm gonna take you to
a place where they
have table cloths.
Thanks, buddy.
The samples I took off
the brake pedal of his truck
were loaded with phosphorus
tri-chloride on organo-phosphates.
Now, what does that tell us?
What that tells us, Doc,
is that we are in business.
Okay, that gives us eight plants
in the area with
that code number
that produce organophosphates.
That's terrific.
Now what we need
to do is find out
who does the waste
hauling for these plants.
If your man worked for
one of these companies...
We're in luck.
You check out those,
I'll check out these.
Listen, Doctor, I run a
clean operation here.
You just can't come in here demanding
to see my manifests or anything.
Mister Witten, you're
either gonna talk to me or
you're gonna talk to a
lieutenant downtown.
But one way or
the other I'm gonna
find out what firm is
hauling your waste.
No.
No, listen...
A couple of companies came
in here and bid on the job.
I gave it to the guy
with the lowest bid.
Now, he takes it where he
takes it, where he's supposed to.
That's all I know.
You got the paper
work to prove that?
Doctor, I'm a little guy.
For a few gallons of this and
that I don't keep any records.
Hey, why don't you go pick on
the big guys? Give me a break?
You're breaking the law, Mister
Witten, by not keeping those records.
Now, unless you want to add
aiding and abetting a criminal to that,
you better tell me what
firm is doing your hauling!
B.B. Hellworth.
Hellworth Trucking.
Out in Cerritos.
Can I help you folks?
We're looking for
Mister Hellworth.
Well, you're talkin' to
him. What can I do for you?
Did a Hank Chesnel work for you?
Chesnel...
I don't know him.
I'm Anthony Giavelli from the
Department of Health Services.
This is Doctor Quincy
from the Coroner's Office.
Mister Hellworth, we have reason
to suspect that your
company's been moving
hazardous cargo
without proper permits.
I don't know what the
hell you're talkin' about.
Hey, Charlie!
I think you do.
We just left Witten's
pesticide plant.
He said you did all
his hauling for him.
Now, you better tell us where that
stuff is or you're in a lot of trouble.
I don't have to
tell you nothin'.
I don't know this
Witten company.
Uh, unless you guys got a
search warrant or somethin',
to be on my property,
you better beat it.
Courtesy of Department
of Health Services, sir.
Never mind, Charlie.
Now, Mister Giavelli's gonna go
over your trucks, your
yard, your garbage.
If he finds even a trace
of phosphorus tri-chloride,
or any other dangerous
waste material,
you're gonna be lookin' at fifty
thousand dollars worth of criminal fines.
Hellworth, tell us
where it was dumped.
Everything is okay.
It's all safe until I can
dispose of it properly.
It's all safe. Not safe enough.
It killed Hank Chesnel.
Now, before it
kills anybody else
you better tell us
where you dumped it
or you'll also be
looking at murder.
I thought it was an accident.
No.
Okay. I'll get my car.
We'll follow you.
Be careful.
They're all leaking
fumes that are dangerous.
I see somethin'
like this, I could cry.
I hope you throw
the book at him.
Don't you worry, Doc.
I'm gonna make an
example outta him.
If I've got anything
to say about it,
they'll string him
up by his thumbs.
Where were his
brains, putting a place
like this in the
middle of a town,
next to a freeway?
If the waste in those
drums ever mixed together,
God only knows what'll happen!
If the people would
just pay some attention
to what's goin' on around them.
If they keep their eyes open,
report illegal dumps like this,
then maybe we could
do somethin' about this
before they blow up
or pollute water tables.
We better get a
crew out here and
move this stuff to a
Class One fill right away.
They ain't here.
What isn't here?
The last two loads ain't here.
What do you mean?
How do you know?
I got my own
system of markin' 'em.
Witten's pesticides were blue
and yellow and they ain't here!
Where else could they
have dumped them?
How do I know?
I paid' em to put it
here, where it's dry.
Safe and dry!
They were never safe.
And if they weren't dumped
at a place with a cover.
They're not gonna
be dry much longer.
Thank you.
I wanted to return the
manifests as quickly as possible.
You were right. I didn't find
an ounce of the stuff in there.
I knew you wouldn't.
Mrs. Chesnel, your husband
died of chemical poisoning.
Now, no matter what
the manifests say,
he was making illegal
dumps of deadly waste.
I've gotta find out
where he dumped it.
Can you tell me where
Mickey Lankford is?
He knows where
the stuff was dumped.
Trouble.
Mickey was always trouble.
Can you tell me where he is?
I've been trying to reach
him for the last few days,
but either his phone is out
of order or he's not picking up.
Well, can you tell me where
he lives, where he stays?
He lives in Sacramento.
I don't know the address, but...
I know where he lives, where
he goes. I could show you.
When?
Tomorrow.
Do you know the Val Verde
Park turn-off on old ninety-nine?
I can find it.
Well, meet me there
tomorrow at 6 a.m.
I'll find him.
You're driving one of these?
Why are you so surprised?
I don't know.
I guess I was
being chauvinistic.
Look at these hands. Feel 'em.
Wow!
I had more calluses
than my husband
when I was driving
with him full time.
Come on, cowboy, climb aboard.
Okay.
It's really, it's really not so
strange. A lot of women drive.
To keep their husbands
company, or honest.
Or to meet future husbands.
More women are taking
to the road every day.
We're goin' on rubber.
Breaker one-nine...
Breaker one-nine...
This is Belle Starr
on the boulevard.
Got a bear nosing
out of the bushes
at Miller's Crossing,
headed North.
A bear?
Roger, come back,
Belle Starr... Is that you?
This is Starvin'
Marvin reading you.
Where are you? Come back.
Starvin' Marvin, this
is Belle back. Over.
Gal... What're you
doin' on the road?
I heard Hank bought it.
I'm real sorry. He
was a good man.
I'm gonna miss him too, babe.
Is there anything
I can do to help?
No, Marv. Thanks. No, nothing.
Yes!
Have you seen Mickey
Lankford on the road?
Not today.
I'll keep my ears
open about Mick.
If you need
anything, let me know.
Be strong, babe.
Keep the rubber side down
and the shiny side up, now, okay?
Ten-four, Marv.
Can you tell me what
that was all about?
I didn't see any bushes,
I didn't see any bears.
What were you talkin' about?
Oh, the Highway
Patrol car back there.
I was lettin' folks know we
got a Smokey on the prowl.
Passin' on where he is.
Well, he's right on your tail.
Oh-ho-ho, don't worry, cowboy.
I'm not planning on
feeding the bears.
Getting a ticket!
Tell me... how does somebody
start to do something like this?
You mean why, don't you?
I think a guy's gotta
have rocks in his head.
Some men claim it's in the
blood, some like feeling of power.
Some are just little
boys trying to run away.
It's no life for a
family, though.
Having your man on the road
nine, ten months out of the year.
Hank was trying to
get enough money
together to start a
short-haul business.
We were almost there.
Why'd you start driving?
One month, Hank
did fifty thousand miles
without ever getting
out of his truck.
All by himself.
I guess I did it
out of self-defense.
Why'd he do so many miles?
Well, it's the only way a
trucker can make any money.
It seems you just can't do
it without breaking the law.
I'm not condoning
it, but it's a fact.
What with licensing, insurance,
maintenance, fuel
costs... all add up.
And there's deregulation and,
uh, losing of the
fuel surplus charge,
the little guy's
being wiped out.
It's all changed.
The believers can't afford
to be good guys anymore.
And you can't help anybody when
you have to run at fifty-five miles.
These hot heads who
think because they've got
sixty tons of metal
they own the road.
And they you know,
they work sixteen,
twenty hours at a
stretch sometimes, too.
Well, aren't they supposed to
keep a log on the hours they drive?
Like drive for ten, off eight?
Well, some guys keep
a dummy log. A lie sheet.
The fines aren't that bad, so
they can't do any differently.
Is that why you stopped?
Partly.
And then, there's just so much jolting
and jostling these old bones can take.
Come on, what old bones?
Oh, what's the soup of the day?
Soup d'jour is chili.
Soup d'jour is chili.
No, not after that
ride. Coffee will be fine.
Coffee, please. Okay.
Glad I caught up with you, gal.
I'm fine. You okay?
Lon, I just want to say how
terribly sorry I am about Hank.
Thanks. Terrible.
Doctor Quincy, this
is Hiram Woods...
How do you do.
Don't tell me, that's
Starvin' Marvin.
The Doctor's looking
into Hank's death.
Looking into? He
bought the orchard.
At least that's
the way I heard it.
Oh, he didn't die because
of the accident. He...
Listen, why don't
you guys sit down,
let me buy you a
cup of coffee, please?
Sure, if you can
stand this place's mud.
Slide in, Hardwood.
Hey, Debbie, draw
two more black ones.
Okay, Marvin.
He was dead before
that truck rolled over.
He died of chemical poisoning.
What do you mean?
He was hauling toxic wastes.
Illegally. That's what I think.
You guys know anything about it?
I don't know nothin' about that.
Like I said, I'm real
sorry about Hank.
Look, we're not the police.
Somebody is moving
phosphorus tri-chloride.
That's a deadly time
bomb waiting to explode.
And if they're dumping it
near a heavily populated area...
I know you guys are
having it rough right now,
but this is deadly stuff,
and the rains are coming.
When this garbage mixes
with water, it explodes
and sends up a
cloud of gas that could
kill hundreds and
hundreds of people.
Yeah. That's why
you're lookin' for Mickey?
If Hank was hauling
that garbage, you know
damned well Mickey
pushed him into it.
Who's driving with Lankford now?
I wouldn't know.
I just drive.
I'll haul anything
anywhere... If the price is right.
If I find out anything, honey,
I'll let you know. Take care.
Nice to have met you, Doctor.
Doctor, I just had a thought.
I think I know where
Mickey might be.
Let's go.
None of these rigs are his,
but maybe he's been here.
It usually takes and I.C.C.
card to open up these doors.
You better let
me do the talking.
What's an I.C.C. card?
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Hey, leave me alone. I
got another half an hour.
Uh, what can I do for you folks?
Uh, have you got a card?
Have you seen Mickey
Lankford recently?
Uh, look sister, I
don't want any trouble
from girlfriends or wives, so,
uh, park it somewhere else, okay?
Please, this is very important.
Has Mister Lankford
been here? Is he here now?
Oh, look sister, move
it on down the line.
I don't trade with strangers.
It's very important.
Lookin' for trouble, mister?
'Cause you just found it.
Ha-ha... hiya, Lonny.
Hey, baby, how you doin'?
Uh, how are things
goin with you?
Not so good, Will.
Have you seen Mickey?
Has he been here?
Well, I haven't seen
him for a couple of days.
Sally, when'd you last see him?
A few days ago. Hey,
what's all this about?
Will, if he stops
by here again soon
would you tell him I need
to talk to him? Please?
It's very important.
Yeah... yeah, sure.
Lon, uh... excuse me,
this is a little personal.
Oh, yeah... sure.
Hey, uh, Lon, you
wouldn't tell Maria
that you know, saw
me in there, you know,
because when she gets
hot she gets like a pistol...
Don't worry.
Now, don't forget to put
Mickey in touch with me, okay?
Thanks. Okay.
Right See ya'.
Mickey?
Mickey, you in there?
It was the same
damned thing, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Oh... fools!
Damn fools!
I should have known.
I never wanted this.
I know that.
I should have known.
The money was too good.
I knew he was moonlighting but I
didn't know what he was hauling.
If only I'd said something.
You can't blame
yourself. You didn't know.
I didn't want to know.
What're you gonna do?
That stuff is deadly. I
heard what you said.
What if they did dump it in a
campground and some kids found it?
Or what if you can't find
it before the rain comes?
We'll find it.
There's gotta be
something at Mickey's place
that can tell us
where they've been.
Gimme a minute to change.
Yeah.
Half of these aren't
even filled out.
On November seventeenth he
drove twenty-eight straight hours.
That must be a real one.
The others are lie sheets
for the benefit of Uncle Sam.
They aren't worth the
time it took the ink to dry.
They'll never tell us
where Mickey's been.
Did he own his own rig?
Yes. A tractor just like Hank.
Do you know where he
kept it, where he parked it?
Yes. But what
good would that do?
Well, maybe Mickey can't
tell us where he's been,
but I think the truck can.
Come on.
What're you gonna do with these
old clothes we
found in the truck?
You remember those
burns I showed you?
Those were acid burns.
Mickey was wearing those clothes
when he dumped
the acid that killed him.
Picked up some
of the environment.
Plant material, soil,
maybe even insects.
What're you doing now?
We're gonna retrace every mile
that this truck has
covered in the last few days.
I don't understand how.
Well, each insect
has its own territory.
It may be characteristic of
only one part of the state.
We gotta get this to the lab.
If we're lucky, we
may get some answers.
Doctor Hernandez...
Looks like a dragonfly
with a kind of blue tail.
A damselfly... that's common.
Civil Bluet, that's found
through the, uh, Central Valley.
That's another one along five.
I have a wing and
a part of a body.
I think it's a yellow butterfly.
Yes. Another Sulfur butterfly.
An Alfalfa Butterfly.
That's also found
through the Central Valley.
Everything is common
to the Central Valley.
There's nothing unique here.
Maybe there's
somethin' in his clothes.
I have something here
I haven't seen before.
Looks like a big beetle.
Pleocoma bicolor.
It's a rain beetle!
We had thunder showers in
the, uh, foothills this last weekend.
These beetles come
out with the first rains.
Yeah?
Their population is limited
to the San Bernadino
Mountains, east of Cajon Pass.
I gotta take
another look at this.
So, if he went east
on ten, up fifteen
toward Hellworth's dumping
area, he'd have to pass that.
These are perfect illegal
dumping conditions.
They could have taken a
detour off any one of these roads
and dumped a load without
anybody seeing anything.
It's an enormous area.
It has to be over five
hundred square miles.
Well, we've got to localize it.
The rains could
hit at any moment.
What about Doctor Millspaugh
from the Botanical Gardens?
He was analyzing the plant
material on Mickey's socks.
Still workin' on it, Quince. But
he needs a couple of more hours.
But I really don't think it's
gonna help us that much.
Sam, anything can help us now.
Hey, Doctor Quincy.
Do you know a fellow by
the name of Starvin' Marvin?
Yeah. What about him?
Well, he and another guy. They
insisted to see you right now.
Help them to my
office, will you Pete?
I'm gettin' outta here.
Oh, no you're not neither.
What's goin' on?
Tell him.
You said you were gonna tell
him where you dumped the stuff.
I ain't lookin' for trouble.
Well, if you don't tell
me, you're gonna find it.
Now, go ahead. Tell
him what you told me.
Well...
Me... Mickey and me,
took a hot load from...
From Hellworth, a
couple of days ago.
You know, moonlight express.
Mickey didn't want to go
the full term, so we, uh.
We back-pastured
it along fifteen.
Where? Do you remember where?
If you got a map I can show you.
Come on.
Let's go! Let's go!
Come on, move it!
Come on, let's go. Come on.
Okay, let's move it!
Evaluate the drums.
The ones that are dry, pull them
together and get a cover over them.
The sky could open up
any minute, so let's move it!
I want you guys to be
ready if this brush goes up.
Now, keep away from those drums.
If water hits them this
whole area could go.
All right, the drums
that are leaking,
do not move the
drums that are leaking!
Just turn' em until they stop
leaking and cover 'em in place!
Gettin' pretty close.
How're we doin'?
I saw two more drums
in the gully, there.
There are two more
drums down that ravine.
Get a tarp over 'em!
And fast!
Not you firemen!
Leave that to the
Hazardous Materials Team.
Without acid suits, those fumes
will eat right
through your flesh!
So far our medical officer hasn't
had to take care of anybody.
Let's hope we can
keep it that way.
We've got about half
the population evacuated.
Five, maybe ten more minutes,
we'll have the whole area cleared.
How's it look here?
Still a race, Max. Still a race.
Doc, we did it.
We did it!
Where's the key?
Come on, open it.
Bless you.
Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you.
I'm telling you, drink this.
Hot brandy and lemon.
It's trucker's penicillin.
Yeah, I heard about that.
No, honest. Tea's fine. Really.
Here we go.
Doctor Q of Saint Lou.
Not a bad handle, huh?
Yeah, next thing you know
he'll want a TV in his car.
You guys kill me. I
don't... what is that?
What do you mean, what is that?
That's Doctor Daniel's Special
Cure-all Germ-chasing Chili.
Thank you.
Gimme a break, will ya'?
Look, he's only got a cold.
Are you tryin' to kill him?
Oh... thanks a lot.
You like it?
I like it.
Wow!
I apologize.
You get the real
stamp of approval.
What's that?
Truckers eat here.
and dumping toxic wastes.
You know, he didn't die in that
accident. His death caused it.
Now if they dump
this stuff along
the road somewhere and it rains,
it would produce the kind of gas
that would kill
hundreds of people.
Well, I paid them to
put it here where it's dry.
Well, they're not gonna
be dry much longer.
Oh, what if you can't find
it before the rain comes?
We've got about half
the population evacuated.
How does it look
here? It's still a race.
Keep away from those drums. If
water hits them this whole area could go.
Gentlemen, you're about to enter
the most fascinating
sphere of police work,
the world of forensic medicine.
Damn hood-lifter.
He didn't fix it.
We're still leakin' air
from the rear brakes.
We gotta turn back.
No way, Hank.
I gotta have that money
and I gotta have it tonight.
Now look, you can't
go up the Cajon Pass
and down with these
anchors. You know that, Mickey.
So we don't go all the way.
Take the next off ramp. I've
got a place we can dump it.
No. It's not right. You
heard what Hellworth said.
He wants this dumped
in a dry place. That's it.
But this place I've got's dry.
It's like the Sahara Desert, Hank.
Hey, come on. He
hired us to dump it, right?
We're gonna dump it, so
who in the hell cares where?
Ah, come on.
Besides... you'll get
home to Lonny a lot faster.
Okay.
I see the right, right up here.
You all right?
What is that garbage?
Ah, don't worry about it.
You can wash it off later.
Come on, let's
get rid of this stuff.
Honey, do you have to?
Oh, I wish I didn't. I
mean, work is work.
Anyway, it's a legit run.
I can't pass it up, babe.
You've still got a
fever. You know that.
It's just a cold,
honey, that's all.
You know, I stayed
home all day yesterday.
You know how hard it is
for us wildcatters to get work.
I'll be okay, really.
Don't worry about it.
You need rest.
Hauling machine
parts during the day
and moonlighting
lead pipe at night.
I swear, you're gonna drive
yourself into an early grave.
Just two more
months, baby, that's all.
We're gonna have enough
for our own short haul business.
No more long haulin'.
Just you and me at home, together,
like we've always wanted, huh?
We've got enough now.
Maybe it won't be
easy, but we can do it.
Just two more months,
Lon, that's all. Really.
I... I gotta go.
Look, I tell you
what, honey, I...
No more moonlighting,
okay? I promise.
Come on, give us a kiss, huh?
It's gonna be a long night.
I'll call you tonight, okay?
Mmm-hmm.
What do ya mean, you're out?
Just what I said, Mick.
I ain't runnin' hot for Hellworth
or anybody else anymore.
Hey, come on, Hank.
Gimme a break, will ya'?
I'm broke.
Two midnight runs,
that's all I need. Okay?
You're broke?
What happened to the three
hundred from the other night, huh?
Well, I'm... I've got a bad
streak goin' right now, that's all.
I borrowed the money to win
the other buck and I lost that too,
but my luck'll change.
It always does.
Mickey, what the hell's
the matter with you?
When're you gonna grow up, huh?
Come on, you're always gambling.
Goin' to the track...
That damned cat house.
That's why you're always broke.
Look, two more
runs. That's all I need
and then I'm through,
okay? I promise.
No, Mick. I'm
finished. I mean it.
I've been takin'
care of you since
you were nine years
old and I'm tired of it.
You're gonna have to haul
your own load from now on.
I'm tired of pickin'
up after you.
I've already set 'em up.
Hank, I've got
the best idea. I...
Hank... what's wrong? What...
Help me!
Hank! Look, get up, Hank!
Hank! I said, get up, Hank!
What's the matter with you?
What' wrong with
you? Judas Priest!
Sergeant, like I told you, I
got no idea what happened.
He was just...
He was my...
Best, only friend in the world.
Now, he is like dead. Gone.
I'm sorry about that,
Mister Lankford but, uh,
there are still a few pieces that
we have to put together on this.
Are you sure you haven't
forgotten anything?
I mean, uh, we couldn't find any
breaking skid marks anywhere.
Man, like I told you,
I ain't forgot nothin'.
We were just ridin'
along like we always...
Laughin', talkin', jokin'.
Then he just fell over like,
like maybe he had a
heart attack, or somethin'.
Next thing I could think of was
seein' that embankment
comin' head on.
Oh, God... he's dead.
We been together
since we're little boys.
Went all through school
together, played ball together.
Do you know that?
Yes, well, uh...
I'm gonna let you
get a little rest.
If you can think of
anything that might help us
piece this thing
together, please
call me at this
number, would you?
Ask for the M.A.I.T. unit.
Sure.
And, uh... stay close, will ya'?
We might want to
talk to you again.
According to the C.H.P.
report, the truck was
northbound on
Highway thirty-three.
The driver lost control, ran up
an embankment and turned over.
What about the
other guy in the truck?
Well, when the
truck started to flip,
he was bounced around
in the cab quite a bit.
The paramedics took him to
County General Emergency.
He sustained
only slight injuries.
Too bad we can't say the
same thing about Mister Chesnel.
A couple of broken ribs.
The lungs are hazy.
Now, why is that?
Well, there are a number
of facial lacerations.
Looks like a contusion
on his forehead.
Doesn't look very severe.
Matter of fact, none of
these injuries look lethal.
Look at this, Sam, where
he was hit by the glass.
Yeah.
Very little hemorrhage
around the wounds.
Yeah.
Indicating there wasn't much
circulation. He died pretty quick.
Maybe he had a heart
attack before the crash.
A lot of truckers suffer
from heart disease.
Look at his arm.
These irregular grey pits.
They look like burns.
Yeah, they have a red border.
They're on the front
of his shins, too.
They look like chemical burns.
Like he was splashed
with something caustic.
Okay, I better check
his clothes and shoes.
See if any chemicals
are splashed on them.
Yeah.
Now let's see if we can
find out why this man died.
Sam, look at his lungs.
So firm, heavy.
Yeah, I see.
They're such a dark red.
It feels almost twice
its normal weight.
Look at that...
Nine hundred and
seventy-five grams.
Massive pulmonary edema.
It's a solid edema.
Might be pneumonia, but
there's no smell of infection at all.
I'll run some
cultures, just in case.
Good idea.
Let's take a look at the heart.
No signs of coronary occlusion
or myocardial infarction.
Heart muscles are in good shape.
No gross evidence
of a heart attack, Sam.
I'm sure he was dead
when the truck rolled.
Now, what's going on here?
Maybe the tox'll tell us.
Yeah.
Should get some answers when
I look at the paraffin sections.
Signs of bronchopneumonia
and hyaline membranes.
And we don't know
what caused it.
That's why we don't
have a mode on this death.
He was driving with
a severe lung disease.
There's no
indication of infection,
and the tox on his lungs
didn't show anything.
This is the analysis of the
principal chemical I extracted
from the burned spot
on Hank Chesnel's boots.
Hydrochloric acid?
Um-hmm.
I think you're gonna
have to wait a little longer
for Mister Chesnel's
death certificate.
Several hours before his death,
he breathes a lung full
of hydrogen chloride gas.
You know, he didn't
die in that accident.
His death caused it.
I want to know where
that acid came from.
Yes?
Mrs. Chesnel? Who is it?
I'm Doctor Quincy. I'm
with the coroner's office.
May I speak to you about
your husband, please?
It's very important.
Yes, certainly. Uh, come in.
Uh... can I offer you something?
The neighbors have
been in all afternoon.
I've... all this food.
No, thanks.
Excuse me.
Mrs. Chesnel, before the accident,
was your husband feeling well?
Well... he had a cold.
He stayed at home the
day before with a fever.
Why?
Was he ever involved with
hauling toxic substances?
No.
All he ever hauled
was, fruit, lead pipe,
machine parts,
that sort of thing.
Mrs. Chesnel, your husband
was exposed to hydrochloric acid.
Now, that may have been
as a result of coming in contact
with industrial waste
and substances.
He'd never haul that stuff.
He knew I was
scared to death of it.
He'd never do it. Never.
Well, he had to come in
contact with it someplace.
Do you have any idea
where it might have been?
Mrs. Chesnel?
No.
I... I worked with him.
I kept his books for
the last three years.
If you want to see his
manifests, they're yours.
Here they are.
But you'd be wasting your time.
Thank you.
It's like Mrs. Chesnel said.
I just went over the manifests,
and her husband didn't haul
a drop of toxic substances.
Oh yeah? Then
take a look at this.
The complete analysis of the
material from Hank Chesnel's boots.
Yeah. Phosphorus tri-chloride?
And that's what formed the
hydrochloric and phosphoric acid.
He must have been hauling
phosphorus tri-chloride.
But I just went
through the manifests.
Now, according to these, he didn't
haul anything remotely like that.
It can't be. How can that be?
His wife lied.
I could tell by the way she was
acting she was hiding something.
If he didn't haul this stuff,
how did he come in contact
with phosphorus tri-chloride?
We know he didn't
pick it up fishing.
So, what do we have, then?
Moonlighting,
that's what we have.
I'm sure of it. He was moonlighting
and dumping toxic wastes.
There sure seems to be a
lot of that going on these days.
Most people don't realize
how dangerous it is.
Nobody seems to care.
The question is...
Where did he dump it?
Phosphorus tri-chloride is
an extremely toxic substance,
and as you know, when it
comes in contact with water,
it reacts explosively and
produces hydrogen chloride gas.
Now, if they dumped this stuff alongside
the road somewhere, and it rains,
it would produce a cloud of gas
that could kill
hundreds of people.
I still say we could
have gone the whole way
and dumped this
where the man told us to.
Well, forget what he told us.
This is better. I dumped
the last one here.
Now, let's just get
rid of all this stuff.
I got a lot more
to do with my life
than spend it on
a road to nowhere.
Come on.
Hardwood!
Let's back this
sucker up to the edge.
We're gonna roll
these babies off.
Nobody sings
'em like ol' Willie.
Now, before I pump
the next tune to ya',
let's take a look at
the weather for you all.
We're lookin' at
increasing high cloudiness,
becoming heavier by
the end of the week,
and rain is forecast
for the weekend
in the high deserts
and into inland valleys.
Sorry, all you good buddies
who got plans for sunshine,
it's gonna be a
wet one out there.
And now, our boy Conway,
doin', 'I Can't See Me Without You.'
Kimball, is it me, or are truck
accidents happening more often?
Yep. More often.
Seems every time I go
to work in the morning
I see another truck
turned over on its side.
Why is that? It's crazy.
Well, I can give you a
hundred different reasons.
Bad brakes, bald tires,
retreads, overtired
drivers, drugs.
How do they get away with it?
Ha! There are three million
truckers on the road nationwide,
and only a hundred
and eighty of us.
Does that answer your question?
Well, it sure would be nice to
know what it was they were hauling.
Now, supposing
Chesnel had been hauling
an unmarked load of
chemicals or herbicides.
We wouldn't know what
the hell we were up against.
That's exactly why I
asked you to see his truck.
I think he was involved in
dumping phosphorus tri-chloride.
Phosphorus tri-chloride?
He was supposed to
be hauling machine parts.
Where did the phosphorus
tri-chloride come from?
Well I'd like to find out.
What did you come up with?
Nothing that could have
caused the accident.
No, our motor carrier people
have been over this thing
from brakes to coupling devices.
Now, mind you, his tractor
brakes were not all that great.
But he never had a
chance to use them
to prevent this
particular accident.
How can you tell?
No skid marks.
Now, that's consistent
with your theory, Doctor,
that Chesnel was the
direct cause of the accident.
Well, if we don't find out
where he dumped that waste,
he could be responsible
for a lot of other deaths.
Umm.
Maybe we better
talk to his partner.
He might have been
in on the dumping.
Ha... good luck.
What do ya' mean?
Well, I talked to his partner a
couple of days ago in the hospital.
I called him back
yesterday, he'd vanished.
Well, didn't you get an address
on him in the accident report?
Well, that's another problem
we have with truckers.
He gave me an
out-of-state license.
So?
So, it was a bogus.
See, a lot of truckers do that.
They get three or four
licenses from different states.
That way, all they have to
do is change the middle initial
or use somebody else's address.
Then, if there's an accident or if
they get a traffic ticket, no record.
No record, no insurance hikes.
They got it down to a science.
Well, I'm gonna get
this stuff analyzed.
Then I'm gonna go see
the guys at Public Health.
Yeah, well, I'll keep
on it from our end.
We'll find 'em.
We better.
I thought you guys kept tabs
on all those chemical movements.
I'm sorry, Doctor. All I can
do at this point, and I will,
is have all the Class
One dumps in the area
scan their computers
for a delivery of
phosphorus tri-chloride
in the last two weeks.
Well, that's not gonna help.
I already saw his manifests.
Chesnel didn't haul one
legitimate ounce of that stuff.
Look at this.
That's just a fraction of
what we're up against.
There are twenty thousand
industrial plants out there.
Only seven hundred
and fifty are registered.
It's not that I don't
want to do something.
I wanna do something.
But Doc, I'm lucky
if I catch one out of
a hundred making
an illegal discharge.
I had no idea.
I thought you guys had come up
with a cradle-to-grave tracking system.
Any plant that produces hazardous
waste should be responsible for it,
from the plant to
a Class One fill!
Sure. Lemme tell
you somethin', Doc.
Anybody that thinks
that manifesting is
the answer to our
problem is nuts.
That system will work if a guy
intends to comply with the law.
But if he doesn't,
forget about it.
He'll never fill out
the proper papers.
He'll just take a
detour and he'll dump it
off the side of the
road somewhere.
How can they keep
doing that? How? Why?
Because a small mom-and-pop shop
can save a couple of
thousand dollars a year this way.
Listen, California
has the toughest
health and safety
laws in the country,
and still, statewide, we haven't
got a handful of cases filed.
And we know that's
just the tip of the iceberg.
Doc, we can't police
everyone all the time.
There are twenty
thousand of them out there.
I've only got
eight. Investigators.
Why'd I think you'd
be able to help me?
Doc, give me something
a little more concrete.
Anything. Bring me something
from the samples that you took.
Bring me a witness.
Something, anything, just so
we can narrow this thing down.
Oh, sure.
Excuse me.
Giavelli.
Uh, Doctor Quincy?
Yeah, hold on.
Yeah? Yeah, Sam,
what did you find?
You're kidding!
I owe you a dinner.
No... No, I'm gonna take you to
a place where they
have table cloths.
Thanks, buddy.
The samples I took off
the brake pedal of his truck
were loaded with phosphorus
tri-chloride on organo-phosphates.
Now, what does that tell us?
What that tells us, Doc,
is that we are in business.
Okay, that gives us eight plants
in the area with
that code number
that produce organophosphates.
That's terrific.
Now what we need
to do is find out
who does the waste
hauling for these plants.
If your man worked for
one of these companies...
We're in luck.
You check out those,
I'll check out these.
Listen, Doctor, I run a
clean operation here.
You just can't come in here demanding
to see my manifests or anything.
Mister Witten, you're
either gonna talk to me or
you're gonna talk to a
lieutenant downtown.
But one way or
the other I'm gonna
find out what firm is
hauling your waste.
No.
No, listen...
A couple of companies came
in here and bid on the job.
I gave it to the guy
with the lowest bid.
Now, he takes it where he
takes it, where he's supposed to.
That's all I know.
You got the paper
work to prove that?
Doctor, I'm a little guy.
For a few gallons of this and
that I don't keep any records.
Hey, why don't you go pick on
the big guys? Give me a break?
You're breaking the law, Mister
Witten, by not keeping those records.
Now, unless you want to add
aiding and abetting a criminal to that,
you better tell me what
firm is doing your hauling!
B.B. Hellworth.
Hellworth Trucking.
Out in Cerritos.
Can I help you folks?
We're looking for
Mister Hellworth.
Well, you're talkin' to
him. What can I do for you?
Did a Hank Chesnel work for you?
Chesnel...
I don't know him.
I'm Anthony Giavelli from the
Department of Health Services.
This is Doctor Quincy
from the Coroner's Office.
Mister Hellworth, we have reason
to suspect that your
company's been moving
hazardous cargo
without proper permits.
I don't know what the
hell you're talkin' about.
Hey, Charlie!
I think you do.
We just left Witten's
pesticide plant.
He said you did all
his hauling for him.
Now, you better tell us where that
stuff is or you're in a lot of trouble.
I don't have to
tell you nothin'.
I don't know this
Witten company.
Uh, unless you guys got a
search warrant or somethin',
to be on my property,
you better beat it.
Courtesy of Department
of Health Services, sir.
Never mind, Charlie.
Now, Mister Giavelli's gonna go
over your trucks, your
yard, your garbage.
If he finds even a trace
of phosphorus tri-chloride,
or any other dangerous
waste material,
you're gonna be lookin' at fifty
thousand dollars worth of criminal fines.
Hellworth, tell us
where it was dumped.
Everything is okay.
It's all safe until I can
dispose of it properly.
It's all safe. Not safe enough.
It killed Hank Chesnel.
Now, before it
kills anybody else
you better tell us
where you dumped it
or you'll also be
looking at murder.
I thought it was an accident.
No.
Okay. I'll get my car.
We'll follow you.
Be careful.
They're all leaking
fumes that are dangerous.
I see somethin'
like this, I could cry.
I hope you throw
the book at him.
Don't you worry, Doc.
I'm gonna make an
example outta him.
If I've got anything
to say about it,
they'll string him
up by his thumbs.
Where were his
brains, putting a place
like this in the
middle of a town,
next to a freeway?
If the waste in those
drums ever mixed together,
God only knows what'll happen!
If the people would
just pay some attention
to what's goin' on around them.
If they keep their eyes open,
report illegal dumps like this,
then maybe we could
do somethin' about this
before they blow up
or pollute water tables.
We better get a
crew out here and
move this stuff to a
Class One fill right away.
They ain't here.
What isn't here?
The last two loads ain't here.
What do you mean?
How do you know?
I got my own
system of markin' 'em.
Witten's pesticides were blue
and yellow and they ain't here!
Where else could they
have dumped them?
How do I know?
I paid' em to put it
here, where it's dry.
Safe and dry!
They were never safe.
And if they weren't dumped
at a place with a cover.
They're not gonna
be dry much longer.
Thank you.
I wanted to return the
manifests as quickly as possible.
You were right. I didn't find
an ounce of the stuff in there.
I knew you wouldn't.
Mrs. Chesnel, your husband
died of chemical poisoning.
Now, no matter what
the manifests say,
he was making illegal
dumps of deadly waste.
I've gotta find out
where he dumped it.
Can you tell me where
Mickey Lankford is?
He knows where
the stuff was dumped.
Trouble.
Mickey was always trouble.
Can you tell me where he is?
I've been trying to reach
him for the last few days,
but either his phone is out
of order or he's not picking up.
Well, can you tell me where
he lives, where he stays?
He lives in Sacramento.
I don't know the address, but...
I know where he lives, where
he goes. I could show you.
When?
Tomorrow.
Do you know the Val Verde
Park turn-off on old ninety-nine?
I can find it.
Well, meet me there
tomorrow at 6 a.m.
I'll find him.
You're driving one of these?
Why are you so surprised?
I don't know.
I guess I was
being chauvinistic.
Look at these hands. Feel 'em.
Wow!
I had more calluses
than my husband
when I was driving
with him full time.
Come on, cowboy, climb aboard.
Okay.
It's really, it's really not so
strange. A lot of women drive.
To keep their husbands
company, or honest.
Or to meet future husbands.
More women are taking
to the road every day.
We're goin' on rubber.
Breaker one-nine...
Breaker one-nine...
This is Belle Starr
on the boulevard.
Got a bear nosing
out of the bushes
at Miller's Crossing,
headed North.
A bear?
Roger, come back,
Belle Starr... Is that you?
This is Starvin'
Marvin reading you.
Where are you? Come back.
Starvin' Marvin, this
is Belle back. Over.
Gal... What're you
doin' on the road?
I heard Hank bought it.
I'm real sorry. He
was a good man.
I'm gonna miss him too, babe.
Is there anything
I can do to help?
No, Marv. Thanks. No, nothing.
Yes!
Have you seen Mickey
Lankford on the road?
Not today.
I'll keep my ears
open about Mick.
If you need
anything, let me know.
Be strong, babe.
Keep the rubber side down
and the shiny side up, now, okay?
Ten-four, Marv.
Can you tell me what
that was all about?
I didn't see any bushes,
I didn't see any bears.
What were you talkin' about?
Oh, the Highway
Patrol car back there.
I was lettin' folks know we
got a Smokey on the prowl.
Passin' on where he is.
Well, he's right on your tail.
Oh-ho-ho, don't worry, cowboy.
I'm not planning on
feeding the bears.
Getting a ticket!
Tell me... how does somebody
start to do something like this?
You mean why, don't you?
I think a guy's gotta
have rocks in his head.
Some men claim it's in the
blood, some like feeling of power.
Some are just little
boys trying to run away.
It's no life for a
family, though.
Having your man on the road
nine, ten months out of the year.
Hank was trying to
get enough money
together to start a
short-haul business.
We were almost there.
Why'd you start driving?
One month, Hank
did fifty thousand miles
without ever getting
out of his truck.
All by himself.
I guess I did it
out of self-defense.
Why'd he do so many miles?
Well, it's the only way a
trucker can make any money.
It seems you just can't do
it without breaking the law.
I'm not condoning
it, but it's a fact.
What with licensing, insurance,
maintenance, fuel
costs... all add up.
And there's deregulation and,
uh, losing of the
fuel surplus charge,
the little guy's
being wiped out.
It's all changed.
The believers can't afford
to be good guys anymore.
And you can't help anybody when
you have to run at fifty-five miles.
These hot heads who
think because they've got
sixty tons of metal
they own the road.
And they you know,
they work sixteen,
twenty hours at a
stretch sometimes, too.
Well, aren't they supposed to
keep a log on the hours they drive?
Like drive for ten, off eight?
Well, some guys keep
a dummy log. A lie sheet.
The fines aren't that bad, so
they can't do any differently.
Is that why you stopped?
Partly.
And then, there's just so much jolting
and jostling these old bones can take.
Come on, what old bones?
Oh, what's the soup of the day?
Soup d'jour is chili.
Soup d'jour is chili.
No, not after that
ride. Coffee will be fine.
Coffee, please. Okay.
Glad I caught up with you, gal.
I'm fine. You okay?
Lon, I just want to say how
terribly sorry I am about Hank.
Thanks. Terrible.
Doctor Quincy, this
is Hiram Woods...
How do you do.
Don't tell me, that's
Starvin' Marvin.
The Doctor's looking
into Hank's death.
Looking into? He
bought the orchard.
At least that's
the way I heard it.
Oh, he didn't die because
of the accident. He...
Listen, why don't
you guys sit down,
let me buy you a
cup of coffee, please?
Sure, if you can
stand this place's mud.
Slide in, Hardwood.
Hey, Debbie, draw
two more black ones.
Okay, Marvin.
He was dead before
that truck rolled over.
He died of chemical poisoning.
What do you mean?
He was hauling toxic wastes.
Illegally. That's what I think.
You guys know anything about it?
I don't know nothin' about that.
Like I said, I'm real
sorry about Hank.
Look, we're not the police.
Somebody is moving
phosphorus tri-chloride.
That's a deadly time
bomb waiting to explode.
And if they're dumping it
near a heavily populated area...
I know you guys are
having it rough right now,
but this is deadly stuff,
and the rains are coming.
When this garbage mixes
with water, it explodes
and sends up a
cloud of gas that could
kill hundreds and
hundreds of people.
Yeah. That's why
you're lookin' for Mickey?
If Hank was hauling
that garbage, you know
damned well Mickey
pushed him into it.
Who's driving with Lankford now?
I wouldn't know.
I just drive.
I'll haul anything
anywhere... If the price is right.
If I find out anything, honey,
I'll let you know. Take care.
Nice to have met you, Doctor.
Doctor, I just had a thought.
I think I know where
Mickey might be.
Let's go.
None of these rigs are his,
but maybe he's been here.
It usually takes and I.C.C.
card to open up these doors.
You better let
me do the talking.
What's an I.C.C. card?
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Hey, leave me alone. I
got another half an hour.
Uh, what can I do for you folks?
Uh, have you got a card?
Have you seen Mickey
Lankford recently?
Uh, look sister, I
don't want any trouble
from girlfriends or wives, so,
uh, park it somewhere else, okay?
Please, this is very important.
Has Mister Lankford
been here? Is he here now?
Oh, look sister, move
it on down the line.
I don't trade with strangers.
It's very important.
Lookin' for trouble, mister?
'Cause you just found it.
Ha-ha... hiya, Lonny.
Hey, baby, how you doin'?
Uh, how are things
goin with you?
Not so good, Will.
Have you seen Mickey?
Has he been here?
Well, I haven't seen
him for a couple of days.
Sally, when'd you last see him?
A few days ago. Hey,
what's all this about?
Will, if he stops
by here again soon
would you tell him I need
to talk to him? Please?
It's very important.
Yeah... yeah, sure.
Lon, uh... excuse me,
this is a little personal.
Oh, yeah... sure.
Hey, uh, Lon, you
wouldn't tell Maria
that you know, saw
me in there, you know,
because when she gets
hot she gets like a pistol...
Don't worry.
Now, don't forget to put
Mickey in touch with me, okay?
Thanks. Okay.
Right See ya'.
Mickey?
Mickey, you in there?
It was the same
damned thing, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Oh... fools!
Damn fools!
I should have known.
I never wanted this.
I know that.
I should have known.
The money was too good.
I knew he was moonlighting but I
didn't know what he was hauling.
If only I'd said something.
You can't blame
yourself. You didn't know.
I didn't want to know.
What're you gonna do?
That stuff is deadly. I
heard what you said.
What if they did dump it in a
campground and some kids found it?
Or what if you can't find
it before the rain comes?
We'll find it.
There's gotta be
something at Mickey's place
that can tell us
where they've been.
Gimme a minute to change.
Yeah.
Half of these aren't
even filled out.
On November seventeenth he
drove twenty-eight straight hours.
That must be a real one.
The others are lie sheets
for the benefit of Uncle Sam.
They aren't worth the
time it took the ink to dry.
They'll never tell us
where Mickey's been.
Did he own his own rig?
Yes. A tractor just like Hank.
Do you know where he
kept it, where he parked it?
Yes. But what
good would that do?
Well, maybe Mickey can't
tell us where he's been,
but I think the truck can.
Come on.
What're you gonna do with these
old clothes we
found in the truck?
You remember those
burns I showed you?
Those were acid burns.
Mickey was wearing those clothes
when he dumped
the acid that killed him.
Picked up some
of the environment.
Plant material, soil,
maybe even insects.
What're you doing now?
We're gonna retrace every mile
that this truck has
covered in the last few days.
I don't understand how.
Well, each insect
has its own territory.
It may be characteristic of
only one part of the state.
We gotta get this to the lab.
If we're lucky, we
may get some answers.
Doctor Hernandez...
Looks like a dragonfly
with a kind of blue tail.
A damselfly... that's common.
Civil Bluet, that's found
through the, uh, Central Valley.
That's another one along five.
I have a wing and
a part of a body.
I think it's a yellow butterfly.
Yes. Another Sulfur butterfly.
An Alfalfa Butterfly.
That's also found
through the Central Valley.
Everything is common
to the Central Valley.
There's nothing unique here.
Maybe there's
somethin' in his clothes.
I have something here
I haven't seen before.
Looks like a big beetle.
Pleocoma bicolor.
It's a rain beetle!
We had thunder showers in
the, uh, foothills this last weekend.
These beetles come
out with the first rains.
Yeah?
Their population is limited
to the San Bernadino
Mountains, east of Cajon Pass.
I gotta take
another look at this.
So, if he went east
on ten, up fifteen
toward Hellworth's dumping
area, he'd have to pass that.
These are perfect illegal
dumping conditions.
They could have taken a
detour off any one of these roads
and dumped a load without
anybody seeing anything.
It's an enormous area.
It has to be over five
hundred square miles.
Well, we've got to localize it.
The rains could
hit at any moment.
What about Doctor Millspaugh
from the Botanical Gardens?
He was analyzing the plant
material on Mickey's socks.
Still workin' on it, Quince. But
he needs a couple of more hours.
But I really don't think it's
gonna help us that much.
Sam, anything can help us now.
Hey, Doctor Quincy.
Do you know a fellow by
the name of Starvin' Marvin?
Yeah. What about him?
Well, he and another guy. They
insisted to see you right now.
Help them to my
office, will you Pete?
I'm gettin' outta here.
Oh, no you're not neither.
What's goin' on?
Tell him.
You said you were gonna tell
him where you dumped the stuff.
I ain't lookin' for trouble.
Well, if you don't tell
me, you're gonna find it.
Now, go ahead. Tell
him what you told me.
Well...
Me... Mickey and me,
took a hot load from...
From Hellworth, a
couple of days ago.
You know, moonlight express.
Mickey didn't want to go
the full term, so we, uh.
We back-pastured
it along fifteen.
Where? Do you remember where?
If you got a map I can show you.
Come on.
Let's go! Let's go!
Come on, move it!
Come on, let's go. Come on.
Okay, let's move it!
Evaluate the drums.
The ones that are dry, pull them
together and get a cover over them.
The sky could open up
any minute, so let's move it!
I want you guys to be
ready if this brush goes up.
Now, keep away from those drums.
If water hits them this
whole area could go.
All right, the drums
that are leaking,
do not move the
drums that are leaking!
Just turn' em until they stop
leaking and cover 'em in place!
Gettin' pretty close.
How're we doin'?
I saw two more drums
in the gully, there.
There are two more
drums down that ravine.
Get a tarp over 'em!
And fast!
Not you firemen!
Leave that to the
Hazardous Materials Team.
Without acid suits, those fumes
will eat right
through your flesh!
So far our medical officer hasn't
had to take care of anybody.
Let's hope we can
keep it that way.
We've got about half
the population evacuated.
Five, maybe ten more minutes,
we'll have the whole area cleared.
How's it look here?
Still a race, Max. Still a race.
Doc, we did it.
We did it!
Where's the key?
Come on, open it.
Bless you.
Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you.
I'm telling you, drink this.
Hot brandy and lemon.
It's trucker's penicillin.
Yeah, I heard about that.
No, honest. Tea's fine. Really.
Here we go.
Doctor Q of Saint Lou.
Not a bad handle, huh?
Yeah, next thing you know
he'll want a TV in his car.
You guys kill me. I
don't... what is that?
What do you mean, what is that?
That's Doctor Daniel's Special
Cure-all Germ-chasing Chili.
Thank you.
Gimme a break, will ya'?
Look, he's only got a cold.
Are you tryin' to kill him?
Oh... thanks a lot.
You like it?
I like it.
Wow!
I apologize.
You get the real
stamp of approval.
What's that?
Truckers eat here.