T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): Season 2, Episode 17 - Sweet Sixteen and Dead - full transcript
A young prostitute is killed by her pimp which was witnessed by a former prostitute who works at a shelter that helps them. Hooker tries to find her before the pimp.
HEY, YOU WANT THIS?
LOOK AT 'EM. KIDS
SELLING THEMSELVES.
WHAT KIND OF MAGNET PULLS
THEM HERE TO THE BOULEVARD?
DREAMS THAT NEVER
GOT A DOSE OF REALITY.
HOMES THAT DON'T CARE, PARENTS
AND KIDS ALIKE THAT DON'T LISTEN.
ALL OF IT KEEPS A STEADY STREAM
FLOWING INTO THE BOULEVARD.
HI.
HEY, $20?
GET LOST.
OK. YOU SURE? $20?
IS THAT THE NEW FACE I
SHOULD BE TALKING TO, IRENE?
RIGHT.
THEN I'LL MEET YOU
BACK AT THE SHELTER.
HIT HER HARD, STAR. THE LONGER
SHE STAYS OUT ON THAT BOULEVARD,
THE HARDER IT'S GONNA BE FOR
US TO PULL HER OFF OF IT. OK?
OK. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
HI, HOW YOU DOIN'?
LOOK, I'VE HEARD ALL
ABOUT IRENE'S SHELTER.
I DON'T NEED SAVING, STAR.
MY EXACT WORDS LESS
THAN A MONTH AGO.
OH, YOU WERE INTO THIS?
YEAH.
BURNHAM, I PAY YOU
TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THE COPS
TO LEAVE THE BOULEVARD ALONE,
AND LATELY I DON'T THINK I'M
GETTING MY MONEY'S WORTH.
IF COUNCILMAN GEAR'S
LITTLE SPEECH TOMORROW
DOESN'T PLEASE ME,
PHIL HERE IS GONNA
COME LOOKIN' FOR YOU.
OH, IT WILL, MR. PEARL.
THE COUNCILMAN ACTS
ON EVERYTHING I FEED HIM.
I THINK IT WAS GREAT.
NO, IT'S NOT REALLY
THAT GREAT. I MEAN...
THEY SAW ME!
THOSE TWO LITTLE TRAMPS
SAW ME TAKE THE MONEY!
AND ONE OF THEM KNOWS ME.
SHUT UP, BURNHAM.
I MADE 'EM BOTH, EDDIE.
ONE'S STAR TAYLOR.
SHE USED TO BE ONE OF OUR LADIES
TILL IRENE GORDON
TURNED HER AROUND.
THE OTHER KID'S A NEW
FACE I'VE BEEN CHECKIN' OUT.
STAR. THAT'S THE ONE
THAT CAN FINGER ME.
YOU SET ME UP WITH
HER YOURSELF, PEARL.
PICK UP YOUR MONEY
AND SPLIT, BURNHAM.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE GIRLS?
THAT... THAT STAR CHICK IS PROBABLY
TELLING HER FRIEND ABOUT ME RIGHT NOW.
YOU JUST SAW BOTH OF
'EM FOR THE LAST TIME.
I CAN'T GO BACK HOME.
BESIDES, IT WASN'T
EVEN A MINUTE AGO
YOU WERE TRYIN' TO GET
ME TO GO TO IRENE'S SHELTER.
LOOK, EDDIE PEARL RUNS
ALL THE BOULEVARD ACTION
FROM PROSTITUTION TO DRUGS.
AND WE JUST SAW ONE OF THE
REASONS HE GETS AWAY WITH IT.
THAT GUY THAT HE WAS PAYING OFF?
HE'S AN AID TO A
CITY COUNCILMAN.
WE'VE GOTTA GET AWAY FROM PEARL
OR WE'LL JUST TURN UP
LIKE NUMBERS IN A MORGUE.
AND IRENE'S SHELTER ISN'T
NEARLY FAR ENOUGH AWAY.
NOW CALL. PLEASE.
HELLO, OPERATOR?
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COLLECT CALL
TO FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.
THERE THEY ARE.
LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS MY BROTHER
GORDIE WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE.
MY PARENTS WOULD'VE STARTED
YELLING AT ME LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO.
IS YOUR BROTHER COMING?
BUT HE CAN'T MAKE IT TO
MY PLACE UNTIL TOMORROW.
THEN WE'LL JUST
KEEP HIDING TILL THEN.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, STAR?
WHAT?
ARE YOU GONNA GO HOME?
NO.
I CAN'T, EVER.
GET IN, LADIES.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE
PHONE CALLS YOU'VE BEEN MAKIN'.
PLEASE.
DON'T DO IT, KELLY! RUN!
I SAY THE BEST WAY TO KEEP
THE PARASITES FROM CLAMPING ON
IN THE FIRST PLACE IS TO EXPOSE
OUR KIDS TO A GOOD VALUE SYSTEM
STRAIGHT ON. LIKE MY
CHRISSIE FOR INSTANCE.
SHE'S A... A RANGER
GIRL, YOU KNOW.
AH.
IT'S A TERRIFIC ORGANIZATION. SHE'S
SELLING THESE RANGER GIRL COOKIES.
YEAH?
YEAH, TO SUPPORT
THEM. WANNA BUY SOME?
I THINK I'VE JUST BEEN HAD.
HOOKER, I... I... I... IN THE FIRST
PLACE, I DON'T LIKE COOKIES
OK, OK, OK.
I TRIED.
TRIED?
THAT WAS TRYING?
THIS IS FOR CHRISSIE.
NOT TO MENTION A
WORTHWHILE CAUSE.
WHAT A FATHER. YOU JUST GIVE ME
SOME OF THOSE COOKIES, I'LL SELL 'EM.
YOU SURE?
HOOKER, WHAT THE
COLONEL DID FOR CHICKEN,
ROMANO WILL DO FOR COOKIES.
LET'S FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING DOWN.
LET ME GO! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
LOSE THOSE COPS, WILL YOU?
I CAN HARDLY HOLD ONTO HER.
OH, GOD.
BROADCAST THEIR DIRECTION AND
DESCRIPTION. REQUEST AN AMBULANCE.
4-ADAM-30.
MY FACE. IS MY FACE...
SAY IT AGAIN.
WHAT?
DR. BAKER, PEDIATRICS.
HOLD IT, JUST A MINUTE.
LOUDER.
SAY THAT LOUDER.
SPEAK UP.
WERE YOU ABLE TO MAKE
OUT WHAT SHE WAS SAYING?
NOT CLEARLY. SOMETHING
ABOUT A MONEY ENVELOPE.
WHAT ABOUT HER I.D.?
I FOUND THIS MOTEL KEY, HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT I.D., AND A DRIVERS LICENSE.
THE DRIVERS LICENSE LOOKS LIKE IT'S A
STANDARD PHONY SHE'D USE IN CASE OF A BUST.
IT SAYS SHE'S 21.
THE STUDENT I.D. LOOKS FOR REAL.
IT WAS IN HER SHOE. IT SAYS HER
NAME'S KELLY HOBBS FROM FRESNO.
DR. McCULLAN, SURGERY
PLEASE. DR. McCULLAN.
KELLY HOBBS FROM
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.
TODAY'S HER BIRTHDAY, 16.
DID D.M.V. COME UP WITH A RETURN
ON THE SUSPECT LICENSE YET?
NOT ON FILE, IT SAYS
TO CALL AFTER 0800.
0800.
A TEENAGER'S
MANHANDLED BY AN ANIMAL
AND THE BUREAUCRATS
MAKE US WAIT TILL 0800.
DR. WHITE, TELEPHONE
PLEASE. DR. WHITE.
KIDS DO HAVE A WAY OF
GETTING TO YOU, DON'T THEY?
IT'S THE WORST PART
OF THE JOB, JUNIOR.
BOULEVARD AMUSEMENTS.
NOW THAT'S ONE OF
EDDIE PEARL'S DUMPS.
IT'S STARTING TO MAKE SENSE.
YOU PUT PEARL TOGETHER WITH
THAT YOUNG PROSTITUTE KELLY,
SAYING SOMETHING
ABOUT A MONEY ENVELOPE,
THAT OTHER YOUNG GIRL WE
SAW RUNNING FROM PEARL'S CAR
LIKE SHE WAS SCARED
OUT OF HER MIND.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE BOTH OF THEM
SAW ONE OF PEARL'S DEALS GO DOWN.
SURE, A DRUG DEAL, A PAY OFF.
NOW THAT FITS EDDIE
PEARL'S PROFILE TO A TEE.
I'D GIVE A MONTH'S PAY
TO MAKE A CASE ON PEARL.
AND I'D PUT MY PAYCHECK
RIGHT DOWN NEXT TO IT, HOOKER.
AND ANOTHER ONE TO SEE
IF THAT RUMOR ABOUT PEARL
HAVING A VERY INCRIMINATING
LEDGER BOOK IS REALLY TRUE.
WHY DON'T WE START WITH
WHY THAT GIRL WAS IN THE CAR
IN THE FIRST PLACE
AND GO FROM THERE?
ROMANO, WHAT DID YOU BUY NOW?
I'M NOT BUYING,
SWEETHEART, I'M SELLING.
AT A MINIMUM COST OF A MERE $2,
YOU CAN ENJOY THE DELIGHTFUL
FLAVOR OF THE RICHEST OF CHOCOLATES,
COMBINED WITH THE
TANTALIZING TASTE...
WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?
DETECTIVE WARNER
IS SELLING THEM.
HE IS?
I DUMPED THE CAR IN THE
COUNTY TERRITORY 3 HOURS AGO,
THEN REPORTED IT STOLEN.
GOOD.
THAT MEANS WE SHOULD HAVE
IT BACK BEFORE THE DAY'S END.
THAT CARD GAME ALIBI
YOU PUT TOGETHER FOR US,
IT AIN'T GONNA HOLD WATER IF
EITHER ONE OF THOSE TRAMPS TALK.
WELL, WE CAN WORRY ABOUT THAT IF AND WHEN
THE BEGINNER IS SPRUNG FROM THE HOSPITAL.
JUST MAKE DAMN SURE THE
COPS DON'T FIND STAR, HMM?
SHE'S DEAD MEAT ON THE
BOULEVARD, YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU GOT IT, EDDIE.
4-ADAM-30, 4-ADAM-30,
VEHICLE REPORTED STOLEN
AT 8:10 A.M. THIS DATE.
RECOVERED BY L.A.S.O. IN
COUNTY TERRITORY AN HOUR AGO.
YEAH, YEAH. 4-ADAM-30, ROGER.
DID I TELL YOU PEARL
WOULD SET UP AN ALIBI?
SO DO WE VISIT HIM TO HEAR
THE REST OF THE ALIBI FIRST HAND?
I WANT ALL THE AMMO I CAN GET
TO BREAK DOWN HIS
ALIBI BEFORE WE VISIT HIM.
SO FIRST, WE'LL TOSS
KELLY HOBBS' MOTEL ROOM
FOR ANY POSSIBLE
CONNECT-UP TO PEARL.
NEVER WOULD'VE GUESSED
IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS.
KIDS AREN'T INTO
RED FLOCK AND SATIN.
NO MATTER WHAT HER PROBLEMS ARE,
OR HER WAY OF SURVIVING,
SHE'S STILL A TEENAGER.
MY DAUGHTER'S DRESSER
LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS ONE.
RENT RECEIPT. SHE
CHECKED IN A WEEK AGO.
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE'S KELLY?
WHY DO YOU ASK?
I'M HER BROTHER, GORDIE. AND I'VE
COME TO PICK HER UP. WHERE IS SHE?
WHEN WAS THE LAST
TIME YOU TALKED TO HER?
SHE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT.
UH, ASKED ME TO COME
DOWN AND PICK HER UP,
TAKE HER BACK HOME TO FRESNO.
DID SHE SAY WHY?
ONLY THAT SOME GIRL NAMED STAR
FROM SOME KIND OF
SHELTER TOLD HER
THAT SHE SAW SOMETHING THAT MADE IT
DANGEROUS FOR HER TO STAY DOWN HERE.
COME ON. WHAT... WHAT IS IT?
WHERE... WHERE'S MY SISTER?
GORDIE,
KELLY WAS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT
LAST NIGHT. SHE'S IN INTENSIVE CARE.
OH, MAN.
WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL
AS SOON AS WE'RE FINISHED HERE.
THIS, UH, THIS STAR, DID KELLY
SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A LAST NAME?
JUST... JUST STAR, THAT'S ALL.
SHE, UH, SOUNDED REAL SCARED.
WHAT ABOUT THE SHELTER?
UH... DID SHE SAY WHICH ONE?
YEAH, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
WHICH ONE IT WAS SHE SAID.
UH, MOTHER HARRY?
TEEN DROP? IRENE'S?
IRENE'S, THAT IT. IRENE'S.
YOU SAID THAT THIS
WAS AN ACCIDENT.
NOW, IF THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT,
HOW COME THE POLICE ARE INVOLVED?
'CAUSE IT WAS A MAN-MADE
ACCIDENT, AND I WANNA NAIL THAT MAN.
OH, THAT'S HER, ALL RIGHT.
STAR WAS TRYING TO HELP
HER GET OFF THE STREET.
I HAVEN'T SEEN EITHER
ONE OF THEM SINCE.
NOT MUCH QUESTION WHY, IS THERE?
YOU MEAN NONE OF YOUR GIRLS SAW
ANYONE ENTER OR LEAVE THIS HOUSE?
THEY'RE ALL AT SCHOOL OR
STRAIGHT JOBS DURING THE DAY.
BUT SO WHAT?
YOU SAID PEARL AND DECKER
MOST LIKELY HAD AN ALIBI ANYWAY.
I REMEMBER WHEN I
WAS ON THE STREET
AND YOU'D BUST ME REGULAR
AS CLOCKWORK, HOOKER.
AND YOU WERE ALL OVER
PEARL AND DECKER THEN, TOO.
TOO BAD THE COURTS
NEVER GOT 'EM PUT AWAY.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA WALK
ON THIS ONE, I PROMISE YOU.
IRENE, WE NEED AN
ADDRESS ON STAR'S PARENTS.
I CAN'T DO THAT.
HOOKER, THE GIRLS WOULD SEE
IT AS A VIOLATION OF THEIR TRUST.
IRENE, KELLY'S CONDITION
IS WORSE, SHE CAN'T TALK.
THAT MAKES STAR MY ONLY
SOURCE FOR NAILING PEARL.
THIS TELLS ME THAT
PEARL KNOWS THAT, TOO.
SHE'S IN DANGER, IRENE.
COME ON, IT'S IN MY OFFICE.
STAR'S BEEN IN AND OUT
OF TROUBLE OVER 3 YEARS.
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED
LAST NIGHT, MRS. TAYLOR,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND HER.
WE HAVE REASON TO
BELIEVE SHE'S IN DANGER.
I HAVEN'T SEEN OR
HEARD FROM MY DAUGHTER
SINCE SHE CAME BACK
HOME OVER A MONTH AGO.
SHE CAME BACK.
SHE SAID SHE WAS THROUGH
WITH THAT LIFE, BUT IT WASN'T TRUE.
SOME TERRIBLE MAN KEPT CALLING
ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
HE EVEN THREATENED ME. HE
TOLD ME TO SEND STAR BACK.
BACK TO THE BOULEVARD.
STAR, MISS TAYLOR?
DOROTHY SHE WAS, THEN.
SHE CAME BACK
CALLING HERSELF "STAR"
AFTER THE SECOND
TIME SHE RAN AWAY.
WHEN WE FIND HER...
LOOK, SERGEANT, I'VE
BEEN THROUGH IT ALL.
THE JUVENILE PEOPLE,
THE COURTS, THE SCHOOL.
I HAVE 3 OTHER
CHILDREN TO PROTECT.
MY DOROTHY'S GONE.
AND I DON'T WANT THIS
OTHER PERSON, THIS "STAR",
IN MY LIFE ANYMORE.
LOOK, NO MATTER WHAT SHE'S DONE,
SHE COULD NEVER MAKE IT BACK
UNLESS SHE HAS SOMEONE HERE,
WAITING TO HELP HER.
WHAT'S THE NEXT BEST PLACE SHE
MIGHT GO OTHER THAN THE BOULEVARD?
THE FIRST TIME DOROTHY RAN
AWAY, I SEARCHED EVERYWHERE.
YOU MIGHT TRY SAINT MARK'S.
SHE WAS ALONE IN THE
CONFESSIONAL WHEN I FOUND HER.
I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT
YOU WERE SOMEONE ELSE.
COULD THAT SOMEONE ELSE
BE STAR TAYLOR, SERGEANT?
YES, IT IS, FATHER.
I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.
DON'T BE, SERGEANT. IT'S
OFTEN THAT YOUR WORK AND MINE
INVOLVES THE SAME CUSTOMERS.
DO YOU KNOW STAR TAYLOR, FATHER?
SHE HASN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE,
BUT I KNOW WHAT KIND
OF TROUBLE SHE'S IN.
I HEAR A LOT FROM
THE... THE OTHER GIRLS.
THEN YOU KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE FIND HER.
WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE
OF THE CLOTH, SERGEANT,
I CAN SAY THAT, UH, I'VE HEARD
THAT PEARL'S MAN, DECKER, PICKED
HER UP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
BUT STAR, BEING STREETWISE,
GOT AWAY FROM HIM.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE
WE MIGHT FIND HER NOW,
WITHOUT ANY
COMPROMISE OF THE CLOTH?
WELL, I HEAR, UH,
SHE'S TRYING TO RAISE
BUS FARE TO LEAVE TOWN,
BUT IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
THEY SAY STAR IS
RESISTING GOING BACK TO,
TO WHAT SHE WAS BEFORE.
I HOPE WE FIND HER BEFORE
SHE DOES GO BACK, FATHER.
OR WORSE, BEFORE
EDDIE PEARL FINDS HER.
GIRLS?
HI, OFFICER.
GIRLS, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR THIS YOUNG LADY HERE.
HAVE YOU SEEN HER?
NOT ME.
EDDIE PEARL.
I SEE YOU'VE GOT
YOUR STOLEN CAR BACK.
YES, YES, YES.
EFFICIENT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
THE SHERIFF'S TERRITORY, HOOKER.
LET ME GUESS. YOU TWO
ARE JUST OFF THE BUS,
AND THIS GENTLEMAN HERE
HAS OFFERED YOU A
RIDE TO THE BOULEVARD,
AND, UH, FREE PLAY AT SOME
TERRIFIC ARCADE, RIGHT SO FAR?
NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THAT.
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
SEE THOSE TWO OVER THERE?
WHEN YOU ACCEPT FREE
ANYTHING FROM SQUID LIKE THAT,
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE HEADED.
AND PICTURES. LOTS OF PICTURES,
AFTER YOU'RE GOOD AND HIGH.
PICTURES YOU'D RATHER DIE
THAN HAVE SEEN BY
ANYONE YOU KNOW.
THEN THE FUN IS OVER.
THAT GUY PUTS YOU OUT ON THE
STREET TO WORK FOR THE HABIT,
OR WHATEVER ELSE HE
HAS YOU OBLIGATED TO.
PRETTY SOON
YOU'RE 18 GOIN' ON 80.
TAKE THESE HOTLINE NUMBERS.
THEY'LL PUT YOU IN TOUCH
WITH ANY KIND OF HELP YOU NEED.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
SO GIRLS, WHAT'LL IT BE?
SORRY.
YEAH.
OFFICER?
COME ON, APRIL.
THAT GIRL IN THE PICTURE,
WE WERE HANGIN' AROUND
INSIDE TRYING TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO GO BACK HOME OR
NOT BEFORE THEY CAME ALONG.
I SAW HER AT THE TICKET
WINDOW TRYING TO BUY A TICKET.
TRYING?
SHE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
SHE LEFT HERE ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
THANK YOU.
THEY'RE GOING HOME.
YOU LOSE.
HOOKER, YOU EVER
BEEN TO A GRUNION RUN?
MILLIONS OF THOSE LITTLE FISH.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST
FLOPPING ALL OVER THE SAND
WAITIN' TO BE SCOOPED UP.
SOME OF THEN GET AWAY, HUH?
SOME DON'T.
THEN ONE DAY ALONG
COMES A RED TIDE,
AND THERE ARE NO
LITTLE FISH AT ALL.
I'M GONNA BREAK DOWN
WHATEVER ALIBI YOU COME UP WITH.
IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU
OR YOUR MUSCLE HERE,
SO MUCH AS TOUCHES STAR TAYLOR,
YOU'LL RUN INTO THE BLUE TIDE.
CAPISH?
I'LL KILL YOU!
BREAK IT UP!
THAT MAN'S CRAZY! I
WANT HIM ARRESTED!
WHAT ARE YOU, NUTS?
I WAS AT THE HOSPITAL,
IRENE CAME IN TO
LOOK IN ON KELLY.
SHE TOLD ME
EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM!
I WAS GONNA TAKE MY SISTER HOME,
BUT HE KILLED HER.
I WAS SITTING THERE
AT THE HOSPITAL,
TALKING TO HER
PRAYING... PRAYING
SHE COULD HEAR ME
THEN... THEN THAT ALARM
ON THAT MACHINE WENT OFF.
THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
NOTHING.
1, 2, 3, 4!
MOVE IT, MOVE IT.
THE, UH, JUDGE TELLS ME YOU
TOOK PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
WITH GORDIE FOR
HIS O.R. RELEASE.
GORDIE'S AN INNOCENT KID WHO GOT
CAUGHT IN THE BOULEVARD QUAGMIRE.
DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT.
HE PROMISED ME HE'D
GO BACK TO FRESNO,
AND STAY THERE TILL AFTER
THE TRIAL, IF THERE IS ONE.
YOU GOT GORDIE'S RELEASE PAPERS?
YES.
W-WHERE... WHERE DID
YOU GET THAT, CAPTAIN?
OH, IT'S A RANGER GIRL COOKIE.
A GOOD CAUSE AND
THEY'RE DELICIOUS,
LOOK, WHY DON'T YOU SEE SGT.
ALEXANDER? HE'S SELLING THEM.
HMM.
THANKS.
HOOKER, HELP ME.
WELL, LIKE YOU SAY,
JUNIOR, I'M NO SALESMAN.
THAT PUNK KID, HE'S
OUT OF JAIL NOW,
BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S
GOIN' HOME SO QUICK.
I THINK HE'S GONNA
KEEP COMIN' AT ME
UNTIL WE PUT HIM AWAY,
FOR GOOD.
SHOW TIME, EDDIE.
I, UH, STILL HAVEN'T CALLED MY
FOLKS TO TELL THEM ABOUT KELLY.
THAT'S ANOTHER
REASON TO GO HOME.
THAT'S THE KINDA NEWS
THEY SHOULD HEAR IN PERSON.
I JUST HATE LEAVING
EDDIE PEARL HERE ALIVE.
HEY, GORDIE, GIVE
IN TO THAT FEELING,
AND THE BOULEVARD POISON THAT TOOK
KELLY WILL MAKE A VICTIM OUT OF YOU, TOO.
IF YOU DON'T END
UP BACK IN JAIL FIRST.
NOW YOU GET IN THERE, GET HER
STUFF TOGETHER AND GO HOME!
I'LL TAKE CARE OF EDDIE
PEARL, THAT'S A PROMISE.
I WILL GO HOME THEN.
THAT'S A PROMISE.
HOOKER? STAR CALLED ME FROM
A PAY TELEPHONE 20 MINUTES AGO.
ONE OF EDDIE'S PIMPS FOUND HER
HIDING IN A MOVIE OVER ON SELMA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WELL, SHE GOT AWAY.
BUT SHE'S SCARED.
SHE'S REALLY SCARED.
WHERE IS SHE NOW?
THAT'S JUST IT. I DON'T KNOW.
SHE WAS FRANTIC, SAYIN' SHE'D
RUN OUT OF PLACES TO HIDE.
AND THEN I GUESS SHE
SAW ONE OF EDDIE'S PEOPLE,
AND SHE RAN OUT OF THE BOOTH
LEAVING THE PHONE HANGING.
OH, WHAT ARE WE
GONNA DO, HOOKER?
STAR HASN'T RUN
OUT OF PLACES TO HIDE
THERE'S ONE LEFT.
YOU!
SHE'S HERE, ISN'T SHE, FATHER?
SHE CAME OVER AN HOUR AGO.
SERGEANT, STAR IS A
VERY FRIGHTENED CHILD.
FATHER,
I'VE NEVER MET
STAR, BUT I KNOW HER.
I'VE SEEN THE PLACES SHE'S BEEN,
AND THE KINDA HUMAN BEING
SHE'S TRYING TO BECOME.
AND BELIEVE ME, THERE'S NOTHING I
WANT MORE THAN TO PROTECT HER.
BUT SHE'S GOTTA HELP ME DO THAT.
IT'S STAR'S DECISION, SERGEANT.
STAR,
I'M NOT HERE TO CHASE YOU
OR TO MAKE YOU TELL
ME WHAT YOU KNOW.
THAT'S GONNA HAVE
TO COME FREELY,
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO REPEAT THAT IN COURT.
KELLY DIED, STAR,
AND WITH HER GONE,
YOU'RE THE ONLY CHANCE
ANY OF US HAVE LEFT
TO PUT PEARL AND DECKER AWAY.
BUT I'VE GOT TO
KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW!
THEN I CAN PUT HIM IN JAIL
AND SEE THAT YOU'RE PROTECTED.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, STAR?
I'M AFRAID!
OF COURSE YOU ARE.
YOU'VE BEEN OUT
THERE ON THE STREETS.
IN COURT IT'LL BE UGLY.
MY FRIENDS, AND MY RELATIVES,
THEY'LL ALL KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN.
THEY'LL KNOW YOU
MADE SOME MISTAKES.
BUT THEY'LL ALSO SEE HOW
MUCH COURAGE YOU HAVE.
IN THE END, THAT'S ALL
THAT THEY'LL REMEMBER.
STAR, REMEMBER ALL THOSE
GIRLS WE'RE TRYING TO HELP.
THEIR REAL CHANCE WILL COME
WHEN MEN LIKE PEARL ARE GONE.
I KNOW STAR.
I'D LIKE VERY MUCH
TO MEET DOROTHY.
SO MY GUESS IS, IS THAT WE
WALKED IN ON SOME KIND OF PAYOFF.
THE GUY GOT SO SCARED,
HE EVEN DROPPED THE MONEY.
THIS GUY, DID YOU RECOGNIZE HIM?
HE WORKS FOR A COUNCILMAN,
THE ONE WHO'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
WHAT A TERRIFIC PLACE THE BOULEVARD IS.
THAT'D BE COUNCILMAN GEAR'S AID.
PEARL GIVES HIM FREEBIE
DATES WITH THE GIRLS SOMETIMES.
HE ALWAYS USES A PHONY
NAME, BUT WE KNOW HIM.
ART BURNHAM.
STAR, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD
ANYTHING ABOUT A BOOK,
OR A... A LEDGER THAT
PEARL IS RUMORED TO HAVE?
I'VE SEEN HIM AND DECKER TALKING
WITH HIS PIMPS AND RUNNERS.
HE'D MAKE LITTLE NOTES BUT
I NEVER SAW AN ACTUAL BOOK.
DID HE EVER MENTION ONE TO YOU?
NO, BUT... BUT EVERYBODY
TALKS LIKE THERE IS ONE.
A LOT OF THE GIRLS WOULD EVEN TRY
AND GUESS WHERE PEARL KEPT IT HIDDEN.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? DO YOU
HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT ONE?
WELL, WITH ALL THE
BUSINESSES THAT HE OWNS,
IT COULD BE ANYWHERE.
HOOKER, LOOK.
THAT'S GORDIE HOBBS' JEEP.
HE SHOULD'VE BEEN
GONE FROM THERE BY NOW.
HE SHOULD BE HALF-WAY
TO FRESNO BY NOW.
GORDIE?
GORDIE!
CALL THE PARAMEDICS.
OVERDOSE.
1, 2, 3,
4, 5.
GORDIE'S GONNA BE OK.
AND HE ONLY REMEMBERS
SEEING DECKER, NOT PEARL?
YEAH,
BUT STAR'S GIVEN US ENOUGH TO
GET WARRANTS ON BOTH OF THEM,
BEHIND KELLY'S ABDUCTION.
WELL, WARRANTS ARE ONE THING,
BUT CONVINCING THE D.A. TO FILE
CHARGES ISN'T GONNA BE EASY, HOOKER.
NOW LOOK, AS AN
EX-PROSTITUTE AND A MINOR,
STAR'S NOT AN IDEAL WITNESS
TO BUILD A CASE AROUND.
WHAT IF WE TRIED TO
MAKE MORE THAN A RUMOR
OF THIS BOOK THAT PEARL
IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE?
STAR THINKS THERE IS ONE.
WELL, THAT SPELLS
SURVEILLANCE, LUCK,
AND MORE MANPOWER THAN I
COULD EVER HOPE TO PUT TOGETHER.
I'LL GET THE DETECTIVES
WORKING ON THE WARRANTS.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THOSE WARRANTS
WILL DO MUCH GOOD IN THE LONG RUN.
UNLESS WE CAN FIND A
WAY TO EDDIE PEARL'S BOOK.
WHAT WAY?
LADIES,
I HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN LOOKIN'
EVERYWHERE FOR YOU.
I WAS OUT COLLECTING THE WEST SIDE
RECEIPTS. WHY? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
HOOKER. HE FOUND THE KID
BEFORE THE DRUGS KILLED HIM
AND STAR TAYLOR WAS WITH HIM.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T
MEAN SHE SAID ANYTHING.
YOU WANNA TAKE THAT CHANCE?
AND I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF
GORDIE HOBBS TALKED ABOUT ME
BEFORE THEY TOOK
HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
PEARL HERE.
MR. PEARL, THIS IS RHODA.
I GOT SOMETHIN' YOU SHOULD
BE REAL GRATEFUL FOR.
WHAT IS IT, RHODA?
OH, NOW I THINK THIS WOULD BE
WORTH MONEY TO YOU, MR. PEARL.
NOW DON'T PLAY
GAMES WITH ME, RHODA,
OR YOU'LL LOSE THE STREET
CORNER AND YOUR SKIN.
NOW I'LL LET YOU KNOW
WHAT'S WORTH WHAT.
LOOK, I'M JUST TRYING TO
BE GOOD TO YOU, MR. PEARL.
THE COPS, THEY FOUND STAR
AND THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY UPTOWN NOW
GETTIN' WARRANTS FOR YOU AND DECKER.
AND I HEAR THEY'RE PUSHIN'
FOR NO BAIL MURDER WARRANTS.
IS THAT IT, RHODA?
WELL, I'LL BE WAITIN'
FOR MY REWARD, SUGAR.
THERE YOU GO.
THE STING IS IN.
QUESTION IS, DOES IT MAKE
PEARL JUMP TOWARD HIS BOOK?
OUR SPECIAL SURVEILLANCE
GROUP THINKS IT WILL.
HOW DOES PEARL ENTERPRISES
KEEP UP THE CASH FLOW?
WELL, I STILL GOT
MY RECORDS, PHIL.
WE'LL COLLECT THE EAST SIDE
RECEIPTS, PICK UP THE LEDGER,
AND RUN IT ALL BY LONG
DISTANCE FROM MEXICO, HUH?
THERE THEY GO. PEARL AND DECKER
JUST LEFT THE PALACE ARCADE.
4-ADAM-30.4-ADAM-30.
CITIZEN STATES THAT SUSPECT PEARL
JUST COMPLETED AN EVASIVE ROUTE
FROM HIS FAST FOOD
STAND TO HIS RECORD SHOP.
4-ADAM-30, ROGER.
THIS'LL BE OUR BEST SHOT.
THEY'VE BEEN TO ALL OF
PEARL'S PLACES BUT THIS ONE.
I'LL DROP YOU IN THE ALLEY,
AND I'LL HIT THE SHOP
THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
AND IF HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BOOK?
THEN WE'LL TAKE HIM
ON WARRANTS ONLY.
THEY MADE US!
GO ON, I'VE GOT HIM.
PEARL, THROW YOUR GUN DOWN,
AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!
YOU NEVER LOOKED BETTER, PEARL.
AND NEITHER DID
YOUR BOOK, CHUMP.
HUP, HUP, HUP, HUP.
AND THE D.A. IS CONFIDENT
THAT PEARL, DECKER,
THE COUNCILMAN'S AIDE,
BURNHAM, AND A LONG LIST OF NAMES
FROM PEARL'S LEDGER ARE GOING
TO JAIL FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
I'M HAPPY YOU'RE
GETTING BOTH STAR
AND YOUR PICTURE
BACK, MRS. TAYLOR.
THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO
GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE'RE GONNA TRY
REAL HARD, HUH, MOM?
MMM-HMM.
I'M GLAD TO KNOW
STAR AND DOROTHY.
DON'T BE A STRANGER.
JUST TRY NOT TO COME AROUND
TOO OFTEN WITH THAT UNIFORM, OK?
STILL HAVEN'T LOST YOUR TOUCH.
I GOT IT, DADDY.
I GOT THE AWARD FOR
SELLING THE MOST COOKIES.
OH, THAT'S TERRIFIC, HONEY.
I'M REALLY HAPPY
FOR YOU, CHRISSIE.
YOU MUST'VE HAD A LOT
OF COMPETITION, THOUGH.
OH SURE, BUT I SOLD
A WHOLE BUNCH.
THAT, ALONG WITH WHAT
DADDY SOLD TO YOU,
DETECTIVE WARNER AND
SERGEANT ALEXANDER,
WON THE AWARD FOR ME.
DETECTIVE WARNER? ALEXANDER?
WAIT A MINUTE. HOOKER?
WHERE ARE YOU GONNA
HANG YOUR PLAQUE, CHRISSIE?
WITH THE OTHERS.
OTHERS? WHAT OTHERS?
WHEN MY DADDY
HELPS ME, I ALWAYS WIN.
HOOKER... 3 YEARS IN A ROW.
3!
LOOK AT 'EM. KIDS
SELLING THEMSELVES.
WHAT KIND OF MAGNET PULLS
THEM HERE TO THE BOULEVARD?
DREAMS THAT NEVER
GOT A DOSE OF REALITY.
HOMES THAT DON'T CARE, PARENTS
AND KIDS ALIKE THAT DON'T LISTEN.
ALL OF IT KEEPS A STEADY STREAM
FLOWING INTO THE BOULEVARD.
HI.
HEY, $20?
GET LOST.
OK. YOU SURE? $20?
IS THAT THE NEW FACE I
SHOULD BE TALKING TO, IRENE?
RIGHT.
THEN I'LL MEET YOU
BACK AT THE SHELTER.
HIT HER HARD, STAR. THE LONGER
SHE STAYS OUT ON THAT BOULEVARD,
THE HARDER IT'S GONNA BE FOR
US TO PULL HER OFF OF IT. OK?
OK. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
HI, HOW YOU DOIN'?
LOOK, I'VE HEARD ALL
ABOUT IRENE'S SHELTER.
I DON'T NEED SAVING, STAR.
MY EXACT WORDS LESS
THAN A MONTH AGO.
OH, YOU WERE INTO THIS?
YEAH.
BURNHAM, I PAY YOU
TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THE COPS
TO LEAVE THE BOULEVARD ALONE,
AND LATELY I DON'T THINK I'M
GETTING MY MONEY'S WORTH.
IF COUNCILMAN GEAR'S
LITTLE SPEECH TOMORROW
DOESN'T PLEASE ME,
PHIL HERE IS GONNA
COME LOOKIN' FOR YOU.
OH, IT WILL, MR. PEARL.
THE COUNCILMAN ACTS
ON EVERYTHING I FEED HIM.
I THINK IT WAS GREAT.
NO, IT'S NOT REALLY
THAT GREAT. I MEAN...
THEY SAW ME!
THOSE TWO LITTLE TRAMPS
SAW ME TAKE THE MONEY!
AND ONE OF THEM KNOWS ME.
SHUT UP, BURNHAM.
I MADE 'EM BOTH, EDDIE.
ONE'S STAR TAYLOR.
SHE USED TO BE ONE OF OUR LADIES
TILL IRENE GORDON
TURNED HER AROUND.
THE OTHER KID'S A NEW
FACE I'VE BEEN CHECKIN' OUT.
STAR. THAT'S THE ONE
THAT CAN FINGER ME.
YOU SET ME UP WITH
HER YOURSELF, PEARL.
PICK UP YOUR MONEY
AND SPLIT, BURNHAM.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE GIRLS?
THAT... THAT STAR CHICK IS PROBABLY
TELLING HER FRIEND ABOUT ME RIGHT NOW.
YOU JUST SAW BOTH OF
'EM FOR THE LAST TIME.
I CAN'T GO BACK HOME.
BESIDES, IT WASN'T
EVEN A MINUTE AGO
YOU WERE TRYIN' TO GET
ME TO GO TO IRENE'S SHELTER.
LOOK, EDDIE PEARL RUNS
ALL THE BOULEVARD ACTION
FROM PROSTITUTION TO DRUGS.
AND WE JUST SAW ONE OF THE
REASONS HE GETS AWAY WITH IT.
THAT GUY THAT HE WAS PAYING OFF?
HE'S AN AID TO A
CITY COUNCILMAN.
WE'VE GOTTA GET AWAY FROM PEARL
OR WE'LL JUST TURN UP
LIKE NUMBERS IN A MORGUE.
AND IRENE'S SHELTER ISN'T
NEARLY FAR ENOUGH AWAY.
NOW CALL. PLEASE.
HELLO, OPERATOR?
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COLLECT CALL
TO FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.
THERE THEY ARE.
LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS MY BROTHER
GORDIE WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE.
MY PARENTS WOULD'VE STARTED
YELLING AT ME LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO.
IS YOUR BROTHER COMING?
BUT HE CAN'T MAKE IT TO
MY PLACE UNTIL TOMORROW.
THEN WE'LL JUST
KEEP HIDING TILL THEN.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, STAR?
WHAT?
ARE YOU GONNA GO HOME?
NO.
I CAN'T, EVER.
GET IN, LADIES.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE
PHONE CALLS YOU'VE BEEN MAKIN'.
PLEASE.
DON'T DO IT, KELLY! RUN!
I SAY THE BEST WAY TO KEEP
THE PARASITES FROM CLAMPING ON
IN THE FIRST PLACE IS TO EXPOSE
OUR KIDS TO A GOOD VALUE SYSTEM
STRAIGHT ON. LIKE MY
CHRISSIE FOR INSTANCE.
SHE'S A... A RANGER
GIRL, YOU KNOW.
AH.
IT'S A TERRIFIC ORGANIZATION. SHE'S
SELLING THESE RANGER GIRL COOKIES.
YEAH?
YEAH, TO SUPPORT
THEM. WANNA BUY SOME?
I THINK I'VE JUST BEEN HAD.
HOOKER, I... I... I... IN THE FIRST
PLACE, I DON'T LIKE COOKIES
OK, OK, OK.
I TRIED.
TRIED?
THAT WAS TRYING?
THIS IS FOR CHRISSIE.
NOT TO MENTION A
WORTHWHILE CAUSE.
WHAT A FATHER. YOU JUST GIVE ME
SOME OF THOSE COOKIES, I'LL SELL 'EM.
YOU SURE?
HOOKER, WHAT THE
COLONEL DID FOR CHICKEN,
ROMANO WILL DO FOR COOKIES.
LET'S FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING DOWN.
LET ME GO! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
LOSE THOSE COPS, WILL YOU?
I CAN HARDLY HOLD ONTO HER.
OH, GOD.
BROADCAST THEIR DIRECTION AND
DESCRIPTION. REQUEST AN AMBULANCE.
4-ADAM-30.
MY FACE. IS MY FACE...
SAY IT AGAIN.
WHAT?
DR. BAKER, PEDIATRICS.
HOLD IT, JUST A MINUTE.
LOUDER.
SAY THAT LOUDER.
SPEAK UP.
WERE YOU ABLE TO MAKE
OUT WHAT SHE WAS SAYING?
NOT CLEARLY. SOMETHING
ABOUT A MONEY ENVELOPE.
WHAT ABOUT HER I.D.?
I FOUND THIS MOTEL KEY, HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT I.D., AND A DRIVERS LICENSE.
THE DRIVERS LICENSE LOOKS LIKE IT'S A
STANDARD PHONY SHE'D USE IN CASE OF A BUST.
IT SAYS SHE'S 21.
THE STUDENT I.D. LOOKS FOR REAL.
IT WAS IN HER SHOE. IT SAYS HER
NAME'S KELLY HOBBS FROM FRESNO.
DR. McCULLAN, SURGERY
PLEASE. DR. McCULLAN.
KELLY HOBBS FROM
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.
TODAY'S HER BIRTHDAY, 16.
DID D.M.V. COME UP WITH A RETURN
ON THE SUSPECT LICENSE YET?
NOT ON FILE, IT SAYS
TO CALL AFTER 0800.
0800.
A TEENAGER'S
MANHANDLED BY AN ANIMAL
AND THE BUREAUCRATS
MAKE US WAIT TILL 0800.
DR. WHITE, TELEPHONE
PLEASE. DR. WHITE.
KIDS DO HAVE A WAY OF
GETTING TO YOU, DON'T THEY?
IT'S THE WORST PART
OF THE JOB, JUNIOR.
BOULEVARD AMUSEMENTS.
NOW THAT'S ONE OF
EDDIE PEARL'S DUMPS.
IT'S STARTING TO MAKE SENSE.
YOU PUT PEARL TOGETHER WITH
THAT YOUNG PROSTITUTE KELLY,
SAYING SOMETHING
ABOUT A MONEY ENVELOPE,
THAT OTHER YOUNG GIRL WE
SAW RUNNING FROM PEARL'S CAR
LIKE SHE WAS SCARED
OUT OF HER MIND.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE BOTH OF THEM
SAW ONE OF PEARL'S DEALS GO DOWN.
SURE, A DRUG DEAL, A PAY OFF.
NOW THAT FITS EDDIE
PEARL'S PROFILE TO A TEE.
I'D GIVE A MONTH'S PAY
TO MAKE A CASE ON PEARL.
AND I'D PUT MY PAYCHECK
RIGHT DOWN NEXT TO IT, HOOKER.
AND ANOTHER ONE TO SEE
IF THAT RUMOR ABOUT PEARL
HAVING A VERY INCRIMINATING
LEDGER BOOK IS REALLY TRUE.
WHY DON'T WE START WITH
WHY THAT GIRL WAS IN THE CAR
IN THE FIRST PLACE
AND GO FROM THERE?
ROMANO, WHAT DID YOU BUY NOW?
I'M NOT BUYING,
SWEETHEART, I'M SELLING.
AT A MINIMUM COST OF A MERE $2,
YOU CAN ENJOY THE DELIGHTFUL
FLAVOR OF THE RICHEST OF CHOCOLATES,
COMBINED WITH THE
TANTALIZING TASTE...
WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?
DETECTIVE WARNER
IS SELLING THEM.
HE IS?
I DUMPED THE CAR IN THE
COUNTY TERRITORY 3 HOURS AGO,
THEN REPORTED IT STOLEN.
GOOD.
THAT MEANS WE SHOULD HAVE
IT BACK BEFORE THE DAY'S END.
THAT CARD GAME ALIBI
YOU PUT TOGETHER FOR US,
IT AIN'T GONNA HOLD WATER IF
EITHER ONE OF THOSE TRAMPS TALK.
WELL, WE CAN WORRY ABOUT THAT IF AND WHEN
THE BEGINNER IS SPRUNG FROM THE HOSPITAL.
JUST MAKE DAMN SURE THE
COPS DON'T FIND STAR, HMM?
SHE'S DEAD MEAT ON THE
BOULEVARD, YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU GOT IT, EDDIE.
4-ADAM-30, 4-ADAM-30,
VEHICLE REPORTED STOLEN
AT 8:10 A.M. THIS DATE.
RECOVERED BY L.A.S.O. IN
COUNTY TERRITORY AN HOUR AGO.
YEAH, YEAH. 4-ADAM-30, ROGER.
DID I TELL YOU PEARL
WOULD SET UP AN ALIBI?
SO DO WE VISIT HIM TO HEAR
THE REST OF THE ALIBI FIRST HAND?
I WANT ALL THE AMMO I CAN GET
TO BREAK DOWN HIS
ALIBI BEFORE WE VISIT HIM.
SO FIRST, WE'LL TOSS
KELLY HOBBS' MOTEL ROOM
FOR ANY POSSIBLE
CONNECT-UP TO PEARL.
NEVER WOULD'VE GUESSED
IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS.
KIDS AREN'T INTO
RED FLOCK AND SATIN.
NO MATTER WHAT HER PROBLEMS ARE,
OR HER WAY OF SURVIVING,
SHE'S STILL A TEENAGER.
MY DAUGHTER'S DRESSER
LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS ONE.
RENT RECEIPT. SHE
CHECKED IN A WEEK AGO.
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE'S KELLY?
WHY DO YOU ASK?
I'M HER BROTHER, GORDIE. AND I'VE
COME TO PICK HER UP. WHERE IS SHE?
WHEN WAS THE LAST
TIME YOU TALKED TO HER?
SHE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT.
UH, ASKED ME TO COME
DOWN AND PICK HER UP,
TAKE HER BACK HOME TO FRESNO.
DID SHE SAY WHY?
ONLY THAT SOME GIRL NAMED STAR
FROM SOME KIND OF
SHELTER TOLD HER
THAT SHE SAW SOMETHING THAT MADE IT
DANGEROUS FOR HER TO STAY DOWN HERE.
COME ON. WHAT... WHAT IS IT?
WHERE... WHERE'S MY SISTER?
GORDIE,
KELLY WAS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT
LAST NIGHT. SHE'S IN INTENSIVE CARE.
OH, MAN.
WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL
AS SOON AS WE'RE FINISHED HERE.
THIS, UH, THIS STAR, DID KELLY
SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A LAST NAME?
JUST... JUST STAR, THAT'S ALL.
SHE, UH, SOUNDED REAL SCARED.
WHAT ABOUT THE SHELTER?
UH... DID SHE SAY WHICH ONE?
YEAH, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
WHICH ONE IT WAS SHE SAID.
UH, MOTHER HARRY?
TEEN DROP? IRENE'S?
IRENE'S, THAT IT. IRENE'S.
YOU SAID THAT THIS
WAS AN ACCIDENT.
NOW, IF THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT,
HOW COME THE POLICE ARE INVOLVED?
'CAUSE IT WAS A MAN-MADE
ACCIDENT, AND I WANNA NAIL THAT MAN.
OH, THAT'S HER, ALL RIGHT.
STAR WAS TRYING TO HELP
HER GET OFF THE STREET.
I HAVEN'T SEEN EITHER
ONE OF THEM SINCE.
NOT MUCH QUESTION WHY, IS THERE?
YOU MEAN NONE OF YOUR GIRLS SAW
ANYONE ENTER OR LEAVE THIS HOUSE?
THEY'RE ALL AT SCHOOL OR
STRAIGHT JOBS DURING THE DAY.
BUT SO WHAT?
YOU SAID PEARL AND DECKER
MOST LIKELY HAD AN ALIBI ANYWAY.
I REMEMBER WHEN I
WAS ON THE STREET
AND YOU'D BUST ME REGULAR
AS CLOCKWORK, HOOKER.
AND YOU WERE ALL OVER
PEARL AND DECKER THEN, TOO.
TOO BAD THE COURTS
NEVER GOT 'EM PUT AWAY.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA WALK
ON THIS ONE, I PROMISE YOU.
IRENE, WE NEED AN
ADDRESS ON STAR'S PARENTS.
I CAN'T DO THAT.
HOOKER, THE GIRLS WOULD SEE
IT AS A VIOLATION OF THEIR TRUST.
IRENE, KELLY'S CONDITION
IS WORSE, SHE CAN'T TALK.
THAT MAKES STAR MY ONLY
SOURCE FOR NAILING PEARL.
THIS TELLS ME THAT
PEARL KNOWS THAT, TOO.
SHE'S IN DANGER, IRENE.
COME ON, IT'S IN MY OFFICE.
STAR'S BEEN IN AND OUT
OF TROUBLE OVER 3 YEARS.
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED
LAST NIGHT, MRS. TAYLOR,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND HER.
WE HAVE REASON TO
BELIEVE SHE'S IN DANGER.
I HAVEN'T SEEN OR
HEARD FROM MY DAUGHTER
SINCE SHE CAME BACK
HOME OVER A MONTH AGO.
SHE CAME BACK.
SHE SAID SHE WAS THROUGH
WITH THAT LIFE, BUT IT WASN'T TRUE.
SOME TERRIBLE MAN KEPT CALLING
ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
HE EVEN THREATENED ME. HE
TOLD ME TO SEND STAR BACK.
BACK TO THE BOULEVARD.
STAR, MISS TAYLOR?
DOROTHY SHE WAS, THEN.
SHE CAME BACK
CALLING HERSELF "STAR"
AFTER THE SECOND
TIME SHE RAN AWAY.
WHEN WE FIND HER...
LOOK, SERGEANT, I'VE
BEEN THROUGH IT ALL.
THE JUVENILE PEOPLE,
THE COURTS, THE SCHOOL.
I HAVE 3 OTHER
CHILDREN TO PROTECT.
MY DOROTHY'S GONE.
AND I DON'T WANT THIS
OTHER PERSON, THIS "STAR",
IN MY LIFE ANYMORE.
LOOK, NO MATTER WHAT SHE'S DONE,
SHE COULD NEVER MAKE IT BACK
UNLESS SHE HAS SOMEONE HERE,
WAITING TO HELP HER.
WHAT'S THE NEXT BEST PLACE SHE
MIGHT GO OTHER THAN THE BOULEVARD?
THE FIRST TIME DOROTHY RAN
AWAY, I SEARCHED EVERYWHERE.
YOU MIGHT TRY SAINT MARK'S.
SHE WAS ALONE IN THE
CONFESSIONAL WHEN I FOUND HER.
I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT
YOU WERE SOMEONE ELSE.
COULD THAT SOMEONE ELSE
BE STAR TAYLOR, SERGEANT?
YES, IT IS, FATHER.
I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.
DON'T BE, SERGEANT. IT'S
OFTEN THAT YOUR WORK AND MINE
INVOLVES THE SAME CUSTOMERS.
DO YOU KNOW STAR TAYLOR, FATHER?
SHE HASN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE,
BUT I KNOW WHAT KIND
OF TROUBLE SHE'S IN.
I HEAR A LOT FROM
THE... THE OTHER GIRLS.
THEN YOU KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE FIND HER.
WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE
OF THE CLOTH, SERGEANT,
I CAN SAY THAT, UH, I'VE HEARD
THAT PEARL'S MAN, DECKER, PICKED
HER UP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
BUT STAR, BEING STREETWISE,
GOT AWAY FROM HIM.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE
WE MIGHT FIND HER NOW,
WITHOUT ANY
COMPROMISE OF THE CLOTH?
WELL, I HEAR, UH,
SHE'S TRYING TO RAISE
BUS FARE TO LEAVE TOWN,
BUT IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
THEY SAY STAR IS
RESISTING GOING BACK TO,
TO WHAT SHE WAS BEFORE.
I HOPE WE FIND HER BEFORE
SHE DOES GO BACK, FATHER.
OR WORSE, BEFORE
EDDIE PEARL FINDS HER.
GIRLS?
HI, OFFICER.
GIRLS, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR THIS YOUNG LADY HERE.
HAVE YOU SEEN HER?
NOT ME.
EDDIE PEARL.
I SEE YOU'VE GOT
YOUR STOLEN CAR BACK.
YES, YES, YES.
EFFICIENT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
THE SHERIFF'S TERRITORY, HOOKER.
LET ME GUESS. YOU TWO
ARE JUST OFF THE BUS,
AND THIS GENTLEMAN HERE
HAS OFFERED YOU A
RIDE TO THE BOULEVARD,
AND, UH, FREE PLAY AT SOME
TERRIFIC ARCADE, RIGHT SO FAR?
NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THAT.
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
SEE THOSE TWO OVER THERE?
WHEN YOU ACCEPT FREE
ANYTHING FROM SQUID LIKE THAT,
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE HEADED.
AND PICTURES. LOTS OF PICTURES,
AFTER YOU'RE GOOD AND HIGH.
PICTURES YOU'D RATHER DIE
THAN HAVE SEEN BY
ANYONE YOU KNOW.
THEN THE FUN IS OVER.
THAT GUY PUTS YOU OUT ON THE
STREET TO WORK FOR THE HABIT,
OR WHATEVER ELSE HE
HAS YOU OBLIGATED TO.
PRETTY SOON
YOU'RE 18 GOIN' ON 80.
TAKE THESE HOTLINE NUMBERS.
THEY'LL PUT YOU IN TOUCH
WITH ANY KIND OF HELP YOU NEED.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
SO GIRLS, WHAT'LL IT BE?
SORRY.
YEAH.
OFFICER?
COME ON, APRIL.
THAT GIRL IN THE PICTURE,
WE WERE HANGIN' AROUND
INSIDE TRYING TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO GO BACK HOME OR
NOT BEFORE THEY CAME ALONG.
I SAW HER AT THE TICKET
WINDOW TRYING TO BUY A TICKET.
TRYING?
SHE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
SHE LEFT HERE ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
THANK YOU.
THEY'RE GOING HOME.
YOU LOSE.
HOOKER, YOU EVER
BEEN TO A GRUNION RUN?
MILLIONS OF THOSE LITTLE FISH.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST
FLOPPING ALL OVER THE SAND
WAITIN' TO BE SCOOPED UP.
SOME OF THEN GET AWAY, HUH?
SOME DON'T.
THEN ONE DAY ALONG
COMES A RED TIDE,
AND THERE ARE NO
LITTLE FISH AT ALL.
I'M GONNA BREAK DOWN
WHATEVER ALIBI YOU COME UP WITH.
IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU
OR YOUR MUSCLE HERE,
SO MUCH AS TOUCHES STAR TAYLOR,
YOU'LL RUN INTO THE BLUE TIDE.
CAPISH?
I'LL KILL YOU!
BREAK IT UP!
THAT MAN'S CRAZY! I
WANT HIM ARRESTED!
WHAT ARE YOU, NUTS?
I WAS AT THE HOSPITAL,
IRENE CAME IN TO
LOOK IN ON KELLY.
SHE TOLD ME
EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM!
I WAS GONNA TAKE MY SISTER HOME,
BUT HE KILLED HER.
I WAS SITTING THERE
AT THE HOSPITAL,
TALKING TO HER
PRAYING... PRAYING
SHE COULD HEAR ME
THEN... THEN THAT ALARM
ON THAT MACHINE WENT OFF.
THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
NOTHING.
1, 2, 3, 4!
MOVE IT, MOVE IT.
THE, UH, JUDGE TELLS ME YOU
TOOK PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
WITH GORDIE FOR
HIS O.R. RELEASE.
GORDIE'S AN INNOCENT KID WHO GOT
CAUGHT IN THE BOULEVARD QUAGMIRE.
DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT.
HE PROMISED ME HE'D
GO BACK TO FRESNO,
AND STAY THERE TILL AFTER
THE TRIAL, IF THERE IS ONE.
YOU GOT GORDIE'S RELEASE PAPERS?
YES.
W-WHERE... WHERE DID
YOU GET THAT, CAPTAIN?
OH, IT'S A RANGER GIRL COOKIE.
A GOOD CAUSE AND
THEY'RE DELICIOUS,
LOOK, WHY DON'T YOU SEE SGT.
ALEXANDER? HE'S SELLING THEM.
HMM.
THANKS.
HOOKER, HELP ME.
WELL, LIKE YOU SAY,
JUNIOR, I'M NO SALESMAN.
THAT PUNK KID, HE'S
OUT OF JAIL NOW,
BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S
GOIN' HOME SO QUICK.
I THINK HE'S GONNA
KEEP COMIN' AT ME
UNTIL WE PUT HIM AWAY,
FOR GOOD.
SHOW TIME, EDDIE.
I, UH, STILL HAVEN'T CALLED MY
FOLKS TO TELL THEM ABOUT KELLY.
THAT'S ANOTHER
REASON TO GO HOME.
THAT'S THE KINDA NEWS
THEY SHOULD HEAR IN PERSON.
I JUST HATE LEAVING
EDDIE PEARL HERE ALIVE.
HEY, GORDIE, GIVE
IN TO THAT FEELING,
AND THE BOULEVARD POISON THAT TOOK
KELLY WILL MAKE A VICTIM OUT OF YOU, TOO.
IF YOU DON'T END
UP BACK IN JAIL FIRST.
NOW YOU GET IN THERE, GET HER
STUFF TOGETHER AND GO HOME!
I'LL TAKE CARE OF EDDIE
PEARL, THAT'S A PROMISE.
I WILL GO HOME THEN.
THAT'S A PROMISE.
HOOKER? STAR CALLED ME FROM
A PAY TELEPHONE 20 MINUTES AGO.
ONE OF EDDIE'S PIMPS FOUND HER
HIDING IN A MOVIE OVER ON SELMA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WELL, SHE GOT AWAY.
BUT SHE'S SCARED.
SHE'S REALLY SCARED.
WHERE IS SHE NOW?
THAT'S JUST IT. I DON'T KNOW.
SHE WAS FRANTIC, SAYIN' SHE'D
RUN OUT OF PLACES TO HIDE.
AND THEN I GUESS SHE
SAW ONE OF EDDIE'S PEOPLE,
AND SHE RAN OUT OF THE BOOTH
LEAVING THE PHONE HANGING.
OH, WHAT ARE WE
GONNA DO, HOOKER?
STAR HASN'T RUN
OUT OF PLACES TO HIDE
THERE'S ONE LEFT.
YOU!
SHE'S HERE, ISN'T SHE, FATHER?
SHE CAME OVER AN HOUR AGO.
SERGEANT, STAR IS A
VERY FRIGHTENED CHILD.
FATHER,
I'VE NEVER MET
STAR, BUT I KNOW HER.
I'VE SEEN THE PLACES SHE'S BEEN,
AND THE KINDA HUMAN BEING
SHE'S TRYING TO BECOME.
AND BELIEVE ME, THERE'S NOTHING I
WANT MORE THAN TO PROTECT HER.
BUT SHE'S GOTTA HELP ME DO THAT.
IT'S STAR'S DECISION, SERGEANT.
STAR,
I'M NOT HERE TO CHASE YOU
OR TO MAKE YOU TELL
ME WHAT YOU KNOW.
THAT'S GONNA HAVE
TO COME FREELY,
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO REPEAT THAT IN COURT.
KELLY DIED, STAR,
AND WITH HER GONE,
YOU'RE THE ONLY CHANCE
ANY OF US HAVE LEFT
TO PUT PEARL AND DECKER AWAY.
BUT I'VE GOT TO
KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW!
THEN I CAN PUT HIM IN JAIL
AND SEE THAT YOU'RE PROTECTED.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, STAR?
I'M AFRAID!
OF COURSE YOU ARE.
YOU'VE BEEN OUT
THERE ON THE STREETS.
IN COURT IT'LL BE UGLY.
MY FRIENDS, AND MY RELATIVES,
THEY'LL ALL KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN.
THEY'LL KNOW YOU
MADE SOME MISTAKES.
BUT THEY'LL ALSO SEE HOW
MUCH COURAGE YOU HAVE.
IN THE END, THAT'S ALL
THAT THEY'LL REMEMBER.
STAR, REMEMBER ALL THOSE
GIRLS WE'RE TRYING TO HELP.
THEIR REAL CHANCE WILL COME
WHEN MEN LIKE PEARL ARE GONE.
I KNOW STAR.
I'D LIKE VERY MUCH
TO MEET DOROTHY.
SO MY GUESS IS, IS THAT WE
WALKED IN ON SOME KIND OF PAYOFF.
THE GUY GOT SO SCARED,
HE EVEN DROPPED THE MONEY.
THIS GUY, DID YOU RECOGNIZE HIM?
HE WORKS FOR A COUNCILMAN,
THE ONE WHO'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
WHAT A TERRIFIC PLACE THE BOULEVARD IS.
THAT'D BE COUNCILMAN GEAR'S AID.
PEARL GIVES HIM FREEBIE
DATES WITH THE GIRLS SOMETIMES.
HE ALWAYS USES A PHONY
NAME, BUT WE KNOW HIM.
ART BURNHAM.
STAR, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD
ANYTHING ABOUT A BOOK,
OR A... A LEDGER THAT
PEARL IS RUMORED TO HAVE?
I'VE SEEN HIM AND DECKER TALKING
WITH HIS PIMPS AND RUNNERS.
HE'D MAKE LITTLE NOTES BUT
I NEVER SAW AN ACTUAL BOOK.
DID HE EVER MENTION ONE TO YOU?
NO, BUT... BUT EVERYBODY
TALKS LIKE THERE IS ONE.
A LOT OF THE GIRLS WOULD EVEN TRY
AND GUESS WHERE PEARL KEPT IT HIDDEN.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? DO YOU
HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT ONE?
WELL, WITH ALL THE
BUSINESSES THAT HE OWNS,
IT COULD BE ANYWHERE.
HOOKER, LOOK.
THAT'S GORDIE HOBBS' JEEP.
HE SHOULD'VE BEEN
GONE FROM THERE BY NOW.
HE SHOULD BE HALF-WAY
TO FRESNO BY NOW.
GORDIE?
GORDIE!
CALL THE PARAMEDICS.
OVERDOSE.
1, 2, 3,
4, 5.
GORDIE'S GONNA BE OK.
AND HE ONLY REMEMBERS
SEEING DECKER, NOT PEARL?
YEAH,
BUT STAR'S GIVEN US ENOUGH TO
GET WARRANTS ON BOTH OF THEM,
BEHIND KELLY'S ABDUCTION.
WELL, WARRANTS ARE ONE THING,
BUT CONVINCING THE D.A. TO FILE
CHARGES ISN'T GONNA BE EASY, HOOKER.
NOW LOOK, AS AN
EX-PROSTITUTE AND A MINOR,
STAR'S NOT AN IDEAL WITNESS
TO BUILD A CASE AROUND.
WHAT IF WE TRIED TO
MAKE MORE THAN A RUMOR
OF THIS BOOK THAT PEARL
IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE?
STAR THINKS THERE IS ONE.
WELL, THAT SPELLS
SURVEILLANCE, LUCK,
AND MORE MANPOWER THAN I
COULD EVER HOPE TO PUT TOGETHER.
I'LL GET THE DETECTIVES
WORKING ON THE WARRANTS.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THOSE WARRANTS
WILL DO MUCH GOOD IN THE LONG RUN.
UNLESS WE CAN FIND A
WAY TO EDDIE PEARL'S BOOK.
WHAT WAY?
LADIES,
I HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN LOOKIN'
EVERYWHERE FOR YOU.
I WAS OUT COLLECTING THE WEST SIDE
RECEIPTS. WHY? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
HOOKER. HE FOUND THE KID
BEFORE THE DRUGS KILLED HIM
AND STAR TAYLOR WAS WITH HIM.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T
MEAN SHE SAID ANYTHING.
YOU WANNA TAKE THAT CHANCE?
AND I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF
GORDIE HOBBS TALKED ABOUT ME
BEFORE THEY TOOK
HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
PEARL HERE.
MR. PEARL, THIS IS RHODA.
I GOT SOMETHIN' YOU SHOULD
BE REAL GRATEFUL FOR.
WHAT IS IT, RHODA?
OH, NOW I THINK THIS WOULD BE
WORTH MONEY TO YOU, MR. PEARL.
NOW DON'T PLAY
GAMES WITH ME, RHODA,
OR YOU'LL LOSE THE STREET
CORNER AND YOUR SKIN.
NOW I'LL LET YOU KNOW
WHAT'S WORTH WHAT.
LOOK, I'M JUST TRYING TO
BE GOOD TO YOU, MR. PEARL.
THE COPS, THEY FOUND STAR
AND THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY UPTOWN NOW
GETTIN' WARRANTS FOR YOU AND DECKER.
AND I HEAR THEY'RE PUSHIN'
FOR NO BAIL MURDER WARRANTS.
IS THAT IT, RHODA?
WELL, I'LL BE WAITIN'
FOR MY REWARD, SUGAR.
THERE YOU GO.
THE STING IS IN.
QUESTION IS, DOES IT MAKE
PEARL JUMP TOWARD HIS BOOK?
OUR SPECIAL SURVEILLANCE
GROUP THINKS IT WILL.
HOW DOES PEARL ENTERPRISES
KEEP UP THE CASH FLOW?
WELL, I STILL GOT
MY RECORDS, PHIL.
WE'LL COLLECT THE EAST SIDE
RECEIPTS, PICK UP THE LEDGER,
AND RUN IT ALL BY LONG
DISTANCE FROM MEXICO, HUH?
THERE THEY GO. PEARL AND DECKER
JUST LEFT THE PALACE ARCADE.
4-ADAM-30.4-ADAM-30.
CITIZEN STATES THAT SUSPECT PEARL
JUST COMPLETED AN EVASIVE ROUTE
FROM HIS FAST FOOD
STAND TO HIS RECORD SHOP.
4-ADAM-30, ROGER.
THIS'LL BE OUR BEST SHOT.
THEY'VE BEEN TO ALL OF
PEARL'S PLACES BUT THIS ONE.
I'LL DROP YOU IN THE ALLEY,
AND I'LL HIT THE SHOP
THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
AND IF HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BOOK?
THEN WE'LL TAKE HIM
ON WARRANTS ONLY.
THEY MADE US!
GO ON, I'VE GOT HIM.
PEARL, THROW YOUR GUN DOWN,
AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!
YOU NEVER LOOKED BETTER, PEARL.
AND NEITHER DID
YOUR BOOK, CHUMP.
HUP, HUP, HUP, HUP.
AND THE D.A. IS CONFIDENT
THAT PEARL, DECKER,
THE COUNCILMAN'S AIDE,
BURNHAM, AND A LONG LIST OF NAMES
FROM PEARL'S LEDGER ARE GOING
TO JAIL FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
I'M HAPPY YOU'RE
GETTING BOTH STAR
AND YOUR PICTURE
BACK, MRS. TAYLOR.
THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO
GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE'RE GONNA TRY
REAL HARD, HUH, MOM?
MMM-HMM.
I'M GLAD TO KNOW
STAR AND DOROTHY.
DON'T BE A STRANGER.
JUST TRY NOT TO COME AROUND
TOO OFTEN WITH THAT UNIFORM, OK?
STILL HAVEN'T LOST YOUR TOUCH.
I GOT IT, DADDY.
I GOT THE AWARD FOR
SELLING THE MOST COOKIES.
OH, THAT'S TERRIFIC, HONEY.
I'M REALLY HAPPY
FOR YOU, CHRISSIE.
YOU MUST'VE HAD A LOT
OF COMPETITION, THOUGH.
OH SURE, BUT I SOLD
A WHOLE BUNCH.
THAT, ALONG WITH WHAT
DADDY SOLD TO YOU,
DETECTIVE WARNER AND
SERGEANT ALEXANDER,
WON THE AWARD FOR ME.
DETECTIVE WARNER? ALEXANDER?
WAIT A MINUTE. HOOKER?
WHERE ARE YOU GONNA
HANG YOUR PLAQUE, CHRISSIE?
WITH THE OTHERS.
OTHERS? WHAT OTHERS?
WHEN MY DADDY
HELPS ME, I ALWAYS WIN.
HOOKER... 3 YEARS IN A ROW.
3!