T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): Season 3, Episode 16 - Hooker's Run - full transcript

Hooker tries to get something on a criminal whom they have trouble getting anything on. When the informant he sends gets killed Hooker tries to get his ex, a hooker to testify against him. They later learn that the criminal has someone on the inside looking after him, someone he knew since he was a kid. When the safe house is hit Hooker and the girl go on the run. But they have to find some insulin for her cause she's a diabetic.

(upbeat music)

(mysterious music)

- Corrigan's snitch
is really nervous.

- I told him we'd protect
his name as best we can.

- Maybe we ought to call it off.

- You and the DA's office
have been playing tag

with Frank Dio for years.

Now we can put him away.

- I'd feel a lot better if
I could've questioned

the witness before
this bust goes down.

- He's not your
usual sleezy snitch.



- Oscar made a few
mistakes, served his time.

That's why he's working
with Corrigan to make up

for what he did.

- In a few minutes, we'll
hand a cold-blooded killer

over to you, along
with a witness

who'll have enough
names, dates and places

to put him on ice forever.

- Hey Oscar, cool it man.

You're shakin' like a junkie.

- I'll be okay.

- Gotta calm down.

Dio's sharp.

He'll get hinky if he
reads you're nervous.

- Yeah, yeah, don't worry.



Look, I'll make it work.

But I gotta meet
with you later, Jim.

Tell ya 'bout something
I picked up from Dio.

It's dynamite.

- He's sitting center
about halfway down.

- Okay, Romano, you and
Stacy cover the rear exits.

Jim, you take the lobby.

Phil,

you stay in the car.

- Hooker, come
on, this is my case.

- This isn't the
may gong della, pal.

You're stuck behind lines now.

(slow jazzy music)

- What's your problem, Oscar?

- No problem, Frank.

No problem.

Just being careful,
like you said.

- Tell me who the mark
is, give me the money

and it's done.

- Well, uh,

there's this guy.

Big guy, see?

He's a guy I know
that's on the southside.

Mean, ya know?

So, you gotta be careful.

- What's going on, Oscar?

The hell are you so jumpy about?

(gunshot)

- Hold it, Dio.

- Police officer, everybody
stay where you are.

Oscar.

Oscar.

Oh come on, man, hang on.

Don't die on me.

(film reeling)

- Hold it Frank.

You got no place to go.

(police sirens ringing)

- I'm clean Hooker.

Squeaky clean.

- You're dirt, Dio,

and you're head of
the garbage sheet.

- Once you've got cop,
you've got bologna on a stick.

- Hooker, our witness.

He's dead.

- Oscar Barr is
still gonna bury you.

Killing him is gonna put
you away for murder one.

- First, you've got no weapon.

Second, I wanna call my lawyer.

- I'll give ya a dime,
'cause whether we

find the gun or not,
you're still gonna need him.

Take him.

- Hands on your head.

- Damn, I knew it was wrong.

We were asking too much of him.

- Not we, me.

I called the shots on this one.

- Yeah, you sure did.

- Did he have any relatives?

- Sister.

- I'll break the
news to her myself.

- No.

I'll take care of it.

You've been enough already.

(somber music)

- Nobody in the audience
saw the shooting, Hooker,

you've got no eyewits
and probably no case.

- Wrong, I'm gonna
book him for murder.

- Did you see Dio fire the gun?

- No I didn't but I saw him
run from where Oscar was shot.

- Yeah, you know
what he's gonna say?

He's gonna claim he was
running because he was afraid

that somebody was
trying to shoot him too.

- Hey, I know he did it.

I saw him with an
object in his hand,

which he threw away,
which had to be a gun.

- Can you swear it was the gun?

That's not gonna stand up unless
you can produce the weapon!

- No, I can't!

But you can hold him
for another 72 hours.

- What are you gonna
accomplish in 72 hours?

- I'm gonna get out
there and start digging

and keep on digging
until I find enough

to put Dio away for good!

- You visional vice is
Angie Quine is still tricking

on the boulevard.

- I'll ask him to ease
up on the boulevard

for the next couple of days.

We wouldn't want him
to scare Angie into hiding.

- Dio's ex-girlfriend?

If she's your angle,
you're wasting your time.

- She could nail Dio's
butt to a cell, Mr. Parker.

She knows more about
him than Oscar Barr did.

- Forget it, she's a clam.

We've been trying to get
her to cooperate for months.

- Yeah, but this is
the first time Dio's

had a date with a grand jury

and maybe I can get
Angie to see that she has

a responsibility
to put him away.

- A prostitute with a
public conscience?

Come on, spare me Hooker.

- Hustling is what she
does, not what she is.

- Phil, believe me,
this girl is different

from all the other
girls on the street.

- I still don't like it.

- Hey, Phil.

We waded through too
many rice patties together.

Don't be afraid of getting
your feet wet on this one.

- You are talking Nam.

I'm talking here and now.

This is a different kind of war.

- Yeah, but it's still a war.

And we can win this battle if
we get the support we need.

- (laughs) I don't believe you.

What do you want me to do?

- Make sure we stay
assigned to the DA's office

for the next few days
and keep Dio in custody.

- I'll give it a try.

- Thanks Phil.

We'll get out on the street
and start looking for Angie.

Jim, we got a second
shot at nailing Dio.

- We should have just
let Oscar Barr testify

and not used him as a decoy.

- Jim, your contact
was the only way we had

of getting Dio to service.

It was the only way
and you know it.

- Maybe.

And maybe if Oscar
wasn't so easy to lean on,

we would've found another way.

(mysterious music)

- Corrigan, I thought
Oscar was with you.

Is something wrong?

- I need to talk
to you, Lorraine.

- Okay, come in.

What's wrong?

- It was a shooting.

Oscar, he was shot.

He didn't make it.

- Oh God.

You're telling me that
you got my brother killed.

Damn it!

That sweet little guy.

Why didn't you just
leave him alone?

- Lorraine, Lorraine.

I'd give anything if
it hadn't happened.

- Don't tell me that!

He was working for you.

Doing what you asked him to.

And he was scared to death.

But no, you kept pushing.

Pushing his duty button.

- I didn't kill him.

Frank Dio did!

Lorraine, listen to me.

You're not hurting alone.

I cared about Oscar too.

- Well, put that
on his tombstone!

- I deserve anything
you wanna say to me,

but Oscar died trying to
take a killer off the streets.

- Do you think I
care about that?

- Oscar did!

Look, I know the pain you're
going through right now.

But Oscar was really involved

and tried to bring Dio down.

He said he had to
tell me something.

There was dynamite.

Lorraine,

do you know what that was?

- Get out!

- Lorraine, think about Oscar!

- I am thinking about him.

He's cold and
dead in the morgue.

Now you get out.

Get out!

(sobbing)

(horn honking)

- Lucy.

- Go bye bye Hooker.

I gotta be careful
who I'm seen with.

- My partner, Vince Romano.

- Pleased to meet you, Miss.

- Don't get too
friendly, junior.

It could cost ya.

- You don't get nothin'
for free in this life, junior.

- Ain't that the truth?

Like the time I let
ya dump your purse

before the vice boy said hello?

- Here it comes, the payback.

- I'm looking for Angie Quine.

- Come on Hooker,
give me a break.

- Sounds like he already did.

- Hooker, if it
wasn't for Angie,

I'd be in Calvary
cemetery today.

You can't expect
me to turn her in.

- You'd be doing her a favor.

I'm trying to find Angie before
Frank Dio's boys get to her.

I don't want to bust her.

I'm trying to keep her alive.

Come on!

- The Excelsior.

Room 520.

- Thank you Lucy.

Consider your
account paid in full.

- You don't work
vice anymore, Hooker.

So, to what do I
owe the displeasure?

- Got a court order with
your name on it, Angie.

Grand jury wants a
few hours of your time.

- Oh yeah?

What about?

- We busted Frank Dio.

When the jury hears
what you know about him,

they'll indict him.

- He'll be wearing prison
gray for the rest of his life.

- Over my dead and
severely mangled body,

which is what'll happen if
I say word one about Dio.

- We're not here to debate it.

We'll go over to your
place, pick up some things.

You're gonna be
sequestered for a few days.

- You can force me to go
to the Grand Jury, Hooker.

But there's no way you're
gonna make me talk.

(upbeat music)

Hooker, my little
sister's inside.

Doesn't know what
I do for a living.

- Is there anyone else that
can take care of your sister?

- She's gonna have
to come with me.

- I don't think that's
a good idea, Angie.

- What about Stacy - Call her.

See if she'd mind having
a guest for a few days.

- We can't hit her while
she's with the cops.

- She's gonna be
with the cops from now

until she testifies.

Frank wants her
dead, she's dead.

- Mary?

- Angie, you're home early!

- Yeah.

- What's wrong?

- Nothin's wrong.

This is Sergeant Hooker.

- How do you do?

Pleasure to meet you.

- What's he doing here?

- Your sister has
a special job to do

for the police department.

- Sounds scary.

- Nothing to worry
about sweetheart.

It's just that you're gonna
have to stay with someone

while I'm gone.

- A friend of mine.

Police woman.

She'll be by to
pick you up soon.

- Come on Mary,
we can pack together.

- Corrigan and
Stacy are on the way.

- Okay, you stay with
Mary until they get here.

(ominous music)

Get down.

(gunshots)

(chanting)

- Let's try one more time.

On the night of December 12,

you and Dio left for
Reno's with Sal Lucci,

who was found one
hour later executed.

- All I remember
about that night,

the pasta was too al dente.

- I told you we'd get
nothing from this lady.

- Angie.

Angie, that's no
way to make friends.

- I don't need a friend.

- You're wrong.

- Only one I ever
needed was my father.

Nobody special, just a
watchman at the tuna cannery.

Understand me, Hooker?

He's the only one.

- I'm trying to make
you use your head

before Dio blows it off.

- If I testify, he'll
kill me for sure!

- He'll kill ya either way!

He's already proven that.

Your only chance is to help
the grand jury put him away.

You know I'm right.

(sighs)

- I hate it.

But you're right.

- Then you'll testify?

- Yeah.

- Alright Angie.

Gotta put you some
place where you'll be safe.

- If I have a choice,
I'll take Barbados.

(slow jazzy music)

Well, as dumps go,

this place is world class.

- You'll be safe,
that's what's important.

- I'll lead a story on the
desk clerk to keep him happy.

- Try laying a bottle
of Ripple on him,

keep him happier.

(chuckles)

- You gotta protect me, Hooker.

I'm scared.

You were right, I've
got reasons to live

even if my life
doesn't look like much.

- You know what your problem is?

You don't belong on the streets.

I get around, I see
things, talk to people.

Like that kid you got
into emergency detox

when she OD'ed.

- So what?

Anybody'd do that.

- No, not just anybody.

And you're smart too.

You knew enough
to get your kid sister

out of a bad home.

How come you can do so
much good for other people,

but not for yourself?

Who was the man who
messed up your life, Angie?

- What's that, an
educated guess?

It was a doctor.

Told me he'd send
me to nursing school,

marry me as soon as
he divorced his wife.

Taught me to hate doctors
almost as much as I hate cops.

- Well, by the time we get
you in front of a grand jury,

you'll learn to love us.

- I'm going bananas
trying to figure

who tipped Dio's man.

Maybe the vice guy
Stacy talked to let it slip.

Be better than finding
out Dio has a connection

in the department.

- We gotta cover all our bets.

I've asked Corrigan to pull

Frank Dio's file, see if any
interesting names show up

on his record.

And Angie is staying
here until we find out.

- Not without insulin, I don't.

- What insulin?

- I'm a diabetic,
like my father.

I've got an insulin kit with me

and enough for one more shot.

I'll need another
one in six hours.

- I'll go pick some up.

I'll be back before then.

(ominous music)

- You can put your stuff
in the bedroom there.

- Right there?
- Here you go.

- Poor kid.

She's still pretty
upset about her sister.

- Look, we all tried to
assure her Hooker would

protect Angie.

After watching two goons
try to gun down her sister,

who could blame Mary for
being more than a little upset?

- You're right.

Who could've done it, Jim?

Spilled to Dio and
set up a hit on Angie.

- They were pros,
that's for sure.

At least this time
no one got killed.

- You've gotta stop
blaming yourself for Oscar.

- His sister was right.

I led him to the slaughter.

- Jim, you're being
too hard on yourself.

- Am I?

Ya know, snitches are what
gives the street cop the edge.

Without them, the bad
guys take the high ground.

- Oscar knew the risks.

He could've backed out any time.

- He wouldn't do that.

He wanted to help us.

It was up to me
to keep him safe.

I just shouldn't have
listened to Hooker.

- I can't believe you've got
the guts to face me again.

And if you think that
paying for Oscar's funeral

changes anything, forget it.

- That's not why I did it.

- Conscience money,

but I couldn't afford to
do it myself, so why not?

We said it all last time.

What do you want now?

- What I asked you before.

Anything Oscar may
have known about Dio?

- Go ask Oscar.

- Look Lorraine,

there are more people involved
in this besides you and me.

There's a girl who's willing
to talk to the grand jury,

tell 'em enough to put Dio away.

But Dio's men already
tried to hit her once.

Now I'm worried
about keeping her alive.

- I told you, I don't
know anything.

- I think ya might.

Now come on, Lorraine.

- I don't know.

I mean, I don't know
if it means anything.

- Well come on, tell me.

- After Oscar talked
to Dio on the phone,

before he went to meet him,

he told me Dio was
braggin' he had a marker.

A marker he was maybe
gonna call in after 20 years.

- 20 years?

Dio was a kid 20 years ago.

- I know.

Doesn't make sense.

- Oh, it does if
you're a syndicate.

Marker's good any time,

but who could owe Frank
Dio from that long ago?

- That's all Oscar said.

(somber music)

- Thanks Lorraine.

For trying.

- Take a ride on the
Reading Railroad.

If you pass GO, collect $200.

Now I own all of 'em.

- You're gonna lead me to drink.

You want a Cola? (phone ringing)

- No thanks.

- Hello?

- You okay?

- Yeah, where are you?

- A place even
the roaches avoid.

Put Mary on, Angie
wants to talk to her.

- Okay, Mary.

- Hello, Angie?

- How ya doin' kid?

- Fine, but I'm
worried about you.

- Listen, I told ya there's
nothing to worry about.

I'm in good hands.

Mary, listen to me.

I want you to stick close
to that police woman, okay?

She's gonna take care of you.

- Are you sure you're all right?

- Listen baby, I gotta go, okay?

I love you.

- Love you too.

Stacy, I changed my mind.

Could I have that cola?

- Coming right up.

(buzzing)

- Frontier Hotel.

Hello?

Frontier Hotel.

(ominous music)

- Dio's sheet reads
like a phone directory.

He's been busted with
a lot of heavy dudes.

- Willy Fram, dead.

Sam Ratch is still in Clinton.

This looks like a scrap
book of all my best callers.

Tony Domico, busted
twice with Dio for robbery

when they were
juvenile defenders.

Spent seven months
in county camp

and we never hear of him again.

- Maybe he cleaned up his act.

- Here's a possible,
Eddie Gates.

Connected, couple of
juvie arrests with Dio.

Hey Jim, Stacy says you
picked up the funeral tab

for Oscar Barr.

Romano and I wanna kick in.

- My snitch, Hooker,
my responsibility.

But I appreciate the gesture.

- Did ya get anything
from his sister?

- Nothing that made any
sense, just something about a

20-year-old marker that
Dio was about to call in.

- I know how all
this is eating at ya.

- What's been eating at
me is having to work with

your friend, Parker, who
treats cops like lackeys.

- He pushes hard but
it's all to get the job done.

- I'll take your word for it.

Somebody ought to give
him some personality lessons.

- Hooker, wait a second.

What's going on?

I just heard you
pulled Angie out.

- Yeah, well she's stashed

where Dio's hoods
can't get a second crack.

- Huh, where can she
be safer than right here

at the precinct?

- Lot of places if I'm right
about Dio having a contact

in the department.

- I still think you're
off base on that.

Where are you holding her?

- I'd like to play that
close to the vest.

- I can understand that,
but she's outta my authority.

I still gotta be able to tell
the DA where his witness is.

- Frontier Hotel, but don't
tell 'em unless he asks.

- You bet.

(TV talking)

- The guy in the mustache
takes the blonde on a cruise

to Acapulco.

I've seen it before.

- Maybe there's
something else on.

I'll get the TV listing.

- Okay.

(slow music
playing) (TV talking)

- [Dispatcher] Four
out of 30, four out of 30.

Contact Officer
Sheridan on a landline.

- Four outta 30, roger.

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- [Hooker] Stac, what's up?

- Mary's gone, she
snuck out on me.

I searched the building
and put out an APB on her.

- Damn.

- I'm sorry, Hooker.

- Search the neighborhood.

I'll call the hotel
and see if Angie has

any idea where she
might be headed.

- Okay.

(ominous music)

(knocking)

- Who is it?

- [Mary] It's me, Mary.

Angie, are you in there?

- What are you doing here?

- I was worried about you.

- How did you get
away from Stacy?

- It wasn't her fault.

I snuck out.

- I'll let her know.

- (sigh) Got the blinds drawn.

- There's an opening there.

Soon as we see something move,

we blow her away.

- Angie, what's going on?

Why are you
staying in this place?

- Well, I just happen to
have some information

that the police want.

- What kind of information?

- Mary, get away
from the window.

(gunshots)

Stay down!

(gunshots)

Oh, my eyes.

(gunshots)

- Are you all right?

- Yeah, glass in
my eyes, I can't see.

- Cover me.

(intense music)

(police sirens blaring)

- Hey Hooker, above you!

(gunshots)

- Call for backup!

Seal off the alley!

- Four Adam 16,
officer needs help.

Frontier Hotel,
shots being fired.

Use caution.

Sniper on rooftop.

- Keep this over your
eyes and whatever you do,

don't rub 'em.

- Yeah.

- You'll be safe if you stay
here with the police, okay?

- Angie!

- Shh, you can't.

You can't, I'll
come back for you

just as soon as I can, okay?

- Where you goin' Angie?

What the hell are you doin'?

- Lock the door behind me.

(ominous music)

(gun firing)

- I counted six, maggot.

Ya haven't got any more.

It's a long way
down to the street.

Ya haven't got a chance.

(intense music)

How'd you find her?

- A voice on the phone.

- A voice belonging
to Frank Dio.

- What's a Frank Dio?

- We have to find Angie.

Do you know where she went Mary?

- Angie didn't say
where she was going.

- Are you sure, honey?

- I'll take Mary
back to my place.

Just wanted to make
sure you were okay.

- Thanks.

- This is how you
protect a witness?

Looks like a shooting
gallery in here.

- Hey, we were
getting shot at too,

Parker.
- Take it easy, Jim.

- We're trying to make
your case for you,

you come around here
complaining after the smoke clears?

- Don't talk to me like that.

- Hey guys, we're
all on the same side.

- Yeah, but it looks like

our side's taking
all the casualties.

- You got a man with
combat fatigue, Hooker.

He doesn't belong
on the streets.

- We're all a little uptight.

It's the second time
Dio's men have found us.

- Talk about uptight.

Wait 'til the DA finds out
we've lost another witness.

- We'll get Angie back.

And when we do, she'll talk.

- I need hard evidence.

All Angie'll give ya
is bologna on a stick.

(ominous music)

- Dispatch said you were here.

You're not gonna
like what I just heard.

Parker turned Dio loose.

- That figures.

Parker's the leak.

- Your buddy from Nam?

- Yeah, I took my
partners down with me.

- What's Parker's tie to Dio?

- Parker, alias Tommy Domico,

ran with Dio when
they were kids.

After he served county
camp time in his teens,

he changed his
names and unlisted.

- Hey, wait a minute.

That's what Oscar Barr
was trying to tell his sister.

Dio's 20-year-old marker.

He's had his hooks
into Parker all this time.

- Junior, you go with Jim.

Take up some insulin.

Angie's gonna need
it within the hour

if we can find her.

- Where you headed?

- I have an outside
chance to stop Dio.

Meet me at Stacy's.

(dinging)

- Hooker.

What's goin' on?

- Those are my
friends out there.

They could've been killed.

- What are you talking about?

- I'm talkin' about the
sleeze who's tipped off Dio

to every one of our moves,

a sleeze named Tony Domico.

- Oh Hooker,
Hooker, please please,

let me explain.

- My partner.

My friends, they were in
jeopardy because I trusted you.

- I'm your friend too.

Who pulled you outta
the shell hole in the Delta?

- You saved me, I saved you.

That's what war is all about!

- Doesn't it count
for something?

- Yeah, it counts for something!

It counts for this.

Listen you,

your career is already
down the tubes.

You don't call Dio and
his dogs off of Angie,

you're going down with them.

Accessory to murder one.

- I can't Hooker,
I can't, I can't.

Please believe me.

It's outta my hands.

- Then you better pray that
we find her before they do.

(ominous music)

- Angie didn't say
where she was going.

- Think Mary.

- Was there any place
she would go to be alone

or where she'd feel safe?

- I don't know, honest.

- I got Angie's insulin.

She's already overdue.

- Corrigan's out
looking for Lucy

to see if she knows
where Angie went,

but we have run out of time.

- Wait!

Angie said, where she was going,

she would get the
insulin she needs.

- That could be any
hospital or doctor.

- Or her father.

Angie said he
was a diabetic too.

- Her father,
where does he live?

- I don't know.

But I know where he works.

Tuna cannery, it's worth a shot.

(intense music)

- Hey!

You, take a hike.

- What do you want from me?

- Where's Angie?

- How should I know?

- Maybe Sal can
help you remember.

(intense music)

- Angie?

- Hooker.

(gasping)

I'm sorry.

I got scared.

- What about your father?

And the insulin?

- He isn't here.

Is Mary okay?

- She's fine, it's you
we're worried about.

- Mary's all that matters.

She's my daughter,
Hooker, not my sister.

She's my whole life.

- You never told her.

- Hooker,

if anything happens to me,

you gotta promise me,

you'll take care of my baby

and keep my secrets.

Promise me, Hooker.

Promise me.

- I promise ya, Angie.

But you're gonna make it.

Mary needs you.

I'll get the insulin.

- Looking for this, Hooker?

(guns clicking)

I'm gonna leave it in your car.

All ya have to do
is come and get it.

Before it goes up in smoke.

(explosion)

(somber music)

- What the hell is
going on out there?

- Dio and his men
just blew up our car.

They got us surrounded.

- What about the insulin?

- It was in the car.

- How long do you figure
before they rush us?

- I don't think they will.

Dio knows about
Angie's diabetes.

All he has to do is wait until
we try to get her outta here.

- Great.

To get past that army out there,

we're gonna need a tank.

- I think I just found one.

Come here, give me a hand.

- [Dispatch] Four
Adams 16, four adams 16.

Female assaulted at 16
McGlover at Club Cupid.

See the man, ambulance en route.

Your call is code two.

- Four adams 16, roger.

Everybody get back please.

Come on, get back.

Get back.

Lucy.

What happened?

- I couldn't help it.

They were gonna kill me.

Dio and a man

looking for Angie.

- What'd you tell them?

- The cannery.

She used to go
there to see her father.

- There's an ambulance coming.

(police siren blaring)

- That should do it.

- Come on honey, there we go.

You guys stay low.

It's gonna be a rough ride.

(police sirens blaring)

(gunshots firing)

- Nail them.

- Get her to a hospital.

(groaning)

It's over Frankie.

Your future is worth
bologna on a stick.

(calm music)

- She's a very lucky lady.

One more hour and she
could've been in a diabetic coma,

maybe even dead.

- It cost ya Angie,

but your testimony is gonna
convict Dio on all counts.

- Well, that's something.

- I'll be talking to
a federal marshal.

They can get you
into a witness program.

Give you a new identity.

A chance at a
fresh start with Mary.

- I have been thinkin'.

Maybe I should find a
good foster home for Mary.

Get out of her life

before she finds
out what I really am.

- I don't believe
what I'm hearing.

Is this the girl that
stood up to Dio?

I thought you were a fighter.

- Do you mind just once

not kicking tail when
you don't see it my way?

- I'll tell you what I do see.

You and Mary love each
other, need each other.

- What she needs is
a good, straight life.

- Well then, give it to her!

Get into the witness
program, learn to be a nurse.

Turn your life around.

- Really think I can do it?

- Hey Angie,

one thing you gotta
know about me.

I may not always be right,

but I'm never wrong.

(laughing)

(slow music)

- She's a tough lady.

- She's always been tough.

And you're right, Romano.

She's on her way
to being a lady.

(upbeat intense music)