T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): Season 3, Episode 8 - The Trial - full transcript
When Hooker and Romano respond to a robbery with two other cops. Romano and one of the cops who came are shot. And the other cop, a woman is accused of not coming to backing them up, because of an incident from her past. When she is about to face a board of inquiry, she asks Hooker to be her advocate and Romano feels like Hooker is betraying him.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(light rock music)
(knocking)
- Come on in!
- Hey, partner, carpool's
here, time to go to work.
- Soon as Romano
gets it in gear.
Must've had a tough night.
Mind if I finish my workout?
- Are you kidding?
I could stand here
and watch you all day.
- [Stacy] Well,
if you get bored,
the newspaper's in the kitchen.
- It's okay, I'll suffer.
(knocking)
- Morning.
- How you doing, pal?
Boy, it looks like you've
been through the ringer.
Earl Lane again?
- Earlene.
Actually, it was more
like having been through
the spin cycle and tumble-dried.
I loved every minute of it.
- Do you have to try every
machine in the laundromat
before you clean up
your act, Romano?
- What's that supposed to mean?
- When are you gonna
try going out with a lady,
for a change, like Gina?
- Stacy trying to fix you
up with Gina Canelli?
- Yeah.
- Hey, you're crazy
to say no, man.
She's a good-looking lady.
- Look, my old
man used to tell me,
never dip your pen in
the company inkwell.
You know what I mean?
- Good advice.
Someone like you
would suck the inkwell dry.
- Let's hit it.
- No sweat, we can
be a few minutes late.
The watch
commander's on vacation.
- Who's handling roll call?
- Hooker is.
- [Vince] Hooker, what are
you standing around for?
Come on, we're late.
(upbeat rock music)
- Three moving violations
and a malicious mischief.
Hooker, we are not
earning our keep.
- Looks like Briggs and Canelli
are having the same kind of day.
- Canelli probably likes it.
- [Hooker] Why do you say that?
- (laughs) I'm
always kidding her.
She's what, 110 pounds?
If that's how I weighed in,
I'd sure rather be
writing greenies
than going up against
some mongoose
with a knife and
nothing to lose.
- Romano, that's 110 pounds
of black belt in karate
you're talking about.
- Hey, don't get me
wrong, I'm all for her.
Same with Stacy, women,
I think they're super.
(radio beeping)
- [Dispatcher] All units in
the vicinity and four out of 30.
A 211 in progress at the
supermarket, 1019 Overland,
three suspects, handle Code 3.
(dramatic rock
music) (sirens wailing)
For the description
on the 211 suspects,
wearing dark
clothing, white masks,
all units in the
vicinity handle Code 2.
- [Gina] Four out of 18, roger.
- Move it!
(robber talking and
women screaming at once)
Move it, move it, let's
go, move it, let's go!
- [Man] Over here now.
(women screaming)
- Over there, over there,
over there, over there!
You, money, open it up!
You got it, come
on, put it all in here.
All right, you got it.
All right, ladies and gentlemen,
nobody'll get hurt if you
listen to exactly what I say.
Now, turn around.
Around, all right, move it.
- Back, let's go, let's go!
- Come on, come on, come on.
- Let's go, go, go!
- Move it, come on, come on.
Girls, turn it down!
(women screaming)
(explosion booming)
(sirens wailing)
(dramatic rock music)
(woman screaming)
(sirens wailing)
(dramatic rock music)
- I see two suspects,
Carl Set Three.
Everyone, get
away from the store.
- [Man] Come on!
(tires squealing)
- Cut 'em off.
(tires squealing)
(sirens wailing)
(shopping carts clattering)
(siren wailing)
- Dump me, I'll look
for the third guy inside.
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- We get the east aisle 30.
(dramatic rock music)
(sirens wailing)
(dramatic rock music)
(metal crunching)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- You two okay?
- Yeah.
- I'll cut 'em off.
(gunshots firing)
(suspenseful rock music)
(canned goods clattering)
(somber bass music)
- I don't know if we'll
get out of here on foot.
At least I got the Trans Am,
you for for it, I'll cover you.
- Let's just get out'a here.
- Go!
(suspenseful music)
- [Vince] Hold it!
- Romano, behind you!
(suspenseful music)
(gunshot firing)
(gunshots firing)
(tires squealing)
(sirens wailing)
- Oh, I tried to shoot, but
Romano was in my line of fire.
- Sorry, but they got away.
- Get down, sit down.
- Briggs is hurt!
- How bad is it?
- Plenty, two of them gone,
two of us down.
- I'm okay, I'm okay.
It just nicked me.
- You okay?
- Yeah, check Briggs.
- I'll call for an ambulance.
- You were wide open there.
- I had cover.
There.
- 1019 Overland.
Get an ambulance.
- Canelli yelled
a warning to me.
She didn't fire.
Why?
(somber orchestral music)
- Three!
- Keep it together!
- Four!
- And straighter!
- [Group] One, two, three!
(telephones ringing)
- Hey, how's the hand?
- Minor fracture, I'll be
out of the cast in a week.
What's shaking,
what's happening?
- Detectives are still
playing 20 questions
with our bad guy.
- His name is Dean Jarvis.
He's an ex-con
out of San Quentin.
- I'll lay you a five
they come up blank.
- (chuckles) You
won't get my money.
What's the word on Briggs?
- He's out of recovery, his
shoulder's torn up pretty bad.
He's hurting.
- Where's Canelli?
- Having coffee,
she's really shook.
- She oughta be.
It's because of her
that Briggs got shot.
(telephone ringing)
- I don't believe that.
- Well, you weren't there
when it happened, Stacy.
- Well, maybe not,
but I know Gina.
- You're real tight
with her, big sister,
can't do anything wrong.
- Knock it off, you two.
- I'm telling you, Hooker,
she froze out there.
She deserves to be suspended.
- Romano.
How much of what happened
did you actually see?
As opposed to what
Briggs may have told you?
- Hey, who's side are you on?
Briggs and I nearly
got wasted out there.
- Come on, Romano.
When a shooting goes down,
the moments pop damn fast.
Sometimes it's not always
that easy to reconstruct.
- What actually went down.
- That's right.
- I thought I was with friends.
With my partner.
Could be I was mistaken.
- Man's feeling
down, Hooker, alone.
Maybe it's understandable.
- Yeah, maybe.
- Gina.
I want you to know that
I'm with you all the way.
I believe in you.
- Thanks, Stace.
You know how much I needed that?
A trial, but I can't
believe it's happening.
- It's gonna work
out, I know it.
- Well, if it doesn't, I'll never
wear this uniform again.
- Don't even think that way.
You're gonna fight,
and you're gonna win.
- Thank you.
(sad saxophone music)
(somber piano music)
- Hey, flake, you're not gonna
let a hole in your shoulder
keep you down, huh?
- Hey, Romano.
Good to see you, buddy.
- Just talked to the nurse.
They're gonna spring you
day after tomorrow, huh?
- That's the good news.
I don't look forward
to the trial board.
I don't enjoy taking a
fellow officer to the mat.
But cowardice isn't
something you can let go.
- Yeah.
- Bill.
I hope you don't my mind
falling in on you like this.
I know how you must be feeling.
I got some questions
I gotta ask you.
- Sure (groans) I don't mind.
- You got any idea why
Canelli didn't pop the suspect?
Other than cowardice?
- No, but I wish I did.
Up until the time
of the shooting,
I thought she really
had her stuff together.
- Tell me about the
shooter, what'd he look like?
You were the only one who
had a full face look at him.
- Uh, 40, 45.
(chuckles) Pretty good shape.
One tough looking case.
Uh, scraggly, little
mustache, brown hair.
I'm not gonna forget
that face for a long time.
- Or what happened.
- I'll get a sketch artist
down here in the morning.
You can work with him,
meanwhile, I think you can plan
on a visit from Lieutenant
Ellis, get some rest.
I'll see you at
roll call, partner.
- Yeah, right.
- [Woman On Intercom]
Mr. Hubbard, telephone, please.
Mr. Hubbard.
(elevator dings)
- Lieutenant.
Are you here to see Briggs?
- That's right, what about it?
- In your report, I noticed that
Briggs and Canelli's
statements are in conflict
as to the number of
shots fired by the shooter.
- That's right.
- Briggs says there
were two shots fired.
Canelli says there were three.
- Exactly what is your
interest in this matter, Hooker?
- All the officers
involved are on my watch.
I'd say that puts me
personally and squarely
right in the middle.
- I think it's Canelli
who is in the middle.
Our investigation
reveals a trend.
She did a similar
thing three years ago.
Failed to back up her partner
in a violent field
confrontation.
- [Woman On Intercom] Mrs.
Fernandez, front desk, please.
Mrs. Fernandez.
- She's a coward, Hooker.
And that's what I intend
to prove to the trial board.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(upbeat dance music)
- I think you defended Scannon
when everyone
thought the department
had him cold on taking a bribe.
You proved he was clean.
- That's ancient history.
- (sighs) Hooker, look,
you've got what I need.
Dedication,
commitment, objectivity.
Certain qualities
don't change with time.
- That's what Ellis
is gonna claim.
Three years ago,
you didn't back your partner.
- (sighs) I bet
he didn't tell you
no charges were
brought against me.
- Who was your partner then?
- Tolliver.
Sergeant Bob Tolliver.
- 19th Precinct, I know him.
- Yeah, he's the
kind of guy who gets
a little bit of authority, and
then promptly comes on
like a deputy chief.
- Go on.
- I was a recruit,
still on probation.
Been riding with Tolliver
for about a month.
We got a family
disturbance call,
husband and wife,
really going at it.
I started to talk
to the husband.
He was just about
ready to go off.
I guess he was pumped up on PCP.
- You on the hype,
out there alone?
- I used every crisis
intervention technique in the book.
He was just about ready to
let me put the cuffs on him.
- What went wrong?
- Tolliver.
Came back and did what
he always did, took over.
His exact words,
move over, Canelli,
while I handle this.
So I did just that.
Stood by and watched
while he got creamed.
- You did wrong, no matter
what your partner said.
- Well, I was a rookie.
It was an immature decision.
But, I was not a coward.
Not then, not now.
Hooker, I need you.
I really need you.
- Hey, Hooker,
you called it right.
NCIC verified the shaped
charge he tried to use
in the supermarket safe.
- It ties into an MO
used by one Max Proctor.
- His last market job
eight years ago went bad.
The explosion went off
early, put him in a wheelchair.
- Is he still on it?
- He only gets out to sleep.
First floor, west
block at San Quentin.
- Hey, maybe Jarvis
and his partners
went to yard school with him.
- Not Jarvis.
West block is
senior citizen row.
Jarvis didn't do enough time
to get to that
side of the prison.
- Here are the convicts
that Max Proctor
did come in contact with.
- Well, Briggs
is in the hospital,
working with a sketch
artist this morning.
Make sure he sees these.
What have you got from the lab?
- They're still trying to
analyze the shaped charge
for possible ID,
we may get lucky,
and find out where it came from.
- Keep the pressure on
the boys in the white suits.
Will you?
- Okay, you got it.
Listen, I hear you're
taking on Canelli's defense.
Are you sure you're
doing the right thing?
- Ah.
Marty, Jerry, what's happening?
(ominous orchestral music)
(gunshots firing)
Not a bad way to work out
your injury blues, partner.
- The injury's not my problem.
- Something eating at you?
Must be a lady, huh?
- Yeah, a lady.
Gina Canelli.
I hear you took on her defense.
(gunshots firing)
- Hey, Romano,
you got it, it's dead.
Somebody I know?
- Hooker, how could you?
I think you've got your
loyalties screwed up.
- How do you figure?
- I figure I'm your partner.
I tell you what went
down in the parking lot.
Canelli tells you her version.
And you stand up for her.
That's calling me a liar, ready!
- Romano!
Canelli's career is on the line.
So far, I've heard two
versions of what happened.
Well, before I let her
go down the tubes,
there's some important
questions that gotta be answered.
Look, the point is
to get at the truth.
I'm just part of that process.
- Damn it, Hooker, two
of us almost bought it
in that parking lot!
- I know that.
And I care about you, partner.
And I care about that
badge, what it stands for.
(somber orchestral music)
(gunshots firing)
(somber music)
(arcade games beeping)
- They got Jarvis, you got
nothing, I heard on the radio.
- Jarvis won't talk.
- Look, Frank, I showed
you how to blow those safes.
But I can't hold your
hand while you're doing it.
- Hardly got enough money
to walk away from my parole.
Settle in south of the border
with somebody, young stuff.
That means I go again.
- I'm ahead of you.
No more rip offs needed.
Now whatever primer cord we
need, I just walk in and buy it.
- The guy's
picture's on the card.
- (chuckles) Not for long.
Photographer I know is
gonna replace it with mine.
(ominous music)
- [Jim] Hooker!
- [Stacy] The lab
finally came through.
- They ID'd the explosive
as part of a shipment
made to the Gold Coast Rock
Company out on Fisher Road.
- You get the name of
a buyer at Gold Coast?
- The foreman, Richard Garcia.
- That's great, I
appreciate the help.
- Hey, what are
friends for, thank you!
(upbeat rock music)
- [Hooker] Richard Garcia.
- [Richard] One minute, please.
(explosion booming)
- I'm Sergeant Hooker.
Some primer cord
explosives that you signed for
were used in a robbery.
- I was afraid of that.
- Tell us about it.
- Couple of weeks ago,
this guy came around
looking for some work.
I had a deadline, so
I put him on without
going through all the red tape.
He was gone by
the end of the day,
and so was some
of the primer cord.
- You didn't report it?
- My neck was out.
- It still is.
What'd he look like?
- Kinda small,
around 40, with a limp.
- That's it?
- I wish it was, he
took my buyer's permit
along with the primer cord.
- Terrific.
(somber orchestral music)
- Hey, I hear we got
a third suspect to find.
- Small guy with a limp.
- What's the
matter with the kid?
Got something stuck in his craw?
- This choking on him.
- Canelli, he still grumbling
about you defending her?
- Give him time,
he'll come around.
- Yeah, but have
you got the time?
When you're on the street,
the last thing you need
is a partner who's head's
not straight, think about it.
Hey, trial board's
tomorrow, isn't it?
- Yeah.
- That's a lot of law
to read in one night.
- Tell me about it.
(somber orchestral music)
(dog barking)
(shattered glass tinkling)
- Lousy yellow coward!
- Chicken in the hen house!
(imitating chickens cackling)
- [Man In Black Jacket]
Lousy yellow coward!
- [Man In Denim Jacket]
Chicken in the hen house!
(imitating chickens cackling)
- [Man In Black
Jacket] Yellow belly!
- Oh, oh!
(men laughing)
- [Hooker] Hold it,
you men, hold it there!
(dramatic orchestral music)
(car engine revving)
- Hooker!
Oh!
(dramatic orchestral music)
(somber orchestral music)
I'd like to write off last
night, but how can I?
Those weren't
punks, they were cops.
- We don't know that for sure.
- Oh, come on.
I didn't just get off the
bus from Bakersfield.
Every cop in the
precinct would like to
hang one of those poor
chickens on my door.
- Not every.
- Sorry, Hooker.
I was scared last night,
but this trial has me petrified.
- I understand that
we drew Captain Daniel
as the senior member
of the trial board.
- (chuckles) Forget it, Hooker.
Just because you used
to play racketball with him,
isn't gonna cut
any ice in this trial.
- Yeah, I guess he's past
playing with sergeants.
I understand his Friday
afternoon game is with the chief.
- Hooker.
- Captain.
- Let the record
show the accused
and defense representative,
Sergeant T.J. Hooker, present.
As is the department
advocate, Lieutenant Peter Ellis.
Officer Canelli.
The department alleges
that on the 16th of this month
at or about 1300 hours
in the vicinity of 108th
Street and Stanford,
you failed to take appropriate
action in a field incident,
such failure resulting in
serious injury to your partner,
Officer William Briggs,
and a lesser injury to
Officer Vincent Romano.
How do you plead?
- Not guilty.
(dramatic orchestral music)
- After deciding to split
up, I moved to this position.
As I arrived, I observed
Officer Romano
running from
here, this location,
and the suspect came from here,
with his gun raised and
pointed at Romano's back.
- What did you do?
- Well, I raised my gun to fire.
And I observed that Office
Romano was in my direct line.
I heard Canelli yell a warning.
I assumed she was
in a better position
and would fire herself.
But nothing happened.
Suspect shot Romano.
- And then what happened?
- Well, as I reached this point,
the suspect turned,
and he pulled one off.
I was hit in the
shoulder, and went down.
- Did you at any time
see Office Canelli
before you were shot?
- Yes sir, I did.
As I was running, when I
cleared the truck right here,
I saw Office Canelli
crouched behind this pickup.
- Do you have any idea
why she took this position
after having yelled a
warning to Officer Romano?
- That would just be
speculation on my part, sir.
I'd rather not say.
- Yes, that is a judgment
for the board to make, isn't it.
Your witness, Sergeant Hooker.
- You were right, looks
like they're gonna call
my old partner,
Sergeant Tolliver.
- His story could bury you.
No matter how we
explain your actions,
the fact is, you're charged
with the same thing
he accused you
of three years ago.
- Sergeant Hooker.
You have any
questions for the witness?
- Yes sir, I do.
But before I begin, may
I approach the board?
- Well, what is it, Sergeant?
- I think the board oughta know
that I plan a thorough
cross-examination of Officer Briggs.
It will probably take
45 minutes to an hour.
- What are you
trying to pull, Hooker?
You can question Briggs all
night, as far as I'm concerned.
- Well, that's very
generous of you, Lieutenant,
but I didn't want to interfere
with Captain Daniels' schedule.
- Thank you, Sergeant.
This board is recessed
until Monday morning.
Reconvene at 9 a.m.
- Well, I bought some time.
- Ah yeah, all we
need now is a miracle.
- [Drill Sergeant] Hep hep hep.
Hup, hep.
Hep hep hep.
Hup, hep.
Hep hep hep.
Hup, hep.
Hep hep hep.
- Stacy followed through
on the description
you got at the quarry.
- The guy who stole
the primer cord?
- What if he got his limp
in the same explosion
that took out the con
in the wheelchair?
- Mickey Dowd, the
accomplice, and injured
in the same explosion that
put Max Proctor in the joint.
And, Dowd has a limp.
- [Hooker] Where do we find him?
- We're working on it, now
get this, Dowd's cellmate
is Frank Abbott.
- The man who shot Bill Briggs.
- We should get these
out to all ordinance outlets.
- They're already in the system.
But photo duplicating is
closed today and tomorrow.
So they'll be out
first thing Monday.
- Monday, don't remind me.
It's back to the trial
board pressure cooker.
Talk about Monday.
I went over Briggs'
package last night.
He transferred in from San
Francisco four years ago.
Did you know him out there?
- I saw him around.
I transferred in a couple
of years before he did.
- Any idea what
went into his decision?
- I heard he was
in a big shootout.
Sometimes, you wanna
put those things behind you.
- Yeah.
- Vince, I wish none
of this had happened.
- I know how you
feel about Gina.
- That's right, but I
care about you, too.
And the scuttlebutt says
you may be putting
in for another partner.
- Well, I was about as
close as you can get.
Now, I don't know.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(suspenseful orchestral music)
- Spot the safe?
- Yeah, it's a drop
job, check stand five.
- See that clock
on the back wall?
Manager's office is above it.
It's got a view of
the whole store.
See those mirrors?
He can see all the aisles.
When we take this place,
I want you to keep
your eyes glued to them.
I don't want any surprises,
in case some jerk
wants to play hero.
- Gotcha.
When do we do our thing?
- Sunday.
Safe should be fat
with weekend receipts.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(somber orchestral music)
- 953, that's the truck the
company dispatcher said
was at the scene of the robbery.
Bingo.
And the slug is still in there.
There was a third bullet fired.
Canelli was right, and Ellis
didn't bother to look for it.
- All right, it's
a third bullet.
But all that tells me is
Abbott was a lousy shot.
- It could tell us more.
Let's get the lab
boys down here.
- Hooker!
Your bulletin on the stolen
explosives permit paid off.
- Just verified a full
case of primer cord
purchased this morning at
the Triple X Supply in Alameda.
The salesman made
the buyer is Mickey Dowd,
the man with a limp.
- We'll need the
location on him.
- We have a possible,
prison log showed Dowd
completing a
course in electronics.
City records show a
video game parlor license
issued to someone of the
same name at 1016 Central.
- And the lab report indicates
the bomb used to blow the
safe was rigged with components
used in video games.
- Sounds like we're smokin'.
Get all that to the DA's
office, pick up a search warrant.
We'll meet you at the location.
- Hooker, about tomorrow,
when I get on the witness stand,
I'm gonna tell it like I saw it.
- You do that, that's
all anybody could ask.
And if I have to
cross-examine you,
I'm not pulling any punches.
(dramatic rock music)
- Dog is good.
Why don't you make
it easy on yourself?
- I'm telling you, Officer,
you're wasting your time.
(dog barking)
- Give me the key.
Give me the key.
You bought this primer
cord this morning.
Some of it's missing.
Now if it goes boom,
and people get killed,
you're riding on murder,
because that crazy
you're teamed up with.
- Crazy, I don't know
who you're talking...
- You know what I'm
talking about, Frank Abbott.
Come on.
- It's gonna kick off the
market at Sixth and Union.
- Book him.
(dramatic orchestral music)
That Camaro, gotta be Abbott.
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
(auto horn blaring)
(shattered glass clattering)
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
Out of the car, let's
see your hands.
Nice and slow.
- Hands behind your head.
Come on.
- Get your hands on your neck.
(somber orchestral music)
- The department calls
Sergeant Robert Tolliver.
- Objection, Mr. Chairman.
I believe that Lieutenant
Ellis intends to use
Sergeant Tolliver's testimony
to establish a trend relating
to some on-duty activity
of Office Canelli's past.
- [Ellis] That's
correct, Mr. Chairman.
- Sir, in Section 6,
Paragraph 2 in the
Board of Rights manual,
"The board may not examine
anything relating to a trend
"of character or behavior,
until after a finding of guilty
"and then only for the
purpose of determining penalty."
- Objection sustained.
- When'd you come up with that?
- Three o'clock this morning.
- To sum up,
then, Officer Canelli
was standing to your right,
just before you moved
out to face the suspect.
- Yes sir.
- And you were depending
on her to back you up?
- Yes sir.
- But when the
suspect opened fire,
she failed to protect you.
- That's correct, sir.
- Your witness.
- Officer Romano,
you testified that you
saw Officer Canelli
standing to your right
just prior to the shooting?
- That's correct.
- Did you actually
turn and see her?
- No, I saw her out
of the side of my eye.
- Ah, your peripheral vision.
Let's discuss your
peripheral vision.
What did you actually see
in your peripheral vision?
- Office Canelli.
- Are you positive?
Think very carefully,
'cause it's important.
Did you see Officer Canelli,
or did you see a blue uniform?
- I saw a blue uniform, but
when the shooting stopped,
I turned, looked, Officer
Canelli was standing right there.
- But before the
shots were fired,
all you can swear to is
that you saw a blue uniform.
Which could have
been Officer Canelli.
Or it could have
been Officer Briggs.
(suspenseful orchestral music)
- I guess so.
Yes.
I guess I assumed
it was Canelli.
- No further questions.
- You're excused,
Officer Romano.
Call your next
witness, Lieutenant.
- The department
rests, Mr. Chairman.
- Sergeant Hooker, you
may now call witnesses
for the defense.
- Yes sir, I wish
to call Mr. Hong,
the department criminologist.
- The bullet entered the truck
at a 30-degree angle here.
That would place the suspect
somewhere along this line
coming from the truck.
- Yet that trajectory is
well above the location
where Officer Briggs
says he was hit.
- That appears to be the case.
- On the other hand,
if Briggs were here,
and not here, where
he says he was,
would that be more consistent
with your trajectory analysis?
- Yes, it would be.
- This is the weapon I recovered
from the shooting suspect,
Abbott, did you after a
chance to examine it?
- Yes, it's a .44
Magnum revolver.
- And the slug that was
removed from Officer Briggs?
- Fired from that gun.
- And the bullet that was
recovered from the truck,
was that also a .44 Magnum?
- Yes, it was.
- No further questions.
I believe that we have
shown that two bullets
were fired in rapid
succession at Officer Briggs,
and that their
trajectory places Briggs,
not Canelli, in Officer Romano's
peripheral vision position,
behind the truck.
Your witness.
- Mr. Hong, is it possible
that one of the bullets
may have hit the truck,
as you said, and the other,
Officer Briggs, in the
position he claimed he was in?
- The shooter would have to
substantially redirect his aim.
- No, answer the
question, is it possible?
- It is possible.
- Thank you.
I have no further questions.
- The shrink, is he here yet?
- He's outside.
But he's here only
because of the subpoena.
He's refusing to testify, he's
got the law to back him up.
- I have here Officer
Briggs' personal jacket
from his prior service
with the San Francisco
Police Department.
Have you ever been
involved in a shooting before?
- Objection.
- Overruled.
Answer the question,
Officer Briggs.
- Um, once (coughs).
When I was on the
job in San Francisco.
- Was it a hit or
no-hit incident?
What's that, I didn't hear you.
Please speak up so
that we can hear you.
- Uh, hit, it was a hit.
- Who was hit?
I'll repeat it.
Who was hit?
- Danny.
- Danny, who's Danny?
- Danny.
My partner, Danny.
- Danny was hit,
what did you do?
- I tried.
Oh god, I tried.
But I couldn't stop him.
He killed Danny.
- You exposed yourself
to save your partner?
- But I couldn't save him.
- Just like you thought
you couldn't save Romano,
so you didn't.
You were the one
hiding behind the truck,
with the gun in your
hand, weren't you?
And it all came back to you.
And when it was over,
you remembered the story of
Sergeant Tolliver and Canelli.
And you had a
ready-made scapegoat
to explain away
your inability to act.
(sobbing)
- I tried.
I just, I just couldn't
pull the trigger.
I just couldn't, I
couldn't (sobbing).
(Hooker shushing)
- Mr. Chairman.
Officer Briggs'
psychiatrist is here.
I believe Officer Briggs
could use the help, now.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(upbeat dance music)
- This is my celebration,
I'm buying the next round.
- I'll give you a hand.
- When she thanked
you, Gina was afraid
she'd get too emotional.
- That's all right, I
got her message.
- Well, Hooker, I think it's
about time you got mine.
- Uh oh.
- Look, if you hadn't dug
in and gone after the truth,
everyone would have
had to pay the price.
- Right, the department would
have lost a good cop in Gina,
and Briggs would
have stayed on the job
without getting
the help he needs.
- And I wouldn't have
gotten my perspective
straightened out.
- We learn as we go.
- I'll drink to that.
- What are we drinking to?
- To Romano!
He's decided to
buy the next round.
- Do the raggedy!
(glasses clinking)
(upbeat dance music)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(tinkling music)
(light rock music)
(knocking)
- Come on in!
- Hey, partner, carpool's
here, time to go to work.
- Soon as Romano
gets it in gear.
Must've had a tough night.
Mind if I finish my workout?
- Are you kidding?
I could stand here
and watch you all day.
- [Stacy] Well,
if you get bored,
the newspaper's in the kitchen.
- It's okay, I'll suffer.
(knocking)
- Morning.
- How you doing, pal?
Boy, it looks like you've
been through the ringer.
Earl Lane again?
- Earlene.
Actually, it was more
like having been through
the spin cycle and tumble-dried.
I loved every minute of it.
- Do you have to try every
machine in the laundromat
before you clean up
your act, Romano?
- What's that supposed to mean?
- When are you gonna
try going out with a lady,
for a change, like Gina?
- Stacy trying to fix you
up with Gina Canelli?
- Yeah.
- Hey, you're crazy
to say no, man.
She's a good-looking lady.
- Look, my old
man used to tell me,
never dip your pen in
the company inkwell.
You know what I mean?
- Good advice.
Someone like you
would suck the inkwell dry.
- Let's hit it.
- No sweat, we can
be a few minutes late.
The watch
commander's on vacation.
- Who's handling roll call?
- Hooker is.
- [Vince] Hooker, what are
you standing around for?
Come on, we're late.
(upbeat rock music)
- Three moving violations
and a malicious mischief.
Hooker, we are not
earning our keep.
- Looks like Briggs and Canelli
are having the same kind of day.
- Canelli probably likes it.
- [Hooker] Why do you say that?
- (laughs) I'm
always kidding her.
She's what, 110 pounds?
If that's how I weighed in,
I'd sure rather be
writing greenies
than going up against
some mongoose
with a knife and
nothing to lose.
- Romano, that's 110 pounds
of black belt in karate
you're talking about.
- Hey, don't get me
wrong, I'm all for her.
Same with Stacy, women,
I think they're super.
(radio beeping)
- [Dispatcher] All units in
the vicinity and four out of 30.
A 211 in progress at the
supermarket, 1019 Overland,
three suspects, handle Code 3.
(dramatic rock
music) (sirens wailing)
For the description
on the 211 suspects,
wearing dark
clothing, white masks,
all units in the
vicinity handle Code 2.
- [Gina] Four out of 18, roger.
- Move it!
(robber talking and
women screaming at once)
Move it, move it, let's
go, move it, let's go!
- [Man] Over here now.
(women screaming)
- Over there, over there,
over there, over there!
You, money, open it up!
You got it, come
on, put it all in here.
All right, you got it.
All right, ladies and gentlemen,
nobody'll get hurt if you
listen to exactly what I say.
Now, turn around.
Around, all right, move it.
- Back, let's go, let's go!
- Come on, come on, come on.
- Let's go, go, go!
- Move it, come on, come on.
Girls, turn it down!
(women screaming)
(explosion booming)
(sirens wailing)
(dramatic rock music)
(woman screaming)
(sirens wailing)
(dramatic rock music)
- I see two suspects,
Carl Set Three.
Everyone, get
away from the store.
- [Man] Come on!
(tires squealing)
- Cut 'em off.
(tires squealing)
(sirens wailing)
(shopping carts clattering)
(siren wailing)
- Dump me, I'll look
for the third guy inside.
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- We get the east aisle 30.
(dramatic rock music)
(sirens wailing)
(dramatic rock music)
(metal crunching)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- You two okay?
- Yeah.
- I'll cut 'em off.
(gunshots firing)
(suspenseful rock music)
(canned goods clattering)
(somber bass music)
- I don't know if we'll
get out of here on foot.
At least I got the Trans Am,
you for for it, I'll cover you.
- Let's just get out'a here.
- Go!
(suspenseful music)
- [Vince] Hold it!
- Romano, behind you!
(suspenseful music)
(gunshot firing)
(gunshots firing)
(tires squealing)
(sirens wailing)
- Oh, I tried to shoot, but
Romano was in my line of fire.
- Sorry, but they got away.
- Get down, sit down.
- Briggs is hurt!
- How bad is it?
- Plenty, two of them gone,
two of us down.
- I'm okay, I'm okay.
It just nicked me.
- You okay?
- Yeah, check Briggs.
- I'll call for an ambulance.
- You were wide open there.
- I had cover.
There.
- 1019 Overland.
Get an ambulance.
- Canelli yelled
a warning to me.
She didn't fire.
Why?
(somber orchestral music)
- Three!
- Keep it together!
- Four!
- And straighter!
- [Group] One, two, three!
(telephones ringing)
- Hey, how's the hand?
- Minor fracture, I'll be
out of the cast in a week.
What's shaking,
what's happening?
- Detectives are still
playing 20 questions
with our bad guy.
- His name is Dean Jarvis.
He's an ex-con
out of San Quentin.
- I'll lay you a five
they come up blank.
- (chuckles) You
won't get my money.
What's the word on Briggs?
- He's out of recovery, his
shoulder's torn up pretty bad.
He's hurting.
- Where's Canelli?
- Having coffee,
she's really shook.
- She oughta be.
It's because of her
that Briggs got shot.
(telephone ringing)
- I don't believe that.
- Well, you weren't there
when it happened, Stacy.
- Well, maybe not,
but I know Gina.
- You're real tight
with her, big sister,
can't do anything wrong.
- Knock it off, you two.
- I'm telling you, Hooker,
she froze out there.
She deserves to be suspended.
- Romano.
How much of what happened
did you actually see?
As opposed to what
Briggs may have told you?
- Hey, who's side are you on?
Briggs and I nearly
got wasted out there.
- Come on, Romano.
When a shooting goes down,
the moments pop damn fast.
Sometimes it's not always
that easy to reconstruct.
- What actually went down.
- That's right.
- I thought I was with friends.
With my partner.
Could be I was mistaken.
- Man's feeling
down, Hooker, alone.
Maybe it's understandable.
- Yeah, maybe.
- Gina.
I want you to know that
I'm with you all the way.
I believe in you.
- Thanks, Stace.
You know how much I needed that?
A trial, but I can't
believe it's happening.
- It's gonna work
out, I know it.
- Well, if it doesn't, I'll never
wear this uniform again.
- Don't even think that way.
You're gonna fight,
and you're gonna win.
- Thank you.
(sad saxophone music)
(somber piano music)
- Hey, flake, you're not gonna
let a hole in your shoulder
keep you down, huh?
- Hey, Romano.
Good to see you, buddy.
- Just talked to the nurse.
They're gonna spring you
day after tomorrow, huh?
- That's the good news.
I don't look forward
to the trial board.
I don't enjoy taking a
fellow officer to the mat.
But cowardice isn't
something you can let go.
- Yeah.
- Bill.
I hope you don't my mind
falling in on you like this.
I know how you must be feeling.
I got some questions
I gotta ask you.
- Sure (groans) I don't mind.
- You got any idea why
Canelli didn't pop the suspect?
Other than cowardice?
- No, but I wish I did.
Up until the time
of the shooting,
I thought she really
had her stuff together.
- Tell me about the
shooter, what'd he look like?
You were the only one who
had a full face look at him.
- Uh, 40, 45.
(chuckles) Pretty good shape.
One tough looking case.
Uh, scraggly, little
mustache, brown hair.
I'm not gonna forget
that face for a long time.
- Or what happened.
- I'll get a sketch artist
down here in the morning.
You can work with him,
meanwhile, I think you can plan
on a visit from Lieutenant
Ellis, get some rest.
I'll see you at
roll call, partner.
- Yeah, right.
- [Woman On Intercom]
Mr. Hubbard, telephone, please.
Mr. Hubbard.
(elevator dings)
- Lieutenant.
Are you here to see Briggs?
- That's right, what about it?
- In your report, I noticed that
Briggs and Canelli's
statements are in conflict
as to the number of
shots fired by the shooter.
- That's right.
- Briggs says there
were two shots fired.
Canelli says there were three.
- Exactly what is your
interest in this matter, Hooker?
- All the officers
involved are on my watch.
I'd say that puts me
personally and squarely
right in the middle.
- I think it's Canelli
who is in the middle.
Our investigation
reveals a trend.
She did a similar
thing three years ago.
Failed to back up her partner
in a violent field
confrontation.
- [Woman On Intercom] Mrs.
Fernandez, front desk, please.
Mrs. Fernandez.
- She's a coward, Hooker.
And that's what I intend
to prove to the trial board.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(upbeat dance music)
- I think you defended Scannon
when everyone
thought the department
had him cold on taking a bribe.
You proved he was clean.
- That's ancient history.
- (sighs) Hooker, look,
you've got what I need.
Dedication,
commitment, objectivity.
Certain qualities
don't change with time.
- That's what Ellis
is gonna claim.
Three years ago,
you didn't back your partner.
- (sighs) I bet
he didn't tell you
no charges were
brought against me.
- Who was your partner then?
- Tolliver.
Sergeant Bob Tolliver.
- 19th Precinct, I know him.
- Yeah, he's the
kind of guy who gets
a little bit of authority, and
then promptly comes on
like a deputy chief.
- Go on.
- I was a recruit,
still on probation.
Been riding with Tolliver
for about a month.
We got a family
disturbance call,
husband and wife,
really going at it.
I started to talk
to the husband.
He was just about
ready to go off.
I guess he was pumped up on PCP.
- You on the hype,
out there alone?
- I used every crisis
intervention technique in the book.
He was just about ready to
let me put the cuffs on him.
- What went wrong?
- Tolliver.
Came back and did what
he always did, took over.
His exact words,
move over, Canelli,
while I handle this.
So I did just that.
Stood by and watched
while he got creamed.
- You did wrong, no matter
what your partner said.
- Well, I was a rookie.
It was an immature decision.
But, I was not a coward.
Not then, not now.
Hooker, I need you.
I really need you.
- Hey, Hooker,
you called it right.
NCIC verified the shaped
charge he tried to use
in the supermarket safe.
- It ties into an MO
used by one Max Proctor.
- His last market job
eight years ago went bad.
The explosion went off
early, put him in a wheelchair.
- Is he still on it?
- He only gets out to sleep.
First floor, west
block at San Quentin.
- Hey, maybe Jarvis
and his partners
went to yard school with him.
- Not Jarvis.
West block is
senior citizen row.
Jarvis didn't do enough time
to get to that
side of the prison.
- Here are the convicts
that Max Proctor
did come in contact with.
- Well, Briggs
is in the hospital,
working with a sketch
artist this morning.
Make sure he sees these.
What have you got from the lab?
- They're still trying to
analyze the shaped charge
for possible ID,
we may get lucky,
and find out where it came from.
- Keep the pressure on
the boys in the white suits.
Will you?
- Okay, you got it.
Listen, I hear you're
taking on Canelli's defense.
Are you sure you're
doing the right thing?
- Ah.
Marty, Jerry, what's happening?
(ominous orchestral music)
(gunshots firing)
Not a bad way to work out
your injury blues, partner.
- The injury's not my problem.
- Something eating at you?
Must be a lady, huh?
- Yeah, a lady.
Gina Canelli.
I hear you took on her defense.
(gunshots firing)
- Hey, Romano,
you got it, it's dead.
Somebody I know?
- Hooker, how could you?
I think you've got your
loyalties screwed up.
- How do you figure?
- I figure I'm your partner.
I tell you what went
down in the parking lot.
Canelli tells you her version.
And you stand up for her.
That's calling me a liar, ready!
- Romano!
Canelli's career is on the line.
So far, I've heard two
versions of what happened.
Well, before I let her
go down the tubes,
there's some important
questions that gotta be answered.
Look, the point is
to get at the truth.
I'm just part of that process.
- Damn it, Hooker, two
of us almost bought it
in that parking lot!
- I know that.
And I care about you, partner.
And I care about that
badge, what it stands for.
(somber orchestral music)
(gunshots firing)
(somber music)
(arcade games beeping)
- They got Jarvis, you got
nothing, I heard on the radio.
- Jarvis won't talk.
- Look, Frank, I showed
you how to blow those safes.
But I can't hold your
hand while you're doing it.
- Hardly got enough money
to walk away from my parole.
Settle in south of the border
with somebody, young stuff.
That means I go again.
- I'm ahead of you.
No more rip offs needed.
Now whatever primer cord we
need, I just walk in and buy it.
- The guy's
picture's on the card.
- (chuckles) Not for long.
Photographer I know is
gonna replace it with mine.
(ominous music)
- [Jim] Hooker!
- [Stacy] The lab
finally came through.
- They ID'd the explosive
as part of a shipment
made to the Gold Coast Rock
Company out on Fisher Road.
- You get the name of
a buyer at Gold Coast?
- The foreman, Richard Garcia.
- That's great, I
appreciate the help.
- Hey, what are
friends for, thank you!
(upbeat rock music)
- [Hooker] Richard Garcia.
- [Richard] One minute, please.
(explosion booming)
- I'm Sergeant Hooker.
Some primer cord
explosives that you signed for
were used in a robbery.
- I was afraid of that.
- Tell us about it.
- Couple of weeks ago,
this guy came around
looking for some work.
I had a deadline, so
I put him on without
going through all the red tape.
He was gone by
the end of the day,
and so was some
of the primer cord.
- You didn't report it?
- My neck was out.
- It still is.
What'd he look like?
- Kinda small,
around 40, with a limp.
- That's it?
- I wish it was, he
took my buyer's permit
along with the primer cord.
- Terrific.
(somber orchestral music)
- Hey, I hear we got
a third suspect to find.
- Small guy with a limp.
- What's the
matter with the kid?
Got something stuck in his craw?
- This choking on him.
- Canelli, he still grumbling
about you defending her?
- Give him time,
he'll come around.
- Yeah, but have
you got the time?
When you're on the street,
the last thing you need
is a partner who's head's
not straight, think about it.
Hey, trial board's
tomorrow, isn't it?
- Yeah.
- That's a lot of law
to read in one night.
- Tell me about it.
(somber orchestral music)
(dog barking)
(shattered glass tinkling)
- Lousy yellow coward!
- Chicken in the hen house!
(imitating chickens cackling)
- [Man In Black Jacket]
Lousy yellow coward!
- [Man In Denim Jacket]
Chicken in the hen house!
(imitating chickens cackling)
- [Man In Black
Jacket] Yellow belly!
- Oh, oh!
(men laughing)
- [Hooker] Hold it,
you men, hold it there!
(dramatic orchestral music)
(car engine revving)
- Hooker!
Oh!
(dramatic orchestral music)
(somber orchestral music)
I'd like to write off last
night, but how can I?
Those weren't
punks, they were cops.
- We don't know that for sure.
- Oh, come on.
I didn't just get off the
bus from Bakersfield.
Every cop in the
precinct would like to
hang one of those poor
chickens on my door.
- Not every.
- Sorry, Hooker.
I was scared last night,
but this trial has me petrified.
- I understand that
we drew Captain Daniel
as the senior member
of the trial board.
- (chuckles) Forget it, Hooker.
Just because you used
to play racketball with him,
isn't gonna cut
any ice in this trial.
- Yeah, I guess he's past
playing with sergeants.
I understand his Friday
afternoon game is with the chief.
- Hooker.
- Captain.
- Let the record
show the accused
and defense representative,
Sergeant T.J. Hooker, present.
As is the department
advocate, Lieutenant Peter Ellis.
Officer Canelli.
The department alleges
that on the 16th of this month
at or about 1300 hours
in the vicinity of 108th
Street and Stanford,
you failed to take appropriate
action in a field incident,
such failure resulting in
serious injury to your partner,
Officer William Briggs,
and a lesser injury to
Officer Vincent Romano.
How do you plead?
- Not guilty.
(dramatic orchestral music)
- After deciding to split
up, I moved to this position.
As I arrived, I observed
Officer Romano
running from
here, this location,
and the suspect came from here,
with his gun raised and
pointed at Romano's back.
- What did you do?
- Well, I raised my gun to fire.
And I observed that Office
Romano was in my direct line.
I heard Canelli yell a warning.
I assumed she was
in a better position
and would fire herself.
But nothing happened.
Suspect shot Romano.
- And then what happened?
- Well, as I reached this point,
the suspect turned,
and he pulled one off.
I was hit in the
shoulder, and went down.
- Did you at any time
see Office Canelli
before you were shot?
- Yes sir, I did.
As I was running, when I
cleared the truck right here,
I saw Office Canelli
crouched behind this pickup.
- Do you have any idea
why she took this position
after having yelled a
warning to Officer Romano?
- That would just be
speculation on my part, sir.
I'd rather not say.
- Yes, that is a judgment
for the board to make, isn't it.
Your witness, Sergeant Hooker.
- You were right, looks
like they're gonna call
my old partner,
Sergeant Tolliver.
- His story could bury you.
No matter how we
explain your actions,
the fact is, you're charged
with the same thing
he accused you
of three years ago.
- Sergeant Hooker.
You have any
questions for the witness?
- Yes sir, I do.
But before I begin, may
I approach the board?
- Well, what is it, Sergeant?
- I think the board oughta know
that I plan a thorough
cross-examination of Officer Briggs.
It will probably take
45 minutes to an hour.
- What are you
trying to pull, Hooker?
You can question Briggs all
night, as far as I'm concerned.
- Well, that's very
generous of you, Lieutenant,
but I didn't want to interfere
with Captain Daniels' schedule.
- Thank you, Sergeant.
This board is recessed
until Monday morning.
Reconvene at 9 a.m.
- Well, I bought some time.
- Ah yeah, all we
need now is a miracle.
- [Drill Sergeant] Hep hep hep.
Hup, hep.
Hep hep hep.
Hup, hep.
Hep hep hep.
Hup, hep.
Hep hep hep.
- Stacy followed through
on the description
you got at the quarry.
- The guy who stole
the primer cord?
- What if he got his limp
in the same explosion
that took out the con
in the wheelchair?
- Mickey Dowd, the
accomplice, and injured
in the same explosion that
put Max Proctor in the joint.
And, Dowd has a limp.
- [Hooker] Where do we find him?
- We're working on it, now
get this, Dowd's cellmate
is Frank Abbott.
- The man who shot Bill Briggs.
- We should get these
out to all ordinance outlets.
- They're already in the system.
But photo duplicating is
closed today and tomorrow.
So they'll be out
first thing Monday.
- Monday, don't remind me.
It's back to the trial
board pressure cooker.
Talk about Monday.
I went over Briggs'
package last night.
He transferred in from San
Francisco four years ago.
Did you know him out there?
- I saw him around.
I transferred in a couple
of years before he did.
- Any idea what
went into his decision?
- I heard he was
in a big shootout.
Sometimes, you wanna
put those things behind you.
- Yeah.
- Vince, I wish none
of this had happened.
- I know how you
feel about Gina.
- That's right, but I
care about you, too.
And the scuttlebutt says
you may be putting
in for another partner.
- Well, I was about as
close as you can get.
Now, I don't know.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(suspenseful orchestral music)
- Spot the safe?
- Yeah, it's a drop
job, check stand five.
- See that clock
on the back wall?
Manager's office is above it.
It's got a view of
the whole store.
See those mirrors?
He can see all the aisles.
When we take this place,
I want you to keep
your eyes glued to them.
I don't want any surprises,
in case some jerk
wants to play hero.
- Gotcha.
When do we do our thing?
- Sunday.
Safe should be fat
with weekend receipts.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(somber orchestral music)
- 953, that's the truck the
company dispatcher said
was at the scene of the robbery.
Bingo.
And the slug is still in there.
There was a third bullet fired.
Canelli was right, and Ellis
didn't bother to look for it.
- All right, it's
a third bullet.
But all that tells me is
Abbott was a lousy shot.
- It could tell us more.
Let's get the lab
boys down here.
- Hooker!
Your bulletin on the stolen
explosives permit paid off.
- Just verified a full
case of primer cord
purchased this morning at
the Triple X Supply in Alameda.
The salesman made
the buyer is Mickey Dowd,
the man with a limp.
- We'll need the
location on him.
- We have a possible,
prison log showed Dowd
completing a
course in electronics.
City records show a
video game parlor license
issued to someone of the
same name at 1016 Central.
- And the lab report indicates
the bomb used to blow the
safe was rigged with components
used in video games.
- Sounds like we're smokin'.
Get all that to the DA's
office, pick up a search warrant.
We'll meet you at the location.
- Hooker, about tomorrow,
when I get on the witness stand,
I'm gonna tell it like I saw it.
- You do that, that's
all anybody could ask.
And if I have to
cross-examine you,
I'm not pulling any punches.
(dramatic rock music)
- Dog is good.
Why don't you make
it easy on yourself?
- I'm telling you, Officer,
you're wasting your time.
(dog barking)
- Give me the key.
Give me the key.
You bought this primer
cord this morning.
Some of it's missing.
Now if it goes boom,
and people get killed,
you're riding on murder,
because that crazy
you're teamed up with.
- Crazy, I don't know
who you're talking...
- You know what I'm
talking about, Frank Abbott.
Come on.
- It's gonna kick off the
market at Sixth and Union.
- Book him.
(dramatic orchestral music)
That Camaro, gotta be Abbott.
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
(auto horn blaring)
(shattered glass clattering)
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
Out of the car, let's
see your hands.
Nice and slow.
- Hands behind your head.
Come on.
- Get your hands on your neck.
(somber orchestral music)
- The department calls
Sergeant Robert Tolliver.
- Objection, Mr. Chairman.
I believe that Lieutenant
Ellis intends to use
Sergeant Tolliver's testimony
to establish a trend relating
to some on-duty activity
of Office Canelli's past.
- [Ellis] That's
correct, Mr. Chairman.
- Sir, in Section 6,
Paragraph 2 in the
Board of Rights manual,
"The board may not examine
anything relating to a trend
"of character or behavior,
until after a finding of guilty
"and then only for the
purpose of determining penalty."
- Objection sustained.
- When'd you come up with that?
- Three o'clock this morning.
- To sum up,
then, Officer Canelli
was standing to your right,
just before you moved
out to face the suspect.
- Yes sir.
- And you were depending
on her to back you up?
- Yes sir.
- But when the
suspect opened fire,
she failed to protect you.
- That's correct, sir.
- Your witness.
- Officer Romano,
you testified that you
saw Officer Canelli
standing to your right
just prior to the shooting?
- That's correct.
- Did you actually
turn and see her?
- No, I saw her out
of the side of my eye.
- Ah, your peripheral vision.
Let's discuss your
peripheral vision.
What did you actually see
in your peripheral vision?
- Office Canelli.
- Are you positive?
Think very carefully,
'cause it's important.
Did you see Officer Canelli,
or did you see a blue uniform?
- I saw a blue uniform, but
when the shooting stopped,
I turned, looked, Officer
Canelli was standing right there.
- But before the
shots were fired,
all you can swear to is
that you saw a blue uniform.
Which could have
been Officer Canelli.
Or it could have
been Officer Briggs.
(suspenseful orchestral music)
- I guess so.
Yes.
I guess I assumed
it was Canelli.
- No further questions.
- You're excused,
Officer Romano.
Call your next
witness, Lieutenant.
- The department
rests, Mr. Chairman.
- Sergeant Hooker, you
may now call witnesses
for the defense.
- Yes sir, I wish
to call Mr. Hong,
the department criminologist.
- The bullet entered the truck
at a 30-degree angle here.
That would place the suspect
somewhere along this line
coming from the truck.
- Yet that trajectory is
well above the location
where Officer Briggs
says he was hit.
- That appears to be the case.
- On the other hand,
if Briggs were here,
and not here, where
he says he was,
would that be more consistent
with your trajectory analysis?
- Yes, it would be.
- This is the weapon I recovered
from the shooting suspect,
Abbott, did you after a
chance to examine it?
- Yes, it's a .44
Magnum revolver.
- And the slug that was
removed from Officer Briggs?
- Fired from that gun.
- And the bullet that was
recovered from the truck,
was that also a .44 Magnum?
- Yes, it was.
- No further questions.
I believe that we have
shown that two bullets
were fired in rapid
succession at Officer Briggs,
and that their
trajectory places Briggs,
not Canelli, in Officer Romano's
peripheral vision position,
behind the truck.
Your witness.
- Mr. Hong, is it possible
that one of the bullets
may have hit the truck,
as you said, and the other,
Officer Briggs, in the
position he claimed he was in?
- The shooter would have to
substantially redirect his aim.
- No, answer the
question, is it possible?
- It is possible.
- Thank you.
I have no further questions.
- The shrink, is he here yet?
- He's outside.
But he's here only
because of the subpoena.
He's refusing to testify, he's
got the law to back him up.
- I have here Officer
Briggs' personal jacket
from his prior service
with the San Francisco
Police Department.
Have you ever been
involved in a shooting before?
- Objection.
- Overruled.
Answer the question,
Officer Briggs.
- Um, once (coughs).
When I was on the
job in San Francisco.
- Was it a hit or
no-hit incident?
What's that, I didn't hear you.
Please speak up so
that we can hear you.
- Uh, hit, it was a hit.
- Who was hit?
I'll repeat it.
Who was hit?
- Danny.
- Danny, who's Danny?
- Danny.
My partner, Danny.
- Danny was hit,
what did you do?
- I tried.
Oh god, I tried.
But I couldn't stop him.
He killed Danny.
- You exposed yourself
to save your partner?
- But I couldn't save him.
- Just like you thought
you couldn't save Romano,
so you didn't.
You were the one
hiding behind the truck,
with the gun in your
hand, weren't you?
And it all came back to you.
And when it was over,
you remembered the story of
Sergeant Tolliver and Canelli.
And you had a
ready-made scapegoat
to explain away
your inability to act.
(sobbing)
- I tried.
I just, I just couldn't
pull the trigger.
I just couldn't, I
couldn't (sobbing).
(Hooker shushing)
- Mr. Chairman.
Officer Briggs'
psychiatrist is here.
I believe Officer Briggs
could use the help, now.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(upbeat dance music)
- This is my celebration,
I'm buying the next round.
- I'll give you a hand.
- When she thanked
you, Gina was afraid
she'd get too emotional.
- That's all right, I
got her message.
- Well, Hooker, I think it's
about time you got mine.
- Uh oh.
- Look, if you hadn't dug
in and gone after the truth,
everyone would have
had to pay the price.
- Right, the department would
have lost a good cop in Gina,
and Briggs would
have stayed on the job
without getting
the help he needs.
- And I wouldn't have
gotten my perspective
straightened out.
- We learn as we go.
- I'll drink to that.
- What are we drinking to?
- To Romano!
He's decided to
buy the next round.
- Do the raggedy!
(glasses clinking)
(upbeat dance music)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(tinkling music)