T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): Season 3, Episode 9 - Matter of Passion - full transcript

Hooker probes the death of a girl whose body he found while jogging on the beach.

(spirited theme music)

(pleasant music)
(waves crashing)

- Beautiful morning, isn't it?

- Terrific!

- [Man] Morning.

(dramatic music)

- Call the police,
report a dead body.

- Is she dead?

- I'm afraid so.

You were here, did
you see anything?

- No, nothing.



- You live around here?

- I rent a little cottage
down the beach.

LCPD, you a policeman?

- Yeah.

Would you mind
helping me look around?

To see if she left
anything on the sand

that might tell us

who she is.

- Yes, of course.

(somber music)

- [T.J.] Lew, anything
on the girl yet?

- How long since you
pulled her out of the drink,

five hours?

Give me a break, Hooker.



I got a couple of
other things going here.

- Don't you have
an ID on her yet?

- No, Hooker, I
do not have an ID.

- What about her
personal affects?

- I called down to the morgue,

and the ME says there's
nothing with her name on it.

- You called him,
you didn't go down?

You may have a homicide.

- Look, Hooker, even
if we had the manpower

and 48-hour days,

we'd still end up with
unidentified bodies.

- Maybe so.

But the girl I found is not
going to be one of them.

When I carried her
out of the tide pool,

her hand somehow

closed around my arm.

As if she were
reaching out to me,

even in death.

I'm gonna run
with this one, Lew.

- Be my guest.

Keep in touch.

- You find out who
the girl was, Hooker?

- Yeah, Jane Doe.

- That only makes it worse,

not to take your
own name with you.

- Lew Jensen's got a
caseload that won't quit.

This one's on the
bottom of the stack.

I'm gonna follow through on it.

- What can we do to help?

- Check missing persons
reports at all precincts.

If you come up dry,

put out inquiries statewide.

- Stace and I
will get right on it.

- Let's go, Junior.

- Where to?

- The morgue.

(knocks)

- Afternoon, Hooker, Romano.

- How are you doing?

- The new 533i, I'm
gonna spring for it.

What do ya think?

- It's sharp.

We're here about the Jane Doe

that was brought
in this morning.

- I just finished
the preliminary.

- What did you find?

- Homicide.

No water in the lungs.

She was hit on the
back of the head,

died before she ever
got dumped in the ocean.

- How can you be
sure it's homicide?

Couldn't she have slipped
and hit her head on a rock?

- No way.

The wound to the skull is
unique and symmetrical.

Serrations are identical
size and spacing.

Nature doesn't fashion
things that evenly.

- What kind of instrument
would make that kind of wound?

- Haven't the slightest.

- Let's see the girl's
personal affects.

- Help yourself.

Oh, and I'm getting the
transparent liftoff roof panel.

Did I tell you that?

- No.

- I was telling somebody that.

- Lipstick, key...

Looks like a
personal phone book.

- Funny thing about
these little black books,

nobody ever puts
their own name in it.

- [Vince] The other
entries might give us a lead.

- Tell Lathrop I'm taking the
little black book and the key.

I'll sign a receipt.

(somber music)

(spirited music)

- I don't get it, Hooker.

Hasn't Jensen already
scoured the scene?

- Well, Jensen was supposed
to have scoured the scene,

but with his caseload, he
might've missed something.

It never hurts to
take a second look.

Remember that when
you go for your gold shield.

- Hooker, catch that.

You were right about Jensen.

I think I see something
he left out of his report.

- Hi, Hooker, you're back.

- So are you.

- What about the girl?

Did you find out who she was?

- I'm working on it.

- You know, I have a
feeling I saw her before.

Maybe even took her picture.

- Why would you have done that?

- For one of my paintings.

You see, when I
do a beach scene,

the people aren't going to
stay in place until I finish.

So, I take a number of
photographs from different angles,

and I'll work from one
of the photographs.

- When you're finished,

what do you do with
these photographs?

- Toss them in a box.

- I want to see those pictures.

- Well, sure, but it
could take hours.

I have a few years worth.

- It's very important.

- I know it is.

Why don't you let
me do the looking?

Then, you come
by, say about eight?

And by then, if there is
a photo, I'll have found it.

- I'll be there.

- Eight o'clock.

Maybe you should
bring a bottle of wine.

- Maybe I will.

We're supposed to be
taking a second look.

Let's get to it, shall we?

- He's at it again.

- There are only names and
phone numbers in the book.

He's got the phone company
matching addresses and numbers.

- But until they come
through, all he can do is call.

- Right.

- I've seen it happen before.

Sometimes, a cop
gets caught up in a case.

Sometimes, too caught
up for his own good.

- Come on, Corrigan, Hooker
gets caught up in every case.

- Yeah, well,
maybe you're right.

- Well, thanks, and if you
recall anyone you know

who looks like
the girl I described,

please contact me at
the Academy Precinct.

Thank you.

Digging up these
pictures was enough.

I didn't expect you to
make enlargements.

- Gave me a chance to
use my new equipment.

Here you go.

What do you think?

- Well, I've thought about her,

what she must have looked
like when she was alive.

This is the way I saw her.

- I meant what do you
think about the prints?

But I don't blame you
for looking at her instead.

There's a sweetness,
a freshness about her.

- Innocence.

Vulnerable.

The prints, first quality.

- (laughs) That's more like it.

I forgive you, now come on.

How about opening that gorgeous
bottle of wine you brought?

I have cheeses you've never
even heard of to compliment it.

Well, at least I've
never heard of 'em.

- You have a special touch.

- I think there are a
lot of special things

I could do for you, Hooker.

(dramatic music)

(country music)

- Hello, Andrea,

this is Sergeant Hooker
of the police department.

I'm trying to find the
identity of a murder victim

and your name is in
her personal phone book.

- Really?

Not many girls have my name
in their personal phone book.

- Perhaps if I give
you her description

it might help you recognize her.

She had brown hair, blue eyes,

five foot six, 112 pounds.

- Well, except for the
hair, you're describing me

right down to
my little old toes.

Now, who is this, and who
gave you my phone number?

- This is no put on,
and if you could help me,

I'd appreciate it.

- Oh, I'm sure I can
help you, Sergeant,

but not with your phone book.

- I'll keep that in mind,
thank you very much.

- Hooker.

How's it going?

- About 20 calls so far.

Some have answers,

and the rest can't...

Or won't put a name
to the description.

- Why don't you
take a break, partner?

- Yeah, I need some more silver.

Could I have some
change, please?

- How long are you
gonna keep calling tonight?

- 'Til they start hanging up.

- How many names
are in that book?

- 80, 85.

- Give me some of those numbers.

- Ah, thank you, partner.

There's only one phone.

Maybe tomorrow.

Thank you.

You know, if someone found
my personal telephone book

and called 20 people in it,

it's hard to believe that

no one would
recognize my description.

- You know, Corrigan,
maybe you're right.

Maybe Hooker is
getting too caught up.

(phone ringing)

- Yes?

- Is this, uh, Grant?

- Who is this?

How did you get
my private number?

- This Sergeant
Hooker of the LCPD.

I'm attempting to
identify a young lady,

and your number is in
a personal phone book

that was in her possession.

- I see.

Can you describe her?

- About 20, five
foot six, 112 pounds,

brown hair, blue eyes.

- I'm afraid that doesn't
ring a bell, Sargeant.

And I have no idea how the
young woman got my number.

- Well, unfortunately,
she can't tell us,

she's in the morgue.

And, uh, if you happen
to remember her,

please contact me at
the Academy Precinct.

By the way, uh, Grant is the
only name that's written here.

Is that your first
or your last name?

- You'll have to
excuse me, Sergeant.

Goodnight.

(phone disconnects)

- You get something?

- I'm not sure.

This guy wasn't very
happy to hear from me.

- Well, if anything
does come to mind,

please give us a call at
the Academy Precinct.

That does it.

- The last call.

We worked our way
through the girl's black book.

- No one seems to
know your Jane Doe.

- But we have this from
the phone company.

Full names and
addresses that match up

with each of the numbers.

- What about the key that
we found on the girl's affects?

- Nothing unusual.

Had it's ID checked,
and they said it's cut from

a standard door key blank.

- Hey, look at this.

The man that hung up on me.

I was asking if Grant
was his first or last name.

Now, I know why
he hung up on me.

His name is Grant Chandler.

- The Grant Chandler?

- You mean Daddy Warbucks?

- President of
Independent Pacific Bank.

- A man with a
reputation to protect.

- Sounds more promising that
most of the others we called.

River View Tennis
Club, Del Rey Cleaners,

the track, the tobacco shop.

- The names in
the little black book.

Too many of them have to
do with a man's business.

- Then, why would she
be carrying the book?

- Maybe to do things
for the man in her life.

A husband, an
employer, a boyfriend,

maybe even her father.

Junior.

- Anxious to talk to
Mr. Grant Chandler?

- You could say that.

You could definitely say that.

- Let me see those numbers.

- We never finished our phone
call last night, Mr. Chandler.

- Really?

What can I do for you?

- The girl I mentioned.

The one I found
dead on the beach.

20, five foot six,
brown hair, blue eyes.

- Still doesn't ring any bells.

- No recollection of her,

and yet somehow, she got
your private, unlisted number

and jotted it down in her book.

- I don't care that this
girl had my private number

or how she got it.

The point is, and let me
repeat, I never knew her.

I never even knew of her.

- I hear you, Mr. Chandler.

But I'm having a little
trouble believing you.

I'm convinced you knew her.

And I think you may even
know how she ended up dead

in a tide pool on the beach.

- Now, you can
think what you like,

but your opinion is offensive.

So, let me put you on notice.

I have some very
powerful friends in this city.

- What was she to you, Chandler?

Did you meet her someplace
and try and hit on her?

Did you have an affair with her?

Did she learn
something about you

that you didn't want known?

- (laughs) I don't have to
listen to another word of this.

Get out of my office.

- You knew her, I
know you knew her.

- Would you like
me to call security

and have you forcibly removed?

- Yeah, you do that, and
I'll make so much heat,

you'll see it on the
five o'clock news.

Would that suit you?

- I wasn't aware
that our police force

pursued its hazy suspicions
with such aggression.

- It doesn't.

The department isn't
even interested in this case.

It's just another Jane Doe.

No, this is personal, Chandler.

So, I'll be seeing you again.

And keep on seeing
you and digging

until I learn who the lady was,

what happened to her,

and where you
fit into the picture.

You can count on it.

(dramatic music)

- I've had a very unpleasant
visit with that police officer

who phoned me last night.

- Hooker?

- That's right.

And he has to be
dealt with, and quickly.

Before he can cause
irreparable damage.

- Serious business,
sir... Killing a cop.

- The threat he poses
is infinitely more serious.

- Then, we'll ice him.

(spirited, dramatic music)

(intense music)

(rifle fires)

(tires screeching)

(guns firing)

(gun fires) (glass shatters)

(tires squealing)
(intense music)

(gasps)

- Hooker, what's going on?

- I think it's over.

But you'd better get
back to your room.

- Why would anyone do this?

- They were looking for me

and for something else.

- Officer-Involved
Shooting Team is taking

a long time with Hooker.

- Does he have any idea
who the perpetrators were?

- No, but he's sure they're
connected to his Jane Doe.

- They had to be looking
for the little black book.

There isn't anything else in
Hooker's room worth stealing.

- What do you have
there, Romano?

- Hooker's artist
friend came through

with a photo of Jane
Doe when she was alive.

- Wow.

Now that I see what
this girl looked like,

I could understand
Hooker's hangup.

She was beautiful.

- Well, hangup or no hangup,

Hooker's push to find who she
was and what happened to her

is rattling somebody's cage.

- And I'm gonna keep
on rattling the cage

until I shake the killer loose.

- What about the
banker, Chandler?

Romano says you went nose
to nose with him yesterday.

- Chandler is
definitely tied to her,

he just won't admit it.

- Which puts him at the
top of your list of candidates.

- Until we have
something more to go on,

we're going to have to
work around Chandler.

- By dropping in
on everyone listed

in the little black book?

- That's the ticket.

- We took half the names.

Is there anything else you need?

- Half is more than enough.

Let's roll.

(dramatic music)

- Two of you,

and you couldn't
handle one of him.

You not only
didn't take him out,

you didn't bring
back that phone book!

- Mr. Chandler, this guy Hooker

turned out to be one tough cop.

- You're supposed to
be a professional, Riker.

We had a business arrangement.

You bring me dirty
drug money, I launder it.

And you take care of all
the obstacles along the way!

Like Hooker!

Now, I want that
cop out of my life!

- He will be after today.

We'll blow him to hell and back.

(beeping)

(dramatic music)

- [Vince] Well, that takes
care of another number

in her little black book.

- [T.J.] We keep
searching, Junior,

until we find all the answers.

(dramatic music)

(beeping)

- None of these people
seem to have seen or heard

of your Jane Doe.

- Well, maybe they haven't.

- What are you saying,
maybe none of these people

that we're talking
to ever saw her?

- Maybe they just talked
to her on the phone.

- How do you figure that?

- Well, think of the
people we've contacted.

The health club that's really
a high-priced massage parlor,

top dollar call girls.

Sounds to me like
she'd contact them

only to make an
appointment for someone else.

- Like you figured, a man.

- A man.

A man like Grant Chandler.

He's my pick for the part.

- So, who do we talk to now?

Hooker?
- Hm?

- [Vince] You with me?

- Oh, sorry.

I was waiting for the
other shoe to drop.

- What shoe?

- Well, they tossed my place
looking for the black book.

They shoot at me.

And I'm still here, and I've
still got the black book, so...

- I see what you mean.

- Get ahold of Stacy and
Corrigan on the tag channel,

see if they've had
better luck with their list

than we've had with ours.

(radio static beeping)

(beeping)

(radio static beeping)

- Seems to be a loose
connection on the radio.

(radio static buzzing)

- There's a pattern
to that static.

- What pattern?

(rhythmic radio static beeping)

- One I've heard before.

For an electromagnetic
detonator.

- You mean there a
detonator in this car?

- And where's there a
detonator, there's usually a bomb.

(beeping)

(siren blaring) (intense music)

(beeping)

(tires squealing)
(siren blaring)

(tires screeching)

(intense music)

(exploding)

- Damn, that was close.

- 'Cause we're getting close.

We're making
somebody very nervous.

(theme music)

- [Vince] We got here as
soon as we could, what's up?

- We got lucky.

The cleaners knew your Jane Doe.

Recognized her the moment
we showed them her picture.

- Did they have a name?

- Susan Fairchild.

- Susan Fairchild.

Pretty name.

Susan.

- Looks like she lived alone.

The cleaners said the only
things she's ever left with them

were her own.

- Well, what does
that do to your theory

that she was carrying
the little black book

to take care of
things for some man?

- It doesn't change it, look,

Del Rey Cleaners in pencil.

- Almost all the
others are in ink.

- Then, the ones in ink had to
do with some man's business,

and the few that are
in pencil are probably

Susan's personal numbers.

- Did the cleaners have
an address on Susan?

- Yeah, about four
blocks from here,

6750 Esplanade.

- Thanks, guys, for your help.

(dramatic music)

(tires squealing)

(dramatic music)

- What a tragedy,
this is terrible.

Susan was so nice.

Goodness and sweetness
just surrounded her, you know?

- Yes, sir, we know.

- All right, thank
you very much.

We'll lock up when we're done.

- Thank you.
- Okay.

- [Vince] The key from
Susan's personal affects?

- Yeah.

Well, it doesn't fit.

- I wonder whose
door it does fit.

(wind chime tinkling)

Eerie.

You can almost feel her.

(wind chime tinkling)

Look at this.

- [T.J.] Eddie
Beal, County Jail.

- Gotta be a friend of Susan's
if they're corresponding.

- Yeah.

(dramatic music)

Eddie Beal.

I'm Sargeant Hooker.

I read your rap sheet.

You're in for possession.

- That's a phony rap.

What's it to you, anyway?

- [T.J.] Try me.

- I was setup, that's it.

- Yeah, who set you up?

- A guy named Roy Downing.

- Let's hear the story.

- This guy named Downing, he
hired me to run some errands.

And the first day out,
he gives me this package

to deliver downtown.

So, I'm driving downtown,
and all of a sudden,

these cops pull me over,

say they've got this lead
that I'm carrying cocaine.

- That's what was in the
package when you were busted?

- Yeah.

- What about Downing?

- He claimed he
never saw me before.

Are you going to
do anything about it?

- I might.

But first, I'd like to talk to
you about a friend of yours,

Susan Fairchild.

- Sue?

Is Sue in trouble?

Man, if she is, that's gonna
tear it the rest of the way

with her folks.

- Go on.

- Maybe it doesn't matter.

Those blue-nosed bible thumpers.

They wrote her off back
when we left Iowa together.

Said I'd lured her
into the ways of sin.

But we were just friends.

Just two kids from the same town

who couldn't take anymore
and got out, that's all.

- How can I get in touch
with Susan's parents?

- What for?

Something happened
to Sue, didn't it?

- Eddie, I'm sorry.

She's dead.

- What?

Dead?

- [Men] One, two, three, four!

One, two, three, four!

- [Stacy] How'd they
take the news, Hooker?

- Eddie Beal was right
about Susan's parents.

They said as far as
they were concerned,

Susan was already
dead from the moment

she turned her
back on their ways

and their beliefs and left town.

They're not even gonna
claim her body for burial.

- Then, she'll end
up in Potter's Field.

- It's just not right.

- It's not gonna be that way,

if I have anything
to do with it.

How are you guys doing
on your half of the list?

- Moving through it, but so
far nothing else has shaken up.

- I'd like to help Eddie Beal.

- You think he was telling
the truth about being setup?

- I'm certain of it.

Run a make on Roy Downing.

We'll find time to visit him.

I've gotta drive down to
the beach to see Alice.

(pleasant music)

Hi.

- Come to buy a
painting, Sargeant?

- Come to tell you
we identified the girl.

Your photograph did it.

- Terrific.

Does that mean you owe me one?

- I owe you one.

- You could buy me lunch.

There's a great little
French restaurant

right down the street.

- Hey, it's the
least I could do.

When did you do that?

- A month, two months ago.

- That jacket.

I've seen one like it before.

You told me that you
photograph these scenes

before you paint 'em.

Do you happen
to have that photo,

maybe buried in one
of those boxes of yours?

- Yes, but it's not buried.

When I paint a
picture from a photo,

that photo goes in a file.

I could put my
hands right on it.

- Would you, please?

- Right now?

What about lunch?

- What about dinner instead?

How about tonight?

- Now, that's an
offer I can't refuse.

Give me half a minute
to get my things together,

and we'll go find that photo.

Here it is, Hooker, but you
can't make out the faces.

- Can you blow this up?

- Dancing after dinner tonight?

- That's blackmail,
but I'm easy.

- Good.

I can blow it up then.

(dramatic music)

- [T.J.] Just who
I thought it'd be.

- Do you know him?

- I know him.

Do you know him?

- Not exactly.

He owns a big house
about a half a mile from here.

Don't know his name though.

He's hardly ever on the beach.

- I'll get a search warrant.

- You can't miss the house,
it's at the end of the road

on the cliffs
overlooking the beach.

Hey, I'll be ready at eight.

(tense music)

(knocking)

(dog barking)

(tense music)

(dog barking)

(tense music)

(ominous music)

- What took you so long?

I've been waiting for you.

Relax.

If I wanted to waste
ya, I had the chance.

- What stopped you?

- I need you, alive.

The gun.

Throw it.

- Where do you fit in?

- I work for a guy
named Jack Riker.

He works for Chandler.

Riker gave me the job of
getting rid of Susan's body.

- And you planted the black
book and the key on her body

so it'd lead back to Chandler.

- Chandler pretended he
was gonna make Susan

his personal secretary so he
put her up here in the cabana.

What he really wanted

was to get next to her.

He even told Riker to get
her hometown out of the way.

- Eddie Beal.

You framed Eddie Beal
on a possession charge.

You're Roy Downing.

- You're pretty smart, Hooker.

But it doesn't matter.

After I say what I
have to say, I'm gone.

- You must have cared
for Susan a great deal.

- I did.

She was beautiful and kind.

And we used to talk.

I loved her eyes.

They were clean and
sparkling, just like her.

- Why did Chandler kill her?

- She found out he
was laundering money

for a couple of drug rings.

I guess she was gonna
blow the whistle on him.

- Listen, Downing.

- Stay there.

- It's gonna be hard

to make a case against a
man as powerful as Chandler

without your testimony.

- That's your problem, not mine.

- I'm gonna make
it your problem.

You walk, Susan's killer walks.

- Now, look...

You can pick up
Chandler and Riker

at the Corona Yacht
and Health Club.

They'll be there
at four o'clock.

That's all I want to
have to do with it.

- You went to a lot of
trouble to get me here

so that a girl like...

A girl like Susan wouldn't
have her life cut short

without the person
responsible for it

paying the consequences.

- Do you know what you're
asking me to do, Hooker?

- What do you think
Susan would want?

Do you think she'd
want you to help?

I can tell you she would.

Roy, I need you.

(dramatic music)

(tires squealing)

- Just how dangerous
are these guys?

- No telling what
Chandler will do

when he knows he's cornered.

- Does he carry a gun?

- I don't know.

- What about Riker?

- That I'd bet on.

You two cover the
sides, we're going in.

(car engine starts)

(tense music)

Hold it, Chandler!

(tense music)

(woman screams)

(tense music)

Chandler, give it up!

(sirens blaring)

You're under arrest for murder!

- No way, Hooker!

(siren blaring)

- Your man, Downing,
told us everything!

He's gonna testify in court!

Give it up!

- Give it up, Chandler!

(tense music)

(thudding and grunting)

(dramatic music)

(car engine starts)
(siren blares)

(tires squealing)

(tense music)

(splashing)

(siren blaring)

(tires screeching)

- Four-Adam-30,
request helicopter

at Admiralty Way and 14th.

(helicopter blades whirring)

(tense music)

(gun fires)

(gun firing)

Make another pass!

He's only got one
more round in that gun.

Don't worry, he missed
with the others, didn't he?

(tense music)

(gun fires)

(tense music)

Put me down on the deck!

(tense music)

(tense music)

(thudding)

You had it all, Chandler!

And you wanted more and more.

And you didn't care
what it took to get it.

(dramatic music)

(birds tweeting)

- Too bad Susan's friend,
Eddie Beal, couldn't be here.

- We tried our best to
get him released in time.

The County Jail couldn't get

the papers processed
soon enough.

- Maybe it's all for the best.

Eddie can remember
her the way he knew her.

The sweetness, the
beauty he remembered.

- Well, at least we're here.

- Right.

Hooker, we may
not be her family,

but at least somebody cared.

Something tells me that matters.

- I'd like to think
you're right.

- Shouldn't somebody
say something?

- Hooker?

(birds tweeting)

- Susan, I never knew you.

My loss.

Perhaps you were too
innocent, too beautiful

to survive, I don't know.

It's wrong.

It's all wrong.

I want you know

you won't be forgotten.

- Taking care of
Susan like this, Hooker,

seeing that's she's
put to rest properly,

it's really very
thoughtful, very kind.

- I'll settle for decent,

what she deserved.

(birds tweeting)

(spirited theme music)