T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): Season 4, Episode 14 - Outcall - full transcript
Hooker races to save Stacy's life when mobsters detect her undercover assignment as a massage=parlor employee.
("TJ Hooker" theme song)
(mysterious music)
(loud explosions)
- I tell you, Hooker.
Every time we get
Chinatown duty,
the hairs on the back
of my neck stand up.
There's a lot of misguided
hostility out there.
- Chinatown's never
been tougher to work,
that's for sure, junior.
- Doesn't make it
easier that the people
don't trust the police
enough to talk to us.
- And when they do, it's
one of 10 different languages.
It's become a
melting pot down here,
for all the southeastern
Asian cultures.
Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese.
- And a hotbed of crime.
Nights like tonight, if
the gangs don't get you,
you're liable to catch a
bullet in the middle of a
dope or prostitution walk.
- I don't know, times change.
Neighborhoods, faces.
Time was, I knew almost everyone
down here by their first name.
- Yeah?
Word I heard is, you know
all the ladies down here.
- Good and the bad.
- What about the
ones in between?
- Those, too.
- Yeah, well, I hope some of
them still remember your name,
because I still got the feeling
that all hell is gonna
break loose tonight.
(moody music)
- We're almost there, Mai.
- [Man] Get out now, Mai.
- Come on.
Get out now, nothing
to worry about.
That's a girl.
(doorbell buzzes)
(loud bang)
(tires screeching)
- [Radio] Four Adam
30, possible 187 reported,
6th and Carpenter.
Two male suspects
in late model gray van.
Last seen moving south on 6th.
Handle, code three.
- Four Adam 30, that's a roger.
(sirens blaring)
(exciting music)
- Late model gray van!
- Going south on 6th.
(tires screeching)
(sirens blaring)
- Did you see how he got
through that intersection?
- Whoever's driving
knows what he's doing.
(car scraping)
(car scraping)
- They're getting close!
(sirens blaring)
(tires screeching)
(loud crash)
- They out-drove me,
but he does it one time.
One time only.
She was one of the boat people.
An Amer-Asian.
(telephone ringing)
Her mother was Vietnamese,
her father was an American GI.
She came to this
country six weeks ago.
- That's all very interesting.
- Yeah, especially in
the way she was killed.
Looked just like
the street slayings
that you would see in Vietnam.
- Hands tied behind her
back, one shot to the heart.
Nothing taken from the body.
Money, rings,
everything left behind.
- Classic Oriental warning.
- Intelligence briefed
us that there are
several Viet gangs operating
in the area, Lieutenant.
- Thanks for all your hard
work tonight, gentlemen,
but we rolled on those
intelligence reports before,
and it usually turns out to be
two 60-year-old
Vietnamese grandfathers
banging away at one
another with pop guns
over a barbecued
chicken and a...
- Yeah, but they were
popping each other
with .357 Magnum, not pop guns!
And why couldn't
the Vietnamese gangs
be moving on the
massage parlor operations
in the downtown area?
- And the people involved,
especially if they're
from Southeast Asia,
are always reluctant
to go to the police.
- Right, sure.
Sign the report, Hooker, huh?
When we wrap this one up,
it'll turn out to be her boyfriend
or her ex-boyfriend or
some john that felt that
her massage wasn't
worth all his money.
She was an off-the-street
prostitute, Hooker.
It was a crime of passion.
That was poor Mai's
business, remember?
Passion.
(telephone ringing)
- What are you doing?
- Calling a friend in
Administrative Vice.
- You mean prostitution's
a street crime?
- And Vice might like some
street cops looking into it.
I didn't know you
were acquainted
with the Southeast
Asiatic mentality.
- I found a fresh source
of information just recently.
- And you should see
this source of information.
- I'd like to.
Hello, Fred?
I'm sorry to wake
you, it's Hooker.
Somebody gunned
down a 19-year-old
Vietnamese outcall girl tonight.
I'd like to find out why.
(knocking on door)
(upbeat music)
Sorry, ladies, I
knocked, but nobody...
What's the matter?
- Noooo!
(loud smacks)
- What can we do for you?
- Who's in charge here?
- Me.
- What happened?
- Nothing.
- It doesn't look
like nothing to me.
- I'm alright, just
leave me alone.
- You see, sergeant, she
just wants to be left alone.
(pained scream)
- Alright, buddy,
you get out of here,
and you stay out of here!
Look, she won't tell me.
But if any one of you girls
want to keep this
from happening again...
- No!
He'll come back.
- Not now, he won't.
- You're Barbara Canton.
- That's right.
His name is Blood Henderson.
He's not brave
enough to be a pimp.
He used to work here
as the outcall driver.
Excuse me.
(stifled crying)
Why don't you go home, huh?
You call me later?
- Will you be here?
- I'll be here.
What can I do for you, sergeant?
- You called the homicide
detectives last night
and you left before
they got here.
- I was scared.
After I saw Mai
on the ground, I...
- What else did you see?
Who else did you see?
- Why do you want to
make it tough for me?
You know, it was hard
enough just to come back here.
- The Board of
Legalization shows you
to be a 60% owner in this place
and sole holder of
the building lease.
It's not a great deal to give up
if somebody's trying
to force you out?
- I came back, didn't I?
- But you won't stay.
- You know, I
don't get it, Hooker.
Half the time you
cops come around,
you try to put my girls in
jail, close me up, put me...
- I don't have time to go
to greater crimes
or lesser crimes.
Going to jail for outcall
prostitution's one thing.
Mai's murder is another.
- Well, at least
we agree on that.
Hooker, the afternoon
customers are due, and...
Well, the uniform makes
them a little nervous, you know?
So does the
black-and-white out in front.
- Welcome back, Barbara.
- Thanks.
(dramatic music)
(athletic grunting)
- Jim!
What a nice surprise!
- Hi.
This is Stacy
Sheridan, Nikki Kwan.
- Jim's partner.
- Hello.
- Nikki, we're working on a case
that may have a
Vietnam connection.
- Oh, let's talk over there.
This is off the record, right?
My name won't be used?
- You sound worried.
- Cautious.
I have a small
import-export company.
- I can understand
why you don't want to
make your Asian
contacts unhappy,
but we need to try to scrape
together whatever we can.
- Right.
So what's your case?
- An outcall prostitute
was murdered last night
at a dive called
Pacific Massage.
- The girl was Vietnamese.
She was born in Saigon and
came by way of Hong Kong,
and an INS Green Card,
giving her residence status.
- I had one of those
when I came here.
How can I help?
- We're convinced there's
an organized vice connection
to the killing.
- Name's Tran Tam.
And you didn't get
it from me, okay?
I already got enough
problems with him
and the Hanoi connection.
- What kind of problems?
Why didn't you tell me?
- All I have to do so far is to
carry one of his
people on my payroll.
- You're paying to
stay in business?
Get police to take care of...
- Jim, if you had grown up
on the streets of
Saigon the way I did,
you wouldn't always see
the police as solutions.
Sometimes they're
part of the problem.
- In this country, the
cops are on your side.
Especially this cop.
I thought you knew that.
- I do know.
It's just not that
easy to change.
- Okay.
I'll see you at seven?
- I hope so.
Stay safe.
- Take care.
You always that tough on
ladies who really like you?
- Only when I really like them.
(melancholy music)
- You told me she
would not come back.
- Well, I thought sure as
hell when one of your boys
took out one of her
girls the way they did
that she'd catch a plane.
Maybe she's started to...
And it started all I know.
Hard to tell about
that kind of woman.
- You worked for her.
You're supposed to
know how she'll react.
You took my money, and told
me you'd take over the girls.
- Please.
Don't let me interrupt.
- We're almost finished.
Let's try one last
time with menacing.
- How do you want it handled?
- Do whatever's necessary.
But don't get carried
away and kill her.
You can go.
But you stay in close touch.
- Sure, Mr. Tam.
Soon as I hear
anything, I'll let you know.
- You're giving this
massage parlor madam
a great deal of attention.
- Now she's known to the others.
If she cracks, then
we'll each fall in line.
- You're spending a lot of
money to build an empire here.
You're using street
gangsters and drug addicts
who are more trouble
than they're worth.
- Tell me, Nguyen.
I'm spending a lot of
money, as you put it.
Have I ever missed
a payment to Hanoi?
- Not so far.
But the lives and
happiness of your family
depend on you using both
power and common sense.
- This is a long way from Hanoi.
- Not true.
Hanoi's right here
in this room with you.
(sinister music)
- Barbara Canton wouldn't
talk to you this morning.
What makes you think
she'll cooperate now?
- Stacy and Corrigan came
up with a name, Tran Tam.
A heavyweight in
Vietnamese crime circles.
- You wanna try it on Barbara?
- Maybe if she knows
that we're working the case.
And if she cooperates, there'll
be arrests and prosecution.
Maybe we can
make a breakthrough.
(midtempo saxophone music)
Barbara?
(pained groaning)
- They broke my arm.
And then...
(foreboding music)
That's a lot better, thanks.
- Barbara.
The night Mai was
killed, we chased and lost
a van with two men in it.
Did you see those two
men outside the parlor?
And today, they came to
your apartment, didn't they?
(heavy sigh)
- Yeah.
They're trying to pressure
me into selling out.
- To Tran Tam?
- Uh-huh.
They said it would
only take a few minutes
at the attorney's office,
and then I'd be out and alive.
- Why didn't you give in?
- Who the hell knows?
- Barbara.
I want to put two
undercover officers
inside the massage parlor.
- You gotta be kidding?
- No, I'm not.
- They'd shut me down like that!
- When this case is wrapped,
we may be doing our best
to put you out of business,
but for now, nothing we
get will be used against you.
We'll be going after Tran Tam,
and the men who work for him.
- You know, it must have
been the fall down the stairs.
A deal between a madam
and a cop named Hooker?
(laughing)
That's got to be made in heaven.
(laughing)
- Or hell.
- Lady's still not cooperating?
- No, she came around.
I've been working
out the details.
Cleared them with O'Brien.
Romano, you'll be
the new outcall driver.
And Stacy?
Have I got a job for you.
- Right there.
(telephone ringing)
That should do it.
- Check that.
- That's what you're wearing?
- It's the Pacific Massage look.
- Hey, Hooker, where is she
supposed to wear her wire?
- In my trick bag.
An outcall girl never
parts with her trick bag.
And don't get any ideas
about helping me on with it.
It's fine just where it is.
- You'll only go out on
calls that Barbara sends you.
She'll only send
you out on fake calls.
Jim and I will be monitoring
everything that goes on.
And we'll be parked
right across the street.
- Suppose a customer
walks in off the street,
and wants it all?
- Barbara will brief
you and the other girls
that due to increased
police interest,
the girls will only take
customers they already know.
- Sounds like an outstanding
opportunity in police work.
- I'll see you out there.
It's funny how the term 316
keeps popping up
in this investigation.
- 316?
- Yeah, there was a reference
to it in Tran Tam's INS file.
When he applied
for residence status,
an informant told the INS agent
that Tran Tam was
important in the 316,
and the agent
interpreted that to mean
a counter-insurgency group.
But the agent's
notes are incomplete,
and the informant was hinky.
So when the agent decided
to re-interview his snitch,
somebody had already fished
his body out of the harbor.
(sinister music)
(snake hissing)
(box creaking)
- Poisonous reptile in transit.
The guard dogs at the airport
are trained to sniff out heroin,
but they are confused by
the noxious smell of the cobra.
- First, it is this
shabby business
with a woman
and her prostitutes.
Then you add the
sale of narcotics.
You're not sending your...
- Your forget yourself.
I was not sent here at all.
(telephone ringing)
The woman is not important.
When she's out of her business,
I'll move on to the others.
Yes?
- She has already found
somebody to take Mai's place,
and that of Blood, too, Mr. Tam.
- Today, finish it off today.
- Do you really think
you can turn this country
into another South Vietnam?
- Why not?
They tried to turn Vietnam
into something like this country.
I'm just sorry I can't be there
when they finally kill
this brave prostitute.
(exciting music)
- Alright, let's get this over.
RK Blood Henderson.
Last arrested, 1978.
First conviction, possession
on sale of cocaine.
- How's he fit into this?
- Well,
he came in to take
over after Mai was killed.
I ran him out.
Barbara says he's
worked here before.
- [Jim] You think
he's tied to Tran Tam?
- [TJ] Maybe.
He's an ex-con.
But he spent several
years in Vietnam.
- I gotta tell you, Hooker.
I hate Stacy
being in that sewer.
- Ladies, we got two
new people starting work,
Stacy and Vince.
Now, Stacy is just
going to do outcalls,
so she can sort of get
her feet on the ground.
- I thought the whole point was
to get our feet off the ground.
- Carla.
Carla, do us all a favor
and be nice to the
new girl for once, okay?
Now, this is Vince.
(women fawning approvingly)
- Thank you, ladies.
The feeling is mutual.
- Now, Vince is our new driver.
Any girl making an
outcall rides with him,
even if a customer has to wait.
No girl goes out alone.
Clear?
- [Lila] If you have anything
you want to walk with later,
it's a good idea
to put it in here.
We lock it, and you can
trust most of the girls.
- Thanks.
- Where did you work before?
- San Diego.
- Yeah, so did I.
I had a shot at a
Navy commander once.
- A shot?
- He was thinking
of marrying me.
Imagine, a commander?
- Lila?
Steve Mato in the
Beverly Garden Hotel?
- Oh, yeah, the Tokyo Tiger.
I should introduce
you to him some time.
He sees blonde
hair and blue eyes,
and he never wants to go home.
(telephone ringing)
- [Barbara] This is Barbara.
Oh, Mr. Everett, how
nice to hear your voice.
Yes, Carla is on her way.
Thank you.
- I get him again?
What about the new girl?
- I'm assigning
the calls, Carla.
Tell Vince it's the Star Motel.
- I guess you're
really hot stuff.
I guess Barbara's
saving you for...
- Why don't you get off my case?
You started the
minute I walked in.
- [Carla] Why don't take
trips like the rest of us
and keep your mouth shut, huh?
- You know how Mr. Everett
hates to be kept waiting.
- Stacy, don't mind her.
We're all a little wired
after what happened
the other night.
- What happened the other night?
- The girl that worked
here, Mai, was killed.
I'm surprised you didn't know.
- You mean I'm taking her place.
- Stacy, you just got to town.
You need a few bucks.
You got a job.
Be grateful.
One thing you gotta
remember in this line of work.
The other night never happened.
It's tonight you
gotta worry about.
- This girl of yours,
she was born in Saigon?
- Yeah.
She's half-Chinese, half-French.
- She's in business
for herself, then?
- You bet.
Came over here with just
the clothes on her back.
Went to night school,
studied design.
Now it's Kwan Imports.
- [TJ] She's certainly made a
hell of an impression on you.
- [Barbara] I've got
to go to the doctor,
and I know I can get
there all by myself.
- [Vince] I'm driving!
- [Barbara] Boy, are you pushy!
Anybody ever tell you that?
- Yes, many times.
- Oh, oh, ouch!
I know I can really
get there by myself.
- Get in.
- Oh, boy.
(tires screeching)
- Barbara, get down!
(loud bangs)
(loud bangs)
(loud bangs)
- Hooker, sedan headed your way.
They shot Barbara!
(exciting music)
(sirens blaring)
- Are you okay?
- Hell, no.
(sirens blaring)
(horn honking)
(tires screeching)
- Can't you get us out of this?
(sirens blaring)
- Come on, hot shot, give
me another driving lesson.
(horn honking)
- Look out!
(loud crash)
(tires screeching)
- [TJ] We gotta get them
out of there before it blows!
Give me your hand!
Come on, get out of there!
- Come on!
(loud explosion)
(loud explosion)
(loud explosion)
(dramatic music)
(telephone ringing)
- Real name, Khai Du.
Born in Saigon, came
to this country in 1975.
Worked as a driver
for a limousine service.
INS had the same
bit of incomplete info
that they had on
Tran Tam that Khai Du
was suspected of being
a member of the 316.
Ton Li.
We couldn't get anything
from either one of these guys.
They're more afraid
of their own countrymen
than they are of
American policemen.
- How did Khai Du make
a living back in 'Nam?
- He was a
professional race driver.
Hooker taught him a
little about money driving.
- He works for Tran Tam here?
- Right.
- How do we prove that?
We can't send
Stacy back in there
without Barbara
to cover for her.
- Do I have anything
to say about that?
- No, just for
openers, you don't.
With Barbara dead,
there's nobody to make sure
you're only going
on phony outcalls.
And who knows if some
degenerate might just walk in...
- Alright, hold it, hold it!
Vince learned from Carla
that Blood always had heroin.
Now with Barbara
gone, he'll be back,
so I can get him
for sales of heroin.
- We could twist him and
tie Tran Tam to both murders.
- Hooker, you're
putting Stacy into
one hell of a
dangerous situation.
Is making this
case that important?
- Solving two homicides.
Preventing a repeat performance
and putting a stop to
this whole dirty business?
Yes, I'd say it was important.
- Then how do we contact Stacy
without Barbara
on the switchboard?
- Call in yourselves,
and whoever answers,
just ask to have me
specifically sent on an outcall.
- That'll work.
Stacy, it's up to you.
- I never quit halfway
through an assignment before.
I'm not about to start.
(sensual music)
- [Nikki] Your apartment
is always so well-kept.
Almost pristine.
- Yeah, I'm a neat guy.
You know, I don't exactly
like doing what I've have to do.
- What?
Asking me questions?
Date a cop, goes
with the territory, huh?
- We need to know
what Tran Tam is after.
Taking over a massage parlor.
Selling narcotics out of
it is profitable, but limited.
And he's obviously willing to
kill whoever gets in his way.
- The Communists in Vietnam,
not the relatives of
people in this country.
The ones here get words that
the relatives there need money.
- Extortion.
- Tran Tam enforces
the collections,
and smuggles it all
over to the other side.
But, of course, you
must never judge
the whole Vietnamese community
for the actions of
men like Tran Tam.
- What is this 316?
- How do you know about the 316?
- We have cases.
I have to know it all, Nikki.
- 316 was the number of a suite
in the Saigon Public
Administration building.
A group of highly-trained
military officers and agents
charged with counter-insurgency.
- Killing the Viet Cong
and its sympathizers.
- Killing the Cong and those
who helped them is not evil.
316 would have tried
to recruit you, Jim.
Brave.
Intelligent.
A leader.
(coy laughter)
- I wish Stacy could
hear you say that.
Sometimes we're not always
on the same wavelength.
- How is your pretty
blonde partner?
- She's okay.
She's on special assignment.
She's okay.
(exciting music)
- New face.
Let's check the license plates.
- It looks like Stacy was right.
Blood's come back to glory.
- I don't get it, honey.
You name a price,
and I'll come up with it,
because I didn't come all
the way out here to California
to argue with you over prices!
- I'm trying to
explain to you, sir,
I'm waiting for a
regular customer to call.
- Hey, wait a minute!
We have any rules around
here about holding anyone?
It's a good thing I
come back, isn't it?
- And who do you think you are?
- Are you new around here?
- Mm-hmm.
- What's your name?
- Stacy.
- [Blood] Stacy?
Well, what seems to be
the problem here, darling?
- This gentleman is
anxious for some reason.
- For some kind of love, eh?
And what could be
better than Oriental love?
Get up, get up.
Now, Senator, you take
my word from an old soldier.
It just don't get
no better than that.
Go, boy. (gleeful laughter)
I don't guess you're glad to
see me at all, are you, Carla?
What are you, the new driver?
- Name's Vince.
You must be Blood.
- You heard of me, then, huh?
So you know I'm
strictly business.
What's it gonna be, Carla?
- To cop you out.
So did Barbara.
- Cops?
Well, I don't see any
cops around here.
Let me tell you something else.
Now poor little
Barbara is long gone.
- Somebody's
gonna take her place.
- This is true.
You see, nature abhors a vacuum.
And certain friends of
mine are taking legal steps
to acquire this property
and the licenses thereof.
Did you get that, Vince?
- No question about it.
You got a way with words, Blood.
- Okay, okay.
Just... Stay away from me.
- Oh, darling, you think
I'm gonna fall on my sword
for one old rose when
there's a fresh dozen out here
on the bouquet?
Stacy, right?
Stacy.
Well, let me tell you
something, see, I'm a cracker.
Now this cracker
is hard to kill.
And we're hard to love.
- That tears it, we
gotta pull her outta there!
- You're right.
What'd you get on
the license plate?
- Nguyen Chi, 957
Hyacinth Lane, Garden Park.
- A big concentration of
Vietnamese in that area.
Let's find out what
he does for a living.
- And Stacy?
- You go back to the
mom-and-pop store.
Give us a couple of hours so
Blood doesn't get suspicious.
And then put in a call for her.
- Okay.
(brakes squeaking)
- We're in solid.
Vince is already talking
a dope deal for tonight.
- With Blood?
- Says he has access to as
much heroin as I can move,
and this parlor is
just the beginning.
- The brass must
have gotten wind of it.
They're hot on him.
- I tell you, the
brass will be in there
when Blood drags Stacy back
to one of those massage rooms.
- And you think
I'd let that happen?
- How are you
gonna stop it, Vince?
You're playing his new partner.
I mean, what are you gonna...
- Alright, alright,
alright, you guys!
We can wrap the prostitution
and narcotics with the brass,
but it doesn't work for me
unless we get the people
who ordered the murders
of Mai and Barbara.
- I think that's what the job
has always been, hasn't it?
- Stacy.
Don't forget your trick money.
And have Romano drive
you around for an hour
so it'd make it look
like you earned it.
- 200 is just the going rate.
Don't I get a tip?
(engine starts)
- Yeah, well, they're
due here any minute.
Why'd you call her out to you?
I'm gonna find out
one way to get her.
(funky music)
- Been waiting for you guys.
I got a live one at
the Grandview Motel!
- Business must be picking up.
See you later, Vin.
(car engine starts)
(muffled groan)
(loud static)
- You think that's trouble?
- I don't know.
Sounded like
static, then nothing.
(loud upbeat music)
They must have the
music up full blast.
I can't hear a damn thing.
(sinister music)
- [TJ] I don't like it.
Nothing but music
for 1o minutes.
Okay, that's it, let's go.
(cars honking)
(upbeat music)
- Hey, what is this?
- Where's Stacy?
- The new girl?
I don't know, maybe she left?
- Look, here.
You've worked both
sides of the street
longer than you can remember.
Well, I need the truth now.
Now!
- Okay.
Blood took her out of
here about 10 minutes ago.
- [Jim] Hooker!
(loud upbeat music)
Looks like Blood didn't
buy her cover after all.
- Carla go on outcall?
Vince drove her.
Did you take the call?
- No, Blood took the call.
It was a man who asked for him.
And he sent Carla
off with Vince,
and he took off with Stacy.
She's a cop, huh?
- Yes, she is.
I need some more information.
(sinister music)
- What was the
point in bringing here?
- My friend Nguyen said
that we were supposed
to finish this thing
up here tonight.
- Do you know
how dangerous it is
to kill a policewoman
in this country?
- You know how dangerous
it is to leave this one alive?
(tires screeching)
- Checked everything
you asked me to.
Nguyen Chi is an attorney,
but he's been
here since the '50s.
- All during the Vietnam War.
- Correct.
- Find out who he represents?
- Well, this is a partial, but
the computer kicked it out
on court records and
immigration hearing files.
- You gonna be able
to help us, Lieutenant?
- I think he already has.
- What do you mean?
- Blood was waiting for Stacy
to come back from meeting us.
- Well, sure, she
only took one call
all the time she was here.
Romano tried to
hit him up for her
when he probably got suspicious.
- What are you sayin',
we blew our assignment?
- I just think you
both went too fast,
and Stacy may
be paying the price.
- I think Blood got
a call telling him
that there was an
undercover officer
fitting Stacy's description
working that parlor.
- Who could make that call?
- Nguyen Chi, respected
lawyer for the last 30 years.
- We just got his name
a couple of hours ago.
How could he know Stacy exists?
- Jim.
Your friend Nikki
Kwan told you and Stacy
that she needed to put somebody
from Tran Tam's
operation on her payroll.
Kwan Imports has
only 12 employees,
but her legal representation
since she's been in this country
has been Nguyen Chi.
- But she's helped
us from the start.
She gave me all the
information I passed on to you!
- She told us what we would
have found out eventually
from somebody else
from the government.
She told you about Tran Tam.
About Hanoi.
And about 316.
Come on.
(dramatic music)
(loud bang)
(sinister music)
- Get him.
- I wish that was not necessary.
He has been with
me since Saigon.
- Believe me, I'm sorry,
but I've been ordered
to clean up the mess
here as quickly as I can.
- You think he
would have cracked
if the police had gotten to him?
- Then they would
use him to get you.
- What about the policewoman?
- I will handle that.
You're going home.
- I know.
(kiai shouts)
- Nikki!
- I wasn't expecting
to see you tonight, Jim.
- This is Sergeant Hooker.
- Sergeant?
- You know, I didn't
think anything of it
when you asked me
about my partner last night.
I even told you Stacy
was on special assignment.
- I don't know what
you're talking about.
- I think you do.
Nguyen Chi is your lawyer.
And he works a little
magic with the immigration
to get you citizenship ahead
of the other Vietnamese.
- I don't know that I
want to listen to this.
- But you will anyway.
From what I'm learning,
too fast, 'cause it's
not all quite clear,
Nguyen Chi was in this
country for three decades
saying he was for Saigon,
all the time he was
working for Hanoi.
- Was it his idea to bring
the 316 apparatus
over here almost intact?
- Jim, I told you
about the 316...
- Sure.
There was something
in your voice
when you told me about that
small group of trained killers
who fought for our side then.
- Sometimes we
have to change sides
many times just to stay alive.
- Nikki.
I know what
you're talking about.
I was there.
I also remember the story
of a beautiful daughter
of a cabinet minister
whose whole family was
wiped out by the Cong.
- There were many
such daughters.
- I only heard about one.
She was famous for luring
Cong leaders into ambush
so that they could
be blown away.
That was easy, because
she was beautiful.
And she was only 16 then.
- I was the youngest
agent of the 316.
Too bad we didn't
meet then, Jim.
- When you called
Nguyen Chi to tell them
that you thought Stacy
was working undercover,
where was he?
- In his office, but
he was on his way
to Tran Tam's warehouse.
Jim.
They didn't quite
kill all my family.
My mother is alive in Saigon.
Whatever I have done,
it has kept her alive.
(dramatic music)
- After you have taken
Tram Tan to the plane,
you'll get 20
gallons of gasoline
and return to the warehouse.
I will be waiting.
You are very beautiful.
(dangerous music)
(snake hissing)
(engine starting)
(tires screeching)
- Get out!
(snake hissing)
- Get out of the car!
Out of the car!
Move, move, move!
Where's Stacy?
- Inside.
(snake hissing)
(running footsteps)
(loud bang)
(loud bang)
- I'm gonna find Stacy.
(loud bang)
(loud bang)
(loud bang)
(dramatic music)
(snake hissing)
(snake hissing)
(snake hissing)
(loud bang)
(gleeful laughter)
- So what happens
to you girls now?
- We're going to Vegas.
- I hear Vegas is pretty
tough on working girls.
- Hey, no, we're gonna
go to beauty college.
We're gonna be cosmetologists.
- Vegas will never be the same.
(laughing)
(horn honking)
- This is gonna be fantastic!
- I just love Vegas,
it's so hot there!
- If you ever get
to Vegas, Vince,
be sure and look me up.
- Count on it.
- Bye, sweetie.
- [All] Bye!
(engine starting)
- They'll be back
in a couple weeks,
and we'll be locking
them up again.
- Oh, I don't know.
I spent a lot of
time talking to Carla.
Maybe they will do a turnaround.
- Count on it.
- You try to call Nikki?
- None of the numbers I
have for her are any good now.
What the hell would I
say if I ever found her?
- Good-bye.
But she's already
said that for you.
(melancholy music)
("TJ Hooker" theme song)
(Columbia Pictures jingle)
(mysterious music)
(loud explosions)
- I tell you, Hooker.
Every time we get
Chinatown duty,
the hairs on the back
of my neck stand up.
There's a lot of misguided
hostility out there.
- Chinatown's never
been tougher to work,
that's for sure, junior.
- Doesn't make it
easier that the people
don't trust the police
enough to talk to us.
- And when they do, it's
one of 10 different languages.
It's become a
melting pot down here,
for all the southeastern
Asian cultures.
Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese.
- And a hotbed of crime.
Nights like tonight, if
the gangs don't get you,
you're liable to catch a
bullet in the middle of a
dope or prostitution walk.
- I don't know, times change.
Neighborhoods, faces.
Time was, I knew almost everyone
down here by their first name.
- Yeah?
Word I heard is, you know
all the ladies down here.
- Good and the bad.
- What about the
ones in between?
- Those, too.
- Yeah, well, I hope some of
them still remember your name,
because I still got the feeling
that all hell is gonna
break loose tonight.
(moody music)
- We're almost there, Mai.
- [Man] Get out now, Mai.
- Come on.
Get out now, nothing
to worry about.
That's a girl.
(doorbell buzzes)
(loud bang)
(tires screeching)
- [Radio] Four Adam
30, possible 187 reported,
6th and Carpenter.
Two male suspects
in late model gray van.
Last seen moving south on 6th.
Handle, code three.
- Four Adam 30, that's a roger.
(sirens blaring)
(exciting music)
- Late model gray van!
- Going south on 6th.
(tires screeching)
(sirens blaring)
- Did you see how he got
through that intersection?
- Whoever's driving
knows what he's doing.
(car scraping)
(car scraping)
- They're getting close!
(sirens blaring)
(tires screeching)
(loud crash)
- They out-drove me,
but he does it one time.
One time only.
She was one of the boat people.
An Amer-Asian.
(telephone ringing)
Her mother was Vietnamese,
her father was an American GI.
She came to this
country six weeks ago.
- That's all very interesting.
- Yeah, especially in
the way she was killed.
Looked just like
the street slayings
that you would see in Vietnam.
- Hands tied behind her
back, one shot to the heart.
Nothing taken from the body.
Money, rings,
everything left behind.
- Classic Oriental warning.
- Intelligence briefed
us that there are
several Viet gangs operating
in the area, Lieutenant.
- Thanks for all your hard
work tonight, gentlemen,
but we rolled on those
intelligence reports before,
and it usually turns out to be
two 60-year-old
Vietnamese grandfathers
banging away at one
another with pop guns
over a barbecued
chicken and a...
- Yeah, but they were
popping each other
with .357 Magnum, not pop guns!
And why couldn't
the Vietnamese gangs
be moving on the
massage parlor operations
in the downtown area?
- And the people involved,
especially if they're
from Southeast Asia,
are always reluctant
to go to the police.
- Right, sure.
Sign the report, Hooker, huh?
When we wrap this one up,
it'll turn out to be her boyfriend
or her ex-boyfriend or
some john that felt that
her massage wasn't
worth all his money.
She was an off-the-street
prostitute, Hooker.
It was a crime of passion.
That was poor Mai's
business, remember?
Passion.
(telephone ringing)
- What are you doing?
- Calling a friend in
Administrative Vice.
- You mean prostitution's
a street crime?
- And Vice might like some
street cops looking into it.
I didn't know you
were acquainted
with the Southeast
Asiatic mentality.
- I found a fresh source
of information just recently.
- And you should see
this source of information.
- I'd like to.
Hello, Fred?
I'm sorry to wake
you, it's Hooker.
Somebody gunned
down a 19-year-old
Vietnamese outcall girl tonight.
I'd like to find out why.
(knocking on door)
(upbeat music)
Sorry, ladies, I
knocked, but nobody...
What's the matter?
- Noooo!
(loud smacks)
- What can we do for you?
- Who's in charge here?
- Me.
- What happened?
- Nothing.
- It doesn't look
like nothing to me.
- I'm alright, just
leave me alone.
- You see, sergeant, she
just wants to be left alone.
(pained scream)
- Alright, buddy,
you get out of here,
and you stay out of here!
Look, she won't tell me.
But if any one of you girls
want to keep this
from happening again...
- No!
He'll come back.
- Not now, he won't.
- You're Barbara Canton.
- That's right.
His name is Blood Henderson.
He's not brave
enough to be a pimp.
He used to work here
as the outcall driver.
Excuse me.
(stifled crying)
Why don't you go home, huh?
You call me later?
- Will you be here?
- I'll be here.
What can I do for you, sergeant?
- You called the homicide
detectives last night
and you left before
they got here.
- I was scared.
After I saw Mai
on the ground, I...
- What else did you see?
Who else did you see?
- Why do you want to
make it tough for me?
You know, it was hard
enough just to come back here.
- The Board of
Legalization shows you
to be a 60% owner in this place
and sole holder of
the building lease.
It's not a great deal to give up
if somebody's trying
to force you out?
- I came back, didn't I?
- But you won't stay.
- You know, I
don't get it, Hooker.
Half the time you
cops come around,
you try to put my girls in
jail, close me up, put me...
- I don't have time to go
to greater crimes
or lesser crimes.
Going to jail for outcall
prostitution's one thing.
Mai's murder is another.
- Well, at least
we agree on that.
Hooker, the afternoon
customers are due, and...
Well, the uniform makes
them a little nervous, you know?
So does the
black-and-white out in front.
- Welcome back, Barbara.
- Thanks.
(dramatic music)
(athletic grunting)
- Jim!
What a nice surprise!
- Hi.
This is Stacy
Sheridan, Nikki Kwan.
- Jim's partner.
- Hello.
- Nikki, we're working on a case
that may have a
Vietnam connection.
- Oh, let's talk over there.
This is off the record, right?
My name won't be used?
- You sound worried.
- Cautious.
I have a small
import-export company.
- I can understand
why you don't want to
make your Asian
contacts unhappy,
but we need to try to scrape
together whatever we can.
- Right.
So what's your case?
- An outcall prostitute
was murdered last night
at a dive called
Pacific Massage.
- The girl was Vietnamese.
She was born in Saigon and
came by way of Hong Kong,
and an INS Green Card,
giving her residence status.
- I had one of those
when I came here.
How can I help?
- We're convinced there's
an organized vice connection
to the killing.
- Name's Tran Tam.
And you didn't get
it from me, okay?
I already got enough
problems with him
and the Hanoi connection.
- What kind of problems?
Why didn't you tell me?
- All I have to do so far is to
carry one of his
people on my payroll.
- You're paying to
stay in business?
Get police to take care of...
- Jim, if you had grown up
on the streets of
Saigon the way I did,
you wouldn't always see
the police as solutions.
Sometimes they're
part of the problem.
- In this country, the
cops are on your side.
Especially this cop.
I thought you knew that.
- I do know.
It's just not that
easy to change.
- Okay.
I'll see you at seven?
- I hope so.
Stay safe.
- Take care.
You always that tough on
ladies who really like you?
- Only when I really like them.
(melancholy music)
- You told me she
would not come back.
- Well, I thought sure as
hell when one of your boys
took out one of her
girls the way they did
that she'd catch a plane.
Maybe she's started to...
And it started all I know.
Hard to tell about
that kind of woman.
- You worked for her.
You're supposed to
know how she'll react.
You took my money, and told
me you'd take over the girls.
- Please.
Don't let me interrupt.
- We're almost finished.
Let's try one last
time with menacing.
- How do you want it handled?
- Do whatever's necessary.
But don't get carried
away and kill her.
You can go.
But you stay in close touch.
- Sure, Mr. Tam.
Soon as I hear
anything, I'll let you know.
- You're giving this
massage parlor madam
a great deal of attention.
- Now she's known to the others.
If she cracks, then
we'll each fall in line.
- You're spending a lot of
money to build an empire here.
You're using street
gangsters and drug addicts
who are more trouble
than they're worth.
- Tell me, Nguyen.
I'm spending a lot of
money, as you put it.
Have I ever missed
a payment to Hanoi?
- Not so far.
But the lives and
happiness of your family
depend on you using both
power and common sense.
- This is a long way from Hanoi.
- Not true.
Hanoi's right here
in this room with you.
(sinister music)
- Barbara Canton wouldn't
talk to you this morning.
What makes you think
she'll cooperate now?
- Stacy and Corrigan came
up with a name, Tran Tam.
A heavyweight in
Vietnamese crime circles.
- You wanna try it on Barbara?
- Maybe if she knows
that we're working the case.
And if she cooperates, there'll
be arrests and prosecution.
Maybe we can
make a breakthrough.
(midtempo saxophone music)
Barbara?
(pained groaning)
- They broke my arm.
And then...
(foreboding music)
That's a lot better, thanks.
- Barbara.
The night Mai was
killed, we chased and lost
a van with two men in it.
Did you see those two
men outside the parlor?
And today, they came to
your apartment, didn't they?
(heavy sigh)
- Yeah.
They're trying to pressure
me into selling out.
- To Tran Tam?
- Uh-huh.
They said it would
only take a few minutes
at the attorney's office,
and then I'd be out and alive.
- Why didn't you give in?
- Who the hell knows?
- Barbara.
I want to put two
undercover officers
inside the massage parlor.
- You gotta be kidding?
- No, I'm not.
- They'd shut me down like that!
- When this case is wrapped,
we may be doing our best
to put you out of business,
but for now, nothing we
get will be used against you.
We'll be going after Tran Tam,
and the men who work for him.
- You know, it must have
been the fall down the stairs.
A deal between a madam
and a cop named Hooker?
(laughing)
That's got to be made in heaven.
(laughing)
- Or hell.
- Lady's still not cooperating?
- No, she came around.
I've been working
out the details.
Cleared them with O'Brien.
Romano, you'll be
the new outcall driver.
And Stacy?
Have I got a job for you.
- Right there.
(telephone ringing)
That should do it.
- Check that.
- That's what you're wearing?
- It's the Pacific Massage look.
- Hey, Hooker, where is she
supposed to wear her wire?
- In my trick bag.
An outcall girl never
parts with her trick bag.
And don't get any ideas
about helping me on with it.
It's fine just where it is.
- You'll only go out on
calls that Barbara sends you.
She'll only send
you out on fake calls.
Jim and I will be monitoring
everything that goes on.
And we'll be parked
right across the street.
- Suppose a customer
walks in off the street,
and wants it all?
- Barbara will brief
you and the other girls
that due to increased
police interest,
the girls will only take
customers they already know.
- Sounds like an outstanding
opportunity in police work.
- I'll see you out there.
It's funny how the term 316
keeps popping up
in this investigation.
- 316?
- Yeah, there was a reference
to it in Tran Tam's INS file.
When he applied
for residence status,
an informant told the INS agent
that Tran Tam was
important in the 316,
and the agent
interpreted that to mean
a counter-insurgency group.
But the agent's
notes are incomplete,
and the informant was hinky.
So when the agent decided
to re-interview his snitch,
somebody had already fished
his body out of the harbor.
(sinister music)
(snake hissing)
(box creaking)
- Poisonous reptile in transit.
The guard dogs at the airport
are trained to sniff out heroin,
but they are confused by
the noxious smell of the cobra.
- First, it is this
shabby business
with a woman
and her prostitutes.
Then you add the
sale of narcotics.
You're not sending your...
- Your forget yourself.
I was not sent here at all.
(telephone ringing)
The woman is not important.
When she's out of her business,
I'll move on to the others.
Yes?
- She has already found
somebody to take Mai's place,
and that of Blood, too, Mr. Tam.
- Today, finish it off today.
- Do you really think
you can turn this country
into another South Vietnam?
- Why not?
They tried to turn Vietnam
into something like this country.
I'm just sorry I can't be there
when they finally kill
this brave prostitute.
(exciting music)
- Alright, let's get this over.
RK Blood Henderson.
Last arrested, 1978.
First conviction, possession
on sale of cocaine.
- How's he fit into this?
- Well,
he came in to take
over after Mai was killed.
I ran him out.
Barbara says he's
worked here before.
- [Jim] You think
he's tied to Tran Tam?
- [TJ] Maybe.
He's an ex-con.
But he spent several
years in Vietnam.
- I gotta tell you, Hooker.
I hate Stacy
being in that sewer.
- Ladies, we got two
new people starting work,
Stacy and Vince.
Now, Stacy is just
going to do outcalls,
so she can sort of get
her feet on the ground.
- I thought the whole point was
to get our feet off the ground.
- Carla.
Carla, do us all a favor
and be nice to the
new girl for once, okay?
Now, this is Vince.
(women fawning approvingly)
- Thank you, ladies.
The feeling is mutual.
- Now, Vince is our new driver.
Any girl making an
outcall rides with him,
even if a customer has to wait.
No girl goes out alone.
Clear?
- [Lila] If you have anything
you want to walk with later,
it's a good idea
to put it in here.
We lock it, and you can
trust most of the girls.
- Thanks.
- Where did you work before?
- San Diego.
- Yeah, so did I.
I had a shot at a
Navy commander once.
- A shot?
- He was thinking
of marrying me.
Imagine, a commander?
- Lila?
Steve Mato in the
Beverly Garden Hotel?
- Oh, yeah, the Tokyo Tiger.
I should introduce
you to him some time.
He sees blonde
hair and blue eyes,
and he never wants to go home.
(telephone ringing)
- [Barbara] This is Barbara.
Oh, Mr. Everett, how
nice to hear your voice.
Yes, Carla is on her way.
Thank you.
- I get him again?
What about the new girl?
- I'm assigning
the calls, Carla.
Tell Vince it's the Star Motel.
- I guess you're
really hot stuff.
I guess Barbara's
saving you for...
- Why don't you get off my case?
You started the
minute I walked in.
- [Carla] Why don't take
trips like the rest of us
and keep your mouth shut, huh?
- You know how Mr. Everett
hates to be kept waiting.
- Stacy, don't mind her.
We're all a little wired
after what happened
the other night.
- What happened the other night?
- The girl that worked
here, Mai, was killed.
I'm surprised you didn't know.
- You mean I'm taking her place.
- Stacy, you just got to town.
You need a few bucks.
You got a job.
Be grateful.
One thing you gotta
remember in this line of work.
The other night never happened.
It's tonight you
gotta worry about.
- This girl of yours,
she was born in Saigon?
- Yeah.
She's half-Chinese, half-French.
- She's in business
for herself, then?
- You bet.
Came over here with just
the clothes on her back.
Went to night school,
studied design.
Now it's Kwan Imports.
- [TJ] She's certainly made a
hell of an impression on you.
- [Barbara] I've got
to go to the doctor,
and I know I can get
there all by myself.
- [Vince] I'm driving!
- [Barbara] Boy, are you pushy!
Anybody ever tell you that?
- Yes, many times.
- Oh, oh, ouch!
I know I can really
get there by myself.
- Get in.
- Oh, boy.
(tires screeching)
- Barbara, get down!
(loud bangs)
(loud bangs)
(loud bangs)
- Hooker, sedan headed your way.
They shot Barbara!
(exciting music)
(sirens blaring)
- Are you okay?
- Hell, no.
(sirens blaring)
(horn honking)
(tires screeching)
- Can't you get us out of this?
(sirens blaring)
- Come on, hot shot, give
me another driving lesson.
(horn honking)
- Look out!
(loud crash)
(tires screeching)
- [TJ] We gotta get them
out of there before it blows!
Give me your hand!
Come on, get out of there!
- Come on!
(loud explosion)
(loud explosion)
(loud explosion)
(dramatic music)
(telephone ringing)
- Real name, Khai Du.
Born in Saigon, came
to this country in 1975.
Worked as a driver
for a limousine service.
INS had the same
bit of incomplete info
that they had on
Tran Tam that Khai Du
was suspected of being
a member of the 316.
Ton Li.
We couldn't get anything
from either one of these guys.
They're more afraid
of their own countrymen
than they are of
American policemen.
- How did Khai Du make
a living back in 'Nam?
- He was a
professional race driver.
Hooker taught him a
little about money driving.
- He works for Tran Tam here?
- Right.
- How do we prove that?
We can't send
Stacy back in there
without Barbara
to cover for her.
- Do I have anything
to say about that?
- No, just for
openers, you don't.
With Barbara dead,
there's nobody to make sure
you're only going
on phony outcalls.
And who knows if some
degenerate might just walk in...
- Alright, hold it, hold it!
Vince learned from Carla
that Blood always had heroin.
Now with Barbara
gone, he'll be back,
so I can get him
for sales of heroin.
- We could twist him and
tie Tran Tam to both murders.
- Hooker, you're
putting Stacy into
one hell of a
dangerous situation.
Is making this
case that important?
- Solving two homicides.
Preventing a repeat performance
and putting a stop to
this whole dirty business?
Yes, I'd say it was important.
- Then how do we contact Stacy
without Barbara
on the switchboard?
- Call in yourselves,
and whoever answers,
just ask to have me
specifically sent on an outcall.
- That'll work.
Stacy, it's up to you.
- I never quit halfway
through an assignment before.
I'm not about to start.
(sensual music)
- [Nikki] Your apartment
is always so well-kept.
Almost pristine.
- Yeah, I'm a neat guy.
You know, I don't exactly
like doing what I've have to do.
- What?
Asking me questions?
Date a cop, goes
with the territory, huh?
- We need to know
what Tran Tam is after.
Taking over a massage parlor.
Selling narcotics out of
it is profitable, but limited.
And he's obviously willing to
kill whoever gets in his way.
- The Communists in Vietnam,
not the relatives of
people in this country.
The ones here get words that
the relatives there need money.
- Extortion.
- Tran Tam enforces
the collections,
and smuggles it all
over to the other side.
But, of course, you
must never judge
the whole Vietnamese community
for the actions of
men like Tran Tam.
- What is this 316?
- How do you know about the 316?
- We have cases.
I have to know it all, Nikki.
- 316 was the number of a suite
in the Saigon Public
Administration building.
A group of highly-trained
military officers and agents
charged with counter-insurgency.
- Killing the Viet Cong
and its sympathizers.
- Killing the Cong and those
who helped them is not evil.
316 would have tried
to recruit you, Jim.
Brave.
Intelligent.
A leader.
(coy laughter)
- I wish Stacy could
hear you say that.
Sometimes we're not always
on the same wavelength.
- How is your pretty
blonde partner?
- She's okay.
She's on special assignment.
She's okay.
(exciting music)
- New face.
Let's check the license plates.
- It looks like Stacy was right.
Blood's come back to glory.
- I don't get it, honey.
You name a price,
and I'll come up with it,
because I didn't come all
the way out here to California
to argue with you over prices!
- I'm trying to
explain to you, sir,
I'm waiting for a
regular customer to call.
- Hey, wait a minute!
We have any rules around
here about holding anyone?
It's a good thing I
come back, isn't it?
- And who do you think you are?
- Are you new around here?
- Mm-hmm.
- What's your name?
- Stacy.
- [Blood] Stacy?
Well, what seems to be
the problem here, darling?
- This gentleman is
anxious for some reason.
- For some kind of love, eh?
And what could be
better than Oriental love?
Get up, get up.
Now, Senator, you take
my word from an old soldier.
It just don't get
no better than that.
Go, boy. (gleeful laughter)
I don't guess you're glad to
see me at all, are you, Carla?
What are you, the new driver?
- Name's Vince.
You must be Blood.
- You heard of me, then, huh?
So you know I'm
strictly business.
What's it gonna be, Carla?
- To cop you out.
So did Barbara.
- Cops?
Well, I don't see any
cops around here.
Let me tell you something else.
Now poor little
Barbara is long gone.
- Somebody's
gonna take her place.
- This is true.
You see, nature abhors a vacuum.
And certain friends of
mine are taking legal steps
to acquire this property
and the licenses thereof.
Did you get that, Vince?
- No question about it.
You got a way with words, Blood.
- Okay, okay.
Just... Stay away from me.
- Oh, darling, you think
I'm gonna fall on my sword
for one old rose when
there's a fresh dozen out here
on the bouquet?
Stacy, right?
Stacy.
Well, let me tell you
something, see, I'm a cracker.
Now this cracker
is hard to kill.
And we're hard to love.
- That tears it, we
gotta pull her outta there!
- You're right.
What'd you get on
the license plate?
- Nguyen Chi, 957
Hyacinth Lane, Garden Park.
- A big concentration of
Vietnamese in that area.
Let's find out what
he does for a living.
- And Stacy?
- You go back to the
mom-and-pop store.
Give us a couple of hours so
Blood doesn't get suspicious.
And then put in a call for her.
- Okay.
(brakes squeaking)
- We're in solid.
Vince is already talking
a dope deal for tonight.
- With Blood?
- Says he has access to as
much heroin as I can move,
and this parlor is
just the beginning.
- The brass must
have gotten wind of it.
They're hot on him.
- I tell you, the
brass will be in there
when Blood drags Stacy back
to one of those massage rooms.
- And you think
I'd let that happen?
- How are you
gonna stop it, Vince?
You're playing his new partner.
I mean, what are you gonna...
- Alright, alright,
alright, you guys!
We can wrap the prostitution
and narcotics with the brass,
but it doesn't work for me
unless we get the people
who ordered the murders
of Mai and Barbara.
- I think that's what the job
has always been, hasn't it?
- Stacy.
Don't forget your trick money.
And have Romano drive
you around for an hour
so it'd make it look
like you earned it.
- 200 is just the going rate.
Don't I get a tip?
(engine starts)
- Yeah, well, they're
due here any minute.
Why'd you call her out to you?
I'm gonna find out
one way to get her.
(funky music)
- Been waiting for you guys.
I got a live one at
the Grandview Motel!
- Business must be picking up.
See you later, Vin.
(car engine starts)
(muffled groan)
(loud static)
- You think that's trouble?
- I don't know.
Sounded like
static, then nothing.
(loud upbeat music)
They must have the
music up full blast.
I can't hear a damn thing.
(sinister music)
- [TJ] I don't like it.
Nothing but music
for 1o minutes.
Okay, that's it, let's go.
(cars honking)
(upbeat music)
- Hey, what is this?
- Where's Stacy?
- The new girl?
I don't know, maybe she left?
- Look, here.
You've worked both
sides of the street
longer than you can remember.
Well, I need the truth now.
Now!
- Okay.
Blood took her out of
here about 10 minutes ago.
- [Jim] Hooker!
(loud upbeat music)
Looks like Blood didn't
buy her cover after all.
- Carla go on outcall?
Vince drove her.
Did you take the call?
- No, Blood took the call.
It was a man who asked for him.
And he sent Carla
off with Vince,
and he took off with Stacy.
She's a cop, huh?
- Yes, she is.
I need some more information.
(sinister music)
- What was the
point in bringing here?
- My friend Nguyen said
that we were supposed
to finish this thing
up here tonight.
- Do you know
how dangerous it is
to kill a policewoman
in this country?
- You know how dangerous
it is to leave this one alive?
(tires screeching)
- Checked everything
you asked me to.
Nguyen Chi is an attorney,
but he's been
here since the '50s.
- All during the Vietnam War.
- Correct.
- Find out who he represents?
- Well, this is a partial, but
the computer kicked it out
on court records and
immigration hearing files.
- You gonna be able
to help us, Lieutenant?
- I think he already has.
- What do you mean?
- Blood was waiting for Stacy
to come back from meeting us.
- Well, sure, she
only took one call
all the time she was here.
Romano tried to
hit him up for her
when he probably got suspicious.
- What are you sayin',
we blew our assignment?
- I just think you
both went too fast,
and Stacy may
be paying the price.
- I think Blood got
a call telling him
that there was an
undercover officer
fitting Stacy's description
working that parlor.
- Who could make that call?
- Nguyen Chi, respected
lawyer for the last 30 years.
- We just got his name
a couple of hours ago.
How could he know Stacy exists?
- Jim.
Your friend Nikki
Kwan told you and Stacy
that she needed to put somebody
from Tran Tam's
operation on her payroll.
Kwan Imports has
only 12 employees,
but her legal representation
since she's been in this country
has been Nguyen Chi.
- But she's helped
us from the start.
She gave me all the
information I passed on to you!
- She told us what we would
have found out eventually
from somebody else
from the government.
She told you about Tran Tam.
About Hanoi.
And about 316.
Come on.
(dramatic music)
(loud bang)
(sinister music)
- Get him.
- I wish that was not necessary.
He has been with
me since Saigon.
- Believe me, I'm sorry,
but I've been ordered
to clean up the mess
here as quickly as I can.
- You think he
would have cracked
if the police had gotten to him?
- Then they would
use him to get you.
- What about the policewoman?
- I will handle that.
You're going home.
- I know.
(kiai shouts)
- Nikki!
- I wasn't expecting
to see you tonight, Jim.
- This is Sergeant Hooker.
- Sergeant?
- You know, I didn't
think anything of it
when you asked me
about my partner last night.
I even told you Stacy
was on special assignment.
- I don't know what
you're talking about.
- I think you do.
Nguyen Chi is your lawyer.
And he works a little
magic with the immigration
to get you citizenship ahead
of the other Vietnamese.
- I don't know that I
want to listen to this.
- But you will anyway.
From what I'm learning,
too fast, 'cause it's
not all quite clear,
Nguyen Chi was in this
country for three decades
saying he was for Saigon,
all the time he was
working for Hanoi.
- Was it his idea to bring
the 316 apparatus
over here almost intact?
- Jim, I told you
about the 316...
- Sure.
There was something
in your voice
when you told me about that
small group of trained killers
who fought for our side then.
- Sometimes we
have to change sides
many times just to stay alive.
- Nikki.
I know what
you're talking about.
I was there.
I also remember the story
of a beautiful daughter
of a cabinet minister
whose whole family was
wiped out by the Cong.
- There were many
such daughters.
- I only heard about one.
She was famous for luring
Cong leaders into ambush
so that they could
be blown away.
That was easy, because
she was beautiful.
And she was only 16 then.
- I was the youngest
agent of the 316.
Too bad we didn't
meet then, Jim.
- When you called
Nguyen Chi to tell them
that you thought Stacy
was working undercover,
where was he?
- In his office, but
he was on his way
to Tran Tam's warehouse.
Jim.
They didn't quite
kill all my family.
My mother is alive in Saigon.
Whatever I have done,
it has kept her alive.
(dramatic music)
- After you have taken
Tram Tan to the plane,
you'll get 20
gallons of gasoline
and return to the warehouse.
I will be waiting.
You are very beautiful.
(dangerous music)
(snake hissing)
(engine starting)
(tires screeching)
- Get out!
(snake hissing)
- Get out of the car!
Out of the car!
Move, move, move!
Where's Stacy?
- Inside.
(snake hissing)
(running footsteps)
(loud bang)
(loud bang)
- I'm gonna find Stacy.
(loud bang)
(loud bang)
(loud bang)
(dramatic music)
(snake hissing)
(snake hissing)
(snake hissing)
(loud bang)
(gleeful laughter)
- So what happens
to you girls now?
- We're going to Vegas.
- I hear Vegas is pretty
tough on working girls.
- Hey, no, we're gonna
go to beauty college.
We're gonna be cosmetologists.
- Vegas will never be the same.
(laughing)
(horn honking)
- This is gonna be fantastic!
- I just love Vegas,
it's so hot there!
- If you ever get
to Vegas, Vince,
be sure and look me up.
- Count on it.
- Bye, sweetie.
- [All] Bye!
(engine starting)
- They'll be back
in a couple weeks,
and we'll be locking
them up again.
- Oh, I don't know.
I spent a lot of
time talking to Carla.
Maybe they will do a turnaround.
- Count on it.
- You try to call Nikki?
- None of the numbers I
have for her are any good now.
What the hell would I
say if I ever found her?
- Good-bye.
But she's already
said that for you.
(melancholy music)
("TJ Hooker" theme song)
(Columbia Pictures jingle)