T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): Season 4, Episode 3 - Pursuit - full transcript

Hooker pursues two robbers at high speed, resulting in the injury of a pregnant teller.

(rock music)

(rock music)

- [Operator] Control
to 4-Adam-30.

Verify your code seven
location as beach in Venice.

- 4-Adam-30, that's a roger.

- [Operator] 4-Adam-30,
clear for code seven.

Have a nice lunch.

- I don't agree.

- You wouldn't.

- There can't be enough
emphasis on youth.

- There can be.



When team owners
don't realize the benefits

of having veterans
on their teams.

- Will you face it, rookies
extend a team's life.

- The team gets its
life from its veterans.

- Football is a
very physical game.

- I know...

- There is only so much
abuse the body can take

before the body rebels.

- I can relate to that.

- Roy, how you doing?

- Well, I'm two from 30
and I'm looking forward to it.

- No way.

When you retire they're going
to have to cut your legs off

to pry that motor
out from under you.



- (chuckles) Oh
no, not this vet.

I'm going to bow out gracefully.

Take my training wheels home
and put them on a golf cart.

(laughs)

- Hey Sarge, there's always
something I wanted to know.

What kind of a rookie
cop was Hooker?

- Oh, he was about
like most rookies.

No respect for us veterans.

(laughing)

(rock music)

(slow dramatic music)

- How are you doing today, sir?

Nobody makes trouble,
nobody gets hurt.

Now get up!

Move it.

- Everybody stand
right where you are.

- Move it!

- Come on, the
bills, the big ones.

Let's go!

- All right, I know one
of you smart suckers

is going to press
the silent alarm,

so let's get this
done real quick.

- I hear he could have
a desk job if he'd take it.

- No, it's the streets
or nothing for him.

- Where have I
heard that before?

(beeping)

- [Operator] All units in
the vicinity and 4-Adam-30,

211 silent at the First
Investors Bank, 142 Parkwood.

- Put it on our tab, Seymour.

(rock music)

(siren wailing)

- Hurry up.

Come on.

- [Male Bank Robber]
Come on, you heard her.

- [Female Bank
Robber] Pass it on.

- How we doing, babe?

- As well as done.

(sirens wailing)

- We got enough.

Let's get out of here.

- Pass it on.

You heard him.

Come on, you heard him.

Get out here.

- No, please.

- Come on.

- Don't take me.

- Lady, you move it right now.

Folks, just tell the cops
Bonnie and Clyde were here.

(sirens wailing)

(dramatic rock music)

- They've got a hostage.

- Get in.

(tires screeching)

- Vehicle is a 1973 orange
four door Plymouth sedan.

California plates.

George Victor Zebra 741.

- I want an air unit backup.

And advise Control to
the hostage situation.

(tires screeching)

- Lock the doors.

Keep the gun on her, all right?

- I got it, baby.

(beeping)

- [Operator] 4-Adam-30,
Air One advises

a five minute ETA to
assist in your pursuit.

No other air units available.

- Damn.

- Roger 30.

(engines roaring)

We could push them
too hard, Hooker.

- If we back off it leaves
the hostage with nothing.

They could do whatever
they want with her.

- Hold on, dear.

- Suspects are now
eastbound on the alley

between Ninth and Fillmore.

(tires screeching)

(car banging)

- My clothes.

- Look, forget 'em.

Forget 'em, let's go.

(fire roaring)

- Doors are pinned on this side.

- Get out!

She's unconscious.

- We need something else.

(glass smashing)

Ah, Hooker, I'm burning!

I'm burning!

Hooker.

(groaning)

I'm all right.

The woman.

- Come on, Romano,
she's going to blow.

(vehicles exploding)

- [Woman] Dr. Baker
to pediatrics, please.

Dr. Baker.

- Well, let's get you some help.

- (sighs) Help?

This'll heal, Hooker.

What about the lady in there?

What about her?

She's hurt because of the crash,

'cause we pressed the pursuit.

If we'd backed off the suspects

just might have dumped her off

and she wouldn't
need any help right now.

- What if they'd dumped her off

with a bullet in the
back of her head?

(bell dinging)

- [Woman] Dr. McCullen,
surgery please.

Dr. McCullen.

- Hooker.

- Did you make it by the bank?

- No, an accident sidetracked us

til we can get another ride.

The hostage's name was Bowers.

- Ellen Bowers.

She's a teller at the bank.

How's she doing?

- Critical.

She's still in the OR.

- We heard how it went down.

How's Vince?

- They're treating him now.

He says he's had worse sunburns.

- Mr. Tough Guy.

- He blames the pursuit.

- For what happened
to the Bowers woman?

- Mm-hm.

- I've been there.

Maybe he's got a point.

- If there's any
blame to be laid

it should be put on
Bonnie and Clyde.

They're the ones who...

- What I'm saying is hot
pursuits are inherently dangerous.

- I'll be doing a lot
of second guessing

on my decision to
stay with that pursuit.

But it was a judgment call.

I ran the vehicle ID number.

NCIC says the Plymouth
was New Mexico stolen.

- Well, it's a start.

- Bonnie and Clyde.

They've left a
trail of liquor store

and gas station robberies

all the way from
Houston, Texas west.

- Now they've
graduated to banks.

- They started in
Scottsdale, Arizona

and have been taking
hostages to cover their getaway.

- Fun and games time.

- Yeah, not so much fun.

Sometimes they release
their hostages unharmed.

Sometimes they don't.

There's a teller from
a San Berdoo bank job

still in a coma at
Riverside Hospital.

- Hooker.

- Jessica.

(slow music)

- How are ya?

- Ah, I've felt better.

But looking at you helps.

What are you doing here?

- I'm head of security for
all the bank branches now.

- You made it.

- We had a robbery today,
our Oceanside branch.

They took one of the
hostages, our teller.

I heard there was an accident
and they brought her here.

- My partner and I got the call.

She sustained internal injuries.

(Jessica sighs)

She's on the
operating table now.

Sorry, the suspects got away.

The bank cameras
must have taken pictures.

- They did.

- We'll need copies right away.

- I'll see that you get them.

Bye.

- Attractive lady.

- Yeah.

I was working a bank
stakeout a couple of years ago

and she was
working bank security.

The robbery didn't go
down for five or six days.

We got pretty close.

(upbeat rock music)

- All I'm saying,
when you decide

to go into high speed pursuit

you better be able to
justify the end result.

There are a hell of a lot of
unnecessary high speed chases

between gung ho young
cops and hopped up kids

with outstanding
traffic warrants.

- Sure there are.

But the officer behind
the wheel has to decide.

Like Hooker said, you've
got to live with that decision.

- And maybe
somebody dies with it.

- I just talked to the hospital.

Ellen Bowers is out of surgery.

She's stable and recovering.

- I'll drink to that.

- To the lady.

(glasses clinking)

- You Sergeant Hooker?

These people are cops?

The bartender told me.

I stopped by the precinct.

They said this was a cop
bar and I might find you here.

- What can I do for you?

- Oh, I'm just wondering
what cops look like

when they're out of uniform.

- You got a problem, pal?

- I was wondering,
just wondering,

what does it feel like
to kill somebody, huh?

(slow dramatic music)

(water splashing)

My name is Charles
Bowers, Sergeant Hooker.

My wife is Ellen Bowers.

Did you know that
she was pregnant?

Did you know the baby she
was carrying was my son?

Amazing what
medical science can do.

At four months the
doctors were able

to tell it was
going to be a boy.

How does it feel, Sergeant,
to know that you helped

kill a boy that never
had a chance to live?

(slow music)

- Do you ever sleep?

- I couldn't.

I kept thinking about
Ellen Bowers and her baby,

my kids.

I thought maybe
I'd go over the car

and see if the lab
boys missed anything.

- Yeah, I thought you might.

I came by to help if I can.

A few years back up in Frisco

I was involved in a
high speed pursuit.

My partner was driving.

Chasing three
teenage joyriders, kids.

They went off the
road a little over 90,

wrapped the car around
a tree like a pretzel.

It took us over three hours
to pull their bodies out.

Yeah, I can still see
the color of their shirts,

the blood everywhere.

I picked up a shoe.

I don't remember what
I said to their parents.

- What do you make of this?

- It could be anything.

- Maybe they had
suitcases in the car.

- [Jim] Yeah.

- It could be part of
a suitcase handle.

- Yeah.

- I don't know what
this metal tab is.

- It could be a designer's logo.

There's a pattern.

- Check it out, by
roll call tomorrow.

- You're a hard man, Hooker.

Listen, I guess
there are all kinds

of ways to deal with tragedy.

Bowers, he didn't know what
to do with his grief, Hooker.

Anger's an easier
emotion to handle.

- Yeah.

Gotta blame somebody.

Couldn't find the
crooks, he found us.

I want to find Bonnie and Clyde.

(gentle music)

- You know, it's all turning out

to be everything
you said it would be.

- (laughs) Would I lie to you?

- I had my doubts those
first couple of weeks

after you broke me out.

Ripping gas stations
and liquor stores.

Sleeping in motels
and eating food

worse than gave us in (mumbles).

If Superintendent
Davis could see me now.

- Hey listen, baby, it's
all uptown from here on in.

- Could we go
shopping afterwards?

- Well, what do you need now?

- I had a whole suitcase
full of new clothes.

- (laughs) Oh, we'll
buy you new ones.

We've got 40,000 plus
change, and there's a bank

that's three blocks from here

that's going to be
prime pickings. (laughs)

- But that one jacket
was Paris-designed.

- Oh.

- I loved it.

We gotta find it, please?

- We need wheels first.

- Then can we go shopping?

- (laughs) Why not?

(slow music)

- How's she doing?

- She'll be okay.

- [Woman] Dr. Seidelman
to X-Ray, please.

Dr. Seidelman.

- I owe you an apology,
Sergeant Hooker.

I can't account for what
happened last night.

I was frustrated, and angry,
and I wanted to hurt someone

for hurting me,
my wife, our baby.

- You don't owe me an apology.

- I'm grateful.

You both risked your
life to save my wife's.

Just I wish we didn't
lose that little boy.

- Mr. Bowers, I wish
there was some way

we could tell you how sorry
we are for what happened.

- You already have,
just by being here.

Do me one favor.

- Name it.

- Get those people
that killed my son.

(slow dramatic music)

- We get wheels,
we head there next.

- The getaway car was stolen
in Houston, Texas last week.

Chances are our Bonnie
and Clyde are going to go

for another one, so keep a
close eye on the (mumbles).

We're working on
something we found in the car

and you'll be kept informed.

Now these are the best pictures

the bank camera
has taken so far.

Pass 'em around, please.

Study 'em.

Get 'em around.

Get them to your
people on the street,

get them working for ya.

I want those two.

And there's another thing.

Clyde uses a 357 Magnum,

Bonnie a 38 with hollow points.

Don't give 'em a chance
to use 'em on you.

Let's roll.

Romano, wire out photos
of Bonnie and Clyde

to every city and town
from here to Texas.

Maybe somebody
will put names to faces.

- You got it.

- Jimmy, you and Stacy
follow up on that designer's logo

we pulled from the Plymouth.

When I get out on the field,

I'll check the
hotels and motels.

Hi ya, Jess.

- This isn't a
social call, Hooker.

- I had a feeling it wasn't.

- I just turned in my
preliminary report to the bank.

You're not going to like it

but I wanted you
to hear about it first.

- Well, I appreciate
that much anyway.

- From what I found out,

that car crash didn't
have to happen.

- But you weren't there.

- No, but I talked
to enough people

who had to scramble
for their lives.

- None of whom were injured.

- Fortunately.

Traffic was heavy.

It was during the
peak hours of the day.

The streets were
lined with pedestrians.

Anything could have...
- The bank was robbed.

The people asked for
help with a silent alarm.

- Recovering the money
isn't that important.

- Capturing armed suspects
who've demonstrated

their willingness
to do violence is.

- At the risk of a dozen lives?

At the cost of
Ellen Bowers baby?

Was it really worth
it to you, Hooker?

Maybe hot pursuits
should be outlawed.

- Well, suppose they do that.

Suppose they
stop all hot pursuit.

And every bad guy
knows that the moment

his speedometer
hits 90 he's home free.

We turn over the
streets to them.

- Yeah, well I hear a
lot cop emotion talking,

and I understand that.

But the facts are still there,

and they say that car crash
could have been prevented

if you'd have pulled back.

- The officer in the field
has to make that decision.

- But can the officer
live with that decision?

- He finds a way.

- And what if he can't?

Then what, an ulcer?

Booze?

Or does he end up eating his 38?

Maybe somebody ought
to make it their business

to see these chases stopped.

- Jess, you were
always big on crusades.

Only this time I'm afraid
we're not on the same side.

- I'm sorry about that.

(sighs) You know, one of
the things I liked about you

was once you made up
your mind about something,

nothing could change it.

I guess I still like
that about you.

It's just not going to
change what I have to do.

- Seems like a lady
with a mind of her own.

How far do you think
she's going to run with it?

- All the way to
the end of the line.

- Maybe she's running
in the right direction.

(slow music)

- You're looking for George
of Paris, I'm George of Paris.

Of course, on occasion
I'm Han of Tokyo

or Phillip of London,
whatever's in that particular year.

- This is your logo?

- Oh yeah, yeah.

I mean, I designed the jacket
that logo came off of, yeah.

Oh, here it is.

Well, what do you think?

- Yeah, it's nice.

- What size are you,
Officer Sheridan?

We could run one off for
you in a couple of hours.

- That's very sweet
of you, George,

but what we'd really like
is a list of all the stores

in this area which retail
this particular jacket.

- Oh sure.

But basically you
like the jacket?

- Oh, I like it very much.

- I'll get you a list.

Designing is
guesswork, you know?

My dad put 50
years in this business.

I put in 28 already,
and it's guesswork.

- You ever ship any of those
to Texas by any chance?

- Sent a dozen to the
mall store in Houston.

How'd you know that?

- The woman we're looking
for probably brought it there.

- That's good, huh?

We're getting there.

Listen, what would it hurt
if we ran you off a jacket?

You could wear it back
and forth to the precinct.

- Tell her T.J. Hooker called.

No, she can't call me back.

I'll call her again.

Thank you.

- No luck?

- She was in a meeting.

I lost my temper before.

I got to convince
her she's wrong.

- Maybe you're having
a tough time with her

because you're not
convinced yourself.

- Now watch it, junior.

You're close to
stepping over the line.

- Hey, if giving my opinion
is stepping over the line,

you can come down on me for it.

- That's not the way I work.

You ought to know that by now.

- Was she tough to work
with on the stakeout?

- Jess?

Nah, she was fine.

She was obviously on her
way up, but she was okay.

- Knew what she
was talking about?

- [T.J.] Sure.

- But now she's all wrong.

- That's right, she's wrong.

And you're wrong.

Bad guys escalate the action

and we move up
right alongside them.

Then we move in and
control the situation.

That's our job.

- And if somebody in
the middle gets shredded

by the machine, that's
an acceptable loss?

- No such thing as
an acceptable loss.

Oh, to hell with it.

I'll call her later.

(slow music)

- Well, we've hit all the stores

handling George's
parachute jacket.

It was a long shot
in the first place.

- Maybe not.

These two seem to be setting
a high and fashionable profile.

- The Bonnie and Clyde syndrome?

- That's right.

They took that bag
with maximum visibility.

- You're not saying
they want to get caught?

- Not at all.

It's just that whatever they do

they want to make sure
the world knows about it.

(slow music)

(whistles)

- Hey.

- We can make you a great deal.

It's that time, year end
clearance and all, you know?

- Oh, a clearance, huh?

I was thinking of that.

- Ah, like to take
one for a spin?

- Yeah, that's just
what we had in mind.

- This is our showroom model.

- But I had my
heart set on this one.

- Why don't you
just tell the fuzz

that Bonnie and
Clyde dropped by.

Bye.

(glass smashing)

- Woo!

- Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

- That was wonderful, baby.

- All right. (laughs)

(tires screeching)

(rock music)

(siren wailing)

Well, looky here.

I think we got Evil Knievel.

- Let her rip.

- Woo, let's go!

(tires screeching)

(beeping)

- [Operator] All units on
all frequencies, stand by.

4-Mary-20 is in pursuit of
a stolen 1984 red Camaro.

No plates.

Southbound on 22nd
and approaching Maple.

(tires screeching)

(sirens wailing)

- That was Roy.

(tires screeching)

- I think we're going to smoke
him, traffic's pretty heavy.

(bike screeching)

(tires screeching)

- [Both] Wahoo! (laughs)

(slow music)

- Roy.

Call an ambulance.

Take it easy.

Take it easy, okay?

- This is 4-Adam-30.

Officer down,
requesting ambulance.

At 27th and Maple.

- Help is on its way.

Take it easy.

(slow music)

- I didn't know how
much I missed ya

til I saw you at
the hospital today.

I'm glad you weren't busy.

- Actually I was.

We're opening a new
bank branch tomorrow

and the manager
and I haven't come

to an agreement
on security needs.

- Why did you let
me come here then?

- Oh, maybe I was curious.

- Oh.

- I guess I missed you too.

Okay, I know that
Hooker look anywhere.

What's bothering you?

- It seems that the captain
got an exploratory call

from city councilman,
Keckner's office.

Keckner wanted the police
report on the chase the other day.

- I heard there was another
high speed pursuit today.

This time a
policeman was injured.

- I know.

- [Jessica] You know him?

- Yeah.

- Keckner's assured me
that he's going to look into

the matter of hot pursuits.

- Keckner's no friend
of the department.

- I'm going to press this issue.

- So you've said.

- Hm.

Mm.

Suppose I tell you nothing
you could say or do tonight

could change my
mind about anything.

- I'd say that used
to part of our problem.

- It wasn't some sort
of communication gap.

You were always
too much of a cop.

- It gets in the way, a lot.

And you were
always too ambitious.

- And you are still
Sergeant Hooker.

You know, you were
always more concerned

about the way you did your job

and the officers around you

than you could ever
be about someone else.

Even yourself.

You carry your job
around in your head

and your gut 24 hours a day.

I saw it then and
I can see it now.

It's eating away at you.

- It's the Bowers baby.

And a good cop, my
friend in the hospital.

And the fact that these
punks are out there

playing a deadly game
of catch me if you can.

Damn it, even my
own officers and I

are locking horns on
this hot pursuit thing.

I'm feeling the squeeze, Jess.

(slow music)

Hi there.

- Oh yeah, I'm high here.

But it's legal.

- How you doing?

- About like your
average busted ankle,

ruptured spleen, broken arm.

- Is there anything
I can get you?

- I could use a couple of
three pounds of smarts.

That was one career boner.

Pushing those joyriding kids

into a hot pursuit
during rush hour.

- Well those kids are wanted
for kidnapping, robbery,

attempted murder, and
murder in three different states.

- Those little scuzzballs.

Too bad they made
it round the semi.

How, you got any idea how much

the city's going to
charge me for my bike?

- On the local scene, city
councilman George Keckner's

newly formed subcommittee
to look into the issue

of hot pursuits by police...

- [Roy] Keckner's
a political hack.

- Maybe so, but he gets
the public's attention.

- And the Police Commission.

- Who was Chief of Security
for First Investors Bank.

- Hey, hey, Hooker, she's
talking about your lady friend.

- Our field reporter,
James Kirkpatrick,

caught up with Miss Turley
at pre-opening festivities

at a new branch
of First Investors.

- With more than a few of
our law enforcement officers

high speed chases
are nothing more

than exercises in police macho.

- Did I say she was a friend?

- She was never one
to hold anything back.

- Oh Mark, I thought
we'd never find it.

It's just like the other one,

even down to the funny
little design on the front.

- You like it then?

- You want to see
how much I like it?

- Mm-hm.

- Will this be cash or charge?

- The sheriff from
Santa Fe, New Mexico

turned (mumbles) names
on Bonnie and Clyde.

- Mark Howard, Grace Tibbetts.

- He's a (mumbles) and he
(mumbles) a time in Huntsville

for GTA and the two-bit
rip off of a gas station.

- He busted Grace out
of Texas Youth Authority.

They've been through
four different states

in less than two weeks.

Let's hope
they're still in town.

(phone ringing)

- Academy Precinct.

Officer Fox, may I help you?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Officer Sheridan's in the field.

- Can you get a message to her?

This is Jean Spencer, Right
Bank Boutique on Seventh Street.

(slow dramatic music)

Tell her the people
she spoke to me about

are in the store right now.

I'm almost certain.
(gun clicking)

- Put the phone down, lady.

- Just walked out of
here bold and brazen

as a couple of bank robbers.

- That's what they are, ma'am.

- It look a lot to
make that call.

Thank you.

Five minutes,
five lousy minutes.

- At least we know
they're still in town.

Let's get it on the
air, start the search.

(rock music)

Can you believe we
missed them by five minutes?

- Where are you now?

- Market and 12th.

The sales lady we
contacted off that logo clue

just had a parachute
jacket ripped off.

The suspects were last
seen walking northbound

on Ninth from Menlo.

I'd guess the red Camaro
they ripped off is close by.

- We got a two minute ETA.

- Well, they shouldn't
be too hard to spot.

The girl's wearing
the bulky jacket.

It's steel gray in color.

- [T.J.] Roger, Jim.

(slow dramatic music)

- Well,

if this one's as
good as the last,

what do you say
we take one of them

two week boat trips
down to Mexico?

- Could we?

- (laughs) That's what
it's all about, baby.

(dramatic rock music)

(people laughing)

(crowd applauding)

- We just talked to a
witness who saw them climb

into the stolen red Camaro.

It was parked on (mumbles)
about two blocks north

of the boutique.

- Roger, Jim.

Put out the word on the car.

And let's make a pass
by the banks in the area.

The way Bonnie and Clyde operate

I'm willing to
bet that they'll try

for one more score
before they split.

(slow music)

- Okay, hurry it up.

Come on, let's go.

Okay, lady, just the big
bills, and make it fast.

Come on, quick, quick.

(dramatic rock music)

Okay, lady, come
on, get around here.

Come on, lady, move it.

Any trouble, and this lady
here, she gets blown away.

- Hey.

(gun firing)

(people screaming)

- Get in.

(tires screeching)

(beeping)

- [Operator] All cars in
the vicinity and 4-Adam-7.

A 211 has just
occurred at the bank

3944 West Goodman Avenue.

Suspects have a hostage.

4-Adam-7 handle code three.

- This is 4-Adam-30.

We're two blocks
away and responding.

- [Operator] 4-Adam-30,
suspects match the description

of prior bank 211
at 142 Parkwood.

(siren wailing)

(tires screeching)

(engines roaring)

- You see who that was?

- Yeah.

Damn it, they've got Jess.

4-Adam-30 to Control.

(beeping)

- [Operator] All units on
all frequencies, stand by.

4-Adam-30 is in pursuit.

4-Adam-30, what's your location?

- This is 4-Adam-30.

We're southbound on
Woodland approaching Ardmore.

- They're heading our way.

- We can parallel up Grand
and cut 'em off at DeLong.

(cars honking)

- The suspects are now
heading south on Lawson.

Approaching DeLong.

Advise all units
suspects have a hostage.

(tires screeching)

If you're asking me
if we should back off,

you're driving.

Drop your gun.

You're surrounded.

- Come up this way.

(guns firing)

- Mark, help me.

(gun firing)

- Hold it.

(guns firing)

Stacy, stay with her.

Jim, cover me.

(gun firing)

(slow music)

Hey.

(punching) (grunting)

(body thudding)

(slow dramatic music)

(upbeat music)

- She still have the
recording machine turned on?

- I hate those things.

- What Jessica went through,

she probably needs
some time to herself.

- Yeah.

Oh well, we all learned
something today.

- I had a hard time deciding,

but sometimes hot
pursuits are necessary.

Right Jim?

- Yeah, like women,
a necessary evil.

- Thanks a lot.

- I thought I
needed to be alone.

And I'm glad I found you.

- So am I.

- Do you have a minute?

- How about a few?

- God, that was horrible today.

Now I know the terror
that Ellen Bowers felt.

I talked to her on the
phone a little while ago.

- How is she?

- She's out of the hospital.

She's not great, but she's
getting a whole lot better.

And I talked to her husband.

And he wanted me to
tell you that he and Ellen

had already talked, and
they've decided to try it again,

whatever that means.

- It means I hope it's a boy.

- How 'bout buying
me a drink, copper?

But not here.

(slow music)

(rock music)