The Equalizer (1985–1989): Season 2, Episode 1 - Prelude - full transcript

These rules do require a balanced *.

You know something ?

You have all the
paranoia and nasty temper

necessary to make an ace
foreign correspondent.

I think you're still trying to con me,

but flattery will get you everywhere.

Yeah, well, it's always
worked for me before.

- I forgot to bring a copy of the paper.
- Well get it after the game.

No, they might be sold
on you. Just go. Just...

- Go and get it
- But we're really gona be late...

Damn it, Jenny ! Just
do what I say, please.



Something to matter ?

Nothing is to matter.

Just go and get it.

- Go ! Go !
- Okay !

Just go !

Dad !

Dad, look out !

Help !

Help him !

Jenny, get away ! Get out of here !

- Dad !
- Jenny !

Dad !

Somebody help him !

Somebody please !



Oh, God, help !

- Scott !
- Dad ! You startled me.

The feeling was mutual,
I do assure you, Scott.

Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

It was really just sort
of an impulse, sorry.

I mean, you weren't really home anyway.

- You wouldn't have got my call.
- Oh, no, no. Well...

Anyway, how have you been?

You are looking very well.

Oh, yeah, great.

Played in Salisburg and
banged up my knee climbing.

But it's okay now.

Oh just as well it wasn't your elbow.

Difficult to play the
violin with one hand.

And how was Salzburg ?

- I wish I could have seen you.
- Oh, terrific. Great.

Too bad you missed it.

Yeah, I know, I know.

I was pressured of business as usual.

But I'll be there next term.

Oh, somehow I doubt that.

Even if you did get the
chance, you'd probably just

forget the schedule like
you did the last time.

Why are you angry with me ?

Have I done something wrong ?

Don't you remember anything about me ?

Aren't you wondering why I'm here now ?

When the new term
started four weeks ago.

I'm sorry.

- You haven't quit, have you ?
- No.

Don't worry about that.

I didn't have to.

They kicked me out.

Why ?

I got into a beef with one of the
conductors about how to attack music.

He's making bad
choices, that cheap ones.

Kick me out six weeks
ago, right after Salisbury.

Six weeks ?!

- Why didn't you tell anyone?
- I did, people I knew.

Well, you didn't tell me.
Aren't I people you know ?

You really want to
know the truth? You...

You seem so distant from me.

Sometimes I feel closer
to you when I write you

a letter than when I'm
standing here in person.

Escuse me.

Telephone.

This is Robert McCall.

If you will leave your name and number,

I will return your call
as soon as possible.

This is Jenny Aldin.
Please, you gotta help me.

There's a man who is
following me and I...

Hello ?

Hello.

Robert McCall here.

Oh ! Thank God !

The police won't help me.
I don't know what to do.

I'm sure he's gonna
do somthing horrible.

Calm down. Calm down. Just...

Please, could you come ?

Yes.

The address. Give me the address.

Ok. I'm 585...

Yeah...

Please, come !

Look, I will try and be with
you as soon as I can. All right ?

And try not to worry. Bye.

- 1 m going to mom. I get my stuff out of here.
- No!

Why don't you come with me ?

It shouldn't take very
long, and then we can talk.

She's no trouble ?

Miss Alden ?

It's open !

Hello.

I'm Robert McCall. You telephoned me ?

Ms. Aldin, if you are
being threatened by a man,

you really ought to
lock your door, you know.

Yes, I know...

... that you're the man.

I'm sorry, I don't
understand this. Who are you ?

The name is Jenny Morrow.

That was my father they kidnapped this
afternoon and I know you work for them

and you're going to give him back to me.

Morrow ? Frank Morrow ?

You are Frank Morrow's daughter ?

I'm sorry. I don't understand.

The hell you don't !
I'll shoot ! I will !

I dont think you will. Come on, I'm not
gonna hurt you. Come on, give it to me.

Here, see ?

Some automatics will fire
when the hammer isn't back.

This particular weapon
is not one of them.

Oh, please ! Don't !

Don't what ? I'm not going to hurt you.

I told you that.

On the contrary.

I will do all I can to
help you and your father.

But first of all, I have
to know what happened.

Don't you know ? Don't you
still work for General Estes ?

I have never been
employed by General Estes.

You were the agency's
point man for his coup

when he took over the country.

You ran it.

Oh, now, where do you get the right
to accuse my father of anything ?

All right, Scott. It's all
right. I did know her father.

He was a foreign
correspondent in Latin America.

I met him when I was working down there.

My father thought it
was very funny how there

were these rumours going
around that you were here

doing some sort of idealistic
equaliser thing for people

when he knew who you really were.

And I just hope that
since you were for hire

in New York that maybe the
Estes people hired you.

I don't know why they would kidnap
your father. Not now.

Not here.

Didn't you see this week's
paper ? It's right here.

See, my father knew that
things were getting worse.

Estes's people were killing

families in the squatter
camps. Killing students.

Killing up to 1000 people a month.

So he went back.

See, that article is just
the first. He's writing a...

He is supposed to be writing
a whole series. But...

It is the death squad, isn't it ?

I mean, that's how they do it, right ?

Now, just listen to me.

Your father must have had a great

deal of help gathering this information.

- So ?
- So...

The Astis government is frightened.

It's frightening its losing control.

Now, it's obvious from this
article that your father

not only knew the names
of the opposition leaders

but he knew exactly where they
could be found, where they were.

Estes would need that
information very badly.

So badly that he'd go
to any length to get him.

Does that mean my
father is being tortured?

Not necessarily.

But what it does mean is that
your father is certainly alive,

Do you know where he is ?

I mean, you at least owe it
to him to try to help him.

Jenny, I do not know where
he is, but I will find him.

Your father is a good man.

He's a strong man.

And they will not be able to break him.

Anyway, we'll have to get him out
of the country as soon as possible.

Pack some things, put them in a bag.

Also, if you find any of your father's
papers and notes, gather them together.

You're not safe here. We're leaving.

Go on, hurry.

Scott...

- Do you have to go tonight?
- No, I can stay with her.

- Right
- Dad...

Did you really run that coup ?

Nobody ran it.
Not with the trouble.

It was out of control from the start

Get in ! Come on !
Quick !

You're trying to blow our cover ?

Oh, no, no, no.

I mean, who would
suspect closed van parked

over a telephone
junction box all night

were be doing anything other
than delivering orange juice.

Right. The budget cutters are
running amok at the agency, McCall.

They wouldn't even fund
a rotating surveillance.

Nothing change, does it ?

What are you tapping now ?

A television therapist.

A special friend of Hungarian attache..

What are you looking for, Robert?

Who am I looking for.

I don't know, but it
might be Ulgati, Strasna

and Captain Vincente, at rough guess.

- Not friends of mine.
- I know that.

But you did spend more time
down there with them than I did.

And you did escort them North
occasionally for various training sessions.

You're planning on
recruiting them as clients ?

No, but I could be, couldn't I ?

For those who didnt know me better.

Tell me, how far has the Agency spread
the news of my resignation ?

Well, you know what the agency
is like about embarrassment.

- It covers them up, but it never fesses up.
- Right.

So help me. Where would
I find these men tonight ?

Quickly, assuming that
they have hurt somebody

badly enough that they now feel like

real macho men.Where would they go ?

I got one shot. Where ?

- Try The Paradise.
- That's it.

All ngnt. It's brand new. It's low lights
and the drinks go for 5 dollars a pop.

Thank you, Alex.

Stock...

Robert.

You know, I didn't stay
down there by choice.

Of course I know. I know
only too well. See vou !

Yeah...

- Jenny, what really happened down there ?
- Oh, it doesn't matter.

No, I really like to
know what my father did.

I mean, you know everything
about yours but,

I'm not so sure I really know
one thing about mine.

Hey, Vincente !

Sir ?

- Scotch, please.
- Scotch.

- Straight up ?
- With water.

Robert ?

- Vincente !
- Look who is here !

Comandante !

How have you been ?

I see.

Still in business ?

Well, yes, in a way.

Freelancer now. Did
my job so well,

they were able to cut their budget.

So here I am.

What are you doing now ?

- How do you say relaciones publicas ?
- Public relations ?

- You knew this.
- Yes, generalistic affairs.

- And you ?
- Oh... Little bit of this little bit of that.

Import export.

Many varieties.

- Thank you.
- Five dollars.

- Five ?!
- That's right.

- Here !
- Thank you.

This isn't just a lucky meeting, is it ?

Well...

I mean that depends on the final
outcome, doesn't it, Vincente ?

I heard on the radio

today that Frank Morrow has disappeared.

And how does it concern you ?

Well, I was thinking
whoever did it...

I find him a very stubborn man.

Just stubborn to crack here.

He'd rather die first.

So they need to ship him home

where he can be put into
a prison hospital.

Now it is going to be damn
difficult for them to ship him home.

But I could do it.

I have the experience.

My charges are quite reasonable.

You might be right,
McCall. Just possibly.

I tell you what.

No promises.

Come see me tomorrow.

Bulgata will pick you up
outside here at 09:00 a.m.

Okay ?

Tomorrow.

I appreciate.

- Did you see my father?
- No.

But I do know that he's alive

and I will probably be
able to get to him tomorrow.

All right, come on, come on !

What's the matter with you?

What is it ?

Jenny's told me what they do.

I can't believe it.

- They trusted you !
- Scott...

I never meant to work
for people like them.

Not intentionally.

All right, listen to me !

When I started out in this

business, I was full of idealism.

We were being pressed by our enemies,

seeing that they were
crossing all borders.

Malaya...

And Korea, Berlin, Cuba, Vietnam.

Some where in the world, today,

there are helicopters
dropping toys mined,

so the little Red Bull
children blow their hands off.

So you help murderers like Estes ?

Sometimes, in order to stop a fire, you
have to create what we call a back fire.

So we created fire.

And a lot of people were burned.

Millions and millions of
innocent people were burned.

And finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

So do you know what I did?

I resigned illegally because I was

bound by a very federal contract.

But you still carry a gun, don't you?

You still throw people
up against the wall.

You sure you quit?

Or have you just found new

excuses for the same old kicks?

What do you know about the world, boy ?

And who the hell are you
to even attempt to judge me ?

Good morning, Robert. Come in.

I take it that Mr. Morrow
it's still being uncooperative.

Well, you will see for yourself.

Abre la puerta !
(Open the door !)

Did you get anything ?

Not a word.

The opposition leaders,
where do they hide ?

Morrow ? Wake up !

Where do they hide ?

Come on !

Point where !

Morrow, wake up !

Where do they hide ?

Point ! Where ?

Wake up !

The opposition leaders,
where do they hide ?

McCall ?!

Robert McCall...

This is what you work so hard for, ha ?

How do you like it ?

How soon can you move him ?

Whitin an hour.

I have space available on
a very secure cargo plane.

All right, we're getting ready.

This would make our
hosts happier anyway.

Even they get nervous these days.

Hosts ?

Are you telling me the
Agency has sanctioned this?

In a manner of speaking.

What are you doing here, McCall?

Looking for your favourite charity

Hello, Eric. Soller...

He's providing cargo services
your Agency couldn't guarantee.

Cargo services ? That's very
good, Vincente. What's the matter?

You the guy they pin the
Kick Me sign on in school.

Haven't you heard ?

Mccall is trying to become
a legend in his own time.

He's a renegade.

Why don't you give me your gun, McCall ?

Very slowly and left handed.

I want to see if it's really
loaded with silver bullets.

As you wish, Eric.

Don't move !

You, away from the car and your gun !

Nobody move !

Well, well, Control.

You didn't bring your
kill team with you ?

I should have to improve my
annual performance evaluation.

How the hell did you get into this ?

I try to save a man called Frank Morrow.

Do you know him ?

Is your section sponsoring this ?

This is a special assistance group that
reports directly to Southern Control.

- Eric is the new liaison to Estes.
- What the hell ?

He shouldn't be up
here in the first place.

You're trying to say that Eric

shouldn't have come
North without permission ?

You're right.

But this is an Agency problem Robert.

This will be solved
by the Agency intern.

Yes, help back them up and cover up.

Morrow was warned.

Look, you were the one who authorised
Estes's men to expel him during the coup.

I know that.

But there is a difference between
offering a man a hot meal and a ticket home

and doing what they
are doing to him now.

Look, he shouldn't have gone back in.

He knew the risks.

Look, if they had caught him down there,

they would have handled it the same way.

This is a little nun pro tunc.

They're trying to stabilise, Robert.

I mean human rights are on the agenda

but it's going to take a
little time. All right ?

Nun pro tunc.

Now as though then.

Are you trying to justify all this

by quoting a little law latin to me ?

I mean is that what
you whisper to yourself

at night, nun pro tunc, in
order to get yourself a...

***

I haven't slept for many bloody years !

Where the hell do you think I...

I set you a meeting.

Did you hear me?

I heard you, yes.

The Agency cannot afford
another embarrassment.

Not this year.

Stoller will be there.

He will not be leading
a negotiating team.

Oh, I know Stoller will be there.

He was there the last time I met him.

I really don't have a choice, do I ?

Yes, you have a choice. You do.

You can back off and run.

I can't do that.

I created the blasting
monster in the first place.

I engineered the Estes coup.

So, I got to see it through to
the end, one way or the other.

- Name it.
- Any of my friends in town ? Stock, Alex...

Kostmayer.

You warn them off me.

Tell me to keep it away.

No point in everybody getting
caught in the crossfire.

- Dad, what's happening ?
- Lock the door ! Close the shutters !

Have you seen my father yet ?

Yes, he's all right.

I may be able to get him out.

He has a chance.

You did bring your
father's papers, Jenny ?

Dad, we talked about that.

Jenny... We would like to know
what you're going to do with them.

They are a downside less valuable

than her father's life, aren't they?

All right.

Certain things you have to know.
Scott...

This is a list of friends you can trust.

And safe houses.

These are the keys.

Take them.

- Take them !
- No !

- Take them !
- No

Damn it, Scott ! Will you take them ?

Now?

- And this is where my money is.
- What's going on ?

Damn it, Scott, will you take it?

It's reasonably clean.

The agents, as good as I
was, command very high fees.

And, of course, the
smart ones parly them

in the marketplace when
they smell a crisis brewing.

So you see, there is quite a lot of money.

Jenny, get your father's
papers, will you ?

You don't think you're
coming back ? Dad?

Stay here for another hour.

If you haven't heard
from me by then, run.

Keep your wits about you, Scotty.

And forget all the
nonsense we bickered about.

I've always been very proud of you.

And I've always cared
for you very deeply.

Just remember that.

Thank you.

- Oh, now, dad !
- I have to go.

No more time, Scotty !

Oh God !

I feel like we're in a trap.

Do you know how to use all those guns?

Not really.

I never really wanted to learn.

Scott, do you think that I
can really trust your father?

Or do you think that he might
try to make some kind of deal ?

- No ! Scott !
- Who are you ?

Don't shoot ! We are
friends of your father.

My name is Stock..

What s happened to your dad ?

That's far enough, McCall !

In fact, I think most of us would agree
that you've come much too far already.

Now, don't be hasty, Stoller.

- I'm here to deal.
- With what ?

- We want the girl.
- Morrow's notes and contacts

in exchange for the
girl's life and mine.

No deal, McCall.

Come on, come on, Stoller.

Don't be unreasonable.

I mean, what do you
want with a girl anyway?

She can't prove or disprove anything.

The girl, McCall.

And you can walk.

No, no. You're asking too much.

That's too bad, McCall.

Because that was my last offer.

All right. All right.

What the hell, anyway.

Address and the key.

All I ask is that you
leave my son out of this.

All right ! Take him !

Hold it right there !

Don't be a fool, Stoller.

Don't make me shoot.

Stoller ?

Where is Morrow ?

Think.

Just think.

What if there is a God ?

No deal, McCall.

Where's Alex ?

Securing the others.

Why don't you step outside
for a minute, Robert ?

I'll get your answer for you.

I learned an interesting little
Stitz technique in Afghanistan.

- No
- Just a little tit for tat.

No !

McCall, we couldn't move him..

The Agency wouldn't give
us another safe house.

Thanks.

Leave him.

Let's go.

Jenny, I think that's where your father is.

You better call the
police and the press.

It's imperative they get there on time,

otherwise there is nothing to

prevenI it from happening again.

Abre la puerta !

Where are your men ?

Don't worry, they can
handle McCasll.

No, it's time to liquidate.

Kill him !

Vincente !

Oh, McCall ! Why ?

Because I'm taking you home.

- Are you all right ?
- Yeah.

All right, mister !
Let's hold it right there !

- Easy !
- I'm in trouble ?

You may see that.

Nice and easy.

You're a dead man, McCall.

You think it's been cancelled ?

Get him back !
Get him back !

Keep the press back !

What agency were you
referring to just now ?

- Care to make a statement?
- No.

You're under arrest.

Wait, wait !
You can't do this.

You know who I work for ?

I got a pretty good
idea who you work for.

And yes, I can.

You're under arrest for
kidnapping and attempted murder.

You can't beat the whole Agency, McCall.

You'll never live to talk about it.

I doubt that, Eric.
I really do doubt that.

- Dad !
- Jenny !

You're alive !

Robert !

Well, well, Control !

What are you doing here ?

Well, they want an after action
assessment from outside of every section.

Really?

What grade are you going to give him?

He gets an F.

You shot the moon, Robert.

Yes, I did, didn't I ?

Sometimes things do work out with
a little help from one's friends.

The order to Stock and Alex to avoid
me was given rather quickly, wasn't it?

- Sometimes...
- Actually, they came straight round

to my apartment, didn't they ?

You know, sometimes
it's just hard to keep

those independent contractors in mind.

Robert, look, the Agency
won't dare hit you now.

Not with the hands caught
in this ringer,

but in a few months you
watch your back, all right?

Memories are long.

Yeah, and usually bitter.

You know, dad,

whenever we get together, we
start off on the wrong foot.

And today when I thought
I might not see you again,

I got to thinking about
everything I said to you.

I'm sorry.

I was wrong.

I really don't know anything about
what you must have gone through.

I never really gave you the chance to
get to know me anyway, did I, Scott ?

I just hope there's some time.

Just a little time.

Yeah.

Don't worry, dad.

There is plenty of time.
Plenty of time.

Transcribed by Adr1an