The Equalizer (1985–1989): Season 2, Episode 11 - Heartstrings - full transcript

People pay you for children?

You stole it.
That wasn't the deal.

I don't have to tell you anything.
Leave me alone.

No ! Wait !

These people can be very deceptive.

Drop the gun !

Stop ! You drop it !

You don't know what
it's like to lose a child.

Move !

What do you think you're doing ?

I'll do anything.



We are going to find your
little boy wherever he is

and we are going to bring him back.

- Watch out for the child.
- You got it.

Rock-a-bye baby,
on the treetops,

When the wind blows,
the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks,
the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

- Mrs. Daniels ?
- That's me.

- And this is Tommy Jr ?
- Say hello, little Tommy.

Oh well, as you see he's
the strong silent type.

- And very handsome.
- Thank you. He looks just like his father.

- He'd have been very proud.
- I'm sure he would.

And now if I can borrow him for just
a minute we need to weigh him again.

- Why ? Is something wrong ?
- No, it's just routine.



This won't take a minute.

- Oh ready to go ?
- Just about.

Where's your baby ?

- The other nurse took him.
- What other nurse ?

I'm your nurse oh you mean an aide.
Was she in a pink uniform ?

No, she was wearing white, like you.

She said she had to weigh him again.

He did that first thing this morning.

Security.

Security ! Report to paternity staff.
Close the exits.

What ?

Yes, you heard me close the exits !

All right.

- Hello, Mickey !
- Hey, McCall !

- How was your trip ?
- It was boring.

Really ? I thought I heard something
about an attempted hijack at the airport.

They tried. We didn't let him.

- Hey did you bring what I asked ?
- Oh yeah. Yes, of course.

Bubblegum. It's good to be home.

How the Knicks doing ?

The Knicks ?

I don't think I know anybody
called the Knicks, do I ?

It's with the "K" you know ? Slam dunk...

Dunk ? Oh definitely I don't
know anybody called Dunk.

No, I would have remembered
somebody called Dunk.

Get out of...

How would I know how
that Knicks are doing ?

There we are.

Control says that you were just
out for a romp in the woods.

I suppose you could call 10 of
us being chased through the jungle

by General *** and four thousand of
his closest friends a romp in the woods.

I think he's worried that you're
gonna ask for a vacation, you know.

McCall, that was my vacation.

- Welcome home, Mickey.
- Thanks, McCall.

Where's my Tommy ?

Mrs Daniels, please, come sit down.
You need to rest.

What are they doing ?

They're doing everything they can.
Everything's gonna be fine.

Mrs Daniels, I'm Eugene Whitman,
chief of administration.

What are you doing about my baby ?

Well, we're uh asking
people if they saw anything.

We're searching the
hospital, high and low.

- But you haven't found him yet.
-We're doing everything we can.

Please, believe that.

Mrs Daniels, I'm Frank Carter at the FBI.
I'll be handling your case.

Under the presumption that we're
dealing with the kidnapping case

the law allows us to jump right in
without waiting the mandatory 24 hours.

I want everybody in the building ID
by at least two other staff members

and keep it sealed tight
until we're through.

Do you think it's
someone in the hospital ?

It couldn't be anyone on our staff.

All the same, we'll check them out.

Of course.

Is your husband here, Mrs Daniels ?

I'd like to talk to
both of you, together.

No, he died seven months ago.
I'm on my own.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Mr Carter, my baby is
the only thing I have.

You've got to find him. Please.

You're already here ?

Yes. The building
superintendent let us in.

This is agent Ramirez, our
communications specialist.

- Where have you set up ?
We're hooked into the van outside.

It'll cause the least
amount of disruption.

Your junction box has been wired so we
can intercept and trace all incoming calls.

You won't even have
to pick up the phone.

Agent Ramirez has been trained
to deal with kidnappers.

She'll handle all the negotiations.

You're assuming there'll be negotiations ?
What if there aren't ?

I know this is very difficult,
Mrs Daniels but, please, trust us.

You see, we've handled
many cases like this before.

Our agents are circulating a sketch
of the woman from your description.

We've enlisted the aid
of the local authorities.

If the kidnappers aren't
interested in money,

the percentages favor another possibility.
A disturbed woman who wants a child.

A neighbor hear's the news,

sees her pushing a carriage
in the park, calls us.

That's the way
these things usually pan out.

The woman who took my
baby wasn't disturbed.

I'm sure she didn't
appear that way to you

or you wouldn't have
given your son to her,

but these people can be very deceptive.

Please !

She was calm and in control.

In which case, we wait
for the ransom demand.

You can think of anything more
to tell me, I'll be downstairs.

Would you like me to stay with you ?

I ... No, Ii'd like to be alone for a while.

Of course.

Look, Mrs Daniels, I know
Mr McCall's background

and you're certainly free
to make your own decisions.

We've had people consult witch
doctors and fortune tellers.

One woman talked to
her psychic dietitian.

Oh, dear ! Do hope you're
not calling me a quack.

Of course not. I'm simply saying
that outside help isn't necessary.

No one is more successful at handling
situations like this than the bureau.

But can you guarantee
you'll get my baby back ?

No one can do that.
I only wish we could.

And i want all the help I can get.

- You know the rules.
- Yes.

Don't break any of them.

Oh, I doubt that our
paths would even cross.

Can I get you some tea ?

Yes, yes, I i would
like a cup very much.

He'll be hungry soon.
I need to pick up some ***

We'll pick some up on
the way back to the store.

I can't believe how fast
it hit the papers.

If we get caught...

Hey, we're not gonna get caught !

I've been through this before.

You said so yourself
this one was different.

Yeah, that's right. We're really cashing in.

Don't worry about it. By this
time tomorrow it'll all be over.

We'll have our cash and
our buyer will have his baby.

They won't listening to me.

Mrs Daniels, I do we should sit
down and rest for a while. Please.

If only my Tom were here...
They'd listen to him.

Oh, I doubt it. I doubt it very much indeed.

The FBI follow the book. They have to.

But Agent Carter was right when he said

that they have a very high
success rate with kidnappings.

Now, you believe that this
was planned right from the start.

She even knew his name.

In that case the next step is that
they will telephone and demand a ransom.

Why ? I don't have any money.

Anyone who check could find that out.

If we eliminate the idea of ransom

or of a psychotic woman
searching for a child,

I think there is only one
other probability.

It is possible that someone
has stolen your little boy

to sell him to an illegal baby brokerage.

I didn't put my baby up for adoption.

No, but suppose there
was a girl in the hospital

who did want her baby adopted

and then changed her
mind at the last minute,

in order to establish that we would have
to go through the records of the hospital

to see if there is a an option agency

or brokerage who has paid
the medical bills for a mother

but in the end didn't receive a baby.

Now the broker no longer
has a baby to sell,

but he still has a client
waiting who has paid.

So your little boy becomes
a target of opportunity.

Mrs Daniels, we are going to find
your little boy wherever he is

and we are going to bring him back.
We are going to bring him home.

You... You're quite sure
you've got all this worked out ?

- Just watch for my signal.
- How will I know you're signal ?

You'll know.

- Finger size.
- Excuse me ?

Finger size. We signed up, didn't we?

- Signed up for what ?
- The hospital bowling team.

Pretty sure your name's
here, Nurse Franks.

Yeah, here it is.
Right here See ? Franks.

Come on ! It says here
you have 168 average.

- A little girl like you...
- I'm afraid there's been some mistake.

Team captain says that he wants
everyone fitted for a bowling ball.

How does this one look to you ?

Black. Look, I've never
bowled in my life.

Well, uh...

****

Oh no !

What are you doing ?
This is not a recreation ***

What are you doing?

What are you doing?
This is a hospital.

***

Let's see...

October... October...
October... October...

That's it.

It's been swell.

Guess they really bowled them over.

Why don't you just get in the car?

- Get the pictures?
- Yes.

Only two other baby boys were born at
the same time as yours in that hospital,

to mothers who did not
pay their own medical bills,

but whose babies were
finally released to them.

The bills were paid
by adoption agencies?

It's extremely likely.

However, it cannot be proved.

A simple reason that, down in the file,

person paying is listed as medical
expenses paid by other indisposed. Here.

So, what do we do?

Well, you're going upstairs to your apartment

and I'm going off to visit... mothers.

I'm coming with you.

- Mrs. Daniels...
- Please !

This is my child.

The only child I may ever have.

You don't know what it's
like to lose a child.

Actually, I do.

Ours was a daughte

- She died when she was very small.
- I'm sorry.

I didn't know.

It's all right.

It was such a long time ago.

All right, you win.

Let's go and visit two mothers.

As the hospital record show

that your medical bills were
paid for by somebody else.

You see, our fat cat legislators

passed a law saying
that adoption agencies

could only give a pregnant girl
some little piddling amount.

Otherwise, she'd want to sell her baby.

Was there any pressure on
you to give up your baby

after you've been paid
this piddling amount?

No, none at all.

The adoption agency lady said it
was strictly Galene's decision.

She couldn't even sign final
papers till after her baby was born.

Well, Galene took one look at her
baby and made it loud and clear

she wanted to keep him.

And Mr. McCal, there
was no arguing with her.

The hospital social worker
was sitting right there.

Excuse me.

So you brought the baby back here ?

And it was the cutest
baby you ever did see.

But you know all those do gooders who talk
so much about the precious life of a child?

Well, once a baby's born, they just disappear.

You won't catch them down here changing diapers.

You said was the cutest baby.

Where is the baby now?

Did something happen to him?

Well, Galene and I had a
long talk about the future.

I mean, I work two jobs just to support us.

So Galene finally signed the papers.

But this way, you see, she
can go out to high school

and she can make something of herself.

Isn't that right, sugar?

Thank you.

I hope you get your baby back
soon, because I know how you feel.

I think you do.

This is the address here.

She's our last chance, isn't she?

It's no one home.

You met her.

You better talk to her first.

Molly, we met at the hospital, remember?

How's your baby?

Who is he?

My name is Robert McCall.
I am a friend of Mrs. Daniels

and I'm helping her look for her baby.

I heard. I'm sorry.

I really am.

I have to go now. I'm sorry.

Just a minute.

We need your help.

I don't know who took your baby.

I didn't have anything to do with it.

All I want to know from you is
the name of the adoption agency

that paid your medical
bills at the hospital.

Who told you that?

I never went to an adoption agency.

And I never said I'd adopt
out my Billy. I never did.

- Never !
- Why are you so frightened ?

I don't have to talk to you.

I don't have to tell you
anything. Leave me alone !

Wait, please !

Look, I don't know why you're so scared.

I don't have anyone except my Billy

and I'm not going to give him up.

Were you threatened?

I told you, I never went
through an adoption agency.

Molly, if you need help, I can help you.

Believe me, I can help you.

I just went to Mr. Whitman.

Hospital administrator?
Arranges adoptions ?

If you promise to adopt out.
He pays your rent and everything.

But I didn't like the man he
was going to give my baby to.

- You met this man ?
- Once, by accident.

Did you know his name?

Kouros.

He was so cold.

I couldn't let him raise my son.

He can't take Billy away from me, can he?

I mean, even if I did sign some
preadoption something paper,

they can't take my baby
away from me, can they?

Nobody can take your baby
away from you. Nobody.

Look, don't you think
you should stay in a car?

No, I'm going to be all right.

I think you're doing too much too soon.

Please, I want to do this.

- Mr. Whitman !
- Who are you ?

Let's just say that I'm a man

who is interested in your
abduction business. Shall we?

You have met Mrs. Daniels, I believe.

What have you done with my boy?

Nothing, I swear.

Let me put it another way.

To whom did you promise
Molly Nesbit's baby?

I may lose patience
with you, Mr. Whitman.

I doubt the police will.

I'm sure they will want
to question you at length.

The arrangement was that
Molly would give up her baby.

She decided to keep him.

So I gave back the deposit to the client.

Oh, how nice to know that
you still have ethics.

And how about a certain
Mr. Hector Kouros?

Does he have any ?

I don't know who you're talking about.

You're lying.

I'm sorry, but I had nothing to do
with the abduction of your child.

- Then explain what happened to my baby.
- I can't.

So what kind of hospital do you run?

Where's my baby?

- I'm truly sorry, but I know nothing.
- You're lying.

You know you're lying.

I know you're lying.

And I shall be back here
with proof that you are lying.

And if you're lucky, very lucky,

you might just get away with losing
your licence instead of going to prison.

Come on, Mrs. Daniels.

There's nothing for us here. Come on.

What am I going to do?

We continue the search.

A friend of mine is already
checking out the man Kouros.

What's the matter ?

I... am goind to be sick.

No your not. Come on.
Let's go.

Where ?

Private hospital, where you
can get care and attention.

No !

Tommy...

Let me deal with that,
please, Mrs. Daniels.

You need rest and you need care,

and that's what you're going to get.

We are going to find
your baby, I promise you.

Now, go gome, please.
Please.

Al right ?

Why you do it?

- Don't be upset.
- What do you mean don't be upset ?

It's coming apart.

Stop panicking.

- Where's the mother?
- *** in White Oaks.

It's a private hospital.

She's turning me over to the authorities.

You just have to keep
me cool, that's all.

I want to keep my job.

What's that supposed to mean?

I'm pulling out. I never thought it
was going to come down to a kidnapping.

You overstepped your limits, Norel.

When the Nesbet woman
*** down the deal,

you should have waited until
another baby could be found.

- We did.
- You stole it !

That wasn't the deal.

If it comes down to making
a clean breast of things,

I'm gonna do it. I have
no part in that kidnapping.

I'm going to tell them.

I can't let you do that.

You have no choice.

I'm afraid I do.

- Yes?
- It's Norrell, Mr. Kouros.

Do you have him?

Yeah, it went without a hitch.

- Nesbet girl was glad to see him go.
- Good.

- Would you bring him to me tomorrow?
- Yeah. We'll meet you at the airport.

I'll caii you at the exact time.

I'm glad everything went smoothly.

Smooth as silk.

Looking forward to seeing you, Mr. Kouros.

You didn't tell him?

What ? Take the risk of him realising that
and he is an accessory to a kidnapping ?

If he backed out, we'd be stuck with this
kid and nothing to show off our troubles.

Gold mines like Kouros are hard to find.

I don't intend on blowing the money
that he's going to pay us.

And I also know that if we
handle this business very well,

Kouros may have other work for us.

Just what is it we have to handle?

Well, the baby's mother is not
going to stop looking for her kid

and McCall, if he keeps digging into Whitman,

he's liable to link him to us.

- Do you realise what you're saying?
- Yeah.

And I trust that you do too.

We can't leave any loose ends.

- Hello.
- Hello, Mr. McCall.

I thought this might
brighten up your afternoon.

They're lovely.

I put them in water for you.

I've just seen your doctor

and he said that you were
going to be fine.

So long as you don't start
running around the city again.

Have you find Kouros ?

No, not yet.

But we will, soon.

Here we are.

Beautiful.

I should be out there with you.

I feel so useless.

You are not useless.

Everything that can be done
is being done to find Tommy.

And we'll find him. And soon.

I'm just so very
frightened that he is....

He's not.

Be brave.

Hello, Doctor.

Want to take a walk?

What on earth you're doing here ?

Tell me that you've been looking for
a man by the name of Victor Kouros.

I don't know what's about,
but it's going to have to stop.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Kostmayer put his name in the computer

and all of the Agency alarm bells
started to ring all over the place.

Well, well, well...

This Mr. Kouros must have
a very interesting file.

Yeah, he does.

Ir's all top secret.

I caught open an apple and
what do find? An agency maggot.

Would you be interested in knowing
what I think this man has just done?

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter.

Oh, I think you'd find it does matter.

How about the kidnapping
of a newborn baby?

How does that sound to you?

It sounds tragic.

And my standing orders
remain the same. Hands off.

I don't give a damn about
your standing orders.

What exactly is this Mr.
Kouros done for this country

that he should receive
such divine immunity?

- I can't answer that, Robert.
- No. That's your problem, isn't it?

You can never answer anything.

I think this conversation has just ended.

Look, I may not like this,
but I dorit have a choice.

Now I want your word that you will disengage.

What the hell has happened to you?

Has the Agency finally destroyed
your last vestige of humanity?

Did you hear what I said?

I heard what you said.

And I said that you
will leave Kouros alone.

Well, I teii you something.

If that man is innocent,
if he is a good man,

then he has nothing to fear, has he?

But if he is responsible for the agony,

the unbearable agony of a woman I
have just visited in that hospital,

then God help him.

And nobody but God will be
able to help him. Good day.

- Hello?
- Mrs. Daniels ?

Yes.

Who is this?

I'm the person who took your baby.

Please, l'll do anything.

Just give him back to me.

Look, that's what I wanna
do, but I got to be caretul.

I don't want to go to jail, understand?

You got the cops and
the FBI all around you.

Look, l'll find a way of avoiding them.

We'll meet somewhere, anywhere.

- I'll keep them away.
I don't know. I'm scared they'll find me.

They won't, I promise.

Just tell me what to do.

Okay, I'll take a chance.

Meet me 140 Regina Street.

But come alone.

I promise.

I'll be watching.

- No cops, no FBI.
- None.

Nobody.

Be there in 30 minutes.

Hello ?

Lucky for you it wasn't busy.

I told you, I won't call anybody.

Make sure you don't.

Well, ****
What did you find out ?

Talk about sources drying up.

I just walked in the Sahara Desert.

And who do you think
is responsible for that?

He's just driving up now.

I'll be back in a minute.

Control, you can't stop this...

Well ?

Hector Kouros.

Greek, wealthy businessman.

Apparently it seems to own

most of the shipping lines and
half of the factories in Europe.

And guess what?

Partly supported and
backed by the Agency.

Marvellous, isn't it?

What's Control going to do about it?

No, I persuaded him to move aside.

Kouros is on his own.

Tommy !

Tommy !

Oh my baby !

Well, well, mother and
child reunited, for now.

Get out !

- What do you think your...
- Shut up !

Hector Kouros, I believe.

Who are you and what do you want?

I want answers about a newborn child
who's been snatched from his mother.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I have learned that you and your American
wife have been searching for a child.

Who told you that?

Oh, mutual associates

who apparently have been making your
various businesses extremely profitable.

Now, they think that you
are looking to adopt a child.

- I think you've kidnapped one.
-Unthinkable.

I would never do such a thing.

Yes, I did try to arrange for
an adoption, but legitimately.

Mr. Kouros, you tried to buy a child.

Child's mother was called Molly Nesbet.

She backed out at the last minute.

I think it's time you told me the name of
the person who is arranging all this for you.

Or perhaps you would care to discuss
it with our mutual associates.

- McCall, do you want me to...
- Well, I don't know, Mickey.

That's entirely up to
me, Mr. Kouros, isn't it ?

His name is Norell.

- And were to find him?
- I don't know.

The contact was made
through a third party.

He calls me.

- Where's the child ?
- With Norell.

It should be delivered in few hours.

Mickey, stop driving.

I want you to go back to your hotel
room and I want you to stay there.

- For what?
- For what? For the FBI, of course.

They want to ask you some questions.

I had nothing to do with any kidnapping.

- Tell them.
- I will.

Good.

Yes ?

You have turned the simple purchase
of a child into a nightmare.

A man just informed me

that you have kidnapped a child
and connected my name to it.

I know who that was.

We're cleaning up the situation.

Well, because of this mess, the plans must change.

I want the child delivered right now.

I said l'm going to take care of it.

I'll have the baby at the
airport, you bring the money.

1 hour.

Sure doesn't look like he's going to his hotel.

He doesn't, does he?

- McCall.
- Mr. McCall, this is Vanessa Daniels.

I need you to come and
get me right away, please.

I was out looking for my child.

- You're supposed to be in the hospital.
- I know.

I just couldn't stay.

I'm not feeling very well.

Where on earth are you?

I'm in a store.

140 Reginald Street.

Stay where you are. I'll be there.

What's up?

She sounded very frightened.

I smell a setup.

You get that feeling in
the pit of your stomach

when you know you going in ?

Always.

Mrs. Daniels ?

Drop it !

- Where's her baby?
- Doesn't matter.

Drop the gun !

I will drop the gun when
I've seen Mrs. Daniels.

Lose it !

Drop yours !

I'm in here !

Are you all right ?

Where's your baby ?

That woman from the
hospital, she took him.

- They're going to the airport.
- All right, all right.

All right. Come on, Mickey !
Come one !

The Beureu has it's methods, McCall.

I know we've got to
catch him in the act.

Those are the rules.

But let me move in first.

All right.

Mrs. Daniels, when we get
there, you'll stay in this car.

Mickey, cover me.

Got it.

It's all there. $100,000.

Now give me the baby.

Mr. Kouros !

Stay where you are.

it's all finished.

You are not going to give up the baby.

I don't know who you are,

but you've made a big mistake.

- You can't stop me from leaving.
There you are wrong.

This is the FBI.

Step away from the plane, Mr. Kouros.

You're wasting your time.

One call, that's all it will take.

- I have immunity.
- Not anymore.

All you have left are problems, Kouros.

Mr. Kouros...

l'm now going to come and
take the baby from you.

These men are highly trained marksmen.

If you move one muscle from
now on, they will kill you.

Now give me the baby.

Now !

Mrs. Daniels, come and get your son.

And wait in the car.
I'll see you there.

I didn't know you were coming here today.

- Thank you.
- it's all right.

I've got something I want to say.

- I feel that I owe you an apology.
- It's not necessary.

It is necessary.
It is necessa...

Look, do you think we
could just stop for a minute ?

It's awfully difficult to apologise to someone
who's walking on at 20 miles an hour.

All right, all right.

Right .I owe you an apology.

I'm sorry I abused our friendship.

What you did about
Kouros was exactly right.

I was wrong.

Oh, you weren't wrong.

I was wrong.

And I apologise.

Is where I'm supposed to
say something profound ?

You want to say something
profound, say it.

No, not really.

I know a quotation of Robert ***.

All I need is a quotation.

I could say that.

It's a miracle !

I did keep praying
and 1 did keep hoping.

But, you know, there were times when
thought I'd never see him alive again.

Oh, he's very much alive, isn't he?

Apparently, nonetheless,
for his experience.

He's a brave little man.

Takes after his father.

I happen to know his mother.
Should take some of the credit.

You know, I'll never forget
what you've done for us both.

And I don't even know
how to begin to thank you.

Well, I'll tell you
how you can thank me.

You can drop in and see me,

and you bring little Tommy with you.

You look out for us.

Yes, I will.

Transcribed by Adr1an