The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977–1979): Season 1, Episode 13 - The Secret of the Jade Kwan Yin - full transcript

(male narrator)
Tonight, the Hardy boys

in The Secret
of the Jade Kwan Yin.

(male reporter)
The Hong Kong police today

announced they are
continuing their crackdown

on smuggling activities

said to be into
billions of dollars.

Contraband,
consisting mainly of narcotics

and precious stones
as well as antiques

is smuggled
via planes and ships

to ports all over the world

where operators of the ring



channel the stolen goods
to their contacts.

These smuggling activities
have taken on

such international dimensions

that concerned
government officials,

from the United States,
Canada and parts of Europe

are meeting in London
this weekend

to discuss
a coordinated plan of action.

In Hong Kong,

undercover agents
are searching the harbor

and the surrounding
smaller islands

for contraband and the men
behind the operation.

In the United States,

the FBI and various other
government agencies

are cooperating very closely
with the Hong Kong police,



since this country
is probably

the biggest receiver
of the smuggled goods.

When questioned by newsmen

about the scope
of the operation,

a police spokesman only said.:

"It's big, very big,
but we're making headway. "

Gary Emmerson,
IPS TV, in Hong Kong.

[waves crashing]

They've got
the chest.

What're they doin' here?

This cove
is always secluded.

I wouldn't have chosen if-

It doesn't matter
now, does it?

They're just
a couple of kids.

We'll get that
chest back.

No problem.

When Wang hears
what's happened...

We'll have the statue
back by then.

Where did this come from?

The boat, over there.

What is it?

I don't know.
It must've fallen off.

Or been thrown.

Let's get it
to shore.

[birds chirping]

Would you mind telling me
what this is all about?

You said you found it
in the ocean.

It was dropped
into the ocean.

Oh, by who?

That's a very
interesting question.

What do you think
is inside?

That's what
we're gonna find out.

[birds chirping]

[humming]

(Frank)
Hi, Aunt Gertrude.

Did you get
some nice shells?

That's not all we got.

Now what does
that mean?

If you caught a cold,
just know that I warned you.

Is Mr. Hardy home?

No, he's out on
a missing person's case.

He'll be
a missing person himself

till the middle of the night.

Oh, good.
That'll give me time

to finish transcribing
his notes.

Oh, by the way, do you mind
if I change in your room?

Heaven sake's, child, you couldn't
make as much mess as those two

if you took
two fire hoses with you.

Thanks a million.

(Gertrude)
Uh, speaking of those two,

that thing they were carrying
dripping on my carpet, what was it?

We don't know yet.

[exclaims]

[detector humming]

There doesn't seem
to be any metal in it.

Let's open it up.

Joe, do you remember

the research we did for Dad
on the, uh, Woolford case?

Sure. Almost all burlap
is made of jute or hemp.

Yeah.

And this burlap
is made of flax.

It's already noted
and filed away

for future reference, sir.

It won't be too hard
to trace this, uh, burlap.

This does not look like
the kinda box

someone would throw
overboard to get rid of.

Looks like teakwood,

but I'll have to
run some tests to be sure.

Let's look
inside first.

(Joe) Great. For the
man who has everything.

A nice big slab
of concrete.

Yeah, that's just used
to weigh it down.

I think you're right.

This box
wouldn't have fallen off,

it was shoved off.

Someone was trying
to make sure

this sank
to the bottom, but why?

Hey, look
at this newspaper,

looks like
Japanese printing on it.

Or Chinese.

(Callie) Hey, did you guys
find out what's in that box?

(Joe) Look at that. It's jade, isn't it?

It's beautiful.

I wonder who it belongs to.

We each can own
a third of this.

That's the law of salvage.

Yeah, there's another law
that says

you have to report
any lost or stolen goods

to the police.

Negative. Whatever's found in
the ocean, is finder's keepers.

Well, not quite.

Before you go out
and order a Lear jet,

maybe we'd better check
for fingerprints.

Frank, there's some engraving
on the bottom.

I-I can't make it out.

We got to make
a rubbing.

Some sort of inscription.
I don't know what it means.

If you did, you've been taking
some classes in school

I don't know about.

It's beautiful

but it's not one of a kind.
It's not unique.

Not unique? Well,
that doesn't make any sense.

Why all this trouble for
something that wasn't special?

I don't know, but I'm sure
I've seen it in a curio shop

in Chinatown.

Well, maybe someone there

can tell us
what the inscription means.

Till then we'd better keep
the statue under lock and key.

Callie, do you remember
where that shop is?

Not sure,
but I know I could find it.

Good. Take us to it.

[music playing]

A lovely statue.

How much is it?

$14 plus tax,
like the others here.

So much
for the Lear jet.

Are there many of those
statues manufactured?

Oh, yes, we import them
from Hong Kong.

Of course,

there is only one original
Jade Kwan Yin.

How much is
that one worth?

Many thousands of dollars.

But its actual worth
is incalculable.

(Lily) To our people, it's priceless.

Kwan Yin is
a Chinese Buddhist deity.

Goddess of Mercy.

Mercy?

Good. This pair can use
all they can get.

In the old days,

she was thought to be
the guardian of fishermen

and there was
a little Kwan Yin temple

in every fishing village.

We think there might be
a-a clue here

to the age of the statue.

No, the inscription
is a kind of poem.

"A branch without leaves
A raven perched on it

This autumn eve"

What does it mean?

Character poems mean
something different

to everyone
who reads or hears them.

This one is well-known,

written in the 12th century

so your Kwan Yin couldn't be
much older than that.

Well, of course,
I'm no authority,

but it looked
very old to me.

Wait a minute.

"A branch without leaves"

"A raven perched on it"

That's it.

Well, that's what?

Now I know why
it sounds so familiar.

I have an uncle
who lives here.

This is his favorite poem.

This Kwan Yin...

No, it couldn't be.

What is it?

It's so close
to the original.

Who could tell the real
Jade Kwan Yin from a copy?

My uncle.

He's an expert
on Chinese art,

particularly
the Jade Kwan Yin.

Look, do you think
your uncle would see us?

I'll take you to him.

Oh, Callie, call
Aunt Gertrude on the CB.

See if you can find out
where Dad is.

He likes us to keep him
informed on what we're up to.

I'd like to get
his input on this.

It's just
a short walk.

You know, my uncle
has a special interest

in the Kwan Yin.

Have you
ever heard of wushu?

Wu who?

[laughs]

The correct term
for it is wushu.

People call it
kung fu.

[grunts]

[both grunting]

Is he your uncle?

No. He's a rank amateur
compared to my uncle.

That is Uncle Chen.

(Lily) He was champion
of Taiwan when he retired.

Now he teaches wushu.

[both grunting]

[groans]

[speaking Chinese]

Very happy to see you,
dear niece.

I am honored to be
in your presence.

These are two boys
who wish to speak to you.

(Lily)
Frank and Joe Hardy.

Welcome.

They found a Kwan Yin
in the ocean

with the autumn eve
inscription.

Has the one you are expecting
arrived yet?

[speaking Chinese]

My uncle wants to talk
to you alone. Goodbye.

Lily-

Come.

We shall have tea.

Thank you very much.

How did you know to see me
about the stolen Kwan Yin?

Lily.

We didn't know
that it was stolen.

I am to believe you were
looking for shell fish

and, uh,
find a waterproof box

with a Kwan Yin in it,

which my people
have paid

many thousands
of dollars for.

Thousands?

And you have
never heard

of Chang Kyo.

Chang who?

(Chen) This morning I
received a call from him

demanding ransom
for the Kwan Yin.

Look, I-I'm afraid
we don't understand.

Chang Kyo brought back
the evil days

of olden times in
Chinese-American communities.

What does that have to do
with the Kwan Yin we found?

Chang Kyo must have known

I was having the Kwan Yin
sent to me here from Taiwan.

It arrived yesterday
in Boston.

And the Kwan Yin
was missing.

Stolen by someone
on the ship.

Someone who worked
for Chang Kyo.

If he was trying
to put the squeeze on you,

why didn't he, why didn't he
tear this place down?

He wants more than that.

(Chen) He also wishes to humiliate me.

The Kwan Yin you have found,
bring it to me.

If it is authentic

if it is indeed
the stolen Kwan Yin

then the ransom demand
I have received

is purely a bluff.

If it is the Kwan Yin,

we will contact
the police and tell them

that you've brought it
to its rightful owner.

It is to be placed
in the parade

that will be held
tomorrow night.

We'll bring it to you,
Mr. Chen.

We'll be back
in about an hour.

(Joe)
It's safe with us.

[crickets chirping]

It has to be here.

We've looked
everywhere else.

[exhales]

[clattering]

The Kwan Yin!

[static buzzing]

[grunts]

(Joe)
Hey!

[crickets chirping]

Joe, are you all right?

If you'll get off of me,
I'll be fine.

[tires screeching]

They got
a big head start.

We'll catch 'em.

[motorcycle engine revving]

[tires screeching]

Those guys
don't give up, do they?

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

Get out of the way!

(Joe) Get out of the
way. Come on, move it.

[motorcycle engine revving]

(Frank)
Nice try.

Now what are we gonna tell
Mr. Chen?

The truth.

Let's get back
to the house

and see if we can
pick up some prints.

[sighs]

They got the Kwan Yin.

They sure know
their business.

They didn't even bother
to pick the lock.

Well, I'll check it
for fingerprints.

See if you can find
anything else.

[crickets chirping]

Hi, Gert.
Hi.

I thought I'd come home early.
What's for dinner?

Leftovers,

from the dinner you didn't
come home to last night.

One of these days I'll get
a nice cushy 9 to 5 job.

9:00 in the morning
till 5:00 the next morning?

(Gertrude) Why, it was
neat as a pin when I left.

Were the boys here?

No.

Close the door and wait here.

[door closing]

[drawer opening]

All right,
what's going on here?

Dad, we found
a Kwan Yin.

It belongs to Chen Lee,
he teaches wushu.

(Joe) Have you ever heard of Chang Kyu?

(Frank)
It's Kyo, not Kyu.

Well, he sent out
two hatchet men.

And they got
the Kwan Yin.

It's the old
Chinese squeeze.

Wait a minute, let's take this
one step at a time.

Someone broke in and took
something? Is that right?

Yeah, the Kwan Yin.

You see, we went snorkeling
after school to help Callie-

We'll get back to that
in a minute.

Now when did who break in?
And for what?

For the Kwan Yin.

About half an hour ago.

Half an hour?

Then the police should have
been here in 10 minutes.

Oh. You didn't
call the police.

You see, we were so busy
collecting fingerprints-

Fingerprints!
That's their job.

Sorry, Dad.

We should have
called the police.

[sighs]
Now,

what is a Kwan Yin?

[sighs]

We blew it, you know that?
I mean, we really blew it.

Frank, don't be so hard
on yourself.

We should've
called the police

as soon as we
found the chest.

Obviously it wasn't
just dumped overboard.

Somebody
had to have thrown it.

We find a chest with
a valuable art object,

and we have to go
follow it up ourselves.

That's what detectives
are supposed to do.

It isn't even our case.

[sighs]
Oh.

Thanks to us,
we've lost the Kwan Yin.

[snickers]
Second time.

And Mr. Chen
will probably receive

a pretty hefty
ransom demand.

I just can't help
feeling responsible, Joe.

So we'll take
that responsibility

and we'll do
something about it.

Frank, I don't understand
why you're getting worked up.

I'm usually the one
who gets all worked up.

Usually, you're so cool
and objective.

[laughs] Yeah, I'm
the level-headed one.

Well, you are the-

Oldest.

You said it, I didn't.

Where you lead, I'll follow.

That's a pretty dangerous
precedent to get into.

I'll take the risk.

You know, Frank,
we never really found out

if that was the real
Jade Kwan Yin we found.

I mean, we didn't have
an expert examine it

or anything.

Well, I can't believe

they'd go to all that trouble
for a $14 statue.

I mean, the drop-off

and the secret pick-up
and all that.

So who's behind it?

Well, Mr. Chen mentioned...

Ah, what's his name?
Ch-Chang Kyu?

Kyo.

Wonderful cookies.

Didn't understand
a word he said,

but wonderful cookies.

[sighs]

Why would Mr. Chen
not tell Lily about the fact

that he was expecting
the real Kwan Yin?

Well, he mentioned a parade.

He said, uh, the Kwan Yin
would be featured in it.

Maybe he wanted to use it
as a gift for his people.

(Callie) Breaker, breaker,
this is Callieko. Come in.

Breaker, breaker,
this is Callieko. Come in

I'll get it.

[sighs]

Come in, Callieko.

(Callie) Frank, I've
been doing some checking

with the port authorities.

They don't know anything
about the Jade.

But there've been
some stolen goods

coming into this country
off the coast from Hong Kong.

Art objects and diamonds.

The Jade Kwan Yin may be
part of a large traffic

of stolen goods.

It's a good thing
you picked it up.

We just lost it.

What? How?

Stolen probably
by the same guys

who were supposed to
pick it up in the first place.

Well, now what are we
going to do?

That's a good question,
Callie.

We'll get back to you
tomorrow.

We've got to get
that Kwan Yin back.

[sighs]
Well,

why don't we give
the police a call

tomorrow morning?

I think they should
know about this.

(Collig)
As you know, Fenton

we welcome the help
of private investigators.

But when they're unlicensed,

uninformed and underage,
we discourage it.

You should've called us

the minute
you entered the house.

Now just a minute, Chief-

Oh, you think I'm being
a little, uh, rough on them?

We didn't lose
any fingerprints

and we didn't
disturb any evidence.

Not calling us right away

wasn't the worst mistake
you made.

Well, then what was?

When did you find out
that the Jade was stolen

off a ship?

In the afternoon,
Mr. Chen told us.

We found out
yesterday morning

from our own sources.

Teletype from
the Boston Customs office.

"Valuable emerald-green
jade statuette

"stolen from S.S. Taipei

"which docked
here 0635 today.

"Imported by Bayport
resident Chen Lee.

"Suspect ransom
demand will be made.

FBl will cooperate. "

While I was working out
a plan with the FBl

the Hardy boys land
and blow up all the bridges.

Now they had
no way of knowing

the statuette was stolen.

If you'd have called us
when you fished it out

then Chen Lee would have
had his precious Kwan Yin.

And I'd have no problems.

Sorry, I guess
we should've called.

I know, we'll get it
back for you.

No! We'll get it back.

The Bayport Police.

And that's why I asked you
to come in here.

To make that perfectly clear.

It's our job, not yours.

Now you understand?

(both)
Yes, sir.

[Fenton sighs]

Well, don't feel
too badly, boys.

I'm sure the police
will find the Jade Kwan Yin.

Are you both
going home now?

I think we
should go talk to Lily

and explain to her
ourselves what happened.

Okay, I understand.
See you later.

Okay.

What do you feel
about this?

I feel we let down
Mr. Chen.

And Lily.

Well, the one lead
we've got left is the boat,

if we can find it.

Collig told us
to stay out of it.

After we've found
the Kwan Yin,

then we'll stay out of it.

Okay.

If you want information
about a boat,

where would you go?

The harbor.

You've got it.

Let's talk to Lily first.
I think she can help us.

Okay.

(Lily)
Has my uncle ever told you

the history of this Kwan Yin?

(Joe)
No.

About 200 years ago

[music playing]

a little fishing
village in China

was destroyed
by a tidal wave.

Miraculously
the people survived

and they gave credit
to Kwan Yin for the miracle.

They left the mainland
and settled in Taiwan,

then they built a temple
to Kwan Yin.

The statuette you found

has been in that temple
ever since.

Well, I can see why your uncle
prizes it so highly.

Not just my uncle.

Most of us who came here
to Bayport

are descendants of that
small group of survivors.

It was my uncle's dream

to purchase the Kwan Yin
and bring it here.

Everyone contributed,
even the poor,

for it will mean joy
and prosperity to us all.

If it doesn't arrive in time
for the festival-

Then your uncle
will lose face.

I just know we'll
never see it again.

(Lily)
It'll be lost forever.

We'll try to get the Kwan Yin
back for you, Lily.

Before tomorrow night.

Don't worry.
We'll find it.

Thank you.

[ringing]

(man)
I'll get it.

Hello.

(Wang)
Did you get it?

We got it but those
Hardy boys nearly caught us.

(man)
They don't give up easily.

If they find the boat,

they'll find
my fingerprints on it.

I don't want any evidence
of any kind left there.

What do you want me to do?

Destroy the boat.

And the Hardy boys?

We may have to
deal with them, too.

Will Chen deal
for the new price?

He'll deal.

(Frank)
But you could tell us

if a boat like that was out
yesterday morning. Couldn't you?

I could
if I check my files,

but it's 7:00.

Do you always work
by the clock?

If I didn't, I'll be
up against an avalanche.

Do you see this desk?

Everything on it has
its place. Organization.

If you kids will come back
tomorrow morning,

I'll be glad to find
your boat for you, okay?

9:00.

Right.

Mr. Haverman,
this is very important.

That boat may have been used
to smuggle contraband

into the country.

Contraband?
On one of my boats?

That's right.

We've been working
with the police

and the Port Authority.

I guess we'll have to tell
them Mr. Haverman is busy-

Oh, you said
it was yesterday morning?

No, it wasn't
one of our boats.

Are you sure
of that?

I'm positive.

There was, um...

There was a private boat
though, yesterday.

What was the name of it?

It was

the Breakwater.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

[waves crashing]

Is that the boat?

(Callie)
That has to be the one.

(Joe) Yeah, looks about the same size.

[ticking]

There's one way to find out.

Aye, aye, Captain.

Now wait a minute.
You two be careful.

You don't have to worry.
We're old salts.

So was the captain
of the Titanic.

[footsteps pattering]
Shh, listen.

[whispering]
Listen.

[motorboat engine revving]

[engine starting]

[timer ticking]

I'll check the radio
for prints.

See if you can find
the Kwan Yin.

I got one, Frank.

Good.

[timer ticking]

Joe, I hear ticking.
I don't see any clocks.

Sure it's not
your teeth?

Joe, we got to get
out of here. It's a bomb.

Bomb!

[screaming]

Joe!

Joe!

You had me worried!

I had me worried, too.

You scared me half to death.

[groans]

What happened? I was
about to call the police.

No!
No!

The Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard.

Boat?

I thought you'd have heard
the explosion from here.

The Hardy boys
found it.

Were they on-

I'm not sure.

We didn't think they'd locate
the boat so quickly.

They may have escaped.

Oh, we still have time
to deal with them.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

I have the Kwan Yin.

Who is this?

The price now is $100,000.

That is too high.

(Wang)
It can go higher.

It'll take me
a little time to, uh,

to raise the extra money.

You have until tomorrow night.

Who is this?

You should have listened
to my speech and manners

more often, old man.

Joe,

this print matches the one
we found in here tonight.

[dialtone buzzing]

[sighs]

Still busy.

Who could Lily be talking to
at this hour?

(Frank)
Come here.

Is this the print we found
on the ship-to-shore radio?

Whoever was on the boat
was in here tonight.

Chang Kyo's hatchet men
sure get around.

(Gertrude) What was
that about hatchet men?

[both stuttering]

Match-it-men.

Uh, men
who match fingerprints.

Yeah, it's actually
quite simple.

There are four types
of fingerprints.

Arches, loops,
whorls, and composites.

Now with arches, the ridges
run from side to side.

Now don't start
throwing up a smoke screen.

Your father told me
to call him immediately

if you two
got into trouble.

We're not in trouble,
Aunt Gertrude.

Then what are you doing here
at 2:00 in the morning?

Dad wants us
to develop some expertise

as match-it-men.

It's very important you know.

Getting 8 hours sleep
is more important.

Well, not everyone needs
8 hours sleep.

The latest research
indicates-

Excuse me, Joe,

while I put a call
in to your father.

Oh, goodnight, Aunt Gertrude.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, boys.

[chuckles]

(Lily) Are you sure the
Kwan Yin wasn't on the boat?

Yes, we looked everywhere.

Well, then why do you suppose
they blew up the boat?

Well, we have two theories.

One: they know we saw it
when they made the drop

and may be able
to identify it.

And what's
your second theory?

That they wanted
to blow us up.

Good afternoon, dear niece.

(Chen)
And deepest apologies to you.

My fault you had
a narrow escape.

No, Mr. Chen.

Lily wanted our father
to help and we volunteered.

I thank you for that.

But we'll make
no further request for help.

We want to do
anything we can.

Nothing more to be done.

Our Kwan Yin will
be delivered tonight.

I have decided
to pay the ransom.

(Chen)
Thank you again.

Good afternoon.

Seems to me your uncle
is sticking his head

in the tiger's mouth.

I think she is right.

Let's go talk to Mr. Chen.

[car horns honking]

[door closing]

Mr. Chen?

Mr. Chen?

(Frank)
Anybody here?

Mr. Chen?

He's not here.

Hope he didn't
go pay the ransom.

Joe, Lily said Chang Kyo
had many friends.

If one of them
worked out of here...

That would explain a lot.

[sighs]
Let's check it out.

Good match-it-men
are always prepared.

You brought your
fingerprint kit.

Joe, I got one.

Hey, matches the one
from the boat's radio.

Great.
That narrows it down.

[man grunting]

Beside you, look out!

Hey, fella,
that's a great mask.

[yells]

Hi.

[yells]

[grunting]

Joe, the back room!

Look out, Frank.
Hurt his-

[crashing]

Boy, are we glad to see you.

[grunting]

I'm not so sure.

[grunts]

[people cheering]

[men whistling]

[fireworks exploding]

[band playing]

Have you seen
Frank or Joe?

No.

Well, I called their home.

They haven't been there
since we left.

I think we gave them
the slip.

Well, that's fair.
They gave me heart failure.

You realize
those are Kyo's men.

Spies right under
Mr. Chen's nose.

Yeah, let's find Mr. Chen.

[band continues playing]

Frank, isn't that Wang?

Yeah. You want to bet
on what he has

in that black bag?

(Joe) I'll bet the last thing he plans

is to make a fair exchange
with Mr. Chen.

Ransom or no ransom.

(Wang)
Old man.

Wang?

It is you who has
the Kwan Yin.

Yes, old man.

But you are
my most trusted student.

Chao. Chu.

All of you betrayed me.

It is merely business.

All right.

It is enough
I have the Kwan Yin.

(Chen)
Take the money.

Run, Mr. Chen!

Frank!

Joe!

[band continues playing]

I hope the Kwan Yin
is here in time.

Don't worry, Lily,
it will be.

We lost them.

Oh, no, we didn't.

Where are
the Hardy boys?

But we haven't
seen them.

But they have
the Kwan Yin.

(Wang) You cut him off
from the other side.

[firecrackers exploding]

(Joe) Jewels! Look at them.
They must be worth a fortune!

This is what
they were after.

(Chen)
That's right.

I've taken
a great deal of trouble

to get it
into this country.

This isn't
the real Kwan Yin.

Of course not.

So you were the fence
the gems were going to.

Unfortunately,
some of my colleagues, uh,

decided
to go into business

for themselves.

We can negotiate.

I'm afraid not.

How much do you think
this stuff is worth?

Right around $2 million.

And the real Kwan Yin?

Resides in Hong Kong,

where it has for centuries.

We were taken in
all along.

Listen, you've managed
to break up a smuggling ring

that's been operating
for 5 years.

I wouldn't call that
being taken in.

The Hong Kong police
will be very grateful

for everything you boys
have done.

[band playing]

I had no idea
of my uncle's activities.

You must believe that.

We do.

It seems that Interpol
has been watching them

for quite some time.

He is one of
the principal fences here

on the East Coast,

dealing with
art objects and gems

smuggled out of Hong Kong.

(Collig) And this
latest shipment of gems

was the richest one yet.

Of course,
Chen didn't realize

that some of his own
gang members

would turn greedy.

Wang stole the statue
from aboard the boat

with the intention of
selling it to his boss.

He dropped it overboard
at the place

where it'd be picked up
by our two Chinese friends.

Except we were
in the wrong place

at the right time.

Once again.

What's gonna happen now?

We'll do anything we can
to help you, Lily.

I was just wondering...

What were you wondering?

Who is Chang Kyo, anyway?

I believe it's a kind
of Chinese breakfast cereal.

[laughing]