The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977): Season 1, Episode 16 - The Set-Up - full transcript
A hit man living a new life with a family in France is lured out of retirement by his former employer, a crime kingpin determined to rub out every witness to a murder he committed.
( funky jazz theme playing )
ANNOUNCER: The
Streets of San Francisco.
A Quinn Martin production.
Starring Karl Malden.
Also starring Michael Douglas.
With guest stars Stuart Whitman,
Jason Evers, Claudine Longet.
Special guest star
Jack Albertson.
Tonight's episode: "The Set-Up."
( suspenseful theme playing )
( alarm sounds )
( whistle blows )
Barber.
Fink.
Guards!
( whistle blows )
( grunting )
Harmon stinks. You tell him!
( grunts )
WOMAN ( over loudspeaker ): Flight
4 for New York, now loading Gate 7.
Flight 4 for New York,
now loading Gate 7.
Mr. Hal Shaw, please
report to the ticket office.
Mr. Hal Shaw, please
report to the ticket office.
( mysterious theme playing )
Flight 19, Flight 1-9,
now arriving Gate...
Final call for Flight
74 for Los Angeles,
boarding at Gate 3.
( ominous theme playing )
KELLER: Jerry.
Hello, O'Brien.
Since when did the DA's
office start babysitting?
Yeah, we wanna make
sure on this one, Mike.
Yeah, so do I.
KELLER: I'll watch the front.
Did you check that room?
I checked it. It's empty.
O'BRIEN: How you feel?
All right, this one's
around the clock.
One man in and one
man out. No visitors.
O'BRIEN: Before I
put you on the stand,
I wanna go over
your testimony if you...
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Look... I don't know these two.
How do you know they
don't belong to Harmon?
How do you know I don't?
Haseejian? Stone.
Tell the captain we're back.
Yeah, he's fine.
How's that again?
Nick Karl?
When?
Okay, keep me posted.
Nick Karl?
I thought he was dead.
So did I.
Customs officer who used to
work for the police department
spotted him in the airport...
getting off a plane from France.
LESSING: And they lost him?
Where could he have gone? I...
Family? Friends?
I don't know.
Nobody ever got close to him.
What about Tim Murphy?
Yeah. Yeah, maybe.
Look, Stone, you
gotta protect me.
You gotta!
O'BRIEN: You got a
minute? STONE: Outside.
Stone!
Harmon must've sent for him.
Yeah.
And guess who he's after?
I know.
We've been looking for Nick
Karl ever since this case broke.
Look, I know legally you've
got nothing to pick him up on,
but if you get to
him, talk to him.
He could be a witness.
A witness? Now, look, O'Brien,
he's here to kill the
only witness you've got.
Maybe, but it's worth a
try. So if you find him...
I'll find him. I'll talk to him.
Mike, look, this is important.
We've had Johnny Harmon
under investigation for 18 months.
Six thousand man-hours digging
for something to nail him on.
Tax fraud, narco,
prostitution, gambling.
He's into all of
them. The kingpin.
But we've never been
able to prove anything
until Barber cried for help.
Three men saw
Harmon kill Wallick.
One of 'em's dead and
Barber's running scared.
Nick Karl was the third.
Now, maybe he's scared
too. Talk to him, that's all.
O'Brien, can I tell
you something?
He's not scared.
Where are we going?
Tim Murphy.
Runs a bar on Levenworth.
Right.
( engine starts )
Who is this, uh...?
This Nick Karl?
Hit man.
Used to work for Johnny Harmon.
He used to? Mm-hm.
When Johnny Harmon was
climbing out of the gutter,
Nick Karl built rungs
for him out of bodies.
Has he ever been nailed?
Too smart.
He's a machine.
No pity, no passion,
no mistakes. Mm.
Really cold, huh?
How do you figure
a guy like that?
You don't.
Just keep him in front of you.
( chuckles )
Where's he been?
I don't know.
He disappeared about
seven or eight years ago.
The talk was that he, um,
got shot up pretty badly
in a fight somewhere and
went to Europe and died.
Too bad he didn't.
Well, that sounds
pretty personal.
One of those
bodies wore a badge.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Where's Little Joe?
Who?
The guy that owns this place.
Oh, him. He died a
couple of years ago.
Uh, we're under new
management. You want a room?
Yeah.
Three-eleven.
Uh, got one on the second
floor that's better if you...
No, keep it.
Twelve dollars a
night, in advance.
When do you get off?
Midnight.
Do you know how to make
an overseas call on this?
Sure.
All right. Two nights.
A hundred dollars?
What's that for?
Half's for you, half's
for the night man.
Why?
Somebody might pay me a visit.
I don't like surprises.
All right, uh... "Mr. Smith."
Listen, I'll show you the way.
I know the way.
Sorry about Little Joe.
I, uh, heard he died
of a heart attack.
If you want, I can ask some...
( mysterious theme playing )
Yeah.
Wanna make a local call.
555-3781.
This is Nick Karl. ( gun cocks )
Yeah, just hold
on, I'll get him.
Yeah, Mr. Harmon.
Yeah, he's on the horn.
Nick?
You son of a gun.
How are you?
All right. How
'bout you, Johnny?
Never better.
Yeah, I missed you, Nick.
It's been a long time.
Yeah, too long.
I ought to lay into you
for not keeping in touch.
( cocks )
What am I hearing? You
breaking down the piece?
Nothing changes, right?
We get older.
Yeah, but we stay smart.
Listen, Nick, I, uh...
I really appreciate
your coming back.
If you need, uh, anything... No.
I've got everything I need.
I wish I did.
All I got is problems.
That's why I'm here, Johnny.
Yeah.
Nick, it's, uh...
It's not set up yet.
Where can I find you?
Chinatown. You know the place.
Room 311.
Good.
You just sit tight.
I'll call you in the
morning, okay?
Anybody I know, Johnny?
Hey, this is the first
time I knew you to ask.
Why, does it make a difference?
Never has, has it?
That's the Nick I remember.
I'll call you in the morning.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Two coffees, Tim.
Coffee, huh? Gotta
be AA or Mike Stone.
Could you make
one of those a tea?
Don't have any tea.
One coffee with a little cream.
Ain't seen you
around, lieutenant.
I haven't been around.
Well, I guess your business
is better than mine, huh?
Looking for somebody special?
Nick Karl.
Nick Karl, huh?
That was years ago.
No kidding, somebody
really seen Nick?
Just today.
I can't believe it.
Why would he come
here, lieutenant?
We weren't good friends.
Only reason we got along at all
was 'cause he used
to like my sister.
Well, could he be
in touch with her?
I buried her last July.
Sorry. I wouldn't
know where to find him.
Thanks anyway, Tim.
You're welcome.
Here, let me put
this in a paper cup.
No, no, thanks.
Sure?
Yeah.
I wish I were as
sure about you, Tim.
See ya.
You think he was lying?
Eight-to-five he
never had a sister.
You wanna stay here?
No, take it around the block.
Right.
( suspenseful theme playing )
( door closes )
Can I help you?
No, thanks, just
looking up a buddy.
( rings )
Yeah?
( gunshot )
( funky jazz theme playing )
What time you got?
Ten to 2.
Maybe we covered
for the wrong play.
STONE: We're
gonna stay right here
until Tim throws
the bolt on that door.
MAN ( over radio ):
Headquarters to Inspectors 8-1.
Come in, 8-1.
Inspectors 8-1.
901, your office,
Inspector Haseejian,
immediately.
Tell him two minutes.
Now, if you see Nick
Karl, you just sit tight.
Don't move in.
Can I use your phone?
Too late to get a beer?
TIM: Sorry, it's 2:00.
You know how I feel about
breaking the law, Nick.
How long you've been
telling time like that?
Oh, five, six years.
You never let me know.
What's to know?
I'm not complaining.
Sorry, Tim.
Nick Karl, sorry? Come on.
I better bend the rules and
buy you that beer after all.
Coffee'd be fine.
Coffee, huh?
( sighing ): Big push
on coffee tonight.
How will you have it?
Black.
By the way, Mike
Stone was in tonight.
He was looking for you.
Stone?
Yup.
Homicide sergeant?
No, he's lieutenant now.
Yeah, that must be
him down the block.
Stakeout? Yeah.
I took a couple of
rounds in different cabs.
There's an older man and
a kid in an unmarked car.
Well, how's the wife?
Fine.
It must be some woman
to make you like farming.
Yeah.
And two sons. I
can't get over it.
Right time, right
place, people change.
Ah, you're lucky, Nick.
Some people never change.
Now, take me.
I got no sons, but
I got a business.
I got friends.
Don't have to get up in
the middle of the night
and check the door either.
That's a blessing.
How 'bout Johnny?
Johnny?
Now, Johnny's different.
Got a lot of problems.
Am I one of 'em?
What do you mean?
Somebody tried
to hit me tonight.
Johnny was the only one
that knew where I was.
Oh, come on, Nick.
Johnny wouldn't do
a thing like that. Why?
You two were just like brothers.
Sure.
Look, Nick.
You know, there's
a lot of people
who'd like to knock you off.
And if the cops
spotted you, well,
somebody else
did too, that's all.
But you gotta trust Johnny.
Look, Nick,
I told Johnny you said you'd
do it because he asked you,
because you
figured you owed him.
Oh, and he gave me
something to lay on you.
Ten grand.
That's how Johnny
treats his friends.
Look, Nick, I never would have
asked you to come back here,
but Johnny kept bugging me.
"Where is he?" he
kept saying. "Find him."
I never told him where you
were. I never told anybody.
But, Nick, Johnny needs you.
Hold it for me until
Johnny and I talk.
Talk?
Palace of Fine Arts, half-hour.
He's here. He came
in just after you left.
What does Haseejian have to say?
A little wrinkle
nobody was looking for.
Anything you can bust him on?
No, but it'll shake
him up a bit.
Hello, Stone.
You have a good memory.
Remember the drill?
Sure.
We still do it.
Tim told me you
been dropping by.
I don't suppose you
remember Rogers?
Not off the top.
Twelve years ago,
my senior partner then?
Okay, turn around.
He had you on the hook.
He went to talk to
a witness one night
and, uh, caught a
bullet in the throat.
That was a long time ago.
You're right. Let's talk
about 11:30 tonight.
All right, your lead.
The two guys who kicked
your hotel room door in,
do you know who they were?
The hotel clerk pulled
their pictures from our files.
The Sangster brothers.
Bobby and Bernie.
Doesn't ring.
Well, maybe Tim
can ring it for you.
Can't help you.
Everybody knows the
Sangsters, don't they, Steve?
They work for Johnny Harmon.
And you do know Johnny
Harmon, don't you, Nick?
Or maybe you thought you did.
And you're trying to tell me
that Johnny wants me dead?
He's afraid you're gonna
talk, just like Barber.
Barber?
STONE: That's right.
Nobody told you?
We've got him under
protective custody.
He nailed Harmon for
the murder of Abe Wallick.
KELLER: Barber says
that Harmon killed him.
That will be the first time
he pulled the trigger himself.
Now, Barber saw it and
so did a junkie named Rawls
and so did you.
STONE: Rawls broke it wide open.
But Harmon got to him.
The coroner's report was OD.
But Barber knew it was
murder. He's scared.
He agreed to testify, Nick.
You could corroborate
that testimony.
You read it all wrong,
Nick, just like we did.
Now, Harmon wasn't sure he
could get you over there in Europe,
so he brought you here
where he could control it.
Not for the hit, like you think,
but to set you up.
Is that all?
You tell me.
We know you were
in that hotel room
because we've got your prints.
And we found a
picture in there too.
She's beautiful, Nick.
Two nice little boys.
They mean anything to you?
You want me to hand you Johnny.
Just the way he handed
you over the Sangsters, right.
If he did, that's
between Johnny and me.
STONE: No hunting
parties in the streets, Nick,
because I'm gonna
be watching you.
I'll watch you like a hawk.
Every step you take.
I'll be watching
too. STONE: Good.
We'll watch each
other, then, huh?
In case you change your mind,
our switchboard is
open day and night.
Sure.
Smart cop, that Mike Stone.
Yeah.
Let's go. Catch us a cab.
Okay.
You know what they're
trying to do, don't you, Nick?
I mean, all that
talk about a setup.
Boy...
Ugh. They...
They really want Johnny so
bad, they're working all the angles.
Well, you think he believed you?
I think he already
had it figured.
Yeah.
There they are.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Don't lose 'em.
Are they with us?
For now.
You want me to
check the front desk?
He's gotta see Harmon.
Make a U.
Get to the side exit on Geary.
Right there.
Well, that ought to
buy us a little time.
Now you'll get the
real scam from Johnny.
Palace of Fine Arts.
Instinct tell you that?
Old age.
( both chuckle )
Come on. Let's move.
Give me the envelope.
Sure.
Here you are.
And the piece.
Oh, Nick, you
don't need that now.
Give me the piece.
( dramatic theme playing )
I'll wait here.
No need to keep
the meter running.
Johnny will take us home.
Yeah. Yeah. I
guess you're right.
You said west side.
The breeze is
coming from the bay.
That puts us south.
It's been a long time. I
must've made a mistake.
Would he meet
Harmon without a gun?
If I could read
him all the time,
I would have had him
locked up 12 years ago.
Stick to the shadows.
There he is.
Johnny?
That's who we
came to see, isn't it?
Sure.
Well, you two got
things to talk about.
Why don't you go ahead?
We got no secrets from you, Tim.
Let's go see him.
Please, Nick, I'm an old man.
I'm an old man who just wanted
to see something
again before he died.
You sold me out.
And what for, Tim?
What did Johnny pay you?
My eyes.
He promised to
get me a transplant.
I knew I could
never swing it myself.
I'm sorry, Nick.
I'm sorry.
Tim Murphy sorry?
Yeah, I guess
maybe you are sorry.
We're all sorry.
You, me, Johnny.
We were born sorry.
And I guess we'll
die the same way.
Johnny.
Johnny's not there, Tim.
But I figure you got
about 60 feet to tell me
which side they're
gonna hit us from.
I don't know,
Nick. I don't know.
Johnny! ( gunshots )
STONE: Hold it!
Forget it. ( groaning )
Okay, okay.
Don't shoot, man. I'm through.
Don't shoot.
Nick.
Nick.
He's gone. What
about the other one?
He's dead. So's Tim.
STONE: All right. Get up.
Stand up.
Was Nick hit?
Yeah.
How bad?
I don't know.
I thought I took him out
and he just kept coming.
( dramatic theme playing )
Anything on Karl?
No. Harmon's
house is staked out,
but he hasn't shown up yet.
I just come from
Barber. He's hysterical.
Tell him he's got nothing
to be scared of now.
Johnny Harmon's
the guy to be scared.
All he wants to hear is
that Nick Karl is behind bars.
Now, why couldn't ya hang
onto him when ya had him?
Boy, you guys kill
me, you know that?
You really do.
You keep yelling, "You
don't have case enough
to make the arrest stick."
And now you want an
arrest without a case at all!
Well, you could've
come up with something.
I didn't hear that.
I guess I didn't
either until just now.
I'm sorry, Mike.
But all I know is
I got a preliminary on Friday,
and the only witness
I have is so scared,
he's not about to say
anything to anybody.
You're tired. Get some sleep.
Jerry, we'll call you as soon
as we pick him up, all right?
Heh. I like your
confidence, Steve,
but how do you know he
won't go underground again?
Nick Karl's family.
If he runs, Johnny Harmon
will be looking for him
and the family for
the rest of his life.
STONE: He's out there somewhere.
And when he tries to see Harmon,
that's when we see him.
Yes, operator.
That's Loire, France.
( clears throat )
The call was supposed
to come through at 9:00.
Yes, I do.
( ringing )
( speaking in French )
Ah, Madame Karl.
( speaking in French )
( speaks in French )
Hello?
Darling.
I was so worried
I'd miss your call.
Are you all right?
Yes, I am.
Do you want to
talk to the children?
I wanna talk to you.
I miss you. I miss you too.
Very much.
When are you coming back?
It won't be long now.
How's everything?
Heh. Terrible.
Paul let the goat out,
and he ate five
of the new roses.
And I broke a window
trying to fix the door and...
Well, we're just lost
without you, that's all.
How's Nicholas?
Oh, he's fine. The doctor
said it was just a stomachache.
Here. Come and
say hello to Papa.
Come on. Get up.
Papa?
Hi, pal.
You feeling okay now, huh?
Yes, Papa.
Kiss your mama for me, huh?
Okay.
Here's Paul.
Hello, Papa.
Hi, Paul.
When are you coming home?
As soon as I can.
Now, you be a good
boy now, all right?
I will. I'm sorry
about the goat, Papa.
The goat?
Oh...
Well, you take good care
of your mom for me, all right?
Yes, sir.
Goodbye, son.
Goodbye, Papa.
( coughing )
Nick?
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
I just picked up a
cold, that's... That's all.
Look, Michelle,
I've gotta go now.
All right, darling.
Take care of yourself.
We love you.
Michelle,
I love you too.
( funky jazz theme playing )
Marjorie,
Dr. Levias said I could speak
to a patient named Sangster.
Uh, Bobby Sangster?
That's right. Yes, lieutenant.
Uh, the patient's in Room
214, right down the hall.
214. Thank you. You're welcome.
Oh, and, uh, hang on that phone.
Alrighty.
Just a minute. Mr. Harmon?
( sighs )
Nick,
before you say anything, I
want you to know it wasn't me.
I don't know what
Tim told you, but, uh...
Tim's dead.
Yeah, I heard.
He had it coming, Nick.
It had to been
him that set you up.
Now, listen, you got the
money, just take it and go.
And forget the contract?
Oh, sure. No problem.
I'll handle it some way.
Consider it a wedding gift.
I never knew where
to send it before.
But you do now, right?
Nick, I'm being
straight with you.
Just like always.
I don't forget what
people do for me.
You did plenty.
Okay.
Then maybe I can
ask you a favor, huh?
Name it.
I can't fly out of here.
I need some wheels.
Gonna try to make it to
L.A. Maybe even Mexico.
Sure.
No problem. Where do I find you?
Where the cops won't.
The Aquatic Park,
at the end of the pier.
Smart.
Give me 30 minutes.
Thanks, Johnny.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Steve.
Excuse me.
You got a fully sworn and
signed statement, right?
I'd like to put him back in
intensive care, the punk.
Gotta give Harmon one
thing, he keeps his boys in line.
I gotta give him
nothing. ( phone rings )
Lieutenant,
for you.
Thanks, Marjorie.
Yeah, Stone.
We're rolling.
You got something?
Maybe Johnny Harmon.
Stakeout boys say that his car
flew out of there
like Apollo 12.
MAN ( over radio ):
Inspectors 2-7 to Inspectors 8-1.
Still have suspect
vehicle in sight.
Headed north on Van Ness.
Two-seven, this is 8-1.
We're approaching Van
Ness. Keep us posted.
Hold on, 8-1. They're
crossing Beach Street.
Looks like they're
heading straight for the pier.
Take 'em when they stop the car.
Eight-one to Communications,
alert all vehicles in the
vicinity of Aquatic Park.
Two-seven and 8-1 are
involved in chasing a suspect car.
Assist with a 221.
Possible Code 600.
( funky action theme playing )
All right, hold it right there.
Police. Puts your
hands behind your head.
Move over.
Easy, easy.
They went out on the pier, Mike.
Phil, see if you
can drop the chain.
Take it easy.
Be careful.
He may be armed.
Hold it.
Turn around easy.
He paid me, $5.
Hello, Johnny.
You don't have
to look for Angie.
He's in the basement.
And Sonny's in the garage.
It's just you and me, Johnny.
Nick, I just sent the boys...
I know why you sent the boys.
You're hurt.
Pour me one of those.
You'd better see a doctor.
Let me call... No calls.
Just pour.
( coughing )
Hold it.
Nothing from
underneath that counter.
It's just ice. I don't use it.
( coughing )
Why, Johnny? Why?
You got me with this one, Nick.
One dumb mistake
all those years ago
and it finally broke wide open.
And you thought
I'd talk too, huh?
How could I know, Nick?
How could I be sure?
I mean, it's been eight years.
Eight years and I never
heard nothing from you.
Didn't even know
how to get word to you.
Didn't even know
how you stood if...
If they got to you first.
I couldn't take the chance.
You know why I
came back, Johnny?
Because you asked.
I didn't even think about it.
Otherwise, I...
I wouldn't have come back.
( sputters )
I don't like remembering
what I used to be.
All those years,
and all that time,
I remember I had one friend.
One guy I figured I owed.
No questions.
Do it, whatever it was.
So I came back for one more job.
( grunts )
But you took me off the hook.
I don't have to
kill anybody now.
I can get rid of you
without even
pulling this trigger.
You're gonna talk?
I got to. You showed me that.
( dramatic theme playing )
Nick,
Tim said that family of yours
meant everything to you.
Now, if I don't get
you to a doctor,
you're never gonna
see 'em again.
They can make it
along without me.
As long as I know that
you're out of the way.
( coughing )
Hold it, Harmon.
He was trying to kill me.
Steve, get an ambulance.
Right.
Inside pocket.
STONE: What are they, Nick?
Insurance policy.
Little one's for you,
and the big one's for me.
Mail it for me, will you?
( groaning )
STONE: Nick.
Nick.
Nick. It was good you were here.
I probably would've been
jobbed for this one too.
Hmm.
What?
You hired Nick
for one more kill?
He just delivered.
Witness this, Steve.
( somber theme playing )
What is that?
It's a deathbed
confession, Mr. Harmon,
on how you killed Abe Wallick.
( mellow theme playing )
KELLER: Who's that for?
A widow and two orphans.
Did you look inside?
Well, how could I?
It's a federal offense to
open somebody else's mail.
You know that.
Not before it's mail...
Son of a gun. Now
you tell me, huh?
That was the money Johnny
Harmon paid Nick Karl, wasn't it?
For a job he didn't do.
Son of a gun.
( chuckles )
( funky jazz theme playing )
ANNOUNCER: The
Streets of San Francisco.
A Quinn Martin production.
Starring Karl Malden.
Also starring Michael Douglas.
With guest stars Stuart Whitman,
Jason Evers, Claudine Longet.
Special guest star
Jack Albertson.
Tonight's episode: "The Set-Up."
( suspenseful theme playing )
( alarm sounds )
( whistle blows )
Barber.
Fink.
Guards!
( whistle blows )
( grunting )
Harmon stinks. You tell him!
( grunts )
WOMAN ( over loudspeaker ): Flight
4 for New York, now loading Gate 7.
Flight 4 for New York,
now loading Gate 7.
Mr. Hal Shaw, please
report to the ticket office.
Mr. Hal Shaw, please
report to the ticket office.
( mysterious theme playing )
Flight 19, Flight 1-9,
now arriving Gate...
Final call for Flight
74 for Los Angeles,
boarding at Gate 3.
( ominous theme playing )
KELLER: Jerry.
Hello, O'Brien.
Since when did the DA's
office start babysitting?
Yeah, we wanna make
sure on this one, Mike.
Yeah, so do I.
KELLER: I'll watch the front.
Did you check that room?
I checked it. It's empty.
O'BRIEN: How you feel?
All right, this one's
around the clock.
One man in and one
man out. No visitors.
O'BRIEN: Before I
put you on the stand,
I wanna go over
your testimony if you...
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Look... I don't know these two.
How do you know they
don't belong to Harmon?
How do you know I don't?
Haseejian? Stone.
Tell the captain we're back.
Yeah, he's fine.
How's that again?
Nick Karl?
When?
Okay, keep me posted.
Nick Karl?
I thought he was dead.
So did I.
Customs officer who used to
work for the police department
spotted him in the airport...
getting off a plane from France.
LESSING: And they lost him?
Where could he have gone? I...
Family? Friends?
I don't know.
Nobody ever got close to him.
What about Tim Murphy?
Yeah. Yeah, maybe.
Look, Stone, you
gotta protect me.
You gotta!
O'BRIEN: You got a
minute? STONE: Outside.
Stone!
Harmon must've sent for him.
Yeah.
And guess who he's after?
I know.
We've been looking for Nick
Karl ever since this case broke.
Look, I know legally you've
got nothing to pick him up on,
but if you get to
him, talk to him.
He could be a witness.
A witness? Now, look, O'Brien,
he's here to kill the
only witness you've got.
Maybe, but it's worth a
try. So if you find him...
I'll find him. I'll talk to him.
Mike, look, this is important.
We've had Johnny Harmon
under investigation for 18 months.
Six thousand man-hours digging
for something to nail him on.
Tax fraud, narco,
prostitution, gambling.
He's into all of
them. The kingpin.
But we've never been
able to prove anything
until Barber cried for help.
Three men saw
Harmon kill Wallick.
One of 'em's dead and
Barber's running scared.
Nick Karl was the third.
Now, maybe he's scared
too. Talk to him, that's all.
O'Brien, can I tell
you something?
He's not scared.
Where are we going?
Tim Murphy.
Runs a bar on Levenworth.
Right.
( engine starts )
Who is this, uh...?
This Nick Karl?
Hit man.
Used to work for Johnny Harmon.
He used to? Mm-hm.
When Johnny Harmon was
climbing out of the gutter,
Nick Karl built rungs
for him out of bodies.
Has he ever been nailed?
Too smart.
He's a machine.
No pity, no passion,
no mistakes. Mm.
Really cold, huh?
How do you figure
a guy like that?
You don't.
Just keep him in front of you.
( chuckles )
Where's he been?
I don't know.
He disappeared about
seven or eight years ago.
The talk was that he, um,
got shot up pretty badly
in a fight somewhere and
went to Europe and died.
Too bad he didn't.
Well, that sounds
pretty personal.
One of those
bodies wore a badge.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Where's Little Joe?
Who?
The guy that owns this place.
Oh, him. He died a
couple of years ago.
Uh, we're under new
management. You want a room?
Yeah.
Three-eleven.
Uh, got one on the second
floor that's better if you...
No, keep it.
Twelve dollars a
night, in advance.
When do you get off?
Midnight.
Do you know how to make
an overseas call on this?
Sure.
All right. Two nights.
A hundred dollars?
What's that for?
Half's for you, half's
for the night man.
Why?
Somebody might pay me a visit.
I don't like surprises.
All right, uh... "Mr. Smith."
Listen, I'll show you the way.
I know the way.
Sorry about Little Joe.
I, uh, heard he died
of a heart attack.
If you want, I can ask some...
( mysterious theme playing )
Yeah.
Wanna make a local call.
555-3781.
This is Nick Karl. ( gun cocks )
Yeah, just hold
on, I'll get him.
Yeah, Mr. Harmon.
Yeah, he's on the horn.
Nick?
You son of a gun.
How are you?
All right. How
'bout you, Johnny?
Never better.
Yeah, I missed you, Nick.
It's been a long time.
Yeah, too long.
I ought to lay into you
for not keeping in touch.
( cocks )
What am I hearing? You
breaking down the piece?
Nothing changes, right?
We get older.
Yeah, but we stay smart.
Listen, Nick, I, uh...
I really appreciate
your coming back.
If you need, uh, anything... No.
I've got everything I need.
I wish I did.
All I got is problems.
That's why I'm here, Johnny.
Yeah.
Nick, it's, uh...
It's not set up yet.
Where can I find you?
Chinatown. You know the place.
Room 311.
Good.
You just sit tight.
I'll call you in the
morning, okay?
Anybody I know, Johnny?
Hey, this is the first
time I knew you to ask.
Why, does it make a difference?
Never has, has it?
That's the Nick I remember.
I'll call you in the morning.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Two coffees, Tim.
Coffee, huh? Gotta
be AA or Mike Stone.
Could you make
one of those a tea?
Don't have any tea.
One coffee with a little cream.
Ain't seen you
around, lieutenant.
I haven't been around.
Well, I guess your business
is better than mine, huh?
Looking for somebody special?
Nick Karl.
Nick Karl, huh?
That was years ago.
No kidding, somebody
really seen Nick?
Just today.
I can't believe it.
Why would he come
here, lieutenant?
We weren't good friends.
Only reason we got along at all
was 'cause he used
to like my sister.
Well, could he be
in touch with her?
I buried her last July.
Sorry. I wouldn't
know where to find him.
Thanks anyway, Tim.
You're welcome.
Here, let me put
this in a paper cup.
No, no, thanks.
Sure?
Yeah.
I wish I were as
sure about you, Tim.
See ya.
You think he was lying?
Eight-to-five he
never had a sister.
You wanna stay here?
No, take it around the block.
Right.
( suspenseful theme playing )
( door closes )
Can I help you?
No, thanks, just
looking up a buddy.
( rings )
Yeah?
( gunshot )
( funky jazz theme playing )
What time you got?
Ten to 2.
Maybe we covered
for the wrong play.
STONE: We're
gonna stay right here
until Tim throws
the bolt on that door.
MAN ( over radio ):
Headquarters to Inspectors 8-1.
Come in, 8-1.
Inspectors 8-1.
901, your office,
Inspector Haseejian,
immediately.
Tell him two minutes.
Now, if you see Nick
Karl, you just sit tight.
Don't move in.
Can I use your phone?
Too late to get a beer?
TIM: Sorry, it's 2:00.
You know how I feel about
breaking the law, Nick.
How long you've been
telling time like that?
Oh, five, six years.
You never let me know.
What's to know?
I'm not complaining.
Sorry, Tim.
Nick Karl, sorry? Come on.
I better bend the rules and
buy you that beer after all.
Coffee'd be fine.
Coffee, huh?
( sighing ): Big push
on coffee tonight.
How will you have it?
Black.
By the way, Mike
Stone was in tonight.
He was looking for you.
Stone?
Yup.
Homicide sergeant?
No, he's lieutenant now.
Yeah, that must be
him down the block.
Stakeout? Yeah.
I took a couple of
rounds in different cabs.
There's an older man and
a kid in an unmarked car.
Well, how's the wife?
Fine.
It must be some woman
to make you like farming.
Yeah.
And two sons. I
can't get over it.
Right time, right
place, people change.
Ah, you're lucky, Nick.
Some people never change.
Now, take me.
I got no sons, but
I got a business.
I got friends.
Don't have to get up in
the middle of the night
and check the door either.
That's a blessing.
How 'bout Johnny?
Johnny?
Now, Johnny's different.
Got a lot of problems.
Am I one of 'em?
What do you mean?
Somebody tried
to hit me tonight.
Johnny was the only one
that knew where I was.
Oh, come on, Nick.
Johnny wouldn't do
a thing like that. Why?
You two were just like brothers.
Sure.
Look, Nick.
You know, there's
a lot of people
who'd like to knock you off.
And if the cops
spotted you, well,
somebody else
did too, that's all.
But you gotta trust Johnny.
Look, Nick,
I told Johnny you said you'd
do it because he asked you,
because you
figured you owed him.
Oh, and he gave me
something to lay on you.
Ten grand.
That's how Johnny
treats his friends.
Look, Nick, I never would have
asked you to come back here,
but Johnny kept bugging me.
"Where is he?" he
kept saying. "Find him."
I never told him where you
were. I never told anybody.
But, Nick, Johnny needs you.
Hold it for me until
Johnny and I talk.
Talk?
Palace of Fine Arts, half-hour.
He's here. He came
in just after you left.
What does Haseejian have to say?
A little wrinkle
nobody was looking for.
Anything you can bust him on?
No, but it'll shake
him up a bit.
Hello, Stone.
You have a good memory.
Remember the drill?
Sure.
We still do it.
Tim told me you
been dropping by.
I don't suppose you
remember Rogers?
Not off the top.
Twelve years ago,
my senior partner then?
Okay, turn around.
He had you on the hook.
He went to talk to
a witness one night
and, uh, caught a
bullet in the throat.
That was a long time ago.
You're right. Let's talk
about 11:30 tonight.
All right, your lead.
The two guys who kicked
your hotel room door in,
do you know who they were?
The hotel clerk pulled
their pictures from our files.
The Sangster brothers.
Bobby and Bernie.
Doesn't ring.
Well, maybe Tim
can ring it for you.
Can't help you.
Everybody knows the
Sangsters, don't they, Steve?
They work for Johnny Harmon.
And you do know Johnny
Harmon, don't you, Nick?
Or maybe you thought you did.
And you're trying to tell me
that Johnny wants me dead?
He's afraid you're gonna
talk, just like Barber.
Barber?
STONE: That's right.
Nobody told you?
We've got him under
protective custody.
He nailed Harmon for
the murder of Abe Wallick.
KELLER: Barber says
that Harmon killed him.
That will be the first time
he pulled the trigger himself.
Now, Barber saw it and
so did a junkie named Rawls
and so did you.
STONE: Rawls broke it wide open.
But Harmon got to him.
The coroner's report was OD.
But Barber knew it was
murder. He's scared.
He agreed to testify, Nick.
You could corroborate
that testimony.
You read it all wrong,
Nick, just like we did.
Now, Harmon wasn't sure he
could get you over there in Europe,
so he brought you here
where he could control it.
Not for the hit, like you think,
but to set you up.
Is that all?
You tell me.
We know you were
in that hotel room
because we've got your prints.
And we found a
picture in there too.
She's beautiful, Nick.
Two nice little boys.
They mean anything to you?
You want me to hand you Johnny.
Just the way he handed
you over the Sangsters, right.
If he did, that's
between Johnny and me.
STONE: No hunting
parties in the streets, Nick,
because I'm gonna
be watching you.
I'll watch you like a hawk.
Every step you take.
I'll be watching
too. STONE: Good.
We'll watch each
other, then, huh?
In case you change your mind,
our switchboard is
open day and night.
Sure.
Smart cop, that Mike Stone.
Yeah.
Let's go. Catch us a cab.
Okay.
You know what they're
trying to do, don't you, Nick?
I mean, all that
talk about a setup.
Boy...
Ugh. They...
They really want Johnny so
bad, they're working all the angles.
Well, you think he believed you?
I think he already
had it figured.
Yeah.
There they are.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Don't lose 'em.
Are they with us?
For now.
You want me to
check the front desk?
He's gotta see Harmon.
Make a U.
Get to the side exit on Geary.
Right there.
Well, that ought to
buy us a little time.
Now you'll get the
real scam from Johnny.
Palace of Fine Arts.
Instinct tell you that?
Old age.
( both chuckle )
Come on. Let's move.
Give me the envelope.
Sure.
Here you are.
And the piece.
Oh, Nick, you
don't need that now.
Give me the piece.
( dramatic theme playing )
I'll wait here.
No need to keep
the meter running.
Johnny will take us home.
Yeah. Yeah. I
guess you're right.
You said west side.
The breeze is
coming from the bay.
That puts us south.
It's been a long time. I
must've made a mistake.
Would he meet
Harmon without a gun?
If I could read
him all the time,
I would have had him
locked up 12 years ago.
Stick to the shadows.
There he is.
Johnny?
That's who we
came to see, isn't it?
Sure.
Well, you two got
things to talk about.
Why don't you go ahead?
We got no secrets from you, Tim.
Let's go see him.
Please, Nick, I'm an old man.
I'm an old man who just wanted
to see something
again before he died.
You sold me out.
And what for, Tim?
What did Johnny pay you?
My eyes.
He promised to
get me a transplant.
I knew I could
never swing it myself.
I'm sorry, Nick.
I'm sorry.
Tim Murphy sorry?
Yeah, I guess
maybe you are sorry.
We're all sorry.
You, me, Johnny.
We were born sorry.
And I guess we'll
die the same way.
Johnny.
Johnny's not there, Tim.
But I figure you got
about 60 feet to tell me
which side they're
gonna hit us from.
I don't know,
Nick. I don't know.
Johnny! ( gunshots )
STONE: Hold it!
Forget it. ( groaning )
Okay, okay.
Don't shoot, man. I'm through.
Don't shoot.
Nick.
Nick.
He's gone. What
about the other one?
He's dead. So's Tim.
STONE: All right. Get up.
Stand up.
Was Nick hit?
Yeah.
How bad?
I don't know.
I thought I took him out
and he just kept coming.
( dramatic theme playing )
Anything on Karl?
No. Harmon's
house is staked out,
but he hasn't shown up yet.
I just come from
Barber. He's hysterical.
Tell him he's got nothing
to be scared of now.
Johnny Harmon's
the guy to be scared.
All he wants to hear is
that Nick Karl is behind bars.
Now, why couldn't ya hang
onto him when ya had him?
Boy, you guys kill
me, you know that?
You really do.
You keep yelling, "You
don't have case enough
to make the arrest stick."
And now you want an
arrest without a case at all!
Well, you could've
come up with something.
I didn't hear that.
I guess I didn't
either until just now.
I'm sorry, Mike.
But all I know is
I got a preliminary on Friday,
and the only witness
I have is so scared,
he's not about to say
anything to anybody.
You're tired. Get some sleep.
Jerry, we'll call you as soon
as we pick him up, all right?
Heh. I like your
confidence, Steve,
but how do you know he
won't go underground again?
Nick Karl's family.
If he runs, Johnny Harmon
will be looking for him
and the family for
the rest of his life.
STONE: He's out there somewhere.
And when he tries to see Harmon,
that's when we see him.
Yes, operator.
That's Loire, France.
( clears throat )
The call was supposed
to come through at 9:00.
Yes, I do.
( ringing )
( speaking in French )
Ah, Madame Karl.
( speaking in French )
( speaks in French )
Hello?
Darling.
I was so worried
I'd miss your call.
Are you all right?
Yes, I am.
Do you want to
talk to the children?
I wanna talk to you.
I miss you. I miss you too.
Very much.
When are you coming back?
It won't be long now.
How's everything?
Heh. Terrible.
Paul let the goat out,
and he ate five
of the new roses.
And I broke a window
trying to fix the door and...
Well, we're just lost
without you, that's all.
How's Nicholas?
Oh, he's fine. The doctor
said it was just a stomachache.
Here. Come and
say hello to Papa.
Come on. Get up.
Papa?
Hi, pal.
You feeling okay now, huh?
Yes, Papa.
Kiss your mama for me, huh?
Okay.
Here's Paul.
Hello, Papa.
Hi, Paul.
When are you coming home?
As soon as I can.
Now, you be a good
boy now, all right?
I will. I'm sorry
about the goat, Papa.
The goat?
Oh...
Well, you take good care
of your mom for me, all right?
Yes, sir.
Goodbye, son.
Goodbye, Papa.
( coughing )
Nick?
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
I just picked up a
cold, that's... That's all.
Look, Michelle,
I've gotta go now.
All right, darling.
Take care of yourself.
We love you.
Michelle,
I love you too.
( funky jazz theme playing )
Marjorie,
Dr. Levias said I could speak
to a patient named Sangster.
Uh, Bobby Sangster?
That's right. Yes, lieutenant.
Uh, the patient's in Room
214, right down the hall.
214. Thank you. You're welcome.
Oh, and, uh, hang on that phone.
Alrighty.
Just a minute. Mr. Harmon?
( sighs )
Nick,
before you say anything, I
want you to know it wasn't me.
I don't know what
Tim told you, but, uh...
Tim's dead.
Yeah, I heard.
He had it coming, Nick.
It had to been
him that set you up.
Now, listen, you got the
money, just take it and go.
And forget the contract?
Oh, sure. No problem.
I'll handle it some way.
Consider it a wedding gift.
I never knew where
to send it before.
But you do now, right?
Nick, I'm being
straight with you.
Just like always.
I don't forget what
people do for me.
You did plenty.
Okay.
Then maybe I can
ask you a favor, huh?
Name it.
I can't fly out of here.
I need some wheels.
Gonna try to make it to
L.A. Maybe even Mexico.
Sure.
No problem. Where do I find you?
Where the cops won't.
The Aquatic Park,
at the end of the pier.
Smart.
Give me 30 minutes.
Thanks, Johnny.
( suspenseful theme playing )
Steve.
Excuse me.
You got a fully sworn and
signed statement, right?
I'd like to put him back in
intensive care, the punk.
Gotta give Harmon one
thing, he keeps his boys in line.
I gotta give him
nothing. ( phone rings )
Lieutenant,
for you.
Thanks, Marjorie.
Yeah, Stone.
We're rolling.
You got something?
Maybe Johnny Harmon.
Stakeout boys say that his car
flew out of there
like Apollo 12.
MAN ( over radio ):
Inspectors 2-7 to Inspectors 8-1.
Still have suspect
vehicle in sight.
Headed north on Van Ness.
Two-seven, this is 8-1.
We're approaching Van
Ness. Keep us posted.
Hold on, 8-1. They're
crossing Beach Street.
Looks like they're
heading straight for the pier.
Take 'em when they stop the car.
Eight-one to Communications,
alert all vehicles in the
vicinity of Aquatic Park.
Two-seven and 8-1 are
involved in chasing a suspect car.
Assist with a 221.
Possible Code 600.
( funky action theme playing )
All right, hold it right there.
Police. Puts your
hands behind your head.
Move over.
Easy, easy.
They went out on the pier, Mike.
Phil, see if you
can drop the chain.
Take it easy.
Be careful.
He may be armed.
Hold it.
Turn around easy.
He paid me, $5.
Hello, Johnny.
You don't have
to look for Angie.
He's in the basement.
And Sonny's in the garage.
It's just you and me, Johnny.
Nick, I just sent the boys...
I know why you sent the boys.
You're hurt.
Pour me one of those.
You'd better see a doctor.
Let me call... No calls.
Just pour.
( coughing )
Hold it.
Nothing from
underneath that counter.
It's just ice. I don't use it.
( coughing )
Why, Johnny? Why?
You got me with this one, Nick.
One dumb mistake
all those years ago
and it finally broke wide open.
And you thought
I'd talk too, huh?
How could I know, Nick?
How could I be sure?
I mean, it's been eight years.
Eight years and I never
heard nothing from you.
Didn't even know
how to get word to you.
Didn't even know
how you stood if...
If they got to you first.
I couldn't take the chance.
You know why I
came back, Johnny?
Because you asked.
I didn't even think about it.
Otherwise, I...
I wouldn't have come back.
( sputters )
I don't like remembering
what I used to be.
All those years,
and all that time,
I remember I had one friend.
One guy I figured I owed.
No questions.
Do it, whatever it was.
So I came back for one more job.
( grunts )
But you took me off the hook.
I don't have to
kill anybody now.
I can get rid of you
without even
pulling this trigger.
You're gonna talk?
I got to. You showed me that.
( dramatic theme playing )
Nick,
Tim said that family of yours
meant everything to you.
Now, if I don't get
you to a doctor,
you're never gonna
see 'em again.
They can make it
along without me.
As long as I know that
you're out of the way.
( coughing )
Hold it, Harmon.
He was trying to kill me.
Steve, get an ambulance.
Right.
Inside pocket.
STONE: What are they, Nick?
Insurance policy.
Little one's for you,
and the big one's for me.
Mail it for me, will you?
( groaning )
STONE: Nick.
Nick.
Nick. It was good you were here.
I probably would've been
jobbed for this one too.
Hmm.
What?
You hired Nick
for one more kill?
He just delivered.
Witness this, Steve.
( somber theme playing )
What is that?
It's a deathbed
confession, Mr. Harmon,
on how you killed Abe Wallick.
( mellow theme playing )
KELLER: Who's that for?
A widow and two orphans.
Did you look inside?
Well, how could I?
It's a federal offense to
open somebody else's mail.
You know that.
Not before it's mail...
Son of a gun. Now
you tell me, huh?
That was the money Johnny
Harmon paid Nick Karl, wasn't it?
For a job he didn't do.
Son of a gun.
( chuckles )
( funky jazz theme playing )