The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977): Season 1, Episode 26 - Legion of the Lost - full transcript
After three winos are brutally beaten to death, Stone goes undercover as a bum to crack the case.
( funky jazz theme playing )
ANNOUNCER: The
Streets of San Francisco.
A Quinn Martin production.
Starring Karl Malden.
Also starring Michael Douglas.
With guest stars:
Leslie Nielsen,
Karen Carlson, Tom Troupe.
Special guest star:
Dean Stockwell.
Tonight's episode:
"Legion of the Lost."
( sedate theme playing )
( footsteps approaching )
Just ain't the time
to put the bite on me.
I'd share if I wasn't sick.
I'm expecting a
bad time tonight.
( groans )
( murmuring )
What's to hear in an alley?
They could shoot a
cannon off down here.
You think I'm
getting out of bed?
Okay, okay. So you
found him about 7?
Truck comes by at 8,
I lug the stuff out by 7.
You ever seen him before?
What's to see?
He's a wino, right?
Like they say, you seen one...
Okay if I dump this junk?
Yeah.
Looks like somebody
rolled him for pocket change.
Pretty much routine
down here, Steve.
Yeah. That's what
it looks like, all right.
How you doing?
How are you, cap?
How's it going?
Okay. You know that guy there?
Charlie.
Hey, you got any
use for that, cap?
Yeah, how about
it? Yeah, fingerprints.
He got a last name?
What's the difference?
Wino Charlie. How 'bout it, cap?
W-we'll keep the bag
around it while we're drinking.
Red tape. You know how it is.
Charlie what?
Wino Charlie. Charlie, huh.
What's the difference?
Uh... What about it, cap?
Uh, ain't it worth something?
You're out for
commissioner, cap,
and you get our vote.
Right? Yeah... Both of us.
Let's go to Al's, huh? Yeah.
You never get anything
out of that tribe, Steve.
They just don't
open up to outsiders.
No, they don't look
too concerned, all right.
Well, finding a body in an alley
gets to be an everyday
occurrence down here.
Not three in two weeks
all clubbed the same way.
Well, you can't expect
these boys to keep score.
Well, somebody's gotta
keep score, right, Vic?
See if you can get
the report moving.
Right away.
( knocking on door )
Come in! It's open.
( door closes )
I couldn't believe it.
Olsen said you got
your limit already.
What'd you do, use a net?
No.
Well, come on, come on.
Let's see the
catch. Where is it?
All the fish you're
gonna find in there
is left over tuna salad.
You're putting me on.
No.
I've got my mouth all set
for a trout dinner
you're gonna lay out.
Well, you get your mouth
all set for a tuna salad.
You didn't catch anything?
Oh, sure.
Beer cans and bread wrappers.
Well, you should've stayed.
We weren't expecting
you till next week.
Maybe your luck
might've changed.
Yeah, you walk that
river for two days,
look at nothing on
your reel for two nights...
while you're
swatting mosquitoes...
and a hot tub begins to
sound pretty good to you.
Yeah.
Let's see, Olsen said
you called at 7:30.
It's 11 now.
That's pretty good time
from where you were.
What are you grinning about?
You couldn't
stand it, could you?
Couldn't stand what?
Being away when you
heard what happened.
So that's it, huh?
You thought that I
telephoned because...
All I'm saying is
I got more faith
in your ability with a fly rod
than I do in your ability
to take a week's vacation,
like any other normal person.
I'm saying... this...
This right here.
Prima facie
evidence, lieutenant.
Darn near got you, didn't I?
You really tried to smoke
it past me, didn't you?
( laughs )
The old hard, fast one.
No, no.
( chuckles )
You're not sore, are you?
Sore? No, I'm not sore.
I'm happy you're here.
This is a tough one.
Yeah. Rudy told me.
Third one of those winos
killed within two weeks.
Yep. What do you think?
( chuckles )
I wanna know what you're
thinking before you bust.
Yeah, well, grab
yourself a cup of coffee...
while I shave and shower.
( sighs )
Rudy said you found nothing
by the bum but a bottle, right?
Right.
So that rules out
mugging, right?
Right.
Well, what I mean
is that you don't...
kill for the price of a bottle
and then leave it behind, right?
Right.
Is that new? Yeah.
Jeannie gave it to
me for Father's Day.
It works without a cord? Mm-hm.
Let me see it.
Listen, what've we got now?
We got, uh... three
bums beaten to death
for no apparent reason.
Right.
There could be a
connection, though, you know.
Could be one of those kooks,
maybe like we had a
couple of years ago.
One-man campaign to
clean up the whole city.
That's right, I remember
you told me about that, yeah.
It's awful tough to know
what's going on down there.
They don't like people
asking questions.
You ain't whistling.
You know what I
think we gotta do?
What?
We gotta put a man
there undercover. Yeah?
Mm-hm. Somebody to walk...
all day, all night,
work their way right
into that whole crowd.
And I'll bet you
within 48 hours...
we got something.
Come on, let me have that.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Let me try it.
( buzzes )
It's a good idea, you
know, undercover.
Yeah. Olsen told me you said it.
How you feel about Avarcheck?
Are you kidding?
That fuzz-faced kid?
Why, he'd stick out
like a harp polisher
in a houseful of hookers.
( chuckles )
Okay. What about, um...
What about Peterson?
Sure, Peterson.
You'd put Peterson down
there in that Tenderloin...
after he walked that beat
for 10 years with a nightstick?
No. Not Peterson.
It's gotta be somebody
they don't know.
Somebody who... looks like them.
Somebody who looks
as though he hasn't slept
in a featherbed all his life.
Somebody who looks
like he sleeps outside
swatting mosquitoes.
( playful theme playing )
( slow, tense theme playing )
Ho, ho, hey, hey, hey.
Breathing time, brother.
The Lord love you.
Maybe that's asking too much.
You see, I, uh, just
blew in from Stockton.
Things quieted down?
Mm. H... How so?
Well, I understand
you gotta be careful
where you lay your head.
Some of the brothers
haven't been waking up.
( wheezy laugh ) Oh, yeah.
Uh... Don't give it a mind.
The feud's over.
Uh, peace on earth.
Yeah.
Somebody mad at somebody?
Uh, plain as day.
The three dead, right?
That's what they tell me.
A... A-and them
three had a grudge.
So you take number
one killing number two,
and then number
three killing number one.
And number four... Eh, uh...
Uh, maybe it was
three having to...
uh, get back at number two.
I follow you, buddy.
Smart thinking.
Take it easy.
Yeah.
( speaks indistinctly )
Hey, you.
You need some help?
( phone buzzing )
Yeah. Keller.
You're warm,
comfortable, sitting down?
( chuckles ) Michael,
how you doing?
Oh, fine. Just fine.
I talked to 10 different guys,
I got 10 different theories.
You know what the latest one is?
The syndicate is moving in.
Yeah, they wanna
scare the winos out.
There's money wants to
build 16 high rises in the area.
The winos are cluttering
up the neighborhood.
Sounds terrific.
What did you get from the lab?
Well, they picked up some traces
of casein, albumin and wax
in around the wound area.
Now, that's the kind of stuff
that comes off of leather.
So the weapon was
leather-covered?
A sap, maybe?
Leaded at the end?
No. No.
Coroner says a sap
leaves a deeper impression
at one end of the wound.
These were, uh,
flat, hard blows,
about 6 inches wide.
And he says they left four
significant impressions.
Knuckles.
Yeah, but that kind of force
against a skull?
Brass knuckles.
That's right.
And the leather could
be a glove, right?
Maybe.
Any other connection
between those three dead guys?
No, nothing.
Different backgrounds,
drunk records in every
city you can think of.
We can't even prove
they knew each other.
So, what about you?
Where are you gonna
be staying tonight?
Well, you said that they were
all found outside, didn't you?
Alley, pier, under the freeway?
Yeah.
Well, that's where I'm gonna be.
Outside, under that blue sky.
I'll see you.
Well, good luck.
( mysterious theme playing )
( exhales )
Hey, there's nothing there, son.
How long have you had 'em?
Believe me, son, when I tell you
there's nothing there.
There's no spiders,
no mice, no nothing.
When was the last
time you had a drink?
( panting )
I've been in jail
for three days.
Dried out. Happens, huh?
Cold sober, you're
seeing everything
that walks and crawls.
What's your name, boy?
Paul Thomas.
Paul Thomas.
Here.
Get some of this hot
coffee down in you, son.
Good for you.
Come on.
Come on. Take some more.
Here's a sandwich.
Hey!
Hey, now, wait a m...
Don't, Jake!
Okay, okay.
Don't get up.
PAUL: Jake, he was just
gonna give me a cup of coffee.
Get the kid a bottle.
Get him straightened out,
and we'll sneak him
into Vera's tonight.
What'd you have
planned for the kid?
Nothing.
Coffee. Sandwich, maybe.
You're not from around
here. Where you from, champ?
( panting ): Stockton.
Just blew in this morning.
Okay, Stockton.
You get back there tomorrow.
I catch you near
here or near that kid...
they'll mail back what's
left of you for six bits.
You got that, champ?
( tense theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
STONE: Are you
sure it's the right guy?
KELLER: It's gotta be.
Had his last fight
eight years ago.
State contender for
light-heavy title in '57.
That's him.
Big Jake Wilson.
Doesn't look like much now...
but he can sure unload a
punch like a sledgehammer.
I ran a print check.
Ex-Navy, no family.
How did he hit bottom?
Put a bartender through
a plate-glass window.
Wasn't the first time he
worked somebody over.
Boxing commission
pulled his license.
What about lately?
Well, he's got a file
about a foot wide.
Been out of jail...
In and out of
jail... every year.
In the tank.
Except for the last two.
Only a couple of busts
in the last 30 months.
He's got a plain drunk
and a D & D. Hm.
He, uh...
He laid this guy
out in an alley.
Arresting officers had
already booked him,
and the guy came
to the hospital,
said he didn't
wanna press charges.
Or his luck, maybe.
He could kill
somebody with his fists,
no doubt about it.
You can say that again.
Hey, what about motive?
( sighs )
I don't know. He, uh...
He just likes to use
his hands, I guess.
Yeah.
Say, what about this...
Vera's Place he mentioned?
It's one of those
independently run missions.
It's owned by a lady
named Vera Kingsley.
Former alcoholic,
just trying to help.
She live there? No.
No, she lives in LA.
She got a mission there.
She's also got one in San Pedro.
Independent... no
religious affiliation...
clean rooms, hot
meals, dollar a day.
She pays the difference.
Must be a packed house.
It's not, no. It's too tough.
You either gotta be on the wagon
or making an effort.
Backsliders get kicked out.
Now, wait a minute.
This Wilson guy, he's
still hanging in there.
I know.
Last two times he got booked,
he gave that as his address.
I figure that must be
what's helping his record.
You know... it
doesn't make sense.
You know that? What?
A guy like that, fighting
to stay off the sauce,
going around hammering heads?
Maybe that's what happens
when he starts boozing.
No, he wasn't lit last night.
He sure laid into you.
Yeah.
Could've left you like
those other three juicers.
Other three juicers?
Yeah.
Hm.
What?
You said a dollar a day? Yeah.
Well, if Wilson's rooming there,
that's where I'm gonna be.
Come on.
Come on. Come on, now.
A fancy dresser like you
can afford a little more
for a guy who's really
down on his luck.
( chuckles ): Oh, ho,
ho, ho. You know?
Come here. Give me
a little... Easy. Easy.
Two dollars. Two dollars?
For two days. If you
can last that long.
Thanks for all the support.
Get out of here, you bum.
( clears throat )
Bum?
( mutters )
Mm-hm. Bum. He calls me a bum.
( chuckles )
( dramatic theme playing )
( slow, funky theme playing )
Excuse me.
Yeah, you looking for someone?
I'm looking for a
room. Who do I see?
Well, you'd have
to see Mr. Gates.
Mr. Gates? Yep.
MAN: Yes?
Uh, Mr. Gates?
That's right.
I heard a man can get
some help around here.
You heard wrong.
A man helps himself around here.
I see.
No, you don't.
No one who ever
walked through that door
like you did ever left all
of his problems behind.
Neither will you.
I'd like to try.
A lot of men have tried.
Only one out of 50
have lasted a week.
Well, odds like that, a
fella has a lot of friends
if he blows it, doesn't he? Heh.
Uh... you do have a room?
Yes. And a job to go with it.
Something to remember:
A man rolls up his
sleeves and pitches in,
he may make a lot of
friends who have been fighting
the same fight that
he's been fighting,
who are willing to give
him a helping hand.
Well, now, you know...
that's a big step up
from where I've been.
Maybe it's the biggest step
you'll ever make.
Idea is not to fall off.
I don't intend to.
The name is Wilson.
Jake Wilson. What's yours?
Smith. Mike Smith.
Mike Smith.
Lot of your relatives
been here before you.
Jake... names don't matter here.
Just results.
Well... let's get you situated.
All the meals are held in here.
Hours are posted.
The guests do all the
cooking and the cleaning.
You'll be told
when it's your turn.
Yes, sir.
We have just one rule.
No booze. Yes, sir.
Not in the house, not
on your breath. Yes, sir.
One bit of trouble
and you're out. Yes, sir.
I'll take him up, Harry.
I was just gonna clean
out Charlie's room anyway.
Okay.
Just see that he gets a shave,
a shower and a bed.
We'll talk about that job later.
Thank you, sir.
Just up there
on the first floor.
Second door on your left.
( suspenseful theme playing )
I came here for a hot bath...
and a clean bed.
That's all.
And I made you a promise.
Mike Smith, huh?
That's right.
( sighs )
Well, you've got a
lot of guts, Smith,
I'll give you that.
What's bugging you, Wilson?
You.
You're no wino. Who are you?
Look, Wilson...
I don't like to think
about what I am
any more than you probably do.
And I don't like being pushed.
Well, there's one thing I
don't like about you, Smith.
I don't like the way
you answer questions.
Then don't ask the questions.
( knocking )
MAN: Jake?
Yeah?
Paul's looking for
you downstairs.
Says it's kind of important.
I'll see you later, Smith.
Jake telling you
about what happened
to old Charlie, was he?
Charlie?
Yeah.
Charlie Dermott.
Fella just checked out of here.
No. What happened?
Oh.
Well, I guess you could say
he kind of checked
out for good, you know?
Turned up in the
alley the other morning.
Got his self beat to death.
I... I-I just...
I just thought maybe
Jake might have been
telling you about it.
Looked like he was a
little edgy, you know.
Oh, you saw that too, huh?
I thought it was
just me, 'cause I...
I'm kind of shaky right now.
No, no. No, no.
It was... Jake that was shaking.
Course, he got a...
He got a right to be,
close as he was to...
Charlie and the others.
The others?
Yeah.
Yeah, fella called Ziggy
got his self beat
up the same way...
about a week ago.
And then... And
then there was a...
old boy named, uh, Guy Lucas.
Yeah.
Say, those two fellas,
are they buddies of Jake's?
( laughs ): Oh.
Well. You know, Jake knows
everybody been around here.
( laughs )
Oh, uh, I guess I should say
that everybody knows him.
Yeah? Heh.
Used to be a fighter
in the ring, you know?
No, I didn't know. Really?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
He was really something, he was.
You should've seen him.
He moved like a machine.
( makes explosion noises )
( laughing )
Oh, yeah, he had it. He had it.
He did, huh? Yes, sir.
( both chuckle )
Could've been champ too.
Except for the old bottle bug.
Well...
I'll let you get
yourself settled in.
Anything you need,
just holler, huh?
Oh, j-just one second.
That guy Paul that you
said was downstairs...
Would that happen
to be Paul Thomas?
Yeah. You know him?
Just to talk to.
Uh, he bunk here?
( chuckles ): No.
Couple of boys
sneaked him in last night.
He couldn't make it.
He had to take off.
He likes to bed
down in a little place
down near Bay Road, usually.
A loner, huh?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. ( chuckles )
He likes to...
watch the water...
see the boats.
But I w...
I wouldn't bother him right
now, though, if I was you.
He... looks like he's
in a pretty bad way.
Okay.
Thanks for telling me.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Well, I'll see you for supper.
Yeah, I'll be down
there. Yeah. Fine.
( buzzes )
Keller.
I gotta be quick, Steve.
Go.
Your Charlie Doe
has a last name.
D-E-R-M-O-T-T.
The other two guys are
a Guy Lucas and a Ziggy.
Got that?
Z-I-G-G-Y? That's right.
I'll try to get the full name.
You check out the other two.
Right. Now, what
about this guy Wilson?
I don't know yet.
He didn't show up for dinner.
I'll try to track him down.
You got any idea where?
Yeah, maybe.
Uh, I gotta go.
I'll keep in touch.
Mike...
( ominous theme playing )
( footsteps )
Who's that?
Jake?
I don't need any
company tonight, Jake.
I'm doing... fine.
STONE: Hey, hold it!
Hey.
Hey.
Paul.
Paul!
( engine starts )
( tires screech )
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
Hey.
Mild concussion. He'll be okay.
Find out who paid his fine
and who swung
him out of that tank.
Cash in an envelope
delivered by a messenger.
Look what I found in his wallet.
( mysterious theme playing )
That's Paul Thomas.
Last name's Cullen.
Older guy's his father.
Used to own half the
boatyards along the coast
a couple of years ago.
Owned? Past tense?
Died two months ago.
So the fourth victim
was supposed to be
a silver-spoon type...
down to drinking cheap
wine and sleeping on cement.
Did you talk to him?
Doesn't remember anything,
didn't see anything.
Called Mrs. Kingsley
down the San Pedro place.
She says he showed
up about a month ago.
Said he was in
Mexico for about a year.
Somebody pays his fine, puts
him back out on the streets,
so that he can have
his head ripped off.
You know what I think?
Yeah.
The other three
killings to cover up one.
Right. You keep
him in the hospital.
Private room, man at that door.
Find out all you can
about his family and friends.
Here.
I'm gonna try to
run down Wilson.
Right. I like your tailor.
Yeah. Thanks for the quarter.
( mysterious theme playing )
Let's put a clause in it
regarding divers
going into night work.
And make certain they understand
the contract includes
no channel work.
( phone buzzes )
What?
What does he want?
All right. Let him come up.
Yes, Mr. Richardson. Thank you.
Would you like to
go up, inspector?
Thank you.
Well, the face looks familiar.
Guess I should know the name.
You might. Oh, I wouldn't.
But I think he was a
very well-known boxer.
Is he a friend of
Mr. Richardson's?
Mr. Richardson has
interests in several fighters.
It's been a special interest
of his over the years.
Uh-huh.
( knocking )
Come in.
Hello.
Inspector...? Keller.
My secretary said
it was about traffic violations.
Tickets Paul Jr.'s
been ignoring.
Yeah. Ever since
we tied our computer
into the traffic
bureau, lot of trouble.
Why don't you send
the company the bills?
Let us pay the fines?
Well, see, the problem
is, Mr. Richardson,
some of the tickets
go back three years.
So I'm afraid that Paul Jr.
Is gonna have to see
the judge personally.
Well, you're gonna
have a problem there.
Junior left home
about three years ago,
and we haven't
heard from him since.
Hm.
Tell you one thing,
I sure wish my
office had this view.
The staff finds it pleasant.
You, uh... You live aboard?
This time of year.
We have crews
working around the clock,
so... I keep
myself on call here.
Three years.
You said nobody's
seen him for three years?
A bit more, in fact.
It was right out
here on the pier
he had the final
argument with his father.
The old man was tired
of his playboy antics.
Told him he'd see his next dime
when he put in a day's work.
Well, has anybody tried
to get in touch with him,
either through the police
or private agencies?
( sighs ): If he wants
to waste his life, let him.
I was dirtying my
hands on Cullen barges
while junior was tooling
around in $10,000 sports cars.
While he's drinking
himself to death on tequila,
I'm up here...
( sighs )
I've, uh... I've
got a short fuse
when it comes to anybody
not holding up his end.
That's all right.
You think he's been in
Mexico for a while, huh?
Mexico?
I'm sorry, you said
tequila. I thought, uh...
No, that's, uh,
just an expression.
Oh.
Don't misunderstand.
I'm not... angry
with Paul personally.
It's all the Pauls. The
clean-fingernail kids
with everything handed to them.
Well, do you think he's
been in touch with his family?
It's not likely.
He only has a sister.
And if you think blood
is thicker than water...
Listen, junior
is out of my life,
and Roy Richardson
was never in it.
And if he doesn't know
that, you can just tell him.
And you can also tell him
that his big pronouncements
really tick me off.
Look, Kathy, why
don't we just...
And don't give me
any of your chickie-babe
routine, Terry.
I mean, you can
just save that for...
( footsteps approaching )
Hello.
Hi.
Are you, uh, Kathy Cullen?
Yes.
Well, you wanna come aboard?
You're a bit early.
I didn't know I was expected.
Hello.
Well, you've, uh...
You've read the survey,
and you've seen the specs.
Her, um... overall
length is 34.9.
It's a fine Hedley engine,
lead keel, and a stainless tank
with a cruising
range of about...
Excuse me, I think
you've made a mistake.
Listen. Just, uh...
let me get it all
out front, okay?
Now, the price is
firm within 2 or 3,000.
No low-ball offers.
And if that doesn't
completely blow the deal,
I'll show you below.
My name's Keller.
Inspector Keller. SFPD.
Well, you're certainly
not a live one, are you?
( chuckles )
Unless you accept a
trade-in for a '65 Porsche.
Of course, I could
throw in three rooms
of fake Danish furniture.
I got a TV.
Only gets color on one station.
No baseball cards
or... trading stamps?
Well, I was saving
that for the clincher.
But I guess that won't buy it,
so I'd better stay with
the questions I brought.
Like...?
Traffic violations
for your brother.
We ran our computer through
the traffic bureau,
and... Uh-uh.
No, a traffic rap
brings a big guy
with a very solemn expression...
and lots of stripes
on his uniform.
Not Ivy League... and handsome.
Had that house call
myself, inspector.
What's happened to junior?
We were hoping
you could tell us.
All we know is he's missing.
( scoffs )
Giant loss.
Sounds like you're
not too close.
No? Um...
been no letters,
no phone calls...
no get-well notes,
messages in bottles.
I mean, zero communication.
But then that's just like
when I saw him every day.
Well, why do
you think he just...
dropped out?
I mean, he had
everything: position, money.
Why'd he just chuck it?
'Cause junior's a schlep.
No, I mean...
Well, the old man, you
know, was a bulldozer.
Real alley fighter.
But... Dad just
scared Paul to death.
The more he pounded
him into that square hole,
the more he retreated.
So he went into the
bottle, not business.
Yeah. Too bad too.
I mean, he could
really have run this yard.
Not the way old
blood and guts did.
Heh.
And not the way I could.
But in his own low key,
he could've hacked it.
You see, I sat with
Dad those last months...
while junior was staring
through his bottle bottoms.
I did the whole
scene... from the...
book reading to the bedpans.
And you know the last words
that my father said to me?
"Where's Paul?
Where's my son?"
He left him the whole megillah.
Well, it looks like
he didn't exactly
leave you out in the cold.
Oh, no.
No, I wasn't. Um...
I got treated just
like Tinkerbell.
You know Tinkerbell? Yes.
It's a girl.
So we protect her.
We set up a trust fund so that
she doesn't blow the whole wad
on permanents and pantyhose.
And that's why I have
to get rid of the Celeste.
'Cause of that lousy trust fund.
And this, uh, Roy,
uh... Roy Richardson.
He's the head of the
company right now?
Yeah. Another schlep.
I mean, he was
just on the scene.
He was available.
So Dad put him in the slot
hoping Paul would come back.
And now he thinks
he's in for good.
But we know better, right?
You bet your badge.
Tinkerbell's revenge, right?
Something like that.
You have to get back
to punching
doorbells right away?
Something like that, yeah.
Okay.
Would you keep in touch?
I mean, I might wanna
talk about your '65 Porsche.
I might like to
talk to you about it.
Okay.
Yes, doctor.
Yes.
I'll see to it.
Excuse me. Paul Thomas.
What room is he in?
At the end of the co...
I'm sorry, sir,
there's no admittance
to Mr. Thomas' room.
Oh, I see. ( rings )
Yes?
( suspenseful theme playing )
She had the motive, all right.
All she needed was
somebody to do the rough stuff.
Remember that guy I told
you was on the boat with her?
Yeah.
Talked to the dock master.
Turns out he had a
couple of pro fights.
Name's Terry Benner.
Big guy?
Yeah. Two, 210.
He had the motive and means...
just like Richardson and Wilson.
Yeah, Big Jake.
So now we're in a scramble
for control of the company, huh?
( sighs )
And the key seems to be Cullen.
But the wild card
is Jake Wilson.
We don't know whether
he's with us or against us.
( clattering )
( man grunts )
( banging )
( man grunting )
( gasps )
Help!
Somebody help!
Help! Somebody help!
( mysterious theme playing )
Hi, kid.
( ominous theme playing )
I couldn't have been
away from the room
for more than a minute.
Two at the most, lieutenant.
The nurse called for help.
I ran down, ripped the
tape off of the guy's mouth,
and burned it back up here
as soon as he described
who it was put him away.
Anybody else see him?
Yeah, a couple of interns.
They gave the same description.
It was Wilson, all right.
Okay.
Sorry, lieutenant.
I really feel like a dunce.
How could you know?
Listen, get on the box,
put out an APB on both of them.
Right away.
You know, for a guy
who's had his bell rung
as many times as this Wilson...
he thinks pretty good.
Well, if we're on the
right track, buddy boy,
he's not the headwork.
He's the muscle.
You know, I don't
know about this.
Same place.
Might not be such a good idea
coming back here, maybe, yeah?
Don't worry about it, Jake.
There's two of us.
That guy's never going after
two people at the same time.
Yeah, I know.
But what I mean is,
you play the percentage...
Yeah, I'll get my
stash. We'll share it.
Uh, no. No, Paul. No, I...
I gotta stay dry.
Yeah, well... I
gotta put out the fire.
Hah.
I couldn't have
stayed in that room
another 10 minutes.
It was great to see
your big, ugly face.
Heh-heh. ( bottles clinking )
You didn't see who it
was what hit you, huh?
( glass breaks ) No.
Like I told you...
first, I thought it was you.
But I was pretty bummed.
I couldn't see too well.
It's gone, Jake. Paul.
Somebody's been here, and
they ripped off my stash. Paul.
I can't afford to go dry, Jake.
Take it... I need it.
Take... I can't stand
going though that again.
Take it easy, kid.
I'll get you some.
Will you, Jake?
Yeah, sure, sure. Can
you get me a bottle?
All right. And I know
a place to go too, eh?
Come on now. We'll go there.
No, no, no. Jake, Jake.
Just get me a bottle,
okay? That'd be great.
But I don't wanna... ( panting )
I don't wanna do
any more running.
I mean, like, you know...
Like those fancy-dancies.
Run around the ring,
trying to stay away from you.
( laughs )
Oh, yeah.
How much farther
can you run than this?
You ain't scared here, huh?
Hey? No.
The only thing
that scares me is...
that it's coming on fast.
Unless I get
something to drown it.
All right, all right. Hurry up.
I'll be right back.
Will you hurry up?
( light jazzy theme playing )
Inspectors 8-1 to headquarters.
MAN ( over police radio
): Ten-four, 8-1. Go ahead.
What about the
APB on a Jake Wilson
and Paul Thomas,
a.k.a. Paul Cullen?
Negative, 8-1. We'll
keep you posted.
Ten-four.
I was thinking:
If Wilson's got Paul,
and he's our man...
he wouldn't take him back
to the same place, would he?
Well, I'd hate not to go,
and then go back later
and find him in a heap.
Yeah.
( ominous theme playing )
( grunting )
( grunting )
( panting )
Run, kid!
Get going!
Run!
( groans )
( grunting )
Behind that red car.
Jake.
( groaning )
They're... Pauly...
They're after Pauly.
Who? ( panting )
I don't know. I never
seen him before.
( action theme playing )
( car engine starts )
( gunshot )
Steve, you all right?
Yeah, I'm okay. I'm okay.
Just twisted my knee.
Got a look at his face, though.
It's the guy on the boat
with Kathy Cullen. Benner.
So it was him and
the sister, huh? Yeah.
Who was he working over?
Wilson.
How is he?
Not too good.
He told the kid to
make a run for it
while he held off a
couple of brass knucks.
Listen. Get an
ambulance, will you?
All right.
Jake...
an ambulance is on
the way. ( groans )
Just hang on, fella.
Oh, hey, cop.
I knew there was
something about you
I didn't like. Yeah.
We'll talk about that later.
Take it easy. Where's the kid?
He'll be okay. Don't worry.
Uh, he's a good kid. Don't talk.
He don't belong down here.
Take it easy. Don't talk much.
All he wanted was
somebody to talk to.
You know, that's all that...
anybody wants, maybe.
Don't talk, Jake.
Don't talk now.
You know, just somebody to...
talk to, but... ( groaning )
Take it easy, Jake.
( sirens approaching )
Listen.
You tell...
the kid...
( tires screech )
Attendants here.
I'll get 'em down.
Just show 'em.
And then get on that box
and see if they picked
up that Cullen dame yet.
Jake... ( melancholy
theme playing )
Help! Help!
Can you guys help me
out for just a second?
There's a friend of mine
in trouble over there.
It's really serious.
Please, come on.
Can you help me just
for a second? Let's go.
Was that your buddy?
( ominous theme playing )
( doors close )
( ambulance leaves )
Charges.
What charges?
Murder.
What?
Where's Terry Benner?
Terry Benner.
You put me with Terry Benner,
and you come up with murder?
Four counts.
And one attempted
against your own brother.
That is crazy.
( gasps )
Why would I wanna kill Paul?
The way you were
talking this afternoon,
there was no love lost.
Did I say anything
about wanting him dead?
You said a mouthful
about revenge.
And Benner was there
just before you said it.
Wait a minute.
You think Terry
did these things?
We can prove it.
Well, then you should be
talking to Roy, not to me.
Roy Richardson? Yes.
He sent Terry over here
this afternoon to tell me
not to talk to anybody
about Paul's tickets.
We don't buy it, Miss Cullen.
But it's true.
I mean, you... You...
You can check it out.
He's one of Roy's
fighters that didn't make it.
He works for him.
( gasps )
You think that I w...
I would wanna kill
my own brother?
( melancholy theme playing )
And you say that
there is no love... lost.
Well, that is not true.
It all got lost... somewhere.
But he is still my brother.
Benner, if you'd only
once do what I ask you to...
You killed him, didn't you, Roy?
And you killed all of them.
Put that down, Paul.
And you had him do
it for you, didn't you?
You thought nobody would notice.
Nobody would care if just one
more drunken bum turns up,
when there's so many of
them dying the same way.
Put it down.
No. I'm gonna bury
it right in your head.
The same way you had him
hammer them all to death.
( grunting )
Why, Roy?
The money, the business?
You knew I never
wanted it! You knew that!
Your father left
it to you anyway.
I couldn't chance your crawling
out of your bottle someday
to claim what I've earned.
Earned?
For killing defenseless
old men in an alley?
Men that... never hurt anyone?
That just wanted to be alone?
Some people might
say I did the city a favor.
The city might have
something to say about that.
I know I do.
All right, get 'em out of here.
Paul, I'm Inspector Keller,
and this is Lieutenant Stone.
Well, maybe we can have
that cup of coffee now, Paul.
( laughs )
( sedate theme playing )
You know, Jake was
sure that it was you.
I know. And I was
sure it was Jake.
We were both wrong.
The big thing now
is to prove that Jake
wasn't wrong about you.
What does that mean?
Well, he went the
distance for you.
Must figure you're
worth something.
Yeah, but how do you prove
something like that?
We try.
And we keep the right
people in our corners.
( gentle, uplifting
theme playing )
( funky jazz theme playing )
ANNOUNCER: The
Streets of San Francisco.
A Quinn Martin production.
Starring Karl Malden.
Also starring Michael Douglas.
With guest stars:
Leslie Nielsen,
Karen Carlson, Tom Troupe.
Special guest star:
Dean Stockwell.
Tonight's episode:
"Legion of the Lost."
( sedate theme playing )
( footsteps approaching )
Just ain't the time
to put the bite on me.
I'd share if I wasn't sick.
I'm expecting a
bad time tonight.
( groans )
( murmuring )
What's to hear in an alley?
They could shoot a
cannon off down here.
You think I'm
getting out of bed?
Okay, okay. So you
found him about 7?
Truck comes by at 8,
I lug the stuff out by 7.
You ever seen him before?
What's to see?
He's a wino, right?
Like they say, you seen one...
Okay if I dump this junk?
Yeah.
Looks like somebody
rolled him for pocket change.
Pretty much routine
down here, Steve.
Yeah. That's what
it looks like, all right.
How you doing?
How are you, cap?
How's it going?
Okay. You know that guy there?
Charlie.
Hey, you got any
use for that, cap?
Yeah, how about
it? Yeah, fingerprints.
He got a last name?
What's the difference?
Wino Charlie. How 'bout it, cap?
W-we'll keep the bag
around it while we're drinking.
Red tape. You know how it is.
Charlie what?
Wino Charlie. Charlie, huh.
What's the difference?
Uh... What about it, cap?
Uh, ain't it worth something?
You're out for
commissioner, cap,
and you get our vote.
Right? Yeah... Both of us.
Let's go to Al's, huh? Yeah.
You never get anything
out of that tribe, Steve.
They just don't
open up to outsiders.
No, they don't look
too concerned, all right.
Well, finding a body in an alley
gets to be an everyday
occurrence down here.
Not three in two weeks
all clubbed the same way.
Well, you can't expect
these boys to keep score.
Well, somebody's gotta
keep score, right, Vic?
See if you can get
the report moving.
Right away.
( knocking on door )
Come in! It's open.
( door closes )
I couldn't believe it.
Olsen said you got
your limit already.
What'd you do, use a net?
No.
Well, come on, come on.
Let's see the
catch. Where is it?
All the fish you're
gonna find in there
is left over tuna salad.
You're putting me on.
No.
I've got my mouth all set
for a trout dinner
you're gonna lay out.
Well, you get your mouth
all set for a tuna salad.
You didn't catch anything?
Oh, sure.
Beer cans and bread wrappers.
Well, you should've stayed.
We weren't expecting
you till next week.
Maybe your luck
might've changed.
Yeah, you walk that
river for two days,
look at nothing on
your reel for two nights...
while you're
swatting mosquitoes...
and a hot tub begins to
sound pretty good to you.
Yeah.
Let's see, Olsen said
you called at 7:30.
It's 11 now.
That's pretty good time
from where you were.
What are you grinning about?
You couldn't
stand it, could you?
Couldn't stand what?
Being away when you
heard what happened.
So that's it, huh?
You thought that I
telephoned because...
All I'm saying is
I got more faith
in your ability with a fly rod
than I do in your ability
to take a week's vacation,
like any other normal person.
I'm saying... this...
This right here.
Prima facie
evidence, lieutenant.
Darn near got you, didn't I?
You really tried to smoke
it past me, didn't you?
( laughs )
The old hard, fast one.
No, no.
( chuckles )
You're not sore, are you?
Sore? No, I'm not sore.
I'm happy you're here.
This is a tough one.
Yeah. Rudy told me.
Third one of those winos
killed within two weeks.
Yep. What do you think?
( chuckles )
I wanna know what you're
thinking before you bust.
Yeah, well, grab
yourself a cup of coffee...
while I shave and shower.
( sighs )
Rudy said you found nothing
by the bum but a bottle, right?
Right.
So that rules out
mugging, right?
Right.
Well, what I mean
is that you don't...
kill for the price of a bottle
and then leave it behind, right?
Right.
Is that new? Yeah.
Jeannie gave it to
me for Father's Day.
It works without a cord? Mm-hm.
Let me see it.
Listen, what've we got now?
We got, uh... three
bums beaten to death
for no apparent reason.
Right.
There could be a
connection, though, you know.
Could be one of those kooks,
maybe like we had a
couple of years ago.
One-man campaign to
clean up the whole city.
That's right, I remember
you told me about that, yeah.
It's awful tough to know
what's going on down there.
They don't like people
asking questions.
You ain't whistling.
You know what I
think we gotta do?
What?
We gotta put a man
there undercover. Yeah?
Mm-hm. Somebody to walk...
all day, all night,
work their way right
into that whole crowd.
And I'll bet you
within 48 hours...
we got something.
Come on, let me have that.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Let me try it.
( buzzes )
It's a good idea, you
know, undercover.
Yeah. Olsen told me you said it.
How you feel about Avarcheck?
Are you kidding?
That fuzz-faced kid?
Why, he'd stick out
like a harp polisher
in a houseful of hookers.
( chuckles )
Okay. What about, um...
What about Peterson?
Sure, Peterson.
You'd put Peterson down
there in that Tenderloin...
after he walked that beat
for 10 years with a nightstick?
No. Not Peterson.
It's gotta be somebody
they don't know.
Somebody who... looks like them.
Somebody who looks
as though he hasn't slept
in a featherbed all his life.
Somebody who looks
like he sleeps outside
swatting mosquitoes.
( playful theme playing )
( slow, tense theme playing )
Ho, ho, hey, hey, hey.
Breathing time, brother.
The Lord love you.
Maybe that's asking too much.
You see, I, uh, just
blew in from Stockton.
Things quieted down?
Mm. H... How so?
Well, I understand
you gotta be careful
where you lay your head.
Some of the brothers
haven't been waking up.
( wheezy laugh ) Oh, yeah.
Uh... Don't give it a mind.
The feud's over.
Uh, peace on earth.
Yeah.
Somebody mad at somebody?
Uh, plain as day.
The three dead, right?
That's what they tell me.
A... A-and them
three had a grudge.
So you take number
one killing number two,
and then number
three killing number one.
And number four... Eh, uh...
Uh, maybe it was
three having to...
uh, get back at number two.
I follow you, buddy.
Smart thinking.
Take it easy.
Yeah.
( speaks indistinctly )
Hey, you.
You need some help?
( phone buzzing )
Yeah. Keller.
You're warm,
comfortable, sitting down?
( chuckles ) Michael,
how you doing?
Oh, fine. Just fine.
I talked to 10 different guys,
I got 10 different theories.
You know what the latest one is?
The syndicate is moving in.
Yeah, they wanna
scare the winos out.
There's money wants to
build 16 high rises in the area.
The winos are cluttering
up the neighborhood.
Sounds terrific.
What did you get from the lab?
Well, they picked up some traces
of casein, albumin and wax
in around the wound area.
Now, that's the kind of stuff
that comes off of leather.
So the weapon was
leather-covered?
A sap, maybe?
Leaded at the end?
No. No.
Coroner says a sap
leaves a deeper impression
at one end of the wound.
These were, uh,
flat, hard blows,
about 6 inches wide.
And he says they left four
significant impressions.
Knuckles.
Yeah, but that kind of force
against a skull?
Brass knuckles.
That's right.
And the leather could
be a glove, right?
Maybe.
Any other connection
between those three dead guys?
No, nothing.
Different backgrounds,
drunk records in every
city you can think of.
We can't even prove
they knew each other.
So, what about you?
Where are you gonna
be staying tonight?
Well, you said that they were
all found outside, didn't you?
Alley, pier, under the freeway?
Yeah.
Well, that's where I'm gonna be.
Outside, under that blue sky.
I'll see you.
Well, good luck.
( mysterious theme playing )
( exhales )
Hey, there's nothing there, son.
How long have you had 'em?
Believe me, son, when I tell you
there's nothing there.
There's no spiders,
no mice, no nothing.
When was the last
time you had a drink?
( panting )
I've been in jail
for three days.
Dried out. Happens, huh?
Cold sober, you're
seeing everything
that walks and crawls.
What's your name, boy?
Paul Thomas.
Paul Thomas.
Here.
Get some of this hot
coffee down in you, son.
Good for you.
Come on.
Come on. Take some more.
Here's a sandwich.
Hey!
Hey, now, wait a m...
Don't, Jake!
Okay, okay.
Don't get up.
PAUL: Jake, he was just
gonna give me a cup of coffee.
Get the kid a bottle.
Get him straightened out,
and we'll sneak him
into Vera's tonight.
What'd you have
planned for the kid?
Nothing.
Coffee. Sandwich, maybe.
You're not from around
here. Where you from, champ?
( panting ): Stockton.
Just blew in this morning.
Okay, Stockton.
You get back there tomorrow.
I catch you near
here or near that kid...
they'll mail back what's
left of you for six bits.
You got that, champ?
( tense theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
STONE: Are you
sure it's the right guy?
KELLER: It's gotta be.
Had his last fight
eight years ago.
State contender for
light-heavy title in '57.
That's him.
Big Jake Wilson.
Doesn't look like much now...
but he can sure unload a
punch like a sledgehammer.
I ran a print check.
Ex-Navy, no family.
How did he hit bottom?
Put a bartender through
a plate-glass window.
Wasn't the first time he
worked somebody over.
Boxing commission
pulled his license.
What about lately?
Well, he's got a file
about a foot wide.
Been out of jail...
In and out of
jail... every year.
In the tank.
Except for the last two.
Only a couple of busts
in the last 30 months.
He's got a plain drunk
and a D & D. Hm.
He, uh...
He laid this guy
out in an alley.
Arresting officers had
already booked him,
and the guy came
to the hospital,
said he didn't
wanna press charges.
Or his luck, maybe.
He could kill
somebody with his fists,
no doubt about it.
You can say that again.
Hey, what about motive?
( sighs )
I don't know. He, uh...
He just likes to use
his hands, I guess.
Yeah.
Say, what about this...
Vera's Place he mentioned?
It's one of those
independently run missions.
It's owned by a lady
named Vera Kingsley.
Former alcoholic,
just trying to help.
She live there? No.
No, she lives in LA.
She got a mission there.
She's also got one in San Pedro.
Independent... no
religious affiliation...
clean rooms, hot
meals, dollar a day.
She pays the difference.
Must be a packed house.
It's not, no. It's too tough.
You either gotta be on the wagon
or making an effort.
Backsliders get kicked out.
Now, wait a minute.
This Wilson guy, he's
still hanging in there.
I know.
Last two times he got booked,
he gave that as his address.
I figure that must be
what's helping his record.
You know... it
doesn't make sense.
You know that? What?
A guy like that, fighting
to stay off the sauce,
going around hammering heads?
Maybe that's what happens
when he starts boozing.
No, he wasn't lit last night.
He sure laid into you.
Yeah.
Could've left you like
those other three juicers.
Other three juicers?
Yeah.
Hm.
What?
You said a dollar a day? Yeah.
Well, if Wilson's rooming there,
that's where I'm gonna be.
Come on.
Come on. Come on, now.
A fancy dresser like you
can afford a little more
for a guy who's really
down on his luck.
( chuckles ): Oh, ho,
ho, ho. You know?
Come here. Give me
a little... Easy. Easy.
Two dollars. Two dollars?
For two days. If you
can last that long.
Thanks for all the support.
Get out of here, you bum.
( clears throat )
Bum?
( mutters )
Mm-hm. Bum. He calls me a bum.
( chuckles )
( dramatic theme playing )
( slow, funky theme playing )
Excuse me.
Yeah, you looking for someone?
I'm looking for a
room. Who do I see?
Well, you'd have
to see Mr. Gates.
Mr. Gates? Yep.
MAN: Yes?
Uh, Mr. Gates?
That's right.
I heard a man can get
some help around here.
You heard wrong.
A man helps himself around here.
I see.
No, you don't.
No one who ever
walked through that door
like you did ever left all
of his problems behind.
Neither will you.
I'd like to try.
A lot of men have tried.
Only one out of 50
have lasted a week.
Well, odds like that, a
fella has a lot of friends
if he blows it, doesn't he? Heh.
Uh... you do have a room?
Yes. And a job to go with it.
Something to remember:
A man rolls up his
sleeves and pitches in,
he may make a lot of
friends who have been fighting
the same fight that
he's been fighting,
who are willing to give
him a helping hand.
Well, now, you know...
that's a big step up
from where I've been.
Maybe it's the biggest step
you'll ever make.
Idea is not to fall off.
I don't intend to.
The name is Wilson.
Jake Wilson. What's yours?
Smith. Mike Smith.
Mike Smith.
Lot of your relatives
been here before you.
Jake... names don't matter here.
Just results.
Well... let's get you situated.
All the meals are held in here.
Hours are posted.
The guests do all the
cooking and the cleaning.
You'll be told
when it's your turn.
Yes, sir.
We have just one rule.
No booze. Yes, sir.
Not in the house, not
on your breath. Yes, sir.
One bit of trouble
and you're out. Yes, sir.
I'll take him up, Harry.
I was just gonna clean
out Charlie's room anyway.
Okay.
Just see that he gets a shave,
a shower and a bed.
We'll talk about that job later.
Thank you, sir.
Just up there
on the first floor.
Second door on your left.
( suspenseful theme playing )
I came here for a hot bath...
and a clean bed.
That's all.
And I made you a promise.
Mike Smith, huh?
That's right.
( sighs )
Well, you've got a
lot of guts, Smith,
I'll give you that.
What's bugging you, Wilson?
You.
You're no wino. Who are you?
Look, Wilson...
I don't like to think
about what I am
any more than you probably do.
And I don't like being pushed.
Well, there's one thing I
don't like about you, Smith.
I don't like the way
you answer questions.
Then don't ask the questions.
( knocking )
MAN: Jake?
Yeah?
Paul's looking for
you downstairs.
Says it's kind of important.
I'll see you later, Smith.
Jake telling you
about what happened
to old Charlie, was he?
Charlie?
Yeah.
Charlie Dermott.
Fella just checked out of here.
No. What happened?
Oh.
Well, I guess you could say
he kind of checked
out for good, you know?
Turned up in the
alley the other morning.
Got his self beat to death.
I... I-I just...
I just thought maybe
Jake might have been
telling you about it.
Looked like he was a
little edgy, you know.
Oh, you saw that too, huh?
I thought it was
just me, 'cause I...
I'm kind of shaky right now.
No, no. No, no.
It was... Jake that was shaking.
Course, he got a...
He got a right to be,
close as he was to...
Charlie and the others.
The others?
Yeah.
Yeah, fella called Ziggy
got his self beat
up the same way...
about a week ago.
And then... And
then there was a...
old boy named, uh, Guy Lucas.
Yeah.
Say, those two fellas,
are they buddies of Jake's?
( laughs ): Oh.
Well. You know, Jake knows
everybody been around here.
( laughs )
Oh, uh, I guess I should say
that everybody knows him.
Yeah? Heh.
Used to be a fighter
in the ring, you know?
No, I didn't know. Really?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
He was really something, he was.
You should've seen him.
He moved like a machine.
( makes explosion noises )
( laughing )
Oh, yeah, he had it. He had it.
He did, huh? Yes, sir.
( both chuckle )
Could've been champ too.
Except for the old bottle bug.
Well...
I'll let you get
yourself settled in.
Anything you need,
just holler, huh?
Oh, j-just one second.
That guy Paul that you
said was downstairs...
Would that happen
to be Paul Thomas?
Yeah. You know him?
Just to talk to.
Uh, he bunk here?
( chuckles ): No.
Couple of boys
sneaked him in last night.
He couldn't make it.
He had to take off.
He likes to bed
down in a little place
down near Bay Road, usually.
A loner, huh?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. ( chuckles )
He likes to...
watch the water...
see the boats.
But I w...
I wouldn't bother him right
now, though, if I was you.
He... looks like he's
in a pretty bad way.
Okay.
Thanks for telling me.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Well, I'll see you for supper.
Yeah, I'll be down
there. Yeah. Fine.
( buzzes )
Keller.
I gotta be quick, Steve.
Go.
Your Charlie Doe
has a last name.
D-E-R-M-O-T-T.
The other two guys are
a Guy Lucas and a Ziggy.
Got that?
Z-I-G-G-Y? That's right.
I'll try to get the full name.
You check out the other two.
Right. Now, what
about this guy Wilson?
I don't know yet.
He didn't show up for dinner.
I'll try to track him down.
You got any idea where?
Yeah, maybe.
Uh, I gotta go.
I'll keep in touch.
Mike...
( ominous theme playing )
( footsteps )
Who's that?
Jake?
I don't need any
company tonight, Jake.
I'm doing... fine.
STONE: Hey, hold it!
Hey.
Hey.
Paul.
Paul!
( engine starts )
( tires screech )
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
Hey.
Mild concussion. He'll be okay.
Find out who paid his fine
and who swung
him out of that tank.
Cash in an envelope
delivered by a messenger.
Look what I found in his wallet.
( mysterious theme playing )
That's Paul Thomas.
Last name's Cullen.
Older guy's his father.
Used to own half the
boatyards along the coast
a couple of years ago.
Owned? Past tense?
Died two months ago.
So the fourth victim
was supposed to be
a silver-spoon type...
down to drinking cheap
wine and sleeping on cement.
Did you talk to him?
Doesn't remember anything,
didn't see anything.
Called Mrs. Kingsley
down the San Pedro place.
She says he showed
up about a month ago.
Said he was in
Mexico for about a year.
Somebody pays his fine, puts
him back out on the streets,
so that he can have
his head ripped off.
You know what I think?
Yeah.
The other three
killings to cover up one.
Right. You keep
him in the hospital.
Private room, man at that door.
Find out all you can
about his family and friends.
Here.
I'm gonna try to
run down Wilson.
Right. I like your tailor.
Yeah. Thanks for the quarter.
( mysterious theme playing )
Let's put a clause in it
regarding divers
going into night work.
And make certain they understand
the contract includes
no channel work.
( phone buzzes )
What?
What does he want?
All right. Let him come up.
Yes, Mr. Richardson. Thank you.
Would you like to
go up, inspector?
Thank you.
Well, the face looks familiar.
Guess I should know the name.
You might. Oh, I wouldn't.
But I think he was a
very well-known boxer.
Is he a friend of
Mr. Richardson's?
Mr. Richardson has
interests in several fighters.
It's been a special interest
of his over the years.
Uh-huh.
( knocking )
Come in.
Hello.
Inspector...? Keller.
My secretary said
it was about traffic violations.
Tickets Paul Jr.'s
been ignoring.
Yeah. Ever since
we tied our computer
into the traffic
bureau, lot of trouble.
Why don't you send
the company the bills?
Let us pay the fines?
Well, see, the problem
is, Mr. Richardson,
some of the tickets
go back three years.
So I'm afraid that Paul Jr.
Is gonna have to see
the judge personally.
Well, you're gonna
have a problem there.
Junior left home
about three years ago,
and we haven't
heard from him since.
Hm.
Tell you one thing,
I sure wish my
office had this view.
The staff finds it pleasant.
You, uh... You live aboard?
This time of year.
We have crews
working around the clock,
so... I keep
myself on call here.
Three years.
You said nobody's
seen him for three years?
A bit more, in fact.
It was right out
here on the pier
he had the final
argument with his father.
The old man was tired
of his playboy antics.
Told him he'd see his next dime
when he put in a day's work.
Well, has anybody tried
to get in touch with him,
either through the police
or private agencies?
( sighs ): If he wants
to waste his life, let him.
I was dirtying my
hands on Cullen barges
while junior was tooling
around in $10,000 sports cars.
While he's drinking
himself to death on tequila,
I'm up here...
( sighs )
I've, uh... I've
got a short fuse
when it comes to anybody
not holding up his end.
That's all right.
You think he's been in
Mexico for a while, huh?
Mexico?
I'm sorry, you said
tequila. I thought, uh...
No, that's, uh,
just an expression.
Oh.
Don't misunderstand.
I'm not... angry
with Paul personally.
It's all the Pauls. The
clean-fingernail kids
with everything handed to them.
Well, do you think he's
been in touch with his family?
It's not likely.
He only has a sister.
And if you think blood
is thicker than water...
Listen, junior
is out of my life,
and Roy Richardson
was never in it.
And if he doesn't know
that, you can just tell him.
And you can also tell him
that his big pronouncements
really tick me off.
Look, Kathy, why
don't we just...
And don't give me
any of your chickie-babe
routine, Terry.
I mean, you can
just save that for...
( footsteps approaching )
Hello.
Hi.
Are you, uh, Kathy Cullen?
Yes.
Well, you wanna come aboard?
You're a bit early.
I didn't know I was expected.
Hello.
Well, you've, uh...
You've read the survey,
and you've seen the specs.
Her, um... overall
length is 34.9.
It's a fine Hedley engine,
lead keel, and a stainless tank
with a cruising
range of about...
Excuse me, I think
you've made a mistake.
Listen. Just, uh...
let me get it all
out front, okay?
Now, the price is
firm within 2 or 3,000.
No low-ball offers.
And if that doesn't
completely blow the deal,
I'll show you below.
My name's Keller.
Inspector Keller. SFPD.
Well, you're certainly
not a live one, are you?
( chuckles )
Unless you accept a
trade-in for a '65 Porsche.
Of course, I could
throw in three rooms
of fake Danish furniture.
I got a TV.
Only gets color on one station.
No baseball cards
or... trading stamps?
Well, I was saving
that for the clincher.
But I guess that won't buy it,
so I'd better stay with
the questions I brought.
Like...?
Traffic violations
for your brother.
We ran our computer through
the traffic bureau,
and... Uh-uh.
No, a traffic rap
brings a big guy
with a very solemn expression...
and lots of stripes
on his uniform.
Not Ivy League... and handsome.
Had that house call
myself, inspector.
What's happened to junior?
We were hoping
you could tell us.
All we know is he's missing.
( scoffs )
Giant loss.
Sounds like you're
not too close.
No? Um...
been no letters,
no phone calls...
no get-well notes,
messages in bottles.
I mean, zero communication.
But then that's just like
when I saw him every day.
Well, why do
you think he just...
dropped out?
I mean, he had
everything: position, money.
Why'd he just chuck it?
'Cause junior's a schlep.
No, I mean...
Well, the old man, you
know, was a bulldozer.
Real alley fighter.
But... Dad just
scared Paul to death.
The more he pounded
him into that square hole,
the more he retreated.
So he went into the
bottle, not business.
Yeah. Too bad too.
I mean, he could
really have run this yard.
Not the way old
blood and guts did.
Heh.
And not the way I could.
But in his own low key,
he could've hacked it.
You see, I sat with
Dad those last months...
while junior was staring
through his bottle bottoms.
I did the whole
scene... from the...
book reading to the bedpans.
And you know the last words
that my father said to me?
"Where's Paul?
Where's my son?"
He left him the whole megillah.
Well, it looks like
he didn't exactly
leave you out in the cold.
Oh, no.
No, I wasn't. Um...
I got treated just
like Tinkerbell.
You know Tinkerbell? Yes.
It's a girl.
So we protect her.
We set up a trust fund so that
she doesn't blow the whole wad
on permanents and pantyhose.
And that's why I have
to get rid of the Celeste.
'Cause of that lousy trust fund.
And this, uh, Roy,
uh... Roy Richardson.
He's the head of the
company right now?
Yeah. Another schlep.
I mean, he was
just on the scene.
He was available.
So Dad put him in the slot
hoping Paul would come back.
And now he thinks
he's in for good.
But we know better, right?
You bet your badge.
Tinkerbell's revenge, right?
Something like that.
You have to get back
to punching
doorbells right away?
Something like that, yeah.
Okay.
Would you keep in touch?
I mean, I might wanna
talk about your '65 Porsche.
I might like to
talk to you about it.
Okay.
Yes, doctor.
Yes.
I'll see to it.
Excuse me. Paul Thomas.
What room is he in?
At the end of the co...
I'm sorry, sir,
there's no admittance
to Mr. Thomas' room.
Oh, I see. ( rings )
Yes?
( suspenseful theme playing )
She had the motive, all right.
All she needed was
somebody to do the rough stuff.
Remember that guy I told
you was on the boat with her?
Yeah.
Talked to the dock master.
Turns out he had a
couple of pro fights.
Name's Terry Benner.
Big guy?
Yeah. Two, 210.
He had the motive and means...
just like Richardson and Wilson.
Yeah, Big Jake.
So now we're in a scramble
for control of the company, huh?
( sighs )
And the key seems to be Cullen.
But the wild card
is Jake Wilson.
We don't know whether
he's with us or against us.
( clattering )
( man grunts )
( banging )
( man grunting )
( gasps )
Help!
Somebody help!
Help! Somebody help!
( mysterious theme playing )
Hi, kid.
( ominous theme playing )
I couldn't have been
away from the room
for more than a minute.
Two at the most, lieutenant.
The nurse called for help.
I ran down, ripped the
tape off of the guy's mouth,
and burned it back up here
as soon as he described
who it was put him away.
Anybody else see him?
Yeah, a couple of interns.
They gave the same description.
It was Wilson, all right.
Okay.
Sorry, lieutenant.
I really feel like a dunce.
How could you know?
Listen, get on the box,
put out an APB on both of them.
Right away.
You know, for a guy
who's had his bell rung
as many times as this Wilson...
he thinks pretty good.
Well, if we're on the
right track, buddy boy,
he's not the headwork.
He's the muscle.
You know, I don't
know about this.
Same place.
Might not be such a good idea
coming back here, maybe, yeah?
Don't worry about it, Jake.
There's two of us.
That guy's never going after
two people at the same time.
Yeah, I know.
But what I mean is,
you play the percentage...
Yeah, I'll get my
stash. We'll share it.
Uh, no. No, Paul. No, I...
I gotta stay dry.
Yeah, well... I
gotta put out the fire.
Hah.
I couldn't have
stayed in that room
another 10 minutes.
It was great to see
your big, ugly face.
Heh-heh. ( bottles clinking )
You didn't see who it
was what hit you, huh?
( glass breaks ) No.
Like I told you...
first, I thought it was you.
But I was pretty bummed.
I couldn't see too well.
It's gone, Jake. Paul.
Somebody's been here, and
they ripped off my stash. Paul.
I can't afford to go dry, Jake.
Take it... I need it.
Take... I can't stand
going though that again.
Take it easy, kid.
I'll get you some.
Will you, Jake?
Yeah, sure, sure. Can
you get me a bottle?
All right. And I know
a place to go too, eh?
Come on now. We'll go there.
No, no, no. Jake, Jake.
Just get me a bottle,
okay? That'd be great.
But I don't wanna... ( panting )
I don't wanna do
any more running.
I mean, like, you know...
Like those fancy-dancies.
Run around the ring,
trying to stay away from you.
( laughs )
Oh, yeah.
How much farther
can you run than this?
You ain't scared here, huh?
Hey? No.
The only thing
that scares me is...
that it's coming on fast.
Unless I get
something to drown it.
All right, all right. Hurry up.
I'll be right back.
Will you hurry up?
( light jazzy theme playing )
Inspectors 8-1 to headquarters.
MAN ( over police radio
): Ten-four, 8-1. Go ahead.
What about the
APB on a Jake Wilson
and Paul Thomas,
a.k.a. Paul Cullen?
Negative, 8-1. We'll
keep you posted.
Ten-four.
I was thinking:
If Wilson's got Paul,
and he's our man...
he wouldn't take him back
to the same place, would he?
Well, I'd hate not to go,
and then go back later
and find him in a heap.
Yeah.
( ominous theme playing )
( grunting )
( grunting )
( panting )
Run, kid!
Get going!
Run!
( groans )
( grunting )
Behind that red car.
Jake.
( groaning )
They're... Pauly...
They're after Pauly.
Who? ( panting )
I don't know. I never
seen him before.
( action theme playing )
( car engine starts )
( gunshot )
Steve, you all right?
Yeah, I'm okay. I'm okay.
Just twisted my knee.
Got a look at his face, though.
It's the guy on the boat
with Kathy Cullen. Benner.
So it was him and
the sister, huh? Yeah.
Who was he working over?
Wilson.
How is he?
Not too good.
He told the kid to
make a run for it
while he held off a
couple of brass knucks.
Listen. Get an
ambulance, will you?
All right.
Jake...
an ambulance is on
the way. ( groans )
Just hang on, fella.
Oh, hey, cop.
I knew there was
something about you
I didn't like. Yeah.
We'll talk about that later.
Take it easy. Where's the kid?
He'll be okay. Don't worry.
Uh, he's a good kid. Don't talk.
He don't belong down here.
Take it easy. Don't talk much.
All he wanted was
somebody to talk to.
You know, that's all that...
anybody wants, maybe.
Don't talk, Jake.
Don't talk now.
You know, just somebody to...
talk to, but... ( groaning )
Take it easy, Jake.
( sirens approaching )
Listen.
You tell...
the kid...
( tires screech )
Attendants here.
I'll get 'em down.
Just show 'em.
And then get on that box
and see if they picked
up that Cullen dame yet.
Jake... ( melancholy
theme playing )
Help! Help!
Can you guys help me
out for just a second?
There's a friend of mine
in trouble over there.
It's really serious.
Please, come on.
Can you help me just
for a second? Let's go.
Was that your buddy?
( ominous theme playing )
( doors close )
( ambulance leaves )
Charges.
What charges?
Murder.
What?
Where's Terry Benner?
Terry Benner.
You put me with Terry Benner,
and you come up with murder?
Four counts.
And one attempted
against your own brother.
That is crazy.
( gasps )
Why would I wanna kill Paul?
The way you were
talking this afternoon,
there was no love lost.
Did I say anything
about wanting him dead?
You said a mouthful
about revenge.
And Benner was there
just before you said it.
Wait a minute.
You think Terry
did these things?
We can prove it.
Well, then you should be
talking to Roy, not to me.
Roy Richardson? Yes.
He sent Terry over here
this afternoon to tell me
not to talk to anybody
about Paul's tickets.
We don't buy it, Miss Cullen.
But it's true.
I mean, you... You...
You can check it out.
He's one of Roy's
fighters that didn't make it.
He works for him.
( gasps )
You think that I w...
I would wanna kill
my own brother?
( melancholy theme playing )
And you say that
there is no love... lost.
Well, that is not true.
It all got lost... somewhere.
But he is still my brother.
Benner, if you'd only
once do what I ask you to...
You killed him, didn't you, Roy?
And you killed all of them.
Put that down, Paul.
And you had him do
it for you, didn't you?
You thought nobody would notice.
Nobody would care if just one
more drunken bum turns up,
when there's so many of
them dying the same way.
Put it down.
No. I'm gonna bury
it right in your head.
The same way you had him
hammer them all to death.
( grunting )
Why, Roy?
The money, the business?
You knew I never
wanted it! You knew that!
Your father left
it to you anyway.
I couldn't chance your crawling
out of your bottle someday
to claim what I've earned.
Earned?
For killing defenseless
old men in an alley?
Men that... never hurt anyone?
That just wanted to be alone?
Some people might
say I did the city a favor.
The city might have
something to say about that.
I know I do.
All right, get 'em out of here.
Paul, I'm Inspector Keller,
and this is Lieutenant Stone.
Well, maybe we can have
that cup of coffee now, Paul.
( laughs )
( sedate theme playing )
You know, Jake was
sure that it was you.
I know. And I was
sure it was Jake.
We were both wrong.
The big thing now
is to prove that Jake
wasn't wrong about you.
What does that mean?
Well, he went the
distance for you.
Must figure you're
worth something.
Yeah, but how do you prove
something like that?
We try.
And we keep the right
people in our corners.
( gentle, uplifting
theme playing )
( funky jazz theme playing )