The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977): Season 4, Episode 9 - Web of Lies - full transcript
Three band members have the perfect racket, a diamond heist. But one guy sees the driver and then makes that known on public TV.
(theme music playing)
(horn honking)
Good morning, Mr. Hendrix!
Don't open till 8:30, Burt.
I know you're not open yet,
but we have an appointment.
What appointment, Burt?
Oh, gosh, I guess
business is so good,
you've forgotten, huh?
You're a lucky man, Mr. Hendrix.
Would you mind
opening the door, please?
Thank you.
(car door closing)
Scorpio, the love
'em or leave 'em sign.
Moody, brilliant,
strong, excited.
That's just your sign, isn't it?
- I'm a Cancer.
- See, you knew your birth sign.
Now people joke about astrology,
but everybody knows
his own birth sign.
You'll sell a hundred
of these, I guarantee it.
Please, do yourself
a favor, Burt.
Don't exaggerate.
You call me on the
phone, you wear me down,
I say, "All right, come in."
Now you take that
to be a promise
I'm going to buy
everything you got.
Mr. Hendrix, now I'm
going to show you something
that's really
gonna interest you.
All right, do what you're
told, and nobody gets hurt.
You, over there with her
up against the wall. Quick!
All right.
Come on!
Come on! (shouting)
Genuine fabricated cat's-eyes,
so real you expect
them to wink at you.
They glow in the dark, too.
I told you, I'm not doing
so much in jewelry now.
Do you know any
Lebanese, Mr. Hendrix?
Now before they'll
buy anything from you,
see, you got to have
a meal with them.
Just yesterday, I had
this big bowl of kafla.
You know, that's goat curds.
(Burt chuckles)
Come on, come
on, get over there.
Get over there up against
the wall, come on, come on.
(alarm ringing)
Don't shoot, please.
(alarm continues, horn honking)
(alarm ringing)
(siren wailing)
(tires screech)
(tires squeal)
(tires squealing)
Sorry you had to make
a trip for nothing, Burt.
Wait till you see our
new Swiss-type watches.
It's a Ritz Craft exclusive.
Yeah, sure, give me a call.
Yeah, you'll be numero
uno, Mr. Hendrix!
I promise you that, sir!
I'll be talking to
you, Mr. Hendrix!
(siren wailing)
(horn honking)
(horn honking)
(horn honking)
MAN: Did they see anything?
MAN 2: No. They took off
as soon as they shot the cop.
- I think he's dead.
- No kidding?
Yeah.
Would you give me a
Scotch and a water, please?
Right.
(siren wailing)
(indistinct radio transmission)
(tires squealing)
(indistinct radio transmission)
How is he?
Bad. He took a gut shot.
You got any witnesses?
Mr. Horowitz, the jeweler,
a couple of
assistants are upstairs.
Check around. Maybe
somebody saw something.
Get him on there.
That's what I heard.
Unset diamonds, guess
worth about 100 grand.
- A hundred?
- $250,000.
How do you know that?
I'm in jewelry.
That's how they ship 'em...
In quarter of a
million dollar lots.
That's right. You're with, uh...
Ritz Craft.
You sold me a watch.
I did.
$485 special.
Works like a charm.
I gave it to my kid.
Anyway, they looked
like pros to me.
You saw them?!
Did I? They almost ran me down.
Couple inches closer,
they would have cut the
buttons right off of my suit.
Must have been
going 80 miles an hour.
Here, let me have
another one of these.
Did you see the shooting?
No, but I heard it.
I-I knew they'd shot somebody.
You can always tell.
What do you mean?
It's in the eyes.
Killer eyes, like the
guy that was driving.
Cat's-eyes.
Blue and as cold as that
piece of turquoise there.
I tell you, thank God I
just renewed my insurance.
Did you recognize his voice?
No, but he knew what he wanted.
Unset diamonds, no chips.
Got them in here yesterday.
Then he must have
known about the shipment.
I don't know. Maybe.
It was no inside
job, I tell you.
Susan's here 13 years,
and Julius is my wife's
son by her first marriage.
Now if I couldn't trust
them, I couldn't trust myself.
Excuse me. We got the
make and model of the car.
Put out an APB, but nobody
saw what they looked like.
Mr. Horowitz, we'd like
a complete description
of the missing diamonds.
I'll get it.
I'll take the street, and you
work with robbery squad.
Check with Williamson, will you?
We're interested in a fence
who specializes in unset gems.
- Okay.
- How's the officer?
He died.
Oh, that's nice.
(door closes)
- Burt?
- BURT: Yeah.
- Is that you?
- Yeah.
Oh, it can't be
lunchtime already.
I don't even have
the potatoes in yet. Hi.
(sniffs)
Ooh, you've been drinking.
Just one.
At this hour of the day?
Well, honey, I needed something.
I mean, I was right in the
middle of an armed robbery.
Really?
They got away with
$300,000 in diamonds.
(chuckles): Oh, honestly, Burt.
It's true! Jeannie,
I was right there.
In fact, they almost
ran me down!
The doctor said if my
reflexes hadn't been so good,
they'd have spread me
out all over the street.
What doctor?
The one in the ambulance.
They called an
ambulance for you?
Oh, not just for me.
They shot a cop.
I was just lucky I wasn't hurt.
Honey, I had just left Hendrix.
You should have
seen me sell that guy.
- You'd have been proud.
- Burt...
Had him talking four figures.
Mr. Hendrix called.
What, he called here?
- Uh-huh.
- What did he want?
Well, he said he
wanted to place an order.
For those zodiac pins?
How do you like that guy.
Well, did-did he mention
how many pieces he wanted?
Uh, well, he mentioned
something about two of each?
But maybe I
misunderstood him. Uh...
Two, huh?
Well, I-I can't blame Hendrix.
He's a good guy.
You know what it is,
Jeannie? It's the the line.
Aw. Why don't they
give you a new territory?
Maybe that would help.
Oh, honey, it'll happen.
It just takes time.
I spoke to Hopkins about it.
He called me in personally.
I didn't tell you, but he wants
me to handle the real stuff,
the solid 14-karat gold,
the precious
stones, the ace line.
Just as soon as things
start looking better.
Well, I'm going to call Hendrix.
I'll let him start small
and work him up.
You got to know how
to handle these guys.
(trolley bell clanging)
Look, please. I haven't
fenced a job since I got out.
Relax, Arnie. You
got friends in court.
Yeah, some friends.
Picking me up at work.
How do you think
that looks, Keller?
Looks real bad for
you if you're involved.
I'm clean. How many
times do I have to say it?
Yeah, but you know
what's going down in town.
Just tell me, who's
fencing the rocks.
What do you think, I'm plugged
into every fence
in San Francisco?
Yeah, they're unset diamonds.
Just tell me some
of the specialists.
Arnie, the guy killed a cop.
That's right. We want him.
It's got to be one
of the fringe nuts.
No pro's going
to handle that ice.
Not with blood on it.
(phone rings)
Homicide. Inspector Keller.
Jackpot. I've got an eyewitness.
Name is Burt Morris.
He's a jewelry salesman,
and he lives at, uh,
3887 Gary Street.
Okay, I'm on my way.
Arnie, you take care, all right?
Okay.
(coin jingling)
Hey, hey, hey, man.
What's the matter?
Are there any news
stations in this town, huh?
What, do you want to hear
your name on the air, Willy?
(phone ringing)
You're really funny, Frankie.
Got to be Richards.
Hello.
Is this Paul?
Who's this?
Just listen, okay?
Yeah, go ahead.
Okay.
"The deal is off.
Richards."
He say anything else?
He said, "Good-bye."
Hey, wait.
What, man, what?
That was Richards.
He cut out.
Cut out?
You said you could trust him.
Yeah, we could, Frankie,
until you aced that cop.
Yeah, that was
really smart, Frankie.
Yeah, what was I
supposed to do, huh?
Tell me what I was
supposed to do.
They had us collared.
I say we split right now.
Willy, use your head.
We run now, we're just
going to draw the heat.
They're going to tear
this town apart, man!
I say we split!
Yeah, well, I say we
hang together, squirt.
Cool it, the both of
you, just settle down.
We're going to finish the gig
tomorrow night on schedule.
Then, Wednesday, we're
going to cut out for Denver.
Meanwhile, I'm going
to find us another fence.
Trust me.
It's him I'm worried about.
Why don't you blow
your horn, punk?
Hey, look, this
town is no different
from any other town
we've ever worked.
We've got the perfect
cover, so don't sweat it.
Just give me 24 hours.
When I cash this, we'll all
be able to retire for a while.
Here, put 'em away.
I got to check out some
new faces and new places.
(door opens, closes)
Hey, kid, listen, what
do they know, right?
Three masked men.
Yeah?
And one cop killer, Frankie.
Oh, yeah, well, who's
going to finger me?
Now, can you tell us exactly
where you were standing?
Right here.
I just started to
cross the street.
And how close
was the car to you?
Oh, a couple of inches.
Don't exaggerate, Burt.
Honey, I'm not.
He came that close.
That's how I could
see the driver.
He just pulled his mask off?
Yeah, I guess so.
You see anybody else in the car?
Only a glance.
The guy sitting next to the
driver still had his mask on
and the guy in the back, too.
Well, why didn't
you notify us sooner?
Well, I wasn't that
sure it was important.
You know, I figured you must
have gotten a lot of witnesses.
No. No, you're the only one.
Do you mind coming
down to headquarters,
taking a look at some mug shots?
- Right now?
- See, a police officer died,
Mr. Morris, and maybe you
could identify one of the killers.
It's your duty, Burt.
I know that.
Well, if you think
I could really help,
but you know how it is with some
faces... they all look the same.
You have a good
eye for faces, Burt.
You've always said that.
He has 20/20 vision.
(chuckles)
A lot of men his
age don't have that.
- He was an artillery spotter in the war.
- Jeannie, come on.
Won't take long.
Well, uh, I've always
tried to do my duty.
I'll say he has.
He fought in two wars
and volunteered for a third.
Now, there aren't many
citizens who can say that.
Good-bye.
BURT: No, none of these.
Eh, that guy looks
kind of like me.
Uh-uh.
Hey, I'm sorry, fellas, he's
not in any of these books.
- Well, that tells us one thing.
- What's that?
He doesn't have a local
arrest... That's a start.
How about this?
Well, the eyes are
right but not the chin.
I think the chin was pointier.
- Oh, Mike.
- STONE: Yeah.
Here's a report on
that getaway car.
It was stolen, all right,
from a Mrs. Newberry
over on Russian Hill.
(paper rustling)
That's it, that's him.
You're sure?
Positive.
What was confusing
me... The driver looked
so much like this guy
from my outfit in Korea.
Thanks a lot.
That's a big help.
Matt, sketch it up, will you?
Then distribute
it to all the media.
Lieutenant, if it's all
right, I'd like to go now.
I don't want my wife to worry.
You see, she's not
used to these things.
Well, we'll need you here
to sign your statement,
but, then, that can
wait till tomorrow.
Bill, drive him home, will you?
Glad I could have
been of some help.
Um, if you want to
avoid those TV crews,
I think we ought to go
out through the garage.
TV? They want to talk to me?
They've been waiting for hours.
Oh, no kidding.
Well, yeah, sure, sure, sure.
I got some time for
the public service.
- Where are they?
- Uh... (sighs)
So, what do you think?
About him?
Well, you got the little
look in your eye, you know.
He's the only one we've got.
(jazz music playing)
(crowd applauds)
(sighs)
Hey, man, you know
this fence, right?
By reputation.
He's got connections
and he's willing to deal,
but it may cost us.
Mickey, two beers.
That's my fault, right?
Hey, look, Frankie, nobody's
blaming anybody, okay?
(sighs)
Look... Thanks, Mickey.
I'm gonna meet this guy
tomorrow, gonna sit down...
Shh, cool it, man.
(over TV): Three
suspects are being sought
by the police in
connection with that holdup,
which netted the gang
$100,000 in diamonds
and cost the life of police
officer Charles Thomas,
who died only moments
after that holdup.
Mr. Morris, I understand that
you were at the scene of that.
Well, uh, I s-saw
th-them get away.
Have you identified them?
Uh, only th-the driver.
I... the other two men
had masks over their faces.
I got a pretty good look at,
uh... w-what'd they call it...
The, the wheelman.
Did you see his face?
Yes, I got a good
look at his face.
I have given the
police a full description.
What can you tell us?
W-W-W-Wait, I... perhaps
I-I'd better not say any more
until after they are caught.
I... all I can tell you is
that I am cooperating fully
with the police department
and I shall be in court
when the time comes.
- You said no witnesses.
- Thank you, Mr. Morris.
- Forget about him.
- That was Mr. Burt Morris...
We'll be out of here
by tomorrow night.
That shook the downtown
area this morning with gunshots.
Police are continuing
their investigation...
One witness...
That's all it takes.
(over TV): In another robbery
in South San Francisco...
Just one.
(whirring)
(whirring stops)
Oh, that's my John
F. Kennedy half-dollar.
Yeah, you got your own
little personal lost and found
going there, don't
you, Mrs. Newberry?
Hmm, does this interest you?
Everything interests me.
Just put it in there.
Let's have the lab check it out.
What is that, a match?
Yes, it's burnt up.
Well, I know that isn't mine.
How can you be so sure?
Because I don't smoke
and I don't allow anyone
else in my car to either.
Inhaling someone else's
fumes can be equally as bad
as smoking yourself, you know.
Excuse me, you
didn't happen to find
a teensy-weensy
mother-of-pearl earring, did you?
PAUL: Prinz.
- Prinz, right?
- Delighted.
What you got?
Don't you know?
(chuckles)
I'm just teasing,
man, just teasing.
You know that ice was
charged up and that you can't get
no one but a spaced-out
dude like me to touch it.
Now, what kind of bread
are you thinking, man?
It's worth over $100,000.
To who?
How much can I get?
Maybe 25.
- Twenty...
- You don't like my kumquats,
you don't shake my tree.
(sighs)
All right, I'll take it.
Far out.
When can I get the cash?
24 charming
hours ought to do it.
Where can I call you?
I'll call you.
WILLY: That could be anybody.
Yeah, well, it happens
to be me, lame-o.
I'm telling you, dig.
What, do you got a
guilty conscience?
Okay, I made a deal.
All right. How much?
$25,000.
It's the best I could do, but
at least we're on schedule.
We'll be able to finish
up the gig tonight.
Oh, yeah?
Well, who you going to
have playing drums, Paul?
What?
I'm not sitting up in
that bandstand, pal.
Any-any clown that can read
a newspaper can make me.
What are you talk...?
Be serious... That
could be anybody.
I tried to tell him that.
It's all in his head.
He's just a psycho.
Frank!
(murmuring)
Get up. Get up.
Let me see that lip.
Put some cold water
on it before it swells up.
Frankie, that was dumb.
Well, so was leaving a witness
behind who can finger us.
That's pretty dumb.
I'm telling you, if they get
me, they're gonna get all of us.
- You know what I mean?
- I'm hip, Frankie,
but that's not going to happen.
Forget it.
Leave the witness alone.
Right.
(sighs)
MAN: That's one of the
matches found in the car.
Now, the ultraviolet rays
make the letters visible,
at least those that
weren't burnt away.
S-O-U...
That next one, what is
that next one, is that an "N"?
Could be.
Sound... Sound...
Got The Sound Box
up in Telegraph Hill...
It's got funky jazz music.
- Funky jazz music, huh?
- Yeah.
Well, it's a good thing
one of us gets around.
Oh, Mike.
Something came in
that might interest you.
Do you know a fence named Prinz?
Yeah, I busted
him once for drugs.
Well, this insurance adjuster
I know just got a call from him.
He wanted to make a deal
for some unset diamonds.
Did he leave a number?
Yeah, right here.
(paper rustling)
Excuse me, you want me
to take The Sound Box?
Did it ever occur to you
that I just might be
a funky music lover?
(chuckles)
No, it never occurred to me, no.
No, huh?
All right, I'll take Prinz.
Okay.
Maybe I can get
him to sing to me.
Bad.
You can't go wrong on
those zodiac pins, Mr. Hendrix.
They really sell big.
Well, it's not
often I get to buy
from a, uh, celebrity.
Oh, you saw me
on television, huh?
Yeah, yeah.
I'll say this for you,
Burt, you got guts.
I beg your pardon?
I mean, any man who would
shoot down a policeman
wouldn't hesitate to,
uh, shoot an eyewitness.
Well... You know,
you got to do your duty,
no matter what
the personal risks.
You do, maybe. I don't.
(chuckles) I would
worry too much.
Well, I... I can
take care of myself.
Always have, always will.
STONE: Prinz.
I wouldn't go
upstairs if I were you.
Hey, Stone, what's moving?
You are... it's cleaning day.
Narcotics squad is
rearranging your pad.
Charming, but they
won't find anything.
Sorry to disagree
with you, but, uh,
they already have.
You got a warrant?
Yeah, I've got one for
searching and, uh, one for arrest.
Which one do you want?
Come on, Lieutenant, I
mean, what's the hassle?
The Bay City diamond heist.
Have you heard of it?
Oh, now I get it.
Look, I was just sending
out feelers in case.
In case of what?
In case I heard
something, you know.
I mean, killing a cop.
I figured those fruitcakes
would be dumping
the ice real quick.
So, maybe I thought
I could make a buck
and, uh, turn them over to you.
Now, I could bust you right now,
but I'm going to be nice.
I want those killers.
So, if you hear of
anything, anything at all,
you notify me immediately,
do you understand?
I swear, Lieutenant,
I hear or see anything,
I'll be on the horn.
Hey, Lieutenant,
how about my goods?
Get your receipt from
the fellas upstairs.
(engine starting)
Now look, we made a deal.
You're not listening
to me, baby.
It's the heat,
they're hassling me.
So, my price goes
up; that's the way it is.
Ten grand, are you in or out?
All right, I'm in.
When and where?
Beautiful.
Have you been to the
Palace of Fine Arts?
Yeah, I know where it is.
I'll be there.
Where's Frankie?
Oh, he's at the club.
He's working on his drums.
MAN: Saw it in the papers.
Looks like a lot of guys.
KELLER: Well, any of those
guys hang around here?
Nah, I don't think so.
Maybe you ought
to talk to Mickey.
He works nights.
What time of night?
- About 8:00, 9:00.
- Okay, thanks a lot.
Hey, Don, here you go.
- Fixed.
- Got it fixed?
Oh, yeah, it's perfect.
Listen, that dude you were
just talking to, you know him?
A cop.
Oh.
Guess I better hide the
dice, huh? (chuckles)
Yeah. He's looking
for a guy looks like you.
And a couple of hundred others.
Yeah.
You know, he's right.
This picture is any
25-year-old white male.
- It's just too vague.
- Oh, I know, I know,
- but that's all we've got.
- That's not good enough.
One minute, okay?
Hey, Mike?
This is Lieutenant Stone.
Why don't you tell
him what you saw?
Name's Miss Looten.
I think maybe you'd
better talk to her.
"I..." Oh, ooh. Wait a minute.
"I saw getaway car
turning onto freeway."
Okay, let me have a chair.
Let me have that
chair, will you?
Do you read lips?
(murmurs)
Good.
Slow and easy.
Did you see the men in the car?
Mask...
They wore masks?
All of them?
All of them.
All of the time.
If she saw them
turning onto the freeway,
that was after Burt Morris
said he saw the driver
removing his mask.
How many were in the front seat?
One.
Now, you're sure there
were not two in the front seat?
No, one.
One.
Morris said there were
two in front, one in back.
Maybe you misunderstood.
No.
In the front, how many?
I understand.
- Said one.
- Just one.
- One.
- All right.
Get all we've got on Burt
Morris and then cross-check him.
Thank you.
You were very helpful.
Thank you.
Jeannie?
In the kitchen, honey.
Oh, honey, did I have a day.
- (phone rings)
- I'll get it.
I got it.
Hello?
- FRANKIE: Burt Morris?
- Yeah?
You better lose
your memory, man.
You dig?
Who is this?
You didn't see
no one in that car.
You hear me?
Oh... If you put
the finger on me,
I'm gonna put a
bullet in your head.
(dial tone drones)
I'm trying a new recipe.
Burt, what is it?
Burt?
Must have been some
crack trying to scare me?
What did they say?
(chuckling) Would
you believe that guy,
acting like he's one
of those killers I saw?
Oh, Burt.
Hey, you're not going to take
this thing seriously, are you?
Well, aren't you?
Well, of course not.
Burt, I-I think you
better call the police.
What for?
I mean, people like that,
they never really do anything.
You know, t-t-they
just harmless nuts
that get their kicks
calling up celebrities.
Here, call Paul Newman.
Talk to him. Ask him.
I'd rather call
him after dinner.
Okay, after dinner.
Hey, Jeannie, you know...
this sketch is not exactly
the way I described that guy.
Maybe I should ask for
a correction, you think?
(ducks quacking)
Prinz, this is one
of my partners.
You don't bring strangers to me.
Now, wait a minute,
man, no hassle.
Do you have the money?
Not on me.
That's not the
way I do it, baby.
I'll take you to it once
you show me the ice.
Show me.
You've got to be kidding.
What are you
trying to pull, man?
Let go.
Huh?
Come on, get up.
Come here, you...
No, Frankie, that's enough.
Now, you listen to me,
you don't see nothing
until we see that ten thou,
'cause that's what we agreed
on, and that's what we want.
Okay, okay.
No need to panic, babies.
I just need, uh, more time.
11:00 tomorrow
morning, that's your time.
That's fine with me.
Bring it to the corner
of Davis and Jackson.
Davis and Jackson... got it.
Swell.
Listen, man, you don't
show up with the money,
I'm going to come
after you, baby.
Far out.
KELLER: Now, how
close was that car to you?
BURT: Like I told you,
a couple of feet I guess.
STONE: You said inches before.
I don't see how this is
so important. I mean...
KELLER: The last
time you talked to us,
you told us the
driver of the car
removed his mask
before he passed you.
Now, is that true?
If he says so, it's true.
Let me, Jeannie.
I believe I did see that.
And how many did you
say were in the front seat?
It's my impression
there was two.
Well, we have a witness
who says there was one,
contradicts your statement.
So, I made a mistake.
So, that's it, huh?
You made a mistake.
Look, do you have any idea
how much time
you've been costing us?
How many men have
been working on your lies?
I only did my duty as I saw it.
You did your duty like
you learned in Korea, right?
- Yes.
- Well, that's a lie, too.
You were never in Korea,
you never spent any
time overseas at all.
You sat out your whole
stint in Fort Dix, New Jersey.
- Now, will you just get off it?
- Please! Don't.
If those killers get away
because your lies
bought them time,
I should take you downtown
and book you right now.
Come on.
I'll talk to them.
Wait!
Please?
Listen to me.
Whatever he said,
he's not a criminal.
He's never hurt anyone,
never on purpose.
That doesn't excuse him.
Well, nobody's asking you to
excuse him, Lieutenant Stone.
It would be good enough if
you try to understand him.
He's no different than
anyone else trying to get along.
Those stories, that's his way.
Ma'am, they're not
just stories, he's lying.
Maybe to you.
Not to him.
Those stories are
what keep him going.
Oh, and it's not because
he won't face reality,
it's because he
does face reality.
That can be a terrible thing
when you're a man nearing 50,
still trying and
still struggling,
never making the breaks.
My Burt, he...
he really tries to make
everybody feel good.
And we're trying to help
the widow of a
murdered police officer.
(engine starting)
(door closes)
They had their nerve,
talking to me like that.
Well, it's...
they just are trained to
ask questions like that.
That's their job.
In a bar, making
conversation, you get to talking,
so you trade a little. So what?
I'm a peddler, a
song and dance man.
You have to do that.
Well, you've always
had the knack, Burt.
That's your trademark.
Well, I don't know, though.
Sometimes I get the feeling,
I walk into a store,
I'm not wanted.
They're not glad
to see me anymore.
Like Leo Robinson.
Been selling that
guy for 15 years.
He'd wait for me.
I'd come in, tell
him a few jokes,
take his mind off his problems.
He'd order two,
three, four dozen gross
of every item that I had.
You remember that, Jeannie?
Sure, I do.
Come on in the kitchen.
I'll make us a sandwich.
What is it, honey?
Is-is it just growing older?
Even Hendrix.
Oh, that guy hates
to see me coming.
He's a kind man.
Throws me a little order
like you'd throw a dog a bone.
Next week I come back
with some new samples,
he's just a week older.
I'm a whole year older.
I'm going to put some of the
pork roast in the sandwich.
You saw the way that
lieutenant looked through me?
He saw right through me.
He saw it all, the
whole song and dance.
I'll tell you, baby,
it gets tougher and tougher
to walk out that front
door every morning.
Somebody keeps putting
bricks in my sample case.
(phone rings)
Thank you, Pete.
So, got a telex here from LAPD.
They may be looking for
the same three birds we are.
Diamond heist five
weeks ago, same M.O.
(phone rings)
- Says here there's a witness.
- Yeah.
Get L.A. on the phone, I
want everything they've got.
Homicide. Inspector Keller.
Hang on one second.
Got a customer for you here.
Let Tanner answer it, huh?
Says his name is Prinz.
Homicide. Stone.
Hello, my good lieutenant.
- How's it going?
- You tell me.
That I will, and this
one is a freebie, baby.
You know those two dudes
you were talking to me about?
The ice men?
Well, it's time for me to
introduce you to them... now.
Where are you?
In a booth on Market and Grant.
Stay there.
Come on, let's go.
Market and Grant.
Let's go, Tanner.
(Keller sighing)
- Come on, Tanner.
- Yeah.
FRANKIE: Don't
worry about it, man.
I'll be there by noon.
PAUL: Forget him, will you?
He can't hurt us.
Can't hurt us?! He
can hurt me, man.
As long as he's alive.
Frankie, you promised.
So, I changed my mind.
Listen, I'm not leaving
town till he's out of my hair.
I'll see you guys
at the airport.
Where's he going?
- After Burt Morris.
- That's crazy!
I know it, but he's on his
own now 'cause we're splitting.
All right, that's
the first sense
I've heard all day. Where to?
Chicago. There's a
plane leaving at 11:30.
Gives us just enough time
to grab the money
and make it. Let's go.
Okay.
STONE: There they are.
Yeah, there's only two of them.
Two are better than none.
(tires screeching)
Hey, think fast!
Let's get out of here!
(tires squealing)
Hold it!
Freeze!
Don't shoot! Don't
shoot! I haven't got a gun!
Move fast!
Come on.
(Paul grunts)
Where's your other buddy?
Huh?
I'm asking you nice.
Where is your buddy?
What's in it for me?
No deals.
(Paul pants)
Hey, look, I didn't
shoot that cop.
- Frankie did it!
- Frankie?
The guy you're looking for. Now,
do you want him, or don't you?
Where is he?
(panting)
Okay, let me put
it to you this way.
You're in for a
felony... murder.
That's count one.
If Frankie kills again,
you're in for two.
That means you're in for life.
My advice to you is to talk,
and then maybe you can
make some deals with the D.A.
Now what do you say? Come on.
(panting)
He's gone after your witness.
All right, let's go.
Maybe you better call
in today, tell 'em I'm sick.
Now you know you
have a full day today.
No, I don't know that.
Jeannie, my stock is junk!
No one wants it.
Don't say that.
You have beautiful things.
Zodiac metals,
brilliant and exciting.
Oh, my God, don't
you understand?
Know any Lebanese?
I'll expect you early
for lunch today.
I can't, honey. I...
I just can't get going today.
I can't cut it.
(Jeannie cries quietly)
- (crying)
- Jeannie, no!
No, no, no, no, don't cry.
Oh, Burt.
Oh, I'm only what you are, Burt.
(sniffles)
If you give up, I'm nothing.
Oh, who's giving up?
Nobody's giving up.
Honey, I haven't even
started to milk my territory yet.
I don't want to ever see
you cry again, honey.
I can take anything but that.
What's there to
cry about? (sniffles)
That's my lady.
I love you, Burt.
Kah!
Let's go, Pop. We're
going for a little ride.
Look, you got to believe me. I
never saw anybody in that car.
- It went by too fast.
- Shut up.
Listen, it was a
story. I made it up.
- Shut up!
- I swear.
- Start the car.
- I was lying.
- I always lie.
- I said, start the car!
- I-I can't help it!
- (engine starting)
All right, all right.
(siren wailing)
(distant siren wailing)
(siren approaching)
Hey, that's him.
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
(tires squealing)
Move it, man.
Move it, I said.
(siren wailing)
Step on it!
(engine revving)
(siren wailing)
Look out!
(tires screeching)
(horn honking)
We lost them.
(tires screech and squeal)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
(siren wailing)
(grunting)
All right, come on,
Frankie. Right now.
Up!
(Frankie grunts)
(Burt groans)
I tried to tell him
it-it was all a mistake.
He wouldn't believe me.
I guess that doesn't
surprise you guys.
No, but what you did sure does.
Yeah. Me, too.
Honestly.
Well, thanks for
the ride, fellas.
You're welcome.
You know, I-I really got to
hand it to you guys. You...
- Don't forget your case.
- Oh, yeah.
- Thanks, Lieutenant. I...
- JEANNIE: Burt!
What happened?!
Are you all right?
Yeah, sure.
Well, look at you.
What's that?
Well, it's-it's nothing.
I'll tell you about it later.
No, go on. Tell her now.
Go ahead.
Well, I-I kind of wrestled
with a guy, that's all.
Yeah, and he just kind of
took the gun away from him.
That's all.
No. I...
I don't believe a
word you're saying.
Oh, yeah?
N-Now, you tell me,
what really happened?
Yeah, I will, honey,
later, in my own way.
Don't worry, Lieutenant.
This one I won't
have to exaggerate.
I don't believe it myself.
Well, where's the car?
Oh, it's in the garage.
I bet I got a $1,000 worth of...
couple of hundred dollars
worth of damage on that thing.
I've got... I was
going 90 miles...
He just can't help
himself, can he?
No, no, no, he's pathological.
You see, he's trying
to compensate...
Strong feelings of
inferiority, I know.
I know all about that.
I drive with one every day.
Now wait a minute. You what?
Well, she didn't believe
you, either, did she?
- What?
- She caught onto you right away.
Oh, come on, will you?
What are you talking about?
(Stone laughing)
No, you know, I really believe
there's a little bit
of that in all of us.
It's a way of surviving.
- (engine starts)
- Yeah, yeah.
(horn honking)
Good morning, Mr. Hendrix!
Don't open till 8:30, Burt.
I know you're not open yet,
but we have an appointment.
What appointment, Burt?
Oh, gosh, I guess
business is so good,
you've forgotten, huh?
You're a lucky man, Mr. Hendrix.
Would you mind
opening the door, please?
Thank you.
(car door closing)
Scorpio, the love
'em or leave 'em sign.
Moody, brilliant,
strong, excited.
That's just your sign, isn't it?
- I'm a Cancer.
- See, you knew your birth sign.
Now people joke about astrology,
but everybody knows
his own birth sign.
You'll sell a hundred
of these, I guarantee it.
Please, do yourself
a favor, Burt.
Don't exaggerate.
You call me on the
phone, you wear me down,
I say, "All right, come in."
Now you take that
to be a promise
I'm going to buy
everything you got.
Mr. Hendrix, now I'm
going to show you something
that's really
gonna interest you.
All right, do what you're
told, and nobody gets hurt.
You, over there with her
up against the wall. Quick!
All right.
Come on!
Come on! (shouting)
Genuine fabricated cat's-eyes,
so real you expect
them to wink at you.
They glow in the dark, too.
I told you, I'm not doing
so much in jewelry now.
Do you know any
Lebanese, Mr. Hendrix?
Now before they'll
buy anything from you,
see, you got to have
a meal with them.
Just yesterday, I had
this big bowl of kafla.
You know, that's goat curds.
(Burt chuckles)
Come on, come
on, get over there.
Get over there up against
the wall, come on, come on.
(alarm ringing)
Don't shoot, please.
(alarm continues, horn honking)
(alarm ringing)
(siren wailing)
(tires screech)
(tires squeal)
(tires squealing)
Sorry you had to make
a trip for nothing, Burt.
Wait till you see our
new Swiss-type watches.
It's a Ritz Craft exclusive.
Yeah, sure, give me a call.
Yeah, you'll be numero
uno, Mr. Hendrix!
I promise you that, sir!
I'll be talking to
you, Mr. Hendrix!
(siren wailing)
(horn honking)
(horn honking)
(horn honking)
MAN: Did they see anything?
MAN 2: No. They took off
as soon as they shot the cop.
- I think he's dead.
- No kidding?
Yeah.
Would you give me a
Scotch and a water, please?
Right.
(siren wailing)
(indistinct radio transmission)
(tires squealing)
(indistinct radio transmission)
How is he?
Bad. He took a gut shot.
You got any witnesses?
Mr. Horowitz, the jeweler,
a couple of
assistants are upstairs.
Check around. Maybe
somebody saw something.
Get him on there.
That's what I heard.
Unset diamonds, guess
worth about 100 grand.
- A hundred?
- $250,000.
How do you know that?
I'm in jewelry.
That's how they ship 'em...
In quarter of a
million dollar lots.
That's right. You're with, uh...
Ritz Craft.
You sold me a watch.
I did.
$485 special.
Works like a charm.
I gave it to my kid.
Anyway, they looked
like pros to me.
You saw them?!
Did I? They almost ran me down.
Couple inches closer,
they would have cut the
buttons right off of my suit.
Must have been
going 80 miles an hour.
Here, let me have
another one of these.
Did you see the shooting?
No, but I heard it.
I-I knew they'd shot somebody.
You can always tell.
What do you mean?
It's in the eyes.
Killer eyes, like the
guy that was driving.
Cat's-eyes.
Blue and as cold as that
piece of turquoise there.
I tell you, thank God I
just renewed my insurance.
Did you recognize his voice?
No, but he knew what he wanted.
Unset diamonds, no chips.
Got them in here yesterday.
Then he must have
known about the shipment.
I don't know. Maybe.
It was no inside
job, I tell you.
Susan's here 13 years,
and Julius is my wife's
son by her first marriage.
Now if I couldn't trust
them, I couldn't trust myself.
Excuse me. We got the
make and model of the car.
Put out an APB, but nobody
saw what they looked like.
Mr. Horowitz, we'd like
a complete description
of the missing diamonds.
I'll get it.
I'll take the street, and you
work with robbery squad.
Check with Williamson, will you?
We're interested in a fence
who specializes in unset gems.
- Okay.
- How's the officer?
He died.
Oh, that's nice.
(door closes)
- Burt?
- BURT: Yeah.
- Is that you?
- Yeah.
Oh, it can't be
lunchtime already.
I don't even have
the potatoes in yet. Hi.
(sniffs)
Ooh, you've been drinking.
Just one.
At this hour of the day?
Well, honey, I needed something.
I mean, I was right in the
middle of an armed robbery.
Really?
They got away with
$300,000 in diamonds.
(chuckles): Oh, honestly, Burt.
It's true! Jeannie,
I was right there.
In fact, they almost
ran me down!
The doctor said if my
reflexes hadn't been so good,
they'd have spread me
out all over the street.
What doctor?
The one in the ambulance.
They called an
ambulance for you?
Oh, not just for me.
They shot a cop.
I was just lucky I wasn't hurt.
Honey, I had just left Hendrix.
You should have
seen me sell that guy.
- You'd have been proud.
- Burt...
Had him talking four figures.
Mr. Hendrix called.
What, he called here?
- Uh-huh.
- What did he want?
Well, he said he
wanted to place an order.
For those zodiac pins?
How do you like that guy.
Well, did-did he mention
how many pieces he wanted?
Uh, well, he mentioned
something about two of each?
But maybe I
misunderstood him. Uh...
Two, huh?
Well, I-I can't blame Hendrix.
He's a good guy.
You know what it is,
Jeannie? It's the the line.
Aw. Why don't they
give you a new territory?
Maybe that would help.
Oh, honey, it'll happen.
It just takes time.
I spoke to Hopkins about it.
He called me in personally.
I didn't tell you, but he wants
me to handle the real stuff,
the solid 14-karat gold,
the precious
stones, the ace line.
Just as soon as things
start looking better.
Well, I'm going to call Hendrix.
I'll let him start small
and work him up.
You got to know how
to handle these guys.
(trolley bell clanging)
Look, please. I haven't
fenced a job since I got out.
Relax, Arnie. You
got friends in court.
Yeah, some friends.
Picking me up at work.
How do you think
that looks, Keller?
Looks real bad for
you if you're involved.
I'm clean. How many
times do I have to say it?
Yeah, but you know
what's going down in town.
Just tell me, who's
fencing the rocks.
What do you think, I'm plugged
into every fence
in San Francisco?
Yeah, they're unset diamonds.
Just tell me some
of the specialists.
Arnie, the guy killed a cop.
That's right. We want him.
It's got to be one
of the fringe nuts.
No pro's going
to handle that ice.
Not with blood on it.
(phone rings)
Homicide. Inspector Keller.
Jackpot. I've got an eyewitness.
Name is Burt Morris.
He's a jewelry salesman,
and he lives at, uh,
3887 Gary Street.
Okay, I'm on my way.
Arnie, you take care, all right?
Okay.
(coin jingling)
Hey, hey, hey, man.
What's the matter?
Are there any news
stations in this town, huh?
What, do you want to hear
your name on the air, Willy?
(phone ringing)
You're really funny, Frankie.
Got to be Richards.
Hello.
Is this Paul?
Who's this?
Just listen, okay?
Yeah, go ahead.
Okay.
"The deal is off.
Richards."
He say anything else?
He said, "Good-bye."
Hey, wait.
What, man, what?
That was Richards.
He cut out.
Cut out?
You said you could trust him.
Yeah, we could, Frankie,
until you aced that cop.
Yeah, that was
really smart, Frankie.
Yeah, what was I
supposed to do, huh?
Tell me what I was
supposed to do.
They had us collared.
I say we split right now.
Willy, use your head.
We run now, we're just
going to draw the heat.
They're going to tear
this town apart, man!
I say we split!
Yeah, well, I say we
hang together, squirt.
Cool it, the both of
you, just settle down.
We're going to finish the gig
tomorrow night on schedule.
Then, Wednesday, we're
going to cut out for Denver.
Meanwhile, I'm going
to find us another fence.
Trust me.
It's him I'm worried about.
Why don't you blow
your horn, punk?
Hey, look, this
town is no different
from any other town
we've ever worked.
We've got the perfect
cover, so don't sweat it.
Just give me 24 hours.
When I cash this, we'll all
be able to retire for a while.
Here, put 'em away.
I got to check out some
new faces and new places.
(door opens, closes)
Hey, kid, listen, what
do they know, right?
Three masked men.
Yeah?
And one cop killer, Frankie.
Oh, yeah, well, who's
going to finger me?
Now, can you tell us exactly
where you were standing?
Right here.
I just started to
cross the street.
And how close
was the car to you?
Oh, a couple of inches.
Don't exaggerate, Burt.
Honey, I'm not.
He came that close.
That's how I could
see the driver.
He just pulled his mask off?
Yeah, I guess so.
You see anybody else in the car?
Only a glance.
The guy sitting next to the
driver still had his mask on
and the guy in the back, too.
Well, why didn't
you notify us sooner?
Well, I wasn't that
sure it was important.
You know, I figured you must
have gotten a lot of witnesses.
No. No, you're the only one.
Do you mind coming
down to headquarters,
taking a look at some mug shots?
- Right now?
- See, a police officer died,
Mr. Morris, and maybe you
could identify one of the killers.
It's your duty, Burt.
I know that.
Well, if you think
I could really help,
but you know how it is with some
faces... they all look the same.
You have a good
eye for faces, Burt.
You've always said that.
He has 20/20 vision.
(chuckles)
A lot of men his
age don't have that.
- He was an artillery spotter in the war.
- Jeannie, come on.
Won't take long.
Well, uh, I've always
tried to do my duty.
I'll say he has.
He fought in two wars
and volunteered for a third.
Now, there aren't many
citizens who can say that.
Good-bye.
BURT: No, none of these.
Eh, that guy looks
kind of like me.
Uh-uh.
Hey, I'm sorry, fellas, he's
not in any of these books.
- Well, that tells us one thing.
- What's that?
He doesn't have a local
arrest... That's a start.
How about this?
Well, the eyes are
right but not the chin.
I think the chin was pointier.
- Oh, Mike.
- STONE: Yeah.
Here's a report on
that getaway car.
It was stolen, all right,
from a Mrs. Newberry
over on Russian Hill.
(paper rustling)
That's it, that's him.
You're sure?
Positive.
What was confusing
me... The driver looked
so much like this guy
from my outfit in Korea.
Thanks a lot.
That's a big help.
Matt, sketch it up, will you?
Then distribute
it to all the media.
Lieutenant, if it's all
right, I'd like to go now.
I don't want my wife to worry.
You see, she's not
used to these things.
Well, we'll need you here
to sign your statement,
but, then, that can
wait till tomorrow.
Bill, drive him home, will you?
Glad I could have
been of some help.
Um, if you want to
avoid those TV crews,
I think we ought to go
out through the garage.
TV? They want to talk to me?
They've been waiting for hours.
Oh, no kidding.
Well, yeah, sure, sure, sure.
I got some time for
the public service.
- Where are they?
- Uh... (sighs)
So, what do you think?
About him?
Well, you got the little
look in your eye, you know.
He's the only one we've got.
(jazz music playing)
(crowd applauds)
(sighs)
Hey, man, you know
this fence, right?
By reputation.
He's got connections
and he's willing to deal,
but it may cost us.
Mickey, two beers.
That's my fault, right?
Hey, look, Frankie, nobody's
blaming anybody, okay?
(sighs)
Look... Thanks, Mickey.
I'm gonna meet this guy
tomorrow, gonna sit down...
Shh, cool it, man.
(over TV): Three
suspects are being sought
by the police in
connection with that holdup,
which netted the gang
$100,000 in diamonds
and cost the life of police
officer Charles Thomas,
who died only moments
after that holdup.
Mr. Morris, I understand that
you were at the scene of that.
Well, uh, I s-saw
th-them get away.
Have you identified them?
Uh, only th-the driver.
I... the other two men
had masks over their faces.
I got a pretty good look at,
uh... w-what'd they call it...
The, the wheelman.
Did you see his face?
Yes, I got a good
look at his face.
I have given the
police a full description.
What can you tell us?
W-W-W-Wait, I... perhaps
I-I'd better not say any more
until after they are caught.
I... all I can tell you is
that I am cooperating fully
with the police department
and I shall be in court
when the time comes.
- You said no witnesses.
- Thank you, Mr. Morris.
- Forget about him.
- That was Mr. Burt Morris...
We'll be out of here
by tomorrow night.
That shook the downtown
area this morning with gunshots.
Police are continuing
their investigation...
One witness...
That's all it takes.
(over TV): In another robbery
in South San Francisco...
Just one.
(whirring)
(whirring stops)
Oh, that's my John
F. Kennedy half-dollar.
Yeah, you got your own
little personal lost and found
going there, don't
you, Mrs. Newberry?
Hmm, does this interest you?
Everything interests me.
Just put it in there.
Let's have the lab check it out.
What is that, a match?
Yes, it's burnt up.
Well, I know that isn't mine.
How can you be so sure?
Because I don't smoke
and I don't allow anyone
else in my car to either.
Inhaling someone else's
fumes can be equally as bad
as smoking yourself, you know.
Excuse me, you
didn't happen to find
a teensy-weensy
mother-of-pearl earring, did you?
PAUL: Prinz.
- Prinz, right?
- Delighted.
What you got?
Don't you know?
(chuckles)
I'm just teasing,
man, just teasing.
You know that ice was
charged up and that you can't get
no one but a spaced-out
dude like me to touch it.
Now, what kind of bread
are you thinking, man?
It's worth over $100,000.
To who?
How much can I get?
Maybe 25.
- Twenty...
- You don't like my kumquats,
you don't shake my tree.
(sighs)
All right, I'll take it.
Far out.
When can I get the cash?
24 charming
hours ought to do it.
Where can I call you?
I'll call you.
WILLY: That could be anybody.
Yeah, well, it happens
to be me, lame-o.
I'm telling you, dig.
What, do you got a
guilty conscience?
Okay, I made a deal.
All right. How much?
$25,000.
It's the best I could do, but
at least we're on schedule.
We'll be able to finish
up the gig tonight.
Oh, yeah?
Well, who you going to
have playing drums, Paul?
What?
I'm not sitting up in
that bandstand, pal.
Any-any clown that can read
a newspaper can make me.
What are you talk...?
Be serious... That
could be anybody.
I tried to tell him that.
It's all in his head.
He's just a psycho.
Frank!
(murmuring)
Get up. Get up.
Let me see that lip.
Put some cold water
on it before it swells up.
Frankie, that was dumb.
Well, so was leaving a witness
behind who can finger us.
That's pretty dumb.
I'm telling you, if they get
me, they're gonna get all of us.
- You know what I mean?
- I'm hip, Frankie,
but that's not going to happen.
Forget it.
Leave the witness alone.
Right.
(sighs)
MAN: That's one of the
matches found in the car.
Now, the ultraviolet rays
make the letters visible,
at least those that
weren't burnt away.
S-O-U...
That next one, what is
that next one, is that an "N"?
Could be.
Sound... Sound...
Got The Sound Box
up in Telegraph Hill...
It's got funky jazz music.
- Funky jazz music, huh?
- Yeah.
Well, it's a good thing
one of us gets around.
Oh, Mike.
Something came in
that might interest you.
Do you know a fence named Prinz?
Yeah, I busted
him once for drugs.
Well, this insurance adjuster
I know just got a call from him.
He wanted to make a deal
for some unset diamonds.
Did he leave a number?
Yeah, right here.
(paper rustling)
Excuse me, you want me
to take The Sound Box?
Did it ever occur to you
that I just might be
a funky music lover?
(chuckles)
No, it never occurred to me, no.
No, huh?
All right, I'll take Prinz.
Okay.
Maybe I can get
him to sing to me.
Bad.
You can't go wrong on
those zodiac pins, Mr. Hendrix.
They really sell big.
Well, it's not
often I get to buy
from a, uh, celebrity.
Oh, you saw me
on television, huh?
Yeah, yeah.
I'll say this for you,
Burt, you got guts.
I beg your pardon?
I mean, any man who would
shoot down a policeman
wouldn't hesitate to,
uh, shoot an eyewitness.
Well... You know,
you got to do your duty,
no matter what
the personal risks.
You do, maybe. I don't.
(chuckles) I would
worry too much.
Well, I... I can
take care of myself.
Always have, always will.
STONE: Prinz.
I wouldn't go
upstairs if I were you.
Hey, Stone, what's moving?
You are... it's cleaning day.
Narcotics squad is
rearranging your pad.
Charming, but they
won't find anything.
Sorry to disagree
with you, but, uh,
they already have.
You got a warrant?
Yeah, I've got one for
searching and, uh, one for arrest.
Which one do you want?
Come on, Lieutenant, I
mean, what's the hassle?
The Bay City diamond heist.
Have you heard of it?
Oh, now I get it.
Look, I was just sending
out feelers in case.
In case of what?
In case I heard
something, you know.
I mean, killing a cop.
I figured those fruitcakes
would be dumping
the ice real quick.
So, maybe I thought
I could make a buck
and, uh, turn them over to you.
Now, I could bust you right now,
but I'm going to be nice.
I want those killers.
So, if you hear of
anything, anything at all,
you notify me immediately,
do you understand?
I swear, Lieutenant,
I hear or see anything,
I'll be on the horn.
Hey, Lieutenant,
how about my goods?
Get your receipt from
the fellas upstairs.
(engine starting)
Now look, we made a deal.
You're not listening
to me, baby.
It's the heat,
they're hassling me.
So, my price goes
up; that's the way it is.
Ten grand, are you in or out?
All right, I'm in.
When and where?
Beautiful.
Have you been to the
Palace of Fine Arts?
Yeah, I know where it is.
I'll be there.
Where's Frankie?
Oh, he's at the club.
He's working on his drums.
MAN: Saw it in the papers.
Looks like a lot of guys.
KELLER: Well, any of those
guys hang around here?
Nah, I don't think so.
Maybe you ought
to talk to Mickey.
He works nights.
What time of night?
- About 8:00, 9:00.
- Okay, thanks a lot.
Hey, Don, here you go.
- Fixed.
- Got it fixed?
Oh, yeah, it's perfect.
Listen, that dude you were
just talking to, you know him?
A cop.
Oh.
Guess I better hide the
dice, huh? (chuckles)
Yeah. He's looking
for a guy looks like you.
And a couple of hundred others.
Yeah.
You know, he's right.
This picture is any
25-year-old white male.
- It's just too vague.
- Oh, I know, I know,
- but that's all we've got.
- That's not good enough.
One minute, okay?
Hey, Mike?
This is Lieutenant Stone.
Why don't you tell
him what you saw?
Name's Miss Looten.
I think maybe you'd
better talk to her.
"I..." Oh, ooh. Wait a minute.
"I saw getaway car
turning onto freeway."
Okay, let me have a chair.
Let me have that
chair, will you?
Do you read lips?
(murmurs)
Good.
Slow and easy.
Did you see the men in the car?
Mask...
They wore masks?
All of them?
All of them.
All of the time.
If she saw them
turning onto the freeway,
that was after Burt Morris
said he saw the driver
removing his mask.
How many were in the front seat?
One.
Now, you're sure there
were not two in the front seat?
No, one.
One.
Morris said there were
two in front, one in back.
Maybe you misunderstood.
No.
In the front, how many?
I understand.
- Said one.
- Just one.
- One.
- All right.
Get all we've got on Burt
Morris and then cross-check him.
Thank you.
You were very helpful.
Thank you.
Jeannie?
In the kitchen, honey.
Oh, honey, did I have a day.
- (phone rings)
- I'll get it.
I got it.
Hello?
- FRANKIE: Burt Morris?
- Yeah?
You better lose
your memory, man.
You dig?
Who is this?
You didn't see
no one in that car.
You hear me?
Oh... If you put
the finger on me,
I'm gonna put a
bullet in your head.
(dial tone drones)
I'm trying a new recipe.
Burt, what is it?
Burt?
Must have been some
crack trying to scare me?
What did they say?
(chuckling) Would
you believe that guy,
acting like he's one
of those killers I saw?
Oh, Burt.
Hey, you're not going to take
this thing seriously, are you?
Well, aren't you?
Well, of course not.
Burt, I-I think you
better call the police.
What for?
I mean, people like that,
they never really do anything.
You know, t-t-they
just harmless nuts
that get their kicks
calling up celebrities.
Here, call Paul Newman.
Talk to him. Ask him.
I'd rather call
him after dinner.
Okay, after dinner.
Hey, Jeannie, you know...
this sketch is not exactly
the way I described that guy.
Maybe I should ask for
a correction, you think?
(ducks quacking)
Prinz, this is one
of my partners.
You don't bring strangers to me.
Now, wait a minute,
man, no hassle.
Do you have the money?
Not on me.
That's not the
way I do it, baby.
I'll take you to it once
you show me the ice.
Show me.
You've got to be kidding.
What are you
trying to pull, man?
Let go.
Huh?
Come on, get up.
Come here, you...
No, Frankie, that's enough.
Now, you listen to me,
you don't see nothing
until we see that ten thou,
'cause that's what we agreed
on, and that's what we want.
Okay, okay.
No need to panic, babies.
I just need, uh, more time.
11:00 tomorrow
morning, that's your time.
That's fine with me.
Bring it to the corner
of Davis and Jackson.
Davis and Jackson... got it.
Swell.
Listen, man, you don't
show up with the money,
I'm going to come
after you, baby.
Far out.
KELLER: Now, how
close was that car to you?
BURT: Like I told you,
a couple of feet I guess.
STONE: You said inches before.
I don't see how this is
so important. I mean...
KELLER: The last
time you talked to us,
you told us the
driver of the car
removed his mask
before he passed you.
Now, is that true?
If he says so, it's true.
Let me, Jeannie.
I believe I did see that.
And how many did you
say were in the front seat?
It's my impression
there was two.
Well, we have a witness
who says there was one,
contradicts your statement.
So, I made a mistake.
So, that's it, huh?
You made a mistake.
Look, do you have any idea
how much time
you've been costing us?
How many men have
been working on your lies?
I only did my duty as I saw it.
You did your duty like
you learned in Korea, right?
- Yes.
- Well, that's a lie, too.
You were never in Korea,
you never spent any
time overseas at all.
You sat out your whole
stint in Fort Dix, New Jersey.
- Now, will you just get off it?
- Please! Don't.
If those killers get away
because your lies
bought them time,
I should take you downtown
and book you right now.
Come on.
I'll talk to them.
Wait!
Please?
Listen to me.
Whatever he said,
he's not a criminal.
He's never hurt anyone,
never on purpose.
That doesn't excuse him.
Well, nobody's asking you to
excuse him, Lieutenant Stone.
It would be good enough if
you try to understand him.
He's no different than
anyone else trying to get along.
Those stories, that's his way.
Ma'am, they're not
just stories, he's lying.
Maybe to you.
Not to him.
Those stories are
what keep him going.
Oh, and it's not because
he won't face reality,
it's because he
does face reality.
That can be a terrible thing
when you're a man nearing 50,
still trying and
still struggling,
never making the breaks.
My Burt, he...
he really tries to make
everybody feel good.
And we're trying to help
the widow of a
murdered police officer.
(engine starting)
(door closes)
They had their nerve,
talking to me like that.
Well, it's...
they just are trained to
ask questions like that.
That's their job.
In a bar, making
conversation, you get to talking,
so you trade a little. So what?
I'm a peddler, a
song and dance man.
You have to do that.
Well, you've always
had the knack, Burt.
That's your trademark.
Well, I don't know, though.
Sometimes I get the feeling,
I walk into a store,
I'm not wanted.
They're not glad
to see me anymore.
Like Leo Robinson.
Been selling that
guy for 15 years.
He'd wait for me.
I'd come in, tell
him a few jokes,
take his mind off his problems.
He'd order two,
three, four dozen gross
of every item that I had.
You remember that, Jeannie?
Sure, I do.
Come on in the kitchen.
I'll make us a sandwich.
What is it, honey?
Is-is it just growing older?
Even Hendrix.
Oh, that guy hates
to see me coming.
He's a kind man.
Throws me a little order
like you'd throw a dog a bone.
Next week I come back
with some new samples,
he's just a week older.
I'm a whole year older.
I'm going to put some of the
pork roast in the sandwich.
You saw the way that
lieutenant looked through me?
He saw right through me.
He saw it all, the
whole song and dance.
I'll tell you, baby,
it gets tougher and tougher
to walk out that front
door every morning.
Somebody keeps putting
bricks in my sample case.
(phone rings)
Thank you, Pete.
So, got a telex here from LAPD.
They may be looking for
the same three birds we are.
Diamond heist five
weeks ago, same M.O.
(phone rings)
- Says here there's a witness.
- Yeah.
Get L.A. on the phone, I
want everything they've got.
Homicide. Inspector Keller.
Hang on one second.
Got a customer for you here.
Let Tanner answer it, huh?
Says his name is Prinz.
Homicide. Stone.
Hello, my good lieutenant.
- How's it going?
- You tell me.
That I will, and this
one is a freebie, baby.
You know those two dudes
you were talking to me about?
The ice men?
Well, it's time for me to
introduce you to them... now.
Where are you?
In a booth on Market and Grant.
Stay there.
Come on, let's go.
Market and Grant.
Let's go, Tanner.
(Keller sighing)
- Come on, Tanner.
- Yeah.
FRANKIE: Don't
worry about it, man.
I'll be there by noon.
PAUL: Forget him, will you?
He can't hurt us.
Can't hurt us?! He
can hurt me, man.
As long as he's alive.
Frankie, you promised.
So, I changed my mind.
Listen, I'm not leaving
town till he's out of my hair.
I'll see you guys
at the airport.
Where's he going?
- After Burt Morris.
- That's crazy!
I know it, but he's on his
own now 'cause we're splitting.
All right, that's
the first sense
I've heard all day. Where to?
Chicago. There's a
plane leaving at 11:30.
Gives us just enough time
to grab the money
and make it. Let's go.
Okay.
STONE: There they are.
Yeah, there's only two of them.
Two are better than none.
(tires screeching)
Hey, think fast!
Let's get out of here!
(tires squealing)
Hold it!
Freeze!
Don't shoot! Don't
shoot! I haven't got a gun!
Move fast!
Come on.
(Paul grunts)
Where's your other buddy?
Huh?
I'm asking you nice.
Where is your buddy?
What's in it for me?
No deals.
(Paul pants)
Hey, look, I didn't
shoot that cop.
- Frankie did it!
- Frankie?
The guy you're looking for. Now,
do you want him, or don't you?
Where is he?
(panting)
Okay, let me put
it to you this way.
You're in for a
felony... murder.
That's count one.
If Frankie kills again,
you're in for two.
That means you're in for life.
My advice to you is to talk,
and then maybe you can
make some deals with the D.A.
Now what do you say? Come on.
(panting)
He's gone after your witness.
All right, let's go.
Maybe you better call
in today, tell 'em I'm sick.
Now you know you
have a full day today.
No, I don't know that.
Jeannie, my stock is junk!
No one wants it.
Don't say that.
You have beautiful things.
Zodiac metals,
brilliant and exciting.
Oh, my God, don't
you understand?
Know any Lebanese?
I'll expect you early
for lunch today.
I can't, honey. I...
I just can't get going today.
I can't cut it.
(Jeannie cries quietly)
- (crying)
- Jeannie, no!
No, no, no, no, don't cry.
Oh, Burt.
Oh, I'm only what you are, Burt.
(sniffles)
If you give up, I'm nothing.
Oh, who's giving up?
Nobody's giving up.
Honey, I haven't even
started to milk my territory yet.
I don't want to ever see
you cry again, honey.
I can take anything but that.
What's there to
cry about? (sniffles)
That's my lady.
I love you, Burt.
Kah!
Let's go, Pop. We're
going for a little ride.
Look, you got to believe me. I
never saw anybody in that car.
- It went by too fast.
- Shut up.
Listen, it was a
story. I made it up.
- Shut up!
- I swear.
- Start the car.
- I was lying.
- I always lie.
- I said, start the car!
- I-I can't help it!
- (engine starting)
All right, all right.
(siren wailing)
(distant siren wailing)
(siren approaching)
Hey, that's him.
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
(tires squealing)
Move it, man.
Move it, I said.
(siren wailing)
Step on it!
(engine revving)
(siren wailing)
Look out!
(tires screeching)
(horn honking)
We lost them.
(tires screech and squeal)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
(siren wailing)
(grunting)
All right, come on,
Frankie. Right now.
Up!
(Frankie grunts)
(Burt groans)
I tried to tell him
it-it was all a mistake.
He wouldn't believe me.
I guess that doesn't
surprise you guys.
No, but what you did sure does.
Yeah. Me, too.
Honestly.
Well, thanks for
the ride, fellas.
You're welcome.
You know, I-I really got to
hand it to you guys. You...
- Don't forget your case.
- Oh, yeah.
- Thanks, Lieutenant. I...
- JEANNIE: Burt!
What happened?!
Are you all right?
Yeah, sure.
Well, look at you.
What's that?
Well, it's-it's nothing.
I'll tell you about it later.
No, go on. Tell her now.
Go ahead.
Well, I-I kind of wrestled
with a guy, that's all.
Yeah, and he just kind of
took the gun away from him.
That's all.
No. I...
I don't believe a
word you're saying.
Oh, yeah?
N-Now, you tell me,
what really happened?
Yeah, I will, honey,
later, in my own way.
Don't worry, Lieutenant.
This one I won't
have to exaggerate.
I don't believe it myself.
Well, where's the car?
Oh, it's in the garage.
I bet I got a $1,000 worth of...
couple of hundred dollars
worth of damage on that thing.
I've got... I was
going 90 miles...
He just can't help
himself, can he?
No, no, no, he's pathological.
You see, he's trying
to compensate...
Strong feelings of
inferiority, I know.
I know all about that.
I drive with one every day.
Now wait a minute. You what?
Well, she didn't believe
you, either, did she?
- What?
- She caught onto you right away.
Oh, come on, will you?
What are you talking about?
(Stone laughing)
No, you know, I really believe
there's a little bit
of that in all of us.
It's a way of surviving.
- (engine starts)
- Yeah, yeah.