The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977): Season 5, Episode 15 - A Good Cop... But - full transcript
A drug kingpin guns down a cop. To ensure a conviction, a narcotics officer who witnessed the murder will have to reveal in court a closely guarded personal secret that could cost him friendships and his standing in the department.
(theme music playing)
Outpost to coordinator.
LAMBERT (through radio): Go.
Another limousine.
Black. One man in
front, two in the rear.
Is Birmingham aboard?
Negative.
Big, big fella's Clement.
Freddy Clement.
Very large
Northwestern connection.
Distributes all the
way to the Fairbanks.
Will you look at this.
Look at these biggies.
This is another Appalachia.
Yeah, but what's it mean
without Birmingham?
He'll show. Did
I ever stiff yous?
No, Moonshine, you're the best.
How's the time?
It's exactly 5:10.
What are we going to do?
We only have an arrest
warrant for Birmingham.
What do you think we're
gonna do? We're gonna wait.
Wait?
Okay, we wait.
You know Dave, you've
got one major flaw as a narc.
Yeah? What's that?
You take your job too serious,
and I mean that, I mean it.
What you need
is a nice little wife.
Someone to relax you.
My sister, Connie, she'd say
yes like that if you asked her.
Do you have
another piece of taffy?
I don't have any taffy.
I got a cookie.
Give me.
That's a cookie?
You don't like brunettes?
I got sisters to burn.
Rita, you like Rita.
I'm gonna have Rita
over to the house
Monday night for your birthday.
Who knows? You never can tell.
RODRIGUEZ (over radio): Dave.
Go.
Bingo. Mr. B.
Park it around the corner.
There he is.
That's Art Devoe.
Baldy.
Local muscle.
Very rough child.
All units, this is Dave.
The rat is in the trap.
And we're gonna
spring it in, um,
60 seconds.
Hey, I-I'm out.
You've been very
good, Moonshine.
Now, just stay loose, huh?
Everything will be fine.
Okay, Freddie.
Sit down.
Let's move it.
Is everybody here?
Freeze it.
Easy.
I want to say one
or two things first
about territorial infringement.
Then I'll open the meeting
up to general questions.
Now I don't want to
hear any personal attacks,
and I don't want to
have any hurt feelings.
Gentlemen, we have a
$100 million business here.
Scatter!
COP: Hold it.
- Police!
- (gunshot)
(tires squeal)
(sirens wailing)
Lambert, how is he?
They'll try to bring him
back, but he's gone.
(grunts)
- Married, three kids.
- Uh-huh.
Well, we're gonna
have to have a report.
Listen, if you want
to unwind first,
- you go right ahead.
- No, no, no. Let's do it.
Well, you were in
charge of the stakeout?
Yeah.
We had a major bust going on.
Every prime supplier
on the west coast.
Mr. B. called the meeting.
That's Carl Birmingham.
We've been after
Birmingham for five years,
but we've never really been able
to tie him into
the organization.
I had a warrant
out for his arrest
based on reliable information
that he was carrying
a quarter of a million
dollars’ worth of scag.
But he slipped our collar,
and everything blew up on us.
This officer Cobb was
posted on the street.
Birmingham shot him.
Any witnesses?
I saw it.
I was about 20 yards away.
Anybody else?
Yeah, our snitch
was there, Moonshine.
We call him Moonshine;
his name's Fisher.
Randolph J...
Cobb gave me his wife's number.
I have to call her.
You go ahead.
You call her and just
take it easy, will you?
I think we've got
enough to start on.
We'll keep in touch.
Sounds pretty tight.
We ought to be able to hang
a Murder One rap on Mr. B.
- (horn honks)
- He's a very quick cat.
He won't fall easy.
We'll see.
I'm sorry we're late, Mr. B.
The airport was socked in.
You're Carter?
Yes, sir.
Powder man?
Yes, sir. That's what
they said you wanted.
That's exactly what I wanted.
Snuff him.
Guy's name is Fischer,
but they call him Moonshine.
He's got a room
over on Post Street.
Well, I'll show you.
What about Lambert?
Yeah, he saw me, too.
Carl, you know, sometimes
it's a lot cheaper to spend
a couple thousand on a
cop than it is to waste him.
Can he be reached?
No, not his guy.
He's a crusader.
He's been out after Mr. B.
Ever since he got
into the department.
BIRMINGHAM: Look
into his background.
Let's see how pure he is.
You mean women? Gambling?
Yeah, whatever, just find it.
Oh, and Artie,
if you don't come
up with something,
then waste him.
You're busy; I'll come back.
No, no, hold it. Hold it.
Come on in.
Just one second.
There we are.
Well, well, well, counselor.
I was thinking you might
have run out on us too.
New secretary.
She forgot to give
me your message.
This is my new
partner, Dan Robbins.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Abe Johnson; close the door.
So,
the girl didn't tell
me what you wanted.
I want your client.
Which client?
Oh, come on, stop it.
Yes. Well,
Mr. Birmingham told me
about a mix-up of some kind
on the waterfront this morning.
He said he had a few
business matters to attend to,
then he'd contact Narcotics.
Homicide.
The charge is murder.
Well, it doesn't matter
what the charge.
The man is innocent.
He told me he was in
San Jose this morning.
A Narcotics officer saw him
in a San Francisco warehouse.
You mean Lambert?
That man has been impugning
my client's
reputation for years.
Well, that wouldn't be hard.
Lieutenant, I have just
filed a Civil Pleading
against Officer Lambert
for malicious defamation.
Just so you know I'm
not about to stand by
and let a personal vendetta
railroad my client into prison.
And that's going
to be your defense?
If it goes to trial, it will be.
I don't think it will, though.
I don't think
Lambert will be willing
to perjure himself.
When the chips are
down, I believe you'll find
Dave Lambert
declines to testify.
I wouldn't bet on it.
140.
Hey.
Telephone man.
Who for?
Uh, 215. Rudolph Fischer.
He ain't home.
This is the time he
asked for and he made
a very big thing of it. This
has got to be fixed today.
Well, he ain't home. I'm sorry.
Oh, too bad.
Well, I'll try to be back
in three or four weeks.
Three... All right, come on.
(mutters)
What would it take to let me
know somebody's coming?
Two minutes?
Couldn't he write me a note?
Well, people are funny.
Well.
All right, flip the
latch when you go out.
It'll lock by itself.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Be right with you.
I'm looking for a man by
the name of Phil Lundeen.
You found him.
You Dave Lambert's
brother-in-law?
You mean ex-brother-in-law.
Ex. Right.
Dave is divorced, isn't he?
I don't believe I
got your name, Mr...
Bart.
Private Detective.
Sure.
Dave's a pretty popular
boy around these parts.
Everybody I talk to
has a good word for him.
Is that a fact?
What kind of a word does
your sister have for
him, Mr. Lundeen?
Let me tell you the
reason I'm asking.
Dave's planning on remarrying,
and, uh, my client
wants to make sure
that she's doing the
right thing, you see?
Now, you wouldn't happen to
have any advice for her, would you?
LUNDEEN: Yeah, I
got some advice for her.
Tell her to run for her life.
Why?
Forget it.
Now, listen, buddy,
this just might be
very valuable to my
client... say... $1,000?
Mr. Barton...
you tell your client
she's got a deal.
♪♪
WOMAN: So, you got home!
Ceel! What?!
Are you trying to
give me a stroke?
S-Somebody ought
to bell you like a cat.
Listen, Fisher, I've
had all the aggravation
I can take for one
day, so don't push.
Now, I ain't your slave,
and I'm not gonna be
running up and down
those stairs all day long
after every Tom, Dick and Harry
that comes calling here for you.
What Tom, Dick and Harry?
You forgot the telephone
man was coming!
Telephone man?
What did he look like?
Like a telephone man!
(woman groans)
(explosion)
- Okay!
- (excited chatter, cheers)
Hold it, hold it, little
toast to the birthday boy.
- Toast!
- To a friend, a great friend,
- a great partner,
- Right, right, right.
A man among men,
a narc among narcs.
- Dave, happy birthday, pal.
- All right, thanks.
I just wanted to
say in reciprocation
that you're right in
everything you say.
- (laughter)
- Thank you.
- Happy Birthday, man.
- Beautiful. Thanks for the card.
Okay, okay, hey, well,
cut the cake already.
- Come on.
- You do it. I'm not too...
Connie, give him a hand.
- She just baked that.
- That's unbelievable.
Looks like it was bought
in a store, doesn't it?
Connie baked that. Rita,
go get the presents, will you?
Okay, I'm going, I'm going.
Come on, babe,
I'll give you a hand.
Rodriguez, watch it, because
she's got her eye on Dave.
- Oh, hey.
- You're lucky they outlawed polygamy.
He'd have you
marrying all of us.
- (laughter) -Let me go
get another bottle over here.
- (indistinct chatter)
- What a cake! Incredible!
- Nice big one. The flower.
- Okay.
Uh, you want to
give me a refill?
I certainly do. You
are some cooker!
Hey, easy, I'm driving.
That's all right,
I'll take you home.
Happy birthday, David.
Thanks, Connie.
And thanks for that cake.
You know Ernie's right...
We deserve one another.
Oh, well, in that case,
how about a big old kiss?
- You got it.
- Come on, come on, come on!
We're opening the
presents! Come on!
- Break it up.
- ♪ Birthday to you. ♪
Open this first. Right here.
Look at all these. Incredible.
- Who's this from?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
- (laughter)
It's from your brother, huh?
Well, it's gonna
be a bomb, right?
- (laughter) -There you
go, you never can tell.
- All right!
- Oh, wow!
It's a tape recorder.
I thought you said these
were supposed to be gag gifts.
Yeah, well, wait till
you hear what's on...
(doorbell rings)
Hold it, hold it, hold it.
- Is Dave here?
- Sure. Come on in.
No. Could we see
him for a minute?
Uh, yeah.
Dave, come here a second.
Uh, hey, carry on, carry
on. We'll be right back.
Mike.
Birmingham's in custody.
Where'd you find him?
He turned himself in.
Arraignment's tomorrow.
- I'll be there.
- That's why we wanted to talk to you.
You'll have to be there.
We lost Moonshine.
They wired his room,
blew half his apartment out.
No sign of the man.
We think he tripped
the wire and ran.
Well, that's one witness
down and one to go.
Hey, come on,
Ernie, you don't think
- they'll try to kill a cop?
- STONE: They might.
Birmingham's
dead if you testify.
Mike, are we authorized to
give Dave any protection?
No, I don't want any protection.
Doesn't even
have to be official.
Just some of the guys'll
hang around, make sure...
No, all right?
Look, if they try anything,
they're gonna try a bribe.
Now, it's my
birthday... Come on in
and have a piece
of cake, will you?
- (Stone sighs)
- Fellas, eat, drink, be merry.
Good evening, Officer Lambert.
Well, I see it, but
I don't believe it.
Uh, believe what?
I'm talking about
your nerve, Devoe.
Get out of the car with
your hands behind your back.
In a minute.
- Get out!
- I had a little talk
with your ex-brother-in-law
this afternoon, Davey.
Yeah?
He really spilled
the beans, man.
Told me all your little secrets.
He named names, places, dates.
See, Phil, uh...
he don't even think
you're fit to be a cop.
Now, why would he think that...
just because you're
a homosexual?
Get in.
♪♪
♪♪
- Any word on Moonshine?
- No, not yet. He's still hiding.
Lambert give you a list of
his former employers, friends?
If he hasn't left town,
we'll flush him out.
(knocking)
Come in.
Ah, come on in, Dave.
Uh, could I have a
word with you, Captain?
- Sure.
- STONE: Okay.
Uh, Mike?
Uh, would you mind staying, too?
(chuckles): Yeah.
Sit down.
What's your problem?
I just thought I should
cue the department in
on certain new developments.
Go ahead.
One of Birmingham's soldiers
was waiting for me last
night when I got home,
and he tried to hassle me.
You're kidding. How?
Well, he said that if I
testified against Birmingham,
he'd have the record show
that I was a homosexual.
Are you a homosexual?
Yes.
(whispers): Damn!
Who else knows about this?
I don't know.
Anybody in the department?
I don't think so.
I chose to keep it quiet.
Do you mind telling me why?
Well, I just felt I
could do a better job
without the social pressures.
Well, now you've got them.
So, where do we go from here?
You know, you're
supposed to testify for me.
Are you willing to?
Yes.
Better think about it.
It could be bloody.
I know that.
- Who's prosecuting?
- Billings.
Okay. You'd better warn him.
I don't want him having a
heart attack in open court.
All right, I'll give him a call.
Thank you.
I sure don't need this.
One of my own men
being blackmailed.
Jack, he wasn't blackmailed.
He reported it.
That takes the threat away.
What does that mean,
that there's no problem?
- No, no, I didn't say that.
- Good.
Because there's going to be
a problem, and you know it.
Not that the department
discriminates,
but some of my men aren't
as understanding as you are.
And some of them are
going to begin to wonder
what else they don't
know about Dave Lambert,
and that gives me a
personnel problem, doesn't it?
Okay, let's just take
one step at a time.
He said he was
willing to testify;
that means we still have a case.
Make it stick, Mike.
He's a good man.
I don't want him ruined.
Look, we know you run a book.
We know that
Moonshine bets with you.
So let's quit
playing games, huh?
So... what do you want from me?
Information.
I told you, I haven't seen him.
Well, find him.
There's 500 bucks in it for you.
Here, call this number.
Sure. Anything for a friend.
STONE: I still don't understand
why it should change
the basic case.
- You're not a lawyer, Mike.
- Well, a man was murdered,
you've got an eyewitness...
Those are the facts.
LAMBERT: Maybe he's afraid
I'll lisp when I get up in court.
BILLINGS: That's a
cheap shot, Lambert.
You can lisp all you want...
I still have a case to prove,
- and you're gonna make a lousy witness.
- And why?
I've still got 20/20
vision; I know what I saw.
Yeah, you're a good
cop... but you're gay.
So what?
So, what are the jurors
gonna hear in that courtroom
- about Officer Lambert?
- They'll hear that he's got
one of the best lists of
commendations on the force.
BILLINGS: No. They'll
hear he's lived a lie
ever since he's
been on the force.
Somebody's gonna wonder how
many other lies he's capable of.
Jerry...
It just takes one
to win an acquittal.
Look, a jury is nothing
more than a cross section
of public opinion.
I don't have to tell you, Dave,
some people won't
like what you are.
Well, that shouldn't
be the issue.
Yeah. Well, it will be.
You've been after
Birmingham for five years.
You said a lot of
nasty things about him,
which puts his reputation
on the line and yours.
Of course I've been after him.
Do you know how
many people he's killed
or maimed with the
junk he's selling?
But he hasn't been
charged with that.
All right, all right.
So what's the answer?
We're dead if we go
to trial with just you.
I can tell you that.
Mike, I got to have Moonshine.
I don't care where
he is. Find him.
I'll do whatever I
can to buy you time.
All right.
You know
Moonshine's got a, uh...
a kid over in East Bay
in a convent school.
Saint Theresa's.
I don't think he'd leave
without seeing her.
He's crazy about her.
Maybe you ought
to stake her out.
You never mentioned that before.
I forgot.
I guess I've had a few
other things on my mind.
Well, it's not going
to get any easier.
I know.
The hardest part is seeing
how people I really
like are going to react.
I guess I never
liked losing friends.
Nobody does.
Well, come on.
The lions are waiting.
Mr. Birmingham, you've
heard the charges against you.
How do you plead?
Not guilty, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Very well.
Prosecution ready to set a
date for preliminary hearing?
No, Your Honor.
- No?
- BILLINGS: Your Honor,
the state requests a continuance
for seven days. I realize...
Judge Cramer, it is
absolutely basic to the law
that every prisoner
be given a speedy trial.
Now, if the state's case isn't
ready, why was an arrest made?
JUDGE: I think that's an awfully
good question, Mr. Billings.
We are ready, Your Honor.
Unfortunately, I'm still
involved in a prior litigation.
Are you the only assistant
the District Attorney has on his staff?
- No, sir.
Then why wasn't someone
else assigned to this case?
- I don't know, sir.
- Judge?
Mr. Billings, do you think
you could possibly be
available in two days?
Yes, sir.
This court will reconvene
at 9:00 a.m. on Friday next.
(crowd chatter)
- What's with the continuance?
- Hey.
We have this guy on his back.
Must be some legal problem.
- What? What's the problem?
- What?
Well, I don't know, man.
Do I look like a lawyer?
Well, let's find
out. I'll ask him.
Will you lay off? It has
nothing to do with you.
I'm-I'm sorry, Ernie.
I'm sorry.
Look, I'll explain
later, all right?
MAN: First it was a
Jesuit. Then I don't know...
Charlie, two beers.
And a lot of peanuts,
would you, Charlie?
- Price.
- (Ernie clears his throat)
How's it going?
(Ernie clears his throat)
So what is bothering Dave, man?
How should I know?
I'm only his partner.
Oh, come on, we don't
need a continuance.
Now, we're ready, we can
go, we got the case locked.
I know, I know. It does
not make any sense.
Makes sense to me.
Oh, yeah?
Well, you know so much,
Price, why don't you clue me in?
Why, you haven't heard yet?
Heard what?
Let me tell you something funny.
When I was working in
Vice, I used to see that guy,
and I said to myself,
uh, "I don't know, man.
I just don't know." You know?
What are you talking about?
PRICE: Lambert, man.
You're, uh, sweetie pie.
Hey, uh, Detective Price,
I hope you didn't mean
what I think you meant.
I meant the guy's gay, man.
Now that's a damn lie,
and you better watch
your mouth, okay?
Ern, he admitted it himself.
It's all over Bryant
Street. (laughs)
And all the time you're trying
to get him to marry your sister.
Come on, Ern. You
had to know, huh?
I mean, you were buddies.
Let me ask you something.
What do you do after a fight?
Send each other flowers?
Hey, no. Ernie.
No, no. Man, come on. Come on.
(groans)
(grunting)
(grunting continues)
All right, that's enough.
That's enough. That's enough!
That's enough!
You two, get off of
me and stay there!
That's it! That's it.
Okay, okay. I'm all right.
I'm all right. I'm
okay. I'm okay.
(Rodriguez sighs)
You're a liar.
You guys...
WOMAN: I don't understand
how I can help you, Lieutenant.
It seems that you
have the same address
for Mr. Fisher that we have.
STONE: And you
say he hasn't tried
to contact his daughter
in the past few days?
SISTER: No, he hasn't.
ROBBINS: Is that usual, Sister?
I mean how often will he
normally come by or telephone?
SISTER: Oh, he never
telephones. He always comes by.
- He likes to give Dolores little presents.
- Mm-hmm.
They walk, they talk.
They have a very
good relationship.
Actually, now
that I think of it,
they haven't seen each
other for several weeks.
And you think a visit
may be long overdue?
Yes. Yes, long overdue.
Sister, I don't
want to alarm you,
but I think that
there's a possibility
that that child
could be in danger.
I... I don't understand.
Well, she could be in
danger by some people
who are trying to reach
her father through her.
Oh. I see.
So what I'll do is, I'll...
I'll leave a man
on stakeout here.
Here?
No, no. I mean at
the front entrance.
So we can have a talk with
Mr. Fisher if he shows up.
All right. I understand.
STONE: In the meantime, if he
telephones or writes a letter,
would you call me
immediately, please?
Here's my card.
And thank you, Sister.
Thank you.
Hey, what happened to your eye?
Ran into a door.
What happened?
I heard a rumor
down at the Grill.
Is it true?
Is what true?
Are you gay?
Yes, I am. I am.
I don't believe it.
Well, it's true, Ernie.
It's true.
Oh.
How can you know
somebody all these years
and not know anything
about him at all?
Why didn't you tell me?
I-I-I didn't tell
anybody, Ernie.
I'm not anybody!
I'm your partner!
I understand. I know. I...
I guess, uh, look, I, uh... I
kept it quiet because, um...
I just knew what kind of effect
it would have around here.
Around here?
What about the effect on me?
Yeah.
You, too, Ernie.
I was afraid of what
you'd... of what you'd feel.
I was afraid.
What do you feel?
What do I feel?
Yeah.
Feel like a fool,
that's how I feel.
(sighing)
Well, well, where do we
go from here, old buddy?
Nowhere. We go nowhere.
Ernie, come
here... Don't! Don't!
Don't you ever touch me again.
CONNIE: Ern, is that you?
Oh, that's a relief.
I thought it might be Jack
the Ripper there for a minute.
- Hi.
- Hi.
How was your day?
- Okay. Ow!
- What?
- Hey, take it easy.
- Ooh, Ernie, what happened?
Nothing. Nothing happened.
Nothing? Where's Dave?
- Here put that...
- All right.
- Put that on.
- I'll do it.
I'll do it, I'll do it, I'll...
I said I'd come over and
fix you two this great dinner.
Yeah.
Well, maybe he got
hung up or something.
You know, he's been
hanging around here
a little too much lately anyway.
Dave?
Yeah, Dave.
(Connie laughs quietly)
You didn't have a
fight with him,did you?
What's for dinner?
Ernie, what happened?
(sighs)
I know this man a long time.
All these years, he's been
lying to me and you, too.
About what?
About a lot of things.
About who he is, what he is.
What the hell are
you talking about?
He's gay! That's
what I'm talking about.
The man is gay.
He finally told you, did he?
What?
Ernie... I've know
that for a long time.
He told you?
Well, I mean, not
in so many words,
but we're friends.
I mean, we talk.
He's my friend, too, you know.
He's my partner.
Why didn't he talk to me?
Well, look at you. Would
you have understood?
How did it come up?
Someone blew
the whistle on the...
(sighs heavily)
Oh, Ernie, come on.
Nothing's changed.
What?!
Dave's the same man
you knew at the academy,
and he's the same partner
you've had for five years.
No. No more.
I put in for a transfer.
I'm going over to robbery.
Do you mind telling me why?
- Why?
- Yeah.
Because I don't want to be
in the same room with him.
I don't want to talk, I
don't want to know him.
Oh, that's ridiculous!
Look, mouth, enough.
Just drop it, will you?
How can you call
yourself his friend?
You're not even
concerned about his feelings
or what he's going through.
The only thing on your mind is
what people are going
to think about you.
All right, Connie,
cool it, okay?
I don't need any lectures.
Oh, you need more
than a lecture, big brother.
You need a major transfusion
of human compassion,
because you sure
don't have any now.
I'm eating now.
I told you there'd be trouble.
How many guys said they
didn't want to work with him?
Three so far.
Does he know about it?
Yes, and he also knows his
partner's requested a transfer.
Hmm.
Mike, I want you
to take Lambert,
at least temporarily, till I
can figure something out.
- You don't mind, do you?
- No, not at all.
As a matter of fact,
I've got him working
with Robbins right
now on an assignment.
Hey, now, wait a minute.
Who gave you that authority?
You just did, didn't you?
(Stone chuckles)
(bells tolling)
(overlapping
shouting of children)
How's about another taffy?
Oh, no, thanks.
Boo! Are you the
secret stakeout?
Well, I wouldn't
exactly say secret.
Sister sent me.
She said to tell you
that Dolores had a visitor.
It wasn't her father?
No, not her father,
but he's from her father.
He sent her some stuff...
Candy, a comic book.
He was right behind me.
There!
That's the Swede.
They used to be, uh, roommates
before this guy hit the bottle.
- (man's car engine starts)
- Thanks a lot, sweetheart.
Now what are you going
to do, gun him down?
Take it nice and slow.
CARTER: One,
two, three, four, 500.
Yeah, I knew he'd be
around here sooner or later.
I called you the minute he left.
Then you're a big hero.
I told you how he was dressed.
Yeah, you told me.
You told me.
I'll find him.
There's Mike.
Well?
We lost him.
- Did he spot you?
- No, I don't think so.
He drove straight here, and
he parked across the street.
He's got to be in
there somewhere.
- Well, what about Moonshine?
- No sign of him.
Wait, hold it. Hold it.
He's here, too.
I don't know what's
the matter with me.
Must be too many distractions.
Moonshine used to
work with the carnies.
I should have remembered that.
There'd be no better place
in town to hide out then here.
All right, come on,
let's take a look.
Nice.
Let's take a little
walk, Moonshine.
(gunshots)
Drop it.
- Drop it!
- (gunshot)
The clown, find him.
(sirens wailing)
STONE: Come on, hurry up.
This man's hurt.
He's gonna need an ambulance.
Here, that's his.
Watch him.
(panting) He just disappeared.
Well, he's in there somewhere.
All right.
Let's check the
arcades; come on.
♪♪
♪♪
(clattering)
- No, no, please.
- Come on, up, up.
Come on, get up, will you?
Wh-What's the rap.
You know the rap, Moonshine.
You're a material
witness to a murder.
Uh-uh, I never seen it.
The powder man's on
his way to the hospital.
He fits the description that
your landlady gave of him.
That means he's not
in the picture anymore.
Is Devoe out of the picture?
No, not yet.
I never seen it.
You can have 24-hour protection.
Protection?
Mr. B. got mad at a
friend of mine up north.
He sends Devoe after him.
This guy's got a cop
living at his house.
So, Devoe set fire to the place.
And he shoots them both.
When they both come running
out, he shoots them like ducks.
I don't want your protection!
Then how would you
like to spend some time
in Q for withholding evidence?
I got pals there.
I wouldn't mind that.
You want to know something?
Birmingham's
got pals there, too.
I don't care all right?
All right, all right,
there's another way.
Suppose we put
Devoe on ice for you?
If you've got him boxed up,
how come he's on the loose?
Because I didn't want to
bring the charge against him
- until I had to.
- What charge?
- Blackmail.
- You'd need proof.
I've got it, in his own voice.
I had a pocket tape
recorder running
the night he tried
to shake me down.
I didn't want to use
it unless I had to.
Why not?
He did a real number
on me, names, places,
people I've been involved with.
STONE: Wait a minute,
you mean to tell me
that you'd let Billings
play that tape in open court?
Yeah.
Provide a real circus
for the news media.
I want Birmingham.
I don't understand.
I don't understand this stuff.
Look, you're safe Moonshine.
You wanted Devoe
jugged, and you've got it.
He'll get five to ten for
blackmail with his record.
When I know what
cell he's in, I'll testify!
- Listen to me!
- Wait a minute, hold it.
Now listen,
when we've got him
cornered and nailed,
that's when you testify.
Otherwise you go with him.
You really want to
leave your little girl alone
all that time, Moonshine?
All right, all right.
You're right, all right.
(mutters)
Objection.
Hearsay evidence not
relative to the present case.
Sustained.
The issue here is
murder, Officer Lambert.
Please stick to that.
Yes, Your Honor.
Go ahead.
I was outside a warehouse
on Kellock and Carrington.
Officer Cobb attempted to
stop a man for questioning.
The man shot and killed him.
Could you identify this man
and is he in the courtroom now?
Yes, uh, there.
Carl Birmingham.
Your witness.
Officer Lambert...
how many times have you
arrested Mr. Birmingham
in the course of your duties?
I'm not sure.
Four.
No, it was, um,
it was five times.
And how many convictions
are there against him?
There are none that I know of.
But it hasn't been for want
of trying on your part, has it?
As a matter of fact,
you would do a great
deal to see this man in jail.
Even lie, wouldn't you?
No.
And, uh...
I gather you're
not the lying kind.
Not when it comes
to police matters.
Mm-hmm, and you've never lied
to or for the police
department, have you?
That-That's right.
I see.
Officer Lambert, are
you a homosexual?
(gallery murmurs)
No objection, Mr. Billings?
No, Your Honor.
Are you sure this is relevant?
Yes, Your Honor, I'm sure.
Answer the question.
Yes.
Did the police department
know this at the time you joined?
No.
So, you lied to
them, didn't you?
No, sir. No, sir.
I was never asked that question.
How fortunate that you
omitted to tell the truth.
How many other times have
you omitted to tell the truth?
Your whole life
has been a living lie.
Objection.
Sustained.
No further questions.
You may re-direct.
Officer Lambert,
has there ever been an
attempt to blackmail you
because of your homosexuality?
Objection.
How in the world can
you do that, Mr. Johnson?
You opened the line.
Overruled.
Go ahead.
There was an attempt
to blackmail me
last Monday night.
By whom?
An employee of Mr. Birmingham
by the name Arthur Devoe.
BILLINGS: Do you
have any proof of this?
LAMBERT: Yes, I do; I
have a tape recording of it.
Is this the one?
Yes.
Your Honor, I would
like to play this,
then I would like to have
it marked people's exhibit
number one.
DEVOE (through speaker):
Good evening, Officer Lambert.
LAMBERT: Well, I see
it, but I don't believe it.
Believe what?
I'm talking about
your nerve, Devoe.
Get out of the car with
your hands behind your back.
In a minute.
I had a little talk
with your ex-brother-in-law
this afternoon, David.
Yeah?
He really spilled the
beans, man; he told me
all your little secrets,
named names, places, dates.
See, Phil, uh,
he don't even think
you're fit to be a cop.
Why would he think that?
Just because you're
a homosexual?
With Moonshine's testimony,
I don't think we have anything
to worry about.
It's got to be a lock.
Well, I wish there'd been
some other way we
could have nailed Devoe.
I wish so, too,
but there wasn't.
Captain said he wants you
to return to Narcotics today.
Yeah, I heard.
Well, it was a
short partnership,
but I think a profitable one.
Thanks for your support.
Any time.
Hey, Dave.
Mike, Dan.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
I hear Birmingham's
really going to get his.
Yeah, you got two for
the price of one, pal.
It's going to be a long time
before Art Devoe's
on the streets again.
I'll tell you that.
You all right?
- I'll see you upstairs, Eddie.
- Okay.
- See you guys later.
- Right.
You did good in court, pal.
I never would have
played that tape, never.
Well, you didn't have to.
Oh, I meant to tell you.
I'm going to chicken
out of that transfer.
What do I know about robbery?
Well, you could learn.
Yeah, but that's
the trouble with me.
I'm such a slow learner.
I kind of figure
I know what I'm doing
around here, you know?
Uh, I trust the guys around me.
What's the sense of
breaking up a good team?
(horn honks)
Is that okay with you?
Hey, we were
made for each other.
You had to say that, huh?
Thanks.
Outpost to coordinator.
LAMBERT (through radio): Go.
Another limousine.
Black. One man in
front, two in the rear.
Is Birmingham aboard?
Negative.
Big, big fella's Clement.
Freddy Clement.
Very large
Northwestern connection.
Distributes all the
way to the Fairbanks.
Will you look at this.
Look at these biggies.
This is another Appalachia.
Yeah, but what's it mean
without Birmingham?
He'll show. Did
I ever stiff yous?
No, Moonshine, you're the best.
How's the time?
It's exactly 5:10.
What are we going to do?
We only have an arrest
warrant for Birmingham.
What do you think we're
gonna do? We're gonna wait.
Wait?
Okay, we wait.
You know Dave, you've
got one major flaw as a narc.
Yeah? What's that?
You take your job too serious,
and I mean that, I mean it.
What you need
is a nice little wife.
Someone to relax you.
My sister, Connie, she'd say
yes like that if you asked her.
Do you have
another piece of taffy?
I don't have any taffy.
I got a cookie.
Give me.
That's a cookie?
You don't like brunettes?
I got sisters to burn.
Rita, you like Rita.
I'm gonna have Rita
over to the house
Monday night for your birthday.
Who knows? You never can tell.
RODRIGUEZ (over radio): Dave.
Go.
Bingo. Mr. B.
Park it around the corner.
There he is.
That's Art Devoe.
Baldy.
Local muscle.
Very rough child.
All units, this is Dave.
The rat is in the trap.
And we're gonna
spring it in, um,
60 seconds.
Hey, I-I'm out.
You've been very
good, Moonshine.
Now, just stay loose, huh?
Everything will be fine.
Okay, Freddie.
Sit down.
Let's move it.
Is everybody here?
Freeze it.
Easy.
I want to say one
or two things first
about territorial infringement.
Then I'll open the meeting
up to general questions.
Now I don't want to
hear any personal attacks,
and I don't want to
have any hurt feelings.
Gentlemen, we have a
$100 million business here.
Scatter!
COP: Hold it.
- Police!
- (gunshot)
(tires squeal)
(sirens wailing)
Lambert, how is he?
They'll try to bring him
back, but he's gone.
(grunts)
- Married, three kids.
- Uh-huh.
Well, we're gonna
have to have a report.
Listen, if you want
to unwind first,
- you go right ahead.
- No, no, no. Let's do it.
Well, you were in
charge of the stakeout?
Yeah.
We had a major bust going on.
Every prime supplier
on the west coast.
Mr. B. called the meeting.
That's Carl Birmingham.
We've been after
Birmingham for five years,
but we've never really been able
to tie him into
the organization.
I had a warrant
out for his arrest
based on reliable information
that he was carrying
a quarter of a million
dollars’ worth of scag.
But he slipped our collar,
and everything blew up on us.
This officer Cobb was
posted on the street.
Birmingham shot him.
Any witnesses?
I saw it.
I was about 20 yards away.
Anybody else?
Yeah, our snitch
was there, Moonshine.
We call him Moonshine;
his name's Fisher.
Randolph J...
Cobb gave me his wife's number.
I have to call her.
You go ahead.
You call her and just
take it easy, will you?
I think we've got
enough to start on.
We'll keep in touch.
Sounds pretty tight.
We ought to be able to hang
a Murder One rap on Mr. B.
- (horn honks)
- He's a very quick cat.
He won't fall easy.
We'll see.
I'm sorry we're late, Mr. B.
The airport was socked in.
You're Carter?
Yes, sir.
Powder man?
Yes, sir. That's what
they said you wanted.
That's exactly what I wanted.
Snuff him.
Guy's name is Fischer,
but they call him Moonshine.
He's got a room
over on Post Street.
Well, I'll show you.
What about Lambert?
Yeah, he saw me, too.
Carl, you know, sometimes
it's a lot cheaper to spend
a couple thousand on a
cop than it is to waste him.
Can he be reached?
No, not his guy.
He's a crusader.
He's been out after Mr. B.
Ever since he got
into the department.
BIRMINGHAM: Look
into his background.
Let's see how pure he is.
You mean women? Gambling?
Yeah, whatever, just find it.
Oh, and Artie,
if you don't come
up with something,
then waste him.
You're busy; I'll come back.
No, no, hold it. Hold it.
Come on in.
Just one second.
There we are.
Well, well, well, counselor.
I was thinking you might
have run out on us too.
New secretary.
She forgot to give
me your message.
This is my new
partner, Dan Robbins.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Abe Johnson; close the door.
So,
the girl didn't tell
me what you wanted.
I want your client.
Which client?
Oh, come on, stop it.
Yes. Well,
Mr. Birmingham told me
about a mix-up of some kind
on the waterfront this morning.
He said he had a few
business matters to attend to,
then he'd contact Narcotics.
Homicide.
The charge is murder.
Well, it doesn't matter
what the charge.
The man is innocent.
He told me he was in
San Jose this morning.
A Narcotics officer saw him
in a San Francisco warehouse.
You mean Lambert?
That man has been impugning
my client's
reputation for years.
Well, that wouldn't be hard.
Lieutenant, I have just
filed a Civil Pleading
against Officer Lambert
for malicious defamation.
Just so you know I'm
not about to stand by
and let a personal vendetta
railroad my client into prison.
And that's going
to be your defense?
If it goes to trial, it will be.
I don't think it will, though.
I don't think
Lambert will be willing
to perjure himself.
When the chips are
down, I believe you'll find
Dave Lambert
declines to testify.
I wouldn't bet on it.
140.
Hey.
Telephone man.
Who for?
Uh, 215. Rudolph Fischer.
He ain't home.
This is the time he
asked for and he made
a very big thing of it. This
has got to be fixed today.
Well, he ain't home. I'm sorry.
Oh, too bad.
Well, I'll try to be back
in three or four weeks.
Three... All right, come on.
(mutters)
What would it take to let me
know somebody's coming?
Two minutes?
Couldn't he write me a note?
Well, people are funny.
Well.
All right, flip the
latch when you go out.
It'll lock by itself.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Be right with you.
I'm looking for a man by
the name of Phil Lundeen.
You found him.
You Dave Lambert's
brother-in-law?
You mean ex-brother-in-law.
Ex. Right.
Dave is divorced, isn't he?
I don't believe I
got your name, Mr...
Bart.
Private Detective.
Sure.
Dave's a pretty popular
boy around these parts.
Everybody I talk to
has a good word for him.
Is that a fact?
What kind of a word does
your sister have for
him, Mr. Lundeen?
Let me tell you the
reason I'm asking.
Dave's planning on remarrying,
and, uh, my client
wants to make sure
that she's doing the
right thing, you see?
Now, you wouldn't happen to
have any advice for her, would you?
LUNDEEN: Yeah, I
got some advice for her.
Tell her to run for her life.
Why?
Forget it.
Now, listen, buddy,
this just might be
very valuable to my
client... say... $1,000?
Mr. Barton...
you tell your client
she's got a deal.
♪♪
WOMAN: So, you got home!
Ceel! What?!
Are you trying to
give me a stroke?
S-Somebody ought
to bell you like a cat.
Listen, Fisher, I've
had all the aggravation
I can take for one
day, so don't push.
Now, I ain't your slave,
and I'm not gonna be
running up and down
those stairs all day long
after every Tom, Dick and Harry
that comes calling here for you.
What Tom, Dick and Harry?
You forgot the telephone
man was coming!
Telephone man?
What did he look like?
Like a telephone man!
(woman groans)
(explosion)
- Okay!
- (excited chatter, cheers)
Hold it, hold it, little
toast to the birthday boy.
- Toast!
- To a friend, a great friend,
- a great partner,
- Right, right, right.
A man among men,
a narc among narcs.
- Dave, happy birthday, pal.
- All right, thanks.
I just wanted to
say in reciprocation
that you're right in
everything you say.
- (laughter)
- Thank you.
- Happy Birthday, man.
- Beautiful. Thanks for the card.
Okay, okay, hey, well,
cut the cake already.
- Come on.
- You do it. I'm not too...
Connie, give him a hand.
- She just baked that.
- That's unbelievable.
Looks like it was bought
in a store, doesn't it?
Connie baked that. Rita,
go get the presents, will you?
Okay, I'm going, I'm going.
Come on, babe,
I'll give you a hand.
Rodriguez, watch it, because
she's got her eye on Dave.
- Oh, hey.
- You're lucky they outlawed polygamy.
He'd have you
marrying all of us.
- (laughter) -Let me go
get another bottle over here.
- (indistinct chatter)
- What a cake! Incredible!
- Nice big one. The flower.
- Okay.
Uh, you want to
give me a refill?
I certainly do. You
are some cooker!
Hey, easy, I'm driving.
That's all right,
I'll take you home.
Happy birthday, David.
Thanks, Connie.
And thanks for that cake.
You know Ernie's right...
We deserve one another.
Oh, well, in that case,
how about a big old kiss?
- You got it.
- Come on, come on, come on!
We're opening the
presents! Come on!
- Break it up.
- ♪ Birthday to you. ♪
Open this first. Right here.
Look at all these. Incredible.
- Who's this from?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
- (laughter)
It's from your brother, huh?
Well, it's gonna
be a bomb, right?
- (laughter) -There you
go, you never can tell.
- All right!
- Oh, wow!
It's a tape recorder.
I thought you said these
were supposed to be gag gifts.
Yeah, well, wait till
you hear what's on...
(doorbell rings)
Hold it, hold it, hold it.
- Is Dave here?
- Sure. Come on in.
No. Could we see
him for a minute?
Uh, yeah.
Dave, come here a second.
Uh, hey, carry on, carry
on. We'll be right back.
Mike.
Birmingham's in custody.
Where'd you find him?
He turned himself in.
Arraignment's tomorrow.
- I'll be there.
- That's why we wanted to talk to you.
You'll have to be there.
We lost Moonshine.
They wired his room,
blew half his apartment out.
No sign of the man.
We think he tripped
the wire and ran.
Well, that's one witness
down and one to go.
Hey, come on,
Ernie, you don't think
- they'll try to kill a cop?
- STONE: They might.
Birmingham's
dead if you testify.
Mike, are we authorized to
give Dave any protection?
No, I don't want any protection.
Doesn't even
have to be official.
Just some of the guys'll
hang around, make sure...
No, all right?
Look, if they try anything,
they're gonna try a bribe.
Now, it's my
birthday... Come on in
and have a piece
of cake, will you?
- (Stone sighs)
- Fellas, eat, drink, be merry.
Good evening, Officer Lambert.
Well, I see it, but
I don't believe it.
Uh, believe what?
I'm talking about
your nerve, Devoe.
Get out of the car with
your hands behind your back.
In a minute.
- Get out!
- I had a little talk
with your ex-brother-in-law
this afternoon, Davey.
Yeah?
He really spilled
the beans, man.
Told me all your little secrets.
He named names, places, dates.
See, Phil, uh...
he don't even think
you're fit to be a cop.
Now, why would he think that...
just because you're
a homosexual?
Get in.
♪♪
♪♪
- Any word on Moonshine?
- No, not yet. He's still hiding.
Lambert give you a list of
his former employers, friends?
If he hasn't left town,
we'll flush him out.
(knocking)
Come in.
Ah, come on in, Dave.
Uh, could I have a
word with you, Captain?
- Sure.
- STONE: Okay.
Uh, Mike?
Uh, would you mind staying, too?
(chuckles): Yeah.
Sit down.
What's your problem?
I just thought I should
cue the department in
on certain new developments.
Go ahead.
One of Birmingham's soldiers
was waiting for me last
night when I got home,
and he tried to hassle me.
You're kidding. How?
Well, he said that if I
testified against Birmingham,
he'd have the record show
that I was a homosexual.
Are you a homosexual?
Yes.
(whispers): Damn!
Who else knows about this?
I don't know.
Anybody in the department?
I don't think so.
I chose to keep it quiet.
Do you mind telling me why?
Well, I just felt I
could do a better job
without the social pressures.
Well, now you've got them.
So, where do we go from here?
You know, you're
supposed to testify for me.
Are you willing to?
Yes.
Better think about it.
It could be bloody.
I know that.
- Who's prosecuting?
- Billings.
Okay. You'd better warn him.
I don't want him having a
heart attack in open court.
All right, I'll give him a call.
Thank you.
I sure don't need this.
One of my own men
being blackmailed.
Jack, he wasn't blackmailed.
He reported it.
That takes the threat away.
What does that mean,
that there's no problem?
- No, no, I didn't say that.
- Good.
Because there's going to be
a problem, and you know it.
Not that the department
discriminates,
but some of my men aren't
as understanding as you are.
And some of them are
going to begin to wonder
what else they don't
know about Dave Lambert,
and that gives me a
personnel problem, doesn't it?
Okay, let's just take
one step at a time.
He said he was
willing to testify;
that means we still have a case.
Make it stick, Mike.
He's a good man.
I don't want him ruined.
Look, we know you run a book.
We know that
Moonshine bets with you.
So let's quit
playing games, huh?
So... what do you want from me?
Information.
I told you, I haven't seen him.
Well, find him.
There's 500 bucks in it for you.
Here, call this number.
Sure. Anything for a friend.
STONE: I still don't understand
why it should change
the basic case.
- You're not a lawyer, Mike.
- Well, a man was murdered,
you've got an eyewitness...
Those are the facts.
LAMBERT: Maybe he's afraid
I'll lisp when I get up in court.
BILLINGS: That's a
cheap shot, Lambert.
You can lisp all you want...
I still have a case to prove,
- and you're gonna make a lousy witness.
- And why?
I've still got 20/20
vision; I know what I saw.
Yeah, you're a good
cop... but you're gay.
So what?
So, what are the jurors
gonna hear in that courtroom
- about Officer Lambert?
- They'll hear that he's got
one of the best lists of
commendations on the force.
BILLINGS: No. They'll
hear he's lived a lie
ever since he's
been on the force.
Somebody's gonna wonder how
many other lies he's capable of.
Jerry...
It just takes one
to win an acquittal.
Look, a jury is nothing
more than a cross section
of public opinion.
I don't have to tell you, Dave,
some people won't
like what you are.
Well, that shouldn't
be the issue.
Yeah. Well, it will be.
You've been after
Birmingham for five years.
You said a lot of
nasty things about him,
which puts his reputation
on the line and yours.
Of course I've been after him.
Do you know how
many people he's killed
or maimed with the
junk he's selling?
But he hasn't been
charged with that.
All right, all right.
So what's the answer?
We're dead if we go
to trial with just you.
I can tell you that.
Mike, I got to have Moonshine.
I don't care where
he is. Find him.
I'll do whatever I
can to buy you time.
All right.
You know
Moonshine's got a, uh...
a kid over in East Bay
in a convent school.
Saint Theresa's.
I don't think he'd leave
without seeing her.
He's crazy about her.
Maybe you ought
to stake her out.
You never mentioned that before.
I forgot.
I guess I've had a few
other things on my mind.
Well, it's not going
to get any easier.
I know.
The hardest part is seeing
how people I really
like are going to react.
I guess I never
liked losing friends.
Nobody does.
Well, come on.
The lions are waiting.
Mr. Birmingham, you've
heard the charges against you.
How do you plead?
Not guilty, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Very well.
Prosecution ready to set a
date for preliminary hearing?
No, Your Honor.
- No?
- BILLINGS: Your Honor,
the state requests a continuance
for seven days. I realize...
Judge Cramer, it is
absolutely basic to the law
that every prisoner
be given a speedy trial.
Now, if the state's case isn't
ready, why was an arrest made?
JUDGE: I think that's an awfully
good question, Mr. Billings.
We are ready, Your Honor.
Unfortunately, I'm still
involved in a prior litigation.
Are you the only assistant
the District Attorney has on his staff?
- No, sir.
Then why wasn't someone
else assigned to this case?
- I don't know, sir.
- Judge?
Mr. Billings, do you think
you could possibly be
available in two days?
Yes, sir.
This court will reconvene
at 9:00 a.m. on Friday next.
(crowd chatter)
- What's with the continuance?
- Hey.
We have this guy on his back.
Must be some legal problem.
- What? What's the problem?
- What?
Well, I don't know, man.
Do I look like a lawyer?
Well, let's find
out. I'll ask him.
Will you lay off? It has
nothing to do with you.
I'm-I'm sorry, Ernie.
I'm sorry.
Look, I'll explain
later, all right?
MAN: First it was a
Jesuit. Then I don't know...
Charlie, two beers.
And a lot of peanuts,
would you, Charlie?
- Price.
- (Ernie clears his throat)
How's it going?
(Ernie clears his throat)
So what is bothering Dave, man?
How should I know?
I'm only his partner.
Oh, come on, we don't
need a continuance.
Now, we're ready, we can
go, we got the case locked.
I know, I know. It does
not make any sense.
Makes sense to me.
Oh, yeah?
Well, you know so much,
Price, why don't you clue me in?
Why, you haven't heard yet?
Heard what?
Let me tell you something funny.
When I was working in
Vice, I used to see that guy,
and I said to myself,
uh, "I don't know, man.
I just don't know." You know?
What are you talking about?
PRICE: Lambert, man.
You're, uh, sweetie pie.
Hey, uh, Detective Price,
I hope you didn't mean
what I think you meant.
I meant the guy's gay, man.
Now that's a damn lie,
and you better watch
your mouth, okay?
Ern, he admitted it himself.
It's all over Bryant
Street. (laughs)
And all the time you're trying
to get him to marry your sister.
Come on, Ern. You
had to know, huh?
I mean, you were buddies.
Let me ask you something.
What do you do after a fight?
Send each other flowers?
Hey, no. Ernie.
No, no. Man, come on. Come on.
(groans)
(grunting)
(grunting continues)
All right, that's enough.
That's enough. That's enough!
That's enough!
You two, get off of
me and stay there!
That's it! That's it.
Okay, okay. I'm all right.
I'm all right. I'm
okay. I'm okay.
(Rodriguez sighs)
You're a liar.
You guys...
WOMAN: I don't understand
how I can help you, Lieutenant.
It seems that you
have the same address
for Mr. Fisher that we have.
STONE: And you
say he hasn't tried
to contact his daughter
in the past few days?
SISTER: No, he hasn't.
ROBBINS: Is that usual, Sister?
I mean how often will he
normally come by or telephone?
SISTER: Oh, he never
telephones. He always comes by.
- He likes to give Dolores little presents.
- Mm-hmm.
They walk, they talk.
They have a very
good relationship.
Actually, now
that I think of it,
they haven't seen each
other for several weeks.
And you think a visit
may be long overdue?
Yes. Yes, long overdue.
Sister, I don't
want to alarm you,
but I think that
there's a possibility
that that child
could be in danger.
I... I don't understand.
Well, she could be in
danger by some people
who are trying to reach
her father through her.
Oh. I see.
So what I'll do is, I'll...
I'll leave a man
on stakeout here.
Here?
No, no. I mean at
the front entrance.
So we can have a talk with
Mr. Fisher if he shows up.
All right. I understand.
STONE: In the meantime, if he
telephones or writes a letter,
would you call me
immediately, please?
Here's my card.
And thank you, Sister.
Thank you.
Hey, what happened to your eye?
Ran into a door.
What happened?
I heard a rumor
down at the Grill.
Is it true?
Is what true?
Are you gay?
Yes, I am. I am.
I don't believe it.
Well, it's true, Ernie.
It's true.
Oh.
How can you know
somebody all these years
and not know anything
about him at all?
Why didn't you tell me?
I-I-I didn't tell
anybody, Ernie.
I'm not anybody!
I'm your partner!
I understand. I know. I...
I guess, uh, look, I, uh... I
kept it quiet because, um...
I just knew what kind of effect
it would have around here.
Around here?
What about the effect on me?
Yeah.
You, too, Ernie.
I was afraid of what
you'd... of what you'd feel.
I was afraid.
What do you feel?
What do I feel?
Yeah.
Feel like a fool,
that's how I feel.
(sighing)
Well, well, where do we
go from here, old buddy?
Nowhere. We go nowhere.
Ernie, come
here... Don't! Don't!
Don't you ever touch me again.
CONNIE: Ern, is that you?
Oh, that's a relief.
I thought it might be Jack
the Ripper there for a minute.
- Hi.
- Hi.
How was your day?
- Okay. Ow!
- What?
- Hey, take it easy.
- Ooh, Ernie, what happened?
Nothing. Nothing happened.
Nothing? Where's Dave?
- Here put that...
- All right.
- Put that on.
- I'll do it.
I'll do it, I'll do it, I'll...
I said I'd come over and
fix you two this great dinner.
Yeah.
Well, maybe he got
hung up or something.
You know, he's been
hanging around here
a little too much lately anyway.
Dave?
Yeah, Dave.
(Connie laughs quietly)
You didn't have a
fight with him,did you?
What's for dinner?
Ernie, what happened?
(sighs)
I know this man a long time.
All these years, he's been
lying to me and you, too.
About what?
About a lot of things.
About who he is, what he is.
What the hell are
you talking about?
He's gay! That's
what I'm talking about.
The man is gay.
He finally told you, did he?
What?
Ernie... I've know
that for a long time.
He told you?
Well, I mean, not
in so many words,
but we're friends.
I mean, we talk.
He's my friend, too, you know.
He's my partner.
Why didn't he talk to me?
Well, look at you. Would
you have understood?
How did it come up?
Someone blew
the whistle on the...
(sighs heavily)
Oh, Ernie, come on.
Nothing's changed.
What?!
Dave's the same man
you knew at the academy,
and he's the same partner
you've had for five years.
No. No more.
I put in for a transfer.
I'm going over to robbery.
Do you mind telling me why?
- Why?
- Yeah.
Because I don't want to be
in the same room with him.
I don't want to talk, I
don't want to know him.
Oh, that's ridiculous!
Look, mouth, enough.
Just drop it, will you?
How can you call
yourself his friend?
You're not even
concerned about his feelings
or what he's going through.
The only thing on your mind is
what people are going
to think about you.
All right, Connie,
cool it, okay?
I don't need any lectures.
Oh, you need more
than a lecture, big brother.
You need a major transfusion
of human compassion,
because you sure
don't have any now.
I'm eating now.
I told you there'd be trouble.
How many guys said they
didn't want to work with him?
Three so far.
Does he know about it?
Yes, and he also knows his
partner's requested a transfer.
Hmm.
Mike, I want you
to take Lambert,
at least temporarily, till I
can figure something out.
- You don't mind, do you?
- No, not at all.
As a matter of fact,
I've got him working
with Robbins right
now on an assignment.
Hey, now, wait a minute.
Who gave you that authority?
You just did, didn't you?
(Stone chuckles)
(bells tolling)
(overlapping
shouting of children)
How's about another taffy?
Oh, no, thanks.
Boo! Are you the
secret stakeout?
Well, I wouldn't
exactly say secret.
Sister sent me.
She said to tell you
that Dolores had a visitor.
It wasn't her father?
No, not her father,
but he's from her father.
He sent her some stuff...
Candy, a comic book.
He was right behind me.
There!
That's the Swede.
They used to be, uh, roommates
before this guy hit the bottle.
- (man's car engine starts)
- Thanks a lot, sweetheart.
Now what are you going
to do, gun him down?
Take it nice and slow.
CARTER: One,
two, three, four, 500.
Yeah, I knew he'd be
around here sooner or later.
I called you the minute he left.
Then you're a big hero.
I told you how he was dressed.
Yeah, you told me.
You told me.
I'll find him.
There's Mike.
Well?
We lost him.
- Did he spot you?
- No, I don't think so.
He drove straight here, and
he parked across the street.
He's got to be in
there somewhere.
- Well, what about Moonshine?
- No sign of him.
Wait, hold it. Hold it.
He's here, too.
I don't know what's
the matter with me.
Must be too many distractions.
Moonshine used to
work with the carnies.
I should have remembered that.
There'd be no better place
in town to hide out then here.
All right, come on,
let's take a look.
Nice.
Let's take a little
walk, Moonshine.
(gunshots)
Drop it.
- Drop it!
- (gunshot)
The clown, find him.
(sirens wailing)
STONE: Come on, hurry up.
This man's hurt.
He's gonna need an ambulance.
Here, that's his.
Watch him.
(panting) He just disappeared.
Well, he's in there somewhere.
All right.
Let's check the
arcades; come on.
♪♪
♪♪
(clattering)
- No, no, please.
- Come on, up, up.
Come on, get up, will you?
Wh-What's the rap.
You know the rap, Moonshine.
You're a material
witness to a murder.
Uh-uh, I never seen it.
The powder man's on
his way to the hospital.
He fits the description that
your landlady gave of him.
That means he's not
in the picture anymore.
Is Devoe out of the picture?
No, not yet.
I never seen it.
You can have 24-hour protection.
Protection?
Mr. B. got mad at a
friend of mine up north.
He sends Devoe after him.
This guy's got a cop
living at his house.
So, Devoe set fire to the place.
And he shoots them both.
When they both come running
out, he shoots them like ducks.
I don't want your protection!
Then how would you
like to spend some time
in Q for withholding evidence?
I got pals there.
I wouldn't mind that.
You want to know something?
Birmingham's
got pals there, too.
I don't care all right?
All right, all right,
there's another way.
Suppose we put
Devoe on ice for you?
If you've got him boxed up,
how come he's on the loose?
Because I didn't want to
bring the charge against him
- until I had to.
- What charge?
- Blackmail.
- You'd need proof.
I've got it, in his own voice.
I had a pocket tape
recorder running
the night he tried
to shake me down.
I didn't want to use
it unless I had to.
Why not?
He did a real number
on me, names, places,
people I've been involved with.
STONE: Wait a minute,
you mean to tell me
that you'd let Billings
play that tape in open court?
Yeah.
Provide a real circus
for the news media.
I want Birmingham.
I don't understand.
I don't understand this stuff.
Look, you're safe Moonshine.
You wanted Devoe
jugged, and you've got it.
He'll get five to ten for
blackmail with his record.
When I know what
cell he's in, I'll testify!
- Listen to me!
- Wait a minute, hold it.
Now listen,
when we've got him
cornered and nailed,
that's when you testify.
Otherwise you go with him.
You really want to
leave your little girl alone
all that time, Moonshine?
All right, all right.
You're right, all right.
(mutters)
Objection.
Hearsay evidence not
relative to the present case.
Sustained.
The issue here is
murder, Officer Lambert.
Please stick to that.
Yes, Your Honor.
Go ahead.
I was outside a warehouse
on Kellock and Carrington.
Officer Cobb attempted to
stop a man for questioning.
The man shot and killed him.
Could you identify this man
and is he in the courtroom now?
Yes, uh, there.
Carl Birmingham.
Your witness.
Officer Lambert...
how many times have you
arrested Mr. Birmingham
in the course of your duties?
I'm not sure.
Four.
No, it was, um,
it was five times.
And how many convictions
are there against him?
There are none that I know of.
But it hasn't been for want
of trying on your part, has it?
As a matter of fact,
you would do a great
deal to see this man in jail.
Even lie, wouldn't you?
No.
And, uh...
I gather you're
not the lying kind.
Not when it comes
to police matters.
Mm-hmm, and you've never lied
to or for the police
department, have you?
That-That's right.
I see.
Officer Lambert, are
you a homosexual?
(gallery murmurs)
No objection, Mr. Billings?
No, Your Honor.
Are you sure this is relevant?
Yes, Your Honor, I'm sure.
Answer the question.
Yes.
Did the police department
know this at the time you joined?
No.
So, you lied to
them, didn't you?
No, sir. No, sir.
I was never asked that question.
How fortunate that you
omitted to tell the truth.
How many other times have
you omitted to tell the truth?
Your whole life
has been a living lie.
Objection.
Sustained.
No further questions.
You may re-direct.
Officer Lambert,
has there ever been an
attempt to blackmail you
because of your homosexuality?
Objection.
How in the world can
you do that, Mr. Johnson?
You opened the line.
Overruled.
Go ahead.
There was an attempt
to blackmail me
last Monday night.
By whom?
An employee of Mr. Birmingham
by the name Arthur Devoe.
BILLINGS: Do you
have any proof of this?
LAMBERT: Yes, I do; I
have a tape recording of it.
Is this the one?
Yes.
Your Honor, I would
like to play this,
then I would like to have
it marked people's exhibit
number one.
DEVOE (through speaker):
Good evening, Officer Lambert.
LAMBERT: Well, I see
it, but I don't believe it.
Believe what?
I'm talking about
your nerve, Devoe.
Get out of the car with
your hands behind your back.
In a minute.
I had a little talk
with your ex-brother-in-law
this afternoon, David.
Yeah?
He really spilled the
beans, man; he told me
all your little secrets,
named names, places, dates.
See, Phil, uh,
he don't even think
you're fit to be a cop.
Why would he think that?
Just because you're
a homosexual?
With Moonshine's testimony,
I don't think we have anything
to worry about.
It's got to be a lock.
Well, I wish there'd been
some other way we
could have nailed Devoe.
I wish so, too,
but there wasn't.
Captain said he wants you
to return to Narcotics today.
Yeah, I heard.
Well, it was a
short partnership,
but I think a profitable one.
Thanks for your support.
Any time.
Hey, Dave.
Mike, Dan.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
I hear Birmingham's
really going to get his.
Yeah, you got two for
the price of one, pal.
It's going to be a long time
before Art Devoe's
on the streets again.
I'll tell you that.
You all right?
- I'll see you upstairs, Eddie.
- Okay.
- See you guys later.
- Right.
You did good in court, pal.
I never would have
played that tape, never.
Well, you didn't have to.
Oh, I meant to tell you.
I'm going to chicken
out of that transfer.
What do I know about robbery?
Well, you could learn.
Yeah, but that's
the trouble with me.
I'm such a slow learner.
I kind of figure
I know what I'm doing
around here, you know?
Uh, I trust the guys around me.
What's the sense of
breaking up a good team?
(horn honks)
Is that okay with you?
Hey, we were
made for each other.
You had to say that, huh?
Thanks.