(male narrator) Tonight on "Spencer, For Hire.."
(Spenser) Three girls just came in here.
They didn't look to me. How about to you?
(David) I don't like the idea of a private investigator
going undercover at my school.
Come on, we have to talk.
Uh, Miss Silverman, I'm having some scheduling problems.
You're not a substitute teacher, are you? You're a cop.
Amanda, you need help.
(Betty) They said it was heroin.
[instrumental music]
How well did you know her?
Not well enough.
Where can I find him.
Corbett is a mean man.
Don't I even get a blindfold?
[instrumental music]
[theme music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
(male #) 'Watch it.'
[instrumental music]
Easy. Easy.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Leaving the city always lightened my spirit.
Especially in winter when the white snow
had a nasty habit of becoming gray curbside slush.
Keats once wrote, "To one who has been long in the city pent
"it is very sweet to look into
the fair and open face of heaven."
[instrumental music]
Well, Smithfield Township wasn't exactly heaven.
But it was the first stop on the way.
I was going to pick up Susan at school.
She was taking a few days off
and we were headed for Pico Mountain in Vermont.
A mountain cabin and a roaring fire.
Now that was heaven.
[siren wailing]
[dramatic music]
[indistinct chatter]
Susan?
Oh, Betty.
I found her in the girl's bathroom.
They said it was heroin.
[sighs]
What's going on here?
Have Mr. and Mrs. Mayers been notified yet?
Yes.
They're going directly to the coroner's office.
I better be there.
Sus!
I can't talk now. I'll meet you at your place in an hour.
What happened?
[sighs] We had another overdose.
I have to go talk to the parents.
[engine revving]
- Are you Spencer? - Yes.
Uh, my name is Betty Thymes.
I'm the assistant superintendent of the district.
Susan's told me a lot about you.
She said something about an overdose.
Susan found the girl.
- Heroin. - Heroin in Smithfield?
[sighs]
It's a little out of character, isn't it?
Yes, but this the second one
we've had in the last three months.
Sounds like you've got a pusher on campus.
It sure as hell does.
With all due respect, Mr. Spenser
I don't like the idea of a private investigator
going undercover at my school.
[sighs] At the very least, it'll undermine the trust
that's been established here
between the student body and the administration.
And, Betty, think of the legal ramifications
for the school district.
Legal ramifications be damned.
David, two girls are dead.
All I'm saying is that these things
can be handled internally.
It hasn't worked, David.
I'm going to hire Mr. Spenser
and I know we can count n your full cooperation.
[sighs] Well, it isn't exactly sugar bush.
It'll do.
Feeling better?
A little.
How well did you know her?
Not well enough.
[sighs]
You can know their academic records and their test scores
and their...personal profiles.
[fire crackling]
Sometimes, you just don't know what's going on inside.
Hey, you're the one who's always telling me
I can't save the world.
I think I understand better why you keep trying.
[sighs]
[melancholic music]
[sniffles]
[g*nshots]
Spenser?
Hawk, you pulled the last one to the right.
Horseshoes and magnums, babe.
Close be good enough.
[laughs]
But I guess you didn't come here to talk a*tillery.
Someone's got a pipeline into Smithfield, heroin.
- I need to know who? - Well, well, well.
Smack in the suburbs and everybody get real upset.
Two young girls are dead.
Does it matter whether it's uptown or downtown?
Chasing the dragon be hazardous to your health.
Yeah.
So, put in on the tab, huh?
What else is new?
[children shouting]
Yeah!
[instrumental music]
Betty Thymes warned me
that this would be a learning experience.
So far, she'd been right.
While Hawk hit the streets
I had the chance to catch up on some reading.
About knights and fairies.
Lords and ladies.
Which as it turned out
proved pertinent to the case.
"Therewith she spewed out of her filthy maw
"a floud of poison
"horrible and black.
"Full of great lumps of flesh..
...and gobbets raw!"
(male #) 'Definite horror flick.'
(female #) 'The Exorcist.'
Aah!
[girl laughing]
Well, for th century England, I'm sure you're right.
But...what else is the...poet trying to say by having
the knight slay the dragon in this fashion?
[bell rings]
[indistinct chatter]
Okay, try to finish the first canto by tomorrow.
(female #) 'Got it!'
(Spenser) 'Good job.'
Gray, Lisa, good.
Brian.
[indistinct chatter]
Joe.
(Spenser) 'I'll learn these names.'
Ah, excuse me, uh, can I talk to you for a second?
So what do you want?
What's your name?
- Amanda. - Amanda.
Well, Amanda, I just want to thank you
for your participation in my class today.
I sat through it, didn't I?
Well, yeah, you did. In body, I don't know about spirit.
I'm sorry, I'll try harder next time, okay?
Can I go now?
- What is it? - What is what?
- You're on something. - Yeah?
- What is it? - None of your damn business.
[man clears throat]
(Jim) 'Tuesday's special.'
- It's brown. - Oh, my.
Looks good. It matches my shoes.
Oh, yeah.
Well, then you'll love Wednesday's special.
It's gray. You got a gray pair?
Ah, here's yours.
- No, I don't. - Oh.
Uh...on Thursday, we got slightly lighter shade of brown.
Then it repeats.
No, thanks, I'm cutting back.
Hmm.
Jim, you're the assistant principal, right?
So, that makes you head of discipline here.
Yeah, so?
What can you tell me tell you about Amanda Layton?
Layton, uh, senior.
She's in that, uh, lit class you've been assigned.
Yeah, right, yeah.
She was zoned out in class today.
What dr*gs? Oh, damn.
You know, she's basically a good kid.
She's just in a bad place.
What place is that?
Home, her mother ran off
with the father's business partner.
He got custody of the kid but, uh, every time he looks at her
she reminds him of his wife.
It's a bad situation.
[instrumental music]
I put Tommy to bed.
Oh, good.
What're you doing?
Recataloging some of these.
Can I help?
One person job.
[car horn blaring]
Who's that?
[sighs] Friends.
(Alistair) 'Boys?'
[sighs] Nina and Sally.
They want me to go over and study.
[instrumental music]
But I don't have to.
Just make sure you're home by .
I've got surgery in the morning.
I want to get to sleep early.
[sighs]
You don't have to wait up for me.
Eleven o'clock, Amanda.
[door opens]
[music continues]
Uh, just drop me off at the mall, okay?
No way.
Hey, a star is born, huh?
[instrumental music]
I didn't like sitting out in the cold.
And I didn't like tailing little girls.
But if one of them was your only lead
you had to follow it.
[instrumental music]
I learned from Susan that Amanda's grades had tumbled
sharply over the past six months.
From honor society to academic probation.
[instrumental music]
The other two in the car I didn't know.
But I meant to find out.
I also meant to find out just what three high school girls
from the very best part of town
were doing in the combat zone.
[instrumental music]
[sighs]
Five bucks for tokens if you want to use a booth--
Three girls just came in here.
They didn't look to me. How about to you?
Don't see many girls in here.
I'm gonna ask you again. Nicely.
[breathing heavily]
Upstairs.
Trouble.
[projector whirring]
Move it out fast.
Come on, come on!
Out the back way.
Come on, come on.
[door closes]
[beads rustling]
[projector whirring]
[dramatic music]
[dramatic music]
[projector whirring]
[dramatic music]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Sugar and spice and everything nice.
I tried warm milk
push ups, I even tried counting sheep.
That nursery rhyme kept me from catching a wink of sleep.
That and the face of a man who could cash in on the corruption
of teenage kids.
(Hawk) I got that name you're after.
(Spenser) Thanks.
I think the game might have changed last night though.
Caught me little off guard.
How many guesses I got?
What you get is this.
What is it?
p*rn.
With minors.
Ah-ha.
Different game but maybe the same name.
How's that?
'Cause the name I got is a cat from Miami.
Made his reputation in the skin business.
Expanded into motion pictures
production, distribution.
Got to be real big.
Bought into some of King Powers' drug interests.
Soon after you and me sent old King into early retirement.
Those interests include Smithfield?
- Right. - Hmm.
Who is it?
Name's Corbett.
Dig, Spenser.
If what you got there belongs to Corbett
you won't have to find him.
[indistinct chatter]
(male #) 'Move, move, move.'
[indistinct chatter]
Come on, we have to talk.
- I thought we already did that? - Come on. In here.
Father taught me never to follow strange men into strange places.
Amanda.
I don't like to judge people.
But I can't ignore what I saw last night.
And what was that?
I followed you and your friends down to "The Zone."
I saw the film.
I recognized the leading lady.
[sighs] Is this some kind of come on, Mr. Spenser?
Because if it is I'm not interested.
Look, you can play it cool and sophisticated if you want.
[sighs] But this is for keeps.
You can't pretend it's not happening
or make it go away by using dr*gs.
Now, where're you getting them? Who's sellin'?
You're not a substitute teacher, are you? You're a cop.
I'm not working for the police and I can help you.
You can't just walk away from this.
You can't quit any time you feel like it.
You're involved with big-time crime.
Big risk, big money and they don't care about little girls.
I don't have to talk to you.
No, you don't.
But you got to talk to somebody.
And not the people you've been talking to.
Because they're using you.
[sobbing]
And there's a woman counselor here. You can trust her.
Talk to her before it's too late.
Amanda, you need help.
You're the one who needs help, Mr. Spenser.
[sighs] Hitting on your own students!
[indistinct chatter]
Oh!
[sighs]
(Susan) I think, I should speak to Mrs. Tiernan.
(male #) 'No, no, no, she'll she'll think'
I'm complaining to you again.
You did, Eric.
Look, sometimes people have misunderstandings.
That's okay but we should confront this
before it turns into a bigger problem than it is.
I'll talk to her first.
Then the three of us can get together and...talk it out.
Okay? How does that sound?
Thanks, Miss Silverman.
Ah, Miss Silverman, I've having some scheduling problems.
I'd like to schedule dinner tonight.
- :. How about it? - I'll be there.
Alright.
In the meantime ...I need to know
which classes these three girls have in common.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
Uh, Spenser.
You got a minute?
Sure.
Listen..
...Amanda, uh, came to see me.
Yeah?
Well, what's been goin' on?
I think she's in trouble.
Now, I know it sounds crazy
but Amanda told me that you've been hitting on her.
[clears throat] I was just trying to straighten her out.
Such as?
Well, about the main thing that everybody
round here seems to want to ignore.
You have any proof that she's been taking dr*gs?
No.
Do you have any proof that she's done
anything wrong at all?
What did she tell you anyway?
Well, just that...she'd like it if you'd stay away from her.
(Jim) 'I'll tell you the truth'
I don't think it's such a bad idea.
Yeah, well...thanks for the advice.
Anytime.
Hey, that is a great old car.
It's a ', isn't it?
Sixty five.
[melancholic music]
(Spenser) Hawk had said I wouldn't have to worry about finding Corbett.
He knew his men.
A welcoming committee was waiting
on my doorstep, when I got home.
[tires screeching]
You're gonna sh**t me here or take me for a ride?
[dramatic music]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I took my lesson from antiquity.
If you can't get into the enemy camp by force
send them a present.
Spenser. The Trojan Horse.
[piano music]
Mr. Spenser.
Let me guess.
The eighth samurai.
You never served in Asia, I take it.
'In country.'
I did.
Yet you never developed
a fascination for Eastern philosophy?
For the discipline of the mind and body.
Fascination, yes.
Devotion, no.
You're easily satisfied, Mr. Spenser.
So am I.
You've got something of mine.
I want it.
Go back to Miami, Corbett.
Or I'll stay on your back until it breaks.
You're not on my back, Spenser.
You're under my feet.
You're in my way.
Look, I know you're not a teacher.
'I know who you are and what you are.'
'And I hear you're pretty good.'
Take what I'm offering you.
Films are not traceable anyhow.
It's a matter of pride, you understand.
What I understand is getting you out of Smithfield
and away from underage girls.
And what do you think you're going to do?
Whatever it takes.
You have brass, Spenser.
I'll give you that.
But you're not too bright.
[sighs]
Bright enough to leave a letter
with a homicide lieutenant named Quirk.
A letter telling him what I'm working on.
And who pulled the trigger if I wind up
with a b*llet in my back.
And you think that will make me let you call the sh*ts here?
I think in the long run
it will cost you a lot less
to pull out of Smithfield now.
I don't offer second chances, Spenser.
I don't take 'em.
[dramatic music]
[grunts]
[instrumental music]
Don't I even get a blindfold?
Ooh!
Oh! Oh!
[intense music]
'Oh!'
[intense music]
[glass shattering]
[music continues]
- Ooh! - Ah!
[grunting]
[g*nsh*t]
[instrumental music]
[glass shattering]
Oh!
[g*nsh*t]
[instrumental music]
[g*n cocks]
Thanks.
[melancholic music]
Aren't you the least bit angry?
- 'Well, sure I am.' - Or afraid?
An hour ago someone tried to k*ll you
and now you're standing there..
Making hollandaise. I'm angry, I'm very angry, and I'm..
Well, I don't know about afraid but..
...concerned, certainly.
I mean, but I think it's pointless
to indulge in those kind of emotions.
Especially when there are so many other wonderful emotions
to indulge in in this world. You know what I mean?
Now what're we gonna do?
Well, we put all the pieces together.
First one being that Corbett
'must have a connection in Smithfield.'
One of the students?
- Faculty. - 'Faculty?'
Spenser, I know those people.
'Did you look at those files I asked you bring home tonight?'
I did. Those girls didn't share a single class.
Amanda and Jeannie Mayers played opposite each other
in the last drama production.
[sighs] You know Barnes and Sally McDonald?
- Jim Gowan? - Faculty advisor.
The first one Amanda went to after I spoke to her.
Jim Gowan?
What do you know about his background?
'Not much.'
Um...he's from the Midwest.
His father owns a string of industrial plants.
Well, that certainly would explain
the snappy clothes and the fancy car.
'But you don't think so, do you?'
Sus, I took one look at that car
and those threads and I said to myself
"How does a guy hack that on a teacher's salary?"
That's the thing about my line of work.
It's tough not being cynical.
So I find myself digging into people's backgrounds.
'Questioning whether they are what they seem to be.'
What did you find out?
Oh, yeah, his father worked
in an industrial plant, alright.
He was a welder.
He had two brothers and a sister.
He was the only one to go to college.
State school on a scholarship.
And that car's not the only thing he's got.
'He has a new condo on Beacon Hill'
'And $, in First National Bank of Boston.'
I think if teaching paid that well
I might try it myself.
You know that makes sense.
As assistant principal, he has access to all the student files.
'Especially the disciplinary cases.'
Yeah, the most vulnerable kids.
Sort of an X-rated Pied Piper.
So, what do you think?
Smells good?
I think I just lost my appetite.
Yeah, me too.
[door opens]
Hawk!
Corbett.
Long time.
Those were good times when we worked together.
Everything has its time.
Oh, but still.
I miss them.
There aren't many left like us, Hawk.
[sighs] 'Guys who say somethin''
'and then do it.'
You and me.
We're an endangered species.
But not extinct.
There are a couple of us left.
Spenser's one.
Spenser?
- You know him? - Yes.
- How? - Work.
- Together? - Sometimes.
- 'Now?' - No.
And you came here for him?
No, for you.
You think he's that good?
Affirmative.
You think you can take him?
Never tried.
'Can I?'
I hear you got some good soldiers.
I said, "Can I?"
[sighs] Be interestin'.
You're telling me I can't?
Maybe it's not worth goin' to all this trouble to find out.
Smithfield's too small a town for a big city slicker.
Look around you, Hawk.
I didn't get this..
...for backin' down.
Not one inch.
Specially not with some $ a day private cop.
Besides..
...if he's as good as you say he is
maybe you'd be interested.
He's a friend.
You owe me, Hawk.
Debt's just been paid, Corbett.
[intense music]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
"A man's character is his fate," says Heraclitus.
I can only guess at what part of Jim Gowan's character
made him pander for a man like Corbett.
But in my line of work, guessing isn't good enough.
You need proof.
When you don't have proof
sometimes the best you can do
is start shaking all the trees.
And see how many rotten apples fall off.
Uh...ten minutes, okay?
[indistinct chattering]
Uh, hi, Spencer.
- Which one is next, Jim? - What?
Little redhead?
Maybe the blonde.
Who's gonna be the new Amanda Layton?
The new Jeannie Mayer?
Uh, you have somethin' to say to me, Spenser
go ahead and say it.
How does a man with no conscience
wind up in a position of responsibility and trust?
You get the hell out of here. I don't need to listen to this.
How does a man like you..
...gain position to control young minds?
There's something wrong here.
There's something wrong with the system
that allows that to happen.
Yeah, I don't need to listen to this.
I've got my own system to take care of guys like you.
You wanna solicit teenagers for Corbett
you gotta deal with me too.
You wanna deal dr*gs, you're gonna deal with me too.
Yeah, I don't what you're talking about.
The hell, you don't.
And if you think Corbett's gonna protect you, you're wrong.
You're both guilty and you're both gonna pay.
[dramatic music]
- Miss Silverman. - Dr. Layton.
Can I get you something?
No, thank you. This isn't a social call.
Just, what has she done now?
You know, we have have had this
discussion before, Miss Silverman.
I feel I have been a responsible father.
I have fed and clothed that girl.
I have put a roof over her head.
She's not a child anymore.
If her grades are unsatisfactory
I suggest you discuss them with her.
It's not her grades.
Disciplinary problem?
Dr. Layton, that girl is your daughter.
She needs more than a responsible father.
She needs love.
If she can't find it in her own home
she's going to look for it somewhere else.
What are you saying?
I know a little bit about Amanda.
We've talked.
I know that she feels you've never forgiven your wife
'for leaving you.'
'She feels that you blame her somehow'
for what happened.
Is there any truth in that?
Miss Silverman..
...if I wanted professional help
for family matters, I would turn to someone
other than a high school counselor.
I'm trying to help you understand your daughter.
Oh, I think I understand my daughter very well.
I lived with her mother.
Since she ran out on us, I have watched Amanda
become more and more like her.
Amanda is Amanda.
She's just as much your daughter as your ex-wife's.
Just, what is it she has done?
She has looked somewhere else for love.
I hope that you are not telling me that she is pregnant.
No, but she has been taken advantage of.
How?
She's been introduced to dr*gs.
Just what kind of school are you running?
I moved out of the city
to get away from that atmosphere.
It's a new problem for us, we're trying to solve it.
But it's not the only problem Amanda has or you have.
Would you get on with it?
The man she turned to put her in a p*rn film.
[instrumental music]
She needs you, Dr. Layton.
[music continues]
She's lost and she's never gonna find herself
until you find the ability to love her.
p*rn?
[music continues]
Where is she?
I don't know.
I'm afraid she's gone to the only place she feels wanted.
To the only person who's told her
he cares whether she lives or dies.
[dramatic music]
I don't want to go.
You have to.
Please.
You said that if I did just that one film
it would be the only time.
You promised.
I told you, Mr. Corbett thinks you're something special. Okay?
Now, please just do this one last film. Okay?
Come on. You love me, don't you?
- Huh? - Yes.
- And you trust me? - Yes.
I love you, too. You know that.
But I can't back out on Mr. Corbett.
He'd be very upset
if he thought that I was holding out on him.
Why can't we just go away together?
That's why we're doing this.
So we can go away, together.
Just you and me, baby.
Come on.
[intense music]
You hear me, Spenser, but you're not listenin'.
The man's in a different league
than the folks you're used to dealing with.
Sounds like you've got your money someplace else.
My money's in my pocket, babe.
This one's too close to call.
You never see him operate?
Side by side, ten years back.
Almost like a team.
Where?
Beirut, Malaya, Indo-China.
- Mercenary. - Yeah.
Three years, I spent the last six months
working for a dude named Long.
He used to be a prince or something in a Saigon.
Went out, started his own little army in .
Anyway, the gig was mostly keeping
Long's people out of bad places.
Ugly work all around, you know the deal.
Lots of gold and ain't no rules.
- Right? - Right.
So we got one week left to go on a contract before we collect.
Million Francs each, cash money.
Long sends us out on recon. Easy.
Supposed to be some MVA prison camp
just outside of Kan Tong, right.
So when we get there, it's empty.
So me and Corbett, and platoon
start checkin' it out, when bam!
Sky falls down hard.
You know what I mean?
Right on top of us.
T-, satchel charge is napalm and about a BC, right?
It was Long, set us up.
I don't remember what happened next.
Just wakin' up in a ditch
and Corbett standin' up over me.
He say, "I buried you beneath the bodies
till it stopped raining."
The look in his eyes..
The look in yours..
...saved me.
[intense music]
Hawk made his point.
I knew what coming and I wasn't looking forward to it.
[instrumental music]
Spenser?
What I was looking forward to
was a quiet evening alone with Susan.
Even if it was going to be spent
going over the case in detail.
Spenser?
Your date's here.
[water running]
[dramatic music]
[screams]
[music continues]
[indistinct police radio chatter]
(Martin) 'Now would you care to explain that corpse in your shower?'
(Spenser) 'It's a warning.'
(Martin) 'Do you know who he was?'
(Spenser) It was Gowan.
James T worked with Smithfield High School.
(Martin) Oh, yeah? Doin' what?
Led some of the students into a p*rn ring
moonlighting for a guy named Corbett.
(Spenser) 'You know him?'
(Martin) 'Yeah.'
I was putting heat on Gowan.
It's Corbett's way of tellin' me to back off.
That's not such bad advice, you know.
I can't, two girls from Smith
they're dead from heroine overdose.
They're both tied to Gowan.
I don't think they were accidents.
What makes you figure that?
I think they got in too deep
into something they didn't like doing
and when they tried to get out, they found out
there was no exit.
There's another girl missing now, named Amanda Layton.
Susan talked to her father.
He didn't know anything about this.
I'm gonna find that girl.
Excuse me, can I talk to you two for a sec?
My name is Spenser. I'm a private cop.
I'm lookin' for Amanda Layton.
- She's in trouble. - Yeah?
Who isn't?
She's with a man named Corbett.
And I have an idea you can tell me where to find him.
Oh, you want me to tell you where to go?
- You can go-- - Jim Gowan's dead.
Corbett had him k*lled.
I think Amanda could be next.
- You're tryin' to scare us. - Yeah, I'm tryin' to scare you.
You have right to be scared.
Because I know what Amanda is mixed up in.
And if I don't find her real soon
She's gonna turn up just the same way
Jeannie Mayer's did two days ago.
I'm not gonna shake it out of you.
But when it happens and it's gonna happen
you two can live with the fact that you could have stopped it.
Hey!
It's where they filmed.
Down at the waterfront by the old pilot house.
Now, remember, this is the movies.
You have to have fun.
Will this help you?
Go ahead, try one.
Take one.
Or take two.
Yeah, that's a good girl.
[whispering] She's okay now.
Alright, everybody, let's get ready for a take.
- 'Okay, quiet on the set.' - 'Settle, please.'
(male #) 'Roll it!'
And...action!
[indistinct chattering]
[screaming]
[screaming]
(male #) 'Hands on your heads!'
No!
(Corbett) 'Hold it, Spenser!'
'Anybody moves and I'll blow her head off.'
[dramatic music]
[Amanda screams]
Out of my way, Hawk.
Not tonight.
Girl's against the rules, babe.
It's between you and Spenser.
Ah!
[instrumental music]
This is it. One on one.
[intense music]
[music continues]
[grunts]
[music continues]
Come on. Now!
[music continues]
[music continues]
[grunts]
[dramatic music]
[indistinct chattering]
(Dr. Layton) 'Amanda!'
Stay away from me!
Amanda, please.
Stay away!
This is her father.
She'll have to come down to the station.
I'm going with her.
No, I said, stay away from me!
I love you, baby.
You don't even know me.
You have every right to hate me and mistrust me.
I've been a selfish, self-pitying fool.
- But when your mother left-- - I don't care about my mother!
It was you that shut me out.
'You never cared about what I was doing.'
'You never even asked.'
I just wanted you to be proud of me.
'You were never proud of me.'
I need you, baby.
'I was hurt, I was angry.'
'I went numb. I just closed down.'
And then I just didn't know how to open up again.
I..
Give me a chance. That's all I ask.
'I don't have a right but I'm asking, anyway. Please.'
'Just..'
[instrumental music]
[Amanda sobbing]
[dramatic music]
[knocking]
[intense music]
[instrumental music]
Get him out of here.
Let's go.
Yeah.
[car engine starts]
[instrumental music]
[music continues]
[theme music]