(male narrator) Tonight on "Spenser: For Hire.."
Are you accusing me of murdering a nun?
You work for me.
I am working for you.
See, Spenser here may act dumb
but he's got a real mean right hand.
Your little Madonna was two months pregnant.
Hawk? Him and the corpse's got something in common.
'They both work for Tom Flaherty.'
You stand next to Flaherty
'one of us might not come out of this.'
I know I can stop you if I have to.
'You don't think I could stop you?'
For good? No, I was hoping you wouldn't show.
Same here.
[theme music]
[crowd cheering]
[applause]
[triumphant music]
(Spenser) Marathon runners are known for their fanaticism.
But until I was hired to bodyguard a multi-millionaire
determined to compete, I thought the perils of running
were shin splints and angry thoughts.
Not fisticuffs and fire power.
[tires screeching]
[g*nsh*t]
[woman screaming]
[g*nsh*t]
[g*n clicks]
[g*nsh*t]
[g*nshots]
[g*nsh*t]
[siren wailing]
[cocks g*n]
Hold it!
[g*nsh*t]
(Spenser) My man finished the race though.
And that meant a big payday which equaled a big holiday
for Susan and me.
Are you absolutely sure this is necessary?
I don't ever seem to remember
Julia Child giving instructions this way.
Mm, are you kidding?
You know, you stir backwards?
I what?
Are you kidding, I mean the sauce is a secret
to my New Orleans crab extraordinary.
Soon to be a famous recipe.
Served in restaurants around the world.
We're not on the sauce yet, I'm just melting the butter.
Hey, let me do this.
We're gonna be at New Orleans this time tomorrow anyways.
So why are we doing this?
"Thou contracted, to thine own bright eyes
"feed'st thy light'st flame
with self-substantial fuel."
In other word, cute stuff
it may be easy for you to decline, but, yes, well..
I want sustenance and splendering edge.
[telephone buzzing]
We're not at home.
Oh, Spenser, you sly dog.
Oh, no, it's not even the first course
and already bells are ringing.
- It's the doorbell-- - The doorbell?
Probably the fire squad here to investigate
a tip of lewd, lascivious cooking.
Let's go answer the door.
[scatting]
[laughing]
Wow!
Hello!
(male #) 'I'm looking for a private investigator named Spenser.'
[inhales deeply]
Ah, well, you've found him.
(both) Sort of.
What's this all about, Father?
A young girl fell from the roof
of a six storey building last night.
Her name was Catheline O'Rourke.
She just turned .
Father, before you go any further
I'm gonna interrupt you, because I can see where this is leading.
I'm not for hire right now.
Catheline O'Rourke was a Catholic.
The police are calling it su1c1de.
Now, I need to know what really happened.
Father, I was raised Catholic myself.
Good. Then you'll understand the urgency.
You're not just talking about the girl, are you?
Catheline was an only child.
Her mother especially is very devout.
Believing that her daughter has k*lled herself
'is more than she can stand.'
Father, with all due respect, I really--
We are talking about a terrible burden
that no family should be asked to carry needlessly.
Where'd you get my name?
Henry at the gym.
Hm.
I told him I needed help
but I couldn't afford to pay.
Well, I sure appreciate Henry's confidence
but I'm still not available.
What does it take to make a man like you available?
- Just a second. - I don't have much.
But I'm willing to reach into my own pocket.
Now, how much do you want?
Now, before you break out in a rash
from all that moral superiority
remember I said no before money came up.
'I said no because I made a promise to somebody.'
I plan to continue to say no
because I'm going to keep that promise.
Catheline O'Rourke was a nun.
What does it take?
Next week, she was going
to take her final vows to become a nun.
Catheline O'Rourke was a young woman of remarkable spirit.
'Now, perhaps her death is not a tragedy to you.'
But it should be to all caring people.
And I don't intend to quit until I clear her name.
Father Crawford.
It's a late flight tomorrow night to New Orleans.
I can make a fresh pot of coffee in five minutes.
Suz?
[sighs]
The promise was to her?
Yeah.
I'll make you a promise.
You won't be sorry.
(Spenser) Sorry?
Is there a sorrier advice than getting to a nunnery?
When I could've been headed for a week
in New Orleans with Susan.
You bet, I was sorry.
The convent at Marble Head where Catheline O'Rourke
was a novice was more than imposing.
It was the paraphrase what somebody once said about
Cecil B. DeMille's biblical epics.
"What God would've built himself if he'd had the money?"
And then I saw something that was decidedly uncloistered
and positively not of the cloth.
Well, I suppose stranger things have happened.
Was it voices from the sky?
Or a bolt of lightning?
I had a five-digit vision.
I'll do it?
You with him?
I am.
What are you doing here, Flaherty?
Business so bad that you stop by and rob the poor box?
(Flaherty) On this holy ground, no man is my enemy.
Not even you, Spenser.
Encourage him to spend more time here.
You should hope this is the only place we bump into each other.
- Hello, I'm Sister Brenda. - Hi, sister.
Are you a friend of Mr. Flaherty's?
Uh, we know each other.
Yes, I'm a little surprised to see him here.
Oh, we know his reputation even here.
But whatever else Tommy Flaherty is
he's a, he's a loyal son of the church.
Tommy?
Just last week we moved into this beautiful home.
Who do you think donated it to us?
Tommy?
Lord works in mysterious ways, I guess .
Tommy Flaherty was the answer to years of prayer.
Actually, I'm here to ask about another child of the church.
Catheline O'Rourke.
Oh.
That was a tragedy.
A terrible sadness for all of us.
Sister, uh..
...why was she away from the convent?
We placed her in an intercity project.
It's not so unusual.
The vocation is a serious decision.
We often encourage our young women
to take time away from the convent
to, uh, to search their hearts
before they make a final choice.
Ah, sister..
...what happened?
Do you think Catheline k*lled herself?
I, uh..
I am sorry.
No one here can talk about that.
[chatter]
Mrs. O'Rourke?
I'm truly very sorry about your daughter.
Thank you.
(Spenser) 'Was it taken when Catheline was at the convent?'
The day she made her first vows.
'Happiest day of her life.'
'A dream come true.'
(Spenser) 'Father Crawford looks pretty happy himself.'
Oh, yes.
She wouldn't have accepted..
...the vocation without his support.
She worshipped him, you know?
(Spenser) 'You must've been very proud.'
'I wanted to join the order myself'
'when I was her age.'
The tragedy of my life.
Mrs. O'Rourke, when was the last time you saw your daughter?
Why're you asking her that?
Who are you anyway?
You're some of that scum from the--
He's a friend, Michael.
Why don't we go some place else to talk
and let's Sarah here eat some of this wonderful food
that our friends have brought her.
- Private what? - Cop.
I've been hired to prove your daughter didn't commit su1c1de.
[sobbing] My God!
Who would do something like that prying into my ba--
I asked for Mr. Spenser's help.
Well, you can just unhire him.
I don't want anybody snooping into Catheline's death.
Mr. O'Rourke--
I don't want you here, pal.
- Now, you get off my sto.. - Michael..
Get away from my house and leave us alone.
Michael?
[dramatic music]
(Spenser) Despite what Michael O'Rourke'd said
the neighborhood where Catheline had been
doing private charity
wasn't a ghetto.
A few blocks away, enterprising yuppies
were busy turning old tenements
into quaint, which is to say expensive apartments.
However the locals didn't appear exactly thrilled
to be part of an upwardly mobile neighborhood.
[tires screeching]
[indistinct shouting]
(Spenser) Move over!
(female #) 'Get him out of here!'
What are we fighting for?
[indistinct]
Hey, hey, come on, everybody.
Hey, hey.
Break it up.
Just break it up.
Come on, kids, stay back!
Relax, relax. Come on, calm down.
Get off him! They're taking our houses away
and you want us to do nothing?
You cannot b*at the man in a street
and you know that.
And him a brother too.
You get out. Come on, now.
Get off me.
That has like that years ago
you might have been a contender.
If you're smart, you get out of here before they come back.
I don't know whether I can stop them again.
I'm not so sure I'll try.
Told you, you wanna make friends
you gotta work on your personality.
One thing I know for sure, it's the last time
I try to impress him with snappy dressing.
Eviction notices?
You're serving eviction notices?
Flaherty sent me over here to protect the fat guy.
Did you know who you'd be throwing in the streets
when you took this job?
Yeah.
Shelley, we don't have to give up.
Now, listen..
the key is financing.
If we can just get the bank--
You'll never get millions of dollars in loans.
It's too late if they've already started giving out eviction..
What do you want?
I thought we told you to get out of here, you don't know--
I'm trying to find out how Catheline O'Rourke d*ed.
No, I'm not a cop.
Oh, a genuine private eye.
I understand she worked here as a volunteer.
Ah, now you work for the--
Her family.
Oh, I'm sorry.
We're still little stunned.
Just heard this morning that she was dead.
We have no idea what happened to her.
Some people are calling it su1c1de.
su1c1de?
Some people are calling it mercy.
Well, it's true, I've never seen anyone agonise
over life the way that girl did.
She told me about going back to the convent.
We argued about it all the time.
The waste of it.
Why were you against her going back to the convent?
[scoffs] What?
So she can spend the rest of her life
teaching high school Algebra to spoiled rich girls?
She had a genuine gift for Economics
a capacity for leadership.
I myself urged her to become President of General Motors.
Shelley..
Catheline could do wonders for people.
So what's the bet, did she jump?
Sounds like that's where your money is.
At least that's where your mouth is.
Because I'm telling you the truth.
She was basically weak.
All she ever wanted was someone to tell her what to do.
Her family ran her life.
Well, didn't they?
I mean, phoning her every other day
begging, pleading for her to leave this hell-hole
'and run back to the sisters.'
I argued with her not to go back.
- Have you seen pictures of her? - Yeah.
Well, don't believe them.
She had...an enthusiasm.
A commitment that gave her..
...transcending quality.
Then, she was beautiful.
I'll tell you how long transcendents last around here.
About ten minutes growing up in the ghetto.
I'm telling you, Spensy
you don't wanna look at this one.
Fall from that height is like being hit by a train
going miles an hour.
One of the paramedics who brought her in
was only .
[chuckles]
His first jumper.
[chuckles]
I caught him losin' his lunch in the laundry hamper.
[laughing]
[dramatic music]
(Spenser) A visit to the coroner's office
should be a moment for reflection.
Contemplation of one's own mortality
and the vagaries of life.
All I could wonder was what it'd be like to work here
and wake up every morning smelling up formaldehyde.
I got the specs right here.
See, I knew broad shoulders didn't always mean no brains.
What's this?
Oh, that little item.
Just what it says.
When she took the plunge
your little Madonna was two months pregnant.
[dramatic music]
[serene music]
(Spenser) When Catheline O'Rourke left the convent
she chose one of the oldest sections of the intercity.
All you could say about the view
is that it had seen a lot of history.
All you could say about the alley
is that it was a long way down.
As someone with aspirations of becoming a world class sleuth
I've spend hours perfecting my lock-picking skills.
[thuds]
An aspiring world-class detective
is never without clues.
I was wondering why someone compulsively neat enough
to wash the dishes hadn't been tidy enough
to leave a su1c1de note before jumping.
If she had left a note, it should've been in plain sight
and the police would've found it.
The only thing I saw were records and charts
on the intercity project she was working on.
[door opens]
- Ah! - Mrs. O'Rourke, it's okay.
Uh, my name is Spenser.
I was at your house.
With Father Crawford.
How did you get in here?
I, um, broke in.
- Why? - It's part of my job.
Father Crawford hired me to investigate Catheline's death.
Investigate?
He doesn't think Catheline k*lled herself.
Oh, dear God!
What do you think?
I d-don't know.
I don't wanna think about it.
I...just wanna have her back.
I just want to tell her..
Oh, God.
I came to collect her things.
Michael wanted to come with me
said it wasn't safe here alone.
But it's a mother's.. Oh, God.
Did Catheline have any enemies?
'Anybody that'd wanna hurt her?'
No!
Everyone loved her.
From the time she was a baby, everyone loved her.
'That's what Father Crawford said.'
And you told me that he and Catheline...were very close.
Yes, he understood her.
'Understood her needs.'
She loved him too.
We all love Father Crawford.
[sighs] Why?
Why did this have to happen?
[choir singing]
[singing continues]
I think there's every possibility
that Catheline k*lled herself.
I can't believe that. I won't.
She was pregnant when she d*ed.
It doesn't change anything.
Maybe that explains something.
- What's that? - Why you're so determined.
It's because you're so guilty.
- You think I-- - I hate what I'm thinking.
I'm trying not to think it.
I'm trying real hard not to remember what her mother said
that Catheline worshipped you.
And she loved you, maybe too much.
And that you were weak.
- And that when she-- - This is not true!
Not any of it!
I loved Catheline, but not like that.
You weren't surprised when I told you she was pregnant.
Not even a little.
Is that because you already knew?
There are ways a priest has of learning things.
You know I can't talk about it.
Maybe there are.
Right now, I wish you didn't have that collar
you're wearing to hide behind.
(Spenser) Every bit of evidence
every piece of logic was telling me
that Catheline O'Rourke
betrayed, confused and very much afraid
had k*lled herself.
But sometimes your conscience won't accept logic
or reason or evidence.
And, that, as they say
is the triumph of faith.
They also say that money is the root of all evil.
I thought I'd follow that thread for a while.
Tommy Flaherty was a man with a lot of money.
- Hawk. - Spenser.
You know, Tommy, this is exactly the kind of place
I'd expect to find you in.
You know, there's actually a guy in the lobby
wearing a shirt with a reptile on it.
- Watch it, Spenser. - Oh, I will.
I wouldn't want you to break out and sweat
all over your designer labels.
A man like you starts to sweat
could be sign of a humanity. Then where would you be?
You know, Spenser..
if I weren't such a generous person
I could take offense of these cracks
'you're constantly throwing at me.'
I wish you would, that's why I make it.
But you're not gonna succeed, because you're not gonna stay.
You know, as much as I hate to agree with you you're right.
I'm not.
I'm looking into a death, one you might be interested in.
A novice at your favorite convent.
You just went beyond cute, fella.
Now, you're getting really offensive.
Well, I'm gonna go on better than that.
I'm asking if you had her k*lled.
Are you crazy?
Are you accusing me of murdering a nun?
'What kind of a man do you think I am?'
I know what kind of man you are. That's why I asked the question.
Let me go. You work for me.
I am workin' for you.
See, Spenser here may act dumb
but he's got a real mean right hand.
Why are you standing here?
He just accused me of having you k*ll a nun.
Not Hawk. Hawk's not a hitman.
He doesn't lean on civilians
but you have plenty of fire power that doesn't discriminate.
Ricky?
Get this is bum out, huh?
You're supposed to be running a class club.
Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
In a minute, Ricky.
I wouldn't wanna get flexed to death.
Keep up the good work.
With your blood pressure, you need all the help you can get.
You worry about your own health, Spenser.
And while we're at it
you're not a civilian.
You're a pro.
Just like Hawk.
[intense music]
[chatter]
- 'What you got?' - 'Okay, now, come on over.'
[chatter]
'Spenser!'
You claim to be a hot detective.
Picking up a clue here?
Hit me.
- Hit me. - Alright.
[grunting]
[laughs]
Alright.
[grunting]
Actually, I just wanted to get your attention.
[laughs]
Hm.
You know, Billy Sunday the evangelist from the 's?
- Yeah. - He used to punch a heavy bag.
He had the word, uh, "sin" in big red letters written on it.
I was just wondering, um..
what you have on your bag?
Uh, as a matter of fact, I got..
[laughs] ...a picture...of me..
Uh, the man I am, instead of the priest I want to be.
All my failures and imperfections larger than life.
A life time of punching to do.
'What about yours?'
O ye who enter here abandon all hope.
[laughs]
That sure doesn't describe you though, does it?
If that means you don't think I seduced Catheline
I accept your apology.
Gracious even in victory.
What made you change your mind?
Not my skill in the ring.
[laughs]
Well, two things actually, uh.
Number one, the fact that you are angry enough
to climb into the ring.
And number two, the fact that you still want me on the case.
That is why we're here, right?
Why you bought me this extremely average steak?
Generous even in victory.
You heard Catheline's confession, didn't you?
'And I figure you told her some things.'
Some pretty tough things.
About..
...keeping the child.
About not becoming a nun.
Some things that must have sounded a lot tougher
to you after she d*ed.
So, now what do you do?
I'm not sure.
I do know one thing.
I'm glad you're not the father of the child.
And I'm gonna find out who was.
(Spenser) The only other man I knew about in Catheline's life
was the man she worked with
at the neighborhood alliance project.
Jordan Roberts.
He seemed to know Catheline pretty well.
I figured it was time for me to get to know him better.
So I swung by his office.
[g*nsh*t]
(Shelley) 'No.'
'You k*lled him!'
'No!'
[screaming]
'Help!'
[grunting]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[g*nsh*t]
[intense music]
Hawk?
Hawk?
(Spenser) Was it coincidence or could it be a pattern?
First Catheline was working with Jordan
and now Jordan himself buried dead.
You alright?
I'm alright.
Jordan's dead.
(Spenser) Was it the real turtle soup or only mock?
I looked at Sergeant Frank Belson
for a philosophical discussion.
Spenser..
So the g*n hasn't been fired lately.
Wasted a bozo in the alley.
She's too shaken up to be any help tonight.
What's your story on a dead muscle?
(Frank) 'Apparently, lieutenant, we're talking about'
Boston's first case of divine retribution.
Right at back of the head.
Who're these guys are working for?
Hey, he wants information, but he don't give any.
I gave you one of the K*llers, didn't I?
I got ten bucks on you, Spenser.
No.
I'll bet your ten bucks against my hundred
that we pull a b*llet out of this stiff
it'll belong to your pet shock Hawk.
Well, whoever did it saved my life.
- You'd testify to that? - You bet.
Now, it's your turn.
Yeah, right.
Actually, I'm not surprised
Hawk was around here tonight at all.
How's that?
Well, him and the corpse got something in common.
They both work for Tom Flaherty.
(Spenser) Tom Flaherty again.
He might see himself as a making a bit for sainthood
but I sure as hell didn't.
I didn't know why he wanted Jordan Roberts dead.
I didn't know why he might have wanted Catheline O'Rourke dead.
But I did know it had to have something to do with money.
A lot of money changes hands in urban renewal projects.
And when big money changes hands in Boston
Tom Flaherty has been known
to have the stickiest fingers in town.
Financial plans.
Little Miss Brilliant and Jordan were working on.
He had this dream.
[sighs] Said that public housing was over.
They turned it to instant slums.
He wanted people to own their own place.
Set up a fund, so that they could learn
how to become carpenters and plumbers.
'Fix them all up.'
A miracle.
Home ownership and jobs.
Is that what these charts are all about?
Don't ask me.
I wasn't the financial expert.
It was somebody else.
You loved Jordan very much, didn't you?
Even after he got closed to Catheline?
[sighs]
It didn't mean a thing.
I know him.
He thought if she found out about life
she wouldn't go back to the convent.
That she needed him.
But he needed me.
I knew all about the bad parts of town.
He needed me in ways he didn't even know about.
You know..
last night when those dudes broke in with the g*ns..
...he couldn't believe they were gonna k*ll him.
Even when they sh*t him, he was surprised.
Now, there's only one thing left for me to do.
What's that?
Get Flaherty.
I heard what the police said.
He's the one that had Jordan k*lled, isn't he?
That's for the law.
The law.
People like Flaherty aren't afraid of the law.
They own the law.
And they never, never pay.
Unless..
Shelley.
Don't worry about me.
Worry about who's looking for you.
[car door shuts]
[intense music]
(Spenser) Monsignor O'Rourke was Catheline's uncle.
He was also one of the busiest men in Archdiocese.
It was incumbent upon me to treat him with respect.
Mr. Spenser, I asked you to come here
because I have favor of a delicate nature to request.
The answer's no.
Now, don't be too hasty.
Well, I figure a man that sends his own car and driver
must have a time problem.
[laughs]
My brother warned me, you could be direct.
Are you also that determined to inflict needless pain
on a family that is already suffered?
I've a client. I've made promises to that client
and promises to a client are a matter of honor to me.
Honor.
Is that what you're protecting here?
I try.
Well, my brother and his wife are paying a terrible price.
For your sense of honor.
Is that why I'm here?
Yes.
I want this to stop.
Want you to leave them alone.
So they can accept what happened
deal with there pain, and get on with their lives.
Even if su1c1de isn't the truth?
Mr. Spenser, don't debate the nature of truth with me.
I'm something of an expert.
Then let me ask you just one question?
How come a man in your position isn't eager to prove
that his niece didn't k*ll herself?
Because I knew Catheline objectively.
She was high strung, head strong
and overly emotional in her face.
So is "Joan of Arc."
She was under tremendous pressures.
That were impossible for her to resolve.
I grieve what happened
but I was not entirely surprised.
As you said, you are objective.
And I'll bet no one's ever criticized you for being
overly emotional in your faith.
[intense music]
(Spenser) I knew that Monsieur's brother Michael O'Rourke
would be emotional.
But I had to be honest with him
in hopes that he'd be honest with me.
Mr. O'Rourke?
[car honking]
Can I talk to you a minute?
My wife told me you broke into Catheline's apartment.
I warned you.
Sarah can't take you poking into this.
I have some news for you.
Nothing you gotta say I wanna hear.
It's private and it's important.
It's okay, fellas.
I'll catch you in the diner.
Yeah?
I don't think Catheline k*lled herself.
I think she was m*rder*d.
Have you know shame?
[sobbing]
I've already lost the only person I ever loved
who loved me back.
Can't you leave things alone?
I can't.
Then damn you to hell.
[intense music]
(Spenser) It all kept coming back to the ghetto property.
It didn't seem unreasonable then
to find out who owned it.
Don't bother to get up. I'm feeling athletic today.
Hi.
I know you. You are at the fight with the, with the black guy.
How perspective of you.
You know, most people might be too nervous
with all that physical stuff going on to remember.
But I'll bet you remember a lot
of important details, don't you?
Mm, like what?
Like, who owns all that property where you were evicting
all those people?
[chuckles] No, that's confidential--
I don't doubt that for a second.
You don't scare me.
Why should I scare you?
I'm an affable guy. You know some people call me "charming."
I do, however, have one reprehensible character flaw.
Mm-hmm. What's that?
I sometimes lose my temper, usually I apologize afterwards
but by then, it really isn't any consolation at all.
So why don't you tell me what I wanna know
while you still think I'm a nice guy.
[thud]
[chatter]
- 'Alright.' - I got something for you.
I'm glad you stopped by.
I was, uh..
...gonna call you.
Uh, yesterday, uh..
You want me to quit.
The Monsignor sent for you too, huh?
It's not my decision anymore.
Why do you think he wants us to quit?
The church is dedicated to the work of God.
I'm sure he had good reasons for--
Do you know, do you know
who owns all this property that Catheline wanted
to turn over to the poor people?
No, I knew Catheline was trying to find out and she couldn't.
Why, do you know?
The Archdiocese?
Do you know who was helping evict all those poor families?
Tom Flaherty, one of the toughest hoods in Boston.
I also think he had the man
Catheline was working with m*rder*d.
Doesn't something smell just a little bit rotten
to you here, Father?
It is not up to me to judge my superiors.
I took a vow of obedience.
The whole structure of..
Bull! You have the capacity, believe it.
Catheline didn't k*ll herself.
You had the conviction to hire me to prove it.
You had the courage to climb in the ring to keep me on the job.
Don't tell you're gonna quit now.
Now, wait, you think I want.. You think I want to?
I would be a martyr, if it would help.
But, Spenser, there is nothing I can do.
What are you afraid of?
Boss is gonna fire you?
He's a board that places priest and O'Rourke is on it.
He carries lot of weight.
I'm up for review this year.
They could transfer me to somewhere
I wouldn't even get to work with people.
This parish means that much to you?
I love these people.
I think I can help them.
Bring them closer to God.
You'd even lie to yourself to do it, huh?
Hey, Spenser!
Hey! Spenser!
I'm with you.
(Hawk) 'Look here. Clarity.'
Can't do it.
I'm going up against some of the toughest g*ns in Boston.
I need someone to cover my back side.
Gonna have to be another somebody.
That's why I came here.
Ask you to quit this.
You know I can't quit.
I told Flaherty that.
He said tell you anyway.
You quit jobs before, why don't you quit Flaherty?
I got rules, Spenser. Just like you.
Somebody break one, then I quit.
Flaherty plays straight with me a whole lot of year.
You got rules that allow you to throw black people
out on the street.
Don't judge me, man.
Since when you become such an authority on black people?
Not black people, just people.
I don't quit just 'cause it get rough.
It's gonna get a lot of rougher.
You stand next to Flaherty
one of us might not come out of it.
I sure hate to think it's gonna be you.
Hate it more if it was me.
That's one way we're different.
I know I can stop you if I have to.
You don't think I can stop you?
For good? No.
Well, maybe they'll put something on my pocket.
What's that?
A lil' surprise.
You can't surprise me, Spenser.
You're too white.
Too what?
That's another way we're different.
'Cause you will never know what it's like to be black.
Did you ever have a little child run away
from you with fear in his eyes
just 'cause your black?
Did you grow up having people call you boy and meaning it?
Become a man. Eat, drink, drive and wear the best
and then the eyes, they're still saying boy.
Well, I found out how to be strong.
And getting strong made me a whole lot tougher
than you will ever be.
There's two ways to be tough.
One by not believing in anything.
And the other by believing in somethin'.
Yeah, well..
I guess we find out which way we're better.
Maybe.
(Flaherty) You can't back out.
We have a deal.
You knew going in, it's strictly between us.
No one in the hierarchy knows
that we're evicting those poor people.
If they find out about it..
What about your hospital?
You've got to have my property
if you're going to expand.
That's why you agreed to trade your tenements
in the first place.
And if the bishop I work for, finds out about it
he'll have my head.
And I happen to like my head, Mr. Flaherty.
Damn it. I even gave that house to those nuns.
And you will no doubt be rewarded in Heaven.
It's Spenser, isn't it?
He's the one who's messing this up.
You wouldn't do anything to him.
That would be wrong.
I understand.
[intense music]
Morning, Hawk.
I was hoping you wouldn't show.
Same here.
Drop the g*n, Hawk!
Hands over your head. You know the drill.
You got nothing.
Yeah?
Oh, let's see what you've got.
[laughs] My, my.
You got license for all that stuff?
What you want?
Just talk.
About an hour's worth, I guess.
Good move.
Anytime you wanna say thanks, don't be shy, you know, Spenser?
[intense music]
One of my favorite spots on all of Boston.
Bunker Hill, Buince Hill.
where our glorious revolution truly began.
But we're not here for history lesson, are we?
No, another kind of lesson.
The..
...profitability of reasonableness.
Well, what a surprise.
Money.
Quick, whose picture's on a $ bill?
$,.
What would I have to do for this?
I'm assuming this is not a gift
'cause you enjoy my sunny personality.
You do the easiest thing in the world.
You forget.
A certain real estate transaction?
Simple, isn't it?
Not as simple as saying no.
This Has nothing to do with Catheline O'Rourke.
It has everything to do with my conscience.
Not only that..
...it's a sin.
Arrogance is a sin.
So is pride.
And you're intimate with both, Spenser.
What about m*rder?
Jordan's?
Don't you think the police are gonna be interested in that?
Don't you think this little transaction is enough
to tie that to your tail?
What makes you think I'd do something like that?
Eliminate the impossible.
Whatever remains
however probable..
...must be the truth.
"Sherlock Holmes."
[laughing]
Spenser.
Spenser, you brighten my day after all.
I have lawyers who have lawyers
who're trained on getting me out of worse.
By the way, Hawk won't be showing up.
My fault, I'm afraid.
The police picked him up for questioning.
He'll be out by sun down.
And if he's not, there are others.
And it'll cost me a lot less than grand.
And that, Spenser, is real justice.
(Shelley) Flaherty!
- No, don't! - Shelley!
- No! - This is for Jordan!
[g*nsh*t]
No!
No!
He said he would never pay. He will.
I knew we'd get him.
[groaning]
(Spenser) According to the "Book Of Songs"
the Lord is a strength in my life.
Of whom then shall I be afraid.
All the evidence of Catheline's death
had lead her to Tom Flaherty.
But all the fear took me back to one person.
By the way, Bishop Lemming
sends his thanks.
Four people still have their homes.
It's Monsignor O'Rourke was gone from the Archdiocese.
Michael?
'We need to talk to you. Can we come in?'
You had dinner with Catheline.
In her apartment, the night she d*ed.
I found two sets of dishes.
Then what happened?
You went up on the roof.
It's, uh..
...hard to remember.
'I was still angry.'
And no, uh..
I shook her.
I shook her, and..
...she just fell.
- And I.. - Don't please.
(Sarah) 'Don't, Michael.'
I've told them I've done it.
They know everything.
Now, for God's sake
let me go with him and get this over with.
Oh, Michael.
You've had to carry so much.
I was there.
We went up on the roof to talk.
Catheline told me she was..
...why she couldn't..
...go back to the convent.
I yelled at her.
I'd never raised my voice to that child in her life.
I yelled, I wasted my life and I'm not going to let her
throw hers away too.
I yelled at her.
And for the first time, she backed away from me.
'I realized what I'd done and..'
...I held out my arms
to reach for her, but..
[sobbing] ...my baby just kept going away.
Until she tripped and..
I held out my arms..
...and she wouldn't come to me.
[sobbing]
[crying]
I love you, Sarah.
I know.
(Spenser) Catheline O'Rourke's death was a terrible accident.
Whatever guilt her mother carried
it wasn't one the law of man was qualified to recognize.
Not one for any man to judge.
Saint Matthew wrote of a mother..
...weeping for her children
and would not be comforted
because they are none.
Could there be any punishment more cruel than that?
[theme music]