06x03 - The Spaceman Made Me Do It

[bunniefuu]

Is that why you did it?

The E.T. made me do it.

I believe Jodi's
telling the truth.

Mrs. Hendricks, has she ever
talked to you about her own E.T.?

Who, David?

They were here.

They're coming back
tonight to take me with them.

Jodi, listen to me.

I want to go.

You're not gonna take her!

Leave her alone!

15 MARY-6 and 7, H-50.

How goes it, night owls?

Dark and boring, H-50.

How long do you think
we'll be stuck out here?

Who knows...

I kind of like the boondocks.

Peace and quiet.

I don't mind the
peace and quiet.

But this night work is
wrecking my social life.

No kidding.

I didn't know you had one.

Very funny.

Ponch?

Do you think that Getraer sticking
us out here had anything to do

with my bike scratching his car?

Of course not, Bobby,
it was an accident.

Sergeant would never let a thing
like that influence his decisions.

Hey, you!

Stop!

A kid?

I couldn't get
anywhere with her.

Not even her name.

We appreciate you
coming in early, Kathy.

No problem. What is
she, 11, 12, years old?

How could she pull
a burglary like that?

You should have seen her
drive that car. Man, she was flying.

What about that
clay stuff she used?

It's been sent over to the lab.

I've never seen
anything like it.

I feel sorry for that kid. I wish
there was something we could do.

You don't have a lot of choices. Without
an ID, you can't locate her parents.

She'll have to be
sent to juvenile hall.

I'm gonna give it one more try.

You're wasting your time.

You never waste time on a kid.

How you feeling?

Does your head still hurt?

Hey, I know you're tired.

And maybe a little scared.

But if you don't talk to me,
you're gonna have to talk

to them down at juvenile hall.

Believe me, that's no picnic.

I don't care what happens to me.

What about your mom and
dad? Don't you think they care?

I don't have a father.

Then let's talk
about your mother.

There's nothing to talk about.

She's busy with her own life.

She doesn't have any
time for some dumb kid.

Is that why you did it?

No.

But if I told you the truth,
you wouldn't believe me.

Try me.

The E.T. made me do it.

- The E.T.?
- I told you you wouldn't believe me.

Okay, now, wait a
minute, I didn't say that.

It just caught me
by surprise, that's all.

Now when you say E.T., is that like
an extraterrestrial, from outer space?

If you're gonna make fun of me,
then just go away and leave me alone.

Hey, I'm not making fun of you.

I really wanna hear your story.

I mean it.

Last night...

I'm not sure what time it was.

I guess around midnight.

I was asleep when...
A cold wind woke me.

I felt like something
was pulling at me.

I got up and went to the window.

All right.

I don't understand.

How can I help you?

You need diamonds to fix
your communications system?

Well, I'd like to help
you, but I don't have any.

I don't know.
That'd be stealing.

None of you could get back?

I bet someone loves
you and misses you.

I'll help you.

I told you you
wouldn't believe me.

You gotta admit that's one
heck of a story to swallow.

But I'll give you the
benefit of the doubt for now.

I'm sorry I got so angry.

It's just that...

It's important that
someone believes me.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

My name is Poncherello.

My friends call me Ponch.

Will you be my friend?

My name's Jodi, Jodi Hendricks.

Pleased to meet you, Jodi.

You know you're quite
a driver for a little kid.

We've got an old
pick-up on the ranch.

I've been driving
it for almost a year.

Who taught you to
hot-wire a car like that?

I picked it up.

Um, why don't we
call your mother?

Let her know you're okay.

Do I have to go to jail?

Hey, Jodi, you
and me are friends.

We'll see this thing
through together, okay?

Why are you doing this for me?

You have a tough time
trusting anyone, don't you?

Maybe I'm doing it
because I know what it's like

to be scared and lonely.

Come on.

Man, there is nothing
like a good night's sleep

to start a man off in
a right frame of mind.

Hey, did I ever tell I had this
friend who loved the dog-watch?

That cocker spaniel had
the prettiest blue eyes.

Hey.

Come on, you think you can stay
awake long enough to drive home?

- Yeah, I think so.
- You sure it wasn't a Chihuahua?

Hey, maybe it was.

Grossie, you put
this in my locker?

- What is it?
- A chain letter.

You kidding?

"Send it on and great
things will happen to you."

And if you don't, well,

I don't even want to
think of the consequences.

Remind me to file that
letter in the waste basket.

Okay, but it's your neck.

Getraer would pass it on either
and look what happened to him.

What happened to him?

Somebody dropped
a bike on his new car.

Junk mail.

More junk mail.

- Nothing but junk mail.
- Ah, gentlemen.

I think you'd like to know that
Mrs. Hendricks just picked Jodi up.

Good.

So, how are my knights
of darkness doing?

You know, I remember about 15, 16 years
ago when I was on the graveyard shift.

It certainly gives one an opportunity
to contemplate one's errs in life.

Doesn't it?

- Sarge?
- Yeah.

Do you want something, Frank?

Well, uh...

I just don't know
how to put this.

Look, Frank I'm very busy.

- You wanna talk about it tomorrow?
- Yeah.

- Okay.
- No.

Well, it's like this...

You shifting us to
graveyard out in the boonies...

Yeah.

Well, that didn't have anything to do
with Hot Dog scratching your car, did it?

Oh, Frank...

I mean, that hurts.

Do you honestly think I'm
capable of something so...

So mean and petty?

No, of course not.

Sarge, listen that was
a really dumb question.

- Just forget that I said it, okay?
- Uh, Frank.

Frank, come here.

Frank, uh...

That was a new car.

My very first new car.

Now, if that happens ever again,

you and Nelson are gonna find
yourselves so far out in the boonies,

you're gonna have to
take a helicopter to work.

What I tell you, Eddie
boy, Cherry Blossom Lane.

Well, Pete, I just don't know how
you figure out where they're gonna be.

Yeah, there, that's what
we've been waiting for.

It's cherry picking time.

Are you all right in there?

Hi, Jodi.

Hi.

You come to arrest me?

No, we came by to
talk to your mother.

You came to see
what a liar I am.

Hey, if I thought you were a liar, I
wouldn't waste my time coming here.

I'm sorry. Come on in.

I'll get my mom.

Hello.

How do you do, Mrs. Hendricks?

I'm Officer Frank Poncherello.
This is my partner Bobby Nelson.

Uh, why don't you go outside, Jodi,
okay? I wanna talk to the officers alone.

Go on.

- Would you like some coffee or something?
- No, thank you.

We have a few questions
we'd like to ask you.

Sure, just go right ahead.

- Have a seat.
- Yes, thank you.

Mrs. Hendricks, uh...

Who taught Jodi
how to drive a car?

I taught her.

Um, it was just to haul
feeder on the ranch

and run to town to
do some errands.

How did she learn
how to hot-wire a car?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Mrs. Hendricks,
we're not the enemy.

All we're concerned
about is Jodi.

What was an 11-year-old girl doing
out alone at 3:00 in the morning?

I didn't know she was out.

I was out pretty late,

and, um, I didn't check
on her when I came home.

Look, it's not easy being a
mother and a father to a child.

Especially with
a girl like Jodi.

Well, I don't know, she seemed
like a pretty good kid to me.

It's not that she's bad...

It's just that...

It's just...

After her dad split, uh,

she kept to herself pretty much.

And...

She watches a lot of
television, reads books.

She goes to movies a lot.

She's seen that E. T.
Movie over four times.

Mrs. Hendricks, has she
talked to you about her own E.T.?

- Who, David?
- David?

That's the name of her
current imaginary friend.

How much trouble
is she really in?

The charges against
her are very serious.

You could be facing
charges, too, Mrs. Hendricks.

What charges?

Contributing to the
delinquency of a minor.

It'll be up to the courts.

But Jodi could be
removed from your home

and placed under some
kind of supervisory care.

Well, maybe that would be, um...

Maybe that would be
better for the both of us.

Hi, Bobby.

- Hey, Ponch.
- Hi, kitten.

You must be the officers
Jodi's told me about.

- They're my friends.
- You bet we are, baby.

Where's your mom?

She stepped out right
before the proceedings began.

She never came back.

You have any idea
where she went?

I see Mrs. Hendricks
has not returned.

No, Your Honor,
I'm afraid she hasn't.

Jodi, I'm sorry,

but until we can
find your mother,

I have no choice but to remand
you to the custody of juvenile hall

until the disposition
of your case.

Your Honor.

May I approach the bench?

- You have some interest in this case?
- Yes, sir.

My name is Poncherello. I'm
one of the arresting officers.

He's taken a personal
interest in Jodi, Your Honor.

All right, Officer, what
is it you wish to say?

Well, Your Honor...

Would it be possible
for the court to

give me temporary
custody of Jodi?

What do you say
about that, young lady?

I think it'd be super.

Mrs. Caulder?

I'm not sure, Your Honor.

Are you aware the responsibility
you're taking on yourself?

Yes, ma'am, I believe so.

How do you intend to look
after Jodi when you're working?

He has a lot of friends.

That's right, Your Honor.

And I guarantee she
won't be left alone.

Mrs. Caulder?

Considering the
alternatives, Your Honor,

I think it's an excellent idea.

All right, Officer.

I hereby remand Jodi
Hendricks into your custody.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Come on.

Are you sure you don't mind
me taking over your bedroom?

No, I don't mind.

Actually, I prefer
to sleep on the sofa.

The only reason I
use the bedroom...

Because it's here.

I figure we got enough stuff
from your house to last you a while.

No, you better get
some sleep, honey.

We will see you in the morning.

- All right.
- I'll be by.

And I'm gonna make you the best
plate of bacon and eggs you've ever had.

- Ponch?
- Hmm?

Thanks for taking me in.

Hey, what are friends for, huh?

What is this?

This, my uncivilized friend,

is a South Philly
gastronomical extravaganza.

Could have fooled me.

Hey, Ponch, I don't get it.

Get what?

How a mother can just
take off and leave her child.

Everyone acts
differently under stress.

You think she'll come back?

Yeah, probably.

That still won't help the
pain Jodi's feeling right now.

What did you see?

I'm not sure.

A strange light.

It's the helicopter, I heard it.

You're not gonna start
believing in space ships, are you?

Jodi?

Honey, why are you out of bed?

He was here.

- Who was here?
- The E.T.

He came to thank me
for trying to help him.

It's true, Ponch.

They found another way of
fixing their communication systems.

They're gonna be leaving soon.

All right, honey, come
on. Let's go back to bed.

Now, we'll talk about
it in the morning.

Now, you sound like my mother.

You don't believe me, do you?

Jodi, I'm trying very hard.

The E.T. wants
me to go with them.

Do you wanna go?

I don't know.

If I can't find happiness here,

maybe I can find
it in another world.

Come on, Ponch, you don't really
believe in Jodi's story, do you?

Bobby, after a few
more years in the saddle,

you'll learn that anything
and everything is possible.

What was that, Ponch?

Something must have hit my bike.

What's the matter,
fellas, trouble?

Sorry, Harlan...

A rock kicked up on the
highway and busted my headlight.

Hey, no problem.

Just leave it right here,
I'll have it fixed in no time.

Glad to help.

- Okay, what's wrong?
- What do you mean?

Well, I bust my headlight
and you're Mr. Happy Face...

Something's wrong.

Listen, how can anyone be
upset when he's just won $1,000?

Hey, that's great.
How'd you do it?

Supermarket contest.

You know this is the first thing
I've ever won in my whole life.

I suppose you're gonna tell us
it's because of that chain letter.

Hey, how did you know that?

Hmm.

I win again.

- Let's play three out of five?
- Okay.

- Hi, Ponch. Hi, Bobby.
- Hey, Jodi.

How you doing, kitten?

- How was your day?
- Super.

Sergeant Getraer is
really fun to play with.

I had a little spare time. I doubt
whether that'll happen again.

Thanks for staying with
me, Sergeant Getraer.

You've been really super.

I don't know why everyone
says you're so mean.

Can I, uh, see you boys
in my office, please?

Sarge, honest, I don't know
where she could have heard that.

Hey, you don't have to
apologize. I took it as a compliment.

Gentlemen, I think you
both know Dr. Joyce Brothers.

- Well, hello, nice to see you.
- Hello.

The probation department
asked Dr. Brothers

to come by and
have a talk with Jodi

to see if she can make some
sense out of this spaceman thing.

- And?
- I believe Jodi's telling the truth.

What did I tell you?

- As she sees it.
- What do you mean?

- I'm sure you know about her David?
- Yes.

Well, that's her
Earth-bound companion.

What more natural than to
create a space age playmate?

It's like having your own
extraterrestrial companion.

I think it shows a
lively imagination.

The only time we
really worry is when

a child doesn't
have real friends.

But Jodi's done so
splendidly with all of you.

As a matter of fact, if I
were an extraterrestrial,

I would choose to reveal
myself first to a child.

Because they haven't
closed their mind yet.

How do you explain that
clay we found on her?

I think this lab report
explains it for us.

Basically, it's a combination of

three different kinds of soil
found in southern California,

mixed with several easily
obtainable chemicals.

You think she made
the stuff by herself?

How would she learn to
do something like that?

Well, that one had me stumped,
too, until I came across this

in the entertainment
section in the newspaper.

Uncle Henry's Workshop?

It's a Saturday morning
TV show for kids.

I called the station.

Two weeks ago, Uncle Henry made
virtually the same substance Jodi used.

She must've watched the program.

Why doesn't anybody believe me?

Everything I told you is true.

Jodi, we want to believe you.

If we only had something
concrete to go on.

- You mean like evidence?
- Yeah, like evidence.

All right.

It landed right about there.

All right, you stay here.

When we have to tell
her we didn't find anything,

it's just gonna
make matters worse.

- Then let's try to find something.
- Like what?

Look at this grass
over here. It's burnt.

It could have been from
the heat of their engines.

It could have been
from a grass fire.

- Yeah, well, look at this.
- What is it?

Jodi said the UFO was
resting on three support legs.

Let's try to find two
more impressions.

- Ponch.
- Hey, we're here, man, let's look.

Here's another.

There's another one over here.

A perfect triangle.

It could be anything from
tents to campers to tables.

There's 100 explanations.

Yeah? Well, I'm
just looking for one.

Bobby, come here.

What do you think?

It looks like a piece
of quartz, or glass.

Or sand, fused at
extremely high temperature.

Like the blast from
a rocket engine?

It is possible, isn't it?

Not in my book.

Jodi, what is it?
Are you all right?

They were here.

He spoke to me.

They're coming back
tonight to take me with them.

- Jodi, listen to me...
- It's all right, Ponch.

I want to go.

Good morning, Webster.

- Good morning, boys.
- Hi, Kathy.

Good morning, lady.

Can you believe this?

- It's a miracle.
- Whenever you're on time, it's a miracle.

I'm talking about this check.

It's a refund on my income
taxes of two years ago.

$850.

I'd overpaid and
didn't even know it.

That's terrific, Grossie.

First Harlan, and now you.

Right. Hey, maybe
you'll be next.

- Come on.
- Of course.

You guys heard what
happened to Marty Collins?

Works the "B" shift?

His Porsche was
stolen. Poor guy.

I warned him, but...

He didn't pass
on the chain letter.

Right.

850 bucks, wow!

Hey, everybody. Tonight
the pizzas are on me.

All right!

And I'm gonna be the
first to dump it on him.

Any units in the vicinity
of Third and Main?

A 2-1 1 strong arm. Suspects in
a red sedan headed east on Third.

LA-15-MARY-9 and 10 responding.

We're two away.

Now, which way did they go?

Thank you, arigato.

One more time.

One more time, please,
what did he look like?

- Have you got that, Grossie?
- You're kidding.

How are you doing
on those rip-off artists?

We can't get close
enough, Sarge.

We stick out like a sore
thumb in that neighborhood.

That's what I figured.

I'd like you to meet Sergeants
Joy Fujino and Earl Sakai.

- Hello, nice to meet you.
- Hi, sure, how are you? Earl.

They're from the Asian
task force, L.A.P.D.

They've been working on the same
case for the last couple of weeks.

Those punks have been hitting a
lot of Japanese tourists in that area.

Why don't they carry
traveler's checks?

This couple lost a lot of cash.

Language, customs.
It's all strange to them.

Cash feels safe.

I wish there was more
we could do to help.

Hey, you don't think I asked the
sergeants here to come by for tea, do you?

Oh!

I don't know, Pete, maybe we've
come back here too many times, huh?

You want to pass
something like this up?

It's cherry picking time!

- Okay, maybe once more.
- Go for it.

Here we go, Joy. It's going
down! They're coming right at us!

S-3 to covering
units. It's going down.

15 MARY-9 and 10, fall in.

15 MARY-6 and 7, move in!

- Hold it!
- Police!

I got him.

Put your hands over your head.

All right, Sarge.

Okay, which one are we
gonna sleep with tonight?

I don't care.

How 'bout him? He's adorable.

He's fine.

I'm off tomorrow. We could go to the
zoo. Maybe we could see some real bears.

- Tomorrow?
- Sure.

- Anybody home?
- Come on in.

- Hi, Kathy.
- Hi.

Little early for bed, isn't it?

I'm kind of tired.

Yeah.

Good night, Jodi. We'll talk
about the zoo tomorrow. Okay?

Good night.

You're gonna be
safe here, kitten.

Nobody's gonna
take you anywhere.

You don't understand, Ponch.

I want to go.

I know things don't look good right
now, but you gotta hang in there.

They're gonna get
better, I promise.

I'm really tired.

I want to go to sleep.

I may have one bit of good news.

Good.

I sure can use it.

Jodi's mother called.

- Where is she?
- Vegas.

She doesn't know why she
ran, but she's coming home

and she wants to make
things right with Jodi.

- Have you told her?
- There was no reaction.

Like it didn't matter anymore.

Hey, come on, you
guys, thanks for helping.

But why don't you go
home and get some rest?

You're gonna be okay?

Yeah, man, I'm gonna
be okay. Come on.

I'll just check on
Jodi before I go.

You're gonna miss
her, won't you?

Yeah, I guess so.

I'm just glad her
mother's coming home.

Ponch! Bobby!

She's gone.

I know where she's gone.

Jodi, it's okay. Come
on, I'll take you home.

I'm scared, Ponch. I'm scared.

Don't worry. I won't let
anything happen to you.

I didn't mean what I
said. I don't want to go.

Don't let them take me!

Ponch, please help me!

You're not gonna take her!

Leave her alone!

She tried to help you! If
you care about her, let her go.

Leave her where she belongs!

Ponch, help me!

Ponch!

Let her go! Whoever
you are, let her go!

I saw it, but I still
don't believe it.

Then come up
with a better answer.

I don't know.

It could've been a
tornado of some kind.

Or a helicopter.

Jodi, tell me the truth.

Your E.T...

Is he the same as
your friend David?

No, David wasn't real.

It's the helicopter.

Bobby, it's whatever
you want it to be.

- I thought you were due in court.
- Yeah, we are. We better get going.

- Hi, Jodi.
- Hi.

Look, I just wanted
to tell you that

no matter what
happens in court today,

I certainly owe you all far
more than I could ever repay.

Seeing you and Jodi together
is all the payment we need.

Well, I'm gonna try
to be a better mom.

If we're gonna get to court
on time, we better move it.

Hey, you guys are never
gonna believe what I found.

The chain letters.

Yeah. Found 'em
behind Jenny's desk.

She went on vacation last week
and must've forgotten to mail 'em.

Oh, no.

What difference does it make,
Grossie? You still have the $850.

Not exactly.

It was for another
Arthur Grossman.