[music continues]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Most private detectives have a lot in common
with other professionals like doctors, lawyers, architects.
We all have clients who don't pay their bills.
Maybe that's why I was always so short of cash.
If money really is the root of all evil
at the moment I should be eligible for sainthood.
I had come home to my fire-house apartment last month
and found something interesting in the garage.
A fire truck.
The BFD needed my place back as a station.
So, my next step was the Classifieds.
The ad had said, "Charlestown apartment office fixing
needs tender love and care."
So, it meant plastering the gaping holes
in the walls tenderly
replacing the worn out electrical wiring lovingly
and painting over the m*llitary-green walls carefully.
I had walked through my savings account and was nearly broke
but at least it was over except for the plumbing.
(Stan) 'I see there are lot of wall work.'
'Where did all these holes come from?'
(Spenser) 'Ah, my guess would be a five iron.'
'The guy who used to live in this apartment'
'was a golf instructor.'
'You should've seen the living room.'
He used to practice in there too
there's divots in the carpet.
Ow!
- 'Throw me a rag, will you?' - You got it.
And these blueberry muffins are great.
Well, Stan, I'm glad you're enjoying them
while I'm down here ripping my skin off.
Hey, you wanted your own look. You satisfied?
Satisfaction is the hobgoblin of little minds.
What's that mean?
That means I have no idea
what I was looking at down there.
I've been telling you Charlestown was built in .
Actually, five years before Boston.
So what?
I think you got some of the original plumbing.
Tell me.
Faucet assembly, washers, everything is sh*t.
Ha! Most of the pipes got more leaks than the Pentagon.
And the trap, Spenser
I wouldn't go near that trap without a toxic waste suit.
Dude, just tell me how much?
I don't know.
I'll get you an estimate.
- 'I hate this part.' - I don't.
Uh, Stan, when you're done fiddling with the federal budget
there just leave the estimate on my desk.
I gotta change to see a man down the street.
I hope it's a client, a rich one.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I heard what Stan said as I was leaving
and he was right.
What I needed was a paying client
what I had was a meeting with a Boston homicide detective.
Marty Quirk wanted to see me.
Marty was rarely the bearer of good news.
So, I suggested we meet at my local tavern.
At least I could sip a frosty
while he told me about my latest troubles.
Whatever those were.
[tires screeching]
[horn blaring]
Hey, Harry, how you doin'?
Spenser, I paid you for your work years ago in full.
Now, back off!
Piece of garbage!
Hey! Harry!
(male #) 'Come on, buddy, would you move that thing?'
[horn honking]
Hey!
[exhales]
[instrumental music]
Teresa, give me a draught and a damp towel chaser.
You get these nosebleeds often?
Every time I try to stop a fist on my face.
- Yeah? Who hit you? - A friend, Harry McReynolds.
He just walks up and he pops me one.
He phoned in a complaint on you this afternoon.
Now, one of the boys downstairs knew that I knew you
he tipped me off.
Complaint? Wh-what is going on?
A friend walks up, whacks me in the face.
I got a plumber who's charging me enough to retire early
and now a complaint.
This is serious, Spenser.
What did I do to flame my friend?
According to the call, you tried to blackmail him.
- Blackmail? - 'That's right.'
Now, the district attorney's office
wants to talk to you tomorrow morning a.m.
You see an assistant DA named Rita Fiore
and you better take care of your nose.
I will.
Now, if you're gonna talk to miffling
you better think twice about it
'cause I understand that guy is really mad.
I'll talk to him later.
I know somebody right across town who's a wee-bit miffed.
[knocks on door]
Harry, I can keep this up for a long time.
- Go away, Spenser. - Not until we talk.
I said all I want to say to you.
Harry, calling me a piece of garbage
in the middle of main street is not a great explanation.
Now look, we've known each other almost ten years.
'In fact, you know me well enough to know'
I'm capable of kicking this door off the hinges
and coming in whether you want me to or not.
You're, uh, not mad about the nose?
(Spenser) 'So, why did you think it was me?'
'Did he sound the same?'
I don't know.
- You wanna drink one? - No.
He says he's you.
He starts talking about Gracie, I don't know
maybe I'm not listening too good.
He, uh..
[chuckles]
Spense, nobody likes to hear somebody rehashing the fact
that his wife's having an affair with her boss.
- Harry, look-- - I-i-it's over.
Gracie and I, we put it all back together years ago.
It's just, uh..
...I got mad thinking about it, you know.
- How much did he ask for? - $.
I thought you were crazy asking me for that kinda brick.
I mean him or..
- What did you tell him? - Take a flying leap.
So, you don't think he'll be calling back?
[chuckles] Not likely.
I told him I don't care if he takes out a three-page ad
in the "Boston Herald" about my wife, I still ain't paying.
When I find this guy, I'll make sure he doesn't call you again.
Hey, you just take care of yourself.
What this guy is doing, gonna hurt you more than me.
- Say hello to Gracie. - Hey, uh..
Sorry about the nose.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I got more than my nose bent outta shape by Harry.
My pride took a sh*t also.
Somebody running a blackmail scheme using my name
was very upsetting.
And when I'm upset, I tend to eat...a lot.
Hawk had treated me to a rich French meal.
I figured if we walked home
I could burn out a few calories.
[intense music]
Got that feeling too.
- They yours? - No, they belong to you.
I'm just in the mood to find out.
A little foxtrot after dinner helps to digest.
[instrumental music]
[groans]
Hold it!
[groaning]
This isn't a w*r, yet.
Guess we know who owns these two, huh?
I want a word with you, Spenser.
Well, I'm honored.
It's not every night I get a chance to have a chat
with an intellectual giant like Louis Groton.
What's it gonna be, Louis?
Keynesian economics?
The existentialism of starks?
Climb in...and just you.
I got no business with your friend.
He means you, boy.
[grunts]
Hawk doesn't like that word.
You chilly?
Yeah, thanks for dinner.
There's a word I don't like either, Spenser.
Blackmail.
Well, I thought that was one of your favorites, Louis.
Right up there with extortion, prostitution
narcotics and m*rder.
[clicks tongue] Smart mouth.
Same smart mouth had called my stockbroker this morning.
Oh, yeah, the guy who's laundering drug money for you.
I never could approve it, but I warned him.
Now, I'm warning you.
An hour ago, I paid your messenger boy
twenty-five thousand bucks.
So, my broker was your client a few years ago
you tripped over some of my business
and now you want to cash in.
Okay. I paid.
I came tonight to tell you that's the last, no more.
I don't know what you're talking about, Groton.
Then let me make it clear.
Whether you like or not, we got a deal, now, you and me.
No calls and you say nothing about this.
What did this messenger look like
and where did you drop the dough?
Save the act, Spenser.
And remember what I just said. Now get out of my car.
[siren blaring]
You got a reputation for being smart.
So be smart. Keep your mouth shut!
(Frank) Well, somebody's got to keep their mouth shut.
Look at this.
"Money laundering charge
"private investigator links prominent stockbroker
to organized crime."
You know it's not often an anonymous type of guy
like yourself hits the front page.
I didn't leak that story.
[laughs] You don't have to convince me.
You got to convince the lady.
- You know her? - Uh, lovely Rita.
Excuse me, Miss Fiore, yeah, I've had my dealings.
- Uh, what's she like? - Tough lady.
I mean, you wanna go with that thought?
Well, you know, she's a tough, tough lady.
- Way to fine tune it, Frank. - You know what I mean, Spenser.
She-she's gutsy, she's gung-ho for the job.
She sticks to things like a bull..
What am I giving you a book report for?
You'll find out.
Hi, my name is Spenser, I've got an appointment--
I've been expecting you, Mr. Spenser.
Please, follow me.
I'm glad you're on time. I'm doing court shortly.
Please, sit down.
No, thanks. I'll stand. This won't take long.
'I've only got about five minutes myself.'
Mr. Spenser, are you aware of the gravity of all this?
If you are, you'll realize
I can take a great deal more of your time.
Say five or ten years?
No, you won't. I've got plans for those years.
Not to mention four seasons with a garden.
I'm not accusing you of anything, Mr. Spenser.
Good.
I don't know that you've done anything wrong.
- I haven't. - I sincerely hope so.
Well, your hope will be rewarded.
Would you like to tell me what you do know of all this?
- Nothing yet. - Anything more?
No, nothing, except that this is a setup.
I haven't done a damn thing.
Well, as terse and snappy as that defense is, Mr. Spenser
it just may not be enough.
I do intend to find out who is doing the blackmail.
So do I. Let me show you what I've got so far.
Two felony blackmail complaints filed with the police.
Both parties received calls from someone
'identifying himself as you.'
I didn't make those calls.
A major news story which broke this morning
concerning money laundering.
'The stockbroker, when questioned'
named you as a source.
Confirming a call the newspaper received last night
from again someone identifying himself as Spenser.
Another call I didn't make.
And finally, I have this, just in this morning.
Now, this is particularly odd.
A man who's average bank balance is $ and cents
suddenly has over $,--
- What? I do not! - Oh, but you do.
Deposited yesterday.
Look, if I were doing the blackmailing
I wouldn't be stupid enough to put the pay-off money
in my market interest account.
Who else might have put it--
I have no idea where that money came from!
Nor do I, but I intend to find out.
Now, look, Mr. Spenser, I have evidence
sketchy now but mounting
that may result in a criminal indictment.
I asked you here to inform you
that I'm beginning an official investigation.
When you could've a message on my answering machine.
(Rita) 'Just a minute, please!'
'Are you carrying a g*n?'
No, it's a brick under my arm, it makes my jacket fit better.
Well, I'd like the brick and the permit to carry it.
'I'll save the police the trouble of having to suspend it'
while the investigation is underway.
[instrumental music]
Now, this is not some image in hands
where I carry just to impress people.
It's a tool of my trade.
(Rita) I'm also recommending a hearing
to have your private investigator's license revoked..
...until this matter is cleared up.
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Danger in its obvious form
is a snarling opponent
grasping you by the neck and daring you to battle.
I knew this beast well.
If there was another face of danger
it comes as a whisper, a dark kiss.
It is a disease not detected
until well established enough to k*ll.
The wheel set in motion to ruin me
with this soft side of danger.
I knew it too, and I respected it.
[music continues]
I heard you were temporarily unemployed.
No, I still have a plan...B.
Yeah, heard about that too.
Blackmail, bad business.
I might have that throwing dirt at you.
Anything else you've heard?
You know you're clean, should be good enough.
A man can waste a whole lot of time, climbing other folks' head
trying to figure out what they think about him.
This thing involves old clients
friends, people I know.
Oh, we can't have them thinking you're not on the up and up.
Throw that Spenser code all out of whack.
Right.
I know one man whose opinion on you
is not too high right on through here.
- Groton. - Mm-hm.
That newspaper story got some gentleman
from the SEC in Washington sniffing around his affairs.
- He's gonna take a run at me. - My guess, real soon.
Hey, I don't suppose
clearing up your fine, upstanding reputation
can hold for a couple of days.
See, I got this gig in Houston, pay's extraordinary.
Dig, I'll split it with you.
And I know some after-hours joints in that old town
where I know we can get into trouble.
I think I better stick around home.
Kinda figured you would.
Thought you might need a friend.
Thanks. Already got one.
Solid.
[instrumental music]
(Rita) 'Thanks again for the files, lieutenant.'
'I'll return them as soon as I can.'
Uh, before you go, Ms. Fiore
just like to say something..
...about Spenser.
I've known him a long time
and while he can be a royal pain in the rear
I don't believe he's doing this.
Why not?
Well, it's pretty hard to explain but..
Spenser is a throwback.
He's full of morals and principles that run very deep.
Blackmail doesn't fit his character.
I appreciate your opinion, lieutenant
but I have to consider the hard facts.
Spenser's been in debt recently.
That's clear motive for many crimes.
And as to his character, well, you admitted yourself
that while he was on the police force
he was reprimanded several times for insubordination.
And on a personal level, the man I met yesterday
I found to be flip, hot-tempered and arrogant.
I'm talking about something different here
that you don't see right away.
I mean, it takes time.
Time and familiarity can also cloud your opinion.
My knowing Spenser for years
it makes me a bad judge of him, is that right?
No, but your friendship with him
can make you biased in his favor.
But who is talking friendship, Miss Fiore?
I happen to respect the man because he does have integrity.
He may have. He maybe dripping with it.
He may give to charity and walk old ladies across the street
but the evidence still says he could be guilty of a crime.
Now thanks again for your help, lieutenant.
Good day.
Now what the hell do you want?
(Spenser) So far the only thing my angry clients had in common
was that I worked with them years ago.
Ordinarily, a trip down the memory lane
would have been pleasurable
but when you live in an over-crowded apartment like me
your past gets stored in dusty cardboard boxes
in a shed by the waterfront.
I needed to look at my retired files.
Apparently, someone else had wanted to look too.
They taped had been ripped and replaced.
[instrumental music]
Nothing appeared to be missing
but and ' certainly had been browsed through.
It's something I intended to do myself.
[music continues]
So, I started concentrating on the cases
I handled between and '.
Not the minor jobs taking a day or two
but the major cases because whoever was after me
had a major motive.
[knocking on door]
Nancy! Hi, come on in.
What's the matter?
I thought that you were someone that I could trust.
Why are you doing this to me?
And after all these years, what..
Why?
Someone called you, said it was me, right?
It wasn't.
Do you mind telling me who it might possibly be
since you're the only person who knew what I did for my brother?
Nancy, would you come in, please?
This is your case.
Someone broke into my files and read it
along with some others.
Whoever it was, didn't care that your brother
forced you to steal dr*gs for him
or that we got him into a rehabilitation program.
All that person wanted was information that could hurt you.
Nancy, I'm sorry.
I know you went through a lot of self-doubt
and pain a few years ago.
I'm sorry it's happening again.
Well, if it wasn't you, who was it?
I don't know, but I'm gonna find out.
So, you're telling me that he's out there right now
and, and knows everything, right?
And that-that he can do what he threatened to do.
What did he say?
He said that he would tell the hospital about
me stealing the morphine from the CICU.
He said that my career would be over and it would.
[sobs] He even threatened to find my brother
and ruin him too.
That means he doesn't know where he is.
What did he want?
[sniffs] $.
I told him I don't have it, much I pleaded with him
but he kept...insisting that I come up with the money.
How long did he give you?
He was very vague
and said that...he'll call maybe next week.
Did he call you at home?
At the hospital.
[sobs] What am I gonna do?
I thought it was you and I could talk you out of it.
What am I gonna do now?
Now I can help you.
If he contacts you again, arrange a meeting then call me.
'I'll take care of the rest.'
I-m-I'm..
I'm very scared.
[instrumental music]
I-I can't go on like this.
(Spenser) Ulysses S. Grant put it so simply
"Find out where your enemy is, strike him as hard as you can."
That's what I intended to do.
But Boston is a big city.
Grant had added, "Find him as soon as you can."
That had become the most important part
because for Nancy and me, time had become an enemy.
Ah, Frank.
I remember that part of the police moto "Ever vigilant."
Spenser, you are some slick gumshoe.
I'll never figure out how you spotted me.
Ah, just lucky, Frank.
I mean, you were so well concealed.
Listen, uh..
...who else do you think might notice you here?
- What do you mean? - 'Come on, Frank.'
You keep up with the news.
The stockbroker has been indicted
they're getting close to Groton and now you're babysitting me.
- Marty send you? - No, I'm freelancing.
- Frank, I didn't you cared. - I do, Spenser.
I care a whole lot... about my weekend.
See, I got plans to go to Ipswich
and as I work homicide
'if somebody happens to get k*lled today or tomorrow'
or whenever, I get assigned to the case and boom
no Ipswich.
Frank, you are one selfish son of a g*n.
[chuckles] Thank you very much and keep your head down.
I will, if you will.
Hey, they've got those great little clams there, don't they?
Oh, yeah, I love 'em.
Yeah, well, watch the butter sauce.
Hey, wa.. Just..
Watch yourself!
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Spenser's first rule of investigation.
"When you don't know what to do, do something."
I needed to get ahead of the blackmailer.
Get a recording of his voice.
Now, if he's stuck to and '
I figured sooner or later, he would contact Irene.
There were some delicate matters in Irene's past days
as a hooker, which made her a good target.
Of course, she had left the streets
and was out of that line of work now.
Well, sort of.
She now ran a little business called "Dial A Fantasy."
[telephone ringing]
(Spenser) 'Now you're sure this machine works?'
I'm sure this machine wor.. It's perfect.
They all are. That's what keeps me in business.
You know what they say, "Look after you tools
they'll be good to ya."
Looks like you're doing pretty well.
Yeah, there's another buck there.
I've had up to calls in one day.
[telephone ringing]
Mm, love that sound.
It's the lonely widow tape.
Ha! That's a lot of action.
- Beats the old routine. - Yeah.
[chuckles] Hell.
I can be outta town, take the job
get paid, the client walks away happy.
Gee, Spenser, if I had known then what I know now
I'd be retired.
Well, I'm glad you're not... at least for now.
Ah, loosen up, sweetie.
If he calls, we got him.
There, you are all hooked up
you should pardon the expression to my private line.
Yeah, well, if he calls, you let me now right away, huh.
Hey, hey, hey, listen, all this trouble you're in
why you have get the authorization for this.
Uh, Quirk set it up, if this works
I'm gonna buy you the best dinner ever.
Yeah, I'll get out my formal.
You really wanna do me a favor?
Give my number out to some of your friends, huh?
[laughs] Okay.
[instrumental music]
[engine cranks]
[engine cranks]
[music continues]
[g*nsh*t]
[tires screeching]
[dramatic music]
[tires screeching]
[clanks]
[tires screeching]
[music continues]
[g*nsh*t]
[tires screeching]
[tires screeching]
[instrumental music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[intense music]
[g*n f*ring]
[instrumental music]
[music continues]
[g*nsh*t]
[g*nshots]
[instrumental music]
[g*nshots]
[g*nshots]
[intense music]
[g*nsh*t]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Kierkegaard put his finger on it.
"Life can only be understood backwards
but it must be lived forwards."
One day, I hope to be able to look back
and reflect on what was happening.
But for now, I had no choice, but to get on with it.
Sergeant, I just spoke with Lieutenant Quirk and, uh..
I'm still a little unclear about the time gap.
If you had been following Spenser
how is it that you arrived at the scene
after the sh**ting had begun?
Well, you see it was the chase.
I lost both vehicles during the high speed
'and I only located them again when they entered the building'
'and it will all be in a full report.'
Thank you, sergeant.
I'd like to speak with Mr. Spenser..
...alone, if you don't mind.
Look, it was a righteous sh**t, any cop will tell you that.
Thank you.
These sh**t are directly related to the blackmail case.
You realize they'll figure prominently in my investigation.
I was att*cked, my assailant fired first
I reacted in self-defense.
Your reaction was to sh**t a man
with a g*n I was unaware you had.
May I ask where you got it? Is there a permit for it?
Uh, the g*n was in my glove compartment
and its registration is on the permit you have.
I'm not holding that for safe keeping.
I revoked that permit.
And now you've used an illegal concealed w*apon
in an act of v*olence.
Well, maybe you should check and see if there's
a valid permit for the -gauge shotgun
that was pointed at me several times
and fired in an act of v*olence.
You know, Mr. Spenser
if all this means so little to you
I suggest it's time you get yourself a lawyer
because you're in deep trouble.
Oh, that's terrific.
Then we'll just sit back and watch the two of you
put a cold clinical eye to the facts
decide who did what to whom.
Well, this has gone way beyond blackmail
or the question of g*n permits.
There are two men dead.
They're out there to k*ll me
but if you think I take any pleasure
or satisfaction in their deaths
you can add that to the long list
of things you don't know about me.
Oh, I know a great deal about you.
How, from the things you've gleaned
for your mounting evidence?
You're so wrapped up in marching me into court
and proving what a despicable person I am
you haven't looked at anything else.
Look, this is neither the time--
Oh, you know it is the time.
It's the perfect time.
You see..
I've got this car that's falling apart around me
I-I've got a, an apartment with holes in the walls
I got some good books, I don't have much
but I've got something that means a lot to me
my reputation.
Now you can have the car, you could have the books
you have my apartment, you can have it all
but you can't have my name.
[instrumental music]
[telephone ringing]
- Spenser. - 'Hello? Spenser?'
- Uh, yeah? - It's Irene.
Uh, what time did he call?
Uh, bright and early about five minutes ago.
Had to be him, nobody else calls me this early
in my private line.
Are we able to keep him on the line?
Listen, Spenser, I learned a lot of things about guys
they're all the same.
Lovers, brothers, bosses, Johns, even crooks.
Ask them a few questions, get 'em going
they all love to hear themselves talk.
I got a minute and a half, two minutes on 'em.
Great. I'll be right over.
[grunts]
Spenser!
- I thought you were in Houston. - I'm back.
You guys wants some coffee?
Probably not.
Looks like you two have been dancing.
Dig that.
You know he wouldn't let me lead.
- You're dead, Hawk. - You wish.
I'm standin' here lookin' at you till we all talk.
- I got nothing to say to you. - That's alright.
But you're gonna come up with somethin' for old Spenser here.
Spenser knows where we stand.
When you stood.
We gonna bring this to a climax.
Mm! When he's dead.
Damn, Louis
now you spoilin' everything.
Thought you promised to be nice and polite.
He's a blackmailer and he's gonna pay.
I didn't do it.
I didn't make the call. I didn't take the money.
- I didn't plant the story. - Yeah.
You didn't do zip to me, right?
I mean, you and me such good friends and all.
You're a murdering piece of filth.
And if I could, I'd work day and night
to see to it that you rot in a cell
for the rest your life.
It's nice to see you all makin' up.
(Hawk) The man say he didn't do it, the man didn't do it.
Now, you keep on sendin' your talent
after Spenser if you want to.
'Two men already came, two men are already dead.'
Cop sh*t one. He won't be around all the time.
Maybe not, but I will, Spenser here, he's real good
and now you know me.
Your twisted sense of justice means
you gotta play some blood feud, some vendetta, then do.
I don't care, the damage done to you was already done.
'One of your high-priced attorneys will get you off'
with a fine but somebody's still taking sh*ts at me out there
and hurting a lot of other people at the same time.
Now, I'm gonna find that person, I'm gonna stop him.
And if you get in my way, you better have an army.
You listenin'?
[instrumental music]
- Cream or sugar? - Black.
(Spenser) So I had the tape of the blackmailer's voice.
That's not much to go on
unless of course you know a guy like Leonard.
(Leonard) 'Okay, first, the flouring then the sauteing'
'uh, uh, then the wine?'
Yeah, one cup of Chablis, reduce it down.
Look, uh, can we get on with this?
Hey, you gotta pay if you wanna play.
I mean, you know I do something for you
you gotta give me something in return, alright?
- I mean, now I bake it? - At degrees.
- Three fifty degrees. For? - minutes.
That's it, the greatest trout you ever tasted, okay?
Great, um, I'm gonna try this tonight.
Alright, let's get back to this baby here.
Leonard.
You guys have been experimenting with physical
and psychological profiles, right?
Can you tell me this guy's age?
No.
Can you at least tell me if he's old or young?
Um, it's hard to say.
Leonard, what of.. Leonard?
What about his, uh, his physical characteristics?
His height, his weight?
Yeah, well, we can tell sometimes
but we can't in this case.
Leonard.
- Leonard? - Hm? Uh, what?
What can you tell me?
Hm, well..
I can tell you it's one lousy tape.
I'll tell you why.
'The call came through in a crowded commercial trunk line'
there's a lot of static here.
Also it's a cheap over-the-counter tape.
It's been erased a lot of times, that adds to the garble.
I'm getting a lot of background noise.
Well, what is it?
What is it?
- Leonard? - Huh?
- 'What is it?' - Huh! Engines.
Big ones, - horsepower. Diesel.
'I'd say big trucks. That ring a bell?'
- No. - Oh, I-I'm sorry.
I mean, you came here asking for a quickie
and I, I tried to help you.
Look, if you can leave it for three or four days
'I'll run it through the really sophisticated filters'
and we'll have this guy so clear you could see right through him.
I may not have three or four days.
Oh, are you sure? I mean, I could give you
a voice work up as good as a fingerprint.
I'm afraid I'm gonna have to go with what I got
but you can swear that this is not my voice, right?
No, absolutely.
I mean, they're close in some areas
but a hack on a home computer
can tell you they're two different voices.
I mean, does this help you?
Maybe enough.
- What's this? - The blackmailer.
Oh, really?
An ex-client of mine recorded that off her phone
early this morning.
Did you happen to participate in that felony?
This is legal wiretap, signed, sealed and delivered
by one of your co-workers down the hall.
My, my, Mr. Spenser
you do have your tentacles everywhere, don't you?
Now trading these zingers with you is a ton of fun
but could we talk about this tape?
Alright.
That's what I assume the other calls were like.
He identified himself as me.
'He brought up the case I had been working on'
especially the embarrassing details
and then demanded payment to keep it quiet.
Do you know the speaker is?
No, but I have a professional voice analyst
who can prove that's not my voice.
Well, that suggests three possibilities.
Well, I thought it might that I have an accomplice
that I sold the files of my ex-clients
on being double crossed, or that I doctored the tape.
Those are the three I had in mind.
Would it help if we could clear up the last possibility?
It might.
I can take you to someone who got a call.
She will swear that the man on that tape
is the same man who called her.
Look, I understand you're not on my side on this one.
That you're just doing your job
but...I'm asking for your cooperation.
Because clearing your name is very important to you.
Yeah.
So is seeing to it that a lot of other people
don't get hurt.
Now will you come or not?
[knock on door] Nancy?
Nancy?
Are you sure that car out front is hers?
No.
[intense music]
Nance? Hey! Hey!
Call .
Tell them it's a barbiturate overdose.
Come on. Get up. Come on, Nancy, wake up.
(Rita) -- please, we need an ambulance immediately
at Brockton.
- Barbiturate overdose. - Come on, wake up. Come on.
[instrumental music]
Feeling better?
Now you know what it feels like on the other side of the bed.
That was not very smart.
I just couldn't see any other way out.
The only thing your su1c1de would mean
is that man out there is winning.
Well, it seemed like he'd already won.
He called the hospital where I work
and told them everything.
I didn't deny it and I was fired.
My administrators
preparing a report to the state board.
Nancy.
You've lived with that secret for a long time.
And as difficult and painful as it'll be..
...it's time for the whole truth to come out.
That's the only way to end this thing.
After they, uh, let you out of here..
...I'll go with you to the hospital and we'll talk
to your supervisors together.
I'm not so sure they won't understand.
You know that ever since I've met you
you've done nothing but help me.
Well now, it's time for you to return the favor.
When you told me about the call, you said things like
CICU and you mentioned specific dr*gs like morphine
now is that you talking because you're a nurse?
'Or is that exactly what the man said?'
No, he knew those words, he-he was familiar with those terms.
Was there anything else that was very specific?
Yeah, he knew that my case would go
to the Ethics and Misconduct Committee.
I doubted if everybody would know
the exact name of that group.
Doctor would.
Somebody who knew a little bit about medicine.
Like Michael Brimson.
(Martin) 'I've been running names all day, Spenser.'
'This is the last one I'm gonna do for you.'
'Michael Brimson got out of jail five months ago'
he served six years two months for manslaughter.
Billy's bringing the parole jacket over now.
- Brimson's one of yours. - Uh, yes, Dr. Brimson.
- I know him very well. - Doctor?
You mean this guy's an MD?
Brimson was in medical school for a year and a half
before he washed out.
That didn't stop him from opening a medical clinic though.
He practiced medicine in South Boston
for nearly five years.
I know that stuff goes on
I don't know how they get away with it.
He took the identity of a doctor recently d*ed.
At the trial, the prosecutor said something like
one out of doctors in this country
may be practicing illegally.
It makes you wonder when you go to your own doctor.
[indistinct chatter]
they even set up a clearing house to check credentials
they want these quacks caught and prosecuted.
How'd you come across Brimson?
A woman hired me to look into the death
of her -year-old daughter.
She hemorrhaged to death after a botched abortion.
'The trail finally led to Brimson's clinic.'
- Excuse me, lieutenant. - 'Yeah.'
I got a parole file on a Michael Brimson.
Good, fine. Thank you, Billy.
Alright, here's a home address.
He works at the bus yard as a mechanic.
- Can I see that? - Sure.
Buses. Big engines.
That's it.
(Martin) 'Fifteen minutes, then we roll, Frank.'
Since when is he back on the force?
[engines idling]
You're sloppy, Brimson.
You play a blackmail the same way you played doctor.
Spenser.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Maybe we go talk to Louis Groton?
He might remember you from the night he give you ,.
Who is Louis Groton?
The man you tried to blackmail
using my name but Louis' tough.
So is Harry McReynolds.
Nancy Kettering wasn't though. You almost took another life.
I don't give a damn about your ex-clients.
They were just a way to you.
Well, how did you like it, Spenser?
To know that everybody thinks you're dirt. Just a fraud.
To see everything you've carefully built destroyed?
You did this!
- That's what you did to me. - You destroyed yourself.
Playing God in some storefront office.
I helped hundreds of people.
You took a girl's life.
It just doesn't add up.
- This guy hassling you, Mike? - Yeah.
Look, this has nothing to do with you.
Brimson's coming with me.
I know him. I don't know you.
Oh, my name is Spenser.
[intense music]
[dramatic music]
[tires screeching]
[tires screeching]
[grunts]
I believe these are yours.
My g*n and permit.
They were cluttering up my desk.
I guess it's a good thing I caught up
with Brimson when I did.
I want you to know you would've had them back
even if you hadn't identified Brimson as the blackmailer.
Oh?
The setup against you was unraveling anyway.
I was preparing to drop the investigation.
I'm glad to see that
evidence could go both ways.
Sometimes, it's just a matter of looking closely
at what you've got.
Uh, I'm not very good at apologies.
Well then, we have a least one thing in common.
[chuckles]
Well, let me try.
I, uh...shouldn't have lost my temper the other day
and I'm not proud of that.
But I meant when I said.
You're right, you're not very good at this.
Well, I did worse than lose my temper
I prejudged you and that was very wrong.
But I hope not unforgivable.
No, it's forgiven.
I guess I'm not very good at accepting apology either.
It sounded fine to me.
You're an interesting man, Spenser.
Not always what you seem.
Yeah, don't let the outside fool you.
"For of the soul the body form doth take
for soul is form, and doth the body make."
That's lovely. Shakespeare?
Uh, Spenser...Edmund.
[theme music]