No!
...on "Spenser For Hire.."
I wanna help you, Laurie.
Don't let them take me. Please.
I want some answers, Kincaid
why your sister tried to k*ll herself?
(Webster) 'Leave the woman and her family alone.'
She wants a private detective, she can hire one.
Tell me something about the sh**t.
I think that was him sh**ting at you.
What is it with you and this case?
I'm into it, alright.
You're falling apart, you don't even know it.
You're gonna tell me what's going on
with Laurie Kincaid.
A deep, dark family secret.
[expl*si*n]
[theme music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I once knew a detective
who actually liked stakeouts.
It gave him an excuse to eat all the greasy fast foods
his wife wouldn't let him touch.
For me, stakeouts have always been a bore
but the one I'd been on for the last hours
was better than most.
It wasn't that the case was particularly interesting.
I was helping a shopkeeper who didn't wanna pay
protection money to hoodlums.
It was the location, four blocks from home.
No chili dogs and donut shop coffee for this detective.
[whistling]
- Oh! - Ooh!
Oh! Oh, I'm sorry.
I haven't slept, makes me little clumsy.
You're the man across the way.
Uh, my name is Spenser.
Uh, I-I have seen you before.
My, uh, windows are across from yours.
I have to go.
(Spenser) There she was hurrying away.
It fit the image I had of her ever since she moved
at the apartment across from mine a few months ago.
Hey!
Hey, your pearls.
(Spenser) I glanced at her through the window
seen her on the streets
and kept being struck by the same feeling.
She was frightened.
Frightened and alone.
I found myself in an odd way
wanting to protect her.
Watch this.
Chicken provence.
Asparagus with Hollandaise.
- Looks good. - Mm-hmm. Good.
[chuckles] Good?
Now we're sitting here protecting the premises
of Muller and sons Fine Fashion
to be a pioneer of new kind of detective work.
New balance stakeout.
Hold it, Devonshire.
[dramatic music]
Hold it!
[g*nsh*t]
[motorcycle engine revving]
[crashing]
You tell your boss that Richard Muller
doesn't need protection
because we're his protection.
Are you crazy? I'm Richard Muller.
You're not Richard Muller, you--
Junior. As in Muller and son.
Oh.
Then what are you doing running around with a shotgun?
Looking out for what's ours.
That's my job.
That's why your father hired me.
[glass shattering]
[alarm bell ringing]
While us watch birds are watching each other
who's watching the store?
[tires screeching]
[expl*si*n]
Suckers!
[laughing]
I suppose we should've asked junior for some ID.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I felt awful.
I hadn't slept in three days and I screwed up
what should have been a simple case.
All I wanted to do was crawl into bed.
[instrumental music]
There she was again, my little girl lost.
I dreamed a hundred life stories for her.
It was a great way to ignore my work
but unfortunately
life has a way of catching up with you.
[phone ringing]
Spenser.
[indistinct chatter on phone]
No, Mr. Muller, this is not how I usually do my job.
No, sir. I..
No, sir, I would not think of billing you for this.
No. No. I..
No.
[suspenseful music]
No!
[woman crashing]
[intense music]
(Muller on phone) 'Spenser, are you listening to me?
[instrumental music]
(male # ) 'Wait, people. Stay back.'
Spenser.
Hell of a morning, huh?
I was just over at Muller's store.
What a mess. Totally destroyed. Blown to hell.
Frank, I was there. Remember?
Oh, yeah, yeah. It's tough.
To really botch your case like that.
Are you trying to cheer me up or what?
Look, Spenser, I know what it's like.
I've been there before, I know what it is like to
to totally screw up like that.
It is the worse feeling in the world
but you can't win them all.
Then to see that, that poor woman jump like that..
What did the paramedic say?
Well, they say it is critical.
If she didn't hit the awning, she'd be dead.
Do you know who she is or why she...wanna do this?
Yeah. Name is, uh, Laurie Corbin.
She's a book illustrator
apparently did pretty well at it too.
As to why she wanted to jump
your guess is as good as mine.
She didn't leave a note.
Maybe if she makes it, you can ask her.
That's it?
That's a police investigation?
Spenser, we got priorities, you know.
We'll be lucky if we can solve half the cases of people
that-that wanted to stay alive.
Something made her desperate enough to wanna jump.
Yeah. Well, it's a little too late to worry about that now.
You look lousy, Spenser.
Why don't you go home and get some sleep?
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Sleep will be paradise.
I knew as soon as my head hit the pillow
I would be out for hours.
That's the way it was supposed to work anyway.
But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Laurie Corbin
standing on that ledge
and if I kept them closed
I saw what happened next.
[instrumental music]
Shouldn't you be asleep?
I am.
They had to operate.
Broken ribs, arm
some internal injuries.
She's lucky to be alive whoever she is.
What do you mean, "Whoever she is?"
I checked her out, the ID's phony.
I don't know who she is, but Laurie Corbin doesn't exit.
Somebody's gotta know who she is.
I'm telling you, Spenser, for all we know the lady
could have just walked out of thin air.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) So, the mystery of the frightened girl grew.
And with it, my need to solve it.
[instrumental music]
Maybe if I could see it from her perspective
it would help.
What is she thinking when she worked at this window?
What was she thinking when she jumped?
su1c1de for anyone's problems was a solution
I could never accept.
Roland, the most famous of Charlemagne's paladins.
I was flattered that I was her model.
Another face of the artist.
Fear, anger, v*olence.
A young woman in turmoil.
But why?
[clattering]
[instrumental music]
So, I wasn't the only private eye in her life.
Harry Slade.
Who's asking?
My name is Spenser. I'm a private investigator.
I'd like to ask you a few questions.
I don't give lessons.
Try the hotel, they can quite sure give you some pointers.
- Oh, a real tough guy. - I'm glad you noticed.
It will save time with the demonstration.
Look, why don't you and I stop trying to impress each other?
I'm here about Laurie Corbin.
She has tried to k*ll herself today
I'd like to see to she doesn't try again.
I'm gonna do you a favor, Spenser.
I'm gonna ask you to buzz off.
Usually, I just make it.
I consider it a professional courtesy.
Now, disappear.
I can see you're not going to be real helpful.
Oh, but I am.
I'm gonna let you step back before I slam the door.
You know, on a better day I might enjoy that
duking in out with you, but all I want is little information.
And I'm gonna get it one way or another.
Try to get that.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) In retrospect, I think I should've bounced
Harry Slade around the hotel up there.
It would've been a lot quicker than sitting in my car again
doing a crossword puzzle, waiting.
[instrumental music]
Then again I didn't have to wait long.
Slade had appeared to have an associate.
[engine starting]
[dramatic music]
[tires screeching]
(Spenser) I figured if I followed Slade and his pal around for a while
they all might be more cooperative this time.
[car horn honking]
Then again maybe not.
[dramatic music]
[engine revving]
[tires screeching]
Great tail, Spenser.
What are you gonna do next?
Tie a string of tin cans in my bumper?
[laughing]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I called Slade's room at the Belmont
and there was no answer.
It seemed like a good time to let myself in
and do what all good detectives do
snoop around.
Call me paranoid, but I get suspicious
when someone answers an innocent question with threats.
When they start taking cheap sh*ts
like Slade's goon, I get downright nosy.
[instrumental music]
(male # on phone) 'Front desk, can I help you?'
Yes, uh, this is Mr. Slade in room .
I'll be checking out shortly, could you please send up
my bill, uh, and I might be in the shower
so just slide it under the door.
- 'Room ?' - Yes, thank you.
(male # on phone) 'Thank you.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) I suppose I should've been comforted
by how tired I looked.
It gave them an excuse for blowing everything
I did that day.
Somehow it didn't make me feel much better.
[instrumental music]
[knocking on door]
It's amazing what you can learn about a person
from his hotel bill.
Slade liked meat and potatoes, late night movies
and was from San Diego, California.
Best of all, I knew he made five long distance calls
back home to two phone numbers
and those numbers
were right there on the bill.
That's what we in the detective trade call a lead.
(female # on phone) 'Slade investigations. Good morning.'
(female # on phone) 'Kincaid residence. Who's calling please?'
Uh, Mrs. Kincaid?
(female # on phone) 'I'm sorry, the Kincaids'
'are in Boston today.'
Of course, they've already left.
Uh, I'm supposed to have dinner with the Kincaids
in Boston tonight and I forgot what hotel they're staying at.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) In movies, detectives hide behind newspapers
and spy on people in hotel lobbies.
I always thought that was silly.
I never thought I'd do it.
What the hell? It works.
Let's have a drink. We need to talk.
Uh, check us in, huh?
I'm a little thirsty myself.
Well, don't you think you had enough
to drink on the plane? Hm?
Now, Mr. Slade and I have some business to talk of.
Why don't you go up to our room and have a drink?
I ordered a bar for you.
Uh, can I take that for you, Mrs. Kincaid?
- Should I know you? - Uh, name is Spenser.
I'm working with Mr. Slade on this case.
- Ah. - Uh, pardon my appearance.
I've been undercover.
Uh, reservation for Kincaid.
You and Mr. Slade do good work.
We were beginning to think that we would never find Laurie
in almost two years.
We still never could find her few days earlier.
May have been better if you'd never found her at all.
Fix you a drink?
Uh, no. Thanks.
I don't mean to sound cold
it's just that I'm not sure that Laurie wanted to be found.
Obviously.
She was living under an assumed name.
So much effort to hide from her own brother.
Well, he's not the easiest person to live with.
Did anybody ask Laurie if she wanted to see us?
No, actually I didn't have a chance to talk with her.
Maybe someone should.
If you do, you'll see how fragile she is emotionally.
When she lived with us, it took up most of
Keith's time and attention.
Not much time for much else.
You know, I sort of thought that running away
might have been the best thing that she did.
It wasn't kind of us to find her.
Well, running away is not always the answer.
[sighs] Maybe not.
But aren't we all, Mr. Spenser, running from something?
No.
(Mrs. Kincaid) 'Well, I am.'
Laurie might not have jumped
if she hadn't been found
so how do I forget that?
Your associate won't drink with me, Mr. Slade.
Doesn't that violate gumshoe bylaws or something?
I'm sorry, Mrs. Kincaid
but I have to speak to Mr. Spenser privately.
Could you excuse us for a moment?
Love to.
I can finally go to the bar, not have to drink alone.
(Slade) You don't learn too fast, do you Spenser?
I think it's time for another private eye lesson.
Owed you that one, big guy. Huh?
[instrumental music]
Ah, you don't charge for these lessons, do you?
- 'She's afraid.' - 'Of what?'
(Susan) 'If I had to guess'
something that happened when she was much younger.
Something that still exists
still haunts her.
(Spenser) Like maybe he brother.
(Susan) It's hard to say.
He could be part of it, but it feels like
something bigger than just one person.
Or as if her world was somehow clouded.
Hmm.
You're asking me to read tea leaves.
I mean, without a chance to talk to the girl.
For all we know these could be drawings for a book too.
She tried to k*ll herself a day or so
after a private investigator found her
and notified her family where she was.
She's afraid
so much so that she doesn't want to live anymore.
That's it.
That's what I can't let go of.
[instrumental music]
[sighing]
[car door closing]
Spenser, what're you doing here?
Uh, I'm taking a walkin' tour of Boston's gourmet restaurants.
Look, uh, I-I need your help.
No way, Spenser.
You know things are not the way they used to be.
Look, come on, I-I found out who the girl who jumped really is.
I mean, just a little background information, that's all I need.
Look, Spenser, maybe you haven't heard but I work
for this guy named Lieutenant Webster
not you and if he finds out I'm doing little errands for you
I'm gonna end up directing traffic somewhere.
Her name is Laurie Kincaid, she's from San Diego, California
and she jumped from that ledge after a private investigator
her brother hired found her here.
What is it with you and this case?
I'm into it, alright.
Yeah, you're into it alright,
all the way up to your eyeballs.
Which, by the way, you're starting to look like
something out of a Stephen King movie.
'You've been in bed, Spenser?'
Yeah. Yes, I've..
Let me put it this way. You've been to sleep?
- Sort of. - "Sort of."
So how is this girl?
She's better. She's out of intensive care.
She needs our help.
- Our? - Come on, Frank!
Alright, I'll see what I can do when Webster ain't around.
Owe you one.
[shouting] Spenser!
[truck horn blaring]
You owe me two.
[instrumental music]
Roland.
You dropped this when we fist met.
Thought you might want them.
I wanna help you, Laurie.
I almost made it.
Why did you do it?
[exhales] I wanted to be free.
To escape.
I wanted it to be over.
Laurie, when you talked to Harry Slade
what did he tell you?
Don't...don't let them take me. Please.
Oh, please, don't let them take me.
(Keith) Mr. Spenser, what are you doing here?
Laurie, are you alright?
Stay away. I-I'm not going with you.
You're gonna have to leave now.
I think you're one she doesn't want to see.
She's my sister. I think I know what's best for her.
- Go away. - Get out of here, Mr. Spenser.
- Just go. - You'll have to leave.
- You're upsetting her. - I'm her brother.
It's this man who's upsetting her.
Then you'll have to leave.
Oh, God!
Oh, God!
You're gonna tell me what's going on
with Laurie Kincaid.
Go to hell, Spenser.
Why is she afraid of her brother?
I get paid to keep secrets.
Buy a crystal ball.
- Hey! - Hey, what? Come on.
I got us one-on-one, you wanna go for tie-breaker
let's go, come on.
[g*nshots]
[dramatic music]
What the hell is going on here?
[instrumental music]
[indistinct police radio chatter]
(Frank) 'Lieutenant.'
Lieutenant, found a couple of shells up on the roof
right where Spenser thought they would be.
We also found a high-powered r*fle just like he said.
Apparently, what happened is the gunman took them both out
with a couple of sh*ts.
Looks like Spenser is right in this one.
The guy was a real pro.
Hm.
According to Belson here, you got all the answers.
So, I guess, you can tell me who sh*t these guys.
Sure, of course, I've been holding off
for the last two hours because the last cops
who asked me that didn't say the magic word.
Okay, let's try a simple one.
Who are you working for?
Please.
No one.
I happened to see a young girl jump out of a window
and since nobody on the Boston PD
except Sergeant Belson here seemed to give a damn.
I thought I'd find out why.
Harry Slade, the late Harry Slade was involved.
He was about to tell me how when somebody..
...k*lled him.
Now, what is it with you, Spenser?
You got nothing to do better than chase ambulances?
'Is that how you get your big retainers?'
- Hey, lieutenant. - I'm trying to help the girl.
All you're doing is complicating things.
Now, do me a favor, leave the woman and her family alone.
If she wants a private detective, she can hire one.
Spenser, you think you could at least be polite to the man?
I could also do some hard time.
Spenser, I know it's tough, but I'm in the middle here.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
You're not gonna drop this case, are you?
Yeah, of course, I am as soon as I find out
what the story is on Laurie Kincaid.
Then Hawk can go after the sh**t and, uh..
You got the information I asked you for?
Keith Kincaid is a high-powered lawyer, big money
and old family money.
Slade did lot of work for his firm.
The rest is right there.
And you don't know where you got it.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) What Belson slipped me was a clipping
from a San Diego newspaper with Laurie's story.
When Laurie was , her mother was stabbed to death
by a burglar.
Laurie and her -year-old brother, Keith saw it happen.
The k*ller was never found.
Then two years ago, Laurie disappeared.
I can understand her pain.
What I couldn't understand why she wanted to die.
Or why a professional hitman would be involved.
It didn't make sense.
Yet in my sleepless state, very little did.
(Keith) Laurie, I just want to do what's best for you.
Come home with us and we can take care of you.
I don't want to. I.. I'm-I'm alright here.
How can you say that?
Look what you've tried to do to yourself.
I just.. I just wanna be alone.
I-I have a good job.
You don't want me to call Dr. Sacks, do you?
No.
I could, you know.
Could call him up. He'd fly out here.
'Talk to your doctors, get a court order.'
But then you'd have to go back to his hospital.
- Maybe for years this time.. - No, no, no.
- No, please. - Okay, okay.
You think it over.
I'll come back later and you can tell me
what you decided, alright?
Okay.
Spenser, what are you doing here again?
No one asked you to barge into our lives.
You're not wanted here, not by me and not by Laurie.
This is no longer a family matter.
Not since Harry Slade and his friend
were sh*t down in the street.
sh*t?
Well, how are they?
For Slade, I think the technical term is dead.
I want some answers, Kincaid, why is he dead
and why did your sister try to k*ll herself?
Well, I think you happen to be mixing everything up together.
I have no idea why Mr. Slade would have been k*lled.
He was a man in a very dangerous profession.
As for my sister Laurie..
...she has had a very troubled life.
Did that start before or after your mother was k*lled?
Alright, Spenser..
I've already warned you on several occasions
but you just don't seem to listen, do you?
I'll simply have to get a court order forbidding you
'anywhere near my sister.'
Maybe get another one to have her committed, huh?
I heard you thr*aten her.
She is a very sick girl.
I'll give you this.
You've got some very big problems in your family.
The restraining order or not
I'm going to find out what the truth is.
[door latch clacking]
Hi, there, cutie.
That's it? "Hi, there, cutie."
Thought I'd get a little more attention than that.
You did, huh? Why? What have you done for me lately?
Being here isn't enough?
Uh, actually it is.
You spoil me.
Not enough, it appears. You look awful.
Why, thank you.
I mean it, you've got to rest.
I will, I will, I will.
Just as soon as I get a few things figured out.
Laurie Kincaid?
Why the obsession? I've never see you like this.
I'm-I'm fine.
You are not. You don't eat, you don't sleep.
You almost got yourself rundown by a truck
because you're thinking clearly.
Frank Belson's got a big mouth.
Frank Belson is your friend.
He was worried about you and so am I.
This is ridiculous. I'm just a little tired. Alright?
What's ridiculous? That we care about you?
You're falling apart, you don't even know it.
Look, I'm just a little tired, alright.
Yeah, not sleeping for days on end will do that to you.
Hold it.
Look, I'm-I'm okay really.
Spenser, this is not a condition called okay.
You're exhausted and irrational and I'm afraid for you.
You could get yourself k*lled and dammit I'd hate that a lot.
[chuckles]
I'm really that far gone, huh?
Rubber room time.
Okay, alright, alright.
What now, nurse?
Bedtime. Doctor's orders.
Come on.
[g*nsh*t]
- Are you alright? - Yeah.
Keep lying.
[dramatic music]
Lock and door and don't open up for anyone.
Spenser!
[dramatic music]
[tires screeching]
Aah! Found your sh**t.
We also lost a sh**t.
Get some kryptonite, superman, we get him
he's carrying one of mine in his shoulder.
I wanna put one in his heart.
[grunting] Ah!
'Aah!'
'Aah!'
[grunting]
You know, you could've dropped a dime and given me a call.
Could have, could have.. I could have.
I lost his trail while I was talking to you two.
Besides why do I need to talk to a man
who's falling apart anyhoo.
Well, don't you start it on me too
I'm doing fine. Just tell me something.
Tell me something about the sh**t.
I think that was him sh**ting at you.
[laughing]
Ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha.
[sighing] Aside from that..
Still looking. Did find out one thing about the sh**t.
He shall not be mourned by many.
- Slade? - Good detective. Bad man.
Uses his detecting skills to find out nasty information
about folks, then charges them large sums of money
not to detect anymore.
Blackmail?
Blackmailed Lauire, blackmailed the Kincaids.
See? Tired as you are, you still get that steel trap mind.
'You will convey my regrets to your blue suit friends'
I have to find a man carrying my b*llet in his body.
(male # ) 'Alright, that does it for me. I got everything I need.'
(male # ) 'Yeah, we're clear too.'
Alright, I'll see you downtown.
(male # ) 'Okay.'
Sergeant.
I had a squad car drive Susan home.
(Spenser) Thanks.
You ever think of moving, Spenser?
Yeah, about once a month.
Wouldn't surprise me if your neighbors took up a petition
to make you move.
No Italian sausage?
Uh, bottom left drawer.
Now listen, Hawk is gonna have to voluntarily
come down to headquarters and make a statement.
[chuckles] It doesn't make my job any easier
'when a guy who's a key witness to a crime'
who's part of the whole thing just leaves the scene.
Heh, then he's gonna do a old number on me when he..
[Spenser snoring]
It's like having dinner with a dead man.
[Spenser snoring]
[music on TV]
[phone ringing]
Spenser.
Bad news. Your sh**t's dead.
Good news. We know where to send the body.
San Diego.
Fill me in.
You always look so rumpled, Mr. Spenser?
No. Where's your husband, Mrs. Kincaid?
He's out. Drink?
(Spenser) 'No.'
'Out where?'
He left, and he's out and I'm here.
- Is he coming back? - Hm.
I'm supposed to meet him.
We're all going back to California.
One big happy family.
Just when he was starting to be so sweet
so nice without her around.
Two of us alone..
...but he couldn't forget her.
He had to find her.
Laurie needs help, he says.
Laurie needs help alright. She's a..
Wait, you know, she k*lled her own mother.
- What? - Yes.
A deep, dark family secret.
Keith told me all about it before we were married.
Laurie had a breakdown.
'She had to be put away in a hospital.'
But eventually she got out.
She's all cured they said and she came to live with us.
Hey! Hey, I got an idea.
You...you go and find Laurie
and you take her some place.
You get her out of town and you take her some place
where he can't find her. And you put her in a hole.
I don't care. Just something.
Uh, you could do that? couldn't you?
I'll pay you too, please. Get her away from Keith.
- Where's your husband? - I can't find my glass.
Where is your husband?
I told you that he left.
- He went to get Laurie. - To go where?
- To the airport. - What airport?
Bedford.
He went and rented some private jet to take her home.
To my home.
Spenser?
Cheers.
[instrumental music]
[dramatic music]
[engine revving]
Hey!
[tires screeching]
(Keith) Get out of here, Spenser. Now.
Is this what you really wanna do, Laurie?
This is what's best for her.
And she knows it.
I-I need help.
And the best place to get that help is back home.
Isn't that true, Laurie?
Because he told you that?
You've been living your own life here
making your own decisions. Why stop now?
Now, remember what we talked about, hm?
Remember?
We made a decision.
You've options, Laurie. You've choices.
Nobody is make you do anything you don't wanna do.
'I promise you that.'
Uh, I want to stay. I..
Shhh-shh.. It's okay.
I am staying.
(Keith) Spenser, you don't understand.
She is a very, very sick girl.
You don't know what happened.
I do know, Laurie.
(Spenser) 'I know what happened to your mother.'
But I-I would have been alone
with mamma gone and-and he would've been taken away.
- 'I..' - Who?
Laurie, no.
He said that they would put him in jail.
I-I-I was afraid.
Do you see what you're doing to her?
(Keith) 'You're destroying her.'
You're destroying me.
You k*lled my mother.
You k*lled our mother and then you made me
lie about it for all these years.
You stabbed her and you stabbed her and then--
Laurie, shut up.
(Keith) 'Stay there, Spenser.'
Now you just stay away from us.
These are all lies.
You've bulled her into saying all these things.
I think you're the master of that.
You told Harry Slade the same thing, didn't you?
That it was your brother who k*lled your mother.
What did Harry do? Try to blackmail you?
'So, you had him k*lled.'
I mean, I was easy. I didn't know as much.
But I wouldn't go away.
Not again. This time you k*ll me.
(Keith) No.
[g*nsh*t]
Ow!
[intense music]
[groaning]
[instrumental music]
(Laurie) Help me.
Oh, God, help me.
[indistinct police radio chatter]
[indistinct chattering]
- You got that? - Alright, let's go.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Laurie's tragedy had finally ended
and my hope was her healing would now begin.
She had spoken the truth
and could now be free.
For me, release would come in sleep.
Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care.
The death of each day's something, something..
Balm of hearts and minds, uh, something..
God, I'm tired.
[theme music]
[music continues]