03x04 - Feeding Frenzy

[bunniefuu]

I'm gonna need some help.

It's not me, really,
but Dad.

How much?

A little over $500,000.

Dad! Dad!

Charlie, we got
to figure that she may
already be dead.

Now, if she isn't,
she will be,

unless we deal ourselves
some cards.

And you could end up
getting part of this broad
back in the mail.

I'm going to arrest you
for breathing my air.

Calm down, Lieutenant.
They're gonna take you home
on a respirator.

You think
I'm some sort of criminal.

No.

That's what you were thinking,
isn't it?

Well, just a little bit.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(PHONE RINGING)

ROCKFORD
ON ANSWERING MACHINE::
This is Jim Rockford:

At the tone, leave your name
and message:

I'll get back to you:

(BEEPS)

WOMAN:: Hi,
this is the Happy Pet Clinic:

Your father gave this number
when he left town:

The calico stray
had six kittens:

Please come get them today:

(SIGHS)

This isn't very comfortable,
is it?

Well, I shouldn't have called,
except...

I shouldn't have called.

Oh, we don't need
to do a torch dance,
Sandra.

We b*at up on each other
two years ago.

I think we ought to be able
to stand in neutral corners.

That's right.
Except I just feel guilty.

I think
a lot of what happened
was my fault.

Well, a lot of it was mine.

We should have
started out like that
two years ago.

We might have had
a nice little house
in the valley

and a tricycle on the lawn.

What's troubling you, Sandy?

You didn't call me up
to have dinner.

Now what is that
supposed to mean?

Why is it you're always
looking for an angle?

Put your wheels down, honey.
It was just a question.

(SIGHS)

Brother,
we are quite a couple.

You ring a bell
and I jump up with a Kn*fe.

It's always interesting.

But you're right.

I do need some help.

Well, not really me,
but Dad.

I guess it's the same thing,
though, isn't it?
Charlie?

What possible problems
could Charlie have?

Good old Charlie Baylock,
the friendly bait salesman.

Look, do you think
we could get out of here?

I'll tell you about it.

No, no, no, no.
That is on me.
I invited you.

It's okay.

Would you please not do
one of your macho numbers
on me?

I'm glad
I didn't buy you
a carnation.

You might have
fed it to me.

We do have
a lot of electricity,
don't we?

We always did.

Is that her?
Yeah.

She's a foxy lady.

Ain't gonna be
nothing like that, Orin.

Nothing kinky.

Hey, you're the one
who's jammed up, Mick,
not me.

All you got to do is
say the wrong things,

I'm sitting under
the palm trees watching
the flat bellies.

Who says I'm jammed up?

The jungle drums.

Check with any wino.

So ask nice.

Oh, okay.

I'm asking nice.
You want to help me?

How much?

(STUTTERING)
Couple of yards.

No way.

$500 or
I don't even consider it.

Okay, $500.

And you keep your mouth
in check.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

CHARLIE: So how much
did you tell him?

I didn't really
tell him anything,

just that
you were in trouble.

What about...
You know.

All I said was that
you'd made a bad mistake
about three years ago.

Did you tell him
the statute of limitations
had run out?

Dad, listen...

Look, this is
hard for me, honey.

Three years I've known Jim.
He's like a friend.

But things like this
are hard to talk about
with friends.

I know that.

But if they are your friends,

don't you think
they understand?

Some do, some don't.
But Jim does.

I mean, he spent
some time in prison.

He knows what it's like
to be in trouble.

Yeah. You know,
I wonder where he is?

I'm standing
right behind you.

(LAUGHING) Hey.

Hi, Charlie.
How they running, huh?

Pretty good, Jim.

Well, look,
I'll leave you two together.

I have to get to work.

Okay, honey, thank you.

Stop that.

Sometimes she makes me
feel like a little kid

being dropped off at schooI
for the first time.

Yeah. Well,
I get that myself.

(SNICKERING)
Well, here we are.

Yeah, we're here.

Look, I got something
to show you.

(STAMMERING)
It's gonna take you
maybe half hour or so.

I wouldn't ask you,
you know.

I mean, I don't want
to impose on you, Jim,

but this thing has
been bothering me,

and we figured the best way
to get it sorted out

is to kind of share it
with somebody like you.

Charlie, come on now,
we're friends.

If you need some help,
I'll be glad to help you.

How much?

A little over $500,000.

I stole it three years ago.

Put it back.
It makes me nervous.

You, too?
That's what it does to me.

I look at it
and I sort of start shaking.

Okay, Charlie. How?

(SIGHING)

The whole thing
was an accident.

Well, maybe
not quite an accident.

But you got to
understand, Jim,

I wasn't the same man
when I stole this money.

It was way before
you met me or Sandy.

It was when I was living
in Woodland Hills.

Back when I had
the itch to, you know,
be something important.

Make something of myself.

I suppose Sandy told you
how it was.

She never mentioned it. No.

I guess she wouldn't.
She's a good girl.

Yeah, well, close it up
and put it back.

My palms are
beginning to sweat.

Means you're about to
come into money, don't it?

No, that's when they itch.

When they begin to sweat,
that's usually 'cause
I'm scared to death.

CHARLIE: I was
a low-echelon executive

for an oil conglomerate
called Seawell.

I couldn't stand
the pressure.

I was drinking too much,

my marriage was
going sour,

I was over-extended.

(LAUGHING)

It was your typicaI
soap opera situation.

That's when you decided
to steal the money.

They kept cash there,
for the oil depletion
allowances.

I figured $10, $1 2,000.

So one night,
I got drunk,

passed out
in the storeroom.

When I woke up,
I found out I was locked in.

So I start prowling
around the office
looking for the money,

to see if I could find
where they put it.

Well, I find this safe box.

I couldn't open it.

But I was
really wasted, Jim,

so I decided to steal it.

I pushed it out
the basement window.

What a mistake.
I can't tell you.

Yeah, when I make mistakes,

I don't end up
with a half a million dollars.

The serial numbers
were sequential.

Oh, it just scared
the heck out of me, Jim.

I knew
I'd be thrown in prison.

You just took the whole mess
and put it
in a safe deposit box.

Right. And I quit my job,

started selling bait.

That's been three years ago.
I haven't had a drink since.

Well, Sandy told me that
the statute of limitations

ran out last night.

You're a rich man, Charlie.

And they can't touch you,

even if you want to
take out a full-page ad
in the paper.

Jim, for the last two years
my life has been great.

I have nothing
yet I have everything.

So two days ago,
I decided something.

Yeah. What?

I decided to give it back.

What's the problem?
Just go ahead
and give it back.

But if I do it,
the police will know
I stole it.

It'll be in all the papers.

I'll be Charlie The Thief.

I just don't want
to jeopardize
what I have now, Jim.

So you want me
to give it back?

I guess it wouldn't hurt
my reputation any.

(SNICKERS)

You'll do it?

I'll think about it.

I like to run my finger
around the edge of something
before I decide.

But you'll think about it.
Oh, yeah, yeah.

Come on,
I'll take you home.

Hello, Mrs. Northcourt.
Yeah, this is Dan Hall.

Yeah, been quite a while.

Listen, is Grady home?

I was figuring
you'd get in touch, Dan.

How you been, Grady?

I hear they got you
back on the streets.
That's a tough break.

I hope we're not going
to have one of those
nice little talks.

Suppose we try
and keep it together
long enough

to get this chicken cooked,
okay?

We got to figure out
how we're gonna do it:

I suppose. Where?

How about that hotel
on Slauson?

What hotel on Slauson?

Take it easy, chickee.
I'm talking about the one

where Little Mitch
and Fast Erman
were booking horses.

Yeah. Okay.

This is going to be
the ultimate score.

Half an hour.

(COUGHING)

(GRUNTS)

You want we should
write it on your calendar
for you, Mickey?

Let me up.
You got a new story, Mickey?

One with a funny ending?
I told Lucy.

You check with him.
I'm getting it.
Like I keep telling you.

You ain't getting it.

You been sitting in
the Green Duck eating pretzels
and sucking your teeth.

I told you...
Overdue is overdue.

You got two days, sweet pea.
You got that?

Two days.

(STAMMERING)
I'm telling you,
I'm going to get it.

I made an investment.
I'm waiting for it to mature.

I ain't interested in no more
hat dances, Mickey.

Two days.
End of the line.

You got his calendar ready?

Yeah.

No, no, no. I'll tell you.
I'll tell you all about it!

I'll cut you in.
It's a really big deal.

A real big deal.

It better be, sweet pea.

You better come over
to the car and explain
this big score to Lucy.

(WHISTLES)

That's a very interesting
calling card.

Yes. Well, I travel
in some very interesting
circles, Mr. Steinberg.

Sometimes it rubs off.

Sit down.
Well, thank you.

You didn't give
your name.

That's right.

Well...

Well, let's just think of me
as the bright light

in Seawell's next
quarterly statement.

I'm sorry,
I really don't understand.

Just check the serial number
on the bill, Mr. Steinberg.

Praise the Lord.

(STAMMERING)
Excuse me.

I...

This money is from...

Correct on all the above.

But...
No buts, Max.

Look, what I'm doing here

is trying to find a safe way
of returning this money.

This was stolen from Seawell
three years ago.

Oh, I'd like to tell you
a moving story,
Mr. Steinberg.

In many ways,
it's almost Biblical.

Do you have a minute?
Minute?

Yes.

Really, I'd like to call
Mr. Samuelson in.

I think I should,
don't you?

He's our executive VP
in corporate finance
and production.

Very nice fellow.
I think you'll like him.

You're frightened,
aren't you?

No, of course not.
Don't be ridiculous.

What have I got to be
frightened about?

Well, you think
I'm some sort of criminal.

No.

Now, come on. Let's be
honest with each other.

That's what you were thinking,
isn't it?

Well, just a little bit,
for a tiny second.

No, no. All I'm trying to do
is find a way to return
this money for a friend.

The statute of limitations
ran out last night.

No, excuse me,
I don't think so.

That statute of limitations
on robbery is three years.

Yeah, three years.

I'd like to call
Mr. Samuelson.

He's pleasant,
he's friendly.

Look, there are
a few conditions to
the return of this money.

One of them is
that there will be
absolutely no contact

between myself
and the authorities.

The other is
no news coverage
whatsoever.

I want a nice, quiet,
safe transaction.

But, if the statute
has run out,

then why should you
or your friend worry
about the authorities?

Oh, there are ways
the police can harass you,
Mr. Steinberg.

Licenses can be revoked,

zone variances,
your income tax return
can get bounced.

All because a friend of mine
wants to return this money.

Half million dollars?

Greed is the tooI
of the devil, Mr. Steinberg.

Greed, I think... Yes.

Now, if you just
show this bill
to Mr. Samuelson,

and if everyone here
agrees to it,

I'll give you a call
and explain the terms
of my returning the money.

Who are you?

Mr. Steinberg,

we don't often get
true repentance
down at the mission.

But when someone
decides to repent

and work
for the good of mankind,

miracles happen.

You're a priest.

MAN: Come on,
let's get out of here.

Move it.

Take him out.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(g*n f*ring)

ROCKFORD: Let's call
the police, Charlie.

I'm telling you,
it's the only thing to do.

No. I know
how to handle it.

Look, Jim,

they kidnapped her
because somebody figured me
for the robbery.

They've been watching
the clock just like me.

Time runs out,
they grab Sandy,

then they'll sell her back
for the money.

You know what I think,
Charlie?

I think you're still worried
about number one.

You drop dead.

Well, then, why not bring
in the police, huh?

Unless you're afraid
you're going to get made

on a three-year-old robbery
that's not
on the books anyway.

You think I wouldn't
go to jail and rot there
to get Sandy back?

He's just scared, Jim.

Well, so am I.

Why don't we
call in the police,
run this past them?

What can it hurt?

No! I got the money.

We can figure out a way
to set up a trade.

Please, Jim.
Don't call them.

What about this, huh?

What about it?

Well, those guys were
wearing gloves,

so we can forget
about fingerprints.

But this g*n
belonged to somebody.

Now why don't we give it
to the police,
let them run a make on it.

Maybe they can
come up with something.

Jim, please.

There's something I forgot
the last three years
that I shouldn't have.

Listen, Charlie...
No, let me finish, Jim.

Throw a rock
in a still pond,

and it's gonna
make ripples.

No matter how fast
you run around
and try and pat them out,

there's just no way
you can ever make
that pond still again.

I'm gonna give
these men the money

and I'm gonna
get Sandy back.

I got to make this one thing
happen, Jim.

Now will you help me?

There's never any doubt
about that, Charlie.

I thought you knew that.

(PHONE RINGS)

You got the tape, Rocky?

Yeah. Right here.

Well, let me talk to them.

Be careful, Jim.
They're liable to hurt Sandy.

They're not going
to do a thing.

They have to deal.
Trust me, Charlie.

I'm not going to do anything
that'll jeopardize her.

Hello.

I got something of yours.
I figure we should trade.

There's no deal.

Who is this?

I'm the guy who stumbled
into the Halloween party

and I'm the guy you're
going to have to negotiate
this transaction with.

I'm not dealing
with no middle-man:

Fact number one is
I'm very fond of Sandy,

but I'm not altogether
sure she's worth
a half a million dollars.

Come on, who are you kidding?

Fact number two is I helped
Charlie boost this dough
three years ago

so I've got
a half interest in it.

Now, I may be willing
to trade that away

but only on my terms.

I'm not going to do
any dealing and end up
with a stiff.

I don't believe you.

Then take a hike.

He'll call back.

No, they'll k*ll her, Jim.

Charlie...

Charlie, we got
to figure that she may
already be dead.

Now, if she isn't,
she will be

unless we deal ourselves
some cards.

I mean, this guy
can run us around.
We'll end up with nothing.

(PHONE RINGS)

Ain't you gonna answer?

Yeah, yeah.
But not on the first ring.

Changed you mind, huh?

Let's just say I'm willing
to keep talking about it.

You keep getting
this thing backwards.

I'm doing the talking,
you're doing the listening.

Mmm-hmm.

And you could end up
getting part of this broad
back in the mail.

Now that'd be stupid.
I don't pay on damaged goods.

Anything else?

Yeah, I pick the place,
and there's got to be
a lot of people around.

That can't be arranged.

What a shame.

(PHONE RINGS)

Yeah?

What's with you, anyway?
Will you quit hanging
the damn phone up?

Well, you just don't seem
to be getting it right.

Now this thing's going to
happen the way I say

or it's not going to
happen at all. Capische?

Look, it's not supposed
to go down this way.

Okay.
Look, look...

Don't hang up, okay?

All right, get a pencil.
I'm gonna give you an address.

CHARLIE: Why an ice rink?

ROCKFORD: Well,
how many guys do you know
that carry ice skates

in the trunk of their car?

Nobody.

Yeah, well, they're going
to have to walk out
in the middle of that rink

in their street shoes.

Everybody moves nice
and careful.

Nobody makes any fast moves.

Jim, I want to do it.
Let me make the exchange.

It has to do
with a lot of things.

Mostly, it has to do
with fixing my own mistakes.

Charlie, you don't have to
prove anything to anybody.

Yes, I do.

I'm gonna prove

that the Charlie Baylock
that got drunk and stole
this money is dead and gone

and the Charlie Baylock
who sells bait on the pier

is gonna run
his life like a man.

Look, it's my money
and it's my daughter.

I don't like it, Charlie.

Then why don't you
hang up on me, you bum?

Stuff really bothers you.

Yeah, I got a thing
about money.
I can't help it.

This is crazy.
So, it's crazy.

We ain't exactly
in the fresh fruit business,
so we take risks.

We do what Lucy tells us.

Trick or treat.

Show him, Charlie.

She's alive, thank God.

Okay, buster, get lost.

You okay?
Yeah.

Let's go.

You okay, honey?

Oh, yeah.
Yeah, I'm all right.

Nobody hurt me.
But I sure was
scared to death.

I don't think I could
go through that again.
I'd cr*ck up.

Neither could I.

You did all right, Charlie.
I'm proud of you.

So am I.

I'm more proud of you now,
than ever.

Okay, you check in here.

I got a few loose ends
that I got to straighten out.

With Seawell.
Yeah, Mr. Steinberg isn't
going to like this.

What's he going to do
about it?

Nothing,
except make a big fuss.

Hi.

You James Rockford?
Yeah.

Keep your hands in sight.

What are we going to do,
play Patty-Cake?
Shut up. Spread them.

All right, I'm down.
It's okay.

You got any permit?

You got any probable cause?

You're under arrest.
Section 315 of the penal code.

And now just what
would that cover?

Accessory after the fact
in a burglary.

Oh, hey, you know
Sergeant Becker?

He's a good friend of mine.
He's down
at the Hollywood station.

Good. He can sign
the arrest report.

Get in the car, please.

Nice work, Harry.

I thought he was
kind of sloppy.
What?

Well, John Wayne would've
kept the sun to his back.

BECKER:
Just take it easy,
will you?

Take it easy?
What's going on
around here?

Accessory after the fact
in a burglary.

What burglary?

A company named Seawell was
hit about three years ago.

That's all I could get.

That statute of limitations
ran out on that crime
yesterday.

Then they don't have anything.

Then why did they arrest me?

How should I...
What do you think
I'm an information bureau?

I mean, once a month,
I'm locked up in a room
with you with a tape running.

It's putting a strain
on our friendship.
Relax, huh?

How can I relax
when you keep
getting into trouble?

Now I got to try and explain
how my friend and buddy
is up on a CCW.

It wasn't a concealed w*apon.

Well, that ain't
the way I heard it.

Dennis,
the g*n was in my car,

I had to take it inside
to my trailer,

and when I got out,
I put it in my belt,
you know.

That's when they arrested me.

Hey, it was private property.
I was on my own property.

I don't know if I can
take this standing up.

You'll try though,
won't you?

Yeah, I'll try.

(PHONE RINGS)

Becker. Yeah.

Yeah, we'll be here. Okay.

Well?

Lieutenant's on his way up.

You Jim Rockford?
Yeah.

I'm Lieutenant Hall.
That'll be all, Sergeant.

Right.

Sir, there are some
extenuating circumstances
on the CCW charge.

I think it should be dropped.

Don't I speak clearly?
What?

I said, that will be all,
Sergeant.

That means you
shag your taiI
out of here.

Right.

Well, now, yesterday
you got yourself
in a heap of trouble, son.

Well, gee, Dad,
how'd I do that?

You did that by contacting
a man by the name
of Max Steinberg

and offering
to return stolen money.

That makes you an accessory
after the fact in a robbery.

Well, let's look at the facts,
Lieutenant.

The statute of limitations
ran out on that crime
at midnight,

the night before
I talked to Mr. Steinberg.

Now, since the statute
of limitations ran out,

that means there is
no more crime.

Therefore,
I cannot be an accessory.

Now you look that up.

Well, I don't know
who's on the clock
for your team,

but if I were you,
I'd get a new timekeeper.

The statute doesn't run out
on that crime
until midnight tonight.

I don't believe that.

Of course not.

I'm lying to you because
I want to get stabbed
with a false arrest beef.

But it couldn't have.

It's a common mistake.

You see, criminals always
start the clock the time
the robbery is committed.

Now they do that
because they know
what time they hit the place.

The State, however,

doesn't start the clock
until the investigator's
report is filed.

No kidding?

Would I lie
to a scum-bag like you?

I don't think
you can get a booking on that.

You can't tie me
to the robbery
or any known suspect.

Don't tell me
what I can do.

I can do any damn thing
I want to do.

Now, you're gonna get
your tail off that table

and you're gonna take me
to the money, and you're
gonna do it right now.

Calm down, Lieutenant.
They're gonna take you home
on a respirator.

I'm not fooling around
with you, Rockford.

I'm willing to sit
on your head like
a big green parrot,

and I can be
a lot of trouble.

I'm going to book you
on the CCW

I'm going to book you
on the 315.

And if you slide from those,

I'm going to book you
on a D and D.

And if you roll out
from under that,

I'm going to arrest you
for breathing my air.
Do you get it?

I'm talking about
legal harassment.

What's got you
into such a broil, Lieutenant?

You got something personaI
at stake here?

That's right.
I read your file

and I got a personal dislike
for the way it keeps saying

''Charges dropped.''

You got a handle on somebody.
Who is it? Becker?

Well, I think you're dirty
in this and I'm gonna drop
a net on you.

Well, let me give you
some advice, Lieutenant.

Don't you cross up on any
of my constitutional rights
while you're at it,

or I'll feed you your badge.

Officer, take this man
to the second floor lock-up.

Patch me in to X-ray 16.

MAN ON RADIO:: All units
on frequency one, stand by:

One X-ray 16,
stand by for the Lieutenant:
Go ahead, Lieutenant:

Okay, take it down.

Right.

SANDY: Yes.

Hello. This is the manager.
I got the phone company man
here.

We're having trouble
with the switchboard.
Could you open up, please?

SANDY: Dad!
CHARLIE: Help!

Dad! Dad!

Let go of me.
Shut up.

Let go! Dad!

What time did it happen?

I don't know. Some time
while you were in there.

Where's Charlie?

At the house, I guess.
Waiting for a ransom demand.

Beth, I'm going to
have to borrow your car.

Jim, I've got to get
to the county courthouse
in 15 minutes.

I don't have time to argue,
now give me the keys.

No.

Give me the keys, Beth,
or I'm going to have to
hot-wire this thing.

(WHISTLES)

ROCKFORD: Okay.

There, you see,
you got yourself a cab.

I got it for you.
I'm taking the car.

Come on, Beth, I may have
to do some running around.

Be a pal, huh?

Give me ten bucks.

Ten bucks for springing me
on two felony counts?

That's not a bad bargain.

The ten bucks is for the cab.

I always seem to do
the legal work for free.

Oh, Beth, I'm sorry.

Look, I'll send a check for
the last statement tonight.
I promise. Huh?

That's a good girl.

Thank you.

Don't

redline it, Jim.

Oh, well, that's great,
Charlie. That's just great.

We're in trouble
and you pull an el foldo:

Where were you?

Guy comes busting in,
where were you?

We'll get her back, Charlie.
With what?

What are we gonna use
to trade with? We don't have
the money anymore.

I'll think of something.

You want to call the cops.
Is that it?

No. Not this time. No.

Not this time, huh?

Leave me alone.

Don't, Jimmy. Please.

Please don't.
No, Jimmy. No.

I need some help, Charlie.

You're gonna get straight
and give it to me.

I can't. I just can't
go through it again.

You don't understand, Charlie.
I'm not giving you a choice.

No.

Charlie, you stole the money,
not me.

You stole it and now
Sandy's in danger.

So help me,
I'm not going to let you
crawl into a bottle.

When we get her back,
you can fall off the wagon.
Not before.

Here.

What gives you the right?

These are my problems,
not yours.

You invited me in, Charlie,

and now I got a brown shoe
named Lieutenant Hall
peeking under my pillow.

I'm gonna get indicted
on two felony counts,

so I got more
than a rooting interest.

The only thing that really
keeps me going is

I hate to see Sandy end up
paying for your stupidity.

What do I do if somebody
calls up with one of
those ransom demands?

Just take it and make sure
Charlie agrees to whatever
terms are set up.

I'll get Dennis working on it
from the other end.

Man, if that gets out,
ain't whoever's snatched her
liable to up and k*ll her?

Yeah. We've got to make sure
that it doesn't get out.

I got a hunch about something
I want to check out.

Now, do you believe that guy?

A newspaper?

Hi.

What is it?

What you doing?

I'm sorry?

You tell me you're reading
the classified ads,

I'm gonna break up
in a hysterical laughing fit.

Look, it's a free country.

Not on this block. No.
Here we have a dictatorship.

You need a vaccination
and a tourist visa.
Let's see yours.

Get lost, mister.

Out you go.

Oh, really, come on.

Johnny Livingston, huh?

Okay, Johnny,
what're you doing?

Look, you can't
just thr*aten me.

All right, in my car.
We're going to
police headquarters.

Okay, Johnny,
up on the hood.
What?

Go on, up on the hood.
Come on, get up.

Hands up on top.
Rocky, come here.

That his g*n?
Yeah.

Rocky, I'm getting
a little worried.

This guy isn't much,

but it's getting obvious
that Charlie hit that company
for half a million dollars,

and the money
just became clean.

We're going to start seeing
an awful lot of low-lives
around here

sporting dorsal fins.

I want you to go inside,
lock the door

and call Becker and tell him
to send you some help
out here.

Tell him I'm on my way in
and I want to see him in

the parking lot
across the street from
the station on Vermont.

I will.

You figure this guy was
going to pull something,
do you?

Oh, who knows?
Old Johnny, he looks like
a real tough customer.

Come on,
you can get off now.

In the car.

You're hot,
aren't you, Johnny?

Look, mister, let me go,
will you?

It was a bad idea, that's all.
Just a bad idea.

I heard some guys talking.
I figured I could cut myself
off a little piece of change.

Yeah? Who was talking?

Just some guys.

You're going to have to be
a little more specific.

One of them's name was
Mickey Wannamaker.

Where is he?
I don't know.

Look, you know, he's not
the kind of guy you fool with.

You wouldn't want
to fool with me now,
would you, Johnny?

No, sir.

Get your feet in.

Okay, Johnny,
hands up on the dash.

That's a good boy.

Hey, Johnny, who does this
Mickey Wannamaker
hang around with?

Well, you know, guys mostly.

A couple of hookers.

That's pretty vague.
You're gonna have to polish
that up for me, Johnny.

Well, there's a shark
that's into him pretty good.

Which shark?

Come on,
I'm not on the door.

I just sort of hang around.

Look, if I tell you,
will you let me go?

You see, I got
some trouble and I can't
stand too much heat.

Johnny...

Well, they hang around
in bars mostly.

All right,
now which bars?

The Green Duck on 7th.

Take him inside,
run the piece,

and while you're at it,
check Johnny here
against any complaints.

You know, I ought
to jump all over you.

Now, listen, Dennis...
No, you listen.

What's the idea
of sitting on kidnappings?

You talked to Rocky?

He just called.
I sent a man over there.

He told me you were
bringing this guy in.

He told me about Charlie
and the half a million

and the two kidnappings
on Sandy Baylock.

You aren't having much of
a win streak on this, are you?

I promised Charlie
that I wouldn't call in
the police.

I was trying to return
the money to Seawell
when they snatched her.

Didn't Lieutenant Hall
fill you in?

Lieutenant Hall doesn't even
work out of this division.

He works out of Parker Center.

Then what's he doing
circling over this case?

Lieutenants can
circle over anything
they damn well please.

Well, I don't like him.

Jim, I'd like to
help you on this,

but you got to come
all the way clean.

Give me everything.

Get in the car.

Where we going?

I'm going to buy you
a cup of coffee.

You really know
how to live, Jimbo.

Hey, Dennis,
what do you know about
Mickey Wannamaker?

What is it?
You got something on him?

You first.

Nothing really.
Except he hangs around
a garbage bin on 7th.

He knew Charlie
pulled this heist
three years ago

and he's into a loan shark.
I don't know which one.

I do. Lucy Carbone.

Boy, this thing is starting
to come together.

Lucy Carbone?

Well, come on, Dennis,
what is it?

You got a line on Wannamaker?
What?

No, we got a tag on him.

He's downtown
under refrigeration.

Dead?
That's right.

And here's something else
we turned up on him.

He used to work with
Talmadge Insurance Group.

Now, Talmadge was the outfit
that insured Seawell

and Mickey Wannamaker
was the investigator
on the Seawell heist.

So he figured it out.

He figured out
that Charlie hit that place

and waited around
for the whole mess to ripen?

Except he got
into money trouble

so he borrowed from Carbone.

In order for him
to get loose from the debt,

he told Carbone about the cake
he had in the oven.

That figures.

But let's assume

that I gave the half a million
dollars to Carbone's men
at the ice skating rink.

So then who put the snatch
on Sandy for the second time?

Dennis, I'm beginning to get
some nasty thoughts.

Then it ought to go
with all the rest.

All right,
Wannamaker was an investigator
for an insurance company

and he wasn't
a very good investigator.

He didn't have a crime lab
or any of the resources
of the police department.

Yet, he figured
Charlie Baylock
for this robbery?

So?

So I'd like to know
who the cops were on the case.

Now, just wait a minute.

Five will get you 10,
Lieutenant Hall
was on the desk.

If there's one thing
I'm not gonna do

is hang this
on the police department.

Then why was he sniffing
around this thing, huh?

Go on, Dennis,
check it out.

I don't have to.
It wasn't Lieutenant Hall.

Just 'cause he's a cop,

he can't get jacked up
over a half a million dollars?

Shut up, Jim!

Did I call it?

No.

Who was on the case?

Detective by the name
of Northcourt.

He had a partner,
David Sanderson.
d*ed last year.

Really?
Not mysteriously, I hope.

In a sh**t with
a barricaded suspect on 77th.

There's no connection
between Northcourt
and Lieutenant Hall?

None whatsoever.

Can I drop you somewhere?

Come on, now, Dennis.

I know
you're gonna go check out
this Northcourt character.

Who says?
I do.

I've played
enough poker with you
to know what you're holding.

Old transparent Dennis,
is it?

Well, just what am I
holding, Jim?

I'd say a four-card flush,
and you're about ready
to draw.

And it's four-to-one
I don't fill it.
Those are long odds.

Yeah, while we're sitting here
yammering about it,

somebody may be
k*lling Sandy.

They sure know each other.

They sure do.

Do me a favor,
will you, Grady?
Shut up.

Sure, shut up.
You're the big expert
on this thing.

So far, what we got?

What we got,
we make the phone call
the way I told you,

it'll go down clean.

Hey, give me
your backup piece.

I don't carry a backup piece.

Sure you do,
it's strapped to your shin.

Jim, let's move up
carefully.

I'll take the right,
you take the left.

And don't fire unless
it's absolutely necessary.

And watch your field of fire.
I don't want to pick up
a stray.

Does that mean
I can't fan this thing
like Roy Rogers?

Now, don't worry, honey.
DeaI's been made.

You're not going to get hurt.
Everything's gonna be
just fine.

Let's get going.

They're making
a break for it.
Nail them.

(g*ns f*ring)

(MEN SHOUTING)

Get the car started.

BECKER:
Get over there to your left.
Watch it.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

What are you doing, Sergeant?

I command you
to stop this right now.

That's a direct order
from a superior.

Lieutenant Hall,
you have the right
to remain silent.

Now why don't you take it
before I force it on you?

I'll take care of this, Jim.

You go up
and try to find the girl.

She ran somewhere
behind the shack.

Meanwhile, I'll put a call in,
have Lucy Carbone picked up.

I don't know.
It's been two weeks.

He isn't drinking,
but he's just not the same.

Oh...
He just sort of
sits around.

He'll come back, Sandy.

All he needs
is the time it takes
to walk it off.

I guess.

If we just keep showing him
that we care for him,

and pretty soon, I guess,
he'll start caring
about himself.

I'm just afraid that
if anything else happens,

his mind's going to snap.

Well, what else can happen?

I guess it's over.

Time for us to put
our lives back together.

Sell bait and get back
to where we started.

He'll come around, Sandy.

You give him
a couple of months,
he'll be as good as new.

Well, it goes to prove
you pay for everything.

My father is a very kind
and gentle man.

He made one stupid mistake
in his whole life.

Look what he's had to
go through to pay for it.

It's paid for.

Thank God. I hope so.

Are you Charles Baylock?

I'm Agent Thomas RavaI
with the Internal Revenue
Service.

We've been notified
by the police department

that you've admitted
to the theft

of half a million dollars
from Seawell.

Although
the statute of limitations
ran out on that crime

and there is
no real criminal penalty,

you're still required
to pay income taxes.

What I'm saying is
you owe the government
quite a lot of money.

If that amount
is figured at max tax,
which of course it would be,

you owe the IRS
$250,000.

I'm afraid it must be paid:

Do you understand me, sir?

Do you understand me, sir?

(SCREAMS)