01x07 - The Corrupter

[bunniefuu]

Lumpjaw scored big tonight.

Let's give him, uh, 16 thou.

No, make it 17,500.

He'll be the fattest fence
on the West Side.

- What are you doing?
- Mugging you, Mr. Krouse.

No!

Hold it. All right,
I want a medical report,

first cop on the scene
and forensic, in that order.

- Initial report said he was stabbed.
- Single entry under the sternum.

Looks like it went
straight up into the heart...
flat, diamond-shaped wound.

Switchblade.
Yeah, probably.

As quick as you can.
I'll give you more as soon
as I get a postmortem.

All right,
first cop on the scene.

Me, sir. Here's the stuff.
It's been dusted.

Well, Maximilian Krouse
did all right for himself.

$6,200 balance...

and 2,000 in cash
made out to... C.L.

Cleaning lady.
Well...

I found him at 2:07 a.m., sir.

Let's see if these keys
fit the front door.

He couldn't have been dead
more than a couple of minutes.

A couple of minutes.

Door key doesn't fit.
New lock.

Well, all right.
You call the precincts,

and you find out from security
the company checklist there.

I'm sure that Krouse is on it.

How'd you know
how long he was dead?

Well, the perspiration hadn't
dried on his forehead yet.

Very good.
You know what this is?

No, sir.
Hmm. Well, I don't either.

You're the forensic expert.
Find out.

All right, hold on.
Hold on a minute. Hold on.

Tracey! Here, come here.
Get the rest of this. Here.

Krouse is on it all right, at the top.
Chairman of the board.

And he doesn't have a key
to the front door.

No, sir.

All right, we gotta go in there.
You kick it down, kid.

Well, shouldn't we have
a warrant?
A warrant?

This is a homicide,
and the k*ller's in there.

Now take a look in there.
You see a shadow?

That shadow is a man with a Kn*fe.

And look at the bloodstains on the floor.
See the bloodstains on the floor?

Well... Well, there are some bloodstains
out in the alley, Lieutenant.

In the alley, you say?
Go on, kid. Show me.

Watch out.

My first dead man
was a sidewalk heart att*ck.

Yeah. I thought he was drunk.

Well, me too...
until I turned him over.

Max Krouse was stabbed
in just the right place.

Yeah, I see that.

And then he was dragged
from a nice, dark alley...
into a sidewalk where it's bright.

Figure that one out.

Somebody kills a jeweler,
wants to make it look like a mugging.

A jewelry manufacturer...
with a factory. Come on.

This is Car 68.

- The door key fits.

Everybody stay put.
Put your hands on the table.

Up against the wall.

You got a warrant?

Mind if I sit down?

Well, you got six to 10 last year, Nick.
How come you're out so soon?

Because they rehabilitated me.

Oh. Well, I just violated you,
because it's way past your bedtime.

The parole board gave me
permission to work nights.

We'll check on that downtown.
Go ahead, up against the wall.

All of you, in, uh...

including you, fumbles.

Go on.
Me? Why?

Because you got dishpan hands. Move!

How long they been here tonight?
L... Me, since they fired
the old drunk, but...

No, no, no. Tonight.

He's been in right here
every minute.

I guess we're too late.

All right. Call the jewelry
expert anyway.

What old drunk?
I don't know. A stonecutter.
I'm new here. Everybody is.

All right. You and your friends
decorate the wall.

This a fencing operation?

Well, if there's a fence around here,
it's gotta be a big one.

You know, Nick Cole was busted
for fencing last year,

and he's gotta have some
pretty heavy, heavy friends
to get out that quickly.

Then some of these
still might be hot, huh?

Thirty percent of the stones
in New York are hot, baby.

By the time
they cut these big ones,

and also melt down these settings,

you'd be lucky to recognize
the Star of India.

You know, most fences
can't afford this equipment.

They have to go through a factory.

In order to bust a factory, you gotta
be there when the shipment comes in.

Is Nick Cole one of the company officers?

He's an employee appraiser.

Lot of cross-outs with the, uh...
with the officers.

Except for Krouse, the whole board's
been changed since the last year...

Beacham and Wise, accountants;

Fisher, Moroni, Brooks, lawyers;

Celia Marie Lamb...

Celia Lamb.

C.L.
Cleaning lady.

Ohh, she was
a top fashion model.

You know, she was
one of the prettiest chicks
in Fun City, U.S.A.

Here's her address.

Yeah. All right.

Hey, find the diamond cutter
out of here.

Supposed to be a lush.
Find out who he is and where.

All right, take 'em downtown.
See what you can get out of them
before the lawyers come.

Yes?

I'm Lieutenant Kojak,
Manhattan South Detective Squad.

May I talk to you, please?

Is there some trouble?
It's very late.

Yes, I know. I'm sorry.

Oh, come in, please.
Thank you.

I understand you're one of the directors
of the Duchess Jewelry Company.

Yes. Would you like
to take off your coat?

Thank you.

Well, Mr. Max Krouse
was m*rder*d tonight.

No.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize
you knew him that well.

Over a year now.

Come. Why don't you sit down?
Sit down, and I'll fix you a drink.

That's a lovely gown you're wearing.

Thank you.

Oh, l-I was at a reception
tonight with some friends.

There are a lot of fresh faces
at the Duchess Jewelry Company.

Max was expanding, I think.

Well, I think so too.
He hired Nick Cole as an appraiser.

Oh, thank you.
Sit down, please.

Thank you.

Max Krouse gave you $2,000
a few days ago. Why?

Max was very good to me.
When I first met him,

I was eight months
behind in my rent.

Max paid it, and he never
even asked to hold my hand.

He was very... gallant that way.

Well, he gave you money
from time to time,

but he didn't give you a piece
of the business because he was...
how'd you put it... gallant.

I got him an order for 100,000
bicentennial medals.

When he needed cash for the gold,
I was able to arrange for that too.

I asked for the place
in the company.

I deserved it.

Excuse me, please.

Celia, I'm sorry, but I have
some disturbing news for you.

I know. I know.
A policeman is here.

Good evening.

Lieutenant Kojak.
My name is David Lawrence.

Hello.
This is my wife, Melanie.

How do you do?
How do you do?

Our houseman told us about it,
so we came right back.

It wasn't necessary.
Oh, did you know Max Krouse?

Oh, of course. We were supposed
to be together this evening.

Affiliated with him in business?
No, no, just a social relationship.

David introduced us.

Oh, poor love. We thought
she'd finally found someone, and...

Melanie.

Well, it must have been quite a shock
for Celia to go to the door
and find a policeman.

I'm sure you were sensitive.

Well, I've, uh, done it before.

Well, Lieutenant, we'll stick around
a while and look after her.

Mr. Lawrence,
are you asking me to leave?

Oh, no. I'm sorry.
Only if you're through, of course.

Well, I'm through, of course...
for now.

Uh, your houseman told you
about the m*rder, you say?

It only happened
about an hour and a half ago.

Well, he listens to the police broadcasts.
It's a hobby of his.

Good night, Lieutenant.
Good night.

I says now like I says before.

A six makes me money,
and a eight makes me more. Ha!

What is that? Yeah.

All right, hold it, hold it.
It's the boogeyman.

Hello, Harry.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Whose dice?
Mine.

All right, Gaylord,
give it back.

What did you start with?
Ten.

Ten?
Yeah.

Here, split it up.

Get outta here!

Why you do me this way, Kojak?

Six gets me money,
and eight gets me more.

Four-four the hard way.
Ain't you ashamed with this kids' stuff?

Kojak, why did you
bust up my game?

Mm-hmm. Doin' you a favor.
You don't want your friends to know
you're talkin' to me, do ya?

There's gotta be a easier way.

I wanna know about Lumpjaw.
No way, man. He's my cousin.

He's a fence. Besides, you helped us
bust his factory last year.

What could I do?
You caught me with the bag.

You're mean, Kojak.
Mean and frosty.

Yeah, tell me about it.
Now, look.

Lumpjaw's still fencing
through this gas palace
he calls a restaurant.

Now, he's got a new factory
where he's processing the stuff.

I wanna know who,
and I wanna know where.

I don't know, Kojak,
and that's the truth.

After you hit all them
factories last year,

some fast dude from Philly moved in,
picked up the pieces.

One factory for the whole town.

Recuts, melts...
Puts 'em in a store.

He's got his own people, I guess,

because I ain't the only ex-bagman
goin' back to climbin' in windows.

Yeah. What do you steal
in this part of town? Rats?

Too big, man.

They steals from me.
But I'm warmin' up.

Pretty soon you're gonna see
another Louis Kowalski.

Louis Kowalski, hotel specialist.

You ain't got much of a jacket
on him, I'll bet.

He's so slick he don't need a fence.
He deals factory-direct.

What factory?
That local dude from Philly?

Ain't many can deal with him.

Stop cryin' and go
buy yourself a new hat.

Want me to take you in
for a couple of hours? It'll look
better in front of your friends.

Why don't you just drop me off
down around the Plaza.

Maybe I can knock off one
of them hotels before I come home.

Come again?

Well, I could go to the movies.

You know a high-class hotel burglar
named Louis Kowalski?

Yeah.
All right. I want
an all-out observation.

But don't touch him. Then I want
a surveillance on Lumpjaw's Restaurant.

You heard of it?
Yeah.

All right. And any other
fence his size.

Postmortem in yet?
It's on your desk.

Thank you.
Forensics made the little
round disk... that rubber disk.

It's a cap to a lens...
on a miniature camera.

McNeil... wants to see you.
All right, later.

Now.
You find out anything
about last night?

No, nothing. Cole and McGregor
are too smart for that,
and the others are too scared.

Their company lawyers had 'em
back on the bricks in an hour.

There's a patrolman bringing in
the stonecutter they fired.

The guy's a lush all right. You get bombed
just reading his yellow sheet.

His name is Emile Zirvo.
All right, see what you can dig up
on a David Lawrence.

He's a friend of Miss Lamb's.
You know, he's a wise guy.

He likes to tell people what to do.
Go ahead.

- I'm yours.
- I'm thrilled.

I checked with every
burglary expert we've got,

present company excepted.

They all say Max Krouse has
the best reputation in the business.

"If Kojak thinks he's running a factory,
he belongs in a rubber room."

Oh, I see.

Well, if I was gonna start a factory,
I'd move in on a man like Max Krouse.

And if he resented the fact that he
didn't have a key to his own front door...

or was making a nuisance of himself by
sneaking in the back door with a camera,

you could always take care of him.

Yeah, you'd do it that way.

But the prettiest girl in New York...
Would she do it that way?

Well, she may be a part of it,
but, uh, just a wedge.

Let's hope they don't close down,
after what happened last night.

Why should they? As far as they know,
I just moved in on a homicide beef,

and I rousted them
because I spotted this ex-con.

Hmm. Well, then all you have to do
is find out how they deliver the stuff...

and when... then get inside
with a warrant before it's processed.

Yeah, well, I'm working on it.

Terrific. Excuse me.

Patrolman's here with that
stonecutter Zirvo.

- All right. Send him in.
- Come on.

This is Emile Zirvo.
Emi, Lieutenant Kojak.

Is he a regular on your b*at?

Oh, just another pretty face.

Up until last month, he's
a lineup about once a week.

He lost his job. Been sleeping
in a doorway ever since.

Why don't you sit down, Emi?

Stick around, Brett.

Theo, he, uh... he ain't
in very good shape.

I told him about the detox center,
and maybe you could say something too?

Okay, Brett.

You used to be a pretty good
diamond cutter, Emi.

Oh.

Max Krouse
was m*rder*d last night.

Stupid Dutchman. Wanted me
to help him to get them.

Get who? Cole? Celia Lamb?

No, no, not her. In Zurich,
she let me buy her dinner once.

It was a long time ago.

And now she's trapped too,
and his wife... and me.

You got some money?

This, uh, man who traps you...
Is he from Philadelphia?

I must have some money!

Okay, Emi.

This, uh, gentleman...
Was it Lawrence? David Lawrence?

Lieutenant, stakeout spotted Kowalski.
He ripped off the Park Plaza.

Oh, get him to the detox center.

Tell 'em to get him out of the fog
as quick as possible,
because we're gonna need him.

It's a volunteer place.
All right.
Then you volunteer him.

Bye, Emi.
Now, what's the story?

The surveillance team
covering Kowalski?
Yeah.

Hotel security
wants him picked up.
No, no.

He might lead us to the drop.
Where is he now?

Heading downtown,
on Lex near 42nd.

Car 723, Car 723.

This is Car 723. Go ahead.

As requested, we're switching you
to citywide frequency.

10-4. Saperstein, do you read me?

Affirmative.
What's the situation?

We were following on foot,
but Kowalski made us and stole a car.

We're pursuing in a cab.
What's your location?

We're heading east on 38th,
crossing Eighth Avenue.

Keep me advised of your location.
I'll try to intercept.

10-4, 723.

We're heading east on 18th now.

Wejust turned north
on Third Avenue.

He just turned into the alley.
We got him now.

Thanks for the ride.
You wait right here.

Come on!

All right, go ahead. Be careful!

Stop! Police!

It happens.

Well, the jewels weren't on him.
Kowalski must've made a drop somewhere.

Mark and I had a tail on him all the way,
and I know we searched the whole area.

Why do you suppose he panicked
and ran off like that?

Well, if you've never been to jail,
the prospect could be overwhelming.

Now look, while our surveillance
teams are getting set up,

I want you to check
with North Burglary.

Seems to me they had
an observation report
a couple of weeks ago...

on Lumpjaw's and
a few of the other fences.

It's probably in the round file.
Nobody ever looks there.

Well, ask Bannerman.
He saves string.

Right.

Oh, bad, huh?

Kowalski got away with a bracelet
worth 17 grand, among other things.

The hotel's screaming,
and the insurance company
wants you suspended.

You had him under surveillance,
and you blew it.

If the boodle isn't recovered,
they'll go after your shield.

Well, maybe I can stall 'em
for a couple of days,

but you better lean on
every stoolie in your book.

Look, Kowalski dealt factory-direct.
That points to Duchess.

If it made the drop,
it'll wind up there.

Don't get obsessed
with that factory, Theo.

There isn't time,
and we're in too much trouble.

I'm not obsessed with the factory.
It's the man behind it.

You know, he had a citizen k*lled,
and from what I understand,
a pretty good one.

Well, if you mean Lawrence,
you can forget that too.

I checked him out myself
in the social columns.

Philadelphia P.D. Says lots of luck.
They've been trying for years.

He backed a call girl modeling
agency a few seasons ago,

but mostly it's been jewelry.

The point is,
he's never even been booked.

Hmm. What about his wife?

Jet set.
Ah.

Bullfighters, rock stars.
I'm hip.

Very young guys.
You know, the zoo.

Especially when she started
showing her mileage.

Thanks for the two days, Mac.
I better get on it.

Hey, you know Bannerman
really does save string.

There's a whole ball of it in his desk,
including every report since Dutch Schultz.

Here's the one from North Burglary.
Bremmer's Pharmacy?

Do you carry film
for miniature cameras?

Black and white? Uh-huh.

And does Maximilian Krouse
have any pictures there?

Well, have they been picked up?

Mrs. Krouse?
Yes, yes, she certainly is.

All right. Thank you
very much. Good-bye.

Two rolls of miniature film
in for development.

Krouse used the camera
more than once.

A couple of phone calls about the prints,
but, uh, they've been picked up.

The report says Krouse wasn't married.

Well, she impressed the clerk.
She's very, very beautiful
and, uh, well-preserved.

Celia Lamb.

Three known fences,

and none of them equipped
to process jewelry.

Lumpjaw's Restaurant,
the TV repair, smoke shop...

I wonder how they get that stuff
to the factory.

What we need
is a common denominator.

Customers.
They all have customers.

Any one of them could be a bagman
carrying jewelry...

in a TV set, in a cigar box,
a doggie bag.

No, no, no. We've been
too tough on bagmen.

Besides, who would want to take
a doggie bag out of Lumpjaw's Restaurant?

Not unless you hated dogs.
You know, he's got to be a fence
to pay off his garbagemen.

Garbage trucks.

They're so common,
they're invisible.

They're not even mentioned
in the reports.

Well, if that's the edge, you can bet
they'll all use the same outfit.
You find out, then lay on surveillance.

Any one of them could be carrying
Kowalski's stuff on board.

Yes, but don't make any moves
on any garbage trucks. I want Lawrence.

And if I can talk Mrs. Krouse,
whoever she is, into giving up
those pictures she picked,

I can nail him to the operation.

Did you lose something?

All right, come here, pussycat.

What is going on here?

Yes, sir?
Yeah, doorman.

There's a black car parked
outside your loading zone
with a man in it.

Big guy that's half asleep?

Yeah, curly hair, like
a good-looking gorilla.

Would you send him
up to Miss Lamb's apartment?

Oh, yeah, and your maintenance man...
Ask him if he's got any white glue.

Right away, sir.
Thanks a lot.

What are you doing in my home?

Well, Nick was looking for some
photographs, and I can't blame him.

He was in 'em. But you did
a sloppy job on that door.
You should've used a 'loid.

You can't do me for that, Kojak,
because I was invited here.

Wasn't I, Celia?

I invited him.
Now will you go?

Oh?

Well, assaulting a police officer...
That's a parole violation.

You're gonna have to go
into the kit, kid.

You know, Nick and I came
for the same reason...

to pick up those snapshots
that you picked up at the pharmacy
this morning about 11:00.

At 11:00 this morning,
I was choosing a casket.

She claimed to be Mrs. Krouse.
I didn't think it was your style.

But it could be Mrs. Lawrence's.

You know, then she and her husband
would have something
to keep you in line with.

Melanie wouldn't put me
in a position like that.
Melanie?

You called?
Oh, come on.

The boss's wife, Nick?
He's not my boss.

It's a good thing
you're going back in.

Otherwise you'd wind up
bein' mugged too.

All right, take him in.
He's clean.

Nick and I are gonna have
a little talk in the morning.
Thank you.

Um, thank you, but please,

I, I have to go back
and arrange a funeral tonight.

Miss Lamb, they say
that Lawrence traps you.

How does he do it?
What's the trick?

Oh, he has a knack for offering
people their secret ambitions.

Price is no object.

Oh. Well, my secret ambition
has always been to cross the Pacific
in a hot-air balloon.

He's, uh... He's quite gifted really.

He can find the gay scoundrel
inside the accountant,

the rich man inside the pauper,
the lady inside the...

And then... throw you away,
like your diamond cutter friend.

Emi?
Emi.

He's in Bowery Detoxification Center.
He's studying snakes.

I've gotta stop Lawrence.

Yes, you all do, don't you?

Max wanted to stop him too,
but he was m*rder*d.

- And he was a fool, wasn't he?
- Yes, but not coming to us.

But he was gallant, like you put it.
He was protecting you.

Lawrence is a parasite and a k*ller.
You must try to help me stop him.

You must try to help me get him
into the factory before his shipment comes.

Why? Because it's the good
and decent thing to do?

Yeah, something like that.
Max was a nice man.

Max was nice.

There were 10 years of nice men,

most of them introduced by David.

And there were first-night tickets,
and there were Sutton Place parties,

and the rent was paid on time.

Was that, uh, your secret desire?

It's no secret.
Maybe not even a desire anymore.

But it beats thinking,
and it beats being alone.

And you were eight months
behind in your rent.

That's right.
Because I tried to quit.

And when you haven't been
your own person for 12 years,

and you weren't all that clever to begin
with, you do what you have to do.

Here.

You almost got me, didn't you?

Mm-hmm.

Well, you're not ready.
I've been entertaining the lieutenant.

I'll be ready in a minute.

Oh, yes. Lieutenant, uh, Kojak.

That's right.
Yeah.

Are all these visits, uh, necessary?

Well, I'm very persistent,
Mr. Lawrence.

Oh, well, some people
might call that harassment,

especially people
in city government.

Oh.
Don't you think Miss Lamb
has enough trouble right now?

You know, you're very
sentimental, Mr. Lawrence.

I mean, for a guy
who used to hustle broads.

Some people in city government
might call that, uh...

You're very charming, Mr. Kojak.

I, uh, hope you discovered
in your nosing around...

that no charges were filed.

Well, maybe they weren't
as persistent.

Lieutenant, let's not fight.
I'm sure you and I both want
the same things out of life...

friends and good health,
financial security.

I'm taking some friends
to the theater tomorrow night.

Why don't you join us later for a drink?
I'd like you to meet them.

After all, opportunity is...
where you find it.

As a matter of fact,
we'll meet right here.

Will you?

Yes, my dear. A night like that
would do you a world of good.

Until tomorrow evening then,
Lieutenant.

No, Mr. Lawrence, I don't think
I'll come to your party.

It doesn't really b*at being alone.

- How do you feel?
- How do you think?

Well, I don't know.
At least you've stopped shaking.

Not on the inside.

You're Kojak.
You told me about Max.

Well, you told me
some things yourself.

Did I? Hmm.

Well, you told me Max
asked you to help him.

Huh. He wanted me to spy
on Cole and McGregor.

- Mm-hmm. And did you?
- For a while.

- But not being a very brave man...
- You must've found out something.

Yeah.

When a shipment is due, Cole
picks up the money from Lawrence...

and brings it to the Duchess.

He appraises the jewelry,
and he makes the payment.

Emi.

Do you have to let her see me?

It was her idea, Emi.

It's all right, Emi.
Please don't feel ashamed.

Why do you do this?
You're a nice lady.

Not so nice.

We're a lot alike, aren't we, Emi?

Except that Emi was smart enough
to dump Lawrence.

Lawrence did not
put me in here. I did.

He just saw that Cole
provided the bottles.

He provided?

He saw to it that
I got a bottle a week or so.

Hmm.

Well, I'm going back to my office.

If you should want me.

Ciao, baby.

Get me Emile Zirvo's rap sheet.

And here, take this.

And I want you to circle every day that
Emi's been arrested in the last few years.

Look, I haven't called
your parole officer.

I figured you might want
to talk to me first.

Stuff it, Kojak.
Theo!

I'm getting pressure
from some very strange places.

Harassment complaints.
Mm-hmm.

Well, I just crossed the swords
with Lawrence.

Come on.
I think I'm on to something.

Up until last week,
Zirvo was a once-a-month drunk.

You know, he'd get juiced, booked,
sleep it off in the t*nk.

Lawrence would supply the sauce.

Keep him out of the way
when the shipments come in.

The trash pickups alternate
week to week...you know,
Monday-Wednesdays, Tuesday-Friday.

This is a Monday-Wednesday week.
Today's Wednesday.

What makes you think
they'll be picked up tonight?

With all the hot stones in New York,
there's a very good chance.

We'll stake it out.
Mac, I want Lawrence.

A stakeout tonight.
That's an order.

Well, at least we get the factory.

All right, you know what to do.
Take care of it, kid.

- Lieutenant Kojak?
- Yes, ma'am. Right here.

I'm glad you could come.

I appreciate the risk.
But as a member of the board,

Miss Lamb's the only way we can
get in without a warrant.

Theo, she's volunteered.

She's volunteered because
I told her we'd get Lawrence.

We could mess up his operation, Mac,
but he'd be back in business in a week.

There's no way to tie the man in.
He's made a career
out of not getting involved.

He's right, you know. It's always
somebody else that takes the risk.

- He doesn't even touch the money.
- Who does?

Lawyers, accountants,
Nicky Cole, myself in a way.

David entertains twice a week...
small parties, like tonight...

always ending up at my place
for drinks,

always including a lawyer
or accountant friend,

who just happens
to be carrying a briefcase.

About midnight,
Nicky Cole knocks at the door,

and next thing you look,
the briefcase is gone.

Now, if Nick showed up at Duchess's
without the money,

Lawrence might be persuaded
to go down there and find out why.

- Why should he?
- Personal reasons.

Celia,

I want you to call Lawrence
and tell him you've changed my mind...

and I'll meet his friends tonight
at your place, okay?

All right.

Hello, Nick.

You know, a little paint would do
wonders for the whole room.

Hmm, yeah.

Well, I can try to cut you loose, Nick,
but I think you'd be better off in here.

What do you mean?

Now, if you were on the outside
when Lawrence finds out
about you and his wife, uh...

You mean you'd do that?
Of course.

But then again, if Lawrence
were in here, and you were
on the outside, that's better still.

Oh, I see.
Are you talking deal, Kojak?

No, no, no.
I'm talking sense.

I don't have much time,
and you don't have much choice.

Mm-hmm. So what
do you want me to do?

Okay. There's a shipment due tonight.
I want you to go to work.

I want you to bring money.
If you see anything unusual,

anything out of the ordinary,
I want you to pick up the phone
and call Lawrence.

Well, Lieutenant Kojak,
I'm so pleased you were able to come.

So am I.
I'm sorry. My wife
went home with a headache,

but the rest of the people are here,
just dying to meet you.

Come on in.
Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to meet
my new and good friend, Theo Kojak.

Mr. And Mrs. Dorson Knox.
How do you do?

Dorson's a very celebrated
attorney from Philadelphia.

Mr. And Mrs. Georges Delorme.
I'm sure you've heard of Georges, Theo.

He has a very large organization
in the south of France,

and I understand he's looking
for a new security chief.

Who hasn't heard of Georges?

Uh, are we negotiating, David?

No, I'm afraid I'm not
into narcotics, Georges.

Theo.
Well, I'm sure I'll find
something you like.

Yes, well, right now
I feel a little, uh, grimy.

I'd like to wash someplace.
Right this way, Lieutenant.

Thank you.
I don't understand.

You stay cool and keep him busy.

Oh, excuse me just a moment.

He's just a nice man.

I'll get it.

Well, did you
cut yourself shaving?

Lady had a boyfriend.

Thanks.

Hey, cop!

Hey, take a walk around the block
and find yourself a doorway, will ya?

I think it's time you started
charming the hostess, David.

I want one of your
champagne cocktails right now.

Oh, of course, my dear.
Georges, sit down.

Thank you.

You know, I, uh...

Come here.

Oh.
Forget it.

Well, you've done well, Celia.

Last night I was beginning
to have my doubts.

Well, I finally realized
where my interests lie,

and I'd better protect them.

The lieutenant was becoming
a thr*at to the Duchess and to me.

But he wasn't really
very difficult.

L... I learned the art
of corruption from the master.

Oh.

Now, Celia, you know
that I don't corrupt people.

I simply offer them... choices.

They do the rest themselves.
Most of them can hardly wait.

They only see
what they want to see.
Well, exactly.

David, that's why
I wanted to see you.

Because this
is true for you too.

Your wife is having an affair...

with Nick Cole.

All right, what are you
trying to do to me?

They have something planned
for tonight. I don't know what.

How do you know this?
Nick.

And you didn't tell me?

Well, I hadn't decided
to protect my own interests yet.

Besides, I wasn't really sure until
Melanie went home with a headache.

Excuse me.

Hello.

He's right here.

It's for you.

Nick Cole.

Yes, Nick.

What?

No, just-just keep
everybody there till I, uh...

well, till you hear from me.

Make my excuses.

He just went in.

The garbage truck?
It's in the back.

They made the drop.
Then they'll be picked up
as soon as they leave the area.

Is the lady going in?
Without me,
you'd need a warrant.

All right, let's go.

McGregor was with me
all the time.

Not when you picked it up.

Okay, we'll take it from here.

You stay here.
There could be trouble.

Sure, I stole the money,
and I left it in Celia's apartment.

That's right. Only you didn't steal it.
You had my wife do it.

Now, where is she?
I said where is she?
Now, just relax!

Where is she!
Just relax! Just stay!

All right, freeze! Police!

Stay smart, Lawrence!

Oh, I had such plans for you.

I know. I blew it, huh?

Lieutenant, it's all there...
the bracelet...

It's over, Celia.

Is it?

So many years, Theo.

So many.

Hey, I'll take you home.