05x02 - A Strange Kind of Love

[bunniefuu]

This is Rita, your talk show lady.

And this week we are broadcasting from the
window of Racer's department store.

So you can see me, and I can see you.

We would be even closer, I swear to you.

But my boss says, Rita, don't get too
personal.

Rita, don't make it a love affair.

And you know bosses.

So if we don't seem as close from now on,
blame him.

Please remember you and I, we are night
people.

I want it to be meaningful.

I want it to be sensual.

Lawson, listen, I'm telling
you, you're in trouble

and all you got on
your mind is it brought.

You either got her on the radio or on that
recorder.

Here's your trip sheet.

Now shape up.

You up your take.

Or I gotta drop you and don't tell me
about your sister.

I can't put her on your tally sheet.

I got somebody over me.

Come on down tomorrow.

They sell good and they sell cheap.

You're on the air.

Rita, I got fired today.

You poor kid, what happened?

My boss made a pass at me, Rita,
and I stopped him.

I don't know why.

Wouldn't have been so bad.

So call him.

My boss makes passes.

It's all in the game.

Well, you heard the girl.

You tell me about your boss.

The lines are open.

And while we're thinking, a little night
music.

Yeah, thanks.

For a while there, I was afraid we weren't
going to find an issue.

You always do.

Okay, Mr. Station Manager, how about more
money?

What?

I've always been good to you.

Be better.

I'd love to.

This is Rita, and you're on the air.

I just want to say that you're right.

Bosses, I know how they are.

Mine is worse.

Believe me, he's hanging over me now,
in person.

But you just have to live with it and try
to work it out.

We'll do it together.

It's like you always say, only the little
people care.

We should stick together.

And he has no right to keep you from us,
the way you say.

You heard the man.

He's right.

That's it.

You and me and all the night people
sticking together.

Oh, let's do something.

Hear me out there.

We have had our fill.

We shall rise up now.

Let's go.

Action, action.

Stamp out lousy bosses.

Do it.

Somebody out there, help, please.

Where are you anyway?

My heroes, all my night people.

Did I tell you that my other problem is...
He digs me.

Bradford is my boss.

Fact of life.

He holds the old economic fingers on my
economic throat.

You out there, the
little people, the night

people, it's time to
rise up and take action.

Now, do it.

Yes?

Stuart Bradford, male Caucasian,
age 42, manages radio station WWRK.

They're doing a remote from races all
week.

Nobody that actually saw anything.

How about the lady with the microphone?

If there's one thing you police are good
at, it's arriving after the damage is done.

Oh.

Mr. Bradford have any problems,
you know, business, personal?

We weren't that close.

You have any idea why he was shot?

Why?

Because the streets of New York aren't
safe anymore.

Because you're in here grilling me instead
of out there catching these lunatics.

Now, if there's nothing else, Lieutenant.

Not for the moment.

There is a one decent job in here.

Mrs. Rita, you're on the air.

Don't you get enough of her?

Hour after hour.

I'm your sister.

She's nothing to you.

You think she is.

She's nothing to you.

You listen to her lectures, you're gone.

You have to record her voice.

You out there, the
little people, the night

people, it's time to rise
up and take action now.

Stavros, Rizzo, everybody, get in here.

All right, what do you got?

Talk to Bradford's wife.

He only had one vice.

Gambling.

So I checked with his bookie.
Nothing heavy.

You checked ballistics?

Yeah, Lieutenant.

The weapon was a 25 caliber automatic.

What do we got here now?

We got a victim.

Who didn't owed any money.

Who didn't play around.

And a victim who wasn't robbed.

Maybe Bradford had this idea.

The hospital called and they told us
they'll let us know when he's able to talk.

Very good.

Kojak.

Yeah.

When?

Right, thank you.

Bradford just went into a coma.

I'm sorry about your station
manager, but the cop should

spend some time getting
prostit*tes off the street too.

I couldn't agree more on all counts.

I just hope I can do something to bring an
end to prostitution in our city.

You out there, like the man said,
the little people doing their thing.

What do you say?

Send a letter to the commissioner.

Demand that the police get tough.

Sometimes you can't walk down the streets
without getting mistaken for a prost*tute.

I think sex is great, and love is great,
but there's no involvement if you are paying.

Hey, what are you, a creep?

What are you, some kind of a wise guy?
[Rita] Prostitution is a bad thing.

You're down heavy for New York!

How the frick you know you're a creep, you?

[Rita] p*mps are the pits.

You gals out there, fight it.

Equal rights for all of us.

The time is now.

You out there, you hear me?

Are you listening?

This is a great city.

This is the greatest city.

But the p*mps and prostit*tes
are turning our streets into a gutter.

The little people.

The little people, It's time to rise up.

And take action.

Now, do it.

Good evening.

I was just on my way out.

Okay.

However, I do not want
you to think that I am in the

habit of letting guys
just walk in off the street.

I will make this one exception in your
case.

My mother did.

Guys came.

Guys went.

You're a talker, huh, baby?

I could have tried to stop it.

I should have.

I could have screamed.

That would have shook them up a bit.

The kids screaming.

Keep talking, cutie.

She didn't want me to stop it.

I should have tried.

But I didn't.

Just like nobody's trying to stop me.

But they should.

I'll tell you something.

If it wasn't for wives, you wouldn't have
prostit*tes.

He's understood.

Ever tried talking to the gal?

There only could if you work at it.

Both of you.

Okay.

So you hung up on me.

But don't hang up on yourself.

Maybe she is a bad lady.

Maybe not.

You won't ever know until you take her
hand and say, I'm in trouble.

Go on.
Try it.

Sometimes it works.

One of her customers, Murray Talbert.

You got it, Murray?

Yes, she was shot.

One time.

Probably a small caliber weapon.

How long ago?

Well, probably within the last hour.

Tell them I'm Lieutenant Kojak.

Lieutenant Kojak.

Okay.

Will I get in trouble?

Well, I hope not.

Just tell me what you did.

What?

Well, I mean, you walked in.

Was she alive?

No.

How did you know?

I touched her.

She was just laying there.

And that woman kept chattering.

What woman?

The woman on the radio.

Times Square.

Wall to wall hookers.

The police, they care about double
parking.

She was talking about prostit*tes then,
too.

I just shut it off.

Thank you, Mr. Talbert.

I mean, you've been a great help,
girl.

My lips are sealed.

Just go downtown and give a statement.

Crocker?

Yeah.

I see what the street people are talking
about.

Even hookers die for a reason.

Uh, sub, Steve.

Moskowitz?

I'll take care of her.

This is Rita, and you're on the air.

What you've been saying is true.

I only wish the cops would open their eyes
and listen to us crying out.

And know that we care.

You see, most... most women are... well...

I can't hear what most women are.

They're so... bad.

But

I want you to know about a relationship
that exists... that is special.

Between you and me.

Solve all mutual problems.

My son.

Just for a weekend.

If you go with me, I won't even come back.

Hey, Bobby.

Bobby, I love you.

But if I've told you once, I've told you a
hundred times.

Don't mess with the merchandise.

This is Stella.

I love you.

Oh, now that's cute.

It's Marie when you're
ordering beer, but it's

Miss Stella when you're
making eyes at my daughter.

Bobby, my mother thinks
that every young man

that looks at me wants
to become my lover.

Don't say it.

Oh, Mom, please.

You're a dear lady, but you're so wrong
about so many things.

Sure I am.

Right?

Now, remember, dear, over at the steam
table, that's it.

It'll do wonders for your complaint.

Can you get a weekend off?

Theo, see what I mean?

He's up there again.

Marie, he's ordering food.

He's ordering all right, but it ain't
food.

Well, a cop is a cop.

Besides that, your husband was a cop.

Sure he was a cop.

And I loved him, and it hurt too much.

So please, Theo, keep your guys away from
my girls, okay?

Oh, come on, Ma.

Cool it, will you?

You see that?

You sent him to college to come up with
complex words like cool it.

Well, we're going to simplify the average
words like move it.

Now, come on, dear.

There's a big order out in the kitchen,
okay?

And speed is not what's going for you.

Ta -da.

Tell her not to beat on you too much,
okay?

And that wasn't so hard, was it?
- All right.

Just tell her she's too young to get
involved with any man.

Especially a cop.

Nice to see you got around to the food.

Do me a favor when you come in here,
huh?

Keep your eyes down.

I want to enjoy my beer in peace.

Cheers, ma'am.

I thought only Time Square was busy at this
hour.

Oh, yeah. Well, here's where
the cops in Manhattan South

come, you know, to
relax in between shifts.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, you're a little early.

I could have waited in my office.

Too cheap to pop for a beer?

You know, you get a big mouth even when
you're off the air.

You deserve that.

Mary, bring a beer.

Please sit down.

Your friend hit me with a zinger just now.
Why?

Because I work you guys over when I think
you deserve it.

No.

Maybe because you're a psychiatrist
without a couch.

You know, pumping up sick people in order
to pump up the ratings.

I go for ratings.

And you aim for promotions.

No, I give a service.

What the hell do you think I do?

Most of those callers
who can't afford a visit to

their friendly neighborhood
ripoff analyst turn to me.

I let them blow off steam with me.

What is wrong with that and what the hell
did you want to see me about?

Do you ever listen to them?

I mean, do you ever really listen?

Who are the talkers?

And who are the doers?

And do you really care?

Talk about unlicensed psychiatry.

Sit down.

I want you to tone it down till we find
out what's going on.

Tone it down?

There was a hooker shot to death tonight.

What does that got to do with me?

Nothing.

But her radio was tuned to your program.

And you were talking about the evils of
prostitution.

Starting tomorrow night, there'll be a man
outside your window.

One of mine.

And you can go now.

cr*cker!

What a kick.

My own bodyguard.

Hey, folks.

Don't mind Officer Pusari.

You had to have a name like Pusari,
didn't you?

Officer Pusari, standing there protecting
me from real life.

Hey, Pusari.

Are you married?

Engaged.

Oh, you're so cute.

The lines are open.

Hackensack!

Hi!

Cabbie!

I'll fix this guy.

Okay.

Okay, Lawson, baby.

This is Rita.
You're on the air.

I understand how it feels to have that
officer there all the time.

It's like being a prisoner.

Folks, a first.

A call from the slammer.

You know, there are all kinds of prisons.

But with your help, almost empty.

And your warden?

It's my sister.

A sister?

A sister for a keeper.

You're all that keeps me going.

No one will come between us.

I can strike out for a purpose now.

How does that sound?

Sick.

It gives me a way to go.

Sounds like one of us has found his
calling.

This is Lieutenant Kojak, Manhattan South.

I never even had a reason to...

I want an emergency trace on a call coming
into radio station WWRK right now.

A man wants to protect me.

I want you to know

that I really understand
what's happening

because it's pure.

Lover, whoever you are...

Believe me, it's real.

Got it.

I call the sector.

Hey, hold it, soft voice.

Oh, my head is spinning.

Hi.

Hey!

Hey!

Hey, stupid!

Hey, that's your cab!

I want to go home!

The lieutenant in any color out this
minute.

You know, Miss McCall, we want to thank you
very much for coming over.

It saves us the trouble of going to the
FCC.

I'm not getting through.

I just found out that you are tapping my
lines.

You can't do that.

If word gets around that calling me can
get the police to run you down,

you are intimidating a whole audience.

You are depriving them of their freedom of
speech.

Miss McCall, you have a mouth.

What?

Close it.

We're trying to catch a k*ller.

We think he might be one of your callers.

I'm sorry.

We're not sure, but we don't know where
else to start.

Now, if you want to cooperate,
fine.

If not, get out.

I don't want to have to call the
commissioner, Captain.

Miss McCall, you already did call the
commissioner.

I mean, we know it.

You know it.

And we also know what the commissioner
said to you.

And the captain said the same thing.

Quote, goodbye.

You want to suspend belief?

The police are actually trying to tie this
show in with the sh**ting of my boss.

Can you believe it?

I'll leave it to you.

What's the problem in this city,
me?

The lines are open.

This is Rita.

Something ought to be done.

That's the voice.

That's the sick one.

Be my guest.

Bye.

This is 732.

We'll meet sector guard 23rd street and


Phone booth.

The lines are still open.

We have about an hour before we call it a
night.

A little Rita music.

The lines are open.

Oh, it's the changing of the guard,
folks.

Be sorry, he has to leave.

Oh, good night, Pusari.

You're real cute.

Bye.

Want to have a little goodbye to Pusari
music?

Officer Pusari?

The father said tilt their swords at the
murderers, rapists, thieves.

Instead of pushing to hang it on to a gal,
just trying to do her job.

Lawson, what are you doing back here now?

Listen, I don't know what you've been
doing, but it ain't up in your take.

So I got the word.
This is your last week.

They're laying you off.

Get a chance.
Look around, okay?

I'm sorry.

Hey, I want you to listen to the voice
this guy's been calling you.

Go ahead.

Now, that's from a call that was made
several nights ago.

Now, this is from a call that was made the
night Bradford was shot.

I know how they are.

They don't sound alike.

You can put hot potatoes in your mouth.

You can't fool a voice print.

I understand how it feels to have that
officer there all the time.

It's like being a prisoner.

Sure, Lawson.

Thank you.

Okay, Lieutenant.

He was nothing.

He had no reason to live.

He had no reason to die.

But now he's got one.

And you gave it to him every time you
opened your mouth.

But you admit you aren't sure there's any
connection.

Kojak.

Yeah.

Okay, I'll tell her.

What is it?

Bradford just died.

Lieutenant, can I see you for a minute,
please?

Yeah.

I located Officer Puzari's father.

He said you wanted to talk to him.

He's on the phone.

Kojak, yes, sir.

Yes, sir, I know.

What can I say?

I... I know you, boy, yes.

And not very well.

But I guess I know them all.

I do, sir.

Yeah, I...

I would really like to come out and...
come out there and we'll talk, okay?

All right, Mr. Puzari.

Thank you.

Lieutenant.

I gotta catch the Assistant V8 downtown.

How long since I asked you to check the
prints from the phone booth in Queens?

They're on your desk, Kojak.

What's the matter?
We don't talk anymore?

You never heard of Call Your Boss?

It was a make.

The prints match.

Stavros.

I gotta catch this guy before he leaves
his office.

Will you shut up?

We apologize for yelling at you.

Stavros, can you let him make up before he
kills you?

Lieutenant, I knew Puzari.

But even if I didn't know him,
I don't know why he died either.

Remember me?

The sun is up, but it's my bedtime.

We were talking.

I don't know about you, but I'm gonna have
a drink.

Oh, thank you.
I think I will.

Thank you.

Pretty lady.

Sleeps all day, works all night.

And I thought only gorillas like me stood
up all night.

Some people work at night in order to
avoid relationships.

Okay.

There were a couple of romances,
yes.

All bad, yes.

Mostly my fault, yes.

They wanted a relationship.

And what do you want?

What I want is to anchor a national
primetime news show with world-famous

politicians and celebrities
fighting to get on just

to be exposed to the
millions who listen to me.

And when the president talks to the
people, I want to be there with him at the

fireside and when the first spaceship
takes its passengers to the outer limits

of our galaxy, I want to be chosen by
unanimous acclaim the first and only

correspondent along with all of those
highly qualified scientists.

I'm not going to do any of those things.

And I'll never make police commissioner.

Please do me a favor.

Lay off those hot issues, okay?

You do think that young officer was k*lled
because of my show.

Well, what else is
happening out there on those

god-forsaken streets that
you think you can dump on me?

What else?

Well, I'll tell you what else.

There was that working
girl, your own station

manager, Puzari, k*lled
by a 25 -caliber automatic.

Now, you want to cry, cry.

You've been wrapped up in that warm cocoon
of yours a little too long, protected

behind that microphone,
saying all kinds of naughty things

and not even having to wash
your mouth out with soap.

And you still remain uninvolved.

Now, you listen.

You may not be responsible for those
people getting k*lled, but then again,

maybe you are.

So you let that sink in, lady,
and let it hurt.

Oh.

I thought you came here to apologize.

Tomorrow I've got to go see Puzari's
father and tell him exactly how it happened.

That's a lousy trick to pull.

But tonight, you're going to help us find
the k*ller.

It won't be your bait.

All right.

I'll tell that to officer Puzari's
father.

Ah.

Tell me what is not ticking.

What is off center?

You think he's going to come to the party?

The lines are open.

And I've got company again.

Only this time, I've been promoted.

They've sent the local head honcho down to
babysit.

But he's not drinking coffee or,
uh, taking a nap.

He's thinking about making a pass.

No kidding.

Love his eyes.

I can tell.

So where is my soft voice, huh?

My avenging hero.

Hey, you said you understand.

What are you, just talk?

I am crying out in the night.

Ah.

They are all over me.

They are, they are knocking me out of the
business, these cops.

This is Rita.
You're on the air.

I'm a businessman.

And, um, I'm lonely.

You know what I do when I'm lonely?

Go off by myself.

No kidding.

Crowded place.

Ballpark with all those thousands of
people and nobody saying a word to me.

Aw, forget it.

The street's moving.

Sit on a bench.

The front door.

Say hi.

Lonely for one reason.

What was that?

Because other lonely people are afraid to
talk to you.

Oh.

I think he's our man.

All right, clear it out.

Folks, the cops just protected me from a
drunk.

I see she gets home.

There is actually somebody who thinks...

Hi.

I guess you had to quit early to take care
of what with the weather.

What is it?
You in trouble again?

Don't leave me, Terry!

Mom left us and I took Gary you.

I wanted to go to hairdresser school and I
didn't.

She's no good, Terry!

Get that lousy out of here!

There are all kinds of prisons.

With your help, I'll be okay.

Get that lousy out of here!

There are all kinds of prisons.

With your help, I'll be okay.

I can't make that up.

I'll try to take the horn down more.

Get that lousy out of here!

Out of here!

There are all kinds of prisons.

Hack.

Hack.

He's saying hack.

That's a cabbie.

One of the calls was spread all over town.

Okay, what do you want?

Hot dog, hamburger, pizza?

Two guys had an argument at that phone
booth here last night.

Two guys had an argument in that phone
booth every night.

What do you have?

Now, that's something serious.

You give me a straight answer,
all right?

About 3 a.m.

What's the spot?

That was one guy in the phone booth and
another guy trying to get his car out.

There's no trouble.

That's what I thought to the guy in the
phone booth.

A rectangle cab.

His name was Ross.

They do that with that phone booth every
night.

My parking place!

I get fed up!

Live here with somebody?

Yes, my brother.

Where is he?

He... he went out.

Where?

To see a girl.

What girl?

That one.

The one on the radio.

Stavros.

Put out an alarm for Terry Lawson.

Your rectangle cab will fill you in.

I'm going over to read him a call and tell
him to stay put.

Hello?

You called out to me tonight.

Like I called out to you so many times.

You know the rules.

No personal contact.

A FCC regs.

Police.

All over.

I loved you.

I never met you, but I loved you just the
same.

I thought you wanted me.

Okay, you want to talk?

So, we'll break the rules.

What the hell?

Why don't you sit down?

Last night...

you stayed a long time.

That cop, didn't he?

He's a cop!

He's asking questions!

I was right!

I was right!

You don't want me!

You don't want me!

You don't want me!

You tried to help me, can't you?

You don't want me!

You gave me a reason to live.

And then you took it away.

I just wanted to do some...

good.

I just wanted to do some good.

I'm not going to renegotiate.

That's it.

Daytime only.

If they don't like it, I'll get another
job.

We'll make a deal.

You stay on your job and I'll stay on mine...
and I'll meet you at Stella's at 3 a.m.

Those poor people.

I miss Luther.

You know, some people learn the hard way,
Rita.

You will.

You just go a little too far sometimes.

If you remember that, you'll be okay.

Good night, Lady Rita.

with you again, and holding on to each other.

Hey, I'm in here, and you're out
there, but we're very much together.

And much closer from now on,
because something happened to me.

I want to tell you, I knew what it
was to be lonely tonight, and afraid.

How about you? Are you lonely?

The lines are open. Rita wants
to hear from the loneliest tonight.

The tear-jerkers, the sad songs, like a cop
I met with a heart, believe that, and hey,

I've got a great idea
for a contest,

starting next week and for
the rest of the month.

The name of the contest
is "Cops I Have Known".