06x04 - Rock Devil Rock

[bunniefuu]

Moloch, the rock
and roll madman.

He taunts the devil.

Don't disappoint me, darling.

I'm expecting a tango.

Mmm-hmm.

I don't know who to be
scared of... Or... Or what.

Hey, Kathy! Enjoying the show?

The show hasn't
started here yet.

Everyone's waiting
for Moloch to drive off.

That's why we're here.

Half the crowd wants to k*ll him,
half the crowd wants to kiss him.

Y'all better go up
to the stage gate.

This Vincent Ealing, his
manager, is expecting you.

He's been screaming
for protection.

See you later.

Next time, he better
pay for his own security.

Next time when a chicken
dip call comes on the radio,

let someone else answer it.

I wonder if he does barbeques.

Officers! He's gonna
be driving away now.

This is unbelievable! Look
at all those weirdos out there.

I'm really afraid for him. They're
gonna tear all his clothes off. I know it.

Listen, we'll make sure
he gets out, all right. Okay?

I really appreciate that.
Thank you, gentlemen.

You're lifesavers.
Thank you very much.

Let me at him! Moloch
is the devil's music!

Let me at him!

Sensational act. I'm drained.

You've got yourself
another rising young star.

Hey, that's what I do best.

Would you smile,
Bubie? We got a hit!

Man, it's just land of lost record
sales from the record company's POV.

We got the Moloch album hitting
next week, and no Moloch tour lined up.

I know. Well, he's got
his heart set on a vacation.

You just gotta give
the devil his due.

Moloch must die!

Moloch must die!

Help!

Help! I can't stop!

I've got no brakes!

Help!

Roll down the window!

What's the matter?

I can't stop!

No brakes!

Steady my bike. I'm
gonna pull him out.

You're crazy.

Come on, do it!

All right. Just lie back, okay?
You're gonna be fine. It's okay.

You're an angel, right?

No, and believe
me, you're not dead.

I'm not dead!

- What happened?
- Is Moloch all right?

I don't believe this.
I'm managing a maniac!

What made you
drive off like that?

Sir, just let him rest, okay? I got
an ambulance on the way, all right?

But I'm all right. I'm not dead.

Thanks to these brave officers.

If it weren't for them, you'd
be playing Moloch in hell.

You're crazy! You're crazy!

I wasn't playing! I was
hardly driving! The hearse...

- What happened in the hearse, Moloch?
- Sir, please step back.

What happened, Officer?

What are you talking about?
You saw it! I couldn't stop!

The hearse was
driving by itself.

You mean the hearse
was possessed?

Are you okay, kid?
Are you all right?

You look like you
just saw the devil.

So, what happened?

The devil tried to k*ll him
on Halloween weekend.

No, the red smoke started after.

First he said the
tape deck came on...

- By itself.
- With a voice that repeated...

- Over and over...
- "Moloch must die!"

Now if everybody's heard it
already, why am I telling it again?

Because it gets better
every time, Frank.

Sarge, under "officer's opinion,"
can I put down "publicity stunt"?

Just hold on, Hot Dog, all I know is,
that the guy was trapped in the hearse.

He could've been k*lled.

Okay. So it was a publicity
stunt that almost backfired.

Ponch, in the report, would you
rather we put "the devil dood it"?

Come on, let's not get carried away.
You saw the fear in Moloch's eyes.

- Yeah, so what?
- You can't fake that!

Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me.

Oh, Harlan, come on.

If you just fill these out right now,
you'll make my job a lot easier.

Harlan, aren't these the costume
contest forms we filled out last week?

Look, I'll do it for you.
What will you be wearing?

- For what?
- People, the party's tomorrow!

You're gonna look pretty dumb
bobbing for apples in your civvies!

- Well, we just won't bob for apples.
- Wait a minute! Wait a minute.

You just signed up
for this yesterday.

Yeah, and we've been
signing up for things

ever since you were
appointed chairman of the

County CHP Halloween
party a month ago.

Aren't there any
motorcycles that need tuning?

I see...

I try to drum up spirit in my
own unit, and what do I get?

In that case, I'm gonna deprive
this shift of any special attention.

- Oh, thank you, Harlan.
- Thank you, Harlan.

You sure you don't mind?

Hey, I told you yesterday
I'd give you a ride home.

Look, I know partners
usually stick together,

but when you're wrong, you're
wrong. You got suckered in.

Don't say anything!

Okay, Harlan's sure
gonna be happy.

Somebody is in the
costume spirit. Look at this.

A pumpkin. Very original.

Yeah, I think he should
win in Harlan's fruit category.

Go on, laugh!

But if it wasn't for my sheer motorcycle
skill, you'd all be coming to my funeral!

What happened, Grossman?

Well, ask this monster.

He's gonna be the youngest juvenile
ever charged with attempted homicide

on a police officer!

Take it easy, man.

Flippy.

I was just having fun.

I laid some pumpkins
on the street.

A blind curve!

- You know the one in Oakwood?
- Yeah.

A car was supposed to
come by and squash 'em.

How'd I know a cop
would come by on a bike?

Hey, Grossman,
weren't you ever a kid?

Man, I remember I used to
line lemons up in the street.

We used to call it
the lemonade derby.

You kidding?

In my neighborhood, we used to take
water balloons and put 'em in the street

and let the traffic
obliterate them!

- Was anyone ever hurt?
- Almost.

But then, we never did it again.

Hey, don't you think Flippy
should have the same chance?

I'm really sorry, man.

Hey, don't overdo it, huh?

Okay! Okay!

You owe me one, amigo.

Come on, let's go call your mom.

Listen, until we see the motor
carrier section's report of the hearse,

we can't be sure what happened.

Come on. Next you're gonna tell me,
the voices Moloch heard on the tape

could have been the devil's.

Hey, I used to joke about the
devil, too. Until I met Señora Rosa.

She was this old lady
when I was growing up.

Everybody claimed
she was a witch.

One day, I was hurrying home
on my bike with a bag of potatoes,

and I accidently
almost ran her down.

She cursed after me.

And when I got home,

every potato in
that bag was black.

When was this, in
the 14th century?

All I know is everything
means something.

- What does it mean?
- It means you left the vent open.

This I can explain. But
what happened with Moloch,

that's still one
deep, dark unknown.

Hey, Nelson!

Evidence, Sarge. Evidence!

Yeah, well, this better be good!

It is.

I stopped by the motor
carrier lab this morning.

They salvaged the tape
from the hearse's tape deck.

It was intact.

What is going on here today?

Sorry, Sarge.

What are you doing, Linahan?

Taking initiative and if Harlan's
supposed friends would cooperate,

I could get these
measurements and be out of here.

Sarge, she knows someone in
a studio wardrobe department.

We can rent some costumes
for Harlan's party tonight.

- Who's next?
- Grossman.

Excuse me for interrupting,
but Elvira wanted a tour.

This is our briefing room.

Oh, I see.

Nothing special.

That is Elvira, isn't it?

Absolutely. The
mistress of the dark!

Who is Elvira?

Don't you ever watch the scary
movie show on the local channel?

She's the host.

Just some private business
between the party MC and myself.

You wouldn't be interested.

- Who's next?
- Me!

Guys are so predictable.

And now for something
less incredible.

This is the tape found
in the hearse yesterday.

You can listen
to it by yourself,

but you're not gonna hear any spooky
voices saying, "Moloch must die!"

How 'bout "Moloch must lie"?

Come on. We're
gonna see this guy.

No, he's not in the hospital,
he's right here with me.

We got every major wire
service in the galaxy outside.

Well, we're trying to rush
to create a Moloch T-shirt.

Well, it should be emblazoned in red
and it should say, now, listen to this...

Don't you even care
what's happened?

Well, of course I
do, Mickey. Hey.

We're gonna put detectives on the case.
Look, we're even gonna offer a big reward.

- Your fans have got a right to know...
- What?

Look, whatever it is, we can ride
this sucker out for another five years!

I'm not going on tour
again. I told you that!

Who said anything about tour?

The record company
called. It's dynamite.

They want us to sh**t a
promotional film tonight in the studio.

Somebody tried to k*ll me!

Hey, kid, I'm not talking gold
record, I'm not talking platinum record,

this is zirconium.

They're gonna have to make up
a new precious metal just for you.

Well, forget it! Vincent...

I'm gonna break our
contract if I have to. That's it.

Oh, yeah?

It's the old,

"I'll have to break my contract
with Vincent" routine, huh?

Unhappy? Leave Vincent.

I should've expected you to be just
like all the other stars I've created.

All right.

All right.

Consider me a grateful client.

You know, for a 19-year-old
roadhouse drummer,

from the wrong side of
Minneapolis, you've done fairly well.

This year your salary is gonna be
like a telephone number, seven digits!

All right, well, what will I tell
the press out there? Tell me that.

Play it like always.

Moloch, the rock
and roll madman.

He taunts the devil.

Devil! I'm going
to tug your tail!

That's it. That's it. They'll love
it. Hey, and don't forget our bit.

What are you waiting
for? Make me up.

By the look of things, we'll probably
have to buy tickets to see him.

Yeah, well, we're gonna see him.

This is too much.

I was thinking of
you, gentlemen.

- Have you eaten?
- We're here on business.

- We want to talk to Moloch.
- Doesn't everyone?

He's in the pool. Come on.

Do you really believe
the devil is after you?

He's jealous.
Chicks dig me more.

What does your mother
think about your act?

She thinks I'm in real estate.

- What exactly did you hear the devil say?
- Exactly...

Boogie! Boogie! Boogie!
And you can quote me.

Somebody call the ambulance!

Officer, get in
there and help him!

That is fake blood!

Yeah, it's a gag.

Oh, no. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

You think risking my
life for a stunt is funny?

Yesterday wasn't a stunt.

Yeah, well, we got the
tape from your hearse.

And I didn't hear no
voice of doom on it.

Now I'm gonna ask you the same
questions, but I want all new answers.

Listen, I want to
talk to you, but...

Can you meet me
later, in Santa Monica?

Now!

3:00, okay? 22
West Loines Avenue.

Please. I can't talk, okay?

Hey, Vincent.

Aren't these guys something?

Maybe we should sign
them up. What do you say?

I'd love it. Officers, why
don't we go to my office?

We'll have a little chat
over brunch, okay?

Some other time.

We'll see you.

Hey, Mickey.

You were wonderful. Wonderful.

It's not even Halloween
night, and it's already starting.

- Is the kid gonna be all right?
- Yeah, after major surgery.

He was given a jelly candy
laced with broken glass

for his trick-or-treat troubles.

Some sicko who hates kids?

Oh, yeah. He's a real beaut.
But he's in custody now.

Then there're the calls from the
Oakwood district where a bike g*ng

is celebrating a holiday by hijacking
the neighborhood kids' Halloween bags.

- Where we going?
- Oakwood.

To call in a favor.

Man, I can't do that!

Last year, I went trick or treating,
and nobody gave me anything.

- They all said I was too old!
- Hey, I'm not saying wear a costume.

All I'm asking you for is
to walk with the little ones.

You know, make sure everything goes
down all right. Halloween's their night.

Okay, amigo. I owe you.

Now don't start making me feel old
by saying what a good father I'd make.

I wasn't. I was thinking how
it takes a kid to talk to a kid.

Come on, we got a
date with the devil.

Look, let's go over
it one more time.

No need unless you're
thinking of changing your story.

I heard a voice on that tape!

What can I do to make
you guys believe me?

I'm scared for my life, and I
don't know who to be scared of.

- Or... Or what.
- I thought Moloch laughed at the devil.

Moloch is someone that
Vincent invented. He's not me!

And after tonight, I am
through playing with fire.

What's tonight?

Oh, the record company, they're
just jumping on the bandwagon.

They want me to film a promo
of the Devil Take Me album.

I gotta do it for Vincent.

What about him? You gave us
the impression you suspected him.

I know but...

I really do owe him everything.

I was probably just
getting paranoid because...

Well, he's been so elated
over all the... The publicity...

Yeah, and kind of laughing
all the way to the bank.

It's true.

The only thing that would help
the Devil Take Me album more is if

the devil did take me.

Believe me, I just want out.

I told him that, weeks ago.

What's Vincent's
explanation for this?

Well, he thinks it was probably
one of those protest groups

that have been picketing my
shows. They blame me for everything.

They're a bunch of nuts.

Do you know that they claim that I record
satanic messages on my songs backwards?

Right, backwards tracking. I
read about that in The Times.

- Your fans eat it up.
- Yeah, but it's total nonsense.

You ever try listening
to a cassette backwards?

Well...

This is Devil Take
Me... Backwards.

That's backwards tracking.

You can pretend you're hearing
whatever you want backwards

but what it is, is gibberish.

Moloch will die!

Moloch will die!

Moloch must die!

Moloch must die!

It was there all along.
Somehow the hearse's tape deck

must have reversed
itself while he was driving.

- The kid wasn't lying!
- Is that ever wild?

Boy, these guys
don't miss a trick.

And on the cassette of his new album,
if you play "Devil Take Me" backwards,

you will hear,
"Moloch will die."

Sarge, someone's
trying to k*ll this kid.

I'm staying out of it.

Come on, Bobby, man,
you were there with me.

I know and it's like you say.

But the whole production
number, the hearse, the red smoke,

- it could've easily been rigged.
- Very easily.

Unfortunately, we just got
the motor carrier's report

on the hearse's last remains.
They have a lot of suggestions,

but the fire wiped out
any tangible evidence.

- Can I see the report?
- No, you may not.

- Have you seen the afternoon paper?
- No.

"Devil st*lks rock star."

Nice picture of you, Frank.

Look, having the Captain
see any more of my troops

in a page-one photo
of a publicity stunt

is the next-to-last thing
I want to see happening.

What's the last?

Having somebody
really k*ll Moloch.

- Then you do...
- But the department

does not need you playing detective.
I'm gonna pass on your follow-up.

Both of you, hit the streets.

Hey, Ponch, you mind if I play
around with this on my stereo system?

I've got this new
state-of-the-art modulator.

- Who knows what's on this tape.
- You do believe me.

No, but it would make a
great article for the L.A. Rocker.

Okay.

Hi, Harlan.

How's the party going?

- Allow me.
- Thank you, darling.

Don't bother with them. They're the
ringleaders of the anti-party movement.

You got it all wrong, Harlan.

Everyone's all
psyched up for tonight.

Costumes and everything.

Our excitement is just peaking.

It is?

Well, okay, in
that case, Elvira,

meet Frank Poncherello
and Bobby Nelson.

So this is Ponch.

Well, Harlan's told me
you dance like a dream.

He did? You did?

Well, not in those words. I'll
see you guys at the party, huh?

Yeah.

And, uh, don't
disappoint me, darling.

I'm expecting a tango.

Mmm-hmm.

Don't even think of cutting in.

Trick or treat!

You all look very nice.

I'm here to see that
the candy's all right.

That's a very fine thing to do.

All right, guys, it looks good.

- Gracias.
- Thank you.

- Oh, good candy.
- This was a great one.

I like Halloween.

Okay, let's walk fast
so we can get a lot of it.

Did you get good candy?
This is my favorite holiday.

Olé.

Olé.

Hey, give them back!

Get him!

Get them!

Get him, Flippy, get him!

Okay, you agree the voice on those
tapes had to be put there on purpose?

Yeah, but the thing...

All right, man, just pull over here
and just hear me out, all right?

Just hear me through.

Moloch told us he's been
planning on giving up his act, right?

- So where does that leave Vincent?
- Out one hot meal ticket.

But on the other hand,
just because Moloch told us,

doesn't mean we gotta believe
him. These guys live to hype albums.

Look, I've been considering
the possibility you're right.

Why can't you consider the
possibility you could be wrong?

Are you listening to me?

Yeah, that's Flippy.

- All right, okay, you're okay.
- Help me.

Easy, son, easy.

Let's go, son.

You all right?

Now, I owe you two.

- Yes, Flippy. All right, you did it!
- There he is.

No, man, we're even.

I got it, Ponch. You were worth
the price of admission today.

You know, Bobby, you run hot
and cold on me. You know that?

Believe me,

you rescuing that kid
knocks out any thoughts

I have about you being
wrong on the Moloch case.

Thanks for the compliment.

Hey, Ponch! You
want to really freak?

I found another phrase
on the album cassette!

- What? What is it?
- Hold on,

- first you have to hear how I did it...
- Grossie, what is it?

Relax, I'm gonna get to it.

So, I put it up on my home
system, right, playing it backwards,

and hooked up this R-25
oscillating modulator...

- Grossie! Bottom line. What is it?
- Hey,

this is no ordinary modulator.

This is pro equipment.

It handles all different
frequencies and speeds.

I paid almost 300 bucks for it.

- I might have gotten it cheaper if...
- Grossie, what did you hear?

Okay, okay. So I'm
playing it backwards, right?

Now all albums are
recorded at 33.3 RPM.

So I started playing around
with the speed. I tried 40, 50.

Then 60, I started
getting a signal.

I fine-tune.

66.6.

Bingo! 666, get it?

Well, dig this.

For those people into the
occult, 666 is the devil's number!

Boy, these guys really
know how to tease their fans.

This kind of hidden hokum
really helps 'em sell albums.

- What did you hear?
- What did I hear?

I made a dub. So I could bring
it to you. Listen for yourself.

Moloch is dead
with his fiery breath!

Moloch is dead
with his fiery breath!

- Fiery breath?
- I knew you'd freak.

It fits! Hot Dog,
you put it best.

Vincent is out one meal
ticket without Moloch.

What better way to
cash in on the album

than to let the devil give
Moloch the final curtain?

Right! And the last thing
he was gonna do as Moloch,

was the film on "Devil Take Me."

Yeah, and that song ends
with him breathing fire.

Come on. Let's go
before Moloch is dead.

- Hey, guys, you forgot your lunch.
- Help yourself.

Great publicity stunt!

- Careful with that stuff.
- You're telling me.

I'm being squeaky careful.

I'm just gonna add
two, count 'em, drops.

That's enough to
make it ignite, isn't it?

Why go for the overkill?

The camera's gonna be in
close-up when you breathe fire.

One drop will do.

Believe me, kid.

The last thing I want is
an accidental expl*si*n.

I know how nervous
you are about tonight.

Thanks, Vincent.

Let's just get this
thing over with tonight.

I don't care if I ever
hear of Moloch again.

Yeah, me, too.

We'll go on to bigger and
better things but Moloch's fans

will always remember this flick.

All right, gentlemen,
standby to roll.

Could we have Moloch in
the first position, please?

Okay, trouper, let's get it all
in one beautiful take. All right?

Camera one. Track left.

More, more, that's fine.

Standby.

Handheld, give me picture.

Full frame.

Good.

Ready, lights.

Ready, effects.

Camera two, let me see you wide.

Camera two, let me see you wide.

That's it, no more.

Okay.

Ready playback.

Counting down...

In five, four, three, two...

They're in there.
That's Vincent's car.

It's locked. Let's
go around the back.

That's the night bell.

You expecting anyone?

No.

They're refusing us entry.

And they can see us.

I think we better let them in.

No, no, keep
rolling! Keep rolling!

- Now what do we do?
- Let's bust it down.

Live and learn, Hot Dog.

You gotta
understand, Mickey, I...

I created an album that would
sell for years, maybe forever.

Millions of kids would've
worn out their records,

backwards, and forwards.

Forwards and backwards
listening for all the devil's clues.

Best of all, you.

A star who would never leave me.

Partner, when you're
right, you're right.

Come on, come on.

Come on, Grossie,
come on. All right!

Five seconds, it's the best yet!

Everything fit okay?

Yeah, everything but the belt.

Who's your friend, and
why isn't he in costume?

I am. I came as someone
I've been dreaming to be.

Myself, Mickey Nordhagen.

Mmm.

Frank,

I better say this before
it gets too difficult to say.

When you're right, you're right.

My partner said the same thing.

Great minds think
alike, General.

Darling, you didn't
think I'd forget you?

It takes two to tango.

No.