All language subtitles for Ironside s04e12 The Laying On of Hands

As Pablo Esteban will touch ye so that
ye may be whole again.

Well, there's nothing unusual about
this, Frank.

We average three or four faith healers
in town just about every year.

Now, what is it that you want?

I want you to close him down before he
does any harm.

We can't close him down as long as he
gets all the necessary permits, obeys

city ordinances, and...

violates no laws, he has as much right
to be here as you and I.

Oh, how do you know he's done all those
things?

We're checking on it right now. I put a
member of my staff on it as soon as I

got your call. Oh, come on, Bob. You
don't really believe in people like

do you? If you're asking me if I believe
in miracles, the answer is no.

I just haven't seen any for which there
hasn't been a sound scientific

explanation. Sorry, Chief, took longer
than I expected.

That's all right.

Thank you. Remember Sergeant Brown? Oh,
Sergeant. Mr. Wickham.

Oh, yes. Your wife was paralyzed in a
car accident about the same time the

was shot.

We convalesced in the same hospital and
we remain good friends.

The difference is that you're realistic
about your condition.

And Jeannie isn't.

She keeps hoping for the impossible.

No two conditions are exactly alike.

The doctor says the odds are 100 to 1
against her ever walking again.

But there is that one chance.

That's what keeps causing her so much
anguish.

She keeps building up her hopes.

Every time a charlatan shows up like
this divinity tabernacle thing.

What did you find out, Ed? Only that
they seem to be strictly on the up and

No record of violating any laws or
ordinances in any city they've been in.

They've applied for and been granted all
the required permits.

I still say they should be closed down.

I'm sorry.

Listen, Bob.

A year ago, she read about another faith
healer.

She insisted that we go see him.

And when he called for all of those that
believed in his power to heal to rise

up and come to him, Janie forced herself
out of that chair, tried to walk.

She fell.

He was in the hospital for three weeks.
I think that would have destroyed her

faith and...

This kind of thing? No, she just blames
herself.

She thinks she hasn't enough faith.

And now she wants to go see this one.

There is just nothing I can do about it.
Yes, there is.

You could be there tonight.

What good would that do?

She looked up to you when you were both
in the hospital.

She'll listen to you.

Frank.

I can't tell her to stop hoping. But
when she's disappointed again, you can

pick up the pieces.

Please.

I need you.

Not exactly the classiest neighborhood
for a revival meeting. Oh, I don't know

about that. To stand living around here,
you've got to have faith.

What we have so far, Divinity
Tabernacle, looks like a pretty small

It hasn't been around long enough to
develop any kind of valuable following

Ironside. Chief Robert Ironside.
Speaking.

I have your party. Go ahead.

Hello? Hello, Chief?

Chief, thanks for calling.

I'm just checking up on you.

It's a fine thing.

I haven't been gone 24 hours and you're
already living it up. What are you, out

on the town?

Not exactly.

How's your father?

Oh, the doctors say it's not quite as
serious as they first thought.

But I'm glad I'm here anyway.

Mother needs somebody to lean on.

That's much better.

Well, I'm sure everything will be all
right.

Now, Eve, don't worry about getting
back. Stay as long as you want.

Thank you, Chief. But what's been
happening?

Chief, tell us. Nothing.

Usual routine.

You're in the van.

They had to put the call through the
mobile operator.

Oh, we're just checking out something.

Pocket.

Both of them, Chief.

I just know I'm missing something.

No, no, you're not. Believe me now.

You just forget about us and work. And
concentrate on helping your father get

well again.

All right, Chief.

And thank you for giving me the time
off.

Nonsense. Stay as long as you feel you
have to.

Good night, Chief.

Chief. Good night, Eve.

Oh, Eve.

I want to talk to you.

Good night, Eve.

Hey, is that the place we're looking
for?

Wouldn't be anything else but.

I'm sorry, senor.

Don't be sorry.

Here.

Gracias, senor.

On behalf of Pablo Esteban, I welcome
all of you to our gathering. Those who

came seeking help and those who are
merely curious.

While we wait, why don't we all relax by
singing Happy Days Are Here Again.

Happy days are here again.

The skies are clear and blue again.

Let us sing a song of cheer again.

Happy days are here again.

Why aren't you singing?

Ted, you've heard me sing.

And now,

without further ado, for I know that
your prayers have been spoken already,

that it is the answer to them that you
seek here.

It is time for Pablo Esteban.

But before I bring him out to pass among
you for the laying on of hands, let me

tell you a little about him. For I want
you to be under no illusions about

Pablo's extraordinary powers.

He is no Superman.

He is no mythical otherworld creature.

He is just a simple, ordinary human
being, even as you and I.

He first discovered his miraculous
healing powers quite by accident.

when by the laying on of his hands, he
cured a dying child in the tiny Mexican

village where he was born and had lived
all his life.

When my colleague, Mr. Wade, and I heard
about Pablo's God -given powers, we

persuaded him to come to the United
States, and we formed the non -profit

Divinity Tabernacle Foundation.

Every penny of money collected at our
meetings, with the exception of

of course, goes into a fund for the
building of a free clinic in Pablo's

village. Now, let me make one thing
abundantly clear.

He is not infallible.

Some of you who have come here tonight
for help will not be helped because your

belief is not strong enough.

Others who have true and unquestioning
faith in his powers will indeed find the

solace. Or the cure that you seek.

Perhaps not immediately, but in due
time. Very neat.

No false claims it could take him to
court.

Those in pain and peril, I give you
Pablo Esteban.

As you can see, Pablo is only 14 years
old.

His mother...

Mrs. Esteban gave her permission for him
to make this tour and she travels with

him. Pablo himself does not understand
his own miraculous powers.

He only knows that he has been chosen as
an instrument of the Lord and that he

sometimes has the power to heal.

He will pass among you now for the
laying on of hands. Please don't crowd

He will touch each of you who seeks his
ministration.

Help me.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Oh, Jeannie, no.

Talk to everyone who has helped.

You mean you don't think Mrs. Wickham
was really... I mean, I'll meet you at

van.

I see. What about the two men running
the show?

Uh -huh.

All right, Joe.

Thanks a lot.

Couldn't be more legit.

Corporate entity, chartered earlier this
year, headquarters in New York,

established to raise funds and provide
facilities for the crippled, the aged,

and the infirm.

What about the two men in charge, Connor
and Wade?

Apparently only up and up.

At least they've never been in any kind
of trouble with the law.

And the boy?

Just what they said he was. Born and
raised in a little Mexican village,

credited with healing a couple of
incurables.

And the word spread.

Well, what did you find out?

Well, for openers, I visited Jeannie
Wickham's doctor.

With her permission, of course.

He couldn't give me a definitive
explanation for what happened. What do

mean? He's treated her ever since the
accident. All that time I watched her in

the hospital, she couldn't move her legs
one bit.

There's no doubt she was paralyzed then.

Sometimes a healing process may start to
take place without the doctor or the

patient even being aware of it.
Sometimes they're even cured without

And what keeps them immobile is a sort
of hysterical paralysis.

At least that's the way the doctor
explained it to me.

I know all that, Ed. In other words,
what you're saying is that she may have

regained her ability to walk some time
ago.

Maybe yes, maybe no. The doctor couldn't
be sure.

The only thing he was sure of was that
it might never have happened if her

belief in the boy hadn't triggered it.

That and seeing the man with the
paralyzed arm healed right in front of

eyes. What about him?

You follow that up, find out anything
about his cure?

No, sir, I'm sorry. I couldn't reach him
last night.

When I got to the place where he'd been
sitting, he was gone.

Well, the others, then, did you talk to
any of them? Yes, and their doctors.

Same answer in every case.

All the ailments were medically curable,
but sometimes faith is stronger than

medicine in effecting the cure.

Well, at least you prove one thing. The
boy's doing some good and no harm.

Chief, if he could help Mrs. Wickham and
those other people, Isn't it just

possible that maybe he could help you?
Don't get carried away, Ed.

We've been all over my situation. Now,
wouldn't you say it was hopeless?

The doctor said it was hopeless for Mrs.
Wickham. No, he didn't.

He said there was one chance in a
hundred.

For her, that one chance came through.

So, what do we do now? Close the book on
it?

No.

We don't close the book. Not yet.

Look, Chief, I know some people don't
dig this sort of thing, but if other

people do, and are helped by it, why
spoil it for them?

I don't intend to, if that's all there
is to it. But you said you weren't... I

said I wasn't closing the book.

Not yet.

Not until I've had a talk with the boy.

Yeah, that sounds fine for Los Angeles.

Now, what about San Diego?

Now, three nights should be plenty.

But not way on the outskirts of town.
Keeps too many people away.

Yes.

That's right.

Just be sure you get all the necessary
clarifications.

Fine.

Call me tomorrow, same time.

Yes, sir. What can I do for you? I'm
looking for the boy healer, Pablo. I

to talk to him.

Oh, I'm sorry. I wish I could oblige
you, but the boy's already got a very

schedule, and we don't like to ask too
much of him.

After all, he is very young, and so many
people make demands on his time and

services. I should understand.

Couldn't you make an exception this
time?

You see, it's my uncle.

He's been paralyzed for several years
now, and he just about reconciled

to never walking again.

But then last night we came to your
meeting.

He saw what the boy accomplished, all
those people he was able to help, and...

Well, I thought maybe... Yes?

I was wondering if he ever granted
private audiences to individuals.

Occasionally, yes, but only to benefit
the Foundation.

I hate to sound mercenary, but as you
know, we're committed to raising funds

build a hospital in the boys' native
village, and every penny we take in goes

for that purpose. We hope to start
building one later the next year.

If it's only money, I'm sure my uncle
would be happy to make a contribution to

the Foundation.

All I'm asking is one afternoon of the
boys' time.

And... He wouldn't have to go very far.
My uncle has a suite in the Ridgely

Towers. It's just across town.

Very well.

Perhaps this is one of those cases where
a private audience should be granted.

Thank you. I can't tell you how much
this will mean to him. I'll arrange for

Pablo and his mother to be there this
afternoon.

That won't be necessary. I'll call for
them and bring them back.

Here's my card.

Fine.

They're at the Dunsmore Hotel.

I'm sure they won't mind when I explain
to them.

Thank you again.

You understand we make no promises. Of
course.

Goodbye. Goodbye, Mr. Brown.

Good luck.

Oh, excuse me.

Who was that?

Name's Ed Brown.

Has a crippled uncle who wants a private
audience with a kid.

How much?

I didn't push it.

Oh, no, tell the boy's mother to get him
ready.

Yeah, I'm picking him up this afternoon.

Afternoon, Mark. Mr. Brown.

Mrs. Esteban, this is my uncle.

Señora. And this is Mr. Sanger, his
medical attendant.

Buenos dias.

And this is Pablo.

Pablo, won't you sit down?

Mrs. Esteban.

Remember me?

Si, senor.

You are the man who caught the soccer
ball.

No, I didn't mean that.

Do you remember me from inside?

What is there to remember, senor?

When you passed me in the aisle, you
didn't touch me the way you touch so

of the others.

Why was that?

I did not touch you, senor, because I
did not think you wanted me to.

Can you tell when people want you to
touch them?

It is in their eyes, senor.

Well, Mrs. Esteban, how are you enjoying
your tour of the United States?

It is a very big country, senor.

We come from a little village.

Do I detect a note of homesickness?

Oui, mes affreins, senor.

Tell me, what made you decide to bring
Pablo to the States for this tour?

The hospital, senor.

Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade, they hear of
what Pablito has done. The laying on of

the hands.

And they come to our village. They talk
to the friends and neighbors.

They promise that we will have much
money.

That soon we will build a big fine
hospital to serve all the villagers. If

Pablito will just come with them for a
few months.

Has there been much money coming in?

Oh, si, senor.

Every day, Mr. Carter, Mr. Wade, they
say soon we will have enough.

Mark, Ed, why don't you take Mrs.
Esteban into the kitchen for a cup of

Yes, sir.

What?

You were...

Write about me, Pablo.

I'm not sure that I believe.

But supposing I told you that I wanted
to believe.

Then you should pray, senor.

But I have prayed, Pablo.

Doctors say my case is probably
hopeless.

The doctors are good men, senor, but
they cannot work miracles.

Only he can.

Like the miracles you perform at the
tabernacle?

It is not I, senor.

It is him.

Pablo, have Mr.

Carter and Mr.

Wade ever instructed you on what you're
to say or do at those meetings?

No, senor.

Now, what have they told you?

Nothing, senor, except to touch the
people who wish me to touch them.

Have you ever seen any of those people
before?

No, senor.

The money that's collected at each
meeting, do you know what becomes of it?

Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade, they take care
of it.

How do you and your mother live? Who
pays the bills?

Mr. Carter and Mr.

Wade, they are very generous.

What about pocket money?

Pocket money? Yes, money to buy ice
cream.

Ride buses.

See a movie.

Oh, no, senor. It is not allowed.

How do you spend your spare time?

In hotel rooms, senor.

I watch television all little life.

Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade, they think it
is best if I do not appear in public

except at the tabernacle. The food
you've been eating, all hotel food?

I'm suddenly very hungry.

And what I want more than anything else
at this moment is a hot dog with all the

trimmings. Now, how would you like to
join me?

Is it possible?

It's not only possible, it's essential.

And you know the very best place in all
the world to buy a hot dog?

At a baseball game.

Now, any boy who plays soccer as well as
you do must like baseball.

I have only seen it on the television.

We in our village...

do not have a baseball team, so I do not
understand it very well.

Then it's time you did.

We'd better hurry, or we'll miss Willie
Mays' first time up at bat.

call a two -base hit.

Three bases is a triple, and four bases
is... You know, at home run, and it is

our side that is winning, yes?

Yes, it's our side that's winning.

means the ball was over the plate, but
the batter didn't take a swing at it.

Three strikes and the man's out.

He's learning that.

I don't think it was the jumbo hot dog
that got to me, or the popcorn, or...

peanuts or the ice cream cones.

I think it was the triple cheeseburgers
and the milkshakes we stopped for after

the game.

Chief, I do believe you're losing your
cool.

If you don't give me something to settle
my stomach fast, I may lose a lot more

than my cool. Oh, but it was for such a
good cause. Now drink it all down in one

big swallow.

Thank you, Dr. Sanger.

The kid had a ball and so did the chief.

Well, that takes care of us. What have
you been up to?

Doing more research on the Divinity
Tabernacle Foundation, like you told me

And? I take it that you're pretty
convinced at this point that Carter and

have been exploiting the boy.

Let's put it this way.

No man with that boy's best interest at
heart would keep him locked in a hotel

room all day without time to have a
little fun for himself.

Now, what did you find out about them?

Still clean as a whistle, at least on
the surface.

I'm not interested in the surface. I'm
interested in what's under it. Any

termites? Depends on your definition of
a termite.

Termites are little bugs that eat big
buildings. Any bugs eating the Divinity

Tabernacle Foundation?

There just might be.

Nothing conclusive, you understand.

Or incriminating.

According to the statement they filed
when they got their license, the monies

collected by the foundation for
charitable purposes go into a bank

New York City.

So? So, as of this morning, there was
less than $1 ,200 in that account.

Well, that's crazy. They've been touring
all summer. They must have made

thousands of dollars.

Exactly. Which means that its managers
are pocketing much money.

Probably.

On the basis of a perfectly legitimate
contract with the foundation that

guarantees them large salaries every
week over and above running expenses.

It's the same as fraud and deceit.

Practically speaking, yes. Legally,
you'd have to get a court decision on

What would happen to Pablo if you took
them to court on it?

If his managers are accused of swindling
the public by using Pablo as their

shill, they could claim it was his
mother's idea, that they were just

for her.

Well, who'd buy anything like that?

Nobody, probably.

But the boy would still be involved in a
messy situation involving the juvenile

authorities and lots of ugly publicity.

You really think they'd play that dirty?

To save their necks? Yes, I think so. I
think they'd at least try.

So, what do we do without Lousinger
Pablo?

Maybe we can run a little bluff.

Have you got a list of all the
appearances he's made on his way across

country? Yeah, right here.

They've had to file some kind of an
accounting.

See if you can get an idea of how much
they take in.

We'll check the figures they declare
with our estimates based on tonight as a

sample.

If there's a big discrepancy between the
two sets of figures, I might be able to

get them to make a deal.

I'm more interested in seeing that boy
protected if they come through with the

money than in prosecuting a couple of
small -time con men.

All right.

What about the boy and his mother?

Tonight, just try and keep an eye on the
collection.

We'll need a pretty good guess, Ed, for
us to have something to go on.

On my way.

Chief, I sure hope it works.

I'd hate to see that kid get hurt.

That's exactly what we're trying to
prevent.

Pablito! It is time to clean up.

Please, Mama.

When will we go home?

You know when. When we have enough money
for the hospital.

At least cannot we stay in San Francisco
a little longer? My friend, he promised

to take me to another baseball game if
we stay.

It is impossible without permission from
Mr. Carter and Mr. Wade.

Then I will ask their permission.

Surely one day or two days extra cannot
make too much difference.

What do you mean the guy turned up
drunk?

You promised us a new guy each night.

That's what we paid you for.

Look, the kid will never know the
difference, so why not just use me

Can't use you again. The kid's no fool.

If we ever used the same man twice, he'd
know we were pulling in a ringer on

him. Oh, you're just going to have to do
without a fake cripple for the night.

What's so terrible about that?

What's so terrible about that is that
there's no profit in it.

There's got to be one spectacular cure
each night to start the ball rolling.

Without it, they'd just sit on their
hands.

Now, you've got less than one hour to
find someone else. So it had all been a

lie. A cheat.

Oh, now, wait a minute, Pablo. You don't
understand.

Why did you let them do that?

Pablito, what is it? You let them pay
men to be cured.

Pablito!

Well, I guess I better be going.

Now, look, let's not go overboard about
this. It's all part of the business.

You've got to come on...

find out that Mr. Codge and Mr. Wade,
they use make -believe cripples for him

heal. And he thinks that I knew they
were doing this. I didn't. I swear it. I

believe you, so will Pablo.

We'll explain it to him. Would you
please tell him that I didn't know?

They really kept Pablo busy.

One night, dance clear across the
country, mostly small towns.

What do you find, Sardos?

Yeah, it's right here. It's Ed.

What is it, Ed? I'm in the Esteban's
hotel room.

Pablo's run away.

He found out his managers were sneaking
a ringer in on him every night.

His mother says he thought she was in on
it. He got all upset and took off.

We thought he might have come back here.

Tell Mrs. Esteban not to worry.

I'll put out an APB on him right away.
You scout the neighborhood.

Maybe he's just hiding somewhere until
he gets over it. But once he's told me,

he's not about to get over it that
quick.

Well, do the best you can.

Do, uh... Carter and Wade know about it.

Do his managers know?

Yes.

I'll put all bus terminals and airports
on the alert for them.

I doubt if they'll be hanging around
here much longer.

This is Ironside. I want an APB to all
units.

Runaway boy, Mexican, 14 years old.
Dressed in white cotton shirt and white

pants.

Height about five...

weighed approximately 130 pounds,
probably heading south.

His name is Pablo Esteban.

Be sure to include this.

This boy has done nothing wrong.

He is frightened and upset, and he's in
a strange country.

Handle him gently.

How far are you going, kid?

Mexico. Mexico.

Boy, you got a long way to go.

You live down there?

Si. I mean, yes. Si. Einstein.

Ain't you a little young being talking
that far?

You a wedback?

What? I said, are you a wedback?

Oh, never mind.

You got folks up here?

My mother.

Does he know you're heading for Mexico?

He does not care.

Look, kid, you running away?

I am going home.

Now I gotta stop up here to check in. Be
waiting to catch.

Yeah, well, maybe I'm sticking my neck
out, but I got a kid that age myself.

If he was running away, I'd sure like
somebody to let me know about it.

Now, Baxter Highway, just south of the
junction.

1957, five tons.

License number W60557.

Now, okay.

No, he's not Chinese. He's Mexican.

If the boy you have is Chinese, just
process him through normal channels.

Okay, thanks just the same.

Can't fit Pablo's description.

Turned out he was just on his way home
from church.

Compared to this, finding a needle in a
haystack isn't even many times.

All right, it's all right.

How long ago did the call come in?

All right, pass the word. We're on our
way.

They found him.

Could be Baxter Highway, just south of
the junkyard.

All right, Todd.

Good.

Wayne, we just picked up at the airport
with the money.

We're getting near the junction.

Just stand by.

Hey, Chief.

We've just spotted him. I'll contact you
later.

Come in.

All right, close the door, Ed.

Don't you know your mother is worried to
death?

My mother does not love me.

She loves you very much.

She didn't know what was going on any
more than you did.

Everything turned out so bad.

No, Pablo.

Sure, they... They rang in one cheap,
one phony on you

at each meeting.

But those other people you helped, what
happened to them was real.

Not a lie.

They believe in you.

You're still very young, Pablo.

There'll be time enough when you're
older to decide what you want to do with

your life, how you want to help others.

Right now, I think you should spend your
time just...

just growing up.

Am I making sense to you?

You, uh...

Do you understand?

Si, senor.

I understand you.

I want to go home.

To Mexico.

You'll go?

You and your mother?

On the very first flight we can get you
on.

Will that be before or after the
baseball game, senor?

After? After the baseball game.

Tell your neighbors not to give up hope
for that hospital in the village.

Money's been impounded, but I think
there's good chance it will be released

the purpose for which it was legally
intended.

We'd better leave if you're going to
make your plan.

Well, Pablito,

Adios, amigo.

I know you might not believe, senor, but
perhaps someday you will.

Well, then, shall we?

Chief, maybe there are such things as
miracles.

For those who believe in them, yes.

And for those who don't?

There's only hope that someday they
will.