Original subtitles

You know, I still can't believe that you made this trip all this way just to

launch a book.

Not a book, Father, your book.

The publisher says spare no expense, so who am I to disagree?

Just the editor, I think so. Who doesn't argue with the publisher.

Come on, how many times are you going to be the subject of a bestseller?

Oh, once is enough, thanks.

Arthur's gone to a lot of trouble to make sure the book got the right send

Is that the real reason you made this trip?

No, it was an excuse.

The truth is, I wanted to see the subject of the book with my own eyes.

Father McMurtry is really worth the trip.

Father, be honest.

Have you read it?

Well, to be perfectly honest, I've only scanned it, but I have read the article.

Hey, did that showdown with the deputies really happen?

It wasn't quite a showdown. The law was on our side. He must have been.

Not the Lord, ma 'am. The law. Oh.

Thank you, Father.

Thank you for coming.

Why on earth did you?

I've never been to a book launching.

Well? Your telephone's disconnected.

Yes, I know.

Well, I wanted to tell you that I have finished the project model.

Let's try this. It's a week ahead of schedule. That really gives us a lot of

time to work up a really good presentation.

Oh, the crisis comes.

Oh, yes, of course.

I'm sorry.

What's the matter?

I'm feeling a very unchristian urge now to tell somebody.

Who?

The next man in a $400 suit who grabs him by the arm and says, right on.

Now, don't be a snob.

You know that the rich have to try harder.

Well, I think you're right on that point.

Well, I laughed again.

What's the matter?

Well, the bishop sent for me yesterday, and I have been transferred.

I want to buy a gun.

Well, you sure came to the right place.

Anything in particular?

Hunting target? That one.

Oh, this?

Right. Oh, nice.

Very nice.

It comes apart, sir. Easy story.

Unfortunately, this is the last one that I've got in stock.

And I don't have a case for it. Just put it in a bag and give me a box of

cartridges. All right, sir.

Well, let's see. The whole thing will come to $79 .50.

All right.

You've got some change coming.

They want me out of this ghetto so bad, Mrs. Gordon.

Miss. All the television interviews and the book now and all the trouble

downtown.

It's not very obliging.

But they don't blame you for that.

I don't know what the bishop's thinking. I only know the result.

I've lost the best chance that I have to touch these people.

There's still plenty that you can do. The project.

Look, I'm going to be there. I promise.

And I don't mean in spirit.

You've got to trust me.

All right?

Good. Father. I wonder if we can help us just a moment.

Fred, why don't you come over here.

Harry, can you get some light on him?

Father, tell us about this book.

Well, as far as I can tell, it's a fairly accurate report of me.

I think it's been glamorized a little bit here and there.

I thought so.

Would you mind? You had enough of God's gentle tiger today.

How have you been, Father? Well, if you didn't already know, you wouldn't have

called.

They asked your opinion, I suppose?

They did.

I argued against the transfer as hard as I could.

I don't doubt it. Thanks.

What did they say?

solutions versus long. In the long term, your work with the people in that

neighborhood is valuable, essential.

They saw that. But, face it, you're a magnet for legitimate complaints and for

madmen.

Maybe you've stopped four riots from happening.

Maybe because of the emotions you release, ten riots have happened.

I've always been willing to take that chance, but believe it or not, I'm not

bishop.

Is there anything I can do?

Yes.

You can help me get retransferred after a decent interval.

I'd say 24 hours would be a decent interval.

Now, would you please light and have some coffee? No, thanks. I'd better go

acquainted with my new church.

Oh, Mark, by the way, I've tasted your coffee.

Well, it's factual.

Well, I think people are tired of being light.

Anything unusual?

Very quietly.

We've come to the lake. This is the family from Pittsburgh.

And a woman named Marla Gordon. An architect. Identified herself as a

Where's Ed Brown?

Up there.

His two aunts from Boston, Nora and Kathleen, don't stop him.

I've never seen him before, so you better check him out.

Can I see some identification, please?

Sorry, it's orders.

Your name is Samuel Patrick Cavanaugh?

And it is.

Any reason for being here?

Conducting an old friend's funeral at the request of his uncle.

This card, that's Sergeant?

Detective Sergeant.

Thanks. See where promotion's going to lead you?

Sorry to hold you up, sir.

Father.

Hey, Sergeant Brown.

You want to hear something wild?

Father Cavillow?

Good to meet you, Father.

I'm Hugh O 'Flynn, Denny's uncle. How do you do?

I'm very grateful you could make the trip, Father. I'm honored that you asked

me. Well, to tell you the truth, the way I get it, out of all his friends, you

were the only one in the same line of work.

Oh, uh, the rest of the family's a little old -fashioned. That's the reason

the wait.

I mean, I thought they'd be a little more comfortable.

He seemed late to rest in a familiar way.

God knows his life is a mystery to him.

I understand. I think it was a good idea.

Here's Father Cavanaugh.

Mrs. McMurtry.

Here's his father, Tom.

Mr. McMurtry. And Denny's brother, Tom Jr.

Oh, my God. Now, Mrs. McMurtry, I'm not going to tell you to stop crying.

When you feel up to it, I'd like to talk about Denny.

I'm looking forward to that, so hurry it up a little.

We were classmates, believe it or not. Oh.

No, I didn't age very fast. I was older to begin with.

Come on and sit down and talk to me.

I remember the first time Denny walked into my room. He kept staring at me.

I guess he was trying to figure out what one of the fathers was doing at his

father's death.

Miss

Gordon,

my name is Ironside.

I'm a police officer.

Are you responsible for that human barricade out there?

I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

It was necessary.

Who are you trying to keep out?

Surely the murderer won't turn up here.

We're very anxious to find whoever is guilty.

Well, it shouldn't be too difficult if you look in the right places.

Where are the right places?

Well, isn't it obvious? He was the thorn in the side of the system and he had to

be eliminated.

You and he were working on a low cost.

Housing project, if I'm not mistaken.

Have you had a bug on my studio, Chief Ironside?

He mentioned the project to me.

Wasn't he planning to present your plan at the Urban Crisis Conference?

He told you that?

I was asked to conduct a seminar on church and police cooperation.

Well, I'm sure that that's one seminar that Father Danny was planning to miss.

It was his idea.

Did he ever mention anyone in particular who was strongly, perhaps

irrationally opposed to this housing plan of yours?

He had the usual crank phone calls. I had some myself.

The classiest of which could be characterized as obscene.

Anonymous?

Oh, naturally.

And then there were other calls from the more colorful members of the lunatic

fringe.

It's the first time that I've ever been threatened with crucifixion. Sounds like

you need an unlisted phone.

I don't have a telephone.

I pulled it out when they called me about Denny.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

And even if you won't.

Miss Gordon.

Father Denny was a good friend.

Now, perhaps you'd better have your phone fixed. You and I might have more

say to each other.

Just can't seem to get it to my head.

Priests and politics.

Now, maybe in your country... Now, you knew him a long time before he became a

priest. You knew what sort of a man he was going to become.

He was a bulldog. He was stubborn, contentious.

That's the kind of a priest he was.

You can be very proud of him, Tom.

You should be.

Now, Mr. O 'Flynn, what kind of a wake do you call this? There's not a bottle

sight in our kitchen to drink of it.

I was just waiting for you to drop the general hint, Father.

Consider it dropped.

We'll all have a drink to Daddy's memory.

We'll each remember one time that he made us laugh, and then maybe we'll be

to put it in the ground.

Chief Ironside?

I'm Father Cavanaugh.

Father.

Are you on the case or a friend?

Both.

Are there any leads?

Nothing has taken shape yet.

Give me a shot with a .22.

So I understand.

Sounds like an amateur.

Well, whoever he is, he doesn't have an amateur after him.

Thank you.

Is it Mark Sanger?

What? Father and Sergeant Brown.

Father?

Sergeant Brown tells me you've spent some time on the San Diego police force.

Nine years.

You can rest easy. I'm catching the 10 o 'clock flight out in the morning.

He who believes in me, even if he die, shall live.

And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Those of us who knew him and loved him would agree that there are a lot of

things that Denny McMurtry wouldn't sit still for.

And I'm sure that one of them would be a very long eulogy.

He was always very impatient.

Still and all, when I was having trouble with my books, Because I'd been away

from the classroom for so long, he shared some of his few precious hours of

freedom with me.

I got a chance to study him along with theology and Latin and canon law.

And what I saw in him, I tried to imitate.

I still do.

O God, who gave to your servant Dennis by his sacerdotal office a share in the

priesthood of the apostles, grant we implore that he may also be one of their

company forever in heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

The Redeemer was my church before Father McMurtry replaced me.

I was happy there, but getting tired, I... I live at the

retreat now, thin child.

I shan't walk from here.

There's something wrong, Father.

I never knew him, you see.

He was a name of faith on television.

I wish I had known him better.

Father.

Cavanaugh. I want you to hear my confession.

Don't you have a confessor at the retreat?

Oh, yes, of course I do, but it has to be... You said you were his friend.

I was.

All right, Father.

Bless me, Father.

For I have sinned.

Last week when I was told of Father McMurtry's transfer, I found myself with

time on my hands.

There was no question of packing, really.

I'd been ready to leave for a long time now, but there were some loose ends, I

guess you'd call it, in the form of people.

Some of those we'd lost through the years, parishioners who'd fallen away

the church. I decided to use the time in...

Visiting them and being of use to them if I could, I made a series of calls

in that area.

Then I called on this person.

This person wanted to confess.

There and then, I listened to the confession.

It's under the seal, so there's very little more I can say about it, of

It was an outpouring of such guilt and hatred, the like of which I had not

before in all my years as a priest.

I listened.

I granted absolution for the thoughts, but I could do nothing more.

Nothing beyond the mechanical.

Nothing to really help this person.

I searched within myself for strength to deal with it.

But I could not find it.

Isn't it possible all this person wanted was a hearing? A few words?

I deceived myself into thinking that.

But when Father McMurtry was killed, I saw that my sin of omission was part of

the cause.

How?

It's under seal, Father.

It's under seal.

So is what you're telling me now?

Yes.

And you feel that your sin of omission was grave enough to require absolution?

It's penance that I'm seeking, Father. Without penance, there is no absolution.

Father Miles, there is no penance that I could give you that would come close to

what you're suffering now.

But I'm an old -fashioned priest, Father.

Would you consider releasing me from the seal if I asked you to?

I don't approve of that sort of thing. Of course, I know it's done, but I'd

to think about it.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning. May I call you before I get on the plane?

Yes, of course.

Father, please.

Make an act of contrition. Say ten Our Fathers and ten Hail Marys.

Nothing more.

Father, the penance is up to me.

Oh, my God.

I am heartily sorry for having offended thee.

Dribble. Lays it off to Hodges in the corner.

Hodges double -teamed. Looks for the open man.

Dribbles along the end line. Finds Marsh outside.

Marsh clear. Passes up the 25 -footer. Hits Monaghan at the foul line. Yes, I'm

going to be checking out at 8 o 'clock tomorrow morning, so if you can have my

bill ready, please.

Fine. Thank you.

Hodges picks him up on defense there.

Batterson is over to help.

I'm glad you found me.

I've been thinking about you.

I want to help you.

Please, let me help.

Father Miles!

Father Miles!

Father Miles!

What's happened?

What have you done?

news headline.

Two more Catholic priests have been shot to death less than 72 hours after the

murder of self -styled people's priest Dennis McMurtry. The bodies of Father

John Miles and Father Adam Wendell were discovered late last night on the back

lawn of St. Dominic's retreat home.

Police have indicated the victims were both shot with a .22 rifle.

The early morning farm news.

The index of prices slipped in the month ending July 15th, the Agriculture

Department reports.

Lower prices for cattle.

Wheat were only partly offset by higher prices for hogs and soybean.

Don't tell me.

Your Father McMurtry's replacement.

No, I'm not. I was his friend.

I knew Father Miles as well.

And what do you think of that business?

Looks like they've switched from shooting policemen for a while.

Probably think priests are an easier target.

Well, what can I do for you?

Well, I'm looking for the name of a parishioner, I should say an ex

-parishioner, who talked to Father Miles a few days before the murder.

You from the diocese or what?

Well, not from this diocese.

Well, I don't know what you think I'd be able to tell you. I'm the sacristan.

I'm always in the dark.

Me and Father Miles didn't pass more than eight words a day between us in the

last ten years.

Hostile.

I guess I started it because I was the older, or elder.

Anyway, I kept out of his business.

God rest his soul, he did his best to keep out of mine.

That's too bad.

Sacristin can be a great help to a parish priest.

Sometimes he catches things about people the priest is too busy to notice.

Well, now, priests are getting a little smarter, ain't they?

For example, if we were to go through the parish registry, I bet you could

out the people who used to be close to Father Miles who don't attend Mass

anymore regularly.

The dropouts? And you'd win.

Shall we find out just for fun?

Father Cavanaugh.

Sergeant Ed Brown. Yes, we met at the wake. That's right. I thought you'd be

your way back to San Diego by this time.

Yeah, so did I.

Did you forget something inside?

No, I was talking to the sacristan.

If you're thinking of asking him any questions, he doesn't know anything.

About what, Bob?

The priest killer. What else?

Father Cavanaugh.

I wonder if you'd mind...

coming along with me. I have a feeling Chief Ironside could use a little

spiritual consultation right about now.

All right.

I'll lead the way.

Yes.

You're on to something.

And for years I thought I had a poker face.

few on technicalities, do I?

You're as aware as I am that you're interfering with a homicide

There are technicalities and technicalities. Will you cite me one

you to withhold evidence?

If I were a lawyer and you asked me about a client... Privileged

The seal of confession?

You mean the killer confessed to you?

I didn't say that.

Father, you've just proved my point.

You're not only in the way, you're dangerous to the investigation and to

yourself. I can't say this. I don't believe the killer is aware of me.

He doesn't seem to be too selective in his choice of victims as long as they're

wearing the collar.

Those three priests weren't killed at random.

They were killed for a specific reason.

Of course, if I were to challenge that theory, you'd retreat into a clerical

crouch.

No, that's based on nothing I know. Just my gut hunch.

Look, gut hunches arrive in my desk by the bushel in every morning's mail. Now

go home to San Diego and write me a letter. I promise you I'll read it.

Father, go home.

I can't.

I wish I could.

Look, you don't have all the people on this case that you'd like. I never knew

chief that did.

If I turn up anything, I'm not going to keep it to myself. I'm retired from the

force, and I'm not having any second thoughts.

It's just that I'm in a position to follow certain leads. Leads you can't

me.

Chief, can I?

How can I?

I take it you're not armed.

Clean as a plucked turkey.

But you're not planning to outrun any .22 caliber cartridges?

Not planning on getting near any.

But you do change plans a lot, don't you?

I won't take any risk that's not calculated.

Bully for you.

Ed, we can put a tail on him.

He better be good. And if he was that good, you could make better use of him

elsewhere. Sarge, you are something else.

Sarge? Yep. That's what they call him in San Diego. It was in the paper

yesterday.

You are retired.

Guaranteed.

Now, what do you think?

I think you just found yourself a dandy justification for staying in town

between the seal of confession and the idea that you've got a personal stake in

this case.

I also think there's a part of you that will never retire from the force, that

way down deep you're having the time of your life.

That must sound a little familiar.

What do you want, my blessing?

I don't expect it, but I wouldn't turn it down.

I'll ignore you for a little while. Settle for that.

Great.

Well, I'd better get with him. Good luck.

At least.

Ed, if there's the shadow of a link, I want to find it. Now, I'd like you to

get... Complete biographies on the three priests, right.

I don't see what else I could have done.

So who's arguing?

I am.

People are like the Mounties, aren't you? Mrs. Kiley.

I'm not Mrs. Anybody anymore.

I told Father Miles that.

You've been following the news lately?

I've been following an all -night waitress job to keep a child in nursery

school. I was just about to go to sleep.

Anything else?

Father Miles has been killed.

Who by?

Maybe by somebody he called on last week.

What am I supposed to gather from that?

Do you think I did it?

I just wondered if you'd noticed anything.

He came and did a ten -minute monologue on how I should return to religion.

I already looked at him the whole time he was here.

Why not?

He made me nervous.

You, too.

Anything else?

No.

Nothing else, thank you.

Listen.

I'll save it for this drink.

I wouldn't say Father Miles was the antithesis of Father McMurtry, but they

politically far apart.

Father Wendell?

Straight A's in college, a friendly neighborhood priest. That's about it.

Mark? There's nothing about Father McMurtry you already know. Lower middle

background, award for leadership.

Doesn't mention the Red Strike or the peace marches, but that book probably

covers all of it.

Chief, Father Miles has a sister living near Sonuita, Arizona.

Schoolteacher, maiden lady.

Named Harriet Miles.

Anything else?

Nothing here.

Three men of different ages.

Different outlooks.

Otherwise, nothing in common, except they were Roman Catholic priests.

And that's why they were killed.

Sarge was wrong.

When Father McMurtry was transferred out of the ghetto, he replaced Father Miles

in his parish. He'd only been there one day before he was murdered.

That ties two of them together.

Right now, all it ties them to are six or eight other unsolved murders.

Thank you for your time, Mr. LaPlante. Why are you rushing off to? Are you

afraid to hear the truth? No, not at all. Yes, you are afraid.

We've discovered peace, and that unsettles you fellows, doesn't it? Look,

very happy for you. Try it. Just try it.

Tonight. When you're alone, when you're not so self -conscious.

I'm afraid I would always feel a trifle self -conscious chanting hymns to the

ancient gods of Egypt.

Besides which, a priest has this tendency to believe he's never quite

Good luck to you.

Church number one was Father Miles' church until he was transferred. He was

fixture there, had been for years.

Now, let A represent Father Miles.

Now, suppose...

Suppose he was the target from the beginning.

Father Miles?

The killer came there expecting to find him, but Father Miles had already gone

to church number two, the retreat home.

And Father McMurtry had already taken his place.

Conjecture. The lighting was dim. The killer didn't know of the change. He had

no reason to suspect that he wouldn't find Father Miles in his accustomed

Then he shot Father McMurtry by mistake.

Take it a step further.

He learned where Father Miles had gone.

He went there.

He killed him. What about Father Wendell or Letter C?

He saw the killer.

Okay, then we concentrate on Father Miles because that's where the original

motive stems from.

Maybe.

I think...

We've moved over to where Sarge has been all along.

Now try Harriet Miles. Try Sonoita, Arizona.

Mr. Vurtel?

Vincent Vurtel.

And you?

I'm Father Cavanaugh. Ah, Father Cavanaugh.

Could you stand a drink of pure spring water?

Oh, I sure could. You look like you could.

Have a seat.

Thank you.

Help yourself.

Thank you.

It's better than champagne when you're thirsty.

Would you characterize yourself as a big champagne drinker, Father?

Just a figure of speech.

I suppose you were thinking of sacramental wine.

I suppose maybe I was.

And to what may we attribute the purpose of your visit here today?

Curiosity.

Duty.

Were you acquainted with Father Miles?

I met him very briefly.

When I heard of his death, I was surprised to discover that there was no

profound sense of loss.

How are you affected, Father?

Are you a student of human nature, Mr. Vittal?

I suppose.

I was shocked and I was troubled. He seemed to feel his work at the Redeemer

left unfinished.

The Redeemer.

Interesting architecture.

I haven't been there for years.

Have you seen Father Miles recently?

I ran into him last year. I promised to break bread with him sometime, but

commerce intervened.

And you hadn't seen him since then?

No.

Poor old man.

I take it you're not a churchgoer?

No, not in the formal sense.

I don't regard myself as having left the church, but rather the reverse.

Yes, many say that and believe it.

Aren't we smug this afternoon?

Yes, I suppose we are. I'm sorry.

Chalk it up to fatigue.

Well, thank you for your time.

And your spring water.

My pleasure.

Are you looking for his killer, Father?

I'm looking for the reason, as much as the man.

I hope you catch him soon.

I'm anxious to test my reaction to him.

And Father Miles did touch you, didn't he?

Yes, as time and other thoughts allow.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Can you find out why, operator? It's very important that I reach Miss Miles.

Her phone's been temporarily disconnected.

Yes, yes, I'll hold. Thank you.

Nice voice.

Doesn't mean a thing. She could be somebody's grandmother.

Sergeant Brown, the local operator said Miss Miles closed up her house shortly

after being notified of her brother's death.

Okay, well, uh, thank you for trying.

So what did Granny have to say?

Harriet, Miles is gone.

Nobody knows where.

Maybe she wanted to be alone with her grief.

Doesn't help us.

Well, there was a slim chance she'd known of someone with a grudge against

brother. Having killed three times, the man could have developed a taste for it.

Well, I thought we were assuming that he had a motive for killing Father Miles.

Yes, but a motive that could have been the invention of a sick mind.

Then we'd better find him before his sick mind invents reason for killing

others.

and when you'd show up.

I said they got to send somebody.

I mean, it's getting to the point where they just got to.

Ma 'am, are you sure I'm the right person?

He hates me, which is something that I've learned to just let kind of roll

my back.

But hate is one thing and spite is another.

And that's spite.

If it don't end, one of us is going to have to leave.

And I pay the rent.

Ma 'am, do you have a parish priest?

I don't know. I don't think so. I'm not a Catholic.

But my son and this fight that he has. Ma 'am, I wish I had the time to go over

it with you.

Time? What else you got time for? You're a priest, aren't you? I'm a priest.

Well, then listen, please.

All right.

from the National Commander.

The wheel is turning and the day approaches.

Hold yourselves in readiness.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

If all our links were as strong as the Bay Area... Look to the front!

If all our links were as strong as the Bay Area chapter...

This beloved nation would have nothing to fear from the forces of Asiatic

Sovietism and racial confusion which now propel her toward her moment of

maximum peril.

All right, Basher.

Dismiss the men.

Dismissed.

See you next week. You better bone up your own rules yourself.

Yeah, well, we'll get those raw recruits in shape. You'll see. See that you do.

Yes?

We must talk now, Mr. Davis.

What? I've come to a decision.

I've decided to sever my connection with this organization.

Yeah, well, good.

I was just about to cashier you anyway.

You're six weeks behind on your dues.

So as soon as that little matter is cleared up, this organization would be

delighted to take you off of its books.

The trouble with fascism is that there's no room left for individual thought.

Yeah, well, the trouble with democracy is it allows out -and -out lunatics like

you to run around loose in the streets.

What gives you the impression I'm an out -and -out lunatic, Mr. Davis?

That look.

I know your kind.

Your resignation has been accepted with pleasure.

Now, why don't you get out of here? I got work to do.

Laboratory work?

What's it to you?

I'm interested in that aspect of your personality.

Well, just disinterest yourself on the double, mister.

I want you to sell it to me.

I'll just bet you do.

Now, that concerns confidential high echelon business.

Of an organization of which you are no longer a member. I need you to sell it

me. It's time my needs were considered.

Get out. Go on, get out. This organization no longer meets my needs.

You're anachronistic.

Anti -Semitism.

White supremacy. You're back in the Middle Ages. You're spiritually

All you've done is stumble upon a concept.

The concept of purification. And that's good. That's valid.

Purification.

As in the day's gone by.

The time has come to bribe the money changers from the temple. This time

in creepy robes, but they are money changers all the same.

You make me sick.

Anybody who has no concern for the clergy ought to be in Russia.

You're a fool.

Don't you know the difference between anti -clericalism and atheism?

I love the church.

And when the thing you love is made unclean, what must you do?

I've told you twice to get out.

Sell it to me.

No way.

There is a way.

looking for steve vishniak so is his wife the landlord he's missing

more than a week now was there some kind of trouble you know these athletic

types they they start running to fat and then they take it out on their nearest

and dearest he went on a bat came home long enough to be poor miss black and

blue chase the kids up the pole go ahead see the back of him you made me jump if

you happen to know where his family went to

My guess is they went home to Mama, her mama, in Florida.

But do you happen to know her maiden name?

Sorry.

Thank you.

Is this all?

Unless you want arsenic from sex offenders.

Save them from the birthday. This is what you understand. Officer Billings.

Yes, he's right here.

Can you patch Sergeant Brown, please?

Thank you.

Ed? Where are you?

On my way. Father Miles' sister's in town.

She's taking his body back to the family home in Canton.

Did you get in touch with her? Where is she? Right here.

It's a privilege of you.

No, thank you.

Miss Miles, can you shed any light on the matter?

I really don't know.

I'm still in a state of shock.

Yes, I know. I wish this could wait.

When I was notified, my first feeling was not one of grief.

That came later.

I was frightened.

Of what?

Violence.

I used to live in Los Angeles.

There was always a threat hanging over the city.

Cars crashing on the freeways.

Fires out of control in the hills.

I ran.

I hid in Arizona.

And then it reached out to me.

And there was no place to hide.

Your brother's death.

Even before.

In his last letter, I received it the day before he was...

Before his death.

I could feel it all closing in on me.

And on him.

Did the letter give you any indication that his life had been threatened?

No, no, nothing like that. It was... It was the weariness, the

fatigue in that letter.

Did it have something to do with his being a priest?

Was he troubled by one of his parishioners, perhaps?

Well, something like that. He mentioned that some of

the people in his parish were the most devout.

Had bigoted him.

Hateful views.

Did he stick to generalities?

After all, you were some distance away and you didn't know any of his

parishioners. Or did he mention one case in particular?

A man.

He didn't name him.

A man who confessed to him, I suppose.

There were no specifics, you understand.

A man with a dreadful problem.

Torn between love and hatred towards the church itself.

He said the man told him that... What

did he tell him?

The church could only be saved by destroying the people.

Purified. Miss Miles, are you all right?

That's what frightened you, isn't it? It's why you left Arizona without

anyone where you could be reached.

I was so scared.

I was afraid that if I told anybody about that letter, somehow...

I would become a target myself.

I know that was foolish.

Who'd want to hurt a Spencer school teacher?

Who'd want to kill a priest?

Will it help you find him?

It might.

Now that we have some idea of the state of his mind.

A devout man who hates the priesthood.

You people have all been advised to your rights.

If you want your lawyers down here, there'll be plenty of time to make phone

calls.

The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we'll be through.

Thank you, Doctor.

Uh,

sorry, pal, nobody in. I want to see Chief Ironside. I know, but he's very

and I can't let you in there now. Hey, so, good to see you. Hello, Mark. Hey,

it's okay.

Chief's down in the squad room. Thank you.

Anything new turn up?

Not yet.

In here.

Sit down.

Sit down.

You look tired.

I don't know why. I just blew two whole hours on sleep.

Have any declassified information for us?

Just dropped in for a friendly tete -a -tete.

Well, I would like to check through your DMV files. I'm looking for a maiden

name. We haven't got time to blindfold the file, clerk.

Seems like you've missed some sack time, too.

As would people assume.

The truth is, he's always like this. It's a quirk. I get impatient with

who avoid capture and just struggle against it.

Does this round up any help?

Not so far.

But that's because I haven't done any questioning of the people yet, so we're

quite finished.

That file?

Be our guest.

Thanks, Chief.

Uh, wait.

We have come up with a theory.

to confess some terrible intention to Father Miles the night before the

transfer. Why would he do that?

He's unstable emotionally and mentally unbalanced.

Yeah? Next day, he regretted what he'd told the priest. It was perhaps

incriminating. It left him exposed to his imaginary enemy.

So he waited all day until he was sure there was no one else in the church.

Then he came in.

He killed the priest.

Wrong priest, as it turned out.

Then he had to kill the right priest.

And a witness.

I can't even say hot or cold.

You don't have to.

You could have saved both of us a lot of trouble if you hadn't been a priest.

Chief, they're waiting for you down the hall.

brings in the next bunch.

Maybe we can get out of here before midnight.

Chief?

Could be something.

Ward and Bailey went out to bring in this Harrison Davis.

Found him dead, apparently killed with this.

Which one was Davis?

Cross -filed under neo -fascism and advocate of violent overthrow.

That's what I call references.

Had himself an arsenal in his garage. That's where they found him.

Killed within the past 18 hours.

Found this in his hand.

It might have belonged to the assailant.

Or Davis might have been trying to scare off a vampire.

Belonged to the assailant.

I went right past... Yesterday. I talked to him yesterday. He was wearing...

Probably not without tipping him off. I wish I could argue with you.

Why don't you do the next best thing?

Some of those little fragmented bits of evidence that so often break a case wide

open, like a name, an address, or a description.

Yes, of course.

Vincent...

in this place could become

Sketches of a church. Oh, a chapel.

See, I think these are meant to be doors.

He's made a rough sketch here. This other one's more detailed.

Apparently he's interested in how to get in and out of the place.

Well,

it's not monastic, but most churches today are.

That'd be a very big place.

Anything here?

Possible.

That's the cabinet that Del broke into.

Took it from that rat.

Now, look over here.

Davis was a busy little boy.

Armory on one side, chemistry lab on the other.

Hey, Chief, didn't the rundown say that he owned a drugstore?

Yeah.

Yeah, and?

I'll check his chemical invoices for the last year or so.

The bomber, maybe?

You were too fast for me, Father.

Gertel comes in here to steal something from Davis.

It's not for a weapon. He's got that .22.

What does he want?

Something bigger.

Why?

Bigger target?

Nothing like a building.

Nothing like a church.

Yes.

I don't see him as the type.

I'm sorry.

No, no, no, no. We might as well finish.

Right now I'm in the...

He's changed his M .O.

The rifle to the crowbar.

Could be a dozen reasons for that.

What I don't think he's changed is his basic activity with killing people.

I think people with turned around collar.

How would he blow up a building?

The church must be saved by destroying the people in it. What?

Father Miles wrote a letter to his sister after hearing one of his

say those words.

That was the springboard to my theory. I know we can't go into yours.

But what Father Miles quoted is what I was saying.

I know, Father.

I know.

I was agreed.

He's us.

You better grab him while you can.

If he is after a bigger target.

It's in terms of number, not size.

There's a lot of priests.

Only one church.

All at one time.

That's it.

Well, I really don't expect many of you to like it. But I do.

I think.

I'm sure after you've explained it to all of us on Thursday, I'll like it even

more. And I'll know why.

Do you have someplace you can store it? Yes, I think so.

All right. Thank you.

Is there anything else I can do for you?

Believe what you find, then.

You'll do.

This way.

Ed?

Yes.

What?

Excuse me.

I'll say that again.

The diocesan office.

They've got ground plans on all of the churches and with the contracts.

Just occurred to me that there can't be that many three -aisle churches in San

Francisco. I'll let you know.

Now then.

Now then what?

I came here to ask you just one question. Have you made any progress?

Are you asking me as a citizen and a taxpayer or just to satisfy your

Oh, pick whichever you like. I just want an answer.

I hate to call another murder progress, but I think we're closer.

Is that your standard tranquilizer for citizens and taxpayers?

No wonder that they throw rocks at patrol cars.

You are overwrought. I am.

You're also non -germane. I'm sure you're familiar with that phrase.

And you're not helping Miss Gordon.

That's true.

And that's the trouble. I feel so helpless.

I depended on Danny more than I wanted to believe. And I'm so afraid that when

the time comes to talk about that Pueblo project and...

He's not there to fend off the objections. I'll just freeze.

The conference?

Yes, I just dropped off the model today.

Where? St.

Augustine Seminary.

Congratulations. You just became a footnote.

Chief, I was just going to call you.

We got lucky.

There's only one three -aisle church in town.

The chapel at St. Augustine Seminary.

And as any fool knows, that's the chapel at St. Augustine Seminary.

I'd like you to come back to the station and sit down with a sketch artist so we

can get a composite drawing of Viertel.

Why come back now?

So we can give it to the officers at the crisis conference tomorrow.

There'll be a hundred priests attending.

Unless I can talk the archbishop into postponing. Not a chance, Bobby.

Your Excellency, I'm afraid I haven't made myself clear. The man has not only

made threats, he's carried them out.

Is he what you people call a...

Dead bang?

You'd swear this Viertel is the one Father Myers was talking about?

I have no proof yet, just strong suspicion.

Well, that would usually be enough for me, but not this time.

This conference is overdue as it is. Five years overdue, if you ask me. Not

I'm always asked.

Now, we've planned it for months.

A lot of delegates are halfway here already.

I'm not asking you to cancel it.

I'm just asking you to postpone it until Viertel is in custody.

Well, with all due respect, that could take months.

We can't afford to wait.

We need ideas.

Lack of new ideas helped get young McMurtry killed.

Vincent Viertel helped even more.

Then God have mercy on him. But we can't wait.

Bobby, I'm saying mass there myself.

In person.

You know what a scaredy cat I am.

Now stop worrying.

The day you start worrying is the day I will stop.

It is all right with you if I have the chapel checked and put under

surveillance. Now would I presume to tell you your job?

A long nose, a short nose, broken, pugged, what kind?

Oh, I'd say he had a short nose, rather square face, thick black hair.

Whoa, don't get ahead of me.

I got to do this one ward at a time. Just stick with this nose, okay?

All right, a short nose.

Something like that?

That's close.

Next time I go looking for a killer, I'm going to take a camera.

Now that the Archbishop said no, what's plan B?

Same as plan A.

Find out what your teller's going to do and keep him from doing it.

Where's this conference taking place?

St. Augustine Seminary.

You know the place?

Yeah, lots of trees there. They're just right for a sniper.

He'd need something high -powered, and maybe the teller's got excited.

Well, he took something a lot smaller than that.

How about plastic explosives? Maybe he's going to dig another leaf like you and

him. Mark, that rack wasn't set up for plastic containers. It was padded to

something fragile.

Well, that's it.

Entrances and exits.

Okay.

Two exits.

Main entrance.

Now, what else did I forget?

Just the fact that I haven't finished cleaning up yet.

He isn't there.

I ran a fingerprint check. Bertel has no previous record. We're waiting to hear

from Washington.

We have the prints from Bertel's room.

Also those from Davis's door and cabinet and that piece of pipe.

And a map.

Was there any doubt?

Well, the Archbishop had more than his share. The conference will take place

tomorrow as scheduled. You were right, Sarge.

I called my bishop in San Diego and got the odds against it being called off.

And I convinced him that nailing a priest killer took precedence over

a senior boy's hygiene class.

Hey, you should have taken the sergeant with you to see the archbishop. He talks

their language.

He's the only one who's seen Virgil.

This composite sketch isn't going to be much use.

Just a way out of St. Augustine. Oh, yeah.

But it's only the chapel and seminar rooms.

Who made the drawing?

I did. You forgot the windows.

But they are not indicated on the plan.

Mark, we're going to have to know every possible way of getting in there if

we're going to keep Viertel out.

You know, maybe we're too late.

Maybe Viertel's already been and gone.

Maybe he's left a nice little surprise package in there for the opening of the

conference tomorrow. Good thinking.

We could call the bomb squad and have them go over every inch of the place.

Sarge, forget it. The chief already called.

At least I know I'm bolding in the right alley.

Officer. Please be careful of the altar.

Monsignor, I don't suppose there's a burglar alarm on the premises.

No, Father, the seminary doesn't expect to be robbed.

There are valuables here.

Those altar candlesticks, for instance.

Twelve -century Spanish, aren't they? Yes, but forgive me for saying so, goods

like that would not be very easy to spend.

That's what I thought.

So, no locks, no alarms.

People would be free to walk right in off the street.

Not only free, but welcome.

We're not cloistered here, Chief Ironside.

It'll be a lot easier for all of us if you were.

Not a thing outside.

Had any signs that anyone's been on the roof lately? Nope.

Not even a TV repairman. The place is clean.

What about inside?

They're going over it the second time. I don't expect them to find anything. For

which I'm very grateful. Don't be.

If they found a bomb, they could get rid of it. This way we have to wait for the

suspect to make his move.

But with police officers guarding all the doors and windows... Every

will be taken.

But may I remind you that most assassinations take place in spite of

precautions. Yes, I see what you mean.

But this conference is so important.

We do want it to come off without any sort of trouble.

We'll do our best, Monsignor Alvarez.

I'm sure.

Please excuse me. I have some last -minute details to attend to. Nice

you. Same to you, Father.

He's only the conference coordinator. You didn't have to scare the pants off

him. I tried to scare the archbishop, but he scared me.

Ed, see if they're about finished up there.

All right.

Tell them to check the light control panel.

All right.

Good spot for a contact ignition device.

The lights go down, the roof goes off.

Chief, that was the first thing they checked.

Some priest suggested it.

Some priest, indeed.

Still glad to be bowling in the right alley.

Then this schedule will remain in effect? No last -minute changes?

I'm sure of that.

So that the only time all of the priests will be together is at the noon mass?

Yes. After that, they break up into seminars.

The suspect will make his move early and fast.

Assuming he knows the schedule.

Monsignor, he knows it.

Say a couple of prayers?

I will, Father.

You were at the wake. That's right.

But not the funeral.

Well, I tried to make myself go, but at the last minute... I guess I thought

that if I didn't actually see him buried, that some part of my mind could

believing that it was a gigantic hoax.

You're over that now?

Long since.

Are you taking part in the conference?

Well, I'm supposed to present a housing project that Danny and I worked on. Oh,

you're the architect.

That's very good. You didn't say lady architect.

Chief Ironside thinks that the killer will show up here today, doesn't he?

Well, I suppose he's planning on keeping a tight surveillance.

If they catch him, they'll take him alive, won't they?

Of course, if they can.

That trouble to you?

I'm cursed with an imagination.

And I see the case stretching on for months and years.

And I see Denny's enemies hiring the best psychiatrists and the best lawyers,

and I see them living forever.

What's the alternative?

Rack was retired a long time ago.

You know, when I think of all the times that I've been on the other side of this

conversation, my mind...

You're not behaving so much like a mourning friend as you are a bereaved

I've seen it before. There's a lot of charisma attached to that collar.

You make it sound like a schoolgirl crush. I didn't mean to.

I don't doubt that it was possible for you to love him very much.

I don't doubt that you did.

Well, at least you're more perceptive about that than he was.

Do you have any suggestions?

Just keep loving him.

And his enemies?

Nobody expects it.

Well, that's good news.

You can try.

Did you ever go through anything like this?

Yes.

My wife was killed.

myself for being alive and i went on from there

i've got to go now i'll see you later inside

we

found these orders among the others sent out through davis's prescription

department

It struck me that some of those chemicals aren't ordinarily found in the

drugstore.

I should hope not.

These are the components of a do -it -yourself bomb kit.

Davis was moonlighting from his garage for the radical right. Ed picked up a

hint that it wasn't all explosives, which led me to wonder about that last

Well, this is fantastic.

I didn't think any reputable company would fill such an order.

I'm not sure he sent it to a reputable company. We'll check that out after you

tell me if that's what I think it is.

Well, it's the basis for a sort of nerve gas developed by the army.

It's a prototype of more refined variations.

Lethal?

In solution, a single drop of it could paralyze a bull elephant.

As a gas, it would be deadly.

How much would it take to kill a roomful of people, say a hundred?

Until released, it's highly concentrated.

I would say a relatively small amount would be needed.

As much say as a jigger of bourbon. How might it be released?

Well, that's the trouble.

This stuff is so valuable, there's no end of ways.

Oh, Sergeant.

Have they found anything yet?

I, uh, hope so.

Excuse me.

Johnny!

It's okay.

Main air conditioning unit?

Yeah, guys.

Check it out.

That's the last groove.

If you toss anything in there, we don't bother.

Entire ventilation system.

We might fire them the day before. We've got to be sure this is some kind of

gas.

Johnny, I'm not sure of anything except that it's getting late. Did you check

the heating unit?

Who's going to throw the heat the day like this?

You've got to have a meeting.

Crazy.

Yeah, well, I'll check it out.

Johnny? Nope.

He was held by juvenile authorities in 1953 for attempting to drown a little

girl in a swimming pool.

That's pretty.

Did he get psychiatric treatment?

The court recommended it.

But Viertel's mother took him out of the court's jurisdiction as soon as the

charges were dropped. She enrolled him in a Catholic school. In his first year,

he struck one of the nuns with a blackboard pointer.

Why? The reports don't say.

That's the trouble with reports.

Are you suggesting you might have had a good and proper reason for doing it? The

woman lost the sight of her left eye.

I'm suggesting that a sick mind always has good and valid reasons. It doesn't

have a balance.

That's very generous of you.

Chief, just because a maniac makes war on the church is no excuse for the

to make war back.

It's impractical anyway. We haven't had the firepower since the 16th century.

Maybe the seminary was hasty. The one that asked him to leave.

How long did he study for the priesthood?

A year.

And then what?

The same.

The violence erupted.

Ironside.

Yes? All right, keep it up. Comb the garbage dumps in the refuse plants.

Anything remotely connected with toxic gas.

When I send them on junkyard patrol, they know I've scraped bottom.

Well, it's time for me to be getting over there.

Chief, whatever there was to be done, you've done.

I've never seen it done better.

Thanks.

But it doesn't seem to help.

No, never does.

I'll see you.

Man, finally find a place to sleep.

People come in and throw dead rats in the place.

I mean, I got a right to a place to sleep like anybody else.

I don't know what things are coming to.

Just take a look at that.

Boy, people in this world that do things like this, look at them blankets, would

you? Where am I going to get new blankets?

What is it? Poison gas?

All right, all right.

I will say this once.

The Archbishop is serving this Mass, and he is a far less tolerant man than I am

when it comes to undignified noises and conversation in ranks.

Let them who have ears and want to keep them hear.

All right?

All right, now you go on the other side and you sit here.

You found dead what?

Patch me through to Ed Brown. I'll be in the van.

King Thou art Lord of Heaven

Thou to whom we sing God

the mighty Thou hast come Bearing gifts

of grace Son of God

Jesus.

You see your mom later, you tell her not to let you play any handball for a

while, all right?

All right.

Yeah, I'll see you.

I talked to the Archbishop.

You know, he called you Bobby.

You can do the same when you're the Archbishop.

I've got some good news for you. I'm going home.

When? As soon as I turn the car in and check out of the motel.

I know you'll catch him.

Well, if we do, you'll have helped.

That was the idea.

Goodbye.

Ed, so long, Sides.

Stay with him.

Or, uh, try to.

I'm not surprised, Chief. The way I've been expecting it.

I don't know this town very well.

I'll give the directions, Father.

I have no misapprehension on that score.

Chief? You were right.

He's heading away from his hotel.

Think he's picked you up yet?

Not yet. I'm leaving plenty of slack.

We really interfered with your plans this time, Vincent. This time?

It's a beautifully thought -out plan, too.

The individual killings were only necessary to make it work.

What you were really after were those hundred priests.

To begin with?

Oh, you are a man of major ambitions.

I don't think you're qualified to discuss me.

What are you anyway?

Somebody from the floor?

Vincent, you're a snob.

Take another look.

Not in the least, just... Collective in my companionship.

Why hitch a ride with me?

We won't be together long.

Hey, Keith.

He's got a passenger.

All right.

Just turn south on Albemarle.

All right, don't close up.

Some other units?

No. No, not yet.

The whole thing is a deliberate misreading of scripture.

What whole thing? The priesthood. The middlemen.

The ones who tell you, don't try to talk to God without us.

You think you'd be entirely fair lumping us all together like that?

You're all afflicted with the same vanity, no matter how you begin.

Incense, purple robe. You find those things distasteful. I find them sinful.

You do have a concept of sin.

Means that you must have a definition of morality.

I find that consistent with my behavior. I said make a right.

Sir.

Anyway, we were talking about your concept of morality.

Never mind.

You don't have the slightest regard or interest in me as a human being. You're

only trying to draw me out. To take my mind off what I'm going to do.

Or am I wrong?

Yes, you're wrong.

But I'd be a fool not to worry. You've already killed three men with that .22.

I am, however, interested in what you've got to say. Why?

Well, if for no other reason than to keep me from dwelling on my death.

Well, at least you're more honest than the others.

Thank you for that.

Which way here? Straight.

Chief, they're staying on Marina Drive. It becomes a service road in about a

mile or so.

There's hardly any traffic.

Stay with them until there are no more turn -offs.

Then wait for me.

He's got the peninsula coming up, and the marina's on the right. Either way,

we're going to have to rush it.

Ed.

Ed, take a chance.

Move up a tiny bit, enough for Sergeant to see it.

Okay.

The head we've got is an ex -cop.

about priests.

Does it open nuns as well?

Well, I see you've done your homework.

I don't feel the slightest regret about that.

Not the slightest.

I didn't ask you if you were sorry.

Stop here and get out.

Vincent, I'm looking in the rearview mirror.

You see that?

I see it. Get out. Get out.

That's an unmarked police car.

Offhand, I'd say he could cover the distance between us in less than 30

That doesn't help.

The point is that the policeman in that car is just waiting to be sure.

Of what?

That I'm dead or safe.

Either way, it's not going to help you. Then what do you suggest?

I don't surrender.

He doesn't know how to be killed.

Yet you also hope, doesn't it?

On the whole...

retiring, harmless creatures.

We're talking about you, Vince. Huh?

He can't wait much longer.

Why didn't he come?

He will.

I'll use you as a shield.

I won't buy you much time.

Besides, I won't let you.

You won't.

You won't.

They don't run the church.

They simply serve it as I do.

And what did your nun do? Did she crack you over the knuckles with her ruler?

No.

Compelled me to kneel for two solid hours on a sharp -edged wooden platform

front of the whole class.

I had to crease across my knees for the next day.

I was a child. I didn't know where the orders came from.

I took it out on her.

Instead of the priest who was in charge of the school.

To begin with.

I'm trying to save both of us, man.

He said I was an honest man. I'm not lying to you now. Oh, they'll put me in

bottle. They'll study me for the rest of my life.

And maybe help. I don't think you're beyond help.

So I'm going to go back there and tell them that you're thinking it over.

You take one step, you're a dead man.

Vincent. I mean it.

Never come see me.

He'll come and see you, Vincent.

He will.

Come on, Vincent.

Come on now.

That's fine. That's fine.

It's all right.