Original subtitles

All over.

I didn't do nothing.

Why'd you run, man? I was afraid.

What's the beef?

It's nothing.

All right, beat it.

It's a roust, huh?

He was in here.

I'm going down to the division.

Okay.

Okay.

You came on a little strong, didn't you?

I thought he was someone else.

I should have busted that creep anyway. He probably just picked somebody's

pocket.

If I knew you, you'd be seeing frost on every corner.

Better watch out for yourself too, old buddy.

Yeah, I suppose.

Tired of leaving soon.

Seven years since we busted him? Eight.

Six since you resigned.

You have broken in three new partners since then.

And by the way, how's the private cop racket? I prefer to think of it as

business.

At this moment...

If things ever get going, we can work together again.

Partners? Why not?

In the meantime, I'll see what I can turn up on our friend Frost.

Come on, man, I can't afford you.

Well, thanks.

Oh, I hope you two still aren't talking business.

Yeah, yeah, I've been thinking, pleasure. There's a great jazz place

Not me, Tiger. I'll get a 9 a .m. punch. And the chief expects me to be bright

-eyed and bushy -tailed.

A couple of live ones.

All right, Jim.

Who is he?

Ross?

It's a hood I busted.

Tank robbery.

He served seven and two and got out in parole a little while ago.

Why are you so sure he wants to kill you?

Little bird told me. Who?

Jamie. Pets knit your mind.

Pretty reliable.

The word is he's got a piece all greased and loaded for me.

Do you know that's a violation of parole?

Why don't you just call his parole officer and he'll pick him up?

You really want him to try, don't you? I really wouldn't stop him.

Hey, lady.

What are you sitting so far away for?

Well, a night capture would hit the spot.

Not tonight.

I'm really tired.

You know, my partner said something about us today.

Heavy, he said.

I'm starting to believe he's right.

Jim is late.

Okay.

Did you make a plate?

Jim, I'm hit.

Try to hang on.

All right, I'm giving you something for pain.

You take one tonight before you go to bed.

Otherwise, I'm afraid you lose.

No sick leave.

Thank you, doctor.

She'll be fine.

Thank you, doctor.

Hey, some kind of cop you turned out to be.

Didn't even get a license.

I was an innocent bystander. Lucky you weren't the innocent victim.

Well, I got my left front seat.

Looks like a 38.

Any idea who?

Stan Frost.

You saw him?

He made the car?

It had to be him.

Did you put out an APB?

You know me, Chief. Strictly by the book.

Then you've mellowed in eight years.

Well, older and smarter anyway.

Come on, honey, I'll take you home.

And tomorrow you stay home.

Thanks, Chief.

I'll see how I feel.

Jim, can you prove it was wrong?

I gotta find him first.

And bring him in.

He'll come.

I'll follow through on those slugs.

What kind of small change for you, isn't it, Chief?

You figure Fran is small change?

None of my business, I guess.

But Fran's got herself a guy with the short shoes.

And fast burning.

Okay, when you hear from him again, I'll just know, will you please?

Thanks.

Ross Perot lost his head. He's been out about a month.

Saw him a few nights ago.

Seemed a little jumpy. Otherwise, no indication of any trouble.

Wouldn't he have won any?

That was $350 ,000 at stake.

The take from the bank was never recovered. Frost had two accomplices.

killed. The other man, a quad west, escaped without a trace.

But with the money?

Hey, what's going on?

Why'd you get me yanked off the case?

Morning, Jim.

You know Ed Brown.

Yeah, I know Ed Brown. Well?

Well, what?

Why'd you take me off the case? I didn't. It was your division commander.

You're telling me you didn't try to talk to him. No, but I had a call from

Internal Affairs about you.

Well, what do they want?

They may have enough already.

A string of complaints about unnecessary excessive force. Oh, come on. I was

given my badge to do a job. It's not an excuse to throw your weight around.

Not everybody on the street is a criminal, you know. Well, it's getting a

tougher to sort them out. Sometimes one of us even gets killed trying.

What am I supposed to do?

Just your job.

That doesn't include Stan Frost.

He tried to kill me. He almost got Fran.

He's out there somewhere, you know. He'll be found.

Well, I'm reassured by that, Chief.

Hey, Marshal.

Looks like that fuse is getting even shorter.

What's been listed?

Two slides game from the 38. Good grooves, bud, without the gun.

What was the name of Marshall's informant, Jamie, Jamie? Oh, yeah, small

Works the street.

Hustles where he can.

See what he's hustled lately.

See you too, Jamie.

You know I always cooperate with the police, Sergeant. All right.

So let's have it.

Where'd you pick up the rumble that boss wanted to reach Jim Marshall? Oh, maybe

here, maybe there. Come on, Jamie, give. I knew I'd tell you. Honest.

He's going after Len Parsons, too.

Marshall's old partner. That's old news, Jamie. Now, come on.

Now, those big ears of yours have definitely picked up more than that.

Well, ain't gospel.

Somebody just come out of the woodwork.

McCaud West.

We just got cruising.

Robbery had happened, I guess, an hour before there was an APB out.

We just got lucky.

Caught up on the car and went after him. Alone?

I called for backup, sure, but I mean, we were right there.

So when they cracked up and Frost got out of the car and started running, Jim

went after him. The other two?

Oh, I blew it out with them.

Nailed one, but the other one got away.

Claude West.

Yeah. Yeah, I think that was his name.

An hour between the robbery and the time he picked them up.

He'd easily have hidden the money.

Sure.

And it was never recovered.

Oh, well, that kind of money probably went straight out of the state and was

laundered. At least the government man and the insurance underwriter long since

given up on it. Maybe Stan Frost didn't. Maybe he came out of queue looking for

it. The way I heard it, he came out looking for Jim and me.

I told Jim I'd keep an eye open, but I really never expected him to try it.

Try what?

So I get right there.

As I'm knocking my office door this morning, I heard a noise at the end of

hall just as I turned. He fired. It was close.

You dug out the slug?

No. The boy's from the precinct. I took it to ballistics.

I'd guess it was a .38.

You didn't see the man?

No. By the time I got to the top of the stairs, he was gone.

It could have been Frost, but I'd hate to have to say for sure.

Thank you very much.

Sorry we took up so much of your time.

No sweat.

See ya. Be good, Len.

Whoever fired that shot was standing just about where Len says he was.

Shot at Jim, shot at Parsons.

Missed them both.

Maybe his heart wasn't it.

No, Mr. Byrne, no messages.

Okay.

Mrs.

Frost? Yes?

I'm Robert Ironside. This is Officer Sanger. Is your husband home? No, why?

is it?

We'd just like to talk to him.

Come in.

8215. No, Mr. Davis is out of town till tomorrow.

Okay, Mr. Marsh, I'll tell him that you called.

I don't know when Sam will be back. He went on a job interview.

What about last night?

Was he home then?

Yes. All evening?

Well, he went out to visit some old friends.

What time did he get home?

I don't know. I was asleep.

Mrs. Frost, did he come home at all? I don't know what difference that makes.

It's not a violation of his parole.

That depends on what he did last night.

Look, my husband made one mistake in his whole life.

He wanted to get us something better, but he paid for it. And he's still

for it. We both are. Now, why don't you just leave us alone?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Frost, but... 8215.

I'm afraid she isn't in right now. Somebody there?

Yes.

Okay, well, just listen.

I'm up against it.

I gotta leave town.

I'll get in touch with you later.

I understand.

If you could leave a number where she can reach you.

Thank you. Yes, within the hour.

Goodbye.

Please call us if you hear from your husband.

Sure.

Not very efficient of Mrs. Frost. She never wrote down the message.

You know who you'd make a good detective yet?

Around the block.

Cab number 347.

East on Flint.

Cross the center.

Moving to take over.

We're too obvious.

Miss Frost, that phone call, it was from your husband, wasn't it?

When Officer Sanger and I were at your home, your husband called.

Now, what did he say?

He was scared.

He was scared to death.

Of whom?

Look, I just... I just told them in there everything.

Tell us.

Someone, a cop, was trying to kill him. A friend told him. What friend?

I don't know.

I had to go see him.

I just couldn't let him leave like that, you know.

We only had a month.

After eight years.

Just a month.

Officer Belding will take you home, Mrs. Frost.

Ed saw her stop at a bank before she went to meet her husband.

My guess is she made a withdrawal.

Rough time?

Not a bit.

Internal Affairs gave me a vacation until this is all cleared up.

Without pay.

Mrs. Frost?

I, uh... I didn't push your husband.

See, he was gone before I could get to him.

Fran?

Later, Jim.

Sure.

I got a lot of time now.

I don't know about you, Bram, but I've logged 12 years with this badge. 12

years! Yeah, well, that's the way it is. You're exactly as good as the last

entry in your jacket.

I didn't kill Frost, you see? You were there.

Coincidence? I was tipped.

No gun on Frost.

He should have had one if he tried to blow you down last night. You're

to sound like them now.

Sergeant, just make sure you take that vacation.

One thing about being on your own time, you can do what you want with it.

Did he ask you to bring him money?

What?

Did your husband need money?

I thought he would.

And that's why he stopped at the bank?

Yes.

So why did you think he'd need it?

It was his. I saved it for him.

For us.

Where did the money come from?

I told you.

I saved it.

Ironside. It's fine.

Be right there.

Frost, huh?

Mrs. Frost, check.

There doesn't seem to be anything missing.

Somebody went to a lot of trouble for nothing.

Neighbors didn't see anyone, but there's a bedroom window that's unlatched. No

screen. I've been meaning to get that fixed.

Mrs. Frost.

Is your complete list of subscribers?

Yes. And you never had any whose last names began with W?

A few.

The W's are missing.

But it was all in order. How many W's did you have, Mrs. Frost?

Uh, four or five.

You're not sure?

No. All right, check your records.

I'd like a complete list.

Get it to me as soon as possible.

I'll do my best. Thank you. We'll be in touch.

I'll help you straighten that, Mrs. Frost.

Thank you.

Mrs. Frost is hiding something. I'd like you to get a court order and go to the

telephone company.

Run down a list of all calls she's made in the past year.

There should be some last names beginning with W.

W as in West?

W as in Right.

It's true what they say.

All good things come to he who waits at Skanell's. Hi. Hi.

Well, what happened to Mr. Uptight?

Well, I decided to take a crash course in brain.

Leave it to the experts.

Well, that calls for a celebration.

A glass of white wine, please.

You're really cutting loose.

Well, you know, I live dangerously.

Right up.

I didn't kill Frost.

Someone else was there and pushed him over.

Look, I don't want to hear about it.

Let's just cut out the world.

Let's just enjoy.

I'm with you.

Thank you very much.

Well, we've got a drink or something. What do we drink to?

Serenity.

Peace of mind.

Goodwill to mankind. I got the message.

Who set me up?

I don't know.

Honest. Jim, stop it.

Come on, talk.

West. Claude West. Where is he? I don't know. I swear. I just hear from him.

That's all.

The next time you hear from him, you better call me or I'll... I'll kill you.

Jim.

Crazy cop.

Crazy. All right, thank you, Mark.

Now, see if you can pick up Jamie.

I'd like to have a little chat with him.

Right.

Well, Mrs. Frost made fairly regular deposits.

A hundred dollars a month.

He withdrew nearly a thousand.

Paraphrase Alice, Mrs. Frost is getting curiouser and curiouser.

It's a list of her clients, beginning with W.

Four.

But I found five in her phone records. I assume I don't have to guess at the

missing name.

Shadowy Mr. Claude West.

You don't mind chasing shadows, do you, Ed?

Not as long as they have as much substance as this one.

See you later, friend.

Yeah.

Later.

Chief?

This, um, Claude West.

He could be connected with Stan Frost's death, couldn't he? Connected with

Frost, certainly.

Let's say that West got away with the money.

Suppose he made a deal to split with Frost after he got out of jail and to

guarantee the deal, send his wife $100 a month.

But he also could have been the man who phoned Jim and told him where Frost

would be.

Hoping Jim Marshall would kill him? No, no.

Setting him up.

Jim swears that's what happened.

And Jamie admitted it.

You're working independently now?

Well, I, uh... I met Jim after I left Mrs. Frost.

I had to see him.

Talk with him.

Of course you did.

He, um, interested in you?

I think so.

I'm interested in him.

I see.

Well, anyway, he spotted Jamie.

And this terrible change came over him.

He ran after him, and by the time I caught up, he was threatening to kill

Sergeant Marshall has always been a very intense young man.

Yes.

Well, I'd better get back to work. I'd suggest that, yes.

Take a look at that list.

Then ask Mrs. Frost about Claude West.

This is Robert Ironside.

I'd like to speak to Mr. Parsons, please.

Pretty good.

Bye, Chief.

Haven't lost your touch.

I'll try to keep a hand in.

Please have some friends on the department.

We can arrange once in a while.

Your own ammunition, I trust.

Sure. Down here to brush up?

No. Your secretary said I'd find you here.

Oh? Something on the Frost case? Farther back than that. The original robbery

and Claude West.

I told you everything I can remember about that.

One thing I didn't get clear.

When West escaped...

Did you recognize him right away?

No, I'd never seen him before.

As I recall, I couldn't even pick him out of the mug files.

How'd you get the make?

Frost. We sweated him a little and he broke.

But that's all. Nothing but money.

Now, he didn't even bend on that.

Thanks. Mm -hmm.

Oh!

By the way, you might want to keep your eyes open again.

What's up?

I've got a good idea. West is back.

Might want to clean up some unfinished business.

Thanks for the tip.

I do want him alive.

Don't worry about that.

Well,

I'm no Jim Marshall.

Mrs. Frost.

May I come in?

I guess so.

All right, I'm leaving town.

Is that against the law?

Where will you go?

I don't know.

I just have to get away from you, that's all.

Stan and I, we were ordinary people.

But we had something together.

We loved each other.

I guess it's all we ever really had, but it was worth everything.

It was worth waiting all those years until he could get out.

I was alone here.

And in some ways, it was just as hard for me.

I was doing his time, too.

I understand.

Mrs. Frost.

Who was Claude West?

I don't know. Well, he was one of your subscribers, wasn't he?

Why did you leave his name off the list?

Um, after Stan went to prison, this man called me. He was going to send me some

money. A hundred dollars a month.

We checked with your bank.

Well... Then, you know, he was a friend of Stan's, and he wanted to help me out

when Stan was in prison. And that's all?

Nothing in return.

He just asked me to phone him every once in a while and let him know how I was

getting along and how Stan was doing inside. Did you ever meet him?

No. But you talked with him?

Yeah.

Can you describe his voice? Kind of a monotone.

Well, he hardly spoke anyway. He just said hello, and then he'd mostly listen.

And about six months ago, he didn't even do that. He got one of his tape

machines, and I'd just leave a message.

But why leave his name off the list if he was only helping you?

I don't know.

Maybe I wanted to protect him. Maybe I just wanted to keep him out of this.

Look, if I did something wrong, I'm sorry.

But he was very kind to Stan and me.

And I'll never forget it.

Mrs. Frost, um... We may have some more questions later.

I would suggest you delay your trip.

You think she told you the truth?

I believe her.

West must have broken into her house and stolen the W -file to conceal his

identity.

Instead, he called attention to himself.

Chief Ironside's office.

Brent, tell the chief I've traced Claude West to an apartment at 9723 Willard.

All right, thank you.

Whoever you surprised here was either a pro or just plain lucky.

It really doesn't add.

Two -bit drifter winds up beaten to death.

No writing paper, just envelopes.

Ms. Frost received her $100 a month through the mail. Too bad we can't

their envelopes.

Receipt bet.

Why Mrs.

Frost's voice?

Oh, probably because it had his own on it. You know how those things work. When

you hear the tone, please leave a message.

Might even have had Mr. Frost's voice.

Wouldn't you think that as soon as he got out of jail, he'd call Wes to get

share of the bank money?

Nothing from the apartment managers.

Rent was paid by mail, money orders started six months ago.

You never saw anyone entering or leaving?

A perfect apartment manager. Hear no evil, see no evil. Sterile?

Unlived in?

Just a drop.

So, what was Jamie doing here?

Let's say he ties West into the missing 250 ,000.

He tries a shakedown.

West cons him up here, kills him.

And then I show up before he can get rid of the body.

Mr.

West is out.

At the tone, please leave a message.

All right, set up a stakeout in Amy Frost's home.

Right. And put out an APB for Jim Marshall.

I think I know a couple of his hangouts. I'll check them myself.

That fuse is burned all the way down now, Mark.

I can't get to my car.

My aunt's got to be looking for me.

Jim, you're not making any sense.

How can I make any plainer? Jamie's dead and I'm going to get nailed for it. Oh,

come on. Nobody's going to believe that... Listen, will you? You've got to

me out of town.

Jim, you just can't get me out of town. You're the only one I can trust, Lynn.

You've got to help me.

Yeah, all right, all right. I'll see what I can do.

Where can I get back to you?

I'll be at 555 -3219.

3219. Okay.

And get on it, will you?

What happened to him?

He was beaten to death.

Beaten? I put out an all points for Jim.

Then you're sure? I saw someone going down the fire escape.

I couldn't make out his face, but it could have been.

We all know that isn't conclusive, Fran, but I do have to talk to Jim.

Of course.

Well, is there anything you want me to do?

Yes. I want you to go home.

Now, when we know, you will know.

Good night. Good night.

Is she really that serious about Marshall?

When we know, you will know.

Yeah, thanks.

He isn't here, Fran.

Look, why don't you go home? There's nothing you can do now.

Hmm?

Yeah.

West. Claude West.

He realized Frost was the only man who could verify his identity.

Marshall and Parsons got the name from Frost.

Mrs. Frost?

She only spoke to him on the phone.

Right through last Sunday.

Update from the phone company.

All her calls for the last month.

She called him seven times.

And this number.

885 -0711.

Is that on the old record?

0711.

Not on this month.

Not on the month before.

The number was called almost every day since the 17th, a month ago.

Now Stan Frost was released a month ago.

Could be a new subscriber.

One way to find out.

Well, I struck out Marshall staying away from his old hangouts. It figures.

Anything new here?

Not yet.

No answer.

I'll get the name from the phone company. I don't think that will be

You're the cop.

You know better than to have a lock someone can slip so easily.

What are you doing here, Jim?

I had to see you.

Say goodbye.

What do you mean, goodbye?

You were at West's apartment, weren't you?

Yeah, I... I got a call from Jamie to meet him there.

He was going to tell me about Claude West.

Some kind of proof.

Poor little creep, he couldn't tell me anything.

So you tried to force it out of him? Oh, come on, Fran. He was dead when I got

there. Then why run, Jim?

Come with me to Chief Ironside. You think he'd believe me?

You think Internal Affairs would swallow it with my record?

It's the only way.

There's no way.

There's an all point out for you. Well, sure, that figures.

You carry a badge.

Want to turn me in?

Look, Fran, we've just got a few minutes left.

Remember what you said that night at Skanoi's?

Jim, it's a wonderful world.

Remember that, Fran?

You said it, Jim.

I got the badge.

I'll get it.

Yeah, go ahead.

Okay, we're all set.

Meet me at Pier 26A.

Why there?

I got a fishing boat lined up that'll take you out to a freighter. Next stop

Panama. That sounds okay.

Why don't you pick me up? They got an old poinsettia on me. Listen, partner,

I'll do everything I can to help you.

But if I get caught with you, my neck is out and I got a license to protect.

Yeah, okay.

I'll make it somehow.

Pier 26A.

At 26A, I got it.

Take me a half hour.

Running scared?

Just like Stan Frost.

Yeah, it's a funny switch.

Jim.

Please turn yourself in. No.

You can't stop me, Fran, unless you want to shoot me.

Guess there's still a little something left.

I'm going to call the new note.

Sure, I know you have to.

Call DMV and get a look on his car and start looking. And keep in touch.

Chief Heinz, that's the office.

Yeah.

Hold on.

It's Fran.

It's Fran.

When?

Do you know where he went?

All I heard him say was 26A.

All right, hold on, Fran.

We've lost Parsons. Or he left his office by the time the state car got

All right, what were you saying, Fran?

26A.

And something about it would take him a half an hour to get there. A half hour

from your apartment.

26A.

26A is a pier.

Embarcadero.

Whoever sent Marshall, I've had to know him well enough to be sure he'd blow.

Set up.

Planned right down to the last detail.

Last I go out to detail.

Show me your hands.

All right, out, Parsons.

Right, right here.

You hurt?

No, I'm okay.

Okay, turn around.

Okay. Right over there.

Why?

You were the only little hole in the center.

They had to plug it up.

Quite a deal, right, Parsons? When you and Frost were alone, the split...

And an imaginary Claude West to pin it on.

Yeah, I'm like that. But you got greedy.

Quarter of a million, Chief.

Was worth it.

Wasn't worth two lives.

Like I always said, partner, long hours and short pay.

Let's go.

Come on.

Tough way to crack a case, Chief.

You may get tough on yourself, Jim.

When are you going to learn?

I think I'm starting.

Jim?

Hey, is he worried about me?

I'm always worried about my friend.

Friend? Looks like I've got to make up a lot of lost ground.

Maybe we'll talk about it sometime.

Well, all good things come to he who waits at Scanelli's.