Original subtitles

Jump ball! Jump ball!

Okay, I'm going to tell you. I'm wiped out. Goodbye.

Party pooper.

Here we go. All right.

This way. This way.

Here we go, kid.

Up. Go get it.

Hold it. Hold it. Hey, Troy.

Break it up, Harry.

Break it up.

Break it up.

All right.

And no fits. Use words.

And talk about it.

Talk about it.

He pushed me.

I'm mad.

You're mad.

But you don't use your fist.

You talk about him, understand?

Look, I'm sure it was an accident.

Shake hands.

Come on.

Come on, shake hands or I'm going to break your pointed little heads.

That's good.

Juice break!

What?

That's all I got. No chance to make a plate.

You weren't exactly the sole discretion going after him unarmed. Yeah, reflex.

Reflex. Reflex?

Yeah, but why would anyone take a shot at you?

And at a kid's playground?

Someone you pulled in?

Could be, I guess. Been a jealous husband.

Not with the hours I keep here.

And, of course, you spend the rest of your time at the center.

Remedy Center for Children.

So it's more than just why you, Ed.

It's why you there.

Exactly where were you standing when the shots were fired?

Right here.

Come over to get a drink. Been here for a few seconds.

Stationary target.

Vulnerable. That sure had a bad aim.

But Ed went after him unarmed.

Another opportunity.

He didn't take it. He ran.

All right, what was going on while you stood there?

Well, Steve was settling a little scrap between two of the kids.

And, uh, then he sent him off on a juice break. Where was he?

Over by the basket.

Mark?

Where? Uh, to the right.

Whoa. About right there.

Then, uh, Steve started to walk toward me, straight toward me.

I turned around for a drink and then the shot.

Where was Steve?

Uh, whoa, right there.

Straight line from the factory to you.

Why would anybody want to shoot at him? They know about it.

Volunteer, just like me?

We'll have to do better than that.

A great bunch of kids.

Each of them has a potential.

Senator tries to find it and develop it.

You're certainly doing your share.

I'm just trying to open up a line of communication.

You've got a regular Rembrandt here.

Looks just like you.

This is what I told him.

Sorry to take so long, Chief, but this is all we could find in our records.

Thank you, Miss Weill.

Timmons, Steve Timmons, age 31.

Preference, physical education, sports, but no address and no phone.

Well, he said he was in the process of moving.

He's only been with us about two weeks.

Must have talked to someone.

Must have mentioned something about his background or what he did.

I tell you, Chief, we concentrate on the kids.

I know most of the other volunteers here only by their first names. All the time

that Ed has been with us, I never realized he was a policeman.

The children?

Volunteers? Yes. There's one of Steve.

Yeah, it could be blown up. May we borrow that for a couple of days? Of

Thank you.

Well, that seems to be about all we can do here.

Wait a minute. There's a locker downstairs.

We can check that.

Well, he let out pretty fast. Didn't even leave his sweatsuit behind.

I didn't even notice him after the shooting.

Kids were all milling around outside. We were trying to settle them down.

Well, pretty cool cat.

But with all the fireworks, wouldn't you think that he'd want to find out what

was going on?

Hey.

Wait a minute.

Beads?

Glass. Common variety.

Could be used for just about anything.

Necklaces, beadwork, keychains.

Kids do a lot of that. Thank you very much. You said the lockers were in

private. Maybe somebody else dropped them.

Negative on DMV.

No driver's license issued to a Steve Timmons.

We haven't found out if there's any police record on it. Not so far.

Downtown's still working on it.

Maybe there's a record outside of California. We'll have to spread out.

DMVs and police files from other states. Right.

Now, I keep going back to the center.

He was planning to continue his work with the children and show up.

But how?

Did he just walk in, drive up, drop out of the sky?

Ah, the bus.

What bus?

I saw him get off the bus a couple of times.

There's a stop just across the street from the center.

The center's on Water Street.

This is Chief Ironside's office. Lieutenant Brill, please.

Serviced by the E -Line. That's a start.

Not too tall. Light hair. Go on.

Yeah, a quiet time. Always a good morning.

It's a nice touch.

I mean, sit all day, shifting gears. It's nice when someone notices you're in

just machinery. Yes, sir, but where does he get on?

12th and Trenton, the way I remember. Thank you very much.

Excuse me, Father. Perhaps you could help me.

Nice to see you, Ed.

I never particularly thought of you as the spiritual type.

I can't say I ever really thought of you that way either, Steve.

Father.

Steve, fine.

Well?

Coincidence? I was looking for you.

I wouldn't have thought of you as a police officer, either.

Those shots yesterday, they were aimed at you.

Now, why would anyone want to kill you?

That's right, Ed. Why?

I'm a priest.

You never told him that at the center. Well, I generally don't mention it.

I mean, you know how people are when they see their collar, they get uptight,

put on their best Sunday go -to -meeting manners.

No address, no phone number?

Ed. It would have been a tip -off, wouldn't it?

You're not helping me.

What can I say?

Honestly, they couldn't have been shooting at me.

Let's face it, Ed, that's your world, isn't it? The shootings, the killings.

I hate to believe it, but they must have been after you.

Not this time.

Look, there's nothing more I can tell you.

Oh, these, uh... These are yours, aren't they?

Oh, yeah.

My rosary.

I broke it when I was cleaning out my locker.

I must have left him there. You left in a hurry.

Look, Ed.

I'm a man of peace.

Pretty much of a chicken.

Have you heard, Father?

You'll know as soon as I do.

See you, Ed.

Yeah. Good afternoon.

I'm Father Holt.

How do you do, sir? Ed Brown.

You're a friend of Father Timmons?

I'd like to think so.

I'm a police officer.

He's in some kind of trouble.

Oh.

I don't understand.

I don't either.

And I'd like to help.

Well, I'd like to help him, too.

He's a very fine young man.

One of our best.

I only wish he thought half as much of himself.

Something on his mind?

Well, he's very self -demanding.

But that's a parochial matter.

St. Ambrose is yours.

Thank you, sir. I'm not of the faith, but I'll try to keep it.

Please.

By any name.

Don't worry, Mr. Mulberry. We'll take good care of him.

Dad, you coming tonight?

Yeah, you know how I feel about the church stuff, Earl.

Mom will be here, and I'm sure she'd be glad to see you. Yeah, well, she knows

how to get a hold of me.

No, no thanks, Steve. We got it all taken care of. What's the occasion?

The annual bazaar.

Hey, you ought to come tonight.

Yeah, oh, you got to hear the fellas. Father Steve put the group together.

Rocked like you never heard. Out of sight, right up to heaven.

Watch it, Steve.

You're getting back religious now.

Come on, let's get this stuff up.

You already know Steve is a priest.

A police record back here. Minor bust. A student demonstration about ten years

ago. Which keyed us to his school, a seminary, then service in various

and parishes, rarely over a year at a time.

He was apparently somewhat unorthodox in his beliefs and, I'd say, rebellious.

He transferred out here to St. Ambrose a little less than a year ago.

Where he's still bucking the establishment.

Is that a fact?

Uh, no fact. Just a feeling I got from Father Holt.

It was trouble enough for somebody to take a shot at you.

Chief Ironside's office.

One moment, please.

For you, Ed, it's Miss Weil.

Thank you.

Yes, Cindy.

I'll be right there.

Got to go to the center.

Looks like we may have a lead.

We used to observe amenities around here. Coming, hello, going, goodbye.

Later.

He found it in the playground yesterday.

Now, I'm not familiar with that sort of thing, but it looks like... It most

certainly is. A slug.

Nice work, Joey.

You didn't happen to find another one just like it, did you?

He's a little upset.

He wants it back.

Sure.

Finders keepers, huh, Joey?

Absolutely right, too.

Tell you what.

I'll trade you.

I'll bring you back an absolutely guaranteed brand new one without a dent

How about a deal?

A deal.

Good.

A nine millimeter luger.

A mean weapon. Got anything in the files to match?

Maybe.

There's an open case that Central has been working on for the last couple of

months.

Yeah.

You're a hero, Ed.

You've just solved it. I do it all the time. Which one is it? Three, as a

of fact.

See, that slug matches the slugs removed from the bodies of three unsolved

homicides. Three drug pushers knocked off within the last two months.

Who's done is it?

I don't know. I don't have it.

Pardon my optimism.

Well, who is it this time?

Another pusher?

No, a priest.

Ask a silly question?

No progress at all in those cases.

Hey, man, one's not much good without the other. Just keeping my end of a

bargain. All right, thanks.

No leads on those pusher killings.

It's wild, Chief.

The same gun aimed at a priest.

Why?

Why was he a target?

And why won't he talk?

Won't or can't?

Ed, I'm sure you can dredge up a sin or two.

Perhaps we can atone for your sins at the Church Bazaar.

Ed?

I wonder why I bought that.

It was for a good cause, Chief. Hang on to it for 50 years and it'll be an

antique.

Hey, sorry I haven't had a chance to talk to you, but I just want to make

everything went off without a hitch.

This is probably going to be my last official function here. Well, it's a

successful one.

Thank you.

What's that?

Don't you know? No.

I just know it's been around for the last three bazaars. But thanks for your

contribution.

Frankly, it wasn't exactly charity that brought us here tonight, Father.

It was murder.

Murder? Three murders.

Three drug pushers in the last two months.

All shot to death.

Steve, whoever killed them is trying to kill you.

Come on, Ed, not again.

Drop it.

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Based on the sanctity of the confession.

I'm sorry. Excuse me. I've got other work to do.

Hello, Louise.

Hello, Jason.

How's everything with you?

Oh, fine, just fine.

It was a real nice affair. I'm sorry you weren't here.

You didn't really expect me, did you?

I couldn't help hoping.

Oh, Jason, do you really want to go on this way? Why don't you talk to Father

Holt? We've been through this before, Louise.

There's no point.

Hello, Dad.

Hey, well, maybe the three of us can go have some coffee or something later.

I still have work to do back at the shop. Let's get with it, huh?

Sorry, Mom.

Well, you're not leaving already, are you, Chief?

Already? We're the only ones left.

Well, we haven't had a chance for a visit.

I want to talk to you about the liaison between the police and our youth

organizations.

All right.

How about some coffee?

Here you go.

Thank you, Father.

Things any better between your mother and father?

More. As hard as a rock.

Anything else you want me to do?

Oh, it's okay. I can handle it from here.

Thanks again.

Bye, Earl. See you, Father.

Dad?

Don't start in, Earl. It's no use.

Look, Dad, it's been really rough on Mom ever since Connie... Look, Earl, you're

a good kid. If she needs you, fine. Hang around. I just got fed up.

All her churching didn't help one damn bit. I bet that's all she's got now to

hang on to.

Good night, Earl.

Good night.

I'm all right, bud.

I'm all right.

Thanks, Ed.

How much more is it going to take to make him talk?

All right, get on it first thing in the morning, Mark.

Squad reported a firebomb rigged by an electric expert or electronic

expert.

Steve, you endangered the kids at the center. Now church property. It's time

lay it on the line.

Why would anyone want to kill you?

Is that why you're leaving St. Ambrose?

How'd you know?

At the bazaar, you said, last official function.

I petition for my release.

I'm not just leaving St. Ambrose.

I'm leaving the church.

No. Look, priest or not,

I'll never break my vows.

As much as your conscience will allow, then.

You were right.

It was confession about two months ago.

Someone confessed to a murder.

What did he tell you?

It was a woman.

I told her I didn't want to hear any of the details.

And then I begged her to go to the police.

You don't know who she was, I suppose.

Even if I did, I couldn't tell you. Of course not.

Look, for a long time now, I've been trying to get my head straight.

Why am I a priest?

Is my work relevant?

Then when that woman left so troubled and I couldn't help her, it all hit me.

I couldn't take it anymore.

You said this confession took place two months ago.

Can you be any more exact than that?

That's all I can tell you.

It's late. We'll pick this up in the morning. You better get some rest.

Here's my room.

How long do I have to stay here?

Until it's safe to leave.

Okay.

Seems pretty clear.

Since Steve is leaving the church, I think he's free to talk about the

confession.

Subpushers knocked off with a 9mm Luger. I may have a lead on a killer.

Ed, I'm snowed under. Only yesterday I told Chief Ironside about the efficiency

and heartwarming cooperation of homicide, even under the most arduous

circumstances. And only yesterday my wife says, quit, take your pension,

cool it.

Whoever it is knocking off pushers, they are helping the department out.

We overload it on demand.

You know where the files are. Off to date, of course.

We just got the good housekeeping sealed.

Homicide, Wyatt.

Thanks, Mark.

We don't take names, of course.

The secretary just logs it.

And then one of us is in the booth waiting.

You say the woman had called an hour earlier to make an appointment.

Came into the booth.

Then what?

Did she confess to the murderer right away?

Father, I'm not trying to make you break your vows.

Tell me just as much as you feel you can.

She was very nervous.

She said she always tried to live an honest, God -fearing life.

Then it came out.

Father, I want to confess.

About a murder.

Those were her exact words.

Yeah.

I'll never forget them.

Then she cried.

She broke down completely. I tried to comfort her, but... She

never seemed to hear me.

Why not?

In a confessional, you...

You have a tendency to speak softly.

I kept having to repeat myself.

Oh?

Chief Ironside's office.

Yep.

Ed.

Yes, Ed?

I have the files on this pusher, Chief.

First one killed with a Luger was a 19 -year -old kid, Paul Adams. He was

on May 8th. The confession was in the middle of the month. Fits the timetable.

The other two were older. There was a Joe Gunther. He was killed on June 23rd.

And a Henry Asbury.

Killed on July 30th. All the M .O .s are the same.

All right. Dig back on their arrest records.

That may turn up something.

Will do.

All right, Steve.

Make yourself at home.

Keep Steve company.

I'll be in touch.

Good morning, Father.

Oh, good morning, Chief.

How's Steve?

Better than last night.

He told me about his plans to leave the church.

It's a very sad situation.

He's very well liked here.

Excuse me.

Mrs. Mowbray.

Oh, Mrs. Mowbray.

Oh, yes, Father.

Would you be so kind as to put these away for me? Oh, yes, Father.

Thank you.

I trust you're not here to return the handsome purchase you made last night?

Oh, I was looking for some information.

I think I have what I need.

That lady over there.

Mrs. Mowbray?

One of our parishioners.

She's a very dedicated woman.

She worked late last night.

I wish she wouldn't work so much, but perhaps it's all for the best.

For the best?

Well, work is a kind of palliative for sorrow.

Her daughter died three months ago.

Only 18.

Oops, disaster.

Mrs. Mowbray.

Mrs. Mowbray.

Oh.

Excuse me, I'm hard of hearing. My son always teases me that mom can't hear

without a glasses on.

I'm Robert Ironside. We met last night.

Oh, yes, you bought the watch from McCall.

You're a policeman.

I would just like to ask you a question or two.

Have you ever heard of Joe Gunther?

No. What about Henry Asbury?

No, neither of them.

Paul Adams?

No, I don't recall anyone by that name.

Why? I mean, who are they?

They were all involved with drugs.

Why would I know anyone like that?

They were murdered, Mrs. Mowbray.

All apparently by the same person.

We think that person may be a member of your parish.

These are good and decent people here.

I really think you're wasting your time.

Please, if you'll excuse me now.

Will you ask Mark to check her out and the whole family? Are you on your way

back now?

No, I want to make a stop at Vital Statistics. Talk to you later. Right.

Back to work, Mark.

The chief wants you to check out a family by the name of Mowbray.

Any hint of where to start?

The St. Ambrose Parish, I imagine.

Right.

Look, take over for me, but watch him.

First time I ever met a checker, I swear.

Look, I'm not that good.

Why is Chief Ironside interested in the Mowbrays?

He thinks Mrs. Mowbray is the one who confessed to you.

Ironside?

Yes, Ed? Chief, I just ran across something on Paul Adams' arrest record.

A possession bust with, get this, a Connie Mowbray.

How long ago?

Eight months.

And Mowbray was the name of the man who supplied the electrical equipment at the

bazaar. He could be her father.

Ed, I just had a look at Connie Mowbray's death certificate.

Death? She OD'd.

Meet me back at headquarters.

Right.

I want to get out of town.

Where will you go? I don't know.

You need protection.

I'm sure it won't be for long.

Yeah.

And this way, I'm exposing all of you.

You're risking your lives.

We're in a high -risk business.

Look, I'm sorry. Thank you for everything.

Running again?

What do you mean, again?

Look it, I've tried to think this thing through.

I know you must be having a rough time.

But face it.

Are you a priest or not?

You've invested so much time and feeling in the church.

Believe me.

It's not my life I'm concerned about.

The kind of life.

That's it, isn't it?

Chief Ironside's office.

Fran, have you heard from Mark?

No, not yet.

Right. Now put Steve on.

Steve, the chief... Steve?

Steve?

Chief, he's gone.

He left here about 15 minutes ago. Check out St. Ambrose Church and the

community center on Water Street.

Right. Keep me posted. And let us know as soon as you hear anything.

Please.

Thank you.

That's it.

Bus terminals, train depot, and airport covered.

Grant.

You couldn't have stopped him, even if you'd known.

Thanks.

Let's see now.

Connie Mulberry died on April 30th. Her pusher was killed on May 8th.

Mrs. Mulberry went to confession about a week later.

Timing's right.

And there's motivation.

Ample.

But, Chief, you said Mrs. Mulberry wore hearing aid in her glasses.

Then why didn't she hear Steve in the confessional?

Steve reported she was crying.

She must have taken her glasses off.

Chief Ironside's office.

Yes.

Hold on, Mark.

Yes, Mark.

First line on the Mowbray.

Family of four. Two children.

Mother, housewife, father runs an electrical and electronic supply office.

Solid background.

World War II veteran.

European theater.

Decorated. European?

A lot of our G .I .s brought home German souvenirs.

Yes.

Like Luger.

I thought you figured out all that.

Oh, you picked up on it.

Sure, I knew Paul Adams.

He went to school with Earl.

He was over at our house all the time.

Nice kid.

Real nice kid.

You think I killed him, huh?

I didn't say that.

Well, let's understand each other. I'm glad he's dead. He deserved worse than a

bullet. That was too quick.

Too easy.

Do you own a 9mm Luger?

So? May I see it, please?

I lost it. Where?

Now, if I knew that, it wouldn't be lost, would it? We both saved a lot of

We did cooperate.

Cooperate? My daughter is dead. Paul Adams killed her. Why didn't you stop

Where were you cops when he was spreading all his poison?

Where were you when she was taking it?

Yeah, well, maybe I shouldn't have left.

Maybe I should have been with Connie, seen her.

Maybe I could have done something.

Look. I didn't kill Paul Adams, but I wish I had.

That's enough to arrest me. Go ahead.

Okay, Mr. Mulberry. And I'm sorry about your daughter.

Hello? Mrs. Mulberry? Oh, Father Timmon.

I shouldn't be calling you like this.

I'm breaking all rules.

What are you talking about?

Your confession, it'll always be just between us.

Now, come to the church.

I'll be waiting for you there.

Father, I don't understand.

Don't worry.

The police?

Mrs. Mulberry, you'll never know Pete again unless you do.

Father Timmons?

What's wrong, Mom?

Oh, nothing.

Nothing.

What did Father Steve want?

Oh, Earl, I'm so mixed up, I don't know what to do.

Hey, come on, Mom. It can't be as bad as all that.

Oh, if your father would only find it in his heart. To what?

Earl, you talk to him. He'll listen to you. Tell him to go to Father Timmons.

You know how Dad feels about the church. Oh, please, for me.

Father Timothy's waiting for him. Now, he can be redeemed if you'll only ask

God's forgiveness. Mom. Please.

I'll try.

I'll try. All right.

Thank you.

He's got a logo, all right, but it'll be long gone before we can get our hands

on it. He'd have good reason to use it, too.

And he wasn't exactly crying about Paul Adams.

Chief Ironside's office.

Thank you.

Central Division.

Negative. Nothing on Steve.

He must be out of the district by now. Well, if we can't find him, we better

find the killer.

You'll come back, Steve?

If I can find an answer here, Father.

The police are looking for you.

They asked me to call if you... Don't.

I have to work this out myself. Don't call them.

All right, Steve.

Open your heart.

Listen well.

Miss Mowbray, I'd like to talk to you. I'd appreciate just a few minutes.

Come in.

I hope I'm not disturbing you.

Well, no.

You have a very warm, comfortable home here.

Thank you. It's a little large for us now.

I can understand.

You must... Miss your husband and your daughter very much.

The loss of a child is always tragic.

Particularly under the circumstances.

Chief Ironside, I don't see why... We know all about Connie, Mrs. Mulberry.

Just as you knew about Paul Adams.

But now we need more.

We need what was behind your confession to Father Timmons.

He didn't tell you anything.

He didn't even know it was you.

Well, you realize then... Then why I had to confess.

I mean, Paul killed my lovely Connie. I... I had to kill him.

How?

I... I shot him. And the other two, Gunther and Asbury?

Yes. No.

Now, in the confessional, you talked about murder.

You didn't confess to having committed it.

What difference does it make?

Just that you're protecting someone.

Oh, please, look.

Haven't I gone through enough? Yes, you have.

It's time to end it. Now.

It... It was really harder on Jason.

He just couldn't accept the will of God.

I had my faith.

My faith helped me.

But he had nothing.

Nothing. He only had rage.

Vengeance.

Please, God, he listened to Earl.

Earl? Why Earl?

They're still very close.

Earl sometimes helps him down at the shop.

I hope he can persuade Jason to just go see Father Timmons and seek forgiveness.

You know where Father Timmons is?

He... He promised to be waiting.

I believe him.

Possible 187 PC.

We'll be there in a couple of minutes.

I still don't figure it. Sure, the old man was sore, but I don't see him

figures.

Guilt, Mark.

All the killings motivated by guilt.

Jason Mowbray wasn't there when his daughter needed him.

But Paul Adams was Earl's friend.

Guilt, he feels.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

We're in the presence of the Lord, my son.

I had a friend, Paul Adams. He was a good friend.

I even introduced him to my sister.

I'll never forgive myself.

But I didn't know.

I never would have let him near her if I... He killed her.

Just as surely as if he pushed the needle in her arm himself. He murdered

so I killed him.

There are more Paul Adams out there.

And innocent girls like Connie, I'll get them all.

They're parasites. They don't deserve to live.

Mom thinks Dad shot Paul. She'd never turn him in.

And I know she had to come here to unburden herself. So when you announced

you were leaving the church, you see, Father, I had to kill you.

Your mother didn't expose anyone.

In any case, in or out of the church.

What's said here is sacred.

I'll never go to the police.

But they're already into it.

Yeah. Three murders.

Executions.

Turn yourself in.

Go to the police.

In the memory of your sister.

Good try, Father.

Tomorrow I'll kill myself.

Another scenario?

Father of mercy, as reconciled the world to himself, through the death and the

resurrection of the Son, and as poured forth through the Holy Spirit for the

forgiveness of sins, may he grant you pardon and peace through the ministry of

the Church.

I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and

of the Holy Spirit.

Well, this phrase should be a quote, and this should be the beginning of a new

paragraph, and the sentence always ends with a period.

That is a period.

That's harder.

I was quiet on the phone. The ring went silver.

Earl Mowbray has been remanded to psychiatric care until his case comes to

trial. That makes sense. And his mother and father were there together, standing

by him.

Well, maybe some little good has come out of this.

And speaking of goodness...

Hey, Steve.

Well, hello, Steve.

Hi. Mark.

Well, there is a certain good quality about you today. What's it mean?

Well, my petition was accepted, but I tore it up.

I'm really glad to hear that.

I have Fran to thank for that.

Listen, the reason I stopped by is Father Holt's letting me offer Mass this

Sunday. I'd like you to be there.

What time is it?

First thing in the morning, 5 o 'clock.