Original subtitles

It's me, Rick, your avenging angel. I'm the guy who's been taking over for you.

He's walking in what he thinks are Hunter's footsteps.

So he's committing murder for me.

I'll just have to find a way to make it up to him.

I didn't realize you were so photogenic.

I don't like being followed, Arnold.

I need someone to watch my back for me. I don't know when this guy's going to

pop up next.

Worked for me.

It's so sad you don't know how I got this low.

I forgot to tell you.

It's so...

myself bald.

time, Sergeant.

You Mirandized the defendant twice?

Yes, I did.

You Mirandized the defendant for the second time because he was unconscious

first time. Isn't that right? Well, I don't know if I'd describe it as being

unconscious. How would you describe a man that you had hurled through a plate

glass window and down two flights of stairs?

Your Honor, I must object to that last question. It's wholly irrelevant.

If counsel is trying to intimidate the witness... Look, the man came at me with

a tooth drill. What was I supposed to do, stand there and let him fix my

overbite? Your Honor, I'll withdraw the question.

Just one more question.

You would never have had any cause to investigate this case at all were it not

for an anonymous phone tip received at the police station, isn't that right?

That's correct.

Thank you, Sergeant.

You may step down, Sergeant.

State calls William Wakefield.

Raise your right hand.

Thanks for showing up, McCall.

What'd you do for good to set your alarm?

This is your bus, Hunter.

I'm just here as an observer.

From what I heard when I came in the door, I can't say I'm sorry I missed

performance. It's the defense attorney, Nell Armstrong.

She's like an octopus.

She twists everything.

Mr. Wakefield, would you tell us, please, about the conversation you

in the Martelli restaurant the night of November 16th this year? Which

conversation are you referring to? The conversation between the defendant and

Ken the Rat Weintraub. Mr. D .A., I know how, when I was in your office, I told

you about how Dr. Pierpont was trying to hire the

rat to kill his wife and all, but...

Now that I'm here, I'm under oath and all.

I got to tell you the truth. It was real dark in Martelli's that night and

noisy, too. So I just can't be sure exactly what I heard or who was actually

doing the talking.

I'm real sorry.

Your Honor, I have a statement from this witness. Your Honor, it's obvious that

the state's case is nothing more than blind, unfounded faith in an anonymous

tip. And I must move for dismissal of all charges with prejudice.

Both counsel will approach the bench.

How about that? They got the willy.

Yeah, well, one way or another, Armstrong always seems to come out on

doesn't she?

Your Honor, give us a recess so I can have a little chat with Mr. Wakefield.

mean so you can intimidate him into changing his tune?

I resent the implication.

Now, listen, both of you.

Mr. Wakefield has no more credibility with this court.

However, since this is only a preliminary hearing, and since Sergeant

convinced me that the state does have the makings of a case, I'm going to

dismiss without prejudice.

If the state wishes to continue its investigation and bring the same charges

again when the case is stronger, this court will not.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Hunter, it's not your fault. The bus was justified.

Look, the guy tried to take a contract out on his wife, then he decided to kill

her himself, so he jammed her up full of insulin.

Yeah, now she's in a coma.

All you gotta do is prove your case, Hunter.

There's too much to ask. I just want things to be equal, Counselor. Yeah, you

get to buy a witness, we get to buy one, you know, like that. Wait a minute, I'm

getting really tired of your...

I don't buy off witnesses.

Well, then you tell me what happened here.

I had an open and shut case on this. Believe it or not, the case isn't closed

once you decide who's guilty. Not unless you're planning on being judge, jury

and executioner as well as cop.

See you later.

Who's that?

None of your business.

All right.

Okay.

His name is Ted Hawk.

Ted Hawk?

Forgetful U .S. attorney?

Yeah, but what do you mean? Well, he forgot his briefcase and left it over

house last night, didn't he?

Hey, you're not too loved to keep from helping me nail Pierpont, are you?

What do you mean me for? Well, when I talked to him last week, the rat denied

everything. Oh, you think I'm going to have better luck, huh?

Feminine...

Starting with the lying, dumb ball Willie White.

Come on, let's go.

Give it up, Weintraub.

He decided to cooperate.

Get him out of here.

L -56, this is dispatch.

Over.

This is L -56. Over.

Just got word of a TA you and Hunter might be interested in the call. A hit

run. A 73 yellow Ford Pinto just took out a pedestrian.

Deceased is ID'd as William Wakefield.

Yeah, thanks.

When you wish upon a star.

The guy out there right on the curb.

Hardly a traffic light.

Hardly an accident.

Well, what brings you here, Counselor?

Well, for reasons known only to me and my psychiatrist, I listened to the

bands. What happened?

Well, it was just an experiment. See which was tougher, the human body or a

Pinto. I'd say the 73 Pinto won out with you.

Listen, for the record, I don't like winning cases this way.

Well, for the record, you haven't won again.

That's right, Rick.

She hasn't.

I don't think Mr. Wakefield will mind us dropping in.

All

right,

what are we looking for?

Money.

The kind you pay to somebody when you want them to lie in court for you.

I'll talk to you later.

Heard you put on quite a show, Willie boy.

Well, we're all real pleased.

It's about 11 a .m.

I'll catch you later.

You lie low now.

Bye.

Hey, Willie, it's the rat.

It's about 11 .30 a .m.

Hey, Hunter?

Yeah. Come here.

All right, good girl.

You know, I don't understand one thing.

How could the rat have called Willie at exactly 11 .30 when we were having a

shootout with the guy at exactly the same time?

I don't know. Maybe his watch was off or something.

And why wasn't there music in the background of this third call?

Yeah, well, don't worry about it. We got the bribe money. You got the tape that

lured Willie to his death. That should be more than enough to convince the ref

to give up Dr.

Pierpont. We'll tie up the loose ends later, okay?

I think we ought to bring in the doc.

Well, you bring the doc in. I have to go to the market. The market? McCall,

you're on a case here.

You're on a case because I promised Ted I'd make the Omar's home tonight.

Do me a favor.

Oh, no, not you. We just finished cleaning up the broken glass from your

visit. Hey, Doc.

Quick recovery.

It's incredible how being released has made my arm all better. Hey, listen.

You're under arrest again.

Didn't you listen to the judge this morning, Sergeant Hunter? He dropped the

charges. But you're under arrest again for the murder of Willie Wakefield.

He has now just called to tell me about Willie's unfortunate demise.

But I assure you that I had nothing to do with it. Why should I?

Willie was on my side.

Remember? We also have the money you paid to Willie to lie for you.

I'm afraid we're going to have to reschedule you for a later date. Say,

around the year 2010.

Come on. I have Peyton.

You

were

right, Hunter.

There is something odd about that last... a phone message from the Rat.

Hey, Willie. It's the Rat.

It's about 11 .30 a .m.

Listen, meet me at the corner of Eastbrook and Elano.

There's an empty lot there. You'll be real pleased.

Bye.

Uh, watch how the Lilo method plays out.

Now, do you see how you got your highest spikes on the words you give the most

stress to? Right. First word in a sentence, the important words,

It's about 11 a .m.

I'll catch you later.

You lie low now.

Now watch the very last message.

Hey, Willie, it's the rat.

It's about 11 .30 a .m. Listen, meet me at the corner of Eastbrook and Delano.

There's an empty... Almost all the words spike high.

Well, so what you're saying is that the last message was not the rat's voice. It

was an imposter's. No, no, no. It's the rat's voice, all right. But he never

said those words in that order.

Hey, Willie, it's the rat.

It's about 11 .30 a .m. Listen, meet me at the corner of Eastbrook and Delano.

There's an empty lot there. You'll be real pleased. Bye.

Now, did you hear those clicks?

Yeah. I re -recorded the message and pushed up the volume. Now, those clicks

what edit sounds like.

It seems like someone was taping the rat's voice and took the words out of

context, edited them into a new message which was played over the phone and into

Willie's answering machine.

That would account for both the excessive stress on so many words and

absence of background music.

Mind if I borrow this machine, Doc?

Hunter, your reputation with breakable objects is hardly exemplary.

Thank you.

Rick Hunter.

Consider yourself served.

Malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of

distress, violation of civil rights.

So did you leave anything out?

I can always amend later.

Right now, I've got to go pick up the good doctor.

He made bail.

He's really becoming a career with you, isn't he? Look, if someone out there

wants him worse than I do, somebody did kill Willie, and somebody did plant the

money and the message about Pierpont.

Now, somebody wants to nail him, so I think it's best if you just stay in

custody. What evidence do you have for that?

I'm sure he'll be fine.

I'm representing Ken Weintraub, too. The rat?

How do you sleep at night, counselor? On balance, I believe in the system.

And on those far too frequent occasions when the system breaks down, then I take

sleeping pills.

What about you? Are you really as cocky as you act, or do you just hate it when

someone doubts you? Let me just tell you something, okay?

When you're staring down some shotgun -toting punk who's just blown away his

partner for two lines of cocaine, there's no room for doubt.

And under those circumstances, anything you do is right.

Yes.

Oh, I don't envy you your job.

Well, I wouldn't want yours either.

Guess we have something in common then after all, huh?

Perhaps.

See, I told you she liked you.

Well, I hope the market wasn't out of veal.

I hate to have Ted settle for anything that wasn't his favorite.

Hunter!

It's me, Rick.

Who's me?

Well, just think of me as your avenging angel.

I'm the guy who's been taking over for you while you've had your hands tied by

this ridiculous legal system of ours.

I'm the guy who's made sure that that lying slime Willie Wakefield doesn't

any more lies.

I'm just sorry I wasn't able to, you know, run him over with the bus the way

wanted, but the end result is the same, Rick.

Hey, this isn't funny. Who was this?

Is this some kind of a joke?

No, I never joke.

I don't think I know how to.

But I do know how to take care of my friends, so don't you worry about that

silly lawsuit she just handed you. You can't have a lawsuit if you haven't got

plaintiff. Isn't that right, Rick?

I'll say goodbye now.

Oh, wait a minute.

What is it?

What are you doing?

Someone's been listening in on me for the last week.

I've been bugged through this whole Pierpont trial.

I know I've heard that voice before.

And I think I know where. What voice? Yeah, what voice?

What the hell's going on here? Some guy was just in here yesterday fixing that

phone. This is the tape of the anonymous chip I got on the Pierpont tape.

message after the beep tone and do not leave your name or phone number unless

you wish to be contacted by us dr anthony pierpont's wife is in the

she's probably going to die this isn't any accident he's been trying to find a

way to kill her for quite a while now and now he's finally gone and done it

was my avenging angel and he just told me he's gone after pierpont what are you

talking about hey hunter mccall

Hunter, I swear I'm going to take this broken phone out of your paycheck.

Here, Pod!

Go!

This is L -56.

We need a coroner's wagon and a black and white at 847 Tower Place.

The yellow Pinto. This same model that ran down Wakefield.

There was no driver.

Well, when you lost sight of him around the truck, he jammed the gas pedal and

jumped. The only explanation?

Well, I don't think that that kind of explanation pertains to this avenging

angel guy.

Sure it does. He admires Hunter so much.

that he's trying to define himself by the qualities he sees in Hunter. Like

kid seeking his father's approval, he's walking in what he thinks are Hunter's

footsteps. So he's committing murder for me. And he must be damn confused,

because you're not grateful.

Which explains why he made that phone call.

Why he felt the need to explain himself.

We got a real nutcase here.

Yeager?

Did you actually write this drivel?

Hunter, a father figure?

Couldn't this guy have chosen a more well -rounded image like maybe E .D .R.

Mann or Genghis Khan?

Captain, we know two things about this guy.

One, he's a surveillance expert. Two, he overheard Pierpont planning to kill his

wife, so he decided to leave that anonymous phone tip.

There's a good chance that this avenging angel guy put a legitimate tap on

Pierpont's phone about the same time that he was trying to snuff out his old

lady. Oh, wonderful.

Let's just call up the FBI, the CIA, the Treasury Department. No reason they

would object to jeopardizing all their undercover operations just to give us a

list of their wiretap experts, huh? One of these guys is a homicidal maniac,

Captain. You want to know why we got a mad bomber, Hunter? I'll tell you why we

got a mad bomber. Because every time the system lets you down, you want to cut

corners, you want to break procedure, then you want to go on the corner and

and groan and demand divine intervention.

As far as I'm concerned, this...

Avenging Angel got all his bright ideas from you.

Hey, Doc, you think you could wire my phone to record all incoming messages?

You still got that stuff I gave you?

Yeah, sure do.

See you later. See you.

Hunter!

Oh, I'm sorry.

I guess Sid's going to have to go to bed hungry, huh?

I'll just have to find a way to make it up to him.

Well, what brings you into the Lower End District, Counselor?

I called the station. They said you'd just left. You're on your way home.

Well, thanks for seeing me to the door. Look, for the record, Pierpont told me

he was innocent, and I believed him. Well, aren't you violating some sort of

attorney's code by telling me that?

Good night, Hunter.

Want some coffee?

No, but I wouldn't mind a chat.

Well, personally, I make better coffee than I do conversation.

I hope you don't mind instant. That's all I've got.

This is the first time since I've been a lawyer that I've felt this way.

What way is that?

Just off balance.

There are just too many things happening. I can't explain.

Yeah, me too.

I thought you had this whole case pegged.

Well, I didn't up till this morning.

Yeah.

What are you doing, Rick?

What's she doing there?

Well, we're just having some coffee. She's one of the enemies. She's one of

them. She doesn't understand what we're trying to do here, what has to be done.

She's the one that's trying to stop us from stopping the others. You of all

people should understand that, Rick. Well, that's what I'm trying to explain.

You can't... You can't explain it to them.

Not to them.

They only understand one thing.

We gotta get out of here. Come on.

What? Why?

What's wrong?

Where are we going?

Just get in the car and drive.

What

the hell

is happening here?

No, don't turn it down. We'll be in a while.

Now, there's a guy that's been casing. He's the one that just bought it.

You're sailing it now?

I don't know.

There's a wooded area up ahead with a road band.

Now, you just keep driving. As if nothing has happened, I'm going to jump

Yeah, because what do you intend to do?

I don't know, Jeff.

You've got to be the guy that killed Willie and Pierpont.

Well, Connor, be careful.

I just meant don't fall in the sky like a gorilla coming out of a tree.

You've got no witnesses, no proof, nothing.

If you roust him, you'll wind up right where I had you, squirming on a witness

stand without a net to catch you. Well, that's hardly the way I saw it go down,

but I get your point.

I just want to give this guy some heat, that's all.

Now, look, when you get home, lock up tight, all right?

I'll call you. Okay, I'm in the phone book in Paul.

Now, when I get out, there's a stop sign right up here.

Stop there for a minute and then go.

Got it?

We'll leave.

Well, have I done something wrong?

I think I'm being followed.

Followed?

No kidding?

Yeah, no kidding.

You got some ID?

Sure, I do.

Is something the matter?

Arnold Morton.

Is this your current address, Arnold? No, I'm in the process of moving.

Staying with friends.

Why would anybody want to follow a police officer? I thought it was usually

other way around.

Yeah, it usually is.

Maybe it has something to do with Dr. Anthony Pierpont.

You know who he is, don't you, Arnold?

You watch the news.

Oh, yeah.

He killed his wife. He was murdered before that could be proven. And Willie

Wakefield.

He's dead also.

Hit and run. I don't believe I've ever heard of him.

That's good, Arnold.

You shouldn't hear things that don't concern you. You know, it's kind of

when you don't know who's looking at you or watching you.

You like looking over your shoulder?

You like looking underneath your bed or in the closet before you go to sleep?

I don't like being followed, Arnold.

I wasn't following you.

Sure you weren't.

Are you nuts? What are you doing?

I just met my avenging angel. Now, I don't know how he's doing this, McCall,

he's got me bugged and he's got me watched every single second of the day.

Is everything all right here?

What's going on?

Yeah, Ted, everything's fine. It'll just be a second.

In the bathroom.

Hiya, Ted.

Rick Hunter, how you doing?

Just be a minute, Ted. It is important in the police business.

Yeah.

Okay, so what's with this avenging angel?

I got a name on the guy, Arnold Morton. I don't know if it's legit, I don't know

if it's an alias or what, but he's driving a white Dodge van.

I just spoke to the guy.

And I suppose you want me to help you check him out tonight.

Oh, I'd appreciate it. I need someone to watch my back for me. I don't know

where this guy's going to pop up next.

That's great timing.

I want to get the water.

Yeah, thanks a lot. I appreciate that. L -56 clear.

Okay, which way do we go?

Federal building.

Why? Did you get away to get that wiretap list?

U .S. Attorney ought to have a copy, don't you think?

Hunter, I don't believe you.

Where'd you learn how to use these things?

Oh, Ted made me get into it. He swears by computers.

You really like him, don't you?

Yeah, well, after tonight, I don't think it's going to matter too much.

Bingo, there he is.

Arnold Morton.

Yeah, it was an independent operator doing a tap for the CID at Martelli's

restaurant about the same time that Pierpont was trying to take a contract

on his wife.

Yeah.

Interesting address for an angel, huh?

I didn't realize you were so photogenic.

My God, McCall, this guy's been following me for weeks, and I never knew

Yeah, well, it's his job not to be noticed.

I'll check with Smitty and see if he got lucky on any of these photographs we

got at the roller rink.

Yes, Morton did some piecework for the CID, so he's probably got a military

background. Maybe a traceable record.

Sergeant Hunter's desk.

Hi, Ted.

Listen, about your keys...

That sounds so good.

I am starving Okay, I'll be over in a sec

Hey

any

of you guys see where McCall went

Sergeant Hunter's desk.

I was looking for D .D. McCall.

Hi, Ted.

Listen, I'm buying your keys.

Meet me at that coffee shop just around the corner from here.

Country Cafe in ten minutes. What do you say?

Oh, my God.

Hi, Ted.

Listen, I'm buying your keys.

Meet me at that coffee shop just around the corner from here.

Country Cafe in ten minutes.

Oh, spite so high. This message is a fake.

Hunter. For the life of me, I haven't been able to figure out why you haven't

been more appreciative of everything I've done for you. And then last night

you were violating my home, I overheard you say to McCall how much you needed

her and depended on her. Arnold, where's McCall? What have you done with her?

There's just no place for McCall, and I know she understands that. Arnold!

Where's McCall?

Well, goodbye, Rick.

Dispatch, this is L -56.

Go L -56.

Give me the home address of Annelle Armstrong. She's in Palms. And hurry,

you? We could have been great together.

Rick and I.

We could have made a real improvement in the law enforcement in this city.

The plots.

The conspiracies.

All the dirty little secrets the scum of this city whispers. The eye can hear.

I can bug any place in town.

Boardrooms, limousines, airplanes, bars, beds.

There isn't a criminal in this town that can keep a secret from me.

That's what I was trying to prove to Rick with this case.

With my information, he could have cleaned up this city. He could have rid

wrath of this town. He could have been anything he wanted to be. I could have

done that for him, see?

And I would have, too, if it hadn't been for you.

You and that woman liar and the rest of this whole corrupt, filthy city that's

turning this place into a sewer.

I'm going to make you pay for him, Cole.

You and all the rest of you.

You and her, him,

him too.

I thought he was strong enough to do what had to be done, but he's just like

rest of you.

Got to pay two.

Good morning. I hate to barge in like this. No, it's fine.

Are you okay?

What happened last night?

It was a false alarm.

You're kidding.

That's what you came here to tell me? Well, actually, I came in here to do

along with me, okay? He's watching me.

Rick.

So is this your way of placing me under arrest, Sergeant?

I was so worried that something might have happened to you, Counselor.

You're very special to me.

You're not half bad yourself.

I think you and I are going to make a hell of a team.

Hold that pose.

Oh, my God.

I can see you.

I can see right through you.

I see what you're trying to do to Rick, but I'm not going to let you do it. It's

all over with, Arnold.

Now, be a good boy, raise your hands, and get away from McCall. Come on, move!

You all right, McCall?

I'm just ducky, although I am a little overdressed for the occasion.

What the hell is that?

It's eternity, Rick, and we're going to share it together.

Shut it off, Arnold.

Shut it off and I'll talk to you.

It can't be shut off.

No, I don't want to talk anymore. I'm tired of listening to people talk.

They just talk and they talk and they talk, but now see, you even have to

to me.

Well, today was your day, all right.

But I'll get you tomorrow in court.

Okay. Talk to you then.

Bye.

She did to you again, didn't she?

She turned you inside out on that stand.

Well, believe me, McCall, when I take her to dinner tonight, I'll return the

favor.

Hey, you and Ted ought to join us.

Oh, thanks, but I promised Ted I'd make him that home -cooked meal tonight.

Hey, you and Nell can come over to my place if you want.

Well, that's a good idea.

Dress casual, take my shoes off, put my feet up.

I'll bring the wine.

Yeah, sure.

Got any money on you?

Yeah.

Good. Give me, um, 60.

60 bucks?

What for?

Veal is $14 a pound.

60 bucks will cover what went bad, and, uh, it'll buy for tonight.

All of India could live on 60 bucks.

Not on veal marsala.

I don't even like veal.

Okay, then don't come over. Hey, wait a second, wait a second here. You took all

my money.

Does that mean you're going to come over? Well, I don't have any choice.

I don't even have enough money to buy wine.

Red wine goes with veal.

You owe me ten.