Original subtitles

I think it's about time we send them a message.

And here's the way it's going to read.

Assume you think he's still alive.

Death is not Sporty's lifestyle.

If Sporty's missing, you would know where he is. Where is he?

Where is he?

If I could tell you where to find him, what would that be worth?

Sporty's life isn't the only life in danger here, you got that?

Barney, what's happening?

Hunter, call.

Yeah, we got an odd one here.

Shot from three, maybe four inches away.

The odd thing is, what's a guy in a seven, eight hundred dollar suit doing

place like this?

No ID in his wallet. Just money.

Lots of money.

Any weapon?

Apparently the killer took it with him.

There are signs of a scuffle in the dust here. We got pictures of it, but no

footprints. Nothing useful.

Oh, I found this in his wallet.

Who's got a Raphael?

See Raphael.

I think I will.

I'll have Hank White for me. Take me back to the station.

Yeah. Thanks, Barney.

Okay, guys.

Is there anything left to get here?

We'll give it a long, hard look. I think what you see is what we got.

You know anything about this place?

Yeah, it's a disco, the current end spot for the coke users.

Turn it over there.

This refers to the owner, probably, Rafael Arisco.

I won't buy a little while ago. The place is locked up.

Not surprised.

They don't open till 10 p .m.

90 % of the celebrities that show up are known coke users.

What do you mean? You're saying they deal there?

No, Rafael's a wholesaler. We think the showbiz folks go there as a kind of

payoff to a Roscoe do.

Keep him well supplied.

You know this guy?

I'm sorry I don't. Where'd this hit go down?

On a building about two miles from the disco.

Has Narcotics got a case on Orozco?

Yeah, but it's very low -key because the DEA is all over him, and they're very

nervous. They don't want to spook him.

Maybe I should run by and see Mike Stevens, huh? Good idea. Thanks, Nick.

Anybody checking the area around the warehouse for witnesses?

Yeah, I did Lee and Roswell.

Those two.

Somebody's got to do it.

There's probably no connection whatsoever between your dead body and

Orozco. You hope so, Mike.

Look, we've got an action underway called Operation Scorpio.

Orozco is the top Colombian boss on the West Coast. If we can nail him, we can

do some real damage.

So please, don't go near him.

He's not involved in some low -rent shootout on Venice Boulevard. It's not

style.

Yes. It's for you, McCall.

Go.

Great. Hold on to her. I'll be right there.

Yeah.

Thanks. Look, Mike, relax. If we have to deal with the Roscoe, we'll talk to you

first.

And I heard

this real loud noise.

I've got arthritis, so I couldn't get to the window as fast as I wanted to.

But fast enough, because I've seen this black man running out of there.

Mrs. Parsons, how far away from the building is your home?

Honey, don't call me Mrs.

I'm a miss and proud of it. And my name is Emma. Okay, Emma.

How far away were you from what you saw?

I lived there long before they built that old eyesore.

Now it's dead and gone, and I'm still there.

Great. And how far away is there?

Let's see.

There's the alley.

Then there's my backyard.

Not real big.

And then there's my house.

And there's nothing the matter with my eyes either. I seen that man real good.

Oh, well, then, you would, uh... You would recognize him again if you saw

right? I sure would.

He was kind of scrawny -like, but a real flashy dresser. And he's got... This

big, ugly gun in his hand.

He jumps into this big maroon car and he drives off lickety -split.

You say he killed someone?

Do you know the make of the car?

I don't know one kind of car from another.

But I can read.

Here it is.

There was another car there, too. A dark one. But by the time I got back with my

pen and paper, it was gone.

But I... I did remember the first one, and I wrote it down, because I figured

killed somebody.

2 Paul Charlie Edward 316.

Scrawny man, flashy dresser, maroon car.

Emma?

I want to thank you very much for coming by.

You've been a big help.

Officer Denley will take you.

He's right over there.

You think this is possible?

This is sportive.

If the car is here, why doesn't he answer the phone?

Just relax now. Maybe he just got here.

Go find out.

Morty! Open it up.

I don't want to open it up. Look, they have a thing called a search warrant to

keep cops like you and I out of trouble, so I'll go pick one up, okay? It's no

big deal.

I want you to get your two little prongs out of there and jam in the door. Come

on. Why do I always have to do this?

Sporty's a friend of ours. Besides, you got the purse. Come on.

I think they got him. But you told me Bogota's men got that million bucks. It

was in the report.

Charlie, Sporty didn't have it, we didn't find it, and that's the way it

to us at the time.

We had to believe Sporty, Captain. He didn't suddenly start to change his

spending habits or anything.

Well, it's pretty damn obvious now that he did have it, isn't it?

And that Bogota's people want it back.

Okay. You got any idea where he is?

No. The car's in the basement of his condo, but he's not there.

How do you know that?

We knocked.

And then you let yourselves in, right?

Well, he was... We were worried about him, Captain.

So you broke and entered and he wasn't there.

Then what? We went in, looked around, the place was clean, but Sporty was

so we left.

Sporty may be dead, you know that?

Maybe.

It's obvious they want the money back.

But they're liable to kill him just to send us a message that no one steals

them and gets away with it.

Now, we've still got no ID on this dead body.

There is no ID on the guy's face or his prints.

He's probably a newly arrived Colombian. Well, I'll tell you something, troops.

I think it's about time we send them a message.

And here's the way it's going to read.

Nobody comes up here and executes an American citizen and gets away with it.

read me on this one?

I could live another 30 years. I would still owe the guy.

He helps people who don't even know he's doing it. He's like the Frank Sinatra

of Central Avenue.

You don't appear to be in mourning, Kimmy, so I assume you think he's still

alive.

Sporty dead?

Hunter, I thought you'd know him.

Death is not Sporty's lifestyle.

No.

There's absolutely no way he could be dead. Are you sure about that?

Well, if you mean, do I know where he is right now? No.

But he's around.

That, I believe, Without question.

And alive and well.

Well, he won't be if we don't find him first.

That bad?

Look, I was doing a little time up at the college there when this whole Bogota

thing came down. I don't think... Cool me in a bit, will you?

Two of Bogota's thugs killed a man in an alley.

Sporty saw that.

And when they came looking for him, they couldn't find him. So they went looking

for Sporty's girlfriend, Marguerite. Remember her? Yeah, I liked her. Sporty

really loved that girl. Yeah.

Now, when she wouldn't talk, they killed her.

I remember that.

A couple days later, Bogota was killed in a police shootout. Over $1 million of

drug money disappeared.

Sporty got it?

I think he's got it, yeah.

You did the right thing then, coming to Kenny Vanston.

Because you came to the legend, I will definitely get back to you real soon.

Make it sooner, Kenny.

You have been doing very good with us, Curtis.

Is that not so?

I got no complaints, Mr. Roscoe, and you don't have any against me.

Or do you?

I have heard nothing but good things about you, amigo.

The ounce man you work with trusts you.

That's why you're here.

If he trusts you, I trust you.

I see.

And the reason that I'm here... Do you know a certain gentleman by the name of

Sporty James?

Oh, I know the gentleman, but not close, you understand. But yes, I do know him.

We're what you call acquaintances. Where is he?

Where is he?

You mean right now? Just right now. Where is he?

Well, I could guess, Mr. Roscoe, but I couldn't say for absolutely certain. I

don't know.

I think you do.

Mr. Orozco, you are probably looking at the one man who could find out

where this gentleman might be. Now, I do not know at this particular time, but

if you give me a day or two, maybe three, I will locate him.

I guarantee it.

You have 12 hours.

If you do not find him in 12 hours, I will assume that you have lied to me.

And then we will have another meeting.

Look, I told Sergeant Hunter I don't know where he is.

Yeah, and Hunter told you that if we don't find Sporty, he'll be dead.

That's if he's not dead already. Now, come on, Kirby.

Help us out here. His life's on the line.

You know Curtis?

Yes, I know Curtis.

He came by to see me late last evening.

Curtis was awful anxious to find Sporty.

Awful anxious.

Thanks, Kirby.

Lincoln 5 -6, go.

We gotta find Curtis. He's into this thing with Sporty, and I'm not sure

side he's on.

McCall, don't worry about Curtis. He found me. He's on our side.

I gotta go. I'll talk to you later. Lincoln 5 -6, clear.

West End Hotel.

Yeah, yeah, you know what that is, right?

Yeah, yeah, well, you better step on it, because I can't say how long Sporty

will be there.

Yeah.

You owe me one, Hunter. Uh -huh.

Orozco is nasty.

Okay, look, I'll meet you at Harry's Bar in one hour, got it?

Sure, sure, I'll be there. Sure, that don't bother me at all, Hunter. No

problem, I'll be there. Good.

Yeah. One hour.

You guys speak English?

Yes, we speak very good English.

Put your hands on top of your head.

That's what I thought.

Volteate!

Now boarding.

All passengers for bus 304, please board.

Oh, come here.

What are we supposed to need? Man, are you putting me on?

This town is too hot for your friend Curtis.

Now, those Columbo's know that I am the dude to set them up. I gotta blow this

sweet city until you put Orozco and his troops away.

Come here.

Stand over here.

I think you know where Sporty is.

I've got a bus to catch, Hunter.

I thought you and Sporty were pals.

Hey, I just put myself on a death list of some real mean people for Sporty.

I cooperated with you because me and Sporty are soul brothers, man. He

practically adopted me when I came back from the non with my head all messed up.

Now, you want me to tell you where he is so you can bust him.

Now, why would I want to do that?

Maybe because you think he's got a million bucks stashed away somewhere,

Or maybe you want to book him on a murder charge, huh?

Now, Curtis, we want the million bucks back. Sporty knows that.

Yeah. But we also know Sporty is not a murderer.

The cat's in trouble, man. We gotta help him.

Are you being straight with me, Hunter?

Yeah, I'm being straight with you, Curtis.

He's alive, isn't he?

Sporty?

Sporty will outlive us all, man. That's his nature.

The only time I have ever seen Sporty down, I mean really down, That's when he

lost Marguerite.

He had me worried there for a while.

I mean, the cat was suffering there.

Way down deep in here.

And one day, he just pulled out of it.

Nah, honey.

You don't have to worry about sporty.

That's one rare cat with nine lives.

Okay.

Just one.

More time.

Now, you may not be at any of these places, but I think you can find them in

of them.

Last call, bus 208.

Bus 208 for Tucson, El Paso, and Dallas.

Last call.

Okay, that's me. I got to go.

Hunter, now I am trusting you because I know Sporty trusts you.

Okay? Great.

Now, it's Kenny Duncan with the... Hey, don't call me baby.

I'll call you, right?

Thanks, Curtis.

Hey, pen.

Oh, yeah, right. Nice pen.

That's it.

driving is dead. I got kids on this bus. Open up or I'll blow you away.

Shut up. Cool off.

Get up, man. Let's go with me.

You don't need no back.

Get going.

You make one move, I'll blow your brains out.

Freeze, police!

Right there, very slowly drop the gun.

Curtis, get back on the bus.

I'm going to send you the most wonderful postcard ever.

Shut the door.

Put this on your left wrist.

You okay, son?

I request a 990 for two CCW suspects at southeast corner, third and,

uh... Third and Carver, ASAP.

Thank you.

Yes. Sergeant Hunter, Metropolitan Police.

What can I do for you? I have a warrant to search the premises for an Arnold

James.

Mr. James sometimes brings us toys for the children, sometimes takes a small

group of them fishing at a Disneyland, but he has no official connection with

the center. He wouldn't be here.

Some friends of Mr. James said this might be one of the places I could find

I really would appreciate your help.

May I see the search warrant?

Certainly.

What's in here?

The storeroom.

Hasn't been open for years. It's locked.

Can we get in there?

It's full of junk.

We should try to get in there.

I don't even know if it's going to be on here. I'll give it a try, though. Good.

How you doing, sports?

Good afternoon, Sergeant.

To what do I owe this delightful surprise?

Then Pearlie shows up and says the same thing. That two dudes in expensive suits

and South of the Border accents are handing out cash money for any

about my whereabouts.

So, I decide to take me a fast out of town holiday.

You know what I mean?

And so I, you know, I dash on to pick up a few necessities.

Now, I always stick a hair in the doorjamb. A long, thick hair from a

racehorse belonged to a friend of mine. I stick it about a foot above the floor.

But that hair was not where I put it.

And that tells me that somebody has messed with my door, or worse yet, is

waiting inside.

I do not hang around to find out which.

Thank you.

Bad times later and I'm finding myself boxed in with no place to go but that

building.

I swear, this is the whole truth and nothing but. It wasn't even self

It was, read my lips, accidental.

Yeah, well, all of the evidence points to a struggle.

And the DA is not going to file charges, even if we wanted him to.

But, Sporty, these guys are Colombians. They're Bogota's men. They want their

million bucks.

Yeah, I know that, which creates a big problem because I don't have it.

Where is it, Sporty?

Hunter, suppose one of those guys saw me putting it in the locker, right, and

took it and didn't say anything about it. You better hope that didn't happen,

Sporty, because if it did, you have no way out of this, you understand?

Hunter, you are right.

I believe if I had it, man, I would give it to him. I do not have it. Maybe we

ought to put you in a safe place for a while, you know, a little protective

custody.

Ah, thanks, but no thanks. However, I would appreciate it if you would drop me

off at Central in Bristol.

You can take the bus, Sporty.

That's some cold stuff, Hunter, you know that?

For a law -abiding citizen like myself.

Mr. French.

That's right, Mr. Orozco, but you can call me Frenchie.

Everybody does.

You say you have a business proposition that you know will interest me.

I truly do. That is, if you are, as I'm informed, still interested in finding a

certain Sporty James.

If I could tell you where to find him, what...

What would that be worth?

Well, he has one million American dollars that belong to certain valued

associates of mine.

If I find him and get the million back, that will be worth $100 ,000.

If I find him and do not get back the money,

it's worth nothing.

I heard you want to make an example out of the dude.

We want our money back.

It means nothing to us, dead or alive.

My offer is clean and simple.

What it is, is you give me 10 grand, I tell you where you can find Sporty.

And if you get your money back, I get another 90.

I trust you for it.

You, uh, know a runner by the name of Curtis?

Yeah.

Well, he make a deal just like the one you want to make.

And then he double -crossed me.

Two of my men go to jail, I have to bail them out, which I forfeit.

Because I send them home.

How do I know you're not trying the same?

I want the hundred grand.

And, uh, I just happen to hate sporty James's guts.

A fact you can check out, which is about...

Anybody on the street.

But you want 10 ,000 right now, huh? And I'm trusting you for the other 90.

That's right. To take me for 10?

Would I make an enemy out of you, Mr. Orozco, over a measly 10 grand?

I don't know.

But, uh... I will check out you.

As you say.

Maybe we do business.

My office is the Midtown Athletic Club.

That other number's the phone in my car.

When the price is right, I'm available 24 hours a day.

Good.

Sweetheart, I don't think you should make the call from here. You don't know

what you're getting yourself into.

Orozco's too dangerous to be playing games with.

The phones here are not tapped. Besides, time is of the essence. Sit over here,

please, will you? I've got to go to work, darling.

Homicide, McCall.

McCall, Kenny Dunstan here.

Where are you?

I'm at Pizazz, the disco.

I just saw something that I've got to talk to you and Hunter about.

but not on the phone.

Happens is good, huh?

Well, I'll let you be the judge of that, darling. Where do you want to meet?

Max's, the coffee shop in Westwood.

I got to take my girlfriend Sharon home, so I'll meet you in about half an hour.

Okay.

And I know this for sure.

Fat Frenchie is Sporty's enemy number one. And Frenchie met with Orozco for a

reason. If there's anyone in this town who could find where Sporty's hiding,

it's going to be Frenchie. Take my word for it, McCall.

Yeah, I think we definitely ought to put Frenchy under surveillance.

Okay.

Thanks, Kitty.

Oh, McCall, darling.

If, by any chance, a large sum of money comes into the department's hands, would

a reasonable amount be set aside for my personal and professional services in

this matter, or what?

The legend speaks.

Sure. Ten percent, maybe?

I'll check it out.

Listen, since you're so into making a profit, I'll let you pick up the check.

A pleasure. I wouldn't think of letting a lady pay. Of course not.

Good night.

Good night, darling.

L -57, this is L -56. Come in, please.

Lincoln 5 -6, go.

Two Latinos in custom -made suits just went into the gym. I got a real strong

feeling they're from Orozco.

Just sit on them, see what comes out.

Lincoln 5 -6, clear.

Yellow, they just came out and they're in a big hurry. Something's going on

here. You stay with them. They may be headed back to Orozco's discotheque.

I think I'll go inside and have a little chat with Frenchy.

I can do for you. Yeah, I need to see Frenchie.

Frenchie? Yeah, you know, the guy that owns the plant.

Oh, that Frenchie. That Frenchie's not here.

He wouldn't lie to me, would he?

Frenchie's not here. You calling me a liar?

Look, pal, we can either do two things. You can take me to go see Frenchie, or I

can get some squad cars to surround this place in about 15 minutes. Have them

bring a search warrant and turn this place upside down. How about it?

I'll call you back.

He, uh, says he just wants to talk.

That's right, about Sporty James.

Okay.

Outside.

I understand you and Rafael Orozco had a nice little chat at his discotheque

last night.

I don't have to talk to you.

So, uh, you want me to get some muscle in here, or... You want to go in peace.

Look, Sporty James' life is in jeopardy. I really do need your help. I don't

give a damn what you need.

Don't come in here and talk to me. Let me just tell you something.

Sporty's life isn't the only life in danger here. You got that?

Lincoln 5 -6, request two backups at 4010 Mulholland Drive.

Permission to respond code 3.

Everything's secured? Yes, sir. We got it all secured from the outside.

Stephen, Floke, and Myers are on the back and the side.

How about Skyfox? You been there?

Helicopter checked the roof and the area. No sign of anything unusual.

Tell you guys I'm going in.

You got it.

Plane closed, officer. Coming in. Watch your sectors.

All clear.

Lincoln 56 to Lincoln 57. Come in, please.

This is L57. Go ahead.

McCall, you still out in front of the nightclub? Yeah, I'm right out front.

Get a search warrant and some backup. I'm 15 minutes away.

They got Sporty.

Haven't found him yet.

Sergeant.

No, it's 40 James.

We've looked everywhere.

Searched the entire building. He's not here. No sign of him. No, sir.

I think it's time to talk to our friend.

Yeah.

I need to talk to him for a minute.

I'm calling my lawyer. Good, you do that.

Let me explain something to you real quickly here. Your boss is involved in a

kidnapping charge.

Wait any longer, it's going to turn into a murder rap.

You're going to be an accessory.

Now talk to me.

How the hell did I get into this? Speak up.

Warehouse in San Pedro.

Corner of Ocean and Arrow.

He talks to nobody.

Do me a favor.

Call Mike Stevens. Tell him to meet us at the corner of Arrow and Ocean in San

Pedro. Make it quick. Yes, sir.

You can get blood out of me, Senor Orozco, but you cannot get blood out of

a turnip, which is what I am at this present time.

So I repeat, I do not have your million dollars.

It is not my million dollars.

It belongs to countrymen of mine who want their money for you.

They tell me if a man gives you all the money,

Well, let him go like nothing ever happened.

See? But if he do not give you the money, then we kill him and we forget

money. Tu comprende? I repeat, man, look.

If I had the money, don't you think I would give it to you? Nobody wants to be

dead millionaire.

Take him out of here and kill him.

Eliminalo, por favor.

Okay, man. Okay, okay, man. You win. You win!

I got your million dollars, okay?

I demand to call my attorney.

You're under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder. Get him

of here.

You all right?

I'm fine, McCall.

But while he's calling his attorney, do you mind if I call my dentist?

Orozco is still talking.

And Stevens and the DA are very, very happy about this. But we're not too

Sporty, because Orozco says that you told him that you had the money.

McCall, he was going to shoot me.

Of course I told him I had it.

But I assure you, I don't.

What'd you do, Sporty? Give it away?

No chance.

Look, charitable contributions are deductible... for only 20 % of your

earnings. I would owe the IRS a fortune.

Not to mention that if I gave away a million dollars, I'd never live it down.

Sporty. I know where the money is.

What? I just checked our records, Sporty.

Marguerite's last name was Montero, as in Montero Child Care Center.

Formerly Flawston Avenue Child Care Center. Right, Sporty?

They recently were the recipients of the following.

More teachers, new paint, new equipment, and computers throughout the school.

That don't mean a thing, Hunter.

Maddie Skipper told me that an anonymous donor had, through the good offices of

a tax attorney, donated a million dollars to the center.

Now, she says she didn't know who it was because it was anonymous.

She said it was all as legal as the Constitution.

Anonymous. So the Colombians know nothing about this, right?

I don't think I'm going to have to worry about those Colombians.

They're going to conclude that if I had had their money, I would have given it

to Senor Orozco, which is all too true because I would have.

But I want to thank you both for your kind concerns.

You're welcome.

Wait up, Sporty.

Let's have Sporty buy us lunch.

Thank you.