Original subtitles

AJ.

Rick.

That smells good.

Fellas. Hey, I don't work for you. Remember, this was a favor.

Oh, yeah, right.

Thank you.

Forget the thanks. That'll be $7 .46.

Right.

AJ, you got it?

Get away from there. You got your chute, boy.

Here. Thanks.

You know, this reminds me of all those nights I used to spend in the backseat

your Pontiac at the drive -in.

What do you remember about it? I used to pay you half a buck to take a dive

before the second feature started.

Oh, what an education you missed.

Missed? Godzilla had an easier time with Tokyo than you did with Roberta

Travers. You mean you... Yeah.

Where do you think I learned to sleep with my eyes open?

on his wife, he must be doing it with the invisible woman.

I hate this kind of work.

Why don't we adjourn to the study? I want you to have one of my Havana

Although I have to warn you, they're an easy habit to acquire.

Well, I was never a man to pass up a good cigar or a bad habit.

Oh.

It is?

Maria can take care of that, darling.

I'll just take a minute in the kitchen for you. Oh, and let me help you. No,

it's all right, Mr. Banks. You and Mama can go in the living room.

I'll be in in a minute. Oh, Helena.

The governor wants to know if you and Wade can join all of this.

This is just the beginning. You can expect the same once a month from now

Then I'm not the first.

We have friends on the zoning commission, county supervisors.

One of our esteemed judicial leaders gets a box delivered to his house once a

month in a plain brown wrapper.

Hey,

you can't walk through here. We're almost on the air.

That'll be enough powder for today, Jim. Thank you.

The call wasn't a bluff.

No, it wasn't a bluff.

Those papers are gone.

I'm going to have to report this to my people. No, no, no. Not yet, for God's

sake. She's my stepdaughter. Let me handle it.

Your stepdaughter could go to the district attorney and have you indicted

bribery. Carolyn won't do anything until she calls her mother.

Just keep your goons away from her and she won't panic.

We don't enlist the services of goons.

And we don't back losers.

We don't like mistakes.

Now, I want those papers back. One minute, Mr. Christian.

I said I want those papers back or you won't be reading the news.

This is the KSDC Evening News, San Diego's favorite news, with Wade

Five, four, three, two... On the air.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Wade Christian.

Tonight marks the beginning of the last week that you'll be seeing me here on

Channel 3.

This Friday, I file as a candidate for city council in the upcoming general

election.

Not that that's today's top news story, Betty. Oh, I don't know about that,

Wade. It, uh... Seems like a pretty important story to us, and needless to

we are going to miss you.

Thank you.

Needless to say, I'm going to miss all of you.

Now, turning to the international front.

and my credit cards and everything in my pocket.

Somebody stole my wallet.

I don't know where it is.

Well, what do you know? It's there all along.

Well, it was just an honest mistake.

Sorry,

folks. Buenos dias.

Adios, folks.

Well, Visha doesn't have to worry about her husband seeing another woman.

I do hope you got them.

I got them, I got them.

All four wheels still there?

All four hubcaps are still there.

I hate this kind of work.

Sorry. Nope.

Hey, the case is closed.

Oh, no, it isn't. Yes, it is.

Where were you born?

San Diego. What are you bringing back from Mexico?

Him.

The case is not closed.

You know perfectly well we've got to write a report, we've got to meet with

client, we've got to get paid. Yeah, I know, but it's Wednesday already. You

do it. Look, Rick, the only reason I used to clean up your room for you when

were kids was because you'd beat me up if I didn't. I'd beat you up even if you

did. Yeah, but you can't do that now.

Besides, we're supposed to be adults. We're supposed to be partners.

If we're partners, how come you get paid more money than I do? Because I work

more than you do.

Okay, so what's the problem? I got enough money for the week. I'm punching

That's terrific logic. Just terrific.

Hi, Janet.

Since you're over here, how about doing us a favor and getting the film

developed as soon as you can?

Also, would you call Mrs. Porter?

Please tell her that she can come by and pick up a report. Would you wait just a

minute? There is a client in there.

For real? For real.

Well, great. That's two this month.

I'm sorry you had to wait. Won't you please sit down?

May I get you some coffee? No, I don't wish anything. Thank you.

My name is Helena Christian.

My daughter's been missing for three days, and I haven't heard from her. And

terribly worried.

I want you to find her for me.

I want you to know you make me mad.

I don't blame you.

I make me mad, too. What were you doing last night?

I was working.

Ha, I'll bet.

I'm working now.

I don't care. I just came over here to tell you I'm not coming over here again.

Okay.

Quiet.

I don't want another job. You'll like this one. No, I won't. You're a pretty

girl. A .J., I already got a little bit of that trouble right here.

Three days.

Three days?

It's Wade Christian's daughter.

What, the newscaster's wife? Uh -huh. Uh,

yeah, but, uh, hey!

Forget it. No, Connie, wait, just hang on, A .J. Connie, wait, just a second.

Did I call at a bad time?

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Just wait a couple minutes and let me get some clothes on.

And, A .J.?

Better be good.

Sorry to spoil your afternoon.

You mind telling me where we are? The daughter's apartment.

Okay. We've got just one little problem.

What's that?

Her mother didn't happen to have a key to it.

Oh, great.

Please use a credit card. We haven't got all day. I am trying to concentrate

here. I want you to know that I get paid extra for breaking and entering.

How you doing?

Look, will you please use the damn credit card?

And her?

Something's not right here.

This place has been searched.

By somebody who knew what he was doing.

Is this, uh, Carolyn Perry?

Not here.

Uh, I'm just a plumber.

I'm calling 555 -8371.

Yeah, that's, uh, that's the number. Uh, lady's not here. You want me to take a

message?

Oh, no.

Yeah. Hey, it's, um, uh, Tolliver, Mr. Fowler. I got the Carolyn Perry

staked out in La Jolla.

Yeah? Looks like we got some competition here, sir.

Rick and A .J. Simon.

On our case?

What the hell are you talking about?

Are you sure?

720 -794 -A.

What are you doing?

720 -794 -8261 -LC.

Okay. Okay what?

She went somewhere on a trip.

Oh, yeah? How do you know that?

Well, there's no hair dryer in her bathroom.

You ever know a girl who didn't have a hair dryer in the bathroom?

Also, there's no suitcase, no bathing suit, no tennis shoes.

She went to visit somebody at the beach.

I believe you gentlemen are under arrest.

You don't understand, officer.

We are, in fact, duly licensed private investigators.

Hey, what are you looking at?

You don't want me to get my kid one of these?

Let's go.

I'm going to call Jen and get us out of here.

Got a cigarette?

Oh, no, I'm sorry. I don't smoke.

Got a dollar to buy some cigarettes?

You got a light?

this is what it's like to be a private detective.

Glamorous, exciting.

Rick.

Rick.

How'd you get us out?

Actually, Daddy fixed it.

Your father did us a favor?

Not exactly a favor.

Get the hell out of my office!

Hey, uh, what's with you guys, huh?

Come on!

Didn't I get you out of jail last night? Yep, right after you had us put in

yesterday afternoon.

Well, what was I supposed to do?

One of my operatives reported a crime in progress.

Now, you two guys broke into that apartment.

You hear me? You broke in.

Now, a good investigator never has to resort to criminal activities.

Hey, but what the hell? I'll tell you what.

No hard feelings, okay?

Now, why don't you get out of my chair?

No hard feelings, Myron. We were on a case. We're doing our job. You tried to

shaft us. Wait a minute. No, you wait a minute.

One of your operatives saw us. What was one of your operatives even doing there?

How am I supposed to know that?

I got a lot of clients.

I mean, I can't look after everything all by myself.

It was probably a coincidence.

Coincidence? Hell, Myron, you had that apartment staked out.

That's confidential information.

Myron, professional courtesy suggests that in a situation like this, We pool

information. No, it doesn't. You talk to me about professional courtesy?

I started you out in this business. I trained you personally.

But what do you do? You stab me in the back.

You take business away from me.

You corrupt my only daughter.

Daddy! After what I'm paying to put you through law school, you gotta hang

around with these two -bit con artists. These two -bit con artists take me

seriously. Which is something you've never done.

Sweetheart, they take you seriously because there's just one thing they want

from you.

Yeah, I know.

Aren't they cute?

You get your butt out of my chair now!

You asking me to throw you out? No. Sure do wish you'd try, though.

Myron, let's be practical here.

Professional courtesy suggests that if you don't tell us who this client is...

Well, we may have to start telling people about, say, the Shepard case. Oh,

-hmm. Or the Siegler case. Oh, good one, yes.

Oh, that adultery case. What was the name of it? It was Singer.

Oliver!

Who were we working for out in La Jolla yesterday?

Wade Christian, the newscaster.

But we aren't on it anymore.

I just found out that he called in yesterday and... He fired us.

Fired us?

Yes.

And he hired...

Every day keeps the old dicker in shape.

Well, you must be the detectives Helena hired.

Well, yes, we're the detectives that stumbled over the detectives that you

hired. And fired after three days when they did nothing.

Gentlemen, I apologize for the trouble I caused you, but you may be happy to

know I've been calling around.

Hear good things about you. A lawyer friend of mine says you get results.

Yeah, Rachel, Lord. That's not important to me.

That's the cue.

Find Carolyn.

Find her by, let's say, Friday. There's a nice bonus in it for you.

You wouldn't happen to have any idea why she would take off.

I don't know. Boy trouble?

Maybe no boy trouble. It's been at least two weeks since the last time she fell

in love.

That's ridiculous, Wade.

There's something wrong.

Helena, we don't know that yet. I think Mrs. Christian is right.

If Carolyn is in trouble, I don't want you standing around here. Get out. Find

her. Bring her home. We'll find her.

One question.

If she doesn't want to come home, what then?

Well, just have her call her.

Okay, but a phone call will do it?

Yeah. All right. Okay, we'll get back to you.

Details at 11.

Very funny. Remember, Friday if you want the bonus.

Of course, most of what we turn up in a case like this is perfectly routine.

But you're sure it's not another woman? Oh, absolutely, Mrs. Porter. I guarantee

it.

Now, some people prefer not to see the pictures, but I want you to have your

mind at ease.

We've documented just about everything your husband does in a typical day.

In fact, I'm sure you're going to recognize a lot of these faces.

I know, it is an invasion of privacy, but you feel you have a marriage at

I don't need to see them.

You sure? I'm sure. You keep them.

Okay. And I have a check for you. Oh, great.

Thank you very much.

But you are certain... Mrs. Porter, you are the only woman in your husband's

life. I promise.

We can finally pay some bills.

Did you give her the pictures?

No, I didn't. Oh, you got a kind heart.

I know.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm really your brother. Well, according to Mom, you're

not. Oh, yeah, I'm here.

Uh, what is this, a book you're interested in? All right, now, that's a

dorm on campus.

What? That's a file number. All right, can you give me the complete name and

address? You know, a library book, Dewey Decimal System.

A .J., isn't that why you wrote it down?

Well, as a matter of fact, I didn't. Carolyn Perry wrote it down. I just

it. That's a book?

That's the book. Oh, terrific. Thanks a lot.

Hello. Hi.

Lawyers spend a lot of time at the library.

Don't they?

I'd like to find the book that goes with this number.

You got it.

Thank you. AJ, I think I got a live one over here. I found one of her friends.

Hot damn.

Ball game on?

No, I was planning to watch the news.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm Wade Christian.

Guy couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it.

Credibility was the buzzword in Washington today.

Carolina, espérame. What the hell's the matter with you?

Nothing.

Haven't you ever felt like throwing a glass of tequila at a television set

before? No, I thought you came down here to have a good time, but you've been

acting like the police are after you. Not the police.

Look, Chewie, I'm into something way over my head.

Well, maybe I can help you, querida.

No, you can't help.

This is something I have to do myself.

Now it's done.

Oh, Chewie, I'm scared.

Hey, you guys, you can't go in there after seven.

Greg! It's all right. We got a note from the dean.

We're not rapists.

Well, we're not even students.

Hi, Shelly Major.

Who are you?

Private investigator.

Oh, come on. No, no, no, seriously, we are. Just a second.

Show your ID.

Can we come in for a second?

Hi. Hi.

Is this supposed to be real?

Yes, ma 'am.

Um, you're a friend of Carolyn Perry's.

Something wrong?

Well, she's been missing for four days. We're trying to find her.

Missing?

Is she in trouble?

Well, we don't know. We were kind of hoping you could tell us.

You have any idea why she might run away or where she might go?

Uh -uh.

Unless... Unless what?

Well, she went down to Ensenada a couple of weekends ago. I think she's got a

guy down there.

Do you know his name?

Uh -uh.

Do you think... That might be where she is.

Maybe.

I don't think she liked me.

You give me a dollar and I'll polish your car for you real nice. No, no, no,

no. You'll scratch the paint. AJ, maybe you better let me handle this.

Uh, look, I thank you. That's very kind, but I really don't want you to polish

my car, okay? Hey, no problem.

You give me two dollars and I don't polish your car.

Two dollars?

Yeah, two dollars.

Uh, all right, you handle this.

Okay, muchacho, you want to make a couple of bucks?

Sure. All right, I'll tell you what.

We're looking for somebody down here driving a yellow sports car, California

license, 156PCE.

You find that car for us, I'll give you $5.

De vera? De vera, si. Well, um, what if I already know where it is, eh? Great,

where? Yeah, that's gonna cost you $20.

$7 .50.

$15, huh? $9.

$12, and that's my last offer, okay? $9 .50.

Look, um, I'll give it to you for $11, all right? And that's a big discount.

$10. Deal.

All right, take me to it.

And it's right across the street, right over there. You see it? Right back

there. So long, Tonto.

Well, since you handled that so nicely, we'll just take the ten out of your

salary, okay?

Just let me catch him. Forget it. Let him go.

Besides, remember what Dad always used to say. What?

Can't run with both feet in your mouth. Come on. He never said that.

Well, if he didn't, he certainly should have.

Do you know those guys?

No.

Give me your keys.

I'll take your car somewhere and see if they follow me.

If they do, I'll lose them.

You wait for me at the cantina in Iran, okay?

Okay. But be careful. All right.

Nice

car.

Where's the girl that owns it?

Lunch with my brother. Your brother, Carolyn?

Who are

those guys?

I don't know, but I think we ought to ask Carolyn.

Look, easy. That's not a spooker. She can't go anywhere. She doesn't have any

reels.

Who the hell were those other guys?

that's not her yeah but it's her car he's got to know where she is

Hi.

Hey.

Stay away from me. Hey, come on. Look, I just want to buy you a drink.

Look, I don't know what it is you're afraid of, but we're not it. You work

him, don't you?

For whom?

Look, we are private investigators.

Your mother hired us, asked us to find out where you are and make sure you're

all right. That's it.

Is that the truth?

Here you go.

You make them all yourself, you find out.

No, I can't talk to her yet.

Can't you just tell her you're coming to find me?

Sure.

You want to give us about six good reasons why we should?

I can't even give you one.

What if I wrote you a note? You could take it to her and tell her I'm okay.

Carolyn, your mother doesn't want a note.

She wants to hear your voice.

You call her. I'll talk to her.

All right.

You know something?

This stuff works a lot better when you drink it.

Chewie, what happened?

Two guys, gringos. They ran me off the road. Listen, they were looking for you

and they had guns.

What did you tell them? I told them they were breaking my arm.

They damn near did.

Then I told them I was going to meet Carolina over at my house.

I guess I was yelling like crazy because they believed me.

Your car, it got a little smashed up, right? That's right, Chewie. I don't

about that. Yes, but the police did.

Did they find the registration?

Yes, that's why it took me so long to get here.

They found your registration and they got your name.

What does that mean?

Look, in Mexico, if you have an accident, it's not like in the States.

Over here, until you can prove that you're innocent, they assume that the

of the car is guilty. And they don't let you leave the country.

They told me they were going to tell La Migra, you try to cross the border,

United States Customs will hold you there.

I know who those men are and why they're after me.

I only wish I knew which side you were on.

How about yours?

The more I tell you about this, the more danger you'll be in. I hope you realize

that. Danger is our business, sweetheart.

Wade Christian isn't what he seems to be.

He's a puppet.

And the men who pull his strings are gangsters from back east somewhere with

lot of money, gambling money, I don't know.

He's been bribing people in the city government. A lot of people. I don't

how many, but I know that he's got at least one person on the zoning

and on the city council in his pocket.

Wade Christian is running for city council. That's right. They are running

for office like a racehorse.

And when he's elected, they'll have all the influence they need to launder their

dirty money into real estate or anything else they want.

And the good people of San Diego are going to vote Wade Christian into office

because he's Mr. Wonderful on the news. And it makes me sick.

And I just wanted to do something about it. But I was really afraid of what it

would do to my mother.

No guts, huh?

You got plenty of guts, baby.

Rick, who is this guy we're looking for anyway? He's a coyote. He's a friend of

mine. He smuggles people across the border.

Well, you care?

You're taking good care of my car for me, eh?

My car.

Oh, what do you think? You're going to sell it to me?

Yeah, well, I wouldn't count on it.

Any

problems?

No, no, no, no, no problems.

No problems.

I'm going to take you across the border.

Good man.

But the car.

He's going to have to stay here.

My car?

Hey, man, don't look so worried. I'll take quick care of it. No. AJ, we got a

problem. Yeah, you bet we do. No, no, no, look. We got to have somebody

stateside waiting there to pick us up when we get back.

Oh, no. You're going to have to do it. Oh, come on. Why do I have to do it?

Because she likes you better. Oh, that's nonsense.

That is not nonsense. She always has and she always will. Come on, Rick. You

were paranoid when you were 10. You're paranoid now. AJ, get your butt in

Hi, Mom.

Hi.

Uh. No, no, I'm down in Tijuana.

No, Mom, of course not.

No.

Mother, please.

Hope she likes chickens.

Gracias, amiguito, amigo.

Good luck. Thank you.

No te apures.

You just tell me when you want your car back, okay?

If this was your idea, getting me out at this hour.

What's that smell?

Hi, Mom.

Where's your brother?

Hi,

Mom. Hi.

Mom,

this is Carolyn Perry. Carolyn, my mother. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Simon.

Cecilia, dear. Thank you. This trouble you're in, is either one of them

responsible? No.

Then don't you worry. My boys will take care of it for you.

and go to bed.

Look, Mom, I don't live here anymore, remember?

It won't hurt you to sleep on clean sheets for a change or to eat a decent

breakfast in the morning. Take a bath.

Yes, ma 'am.

If you need anything, I'm down the hall.

you very much.

Good night, Mom.

You all right?

Dear Mother, I wish I didn't have to be the one to tell you this.

I wish I had the courage to tell you face to face.

I know how much Wade means to you.

But Mother, I can't let him be elected to city council when all he's doing is

fronting for criminals and gangsters.

I know you can't believe all this is true, but it is.

I did something tonight to prove it.

I stole papers from Wade's office.

That's why I have to go away and hide, but I want you to know I'll be all

and as soon as Wade is arrested, I'll come home.

I don't want you caught up in the middle of this.

If you give the papers to the district attorney, then there's no way anyone

think you had anything to do with it.

They're in a book at the university library.

I've written the number down for you. Just open the book, and you'll find

everything. I love you, Mother, and I'm sorry.

Uh -uh, it's busy.

Well...

Even if she hasn't gotten the letter yet, I think I'll tell her to meet us at

the library and I'll explain it to her there.

The library?

Yeah, I hid the papers in a book I was using for a report. It hasn't been

checked out in six months, but I figured they'd be safe there. Yeah, well, they

might have been, but... Mine isn't.

Aren't these the papers you were looking for?

Janet. Well, you asked me to find the book, didn't you?

Christian residence.

Hello, Maria. This is Carolyn. Is my mother there?

No, Miss Carolyn.

She just left. She said something about going to the library.

I've been so worried about you.

And I got your letter.

You should have come to me, darling.

We could have talked about this. I was afraid to.

Oh, Mama, it's been such a nightmare.

What's wrong?

Those men, they followed me down to Mexico.

Wade? Of course I called him.

I had to.

Mom.

Oops.

How could... Darling, be sensible.

You didn't have to bring a gun, did you? Who, me?

Where do you think you're going?

Buying our way out of here, I hope.

Protect you? I was afraid of what it was due to you, Mama.

There's been no damage done. What? We can forget this ever happened.

You're wrong to think badly of it.

We're not criminals.

Things like this are done every day in business and politics.

It's the way things are done.

Does that make it right?

Yes. I'm afraid it does.

Goodbye, Mother.

Carolyn! Let her go!

Do you have the papers yet?

We'll get them. Don't you hurt her. Nobody gets hurt.

She's yours as soon as you have the papers.

Carolyn, it's over.

You know where the book is. Give them the papers and then we can talk.

Oh, there's nothing to talk about, Mother.

But there is.

Please.

Carolyn? There's nothing in here.

Pardon me, is this where I'd find the pre -Socratic philosopher?

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Wade Christian.

In the top of the news this evening, local narcotics officials have just

announced the largest drug bust in San Diego County history.

Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.

Teams of officers, two years, I... What is Wade doing?

Over $25 million in heroin and cocaine.

I'm not a lawyer yet.

But the way I read the law, your mother wasn't really an accessory, and she

didn't actually obstruct justice. I don't think she'll be indicted.

At least that's something.

I suppose I should be with her tonight.

I don't want to.

Tomorrow.

Can we go have some fun?

You got it. I know a great place to go over in Coronado.

You got a date, lady?

Well, I do now. Ooh.

Hey, uh, before we go, uh, could you please call Enrique? Yeah, I already

him. He had to go visit a cousin in Mexicali.

Cousin in Mexicali?

In my car?

A .J., take it easy. He's a great driver.

Rick!

A .J., we had two cases this week. I'll buy dinner, all right?

The food in this place is really great. Oh, great.

Pardon me. A .J., uh, you got any cash on you?

You were buying dinner. Well, yeah, but I just thought, who's going to pay us

for this job?

You and I know the meaning of amigo.

We're not alike, yet everybody we know knows we're more than brothers. We're

best of friends.

We may not look or think like one another, and there are times... And we

hurt each other.

Still we're more than brothers.