Original subtitles

In the city of angels, undercover of night.

People are drowning in a sea of light.

The devil holding your life on the line.

Angels are calling, praying for time.

Something's got to give.

It's me.

Hey, you. You at the office?

Not even close.

Check the bluff behind your tower.

Wow.

You're a real heartbreaker, McBride. What, have you got a hot date or

Yeah, I wish.

More like the Malibu Women's Club luncheon.

I'm lecturing on the pitfalls of being a woman PI, and then after that I'm going

to network those rich ladies right out of their Ferragamo pump.

I'm sure you will.

Listen, a potential client wants to meet with you today. Her name is Jerry Ross.

Our office, 5 o 'clock, okay?

I'll be there.

All right. Good luck.

Thank you, ladies.

Thank you.

You guys were fantastic, as usual.

Bye -bye. Bye -bye, sweetheart.

Excuse me.

Let's update the office, huh?

Hey, anytime you want to trade, Mitch.

Are you in a new case?

I'll know in three minutes.

Oh, yeah? What kind of case?

I don't know, Greg.

Don't tell me.

I bet it's a murder, right?

A beautiful Malibu socialite gets whacked by her young, jealous lover.

I'll know in about two minutes.

This is going to be big, Mitch. I could feel it. I could feel it. Just like the

bogey in Maltese Falcon.

Or double indemnity, Barbara Stanwyck.

Mitch Buchanan?

Miss, uh... Jerry Roth.

Pacific Coast Yacht Club.

Right. Right. Very nice to meet you.

Good afternoon.

What? Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure.

A coffee?

Perhaps.

Two motor yachts were robbed during the past week, Mr. Buchanan.

The most recent occurring last night.

What about the police?

Strict orders.

No publicity.

Now, since the thief apparently boarded the boats from the water, our club

directors felt that perhaps your lifeguard experience

could serve us well.

Are you interested?

Yes. Yes, of course. Okay.

All pertinent information concerning the two boats, as well as, I trust, a

sufficient retainer.

Um, this will be fine.

Tomorrow night launches our affiliate arena golf tournament.

Votes are coming in from all over California.

And we don't need any more robberies.

Understood? Understood. Good.

Clyde, I hope.

I spell Clyde to you?

You're not serious.

This spells Clyde to me.

How you doing? I'm Richard, the security guard. Hey, Richard. All right.

Let me tell you what happened.

See, I'm up top making my rounds, right?

Smoking a cigarette, minding my own business.

All of a sudden, I see a flashlight.

Now, I know the people out of town, so I come up around here to check it out.

Out of the blue, a guy knocked me off on my ass down the steps.

Chased me up the steps there.

Right around.

He got off the side, man. Don't even see him again. Just like that.

And that day, he knocked me down the damn stairs.

He ran up onto the bridge here, climbed out that window, dove off right there.

Now who might you be, handsome?

You sure don't look like a lawman.

Maybe I can make a little pleasure with business.

No, that's on the swim step.

What is it?

Tape from the O -ring on a scuba tank.

West Sea.

Yeah, maybe West Coast divers. Want to check it out?

Yeah, along with that security guard.

Mr. Buchanan?

Hey, Jerry Ross would like you to meet my partner, Garner Ellaby.

How do you do?

That's Ross.

You know if the owners of this boat are scuba divers?

Mr. Buchanan, they're in their late 60s. They drink martinis.

Very nice, Nina. It's a very good night's work.

To reward you for your work, I'm going to give you $30 ,000.

You're dreaming again, Carl.

Okay, Nina.

I'm in a good mood today.

Why don't we say $50 ,000 for the whole package?

I don't think I heard you.

Nina, I want you to listen very carefully to me.

This is going to be my last offer.

$60 ,000.

$75 ,000.

You're tough, Nina.

Okay, $75 ,000.

Deal done.

So tell me something, Nina.

What can I do with all this money?

Two more deals, and I'm done.

Done? What the hell do you mean, done?

It means I made my net, and I'm out of the business.

You can't quit.

You're natural.

Hey, you and me, we could work the whole West Coast and make some real money.

You know something?

They've got marinas all over the world.

Tonight and tomorrow night.

And then I'm done.

You're kidding yourself, Nina.

Once this gets in your blood, it doesn't go away overnight.

I've seen it before.

It never leaves you, sister.

Hey. Hey.

You looking for me?

Just going to borrow your water.

Oh.

Hey, hey, hey, there's a restroom for that. I don't need a restroom.

Hello?

Baby, I love the club.

And I'm going to turn into a real moneymaker.

Yeah. Me too.

Mm -hmm.

Well, I'm just going to do a run -swim -run.

Okay. Bye -bye.

Run -swim -run, huh?

You're training for something special? Yep.

I'm going to be a lifeguard.

Just like you.

Don't let these walk away.

Oh. Okay.

That's something about the fish burglar?

Oh, uh, no.

Nothing that exciting.

Insurance photos from the stolen jewelry.

Whoa! You have some serious diamonds.

Yeah.

Very serious.

This is one very cool case, you know? It's all about money and power and sex.

Are we talking about the same case here?

Uh, right. Listen.

Since this is such a biggie, if you need any help, know that I'm available?

Yeah. Okay, thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

Roll up and please, McBride.

Trent's work.

Hey, what's this from Clues?

Receipts from the West Coast Dive Shop. We've got to match a name and a date

with that piece of tape Mitch found.

Hey, you need some help?

Uh, yes.

Yes. As a matter of fact, we do.

You know, this is a great way...

for you to get your feet wet as it's the eye, don't you agree, Garner?

Absolutely.

That a boy, Mitch.

Easy. Easy.

No, no, no. Don't get up. Don't get up.

I'm fine.

You're my first aid kit. Don't get up.

All right. I'm going to check you out and make sure nothing's broken.

I feel so stupid.

You've got a nasty bruise here. Let me clean this up.

I haven't fallen like this since I was a kid.

That should do you just fine, okay?

All right.

Easy.

You're moving pretty fast out there.

Don't tell me you're going to give me a speeding ticket.

No, but it means I'm going to give you a warning. Will you slow down, please?

Yes, sir.

Nina Cutter.

Miss Buchanan.

I promise to slow down.

If you'll let me repay your fee, if you'll kindly. It's not necessary.

I'm glad you're okay.

You like laughter?

Actually, I...

I love lobster.

Let me cook you dinner some night.

Well, that is an offer that I cannot refuse.

Okay, grab my hand.

Ready? Okay.

Oh,

sorry. Excuse me.

Hey, blunders.

Hey. I think I got an idea how to catch our little fish burglar. Well, that's

good, because so far we've gotten diddly.

I checked out the security guard. He's got a record for stealing cars.

This is way out of his league.

So what's your idea?

In, on, and underwater surveillance.

So what are you going to do, Mitch? You're going to wait in the water until

boat burglar makes his move? Yeah, let's see.

Come on, Mitch. There must be a thousand boats in the marina.

Concentrate on the 15 visiting yachts with liveaboards.

They're all in for a convention in Dock in the same area.

All you guys got to do is drink bad coffee and eat dogs.

Don't.

How you doing, Mitch?

Okay.

I'm starting to feel the cold.

Listen, I'll head down one more time and call it a night, huh?

Yeah, roger that.

He disappeared and headed west.

I'll keep looking in the zodiac.

Watch your back.

You see any movement up there?

No, no. Place is like a damn morgue.

it right there. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Nina. Who is it?

Mitch.

Mitch Buchanan.

Mitch.

I thought you were that cat burlar we've been hearing so many rumors about.

No cats here.

Besides, they hate water.

You look like you could use some tea.

What's up, Mitch?

Look, I've searched the whole channel for him.

No sign.

What do you say we call it a night, huh?

See you guys tomorrow.

See you tomorrow. Where are you?

I'm with a friend.

A friend?

Affirmative. Over and out.

No, Mitch has lots of friends.

Oh, you're right.

I noticed all your swimming trophies.

Sprinter?

Backstroke. Ah, backstroke.

How far did you get?

Almost to the Olympics.

Until a bad rotator cuff.

Ended that dream.

Hardly swim at all anymore.

But I love being by the water.

You ever do any springboard diving or platform?

I loved them both.

Scuba? No.

I'm a surface swimmer.

Bad inner ear.

I think you have very nice ears.

Really?

I always thought they were kind of big.

No, no, I think that they're just right.

Better be careful.

It's one of my weak spots.

What about your left?

Especially the left.

I thought you didn't have time to play.

I don't.

Oh, no, no, wait, wait, wait. Byron, my king tickets?

Oh, come on, they're fifth row.

Oh, all right, they're yours. You're killing me, man.

I just gave up my fifth row king tickets for nothing. This is going to cost you,

Mitch.

What? You asked me to run the name Nina Cutter through the police computer,

right? Well, this woman has no arrests, no moving violations, no parking

violations, no nothing. The name Nina Cutter is so clean, it squeaks. Now, who

is Nina Cutter, and why does Byron have my king tickets?

Like I told Ryan, I met her yesterday. I bumped into her again at the marina

last night, and, uh, well, she lives on a boat, so I just, I might check her

out. Oh, oh, oh, oh, I see. So there's a little flutter of the heartstrings.

These heartstrings are a flutter.

Private investigation.

My ass is calling.

Nina Cutter on line one.

You very much?

Hey, you.

Hi. I just wanted to call and say that I had a very nice time last night.

Yeah, so did I. You make a wicked cup of tea.

How are your ears?

They're still tingling.

I'd like to make you that lobster dinner I promised.

Sounds good.

Are you busy tonight?

I am now.

7 .30?

7 .30 for lobster.

Looking forward to it.

See you then. Bye.

She's gorgeous.

Wants to cook me lobster. She's got great ears.

So you're taking her to dinner?

No, no, she's taking me.

Well, that's really stupid.

Stupid? That's what I said.

Stupid.

What's your problem?

Not my problem. You're the one making a fool out of yourself.

Well, if having dinner with a beautiful woman makes me a fool, then... And

you're jeopardizing this investigation.

No, I'm not. She's a suspect.

We checked her out.

Right. You wanted to have her eliminated, so we eliminated her.

But she's a champion swimmer, lives on a boat. She doesn't scuba dive.

Maybe she lied.

Maybe you're jealous.

Jealous?

Is that what you think?

It's exactly what I think.

That I'm jealous?

Yes. Me having a wonderful lobster dinner with a beautiful woman.

Think of that as a pre -lobster dinner appetizer. Have a good time.

You got a shirt I can borrow?

Sure.

How are your ears doing?

It was worth the pain.

I'll go get some more.

Mitch, we finished the dive shot procedure and came up with some

Nina Cutter's on the top of the list?

Yeah.

Yeah, she filled tanks on the days of both the robberies and the smuggling.

Sorry, man.

Thanks.

Mitch?

What's wrong?

Oh, um, I gotta go.

Oh.

I hope it's nothing serious.

No, no, I just forgot I'm working the late shift for a very unhappy client.

Well, I hope your client's big and has a beard and no teeth.

She's pretty hot looking, huh?

Who?

Nina Cutter.

Yeah, she is.

And you like her a lot.

And what if she turns out to be this cat burglar?

She'll go to prison and I'll never see her again.

So what, did you dry out your wetsuits together?

She's got company.

I'll have Garner run the license plate on that Lincoln through the computer.

This has got to be his car.

I need $100 ,000, Carl.

Non -negotiable.

All right.

Conditional. You don't retire for another month.

Me and I got some ideas that could make us both very rich.

Can't do that, Carl.

Now are you interested or do I have to go somewhere else?

You must love your brother very much.

What did you just say?

Come on, Nina. I know what you're doing with the money.

Lawyer's fees for your brother. You see, he used to work for this yacht club.

Until he was convicted for embezzling half a million dollars.

My brother didn't do it.

He was framed by the board of directors who were trying to cover up some shady

investment.

How the hell did you know about this anyway?

I got friends in low places.

Look, Nina, I really admire your spirit, but you're wasting your time.

Get out of here, Carl.

This is over.

Like hell it's over. Hey, we got a deal.

You don't just walk out on a deal.

Get out.

I see your point.

Let's just leave him.

He's a fence?

Yeah, Carl James Bankin specializes in jewelry.

He's been keeping a low profile lately, but he's done six years hard time.

Is he still with Nina?

Yeah. I'm about two minutes away. When Bankin comes out, sit on him until I get

there. Huh?

Carl Bankin?

Yeah? I have investigators.

You know a Nina Cutter?

Yeah, I know Nina Cutter. That's her boat right over there.

We know all about you, Bankins. In fact, I've got some partners down at LAPD

who've been wondering where you've been. Yeah, well, you tell them that I've

been clean for the last three years in county.

Well, maybe they'd like to know why you just visited a suspected jewel thief.

Look, we want Nina Cutter, Bankins. You give her up, you drive away.

Look, I'll be honest with you, all right?

We were talking about doing a little deal, but that's over now.

See, my conscience got... Get the better of me.

The police will be real interested.

Okay, look, you want to know the truth, I'll tell you the truth.

The word is that she's doing another boat tonight.

All right.

So, what are you, running away from home?

Funny. Part of my new plan.

What is this stuff?

Cutting -edge technology.

And half of our retainer.

What? It was on sale.

So with you guys on shore using these night vision devices, and me in the

with my trusty sonar scanner, we should have all the guest berths covered.

What do you think? Well, aside from the course, it's, well, better than your

last blast.

Yeah, I gotta admit, Buchanan, you've done yourself.

Why don't I feel good about it? Well, don't worry, partner. I mean, there's

still a man. It's not me, no.

Slim and none.

Yo, guys.

Guess what?

I have just cleared my calendar so I can help you guys out.

No charge.

Well, what do you say?

Yeah?

This is great. I promise you guys I will not let you down.

I'm going to go change.

Hey, Griff.

Yeah.

No trench coats.

I can't believe this thing cost 650 bucks and it was on sale.

Oh, hey, come on. Now, this stuff is going to put you guys on the high -tech

map. Oh, yeah. It wants to be a speed bump on the info superhighway.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, you're right, Garnus.

But you can't eat a night scope.

I'm in position.

Okay, we got you, Mitch.

Hang on, guys. I got something.

You see any boats coming in from the south?

Yeah, you got one sailboat backing out from the dock.

No, it's too far out that channel.

Well, it's too big to be a fish.

Guys, this may be Nina.

50 yards, still coming.

guys. I'm right on her.

Damn it, I lost her, guys.

I'm going under.

Radio check. Garner, do you hear me?

Got you loud and clear, Mitch.

Mitch, you've got traffic from the south. Wake speed.

I repeat, traffic from the south. Keep your head up, man.

Traffic from the south. Got it, Griff.

Hold it.

I see her.

I'm in pursuit.

She's headed south.

South? Mitch, that boat traffic is coming from the south.

I don't see it yet.

Do you see it?

It's right there. I don't see it.

I don't see it.

Mitch, that boat is right on top of us. I see it now.

Damn it. It's coming right at her.

Nina! Stop!

Nina!

She's hit.

She lost her air.

God, she hung out on the keel.

She's going to drown. I'm going after her.

Stop the damn boat.

How? There's no time.

Mitch, how do we stop the boat?

Okay, okay.

All right, girl.

Easy. Bring it down.

Slow and easy.

That's it, girl.

Give me your jacket. All right.

Jacket easy.

I got you.

Okay.

You okay?

Mitch, I checked into Nina's background and found out some things that you might

want to know about.

Wrong. I don't want to know.

Okay.

Nina has a brother in prison serving three to five for embezzling half a

dollars from the Pacific Coast Yacht Club.

Nice. He owns a family.

She thought he was innocent.

And then it was a setup.

She was stealing in order to pay for the lawyers and get her brother a new

trial. Still doesn't make it right.

No, it doesn't.

But it shows that she had good intentions.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

May I have you?

No.

I'll buy you one.

There's a price you've got to pay.

You can't run in the night.

You can hear the baron's call as another angel

falls.

The grace of the boulevard in the blink of an eye. The devil is watching as we

fly.