Original subtitles

This is the city.

Los Angeles, California.

It's a young place with fresh new ideas.

Artists and sculptors have recently become trendsetters,

often reflecting the mood of the city.

Its fashions are colorful and exciting.

The outdoors have become a way of life and

water sports rate high among our favorites.

With 65 miles of coastline, it's no wonder Angelinos love the beach.

On a summer day, there are upwards of a quarter of a million people here.

Once you've arrived, you can find barbecue pits,

volleyball courts, and a cooling ocean breeze.

Life is good here under the warm California sun.

It's a great place to live, but in my job, it can be a tough city to work.

I carry a badge.

The story you're about to see is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It was Monday, August 12th.

It was hot in Los Angeles.

We were working the day watch out of Robbery Division.

The boss is Captain Perry.

My partner is Bill Gannon.

My name is Friday.

We were working the desk where you meet them all.

The victims, the suspects, the cooks, the troubled, the lonely.

Our first walk-in customer was a victim.

He drove a truck for a downtown delivery firm.

About an hour before, at a stop sign less than

a dozen blocks from the Police Administration

Building, his truck had been hijacked.

It happened just that fast.

He yanked the door open, shoved the gun in my face and told me to move over.

I don't mind telling you boys I was a little shook up.

- Did you see where they came from? - No

All of a sudden they were just there, one at each door.

All I could see was guns.

They didn't hit you, shove you around, or anything like that?

The only place they shove me was under the dashboard.

You say you heard voices.

Yeah, when he unloaded, right, men, women, kids.

How many voices would you say?

Beats me, a dozen, 20, maybe a hundred. I don't know.

Are you sure those people knew the truck was hijacked?

You're kidding? The two guys took what they

wanted then told everybody to help themselves.

They said the cops might show up at any minute.

It took them just about that long to clean out the truck, a minute.

Then they drove me away.

The two guys dumped the truck and me both over in Alhambra.

I beat it right down here.

Hey, wait a minute. There's your headman, boys, right there.

- We thought so. - You know him?

You're the third hijack victim in a row who has identified that picture.

Well, how come you don't grab him?

We plan to just as soon as we find him.

Right now we got two men staked out at his apartment.

- Boy, you guys got a problem. - We know.

They unload my truck in a neighborhood alley in broad daylight,

with people all over the place.

The whole neighborhood had to know it.

- You see what I mean? - Yeah. And nobody called the police.

8:15 a.m.

I called the stakeout team.

There was no answer, but a Robbery Division car was in the vicinity of the suspect's

apartment on Southwestern Avenue.

I gave it a call.

Roger Control 327.

I understand a truck went down about an hour ago.

Is that affirmative? Over.

This is 327. That is affirmative.

The victim driver is here now and has identified the suspect's photograph.

There's a good chance he's headed your way. Over.

Okay, Control.

We'll relay the information to the stakeout team and remain in the area. KMA 367.

We're downstairs taking the driver's statement.

Good. Let me see it when it's finished, huh.

Sure. Couldn't you race the stakeout team?

Well, I got a word to him maybe.

- Who was out there? - Rod Hurst and Streegle.

They can take care of themselves.

If they get the chance, isn't that what you mean?

Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet. Sergeant Friday and Officer Gannon.

Well, good morning. It's been a long time.

Morning, ma'am. How's the arthritis?

Better, thank you.

Oh, it has been a long time.

From the last day we worked the desk, wasn't it?

Six weeks to be exact.

Let me see. That was the day before we went up

to your place and scared all those birds away.

Oh, not birds, Officer Gannon.

Thieves, criminals masquerading as birds.

They're all about you know.

But we chased them away, didn't we?

Temporary measures, Sergeant Friday, merely temporary.

Are you telling us the birds are back?

Thieves, sir, not birds.

And meaner than ever.

Talky too, real talky.

What are they planning this time, ma'am?

Why, another bank job of course.

Always a bank job. Oh, Sergeant Friday, you knew that.

Yes, ma'am. I had forgotten.

You want to tell us about it?

Aye, sir.

We called her the Bird Lady.

She lived alone and forgotten in a city of 3 million strangers.

Few spoke to her and nobody listened.

So she listened to the birds as they plotted trouble for those who ignored her.

And she talked to the man on the desk in Robbery Division.

Robbery, Friday.

Yes, sir. I hear you.

I understand. Go on.

Get Reed and Pailing on this.

All right, sir. Now, from where you are, can you see anyone out the front window?

Well, that's up to you, sir, but don't take any unnecessary chances.

I say don't take any unnecessary chances.

What's the deal?

Bank out in Silver Lake, the janitor.

Some woman is on the phone with the bank manager,

claims she's got a rifle zeroed in on the back of his head.

No, sir. I was talking to my partner.

How much does she want not to pull the trigger?

5000 bucks.

This the address?

You guys on?

Nobody out front. Yes, sir. All right.

Now, tell your boss to agree to anything the woman wants, you understand?

And have him write it down for me.

You got that?

No, sir. Write it down.

That's right.

Yes, sir. This sort of thing has happened before.

The woman is probably on the other side of town.

- But how do we know? - We don't.

No, sir. I doubt if your boss is in any immediate danger,

but two investigators will be right down there

in about three or four minutes. Yes, sir.

Sergeant Reed and Sergeant Pailing. Now, you let them in the back, all right?

In the back, that's right.

Yes, sir, in just a few minutes now. Goodbye.

Where does she want the dough delivered?

To a skid row alley by the janitor.

You guys get that location?

Yeah, how much space should we use?

Let's keep it to a minimum.

Right, one pound of wrapping paper.

And a marked dollar bill.

The last of the big time spenders.

Right this way mister.

What do you got?

I just had a stakeout between 12th and Pico at the neighborhood market.

- I grabbed this guy legging it up the alley. - Yeah.

We were just around the corner. Got a radio call

while they were still whacking the owner around.

We weren't fast enough to catch his buddy though.

- What happened to the owner? - Central Receiving.

They thumped him pretty good.

Hey look, man. It wasn't me. It was the other cat. I was with him. That's all.

- Was he armed? - Yes, sir, with this.

- Any loot? - He was lucky that paper sack, 80 bucks and a bottle of scotch.

All right, sit down here.

- Did you give him his rights? - Oh, believe me, daddy, he didn't leave out a thing.

- Is that right? - So what's the big deal? I'm copping out, ain't I?

Did everything but the thumping, okay? Lock me up. I'll do my time. Forget it.

All right, now. You pay attention.

You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right...

Look, I've had it with the rights bit!

I want to plead guilty, you dig, daddy?

You got money for a lawyer, have you?

If I had bread, would I be sticking up a joint?

We'll get you public defender.

Hold it, baby. Let's start all over again.

We need a little bread, me and my buddy, right?

So we knock over this mom-and-pop market. I'm nailed.

So now I'm hit man, you dig? I want to plead guilty right now. No trial.

No dead time. No nothing.

- You left out one thing, didn't you? - Yeah?

- The assault. - Okay, okay.

So I helped with the thumping.

Now throw me in the bucket!

The sooner you're in, the sooner you're out.

- One of my rights, man. Dig? - Oh, yeah. I dig, mister.

And I know you. I've handled you before.

And I'm going to tell you something.

You're accused of a felony or you're going

to be real quick, maybe two or three counts.

You can't afford a lawyer so the taxpayers including that guy who owns the market,

the guy in Central Receiving, is going to foot the bill for one.

Now listen real close, man.

You can't plead guilty. Not now. Not a week from now. Not two weeks from now.

And it's all dead time, mister. Not a minute of it counts.

- You're out of your mind. - You think so?

Well then dig this.

A person accused of a felony and represented by

a public defender is not allowed to plead guilty

at a preliminary hearing.

The public defender's office won't allow it.

Now that's one of your rights, mister, and here's some more.

Before the preliminary hearing, you'll be arraigned in municipal court.

Now that may be three days from now.

Then your preliminary hearing, maybe a week after that.

But you still can't plead guilty remember?

- You got to be kidding. - Am I?

Well if you're lucky, two weeks after your

preliminary, you may be arraigned in Superior Court.

Then you can plead guilty, not before, and it's all dead time mister,

because you got rights, you dig?

And we sure wouldn't want to see those rights violated now, would we?

Art, do you want to take over here?

- Sure. What you got? - A market 211.

His pal is still running loose. I think maybe

these officers could use some booking advice.

All right.

- And Art, one other thing. - Yeah.

Don't forget to give him his rights.

Never.

Okay, fellow. What's your name?

Kind of blew your cool there, didn't you, pal?

Yeah, I guess I did.

- You've been away from that desk too long. - Not long enough.

- You remember that punk, huh? - A year and a half ago.

A couple of guys from Central brought him in for the same thing, robbery and assault.

- Judge turned him loose. - And I remember why.

He claimed he didn't understand his rights.

Well, well, well, well. Look who's got the duty?

First the hippie, now Williams and Seret. You can't win.

On the way in a while ago, we heard you calling the stakeout. Anything new?

No, we're still sweating at that.

All units at 211 silent.

Bank of Industry, 1563 South 9th Street.

Repeat. A 211 silent alarm.

Upon receipt of the silent signal,

the alarm company had notified the LAPD Communications Center.

As soon as they were able, someone in the bank had called the FBI.

It was standard procedure.

I checked with the FBI to make certain the crime had occurred.

You better get going. Those guys weren't kidding.

- How many involved? - Three.

On the way in, they each fired a shot through the roof of the bank.

- How much did they get? - A bundle. Maybe 50 grand.

- Big score. - Bigger than that.

On the way out, they shot and killed a customer.

12:30 p.m.

Williams and Seret, together with the team from Homicide,

were still at the Bank of Industry.

There was no action at our Western Avenue stakeout.

12:35.

Bill gave some booking advice to a young

patrolman who had just made his first arrest.

Well, about that time.

- For what? To go fishing? - To go where?

- Joe, tell me something. - Anything.

- What is this? - It looks like a fishing tackle box to me.

To you, yes. It's a lunch box, Joe.

- I see. - Now you do because I just told you.

Luncheon hour fresco.

After dinner mints, cookies, gherkins, apricots, figs, prunes, more cookies,

cheese snacks, and many more things.

Makes you hungry, doesn't it?

I'm full just looking at it.

Well, help yourself, old friend. There's plenty here for both of us.

There's enough for the whole division.

My favorite, fried egg sandwich. Got four. You want one?

- Cold fried egg. - No other way, my boy.

How about some mild green Mexican peppers?

I don't think so.

How about a pickled hard-boiled egg?

You're really an egg lover, aren't you?

I could eat them all day.

You got enough there to do that.

Jumbo black olives?

Tiny corn on the cob. Little babies.

Artichoke hearts in chili sauce? Mighty tasty.

No, thanks.

You're really not much of a gourmet. You know that, don't you, Joe?

No, I just don't have a glass-lined stomach I guess.

You guess. I guess.

Wonderful. You know what you're missing.

Maybe not.

- You know what this is? - It looks like another sandwich to me.

It's bread, just plain bread, Joe.

- And this? - That's a knife.

- And this? - I got no idea.

This is in case I want to make myself a different kind of sandwich than I have.

Yeah, you don't want to run short.

You know what's in this jar?

- Deviled egg. - You figured.

I really don't know how you stay alive the way you eat.

I was about to say the same thing to you.

You know that still looks like a fishing tackle box to me.

All right, Joe. If it would make you happy, it is.

- It makes a great lunchbox though, doesn't it? - Uh-huh.

You go ahead and help yourself.

There's plenty of room there for everything, right?

Right.

I've been looking all over for that. That's my favorite crowd hook.

Enjoy your lunch. I know a great throat doctor.

- Where did you find that? - In the carrots.

- Oh, that's good. - Huh?

I thought it might have been in the celery.

Well, put it down, Joe. It's not going to bite you.

Joe, see you a minute?

- All right, son. Do you want to go over that again? - Sure.

I think we got a break on that strong arm homicide the other night.

- Is this the suspect? - Picked him about an hour ago.

- For what? - Trying to roll the sailor on the theater down at South Main.

He picked the wrong man. It turned out the sailor wasn't really asleep.

Ticket taker at the show said he turned ole Juan here inside out.

- Where is the sailor now? - Shipyard fellow took him to the hospital.

- Thought you said he won. - He did but he broke this hand on this guy's head.

- What about the stomping? - The wino who was killed the other night had a buddy.

They shared a pad in a flophouse down by the mission.

Homicide found him the joint yesterday.

The guy told him the victim's name was Maude Hill.

The only thing he had in the world was a medal.

His name was stamped on the back, a St. Christopher medal.

The one he was wearing when we picked him up.

- Do you understand English? - Sure, sure.

The officers gave you your rights?

Yeah, listen, but what I really need is whiskey. You got some?

How'd you get this?

- I took it, okay? - How did you take it?

Oh, look. How do I know when I jump on his

chest, a rib is going to through his heart, hah?

Book him.

Joe, got ourselves a real young hero here.

I'll be with you in a minute.

- Good old skid row. - Yeah.

Where yesterday's victim, is today's suspect.

Joe.

Unless you're growing, sit down.

Control 327. This is 6K21. Over?

About time we had hijackers showed up.

Control 327. Go ahead 21.

Roger, Joe.

We think we have spotted the suspect in the car with two other

male Negroes southbound on Western Avenue.

Vehicle is a late model Chevy. License number Robert Sam Queen 374. Over.

Check that through DMV, will you, Bill?

Right.

6K21, are you in communication with the stakeout team? Over.

Negative control. We've lost contact with the location.

Will you relay the information? Over.

Control 327. Will do 21.

Are you following the suspects? Over.

Roger. But we don't want to get too close.

Officer Gannon, Robbery Division. Got a car for you.

Late model Chevy. License number Robert Sam Queen 374.

Can't race the stakeout team?

The car is too close. It looks like we're too far away.

Think we ought to use the phone?

Well, I hate to chance it, don't you?

If somebody calls that apartment and gets a

busy signal, those guys are in big trouble.

- Yeah, you're right. - I may have to use the com center yet.

Would you repeat that address, please?

The car belongs to a woman in Alhambra.

The same place they dumped off that truck driver this morning.

This is Control 327 calling 6K22. How do you read? Over.

Barely hear you, Control, but I understand the suspects are in the vicinity. Over.

Affirmative 22. Your signal is very weak.

Roger, Control. We read you but

1:15 p.m.

We continued to relay information between the Western Avenue stakeout team

and the car that was tailing the suspects.

Bill called the registered owner of the late model Chevy.

She was a nurse in Alhambra.

Her car had been stolen from a hospital parking lot the night before.

What happened? From over here, it sounded like your stakeout is about to pay off.

The suspects are in a drive-in so we wait. Now, what's this about our hero?

This is the guy who took our bait this morning.

Remember where the woman on the phone said to put the dough?

Yeah, in an alley near 5th and Wall, didn't she?

In a briefcase in a garbage can. That's where the kid found it.

- How did that happen, son? - Easy.

I was running through the alley, knocked over

the garbage can, and out came the briefcase.

He's a jogger. Isn't that what you call it? He runs every place he goes.

Keeps me in shape, man.

That's all there was to it, he stubbed his toe and bingo.

The fellow he works for claims this guy will be president someday.

What'd you think when the officers ran up and grabbed you, son?

I thought I was on TV, man. I kept looking around for the truck.

You can see for yourselves it's gone, isn't it?

I know I've been robbed that's why I came to you people.

Would you like to tell us the whole story, Mrs. Gorman?

There's nothing more to tell. I've been robbed.

Someone stole my wallet.

How much money did you have in it?

I don't know exactly, $300 or $400.

It's not the money, it's the wallet.

How is that, ma'am?

It's an anniversary present from my husband.

He just gave it to me this morning before he left for work.

Do you have any idea where your wallet was taken?

- I'm not certain of that. - All right, Ms. Gorman.

Suppose you start at the beginning and try to remember what you've done,

where you've been so far today.

Well, as I said, my husband gave me the wallet.

I transferred all my credit cards and money from my handbag.

- Have you ever carried a wallet before? - Why do you ask?

Well, you said you transferred everything from your handbag.

Now did you mean your old wallet?

No. As a matter of fact, it's the first wallet I've ever owned.

Would you go on the police, now what did you

do after you put everything in the new wallet?

Well, I left the house, stopped for gas, and then I had some shopping to do.

Where did you do your shopping?

- That's it! - Ma'am.

It was at Cliveden's, the department store.

Well, I remember now.

I bought a few things and there was this

strange-looking man standing right next to me and I

left my wallet on the counter while the clerk went to ring up my purchase.

Mrs. Gorman, have you looked through all your pockets?

My pockets?

Well, you're not used to carrying a wallet, and it's possible you might have slipped

it into one of your pockets.

No, that's not possible.

I never do things like&

Well, if that doesn't beat all my wallet.

Yes, ma'am.

2:10 p.m.

The hijack suspects had left the drive-in.

They were headed west, away from the stakeout.

The Chevy began to look more and more like a decoy.

I alerted the team in the suspect's apartment.

Want to bet?

You make it easy on yourself, pal.

You got a deal. A free lunch if nobody shows

at the apartment. That Chevy is not a decoy.

Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Beach.

I've come for my gun release.

- Beach, is it? - B-E-A-C-H.

- First name Clarence. Middle initial S. - Yes, sir.

The application was submitted five days ago, Sergeant.

- It is sergeant, is it not? - Sergeant Friday, that's right.

Five days Sergeant Friday, during which time you have determined that I'm neither

wanted nor insane, precisely as the law requires.

Yes, sir.

What do you do for a living, Mr. Beach?

- And your name, sir? - Gannon.

- Is it Sergeant? - No, just officer.

Well Officer Gannon, I live on a rather

generous pension from my family, don't you see?

I never found it necessary to seek employment.

Ever been in a hospital Mr. Beach?

You mean a mental hospital?

I have not.

- Everything is in order I trust. - According to this, yes, sir.

Excellent! Then I'll just take it and be on my way.

I'm a little curious Mr. Beach. What's the gun for?

That Sergeant is a personal matter.

Not if you intend to break the law.

You plan on shooting someone, Mr. Beach?

Well, indeed not.

Maybe there's somebody you just want to scare a little, huh?

Precisely. Dreadful man.

He lives in the apartment directly above me for six months now, gentlemen.

He has been x-raying me through the ceiling.

- I see. - You've noticed my hat and coat perhaps.

- Yes, sir. - They've always saved my life, gentlemen.

And how is that, Beach?

The medals, the badges, they absorb the x-rays, don't you see?

2:45 p.m.

The injured owner of the market came in to look at some mug shots.

He identified the robbery and assault suspects still at large.

He said he was selling his store.

The stakeout team is sure quiet out there.

Yeah, I'm getting a little worried.

I have been for the last hour.

- I'll get the books in. - Right.

- Have a seat right down there, Mr. Rogers. - This way.

Name is Rogers, the victim teller from the Bank of Industry.

The guy they killed was standing in front of his cage. Smells like collusion.

- What makes you think so? - Something one of the witnesses overheard.

- What was that? - One of the stickup men, the killer.

- Yeah? - Rogers called him by name.

- What about the stakeout team? - What about it?

- Want to bring them in? - I do not.

I still think they're going to have company out there.

Boy. You sure give up hard, don't you?

3:40 p.m.

We talked to Rogers for the better part of an hour.

I gave him his rights.

At 3:50 p.m., he identified a photograph in the mug book.

Okay, I understand but why me fellows?

I didn't rob the bank and I don't shoot customers.

You said it yourself Rogers.

There were nine female tellers on duty in that bank yet the thieves walked the entire

length of the building to get to your window. How come?

I don't know.

If you were robbing a bank, Mr. Rogers, who would you pick on, a male or a female?

I don't rob banks. I work in them.

That photograph you had pointed out a little

while ago, do you know where that man lives?

- Of course not. - We do.

You... you do?

Let's put it this way. We did know.

Yeah, he moved out this morning.

Well, where did he live?

At the downtown hotel for men, Rogers, right down the hall from your room.

I want to see a lawyer.

Joe, see you a minute?

You better sit down here and listen some more.

- The stakeout call? - Just now. Somebody is rattling the door of the apartment.

4:15 p.m.

We kept waiting for the stakeout team to respond.

We were beginning to get concerned.

Well, look who wrote the desk today.

Check your wallets. Here comes the night watch.

You guys are early, aren't you?

- Can't wait to get behind the desk, huh, Ray? - Oh, sure.

How did it go today, Joe?

Oh, the usual, a little bit of everything, you know.

Hey, what is this, a wake?

We hope not.

This is 6K22 to Control 327. How do you read? Over.

You are still weak but readable 22.

What's the situation there? Over.

This is 6K22. No problem here, Control.

We've got four suspects in custody.

Leaving right away. On the way in. Over.

Roger, Control 327. KMA367.

Just like that?

Just like that.

Going fishing, are you Gannon?

- Nope, just paying off. - Paying off what?

Joe and I had a little lunch bet on that stakeout we had going.

Joe won.

I meant a hot lunch. None of that picnic delight of yours.

You just wait. What I'm about to give you is better than any lunch.

The bet was for lunch.

You just take what I'm about to give in any good

restaurant and they'll give you the best meal

in the house in exchange.

- You mean you keep money in there too. - Oh, better than that.

You may not be a gourmet, but most people are. Here we go.

- I haven't even touched it. - Brand new jar.

What are those?

Quail eggs.

All criminal cases during this particular day

watch tour of Robbery Division were reduced

to a final report form by the investigative detective teams concerned.

Upon completion of the investigations,

the crime reports were turned over to the

District Attorney, City of Los Angeles for handling.