Original subtitles

dad can you tell us about the people he worked with dad called him the

mongoose the mongoose and you gotta know that he's working with somebody right

inside your own department conspiracy to commit gambling i got a 14 year old

kid out there looking for his father's killer yeah you gotta slow down

Thank you.

It's good of you to come. You come without asking what it is I want.

You are good friends.

You know...

Lee, I think Crowley would use any excuse to come in here for your pork

fried noodles.

That's what I ordered.

Oh. I think he's part Chinese.

Lee, you got a problem, right?

I need some help.

My grandson.

He's 17.

Been gone three months now.

Three months?

Why did you wait till now to call us?

Because, uh...

It's a family problem.

But after three long months, I call you now.

His mother, she's very sick, and I'm worried.

You've not heard a word from her for three months, huh? No.

What's his name, Lee?

Herriam.

Herriam Kwan.

Nothing to be alarmed about.

It's to be expected.

Gambling? It'll be all right.

You know my people, they gamble in the back.

And the police, they do their job.

Perfect, it's in. We're on the way to the station with 14 suspects.

All right, let's move out.

Hey, listen, I sure hope you don't do anything to the cooks back there because

I got an order of pork fried noodles working.

Crowley, how are you? Good, how are you?

Hey, Pepper.

What is the first team doing in these back alleys?

Surely it can't be the fine cuisine in this dump. Well, I don't know about

that. Well, it must be pretty slow down there, huh? You guys got nothing to do

except hassle all men?

Now, wait a minute.

This is a commercial operation.

Advice gets a lot of heat if we don't take these games.

Besides, it's not that easy.

So what are you doing here?

Mr. Kwan's grandson is missing. He was just telling us about it.

Well, he'll turn up.

Probably running with one of the gangs.

These people have really gotten out of hand.

No offense.

They're all loaded up now. What about this guy?

Yeah, book him.

Like I said, it's not that easy. See, that guy, he's a lookout.

Anybody suspicious comes in here, he pushes a button behind that counter, and

bingo, the game is over. And by the time you get in the back, it's chests and

checkers and chopsticks, huh?

Right.

Hold it up a minute.

Mr. McCormick, he would like to say a few words.

Thank you.

Now, you all know how I feel about organized gambling in this city.

Not only is it illegal, but it also breeds other forms of crime.

Prostitution, corruption.

And then again, you all know this.

So let me just say that I stopped by to say, keep up the good work.

The very good work.

Thank you.

Your lieutenant explained to me about how you took the lookout.

I'd call that good old police technique, Sarge.

McCormick, why don't you can all that crud you dished out in there and save it

till next year when you run for re-election?

Did you have any problems?

Fine.

You sure you got them? The tickets?

Uh-huh. I got them.

Now, hot dog, about our bet.

I'll tell you what.

I'll give you the Rams at three.

Uh-uh. I got the Rams, but with seven.

Seven? The spread is three. What are you trying to do, hustle me?

All right, you bandit. You got seven.

Now let's get going before we miss the kickoff.

Dad?

Thanks.

Why? I still got a good bet with seven.

I mean, thanks for giving up your golf today.

I know about the tournament.

Mr. Bain called while you were in the shower.

Well, I'll tell you something, bandit.

Something dumb.

But I'd rather spend some day with you than play golf in the Masters.

Now, let's get... Wait a minute. Where's the radio?

Go get the radio.

Hey, Paul.

Glad communication got a hold of you two.

Some mess, huh? Anybody in that thing? Curtis Forrester.

The reporter?

Right.

You got any suspects?

We just got started. That's his kid over there.

He was standing near the house when it happened.

Your kid saw it happen?

Yeah.

I need someone to question him and then transport him over to Barton Hall.

Barton Hall?

Paul, are you crazy? You can't let a kid go through an experience like this and

then dump him at Barton Hall. What are you thinking about?

That's terrible.

What about his family? Has he got any relatives?

That's the problem. There is no one.

His mother died two years ago.

We've already contacted probation.

He's got to go to Barton Hall until they can line up a foster place, home.

So meanwhile, we just question the kid and dump him at the hall, is that it?

Paul, can't you just turn him over to juvenile?

Pepper, what I need is a woman's touch.

You're the only female investigator that's not tied up today.

Juvenile's got no one available.

I'd like to help the kid, Pep, but his old man was a reporter.

He might have been on to something big.

You're it, and that's all there is to it.

All right.

We'll question him, but we're not going to dump him off at that place like a

piece of baggage.

This is it?

Yes, it is.

Bill, where are we going?

Not here.

Probation man is here.

I mean, the boy's been through hell.

It could be weeks before he's able to open up to anybody.

You know, it's just going to take a while for him to face what's happened.

We can take this out on time.

The department is going to come down in the middle of your back for hiding him

here, and you forget it's not our case. It's homicides. How quickly you forget.

Go on and talk to him.

Here.

Do you like some hot chocolate?

Jeff?

Jeff, we need your help to find out whoever is responsible for your father's

death.

We know how terrible you feel and how much he meant to you, but... we need

your help.

I found some marshmallows.

Oh. You want one?

Yeah, I like to watch them melt.

What about you, Jeff?

Jeff,

we think your dad was mixed up in something pretty big.

You have any idea what it could have been?

I mean, I really want to catch the guy that did that to your dad.

And I promise you something, I will.

But I can't do it by myself.

We need your help, Jeff.

Will you help us?

I'll help you.

I want to help you.

Son, do you know what your dad was working on?

What kind of a story?

No.

He didn't talk about it much.

He used to talk with Mom, but...

It's okay, Jim.

It's okay.

Can you tell us...

About the people he worked with.

You mean on his own?

Yeah.

He had an informant.

He used to talk with them on the telephone.

They used to meet all the time.

Do you know his name, where he lived, anything like that?

No.

Dad called him the Mongoose.

The Mongoose?

You asleep?

Yeah.

Nice kid.

He is a good kid.

Did you ever turn the heat on in this place?

You cold?

Yeah, I'm almost cold.

Let me get you some hot coffee.

You know something?

What?

I saw a side of you I never noticed before tonight.

Oh, like what? Like I make cold coffee?

No, that you'd make a good father.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Jeff got a lot of strength from you.

Do you know what time it is?

I can't make it. I'm gonna go to bed. I haven't finished this.

Well, I want to give you the keys to the car.

Pick us up in the morning, okay?

You got an extra bathrobe?

I love to sleep in men's bathrobes.

Yes? I'm from the probation department.

Sergeant Crowley?

No, Sergeant Pepper Anderson.

I'm Mary Snyder, juvenile probation officer.

I've come for the boy.

You realize you were supposed to transport him to Barton Hall last night.

The boy is here.

Yes, he is here.

I made some coffee. Why don't you... You don't have to explain your behavior to

me, Sergeant.

This is a juvenile court order for the return of Jeffrey Forrester.

Bill,

this is Mary... Snyder.

I'm with probation.

I've explained to your friend why I'm here.

The boy's asleep.

Would you please wake him?

Look, we've just begun to get through to him about his father. If you would try

to understand.

I'm afraid I do.

You see, I have to make a complete report about all this.

My only concern is the well-being of the child.

This Miss Snyder and that Jeff's gonna try to find you a really good temporary

home.

But things are gonna work out, okay?

Let me tell you something.

I gave you my word. We're gonna catch him.

Sergeant Crowley, I just want you to know that

my dad was a good reporter because...

Because he could relate to people.

He could put himself in their shoes, take on their problems.

My mom told me that once.

She was right.

I just wanted to thank you, you and Sergeant Anderson, for

being like him and being with me last night.

Where is Jeff?

I called everywhere.

He's with the probation department there.

They're trying to find him a suitable home. A suitable home?

That's right, sir. Mrs. Longley, find out who the chief probation officer is

and get him on the line.

I thought a Lieutenant Salvino of Homicide was assigned this case.

That's right. He is. We're assisting him.

Mr. Bain, could you tell us what Forrester was working on? What stories?

He was working on several assignments.

Like what?

Consumer fraud, a profile on bank robbers.

Yeah? What else?

Corruption in city government.

Involving who?

I don't know.

Kurt was the best guy here, and you people know it.

And when he was on standard assignments, he touched base with me.

But when he was into something big, he'd go full bore and alone till he had his

facts.

Which of these would you consider Routine.

Consumer fraud.

Who's the mongoose?

What? Jeff mentioned that his father was working with somebody called the

mongoose. Who is that, Mr. Bain?

I'm sorry, I don't know.

Now, if you do, this is hardly the time to remind us of freedom of the press.

Sergeant Anderson, Kurt was more than just an employee here.

He was a close, personal friend.

And this paper would go to any extreme to find this killer.

Then why did you look away when we mentioned the mongoose?

Well, this mongoose, as Kurt chose to call him, was just a faceless name to

me, to all of us here.

We don't know who he is. Then how did they communicate?

Well, this mongoose would call and set up appointments. That much I do know.

Mongoose always phoned Forrester? Right, right. And then they'd obviously meet

and... Oh, yeah, put him on.

Mr. Olin?

Yes, I'm calling about Jeff Forrester.

When?

Keep me posted. If there's anything this paper can do, call me.

Jeff's run away.

Crowley, what in the hell are you up to?

I'm just screwing around here, Captain. Tightening up the pencil, Charlie. Don't

get cute with me.

That boy, you took him to your apartment, didn't you? I said, don't get

cute. Yeah, well, Captain, let me tell you something. Now, what I do in my off

-duty hours is my business. You've got no right to even question about my

personal life. Look, when you violate the rules and subject the department to

outside criticism and interfere with an important investigation, I've got every

right. Now, Crowley, I'm telling you, you take those files back to Homicide,

give them to Salvino, and you get out of this.

Now, stay out of Chinatown. You could have lost up that raid, too.

Now what do you got, a movie to steal his holster or something?

Hey, what's the matter? Bet I know what that was all about. Guess I should have

gone home.

I thought it was legal between consenting adults.

Me too.

What's the matter, you guys got nothing to do?

Joe, take this file down to Solvino.

Now, both of you, get over to Juvenile and see if you can help him locate that

kid. Park say we were in on this?

Nope. I need some help, Mr. Bain.

Jeff, where are you?

My dad worked with someone called the Mongoose. I want to meet him. I need his

telephone number so that I can... Jeff, listen.

The police will find him.

You stay right where you are and I'll send someone to pick you up.

Now give me your location.

I can't, Mr. Bain.

Now will you give me the number, please?

I don't have it, Jeff.

Now where are you?

Well, I'm not in any home, I'll tell you that.

All right, Morris, how about it?

Look. Bill, like I told you before, you don't give me the court order, I cannot

give you the tolls. Now, I'm sorry, but that's company policy. Morris, like I

told you before, Pepper is with the judge right now, should be here any

minute. I'm sorry.

Sorry, hell, I got a 14-year-old kid out there looking for his father's killer.

I want Forster's tolls, Morris, and I want them now.

Bill, please, sit down, relax, huh?

You talk about your red tape.

Did you do stop the lunch? No, but the judge did.

Let's go.

Read it later, will you?

Listen, if you want all the subscriber information here, it's going to take a

while. We'll wait.

This is the weakest X.

He's got to be one of these six phone numbers.

We'll try him. First, I want to check that house. In case Jeff might be there.

You know, you're sticking your neck way out in this one. Why?

Homicidal.

Look at that.

That's Forrester's house.

12Y50 requesting fire units to 1338 Sunshine Terrace. There's a van pulling

up. Let's get it.

12Y50.

12Y50 requesting a clear frequency.

We're in pursuit of a possible arson suspect from 1338 Sunshine Terrace. You

got that?

Roger.

Take it a little easy, huh, Bill?

Uh, 12Y50, 12Y50, suspect's vehicle is a 68 Ford van, light

blue, license number, can you see it, Bill?

143. License number 143. Peter Charlie Edward.

Peter Charlie Edward.

You're wild, Bill. Today?

Come on, take it easy.

You gotta slow down.

You've got to slow down. Somebody will let the other ones catch up. We're going

to lose them.

12Y50 requesting a traffic unit.

We had a little accident. Crowley was driving, of course. We're at the end

of...

Sunshine Terrace in a ravine, would you believe it?

Suspect last seen heading westbound on Trent.

You gotta change your driving habits.

Get out of the car.

Michael said it was definitely arson. Yeah.

Quote, we could have parked a rig right on top of this place and it still would

have burned to the ground. End of quote.

Uh, who'd the van finally come back to?

Joe's running it now.

Bill. What?

Hey, you turkeys. I thought you ordered off this case.

We were close by, so I asked Bill to swing by and check, okay?

Well, okay.

But the old man's on his way, and I'd clear out if I were you.

Hey, Bill.

That van was stolen out of Las Vegas.

Radio car just located it six blocks west of here.

What about the driver? No luck, but they recovered two empty gas cans. They call

Prince? They're en route.

Hmm.

What else can happen to this kid?

Yeah, that's luck.

We got the toll calls.

Good, that was vain. Jeff called.

Where is he? He doesn't know. The kid's out there looking for the mongoose. He

must start making his call.

I'd like to speak to the mongoose, please.

Right, the mongoose.

No, I'm not kidding.

Yeah, well, you do the same, Tal.

Yeah? Mongoose?

What is this?

Police officer. I want to talk to you.

Man, you gotta be crazy. I can't meet you.

I'm being watched.

Okay, then I'll come meet you.

You know where I live?

Look, buddy, I told you I'm a cop. I've already run your number. Sure I know

where you live.

Yeah, all right.

Yeah, but not here.

You know, synagogue at 8 in Oxford.

Tonight, 7 o'clock.

Yeah, and be alone.

You Jerome?

How did you know?

The telephone company, huh?

It's all right. That ain't my real name anyway.

Firester picked that one out.

The real Jerome, Jerome Stallings, was killed.

Traffic accident.

And you're who?

Mongoose.

That's enough mongoose.

What was Forrester into?

Man... For all I know, man, you got to be a part of the whole thing.

Part of what whole thing?

Corruption. Corruption.

That's what Forrester called it.

That's all I know.

Look, pal, now you get to the bottom line, or we're gonna go down to the

station, print you, and then we'll find out just who you really are.

You getting my message?

Right.

John McCormick, your esteemed councilman, is in debt.

He's a big loser.

Some local bookies, some that ain't so local.

You what?

And he's getting paid off.

A big gambling syndicate to keep the heat off of Chinatown. It's a Chinese

syndicate.

And you've got to know that he's working with somebody right inside your own

department.

Where's the boy?

I don't know. I never met him.

Why? He's run away.

You think he could be in any danger?

Not unless he's got his father's file.

What would be in the files?

Well, I was able to get a hold of the councilman McCormick's markers. Now,

just by themselves, that's... That wouldn't look too pretty in front of a

grand jury, right?

There he is. You want to tell him first about his grandson?

Yeah.

You have news of my grandson.

Lee, we have some bad news for you.

Your grandson's dead, Lee.

He was found in San Francisco. A drug overdose.

It is as I feared.

I have relatives there that can bring him home.

Is there anything we can do?

No.

I have already caused you both much trouble.

I will tell his mother. It is a family matter.

Lee, there's another young boy who's in trouble.

His father was murdered.

And, well, I'm afraid that some of your people are involved.

We need your help, Lee.

How's the showy-my tonight?

Please, come with me.

Control under arrest. Everybody freeze. Get your hands above the table.

Steve, come in and tell them, will you?

I know.

You think it's gonna happen?

Something better happen soon. I'd sure hate to have to explain this raid to

Parks. I'd hate to have to explain anything to that... hardhead.

Come out.

Looks like somebody's making a move.

You're in charge of this?

That's right.

Let's go outside.

You've made a grave mistake.

Oh, yeah? How do you figure that?

This is not the night we agreed for a raid.

Uh-huh.

Well, I tell you, I'm taking all these people in, and that includes the money.

You people must be new to vice.

Why don't we talk?

My name is Fong.

Being new, we should not get what the others get.

Yet.

Well, what do you think we should get?

Five hundred dollars a week for all. Five hundred?

For everybody?

Does that sound fair to you?

Why don't you show Mr. Fong what you got in your purse?

Mr. Fong, we'd like your help with a little matter we're investigating.

I will do it.

Okay, thank you.

Hi, can I help you?

I'd like to see either Sergeant Anderson or Sergeant Crowley. I'm sorry, they're

both out. Can I help you?

Well, can I have a pencil?

Will a pen do?

Sure.

Front desk, Officer Boyer speaking.

I'll have you transferred to Burglary Artifact.

Thank you.

Could you please give this to Sergeant Crowley? It's very important.

Okay,

let's go. I've got places to go and people to see. You should learn to

better schedule your time.

Or when we hurry, we are more prone to mistakes.

You're a regular fortune cookie, you know that?

What are you doing here? We were about to ask you the same thing.

Uh, meeting a snitch.

What's in the sack, Jack?

Leachy nuts. A friend I know likes them, and, uh... One of them whipped.

You like leachy nuts?

You know, I was real stupid of you.

I thought you had more smarts than this, Wagner.

Okay, you got it. You're under arrest.

Crowley, I have read every manual there is on interrogation, and you're wasting

your time.

Book me.

What's criminal conspiracy doing on this anyway? I mean, where's internal

affairs, huh?

Oh, I get it.

Conspiracy to commit gambling.

Well, that's worth about a 50-buck fine.

What about conspiracy to commit murder?

You crazy?

You know what a guy gets when we bust him for gambling?

A ten-buck fine.

The law is a joke.

Nobody cares.

So when I get offered a hundred a week to do the same thing I've been doing for

five years, well, why not?

But get off this thing about murder.

Did you know Curtis Forrester?

Sure, a hell of a nice guy.

Well, we think your politician friend may have killed him.

Or had him killed.

McCormick? Come on.

He was about to expose him, Wagner.

Endure involvement in Chinese gambling interests.

Crazy.

You believe this?

You recognize that?

Sure. McCormick's phone number, so.

These are Forrester's tolls.

He phoned McCormick three days before he was killed.

Obviously to confront him with the story.

My name is Jeff Forrester. My dad was Curtis Forrester.

Yes, he had your name and number in an appointment book, it appears.

Could we meet someplace?

I have to talk to you.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Thank you.

Rowley, I won't bore you with specifics.

Do you have any idea what you're doing?

Time for bringing those tapes, will you?

I'm sorry, Chief, we just don't know who was involved.

Bill? Uh, excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but Mr. Mossman here, I mean, what

is the Attorney General's interest in this case?

We're still into them, for obvious reasons.

I've been studying your technique, Sergeant.

Do you conduct all your investigations in this fashion?

In what fashion?

Unilaterally.

Uh, I think the important thing right now is to get the job done.

And we got two immediate problems.

Find Jeff Forrester and bust McCormick.

Yeah, Joe, what do you want? Excuse me.

Forrester boy left it at the desk for you.

Sergeant Crowley, I have most of my dad's files. I'm going to meet with

someone who may help.

I'll keep in touch. Sorry I missed you, Jeff.

Joe, you and Pete get a team together. Check every hotel in the downtown area.

What kept you?

Wrong was late.

Take good care of it. There won't be any more.

What's that supposed to mean, Wagner?

Well, it's simple.

We had an agreement.

I take care of the games. You keep everything in line.

Well, Councilman, you went too far. It seems you're involved in a murder.

Curtis Forrester?

You've been smoking some of that weed that you boys confiscate.

I know he talked to you. I've seen his tolls.

And I know he was about to give us some big...

Mr.

McCormick? I have a warrant to search your residence.

Well, that's it.

Yeah, now let's see what the lie detector says about Councilman

McCormick.

Hey, Rob.

So, what do you think?

Our councilman is being very cooperative.

Oh, I avoided any area that could jeopardize your gambling conspiracy.

No, sir. Thanks.

What about Forrester's murder?

Oh, he's clean, Pepper. They never met.

Forrester did phone to set up an appointment.

McCormick thought it was about a story on his good record in fighting crime.

But McCormick and Forrester never met. That's right.

Okay, thanks, Ralph. Yeah, thanks.

Listen, call Bain's office. See if you can come with any more background on

Forrester's assignments.

What about robbery on the site? You want me to call them? Pepper, just call

Bain's office, okay?

Okay, Forrester was here on the 19th.

Mr. Hawley, what was his primary interest with the Bureau?

He was writing an article on the futility of robbing banks.

You know, because of the security, cameras, everything.

We solved about nine out of ten, which is pretty bad odds for a crook.

And he also looked through the outstanding suspect files.

That's suspects that are photographed during actual robberies, have been

identified, but haven't been arrested yet.

Do you have that file in the service?

Oh, yes, we do.

Can I see it? Oh, certainly.

Most of them have been reduced to wanted posters.

Did Forrester look through the show book?

Yes, he did.

Several of them interested him.

Oh? One in particular because he took it with him.

Let's see.

Looks like we've got our work cut out for us.

Yeah. He took a copy of that with him.

Looks like... I think we're gonna move on it.

Bill, the manager thinks the boy is staying here.

Room 109, pay for three nights in advance. Where's Pete?

Upstairs, checking.

Anything about the mongoose? We just left there. He's gone. Robbie Homicide's

gonna stake it. Hey, you got anything?

Yeah. Look what I found in the kids' room.

Looks like he's got a meeting with a mongoose tonight at 8.

Where? Doesn't say. I think I know where. Yeah?

Jeff?

Over here.

So, you wanted to talk?

You worked with my father.

I thought you might be able to tell me what he was working on.

Sure, sure.

You joke.

Pat, take that aisle.

That your dad's file?

No, just some notes I was taking.

Anybody know about this meeting?

No.

The first.

Pull it!

Pull it!

What happens

to Jeff now?

He's gonna stay with the Baines so they can find a good foster home.

Good. Is he okay?

Yeah, I think he's gonna be okay.

Listen, I want you to keep in touch with him, sweetie.

You gonna stay in touch?

Well, all I can say is that I love you both.

We love you too, honey.

We really do.

It's tough.

Hey, Jeff, listen, what do you say I, uh... I get this Sunday off, why don't I

come by and pick you up? Spend the day together, okay?

Pepper?

Oh, well, I don't know about pepper. I, uh... Uh... Yeah, okay, with the pepper.

Okay, you gonna tell me?

It's very simple.

First you fry your sausages, then you add your peppers, your mushrooms, your

garlic. That's not what I mean.

Smell this.

Huh?

You're evading the issue. You broke every rule in the book.

I felt sorry for the kid, just like you did.

No, there's more to it than that. Come on, why?

You want the story of my life? You already know that.

You never talk about when you were a little boy.

You never talk about when you were a little girl.

I never was a little girl.

I'm by that.

Bill. Okay, I was in the home.

Like Bart.

No, it's probably worse than Bart.

You wouldn't believe what goes on in some of those places.

I wasn't going to let that happen to that kid.

Want to go to San Francisco?

When? Tonight.

What are you talking about? I've already got the tickets.

Are you kidding? I got two days of report writing to do.

The review board reviewed our little traffic accident.

It seems we failed to avoid an avoidable accident. We are on a two-day

suspension.

We are?

Mm-hmm.

You wouldn't believe what goes on in San Francisco.