Original subtitles

Mr. Lorna is in trouble.

She's been missing for two days.

He's not loaded.

This one is.

Perhaps you're forgetting what she was like.

He was certain about her place with God.

She's probably with Donny.

Her ex-husband, Lorna, was married.

Donny's the obvious suspect.

I also know he's not capable of doing something like this.

I take my vow of celibacy much more seriously than my vow of obedience.

Well, what do you think?

Hello, do I know you?

I'm not going to do anything like this.

Growing up, I always regarded nuns with a certain kind

of respect, someone you gave your seat to on the subway.

But they're people, just like everybody else.

They eat and sleep and laugh and cry.

And just like everybody else, nuns can also die.

Hi.

Hi, this is your Lorna.

Oh, boy, I'm so tired.

I want to go on vacation.

I'm going on my honeymoon to Paris.

Oh, you're so bad.

I wish I could come home.

You're invited.

It's okay.

And how about you?

Where are you going on your honeymoon?

Well, I want to go to Rome.

That's good.

How about you, Doug?

Where are you going on your vacation?

I'm going to do a light.

You have all my class.

You know what to do here.

Give me the puppets.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are you

coming in all right?

Of course.

Why?

Well, you've been sleeping very well last night.

I heard you tossing and turning.

Just nerves of apprehension or excitement.

Happiness.

I can't believe that just one week from today I will have taken my final vows.

It's finally going to happen.

He pushed me.

Oh, come on.

Sit down.

Let me take a look at this.

Oh, I was going to look that bad.

Clean it up.

And you'll be fine.

How's that?

Thanks, Mr. Amelia.

Be careful.

I will.

It was just one of those mornings.

I'd spent a long, rough night with a lady who should

remain nameless, only because I can't remember her name.

I wasn't too excited about facing the sunlight,

and neither was the bowling ball inside my head.

I needed to check out of the office and go to the track to

heal, but my plans were changed by an unexpected visitor.

She's been missing for two days.

I know something's wrong.

Have you been to the police?

This morning.

I spoke to Captain Chambers.

He said he'd look into it and suggested I contact you in the meantime.

Really?

With much the same expression on his face as I now see on yours, I might add.

Well, maybe that's because we take the same professional view of the situation.

Nine times out of ten, these things turn out to be nothing.

I didn't believe that when Captain Chambers said it, and I don't believe it now.

Sister Lorna is in trouble, and if you won't help

me, I'll just have to find someone else who will.

Sister?

Yes, Mr. Hammer.

That's right, isn't it, Sister?

Yes, that would be fine.

Why?

Well, I just want to know what you call this.

I'm going to be working for you.

You're taking the case?

I'm taking the case.

Then I imagine you'll be wanting some money.

Oh, no, that's okay.

I've missed the collection plate over the last couple of years.

Just call this a donation.

God bless you.

Mike, I'm sorry.

I'm late, but I had it.

Am I interrupting something?

That's okay.

I was just leaving.

Where to?

Yeah, where to?

I'm getting me to an enemy.

Sister, after you.

Picking final vowels is a very big step, Mr. Hammer.

Are you suggesting that Sister Lorna got cold feet and decided to think it over?

It wouldn't be the first time one of our Navi shoots.

We considered and left the order.

But Sister Lorna was looking forward to taking her vows.

That's all she talked about.

There was an incident on the playground the other day.

Sister, you think something could do with Sister Lorna's disappearance?

I saw her having an argument with a man.

A violent man.

She said he was just acting strangely, and she

was trying to keep him away from the children.

But that seems perfectly plausible to me.

Why do you insist on making so much of it?

Because Sister Lorna was so upset.

Perhaps you're forgetting what she was like when she first came to us.

Even you were concerned that she didn't belong here.

Sister Lorna had a very difficult childhood.

Her parents died when she was very young.

And she was brought up by a foster aunt.

She was certain about her place with God, though.

And with her choice for the future.

I'm sorry, Sister Superior.

I can't help being worried.

Thank you, Sister Amelia.

Your concern is admirable.

However, your zeal is something we'll discuss later.

I've no intention of giving up, Mr. Hammer.

Neither do I.

Do you know what her room was?

Certainly.

We were roommates.

Have you gone through with things?

Of course not.

I think you should.

There might be a lead.

I couldn't do something like that.

I could.

Impossible.

Men aren't allowed in the Nuns Quarters.

Yeah?

Have you got a spare habit?

No, no, no.

That's mine.

This is Sister Lorna's.

Yes?

Who's there?

It's Sister Paula.

I'd like to have that little talk with you now.

Yes.

Well, why do we go down to the library?

It's much more comfortable there.

That won't be necessary.

What's going on here, Sister Amelia?

I'm sorry, Sister Superior.

I can explain.

I hope so.

It was my intention to suggest that you reflect on your oath of obedience.

Now I see I should add needness to the list.

Yes, Sister.

I know how hard you work with Sister Lorna.

But sometimes God has other plans.

And I know it isn't going to be easy.

But you'll have to accept his decision in this matter.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Mr. Hammer?

I wish you'd call me Mike.

Who's Donnie?

Donnie.

I don't know.

Where did you find that?

From here.

Some of it's kind of interesting.

I don't want to hear it.

It isn't right.

Forgive me.

What does it say?

Dear Lorna, why don't you ever answer my letters?

It's been hell.

I can tell you that and the worst part is not

knowing where you are or what happened to you.

Now the worst part is how much I miss you and how much I want to be with you again.

Donnie.

I don't know who that could be.

She never talked about men.

Did nuns ever talk about men?

Well, Sister Mary Francis and I are in agreement

that Tom Cruise was blessed by the good Lord.

Yes.

This letter was written in care of Dorothy Putnam, 23 Overland, Long Island City.

Is that the same aunt that Sister Superior mentioned?

Yes.

And if you're going out there, I'm going with you.

What about your agreement with Sister Paula?

God, Sister Paula and I will have to find a way to work all that out later.

Mrs. Putnam, I'm Sister Amelia, Lorna's roommate.

This is Mr. Hammer.

He's a private investigator.

We'd like to ask you some questions about Lorna, Mrs. Putnam.

Come in, please.

Thank you.

Is Lorna in trouble?

Is everything all right?

Well, that's what we'd like to find out.

Who was the last time you saw her?

Oh, dear.

When a private investigator begins a conversation with that question,

it usually means the person is missing.

Yes, she is.

For two days now.

She's probably with Donnie.

Donnie, her old boyfriend?

Her ex-husband, I'm afraid.

Lorna was married.

We thought we'd gotten rid of Donnie for good.

He was released from prison a week ago, and he

showed up here demanding to know Lorna's whereabouts.

How did he end up in prison?

He committed a robbery.

He was away for four years.

I didn't want to tell him what Lorna was, but he frightened me.

Yeah, he's been fighting a lot of people lately.

Listen, you don't buy any chance to have a picture of him, do you?

Oh, good.

It's him.

That's the man who gave her trouble at the playground.

Donnie, what's his last name?

Novak.

Donnie Novak.

Well, thank you, Mrs. Sputlin.

You've been very helpful.

Listen, here's my card.

If you hear from Lorna, please get in touch with me.

Oh, sure.

Uh, Mr. Hammer, I, uh, I don't mean to appear forward, but, uh...

Many of the private investigators I've read about have given their guns names.

Have you?

And Dorothy, I'd like you to meet Betsy.

Oh.

Huh?

Mm.

You're really very proud of that gun, aren't you?

You save my life more than once and take a general like gun.

I hate him.

Ray, talk to the bad guys.

They stop using him so alive.

That's not the answer.

What is this term?

Where do we go now?

Check out Novak with the police, but you better not come along.

They use guns too, you know.

Just drive, Hammer.

I had to admit I was beginning to like Sister Amelia.

She had a certain spunk.

And it's not everybody who can put up with a guy like me.

Well, I, this is you two finally got together.

Captain.

Sister.

Yeah, it turns out that Sister Lola was married before she went into the convent.

A guy named Donnie Novak.

That four years in the slammer just got out.

She might be with him.

Yeah, this is Chambers.

I want you to contact Parole to see if you can get a lead on a Donnie Novak.

Just graduated.

That's right, Larry.

Mad found God.

I can't believe it myself.

Special prosecutor Lawrence T.

Barrington at your service system.

I feel the need to warn you that this man's soul is long beyond redemption.

I mean, a thousand Novinas couldn't possibly save it from eternal alf fire.

Thank you, Mr. Barrington, but I'm not helping him.

Mr. Hammer is helping me.

How could he possibly be helping you?

The Lord works in mysterious ways, Larry.

Hang on.

That could be him now.

Chambers?

Yeah, right.

Thank you.

Okay, Donnie Novak's got a room at the Ames Hotel.

Bless you, my son.

Mr. Hammer.

No problem.

We found Sister Lorna.

She wouldn't be taking her final vows.

You're here on A&E.

Sister Lorna turned up dead in the hotel room of the man she'd been married to,

Donnie Novak.

Nobody seemed to know much about him.

He'd spent time in prison for armed robbery.

He had a brother who ran a club in Manhattan.

He claimed he loved Lorna in a letter.

But he roughed her up outside the school and he'd been missing ever since.

Was he the one who killed her?

Go on in three passes.

Passes straight at sea.

Mrs. Putnam, I'm truly sorry.

I don't know what to say.

Thank you for coming, Mr. Novak.

I understand.

It's upsetting for all of us.

Mrs. Putnam, is that Donnie's brother?

Ray, complete opposite of Donnie.

Went to college, made something of himself.

It's a wonderful kind band.

Thank you.

Excuse me, Mr. Novak.

My name is Mike Hammer.

Do you mind if I talk to you for a second?

Sure.

I understand you're looking for my brother.

Yeah, has he contacted you?

I haven't seen him in a year.

I knew he was coming out, but he never even called me.

This was all part of growing up for us.

It's like Regina.

We all came here.

Me, Donnie, Lorna.

I know what he felt for her.

And I know we couldn't have harmed her.

She's dead and he's missing.

Donnie's the obvious suspect.

I know.

I also know he's not capable of doing something like this.

Well...

Then where was he?

If he didn't kill Lorna, why didn't he show up at her funeral?

Are you okay?

No.

Is there anything I can do for you?

No.

Let me know if there is.

Anything interesting?

Yeah, you and Donnie Novak's brother.

This is a police matter.

I want you to stay out of it.

C'mon, Pat, what'd you find out?

Mike, I got a murder and a suspect.

Mark the flound closed.

It existed to me to move you or something.

Where was the robbery?

Oh, you're a pain.

American aeronautics payroll job.

Who are the players?

That's something nobody ever figured out.

Donnie Novak was the only one caught and he never talked.

The money disadvantaged.

Never surfaced.

That was that.

No other suspects?

One, this guy, Jack Cooley and old paladonis.

You get this, Mike, work as a security guard.

American aeronautics.

Huh?

Sounds like an inside job.

Yeah, well, we checked him out for about three, four years.

Who did he might get bored with his lifestyle upscaled?

How upscaled?

How about 400 grand?

400 grand, you can buy a lot of smiles, maybe figure it was worth the wait.

Keep the cheers up your cheeks.

Yeah, but since when does money buy happiness?

Yeah, right, see ya.

I headed out to Kennedy.

The aeronautics plant where Donnie Novak and his pals took $400,000.

A guy named Tom Casey had been there the night of the robbery

and I was hoping he could tell me something about Jack Cooley.

Oh, yeah, Cooley was involved.

I'll bet my pension on it.

I couldn't pin it on him, but circumstances gave me grounds like a Smithman.

And I took him.

He didn't like it much, but then I never liked him much either.

They were wearing masks.

What makes you so sure it was Cooley?

Just a gut reaction, Mr. Hammer.

What else did your gut tell you about that night?

No, nothing much, but I'm sure there was one or two more waiting outside.

I mean, I had my hands full.

Any idea where I could find Cooley?

Last time I heard he was working in a sporting goods store over on a low east side.

Thanks, Casey.

Things were beginning to come together.

I had a strong feeling if I could find that 400

grand I could get the sister Lorna's killer.

If Jack Cooley was involved with the robbery, he might bring me a little closer.

Excuse me.

You Jack Cooley?

Yes, sir.

My name is Mike Hammer.

I'm a private investigator.

Who's the last time you heard from Donnie Novak?

Donnie Novak.

This has been quite a while.

Then you didn't know it.

Nope.

What are you asking me for?

Because of the payroll highs to the company that used to sign your checks.

Come on.

I had nothing to do with that.

It was a bum ramp.

And it cost me my security clearance.

And I don't like people checking up on me, Hammer.

I don't like people pointing guns at me, pal.

Relax, pal.

It's not loaded.

Yeah?

Well...

This one is.

Sister, do you have

any idea what he was looking for?

Not the slightest.

What about $400,000?

Mr. Hammer, are you saying that Sister Lorna

was involved with some criminal concealment?

No, but I think it's clear that Sister Lorna's death, along with the attack on

Sister Amelia tonight, are more than just a coincidence.

Good evening, sisters.

I came as soon as I heard.

Lawrence?

Lawrence Barrington.

Aren't you the one that used to stay after class and clean the boards for me?

Yes, your little Larry Barrington.

All the girls used to call you Goldilocks.

Sister Paula, hi.

Goldilocks?

My hair was lighter in those days.

The three bears are looking for you.

You stole their porridge.

Excuse me.

Could we all digress momentarily?

Captain, what have we turned up so far?

Oh, we figured it had to be Donnie Novak.

Well, of course it was Donnie Novak.

That's as obvious as snow in winter.

But I'll tell you what I've discerned here.

A very distinct and very obvious pattern.

Gentlemen, ladies, sisters, the pattern of an emerging serial killer.

Mr. Barrington, the man who did this was not trying to kill me.

No, no.

He was obviously looking for something.

When Sister Emilia arrived and surprised him,

the only thought he had was to get out of there.

If he wanted to kill her, he would have stuck around and waited for her.

That's exactly my point.

There's no accounting for the mind of the criminally insane.

I'll remember that Goldilocks, sisters.

Thank you.

What do you think to go?

I don't think the 400,000 was ever spent.

Where is it?

Donnie Novak entrusted it to his wife.

Then they separated.

In fact, she annulls the marriage and then makes

amends for a wrong choice by giving herself to God.

Good theory.

Well, if she found God and reformed, why didn't she return the money?

Maybe she was sitting on it until Donnie got out of jail.

Then she'd get herself transferred to a nice convent in Buenos Aires.

Great theory.

Later.

Morning.

Glad you're here.

I just tried you at home.

Donnie Novak called.

When?

About a half hour ago.

Sizzie wants to talk.

You're to meet him in Central Park at the Little Bridge near Sheep's Meadow.

As soon as you can get there.

I'm out of here.

You come back lunch?

Don't wait up for me.

Look!

Donnie Novak steals $400,000 and gets sent to prison for it.

Before he goes, he gives the money to his wife, who becomes a nun.

When he gets out, she won't give it back to him.

He sounded like a good motive for murder to me.

But the only one who could tell me for sure was Donnie Novak.

Novak?

You hammer?

Yeah.

I hope you came alone, buddy.

You wanted to talk?

I didn't kill Lorna.

I loved her.

Why didn't you show up when she died?

Because they'd never believe me.

They'll railroad me right back into the slammer.

So who killed her?

I don't know.

Why should I believe you, Donnie?

Lorna had something that you wanted.

She wouldn't give it to you.

So you roughed her up and the next thing she winds up dead in your hotel room.

Then you went back the next night and you worked over her roommate.

What?

That wasn't me.

Listen, this is serious business pound.

I strongly suggest you start talking because

if you don't, you're looking at 20 to life.

It's complicated.

I'm sure it is.

Can we talk someplace else?

Sure, let's take a walk.

Donnie Novak spent years in prison living for his $400,000.

Now he died for it.

Outside.

I didn't have much choice.

I had to believe that Donnie Novak didn't kill Sister Lorna

and didn't ransack her room looking for the 400 grand.

But then who did?

Donnie couldn't tell me.

But when he died, he was carrying something

in his pocket that might lead to the answer.

Spring cleaning.

No.

Sister Lorna's things.

Thank you.

Listen, I found this Donnie Novak's body in this pocket.

He's the one in the middle.

I know it was dark the night that ransacked your room.

But do you recognize the other two?

No.

Sorry.

I'll give you this clean look.

Do you need a hand?

Please.

Thank you.

I'm very sorry about your brother, Mr. Helvac.

Thank you, Sister.

I guess it's been a bad week for both of us, hasn't it?

I remember Donnie and my prayers.

There's a nice...

Leo's?

Sister Lorna's.

Mr. Novak, do you recognize any of the kids in the picture with Donnie?

Yeah.

That's from the old neighborhood.

I don't remember that name, so...

I better be going.

I've got an appointment with Father Burton who arranged for Donnie's funeral.

Looked out to my little brother of my life.

Never thought I'd be doing this.

God be with you.

Sister, I don't mean to frighten you, but after all that's happened,

maybe you should consider police protection.

I can assure you, Mr. Hammer.

I'm in very good hands.

Well, I would imagine God has more than he can

handle sometimes, just like the rest of us.

Yes.

But, Mr. Hammer, I've also got you.

At least when you lift evidence from the scene of a crime, you return it.

Come on, Pat.

I felt sorry for you.

You've been looking tired lately.

I thought I'd take some work off your show.

Oh, really?

Thanks a lot.

What did you find out for me?

Absolutely nothing.

Now, Cooley would know who those two guys

with Donnie are, but he's not much of a talk.

Yeah, but the question is, where would a nun's desolute from a robbery?

It's a good question.

I don't know.

Maybe we should call the Vatican.

Hey.

Now, let's see.

That was a kamikaze, a daiquiri, and a virgin mary.

I thought you didn't like us.

I don't.

Especially when they're pointed at me.

What happened?

They tried to grab me at the school.

Two men in schemas jumped out of a van and chased me across the schoolyard.

Did you call the police?

No, I called you.

Your secretary told me I'd find you here.

Well, what do we do now?

We get out of here.

You're sleeping with me tonight.

Well, in my part...

Oh, Jenny, call Pat Chambers and tell him to meet me in my place.

Anything you like, Mike?

Excuse the mess, Mr. Maite.

Made us on vacation.

Listen, can I get you something?

A cup of coffee, cup of tea, lots of milk.

I could use a double scotch.

Yeah?

But one of those would be fine.

Okay.

I just want you to make yourself at home, you know?

Watch TV and read a magazine.

There's no need to feel uncomfortable, Mr. Hammer.

I'm glad you said that, sister.

I...

I just didn't want you to think that I had

any ulterior motives, if you know what I mean.

Mr. Hammer, believe me, I take my vow of celibacy

much more seriously than my vow of obedience.

Well, now that you mention it, I've always wondered about that.

I mean, why would anybody choose not to...

Be with a man?

Yeah.

That's a very good question, Mr. Hammer.

It all comes down to priorities, I suppose.

But I assure you, nuns are women.

I am aware of my physicality.

For some of us, the most difficult part of the

vocation is not being loved exclusively by one person.

I know what you mean.

I've had trouble with that with myself.

Who is that?

Hey.

Oh, hi, sister.

Captain Chambers.

Mike, what's going on?

Well, a couple of goons tried to hijack sister, but you turned them down.

They also left a little souvenir.

Run a tracer on that, will you?

Not to let this one go, are you, Mike?

Nope.

The list takes running down.

Call me as soon as you find out anything, will you?

What are you staring at?

Mike, you gotta clean this place up a little bit.

Oh, we should have something by tomorrow morning.

Speaking of which, where do I sleep?

Oh, I'll take the couch.

You can sleep in the bedroom.

Thank you.

Good night.

Good night.

If you want something more comfortable to sleep in,

I've got a couple of left over 90s in the dresser.

Good night.

Well, I'm impressed.

Where did you learn to cook like this?

I was the only girl in a family of six brothers.

Six brothers?

Must have been relieved to go to the convent.

Forty-seven sisters isn't much easier.

Yeah.

You got it.

Okay, thanks.

They traced the garden.

My hunt was right.

Let's go.

Where are we going?

Well, I'm not crazy about leaving you here, and I'm

sure not crazy about you coupled with me in that outfit.

Then what do you suggest?

Well,

what do you think?

Hello.

Do I know you?

It's not really me.

Well, we could argue about that, but I haven't got time.

Listen, I want you to get a taxi.

Go to the light news.

You find a table and wait until I get there.

Can't I go with you?

Not this time.

I've got to talk to a man about a gun.

Taxi!

What is it with you, Cooley?

What are you talking about?

Your gun.

The one you left at the convent.

Don't tell me you forgot on the way out of confession.

What a sister of media habit you want, huh?

Now's the type of confession.

Pow!

There's a key here.

What a... Which one?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Pat!

Mike, listen, I got something for you.

Yeah, Jack Cooley at the East Side sporting goods store.

A salt and property murder.

Yeah, Sister Lorna.

Send a car.

That... you better make that a hearse.

You're here on A&E.

Sister.

A box of puppets that I carried for you the other day.

What did you do with it?

I gave them to Sister Mary Francis.

She's taken over Sister Lorna's class.

We better get over there fast.

Why?

What's going on?

There's a key inside one of those puppets.

That's what they've been after.

Then why did they kill Sister Lorna if that's all they wanted?

She knew who all the players were.

They couldn't take a chance that she'd talk.

Come on.

That's one could it be.

There must be 50 of them.

And I know what you mean.

I think I just spotted a way to narrow the arms.

Do you remember that photograph we saw at Aunt Dorothy's?

Mm-hmm.

Lorna was a very happy bride, as I remember.

I'll explain later.

Hi there.

My name is Mike.

What's yours?

I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.

Well, that's a good thing to remember.

But I'm really not a stranger.

I'm a friend of Sister Amelia's.

That's right, Jennifer.

Oh, Jennifer.

That's a nice name.

Jennifer, do you mind if I borrow your puppet for just a minute?

I need it to help me solve a problem.

Maybe you could play with somebody else's for a little while.

No.

Me and Timmy were planning to get married.

Oh, I see.

I understand.

Oh, that's okay.

This is a much better one anyway.

Look at this puppet.

I'll bet this one is much smarter.

I'll bet she's going to grow up to be a very rich puppet.

Can I have that one?

Well...

You want a trade?

Yeah.

You sure you want a trade?

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Quite the con artist.

Take it up to my mother.

Key to $400,000.

Not a bad diary.

Then

the number on the key to Pat Chambers.

And he traced it to a locker at a public storage facility on the lower west side.

This was the place that Sister Lorna chose to put her worldly possessions on hold.

Hey!

Take me!

Watch out, buddy.

Over here.

What a mess.

Where do we start?

You start over there.

I'll start over here.

I'll start over here.

We may have been down, but we weren't out.

I didn't recognize the two goons who took the

money, but I had a good idea who they worked for.

Even though the key was in the puppet, the puppets were the key.

I remembered someone else who was interested in them.

He owned a fancy club in New York's latest high-rise hotel.

Bless you.

All right, you better stay here.

Don't worry.

Sir, no problem.

Mr. Hammer.

What can I do for you?

Plenty, Ray.

I think I've got an angle on your brother's killer.

Who did it?

You remember this picture?

The plan on the left is Jack Cooley.

The one on the right just left the table.

Well, that's impossible.

Use your eyes pal, it's all there.

What Donnie didn't tell me is that there were four guys in on the robbery.

The three of them and you.

You're crazy.

It has to be you, Ray.

It all figured from the moment they started coming after Sister Amelia.

You're the only one I knew about the puppets, so you sicked your goons on her.

In there, Sister.

Let's go.

Two big guys didn't have a prayer against a nun.

Come on.

Almost makes you religious.

It's her turn to pray.

Sorry, Mike.

All right, move it.

Both of you.

Go for the exit.

What about you?

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Hold

it right there, pal.

Time to do one to others, Sister.

Go!

Go!

Go!

All right.

Well, Mr. Hammer, it certainly has been an experience.

There must be some way I can repay you.

Yeah, put in a good word for me every now and then.

You know you could do that for yourself if you wanted to.

Well, I figure you've got a more direct line.

Very well.

I'll remember you and my prayers.

Uh-oh.

Don't forget what I told you.

Faint with the left, followed with the right cross, and ten Hail Marys.

That's just about Cobra.

Thanks for everything, Michael.

In my line of work, you're running the people with all kinds of habits.

But none quite like these.

I must admit, it felt good knowing someone with friends at high places.

Biography soars to new heights with an all-new special presentation of Moses.

Sunday at a Eastern line Pacific.

Now at a trendy sensitivity spa, Laura and Remington

finally share how they really feel about each other.

Next up in E.