Original subtitles

A person has to be missing for 48 hours

before we can start looking.

You're welcome.

What do you got there?

Uh, possible missing husband.

How long has he been gone?

That was him on the phone.

He was just thinking about it.

He was wondering what kind of a head start he'd have.

All right, get in there, you fruitcake.

Don't call me that. Oh, I'm sorry,

I didn't know you were so sensitive there, jelly-wrists.

My, you are clever for your species.

Hello, Marty.

See? I told you I had friends.

What, uh...? What happened?

I think he's into bondage.

You shut your mouth. Okay, let's take it easy.

Take it easy.

Hello, Marty. Hello, captain.

What seems to be the problem?

I was walking by this...

This fruit bar over on Lexington.

I hear all this shrieking going on inside.

We were playing darts.

Well, sir, I went inside to investigate.

It seems everybody in the place stopped their illegal acts

the moment I walk in.

But this one, I catch him with these.

It's unconstitutional.

He didn't even have a search warrant.

He was trying to eat the stuff.

Well, I was hungry.

All right.

Thank you, officer, we'll take care of it.

Very stupid, Marty.

And ugly too.

I'm talking about this.

Captain, I've only got two weeks left on my probation.

I really can't afford any more trouble.

You're already in trouble.

But it's less than half an ounce, captain.

That's not illegal.

I'm afraid that's not entirely true.

Less than half an ounce simply means

we have some flexibility in the matter.

It allows us to take into account

mitigating circumstances, personal intent.

We have the option of holding you or letting you go.

Come to think of it,

we have the power of life and death over you.

I don't believe we've met.

Uh, this is, uh, Detective Dietrich.

Mm-hm. He's gonna take your statement.

Detective Dietrich.

Have a seat over there.

Excuse me.

Send this to the lab, have it analyzed.

I'm, uh... I'm familiar with the procedure, captain.

Oh, good, then I don't have to explain it to you.

Not unless you want to.

It doesn't seem to be necessary under the circumstances.

Right.

We can talk another time.

All right, come on in here. You're making a drastic mistake.

You cannot arrest me.

Hold still here. I already have.

Come on, in you go. In you go.

He cannot do that to me.

Okay, what do we got?

I caught this guy trying to for...

Trying to force this guy into a car.

He is Soviet citizen. I am Soviet citizen.

I have a diplomatic passport. I am immune.

Well, you can have all the shots in the world for all I care.

Wojo, you got his passport?

Sure, Barn.

See, I saw Mr... Jininski. Jininski.

Yeah, scurrying along the street.

And all of a sudden this clown comes up,

jumps out of a car... Wojo,

this looks like a valid diplomatic passport.

This is. I am Andre Bulganov.

I am political attaché to Soviet embassy.

Please, sir, I have requested asylum in United States.

Wojo, were you aware this man was seeking political asylum?

Yeah. I gave it to him.

Okay, thank you.

Let him go, Wojo.

But, Barney, we got him on assault, attempted kidnapping...

Wojo, this is a valid passport.

Diplomatic immunity puts him beyond our reach.

Turn him loose.

Pfft! Boy, that's just dandy.

You know, you're setting a wonderful example

for people who got respect for the law.

Well, he is breaking the law of Soviet Union.

Pfft! What kind of law is that?

Wojo, just let him go.

Barn, now, I'm talking about the New York penal code,

not some silly Russian rules and regulations.

Barney, this is, uh, some cracker

from the, uh, State Department on the phone.

This whole incident is, uh, outrage.

Is a... Is a decadent, fascistic, uh, conspiracy.

You know what? What?

This is going to make a beautiful story.

No, sir, no one is being held.

Uh, Mr. Bulganov has been released.

Uh, Mr. Jininski is, uh, seeking political asylum.

Uh, ha-ha, yes,

as a matter of fact, it's true.

Uh, in a moment of enthusiasm, out of compassion

for his fellow man,

one of my men did indeed

grant him political asylum.

Yes, sir, we all laughed at that for quite a while.

No, I will take no action one way or another.

Good. Yes, okay, fine.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

They're sending somebody down to straighten this mess out.

Well, what about, uh...? Uh, Jininski, huh?

Does he get to stay?

Wojo, that has nothing to do with us.

Please, sir, I wish to be protected.

You'll be protected, Mr. Jininski.

He must come with me.

Please, Mr. Bulganov, that'll be taken care of.

I don't care about orchestra. I don't care about piano.

I am staying here.

Captain?

Uh, Mr. Jininski will be staying with us for a while.

You have no jurisdiction to that matter.

He must come with me.

Mr. Jininski is being detained.

I am lodging official protest with your government.

Big deal.

Wojo.

Good day, Mr. Bulganov.

I will be in touch.

Salute to you from your brother

in struggle against racist imperialism.

Yeah.

Say hello for me.

You'll be all right.

Do you know I want to become an American citizen?

That's okay by me.

Tell me, did you pass the test the first time?

Yeah.

What was most difficult part?

Parallel parking.

Is he with the Panov Ballet?

Yeah, he's a musician.

Oh, I saw it last week.

They danced Swan Lake at Lincoln Center.

I know. Oh, God, it was just wonderful.

Swan Lake is... Is one of the most magnificent

and... And breathtaking of all the ballets.

It's... It's an artistic milestone

in the history of the performing arts.

Did you go?

No, I had hockey tickets.

May I help you?

Stevens, State Department.

Harris, police department.

Is there a Captain Miller here?

Hang on a minute.

My name is Stevens, Jeffrey Stevens.

I'm with the State Department.

Yemana.

Nick Yemana.

They told me you were Russian.

They were wrong.

Uh, excuse me.

Uh, that's the Russian over there.

This is, uh, Sergeant Yemana.

He's Japanese.

My mistake.

Oh, that's okay.

Arigatou.

Domo arigatou.

Hi. Do you speak any English?

Little bit, but I... Mr. Stevens,

I'm Captain Miller.

Good afternoon, sir. This is, Detective Wojciehowicz,

the arresting officer.

I hope you understand that you had no authority

to do what you did.

The guy was being kidnapped.

What was I supposed to do, huh?

Stand around with my finger up my...?

Wojo.

I just think someone oughta tell this guy

that, uh... That people don't get away with kidnapping

around this precinct.

I don't care what country they're from.

You might have taken alternative actions

if you had been a bit more perspicacious.

Oh, yeah?

Mr. Stevens...

Mr. Stevens, this entire affair

was unfortunate but unfortunately unavoidable.

I don't know if you realize,

but what we have here is a very delicate situation.

And my job as State Department liaison

is to keep it from blowing into a major diplomatic flap.

You're the expert.

I, uh, started the job last Tuesday.

Oh.

With the new administration.

Ah, yes, as a matter of fact, now that you mention it,

I do detect a slight accent.

We no longer have accents.

You do.

Touché.

Captain, why does this gentleman wish to defect?

Well, I never asked him.

I just assumed that you would want to.

Ah, that's right.

Mr. Jininski.

I'm Mr. Stevens of the U.S. government.

I'd like to know your reasons

for wanting to stay in this country.

Uh, to be free.

"To be free."

I'm afraid that just wanting to be free

isn't enough, Mr. Jininski.

Good enough for me. I need more specifics.

Don't you understand? Please, sir.

Sir, I want to, uh... To work.

Uh, I want to don't be afraid.

I want to... To go where I choose, to whom I choose

and nobody follow me.

Police.

I want to be free, sir.

Oh, man, this is beautiful.

I mean, man, this is just beautiful.

Very touching, very poetic.

Let him in. STEVENS: I am looking for...

Uh, 12th Precinct. Harris.

Political persecution, religious persecution.

We don't accept defectors for frivolous reasons.

Stevens, uh, the State Department.

Thank you.

Stevens here.

What, uh...? What is this "frivolous"?

Uh, frivolous. Uh, well, uh, frivolous would be a...

Well, let's say you... You were in love

with an American girl. Frivolous.

Me?

No, I am not frivolous.

Of course you're not, huh?

I am homosexual.

♪ My country 'tis of thee ♪

♪ Sweet land of liberty ♪

But you told me I would be able to stay.

Uh, yeah, well, they're discussing it in there.

Will they make me to go back because I am different?

They can't keep you out of the country

just because you're gay, Mr. Jininski.

Gay?

That's what they call it here.

Is all right to be gay in America?

It's wonderful anywhere.

Mr. Jininski?

Mr. Jininski...

It doesn't... It doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

You are bisexual?

I'm normal.

I like girls.

Oh, uh, you are, uh, frivolous.

This could be very embarrassing to the new administration.

They have officially protested the actions

of that, uh, officer of yours.

You let me worry about my officers.

The... The question is, what are you gonna do

about that man sitting out there?

Are you going to give him asylum?

Oh, I can't give anyone asylum.

You can't?

The only person who can formally grant asylum

is the District Director of Immigration.

Then why are you here?

It's my job.

To do what? I don't know. I'm new.

Well, uh, then it would appear to me

that the, uh... The next step would be to get Mr. Jininski

over to the Department of Immigration.

I'm afraid we can't do that.

Why?

Captain, it is official policy that no U.S. agency,

including the police,

may aid in any way to help an individual seek asylum.

Well, then, why don't we just send him over there?

No, no, no, you cannot send him anywhere.

How is the man supposed to get there?

That's up to him.

What if the Russians grab him again?

Well, in that case, the United States

will make a formal protest to the Soviet government.

Ah, I see. We protest, they protest.

All sounds very silly, Mr. Stevens.

It's a living, sir.

Tell me, Mr. Jininski,

do they have a large gay community in Russia?

Mm, is very hard to say.

They are afraid to be known. Mm-hm.

Well, I must tell you that I do admire your courage

and convictions very much.

Thank you.

I like your jacket.

Okay, listen, I'm sitting on top of a news story

that would just be dynamite for your magazine.

No, really, it's got everything.

Uh, intrigue, danger...

romance.

The longer he stays here,

the more embarrassing it is for us.

All right, just take it easy, Mr. Stevens. Just take it easy.

You can go now.

But... But... But... But... But excuse me.

Where?

I can't tell you that.

Just... Just... Just... Just go wherever you like.

Captain, you've got to get him out of here.

Mr. Stevens, Mr. Jininski is free to go.

You understand that, don't you, Mr. Jininski?

That's not good enough, captain.

All right, Mr. Stevens, take it easy.

Let's... Let's just take it slow

and, uh, consider all the possibilities.

Go, baby.

Barn, there's a whole mess of Russians down there.

How many?

A dozen? That's beautiful.

That's beautiful.

The problem seems to be getting Mr. Jininski here

over to the Department of Immigration.

I'll take him.

No, you can't do that.

Oh, yeah? Why not?

Well, apparently no one with any official status,

federal or civil,

can lift a finger to help him.

I can help him. I don't have status.

All right, Marty. Barn, I mean,

we can't just let him get dragged back to Russia.

Easy. Nobody's dragging anybody anywhere.

Good, good. Captain.

Captain, the man can't stay here.

Please, captain.

Mr. Jininski, we're doing everything we can to help you.

Which is nothing! None of us can do anything!

You speak for yourself, John.

Jeffrey, sir.

Oh, who gives a...?

Wojo!

Thank you, captain.

Wojo, take Mr. Jininski downstairs,

put him in a squad car. I didn't hear that.

Right, Barn.

Take him over to the Department of Immigration.

I didn't hear that either.

In fact, I can't hear anything.

Lead him to the District Director of Immigration.

District director.

Mr. Stevens, aren't you being a bit childish?

I don't care how I'm being.

I want no part in this.

You have no part in this.

Captain, I thank you.

From my heart, I thank you.

Good luck, Mr. Jininski.

And I thank everyone.

Come on, Mr. Jininski.

Goodbye, Mr. Stevens.

Goodbye, comrade.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

Oh, hey, let's get going, Mr. Jininski.

Uh, give me a ring sometime.

A what?

Call me up. I'm in the book.

What book?

The telephone book. What book?

Wojciehowicz, for God's sake explain it to him!

Morrison, 1720 28th Street.

Wojciehowicz, tell him, please!

Damn. Talk about soul.

Well, I believe I'm finished here.

I would imagine so, Mr. Stevens.

Uh, it's been, uh, very, um...

Actually, I was supposed to be appointed

to the Department of Agriculture.

Oh? Yeah, I majored in Animal Husbandry.

Really?

I'm much better with cattle than I am with people.

Good day, Mr. Stevens.

Goodbye, captain.

Uh, Mr. Stevens, you forgot this.

Oh, thank you.

Uh, listen, uh, are you gonna

be seeing the president sometime soon?

I-I'm gonna be flying down to Washington tomorrow.

Do me a favor, will you? Tell him Arthur said hey.

Arthur who?

He'll know.

Hey, who is that man?

We're not sure.

You cannot do that.

Where are you taking Jininski?

Ah, Mr. Bulganov. Welcome back.

Oh, you transporting Soviet citizen in a police car.

Really? Do you deny?

No. Then, uh...

Then you admit it? No.

You playing games,

you... You make jokes.

You will regret.

Uh, phone call for you, Mr. Bulganov.

Thank you.

They sound mad.

Fool... Fools turning down pure gold.

Why don't you try LIFE Magazine?

I bet you they'll be interested.

LIFE Magazine has been out of print for six years.

You're kidding.

Nobody said a word to me.

Don't worry about it.

About what?

About the possible retribution from your superiors

for your failure to carry out your mission.

I'm not worrying.

I mean, I hear your government has become more liberal

and less harsh in the way it deals with, uh...

With those who have made political mistakes.

I mean, the traditional punishment

of sending a person to Siberia

is pretty much a thing of the past, isn't it?

Siberia will be very unfair.

Damn cold too.

Uh, yeah, Harris.

Uh, hang on a minute.

Barney, line two. The lab.

Captain Miller here. What does it weigh?

Point four-eight ounces.

How much is that?

It's under, Marty.

Thank you very much, sir.

Oh, God, I could kiss you, Captain Miller.

I could kiss each and every one of you.

Should I let him out?

Jininski got in.

Hey! Yeah, here it is.

"Russian Musician Defects.

"Immigration authorities announced today, uh,

"that Fyoder Jininski, a Soviet citizen,

"has been granted permission to remain in the U.S.

"Jininski, a pianist, was touring with the Panov Ballet,

which is performing at Lincoln Center."

How about that?

Oh, yes.

"Also granted asylum in the United States

"was Andre Bulganov,

attaché to the Soviet consulate in New York."

Bulganov defected. Yeah, well, I guess

this little incident made his position a little untenable.

Yeah. You think they'll be able to, uh, adjust to this country?

Who knows?

I do.

A lot of people end up going back to where they came from.

It's a calling of the homeland,

the longing to return to one's roots.

It's often difficult to resist.

We'll see.

Let me see that.

Yeah, sure.

What about you, Nick?

Huh?

You ever feel any longings to return to your home?

Back to the ancient cultures and traditions?

Back to the shrines and temples of your ancestors?

Back to the terraced hillsides and the cherry trees?

I was born in Omaha.

We got a city in Nebraska sounds just like that.