Original subtitles

- harris. - hm?

Could...

Could I bum your sports page?

wall street journal.

It doesn't have a sports page.

Oh.

So how'd gold doing?

It's up.

I read the other day, Those krugerrands...

They're coming out With new denominations

And sizes

So that guys like Me can afford them.

There goes the neighborhood.

Ron, do you notice that We don't talk anymore?

We don't?

No. I mean as far as Gold or your book

Or a case we're working on.

Yeah, but as far as...

Personal communication.

I think we've sort Of drifted apart.

Were we close?

Well, I thought so... Sort of.

Oh.

Hey, look, man, what can I say?

Um... You know, a Couple of guys...

Friends, you know, they worked Together for a lot of years,

And thing happen.

Their priorities shift.

They develop new Areas of interest.

Then one day they're just Not the same people anymore,

Strangers suddenly With nothing in common.

Nobody really Plans on it that way.

It just happens.

How was that?

Not bad.

Gentlemen.

- hey, barn. - hey.

Anything happening?

Yeah, dietrich took levitt Out on a robbery call.

Uh, can I take a look At the sports section?

I haven't seen it myself yet.

I think it's you.

Who's that?

That's ira russo.

He's wanted in arizona... Grand theft and check fraud.

Turned himself in this morning.

I was tired of Running and hiding.

I just want to go back And make things right.

Well, we're glad We can be of help.

I called arizona, but There's no one there.

I'm gonna call later.

Barney, got a disturbance...

The odyssey playhouse Over on bleecker.

You and wojo.

I'll get it.

12th precinct. Captain Miller speaking.

Uh, ira, I'll take care of You as soon as I get back.

I'll wait right here.

Is he dead?

All right, well, You keep me posted.

Right, yeah, okay.

Yeah, thank you.

It was levitt.

Some kid tried to Hold up a liquor store.

Dietrich had to shoot him.

Well, that gives us Something to talk about.

Okay, levitt, as soon as he gets Out of surgery, you can book him.

Yeah, right. Where's... Where's dietrich?

Well, when he's Finished consulting

With the other doctors,

Why don't you two Head on back here?

No, I wouldn't care for Something from the gift shop.

But thank you anyway.

The big guy... I guess He's still out, huh?

Oh, uh, yeah.

I just want to get This thing over with.

I mean, what I did Was so horrible.

The guilt, the shame, man...

They're eating away at me Till I can't even sleep anymore.

Exactly what is it You did, mr. Russo?

Well, I stole $1,300.

Well, that's not Exactly commendable,

But, uh, there have Been worse crimes.

I took it from nuns.

Ah.

See, they ran this orphanage In the desert for indian kids,

And they hired me.

They trusted men, and, well, Two days before christmas,

I took their bank accounts And stole their bus.

I spent the money on Liquor and prostitutes.

Excuse me.

Everyone says that.

All right, come on, Come on. It's curtain time.

I had to do something. He was mutilating my child.

I was trying to save it,

To give it some Depth, some texture.

That's what I ought To do to your face!

What do we got here?

It's a mutual assault, barn.

This is jordan heath.

He's an actor.

Allegedly.

Yeah, and this is Mr. Edward novak.

He's a writer.

He's a hack!

Whoa!

Okay, what happened?

Well, according to accounts From the audience at ringside,

A performance Of mr. Novak's play

In which mr. Heath has a Leading role was in progress

When mr. Novak Bounded on the stage

And began to choke mr. Heath.

He wasn't saying the words.

I wasn't motivated.

The line was "Is That the phone?"

Now, is that so hard to Say? "Is that the phone?"

In the context of the Moment, the phone wasn't real.

It was ringing.

Regardless, the Phone was real enough

That mr. Heath tried To shove the receiver

Down mr. Novak's throat.

It got a laugh.

Anyway...

Anyway, while they're still Rolling around on the stage,

Wojo and I made our entrance.

Yeah, we got a Big hand, too, barn.

Harris.

Yeah. Mr. Heath, you want to Take a seat over there, please?

We're gonna have to book you.

That's all right With me, sergeant.

I can use this.

Mr. Russo, you want to Have a seat back here?

Did you call anyone yet?

No, I'm gonna have To book this guy first.

Sure, I understand.

Have a seat over here.

Nobody realizes What we go through.

Do you have any Idea how hard it is

Juggling different Thoughts, different attitudes,

Trying to spread Around enough dialogue

To keep a cast full Of prima donnas happy?

I really wouldn't know.

Sure.

What's it to you?

- barney. - we're back.

- hi, dietrich. - how you doing?

- dietrich. - barney.

How's, uh...

The kid? He should be all right.

What happened?

We pulled up to the liquor store

Just as the kid was running out.

So I jump out of the Car, I yell "Freeze."

The kid starts shooting At us, so I shot him.

Put a bullet in his cheek...

Upper left quadrant.

You should see His wallet, sir...

Gale storm right Between the eyes.

How about yourself?

I'm all right.

Look, uh, you want to take The rest of the day off?

What for?

Unwind... Regroup.

Look, I did what a Cop has to do, right?

Right.

I got to type some things up.

Sir?

I, uh, I could remain up Here for the rest of the day,

Give sergeant dietrich a Chance to reorient himself.

I don't think that'll Be necessary.

He seems to be Handling it pretty well.

I know, sir, but sometimes In these situations,

There's a delayed Psychological reaction.

I'll, uh, keep an eye on him.

I'll be available In case he cracks.

Uh, he told me to sit here.

Sit over there.

No problem.

You know...

This play is my first Really successful effort.

We've been running Almost three months.

There's talk of Taking it uptown.

We're even thinking Of having t-shirts made.

Great.

If only there was a way of Doing it without the actors.

You could just, uh,

Get up there on the stage By yourself and read it.

I never thought of that.

Words.

Pardon me?

That's all writers Ever care about...

Their words, their Impressions, their thoughts.

Actors have thoughts, Too, you know.

And is this one of them?

Yes.

Ohhh.

You see, the written Word is merely a foundation

Upon which we actors build.

The essence of the Theater is the actor,

And the essence of Acting is interpretation...

Breathing life Into stagnant ideas,

Molding them, caressing them Until they fit each character

Like a finely tailored suit.

And if the play happens To be ruined in the process?

Hey, I didn't write it.

Hey, arthur, did you, uh,

Catch any of olivier's Act over there?

"Have patience With the jealousies

"And petulances of actors,

For their hour Is their eternity."

Richard garnett.

Good quote, arthur.

It's one for the road.

Captain.

Hmm?

Here you go.

What's this?

Just a letter of resignation.

What?

I'm resigning.

I didn't have time to make Copies for everybody.

Should I go downstairs And change now, sir?

"Thus, for the common good of Both myself and the department,

"I hereby tender my Resignation as of this date,

Pending official Approval of my request."

Signed arthur Dietrich, sergeant nypd.

You think he means it, barn?

I don't know. I don't Know what to think.

Oh, come on.

I mean, you know How dietrich is,

You know, always keeping Everything all pent up inside.

I mean, this letter Is nothing more

Than his way of letting Off a little steam.

Well, that's stupid.

And you wonder Why we don't talk.

Any questions?

Yeah.

How come you're quitting?

It's simple... I just don't Feel I have the right

To take the life of Another human being.

You didn't.

I was lucky.

Come on. What are you Gonna do, let him shoot you?

Considered it.

This is an absolutely Normal reaction

To a situation like this.

You know that.

By tomorrow, you'll...

What, feel like blowing Somebody else away?

Listen, I've thought This out very carefully.

I've just decided

That my personal Integrity and moral code

Is worth a hell of a Lot more than any badge.

So, you finished Reading the complaint?

Oh, yes, sergeant. I was Just making a few changes.

Oh?

It just needs a little Punching up, you know?

Give me that!

Hmm?

I finished processing Novak, and I reached arizona.

Sheriff's department's Gonna get in touch with me

About the extradition.

Hey... Did you, uh, talk With dietrich any more?

No.

I-I-I don't get why he's Being so hard on himself.

It's the way he Feels at this moment.

Except it doesn't Make any sense.

Well, the man obviously Has certain convictions

About the sanctity Of human life,

Certain ethical Principles that he feels

Are in conflict with his Role as a police officer.

Yeah, but then what He's really saying

Is that the only guys that Can be cops are the guys

Who are unprincipled, Trigger-happy slobs.

Like us.

Can I help you?

Yeah, do something with these.

I'm in a hurry.

Producer.

If you wanted to kill me,

Why didn't you just stick A knife in my heart, hmm?

Hello, leonard.

"Hello, leonard."

Ah!

An hour ago, I was sitting home

Sipping a martini... Happy man.

Hmm?

I got my health.

I got a hit play running.

My wife found out about Vicky and doesn't mind.

I'm thinking, "Life is good."

Then... The phone rings.

They tell me, "Leonard,

"Your author was just trying To kill one of your actors,

And the people are Demanding their money back."

And I got 20 cases of orangeade

I got to flush down The sewer at 1.75 a cup!

So tell him to leave My words alone.

I never went near them.

Shh, shh, shh, shh!

Is this the way professional Theater people behave?

Ohh... Of course not.

If you have a disagreement,

You don't attack one Another during a performance.

You wait till later and Do it in a restaurant.

My contract guarantees Me creative control.

And I have an artistic Obligation to...

B-b-both of you!

I have had it up to here

With this artistic, Creative-control garbage!

We are doing a Play, not "Hamlet"!

Yeah, okay.

I'll be here.

Bye.

So, when am I leaving?

He's got to talk to the d.A.

Hey, I wouldn't make this up.

Well, we know that.

But, uh, these Things just take time.

I was hoping to Be in jail by friday.

We're doing the best we can.

Hey, woj.

Hey, what?

This is, uh...

This is the file on those Burglars we were working on.

You catch them.

Well, I'll let you Know what happens.

All right.

Arthur, there's something I Want to... Say before you go.

You're not gonna try and Talk me out of it, are you?

No. No, I think you should quit.

Yeah?

Yeah, 'cause I think that, uh...

Well, I think a person With your high moral code

Shouldn't have to Associate with people

That are on our low level.

I said that?

Well, I mean, it's Like you're saying

That we must be morally Deficient or something.

Hey, wojo, take it easy.

All he...

All he said was that He couldn't keep this job

And maintain his Integrity at the same time.

What makes you so damn special?

Sir, harris and wojo are Ganging up on sergeant dietrich.

Huh?

I thought you might want to Get in a few shots of your own.

Somebody's got to Take the responsibility.

Or maybe you don't think so.

Gentlemen.

Is this my party?

What's going on?

We're just talking to him.

About what?

About what we were Talking about in the office.

Look, the man has Made his decision.

We should respect that...

Regardless of how It reflects on us.

I appreciate that.

However, I'm sure You can understand

That those of us Who remain behind

Might take a certain offense

At the implication of some Of the things you've said.

Sure, I can understand it.

Maybe because it's true.

Maybe I do have Different values.

Maybe I just happen to have

A stronger Philosophical foundation

Than the rest of you.

Well, is that my fault?

So why did you become A cop in the first place?

I stood in the wrong line.

You know, it occurs to me

You stood in a lot of Wrong lines in your life.

What do you mean?

Weren't you a medical student?

Yeah.

What happened?

I quit.

Oh, yeah, and how long did You, uh, stay in law school?

Couple of weeks.

Teacher.

Actor.

You left out beekeeper And lumberjack.

That was my wilderness period.

Seems to me you've had A continuing difficulty

Committing to anything.

Yeah. So?

So maybe the high moral Code and the integrity

Are really just an Intellectual smoke screen

To rationalize away the fact That you're quitting again.

When did you get so smart?

Look, dietrich, you Walk out of here today,

You and your principles

Are gonna be right Back where you started...

All dressed up And no place to go.

You know, I don't have to Sit here and listen to all this.

Then again, I have no Good reason to get up.

Look, maybe everything You guys said is right, okay?

But I still have to hold On to my principles.

And maybe I still have To hold on to this job.

So what are you gonna do?

Well, I'm either Gonna go or stay.

Great.

Well, welcome back, if you are.

Thanks for nothing!

Performance of "Detective story" over now?

You gonna do something About these or what?

Oh, I was just waiting For you to ask so nicely.

Uh-huh.

Well, uh, just hold on a Second here, all right?

I'm gonna put you on hold.

Uh, it's the d.A.'s Office in phoenix.

They don't want to Come back for russo.

Why not?

They said that the Nature of his crime

Isn't serious enough

To make it worth their while To come back and get him.

I stole from nuns.

But if he wants to pay His own expenses back,

They'll be willing to prosecute.

I don't have the money.

Honest.

All right, prepare to Move out, you criminals.

Novak: oh, thank heaven.

Uh-huh.

You gonna behave yourself,

Start acting like Adults now, hmm?

Well, that depends.

On what?

On what he says tomorrow night.

So tell him what you're Gonna say tomorrow night.

I won't know until it comes out.

Oh!

Look, arthur, don't Be so sensitive!

Everything you write Isn't carved in stone!

Exactly.

And, you... Actor!

Try having a little respect For the written word.

The man wrote you a nice play.

Say some of it!

All right?

I'll try.

Good.

But it will be an effort.

And while you're at it,

Why don't you drop That snotty accent?

You're from st. Louis for god's sake!

Look, the point is...

Excuse me, the point Is, there's a man here

Who is truly repentant

And sincerely wants to Pay his debt to society,

And you're telling him You're not interested.

I mean, what's the Man supposed to think?

Yeah.

Yeah, I got it.

They're not gonna come get me?

I'm afraid not.

Maybe you could take me back.

I'm sorry. We don't Have the authority.

I see.

So, what happens now?

Well... We have no Reason to hold you, do we?

No, he's clean here.

You mean, you're Asking me to leave?

Well, we appreciate You coming in.

Sure.

Well, so long.

Hey, good luck.

Thanks.

I'm glad you're staying.

Thanks.