Original subtitles

Lincoln X-ray Ida 483.

One-Adam-12. A 415... fight group with chains and knives.

♪♪

Call just came in from store security.

It was change of watch,

so they called the station direct.

"Summer's Department Store."

That's your area, is it?

Yeah. What is it, shoplifting?

Right. Security's holding a suspect in the manager's office.

Okay. We'll get right on it.

Something wrong, Malloy?

No.

Nothing I can't handle.

You're in a different world, partner.

Hmm?

Oh. No, not really.

When MacDonald gave you this note,

you looked as though you'd seen a ghost.

I guess I did in a way.

A ghost? At Summer's Department Store?

Yeah. A real live ghost.

Gentlemen, come right in.

Good morning, sir. I'm Officer Malloy.

This is my partner Jim Reed.

How do you do? How do you do?

I'm Mr. Bernard, the store general manager.

I wouldn't have called except, well,

one just can't let a thing like this go on forever.

I mean there's an end to everything,

and this is it, gentlemen.

I understand your security people

have the shoplifting suspect in custody, is that right?

Yes, I'm afraid it is.

We simply can't look the other way forever.

As much as I hate to,

this time we must prosecute.

Hello, Pete.

Hi.

Been a long time.

I'm sorry it had to come to this,

Miss Courtnay,

but you left me no alternative.

Miss Hayes has all the details,

so if you'll excuse me, gentlemen.

The name is M'Liss Courtnay.

Reports are filled in, and she's had her rights.

I'm still thinking about those rights, by the way.

I'm Jane Hayes.

Jim Reed. Glad to know you.

Diamond wristwatch, huh?

Yeah, a good one.

Retail value $2,500.

I suppose you're prepared to get up in court

and prove that I'm the thief. Is that correct?

Quite correct, Miss Courtnay.

Reed.

What are those for?

Unless you find the watch,

you've no reason to arrest me, have you?

Well, you're already under arrest, Miss Courtnay.

I saw you take the watch, remember?

But you didn't find it when you searched me, did you?

What happened?

Oh, she was pricing jewelry.

The store's had trouble with her before,

so I kept an eye on her.

She palmed the watch, slipped it into her bag.

I caught up with her outside,

but when I did, the bag was gone.

The watch, too, of course.

Is she a kleptomaniac?

I'm not sure it's that simple, Pete.

I've been working here part-time,

oh, nearly six months now,

ever since the department gave me permission.

Yeah. I know.

She's lifted merchandise half a dozen times.

Up till now, though, it's all been small stuff.

The manager's been putting it on her charge account.

Today she decided to graduate, I guess.

Yeah, I wonder if she knows how hard she could fall.

A gal can get hurt that way...

Falling, I mean.

Oh.

You've got a long memory.

Have I?

How long has it been, Pete, a year?

A year and a month.

At least you bothered to keep track of me.

That's something, I suppose.

I heard you were practically engaged to some guy.

Yeah.

Some guy who's willing to overlook the fact

that I'm a policewoman.

Congratulations.

Just like that?

No.

Good luck.

What are they doing to that man?

Buzz in!

Getting ready to book him.

Will they do that to me? Put me in that cell?

No. You'll be taken to Sybil Brand Institute.

We just brought you here first

because we want to talk to the detectives.

Aah! Out of here!

Get me out of here! Aah!

Get me out of here!

Aah! Get me out of here!

Don't put me in there!

I don't want to... Get me out of there!

Aah!

Aah!

Hey!

Ah, that scuffle only lasted about 30 seconds,

and when it was over, she was gone.

We got on the horn right away to Communications

and put out a broadcast.

The arresting officer was Hayes.

That the policewoman assigned to Devonshire Division?

Yeah. She's been there about a year.

She works store security on her days off.

Jan Hayes. her father was a good cop.

So's she.

Well, a 484 and a $2,500 watch.

Find one, maybe you'll find the other.

Yeah.

All units, One-Adam-12, reports additional

on the grand theft suspect that escaped from custody.

A female Caucasian, 19, 5'3", 115 pounds,

light brown hair,

wearing a rust-colored suede jumper,

dark blue or black turtleneck sweater,

high tan boots, and a beaded headband.

Now what?

If you weren't ready to be put in jail,

where would you go?

She's got credit that won't quit.

She could be out of the country in less than an hour.

She's an amateur.

Scared, and her parents are rich.

Skyline Road, wasn't it?

Yeah, 1162.

Yes?

Police officers.

We'd like to talk to Miss Courtnay.

Miss Courtnay isn't in.

Then could we please speak to her parents,

Mr. and Mrs. Courtnay?

Mrs. Courtnay is entertaining.

I'd appreciate it if you'd tell her it's important.

Yes, sir. Wait just a moment.

Nice place. Yeah.

Taxes must be something else.

I wouldn't be surprised.

I'm Mrs. Courtnay. May I help you?

We'd like to talk to you about your daughter.

Oh, dear. I have a garden full of guests.

Why on earth do you want to talk to me about M'Liss?

Mrs. Courtnay, your daughter's been arrested.

Arrested? What for?

Shoplifting.

Oh, there must be some mistake, I'm sure of it.

There's one other thing, Mrs. Courtnay.

Your daughter also escaped from custody.

You don't say.

Well, I suppose I can spare a moment or two.

Come in, gentlemen.

This is my daughter's room, gentlemen,

including this horrible picture.

As you can see, she's not here.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, you can search if you want to,

but I assure you,

M'Liss never stole anything in her life.

I'll admit it doesn't make much sense.

Of course it doesn't.

There's been a mistake, naturally.

A store detective observed your daughter

steal a watch valued at $2,500.

Oh, I don't believe it.

It not only doesn't make sense,

it's positively absurd.

Her uncle's estate will make M'Liss

extremely wealthy in her own right

when she reaches age 21.

Extremely wealthy.

Until then, her father will continue

to provide anything she needs,

as he always has in the past...

Most generously, I might add.

Yes, ma'am.

Frankly, officers,

I'd hate to be the one to tell Mr. Courtnay

his daughter's in trouble.

In five years of marriage, I've never come between them.

I see.

Nothing here.

Well, then, gentlemen, if that's all,

I do have guests waiting.

Mrs. Courtnay, do you know the name

of the man in this picture?

Of course not.

Do you mind?

No. Please hurry.

Officers, I simply must return to the garden.

Yes, ma'am.

But if your daughter comes home

or if you hear from her,

would you give us a call at this number, please?

Yes, I'd be delighted. Thank you.

I'm sure this will all turn out

to be simply a matter of mistaken identity.

Merodach.

D-A-K?

A-C-H.

Merodach. What does it mean?

That character's name, I guess.

Well, the picture, that incense altar,

That whole thing seems like some sort of oddball devotional setup.

Yeah. Sanctuary.

Any unit in the vicinity,

79023 Wilshire Blvd.

A 484 suspect there now

in the parking lot of Summer's Department Store.

One-Adam-12. We'll handle the 484.

One-Adam-12, Roger.

It was the Courtnay girl, all right.

One of the salesmen was outside on a break.

Recognized her on the side wall.

By the time she notified me, she disappeared.

We spotted her later in the parking lot,

but before we could seal it off, she got away.

How do you figure?

Must have crawled under a bunch of cars

and made it to one that drove away

before we could get to her. Yeah.

I'll call it in.

How'd she get away from you down at the station?

Oh, uh, some suspect tried to make a break,

and Reed and I had to help subdue him.

In the confusion she slipped away.

Well, looks like we both struck out.

Did she ever mention anybody named Merodach?

That's a name?

I think he's one of those occult characters

that finds our Mediterranean climate so productive.

She's got his picture up in her room.

Oh, kids are always plastering their wall with pictures.

Hero, worship.

Oh, she worships this one

on some kind of a homemade altar.

You tried the telephone book?

Have you got one?

In the manager's office. I'll check for you.

Merodach? Yeah. D-A-C-H.

♪♪

I'm Officer Malloy.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

It is the moment of silence.

Hmm?

You may come in, but silently, please.

Spirit of Heaven, remember.

Spirit of Earth, remember.

By the sacrifice of mercy,

may perfect health shine like bronze.

May the Sun God bring life.

May Merodach, eldest son of the Deep,

give perfect strength, prosperity, and health.

May Ninsegal not turn her face toward another place.

Okay, mister, that's enough.

Merodach.

Right. The eldest son of the Deep.

The Earth is filled with unbelievers.

We're looking for a girl named Courtnay,

M'Liss Courtnay. Ninsegal.

What?

Ninsegal.

That is the name she has chosen

from the Ancient Books of Babylon

to which Merodach holds the key.

Do you have any idea where we can find her?

She is awaiting the summons of Nebbs,

the Great Steward, supreme among the gods.

We're talking about a different kind of summons.

She's wanted for grand theft and escape.

Merodach rebukes the vain charge

of the Assyrian in Caldia.

Do you know where she is?

I have told you.

She awaits the summons of Nebbs.

Do you have any identification?

A driver's license or a Social Security card?

Certainly.

Is this your real name?

I have nothing to hide.

Do you own a car?

Yes. It is parked in the garage across the alley.

How long has it been since you saw Miss Courtnay?

Quite recently, within the past hour.

Where was that?

Here. She brought an offering.

Then she left,

refreshed, as always by brief moments of meditation.

Do you have any idea

why she'd steal a $2,500 diamond watch?

Is that what you're accusing her of stealing?

That's right.

If I had only known.

Known what?

The offering that she brought me

was a diamond watch.

We'll have to confiscate the watch as evidence.

Do you seriously think that I would accept

such a symbol of trenchant materialism?

I refused it, of course.

There are things far more important

between Miss Courtnay and Merodach.

Like what?

Her soul.

The propitious spirit of Miss Courtnay's soul.

We asked R&I to run the mystic.

He calls himself Merodach. His real name's Ellrod.

They came up with three priors,

all out of state.

Same MO, same charge: suspicion of fraud.

Occult stuff with some kind of a pagan twist.

Any convictions?

No. They couldn't get a witness

to testify against him.

Well, I'll check with Lieutenant.

As soon as someone's available in detectives,

you'll turn it over to them.

Any objections if we stay on the case?

Well, just get out and clear.

If you're in the area and not busy, go to it.

Thanks, Mac.

MacDonald.

Hold it, Pete.

Go ahead.

All right. Thanks.

That was Hayes from Summer's Department Store.

Your suspect's father just showed up.

Wants to see the manager.

What's the trouble?

I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Courtnay.

Mr. Courtnay, I'm Officer Malloy.

Yes, yes, I heard.

What's so all-fired important?

I'd like to talk to you about your daughter.

There's nothing to talk about.

I'm just about to write a check

in favor of Summer's Department Store.

Well, I wish it were that easy, sir.

Would you prefer if we spoke in private?

There's nothing to conceal.

I'm simply transacting a little business

with the general manager of the store.

Mr. Courtnay has been most generous,

and he came here entirely on his own.

Isn't that correct, sir?

That's right. You didn't telephone him?

Nobody telephoned anybody, Officer.

Mr. Courtnay, your daughter was arrested

for felony shoplifting.

Later she escaped from custody.

Those are pretty serious charges.

My daughter made one mistake.

She doesn't deserve to have her life ruined.

This could be the best thing

that ever happened to your daughter, Mr. Courtnay.

Would you mind leaving us alone for a moment?

Of course not. Not at all.

Sit down, young man.

I admire a man who knows his job and does it.

But I have a job to do, too,

and I'm hoping you can see

that it might just possibly take precedence.

Malloy, wasn't it?

Yes, sir.

Malloy, there's more at stake here

than you know about.

My wife's reputation, for instance.

How do you think it'll look

if word of this affair leaks out?

Mrs. Courtnay does a lot of good work.

Right now she's funding a large new home

for indigent children.

Second, there's my position to consider.

I contribute a fortune every year

to community affairs.

I pay your salary,

plus the salaries of the great many others.

If you're talking about taxes, I'm sure you do, sir.

Right. Then you do see the point.

Now, there is no need

for this to get any more involved, is there?

Mr. Courtnay,

if you don't want this to get any more involved,

I suggest you cooperate.

Well, we are cooperating.

Aren't we, Malloy?

Mr. Courtnay, for your own protection,

I should tell you that harboring a fugitive

makes you an accessory.

Now, that's also a felony.

Who says I'm harboring anybody?

Well, you've obviously talked with your daughter.

Now where is she, Mr. Courtnay?

Nobody said anything about talking to M'Liss.

This morning, when we interviewed Mrs. Courtnay,

the name of the store was never mentioned,

and the arresting officer, Miss Hayes,

says that she didn't telephone you,

and neither did the manager.

So how did you know where to come, sir,

if you haven't spoken with your daughter?

Is Miss Courtnay at home now, sir?

There just has to be another way.

There always is.

Not this time, sir.

She was at home when I left.

What do I do now, Malloy?

Call your house, but don't speak with your daughter.

Just make certain she's still there.

Oh, she'll be there, all right.

What do you mean?

I locked her in her room.

Malloy. Let me talk to MacDonald.

Mac, I'm at the Courtnay girl's house right now.

No, she got away, but she might decide to take a cab,

so why don't you put out a broadcast?

Okay. We'll keep in touch.

If she comes back, where do I call?

Where you should have called in the first place.

I gave your wife the number.

Yes, I know. She told me. I wouldn't listen.

Bad habit of mine, I guess.

Poor M'Liss.

I gave her everything except myself.

Oh, darling.

Please, you mustn't blame yourself.

One-Adam-12, code 6 at Melrose Place and Highland.

Shows code 5 at that location.

One-Adam-12, One-Adam-12, phone the station.

One-Adam-12, Roger.

That was MacDonald.

The cab company verified a fare

from the Westside area to 2816 Melrose Place.

The driver described our girl,

and she was carrying a leather purse.

One-Adam-12, cancel the code 5

and put us code 6 at 2816 Melrose Place.

One-Adam-12, Roger.

Spirit of Heaven remember.

Spirit of Earth, remember.

He that makes an image that injures man, remember.

He that makes an evil face,

an evil eye, an evil mouth,

an evil poison, remember.

And now

may Ninsegal, wife of Minasu,

welcome the Propitious Spirit.

And now may the Propitious Genie

settle upon this body.

Now you are, now and ever, Ninsegal.

Yes. Oh, yes.

Okay, folks.

It is the end, and it is the beginning.

Your arrival is fortuitous, gentlemen.

We were just about to telephone.

Yeah, I'm sure you were.

Ninsegal will confirm the truth.

Merodach speaks only the truth.

I'm ready now.

You, too, mister.

Turn around. You're under arrest.

May I ask what I'm being charged with?

Accessory to grand theft

and harboring a fugitive.

Such a waste of time and energy.

What's that supposed to mean?

Simply that this will turn out to be

what you call a bad arrest, gentlemen.

Is that so?

Ninsegal will testify

that I refused the watch,

that I had every intention of telephoning you.

I cannot lie, but I shall be waiting.

Ninsegal will return

to the rich life of fullest realization.

You know, my father locked me in my room like an animal.

Yes, ma'am.

All my life I've tried to talk to him,

to say "I love you,"

but he never listened.

Now he'll never know.

That's too bad.

He'll never know the Propitious Spirit.

How sad.

How very sad.

I want to thank you, gentlemen,

and apologize if you'll accept it.

There's no need to apologize.

That's very kind of you.

I'm afraid I wouldn't be so charitable.

Will you excuse me?

Sure.

How's the girl taking it?

M'Liss?

She's on Cloud 9.

The Propitious Spirit, she calls it.

She's already planning the golden altar

she's going to build for Merodach

When she comes into her inheritance.

He's going to have to wait a couple of years

to enjoy it.

How's Courtnay doing?

I feel sorry for that guy.

He tried to get M'Liss to talk to his lawyer,

and she wouldn't talk to either one of them.

A million bucks, and it won't buy him visiting privileges.

She seemed happy about it.

Yeah. She said it was the first time in her life

she ever made her own decision.

Well, so long, apparition.

What?

Reed here claims that you're a ghost

from my sinister past.

And you told him I'm a lady cop.

Best one I know.

Well, thanks for that much anyhow.

See you around, Officer.

Yeah. See you around.

Closed-Captioned By J.R. Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA