Original subtitles

One-Adam-12, handle code 3.

♪♪

Roger, Adam-4. We're on the south side.

I'll take the side.

Don't make a sound.

Not one word.

Who else is in there.

How many to go?

He wasn't too friendly.

I guess we can count...

Chick, is the truck ready?

Yeah. Let's get moving.

Chick, where are you?

Police, hold it!

Pete, get out of the way!

Pete, move!

You okay?

Yeah.

We got him coming out the back door.

Did you check the rest of the place?

Yeah, it's clean.

Everything's shut down for Sunday.

There's another one handcuffed inside the van.

Lucky nobody was in the way of that thing.

Luck had nothing to do with it.

And at end of watch,

I'm buying a cop named Tony Johnson

a steak dinner that says so.

Ten reports, three notifications,

and we're two hours overtime.

How long we gonna wait around here?

Just long enough for speedy here to get dressed.

That's the first time I've ever known you

to be late for a steak dinner.

Where you been? We've been waiting an hour.

You mind if we skip tonight?

No, I don't mind. What's the matter?

According to the captain,

somebody's put a real hat on me.

That's where I've been since the end of watch.

What's the story?

I don't know.

Some guy comes in, signs a paper.

Next thing I know, the skipper's got me on the carpet.

I don't know what's going on.

What'd the captain tell you?

Not much of anything.

Internal Affairs Division has started an investigation.

Somebody's accused me of blackmail.

Blackmail?

That's what I said.

Look, can we make that dinner on Wednesday?

Maybe I'll be able to find out something by then.

Yeah, sure.

Didn't he give you any particulars?

He said I.A.D. would take care of that.

I was just talking to Tony's partner.

- Yeah? - He doesn't have any idea what's going on either.

I tell you one thing though, he's scared.

Of what?

Well, his partner's in trouble and he's a probationer.

You mean, Olsen thinks he's gonna fall with him?

Yeah. The watch commander put him on the desk.

He's got an appointment this afternoon

with Internal Affairs.

Hey, Pete?

Uh, about Tony.

You think there's any chance that he...

That he might have gone bad?

No way.

What makes you so positive?

Because he doesn't have a dishonest bone in his body.

In fact, he's probably the best policeman I ever knew.

Okay, Pete. If you say so.

Hey, I better ask for seven

if we're gonna meet Tony for dinner like we planned.

It's about that time.

This is One-Adam-12 requesting code 7

at Trenton and 4th.

One-Adam-12, stand by.

One-Adam-12, okay 7.

We were worried about being late.

I'm sure he's got a good reason.

Hi. Sorry I'm late.

I was with Internal Affairs.

- What'd you find out? - It's a real bummer.

What did this guy say you did?

- Pete, I... - What'll it be?

Coffee, black.

- No steak? - No appetite.

Pete, I didn't do anything.

But nobody seems to want to believe me.

Okay, Tony.

Why don't you give it to us from the beginning.

I just wish I knew what made this guy do it.

Well, who is this guy?

His name is Ralph Bender.

Last week he goes to Internal Affairs

and tells them I shook him down for $200.

Can you imagine that? Me shaking somebody down!

Did he say you had something on him?

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

He's got the whole thing wrapped up

in a nice tight little ball of wax.

He says if I didn't give him 200...

- Anything else? - No. No, thank you.

He says that if I didn't give him $200,

I threatened to tell his wife that he was fooling around

with these B-girls who roll drunks.

Do you know this guy, Bender?

Yeah, that's the problem.

- I racked him up last week. - What for?

Tossing one of those joints in Main Street.

The Dead Angel Bar.

It's near your district.

Olsen and I were patrolling the area

and we... we saw this guy

and this girl getting into his car,

in an alley in back of the bar.

Well, you know, Sgt. MacDonald asked us to do what we could do

down there to discourage those B-girls

and their buddies from rolling drunks.

Anyway, we approached them, we talked to them,

we took off down the street and watched 'em for a while.

Eventually she got out of the car

and went back to the bar.

This guy took off.

But he says that you took him for $200?

Yeah, but not then.

Oh, boy, this guy is cool.

He must have figured

I wouldn't have my partner with me as a witness.

He told I.A.D. I did it later on.

Later?

Yeah.

He says I called him the next morning at work.

I threatened to tell his wife he was fooling around.

The way I.A.D. got it,

Bender said I had him leave 200 in cash

underneath an ash can in an alley

in back of a service station.

When? What time?

Last Tuesday at 10 in the morning.

That's another problem.

I got nobody to prove I was at home asleep

last Tuesday at 10 in the morning.

I never... I never thought I'd see the day

when I needed an alibi to...

Hey, Pete.

Wait a minute. Didn't you call me last Tuesday?

It was Tuesday, in the morning,

about the ad in the paper.

It was Tuesday, wasn't it?

No, it was Thursday.

Yeah. Yeah, it was Thursday.

Boy, we're gonna grab on for anything.

You're right. It was Thursday.

Come on, Tony, think.

There's got to be something else.

Hey, would one of you cops throw this bum out of here?

I want you to throw this bum out of here right now.

I've had it right up to here!

Throw him out!

What's the problem?

The bum's the problem! Look at him.

He's been sitting there for an hour,

nursing this cup of tea.

Well, did he pay for it?

Ye... Yes, sir, Officer.

I surely did.

Right there it is.

I don't mean no harm, Officer.

Just resting my feet.

Lookit here. Just resting his feet is he?

He's a mooch, that's what.

I paid for the hot water, Officer.

But you didn't pay for the ketchup.

Did you ever see stealing like that in your life?

It's a crime, that's what it is.

I want him arrested.

Imagine making tomato soup

out of hot water and ketchup.

He's a thief, that's what.

No, ma'am. There's no crime here.

What do you mean? He took the ketchup.

He just plain took it.

You usually charge for the ketchup

or do you put it out on the counter

for anybody to use?

Well, you have to buy something to get the ketchup.

We just don't give the ketchup away.

No crime, ma'am.

Here you go, old timer.

Get yourself something to eat.

Thank you, sir.

He'll just blow it on a bottle of wine.

I think I'll just have one of those bowls of chili.

In the restaurant down the street.

A much better place of class.

I'm no thief.

And I don't want anybody thinking I am.

There's got to be something else.

I just can't put my finger on it.

Hey, Tony. What about the girl?

Has anybody talked to her?

What for?

You can't use her as a witness.

He says I phoned him, remember?

Yeah, you also said that she stayed in the car

a little while after you left, right?

- Right. - So what were they doing?

- Just talking. - About what?

I don't know.

I guess what any B-girl would be talking to a guy about.

No, I mean, did he say anything to you or...

Yeah, he said something to me.

He said something to me before we left.

He was a little uptight.

I didn't think much about it at the time.

What's that?

He said he was gonna get my badge.

Oh, wow.

I thought he was just saving face with the girl.

It seems to me that girl would be worth finding.

Oh, man, anything's worth a try.

What do you say? Will you guys look for her?

Look, how would it look if I found my own witness?

I'm sure I.A.D.'s already looking for her.

Those guys are real sharp. It's their bag.

It'd be better if we stayed out of it.

They're headhunters is what they are, Pete.

Come on, Tony.

You know that's not true.

They're not out to hang anybody.

They just want to find out what happened.

Everything I hear, they investigate

any charges against an officer three ways from Wednesday.

That's right. If you're innocent

you've got nothing to worry about.

All right. All right.

So they're straight.

It wouldn't hurt if you guys gave 'em a hand

looking for that girl, would it?

I guess we could keep our eyes open for her

while we're on duty.

If we spot her, we'll turn her over to I.A.D.

Do you know her name?

Oh, yeah. Her street name is Ginger.

She's about medium height, blonde,

and she's got a beauty mark on her right cheek.

You'd never miss her, believe me.

One lousy dime. That's no tip.

No, ma'am. It's a hint.

One-Adam-12, One-Adam-12,

see the man. A 4-84 suspect.

1532 East Main at the Dead Angel Bar.

One-Adam-12, roger.

I'm sitting here, drinking with her

and she tries to pick my pocket.

He doesn't know what he's talking about.

What's your story, Jackie?

He's hunkered up to the bar, pouring the sauce down,

and his wallet falls out of his pocket.

So I bend down to get it for him.

He starts screaming bloody murder,

claiming I was trying to pick his pocket.

Ask him. He saw the whole thing.

She's right, Officer, I saw the whole thing.

They're lying.

I run a nice, quiet place here.

No laws broken.

You have any witnesses, sir?

No.

Is your money all there?

Yeah.

I think the best thing you could do is take it and run.

Okay, okay...

but I ain't ever coming back into this clip joint.

The things a girl gets accused of.

Yeah.

As long as we're here,

do you mind if we ask you a couple of questions?

Not if you don't mind if I don't answer.

It's no big deal. We're just wondering

if you've seen Ginger around.

- Ginger? - Yeah.

Medium height, blonde

with a beauty mark on her right cheek.

Gee, that name sure don't ring a bell.

No, I can't say I've ever seen her around.

Look, she hasn't done anything.

We're just trying to locate her to help a friend.

Yeah, she might be able to help get this guy out of trouble.

Now, I wonder who that might be.

That cop Johnson maybe?

What do you know about Johnson?

Nothing. Except he's always hassling us.

Grapevine has it he's getting rousted now by your own dicks.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, as far as I'm concerned.

Johnson was only doing his job, Jackie.

Are you gonna help us find Ginger or not?

I'm telling you true, Malloy.

I don't know the girl.

At least I don't remember her.

If I knew, so help me, I'd tell you.

I'm always glad to help the fuzz.

Hey, Joe, give me a beer.

- Any luck yesterday? - No one's talking.

That figures.

Oh, what am I gonna do?

It's not that bad.

I don't think I.A.D.'s gonna go

to a trial board with weak evidence.

You're wrong, Pete. I need that girl.

She's the only hope I got.

If we can get her to testify

to overhearing Bender say he'd get my badge,

at least I'd have a chance.

What about Olsen? Didn't he hear it?

No, he was on the other side of the car.

I need that girl.

I guess this Ginger's all he can count on.

One-Adam-12, One-Adam-12, see the man,

a 390, 415 at the bar.

1532 East Main.

One-Adam-12, roger.

The Dead Angel Bar.

Sounds pretty lively to me.

No, sir. I didn't see a thing like that.

- This is a... - Yeah, I know, I know, a nice, quiet place.

We got a call about a drunk causing a disturbance here.

This is 1532, isn't it?

Yeah, this is 1532, all right.

But I didn't put in any call.

There's been no drunk in here.

No, siree, I don't serve drunks.

That's the law.

Look what we just found.

- Ginger? - Huh?

We'd like to talk to you.

Well, talk.

I'd like you to try and remember

almost two weeks ago.

It was a Monday night.

In the alley out back.

Yeah, well, I'm out back occasionally.

You were in a man's car.

You were stopped by two policemen.

Oh, sure, the cop.

He gave the guy a lecture on the dangers of being rolled.

He sure got mad.

Say, you know, I noticed the cop's name

on that little tag like you're wearing there.

It was Johnson.

Do you remember what he said?

Did he threaten the policeman?

Oh, he was pretty hot, all right.

I don't know if you'd call it a threat,

but he told the cop he'd get his badge.

After the officer left,

did you stay in the car for a while?

The guy was asking me a bunch of questions...

Kind of creepy things, you know?

Like what?

Crazy things, like...

Well, he asked me if I ever heard

of a policeman trying to blackmail anybody

for being with a B-girl.

Anything else?

Yeah.

He said maybe it was time somebody

tried to stop those cops from

bothering anybody.

Maybe you should come down to the station with us, huh?

Why not?

And that's the whole thing, Sergeant.

Like I told the officers,

the guy was kind of nutty.

He just wanted to get back at that cop

for butting into his business.

Okay, I'll contact I.A.D.

Johnson's taking his 7.

You wanna give him the good news?

Miss, if you'll come with me,

Internal Affairs will wanna get your statement on paper.

Sure. Anything to help.

You know, any time you guys have any kind of problem,

I'd be glad to help out.

Just give me a ring. Look me up.

What did she say, Pete?

She clear me?

Yeah, she cleared you.

I don't know how to thank you.

Man, I got it made now.

Yeah? Tell me about it.

Tell you what? She cleared me.

She did, didn't she?

Come on, Pete. What's happening?

You tell me.

Tell you what? What are you talking about?

How much did you pay her?

Pay her?

Pay her! Are you crazy?

I'm asking you. How much?

Pete...

Come on, we're buddies.

Yeah, that's right.

That's why I figure you should tell me.

You're putting me on, right?

No. You put me on.

But not long enough.

First that innocent routine.

Then getting Reed to suggest finding the girl

and you jumped on the bandwagon.

You really had me snowed.

It was easy, I guess.

I wanted to believe you.

And Ginger just doesn't happen to be around for two nights.

She's hard to find. It looks good.

That's where it all started to fall into place.

The only thing I know

that's gonna keep a B-girl out of sight is jail

or somebody paying her not to be there.

The topper...

the real topper was that phony call to the bar.

I mean, weren't we lucky

that we just happened to find her sitting there?

It was a good rig, Tony.

It might have worked all the way,

but you made one big mistake.

You briefed her too well.

There isn't a bimbo in town

that would cop out the way she did.

So what did it cost you, Tony?

How much of that dirty money did you have to pay her?

- Hey, Pete... - How much?

I can get it out of her in 20 minutes

if you want me to go that route.

All right!

All right, I paid her off.

I gave her a hundred. Is that what you want to hear?

I'm sorry, Pete.

So am I.

Sorry you're a cop.

You know what this will do to me, don't you?

This will put me in prison, Pete.

I saved your life.

Doesn't that count for anything?

Pete, you owe me!

You owed a lot of policemen the chance to do their job

without being branded lousy.

Think about that.

They can't do it now, 'cause you got 'em dirty.

One cop gets weak or greedy or stupid,

that puts a hat on all of us, and we have to swallow it.

People calling us pigs.

Wives and children and friends

having to live with that,

because one rotten cop

gets both his feet in the trough.

You forget fast, don't you?

No, I haven't forgotten.

You saved my life twice.

You got more guts than anybody I ever knew.

It takes more than guts to be a good cop.

Pete...

we're friends?

That's right, we were.

But you used that friendship.

You wrapped your garbage in it.

Now there's nothing left for it, except to dump.

I think Johnson has something he wants to tell you.

He's dirty, isn't he?

How long have you known?

I guess for sure since we found the girl.

Why didn't you say something?

I didn't have to, did I?

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