Original subtitles

One-Adam-12, handle code 3.

♪♪

All units in One-Adam-12 Officer needs help.

Ambulance shooting.

Exact location is the rear of the drive-in restaurant

at Avenue N and Manchester.

One-Adam-12, roger.

Did you read that?

Pete.

Get an ambulance.

Norm. He's hit bad.

The ambulance is on the way. What about you?

I'm not sure.

My back.

Feels like it's on fire.

I can't move my legs.

I feel a pulse. He's still with us.

I got a partial out.

Two...

male Negroes

ran eastbound down the alley.

We heard the broadcast. The area's being sealed off.

- Take it easy, Walt. - I'm sure I got him.

- Both of them. - Walt, you were staked out here.

Didn't you see the 211 go down?

No bandits, Pete.

It was a... ambush.

They just opened up on us from...

from behind.

We didn't have a chance.

Pollack?

We don't have much to go on.

Just the broadcast Barrett put out.

He was ambushed by two male Negroes, possibly on foot.

He thinks he wounded both of them, but we can't be sure.

Far as I know, we have two units, code 100.

One on Manchester, and one on Avenue N.

Perimeter's covered, Pete. Hunter's at 104th,

and there are two X units staked out on the south side.

Okay. The rest of us can shake the area on foot.

Johnson, you and your partner stay here

and preserve the scene for the investigators.

Pollack, you guys take Avenue N.

We'll take the alley.

Doesn't make sense.

Yeah. Let's go.

Pete?

Blood. Looks like Walt hit him, all right.

Drop it!

There's your answer.

The Brotherhood.

What about Walt? It's been over two hours.

They were just finishing up in surgery when I left.

The doctor says he'll be down in a little while.

Excuse me just a moment.

Mrs. Woods?

Your husband's doing all right, considering.

He's asking for you.

Take the elevator. Room 204.

Can I get you something, Nan? A cup of coffee?

Thanks. No.

Three years, I've waited.

What's two hours more?

Hey, what is it about this police work that hooks you guys?

I don't know exactly, Nan. I guess it's doing something useful.

That's Walt.

"I'm makin' a contribution, honey. Don't you understand?"

No. I don't understand.

I never have, Pete. I don't think I ever will.

It's different for us.

Walt never could just do a good job.

He had to be the best.

The job. Overtime.

Court. School, four days a week.

And now this.

No crime. No victim involved.

Except himself.

No contribution.

Just shot down like an animal by one of his own people!

They weren't his people, Nan.

Not by a long shot.

Uh, Nan, you're gonna see the doctor now.

Right over there.

How's he doin', Sarge?

Well, he was hit four times.

One bullet severed his spinal chord.

He's alive, but paralyzed from the waist down.

Doc says it'll be lucky if he can ever sit up in a wheelchair.

The suspect you picked up in the alley just died.

We've I.D.'d him as William James.

According to some papers in his wallet,

he's got a brother that lives at 1090 Wilshire.

Homicide's checking out the pad. They'll make notification.

Well, come on.

I've got a lobby full of news people out here.

I'll give them the basic information,

but not the identification.

Sergeant, how about the rest of the story?

There's not much more I can tell you now.

Officers Malloy and Reed here found the suspect,

close by the single shooting.

He offer any resistance?

He tried, but he passed out first.

He was wounded prior to your finding him?

That's correct.

Sergeant, have you identified the suspects yet?

So far, just the one that expired.

I'm sorry we can't really his name.

The next of kind have been notified.

His name was William Randolph James,

and he was executed by the pigs.

The pigs are murderers.

They murdered a young brother.

A boy. A child of the people.

Do you have any witnesses to support that statement?

Witnesses for what? For your racist courts?

We don't need no witnesses.

The racist pigs have just practiced more genocide of black people.

Pretty impressive bunch.

That's what gets 'em in print. They attract.

Not everybody.

Members of the Brotherhood,

and little Willie James was shot to death.

He was executed by the pigs,

who had long laid in wait for him.

How do you explain the injuries to the two police officers,

if they, in fact, ambushed James?

Little Willie was trying to defend himself.

He shot back at the pigs in self-defense.

The fact is that Little Willie James was murdered!

And that must never be forgotten!

The Los Angeles Police Department

murdered Little Willie James,

in cold blood.

And every single pig on that murderous police department

is guilty of his murder,

and we swear, we swear that his murderers

will be brought to justice.

They will be brought to justice in the streets!

And they will be revolutionized!

They will be revolutionized right here to death!

- Hey, Kenny? - Jim.

- Hey, how you doin'? - What's going on?

Go on. Step back here. We can talk.

Pete. Come on. Want you to meet him.

Keeping me busy.

Carol, you remember me talking about Jim Reed.

This is him in the flesh.

- How do you do? - This is Carol, my wife.

- And my boy, Timmy. - Hi, Timmy.

This is my partner, Pete Malloy.

Pete, the Jameses.

Kenny and I played football all through high school.

- Hi, Kenny. - My pleasure.

What are you doing down here?

I don't know. I got a strange call at home.

A guy says a friend of yours is in Central Receiving,

and hangs up.

I didn't know what to think, but we came anyway.

Mr. James, what's your address?

1090 Wilshire. Why?

I'm afraid we have some bad news for you.

It's, uh... it's about your brother, William.

Willie? What about him?

Now what's this about Willie?

He was involved...

in an incident with the police...

earlier tonight.

- He was shot. - Shot.

How bad was he hurt?

Uh, Kenny, I...

I'm sorry.

Dead?

- Willie's dead? - Yeah, he, uh...

he was one of two men who ambushed some policemen over on Manchester.

Ambushed?

Willie?

He's just... He was just a kid!

Only 18 years old!

He wou... he couldn't ambush anybody.

When we found him, Kenny,

he was wearing the Brotherhood uniform.

I know he was hanging out with them.

Agreed with the things they said

about social conditions, the plight of the black man.

As a matter of fact, so do I, but I don't go out and ambush anybody!

Neither did Willie.

I can't believe he would do anything like that.

These detectives missed him by about five minutes.

Yeah.

Last time I saw Willie, I guess he was about 10 or 11 years old.

Like Kenny said, it's...

It's kind of hard to believe he was involved in this.

Kids grow up, you never know into what.

The outstanding suspect has been identified as Cleotis James.

Male Negro. 28 years.

D.O.B. 10/24/42.

Six feet. Black hair. Brown eyes.

Known to drive a 1967 Pontiac blue two-door.

License. Nora-Ocean-Ida 743.

He's a brother of the deceased suspect, William James.

Possibly wounded. Armed.

Should be considered extremely dangerous.

Any questions?

Okay, that'll do it. We're running a little late. Let's hit the field.

I'd forgotten Kenny had an older brother.

Did you ever meet him?

No, he'd already left home by the time Kenny and I met.

Hey, Reed!

My good friend, Jim Reed.

I recall you telling me it was the police that were ambushed.

Hey, hold it. What's the problem?

The problem is this.

I thought we were friends,

but you lied just like the rest of 'em.

Wait a minute, Kenny. I told you the truth.

Truth?

You forgot to mention the fact that Willie was shot in the back!

That's right. He was.

After he shot two policemen from behind.

He was running away, Kenny.

A wounded officer fired that shot, trying to stop him.

The Brotherhood says it was the other way around.

Well, the evidence proves otherwise.

Like I told you, we were there.

He had a rifle.

You and all your kind.

The evidence is just more of the lies you fabricated.

Oh, you told a nice story.

All neat and wrapped up in a nice little police package.

My friend, Officer Reed.

You forgot to mention he was shot in the back!

And you forgot to mention Cleotis James,

who just happens to be wanted for attempted murder.

- He's your brother. - That's right. I didn't.

I didn't happen to think of it.

But it makes no difference.

He got out of your police trap, and I'm glad he did.

- Where is he? - Don't make me laugh.

You think I actually would tell you if I knew?

Help you butcher another black man?

Come on, Kenny. You don't know what you're talking about.

- You're upset. - I think, for the first time,

I do know what I'm talking about.

The Brotherhood has the right idea.

I'm just sorry it took me so long to wake up to it.

They ignore the law, and kill innocent people.

Is that what you think is right?

Maybe it's time for that.

Time for me to pick up the gun.

Friend.

How can he not believe me?

We were friends. We went all through school together.

Played football together.

It's not you. It's the uniform he doesn't believe.

Somehow, somewhere, he's been convinced

not to believe in what it stands for.

Afternoon, Officer!

I just bet you didn't stop

to pass the time of day, did you?

No, sir. May I see your driver's license, please?

Sure can.

Right up to snuff.

Just got it renewed yesterday.

Didn't want it to expire.

Today is my birthday, ya know.

I'm 75 years old.

About that stop sign back there,

I just plain didn't see it.

I guess I was day-dreaming.

Yes, sir.

Is this your correct address, Mr. Jenkins?

- 207 Beverly? - Yep.

Lived there nigh unto 40 years.

Uh, listen.

I'm sorry as the devil about that stop sign,

and making those people stomp on their brakes that way.

But you aren't gonna write me up, are ya?

It wasn't just the stop sign, Mr. Jenkins.

This is a residential district.

The speed limit's 25.

You were doing better than 50.

But dag nab it, son, I won't do it again!

It's my birthday! I'm 75 years old.

And I've never been written up in 61 years of automobile driving.

I'd say that's a pretty good record, wouldn't you?

Yes, sir.

- You writing me up anyway? - Yes, sir.

61 years, and now my record's marked.

I started off in a Model T.

Drove darn near everything that's been built since then.

Without one ticket!

Yes, sir.

It's downright cold, that's what it is.

You just don't have any feeling for an old man

on his 75th birthday.

Yes, sir. I do.

I just wanna help you get to your 76th birthday.

One-Adam-12. One-Adam-12.

Meet One-L-90 on Tack 2.

One-Adam-12, roger.

One-Adam-12 to L-90. Go ahead.

L-90. I just received an anonymous call

that the suspect Cleotis James

was seen in the vicinity of the 200 block

of North 73rd.

I repeat, the caller did not identify himself.

Check it out.

One-Adam-12, roger.

It's near the Brotherhood headquarters, isn't it?

That's right.

You think it's a setup?

There's always that possibility.

I'm unarmed, but I guess that doesn't matter, does it?

Do you shoot me now, or do you wait until

you find me alone in a dark alley?

Put your arms down, Kenny. You're not funny.

Ah. The alley it is, huh?

Did you follow me here, or is this just another routine harassment mission?

We're looking for your brother. I don't suppose you'd know where he is, though.

Why don't you ask them?

Hey. Why aren't you going in, fuzz?

For good reasons, Kenny.

Our informant was anonymous.

Probably cause is too weak for a search or a warrant.

The guns are legal. The Brotherhood guards are on private property.

They haven't violated any laws.

Yeah. You mean if a black man's facing you,

you get in your car and take off.

The policeman's a statutory creature, Kenny.

The law gives us our tools and our restrictions.

Yeah.

Waiting for reinforcements?

No. As a matter of fact, we're just getting ready to leave.

Oh, what a shame.

Ah, it's just as well, though.

When you get back, maybe I'll be up there,

instead of here.

- Then you haven't joined yet. - No.

I've been busy,

making arrangements to bury my brother.

Listen to me, Kenny.

We were friends. Does all that change

just 'cause I pinned on a badge?

No white man is a friend of a black man.

I've leveled with you from the start.

Look, I'll admit there are things wrong on both sides.

But they don't offer anything constructive. They're out to destroy.

Destroy?

Hey, man. Look at 'em.

Those are proud black men standing there. They're building.

What? You don't build anything on hate and violence,

except more of the same.

They're building pride.

Pride in black people being black.

And they make me proud just looking at them.

Yeah, well what you're looking at is a carnival, and carnivals attract people.

Go ahead. Look around.

They put on a good show, but it's all on the surface, man.

You look a little deeper, and all you'll see is

a gutsy group of black kamikazes

who'd like nothing better than to use those guns.

Yeah? Well, they look good to me.

Yeah.

From where you're standing, but take another look.

Do you honestly want that arsenal around your wife and kid?

I'm beginning to think we're on a wild goose chase again.

Could be.

I bet detectives got about 50 calls on James today alone.

Probably. And they're runnin' down all of 'em.

Not all of 'em. Else we wouldn't be out here lookin'.

Hey, wait a minute.

- Nora-Ocean-Ida 743. - Cleotis' car.

Question is, which one of these places is he holed up in?

Pete, there goes Kenny.

Looks like we just scored.

Better get us a backup unit.

One-Adam-12 requesting a backup unit.

Meet us at the northwest corner of Garrett and Adams.

One-Adam-12, roger.

Cleo, open up.

What you doin' here, man?

I came here to find out what happened,

when Willie was killed, and those cops...

You know what happened, man. You read the papers, didn't you?

- What the brothers said? - Well, the police say different.

Off the pigs! Man, who you gonna believe?

Me, or them?

How'd you find me, anyway?

The Brotherhood. Cleo, you gotta turn yourself in.

You crazy! Man, turn myself in?

Get outta here!

Cleo, it's the only way.

They'll kill you if you don't.

Just like they shot down Willie!

Turn yourself in, and they don't get the chance.

Make it, man. I mean it.

I'm not turning myself in to no pigs, man.

You a fool, Ken! A fool!

Now go on and get off of my back.

Cleo. Give it up!

It's no good!

Take your chances with the judge! You'll get off!

Freeze, Cleo! Police!

You lousy fink! You brought the fuzz.

Are you out of your head? I didn't bring 'em.

All right, you dudes! Put them guns down,

or I'm gonna fill this cat's brains full of lead!

Cleo, I... I came here to help you.

Yeah! Okay, help.

No deal, Cleo. You put your gun down.

Not this year, baby!

I'm makin' this scene, one way or another!

Cleo, give it up. It's no good.

You'll get off.

Cops ambushed you! You just acted in self-defense!

- Tell 'em! - Yeah, tell us!

And tell your brother how it was.

Go ahead, Cleo.

It was self-defense, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was self-defense, man!

Every time a brother kills a cop, it's self-defense!

If you do it, Cleo,

you'll be just as bad as those cops that ambushed you.

Yeah! Tell him how you and Willie were ambushed, Cleo!

Yeah, man!

Just like I'm about to get ambushed right now, right?

It's true.

You did ambush those cops!

Yeah, we did it for the cause, man!

We took another step toward freedom!

Has Whitey made you blind, man? Can't you see that?

I can see that Willie's dead, and you led him to it!

- That's what I can see! - Oh, you weak, brother.

You weak!

Man, you still crawlin' on your belly like some house nigga.

Now watch how a pig dies, man.

Make ya strong like a black man should...

Kenny, it looks all right.

You'll be okay as soon as we get it patched up.

What about... What about my brother?

We'll book him. He'll go to trial.

What changed your mind, Kenny?

What did you help us?

My wife.

My son.

I still don't know the right way, Jim.

Cleo's way didn't give them any future.

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