Original subtitles

Oh, did you miss me, sweet pea?

I missed you. I thought about you all day.

How's Mama's pretty Alice?

I think about this face all day.

I can't believe something so sweet belongs to me.

You should keep you mind on class, Laurie.

Hey, I got an A on my World History final.

You'll see, I'll graduate with honors.

It won't be easy, but sweet pea and I are going to college.

Honey, I don't doubt it for a minute.

Come on. Are you ready?

Come on. Bye.

Let's go, okay?

Let's go home.

Oh, that's a good girl.

Okay.

Sweet pea, you awake already?

Oh... Oh, God.

Oh, God. Oh, God, no.

Oh, God.

No. Oh, God.

Please, God, no.

No.

Oh, my baby.

My baby!

I think he'll make a wonderful candidate, don't you?

Yes, it's time that this city

had a mayor of Garrett's stature.

Hey. Hi.

So, uh, what do you think about my new tuxedo?

It's nice, Trivette.

You're the first Ranger I've ever known to own one though.

Yeah, but...

But see how much better mine looks than yours?

How much did it cost?

What?

How much did it cost? Ooh, girl, look what I see.

Eleven hundred dollars.

What? Eleven hundred dollars.

You paid $1,100 for...?

I can think of a lot of things

I'd rather spend 1,100 bucks on than a new tuxedo.

You have no style. WOMAN: Hi.

Hi. Hi.

Oh, no. Ah. Ah.

I'm sorry. I... I'll get it.

I may not have any style, Trivette,

but I've got a clean tuxedo.

Ladies and gentlemen, if I could, uh, ahem,

please have your attention.

I give you a man

that we all, uh, appreciate and admire.

The man that we're here this evening to honor.

And that, of course, is our Big Pal man of the year,

Mr. Garrett Carlson.

You be sure to cover this, now.

No kidding, this is the stuff

election-winning campaign spots are made of.

That's the only kind I'm interested in, buddy.

Thank you. Thank you all very much.

Well, I've...

I've known many thrilling moments in my career.

I've hosted royalty on behalf of our city.

I've been honored with the keys to our city.

But to be acknowledged

for my work on behalf of the Big Pal program...

Mr. Carlson!

Is truly the crowning achievement of my career.

Mr. Carlson, listen to me!

Shh.

There are currently 1,000 fatherless boys

waiting for big pals.

I want my baby back, Mr. Carlson!

She's my baby, not yours!

Why do you want my baby?

She belongs to me! She's all I've got!

Uh, could someone call security, please.

I don't want to cause trouble.

I just want my baby back, please? Please!

Miss, I don't know what the problem is,

but this is not the time or place.

Now, come on. He's got my baby.

Heh, wouldn't be a Carlson speech

without a rabble-rouser, you know.

Carlson's asked me

if there was anything I could do to help.

Alex, this is Laurie Maston.

Her baby was stolen about a month ago in San Antone and...

she seems to think

the Carlsons' baby is hers.

I saw this picture of Mr. and Mrs. Carlson

and of their adopted baby in the newspaper last week.

She's mine.

You can see they're the same.

What do you think?

Hard to tell from the pictures, huh?

Not to a mother.

I know my baby.

Those are Alice's dimples.

I love those dimples.

Laurie, I can't begin to imagine

how horrible it is to lose your child.

But the Carlsons' baby can't possibly be yours.

They adopted her through a very reputable agency.

When I got pregnant,

my folks said I made a real mess out of my life.

They kicked me out.

And I didn't know what to do, where to go.

I was really confused.

But when Alice was born,

I promised her I would always take care of her.

No matter what, I would never leave her.

Laurie...

We can't promise you anything, but...

we'll look into it for you.

You know, that's absurd, Walker.

That crazy little girl

should have been put away last night.

Well, she's very distraught.

And all I want to do

is put her mind at ease that this is not her child.

Well, I don't see how we can help.

And I'm not sure I want to after she humiliated us.

Oh, she's just a kid, Mr. Carlson.

And she's been through a lot.

Maybe we could take a look at the adoption papers.

Well, adoption papers aren't something

that you show someone off the street.

They're legal, and sealed by the court.

It's our own very private matter.

I don't have to answer to anyone about it.

We could make this a formal investigation.

Walker, I'm about to embark

on the most important stage of my career.

This is a headache I do not need.

A simple blood test would clear this whole matter up.

You don't give up, do you?

All right.

You get your blood test.

You know, someone once said that all babies

look like Winston Churchill,

but yours bears an amazing resemblance to Laurie's.

You know, after all I have done for this city,

I resent having two uninvited civil servants

confront me at home!

We'll arrange for the test this afternoon.

Civil servants.

I've been called worse.

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Garrett, I have done everything your way.

Dried out, even became mother to a child I did not want

so that you would look good for the press!

I can't very well run a campaign based on family values

without a family, now, can I?

At the very least,

you could allow me one moment of weakness, please.

It was your weakness that caused us

to be turned down in the first place,

so don't tell me about your weakness!

I hate your damn weakness!

Mabel.

You're gonna kill somebody with that damn thing!

Seeing as you're slower than spit in a freeze with my lunch,

I gotta do something to pass the time.

Why don't you just get you some spectacles and put them on.

Well, if I did that, C.D., I could see you better.

Just might ruin everything.

Okay, here we go.

A BLT, Braunschweiger, liverwurst and tuna.

Thanks, C.D.

Well, did you see Alice?

Are they taking good care of her?

Yeah, she was asleep when we were there.

Sweat pea's a good sleeper.

Slept through the night at two months.

Laurie, maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up.

They're already on cloud nine.

I know it's Alice.

Well... the blood test results.

It's your baby.

I knew it, ha!

I knew it.

I haven't told the Carlsons yet.

I'm not exactly sure how.

Well, when can I have her back?

We're gonna have to do this by the book.

So if you could just be patient, okay?

Okay.

I can't wait to get out of that crummy motel.

I know the Carlsons wouldn't steal a baby.

I know that like I know my own name.

There's something wrong somewhere.

Well, let's start with the adoption agency.

We'll need a court order.

You got it.

Here you go.

I paid you $100,000

to guarantee that there'd be no problems.

Having that girl show up is a problem, Stedler.

And I'm a problem-solver.

Your wife's a drunk, Carlson.

There isn't adoption agency in the state

that would have let you have a baby.

I took care of that. I'll take care of this.

You didn't mention anything about stealing a baby.

Hey, you said you needed a kid in time for the primaries.

You didn't care how I did it.

Besides, you got adoption papers to prove it's all legal.

The girl is out of it.

Yeah. Well, maybe some extra money will keep her out.

Oh, you don't pay the little slut.

Just go on with your life. I'll talk to her.

All right, fine. You talk to her.

You take care of it.

Because if you don't, I'll take care of you.

You understand?

I hear you... loud and clear, Mr. Carlson.

You better.

Trivette. Yeah?

I've got the court order.

All right.

Hey, I checked out that agency

the Carlsons used.

Yeah. It's on the up and up.

Family Dreams has been licensed in the state for ten years.

No actions ever filed against it.

Laurie Maston... poor troubled girl.

Come in.

Thank you, Leanne.

Make a copy this court order, and put it in the file.

Certainly.

Uh, okay, it's all here.

Please.

A relinquishing order.

By which the birth mother gave up parental rights.

Signed by Laurie, notarized.

Copy of her driver's license.

Copy of the prenatal agreement.

Baby's hospital records.

Looks like it's all in order.

Tell me something...

How much does it cost to adopt a child?

Twenty thousand dollars.

I know that may sound like a lot, but it covers everything

from screening perspective parents to filing documents

to legal fees and counseling, prenatal care, overhead.

You don't get into this business to get rich.

A placement that works.

That's our reward.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time

I've seen a young mother

regret her decision.

What if she changes her mind and wants her back?

In the state of Texas,

once a mother signs a relinquishing order,

that's it.

There's no recourse.

I feel bad for Laurie.

She's didn't have an easy time of it.

Well, thanks for your time.

My pleasure.

Thank you.

It's me.

That Maston kid surfaced.

You gotta find her.

How do I know where she is?

She's got no money, so start at the fleabags.

Well, maybe what happened is Laurie changed her mind.

She had no recourse.

So she made up the whole story

about her baby being stolen?

Something like that.

San Antonio police report

was dated five days after the adoption papers.

I don't know.

She seems to love that baby an awful lot.

It doesn't seem logical to me.

Yeah, but she said she was confused during the pregnancy.

She didn't know where to got, who to turn to.

Maybe adoption seemed like the answer.

Well, let's go ask her.

Time to practice your penmanship, kiddo.

Got a nice little goodbye typed out here for you.

Sign it here.

Sign it now!

Listen, sign this damn...

Can you tell me where Laurie Maston's room is?

Yeah, room 18.

Let's get out of here.

Laurie, it's Ranger Walker.

Call an ambulance.

What did you give her? Who?

I said, what'd you give her?

I gave her what she came looking for: crank, meth.

I want some straight answers, Laurie.

I told you.

Those guys broke into my room and forced me to sign the note.

They said you bought the dope,

and it wasn't the first time.

And you believe those cruds?

San Antonio P.D. told us they picked you up

for possession a couple of years back.

Those charges were dropped.

What happened?

I went to a party with my boyfriend,

and the cops busted in and arrested everybody.

Now your boyfriend's doing 25 to life.

I didn't know he was dealin'.

Look, that was a long time ago.

I never used hard drugs.

What do you want me to say?

Maybe you should just leave me alone.

Look, Laurie, I saw a record of the adoption.

Your picture, your medical history,

your signed consent, it was all there.

That's impossible.

Must have been the toughest decision of your life,

but killing yourself is not the solution.

I didn't try to kill myself! You have to believe me!

And I don't know anything about any papers.

Rich people can always get that stuff fixed up.

Look, somebody just came in and stole my baby.

They stole her!

I don't know why, but I believe her.

If she's telling the truth, then Stedler's lying.

Yeah, something about this whole thing stinks.

This man's reputation is beyond reproach.

So why would he risk it?

Crank up the computer,

and run a check on this guy, will you?

All right.

What about that Laurie girl?

Don't worry about her.

She'll be out of the picture when you get back.

You sure we should go?

The Jamisons are expecting

their little bundle of joy tomorrow.

After all these agencies turned them down,

it wouldn't be right for us to disappoint them.

I don't like it.

I mean, if people are watching you,

that means they're watching us.

How many of these special adoptions

we do this year, Dolan?

Ten, maybe 12.

At 100,000 a pop, free and clear...

there's no way I'm walkin' away from that.

If you can't handle it...

I'll find someone who can.

No, we... We can handle it.

We can handle it.

Good.

If you leave now, you'll be in Tulsa by 9.

Here's directions and a picture of the little girl.

Have a nice trip.

I'm scared.

You know, we've got plenty of money put away, Roy.

Maybe we should just head out of town

and keep on driving.

We could go to Idaho,

get ourselves a little place we talked...

And pass up ten grand? No.

We'll go back to the the motel. We'll lay low for the night.

We'll find ourselves a kid right here in the morning.

We'll turn it over to Stedler, and then we'll blow.

If that ain't the right kid, he'll kill us.

They all look the same at this age.

Besides, by the time he figures out what's up,

we'll be long gone.

Come on.

Mrs. Carlson.

Ah, Ranger Walker.

Uh, I'm in kind of a hurry right now.

I just wanted to let you know

that Laurie Maston's in the hospital

from an overdose of drugs.

Someone tried to make it look like a suicide.

Well, my husband's sources say

that she does have a history of substance abuse.

That's not true.

Well, believe what you want.

It has nothing to do with us.

She is the mother of your child. Not anymore.

She gave her up, and we paid a lot of money for her.

That baby belongs to us.

Like this car?

Excuse me?

You paid a lot of money for your car too.

Look, Ranger, if there's nothing else,

I really have to be going.

Well, there is one other thing.

What if the roles were reversed?

What if you were in Laurie's shoes?

How would you feel?

Hello, Laurie.

Do I know you?

You should.

I arranged for the adoption of your baby to the Carlsons.

I'm surprised you don't remember.

No. You came to my office.

You signed all the papers.

You handed the baby over all nice and legal-like.

I did not. You must have forged all that stuff or something.

You agreed to give up your baby, Laurie.

Yes, yes, you did.

And you lied to the Ranger.

You're gonna need more than a nurse

if you don't do what I say.

You listen to me.

The baby belongs to the Carlsons now.

You go back to San Antone and stay quiet,

or I'll arrange for a nice little case of crib death.

You wouldn't.

Oh, yes, I would.

Oh, how are you, Ranger?

What are you doing here, Mr. Stedler?

Oh, just came to check on our girl.

She seems like she's doing fine.

Take care, now, little lady.

You okay, Laurie?

R... Ranger Walker, I think I better just go home

and forget this whole thing.

Forget your baby?

I could never forget her, but may...

I think maybe she'll be better off with the Carlsons, you know?

They're rich and everything...

I don't believe you really mean that.

I don't know what I mean. I...

I'm confused. I just...

I'll be right back.

Stedler!

What can I do for you, Ranger?

What did you say to that girl?

I just reminded her of her obligations.

I think you said more than that.

Think what you like.

But there's no question she's an unfit mother.

Up there in detox, drying out.

I had no idea she had a drug problem.

She's damn lucky the Carlsons are willing to keep the kid.

Did the Carlsons tell you she was here?

Why don't you ask them.

I will.

Hi, how are you?

Good to see you.

Hello, my dear.

Thank you for coming.

Hey.

You be sure to milk all this stuff.

It's priceless.

Remember that when you get my invoice.

All right, guys.

Right over here.

Got it? Okay.

Come on.

I'll be right with you. Claudia?

Over here, Claudia.

Ah, perfect.

Perfect.

I've even got the perfect campaign slogan.

Mm?

"A family man for family values."

Oh. Not bad.

Look at the camera.

All right.

Terrific, we got it. Myra.

Yes, ma'am.

I'll take her.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

Walker, what are you doing here?

I won't be staying long.

Do you really think that anybody

who would steal a baby would go to all this trouble?

I think there are men with ambitions

who believe they can buy anything.

Look, Alex, maybe you and Mrs. Carlson

are so close that you can't see things clearly.

Questioning my professionalism

is not the way to persuade me.

And doubting my judgment won't stop me, either.

Fine. So, what are we gonna do?

What we always do.

Find the truth.

Oh. Alex didn't tell us you'd be coming.

She didn't know.

Mr. Carlson, you and I need to talk, outside.

You're damn right we do.

Ma'am? Oh, thank you.

All right, Walker. What's the idea

of harassing my wife yesterday?

I'm just trying to get the facts.

You've got them! The adoption is legal.

I've got the damn papers to prove it!

Then why did you send Stedler to the hospital

to scare Laurie into leaving?

My business with Mr. Stedler is over.

What he does now is no concern of mine.

If you give me any more grief about this,

I will ruin you.

You better believe I can do it. Now, just back off!

I'll back off, soon as I get the truth.

And if the truth is you adopted that child illegally,

all the contacts in the world aren't gonna save you.

Walker.

Stedler was right about

not getting rich on this adoption business.

Three years ago he filed for bankruptcy, right?

But magically, he pulled it out,

and he withdrew the filing later on.

And we know how.

Yeah. Thanks. Hang on.

Walker, you're not gonna like this.

What?

I'm going to see her right now.

What is this about you dropping the charges, Laurie?

It's over. I'm goin' home tomorrow.

Sorry about all the trouble I've caused you.

Is someone forcing you to do this?

No one ever forces me to do anything.

So, what you're saying, then,

is that you gave up your child voluntarily?

I'm sorry I lied.

I just didn't know what else to do.

I mean, I couldn't take care of her, you know. And so...

Laurie, I don't believe you.

That's pretty funny. I must be a better liar than I thought.

No, you're lying now.

Laurie, let me help you.

I've had all the help I need.

I just want Alice to be okay.

Did Stedler threaten you?

No! Now just leave me alone.

Okay. I'll leave you alone.

But there's just one thing I want you to think about.

Think about another young mother, just like you,

who's trying to raise her baby,

with no family support, either.

Think about how she'll feel

when they steal her baby.

Have a nice trip.

Manager for price check on four.

Oh, no! Brian.

What am I going to do with you, Brian?

My baby!

My baby's gone!

Here's the report.

One minute, she's there,

and the next minute, she's gone.

It's all my fault.

No, ma'am, it is not your fault.

Are you going to find my baby?

We're gonna do everything we can.

Nobody caught your attention, tried to distract you?

No. I was cleaning up the mess Brian made.

I just looked away for a few seconds.

Ranger? I might have seen something.

An old car that drove real fast out of the parking lot.

I didn't think anything about it till I heard this lady crying.

Old car. What make?

Well, uh, those old boats all look the same,

but this one was gray and it had Louisiana plates.

See the license number?

Yeah. It was, uh, 789 at the end.

Thanks.

Do you have a picture of your baby?

Yes.

Get an APB on that car, and get the picture

with the baby on all the news, right away.

All right.

Ma'am, we'll do everything humanly possible

to find your baby. I promise.

Okay.

Let's go pay Stedler a visit.

The kid's got a cold.

Don't tell Stedler that. He'll cut our take.

Back from Tulsa so soon?

Drove all night.

Oh.

Yes. Very nice.

Very nice.

Uh-huh. Pretty as the picture.

Call us if you need another job, Mr. Stedler.

I'll be in touch.

Get the diaper bag, Parmer.

We're out of here.

Thank you.

2A-47 for Walker. Come in.

Walker, come in.

Walker.

Got that car with Louisiana plates for you.

Great. Where at?

5th and Alvarado, Inner-City Motel.

We're on our way. Stay put until we get there.

In other news, 3-month-old Carol Newhall

was kidnapped this morning from Ralph's Fine Food

in north Dallas.

Authorities are asking everyone

to be on the lookout for this child

and to report any suspicious activity

to the police immediately.

Can I please have the number

for the Family Dreams Adoption Agency, please?

Hello. I was wondering

if you could please give me your address?

Thank you.

Get out!

Get out!

Turn around.

Ha!

Oh, no. Another karate guy.

Put your hands behind your back, or you're gonna get hurt.

I told you. Now, stay down!

Roll over.

Stedler's got the baby.

Cuff him.

Thin out.

Yes, Mrs. Jamison,

she's just as happy and as healthy as can be.

Oh, I'm happy too.

These are the moments that make it all worthwhile.

I'm sure you'll make terrific parents.

Let's meet at the Maywood Hotel, say, in an hour?

And...

And you'll bring the payment with you?

Hundred thousand in cash. That's correct.

See you then.

Come on.

- I'll get out up here. - You got it.

Actually, I want you to follow that car.

What?

I really can't tell you that.

This is a serious police matter, ma'am.

I work for Mr. Stedler.

Certainly you understand my position.

Lady, you'd better understand our position.

Your boss is a suspected kidnapper.

Now, if you don't want to be an accomplice,

you better start talking.

Honestly, I don't know where he is,

but Mr. Parmer would know.

Sit up!

Where's Stedler? I don't know.

You're facing hard time, Parmer.

You better start talking.

He's on his way to the Maywood Hotel.

Take him in, Trivette. I'm going after Stedler.

Okay, here we go.

Hi.

Laurie.

What's this about?

I'm leavin'. Goin' back to San Antone.

I think that's wise.

Alice. I wanted to make sure she'd be all right.

Course she will be.

You're not gonna do nothin' to her, right?

Not if you hold up your end of things, Laurie.

She's with one of the finest families in town.

You have to know she's gonna have a very happy life.

This one, too, huh?

Mm-hm.

Would you like to hold her?

No. Well, I'll see you, Mr. Stedler.

Laurie.

Hold the baby.

Take the baby.

Couldn't we just...?

Shut up is what we could do.

Come on.

Put the baby on the bed.

God.

Oh, Laurie, Laurie, Laurie, Laurie, Laurie.

You should've gone home a long time ago.

Ah!

Because now you're never gonna make it.

Reid Stedler, he may have checked in earlier.

Stedler?

He may have a baby with him.

Yes, he's checked in. What room?

Suite 1003, 10th floor.

Have security meet me up there.

Sorry, folks. Official business. Sorry.

Let me go!

Straighten up. Come on!

Come on.

Stay with the baby.

Did you happen to see a man come down here, miss?

No. No. But you know,

I think I heard someone in the staircase.

Thanks.

Please!

Let me go!

Can't do it, Laurie.

I'll leave town. What am I gonna do...

It's too late, Laurie. Don't worry.

Everybody's gonna feel sorry for you.

Young girl, despondent over the loss of her baby,

and the mess she's made of her life,

decides to end it all.

Ahh!

Come on. Come on. I got you.

I got you.

I just wanted my baby back.

I know, Laurie.

Garrett Carlson,

a family man for family values.

Garrett Carlson for mayor.

Does that get you where you live, or what?

Excellent work. Excellent, really.

It almost brought a tear to my eye. Honey?

Oh, yes. Yes, it's very moving.

I'll get that. Good work.

That shot, where she looks down at the baby

and smiles, it's, uh... It's...

I gotta look at that again.

All right.

I have a warrant for your arrest, Mr. Carlson.

What are you talking about?

Conspiring to commit murder,

obstruction of justice,

adopting a baby illegally. How's that for starters?

It's ridiculous, that's what it is.

You'll never make any of that stick.

That's not my job.

It's mine, and I intend to do it very well.

I know people.

I'll take you down. All of you.

You ought to save that for the cellblock, Mr. Carlson.

Cellblock, hell.

Don't worry, darling. We'll be a family again soon.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Maybe we could do something, pay for...

I don't want you to pay for anything.

This is true love.

That's what makes a family.

Mama's here. Oh, baby.

I don't know what I could ever do to thank you.

How about a picture of you and Alice?

Oh, she's so sweet.

Nobody's ever gonna hold you again except for me.

Well, me and one other person.

There you go.

Watch the head.

Okay, I am.