Original subtitles

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Chaney On Radio ] Blue Thunder to Blue Thunder Control.

[ J.J. On Radio ] Go ahead, Blue Thunder.

J.J., the laser box is delivered, and the general is happy.

We're setting down on Ferro Beach, taking on fuel.

Roger. You guys sure pick some classy spots to run out of "K" juice.

[ Chaney ] That's because we only do the classy jobs, sweetheart.

[ J.J. ] That's what I like about you, Chaney, your modesty.

-Tell us what you like about me. -There's just not enough time \hfor that, JAFO.

I'm logging you down at 1900 hours.

[ Chuckles ] Bubba, Ski, you copy?

[ Ski ] Solid copy. You want us?

[ Chaney ] No, you two grab a bite.

Careful how you say that, Frank. Remember who you're talkin' to.

[ Radio Chatter ]

As advertised, in the back. Left side, in the corner.

Sure. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOkay.

♪ [ Upbeat ] [ Woman ] Give me some mustard, okay?

\h\h\h\hYou guys know what you want? Well, what do you think, Bubba?

Shall we start with the escargots or the caviar?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWell-- All we got is burgers, subs and fries.

In that case, make it two cheeseburgers with everything on it,

two hoagies and four orders of fries.

Excuse me, ma'am. I'll have the same.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h♪ [ Piano ] [ People Chattering ]

[ Man ] Non, mademoiselle. Absolument pas.

But, Francois-- Now, the waiter says you won't accept my money.

Now, really, you are in business.

I would not have been, except for your grandfather.

Mmm. I was deeply grieved at his passing.

So, mademoiselle, je vous en prie, accept my hospitality.

Thank you, Francois.

Madame.

Can I help you, gentlemen?

Those dudes ain't cops. I did time with that guy.

[ People Clamoring, \h\hScreaming ]

Come on!

[ Radio Chatter ] [ Siren Wailing ]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Chattering ] [ Camera Shutters Clicking ]

[ Siren Stops ]

The two gunmen, wearing uniforms of highway patrolmen,

have been identified as professional killers with ties to organized crime.

There is as yet no information about the person or persons... [ Siren Wailing ]

inside the restaurant at the time.

Thanks for the offer, but I can't think of anything...

we can't handle in our simple earthbound way.

Roger, Captain. Just in the neighborhood. Thought we'd ask.

JAFO, let's get home where we're appreciated.

You wanna take a look at the action? I got KDILA here. Hey.

In fact, a spokesperson for the highway patrol had this to say: Quote,

"There will be no further \hcomment pending completion \hof a statewide investigation."

Unquote. This is Laura Mendez for KDIL News on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Look at that maniac go.

[ Chaney ] Ski, Bubba, come in. Rolling Thunder, come in.

- [ Ski ] Yeah, Frank. Over. - We've picked up \h\hon a silver Corvette,

inbound on 101, doing close to a hundred.

There's probably no connection, but there was a shooting at a restaurant a few miles south.

It won't hurt to see where the Corvette's going in such a hurry, but do not overtake.

[ Bubba ] Don't overtake, the man said!

He's doin' close to a hundred. You know what we gotta do just to stay in the game?

Just to stay in the game, old buddy, we gotta stay alive.

Relax, Bubba. I drive better fast than careful.

And I never had a lesson in my life.

That may be the problem.

[ Chaney ] Hit the veri-mikes. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Wonderlove ] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWithout a warrant?

We're in hot pursuit. Crime in progress. Speeding.

[ Beeping ]

No, damn it! Tell him it's Carl, and it's urgent!

No, sir. \hNo, sir, nothing went right.

We gotta take a meeting. Yes, sir.

As soon as I get there.

I don't know. About 20 miles north of Ferro Beach.

JAFO, let's have a look at his license plate.

[ Beeping ]

Bubba, Ski. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Bubba ] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hThunder van.

The Corvette's license number is 282-TAD.

Hang on to him while we check him out.

Hang on to him? He's doin' an Indy 500. I can't even stay close.

[ Chaney ] We'll contact the highway patrol. He'll have to slow down a bit.

- I thought you didn't \h\hwant him stopped. - I don't.

I'll have C.H.P. fall in just ahead of him.

If that doesn't slow him down, then they'll have to stomp on him.

282-TAD. It's registered to Edna Merchant, Sherman Oaks.

Well, well, well.

She's on a two-year suspended sentence for extortion.

Let's find out who her friends are.

[ Beeping ]

- Carl Suhonen \h\hshows up three times. - Is that you, Carl?

Damn!

Five arrests-- all of 'em suspicion of homicide.

No indictments. Take a look at this, Frank.

[ Bubba ] Blue Thunder, we're on him at a nice, safe distance.

Ski's grindin' his teeth 'cause we're goin' too slow.

Frank, this man is consumed with envy.

And for what? Just 'cause I drive better than he does.

Pretty ridiculous, right? [ Radio Clicks Off ]

You control the wheel, I control the radio.

He's changing lanes. Getting off at 7th.

Looks like he's heading downtown.

He's going underground. Basement parking.

Which building, JAFO? \h\h\h\hWestern Pacific Building.

You copy, Bubba? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Bubba On Headset ] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGot it.

[ Beeping ]

[ Hushed Whirring ]

[ Wonderlove ] Tenant list just comin' in, Frank.

Law offices, stockbrokers, import-export.

How's about this one-- International Carriers Union?

Now, that's a real possibility.

Check out a Jake Cusak.

President of the Carriers Union? That's right.

Okay. Jake Cusak, then executive vice president, International Carriers Union,

appeared before Senate Committee on Organized Crime, 1981.

Indicted, 1982. Jury tampering.

Tried, acquitted, elected president of the union.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAs a reward? [ Bubba ] Frank,

on that shooting at Ferro Beach, the latest information has it...

that the target was Lisa Ritchie.

You must be kidding. A woman?

Not just any woman, granddaughter of organized crime's top man, Joseph Ritchie.

That's the late Joseph Ritchie, Bubba.

He died last week.

Okay, call the U.S. Attorney's office and tick off these facts.

One: Attempted killing in Ferro Beach, organized crime connected.

Two: A man tries to set speed records on Highway 101...

about the same time and place as the shooting.

He could be Carl Suhonen, also organized crime connected.

Three: He made an appointment in the Western Pacific Building with a Jake Cusak,

also organized crime connected, who has his office there.

Jackpot! \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Beeping ]

Add one more item. Suhonen is a member of Cusak's union.

I'm gonna punch up the location of Mr. Cusak's offices.

[ Computer Clicking ]

Frank, your old friend Judge Roselli came through.

\h\h\h\hHe said it's okay to listen. Thank you, Bubba.

Remind me to thank him.

[ Beeping ]

Thermograph search, Frank. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Beeping ]

Mr. Cusak, I'm askin' you, please don't close the book on me.

Next time it's gonna get done right.

I promise. No more screwups.

- Did you hear that? - Means nothing.

Could be talking about plumbing.

[ Cusak ] I don't know, Carl.

You hand a man something very important, he drops it down the toilet.

They are talking about plumbing. [ Laughs ]

Please listen to me.

I personally-- personally--

guarantee you that I'm gonna get the job done just as ordered.

Now, please, one more shot.

I think it's too late.

After what happened today, I think we've blown it.

[ Cusak ] After what happened today, I think we've blown it.

Well, it's all there, but it's a lot of bull.

Never hold up in a court of law.

They didn't want her dead, \hthey wanted her alive.

Otherwise, why the phony police car, phony uniforms to set up a phony bust?

-They wanted something from her. -Like what?

Like what her grandfather left her just before he died.

[ Wonderlove ] Like money? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNo.

Like everything you ever wanted to know about organized crime and were afraid to ask.

Joseph Ritchie kept records about everything he ever did,

and before he died, he told her where they were.

Captain, that's pretty heavy-duty.

- Where'd you get \h\hthat information? - From the F.B.I.

They wanted Blue Thunder assigned to them...

to help protect her so they could talk her into cooperating.

\h\h\h\hAnd you turned them down? Who was to know...

the big boys in organized crime even knew about those records until tonight.

Now that we know that they know,

well, I can't very well turn the F.B.I. down again, can I, Frank?

Why not? She's got a battalion of bodyguards, a bulletproof house.

We want the assignment, JAFO.

We do? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYes, we do.

Why? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWe don't like \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\horganized crime.

I know that, and you know that, but let's not let them know that.

- We want it, sir. - You got it, Frank.

Let's go, buddy. All right.

By my calculations, we should be right on top of it.

Suppose old Joe Ritchie camouflaged it?

We're going on whisper mode.

[ Hushed Whirring ]

Let's have some audio. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWe okay on that?

The F.B.I. says we are, and we never argue with the bureau, do we?

- Right. - [ Beeping ]

[ Beeping ]

[ Beeping ]

Lisa! Lisa! \h\h\h\hKathy, what happened?

[ Kathy ] Frankie's bothering me.

[ Lisa ] Well, he just likes you, Kathy.

I want you to spank him.

I'll talk to Frankie. How's that?

Okay. Talk to him. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOkay.

I cannot believe this.

That beautiful, young-- beautiful girl.

- Is that \h\hthe ogre's granddaughter? - We'll find out soon enough.

Check out their security.

[ Chaney ] The old man called it his private Fort Knox. I can see why.

Yeah, um, can we get back to the pool now?

No, we can get back to Bubba and Ski. We've got a lot of work to do.

I understand. I'll be there in 15 minutes.

Sorry, JAFO. They want me to come alone.

Ski, would you get Junior out? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRight.

Thanks, Ski.

It's been pulling to the right lately, so watch for it.

All right. If I'm not back in an hour, you guys get in the van,

you come and get me.

Be careful, Frank!

- You Frank Chaney? - That's right.

Step out of the car, please, and walk over here. Uh, leave your keys.

Let's see your I.D.

No offense.

I like your style.

I'll take you up to the house to meet Mr. LaRoche.

You can get this on the way back out.

[ Gate Closing ]

[ People Shouting ]

[ Water Splashing ]

Hello. I'm Lisa Ritchie.

Frank Chaney.

Yes. I understand you're with the F.B.I.

No, I'm in a federal experimental unit.

Right now we're assigned to the F.B.I.

What kind of experiments do you do? We're the experiment.

You ever heard of Blue Thunder? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI think so.

It's either a tropical drink or a football team.

It's a helicopter. [ Chuckling ]

Please sit down.

[ Diving Board Bangs ] [ Splash ]

You do know why I'm here? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYes. And I'm afraid \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hit's hopeless.

That is, if you're here to try to persuade me.

You see, my grandfather did not want me to give or show those papers to anyone.

Or are you here to offer me something the F.B.I. hasn't offered already?

Yes, your life. We want you to stay alive.

We don't believe your grandfather's soldiers and friends,

as loyal as they may be to the family, can do it.

Miss Ritchie, didn't you realize the risk you were taking yesterday?

No. Nobody knew those papers existed...

till my grandfather told me about them.

Now it seems the whole world knows.

So, I won't leave this house again.

Not till whoever tried to kill me understands that it wasn't necessary.

- I'm not a threat to anyone. - Don't you understand?

They think you are, as long as you have those records.

And you'll keep me alive till I decide to do the right thing?

That's right.

And the sooner you decide, the sooner you'll be safe again.

If I do nothing now,

after what happened last night,

they've got to know that I won't turn over those records.

They'll realize that I'm my grandfather's grandchild.

Miss Ritchie, they trusted your grandfather.

Or they feared him.

When they realize that I haven't given the F.B.I. his records, they'll trust me.

But if you insist on protecting me, even though I'm not a criminal,

there isn't much I can do about it, is there?

\h\h\h\hMr. Chaney's ready to leave. I'm really not.

You really are.

I really am.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGood day. Good day.

Miss Ritchie, sleep on it.

If you wake up tomorrow, let me know.

Kathy.

All right, get ready. He just passed me, and he's comin' at ya.

[ Horn Honking ]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHey, you okay? Yeah.

\h\h\h\hI saw the whole thing. \h\h\h\hGot his number too. Good.

Guy's some kind of maniac.

What the hell? He's comin' back!

- You take chances, Sonny. - I had faith in \h\hthe guy's better judgment.

Come on.

All right!

Now, we know who you are.

We know where you been, who you been to see.

You're gonna answer some questions.

You tell a lie, I'm gonna know it.

You tell the truth, \hyou got nothin' to worry about.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYou got that? [ Mutters ]

[ Cries Out ]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYou got that? I got it.

Good.

[ Alarm Beeping ]

Hey, Frank's in trouble! Let's go!

Seal the chopper. Let's run.

[ Alarm Continues ] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Engine Starts ]

Okay, here's the setup. You're hooked up to a polygraph. It's a lie detector.

So all that "Clint Eastwood nerves of steel" stuff is just a waste of time.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYou ready, Frosty? All set.

Okay. I want straight answers to three questions.

What kind of deal did you make with Lisa Ritchie?

Where are Joe Ritchie's records?

Does she plan to give them to the F.B.I., or has she already given them to the F.B.I.?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hThat's four questions. [ Machine Clicking Fast ]

Don't do that! It screws up the results and slows down the test!

Not to mention that it hurts.

Now, let's start with that first question again.

What kind of deal did you make with Lisa Ritchie?

This has gotta be it.

[ Machine Beeping ]

[ Beeping Continues ]

You tell me what she said, or it's gonna take more guts than you've got.

[ Chaney ] Lisa didn't confide in me.

I've heard enough. Let's get 'em. \h\h\h\hThe body count first.

What kind of deal did you make with Lisa Ritchie, or I'll--

Take a good look, guys. Frank's in the west corner,

and he's sittin' down, so aim high.

Cover the back. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSure.

Tear it up.

[ Gunfire Continues ]

All right, you suckers! Give it some thought on how you wanna come out!

Listen, all five of you!

Walk out now, or stay in there and die!

Five? How the hell did they know that?

[ Grunts ]

[ Punches Landing ]

Come on! Come on!

Frank. Frank.

You should've had a doctor look at your face. I wanted you to see it first.

You've made your point. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHave I?

I'm just sorry that you had to go to so much trouble to make it.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNo trouble at all. Hold that.

Okay. Don't you even wanna know who they were?

I thought you didn't see them. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWell, I knew at least \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hone of them.

How? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLast night, after they \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\htried to kill you,

a man named Carl Suhonen had a talk with Jake Cusak, the union boss.

I've never heard of Cusak, nor Suhonen.

How do you know they talked?

I taped their conversation while all of this was happening.

I recognized Suhonen's voice.

What did you think you'd hear?

That Jake Cusak put a contract out on your life,

that Carl Suhonen was the hit man.

This Suhonen...

and Jake Cusak.

These are two men I never knew, I never even met.

\h\h\h\h\hBut they want me dead? No.

The people who want you dead are much bigger.

Cusak, Suhonen just work for them.

They're old friends of your grandfather's, and you know their names.

[ Sighs ]

My mother and father were killed.

Their car was rigged with a bomb when I was 11.

My grandfather cut himself off from organized crime and brought me here.

He loved me,

protected me...

till the day he died.

Family. That was his religion.

Family.

Here, in this place,

he kept the Ritchie name so clean that it was finally forgotten.

But those children who were here today, most of them are named Ritchie too.

But it doesn't mean to them what it meant to me when I was young,

when I was shamed and hurt by it.

If I turn over those records, it's gonna start all over again for them, and I can't do that.

Not to those children and not to the family.

I won't do it.

Have you ever thought of anybody else's family?

Yesterday, after you left, I called one of my grandfather's old friends.

I asked for a meeting with him and the heads of four other families.

Why? \h\h\h\h\hBecause that's how \h\h\h\h\hit's done.

If I can convince them that I won't give up those records,

they'll spread the word, and that'll be the end of it.

Only for you.

They'll just keep on doin' business as usual.

Well, it's an ugly, disgusting business.

Are you asking me to be responsible for the whole world?

No one can do that.

But I am responsible for my family.

Did you get your meeting? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYes.

Wednesday.

\h\h\h\hIt takes time to bring men \h\h\h\hlike that together. Ah.

They coming here? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNo.

I know I said I wouldn't leave this house, but this is different.

They wanna talk to me. I'll be safe.

Where? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTwenty miles north.

Charlie Folsom has a house overlooking Point Dume.

Okay, I'll-- I'll take you there in Blue Thunder.

My bodyguards will take me. This is a family affair.

So is a funeral.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCould we speak \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hto Mr. LaRoche? You're lookin' at him.

Lieutenant Chaney would like for us to escort you.

Why not?

What are you looking for? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJust looking.

For Frank Chaney?

Since you asked, yes.

You can relax now.

How is it lookin', JAFO?

Well, I don't see any Apaches.

But like John Wayne used to say,

[ Imitating Wayne ] "Well, if you can see 'em, \hthey ain't Apaches."

Ski, make Bubba happy.

- Keep it nice and slow. - You heard the man.

They got an escort. Ground and air.

Who cares? Where are they?

I don't know. Fifteen miles from home base. I'm worried!

Carl, just do your job. \h\h\h\hWhat about the copter?

Hey, you let us worry about the guy in the sky, okay?

We're ready. We take care of him, you take care of the rest.

Don't screw it up this time, or you've had it.

You want us to use the thermograph, Frank?

No, we've got 'em. Just bring in the sound.

[ Chuckles ] Shall we scare up a warrant?

- Already covered. - [ Beeping ]

Don't call us. We'll call you. They're talkin'.

[ Lisa ] As my grandfather would've done.

[ Man ] Yes, Lisa. And we all agree your grandfather was a man of honor.

He respected our tradition till the day he died.

What none of us can understand is why he kept incriminating records...

and why he would tell you where they are.

He was dying.

His mind turned on so many different things, and it just spilled out.

He meant no harm. He may have thought he was protecting me.

Yet it was a harmful thing... to you, to give you such information.

I have no information.

- I've never seen those records. - But you know where they are.

[ Lisa ] I know he hid them where no one will ever find them.

But you can find them if you wish.

But I don't wish.

Lisa, will you tell us where they are hidden?

No.

My grandfather didn't want that.

He told me that those records could turn friend against friend,

family against family.

Trust me to keep them safe.

Lisa, we do trust you.

We believe you.

And between us, we will do what can be done to keep you safe.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Lisa, I knew your grandfather almost 40 years.

I respect his wishes.

He trusted you, so must I.

And you do believe me-- that I will never touch those records?

In our world, my dear, our word is our bond.

Good. Thank you.

Miss Ritchie.

I was just flying over the area, and I decided it would be a shame...

if you missed a chance to take a ride in a vehicle as amazing, as unique as Blue Thunder.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCome on. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI'll fly you home. What are you doing?

Don't argue with me. Something's happening.

It's all right.

It's all right.

I'll see you back at the house. JAFO, you follow with Bubba and Ski.

Watch your head.

Gentlemen.

I hope you realize this is going to change their thinking.

Not Mr. Folsom's thinking.

Here, put these on. Take a listen.

Instant replay. After you left the room, I taped this.

Your friend, Mr. Folsom.

[ Folsom ] Hello. No, nothing was accomplished.

They're leaving now. No, don't tell me about it!

Let me read about it, but get it done!

This is Blue Thunder over the L.A. Civic Center. Who we got flying along?

[ Man ] This is Air 60, Blue Thunder. Just ridin' shotgun.

Braddock was worried about you.

Something's wrong. Hang on.

- Can't you fire back? - Believe me, I wish I could.

- What is the matter with you? - What's the matter with me? \h\hTake a look down there, Lisa.

- Those are innocent people. - Well, if you don't do it to \h\hthem, they'll do it to us.

- That's right. \h\hWe can't have that either. - [ Gunfire ]

[ Chaney ] If I can knock out his engine, that thing'll go down.

- He's getting closer! - Hang on.

- They're gaining on us. - Good,

'cause this time we're ready for 'em.

Chaney to Rolling Thunder. Head for the construction site at 6th and Garfield.

Copy. Uh, what's going down, Frank?

Take a look up and you'll see.

Would you please pick up that trash down there before somebody steps on it?

Our pleasure, Thunder.

[ Wonderlove On Headset ] Frank, I just picked up something else on your tail.

We already found him. Folsom's air force is full of tricks.

[ Gunfire ]

How long can we go on playing cat and mouse?

Until he gets impatient and makes a mistake.

He made the mistake. He let me lure him over Griffith Park.

Hang on.

You could've shot them down any time you wanted to.

Not quite.

You risked your life for people you don't even know.

Well, maybe I just wanted to broaden your outlook a little.

You did, Frank. \hYou did.

I want you to have this.

A lighter? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[ Chuckles ]

It doesn't even work. That's because there's something in it.

The information you've been wanting.

Not the records, but where they are.

Thank you, Lisa.

Welcome to the family.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFrank, how old is Lisa? Very old, JAFO, and very young.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hClassy place. Ah. When we gonna eat, Frank?

[ Chaney ] Ah--

Forgive me for keeping you waiting. I was in the kitchen.

Lisa, this is Bubba. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHow are you?

Ski. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHow you doin'?

And JAFO. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCharmed.

Well, in about 20 minutes, we're all going to be sitting down...

to an authentic, and I hope good, old country dinner.

Sounds like my kinda food.

Ski thinks that "old country" means that there's lots of it.

Did they find them-- my grandfather's records?

Yes. Oh, and they not only put this back together, they fixed it.

I'd like you to have that.

What was in the records? Was it all they expected?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWill it do what \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hyou'd hoped it would? May I show you?

Lisa, thank you for this.