Original subtitles

'Advise regarding suspects.'

'No description at this time.

Suspects, two male whites...'

'We're standing by in the jewellery store to prevent further looting.'

'Ten—four, 115, Adam. Units in the 115 Precinct and surrounding areas,

we have a report of a large disorderly group

breaking windows on Queens Boulevard, vicinity of Sunnyside Gardens.

Units responding, OK.'

Terranova's crazy if he thinks he can beat me. Why don't you arrange a sit

before things get out of hand. When he's in the box, then I'll talk.

I own this piece of the Apple, I built it with my own hands.

Benedict knows that. He wouldn't allow Terranova to move in on me.

Benedict is No.1 man, he don't care as long as he gets his vic.

What else? That cop Kojak,

he's kicking up dust all over town over those hits.

Kojak is the least of your worries.

OK. Gomez, D'Agostino, McCoy, everybody.

Keep your backs to the wall.

Go on.

Gino, make me some coffee, will you? She makes it taste like tar.

Did you find out?

She's deaf.

You find out?

Gomez and D'Agostino got reached by Terranova. They're scared.

They don't know what to do. Give me your keys.

Joe, these are trusted men. If I'm wrong, they're just dead.

If I'm right, I could be.

'Rush that ambulance, Central. Ten-four, Charlie.'

'This is Manhattan South Detective requesting a medical examiner at 912, West 28th Street,

in alley at rear of building.'

'Ten-four.'

Ten killings in eight weeks. Yeah,

Still don't know what it's about.

We have a witness down the street. He was taking out the garbage.

He thinks he saw a souped-up Chevy Bel Air 1957.

Did he see the colour or the number? Just the colour, green and white.

OK. You're leaving already?

I just think I know where to buy a car Like that.

Frank, Frank, what the hell? Hello, Chief.

After all these years, Look what brings us together.

Detective Crocker, Lieutenant Kojak. Assistant-Chief Howard Brocore.

Head of the new Organised Crime Unit. This your ball, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir.

Gomez and D'Agostino, eh? Uh-huh.

ALI right, I want you to round up anybody

who's ever had contact with them, including that priest.

Who they were muscling in on and who was trying to take over.

Excuse me, sir. This isn't an ordinary hit. They were trying to contact me.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant, I'd assumed you'd given the same instructions.

No, sir. We need inside help, not just bodies.

Alright, Let's do it your way. Let's get together real soon.

I've got some theories on this rash of killings, I might be of some help.

Let me know about the car. You have a lead?

I'm going to go see an informant. Mind if I tag along?

Excuse me, sir, you know how these things work.

Like they say, I'll wait in the car.

Come on.

Still fun and games! What is it?

I just Left Gomez and D'Agostino. I couldn't get to you in time.

You had time to drive them to their death in your son's car. I did not!

Gino took it. Where were they killed?

I don't know. Too bad. I helped you get your kid out of jail

because you'd tip me to things like this.

Wait a minute.

Did you get the DA to talk to the judge? No, not yet.

Oh, Theo. He's my son.

Relax, Mary. I'm going to help him.

I made a deal with his mother, remember? She helps me, I help her.

Gino said he heard Gomez and D'Agostino were going over.

Greensteen got furious.

Theo, whatever it is, it's heavy.

I'm scared.

It used to be so good between us.

Hey, I remember it that way.

Anything important?

Gomez and D'Agostino, Greensteen ordered it.

ALI right, Lieutenant, bring her in.

And keep me informed.

Theo, who's that?

Don't worry, just another cop.

Your cover's still good.

Ah! Did you get a good deal for Mary Torino's son?

No, the DA wants to know why she's so important

that he has to do anything for the kid, and I didn't give the answer.

I pulled in everyone I could find.

Here, do something with that but don't drink it.

Charlie, get the door, please.

Give us a few minutes.

OK, you're doing it right. You're hitting all your contacts,

questioning your witnesses. So the fact that so far we haven't had

a rumble as to why all these murders can't be blamed on incompetence.

So far. Maybe it's another Murder Incorporated

starting up all over again, Captain.

'Tention!

No, please, continue, continue.

ALI right, we'll start with last night.

Lieutenant.

Well, these latest victims, they work for Greensteen

and they were hit because he's nervous.

Unfortunately I couldn't find out what about.

Frank, may I? Please.

Consider the simple but obvious possibility

that these deaths may be the direct result

of a general decline in toughness towards criminals.

Too many of these hoodlums remain in the streets

because they've made deals to help. True, we need informers

but when you deal with animals you end up getting bitten.

Our task is to get them off the streets and, well,

thanks for the use of the hall.

You've got a great leader here, do follow him.

Frank, buy you some coffee? Upstairs it's free.

Ah, Frank, it feels good to be on the firing line again.

Sure beats pushing memos around and taking politicians' wives to lunch

and telling them how we control crime in the streets

and protect their flower beds. I can imagine.

Thank you for making me feel welcome. I really think I can help.

If you're going to keep dropping over, why don't you move in?

I'd like that. Just for a few days, to get the old adrenals going.

Oh, sure, er... Why don't you just take my office

and I'll move in with Kojak.

That's very nice of you. I feel at home already.

Dave!

If they cross on a red light, if they spit on the sidewalk,

pick 'em up, pull 'em in. Keep the pressure on.

Sooner or later one of them's gotta say something

and we'll get to the bottom of these murders.

Oh, Lieutenant, you missed a good meeting.

I wasn't invited, sir.

Well, I believe we've said it all, gentlemen.

Good Luck out there. Go do it together.

Lieutenant, when we stand together in front of the men,

we should exude confidence in each other.

'A united front', that's the key phrase.

Yes, sir.

He seems upset. He has his own style.

Well, that may be a luxury we can't afford, Frank.

Not that he's not a good officer.

I just believe he relies too much on the integrity of hoodlums

and that's old hat, Frank, 'Let the stoolies do it'.

That's just a working cop's lazy way

of avoiding a good solid interrogation.

Crocker, how's it going with that woman?

What woman? Mary Torino, Greensteen's girlfriend,

the one Kojak brought in Last night. Er, Chief, Kojak did not

bring her in last night. He felt he could get more out of her

if he left her out on the street.

And you agreed? Sir, we can pick her up anytime we want to.

Do it now. Chief, she's the Lieutenant's informant.

She is a prostitute!

Fed him a cock and bull story

so she could make a deal for her son, that's who she is.

Case in point, Frank.

It's easier to leave her out there than bring her in for interrogation.

Yeah.

Sure.

Yeah, OK. Keep in touch, huh?

OK.

That was my sister. Where's the Lieutenant?

He just left. Where'd he go?

I don't know. He'll call in soon.

Hey, rookie, come on, you drive. Yes, sir.

Personal property in a squad room is against regulations.

Well, God made plants, sir. I didn't.

Manhattan South, Saperstein.

Are you sure about that?

OK, give me a second to write it down.

OK, go ahead.

What were those last two numbers again?

Thank you.

That's a complaint form.

So? So you used a complaint form to write an address.

That's not what they're for.

Yes, sir.

Stavros.

who'd have thought that Shirley would obstruct justice? What?

That guy Simmons, the Chief's driver, he Listens to everything we say

and then runs to the Chief. Now he says my plants are illegal.

You shouldn't say anything the Chief isn't supposed to hear.

I got news for you. He's right about your plants. You never complained.

It's because I'm a soft touch.

Did you see Crocker? No, was I supposed to?

He was looking for you. What did he want?

He didn't say.

Here, before you faint from malnutrition.

Lieutenant. Saperstein.

Hey, Stavros, how do you do that without losing your fingers? Huh?

They ought to change the name of this place to Manhattan South Annexe.

Hey, hey, hey, sit down. I'm finished, I'm finished.

Stavros, he finished, you didn't get a chance,

I'll have the same as he's having.

I think we're out, but I'll check.

Here, Chief. It's a nice place.

When I was stuck up at Fort Apache in the Bronx,

we rarely had time to eat. Tell me about it.

We were never sure when we'd get attacked in our own squad room.

But it was a joy to come to work.

You know, you could have gone far. I looked at your record.

Made all the right moves, had every opportunity.

why is it you are still lieutenant?

Well, I decided that, all right,

you make more money but you make fewer friends.

There were too many official cocktail parties and that's not the reason I became a cop.

I just heard you didn't bring in Mary Torino.

I suppose that was just an oversight.

A lady's calling and she has no time.

No, that wasn't an oversight, Chief.

You know, it was my decision.

I figured you didn't have all the facts. Thanks, Charlie.

Are you sure? He told Gino to check out the alleys, windows and exits

of Terranova's place.

Theo, what about my son?

Look, I promised you I'd take care of that.

Get off the phone before he spots you.

Set up a plant at Terranova's place. What do you want to grab?

When you set up a plant, that means to observe.

Set it up, I'll be right over.

Saperstein. Yeah. Come on.

'McNeil.' Frank, it's coming together at Last. Now, you listen to this.

We hear that Greensteen is talking about a meet.

Then we hear Terranova's talking about a meet and now we hear

it's going to be setup at Terranova's place. Now, look,

I'm setting up a plant. What does Brocore say?

I'd Like to see how this develops first. Are you stalling, Theo?

No, I just don't know how he'll react, Frank. All right.

Brocore sent out Crocker to pick up Mary Torino.

Maybe she can give us something. Frank, she's with a psycho.

A cop gets near her, he'll blow her away, he'll blow Crocker away.

Put out a call, you get Crocker back. Brocore gave the order.

Are you telling me let it happen? We're dealing with

an Assistant-Chief from headquarters who knows his business,

not another beat cop from Manhattan North.

Frank, it was a bad move.

Now you get Crocker back, OK? Blame it on me. Just do it and fast.

I'm coming right over.

Tracy, call communications, have Crocker return at once.

They just set up a plant.

You watch a pro and learn, kid.

First we assess the situation.

Then, now Greensteen's office is in the back,

Mary Torino usually waits for him until he finishes his business,

then she takes him home. Wait a minute, wait a minute, huh?

I said assess, not attack.

You stay out here and you cover the street.

I'll go round the back. Just stay out of sight.

How long do I know to wait till I go in?

I think you've been watching too many movies.

Now, this is not a raid. Now, you stay out here till I call you

and if she comes running out then, you know, you grab her.

Like that, OK? OK, sir.

Hey, you keep at it, you'll be good at it some day.

Like Lieutenant Kojak? Hey, baby, better!

Like me.

I'm telling you, it's going to work.

Terranova's never made a straight meet in all his life.

This one will be straight. It will also be his last.

There's going to be a lot of people there, Joe.

Be a night for them to remember, Mary.

Suppose there's cops.

Where there's Terranova, there's cops.

I'll say it again, everybody goes.

No witnesses, no worries.

Get me some ice, Mary.

It's OK.

He's a cop.

You crazy...

Anybody out there? Nobody.

They're onto you for making the hit. No way, I did it clean, I swear.

We've got nothing to worry about.

Yeah.

Maybe he was just nosing around.

Go on, get the car, let's get him out of here.

Gino, you don't just hit a cop.

It's OK, relax. Go on, get the car.

Are you still alive?

Most of me is. Somebody decided to get rid of a headache called Gino

and give you the credit for it.

How do you feel? I'm OK, sir.

And what about that woman you went after? well, I...

I think I saw her before I got hit but I'm not sure.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

Oh, that's OK. At least you tried.

Why don't you go home, take some time? Get some rest.

Would you come with me, Lieutenant? You, too, Captain.

An officer has been attacked, a suspect is dead

and that woman remains on the street.

Rizzo! Chief, the gangs are setting up a major meet,

we're now sure of that. That woman is keeping us on top of it.

Sir? Put out an alarm for Mary Torino.

The Lieutenant will give you a detailed description.

I'm sure he can even tell you where her dimples are. Yes, sir.

Well, like he said, you can't stand around for ever.

Yeah, blonde, female, Cauca...

Come here.

Forget it.

Lieutenant, call this number.

How's the cop? Do you really care?

Look, it was me that kept them from killing him.

It's your fault. Why did you send the cops after me?

I didn't, it was somebody else's idea.

Listen, I've got to get back there. They've moved the meeting again.

Look, you don't con me!

I got a team of cops out there getting frostbite

and now you tell me we're in the wrong place?

Theo, would I sell out my kid's life?

It's at the Superior Theatre on Tenth. Superior Theatre?

Benedict knows that place. Oh, God!

Don't worry about it, 0K? We'll. try and handle this without a shoot-out.

That's it, Frank, numero uno Benedict.

He's the one that's been hitting both sides, and it's working.

They're so scared they've got to sit down and Benedict,

he plays the saviour.

Catch them together and we have a solid conspiracy case.

Lieutenant, come on in.

Long day? Like all the others, sir.

Did you find that woman yet?

No, sir, not yet.

Could you close the door?

You don't like me very much, do you?

Chief, I'm sorry, I've got to go. Be careful!

Take it from me, Lieutenant,

it's not good enough just to do the job well.

Everybody needs somebody.

You do, I do.

You neglected to tell me of the plant.

You neglected to bring in that woman.

You contradict me in front of the men.

You ignore my instructions.

Now how can Line officers be expected to obey

when their lieutenant chooses not to? You're right, sir.

I'll get off the case. Now we get to the root of your intent!

To be made a martyr in front of your men

so they will never take instructions from me.

I had hoped we could work together.

Perhaps we see things differently, sir,

I am your chief, you see things my way, that's the way it works.

Yes, sir.

Hey-

Frank, we have a problem at Manhattan South.

I know that, Howard. No.

You know I can't go back downtown with empty pockets.

I don't want to disrupt your staff but I must have cooperation.

I mean, you'll all be here after I'm gone.

Now, I'm not a vindictive man, but Lieutenant Kojak is a renegade

and you've got to talk to him, Frank.

I'll talk to him, Howard. Thanks, I... I'll appreciate the effort.

Kojak, you and I, we'd make a great team.

If only we could get past that damned aggressive drive that propels us all.

Howard, could we discuss this further over dinner?

Er...

No, thanks. I... I have an appointment.

I can't stay very long. Oh, I'm disappointed.

Tired?

Exhausted.

I was passed over for promotion again.

You're a bright man, they'll realise that sooner or later.

It's been my philosophy that a police officer shouldn't get involved in politics.

It's a big city, with big problems. Plenty enough to do there

without getting into any other area.

We could lie down and just hold each other.

I was a captain. 30 years old.

Only 30 years old, and a captain!

One of the youngest ever.

And then...we went to this party.

Did I ever tell you about that party?

There was someone's wife, a state senator. No, no, a city councilman.

Very attractive.

She was bored and I guess I had a few too many.

And my wife was chatting with a politician and she was bored

and I was playing the game and she got drunk.

She always got drunk.

Well, I can't blame her. I spent most of my life being a good cop.

I forgot to be a good husband.

Oh, God!

Come and sit over here.

Look, all I want in this God-forsaken life of mine is someone to listen to me!

Now, this case I'm on,

I'm going to make the powers that be understand that I am an able man.

I would make an excellent commissioner, I really would.

Then you will.

What happens to life? Where does it all go wrong?

I don't know.

I tried very hard to get to the top and I had it all, I had it all!

And er...

But I feel very good about this case, I really do, I really do,

and I am going to whip them into shape.

Yes, sir, I am going to put them on track.

Kojak or no Kojak.

Yes? Kojak's whole crew just Left.

They got a call, they went to the new stake-out.

It sounded important.

Thank you.

Brocore heard about the new stake-out.

Simmons? who else?

What does he want, Frank? Dreams, that won't come true.

And he blew those dreams himself, Theo, a long time ago.

He was good. He was the best.

He had a mark on him. He was king of the hill.

And he knew it but then the whole cuchifrito hit the fan

and he made mistakes, like the rest of us.

But at the goals he was aiming for, mistakes are not forgiven.

Mary Torino's life is in my hands. How do I make him understand that?

How do you handle something like this?

I just spoke with Brennan downtown.

Wasn't easy for him, but he finally admitted

that this new assignment for Brocore was make-work,

to get the man out of the way. He's not ready to retire,

they can't make him quit, and he knows it.

Now these murders come along,

he thinks it's a chance to prove they made a mistake.

Theo, that man is drowning.

So...what do you want me to do?

Understand.

Lieutenant, Detective Rizzo.

Rizzo. Oh, Lieutenant, you name the con, he's here.

Benedict? None of the big guys are here yet

but two of Benedict's men are here.

Alright, remember, don't rush it.

OK, call the standby sector units.

Have them get down to the theatre right away. Yes, sir.

I want every...

I want every felon pulled in

the instant he's ID'd, do you understand?

Yes, sir.

Say, Crocker, would you look at this parade?

It's like a convention down there. First Greensteen's men,

go over the place with a magnifying glass. Doors, window, fire escapes.

They even have walkie-talkies.

Two minutes later two of Terranova's men show up,

follow the same routine, Then Benedict's team get here.

Er, we'd better get back down there.

No, stay.

The Chief told us to pick up any hood with an open warrant.

Crocker, my informant is in there. You want us to choose between a lieutenant we respect

or the chief who can throw the book at us? Some deal.

You want me to make the decision?

This could be the biggest bust in ten years,

If you do it my way and we fail,

then Brocore can grind you all up, including me.

If we succeed, that was just doing our job.

Hey, lieutenant.

Oh, Papa Benedict in all his glory. Alright, Crocker, you take Stavros

and the rookie. Go to the back of the theatre.

There's three blue-and-whites there. Take a couple of uniforms to assist.

When you hear me on the bullhorn, you go in the back way,

but you do nothing until they come out. Don't use your walkie-talkies.

If we don't surprise them on both ends, there could be a bloodbath.

What do we have?

The gang's all here, sir. All right, men, go.

Wait a minute. Did you recognise anyone with a warrant on them?

Yes, sir. Did you pick them up?

I see.

OK, men. When you hear me on the bullhorn you hold your positions.

Now go ahead.

You think you've won. I never meant it to be a contest, sir.

Word'll get around that the killings

weren't the result of lazy police work,

but a calculated gang war.

You were right, I was wrong.

And the Least you are in my eyes is insubordinate.

I don't know what I've become lately.

Don't you? You know, I've fought men like you all my life.

How can I stop being what I am

and start being somebody you can get along with, sir?

And what kind of a cop would that make me? I don't know.

But one thing I do know, Lieutenant, I will punish you.

I know that.

What I don't know is, why you waited so long.

Arrest her! Mary Torino.

Arrest her!

Arrest her! You're disobeying orders.

Arrest...

Keep him here if you've got to deck him. He's a fine man!

Do you know what he is? Look what you did to him!

Keep quiet while I get my men out of there or I'll blow your head off!

Get out of here! Police, go! Yes, sir.

They're all in there, Theo.

'OK, gentlemen, you know the position. Spread 'em.

Hands up, take a bow, like that.

Lieutenant Kojak, I asked you a question.

Now, did you or did you not keep the facts of the stake-outs

from Chief Brocore?

Yes, sir, I did.

And your reasons? I felt we should not move on that theatre

until we had the best possible conspiracy case, which required

as many gangsters there as possible.

Well, how were you so sure that they'd arrive?

I trusted my informant. The woman that you didn't pick up earlier?

Yes, sir. She was my only close contact with the gang

and, as it turned out, she was the best.

Lieutenant, the Chief ordered you to arrest her.

That would have meant her certain execution. Right or wrong,

we had made a deal, long before Chief Brocore arrived on the scene.

Ask him about...

Chief, all we are trying to do is make some sense

of this officer's actions on one particular case.

Well, then, question me. I was the ranking officer on the scene.

This case had been floundering. It had bogged down for months

and I came into Manhattan South to get the job done.

But Lieutenant Kojak blocked me at every opportunity.

Let's get back to the matter of Mary Torino.

Now, Lieutenant, did you ignore the Chief at the time that he gave orders

to pick that girl up? Yes, sir.

I felt he didn't have all the facts. And later, outside the plant?

Yes, sir. why?

Well, it would have started a shoot-out and I tried to explain.

Men were in danger, I had to make a decision...

...and I did.

I see.

Now, gentlemen, I mean, is that why you think I called this hearing,

because some of my orders were ignored in some cases?

Oh, no, it goes beyond that.

It's much deeper.

Now you all believe that Manhattan South is doing such a bang—up job.

You see requisitions for UF61 complaint forms.

Well, last night there was this waste basket

in the squad room at Manhattan South

and I stopped the maintenance man from dumping it,

and we inventoried the contents together.

They are using complaint forms for scrap paper.

Official documents for scrap paper.

Do I shock you?

Please, let me show you something here.

I have here 35 complaint forms

that were all crumpled and thrown into the waste basket, 35!

Now, how many complaints did we take yesterday?

Seven. Seven, Wasn't it seven?

That leaves 28.

That's 28 complaint forms sooner

that we have to re-order pads from downtown.

Now, that's 28 complaint forms every day.

That's 196 per week.

That's what, 10,192 per year.

why, my goodness, headquarters must think

we've got all the streets blocked,

and here, here...

...this one right here is from Captain McNeil's own waste basket, that one.

And here, here...

...this one, this one.

These, these are all from Lieutenant... Lieutenant Kojak's.

I will be a good commissioner.

I will execute the duties of my office with...with great dedication,

and I will be fair and just at all times.

Oh, Lieutenant Kojak. Listen, uh...

Sorry this whole thing had to happen and I'd Like to apologise.

You know, he was through ten years ago.

we shouldn't have given him useless assignments

whereby he had to lie to himself that they were important.

Chief, your car's waiting downstairs.

Well, anyway, my apologies.

Alright, sir.

I'm sorry.

Theo!

Thanks. They let him out for a few days.

You get picked up for anything, I'm going to put you in a cage

and I'm going to melt the key, do you understand? Aw, he'll be good.

He's got such a great guy behind him.

Yeah, and take care of your mother.

Go ahead.

Uh...

I guess there's nothing left to say.

I know you worked real hard for this. It was nothing.

Nothing at all, just a piece of cake.