Kojak (1973) s01e13 Episode Script
Death is Not a Passing Grade
[Thunderclap.]
[Murmuring.]
[Buzzing.]
[Thunder Continues.]
[Rain Pouring.]
Get the safe.
[Tools Clattering.]
Don't do nothin'.
[Moaning.]
Let's go.
Let's go! Come on, Caz.
Let's go.
Get the safe.
Get the safe.
Now? Yeah.
That's all we'll take just cash.
There's no way they can trace that to us.
This had to happen sooner or later, right? Murder? No.
He could've called the cops.
That's the way it goes.
That's the way it goes? Sure.
Gettin' caught? That's the way it goes? Now come on! Get the safe! [Drill Whirs.]
[Whirring.]
He never sleeps here.
I don't understand.
[Chuckling.]
What a flash, huh? Funny old man.
You couldn't do that to a woman, could you, huh? This is like no other job we've ever done, man.
Those cops from Homicide will come in here.
They'll push those Safe and Loft boys right off.
There's two ways they can search from the body outwards, in a spiral, or they can divide the room up into squares.
That's the grid method.
We burn the gloves.
The knife was already here.
[Fizzing.]
Let's go.
Don't do that here not this time, not with him.
Hey, why don't you remember your extension cord, huh? [Chuckling.]
We don't leave real clues, Art.
We leave dead ends.
We're the dead-end kids, remember? [Laughing.]
Huh? Remember? Hey.
When did I pick this up? - Come on.
- Murder.
That's one for you, Kojak.
[Door Closes.]
[Sirens Wailing.]
[Siren Stops.]
[Man Chattering.]
Mornin; Lieutenant.
Hi.
This is the guy who owned the store.
His name was King.
Mm-hmm.
Steiglitz, Safe and Loft.
It's been dusted.
One knife puncture, from the rear.
Six-inch blade oh, right through the lung and heart.
About 3:00 a.
m.
Two dollars and 25 cents.
Would you say that's a bargain, Safe and Loft? Oh, Lieutenant, this is Mr.
Scott.
He found the body when he opened up this mornin'.
How are ya? Looks like you could open this thing up with a can opener.
- Anybody been casin' the joint lately? - Somebody every day.
Mm-hmm.
[Kojak.]
Well? It was cut with a power tool.
Real slick.
Yeah, they're always slick.
He dies clutching a page torn out of the phone book.
You got three names circled there.
Check 'em out.
The clues are fake.
Look, we know these guys.
They're making our office look stupid.
Nine burglaries in the last five months.
The last one, they cut through a skylight with acid.
I never even heard of that trick.
You're not gonna get anywhere, Kojak.
Look, Steiglitz, this is murder.
Don't bet too much that I'm not gonna get anywhere.
Okay? [Gomez.]
Hey, Lieutenant.
What do you have? What's up? [Gomez.]
Did you drop it? Yeah.
But I can't remember whether I dropped it before or after I broke into the safe.
What's it doin' back there? - I lost it about a week ago.
- At the precinct? Give me a list of every suspect who was at the precinct last week, especially those two guys from L.
A.
On the Owens heist.
Uh-huh.
- Okay, Steiglitz, what do ya got? - It might be one guy, but we think it's two.
Okay, so they're makin'fun of us, but there's a reason.
There's always something to lead us on a wild goose chase.
A couple of months ago, it was a half a Social Security card.
And we beat our backs out on that.
It lead nowhere.
Then there was a whiskey bottle covered with fingerprints.
And we tracked them down to a garbage can in the Bowery.
All right, Gomez.
I want you to rip this place apart, even if you have to reassemble it at the precinct.
Right.
From you, I want a record of every case that these clowns have been on.
You understand? I want it this afternoon.
You'll have 'em.
My pen.
This will be Timothy's room on the second floor.
When he gets older, he can move into your study, right next to it.
Then you can move downstairs into my study.
I'll have my own wing by Hey, Art.
Are you listenin'? This is gonna be your house, man.
Our house.
The whole family under one roof.
Oh.
[Art.]
I like TV.
How am I gonna play it right next to the kid's room? - You can play it softly, honey.
- Yeah.
Use earphones, Artie.
Earphones.
See? My brother has it all worked out.
Well, I don't like it.
I like a modern house.
All on one floor no sweatin'up and down stairs.
Caz is paying for it, honey.
I'm putting up my share.
Yes, but he did get you thejob.
You wouldn't be selling real estate today if it weren't for him.
- [Child.]
Mommy! - Oh, there's Timothy.
I'll get him ready for his bath.
[Child Chattering.]
[Door Opens, Closes.]
[Sighs.]
You're lazy, Art.
You don't even wanna walk up and down stairs.
If I hadn't gotten out of the service last summer, you'd have my sister livin' on food stamps now, huh? Honey, he wants you to come and play ducks with him.
- Sure.
Just a minute.
- Okay.
Caz, are you staying for supper? No.
It's Wednesday.
I got school.
Right.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.
[Caz.]
Good night, honey.
Good night.
After school tonight.
The loan company, right? I couldn't, Caz.
Believe me.
You hit him from behind, but I was watching his face.
I saw his face the minute he knew he was dying.
I've gotta quit for a while anyhow.
So, quit.
Who needs ya? Go play ducks with the kid.
You think you can handle that? Huh? [Door Closes.]
Are you ready for a surprise? Look what fell out of your jacket in the bathroom the ring I gave you the day we were married.
It didn't get lost last year.
It just got caught in the lining.
Oh, I'm glad you have it back.
The house is gonna be okay, darling.
Okay, how we doin'? Well, so far, the victim gets an "A" for bookkeeping.
His records balance to the penny.
This Mr.
King had an argument with his wife on the phone.
That's why he stayed over.
Anybody who cased that place wouldn't have expected him to be open.
Theo.
I've been thinking.
Yeah.
Maybe Mr.
King found your pen just out on the street or something.
Uh, Frank, I'm a guest instructor in a police science course with 12 aspiring detectives.
You know what I would have done if anyone suggested that? I would've thrown 'em out of school.
Selig and Olson didn't lift it from your office.
They were picked up in Macon, Georgia, three days ago.
Lieutenant, on these circled names and numbers that we found Norman Jalosa is a waiter.
Works till 4:00 every morning.
Victoria Jalpa lives in Montreal now.
And Jalrad's a radio company.
Steiglitz was right.
These are no clues.
Nine burglaries with different M.
O.
's, and the suspects nothin'.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
So how do we know it's the same team? Because they tell us with these phony clues.
We're dealing with egomaniacs, but egomaniacs with brains.
You wanna know somethin'? These are amateurs.
I mean, what pro would want a spotlight? Maybe they're a couple of spoiled Park Avenue kids.
Maybe their mommies and daddies didn't pay enough attention to them.
Maybe they got bored with their chemistry sets.
Hmm.
All right, I'll see you guys in the morning.
- I'm late for class.
- All right.
Say hello to Delta.
Good night, fatso.
[People Chattering.]
Hiya.
[All Chattering.]
No kiddin'? Where I got a message for ya.
"Say hello to Delta.
" [Southern Drawl.]
Theo, darlin'.
I thought you'd never get here.
[Laughing.]
But later.
Okay.
[Students Quiet Down.]
The rest of you can sit on your brains.
We'll get this show on the road.
So far, we've been over interrogation of witnesses and suspects, the use of informants, techniques of surveillance.
Now, who knows what we mean by the term "scenario"? - Jonas.
- A theoretical construction of a crime, including motives, methods and whereabouts before and afterwards.
Very good.
Anybody knows how we'd investigate six scenarios at once? Oh, I thought you weren't gonna talk at all tonight, Caz.
[Scoffs.]
You don't investigate six scenarios at once.
You take the most promising one, and you concentrate on it until you hit a dead end or, you know, a good reason to dump it.
And then you move on to the next most promising one, and so on.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Except in the event of a time bomb or a kidnapping with a child in jeopardy.
Yeah, well, that goes without saying, doesn't it? Mm-hmm.
Okay, Mississippi.
There's a guy at the bottom of the well.
He's been dead a week.
He's got blueberries in his pocket, and he's got a rash on his neck.
- Go.
Right off the top of your head.
- Uh, is he wearing a turtleneck sweater? Who's your man? You want a turtleneck sweater, you got it.
Well, uh, he has an allergy to wool.
[Clears Throat.]
Therefore, he would not be wearing that particular sweater.
Uh, so his clothes were changed after he was murdered.
I think, uh, a berry picker.
Fantastic.
[Chuckles.]
A mad, merry berry picker.
Okay, Caz, the report comes back from the lab.
Says that rash is poison ivy.
Go.
Uh, where does all this happen? Where does all this take place? It takes place in, uh, England.
Oxford.
- Couldn't happen.
- [Affecting British Accent.]
I beg your pardon, sir? The man has a poison ivy rash, and it couldn't happen, you say? Not in England.
They don't have poison ivy in England, Lieutenant.
- Oh.
- No poison ivy.
No poison sumac.
No poison oak.
Huh.
Well, I guess you could break a case on that.
It's trivia.
So, what you're saying is a man with a rash on his neck, and it couldn't happen, right? Not-Not if he hadn't been out of the country, it couldn't.
No.
Oh.
Okay, Phi Beta Kappa, try this on for size.
I go for a weekend on Long Island.
I'm lookin' to catch my old lady with the iceman, so I crawl through the poison ivy bushes.
I'm peekin'.
I'm sneakin'.
Lookin' through windows.
Aha! He spots me.
Takes off for England with my broad.
And I follow him with my poison ivy-infested hands.
I catch him, and I strangle him.
[Yelps.]
[Students Laughing.]
Hmm? So what you're saying is that a freshly murdered body couldn't develop a poison ivy rash, right? - L-I don't know.
- [Chuckling.]
Gotcha.
You don't know.
Well, next time you're in your forensic medicine class, you ask your instructor, all right? Then when you find out, you come back and tell me, because I don't know either.
[Class Bell Rings.]
Okay.
Friday night same time, same station.
- Get ready for the final exams.
- [Students Chattering.]
Excuse me, Lieutenant.
Yeah, Caz.
Would you please tell me why it's necessary to make me look bad in front of the class.
Well, I don't know.
I thought you were holding your own right up until the last minute.
- Yeah, but then you had to top me, right? - Well [Chuckles.]
When you were a kid, did you always top your old man? I don't know.
I didn't know my father.
Oh.
Hey, look, uh, when you graduate and you wanna go to the police academy, I want you to know this I'll be in back of you all the way.
Hey.
Hey, I got the grades.
I don't need anybody's help, you know? I mean, it doesn't take much to be a cop, Kojak.
Let's face it.
You got a pretty easy gig for 20 grand a year, right? Huh? Sure.
Look, if you ever get a hundred hours during the course of a week, why don't you come down to the station house and get a peek at your future "easy gig.
" Now you'd better go home and study your Crime Stoppers.
You are a really patient man, Theo.
[Affecting Southern Drawl.]
Hey, how come you talk so slow, with your really patient man, you kiss so fast? Oh, I don't always, do I? Mm-hmm.
You know somethin'? If your chief could read my Yankee thoughts, he'd pack you up to Mississippi early in the mornin'.
[Laughing.]
Oh, now, come on.
And nip my education in the bud? Hey, you.
Cops are not supposed to do things like this.
Go ahead.
And besides, with that lavender nightgown I saw you buy last week Uh-huh? You don't need an education.
You need protection.
[Laughing.]
And that's why I'm following you.
[Clicks Tongue.]
Thank you.
Uh-huh.
What's the matter? Oh, come on.
We got a college of criminal justice, and somebody rips off my hat.
I don't believe it.
Here.
Put out an alarm Midtown.
"Stetson Tyrol, model 7 B, size 71/4.
" [Laughing.]
I'm serious, Stavros.
Go ahead.
Any patrolman spots that hat, I want satisfaction.
I got a little discrepancy here, Lieutenant.
I have 121 pawn tickets marked "ring," but only 120 rings.
- Maybe it means nothin' - What do you mean, mean's nothin'? Stavros says he kept perfect records.
Now you get me a list of names of everybody who pawned a ring.
Go ahead.
Right.
[Rings.]
Hello.
This is Steiglitz, Lieutenant.
You better get over here right away.
We found your hat.
[Siren Wailing.]
[Siren Stops.]
[Chattering.]
What'd he take? Postal money orders good as cash.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, where is it? Right over here.
Wanna open up, please? All right.
We know the hat was stolen from you at college, but what about your pen? Look at this.
I made my attendance check the night of the pawnshop killing in pen.
But by the end of the class, I made these notes here in pencil.
So I must have left the pen on my desk, and somebody must have picked it up after the coffee break.
Lieutenant, I got the list from the college students, personnel, instructors.
We tried to match the names with the list of people that pawned rings.
Nothin'.
Take another angle.
Have Crocker get a photo of everybody in my class from the admissions office.
Check on their backgrounds.
- Find out what they were doing after class the night of the pawnshop killing.
- Yes, sir.
Think it was somebody in your class, Theo? Mm.
Did it ever occur to you, Frank, that a class in police science is also a great education for a crook? Yeah, but your hat? Your pen? A student has got it in for you somehow that's one thing.
But a student who commits murder? I don't like it.
You don't like it.
I hate it.
You know, I got a lot of bright students in my class.
They keep me on my toes.
I have fun with them.
Well, the fun just went out of it.
Okay, considering this scenario business.
Let us consider a series of crimes, a series of burglaries with a murder in one of them.
And I wanna have one good reason why a really good burglar would take the time and the effort to leave a series of clues behind in a series of crimes.
- Jonas.
- Maybe he's afraid to leave real clues.
Maybe he's foggin' his trail.
Okay.
How about the killing? Unpremeditated.
Why would anyone leave a series of false clues behind at the scene of a murder? - Caz? - Sounds like, uh, a frame.
Well, in this case, nonapplicable.
Nonapplicable.
Whatever.
How about a signature? I don't follow.
Well, the killer wanting to make himselfknown to another party.
Does that make any sense to you? - Without any real proof? - Without any real proof so far.
Yeah.
Yeah, maybe it's a signature.
- Why would he leave a signature? - There was that guy who used to write, "Stop me before I kill.
" He could be full of guilt and want to get caught.
Mm-hmm.
Or be proud of your work and know you'll never get caught.
[Class Bell Rings.]
Okay.
That's it.
Somebody got you runnin' in circles, Lieutenant? Why? Do you, uh you wanna straighten me out? Me straighten out the teacher? I couldn't do that, could I? That wouldn't be right, not right at all.
[Stavros.]
Jonas Wilkins, age 22.
He lives uptown, 136th Street, with his family.
He works in the daytime in a market.
He went back after class the night ofhe killing, unloaded groceries until 3.
00 a.
m.
Mm-hmm.
How about sonny boy here? Casimir Mayer, age 23.
Served in Vietnam.
Got discharged six months ago.
Made sergeant in two years.
His mother died three years ago.
His allotment checks went to his sister.
And he's on the G.
I.
Bill.
Oh.
His father was a cop.
For a while.
He busted a crap game 20 years ago.
They say he confiscated $4,800.
He never checked in again.
Never checked in with us.
Never checked in with his family.
Just disappeared.
Let's see, the kid had to be two or three years old.
[Phone Rings.]
Yeah.
Lieutenant? Mayer has a one-room apartment on Third Avenue.
I'm downstairs in a pizza joint.
The guy here says he recognized the picture.
He came in here a lot with a guy named Art Gordon.
Gordon worked here last year for a week till they found a case of beer missing.
Yeah, hold on just a minute.
Let me have the list of names of the pawn tickets the ones with the rings.
I checked it.
There's no Mayer.
There's no Wilkins on it.
How about Art Gordon? "Art Gordon.
" Oh, yeah.
Let's see, he pawned a ring, and there's a ring missin'? Maybe he just helped himself to it during the burglary.
All right, fatso, go check and see if he has a record.
Crocker, give me Art Gordon's address, and I'll meet you there.
- 3544 Third Avenue.
- Right.
[Murmuring.]
Caz.
It had to be him, huh? Caz.
[Tears Paper.]
Caz, huh? Why? Oh, I know you, Theo.
I know how you must come across in that class.
Maybe you're more than just a teacher to him.
Father maybe? He could be showing off for you.
Those burglaries started months before I began my class.
All right.
Then he was telling the force, "Look at me.
I'm smarter than cops in general.
" Okay, so now he's saying he's smarter than you specifically.
My own kid says it to me flat-out, right to my face.
They want you to fight back.
They seem to want that authority.
Want authority, huh? Well, if that's what they want, that's what he's gonna get in spades.
Eddie, can I have a beer a draft and, uh, heat up one of those little pizzas, okay? Sure.
Hey, a cop was just in here.
Said you had some relatives tryin' to track you down.
I told him I see you here all the time.
How could you be missing? - Oh, uh, what else did he ask about? - He wanted to know who you came in with.
- Did you mention my brother-in-law to him? You know, Art? - Art? Yeah.
I didn't know he was your brother-in-law.
[Coin Drops, Bell Dings.]
[Phone Ringing.]
You're a little stronger this time, Artie, but not strong enough.
[Groans.]
[Laughing.]
I'll get ya next time.
You keep saying that.
Artie, telephone for you.
Sure.
Give us another round.
[People Chattering.]
- Hello? - It's Caz.
Don't say my name, Art.
Is your car out back? Yes.
I'll meet you outside.
I don't understand.
Why these questions? We're looking for your husband, Mrs.
Gordon.
And failing that, what time do you expect him back? Oh, he works nights, late, making calls.
- For whom? - For a real estate company the Green Management.
- He He sells condominiums for them, up in Riverdale.
- I see.
Do you recognize him? Why am I being asked these questions? Why do I have to answer? The two of you together how come? He's my brother.
Oh? Well, he's a pretty confused kid, isn't he? Confused? How? He went to work when he was 15 in order to support my mother.
He's helped my husband pull the loose ends together.
He studies at night to be a cop.
I know.
I'm one of his instructors.
Kojak.
Lieutenant Kojak.
Oh, yes.
He talks about you.
He admires you.
You're one of the few he does admire.
Thank you.
Well, anyway, he's in a lot of trouble, Mrs.
Gordon.
And your husband too.
And the quicker we find them, the better.
I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
I'm I'm afraid I can't help you.
Come on.
Thank you, ma'am.
Thank you, Mrs.
Gordon.
Good night.
Good night.
[Chain Rattles.]
- Hey, there's a bottle in there.
- Hey, you pawned this.
- I remember.
- I took it back.
Who could tell? Here.
You wanna keep it? Don't lose it.
Diane gave that to me.
- It was awful.
- You are so stupid.
This could send you up for murder! Who knows? Oh, come on.
I didn't kill anybody, Caz.
I couldn't.
You know that.
You got the guts for that, not me.
If they talked to me, they'd know I couldn't kill.
I'd show 'em.
I was standing over by the safe I mean I wouldn't say anything.
I tell you what, Art.
Why don't we park down by the river? We could knock off this bottle together.
Teamwork.
That's a good idea.
Yeah.
[Siren Wailing.]
Hey, Lieutenant.
That guy in the river matches the description of the Art Gordon you want.
All right.
Notify the M.
E.
dd [Whistling.]
[Doorbell Buzzes.]
What is it? What's happened? Well, Mrs.
Gordon, Detective Crocker here tells me that your brother showed up five minutes ago.
You mind if we take a look around? Sure, Kojak.
Help yourself.
All right.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Mrs.
Gordon, your husband is dead.
[Hushed.]
No! - How? - How? Well, let's see.
He was drunk.
He fell or was persuaded into the river.
Oh, my God! All right, let's go.
Assume position number three.
Oh, come on.
[Scoffing.]
Oh, man.
What-What are you doing? I'm gonna take him down and question him for murder.
The lieutenant has it in for me, Sis.
Hey, look, I was in the movies at 42nd Street.
- A couple of kung fu quickies.
You want 'em scene by scene? - Lieutenant.
- This ring belong to your husband? - Yes, yes.
I thought he was wearing that.
L I don't know.
I could be wrong.
Here.
You get a statement from Mrs.
Gordon, and, uh, don't let her go to the morgue alone.
Look, whatever happened to Art, I'll make it come out for the best, okay? Yeah.
Okay? I'll see you later.
I love you, honey.
[Slap.]
Let's go.
Your brother-in-law got a call at the barjust before he left.
- At 10:15.
- What bar? We showed the pictures around.
We found the bar.
- I don't know anything about that.
- Where'd you go after class? The movies.
We've been over that, haven't we? - Where'd you eat? - A hot dog on 42nd Street, at Nathan's.
Nathan's was closed last night.
They got a strike.
Baloney, it was.
Come on, huh? [Knocking.]
Yeah? [People Chattering.]
Stay on top of him.
Sure.
I remember it now.
It's a pinky ring.
Not too popular.
Yeah.
I almost sold it last week.
Yeah? You know this man? That's the man we bought it from.
I remember he was drunk almost smashed the case.
Okay, thanks.
Take his statement.
Well, we got a perfect case against Gordon, except he's dead.
Oh, come on.
We're supposed to believe he's so chicken he drinks himself into the river, right? And he's so smart he leaves false clues for us? That's two people we're talkin' about, Frank.
I'm not gonna crack that kid, not without somethin' to go on which I haven't got.
I can't prove he stole my hat, my pencil.
I can't prove he stole anything.
It seems to me he's got just what he wants.
He's one up on teacher, and teacher knows it.
I'll tell you something, Frank.
It's gonna take a lot more than an apple a day to get to teacher.
I want five men tracing his whereabouts for the last six months.
I wanna find out what tools he's bought.
I wanna find out how much money he's spent.
I wanna get something on him.
And the next man who tails him loses his job if he blows it.
Frank, release him.
All right.
[Ringing.]
Hello? This is Mr.
Foster.
Was that your husband they found in the Oh, yes.
Yes, Mr.
Foster, that was my husband.
He gave me this number.
I was supposed to get him tickets to the Knicks the play-offs.
Look, l-I just wanted to call and say I'm sorry and to tell you that he had a lot of nice things to say about you.
I know he was a little high, but I never would have guessed that Uh, Mr.
Foster, when you were with him last night, you didn't happen to notice if he was wearing a ring? Oh, yeah.
Yeah, on his right hand, on his pinky.
We were arm-wrestling.
I remember.
That's funny.
There was a cop just here asking the same thing.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
- Caz.
- Hello? [Handset Clatters.]
Caz.
Caz.
[Hushed.]
Oh, my God.
[Door Opens.]
[Gasps.]
The police have got about as much respect for the dead as a grave robber.
They're tryin' to make a federal case out of absolutely nothin'.
[Scoffs.]
What sort of case? They think that Art was pullin' off some small jobs burglaries.
Look, it's not impossible, Diane.
I mean, uh, maybe he wasn't makin' it too big as a salesman.
Caz, you killed him.
I know.
I know because of the ring.
It's not the worst thing that happened in our lives, is it? [Gasping.]
We have always pulled through, haven't we? Diane, please.
Please, Diane.
[Crying.]
It is so far and away the worst thing that's ever happened in my entire life.
He would have killed himself sooner or later drinking or doing something desperate on his own.
He was not a strong man.
What kind of father would he have been for the kid? A gentle father.
Gentle? What is that? The man had no strength.
He had no authority.
He would have let that kid do anything.
The kid would grow up he'd be always broke.
Who knows what he'd end up doing or feeling inside? Oh, Caz.
Caz.
My God.
[Breath Quavers.]
L I want you to talk to the lieutenant.
No! What, you You think I'm crazy? This guy wants to fry me.
He is everything that I hate.
I just have a feeling that that he'd help you to see a doctor.
And I'll explain to them all the things you've done, all the things you've been.
You-You've done so many good things for me.
No! No, I'm warning you! [Gasps.]
Art would have talked, and then we both would have been caught.
Now, it's gotta be better this way for you.
For the kid.
[Crying.]
Oh, Caz.
[Exclaims.]
I never should have started with Kojak.
I don't know why I did that.
Did what? See, I think that lousy cop in our background, it haunts me sometimes.
Lousy cop, lousy father.
- [Crying.]
- He knows it's me.
I guess I wanted him to, but I didn't think it'd lead to Art.
I didn't think it'd lead anywhere.
- But he can't prove anything.
- Oh, Caz.
Caz, they have a witness.
A man in the bar saw the ring on Art, and you're the only one who could have brought it here.
I tried to get it back on his finger.
I couldn't get it on.
The police, they'll be here to get you any minute.
No.
No lousy cop is gonna keep comin' in and out of our lives, tearing things up not without paying for it.
No, sir! - Caz! - No.
[Door Closes.]
I can't.
[Crying.]
[Dialing.]
Say, uh [Clears Throat.]
You got a light, Officer? [Groans.]
Yes, Mrs.
Gordon, we just found out about the ring.
Yes, I've just given the order to have him picked up.
Thank you.
Theo, Mayer just slugged Saperstein and took his gun.
I want every cop in the city after him.
Go ahead.
[Rings.]
Yes? It's Caz Mayer, Kojak.
I just wanted you to know that I won't be taking my final exam tomorrow, and you won't be giving it either.
Where are you, Caz? I wanna talk to you.
Shut up and listen, Kojak, because I'm calling the shots now! And I wanna tell you that our final exam has already begun, and death is not a passing grade.
[Line Clicks.]
Hmm.
Well, I guess his sister wasn't kidding.
He's coming after me.
All right, you do a fast disappearing act.
We'll pick him up soon enough.
Frank.
Two people killed already.
I don't want him out there.
He's threatened to come after me, and he's put up a deadline.
That could work for us.
I don't want you playing target for some schizo killer.
No, no.
Now's the time to get him when he's hot and bothered.
Don't worry.
He'll trip up, and I'll see to it.
Okay, the plan is simple.
You take off, and then you send a cab back here in 10 minutes.
I'm gonna make it look like I'm slippin' over to Delta's apartment.
Right? He'll follow.
You pick him up.
And don't shoot if you don't have to.
I don't plan to.
All right.
dd [Humming.]
[Phone Rings.]
[Ringing Continues.]
Delta, who loves ya? Wait a minute.
I take that question back.
You're liable to say Harry Schwartz or CharlieJones or somethin'.
Uh-huh.
Well, honey This is Theo.
Theo? - I got a little "wet blanket" news for ya.
- Tell me.
Mm-hmm.
Well, sure, honey, I do.
L Mm-hmm.
All right, honey, but why can't I stay here? [Scraping.]
- If you're gonna pick him up downstairs - You can't stay there, young lady, because I say so.
- That's all there is to it.
- All right, hon.
I'll leave the key outside in the planter.
- And, Theo - I know.
Be careful.
Hey, look, you think I don't wanna make that Mardi Gras with you someday? Hmm? Oh, yeah.
[Laughing.]
[Handset Clatters.]
[Muffled Gasp.]
You're makin' it too easy.
I was gonna make you invite him over.
[Door Closes.]
Go back to my place where you picked me up and cruise around.
If anybody asks you where you took me, you tell 'em.
Right.
Don't make it easy.
Have 'em pay you for it.
Sure.
Sure thing, Lieutenant.
[Key Turning In Lock.]
[Trigger Clicks.]
[Trigger Clicks.]
- Lieutenant, you all right? - Crocker.
Untie her.
We'll get you to the hospital, Caz.
You never know.
Don't make me go out with a lie.
Okay.
Hey, look, uh I'll keep an eye on your sister for you.
I promise.
And that's the truth.
[Murmuring.]
[Buzzing.]
[Thunder Continues.]
[Rain Pouring.]
Get the safe.
[Tools Clattering.]
Don't do nothin'.
[Moaning.]
Let's go.
Let's go! Come on, Caz.
Let's go.
Get the safe.
Get the safe.
Now? Yeah.
That's all we'll take just cash.
There's no way they can trace that to us.
This had to happen sooner or later, right? Murder? No.
He could've called the cops.
That's the way it goes.
That's the way it goes? Sure.
Gettin' caught? That's the way it goes? Now come on! Get the safe! [Drill Whirs.]
[Whirring.]
He never sleeps here.
I don't understand.
[Chuckling.]
What a flash, huh? Funny old man.
You couldn't do that to a woman, could you, huh? This is like no other job we've ever done, man.
Those cops from Homicide will come in here.
They'll push those Safe and Loft boys right off.
There's two ways they can search from the body outwards, in a spiral, or they can divide the room up into squares.
That's the grid method.
We burn the gloves.
The knife was already here.
[Fizzing.]
Let's go.
Don't do that here not this time, not with him.
Hey, why don't you remember your extension cord, huh? [Chuckling.]
We don't leave real clues, Art.
We leave dead ends.
We're the dead-end kids, remember? [Laughing.]
Huh? Remember? Hey.
When did I pick this up? - Come on.
- Murder.
That's one for you, Kojak.
[Door Closes.]
[Sirens Wailing.]
[Siren Stops.]
[Man Chattering.]
Mornin; Lieutenant.
Hi.
This is the guy who owned the store.
His name was King.
Mm-hmm.
Steiglitz, Safe and Loft.
It's been dusted.
One knife puncture, from the rear.
Six-inch blade oh, right through the lung and heart.
About 3:00 a.
m.
Two dollars and 25 cents.
Would you say that's a bargain, Safe and Loft? Oh, Lieutenant, this is Mr.
Scott.
He found the body when he opened up this mornin'.
How are ya? Looks like you could open this thing up with a can opener.
- Anybody been casin' the joint lately? - Somebody every day.
Mm-hmm.
[Kojak.]
Well? It was cut with a power tool.
Real slick.
Yeah, they're always slick.
He dies clutching a page torn out of the phone book.
You got three names circled there.
Check 'em out.
The clues are fake.
Look, we know these guys.
They're making our office look stupid.
Nine burglaries in the last five months.
The last one, they cut through a skylight with acid.
I never even heard of that trick.
You're not gonna get anywhere, Kojak.
Look, Steiglitz, this is murder.
Don't bet too much that I'm not gonna get anywhere.
Okay? [Gomez.]
Hey, Lieutenant.
What do you have? What's up? [Gomez.]
Did you drop it? Yeah.
But I can't remember whether I dropped it before or after I broke into the safe.
What's it doin' back there? - I lost it about a week ago.
- At the precinct? Give me a list of every suspect who was at the precinct last week, especially those two guys from L.
A.
On the Owens heist.
Uh-huh.
- Okay, Steiglitz, what do ya got? - It might be one guy, but we think it's two.
Okay, so they're makin'fun of us, but there's a reason.
There's always something to lead us on a wild goose chase.
A couple of months ago, it was a half a Social Security card.
And we beat our backs out on that.
It lead nowhere.
Then there was a whiskey bottle covered with fingerprints.
And we tracked them down to a garbage can in the Bowery.
All right, Gomez.
I want you to rip this place apart, even if you have to reassemble it at the precinct.
Right.
From you, I want a record of every case that these clowns have been on.
You understand? I want it this afternoon.
You'll have 'em.
My pen.
This will be Timothy's room on the second floor.
When he gets older, he can move into your study, right next to it.
Then you can move downstairs into my study.
I'll have my own wing by Hey, Art.
Are you listenin'? This is gonna be your house, man.
Our house.
The whole family under one roof.
Oh.
[Art.]
I like TV.
How am I gonna play it right next to the kid's room? - You can play it softly, honey.
- Yeah.
Use earphones, Artie.
Earphones.
See? My brother has it all worked out.
Well, I don't like it.
I like a modern house.
All on one floor no sweatin'up and down stairs.
Caz is paying for it, honey.
I'm putting up my share.
Yes, but he did get you thejob.
You wouldn't be selling real estate today if it weren't for him.
- [Child.]
Mommy! - Oh, there's Timothy.
I'll get him ready for his bath.
[Child Chattering.]
[Door Opens, Closes.]
[Sighs.]
You're lazy, Art.
You don't even wanna walk up and down stairs.
If I hadn't gotten out of the service last summer, you'd have my sister livin' on food stamps now, huh? Honey, he wants you to come and play ducks with him.
- Sure.
Just a minute.
- Okay.
Caz, are you staying for supper? No.
It's Wednesday.
I got school.
Right.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.
[Caz.]
Good night, honey.
Good night.
After school tonight.
The loan company, right? I couldn't, Caz.
Believe me.
You hit him from behind, but I was watching his face.
I saw his face the minute he knew he was dying.
I've gotta quit for a while anyhow.
So, quit.
Who needs ya? Go play ducks with the kid.
You think you can handle that? Huh? [Door Closes.]
Are you ready for a surprise? Look what fell out of your jacket in the bathroom the ring I gave you the day we were married.
It didn't get lost last year.
It just got caught in the lining.
Oh, I'm glad you have it back.
The house is gonna be okay, darling.
Okay, how we doin'? Well, so far, the victim gets an "A" for bookkeeping.
His records balance to the penny.
This Mr.
King had an argument with his wife on the phone.
That's why he stayed over.
Anybody who cased that place wouldn't have expected him to be open.
Theo.
I've been thinking.
Yeah.
Maybe Mr.
King found your pen just out on the street or something.
Uh, Frank, I'm a guest instructor in a police science course with 12 aspiring detectives.
You know what I would have done if anyone suggested that? I would've thrown 'em out of school.
Selig and Olson didn't lift it from your office.
They were picked up in Macon, Georgia, three days ago.
Lieutenant, on these circled names and numbers that we found Norman Jalosa is a waiter.
Works till 4:00 every morning.
Victoria Jalpa lives in Montreal now.
And Jalrad's a radio company.
Steiglitz was right.
These are no clues.
Nine burglaries with different M.
O.
's, and the suspects nothin'.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
So how do we know it's the same team? Because they tell us with these phony clues.
We're dealing with egomaniacs, but egomaniacs with brains.
You wanna know somethin'? These are amateurs.
I mean, what pro would want a spotlight? Maybe they're a couple of spoiled Park Avenue kids.
Maybe their mommies and daddies didn't pay enough attention to them.
Maybe they got bored with their chemistry sets.
Hmm.
All right, I'll see you guys in the morning.
- I'm late for class.
- All right.
Say hello to Delta.
Good night, fatso.
[People Chattering.]
Hiya.
[All Chattering.]
No kiddin'? Where I got a message for ya.
"Say hello to Delta.
" [Southern Drawl.]
Theo, darlin'.
I thought you'd never get here.
[Laughing.]
But later.
Okay.
[Students Quiet Down.]
The rest of you can sit on your brains.
We'll get this show on the road.
So far, we've been over interrogation of witnesses and suspects, the use of informants, techniques of surveillance.
Now, who knows what we mean by the term "scenario"? - Jonas.
- A theoretical construction of a crime, including motives, methods and whereabouts before and afterwards.
Very good.
Anybody knows how we'd investigate six scenarios at once? Oh, I thought you weren't gonna talk at all tonight, Caz.
[Scoffs.]
You don't investigate six scenarios at once.
You take the most promising one, and you concentrate on it until you hit a dead end or, you know, a good reason to dump it.
And then you move on to the next most promising one, and so on.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Except in the event of a time bomb or a kidnapping with a child in jeopardy.
Yeah, well, that goes without saying, doesn't it? Mm-hmm.
Okay, Mississippi.
There's a guy at the bottom of the well.
He's been dead a week.
He's got blueberries in his pocket, and he's got a rash on his neck.
- Go.
Right off the top of your head.
- Uh, is he wearing a turtleneck sweater? Who's your man? You want a turtleneck sweater, you got it.
Well, uh, he has an allergy to wool.
[Clears Throat.]
Therefore, he would not be wearing that particular sweater.
Uh, so his clothes were changed after he was murdered.
I think, uh, a berry picker.
Fantastic.
[Chuckles.]
A mad, merry berry picker.
Okay, Caz, the report comes back from the lab.
Says that rash is poison ivy.
Go.
Uh, where does all this happen? Where does all this take place? It takes place in, uh, England.
Oxford.
- Couldn't happen.
- [Affecting British Accent.]
I beg your pardon, sir? The man has a poison ivy rash, and it couldn't happen, you say? Not in England.
They don't have poison ivy in England, Lieutenant.
- Oh.
- No poison ivy.
No poison sumac.
No poison oak.
Huh.
Well, I guess you could break a case on that.
It's trivia.
So, what you're saying is a man with a rash on his neck, and it couldn't happen, right? Not-Not if he hadn't been out of the country, it couldn't.
No.
Oh.
Okay, Phi Beta Kappa, try this on for size.
I go for a weekend on Long Island.
I'm lookin' to catch my old lady with the iceman, so I crawl through the poison ivy bushes.
I'm peekin'.
I'm sneakin'.
Lookin' through windows.
Aha! He spots me.
Takes off for England with my broad.
And I follow him with my poison ivy-infested hands.
I catch him, and I strangle him.
[Yelps.]
[Students Laughing.]
Hmm? So what you're saying is that a freshly murdered body couldn't develop a poison ivy rash, right? - L-I don't know.
- [Chuckling.]
Gotcha.
You don't know.
Well, next time you're in your forensic medicine class, you ask your instructor, all right? Then when you find out, you come back and tell me, because I don't know either.
[Class Bell Rings.]
Okay.
Friday night same time, same station.
- Get ready for the final exams.
- [Students Chattering.]
Excuse me, Lieutenant.
Yeah, Caz.
Would you please tell me why it's necessary to make me look bad in front of the class.
Well, I don't know.
I thought you were holding your own right up until the last minute.
- Yeah, but then you had to top me, right? - Well [Chuckles.]
When you were a kid, did you always top your old man? I don't know.
I didn't know my father.
Oh.
Hey, look, uh, when you graduate and you wanna go to the police academy, I want you to know this I'll be in back of you all the way.
Hey.
Hey, I got the grades.
I don't need anybody's help, you know? I mean, it doesn't take much to be a cop, Kojak.
Let's face it.
You got a pretty easy gig for 20 grand a year, right? Huh? Sure.
Look, if you ever get a hundred hours during the course of a week, why don't you come down to the station house and get a peek at your future "easy gig.
" Now you'd better go home and study your Crime Stoppers.
You are a really patient man, Theo.
[Affecting Southern Drawl.]
Hey, how come you talk so slow, with your really patient man, you kiss so fast? Oh, I don't always, do I? Mm-hmm.
You know somethin'? If your chief could read my Yankee thoughts, he'd pack you up to Mississippi early in the mornin'.
[Laughing.]
Oh, now, come on.
And nip my education in the bud? Hey, you.
Cops are not supposed to do things like this.
Go ahead.
And besides, with that lavender nightgown I saw you buy last week Uh-huh? You don't need an education.
You need protection.
[Laughing.]
And that's why I'm following you.
[Clicks Tongue.]
Thank you.
Uh-huh.
What's the matter? Oh, come on.
We got a college of criminal justice, and somebody rips off my hat.
I don't believe it.
Here.
Put out an alarm Midtown.
"Stetson Tyrol, model 7 B, size 71/4.
" [Laughing.]
I'm serious, Stavros.
Go ahead.
Any patrolman spots that hat, I want satisfaction.
I got a little discrepancy here, Lieutenant.
I have 121 pawn tickets marked "ring," but only 120 rings.
- Maybe it means nothin' - What do you mean, mean's nothin'? Stavros says he kept perfect records.
Now you get me a list of names of everybody who pawned a ring.
Go ahead.
Right.
[Rings.]
Hello.
This is Steiglitz, Lieutenant.
You better get over here right away.
We found your hat.
[Siren Wailing.]
[Siren Stops.]
[Chattering.]
What'd he take? Postal money orders good as cash.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, where is it? Right over here.
Wanna open up, please? All right.
We know the hat was stolen from you at college, but what about your pen? Look at this.
I made my attendance check the night of the pawnshop killing in pen.
But by the end of the class, I made these notes here in pencil.
So I must have left the pen on my desk, and somebody must have picked it up after the coffee break.
Lieutenant, I got the list from the college students, personnel, instructors.
We tried to match the names with the list of people that pawned rings.
Nothin'.
Take another angle.
Have Crocker get a photo of everybody in my class from the admissions office.
Check on their backgrounds.
- Find out what they were doing after class the night of the pawnshop killing.
- Yes, sir.
Think it was somebody in your class, Theo? Mm.
Did it ever occur to you, Frank, that a class in police science is also a great education for a crook? Yeah, but your hat? Your pen? A student has got it in for you somehow that's one thing.
But a student who commits murder? I don't like it.
You don't like it.
I hate it.
You know, I got a lot of bright students in my class.
They keep me on my toes.
I have fun with them.
Well, the fun just went out of it.
Okay, considering this scenario business.
Let us consider a series of crimes, a series of burglaries with a murder in one of them.
And I wanna have one good reason why a really good burglar would take the time and the effort to leave a series of clues behind in a series of crimes.
- Jonas.
- Maybe he's afraid to leave real clues.
Maybe he's foggin' his trail.
Okay.
How about the killing? Unpremeditated.
Why would anyone leave a series of false clues behind at the scene of a murder? - Caz? - Sounds like, uh, a frame.
Well, in this case, nonapplicable.
Nonapplicable.
Whatever.
How about a signature? I don't follow.
Well, the killer wanting to make himselfknown to another party.
Does that make any sense to you? - Without any real proof? - Without any real proof so far.
Yeah.
Yeah, maybe it's a signature.
- Why would he leave a signature? - There was that guy who used to write, "Stop me before I kill.
" He could be full of guilt and want to get caught.
Mm-hmm.
Or be proud of your work and know you'll never get caught.
[Class Bell Rings.]
Okay.
That's it.
Somebody got you runnin' in circles, Lieutenant? Why? Do you, uh you wanna straighten me out? Me straighten out the teacher? I couldn't do that, could I? That wouldn't be right, not right at all.
[Stavros.]
Jonas Wilkins, age 22.
He lives uptown, 136th Street, with his family.
He works in the daytime in a market.
He went back after class the night ofhe killing, unloaded groceries until 3.
00 a.
m.
Mm-hmm.
How about sonny boy here? Casimir Mayer, age 23.
Served in Vietnam.
Got discharged six months ago.
Made sergeant in two years.
His mother died three years ago.
His allotment checks went to his sister.
And he's on the G.
I.
Bill.
Oh.
His father was a cop.
For a while.
He busted a crap game 20 years ago.
They say he confiscated $4,800.
He never checked in again.
Never checked in with us.
Never checked in with his family.
Just disappeared.
Let's see, the kid had to be two or three years old.
[Phone Rings.]
Yeah.
Lieutenant? Mayer has a one-room apartment on Third Avenue.
I'm downstairs in a pizza joint.
The guy here says he recognized the picture.
He came in here a lot with a guy named Art Gordon.
Gordon worked here last year for a week till they found a case of beer missing.
Yeah, hold on just a minute.
Let me have the list of names of the pawn tickets the ones with the rings.
I checked it.
There's no Mayer.
There's no Wilkins on it.
How about Art Gordon? "Art Gordon.
" Oh, yeah.
Let's see, he pawned a ring, and there's a ring missin'? Maybe he just helped himself to it during the burglary.
All right, fatso, go check and see if he has a record.
Crocker, give me Art Gordon's address, and I'll meet you there.
- 3544 Third Avenue.
- Right.
[Murmuring.]
Caz.
It had to be him, huh? Caz.
[Tears Paper.]
Caz, huh? Why? Oh, I know you, Theo.
I know how you must come across in that class.
Maybe you're more than just a teacher to him.
Father maybe? He could be showing off for you.
Those burglaries started months before I began my class.
All right.
Then he was telling the force, "Look at me.
I'm smarter than cops in general.
" Okay, so now he's saying he's smarter than you specifically.
My own kid says it to me flat-out, right to my face.
They want you to fight back.
They seem to want that authority.
Want authority, huh? Well, if that's what they want, that's what he's gonna get in spades.
Eddie, can I have a beer a draft and, uh, heat up one of those little pizzas, okay? Sure.
Hey, a cop was just in here.
Said you had some relatives tryin' to track you down.
I told him I see you here all the time.
How could you be missing? - Oh, uh, what else did he ask about? - He wanted to know who you came in with.
- Did you mention my brother-in-law to him? You know, Art? - Art? Yeah.
I didn't know he was your brother-in-law.
[Coin Drops, Bell Dings.]
[Phone Ringing.]
You're a little stronger this time, Artie, but not strong enough.
[Groans.]
[Laughing.]
I'll get ya next time.
You keep saying that.
Artie, telephone for you.
Sure.
Give us another round.
[People Chattering.]
- Hello? - It's Caz.
Don't say my name, Art.
Is your car out back? Yes.
I'll meet you outside.
I don't understand.
Why these questions? We're looking for your husband, Mrs.
Gordon.
And failing that, what time do you expect him back? Oh, he works nights, late, making calls.
- For whom? - For a real estate company the Green Management.
- He He sells condominiums for them, up in Riverdale.
- I see.
Do you recognize him? Why am I being asked these questions? Why do I have to answer? The two of you together how come? He's my brother.
Oh? Well, he's a pretty confused kid, isn't he? Confused? How? He went to work when he was 15 in order to support my mother.
He's helped my husband pull the loose ends together.
He studies at night to be a cop.
I know.
I'm one of his instructors.
Kojak.
Lieutenant Kojak.
Oh, yes.
He talks about you.
He admires you.
You're one of the few he does admire.
Thank you.
Well, anyway, he's in a lot of trouble, Mrs.
Gordon.
And your husband too.
And the quicker we find them, the better.
I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
I'm I'm afraid I can't help you.
Come on.
Thank you, ma'am.
Thank you, Mrs.
Gordon.
Good night.
Good night.
[Chain Rattles.]
- Hey, there's a bottle in there.
- Hey, you pawned this.
- I remember.
- I took it back.
Who could tell? Here.
You wanna keep it? Don't lose it.
Diane gave that to me.
- It was awful.
- You are so stupid.
This could send you up for murder! Who knows? Oh, come on.
I didn't kill anybody, Caz.
I couldn't.
You know that.
You got the guts for that, not me.
If they talked to me, they'd know I couldn't kill.
I'd show 'em.
I was standing over by the safe I mean I wouldn't say anything.
I tell you what, Art.
Why don't we park down by the river? We could knock off this bottle together.
Teamwork.
That's a good idea.
Yeah.
[Siren Wailing.]
Hey, Lieutenant.
That guy in the river matches the description of the Art Gordon you want.
All right.
Notify the M.
E.
dd [Whistling.]
[Doorbell Buzzes.]
What is it? What's happened? Well, Mrs.
Gordon, Detective Crocker here tells me that your brother showed up five minutes ago.
You mind if we take a look around? Sure, Kojak.
Help yourself.
All right.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Mrs.
Gordon, your husband is dead.
[Hushed.]
No! - How? - How? Well, let's see.
He was drunk.
He fell or was persuaded into the river.
Oh, my God! All right, let's go.
Assume position number three.
Oh, come on.
[Scoffing.]
Oh, man.
What-What are you doing? I'm gonna take him down and question him for murder.
The lieutenant has it in for me, Sis.
Hey, look, I was in the movies at 42nd Street.
- A couple of kung fu quickies.
You want 'em scene by scene? - Lieutenant.
- This ring belong to your husband? - Yes, yes.
I thought he was wearing that.
L I don't know.
I could be wrong.
Here.
You get a statement from Mrs.
Gordon, and, uh, don't let her go to the morgue alone.
Look, whatever happened to Art, I'll make it come out for the best, okay? Yeah.
Okay? I'll see you later.
I love you, honey.
[Slap.]
Let's go.
Your brother-in-law got a call at the barjust before he left.
- At 10:15.
- What bar? We showed the pictures around.
We found the bar.
- I don't know anything about that.
- Where'd you go after class? The movies.
We've been over that, haven't we? - Where'd you eat? - A hot dog on 42nd Street, at Nathan's.
Nathan's was closed last night.
They got a strike.
Baloney, it was.
Come on, huh? [Knocking.]
Yeah? [People Chattering.]
Stay on top of him.
Sure.
I remember it now.
It's a pinky ring.
Not too popular.
Yeah.
I almost sold it last week.
Yeah? You know this man? That's the man we bought it from.
I remember he was drunk almost smashed the case.
Okay, thanks.
Take his statement.
Well, we got a perfect case against Gordon, except he's dead.
Oh, come on.
We're supposed to believe he's so chicken he drinks himself into the river, right? And he's so smart he leaves false clues for us? That's two people we're talkin' about, Frank.
I'm not gonna crack that kid, not without somethin' to go on which I haven't got.
I can't prove he stole my hat, my pencil.
I can't prove he stole anything.
It seems to me he's got just what he wants.
He's one up on teacher, and teacher knows it.
I'll tell you something, Frank.
It's gonna take a lot more than an apple a day to get to teacher.
I want five men tracing his whereabouts for the last six months.
I wanna find out what tools he's bought.
I wanna find out how much money he's spent.
I wanna get something on him.
And the next man who tails him loses his job if he blows it.
Frank, release him.
All right.
[Ringing.]
Hello? This is Mr.
Foster.
Was that your husband they found in the Oh, yes.
Yes, Mr.
Foster, that was my husband.
He gave me this number.
I was supposed to get him tickets to the Knicks the play-offs.
Look, l-I just wanted to call and say I'm sorry and to tell you that he had a lot of nice things to say about you.
I know he was a little high, but I never would have guessed that Uh, Mr.
Foster, when you were with him last night, you didn't happen to notice if he was wearing a ring? Oh, yeah.
Yeah, on his right hand, on his pinky.
We were arm-wrestling.
I remember.
That's funny.
There was a cop just here asking the same thing.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
- Caz.
- Hello? [Handset Clatters.]
Caz.
Caz.
[Hushed.]
Oh, my God.
[Door Opens.]
[Gasps.]
The police have got about as much respect for the dead as a grave robber.
They're tryin' to make a federal case out of absolutely nothin'.
[Scoffs.]
What sort of case? They think that Art was pullin' off some small jobs burglaries.
Look, it's not impossible, Diane.
I mean, uh, maybe he wasn't makin' it too big as a salesman.
Caz, you killed him.
I know.
I know because of the ring.
It's not the worst thing that happened in our lives, is it? [Gasping.]
We have always pulled through, haven't we? Diane, please.
Please, Diane.
[Crying.]
It is so far and away the worst thing that's ever happened in my entire life.
He would have killed himself sooner or later drinking or doing something desperate on his own.
He was not a strong man.
What kind of father would he have been for the kid? A gentle father.
Gentle? What is that? The man had no strength.
He had no authority.
He would have let that kid do anything.
The kid would grow up he'd be always broke.
Who knows what he'd end up doing or feeling inside? Oh, Caz.
Caz.
My God.
[Breath Quavers.]
L I want you to talk to the lieutenant.
No! What, you You think I'm crazy? This guy wants to fry me.
He is everything that I hate.
I just have a feeling that that he'd help you to see a doctor.
And I'll explain to them all the things you've done, all the things you've been.
You-You've done so many good things for me.
No! No, I'm warning you! [Gasps.]
Art would have talked, and then we both would have been caught.
Now, it's gotta be better this way for you.
For the kid.
[Crying.]
Oh, Caz.
[Exclaims.]
I never should have started with Kojak.
I don't know why I did that.
Did what? See, I think that lousy cop in our background, it haunts me sometimes.
Lousy cop, lousy father.
- [Crying.]
- He knows it's me.
I guess I wanted him to, but I didn't think it'd lead to Art.
I didn't think it'd lead anywhere.
- But he can't prove anything.
- Oh, Caz.
Caz, they have a witness.
A man in the bar saw the ring on Art, and you're the only one who could have brought it here.
I tried to get it back on his finger.
I couldn't get it on.
The police, they'll be here to get you any minute.
No.
No lousy cop is gonna keep comin' in and out of our lives, tearing things up not without paying for it.
No, sir! - Caz! - No.
[Door Closes.]
I can't.
[Crying.]
[Dialing.]
Say, uh [Clears Throat.]
You got a light, Officer? [Groans.]
Yes, Mrs.
Gordon, we just found out about the ring.
Yes, I've just given the order to have him picked up.
Thank you.
Theo, Mayer just slugged Saperstein and took his gun.
I want every cop in the city after him.
Go ahead.
[Rings.]
Yes? It's Caz Mayer, Kojak.
I just wanted you to know that I won't be taking my final exam tomorrow, and you won't be giving it either.
Where are you, Caz? I wanna talk to you.
Shut up and listen, Kojak, because I'm calling the shots now! And I wanna tell you that our final exam has already begun, and death is not a passing grade.
[Line Clicks.]
Hmm.
Well, I guess his sister wasn't kidding.
He's coming after me.
All right, you do a fast disappearing act.
We'll pick him up soon enough.
Frank.
Two people killed already.
I don't want him out there.
He's threatened to come after me, and he's put up a deadline.
That could work for us.
I don't want you playing target for some schizo killer.
No, no.
Now's the time to get him when he's hot and bothered.
Don't worry.
He'll trip up, and I'll see to it.
Okay, the plan is simple.
You take off, and then you send a cab back here in 10 minutes.
I'm gonna make it look like I'm slippin' over to Delta's apartment.
Right? He'll follow.
You pick him up.
And don't shoot if you don't have to.
I don't plan to.
All right.
dd [Humming.]
[Phone Rings.]
[Ringing Continues.]
Delta, who loves ya? Wait a minute.
I take that question back.
You're liable to say Harry Schwartz or CharlieJones or somethin'.
Uh-huh.
Well, honey This is Theo.
Theo? - I got a little "wet blanket" news for ya.
- Tell me.
Mm-hmm.
Well, sure, honey, I do.
L Mm-hmm.
All right, honey, but why can't I stay here? [Scraping.]
- If you're gonna pick him up downstairs - You can't stay there, young lady, because I say so.
- That's all there is to it.
- All right, hon.
I'll leave the key outside in the planter.
- And, Theo - I know.
Be careful.
Hey, look, you think I don't wanna make that Mardi Gras with you someday? Hmm? Oh, yeah.
[Laughing.]
[Handset Clatters.]
[Muffled Gasp.]
You're makin' it too easy.
I was gonna make you invite him over.
[Door Closes.]
Go back to my place where you picked me up and cruise around.
If anybody asks you where you took me, you tell 'em.
Right.
Don't make it easy.
Have 'em pay you for it.
Sure.
Sure thing, Lieutenant.
[Key Turning In Lock.]
[Trigger Clicks.]
[Trigger Clicks.]
- Lieutenant, you all right? - Crocker.
Untie her.
We'll get you to the hospital, Caz.
You never know.
Don't make me go out with a lie.
Okay.
Hey, look, uh I'll keep an eye on your sister for you.
I promise.
And that's the truth.