The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977) s01e13 Episode Script

Tonight, the Hardy boys in The Secret of the Jade Kwan Yin.
The Hong Kong police today announced they are continuing their crackdown on smuggling activities said to be into billions of dollars.
Contraband, consisting mainly of narcotics and precious stones as well as antiques is smuggled via planes and ships to ports all over the world where operators of the ring channel the stolen goods to their contacts.
These smuggling activities have taken on such international dimensions that concerned government officials, from the United States, Canada and parts of Europe are meeting in London this weekend to discuss a coordinated plan of action.
In Hong Kong, undercover agents are searching the harbor and the surrounding smaller islands for contraband and the men behind the operation.
In the United States, the FBI and various other government agencies are cooperating very closely with the Hong Kong police, since this country is probably the biggest receiver of the smuggled goods.
When questioned by newsmen about the scope of the operation, a police spokesman only said.
: "It's big, very big, but we're making headway.
" Gary Emmerson, IPS TV, in Hong Kong.
They've got the chest.
What're they doin' here? This cove is always secluded.
I wouldn't have chosen if- It doesn't matter now, does it? They're just a couple of kids.
We'll get that chest back.
No problem.
When Wang hears what's happened We'll have the statue back by then.
Where did this come from? The boat, over there.
What is it? I don't know.
It must've fallen off.
Or been thrown.
Let's get it to shore.
Would you mind telling me what this is all about? You said you found it in the ocean.
It was dropped into the ocean.
Oh, by who? That's a very interesting question.
What do you think is inside? That's what we're gonna find out.
Hi, Aunt Gertrude.
Did you get some nice shells? That's not all we got.
Now what does that mean? If you caught a cold, just know that I warned you.
Is Mr.
Hardy home? No, he's out on a missing person's case.
He'll be a missing person himself till the middle of the night.
Oh, good.
That'll give me time to finish transcribing his notes.
Oh, by the way, do you mind if I change in your room? Heaven sake's, child, you couldn't make as much mess as those two if you took two fire hoses with you.
Thanks a million.
Uh, speaking of those two, that thing they were carrying dripping on my carpet, what was it? We don't know yet.
There doesn't seem to be any metal in it.
Let's open it up.
Joe, do you remember the research we did for Dad on the, uh, Woolford case? Sure.
Almost all burlap is made of jute or hemp.
Yeah.
And this burlap is made of flax.
It's already noted and filed away for future reference, sir.
It won't be too hard to trace this, uh, burlap.
This does not look like the kinda box someone would throw overboard to get rid of.
Looks like teakwood, but I'll have to run some tests to be sure.
Let's look inside first.
Great.
For the man who has everything.
A nice big slab of concrete.
Yeah, that's just used to weigh it down.
I think you're right.
This box wouldn't have fallen off, it was shoved off.
Someone was trying to make sure this sank to the bottom, but why? Hey, look at this newspaper, looks like Japanese printing on it.
Or Chinese.
Hey, did you guys find out what's in that box? Look at that.
It's jade, isn't it? It's beautiful.
I wonder who it belongs to.
We each can own a third of this.
That's the law of salvage.
Yeah, there's another law that says you have to report any lost or stolen goods to the police.
Negative.
Whatever's found in the ocean, is finder's keepers.
Well, not quite.
Before you go out and order a Lear jet, maybe we'd better check for fingerprints.
Frank, there's some engraving on the bottom.
I- I can't make it out.
We got to make a rubbing.
Some sort of inscription.
I don't know what it means.
If you did, you've been taking some classes in school I don't know about.
It's beautiful but it's not one of a kind.
It's not unique.
Not unique? Well, that doesn't make any sense.
Why all this trouble for something that wasn't special? I don't know, but I'm sure I've seen it in a curio shop in Chinatown.
Well, maybe someone there can tell us what the inscription means.
Till then we'd better keep the statue under lock and key.
Callie, do you remember where that shop is? Not sure, but I know I could find it.
Good.
Take us to it.
A lovely statue.
How much is it? $14 plus tax, like the others here.
So much for the Lear jet.
Are there many of those statues manufactured? Oh, yes, we import them from Hong Kong.
Of course, there is only one original Jade Kwan Yin.
How much is that one worth? Many thousands of dollars.
But its actual worth is incalculable.
To our people, it's priceless.
Kwan Yin is a Chinese Buddhist deity.
Goddess of Mercy.
Mercy? Good.
This pair can use all they can get.
In the old days, she was thought to be the guardian of fishermen and there was a little Kwan Yin temple in every fishing village.
We think there might be a- a clue here to the age of the statue.
No, the inscription is a kind of poem.
"A branch without leaves A raven perched on it This autumn eve" What does it mean? Character poems mean something different to everyone who reads or hears them.
This one is well-known, written in the 12th century so your Kwan Yin couldn't be much older than that.
Well, of course, I'm no authority, but it looked very old to me.
Wait a minute.
"A branch without leaves" "A raven perched on it" That's it.
Well, that's what? Now I know why it sounds so familiar.
I have an uncle who lives here.
This is his favorite poem.
This Kwan Yin No, it couldn't be.
What is it? It's so close to the original.
Who could tell the real Jade Kwan Yin from a copy? My uncle.
He's an expert on Chinese art, particularly the Jade Kwan Yin.
Look, do you think your uncle would see us? I'll take you to him.
Oh, Callie, call Aunt Gertrude on the CB.
See if you can find out where Dad is.
He likes us to keep him informed on what we're up to.
I'd like to get his input on this.
It's just a short walk.
You know, my uncle has a special interest in the Kwan Yin.
Have you ever heard of wushu? Wu who? The correct term for it is wushu.
People call it kung fu.
Is he your uncle? No.
He's a rank amateur compared to my uncle.
That is Uncle Chen.
He was champion of Taiwan when he retired.
Now he teaches wushu.
Very happy to see you, dear niece.
I am honored to be in your presence.
These are two boys who wish to speak to you.
Frank and Joe Hardy.
Welcome.
They found a Kwan Yin in the ocean with the autumn eve inscription.
Has the one you are expecting arrived yet? My uncle wants to talk to you alone.
Goodbye.
Lily- Come.
We shall have tea.
Thank you very much.
How did you know to see me about the stolen Kwan Yin? Lily.
We didn't know that it was stolen.
I am to believe you were looking for shell fish and, uh, find a waterproof box with a Kwan Yin in it, which my people have paid many thousands of dollars for.
Thousands? And you have never heard of Chang Kyo.
Chang who? This morning I received a call from him demanding ransom for the Kwan Yin.
Look, I-I'm afraid we don't understand.
Chang Kyo brought back the evil days of olden times in Chinese-American communities.
What does that have to do with the Kwan Yin we found? Chang Kyo must have known I was having the Kwan Yin sent to me here from Taiwan.
It arrived yesterday in Boston.
And the Kwan Yin was missing.
Stolen by someone on the ship.
Someone who worked for Chang Kyo.
If he was trying to put the squeeze on you, why didn't he, why didn't he tear this place down? He wants more than that.
He also wishes to humiliate me.
The Kwan Yin you have found, bring it to me.
If it is authentic if it is indeed the stolen Kwan Yin then the ransom demand I have received is purely a bluff.
If it is the Kwan Yin, we will contact the police and tell them that you've brought it to its rightful owner.
It is to be placed in the parade that will be held tomorrow night.
We'll bring it to you, Mr.
Chen.
We'll be back in about an hour.
It's safe with us.
It has to be here.
We've looked everywhere else.
The Kwan Yin! Hey! Joe, are you all right? If you'll get off of me, I'll be fine.
They got a big head start.
We'll catch 'em.
Those guys don't give up, do they? Get out of the way! Get out of the way.
Come on, move it.
Nice try.
Now what are we gonna tell Mr.
Chen? The truth.
Let's get back to the house and see if we can pick up some prints.
They got the Kwan Yin.
They sure know their business.
They didn't even bother to pick the lock.
Well, I'll check it for fingerprints.
See if you can find anything else.
Hi, Gert.
Hi.
I thought I'd come home early.
What's for dinner? Leftovers, from the dinner you didn't come home to last night.
One of these days I'll get a nice cushy 9 to 5 job.
till 5:00 the next morning? Why, it was neat as a pin when I left.
Were the boys here? No.
Close the door and wait here.
All right, what's going on here? Dad, we found a Kwan Yin.
It belongs to Chen Lee, he teaches wushu.
Have you ever heard of Chang Kyu? It's Kyo, not Kyu.
Well, he sent out two hatchet men.
And they got the Kwan Yin.
It's the old Chinese squeeze.
Wait a minute, let's take this one step at a time.
Someone broke in and took something? Is that right? Yeah, the Kwan Yin.
You see, we went snorkeling after school to help Callie- We'll get back to that in a minute.
Now when did who break in? And for what? For the Kwan Yin.
About half an hour ago.
Half an hour? Then the police should have been here in 10 minutes.
Oh.
You didn't call the police.
You see, we were so busy collecting fingerprints- Fingerprints! That's their job.
Sorry, Dad.
We should have called the police.
Now, what is a Kwan Yin? We blew it, you know that? I mean, we really blew it.
Frank, don't be so hard on yourself.
We should've called the police as soon as we found the chest.
Obviously it wasn't just dumped overboard.
Somebody had to have thrown it.
We find a chest with a valuable art object, and we have to go follow it up ourselves.
That's what detectives are supposed to do.
It isn't even our case.
Oh.
Thanks to us, we've lost the Kwan Yin.
Second time.
And Mr.
Chen will probably receive a pretty hefty ransom demand.
I just can't help feeling responsible, Joe.
So we'll take that responsibility and we'll do something about it.
Frank, I don't understand why you're getting worked up.
I'm usually the one who gets all worked up.
Usually, you're so cool and objective.
Yeah, I'm the level-headed one.
Well, you are the- Oldest.
You said it, I didn't.
Where you lead, I'll follow.
That's a pretty dangerous precedent to get into.
I'll take the risk.
You know, Frank, we never really found out if that was the real Jade Kwan Yin we found.
I mean, we didn't have an expert examine it or anything.
Well, I can't believe they'd go to all that trouble for a $14 statue.
I mean, the drop-off and the secret pick-up and all that.
So who's behind it? Well, Mr.
Chen mentioned Ah, what's his name? Ch-Chang Kyu? Kyo.
Wonderful cookies.
Didn't understand a word he said, but wonderful cookies.
Why would Mr.
Chen not tell Lily about the fact that he was expecting the real Kwan Yin? Well, he mentioned a parade.
He said, uh, the Kwan Yin would be featured in it.
Maybe he wanted to use it as a gift for his people.
Breaker, breaker, this is Callieko.
Come in.
Breaker, breaker, this is Callieko.
Come in I'll get it.
Come in, Callieko.
Frank, I've been doing some checking with the port authorities.
They don't know anything about the Jade.
But there've been some stolen goods coming into this country off the coast from Hong Kong.
Art objects and diamonds.
The Jade Kwan Yin may be part of a large traffic of stolen goods.
It's a good thing you picked it up.
We just lost it.
What? How? Stolen probably by the same guys who were supposed to pick it up in the first place.
Well, now what are we going to do? That's a good question, Callie.
We'll get back to you tomorrow.
We've got to get that Kwan Yin back.
Well, why don't we give the police a call tomorrow morning? I think they should know about this.
As you know, Fenton we welcome the help of private investigators.
But when they're unlicensed, uninformed and underage, we discourage it.
You should've called us the minute you entered the house.
Now just a minute, Chief- Oh, you think I'm being a little, uh, rough on them? We didn't lose any fingerprints and we didn't disturb any evidence.
Not calling us right away wasn't the worst mistake you made.
Well, then what was? When did you find out that the Jade was stolen off a ship? In the afternoon, Mr.
Chen told us.
We found out yesterday morning from our own sources.
Teletype from the Boston Customs office.
"Valuable emerald-green jade statuette "stolen from S.
S.
Taipei "which docked here 0635 today.
"Imported by Bayport resident Chen Lee.
"Suspect ransom demand will be made.
FBl will cooperate.
" While I was working out a plan with the FBl the Hardy boys land and blow up all the bridges.
Now they had no way of knowing the statuette was stolen.
If you'd have called us when you fished it out then Chen Lee would have had his precious Kwan Yin.
And I'd have no problems.
Sorry, I guess we should've called.
I know, we'll get it back for you.
No! We'll get it back.
The Bayport Police.
And that's why I asked you to come in here.
To make that perfectly clear.
It's our job, not yours.
Now you understand? Yes, sir.
Well, don't feel too badly, boys.
I'm sure the police will find the Jade Kwan Yin.
Are you both going home now? I think we should go talk to Lily and explain to her ourselves what happened.
Okay, I understand.
See you later.
Okay.
What do you feel about this? I feel we let down Mr.
Chen.
And Lily.
Well, the one lead we've got left is the boat, if we can find it.
Collig told us to stay out of it.
After we've found the Kwan Yin, then we'll stay out of it.
Okay.
If you want information about a boat, where would you go? The harbor.
You've got it.
Let's talk to Lily first.
I think she can help us.
Okay.
Has my uncle ever told you the history of this Kwan Yin? No.
About 200 years ago a little fishing village in China was destroyed by a tidal wave.
Miraculously the people survived and they gave credit to Kwan Yin for the miracle.
They left the mainland and settled in Taiwan, then they built a temple to Kwan Yin.
The statuette you found has been in that temple ever since.
Well, I can see why your uncle prizes it so highly.
Not just my uncle.
Most of us who came here to Bayport are descendants of that small group of survivors.
It was my uncle's dream to purchase the Kwan Yin and bring it here.
Everyone contributed, even the poor, for it will mean joy and prosperity to us all.
If it doesn't arrive in time for the festival- Then your uncle will lose face.
I just know we'll never see it again.
It'll be lost forever.
We'll try to get the Kwan Yin back for you, Lily.
Before tomorrow night.
Don't worry.
We'll find it.
Thank you.
I'll get it.
Hello.
Did you get it? We got it but those Hardy boys nearly caught us.
They don't give up easily.
If they find the boat, they'll find my fingerprints on it.
I don't want any evidence of any kind left there.
What do you want me to do? Destroy the boat.
And the Hardy boys? We may have to deal with them, too.
Will Chen deal for the new price? He'll deal.
But you could tell us if a boat like that was out yesterday morning.
Couldn't you? I could if I check my files, but it's 7:00.
Do you always work by the clock? If I didn't, I'll be up against an avalanche.
Do you see this desk? Everything on it has its place.
Organization.
If you kids will come back tomorrow morning, I'll be glad to find your boat for you, okay? Right.
Mr.
Haverman, this is very important.
That boat may have been used to smuggle contraband into the country.
Contraband? On one of my boats? That's right.
We've been working with the police and the Port Authority.
I guess we'll have to tell them Mr.
Haverman is busy- Oh, you said it was yesterday morning? No, it wasn't one of our boats.
Are you sure of that? I'm positive.
There was, um There was a private boat though, yesterday.
What was the name of it? It was the Breakwater.
Great.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Is that the boat? That has to be the one.
Yeah, looks about the same size.
There's one way to find out.
Aye, aye, Captain.
Now wait a minute.
You two be careful.
You don't have to worry.
We're old salts.
So was the captain of the Titanic.
Shh, listen.
Listen.
I'll check the radio for prints.
See if you can find the Kwan Yin.
I got one, Frank.
Good.
Joe, I hear ticking.
I don't see any clocks.
Sure it's not your teeth? Joe, we got to get out of here.
It's a bomb.
Bomb! Joe! Joe! You had me worried! I had me worried, too.
You scared me half to death.
What happened? I was about to call the police.
No! No! The Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard.
Boat? I thought you'd have heard the explosion from here.
The Hardy boys found it.
Were they on- I'm not sure.
We didn't think they'd locate the boat so quickly.
They may have escaped.
Oh, we still have time to deal with them.
Hello.
I have the Kwan Yin.
Who is this? The price now is $100,000.
That is too high.
It can go higher.
It'll take me a little time to, uh, to raise the extra money.
You have until tomorrow night.
Who is this? You should have listened to my speech and manners more often, old man.
Joe, this print matches the one we found in here tonight.
Still busy.
Who could Lily be talking to at this hour? Come here.
Is this the print we found on the ship-to-shore radio? Whoever was on the boat was in here tonight.
Chang Kyo's hatchet men sure get around.
What was that about hatchet men? Match-it-men.
Uh, men who match fingerprints.
Yeah, it's actually quite simple.
There are four types of fingerprints.
Arches, loops, whorls, and composites.
Now with arches, the ridges run from side to side.
Now don't start throwing up a smoke screen.
Your father told me to call him immediately if you two got into trouble.
We're not in trouble, Aunt Gertrude.
Then what are you doing here at 2:00 in the morning? Dad wants us to develop some expertise as match-it-men.
It's very important you know.
Getting 8 hours sleep is more important.
Well, not everyone needs The latest research indicates- Excuse me, Joe, while I put a call in to your father.
Oh, goodnight, Aunt Gertrude.
Goodnight.
Goodnight, boys.
Are you sure the Kwan Yin wasn't on the boat? Yes, we looked everywhere.
Well, then why do you suppose they blew up the boat? Well, we have two theories.
One: they know we saw it when they made the drop and may be able to identify it.
And what's your second theory? That they wanted to blow us up.
Good afternoon, dear niece.
And deepest apologies to you.
My fault you had a narrow escape.
No, Mr.
Chen.
Lily wanted our father to help and we volunteered.
I thank you for that.
But we'll make no further request for help.
We want to do anything we can.
Nothing more to be done.
Our Kwan Yin will be delivered tonight.
I have decided to pay the ransom.
Thank you again.
Good afternoon.
Seems to me your uncle is sticking his head in the tiger's mouth.
I think she is right.
Let's go talk to Mr.
Chen.
Mr.
Chen? Mr.
Chen? Anybody here? Mr.
Chen? He's not here.
Hope he didn't go pay the ransom.
Joe, Lily said Chang Kyo had many friends.
If one of them worked out of here That would explain a lot.
Let's check it out.
Good match-it-men are always prepared.
You brought your fingerprint kit.
Joe, I got one.
Hey, matches the one from the boat's radio.
Great.
That narrows it down.
Beside you, look out! Hey, fella, that's a great mask.
Hi.
Joe, the back room! Look out, Frank.
Hurt his- Boy, are we glad to see you.
I'm not so sure.
Have you seen Frank or Joe? No.
Well, I called their home.
They haven't been there since we left.
I think we gave them the slip.
Well, that's fair.
They gave me heart failure.
You realize those are Kyo's men.
Spies right under Mr.
Chen's nose.
Yeah, let's find Mr.
Chen.
Frank, isn't that Wang? Yeah.
You want to bet on what he has in that black bag? I'll bet the last thing he plans is to make a fair exchange with Mr.
Chen.
Ransom or no ransom.
Old man.
Wang? It is you who has the Kwan Yin.
Yes, old man.
But you are my most trusted student.
Chao.
Chu.
All of you betrayed me.
It is merely business.
All right.
It is enough I have the Kwan Yin.
Take the money.
Run, Mr.
Chen! Frank! Joe! I hope the Kwan Yin is here in time.
Don't worry, Lily, it will be.
We lost them.
Oh, no, we didn't.
Where are the Hardy boys? But we haven't seen them.
But they have the Kwan Yin.
You cut him off from the other side.
Jewels! Look at them.
They must be worth a fortune! This is what they were after.
That's right.
I've taken a great deal of trouble to get it into this country.
This isn't the real Kwan Yin.
Of course not.
So you were the fence the gems were going to.
Unfortunately, some of my colleagues, uh, decided to go into business for themselves.
We can negotiate.
I'm afraid not.
How much do you think this stuff is worth? Right around $2 million.
And the real Kwan Yin? Resides in Hong Kong, where it has for centuries.
We were taken in all along.
Listen, you've managed to break up a smuggling ring that's been operating for 5 years.
I wouldn't call that being taken in.
The Hong Kong police will be very grateful for everything you boys have done.
I had no idea of my uncle's activities.
You must believe that.
We do.
It seems that Interpol has been watching them for quite some time.
He is one of the principal fences here on the East Coast, dealing with art objects and gems smuggled out of Hong Kong.
And this latest shipment of gems was the richest one yet.
Of course, Chen didn't realize that some of his own gang members would turn greedy.
Wang stole the statue from aboard the boat with the intention of selling it to his boss.
He dropped it overboard at the place where it'd be picked up by our two Chinese friends.
Except we were in the wrong place at the right time.
Once again.
What's gonna happen now? We'll do anything we can to help you, Lily.
I was just wondering What were you wondering? Who is Chang Kyo, anyway? I believe it's a kind of Chinese breakfast cereal.