Nash Bridges s02e12 Episode Script
25 Hours of Christmas
BRIDGES: Last week it was chili on the back seat, and tonight, I got some sort of, uh, sticky chocolate here on the console.
Simple rule, really.
No food in the 'Cuda.
Now, what can't you understand about that? It's a candy bar, man.
It's not food.
That would be food.
Yeah.
There's no nutritional value whatsoever in a candy bar.
Oh, no, no, no, candy bar is food.
Merry Christmas.
Ho, ho, ho.
What did Santa leave under the tree for us? Two bodies.
John Strauss, Lombard's President and CEO.
He seems to have busted up a robbery in progress.
The security guard ID'd him.
What about the second body? One of the robbers.
We've got two kinds of shell casings here.
.
357 and a nine millimeter, so I assume there was a shoot-out.
(sniffing) This gun has not been fired.
The shooter must've got away.
Check the lividity.
Time of death had to be around 11:00 p.
m.
Not that long ago.
BRIDGES: You mentioned a security guard? Yeah.
He's right over here.
Karl.
Karl, I'm Inspector Bridges.
You found these bodies? Yeah.
I was patrolling Electronics and I heard some gunfire and then I came down, I saw the bodies and I called 911.
Then what? Well, the police got here really fast, man.
It was like, three minutes.
Yeah.
And this building has a central alarm system? Yeah, all the doors and, uh, windows are wired.
Uh, except for the back door.
That's how we get in and out.
Did Dispatch get a signal? No, only the What? We get to a murder scene in under 20 minutes.
This guard rushes right straight to the bodies.
No doors are violated, and the other guard is at the front door.
So, you think it wasn't a robbery in progress? I think it is a robbery in progress.
Ladies and gentleman, I'm gonna suggest that Elvis is still in the building.
Let's go bad-guy shopping.
(elevator bell dings) You think Inger might like something like that for Christmas? (stifled chuckle) I think you might something like that on Inger for Christmas.
I'll get her something in Housewares.
Let's look in Fragrances first.
Joe! (automatic gun firing) We got action on the third floor.
Roger that.
Where the hell is backup? Let's go, Joe! (gunfire) (grunts) Freeze, right there! Don't move! (glass shattering) (groans) You got him, Joe? Yeah, I got him.
Man, I heard department stores were murder this time of year, but this is not what I had in mind.
Yeah, it's beginning (alarm ringing) to look a lot like Christmas around here, bubba.
Only without the goodwill towards men part.
(woman singing over bluesy organ riff) Yes, sir, I've got it.
Okay, folks, that was the mayor himself.
It seems that our dead CEO downstairs, Mr.
Strauss, is a personal friend of the mayor's and a very large contributor to his campaign.
So the heat's on.
He has personally authorized double time holiday pay.
Meaning no Christmas, right? Depends on how good we are.
Harv, I definitely hit our missing bad guy, so he's gonna be looking for medical assistance.
I'll call the ER's.
Any ID on any of the bodies? No, nothing.
Uh, I'm gonna suggest that these were not first-timers.
So get fingerprints on these guys.
CARSON: You got it.
Hey, Nash.
Our dead bad guys? Records show they're brothers.
Last name Neff, same address, virtually the same rap sheets.
So, they had a real family business, huh? "Had" being the operative word here.
Get over there and see what you can find at their place.
You look nice.
What are you dressed up for? Uh, Christmas Eve dinner with my family.
With the full-court press on this case, I didn't think I was gonna have time to go home and change tonight.
Yeah.
So, Nash? Yeah? Any chance I'll be out by 8:00? (laughs) Depends on how good you are, sister.
Mm-hmm.
I'll see what I can do.
Thanks.
So, uh, you're gonna be around here for a little while, right? Yeah, I'm gonna be here.
Where the hell would I go? No, just asking.
Hi.
Hi.
Well, I think I just set a record.
In and out of Union Square in an hour.
That's awesome.
Did you get it? I got it.
It's beautiful, Nash.
Nick is gonna love it.
Oh, man.
It is beautiful.
Look at that.
Yeah.
Oh, he's gonna love that, you're right.
Yeah.
Thanks for getting it for me.
Sure.
Um, would you like some, um, cider? I would love some.
SIU cider.
It'll be safe there, huh? I hope so.
It is a police station.
Hey, Frank, what's Santa in here for? He's a three-card monte dealer.
He was scamming shoppers.
So what? Who the hell cares? Everyone's trying to rip off everyone.
That's the whole point of the holiday.
There's a song there somewhere.
Avert your eyes, Mr.
Leek.
Did I see something? If you have to know, I'm borrowing the 'Cuda.
I'm getting it detailed as sort of a, you know, gift to Nash.
Well, hold on a second.
Did we all agree not to give gifts this year? It's What's that? You got Nash a gift? Will you guys shut up.
Look, it's not a gift.
This detailing guy owes me, man.
I, uh, busted some crack dealers who were dealing next to him, and he said he'd do it for like 35 bucks, you know.
Besides, last week I spilled some chili fries in the back, so don't tell Nash.
It's a surprise, okay? 'Kay.
MAN: Anybody making the coffee? So you have plans with Cassidy and Nick later? Um, well, I don't get Cassidy until tomorrow morning, so, uh, I'll probably just spend the evening with Nick, opening gifts and, um, you know, hanging out.
That sort of thing? What about you, what're you doing? Oh, I'm going over to my mom's in Berkeley, see her and my two uncles and their kids.
She has a really nice Christmas dinner.
Well, that sounds, um Boring.
(laughing): No.
Sounds traditional.
You don't have, uh, anyone else that's special in your life right now? No, not right now, no.
Thank you for the gift, Nash.
Nick gave it to me this morning.
You didn't have to do that.
I know it.
But, hell, you're the, you're the first nurse that Nick hasn't tried to sabotage.
(laughing) You've been terrific.
Well, I adore Nick.
He adores you.
All right, man, here's the keys.
Treat this car like your life depends on it, because you know what? It does.
Yeah, yeah.
You know me, man.
I'll take care of you.
You're mi hermano, man.
Well, call me the second it's done, okay? I'll get it to you by the end of the day.
No, not the end of the day, man! He doesn't know the car's gone.
I gotta have it like now.
Okay, okay, I'll get it to you by noon.
Relax, homey.
(mumbling): Oh, relax? All right, don't forget.
Yeah, I'll hold.
If I hear "Jingle Bell Rock" one more time.
Uh, Kerry, how you doing? It's Evan.
Listen, uh, dinner is at 8:00.
Uh, things are kind of busy here, so I'm hoping that I don't get tied up, but, uh, I'm really looking forward to seeing you tonight.
Nothing? Okay, if anybody comes in with a bullet in the shoulder, you'll call me, right? Why don't you give me a call here at the office if you can.
Uh, talk to you soon.
Bye.
Thanks, Evelyn.
Yeah, Merry Christmas to you, too.
Harv, wait till you see this girl.
Unbelievable.
She's smart, she's beautiful, she's, uh, ex-ex-sorority president, grad student.
(laughs) How did you meet her? Remember that class I was telling you about? The, uh, Intellectual History of Europe? Oh, now this is making sense.
Listen, you don't think that, uh, we're gonna be here all night, do you? I hope not.
Bonnie's coming by to pick me up.
We're going somewhere.
Really? Well, that's nice, Harv.
So things are like on the mend, huh? I think so.
Tonight's breakthrough time.
Bonnie's a sucker for Christmas.
It's a sentimental holiday for us.
We met on Christmas Eve, you know.
(groans) Good luck.
Oh, what am I gonna do when you go away to college? Uh-oh, corniness alert.
It's Christmas Eve.
I can be as corny as I want.
It's in the mother's handbook.
Yeah.
Look.
Perfect.
Hey, why don't you get Nick to help you? Okay.
Hey, Grandpa.
You okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm looking over these gifts your father gave me.
The cards slipped off in the bag, and I can't remember which is which.
Hmm.
Well, I think I can tell from the wrapping that this one's for me.
Daddy gets me a decoration every year.
So that means that this one must be for mom.
Want to come help us? Yeah.
Hey, Mom.
Dad got you a gift.
Looks like a book.
Man, Christmas cookies are brutal.
So what'd you get Whitney? A book.
Oh, yeah.
What kind? A book of poetry.
Pablo Neruda.
Pablo Neruda, huh? So you're making the moves on her, huh? What? "What?" What? Oh, man, come on, Pablo Neruda is my people, man.
"Veinte peomas de amor Mmm.
y una cancion desperada.
" Mm-hmm, that's exactly why I didn't tell you about this in the first place, 'cause I knew you'd go to the gamey side of it.
I'm the gamey one? Hey, man, I'm not the guy who's giving a racy book of love poems to my father's nurse.
Get out.
Nash.
Yeah.
I think I just scored here.
I was over at the Neff brother's apartment, and there was this old Pontiac blocking the driveway, so I ran it.
It seems it's registered to a Jackson Moore, who's done time for armed robbery.
Beautiful.
You think he's the third guy? I'm on it.
Let me know.
(sighs) Nashman, I need some inspiration, man.
I still haven't figured out what to get Inger.
Joe, I'm working here.
Maybe I can get her something for the new baby? Does that count? Yes, it counts.
It counts against you.
Hmm.
What are you gonna get Lisa? A pair of heirloom pearl earrings.
They were my mom's.
I found them when I was going through Nick's stuff.
She always loved them and I figured, uh, some day she can pass them on to Cassidy.
Oh.
I wish I had as good a relationship with my wife as you have with your ex-wife.
(chuckling): Divorce her.
Five to 12:00.
I gotta get going.
What? Uh, nowhere.
I just gotta take care of-- I'll be right back.
Hey, Nash, listen to this.
I just talked to San Francisco General, and they treated a guy with a gunshot wound to the shoulder at around 5:00 a.
m.
By all accounts, it should be Jackson Moore.
Why the hell didn't they call us? Some first-year resident there, he didn't get the police bulletin, so they cut him loose.
Why not? It's Christmas.
Well, listen to this.
It seems that Mr.
Moore wanted to fill a prescription for painkillers, so he went to the hospital pharmacy there, and he paid with his girlfriend's credit card.
So, we got her address.
I love that.
Swing by her place and go down the chimney if you have to.
Got it.
That's a beautiful car, man.
Yeah, it is.
Um, you got change for a 50? Yeah.
Is that an authentic If it is, man, it's worth some serious bucks.
Yeah.
I've got a 20 if you give me five.
Oh, okay.
Yeah, that's a beautiful car, man.
Uh, tell you what.
Um, give me, uh, another ten.
You give me your five (engine starting) (tires screeching) Hey.
FREDDIE: Hey, hey! Hey, stop, police.
Hey, hey.
Hey, hey! FREDDIE: Oh, man.
He works for you, right? No, man.
(indistinct chatter, phones ringing) What's going on? Meet the sorority hookers.
CARSON: Do you know which one the blackmailer is? LEEK: No.
I got to try to put this back together.
I had them transferred down here so I could lean on them and hopefully get some answers.
Good luck.
Right this way, ladies.
Joe.
What? I'd like you to meet Mr.
Jackson Moore.
I'm gonna put him in interrogation room one.
All right, uh I'll catch up in a little while.
Okay.
(clears throat) Any news? About what? About what? About the 'Cuda, Nash's missing car, man.
You said you'd keep in touch.
Dominquez, it's Christmas.
A lot's going on here.
Finding a missing car isn't high on my list of priorities.
Maybe you don't understand me.
If the baby Jesus himself were missing, you'd still put every available unit on finding that missing car.
Do I make myself clear? Joe, you're just the man I want to see.
I'm gonna go interview this guy, um, Jackson Moore.
I like Christmas.
I like the spirit of brotherhood.
(sighs) I like Midnight Mass.
I like those little chocolate Santas that come in the little foil wrappers.
Now, every other day of the year, I can tolerate bald-faced liars.
(chuckles) I accept that we all play a role on the great stage of life.
You're a criminal, I'm a cop.
I get it.
But today, I could be home, trimming the tree, wrapping some gifts, spending some time with my daughter.
Why don't you cut the crap and just tell me the truth.
My gun went off when I was cleaning it.
Here's a copy of the phone records.
JL5-0312.
Damn.
Your girlfriend calls that number a lot.
You think she's got another boyfriend? No, I got it.
That's your number.
Evan, get a search warrant.
Let's see what Jackson left under his tree.
Will do.
DESK SERGEANT: Hey, Joe.
You found the car.
No, wait, we do not have it.
What we know is that it was used as the getaway car in an armed bank robbery down on Powell.
What?! Mm-hmm.
There was a high-speed chase.
Bullets were fired.
Bottom line is bank robbers got away.
Oh, God, this isn't Christmastime.
It's the end of the world.
(sighs) Keep me informed.
(groans) LEEK: Nash, your dad, line two.
Hey, Nick.
I got a question.
Did you give Lisa a book for Christmas, son? Uh-oh.
What happened, Nick? The cards fell off the gifts.
I gave Whitney a lavender box.
Nick, the lavender box was supposed to go to Lisa.
Lisa got the silver package.
I'm sorry, son.
Uh, uh Look, it's all right, Nick.
Let me talk to Lisa.
Lisa Nash would like to speak to you.
Hey, merry Christmas.
You know, you didn't need to get me anything.
Uh, uh, well, well, look Lisa, you haven't opened it yet, have you? No oh, Nash, you should see this tree.
Cassidy did a beautiful job.
Well, now listen, here here's the thing.
(beeping) Oh, I got to go; that's my other line.
I-I'm juggling two catering jobs.
Merry Christmas.
No, no, no, no.
Lisa, wait a minute.
(dial tone droning) Thanks.
Where you going? I got to go to Lisa's.
Nick made a mistake and switched Lisa's gift with Whitney's gift, and it's a nightmare.
I got to get over there and before she opens them.
Where the hell are my keys? Oh, you want a ride? I'll give you a ride.
I got my car outside.
(sighs) What's going on, Joe? All right, you want, uh want the truth? That'd be nice.
(sighs) I borrowed your car 'cause I was getting it detailed, you know.
I wanted it to be a surprise.
(laughing) Well, that's very sweet.
Yeah, well, it's supposed to be done by noon.
Well, it's after 12:00.
Come on, let's go.
Well, it's (clears throat) not done yet.
Why? Um All right, you want the whole truth? I don't know.
Um I was gonna get n-n-new t-tires for it.
Tires? Yeah.
Four new tires.
Why are you doing this? Hey, man, you're my best friend.
It's Christmas, come on.
(chuckling) Yeah.
Well, that's good.
Yeah.
(doorbell chiming) Hi, sweetheart, merry Christmas.
Hi.
Is your mom around? Yeah, she's in the living room.
Oh, good.
Cassidy, could I use your phone? Sure.
Oh, thank you.
(groaning) No, you opened it.
Oh, Nash, what a beautiful gift.
I I-I couldn't wait, I Nash, this this is so, uh, unexpected.
I I'm I'm not quite sure how to respond.
Um, Lisa No, wait, wait.
I'll always have feelings for you, Nash, in-including romantic feelings.
I know that's never going to change.
I often wonder what if? But-but Christmas is a deceptive time.
It-it stirs up all these nostalgic memories.
Mm-hmm yeah.
Um I feel that Christmas alters our perceptions, so why don't we put these feelings on hold till after the holidays, and then see how we feel? That's good.
After the holidays.
You never fail to surprise me, Nash.
That's one of the things I love about you.
(chuckling) After Christmas.
Yeah, it's, uh, Dominquez.
Uh, any word on the car? MAN: Yee-haw! (engine roaring) Okay.
Let me know.
Yeah.
(tires squealing) (laughing, whooping) What's that? Our just rewards, my friend.
This satchel is full of jewelry that was stolen from the department store, and I found it at Mr.
Jackson Moore's house.
Excellent.
We may get out of here yet.
Listen, did, uh, Kerry call by any chance? No, no calls.
Damn, well, she said to page her in case of an emergency, and I'd say that, you know, not hearing from her on Christmas Eve, that's an emergency.
A crisis of the heart anyway.
You'd better page her, man.
Exactly.
So, where are you going with that stuff? I'm taking all this stuff to Property.
Looks like our college hookers are gonna be spending the holiday with us.
Well, good, good, good.
(pager beeping) (sighs) All right, Joe, where're you going in such a hurry? Uh, I got to use the phone.
What's going on, Joe? DESK SERGEANT: Inspector Bridges, can I talk with you? It's good news.
We found the bank robbers.
What bank robbers? The ones who made off with your car.
The 'Cuda? Yeah.
We tracked them down to a warehouse in the Mission.
Uh, they promised to lead us to your car.
Unfortunately, shots were fired, so we really don't know what condition the car is in, but my fingers are crossed.
Yeah, well, keep them crossed.
Shots fired, huh? On a car.
ANGEL: Nash! Angel? What? You surprised to see me? It is Christmas.
Let me see the incident report.
He was standing on a ledge, trying to kill himself.
Kill myself? Absolutely not.
It's Christmas.
My adrenaline was pumping.
I was about to fly.
About to fly? That's correct.
You know, people get all depressed over their own problems.
They forget what this holiday season is really all about.
Beauty and grace, the birth of Christ, new beginnings, possibilities.
That's very poetic, Angel.
Not just people.
You, Nash.
You need to be reminded how to fly.
Good.
My desk.
What's this? Don't move! (frantic shouting) Don't move! Stay where you are! Everybody, easy.
BRIDGES: Angel.
I'll shoot him.
Angel, get out of there.
I swear I'll shoot the freak.
Would you do it, friend? BRIDGES: Angel.
Would you shoot an angel on Christmas Eve? BRIDGES: Angel.
(gun firing) MAN: Drop it! (gun firing) (grunting) Bastard.
Get him out of here.
BRIDGES: Angel.
Angel.
What? Get up, you weren't hit.
I was hit.
I was winged.
Get up.
Come on.
Now, I want you to go home and I want you to stay out of trouble.
Not until I complete my mission.
You want a mission? I'll give you a mission.
Get your ass home.
Now, can you do that or is that going to require some sort of miracle? I detect a note of sarcasm.
No, sir, you detect a note of exasperation.
Now, go home.
Now, go.
Take him.
Go, beat it.
DESK SERGEANT: Hey, Bridges.
Your car just arrived outside You're kidding.
and from what I hear, it's no worse for the wear.
That's great news.
Does, um, Joe know that the, uh, 'Cuda's been recovered? No, not yet.
You want me to find him? N-N-N-N-No.
I want to tell him in my own special way.
Sure thing.
Blackmailing out-of-town businessmen is very bad for the tourist trade.
In fact, if you don't cooperate, the DA will go after you all like a rabid dog.
Tell me who I'm looking for; I can let you all go home to be with your families for Christmas.
Tell me who I'm looking for.
(pounds table) Bryn.
What? What are you working on? Typing up an I.
R.
and arrest report for Jackson Moore.
I'm at a standstill with these call girls.
Either they're stonewalling me or they don't know anything.
You want to go into lockup undercover? Do I look like I'm dressed for undercover work? Maybe there's something in Property you can change into? Harvey, I'm supposed to go have dinner with my family in a few hours.
I'm just banging my head against a wall here.
Okay okay.
Okay, here we go.
(sighs) I used to do it every day after school.
BRIDGES: You forgot to get this gift-wrapped.
What's that? Knock it off.
(laughs) We got you.
Armed robbery, assault on a police officer.
You're done.
You're going down for those for sure.
Unless you want to work with us, darling.
How? Tell us what happened to the other $2.
3 million in jewels from the safe and how John Strauss was murdered.
What are you talking about? What other jewels? What safe? (drops jewelry) (sighs) You bad guys make me tired.
Take the full hit, do the full term.
What do I care? Take him back to lockup.
Wai-Wai-Wait.
We looted the display cabinets, but we didn't do any safe.
What you found in my apartment is all I have.
We were supposed to get $60,000 for it, split it two ways.
Who was going to give you the 60 Gs? The guy who set it up.
Who? Never met him.
Peter Neff made the deal.
I was just along for the ride.
And you were the only one that walked out of there alive.
I'm telling you the truth.
Maybe you need to think about it some more.
B-Bye.
Wa-Wait, I didn't shoot Strau-- ow, hey, watch the shoulder.
I didn't shoot Strauss.
It was Peter's brother Larry, and it was, and it was in self-defense.
Strauss shot first.
He was waiting for us.
(whispering): Yes, yes, I am truly blessed, thank you.
Joe.
Hey, Nashman, hi, how are you? Hey, listen, man, I got to tell you, I'm really touched about this whole tires thing.
You're awesome.
Oh, hey, man, think nothing of it.
I mean, you're my best friend, you know, I mean-- I'm just thankful you let me hang around so long.
(laughing): Get out of here.
Well, listen, I'm going to ask you a question.
It may sound a little funny.
Yeah.
You know, uh I'm kind of a nut.
I'm, I'm a little particular about what goes on that car.
Yeah, on it, in it, and eaten anywhere around it.
Yeah, I know.
Well, good, then I'm, I'm sure you've done the research and you know that, uh, the only tires I'd put on that car are F60-15 Polyglass GTs? Oh yeah, sure, F60-15 Polyglass GTs.
(chuckling): What else would I put on there? Well, I-- you know, I just know that they're, they're kind of hard to find.
Oh, uh, yeah, well, what do you think's been taking me so long? (both laughing) And damn, they're expensive.
Yeah, very expensive.
(chuckles) Well, I mean, are you absolutely sure, bubba? I-I mean, I did need a new set of tires, but Hey, man, you know, let me do this.
I mean, give me a little bit of pleasure, okay, I really want to.
You're awesome, man.
I mean, really, brother, you're the greatest.
Thank you so much.
Hey, my pleasure.
(mouthing) Hey, Harv, your wife dropped this off.
Dropped what off? Where is she? She left.
Do you need her? Never mind, no, thanks.
(sighs) (chuckling): "I figured you'd be busy, "so I'm driving to my mom's in Portland.
"Merry Christmas.
Bonnie.
" (sighing) Hell of a way to spend Christmas Eve, huh? I'm Bryn.
Bryn-- that's a pretty name.
I'm Kerry.
Hi, Kerry.
You know, I knew I shouldn't have agreed to do this party.
It's just bad karma, working at Christmastime.
(groans) I know what you mean.
I mean, this has got to be unconstitutional, don't you think? I mean, if they want to charge us with prostitution, that's one thing.
I don't know anything about this blackmailing scheme.
That makes two of us, sister.
I was supposed to have a date tonight.
Mm-hmm.
No, a date date not a trick.
Oh.
(chuckling): A cop, ironically enough.
Ooh, bad idea.
Why? Dating a cop? Well, you know, I mean, their job always comes first, plus they carry a lot of psychological baggage.
You've dated cops? Ooh, don't get me started.
MAN: Let's get moving on that as soon as we can.
DESK SERGEANT: Nash, we got a problem.
What's up? It's Angel.
He's on the roof of the boat.
Angel.
What are you doing? I'm completing my mission.
I'm flying.
And your point would be what? To uplift you.
"Angel of God, "who are my guardian, enlighten, watch over, support, "and rule me, who was entrusted "to you by the heavenly piety.
Amen.
" You ever say that prayer when you were a kid? Well I don't know, I might have.
Um, look, Angel, it's, um, it's Christmas Eve.
I've got a case that I'm trying to finish off downstairs so that I can go home and spend some time with my family.
So if you're going to fly, go ahead and fly.
You're not going to try to stop me? No magic trick? No sleight of hand? No, no, I'm not going to try and stop you at all, but I will give you one suggestion.
If you're going to do this, why don't you get a running start? And, uh, you should always check the wind.
You don't believe I'm your guardian angel, do you? You don't believe I have any celestial power whatsoever.
I believe you, Angel.
I-I believe anything you tell me, but I don't believe that angels can float.
Or, or maybe that's witches.
I-I can't remember.
(crowd screaming) Wow.
Watch the wings.
Damn, Angel, you okay there? You know, there for a minute, I thought you might just do it.
This is all your fault, you know.
What, what'd I do? You weighed me down.
Metaphorically speaking.
Your soul was too heavy for me to carry.
What's bothering you, Nash? (sighs) I-I don't know, maybe it's working on Christmas.
Be truthful.
Angel, hell, I don't know.
You tell me.
(sighs) I don't know a lot of people that can sort out their feelings or their, their thoughts about this time of year.
Come on, guys, let's get him warmed up here.
He can use my space heater.
Come on, let's go.
Brief as it was, during my flight I had a revelation for you, Nash.
Something special's going to happen tonight, right at the stroke of midnight.
It will help you be unburdened.
All right, I'm gonna keep a watchful eye for it.
Thank you, Angel.
You're welcome.
All right.
Go ahead, guys.
Get him working there.
What? $200-- for each tire? No me importa que parte de Mejico Los necesitan hoy.
ˇBueno comé cuacha, buey! DOMINGUEZ: Big Barry.
Yeah, hey, it's Joe Dominguez.
(chuckling): Yeah, I'm fine, man.
How are you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Nash, he's, he's great, too.
Thanks for asking.
Listen, man, I wonder if you could do me a favor, uh Could you get me a line on some specialty tires? Uh, they're, uh, F60-15 Polyglass GTs.
Yeah? Brother, thank you.
Really? Uh, sure, I could do you a favor, man, anything you want.
Anything.
WOMAN: I need that taken care of right now.
(thunder rumbling) I need to talk to a Bryn Carson.
(unlocks door) Hi.
Kerry? Oh, my God.
Well, hey, let me out! * Deck the halls with boughs of holly * Excuse me.
Merry Christmas, man.
You all right, Harvey? Hey, it's Christmas, everybody! * Don we now our gay apparel * Sleigh bells is ringing, man.
Chestnuts doing their thing.
Magical, wonderful, glorious time to be dumped, huh? MAN: Oh, gee! Oh, Harvey.
You want to take care of him? (thunder rumbling) DOMINGUEZ: Now my report's all wet.
What else can go wrong? How's Harvey? He's in the back, sleeping it off.
You get the report from the M.
E.
's office on John Strauss? Yeah, yeah, very interesting.
He had powder burns under the blood splatters on his arm.
It means he fired first.
Yeah.
I'm thinking he was waiting, you know, like he was expecting 'em.
Maybe Jackson isn't lying.
Maybe John Strauss is our bad guy.
He was rich.
What'd he need the money for? What's the motive? Well, according to this report, he had a lawsuit going against the department store parent company.
Apparently, he felt he got, uh, shafted in their reorganization plans, and in six months they were going to fire him.
There's a motive, bubba.
Hmm.
Probably a blessing I'm locked up.
If I went home, my mother would start in with her well-intentioned questions about my personal life.
Am I seeing anyone? Do I have a relationship? And I just want to scream, "Who has the time, Mom?" Between working on the weekends and overtime, I barely have time to sleep, not to mention, every man I meet is either a cop or a criminal, and to tell you the truth, I don't know which one is worse.
Hello?! I can't believe they left me back here.
Oh, my God, I can't believe it.
It's, like, friggin' freezing, and they forgot about me.
Ollie, ollie, income free, guys.
Let me out of here! Honey, you need some new management.
Here.
Call Jerome.
He's the concierge at the Barrington Hotel.
He'll set you up.
BRIDGES: Guess what, bubba? I believe you.
That's right.
See, we think that John Strauss was setting you up.
Want to know why? Why? Well, try this on for a theory, see if it blows your skirt up.
John Strauss hired you, right? And actually, when you think about it, it was a pretty clever plan.
He was gonna get you and Peter Neff to go in and rob the store, shoot you both down in cold blood, claim it was self-defense, hang you out to dry and keep the money for himself.
Son of a bitch.
(thunder rumbling) He deserved to die.
(chuckles) That may be true.
Why don't you tell us, uh, your version of what went wrong and see if you can cut yourself a Christmas miracle? He wasn't expecting three guys.
Peter's brother Larry brought me in.
I tagged along at the last minute.
Strauss wasn't expecting three of us.
He shot at me and Peter, and then I guess Larry took him by surprise.
Does this mean you're gonna let me go? (laughs) Okay, let me see here.
You committed armed robbery, you shot at a police officer, and tonight, you tried to kill an angel.
(tisking rapidly) I'm gonna say that a fair judge'll give you if you're lucky.
Come on, Joe.
Let's go get a search warrant for John Strauss's place.
I'm gonna bet that he made off with the jewels from the safe before the robbery.
What about my miracle? You already got your miracle, bubba.
Strauss missed ya.
Don't look at me.
I'm pissed off at him, too.
Nash, I'd like to introduce you to someone.
Jerome Kerns.
He's the concierge at the Barrington.
Has contacts at every major hotel in San Francisco.
He'd handle the booking of the sorority girls, and then he'd use the hotel records to contact the johns, writing them notes, demanding money, or he'd tell their wives.
He tried to pin it on the girls by using perfumed stationary.
Well, now, isn't that clever.
Welcome to the hotel S.
I.
U.
, Mr.
Jerome.
Lock his ass up.
Well, I guess we can kick the girls free, huh? I'd say.
That's pretty excellent work, Bryn.
You think? I know.
Good work this year all the way around.
Listen, I'm sorry you didn't get to spend some time with your family.
Well, not my first family, but this one's pretty nice.
Angel? You can go home as soon as you're dry.
What time is it? Ladies? Merry Christmas.
WOMAN: Yeah.
(laughter and indistinct chatter) WOMAN: All right, good-bye.
WOMAN 2: Wow (phone ringing, indistinct chatter) What are all these kids doing here? Santa never showed.
And the bus that's taking them back to Social Services is delayed.
Oh, man, you're kidding.
What's happening? Those kids.
WOMAN: Move that box next to them.
BRIDGES: Come on, come on, hurry up back there.
Guys, it's cold in here.
How about a blanket or something? Do some jumping jacks.
Shouldn't this be deliced or something? Well, at least you're gonna be warm.
Hey, guys, check this out.
What do you got? I found this in the trunk of John Strauss's car.
Guys.
DOMINGUEZ: Ooh! BRIDGES: Hey, look, the missing babies.
Oh, God, this secret Santa stuff gets better every year.
I'll call the mayor.
Oh, hey, Joe? Yeah? There's a guy out there in a truck.
He's looking for you.
Oh, excellent.
Hey, uh, make that call later.
Come on.
Uh, I'll call you back.
What? I got something to show you.
You'll love it.
Guys, something to keep me warm, anything.
BRIDGES: Uh, we'll be back in, uh, five.
A little love.
Well, at least it stopped raining.
Yup.
Damn, it got cold out here.
This suit's pretty warm, man.
I should have one of these.
I don't see any bullet holes, so I'm gonna let you live another night.
Nash Bridges.
Hey, Big Barry.
How you doing, man? Hey, man, how you doing? What happened to your foot? I had a little cosmetic surgery there.
Oh, yeah? What you get, a toe tuck? (laughter) What you got in the truck? Beauty supplies.
Tiny, get a move on.
DOMINGUEZ: Your wish to Santa has been granted.
Skid in peace, man.
I don't believe it.
He got the tires.
F-60-15 polyglass GT's.
Is that correct? Absolutely correct.
Wait a minute.
I don't like this.
Where'd you get these tires? Listen, this is all perfectly legit.
You know, it's-it's a long story, but it's a holy night, so let's just save it for next time, you know? Mm-hmm.
You know what I'm sayin'? (distant foghorn blowing) And what's in it for you? The return of my property.
Several months ago in a police raid, due to a number of circumstances, my saxophone was confiscated.
Now I've been cleared of all wrongdoing, but my saxophone remains a prisoner in the Mission District Property Room.
Now I want to cut the red tape and get it back.
Well then, step inside, 'cause your saxophone waits within.
All right, man.
I don't want to know nothing about this.
Y'all are on your own.
Go away.
* You better watch out, you better not cry * * You better not pout, I'm telling you why * * Santa Claus is comin' to town * * Santa Claus is comin' to town * * Santa Claus is comin' to town * (saxophone solo) * He sees you when you're sleeping * * He knows when you're awake * * He knows when you've been bad or good * * So be good for goodness sake * Hey.
Hi! What are you guys doing here? Oh, we missed you.
I know better than to wait at home.
Hi.
I brought cookies.
You did? Great.
Merry Christmas, Dad.
I want to tell you again how sorry I am for getting those gifts all mixed up.
Oh, forget about it, Nick.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you, Dad.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, son.
Merry Christmas.
BRIDGES: Get some cider over there.
I'm gonna get some.
Merry Christmas, Evan.
Uh, thanks.
Guys, I thought we said no gifts this year.
No, no, you were a very good boy.
We had no choice.
* sleeping * * He knows when you're awake * * He knows if you've been bad or good * * So you better be good for goodness sake * * Better be good for goodness sake * * He's making a list, he's checking it * * Whose naughty or nice * Hey, I tried to call you.
I tried to call you, too.
Um, can we can we go somewhere and-and talk privately for a moment? Good idea.
Damn! It got cold.
Listen, uh, it's about the gift.
I can't accept this, Nash.
Don't get me wrong.
They're absolutely beautiful.
It's-it's just that I don't feel comfortable accepting it.
(laughs) Well, that's good, because Nick screwed it up.
He mixed up the gifts, and you got a family heirloom.
I haven't gotten yours back yet, but I will.
No, don't, really.
You don't have to.
(laughs) Nash there's so much you don't know about me, and I-I I just don't think that Shh.
What did you do that for? Felt like it.
Wanted to.
I'm glad you wanted to.
(laughs) (sighs) Oh, my God, it's snowing.
(laughs) (bells clanging) It's midnight.
Merry Christmas, Angel.
Merry Christmas, Nash.
Merry Christmas, Whitney.
Merry Christmas.
(scatting to the tune of "Jingle Bells") (singing "Jingle Bells" in Spanish)
Simple rule, really.
No food in the 'Cuda.
Now, what can't you understand about that? It's a candy bar, man.
It's not food.
That would be food.
Yeah.
There's no nutritional value whatsoever in a candy bar.
Oh, no, no, no, candy bar is food.
Merry Christmas.
Ho, ho, ho.
What did Santa leave under the tree for us? Two bodies.
John Strauss, Lombard's President and CEO.
He seems to have busted up a robbery in progress.
The security guard ID'd him.
What about the second body? One of the robbers.
We've got two kinds of shell casings here.
.
357 and a nine millimeter, so I assume there was a shoot-out.
(sniffing) This gun has not been fired.
The shooter must've got away.
Check the lividity.
Time of death had to be around 11:00 p.
m.
Not that long ago.
BRIDGES: You mentioned a security guard? Yeah.
He's right over here.
Karl.
Karl, I'm Inspector Bridges.
You found these bodies? Yeah.
I was patrolling Electronics and I heard some gunfire and then I came down, I saw the bodies and I called 911.
Then what? Well, the police got here really fast, man.
It was like, three minutes.
Yeah.
And this building has a central alarm system? Yeah, all the doors and, uh, windows are wired.
Uh, except for the back door.
That's how we get in and out.
Did Dispatch get a signal? No, only the What? We get to a murder scene in under 20 minutes.
This guard rushes right straight to the bodies.
No doors are violated, and the other guard is at the front door.
So, you think it wasn't a robbery in progress? I think it is a robbery in progress.
Ladies and gentleman, I'm gonna suggest that Elvis is still in the building.
Let's go bad-guy shopping.
(elevator bell dings) You think Inger might like something like that for Christmas? (stifled chuckle) I think you might something like that on Inger for Christmas.
I'll get her something in Housewares.
Let's look in Fragrances first.
Joe! (automatic gun firing) We got action on the third floor.
Roger that.
Where the hell is backup? Let's go, Joe! (gunfire) (grunts) Freeze, right there! Don't move! (glass shattering) (groans) You got him, Joe? Yeah, I got him.
Man, I heard department stores were murder this time of year, but this is not what I had in mind.
Yeah, it's beginning (alarm ringing) to look a lot like Christmas around here, bubba.
Only without the goodwill towards men part.
(woman singing over bluesy organ riff) Yes, sir, I've got it.
Okay, folks, that was the mayor himself.
It seems that our dead CEO downstairs, Mr.
Strauss, is a personal friend of the mayor's and a very large contributor to his campaign.
So the heat's on.
He has personally authorized double time holiday pay.
Meaning no Christmas, right? Depends on how good we are.
Harv, I definitely hit our missing bad guy, so he's gonna be looking for medical assistance.
I'll call the ER's.
Any ID on any of the bodies? No, nothing.
Uh, I'm gonna suggest that these were not first-timers.
So get fingerprints on these guys.
CARSON: You got it.
Hey, Nash.
Our dead bad guys? Records show they're brothers.
Last name Neff, same address, virtually the same rap sheets.
So, they had a real family business, huh? "Had" being the operative word here.
Get over there and see what you can find at their place.
You look nice.
What are you dressed up for? Uh, Christmas Eve dinner with my family.
With the full-court press on this case, I didn't think I was gonna have time to go home and change tonight.
Yeah.
So, Nash? Yeah? Any chance I'll be out by 8:00? (laughs) Depends on how good you are, sister.
Mm-hmm.
I'll see what I can do.
Thanks.
So, uh, you're gonna be around here for a little while, right? Yeah, I'm gonna be here.
Where the hell would I go? No, just asking.
Hi.
Hi.
Well, I think I just set a record.
In and out of Union Square in an hour.
That's awesome.
Did you get it? I got it.
It's beautiful, Nash.
Nick is gonna love it.
Oh, man.
It is beautiful.
Look at that.
Yeah.
Oh, he's gonna love that, you're right.
Yeah.
Thanks for getting it for me.
Sure.
Um, would you like some, um, cider? I would love some.
SIU cider.
It'll be safe there, huh? I hope so.
It is a police station.
Hey, Frank, what's Santa in here for? He's a three-card monte dealer.
He was scamming shoppers.
So what? Who the hell cares? Everyone's trying to rip off everyone.
That's the whole point of the holiday.
There's a song there somewhere.
Avert your eyes, Mr.
Leek.
Did I see something? If you have to know, I'm borrowing the 'Cuda.
I'm getting it detailed as sort of a, you know, gift to Nash.
Well, hold on a second.
Did we all agree not to give gifts this year? It's What's that? You got Nash a gift? Will you guys shut up.
Look, it's not a gift.
This detailing guy owes me, man.
I, uh, busted some crack dealers who were dealing next to him, and he said he'd do it for like 35 bucks, you know.
Besides, last week I spilled some chili fries in the back, so don't tell Nash.
It's a surprise, okay? 'Kay.
MAN: Anybody making the coffee? So you have plans with Cassidy and Nick later? Um, well, I don't get Cassidy until tomorrow morning, so, uh, I'll probably just spend the evening with Nick, opening gifts and, um, you know, hanging out.
That sort of thing? What about you, what're you doing? Oh, I'm going over to my mom's in Berkeley, see her and my two uncles and their kids.
She has a really nice Christmas dinner.
Well, that sounds, um Boring.
(laughing): No.
Sounds traditional.
You don't have, uh, anyone else that's special in your life right now? No, not right now, no.
Thank you for the gift, Nash.
Nick gave it to me this morning.
You didn't have to do that.
I know it.
But, hell, you're the, you're the first nurse that Nick hasn't tried to sabotage.
(laughing) You've been terrific.
Well, I adore Nick.
He adores you.
All right, man, here's the keys.
Treat this car like your life depends on it, because you know what? It does.
Yeah, yeah.
You know me, man.
I'll take care of you.
You're mi hermano, man.
Well, call me the second it's done, okay? I'll get it to you by the end of the day.
No, not the end of the day, man! He doesn't know the car's gone.
I gotta have it like now.
Okay, okay, I'll get it to you by noon.
Relax, homey.
(mumbling): Oh, relax? All right, don't forget.
Yeah, I'll hold.
If I hear "Jingle Bell Rock" one more time.
Uh, Kerry, how you doing? It's Evan.
Listen, uh, dinner is at 8:00.
Uh, things are kind of busy here, so I'm hoping that I don't get tied up, but, uh, I'm really looking forward to seeing you tonight.
Nothing? Okay, if anybody comes in with a bullet in the shoulder, you'll call me, right? Why don't you give me a call here at the office if you can.
Uh, talk to you soon.
Bye.
Thanks, Evelyn.
Yeah, Merry Christmas to you, too.
Harv, wait till you see this girl.
Unbelievable.
She's smart, she's beautiful, she's, uh, ex-ex-sorority president, grad student.
(laughs) How did you meet her? Remember that class I was telling you about? The, uh, Intellectual History of Europe? Oh, now this is making sense.
Listen, you don't think that, uh, we're gonna be here all night, do you? I hope not.
Bonnie's coming by to pick me up.
We're going somewhere.
Really? Well, that's nice, Harv.
So things are like on the mend, huh? I think so.
Tonight's breakthrough time.
Bonnie's a sucker for Christmas.
It's a sentimental holiday for us.
We met on Christmas Eve, you know.
(groans) Good luck.
Oh, what am I gonna do when you go away to college? Uh-oh, corniness alert.
It's Christmas Eve.
I can be as corny as I want.
It's in the mother's handbook.
Yeah.
Look.
Perfect.
Hey, why don't you get Nick to help you? Okay.
Hey, Grandpa.
You okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm looking over these gifts your father gave me.
The cards slipped off in the bag, and I can't remember which is which.
Hmm.
Well, I think I can tell from the wrapping that this one's for me.
Daddy gets me a decoration every year.
So that means that this one must be for mom.
Want to come help us? Yeah.
Hey, Mom.
Dad got you a gift.
Looks like a book.
Man, Christmas cookies are brutal.
So what'd you get Whitney? A book.
Oh, yeah.
What kind? A book of poetry.
Pablo Neruda.
Pablo Neruda, huh? So you're making the moves on her, huh? What? "What?" What? Oh, man, come on, Pablo Neruda is my people, man.
"Veinte peomas de amor Mmm.
y una cancion desperada.
" Mm-hmm, that's exactly why I didn't tell you about this in the first place, 'cause I knew you'd go to the gamey side of it.
I'm the gamey one? Hey, man, I'm not the guy who's giving a racy book of love poems to my father's nurse.
Get out.
Nash.
Yeah.
I think I just scored here.
I was over at the Neff brother's apartment, and there was this old Pontiac blocking the driveway, so I ran it.
It seems it's registered to a Jackson Moore, who's done time for armed robbery.
Beautiful.
You think he's the third guy? I'm on it.
Let me know.
(sighs) Nashman, I need some inspiration, man.
I still haven't figured out what to get Inger.
Joe, I'm working here.
Maybe I can get her something for the new baby? Does that count? Yes, it counts.
It counts against you.
Hmm.
What are you gonna get Lisa? A pair of heirloom pearl earrings.
They were my mom's.
I found them when I was going through Nick's stuff.
She always loved them and I figured, uh, some day she can pass them on to Cassidy.
Oh.
I wish I had as good a relationship with my wife as you have with your ex-wife.
(chuckling): Divorce her.
Five to 12:00.
I gotta get going.
What? Uh, nowhere.
I just gotta take care of-- I'll be right back.
Hey, Nash, listen to this.
I just talked to San Francisco General, and they treated a guy with a gunshot wound to the shoulder at around 5:00 a.
m.
By all accounts, it should be Jackson Moore.
Why the hell didn't they call us? Some first-year resident there, he didn't get the police bulletin, so they cut him loose.
Why not? It's Christmas.
Well, listen to this.
It seems that Mr.
Moore wanted to fill a prescription for painkillers, so he went to the hospital pharmacy there, and he paid with his girlfriend's credit card.
So, we got her address.
I love that.
Swing by her place and go down the chimney if you have to.
Got it.
That's a beautiful car, man.
Yeah, it is.
Um, you got change for a 50? Yeah.
Is that an authentic If it is, man, it's worth some serious bucks.
Yeah.
I've got a 20 if you give me five.
Oh, okay.
Yeah, that's a beautiful car, man.
Uh, tell you what.
Um, give me, uh, another ten.
You give me your five (engine starting) (tires screeching) Hey.
FREDDIE: Hey, hey! Hey, stop, police.
Hey, hey.
Hey, hey! FREDDIE: Oh, man.
He works for you, right? No, man.
(indistinct chatter, phones ringing) What's going on? Meet the sorority hookers.
CARSON: Do you know which one the blackmailer is? LEEK: No.
I got to try to put this back together.
I had them transferred down here so I could lean on them and hopefully get some answers.
Good luck.
Right this way, ladies.
Joe.
What? I'd like you to meet Mr.
Jackson Moore.
I'm gonna put him in interrogation room one.
All right, uh I'll catch up in a little while.
Okay.
(clears throat) Any news? About what? About what? About the 'Cuda, Nash's missing car, man.
You said you'd keep in touch.
Dominquez, it's Christmas.
A lot's going on here.
Finding a missing car isn't high on my list of priorities.
Maybe you don't understand me.
If the baby Jesus himself were missing, you'd still put every available unit on finding that missing car.
Do I make myself clear? Joe, you're just the man I want to see.
I'm gonna go interview this guy, um, Jackson Moore.
I like Christmas.
I like the spirit of brotherhood.
(sighs) I like Midnight Mass.
I like those little chocolate Santas that come in the little foil wrappers.
Now, every other day of the year, I can tolerate bald-faced liars.
(chuckles) I accept that we all play a role on the great stage of life.
You're a criminal, I'm a cop.
I get it.
But today, I could be home, trimming the tree, wrapping some gifts, spending some time with my daughter.
Why don't you cut the crap and just tell me the truth.
My gun went off when I was cleaning it.
Here's a copy of the phone records.
JL5-0312.
Damn.
Your girlfriend calls that number a lot.
You think she's got another boyfriend? No, I got it.
That's your number.
Evan, get a search warrant.
Let's see what Jackson left under his tree.
Will do.
DESK SERGEANT: Hey, Joe.
You found the car.
No, wait, we do not have it.
What we know is that it was used as the getaway car in an armed bank robbery down on Powell.
What?! Mm-hmm.
There was a high-speed chase.
Bullets were fired.
Bottom line is bank robbers got away.
Oh, God, this isn't Christmastime.
It's the end of the world.
(sighs) Keep me informed.
(groans) LEEK: Nash, your dad, line two.
Hey, Nick.
I got a question.
Did you give Lisa a book for Christmas, son? Uh-oh.
What happened, Nick? The cards fell off the gifts.
I gave Whitney a lavender box.
Nick, the lavender box was supposed to go to Lisa.
Lisa got the silver package.
I'm sorry, son.
Uh, uh Look, it's all right, Nick.
Let me talk to Lisa.
Lisa Nash would like to speak to you.
Hey, merry Christmas.
You know, you didn't need to get me anything.
Uh, uh, well, well, look Lisa, you haven't opened it yet, have you? No oh, Nash, you should see this tree.
Cassidy did a beautiful job.
Well, now listen, here here's the thing.
(beeping) Oh, I got to go; that's my other line.
I-I'm juggling two catering jobs.
Merry Christmas.
No, no, no, no.
Lisa, wait a minute.
(dial tone droning) Thanks.
Where you going? I got to go to Lisa's.
Nick made a mistake and switched Lisa's gift with Whitney's gift, and it's a nightmare.
I got to get over there and before she opens them.
Where the hell are my keys? Oh, you want a ride? I'll give you a ride.
I got my car outside.
(sighs) What's going on, Joe? All right, you want, uh want the truth? That'd be nice.
(sighs) I borrowed your car 'cause I was getting it detailed, you know.
I wanted it to be a surprise.
(laughing) Well, that's very sweet.
Yeah, well, it's supposed to be done by noon.
Well, it's after 12:00.
Come on, let's go.
Well, it's (clears throat) not done yet.
Why? Um All right, you want the whole truth? I don't know.
Um I was gonna get n-n-new t-tires for it.
Tires? Yeah.
Four new tires.
Why are you doing this? Hey, man, you're my best friend.
It's Christmas, come on.
(chuckling) Yeah.
Well, that's good.
Yeah.
(doorbell chiming) Hi, sweetheart, merry Christmas.
Hi.
Is your mom around? Yeah, she's in the living room.
Oh, good.
Cassidy, could I use your phone? Sure.
Oh, thank you.
(groaning) No, you opened it.
Oh, Nash, what a beautiful gift.
I I-I couldn't wait, I Nash, this this is so, uh, unexpected.
I I'm I'm not quite sure how to respond.
Um, Lisa No, wait, wait.
I'll always have feelings for you, Nash, in-including romantic feelings.
I know that's never going to change.
I often wonder what if? But-but Christmas is a deceptive time.
It-it stirs up all these nostalgic memories.
Mm-hmm yeah.
Um I feel that Christmas alters our perceptions, so why don't we put these feelings on hold till after the holidays, and then see how we feel? That's good.
After the holidays.
You never fail to surprise me, Nash.
That's one of the things I love about you.
(chuckling) After Christmas.
Yeah, it's, uh, Dominquez.
Uh, any word on the car? MAN: Yee-haw! (engine roaring) Okay.
Let me know.
Yeah.
(tires squealing) (laughing, whooping) What's that? Our just rewards, my friend.
This satchel is full of jewelry that was stolen from the department store, and I found it at Mr.
Jackson Moore's house.
Excellent.
We may get out of here yet.
Listen, did, uh, Kerry call by any chance? No, no calls.
Damn, well, she said to page her in case of an emergency, and I'd say that, you know, not hearing from her on Christmas Eve, that's an emergency.
A crisis of the heart anyway.
You'd better page her, man.
Exactly.
So, where are you going with that stuff? I'm taking all this stuff to Property.
Looks like our college hookers are gonna be spending the holiday with us.
Well, good, good, good.
(pager beeping) (sighs) All right, Joe, where're you going in such a hurry? Uh, I got to use the phone.
What's going on, Joe? DESK SERGEANT: Inspector Bridges, can I talk with you? It's good news.
We found the bank robbers.
What bank robbers? The ones who made off with your car.
The 'Cuda? Yeah.
We tracked them down to a warehouse in the Mission.
Uh, they promised to lead us to your car.
Unfortunately, shots were fired, so we really don't know what condition the car is in, but my fingers are crossed.
Yeah, well, keep them crossed.
Shots fired, huh? On a car.
ANGEL: Nash! Angel? What? You surprised to see me? It is Christmas.
Let me see the incident report.
He was standing on a ledge, trying to kill himself.
Kill myself? Absolutely not.
It's Christmas.
My adrenaline was pumping.
I was about to fly.
About to fly? That's correct.
You know, people get all depressed over their own problems.
They forget what this holiday season is really all about.
Beauty and grace, the birth of Christ, new beginnings, possibilities.
That's very poetic, Angel.
Not just people.
You, Nash.
You need to be reminded how to fly.
Good.
My desk.
What's this? Don't move! (frantic shouting) Don't move! Stay where you are! Everybody, easy.
BRIDGES: Angel.
I'll shoot him.
Angel, get out of there.
I swear I'll shoot the freak.
Would you do it, friend? BRIDGES: Angel.
Would you shoot an angel on Christmas Eve? BRIDGES: Angel.
(gun firing) MAN: Drop it! (gun firing) (grunting) Bastard.
Get him out of here.
BRIDGES: Angel.
Angel.
What? Get up, you weren't hit.
I was hit.
I was winged.
Get up.
Come on.
Now, I want you to go home and I want you to stay out of trouble.
Not until I complete my mission.
You want a mission? I'll give you a mission.
Get your ass home.
Now, can you do that or is that going to require some sort of miracle? I detect a note of sarcasm.
No, sir, you detect a note of exasperation.
Now, go home.
Now, go.
Take him.
Go, beat it.
DESK SERGEANT: Hey, Bridges.
Your car just arrived outside You're kidding.
and from what I hear, it's no worse for the wear.
That's great news.
Does, um, Joe know that the, uh, 'Cuda's been recovered? No, not yet.
You want me to find him? N-N-N-N-No.
I want to tell him in my own special way.
Sure thing.
Blackmailing out-of-town businessmen is very bad for the tourist trade.
In fact, if you don't cooperate, the DA will go after you all like a rabid dog.
Tell me who I'm looking for; I can let you all go home to be with your families for Christmas.
Tell me who I'm looking for.
(pounds table) Bryn.
What? What are you working on? Typing up an I.
R.
and arrest report for Jackson Moore.
I'm at a standstill with these call girls.
Either they're stonewalling me or they don't know anything.
You want to go into lockup undercover? Do I look like I'm dressed for undercover work? Maybe there's something in Property you can change into? Harvey, I'm supposed to go have dinner with my family in a few hours.
I'm just banging my head against a wall here.
Okay okay.
Okay, here we go.
(sighs) I used to do it every day after school.
BRIDGES: You forgot to get this gift-wrapped.
What's that? Knock it off.
(laughs) We got you.
Armed robbery, assault on a police officer.
You're done.
You're going down for those for sure.
Unless you want to work with us, darling.
How? Tell us what happened to the other $2.
3 million in jewels from the safe and how John Strauss was murdered.
What are you talking about? What other jewels? What safe? (drops jewelry) (sighs) You bad guys make me tired.
Take the full hit, do the full term.
What do I care? Take him back to lockup.
Wai-Wai-Wait.
We looted the display cabinets, but we didn't do any safe.
What you found in my apartment is all I have.
We were supposed to get $60,000 for it, split it two ways.
Who was going to give you the 60 Gs? The guy who set it up.
Who? Never met him.
Peter Neff made the deal.
I was just along for the ride.
And you were the only one that walked out of there alive.
I'm telling you the truth.
Maybe you need to think about it some more.
B-Bye.
Wa-Wait, I didn't shoot Strau-- ow, hey, watch the shoulder.
I didn't shoot Strauss.
It was Peter's brother Larry, and it was, and it was in self-defense.
Strauss shot first.
He was waiting for us.
(whispering): Yes, yes, I am truly blessed, thank you.
Joe.
Hey, Nashman, hi, how are you? Hey, listen, man, I got to tell you, I'm really touched about this whole tires thing.
You're awesome.
Oh, hey, man, think nothing of it.
I mean, you're my best friend, you know, I mean-- I'm just thankful you let me hang around so long.
(laughing): Get out of here.
Well, listen, I'm going to ask you a question.
It may sound a little funny.
Yeah.
You know, uh I'm kind of a nut.
I'm, I'm a little particular about what goes on that car.
Yeah, on it, in it, and eaten anywhere around it.
Yeah, I know.
Well, good, then I'm, I'm sure you've done the research and you know that, uh, the only tires I'd put on that car are F60-15 Polyglass GTs? Oh yeah, sure, F60-15 Polyglass GTs.
(chuckling): What else would I put on there? Well, I-- you know, I just know that they're, they're kind of hard to find.
Oh, uh, yeah, well, what do you think's been taking me so long? (both laughing) And damn, they're expensive.
Yeah, very expensive.
(chuckles) Well, I mean, are you absolutely sure, bubba? I-I mean, I did need a new set of tires, but Hey, man, you know, let me do this.
I mean, give me a little bit of pleasure, okay, I really want to.
You're awesome, man.
I mean, really, brother, you're the greatest.
Thank you so much.
Hey, my pleasure.
(mouthing) Hey, Harv, your wife dropped this off.
Dropped what off? Where is she? She left.
Do you need her? Never mind, no, thanks.
(sighs) (chuckling): "I figured you'd be busy, "so I'm driving to my mom's in Portland.
"Merry Christmas.
Bonnie.
" (sighing) Hell of a way to spend Christmas Eve, huh? I'm Bryn.
Bryn-- that's a pretty name.
I'm Kerry.
Hi, Kerry.
You know, I knew I shouldn't have agreed to do this party.
It's just bad karma, working at Christmastime.
(groans) I know what you mean.
I mean, this has got to be unconstitutional, don't you think? I mean, if they want to charge us with prostitution, that's one thing.
I don't know anything about this blackmailing scheme.
That makes two of us, sister.
I was supposed to have a date tonight.
Mm-hmm.
No, a date date not a trick.
Oh.
(chuckling): A cop, ironically enough.
Ooh, bad idea.
Why? Dating a cop? Well, you know, I mean, their job always comes first, plus they carry a lot of psychological baggage.
You've dated cops? Ooh, don't get me started.
MAN: Let's get moving on that as soon as we can.
DESK SERGEANT: Nash, we got a problem.
What's up? It's Angel.
He's on the roof of the boat.
Angel.
What are you doing? I'm completing my mission.
I'm flying.
And your point would be what? To uplift you.
"Angel of God, "who are my guardian, enlighten, watch over, support, "and rule me, who was entrusted "to you by the heavenly piety.
Amen.
" You ever say that prayer when you were a kid? Well I don't know, I might have.
Um, look, Angel, it's, um, it's Christmas Eve.
I've got a case that I'm trying to finish off downstairs so that I can go home and spend some time with my family.
So if you're going to fly, go ahead and fly.
You're not going to try to stop me? No magic trick? No sleight of hand? No, no, I'm not going to try and stop you at all, but I will give you one suggestion.
If you're going to do this, why don't you get a running start? And, uh, you should always check the wind.
You don't believe I'm your guardian angel, do you? You don't believe I have any celestial power whatsoever.
I believe you, Angel.
I-I believe anything you tell me, but I don't believe that angels can float.
Or, or maybe that's witches.
I-I can't remember.
(crowd screaming) Wow.
Watch the wings.
Damn, Angel, you okay there? You know, there for a minute, I thought you might just do it.
This is all your fault, you know.
What, what'd I do? You weighed me down.
Metaphorically speaking.
Your soul was too heavy for me to carry.
What's bothering you, Nash? (sighs) I-I don't know, maybe it's working on Christmas.
Be truthful.
Angel, hell, I don't know.
You tell me.
(sighs) I don't know a lot of people that can sort out their feelings or their, their thoughts about this time of year.
Come on, guys, let's get him warmed up here.
He can use my space heater.
Come on, let's go.
Brief as it was, during my flight I had a revelation for you, Nash.
Something special's going to happen tonight, right at the stroke of midnight.
It will help you be unburdened.
All right, I'm gonna keep a watchful eye for it.
Thank you, Angel.
You're welcome.
All right.
Go ahead, guys.
Get him working there.
What? $200-- for each tire? No me importa que parte de Mejico Los necesitan hoy.
ˇBueno comé cuacha, buey! DOMINGUEZ: Big Barry.
Yeah, hey, it's Joe Dominguez.
(chuckling): Yeah, I'm fine, man.
How are you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Nash, he's, he's great, too.
Thanks for asking.
Listen, man, I wonder if you could do me a favor, uh Could you get me a line on some specialty tires? Uh, they're, uh, F60-15 Polyglass GTs.
Yeah? Brother, thank you.
Really? Uh, sure, I could do you a favor, man, anything you want.
Anything.
WOMAN: I need that taken care of right now.
(thunder rumbling) I need to talk to a Bryn Carson.
(unlocks door) Hi.
Kerry? Oh, my God.
Well, hey, let me out! * Deck the halls with boughs of holly * Excuse me.
Merry Christmas, man.
You all right, Harvey? Hey, it's Christmas, everybody! * Don we now our gay apparel * Sleigh bells is ringing, man.
Chestnuts doing their thing.
Magical, wonderful, glorious time to be dumped, huh? MAN: Oh, gee! Oh, Harvey.
You want to take care of him? (thunder rumbling) DOMINGUEZ: Now my report's all wet.
What else can go wrong? How's Harvey? He's in the back, sleeping it off.
You get the report from the M.
E.
's office on John Strauss? Yeah, yeah, very interesting.
He had powder burns under the blood splatters on his arm.
It means he fired first.
Yeah.
I'm thinking he was waiting, you know, like he was expecting 'em.
Maybe Jackson isn't lying.
Maybe John Strauss is our bad guy.
He was rich.
What'd he need the money for? What's the motive? Well, according to this report, he had a lawsuit going against the department store parent company.
Apparently, he felt he got, uh, shafted in their reorganization plans, and in six months they were going to fire him.
There's a motive, bubba.
Hmm.
Probably a blessing I'm locked up.
If I went home, my mother would start in with her well-intentioned questions about my personal life.
Am I seeing anyone? Do I have a relationship? And I just want to scream, "Who has the time, Mom?" Between working on the weekends and overtime, I barely have time to sleep, not to mention, every man I meet is either a cop or a criminal, and to tell you the truth, I don't know which one is worse.
Hello?! I can't believe they left me back here.
Oh, my God, I can't believe it.
It's, like, friggin' freezing, and they forgot about me.
Ollie, ollie, income free, guys.
Let me out of here! Honey, you need some new management.
Here.
Call Jerome.
He's the concierge at the Barrington Hotel.
He'll set you up.
BRIDGES: Guess what, bubba? I believe you.
That's right.
See, we think that John Strauss was setting you up.
Want to know why? Why? Well, try this on for a theory, see if it blows your skirt up.
John Strauss hired you, right? And actually, when you think about it, it was a pretty clever plan.
He was gonna get you and Peter Neff to go in and rob the store, shoot you both down in cold blood, claim it was self-defense, hang you out to dry and keep the money for himself.
Son of a bitch.
(thunder rumbling) He deserved to die.
(chuckles) That may be true.
Why don't you tell us, uh, your version of what went wrong and see if you can cut yourself a Christmas miracle? He wasn't expecting three guys.
Peter's brother Larry brought me in.
I tagged along at the last minute.
Strauss wasn't expecting three of us.
He shot at me and Peter, and then I guess Larry took him by surprise.
Does this mean you're gonna let me go? (laughs) Okay, let me see here.
You committed armed robbery, you shot at a police officer, and tonight, you tried to kill an angel.
(tisking rapidly) I'm gonna say that a fair judge'll give you if you're lucky.
Come on, Joe.
Let's go get a search warrant for John Strauss's place.
I'm gonna bet that he made off with the jewels from the safe before the robbery.
What about my miracle? You already got your miracle, bubba.
Strauss missed ya.
Don't look at me.
I'm pissed off at him, too.
Nash, I'd like to introduce you to someone.
Jerome Kerns.
He's the concierge at the Barrington.
Has contacts at every major hotel in San Francisco.
He'd handle the booking of the sorority girls, and then he'd use the hotel records to contact the johns, writing them notes, demanding money, or he'd tell their wives.
He tried to pin it on the girls by using perfumed stationary.
Well, now, isn't that clever.
Welcome to the hotel S.
I.
U.
, Mr.
Jerome.
Lock his ass up.
Well, I guess we can kick the girls free, huh? I'd say.
That's pretty excellent work, Bryn.
You think? I know.
Good work this year all the way around.
Listen, I'm sorry you didn't get to spend some time with your family.
Well, not my first family, but this one's pretty nice.
Angel? You can go home as soon as you're dry.
What time is it? Ladies? Merry Christmas.
WOMAN: Yeah.
(laughter and indistinct chatter) WOMAN: All right, good-bye.
WOMAN 2: Wow (phone ringing, indistinct chatter) What are all these kids doing here? Santa never showed.
And the bus that's taking them back to Social Services is delayed.
Oh, man, you're kidding.
What's happening? Those kids.
WOMAN: Move that box next to them.
BRIDGES: Come on, come on, hurry up back there.
Guys, it's cold in here.
How about a blanket or something? Do some jumping jacks.
Shouldn't this be deliced or something? Well, at least you're gonna be warm.
Hey, guys, check this out.
What do you got? I found this in the trunk of John Strauss's car.
Guys.
DOMINGUEZ: Ooh! BRIDGES: Hey, look, the missing babies.
Oh, God, this secret Santa stuff gets better every year.
I'll call the mayor.
Oh, hey, Joe? Yeah? There's a guy out there in a truck.
He's looking for you.
Oh, excellent.
Hey, uh, make that call later.
Come on.
Uh, I'll call you back.
What? I got something to show you.
You'll love it.
Guys, something to keep me warm, anything.
BRIDGES: Uh, we'll be back in, uh, five.
A little love.
Well, at least it stopped raining.
Yup.
Damn, it got cold out here.
This suit's pretty warm, man.
I should have one of these.
I don't see any bullet holes, so I'm gonna let you live another night.
Nash Bridges.
Hey, Big Barry.
How you doing, man? Hey, man, how you doing? What happened to your foot? I had a little cosmetic surgery there.
Oh, yeah? What you get, a toe tuck? (laughter) What you got in the truck? Beauty supplies.
Tiny, get a move on.
DOMINGUEZ: Your wish to Santa has been granted.
Skid in peace, man.
I don't believe it.
He got the tires.
F-60-15 polyglass GT's.
Is that correct? Absolutely correct.
Wait a minute.
I don't like this.
Where'd you get these tires? Listen, this is all perfectly legit.
You know, it's-it's a long story, but it's a holy night, so let's just save it for next time, you know? Mm-hmm.
You know what I'm sayin'? (distant foghorn blowing) And what's in it for you? The return of my property.
Several months ago in a police raid, due to a number of circumstances, my saxophone was confiscated.
Now I've been cleared of all wrongdoing, but my saxophone remains a prisoner in the Mission District Property Room.
Now I want to cut the red tape and get it back.
Well then, step inside, 'cause your saxophone waits within.
All right, man.
I don't want to know nothing about this.
Y'all are on your own.
Go away.
* You better watch out, you better not cry * * You better not pout, I'm telling you why * * Santa Claus is comin' to town * * Santa Claus is comin' to town * * Santa Claus is comin' to town * (saxophone solo) * He sees you when you're sleeping * * He knows when you're awake * * He knows when you've been bad or good * * So be good for goodness sake * Hey.
Hi! What are you guys doing here? Oh, we missed you.
I know better than to wait at home.
Hi.
I brought cookies.
You did? Great.
Merry Christmas, Dad.
I want to tell you again how sorry I am for getting those gifts all mixed up.
Oh, forget about it, Nick.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you, Dad.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, son.
Merry Christmas.
BRIDGES: Get some cider over there.
I'm gonna get some.
Merry Christmas, Evan.
Uh, thanks.
Guys, I thought we said no gifts this year.
No, no, you were a very good boy.
We had no choice.
* sleeping * * He knows when you're awake * * He knows if you've been bad or good * * So you better be good for goodness sake * * Better be good for goodness sake * * He's making a list, he's checking it * * Whose naughty or nice * Hey, I tried to call you.
I tried to call you, too.
Um, can we can we go somewhere and-and talk privately for a moment? Good idea.
Damn! It got cold.
Listen, uh, it's about the gift.
I can't accept this, Nash.
Don't get me wrong.
They're absolutely beautiful.
It's-it's just that I don't feel comfortable accepting it.
(laughs) Well, that's good, because Nick screwed it up.
He mixed up the gifts, and you got a family heirloom.
I haven't gotten yours back yet, but I will.
No, don't, really.
You don't have to.
(laughs) Nash there's so much you don't know about me, and I-I I just don't think that Shh.
What did you do that for? Felt like it.
Wanted to.
I'm glad you wanted to.
(laughs) (sighs) Oh, my God, it's snowing.
(laughs) (bells clanging) It's midnight.
Merry Christmas, Angel.
Merry Christmas, Nash.
Merry Christmas, Whitney.
Merry Christmas.
(scatting to the tune of "Jingle Bells") (singing "Jingle Bells" in Spanish)