Walker, Texas Ranger s02e20 Episode Script
The Long Haul
Let's go! Let's go! And it's Thunder Dan, the winner in the top category.
The event youÂve been waiting for, the stock tractor drag racing finals.
That's Lou Comstock in the Texas Roadrunner.
And behind the wheel of the Skyhawks Last Stand, Buddy Skyhawk.
- He's going to win.
I just know he is.
- He's one heck of a driver.
I taught him to shift gears on that old tractor of mine.
He crashed into your barn the first time you let him solo.
IÂm just so proud of Buddy.
I love him so much.
And the winner of the $1O,OOO first prize is Buddy Skyhawk! - We did it.
You, me, and Blue Heart.
- Blue Heart? Linda made it for my birthday.
Blue Heart was pullin' for me.
Always knew you had it in you.
Guess you'll make - the last payment on your rig.
- Right.
Let's all cash a rain check and celebrate.
- You got it.
- Oh, Buddy.
Oh, yeah.
I can't.
I got this great job tomorrow.
Big computer outfit, they're trying me out.
This could be the turning point for me.
No more chickens, sugar beets.
No more 28-hour days or three-hour turnarounds.
- That's great, kids.
- We'll take a rain check on it.
We got to get you out of the rain.
- Hey, could you fill her up? - You got it.
Hey, Skyhawk.
I heard you done real good today.
Yeah, fooled them again.
IÂm lookin' for a load.
I need one today.
Got any ideas? - IÂm lucky to have one myself.
- There's a load of alfalfa cubes looking for a ride to Wichita.
Talk to Ben over at P&G Freight.
- IÂll do that, Callie.
Thanks.
- Sure.
You still haulin' chickens for Riskin Farms? Maybe tomorrow, but not today.
I got a load of computers from Bellwood Electronics.
All-night run to Corpus Christi.
There's a major tie-up on the freeway, just before the scales.
It's gonna be at least a three-hour delay.
Damn.
I got to be there by sundown.
Hey, no big deal.
Why don't you take the 171 cut-off.
That'll run you through Hubbard.
Then catch the 31, it'll deliver you back to the 35 just north of Waco.
Rabbit's a half mile from the Hubbard cut-off.
He's changing lanes.
Looks like we got a go.
Bird Dog to Dragnet.
Rabbit's on the 171.
He's all yours.
- What's going on? - Bridge damaged from yesterday's storm.
- What's your gross? - Fifty ton.
IÂm sorry, you're either gonna have to go back the way you came - or take the detour.
- What's the detour? The quarry road.
It'll bring you to the highway in five miles.
- What shape's it in? - We've sent a few rigs down it today.
- You won't have a problem.
- OK.
Thanks, officer.
Dragnet to Hammer.
Rabbit's on the platter and we're on the back door.
What the hell? Get out! Come on, man.
IÂm just a poor guy trying to make a living.
Well, you want to live through this, don't you? Frisk him.
Come on.
Don't shoot me.
Please, I got a wife.
I got a kid on the way.
You're breaking my heart.
These guys, they've got a sad story to tell, don't they? They're hijacking my rig! They're trying to kill me.
- Really? - Well, if they don't, we will.
Lose something, Frank? Why don't you walk his sorry butt up to the edge of that cliff.
You guys aren't gonna get away with this.
You know, they didn't have truck rodeos when I was pushin' a rig years ago.
I didn't know you drove trucks back then.
- Yeah.
- That when they ran on steam? I tell you about the time I lost my brakes on the St.
George grate? - IÂm sure you're getting ready to.
- I had a load of sticks from Provo.
I hit the top of the gorge comin' down.
Excuse me.
IÂm sorry to bother you, Walker, but it's about Buddy.
- What happened? - That's just it.
I don't know.
He always calls to say when he's coming home.
- He didn't call? - No.
He should have been back from Corpus Christi hours ago.
- Maybe he broke down.
- Not the way he keeps his rig tuned.
There's more.
I just got a call from the dispatcher.
He said Buddy never delivered his load.
He was awful mad.
He said he'd call the police and report Buddy for hijacking.
Shoot.
He wouldn't do a thing like that.
I hate to say this, Linda, but maybe he had an accident.
- Could you check for me? - Yeah, IÂll check.
Go sit by the phone and we'll call as soon as we find out anything.
OK.
- Don't worry.
- Thanks, Walker.
All right.
Yeah, thanks.
Highway Patrol has no record of big rig accidents yesterday.
No Skyhawk in hospital or jail between here and Corpus Christi.
No record of Skyhawk's rig comin' through the weigh station.
That means he had to turn off before he got there.
Why? Gotta come through Austin, that's straight down the interstate.
Well, the only other route is the Hubbard turnoff.
Let's take a ride.
Why take the cut-off? That'd add two, three hours to the trip, right? Yeah.
Look at this, Trivette.
There were flares across this road.
IÂll find out what accident they had here.
OK.
- Yeah, this is Trivette.
- Go ahead, Ranger.
Yeah, we're out at the 171.
Got any accidents in the last 48 hours here? Stand by, Ranger Trivette.
We'll run a search on traffic incidents.
No.
State police report nothing in that area.
No reports of accidents in this area.
A heavy rig went down this dirt road.
Why would it do that? Let's find out.
The rig slammed on its brakes here.
Looks like they locked up.
Looks like the big rig was cut off by another vehicle coming from the other direction.
- The fatter tire's probably a pick-up.
- Four-by-four.
- Judging from footprints, three men.
- Four.
Hey, looks like we got another vehicle stopping the rig from behind, - with two men in it.
- Yeah, I know.
All right, that's seven men altogether.
But only one of 'em's wearing cowboy boots.
Buddy Skyhawk wears cowboy boots.
So do we and half of Texas.
Trivette! - Is he alive? - Barely! Get a medevac chopper here.
Now! Hang in there, Buddy.
He's a strong boy, honey.
And IÂm sure IÂm sure he'll be OK.
- You just wait here with me.
- Did you find out anything? Checked the police impound yards, truck stops, maintenance centers.
No sign of the rig? Like it vanished off the face of the earth.
- How's Buddy? - They're still working on him.
Let's get out of here.
Nothing we can do.
You said ''hot''? That truly offends me and IÂll tell you why.
My brother-in-law owns a pawn shop.
Business is booming.
IÂm helping him.
I got a terrific buy on an eight-speed blender still in the box.
OK, how about a .
45 automatic? Can't be too careful, a lot of bad guys around.
You, sir, you look like a portable CD type of guy.
Am I right? Hey, take a look at this.
Where are you going? We're just getting started.
What? Deer rifles.
Hello, Cobalt.
Rangers Walker and Trivette.
What a pleasant surprise.
Nice to see you.
Nice to see you.
- You got my hand - Right where I want it.
We agreed you wouldn't do this anymore.
This was the last time.
Honest.
Sort of a ''going out of business'' sale.
How am I gonna explain this to your parole officer? He's gonna be very unhappy.
Come on, give me a break just this once.
Off the trunk, please.
Tell us who hijacked a load of computers.
Computers? Gee, you got me.
Yeah, we do.
OK, look.
I was tellin' the truth, honest.
I do know somebody that bought computers this morning.
- What kind? - Bellwood, top of the line.
Keep going.
The Cuadroza brothers got a trunkful to sell on the black market in Guadalajara.
- Where are they located? - IÂll write the address down.
Please let me.
- Right there.
- Where's the monitor? - Hold on a minute, boys.
- We're looking for Manny Cuadroza.
- Texas Rangers.
- Yeah? What do you want him for? Well, if you're Manny, we want to know who sold you these computers.
- IÂve got nothing to say.
- It's either here or downtown.
- Now do you feel like talking? - Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
I wanna know who hijacked those computers.
You know how it works on the street.
Some middleman calls, cash changes hands, they say where to pick it up.
I never saw hijackers.
- What did you see? - Nothing.
Only thing I know is they're bad.
And they're here to do big business.
Walker.
- Is that you? - Yeah, it's me, Buddy.
- They took my load.
- Yeah, I know.
How did they get you on that road? Cops had a roadblock.
Cops? Cops were involved? I think it started at the South Fork truck stop.
I saw a green van out of my back door.
OK, just take it easy.
We'll check into it.
By the way, IÂve got something for you.
It saved your life.
It stopped the bullet.
I told you it was good luck.
Yeah, you did.
Cops, roadblocks Think he's delirious? Well, maybe.
I think I know a way to find out.
- Are you crazy? - What's so crazy about it? All IÂm asking for is a rig and 1OO TV sets.
- Where am I supposed to get the money? - From your sting fund.
What if they don't take the bait? How are they gonna know about this? Oh, no.
Not him again.
You know, that's gratitude.
When I risked my life for you.
OK, Cobalt, here's the deal.
I want you to put the word out in the street that you can broker 1 OO TV sets and your client's willing to pay top dollar if he can take delivery tomorrow.
- Yeah.
What's in it for me? - You get to have your merchandise back.
Come on, man, look, I am a man of honor, OK.
Hey, get ''His Honor'' out of here.
Come on, let's go.
So, who's gonna drive the truck? No, when you downshift, you have to double-clutch.
OK, OK.
OK, now apply the brakes gently.
Well, that wasn't too bad, but your ''gently'' needs a little work.
How often I have to tell you? - Pretend it's uphill.
- Don't yell.
- You're making me nervous.
- Who's making who nervous? You're doing all right.
But you can lose the horn.
- Not bad.
- Well, is it over? IÂd like to see you back up.
- Oh, I gotta back up? - You should be able to.
It's easy.
It's how easy? Well, it's like rollerblading backwards through a revolving door carrying three sets of skis.
- I got a comment and a question.
- What? One, I hate your guts.
Two, why can't you drive this tonight? Because my face has been all over the news.
- What's the thing when you back up? - Pray.
Look in your rearview mirror.
You're late.
- Sorry, Frank - Sorry is between ''spit'' and ''sympathy'' in the dictionary.
You wanna be part of this outfit, you better be here when the meeting starts.
So what do you got for us? I got a reefer of pork, plumbing fixtures and a load of steel, - but that's iffy.
- That's not good enough! I told you I want things that I can turn over in 1 2 hours.
Keep your ears open for liquor and TV sets.
I got buyers for both.
OK.
OK, well, what about those computers? - Oh, yeah.
- Yeah.
Worked out real nice.
Here's your cut.
Ten grand.
We pass out the shares at the beginning.
Sort of an incentive to get here on time.
You didn't hurt that driver, did you? Buddy Skyhawk, he's a nice guy.
Trust me, Callie He didn't feel a thing.
Oh, God, Frank, l Hey! You came to me with your sad story about getting your butt pinched by guys with initials for first names.
Welcome to the club, sweetheart.
Liquor and television sets, Callie.
You get that through your bird-brain, airhead? Yeah.
- Good buddy, comin' up on a truck stop.
- OK, go ahead, and pull on in.
And don't hit the pumps.
Easy for you to say.
Yes, sir? Well, fill 'er up.
IÂll be back in a second.
Got a load of TV's bound for San Antone in there.
OK.
Yes, I'm an ol' cowhand Boys, the bears are bad out there tonight.
Seen at least ten of 'em on my way from Denton.
Them Smokeys are gettin' thick as thieves.
No doubt about that.
What you hauling? I got enough TVs on board to make couch potatoes out of half of San Antone.
- Who you hauling for? - Independent.
- Thank you.
- What else can I get you? Wrap a couple bear claws and fill that up for me.
They got any extra loads? I really need one, I do.
Well, not that I know of.
Can you tell me the fastest way into San Antone? I haven't been out this way in a long time.
Well, best way to get to San Antone is just get on l-35 and go south - as far as you can till you get there.
- You might check with Farley.
I overheard something about needing someone to ride shotgun with him.
That's good, Callie.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Well, keep them between the ditches.
Yes, sir, Chilton.
Your hat there.
Oh, thanks.
You think those Smokeys were heavy south of Denton, wait'll you see them - on the 35 between here and Waco.
- Is that right? IÂd avoid it if you need to make good time.
- I do need to make good time.
- Take the Hubbard cut-off.
You know, Highway 171 to the 31? That ought to give you pedal to the metal right into Waco.
Thank you.
Appreciate it.
Keep the change.
Thank you.
Yeah.
- Pleasure doing business with you.
- And thank you.
Bird Dog to Hammer.
We got us a real fat rabbit.
Walker, that van is still following me.
Good.
Looks like the hook is set.
I think the waitress is the one that baited me.
Could be.
The Hubbard cut-offs in a half a mile.
- What lane you in? - Middle.
- Move over now.
- All right.
Trivette, get a grip.
You said now.
Bird Dog to Dragnet, we got a go.
Rabbit's moving toward the cut-off.
Should be easy.
Looks like he's drunk.
Scrub the operation.
He's coming toward you with a real Smokey on his tail.
- What's going on up there? - A patrol car's stopping us.
Buddy said cops were involved, so be careful.
All right.
West Hill Unit 1, Lincoln- Adam-David- Young-John - What seems to be the problem? - License and registration.
Step down out of the rig, please.
- Have you been drinking? - No, I haven't been drinking.
- Straight line, heel to toe.
- Great.
Great.
Stand square, put both hands out to your side.
Left hand, right hand.
Right hand, left hand.
Spell Mississippi.
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I.
Very good.
Thank you.
No.
Thank you, officer.
You were telling the truth about not drinking.
Yeah, yeah.
IÂm gonna write you up for reckless driving.
Have a good evening, you hear? What happened? Got a damn ticket.
You didn't want me to blow our cover.
Bad break, dang it.
We probably scared them off.
- So what do we do now? - IÂll think of something.
No chance.
Absolutely not.
- You blew your budget.
- We were this close.
Are you brain-dead? What in the hell ever possessed you - to let him drive a truck? - Hey! You broke my operational bank.
Five thousand dollars on the truck and trailer rental, plus $3O,OOO in damages from Phil the TV King? I should've been driving that.
You may not know, I can push one of them.
I never will forget one time I was on a little old road in Arkansas, just winding through the mountains, rain everywhere - C.
D.
Are you sure you'd like to drive? - You bet your bottom dollar.
lf you're willing to drive, I know where to get a rig.
Where are you gonna get the truck? At the impound.
Dallas PD just confiscated one this morning.
- But there is just one other thing.
- Yeah? What is that? - Didn't you just get a load of liquor? - Yeah, I mean - So what? - IÂd like to load the rig - with your liquor.
- Oh, now Wait a minute.
lf we lose that load of liquor, IÂm in trouble.
What's going to happen to it? You'll be driving.
lf you're gonna be in the trailer Why the hell does it have to be loaded? I don't wanna take the rig over the scale empty, - in case someone's watching.
- Well, that That makes sense.
Besides that, IÂm not gonna be in back of the truck.
Trivette is.
- No end to the persecution.
- IÂll be following in my truck.
You still have that tracking device that you keep wanting me to use? Satellite triangulation? It could follow a rat through a wall if it wanted to.
I want to take down the whole operation, - not just the hijackers.
- Don't bust 'em on the road.
- Bust them on their home turf.
- You got it.
- That's bright.
- Pick up the rig and load the liquor.
IÂll talk to Cobalt about putting the word out.
Cordell, wait just a minute, will you? You're sure that liquor's gonna be all right? C.
D.
, nothing will happen to your liquor.
Coffee and a few kind words, honey.
- We'll start with coffee.
- Thank you.
- Can I top that off for you? - You bet.
Haven't seen you through here before.
I generally run west out of Denver.
- Who you hauling for? - Orsenoff Brothers.
The liquor wholesaler.
IÂm taking over for their driver.
He's getting married.
This guy weighs about 1 2O pounds, about six foot four inches tall.
Wouldn't make a racket on dry leaves.
He's marrying this little old gal about five foot tall.
She weighs about five pounds less than a baby grand piano.
- Life's funny, ain't it? - You know, I just heard traffic's really bad.
It's a three-hour delay.
It's a parking lot at the scales.
- The scales? - It's bad.
There is a way around it, if you're interested.
Tell me about it.
Well, you just go down Route 1 31 to There's a van on your back door.
See him? Yeah.
Yeah, I got him.
OK, IÂm pulling out.
They're sending me the same place they sent Buddy and Jimmy.
OK, IÂm tracking him.
Bird Dog to Dragnet.
The rabbit's on 171.
He's all yours.
Returning to base.
This roadblock looks good to me.
OK, be careful, C.
D.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but we have a damaged bridge up ahead.
- What's your gross? - About 2O tons.
Oh, it's only about three miles.
I hope it's in good shape.
I got some expensive glass back here.
County maintains it.
Yeah, you should be OK.
Good.
Much obliged.
You be careful.
I'm gonna lay back and track you to theirbase on the homer.
You guys be ready.
- How'd it go? - Smooth.
You're better than that lady in Abilene.
Who knows? You may last longer.
Hey, Callie, what did that old Texas Ranger want? - What old Texas Ranger? - You know, C.
D.
Parker, the one in the green mackinaw.
Boy, he He was a pistol in his day.
He's still working for them sometimes, I understand.
- Get out of the truck, old man.
- Bird Dog to Hammer.
Scrub the mission.
It's a setup.
The driver is a Texas Ranger.
Repeat.
Scrub the mission.
Too late for that.
- Hammer to Dragnet, you hear that? - We copy.
- Well, get in here and cover us.
- Tell Johnny-come-lately to cool it.
Somebody watching your back door? You hope somebody's watching yours.
Maybe they're inside it? Come on.
We've been made.
They got C.
D.
IÂm on my way! We're opening up the door, Ranger.
Throw out your gun.
Get up inside there.
- Drop it.
- lf you want him to live another day, you throw that gun down.
Get this old man in there.
There's probably a couple more Rangers on our tail.
Check the rig.
They're probably using a homer.
Go ahead.
I got it.
You be careful, Fiske.
He may still be alive.
- Where'd they go? - I don't know! Wrong answer! Where'd they go? OK! OK! And clear that pallet.
Keep coming, keep coming.
Come on, let's go.
You're gonna spend a lot of time with Uncle Bud, if you hang around this fella.
Hijacking, kidnapping two Texas Rangers.
Yeah, well, there's gonna be two less Texas Rangers.
- You all right? - Yeah, IÂm OK.
Take them tothe old post road, cap them.
Drop their bodies in that shaft we used for the truck driver.
It was almost a minute before I heard him hit bottom.
That was a fall? Let's see how you go down.
Don't do it, Jimmy, don't.
You're the best thing they could throw at us? Yeah, we'll be in business for a long time.
What the? No! No! Not that way! Oh, no! No, not again, please! He's out of bullets.
Let's go get him.
Cordell, just look what's happened to that truckload of booze.
- IÂm sorry about that.
- You promised me nothing would happen.
Can't be right every time.
Looks like Eliot Ness has been here.
Don't y'all be running off anywhere.
IÂm gonna get a whole carload of booze in just a few minutes.
I got California Coolers, Texas White Lightning, Oklahoma Sooners back there.
See ya later.
We got chili, we got buffalo wings.
You can shoot pool.
There are all kinds of things to do here Why are you smiling like a damn Cheshire cat? - I said IÂm sorry.
What can I do? - It just breaks my heart - for 'em to go to Flannery's.
- Oh, they'll be back.
Good news.
Buddy's out of the hospital.
With Callie turning state's evidence, Slattery will never see light of day.
- This calls for a celebration.
- With what? This place is as quiet as a buggy-whip factory.
Here we go again, C.
D.
I lost a load of booze in the line of service.
I should be compensated.
The good news is, the DA and mayor happen to agree with you.
- Good.
- Yes.
They are going to present you with Are you ready for this? an official commendation and a certificate of gratitude signed by the mayor to C.
D.
Parker for his selfless service and devotion to the community.
Hear, hear.
- They gonna mail me a check? - It'll look great above the bar.
Nothing looks great above the bar unless you've got booze beneath it! - Where the hell are y'all going? - Flannery's.
- For what? - For a drink.
To celebrate.
Deserters.
That's what they are.
Deserters.
The event youÂve been waiting for, the stock tractor drag racing finals.
That's Lou Comstock in the Texas Roadrunner.
And behind the wheel of the Skyhawks Last Stand, Buddy Skyhawk.
- He's going to win.
I just know he is.
- He's one heck of a driver.
I taught him to shift gears on that old tractor of mine.
He crashed into your barn the first time you let him solo.
IÂm just so proud of Buddy.
I love him so much.
And the winner of the $1O,OOO first prize is Buddy Skyhawk! - We did it.
You, me, and Blue Heart.
- Blue Heart? Linda made it for my birthday.
Blue Heart was pullin' for me.
Always knew you had it in you.
Guess you'll make - the last payment on your rig.
- Right.
Let's all cash a rain check and celebrate.
- You got it.
- Oh, Buddy.
Oh, yeah.
I can't.
I got this great job tomorrow.
Big computer outfit, they're trying me out.
This could be the turning point for me.
No more chickens, sugar beets.
No more 28-hour days or three-hour turnarounds.
- That's great, kids.
- We'll take a rain check on it.
We got to get you out of the rain.
- Hey, could you fill her up? - You got it.
Hey, Skyhawk.
I heard you done real good today.
Yeah, fooled them again.
IÂm lookin' for a load.
I need one today.
Got any ideas? - IÂm lucky to have one myself.
- There's a load of alfalfa cubes looking for a ride to Wichita.
Talk to Ben over at P&G Freight.
- IÂll do that, Callie.
Thanks.
- Sure.
You still haulin' chickens for Riskin Farms? Maybe tomorrow, but not today.
I got a load of computers from Bellwood Electronics.
All-night run to Corpus Christi.
There's a major tie-up on the freeway, just before the scales.
It's gonna be at least a three-hour delay.
Damn.
I got to be there by sundown.
Hey, no big deal.
Why don't you take the 171 cut-off.
That'll run you through Hubbard.
Then catch the 31, it'll deliver you back to the 35 just north of Waco.
Rabbit's a half mile from the Hubbard cut-off.
He's changing lanes.
Looks like we got a go.
Bird Dog to Dragnet.
Rabbit's on the 171.
He's all yours.
- What's going on? - Bridge damaged from yesterday's storm.
- What's your gross? - Fifty ton.
IÂm sorry, you're either gonna have to go back the way you came - or take the detour.
- What's the detour? The quarry road.
It'll bring you to the highway in five miles.
- What shape's it in? - We've sent a few rigs down it today.
- You won't have a problem.
- OK.
Thanks, officer.
Dragnet to Hammer.
Rabbit's on the platter and we're on the back door.
What the hell? Get out! Come on, man.
IÂm just a poor guy trying to make a living.
Well, you want to live through this, don't you? Frisk him.
Come on.
Don't shoot me.
Please, I got a wife.
I got a kid on the way.
You're breaking my heart.
These guys, they've got a sad story to tell, don't they? They're hijacking my rig! They're trying to kill me.
- Really? - Well, if they don't, we will.
Lose something, Frank? Why don't you walk his sorry butt up to the edge of that cliff.
You guys aren't gonna get away with this.
You know, they didn't have truck rodeos when I was pushin' a rig years ago.
I didn't know you drove trucks back then.
- Yeah.
- That when they ran on steam? I tell you about the time I lost my brakes on the St.
George grate? - IÂm sure you're getting ready to.
- I had a load of sticks from Provo.
I hit the top of the gorge comin' down.
Excuse me.
IÂm sorry to bother you, Walker, but it's about Buddy.
- What happened? - That's just it.
I don't know.
He always calls to say when he's coming home.
- He didn't call? - No.
He should have been back from Corpus Christi hours ago.
- Maybe he broke down.
- Not the way he keeps his rig tuned.
There's more.
I just got a call from the dispatcher.
He said Buddy never delivered his load.
He was awful mad.
He said he'd call the police and report Buddy for hijacking.
Shoot.
He wouldn't do a thing like that.
I hate to say this, Linda, but maybe he had an accident.
- Could you check for me? - Yeah, IÂll check.
Go sit by the phone and we'll call as soon as we find out anything.
OK.
- Don't worry.
- Thanks, Walker.
All right.
Yeah, thanks.
Highway Patrol has no record of big rig accidents yesterday.
No Skyhawk in hospital or jail between here and Corpus Christi.
No record of Skyhawk's rig comin' through the weigh station.
That means he had to turn off before he got there.
Why? Gotta come through Austin, that's straight down the interstate.
Well, the only other route is the Hubbard turnoff.
Let's take a ride.
Why take the cut-off? That'd add two, three hours to the trip, right? Yeah.
Look at this, Trivette.
There were flares across this road.
IÂll find out what accident they had here.
OK.
- Yeah, this is Trivette.
- Go ahead, Ranger.
Yeah, we're out at the 171.
Got any accidents in the last 48 hours here? Stand by, Ranger Trivette.
We'll run a search on traffic incidents.
No.
State police report nothing in that area.
No reports of accidents in this area.
A heavy rig went down this dirt road.
Why would it do that? Let's find out.
The rig slammed on its brakes here.
Looks like they locked up.
Looks like the big rig was cut off by another vehicle coming from the other direction.
- The fatter tire's probably a pick-up.
- Four-by-four.
- Judging from footprints, three men.
- Four.
Hey, looks like we got another vehicle stopping the rig from behind, - with two men in it.
- Yeah, I know.
All right, that's seven men altogether.
But only one of 'em's wearing cowboy boots.
Buddy Skyhawk wears cowboy boots.
So do we and half of Texas.
Trivette! - Is he alive? - Barely! Get a medevac chopper here.
Now! Hang in there, Buddy.
He's a strong boy, honey.
And IÂm sure IÂm sure he'll be OK.
- You just wait here with me.
- Did you find out anything? Checked the police impound yards, truck stops, maintenance centers.
No sign of the rig? Like it vanished off the face of the earth.
- How's Buddy? - They're still working on him.
Let's get out of here.
Nothing we can do.
You said ''hot''? That truly offends me and IÂll tell you why.
My brother-in-law owns a pawn shop.
Business is booming.
IÂm helping him.
I got a terrific buy on an eight-speed blender still in the box.
OK, how about a .
45 automatic? Can't be too careful, a lot of bad guys around.
You, sir, you look like a portable CD type of guy.
Am I right? Hey, take a look at this.
Where are you going? We're just getting started.
What? Deer rifles.
Hello, Cobalt.
Rangers Walker and Trivette.
What a pleasant surprise.
Nice to see you.
Nice to see you.
- You got my hand - Right where I want it.
We agreed you wouldn't do this anymore.
This was the last time.
Honest.
Sort of a ''going out of business'' sale.
How am I gonna explain this to your parole officer? He's gonna be very unhappy.
Come on, give me a break just this once.
Off the trunk, please.
Tell us who hijacked a load of computers.
Computers? Gee, you got me.
Yeah, we do.
OK, look.
I was tellin' the truth, honest.
I do know somebody that bought computers this morning.
- What kind? - Bellwood, top of the line.
Keep going.
The Cuadroza brothers got a trunkful to sell on the black market in Guadalajara.
- Where are they located? - IÂll write the address down.
Please let me.
- Right there.
- Where's the monitor? - Hold on a minute, boys.
- We're looking for Manny Cuadroza.
- Texas Rangers.
- Yeah? What do you want him for? Well, if you're Manny, we want to know who sold you these computers.
- IÂve got nothing to say.
- It's either here or downtown.
- Now do you feel like talking? - Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
I wanna know who hijacked those computers.
You know how it works on the street.
Some middleman calls, cash changes hands, they say where to pick it up.
I never saw hijackers.
- What did you see? - Nothing.
Only thing I know is they're bad.
And they're here to do big business.
Walker.
- Is that you? - Yeah, it's me, Buddy.
- They took my load.
- Yeah, I know.
How did they get you on that road? Cops had a roadblock.
Cops? Cops were involved? I think it started at the South Fork truck stop.
I saw a green van out of my back door.
OK, just take it easy.
We'll check into it.
By the way, IÂve got something for you.
It saved your life.
It stopped the bullet.
I told you it was good luck.
Yeah, you did.
Cops, roadblocks Think he's delirious? Well, maybe.
I think I know a way to find out.
- Are you crazy? - What's so crazy about it? All IÂm asking for is a rig and 1OO TV sets.
- Where am I supposed to get the money? - From your sting fund.
What if they don't take the bait? How are they gonna know about this? Oh, no.
Not him again.
You know, that's gratitude.
When I risked my life for you.
OK, Cobalt, here's the deal.
I want you to put the word out in the street that you can broker 1 OO TV sets and your client's willing to pay top dollar if he can take delivery tomorrow.
- Yeah.
What's in it for me? - You get to have your merchandise back.
Come on, man, look, I am a man of honor, OK.
Hey, get ''His Honor'' out of here.
Come on, let's go.
So, who's gonna drive the truck? No, when you downshift, you have to double-clutch.
OK, OK.
OK, now apply the brakes gently.
Well, that wasn't too bad, but your ''gently'' needs a little work.
How often I have to tell you? - Pretend it's uphill.
- Don't yell.
- You're making me nervous.
- Who's making who nervous? You're doing all right.
But you can lose the horn.
- Not bad.
- Well, is it over? IÂd like to see you back up.
- Oh, I gotta back up? - You should be able to.
It's easy.
It's how easy? Well, it's like rollerblading backwards through a revolving door carrying three sets of skis.
- I got a comment and a question.
- What? One, I hate your guts.
Two, why can't you drive this tonight? Because my face has been all over the news.
- What's the thing when you back up? - Pray.
Look in your rearview mirror.
You're late.
- Sorry, Frank - Sorry is between ''spit'' and ''sympathy'' in the dictionary.
You wanna be part of this outfit, you better be here when the meeting starts.
So what do you got for us? I got a reefer of pork, plumbing fixtures and a load of steel, - but that's iffy.
- That's not good enough! I told you I want things that I can turn over in 1 2 hours.
Keep your ears open for liquor and TV sets.
I got buyers for both.
OK.
OK, well, what about those computers? - Oh, yeah.
- Yeah.
Worked out real nice.
Here's your cut.
Ten grand.
We pass out the shares at the beginning.
Sort of an incentive to get here on time.
You didn't hurt that driver, did you? Buddy Skyhawk, he's a nice guy.
Trust me, Callie He didn't feel a thing.
Oh, God, Frank, l Hey! You came to me with your sad story about getting your butt pinched by guys with initials for first names.
Welcome to the club, sweetheart.
Liquor and television sets, Callie.
You get that through your bird-brain, airhead? Yeah.
- Good buddy, comin' up on a truck stop.
- OK, go ahead, and pull on in.
And don't hit the pumps.
Easy for you to say.
Yes, sir? Well, fill 'er up.
IÂll be back in a second.
Got a load of TV's bound for San Antone in there.
OK.
Yes, I'm an ol' cowhand Boys, the bears are bad out there tonight.
Seen at least ten of 'em on my way from Denton.
Them Smokeys are gettin' thick as thieves.
No doubt about that.
What you hauling? I got enough TVs on board to make couch potatoes out of half of San Antone.
- Who you hauling for? - Independent.
- Thank you.
- What else can I get you? Wrap a couple bear claws and fill that up for me.
They got any extra loads? I really need one, I do.
Well, not that I know of.
Can you tell me the fastest way into San Antone? I haven't been out this way in a long time.
Well, best way to get to San Antone is just get on l-35 and go south - as far as you can till you get there.
- You might check with Farley.
I overheard something about needing someone to ride shotgun with him.
That's good, Callie.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Well, keep them between the ditches.
Yes, sir, Chilton.
Your hat there.
Oh, thanks.
You think those Smokeys were heavy south of Denton, wait'll you see them - on the 35 between here and Waco.
- Is that right? IÂd avoid it if you need to make good time.
- I do need to make good time.
- Take the Hubbard cut-off.
You know, Highway 171 to the 31? That ought to give you pedal to the metal right into Waco.
Thank you.
Appreciate it.
Keep the change.
Thank you.
Yeah.
- Pleasure doing business with you.
- And thank you.
Bird Dog to Hammer.
We got us a real fat rabbit.
Walker, that van is still following me.
Good.
Looks like the hook is set.
I think the waitress is the one that baited me.
Could be.
The Hubbard cut-offs in a half a mile.
- What lane you in? - Middle.
- Move over now.
- All right.
Trivette, get a grip.
You said now.
Bird Dog to Dragnet, we got a go.
Rabbit's moving toward the cut-off.
Should be easy.
Looks like he's drunk.
Scrub the operation.
He's coming toward you with a real Smokey on his tail.
- What's going on up there? - A patrol car's stopping us.
Buddy said cops were involved, so be careful.
All right.
West Hill Unit 1, Lincoln- Adam-David- Young-John - What seems to be the problem? - License and registration.
Step down out of the rig, please.
- Have you been drinking? - No, I haven't been drinking.
- Straight line, heel to toe.
- Great.
Great.
Stand square, put both hands out to your side.
Left hand, right hand.
Right hand, left hand.
Spell Mississippi.
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I.
Very good.
Thank you.
No.
Thank you, officer.
You were telling the truth about not drinking.
Yeah, yeah.
IÂm gonna write you up for reckless driving.
Have a good evening, you hear? What happened? Got a damn ticket.
You didn't want me to blow our cover.
Bad break, dang it.
We probably scared them off.
- So what do we do now? - IÂll think of something.
No chance.
Absolutely not.
- You blew your budget.
- We were this close.
Are you brain-dead? What in the hell ever possessed you - to let him drive a truck? - Hey! You broke my operational bank.
Five thousand dollars on the truck and trailer rental, plus $3O,OOO in damages from Phil the TV King? I should've been driving that.
You may not know, I can push one of them.
I never will forget one time I was on a little old road in Arkansas, just winding through the mountains, rain everywhere - C.
D.
Are you sure you'd like to drive? - You bet your bottom dollar.
lf you're willing to drive, I know where to get a rig.
Where are you gonna get the truck? At the impound.
Dallas PD just confiscated one this morning.
- But there is just one other thing.
- Yeah? What is that? - Didn't you just get a load of liquor? - Yeah, I mean - So what? - IÂd like to load the rig - with your liquor.
- Oh, now Wait a minute.
lf we lose that load of liquor, IÂm in trouble.
What's going to happen to it? You'll be driving.
lf you're gonna be in the trailer Why the hell does it have to be loaded? I don't wanna take the rig over the scale empty, - in case someone's watching.
- Well, that That makes sense.
Besides that, IÂm not gonna be in back of the truck.
Trivette is.
- No end to the persecution.
- IÂll be following in my truck.
You still have that tracking device that you keep wanting me to use? Satellite triangulation? It could follow a rat through a wall if it wanted to.
I want to take down the whole operation, - not just the hijackers.
- Don't bust 'em on the road.
- Bust them on their home turf.
- You got it.
- That's bright.
- Pick up the rig and load the liquor.
IÂll talk to Cobalt about putting the word out.
Cordell, wait just a minute, will you? You're sure that liquor's gonna be all right? C.
D.
, nothing will happen to your liquor.
Coffee and a few kind words, honey.
- We'll start with coffee.
- Thank you.
- Can I top that off for you? - You bet.
Haven't seen you through here before.
I generally run west out of Denver.
- Who you hauling for? - Orsenoff Brothers.
The liquor wholesaler.
IÂm taking over for their driver.
He's getting married.
This guy weighs about 1 2O pounds, about six foot four inches tall.
Wouldn't make a racket on dry leaves.
He's marrying this little old gal about five foot tall.
She weighs about five pounds less than a baby grand piano.
- Life's funny, ain't it? - You know, I just heard traffic's really bad.
It's a three-hour delay.
It's a parking lot at the scales.
- The scales? - It's bad.
There is a way around it, if you're interested.
Tell me about it.
Well, you just go down Route 1 31 to There's a van on your back door.
See him? Yeah.
Yeah, I got him.
OK, IÂm pulling out.
They're sending me the same place they sent Buddy and Jimmy.
OK, IÂm tracking him.
Bird Dog to Dragnet.
The rabbit's on 171.
He's all yours.
Returning to base.
This roadblock looks good to me.
OK, be careful, C.
D.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but we have a damaged bridge up ahead.
- What's your gross? - About 2O tons.
Oh, it's only about three miles.
I hope it's in good shape.
I got some expensive glass back here.
County maintains it.
Yeah, you should be OK.
Good.
Much obliged.
You be careful.
I'm gonna lay back and track you to theirbase on the homer.
You guys be ready.
- How'd it go? - Smooth.
You're better than that lady in Abilene.
Who knows? You may last longer.
Hey, Callie, what did that old Texas Ranger want? - What old Texas Ranger? - You know, C.
D.
Parker, the one in the green mackinaw.
Boy, he He was a pistol in his day.
He's still working for them sometimes, I understand.
- Get out of the truck, old man.
- Bird Dog to Hammer.
Scrub the mission.
It's a setup.
The driver is a Texas Ranger.
Repeat.
Scrub the mission.
Too late for that.
- Hammer to Dragnet, you hear that? - We copy.
- Well, get in here and cover us.
- Tell Johnny-come-lately to cool it.
Somebody watching your back door? You hope somebody's watching yours.
Maybe they're inside it? Come on.
We've been made.
They got C.
D.
IÂm on my way! We're opening up the door, Ranger.
Throw out your gun.
Get up inside there.
- Drop it.
- lf you want him to live another day, you throw that gun down.
Get this old man in there.
There's probably a couple more Rangers on our tail.
Check the rig.
They're probably using a homer.
Go ahead.
I got it.
You be careful, Fiske.
He may still be alive.
- Where'd they go? - I don't know! Wrong answer! Where'd they go? OK! OK! And clear that pallet.
Keep coming, keep coming.
Come on, let's go.
You're gonna spend a lot of time with Uncle Bud, if you hang around this fella.
Hijacking, kidnapping two Texas Rangers.
Yeah, well, there's gonna be two less Texas Rangers.
- You all right? - Yeah, IÂm OK.
Take them tothe old post road, cap them.
Drop their bodies in that shaft we used for the truck driver.
It was almost a minute before I heard him hit bottom.
That was a fall? Let's see how you go down.
Don't do it, Jimmy, don't.
You're the best thing they could throw at us? Yeah, we'll be in business for a long time.
What the? No! No! Not that way! Oh, no! No, not again, please! He's out of bullets.
Let's go get him.
Cordell, just look what's happened to that truckload of booze.
- IÂm sorry about that.
- You promised me nothing would happen.
Can't be right every time.
Looks like Eliot Ness has been here.
Don't y'all be running off anywhere.
IÂm gonna get a whole carload of booze in just a few minutes.
I got California Coolers, Texas White Lightning, Oklahoma Sooners back there.
See ya later.
We got chili, we got buffalo wings.
You can shoot pool.
There are all kinds of things to do here Why are you smiling like a damn Cheshire cat? - I said IÂm sorry.
What can I do? - It just breaks my heart - for 'em to go to Flannery's.
- Oh, they'll be back.
Good news.
Buddy's out of the hospital.
With Callie turning state's evidence, Slattery will never see light of day.
- This calls for a celebration.
- With what? This place is as quiet as a buggy-whip factory.
Here we go again, C.
D.
I lost a load of booze in the line of service.
I should be compensated.
The good news is, the DA and mayor happen to agree with you.
- Good.
- Yes.
They are going to present you with Are you ready for this? an official commendation and a certificate of gratitude signed by the mayor to C.
D.
Parker for his selfless service and devotion to the community.
Hear, hear.
- They gonna mail me a check? - It'll look great above the bar.
Nothing looks great above the bar unless you've got booze beneath it! - Where the hell are y'all going? - Flannery's.
- For what? - For a drink.
To celebrate.
Deserters.
That's what they are.
Deserters.