T.J. Hooker (1982) s03e05 Episode Script

1 - ("T.
J.
Hooker" Theme Song by by Mark Snow) - We won't have to wait much longer.
- I'm not saying that you shouldn't go after Police Intelligence.
I'm just saying I don't think you have enough evidence to turn your story into a major exposé.
- A lot of people could have had their constitutional rights violated.
The police have no business spying on any political group or individual.
- Intelligence gathering is vital to the safety of the people of this city.
Thanks to your articles, the entire Division is practically paralyzed.
- Give me a break Hooker, huh? I'm just a girl trying to get her job done.
- You're not just trying.
You're getting it done.
- I wish my dad was around to hear you say that.
He worked two jobs putting me through college, and then he died right after my first assignment.
On the last night, he said that he'd do it all over again, that it was worth it.
That's why I push so hard.
I have to be sure it was worth it.
- It was worth it.
And what you're doing is important.
And your father will always be a part of it.
- From an admirer Ms.
Jericho.
- Do you remember what happened to the last gentleman who sent me champaign? - He took a bath in Dom Perignon, vintage '64, I believe.
- And the restaurant made the second front page.
Enjoy the food and the wine.
Amore.
- Thank you.
- Gotta be Frank Como, over there by the window.
- You're a regular Sherlock Holmes.
I didn't see the creep coming in, did you? Look at this.
Thanks for whitewashing me in your loan shark story.
if it weren't for you, I'd be dining in the state prison commissary tonight.
- He's right.
- Let's do it.
(menacing music) - I'm returning your champagne, Mr.
Como.
- What are you talking about? - Read my lips.
I don't accept champagne from low-life like you.
- I didn't send you any champagne.
- Lisa! (guns fired) Check Como.
Get an ambulance.
- Are you all right? - Yes, I'd feel better if I got the shooter.
How is he? - I think he's dead.
- Lansing.
- Como.
- Somebody shot him from outside.
- This is a homicide, Sergeant Lansing.
You're Intelligence.
- So? - Just wondering what you're doing here.
- Maybe I should ask what you're doing here, Ms.
Jericho.
- She was having dinner with me.
- Yeah? Maybe you ought to check your loyalties, Hooker.
- It's the scene of a crime, so I'll overlook your smart mouth.
What are you doing here? - Since when do I have to answer to-- - Oh will you cut it out and just answer the question? - The victim, Frankie Como, we've been keeping a tail on him.
When he went in for dinner, I walked down the street to grab a cup of coffee.
- So if you'd have been on top of your man, you'd have seen this go down.
- I'm not babysitting Como, I just want to know where he is, was.
Your lady friend, Hooker.
She sandbagged a lot of my buddies, some of them even lost their pensions.
- Two of them lost their pensions, and they deserved it.
Cops like that give us all a black eye.
- She's a piranha, man.
She'll chew up everyone of us if it'll sell newspapers.
- Neither one of us is very popular here.
- But you have to be here and I don't.
Is that what you mean? - You got it.
Jim, I want you to do me a favor.
Jim, take her home for me, will ya? - Home, I can't go home; I got a story to write.
- Write it at home.
- Thanks Hooker.
I get to chauffer the queen of the mud rakers, huh? - Do me a favor, will ya? Save the political dialogue for later.
- Okay, you got it.
One favor coming up.
One Two Three Four One two three four One two three four - Hooker, I just got a call from Sergeant Lansing in Intelligence.
He says that your name's on everyone's lips over there, and what they're saying isn't very nice.
- Sticks and stones.
- Well maybe he's got a point.
Lisa Jericho came down on the Intelligence Division, and now the entire department is taking the heat.
- What has this got to do with my personal life? - That's something I shouldn't have to tell you, Hooker.
You've been teaching recruits for years that the officers in this department should stand together.
- Shoulder to shoulder, but not against the woman whose being attacked for telling the truth.
The APB turned up a stone on the powder the shooter used.
- Cliff Lansing says it stands up as a syndicate hit.
- Frank Como was loan sharking mob money to influential people who could make trouble when he tried to collect.
- Could be.
It also could be that Lansing's mistaken.
- How about getting of Lansing's back.
He was my partner for six months, Hooker, before he joined Intelligence.
He's a first-class cop and a first-class guy.
- Lisa Jericho's blowing the whistle on some heavy weights that could have put a contract out on her.
That makes me think twice about her being at Como's table when the hit went down.
I can't shake the feeling that it's more than coincidence.
- That may well be, but you know what I think? - Take it easy Jim.
- I know what you think.
You're backing Lansing.
- No, I think you have tunnel vision where that lady's concerned.
Come on partner.
- I ran into Ralph Jenkins today.
He's crying about Lisa Jericho.
Says she was preparing a smear job on him.
- The lady gets around.
- Hmm.
He's terrified that the people who control him will have him eliminated if Ms.
Jericho's story on him breaks.
He mentioned that he's having lunch with the lady tomorrow.
To head her off or buy her off.
- Good luck to him.
- I don't think you're paying any attention to me.
I said Ralph Jenkins is having lunch with Lisa Jericho, tomorrow.
It seems to me that suggests another opportunity.
- So we could use Jenkins like we tried to use Como as a screen for getting rid of Ms.
Jericho.
- But this time it has to work.
- I got Parker and Tyson sitting her.
She can't disappear.
Any chance Jenkins let drop where they'll have lunch? - I can find out for you.
Now, here's a confidential summary of the building materials delivered to my Children's Hospital site.
- What about it? - I know I agreed to use cheaper materials than we contracted for, but some of this stuff is bordering on substandard.
- Don't get precious on me, Mundy.
Without my connections, you'd be in bankruptcy.
You wanted me to get you healthy, I'm getting you healthy.
- I have a reputation as a fine builder.
- You couldn't support it.
You begged for what I could bring you.
Under-the-table labor, material contracts, well you got it.
And we're in this together.
All the way.
(distressed music) (lighthearted music) - The more I think about it, the more I think that hit was for you.
You got enemies out there.
Plenty of them.
- Not as many as Como.
Not the same kind.
- When you went over to his table, I saw him say something to you.
- About the champagne.
He said he didn't If he didn't send it, who did? - Well, maybe someone who wanted you over there at that table so they could take you out and make it look like you walked into a hit on Como.
- You're scaring me, Hooker.
- It's intended.
I want you to be careful.
I mean really careful.
I'm talking careful.
I'm serious.
- Okay, I promise.
Right now what I need is a bodyguard for lunch.
Any offers? - Yeah, I'll send up a sandwich.
- And champagne.
- I gotta talk to Armando about the champagne.
Good bye.
(Jericho giggles) (mischievous music) - The cop sticks pretty close to her.
- Not as close as we're going to.
- Armando.
- Sergeant Hooker.
- I hope you aren't looking for Ms.
Jericho.
- No, I just left her.
- I commend you on your willpower.
This is my partner, Vince Romano.
- Nice to meet you, Armando.
- I want to talk to you about last night.
That champagne and the envelope that you brought to Ms.
Jericho.
Who sent it? - A man I had never seen before.
He gave me $50 to present the champagne and the envelope to Ms.
Jericho at 8:15.
- Then it wasn't Frank Como.
- No, Mr.
Como was also a stranger to me until last night.
- What time was Mr.
Como's reservation? - 8 o'clock, and he was on time.
- When Ms.
Jericho went over to Mr.
Como's table, he was alone, but I saw him check his watch and look at the door.
Was he expecting a guest? - Yes, the reservation was for two, but evidently his guest had the good fortune of being late.
- I've got a feeling good fortunate had nothing to do with it, Armando.
- Someone went to a lot of trouble to make Lisa think the note and the champagne came from Como.
Your theory that her being at his table wasn't a coincidence is starting to look good.
- This is one time I wish I'd been on the wrong track.
- So supposing Como's girlfriend can tell us who he was meeting for dinner.
What does that give us? - Komno's no-show guest could be the shooter, could be an accomplice.
- You said Como's girlfriend was a fashion model? - Mmm-mmm.
Her name was Linda Wagner.
She's doing a bikini layout today.
- Sounds like something I should handle alone.
- Well that's very kind of you, junior, but I never lay the tough jobs off on my partner.
- All right, yes, beautiful.
I love what you're doing with your hair.
Nice, I like the color this week too, it's beautiful.
(model laughs) Okay, now we're on the beach, having fun.
Moisten your lips for me.
That's it, great, I love it, yes, beautiful, nice.
Okay good, all right, okay, give me three-quarters-- Nice, great, that's it.
- Yeah, this is the kind of lead I like to run down.
- I know, preferably alone.
Linda Wagner? - Save your film, Andre.
I have a date with a cop.
Sergeant Hooker.
My agent told me you were coming, but I don't know anything about Frank's death.
- Just want to ask you a few question.
(Romano clears throat) My partner, Vince Romano.
- Sorry to bother you so soon after the shooting.
- Yeah, well when you live with a guy like Frank, you figure it's just a matter of time.
- Frank Como's reservation at the restaurant was for two.
The other person didn't show.
Do you know who it was? - Frank didn't say, and I knew better than to ask.
- Did he mention why he chose that particular restaurant? - He didn't.
The guy he was meeting chose it.
- Then whoever it was, must have made the reservation.
- Yes, he told Frank that he liked to sit at a special table.
- Darling girl, I am in desperate trouble.
Will you please get back on the set.
- Andre will you please bug off? I'll be there in a minute.
- We don't have anymore questions for you.
Thank you very much.
- Uh, whatever Frank did, he was good to me.
The world's full of pretty girls, Sergeant.
And if Frank hadn't opened the right doors, I'd just be one of the crowd.
- Now there's a girl who tells it like it is.
- Yeah, when you sort it out, she told us what I didn't want to hear.
Somebody set up Frank Como as a way of taking out Lisa Jericho.
- [Jericho.]
How do they know this? - [Hooker.]
I don't know how they know, but they do.
The point is, someone arranged for Como to be at your favorite restaurant, and that same someone arranged for champagne to get you to Como's table.
- So they could kill you, Lisa, and make it look like an accident.
- Interesting, but I'd say the odds are against it.
Como played ball in a much tougher league than mine.
- Lisa, we've agreed you're not short on enemies.
Whose at the top of the list? - Well, discounting out now crazies, I guess Ralph Jenkins would be one.
- The restaurant supplier.
- He's been squeezing restaurants all over town, fronting for an organized crime ring.
- And your article will give him a kind of high profile his backers can't live with.
- You'd like me to believe I'm buying him a bullet.
- Jenkins.
All right, he's a possible.
Who else? - One of our city's most prominent builders, Kevin Mundy.
- You're going to unload on him? - Like a ton of bricks.
He used to be a legitimate operator, and then he got himself into a financial bind, and how he's trying to bail himself out by cutting corners on the new Children's Hospital.
There's one more, but you're not going to like it.
- Our Intelligence Division.
You're right, I don't like it.
But I'll talk to Sergeant Lansing.
And Lisa, look after yourself, for me.
- I reached Ralph Jenkins on his car phone and told him you said okay on lunch tomorrow.
- Good.
- One question.
- Shoot.
- Why didn't you tell Hooker you're having lunch with Jenkins? - That lunch is going to wrap this story.
I don't want anything getting in the way.
- We've been waiting on you Mundy.
You guys wait outside.
- I don't ever want those guys in here again, do you understand? - Don't worry about it.
Did you find out where Jenkins is having lunch with Ms.
Jericho? - Top of the Plaza, 1 o'clock.
- I'll arrange that they get a final course that's not on the menu.
- Three in the eye of the bull.
Now that is marksmanship, Stacy.
You might as well concede right now.
- We'll see about that.
Just pull your darts and give me some room.
- Okay.
Do you mind not shooting? Not bad, but not good enough.
- What's with Hooker? - He's having an anxiety attack over Lisa Jericho.
- I just talked to Lansing.
He said you really did a number on him.
- What's your point? - I still think you've forgotten what team you're on.
- Look Jim Lisa Jericho is somebody we need.
And whether she's rubbed Lansing the wrong way, or the Police Intelligence Division, or Captain Sheridan, or the whole damn department really doesn't matter.
You see, I think she's lighting candles in the darkness so the dirt can be cleaned up, and that's an important service.
- Yeah, I guess you're right.
Maybe I just needed to be reminded.
I understand what you're saying, but it sure doesn't go down easy.
- Can't argue with that.
Just sitting here knowing that she's a target and not having any way to protect her.
If she catches a bullet, Jim.
- Is there anything I can do? - Well, one of the people she's gunning for who may be gunning for her is Ralph Jenkins.
- Stacy and I will check him out first thing in the morning.
- Appreciate it.
And while you're doing that, Romano and I will zero in on another candidate, Kevin Mundy.
- Another 15 will do fine.
If there's a violation, Sergeant, my Teamster coordinator will handle it.
- We're not here because of trucks or traffic, Mr.
Mundy.
I'm here to talk to you about Lisa Jericho.
- Well you want the Sun Telegraph Building.
You missed the sign.
This is the new Children's Hospital.
- That's funny.
Lisa Jericho's writing an article about you, and you know it.
- I don't see what business that is of yours.
- You heard about the killing of Frank Como the night before last? - We have good reason to believe the rifle shots fired were meant for Lisa Jericho.
- Well I still don't see-- - What that has to do with you? - Hmm-mmm.
- You stand to lose from the pages coming out of Lisa Jericho's typewriter.
That's motive to silence the lady.
- I would watch my words, Sergeant, very carefully.
- I am, and I'm cautioning you to stick to your trade.
Soil around here has remnants of clay.
Slick.
Could be expansive.
I didn't know they allowed you to put a standard foundation on this kind of soil.
- You're into everything, aren't you, Sergeant? You can build on any surface, depending on a variety of technical factors.
If you're so concerned, soil engineering and geological reports are open for inspection at the City Building Department.
- I might just give them a look Mundy.
Safety is my business.
Public and personal.
Anything on Jenkins? - Yeah, we let him know if anything happened to Lisa, we'd come look for him.
- He's uptight about something more than Lisa.
Something even more threatening is on his case.
That was our reading.
- The syndicate Havacy works for him? - You can bet on it.
When Lisa's story breaks, he becomes instantly expendable.
- Perfect reason for him to do her in.
- Well if that's what he had in mind, why did he volunteer that he's meeting her for lunch? - What? Where? - At Top of the Plaza.
Why you don't think he'd try anything do ya? - Not if he's making announcements about lunch dates.
But we may not be the only ones who know about lunch.
- Are you saying there could be a replay of the Como hit? - And this time with Jenkins as the cover victim.
Let's go.
- [Man.]
It's okay, I'll take care of it.
(car squeals away) - Bribery is a dirty business, Mr.
Jenkins.
Just as dirty as your suspected business associates.
- You know, Ms.
Jericho, those words in print would be considered libelous.
- If they weren't true.
Look, we've been around this block a few times today, Mr.
Jenkins, and we keep coming back to the same place.
I can't be bought.
- Really? Well I've found everyone has a price.
- You're right, Mr.
Jenkins.
The problem is you can't meet my price, which is honesty and truth.
- Mobile operator, get me 555-2706.
(mischievous music) (phone rings) - Jenkins.
Yeah, she's here, hold on.
Ms.
Jericho, it's It's your office, here on the phone.
(chase music) - There's Lisa, near the Mercedes.
- I don't like what I'm seeing near that tattoo joint.
That's Marty Tyson.
I sent him up for arson.
He's an explosives expert.
Lisa, get away from the car.
There's a bomb! (exciting impending doom music) (car explodes) - Close.
- Hooker understatement.
- Stay here.
- Is he alive? - Barely.
(chase music) (guns fire) - Damn.
I needed you alive.
- You were right, Hooker.
Lisa's the target.
The question is how many times can you be there at the right moment? - That's a big question, and I don't like to think about the answer.
What does it take to convince you that you're the mark? That you're the one that someone's trying to kill? - Say you're right.
What am I supposed to do about it Hooker? We have talked about this.
The way our jobs are similar.
The way we both feel about what we do.
I can't run every time somebody threatens me anymore than you can.
- Then don't run.
But at least let me put a shield around you.
- Okay, okay, I'll tell you what I'm going to do.
You see if you can get me protection, and I'll go along with it.
I promise.
- Great, and while I'm making the arrangements-- - I have things to do.
I'll see you later.
- Lisa! - Hooker.
I just got the news.
I see you're all right.
- Yes.
- Ms.
Jericho, is she okay? - No, she's impossible.
She won't stay still.
She came in, made a statement, and ran out.
Hooker, I just got a call from Lansing, and he's decided you're right about Ms.
Jericho being the target.
So have I.
Too many coincidences.
Now, what can I do to help? - Well, the guy I took down, the one who planted the bomb, Tyson? Ask Lansing if his troops can find out who Tyson was working for lately.
- Considerate it done.
I'll have him get out the net with as many of his men on as he can.
- Great.
And one more thing.
Can you assign 24-hour surveillance to Ms.
Jericho? - Now that's a legitimate request Hooker, but we simply don't have enough hard evidence to present it to the deputy chief.
It won't wash.
I wish I could tell you different.
- So do I.
- The allegations I've summarized on that page will form the spine of my article.
- You're a pot-shotter, Ms.
Jericho.
What you have here are isolated situations and particulars and fall far short of representing the complexity of a task of a project as large as this one.
- Mr.
Mundy, we both know that your entire organization has been directed to turn a deaf ear to my inquiries.
Now if the situations in particular stated here are isolated, you have no one to blame but yourself.
The purpose of my coming here is to give you one more opportunity to state your case before I turn in my copy.
- When is the magic moment? - Tomorrow evening, unless you want to sit down with me and refute these points one by one.
- Lady, I am putting you and your publisher on notice.
I'll do my refuting in court.
- You've made your choice.
- Thurman, it's Mundy.
This Jericho woman has to be stopped before tomorrow night.
I don't care how you stop her, just do it.
- The Captain's really uptight about not being able to give Lisa protection.
Take it from one whose heard it from his own lips loud and clear.
- Something's gotta be done to cover her.
What about us Hooker? - We could take turns watching her during her off hours.
It wouldn't be round the clock, but it'd be better than nothing.
- You got yourself a deal.
We'll work out a schedule before end of watch.
- Hooker, glad I caught you.
I just got some feedback on Marty Tyson.
He recently worked for a man by the name of Brad Thurman.
Elected officer of one of the building trade associations.
Here, I got a location on him.
- I owe you one.
- Call it even.
I didn't give your lady a fair shake from the top.
- Official Building Trade Association and a two-bit hood.
Why would they be holding hands? - We can't ask Tyson.
- Mr.
Thurman, your office said you'd be here.
I'm Sergeant Hooker, this is Officer Romano.
We'd like to talk to you about Marty Tyson.
I understand he worked for you.
- He did, we had to let him go, he's a hothead.
From what I read in the papers, he tried to kill somebody.
You people put him away.
- We figured he hired out as a contract killer.
- Any idea who he signed on with? - I couldn't tell you Sergeant.
That kind of a boy doesn't call for references.
- Mr.
Thurman, talking about that.
What led you to hire a man of Tyson's background.
- The men I represent are a tough breed.
They don't always appreciate what you're trying to do for them.
It's just good to have some muscle around.
But like I said, Tyson had too quick a flashpoint for his good or mine.
- Thanks for your time.
- Sure thing.
- Need some building supplies? - I need some answers.
The workers who belong to Thurman's association are skilled craftsmen.
They don't work in supply yards like this.
- I want to find out what Thurman was doing here.
- [Lisa.]
Hooker, what are you doing here? - We tied Tyson to a buildings trades official named Thurman.
- And something very interesting.
Thurman is buying drywall by the truckload from a substandard supply company for Kevin Mundy's construction project.
- Mundy's linen gets dirtier and dirtier.
Hold the presses.
- No, you do that.
I'll hold on to you.
I want you in a safe place until we know where all this leads.
- But hooker.
- Don't but Hooker me.
I told you I don't want any arguments.
- Oh, at this rate I'm going to need a blood transfusion.
It must be a bad blade.
- That's what I thought last night when I used it on my legs.
- Your legs? Well at least it was a good cause.
How are you with a hot plate? - Same as I am in a gourmet kitchen.
A disaster, except when it comes to making coffee.
I can brew sawdust and you'll think you're drinking fresh-ground Kenya beans.
- Can a man ask for more? - Not if he knows what's good for him.
One cup of cafe Jericho coming up.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- I'm Claudia.
Is Hooker here? - He's shaving.
- Oh no.
I borrowed his razor yesterday to shave my legs, and I didn't change the blade.
- Really? How are you with a hot plate? - Claudia, this is Lisa Jericho, I told you about her.
- Oh sure, oh I love your writing Ms.
Jericho.
It's dramatic, but economic, and your humor has a flavor of Samuel Clemens.
- Thanks.
- Well, here's your robe Hooker.
- Put it on the box.
No, the other box.
- Bye now.
- Bye sweetheart.
- We were at the pool.
She had goosebumps.
- Goosebumps.
- Hmm, she looked like she'd freeze to death before she got home.
- Where is her home? - Next door.
- You can explain it to me tonight Hooker.
And you better have a good story.
You're due at the city in junior's office in 40 minutes.
- Yeah, if he can help me make the Brad Thurman/Kevin Mundy connection, you'll be pounding out an exclusive on your own would-be murders for the morning edition.
- Lisa Jericho.
- Oh, she's not here right now.
May I ask whose calling please? - I have information of Police Intelligence bugging the Mayor's office.
- Um, can I have your name and number, and I'll have Ms.
Jericho call you right back? - I can't do that.
I can't talk now.
- I'm afraid I can't-- - Tell her if she wants this story, to be in the phone booth at the corner of Brighton and Seventh Streets in 45 minutes.
- Do you think she'll bite? - She has to.
If she files that story, it's over for both of us.
Have her here by 4.
The place will be cleared out by then.
- Any way you slice it, the City Engineer's Office can't move fast enough to help us.
They have to investigate Thurman and Mundy very very carefully, or they'll get wise and cover their tracks.
- Why don't we stop? If you call Lisa, you'll feel better.
- [Dispatch.]
Four Adam 30, contact Academy Precinct Operator for a message from Lisa Jericho, phone the station.
- There you go.
You don't call her, she calls you.
What is this, ESP? Four Adam 30, Roger.
- This is Hooker.
When did she leave? - What's going on? - Lisa's secretary.
Lisa told her to let me know that she's going to meet somebody about a hot story on Police Intelligence.
- Did you get a name? - All she knows is it's some sort of Deep Throat informant.
- Ms.
Jericho, Mr.
Mundy would like a word with you.
- Well then tell him to stop playing games.
(car squeals away) - There's Seventh Street.
Take a left.
Brighton's one block up.
- [Romano.]
No sign of her.
- They set her up, and they got her.
- I'll put out a bulletin.
- Hold on a second.
- What do ya got? - Clay, like at Kevin Mundy's construction site.
Maybe that's where they've taken her.
- [Romano.]
I'll call Corrigan and Stacy for backup and have them meet us there.
(sirens wail) - [Dispatch.]
Four Adam 16, Four Adam 30 requests backup at construction site for new Children's Hospital on Hill Street, handle code three.
- Four Adam 16, we're on backup to 30.
- Look Mundy, I'm not about to make a deal with you.
- I know that.
It would have been easier.
But one has to do what one has to do.
Forget it, Ms.
Jericho.
There's nobody to run to, nobody to call.
I wish it hadn't come to this, but you pushed me to the wall.
I'm not going to watch my family, my life, go down the drain, so you can write a headline.
- Think Mundy, if something happens to me on this construction site, the police are going to know it's you.
- If they find your body.
You wanted to know more about my operation.
Now you can be a part of it.
The public you serve so well will be parading past you for the next hundred years.
(sirens wail) (chase music) - You all right? - Yeah.
- All right Mundy, you're through, give it up.
- You know, I've been going over my research on the Intelligence Division, and I think I may have short-changed them by not fully telling their side of the issue, so I've decided to do a followup.
- That, excuse the expression, is good news.
Is there any reason why you wanted to have dinner here? - They say when you fall off a horse-- - Yeah, but a horse doesn't try and blow ya up and shoot ya and bury ya in 10 feet of cement.
You gotta be more careful lady.
- Hooker, I'm not about to start tiptoeing around controversial stories.
- Nobody's asking you not to tiptoe around controversial stories.
I'm just telling you to be more aware of the situation.
People can be dangerous.
- Why? I have my own personal police escort, don't I? - That's a leading question.
- Why don't we discuss it at length after dessert? - Your place or mine? - Claudia doesn't have a key to mine.
("T.
J.
Hooker" Theme Song by Mark Snow)