T.J. Hooker (1982) s03e20 Episode Script

("TJ Hooker" theme music) (ominous music) (door slamming) (engine humming) (crickets chirping) (gun firing) (gun firing) - He's dead.
Hooker's dead.
(gasping) - Hooker is dead.
(ominous music) (funky music) - Wasn't Hooker supposed to be back from Morgan last night? - Yeah, but I didn't see him in the locker room, and Romano was looking for him at roll call.
- I hope there's no problem.
- Ah, if there is, they're gonna take care of it.
He still treats Fran more like a wife than an ex-wife.
Hey, Hooker.
Everything okay? - Yeah, I took the morning flight.
I wanted to spend as much time as I could with the kids.
They are getting so big.
They're changing so fast.
- He just made it in time for roll call.
Missed the madhouse at the precinct.
- There's still nothing new on the Rand kidnapping.
- It would sure help if the FBI were in on it, but they won't jump in because the parents asked them not to.
- Kidnappers are hard cases.
Just aren't no Feds.
- They even brought in a psychic to help, a woman who's worked on some heavy cases.
She's got a solid reputation.
- Mystical mumbo jumbo isn't going to solve this case.
It's gonna take good, solid police work.
- Oh, come on.
What about the psychic in Florida? He found the little boy who was missing for three weeks.
- Read the reports again, will you? Look between the lines.
You'll see it was solid police work that took them to the same place that this psychic conjured up in his head.
- Oh.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
(funky music) - [Barton.]
Tell us once more, girls.
What happened the last time you saw Amy? - The three of us were coming out of dance class, and Mary and I forgot our leg warmers, so we went back to get them.
- And when we got to the door, we looked back.
That's when the maroon car drove up and the man got out to talk to Amy.
- And you didn't hear anything he said? - Right, we were too far away, and he only talked to Amy for a second.
- Then he took her arm and made her go into the car.
- Are you sure that neither of you can tell me what the men looked like? - We already told the other officers before.
We couldn't see their faces.
- Alright, ladies.
Thank you very much for helping us.
Your parents are waiting down the hall.
The officer will take you.
- Oh, Lieutenant, no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get anything more.
- A location, a street sign? - Oh, Lieutenant, my head is pounding.
I haven't been able to sleep.
I am trying as hard as I can.
- The kidnappers have moved the deadline twice so the family can raise the ransom.
I don't think they'll move it again.
- Well, I'll just take Amy's picture and (spooky music) (guns firing) Lieutenant, that officer, who is he? - That's Sergeant Hooker.
Do you know him? - No, not really.
Can I work with him on this? - With Hooker? Why? He's a street cop.
He jockeys a black and white.
- Lieutenant, we're not getting anywhere, and the deputy chief said you're to give me all the help you can.
Please, trust me.
I think it would help if Hooker were with me.
- Well, I'll tell you, at this point, I'll try anything.
Hooker, over here.
Julia Hudson, Sergeant Hooker.
- Yeah, Ms.
Hudson.
I heard you were working on Amy Rand kidnapping.
- That's right.
- As of now, you are, too, Hooker.
- I'm what? - Oh, don't worry.
I'll clear it with Captain.
- Don't I have anything to say about this? - Three strips, gold shield.
It's called pulling rank.
Excuse me.
Barton here.
Yeah, alright, I'll be right there.
You two get acquainted, and I'll catch up with you later.
- Yeah, Ms.
Hudson.
- Oh, please call me Julia.
- I don't expect we'll know each other long enough for first names.
No offense, but I don't believe in psychics.
- Hooker.
Hooker, I don't give a damn what you think about me, but the little girl who was kidnapped needs your help, and so do her parents.
At least come to her house with me and talk to them before you make up your ironclad mind.
- Alright, one stop.
The little girl and her parents, and then that's it.
(engine humming) Let's make this fast, will ya? My partner's back in the precinct shuffling papers and he's paid to patrol the streets.
- Look, Hooker, I know you think that what I do is a waste of time, but it's not.
For some unexplained reason, I pick up vibrations, visions of things that come to pass.
- Maybe you have a strong, intuitive mind.
- Hooker, you don't know what it's like, knowing things that nobody else does, things you don't want to know.
- Isn't it possible that what you have to say, people don't want to hear? - I can't stand by and do nothing.
Not if there's the slightest chance that I could help somebody like Amy Rand.
- I wish I believed you could.
- You think I'm a whacko, don't you? - I don't say that you don't care for people, that you want to help them.
- But you do, too, right? So perhaps we have something in common after all.
(adventurous music) - Julia, has something happened? Some clue about Amy? - No, Louise, no clues yet.
- Are you gonna give the detectives a hand, Sergeant? - Well, I thought I'd just familiarize myself with the case, Mr.
Rand.
- If it's alright with you, I'll go back to Amy's room while you talk.
- Of course.
Maybe this time.
- Forgive my observation, but you don't seem like a family to be targeted for a kidnapping.
- I know.
We've been going through pure hell trying to put together $100,000 ransom, but every time I add it up, we come out short.
I don't know what we're going to when the kidnappers won't give us any more time.
We've mortgaged the house and sold the car, but we still need almost $30,000 to get Amy back safe.
(sobbing) - She'll be alright.
Give us a few minutes.
- Yes, of course.
- It's all right now.
It's all right.
- Stuffed animal, a lamb, a child's hands holding it.
They're Amy's hands, I know it.
A man, the kidnapper, I can't see his face.
Their faces never seem to come clear.
I just keep seeing poor Amy.
Hooker, please don't tell her parents about this.
I don't want to get their hopes up.
- Count on it.
It's our secret.
(heels clicking) - There's no end to these reports and lists of possible suspects.
- Gathering all this information was a tough go with no FBI to help.
The brass put everything they had into helping.
- Including a high-class fortune teller.
- Back off, partner.
Give her a break, will you? - Nobody gets a break in this one.
The Rands are decent, ordinary people who've had to mortgage everything they've ever made to ransom their little girl's life from some maggot who's probably planning to kill her anyway.
- Barton's checked out every known offender.
Everyone who's worked with Sam Rand or knew the family.
- Detectives checked them all to see if they had records.
- Waylon Gilbert.
Couldn't be two Waylon Gilberts.
- His name's been checked out, meaning no record.
- Waylon Gilbert roomed with a guy by the name of Sal Genaro who I busted for extortion.
We didn't book Gilbert 'cause he wasn't involved.
- From extortion to kidnapping, not a big reach.
- Detectives didn't pick up on Gilbert because he didn't have a record.
- And check this, Gilbert worked at the machine shop where Amy's father is employed until a week before her abduction.
- You think Gilbert may have learned from his old roommate? - That, or Genaro's out and trying to find bigger things.
Stacy, Corrigan, would you like to check Genaro out? - You know it.
- Let's go, partner.
Let's go find our Waylon Gilbert.
(suspenseful music) Waylon! Hold it right there! Cover the rear.
(tires squealing) Hold it right there, Waylon.
Hold it.
Come on, come on.
You try running anymore, you won't be able to walk for a week.
- Come on, Hooker.
I got no beef with the law.
- Then what are you shaking for? What are you afraid of? - It's you, Hooker.
You make me nervous.
- Oh, really? - He has that effect on people.
- Looks like you picked up some bad habits since I busted your roommate.
- Sal? Oh, no, it's, I swear, it's my thyroid.
I shake all the time, and I never wanna hear about that Sal Genaro again.
He's 20 miles of bad road.
- He's 20 years of hard labor for you if you helped set up the Rand kidnapping.
- Kidnapping? Come on, Hooker.
I wash cars.
- You worked with Sam Rand at the machine shop, then quit a week before his daughter was kidnapped.
Did you set her up? - I don't know what you're talking about.
- What rock is Genaro hiding under these days? - I don't know if he's out.
I'd tell you if I did.
- You don't look well, Waylon.
Maybe you'll remember better in a hospital bed.
- While you're at it, you can check his thyroid.
- Carla Bendix.
Sal used to be married to Carla Bendix.
She might know.
- Okay, Waylon.
You earned yourself a pass.
Go on.
Get yourself a new prescription for your thyroid.
Something legal.
(suspenseful music) (guns firing) (yelling) (ominous music) - [Kidnapper.]
I'll call you at eight sharp with details on the drop.
This is the last tape you're gonna get, Mr.
Rand.
I'm through waiting.
You have all the money, every penny of it by eight o'clock.
So far, your daughter's still alive.
- [Amy.]
Mommy, Dad, I'm not hurt.
I'm okay, but I miss you.
- [Kidnapper.]
You don't have it all tonight, you'll never hear that voice again.
(tape clicking) - I couldn't let my wife hear that.
- Well, they're very smart.
They're keeping Amy happy so she won't cause them any trouble.
- Well, what am I gonna do? There's no way I can raise $30,000 in 10 hours.
- There are ways, Mr.
Rand.
- I've run out of ways.
- Mr.
Rand, I'm sure Sergeant Hooker has something in mind.
- We have to have the money for the ransom drop so the kidnappers will think they've won.
When he picks it up, we'll follow him back to your daughter.
It's the only way to go.
- I think that we've gotta keep trying to find Amy before the ransom drop.
- You heard that animal.
What happens if he doesn't get the money? - Like Ms.
Hudson said, Mr.
Rand, I've got something in mind about the rest of the money.
Look, why don't you go home? Go to your wife.
- Alright.
(suspenseful music) - You're getting something.
- Yes.
She's in a room.
The stuffed animal is there, the lamb.
There are other toys.
- Anything else? - Sergeant Hooker, have you recently been involved in a case where you worked in a cemetery or mausoleum? - I think I'd remember that, why? - Nothing.
Just tired, I guess.
- I'll take this tape to SID, see if they can get anything else off it, although they didn't from the others.
- 30 grand? What, are you holding out on me? - Go find Stacy and Corrigan.
See what they're doing about locating Carla Bendix.
I'll pick you up in an hour.
- Sergeant Hooker, I'll be waiting for you, too.
(engines humming) (peaceful violin playing) - God bless you.
- Hey, Jeeter.
How you doing? - That you, Hooker? - Recognize me by my voice, huh? I wanna talk to you, Jeeter.
- You're not going to bust me for vagrancy or anything.
- Hey, I haven't done that in years, have I? - Then what's this all about? - I've got a problem.
- You think you've got problems? Look at me, scraping by, hand to mouth, day by day.
- That's right.
Well, my problem just involves a kid, a little girl, about nine years old.
- You talking about your kid? - No, I'm talking about one that got kidnapped.
Father works in a machine shop.
They're trying to scrape together the ransom money.
- That's really terrible.
Who'd squeeze a poor, working family like that? - A killer, psycho, who'll probably murder the child if he doesn't get what he asks.
- Must be some way you can raise the money.
- I've tried.
I've gone to the bank, tried to get a loan.
They need 30,000 bucks, but you know how banks are.
A cop doesn't make the kind of money to qualify for heavy loans.
My signature can't scratch those kind of bucks.
- I hate banks.
No heart.
- Not like you, huh, Jeeter? - If I could help that girl, save her life.
- Cosign the bank note for me.
Come on, Jeeter.
The bank tells me you're good for a quarter of a mil.
Stock market's been better for you than I thought.
I've stopped hassling you, dragging you in for your various misdemeanors 'cause I found out who you help with your money, the halfway house downtown, men's mission.
- Help, yeah, but not $30,000 worth.
- The kid's nine.
She'll never make it to 10 without that money.
(cars whooshing) I'll see to it you get every penny back.
- Hey, Hooker, don't worry about the money.
Just see you get the kid back.
(uplifting music) - Four Adam 16 to four Adam 30.
- Four Adam 30, go 16.
- We got a line on Carla Bendix, found out where she works, a club on Calmstock called The Skin Shop.
- Roger, thanks Stacy.
(rock music) - Glad you came? (applause) - Hooker.
What happened, they bust you down to uniform? Who's your friend? - A lady who's working a case with us.
- Romano, are you looking for a fourth for a double date? - We're looking for Sal Genaro, Carla.
- The creep I was married to? I think he's dead.
- That we could be that lucky.
When was the last time you saw him? - You sure are pushy, Hooker, you know? - Some things never change, Carla.
What about it? - Look, I haven't seen Sal since right before they sent him up, I swear.
I don't care if I never see him again.
I'm trying to start a new life for myself.
- I can see.
If you hear from him, call us.
Let's go.
(rock music) - She's lying, Hooker.
- You don't have to be psychic to know that.
- Clayton Hotel.
Clayton Hotel.
Hello? Hello? - Thank you, Carla.
Better get some clothes on.
We're gonna take you downtown so you don't spend your hard earned money on the wrong people.
Would you like to do the honors? - I'm sure he would like to spend a lot more time with me.
- What, is everybody psychic? (funky music) (tires squealing) (door buzzing) - Don't bother.
You haven't got enough time to warn them all.
- You must have the wrong address, officer.
This is a respectable place.
- Yeah, I know, and you're the tooth fairy.
I'm looking for Sal Genaro.
What room is he in? - I don't have to tell you nothing.
You got no warrant.
- Now, listen here, hard nose, I can get a warrant, but that takes time, and time is money, taxpayer's money, and I don't wanna waste taxpayer's money.
- The Sergeant is really being very pleasant right now.
I don't think you'd like to see him mad.
- He's in room 216, but he ain't here now.
- Where is he, at work? - Work, Genaro? He ain't worked since he been out the joint.
- Show me his room.
- Told you he wasn't in.
- Yeah, I know, and you're a very honest man, but I wanna see for myself.
You get to the car.
Go on, I mean it.
(footsteps thumping) - Like I said, he's not here.
- Didn't think he was.
Looking for something else, and I think I've found it.
(door clicking shut) - He wasn't there.
- No, but something else was.
Pile of match books from a lunch joint in an industrial area.
- So he found a restaurant he likes.
- Clerk said that Genaro didn't work.
Question is, what's he doing having lunch in an industrial area? Got the answer? - Why, no.
- It figures.
(suspenseful music) - You promised.
You said you'd take me home a long time ago.
I wanna see my mom and dad.
- Hey, hey, it won't be long now, Amy.
You're gonna see your mom and dad real soon.
Why don't we just make the best of it for now, okay? You want some ice cream? Get her what she wants, will ya? - Tebbets.
You treat her like she's some kind of little princess.
- I'm keeping her quiet.
That isn't gonna last forever.
- After tonight, she won't be asking any more questions.
- What if her old man can't come up with the rest of the bread tonight? - Don't worry.
He'll get it.
(horn blowing) - What is it? What's wrong? - I just felt Amy's presence.
She's very near.
(doors clicking) - You get back inside.
- Hooker, I know Amy's close by.
- I'm gonna check in the restaurant and see if anybody knows Genaro.
Genaro? Hold it! (gun firing) - A cop just shot Genaro.
We gotta get outta here.
Take the kid out the back.
Use the car.
- Four Adam 30.
- Hooker, Amy's in that warehouse.
I feel it, I know it.
- Dispatch to four Adam 30.
Go 30.
- Request an ambulance and a shooting team at Mama's Kitchen, corner of Commerce and fourth.
Man down.
(truck crashing) (dynamic music) - It's running.
Must have something to do with Genaro.
(tires squealing) (sirens sounding) (tires squealing) (engines roaring) (tires screeching) Hang on.
(vehicles crunching) (car crashing) Get out of here, quick.
Quick! (vehicle exploding) (fire crackling) You alright? - Just a little shook up.
Hooker, I saw Amy in that warehouse and I lost her.
- You're right.
So did I.
(horn blowing) - How about these toys, Hooker? Right out of Julia's vision.
- One thing for sure, this is where they were holding her.
- At least we know she's still alive.
- Probably until they get the ransom, less than four hours from now.
- We've run out of time to find Amy.
We've gotta nail the kidnappers when the drop goes down.
Can't take a chance of following them and losing them.
Let me get you to a hospital.
That diesel banged us around pretty good.
- I'll be all right.
I have to be.
The end, it's near.
- That's Amy's ribbon.
- She's being driven along a road.
- I knew she was in that diesel cab.
- No, a car.
The backseat.
The car's maroon.
The road winds through trees.
The maroon car, it must be the one Amy's friends told us about.
- If you won't let me take you to the hospital, at least let me get you a ride home.
You could use the rest.
- How do you know? ESP? - Yeah, maybe it's catching.
(recruits calling cadence) - Patrol unit found the diesel cab.
Stolen, SID said it's been wiped clean.
- Gives us nothing.
- Our luck may be running better.
Last time Genaro was in the slammer, he had a cell mate by the name of Tony Aresco.
We checked him out, and guess what? - He's back on the street? - Paroled two months ago.
- Talked to the warden.
This Aresco is a psycho.
Swore if he ever got out, he'd make society pick up the tab.
- By holding kids like Amy for ransom? - Off this record, I don't think Aresco's smart enough to go after a child whose family's got real money.
Afraid he couldn't intimidate them, that they'd call in the Feds.
- So he connects with his ex-con buddy Genaro, who squeezes Waylon Gilbert for the name of the right family.
- And Gilbert fingers the Rands.
- I got news for this Aresco.
He's on a collision course with trouble.
Seven.
I wanna be at the Rand's house for that ransom call at eight.
We have a stop to make along the way.
(rock music) - You know, it figures Aresco'd be in on this.
He's nutso.
- Ever meet him? - Once.
Sal had me set him up with my girlfriend.
He beat her up so bad, she ended up in a hospital.
- Did she say what set him off? - She was just kidding around about him not being able to make it with women, like maybe he'd been in prison too long.
- It sounds like our boy doesn't like his manhood questioned.
- I think you've given me what I need, Carla.
I owe you one.
- Don't think I'll let you forget it.
(customers chattering) - Give us as much time as you can to trace the call.
Keep him talking.
- I'll try, but I'm afraid he'll catch on.
What do I say? - Well, tell him that you followed his instructions, that you didn't call the FBI.
Then, you might tell him that your wife is really upset, and then ask if she can talk to Amy.
- I think we know the identity of the kidnapper, a psycho named Tony Aresco.
(phone ringing) - This is Sam Rand.
- I'm gonna tell this to you just once.
Take the money to the phone booth at the corner of Spring and Dayton.
At exactly nine, I'll phone you and tell you where to go from there.
Don't play any games.
I'll be watching you.
- Listen, don't hang up.
- [Tony.]
So long, Rand.
- Please, wait.
- Aresco, hold on a minute.
- Who's this? - My name is Hooker.
I'm a cop.
We met yesterday, outside of Mama's Kitchen.
- That's as close as you're ever gonna get to me, blue boy.
- What's the matter, Aresco? Aren't you man enough to face me? That's what I heard about you, from a girl I know.
- Shut up.
Shut up, you hear me? - Yeah, she said you talked big, but all you can do with a girl is beat her up.
- Alright, Hooker, you have bought yourself a funeral, but first, you are gonna sweat.
You're gonna deliver the money to me in person.
If you don't show, the kid has had it.
- He wants you to deliver the ransom, doesn't he? - No more than I wanna deliver it.
- Hooker, you can't.
- What do you mean, he can't? What are you talking about? - I should have told you this before.
I should have warned you.
I've had the same vision over and over again.
You're carrying the ransom, and you get shot, killed.
(ominous music) (horns blowing) - This has gotta work.
Aresco's ready to crack.
If we blow it, it's all over for Amy.
- If we blow it, it'll be all over for Hooker.
- Some plan, using yourself as bait to smoke out a psycho.
- Hooker'll be alright.
He's wired and he's got 18 years of experience behind him.
- He's gonna need it.
(engine humming) (phone ringing) - Hooker.
- [Tony.]
Right on time, Hooker.
Very good.
- Where's the girl? - In due time, friend.
First, we'll have a little fun.
Take off your wire.
- I'm not wearing one.
- You want her back in pieces? I can see you.
Take it off.
- [Hooker.]
Alright, alright, take it easy.
The wire's coming off.
- I don't like it.
- It's going sour.
- [Tony.]
Now, throw it out.
Alright, you know the phones in Dickson Park? - [Hooker.]
Yeah, the ones by the entrance.
- [Tony.]
You got five minutes to get there.
- Hold on, Aresco.
Dickson Park's more than a mile away.
- Then I say you'd better get moving.
- Dickson Park.
I'm on my way.
We got five minutes.
- Experience.
I told ya.
Hooker was smart enough to rig a second wire.
(brakes squealing) (horns blowing) (phone ringing) - Okay, I'm here.
- [Tony.]
Not bad, cop.
Let's see how good you really are.
- Aresco, stop playing games.
- [Tony.]
Why? Not having fun? You've got eight minutes to get to the phone at Fifth and Main.
- Fifth and Main? I can't make that.
- [Tony.]
That's your problem.
Yours and the little girl's.
- He'll never make it to Fifth and Main on foot.
(bus engine humming) - Hold it, hold it.
Hold on a minute, I gotta get to Fifth and Main.
Will you hold it? Open the door.
Fifth and Main.
Hurry, please.
I caught a bus.
We're gonna be okay.
(horn blowing) (bus creaking) (phone ringing) Hello? - [Tony.]
Having a tough evening, blue suit? - No sweat.
- [Tony.]
We'll see.
The mausoleum chapel in West Side Cemetery.
You got five minutes to get there.
- Hold it, hold it.
I'm in a big hurry.
Take me to the Five minutes to get there.
- Get where, where? - Come on, Hooker.
Say it again.
- All we can do is wait and hope he gets to talking soon.
(ominous music) - I'm at the cemetery.
- Cemetery? Five minutes away? - It's gotta be the West Side Cemetery.
- I gotta feeling this is the end of the road.
I've got a hunch Amy isn't with him.
Julia had a vision, Amy in a maroon car.
Maybe it's around here.
Find it.
(suspenseful music) (tires crunching lightly) - I'll see if I can find Hooker.
- Okay, we'll look for the maroon car.
(suspenseful music) (footsteps thudding) - That could be the car.
- Be careful.
Get out of the car with your hands up.
Get out! Put your hands on the roof.
- Hey.
(Corrigan breathing heavily) - Keep them apart.
Put your hands behind your head.
- Amy, I'm a police officer.
You'll be back with your parents real soon.
(ominous music) - Aresco? Where are ya? - I hope you've said your prayers, Hooker.
- Where's the girl? - You'll be meeting her real soon, in the hereafter.
- I brought the money.
Let the girl go.
- I say what happens.
Now, slowly, use your left hand, reach around, take out your gun.
(gun clattering) - The girl.
- First, the suitcase.
Put it down.
Nice and easy.
You're one dead cop.
(guns firing) - Hooker! (dynamic music) He's dead.
Hooker's dead.
(Romano breathing deeply) (footsteps thudding) - I got a pulse.
Don't stop, don't stop.
I'll get an ambulance.
This hospital life's gotta be getting you down, Hooker.
- Well, I can't complain.
Wanda here is gonna come back later and do her dance with the doves? - Oh, yeah? Well, shove over.
You're gonna have some company, me.
- Something tells me it's time to go.
- Jim, did you talk to the psychiatrist? - Yeah, yeah, he feels Amy's recovering nicely.
Shouldn't have any lasting emotional scars.
Get some rest, we'll be back soon.
- Hi.
- Hello.
Oh, Hooker, you're looking good.
- Feeling good, especially about the way things worked out.
- Tell me, have you changed your mind about parapsychology? - That's a loaded question, but maybe I'll do a little research on the subject when I get outta here.
- Oh, good, now we're making progress.
What about psychics? Changed your mind? - Nope.
- No? Hooker, Julia knew Amy wasn't in the truck.
- Right, and I also saw that stuffed animal.
- And maroon car.
- But she wasn't right about everything.
I'm still here.
(Julia laughing) ("TJ Hooker" theme music) (triumphant music)