Original subtitles

I want to put someone inside the local porn business.

You had any experience with hard stuff?

Not exactly, but I learned that.

Do you know the kind of work that Mary Ellen was doing when she got busted? I

think she was working for you. You just hung yourself, mister.

I'd say she put her life on the line. Wendy was my niece.

Max, it's not worth it. It's murder.

Thank you.

Come here.

Oh, you didn't want to do that.

You make me sick.

Come here. Come here.

No, not for me. All right, little girl. You want to play rough?

Well, then we'll play rough.

Stupid broad.

Wendy?

Oh, my God.

She's dead. You killed her, Lester.

Fuck you, stupid.

I don't know where is she.

All units in the vicinity of 18th and Century. Report of a body left in the

alley. Suspect driving a late model red sedan.

4 Adam 30 responding.

This is 4 Adam 30.

I'm in pursuit of a red sedan.

Send it back up to the alley.

Condor, this is 4M30.

Suspect abandoned the red sedan and exchanged shots with me at the water

26th and Hill.

He escaped on foot. I didn't get close enough to make an ID.

Yeah, okay.

The dead body that was dumped in the car.

Let's take a look.

Oh,

no.

You know what?

Yeah.

She lives with Max Brodsky.

I think... She's his niece.

Hey, Hooker.

Just in time for the celebration.

Finally nailed these characters.

Max, I want to talk to you.

Yeah, something I can do for you, Hook?

It's about Wendy.

Wendy? What about her?

There's no easy way to tell you this.

Dead.

Dead?

What the hell are you talking about, dead?

What are you talking about? She was dumped out of a car.

I found her in an alley downtown.

I just came from there. An alley?

Downtown? I chased the subject, and I lost her.

I've asked for the case.

I'll handle it.

Oh, God.

I've got this butt to look around for.

I wouldn't want to kill her. I mean, she's just a kid.

Your partner would take care of the bust.

Let me take you home.

No, no.

Thanks.

I'm okay.

Where was I, Hooker?

You did the best you could.

What could I do with a 17 -year -old kid from Ohio with stars in her eyes?

Where'd they take her?

The morgue.

They have to do an autopsy.

I was here, and my niece... It's cop Fife, right?

What a waste.

Let me take you home.

For what, Hooker?

Tell me that.

Come on, let's wrap this up, huh? What do you think we're going to take again?

Go!

As soon as I heard she was dead, I figured I ought to pull a file.

Where's Hooker?

He's breaking it to Max.

She's only 17.

A lot of creeps out there.

Sometimes I feel like I know every one of them.

Did Max know about this, Nathanson?

He never saw the file.

But my partner and I figured he ought to know what was going down with her. We

told him Wendy was getting in with a pretty heavy crowd.

Running wild.

Drug solicitation, drunk, public nuisance?

Sad story.

Yeah. How come no convictions?

We never pushed very hard.

It was Max's niece, you know what I mean?

Poor guy.

Laysa. Hooker.

Haven't got enough to do on advice?

Show him the file, Stacey.

How many times did you bust her? Three, four times. Why didn't you let somebody

know? Take it easy, Hooker. We did.

We told Max.

And? Max said she made her own choices.

Wouldn't listen to him.

What about juvenile authority?

They washed her face, put her back on the street. Same old story. We did what

could.

Something else?

Forget it.

How's Max doing?

Max?

It hasn't hit him yet.

He said she'd run away, but I guess he expected something bad to happen without

this. Max is pretty tough.

Maybe it won't get to him at all.

Oh, it'll get to him.

When it finally grabs Max.

They won't let go.

Have you talked to O 'Brien about taking the case?

He's cleared it with homicide.

I want to find out who killed Wendy and why.

Stacy, punch Wendy into the computer.

See if you can come up with any contacts.

Jim, check your snitches.

I'll be up the street.

Red sedan shows vehicle to be stolen from out of state.

Partial print lab picked up. Turned out to be the owner.

Sorry, hooker.

Excuse me.

I need some information.

Have any of you ever seen this girl before? Her name is Wendy.

Is there a reward?

What'd she do?

No reward. She's dead.

What happened?

Murder. Dumped in an alley.

Look, I think I know her.

Yeah, she hung around a lot. When was the last time you saw her?

Maybe a week ago.

Who'd she hang around with?

She had this friend, Janet, I think her name is.

They were always together.

Miss Janet, where can I find her?

Yeah, I don't know.

She just hangs around.

Does she have a last name?

Not one that I know.

Sorry.

What do you think, Mr. Porton?

Well, I don't think we lost a superstar in Wendy.

Lester, I think I'm going to hold on to this just for future reference in case

you get out of line.

And Lester, this kid that flew the poop, if the cops get a hold of her, we'll

all end up doing a hell of a lot of time. She won't go to the cops.

She didn't want her parents to find out about her.

Not to worry.

I took care of dumping Wendy's body, and I'll take care of finding Janet.

She's a street kid.

Go to the halfway house.

Sooner or later, they all end up there anyway.

That's a good idea.

I'll find her. I appreciate your confidence, Lester.

But I'd appreciate a dead witness even more.

Max. All that meanness builds up on you.

Okay. Sometimes it helps to let it out. Max, I need some help.

All I've got is a first name.

Which is?

Janet.

She may have been the last person to see Wendy alive.

There's nothing for me.

You know, Hooker.

She was a wild kid.

I thought she was getting her act together.

I thought she and I were getting closer.

We got to get him, okay?

Max, you're too close.

Stay back. I'll handle him.

Stay back?

Wendy's my business.

The proper channels don't hold water when the victim is mine.

Whoever did it, I'll find.

Leave it to me.

Trust me.

Then what?

They get seven to ten and some parole board lets them out for being good and

the pen.

No way.

I'll say it again.

You're too close. You can't be judging jury.

Back off.

Is that clear?

Wait a minute.

Why don't you put yourself in my position and put somebody you love in

dumpster and see how you'd react? It blow the lid off the city to find the

that killed him. Work with me.

We'll blow the lid off together.

I don't mind working with you, okay?

All you gotta do is keep up with me.

Hooker!

Watch Commander radioed you wanted to see me.

How's the case going?

Well, Sheridan is checking the files on serial killers and sex offenders.

Corrigan is squeezing the junkies and the pushers to see if they know

Sounds like you don't have much. That's what I want to talk to you about.

Yesterday, you were going to tell me something about Wendy. I'd like to hear

now. You're not going to like it, but I'll let you see for yourself.

You recognize her?

Plenty.

There's a VCR down the hall if you want.

It's run -of -the -mill porn.

I'll take your word for it.

You kept this from Max?

How do you tell a guy about something like this?

After all, I mean...

I got a daughter.

You do too, don't you?

Wait a minute. I've seen that guy before with Wendy and Janet.

He may make this easier.

Yeah? Hi, I'm looking for somebody.

Janet's her name.

Used to hang around with a girl named Wendy. Look.

What's that supposed to mean?

Janet said she met Wendy here.

Well, then this must be the place where she met her.

I want some answers.

Hey, you're going to have an extra mouth to feed pretty soon.

Maybe you can use a little help. What kind of help?

This kind of help.

Janet.

She was around when I first got here. I haven't seen her for a week, maybe.

More?

She had a boyfriend.

His name was Nick, I think.

Nick. You know where he hangs out?

Heard he was working at one of those porno theaters on 4th and Broadway.

Broadway and 4th.

You be around here somewhere, I'll go find him.

Hey, look. Police.

Get up.

Come on. It's better.

Hey, I didn't do anything.

You lied to me, Nick.

You gonna arrest me for that?

Leave me my rights. I don't care about your rights. You wanna hear my rights,

huh?

You know what that sound is, Nick?

Yeah. Where's Janet?

I don't know. Don't try to protect her, toilet face.

I don't know where she is.

I don't know where she is yet, huh? On Saturdays around noon, we all get

together at the donut shop.

That's in the state.

That's good. That's good. Now, what if I don't want to wait till Saturday?

I haven't seen her very much. She's too busy.

She's a big movie star.

Movie star?

The kind of stuff they show here.

Her and her friend Wendy, they think they're actresses or something.

Wendy? You lying sack of garbage.

Right over there.

Look.

Hey, sport.

I've had some conversation.

Come on, man.

No more.

You just tell me what you told him.

Or this will be nothing compared to what I do to you.

My informer says it's a small operation.

Just a male and a female performer.

A couple of guys on a camera and the lights. The girl is new. Probably her

time. That's what you said you wanted. Yeah, that's what we want. Somebody

and new that we can scare a little into helping us. What a way to make a living.

Their way or ours?

It's 19.

What's going to happen now?

We'll talk about that later. We'll get there.

I know the night in jail might put Mary Ellen in the mood to cooperate this

morning. We'll find out.

It's like Wendy. She's so young.

Fresh off the farm and in town one month.

Think he could handle his taste?

A little walk and a little girl talk does wonders sometimes.

Well, it's up to you.

Jim, check the tech to see if you can find Max. I'd like to talk to him.

I'd like to help you, Mary Ellen.

If I do what for you?

Okay, everything in life's a trade -off, right?

I'm learning fast, aren't I? But for you, this could be the most important

of your life.

All the charges will be dropped for no record.

The best is to get home to South Dakota or wherever you want to go.

A whole new start.

I'd like to see you have that chance.

Can you really do that?

Word of honor.

What do I have to do?

Introduce me around as a friend of yours from back home. Just arrived in town.

Looking for fun in the fast lane.

Interested in acting and not too bright. Bunny, you just told me the story of my

life. The person who I really want to meet is whoever started you.

The guy who put you in porno films.

Lester.

That's all I know him by.

I guess I was sort of fascinated by him at first.

But... But what?

Well, there's something about him.

Something bad.

He sort of runs things on the streets for the guys who produce the films.

All you've got to do is introduce me, Mary Ellen.

Then you're out of it. We'll put you on the bus ourselves.

How about it? What is it you're really after?

Killer.

Someone who murdered a girl just like you. Her name is Wendy.

God, I know a Wendy.

She helped get me this job.

You think it's her?

Afraid it is.

Now you know how badly we need your help.

Please.

What do you got? Your idea about shaking things up and pulling people in really

paid off.

I don't need to see a second installment on Wendy's mistake.

One of our teams did a porn lab last night, and among other things, they came

with a...

Small piece of film that you got to save.

If there was more, it's probably been destroyed.

Guy's face doesn't show on this.

Come here.

Come here.

All right, little girl.

You want to play rough?

Wendy?

Wendy?

Let's go.

Make our case.

You've got to find that negative.

Relax, Marilyn. You're doing fine.

You haven't met Lester yet.

He's spooky.

Maybe we should try another play.

No, this is where he hangs out.

You're every night.

It's like his office.

I bet there isn't one genuine ID out of ten in that place.

Advice hit a laugh. They came up with a piece of porn film.

Wendy was the star.

What's it have to do with the murder?

She was killed.

Right there in the screen.

No faces, of course. It was cut out of the scene, but... I want this guy, Jim.

Marielle, where you been?

You remember Wendy, right? You hear about her?

Oh, man, somebody killed her. It was on TV.

Then it was her. Yeah, I heard.

But I was hoping that... I was getting pretty scared for you, baby. I mean, she

was booked on a job just like you, remember?

And pfft, nobody saw her after that. It was like... Oh, it's okay, Gigi.

This is Stacy. She's a friend from back home. Hi.

Hi, uh...

Well, you ladies can stick around here if you want to, but I'm on my way to

visit a friend up in Frisco where it's safer.

I mean, really, all the girls are rocking in their socks. It's Gary time.

What do you think did it?

Hey, honey, I got a big fat idea, but all I'm going to do is keep my mouth

and split.

You could come along.

Yeah, well, we kind of have some things we got to do.

Right. Like building a stash. Know what I mean? Oh, yeah.

We're looking for Lester.

You're looking for big trouble.

If you got any smarts, you'll hear what I'm saying.

Dan's waiting.

I'm giving little Nancy my son.

I'm going in there. No, you're not.

You're going to let your partner do her thing.

Lester, you scared me.

No need to be.

Lester takes good care of all his little mamas.

But, Marielle, I thought we were close.

I believe you're holding out on me. Who is this sweet lady?

Oh, this is Stacy.

She's from back home.

She just got in town and she's staying with me right now.

Stacy.

You as good as you look?

Last I heard, I'm better.

All right.

Let me take care of these.

Got a table waiting for us right over here.

Right this way, ladies.

Stacy.

A little concerned about your girlfriend, Marielle.

Heard she got took down by the man right in the middle of her scene.

Yeah, I suppose everyone heard about that by now.

Don't worry about it, baby.

Big movie star paying arm and leg for that kind of publicity.

I'll take care of it.

But, uh, Marielle?

She lost her wife.

What?

Leave. It's okay, Mary Ellen.

I just want you to talk to me.

You could use some of your brain.

And some of your good looks.

My looks haven't gotten me anything but man trouble and empty bank accounts so

far. They could change if you wanted to.

I'm not looking for a handout.

I want to go over the rainbow, but on my own.

I can act.

I just need a break somewhere.

Sweetheart, nobody starts at the top.

Very competitive business we're talking about here, you know what I mean?

You got the faith, you got the body.

Maybe you got the talent, but you've got to know somebody.

I just don't want to make the same mistake you hear about others making

they come to this town.

Did you know the kind of work that Mary Ellen was doing when she got busted?

Yeah, she told me.

And?

I think she was working too cheap.

Yeah, you'd be just fine in this business.

Yeah, I think I got somebody I want you to meet.

Lester, you're right.

I'm very impressed.

Lovely, honey, just lovely.

So you're an actress, huh? All I need is a chance.

Well, I think I can provide you with that chance, Stacy.

Honey, it all depends on your attitude towards just how you expect to start

career in films.

She knows the score, Mr. Barton. All she doesn't know is the money. Money, it's

no problem, all other things being equal.

Tell me, kid, you had any experience with hard stuff? And tell me the truth.

Not exactly. But I learn fast.

I'll bet you do.

But don't worry about it.

You have a sort of innocence, a freshness.

I like that, honey. I like that a lot.

Would you mind waiting outside for a few minutes? I'd like to have a word with

your future co -star, Lester.

Okay. Thank you.

Okay,

Lester. Now about the matter of the missing witness.

Slime at the theater said that Janet was going to be at a certain location at 12

noon. So will I.

She'll get taken care of.

Good.

Lester, that's a very special piece of merchandise out there.

She wants to be a star.

Let's make her one. I'm all for that.

Excellent. That's settled. Now get her out of here.

And Lester, I'm going to set up a photo session for this afternoon around 5 o

'clock. I think that I'm going to select her wardrobe myself. Maybe something in

a cheerleading outfit, a short skirt, something all -American.

Yeah, my client will like that a lot.

I was never so glad to get away from anyone in my life. Those creeps would

anyone the chills.

Now the only real tie -in we have is what that girl Gigi said to you.

Lester set Wendy up in a job, and the next time anybody sees her, she's dead.

So, Stacy has to go back.

She has to do more than that.

What you're going to have to do is get in deeper.

Let's get at it.

ambulance.

Now!

Hang in there.

Come on, baby.

Hang in there.

Captain wants to talk to you.

Tell you right now what he's going to say.

You're under suspension.

Sure. Let the good times roll.

I busted my butt for you.

Stacy put her life on the line.

You held out on me.

You knew about Janet all the time.

You kept her to yourself.

Wendy was my niece.

And I wanted that guy, Hooker. Now, can't you understand that?

We had an eyewitness to the murder.

Janet saw it go down.

Now she's in the hospital.

In a coma.

And we don't know if she's going to pull out of it.

Who's the guy?

She didn't have a chance to say.

Captain's waiting for you.

I just got off the horn with Nathan's.

They leaned on the film editor they picked up. Told him he might end up an

accessory to murder.

And?

We volunteer the information that he works most of the time for Arnold

Looks like we may have the tie -in. Does Parton have a record?

Parton deals with the poor, but he's kept his record clean.

He uses that wholesale garment business as a front.

And that negative is somewhere in that warehouse.

There's a heavy steel cabinet beside his gun.

How do you feel about going back with Lester?

I don't care.

I'm human.

We've got to lay a con on Parton.

And it all depends on you being able to carry it off.

And on perfect timing.

here big your own personal movie studio want to see the set

don't tell me i could start you're gonna be very surprised at all the very good

things that you get come on

See, the way it works is you're the all -American girl.

You're in your rah -rah outfit, your little blue pleated skirt, and you're in

the park practicing.

And I am the big bad man that comes along.

You ready for that?

What I'm ready for is the cash.

Yeah. Well, we have to go upstairs to see Parton for that.

Okay.

Right. This way, sweetheart.

The camera crew?

Must be.

It has to be a fat operation.

And Lester must be the guy in the film.

Killer, right?

If he is, we've still got to prove it.

Stacy has eight minutes.

I picked this out for you myself, Stacy.

You're going to look delicious. Try it on.

Look, downstairs is business.

But giving peep shows up here for the hired help is out.

Hey, who the hell are you putting down, you cheap tramp?

Lester, please, you heard our star. Now go on downstairs and see if the camera

people are here.

I'll see you on the set, baby.

It's okay.

Why don't you go behind the screen and try this out?

Miss Stacy, you have a natural modesty.

It'll show on the film. Honey, I like that. I like that very much.

That's perfect, honey.

Just perfect.

That's the way Lester and I figured it.

Lester? What are you talking about?

I mean the act we just put on for you.

And I mean this.

It's the work print of Wendy's last film. And we have the negative film,

you can't touch us.

But we can touch you.

Say for about a half a mil, the young girl under 18 murdered in one of your

flicks.

What do you say?

There's no way Lester could get that negative. No way.

Want to bet?

Yeah.

I'm going to call you bluff.

There could be anything on that film. I want to see it.

Satisfied.

Max never showed in his office today, but he was seen following Stacy out when

she left.

He's got to be here somewhere.

Get both of them operation.

Let's go.

You're the guy, aren't you?

Take it easy, man.

Who are you?

I'm Wendy's Uncle Max. Oh, God. Wendy.

I don't know no Wendy.

You got the wrong guy, man.

Hold it.

Take it.

Jim. Daisy, she must be upstairs.

This film gives us proof in living color.

You just hung yourself, mister.

Put your hands behind your back.

Put them behind your back. Easy.

You doing okay?

Now I am.

Hold it! Stop! Breathe!

You got him?

Yeah.

You had to do it your way, didn't you?

What would you have done, Hooker?

Me?

I'd have done it my way.

Goodbye, showbiz. Hello, South Dakota.

I don't know what... I don't say goodbye and good luck.

Give yourself a break this time. I will.

Thanks, Stacy.

Bye. Oh, for everything.

Oh, and I promise I'll write.

Bye.

Let's just hope she's too busy with schoolwork to write.

What about Max? He's still improving? Oh, Max is eating and arguing with

everybody. He's going to be fine. That depends on internal affairs, doesn't it?

My friend at the chief's office told me internal affairs is going to give Max

every break.

And Janet's conscious and improving.

So we've got our eyewitnesses and the evidence.

Using an underage girl in a conspiracy to commit a felony during which she's

killed adds up to a lot of trouble.

Ronald Parton and the sleazebags.

It adds up to murder one.