Original subtitles

Item seven, sports fans concerning tonight's fistic extravaganza,

the police athletic league's inter -precinct boxing tournament.

Now, I advise an early arrival at the first event pits midtown middleweight Al

Simmons against this precinct's own prized pugilist, Officer Bobby Hill.

All right. All right. All right.

Roll like a butterfly, stay like a bee.

You're going to be the champ of the Metro PD.

Oh, my God. He's a poet, and he knows it.

And my feet are, too. They're long, fella. I hope you'll exhibit the same

enthusiasm whilst purchasing tickets from Officer Schnitz.

Proceeds go towards reinstating the PAL boxing program for underprivileged

youth.

Item 8.

Officer Evans and D 'Amico continue on Sector C patrol, substituting...

for coffee and baits entering the testimony phase in the Shears -Heiser

death trial.

Hey, Lucy, is there going to be a rap today?

Well, maybe. They're trying to get a plea bargain on Heiser this morning.

Now, for those of you on the outside, we're pushing here for any kind of

conviction. Now, we all know the Top Hat cab's owner, Bernard Heiser, has been

putting death traps on the street for years.

Hey, go get him, Joe.

Lucy.

Now let's all get tough on Toppat's vehicle, huh?

Okay, let's roll.

And let's be careful out there, huh?

That's over a thousand dollars raised already. Do you know that Daryl Ann

to come tonight? Yeah, she says she'd like the prize. Can you imagine a sweet

little thing like that, like a prize? How do you feel, Bobby?

Okay, pretty good.

Yeah, I was wondering how heavy to bet you tonight.

Oh, no, Leo. I'm going to saw Al Simmons rip the door off the Cadillac.

What do you do that for? I'm trying to run over him. All right, he's over the

hill. You're going to murder him. I don't know, Carl.

Twice city golden glove broke the weight champion.

Twice departmental middleweight champion. Ten years ago. Ten years ago.

money's on you, kid. I wouldn't bet the phone. We'll be right back.

My bet's on you, too, Bobby. Thanks, Leo.

I mean, he's as old as you are.

Bobby, I wonder if I can give you a pointer for tonight. I don't need to

anything else about blocks. Bear with me just a moment, will you, Bobby?

Valentine. Valentine, stay right here. I want you to hit me with your left. Sir?

Now, the axiomatic principles of Fazundo is that the same energy used to block

is released to launch the attack.

Come on, Valentine.

Yes, sir.

You all right, Valentine?

Yes, sir. I think so.

I'm going to keep that left a little higher.

9 -11.

Our robbery in progress.

Seat surplus door corner People's Drive on 24th Street.

How come we're going out to bust a bookie operation?

I thought bookmaking was illegal.

And I thought it was handled by Vice. How come we're doing their job? I went

over there a couple of days ago. I make the front of the candy store. I'm

learning to get some guys.

They were doing business pre -opening.

What do you mean? Right out front?

No. The traffic in the bathroom was pretty obvious. I called Vice and

it.

And they haven't made the bus?

Nope.

Something to do with the pad and glass?

Batman? Batman?

There's cops on the tape, one step at a time.

When you and your partner first arrived at the scene of the accident, who was

sitting behind the wheel of the cab?

That man there, Raymond Shears.

And was there anybody else in the cab with Mr. Shears?

No. So then, Officer Bates, it might be correct to say that my client, Mr.

Heiser, was nowhere in proximity to this incident. Is that right?

Except he owns the cab company.

Now, please instruct the witness, Your Honor.

Just answer the question that's been put to you, officer.

No, he was nowhere in proximity.

As a matter of fact, isn't it true that Mr. Heiser's arrest is part of a

personal vendetta by the police department and the district attorney's

Objection! I don't know what you're talking about. And that Mr. Heiser is,

fact, the object of a blatant legalistic witch hunt. Leading, Your Honor, beyond

the witness's competence.

Change your tone of voice, Mr. Bernstein.

Stricken is calling for a conclusion.

Juries to disregard.

No further questions?

You may step down.

Next witness.

The people call Mr. William Tully.

You've testified, Mr. Tully, that you were 50 feet away from the incident,

you saw the cab operated by my client drive up on the curb, and I quote...

It was like it had no steering, brakes, or nothing.

They put a death trap on the street, right?

Have you ever had training in auto mechanics, Mr. Tully?

No, ma 'am. But cars don't go up on curves unless there's something the

with them.

Thank you, Mr. Tully. Or the driver's drunk.

Now drunk, you say, Mr. Tully. Did you smell the defendant's breath?

Did you administer a breathalyzer test? Could you have passed a similar test at

the time?

Objection. Move to strike.

Sustained. Jurial disregard.

Did the DA or the police offer you any inducements for your testimony today?

No, ma 'am. Did anybody?

Like who?

Like anybody.

Did anybody offer you an inducement?

What do you mean, inducement?

Offer you money, anything of value.

A free ride on a case.

Sort of July?

Absolutely not. To do what, then?

Did someone offer you money to appear here and testify?

Did they, Mr. Tully?

Well, now, hold it.

Let me ask you a hypothetical.

I go to Florida in the fall.

Now, if somebody was to lay a few bucks on me so I could stay around here... Who

offered you a few dollars, Mr. Tully?

Answer the question, sir.

The guy with the cup.

Dead guy's brother.

Otherwise, he would have left town. He wouldn't have honored his legal

Quiet, quiet.

Judge, will you instruct the jury as to the proper way to assign bought

testimony? Objection overruled. The people's only eyewitness in this entire

and his testimony can be bought and sold for the price of a meal.

No further questions, Your Honor.

You may step down.

Defense will be putting in a case?

No, Your Honor.

Very well.

Summations at two. Adjourned for lunch?

One hour.

What about the other eligible witnesses?

There's Deladio and Gilbert.

These guys make Tully look like Nobel Prizes. Tully's been discredited now.

Find Gilbert, fast.

I'll review his statement and we'll put him on after lunch.

Look, I'm sorry.

He was my... I know.

He was your brother.

What do you want?

How you doing?

Don't do that.

Police officers.

What are you doing? Get those out of there. Come on.

Where the hell are you going, mouse?

What seems to be our problem? Ain't no problem, Mr. Seltzer. We're just busting

your place. I can see that. I mean, what's our problem? Hey, look. Read my

Mr. Seltzer. You're under arrest. Detective Washington here is going to

right. Now, come on over here. You're under arrest, Ben. You have the right to

remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. What

seems to be happening here is actually happening. You got it, Ben. This is a

hell of a lot. I mean, this is really actually taking place.

At least get my coat.

Okay. Yeah, Ben.

It's a rainy day.

I don't work here.

Where do all of us see you guys from? I don't know.

Okay.

No, no, no, no. I just want to get back in the chair.

Let me get off the ground, okay?

All right, let's do it. Get your hands off.

Get your hands off of me. That was my car back there. You should have been

parked in a handicapped zone. You got what you deserve, buddy. Oh, yeah?

Well, you take a look at this, buddy.

You are under arrest.

You know, I really like that girl.

I mean, no one's going to mistake Carolina for a rocket scientist, you

understand?

Time! That's good. That's good. That's good. That's what it was. Come on. Come

on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.

Come on. Come on.

Come on. Come on.

I mean, she's so natural.

And I think I'm real sweet on her. You know what I mean? Okay, now. Beat him

from the butt. Beat him from the butt. Stick it to his face. Stick it to his

face. Okay, now.

He's so mad.

He's going to punch us in the butt.

Besides, come on. She's a little bit. I'm coming to you.

Thank you.

Hello, ma 'am.

Give me ten more seconds, ma 'am. Come on now. This is Al Simmons.

Ugly face. Give me a minute.

kind of sweet on me, too. I mean, she's real pretty, ain't she? Don't you think

she's pretty?

Ann, I got no wind.

Ann, I got no wind.

If I don't get him inside in 30 seconds, I'm gonna die.

Now, that is the kind of defeatist bullpucky that'll put you away every

time. I don't want to hear one more word like that. 34 years old, Ann.

I ain't been in a ring in six years. But you've been in fights. I'm not in a

ring.

Can I help you, bud?

Don't I? Trigger Ray Robinson.

Oh, that's not it.

Wait a minute.

Bobby Hill.

Right. You're a fighter too, aren't you? Right.

Yeah, Irish Bobby Shields. Hey, we busted you on a B &E two years ago.

Good to see you again.

How you doing?

Oh, good.

Good. Real good.

Yeah. It's a 16 -month bet.

Got three weeks to go. A couple fights coming up.

No kidding.

So, didn't I read you won sweepstakes or something?

Lottery, yeah.

Yeah, so I got his fights coming up, but I lost my mouthpiece in the joint.

I mean, it's a toilet paper, you know, watered up.

Piece of hell out of your gums.

That's too bad.

Yeah, so I was wondering, you know, somebody... could pop for a mouthpiece

the fights, then it would really help me. And I could pay him right back.

Because, uh... Plus $80.

I don't think so, Bobby.

So... You got a fight or something?

Yeah, amateur.

It's nice.

Three rounds, huh?

You need a good corner, man? I come cheap.

Thanks. Anyway, I got to cover.

Sure.

Make me a lunch.

Only too much after lunch.

Okay. Take care, Bobby.

Pancakes and liver.

Take care of yourself, man.

Thanks a lot.

You know, I saw you fight once.

How'd I do?

You won.

Oh, great.

That's really good.

That's good.

Take care of yourself.

the courtroom suggested.

How about some Dr.

Denton's? With feet. Come on, Leo.

See what's in the washroom found.

Wool splatters me.

I gotta have polyester or wool blended.

Oh, mama!

Blue boss. Very blue boss.

He's with Blue Boss Fine and Gold.

Great law firm. You gotta shorten your name to be a partner. Come on.

This is it.

As in gim.

What the hell's so funny?

You, trying to catch me.

Man, I had you beat if it hadn't been for that other car. Paul, I was gaining.

You were sucking dust.

How fast could you go in that thing?

I've been clocked at 23 on the straight.

See, I've got a slightly narrower wheelbase on a 27 -inch diameter.

double -butted tubing in the frame, and I sit two inches lower in the seat.

Plus, I work out. I can curl 150 pounds and do chin -ups all day long, but one

of these days, I'm going to break 25 miles per hour. But beyond that, the

has got stability problems that I've got to work out. Maybe I should have

arrested you for speeding instead.

Hey, why don't you charge yourself for parking in a handicapped zone? That'd be

a first, wouldn't it? You've got no right to go around defacing other

property. You've got no right going around violating other people's rights.

Look, man, you can do whatever you want to me. You want to throw me in jail?

Throw me in jail. But I'm telling you, as soon as I'm back out on the street

again and I see somebody in that space who doesn't have a right to be, he gets

the paint.

Your chief of police, he's in that space. He's going to get the paint.

The president of the United States is in that space. He gets the paint.

I'll go to John.

That way. Make it quick.

Yes, ma 'am. Are you waiting?

Is your stall wheelchair accessible?

No.

Because if it ain't, I'm going to need some help.

on these bookmaking charges.

He's in interrogation. He's also in the Hill Street station house, which strikes

me as a little odd since gambling enforcement's been coming out of

ever since the Hayward Commission.

Well, it's back in the precincts for today.

Why?

The statutes are in the books, Mr. Luboff. What's it to you who enforces

mom -and -pop crime gets treated like the Brinks job?

Cops preempt another division's jurisdiction?

A reasonable attorney is going to wonder why.

Maybe the department's just after its own.

It's a free country.

You're entitled to your speculations.

Is that what it's about, Captain?

I mean, I think some of the cops were on the tape. Make your point.

Because if that's what you're after, I think Ben Seltzer can help you.

Captain, I've been in the business a long time.

Long before the Hayward Commission.

I've seen a lot of cops come and go, and they weren't all scouts.

I ain't a violent man, Captain.

I ought to take care of myself in other ways.

And?

My security fund. I've been in cold storage 15 years, right next to the

furs. Mr. Seltzer's in the market for a trade.

Reduction to a misdemeanor in exchange for his security fund.

Which contains?

A lot of voices, a lot of conversations.

Who's? Oh, there's so many. So long ago.

Listen, Captain.

Then tell me, can we do business?

have nothing more to say.

J .D.? Yeah, we got a reel -to -reel downstairs.

See me when you're through. My client has duplicates in another location.

I know definitely it's up the curb.

Like this.

Almost clipped me.

I had to dive out the way myself.

Why did you wait until now to come forward, Mr. Gilbert?

Ma 'am, I told the police what's happening.

They said they didn't need me.

Which I can understand.

Have you been drinking today?

Yes, ma 'am.

Yes, I have been.

But that don't stop me from remembering the sight of death.

That cab come up there like a demon. Like the driver was trying to turn the

wheel, but he couldn't do nothing.

Like I was saying.

Key 469.

That's the license plate number.

The cab was like a demon.

Like the devil's car.

Just kill that poor innocent man.

No further questions.

Witness step down.

People rest.

Summations. Hey!

Hey! I'm Buckner. I'm Buckner. I'm Buckner!

I'm Buckner!

Got it.

You were pretty good in there.

You articulated that stuff about what your types go through pretty good.

Yep.

I should have been acquitted, too. You got a fair sentence. Well, I noticed he

didn't do nothing to you.

Okay, so now I get to educate the police for 20 hours on disabled rights.

Are you supposed to judge me as 21 -hour lectures?

10 two -hour lectures?

And who am I supposed to lecture to? Each precinct?

No, the police academy. That'd be where it would do the most good. Maybe you

ought to think on it a while. You know there are over 30 ,000 wheelchairs in

this city?

30 ,000.

I've been thinking about going undercover as one of you guys. Maybe you

give me some pointers.

Forget it.

Why? Because that's something you can't fake.

Take soul.

Coffee.

How's it going?

You're going to get that Heiser guy?

Who knows? Our last witness flashed the jury. Jury's in.

So soon? What does that mean?

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendants please rise and face the jury?

The jury will announce his verdict in regard to Raymond Shears.

The jury finds the defendant guilty as charged of voluntary manslaughter.

Respect to Bernard Heiser.

The jury finds the defendant guilty as charged of voluntary manslaughter.

Motions, people?

They serve notice to the DA as per CCP 3719, notice of intent to appeal.

CCP 4020, motion to vacate verdict.

Mr. DA?

A motion to vacate a post is groundless.

Could you all be seated, please?

As regards to motion to vacate verdict, You have nothing more to say? The

people's case, the jury's verdict is self -evident, Your Honor. Not to me,

aren't.

The crimes committed in this matter are heinous.

Therefore, it grieves me all the more to say that the conduct of the police and

prosecution in this case have been far below what minimal standards of judicial

equity require.

What evidence was brought forward on which defenders could be convicted?

The only eyewitnesses were a hireling and a pantsless inebriant.

I conclude that the guilty verdicts are against reason, insupportable, and

prejudiced, and I hereby vacate them.

Prosecution will, of course, take its appeal.

Can they do that? Your Honor, this jury heard and weighed four days of

testimony, three days of experts.

This is wrong.

Quiet, quiet.

But they're criminals.

These are criminals.

And you judge. You're a criminal.

Silence or contempt.

Can he do that? Just change the guilty to not guilty like that? For the record,

people will appeal.

Can we win an appeal?

You're kidding.

One chance in ten. This court stands adjourned until 10 a .m. tomorrow

You know, those guys were bums, but they spoke more truth than you did up there

today. Behave yourself, officer.

That's not right.

I don't know, Fay. The man's just formed a women's rights commission. I think

it's a safe bet. If he's called to meet with you again, he's got something

special in mind.

Well,

you can tell me all about it at dinner.

Don't be nervous.

Just be yourself.

I'll pick you up at eight.

Vacated the verdict.

Rare, but it happens when a judge gets fed up enough.

Damn it. Did my guys do that bad a job? No, they didn't.

It's just a funny set of circumstances.

Your client got off. Why the long face?

It's just, something's not kosher.

Heiser looked like he didn't have a care in the world.

And it's true, the eyewitnesses were weak, but their testimony was sound.

You're talking about a judge with an impeccable service record.

I'm running late.

See you tonight.

Oh, hiya there, Daddy Boy.

Captain, I just finished listening to those bookie tapes.

And?

There's something you gotta hear.

Man, I'm telling you, I don't have to fill this thing out. The judge says...

Sir, I already explained to you, nobody lectures without presenting a day and a

time with me, and I don't have any open dates. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I should have known you guys wouldn't be interested in hearing what I had to

say, but this whole thing is bullshit.

of the disabled.

I wrote it in my lecture.

It's a good title. I like that. Yeah, well, when I ask four eyes for a room,

immediately says no dice. I can't get on the schedule for a month. You gotta

wait your turn.

Ah, you two.

Whoa!

You think you're going off to paint more cars? You're wrong. No, I was thinking

dynamite this time.

You go back up to the desk and you get a date to talk to the men. You don't

leave here until you do that.

You think you can stop me from leaving?

Yeah.

Because I'm in a wheelchair, you think you can handle me?

Well, if I can't, I'll find six cops who can.

All right.

I'll get on the schedule.

You like fights?

Boxing?

Yeah, I guess.

How about going to the fights with me?

Why would you like to do that?

I don't know if this place has a ramp, though.

We'll work it out.

I've got a police escort, don't I?

You want to see me, Frank?

Yeah, would you close the door, please, Howard?

I want you to hear something.

It's from a few years back.

God bless this crowd.

the same conversation.

When it happened, I was six weeks on the force.

A couple of detectives tapped me to do the run once a week at this pastry shop.

The money was out of sight. It was in a box of crullers.

Did you take any?

No.

Not that that makes any difference.

You knew the contents?

Not to begin with.

Until one of the sergeants in the precinct told me how it was.

How was that for the most naive rookie story you ever heard?

You're 28 years old, Howard. You're hardly a kid.

In the back of my mind, I knew it from the start.

Then why?

I'd just gotten back from Vietnam after what I'd seen over there.

The corruption in the very fabric of things.

It seemed no different here.

I decided that it was beyond me to address all that. That others could

govern their lives, I would govern mine.

The fact is...

I was too much a coward to confront those detectives, Frank, and I put in

transfer instead.

And when that transfer didn't come for two months, I continued to make the

pickups.

We have to be practical, Howard.

Because of the amount of time that's gone by, you can't be prosecuted, but

information is going to have to circulate.

It's going to be in your jacket.

I understand that you initiated this operation, Frank.

There's nothing I can do about it now, Howard. It's gone too far.

No, no, no. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad it stands revealed.

Fifteen years ago, I was handed the broken saber, and I have kept it hidden

under my tunic all these years.

I have failed the people who gave me their trust.

I failed you, Frank.

And for that, I'm sorry.

And I apologize.

Howard, it's just poor judgment.

But in the context of what I fully expect to continue to be a highly

distinguished career.

May I go?

Hey, Andy.

Remember four years ago at Ploogies when Al Simmons took on the Riverview J .C.

football team?

Yeah. Yeah, they slaughtered him, right? Yeah, but that was... But he put six of

them in.

Hey, the guy was using a two -by -four.

Hey, you're not worried, are you, Bobby?

No, he is not.

Come on, Bobby.

We've got to pick up their land.

Hey, catch up with him, baby. Hey, don't sweat, kid, all right? Simmons couldn't

win a geriatrics tournament, man. The guy's history.

He's the same age as I am.

You better snap it up if we're going to make it to the bout.

What? The bout.

You know, the fight. Bobby's fighting.

Oh, the fight. Well, I'm afraid I won't be able to go, John.

Lieutenant, if you're worried about what was on that tape, don't be.

Everybody makes mistakes.

Hell, that's the man who knows.

As a matter of fact, I was thinking about Midway.

No.

Midway to what?

It was a sea battle.

WWII had changed the course of the war in the Pacific.

At one point, three squadrons of obsolete American torpedo bombers flew

unprotected through murderous enemy fire to press home the attack.

They knew they were flying to almost certain death, but they went.

Only one plane survived.

Do you know what courage that took, John?

To go out and meet that fate.

Yeah. Well, you know, I think about those things on Veterans Day.

I do.

Curlers.

Boy, boy, you talk about your massacres, huh?

Bobby's gonna put that bum in four different hospitals.

Lieutenant, you gotta come.

I'm sorry.

Lieutenant.

Look, I've been down this road.

You gotta put it behind you. You gotta forget about it.

Do you have any idea how many generations of hunters have served king

country on the field of combat?

All.

All performed with dignity and honor.

Lieutenant.

A million years ago, you got pinched to run a few bucks for a couple of low

-life flatfoots.

It ain't exactly like selling the H -bomb to the Russians.

I have to take a shower.

Yeah, yeah, hey, okay. Hey, you do that, huh? It'll give you a new perspective

and then we can go to the fight.

I'm not going.

Okay.

What are you going to do?

Isn't that deep, Bobby Hill?

Yeah.

Real good, Daryl Ann.

Well, it's a good thing you don't have a weight limit to make. You know, I had a

girlfriend, dated a Bantamweight, little tiny itty -bitty guy, always sticking

his finger down his throat.

Daryl Ann, Daryl Ann, do you think you could put a cork in it, please?

Well, I was just trying to help Bobby relax.

Try it silent.

Well, who died medium of hope?

Keep talking, Dad.

Have some gum.

Here. Give me one, too.

30 seconds, Renko.

30 seconds.

Bobby Hill, you're going to kick this guy's butt.

In the middleweight division, a first -round elimination bout.

In the red corner, weighing in at 161 and one -half pounds. How many clubs are

you? I made it, didn't I? Al, the enforcer, Simmons.

163 pounds, representing Hill Street, Bobby Blueberry Hill.

You told the break, you break clean.

Blueberry Hill?

Yeah, that's dominant. It was a real heavyweight.

In the event of a knockdown, you go to the furthest.

Come on, Bobby.

Come on. Come on, fellas.

Let's shake hands. Let's have a clean fight.

He couldn't hit the ground falling out of a tree.

Bobby's dead.

Simmons is a killer.

And move.

Pace yourself. We'll take your decision.

30 seconds, Rick.

For sure he was going to ask me to be the token female on some token

But I got the genuine feeling that he cares.

You know, he really listened to me.

Ozzie's a good man.

I think you'll be a valuable part of his administration.

You know, I think so too, Henry.

Thank you.

Coupé.

I don't know anyone who...

Deserves happiness more.

Would it embarrass you if I told you I love you?

Of course not.

I don't mean I love you, I want to go to bed with you.

I mean I love you.

Not that I haven't thought about it.

About what?

You know, us.

In the same room.

Without clothes.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I know that's nothing strong

us.

Hey.

What?

You're beautiful.

And I have thought about us making love to each other.

Now, let me tell you why that would be completely wrong.

Why?

Well, for one thing, there's Frank to consider.

Now, I know that he's remarried.

And you and I are single adults.

But that's not the point. I mean, you two have to work with each other.

And besides, you know, when sex enters a relationship, it gets all tense and

possessive and... Henry, what you and I have is

so special.

I mean, I would cut my wrist before I'd do anything to jeopardize that.

Maybe you're right.

You're not angry, are you? Of course not.

Why risk it?

Onward and upward.

Want me to walk you to the door?

Oh, no, that's okay.

Thank you, Henry Goldbloom.

For dinner and for you and forever.

You're welcome. Kiss the kids for me.

I will.

They're with my mother tonight.

Good night.

Henry, this is wrong.

No, it's not.

Well, are we going to do this double -box or are you going to come in?

Something that's pretty cool.

A quick extemporaneous haiku.

When shutters dark leaves of

fortune.

Tree, you stand testament.

of my opacity.

Clean application of pressure function of simple algebraic equation

Be a man about it

I

Love you mom