Original subtitles

Streets of San Francisco, a Quinn Martin production starring Carl Malden.

Also starring Michael Douglas.

With guest stars Patrick O 'Neill, Lou Brazell,

Joel Fabiani.

Tonight's episode, The Glass Dark Board.

Well, we're starting a little early this morning, huh?

What's the rush?

Just wanted to get you off on the right foot with the new captain. Yeah, that's

what I like about you, Mike. You're always thinking of your troops.

Just those that need it.

Well, you have any second thoughts?

About what?

About not taking the job.

You trying to get rid of me?

No, just I don't see Keely as chief of inspection, that's all.

He likes the desk, I like the street.

Yeah?

I hear he's an all -time squint.

Squint? Yeah.

That means he stays at his desk all day.

Never gets outside.

The sun makes him squint.

appropriate certification.

Close it off with the usual and send it by messenger, will you?

Yes, Mr. Benson.

And Maggie.

St. Charles 2, St. Charles 5, Noboma Towers, 207 St. Andrews, 28th floor,

possible sniper.

Yes, 81, we'll respond to that 217.

10th floor, Inspector 81.

Your squint is going to have to wait before he sees our cheerful faces.

Little more.

Little more.

Over to the right. Just a little bit.

That's it. Hold it right there.

Fine.

Shot came from the rooftops of one of those buildings in that area.

Right? Yeah.

Yeah,

Benson was a senior account executive.

Seemed to be well -liked.

Kept to himself, though. Any known enemies?

No, not according to his co -workers. He's been working here at

International for the last 14 years. He was a widow three years ago.

No problems on the job, at least that's what everybody tells me.

What does your cop sense tell you?

Well, we got a lot of groundwork to cover.

Got a lot of rooftops to cover, too.

Yeah, that's Inspector Keller.

We'll be right there.

16th floor on the sniping.

All right, let us through.

Police, come on.

Excuse us.

Get them out of here.

I'm sorry.

I'm Lieutenant Stone with the police department.

Is there anything you can tell us?

The partition, it just exploded.

Oh, my face stings so.

The ambulance is on the way. You'll be all right there. How can something like

this happen?

Take it easy.

Look at me. It's crazy.

I didn't do anything.

I didn't hurt anybody. Why would anybody shoot at me?

It's corrupt.

Come here. Come here. Come here to me. You come here to me.

They didn't believe me.

But now they will.

$80 million says they have to.

Well, is that what they call an ego case?

Mike, sure, that's all I got to impress people with. Not all.

Congratulations on the promotion, Captain.

Steve Keller, Jacob Keely. Captain, I heard a lot about you, Inspector. How

it feel?

Oh, it's no different. It's only temporary until David gets out of his

Now, you know better than that.

This is their way of taking a good, long look at you to see how you handle the

job, and then the next time... Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to

You know, I've only had a partial briefing on the Balboa Tower shootings.

Now, where are we? Well, I've gotten my men in the area hustling to see if they

can locate a firing position.

Suspects?

That's going to be tough.

Yeah, and potentially hot. I've already had two calls from upstairs.

Don't give me much time to get used to the old hot seat, do they, sir?

Yeah, well, I can take the heat.

What about somebody inside the startup company?

Somebody with a grudge?

Well, we're working on that for what it's worth.

Come again?

Captain, Chardoff International stopped looking good when that girl on the 16th

floor got hit. There's no connection between the two firms.

Well, maybe we'll find one. Let's check out the whole building. Get a list of

every past and present employee.

Well, sir, it's a 35 -story building that got over 300 companies in it.

Well, all those names can be narrowed down on a computer run.

We can even have a systems program designed if necessary.

Anything else?

We're still doing basic footwork.

But you know, Jacob, there's a possibility that we're dealing with a

A kid who's just doing it for kicks.

Well, I understand, but let's just close all the exits. We've got those

machines. We might as well use them.

Get right on it, will you?

Good.

Mike, could I see you just a second?

Mike, I know we go back a long way, but I've got to get myself established

around here, so in front of the men, it's Captain.

Sure.

Sure, Captain.

Miss Rogers, get me the chief.

I'll tell you one thing, he sure is thorough.

And bright.

Yeah.

You guys rode together?

Mm -hmm. Yeah, for about, go, four months, when he first made the Ford.

Even then he was talking about how he was going to computerize the whole

department. That's when everybody thought computers were nothing but

machines.

Has he had any field experience?

He's had enough.

Listen, let me know if you can write us plans. Yes, sir.

All right, where am I going to find him?

Getting field experience. I've got to do something to keep up with all you

bright boys on that head work.

We can secure the building, Mr. Robinson. We can't secure the whole

up to the police.

Wait just a minute, would you please?

Yeah.

Oh, good, good. Send him in.

Yes.

Yeah.

Well, just tell him not to worry.

Everything is under control.

The way I lie, I should have been a diplomat, not a building manager. Mr.

I'm Inspector Keller. I hope you've got good news.

Well, no, sir, but we're doing all the work. I know.

All you can.

Which means you've got nothing.

Well, I've got over 2 ,500 people who can't concentrate because they're afraid

for their lives.

I've got at least a half a dozen tenants who won't even come into the building

until this is cleared up.

How many men have been assigned to work on this? Well, I don't know the exact

number. We're treating this as a major crisis, that I can tell you.

Well, you've got the diagnosis right.

Let's hope you find the cure soon. What can I do to help? Well, we need an

officer in the building to work for us. Well, take this one.

Thank you. We need a complete list of all the companies that are in the

building, including employees past and present, and any that have been

discharged in the last couple of years.

You're kidding. You know how long that will take to compile?

Well, how many people can you assign to us?

As many as you need. Thank you. Let's get to it. Files are out here.

Especially look around all the fire escapes.

Keep your eyes open. You know what to look for. Don't pass up on anything.

Hey, Mike.

I've got it.

Ejection markings are different.

The tooling.

I'd say foreign.

Clean strike on the firing pin. How clean?

Clean enough to be new.

I'd say there's been no more than just a few shots fired. Then we must be

dealing with a new rifle.

Or a new firing pin.

Anything? Computers are humming. Set up 2 ,000 names in it. Got a foreman on the

roof. Set up headquarters at Mason's office.

What have you been doing?

What have I been doing?

I'm still waiting.

Come on, Johnson, will you?

Here it is, Lieutenant.

The ejection mark has tipped me.

German made 7mm.

You're looking for a Handel bolt action.

Not too common. How uncommon?

I bet there's been no more than 30 or 40 filled in the Bay Area in the past

year. Well, it's a start.

Steve. Yeah, I know. I'm back at the computer.

No, no, no. This time I'm going to let you have the field experiment.

I want you to check out all the gun dealers.

I want the name and address of every person who ever bought a handle within

past six months.

Thanks, Johnson.

I'll keep the night man on just in case there's any more target practice. Let's

hope to God there won't be any more.

Closing the building is out of the question.

Besides the number of people involved, this is an $80 million enterprise, an

integral part of the city's economy.

Then you're going to have to find other means to protect your occupants.

Like what?

You can start by moving your tenants away from the windows.

Agreed. Now, what about those names I gave you? You still think it's a

disgruntled employee?

So far, yeah, but that's only a theory.

And the only one we've got.

Gentlemen, we're not getting anywhere.

Maybe we are. Come here, let me show you something.

So far, we've had three separate incidents. The first one came from the

the second one from the south, and the last one came from the east.

The sniper moved his position every time.

So, what's it mean?

Possible pattern, circular rotation of the tower?

My guess is the next incident will come from the north.

A guess.

That's right, only a guess.

But if it does, we have a good chance of capturing him.

Our plan is to vector from the rooftop of this building.

We want to place surveying instruments here and here.

And on the first muzzle flash, we triangulate his position, deploy air and

ground crew, and in that way limit him to a very small area.

I feel like I'm in the middle of a war.

Well, you are, Mr. Mason. Whoever shot at your building made that very clear

last night.

If you need more men, I could call the mayor's office.

No, we don't need more men. We don't have any more men.

What we're asking for is your cooperation.

You've got it.

So far, all I've accomplished is making headlines.

Scared headlines.

This is not the kind of press...

Boosts my stock, anyway.

Yes.

Hey, what, did you get his name?

All right, I'll take it.

This is Mr. Mason.

You're married to building, Mr. Mason, right?

Who is this?

I'm the one. The one who's been doing the shooting.

It's him.

It's Michael.

It's Tom.

Try to get a trace.

Well, how do I know you're the one?

The newspapers didn't print the ballistic report, did they?

Well, it's a seven millimeter.

And I made the first shot from 440 yards away, right?

Well, I'll have to check that out.

You know I'm right.

Now, you listen to me.

Go ahead.

I told them I'd find a way to get even, and they ignored me.

Who? Who is they?

Never mind about that.

I just want you to know that I'm going to go right on shooting day and night.

until I'm paid $1 million.

You understand me?

$1 million? Now, wait just a minute. No, I can't raise that kind of money.

You raised $80 million. You can raise $1 million more.

24 hours, mister.

That's all you've got.

But how do I reach you?

Don't you worry about that. You just get the million dollars.

Unless you want bigger headlines.

I've already called the newspaper.

I'm introducing Lieutenant Stone.

He's at the Balboa Towers, Captain. Where at the Balboa Towers? At the

post, I guess. I can call him on the phone if... There's 18 gun shops in town

that carry the handle bolt action. Now, 41 have been sold in the last year.

We've checked with all but nine of the owners. What about Keeley's List? It's a

bust. The computer came with 200 employees that are discharged.

Only a few of them are unemployed now. None of them seem to carry a grudge.

You know, Sekulovich has been trying to call you. God, I can't believe this is

happening. A million -dollar ransom? The board of directors made a decision yet?

I've got a conference call in now. I know you're a busy man, Mr. Mason, but I

wondered if you could look up some more records for me.

What else is there? Well, this building is only a year old. What about the

builders, the construction workers?

Was there an accident when this building was going up?

Yeah, I'll do what I can. Will you be at the crash conference? In about 20

minutes, yes.

Mike, he's driving us nuts. Our guys don't even know what they're doing

he's... Wait a minute.

Who is driving you nuts?

Keeley. He's up on the roof repositioning our vectoring team,

to headquarters. He's screwing everything up. Okay, okay.

Give him a chance, will you?

Maybe he needs a little more time to adjust.

Well, he's adjusting to the wrong job.

Unless he wants yours.

All right, go upstairs.

Come on.

I'll talk to him. Go ahead.

Steve, I want you to lay a perimeter.

If he hits tonight, I want an airtight seal. Gotcha.

as we know, there's only one sniper involved.

Have you been able to identify him? No. No, we haven't. In other words, the

police are at a loss for answers.

No. No.

The police are still conducting a criminal investigation.

Thank you very much.

Lieutenant Michael Stone.

This is Eli Mason, the man responsible for the giant high -rise.

Have you decided what to do about the sniper's demand for ransom?

Yes. I've discussed it with the board of directors, and they agree.

We will not pay one cent to that maniac.

The building under siege, one of San Francisco's newest high -rises, stands

the corner of 8th and St.

Andrews. 35 stories tall, it houses over 300 firms and approximately 2 ,500

employees. All right, we'll be stationed right here. Now, that's south of here.

Inspector Keller, I want you to go back down to headquarters, put Lenny

Murchison to work doing psychological profiles on the ten names in this

Just follow orders.

Let me see yesterday's triangulation.

What's going on here? You tell me to do one thing, he tells me the other. What's

going on?

Jacob.

Why don't you let me handle the details, huh?

Moving too slowly.

Two bosses isn't going to speed it up any.

I've been trying to get this vectoring off the ground so we can draw his fire.

Draw his fire? He's just treating symptoms. Let's get down to the business

solving this thing.

I may be wrong, and if I am, it's my fault.

But I honestly think this is our best chance.

You don't seem to be... Be getting my message, Lieutenant. I want results, not

apologies.

I get the message.

Pressure from above.

I can handle that. It's pressure from below I don't need.

Wait a minute now.

We're working on this together.

Then don't buck me, Mike. Just get the job done.

Here, let's get it close to the window. Put it in this chair.

How many more to go?

We'll let you take care of this for the 24th and the 30th should complete the

7th explosion. All right, let's double check with maintenance.

The only officers with the lights on are these.

Okay. Are the surveying instruments in place? Slight hang -up.

What? Keeley wants everyone back at headquarters for a briefing.

A briefing now?

Yeah.

All right, just put the table right there.

Yeah, right in front of the chart. That's good.

Okay. Thank you.

What's going on?

Movement.

We're going to get this thing rolling.

Now, we're going to regroup on this sniper investigation.

It needs to be more orderly, systemized.

Now, the way to accomplish that is to use a management technique I developed.

It's called PERT.

PERT. Program Evaluation and Review Technique.

That's a method for complex programming that I feel is adaptable to this

investigation. Now it envisions a method for placing all elements on a chart,

ensuring that nothing is overlooked.

Now you're going to all be involved.

In fact, I've asked for extra manpower on this.

Now, the critical path starts here and leads to a solution here.

Now these are all our ongoing investigations.

The research on the employees, the examination of the building security

the alpha file runs and names, the psychological profiles, the vehicle

in the subterranean garage, the IDOs on customers as opposed to employees.

Now, this chart will be filled with systems -oriented information by the

we're through.

Probably the first time this method has been used in a murder investigation in

this city.

Now, here's how it works.

We take everything that we know so far.

We write it down in order on the chart.

Then we get the information that you're going to get, and we fill that in on the

chart.

Now, I'm going to need five of you.

Uh, you?

You?

Well, we're down to the bones for manpower. Why isn't Keeley cutting us

four units? The per chart.

That's why.

He wants it finished by morning.

And he's going to work on it all night? Mm -hmm. He's a nervous type.

More than that.

What?

Come here.

You've been throwing about him all day. What is it?

I just called a gut instinct.

And I'm sure he'd be fine on a regular homicide. But this one, he's got him

pressed up against the wall. He doesn't know what to do. And he's scared.

That makes him dangerous.

Tell me more.

What don't you really like about him?

Can you ask me? I'm telling you. Mike, we're set.

Yeah?

The triangulation should cut us to a 20 -block area on the north.

Now let's hope he follows the pattern.

I got a muzzle flash.

30 degrees west.

Yeah, I saw it too.

27 degrees east.

Inspector 2 to 8 -1.

Suspect is active.

Triangulation puts him in the area of hillside and park.

10 -4.

Inspectors 8, 4, 27, go to your pre -established perimeter.

Where's the chopper?

Inspectors 8 -1 to headquarters.

What happened to the chopper? Put him on my frequency.

It's Victor A -1. The air unit has been diverted.

What do you mean, diverted?

This is Captain Keely at 3, Victor 1. To all units, I'm taking command of this

operation.

Taking command.

Suspect position has moved.

Area of Gramercy and Rock Canyon.

Adjust perimeter adjustment to the west.

I spotted his muzzle flash.

We got him. All units move three blocks east.

Unit 8, Montana River.

Unit 4, Creek Drive in Montana.

Unit 8 -1, Alma and Riverton. Captain, this is Stone.

You're heading in the wrong direction.

He'll move west. That's his pattern.

Follow orders, 8 -1. You cover Alma and Riverton.

You're going to blow it.

Follow orders, England.

You wait here.

You're the boss.

Next time you take over, you notify me first.

That's regulation.

I'm aware of that. No, you're not aware of anything.

This whole operation was based on one idea.

That the sniper would move counterclockwise.

I saw his muzzle flag.

And so did we.

And we were all set to capture him when he moved west, but you blew it.

Lieutenant, I want a full report on what went wrong first thing tomorrow

morning. Why wait?

I'll give it to you right now.

You're what went wrong.

You're trying to run the whole show, and you can't.

You're the captain. You give orders from the desk, and I'll handle the street.

And I'll tell you another thing.

If we hadn't been shorthanded, we still might have been able to capture him.

You're a lieutenant. If you wanted more teams, why didn't you order them?

Because they are all working on your perch arc, Captain.

That's what we mean.

Because we still got a schoolboy out there who's trying to kill people.

And you let him get away.

The good captain worked on his PERT chart until four this morning.

And what?

He broke the case three hours ago.

In the interrogation room.

I'm telling you, believe me, I was there half the night.

You're lying, Jeffers.

Blazers didn't play last night.

Refrigeration went bad. No ice, no hockey, and no alibi.

Captain, I didn't shoot anybody. I...

I don't even own a gun. Oh, come on, Jeffers. We've got you. We've got your

record right here and your criminal record.

That doesn't mean anything.

You're sweating.

You know people sweat when they lie?

Look at your hat. You're shaking.

I can't help it.

I mean, I don't know what I'm doing here.

Well, I'll tell you.

I'm holding you for murder.

In the first degree.

Lieutenant?

Yes, Captain.

Lieutenant Harlan Jeffers.

He was fired two years ago from a Teletext corporation.

That's on the 16th floor where that secretary was wounded.

Man with a grudge.

He assaulted a corporate officer when he was fired. Beat him unconscious.

He got 18 months.

He was released two weeks ago.

Oh, one more little fact.

He was a trained sniper in the Korean War. All the pieces came together on the

perch shot.

I guess I owe you an apology.

I will keep after him. Fill in the details.

A confession would give us the icing. See if you can arrange that, will you?

Time to get a hold of Wilson Press Relations. I might be able to accomplish

in an hour.

Pardon me. Yes, sir. There's a Mr. Mason, I'd like to see, by the lease.

yes, sir. That's on the 10th floor, room 1018.

1018. Thank you.

I didn't even know those officers were in that building. You've got to believe

me. But you lied to the captain. If you're innocent, why didn't you tell him

truth?

Look, I drink a lot.

I don't know where I was last night.

All right, let's go.

Where? We have to book you.

Sekulovich, come in.

I swear to God, I had nothing to do with those shootings. Nothing.

You know I believe him?

Keely wants him booked.

I don't have enough to let him go.

Well, if he's innocent, why don't he tell us the truth?

Maybe he really was drunk.

Gut feeling, huh, Mike?

Something like that. How do you feel?

Well, he's not on the gun list.

We'll talk to Keely.

When?

When he gets through taking bows.

We don't have any hard evidence, and you know it.

Circumstantially, we have a good case.

Opportunity, motive, but no weapon.

And we don't have a record of him ever purchasing one.

Well, maybe he stole it. That's your job. Find out. Check details.

Nail him to the wall.

I hope you're not dropping the ball on this just because my technique paid off.

Nobody's dropping the ball, Captain. Steve.

We'll keep digging.

You do that.

Then why don't we start nailing guys against the wall?

Do you have a list of gun purchasers?

Sure, why?

I'm going to cross -check every one of those names with Mason's files.

We're going to dig into the history of that building from the day they put the

first spade in the ground.

He's not going to like that.

I'm beginning not to care.

Here's the last of it.

I still don't understand.

This seems like a waste of time. You got your man.

Maybe.

What do you mean, maybe?

See, Jeffress was upset with his company before they ever moved in here, so if

he's a sniper, why didn't he shoot at the old building?

I don't know.

Neither do we.

But the answer may be somewhere in your files. A name, a face.

A man with a grudge against a contractor, subcontractor, the

Lieutenant Stone.

You get the wrong man, you know.

He wasn't firing at the building. I was.

How did you know I was here?

I can see you.

I've got you in my sight, Lieutenant.

One million dollars, Lieutenant.

Five o 'clock today. Now, you follow these instructions.

I made the right decision.

If he finds out this is filled with blank paper before you get him... If

lucky, he won't have enough time to count it.

He hasn't made any mistakes so far, including picking a coward for a

I still think this guy's some kind of nut to any cash in on the publicity.

Captain, are you telling us not to go?

Inspector, I'll be at my desk, where I belong.

Yes, sir.

Just put the bag down, get back in the car and leave. We'll do the rest.

Lieutenant, I wasn't planning to do anything else.

of all the time and places he would pick to give a ticket.

He's not going to collect it with the cop there. I know, I know, I can see.

want to try to flush him out?

You want to flush the sniper out too?

We don't have a thing.

Unless he puts his hands on that bag.

You call it.

We sit tight.

Forget the money.

There's only one thing that'll stop me now. I want that building evacuated.

Who is this?

By noon tomorrow, you understand me?

If that doesn't happen, I'm going to destroy it.

Window by window.

I told them I'd find a way to get even and they ignored me.

Who? Who is they?

Never mind about that. I just want you to know that I'm going to go right on

shooting day and night until I'm paid one million dollars.

I want that building evacuated.

Who is this?

By noon tomorrow, you understand me?

If that doesn't happen, I'm going to destroy it.

Window by window.

Same voice.

Jeff is innocent.

Why did he lie?

Well, his probation officer said he was having some drinks with some ex -cons.

It's a parole violation.

It's dumb.

But the PO's got witnesses, including the bartender.

All right, release him. Sir.

Uh, Mike, stay on this. Use your best judgment.

That's an order. It'll be the last one I'll be giving you.

A man's handshake means he's guilty of something, doesn't he?

Well, I'd let Jeffrey swing.

But you wouldn't have, would you?

That's all.

You've got until noon tomorrow.

Good luck.

That takes care of the contractors who worked on the building.

Now we go to the architect, Shelby and Paul.

They're at the Embarcadero, Pier 5.

That's our last chance.

Inspectors, 8 -1, this is Rogers.

Do you read? Come in, Rogers.

Watch your 10 -13.

The distance stable, no activity.

Keep alert. We won't be late, but he just could be early.

What do you expect to find in our employee files, Lieutenant?

A man who might have worked for you in the past.

But you don't even know his name.

Well, we've got a list of names over there, and we're cross -checking with

files.

Well, I hope our files can be of some help. So do I.

We're down to the last straw, Mr. Shelby, before the shooting starts.

Well, that takes care of the Ks, Ls.

When we finish here, I'll show you our nut file.

Wait a minute. You got a nut file?

Yeah, for all the kooks. Mr. Shelby has me keep a special file on all their

correspondence. Now, what kind of kooks are you talking about?

Well, you know, where people badmouth the firm, damaging the environment.

Wait a minute.

Remember what he said?

I warned them, but they ignored me. That could have been a letter.

What do you do with threatening letters?

Net file.

Let's see it.

I have to go now.

You behave yourself.

Abel?

Kenny?

Volper?

Truax?

Wait a minute.

Truax? Is that T -R -U -A -X?

Martin Truax.

He's on the gun list, Mike. I just couldn't get hold of him. Do you know

Only his letters.

He's been writing over a year. Really far out.

What's his beef?

Property condemnation. He had this little house.

They paid him for it, but of course it wasn't enough.

When a man doesn't want to sell, it's never enough.

Oh, no.

Alboa Towers?

32 feet of it used to belong to him.

Can I use your phone?

Sure, right there.

Come on, Tanner, have you got it?

Here it is.

Martin Truax, released from state hospital in Napa three weeks ago. The

caseworker puts his address at the Carlisle Hotel.

Carlisle Hotel.

Drive to 1953 Lincoln. License number AXO -995.

AXO -995.

Yeah, that's his car.

Five minutes to go to be anywhere in the city, but his car is outside

I had was three small rooms, but it was enough.

And they took it. They had no right to do that. They had the right. No, no.

had $80 million.

That didn't give them any right to take what was mine.

Nothing gives you the right to take a life, mister.

They cheated me.

Who's that? The accountant on the 28th floor?

Why don't you tell that to his widow?

Where's that going? Up there.

Captain Devitt just asked for it. Devitt's back?

Yeah. And we've got him. Where's Keeley?

Promoted to research and planning.

That's a good place to call it.

Well, you don't think so?

Oh, yeah, yeah, I think so.

Listen, put this in my office, will you?

I'll be right back.

Congratulations, Mike.

You too.

We never demote failures, do we?

We never promote them either.

Ever heard of the Peter Principle?

The Peter Principle? No.

Man rises to his own level of incompetence?

No. That's me.

Every job I ever had, I could handle until this one.

Well, if that were so, they wouldn't be moving you up to research and planning,

would they?

That's where you belong.

You knew all along, didn't you?

No. No, I didn't.

Well, I've learned something about both of us.

Well, see you around, Lieutenant.

Mike?

Sure, Jacob.

Thank you.