Original subtitles

The lieutenant.

They just made the pickup. It's Nitschke.

This has got to be it. He's driving a 1973 Mercedes, dark blue, license plate

860BLA. Okay, you stick with him.

But don't crowd him.

And don't take offense. Let your backup car have him if he smells you. You were

here at the Central Park Towers, and if I'm right, we'll see you in five

minutes.

But, Crocker, don't blow it.

This is the biggie, baby.

Timing is everything.

All right.

If I'm right in it, she's drop is right here.

And ever since he got ripped off on that big Turkish delivery last month,

Steiner doesn't trust his own mama.

Lieutenant, we're holding close.

Let me test the stuff himself. You know, that's his one big mistake.

One of the biggest dealers in Manhattan.

And we haven't been able to hang a parking ticket on him. Are you ready?

Now we're going to bust him. And we're going to bust him big. And we're going

make it stick this time.

He just turned into Park. Looks like your nose is right.

Oh.

Who loves you, Theo?

It is. How sweet it is.

Easy, easy.

It's getting time to get up there.

May I help you, gentlemen?

Yeah.

Okay, you cover the lobby here.

You take the service area. Make sure the guard dog doesn't talk to anybody.

Stanley Nitschke.

All right, hold him.

Spread those legs.

Oh, that's a big one.

It's a big one. Oh, that's a nice surprise.

Oh,

it's the police.

Well, well, well, what do we got here?

It looks like smack.

Right here on Manny Steiner's coffee table.

And you know what, sweetheart?

Some of our boys picked up the rest of the stuff in Brownsville after Nitschke

tested the last batch.

You better have a warrant, Skoljak.

I would have sworn I had one to spoil it.

Here, read it.

You got a permit for this piece?

You better believe it.

You see, at times I carry large amounts of money. Oh, really? Tell me about it.

I want to call my lawyer.

Relax.

In the meantime, would you kindly read him his rights?

You have the right to remain silent.

If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be

against you in a court of law.

You have the right to speak with an... All right, already.

You'll never make it stick, Kojak.

If you think Manny Steiner's gonna let some two -bit bullet -headed cop roll

up, you're crazy.

I pay my lawyers more in a week than you make in a year. You can tell me about

it.

Look, I've got my rights. I want to call my lawyer. Yeah, yeah.

We'll go down to the station house.

We'll book you, and then you can call your lawyer.

In the meantime...

You get some of the boys down here and really toss this joint. Really toss it.

Go through all the legal papers, documents, whatever.

Open a safe on paid bills. And then get Stavros down here, the plant authority.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's growing marijuana in the potted plants.

You're not going to take me, Kojak.

Why don't you use that bullet head of yours for something else besides

down doors?

Something we can work out.

After all, I'm a respectable businessman.

Well, you keep talking, Steiner.

And I'll nail you for trying to bribe a police officer. That ain't too bad.

A bald -headed police officer? That's good for 10 to 20 years on a farm.

I'll never do time, Kojak. Of course not. You'll have time for your memoirs

Joe Vellacci. Get ready for your papers, baby, and follow the leader.

While you're resting, what's your full name?

Mr.

Steiner has a right to counsel. What are the charges?

Possession of heroin with intent to sell.

Possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Possible possession of a firearm without a registration.

How's that for openers? I got news for you, Buster.

You know, playing patty cake on your coffee table with a half a kilo of

That's a tsk -tsk and a naughty -naughty.

Manny, you have a right to remain silent. I strongly advise you to say

Absolutely nothing.

Try to arrange bail as fast as I can.

Good boy.

Well, it looks leak -proof to me.

That's all set for a preliminary hearing on Monday at 10 a .m. You be there,

Theo, with the evidence.

Grabbing the stuff right in his living room.

Open package and all that.

You know, I wish every case they gave me to prosecute was this easy.

I guess you heard the...

He made bail.

A hundred thou cash.

You know something?

This fellow must have had his hearing on the back nine at Wingfoot.

Oh, I'm sorry, Frank. I didn't know you had a broad.

That's all right, they are. He's just leaving.

Before you go, do you mind answering one question?

What am I supposed to do about dinner tonight?

What did you do before you married me?

Frank! Don't answer that.

There's some frozen dinners in the freezer.

Pop one into the oven, set the timer, and modern science will do the rest.

wait up for me, dear. How come?

They having tryouts for cheerleader after class?

I'm moonlighting for a sick friend at the bite -a -wee massage parlor.

Bye, Lillian.

She's going to drive me bananas.

Hey, look, you two had a fight. What can I do for you? Well, it wasn't a fight.

She's just moody, unpredictable.

Maybe she's going through the change or something. I don't know.

She's always telling me I want more out of life.

Well, what am I supposed to do? Every time it's something different.

Last week, she wanted to open a boutique. This week, she's decided to go

CCNY to finish a degree.

Oh, yeah.

I mean, the kids are grown and away from home.

She wants to change the scenery.

She wants to get away for a couple of weeks. You got a vacation. Come on, why

don't you take us up late, you cheapskate?

He's gonna drive me bananas.

No way, no how.

Not in my time of life.

I haven't come this far to wind up in some stinking prison cell.

Maybe die in some lousy prison infirmary?

No.

You're my lawyer, Farrell. You come up with something. You come up with one of

your loopholes. Manny, that's not the way it works.

I don't invent the law.

I only protect your right within the law.

The fact that the incriminating materials were found in your apartment

quantity and with you present, well, it makes the prosecution's case very

strong.

Manny, I don't know what you're thinking, but... Look, it's all or

I'm not spending the rest of my life in prison.

Oh, don't get nervous, Farrell. Go on. Go on home to your big house in Darien.

I'll call in another specialist to pick it up from here.

No evidence.

No case.

That simple.

But I need a man with your talent who can put it together.

Can do.

Will do, Mr. Steiner.

Difficult problems are my specialty.

How much?

$130 ,000.

$100 ,000 for me, $30 ,000 for my people. I'll take care of my own

Results. That's all I'm interested in.

Results.

You know this man Kojak?

Sure, I know Kojak.

I know everybody.

That Greek is the kind of a fox you try to stay out of his way.

It's going to be hard to get a handle on him.

At these prices, I don't want to hear hard. I want to know, can you do it?

Not to worry.

Just leave it to me.

You won't even know how I put it together. That's the way I like it. Get

yourself a good alibi for a couple of days. Something solid.

Any other loose ends?

There's Nitschke. He brought the junk up to my place.

Cost you 20 more.

Standard fee, shop around. You won't do any better.

This is Steiner.

Put Farrell on.

I don't care. Put him on.

Farrell.

Get Nitschke out on bail.

Now. The usual channels.

Right away.

Oh, and Farrell, I got a news item for you.

I'll be your guest on The Sound this weekend.

I said this weekend. That's your problem.

That's right.

Oh, and, uh...

Why don't you invite some of your fancy society friends?

Yeah.

So she does 30 days for no convictions. Whatever that meant. I think she meant

no opinions. Captain.

Yeah. Somebody left this note for you. Thank you, Sergeant.

Oh, no,

not again.

Lillian, get this.

I feel a need to get away for a few days by myself.

I'll call and let you know where I am.

Love, Lillian.

Well, I hope she picked up my shirts before she left. Good for her. You know,

years married to a cop. Is that what you call a better crescent of us?

Yeah, well, all the same, I'm not going to run around like some jerk trying to

find her. She wants to express herself?

Great. So long as she doesn't run up a charge account at Tiffany's, it's fine

with me.

Hey, Frank, I know you sleep out of middle, right?

But now that you're a bachelor for a couple of days, I got a couple of

A couple?

One would give me a massive coronary.

Yeah?

Lieutenant Kotak, please.

Okay.

Lieutenant Kojak, it's for you.

Thanks, Bill.

Hello.

Did McNeil buy the note bit?

Who is this?

Shut your mouth and listen to me, Kojak.

You know that note from McNeil's wife?

She's gone on a little vacation. I feel the need to get away for a few days,

right? Well, we've got her, Kojak.

What do you mean you've got her? You've kidnapped her? Who said anything about

kidnapping?

She's on a vacation.

She's taken a few days away. Can I help it if she runs into an auto accident in

the Berkshires?

Read the note, Kojak.

What do you want?

A swap.

That package you found over on Park.

You know the one on the coffee table.

The package for McNeil's wife. It's that simple, Kojak.

Simple nothing. You can't blackmail this man.

That's why I'm talking to you, Kojak.

You're the arresting officer.

You'll be the one to check out that package on the morning of the hearing.

That evidence never gets to court, Kojak.

When we get the package, you'll get McNeil's wife.

Number one, I got to keep it for McNeil. And number two, the department doesn't

look too well and the detective will go south with a kilo of horse.

That's your problem, Kojak.

You start to look for her, you'll find her in a ditch.

Think about it.

A 10 to 20 rap on an old man's life or a nice lady's life.

And if I get you the stuff and you kill her anyway, I'm taking a skydive without

a parachute, right?

Hey, look, I want to talk to Lillian.

phone in ten minutes.

Kojak, please, don't try any tricks.

Uh, are you finished?

Hmm? The phone, are you finished? Hey, look, I'm a cop. Don't use it.

Benny?

Yes, Lieutenant?

Come here.

I'm sorry, Mac.

Squad room.

Crocker, this is Kojak. Get your hands on a T -14 recorder and get here on a

double. The Excelsior Pool Hall.

Come in the back way and I'll meet you in the men's room.

That's right, that men's room. And Crocker, move it.

I want you down here in nine minutes and make sure it's working.

What's up, Lieutenant?

All right, are you sure it's working? Yeah, I put new batteries in it. Now

I'm in a hurry.

You get out of here and go out the back way.

All right, thanks, Benny.

Bye, Lieutenant.

Hello?

Theo?

Lillian, are you all right?

Yes, I'm all right, but...

But I'm afraid.

Please do whatever they ask.

Whatever you do, follow their instructions to the letter.

Lillian, of course we will. Now, let's leave.

Hello, Lieutenant.

Hey, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, we have a make on the Bollinger Burglary suspect.

Do you want us to tell him or pick him up?

What?

Do you want us to scoop him up or tail him, Lieutenant?

I don't care. Take him to lunch if you want to.

Make a decision, Crocker. That's what the city pays me for.

If you start to look for her, you'll find her in a ditch.

This is Lieutenant Kojak.

Were you on the desk this morning when that note came for Captain McNeil?

No, he got it all right.

Who brought it in?

A wino.

You get a description?

Right, thanks.

Stavros, come in here.

Yes, sir. Look, some wino brought a note in here this morning, downstairs.

I want you to locate him.

Locate a wino?

You gotta be kidding.

You know how many winos... He's pushing 80, dressed in an army fatigue jacket,

Mets baseball cap, blue and red tennis shoes.

He's got a gimpy leg.

That make the job any easier for you?

Or would you like me to get you a seeing -eye dog?

Yeah, well, I'm still checking stolen property, Lieutenant.

Well, I'm pulling you off that burglary detail.

Now get going.

Oh, when you find him, call me. Stavros, look, this is a special assignment,

okay? And it's for me.

Don't discuss with anybody, you got it?

Yeah, Lieutenant.

I got it.

Just a general reminder, Theo.

The evaluation report is due tomorrow morning.

Well, I know when the evaluation report is due. Anything else?

Good afternoon. Charles, isn't it?

Raymond. Good afternoon, sir. Look, I'm staying a few days with the McNeils and,

well, I guess I overslept.

Did you by any chance see Mrs. McNeil go out this morning?

Oh, yes. About ten.

Was she alone?

No, there was a woman with her. A woman?

I wonder if that was my niece. I mean, what did she look like?

I don't think this could have been your niece, sir. She was an older woman.

Hmm. White hair and sable coat?

No. No, I only saw them from the back.

but I'd say this was a woman of about 50, blonde hair, brown suit, had her son

along. Her son?

Well, he sort of looked like her son, a nice young man. He walked behind them

and carried the lady's coats over his arm.

That could have been my nephew. What did he look like?

Well, as I say, I only saw them from the back, but about medium height, and he

had a nicely cut suit on, though.

Yeah, that would have been Aunt Grace and Anthony.

I'm sorry I missed them.

They didn't say where they were going. We didn't speak.

Actually, they seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.

You didn't see if they got into a car or something like that?

Oh, sorry.

Well, they must have gone to Aunt Grace's.

Please don't mention any of this to Captain McNeil, all right?

We're having a family get -together. It's a surprise.

Here, this is for you, and thanks for your help.

I want you to get down to CIB and dig up everything you can on Steiner, all

right? All that garbage that we couldn't make stick.

And see what you can dig up on a middle -aged woman that can be connected with

Steiner's operation in any way, somewhere between the ages of 40 and 60,

Lieutenant, I'm supposed to relieve Armis on that burglary stakeout in about

hour. Can you send Saperstein? If I wanted to send Saperstein, Crocker, I'd

Saperstein.

Okay, boss.

You being a good boy, Kojak?

8 a .m. I'm gonna phone you and tell you where to drop that package.

You there, Kojak?

Come here.

No cute stuff, huh?

Either you come up with the evidence or she's dead, Kojak.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm all right. Just a little headache. What's up?

Look, Theo, I'm only a sergeant, but things are getting a little sloppy out

there. I mean, if you're going to empty my chart, I wish you'd let me know about

it. I got Weaver out with the flu, Villano's on vacation.

Three times now this week, you've jerked men out from under me. I don't even

know what you're working on. I mean, I got to keep my paperwork straight, too,

you know.

What case did you put him on? The Santora case.

The Santora case?

That's been inactive for six months.

We're about to break a million -dollar burglary ring, and you're pulling troops

off to put them on the Santora case?

I'm reopening it. Do you want a memo?

No, thanks, Lieutenant.

Are you sure you're okay?

You're not in any trouble, are you? The world's full of trouble.

Anything I can help with?

That's what friends are for.

No, thanks, Al.

There's nothing you can do.

Just get out of here, will you, so I can finish these files?

I understand the million -dollar burglary investigation is going begging

you're working out a hot flash on an inactive file.

You care to fill me in?

You look terrible.

Did you sleep here?

Yeah, yeah.

Dead insomnia.

What happened to your finger?

Making my own breakfast.

I burned them on the skillet. Not only that.

Look at these socks.

Blue and the gray. The Civil War.

Why doesn't she have some consideration for me?

She didn't pick up my shirts either.

I don't know what laundry she uses.

You're a big helper.

Come on, get in.

You see the foliage of file on Captain McNeil's desk?

I wouldn't want to drag you away from Batman and Robin.

I'll get it. Oh, here it is.

And look, if he asked for it, would you tell him that I took it?

It's been awfully nice talking to you.

and I got the wino. He didn't get very far.

This dame gave him five bucks to deliver the note.

You got any idea how much stinky feet by Alice could buy?

He's in pretty bad shape. You want me to bring him in? Give me your exact

location. I'll be right over.

Well, I... She got so far, Lieutenant, that she had blonde hair and was wearing

a brown outfit.

Kept mumbling something about her legs.

Something funny about she had legs like a linebacker or something.

How old? How old was she?

This is the only way to get his attention, Lieutenant.

How old was she, Clarence?

Hey, keep him off the sauce, you hear?

Give him a gallon of black coffee, give him a steam bath, and then take him down

to BCI until he can pick out a face.

And then get in touch with me.

Go ahead.

Uh, Lieutenant.

That little lady talks funny.

Funny? How do you mean talks funny?

All right, stay with him, Stavros.

Lieutenant, want me to check with Vine?

Let him know where I'm at?

I'll take care of that.

Yes, sir.

the old trade faxing.

Well, well, Lieutenant, what are you talking about?

Why, I haven't hung any paper in years.

Now, honest, Lieutenant, do you think I'd be sitting in this crummy booth if I

wasn't clean?

Hey, look, you were the best check floater in Manhattan for over 20 years.

ballpoint pen in your hand was like a Stradivarius.

Hey, look, I need a favor.

Well, now, let's see what we got here, eh?

Written by a woman.

Middle A.

Hey, wait a minute. This is interesting.

You see the way these lines seem to wobble up and down?

And the uneven way these letters here are formed? You can see how the E here

crammed, right?

Well, now that's an indication of great stress.

Fear. Possibly even duress.

And here's the strange part.

The way almost every word ends shows concentration and determination.

You can see that from the way these last letters are formed.

I see.

What does that tell us?

I can't really say.

Because there's contradiction here.

Stress, yet determination.

All right, taxi, thanks.

Lieutenant, you in some kind of trouble?

It can read faces, too, you know.

You know something, Faxie?

You're wasting your time in this booth.

Vince, you bought it. Where'd you find it? Hey, Lieutenant.

They just fished Nitschke out of the East River. Somebody did a piano wire

on him. Are you sure it's Nitschke? Yeah, that's the weird part. He still

his wallet in his pocket. They made a positive ID.

All right, Bobby, you go down to the medical examiner's office and get the

report direct.

Then I want you to go down and talk to the harbor police.

Tracy, I want an hour -hour rundown on Nitschke since he made bail in New Vine.

Give Tracy a couple of bodies to help him, okay?

I want to know who put up his bail, when, where, the whole enchilada.

What gives, Lieutenant? I'm short on the chart already.

We're going to need your Cali girl to answer the phones here. What's the rush

Nitschke? Oh, just do it, huh?

I want a lead on the Nitschke killing, and I want it today.

All right?

Theo, I want to talk to you. I'm going to forget you're a lieutenant and give

to you straight.

Okay, I'll get it off your chest.

I want to know what's wrong.

You've been charging around here like a wounded tiger. Everything's fouled up.

Those guys out there are starting to stare at you. They think you're cracking

up. Now, your personal problems are your business.

But when it affects the squad, it's my business.

Pulling guys off the chart like paper towels off a roll.

McNeil is all over me like a fungus.

I can't cover anymore, Theo.

Now, Theo, I know you're in trouble.

It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

Well, we've been friends a long time. Maybe I can help. Maybe there's a way

But you can't keep it to yourself.

You're drowning, pal.

Okay, Al.

You want to know what's coming down, huh?

Yeah.

Lord knows I want to tell you.

Got to tell somebody.

The Steiner case, right?

There's another angle to it, Al. You ready?

It's heavy, baby.

according to plan. Got the man eaten out of my hands.

He'll turn it over just before the hearing.

You're actually going to hand over the evidence?

Look, unless I can get to Lillian first, I got nowhere to go, Al.

Of course you know what they're going to do to you. They're going to press

charges. You know what they did to that detective in the Bronx?

They accused him of selling it on the street.

They're going to crucify you.

What can I do?

I mean, I sent a wreath to Lillian's funeral saying, hey, baby, I'm sorry. I

to save my skin first.

Come on, Al. They're going to kill Lillian.

Yeah, this Nietzsche. That was the first time when they knocked him off.

Yeah, they're going to kill Lillian unless I play Patsy.

They might kill her anyway. Have you thought about that?

Oh, I've thought about that.

And McNeil doesn't know anything about it?

Come on, Al. How could you tell him?

He'd hand in his shield before he yields under this kind of pressure.

everybody. What about the note?

Here, you read it.

All right, what the hell is going on around here?

No deals.

You read me?

I mean, you were born in this country. You speak the language?

No deals.

If we don't draw the line, every punk in the street will think he can beat the

rap by threatening a cop's family.

Carrying a shield is tough enough.

But if every man in the department has to do his job looking over his shoulder

to see if his family's okay, we might as well pack it in now.

You should have told me, Theo.

Hey, Mac, I know you.

That's exactly why I didn't tell you.

You were going to put the department on the line because you knew I wouldn't go

for it?

Call me Kinky.

Well, Kinky or not, you're going to take that evidence down to court tomorrow

morning if I have to send you in an armored truck.

And Lillian?

It's got to be a bluff.

You're not going to kill a captain's wife.

We've got 18 hours.

What have we got so far? Let's go over it again.

Well, it's Steiner's ballgame, and he's got a pad alibi. He was in Connecticut.

He's using a middleman.

And they're smart, Frank. They snatched Lillian out of the apartment in broad

daylight. Some old broad and a young dude.

And then they had her write a note.

And the way I figured, after they left the apartment.

Forensic come up with anything on the note?

No.

Lillian's a cop's wife.

She wrote the note and made the phone call.

After she left the apartment, I would figure she'd try to feed us something.

Let's play that tape again.

You okay?

Lillian, are you all right?

Yes, I'm all right. But I'm afraid.

Please do whatever they ask.

Whatever you do, follow their instructions to the letter.

Lillian, of course we will. Now listen.

Follow their instructions to the letter.

Could she be trying to feed us something? Obviously. They told her what

in the note, Frank.

Let's see this envelope again.

Full name and address and Lillian's handwriting.

Everything but a stamp.

And even the zip code.

Except it's the wrong zip code.

Let me see that.

That's no New York City zip code, Frank. You're right.

But what is it? Well, I think it's a license number. She got a good look at

license plate.

They look like old numbers, right?

But New York plates have numbers and letters.

Now, the 6, 2, and 4, they're clear.

But look at the 618.

You see the loop in the 6?

It isn't closed.

This one here, what's that? A little foot. And the 8 is written like an E.

look close. That's 6, 2, 4, C, L, E.

And with a license, that move, we can get a name and an address.

Captain? Lieutenant?

Miles Grundy.

Does that mean anything to you?

No. And the information unit has no report on that vehicle being stolen.

Here's Grundy's yellow sheet. A couple of arrests, bad checks, and a vice bust

that didn't stick.

Not exactly a kidnapper's profile, but maybe he's stepping up in class.

It's our only solid lead.

He's in there, all right. Saperstein found a place where we can get a pretty

good look into Grundy's pet.

Saperstein, what do you got?

Studio apartment, Lieutenant.

From where I stand, I'm assigned to Mrs. McNeil.

Grundy's having dinner.

They must have it somewhere else.

Okay, Crocker, you go have a look, but discreetly, huh?

Going to get wise to this plan, baby, and we're down to tubes.

Okay.

Any action?

Hey, watch where you're going, Charlie.

Hey, I know that guy. He's a cop.

He busted me for soliciting three years ago.

There's another one.

Come on. Come on!

I wonder who the cops are after.

You suppose Eddie's stealing again?

What did you just say about the cops?

They're watching our building.

Must be planning a raid.

You got any grass up there? You'd better flush it down the john, Mr.

Grundy.

Suppose she's on in the surveillance?

I don't know.

But it could be on the move.

Captain, they dug up a little moron, Lieutenant.

He makes a living importing antiques. He's also got a roommate named Lance

Norman.

Wait a minute.

Look at the way she flipped that cigarette.

I've never seen a broad unload a smoke like that.

Nice brown uniform, tailored suit.

Take those legs.

You know we're looking for a broad, right?

How about a man in drag? Mac, that's Gundy.

Get in your car and follow us.

If they smell anything, we'll drop back and let you have them.

Okay, Captain.

Okay, stop us. We'll drop him back.

You take him. Stay with him. Right, Lieutenant.

Okay, we've got him.

They're at the car, Frank.

624 -DLE.

Somebody else.

You make him feel?

Oh, yeah.

Lonnie Blaze.

You know, compared to him, Caligula was a pussycat.

Assuming she's still alive, she must be in there.

Caligula get some help?

There's no time.

I don't like the idea of Blaze suddenly putting in an appearance. I say we go in

now. It's dangerous, Captain.

It's my wife, Theo.

I'm ranking officer on the scene, and I say we go in now.

Okay, Kev.

Pavros, you and Crocker, you work yourself around the back.

I'll give you two minutes and go in the front.

Yes, sir.

I thought I told you to stay put, Grundy. I make a phone call, and there's

nobody there.

I don't know what happened, but the police were watching my apartment.

So you came here?

Lonnie, I was afraid to telephone you. I thought they might be tapping the

phone. Look, don't worry.

There's no way they're going to recognize me in this getup.

Yeah.

You're a fool, Grundy. If the police were watching your apartment, you made

move. You came here.

Split the fleece under your name. How long do you think it'll be before they

trace you here?

Those are the noises we heard on tape.

Well, you put me in a bad spot, boys.

Fortunately, it can be rectified.

You're expendable.

I guess you always were. Blaze, for God's sake, listen.

Kidnapping, baby.

That's life.

There's only three people that can put me in that picture.

Ask yourself, Grundy, what would you do if you were in my position?

Mr. Wall.

Get him out of here.

Hey,

Lillian.

You ought to do something about Frank's socks.

People are beginning to talk.

Long before he became Gale's other half in Corrie, Rhys Dinsdale starred as John

Thor's son Matthew in unconventional family sitcom Home to Roost. Witness the

tantrums, tears, and utterly terrible haircuts at 12 .35 this afternoon.

Next, though, back -to -back episodes of Surgical Spirit.