Original subtitles

Two punks were killed in Bed -Stuy.

Very nasty.

Someone pinned that on them. And you think it was me? Are you saying that

men have threatened my clients? There have been no formal threats made.

nothing we can do.

It is not your ability to arrest them.

It is your ability to hold them that is in question.

Anyone comes anywhere near this door, Mickey will deal with them.

I can't.

Just starting to get good.

What would this man look like?

You.

Thank you. I don't like what you do. If you mean that I'm anything like this

madman out there, then you're wrong again. Let me tell you something,

That man is harming my reputation.

So if you think you want him, I want him a damn sight more.

They walk.

That's unless you can convince them to cut the plea.

Like a physical evidence?

That and the witness.

She's shaking.

Put her on the stand and have one of your clients glaring at her.

She's going to forget her maiden name.

I'll inform my clients.

They already know.

Probably from my expression.

Those vicious punks are guilty of sin.

They'll be back. Just a matter of time.

Okay, you're free to go. All right.

He was 73 years old, the man you killed.

73?

You're missing the point.

He called us.

Nobody calls us.

That's right.

She told me.

Check this out. Bye.

How you doing?

Look who's here for a visit.

You Robert McCall?

Yes. I'm Sergeant Oliver Gant, New York City Police Department.

Here's your calling card.

Come in.

What's this all about?

Two punks were killed in Bed -Stuy.

You know, little holes in the front, big holes in the back.

Magnum 44s with hollow points. Very nasty.

Someone pinned that on him.

And you think it was me?

No.

If I did, I'd be dragging you down those stairs right now. Really?

I don't like what you do. What is it you think I do? You are a hired gun.

If by that remark you mean that I sometimes help people in trouble, yes, I

But if you mean that I'm anything like this madman out there, then you're wrong

again. Let me tell you something, Sergeant.

That man is harming my reputation. So if you think you want him, I want him a

damn sight more.

Very righteous, McCall.

Who's funding you?

And where do you get your money? Who set you up to do this?

You want to try one of those?

No.

Giving you the benefit of the doubt.

You might have started out with the right idea, good intentions.

But I've known men who have started out with the best of intentions, and they

have taken it right over the top.

That's what I've done, isn't it?

Doesn't matter.

Because there's no place in this town for someone who's operating outside of

law and buster. That's what you are doing, and I don't like it.

Good day.

I'm W. Donald Poth from the Public Defender's Office. Which of you is

and who is Abmanek?

No matter, Flick, you ain't even charged me nothing.

No, I know.

I just thought you might require legal counsel.

Just in case.

Come on, guys. Inside.

Bye.

You got here so quickly.

Is your name Sidney Blake?

Yes. There is something I didn't know. Do you drive a red BMW?

License number 597FEM?

Yes. I'm the one who called.

Your car was reported leaving the scene of an accident.

You're under arrest.

You see her in there?

Yeah, that's her.

Are you sure?

Damn right.

She the one who ran over DJ.

McCall, I was beginning to think you had contempt for the 20th century. I'm glad

to see you lose this paranoia you had about technology.

Oh, if anybody wants to know, you didn't get this from me. From my information,

where did you get it from?

Well, most of it's off the shelf.

The trick was putting it together.

Well, do help yourself, Ronnie.

Thanks.

Now, this, this I know about.

This tells me if my telephone is being tapped. But how does it work? I mean,

what's the principle?

It monitors the line surge. The technology's new.

Is it reliable?

The same one they have at Pennsylvania Avenue.

If you have any problems, I'll be around.

Do leave me some milk, will you?

Miss Blake, we know what happened.

These guys have been playing this game for a long time. We just never caught

them at it.

I feel so bad about all of this.

Look, if they had gotten you out of that car, they would have, uh... Well...

Wouldn't have been very nice.

The best thing you did was to get away from there.

Just too bad that DJ had to get hurt.

Are there going to be any charges filed?

No, I doubt it.

Hey, look, um...

These are very bad guys we're dealing with. When you filled out this report,

they're going to get a copy of this, your lawyer will tell you that.

Now, that means that they're going to know your address, where you live.

What I'm telling you is you've got to watch yourself.

Officer, are you saying that these men threatened my client?

I'm not saying anything.

All I'm telling her is that if I was her, well, she was my daughter.

I would tell her to change her address.

Better yet, get out of town.

I can't leave.

I've been studying in this country for 18 months.

If I leave now, I can't get back into the program, and everything will be

wasted. Aren't your parents here? Isn't there anybody you can stay with?

Can you provide someone for them?

Officer, isn't that the responsibility of the police department?

Counselor, you're not hearing what I'm saying.

There have been no formal threats made. There's nothing we can do.

If it was up to us, this scum would be under the jail.

You take care of yourself, all right?

Look, I don't know what to tell you.

Except perhaps the policeman is right. Maybe you should leave for a while.

much. I didn't mean to hit him. I never meant to hurt anyone. This is all wrong.

If there's anything I can do, please, you have my card, call my service.

I'm late. I'm sorry. I have to go.

They let her go.

Just like that.

Right. Why not? She didn't do anything.

It was your setup, right?

You were going to play out a little game of bump and run.

Make it look as if she hit DJ to get her out of the car. Then there'd be a

little mugging, some rape. So what? The point is she rolled up DJ.

The way the prosecutor's viewing this, you can expect criminal charges to be

filed. And if DJ dies,

the charge is murder.

Again, Seth?

We didn't do it.

We didn't do anything. She did it.

Yeah, well, in the eyes of the law, you two are responsible.

When someone dies during the commission of a felony, the charge is murder.

And what you were trying to do constitutes attempted robbery, which is

She got paid.

If you attempt to intimidate her... We don't care who testifies, Counselor.

It doesn't matter anyway.

We'll be reduced to some jump charge.

We'll walk.

You know it, and I know it. And she got to pay for what she did to DJ, because

that's the way it is.

You're threatening her? No.

I'm not threatening her.

Not me.

All I'm saying is she's got to pay for what she did, and she will.

I don't know if you are the right person.

First of all, are you talking from your own phone?

Yes.

And what is your name?

Sydney Blake.

Well, we're going to have to meet, Sydney.

I'm too frightened to leave.

Can you please come here?

Yes, of course. I'll come there.

I've been working for 18 months.

To get ready for this exam.

I'm in competition with people from all over the world.

If I blow this opportunity, I'll never be able to get back together again.

I can't concentrate. I don't know whether those men are going to get me or

I'm wondering if I'm the man you need for this.

Please, I'm desperate.

No, please, don't misunderstand me.

I'm not going to leave you alone. I've already arranged for somebody to come

here for a few days, if that's what you need.

Yes, that's all I need.

My exam is tomorrow.

Anyway, these men may have other things on their minds at the moment.

And if they don't, well, Mickey will look after you.

Mickey?

Sidney Blake, Mickey Kostmeyer.

This is the man I was telling you about, Sidney.

He's going to be looking after you for a while.

Can I get you anything?

Um, coffee?

No, I, uh, I got everything I need here.

Fine. Well, I'll be checking in.

Uh, Nicole, uh, could you bring me back some toothpicks?

Sure. How many do you want this time?

Four or five boxes.

You got it. Should I tell him anything about this man, or... Oh, no, no, no,

Mickey wouldn't care about that anyway.

Anyone comes anywhere near this door, Mickey will deal with them.

Got to go. Got to go.

want them to speak for.

Oh.

Toothpaste.

I'm still looking, Jimmy.

This isn't an area I feel comfortable in, McCall. People who use guns are, you

know, undependable.

Oh, come on, Jimmy.

There can't be too many sellers. This is very specialized hardware.

Yeah, especially for New York.

38s and 32s, you get those anywhere.

But Magnums, 44s or 357s, only a couple of places.

Ziggy Hitzik, you remember him?

Well, it doesn't matter because he's closed down and the mole doesn't deal in

weapons at all anymore.

But there is someone, right?

Sugarfly, a hustler in the South Bronx.

Right now, if you're looking for a .44 Magnum, he's the man.

What's the matter?

Well, it's just that you haven't mentioned your divorce yet.

Don't even ask. I won't.

How about a deal?

Car of your choice. New, used, whatever you want.

Then what can I sell you?

Let us suppose that a man came to you requesting a very special item.

How special?

Let's say a .44 Magnum Red Hawk with soft -nose bullets thrown in.

I'd probably tell him to hike on.

Let us suppose that he was willing to pay your money, because, I mean, I know

you wouldn't do it.

Absolutely not.

But supposing you were to do it, who would the buyer be?

I don't know what he'd be like, and I wouldn't ask him his name if I were to

make such a transaction.

Which, of course, you wouldn't.

But just supposing you were to make such a transaction, what would this man look

like?

Huh?

I mean, would he look like him, or... The guy over there?

You.

Like you. Like me?

Why? How me?

Two.

Only younger.

Eh?

This man, where would he come from?

I mean, would he be from the, uh...

Bronx, Brooklyn, west side, east side, west.

West side.

What else?

Wouldn't know.

Because you don't deal in guns.

Thank you very much.

I think you've been a great help.

I had this guy figured wrong.

He's no vigilante. He's no serial killer. He doesn't fit the pattern.

He's looking for acceptance.

Some kind of validation. That's why he keeps calling me.

He wants to be caught.

He certainly wants to be understood.

He's a wacko.

And since apparently he has made me his confidant, I do think that it's wise for

me to find out as much about him as possible.

That's what these toys are about?

That traces all the calls.

And the calling number is displayed there.

This is a waste of time.

He would have to steal the telephone at least 15 minutes.

Ah, with the equipment available to you, yes, but this is far more

sophisticated. This takes about, oh, less than a minute.

It starts out by elongating the time between the rings.

And it makes sure that the caller at the other end is not suspicious.

You know, I almost know who's calling... Yeah, I'm sorry.

I don't wish to appear to be smug.

Is that the number?

That is the number from which he made his last call, yes.

Why don't you... Why don't you check it out?

There we are.

Just press that button there.

I find it very interesting.

It's really quite lovely.

Yeah, I liked it there a lot.

Especially the islands in the south.

Good fishing.

I don't mean the place. I mean the sculpture.

Who are you?

Friend.

What do you do friend?

Never needs to be done You don't like to

talk about yourself to you That's boring It's boring to

you because you know it it wouldn't be boring to me Where were you born?

Houston a cowboy Mickey

You are a cowboy?

Well, not exactly.

Sort of.

Who uses this phone? Anybody with a quarter.

Do better than that. I don't know, sir. I have a quarter with some of the

lawyers.

What do you want me to tell you? It's a public phone. The public uses it.

like this happen to me.

Hey, Sarge, they're looking for you in the 30th.

The message is that DJ's dead. They scraped up Tessa and the other guy, and

they're coming in on the murder in the commission of a felony charge.

You see, McCall, that's the way it works.

This time, yes.

It's been set up to work like that for a long time by a lot of very smart people

who do the job that is required.

It is not your ability to arrest them.

It is your ability to hold them that is in question.

You've hit on the floor in the system.

We run ourselves ragged chasing around after the bad guys, but hell, the bad

guys are relaxed.

Because they understand that the system will just fuck them out.

It's a joke on us.

And the bad guys are laughing.

They got their rights.

It's getting to the point where they can do anything to anyone at any time and

just walk away.

The system is falling apart and there's no one holding it together.

It stinks.

Things fall apart.

The center cannot hold.

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

The blood -dimmed tide is loosed.

And everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned.

And the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate

intensity.

You're supposed to no bail on Tessa at that minute.

Keep them on ice.

So the girl's in the clear.

That's good.

It wasn't what you think.

Some years ago, a colleague of mine, on a simple

job rather like this one, decided he was going to have a little bit of fun.

During the course of that little bit of fun, the opposition came in and

destroyed them both.

You were supposed to protect that girl, not seduce her.

It wasn't what you think.

What happened between us is our business. Wrong!

That girl was under my protection.

Anyone under my protection is very much my business.

Get out. No, I'm not leaving.

The most important thing to me in the world right now is Sydney's safety.

It's more important to me than what you think.

So I'm staying.

Mickey, if anybody's staying, I am.

Those two men have been picked up.

She's in no danger.

Mickey. It was bad timing.

What's going on?

Where's Mickey?

Oh, Mickey had to go.

The two men who were after you are in jail, so there's no more problem. You'll

be quite safe.

Why did Mickey leave?

Well, he had things he had to do.

Well, he'll be back.

He left this sculpture.

Ah, yeah.

Thank you.

And thank you for introducing me to Mickey.

He's very special, isn't he?

Oh, yes, yes, he is.

He's very special, yes.

But he has other things to do.

Look, if you have any problems, if you're nervous or you want to talk to

anybody, you have my number, call me.

Bye.

You're waiting for me?

Yeah. We have a problem.

What is it?

Somebody in the public defender's office messed up.

It was all set. Both sides agreed.

And? They're out.

Tester and a minute. They are what?

I'm going to go reel them in if I have to make up a charge.

I'll find the girl.

Well, now, they're the group, you know.

Mickey, they're out.

Meet me at Sidney's.

She's not there, McCall. She's at school.

Then get to the school as quickly as you can.

I'll call the police.

I'll meet you there.

You know, go.

Go.

I feel good about it.

You've worked hard, Miss Blake. There's no reason why you shouldn't do well.

Thank you.

Here's the DJ.

I'll fix it up for DJ.

Is that her?

That's all.

Come on!

You can't let them go, McCart.

They will be dealt with.

But not here.

And not by you.

How? A trial?

A judge with no guts who's going to turn them onto the street so they can kill

again? No.

Put your gun away.

You're not going to kill me.

Put it away.

I thought we were on the same side.

If you thought that... You're wrong.

Quite wrong.

Nice and slow.

Up against the car. Come on.

Come on, man.

Come on.

Relax. All right.

Hulk?

Because of his brother.

Yeah.

Tell me about his brother.

His brother was killed a while back by some speed punk.

And like some bizarre joke, his name came up to defend him.

And why, when he didn't disqualify himself, why didn't someone here alarm

Yeah, sure.

In retrospect.

But at the time, we felt he was being stand -up about his job. Sure.

He defended them, got them off, and killed them. And then in order to allay

suspicion, he killed a few other thugs at random. All because nobody heard the

alarm bells.

Sounds right.

Oh, by the way, Sergeant.

I, um... I really do understand your point of view.