Original subtitles

These guys think they're smart, but you know what?

I'm smarter.

You block all escape routes?

We're tightly covered. Got three units out here.

I ordered four.

Yeah, I know. Breaks are out again on X -ray six. That car's a menace. I know.

One night someone's gonna put it through a wall.

But you gotta make it last till the next budget.

Don't worry, boss. These guys make their move. We got them cold.

I'm glued to my chair stand. Call me on pack one the second this thing goes

down. Look at this, sir.

Four convenience stores over the last 12 nights.

A counterclockwise rotation of robberies occurring between 8 and 10 o 'clock

every third night.

Growing up in Brooklyn, we called this a trend.

Gee, this is pretty.

Based on which, these guys are going to hit Ernie's Grocery Store on 10th and

Pine tonight.

Tonight, tonight, we'll bust these guys tonight. Where's the roof?

How do I find the roof?

What do you want the roof for?

I want to jump off.

You got a permit?

What? A permit.

If you want to jump off a city building, you're going to need a city permit.

Otherwise, they'll have to arrest you for unlawful jumping.

Municipal Code 146 -C, Paragraph A.

Now, which side of the building do you want to jump off?

I, uh... I don't know.

Well, you've got to decide.

The fee varies.

B, jump onto Baker Street and it'll cost you five bucks.

Elm Street will cost you ten.

Here.

Here's five bucks.

I'm a little short this week myself.

Okay. Please.

Issue one.

Baker Street.

Roof jumping permit.

Signed, Commissioner Scali.

Go out front, make a left, holding on the corner.

Give him this and five bucks and you're off and flying.

Commissioner, I never heard of a roof jumping permit.

You ever heard of suicide prevention?

What? You got a jumper on your hand.

Do you want us to hold him?

Abso -freaking -lutely.

Supposed to be the brawl of the century, these guys.

Gonzalez versus Ramon out in Vegas.

Yeah, you've mentioned it, Irv, several times. Within the hour.

Brawl of the century starts in 20 minutes out in Vegas.

Why don't you go watch it? And leave you alone? No, no, I'm staying.

After all.

The century's almost over.

In a few years, there'll be another brawl of the century. Will you go and

the fight?

You did say these guys are supposed to hit earnings between 8 and 10.

Yeah, well, maybe their watches will flow, Irv.

Getting it close so we can read his mind.

This guy's plowed. Believe me.

Maybe.

Maybe. Come on. He's bouncing between the lines like a pinball.

Back off a little, man. Give me some room.

I'm telling you, he's plowed.

He ran a red light.

Whoa! Got him!

Pull over to the right.

Pull over.

X -ray 4 in pursuit. Possible DWI. Chevy Coupe 10 on 10.

I didn't have supper. You want me to run down to Mort's and get you a sandwich?

I'm fine, Erd. Enjoy the fight.

I thought Purdy picked your air conditioner.

He did.

Now it's much easier to hear.

Say hi to Irene.

That could lead to a conversation.

Come on.

Move it.

Dad, let's go.

Guy's going nowhere.

X -ray 2, this is C -1.

It's dead out here, Skipper.

Damn it, Stan. These guys established a trend. Now they're too dumb to follow

it. If they were geniuses, they'd be hitting banks.

Listen, why don't you pack in him? You know, if they show up, he'll be at you.

Thousands of these, pal.

You don't understand.

I understand. He's storing department property.

Forget the prints. Let's get him into holdings.

Evading arrest.

Reckless endangerment. No license.

No ID of any kind.

He won't even give us his name.

We do this.

He ran his car up a tree.

Hit his head on the wheel.

You want a couple of aspirin?

No.

It's okay.

It's okay.

I bet this is the closest you've come to a police station since Hill Street went

off the air.

I loved that show.

I'm gonna work this out.

I gotta call you something.

What about Howie? You look like a Howie to me.

Maybe not.

Can you give me a little profile?

Howie's wrong.

It's Ralph.

From this angle, it's definitely Ralph.

Kiddo at the grade school with Nunzio Valitucci. Why this reminds me of him, I

don't know.

But when he turned the profile, he looked like a map of Florida.

Because his head was kind of flat, and his chin hung down like that part of

Florida that sticks out. You know the part I'm talking about?

The part where the land sticks into the ocean.

Peninsula.

That's it.

I'm not saying you got a chin like a peninsula.

You're a good -looking guy.

Ralph.

Ralphie.

Everything's going to be okay.

Bobby.

Bobby Sturdivant.

Your father, William Sturdivant? No.

That's a common name. He's no relation.

Just a second.

Officer Pagan? Yeah.

It's not that common a name. Right.

I think this kid is one of these sort of men.

This old man runs one of the biggest law firms on the East Coast.

They live in a mansion up on High Ridge Road.

Call up, get him the post bail. Right away, Commissioner.

It's not Ralph, huh?

It must be Slippard.

What time are we going to see this joint?

Twelve o 'clock.

Clarice Parkhurst is going to meet us there.

You know, she said we might be able to buy some of this furniture.

It's absolutely beautiful.

It is.

But is it us?

A couple of kids from Brooklyn.

Well, kids from Brooklyn grow up, don't they?

Anyway, you're the one who said we needed more space.

Yeah, but there's got to be somewhere between more space and... Tara?

We out of juice?

No, there's more in the fridge.

Good morning, Arnie.

Good morning.

You know, honey, we really don't need to move. We could just add on.

They tell you the job's going to last a month.

Six months later, you've still got noise and dirt.

The contractor will become like a live -in.

God knows we don't want that.

What time are we going to go see the house?

Twelve o 'clock.

Honey, could you pass me the paper?

Times and Sentinel.

Sentinel. Times doesn't give double coupons.

Your sister's going with us, honey.

Hi, sister.

Who happens to value my knowledge of real estate?

You won a Monopoly tournament when you were 12. That doesn't make you Donald

Trump.

Oh, yeah?

Well, you just wait till the conversation turns to floating interest

options and conversion spreads and loan -to -value ratios.

I mean, you think you look dumb now.

Look, about the house, I really don't want to give you any more pressure than

you already have.

I don't want to know that every dime is accounted for. I don't want to become a

slave to a house.

What, you worried about the money? Well, let me help.

With a suggestion.

Give a few speeches, Tony. Write a few articles.

I mean, you're always talking about how highly regarded you are in your

profession. You could increase your take -home by 25%. No, really, now is the

time to turn that goodwill into a down payment.

Because, let's face it, Tony, we could really use the room.

Touch that and it's your lungs.

I'm fine. I'm fine.

Toast and juice, that's all I need.

I can't be writing articles and giving speeches.

I got a full -time job.

When am I going to see you and David?

When am I going to sleep?

Commissioner 10 -1, headquarters forthwith.

Repeat. Commissioner 10 -1, headquarters forthwith. Repeat.

Forthwith.

Why the hell wasn't that belt confiscated? For God's sakes, that

been the first thing.

What are you doing, Bill? Tom needed some printing tape.

Hand it to him through the bars.

I want this scene preserved.

Jimmy, I want to talk to everyone that made contact with him, from arrest

through booking, especially Caruso and Pagan.

And I want to know what he was doing in that cell to begin with. I told Carmela

Pagan to call his father and get him bailed out.

She made the call.

We wouldn't come down.

Why not? He was at a dinner party.

Let him spend the night there, officer.

Tell him I'll be there in the morning.

Mr. Sturtevant, are you sure you don't want to bail him out? He violated the

law. He can pay for that transgression with a night in jail. It'll do him good.

So much for parental responsibility.

Well, that's crap, Irv.

He was our responsibility the second he was taken into custody.

This death is on us.

On this department.

On me.

Emmy did a preliminary suicide like we figured. I don't expect toxicology to

change the report.

He kidded one visitor at 2 .30 this morning.

2 .30?

Bail interview.

Richard Janicek, 241 Juniper Street.

Not that we signed the card anyway, but... You used an alias and 241 Juniper

doesn't exist.

I got a face you could read, huh?

Bobby Sturdivant's looking to make bail.

He wants out.

Then he commits suicide?

Doesn't jive.

Go to Bobby's apartment.

See if you can turn something that'll give us a handwriting match -up on that

alias.

Cancel checks, correspondence.

Where are you headed?

I got to meet with Rachel. We're looking at a house.

Hold on to your wallet. It's dangerous out there.

Hey, Skipper, want to stake out earnings again tonight?

Let's not limit ourselves.

I want units patrolling all the areas where robberies occurred.

Maximize our chances.

Okay. Oh, and I talked to Joe at the garage. He said you're going to have X

6 rolling.

You fixed the brake?

That's what he said.

something. Really something.

It's very elegant. That's exactly the word I'd use, Mrs. Scali. So much of

you see today is, well, a trifle on the vulgar side, if you'll pardon the

expression. In this section of Eastbridge, the emphasis is on quality

understated charm.

How many johns?

The residence contains four full baths, plus a powder room. I like that. No

waiting.

Of course, we offer the finest schools in the county, as well as the intangible

advantages of living among the finest families in Eastbridge.

Well, I hope that they feel the same way about us.

Oh, I know they will.

Where is your current residence?

Oh, we live on Beach Street, a couple of blocks away from the drive -in.

Oh.

Cold winter night, fire blazing, curled up with a book, Irish setter snoozing.

We don't have an Irish setter.

We'll get one. The emphasis is on privacy for the family.

There's an apartment above the parking structure for the staff.

We don't have a... We'll get one.

Of course, it could also serve as guest quarters.

Maybe we can build a moat around the house.

I believe there may be a membership available at the country club. Do you

golf, Commissioner?

Well, I've been thinking of taking it up.

I'd be happy to speak to Johnny Fitzhugh, the president. He lives just

the corner on High Ridge Road.

Oh.

Got to call in.

Let's get to the nub, Clarice.

What kind of per annum appreciation are we talking about?

Mrs. Scali. This is the mayor.

William Sturdivant is in my office.

He wants to know why his son died in our custody.

I have no answer for him. Do you?

I'm on my way.

You got to take another look at my air conditioner. It sounds like a cat died

there. I don't see how that could have happened.

Could you just take a look at it?

See, because there's no way a cat could fit in those little slots at the back of

the machine.

Bill, all I'm saying is let us conduct the investigation that's necessary.

Louise?

Clayton?

William Sturdivant, this is Commissioner Scali.

Mr. Sturtevant, I can't tell you how sorry I am. Uh, Tony, Mr. Sturtevant has

informed us that he's hired a team of investigators, and I've assured him that

they'll receive every cooperation from your department.

I can assure you, Mr.

Sturtevant, that we are doing everything we... Nice unsafety with your

responsibility. Why should I think you'd be any more responsible investigating

your negligence?

Or worse?

What is all worth supposed to mean?

Departments have been known to cover their brutality by turning a prisoner

a corpse.

There was no brutality. I've seen the report.

Severe head trauma that could have been caused... He hit his head on the

steering wheel when he smashed up his car. According to your officers.

I saw your son. I talked to him. He didn't say one word about brutality.

Gentlemen, why don't we... Yesterday, my son was alive, and today he's dead.

I hold you responsible for it, Scali.

And I accept it. Then you'll also accept the consequences.

My son has no future now, and by the time this is over, I'll see to it that

can't land a job taking tokens on the George Washington Bridge.

Louise, under the circumstances, I'm sure you'll agree that Commissioner

should excuse himself from this investigation.

Why didn't you bail him out? Why do you excuse yourself from that?

All right, Tony. I was at a damn dinner party. We got the tape.

We go back a very long way to your first campaign.

I want him removed.

We were negligent.

But there was no attempt to cover up brutality.

There was no brutality.

You're too close to this to make an objective judgment.

As close as you are to Sturdivant?

What's the story, Louise?

Are we running this town or is he?

We took his belt before we put him in that cell. And his shoelacing. Yeah.

I put him in business property myself.

I'll check.

I put him in myself. Look, what the hell is going on here?

What's going on is we got a dead individual.

And among the last individuals to see him alive are you.

Sit down, Ricky.

He cut on his head. How'd it happen?

His head hit the wheel.

All right, go to work.

What made you start tailing him in the first place?

It was all over the road. I thought it was DWI. We both did.

And me found no evidence.

I said I thought.

You guys never make me pick.

We make him all the time, Ricky.

Dismissed.

Defensive little sucker.

Take a walk with me now.

There was a woven belt around his neck.

So Caruso was telling the truth.

About the belt?

L units, post 3 responding to 215. This is C1. I want post 3 to cover the

bridge. Post 4, block off the entrance to the thruway.

Don't tell me. Unit designation X -ray 6, right?

How do you know?

Just a lucky guess.

You know what?

I think we can swing it.

If I write six articles per year for the commissioner's journal, and I do eight

to ten speeches at 500 per, which is gettable.

we can dump that into a mortgage and start paying it down to something more

reasonable. Honey, you said it yourself.

Speeches and articles.

How much do you have time for your work or for David or for us?

Well, if you want something bad enough, you make the time.

You want it so bad?

Why?

Oh, it's a good investment.

You want an investment by a bond. Why, Tony?

Well, we're still trying to have a baby. We need the room. Honey! There are

other houses. Because I want it. That's why.

Maybe it's because I am a kid from Brooklyn.

I don't know.

It's the American dream.

You work hard. You do it right.

This is the prize.

I'm not trying to shove it in anybody's face. It's just something that you can

be proud of, something that you want to give to the people that you love.

Morning.

Morning. Morning.

Is Uncle Ernie still sleeping?

Yeah. They were up late last night playing Monopoly.

I bankrupted him.

I didn't mention anything about that to him.

You know how he got last time when he thought we were going to move.

Your

mom

and I looked at a really beautiful house.

It's over on Cloverdale.

It's got a huge lawn, three times bigger than what we got here.

Cloverdale?

I'd have to go to a different school.

Good school.

Terrific school.

It's got a pool in the backyard and a basement with a ping -pong table.

I know it's across town.

But it's not like moving to New York City or something.

You're still in East Bridge.

We can have your friends over whenever you want.

Okay. Well, six of them can sleep over at a time in this place.

That's okay, Dad.

Can I have the syrup?

Me? Did I have the syrup?

I love this boy.

I love this boy.

Come here.

I love this crap.

Have you suspended the officers involved?

I have no grounds.

We're getting fried here.

And Sturdivant's behind it.

I'm not just gonna give him a scalp because he's on the war path.

Look, I could take the case before the grand jury. It'd take some of the

pressure off the internal investigation by Tony a little more time.

You put this before a grand jury, and what does that say to my cops?

It says the moment the road gets rough, they got no one backing him up.

You've got 24 hours.

I either want those cops suspended, the grand jury charged, or the entire matter

settled.

Or you'll offer me up in holy sacrifice to the media gods. Right, Louise?

It's a tough business, politics.

I protect what I can.

The rest I throw away.

Going through Bobby's third advance department.

Find anything?

Not so much what we found as where we found it.

I'm low between Pierce and Third.

A user or a dealer?

No drug paraphernalia in the apartment, and his autopsy is clean.

Irv, if you see Freddy, tell him to leave my air conditioner alone.

I appreciate it, Reverend. It will mean so much to Anne.

Thank you.

Tell your mother that Reverend Campbell will deliver the eulogy.

Bobby thought he was a jerk.

Please give your mother the message.

You are a named party in my action against the city, therefore we have

to discuss at this time.

You're right, Mr.

Terrence. We have nothing to discuss.

But I have something to show you.

About your son.

Let's forget I'm the commissioner.

And let's forget that you want my hide.

I have something to show you.

One father to another.

What are we doing here?

You've never been here before.

Why would I?

This is what your son called home.

That's impossible.

He lived in a duplex on Burton Drive with a view of the river.

He lived here, Mr. Sturdivant, for the past two years.

That is not possible.

Did you ever see the duplex on Burton Drive?

In over two years, you never visited your son in his own place?

We moved in different circles.

We've seen.

Was Bobby doing well in law school?

He was near the top of his class.

You were at the top of your class.

Bobby have many friends?

Many friends.

Great, I'd like to speak to some of them.

I'm sure he had many friends.

Bobby was petrified when he was booked.

I've seen a lot of scared prisoners, but not many like him.

He was high -strung and emotional, but for God's sakes, he received $5 ,000 a

month from his grandfather's trust.

Why would he be living in a place like this?

I don't know.

But I think it's a hell of a shame you've got to ask me that.

I was brought up to believe that at a certain age, children should be given

their independence.

And that their first years, boarding school and the like, should prepare them

be self -reliant.

achieve their own success, accept responsibility for their own mistakes,

parental interference.

But it doesn't mean we don't love them, Commissioner.

I'm sure that's true.

You know the law, Mr. Sturdivant.

From what I know of you, you revere it.

Don't crucify my officers in the press.

Give them the benefit of presumed innocence.

If they're guilty, I'll nail them to the cross myself. I give you that promise.

The kids' trust fund's coming out of Eastbridge City Bank.

See what kind of account activity there was within the last six to eight weeks.

If there's a safe deposit box, drill it.

You know I need a court order for that. Bring Judge Blackburn a crawler. He can

issue the order between bites.

Tony, I talked to Joe Forlani, Sturtevant's P .I.

Joe says Bobby Sturtevant and Officer Ricky Caruso were involved with the same

woman. Like maybe it wasn't a suicide. Like maybe it was a murder as part of a

love trade.

Tony?

Tony, you there?

You didn't bust Bobby Sturtevant for DWI.

You busted him because you were jealous.

You lied to me once, Ricky. Don't do it again.

She doesn't know anything about this, I swear to God.

All right, Carmela, this is between him and me.

I admit I was dogging him.

I just wanted to get a look at the guy. He was going after a girl I was seeing,

and I just wanted to check out the competition.

The kid's dead, Ricky.

Because you were worried about the size of your... What do you think? God, you

think I killed him?

I could go and make a number, like, in a bakery.

You think I'm gonna kill a guy because I'm jealous?

I'm bringing this stunner one here.

We're gonna get a complete statement.

I'm not saying I will without a lawyer.

You what?

It's my right.

According to the union, I can have a lawyer if I want. You call him.

You tell him that you're suspended without pay pending a grand jury

investigation.

Guys are right.

You ain't one of us anymore.

You went to the rich side of the tracks.

The hell with us.

Who fixed the brakes on X -Ray 6?

Freddy's brother?

Look at this. $1 ,900 damage to the car, four grand to the delivery truck, not

to mention replacement costs to 62 dozen eggs, 140 cartons of milk, and eight

cases of sour cream.

$7 ,000 to chase four jabrons whose average take per hit is 200 bucks.

So here's what I'm thinking.

We pay him $2 .50 a week, not to rob.

You know, like when they pay farmers not to grow stuff?

The thieves are happy, the store owners are safe, and we're six grand ahead

within a month.

You're kidding, right?

I want these guys, Stan.

I'm starting to get really annoyed.

We know they're driving a dark sedan, New York tag, Eddie 674.

We got composite drawings.

Yeah, but every witness describes them differently. The composites don't match

up. Take all the drawings back to the stores.

See if we can get these witnesses to agree.

Grilled Bobby Sturtevant safe deposit box.

It's already been dusted.

It was dated three months ago.

Dear Dad, if anything happens to me, at least now you'll know the truth.

I couldn't make it through law school on my own.

I tried, but I just couldn't.

I paid someone for the answers to my exams.

Then I had to pay him to keep quiet.

Now my trust fund's almost gone.

Maybe I'm taking the easy way out again.

I admit it's easier than seeing the disappointment on your face.

I wish I could have made you proud of me.

He's got to know the arrest leads to us finding out where he lives.

That leads to his father finding out.

Then his whole charade falls apart.

He didn't happen to name his blackmailer, did he?

Next page.

Artie Briggs.

Some old -time scum. He's downstairs in holding.

We gotta get this guy to blow himself in.

Guy's quaking, but he still seems to believe in his own innocence.

That light go off every time you get a call?

Yeah.

Does this thing have to beep?

Now it's silent.

But the light will still go on? Yeah.

Okay, Stan, keep an eye on my right foot. If I give it a shake, hit send.

Hey, hey, you never know till you try. This guy, Artie Briggs, he's an old

Einstein.

I don't know why you guys picked me up.

I got no beef with anyone.

What is that thing?

This?

Oh, pay no attention to this.

This is just a... This thing's never gonna work. It's right out of Star Trek.

What is it?

You never know till you try.

Artie, did they read you your rights?

Yeah, but I don't know why I was brought down here. I don't know what any of

this is about.

What is that thing?

Well, it might be something to this earth.

What is it?

Artie, did you know Bobby stirred a vat?

No. Never met him?

No.

You did say it works on microelectric hypostatic disturbance principles.

Because the human voice will waver involuntarily under stress of

You sure you never met him?

Well, uh, I might have met him somewhere along the line.

Yes.

Now that you mention it, I did know him.

You killed Bobby Sturdivant, didn't you?

What, are you crazy?

I didn't.

I didn't kill him.

Hey, I don't care what that thing says. I did not kill him. I was shaking him

down is all, but I did not kill him. It was just a shakedown.

About two years ago.

This kid, he's flunking out of law school.

He gets introduced to me. I had the answers to the exams.

How'd you get them? They can be got.

I got the answers. I sell them. To Bobby Sturdivant?

Sell them to anybody.

Except he's the guy with all the Sturdivant money.

He's so scared his old man's gonna find out. I figure, hey, I got a milk train

here. I might as well keep riding as long as I can.

So in other words, you bled him.

And you were here at 2 .30 yesterday morning?

Say it.

Yes.

Why'd you come down?

Call me about bailing him out. Except once I get down here, he doesn't mention

another word about it. He just keeps going on how it's all over for him

his old man's going to find out.

He wanted my belt.

Why'd you give it to him?

I figured a milk train was dry anyway.

Told me where he had 7 ,500 stash. I needed it... for a problem I've been

having. And you, of course, had no idea why he wanted it.

Yeah, I had an idea.

That's why I held out for the 7 ,500.

Blackmail and aiding and abetting a suicide.

I'm putting you back on the 4 to 12 shift.

You can pick up your badging gun from Randazzo.

Hey.

Do you want me to sit? I will.

I'm sorry he died.

But it wasn't my fault.

He was going to do himself sooner or later.

He ran a red light. I was right to bust him.

You were out of uniform, Ricky.

What are you talking about?

Got a personal problem?

Solve it in these.

You take them off, you put them in the locker. That's where your personal life

stays. For as long as you're wearing the blues.

Whatever you're supposed to be, huh?

Superman?

Just professionals.

For your sake, it's a damn good thing you ran that light.

I'm sorry to have to give you this, but you do have another son, and the same

thing doesn't have to happen again.

Hiya, pal.

Hi, Dad. What's up?

I just... I wanted you to know that no

matter what you do in your life, no matter how bad it is or how bad you

is, there's nothing so bad that you can't come to me.

Nothing so bad that we can't work it out together.

I'll always love you and I'll always be there for you.

Okay.

I was the one who put the dead frog in Michelle Gottlieb's book bag.

I keep seeing Sturdivant sitting alone in that magnificent room of that

house in that beautiful neighborhood.

We got a family, Rach.

Big house on the hill, that's not the American dream.

We're the American dream.

Damn straight.

That's them.

The guys have been knocking over those convenience stores.

Separate them.

First thing, ask them where they were headed tonight.

We get four different answers, we know something's up.

Come here.

All right.

What's your name, sir?

Dixon. Tremaine Dixon.

I already told him that.

Where are we headed tonight, Mr. Dixon?

We have a gig in Pelham.

A gig? You musicians?

Yeah, singers.

I already told him that.

You knock over Ernie's grocery about two days ago?

I don't know what you're talking about.

What kind of music you guys sing?

60s and 50s and ink spots, the platters, that kind of thing.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

I love that stuff.

Sing.

Sing? We're out here on the highway.

Sing.

All right, fellas.

Come here.

Stan, I want lights and sirens escorting these artists to their gig in Pelham.

All right.

I'm really sorry fellas for the inconvenience.