Original subtitles

[THEME MUSIC]

[THEME MUSIC]

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[THEME MUSIC]

[THEME MUSIC].

[THEME MUSIC]

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[THEME MUSIC].

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[THEME MUSIC]

No reprieves.

Arnie says to take it.

Hey, what is this?

Bottle of scotch.

That's what you ordered.

I didn't order no open bottle.

Now, the seal's broken on this one.

How the hell do I know what's in it, man?

Hello, fellas.

Anything wrong?

[GRUNTING]

[GLASS SHATTERING]

[GRUNTING]

[THEME MUSIC]

[music]

I'll take it like the moon!

[crashing sounds]

[crashing sounds]

[GLASS SHATTERING]

[THEME MUSIC]

[glass smashing]

[THEME MUSIC]

[gun shot]

[THEME MUSIC].

Don't look at me.

You talk about me to the cops, and the next person you'll talk to is Arnie.

Now, you got that?

[SIREN]

[THEME MUSIC]

[SIREN]

Tony the Rock.

You know, the last time I saw you fighting

the old garden, you were in the same shape.

No wonder you gave up the gloves.

That's just what I need now, a sympathetic friend.

Oh, come on, will you, Tony?

A man's been shot.

Now, what's coming down here?

What do I know?

I go to straighten out this beef, and I get a cheap shot.

Oh.

You weren't the greatest fighter in the world,

but I don't figure anybody's going to pull a Pearl Harbor on your jaw.

Well, you know, Lieutenant, you win a few, you lose a few.

Tony.

Well, I ain't so bright, maybe.

But I'll live with it.

I ain't so dumb, either.

I don't climb into the ring with no heavy weights, not on my salary.

What are you trying to tell me?

Those lollipops, they're connected?

Look, Lieutenant, I heard.

I can't talk no more.

I keep trying to tell you, kid.

I come out of the kitchen and bang it.

You're wrapped, and I go out of it.

That's all I know.

The minute the action started, the customers split.

I tell you, Junior, I'll be eating bar tares for the next three weeks.

Jake.

Jacob, I'm Kojak, Lieutenant Kojak.

I'm with the New York City Police Department.

This is Detective Robert Crocker, Esquire.

He, too, is with the New York City Police Department.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, now, how you answer, Detective Crocker, of course, Jacob, that's your business.

And whatever little white lies you throw in his

way, you can pick up the tare for that later.

However, Jacob, how you talk to Detective Crocker, that's my business.

What's the problem, Lieutenant?

What did I say?

I'm about to explain that to you.

You see, now, you can call him Detective.

You can call him Mr. You could call him Sir.

You could even call him by his given name, Robert.

But if I hear you call him kid again,

I'm going to take your joint here, turn it into a garage.

You'll park my car, and I'll be stiffing you with quarter tips.

Yeah, take him down, get his face fixed up.

And you'll be in my office tomorrow morning at 10.

We got things to talk about.

Come on, let's go.

Call the hospital, see how this guy is doing who got shot.

Oh, uh, Jake, if this guy croaks,

I'm going to take your license, put it into the coffin,

and whoop, down to the grave, six feet under, baby.

Go ahead.

Let's go.

In the meantime, you get everybody's statement, OK?

And I'll see you back at the office.

It's OK, kid?

Mm-hmm.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

[indistinct sounds]

Mike Valano, the only time I see you

is when you want expense money and you always look so good and smell so good.

Oh, you love every second of it.

What's shaking, Lou?

Yeah, well, did you hear this guy who left a suicide

note for his wife, lives on Central Park West?

He says, darling, I've decided to end it all.

I'm taking a walk through the park.

Anyway, Jake's joint got messed up.

Guy by the name of Harry Block catches one front and center.

You recognize the autograph?

Had a sworn that was the-- the guys in the Bronx had a copyright on that one.

This Block character, is he mobbed up?

Don't ask me. Tell me.

Hey, I don't know from Jake's place.

I only work the places that are connected, you know,

the ones that the Wise guys already got control of.

Three joints wrecked this month.

No explanations, no complaints, and nobody witnessing anything.

What are they, takeovers?

Fliggy was the muscle on those moves, and he's in the can, three to five.

How about renegades?

Not likely.

You gotta be kidding, man, because that's Arnie's

turf, and you don't boost a gumball machine.

If he don't see half the take, you bought a Harper.

Arnie Nail, I'd love to nail him, all right?

Why don't you do your homework, and I'll pay the tuition?

Right.

Is that you, sweet lips?

Come on, call your pal.

Stop rascallying her on the double, will you, please?

Crocker, you're young, and you're beautiful, and you got the whole world on a string.

You ever hear that song?

But I resent a guy who went punk, especially when he calls you kid.

Anyway, I can call you anything I want, you know?

But one thing I do-- Stavros!

I don't like any punk calling a New York detective kid.

Do you understand?

I didn't ask for coffee.

It's mine.

You selfish beast.

Well, hurry up and drink it.

Get down to CIB and SNR.

Pick up the extortion records on everything happening in greater Manhattan, OK?

It's 5 in the morning.

You better hurry up before it becomes 6.

OK.

Lieutenant, Black went out of the picture.

He died at 4.55.

All right, what did we find out about him, anything?

Guy was a draftsman, worked for Denmark Construction Company.

12 years on the job.

Had a wife, two kids, a home on Staten Island.

Square as they come.

Yeah, sure.

Dead as they come.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Oh, you're going to talk to Moish?

No, he's going to talk to me.

In the meantime, I want you to stick yourself across the street.

Make believe you're casing out the greasy spoon.

All right, what for?

What for, what for?

Because I'm the lieutenant, and that's what I want you to do.

OK?

[CAR DOOR SLAMS]

Hey, Kojak, what do you say?

What's the matter, what's happening?

What's happening?

We're looking for a guy.

What guy?

A guy.

A guy, a guy.

Come on, Kojak, stop already.

What guy?

All right, a guy who's been smashing joints in midtown.

What's he coming here for?

He's coming here to eat.

He can eat uptown.

Oh, come on, what do I know?

That's the information I got.

He ain't coming here.

Your information stinks.

Yeah, you want to bet?

Yeah.

I'd bet on a horse.

They don't argue so much.

All right, the winner bets on a horse, and the loser lays out 10 balloons.

And 10 bucks on a double.

All right, you're that sure, are you?

Who are you waiting for?

Waiting for Fliggy.

That's who I'm waiting for, Fliggy.

What kind of a Mickey Mouse detective are you?

Fliggy's in the can.

Are you kidding me?

According to the description I got-- Sure, Kojak.

20 years ago, it might have fit.

This guy's a kid.

Kid?

You got off your marbles?

I mean, a kid making this kind of moves he's making?

Come on, you're headed for the funny farm.

I am, huh?

Well, wait till you see Benny.

He'll tell you how crazy I am.

Benny, who's a Benny?

What's a Benny?

Just Benny, a wild man from the Bronx.

Who knows from last names?

Benny is Benny.

You want to know, go ask Crocker, why don't you?

Crocker?

Crocker.

Him and Benny grew up together.

Tight friends.

So this Benny?

He went to school with football heroes together?

You mean Benny Marino?

Well, I don't know if I need a Benny Marino.

Tell me about him.

We grew up together from the same neighborhood,

same school, sometimes even the same chick.

Oh, yeah?

Seen him lately?

Not since the service.

I went in the army, and he got into some

trouble, went upstate, pulled a deuce, I think.

But we were pretty close for a long time.

Played ball, went out, hung around.

Where is he now?

I don't know.

I could find out from the neighborhood, I guess.

Why, has he done something?

I know he may be involved in this Frank

and some of the Jakes, maybe even the homicide.

Hey, Lieutenant, Benny never was wired right, but come on.

He's no killer.

What are you, his mother?

You know what he's thinking, what he does?

No, but I think I know him a lot better than you.

And he's a tough guy, and he fights with his fists, and maybe his feet if he has to.

But guns don't fit the Benny Marino I know.

Come on, Lieutenant.

Maybe, maybe not.

But let's find out, huh?

Since you were childhood sweethearts,

I guess there's no problem you getting in touch with him.

Now?

Now.

All right, thank you.

You always were a leg man, Bobby.

Hooray.

Oh.

Oh, what a great way to start the day.

Oh, it's so good to see you too.

You'll never know how much I've missed you.

Bobby, you are losing your hair.

I'm not losing my hair.

I'm growing a forehead.

Hey, come with me.

I've got a surprise for you.

Benny!

Bobby.

Yeah, Bobby!

Yeah!

Oh, yeah!

Hey, where'd you find him?

Hanging around the lobby looking for broads.

He's leg watching.

Yeah, that's my boy.

Bobby, Bobby, what's happening?

Ah, no complaints.

What about you?

You two married, you had a wife.

I got him on a very short leash.

Benny, hey.

Come on, come on, come on.

I got a table. Let's eat.

Let's eat. Come on.

Beautiful, beautiful.

It's like what my mother used to cook on Sundays.

You remember, Bobby?

Of course I remember.

Lasagna, brujole.

Hey, but only this time I'm buying.

There's no way.

I buy.

I mean, you're a poor jerk cop.

You can't afford my taste.

Bobby, say hello to a friend.

Bobby's a buddy of mine from the old neighborhood.

We go way back.

The cop for a friend?

That's right.

And I invited him for breakfast.

Any objections?

Hey, baby, slide over here, will you?

Come on.

I'll take a ride with you.

Hey, go and make those calls.

You can eat later at the counter.

Do it, man.

Where'd you find him?

Upstate, same class.

He's OK. He's OK.

He's all over wards, but you know, he brings in the business.

My father tells me you're a big time detective now.

Where are you working?

Manhattan South.

That's around here, ain't it?

Yeah.

A detective, huh?

I bet you ain't got 20 bucks in your pocket, though.

I'll bet you I ain't got 10.

Penny's doing very well.

He's in restaurant supply now.

Well, hear her?

Well, Bobby, I got the world on a string.

Hey, you, we want to order now.

Why don't you bring us some ham and eggs and coffee, huh?

I'll be with you just a moment, sir.

In a moment, nothing.

I said now.

Honey, honey, don't get excited.

She'll be back in a minute.

Take it easy.

Look, I don't like waiting for my food.

I did that long enough, you know?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Don't tell me.

Tell it to her.

Hey, hey, I'm a real winner here, aren't I?

I got my social worker and a lawyer at the same table, huh?

Yeah?

The old man wants to talk to you.

He's steaming.

He's just uptight, Bobby.

He needs a little time to unwind.

Some people can handle it, I guess, take it in their stride.

But for Benny, every day he spent in jail was really living hell.

It's not going to be any picnic for him on the outside, Marie.

He's an ex-con now.

Things won't be the way they were again.

Yeah, they're going to be better.

You turning up, that makes them better already.

All he needs is to know he's loved, that he's

still got loyal friends, people who really care.

Hey, Dave.

This your buddy?

Yeah, that's him.

A little heavier now and a lot better dressed.

He's hanging out with some jerk named Lester.

Did time with him up in Attica, real punk.

Oh, and what's Benny?

Just another working stiff, trying to hustle an honest buck.

Maybe a little bitter now, but underneath it all, he's the same Benny I used to know.

All right, Crocker.

According to you, then, he's the salt of the earth.

All right, how about Valano?

He called in earlier, just left a message, said that you could call him at home.

OK.

Oh, you know this pretty face, Arnie Nyla?

It's his uncle.

I didn't know he was connected.

You know, there's a library full of information you don't know about.

[PHONE RINGING].

Yeah?

Oh, yes, wake up, beautiful.

Yeah, this is the Greek Sandman.

You have any dreams I can analyze?

Oh, right.

Listen, I found someone who had a move made on him.

Now, he's-- they didn't rough him up or anything, but he pays.

It's called Fred's over in 52nd and Lex.

Will he go to court?

That's not the deal I made.

Now, Fred agreed to let me work the place long enough

to ID him, but other than that, he doesn't want any part of it.

All right, you go in.

We'll take it easy, OK?

Because we can't follow you out.

Right.

Hey, Lieutenant, I'd like to work on this with Valano.

Would you really?

To prove that your buddy's innocent?

Or have you suddenly become the resident expert on takeovers?

Takeovers?

Oh, look, son, the wise guys go into a successful operation, right?

They drop a big criminal name, and they say,

for a couple of hundred dollars a week, no problems.

Now, if the owner should hesitate at all, then they're going to wreck the joint.

And they're going to wreck a couple of heads as well.

Kind of like that.

It's the old protection racket.

Oh, only this got a little more flourish to it.

You know what happens?

Pretty soon, the owner's got a couple of new bartenders.

He's got a couple of new bouncers.

He's got a new manager, a new waiter, whatever.

And the only one he's talking to is himself.

The license, they keep it his name.

Then they start stripping it of cash, of assets.

And that's the end of the lesson.

Now, where's Jake Rupert?

He was supposed to get his Fanny down here.

Well, his attorney called and said that his client would be unable to appear.

You going home, Lieutenant?

What does this look like, my hat?

No, I'll be in Captain McNeil's office playing potsy.

Well, if you've come to my office, you must want something.

What is it?

You know something, Mac?

You're a case-hardened cynic.

I know.

And you're a con artist.

Now, what do you want?

You mean I just can't walk in here and say, uh, hello, Mac?

Oh, hello, Theo.

I'm fine.

Lillian is fine.

The kids are fine.

And no, I can't have lunch.

Now, what do you want?

Well, I want to change the duty chart.

I want to put six men on special assignment.

Six men?

You got King Kong trapped on the Empire State Building?

No, not quite.

But I got a homicide involved with takeovers, and I need manpower.

Come on, Mac, you know what?

I think I can nail this Arnie.

He's the weight.

Well, use Valano.

He's been covering the nightclubs for years.

He's not enough.

Why don't you give me four of us?

Look, I'll take Crocker, Stavros, Owen Stein, incidentally, as--

Oh, you're going to cover the charts.

Well, I figured I'd fill a slot myself.

All right.

Take Valano, since he's off the charts anyway.

Crocker, because he's gung ho enough for two men.

Stavros, because his ferns need a rest.

Since you put yourself in, you can be the last man.

Thanks, Mac.

Owen Stein, incidentally, as I was about to tell you, is on vacation.

So you will cover my paperwork when I'm gone, Mac.

Thank you.

Now, the front and garage entrance are the ins and outs of this place, right?

You know what the car looks like.

You know the suite number, don't you, Crocker?

But I still say it's a waste of time, Lieutenant.

OK, his photo's over there.

But Crocker knows exactly what Benny and Lester look like.

If they move, you tail them.

And toss the car if you can.

Get it towed away if you have to.

But don't bust them.

Unless it's absolutely necessary, just clock them.

Now, Valano's in there.

And Fred Stavros, he's posing as a bartender.

They go in there, you just cover them.

What time do you want us to start?

Look, you've woken up all night.

Get some sleep.

It's 2 o'clock now.

Let's say about 11.

Crocker, you take a ride with me, OK?

Just see Jake.

Why me?

Well, you have the doubting Thomas, right?

I'm going to do a little pitter-patter on your brain and reconstruct it.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I don't have to talk to you.

My lawyer told you that.

It's your lawyer.

I mean, you know, he told you, not me.

Well, he told me I don't have to come in and talk to you.

OK.

All right, Jacob, we're going to do it the hard way.

Now, these are licensed premises, right?

Get your license.

The glass is a little dusty.

You mind if I remove it?

That's Mary Grubert has the license.

Is she the owner? - Well, it's my wife.

It's in her name.

But you really own it, right?

Now it is, I got a record.

Oh, Jake, that's undisclosed ownership.

You can lose your license for that.

Don't you understand that?

Crocker, would you go call the owner?

Have her come down here.

She's entitled to know what's going on.

Hey, hey.

I'll talk to you.

Crocker saved the day.

Well, how about your lawyer?

Bad advice.

I just fired him.

Lieutenant, I'll come and talk to you.

But tomorrow, after I discuss it with my wife.

Hey, isn't that carrying women's lib a little too far?

I mean, don't you make your own decisions?

Come on, ease up.

Give me a break.

I'll meet with you tomorrow after I talk to my old lady.

All right.

You know, you're beautiful.

I mean, I really love you when you keep nice and quiet like this.

Come on.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Yes, sir.

Can I help you?

Where's Fred?

Come on, I got business.

Well, Fred's out of town right now.

Is there anything I can do for you?

I'm his partner.

Drink?

Scotch.

Neat.

Fred tells you about his deals before he split, right?

Deals?

What do you mean?

Oh, Fred owes me and my people some bread.

Like an insurance premium, you understand?

Well, it seems I heard something about it, yeah.

But if Fred mentioned a name-- Arnie.

That ring a bell?

Well, I'll tell you, I'll check with Fred.

And if it's legit, then you'll have it tomorrow, OK?

Now!

Hit the register now, or you're going to end up with no face.

All right, man, all right, all right.

Just relax.

Huh?

Uh, who do I tell that Fred I gave this to, huh?

Oh, uh, why don't you tell him, uh, this here.

[GRUNTING]

[SQUEALING]

[GRUNTING]

[SIGHING]

[MUSIC PLAYING].

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Captain, I'm on special assignment.

If you can just wait till my squad commander gets here.

A police officer's beaten up on a tab, working as a bartender, alcohol on his breath.

And when a captain asks him a question, he insists he's on duty, but off the chart.

Well, I want some answers, officer,

or you'll end up with about 20 specifications on a complaint.

I'm Lieutenant Kojak, Captain.

I'm his boss.

Now, what are the extent of his injuries?

He'll live.

He's got a couple of cracked ribs, concussion, slight fracture to the right arm.

He's going to need some sutures.

Gave him a mild sedative just to ease the pain.

I demand to know what's going on here, Lieutenant.

Why, one of your men was drunk, beat up.

Well, Captain, I'm sure that Detective Valano didn't plan on getting beat up.

And why, I don't know yet.

And as for the booze, well, he's on special assignment for licensed premises.

And every once in a while, you know, you got to take a shot.

But I'm sure that every cop on the street

knows that Detective Valano, he's not on the sauce.

I'll check in on this.

You better be telling the truth, or you'll join him down at the complaint room.

I better book on Gavin.

Detectives are not exempt from the rules, Kojak,

no matter what you golden boys like to think.

Hey, Captain, Detective Valano has been injured in the line of duty.

You've heard the doctor give you the full report.

I intend to put him in for a commendation.

Now, in the face of that, you see fit to put in a complaint, eh, Captain?

You're going to turn out to be the jerk of the year.

You think I'm going to let you walk out on this?

There's nothing wrong with you, buster,

except that you're a typical wise guy detective who needs a taking down.

Hey, Doc, I think that sedative's starting to work.

I'm fading kind of fast here.

10-4, everybody.

[MUSIC PLAYING].

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Pretty well got this one guy taken care of, see?

And then somebody grabs me from the back end

before I know it, bang, bang, and they're doing a dance on me.

Yeah, see the other jelly bean?

No, but I recognized the first guy.

His name is Mickey.

He's a bartender from the street, one of those places.

I can't remember just which one, though.

But Arnie is definitely tied into the action, Theo.

They're using his name.

You know, for us, it's definite, but it's not enough to go to court with.

Ah.

Those ribs still killing you, huh?

Yeah, and my head and my arm, but mostly my pride.

Look, Theo, I paid my dues on this one.

I want in all the way, OK?

Yeah, sure.

I'll just tie a siren to your wheelchair.

What a drag.

Don't they ever go out for anything?

Why should they?

They got everything they need right in there.

You stupid jerks.

You think you can walk all over the cops?

Do you think they're that stupid?

That was no moonlighting dick.

It smells to me like a plant.

Well, we couldn't help what happened, sir.

Yeah, well, neither can I. You guys had a nice thing going for you.

Then you had to blow away some file clerk on his big night out, huh?

I tell you to sit tight and wait and see which way the cops are going to look.

And what do you do?

You go out and make collections anyway.

I walk right into a setup.

Who do you dummies think you are?

The James gang?

Look, we needed some bread, even to sit tight.

And you, my big, bad nephew, you're the number one stupid.

You got a love affair going with a cop.

You dope.

Who do you think set you up?

He's with the same squad as the guy your buddies-- You're wrong.

He wouldn't set me up, not Bobby.

Come on, now, come on.

He's from the old neighborhood.

He's a cop.

You're supposed to be a wise guy.

So stop with this neighborhood garbage, huh?

The deal's off.

You guys are finished.

What do you mean, finished?

Hey, hey, hey, hey, now listen to me.

Listen to me.

We got a sweet deal going here, and I ain't finished.

You hear me?

Like I said, it's over.

Sure, sure, sure, sure.

We leave town, and you move in with somebody else and pick up the gravy, huh?

You're no longer connected to me or to my people.

The word's out, you punks ain't got no home.

You're orphans.

So disappear while I still want to let you.

I'm staying.

Now, you guys want in?

What, are you crazy?

You want Arnie on our backs, too?

Not him or anybody else is going to push me out.

Now, I got a score coming, and I ain't about to walk away empty, huh?

He'll burn us.

Hey, come on, come on.

Now, look it, look it.

One sweep, all the joints, and then we're down to Florida, money in our pockets, huh?

Now, come on, two more days with no cuts to Arnie,

and we are gone.

Yeah, and what about your friend, the cop?

I got no cop friends.

Now, you guys want in, huh?

[MUSIC PLAYING].

Anything happening here?

Well, none of them.

We've left the place yet.

Oh, any idea who's in there?

Well, Benny and Lester, for sure.

Maybe one more.

Now, who would that one more be?

Well, there's a lot of activity in and out over there.

There was this one guy.

He might have been Arnie Nyla, but I can't tell from the picture we got now.

Why don't you just hang in there and make sure?

But he left already, and we couldn't follow him and blow the plan.

Valano got stopped.

Nothing permanent, but he got shook up pretty good,

got in the head, and the arm, and the cheeks, and everything like that.

Well, that leaves Benny out.

He hasn't left this place.

Hey, there are four guerrillas in this operation, four that we know of.

The other two, they're the ones who stomped Valano.

And who's to say that your buddy Benny isn't up there laughing about it?

I'm going for coffee.

Get me another lentil soup.

Never mind stopping, driver.

Take me back to 23rd Street.

Lieutenant.

Lieutenant.

Oh, that's the Italian sand man.

Jake Gruber, the shanty's got his old lady with him.

All right, I'll bring him in.

I'm the owner of the bar, Lieutenant.

I think I have a right to be here.

As a friend or as an enemy, Mrs. Gruber?

As my husband's wife.

Would you sit down?

You don't have to be here, Mary.

But I am here.

So what do you want from my Jake?

Well, from your Jake, I think I want the truth, Mrs. Gruber.

Why?

Is the police department short on heroes?

We got a few of those.

We got a shortage of friends.

We could use a couple of those.

So for me and Jake to be your friend, we have to get beat up or maybe destroyed.

That bar is my husband's living.

It took a long time to get there, and we're not going to lose it.

So you're willing to pay these leeches extortion money in order to keep it, right?

It's a business expense, like taxes.

We can live with it.

Look, you're a fine woman, Mrs. Gruber, OK?

But there's another fine woman involved.

Her name is Helen Block.

She loved her husband, just like you love your Jake.

And he had a couple of kids.

Now, it's no go, Mrs. Gruber.

I mean, I'm sorry to force you into this predicament,

but I'm sorry for that widow and her two fatherless kids.

The man who got killed, that's who you're talking about?

It's-- it's different when you know about people.

Until now, he was a body.

Now he's a life.

He didn't have to butt in.

Why did he have to butt in?

What difference does it make?

Suppose he didn't want to see you get hurt.

Suppose he just cared.

Jake, maybe you should care.

Bobby, I'm taking off.

I'll see you tonight.

Yeah, I'll be out of here in a minute.

Oh, I want to see Detective Crocker.

Oh, yes.

Marie.

Hi.

Look, could we talk in private?

Over here.

So this is where it all happens.

It's not very nice, is it?

The room, or what happens?

Both, I guess.

You want to sit down?

No, no, thanks.

That's OK.

All right, Marie, what's the trouble?

What's wrong?

I saw you outside the motor lodge, Bobby.

Why are you watching Benny?

Come on, Marie.

I work the area.

I'm all over the place.

Oh, come on, Bobby.

Stop it.

This is too important to both of us.

The other day, we were like kids again, the three of us,

like 10 years ago.

But I know Benny, and I see you here, where you live.

I don't live here, Marie.

It just happens to be an office that I work in.

You live here, just the way Benny lives there.

None of us lives on Manor Avenue anymore.

Well, you said it.

It all changes, doesn't it?

You both have.

I never did.

Bobby, please don't go after Benny.

What makes you think I'm after Benny?

Because you are.

I don't know why.

I don't know what it is you think he's done.

But you are.

He won't go back, Bobby, not to prison.

Did Benny send you here?

He doesn't know.

I came because I had to find out.

And now I have.

Look, Marie, you go home.

I mean really home, and not back to Benny.

I'm Benny's girl.

That's all I ever was.

Whatever he is, whatever he's done, I have to stay with him.

That's how it is.

Goodbye, Bobby.

[door opens]

Are you sure you reached Benny for the meat?

Yeah, well, I left a message at another bar.

They said they'd get word to him.

Make sure when you get him talking, he mentions Arnie.

I want Arnie on that tape.

Here.

That's three grand, marked.

Make a deal for one big score, and use that as a down payment.

Make Arnie come back for the rest, OK?

Stavros, when Benny leaves Jake's bar, you leave him to go, but take the tape.

I'm going to need that for the grand jury.

I suppose Benny spots the mic.

He won't.

The wires are going to come down your side to the recorder right here.

Just make sure you watch where the wires are plugged in.

That's all.

Stay away from the jukebox.

It screws up the sound.

If Benny spots anybody in my place, this time tomorrow I'll be on a slab.

None of us will be in your place.

We'll be planted on the outside, you hear?

Just let him keep talking, I promise you.

He'll hang himself.

Looks like Benny's car.

Here we go.

It's Arnie, not Benny.

But if you think this lets Benny off the hook, you're jumping to conclusions.

We'll play it out.

Why are you here?

I didn't talk.

I didn't give nobody up.

You left a message.

You wanted to talk to someone.

So I'm here.

I sent word to Benny.

You talked to me, Jake.

What about Benny?

The last time I saw Benny, he was unemployed.

He doesn't belong to me.

He don't have nothing to do with me.

I'd like to talk to you, if you'd listen.

I'm here to listen.

But first, you listen to me.

Understand?

You're going to offer me a number, right?

Okay.

If it's the right number, we make a deal.

But if you say a number that might be so low as to embarrass me,

then I'll have to just get up and walk out of here.

Say a number that might be so low as to embarrass me,

then I'll have to just get up and walk out of here.

Where's the rest?

What do I know?

I'm no engineer.

The wire was out when we took it.

Did it fall out, or did you pull it out?

Jake, give me back the three grand.

What did you use it to make a deal?

I made a better deal.

You gave me a good idea.

Jake, you're finished.

What do you mean, finished?

Two words, baby. Undisclosed ownership.

You mean you lift my ticket?

All right, I'll give you Benny.

I saw him. I saw him kill that guy.

I'm not taking your money.

Hey, hey, hey.

Now you want us to believe that Benny did it?

Now you want to trade Benny for your license, your lousy creep?

You'd sell your mother!

Cracker!

Hey, what's the matter with him?

Is he crazy?

I'll give you two other witnesses.

Straits, Dill Talk, and the bartender.

And I know the other three guys.

It's Al and Mickey Stiller, and Lester Getz.

Hey, Kojak, is it a deal, huh?

Stavros, take this out to the squad room.

Take a statement and get witnesses.

Yes, sir.

And then I want you to meet Bobby where you were last night.

Yes, sir.

He told me he was in restaurant supplies.

I wanted to believe him.

God, I wanted to believe him.

You know, you can ask out, Cracker.

This will fill in for you.

No, Marie called it.

I'm a cop.

I lay down now because it's a personal thing.

I'm finished.

All right.

Benny lays down.

Arnie takes a walk.

Now you tell me why the Arnies never get it.

They will.

Next time.

Valano.

Yeah, Lieutenant, it's me.

We're taking Benny and his crew.

You want in?

Oh, you bet I do.

All right.

I'll pick you up in 10 minutes.

I'll be ready.

All right.

I want you to go to the motor lodge

and get a room opposite Benny's and then plant outside.

Stavros will join you as soon as he delivers Jake.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

How you feeling?

You OK?

Yeah, I'll make it.

We're on channel F2 on a walkie-talkie.

Where's the keys?

Here.

You're in room 1023.

There's nobody in 1019.

I checked it out.

All right.

You're a beautiful, beautiful person.

Can you hear me?

Yeah, loud and clear.

Lieutenant, they're in.

All right, stay 10 minutes and then come on up.

Got you.

I'm going uptown to see Marie.

Alone?

I'll be OK.

See you later.

[car moving]

Lieutenant, Benny just pulled out again alone.

Tell him.

Come on, Bobby.

Let's go.

[car honking]

Get that thing out of the way.

[INAUDIBLE]

Get that-- [CAR HORN]

Get out of the way.

Come on, move it.

Here, you tell him.

Thank you.

Lieutenant.

Yeah, I know.

You lost them.

We never had them.

We got pinned to the curb.

Come on up here quietly.

The door's still open.

We'll take what we got.

All right, we'll be right up.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Freeze!

Hold it!

Check out the bedroom.

Up against the wall.

Go ahead.

I knew you were a fink.

Benny should have never even said hello.

Whoa, that's another nail for your coffin, Lester.

Who was your backup man the other night when you laid me out, man?

Oh, really?

What the hell are you doing?

You ruffian?

Well, where's Benny?

Who's Benny?

Oh.

Look what I found.

That's wonderful.

Call a squad.

Have a couple of men come down here to pick up this trio.

And tell them to take a cab so we don't blow our plant, all right?

Yes, sir.

Well, Benny ain't stupid.

He'll see you guys.

Oh, thank you, Mickey.

Now we're sure Benny's coming back.

Ah.

We'll jam the lock onto the door, and then when he's fumbling with it,

we'll have him trapped out in the hallway, no place to go.

Yeah, well, it sounds like an execution.

Yeah, look, all stakeouts sound like executions.

We set him up that way and hope it turns into a nice, easy surrender.

He's not gonna surrender. He won't.

So what the hell do you want me to do?

Set it up different so you can satisfy a personal obligation?

I know Benny, Lieutenant.

He'll see cops and start blasting.

And we sit around while he runs out of ammunition.

If I'm gonna give away the first round,

I'm gonna make sure none of my men are around.

Lieutenant, I can talk him down.

He'll listen to me. Nobody has to get shot.

Bobby, Benny's a psycho.

He's off the wall.

All right, just let me try, Lieutenant, just once.

You know, if you're right, nobody gets hurt.

But if you're wrong, and there's a 9-millimeter automatic that's not accounted for,

probably sitting right now in Benny's pocket.

I'm not playing games with myself, Lieutenant.

I know what Benny is, and I'm no hero, but I owe it to him, and I owe it to myself.

You owe the guys you work with also.

You owe them more.

I understand that, but come on, Theo.

It's something I have to do.

Okay.

But we're gonna do it my way.

And I'll lay it out.

[ Whirring ]

You think we got enough stuff in this thing?

Well, let's hope so. These are new threads.

Okay, in the meantime, Crockett, you stay behind that barricade.

You understand?

And what with the economy and flowers and funerals, and forget it.

Yeah, no sweat, boss, and, uh, thanks.

Yeah, thanks. You thank me when it's over.

In the meantime, Stavros will get in touch

with us on a portable as soon as he spots Benny.

And, uh, take care of yourself, kid.

Yeah. Hey, Lieutenant, uh-- Yeah?

Don't call me "kid."

Yeah, sure.

I'll just be a second, honey. I'm gonna get some cash.

I'll see you.

[ music ]

The sign is way up. Do you read me?

Yeah, I gotcha.

All right, follow him up in the next elevator.

Right.

[ music ]

Bobby. Oh, no.

[ music]

[ music ]

Benny.

Stay cool now. It's me, Bob.

I figured you'd be the one.

Benny, just stand still and take your hand out of your pocket.

Hey, hey, come on. Come on.

What are you doing hiding behind them things?

This is Benny.

Come on. Now, we're the same kind of people.

We don't need no guns.

I can't fight you, Bobby.

You know that.

Benny!

Just take your hand out of your pocket.

Do it, man! You'll still be alive!

Look, I ain't going back!

[ Gunshots ].

[ music ]

Crocker, you okay?

Yeah, I'm all right. I'm not hit!

You okay?

[ music ]

What am I gonna say to her?

Who you feeling sorry for, her, him, or yourself?

I don't know. Everyone.

Why don't you make a Valano?

He just killed a man, Crocker, and that ain't no fun.

He's inside popping his cookies.

Learn something, Crocker.

Valano, he's the one who needs your help.

[ "Pomp and Circumstance" plays ].

[ "Pomp and Circumstance" continues ].

[ "Pomp and Circumstance" continues ]

[ "Pomp and Circumstance" plays ].

(music)