Original subtitles

Thank you.

Come on, Venus.

Wind it down.

Wind it down.

Break, Zack!

You sabotaged my load, Tanner!

For the last time!

Zack, don't!

Oh, now we got a real excuse. Get the shotgun.

4 out of 30, roger.

Why'd you run?

I was scared.

Little fella got scared of the big bad policeman.

Let me have him for a second.

You got lucky, Zant.

I should have run my rig right over them thieves. What's this all about?

It's all about him.

Tanner, you sabotaged a load of my lettuce.

Two weeks ago, his hired hand slashed my tires.

I'm gonna bury you before this is over. You're arresting the wrong man,

Sergeant. Pappas here tried to kill us.

I want you to put him in jail. You're a liar, Tanner. You sabotaged our

compressor. And you're making wild accusations. All right, all right. Wild

accusations. And I got witnesses all around here. I want you to put that

crazy man in jail. Hey, I'll handle the investigation, Tanner.

And I'll decide who goes to jail and who doesn't. And I suggest you get back to

your office until I decide that it's time for us to talk.

You're making a big mistake, Sergeant.

Zack,

I've been seeing these all over the market.

You're organizing the independent truckers.

Is that what this is all about?

Slash tires, dirt in the diesel, rotten lettuce.

I'm not the first independent he sicked his dogs on, but I sure as hell am going

to be the last. Well, I got better answers than organizing a vigilante

committee or trying to drive a truck over Tanner.

Now get your tail to the hospital and talk later.

Looks like we walked into the trouble that's been brewing down here. Trouble

for the independent truckers. They're part of the backbone of this country,

Junior. And we're going to make damn sure that the trouble stops right here.

Hooker, it's been alleged that you refused to arrest a homicidal trucker

down at the produce market this morning.

This homicidal trucker was on foot and unarmed when he was shotgunned by a

Neanderthal named Don Morgan, who I booked for ADW.

Yes, we have a complaint about that, too, from a police commissioner. The

wrong person going to jail.

Just who is the commissioner's source for these alleged miscarriages of

justice? Now, they got a call from a respected businessman, Alan Tanner.

Captain, I think we got a pot boiling in the produce market.

I think Tanner is the fire underneath the pot.

Well, he sure lit one under my seat, Hooker, now.

Just what do you suggest we do to get this flame turned down? Well, Morgan's

in jail.

And I'm sure that Tanner has already shuttled his high-priced lawyers down

here.

Meanwhile, I've got Stacy and Romano putting Tanner and company into the

information mill to find out what we can about them.

You're investigating Tanner?

Captain.

We've got a group of independent truckers who are about to become

vigilantes because they think we can't or won't investigate Tanner. I think you

have a choice.

A little heat from downtown.

or a bloodbath in the produce market.

I am impressed with your legal connections, Mr. Tanner.

I was out before they got the cell door locked. I should let you rot in there,

but instead I'm bringing back some of my old help to get done what isn't getting

done with your methods.

You mean that guy out of Chicago?

The one who wasted the owner of this place?

Vic Keller.

Need a man with ice in his blood and keller fills the bill flight 64 out of

chicago two o'clock pick him up

And

then

you're in a position for the cuffing But let me remind you that the police

commission has jumped on the bandwagon and prohibited the use of the chokehold.

So unless you're scratching the limits of survival out there, using any form of

chokehold will bring the police commission down right on top of you.

In my opinion, they've taken an invaluable tool away from us.

Now, instead of being able to use discretion in an altercation,

and cause some drugged-out crazy who can't feel any pain to momentarily lose

consciousness, we basically end up having to escalate our use of force from

verbal to the firearm.

All right, that's it. Tomorrow we'll practice baton techniques.

Run a lap, hit the showers, dismissed.

Sergeant Hooker.

Yes. Commissioner Cook.

Yes, I read about your appointment with the Board of Police Commissioners.

Congratulations. Thank you.

The other commissioners asked that I do a survey on your academy training

program personnel.

Well, if there's anything I can do to help you, let me know.

Well, I didn't intend on coming down until next week, but the commission

received a telephone call this morning concerning a businessman by the name of

Al Tanner.

According to Mr. Tanner, you've arrested the wrong person. Well, that's not the

way I saw it, but if you care to get the facts, it's in my report.

Well, I'd like an explanation.

Why did you choose right now to undermine the commission's ruling on the

chokehold with those young recruits?

In a few weeks, those young recruits are going to be out on the streets putting

it all on the line.

I didn't undermine a thing.

I just gave them the cold, hard facts of life.

Those chokeholds caused needless deaths.

The commission examined every case very carefully before they made their

decision. Did you tell them that, Sergeant?

Oh, they got it all.

Not with the flags and the... yelling and the screaming that went on in the

commission hearings but i also went over each one of those needless deaths

carefully and you know when i put it all together i still see that the only thing

the commission did was bring us a giant step closer to the one thing we all wish

to avoid the use of absolute deadly force guns

you're dealing with a very complex issue in a very simplistic way

Commissioner, I can only speak for myself, a cop with almost 20 years in

the streets.

And I won't argue that accidents sometimes happen and the force is

misused, but... When I'm out there, trying to get the job done as best I

know how, I'd rather have the discretion to use what my experience tells me is

right.

Sergeant Hooker, I've heard a great deal about you and your philosophy.

But I must say, after observing you firsthand, you do...

live up to your notices.

So do you, Commissioner.

Yeah? Right on time, Mr. Tanner.

With your expert work done, you call Vic Killer the expert.

Right?

That's what I want, Vic.

The way you disposed of Mr.

Schwartz will do very nicely for Zach Pappas.

What's the matter?

Ripping this trucking outfit off from Schwartz?

Not enough for you, Alan?

When I control every truck that rolls in and out of this market, maybe that'll be

enough for me. But right now, Zach Pappas is in my way.

Now, the other truckers follow his lead. As long as he holds out, I've got

problems. So?

We get rid of Zach Pappas.

No Zach Pappas, no Independent Truckers Protective Association.

No trouble.

Right?

Stacy, what's your turn?

Al Tanner doesn't have a criminal record, but LEIU intelligence files are

crammed with entries on him as a close associate of Chicago mobsters who are

into jukeboxes, vending machines, loan sharking, that sort of thing.

What about that punk who just got released, the one with the gun, Morgan?

A little more solid on him. He has a flock of misdemeanors, five ADWs, and

he's done time twice behind commercial burglaries.

Stacy.

Ask intelligence if they'll dig a little deeper into Tana's activities in the

market. It hasn't been around that long.

I'd like to know how he got started in the market in the first place.

Right.

Junior, Zach's been released from the hospital.

Let's go enlist his help in cooperation.

Start the work putting these dirt bags into jail. I'm right behind you,

partner.

Commissioner?

Going to do a little hunting?

Could be.

Come off it. You and I both know you're going to start your own vigilante

committee.

With what I'm up against, you got a better idea?

Yeah.

Tell me everything you know about Tanner and Sixto. Give me something I can get

my teeth in.

Then I'll put the law to work. That's what we're all about.

All right.

Start with Sam.

He owned the outfit before Tanner did.

Sixto. Yeah.

Sam was my boss.

Or my father.

A couple of years ago, Sam ran into a cash flow problem.

Tanner showed up with a big bundle.

Sam signed some papers, got his money.

Let me guess what happened next.

Tanner was associated with a loan sharking operation under Chicago.

Well, he imported it here, okay.

But suddenly, Sam's business went to hell. Trucks broke down, drivers quit.

All our regular customers went somewhere else. Sam couldn't pay, so he was out

and Tanner was in.

That's when the trouble stopped at the Six Star and started with us at

defendant records.

Didn't you do anything about it?

Sam did the same thing that you're asking me to do. He went to the D.A.

A couple of days later, he had an accident.

His truck went off the grapevine below Gorman. He couldn't get out of it.

You're telling me it wasn't an accident?

But I can't prove it, and the cops won't even try.

You say the law is the best way.

I tell you, baloney!

Where did you get Venus anyway?

We were supposed to deliver her to a guy in Spokane.

Nobody home.

The guy who shipped her split.

So she was ours.

She's part of the family now.

I can see that.

You know, my partner isn't getting anywhere with your dad.

He's pretty bitter.

He has a right to be.

Why don't you talk to him? He'll listen to you.

Get him to help us.

I did.

Dad says you cops just go through the motions.

Zach, I've started an investigation.

You started.

Everybody starts.

Nothing happens.

Don't tell me that.

Come on, Mary.

We'll do it at that insurance office. Got a sign of papers for the new rig.

After that last claim for the rotten lettuce they're trying to drop us.

You can thank Tanner for that one, too. Zach, give me some time to get some

proof behind the things you told me about Sam Schwartz.

Time? DA had time.

I can't deposit any of that in a bank or the insurance company.

He's mad as hell. I don't blame him.

But we've got to stop him.

I think maybe we have two allies, Hooker.

Venus and Mary.

Oh, Sergeant?

I just reviewed that intelligence report that you got on Mr. Tanner. It is filled

with unsupported allegations and innuendo. Oh, I'll get hard evidence on

Mr. Tanner.

The intelligence report gives me a place to start.

Mr. Tanner runs a legitimate business, and he's a responsible contributing

member of the community.

Now, that's the appearance. The intelligence report suggests that

there's smoke that clouds the contributing citizen image.

You're telling me you're going to try to destroy a man with information.

You know won't hold up in court? Commissioner, we're talking street crime

here.

Not private schools and sweet contributions to the music center.

Street crime and the victims of crime. I'm just trying to stop it.

Let's get something straight, Hooker.

I may be from a rich family on the right side of the tracks, but I worked my tail

off to get the attention of the mayor and the appointment to that commission.

I got there because of what I believe in.

Now, I'm not going to stand here and watch you harass a man those facts say

is innocent.

Will you listen for once?

The intelligence files are just one tool, just like the control holds, the

firearms, and I need that tool to start on Tanner. If I can prove something, he

goes to jail. Not until then.

But don't handcuff me and take away the tools of my trade.

I tried.

Where's Ernie?

He's got the flu.

Ah.

Now, what can I do for you?

Well, you can check the tires, top it up with number two diesel. The tab is under

Pappas. Zach Pappas.

Okay.

Zach!

Zachariah. That's tough.

Would you please listen to them?

Please? All right. Come on, Zach. Let's make it quick, will you? I got a load to

pick up. We got to get our lunch and get out of here. Well, I'm glad you have a

haul. Yeah, yeah. I've got a lot of things in the hopper, Zach. I want to

make you a proposition.

Hi.

Hey, you want to come up? All right, come on, come on. Let me help you up.

Let me help you up. All right. There you go, Venus. What a classy lady you are.

Oh. You missed me, huh?

Romano, I think it's love.

Well, she really moves fast, doesn't she?

Well, Venus does know we're leaving her here with Irene at the restaurant, so

she can get her shots in the morning.

I think maybe she sees you as protection against that terrible fate.

So we've got the CHP.

We're going to re-examine the wreck of Sam Strunk.

And the DA is going to start the process of subpoenaing Tanner's records.

There's more we got done.

So you do something for me.

Call off that meeting that's scheduled for tomorrow night.

Not on your life.

I need more than words, Hooker.

Words won't stop Tanner from putting us truckers out of business.

Show me he's in jail.

Then I'll call off the meeting.

Here, why don't I take this from you?

Now you be good for Irene, Venus.

Here you go, Venus.

Now that's better, Venus.

Do me one thing, will you? Check in with me when you get back.

And see where we are with the Tanner investigation.

All right, Hooker, I guess I owe you at least that much.

But if it's zipped the way I suspect, I am not going to call off that meeting.

I bet she is not going to like being left behind.

Romano finally got himself a girlfriend I approve of.

Uh-huh. Funny.

Something's bothering her. What's the matter, dollface?

Ernie!

Spin it out!

You think I should do what Hooker asked? Is that it?

I think you should give him a chance.

Maybe this is what the guy was up to.

This is a discharge valve out of a truck brake system.

Could it have come from Zack's truck?

It's gotta be.

Dad, the brakes!

What's wrong with the brakes?

We're losing pressure!

They're not working!

Keep pumping it, Mary!

It's getting worse!

Hang on, straighten her out!

I've lost the brakes!

Thank you.

The fire extinguisher and the jack!

Let's get him out of here fast.

Fast.

Don't lean on me, Al.

I did my job.

If the cops hadn't come along, Pappas and the girl would both be dead.

I didn't bring you all the way out here from Chicago for excuses, Vic.

I got Morgan here for that.

Bottom line is, Pappas is still alive.

And he might not make it. And he sure isn't going to be holding any meeting.

Well, no.

You're not very well tuned into the word on the street, Vic.

Pappas' daughter is pushing for an organizing meeting for tonight.

I do not want another Pappas in my way. I want a void. You understand?

Void.

Yeah.

You guys going into watch?

About an hour ago.

What are you still doing here?

Waiting for this. The lab sent it over, and I knew you'd been waiting for it.

The replacement part stuck to Zack and Mary's brake system. Modified to fail

under heavy downgrade pressure. Took a real pro to rig this.

Did they get a trace on this part?

It's from an international tractor, 1978.

A local junkyard.

We'll check that out first thing in the morning. Man, if only Mary had given us

something more than a vague description of the guy at the station, we'd have

something to go on.

I don't think we should give up on Mary.

I like the way you think, Julie.

Oh, Sergeant?

I've been reading your file. It explains a lot.

Four shootings, a dozen altercations, and three complaints about the excessive

use of force.

Investigated and exonerated.

Street police work does get you into that kind of thing. It's not the result.

It's the total.

This file tells me that you're a man quick to use violence.

It also tells me that you're the wrong man to be shaping minds of

impressionable recruits.

Hey, Commissioner.

You're not going to get any real answers out of that file or behind that desk.

Get out into the streets and take a taste before you judge me.

Or judge any of the issues, Commissioner.

I'm quite satisfied with what's in this file. Don't be.

We're fighting a war on crime out there. You can't quarterback it from an ivory

tower.

You're going to turn out cops so worried about being second-guessed they're going

to drive right past trouble. The result will be more crime and more victims of

crime. Sergeant, I am not satisfied that you're the right influence around here.

The question of your tenure at the police academy will be on the agenda of

the next meeting of the commission.

That's fine.

If I'm not the kind of cop you want, or expect me to turn out, you're welcome to

my badge and my job, because neither will be worth having.

We've been going on like this for hours.

I mean, some of us have wives and kids to think about, you know.

But that's what it's all about.

All of us have every nickel we've made invested in our rigs.

We have to protect what we've worked for, don't we?

Yes. But, Mary, we can't go on fighting Tanner and Six Star. We'll lose

everything. Me and Mac are gonna try to make a deal with Tanner while we've

still got something to deal for.

You've got a $100,000 rig that's burned out junk.

Zach is touch and go in the hospital. Now, if he can't cut it, well, we sure

can't. Look, Mary, it's either time we got into bed with Tanner or moved on.

I mean, the cops are just standing around with their thumbs stuck in their

ears.

Tell Zach we're pulling for him, all right?

It's nothing personal.

Good for you, Romano.

All right, Mary.

Now just try to remember what he looks like.

All you have to do is draw something.

Try it.

I know you can do it, Mary.

Close your eyes.

Now, it's not hypnosis. It's just a relaxation technique.

Let your mind float.

Back.

Back.

Think about what happened.

See it.

You're getting out of the truck.

There.

In front of you, the man at the gas station.

Just draw anything.

Start a face.

Close your eyes again. Come on.

Look at his face.

Remember his eyes.

Just rough it out.

Don't force it, just let it happen.

It's him, Vince.

It's him. I knew you could do it. Look at that. That is terrific.

You're terrific.

You know that?

Absolutely.

Wonderfully.

The wire copy of Mary's drawings paid off, Hooker.

Chicago recognized him and made him on the fingerprints you guys found on the

brake part.

His name is Vic Keller, and he connects as an associate of guess who?

Al Tanner.

What do we know about Mr. Keller's background?

Felony criminal record, assaults, loan shark muscle, and he's a truck mechanic.

That kind of explains the expertise needed to sabotage Zach's truck, doesn't

it? You got it, Stacy.

Well, Junior?

Let's get to the wrecking yard and show Mr. Kemper's pictures around.

I've never seen it before.

What about this guy?

Never seen him before?

No. What about these two?

No, neither one of them. The devil's gonna get you for lying, Lenny. What do

you want from me? I'm giving it to you straight. Now, you listen to me. This

brake part came from that truck over there.

And it's in your junkyard.

And I want to know who you sold it to.

And you've got two seconds to lay it on me.

Or I'll have every pound of junk in this yard checked against the stolen files.

Now, you want to try that and Terminal Island, or you want to take another look

at these?

This guy here.

I sold him the part like this about a year ago.

And this one here last week.

Two down.

And number one to go.

Mr. Ten.

Have a good trip.

Drive carefully.

Mary had to break your lunch date, Romano.

She got a rush call to haul a load for the Bassett brothers in Pasadena. She

said to say sorry.

Oh, me too.

But I am glad she got the work. They really need the money.

She said she'd call you the minute she got back. Great.

Say, I hear you guys really stirred things up over attempts.

We've been showing mud shots of Keller all over the street.

Special emphasis at Tanner's.

Maybe we can flush out a rabbit.

Nail a hooker.

For all of us.

It's catching on.

For Adam 30, for Adam 30, Commissioner Cook wants you to meet her at Six Star

Trucking Company immediately.

Handle code to... Roger.

Looks like our push is getting some action.

Maybe you have that in mind.

Commissioner. Sergeant Hooker.

Mr. Tanner called saying he intended to sue the department for your unwarranted

harassment.

I thought maybe you'd like to come down here and help straighten things out.

That's just fine with me. I've been down three times to talk to Mr. Tanner about

Mr. Keller and his employee, Don Morgan, who I am going to arrest.

He hasn't been available until now.

I told you this was a waste of time.

I'm going to call my lawyer.

Morgan, you're under arrest.

Commissioner. Sergeant Hooker.

I have proof that you bought the brake part that put Zach Pappas in the

hospital. Hooker, look at the dispatch board.

Tanner does a lot of business with Bassett Brothers.

The Bassett Brothers are one of your best customers. How come Harry Pappas

got so lucky?

I don't have to listen to this. Stay put, Tanner.

Commissioner. Go on, Sergeant.

We're also re-examining the wreck of Sam Schwartz's truck. Funny how the brakes

failed on that one, too.

only this time we won't miss x-rays mental stress analysis the whole thing

before adam 30 requesting backup at six star warehouse

you bought the brake part of that truck too and

mr keller here planted both trucks

Was it all your idea, Morgan?

Gonna ride this one alone?

Keep your mouth shut.

Come on, Morgan.

I'm not taking a fall for you, Mr. Tanner.

I only did what he told me to do.

Give me a break.

I'll tell you whatever you want to know.

Shut up, you fool.

Let's start with the Bassett brothers.

Tanner told me to have the Bassett brothers call Mary Pappas about a job.

What for?

So Keller could get to her and kill her.

Get down.

Put it down, Tanner. You haven't got a prayer.

You're gonna have one dead commissioner if you don't get out of my way.

You gonna shoot, Tanner?

I don't think so.

You haven't got the guts to do your own dirty work.

I'll kill this lady, I swear.

No.

Watch me, Tanner.

Very carefully.

This is called police discretion.

And I'm exercising it.

If that lady is hurt, you're dead.

You don't put the gun down in two seconds, you're dead.

Your choice now.

Take over.

We got to get to Marion Warner.

Hooker, how about another taste of the streets so I can make some better

judgment calls?

Pile in, Commissioner.

Hey! 4 Adam 30, 4 Adam 30, Bassett Brothers Dispatch. Reports Mary Pappas

two miles out on the Sierra Highway.

Alert CHP that we're on the highway moving code 3.

Push it, Jimmy.

Simmer her down or she's one dead punk.

Dave, you can stay.

Pull over and stop.

Thank you.

on the long side.

I'll say one thing, Romano.

You sure don't give up easy.

It goes with the territory.

Some territory.

Venus.

It's my heroine.

I hope you like it.

75 years old.

Piece of law enforcement history.

It's what I'm studying.

And if you have some time, I'd like to hook up with a good teacher.

You and me working together?

I think we can learn from each other.

All the issues?

Who knows? It might work out.

I might even be able to bend a little.

I'm sorry, Commissioner. There are some recruits that are born to use the choco.

Venus, for example.

We just wanted to say thank you and goodbye.

We'll be back in six months.

Our agent got us work all over the country.

I'll miss you, Vince.

I'll miss you too, Mary.

What's bothering Venus?

I think she's insulted. The Romano has to say goodbye to her.

Oh, Venus.

I'll miss you, too.

I'm not sure she believes you mean it. Hey, Dolphins.

Come on. You know how I feel. You and me.

Like Fay Wray in King Kong.

Tarzan and Cheetah?

Elliot and E.T.? Well?

How about Clint Eastwood and Clyde?

Well, what do you know? A happy ending.