Original subtitles

Tonight on Spencer for hire

That won't give another brown child to the man. I want him on

Look, I'm looking for him and you gotta help me.

He's the only witness who can identify these killers.

I just wanted to be like you, right? A scared little boy.

Get more trouble than you ever dreamed. Ah! Ah!

How do you forget two dead people, Bobby? Can you do that? Back home, Mr. Spencer.

I see trouble brewing. Ah!

It constantly amazes me how quickly things can go south on you.

Today, I'd started out great, warm, flawless weather,

an invitation to a candlelit dinner at Susan's. I even had a job.

And sure enough, that's where things started going downhill.

Someone had stolen my client's car, and I'd been getting an all-day runaround trying

to ID the thief. Hard to believe of someone as mellow as me,

but by late afternoon, I was running out of patience.

I need a name, Leo.

Why don't you go take a big flying leap, huh?

One more time, Lene. You don't come here to my place.

I'm already in your place, Leo. You want me to get out of your place?

Give me the name.

Tommy Merrins! Tommy Merrin's.

wasn't so tough, was it?

Spencer!

You're dead! You hear me? Both of you!

I know in an hour!

You hear me? Nowhere to hide! You're nothing!

Nothing! You hear? Nothing! Nothing!!

You like what you hear? Got the name. Face closed. Let him scream.

Yeah, little man, scream all right.

About sending men lurking around and looking for a chance.

Looking for a change to pop us. I mean, do you dig looking over your shoulder?

One more guy threatening me. It doesn't make any difference. It doesn' mean.

My way, Spencer. I've been doing it on the streets a long time, my way.

Leo is my business.

I'm telling you, he doesn't even know 12 men.

It's all bluff. Now, let it drop.

Look here, Superman. When it comes time to be my business,

I don't need you telling me how to do it.

I kept telling the intern at the emergency room that I was late for a dinner date.

He said he'd stitched my leg as fast as he could.

Three and a half hours later I limped into Susan's.

Guess speed wasn't the dark strong point.

It's been so...

Again.

How many words are this time?

10.

Maybe 20.

I quit counting.

Ugh.

Actually, there was only one, but it was real big.

Hey!

How come you so low? You got the night off or something?

Talk sense or stop talking, man. You know what I'm talking about?

Man with the leash. Your train up. Spin's up. Go home, man!

Come on, Hulk, tell me. The man is your right hand.

is that your wife can't.

Oh!

Go home, man.

when he's like that. Whatever he's on ain't nothing I said. Oh, brother, that bad.

Now, you know, if a cat like that come in here messing with you,

he must be on some kind of death wish. Hey, Hawk, what you doing? I want a bottle.

How'd you get in there? Only I did.

and the tent spot at the door, man, can go anywhere. You know that?

Past your bedtime. No, the lights go out at 10 o'clock by 10.15.

I'm going right out the window, man. As long as I get back by 7 o' more morning,

everything is good. Mm.

This is nice, ain't it?

with me, you hanging out in the same club. Come on, let me get you just one drink.

I don't think so.

Well, alright. I gotta get back to my friends.

Stay cool, honey.

I know what it is.

Your connection? Hey, man, would you be quiet? You look at him, you say that.

Who is he? That's Hawk. Hawk? Not just that, Hawk, you gotta hear a problem.

I just wanna know if it's his first name or his last name.

It's just hot, man. How do you know? I know because I was a kid.

Bobby. Hey.

Friends who want to do business? Yeah. This is Jack. This is Larry.

This is Mr. Monroe. And this is Mr Harris.

I mean it. It was a great entrance. The limp, the bandage, the half-pain smile.

I thought I looked sort of cute with that particular smile. Cute I'll give you.

I'll also give you headstrong, somewhat overly aggressive, and accident-prone.

I never claim to be normal. Don't I know it. That's what you love about me.

Sense of mystery. A hint of danger. I know, Dalfa Fella.

deep psychological need in you. Oh! Ow! Oh, Spencer. I'll be fine.

The doctor said I'll find it in a couple of days.

But I'll bet my recovery come along much quicker

if you stuck around and nursed me all day. I have some other. Children who need me.

That's cute as me. Not nearly. You could use some supervision yourself. Mm-hmm.

How did that happen anyway? I was talking when I should have been listening.

Here I am listening when I ought to be moving.

The busy, busy world of Miss S. Silverman. Soon to be Dr. S. silverman. Ph.D.

Private counseling. And, uh, Pride Center in ten minutes. Miss me through all this?

No.

I only missed you when I thought you weren't part of my life anymore.

Well, I am again.

I'll have more time when the regular assistant

at Pride Center gets back from vacation.

Been tough, huh?

Different.

It's been a while since I did any inner city work.

You know, all those years in Smithfield with all those nice upper middle class kids,

now filling in at Pride Center no matter how much I've studied,

reading about it in textbooks just isn't the same thing.

Like a lot of things in life. Yeah.

This looks great, but I just don't have the time. But I worked enslaved.

Well, they're lucky to have you. I mean, even if it's just for a little while.

Well, if you'd like to have me, even if it just for little while, I am

available for lunch at 1.30. Done.

My treat.

to make up for last night.

Thanks, huh? You know, I'm blessed. I got all the moves.

What's about your moves last night? Friends of yours?

Well, they just some cats I'm hanging with. You know how it is. Talk to them.

Business associates. What kind of business? Hey, y'all.

What's going on? Why are you so interested? You want in? What I want is you out.

Oh, come on, man. Don't care about that. Out, Bobby.

The starters at Night Club Playground

and yours is going to start to be off limits to mine, as at least in your case.

Bobby!

What are you doing, man? What you doing? Look, man. Why don't you get out of here?

Are you out of your mind, Gray?

I know who that was, man. No, but I know the type.

Come on inside.

Come on.

I'm sure you played the best.

Let's go!

That's fine.

You know, Bobby, it'd be one thing if you was stupid.

But I know you have the smarts and the talent.

I know a half a dozen colleges you can get a scholarship to.

Why are we on the college thing, man? I told you I'm going to school.

Get off my back. Why are you trying so hard to screw it up for yourself?

How am I trying to screw up? Tell me how. You think I don't hear stories?

Stories about who you're running with? Running?

When do I get a chance to do any kind of running, man.

You got me locked in there all day. Got everybody fooled, huh, Bobby?

Yeah, I got everybody fooled. For God's sakes, I know your sneaking out of here

every night.

What am I gonna do with you, Bobby?

Call the cops, lock you in.

You just gotta come from you, Bobby. Not me.

I'll see you later.

Let her go, Greg.

You pack quite a punch, you know that.

Look, I'd like to talk to you later.

We'll start fresh. No hard feelings. Okay?

Okay.

Okay.

Ooh, you better get some ice on that bruise.

Yeah.

Thank you very much.

So help with the swelling.

Do you notice a pattern here?

Like? Every time we get together for a meal lately,

one of us shows up freshly wounded. Yeah, lifestyles are the rich and clumsy.

So what was it, a locker room door? Water fountain, maybe? A fist. A fist?

What are you into down there? Full contact there? Ha ha ha.

Two teenage girls were fighting in the hall, and I stepped in.

They're dealing with a chun again? Uh huh.

We're going to have to get you a striped shirt and a whistle. Or a whip in a chair.

I talked to the girl who hit me later.

She's a child herself, and she has a two-year-old baby at home.

She also thinks she's pregnant again. You know what she's worried about?

Whether she'll be eligible for more welfare with a second baby.

Godspend's are sometimes so tough to watch these kids.

Stuck in place, making the same mistakes over and over.

We're going to have to get you four to five from the top work ahead.

After lunch, maybe a refresher course on how to bobbin' weed might be in order.

This is supposed to make up for the cocoa van you ruined last night?

Hey, we're talking about the third best chowder in the Commonwealth.

Which by the looks of your lip is about all you could handle. Two, please.

Wait a minute. This is only the third-best chowdour. What's first and second?

Well, honestly, I put my recipe second. And the best? Ah, the best.

A very well-kept secret.

So you take 133 through Boxworth, then the Georgetown,

we get the Raleigh, hang it right on 1A. Now you go through a F switch,

and you go in through an Essex, and then at 128 you hang it left on your way to G.

15 minutes is up.

Where are they? Just be cool, man. Relax. They're going to be here.

Oh, there they go. There they go, all right.

Thank you.

You got the goods?

Yeah. You count. We check.

You.

Take a walk. Hey, don't tell me to take a walk, I set this deal up, alright?

You're a messenger, boy. You're not needed anymore.

5,000.

Welcome to the big time.

great not.

Sugar!

Okay, deal's off. Let's have the dough back.

Hey, like I said, this is a big time, stud.

The deal has gone down. The money is ours now.

I want you hopping your German car, go home

and tell Daddy how you just blew five grand.

Give me my money.

All right.

What are you doing? The kid knows us. Yeah. He saw the whole thing.

You know, all these other suckers are going to see us if you chase them now.

We'll nail them later on.

Susan's work at Pride Center had suddenly escalated

from fist fights in the halls to one of their kids being involved in murder.

She wanted me to talk to the director of the center.

You sure it was Bobby Waters? Yeah, it did be.

His description matches the information police got from witnesses in the park.

And he's been missing at home for over 24 hours.

Does he have a drug-related history? No, but, well, I've been picking up rumors

from some of the other kids. Talk about Bobby pulling something, something that

was going to make him big money. Double homicide during a drug deal.

He hardly sounds like a boy scout. The truth is, Spencer, none of the kids

we work with are boy scouts, not even close.

Most of them probably won't escape their environment.

But Bobby, well, he has a chance. He's very bright. Could be a terrific student.

But that's not fast enough for him. It happens to these kids, Spencer. So easy.

They look around to the police.

decide there's money and status and drugs,

property, prostitution, any sort of crime.

I'm not saying he's not in on this. Looks like he is for sure. But I've had him

in pride center since his mom died, about five years, and he's never been in

trouble before. He took a while step, Spencer, without thinking about the

consequences. Now he's in big trouble.

He's the only witness who can identify these killers.

He's hiding somewhere, and if the police don't find him first... The shooters will.

I'll find it.

Damn.

Oh, I've been shot.

Thank you.

Oh, I guess the kid is down now. You a chump, Bobby. Playing for chump change.

Oh, you gotta get me out of here. You gotta help me, man.

Oh, oh, come look at for me. You gotta get out of town. Send me up somewhere.

Oh, come to me for help. You do what I say.

And the only place you headed for is a doctor.

What else is on your desk, Frank? This kid. What's his name? Bobby Waters.

Well, he's the one who hoped we got an ale these guys. We don't get after him first.

You can take this case, put a sail on it, blow it right out to sea.

Pardon me, gentlemen. I didn't mean to overhear, but I was eavesdropping.

Not now, Spencer. But you're talking about Bobby Waters, aren't you?

What's Waters to you? I'm looking for him.

And so is Sergeant Belchin, aren' t you, Frank. Oh, yeah, sure. Right, Marty.

You care to share what you got on him? Not now Spencer. You already said that.

He's in a fine mood. A couple of middle class kids from the suburbs

get popped downtown. Everybody catches the heat. No word on Bobby yet.

Zip, nothing on the APB.

What about hold back information? It's definitely not given the media.

It's pretty much all out there, except those checking the EIs. Emergency rooms.

I got a witness as he saw the kid take a slug before he got away.

Thanks.

There are a lot of places in town where you could go to get patched up on the slide.

I knew them all. Because I used them all! Dr. Ray was number two on my list.

She runs a free clinic in Back Bay in Moonlight's little help pay the bills.

So while

Belson was gambling on the hospitals, I hit the jackpot.

A boy matching Bobby's description was treated that very morning.

And he had had a very interesting ambulance driver.

Spencer.

Wonderful day, isn't it? Yeah, for sun lovers and for the tan I so desperately need.

How are you and Susan being? Better every day. Sound like a Lionel Richie song,

so won't you drag me out here in the middle of a heat wave of fire.

I'm looking for somebody. I need your help. Talk to me. Bobby Waters.

Cannot help you. You got him. I repeat, will not help you. Yeah, and why is that?

He's a homeboy, Spencer, and a child. He's also the only witness to a double murder.

I see he doesn't get ahead. How are you going to do that?

Get him out of town, set him up in some new city?

You think these shooters can't find him someplace else?

Shooters can get put out of business. Sure they can.

So meanwhile, your kid gets himself into some new trouble.

You can't protect him because you're not there this time.

Maybe you start him running.

Maybe you set him up in a life that nobody wants for him.

Let me take him in while I still got a chance.

Damn, Spencer, you always got all answers. Maybe you don't have the right questions.

Did a man ever die in police protection? Don't give me that.

More of him dying the streets. Mm-hmm.

So as opposed, he makes it all the way through court.

Goals to jail.

Question, what happens when he gets out?

Now, you got a born to die loser with no job, no money, and no hope.

You want to destroy the boy, Spencer? Lock him up. I want to save him.

I'm not here looking to earn some merit, Batch, for citizenship.

I've been back to back with you lots of times.

On the other side of the law, I'd do it again

if I thought I would save the boy, but it won't. Not this time.

I'm going to give another brown child to the man.

One in Hawk.

Back off, Spencer. I can't. You mean you won't? No, I won't.

I see trouble brewing.

I see trouble brewing.

school always having to memorize my Latin lessons. One line I never forgot was,

the friend is as it were, a second self. Well if old Marcus

Terileo Cicero was

right and Hawk and I were that similar, finding Bobby was not going to be easy.

Relax.

He'll come home.

And what if he doesn't?

But that'll be time for a little social work on our own.

Someone's gotta know where he is.

Yo, where you going now?

What are you doing, man?

I come to you for help, and you leave me sitting

here like a rat in a hole going out of my mind.

Rats free to go anytime you please.

Well, maybe I will, because I'm gonna get a thing.

You can't do nothing.

I can take care of myself better than you.

Well, you can't, so why don't you just shut up?

Don't talk to me like that, man. I'm just as good as you are.

Like what, huh, Bobby? You're a man now.

You done cut a deal swapping cocaine for money and you all growed up.

This ain't no picture show you win. This is it, the real deal.

Mm.

You didn't call yourself a bullet, and you talking fat, and

you strutting and you proud. Thank you.

You know what I hear.

A little boy.

thinking about two other boys dead.

A scared little boy in more trouble than you ever dreamed.

Hey, look, I just wanted your help. That's all, all right? Be still and listen.

You got the Boston police looking for you. You got two killers looking for.

And we got a man, a relentless man looking for both of us.

And sooner or later, we got to tangle.

I just wanted to be like you, man. You are not.

Well, you was in a bind once, right? When you was my age? Yeah. And what happened?

You just walked away, Scott, three clean? I was blessed. What do you mean, blessed?

I went to somebody and I listened.

Who?

My daddy.

That sounds good, Mac. Too good for here.

Yeah.

They were all booked up at Symphony Hall tonight.

In this business, you take what you can get and consider yourself lucky.

You going away from home, huh? Makes two of us. Yeah, been a while. Leo's funeral.

Bad years, three months.

But that'll make no difference now. That's over with, right? Not

yet. How's that?

You got some unfinished business needs tending to. Been too long already.

My boy. Yeah, boy. Got him some man-sized trouble.

Caught a 38 bullet in the shoulder from some dudes that loved to finish it.

Hulk, is he OK? He's going to be fine as long as he gets out of town.

Look, I got some money put up. about $2,000. You can give it to him.

Name, name, name. Money can't change at this time.

He needs some hands-on adult supervision. Boy, he had his chance, Hulk.

Coulda come when Leo died. He said no.

I can't blame him if he feels he doesn't have a father.

About time for you to change his perception. Don't you think I want to?

I have always wanted to.

Thought about it every minute I was on the road when he was little.

Then I got home, things get a little better, had to go back out again.

Leave Bobby and Leo.

Divorced took care of all that hawk. If Leo's not around, they'll take up the slack.

Let's take her to the hoop, Mac. How long are you going to blame the road?

I don't know Hulk.

I don't know if I can do it. If?

A luxury black man can afford.

up that axe we got a plane to catch.

Hey, you're a hawk. I hope you bought some burgers, because I'm stuck.

Hey, what the hell are you?

Spencer maybe I told you about him.

Did he

send you? Did he tell you to come over here? Nope.

You some kind of cop with them. Private.

Greg Bronson, I miss.

Look, tell Greg I'm through with the Pride House now, all right?

I'm gonna get my stuff, as soon as I get a chance, I'm out of here.

Yeah, well, I can see where you want to get out of here all right.

But where you going, Bobby?

Well, I don't know just yet, but Hawkins gonna take care of all of that.

I know one thing. I ain't going to jail and I can't stay here. Yeah.

Let me ask you a question. Those two guys in the park, they scary?

Damn straight they scared me. Good. At least we've established you're not stupid.

Hey look, you don't KNOW them dudes, alright? No. But you do.

No, you better forget it, man. Forget it.

How? How do you forget two dead people, Bobby? Can you do that?

All right. It happened. And it bothered me.

But if I open my mouth, that's one more dead person, me.

Well, if you don't, a lot more are going to be dead. These men will kill again.

Well, that your problem. No, no, no. No, you see, it's not my problem.

And you can't run away from it.

You got yourself into this, you got to get yourself out. Let me tell you something.

You come in here talking, this garbage, Hawke's going to get you. Oh, yeah.

Hawke is going to solve the whole thing. That's right.

He is a man worthy of your respect. But you don' t even see it.

All you see is a big shiny gun, a fancy car, and fine clothes.

Too bad, Bobby.

You don't even know, Hawk. But you do.

Hey, Hulk, man, this guy can't make me talk all this. No time for talk, Bobby.

On your way now, Mac. Come on, son.

Hey!

Bye.

Ugh!

Thank you.

Where are we going? Back to my hotel, then it's on the floor,

the first thing in the morning.

Well, when's Hogg going to meet us? He's not. What? The end of the line for him.

Right there.

Hands behind your back. Come on.

You got family down in Orlando's about the time you met.

Get your car out of the road! Hey! Hey, move it!

Greg.

great.

Boston Police 9-1-1, Operator 4977, your call is being recorded.

Yeah, okay. I need an ambulance to 233 South Brockton.

Right away, my man is... he's beat up real bad. What is your name, please?

Just hurry, okay?

Love you.

Greg, I swear, I, I sware Greg, I never thought people were gonna come for you.

message for you.

I was gonna ask you. I was going to take this.

But I don't need it now. I was gonna ask you for it, but you take it. You take it?

I'm gonna take care of everything.

You're gonna be alright, okay? Bobby, listen to me.

Okay, let's go.

Susan made you bail. Come on, you two. For both of you.

Come on Spencer.

I give my eye teeth to have a camera right now.

Sign it.

You too, tough guy.

I'll straighten. Hawk.

Forget it, Seuss. A reconcilable difference.

You don't understand. I just came from the hospital.

Greg was beaten by the men who were after Bobby. Bobby's gone. Hawk's out of that.

Spencer, Bobby was the one who found Greg a half an hour ago.

Where did he go? He just took off. He said he was going to find the guys who did it

and take care of things himself.

Fire!

Hey, huh.

Bobby's gone. No, he's not. He's with his daddy. He was.

He's out looking for the guys who set him up.

I'm still listening. You found Greg Bronson beat up. He swore he'd settle the score.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. We need wheels.

I ain't interested in his credit.

Spencer, I see you brought your stooge with you. I got some business to discuss.

Oh, that's good. Letting your slave speak first. You idiot.

The only reason you're still breathing is because I got to you first.

But don't push your luck. You know what, Ned? You

were a piece of land.

One day, I'm going to flick you off this planet. What do you want?

The names of your suppliers. Don't know what you're talking about.

Uh-oh.

Your luck just ran out.

Oh! Oh! Talking about them bad dudes at the club. You know the ones.

The ones you were talking to before you came over to me

and made up fool of yourself. Those are some bad dudes, Hawk.

Ain't nobody deals with them if they don't have to. They crazy.

They just as soon kill you, look at you.

Why don't you look at me, and then you give me those names and addresses, huh?

The crack houses, shooting galleries.

The latest blight brought to the city by the drug trade.

Places kept floating, always on the move.

We found the one we wanted, though.

Hard as it was for Ned to speak with Hawke's hand

around his throat, he finally croaked out the address.

To jumbo, my friend, got to rock and roll.

You got the wrong house, man.

Maybe if we asked him politely.

Get back!

What, you saw that?

I didn't.

Who do you call?

What?

I didn't call anybody. I doubt you did. Got that right. BAM! BAM!!

I don't suppose you'd like to tell me what you and Mount Bally are doing here.

Hey, that's my line. Who sent for the cavalry?

That murder witness. He came in, he gave a statement, and we rolled. Bobby?

The elusive Mr. Waters.

trial set in three weeks. He'll be

in juvenile till then. What do you think?

He's admitted his part in the drug deal. So it's a guilty play.

And probably a jail sentence. Hopefully, sure.

They'll ask for leniency because of his testimony against the pushes.

I think you'd get it. Seems how he cooperated and turned himself in.

What then for Bobby? He's welcome back at Pride Center, of course.

But for the first time in a long time, Bobby has a choice. Yeah.

Good choice.

How's the shoulder? It's a little tight. Uh, look, I gotta go. Yeah, yeah, I know.

But see, Bobby, I'm going to be around after this is over.

I'm thinking about giving up the road.

I'm getting too old for multi-off-food, you know?

I think we should

give this a try together.

Why?

boy.

Be with me.

Thank you.

I'm gonna think about that.

That's right.

I see we got three choices.

We can talk, we can fight, we can keep on keeping our distance. Pick one.

You and me crossed swords before in the past. Yeah, once or twice for sure.

Maybe once or two times too many. Don't know about that.

Ain't nothing wrong with having different ways of doing things.

Man got to take pride in knowing he would get his business done his way. Pride.

Got a lot to do with this, doesn't it? Man, not proud. Man, it's not worth knowing.

Amen.

Family, lovers, friends.

The ways never smooth at all times.

Yet after differences, the healing can bring much.

a deepening of care and respect as it had now.

With Hawk, truly a deadly enemy or a noble friend.