Original subtitles

Is that why you did it?

The ET made me do it.

I believe Jodi's telling the truth.

Mrs. Hendricks, has she ever talked to you about her own ET?

Who, David?

They were here.

They're coming back tonight to take me with 'em!

- Jodi, listen to me. - I want to go.

You're not gonna take her!

Leave her alone!

'15 Mary 6 and 7 H 50.'

'How goes it, night owl?'

'Dark and boring, H 50.'

How long you think we'll be stuck out here?

Who knows?

I kind of like the boondocks.

Peace and quiet.

I don't mind the peace and quiet.

But this night work is wrecking my social life.

No kidding.

I didn't know you had one.

Very funny!

Ponch, do you think Getraer's sticking us out here

had anything to do with my bike scratching his car?

Of course not, Bobby. It was an accident.

Sergeant would never let a little thing

like that influence his decisions.

Hey, you! Stop!

Kid?

I couldn't get anywhere with her.

Not even her name.

We appreciate you coming in early, Kathy.

No problem. What is she?

Eleven, twelve years old?

How could she pull a burglary like that?

You should have seen her drive that car.

Man, she was flying!

What about that clay stuff she used?

It's been sent over to the lab.

I've never seen anything like it.

I feel sorry for that kid.

I wish there was something we could do.

You don't have a lot of choices.

Without an ID, you can't locate her parents.

She'll have to be sent to juvenile hall.

Well, I'm going to give it one more try.

You're wasting your time.

You never waste time on a kid.

How you feeling?

Your head still hurt?

Hey, I know you're tired.

And maybe a little scared.

But if you don't talk to me, you're gonna have to talk

to them down in juvenile hall.

Believe me, that's no picnic.

I don't care what happens to me.

What about your mom and dad? Don't you think they care?

I don't have a father.

Then let's talk about your mother.

There's nothing to talk about.

She's busy with her own life.

She doesn't have any time for some dumb kid.

Is that why you did it?

No.

But if I told you the truth you wouldn't believe me.

Try me.

The ET made me do it.

The ET?

I told you you wouldn't believe me.

'Hey, now, wait a minute. I didn't say that.'

You just caught me by surprise, that's all.

Now, when you say ET

is that like an extraterrestrial

from outer space?

If you're gonna make fun of me

then just go away and leave me alone!

Hey, I'm not makin' fun of you.

I really want to hear your story.

I mean it.

Last night..

...I'm not sure what time it was.

I guess around midnight.

I was asleep when

a cold wind woke me.

I felt like something was pulling at me.

I got up and went to the window.

Alright.

I don't understand.

How can Ihelp you?

You need diamonds to fix your communications system?

Well, I'd like to help, but I don't have any.

Well, I don't know. That'd be stealing.

And then you could get back?

I bet someone loves you and misses you.

I'll help you.

I told you you wouldn't believe me.

You got to admit that's one heck of a story to swallow.

But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now.

I'm sorry, I got so angry.

It's just that, it's important that someone believes me.

Yeah. I know the feeling.

My name is Poncherello.

My friends call me Ponch.

Will you be my friend?

My name's Jodi. Jodi Hendricks.

Pleased to meet you, Jodi.

You know, you're quite a driver for a little kid.

We've got an old pickup on the ranch.

I've been driving it for almost a year.

Who taught you to hot

I picked it up.

Um, why don't we call your mother?

Let her know you're okay.

Do I have to go to jail?

Hey, Jodi, you and me are friends.

We'll see this thing through together, okay?

Why are you doing this for me?

You have a tough time trusting anyone.

Don't you?

Maybe I'm doing it because I know what it's like

to be scared and lonely.

Come on.

Man, there is nothing like a good night's sleep

to start a man off in the right frame of mind.

Hey, did I ever tell you I had this friend

who loved the dogwatch?

That Cocker Spaniel had the prettiest blue eyes.

Hey! Come on.

You think you can stay awake long enough to drive home?

I think so.

You sure it wasn't a Chihuahua?

'Hey, maybe it was.'

Grossy, you put this in my locker?

- Chain letter.

You're kidding.

"Send it on and great things will happen to you."

And if you don't, well..

...I don't even want to think of the consequences.

Remind me to file that letter in the wastebasket.

'Okay, but it's your neck.'

Getraer wouldn't pass it on either.

And look what happened to him.

What happened to him?

Somebody dropped a bike on his new car!

Junk mail.

More junk mail.

- Nothing, but junk mail. - Ah, gentlemen.

I think you'd like to know

that Mrs. Hendricks just picked Jodi up.

Good.

So...how are my knights of darkness doing?

You know, I remember about 15, 16 years ago

when I was on the graveyard shift.

It certainly gives one an opportunity

to contemplate one's errorsin life.

Doesn't it?

Did you want something, Frank?

Well, uh, I just don't know how to put this.

Uh, look, Frank, I'm very busy.

Do you want to talk about it tomorrow?

- Yeah. - Okay.

Uh, no!

Well, it's like this.

You shifting us to graveyard out in the boonies--

Yeah?

Well, that didn't have anything to do

with, uh, Hot Dog scratching your car, did it?

Oh, Frank.

I mean, that hurts.

Uh, do you honestly think

I'm capable of something so..

...so mean and petty?

No, no, no. Of course not.

Sergeant, that was a really dumb question.

Just forget I said it, okay?

Uh-huh, Frank.

Uh..

Frank, come here.

Frank, um, that was a new car.

My very first new car.

Now, if that ever happens again

you and Nelson are going to find yourselves

so far out in the boonies..

...you're gonna have to take a helicopter to work.

What'd I tell you, Eddie? Boy, cherry blossom lane.

Well, Pete, I just don't know how you figure out

where they're gonna be!

Hey, there. There. That's what we've been waiting for.

It's cherry pickin' time.

Are you alright in there?

Hi, Jodi.

Hi.

You come to arrest me?

No. Came by to talk to your mother.

You came to see what a liar I am.

Hey, now, if I thought you were a liar

I wouldn't waste my time comin' here.

I'm sorry. Come on in.

I'll get my mom.

'Hello?'

'How do you do, Mrs. Hendricks?'

I'm Officer Frank Poncherello.

This is my partner, Bobby Nelson.

Uh, why don't you go outside, Jodi

I want to talk to the officers alone.

Go on.

Would you like some coffee or something?

No, thank you. Uh..

We have a few questions we'd like to ask you.

Sure. Go right ahead.

- Have a seat. - Yes, thank you.

Mrs. Hendricks, uh..

Who taught Jodi how to drive a car?

I taught her.

Um, it was just to haul

feed around the ranch and-and run to town

you know, some errands. Uh..

How did she learn how to hot

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

Mrs. Hendricks, we're not the enemy.

All we're concerned about is Jodi.

What was an 11-year-old girl

doing out alone at three o'clock in the morning?

I didn't know she was out.

I-I was out..

...pretty late and, um, I-I didn't check on her

when I came home.

Look, it's not easy being a mother

and a father to a child.

Especially a little girl like Jodi.

Oh, I don't know. She seemed like a pretty good kid to me.

It's not that she's bad.

Uh...it's just that..

It's just..

After her dad split, uh..

...she kept to herself pretty much.

And...she watches a lot of television

reads books.

She goes to the movies a lot.

She's seen that ET movie over four times!

Mrs. Hendricks, has she ever talked to you about her own ET?

That's the name of her-her current imaginary friend.

How much trouble is she really in?

The charges against her are very serious.

You could be facing charges, too

Mrs. Hendricks.

What charges?

Contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

It'll be up to the courts.

But Jodi could be removed from your home

and placed under some kind of supervisory care.

Well, maybe that would be, um..

Maybe, that would be better for the both of us.

Hi, Bobby.

- Hi, Ponch. - Hi, kitten.

You must be the officers Jodi has told me about.

- They're my friends. - You bet we are, baby.

Where's your mom?

She stepped out right before the proceedings began.

'She never came back.'

Do you have any idea where she went?

I see Mrs. Hendricks has not returned.

No, Your Honor, I'm afraid she hasn't.

Jodi, I'm sorry

but...until we can find your mother

I have no choice but to remand you

'to the custody of juvenile hall..'

...until the disposition of your case.

Your Honor?

May I approach the bench?

You have some interest in this case?

Yes, sir. My name is Poncherello.

I'm one of the arresting officers.

He's taken a personal interest in Jodi, Your Honor.

Alright, officer. What is it you wish to say?

Well, Your Honor, uh..

...would it be possible for the court to..

...give me temporary custody of Jodi?

What do you say about that, young lady?

I think it'd be super!

Ms. Caulder?

I'm not sure, Your Honor.

Are you aware of the responsibility

you're taking on yourself?

Yes, ma'am, I believe so.

How do you intend to look after Jodi when you're working?

He has a lot of friends.

That's right, Your Honor.

And I guarantee you, she won't be left alone.

Ms. Caulder?

Considering the alternatives, Your Honor..

...I think it's an excellent idea.

Alright, officer, I hereby remand Jodi Hendricks

'into your custody.'

Thank you, Your Honor.

Are you sure you don't mind me taking over your bedroom?

No, I don't mind.

Actually, I prefer to sleep on the sofa.

The only reason I use the bedroom is because it's here.

I think we got enough stuff

from your house to last you a while.

'Now, you better get some sleep, honey.'

We will see you in the morning.

Alright.

'I'll be by.'

And I'm gonna make you the best plate

of bacon and eggs you ever had.

Thanks for taking me in.

Hey, what are friends for, huh?

What is this?

This, my uncivilized friend

is a South Philly gastronomical extravaganza.

Could have fooled me.

Hey, Ponch, I don't get it.

Get what?

How a mother can just take off

and leave her child.

Everyone acts differently under stress.

You think she'll come back?

Yeah, probably.

That still won't help the pain Jodi's feeling right now.

- I'm not sure.

A strange light.

It's the helicopter. I heard it.

Hey, you're not gonna start believing

in spaceships, are you?

Jodi?

Honey, why are you out of bed?

He was here.

- The ET!

He came to thank me for trying to help him.

It's true, Ponch!

They found another way of fixing their communications systems.

They're gonna be leaving soon.

Alright, honey, come on. Let's get back to bed.

Then we'll talk about it in the morning.

Now you sound like my mother.

You don't believe me, do you?

Jodi, I'm trying very hard.

The ET wants me to go with him.

Do you want to go?

I don't know.

If I can't find happiness here..

...maybe I can find it in another world.

Come on, Ponch, you don't really believe

in Jodi's story, do you?

Bobby, after a few more years in the saddle

you'll learn that anything and everything is possible.

What was that, Ponch?

Something must have hit my bike.

What's the matter, fellas

Sorry, Harlan.

A rock kicked up on the highway and busted my headlight.

Hey, no problem. Just leave it right here.

I'll have it fixed in no time.

Glad to help you.

Well, I bust my headlight, and you're Mr. Happy Face?

Something's wrong.

Listen, how can anyone be upset

when he's just won $1,000?

Hey, that's great! How'd you do it?

'The supermarket contest.'

You know, this is the first thing I've ever won

in my whole life!

I suppose you're gonna tell us that it's

because of that chain letter.

Hey! How did you know that?

Hmm.

I win again.

Let's play three out of five.

Okay.

- Hi, Ponch. Hi, Bobby. - Hi, Jodi.

How you doing, kitten? How was your day?

Super. Sergeant Getraer's really fun to play with.

I had a little spare time.

I doubt whether that will happen again.

Thanks for staying with me, Sergeant Getraer.

You've been really super.

I don't know why everyone says you're so mean.

Can I, uh, see you boys in my office, please?

Sarge, honest, I don't know where she could have heard that.

Hey, hey! You don't have to apologize.

I took it as a compliment.

Gentlemen, I think you both know Dr. Joyce Brothers.

- Oh, hello. Nice to see you. - Hello.

The probation department asked Dr. Brothers to come by

and have a talk with Jodi, to see if she could

make some sense out of this spaceman thing.

And?

I believe Jodi's telling the truth.

What did I tell you?

- 'As she sees it.'

Well, I'm sure you know about her David.

Yes.

Well, that's her earthbound companion.

What more natural than to create

a space

'It's like having your own extraterrestrial companion.'

'I think it shows a lively imagination.'

The only time we really worry is when a child

doesn't have real friends.

'But Jodi's done so splendidly with all of you.'

As a matter of fact, if I were an extraterrestrial

'I would choose to reveal myself first to a child'

'because they haven't closed their mind yet.'

How do you explain the clay we found on her?

Well, I think this lab report explains it for us.

Basically, it's a combination

of three different kinds of soil

found in Southern California

mixed with several easily obtainable chemicals.

You think she made this stuff by herself?

How would she learn to do something like that?

Well, that one had me stumped, too

until I came across this in the entertainment section

of the newspaper.

"Uncle Henry's Workshop?"

It's a Saturday morning TV show for kids.

I called the station.

Two weeks ago, Uncle Henry made

virtually the same substance Jodi used.

'She must have watched the program.'

'Why doesn't anybody believe me?'

Everything I told you is true!

Jodi, we want to believe you.

If we only had something concrete to go on.

- Yeah, like evidence.

Alright.

It landed right about there.

Alright. You stay here.

When we have to tell her we didn't find anything

it's just going to make matters worse.

Then let's try to find something.

Like what?

Look at this grass area.

It's burned!

It could have been from the heat of their engines.

It could have been from a grass fire.

Yeah, well, look at this.

What is it?

Jodi said the UFO was resting on three support legs.

Let's try to find two more impressions.

- Ponch! - Hey, we're here, man.

Let's look.

Here's another!

There's another one over here!

A perfect triangle.

It could be anything from tents to campers to tables.

There's a hundred explanations!

Yeah? Well, I'm just looking for one.

Bobby, come here.

What do you think?

Looks like a piece of quartz ...or glass.

Or sand fused at extremely high temperature.

Like the blast from a rocket engine?

It is possible, isn't it?

Not in my book.

Jodi...what is it? Are you alright?

They were here.

He spoke to me.

They're coming back tonight to take me with them.

- Jodi, listen to me. - It's alright, Ponch.

I want to go.

Good morning, Webster.

Good morning, boys.

- Hi, Kathy. - Hi.

Good morning, lady.

Can you believe this?

It's a miracle!

Whenever you're on time, it's a miracle.

I'm talking about this check.

It's a refund on my income taxes of two years ago!

Eight hundred and fifty dollars!

I'd overpaid it and didn't even know it!

Hey, that's terrific, Grossy.

First Harlan and now you.

Right! Hey, maybe you'll be next.

Come on!

Of course, you guys heard

what happened to Marty Collins.

Works the B shift.

'His Porsche was stolen. Poor guy.'

I warned him, but..

He didn't pass on the chain letter.

Right.

Eight hundred and fifty bucks! Wow!

Hey, everybody, tonight the pizzas are on me!

- 'Alright!' - 'About time, Grossy.'

And I'm gonna be the first to dump it on him.

'Any units in the vicinity of Third and Main..'

'...a 211 strong-arm.'

'Suspects escaped in a red Sedan'

'headed east on Third.'

LA 15, Mary 9 and 10 responding.

We're two away.

Now, which way did they go?

Thank you. Arigato.

One more time. Now..

One more time, please.

What did he looklike?

Have you got that, Grossy?

You're kidding!

How you doing on those rip

We can't get close enough, sarge.

We stick out like a sore thumb in that neighborhood!

That's what I figured.

I'd like you to meet Sergeants Joy Fujino

and Earl Sakai.

- Hello.

- Earl, nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

They're from the Asian Task Force

LAPD.

They've been working on the same case

for the last couple of weeks.

Those punks have been hitting

a lot of Japanese tourists in that area.

Why don't they carry traveler's checks?

This couple lost a lot of cash!

Language, customs. It's all strange to them.

Cash feels safe.

I wish there was more we could do to help.

Hey, you don't think I asked the sergeants

here to come by for tea, do you?

Oh!

I don't know, Pete. Maybe we've come back here too many times.

Ah, and you want to pass something like this up?

It's cherry pickin' time.

- Okay. Maybe once more. - Go for it.

Here we go, Joy. It's going down.

'They're coming right at her.'

S-3 to covering units. It's going down.

'15 Mary, 9 and 10, move in.'

'15 Mary, 6 and 7, move in.'

Police! Hold it! The police!

Hold it!

I got him.

Get your hands over your head.

Alright, sarge!

Okay, which one are we gonna sleep with tonight?

I don't care.

How about him? He's adorable.

- He's fine. - I'm off tomorrow.

We could go to the zoo. Maybe we could see some real bears.

- Sure.

- 'Come on in.'

- Hi, Kathy. - 'Hey.'

A little early for bed, isn't it?

I'm kind of tired.

Yeah.

Well, goodnight, Jodi.

We'll talk about the zoo tomorrow, okay?

Goodnight.

You're gonna be safe here, kitten.

Nobody's gonna take you anywhere.

You don't understand, Ponch.

I wanna go.

I know things don't look good right now.

But you just got to hang in there.

They're going to get better. I promise.

I'm really tired.

I'm gonna go to sleep.

I may have one bit of good news.

Good.

I sure can use it.

- Jodi's mother called.

Vegas. She doesn't know why she ran.

But she's coming home and she wants to make things

right with Jodi.

Have you told her?

There was no reaction.

Like it didn't matter anymore.

Hey, come on, you guys.

Thanks for helping

but why don't you go home

and get some rest?

You're gonna be okay?

Yeah, man, I'm gonna be okay. Come on.

I'll just check on Jodi before I go.

Alright.

You're gonna miss her, won't you?

Yeah, I guess so.

I'm just glad her mother's coming home.

'Ponch! Bobby!'

She's gone.

I know where she's gone.

Jodi, it's okay.

Come on. I'll take you home.

I'm scared, Ponch. I'm scared!

Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you.

I didn't mean what I said.

I don't want to go!

Don't let them take me!

Aa-aah!

Ponch! Please help me!

You're not gonna take her!

Leave her alone!

She tried to help you!

If you care about her, let her go!

Leave her where she belongs!

Ponch, help me!

Ponch!

Let her go!

Whoever you are, let her go!

I saw it, but I still don't believe it.

Then come up with a better answer.

I don't know.

It could have been a tornado of some kind.

'Or a helicopter.'

'Jodi.'

Tell me the truth.

'Your ET..'

...is he the same as your friend David?

No.

David wasn't real.

'It's the helicopter.'

Bobby, it's whatever you want it to be.

I thought you were due in court.

Yeah, we are. We got to get goin'.

- Hi, Jodi. - Hi, Ponch.

Look, I-I just...wanted to tell you

that...no matter what happens in court today

I-I certainly owe you all far more

than-than I could ever repay.

Seeing you and Jodi together is all the payment we need.

Well, I'm gonna try to be a better mom.

Uh, if we're gonna be in court on time

we better move it.

Hey, you guys are never going to believe what I found.

The chain letters!

Yeah. Found them behind Jenny's desk.

She went on vacation last week

and must have forgotten to mail them.

Oh, no!

What difference does it make, Grossy?

You still have the $850.

Not exactly.

It was for another Arthur Grossman.