Original subtitles

That guy's gonna break his neck.

Go, Nicky, go!

It's very difficult for him to deal with Nicky's handicap.

Handicap? He's retarded.

'Who can love a son who's retarded?'

Everybody see this? It's nitroglycerin!

What are you talking about?

That's right. That's where you died.

'Can Shake jump over this moving plane?'

'A split second off could mean certain death.'

'Here we go!'

Little early for rush-hour traffic.

- Let me guess.

An overheated rent-a-heap with two beautiful

French girls visiting LA for the first time.

Right. Dream on, boss.

- Hi, Ponch, Bobby. - Hi, Kathy.

- Hi, Kathy.

Oh, about 500 dozen farm-fresh eggs, jumbo.

- 'What a waste.' - Yeah. Poor guy.

He didn't see traffic up ahead slowing.

We haven't even been able to see what's causing the jam.

We'll check it out, okay?

Oh, yeah. I mean, what good are cracked eggs?

I mean, I'd be lucky to get a penny apiece.

Did you say a penny apiece?

Yeah.

'That guy's gonna jump those car carriers?'

That guy's gonna break his neck.

You alright?

Sure.

Shake?

Shake Patterson? I don't believe it.

Bobby.

Frank Poncherello, meet Shake Patterson

'the craziest guy I ever met.'

Nice to meet you.

Last time I saw you was at the Pomona Fairgrounds.

You were falling then too.

Hey, I don't fall...much.

You want the honors, or should I do it?

I'll do it, Ponch.

Don't tell me the uniform's for real.

I thought you were going to a costume party.

No. I decided to use my brains to make a living.

Yeah? And where did you get all the brains?

- Ha ha ha.

I heard he just took the speedway championship again.

Yeah, and now he's a cadet at the CHP Academy.

Well, let's all get together.

Hey, you better make it soon, while you're still in one piece.

See ya, buddy.

Hey, don't forget to sign this.

A ticket?

My publicist is gonna love this.

Here you go.

You know that maniac?

Shake's a great guy, Ponch.

We all gotta go riding together some time.

Not today, partner.

I got a date.

What else is new? Blond or brunette?

Brunette.

'That's very good, Nicky.'

'You got good timing, Nicky.'

Alright. You're doing good time.

Alright. Come on, come on.

Here we go! Here we go!

Doing good time.

Oh, boy, you did real good, buddy.

Thanks, Ponch. There's my dad.

Come on, I'll race you over there.

- Alright. - Here's your hat.

Come on. Come on. Run, run, run.

Come on, run, run.

Run. Run.

Keep running.

Hi, Mr. Grieve.

Nicky's really hitting his stride.

You know, you ought to come watch us some afternoon.

Plenty of room in the bleachers.

I'm busy in the afternoons.

Ah. Counting on you for Saturday.

You know, statewide competition. Kids from all over.

If you don't mind, we're in a hurry.

'Nicky, get in the car.'

Alright, dad. See you, Ponch.

- Alright. - Nicky..

Bye, Nicky.

Yeah, I'm coming. Bye, Ponch.

'Bye, Nicky.'

- Yeah.

Oh, I wanted to talk to him.

Forget it. He disappears faster than Houdini.

Doesn't he ever get out of his car?

Not since I've been head coach of the Special Olympics.

Of course, that's only been two years.

You know, if Nicky just got a little encouragement from home.

Nah.

Most parents of retarded kids

are so glad to give them support.

Ponch, listen to me.

Your work with the kids is really important

and you do it very well

but getting involved where you shouldn't

just doesn't do anyone any good.

If that's a warning, lady, it's a little late.

'Hit the right signal light.'

Left signal.

'Excellent car.'

What is it, '68 or '69?

She's a '69.

That's the year they made cars

like they're supposed to be.

Big, V8 engines.

Give this to the judge, Mr. Klane.

It's proof that you fixed the taillight.

You do your own work?

Oh, yeah, all of it.

You mind if I look under the hood?

No. Let me show ya.

Ah, it's beautiful.

Yeah, she sure is.

You know, I spent 15 years on a V8 assembly line.

I was a master mechanic. Got a letter of commendation once.

Boy, I'll bet you did.

This engine's clean enough to fry an egg on.

Ooh, don't say egg.

- Goodbye, Mr. Klane.

I think that's the first ticket I ever had.

From a woman too.

I hope it's your last.

What do they call you? Patrolman

They call me Officer Linahan.

She's a nice lady, but I don't like women riding motorcycles.

Times change, Mr. Klane.

Yeah, they sure do.

So do cars.

That's why everybody's buying these little

econoboxes with V-nothing engines.

That's why I got laid off.

- Nelson. Nelson! - Yes, sarge.

Uh, not you, Bruce. Your time will come.

But yourtime is now.

Where's your report about this maniac who jumps car carriers?

I didn't write one, sarge.

Last week, you said for simple cites, I shouldn't--

What?

It's just a ticket. What's the problem?

'The problem is, it's not just a ticket.'

It's an important ticket.

Uh-h-h...what's an important ticket?

Would you explain it to him, Poncherello?

An important ticket is any ticket

the captain asks the sarge about.

Thank you, Frank.

And the captain wants to know everything

about this one-man circus.

So do it, Nelson. Now.

- I don't get it. - Yeah.

How do you know what you're supposed to tell him?

He'll tell you.

- Excuse me. - Hey.

What do you have, Grossie?

Eggs. Nature's gift to hungry stomachs.

'This is just the first case.'

I bought 750 semi-cracked eggs at a penny apiece!

'Huh? Great deal!'

If you like eggs.

Hey, everybody likes eggs.

Hey! You think you own the road?

Look at him, all smug.

Little piece of plastic and tin!

Shouldn't make cars that small.

You guys want war, huh?

Alright, come on! I'll take all of you on!

Get off the road!

Ha ha! Next time, buy a big one!

Can you remember anything, sir?

Um, the car was big. It was really a big car.

Can you be a little more specific, sir?

The car was huge.

- Thank you. - 'Oh, uh, I forgot.'

As the guy drove by, I think he yelled something like, uh

"Next time, buy a big one!"

Bon appetit.Ready for a treat?

Cream puffs. I peeked in the locker room.

Not just ordinary cream puffs.

Oh, voila.

Boy, do they ever look good.

And they are, and each batch uses five dozen eggs.

Dig in.

Nelson!

What is this theory you concocted

in your report on the freeway hit

Uh, I-I thought it might be important, sarge.

This big car took out this little imported number, and--

'What do you suggest I do?'

Put every compact car in town

in protective custody?

Sarge, I helped my partner write that.

I thought you should know

in case it wasn't an isolated incident.

Okay, Frank. You have a pretty good sense of these things.

I'll put out an information-only teletype. Nelson--

You don't have to say you're sorry, sarge.

I'm not.

In your report about Shake Patterson, your friend

you state it was a warm-up for a bigger jump.

Now, the captain wants to know about that.

- I was just guessing, sarge. - But Shake's got a ranch.

He doesn't need to set up

by the freeways to practice jumps.

If he's trying to match wind conditions, he might.

Okay. Okay just find out for the captain's sake, alright?

I will. I'm gonna see him today.

Alright, now, everybody have one cream puff

and then get back to police business.

Oh. Oh, Grossman, what's inside these things?

Egg salad.

- Ugh.

Grossie.

Well, I-I thought I'd use more eggs that way.

It's good, really.

It's up to you. Come on, let's go.

Alright. Alright! This is turning good.

Okay. Okay.

Let's hear it for the most valuable player.

Alright.

Okay, all you future Olympic champions

in the showers! Let's go.

Why the long face?

Hey, the statewide game's this Saturday.

You're gonna be right here

representing us in the 200-meter run.

'Aren't you excited about that?'

I guess.

Nicky, this is what you've been working so hard for.

You did it, and we're all so proud of you.

Not everyone.

Sure, everyone.

Me, my partner Nelson

Marla, the whole team.

Not my dad.

Come on.

Go for it, baby brother.

Let's see what a couple of rookies can do.

Uh, the winner!

- Wow! Yoo!

Did you see that turn over there?

You better stop moving like a little old girl.

Get outta here..

What I tell you? You'd see the back of my leathers, huh?

- Alright. - Bruce.

You gotta admit, it feels good to be

crazy every once in a while.

Last time I heard you say that

you tried water-skiing in Lake Havasu

- Yeah, on your bike. - 'Hey!'

You're the two that talked me into it.

What about the Time Crazy Bruce here

wiped out doing 90 on Silver Ridge?

That wasn't a wipeout. That was a controlled spill.

Uh, you guys miss the life, don't you?

Sure.

But you can't keep pushing yourself past the limit.

Or do you plan on risking your life forever?

Don't worry about me.

After my aeronautic super-stunt next week

I'm gonna kick back in style.

Aeronautics?

Tell us about it.

You're cops. Figure it out.

Has anyone ever done it before?

Evil Knievel said it was totally impossible.

He should know. He's the father of it all.

Oh, no.

You're not gonna..

I'm not gonna what?

Jump an airplane?

Your mama didn't raise no dummies.

You're crazy.

How're you gonna get up enough

speed for the takeoff?

How you gonna land? You'll need a parachute.

No way. That would kill all the fun.

You saw the way I cleared those

car carriers in the canyon.

It's the same jump.

You cleared it, alright

but you were horizontal when you landed.

It's crazy, Shake.

The real question is

whether you're crazy enough to help me.

Now let somebody pay good money for you!

Bobby, no one could jump a bike over a plane.

Shake's gonna kill himself.

Not with us as his pit team he won't.

He can do it.

'15, Mary 6 and 7, deranged person'

'destroying property at the Mini-Car Mart'

'Greenfield and Levine.'

LA 15, Mary 6 and 7 responding.

I got the license number. We'll get him.

We better, before he kills someone.

- Yes.

I'm Frank Poncherello.

I'd like to talk to you about Nicky.

Oh, you're Ponch.

Nicky talks about you all the time.

- Please come in. - Thank you.

Gordon?

Come have a seat.

Alright.

Gordon?

Ah, there he is.

Melissa, the officer's a busy man.

I have time, Mr. Grieve.

I just wanted to..

I really enjoy working with Nicky.

Meeting him.

He's a great kid.

'Thank you.'

It would mean a lot to him if you both

could come to the Special Olympics this weekend.

I'd like to, officer, but, uh, I've been working

pretty hard this week. So if that's all..

I don't get you. He's your son.

'He works so hard to make you proud of him.'

A little support would go a long way.

What do you know about it?

What do you know about me or my family?

Gordon.

Please excuse my husband, officer.

It's, it's very difficult for him

to deal with Nicky's handicap.

Handicap?

You make it sound so nice.

He's retarded.

'Who can love a son who's retarded?'

Oh...I'm...I'm really sorry, Melissa.

Of course, you are.

It's...it's very difficult for Gordon.

You see..

...he was a real..

...Olympic...track champion.

I know. I checked you out.

Your son's trying to be a champion too

in his own class.

A little support from his dad would mean a lot to him.

We had Nicky so late.

We weren't supposed to have any children.

We expected so much.

You got something special.

I'll be there.

'Okay. Here's Shake working with the moving ramp.'

'Now, see, that was not a good, strong liftoff'

'and that proves my point.'

Oh!

Now, look how much better a liftoff this is.

Looks like he's totally in control, doesn't it?

Perfect landing..

'...but yet he loses it.'

'I just don't know.'

Now, that's a lot more hairy than speedway racing.

Well, what do you think?

I think it was a lousy thing

to watch during lunch.

That's okay. Lunch was lousy. What are these things?

Deviled eggs.

What's the sticky stuff on top?

- Meringue. - Ugh!

Come on, Harlan, where did the other jumpers go wrong?

They crashed, man. That should always be avoided.

I'll make a note of that.

While you're at it, make a note about the handlebars.

I think the liftoff can be improved

if we lower their angle about three or four degrees.

You're right.

I used to rake them down like that

to blast off the starting line

and balanced it out with bigger tires.

Alright. That will give Shake the edge he needs.

You guys should join a chapter of crazies anonymous.

- Nelson. - I didn't do it, sarge.

Uh, didn't do what?

Whatever it is you said I did.

You mean I shouldn't congratulate you

on getting the license-plate number

of the suspect in the compact

'I ran a check through DMV, came up with a positive ID.'

Oh, that? Yeah, I did that.

Good. Let's keep a continuity on the follow-up.

You both can talk to his wife.

Bobby, admit it. You can't win.

- Uh, sarge. - Yeah.

I bet the captain's happy about Shake's super-stunt.

I mean, we're gonna be miles away from any freeway

and the FAA gave him the green light for next Thursday.

No, Nelson. The captain's furious.

'He's gonna be in Sacramento on Thursday.'

He really wanted to see that jump.

I can't win.

'We stopped by your house.'

Your daughter told us that you might know

where we can find your husband.

Oh, no. What's he done?

' - We need to talk to him.

Well, he should be out looking for a job.

He's done something terrible, hasn't he?

I knew there was something wrong this morning at breakfast.

Did he say anything?

No. I just knew it.

I knew it.

He just hasn't been himself

since he's been laid off from the auto plant.

He's looked so hard for another job.

But he's a good man.

Would you please give us a call

when he does come home?

- Yes. Alright. - Thank you.

Thank you.

- Everything's set.

Just like the real thing.

Oh, minus the moving plane, of course.

These ribbons will give us an idea

what kinda height you're capable of.

Let's do it.

Go get them, Shake.

There's no need to congratulate him.

He didn't make it.

What are you talking about?

That's right.

See where that ribbon broke? That's where you died.

I don't understand you sometimes, Ponch.

Mrs. Klane's gonna find out anyway.

Why don't you tell her what her husband's been doing?

Hey, hot dog, this is America.

He's not guilty yet.

No. Just unemployed.

That's the crime.

I know. I wish it was cut and dried too.

All bad guys should be totally evil

but it doesn't always work out that way.

'Any unit in the vicinity, assist in the search'

'for a runaway in the Granada Hills area.'

'Subject is a ten-year-old male'

'last seen wearing a red T-shirt and brown corduroy pants'

'answers to the name of Nicky Grieve.'

It's Nicky!

There he is, up on the spillway.

- 'Good thing it's still dry.'

It flows twice a day. Come on.

LA 15..

Ponch, the water's coming.

Hi, Ponch.

You haven't got much time.

Alright, Nicky. Just take it easy.

Just stay calm.

Alright. Let me go. Let me go.

Alright, Nicky. Alright. Just stay there, now.

Okay, Nicky, stay cool. I got you, now.

Come on this way. It's gonna be alright.

Hurry up, Ponch.

Come on, Nicky.

Come on, pull your leg over.

Come on. Alright. You got it. You got it.

Nicky. Nicky.

- Hi, mom. - Oh, I love you.

Hi, dad.

Hey, Ponch.

The takeoff ramp is in place.

We should gain a foot more acceleration space.

Yeah. A foot more than Harlan figured.

- Right. - 'Hey, Shake.'

You sure you wanna go through with this?

Hey, Ponch, Shake's already done it.

That was under simulated conditions.

And now that I've seen this setup for real

I...I-I think prudence dictates we postpone

for a week, just to fine-tune.

Wait a minute, I'm the one that's supposed to be

getting chicken, not you guys.

Maybe Harlan is right.

Hey, I've lived my whole life for this moment

'and I'm not gonna miss it no matter what happens.'

Now, there's gonna be a crowd out there to see me jump today.

Newspapers, TV, the works

and I'm not gonna disappoint 'em.

I'm gonna be right there in the spotlight

with you or without you.

I've always been a sucker for the spotlight myself.

I'm with you, buddy.

- Go for it. - Alright.

'Hello, America, I'm Stu Mayhan'

'at Indian Dunes in Southern California'

'and like everyone here, I'm waiting'

'to see the impossible.'

'In just a few moments'

'daredevil motorcyclist Shake Patterson'

'will try to jump over a moving airplane.'

'That's a feat that's never before been attempted.'

'The plane is a Pitts Special. It's piloted by Art Shaw.'

'And it'll be traveling at a speed of 80 miles an hour.'

'That's when Shake will race his cycle'

'up the takeoff ramp, over the plane'

'and land on the ramp on the other side.'

'That's more than a hundred feet away.'

Any hesitation or miscalculation

on Shake's part, even a split second off

could mean certain death.

Now, if there's a burning question on everybody's lips

about this death-defying feat, the question is, "Why?"

Well, in the spirit of true journalism

I talked to Shake this afternoon

and I got this answer.

Everyone's been asking me that.

So I might as well give you the lowdown.

All I know is..

So that's why I'm still here.

And I wanna add, no one, I mean no one

should attempt a stunt like this

without the proper equipment, training

and a lot of hard work.

Hopefully that hard work is about to pay off.

But as for why... that's anybody's guess.

Okay, Shake, you're gonna do it

but I think you owe us the answer.

It's simple, when you're born on the wrong side

of a no-account town, you're marked for life as trash.

'Today, that mark comes off. Understand?'

Yeah. Great way to meet girls.

Okay. We got Shake Patterson ready to go now.

See you on the other side.

Shake.

'Art is making his last turn'

'before making his final approach.'

'Shake is doing the same. It's all systems go.'

'This has got to be a tense moment for young Patterson.'

'All his weeks of practicing and preparation'

'have brought him to this moment.'

'It's a moment of truth.'

'And as Art starts his approach toward the ramp'

'Shake now needs every ounce of concentration he can muster.'

But it's timing. They gotta cross at the same time.

Alright. Art's coming downwind now, making a left face.

'The tension begins to mount now.'

'Can it be done? Can Shake jump over this moving plane?'

'Concentration, timing'

'that's the whole secret to the whole thing.'

'Here comes Art.'

'Shake looks at the plane. He's got to be right on.'

'Shaw coming out of his final loop.'

'Hang on to your seats now.'

'Here we go!'

He made it! What a spectacular feat, a great, great jump!

'Here comes Shake with a victory wave'

'and there's a victory roll from Art.'

'Boy, this team really put it together today.'

Alright! I told you!

'All units, proceed immediately'

'to the Grenadier compact auto parts warehouse.'

'Suspect, Norman Klane.'

Everybody see this?

It's nitroglycerin.

I'm gonna blow up every part in this factory, so get back.

'Go on, move! I mean now!'

If he does, the whole neighborhood's gonna go up too.

- No.

You guys too. Come on, move, now.

Mr. Klane, please... put down the nitro.

'Never.'

We wanna help you, but you got to--

Don't you understand?

I've got to do it.

I've got to. I don't have anything left to lose.

'Nothing!'

What about Betty? You know, we talked to her today.

Betty

She's worried about you, you know?

She was 19 years old when we got married.

'And I-I did everything I could'

'to make it right.'

I mean...I worked hard. I tried.

And I thought when you tried and you worked hard

I mean, man, this is America. We put a man on the moon.

It just don't seem right to leave a guy with nothing

especially when I'm willing to work.

- Mr. Klane. - Hey!

If you're gonna try and take this..

...you're gonna have to kill me.

You're gonna have to shoot me.

Go ahead. Do it.

Hello, Mr. Klane.

What

Now, come on, you're gonna get hurt.

'This is no place for a lady.'

Don't you remember me? Officer Linahan.

You were explaining to me about big cars.

Lady, please. Now, come on.

Just move over here with the rest of them.

Come on. It don't matter anymore.

It does matter. You matter.

I understand, Mr. Klane.

'There are people that will help you.'

- Look, I don't wanna hurt you. - I know.

I mean, I'd never hurt a woman, you know.

I appreciate that, Mr. Klane.

Ponch.

Here.

'Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.'

'I'd like to welcome you to the California'

'Special Olympics this year.'

'We're about to begin our first race'

'and it looks great. Here we go.'

'Go, go, go, athletes! Go, go, go!'

'In lane one, that's San Francisco.'

'Judy, San Francisco.'

'Lane two, that's Brad from Sacramento.'

'Lane three, that's Helen from San Bernardino.'

'Lane four, Judy, Tri-Valley.'

'Lane five, Louise.'

'Lane six, Tri-Valley, also, Helen.'

'Go, go, go, athletes! Go, go!'

'We still have a couple of athletes running.'

'Keep cheering, folks.'

'Little further. Alright.'

'Alright, ladies and gentlemen, you will notice'

'to my right, to your left'

'we have the high jump, uh, starting down there'

'and these athletes have been practicing all year'

'with the Red Cross volunteers and their coaches'

'and there goes a guy. Okay! Nice jump.'

'How about a nice little hand for him? He seemed excited.'

'Behind me, directly in front of you'

'we have the softball competition'

'and again, the coaches and volunteers'

'have been working with these athletes'

'as with the high jumpers'

'and, uh, and the broad jumpers to their right'

'uh, all year long.'

'They've really done a fine job.'

'And, uh, it means a lot to these kids'

'not only the coaches and volunteers'

'but your participation as well.'

'There-there's a fellow right there getting a gold medal'

'and he looks a little happy, I'd say, huh?'

'Ladies and gentlemen, as I mentioned earlier..'

- You're gonna take this race. - Alright.

- Okay.

Hey, look up there.

'Our next race we, uh, we have'

'quite a few of those areas in this competition.'

'From division 2, race number 152.'

Alright. Come on. This is your heat, Nicky.

- Alright. Go get them, Nicky.

'San Diego, Pomona, and Kern County.'

'Uh, this should be quite a race.'

'Uh, we've been looking forward to this all day.'

'That's Nicky from Tri-Valley and John from Tri-Valley.'

'Joey from San Diego.'

'In lane one, we have Brian, and we're just about set to go'

'and please cheer, cheer them on'

'as, uh, as you've been doing.'

'Go! Here we go! That's it! Great start!'

'Lane one, that's Brian from San Francisco!'

'Lane two, that's Nicky from Tri-Valley!'

'John from Tri-Valley in lane three.'

'That's Joey in lane four from San Diego.'

'Lane five, that's Kevin from Pomona'

'and Matthew in lane six from Kern County.'

'Go, go, go, athletes! Go! Go!'

'Go, Kevin! Go, Joey! Go, John!'

'Go, Brian, Nicky, and Matthew! Go, go, go!'

'Come on, athletes, you can do it!'

'Go, go, go! Oh, no! That's, uh..'

'Somebody fell down, and I'll get that to you.'

'I think it's Tri-Valley. It's either John or Nicky.'

'I'm just told it's Nicky.'

'He got up! Go, Nicky! Go! Fabulous!'

'Go, Nicky, go. Cheer him on, folks!'

- That's it, son. Go! - 'Go, Nicky! Go! Go!'

'Come on, Kevin, Joey, John, Nicky, Brian, Matthew!'

'Go, go, go! You can do it!'

'You can do it! A little further!'

'A little further. Come on, Nicky! Come on, Matthew!'

'Go, go, go! We love you!'

'Go, go, go, Brian, Kevin!'

'Go, go! A little further! A little further!'

'We love you! Go! Come on! Go! Go! Go!'

'You're wonderful! Go, go, go!'

'Kevin from Pomona! Matthew from Kern County!'

'Joey, San Diego!'

'John and Nicky from Tri-Valley! A little further!'

'Brian from San Francisco!'

'Go, go, go!'

'Go, go, go!'

'We have our first finisher!'

'Go! There's still athletes!'

'Cheer them on, ladies and gentlemen!'

'Go, go, go!'

'Alright! What a race, ladies and gentlemen!'

'How about a nice hand for these athletes?'

'What a fabulous job, a fabulous, fabulous job!'

- I lost, dad.

You're a champion, son, and don't you forget it.

I hope that grin means you'll be back next year.

Try and keep me away.

I love you, mom.

' - 'Yes, sir.'

'Good.'

'You'll both be happy to know'

the judge recommended probation for Mr. Klane

on the condition he receives psychiatric help.

I'm so glad.

Good. I'm hungry.

In honor of you, Shake Patterson

a new specialty.

Les oeufs a la daredevil.

What's that?

Eggs.

Oh, boy, eggs.