Original subtitles

Ladies and gentlemen,

on behalf of captain Wilkins and the rest of your flight crew,

we'd like to thank you for flying our Airlines

and we hope you'll travel with us again soon.

The local time is 1:00 a.m. the temperature is 49 degrees.

Thank you and please have an enjoyable stay in San Francisco.

Father. Father Thomas.

Yes.

It's time for your medicine.

For the love of God, Sister,

let me at least open my eyes before I have to open my mouth.

Three.

Sister Theresa, we're in.

Can you see the bridge yet, sister?

No, too many clouds.

I see a lot of lights.

Welcome to San Francisco, Father Thomas.

I'm Father O'Brien, this is Father Connolly.

Hello Father.

We're very proud to have been chosen to greet you.

Well, thank you for coming to meet us at this ungodly hour.

This is Sister Benecia, my nursemaid.

My nurse.

And sister Theresa ----

This way, Father.

There it is.

The Golden Gate Bridge.

Isn't it beautiful, my dear?

Magnificent.

Built in 1937

and the span between the towers...

Correction, Father,

the bridge was completed in 1937.

Construction actually began on the 5th of January 1933.

The bridge is 8,891 feet long.

The towers are 746 feet above the ocean.

Many immigrants worked on the structure.

15 of those men lost their lives before it was completed.

I get the feeling I just got a history lesson.

Father Thomas has a special interest in the bridge.

My brother was one of those 15 workmen.

How sad.

41 years ago it was sad.

Now,

now it's only interesting.

Stop the car.

- What? - Are you alright, Father?

Yes, I'm fine, but please just stop the car.

We're not allowed to stop here, Father.

- It's only for a moment. - But father...

I'm going to walk across.

Father, it's much too cold, you're not up to it.

- I'll meet you on the other side. - Father, it's not safe,

- I'll come along with you. - Please, Sister,

it's something I must do by myself.

That man is so stubborn sometimes.

Father Thomas's presence at the conference has everybody very excited.

His fearless stand on apartheid

has given us the International impact we needed.

Yes.

Civil Rights is not a topic with him, it's his whole way of life.

Stop. Stop the car. Something's wrong.

Sister, wait!

Aahh!

Father!

Sister!

- Sister, where is he? - I can't see him, he's not here.

Well, just calm down. He probably got tired and he's resting somewhere.

- -- - No, something's wrong.

John, go back and get the car, we'll meet on the San Francisco side. Sister!

- Have you seen a priest? - Not since two Sundays ago.

Let's go on.

...the car is blue in colour

correction on direction, he was last seen

going towards the Boulevard, unknown from there.

Here you go, kid, travelling trip, we could give it to the day watch.

- Where are you going? - To meet Marcus on the stake-out.

Wrong.

McNally and I are going to relieve Marcus,

you're going in to see Captain Bradley.

- What for? - Ours is not to reason why.

Yours is to type.

Yeah, I understand, that's good enough, thank you.

- You wanted to see me? - Yeah.

Catholic priest has just gone off the bridge.

I want you to get out there right away.

Hey, a guy goes off a bridge, that's more important than my stake-out?

This guy just happens to be Father John Thomas

who happens to be a very important...

I read the papers too, captain.

I am involved

in a narcotic stakeout that's about to pay big dividends.

Now get McNally or-or

get the rookie out there, he needs the experience.

I want somebody out there who already has experience and knows the routine.

Now come on, you're wasting time, take off.

Use your siren.

Why, he already jumped didn't he?

Hi, Bert.

Paul Silver, they were wrong, you are alive.

Yeah. Where are they?

Down the hall, first office to the left. They're holding a mass or something.

You know that old priest must've been related to the Pope,

there's nuns and priests wall-to-wall.

Paul, how come they sent you?

Captain Bradley's crazy about me.

How are you?

Well, considering number 650 just went over the side, not so good.

You realise how much paperwork's involved in things like this?

Anyone who jumps in the daytime, let the guys from 8 to 5 fill out the form.

The guys from 8 to 5 can't find the forms.

Anything from the coast guard?

- No, it's foggy out there. - It's always foggy out there.

Hail Mary full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

I'm... detective Paul Silver,

San Francisco Police Department.

I'm looking for a Sister... Beneca, Benesha...

I am Sister Benecia.

Sister...

we have, uh...

I really believe, detective, that we should

postpone any questions until we have...

I'd like to accommodate you, but the time is important now...

so I'll, uh,

fill you in as quickly as I can.

We notified the Highway Patrol, we gave them Father Thomas's description.

Gave the same description to various law enforcement agencies

within 60 miles of here.

And of course the Coast Guard has been alerted.

Sergeant I think that you...

It would be much simpler, Father, and more productive

if you could get everyone to wait outside, please.

- But sergeant, I believe that... - The officer is right, Father.

Please everyone, wait outside.

I'm fine now, really.

Could you wait outside, Sister.

Sister Theresa doesn't speak.

- Is that a promise? - No, it's a vow.

Mm.

May I get you a cup of coffee or something?

No, thank you. I'd just rather get this over with, if you don't mind.

I don't mind and I'd like to get it over with, too.

First of all, why did you let the old man get out of the car?

Don't you know it's against the law to stop out there?

Father Thomas wanted to get out of the car

so that he could walk across the bridge.

- Then no one was suspicious? - Suspicious of what?

If I was driving the car and somebody asked me to stop

in the middle of the bridge and they got out to take a walk,

I'd be suspicious. I'd do something about it.

Then do something, Sergeant Silver.

You should be out there looking for him not sitting here asking stupid questions.

That poor old man may be lying out there in need of help.

I'm sorry you think my questions are stupid, Sister, they're important to me.

So, would you please sit down and

humour me.

You're a nurse in addition to being a nun.

Why did Father Thomas need a nurse?

Father Thomas had a heart condition.

Did you notice a despondency because of his ill health. Did he, uh...

show signs of depression enough to...

Father Thomas is very sensible about his condition.

And I resent your insinuation that he would...

- would... - Commit suicide.

He wouldn't do that.

Yes, well, no one likes to think that, Sister, but

it is a possibility we may have to face sooner or later.

Now I am more than willing to answer your questions

but I won't have the integrity of that dear sir...

I am not a diplomat,

Sister, I'm a cop.

Can you please forgive my bluntness?

You're forgiven.

Let's be blunt.

On the off chance

that Father Thomas did go off the bridge,

two possibilities come to mind,

one, he fell,

and two, he jumped.

The second is not a possibility, sergeant.

Father Thomas is a Roman Catholic priest.

Sister, I...

Excuse me Paul, Coast Guard on line one. You want to get it?

Yeah.

Yeah, Paul Silver.

Thank you.

- I'm sorry, Sister, - No.

they've recovered the body.

I wish there was an easier way to do this...

there isn't.

Is that Father Thomas?

Yes.

How'd it go?

- I think we were spotted. - What do you mean 'spotted'?

I don't know, we're just sitting there in the cars and...

You didn't use the same two cars as last night?

Well, McNally said it would be all right.

You better not open your mouth, kid, or McNally'll eat your lunch for you.

I know but what am I gonna do? He's a sergeant, he pulls rank on me.

Cheer up, you might make lieutenant and get the hell out of here.

Protect yourself.

Can I go home now? My eight hours are up.

Yeah, just make sure you're available

when the lab and the autopsy reports are in.

Wait a minute, you said

you wanted someone with experience to do the preliminaries,

well there's my report, it's on your desk.

Your heavy hand is resting on it.

And you do beautiful reports and that's why I want you on it

until the coroner's done. One day.

I don't work days I work graveyard, remember?

Well, the sun'll do you good.

You know how long it took me to get used to working nights?

Eight years, that's how long it took me and I like it.

If I wanted the sun I'd buy a sun lamp.

So, with the overtime you're gonna get, buy yourself a pair of sunglasses.

Goodnight, Seargent.

Your sisters from Johannesburg have called.

They send their love and their prayers.

I think you'll be comfortable here.

If there's anything you need, please, feel free to ask.

Do you know what has been arranged?

The last word I heard was

that you and sister Theresa will accompany the remains home tonight.

The plane is leaving at 8.

If I hear of any change, I'll let you know.

I'm not leaving San Francisco, Sister...

not until I have discovered the truth.

Sister Benecia,

the truth is as close as your heart,

the church is aware

of the strain Father Thomas was under.

There will be no restrictions on his burial.

- He will be forgiven - Forgiven?

He has nothing to be forgiven for.

No, I will not accept that.

Father Thomas did not commit suicide.

Hey sergeant,

here's the coroner's report on Father Thomas.

I went over to pick it up for you.

You never volunteer, you've done your 8 hours,

you could be home and in bed right now.

Well, after blowing that stakeout last night,

I figured that's the least I could do.

There's nothing in it, it's just routine stuff.

You're an expert on forensic medicine?

- No. I just thought that... - I know what you thought.

Stop worrying about last night.

McNally.

Will you stop it with that stuff, I don't want to hear about that.

I stood there for an hour and then when the chief pulled up

I said 'hi' and he walked right by me like I wasn't even there.

I felt like a jerk.

- Then the other guys saw me. - Well, he's a busy man.

He's like me, he's got work to do, see?

There it is, broken arms, broken back, broken head, broken everything.

Coroner's ruling suicide while of an unsound mind

and then let's have the second set of the Golden Gates interview.

That dumb rookie error sure blew it last night, Silver.

- He ought to be out writing park... - McNally, the next time

you take over a case of mine and you blow it,

you be man enough to admit it, just don't blame it on the rookie.

- That wasn't my point. - Don't blame it on the rookie!

All right, all right, that's enough!

Today and tomorrow supposed to be my days off.

If I hear no objections, may I go home and go to bed?

- You hear no objections. - Thank you very much.

McNally, the next time you want to score points with the chief,

don't stand there, walk up to the man,

offer to go to the supermarket for him,

offer to take his groceries to his car for him.

Sister Benecia,

I truly hope you will reconsider what you're doing.

I respect your intention,

but the time comes when the dead

must be left to rest.

But your grace...

People need to let this whole unfortunate incident pass.

Their minds need to go on,

to go forward.

Now, we have all tried to be very patient

because we recognised

the closeness you felt

to Father Thomas.

But enough is enough.

Are you ordering me home?

It is not my place

nor my desire to order you to do anything.

I had hoped

you might see for yourself

the...

utter futility of what you are doing.

I'm sorry, your grace,

but I cannot leave this country

until I have found out what happened to Father Thomas.

Bless you, my child.

I've talked to the president of your home community.

It has been decided that if

you do not return on this flight

they will assume that you've chosen to take a 30-day leave of absence.

During this time you will

reevaluate your vows

and your place in your order.

Please understand,

this is something I must do.

Sister-Sister, excuse me, is it true you are not returning

to South Africa because you believe Father Thomas was murdered?

You stated you were on the bridge at the time of his death.

Did you see anything?

- I'm sorry, I'd rather... - If you didn't see anything

what reason do you have to believe that Father Thomas was murdered?

You said you got out of the car...

Uh, the-the point is, it's too easy.

- Oh, come on. - No, no, it's my day off.

Now listen to me, Chuck.

OK, you're troubled because we found optical glass in the old man's eyes?

He wore glasses, what other reason do you need?

The average jumper

goes to that bridge to kill himself,

he has glasses, he takes the glasses off,

puts them on the ledge and flies off into oblivion.

Reaching.

--

- Do I have a choice? - No, no.

The average man considers life no longer worth living,

goes to the bridge and jumps, right? Wrong.

Now, you know that's right

because you're the one that told me about it.

He goes to that bridge and he leaves a note,

or he takes off his shoes or he takes off his coat.

Well hell, he reaches in his pocket

and gets his credit cards and builds a plastic monument,

puts the monument on the ledge,

and he jumps.

Father Thomas didn't do anything but jump.

Look Paul,

I've assisted in over 200 of these bridge cases

and if there's one rule I've made it's to throw out the rule book.

If a person has a weakness that bridge is gonna bring it out.

Father Thomas had that much of a weakness.

One: bad heart.

Two: fascination with bridge.

Three: only brother died on bridge.

Now if you want me to put a ribbon on it,

let's not forget what he said to the nun. Which was:

"It's something I have to do by myself."

Now there's your note. Albeit verbal.

Case closed.

Suicide.

- No doubt in your mind? - None. Are you deaf?

No, no I'm not deaf, I'm not stupid.

The sun is melting my brain.

See you later.

OK.

OK, have this copied and distributed to all departments.

She still here?

She's been in there 2 days and nights.

I told captain Bradley I ought to do something about it,

but he just says it's day shifts' responsibility.

McNally, go get Bradly, tell him to get his butt into my office, on the double!

Yes, sir.

Is that who I think it is?

- Yep. - How long she been here?

She's been sitting there for 2 days.

She goes away for a couple hours and then she's right back.

- Has anyone talked to her? - Everybody's talked to her,

even some church people were here to talk to her.

I'm on my way over to records, I'll see you a little later.

- Hey, Silver. - What?

- You want to bet in the penguin pool? - What's that?

The penguin pool.

You know, you put up a buck and you bet the date and the time...

----

Eh!

Sister Benecia, how are you?

I'm fine, thank you, Sergeant Silver.

- Can I get you anything? - No, that's very nice of you...

Silver?

Captain wants to see you.

My master's voice.

I'll be right back, don't go away.

You rattled my chain?

Yeah, Paul, come on in.

We got a problem, Paul.

Chief Sullivan wants us to do something about the mad nun.

- Seems she's getting on his nerves. - What does that have to do with me?

Well,

we figured that since you know her, you'd be the best one...

W-Wait a minute, I have a sneaking suspicion I'm being set up.

No, no, no, no.

All we want you to do is just take a little time

and talk to her. You know,

convince her that this

old priest was just as capable of committing suicide as anyone.

You know, make her see... no-no big deal.

You could take her out to the bridge and perform an exorcism.

What you're saying is you want me to conduct an investigation.

- Who said anything... - Well, what else do you want me to call it, chief?

Chief wants you to placate her, Silver, that's all.

I'm not a placater, I'm a cop.

You asked for a routine job, I gave you the report.

Verdict: suicide.

I got a narcotics case, I got hard evidence and I'm getting close.

Yeah, McNally here's gonna take that over.

What, Inspector Clouseau? He already blew 2 weeks.

I resent that, Silver.

Hey, there's your man, there's a placater, he is a born placater.

- You resent that? - Yes...

All right, knock it off!

Now listen, it'll just take you a day, two at the outside.

And all I want you to do is to convince her it's suicide.

Show her all the files. Just get her out of our hair.

If the Chief's happy, I'm happy.

That OK?

- One condition. - What?

You take Butler off narcotics

and assign him to me.

I don't want a rookies name on the report

when the Pink Panther blows it.

Come on, Sister, let's go over here.

Please sit down, please.

Hello...

I'm the mad nun.

Hello...

I am the mad cop.

I don't suppose it's gonna do me any good

to give you a 30-minute lecture on the acceptance of suicide.

I want to point out to you the number of people

of different races, creeds and colours go off that bridge at regular intervals.

That's not going to satisfy you. Is it?

No.

I didn't think so.

So, we continue the investigation into the death of Father Thomas.

But we need one understanding.

Which is?

Which is when we find the truth, we accept it,

and we live with it, OK?

OK.

And thank you, Sergeant Silver.

Yeah, well...

don't thank me yet. As far as I'm concerned,

we'd both be better off if you got on that plane back to uh...

Johannesburg.

South Africa.

Hi.

Captain Bradley thought it would help with your investigation

if the good sister here saw the variety of Golden Gate suicides we have on file.

McNally. McNally!

Excuse me.

I'd like to talk to you.

Ooh!

If they want

an investigation,

we will give them

an investigation.

How's your hand?

It's perfect.

Hasn't felt this good in years.

We start tomorrow, is that satisfactory?

Yes,

that's very satisfactory.

Yeah, give me records.

Johnny Butler, please.

Listen rookie, if I work dead time, you work dead time.

Yeah, the same to you.

In the meantime, give me a tracer on Willie Petersen.

You got it, Wild Willie.

Good morning.

May I come in?

OK.

Give me a minute.

- You have a watch, Sister? - No.

I think it's around 7.

I know...

I know what time it is, I was wondering if you did.

- Did I get here too early? - No.

The first thing we do is hit the department,

and come up with some money and buy you a watch.

- I did get here too early. - No, no, no, no.

I didn't take your calls. Is it black or without cream and sugar.

- Without cream and sugar, please. - Black.

Are you angry?

Not at all. I just got to bed at 5 o'clock this morning.

And I served my apprenticeship under an old cop named Smitty.

Smitty used to say that you can find the answer to any question

in the yellow pages provided you knew the question.

So I guess all we have to do is to find the question, right Sister?

- That make sense? - Sounds very logical.

Well, it's also tedious but that's the way I work.

Well, as uh...

far as we know from all the information we have,

Father Thomas, uh...

got about this far.

If Sister go along with me, I'm going to speak very rapidly

if I confuse you,

don't understand me, I'll start over again.

Here we go. Father Thomas

stopped the car over there.

All his companions told

"There's something I must do by myself".

- But he didn't... - He came out here on the bridge,

started to walk, dark, fog, all of a sudden a mad man came,

grabbed him, threw him over the bridge into the water.

Possibility number 1: murder.

Hold it. Possibility number 2:

Father Thomas stopped the car over there, decided to walk,

started to walk, didn't realise how far he had to walk,

he got tired, he got very tired,

all of a sudden he was short of breath,

there was a big wind blowing, he clutched his chest, had a heart attack,

stumbled, fell over the rail into the water.

Possibility number 2.

That would've been very feasible...

Except the coroner said that Father did not have a heart attack.

And that brings us to possibility number 3.

So, excuse me Sister, but that is the most logical conclusion.

A revered old man makes a pilgrimage

three quarters of the way around the world to set his feet on this bridge.

Gets this far, thinks of his dear departed brother

decides to join him and he does.

No. Father Thomas was not that sentimental.

Earlier in the car Father O'Brien said

how sad it was his brother had died here.

Father Thomas said, as far as I can remember,

forty years ago it was sad, now,

now, it's only interesting.

Brings us back to the first possibility: murder.

But who would want to murder him?

You have to find the questions, Sister, you give me the motive.

Well, if it was not premeditated

but spontaneous

Nobody knew that Father Thomas was gonna stop the car,

say I want to go for a walk

so if the crime was spontaneous

then we have to ask ourselves where did the murderer come from.

Well, did he appear mid-span, grab the Father, throw him over?

Well, maybe he was an Olympic gymnast

and he swung from that tower down here along that and...

it is possible he could've walked along this safety rail.

Hold it, just one second...

Turn around.

Now, how tall, uh,

was Father Thomas?

About the same as me, a bit taller maybe.

He was wearing glasses, alright,

and the killer put his arm...

Ah. It hurts.

- And the killer... - It hurts!

Look, I'm sorry, I, uh...

I get carried away.

- I hurt your neck? - No.

Just gonna have a nice bruise in the small of my back.

Can you show me where.

Here.

Father Thomas had a bruise right there,

straight line.

Come on, let's take the tour.

Ah, it could be done, alright.

The guy'd have to be nuttier than a fruitcake to try it.

I've been on it for over 25 years and I still need a...

So, somebody could get out here without being seen?

- Who's to see him? - I don't know.

It happens. Come up top.

I want you to talk to somebody. Come on.

Don't feel bad, we're all a little afraid of her.

Don't be surprised if I fly away.

Hey, Stacey.

Come over here.

Stacey, this is Sergeant Silver and Sister Benecia.

- How do you do? - All right. How are you?

I want you to tell him about the creeper.

- It was a long time ago. - How long ago?

Oh... 5 or 6 years.

Besides, I mean, I don't even remember that well anymore.

Can you tell us what you remember?

It was just a thing, okay?

I mean, we were painting under the roadway one morning,

and I just saw this thing creeping along.

A man?

I don't know what it was.

Tell him about the robe.

You said it was wearing a robe, the same colour as the bridge.

I don't remember.

Well, has anyone else seen it?

Old man Larkin, he runs a trash buggy on Graveyard.

He claims to have seen something.

Uh, Stacy can you...

Look, I told you everything I know, OK.

I probably just imagined the whole thing anyway.

I mean, you work up here long enough, you begin to see things.

Show me a complete employment rundown, will you,

on everyone that works here or that has ever worked here.

- Go back as far as you can go. - I'll do my best.

Thank You.

Willie Petersen, do you remember him?

A big guy, weird, used to hang around here.

Yeah, Wild Willie. Don't worry, though.

He's not allowed to step foot on the bridge.

He was panhandling, hassling the tourists, we kicked him off.

Last I heard he was bumming around North Beach.

Well, Willie Petersen knows as much about that bridge as anybody.

When I was in a black and white with old Smitty

we'd get a call about every other week to come out and pick Willie up.

Find him sleeping under the bridge

or walking around the bridge, telling people to get off of it.

He thought he owned it.

Well, I'll go find Mr. Petersen tonight.

Will it be all right if I come with you?

To North Beach? No chance.

I can't keep sitting around at St. Joseph's doing nothing.

When I get his lectures and the acceptance of suicide.

And not attending to my prayers.

I really need to do something.

Well, it's against every regulation I know about.

I won't get in the way, I really won't.

- Is that a vow? - No, a promise.

You're gonna have to change your clothes.

But I can't, I always wear my habit.

Mm.

Would you mind telling me what it is I'm supposed to be looking for?

Because you've read 650 of these files

maybe you can tell me what I'm looking for.

It seems like a waste of time...

You wanted to be a good cop, you wanted to be a detective,

well, this is where it's at, paperwork.

It's not just running around with your siren goin',

pulling out your gun, putting the cuffs on them, up against the wall stuff.

Hell, that's the fun part.

What you tell your grandchildren:

want to be a good cop, learn to read, make neat reports, go to work.

Um...

Um, what?

I won't have to go up on top of that bridge, will I?

Oh good, I got a rookie cop that's afraid of heights.

You're lucky you weren't with us today.

All right, I promise you,

for the time being you will not have to hang from the bridge.

Where are you going?

Going to see somebody about changing old habits.

Huh.

Is it absolutely necessary, Sergeant?

No, it is not absolutely necessary.

You can go back to St. Joseph's if you want. I'd like that fine.

But you're the one that wanted to come along.

You're the one that wanted the investigation.

That looks dreadful, try this.

Classy.

Here we are.

I think you'll like this.

Uh...

no, I don't think so.

Yep. I'll see what else we have for you.

Um, how about this one?

How much do all these dresses cost?

This one is $128.

$128. Well, that's much too much money.

Don't worry about that, Sister.

The city of San Francisco is paying.

Thank you, Sergeant Silver

but I don't think that's really me.

Will this do?

- It's not very expensive. - That's...

that's just fine, Sister.

Hurry, hurry!

Hey, pal, just back this way.

Hey listen, bring the little lady inside.

- We'll have the role of a lifetime... - Will you forget about it!

I'll be right back, I'm gonna talk to Willie.

- Well... - You'll be all right,

just stay here.

Sorry lady, you can't just stand here.

But, we're only gonna be a minute.

- The show's about to begin. - But that...

Ladies and gentlemen,

we're privileged and proud to present

in her San Francisco debut

the lovely and talented

Laverne Swift.

# #

You never heard anything about it?

Creeper?

That's stupid, nobody can do that.

Still hang around out there?

When I want to.

I was told you were kicked off the bridge.

Nobody kicks Willie Petersen off anything!

I go where I want.

They don't own that bridge.

They don't even take care of it.

I mean, people go out there, they throw trash all over the place!

I mean it's like a sewer!

Whoa Willie, calm down, calm down.

Don't holler, break a plate. It's not good for you.

# Memories #

# Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm #

# Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm #

# We simply choose to... #

That was a long time ago.

Yeah, what about the guy that went off the bridge and lived?

You call that living?

He said somebody pushed him.

The guy's nuts.

They got him up in Napa in a straitjacket.

What was his name? Willis, Wallace, something like that.

Walker. George Walker. He was number 603...

I gotta get back to work, I can't talk no more.

Here you go, why not buy some more dishes.

# #

How about an encore?

Oh yes, yes, please do.

I'd love to, honey but the tight wads don't pay me enough.

Hey --, I get off at 3:00.

- Come on, I'll walk you in. - No, no it's fine...

- I'll walk you in... - Thank you, it's fine.

- Will you pick me up tomorrow, please? - Yes.

Haven't you had enough?

No.

Sergeant, may I ask you a personal question?

Yes.

Have you ever thought of changing your line of work?

Guess not.

Have you?

No.

- Night, Sergeant. - Night.

Good evening, sister.

Have you been waiting up for me?

You seem to have lost something.

My habit.

I left it in the car.

I'm concerned

because you've... missed your prayer times.

Sister, I appreciate your concern

but I'm doing something that...

that I feel, for the moment, is more important.

I will try to keep to my prayer schedule as fully as I can,

but if like...

- Do you hear something? - No.

If like this evening... I assure you...

Sister Superior...

is that you?

Sister?

Who is it?

Please answer me!

Ohh!

I'm a police officer!

And I'm armed!

Do you hear me!

[POLICE RADIO]

What am I gonna do

with a nun in my bedroom?

Well, for openers I'd get out the vacuum cleaner.

You just walk out...

Yeah, I'm walkin' out, sure I am. Don't make me the heavy, now.

You're the one that's talked about protective custody.

Way I see it, she ought to go back to that church.

She can't go back to the church, somebody's after her, you know that.

No, I don't know that.

That old nun that was killed

could've interrupted some lunatic robbing the poor box.

Come on captain, we owe her protection, around-the-clock protection.

- We owe her that! - Well, I had to authorise that.

And I know you don't want me to throw her into the holding tank downtown with all the drunks.

So, if you can't convince her to go back to where she came from,

she's all yours.

God bless ya. God bless ya, captain.

God bless ya!

You really think somebody went after her?

I don't know what to think.

There's a nun in the morgue,

there's another one in my bedroom.

Who's about to go into a state of shock.

Anything in those files?

I went back 6 years and...

And what?

I don't know, a lot of weird things have happened out there.

Maybe it's my imagination, maybe I'm just reading things in.

In the morning, let me run it by you.

Goodnight.

You been up all night?

Yeah.

- Good morning, Sister. - Morning.

- I hope you're feeling better. - I'm fine now, thank you.

What've you got for me?

Hey, take a look at this.

I did everything that you told me to do.

I went back over 12 years.

If I found a jumper, we left a note,

if he was in bad health, any reason whatsoever for committing suicide

I put it aside, right.

Now, this pile here is the people who don't seem to have any motive for suicide.

- How many are there? - About 35.

There's a guy that's been married three times in 2 years.

That's a reason to jump.

Put him over there. Go through them again,

you find any reason, even a stubbed toe, put it aside.

We'll be in Napa. You did a fair job, Butler.

Oh yeah, wait a minute, there's a guy named Stacy in the interrogation room, wants to see you.

- He came in first thing this morning. - Stacy?

The worker on the bridge.

- You want to be a cop? - Yeah.

Want to be a nun?

Stacy.

Hi.

I feel like a jerk coming here but...

I had to tell you.

Tell me what?

Well,

the stuff I was spinning to you on the bridge about the creeper.

Yeah.

Look, if it's gonna get anybody in trouble,

- I just as soon forget the whole thing. - Who's it gonna get into trouble?

Well I, uh, I pal around with Willie Peterson and

he told me what a rough time you gave him the other night.

Now the last thing in the world I want to do is to get Willie in trouble.

And I-I honestly don't know if I saw anything.

I'm sorry, what did you say?

No, I said that I thought it was strange that

Stacy would be upset about my questioning Willie.

You okay?

I just...

two very dear people are dead.

Someone is trying to kill me.

For some reason I don't begin to understand, I feel responsible.

I don't know what I should do.

Will you tell me something?

Yes.

Why, uh,

did you become a nun in South Africa, of all places?

My parents lived there.

They were killed in a car crash when I was 14.

I was placed in a convent.

Sisters were very kind to me.

Seemed the best place to be.

Was it?

I found my calling there.

George Walker's been diagnosed with everything from a recluse

to a schizophrenic with paranoid tendencies, ranging to the bizarre.

What does that mean?

It means you'll find him a tough nut to crack.

If you prefer, Sister Benecia, you may want to stay out here,

this place is rather unsettling.

Thank you doctor, but I worked in a mental hospital for 2 years.

Oh good, now I won't have to apologise for anything.

Anyway, poor George, his problems began earlier

but when he jumped off the bridge, it really compounded everything.

George Walker.

- She a nun? - That's right.

You're a beautiful woman.

You're no nun.

No lies.

I-I'm a top insurance salesman.

I am a top gross...

These people aren't here to listen to your lies, George.

Meet it head-on.

Tell them what it's like to lose your wife.

To try to please a person you couldn't please.

- Tell them about mama. - No.

Tell them how it feels to stand on the bridge and jump.

- I didn't jump. - No lies George, tell us the truth!

Dr. Hamill, this is no way to treat a human being.

- He pushed me. - Who?

The spectre.

What'd he look like?

The wind...

came howling from his mouth.

Come to a place called ----

Oh, mama...

I didn't jump.

Mama, mama, George would never leave you.

No lies.

The Spectre threw George off the bridge, mama.

What did he look like?

He was bright

and shiny.

Mama, no,

no, I would never leave you.

George is consumed by guilt.

Every time there's another suicide off the bridge,

he goes into this tailspin of depression.

And I had to disagree with your theory

but it is possible that George was pushed from the bridge.

If that's true it would change everything.

It won't change one thing, poor George is crazy as hell.

Excuse me, Sister.

If old Smitty were here, he'd say we have to find the question,

Now all we need is the answer.

What kind of person would do something like that?

We'll let Dr. Hamill tell us that after we catch him.

The only thing that bothers me is the M.O.

M.O. Modus operandi?

Yes.

A pattern.

They all have a pattern.

He broke his when he came off the bridge and went into the church.

-Unless you thought you saw something. - But I didn't.

Well, we know that, maybe he doesn't.

For the time-being, Sister,

would you mind staying dressed just the way you are? Or...

It'll make things easier and a lot safer.

Right.

Cheer up, I think we're making progress.

I'm hungry, aren't you hungry, don't you ever eat?

Yeah, I'm hungry.

I entertain a lot.

- This is called lox? - Right. The pink stuff is lox.

The round thing with the hole in the middle, that's a bagel

and the white stuff is cream cheese.

Follow me.

Take half the round thing with the hole in the middle

and your knife,

take a little of the white stuff. There you go.

Spread it all over... like that.

Take some of the pink stuff and you, uh,

put it on top of the white stuff.

You take the other half of the round thing with a hole in the middle.

Put it on top and bite down real hard.

You're lucky won't have to see your dentist.

Huh?

Mm.

May...

May I asked you a question?

When did you decide

to become a nun?

I entered the community as a novice when I was 16.

What were you doing when you were 16?

Well, trying to think up ways to clear my complexion, I think.

Don't you feel you missed a lot?

I suppose...

I have, um, I have missed some things of certain people,

certain women have experienced.

When one enters the service of God

when one makes certain sacrifices and receives certain rewards.

Which are?

Which are...

Which are...

the rewards one receives for serving...

Sorry, it was a stupid question. I'm sorry.

Why have you never married?

Mm...

well, I did...

once.

She died.

Sorry.

It's alright.

It was years ago.

Get in the bedroom.

Meow...

I'm gonna teach you to knock.

Come on out, Sister.

It's only Dirty Harry.

Now don't get too close, the cat is mean,

it will only drink boiled milk.

- It's awfully big. - Yes.

Brings home rats bigger than he is.

Uh-uh, no, you don't touch him, he'll bite your hand,

bite it off to the elbow.

- Why do you keep him? - I don't know.

He works nights, I work nights.

We have the arrangement

that we both sleep all day long.

But now I'm a little worried because

this is the first time I've seen him here, at night.

Perfectly normal.

If you need anything, just holler, huh?

All right, I will.

Uh, do you mind if I vacuum?

No, no, I didn't mind a bit.

The... maid skipped me this week.

Oh.

It's okay if Dirty Harry sleeps in the corner, huh?

Yes, it's fine.

Remember, don't pet him, he'll turn on you.

Spectre:

a visible and corporeal spirit,

a ghost,

an apparition,

a phantom.

An object of terror

or dread.

Is that George Walker's definition of what pushed him off the bridge?

It's Webster's

but it applies to Walker.

- You think he's the killer? - He's a candidate.

But the M.O. bothers me. Why'd he come off the bridge?

Well, if maybe Bradley was right,

maybe it was some souped-up nut hitting the pool bottom.

Don't play the horses kid, you'll go broke. You forgot about Wild Willie.

What the hell, there's enough... cuckoos to go around.

Here's a list of 18 people for the possible suicides

that might have been pushed off the Golden Gate Bridge.

Maybe more.

You know, I checked and double checked.

Those people left no suicide notes.

Performed none of those ceremonies you were telling me about.

And had no motive for suicide.

This is the sheet.

You take half,

I'll take half,

maybe we can reduce the number of it.

Oh, lab brought this down,

it's Father Thomas' personal effects, do you want 'em?

Maybe Sister Benecia would.

And you're really a nun?

How exciting for you, dear.

Well, I told the police at the time

that my Joseph would never commit suicide.

That-That bridge

has taken over 600 souls.

Y-You know,

there's something evil out there.

Now look man, I don't wanna go through this again.

I argued with those cops until I was blue in the face.

- Anyway, she was just a kid, just 16. - Mm.

Excuse me for not inviting you in but

Claire gets very upset whenever she thinks about it.

Now, you want to know what I think.

Well, I think that some lunatic

pushed my little Paul off that bridge.

Now, I don't know why I'm going through this again with a cop and a nun.

But the truth is, I really don't care what happened.

Look, I got an old man in there, now he ain't much

but he's alive.

Look, Ralph left me with nothing.

No insurance, nothing.

Elaine, you know what is...?

Who are you people?

Missionaries.

That all of them?

Well, we're no further ahead than when we started.

I don't think I could look any more of those people in the face.

So sad.

Yeah, I've had it today, too.

Well, maybe Butler'll come up with something.

Hey, when you first came to San Francisco

was there anything you wanted to do, anything special?

Go on a cable car.

- Like I said before, I entertain a lot. - Entertain a lot.

The famous Coit Tower, it was completed about 1933.

That's what I like.

There's Alcatraz... the prison.

Sausalito.

Very beautiful.

And over...

The bridge.

Yes, the bridge.

It's lovely.

It was built in about 1894.

The City of San Francisco brought over

Japanese landscape architecture...

I read a lot, too.

Excuse, please.

You take picture, yes?

Oh yeah, okay.

Stand over there.

OK, ready?

One... two...

three.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

- Now, I take your picture, yes? - No, that's alright.

- No, no, you wife, no trouble. - She's not my wife...

You wife, go, go, go, go.

OK, go ahead.

Close, close, stand close.

Please.

Close, arms around wife.

- We're not... - Not...

Come on, close.

Happy, happy.

Smile, smile.

Ah.

That's very beautiful.

How can you bear to work at night and miss all this?

Well... I don't know, I never thought much about it.

I guess I just don't like sleeping in that apartment at night alone.

My mother used to call days like this, memory days.

Huh.

She used to say, whenever something lovely happened,

remember it,

paint a picture in your mind.

And when you're big and grown up,

you'll always be able to look back on it.

Thank you for my memory day, Sergeant Silver.

My pleasure, Sister Benecia,

my pleasure.

Meow.

I'm going back to St. Joseph's now.

Well, you can't do that, it's not safe there.

Then a... hotel.

Did I say something wrong? Did I do something wrong?

No.

It's not you, it's not you, it's me.

Then what?

I'm just doing things...

feeling things...

I shouldn't.

Well, today you said you were enjoying yourself.

I am enjoying it.

That's the point.

I'm a nun.

I don't understand, I mean you...

you're telling me that if you're a nun, you're not allowed to enjoy yourself.

You're right, it's so stupid!

Aarrgh!

- You mean you knew about this stuff? - Yes, I did.

I don't know what the big deal is, sergeant, it's just grease.

I admit, I didn't know it was phosphorus...

It didn't strike you as strange that a Roman Catholic priest

would have some grease on his collar?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did think about it at the time.

But I decided it must have something to do

with some religious ceremony or something.

Why would you think that?

Because I also found it on that old nun who was killed over at St. Joseph's.

Lady, do me a favour,

the old bridge worker that went over the side last evening,

you check his personal effects, all his clothing.

If you find some more of that Catholic grease,

you give me a call, won't you, darlin'?

Yes! Sergeant!

Okay, okay, I'll tell him.

Some lady from the lab just called,

said she was too embarrassed to talk to you.

She said that grease were asking about is nothing but a cheap theatrical makeup

you can pick up at about 80 places in the Bay Area.

Then we go back to the beginning - again.

Here.

The bridge employment records, they go back at least 20 years.

Ought to be something in there somewhere.

Take them up to the computer room,

have them pump in time schedules,

vacation schedules, sick days, sick leaves, anything.

Maybe we can get some kind of an alignment on our so-called suicides.

Oh, by the way, I almost forgot,

this is the army report on Willie Petersen you wanted.

I did.

And I hate to keep asking but, uh,

I've grown accustomed to her face. Where is she?

My place.

She volunteered to go over some of the old suicide files.

She has to keep herself occupied.

That's a fine place for her to stay.

Mm... Dirty Harry.

Dirty Harry.

You should think about changing your lifestyle.

Hm.

You good boy.

What if I told you that Willie Petersen was once a member the United States Army

gymnastic team at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He received a section-8.

- I'd say pick him up. - Pick him up.

- Silver. - Yeah.

Captain wants to see you.

Goody, goody.

You can't do that, this is my case.

I want progress in your case, I'm not getting it.

- Well, I need time. - And I need answers,

for the Commissioner, the press, the Chamber of Commerce.

And what's all this 'my case' stuff?

I was the one that assigned you in the first place.

And you never stopped complaining.

- Well, that was then. - Yeah, well this is now.

You better quit babysitting that nun and come up with some answers.

I'm gonna take you off the case.

And who will take over? As if I didn't know.

McNally here has been following it from the start.

He's got some... pretty solid ideas.

Yeah, he is perfect for the case,

but he will take over, over my dead body!

That's no problem, Silver!

All right, knock it off!

You got 24 hours.

You come up empty and that's it. So get to work.

- You can't give me a time... - Now, listen...

- You can't give me a time! - One more word, that's it!

I just thought of another word.

Silver!

Actually, it's two words!

Captain,

I want to thank you.

Silver's dodging this thing and he shouldn't be.

This case has got promotion written all over it.

Not for you it doesn't, McNally.

And if you go anywhere near it,

I'll have you writing parking tickets by Monday morning.

Oh.

You're telling me Bradley can actually take you off this case?

I'm telling you he can and he will.

What'd you find on Wild Willie?

We got an APB out on him, nothing. He didn't even shown up for work.

I still can't believe Bradley can take this away from you.

Yes he can, he's the captain, he can take away the case,

he can take away my badge, my gun, my car...

I think I just said the magic word,

Willie doesn't have a car, does he?

So, choose your weapons, we got bikes, motorcycles, cable cars, buses.

Get the Golden Gate transit authority on the phone.

Check the bus schedule from the hospital to the bridge.

Operator,

get me California mental institution at Napa.

What'd you find out?

Runs all night, every hour on the hour and stops right on the bridge.

I got nothing from the hospital.

Dr. Hamill's babysitter said they went to the Opera.

So, we go to the Opera.

Have fun.

Hello?

May I speak to Sergeant Silver?

No, you missed him by about 4 seconds.

But I must talk to him, it's urgent.

Well, he says he's on the way to the Opera.

The Opera House. Right, thank you.

Is it possible for George Walker to get off the hospital grounds

without being noticed?

It's not only possible, it's quite likely.

George Walker is what we call a camper.

He's self committed which means he can leave anytime he likes.

Last time we saw him he was in a closed ward.

That's right but he has the run of the place.

Get on the phone, John.

Let me assure you, Sergeant, George Walker's harmless.

Yes.

Let me tell you how dangerous a man he is.

Every Christmas

he makes at least 50 little painted dolls for the kids in the wards.

- Painting? - Real cute little things.

My kids even have them.

Yeah, they're really something.

The faces on them glow in the dark.

All right but I want him put in a lock-up.

You sure?

Right, thanks.

George Walker signed out for San Francisco over 2 hours ago.

Doctor, do me a favour,

call captain Bradley at the Bryant Street station,

give him a complete description of George Walker.

Tell him I want an all-points bulletin put out immediately. Thank you.

$4.50. Would you mind waiting?

- Have you got $4.50. - What?

$4.50.

- Here. - Thanks.

Thanks.

What?

- How do you know it's the same Stacy? - Well, I don't, but suppose it is?

Listen, he took her 5 year old son

and forced him to watch her jump off the bridge.

Can you imagine the effect of that on a 5 year old boy?

You're forgetting one thing, we got a cuckoo by the name of George Walker.

Hey, look out! Argh!

Quit hollering, this is the fun part, remember?

Close off this bridge, use that phone.

Don't let her out of your sight.

Give me the, uh, bridge superintendent.

No, I'll hold, bring him to the phone.

That's right seal off traffic from both ends until you hear from us again.

Right.

OK, thanks.

I shouldn't be out here, I'm getting dizzy.

You'll be all right if you don't look down.

Nobody can climb around this bridge in the dark at night.

Nobody's out here, this is crazy.

Three counts, maybe we can get out of here.

Ah... no!

My hands, I'm slipping.

- Help. - I got you.

Hold on.

Come on, come on.

Jack!

- Jack, get over here! - I can't!

Come on, get over here!

Come on!

Come on. Hold on.

Jack, get over here.

Grab this arm.

OK, I got her.

All right, pull. Come on.

I got you.

Oh...

- I'll be OK. - Yeah.

OK.

George!

George Walker!

Alright, George, come out!

It's Sergeant Silver.

I want to talk to you George, I won't hurt you.

George.

Save me.

Aarrgh...!

What happened to your... to your glasses?

Well, I guess I'm getting used to the daylight.

Do you remember...?

- Go on. - No, I...

I just gonna ask you if you remembered Willie Petersen.

Wild Willie?

You would've made a good cop.

While you were hanging by your fingernails from the bridge,

old Wild Willie was ripping off my stereo and TV.

Yeah.

Your luggage is already on board, Sister and they've already called your flight.

Thank you, Father.

The archbishop sends his best wishes and prayers.

And him. Thank you.

Last call for flight 479.

That's your flight, Sister.

We'll get your boarding pass.

Ah...

I'm going to be clumsy.

Uh, I find it difficult to...

say goodbye and, uh,

thank you.

Someone who... saved my life several times.

It's not necessary to say thank you, Sister.

My full name is

Benecia Rosalie Avila.

Benecia Rosalie Avila.

It's a beautiful name.

I know...

Paul Silver.

Hey, I-I... want you to have that.

I didn't have time to wrap it.

It's one of my memory pictures.

This is for Dirty Harry.

And this is... for you.

A 25... dollar gift certificate

from, uh, Howard's Deli, huh?

That'll buy a lot of bagels.

Well...

I'm sorry, the bag will have to go under the seat.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

if you will observe the stewardess in each section,

she will demonstrate to you how to use the emergency oxygen mask.

If it ever becomes necessary, the oxygen mask...

Excuse me.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we've just been given instructions from the tower to return to the terminal area.

Since we don't know what the problem is,

I can't tell you how long the delay will be

but I'm sure it will only be a few minutes. Thank you for your patience.

Come with me, please.

I'm gonna be, uh...

clumsy about this.

I'm very fond of you.

I love you.

And I thought you ought to know that

before you left and I thought if you didn't know that, you wouldn't...

leave.

Uh...

I f...

feel ashamed.

- Ashamed. I'm-I'm sorry. - Not at you. I mean, I...

I feel ashamed that...

I didn't have the courage, I...

I wasn't brave enough

to tell you

that I love you.

You do?

I don't want to go away from you,

I want to be able to see you.

I...

I, uh...

I... broke about 20, uh...

federal laws stopping this... this airplane

and, uh...

So, when we

go out there,

would you mind pretending...

- pretending... - Acting like a criminal.

Yeah, like-like a criminal.

I mean, that way, we may not have to spend, uh,

the rest of our lives

together in Leavenworth, maybe.

Would you like to handcuff me?

Would you mind?

That made one hell of a cop.

All right, Sergeant.

I'm ready.

And the fun's over, Sister.

Let's go.

K