Original subtitles

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(MAN WHISTLING)

(EXHALES) Boy, that is absolutely it with me

- and the Long Island Expressway. - (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

I oughta have my head examined. I mean, I never learn.

I know, hypothetically it... it gets me in 12 minutes faster,

but that's with no traffic delay.

And when's the last time there was no traffic delay on the LIE?

Do you listen to the traffic reports on the radio?

I listen to the traffic reports, but they are not current.

And... and... and I have to learn the lesson over and over again.

I... I... I sucker myself in.

I... I... I try and save the minutes, and then I... I... I wind up trapped.

I'm sittin' there like it's a parking lot.

Well, you're here now.

Yeah. I'm here, but I'm late, and I'm aggravated.

I get myself so aggravated.

- (GASPS, SIGHS) - (TELEPHONE RINGING)

(SIREN BLARING)

DONNA: What's the matter?

Gregory?

- You okay, Greg? You all right? - GREGORY: (GASPS, PANTS) I can't...

- I can't catch my breath. - JOHN: Take it easy. Take it easy.

GREG: I'm havin' a hard time getting breath in.

JOHN: You want a glass of water? How about a glass of water?

- ANDY: What's wrong? - He can't breathe.

- JOHN: I'm gonna call an ambulance. - It's like someone sitting on your chest.

Let's forget about EMS, James. How about that chair right there?

Forget it. We're gonna go to the hospital ourselves.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

JAMES: Take a deep breath. Here we go.

JOHN: All right, sit down, Greg.

- Boy, this feels weird. - Sit down, Greg

Why walk when you can ride, Medavoy, huh?

- We'll take you right down the stairs. - Sit still.

- JOHN: You okay? - GREG: Yeah, well, I...

I just... I can't breathe.

JOHN: Can I have a chair downstairs, please?

GREG: Oh, this is embarrassing.

- You're like the sultan of India here. - GREG: Don't call my wife.

Don't anyone call Marie!

- JOHN: Take it easy, Greg. - Lieutenant, I... I'm gonna take

a few hours personal time.

- Put in a 28 when you get back. - Thanks.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

- Any word on Medavoy? - Kelly says he's still being evaluated.

- You got that complaint? - Yeah, here.

If they didn't admit him, that's gotta be good, right?

Yeah.

Uh, Ernie Dowd, I'm Detective Sipowicz.

That's a nice set of steps you got outside.

Yeah, well, the city hasn't gotten around to us yet, putting up a ramp.

How about we get out of the way over here?

Come on.

(CLEARS THROAT) Your complaint says that two men entered your apartment

- and robbed you? - Yeah, about 3:00 this morning.

They snatched my good wheelchair, my cash, some other stuff.

(SIGHS) They forced entry into your place?

No, they must've been waiting in the landing

when I got off the elevator.

Once I opened my door, they jumped me from behind.

That wheelchair was electric. Cost over three grand.

Took me four years putting it together how I wanted it.

Where had you been before you, uh, came back to your apartment?

A bar on 7th and B.

ANDY: Gallagher's?

Yeah. Across from the veterans center.

ANDY: Mm-hmm. You go there all the time?

All the time.

- Did you get a look at these guys? - No, I couldn't see them.

They put a bag over my head.

Oh, they tore my place up.

Tore up the floorboards. Shoved a sock in my mouth.

Tipped me over in a corner.

Said if I gave 'em any trouble they'd punt me.

Oh, you know, like a football.

They find anything when they tore up your floor?

Yeah, one of my guns. A .45 from Vietnam.

It was worth some money.

SERGEANT: ADA Costas, message for you.

- Thanks, Alex. - These are the serial numbers of the frame

and motor on my wheelchair.

And can you call the VA, verify a theft took place?

Yeah. Listen, uh...

did anybody else know the layout of your place, where you kept the gun?

- Nobody who'd do this. - (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- You sure? - I just said so.

COSTAS: Well, I'm sure that we can work something out with the detective.

All right, I'll check out that bar, and I'll run MO's,

Robberies with the same pattern.

What, people who take off gimps?

I'll be in touch. Can you make it out okay?

I made it in. I'll make it out.

COSTAS: I'll be at the 15th Precinct until about 12:30.

Okay, great, thanks.

ANDY: How's it goin'?

You wanna go over that Ortiz testimony for tomorrow?

No, I got that pretty well in mind, Costas.

Well, that's actually not why I came to see you,

although you are the sine qua non of my case.

Well, then, what, forsooth, would you be here for?

I got you something.

- Excuse me. - Yeah.

- It's for your aquarium. - Yeah, it's a clown fish.

What's the matter?

(SIGHS) I wouldn't be comfortable taking that.

You mind telling me why?

You don't just introduce a sudden fish to an ecology like that, Sylvia.

But it's a saltwater fish. The pet shop guy told me that he'd fit in fine.

Oh, well, then he knows my tank better than I do, yeah.

- What's wrong, Andy? - (ANDY SIGHS)

I just don't want my environment gettin' thrown out of whack,

some, uh, sudden, new fish.

I think maybe you don't want me bringing you presents.

- Maybe it makes you nervous. - ANDY: Well, maybe that's right.

Hey, how far do you want to take this, Andy?

Do you want to pretend we're not dating, or pretend we don't know each other?

Can you get your money back for that fish?

Sure. I'll just tell 'em the guy I got it for turned out to be an asshole.

- JOHN: Morning. - COSTAS: Excuse me.

ANDY: Hey. How you feelin', Medavoy?

Ah, they said it was just an anxiety attack,

and it was just uh, stress, you know, uh...

I... I just have to learn to take things easier, you know,

not let things bother me.

- So we can cancel that wreath? - (MEDAVOY CHUCKLES)

Boy, that was somethin', huh? I mean, I... I...I couldn't catch my breath.

Hey, thanks for riding me over there, John.

No problem. Take it easy, will ya?

Yeah, yeah, thanks.

- Oh, listen, Jimmy Wexler called you. - Yeah.

And I'm gonna do a security job for him.

- Thought you told me he was sick. - Yeah, he is.

I've been bodyguardin' his girlfriend. All that dough!

JOHN: Yeah.

Hey, Donna, do you think you could make it your business

to, uh, make sure there's decaffeinated coffee here?

Don't you think you should go home now, Detective?

You know, I really think I'm okay.

Detective, you told me you were just going to pick up your coat

and then you were going to go home.

And if you do not do what you promised,

I am gonna start screaming here in this squad room.

- MEDAVOY: Okay, okay. - Donna was at the emergency room.

- JOHN: I saw her in the back. - Is that right?

I guess they are skatin' together, huh?

MEDAVOY: I'm just gonna finish my coffee...

- Yeah. - MEDAVOY: ...and then I'll go!

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

- How are you feeling, Greg? - Oh, okay, Lieutenant. Uh...

Yeah, they said it was only an anxiety attack.

- Good. - Yeah.

Uh, although, um,

you know, if... if it's okay with you, I, uh, thought I might, uh,

you know, take a vacation day, head home.

Sure. Stay off the LIE.

Absolutely. That's a vow. (CHUCKLES)

(SIRENS BLARING)

- Hey, Johnny! - Hey!

- How you doin'? - All right.

- Come on in. - How's Jimmy doing?

Oh, they... they just took some tests, and they'll get a better idea from those.

- Okay. - I'm, uh, just gonna get my bag.

All right. Okay.

- JOHN: Hey, boss. - Hey, John.

Hey.

Hey, you've just interrupted a negotiation.

- Oh, yeah? - JIMMY: Yeah.

They just took some kind of blood test to see how far this thing's spread.

Yeah, now, if that test came back I'm lookin' at 18 months pain-free,

- you know my only question? - Hmm.

- Where do I sign? - Yeah. (CHUCKLES)

So I've been sitting here offering the deal to whoever's in charge.

- Yeah. Well, I hope you get good news. - JIMMY: Yeah.

Yeah, you know I... I wanna take her out to dinner a few more times.

- Yeah. Where's she going tonight? - Bowling with her girlfriends.

I gotta tell you, John, she's... she's been right here for me.

Hasn't backed up a step, you know.

And I told her it's no good being cooped up like this.

I mean, I drive her nuts.

You know, I get when I can't stand the pain.

Then the dope they give me, you know, puts me out in left field somewhere.

Yeah.

(SIGHS) I told her she's gotta go out.

- Hey, Robin. - ROBIN: Be right there!

And if I can't watch over her, I want someone I trust doing it, huh?

- You got it. - ROBIN: What?

(KEYS JINGLING)

JIMMY: Hey, you, take off.

What do I need a bodyguard for, huh? You're the millionaire.

Hey. If anyone goes for her purse, belt him with a tenpin, huh?

What if I just leave all my zirconium at home?

Hey, you could have had as many jewels as any broad in New York.

I know, I know.

- All right, I'll be home early, okay? - Hmm.

- You take it easy. - Yeah, enjoy.

See you later.

(BOWLING PINS CLATTERING)

FEMALE VOICE: Come on, Robin!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Whoo! Yes!

Yes! Whoo! Yes!

(EXCLAIMS) You were right, Johnny.

Follow-through. You know what I mean?

Yeah. Maybe you should quit and coach bowling.

Maybe you can teach me that follow-through thing tonight.

Oh Edie, your stroke is fine. I wouldn't want to screw it up.

Hmm.

- She likes you. - Yeah?

Yeah, as if you couldn't tell.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- I'll be right back. - All right, I'll go with you.

Johnny, if you follow me

to the ladies' room, I'm gonna yell for a cop.

- Okay. - Detective! Like this?

- Watch me! - I'm watching you.

EDIE: Whoo!

- (WOMEN LAUGHING) - Uh,

a few more boards to the right, I think.

- I'll be right back. - EDIE: Okay.

FEMALE VOICE: Yes! Whoo-hoo!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MALE VOICE: Yeah!

- Hi! - Hey.

So why are you so glum, huh?

- You got so quiet last night. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jimmy around?

Where else would he be?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV)

- JOHN: Hey. - Hey, Johnny.

- How you feeling? - Hey, I can still bend

the steel with my bare hands.

- I'm just waitin' for the results. - Yeah.

What are you doin' here?

I got a problem at work.

JOHN: They're swamped. They want me to come back.

JIMMY: Huh?

These guys, private bodyguards.

They're all good. I can vouch for 'em. They're all ex-cops.

Whoa, whoa. No, no, no, no. You ain't goin' anywhere.

- Jimmy, these guys are good. - John, I asked you to take care of her.

I mean, should I make some calls? I mean, I'll call the mayor.

- Jimmy, I... - Hey, I contribute big

- to that son of a bitch. - JOHN: I just can't watch her right now.

Look, you got a problem? It's going to go away, huh?

Now, you just let me make some calls.

Wait a mi... Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait.

Wait a minute. Let me work this out, okay?

I can work this out.

- You'll work it out? - Yeah.

Let me... let me figure it out.

Okay. So earn your money. (COUGHS)

- What happened last night? - Uh, went bowling.

- JIMMY: That's it? - Yeah.

She bowled a 116.

- Wh...wh... what happened afterwards? - Came home.

- Didn't go dinner... - Girlfriends... girlfriends went out.

- I brought her home. - Oh, I see.

- JIMMY: She went home? - Yeah.

Yeah.

JIMMY: Yeah, you know somethin'?

I used to ask this girl to marry me about once a week.

Every time she said... (COUGHS)

..."Why would I want to marry you? You give me enough crap now."

You see, Johnny, she figured that she didn't want anybody

to think that she was doing it for the money.

And I... I respect that.

I mean, you know, we're having a great time together the way things are,

so why not, you know, just leave things alone?

That's her attitude.

- JIMMY: That's the kind of kid she is. - Yeah.

Yeah, listen, you know, I setup a bank account for her. A hundred grand.

Four years, Johnny.

Has not taken a penny. (CLEARS THROAT)

JIMMY: She wouldn't take the diamond earrings I gave her either.

Believe me, I'd be satisfied with 18 good months.

I could take her out to dinner a few more times.

- There you go. - JOHN: I'm gonna shove off.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- You got plans for later? - ROBIN: No.

No. But if you want Edie's phone number... Edie, uh, likes John.

Which one's Edie? The one with the big tits?

- ROBIN: Jimmy! - Yeah.

You mind walkin' me out? We can coordinate the week?

- Yeah. - Yeah, good.

You take care of yourself, will ya? Feel better.

All right, Johnny.

We'll talk later.

We need to talk.

Look, if we're gonna continue to do this, we gotta make some rules.

All right, now. Whatever you do on your own time is your business,

but when you're with me I want you to show Jimmy some respect.

- What are you talking about? - I'm talkin' about you...

at the bowling alley last night with this other guy.

Now, I never wanna have to lie to him again. Do you understand me?

- John, it's not what you think. - Whatever it is,

I don't want you to do it around me again.

- Fine. - Okay?

Yeah, fine. (SIGHS)

He is blackmailing me.

- ANDY: The guy at the bowling alley? - Yeah.

Yeah, Johnny, his, uh... his name is Stan Haywood.

We, uh, we grew up together. We even...

We even dated a little bit in high school.

Well, a couple months ago I ran into him

and we started, um...

you know, having coffee and talking on the phone once in a while.

It was good, you know, to have someone I could talk to, someone...

(INHALES)

...that I had something in common with.

You know, Jimmy, uh...

he's been sick for so long, and I, uh... (EXHALES)

- ...I slept with him one time. - Tell me about the blackmailing.

Uh, last week he, uh...

Last week he called and told me he was in trouble with his bookmaker

and that the bookmaker found out about him and me.

and if he didn't get him the money he owed, he was gonna go to...

Jimmy and let him know what's been going on.

- Okay. You know he's lying, right? - I don't know what I know, Johnny.

All I know is, I don't know how I could've gotten myself into this mess.

- It's gonna kill Jimmy. - How much does he want?

- Twenty-five thousand dollars. - Okay.

Jimmy opened a bank account for you, didn't he?

- Yeah, but I never used it. - Okay.

Go to the bank, withdraw a cashier's check for 15,000 dollars and get it to me.

- W... wait, he said 25,000. - Don't worry about that.

If he's into a bookie at all, he's asking for more than he owes.

Get the 15,000 in a check, put it in an envelope

and put me together with this scumbag.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

- (FOOTSTEPS) - (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

ANDY: Hey, do you know a guy by the name of Ernie Dowd, a crippled guy?

Yes.

What time did he leave here the other night?

- Maybe, 2:00 in the morning? - He leave with anyone?

- BARTENDER: That's really not my business. - This guy got robbed.

I think somebody that's been to his apartment set him up.

I wanna know who he keeps company with.

Why don't you ask him?

'Cause I'm askin' you.

(SIREN BLARING)

You serve drunks here. That's illegal.

You want a summons every time you do that?

You want the state liquor people here checking your liqueurs for tiny bugs?

Huh?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- ANDY: I want to talk to you, Chicky. - Who are you?

- What do you want to talk about? - Come on. Just get in the car.

CHICKY: Let go of me, man.

- (SIREN BLARING) - (CAR DOOR CLOSES)

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

Do you know Ernie Dowd?

Oh, great, now it's a crime to date disabled veterans.

You don't date him, Chicky. You're for sale. You got a record.

Those guys have nobody. They wouldn't be getting any at all.

This isn't a conversation about hookin'.

Dealin' with gimps and stuff ain't easy.

A lot of the time you can't get the plumbing to work,

- no matter what you do. - Shut up! Huh?

Just shut up. We're not talkin' about that.

We are talkin' about you tellin' some thievin' pricks

about what's in a guy's apartment and where to look for the stuff.

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

Hey, I think you do.

And I think you told these guys that Ernie Dowd had some stuff

hidden in the floorboards of his apartment.

- (SCOFFS) This is great. - You wanna try Alaska, Chicky?

You wanna try bangin' Eskimos for whale sandwiches?

Because I will put you on ice. Now, you tell me who you talked to.

I'll give you their names.

But this didn't come from me.

- How you feeling today, Detective? - Oh, much better, Donna. Thanks.

Uh, listen, uh...

I didn't, uh...

I... I didn't thank you... thank you how I should've yesterday.

Uh, you know, showing up at the hospital, going through all that with me.

- That's okay. - Yeah.

What'd your wife say when you told her what happened?

Uh, not... not too much, you know.

(SIREN BLARING)

Well, did you talk with her about taking walks?

Yeah, we... we may do that. Yeah.

(SIGHS) You didn't tell her, did you, Gregory?

I didn't want to worry her.

Besides, it turned out to be nothin', you know.

What happened yesterday was not nothin'.

You heard the doctor. I should take the treadmill test.

But he... he doesn't think there's a problem.

What the doctor said was, you're under extreme stress.

You need to find ways to relax,

and he suggests taking

- long walks after work. - Walks. Yeah, yeah. Look, uh

Look, I'm okay. I'm fine.

(EXHALES) Thanks.

(TELEPHONES RINGING)

Detective!

- Thanks. - Detective! (CLEARS THROAT)

My boss is going out of town and he wants to hear your prep on the Ortiz testimony.

- He said he'd come here if necessary. - Yeah, all right.

- Tomorrow at two o'clock? - Tomorrow at 2:00.

JOHN: Yeah, I'm trying to reach Stan Heywood.

Hey, Stan. John Kelly. I'm a friend of Robin's. I got somethin' for you.

Yeah, well, whenever do you want me to drop it by?

You know the Bowlmor Lanes?

Okay, I'll see you there in a little while.

Right. Good.

- What's up? - I'm goin' to roust a couple guys.

Oh. Well, let me cancel this and I'll go with you.

Uh, you got somethin' goin' on here. I'll take Martinez.

- Andy, it's no problem. - Don't worry about it. I'll take him.

Those guys that took off that Vietnam vet?

The guy's crippled, John. They left him lying on the floor.

- Yeah, I know. Let me go with you. - No, that's all right. I'll take the kid.

Okay. You gonna be all right?

- Yeah. - All right. I'll see you later.

(SIREN BLARING)

MALE VOICE 1: How much longer you gonna be here?

MALE VOICE 2: Another half hour.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

John Kelly?

Stan Haywood.

Sit down, Stan.

How did you, uh, happen to pick this place to meet?

Well, I wanted a place you'd be familiar with.

- Can I get some coffee, please? - FEMALE VOICE: Sure.

- Thank you. - FEMALE VOICE: You're welcome.

You don't know how I've been waiting for this.

Listen, you, uh, if you see Robin before I do,

you tell her that I really appreciate it.

Are you listening to me, Stan?

- Yeah. - Because I'm gonna tell you something,

and I want you to be very clear about it.

- Go ahead. - Okay.

This is not the beginning of anything. This is the end.

Got no argument here, you know. (CHUCKLES)

Look, I don't know what Robin told you about this,

but I made a couple mistakes in reference to some gambling.

Believe me, I learned my lesson.

I swear to you, Stan Haywood gambles no more.

And I swear to you, I really appreciate, you know, Robin helping me out like this.

- I really appreciate it. - You finished?

- Yeah. - I'm a cop, Stan.

- Oh, God! (CLEARS THROAT) - The only reason I don't bust you

- for extortion... - Listen, I made a couple mistakes

- references... - I understand. Things happen.

But the only reason I don't pop you for extortion is,

I have not looked inside that envelope.

If I were to look in there and find some money, I would pop you.

So forget whatever you're thinking,

forget what you're telling yourself in the mirror. You've committed a crime.

If you ever approach Robin again, I will put you in jail.

You understand me? Straight to Rikers.

- Yeah. - Get outta here.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- (FOOTSTEPS RETREATING) - (DOOR CLOSES)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

JAMES: All right, come on guys, line up over here.

ERNIE: The guys you think robbed me are out there?

ANDY: I'm gonna get them all to speak to you.

You give me a number if you recognize anyone's voice.

How'd you find out about 'em?

- Police work. Are you ready? - Yeah.

All right, let's go.

- (SIRENS BLARING) - (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Stay in the corner and behave!

Stay in the corner and behave.

- Stay in the corner and behave. - ANDY: Hold on a minute.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Okay, go on.

MALE VOICE: Stay in the corner and behave.

- Stay in the corner and behave. - Yes.

Uh, number five.

Ask that one to laugh and say, "Or we'll punt you like a football."

Number five, laugh and say,

"Or we'll punt you like a football."

We'll punt you like a football. (LAUGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

No, I can't pick anybody out. Is that all of 'em?

Number six.

- Stay in the corner and behave. - No.

Are you not IDin' these guys 'cause you're afraid

they'll make bail and do something to you?

I'm not afraid of anybody.

You think you're gonna straighten this out on your own?

- Did Chicky give me up to these guys? - Which guys?

Hey, I don't recognize anybody's voice.

Don't make any mistakes here, Ernie. Don't do anything stupid.

Don't tell me how to live my life.

- Cut 'em loose. - All right.

OFFICER: All right, gentlemen, this way out.

JAMES: All right, come on let's go.

(TAP WATER RUNNING)

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

- Hey, Greg. - Hey, John.

- JOHN: How you feelin'? - GREG: Okay, you know, all right.

Uh, John, uh...

could I, uh, could I talk to you for a minute?

Sure.

GREG: J... John, when you got separated, uh,

did you, uh, did you give that a lot of thought?

I... I mean, did you have it pretty well worked out, what you were gonna do?

It was her call.

- Oh, it was Laurie's idea, huh? - Yeah.

You know, for me it was like, you're married, you're married for life.

Me too, you know, that's exactly me too. (CHUCKLES)

But, you know, when happened... (CLEARS THROAT)

...I was so busy being pissed off and hurt,

I mean I guess I wasn't listening, y'know?

She was trying to tell me why she wanted to leave.

But you know what the truth of it is? She was right.

- We were miserable together. - Yeah.

I... I kinda feel that way myself, you know, Marie and I.

- See, um, uh... - (SIREN BLARING)

...a couple of months ago... We had this big set-to, and uh...

and I moved out for a couple of days.

And, uh, I... I... I just found that... (EXHALES)

I just couldn't imagine, you know, being separated.

But, uh... (EXHALES)

...I think I gotta really try to imagine it,

uh, even with the kids, 'cause, uh, I mean, we're really unhappy.

Well, I'm not telling you it's easy, 'cause it's not easy.

You know, it's not like I'm having a great time or anything.

And, I mean, with you and Laurie there were no kids involved.

That's true. Y'know what? I do miss her. I do miss her.

But the interesting thing is, I found out a lot about myself.

JOHN: I mean, it doesn't make you happy.

You know? Divorce doesn't make you happy.

But in a weird way, it's made me eligible to be happy.

More than I ever have been in my life.

Does that make sense?

Yeah.

I don't know if that'll help you, or... or what, but...

Yeah.

It helps a lot.

- Thanks, John. - JOHN: Yeah.

(COUGHS, SNORTS)

Oh, you gotten the cold from hell yet, Detective?

Maybe after we've spent some time together.

- Shall we get through this? - MALE VOICE: I'm gonna be out of town,

and I know they're gonna hit us hard on probable cause.

- Let's do it. - Okay.

Detective, on October 7th of last year did you have occasion

to arrest Julio Ortiz?

- I did. - COSTAS: Tell the court the circumstances.

We had a search warrant for Mr. Ortiz's apartment authorizing us

to look for controlled substances, especially cocaine.

On what basis had you sought the warrant?

Uh, information from a reliable informant, Joseph Gonzales.

COSTAS: What, if anything, transpired when you reached Mr. Ortiz's apartment?

ANDY: We knocked on the door,

we identified ourselves as police officers.

After ten seconds or so, we forced entry and we found Mr. Ortiz standing

in his toilet, trying to flush what turns out

- to be 23 ounces of crack cocaine. - (MAN SNEEZES)

Detective, I don't think you mean to say

that Mr. Ortiz was standing in his toilet bowl.

(SNIFFS)

(SIGHS)

He was standing in his bathroom flushing the cocaine.

What, if anything, did you do at that time?

ANDY: We prevented him from destroying the evidence.

We gave him his rights, and we took him into custody.

COSTAS: Detective, Mr. Ortiz has stated that you broke down

the door of his apartment without warning.

ANDY: No, that's not correct. No.

We identified ourselves, and then we gave him time to open the door.

(MAN SNIFFLES)

So you made no surprise moves

to throw the ecology of Mr. Ortiz's apartment out of whack?

(BRIEFCASE LOCKS CLATTERING)

D... d... did I miss something?

Yeah. Me gettin' my balls squeezed.

That'll be all, Detective. Thanks for your cooperation.

Thanks.

(MAN SNEEZES)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

JOHN: What's wrong?

He found out.

- (DOOR CLOSES) - (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

- I got your message. - JIMMY: Oh, yeah?

You got my message, huh?

JIMMY: Get in.

JOHN: What's the matter?

JIMMY: I know about the 15 grand, all right?

Now, did you think that they weren't gonna call me about that?

JIMMY: My accountant called me. The bank called him right away.

Now, what do you know about this guy, Stan, what...

- whatever his name is? - ROBIN: Jimmy.

Jimmy, why are you putting John in the middle of this?

- It doesn't have anything to do with him. - Shut up. I'm asking him.

Jimmy, I gave the guy the envelope because she didn't want to see him again.

- JIMMY: Did you ever see him before? - This guy is a bug.

He's not the type of guy you'd remember.

You know, you people must think that I'm too sick to notice 15 grand!

You know, I still know what's going on around here.

The cancer's spread all over...

to my liver...

and my spine.

JIMMY: I'll get maybe a couple of months to live.

What do you mean, a couple of months?

What do you mean a couple of months... A couple of months!

That's the report I got. That's what I got. Huh?

JIMMY: And then, John,

I get called about this check.

ROBIN: Do you understand now about the check, Jimmy?

(EXHALES)

Yeah. She gave it to him for what, for his high school dues?

Because he owed money to a bookmaker.

JIMMY: So out of the blue she gave it to him...

because they were in the high school yearbook together.

(SIGHS)

- You want some soup? - JIMMY: Hey, I don't care.

I don't care. (SIGHS)

Johnny.

Was she sleeping with this guy?

If I'd have seen something like that, you don't think I would tell you?

You think that maybe he was just an old friend, huh?

That's all? That's all... that's all it was?

I didn't get to talk to him, but he didn't seem too impressive.

I handed him an envelope.

- He wasn't? - JOHN: No.

He's gone, and he knows not to come back.

(SIGHS) Yeah.

(CHUCKLES) Well, you know, that'd be just like her.

JIMMY: You see, you know?

Always looking to help someone.

(SIREN BLARING)

I'm dyin', John.

- You okay? - Yeah.

It's gonna be okay about this guy, so I want you to forget about it.

- I let Jimmy down. - No, you didn't.

He's gonna die now, and he thinks I don't love him.

Robin, listen to me. He knows you love him.

And all... (INHALES) ...all he wanted was a...

a little more time, you know, a little more time where it didn't hurt so bad.

And he's gonna get it.

JIMMY: Robin!

- Yeah? - JIMMY: You got my soup?

(WHISPERS) Go ahead. You'll be fine.

Yeah, Jimmy. Just a sec.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

- (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING) - (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- What's the deal? - A guy in a wheelchair.

He's got a gun on four hostages.

Hey, look, I know this guy. I know the case. Let me go talk with him.

Why don't you wait for the negotiating team?

You sure the guy's gonna wait?

- Get him a vest. - Got it.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT VOICE OVER RADIO)

Ernie Dowd, it's Detective Sipowicz!

I'm comin' in, Ernie!

- MALE VOICE 1: I got no beef with you. - We'll be done in here in a little while.

Then everyone can come in.

You got no problem with the bartender, do ya, Ernie?

ANDY: Why don't you let the bartender out?

Yeah, go ahead. Hey, put this on my tab.

- BARTENDER: Sure. - Come on.

ANDY: I'm comin' in, Ernie.

You were over there, weren't you?

Couple inches the other way, I could be sitting where you are.

ANDY: Look, you gotta... you gotta cut this out, man.

There's a half dozen guys out there with automatic weapons,

and they don't know what assholes these three are.

Push him on the floor, Chicky.

- Listen, talk to me. - Push him on the floor!

Do it now! Push him on the floor!

- Now, you, kick him like a football. - I can't! My feet are tied!

Ernie, talk to me. Talk to me, Ernie. Ernie, hey. Hey, pal.

ANDY: Come on, talk to me.

Talk to me.

I come in here after I saw you in the station house.

I tell Chicky, "Hey, there's no hard feelings.

"You know, it's worth... worth a thousand to get my wheelchair back."

She gets me in touch with her friends.

ANDY: Listen, I couldn't care less what happens to them, Ernie.

But if they're hurt, you're gonna wind up either dead or in jail.

So what?

So, if you think your room is bad, jail's worse.

Well, that leaves dead.

Mm-hmm. Now, I don't want that. I've seen too many good men go down.

Hey, uh, do you want a drink?

It's on the house.

I can't, Ernie. I'm a drunk.

Everybody's got their battles, Ernie.

- Push him on the floor. - Ernie...

No, you tell him you're going to punt him. Push him on the...

- ANDY: Ernie, you just listen to me. - What?

Listen to me. Was there anything good? Huh? Was...

- What do you mean? - I mean,

if you stop this now and nobody gets hurt, then you won't have to go away.

But before any of this, was... was there anything good in your life?

Yeah, I had my chair setup how I wanted.

Chicky and me had some things worked out.

All right, you got your chair back.

And I'm gonna put Chicky in jail.

But I never noticed any shortage of whores in town.

Now, come on, Ern.

- What do you say, huh? - (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

ANDY: Come on, Ernie.

Come on.

Just take it easy.

You just relax now.

Come on.

That's it.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

JOHN: And he has to absolutely speak to me?

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Okay, I'll be right down. (CLEARS THROAT)

(TELEPHONE CLATTERS)

- JOHN: You okay? - Yeah. Thanks.

- JOHN: How you doin'? - Uh...

No fun bustin' this guy.

I think he's gonna get ROR'd.

- The booking's clear. - Okay, thanks.

DONNA: Detective, here's your file.

All right, I gotta take you to get fingerprinted.

- Thanks for the coffee. - JOHN: Yeah, no problem.

- Good luck, huh? - Yeah.

Can't push the chair.

- Hey! - SYLVIA: Hey, Johnny!

- How was the ski trip? - Oh, yeah. It was, uh, it was fun.

- You knock 'em dead on the slopes? - I never got you up there.

- It was always a big regret for me too. - Oh, sure.

- Does Greg Medavoy seem off his game? - Why?

We just did a case workup. He seems a little depressed.

Yeah, he's got a domestic situation going on.

Oh, yeah? Hey, do you want to go out for dinner?

Sure. What's the occasion?

- No occasion. - Okay. Your call.

- LAURIE: Tonight? - Fine.

- All right. I'll talk to you later? - JOHN: See you later.

Detective Martinez is gonna stay with you through the arraignment.

We think you're gonna get a recognizance release.

Then he'll see you get home.

I'm going to do better if somebody carries me down.

Yeah, the chair nearly went over coming up.

All right, let's pick him up. Uh, Jack, you wanna grab this chair?

We'll meet you downstairs. (GRUNTS) All right, there we go.

ANDY: You okay?

JAMES: Gettin' a lot of experience at this.

First Detective Medavoy, now him.

- ANDY: You holdin' up okay? - Yeah.

Okay, just sit the chair there. All right?

- ERNIE: Thanks. - ANDY: No problem.

ANDY: There we go.

All right.

(SIGHS)

James, uh, you wanna give me a second here?

Sure. Let me get the paperwork.

You okay?

Yeah.

You got my card, you know, if you feel like talkin'.

Do you feel like talking?

I can't remember most of it, bein' over there.

I don't want to remember it either.

ANDY: Good luck!

Uh, James.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

Counselor, uh, can I have a word with you in private?

(SIGHS)

I want us to be square about that fish.

Andy, I do... I don't think... think we're gonna make it. I...

You know, I got this one pseudochromis... (SIGHS)

...the pain-in-the-ass fish of all time.

If I move one little piece of coral two inches, that's it...

he won't eat, he don't socialize.

If I change his food mix a little bit, forget about it.

He acts like you're some kind of heinous criminal, I'm tellin' ya

- this fish, he aggravates me so much... - What's the point?

The point is that, uh... (SIGHS)

someone has to ask themself,

"Is the fish worth it?"

I mean, that's what it comes down to, I mean, uh...

Is it worth the aggravation, his pain-in-the-ass ways?

You're not a fish.

You are a person, and you can talk.

And I should've expressed myself better.

I should've said, it makes me a little nervous, you givin' me somethin'

and, uh, I'll get used to it, though.

And... thank you very much.

- (EXHALES) - How am I, uh, communicating?

Good.

- So, who'd you go up there with? - Oh, just some friends.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

He asked about Greg Medavoy today.

Oh, yeah, you said he's having problems...

- Yeah. Yeah. - ...in his marriage?

He was asking me about what it was like to be separated, you know,

if I was glad? Did I do the right thing?

- What did you say? - That it was tough, you know?

That I was really unhappy,

but if I got a shot at somethin' again, I might be able to do somethin' with it,

- you know? - (SIGHS)

I've learned a lot too.

And I know what you mean, you know,

feeling like you'd take better advantage if you had another chance.

Johnny, I'm seeing someone.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

I guess I'm telling you because...

I guess because it's getting serious.

Hmm. Who's the guy?

He's... a doctor.

- Hmm. - (PAGER BEEPING)

You know what? Let's do this another time.

- (PAGER BEEPING) - Yeah. Sure.

Okay? Okay.

- You okay? - Yeah.

I have to take this. You got a minute?

- Yeah, yeah. - Okay.

EDIE: You look incredible. It's gorgeous.

Let me look at your buttons. Yup, you're all set.

All right, sweetheart, I'll get the hors d'oeuvres.

- What's going on? - We need a best man.

You mean right now?

You think it's a mistake?

Absolutely not. Come on.

- EDIE: Hi, John! - Hey! Look at you.

- Johnny's here. - Hey.

- JIMMY: Hey. - JOHN: What are you doin', you sneak?

- You gonna stand up for me? - Am I gonna stand up for you?

- JOHN: Come on! - JIMMY: (GRUNTS) I can get up. Come on.

- JIMMY: I helped get that bum elected. - JOHN: I know.

(CLEARS THROAT) I, uh, I'm under instruction to make this brief.

Yeah. We want the drive-through version.

But I want to say how happy I am to be performing this ceremony.

- JIMMY: I look all right, huh, John? Yeah? - Perfect. Aces.

You know, this was her idea. I mean...

She wanted to do it, you know? The kid loves me.

So why not do it, huh?

- Hey, whatever time there is, huh? - I'm with you, Jimmy.

- I'm with you. - Are we ready to go, Jimmy?

(MUMBLES) Yeah, I've been ready for 14 years.

(COUGHS) She's the one that's had the cold feet.

Robin Wirkus, do you take Jimmy Wexler to be your lawful wedded husband?

I do.

OFFICIANT: Jimmy, do you take Robin to be your wife?

- Absolutely. - Congratulations. Kiss the bride!

Hey, I don't need no instructions from you.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

(SIGHS)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)