Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e09 Episode Script

Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man - Book ll": - Planning on staying long? - Just till I get bored.
You must have faith in us to keep you amused.
How much time do we have? Enough.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
You have to care for somebody before they hurt you.
To me, you're nothing but merchandise.
- What are you celebrating? - That, young lady, is a long story.
- Wait a minute.
I gotta get my purse.
- No.
Today, everything is on me.
Background on Sarah Hunt.
Thin.
People who work for Charles Estep learn to keep a low profile.
We've located Sarah Hunt.
- (Estep) Where? - New Orleans.
Good.
It has occurred to me there's a possibility that Jordache knows about Sarah now.
If they reach her, it could be embarrassing.
Anybody who's not afraid of Charles Estep is a fool.
I'll take you to Washington.
I'll get you a new identity if you want it.
Why should I trust you? (trumpet plays slow jazz) Hear that? Uh-huh.
Canned atmosphere? In the French Quarter? No.
That's a live trumpet.
A good one.
I didn't tell you I used to play the trumpet? No.
Surprised? Yeah, I am.
I'm kind of surprised.
I'll have to think of why.
(phone rings) Hello? Speaking.
Good.
We'll be there.
Thank you.
- The flight's confirmed.
- Oh.
I've got two hours to get Sarah to the airport.
A chartered plane may be overdoing it, but Estep moves fast.
No, I don't think you should take any chances.
All right.
Enough.
Come here.
You'll never do that to me again, Maggie.
What? Fake it.
I won't if you won't.
- Hm.
- (giggles) Maggie.
Think of our last 36 hours.
Cooling the strike, drafting the contract, catching planes, taking on Sarah Hunt.
Then we try relaxing at Antoine's over food and wine we can barely taste.
We rush back here, we jump into bed, we make love.
We really didn't give ourselves much of a chance, did we? No.
It, uh it may be convenient it may be an escape but I want to hold you in my arms.
(knock at door) Oh! Are you all right, Mrs Hunt? I'm afraid that you've made the trip for nothing, Senator.
Will you let me in? Is Sarah ready? We haven't got much time.
She can't go.
Do you understand this is for her protection? And she needs it.
She is hiding from Charles Estep.
We both know She can't go.
- Will you take me to her, please? - I can't.
What do you mean? You can't or you won't? Uh, she's not here.
Sarah is not here, Senat They, uh took her away from me.
Who took her where? I woke up when the ambulance came, and and they told me that she had called them herself.
And she didn't wake me.
Can you imagine that? That she didn't wake me? Hm? Can you imagine that? Who are we talking about? The attendants? Where did they take her? To Fairfax Sanitarium.
On the pike road.
- Let's go.
- No, no, no.
You don't wanna see her? You're her mother, for God's sake! Don't.
Please.
Please don't.
I am going whether you come with me or not.
Wait here.
- Where's Sarah Hunt? - Visiting hours are over.
- You wanna bet? What room is she in? - Visiting hours are over, Mr Jordache.
Senator Jordache.
Inform the physician on duty I wanna see Sarah Hunt immediately.
Miss Hunt? Miss Sarah Hunt? Oh.
We have no record of her admission.
She was brought in here about two hours ago! - We have no record of her - I wanna see the doctor.
I told you.
I am sorry.
You are going to cost me my job.
I'll call you back.
I understand.
- May I ask who? - You know who, Doctor, and why.
If you're the gentleman who just arrived and has been awakening patients You just arrived, I see.
What brought you here at this time of night? Calls in the middle of the night are a doctor's life.
Specifically, the emergency you may be here to inquire about, Senator.
Are you a member of the Hunt family? A friend.
Mrs Hunt is rather upset.
She didn't call the ambulance that picked her daughter up.
Our ambulance service didn't answer the call.
They simply arrived at Emergency with a sick woman.
- Who called them? - She did.
The patient did.
They told us.
She suffered a massive coronary some time before or after that call.
Before she reached us, at any rate.
Coronary? - Have you notified her mother? - I just got here.
I was on my way to Intensive Care.
- Let's go.
- Out of the question.
Regulations Will be bent tonight.
I am going to see Sarah Hunt or I am going to call the FBI and charge Fairfax Sanitarium with kidnapping.
Ben? Sarah Hunt.
How does it look? Has her condition stabilised? I'll be right up.
Clinical death five minutes ago.
They're still massaging her heart.
Oh, dammit! (sighs) You can't keep me out of Intensive Care now, Doctor.
You don't inspire my blind faith, Doctor Lassiter.
I wanna see Sarah Hunt.
(doorbell) Mrs Hunt? Mrs Hunt.
Who told you? Did the sanitarium call? I just knew.
Oh, God.
She was so frightened when they when they took her away.
She called me.
And that's when I woke up.
She's dead? Sarah's dead? They said it was a heart attack.
Nothing wrong with her heart.
Wh why did she call the ambulance? I say she didn't.
The coronary happened after she left here.
- What are you telling me? - You tell me, Mrs Hunt.
Tell me why you refused to go to the hospital with me.
Tell me why you knew she was dead.
Who picked her up? Who rode with her in the ambulance? Ambulance attendants and? You saw someone.
Who was it? Well, I I I was half-asleep.
I I thought I saw somebody I Mrs Hunt, you have to tell me.
I have to know.
Who? I thought I saw sitting sitting next to the driver I did think I saw somebody.
A man who looked very much like like Mr Raymond.
Raymond works for Estep.
My God, she was so frightened.
She was so frightened when they took her away.
And I let them take her.
She said she knew that they would find her, and they did.
They found her, and she's dead.
And she's dead she's dead bec she's dead bec She's dead because she knew too much about Charles Estep.
Mrs Hunt it will not end here.
I promise you that.
(# smooth jazz) Oh! When did you order those? I really shouldn't.
There are no "shoulds", only "wants".
We've played a lot of games between us.
No more.
You're a very special lady, Ramona.
OK, special lady, we've talked about Vietnam, Greenway Records and me, me, me.
- Let's hear it about you.
- Oh, that'll take a fast five seconds.
- Why do you always put yourself down? - Well Nothing very special or exciting's happened in my life.
I was born here in Whitby.
I went to school.
Got a job at the electronics plant.
Now that sounds like something you put on a job application.
How do you feel about things? Well Go on.
I'm going to college.
And, uh I wanna do something.
I don't know.
Something special.
Something nobody's ever done before.
Like what? That's just the trouble.
I don't know.
Um But I just know there's more to life than living in Whitby and working on an assembly line.
Then you're halfway there.
Most people spend their whole lives thinking what they've got is it.
And then one day they wake up and they're dead.
We're a lot alike, Ramona.
We both know that life is something you experience.
Something you grab and shake every last drop out of.
And when you think it's all gone, there's nothing left, you squeeze even harder.
But you've done it.
The record business, that's so exciting.
I mean, all the stars and the parties and the nice restaurants.
It, uh doesn't mean much if you don't have anybody to share it with.
Come on.
It's hot in here.
- Where are we going? - To cool off.
(Ramona laughs) (Billy) This is good.
(both laugh) - Race you in.
- Aw, I don't think so.
- Want a suit? - Do you have one? No, but I learned how to do without a lot of things in Nam.
Those people are beautiful.
No hang-ups.
Everybody bathes together.
Families and friends.
As long as it's right and real, they do it.
Oh, no, Billy! Hey.
Who are you? A little girl from Whitby or a lady who wants to experience life? Hm? OK.
Come on in with your clothes on.
You can dry them later.
Whoo! Best feeling in the world! Waarrrrggggh! (shrieks) You did come in with your clothes on.
You're gonna love swimming when you learn how.
Don't.
I have to.
It's OK, thanks.
It's OK.
Good night, Ramona.
Good night.
I'll call you tomorrow.
OK.
(dull thud) What's happening? (slurred) If I'm facing Mecca, I'm praying.
You through for the night, or you want a hand? (murmurs) Prefer solo.
I made a big mistake.
Looked back to see if I shut the door.
The house shook when you shut the door.
You're missing the point, Wesley, as usual.
The point is, I looked back.
Never look back.
OK.
Mount Everest dead ahead.
We're getting it.
Yes, sir.
Onward and upward.
Never look back.
Cos it's gaining on you? Because it isn't there.
Base camp four.
We'll rest here before we attempt the summit.
Now, what? Uh What was I, uh? Never look back.
Yeah.
Because if you look back maybe some big wave has come and swept it all away.
Bad night, Billy? Bad? Bad night? Look at me.
I'm celebrating.
The end of the world? I mean when I celebrate you can tell I feel good.
Wesley, what happened to me today was so big that The end of the world.
Yeah.
OK.
I'll go with that.
Because I sure as hell am moving into a new one.
Moving? Where? Up, not out.
Hey, don't push me.
I wasrt.
You know, you're a funny guy.
You haven't even asked what I'm celebrating.
What are you celebrating, Billy? And make it fast, huh, cos I'm fading.
You wanna know what I'm celebrating? Today, Phil Greenberg made me a partner in Greenway Records.
That's incredible.
How did? I mean, why? What's incredible? How about assuming he likes the way I did my job? Yeah.
Listen, congratulations.
No wonder you're drunk.
It's a mindblower, isn't it? Yeah! - It happened so fast.
- Of course.
Of course, it's not as simple as it sounds, but Hey, we'II we'll talk tomorrow.
Hey, but right now, hear this If you ever decide you want a job in Greenway Records, the job's yours.
- Far out.
We'll talk about it tomorrow.
- You think I'll forget? I won't forget.
Cos tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life.
It's gonna be a great ride, and I want you on board.
It sounds like it'll pay me to get you in shape for tomorrow.
You need some help? You're a good boy.
You're a good boy, buddy.
How did I make buddy first class so quick? I'd rather wait than call back.
Say Ramona.
Thanks.
Billy? No, don't apologise.
We're both in a hurry.
I'm coming to New York this afternoon.
I wanna see you.
Of course after business hours, unless you work all night.
That's OK.
Yes.
No, not in a bar.
Outside someplace? The park entrance across from the plaza? Yeah.
I'll be there at 5:30.
(phone goes dead) Anybody home? Hi, Dad.
- You OK? - Sure.
I don't have to ask you.
You look downright happy.
Oh, don't get carried away.
But, uh, Well, the men are feeling so good about going back to work, so I feel good too.
- No more flak from the national? - No.
They got the message at the meeting I hope.
Seeing Wes today? I'm not sure.
He's a good kid.
Yes.
Got to stop calling the next generation "kids", especially you.
- I don't mind.
- Yes, you do, and you should.
Now, it's all part of my being too strict with you, Ramona.
You know, trying trying twice as hard to be two parents.
I know, Daddy.
Don't worry.
I'm not gonna worry, I'm gonna change.
You have.
You're my great big grown-up daughter now.
Something to do with Wes.
It's nothing he's done.
I'm the one who I can't, Daddy.
Maybe being grown-up means you have to figure some things out for yourself.
It could.
Also means that you've earned the right to your own privacy.
Well, here's your chance.
You've got it.
Wait a minute.
You don't have to go.
Hello and goodbye, Wes.
Oh, I'm late for a meeting.
I'm gonna sign a contract with your uncle tonight, so wish me luck, eh? Wait.
I'm not that grown-up.
You can still kiss me goodbye.
Same face, same build, voice.
That wasrt your father.
It's nice to see him with the pressure off.
That meeting sure set him up.
- Are you ready? - Ready? - We're visiting Dwyer's boat.
- Oh, Wes, that wasrt today, was it? Hey, you haven't had time to forget.
Time's what I've lost track of.
The strike, everything backing up, and We have a date for today, Ramona.
And I'm here, and we're going.
I can't.
- What are you talking about? - I can't.
You can't just say, "I can't.
" Dad has to send this report of the meeting to the national union.
I offered to type it.
- It'll take two hours.
- Two hours is longer than the meeting.
I'm not the world's fastest typist.
Today can't be our only chance to visit Dwyer.
He's not gonna sail away, is he? No, but I told him we were coming.
I wanna meet him.
I promise I promise to keep the next date.
- Senator.
- Inspector, thanks for making time.
Sir, we're honoured to have you with us.
Have a seat.
- Thank you.
- How long will you be in New Orleans? Oh, not long.
I was due in Washington an hour ago.
Well, we'll see what we can do to help you.
You have a problem? A woman named Sarah Hunt was picked up at her house by an ambulance.
No one there called.
Hours later, she was dead of a coronary at Fairfax Sanitarium.
I wanna know which ambulance service was used.
I wanna know who ordered it.
Cigar? This Miss Hunt, was she a personal friend, a relative? She was a potential witness in a Senate investigation.
- I see.
- She'd agreed to come to Washington.
Now she's dead.
- You suspect there's some connection? - I know there is.
How do you know? There was a man sitting in the ambulance who Miss Hunt's mother recognised.
This should make it easier.
Did she give a description? She did better than that - she gave me his name.
Arthur Raymond.
Is that a name you recognise, Senator? You know the man? No, not personally.
He works for the man I'm investigating.
Charles Estep.
Estep? I see.
You have some other information you can give me? No.
Not at the moment, no.
All right, Senator.
I'm gonna write this up and give it to the local police for you.
Mr Devore, if I had wanted to involve the local police, I would have gone to them directly.
Senator, we're involved in a delicate area here, I'm afraid.
See, no federal law has been violated.
There was no transportation across a state line.
Miss Hunt was not a witness in a federal litigation, so - What happened, Mr Devore? - I beg your pardon? Everything was going along fine until I mentioned Charles Estep.
Senator, I think you misread me.
I'm just trying to make you aware of the legalities.
- Did a red flag go up, a warning bell? - Not at all.
The Why did your cooperation suddenly evaporate? You should be aware that you're under strain.
You've been through a great deal.
After a rest, you'll realise the absurdities The charges are kidnapping and murder.
And the legalities are that in the next 72 hours, the FBI will enter this case.
You better get a head start, Mr Devore, or you may be testifying before a Senate committee.
Senator, now Senator, you misread me.
If you'd just wait a minute - Woody? - (Falconetti mutters) Aw, come on now.
- Galfas.
- (Falconetti) Excuse me.
Klump.
No, Krump.
Klump, Krump.
(Falconetti) Falconetti, Falconetti - Machado.
- Falconetti - Wilson.
- Falconetti Rouse.
Regan.
Compinski.
Falconetti.
Volpo.
Sten.
Byers.
Falconetti, can I talk to you for a minute? Oh, come on.
Over this way, please.
Please.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will Wrong number.
The wrong number.
and have the attorney present - Hey, look, I've heard it.
- If you so desire I've heard it.
If you cannot afford one, an attorney will be appointed for you before questioning.
OK? Show me the bust.
Look, I don't wanna smell it.
I can read.
It says "Falconetti".
It says "smashed windshield".
Nobody dead, nobody hurt.
Oh, come on.
What, a windshield? It got a bullet through it.
Let's move, fella.
Hey, wait, wait.
Listen, you guys.
This is my third shapeup today, and the first time my name has been called, and I need this job.
Don't do it.
Not here.
- Don't put me down here, man.
- They know what's going on.
Yeah, but, see see, the cuffs are different.
Look, I'm with you guys.
Everything's fine, man, and, uh Hey, give me a break.
All right.
- It's a frame.
- Lots of luck.
Look, it's a frame.
I don't even work for the man.
The guys who work for him hate his guts, and somebody flips out Somebody flips out, I get picked up? Hey, come on.
Who's got it in for you? The senator.
He's crazy.
He's crazy, and I'm the only one that knows it.
He's rich and he's powerful and he wants my scalp.
What chance have I got? Hey, my wife's kid brother just passed his Bar exam just so he could take on rich, powerful senators.
Have you got the bread? I got nothing.
I mean, I have, uh I have nothing.
I, uh I want a smart public defender.
Ask for one when you're transferred.
Uh transferred where? City jail.
Yeah.
I'd like I'd like one of those PDs from Yale.
Yeah.
No dummies.
Yeah, well, keep after it.
- Clark, take him away.
- OK.
- Come on.
Keep going.
- Where are we going? - Down at the end.
- Get away, man.
- Let's go.
- I don't wanna go in there.
Keep going.
L-I don't wanna go in there.
Right here.
- Hey, man, don't put me in there.
- Move.
(shouts manically) Let me out! Get me out of here! It's Clark.
I need assistance.
Let me out! Thank you.
I asked him to lunch, he picks 21.
I took Danny Miller to lunch at 21.
Of course, I picked up the check, Danny got us a table.
Do you know something? Inside a year, I won't even need reservations.
Oh, sorry about running on like this.
It's been a beautiful day.
I'll never forget it.
I think you'll be very successful.
You mean that? You can't help yourself.
That makes it easier for me to say what I came here to say.
I set this up, remember? I remember last night.
Last night didn't really mean anything to you and not enough to me.
(sighs) Can we admit that, Billy? Go on.
All right.
It was exciting.
But the next day I wanna feel more than I felt today.
We don't give each other enough, Billy.
So it won't happen again.
Does, uh, Wes make you feel whatever it is you say you wanna feel? Wes has a lot of love in him, that's for sure.
But I told you, we're still trying to know each other.
We never will if I don't give us a real chance.
Well Ramona, I think you're lying to yourself.
How? It wouldn't have happened if you didn't want it.
Or if I was used to drinking whisky sours.
People always blame liquor when they do what they want to do.
Of course I wanted to.
But I'm telling you, it wasrt the start of anything.
I'm ending it.
I'm against closing too many doors.
Havert you even heard what I'm saying? I am closing the door, Billy.
I do care about Wes.
I thought you did too.
Dammit, of course I do.
I've felt lousy about him all day.
Only, I care about us too.
Something happened between us last night.
If you care, make it easier for me.
We'll cool it.
Thank you.
But don't make me a moral leper, Ramona.
I'm not.
Also, I like you too much.
Promise? I promise.
One more thing It's important.
Are you gonna tell Wes about last night? I don't know.
(door clicks) Oh! - Is Scotty here? - Oh, no, he's late.
Well, that's luck.
It took me an afternoon to reach Paxton.
I wanted him to know what happened.
- I can't believe it.
- I didn't mean to tell you over the phone.
- That's OK.
- I need a drink.
That poor, desperate woman.
I - Can I make? - No.
And her mother saw Estep's man.
Raymond.
Yeah, she saw him.
But she's not gonna help.
I'm not gonna force her.
She's got grandchildren she's worried about.
She's half-mad with fear.
- Do you blame her? - No.
I took the case to the head of the FBI's office.
He bit through his cigar when I mentioned Estep.
Meaning? There might not be much help from that end.
We have the first piece of the puzzle.
- We have a start.
- It doesn't get any simpler, does it? Well, no time out for Rudy and Maggie.
No.
(Wes) I gotta make a phone call.
Steady chick's got him all upset.
Hail, Senator.
We waited for you.
When did you get in? Just now.
Are you calling Ramona? Huh? Yeah.
- Every 15 minutes, for hours.
- She probably went out to dinner.
Scotty was due at eight, an hour ago.
Try the union office.
I already have.
She's expecting me to call.
- I'll ride over.
- We'll take the car.
- We? - Yeah.
It'll give us a chance to catch up.
- We'll pass Scotty.
Do you mind waiting? - No.
(sighs) (doorbell) Forget your key again, Daddy? Hello, Ramona.
We've been calling you.
Is your father here? Just get home? He said he was meeting at your house tonight.
I thought it was over early when I heard the doorbell.
Was where you went important enough to break our date? (Rudy) We got our signals mixed up.
Scotty hasn't showed up yet.
You have any idea where he might be? - How late is he? - Well, an hour.
An hour and a half now.
We tried the union office.
There's no answer there.
If you just got in, are you sure he isn't here? Wes, see if the car is in the garage.
He isn't here.
- Who are you calling? - The secretary of the local.
At home.
Hello.
Ted? Ramona Scott.
Listen, do? Yeah, I know.
We're all happy about it.
Do you know where Dad is? No.
He never showed up.
How long ago? The exact time, Ted.
No, he didn't.
- No.
Please just wait.
I'll call back.
- His car isn't there.
Ted said he left the office to go to your house a little after 7:30.
All right.
Let's take it easy.
Being late for a negotiation is not an offence.
In some cases, it's a tactic.
Did he have any change of heart about signing? No, Ted said they're all high about it.
Even the national hasn't given them static.
Now Ted's worried too.
Did you see him after he left this morning, when I was here? - No.
- He didn't come back for the report? - No.
- Or call you about dinner? Anything? No.
I wasrt here, Wes.
You know it.
What time did you leave? Four.
About.
God, what if something happened to Daddy while I was gone? Uh we're all overreacting.
Now I'll overreact by calling the police.
In a town this size, it shouldn't take a man an hour and a half to drive two miles.
On the plus side, it shouldn't take long to find him.
OK.
This is Senator Jordache.
Give me Captain DeLong.