T.J. Hooker (1982) s03e15 Episode Script

Exercise in Murder

(action music) (suspenseful music) (police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam 30, Four Adam 30, meet Four Adam 16 on TACT two.
- Four Adam 30 roger, go 16.
- I just wanted to let you guys know that we're headed for the barn and if it gets too cold out there just throw a few logs on the fire.
- It's very funny Stacy but you can sleep sound because we're out here keeping the streets safe.
- So, how are things going with Jill? - Hard to say.
I like her but as far as how it's going, you know, I couldn't tell ya.
- You've been dating her what, three or four months? You've gotta more than like her.
- Why? - What do you mean why? You've had enough time to know, that's all.
(laughing) - Maybe I don't wanna rush into anything.
- That's the trouble with you guys.
You can never make up your mind.
(upbeat music) (suspenseful music) - That takes care of the alarm system to the vault.
Five minutes and we're gonna be rollin' in diamonds.
(suspenseful music) Nice, it's easy when you got the schematic.
Your girl did the job right, Bobby.
- Yeah.
(suspenseful music) (upbeat music) - [Director.]
All right, cut.
Nice, very nice, that's a wrap.
- Some workout.
You okay? - Really whipped.
Look Jim, I'm really sorry but about tonight I, I just can't go ya.
- You sure? It might do you good to just relax.
- I'm sure.
- All right, it's no problem.
We can go to my place.
You can soak your bod and I'll scramble us up some eggs.
- Jim, I really meant that I just wanna go home.
Alone, okay? - Hey, you sure nothing's wrong? - No no, nothing's wrong.
- Well, at least let me drive you.
- If you wanna drop me off, and I mean really drop me off, I'll get my things, okay? - Okay.
(police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam 30, Four Adam 30, investigate a two-11 silent at the Diamond Exchange.
Fifth and Market, handle code two.
- Hit it.
(upbeat music) - [Burglar.]
Hurry up, hurry up with the diamonds.
Get 'em all.
(suspenseful music) - [Security Guard.]
Hold it! (gun bang) - They ticked off the alarm, let's move this.
(car engine revving) (tires screeching) (action music) (police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam 30, Diamond Exchange suspects reported driving a late-model brown Camaro.
- There they are.
(tires screeching) (car honk blaring) (siren blaring) (action music) - Cops, they're right behind us.
(action music) (siren blaring) (tires screeching) (siren blaring) (action music) (crashing thuds) (action music) - [Burglar.]
Come on, let's go to the chopper.
(action music) (siren blaring) (crashing thuds) - [Burglar.]
Ramsey, crank up the chopper.
(suspenseful music) - Over there.
(suspenseful music) All right you, throw your gun out! (gun bang) (gentle music) (suspenseful music) - Halt, police! (gun bang) (helicopter blades rattling) (gun bangs) (gentle music) (helicopter blades rattling) (gentle music) - Hooker, I got a look at the chopper.
Made out three numbers.
- I shot him.
- He's just a kid.
- Get an ambulance.
Help, quick.
(gentle music) (sirens blaring) - [Nurse.]
We'll take it from here.
- The boy had a school ID in his pocket, I'll see if I can track his parents.
- [Woman On Hospital Intercom.]
Dr.
McCullin, surgery please, Dr.
McCullin.
(car honking beeps) - You sure you don't want me to come in? Rub your back? Did ya? I know something's not right.
Now, what's upsetting you? - Why does anything have to be wrong? I mean, nothing's changed in the past 20 minutes.
I just want to be alone, okay? - I get the feeling you wanna be alone.
- Look Jim, I'm sorry, it's just, it's just that I've got a few things on my mind.
- Goodnight.
(clack) - How did you get in here? - With these.
Let me ask you something, what is it with you and this escort guy? - It's just a guy.
I've known him three or four months.
He's nice.
But after what you made me do I can't see him anymore.
- Then you won't mind going back for me one more time.
- No Curtis, not ever again.
Now just get outta here.
- Hey.
(thud) The heist went sour tonight.
A guard got a little shot.
if he dies that means we could all be looking at murder one, including you Jill baby.
We gotta set up another job.
And you gotta do your number again.
I need another set of schematics or you're dead baby.
(police radio in the distance) - I wanted to get your thoughts on the perpetrators.
That helicopter get away was pretty heavyweight stuff.
- I don't recognize the M.
O.
but they're pros.
Career criminals, you can bet on it.
- The guard's in critical condition.
They dropped him in one shot.
- Well, they know how to pull a robbery.
But they don't give a damn about human life.
- Well, we've stopped the bleeding but he'll need more blood.
- I'm type O positive.
- Good, I'll set you up for a blood draw.
Then I think you ought go home and get some rest.
I'll call if there's any change in the boy's condition.
- Hitting him pretty hard isn't it? - He'd rather have taken that bullet himself.
(car engine revving) - Is Hooker still in there with the shooting team? - It's gotta break soon.
- Is there anything we can do in the mean time? - Yeah, Lieutenant Reemer wants us to give him a hand.
I called Air Support Division.
They're running a check on a partial ID number I got from the chopper.
- Can we follow that up for you? - Hooker wanted you two to contact your snitches.
See if there's any word out there on a new talent in town.
- We'll get right on it.
- I ordered him to throw out his weapon.
Then he jumped out.
- But you couldn't see that it was a kid? - The shadows magnified his size.
And when he jumped out I, I thought what he had in his hand was a gun.
- But you weren't sure? - We were in hot pursuit.
- So you just blew the little sucker away? - Chasing armed suspects.
- I hate it Hooker.
I mean, I really hate this one.
The Citizens Committee, the community, they're gonna be climbing all over the top brass and we're in deep trouble over the mess you made.
- Unfortunately not as much trouble as the little boy.
(scrapping) (clack) - All right, hold it.
I checked with Division Command and I have their okay for Hooker to remain on duty while your investigation is in progress.
- We're not through with you Hooker.
We'll be back for more.
But in the meantime, you keep that piece in your holster while you're out there.
Or mister, you're gonna be getting a lot more heat.
- I'm not worried about the heat.
I'm worried about that little boy.
(action music) - I still think you're making too much out of a broken date.
- Maybe, maybe not.
- Call Hooker, tell him we came up empty with our snitches.
(upbeat music) - Jim, I said I'd call you.
- I was worried.
I tried to phone you after I got home last night.
- Yeah, well I unplugged my phone.
I didn't feel like talking to anyone.
- Anyone or me in particular? - Jim.
- All right so talk to me now.
Let's get to what's bothering you.
- Oh, you're an expert on women? - I'm just trying to make sense of what's going on.
Now, if you need help tell me.
- If I do I'll ask for it.
- Hey, I'm here now, don't wait till I'm not around.
- Look, I'm trying to be nice.
Take the hint, will you Jim.
It's over.
It was fun, it was maybe even more than fun but it's over so just leave me alone.
Will you? - Sure.
Anything you say babe.
(upbeat music) (suspenseful music) (plane engine roaring) - [Hooker.]
According to this report from Air Support Division, a chopper with the numbers you spotted is parked on this field.
- [Vince.]
Well, there's no Hughes 500's out here.
- Will you unlock that hangar for us please? (rattling) Thanks.
There's the Hughes 500.
- It's a match on the ID numbers.
- And there's your bullet hole.
- It's got a keyed ignition, can these things be hot-wired? - If you know what you're doing.
(thud) This ignition bypass has Lester Viccio written all over it.
- Lester, isn't he the one who had that sweet operation going for him flying in cocaine from mother ships in stolen choppers? - Let's get the word out that we're looking for him.
And then I wanna stop by the hospital.
- Hooker.
I know it's eating at you.
The little boy, what happened.
It was an accident.
- I'll try to remember that in the middle of night when I wake up reliving it.
(soft music) (suspenseful music) - Well, Mr.
Barton's waitin'.
- Look Curtis, I told you, I'm not gonna sleep with him again.
- You're gonna have to sleep with him and do anything else you have to honey, until you get him drugged.
- Then you do exactly as he did last time, you find the right alarm schematic in his briefcase and you take a picture.
- No, I can't and I won't.
- Well, you know, you're being very selfish.
You gotta think of your family here Jill.
I mean, what's it gonna do to them when they find out what kind of movies that you make, huh? - Give me that.
- No no no no no.
Not until we get what we want.
(thud) - As soon as she gets this schematic we're gonna take her for a chopper ride.
Tonight.
(whistling) One way.
(car engine revving) - Lieutenant Reemer talked to the alarm system exec, a guy by the name of Barton, he's stumped as to how they got past the system.
(grunts) Viccio's new garage should be up ahead.
- It better be or I know the snitch who's in a lot of trouble.
I wanna get this over with so I can get back to the hospital.
(tools clacking) Hey man, I need a couple of dime bags! (rattling) Lester Viccio.
(patting thuds) Look at them partner, Lester Viccio who could hot-wire anything from a moped to the 747 and now just another street hype.
With shakes so bad you could fall off a tricycle.
- Hey, I kicked it Hooker, I'm clean.
- [Hooker.]
You did Lester? You kicked the whole thing? - Yeah yeah yeah, yeah.
- Well, somebody's hot-wiring choppers.
You teach somebody your tricks? I want a name.
- No.
- Why would I tell you, for old time sake? - How about for your sake! - [Romano.]
Well fine, well let's just pump it into himself.
- Three guys, I should it to three guys we were in machine shop together in the joint but I never saw them on the outside, never.
- Give us some names.
- George Miles, Mel Ramsey and, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah, Larry Feldon.
- That's it? - Yeah.
- No more? - No.
- You sure? - Yeah.
- You know something? I believe you.
So Lester I'm gonna give you five minutes before I call the narcs and tell them to come out here and take this place apart.
- [Woman.]
Paco Mendez's room please.
- [Hooker.]
Mrs.
Mendez.
- Yes.
- I'm the officer who shot your son.
- Stinkin' pig! You like shooting kids, huh? Maybe 'cause they don't shoot back.
- I've been trying to think of something to say but I don't know any words that go deep enough.
- My mother don't wanna hear your lousy lies.
You shot my brother! He's over there dying, man.
Dying! - Mrs.
Mendez-- - I don't want to hear your excuses.
I don't want them and I don't need them.
- I have three children.
They're the best part of my life.
There's no way I could replace any one of them.
If your son-- - If my son dies he won't be the first.
My older son was killed in Vietnam.
He was a hero but he's dead.
My second son was shot by a gang.
He's also dead.
Now you have shot my baby! You come to me when someone has killed one of your children.
Only then will we have anything to say to each other.
(soft music) (knocking taps) - Who is it? - This is Jim.
(rattling) We gotta talk.
- Oh Jim.
- What ever it is let me help.
- Nobody can help me.
Look, I've just gotta work this thing out by myself.
- Work what out? - You don't know me Jim.
I'm no good for you.
- What are you talkin' about? - I want you to go.
- Jill.
- Look, if you stay you're just gonna make things worse.
- What's going on? - Look, I'm begging you Jim.
Go! (soft music) (thud) (beeping) (soft music) - Ramsey.
- What? - Ramsey.
(beeping) (car engine revving) - Sounds like a gutsy little kid.
- He even managed to tell me something that's gonna make it easier for us.
- Yeah? - A name.
Ramsey.
- One of Viccio's hot-wire students.
- You got it.
He must have heard Ramsey's name at the construction site before we arrived and I checked with the FAA.
Ramsey had a chopper license before he got busted.
- Then we can eliminate the other two and bear down on finding Ramsey.
(police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam 30, Four Adam 30, meet homicide detectives at San Remo pier.
Proceed code two.
- Four Adam 30 roger.
(action music) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam 16, Four Adam 16, meet Four Adam 30 at San Remo pier.
Proceed code two.
(action music) - Got your call from dispatch, what's up? (thud) - Jim, I gotta talk to you.
- What about? What's going on? - It's Jill.
- I'm sorry Jim.
(police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam nine and all units in the vicinity of Fourth and Wilson, an explosion at the Spencer building possible two-11 in progress.
- Stacy, stay with Jim make sure he's okay.
Help the detectives.
We're rolling back up on this one.
(action music) (tires screeching) (action music) (police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam nine, the two-11 at the Spencer building is confirmed.
Satellite gems.
Suspects in a late-model black Trans Am heading west on Fourth, handle code three.
- Explosion, gem robbery, could be our guys.
Notify dispatch we're in a position to cut 'em off.
- Dispatch, this is Four Adam 30 rolling back up to nine.
(sirens wailing) Hooker, if they're heading west Fourth dead ends at Carson, nine has them cut off.
- Unless they have a chopper stashed somewhere in between.
- Another construction site? - Like, maybe the new firehouse going up near the projects.
(siren blaring) (tires screeching) - [Man.]
Cops.
- Police, hold it! (gun bangs) (helicopter blades rattling) (gun bangs) Romano, call it in! Tell 'em they got away again.
In another chopper.
(helicopter blades rattling) (suspenseful music) (soft music) (church bell clacking) - You're Jim.
I'm Jill's sister Louise.
She told me so much about you.
- Oh, Jill told me about you too.
This is Stacy Sheridan.
- We're very sorry for your loss.
- Thank you.
- I hope you know how important Jill was to me.
I know this is the worse possible time to have to ask for information but we have no choice.
- I understand.
- Something happened between Jill and me.
The last few days she changed.
- In what way? - She wasn't herself, she was edgy, troubled.
Do you know if she was involved with anyone else? - Oh, I don't think so.
She hasn't mentioned anyone but you since you started seeing each other.
- Have you noticed any change in her? - The last time I saw her she did seem terribly unhappy.
But when I asked what was wrong she wouldn't tell me.
- Well, did she say anything at all, anything that might help us? - She wondered how long you have to keep paying for one mistake.
- Do you know what she meant? - I don't have any idea.
No idea at all.
(thud) - Lieutenant, I got the rap sheet of the maggot I dropped.
- Jeremiah Alvin Stram.
- Man slaughter, attempted murder, burglary, larson.
Assault.
And Stram's a saint compared to the con he broke out of the joint with four months ago.
- A killer by the name of Tom Warfield.
- A couple of career types.
- What about that copter pilot you had a lead on? - Well, we're coning the airfields for him or somebody who knows him.
What's happening on Jill Newmark's homicide? Corrigan's really hurting.
- I know.
But I'll tell you exactly what I told him, we have absolutely nothing to go on.
- What about the people at the dance aerobics studio? - Nothing there either.
She was just a nice girl with no problems and no enemies.
- She must of had at least one of each or else she'd still be alive.
- There was this cameraman at the dance aerobics studio.
Curtis.
Corrigan thinks there might be something between him and Jill.
Did you run a make on him? - Corrigan beat us to it.
Curtis was nailed on a porno film bust two years ago.
He's been clean ever since.
But Corrigan wanted me to bring him in for questioning anyway.
- I don't like the sound of that Hooker.
Sounds like Jim may be getting ready to blow.
- Yeah.
(car engine revving) - Jim, I know you're torn up but, um, we have a job to do.
- I was there with her and just a few hours later she's dead.
Dumped in the ocean.
I should have sensed she was in trouble, I should have been able to help her.
- Don't worry, we'll find out who did it.
We will.
- I can't help but feel that Curtis was involved somehow.
The way he looked at her.
- Maybe I can find out.
- How? - Hooker cleared it with the Captain Reemer.
Dance Aerobic Studios is holding auditions tomorrow.
It'll give me an excuse to nose around.
- Hey, look partner, that could be dangerous.
- You just said the magic word, partner.
I wanna help and I'm going to.
(upbeat music) Excuse me, maybe you can give me some advice.
How do I score points with Elroy? - Well, I'll tell ya, the main thing to do is give them a lot of moves.
Erotic's good.
Don't make it too raunchy though.
(laughing) - You must be pretty tight with the girls who work here.
- Chicks on the other side of the camera too hung up on themselves, if you know what I mean.
- The girl who was killed, was she that way? - Thanks Gloria, we'll let you know.
Stacy Sheridan.
Okay, why don't you run through some basic moves and let's see some free style.
- Okay.
(upbeat music) - Okay, cut.
Okay kid.
Ah, ladies, thank you.
We'll be in touch if we need you.
(laughing) Well, what do you say we try it for a while see if you like each other? - You mean I got the job? - Starting now.
(police radio beeping) - [Dispatcher On Radio.]
Four Adam 30 meet Four Adam 16 on TACT two.
- This is 30, go 16.
- Romano, I found where Ramsey works.
Hallie Field, helicopter maintenance.
Wright Airlift International.
- He there now? - He didn't show for work today.
But I got an address on him.
62 South Third.
- That's a roger.
We'll pull a warrant, meet you there.
(upbeat music) - [Elroy.]
All right, cut.
I like it.
Hit the showers.
- Well, if you don't need me anymore I think I'm gonna split, all right? - Yeah, it's a wrap.
- Okay.
(footsteps tapping) (thud) (thud) (suspenseful music) (phone ringing) - Yeah? - What? - Warfield, a new girl showed today.
She's a cop and I think she found a phone message Barton left for me.
- Is this girl still there? - [Curtis.]
Yeah.
- Well, done let her walk, okay.
We're on our way.
(thud) - One mistake Jill told her sisters about.
(upbeat music) (exhales) - Yeah, that was a really good workout.
I feel really good about it, we're making some good progress.
- Hey, Stacy.
- See you tomorrow.
- [Stacy.]
Bah-bye.
- Bye.
- Elroy wants me to shoot some portraits of ya for his publicity reps.
- Oh, I have a hot date.
Maybe tomorrow though, okay? - I don't think so.
(gun clacking) Cop.
(upbeat music) (thud) - Damn.
- Jim! That's evidence.
- That was a desperate girl nobody needs evidence like that.
- You're still a policemen and this ties it all together.
- Ties what? - Curtis, the photographer, he was busted for pornography two years back.
Curtis, Ramsey and Jill.
It wasn't a love triangle that got Jill dumped 30 miles at sea.
- From a helicopter flown by Ramsey.
- She was in the middle of a jewel heists.
And now Stacy is.
- We've gotta get her out of that studio.
(phone ringing) - There it is.
(phone ringing) (suspenseful music) - Tie her up and let's get outta here.
(suspenseful music) - You plan to dump me in the ocean like you did to Jill? - No, the place I had in mind is a bit dryer but you'll be just as dead.
- Chopper at another construction site? - What, for an officer of the law? Oh now, you're gonna go first class from the airport.
(suspenseful music) (sirens wailing) - There's Stacy's car.
- Why didn't she answer the phone? - I don't like it.
(suspenseful music) Hey, this camera is on.
It's still taping.
Turn that thing back.
(clacking) - [Stacy.]
Chopper at another construction site? - [Romano.]
Sounds like Stacy.
- [Warfield.]
Oh no, you're gonna go first class from the airport.
- They're talking her to an airport.
- Hallie Field, where Ramsey works.
Where he can get his hands on the chopper fast.
(suspenseful music) (sirens wailing) (helicopter blades rattling) - [Stacy.]
They'll be looking for me! - [Warfield.]
Where you're going they're gonna be looking for you for a long time, honey.
(clack) (sirens wailing) (thud) (tires screeching) (sirens wailing) (helicopter blades rattling) (thud) (sirens wailing) (helicopter blades rattling) - [Curtis.]
Cops! Let's get the hell outta here.
(helicopter blades rattling) (tires screeching) - [Romano.]
Are you all right? - [Stacy.]
Yeah.
- Call for backup.
(suspenseful music) (gun bangs) - You're a dead man.
- Yeah, and you're a cop.
You'd never do it.
(suspenseful music) - No one would ever know.
It would be easy.
(gun clicking) (suspenseful music) (plane engine rattling) (suspenseful music) (gun bangs) - [Hooker.]
Hold it right there scum.
- Jim! He's not worth it.
- You have the right to remain silent.
If you give up the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
(soft music) - [Woman On Hospital Intercom.]
Dr.
Bigard pediatrics please, Dr.
Bigard.
(speaking in foreign language) - Bye.
- [Woman On Hospital Intercom.]
Mrs.
O'Brien telephone please, Mrs.
O'Brien.
- Hey cop! I told you not to hang around my kid brother anymore.
- You don't have a kid brother.
A kid brother is someone you take care of, you protect.
- I don't need that, man! - I'm gonna be on you like white on rice.
You sneeze, I'll be there with a handkerchief.
And if your nose isn't clean I'll wipe it to the dirt.
And another thing, either you take care of Paco or you stay the hell away from.
You got me? - Gracias.
- De nada.
- How's the little guy doing? - He's gonna be okay.
- Well, that's good news.
- And you, how you doing? - Getting there.
I'm getting there.
- You up to a beer and a pizza at Sherry's? - Oh, I don't know I-- - Come on partner, we're not going without you.
(soft music) - You buying? (laughing) - I think I can handle that.
- Okay, sounds good.
Oh, by the way, you still owe me 20 bucks from that game two weeks ago.
- If there's one thing I can't stand it's a cop with a memory.
(laughing) (upbeat music) (action music) (digital tones chiming)
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