Chop Shop Cagney and Lacey

Excuse me, sir. I thought there was going to be four of you.

Isn't one of me enough?

Come on, Isbecki. That's the worst line I've ever heard.

'Would you like to order? I was thinking of a little takeout.' This'll be worse!

TOGETHER: After work, if you're free.

I'm sorry. I'm not on the menu.

Very nice. Way to tell him, lady!

'I don't really care, but to tell you the truth, Christine Cagney,'

I long only for you.

'I pine for you.

'I yearn for you. I burn for you.'

Wake me when he says something interesting. 'I got some company.'

Are you from Tony Brown?

Yo.

Yo? Undercover Sylvester Stallone?!

Tony said you might have some chauffeur work. Maybe.

No ham in the egg foo yung!

I've been stealing cars all my life.

Why don't you cool it with the...?

I can't eat this spicy garbage. I'll get heartburn.

Give me your shopping list and I'll get it.

My problem's selling 'em. Where do you guys unload...?

It's none of your business! Don't be nervous.

Selling 'em is stupid. A new Porsche is worth 25 thou.

Chop that same car into parts and sell 'em separate

and you get 60 grand and no registration problems.

How much do I get? A hundred and a half per.

Two. What kind of Chinese is this? They don't even have chop suey!

Get off my case! Can't we go to Fung Ling, Joe?

All right, Fung Ling.

'Do you mind? Fung Ling?'

Where's that? This way.

Aren't we going to follow? I know Fung Ling.

We'll get there first, be less conspicuous.

I just had a taste for Italian. You know that new place?

Yeah, that sounds good.

Chinese, damn it! Go to Fung Ling!

'What about you guys? That's OK with me.'

Isbecki, find out where it is!

What's the name of the restaurant again? Why? Are you writing a book?

'I want to know where I'm eating. I only remember it's Italian.'

We've got to go back. Turn here.

Oh, my Lord!

Back it up, back it up! I can't!

HORNS BLARE Back it up! Move it, damn it!

Will you guys move out of the way?

Hey, wait, Joe.

You say you know Tony Brown from school, right?

Yeah, right. Where did you go to school, man? Harlem?

Yeah. You know what? You're a liar, man!

What do you guys think you're doing?

Wait, Joe, look. This guy's a cop!

'What are we going to do with a cop?

'Let me get the wires.'

Damn it, damn it! We've got an emergency here.

We got a 10-50... Come on! We got a kidnap in progress.

SIREN WAILS

We've got to assume his life's in danger.

These guys are small-time car thieves, not cop killers.

You back an animal into a corner, he becomes a killer.

I've got to figure they'll kill Isbecki.

Petrie, you know Tony Brown? Yeah, from my days in Harlem.

You find him cos he's the key.

LaGuardia, Davidson, hit the files.

We're looking for felons recently released or on parole.

Cagney, Lacey, check out salvage operators.

We're staying on this until we get Isbecki!

'We're looking for a front end on a '76 Stingray.'

Let me call you back. Can we stick to the subject? Did he say a front end? Yeah. Can we get back to...?

I've got a rear end '75, but you wouldn't want that.

PHONE RINGS Hello? He hung up. He'll call back.

We're talking about chop shops in the area.

They got 'em everywhere. I know. Very big operation in Chicago.

PHONE RINGS They'll call back.

You've got a bad attitude, bright eyes.

I'm just trying here. I don't run a chop shop here.

I would if I had the Mediterranean back-up. So you'd be a felon if you could get away with it?

They're making out a lot better than I am! Cos they underbid? Bingo!

A call comes over that speaker for a part, Joe Blow offers bottom-line price.

Then the chop shop guys drop the price by 100.

They might not even have the part, but they get one of their boppers to go and steal that part.

PHONE RINGS That's my telephone!

Do you know anybody in the area doing heavy underbidding? Everyone. No-one. Cut the tap dance.

A cop's life is in danger. So the world stops turning?

'Anybody got a five-speed transmission for an old Fox?' Mr Boston, if you hear anything

over the loudspeaker... I'll call.

After I call them to see if they'll sell ME a franchise!

PHONE RINGS Hello?

Another three inches.

Keep going, that's it.

Thanks.

My cousin's been looking for a door for his Maserati for six months.

Yeah? We get 'em in here all the time.

How much? I don't know, but you won't find a better deal.

Hey, Dave! Come in here a second!

We gotta snuff him.

I ain't gonna murder nobody.

Just check yourself. It could come down to you or him.

Our benefactors are in no mood to play. Billy?

Wait, Joe. Your good friend, Tony Brown.

Yeah? Did he burn us?

Huh?

Mr Fisher? What's the word now?

Officer Petrie, long time no see.

Detective. You know I copped a gold shield, brother.

I heard. Congratulations.

I'm looking for Tony B.

You been over to his place? Yeah.

Well, I haven't seen him.

Well, if you do, give me a holler, man.

I'm over at 14th.

Mm-hm.

Help! Help!

Help this woman.

Police!

Halt! Halt!

Police!

Excuse me, Officer. Excuse me, Officer.

Excuse me, Officer.

Police!

Halt! Don't do it!

Don't do it! GUNSHOT

Try salvage yards, repair shops, see who underbids.

Did you find anything? No luck. Anything here?

Petrie shot an 18-year-old purse snatcher up in Harlem. Kid's dead.

Oh, Lord! How's Marcus? OK. Can you help me out?

I've got a thousand of these things. You got Manhattan?

Yeah. I'll take Queens.

Yeah, hello, I'm looking for a transmission for an '81 380 SL.

What's your lowest bid?

Did you find anything? No. Are you OK?

He drew, I fired. What did the Duty Captain say? Justifiable.

I've got to find Tony Brown. They're making me wait for the review board interview!

You want to do the Bronx? Sure. We're looking for the lowest bidder.

Detective Petrie, can I have a word with you? Daniels, can I help you?

We need Detective Petrie's photo.

Press release. Towards what end?

Community relations, image enhancement.

Black child killed by a cop, but show my face, everyone'll stay cool.

We don't want incidents like that in Miami.

I'm the poster boy in a racist publicity game? I need this

for this afternoon's paper. No, you don't!

Hold it. I need Petrie in Harlem. His partner is missing.

Print his photo and you take his shield away!

We're dealing with a case of greater evil.

You wouldn't want my picture if I were white!

Maybe you wouldn't have shot so fast if the kid was.

I'm not going to debate. This order comes from the top.

Either Detective Petrie complies or I bring him up on charges.

Detective Petrie? What?

Give me that!

Easy, easy.

Right, get out of here!

Sorry. I lost my temper.

Al Burnley. The last address we had was 39...

Don't give me that, Wilson. I'll do it myself!

PHONE RINGS 14th Squad, Detective Lacey, may I help you...?

Just a moment, sir.

Christine, pick up on three. Petrie, trace on three.

Yes, sir? My partner's on the line. This is Cagney.

I know where your cop is. Where?

Slow down. I'm a cutter in a chop shop. You know what that is?

Yes. I'm greedy, but no killer.

Is he going to be killed? Unless you can give me immunity. We can try.

You better do it! We can do it.

The DA's office will want you to testify. No way.

You want to play?

I want it on the immunity paper that I don't turn state's evidence!

I'm gonna call you back at three o'clock.

I want you to bring the papers over and I'm going to read 'em.

If they're OK, you get your cop.

LINE GOES DEAD Nothing.

Three.

Do you think he'll deliver? It's the only lead we've got.

We need it by three. I'll get it.

He wants no state's evidence on the papers. You agreed to that?

He gave us no choice.

Sorry, sir. The DA's going to want a pound of flesh?

That I wouldn't mind. He'll want my soul!

I'll go check the back-up.

Marcus! Well? The Duty Captain says you can't go on back-up until you've finished the FRB interview.

What the hell do I do? If Samuels isn't back in 12 minutes,

it won't make a difference.

Hey, Marcus, can I talk?

I know we're in an emergency situation, so you haven't had time to sort out your stuff. What stuff?

About the shoot. What stuff about the shoot? The perp had a gun.

Don't play me off, Petrie. I know. I killed a kid last year, remember?

I know all about that Superman on the job business. You do? Yes.

Once we find Isbecki, you must go over your feelings about shooting that boy. It's my job.

Punch in, have a coffee, take a life, punch out?

You better get back in there. You'll miss the call.

We'll find him, Chris.

I should have waited at the restaurant. I blew it.

A simple tail and I blew it.

It was a judgement call. And I blew it.

Isbecki could die cos I screwed up. We will find him!

PHONE RINGS

He's five minutes early. Where is Samuels? I don't know. Stall.

This is Detective Cagney.

Yes, I have the papers right here.

I'm here.

Yes, I have them right in my hand.

Exactly as you asked. No testimony.

All right, give me the address.

I know where it is.

All right, 20 minutes. We'll be there.

Where? Soho. Here's the address. Warn the back-up.

I got it, but it's contingent on him being a material witness.

The DA wasn't interested in my flesh.

The pick-up is in Soho. He won't go for it. Convince him.

Follow him if you have to. Just get Isbecki back.

'Testing, testing. Can you hear me?' I read you loud and clear.

What's the plan?

I don't know.

We'll figure it out when we get there.

If we get there!

HORN BLARES

If he knows we're looking for him and I'm sure he does...

Did you try Silky's? What about Dee Hawkins. She should know... What?

You're a detective. Use your imagination. Tony Brown is no fool!

Taubman... Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah! What's going on around here? This place is like a morgue.

I saw your photograph on the City desk. What happened out there?

Read the press. Marcus, I need a story.

I can't discuss the circumstances of the shooting.

Let's talk about your reaction to the incident. Let's not.

It's bad enough having my picture in the papers.

That was done without your consent? I can't talk to you.

Off the record, then. Why?

I'm curious. No. I've got work.

They're running your photo to cool off tempers uptown.

You're a political pawn.

It wasn't my idea. What about allegations that cops enter a black area with a hand on their revolvers

and the other hand over their eyes?

That wouldn't apply in my case.

Had dinner in Harlem recently? Three Sundays ago. Why?

A thoroughly assimilated black man like yourself

could be diseased with the same fears as a white man.

You're reaching. Am I? I don't go uptown without a whistle and mace in my tennis shoes.

I admit it. Why can't you? Miss Sutter, you have to leave.

The cavalry.

Take care, Detective Petrie.

The Lieutenant from the Firearms Review Board is here for your interview now.

Don't worry about it. Looks good.

Any word on Tony Brown? No, not yet.

That kid thinks we're being silly.

We look silly. I didn't think they had these things. He's watching us.

He wants us both in the same booth. PHONE RINGS

I wish I knew where he was calling from. Your guess is as bad as mine. Back-up, stand by.

You take it. You've got the wire.

'Hello?' OK. So far, so good. This is how we're going to do this thing. 'Hold it.'

You're probably watching us, so you can see I have the papers.

We'll start doing things differently.

Forget it. You could be charged

with conspiracy to murder a police officer. You want a dead detective?

Not to mention prosecution for transporting stolen goods

across state lines. At least 30 years.

The deal's off! Wait a minute. Let's not blow this!

I'm just saying you can't get total immunity without some concessions.

We're going to do this thing my way or we ain't going to do it at all.

What's your way?

OK, listen. You have your partner open the door.

Open the door. He says open the door.

'OK, good. There's a little girl with a ball. She's gonna come over.

'I want you to give her the papers.

'OK, she's gonna bring the papers over to me. Sit tight. You and your friend wait there in the booth.'

LINE GOES DEAD

He'll never accept those papers.

The kid went round the corner.

Next move? I don't know. We can't wait here. We'd better take the kid while we can.

Back-up, we're moving. Get her!

SIRENS WAIL

Hey! Hey, come here!

Watch the car! Watch the car!

He told me if you followed me to run round the corner and give this back to you!

Where is he? He was in a coffee shop.

All right. Easy.

Damn it!

Hey, Joe!

How about some water?

OK.

Aagh!

Hey, come here!

Yeah, do it!

PHONE RINGS

Detective Cagney?

'Which one are you?' Excuse me?

This is Mel Boston, Advance and Boston Salvage.

You have something for us? 'Is this the one with the blue eyes?' What is this garbage?

That's you! Cagney, Lacey, Lacey, Cagney.

'It's all the frick and frack to me.' Mr Boston, do you have anything for me or not?

You have eyes like a Siberian husky. I'm hanging up. Wait!

The guy's name is Stobbart. He runs an operation called Stallion Salvage.

Is he an underbidder? Yeah, one of them. You didn't get that from me.

Thank you. 'Hey, wait. You know, you've got a very cute nose too.'

Hello. What can I do for you? We'd like to look around.

You have a warrant? Do we need one?

No, I'm a little tired. What are you looking for?

Stolen vehicles. If you find any, it'll be news to me, but be my guest.

Thank you. If I can help you in any way, I'll be inside.

Where do we start? Do I know?

If Stobbart is involved in this, he sure is cool about it.

What are we doing here?

Wasting our time. He wouldn't be hiding Isbecki here.

So we're back to square one. Let's see what the computer turns up on Stobbart. That's gruesome!

I don't think the cars feel it.

Hey, Joe.

If it was for me, I hope you told her I was all tied up tonight.

Hey, you could at least laugh.

When you're finished with the Porsche, we go.

You go.

WE go. All of us.

Hey, Joe. How come we all have to go?

That's how the order came down. I don't like it.

Who gives a damn? Hurry up with that car!

They haven't found a thing! Lieutenant! They won't!

They're not making any progress. Juvenile care. They've got a suspect - grand larceny auto.

Worked in a chop shop. Isbecki's mother called. Thanks.

I can find Tony Brown. Taubman's got your list.

Brown won't surface without some first-hand information. I'll get it.

Have you reached Morgan? Not yet. Stay on it.

What do you say? No. You're on modified assignment until the FRB completes that report.

That's a technicality. Look at this and tell me how much good you'll do in Harlem!

Anything? No, sir. We're waiting on the Feds. Chop shop, got out a month ago.

It's a long shot, but... I want you to go over and see Isbecki's mother.

What are we looking for? He left some case notes there. Petrie, interrogate this kid. What kid?

GLA suspect, stealing cars for a chop shop. Thank you, sir.

Wait. Cagney, you see Mrs Isbecki alone. Lacey, you go with Petrie.

Why does she have to go with me? Because I said so.

I don't need a baby-sitter. Don't be the great white father. I have my own father!

Why won't you people let me do my job? Enough! Lacey, watch out for him.

He's gonna hate it. I gave you an order. Watch out for him! Yes, sir.

My boy isn't talking, so truck on back to the Precinct. Pardon?

I'm the court-appointed counsel for Alfred Perdiz

who is exercising his constitutional right to remain silent.

There's a detective out there whose life is in danger!

The only life I'm concerned with is Alfred's. We're not gonna hurt him.

And you got some nice story about the tooth fairy? See you in the courthouse.

You enjoy this! Petrie!

You're lucky I got a bad memory. I'm gonna forget you ever laid a hand on me.

I'm gonna find Tony Brown. You can't go to Harlem. It's dangerous.

Isbecki will die. Go back to the Precinct. I'll grab a cab uptown.

No. Come back to work with me or I'm going up there with you. You and me, fella.

Hey, baby.

Yo, Jimmy, what it be like?

Don't shoot! Back off that stuff! You know me.

Yeah.

I'm looking for Tony B. Tony B, Tony B... Who?

Who?

Do you always use black as a second language when you come uptown?

Yes.

I suppose we make an attractive couple - killer cop and his white broad.

I bet.

I hope you don't hate me for saying this, Marcus. I'm scared.

So am I.

What did Mrs Isbecki say? She hopes Victor will settle down with a nice girl. Come on! I'm telling you!

Victor wanted to be a Wild West gunfighter, not a policeman. If you live in Brooklyn, what can you do?

Did she have anything on his case notes? Yeah.

Here.

"Warriors, plus 5?, Clippers, Jazz plus 10, Celtics plus 6..." What the hell is this?

His basketball points spread. That's terrific(!)

GENTLE JAZZ MUSIC

WHISPERING

It's quarter to four.

I'll give him three more minutes. If he doesn't deliver an address, we move on.

I don't know where. We've hit all the spots I know.

Tony knows we're looking for him unless the chop shop boys found him.

How's Lauren?

Well...

Yeah, Lauren... She already has a twinkle in her eye, just like Claudia.

She sees everything.

I think she senses when I'm not all together. She gives me this look.

Somehow I know that she knows

and I feel like I've... I feel like I've already got a new best friend.

He has to be around here somewhere. Harlem's not that big.

It's big enough to get lost in. That's true.

This place seems so different now.

I used to think Harlem was the only place in the city that didn't smell like old tar.

When I walked the beat up here, it was like preserving a shrine, you know?

I knew there was a lot wrong here. There's too many people.

Too few jobs, no money,

bad housing, but I'd walk past the Schomburg Library

or the Apollo and...

magic.

Now it just seems like a slum to me.

A slum? Not the place, the people.

Where is this man?

Maybe we oughta try Silky's again.

Can I have the check, babe? Be right there, honey. Patience is a virtue, Marcus. Give him a few minutes.

You're right. Slow down, Marcus.

I'm really messing up. You're the best detective in the squad. Everybody knows it. Not today.

When that boy attacked that old woman...

I almost wanted to walk away from it.

I didn't care.

Not about the old woman or the boy. I just did my job.

Maybe I could have talked the kid down.

But I didn't try.

I wanted to make sure I didn't die at the hands of someone I had no respect for.

I shot quickly because I...

No, I sh...

No.

I killed a boy because he was black.

Harlem hasn't changed. I've changed.

I've become like everybody else on the outside - prejudiced, afraid, even repulsed.

Claudia and I have accomplished a lot. Yes. We've tried so hard to make it.

Now I can't see the magic.

You want my two cents? You didn't shoot that kid because he was black, but because he had a gun.

I don't know that.

He had a gun and he would have killed Lauren's best friend. Here you go.

Thank you.

We've got it.

BANG ON DOOR

Who is it? Marcus Petrie.

Go to hell, John Wayne! Hi, Tony.

Back up two steps.

Brother Petrie, what seems to be the problem?

We've been looking for you. You have? You know we have. Are you hiding from us, Tony?

No, man. This is my lady's place. I'm here.

The set-up with Isbecki fell apart. You're kidding?

They're gonna kill him now.

We need to know where.

What makes you think I...? Who did you make contact with? I don't know these people. This was set up

by a friend of a friend. I don't even know who owns that chop shop.

There is very little time.

I'm sure you have some idea, at least a guess, of who's on top.

And you're gonna tell us because if Isbecki dies,

man, we ain't gonna care who we expose to find out who did it.

Now, Tony!

A guy named Stobbart.

Stallion Salvage? Yeah.

Hey!

Someone get me outta here!

SIRENS WAIL

Stop it!

Get me out!

Freeze, buddy!

You're under arrest! Right, cuff him!

Against the car!

Hey!

Freeze! Hold it!

Get your hands over your head! Over your head! He's in the crusher! He's in the crusher!

Take him.

Hey! Stop this thing, hey!

Don't shoot! Please don't shoot!

Somebody get me out of here!

Help! Somebody help me!

Stop! Stop it! Does anybody know how to work this thing?

Stop!

Damn it!

Stop!

Victor! Victor!

Ohh! Oh, God, you're all right! Watch your head. Be careful.

How are you? He may have broken bones. Where are the paramedics?

Get him out as fast as you can. This thing isn't gonna hold. Easy. Watch his legs! Careful.

I got his legs.

Set him down. I think I can walk. Let me untie his hands. I've got him, I've got him.

Put your hand... I got it, I got it. Get some help, somebody!

How's your back? Huh?

It's OK. Look...I'm all right.

Are you sure you can walk? Let's just wait for the paramedics.

I can walk if you help me. OK.

Lean on me. We'll take it slow, OK?

Yeah.

Victor, I'm sorry. I'm the one who blew the tail.

It wasn't your fault. Yes, it was my fault and I'm sorry.

Forget it. What did they do to you?

Everything.

I can't believe how close we came to losing you.

Hey, it's over. Wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm glad you're OK.

Then tuck me in tonight.

Ugh! I cannot stand that man!

Cagney, it's unbelievable. You wouldn't believe what they did to me.

They had me in this room tied up, face down. Then they chained me to this barbed wire post.

Then they ran the soles of my feet over this bamboo. You wouldn't believe it.

They did this Japanese war torture across my neck. Don't let him in!

Cagney is so ticked off at Isbecki, SHE wants to kill him!

LAUGHTER

Hey, Petrie, wait.

The woman... The mother of the boy you shot is here.

She came in a couple of hours ago. She wants to talk to you.

She didn't seem too crazy, so I told her to wait in Samuels' office.

Listen, Petrie, if you want to, go on home. I'll talk to her.

No. You weren't there.

I'm Detective Petrie.

I understand you wish to speak with me.

Subtitles by Subtext for BBC Broadcast 2003