Fathers and Daughters Cagney and Lacey

-I have an idea.

-What?

We don't have to move from this exact spot.

Whatever do you mean?

-You have no romance.

-I thought that's what I was talking about!

I keep reading all these columns...

..how women expect more out of love than a quick roll in the hay,

like flowers...

You brought me flowers last night.

-..candy...

-Rots your teeth.

-..breakfast in bed...

Are you gonna cook?

-I'm gonna have it delivered. I'm a modern man.

-Of course(!)

-I am!

-Oh, come on!

-Croissants...

coffee, quiche and juice,

served by a butler, in bed, in a tuxedo, who is about to arrive in ten minutes.

-Are you kidding?

-I am not, and I think we should be presentable.

-You're lying!

-I am not! He's going to be here in ten minutes.

-Ten minutes?

-Ten minutes.

Maybe he'll be late.

KNOCKING

Good, you're here. The lady's still in the shower. Could you be changed and set up...?

Oh, it's too late. I really want this to be something special, OK?

Put these on the tray.

Chris, breakfast is ready!

Should we just get back in bed?

OK!

Ta-ta!

Pop!

-You don't know my father!

-I'm certain he knows that you are...sexually active.

Thanks for the discreet phrase(!) You make it sound like poisoning.

I'm not making a judgement. You told him about Dory, right?

It is one thing for a father - my father - to know that I...know men.

But for him to walk in like that...

-I don't know what to do.

-You want advice?

-No.

I'm just trying to make appropriate responses here.

-I want to look at a corpse, OK?

-You are a joy(!)

-I hate suicides.

-Oh, so, a nice jolly murder?

-I know how it feels to want to kill somebody.

-Anybody I know?

-Yeah.

Your partner who's charming on a Monday morning.

-It surprised everybody.

-Detectives Lacey and Cagney.

-Upstairs. 17D.

It's such a shame. A real shame.

They were nice people, the Tantons.

Tipped very well.

Thank you.

I love New York!

-Oh, Lord, that's whatshisname!

-Sinclair, with the terrible puns. "If you'll excuse the expression."

Father.

Ah, the lady detectives, Casey and Lacey!

Cagney and Lacey. So, what do we have?

-You don't want to look. A gun to the temple is messy.

-Any idea on motive?

-You might say he lost his head!

Come on, Sinclair. Give us a break.

I can't just pass those things up.

There's a note in the typewriter.

-Has anyone touched it?

-Deceased and widow. She found him. She's in her bedroom - separate bedroom!

-If I get the body downtown now, I'll get a preliminary by this afternoon.

-Are you through with your photos?

Sure you want to do that?

OK, boys. Take him away. I'll try to read what's left of his mind.

I got home about...

..ten o'clock last night

and Peter had told me that he was going to be working and he...

doesn't like me to disturb him when he's working, so...I went right to bed.

Woke up about... I guess it was four o'clock

and I went to get a drink of water and saw he wasn't in his room, but he often falls asleep in the study

and then it was...

..six...

..when I found him.

We know how hard this is on you, but we have to do it. Do you have any idea why he would kill himself?

-There was a note.

-Yes, Mrs Tanton, but it was pretty vague.

He said there was no...purpose any more.

You live with a man for 25 years and...

..there are things about him you don't know.

He was a stranger.

-Doesn't feel right.

-I don't like the idea of a typed suicide note.

-With no signature. Listen.

"I apologise for the pain I have caused.

"I have been neither a good father nor a good husband, for which I ask forgiveness."

-What kind of suicide worries about a dangling whatsit?

-A careful man.

-Who splashes himself over the room?

-Cab?

-No, thanks. We've got our own.

What kind of wife waits two hours to check on her husband?

Not everybody is as happily married as you.

-You wanted a homicide.

-Which we won't even get. The Lieutenant wants the Lekowski report.

-We'll work on that till the autopsy's done. What's the problem?

-I loathe optimism.

-Have you got the Lekowski report?

-I'm working on it now, sir.

-I want it today.

-On your desk.

-D'you talk to the medical examiner?

-Yeah, he said... Oh, never mind.

What'd he say?

He said he had a good head start on it.

Very sick man.

-In light of the medical examiner's report, we need to ask a few more questions.

-OK.

Do you know anybody who would want to harm your husband?

No.

He was a very POPULAR man.

No enemies? None at all?

No.

-Did he ever discuss any problems regarding business with you?

-No.

-There was no sign of a forced entry and nothing was missing?

-Not that I'm aware of, no.

It would appear that whoever shot your husband was someone that he probably knew.

Did he mention anyone coming to visit him last night?

No.

-We'll have to talk to a few other people - business associates, friends, your daughter...

-Jane?

-Why would you bring her into this?

-Her father may have talked to her.

No.

They...rarely spoke to each other.

Yes, ma'am. We'd still like to talk to her.

-No.

-I beg your pardon?

I'm afraid I...I can't allow that.

She's a...a very emotional girl.

I'm sorry, but it's necessary.

In fact, it would help if you could give us names and addresses of...

Mrs Tanton?

It's...no use.

Ma'am?

You don't need to talk to anyone else.

I killed my husband.

-Case closed. Move on.

-Yes, sir. Only we're not entirely satisfied.

-Why? You got a confession. The DA's office is happy.

-Yes, sir, but we didn't get a motive.

-She told us she killed him, typed the note, then waited.

-Two hours.

But she won't say why she did it.

They've been married for what, 25 years? Tell her, Lacey - it happens.

-Yes, but we asked her why and she said it wasn't important.

-That's not acceptable.

-We'd like to stay on it.

-Yeah, but you still got the warehouse break-ins?

-Yes, sir.

And the social security muggings? I've yet to see the Lekowski report.

-Yes, sir.

-And you got time to mess around with this?

-With respect...

You want to have some more work? OK, I got some more work for you.

-Here.

-No, sir, really, that's fine. Thank you.

Annual performance evaluations.

Mary Beth Lacey. Christine Cagney.

Look 'em over. Initial 'em. I don't think you'll be too unhappy.

Thank you, sir.

-What do we do now, partner?

-The Lekowski report first.

What's that?

Would you look at this!

Highest grades in ten categories, second-highest in the other one.

Communication skills - he says that I'm sometimes... What does he say?

Brusque! I've never been brusque!

If I were a man, he wouldn't say "brusque" - he'd say "aggressive".

Mary Beth, do you find me brusque?

I understand how you feel, but sometimes you are a little...

-less than tactful.

-But never brusque! I'm gonna talk to him.

-Excuse me, Lieutenant.

-Oh, Cagney...come on in.

-Yes...

-I've been thinking about it and maybe I was a little hasty.

I've been looking over the Tanton file and...I don't like it either.

Take a day. Talk to a few people and then we'll re-evaluate.

Something else?

No, sir. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Brusque!

-Hey, Dory.

-Hello, Mr Cagney.

-Hi. How are you?

So, you...got a minute for a drink?

-Sure.

-There's a place round the corner. Come on.

URGENT KNOCKING

KNOCKING CONTINUES

I'm coming! Hold your horses!

Oh, Chris, come in. Something wrong?

-You're damn straight! What do you think you were doing tonight?

-Want some coffee? I could make it fresh.

Is it your plan to cross-examine every one of my boyfriends?

-All I did was buy the guy a coffee!

-You were trying to find out...

-whether Dory's intentions were honourable...

-Oh, come on!

-..which is none of your business.

Wait one minute, young lady! It's a father's business to know who his daughter's...

-associating with.

-Sleeping with. I am an adult.

-And I'm your father.

-I raised you and I love you, and what you do...

-Reflects back on you.

..affects me.

I am hardly what you would call promiscuous.

I am 38 years old, Daddy,

-and who I spend my time with...

-Sleep with.

..is nobody's business but my own.

Charlie...you're the one that told me a parent's job was to become obsolete.

You said it had to end. You did.

-At 18 or 21 or somewhere, it's got to end...

-No, no, honey...

Not if you care. Then it never ends. Just the job description changes...

If I wanted you to meet Dory, I'd have introduced you.

That's terrific(!) He's good enough to sleep with, but not to meet me.

He came crying to you because I bought him coffee.

You know why he told me? He thought it was nice. I don't.

You leave him alone, Charlie.

How can you get serious about anyone who roots for the Boston Celtics?

-Miss Tanton.

-You! Do you know what you've done?

Do you have any idea? This is a false arrest.

You have the wrong person.

-I'm a law student. I'll sue you for every penny you've...

-Wait, lady.

-Your mother confessed to shooting your father.

-Well, she didn't. He killed himself.

-He couldn't live with himself, so...

-Miss Tanton, we have a medical examiner's report.

-It could not have been suicide.

-That doesn't mean my mother did it.

She couldn't have. If you knew what kind of a person... the kindest, gentlest soul...

-We know this is hard on you...

-Did you know she has a heart condition?

-We'll have a doctor examine her.

You don't understand! My mother would never hurt anybody!

My father...ruined her life.

He made it hell for her and she never once confronted him.

She never even complained.

I used to beg her to leave him and she said she couldn't, that we had to love him.

-You understand?

-Yes, but why'd she say she killed him?

-He was evil.

-I'm asking about your mother.

-What did he do? Did he beat her?

-He deserved to die! He was evil.

-There must be a reason why she killed him.

-She didn't kill him!

-She confessed to it!

-Miss Tanton...do you think maybe you'd better go home now?

-No.

-No, I won't.

-Please...

-Are you deaf?

-No.

-Don't you listen to me?

-Yes.

My mother's trying to protect me.

She didn't kill the bastard.

I did.

-What, so you're blaming us?

-Who else?

Two confessions!

Let's say one of our confessed murderers - worse, both ladies - changes her mind. Then what?

Who do I file against? Pick one, any one?

And then what? I'll tell you what.

Smart defence lawyer takes it to a bleeding heart jury.

"How can we ever really know what happened on that fateful night?

"Is it not better that 100 guilty women be set free than one poor unfortunate unfairly convicted?"

Excuse me, but how exactly is it our fault?

I will reiterate -

I am not going to trial like this, OK?

Either tie them in together, or blow the air out of one of their stories, and we will pray to get out of this.

Capisce? I appreciate it, ladies.

Goodbye.

And good luck.

How exactly is this our fault?

Yes, Miss Panchez. OK, thank you.

Bingo! It is confirmed. We have a motive.

OK.

-Why aren't I happy?

-Mary Beth, come on! We never believed Jane's confession, so we were right.

-You think the mother's for real?

-I don't know. She had a good reason for murdering her husband.

So...we go confront Jane, we get her to retract.

I really hate this.

It's not my favourite thing either.

-Want to be bad cop or good cop?

-It's up to you. Take your pick.

I am telling you I did it. What more do you bloodsuckers want?

You have to let my mother go.

-We don't have to do anything of the kind.

-I don't believe you.

I did it.

It's my fault.

Good. Fine, Jane. Are you familiar with the name of Denise Manchester?

27 years old, part-time "model".

-I love that! She's living in an apartment rented in your father's name.

-I know who she is.

-I'll bet!

-She believed your father was going to leave your mother.

-My mother told me.

-Did she?

-Finally got lucky.

You think that's how your mother felt? After 25 years of marriage? What are you, a mind-reader?!

You talk to her.

Miss Tanton, I can understand why you confessed.

You're close to your mother and want to help her,

but as a law student, you know what two confessions do to our case.

Miss Tanton?

Are you OK?

OK?

Oh, I'm fine!

It's you who's not OK!

You think you know everything and you're so stupid!

-Cut it out...

-Shut up and listen to me! You don't know anything!

My father wasn't leaving my mother for another woman!

He was leaving her for two little girls.

I beg your pardon?

Denise Manchester has two little girls.

I don't know what you mean.

Miss Tanton, did your father...?

-I'm trying to say... did your father...?

-He molested me.

He was a horrible, disgusting man.

I hated him.

Every night I prayed he wouldn't do it any more.

I wanted him to die.

-Oh, Lord, I'm sorry.

-Sorry?!

My father forced me to have sex with him from the age of ten... until I could get out of the house.

Only it wasn't over then.

All the hate...

and the mess...

..and the guilt...

My life...

..is a disaster.

Two years of law school, that's all.

I never finish anything.

My marriage...

..men...

I think about that horrible filth and I want to die!

More than that, I want him dead.

He IS dead.

Jane, did you kill him?

When I heard about Denise Manchester...

and her two daughters...

Two little innocent girls!

..I couldn't let him do that again.

I went to tell him I'd expose him if he went ahead with it.

And do you know what he did?

He laughed at me.

You want to know why I killed him?

My life is a sewer

and it's his fault!

And he laughed at me!

Don't!

You OK?

The first time I broke an incest case, it was a kid under nine.

She'd be about the age Jane is now, and I was wondering if she still hurts the way that woman does.

Oh, I don't know...

No matter how long I do this, how many horrors I see,

sometimes I get one and I think, "When am I going to get tough? Why do I keep subjecting myself...?"

Family stuff is the worst.

Husbands and wives and... children and parents is the stuff that's supposed to make life...

..good. Right?

Instead it gets twisted up into something ugly.

Sorry!

I'm sorry. I'll be OK.

You're OK.

I worry about the rest of us.

Good afternoon.

-Mr Montgomery?

-Yes.

-Detective Cagney.

-How do you do?

-Detective Lacey.

-Detective.

-Hello.

That chair...

-Hello, Julia.

-Hello, Sam.

-Please sit down.

-I want to go on record again - my client is talking to you over my objections.

-Got it, Mr Montgomery.

Mrs Tanton...you've read your daughter's statement?

Yes. I didn't want...

I'm so sorry

Janey had to tell it to strangers.

-You knew about it all the time, didn't you?

-No. I didn't know anything until then, that night.

I came home early and they were shouting so loud they didn't even hear me come in.

At first I didn't even recognise their voices, so I listened.

And I...I couldn't believe what Janey was accusing him of.

It was...too horrible.

And then she was gone. We didn't even see each other.

And I went into the study...

..and there was someone there that I'd never seen before...

in my life.

Never.

In 25 years.

That's when I knew it was true.

Peter just looked at me.

He didn't even seem surprised to see me.

And he said,

"Julia, this is all your fault.

"The whole thing.

"You didn't satisfy me.

"You were always too sick."

I was too sick?!

I remembered all the times Jane had asked me to take her with me...

asked me not to leave her alone...

with him.

She begged me... to send her to boarding school,

to send her to camp - anywhere.

And it never occurred to me.

I got Peter's gun from his bedroom and I came back into the study

and he was sitting at his desk...

..working.

-And I came up behind him...

-Julia, I don't think...

-No, Stanley!

The only thing that matters now is that they believe me. You must believe me. I shot him. I shot him!

But you didn't say why.

I wanted to protect her.

Her reputation. That's all I can do for her now, you see.

-But, you see, she just confessed.

-But she's lying.

My daughter is lying to save me.

Can you imagine? To save me.

OK. So, where were we?

Well, sir...back where we started, only now we have two motives to go with the two confessions.

We need independent corroboration, a third party. Otherwise, it's a mess.

We talked to the girlfriend. She swears her daughters were never left alone with Tanton.

She's shocked about the accusation. She thinks the mother and daughter are making it up.

-I see two avenues of exploration - the doorman in Tanton's co-op...

-Yes, sir.

-..and also the live-in maid.

-Yeah.

Isabella... Isabella Aragon.

The only address we had on her didn't pan out.

-Sounds like an illegal alien - doesn't want to be found.

-We don't know she was even there that night.

-No chance she did it?

-I don't think so.

Apparently, she speaks no English. The note was perfect English, down to the non-dangling participle.

I thought this one would be tough.

OK. Get on it.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

-What first?

-Check the co-op again.

Here we are, ladies.

-You sure about the maid?

-Oh, I'd never miss a looker like that!

-I've got ESP, you know what I mean?

-No.

-Extra-sensual prescription.

-Ah!

That young beauty was nipping out the back way, carrying a paper bag full of clothes. Hard to miss her!

-Well, thank you, Mr MacDonald. Where is Isabella's room?

-That way.

I...I always like to help the boys in blue, as it were.

-I've an uncle in the force...

-Thank you.

Ah, all right, yes...

-So, she WAS here that night.

-So, she'll know.

-Maybe she'll know.

-If we can find her.

-Even if we do, I doubt she's gonna testify.

I'd settle for talking with her.

-Mary Beth.

-Yeah?

-Look what I found.

What?

Oop!

Padre George Tate...

-What does that say?

-Sociedad... Salvadorian Aid Society.

-Salvadorena, see?

-Let's call them.

-Father Tate?

-Yes. Can I help you?

-I'm Detective Cagney. This is Detective Lacey.

-We were hoping that you could help us find someone.

-I see.

-Then I'm afraid I can't help you.

-Excuse me, Father.

-We're not with Immigration. We're working on a homicide.

-A Mr Tanton.

He had a live-in maid named Isabella Aragon. She could help us.

-We just want to talk to her.

-For most of the people I deal with at the Salvadorian Aid Society,

the distinction between the INS and the NYPD is very blurred.

-There's not a lot of trust.

-Do they trust you?

I don't know if I can trust you.

I don't know her.

-But you could find her.

-Maybe, but it would be on my terms.

-Which are?

-She's free to go afterwards.

-That may not be our choice.

-It will be.

Uh, excuse me, Father. I'm sorry.

-I don't like being dictated to.

-You're the ones with the problem.

Listen, I'm not stupid. I know the advantage of having cops in my debt.

The Salvadorian Aid Society is my own crusade.

It isn't sanctioned by my church.

So, I learned the hard way that if I don't take care of these people, and myself, then nobody else will.

If I find Isabella Aragon, I want guarantees, and the only ones I trust are my own.

Now, if that isn't acceptable,

then go in peace.

And may God be with you.

-I'm getting a candy bar. Want one?

-Relax. The priest said he'd call.

-He said maybe he'd call.

-Then maybe relax.

How can I relax?! Do you want a candy bar or not?

Everybody's leading us around by the nose - mother, daughter...

-Everybody's running this case but us.

-We never have control. Sometimes we fool ourselves better.

-What is that supposed to be, deep?

-No, it's what I was thinking about.

Want the reasoning behind it?

No, not a whole lot.

Christine, remember when you asked me if I thought you were brusque?

-Brusque?

-Brusque.

I'm sorry. I'm working on it. So, tell me your theory.

If you believe, which I do, that order...

-Is this a long story?

-Nobody ever learned with their mouth open.

-Hi, Charlie.

-Officer Daughter.

-Hi, Charlie.

They told me I'd find you here.

-Yeah, we're, um, working. Waiting for a phone call.

-You want coffee?

-I'll get some.

-Don't leave. I got tickets for the Knicks on Friday. I wondered if Christine could go.

-Friday?

-Yeah.

Yeah, I could go.

Yeah? Terrific, terrific!

-Do me a favour - hang on to the tickets for safety.

-You keep 'em.

I'd feel better if you'd hold 'em.

OK.

Well...I got a couple of guys waiting for me. I'd better go.

-See you on Friday. ..Mary Beth.

-See you.

-Bye, Charlie.

-Nice.

-Peace offering.

Hey, there are three tickets!

-Oh? Maybe he wants you to invite somebody.

-Do you think(?)

-Charlie! Guess who the Knicks are playing. The Celtics!

-Who else?

PHONE RINGS

Detective Lacey, 14th Precinct. How you doing, Father?

-Good evening, Father.

-How are you?

-Father.

She is here.

Isabella...

estas son las dos detectives de quien te hable.

Como estas?

-Bien. Usted?

-Not bad.

Senorita.

'We talked to Isabella Aragon.'

She says she was there. She heard you arguing.

Then she heard you leave, and then she heard a gunshot.

You're bluffing. If you could prove anything, you wouldn't have to talk to me. You'd just release me.

Smart. OK.

Your mother wants to plead guilty and the DA's office won't make a deal unless you withdraw your plea.

But I did it. It's my fault.

No, you may think it's your fault, but I know you didn't do it.

-No! Get her out of here!

-Jane, please...

-You can't talk to me without my lawyer.

-We called him.

-We'll wait.

-This is unconstitutional.

-Not if we don't ask any questions.

We're just going to listen.

-Jane...

-Don't do this to me.

-You look pale. Are you all right?

-This isn't going to do any good.

-I've missed talking to you.

-Mother, please...

Let me do this.

It's my fault.

It was never your fault.

I tempted him, he said, especially because you were sick. You wouldn't, so I had to, he said.

I'm sorry, Mother, I'm sorry.

-I love you. How could I have done this to you?

-To me?

You didn't do anything to me, Jane. It was just him. It was all him.

I hate myself for doing it. How could I have done it?

-He made you do it.

-I should have made him stop.

Janey, you were too little.

But I wish you had come to me. I would have made him stop.

I couldn't. I couldn't tell you. You were too sick.

Jane...I'm your mother.

You didn't want to be my mother. You wanted to be my friend.

But that's... what I thought you wanted too.

We had such a good time together.

Didn't we have fun, Jane?

I still can't...

believe he was...

Say it.

A child-molester.

Say it.

I can't.

Did you know?

-Oh, no.

-You had to know!

-I swear to you, I didn't know.

-Don't tell me you didn't know something. No, you knew.

You didn't do anything, because all you cared about was your marriage and what other people might think.

Janey...

if I had suspected...

..I would have taken you away.

I'd have taken you away with me.

You've got to believe me, Jane.

Please.

Please believe me, Janey.

I didn't know until I heard you that night...

..and then I had to kill him.

I...

killed him.

I'm glad he's dead!

Don't be glad, Janey!

Mrs Tanton... can I say something to her?

Jane...

I think that your mother wants to accept responsibility for her guilt

and I know that you have to accept responsibility for your innocence. You didn't do anything.

You're not guilty of anything.

Let me do this.

Please.

You have to go on...

..with the rest of your life, sweetheart.

Please, if you could just...

find it in your heart

to forgive me.

-Baby, just try to forgive me!

-Oh, Mommy...!

I love you, Jane.

I love you, Jane.

I love you, Mommy.

I love it! You guys are fantastic. I really mean it. Coffee's on me.

We finish up the paperwork and Jane walks. The old lady cops to manslaughter and does less time.

She deserves worse, but I won't have to take it in front of a sympathetic jury. Guess I owe you guys one, huh?

-Thanks.

-Cream? Sugar?

-No, thanks.

Best of all, I get off for the weekend on time.

I'm taking my lady for a romantic two days out.

Come on, cheer up!

-You guys did good!

-Yes, sir.

Listen, I gotta move if I'm to beat the traffic. You guys have a good weekend too, right?

Congratulations. See you next week.

Got anything on for the weekend?

Uh, the ball game with my father.

Oh, Celtics!

-How about you?

-Got my steady date in Queens.

-You had to be blind not to see it.

-Two refs and no-one blew a whistle!

-Only you two saw it.

-What are you talking about?!

-Bird gave him an elbow.

-Yeah, Parish had five fouls...

-It wouldn't have meant a thing.

-We should have walked away with it.

-It wouldn't have been close!

-Right. More coffee?

-Yeah, I'll have some.

-Uh...nah, it's OK. I told these guys I'd go to Jersey tomorrow. I gotta hit the rack early.

-Oh, OK.

I'll come too. We can share a cab.

How come?

-Pop...?

-You stay out of this.

Listen, pal, it makes no difference to me when you leave this apartment,

but you are not going to leave when I do, because I would not believe that. So...I'll see you soon.

-And you - I am telling you, Bird threw an elbow.

-Pop?

Me too.