Mothers and Sons Cagney and Lacey

We compared the surveillance photos to mug shots of the defendant,

Toby Carruthers, which we had on file.

We then concluded that the person depicted in both

sets of the photographs was the same individual.

May we have the last photo, please?

Here, we see the defendant striking Ms Preminger

across the left temple with his gun.

Thank you, Sergeant Cagney.

No further questions at this time.

What you are saying then is that my client here, Toby Carruthers,

and that heavy-set, venal slob we saw beating a defenceless

teenager in that indistinct photograph

are the same person?

It has been five months since Mr Carruthers was arrested,

anyone can lose weight and shave.

And Toby picked me up at seven to take me to the ice show.

We went out for coffee afterwards.

We didn't get home till almost midnight.

He was with me the whole time.

I even saved the ticket stubs.

Your Honour, I have in my hands the very same ice show ticket

stubs to which Mrs Carruthers made reference.

I would ask that they be marked as Defence Exhibit

Number Three for identification.

I've also provided Prosecution with a copy of these stubs.

Mrs Carruthers, are these the very same tickets you are referring to?

Yes, they are.

Clerk, will you please mark these Defence Exhibit Number Three?

Toby is a good son.

All I can think is somebody made a terrible mistake.

The mother, she blew us out of the water.

I was ready for that, but our witness falling apart faster

than wet bread, that is what surprised me.

Maybe when she saw Toby Carruthers at the defence table,

all she could remember was a .38 smacking into her cheekbone.

She was an ace in the office though, wasn't she?

She had all her emotions in check, knew the details,

sweet on her skirt.

Yeah, but she is the one that came off like a liar. Don't you love it?

-We gave it a good shot, Sir.

-Yeah, well...

Officers, you're going to have to excuse me,

I have got to go prepare for another travesty of justice and then

home for a little dinner and a round of gin rummy with my wife.

It'll be better the next time, I hope. I always hope.

-Good night, Sir.

-Good night.

-Good night.

Let's hear it for the criminal justice system.

-Once again, more criminal than just.

-Look on the bright side,

Christine, at least tonight you will finally get to experience -

Harvey Lacey's greased the wheels and packet spaghetti sauce.

-Oh, Mary Beth, I can't.

-Not again!

I'm not up to a family night tonight.

Yeah, you never are.

You already cancelled this same date three times.

Well, I'm tired, I'm angry. I'd snap at your kids.

-I think I should just go home and go to bed.

-This is wonderful,

Harvey spends all day slaving over a hot stove.

-Sauce splatters on his arm, it burns...

-Mary Beth!

..he doesn't care, he keeps stirring,

thinking how happy he is going to make his wife's partner.

-Lay off!

-"I skipped bowling." "She's not coming, she hates our kids."

-I'll go!

-That a girl!

-I don't hate your kids.

-That's because you don't know them.

Did you like that bit about the ice show?

Why didn't she just say they were having an audience with

the Pope and be done with it?

Hey, we're here! She probably would have, Christine,

if she thought it would help, that's her son.

Harvey!

I'm amazed that Toby character is anybody's son.

Maybe they thought it was at my place.

Harv?

Harvey could have, you know, maybe ordered out.

Mom, hey, mom!

-Mom, these guys, they jumped Harvey!

-They what?

They wanted his money, but Harvey is not a wimp.

He took 'em and they jumped at him, and Harvey... Boom!

-Just like Magnum.

-Oh, my God, what happened?

Fine, fine, just a skirmish is all.

"Give me your money," he said. "Try and take it."

-Who did that to you?

-Some kid, I don't know.

Will somebody tell me what happened?

Harvey Jr was mugged, lost a couple of bucks,

but toughed it out until the other kid pulled a knife.

Knife? He got cut? My kid got cut?

No, he was not cut with a knife, he's all right, babe.

No, this does not look like all right to me, Harvey.

That's where he took the punch. He they put in a couple of stitches

-at the ER.

-You fought this kid over money? Are you crazy?

It was almost five dollars. It was mine,

-he didn't have a right to it.

-Right, what right?

You could be dead, you stupid, stupid kid!

Christine, some pizza and beer?

Honey, how does that sound to you, little pizza?

I am so sorry about the spaghetti, hon. Tell me, how is the baby?

The baby is fine.

My oldest son, however, almost got himself killed today.

-You are in this house for one month!

-Honey, that is a little tough on him.

The kid handled himself like a man. Bottom line is he is all right.

Bottom line, he could be dead.

Well, this is perfect. There are no clean dishes here. Perfect!

How am I supposed to feed everyone with no clean dishes?

So, slugger, how bad does the other guy look?

I don't remember, I just feel dumb.

-Harv's going to get in there, won't you?

-Shut up and leave me alone.

-Mom, I told you, I never saw this guy before.

-Good.

Even better, you never see him again.

Now, tomorrow morning, first thing, I want you to go to the principal

and report what happened, you hear me?

And from now on, you will never, I repeat,

never put up a fight for money.

Hey, come on, Mom, you mean I got to be chicken?

No, I mean you got to be smart.

You hide your money different places,

that way you don't lose it all.

-Michael, I asked you to go in the other room.

-Dad's in there.

He is asleep on the couch.

Mom, where is the baby going to sleep?

Where do you think? With us.

-Wrong, Harvey. The baby will sleep with me and your father.

-He's lucky.

Till he is older, and then, we get a bigger place, later,

then he'll have a room of his own.

Me, too?

Yeah, you, too.

Now, you finish your homework. And remember what I said.

There are things you may have to fight for in your life,

but money is not one of them.

Yeah, a little self-defence is good for the confidence.

I was thinking of taking him down to the Y.

-You're going to teach them how to box, is that it?

-Yeah.

-A right jab here, a couple of left jabs there?

-That's right.

A little confidence is good when you got to handle a bully.

This is a mugger, he uses a knife.

He's after money. What are you going to teach a kid,

how to hold his guts in when his belly has been slit open?

I told those kids before, you give it up, you stay alive.

Uh-huh.

And keep on giving it up every day for the rest of your life.

The way you talk, it sounds like you think it's your kid's fault.

Of course not, I'm saying you don't fight for money is all.

You fight for what then? Honour?

Territory? The American way of life?

I can see where you are going with this, and I am not joining in.

Wait a minute, you're not talking logic here, Mary Beth.

Our child's territory was invaded, just like a country's.

You don't think America fights for money?

What about those big oil company interests in Vietnam?

What about bananas?

You think we would be sending our troops into Latin America

if those big companies didn't want to hang on to their fruit trees?

And now you're in outer space, pure and simple.

I am talking about our kid's survival in Queens,

not American foreign policy.

The kid listened to you when he walked out the door,

he wouldn't know if he was going to school or joining the Marines.

Boy, you can really hit the nail on the head sometimes.

I'm standing here doing the dishes and it hits me,

what do I know about this, huh? You're the cop.

You deal in crime every day.

Me, I putter around waiting for somebody to want

a new walnut-look kitchen.

You know how a man should behave on the street, you do it every day.

So look, I will stay out of the way, you teach the kid had become a man.

If he listens to me,

he is going to wind up unemployed with an apron around his waist.

Harv, you are between jobs is all, there will be another one.

I'll finish these in the morning.

Oh, hey, honey, come on, we know better than this.

Harv Jr is all right, that is the important thing, right?

Right. Good night.

You're not unemployed!

-Should've called it sooner.

-We all should've called it sooner.

I was saving to take my wife to Miami,

now I can't afford Coney Island.

-What am I going to tell Shirley?

-Tell Shirley a shark ate your money,

it's the truth. Nice jacket, Norman.

You can touch it if you like, you guys paid for it.

Sharp style, huh? What Rob Lowe will be wearing in a couple of years.

Somebody better warn Rob Lowe.

Any time you high rollers want another game, please, let me know,

I could use another one in camel.

-Can you believe him?

-No.

-I never thought I'd meet a worse winner than you.

-Ha, ha.

Morning.

-Good morning.

-How are you doing?

-OK.

Pizza is still marching through Georgia, but I'm all right.

How is the crime victim?

OK. A little quiet maybe, but he went to school like usual.

Cagney, Lacey, sorry to hear we lost the Carruthers case.

You two did a lot of good work on that.

I got another one here for you, no complaints, please, Sergeant Cagney.

The Apollo Messenger Service is missing a couple of bicycles -

looks like a ticked off ex-employee has copped them.

Check it out.

Lieutenant, we got cut off at the knees in court,

couldn't we have a case that is a little more...

I don't know, uplifting?

Uplifting? You want uplifting, take an elevator.

This guy's business may not be important to you,

but to him it is a very big deal.

He doesn't care whether you're stimulated by your work today

or not, he wants his bicycles back, you got that? Go get them.

Yes, Sir. As soon as we file the last of the Carruthers report, Sir.

Can I talk to you, Cagney?

Not right now, Isbecki, I got to crack a big bicycle ring.

I've got a proposition for you, it'll just take a minute.

No, it'll take a second - no.

Hey, Chris, we really miss you at the poker game.

-No, I mean it.

-Sure you do. I wiped all of you out.

You were the first one.

But now we'll be losing our shirts to Newman.

-That creepy little jerk?

-Yeah. I know, it's humiliating.

-So I got to thinking about the first time you played with us.

-Yeah.

-Good game.

-Yeah, you were terrific

pretending you didn't know how to play the game.

You really suckered us.

Yeah. Great game.

Do want to do it again?

You could sucker Newman.

Just turn on that wide-eyed, innocent look the first game.

After that, bam, you sting him.

Let me get this straight, you big boys want me

to hit on the little 12-year-old over there with the fast fingers?

Uh-huh.

-Are you going to bankroll me?

-Sure.

We will even throw you down some extra dough.

I want 30% of all my winnings.

-30%?!

-50% if I let you live it down.

-OK, OK.

30%, you got a deal.

Coleman told me to tell you there is some guy outside

in the interview room. Says it is urgent,

something about the Carruthers case.

What happened to business first?

Business was first.

People don't care about consequences anymore,

they don't care about other people.

Yes, Sir.

Wouldn't you like to sit down, Sir?

A man tries his darndest to make a good life for his family.

He sacrifices whatever he has to.

And it can all blow up in his face.

-Turn to garbage, you know what I mean?

-Yes, Sir.

Excuse me, you wanted to see us about the Carruthers case,

-is that right?

-That's right, that's right.

It was awful, him being let off like that. Set loose.

It shouldn't happen. He'll never stop, he'll never learn like that.

He'll just keep on hurting other people,

and I can help you change that.

Well, that would be good, Sir,

but maybe we should start with your name?

Carruthers, Jacob Carruthers. I am Toby Carruthers's father.

Found innocent by a jury, he can't be touched - double jeopardy.

But, Sir, Jacob Carruthers is ready to testify that his wife lies

habitually for her son.

Mrs Carruthers covered for him in a fruit stand robbery two years

ago, the father said.

The grand jury dropped it before trial for insufficient evidence.

Can we re-open that case, Sir?

You two are talking about an armed robbery that happened two years ago.

The trail is cold by now.

On the other hand, Mr Joseph Brangie,

owner of the messenger service, had his bikes ripped off last night.

-How about him?!

-How about giving it to Newman?

-What?

-Why not?

Lacey and I, when we were green, we got all the boring cases.

Forget it, Cagney. Why don't you sit down, Lacey?

Now, where was this conscious-stricken father

when you needed him? Huh?

Apparently, he thought it was a cinch

his son would be thrown in jail for the last caper.

-Imagine that.

-With due respect, Sir,

Toby Carruthers is a violent man.

He broke three bones in that girl's face.

On his last job, the father coming forward, it's like a gift, Sir.

Now, with the old case, it looks like we have a witness.

Please, Sir, maybe we could lock this man away. For a long time, Sir.

-Lieutenant, I think...

-Please!

I tell you what, I'm going to give you three days and that's it.

-No matter what you get, it's over.

-Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.

But first I want you to see this man about his bikes.

If that is all right with you, Sergeant Cagney.

Of course, Lieutenant Samuels.

That's reassuring, Sergeant Cagney.

Thank you very much, Sir.

"Oh, thank you so much, Sir."

You're practically smothered him with, "Oh, please, Sir,"

"Why, it's like a gift, Sir."

Good manners, Christine, never go out of style.

Especially when you want something.

I got nothing to say either one of you.

Mrs Carruthers, we understand your loyalty to your son.

My son is innocent, the jury said so.

You've got no business bothering me here at my work.

We wanted to talk to you about another robbery, ma'am,

it happened about two years ago.

You might remember, a 65-year-old Korean gentleman was beaten up.

And he identified your son as the man who robbed him.

Well, he was wrong. My son was with me.

-Excuse me, can we turn this off?

-No, you can't, it's fixed.

Fine, why don't I move over here were we can hear each other better?

Perjury is a very serious offense. If we prove...

You're not going to prove nothing!

My son does not go around robbing and beating up people.

He's my only child. You think I don't know my own son?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, ma'am.

That woman is as much a criminal as her son.

A mother wants to protect her child, Christine.

I mean, it's hard to know where to draw the line sometimes.

You start by making excuses for him, little things maybe,

and pretty soon it gets out of hand.

That kind of love can push you around.

At least the father had his head on straight.

Oh, the father is so down on his own kid he sounded like he wanted

to lock him up himself.

I mean, the mother is a different story. She thinks the boy has wings.

Now, think what that does to a child -

two people pulling in different directions.

That's easy for you to say, Mary Beth,

you have got two good kids, you were lucky.

You were. What if that third one turns out differently?

-Did you ever see The Bad Seed?

-That is a terrible thing to say!

You take that... That is like putting a curse on my baby.

-Take it back!

-I was just...

-Take it back!

-I take it back!

Thank you.

-I'm glad you're not overreacting.

-Did you say something?

Remember when you used to talk about being pregnant with the boys?

How you said you were always happy and mellow.

-I did not say mellow, blissful is what I said.

-Blissful?

-When was that? The second trimester? The third?

-The fourth.

KNOCK ON DOOR

You better step on it, honey,

we are going to be late for the Lamaze class.

Just a minute!

-Yes, Sir.

-We are looking for Harvey Lacey.

-That's me.

The Harvey Lacey we want to talk to is 14.

-Your son?

-My son. What's up, what's wrong?

We got reports he's involved in some major property damage.

-Who are these reports from?

-We need to speak with your son, Sir.

Whoa, I'm going to have to have a little more information here first.

Your son could be in a lot of trouble, mister,

-don't make it worse.

-Hey, whoa, you take it easy.

Don't be threatening this family here.

Who do you think you are accusing my boy? You got a warrant?

Either of you guys got a warrant? Then get the hell out of here!

-You want a trip downtown, buddy?

-For what?

-For what, name it!

-Hey!

-Get out of this house!

Hold on, I'm Detective Lacey, 14th precinct.

Will somebody tell me what is going on?

Yeah, I'll tell you - these guys, they're out of hand.

They can get out of here right now.

Do I know you? You are Johnson, Al Johnson.

You used to walk a beat in Manhattan, am I right?

-Yes, ma'am.

-Detective Lacey.

I'm sorry, I should have recognized the name.

But your husband did come on a little strong there, Detective.

Harvey, let me talk to them a minute, huh?

I hate to bother you at home,

but someone through some bricks in Carl Lomas' TV Repair

about four blocks from here - some broken glass, some TV sets damaged.

It could come to a lot of money.

-You think my son is involved?

-Mr Lomas filed a complaint.

Look, Detective, you talk to your son. Tell us if... Anything.

Give us a call, we'll sit on this a couple more days.

-Thank you, Officer Johnson, I will do that.

-OK.

Thank you.

I didn't do it.

Were you hanging around Mr Lomas' store today?

I don't know who Mr Lomas is, why would I do that?

I don't know, I was hoping you could help me understand.

Mom...

Harvey, this is a family. Everybody here loves you. You can talk to us.

You can tell us the truth.

Mom, I told you, I don't know what they're talking about.

Why don't you believe me?

Don't you have to go to your baby class?

Hon...

There is more to talk about here, Harvey.

Mary Beth, he says he didn't do it, he didn't do it, case closed.

-Harv...

-You're not paying attention, case closed. Mm?

-I'll see your quarter and I bump you a dollar.

-I'm out.

-Me, too.

-Fold.

-If I want to stay in the game, I put in a dollar?

-That's right.

SHE HUMS

-What are you going to do?

-I'm going to bump your dollar.

Bump is only when you raise, are you going to raise?

SHE HUMS

-Cagney...

-Well, I don't now!

I was going to raise your bump here and you keep confusing me

-when you change the terms on me.

-Just put in the dollar.

That's right. Anybody else?

Just the two of you.

That means you called me.

And I got a full house.

Diamonds and hearts, all the same colour.

That's all the same colour, but that's not a flush.

You got a pair of sevens.

Tough luck, Cagney.

That's not a good hand?

Maybe you should stop now and save some of your money.

Don't you patronize me, Newman!

Just shut up and deal. Or bump.

Or whatever it is you do.

-Two types in blue uniforms...

-Ugh!

..barge into our home and you take their word over your son's.

I didn't say that, Harv.

Why would he throw bricks through a TV store for God's sakes? Why?

What happened to motive?

I don't know. I'm tired.

I want to know why the whole world is badgering our son all of a sudden.

Maybe you think he is Al Capone, eh?

Next week he's flying off to Peru to pick up some heroin.

Oh, will you quit flying off the handle?

I'll take care of it tomorrow.

You and the other cops, huh? I'll stick with Harvey Jr.

Dammit, Harv, it is not a matter of sticking with anybody.

Oh, yes it is, Mary Beth.

Faith and loyalty are family words, words that mean you care about

what is inside your home first, before anything else.

Before your job.

Before being a cop.

I hope you remember how to be a mother again before this next

one is born.

Oh, that's nice, Harv.

That is very good.

-Where are you going?

-I'm going to sleep.

Alone.

Hey, Newman! Getting nervous?

Got yourself a little competition now, huh? Did you see me draw that

full home in the last hand?

House, full house.

Isn't that what I said?

Anyway, I want my 38 bucks back, so you better save a chair for me

at the next game, cos this time I am going to clear the room!

Table, you clear the table.

Whatever.

Aren't you laying it on a little thick?

There is not a man alive who thinks a woman can play,

talk or even think poker.

So, you think this fruit stand guy is going to have anything

-new on Carruthers?

-Well, we'll find out if we ever get there.

Oh, will you look at this, perfect timing.

Chris, as soon as we are finished, I'd like to take my lunch hour

and go to Queens, OK?

-That's a long drive for a sandwich, Mary Beth.

-Now, it's, um...

Harv Jr is in a little trouble, I thought I'd go out there

and talk to somebody.

Is this guy taking his own sweet time or what?

-The school counsellor?

-No, it's a complaint.

Uh, you want to speed it up, mister?

Hold your horses, lady, you'll get there.

No thanks to you, fella.

So what's going on?

Oh, nothing, it's some broken windows.

He says he didn't do it, but every time he says he didn't do it,

he gets this look on his face.

Completely blank.

His eyes look like big plates.

Like those guys in line-up trying not to look like themselves.

He's acting like a criminal.

This is a public street here!

Give me a break, will you, lady?

Break? I'll give you a break.

SHE HONKS THE HORN

Crumb bum!

You know, Mary Beth?

Sometimes you have to believe, even if all the evidence is against them.

Why?

My brother.

Brian, the angel.

He wanted to tattoo my storybook doll with his wood-burning set.

It was the fairy princess doll, too.

So we got into this tugging match, you know?

And all of a sudden, he just lets go.

And he bites right into his own arm.

I mean, chomps right into it.

Drew blood, too, I think.

And then suddenly, he just goes running off

and he is crying to my mother that I bit his arm.

I got my behind tanned, I'll tell you,

and I was grounded for two weeks.

They didn't believe me.

See what I mean?

I don't think that Harvey Jr knows anybody as demented as Brian.

I hope he doesn't know anybody as demented as Brian.

-KNOCKING

-Hey, lady, you better move your car,

you're holding up traffic.

Hey! Hey!

You touch my car again, you smart mouth,

I will personally feed you a summons for lunch.

Here's my badge, you smart mouth!

You are in danger and you don't even know it.

Get out of here!

You're right, Mary Beth, good manners do pay off.

The robbery was a long time ago, my father is all well now.

It doesn't matter anymore.

Ma'am, your father is not the only one this man beat up.

There were other victims and other robberies,

and anything that you can remember might help us.

My father is the one you should talk to, he was the one who was hurt.

Yes, we understand that, but according to our reports,

your father's English was poor.

-And we're looking for a more exact description.

-No, no.

Ever since the robbery, he has been taking English lessons.

He wants to be a citizen.

These lady policemen wanted to talk to you about the robbery.

Robbery?

-SHE TRANSLATES IN KOREAN

-Ah! I remember. I remember.

Well, we need a better description than what we had before.

Long time ago.

We realize that, Sir.

Many language classes since.

-Citizen soon.

-Good for you.

HE LAUGHS

-About the robbery?

-Ah!

Big man.

Many go...

Ring go...

Watch gold.

How big?

Six feet?

Maybe shorter.

Could you identify him from a photograph?

My father already identified him but attorneys said the man had an alibi.

They were afraid my father's testimony would not hold up in court.

My father's English was not so good then, not like now.

-Sir, our records show an antique gold pocket watch.

-Yes, watch.

Gold, from G.I. Buddy.

Many years ago.

-Name inside.

-Yeah, the inscription - "Doo Koo Kang, Seoul, 1953."

Yes!

Well, thank you for your time.

And if you or your father think of anything else, you give us a call.

Thank you.

HE SPEAKS IN KOREAN

Good for baby.

Oh, thank you.

OK, we're back to square one. Now, if we are going to crack this thing,

we have got to leap on the mother with both feet.

Let's leave her out of it, Chris.

What is it with you and that woman? Are you related or something?

-I understand what she is doing, that's all.

-Oh, you do?

When was the last time you stood up in a court of law

and lied for somebody?

That was different.

Why, because it was in the line of duty or because I was lying for you?

She is a perjurer, Mary Beth.

And I would have been, too,

if you hadn't stopped me.

I was protecting somebody I care about, the same as her.

No, it is not the same thing. It is not.

Her lies have hurt a lot of people,

including that young witness whose facial bones you were

-so worried about yesterday.

-All I'm saying is

I understand the mother's motives, all right? Can we go to Queens now?

If it is all the same to you, Mary Beth, I don't want to drop

this case right in the middle of the day.

Well, right this minute, the only son I can think about is my own.

We've got two days, Mary Beth, and this kid is out there right now

with his gun, probably pointed at someone else's face.

All right, I'll drop you off, I will go to Queens

and I will pick you up at the precinct in one hour.

He's not that kind of a kid!

He's not! I'm telling you!

Lomas, I know my own kid, he wouldn't do anything... What is this?

Why would he bother? Give me a reason!

Just give me a reason, that's all I'm looking for. A reason!

What are you doing here?

The same as you.

Mary Beth, that man will not listen to reason,

he insists our kid broke his window.

My kid would not do that!

Harvey, maybe I should talk to him, too?

I'm telling you, that jerk is so worked up he doesn't know what

-he saw.

-Well, if the man is insisting that Harv Jr was involved...

He's wrong.

What are you doing, looking for evidence against your own kid?

-I'm looking for the truth.

-The truth?

You can hear it in your own house, listen to your son.

You don't need to go all over the neighbourhood pumping strangers.

Harvey, you remember when he was eight years old

and you sent him down to the store for fresh blueberries

so we could have pancakes?

And he ate almost all of them on the way home.

And he stood in that kitchen, his hands and face all covered

with blueberry juice, shaking his head, "No, didn't do it, Dad."

Honey, I swear you, he has got that same look

on his face as he did then.

"Didn't do it, Dad."

Do you want to quit fighting?

I guess I have been a little touchy, huh?

Maybe.

Maybe?

Oh, give me a break, Mary Beth, I haven't had a job in 3.5 weeks.

It gets to a guy.

Harvey, we both work, even-steven.

-Your jobs come in lumps is all.

-Egh...

-Anyway, you got all the looks in the family.

-Oh, yeah(!)

Yeah.

Harvey Jr gets all that from me.

He is not guilty till I see the blueberry juice, OK?

OK.

I was proud of being a father.

Yes, Sir, I'm sure you were.

I can't understand whatever I did that was wrong.

Why should I have a son than anybody'd be of ashamed of?

When I see the people that he has hurt...

You say that your son lived here with you?

Yeah. He had a cot over there.

We had a deal -

he'd work for me and I'd give him free room and board.

Little extra. Part-time.

So he could get another job. But no, no, he stopped working.

Just slept here a couple of days a week.

You know, it is not a crime to be raised poor.

I was. Out in the middle of Arkansas.

And you worked out there, by God.

Or the family didn't eat.

I understand that, Sir.

We grew up with rules, ways you behaved.

Lived by the Commandments, and that's what mattered.

My father used a belt on me plenty of times.

"Spare the rod and spoil the child," he said.

He was right.

Mr Carruthers, did your son, Toby, leave anything,

-anything that would help us?

-Nah, nothing.

Just some trashy books, disposable lighters...

I threw it all out.

Except...

This pocket watch.

I figured... Hell, I don't know what I figured.

Here.

I know he never bought it.

Well, this is a big help, Mr Carruthers.

Just couldn't take it.

Stayed a baby.

Ran to his mother.

She'd scream if I even touched him, treated him like he would break.

That boy came between us.

He ruined our marriage.

I'm so ashamed of him.

It's not true.

Mrs Carruthers, we have a gold watch that the robbery victim

has already identified.

It is the same gold watch that your son gave his father.

He turned on his only child.

It is a crime that man's blood runs in Toby's veins.

We finished with him a long time ago, me and my boy.

He is still trying to ruin us.

He is trying to stop your son from hurting somebody else

so he can lead a decent life, become a man you can both be proud of.

My son knows more about being a man than his father ever new!

He takes care of me and I take care of him. We love each other.

Wait a minute. Mrs Carruthers, wait a minute, we are

not asking you to betray your son.

We have already got all the evidence we need.

We've got him dead to rights.

But if you go into the court of law and you lie on the witness

stand again, then you will be charged with perjury.

What happens next time

when Toby doesn't stop at beating in some girl's face?

You going to cover for him when he kills somebody?

How are you going to feel having a murderer for a son?

Mrs Carruthers...

-Tough lady.

-That's a lonely lady.

She never let her child out of her womb. The boy didn't have a chance.

Yeah, and she's still trying to protect him, too.

Well, protecting your child is the easy part.

I wouldn't have to think, I'd kill for my kid.

No, it's letting them grow up and get hurt. That's not so easy.

You carry them in your body nine months,

your heart pumps the same blood.

Some piece of him is always going to be with you.

Letting go, that's the hard part.

I don't know, Chris, he's lying to me.

I can't prove it and I know he is.

He threw those bricks.

You could always turn him over to juvenile authorities,

they could scare the hell out of him.

Spank his hand, sent him home on probation.

Now, what does that teach him?

He gets hauled in, he gets a lawyer, he gets a lot of attention.

Some social worker listens to him whine. Boom, he's out the door.

-You don't want him locked up, do you?

-No.

We see kids every day bragging how they have been busted five

or six times.

Makes them look cool to their friends.

Doesn't cost them anything. No good.

-So, what are you going to do?

-Have a talk with Harv.

Sent Michael down to Mrs Tamakis, put Harvey Jr in his room.

Alone at last, Mary Beth.

The last call I got before I left work was from the 110th in Queens.

The description of the other kid that threw

the brick at Mr Lomas's store...

fits Harv Jr's good friend, Tommy Aquinas, up and down.

So I called Tommy.

"This is Detective Lacey," I said.

Put the fear of God into him.

Told me the whole thing is Harv Jr's idea to get back at Jake Lomas,

who is the owner's son.

Get back at him for what?

Jack Lomas is the one that stole his money

and busted his head in.

Now, Harvey Jr told us that he didn't know the kid.

So...

He didn't only lie to us once, he has been lying the whole time.

You were right.

Oh, I didn't want to be right, Harv.

I wanted to believe that he didn't do it.

And now I want to pretend the whole thing didn't happen.

No, I don't mean that.

I just want to...

be able to trust our son again and have him trust us.

And I don't know what to do.

Hey, hot shot.

Come on in and have a seat. I didn't think you would show up,

-what with the stakes being doubled and all.

-Look, Cagney,

-I think it is stupid for you to try to play, that's all.

-Really?

Feeling sorry for me, huh?

No, it's just that I hate taking advantage of my position, that's all.

What position is that?

Being practically a friend of the family.

Call me sentimental, but after hanging out with your dad

-and hearing what a great gal you are...

-What do you mean my father?

Yeah, Charlie is a terrific guy.

He is quite the talker after he has had a couple of beers.

-Wait a second!

-"Jonah," he tells me,

"there's not a woman alive who knows more about poker than my Chrissy."

You are low, Newman.

To be honest, Cagney, I'm disappointed.

I guess you just don't have what it takes.

What it takes?

The news is good, Newman, the game is on and it is triple the stakes.

Be my pleasure.

We'll keep it simple, just you and me till the other guys get here?

I told them not to bother.

That's very wise, they hate to see a grown man cry.

Five card stud head-to-head?

You sure you want to do this?

Cut to deal.

Just because your music is stinking up the airways

and every damn movie star these days has zits is no reason

for you to think you've got your stripes in this world.

You want to become king of the mountain, earn it.

You are going to start by paying for the damage you did.

The super is going to give you two dollars an hour for every day

-after school.

-Hey, I got basketball practice!

You got nothing until you fix your mistake!

You are off the team until Mr Lomas is paid back in full.

That's not fair!

Don't talk to me about fair.

Lying to your parents, upsetting your mother, that's not fair.

The world is not your oyster, kid, not yet.

You got a lot of proving along the way before you got the right

to tell me what is fair. Your mother and me, we are telling you.

I was doing what you told me to do, I was sticking up for myself.

Harvey, let me tell you.

When you defended yourself against that punk in the schoolyard,

that took guts.

But throwing a brick through a man's window and running away,

that doesn't take guts, that is an act of a coward.

Harv, I am real mad right now.

I believed you.

I believed you because you are my son and I raised you

to know your family, to know what we stand for.

If you don't learn this now, you're never going to get it.

This is what it is all about, Harvey.

Love.

Respect.

Honour.

Now, that is what you have got to learn before you can call

yourself a man.

Do you understand me?

Yes, Sir.

Let's make a new beginning here.

Go see your mother.

Tell her you're sorry for how much you hurt her.

I'm sorry.