Old Ghosts Cagney and Lacey

Where is that damn Zaretti file? Huh?

A six-year-old could file better than the people here.

Maybe they filed it under his first name.

Will you look at this? They've got 6s with 51s.

They've got Ss put back in the Cs.

Not only can they not file, they can't even spell!

Oh. Nuts.

Nuts!

Mary Beth, I just don't have time for this.

I've got to get some Chinese spare ribs for Charlie.

He hates the hospital food, and I don't blame him.

Christine, I know that it's been a bad day and you're in a lousy mood

because I'm on clerical duty

and you're not pulling any terrific cases.

But you will feel better after seeing Charlie and your brother.

Yeah.

Here, give me half of those.

Huh?

Thanks.

CHRISTINE SIGHS

It's been at least three years since Brian's seen Charlie, Mary Beth.

12 since he's seen me.

All of a sudden, now he's flying out from LA

to be at the bedside of dear old Dad.

I told him the worst was over, but, oh, no, he had to come.

Listen to yourself, Christine. He's family.

Families are supposed to be together at a time like this.

I don't believe this.

There's four different cases here from 1982

all stuffed in with the current files.

Isbecki, right? He hates going down to the dead file room.

Yeah. Almost as much as Cagney does.

Oh.

We're in big trouble on Friday night.

-Tartino's bellied up on us.

-Oh, you're kidding.

No. Great timing, huh?

If we take on the 118th without our best ball-handler, we are dead meat.

-What's wrong with him?

-Oh, he got a little fever. 105 or something.

The hospital says he'll be out by Thursday.

I mean, really, where's this guy's loyalty?

Gentlemen, you're talking about my game.

-Newman, we're talking basketball.

-My middle name.

You're looking at a guy who once played one-on-one

with Earl the Pearl down on Westport Street.

-You and Earl the Pearl, huh?

-Yep.

Looks to me like you guys can use some backup for your buddy.

You need somebody with court smarts, someone fast on their feet.

What we need, Newman, is someone tall.

No, no, no, no. Height just gets in the way.

Me, I get inside where wise men fear to tread.

I'm like a rabbit that can't get caught.

I'm like a fly that can't get squashed.

I get moving so fast, they go dizzy on me just long enough

for me to set up you and Marcus here to bing...swoosh!

Another two points for the 14th. Come on, what do you say?

Newman, if you could talk your way up court,

the other team wouldn't stand a chance.

You can set up pretty good, huh?

I'm the best assist man on the Island of Manhattan.

I'll make you look like a star, Isbecki.

Well, I don't know.

You know, maybe we should let Tartino take it easy this weekend.

I mean, I would feel terrible if he had a relapse.

Yeah, yeah, coming up right. Yeah, what can I get you now?

Uh, I don't know. Um...

A bag of them, I guess.

Huh? Oh. Uh, fortune cookies.

Mom, can I have some cookies?

Me too!

No. It's too close to dinner.

Anything else?

-Please! Just one!

-No.

Please!

-No, just wait.

-Hey, I have other customers, huh?

Give me the cash!

SHE SCREAMS

-Shut the hell up!

-He's got a gun!

-Make him shut up! Shut up!

-Hey, give him the money, mister!

Take it! This is all I have!

Nobody's going to try and stop you, kid. Just keep going.

Put that away. I'm a police officer.

Stop! Police!

Get back there and stay.

TRUCK BEEPS

Police! Hold it!

Hold it!

Dammit.

-Got away?

-Not yet.

I'll get on the radio and alert other officers in the area.

I'm telling you, kids are screaming,

the clerk is standing there like some kind of a zombie,

and the boy looks like he's about two seconds away from blowing everybody's head off, Pop.

It was almost out of control. It was like that...the boy last year.

Do you remember the one that went after me with the baseball bat? Well, that's what it was like.

Except this time, Pop, I did everything.

They cannot say that I did not follow proper procedure!

By the book every step of the way!

-Christine, I'm sure you did fine. Just fine.

-I did.

I'm sorry about the spare ribs, Pop. I forgot to go back for them.

Hey, forget the damn spare ribs. I'm just glad you showed up.

It's been a couple of days.

Well, it's...been kind of busy down at the precinct.

HE COUGHS

So, anyway, what did you get for dessert, huh?

Ha ha! More excuses. No desserts on a bland diet.

No chocolate pudding, huh? Too bad.

Remember when I had my tonsils out? That's the only thing I could eat.

It was all you WOULD eat. You always were stubborn.

Yeah, just like my old man.

I tell you, this soup and custard diet is driving me up the wall.

Meat and potatoes - that's what a man needs to build his strength back up.

They don't listen to an old man like me.

Have you talked to the doctor lately?

Not since last Sunday. But he says you're holding your own, Charlie. It's just going to take some time.

Double talk! He's just not telling you, that's all.

-Telling me what?

-Whatever it is the hell he doesn't want to tell you!

KNOCK AT DOOR

-Just calm down.

-You know what that is? That's my shot.

When I need the bedpan, they're on the other side of the moon.

Brian!

Hello, Dad.

Christine.

-Good morning, Christine.

-Morning.

-How's your dad?

-Charlie looks better.

Sounds worse. His lungs are still real congested.

-And?

-And what?

And Brian?

He hasn't changed.

He's still twisting Charlie and everybody else around his little finger.

Exactly like his sister, huh?

Cagney.

Grab a chair.

Oh. Thank you, Lieutenant.

I got the preliminary 49 on the robbery you came up against last night.

Oh, yeah. Just goes to show a cop's never off duty, huh, Lieutenant?

-Huh!

-Any traces of the perp?

No, not yet. I, uh...was talking with the duty captain.

It seems there's been a complaint filed against you by one of the witnesses.

You're kidding!

I've known Captain Corielli for ten years now. That man does not kid.

We've got to have some outside corroboration,

so I told Newman and Corassa to have a look at the complainant.

-I wouldn't worry about it.

-With Newman on it?

Oh, relax, Cagney.

The only cop I've known who's never had a complaint against him is one not doing his job.

What's this guy complaining about?

Let me guess. Police brutality.

Just the opposite.

The witness feels that, uh,

you were negligent in making every effort to pursue the armed felon.

Well, the witness doesn't know what he's talking about.

I chased the thief until I lost him.

I even took a shot at him when I had him within range.

Ask the guy who runs the store. Mr...Nugen, I think his name is.

-Mr Nguyen?

-Yeah. Mr Nguyen.

Mr Nguyen who filed the complaint.

There's got to be some kind of crazy mix-up.

This Nguyen character was two steps behind me the whole time.

Well, you said he didn't speak English very well.

They probably took his statement down wrong.

I bet you the whole thing is cleared up by the time we chalk out of here tomorrow.

Listen, you want to go out to lunch today? To a real restaurant?

Good food. Elegant ambience.

Oh, gee, I wouldn't mind, Christine, if it wasn't for the fancy prices at those places.

I've got 13.94 till Friday's pay cheque.

Anyways, I'm not dressed right.

Every nice dress I have is at the cleaners.

How about that little hamburger place on 39th Street? The one with the special sauce?

No, we can do burgers tomorrow. You'd be my guest today.

Uh-uh, Christine. You paid last time.

I'm not paying. My brother Brian is paying.

Don't worry about it. He'll put it on his expense account.

Sergeant Cagney? I wanted to...talk to you.

I've been thinking about it, and there's no way you could possibly be negligent in your duty.

Well, gosh, thanks, Newman. I feel better.

No, really, I've been, uh...

Did you know I was a psych major at NYU?

Anyway, you're just not the type.

Terrific.

I can't meet your brother Brian dressed like this!

Why not? You look fine!

What did I say?

WAITER: Soupe du jour is a bisque d'ecrevisses

or a cold tomato soup with fresh basil.

Pate de foie de canard.

Salade d'endives et cresson

ou la salade de crevettes avec endive et pamplemousse.

For the entree, le poisson - a Dover sole saute meuniere,

les coquilles Saint-Jacques provencale,

la poitrine de poulet grillee aux herbes,

et la cervelle de veau au beurre noir.

You have some memory!

Nice accent, too. It's very entertaining.

What sounds good to you?

Oh, um...

..it all sounds so...French.

SHE CHUCKLES

You go first, Christine.

I'll have the salade de crevette endive

and the Dover sole meuniere.

And for you, madame?

Could I have something simple? Like a ham sandwich?

Ah - a croque madame?

Oh, no. No soft drinks. I'm drinking milk these days.

You know, they used to tell you that you couldn't get too much calcium.

Now my doctor tells me, "Don't drink too much milk.

"Go easy on the dairy products."

But what the heck? Make it a ham and cheese.

Even better. Lean ham.

Ah - a croque monsieur?

I think he's talking to you.

Oh, um...I'll have the bisque d'ecrevisses

and the cervelle de veau au beurre noir.

What is that?

-HE LAUGHS

-Calves' brains.

Sounds nutritional.

Excellent choice.

Thank you.

So, Brian.

This is a real pleasure.

And a pleasant surprise for me that you could join us.

Christine tells me you're a tax attorney.

That must take a lot of time. Keeping up with all the changes.

I mean, this new flat tax is supposed to make everything simpler,

right, but it's still all Greek to me.

Well, that's what keeps people like me in business.

-Right.

-SHE LAUGHS

Well, it must be fun living in Los Angeles.

Our boys have always wanted to see Disneyland.

You know, and I figure this summer, when the baby's a couple of months old, maybe we'll visit out there.

-You live near Disneyland?

-No.

Oh.

You have a swimming pool in your backyard?

Yes, I do.

I've always felt that swimming was an important social sport for children to learn.

-Along with tennis and golf and...

-Golf and bridge.

THEY ALL CHUCKLE

Good memory, Chris.

Some things, you don't forget.

So, it must feel real good to see your dad after all these years, huh?

Yes and no.

He's changed a lot.

Not that he's the only one. Grey hairs are catching up with all of us.

SHE LAUGHS

Except you, Chris. I like it blonde.

Thank you, Brian.

You were saying about Charlie?

I think it's time

that we took a long, hard, realistic look at his future.

He's not as strong as he used to be, and now that his health is failing...

He's had a bout with pneumonia, for crying out loud. That's it.

I think it's time he made the move to California.

He could be with his grandchildren. Enjoy the sunshine.

Pick oranges off the tree every morning.

We've got a guesthouse he could live in.

Wouldn't have to worry about rent or utilities.

God knows it would ease the poor man's financial worries.

The poor man does not have any financial worries.

He sure did before I started sending him a cheque every month.

Yeah, well, why didn't you come to me for help?! Why'd you go ask Brian for money?!

-I never asked Brian for money.

-You cashed his cheques, didn't you?!

Now, you hold it right there.

Just because I'm laying half dead in this bed

does not give you the right to talk to me in that tone of voice, young lady!

I am the parent here. Do you understand that? I don't owe you any explanations!

I'm sorry.

It makes me so damn mad! I didn't know you were hurting for money.

You're doing it again, Chris. You're jumping to conclusions.

I never asked Brian for anything!

Chrissie, honey, listen to me. This is what happened.

He used to send me these God-awful gifts that cost an arm and a leg.

I mean, dumb things like fancy shirts and silver money clips.

An oak humidor. I haven't even smoked a pipe in years. You know that.

Finally, I said to him, "Look, why don't you just send me some cash?

"If I need something, I can go out and buy it."

I guess he misunderstood me, because all of a sudden, the cheques started coming.

And, well, you know how he is. I didn't want to hurt his feelings and ask him to stop.

Charlie, why don't you just cut the crap, OK? Cos I'm not buying it.

OK.

OK, Christine. Those cheques came in very handy.

You know, it must be very easy for you, sitting up there on your high horse.

Do you have any idea what my pension from the department is?

It is 5,300 a year. That and my social security.

And if I didn't have a medical plan, I couldn't afford to have pneumonia.

But you told me that you had a nest egg.

I never could manage money, Chris.

Your mother was very good at it, and Brian took after her.

Christine, you put that chequebook back in your purse.

-No.

-I will tear it up the minute you give it to me.

It'll never get cashed. I promise you that.

I told your mother a long time ago I would never, ever live off a woman, and I mean it!

I don't...I don't take charity!

You took Brian's charity.

I took Brian's loans, Christine. Loans.

And I am going to pay him back. Every single dime.

Mr Cagney, how are we doing tonight?

Oh, I'm doing fine. I don't know how you're doing.

-Looks like we've got some good news.

-You mean I get to walk to the john?

Another day or two for that, I think.

But the lungs are clearing up.

The way you're progressing, I'd say we should have you out of here by the end of the week.

Now, you're not just pulling my leg, Doc, just to try and cheer me up?

Straight face. Course, you'll have to be taking it easy for a while.

Dr Shapiro said the prescription

is plenty of rest, fresh juices and sunshine.

That sounds like California to me.

It's only my opinion, Christine, but I think that, in his own way,

Brian is doing what he thinks is best for Charlie.

Not that he's right, of course.

No, he's just picking up where my mother left off.

She always said she knew what was best for Charlie too.

All I'm saying is don't let it worry you.

There's no need for you to worry about your dad moving to California.

Am I worried? I am not worried.

Charlie's too stubborn to change his stripes anyway.

Cagney.

Lieutenant wants to see you. Knelman, too.

I'm not going to beat around the bush, Sergeant Cagney.

We've got some bad news on the incident at the restaurant.

Mr Nguyen still insists that you failed to give chase to the robbery suspect

until it was too late to apprehend him.

Look, I know what I did, Lieutenant.

The man's English is not good. His statement must be wrong.

Now, Nguyen's statement was verified through a Vietnamese interpreter.

He also denies that you shot at the thief.

Well, he's lying!

What about the evidence that the duty captain's team documented?

The traces of gunpowder on my hand?

Duty schedule confirmed

that you fired 250 rounds at the pistol range that day.

That was not old gunpowder, Lieutenant.

I washed my hands.

And I cleaned my gun before I left the range so that it would be street-ready.

We have no proof and no witness to document that, Sergeant Cagney.

Well, somebody must have heard the gunshot.

No, not according to our statements.

And neither the ESD or the firearms review or our own precinct team

has been able to locate the bullet which would back up your account.

Well, then Newman's investigation isn't good enough!

I don't want this on my record.

Unfortunately, it already is on your record, Cagney.

Just for the time being.

Not a dead issue, though. There's going to be further inquiry.

Pending that inquiry, however, and based on official findings...

..Captain Corielli has recommended that,

for the good of the department, you be temporarily suspended.

Suspended?

Cagney, I wouldn't make a big deal out of this.

There's nothing wrong with taking off a few days' work

while this whole thing settles down.

With respect, Inspector, you think I'm going to take this lying down?

-Because I'm not!

-Yes, Sergeant Cagney, I do.

Frankly, the importance of maintaining a low profile

has everything to do with downtown's following through on its recommendation.

Now, considering the evidence at this point,

we don't want Nguyen to overreact,

get on his soapbox with some sympathetic reporter

and have this incident blown out of proportion by the press.

You do remember the Pinero shooting?

Now, if we all play this by the book

and the investigation comes out all right,

it will not stand in the way of your promotion.

I think I'm entitled to know why I'm being suspended.

What are the charges?

Nonfeasance.

Nonfeasance?

You're charging me with cowardice?

I'm sorry, Sergeant Cagney.

I'm going to have to ask you for your gun and your shield.

What are you looking at?

What do you expect me to do, Mary Beth?

Huh? Go home like a good little girl and hope I just get lucky?

Maybe Nguyen will suddenly come to his senses and say, "Just kidding!"

Maybe a garbage collector will find the bullet on the bottom of the city dump, huh?

Better yet - maybe the NYPD will be so short-handed

that they won't mind having a coward on the force!

I tell you, 15 years on this job and they take his word over mine!

Downtown makes its own rules, Christine. We knew that coming in.

-They have to investigate.

-It doesn't make it any easier to take.

Not when you're sold out by your own people.

Lieutenant Samuels. Remember him? One of your own people?

-Yep.

-He called me into his office after you went slamming out of there.

Told me my allergy's been getting a lot worse lately.

What allergy?

Well, you know. My allergy to clerical duty.

"Face it, Lacey," he says.

"Ten days now in that squad room with all that dust

"and the file room with all those musty papers.

"It's not getting any better.

"Take a 48-hour sick leave," he said. "Clear out the head."

He says a nice, damp, dark alleyway,

like maybe the one behind Nguyen's restaurant,

is the perfect climate for my particular type of allergy.

Sounds like just what the doctor ordered for both of us.

Oh. Forget "us", Christine. You're grounded.

Fine.

I'll go by myself.

No, you're in enough trouble already, Chris.

It's a free country, Mary Beth. I can look at alleys if I want to.

Stop.

Oh, all right. You talked me into it.

You can come along.

I hate emotional blackmail.

OK. We play it by the book.

You can be there, but I handle the investigation, I talk to Nguyen,

and I have to drive.

You what?

Well, until you're officially back on the job, Christine,

all city property is off limits.

And you're telling me I can't drive?!

I'm repeating what I was told.

Fine.

Who the hell wants to drive in this town anyway?

The traffic gets worse every day.

-ENGINE STARTS

-Put the seat belt on.

Don't start with me, Christine.

Put it on.

-Christine!

-This is my fight, Mary Beth.

I was suspended because of that lying bastard.

Yeah, and he already railroaded you once.

Now, if you go in there when you're suspended from duty,

he will make sure that Corielli hears about it, and Knelman.

By the book. Remember?

I put in something extra for you. Goodbye.

Now, what I can get you, huh?

Oh. Double order. You eating for two now?

Yes, sir, but one of us is only a baby.

I'm Detective Lacey. 14th Squad.

I wanted to talk to you about a robbery that occurred

here at your establishment two nights ago.

Uh, I-I told the police everything.

No, Mr Nguyen, I don't think you did.

Otherwise Sergeant Cagney wouldn't be suspended

from doing her duty, sir.

-I have no more to say, huh?

-Well, maybe we could start with what really happened.

My wife needs me.

Mr Nguyen...

Uh, Officer, m-my family, we come here to get away from the killing,

to be American citizens, huh?

To be safe.

HE SPEAKS VIETNAMESE

Next time...next time, I don't put my gun down.

And I don't listen to no police officers!

No more. I protect myself!

Come on.

OK. Start from A.

Maybe the team from Firearms dropped the ball. It wouldn't be the first time.

What? Could we just do it? I don't want to talk about it.

I AM doing it, Christine.

Now, we're looking for a bullet, a ricochet mark,

or a witness who saw the whole thing.

I know what I am looking for.

Now, remember, Mary Beth, I was down here when I fired. All right?

See there?

And the kid was somewhere in here,

so the bullet has got to be here or here or here.

YOU are not even here. Remember that.

Aren't you going to search the garbage?

Well, first I thought I'd look at the ground,

and then the walls,

and save the best for last.

The only thing we're going to find in this alleyway is undiscovered talent.

Look at this. "Warriors". "Berserk"!

Notice this young Picasso. Notice his use of bright, vivid colours.

-Mary Beth.

-Uh-huh?

Come here.

What is it?

What does it look like to you?

Would you look?! What does that look like?

-Blood stains.

-Uh-huh. Blended right into the graffiti.

I'm telling you, the bullet's still in the kid.

That's why they couldn't find it.

-Christine!

-What?

I think we should fill out a DD45

and get this over to the lab for analysis.

I will. After I finish going over this alleyway.

Mary Beth, come on! I hit the kid.

He's got to have gotten help somewhere.

I'll look into it, Christine. After I finish going over this alleyway.

Why don't you go for a walk or something?

Think I'll search the garbage.

At least now maybe we have some proof

that Christine went after him like she said.

You would not believe the number of hospital ERs we covered today.

Metropolitan to St Paul's. Nothing.

Hey, what do you think of Alexander? Sounds kind of nice.

Manly, you know?

Sounds like a wimp if you ask me.

Nobody asked you.

AlexanDRIA, maybe.

Yeah. Either way, sure.

It's ancient Greek for - listen to this - "defender of mankind".

Oh.

I don't know, Harv. It's an awful lot for a kid to live up to.

Too much, huh?

-How about Kip?

-Not enough to live up to.

At least he doesn't have to be a Junior.

-What's wrong with being a Junior?

-Harvey is a name to be proud of.

You bet it's a name to be proud of. Let's see what it means.

Hold on here.

Huh? "Warrior".

"One who protects his country". How about that?

It's a dumb name. I want a rad name, like...like Sean.

-Sean?

-Yeah, like Sean Penn.

Tiffany Rinaldi thinks he's a babe. Huh, Harvey?

-Shut up, Michael.

-Hey!

Tiffany Rinaldi calls Harvey "Sean".

-Shut up, Michael!

-Hey. Hey.

So you want us to call you Sean now?

-Yeah. Why not?

-I'll tell you why not. It's not the name we gave you.

So why can't I pick out my own name?

You're always saying you want me to grow up and make my own decisions.

Well, I decided I want a new name.

Is that OK with you?

OK.

You mind passing the popcorn, S...Sean?

-No?

-Uh-uh.

HE LAUGHS

Miss?

Excuse me, miss. Visiting hours are over.

Oh, this is police business. I have to interrogate Mr Cagney.

May I see your identification?

Sure.

Looks like 418 might be in trouble there.

418 can wait. I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday, honey.

Badge, please.

SHE TUTS

-Must have grabbed the wrong purse.

-Mm-hm.

Why don't you bring the right purse tomorrow, during visiting hours?

-TELEPHONE RINGS

-(Sure.)

Four North. Edwards.

Yes, certainly, Dr Badenham. I can check.

Oh, hi. It's about time you got here. I didn't think you were coming.

-Oh, Pop, it's been a long day, OK?

-Yeah.

-Hi.

-Hey, sweetheart.

Tough case, huh? Run it by me. Maybe I could help.

No. I almost got a break.

What's this?

Oh, that Brian. He's always bringing me something.

It's a robe.

He says I can wear it lounging around his pool in California.

-How about that, huh?

-HE LAUGHS

It's beautiful.

OK. I deal.

Hey!

What's wrong? I thought you wanted to play cards.

Deal.

Last two, three days, anything.

I'm lucky I can remember who I treated four hours ago. Three days ago is impossible.

-Look, lady, this means a lot...

-"Doctor".

I'm busting my tail day and night for that title. I like to hear it.

-Just like you, Officer.

-Sergeant.

Did I see YOUR identification, Sergeant?

Well, you saw mine, Doctor.

And if you could give us a little help here.

We keep coming up blank every emergency room record we check.

-It's not my problem.

-I...

-Oh, good.

Another caring practitioner of the Hippocratic Oath! Terrific!

Dr Strathmore, are you telling me you don't know any interns

that do a little moonlighting on the side?

-Nobody I know has the time.

-Of course not. You're too busy saving mankind, right?

-Oh, look, I don't have to take this!

-Uh, excuse me.

I'm sorry for my partner. She's under a lot of pressure.

But...we're looking for any help you could give us.

All I can tell you is go back and check the records again.

-Thank you.

-Yeah, thanks a lot!

Next time you need a cop, take two aspirin and call me in the morning!

Would you come on?

You don't have to apologise for me, Mary Beth.

I told you that I would handle it. I thought we had an agreement.

They're calling me a coward. Now, what do you expect me to do?

What you are doing is not helping, and I'm dropping you at the subway.

-The hell you will.

-Hey, I mean it, Christine. You go home.

Go visit your dad. Go to an art museum. But let me do this.

You've got to let go sometimes. You can't do everything yourself.

-I can't just do nothing.

-Well, you can trust your friends!

I'm not going to let you down.

You'd better not. Your new partner could be Newman.

Newman, I hear, is terrific.

-From who?!

-Newman.

-Put your seat belt on.

-Oh, jeez...

It's city property. Put your seat belt on.

-Hey, Brian.

-Hi.

I tried to reach you at work, but they said you were on temporary leave.

Yeah, well...I thought maybe I'd take a couple of days off.

You have a lovely place here, Christine.

I like it.

Want a drink?

Oh, no, thanks.

Missed you at the hospital yesterday.

I went by later.

I saw the robe you gave Charlie.

Just a little something to cheer him up. I think he liked it.

Fifth Avenue's finest.

To the tune of what?

150?

180, but what does the price have to do with it?

I wanted to get him something to make him happy.

I think you're trying to buy him off.

Trying to take Charlie away from me.

I am trying to do what's best for him. That's why I'm here.

He listens to you. He trusts your advice.

Oh, I see. What kind of advice do you want me to give him?

"Go west, old man"?

"Go west so your dear son can nurse you back to health"?

I will do whatever I can for him.

I care very much about our father.

-And I don't? Is that it?

-I didn't say that!

I'm the one who went to stay with him

while you stayed home tied to Mother's apron strings!

-I'm the one that stuck by him!

-Well, good for you, Christine! At least you stuck by somebody!

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Well, maybe you don't remember.

The woman who gave birth to you?

You wouldn't even leave your precious Parisian holiday to come to her funeral!

It was not a holiday!

I was in school and I was in the middle of finals, and you know that.

You'd know it.

You said she was gone.

It was too late. What was the point?

What was the point?

Your mother dies and you can't even be bothered to pay your respects?

You did manage to pick up your half of the inheritance, though.

I see you're living in fine style off her money.

You have no right.

You have no right to say that to me.

I never cared about Mother's money.

I never cared about her country club or her fancy friends.

Hell, Brian, I couldn't even keep my Mary Janes clean.

I just couldn't be you.

She loved you.

The day you left, she cried like a baby.

Sure. Hey, she had you.

For God's sake, Christine, you were her daughter.

She just didn't know how to reach you.

-Well, she never tried.

-Christine, none of us knew how!

Charlie knew.

He liked me just the way I was. He never tried to change me.

It was fine with him. We're exactly alike, Charlie and me.

And we belong together,

and I'm not going to give him up without a fight.

-HE SIGHS

-I'm not going to fight you, Christine.

Dad doesn't need a son. He's got you.

DOOR CLOSES

PRINTER WHIRRS

Bingo. Found a Chron Com. Just like you said.

Hey, what, do you think the only thing I've got going for me

is a pretty face and a smiling personality?

Gentlemen, it looks like the New York City Police Department has heard from Mr Nguyen before.

October 3rd. June 14th. January 21st.

And that's just the past 24 months, sir.

His complaints go back over three years.

All of them challenged by the officer of record,

and none of them substantiated by evidence

that led to disciplinary action.

You're telling me the guy doesn't like cops?

Sir, in 1981, Mr Nguyen and his wife were attacked by four gang members.

Both were shot and left for dead.

Mr Nguyen recovered. His wife was paralysed from the waist down.

And Nguyen blames the department, hmm?

He's an angry man, sir.

I figure the other night, when the thief got away,

Mr Nguyen decided to make Christine pay for it.

Corassa.

Hey, where's Newman? Why didn't you guys come up with this?!

My partner the hot dog left me a note this morning.

"Got a line on something. Cover for me. Love and kisses, Newman."

"Love and kisses"? Huh!

-Newman?

-You want to hear this or not?

I want to hear that somebody's doing something to get me off the hook.

'Newman couldn't find his head in a paper bag.'

Well, if you will listen to me for one minute, you will hear me

telling you that Newman and I have everything under control.

'He did good work, Christine.'

He dug up this ex-medic from Nam. Guy calls himself Dr Bones.

It seems he's a fix-it man for people who need to avoid hospitals.

If you want to keep on making house calls, you'd better tell us

who that kid is and where we can find him.

Hey, listen. Information on my patients is strictly confidential.

Now, I could end up in a bad way myself. You know what I'm saying?

Dr Bones,

I know I may look to you like somebody's pregnant old lady,

but I get very serious when I have a problem,

and right now...I have a problem.

See, my partner is in trouble,

and there is very little that I wouldn't do to help her.

I'm sure you understand about that.

Now, I don't want to make your life miserable.

In fact, I would hate to see you crawling out of Attica State Prison

a grey old man long after this one here has graduated from college.

Or maybe medical school.

You're a young man yet. You have a lot of living to do.

And I personally would like to see you get the chance to do it.

You know what I'M saying?

TANNOY: 'Dr Linck to surgery.

'Dr Linck to surgery.'

'Security to 5962.

'Security to 5962.'

You're not following me, are you, Sergeant?

Since when did you like chocolate pudding?

You're not the only person to have your tonsils out, Christine.

Not exactly nouvelle cuisine, is it?

-I hate that toy food.

-Me too. My clients like it.

It's hard to break old habits.

'Paging Sergeant Christine Cagney.

'Sergeant Christine Cagney, please call your precinct.'

Excuse me.

-They in there?

-Yeah. Detective Lacey's questioning him.

Sorry, Sergeant. You can't go in there.

You recognise this young man?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Sergeant Cagney, it is my pleasure to tell you

that as of five o'clock today, all charges against you

have been resolved and found to be unsubstantiated.

The Police Commissioner has officially reinstated you, Cagney.

Welcome back.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Well, that's the good news.

What's the bad news?

The bad news is that Detective Lacey's sick leave is terminated.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

And now you're officially back on clerical duty.

If you think you can, uh, stand a delay,

why don't you knock off early and take the sergeant over to Flannery's and have one on me?

Happy to, sir.

Thanks, Lieutenant.

-Hey, Mary Beth.

-Yeah?

You mind if I take a rain check on that drink tonight?

Oh, it's OK by me. I wouldn't mind going home, putting my feet up.

-Great. Thanks.

-There's nothing wrong, is there?

Oh, no. I just want to get over and see Charlie early tonight. Surprise him with Brian.

It must be great having a big brother. And so handsome, too.

When I was a kid, I thought he looked like James Darren.

He has my mother's sort of classic good looks, you know?

Yeah, I look more like Charlie. Blue eyes, strong jaw.

Pudgy Irish nose.

-Yeah, you're your father's daughter.

-Yeah.

"Officer Daughter". That's what Charlie calls me.

His "Sergeant Officer Daughter".

If you don't mind my saying so, Christine,

I think that's one of your problems.

-What?

-"Officer Daughter".

You're thinking cop all the time.

That's what I am.

No, it's what you do.

This last week, you were suspended. You were still Chris Cagney.

Yeah. I was Chris Cagney without a badge. I wasn't much good, was I?

I'm proud of being a cop, Mary Beth.

I've never...been this great at anything in my life.

And, you know, I want to hold on to that.

Nobody's taking anything away, Christine.

Yeah, not any more, they're not.

Thanks.

-There you go.

-Ah!

Oh, thanks, Brian.

-So, what do you think, Dad?

-Oh, maybe in a couple of months.

-How about Christmas in California?

-Oh, no, that'd be too soon.

A big trip like that takes a little planning.

-Well, I wish it was more than just a visit.

-Hey, Brian.

It'll be great to get out in the sunshine away from these cold New York winters

and get to know my grandkids a little better,

but...I know where my home is.

-Well, I'll be talking to you.

-Yeah, sure, pal.

-I'd better get going.

-I'll walk you out.

Well, looks like you win.

Look, we both want what's best for Charlie.

Brian, I know we don't always see eye to eye on things...

That's for sure.

You can keep sending cheques to Charlie if you want to.

I mean, there's nothing I can do to stop you, but you don't have to.

-It's not a hardship for me.

-Well, I know that.

It's just...you have other people who depend on you.

You've got two kids and a wife.

And a pool man.

HE CHUCKLES

And none of that, I have, and I can take care of Charlie too.

I'd like to, Brian.

Well, let me know if he needs anything.

I'm glad he's going to be spending some time with his grandchildren.

Yeah.

They ask when they're going to meet their aunt.

Bridget thinks being a detective is a pretty glamorous job.

Yeah, well, tell her it's a lot of hard work.

Yeah, well, maybe some day you can tell her yourself.

Maybe so.

You know, you have Mom's smile.

She had a nice smile.