Death Notice (transcribed by Sarah Spearey)

Outside the Panama club: Night

(Looking at the outside of the panama club an announce is heard)

Announcer: And now he’s Ginger.

(Cut to inside the club. A female comes out on stage dressed in an old fashion frilly beige dress. The crowd cheers and whistles. Ginger dances, while taking off the hat and then entire dress. She continues to dance erotically round the stage. More cheers and whistles. A middle aged man sits down at a table and watches Ginger dance.

A waiter comes over to the man’s table.

Man: Please, that girl… (He points at Ginger) I meet her some place. You tell her. Yes?

Arnold: Ginger?

Man: Yes her. You understand, huh?

Arnold: No chance. Our girls don’t date the customers.

(The waiter leaves, Ginger continues to strut herself and wiggle her hips and belly. The waiter comes back to the man’s table, but he’s gone and there’s a note on the table cloth. “Ginger will die tonight”

(Cut to a shot of the table cloth, scrunched up on a desk.

Hutch: Yeah hi Manny what’s the problem. What’s the trouble?

Manny: What’s the trouble? This is what’s the trouble.

Hutch: It’s a tablecloth. (Hutch picks up the cloth. Starsky stood beside him, Manny sat at the desk)

Manny: Yeah, go ahead. Just read that there. It’s not private.

Starsky: Ginger will die to night.

Manny: I wanna ask you something. What kind of crazy person comes here and write a thing like that.

Hutch: Well you oughta know Manny you get enough of them around here.

Starsky: Look, maybe it’s just some freak who likes to do things in the dark to give himself a lift.

Manny: Oh oh I’m going to call you guys off the streets to come in here, a personal favor to me just for some kind of joke. Some kind of a freak. Look, just read this thing. (Straightens out the tablecloth) I think some dingo is going to try and kill Ginger. Tonight.

Starsky: Who found it Manny?

Manny: Arnold, he’s a waiter.

Starsky: Okay, we talk to Arnold first and then to Ginger.

Hutch: Right.,

Manny: Okay, you can talk to her, but just don’t tell her what it’s about, okay.

Hutch: How are we going to do that?

Manny: I mean, don’t…don’t scare the girls. (Pause) How am I gonna keep them on the job around here if they’re scared. You guy just think it’s easy to get strippers, don’t you, All you think they have to be is big up here and long down there and just move in and out like that. Is that the idea?

Starsky: Manny, anybody can take there clothes off. My aunt does it ever night.

Manny: Oh, yeah. Yeah well nobody’s going to pay money to see your aunt. (Both sigh, Hutch leaves) My girls are artists.

Starsky: Relax Manny (Hands him a bottle)

The woman’s dressing room: Night.

(Hutch and Starsky sit, trying not to get in the way while the strippers get read. Ginger comes over and sits down)

Ginger: Why, Sugar, I just don’t know what you’re referring to? Enemies?

Starsky: That’s right Cherry, Enemies.

Ginger: I’m not Cherry, I’m Ginger.

Starsky: Sorry.

Hutch: Ginger. Have you been pestered…? That’s a dumb question. Have you been threatened or followed late...lately?

Ginger: Oh you are cute.

(Hutch smiles nervously)

Starsky: (Always smiling) what about any obscene phone calls? You know, heavy breathing?

Ginger: My number is unlisted. I only give it to my friends. Are you my friends?

Starsky: Well tonight, we’re your friends’ sweetheart. We’re gonna see you home.

Kathy: Ginger it’s about time.

Ginger: (Staring in the mirror) uh…well now…I don’t know about you two boys seeing me home. See I got a date with my boyfriend. (A woman leans over Hutch he tries not to stare at her breasts) and…well I don’t know if my little old linebacker…used to play for the New Orleans saints. Oh, but they busted up his knee so badly he gets arthritis when is rains and can’t tackle nobody. Well now I don’t think he’ll look too kindly on that. I mean you coming alone on his date. Sugar I mean.

Starsky: How little is your little old linebacker?

Ginger: Six-four. 235 pounds. (A little cheer) That’s when he was playing. He’s put on a little weight since then.

Starsky: Well maybe he’s slowed down a little.

Hutch: I doubt it. Ginger?

Ginger: Huh?

Hutch: We have reason to believe that somebody made a threat against your life.

Ginger: A threat?

Hutch: Probably nothing but I think you should knock off and we’ll take you home.

Fran: Ginger, Birnbom’s having a fit. Come on.

Ginger: Will Birnbom let me go early?

Starsky: Yeah, we’ll fix it with him.

Ginger: Okay, Sugar. (Squeezes past the detectives and leaves)

Fran: I’ll cover for you honey. (Squeezing between the detectives, her ass near Starsky’s face) Excuse me.

Starsky: Not too much

Fran: Come on class up will ya sport.

Starsky: Class up? (Shares a look with Hutch before they get up to leave)

Manny’s office: Night

(Hutch sits behind the desk, while Starsky sits on the corner. Arnold the waiter stands on the other side of the desk)

Hutch: Okay Arnold, we got a medium weight, medium height, middle aged man. Is that all?

Arnold: Hey, look, they sat him at the worst table in the house and he ordered a coke. Does that tell you something?

Starsky: He was a lousy tipper. (Arnold nods)

Arnold: Besides, which is was dark, and I was running my tail of to serve all my tables. If he didn’t speak, I wouldn’t have noticed that much.

Starsky: He spoke. He talked to you.

Arnold: Yeah

Starsky: Oh, a little point you light have mentioned up front.

Arnold: You didn’t ask me.

Starsky: I’m asking you now Arnold. What did he say?

Arnold: Word for word. He wanted me to fix him up with Ginger?

Starsky: But he being a lousy tipper, you said to him…

Arnold: Our girls don’t date the customers.

(Hutch sniggers, Starsky looks disappointed)

Hutch: Okay Arnold, would you recognize this medium man if you saw him?

Arnold: After that, he don’t figure to come back here again.

Starsky: The question is if he walked in here and bit you on the cheek…could you identify him?

Arnold: Oh. You mean the scar?

Hutch: What scar?

Arnold: The one on his cheek. Like a half moon.

Hutch: Which cheek?

Arnold: The right…no the left and he had grey hair.

Starsky: Arnold, he next time he comes in here, don’t wait to be asked. Tell us.

Arnold: Okay,

Hutch: That’s the left cheek, right?

Arnold: Right.

Starsky: No left.

Arnold: Left, right

Starsky: Get out of here Arnold.

Arnold: Okay. (Leaves)

Hutch: I think Arnold has a point.

Starsky: Arnolds head has a point. (Gets off the desk)

Hutch: Well that too. I mean about the guy coming back here.

Starsky: Maybe. Hey, look let\s go wait outside for Ginger, huh? She what’s shaking. (Wiggles his hips)

Hutch: Oh you know what’s shaking. I saw you checking out Francine. (They leave)

(Cut to Sonja on stage dancing, the crowd cheering and whistling. She smiles, strutting off stage and immediately looks irked. Ginger, fully dressed, comes up to her)

Ginger: How’s is going sugar?

Sonja: Like always, real classical.

Ginger: Do me a favour huh? Call Jim and tell him I’m getting off early and to meet me in front of my apartment.

Sonja: Consider it done.

Ginger: And, sugar, uh…don’t tell Starsky and Hutch I split, you hear? (They slap palms)

All right? Thanks honey.

(Both walk off in separate directions. Ginger walks out into an ally. Gets out her key and gets into her car, she doesn’t notice the man from earlier staring down at her from a balcony)

(Cut to back inside the club, Fran’s on stage taking off a dress and dancing for the crowd. Manny watches from off stage. Starsky and Hutch approach him from behind)

Starsky: Hey Manny where’s Ginger? We’re gonna take her home now.

Manny: She left already; you guys said you wanted her to go home early.

Hutch: What do you mean she left? What did you let her go for?

Manny: She said she told you guys, she had to go out back to meet that football player.

Starsky: I’ll go get the car. (Starsky runs off)

Hutch: Where does she live?

Manny: Jamala apartments. It’s Brandon and Fourth.

Hutch: (To himself) Brandon and Fourth. (Runs off, Manny follows to the door, but stops)

Manny: And look, take Westside.

Outside Ginger’s apartment building: Night

Ginger: So they told us that we would get Police protection til they catch the creeps.

Jim Lee: You don’t need to police protection baby, Big old Jim Lee‘s going to be right here at your side. (Someone from the bushes grabs him and pulls him in)

Ginger: What’s wrong sugar bump your poor little old knee? (Pause) Jim Lee? (Turns around) Jim Lee. You playing a trick on me? Where are you? (She panics and runs)

Cut to: The Torino pull up outside the building.

(Starsky and Hutch get out and walk to the building. In the garden Jim Lee falls out of the bushes)

Starsky: Hey, hey are you okay buddy.

Jim Lee: You lousy…(Throws Starsky into the bushes and then picks up Hutch and throws him in the bushes)

Starsky: Hold it, come on man. (Jim Lee lunges at him, but Starsky pulls his gun out) Hold it, Police.

Jim Lee: All right. Where’s Ginger?

Starsky: You her boyfriend?

Jim Lee: Yeah.

Starsky: What happened?

Jim Lee: I don’t know.

Hutch: Which way to her apartment?

Jim Lee: By the pool. (All three head to the pool. Ginger’s body floats on the surface)

Hutch: Starsky

Starsky: (Hands him his gun) Hutch (Jumps in the pool, grabs Gingers body and swims to the edge. Hutch pulls her out, he checks her pulse)

Hutch: Broken neck. (Starsky climbs out of the pool) She’s dead

Jim Lee: (Sobbing) Oh no, let me have her. (Pulls her into his arms. It’s all my fault. (Wiping her face and hair) I didn’t even see him coming. He got me from behind.

Starsky: (Hutch’s hand on his shoulder) Nice world huh?

The panama club: Night

(The girls are sat around tables, Hutch sat at one on his own, Manny standing up to address them, Starsky stands at the back)

Manny: Hey kids, can I have your attention. Arnold can I have your attention please. Just for one minute please.

Arnold: Okay Manny.

Manny: Um…well, look, I have some bad news.

Striper: You’re pregnant.

Manny: Um…ginger is dead.

Arnold: Oh, come on Manny. Quit acting will ya.

Fran: What a lousy sense of humour.

Hutch: Hey, hey wait a minute. She was murdered.

Arnold: Murdered.

Manny: Now, look you have to give detective Hutchinson and Starsky, all…all the help…any questions that they have you have to give them all the help…we have to find this crazy animal because… (Starsky comes up to him)

Starsky: It’s okay Manny. I’ll take it, I’ll take it. Go ahead. Okay. (To the girls and Arnold) All right folks listen, hey, come on girls. Now I’m gonna be as upfront with all the facts as I can because we need all the help you can give us, okay. Now earlier this evening there was a man sitting in the back booth at Arnold’s station and he tried to set up a date with Ginger. Now what we’ve got by way of description is a medium sized man with grey hair and a crescent shaped scar on his left cheek, now that’s not much, I admit, now I beg of you think, do any of you remember seeing such a man in this place?

Arnold: (Raises a hand) He had scary eyes too.

Hutch: All right he had scary eyes. Does that jog any memories? I got a question Starsk. This is a question for the ladies. Now, what I’d like to know is…Wait a minute somebody’s missing. (Gets up, walks around a bit) Who’s missing?

Sonia: Kathi. She got hysterical, so her boyfriend, Jerry, took her home.

Starsky: Right, okay. Okay kids, now what we’ve got is a medium sized man with grey hair and a crescent shaped scar on the left side of his cheek. Now I’m asking you think about this. Did any of you remember somebody like this asking you for a date, propositioning you, any kind of an approach?

Hutch: Might have been a customer. (Pause, no response) Okay, thank you all very much. That’s all for now.

Starsky: Manny, come here. (Takes Manny to one side) Look we’re gonna need a list of every customer that you got coming to this place and we’re gonna need an address.

Manny: Ah, who’s address?

Hutch: Kathi

Manny: Kathi?

Hutch: Yeah.

Kathi’s apartment: Night

(A man answers the door to Starsky and Hutch)

Starsky: Hi, police. Detective Starsky and Hutchinson, we want to talk to Kathi Carmer.

Jerry: Not at this time of night. (Closes the door, but Starsky kicks it hard enough to keep it open)

Starsky: Push any harder and you’ll be wearing it.

Jerry: Give her a break, man. Ginger was her friend.

Hutch: Then there’s a lot she can tell us (Pushes into the apartment) Starting with how she knew. (Kathi sits at on the sofa)

Kathi: Knew what? (Jerry closes the door)

Hutch: That Ginger was dead. How did you know that before anyone else at the club?

Kathi: I-I didn’t. Birnbom was first…you told him. I was just walking past the office.

Starsky: Okay. (Walks over to the window) But how is it you seem to be the only one that got hysterical?

Kathi: She was my best friend. I was s-sick and…and scared.

Hutch: We have a description of a possible suspect. (Looks between Jerry and Kathi) A middle-aged man with grey hair, a scar on his cheek. Strange eyes. Did you ever see anybody like that? Maybe...maybe somebody hit on you at the club?

Kathi: No, I don’t…but Ginger knows a lot of men. I mean she… (Starts crying) She used to.

Jerry: Come on. (Walks over and sits beside her) Come on give her a break. How much do you think she can take?

Starsky: I don’t know. (Kathi cries on Jerry’s shoulder) All we’re after is the truth.

Kathi: (Hysterical) Stop it, stop it. Jerry make them stop it.

Starsky: Kathi (Pause) when you’re really scared. When you’re really scared, give us a call. (Move to the door and leave)

Kathi: (Controls herself and gets up) No more Jerry. Now we’ve got to, we’ve got to end this thing right now.

Jerry: No way.

Kathi: Jerry, they killed Ginger.

Jerry: Who did? Some fruit cake? The guys a psycho He even left a message he was gonna do it. It’s got nothing to do with our deal.

Kathi: Are you sure?

Jerry: You heard the cops, they’ve even got a description. (Stands up, goes to her) Look, babe…look we got a blank check. All we got to do is cash it in. Right?

Kathi: Yes, but I…

Jerry: Listen, it’s our big chance to get out. How do you think I feel every night, you up there on that runway in front of all those leering sweating old men getting their cheap thrills? You think I like running that two-bit golf course?

Kathi: All right. All right Jerry, but not tonight, okay? I-I just wouldn’t be able to bring it off.

Jerry: All right, in the morning then. And look, you tell them the price has gone up another $10,000. Okay? Okay? (Pause) Good.

Captain Dobey’s office: Day

Dobey: This case has murder, sex, terror all the elements to sell newspapers and drive the citizens up tight. The boys upstairs are gonna lean on me and I’m gonna lean on you. I want to psycho nailed, fast.

Starsky: Look Captain, if those guys upstairs are all fired...

Hutch: Starsky, Starsky. Now, we’ve got the list that Birnbom gave us.

Starsky: What good is that gonna do. We could spend a week tracking those people down and turn out nobody saw anything.

Hutch: Well look here we got…Lou Posey. He’s a regular customer.

Starsky: The mean the enforcer for Dave Delano.

Dobey: Nobody ever nailed Delano.

Starsky: We know. He’s gone legit. Whole sale meat business. Tells everybody, everybody believes it.

Hutch: Well it’s a lead. Let’s get on it.

Starsky: Okay, okay. (Leave the office)

The back of a factory: Day

(The Torino drives down the back alley, coming to a halt at the back of a meat factory)

Hutch: How about that, Dave Delano running a meat plant. (Hutch gets out followed by Starsky)

Starsky: Hey, did you ever see the things they put in hotdogs?

Hutch: Nah

Starsky: Man they put everything in hotdogs. (Climb the stairs to a little walkway) All that good stuff, it’s incredible. (Two men meet them, while Hutch it fixing his sunglasses)

Goon: Hey, the front door for the general public, huh?

Starsky: Hey Hutch I didn’t know we were the general public.

Hutch: Police officers to see Delano.

Goon: Do you got an appointment with Mr. Delano?

Starsky: Mr. Delano?

Hutch: Appointment?

Starsky: That proves he’s gone legit. (Hutch puts his sunglasses on with a chuckle)

(Starsky carries on, but is stopped by a hand on the chest by the other guy. He grabs the hand, places his other hand under the guys elbow and shoves him in a dumpster)

Goon: Hey (Hutch twists the goons arm behind his back and shoves him down the walkway)

Hutch: Now why don’t you go on inside and tell Mr. Delano that he’s just made an appointment.

(Cut to inside the factory. Delano talking to a worker)

Delano: How many ribs?

Frank: 200. Good.

Goon: Mr. Delano cops.

Delano: Oh I see. Ah okay Frank we can finish up later. Take that with you will ya? (To the bodyguard) Ah you can be excused too. (Walks away) All right, I…ah I hope you didn’t rough up any of the hired help, fellas.

Hutch: Oh, come on, us? One of your men fell of the platform back there.

Delano: Clumsy, huh?

Starsky: Yeah.

Delano: All right what do you want to see me about?

Starsky: Oh we don’t want to see you Mr. Delano. We want to see Posey.

Delano: Really?

Starsky: Yeah.

Delano: Lou?

Lou (Coming over) Yeah, Mr. Delano?

Delano: I think you know Starsky and Hutch.

Lou: Sure, what do you guys want?

Hutch: Well, we could use a little help Lou.

Starsky: Last night in the Panama club.

Lou: Panama club?

Hutch: You were there, weren’t you Lou?

Starsky: We’re trying to get a line on another customer. Now, all we know of him is that he was sitting in the back in a corner. He was a medium type guy with light grey hair and a crescent scar on his left cheek, something about his eyes too.

Delano: His eyes?

Starsky: You know Delano you’ll never make it as a ventriloquist. I can see ya lips move.

Hutch: Did you see a customer matching that description?

Lou: Did I see him?

Delano: Well, how could he with all those woman around.

Starsky: Hey Hutch, I think we’d better go some place where we can continue this conversation uninterrupted.

Hutch: That’s a good idea Ollie.

Starsky: Will you excuse us? (Hutch, Lou and Starsky walk towards a walk in freezer) How about right in there? (They walk in the freezer and stand either side of Lou) These will be simple questions Lou calling for yes or no answers.

Lou: Okay

Starsky: No, not okay. Yes or no. The panama club you were there last night, right? (Lou nods) You see that man I just described?

Lou: Hey fellas come on will ya, I’m freezing to death here.

Starsky: Here, snuggle up to this. (Pushes a body of meat up to Lou)

Lou: That’s not funny I may be catching pneumonia.

Hutch: Did you see him Lou?

Lou: Maybe.

Hutch: Lou…

Lou: All right, I remember. I was outside making a telephone call. Just as I was coming in, he was coming out. I almost run over him. He apologizes and tells me he’s sorry.

Hutch: How about his voice Lou, did you hear that?

Lou: I don’t know I think he had some kind of an accent.

Hutch: We can check that out with…

Starsky: Albert.

Hutch: Who?

Starsky: Albert.

Hutch: No, no, Arnold.

Starsky: Oh.

Lou: Ah, can we go outside now?

Hutch: Describe him first.

Lou: He was about 5’8”, weighed about 150 pounds looked like a refugee. He had little weird eyes and he had….really dug the girls, like he was staring straight through them you know.

Hutch: Now you can go. (Lou leaves) Starsky, how did you say they make hotdogs?

Starsky: Hotdogs?

Hutch: Ah, never mind.

The alley behind the panama club: Day.

(Fran and another girl stand in the doorway)

Man: (Voice off screen) Miss? Miss?

Fran: Is somebody there?

Man: Sonja, she is next.

Fran: Where are you hiding, come out where I can see ya. Get Manny, go get him. Go get him.

Man: Tell Sonja, she is next.

Fran: (Loudly) Manny! Manny! Why don’t you go crawl under your rock, you creep. Go on get out of here.

Manny: What’s the matter Francine?

Fran: He’s out there.

Manny: What? Well call the police (Shouting) police.

(Cut to the Torino pulling up outside the club. Starsky and Hutch get out, but Hutch stops Starsky at the door)

Hutch: Starsky, wait a minute. (Hutch looks in the window at a picture of Sonja that has the words ‘This one is next’ on the glass)

(Cut to the stage, Kathy’s on dancing, with Manny and Jerry watching back stage. Starsky and Hutch run up to Manny)

Starsky: Where’s Sonja, Manny?

Manny: Well isn’t she in her dressing room? Ah, she doesn’t go on again ‘til 6:30. She’s probably on her break. (Starsky and Hutch run to the stairs, Manny follows) Hey he was here. Hey he was here in the alley. That dingo.

(Starsky checks the dressing rooms round the back, one that says ladies on the door. No ones in there, he moves on. Hutch checks a different door, but nothing in there. Starsky checks another door, but it’s locked. He moves alone to some wooden boxes, opens one and looks in it before closing it. Moves on to the next on and searches through it, then closes it. He’s about to move on, but decides to check the first box properly. He finds Sonja’s body lying at the bottom)

Inside the Panama club: Day

(Manny talks to Starsky, while the rest of the girls are sat around chatting softly)

Manny: Well four, four or five months ago. She was working here four or five months.

Jerry: Hey, Detective Starsky? Is it all right if Kathi gets changed? I’d like to take her home now.

Starsky: Yeah, just keep her handy, huh? (Kathi and Jerry get up to leave) Hey, come on let’s sit down. (Starsky pulls out a seat for Manny and one for himself, they both sit)

Manny: I just can’t keep my…oh God.

Starsky: Look Manny…

Manny: It’s so terrible.

Starsky: Just try to remember who was back stage, huh?

Manny: Back stage?

Starsky: Right.

Manny: I don’t know, I mean. There were lots of people back stage. I mean all the girls have boyfriends like Kathi and Neilan.

(Hutch sits with Fran at a table)

Hutch: Want to tell me about her?

Fran: Just a pretty black girl from Detroit looking for a big connection.

Hutch: What kind of connection?

Fran: Somebody to set her up for a long time.

Hutch: Did she want to get married?

Fran: Not that long (pause) Like this guy she met at a party. She thought he was heaven sent.

Hutch: When was that?

Fran: Monday before last. The day the club is closed, right? We had a private gig. (Hutch lights her cigar)

Hutch: You and Sonja?

Fran: Everybody, all six of us. We were invited to dress up a party you know? And this guy asked for her number, he writes it down and nothing. And it was strange. I thought he had eyes for her, but he never called. It’s heartbreak ever step of the way, you know?

Hutch: Yeah. Did she tell you about him?

Fran: Yeah, he was a big dude from Vegas. Thorn, Jack Thorn.

Hutch: (Hands her a sketching) Is this the guy?

Fran: No, no come on. Thorn’s got a lot of style, you know? Wait, I’m sorry, this is the creep in the alley. (Shouts) Manny! It’s the guy in the alley, I’m telling ya.

Manny: (Still sat with Starsky) I saw him, not as good as Francine maybe. Just like Arnold said.

Starsky: Medium height?

Manny: Yeah, he was chubby. Sort of grey hair.

Starsky: Did anybody check the back alley?

Manny: Yeah, I sent three waiters out to look for him. I swore I knew where he was hiding but when I got there it was like a disappearing act. Come on, I’ll show you where it was.

Hutch: (Coming over) excuse me. Francie just identified the sketch we made.

Starsky: So did Manny. Come on let’s go.

Manny: I’ll show you where it was.

Starsky: Yeah, let’s go.

(Cut to the alley. Mann comes out with Starsky and Hutch. Manny points to a trash can and boxes)

Manny: That’s where he ducked into. I never took my eye off him while Francie went to call for help. But when they got here…he had vanished.

Starsky: Why don’t you go home and rest, Manny?

Manny: Yeah, it’s been quite a day. (Goes back in)

Hutch: Maybe that door was unlocked.

Starsky: And Birnbom could have been looking in the wrong place.

Hutch: Maybe he had the keys. (Links his fingers together and bends down. Starsky steps up on Hutch’s hands and Hutch pushes him up on to a high crate, and then climbs up it himself. Starsky reaches and climbs up a ladder on the side of the building, followed by Hutch. The reach the roof and walk across it)

Starsky: What are we looking for? A man or a goat?

Hutch: The exercise is good for you, Starsky.

Starsky: I don’t mind climbing up, it’s the falling down that worries me.

Hutch: (Points to a door) Why don’t you check that out?

Starsky: Yes, sir (Salutes, climbs up the little stairs and checks the room) Nothing to report, sir. (Another salute and climbs back down) Don’t heights ever bother you?

Hutch: Only when I can’t see down.

Starsky: What?

Hutch: Only when I can’t see down.

Starsky: Only when I can’t see down? Sometimes I think there’s something really wrong with the way you think.

Hutch: What’s wrong with the way I think?

Starsky: Forget it; I don’t want to think about it. (Hutch opens a trapdoor on the ground)

Heads or tails?

Hutch: Tails.

Starsky: (Flips the coin) You lose.

Hutch: Starsk!

(Points to the door. Hutch sighs and climbs down. Starsky follows. The end up in a room with naked mannequins)

Starsky: Will you look at this?

Hutch: (Picking up a hand) the guy’s a flake.

Starsky: A flake?

Hutch: Flake.

Starsky: Six of them.

Hutch: Five.

Starsky: One, two, three, four…five.

Hutch: And the five strippers next door.

(The grey haired man appears in the door but suddenly vanishes. Starsky and Hutch chase him through the warehouse. He reaches an office and sits down. Hutch enters. Starsky finds the room and enters, showing the man his badge)

Man: Those girls.

Starsky: We know. (Hutch picks up his hat and they both help the man out of the room)

The police station: Night

(Hutch types out the report, while the man sits opposite and Starsky sits with a cup of something. Dobey leans against a table at the back)

Hutch: Name?

Man: Anton Rusz.

Hutch: Spell it.

Anton: R.U.S.Z.

Starsky: You a citizen, Anton?

Anton: Not yet. I apply.

Hutch: Age

Anton: 56

Starsky: You want to tell us about it, Anton? You’ll feel better afterwards, won’t he Hutch?

Hutch: Sure. How do you feel about women? (Pause) Hate them?

Anton: No, no no no no, not hate. I respect.

Starsky: All except the bad ones, huh? Like the kind that take their clothes off?

Anton: You, you don’t understand.

Starsky: We’re trying to understand. You did write those messages didn’t you?

Anton: Yes, I-I did that.

Hutch: Why?

Anton: Because of the voices.

Starsky: Voices? What do they tell you?

Anton: About Ginger and Sonja. That they would have to die.

Dobey: That’s it. (Stands up) Be sure you read him your rights.

Starsky: Yeah, waived them in the presence of an attorney.

Dobey: Okay, take everything down in detail and make sure he signs it. Not a bad piece of work. (Leaves)

(Hutch, takes a cup from Starsky, sees it’s empty and goes to fill it full of coffee)

Anton: Can I rest now? I’m so very tired.

Starsky: Soon, Anton. Tell us about the voices.

Anton: No

Hutch: Why not?

Anton: Because if they found out I’d be arrested.

Starsky: Anton, you’ve been arrested. For murder.

Anton: Murder? No, I did not, I did not, it was the voices.

Hutch: How long have you been hearing the voices?

Anton: Since I get the phone.

Starsky: You mean they call you up?

Anton: No, no, no, no, they-they don’t call me. Each other on my phone, yes?

Starsky: No.

Anton: Phone in my shop, okay? Phone company say, no more pay, no phone.

Hutch: So the phone company disconnected your service.

Anton: Yes

Hutch: Okay.

Starsky: When?

Anton: Last year, after my wife die. Owe so many debts. I need phone for customers so I-I fix it.

Starsky: You fixed it?

Hutch: You mean you found a way to make free calls on a pay phone?

Anton: I connect my phone to pay phone in alley. I-I know how to do those things.

Starsky: And it works?

Anton: Oh, sure it works. Well okay for customers to call me. I must got to alley phone with dime to call them.

Hutch: You mean you picked up your phone and you heard somebody on the alley phone putting a contract out on the strippers?

Anton: Please?

Hutch: Ah, you hear somebody threatening the girls.

Anton: Yes.

Starsky: Why didn’t you report what you heard?

Anton: For cheating the phone company I’d be arrested. I-I can not be citizen. I’d be deported. (Starsky looks at Hutch, while he pulls the sheet of paper out of the typewriter)

Anton’s warehouse: Day

(Hutch stands at the phone in Anton’s office. Starsky’s at the pay phone in the alley.

Hutch: You there?

Starsky: Yep. (Starts dialling. It rings and someone picks up) Hello, this is Starsky. Get me Captain Dobey.

Dobey: Oh Hi Starsky.

Hutch: Captain this is Hutch. Hold up on any statement about the stripper murders.

Dobey: (Leaning back in a chair, in his office) well, why is that Hutch.

Starsky: We don’t think Anton killed anybody.

Dobey: What? What are you talking about Hutch?

Starsky: In fact, we’re sure.

Dobey: Starsky?

Hutch: We’ll give you the rest when we get there, okay?

Dobey: Hey, listen is this Starsky or Hutch?

(Hutch hangs up. Starsky hangs up laughing)

Dobey’s office: Day

(Anton sits as does Hutch while Dobey paces. Starsky sits on the desk)

Dobey: All right, I want you to tell me what you think those voices said word for word.

Anton: Ah can’t remember so good. So very frightened.

Dobey: Well as best you can, Mr. Rusz.

Anton: First voice say the one with the Southern accent.

Hutch: That was Ginger.

Dobey: Ginger?

Anton: Ginger yes. Voice say: “That must be the one, you take care of her” First voice say “You mean kill” Answer come back “Yes”

Dobey: And the other voices.

Anthon: Only one more call, the black girl.

Hutch: That was Sonja.

Dobey: Sonja.

Anton: Sonja. They say they make mistake first time.

Starsky: You tried to warn the girls, is that is Anton?

Anton: Yes

Dobey: Those mannequins, what were you doing with them?

Anton: Please?

Hutch: The window dummies up stairs.

Anton: Oh, to be repaired. All finished but two.

Dobey: (Sighs and sits) well, we’re right back where we started. A public phone booth. Anybody could have made those calls. Anybody in the city.

Starsky: Not quite Captain. We’ve eliminated one person.

Dobey: Who?

(Starsky nods at Anton)

The Squad room: Day

(Hutch and Starsky enter, both carrying food. Hutch walks over to his desk)

Hutch: It’s got to be somebody tied to those girls. It’s got to be. (Sits at his desk)

Starsky: Well let’s see it could be… (Sits on his desk)…Birnbom…the waiter, Albert.

Hutch: It’s Arnold.

Starsky: Arnold.

Hutch: Maybe socially. Away from the club. Francine said sometimes they hired out to dress up a party.

Starsky: Dress up a party?

Hutch: Yeah, she gave me the name of some guy who was interested in Sonja. He took her number but he never called her back.

Starsky: That wasn’t very nice. Who was he?

Hutch: Uh… (Checks his notes) Thorn. Jack Thorn. Las Vegas.

Starsky: Well, that might be worth a try. (Picks up the and dials) Beside I never did like people who didn’t return calls. (Puts phone to ear) Yeah, this is Starsky. Give me the Vegas police.

Hutch: You know I keep thinking about that Kathi. This beautiful girl cries a lot, but I think she’s lying through her teeth.

Starsky: That’s funny I was having the same thoughts myself. (Into the phone) Yeah, this is detective Starsky. Hey, look, I wonder if you could give us a line on a Jack Thorn. T.H.O.R.N.

Hutch: Want some coffee? (Starsky gestures to his milk carton) Oh yeah. (Hutch gets up and pours himself a cup)

Starsky: (Taking a sip from his milk, into the receiver) who? Yeah, sure, yeah, put him on. (Hutch sits back down, to him) Well, the Vegas police know Thorn, but he must have connections. They’re bucking me up to Lieutenant Crimmins. (Into the phone) Yeah, Lieutenant, this is Starsky. Yeah, yeah we think Thorn knew a girl who was murdered last night. (Pause) He did, when was that? Yeah, look, Lieutenant could you hold on for a minute. Thanks. (To Hutch) Scratch Thorn. He’s been dead since the 14^th.

Hutch: How?

Starsky: Car rolled over. He was on his way and he never made it over the state line.

Hutch: The Hell he didn’t. The 14^th was a week ago Monday. That’s the same night he met Sonja at the party

Starsky: (To the phone) Lieutenant, are you are that that accident was an accident? Yeah, yeah, we’d be very interested in an autopsy report.

Dobey’s office: Day.

(Dobey sat on his desk, Starsky standing behind it, Hutch pacing)

Hutch: So they figured he cracked up about 3am.

Dobey: Then he couldn’t have been heading here. He was on his way back to Vegas, but dead.

Starsky: Six hours dead. They said he died of fractures.

Dobey: Which he could have gotten at the party.

Hutch: Right

Dobey: And you think one of the strippers know about Thorn’s murder and tried a shakedown.

Starsky: One with a cornpone accent.

Dobey: But that would be, uh…

Hutch: Ginger. She had the only real one.

Dobey: Ginger.

Starsky: And when the killer found out it wasn’t Ginger he went after Sonja.

Hutch: Yeah well is Sonja wasn’t the one…like I said I keep thinking about Kathi.

(Cut to Kathi’s apartment. Jerry slaps her hard across the face)

Jerry: The game is over, baby. Now make the call.

Kathi: You said I wouldn’t have to last night…

Jerry: Last night was something else. Last night you were ready to spill your guts. (Picks up the phone and starts dialling) If you think I’m going to walk away from 50,000 bucks on account of you… (Hands her the phone) Now do your thing baby.

Kathi: (Takes the phone, tears still in her eyes) Good morning, sugar. Surprise, Surprise.

(Cut to Delano’s officer, him sitting at a desk, Lou sat on a table behind him)

Delano: Hey it’s her, it’s that woman.

Kathi: Looks like you made another mistake. What are you going to do kill all the girls? It would be one way I suppose.

Delano: Well, um…look just a minute now. I didn’t kill anybody. You understand, I mean that was a psycho. The police have arrested him.

Kathi: Mr. Delano, the police are going to arrest you unless I get some money today. And I mean a lot of money. Fifty thousand dollars.

Delano: Fifty thousand dollars? Where am I…where am I going to get that? Well, uh….never mind. I’ll…I’ll get the money. Where do you want me to bring it?

Kathi: I’ve got that worked out, so you just write it all down so you don’t get any of it wrong.

Delano: Okay, wait a minute I’ll just get a paper and pencil.

Lou: Where will you get your hands on fifty thousand on such sort notice?

Delano: (Covers the mouth piece) don’t worry about it. Dead people can’t count. (Into the phone) Yeah, I’m listening.

(Cut to the Torino driving down the road)

(Cut to Kathi, sitting in her apartment. There’s a knock at the door. She gets up slowly and walks to the door)

Kathi: Who is it?

Starsky: Police. (Kathi hesitates a little, but opens the door)

Kathi: What do you want?

Starsky: We never got that call from you. (They enter) What are you so jumpy about?

Kathi: Two girls have been murdered. No one knows who’s next. (Grabs a glass)

Hutch: That’s strange. (Walks over to the kitchen table, grabs the back of a chair) May I? (She nods. He sits) Kathi you’re frightened of ah someone you know we’ve already arrested.

Starsky: Why don’t you tell us about Dave Delano’s party? The night Jack Thorn was killed.

Kathi” I don’t even know what you’re talking about.

Starsky: I’m talking about a catered after where everything was rented including the women.

Kathi: Hey, hold it, you got that part wrong.

Hutch: You think the three of them were involved in it together?

Starsky: Had to be. Don’t you?

Hutch: No, no I think Kathi saw it and then she decided to cash in on it.

Kathi: No, I…

Starsky: But why would she involve the other girls? They get killed.

Hutch: Well, you know you pick up some money and get rid of a few people who are bothering you at the same time.

Kathi: No, you’ve got it all wrong. See, Ginger was my friend.

Starsky: Because that’s exactly what happened. You pointed a neon sign at her. You couldn’t have done better if you’d broken her neck with your own hands.

Kathi: Oh no. (Starts to cry gets up walks across the room) Oh no. (Sits down) I never meant to get anyone hurt especially Ginger. Jerry-Jerry said we could get some money and…and take off. (Smacks her fist and gets up) I just wanted to take off. (Still crying) Jerry said Delano would come across. He couldn’t afford not to.

Starsky: Delano? Is that who you saw kill Thorn? Are you and Jerry up against Delano? (She nods)

Kathi: Posey knocked Thorn down and then Delano picked up this pretty rock from his desk and he just kept hitting Thorn in the head with it. I got lost coming back from the pool…and when I saw it and told Jerry… he said we could get rich.

Starsky: All Jerry’s going to get is dead.

Hutch: Posey killed those girls.

Starsky: (Taking a drink) Yeah. Delano wouldn’t dirty his own hands.

Kathi: Oh, my God. No more killing, please.

Hutch: Kathi…then help us so we can stop it.

Kathi: Golf land. Jerry works there. Delano’s bring him the money this afternoon.

Starsky: That’s something else. (They get up and leave)

Golf Land: Day

(Delano’s car parks in the car park, Posey sat next to him)

Delano: Now, after I leave you get in position. Keep an eye on the package like I said. I want this money back and I want whoever picks it up dead.

Lou: Okay, Mr. Delano.

(Cut to Jerry stood behind the ticket office. Delano approaches)

Delano: (Hands him some money) Here you go.

Jerry: (Hands him a ball and iron club) Sir, don’t you want to check your purse? You can pick it up when you leave.

Delano: Never mind.

(Cut to the Torino hurtling down the street, siren on)

(Cut back to Golf Land. Delano walks across a tiny bridge. Jerry watches from above as Delano hides the money bundle under the bridge. Lou comes out of a castle set and hides behind a bush)

(Cut to the Torino screeching down the road, closer to the golf course)

(Cut to Delano returning the golf club to the ticket office)

Thank you

(He makes his way back to his car)

(Cut to, the Torino arriving)

(Cut to Jerry goes to get the money. Lou is watching)

Wave bye-bye baby. (He comes out of his hiding place)

(Cut to Delano getting back in his car. The Torino pulls up)

Hutch: Well, well, well, look who’s here.

(They park in front of Delano’s car. Hutch gets out first)

Out.

What’s going on?” (Hutch opens the door and pulls Delano out) What did I do? (Hutch pushes him against the car, spreading his arms and checking him) What’s the matter? Cheating on a golf course?

Well you can add that to murder. (Getting out his cuffs, slapping one on Delano’s wrist)

What?

(Cut to Jerry taking the money out from under the bridge. Lou comes out to face him)

Hey punk. Bye-bye small potatoes. (Lou fires, Jerry is hit and falls backwards into the water)

(Cut to Starsky, Hutch and Delano hear the shot. Starsky takes of while Hutch handcuffs Delano to the car door)

Oh…

Hutch: Don’t go away. (He follows his partner)

(Cut to Starsky walking down a slope, Hutch walks down a different slope. Lou notices Hutch and fires at him. Starsky hears the shot and starts running. Hutch hears the shot and runs for cover behind a wall of rocks. He fires back. They both shoot at each other. Hutch runs off to a small waterfall. Lou comes to one near him; he fires at Hutch, who dives for cover, literally in the water. More cross fire between Hutch and Lou, but Lou tries to make a run for it, out of the waterfall, but Starsky is waiting above it)

Starsky: Hold it. (Lou fires, but so does Starsky and he gets Lou, who falls off the rock in to the water. Hutch approaches Posey, taking the money from him and helping him over to a rock) Hey, hey. You got a match? (Hutch throws him the money bag. He catches it and rings it out)

Hutch’s apartment: Night

(Music is heard from outside. Hutch is strumming on his guitar while he and Starsky sing)

Hutch & Starsky: All I want is black bean soup and you to bring it to me.

(Huggy dances with a lady, while Fran dances with Manny)

Huggy: Watch this, Cherry.

Hutch & Starsky: Be my love while love will stay and wear your ribbons for me. All I want is black bean soup and you to bring it to me. Be my love while love wit stay and wear your ribbons for me. (Anton enters with a dish, Hutch stops play)

Hutch: Anton, that smells like heaven.

Starsky: Wow, boy I’ll tell you man, if I get to heaven it smells like I’m getting Hungarian goulash I’m gonna be in a lot of trouble.

Hutch: There will be a lot of people surprised if you even make it to heaven.

(A lot of jeering and cheers as they make there way into the dinning area)

Fran: Honey I swear if I ever get nabbed I want it to be in your precinct.

(They stand around the table)

Starsky: Oh, Anton that looks delicious.

Huggy: What all is in there?

Anton: It’s an old family recipe.

Huggy: Well, I have an old family rule which says I can’t put anything in my body which I don’t know about and there’s a few things in there I don’t rightly recognise.

Anton: The secret ingredient I can not reveal.

Fran: Oh, come on.

Huggy: Oh Anton, you got to reveal it because I don’t want to be no gypsy.

Anton: The secret ingredient is love for good friends, gratitude for their helping and prayers for all good things in the future.

Huggy: Well I’ll eat to that. (Eats a spoon full)

(Hutch clinks glasses with Starsky)

The end

_________________________

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