Gillian

episode transcript by Sarah Spearey

The Streets: Day

(The Torino makes a U turn.)

Dispatcher: All units in the vicinity of Eighth and Marshall, a 415 in progress.

Hutch: This is Zebra Three. We are responding.

(The siren wails. In an alley two men are picking at a body on the ground. They hear the siren and run. The Torino drives down the alley and stops. Starsky and Hutch get out and run, but get to the end of the alley and see no one. They go back to the body.)

Hutch: It’s Lonely. (A small crowd gather. Hutch takes his pulse.) I don’t think he’s gonna make much of a witness.

Eddie: Hiya, Starpy, Hup. Is Lonely gonna be all right?

Hutch: He’s dead, Eddie.

Eddie: Dead. No, no. he, no, we’re going right now. We’re going to dinner down at the mission.

Starsky: Eddie. He’s dead.

Eddie: Dead? But…but tonight’s special is cream tuna.

Starsky: It’s okay, Eddie. Come on. (They take him to one side.) It’s all right. It’s gonna be all right.

Hutch: Did you see what happened here?

Starsky: Come on over here. Eddie…

Eddie: Yeah?

Starsky: Did you see what happened?

Eddie: Well, sort of. I was standing over there, waiting for Lonely to get off work.

Starsky: Yeah, where does he work, at the Stardust?

Eddie: Yeah. He sweeps up and cleans out the bathroom. (There’s a man standing by the Stardust back room.) And then he…he just came out and these two guys jumped him.

Starsky: Do you have any idea why anybody would want to hurt Lonely?

Eddie: Well, who’d wanna hurt us? What could we ever do? We’re nothing.

Starsky: (Softly) Yeah. (Eddie sniffles.)

Eddie: He’s my…

Starsky: Okay. It’s okay. You wait right here, okay? Take it easy. (To a policeman.) Make sure he’s okay before you leave. Oh, hey. Give him a ride down to the mission. (Goes over to Hutch stood by the car.)

Hutch: Yeah. Did you get anything?

Starsky: Yeah. Lonely was an independently wealthy man of leisure who cleaned toilets as a hobby.

Hutch: Yeah, right. (They enter the Stardust through the back door. Inside there’s a woman behind a counter and a man stood by some magazines.)

Harry: Hi, fellas. What can I do for you?

Starsky: Forget the games, Harry. He’s dead. (The man just shrugs.)

Hutch: Harry. (Grabs him.) Harry! Who are the guys that jumped Lonely?

Harry: I don’t know. Just a couple of guys came in here goofing off, picking stuff up, throwing it around, you know. So Lonely chased them out with his broom.

Hutch: Oh, you want me to believe that because Lonely chased these two guys out with a broom that they went out there and waited for him and beat him to death, huh?

Harry: Well, they were some really strange people. I mean, weird eyes, you know.

Starsky: Would you be able to recognise these strange people if you saw them again, Harry? (Hutch lets go.)

Harry: No. I wouldn’t recognise anyone. I mean, they just look like…

Hutch: Like anyone else, huh? What about the strange people with the weird eyes, Harry?

Harry: I don’t know nothing. Nothing. I wouldn’t recognise anyone. What are you getting all worked up for? Lonely was nothing but an old wino. I mean, who cards if he lives or dies?

Starsky: Look in the mirror sometime, Harry. Ask yourself the same question. (Walks away.) Fifty cent charge for browsing. (They leave.)

Bowling Alley: Night

(Starsky and Hutch are at a lane. A woman is holding a bowling ball.)

Starsky: Big 10, Nance. Lay it right down there. Let’s see a strike.) She runs and throws the ball. It lands in the gutter.) You’re supposed to put it down that little wooden path.

Nancy: I like the noise.

Starsky: She likes the noise. Now, you wanna press that reset button.

(A woman appears behind Hutch.)

Gillian: Ken. (He gets up, nearly falling over.) Be careful.

Hutch: I’m sorry. Dave Starsky this is Gillian Ingram.

Starsky: Hi. (They shake hands.)

Gillian: Oh, it’s good to meet you at last. He talks about you all the time.

Hutch: Well, not all the time.

Starsky: Oh, this is Nancy. Nancy, this is Gillian Ing…

Gillian: Ingram.

Hutch: Ingram.

Starsky: Ingram.

Nancy: Hi. I like your name.

Gillian: Oh, thank you. It’s British. Dad named me after a lady he was in love with when he lived in England. (Hutch and Gillian look at each other and cuddle.)

Starsky: Uh, well, if you’ll excuse us, I gotta give her a little instruction. Push the button. Reset.

Nancy: I pushed that one already.

Gillian: How are you?

Hutch: I’m fine.

Gillian: Oh. It’s been so long since last night.

Hutch: I know. (They kiss.)

Gillian: You wanna sit down?

Hutch: Oh, yeah. (They sit down.) How have you been?

Gillian: Without you all day.

Hutch: Something happened, didn’t it?

Gillian: Mm-hm.

Hutch: I feel excited all the time.

Gillian: I know. I know. I’m in this room and it is filled with balloons.

Hutch: Red.

Gillian: Yes. And then I’m worried and I listen for that explosion. And I wonder which one’s gonna break first.

Hutch: None of them. None of them. (Kisses her.)

Gillian: That’d be so nice. Impossible, but it’d be nice.

Starsky: Hey, are you guys gonna bowl? Hm?

Hutch: You wanna bowl?

Gillian: Sure.

Hutch: You still think you can beat me?

Gillian: Of course. Shoes. I need shoes.

Hutch: Right there. (Points.) Right there.

Gillian: Ah.

Starsky: Ken?

Hutch: Okay, Starsk. Set them up. Watch this. (He gets up to bowl.)

(A man in a payphone is watching them while dialling the phone.)

Man: I found her. She’s with a guy named Hutchinson. Mrs. Grossman. He’s a cop. Right. (Hangs up.)

Starsky: We’re gonna beat you and we’re gonna beat you bad.

Gillian: Yeah.

Hutch: I’m sorry. (Gillian spots the man by the phone and looks scared. He leaves.)

What’s wrong?

Gillian: Nothing.

Hutch: Gillian.

Gillian: Nothing. I-I love you. I really love you. No matter what happens, I love you.

Hutch: Nothing’s gonna happen. (He kisses her cheek)

Nancy: Hey, are you guys gonna bowl?

Starsky: Hey, Nancy’s got a new idea. It’s gonna revolutionize bowling.

Hutch: Yeah, what’s that?

Nancy: I try to miss the pins. (Hutch laughs.) Why are they called pins?

Starsky: Well, it’s…

Hutch’s Car: Night.

(He pulls up outside Gillian’s apartment and opens the door.)

Gillian: Ken. I’m kinda tired tonight.

Hutch: Yeah, so am I.

Gillian: No, um… (He shuts the door.)

Hutch: You what?

Gillian: I’d like to go up alone tonight.

Hutch: Well, yeah. Sure.

Gillian: We won’t go out tomorrow night at all.

Hutch: What if we get hungry?

Gillian: I’ll fix a big breakfast. (They kiss.)

Hutch: Well, at least let me walk you up to the door.

Gillian: Okay.

Hutch: Okay. (He gets out of the car and opens her door.) I gotta get that fixed. (He walks her up to her door.)

Gillian: Ken.

Hutch: I know. (They kiss.) Good night.

Gillian: I love you. Good night. (She enters. He walks back to his car and walks over the bonnet, all happy. He drives away.)

Gillian’s Apartment: Night

(She enters finding the man from the bowling alley, a lady and another man.)

Grossman: The door was open so we just helped ourselves. Mama made tea.

Mama: Is that all you’ve got? Tea bags? What kind of a davenport is this?

Gillian: I’m tired. I’m going to bed. (Walks across the room. Grossman blocks her.)

Grossman: Where were you?

Gillian: Out.

Grossman: With who?

Gillian: Robert Redford.

Mama: Don’t you get smart with my Al, little girl.

Gillian: Look, when I’m not working it is my life and don’t try to tell me what to do with it.

Grossman: Who do you think you’re kidding? I own you like I own everything in this place. I paid for you. You are mine.

Gillian: Al, please. Please, I want out. I’m serious.

Grossman: This has happened before, hasn’t it?

Gillian: No. Not like this, no.

Grossman: Oh, you mean this guy is, uh, different. He’s, uh, special.

Gillian: Yes. Yes, he’s special.

Grossman: Sure, he’s special, all right. He’s a cop. Oh, yeah. We know all about this big, blond friend of yours.

Mama: We’re spent a great deal of money and effort on this town since we came here. (Approaches her son.) Al is about to become a very important man. I’m not gonna let you endanger all that by dating a cop.

Gillian: But Hutch doesn’t know anything. I mean, he doesn’t know anything.

Mama: And he isn’t going to find out anything. You be at the place tomorrow. We have a special friend stopping by for a visit.

Grossman: And after that, you break it off with your cop friend or we’ll break it off permanently for both of you. You understand me?

Gillian: I understand you. (The three of them leave.)

The Torino: Day.

(Hutch is eating food and drinking milk.)

Starsky: Just don’t drip any of that grape jelly all over my seats.

Hutch: Boysenberry.

Starsky: What?

Hutch: Boysenberry jelly.

Starsky: Boysenberry.

Dispatcher: All units. All units in the vicinity of 12^th and Main. A 415 in progress at 119 12^th Street.

Hutch: This is Zebra Three. We are in the area and responding. (Puts the light up.) It’s Porno Row again.

Starsky: Yeah.

Hutch: What’s going on down there?

Starsky: You got me.

Hutch: Hey.

Starsky: What?

Hutch: Good morning.

Starsky: Good morning. Hey.

Hutch: Yeah?

Starsky: Gillian?

Hutch: Yeah.

Starsky: Quite a lady.

Hutch: Yeah. (Smiles.)

12^th Street: Day.

(A man is carried out of the building on a stretcher when the Torino pulls up beside the ambulance. Starsky and Hutch get out and Hutch approaches the back of the ambulance.)

Hutch: Hold it a second. Let me take a look. It’s Mickey Stinger. What happened?

Medic: Someone worked him over pretty good. He’s got a concussion. How bad, we don’t know yet. This is getting to be a habit down here.

Starsky: You’ve noticed. (A bum walks into him.) What? Excuse me. Excuse me, pops. What is it? (Hands him a card.) Swell. Just what I needed. This entitles the bearer to one free shine. (Looks at his tennis shoes. The bum points to a shoe shine business.)

Hutch: Huggy. (The bum grabs his arm and holds out his hand.) Yeah. Okay. (Hands him a coin. They head to Huggy. Starsky flexes his arm.) What’s wrong with your arm?

Starsky: Nothing. Hits me every eight or nine years or so.

Hutch: Oh, yeah?

Starsky: Every time I go bowling. (They reach Huggy, who’s getting his shoes shined.) Hey, Hug. How’s it shaking, Pepper?

Pepper: My counsellor advised me to take the Fifth Amendment.

Hutch: What’s going on?

Huggy: Yeah, I was gonna ask you the same question.

Starsky: Like, who’s messing up the streets?

Huggy: Hey, Starsky, these are good people down here. They take care of their own. They don’t give you no trouble.

Hutch: Up till now. You know who killed Lonely?

Huggy: They didn’t wanna kill him. They just wanted to show a little muscle.

Starsky: Like with Mickey.

Huggy: They want his shop. They want all the shops down here. Bookstores, peepshows, rundowns, everybody.

Hutch: Who’s ‘they’?

Huggy: They are a cat named Grossman and his mother.

Starsky: His mother?

Huggy: Yeah. Came out here a couple of months ago from Cleveland. Syndicate heavyweight said if he could take hold of the territory they’d make him their main man out here.

Starsky: Yeah, but his mother.

Hutch: Take it easy, will ya? Where can we find this heart-warming team?

Huggy: Venus Massage.

Hutch: Venus Massage.

Starsky: Isn’t anything sacred anymore?

Hutch: Yeah, I know what you mean.

Starsky: Sheesh. (They head down the street.)

Venus Massage: Day.

(They pull up in front and enter. Music is playing and a woman is sat behind a desk.)

Joy: Hello. Nice massage today to relieve all that anxiety and tension?

Hutch: Mr. Grossman.

Joy: Who?

Hutch: Grossman.

Starsky: Police. (Shows his badge.)

Joy: Now, I bet I could take that stiffness right out. (Taps his shoulder.)

Starsky: Really?

Joy: Mm-hm.

Hutch: Starsk. (Opens a door.)

Starsky: Maybe later.

Joy: Okay.

(Starsky follows Hutch. Joy grabs the phone. Starsky and Hutch walk down a corridor where two men are waiting.)

Grossman: Show the gentlemen in. (They enter the big office.) You’re police officers, is that correct?

Starsky: That’s correct.

Grossman: What can we do for you, gentlemen. (He’s sat behind his desk with his mother at his side.)

Mama: Oh, they seem like such nice boys, don’t they, Al?

Hutch: This must be mom.

Starsky: Really.

Grossman: Yeah, yeah. Hey, mom, I’d like you to meet, um…

Starsky: Starsky. Dave Starsky. (Shakes her hand.) Hiya.

Hutch: Ken Hutchinson. (Reluctantly shakes her hand.)

Grossman: Ken and, uh, Dave. This, Mrs. Grossman.

Mama: Hello, boys. You can call me Olga. Would you like some hard candy? (Offers them the bowl.)

Starsky: Uh.

Hutch: No, thanks.

Starsky: No, thanks. Look, uh, Olga. Word out on the street is that you and your little boy here had Mickey Stinger roughed up and you killed Lonely Bloggs.

Grossman: Hey (Twitches badly)

Mama: Al!

Grossman: You better watch that mouth there.

Mama: Al! Al! There’s no need to get into a tempter. It’s all a misunderstanding. I don’t think you boys know where you are. This is Grossman Enterprises. Novelties, tricks and puzzles. (Blows a whistle.) Here. Take it. (Gives it to Starsky.) Put it in your pocket. Souvenir from Grossman, tricks and puzzles.

Grossman: This is a legitimate business.

Hutch: Does that include the massage parlour outside?

Mama: What’s wrong with that? Good, clean fun, helps pay the rent. Look, I’ll show you how legitimate we are. I do the books. See? Look. (Shows them the books. They look.)

Hutch: Yeah.

Starsky: Oh. Well…we’ll be around.

Mama: Good. We’re been asking for police protection. You seem like nice boys. (They leave.)

Grossman: Mom, you think Gillian told him?

Mama: What, and expose herself? Not a chance. I just hope the cops don’t run into her visitor on the way out. Could prove embarrassing to the councilman to be seen here.

(Starsky and Hutch cross the reception area.)

Starsky: Hey, you know something? Maybe that girl really can do something about my shoulder.

Hutch: Yeah.

Starsky: Okay?

Hutch: Yeah, sure.

Starsky: Okay.

Hutch: Yeah.

(Hutch leaves while Starsky looks around the back. He looks behind a curtain and sees Gillian slowly undressing a man. Starsky’s shocked.)

Starsky’s Apartment: Night

(Starsky’s sat at his table reading a newspaper, but something’s bothering him. He puts the paper down and picks up the phone.)

(Hutch is putting on his jacket, getting ready to go out.)

Hutch: Keys. Keys. (The phone rings. He hesitates and then answers.) Yeah, make it fast.

Starsky: Hey.

Hutch: Yeah, want do you want?

Starsky: Nothing. How you doing?

Hutch: I’m going out, that’s what’s doing. (Starsky’s drinking a beer.)

Starsky: Mm. Oh yeah. With Gillian.

Hutch: No, the Boston Strangler. Of course with Gillian.

Starsky: Well. Have a good time.

Hutch: Yeah, thanks, Mom. Oh, I’ll be in early. (Hangs up and heads out.)

(On the other end Starsky picks up his phone again and dials.)

Starsky: Yeah, is Huggy there? Thanks. (Pause.) Yeah, Hug. Starsk. Yeah, Hug. I need a favour. Yeah, I want you to see what you can find out about a girl by the name of Gillian Ingram. Gillian. That’s with a G. Yeah. Pretty name. Yeah. Yeah, I think she might work for Grossman. Yeah. Okay. Hey, Hug, look, uh, this is just between you and me, you got that? And not Hutch. Just you and me. Right. Yeah, thanks. (Hangs up.)

The Torino: Day.

Hutch: It’s like nothing I’ve ever known. We don’t even have to do anything. I could just spend hours looking at her. That’s what’s so great. It’s like last night. We didn’t do anything. We just sat there and looked at each other. It was beautiful, you know?

Starsky: Terrific.

Hutch: Oh, and she smells so good. (Beep)

Dispatcher: All units in the vicinity. A 211 in progress at Stardust Adult Books, 1620 Marshall Street.

Starsky: Another porno.

Hutch: And it’s still us. (Puts the siren up. They make a U turn. They drive up outside the store and get out.)

Harry: Two guys just robbed my cashier. They went that way.

Hutch: You had a bad week, Harry.

(They take off down the alley, but get to the end and see no one around. Shots are fired. Starsky goes right and hides behind a bin, while Hutch hesitates and then goes left and hides.)

Starsky: You okay?

Hutch: Yeah. (More shots. Starsky walks backwards a little way.)

Starsky: Cover me. (He darts out and runs forwards, but Hutch doesn’t cover him. Starsky takes cover.) Hutch? (Hutch just closes his eyes tightly.) Hey, Hutch.

(Starsky jumps out and fires. Hutch finally comes out, but by the time the two of them make it to the end of the alley, the guys have gone.)

Starsky: Never did see them. Did you? I thought you got hit back there. What happened? (Hutch sits down.) You’re shaking. (Crouches besides him)

Hutch I’m scared, Starsk. I’m scared.

Starsky: Yeah. Me too. Every time I pull this thing.

Hutch: No, that’s not what I’m talking about. I froze. For the first time I got to thinking I could have gotten you killed.

Starsky: No way. You see the way they took off.

Hutch: Yeah, but if they hadn’t! I didn’t move up the way you did. I didn’t cover you. I didn’t work the way we work.

Starsky: Forget it! Your mind was elsewhere. (Hutch looks down.) Come on.

The Squad Room: Day

(Starsky and Hutch enter. The phone rings and Starsky answers.)

Starsky: Starsky.

Huggy: Hey, Starsk. This is the bear.

Starsky: Yeah, what do you got? (Huggy’s in a phone box.)

Huggy: Well, you know that chick you put me onto? Gillian?

Starsky: Yeah?

Huggy: Well, most I can find out is she’s a high-class hooker. And you were right about her working for Grossman. She came out from Cleveland with him and his mother.

Starsky: Yeah, okay, thanks. Yeah, I’ll be right there. (Hangs up.) Uh, Tailor shop. I gotta fix up some tan flares. Look, uh, you fix up that shooting report, huh? (Hutch just nods.) I’ll be back in no time. (Leaves.)

Gillian’s Apartment: Day

(Gillian’s typing on her typewriter when there’s a knock on the door.)

Gillian: Who is it?

Starsky: Dave Starsky. Ken’s friend. (She opens the door.)

Gillian: Hello.

Starsky: Hi. I’m sorry if I bothered you. I could have called, but…

Gillian: No. Absolutely no bother. You’re welcome. You want to come in?

Starsky: Yeah. (Enters.) I heard you typing. You working?

Gillian: Yeah, but writers like to be interrupted.

Starsky: This is a nice place.

Gillian: Thank you. Can I get you something? You want some beer or coffee or…

Starsky: Nothing, no, nothing. (Gillian sits while Starsky paces.)

Gillian: Starsky.

Starsky: Hm.

Gillian: What? (Starsky sits. Long pause. He stands up again.)

Starsky: Hutch told me about that shop, that boutique you wanted to open up.

Gillian: Oh.

Starsky: Well, I’ve been looking for a kind of investment, so I figured this might help you as kind of starter. (Hands over an envelope.) There’s 1600 in there. I’ll be able to get about three grand by next week.

Gillian: I don’t understand.

Starsky: Well, it’s an investment, you know. Like we’re partners. There’s one hitch. I think that when, uh, you decide to open your boutique, it shouldn’t be here in town. It should be back East, like maybe Cleveland. (Long pause.)

Gillian: You love him too, don’t you? (Pause.) How’d you find out?

Starsky: Yesterday, when we went to Grossman’s, I just happened to look in the back. (Gillian looks on the verge of tears. Starsky crouches in front of her.) He’s gotta be told.

Gillian: Starsky. I love him. I love him. Does that count for anything?

Starsky: He’s gotta know. One way of the other, he’s gotta know.

Gillian: I have no choice. I…I have no choice. I’ll tell him tonight. (Starsky picks up the envelope.)

Starsky: If you don’t…I’ll tell him in the morning. (He heads for the door.)

Gillian: Starsky? Wouldn’t it be nice to be Hutch? In one lifetime you have two people love you so much. (He nods and leaves.)

Venus Massage: Day

(Mama’s sat behind the desk. She looks up.)

Mama: You don’t see the door? It’s for knocking. (Gillian enters and walks up to the desk.)

Gillian: Where’s Al?

Mama: Out.

Gillian: Where out?

Mama: None of your business, little girl.

Gillian: Doesn’t really matter, because you’ll do just as well.

Mama: What’s this?

Gillian: Keys. (Drops them one at a time on the desk.) My apartment, my car, my safety deposit box. Everything your seedy little boy thought he bought and paid for me with. (Turns to leave. Mama goes after her.)

Mama: How dare you talk about my son like that. (Grabs her arm.)

Gillian: Let go of me. Let go of me.

Mama: You didn’t have a dime when my son found you. He picked you up out of the gutter.

Gillian: Well, I am out of the gutter now, and neither you or your cheap son better try and pull me back. And I said, let go. (She slaps the old lady.)

Mama: You hit me! (Gillian leaves.) You hit me. You hit me.

(Outside she runs across the street just as a car pulls up outside. Grossman gets out. He sees Gillian.)

Grossman: Gillian. (She keeps running.) Gillian! (Grossman runs inside along with his heavy.)

Olga: She hit me. She hit me. (Grossman crouches in front of his mother who’s sat on a chair.)

Grossman: Mom, what happened?

Olga: She hit me. That little tramp hit me.

Grossman: Mom, are you all right?

Olga: We have no choice now, Al. You’ve got to finish her. There’s too much at stake.

Grossman: Kill her?

Olga: Your whole life is in front of you, Al. Your future, everything we’ve planned for. If we’re not gonna lose it all now, you’ve got to take care of her. Because we don’t know what she told him, we’ve gotta finish him too. Her boyfriend, the cop.

Gillian’s Apartment: Day.

(Gillian comes out of her bedroom with her bags packed. She dials Hutch’s number, but his phone just rings. She hears the door close and sees Grossman. She hangs up.)

Gillian: What are you doing here?

Grossman: You, uh, shouldn’t hit mom. (He slowly walks towards her.)

Gillian: Al. Al. (He keeps coming)

Starsky’s Apartment: Night.

(The phone rings. Starsky runs in, drops her groceries and answers it.)

Starsky: Yeah?

Huggy: Hey, Starsky, it’s Huggy.

Starsky: Yeah?

Huggy: Dig, I think that chick Gillian is about to get wasted. (Huggy’s on a pay phone with a woman stood behind him.)

Starsky: What are you talking about?

Huggy: Well, from what I hear, she and old lady Grossman had a battle and I think sonny boy is on his way over to her apartment now. And when he gets through with her, I think he’s going after Hutch.

Starsky: Okay, you all Hutch. You tell him to meet me at Gillian’s as fast as he can. (Hangs up.)

Gillian’s Apartment: Night.

(Starsky pulls up outside and runs inside. When he gets to the door he knocks.)

Starsky: Gillian? (The door isn’t locked. He enters and finds her on the floor.) Oh, my God. (Kneels beside her.) Gillian: Gillian.(Turns her over.) Come on. Come on, now.

(At Venus Massage Grossman dials a number.)

(At Gillian’s the phone rings. Starsky answers it.)

Starsky: Yeah?

Grossman: Would this be Sergeant Hutchinson?

Starsky: Grossman?

Grossman: How’s that pretty girlfriend of yours? Are you standing there having a lot of memories?

Starsky: You killed her. You gotta be out of your mind.

Grossman: You’d like to get even, wouldn’t you? Well, some things shouldn’t be put off, Hutchinson. Like you getting reunited with that tramp girlfriend of yours.

Starsky: Where and when?

Grossman: I’ll be at the Royal Theatre in 20 minutes. Come alone.

(Starsky hangs up and dials again.)

Starsky: Detective Starsky, I want a coroner’s lab and a crime le…la…a coroner’s team and a crime lab at 116 Berkley, apartment two-four. Twenty-four. Yeah. (Hangs up.)

Hutch: What’s going on? (Starsky sees Hutch at the door. He walks over to Gillian’s body.)

Starsky: She’s dead, Hutch. (Hutch crouches next to her and rubs her arm.) Grossman did it.

Hutch: Grossman? What are you talking about? Why would he want to kill her? What are you crazy? (Hutch lowers his head on to her crest and cries.)

Starsky: Listen to me, buddy.

Hutch: I’m listening to what? What good is it? (Lifts his head.)What are you doing here? Why did…why did Huggy call me? What is this?

Starsky: She was gonna tell you. (Hutch sobs and then wipes his eyes.)

Hutch: Tell me what?

Starsky: She worked for Grossman.

Hutch: What did you say? (Looks up at Starsky) The only girls who work for Grossman are hookers. Are you trying to tell me that Gillian is a hooker? Is that what you’re trying to tell me, buddy? Friend? That my girl is a hooker? A prostitute?

Starsky: Look around you. What do you think bought this place?

(Hutch punches Starsky in the face, grabs him when he’s down.)

Hutch: You…you liar! You…you never did like her! You never could understand her!

Starsky: That’s not true and you know it. (Grabs Hutch back.) Look, the last time we went to Grossman’s, I went to the backroom, and I saw her in the massage parlour. (Pushes Starsky away.)

Hutch: So what? (Stands up, looks at Gillian and then pulls Starsky to his feet.) She could have been there. She could have been there doing an interview. She could have been talking to some people, she could have been doing a story.

Starsky: Come on. What are you gonna do? Do you wanna hit me again, huh? Is that what you want? She was a prostitute. And there’s nothing you can do or say that’s gonna change that fact or the fact that she loved you and she was about to give all this up just for you. That’s probably why Grossman killed her. (Hutch has calmed down, but looks about to cry again.) Hey. How many years have we known each other, huh? You’re the best friend I got in the whole world. You think I like saying things like this to you? (Hutch breaks down and they wrap their arms around each other.) It’s okay now. It’s gonna be okay. Get it out partner. We got some work to do.

Royal Theatre: Night.

(A car pulls up outside. Hutch gets out and goes inside. Starsky is at the stage door, picking the lock. Hutch enters the theatre and looks around the empty seats.)

Hutch: Grossman! (A man on the balcony fires. Hutch runs behind the seats and hides behind a pillar. Another man fires.)

Grossman: Does that answer your question?

(Hutch crawls to the next pillar. Starsky climbs up a ladder)

Grossman: You’re taking a long time finding a seat for the movie, Sergeant Hutchinson. But I’m glad you’re finally settled. Your girlfriend ever tell you she’s in the movies.

(A film shows on the screen of Gillian lounging on a round bed wearing a long dress. She goes over to the door where a man is stood.)

Gillian: You must be the TV repairman. The set’s over here. You wanna come in? (The man enters. Hutch can’t believe what he’s seeing.)

Hutch: Gillian.

(Grossman comes down the aisle.)

(On screen Gillian saunters over to the TV repairman and starts undressing.)

Grossman: How about that, Hutchinson? You and I know how sweet it is. Don’t we, Hutch.

(Hutch stands up and another shots is fired, Hutch comes out shooting in all directions. Starsky comes up behind one of the guys on the balcony. The guy swings at him, but Starsky ducks, turns the guy around and hits him. The other guy fires at Hutch’s who’s taken cover behind a pillar again. Grossman’s hid behind a row of chairs while firing at Hutch. Meanwhile, Starsky ties up the guy with a fire hose, sticking the nozzle down his trousers. Hutch reloads.)

Starsky: Hutch?

Hutch: Yeah.

Starsky: You okay?

Hutch: Yeah.

Starsky: I got one.

Hutch: Projection room.

Starsky: I’ll cover you.

(Hutch moves up the room, while Starsky fires and so does Grossman and the other guy. Hutch climbs up a drape, Grossman aims at him, but Starsky draws his fire. Grossman’s out of bullets. Hutch reaches the balcony. Grossman runs up the aisle. The other guy moves along the balcony, but his kicked in the head by Hutch. Hutch takes the guys gun and runs off. Grossman runs down some stairs and finds Hutch at the bottom. He looks back and finds Starsky. They both slowly approach him. He lunges at Hutch, but Hutch grabs him and throws him down the rest of the stairs. Hutch stands over a groaning Grossman. Starsky comes down to join him. They look at each other. Starsky puts his gun away and slaps Hutch on the back.)

Bowling Alley: Night.

(Nancy’s preparing to bowl.)

Starsky: Okay, now. Relax and concentrate, okay? There you go. (Nancy bowls. She gets a strike.)

Nancy: Bingo! I got a bingo!

Starsky: Okay. Okay. (Hutch is sat at the table.)

Nancy: Oh, I love this game more and more every time I play. (Kisses Starsky.)

Starsky: Me too.

Nancy: How many points did I get?

Hutch: Thirty.

Starsky: Best yet.

Nancy: You’re gonna go into the ninth frame with, uh, well over 30. Huh?

Nancy: Oh. It’s your turn, Hutch.

Starsky: Yeah, you’re up.

Nancy: I’m gonna get a coke. You want anything?

Starsky: Oh, that’s a good idea. Coke.

Hutch: Beer.

Starsky: Beer. Right. A Coke and a beer, huh? Yeah. And I’ll have a…I’ll have a beer. Okay, here’s some money. Go treat yourself. All right

Nancy: Thanks. (Leaves.)

Hutch: Hey, Starsk. Why does she call that a bingo?

Starsky: Oh, with Nancy, who knows? Maybe the same reason she calls me Red.

Hutch: What?

Starsky: Hey, look, after we get all through here, why don’t we go out and catch a pizza and then a movie.

Hutch: You know something, Starsky, it’s been over a month,

Starsky: What do you mean?

Hutch: You don’t have to try that hard anymore. You don’t think I don’t know what’s going on here, the two of you babysitting me like this?

Starsky: Not true.

Hutch: Of course it’s true.

Starsky: Absolutely not true. The only reason you’re here is to hold the popcorn. Now, go bowl.

(Hutch gets up to bowl and sees another lady about to bowl.)

Hutch: Oh, I’m sorry. Go right ahead.

Lady: Thank you. (She rolls the bowl and it goes straight into the gutter.) Oh, my. I’m afraid I’m not very good at this.

Hutch: Uh, yeah, well, um, it’s probably in your grip. You know, in the way you swing the ball. Bowling’s really not very difficult.

Lady: Oh, really?

Hutch, No, uh…look, uh, why don’t I show you what I mean?

Lady: Go ahead, sure.

Hutch: Watch.

Lady: Okay. (Hutch bowls and gets a strike.) Wow.

Starsky: That was some show, man.

Lady: Boy, a bingo! You made a bingo. (Hutch looks at Starsky,)

Hutch: We don’t call it a bingo back where I come from in Minnesota. We call that a…infield fly.

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