The Hostages

episode transcript by Sarah Spearey

Apartment Building: Day

(Inside, the radio’s playing and the shower’s running)

Radio: That was Scotty King playing “Ease my mind” on this bright and chipper Friday morning. The time is four minutes to 7. Four before 7. And now let’s go back to music.

(The kettle’s boiling and there is security guard clothes scattered about the place. The door opens and a man enters with a gun. He listens at the bathroom door and then walks over to the clothes. The shower stops. The owner of the apartment comes out in a dressing gown and finds the intruder wearing his uniform. The intruder shoots him dead and rolls him over to check. He takes a pen and starts colouring his sideburns. The badge on his arm says AMES Armoured Car Company.)

(Cut to another man in a AMES uniform, sitting in his kitchen eating breakfast. His wife approaches with a pot of coffee)

Ellie: You’re eating faster. Do you realize you’ve started eating faster?

Tom: I’m gonna start cooking my own breakfast from now on, so you can sleep in.

Ellie: Hey, I’m not training for the Olympics, I’m having a baby.

Tom: Everything’s gonna be all right this time.

Ellie: Sure. So let’s not treat me like I’m made of glass.

Tom: I don’t treat you like you’re made of-

Ellie: It’s time to go.

Tom: Oh, yeah. (Stands up) Listen, I want you to get a little more sleep, okay?

Ellie: Yeah, I am a little tired. (He kisses her) Maybe I will.

Tom: Good. (Heads for the door) See you later, Ellie. (Kiss)

Ellie: Bye.

(Tom goes out to the garage, opens it up and gets into his car. A man with a gun pops up in the passenger seat.)

Conrad: Mr. Cole, there’s been a little change in plans. But if you do exactly as you’re supposed to you and your pretty little wife in there will both live to see the sunset.

Tom: Who are you? What do you want?

Conrad: Just a little trade. Your wife for that truckload of money you’re picking up today. Now, just move in and start the car and back out.

Tom: Listen, my wife, she’s expecting a baby.

Conrad: Then you don’t have anything to worry about. Two of my people are with her right now. And believe me, they’re excellent babysitters. Now, move it. (Tom closes the door and drives off)

On the Streets: Day

(The Torino pulls up against the curb Starsky gets out, all happy and bouncy. He opens the passenger door open for Hutch to get out with a newspaper)

Starsky: Right this way, mademoiselle. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go. (Takes the paper)

Hutch: Wait-wait a minute. What was that all about?

Starsky: What do you mean, what’s that all about? I’m looking forward to a great breakfast.

Hutch: That means I’m looking forward to a stomach-ache. (They walk down the street)

Starsky: What are you complaining about, it ain’t gonna kill you.

Hutch: You say that every time.

Starsky: Well, it hasn’t killed you yet, has it?

Hutch: Brilliant deduction. Wait a minute. Is that the place your horoscope told you to come.

Starsky: Not mine. The lady who works there. She’s an astrology freak.

Hutch: Oh, then you’ve been here before.

Starsky: Of course. How do you think I found out her sign? It says right here. Today’s the day she’s supposed to begin a romance with a tall, dark and handsome man.

Hutch: Tall dark and handsome? (They stop outside the diner)

Starsky: Yep

Hutch: Well, two out of three ain’t bad. (They enter)

Starsky: You keep laughing. I’m beginning to think there’s substance to this astrology stuff.

Hutch: Substance, huh?

Starsky: Yep, substance. Mine says today maybe a good day to make a conquest. (They sit at the counter) Besides I already made my first move last week.

Hutch: Is that when you first let her see you?

Starsky: Right. Now, I’ll let her know I’m available. (A lady comes out the kitchen and walks right past them)

Hutch: (Whispers) it’s it cute how they totally ignore you when they’re crazy about you.

(She continues serving food and coffee to no one, still not noticing Starsky and Hutch)

Starsky: Practice makes perfect.

Amy: Oh, hey, I’m sorry. Coffee?

Starsky: Yeah.

Amy: I’m expecting someone and he’s 14 minutes late. (She pours them coffee)

Hutch: Thank you.

Starsky: Oh, maybe he’s not coming.

Amy: Every morning, 7:30 sharp, Harry walks through that door.

Hutch: Harry’s punctual.

Amy: Harry is Sagittarius. He’s never late. That’s the second breakfast I’ve made for him. I called his apartment after the first order got cold and the operator said the phone was off the hook.

Starsky: Well, maybe he’s sleeping in.

Amy: No, not on Friday. Not in his line of work. I’m gonna call the police.

Starsky: Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute. (Follows her to the end of the counter) Amy?

Amy: How’d you know my name?

Starsky: Well, I was in here last week. (Long pause) I’m Dave Starsky.

Amy: Hi

Starsky: Hi. Oh, this is…ah

Hutch: Hutch.

Starsky: Hutch.

Amy: Hi

Starsky: We’re policemen. What’s Harry’s line of work?

Amy: Are you guys really cops?

Starsky: Yeah.

Amy: Well, he’s a security guard on an armoured truck. Hey, listen, he lives just around the corner and I have a key to his apartment.

Hutch: Looks like the moon just flew right past the cusp of your Venus.

Starsky: Well… (Takes the key)

Amy: I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Hutch: Why don’t you go on ahead. I’ll just sit here and finish my coffee. (Starsky takes the paper)

Starsky: Come on, come on. You’re real good with locks. (They go outside)

Hutch: You know, it’s a really good move you’re making on your part Starsk. Checking on the boyfriend. It’s very oblique.

Starsky: Picked it up on TV.

Hutch: Yeah?

Starsky: When you’re second you try harder.

Hutch: Hey, wait a minute, what’s the address?

Starsky: Around the corner.

Hutch: What corner?

Starsky: Follow me.

Hutch: Okay. (They go round the corner and end up at Harry’s door. The kettles whining)

Starsky: Harry?

Hutch: What’s his last name?

Starsky: Johnson, Johnson. (Knocks) Harry Johnson? Hope he’s doing no nothing illegal. (Opens the door) Hello? Anybody home? Hutch. (Sees Harry’s dead body on the floor. Hutch checks him out while Starsky looks around the apartment)

Hutch: He’s dead, Starsk.

Starsky: I’ll call Dobey. (Picks up the phone and uses the key to dial.)

AMES Armoured car services: Day

(Starsky and Hutch are talking to a man in the office. They are directed someplace else, so they leave the office. Starsky points to where they’re going)

Hutch: Yeah. Mr. Ames. (They approach two men at a small desk)

Ames: We’re not hiring.

Starsky: Neither are we. (Shows his badge)

Ames: Oh, sorry. Unemployment rates, you know. We’ve been swamped lately.

Starsky: You Mr. Ames.

Ames: That’s right. Ed Miller, our dispatcher. What can we do for you?

Hutch: We’d like to ask a few questions about an employee of yours. Harry Johnson.

Ames: Was he in some sort of trouble?

Starsky: I’m afraid he’s dead, Mr. Ames.

Ames: Is that supposed to be some kind of a joke?

Hutch: No. We found him in his apartment this morning, shot to death.

Ames: You sure?

Starsky: Yeah. We found him.

Ed: Hey, you guys, Harry Johnson went out of here two hours ago riding shotgun in one of our trucks.

Ames: It seems you got the wrong guy, officers.

Hutch: No, I don’t think so. You see, Harry Johnson’s girlfriend identified his body.

Ames: You playing games with me, Miller.

Ed: Mr. Ames, Harry Johnson’s riding with Cole. His car is right outside, right where he left it.

Hutch: Starsk. The Abbot armoured car robbery.

Starsky: Cincinnati?

Hutch: Detroit.

Ames: What are you two talking about?

Hutch: Did you talk to your man Johnson this morning?

Ed: No, he came in a few minutes late. I assigned Cole our maximum security truck. He and Johnson left.

Hutch: Did you get a good look at Cole’s face?

Ed: Yeah, when he signed for the truck.

Starsky: Did this Harry Johnson go directly from his car to his truck?

Ed: Yeah, he waved to Cole when he got out of his car they got in the truck, drove off.

Hutch: Then you never got a good look at Johnson’s face.

Ames: Are you saying someone killed Johnson and then took his place on the truck?

Hutch: Mr. Ames, we’d like a list of every place that truck is going to stop today.

Ames: Get it! That truck’s picking up over a million in cash from supermarkets today.

Hutch: And taking it where?

Ames: Depository, Fifth and Marshal.

Starsky: Okay, what time is the last pick up?

Ames: 4:00

Starsky: Okay, I’m gonna call Dobey have him send a lab team down here to get prints on Johnson’s car.

Hutch: Yeah.

Ames: Forget Johnson’s car! Get some firepower!

Hutch: Mr. Ames, it’s not that simple. We maybe talking about murder and kidnapping. (Takes the list from Ed) Thanks, we’ll be in touch.

A House: Day

(A car pulls up into a driveway of the house next to an orange truck, a lady gets out with a grocery bag and goes in the house. Inside the house she enters the living room where a man is sat at the table and Ellie is sat nervously on a chair. The man from Cole’s car enters the room)

Conrad: We’ll leave when I get back. (He leaves the house. The man at the table is playing solitaire, Belle, the lady helps him out. He leaves the room.)

Belle: You hungry?

Ellie: No, thank you.

Belle: I cook a mean pot of chilli. I just got all the fixings.

Ellie: I’m on a special diet.

Belle: You know, I once was almost as pretty as you. Maybe I should have got some special diet.

Ellie: It’s not that. I’m going to have a baby.

Belle: You’re scamming me. You don’t look like you’re pregnant.

Ellie: I just found out. I lost my first baby, so we’re being very careful this time. The special diet, plenty of rest.

Belle: Why don’t you lie down, relax? No point in getting all tensed up. (Ellie lies down on the sofa. Belle meets the other guy at the kitchen door)

Belle: She’s pregnant.

Gibson: What?

Belle: She’s gonna have a kid.

Gibson: So what?

Belle: Look, I didn’t wanna kill anybody. Least of all a pretty little girl who’s trying to have a baby.

Gibson: Look, Conrad said no witnesses. That means no witnesses.

A Supermarket: Day

(The armoured truck pulls up round the back of the supermarket. The gunman, Tobin and Cole get out. Cole goes into the back entrance. He enters the office, where Starsky and Hutch are waiting behind the desks)

Cole: Where’s Mr. Stern?

Hutch: We’re filling in for him. (Opens up his badge on the desk so Cole can see) I’m Detective Hutchinson. This is Detective Starsky. (Starsky’s holding a gun under a ledger) Just keep cool, keep your hands where we can see them.

Cole: You know what’s happening?

Starsky: We know that Harry Johnson was killed this morning.

Cole: Harry Johnson is dead.

Starsky: Question is, where do you fit in?

Cole: This guy came to my house this morning and he pulled a gun on me. He said if I didn’t go along with him he’d hurt my wife. Please you gotta believe- For the love of God I’m telling you the truth. (Starsky and Hutch nod slightly and Hutch hands Cole a clipboard) What do I do now?

Hutch: You take the money and you do your job. (Hands over the bags of money) The other man with you, is he stopping to make phone calls?

Cole: Yeah, every 45 minutes at pay phones. Have they done this before?

Starsky: Afraid so.

Cole: Well, what about my wife?

Hutch: Look, Tom, just relax and do your job.

Starsky: Come on. (He helps carry some of the money out to the truck.

Tobin: Is that it?

Starsky: Yes, sir.

Tobin: Then why don’t you go in the back and count some bananas.

Starsky: (To Cole) Just keep trucking. (He meets Hutch at the door after the trucks gone)

Hutch: What do you think Starsky?

Starsky: I’m thinking Detroit.

Hutch: Yeah, after that last pickup, they’ll kill him and his wife. Hey, we’ve only got til 4:00.

Starsky: We only got three hours. (They head back in the building)

Cole’s House: Day

(The Torino pulls up across the street from the house. Starsky and Hutch get out)

Hutch: Well, if Mrs. Cole is still there she’s bound to have company.

Starsky: Yeah, well, I’ll pretend to be an encyclopaedia salesman (He walks part way across the road)

Hutch: Hey, Starsk.

Starsky: What? (Turns)

Hutch: The way you’re dressed, maybe you better change that to a plumber, huh? (Starsky looks down at himself and then heads across the road to the house and rings the bell. There’s no answer. From across the street Hutch sees a girl next door come out of her back garden. Starsky spots her. They both head to the gate and see her working on a small motorcycle)

Starsky: Hello?

Hutch: Hi there.

Meg: You’re wasting your time over there.

Starsky: What? Mrs. Cole isn’t home? (They enter the garden)

Meg: She left.

Hutch: Alone?

Meg: No, with a man and a lady.

Hutch: Well, did she leave in her car?

Meg: No. It was a light blue LTD with a dark blue vinyl top.

Hutch: Would you know what time she left?

Meg: About 8:30 this morning.

Starsky: Hey, how come you’re not in school?

Meg: I’m pulling up stakes.

Hutch: No kidding? You leaving on that?

Meg: Yep

Hutch: How come?

Meg: I decided to drive to school today. The fuzz busted me. No license.

Starsky: Tough luck. Hey, those two people that left with Mrs. Cole you think you’d recognise them if you saw them in a picture?

Meg: What kind of picture?

Starsky: A mug book. We’re the fuzz.

Hutch: How’d you like to take a trip with us downtown, huh?

Meg: What for?

Starsky: Look at the pictures.

Meg: I don’t think so.

Hutch: Where are your parents?

Meg: Working.

Starsky: Well, we could always call them up and have them pick you up at headquarters.

Meg: Can we deal?

Hutch: Deal?

Meg: If I look at the mug books will you square the ticket with my folks?

Starsky: The fix is in kid. (They follow her out of the garden)

Hutch: Tough cookie, huh?

Starsky: You’re telling me.

The Squad Room: Day

(Meg is sat at their desk looking through a mug book. Starsky and Hutch are sat either side of her)

Hutch: Nothing, huh?

Meg: I really got a better look at the lady.

Starsky: Oh, well that’s easy. (Picks up the female mug book)

Dobey: Can I see you two in my office.

Starsky: Yeah.

Hutch: Yeah, Gary, you wanna stay with her.

Starsky: Don’t go away. (They enter Dobey’s office)

Dobey: You know Mr. Ames.

Hutch: Yeah.

Dobey: That kid given you anything yet.

Hutch: Not yet.

Ames: Meanwhile I’m being ripped of for 1 million dollars. Suppose they don’t make the full run. Suppose they quit after the next stop.

Dobey: Mr. Ames, that truck is and has been for the last hour under the constant surveillance of four unmarked police cars. It’s impossible for them to go anywhere we no know it.

Ames: Still don’t like why. Why don’t you just stop the truck and take it over?

Hutch: Mr. Ames, the other man in that truck the man that took Johnson’s place is stopping every 45 minutes to call his people, just like they did in Detroit. Now if we stop that truck before we find Ellie Cole we’ve got one dead woman on our hands.

Ames: Okay, okay. But if you people lose that truck and Cole and his wife die anyway I will personally see that the press crucifies you.

Hutch: Mr. Ames, there are lives at stake here and right now we couldn’t care less about you, your money, or what you tell the press. (They leave the office)

Another Supermarket: Day.

(The truck pulls up outside the back entrance. Starsky and Hutch are already inside.)

Starsky: Hutch?

Hutch: Thanks, Mr. Walker, we’ll take it from here. (Mr. Walker leaves. Cole enters the building leaving Tobin outside. Cole enters the office)

Starsky: How you doing?

Cole: My wife? What about my wife? Did you check my house?

Starsky: She’s not there.

Cole: What do you mean? Where is she?

Starsky: A man and a woman got her.

Cole: A man and a woman?

Hutch: A neighbours kids saw them take her.

Cole: Meg?

Hutch: Yeah.

Cole: What good could a kid do?

Starsky: I wouldn’t sell her short. She’s looking at the mug shots right now.

Hutch: Now what we want you to do, Tom, is to demand to talk to your wife.

Cole: Demand? Are you crazy? If I demand anything they’ll kill her.

Hutch: Listen to me. This isn’t gonna be easy. About two months ago, back East, a similar robbery-kidnapping occurred. And the men involved in that even after they got the money didn’t leave any witnesses.

Cole: Oh my God.

Hutch: What we want you to do is to buy us time to find your wife.

Cole: What do you want me to do?

Starsky: Sign the ledger.

Hutch: All right, it’s 2:15 now. You tell the man that you’re with that you want to talk to your wife. And if you get the chance, you find out what number he’s dialling. Then at 4:00 before the last pick up, you tell him you wanna talk to her again, you understand? (Tom nods)

Cole: Wait a second. Are you saying they may have killed her already?

Starsky: No, not at all. We’re just trying to find out where they’re holding her. (Hands Cole the money) Okay, we want you to make that phone call from the pay phone in the parking lot.

Cole: If they’ve hurt her-

Hutch: Tom, make the call.

Starsky: Don’t worry. Go ahead.

(Cole goes out and puts the money in the back of the truck. Starsky and Hutch watch them through the window. Cole and Tobin get in the truck. It pulls away from the supermarket and stops by a pay phone)

Tobin: What are you doing?

Cole: I wanna talk to my wife.

Tobin: Move.

Cole: No. I wanna call her, I wanna hear her voice.

Tobin: I’m telling you, drive.

Cole: I’m telling you, either I hear her voice, know she’s okay or there’s no more pick ups. If you’ve killed her, I got no reason to live. (They exit the truck and head for the pay phone) Okay, what’s the phone number? (Tobin takes his change and dials the number while Cole tries to peek over his shoulder)

Starsky: Did he get the number? (Hutch is watching through binoculars.)

Hutch: I can’t tell, Starsk.

Starsky: Terrific.

Hutch: Here, take a look. (Hands over the binoculars.)

(The phone rings at the unknown house, Gibson answers.)

Gibson: Hello?

Tobin: Cole wants to talk to his wife. Says he won’t go on unless he knows she’s okay

Gibson: All right. Hey, this is for you. (Belle brings her the phone)

Tobin: You got 10 seconds. (Cole takes the phone)

Cole: Ellie?

Ellie: Tom.

Cole: Honey, are you all right?

Ellie: I’m okay. I’m fine.

Cole: They haven’t hurt you.

Ellie: No. No, really I’m fine. Are you all right?

Cole: Yeah, yeah, honey. I love you.

Ellie: I love you too.

Cole: Look, I’m gonna call back again about 4:00-

Tobin: Get in the truck. (Grabs the phone)

Cole: Listen, I mean that: 4:00 before the last pickup or they’ll be no pickup.

Tobin: In the truck.

Ellie: Tom? Tom? T- (Belle takes the phone)

Belle: Hello?

Tobin: Listen, he’s getting a case of the cutes. Don’t put her away until after he calls again. Just before the last pickup.

Belle: No problem. (Hangs up)

Ellie: What’s happening?

Belle: Everything’s gonna be all right. Just relax. Everything’s gonna be all right. (She takes the phone back to the table)

The Supermarket: Day

(Starsky is still looking out the window as the truck pulls away while Hutch answers the ringing phone)

Hutch: Yeah? Put him through, please. (To Starsky) It’s Dobey. Yeah, Captain.

Dobey: Hutch? This kid of yours, she really came through. (There’s a mug shot of Belle Kates on the desk)

Hutch: Oh, that’s great. (Hangs up)

Starsky: Let’s split.

Hutch: Our little Meg just came through. She identified a photo.

Starsky: That’s one.

On the streets: Day

(Huggy is stood in front of some steps, with cute wind up toys playing in front of him)

Huggy: Hurry, hurry. Hurry! Get the perfect gift for that son or daughter, niece or nephew. (Starsky and Hutch approach) Hey, Starsky and Hutch.

Starsky: Heard you were down here. (Hutch sits on the steps) What are you doing?

Huggy: Engaging in the American free enterprise system. Can I interest you in one of my handy-dandy dingle dollies?

Hutch: Dingle dollies, huh?

Huggy: Yeah, the perfect pet. Eats less than a dog and cleaner than a cat.

Starsky: Cleaner than a cat?

Huggy: That’s right. Don’t even mess up the cat litter.

Starsky: You gave up the restaurant business for this.

Huggy: Not just this gold mine. Tomorrow I’m turning this whole operation over to my cousin Elijah leaving me to branch out in a myriad of directions.

Hutch: Yeah, I’ll bet.

Huggy: Yeah. Oh, would any of you guys know anybody who’d like to buy two thousand of these little gems? I could make them a price.

Hutch: Two hundred dingle dollies, huh? Well, Dobey might. (Starsky laughs) But right now we got our own problems hug.

Huggy: What do you need?

Starsky: Belle Kates.

Huggy: Last I heard she was still running her girls.

Hutch: The question is, where?

Huggy: Well, she always did have a travelling act. Hey, Sweet Alice, she might be able to help you.

Hutch: Sweet Alice, huh? Thanks, Hug. (Stands up)

Starsky: Nice.

Hutch: Good luck. (They leave)

Huggy: Get ‘em while I got ‘em. Dingle Dollies. Get ‘em while I got ‘em. Hurry!

The Brig Cocktails: Day

(The time is 3:15. Sweet Alice is sitting at the bar talking to the bartender. Starsky and Hutch enter behind her)

Sweet Alice: One sip of scotch and the whole world just mellows right out.

Hutch: Hey, bartender, why don’t you set me up a chilli? Just give me a beer. (Sits beside Alice)

Sweet Alice: Hello, handsome Hutch.

Hutch: Hiya, Sweet Alice, how’re you doing?

Sweet Alice: Well, I figured the day for a total loser until you trucked in. (To Starsky) Hey, he still breaking hearts uptown?

Starsky: Nobody sees him exactly like you do, Sweet Alice.

Sweet Alice: No, nobody could.

Hutch: Listen, love, we’re looking for Belle. It’s important.

Sweet Alice: I don’t work for Belle anymore, Hutch.

Hutch: Have you seen her?

Sweet Alice: No, not for a couple of months. See, I went independent. I’m doing felid work. (Hutch sips his beer) Hey, come on. Is something the matter?

Hutch: Yeah, Belle maybe involved in something…heavy.

Sweet Alice: I knew it. I could feel it coming.

Hutch: Feel what coming?

Sweet Alice: I don’t know. See, Belle started hanging out with a couple of pretty heavy dudes from the East.

Hutch: Did you get their names?

Sweet Alice: No. No, I never even asked. One of them got kind of rough with me so I just pulled out. Belle has always been real straight with me and I just think she’s just plumb wore out. She’s looking for an easy way to retire, I guess.

Hutch: Do you have an address? Huh?

Sweet Alice: Yeah. She working out of a house on the corner of 12^th and Chandler I think. (Hutch pulls her strap up her shoulder)

Hutch: Thanks.

Sweet Alice: Hutch, one of these days I’m gonna go straight. And when I do, I’m gonna get you.

Hutch: You do that and I just might let you. (Kisses her cheek and they leave)

12^th and Chandler: Day

Mary: If this is a rip-off, I gotta tell ya, there ain’t a crying need for crystal balls.

(Inside the house, Starsky and Hutch have their guns ready, waiting outside the main living area that looks like a gypsy tent)

Starsky: Oh, well, we’re looking for someone.

Mary: Ain’t nobody here but Madame Yram.

Starsky: Yeah, where’s she?

Mary: You’re looking at her, dummy.

Starsky: Huh? (They enter the room.)

Mary: Hey, if you put the guns away I’ll tell you your future.

Hutch: You the only one in the building? (Hutch looks out the window, while Starsky approaches the table and sits down)

Mary: Your future is I’m gonna call the cops if you don’t get out of here. (Hutch shows her his badge) You see, Madame Yram’s never wrong: I saw cops in my future. (Hutch sits down)

Hutch: Well, here we are. Yram, huh?

Mary: Y-R-A-M. ‘Mary’ backwards as in Mary Polanski.

Hutch: Very resourceful.

Mary: Who’d come to a fortune-teller named Mary Polanski?

Starsky: Oh, I don’t know, I would.

Mary: You would? Hey, hey.

Hutch: There was something in your horoscope about making a conquest today wasn’t there?

Mary: Was there? Are you into horoscopes?

Starsky: Yeah, well, it’s…

Mary: My horoscope said I was gonna meet a tall, dark, handsome, stranger today.

Starsky: Yeah, well, one thing you gotta realise is that I’m not all that tall.

Mary: You are to me.

Starsky: Yeah.

Hutch: Mary? Mary? (She’s staring at Starsky)

Starsky: He’s talking to you.

Hutch: How does your crystal ball do with the past? We’re looking for a lady by the name of Belle Kates. She may have lived here before you. (She looks at the mug shot)

Mary: Yeah. She had a lot of young stuff. Moving out as I was coming in.

Starsky: You uh, you uh. She didn’t mention a forwarding address?

Mary: No.

Starsky: No?

Mary: I do remember the name of the moving van they used. Angel. Angel transfer and storage.

Hutch: Well, thank you, Mary. Nice to have met you. (Stands up)

Starsky: Yeah. Mary Polanski. (Shakes her hands, she turns it over and looks at his palm) I’m ticklish.

Mary: Me too.

Hutch: You coming, Angel?

Starsky: My partner. (Pulls his hand away and walks past Hutch) I got a way with women.

In the Torino: Day

(The Torino drives down the street, Hutch is on the mic)

Hutch: This is Zebra Three to communications.

Dispatch: Zebra Three patrol.

Hutch: Detective Hutchinson here. Requesting a patch through to Captain Dobey.

(Dobey’s in his office sticking pins into a map when his phone buzzes.)

Dobey: Yeah? Patch him through. Hutch, where are you?

Hutch: Yeah, captain, we got an address from the transfer company that moved Belle Kates. Have you got anything new on the truck?

Dobey: Well, so far the truck is sticking to it’s assigned route. Our cars are watching it.

Hutch: Okay, we’re heading for Belle Kates right now. It’s 411 Baldwin Boulevard. Send over some backup units, but tell them to stay back out of sight. We don’t wanna panic anybody.

Dobey: You got them. It’s now 3:50. You think you can make it by 4?

Hutch: We can sure as hell try, captain.

Belle’s House: Day

(Ellie’s sat in the living area when Gibson and Belle enter wearing their coats and carrying bags)

Belle: How you feeling? (Sits beside her)

Ellie: I’ve been thinking. I’ve-I’ve seen too much. So has Tom. You’re gonna kill us aren’t you?

(Outside the Torino drives up to the house. They both get out and head to the front)

Starsky: Hutch. Some place, huh?

Hutch: Yeah. (Hutch reaches the front door first and rings the bell. A young woman answers)

Woman: Hi fellas. We don’t usually open this early, but I think in your case we might make an exception.

Hutch: Is Belle around?

Woman: Out back.

Starsky: Who’s with her?

Woman: Who’s asking? (Shows her his badge) Cops, listen, I don’t- (Hutch grabs her)

Hutch: Listen, lady, there’s a murder-kidnapping going on around here how’d you like to stare at those charges.

Woman: Now, waits a second, I don’t any…

Hutch: Have they got a girl with them? A girl they brought in this morning.

Woman: I don’t know anything about any girl.

Hutch: All right, you said Belle was out back. Where?

Woman: Um, upstairs in the apartment above the car barn.

Hutch: All right. (Let’s her go. Starsky sits her down)

Starsky: Do you like your work? Don’t move. (He chases after Hutch. They sneak around back and find the apartment over the car barn.)

Hutch: You take the far stair.

Starsky: Got it.