Losing Streak
transcript by Sarah Spearey
The Torino:
Night
(A night
shot of the city.)
Hutch: This
is Zebra Three request code seven at DodyÕs, 12th and Willow.
Starsky:
They make terrific hamburgers.
(Starsky
and Hutch are sat in the Torino eating hamburgers.)
Hutch: You
know, Starsk you were right about these hamburgers. They are terrific.
Starsky:
Yeah. (Looks uncomfortable.)
Hutch: You
all right?
Starsky:
Yeah, IÕm fine.
Hutch: ItÕs
that tooth again, isnÕt it?
Starsky:
You know something? You oughta be a detec- (Winces)
Hutch: No,
no, no; donÕt open your mouth.
Starsky:
Why?
Hutch: You
talk, you let the cold air in. It aggravates the cavity.
Starsky:
Oh.
GWÕs Jazz
Club: Night
(A board
advertises a pianist called Toby playing at the club, but heÕs sat listening to
Vic Rankin play instead. Outside, a car pulls up and Gareth White, the owner of
the club enters. HeÕs not pleased to see Vic play)
Waitress:
Good evening, Mr. White. (A man approaches him)
Foote: Good
evening, Mr. White.
White:
WhatÕs Vic Rankin doing here?
Foote: He
said he had to see you. Well, Toby asked him to sit in for a couple of numbers.
People seem to like him so I let him play.
White: Get
rid of him. (Walks off)
Foote: Mr.
White. It might not be that easy. HeÕs pretty wound up, I think he wants that
money.
White: I
said, get rid of him. (White leaves and Vic Rankin finishes off his number.
ThereÕs a round of applause.)
Toby: How
about that! Out of sight! Hey, man, youÕre still the greatest.
Vic:
Thanks, Toby, thanks.
Toby: You
got time to give us another?
Vic: No,
no, IÕd like to, but I gotta see your boss about something. (Leaves. Toby sits
at the piano)
Toby: Well,
how do you follow that, huh? Guess IÕll lay down a couple of yards of ÔAutumn
leavesÕ for you. I hate to see good liquor go to waste. (Finishes off VicÕs
drink.)
(Vic Rankin
enters WhiteÕs office where Foote is pouring himself a drink)
Vic:
WhereÕs White?
Foote:
Sorry, Vic, IÕm afraid Mr. White ainÕt gonna have the time to see you tonight
after all, so go home huh?
Vic: Look,
heÕs gonna have to make time. He owes me $2000. (Foote hits him in the stomach)
Foote: Take
a hint, Vic, get out of here while all your fingers are still in one piece.
(Grabs his fingers)
Vic: Look,
I worked for him for five weeks. He never paid me. I need that money.
Foote: I
donÕt want to tell it to you again. (Bends his fingers back)
Vic: All right,
all right, all right. (LetÕs go. He leaves and White enters from another door)
White: Next
time donÕt wait for me to tell you.
I donÕt want that bum around here.
Foote:
Okay. Mr. White, can you come out a minute and have a talk to Murray.
White:
Foote, I have other things to do. CanÕt you handle it?
Foote:
Well, itÕs the cash register. The tapes, theyÕre all messed up again.
White: All
right, IÕll be out.
Foote:
Okay. (Leaves. White puts his briefcase in a draw and locks it up. Outside Vic
is waiting. White leaves his office and turns off the light. Vic gets in
through the window, once in he takes a peak outside and then searches the room.
He forces open the top draw with a letter opener and looks inside the briefcase
to find it full of money. He shuts it and opens it again, taking what heÕs
owed)
The Torino:
Night
Dispatch: Zebra
Three, come in, please.
Hutch:
Zebra Three here, over. Have your pickle? (Takes StarskyÕs pickle)
Dispatch:
Investigate a woman screaming at 211 South Barclay Street. Possible assault in
progress.
Hutch:
10-4, we will respond. You all right to drive?
Starsky:
Yeah, IÕm fine. (Starts the engine and takes a bite from his burger, but its
hurts.)
Hutch: Now,
Starsky, (takes his burger) you know sooner or later youÕre gonna have to do
business with the tooth fairy. (Takes a bite from StarskyÕs burger.)
211 South
Barclay Street: Night
(A woman is
thrown onto the couch by Foote)
Mrs.
Rankin: How many times do I have to tell you? I donÕt know where he is.
Foote: I
tried to warn your husband, Mrs. Rankin.
Lemke: No
money in there. (They hear a siren)
Foote:
LetÕs get out of here. (Pulls her up by her dressing gown) I better not find
out youÕre lying to me, Mrs. Rankin. Have a good day. (Throws her down.)
(The Torino
pulls up outside, Foote and his accomplice sees them and runs. Starsky and
Hutch get out and run after them.
The two get in there car and drive away just as Starsky and Hutch catch
up)
Hutch:
259PCE.
Starsky:
No, B.
Hutch: E
Starsky: B.
Hutch: ItÕs
E. (Walks back through the fence)
Starsky:
ItÕs B.
(They go
inside to talk to Mrs. Rankin)
Hutch: Vic
Rankin. I used to buy all his records when I was in high school. Are you
related? (HeÕs looking at a record by a younger Vic Rankin.)
Mrs.
Rankin: He is what the world laughingly calls my husband. (SheÕs tidying up)
Starsky:
Excuse me, Mrs. Rankin, here you go. (Hands her some records) Excuse me, have
you got any whiskey?
Mrs.
Rankin: ThatÕs refreshing a cop who drinks on duty. (Goes to the kitchen.)
Starsky:
No, you donÕt understand. I got a toothache. (Hands him the whiskey.)
Mrs.
Rankin: Shucks.
Hutch:
Okay, Mrs. Rankin. What happened to your husband?
Mrs.
Rankin: Well, at the risk of shocking you Detective Hutchinson the truth of the
matter is that your high school hero is trying to kill himself. But he doesnÕt
have the guts to do it all at once so he just does it an inch at a time.
Because my husband is a compulsive gambler and he just fell off the wagon so to
speak a couple of days ago. (Gets upset and looks out the window)
Hutch: So
heÕs in some kind of trouble, huh? And thatÕs what this is all about.
Mrs.
Rankin: When Vic is gambling heÕs always in some sort of trouble. Tonight, they
say he stole $2000.
Hutch:
WhoÕs ÔtheyÕ?
Mrs.
Rankin: Gill White, he-heÕs got a jazz club called the GWÕs and Vic played
there I donÕt know about six months ago but he never got paid for it. So
apparently he just broke into WhiteÕs office tonight and took what he thought
he had coming.
Starsky:
Mrs. Rankin, Vic worked for White six months ago. How come he waited this long
to collect his money?
Mrs.
Rankin: Why else? He heard about a big poker game tonight and he needed a stake
and he had to steal that money.
GWÕs Jazz
Club: Night.
(Toby is
playing a set as Starsky and Hutch enter the club. A waitress approaches them)
Olivia: Hi,
IÕm Olivia. Anything I can do for you?
Hutch:
Yeah, weÕd like to see Mr. White. (Shows her his badge)
Olivia:
IÕll see if heÕs in. (Turns to Starsky) Did anyway ever tell you youÕre as cute
as a teddy bear? (Pinches his check) Follow me. (She walks off)
Starsky:
CanÕt help it. (They follow her to WhiteÕs office while Toby continues to play)
Olivia: Mr.
White says heÕll be happy to see you now.
Starsky:
Oh, thank you. (They enter his office)
Hutch: Mr.
White?
White:
Gentlemen. Olivia tells me youÕre cops. (Starsky shows White his badge)
Starsky:
ThatÕs right.
White: Is
there some sort of beef?
Hutch:
Well, we thought you could tell us. We just came from Evelyn RankinÕs apartment
White: Oh,
yeah. IÕm sorry about that. I heard my boys got a little rough. I was just
gonna phone her and apologise
Starsky:
ThatÕs it? You have a lady and her apartment all busted up and youÕre just gonna
apologise.
White: She
file a complaint? If itÕll make you feel any better, IÕll offer to pay for
damages.
Hutch: What
about the $2000 stolen from you tonight? If you want to file a complaint, weÕre
police officers.
White: No,
thereÕs no need for that. IÕm afraid tempers got pretty hot earlier on.
Starsky:
Wait a minute. You telling us that Rankin didnÕt steal any money?
White:
ThatÕs right. Not a nickel. LetÕs just say what happened tonight was a
disagreement among old friends.
Starsky:
How quaint.
White: If
thatÕs all, gentlemen, I haveÉ
Hutch:
Yeah, thatÕs all, thanks a lot. (They leave the office. Two old ladies pass
them.)
Starsky:
Man, that is weird.
Hutch: It
is?
Starsky:
No. (Points to the office)
Hutch: Oh,
yeah.
Starsky: Well?
Hutch:
Well, what?
Starsky:
Well, what do you wanna do?
Hutch:
Well, there canÕt be that many big poker games in town.
Starsky:
Oh.
(Foote
watches Starsky and Hutch leave the club and is handed a phone)
Foote: Yes,
Mr. White?
White: Those
two guys who just left are cops. You and Lemke hit the streets. I donÕt care
what it cost, you have to find Rankin before they do and put him away. This
time for good.
Foote: Yes,
Mr. White. (Hangs up)
The
Streets: Night.
(The Torino
drives down the dark streets)
Hutch:
PokerÕs sure getting popular. ThatÕs the third big game and still no Rankin.
The Poker
Hideout: Night
(Rankin is
sat around the table with other gamblers)
Vic: I need
chips.
Banker:
ThatÕs what IÕm here for.
Vic: A thousand.
(Hands over the money and gets his chips.) I call.
Baldy: I
call and I raise you another 500.
Banker: IÕm
out
Gambler 1:
Too much for me.
Gambler: 2:
Pass.
Baldy: Five
hundred more to you Rankin. WhatÕs the matter? You got a bad memory.
Vic: No,
what the hellÕs that supposed to mean.
Baldy:
CanÕt you remember you got an ace buried.
Banker: We
oughta bury him. This stuff heÕs been giving us all night is counterfeit.
Vic: What
are you talking about?
Banker: The
creeps a rip-off artist.
Vic: Now,
what a minute, I didnÕt- (Baldy and Gambler 2 pull him up, but he fights them
off. Gambler 1 knocks him down, but Vic pushes him off. Gambler 1 has a gun and
he fights with Vic for it. Gambler 2 comes to help and the gun accidentally
goes off shooting Gambler 1.)
Banker: I
think heÕs killed him. (Vic drops the gun and runs)
Some time
later: Night
(Starsky,
Hutch and the paramedics have arrived. They wheel Gambler 1 away, alive on a stretcher.
StarskyÕs sat on a stool with a bottle of whiskey and theyÕre talking to the
banker)
Starsky:
YouÕre sure it was Rankin?
Banker:
Yeah.
Hutch: HeÕs
still alive. (Starsky takes a shot and washes it around his tooth)
Starsky:
Okay. Who started this whole fight?
Banker:
Rankin, all the way. We caught him playing with queer.
Hutch: With
who? Oh, counterfeit.
Banker:
Yeah. (Starsky and Hutch kneel down to check out the money) He bought in with
counterfeit 20Õs. Yeah, you see for yourselves. That was his. (Starsky and
Hutch inspect the money)
Hutch: ItsÕ
pretty good paper, Starsk. About how much money was here?
Banker: Oh,
itÕs all his. ItÕs exactly $2000.
Hutch:
Would you excuse us for a minute, please?
Banker:
Certainly.
Hutch: Starsky.
You remember that flyer sent around by the treasury department?
Starsky: Oh
yeah. They said there was a rumble that somebody was- (The banker is loitering
behind them) Somebody was gonna dump about million in cash on the streets.
Hutch: Right.
Suddenly a lot of things are starting to make sense. (The Banker is
eavesdropping.) Listen, would you excuse us for a minute
Banker:
Yes. (Walks off)
Hutch: Like
why White would send over a couple of thugs to RankinÕs apartment to look for
money that he told us was never stolen?
Starsky:
Are you starting to get a bad feeling? (The Banker walks in front of them)
Banker: Oh,
this is private.
Starsky:
Good. (Walks around them) If Rankin got the money from White then he can put
White in prison which means White has a good reason to kill him. (Hutch notices
the banker still listening, but theyÕre done)
WhiteÕs
Office: Day
(WhiteÕs
packing up his briefcase. ThereÕs a knock on the door.)
White: Who
is it?
Foote: ItÕs
me, Foote.
White: Come
in. (Foote enters.)
Foote: We
covered the streets. Now, Rankin doesnÕt have that many friends. If he turns
up, weÕll find him.
White: The
people in St. Louis are very unhappy with us letting that $2000 get out before
they were ready.
Foote:
WeÕll get Rankin, Mr. White. You can count on this. (White closes his
briefcase)
White: I
have to get this to a safe place. After that, IÕll be back here. Oh, Foote,
donÕt make me wait too long to hear from you. (Leaves)
211 South
Barclay Street: Night
(Starsky and
Hutch are back at Mrs. RankinÕs place)
Mrs.
Rankin: You know, that is really funny. I mean, Vic is in trouble and you two
hotshots come in here asking for help.
Hutch:
Look, lady, we donÕt have a lot of time. So we just thought that maybe as his
loyal, loving wife you might care whether he was killed or not. (Slaps him)
Mrs.
Rankin: Now, donÕt you ever talk to me about loyalty again. And donÕt come in
here with any cheap shots like that not until you have lived with him for 12
years. Not until you have pulled him up out of the gutter and nursed him back
to health because he has stolen somebodyÕs money to gamble with.
Starsky:
Look, Mrs. Rankin, I donÕt think you quite understand the situation. Now, if we
are right, Mr. White is going to try to kill your husband.
Mrs.
Rankin: Then let it be over with. Because I canÕt-I canÕt pick up the pieces
not anymore. Twelve years is long enough to ride any losing streak.
Hutch: Mrs.
Rankin, where would he go? Does he have any friends?
Mrs.
Rankin: You have not been listening to anything I have said to you have you. He
does not have anymore friends. They are all gone. (Phones rings) Hello?
Vic:
Evelyn, itÕs me.
Mrs.
Rankin: Oh, Vic, where are you?
Vic: IÕm in
trouble honey.
Mrs.
Rankin: I know. The police are here and they say that you shot a man.
Vic: The
police? DonÕt tell them anything.
Mrs.
Rankin: No, Vic, listen, you have to give yourself up because the man you shot
is going to be all right, but youÕre in danger. Vic? (Hutch takes the phone)
Hutch:
Hello, Vic? This is Detective Hutchinson. We want to help you. (Vic hangs up)
Starsky:
Oh, no.
Hutch: Mrs.
Rankin?
Mrs.
Rankin: He sounded so scared.
Hutch: Yes.
Mrs. Rankin there has got to be somebody that he would go to.
Mrs.
Rankin: Belinda Williams.
Hutch:
Belinda Williams? She used to sing with Vic a few years ago.
Starsky: Do
you have any idea where we might find this Belinda Williams.
Mrs.
Rankin: I donÕt know, but Vic might because oh, about seven or eight years ago
she got pretty heavy into drugs and she doesnÕt sing anymore. I guess she just
makes her living anyway she can.
Hutch:
Starsk, this is Belinda. (ShowÕs Starsky a picture)
BelindaÕs
House: Day
(Belinda
Williams lies in bed wrapped up in a duvet, rocking back and forth. ThereÕs a
knock on the door)
Vic:
Belinda?
Belinda:
Who is it?
Vic:
Belinda, itÕs me, Vic. Vic Rankin.
Belinda:
Oh.
Vic:
Belinda?
Belinda:
Okay, okay, IÕm coming. (She gets out of bed, puts on her robe and answers the door.
Vic enters and goes straight for the window. He looks out and then returns to
Belinda) Well, what are you looking at? WhatÕd you expect?
Vic:
Nothing. You look fine, Belinda. (Pause) How did we end up like this? Belinda,
look, IÕm in trouble. I need a place to hide.
Belinda:
Still trying to fill an inside straight, huh?
Vic: I shot
a man. The police are after me. I just need a place to rest and think. I
havenÕt slept all night.
Belinda:
Sure. ItÕs not much, but youÕre welcome it to.
Vic: Thanks.
Belinda:
Sure. (Vic sits on the bed.) Vic, IÕm kinda strung out. You wouldnÕt have any
bread on you, would you?
Vic: No,
IÕm all tapped out. (He lies down on the bed and Belinda stares at a pack of GW
matches with a phone number)
ZiggyÕs
Jazz Cave: Day
(The band
on stage are playing ÔFly me to the moonÕ. Huggy is sat at a table with Starsky
and Hutch. StarskyÕs playing with a little dental kit)
Huggy:
Funny money? No, I havenÕt heard a whisper.
Starsky:
Could be important Huggy.
Huggy: What
are you gonna do when you find all that bogus bread? Buy yourself a dental
clinic? (Hutch laughs)
Starsky:
YouÕre hilarious. Anyone ever tell you that?
Huggy: My
cousin Elijah, he always used to say: ÒBe true to your teeth and theyÕll never
be false to you.Ó (A girl with orange curl hair enters with a dog) Hey, this lovely could be your
connection to Belinda Williams. (She approaches) Hey, Orange.
Orange:
Huggy Bear, I heard you wanted to see me.
Huggy:
Yeah, IÕd like you to meet a couple of friends. Starsky.
Starsky: Hi
Orange: Hi.
(Starsky stands)
Starsky:
Sorry
Huggy:
Hutch:
Orange: How
do you do?
Hutch: Hi.
Orange:
This is my dog, Sandy.
Huggy: Hey,
love IÕd like to ask you a question.
Orange: All
right, bye. (They move away)
Hutch: I
didnÕt know Little Orphan Annie was still around.
Starsky:
Yeah, sheÕs developed. (Huggy comes back)
Huggy:
Rooming house, over near the docks. 211 Farrington.
Hutch:
Thanks.
Starsky:
Thanks Hug.
Huggy: See
you later. (They get up and go)
BelindaÕs
House: Day
(Vic is
asleep on the bed. BelindaÕs sat on a chair, she picks up the phone and dials
the number on the match box. White answers the phone)
White:
Hello.
Belinda:
Mr. White?
White: Yes.
Belinda: This
is Belinda Williams. I talked to your man Foote, last night. He said heÕd give
me $100 for Vic Rankin.
Some Time
Later: Day
(Belinda
paces her apartment while Vic continues to sleep. Outside a car pulls up. Foote
and Lemke hurry out and enter the building. Belinda hears a siren and looks out
the window to see the Torino pull up)
Hutch: Here
it is. (Vic wakes up and looks out the window)
Vic: You
turned me in!
Belinda:
ItÕs not what you think. I needed a fix.
(Vic runs for the door as
Foote comes up the stairs. He shoots Vic in the arm. He locks the door and
Foote and Lemke shoot it.
Vic: How do
you get out of here?
Belinda:
ThereÕs no other way-
Vic:
ThereÕs another way out of here, isnÕt there!
Belinda:
No, no!
(Starsky
and Hutch appear at the stairs.)
Starsky:
Hold it! Police! (Lemke drops his gun and Foote runs)
Lemke:
DonÕt shoot. DonÕt shoot. (He tackles Hutch when he gets up the stairs, but
Hutch beats him against the wall and takes off after Foote)
Starsky:
That was foolish.
(Meanwhile
Vic jumps out the window, smearing blood on the wall. Foote jumps down off a
ledge and follows. Hutch is behind him, but he loses him. He goes back inside.
In BelindaÕs apartment StarskyÕs on the phone)
Starsky:
Yeah, Detective Starsky here. Yeah, I want a black-and-white at 211 Farrington
Street. Yes, right away. (Hangs up. Hutch enters)
Hutch: I
lost him.
Starsky:
Meet the Queen of the May. (Picks up the matches)
Hutch:
WhoÕs the goon?
Starsky:
That was Ernie Lemke. Three guesses where he works.
Hutch:
Garth WhiteÕs Jazz Club.
Starsky:
You got it. (Hands Hutch the matches) I wonder who told WhiteÕs people Rankin
was here.
Hutch: You
needed a fix pretty bad, huh, Belinda?
Belinda:
What would you know about it? (His looks says a lot)
Hutch:
Well, I know that you were a friend of Vic RankinÕs and that, probably, he came
here for some help.
Belinda: So
what? WhatÕs Vic to me? HeÕs just some guy who used to play the piano. I could
have gotten $100 for him.
Starsky:
You have any idea where he might have run to?
Belinda:
No. He couldnÕt have gotten far. HeÕs wounded. (Hutch sits down on the bed)
Hutch: How
badly?
Belinda: I donÕt
know. I donÕt know. Look, I didnÕt wanna sell him, but I mean, what else could
I do, you know? Now that heÕs gone, what am I gonna do?
Starsky:
ThatÕs a good question. (Hutch stands up and hands her some money)
Hutch: Go
on, Belinda. Die a little.
(They leave
and she stares at the money, trembling. Outside, Starsky and Hutch head back to
the car)
Hutch: You
know, with Lemke working at the Jazz Club IÕd say that gives up reasonable
cause to search the place, donÕt you?
Starsky:
Yeah, maybe weÕll find his curly-headed friend. If we get lucky, maybe weÕll
find something else too. (They get in the Torino)
GWÕs Jazz
Club: Day
(The Torino
pulls up outside the club, passing WhiteÕs car. They get out)
Starsky:
Get the sneaky feeling friend White is here. (They enter the club. Inside
thereÕs only a cleaning, vacuuming the carpet. Hutch shows him his badge)
Hutch: Take
a break, huh?
White: Hey,
he works slow enough as it is. (StarskyÕs behind the bar) What do you think
youÕre doing? You guys got a warrant?
Starsky: We
donÕt need a warrant. WeÕre looking for an armed and dangerous felon known to
frequent this joint. (Starsky looks inside a bottle)
White: And
you think heÕs hiding in there?
Starsky:
Well, you never can tell about these criminal types. Damn clever, some of them.
White: All
right, wise guys. IÕm easy to live with. WhatÕs the problem?
Hutch: A
pint sized goon named Ernie Lemke.
White: Oh,
youÕre looking for little Ernie?
Starsky: Oh,
weÕve got little Ernie. The guy weÕre looking for is the curly head who runs
with him. (Hutch enters WhiteÕs office.)
White: Hey,
hey, thatÕs my private office. You got no business in there, (Starsky knocks
over some bottles)
Starsky:
You never can be too sure you know. (White enters his office to find Hutch
searching it.)
Hutch: You
know, if weÕd had our way weÕd have busted in here the other night after that
card game was over. IÕd have laid odds, weÕd still have had a pretty good
chance of finding that counterfeit money around here.
White:
Well, I donÕt know what youÕre talking about.
Hutch: Oh,
IÕm sure you donÕt. (Continues searching) Anymore than you know anything about
Lemke and his pal trying to kill Vic Rankin.
White: They
tried to kill Rankin?
Starsky:
Worse than that. They missed.
White:
Well, I assure you I had nothing to do with that. I know that Rankin has owed
Lemke some money but I had no idea it would come to this.
Starsky:
You know something. When you lie, the hairs on the back of your neck curly up.
Hutch: You
sweat, White. Because after weÕve got Rankin, weÕre coming back for you. (They
leave)
The Torino:
Day
(The Torino
is parked down an alley, within view of WhiteÕs car. SheÕs still trying to fix
his tooth)
Hutch:
Well, so much for this terrific idea, huh? YouÕd have thought heÕd move by now.
Starsky:
Well, maybe he has. Such a thing as a telephone, you know.
Hutch: Oh,
yeah. Yeah, but whoÕs White gonna call. LemkeÕs in jail and his curly-headed
friends on the run.
Starsky:
Maybe his curly-headed friend will call White and when he does, White will make
a move, probably to meet him. Clever, huh?
Hutch:
Yeah.
Starsky:
Bet youÕre dying to know how I figured that one out. (Starsky sighs at his
dental kit)
Hutch:
Starsk, why donÕt you give it up, huh? Tooth isnÕt gonna fix itself.
Starsky: I
donÕt know, stranger things have happened.
Hutch: No,
they havenÕt. (The mic beeps)
Dispatch: Zebra
Three, come in, please.
Hutch:
Zebra Three, here, over.
Dispatch: See
the man on the corner of Marshall and Chandler regarding the purchase of a
dental clinic
Starsky:
Dental clinic?
Hutch:
10-4. (Hangs up the mic) Well, thatÕs terrific. How are we gonna keep an eye on
White if we have to meet Huggy?
Starsky: Hey,
remember those jewellery robberies last year?
Hutch: No.
Oh, the one where we staked out the four-
Starsky:
No, three people.
Hutch: At
three locations.
Starsky:
No, four locations.
Hutch: No,
it was four different people and three locations.
Starsky:
Three different people at four locations.
Hutch: All
at the same time.
Starsky:
ThatÕs what I said. (The both exit the car. Starsky goes over to a man washing
the area outside the garage with a hose)
Starsky:
Hey, buddy?
Cleaner:
Who me? (Sprays StarskyÕs feet)
Starsky:
Yeah, you want to make 20 bucks.
Cleaner:
What you got in mind?
Starsky:
See that RollÕs Royce over there?
Cleaner:
Yeah.
Starsky:
The one with a flat tire.
Cleaner: That
ainÕt got no flat tire. (Hutch approaches the car and lets the air out of a
tire)
Starsky: It
does now. (Shows the man his badge)
Cleaner:
Yeah. YouÕre a cop! (Sprays StarskyÕs jeans with the hose by accident)
Starsky:
Look, when the guy comes out to fix that tire I want you to call me. (Hands
half a 20 bill to the man)
Cleaner:
Yeah, you wonÕt forget to bring the other half when you come by?
Starsky: If
itÕs all the same to you, IÕll mail it to you, okay?
Cleaner:
Okay.
HuggyÕs
Shoe Shine Spot: Day
(HuggyÕs
having his shoes shined by a beautiful woman)
Huggy:
Right there. All right, mama, work it. (The Torino pulls up and Starsky and
Hutch approach) Hey, you folks sure take your time about getting to a place.
Then again, Starsky, you didnÕt have to rush so fast and get your clothes wet.
Starsky:
ThatÕs very funny, Hug.
Huggy: Take
a powder, Pepper. Get me a coffee, black with sugar, okay? (She walks off) What
do you fellas think of my latest enterprise?
Hutch: She could
shake up any market, couldnÕt she?
Huggy: And
gives the best spit shine in town.
Starsky:
Yeah, (winces) Hey, you got something for us, Hug?
Huggy: IÕm
not sure. Got something, maybe nothing. You guys know a cat named Spaceman Sam?
Hutch: Spaceman
Sam Carter. Yeah, he used to play drums for Rankin. He did some time to, didnÕt
he?
Huggy: And
worked in the hospital as an orderly.
Hutch:
Yeah.
Starsky:
And Rankin contacted him?
Huggy: IÕm
not sure, but somebody tried. Left messages at two or three different places.
Said the man needed him, heÕs hurt and that Spaceman should remember the
carnival.
Hutch:
Carnival? The Mardi Gras ballroom. About 10 or 12 years ago, Rankin used to
play there, you know when he was very hot. Thanks.
Starsky: See
ya, Hug. (They leave)
211 South
Barclay Street: Day
(Foote is
holding Mrs. Rankin, while White leads them to the door)
White:
Hurry, hurry. (They leave the house)
Mardi Gras
Ballroom: Day
(The Torino
pulls up outside)
Hutch: I bet
thatÕs his car. (Starsky checks out the car)
Starsky: I
got blood.
Hutch: I
got blood here too. (They check the main door, itÕs locked. Hutch finds a small
hatch)
Starsky:
After you. (The inside is a giant hall with old party streamers everywhere.)
Hutch:
(Loudly) Vic Rankin? Vic? Police. We wanna help you. (Quietly) IÕll take the stairs over there.
Starsky:
Okay. (They separate. Hutch goes up the stairs, while Starsky searches the main
hall) Rankin? (Up on the balcony Hutch spots Rankin)
Hutch:
Starsky. (Starsky finds Rankin unconscious besides the stage)
Starsky:
Ambulance.
Hutch:
Right.
Memorial
Hospital: Day
(Rankin is
getting dressed, his wound is wrapped in a bandage and Starsky and Hutch are
there.)
Vic? That man
I shot last night, youÕre sure heÕs gonna be all right?
Hutch: HeÕs
gonna pull through.
Vic: Man,
IÕve done a lot of stupid things, but IÕve never done anything like this
before. Counterfeit money. IÕve really made a fool of myself this time. Now, look,
IÕm ready to make any statement you want, tell you anything I can, but IÕd
appreciate it if I could see my wife. Has anybody called Evelyn?
Hutch: VicÉ
Vic: Has
anything happened to Evelyn?
Hutch: She
was forcibly taken from her apartment about an hour ago.
Vic: Oh my
God. If I talk now, theyÕll kill her.
Hutch: The
fact of the matter is Vic that White doesnÕt even know youÕre in custody and
heÕs passed the word on the street that he wants to make a trade.
Vic: My
life for hers, huh?
Starsky:
ThatÕs right. WeÕll do everything we can to protect you, Vic, but at best, itÕs
a long shot.
Vic: Well,
havenÕt you heard. Those are my favourite odds. All right, what do you want me
to do?
GWÕs Jazz
Club: Evening
(WhiteÕs
car pulls up outside his club; Huggy Bear is waiting for him.)
Huggy: Mr.
White?
White:
Yeah?
Huggy: Vic
Rankin sent me to talk about a trade.
White: Come
on in. (Steers him into the club)
Mardi Gras
Ballroom: Night
(Starsky, Hutch
and Vic descend the stairs in the main hall)
Vic: IÕve
never been so scared in my life.
Starsky:
Just do what we told you, chances are weÕll all get out of this okay.
Vic: Yeah,
but please, whatever you do will you watch out for-
Starsky:
Hey, relax.
Hutch:
DonÕt worry, huh. (Rankin goes on ahead)
Starsky:
Hey, Hutch.
Hutch:
What?
Starsky:
You gotta promise me one thing.
Hutch:
Yeah, name it.
Starsky:
When we get through this thing donÕt ever let me talk myself out of it again.
Hutch: The
dentist?
Starsky: Oh
man, this thing is killing me.
Hutch:
StarskyÕs itÕs your own fault, you know that. Listen, IÕm gonna be at the
counter over there.
Starsky:
Hey, here. (Gives Hutch his radio)
Hutch:
What? (He takes HutchÕs whoÕs left confused)
(Outside
WhiteÕs car pulls up with Foote and Mrs. Rankin in the back while ever one else
is in position)
White: You
better got round and cover the back.
Foote: I
will.
(White and
Mrs. Rankin enter the club. Vic is hiding behind the stage and watches as White
and his wife descend the stairs.)
White: Vic?
Vic: Keep
moving to the centre of the floor.
White: How
do I know itÕs not a trap?
Vic: Oh
come on, White, you know thatÕs not my style. All IÕm interested in is EvelynÕs
safety. (Foote sneaks around)
Mrs.
Rankin: Vic? Run! DonÕt worry about me. (They move to the centre of the floor)
Hutch:
(Over the radio) WhereÕs Curly?
Starsky: I
donÕt know. Maybe he moved around back. Do you think we should move?
Hutch: We canÕt.
SheÕs in the line of fire.
White: All
right, Vic. WeÕre here.
Vic: Then
let Evelyn go.
Hutch:
(Whispers) Come on, get out of the way.
Vic: I said
let her go!
Mrs.
Rankin: Vic, IÕm not leaving without you.
Vic:
Please, Evelyn. For me.
Starsky:
(Whispers) Come on.
White: All
right. (Lets her go) Get out of here. SheÕs on her way out Vic. (Foote comes up
behind Rankin and takes aim. He fires.)
Mrs.
Rankin: Vic! (White runs for the door.)
Starsky:
IÕll get him. (Starsky runs under a table and sprints after White. Hutch
distracts Foote)
Hutch: Hold
it! Police.
(Foote and
Hutch engage in a shoot out while Starsky jumps on White. Starsky gets kicked
in the mouth a few times. Hutch chases Foote to some stairs and manages to shoot
him and he falls to the bottom)
Hutch:
YouÕre gonna be all right.
(Starsky
and White tumble down the stairs, but Starsky stops White from escaping again
and knocks him out with a punch. Tired he sits on White and discovers a tooth
in his mouth. HeÕs happy. Meanwhile Vic and Mrs. Rankin cling to one another.
Hutch and Starsky approach them)
Vic: Well,
looks like I finally won the long shot.
Starsky:
Yeah, me too. (Holds up his tooth)
Hutch: What
you got there, Starsk?
Starsky:
Well, Monsieur White did me a favour: Kicked me in the jaw.
Hutch:
Terrific. (Notices Starsky rubbing the wrong cheek) You were holding the other
side of your face this morning. (Starsky remembers and heÕs not too happy while
Hutch chuckles)
ZiggyÕs
Jazz Cave: Night
(Vic is
playing on stage while Starsky, Hutch and Mrs. Rankin sit in the audience and
enjoy)
Starsky:
Hey, they seem to like him.
Mrs.
Rankin: HeÕs like a different person.
Starsky:
Yeah. Oh, hey, is he going to those Gambling Anonymous meetings, you know, like
the judge said?
Mrs.
Rankin: Yes, Officer. (Starsky and Hutch share a look) You know I really think
heÕs gonna make it this time. But listen, guys, no kidding, thank you for
getting him this job.
Starsky: It
wasnÕt easy, you know. (They enjoy the music for a bit. Starsky notices Orange
sat alone with her dog) What IÕm trying to figure out is does she keep that dog
for protection or companionship?
Hutch:
Starsky, shut up. Listen.
_________________________