Silence

episode transcript by Sarah Spearey

The Squad Room: Night

(Starsky and Hutch lead a man sobbing into the squad room.)

Hutch: You wanna take this, Starsk?

Starsky: No, go right ahead. I’m busy.

Hutch: Yeah. (Hutch places a brown bag on the table and gestures for the man to have a seat. While Hutch moves the typewriter Starsky takes a candy bar from the bag. Hutch snatches it back) I thought you were busy. (Hutch empties out the candy on his desk. He takes off his jacket and puts a piece of paper in the typewriter) You read lips?

Larry: (Gestures to his lips and nods)

Hutch: You know your rights?

Larry: (Nods and continues crying.)

Hutch: Oh, please don’t cry. (Hands him a tissue) Please don’t cry. Do you have identification? A wallet?

Larry: (Takes out his wallet)

(Dobey enters the room and knocks down Starsky’s paper as he’s reading it)

Dobey: What’s that all about?

Starsky: Well, you see, captain, me and Hutch were on our way to report to duty and we got a call to go to Papa Giovanna’s candy store.

Dobey: You mean you two busted him for stealing candy.

Starsky: Yeah. Shoplifting. Well, what else were we supposed to do with him? (Dobey coughs loudly and leaves)

Hutch: Have you ever been arrested before? (Puts his wrist together) Arrested?

Larry: (Nods very slightly)

Hutch: Did you nod? Did you nod ‘yes’

Larry: (Nods)

Hutch: One time?

Larry: (Raises one finger)

Starsky: Ah, wait a second. Did he nod once or was he arrested once?

Hutch: Will you stay out of this. You’ve been arrested one time? Once?

Larry: (Holds up three fingers)

Hutch: Three times. (Two men enter)

Ignatius: You wanna tell me just what the devil’s going on? (Larry jumps up and hugs the other man)

Hutch: You tell me who the devil’s asking?

Ignatius: My name is Ignatius. Father Jonathan Ignatius. I run a halfway house down on the bayside section for parolees and this is one of my graduates. What’s he charged with? (Long pause)

Hutch: Shoplifting. Your man here stole $42.30 worth of candy from Papa Giovanna’s candy store. He insisted on pressing charges. We had no choice.

Ignatius: Sure you did. You could have given the owner the $42.30.

Starsky: He’s got a point Hutch. Could have done that.

Hutch: Now, wait a minute, we tried that.

Ignatius: Did you?

Hutch: Yes.

Ignatius: Next time, try throwing in the threat of eternal damnation for good measure. Papa Giovanna as agreed to withdraw the charges. Here’s the receipt, okay? (Hands him the receipt. Hutch reads it)

Hutch: Yeah, okay, okay. (Larry stands and makes some hand movements)

Ignatius: He says he’s terribly sorry and it will never happen again.

Hutch: Nice to have met you.

Larry: (Crosses his fingers and points to his friend)

Ignatius: He wants you to meet his friend, RC. (Hutch offers his hand, but RC won’t take it) They’re both ex-cons. RC lost his speech and hearing at a prison riot when a guard worked over his head with a Billy club. He hasn’t been too thrilled with cops ever since. Well, see you.

Hutch: Yeah. Hey, you might as well take the candy with you. (Starsky s head whips out from behind his paper. Larry and Hutch put the candy back in the bag. Larry hands him a piece and they leave. Starsky smiles, Hutch points his warning finger.)

The Torino: Night

(The Torino drives through the dark streets)

Hutch: This is zebra three, 2:15am. We have completed another patrol of sector two. All clear. (They pull up to a drive-in)

Dispatch: Roger, three.

Hutch: I’m starting to feel like a night watchman. (Waitress approaches the window)

Waitress: Hi

Starsky: Hi.

Waitress: Would you like to see a menu?

Starsky: Well, that all depends. What’s in the centerfold?

Waitress: How about a 8 by 10 glossy of my 6’2 boyfriend.

Hutch: How about that?

Starsky: How about that. Well, okay, how about two hamburgers, a double order of French fries, one of your duper-super chocolate malts and a cup of coffee. Oh, how about you?

Hutch: A glass of water.

Starsky: Ah, well, sweetheart, I guess it’s just you and me.

Waitress: Was that Bogey?

Starsky: Yeah.

Waitress: Keep practicing. (Hutch laughs, she leaves)

Starsky: You really think that eating nothing for 40 hours and drinking a whole lot of water’s gonna make you healthier?

Hutch: Yeah. It’s not just to make me more healthy it’s to maintain my already fantastic physical condition. It’s the natural way, Starsk. Ever seen an animal in the wild. You ever seen a fat lion, huh?

Starsky: No. Come to think about it I’ve never seen a thin Hippopotamus.

Hutch: Wait til you order comes back.

Jewelry Exchange: Night

(A man with a balaclava lights up a cigar while the night watchman enters the elevator. The balaclava man uses the cigar to light a fuse on a safe. The safe blows up. Meanwhile the night watchman arrives on the ninth floor. The thief puts a tray of diamonds into his bag. The watchman sees the thief through the office window. He goes to an emergency box with the thief steals more diamonds.)

The Torino: Night

(The waitress comes out of the drive-in carrying Starsky’s food)

Starsky: Oh, boy, here comes my food.

(The mic beeps)

Dispatch: All units two eleven in progress at 113 Talmadge.

Hutch: That sounds like our boy, let’s go.

Starsky: What? That’s my food.

Hutch: Remember the lion, Starsk. Remember the lion. (Throws the money on the tray)

Starsky: Later. (Pulls out of the drive-in)

Jewelry Exchange: Night

(The watchman approaches the door with his gun in hand.)

Watchman: Listen in there, you don’t have a chance so you might as well kick it in right now.

(The thief hides behind the desk. The watchman enters and is shot by the thief. He closes his bag and leaves the building, just as the Torino arrives. The thief runs down the alley, which is blocked by a truck. He crawls under while the Torino has to stop. Starsky and Hutch get out around the truck, but a car comes round the corner and they jump out of the way. Hutch fires and they run back to the car)

Starsky: That makes me mad.

Hutch: It could have been worse. He missed didn’t he?

Starsky: Tore my jeans, dummy, when I went down back there. (Hutch jumps over the bonnet) Hey, that’s my bonnet you’re stepping on.

(They get in the car and pursue. They follow the car around a few corners and down a few streets. Around one corner it disappears. Hutch gets out and walks while Starsky drives slowly. Hutch spots the car. Starsky drives around and parks behind it.)

Hutch: Why didn’t you blow a bugle too? (They see someone enter a building down an alley)

Starsky: Hey. (They run down the alley. They take positions either side of the door. Hutch opens it,)

Hutch: Go. (They enter the building and slowly go down to the basement. They see someone down there. Hutch sneaks down with his weapon drawn) Hold it! (He doesn’t turn. Starsky joins him)

Starsky: Hey! (The man still seems to ignore them. They move closer and see it’s Larry. Starsky taps his shoulder, making him jump)

Larry: (Taps his chest.)

Hutch: Larry. Larry. What are you doing here? (Clearer) What are you doing here?

Larry: (Holds up his hands)

Starsky: Wait.

Larry: (Holds up one finger)

Starsky: One minute. (He reaches into the box where there is a cat and her kittens. He holds one up and gives it to Hutch)

Hutch: Your cat?

Larry: (Shakes his head)

Starsky: No?

Larry: (Nods)

Starsky: Yes.

Larry: (Shakes his head)

Dismas Centre: Night

(RC and Larry are waiting outside the office where Starsky and Hutch are speaking to Father Ignatius and

Hutch: Father, you told us that RC and Larry graduated from this place.

Ignatius: They have.

Hutch: What were they doing here tonight?

Kim: They do the general maintenance here. All out current residents have outside jobs. They only sleep here at night. The fact is, Father Ignatius and I are usually too busy to keep up with everything that falls apart around this old place.

Ignatius: Dismas centre loaned Larry and RC the money to get their print shop started. This is their way of paying the loan back.

Starsky: You’re sure the both of them were here all night. (A lady comes in with a trolley)

Ignatius: That’s right. Jessie! You never cease to amaze me.

Jessie: I figured you might need a little sustenance, Father, with them around. Move it! (Pushes the trolley up to the father) Plainclothes are the worse kind of fuzz.

Ignatius: Oh, Jessie, they’re our guests. (Pours a cup of tea)

Jessie: “Beware of false prophets that come to you in sheep’s clothing and inwardly are ravenous wolves” St. Matthew. (Hands Hutch the cup)

Hutch: No, thank you. (Offers it to Starsky)

Starsky: No.

Hutch: Is this one of your inmates?

Ignatius: Yes, as a matter of fact she is. Armed robbery.

Starsky: Armed robbery? Her? (Takes a biscuit and gets his hand slapped)

Jessie: Yeah. What are you, some kind of sexist?

Hutch: Father, we’d like a list of everyone who lives here.

Ignatius: Why? Because we’ve now cleared Larry and RC? And you still just naturally presume it’s gotta be somebody who lives here.

Hutch: Well, it’s possible.

Ignatius: (Stands up) Don’t you understand? All these people are here voluntarily. No court ordered them here. They’re here because they’re sick to death of spending their lives in one jail after another. And they’re afraid of being sent back to one. And I’m not gonna have a couple of tinhorn cops rousting them around.

Hutch: We’re not gonna roust anybody. We just wanna see a list.

Ignatius: I’ve got the papers in my office upstairs. It’ll just take me a couple of minutes. Kim? Wanna help me?

Kim: Yes, father. (Ignatius leaves) The Father’s not usually so short-tempered. It’s just the last couple of months he’s been working day and night.

Jessie: The kid’s right. Father’s been working awful hard. (Kim leaves)

Starsky: Well, if he can reform a cutie like you, it’s all been worth it. (Pinches her cheek)

Hutch: Starsk, let’s check on Larry, huh? (Enter the corridor where the two are waiting) Larry, RC, sorry that we kept you so late.

Larry: (Pushes his hands forwards)

RC: (Points to himself then the down the corridor)

Hutch: Yeah.

Starsky: Oh, hey, would you (points) like us (points to himself) to drive (steering wheel movement) you home? Home?

Larry: (Nods)

Starsky: Okay. (RC and Larry argue with sign language then Larry points to RC)

Hutch: All right. (Larry and RC leave)

Jessie: Well, you know, for Fuzz you guys are okay.

Starsky: Thanks.

Jessie: Did anybody ever tell you you got a Paul Muni look to you? (Growls and leaves)

Starsky: Who told her to say that?

Hutch: Your mother? I don’t know.

Upstairs Office: Night.

(Father Ignatius lights a cigar. Kim enters the office)

Kim: A magnificence performance, as usual. (Sits down)

Ignatius: I thought so. However, I’m afraid we do have a problem. (Pulls out a list)

Kim: None of the current residents on that list can tie us to anything.

Ignatius: No, no one on the current list. But when they get to the parole board and start digger a little deeper up pops Bessinger’s name?

Kim: You just tell Bessinger to keep his mouth shut and lay low. No more robberies until after the heat lets up.

Ignatius: Kim, you’re forgetting. My religious order is sending three more priests from back east next week to help out with the work here. If we’re not gone like we plan to be, they know right away I’m not the real Father Ignatius. And if we skip before the police find their cop-killing, safe-cracker, well we might as well wave a red flag in front of their faces and say ‘come and get us’

Kim: We’re kinda in a spot. What do you think we oughta do?

Ignatius: You know, if they’re looking for a safe-cracker, maybe we oughta give them one.

The Squad Room: Day

(Starsky enters with a tray of food, singing happily)

Starsky: Where are you hiding?

Hutch: I suppose the cafeteria had to shut down and restock supplies after you left, huh? (Starsky sets hi tray down on his desk)

Starsky: I’ll have you know I missed breakfast. I couldn’t eat that meal you invited me to at your place last night. This is the first chance I’ve had to sit down and enjoy a really decent meal. (Uncovers his subs) Now, you’re the one that’s supposed to be on the diet. And you can either stand there and watch me or you can sit down like a man and choose whatever your little blonde heart desires.

Hutch: Yeah, well, not for another 29 hours, Starsk.

Starsky: Well, at least we know one thing for sure. You’re not gonna die of thirst. I’ll have you know something. If this creation could sing, dance and whistle Dixie, I’d probably marry it.

Dobey: Starsky, your not gonna have time for that. Lab boys say our safe-cracker made a mistake last night. Used too big a charge. From the burn marks they can tell he was using jury-rigged soundproofing cups with magnesium leaders. And according to the computer that’s the specialty of Herman Bessinger. His last known address was Dismas Centre.

Starsky: Funny.

Hutch: Small world.

Starsky: It’s it?

Dobey: It says here he sometimes tends bar at the glitter club. Now, I want you two to hit the streets and see if you can find him.

Hutch: Okay. (Starsky puts his food down, stands up and picks up his tray)

Dobey: What do you think you’re gonna do with that?

Starsky: Take it with me.

Dobey: No, you’re not. You know the rule about eating on duty.

Starsky: You’re kidding?

Dobey: No, I’m not. Now, put that down and come on, get on the street and see if you can find this guy. (Starsky puts the tray down and slowly walks away from it.) Come on! (Hutch puts his arm around Starsky as they’re ushered out. Dobey sits down at Starsky’s desk and picks up one of the subs. Starsky enters.)

Starsky: Captain.

Dobey: (Mouthful) I told you to get out of here and see if you can find him, didn’t I? (Stands up) Well, go on, get out there. (Starsky leaves)

Glitter Club: Night

(The phone rings. A man behind the bar answers it)

Bessinger: Glitter club, Bessinger. Yeah, all right, I’ll tell him. (Hangs up) Hey! You! (Starsky and Hutch are playing shuffleboard)

Starsky: Who me?

Hutch: No, you. I’m me.

Starsky: Yeah?

Bessinger: Who ordered Chinese food from next door?

Hutch: You did.

Starsky: I know that. Is it ready?

Bessinger: Ready. (Starsky collects his coins)

Starsky: Fantastic.

Hutch: Hey, Starsk, you can’t leave now. I’m winning.

Starsky: Hutch, I’m starving and we’ve been playing shuffleboard for six hours and my arms are about to fall off. Look, Bessinger hasn’t made his move yet and I don’t think he’s gonna make it in the next couple of minutes it’s gonna take me to run next door, pick up my Chinese food and come back here. Okay?

Hutch: Yeah, okay. (Starsky picks up Hutch’s change) Hey, that’s mine, come on. Come on.

Starsky: I’ll give you an egg roll. (Runs out. The phone rings again, Bessinger answers it)

Bessinger: Glitter Club. Bessinger. What do you want?

(At the Metropolitan Jewelry market, Ignatius is standing in the office, smoking a cigar next to a blown safe)

Ignatius: I’ve run into some trouble. I’m afraid I’m gonna need your helping blowing this one.

Bessinger: You did everything as usual.

Ignatius: Everything. I told you it just isn’t working. I need you here, now.

Bessinger: All right, all right. I’ll be there in 10 minutes. (Hangs up) Hey, Ray. Take over, huh? (Heads for the door, but runs into Starsky knocking his food into his face. Hutch collects his money and heads for the door, where Starsky has rice on his face)

Hutch: Well, look at it this way, Starsk, you would have been hungry in half an hour anyway. (Starsky follows Hutch out)

Metropolitan Jewelry Market: Night.

(Bessinger’s car pulls up out front and he gets out. The Torino pulls up behind it.)

Starsky: Looks like we hit pay dirt.

Hutch: Yep.

Dobey: Zebra Three, Zebra Three. This is Dobey, come in, please.

Hutch: Zebra Three here. Go ahead, captain.

Dobey: We got that follow up information on Bessinger. Came across an interesting item. The last year Bessinger was in prison his cellmate was your friend, Larry Horvath.

Hutch: Thanks, captain.

(They get out of the car. They approach the building and hear a shot. They run in. In the office, Bessinger lies dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. Starsky and Hutch run into the office, armed and hear a car starting up. Starsky sees the white car pull away)

Starsky: Out the window and gone. (Hutch checks Bessinger)

Hutch: He’s dead, Starsk. (Starsky checks the safe)

Starsky: Must have made one hell of a bang. (Hutch finds a candy wrapper)

Hutch: What’s this doing here?

Starsky: What?

Hutch: Best-bar. (Hands Starsky the wrapper)

Starsky: Larry?

Dismas Centre: Day

(Ignatius enters his office, finding Starsky and Hutch waiting for him, Hutch sat on a chair, Starsky sat on the desk)

Ignatius: Well, well, well.

Starsky: Hello, Father.

Ignatius: If it isn’t my two favourite detectives. Holmes and Watson, isn’t it? (Sits at his desk) I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. What can I do for you today? Like a cigar?

Starsky: No, thanks.

Hutch: No, thank you. Couple of things, Father. First is Herman Bessinger.

Ignatius: Bessinger?

Starsky: Yeah. Ex-con, ex safe-cracker and, as it turns out, resident of Dismas Centre.

Ignatius: So what? (Lights his cigar)

Starsky: Well, the ‘so what’ is that Bessinger’s dead. And we thought that if you told us about that the other night we might have done something about it.

Ignatius: The other night, you asked me for a list of current residents. Bessinger hasn’t lived here in two months. Now, if you want to get a list of alumni…are you telling me that Herman was mixed up in that shooting match you two were running the other night?

Hutch: Well, it’s a little more than having something to do with it. We saw his partner run into this place.

Ignatius: Partner? Who’d you have in mind?

Hutch: Well, we’d like to talk to Larry Horvath. (Ignatius laughs)

Ignatius: Sweet, smiling, kitten-loving Larry.

Hutch: Yep.

Starsky: Sweet, smiling, kitten-loving Larry, Father, as it turns out spent one whole year as Bessinger’s cellmate.

Ignatius: You’ve gotta be out of your mind. You know Larry’s a deaf mute. That’d make him a lousy burglar.

Hutch: Father. The address.

Ignatius: 510 Stanford. He and RC have got an apartment behind the print shop. (They both stand up)

Starsky: Like pulling teeth. (They reach the door)

Ignatius: They can’t hear, so you shouldn’t have any trouble sneaking up on them.

Starsky: Thank you, Father.

(They leave the centre to find a man washing the car. They get into the car, nod to the man and drive away. Back inside the centre Ignatius leaves his office to find Kim coming towards it.)

Ignatius: Are friend, Larry still here with the kittens?

Kim: Yeah. How’d it go with the cops?

Ignatius: They’re on there way over to the print shop. Everything’s right on schedule.

(Ignatius heads down to the basement where Larry is stroking one of the kittens. He taps Larry on the shoulder.)

Larry: (Shows him the kitten and puts it back in the box)

Ignatius: Larry, the police. (Mimes a badge) The police just left here. I’m afraid it’s gonna be just like I told you last night. It’s not going to be safe of you to hide here anymore.

Larry: (Shakes head)

Ignatius: I don’t know what you’re gonna do. I have to have time to think. (Points to his head) You are going to have to leave here now.

Larry: (Shakes head)

Ignatius: Now, Larry, Larry, you know what’ll happen if the police find you. They’ll use you. Like people always use you. They’ll make you say that RC wasn’t here the night they came. You know what that means? They wanna use you to hurt your friend. Now, they don’t like RC. They want to send him to prison again. Now, Larry, you know they can make you say anything they want, you know that, don’t you?

Larry: (Nods)

Ignatius: You’ll have to trust me. Do you still have the gun that I told you to bring from the print shop? The gun?

Larry: (Crosses fingers and picks up the gun)

Ignatius: Now, I’m gonna have Kim drive you into town.

Larry: (Points to his ear)

Ignatius: Kim, (steering wheel action) drive you to town.

Larry: (Steering wheel action and points forwards)

Ignatius: Believe me, everything’s gonna work out for the best.

Larry: (Makes an O with his thumb and finger, grabs Ignatius by the jacket and hugs him)

The Print Shop: Day

(The Torino pulls up outside. Starsky and Hutch enter the shop)

Hutch: Nice place. (RC turns off a printer and goes to the front desk) Nice place. (Starsky gives a thumbs up)

Starsky: Real fine, RC.

Hutch: Where’s Larry? Larry?

RC: (Shakes head)

Hutch: He’s not here, huh?

Starsky: RC. (Points to his watch) Time? What time will Larry return, come back?

RC: (Shrugs)

Hutch: Where did he go? Where did Larry go?

RC: (Shakes head)

Hutch: Just no way to get to him.

Starsky: RC…RC,

Hutch: (whispers) Friend, friend.

Starsky: Yeah, Larry, Larry is a friend. (Taps his chest) Friend of ours.

Hutch: We wanna help him.

Starsky: RC, Larry’s in trouble. (Joins his wrists together) Understand? He’s in trouble.

Hutch: We wanna help him.

RC: (Turns away, picks up a note and hands it to them)

Hutch: “Dear RC, I had to run away so the police wouldn’t find me. You know why. Yours truly, Larry.

Starsky: Thank you. (Thumbs up and they leave)

Dobey’s Office: Day

Dobey: I want an APB on Larry Horvath.

Hutch: No.

Starsky: What? Cap, you issue an APB on Larry Horvath, you might as well issue his death warrant. Look, some patrolman spots Larry, calls for him to halt, Larry’s not gonna understand. He’s liable to get frightened, run and end up with a bullet between his horns.

Hutch: Captain, more than that we don’t believe that he did it.

Dobey: Okay, but two nights ago, you chased him to Dismas Centre and then the night of the last robbery where you found Bessinger dead you also found a candy wrapper. Now you come in here and tell me he’s disappeared. And this note, why that’s almost a confession. Now, he may not be your prime suspect, but he is involved. And besides which, a police officer’s been killed. My hands are tied, I don’t have any choice. (Picks up the phone) Dobey here. I want an APB on Larry Horvath. White, Male, 34. Suspect might be armed and dangerous.

The Streets: Day

(Larry walks down the streets with tears in his eyes, bumping into people as he goes)

Pedestrian: Look where you’re going.

Man: Watch it.

Guy: What the-?

The Print Shop: Day

(Starsky and Hutch are talking to RC again)

Hutch: You gave us the note. It doesn’t help much.

Starsky: Maybe we’re not making ourselves clear. RC, follow me. Larry is out in the city. He’s walking around. If a cop, (points to himself and Hutch) cop, sees Larry, he’s gonna shoot him.

Hutch: A patrol car. A patrol car, a police car, almost had him twenty minutes ago. He came that close to being a dead man. (Holds his fingers slightly apart) Dead man.

RC: (Claps his hands and rotates his hand)

Starsky: What does that mean?

Hutch: It means he understands. Speed up. (To RC) Then help us find him. Why not?

RC: (Grabs a pen and paper)

Starsky: “Prison” You know, RC, the funny thing

RC: (Wiggles his fingers, meaning speed up)

Starsky: Oh. Look what you don’t understand is that we don’t think that Larry is involved with the safe-cracking.

Hutch: We think that somebody framed him. Somebody who frightened him enough to make him run.

RC: (Points to himself)

Starsky: Oh the thought had crossed our minds. You can’t talk when they’re looking at you.

RC: (Writes some more)

Starsky: “Larry is my friend” Yes, we know.

RC: (Nods and writes more)

Starsky: “My only friend” Then how do we find him?

RC: (Pauses)

Hutch: If we’re gonna save Larry’s life we have to work together.

RC: (Nods and writes) How?

Hutch: How?

Starsky: How? That’s a hell of an answer.

RC: (Writes more)

Hutch: “Places”?

Starsky: “Places” Place? Places?

RC: (Taps chest and mimes looking through binoculars.)

Starsky: Places where he hangs out. Okay, come on. Let’s get out of here. (Drags RC alone as they leave)

The Streets: Day

(There first stop is a toy store, Hutch talks to a sale assistant. He shakes his head. Hutch leaves and gets in the car)

Hutch: Nope.

(They drive around, searching the streets. They drive past a playground and a bicycle shop. Hutch tries at a pet store, but a guy there shakes his head. Starsky and RC come out of a liquor store and meet Hutch across the road)

Starsky: Anything?

Hutch: Not a thing. What about you?

Starsky: Nothing.

Hutch: Well, RC, where next?

RC: (Shrugs)

Starsky: RC, no place else?

RC: (Shakes head)

Starsky: I hate to be crass, but you know I haven’t eaten since this whole thing began. Well, you know I think better on a full stomach. (Hutch goes to the car) Hey, RC, you hungry?

RC: (Nods)

Starsky: He’s hungry. You can watch. (They get in the car and drive off)

Dismas Centre: Day

(Kim’s car parks outside the building. He goes inside and finds Ignatius is his office)

Ignatius: Well?

Kim: Everything’s just fine. Did almost lose him to a couple of cops once, but fat boy gave them the slip.

Ignatius: Where is he now?

Kim: Over at the Nuart Art theatre on Hayes. Found an all cowboy show. He seems to have settled himself in pretty good.

Ignatius: Well, I’d say he’s accomplished just about everything we could have hoped for. And now the sooner we finish him off the better. (Takes a gun out of his desk drawer, puts it in his trousers and leaves)

A Burger Stand: Day

(Starsky’s ordering food)

Starsky: Two hamburger’s, right? Lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, plenty of relish and lots of onions.

Hutch: Starsk.

Starsky: What?

Hutch: Glass of water.

Starsky: Oh, yeah. Water, three. (Sits at the table with Hutch and RC) You got me drinking water. Any brainstorms?

RC: (Shrugs)

Hutch: Why would Larry run?

Starsky: According to Dobey it’s because he’s guilty.

Hutch: Well, let’s forget Dobey for a minute. Assuming that he isn’t guilty, why did he run? Unless, maybe he was trying to protect somebody. (They look at RC. Hutch shakes his head) But what if somebody convinced Larry that he did do it.

Starsky: Well, it would have to be somebody he trusted. Someone who knew the sign language.

Hutch: Somebody who had access of prison records. Somebody who knew that Bessinger had been cell mates.

Starsky: Right.

RC: (Makes a cross with two tooth picks.)

Starsky: You get back to the print shop, okay?

RC: (Nods)

Hutch: We’ll see you there as soon as we know anything.

RC: (Grabs Starsky’s arm)

Starsky: What?

RC: (Points to the burger bar)

Starsky: I don’t know which will happen first, whether I’ll go broke or go hungry. (Hands him some money. Hutch is already in the car and he starts the engine. Starsky walks over the bonnet and gets in. They drive off)

Dobey: Zebra Three, Zebra Three, come in, please.

Hutch: Zebra Three here, go ahead, captain.

Dobey: I called Philadelphia and got that information on Father Ignatius you wanted. White male, 180 pounds, about 6 feet.

Starsky: Matches so far.

Dobey: And when you see him, wish him happy birthday. According to the priest I talked to he’s 71 today. Ten-four. (Hutch puts the mars light on the roof)

Hutch: Seventy-one?

(They drive to Dismas Centre and find Kim getting into his car with a suitcase. When they pull up and get out he throws his suitcase at Hutch and runs back inside the building. Starsky and Hutch follow and catch up with him in the hall. They throw him on a chair)

Kim: Lighten up, you guys.

Hutch: Where is he?

Kim: You got nothing on me.

Hutch: Where is he?

Starsky: How about murder one. In case you didn’t know buddy, killing a cop in this state requires the death penalty.

Kim: I didn’t have anything to do with that. That was Marty.

Hutch: Marty? Marty who?

Starsky: Marty? He’s the name of your fake priest.

Kim: Yeah.

Hutch: What happened to the real one? Where’s the real Ignatius?

Kim: They killed him. But you gotta believe me, I didn’t have anything to do with that.

Hutch: You convince me. Now, where’s Marty? What’s he doing with Larry?

Nuart Theatre: Day

(Larry’s watching a cowboy movie, while eating popcorn. Outside, the fake father arrives)

Ignatius: One, please. (He enters the theatre and searches for Larry. He finds him near the front. He sits next to him)

Ignatius: Enjoying yourself, Larry?

Larry: (Slaps his back, points at the screen and offers him some popcorn)

Ignatius: Larry? Larry? Larry? I want you to come outside with me. I want to talk to you.

Larry: (Shakes his head and points at the screen)

Ignatius: I want to talk to you outside.

Larry: (Shakes head, gets agitated)

Ignatius: Larry? Larry, it’ll only take a minute. Larry.

(Outside, the Torino pulls up. Hutch gets out and Starsky drives around back)

Hutch: Get the manager on the phone. There maybe some trouble.

Ignatius: Larry, just for a minute, come on.

(Out the back, Starsky gets out of the car and tries to open the back door. Inside, Ignatius gets his gun out)

Ignatius: Larry, All right, now I want you to come outside with me. Right now.

(Larry sees the gun and tries pushing Ignatius away.)

Ingatius: Larry. (Hutch enters and searches the crowd with a torch. He sees Larry and Ignatius struggling at the front.)

Hutch: Hold it! Police! (Ignatius fires and runs) Everybody stay down. Take care of that man and get everybody out of the theatre.

(Ignatius runs for the back door, Hutch follows. Starsky’s standing by the door when Ignatius comes out, knocking him across the alley. Ignatius sees Hutch, fires at him and goes back in.)

Hutch: Starsk, where are you?

Starsky: Right here. (Holding his head)

Hutch: You all right?

Starsky: Yeah.

Hutch: I got the front.

Starsky: Okay, I’m going in. (Hutch runs around front, while Starsky enters the back door. The theatre’s empty. Hutch enters from the top and they both search the rows. Ignatius pops up)

Hutch: Hey! (Ignatius fires at him and ducks. Hutch hides under the seats and pops up) Hey.

(Ignatius fires. Starsky throws some pop corn at him and Ignatius fires. Hutch crawls into another row and jumps over the chairs in to another row. Ignatius fires again. Starsky jumps over the chairs. Hutch pops up)

Hutch: Hey. (Ignatius doesn’t fire until Starsky pops up)

Starsky: Hey. (Ignatius crawls to the end of the row slowly and finds Starsky and Hutch either side of him with their guns on him)

Hutch: Hey, Starsk, do you think Pat O’Brien will ever forgive us. (Takes Ignatius’ gun)

The Squad Room: Day

(Larry enters with RC carrying a box with Starsky and Hutch written on it.)

Hutch: What’s in there?

Starsky: Come in, what is it?

Hutch: What is it? (Places the box on their desk)

Starsky: Hey.

Hutch: Look at that. It that-that for us?

Larry: (Points to them and then the cats)

Starsky: What? Those cats (Points to them again) are for us. Oh, that’s nice.

Hutch: Hey, that’s-

Starsky: Hey, RC, uh, look, Larry, RC, my house is too small.

Hutch: Yeah, Larry, I’m hardly ever home, sorry.

Larry: (Shakes his head)

Starsky: What?

Larry: (Points to the cats)

Starsky: Those cats, yeah.

Larry: (Points to himself)

Starsky: Your cats.

Hutch: Your cats.

Larry: (Flexes his braces)

Starsky: Oh, you’re the papa. Oh, I got it, I got it, I got it. The cats are named Starsky and Hutch.

Hutch: Oh sure. Sure, you just brought them down to show us, right?

Starsky: That’s it. That’s terrific. (They look in the box)

Hutch: They’re cute. They’re really nice.

Starsky: Hey, that’s Starsky.

Hutch: No, no, no. No, that’s Hutch, that’s Starsky.

Starsky: What are you talking about? That’s Starsky.

Hutch: No, this cute little burglar. (Takes the cat out) Look at that. Oh, you cute little thing you. Hey, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Starsky: That one looks more like me than it does you.

Hutch: Awww. (Goes quiet)

Starsky: What’s the matter? (Larry notices what the cat’s done)

Hutch: I don’t even think this is my cat. (Hands it to Starsky)

Starsky: What are you talking about?

Hutch: That’s Starsky. (Starsky notices the cat’s bottom is wet. Hutch points to the other cat) That’s Hutch.

___________________________________________________________

Return to Transcripts main page

Return to Leaningbirch home page

Return to Leaningbirch Starsky and Hutch page

Contact Sarah ugerchucker@hotmail.com

Contact Webmaster racric@verizon.net