Chief, I don't want trouble. What do you want?
Trying to help Billy, if I can.
Help him into jail?
If that's where he belongs.
What's it look like, Carl?
Kid gang hit. Witnesses got a positive ID on Billy Wing.
I didn't kill him.
Then why did you run?
We want to help Billy. Prove him innocent, if he is.
You miserable phonies.
Who do you think you're kidding?
What do you do if we get mean?
If he makes trouble, I'll kill both of you.
Luke!
Help! Help! Help! Help! Help!
Out!
You're a senior.
Yeah, but you're female. Chief, it's late.
No more, Mr. Nice Guy. I need statistics for the speech and they're going to be accurate.
Doing paperwork is like wrecking your car or going broke. There's no perfect time for it.
But it would be a little less painful if you didn't have a date.
That is true.
I make robbery up 11 percent. Burglary, 9 percent.
Aggravated assault, down 7. Rape, up 1.
Making more love than war. How's it look?
Well, our friends will read it that the department's doing a good job and needs more money and manpower.
Our detractors will read it that we're already overpaid and incompetent.
Mark, where are those sandwiches?
I've got genos on the line. Poor guy's got some new health. Can't get things straight. It's unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
Look, I'm kind of pressed for time, baby. Are we making it tonight or not?
Sad case, Gino. Seems he lives a double life.
And hold the mustard on the chief's corned beef.
They'll be right over.
Chief Ironside's office. Hello, Henry. Just a second. Henry Wing.
Hello, Henry.
Hello, Henry. Chief, I don't know how to howl to say this, but Billy, they say he's killed a man.
Chief, I knew Frank Chin for nearly 40 years. I can't believe that Billy couldn't.
What'd you look like, Carl?
Kid gang hit. Victim was Frank Chin, killed as he came out of the back of his star.
Witnesses got a positive ID on Billy Wing.
Belongs to a group that's been giving Frank a bad time. Small rip-offs, little extortion, broken a few times.
Preliminary report indicates death from a collapsed windpipe, likely from a karate chop.
He apparently tried to fight the kid off with this. Hasn't been dusted yet.
Witnesses saw blood on the suspect's face. I put out an APB.
Where does Billy's gang hang out?
A bar on Stockton. I think it's called Phil's.
You two check it out.
Ed, it looks like Murder One and whoever did it could kill with a punch.
Well, we're about ready to wrap here. Anything else we want to see?
Everything.
From the top?
From the very top.
But why did you run? I don't understand it.
Look, Laurie, I didn't kill him.
Then why did you run? Billy, where are you?
What do you care?
Billy!
What can I do for you?
We'd like a table.
Is there a problem?
Maybe. No offense, but we're a neighborhood bar.
If you want the Fu Manchu stuff, dragons and like that, it's over on Grant Avenue.
Well, that's why we came here.
Okay.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Didn't want to waste your time on mine.
Every once in a while we get some freaks who come to Chinatown to look at the funny folk.
We don't appreciate it much. It gets grim.
I believe it.
Do we buy you a drink?
You do, friends. Every time you come to Chinatown, you get a drink.
I'll hit back after a round or so.
Scotch and the Rocks, too.
Very nice place.
Two Scotch and the Rocks, please.
Scotch and the Rocks.
How come you don't have a dance floor?
Because I want it to be a sit-and-talk place.
I warned you. Actions are over on Grant Avenue.
Indeed it is. What do you suppose that was, anyway?
Talk about grim. Lots of cops, ambulances. It's very messy.
What's that?
Some guy got wasted.
Did they say who did it?
Yeah. Billy something or other, wasn't it?
You're the one with the great ear for detail.
Thank you.
Yeah, it was Billy. Billy Wing or Wang or something like that.
You look like a nice couple.
Guy out on a date with his girl. But you wouldn't be cops, would you?
Just trying to be neighborly. Thought you might like to know about it.
I do. Word travels fast in these precincts.
We use those crafty oriental techniques you read about.
A telephone, telegraph, talking to each other.
Good, mysterious stuff like that.
Cops.
You must have had a very misspent youth to make us so fast.
Enjoy your drink.
Wait a minute. Sit down. Please.
All right, friends, straight up. Have you seen Billy Wing this evening?
He was in early. Left about seven.
How about his friends?
They were here till a few minutes ago. All evening.
Don't take my word.
Oh, we won't.
You run a trouble-free shop here.
The gang rips off a lot of places. Not yours, though, huh?
Now, why is that? You just, uh...
Lucky.
No, baby. Understanding.
They're just kids with no jobs, no prospects.
There's 20% unemployment around here.
I don't make them pay tourist prices, and they appreciate it.
Show me why I'm wrong.
How can we? After you've just explained how you're all hearts.
Excuse me.
Can't find anything, Chief. Try over there by the door.
You said you'd known Frank for nearly 40 years.
I've been trying to find him for a long time.
You know, he's been a good friend of mine.
He's been a good friend of mine.
You said you'd known Frank for nearly 40 years.
Yes. Not well.
His family was richer than mine.
But I knew him.
You've known Billy for 20 years.
How well have you known him?
How well does a man know his son?
All this crime, violence, intimidation.
We thought we were immune to it.
Epidemics worldwide, Henry.
No respect for nationality.
Hey, Chief.
Yes, maybe.
Is this what we're looking for?
Dried blood.
Well, if that's all we can do tonight.
Oh, well, good. I could use some sleep.
Surprising.
I imagine you'd head over to Geno's to see if they've got things straight yet.
Well, if not, I'll explain again and again and again.
You want me to drive you on?
No, thanks. All right.
All right, let's have a cup of tea.
All right.
Your house or mine?
My house.
It's shangpan tea from Taiwan.
You don't carry this on your shelves.
My friend sends it to me.
Unlike the way we export Southern California oranges,
in Taiwan, they save the best for themselves.
Let's enjoy it.
Then I'll be a policeman again.
You know where Billy is?
No.
Speaking as a policeman, I'm not sure I believe you.
How well does he know karate?
Only a little, I think.
Maybe enough for some childish posing.
Tell me about the gang. Who are they?
I don't know. I've never seen them before. Never talked to them.
There's a girl.
She works at Phil's.
What's her name?
I don't know. I wouldn't let him tell me.
In my day, nice Chinese girls didn't work in bars.
Henry, if you know where he is,
tell him to turn himself in to me.
We both know it's best.
And you know I'll do what I can for him.
Billy?
Billy, it's me.
Chief Ironsworth.
Yes, sir.
I'm here to see you.
I'm sorry.
Chief Ironside asked me how well I knew you.
I don't, do I?
Have you eaten?
I had something.
He asked me if I knew where you were.
I told him no.
Are you afraid you lost face?
Big deal.
Now, don't tell me I'm stupid or old-fashioned
or what I believe in isn't important.
Pain hurts. It hurts at 20, 40 or 60.
So don't tell me your pain is more important than mine
or anyone else's.
Or tell it to me after you sacrifice something,
built something, proven something.
You fool.
Chief Ironside wants you to give yourself up to him.
So do I.
You've covered all the bases but one.
I did not kill Frank.
I don't care how it looks.
I did not do it.
Have some faith in me.
Is that too much to ask?
I'll return later with some blanket.
Yeah, well, don't bother.
I won't be here.
Instead of trying to tell me what I should do,
look at what I am doing.
I'm standing by you the best way I know, Billy.
Ask anything.
I'll do it if I can.
I'm sorry, Dad.
Son, what are we going to do?
The DA's already asking for the indictment.
Look, Frank's prints show that he held a cane like this.
Clipped the kid causing the blood scene by the witnesses.
Motive to terrorize.
Set an example because Frank wouldn't stand still
for the gang rip-offs.
May I?
Billy must have a hard head to have broken this.
Did you find any blood or hair?
No.
Maybe Frank got him on the shoulder,
knocked him down and he cut his head.
There's a lot of sharp junk in that alley.
Did the witnesses say if the blood on Billy's face
was fresh or dried?
How could anybody see a thing like that in a dark alley?
That's my point.
Oh, no.
No.
You mean you don't think the kid is guilty?
Come on, Chief.
Motive, opportunity, witnesses, fleeing suspect.
What more do you want?
A lot of things don't track.
You can't tell much about a kid's character
by watching him lug groceries to your car.
But you can tell if he resents doing it.
Billy did not.
Fine.
So he's a nice kid with a bad habit.
He busts windpipes.
We found blood in a doorway,
but none around the garbage cans.
It should be the other way around.
How do you explain that?
I can't.
But you won't be able to tell if it's Billy's blood
until we catch him and get a blood sample from him.
After that, it still doesn't prove anything.
Are you telling me that Frank Chin
could have swung this hard enough to break it?
If his life depended on it.
I don't think so.
Now, it's more likely this kind of break would happen
if the cane met a powerful force
in the direction striking it,
causing the cane to break like this.
Karate chop, maybe?
I knew you'd agree with him.
You established the fact that Billy knows karate,
and his degree of skill is not provable.
A man with the power to break that
could kill silently if he wanted.
Why would he allow an old man to cry out,
much less defend himself?
You tell me.
I don't know.
We better get to Billy fast.
Intelligence tip.
One of their undercover people says Billy has a price on his head.
$5,000. Open contract.
The street says it was posted by some of the businessmen.
I've known most of them for years.
I don't believe they'd do that.
Why not?
What if it happened to evidence?
Or am I being old-fashioned?
Keep trying to prove him guilty, Carl.
That's half our job.
Oh, no, no, you don't.
No, sir.
And the other half of our job is to protect the innocent.
I've heard you make that speech a dozen times at the academy,
and I'm gonna get out of here before you lay it on me again.
Mode of opportunity, witnesses, fleeing suspect.
Not guilty?
What did I do to deserve this?
The other half of our job is to protect the innocent.
There's something to be said for his attitude.
You agree with him, Ed?
I'm not gonna get rich betting against you, but...
Nose around the establishment.
Talk to the elders.
Ask if they know who made the bounty.
Right.
Mark, check Grand Avenue.
Find out who else the gang has hassled.
Is it the extortion kid stuff, or is there more to it?
Yes, sir.
Fran, check back with intelligence.
Get everything they know about Phil and his operation.
Where were you being?
Doing what I sent you to do last night.
I was expecting you at dinner by eight.
Now should I put out your dinner jacket?
Well, they'll have to take me just as I am.
What would you like?
What would you suggest?
We don't look like beer and we don't serve champagne.
Scotch or bourbon? Both 12 years old.
Honest, lay down before I was born.
Bourbon.
But first, let's see if I can guess correctly.
I think you have a boyfriend who is in serious trouble.
I've never seen you in here before.
That's because I've never been in here before.
Chief Ironside.
I'm Phil Tine.
We almost met a few years ago.
Not professionally, I hope.
You were grand marshal at the New Year's festival.
I almost got to drive your car in the parade.
I'll get the drink.
We had a couple more cops in here last night.
They couldn't figure out how I made them out so fast.
It took me a couple of minutes, but I saw them with you in the parade.
Well, I won't tell them for a while.
Better to let them suffer.
What can I do for you?
I'm interested in Billy Wing.
I'd like to talk to some of his friends.
I think you could arrange it for me.
I'd rather not.
Then maybe you could help.
No way.
Isn't it better than a trip downtown for both of you?
What for?
Calling this 12-year-old bourbon is a crime.
If that won't hold up, then we'll think of something.
Chief, I don't want trouble. What do you want?
I'm trying to help Billy, if I can.
Help him into jail?
If that's where he belongs.
Now, how about showing me where his gang is?
Not me.
But she will.
There's a place where they hang out.
A few blocks from here.
They don't show up till later.
I'll pick you up on the corner.
Seven.
Do what he wants.
But I warn you, be careful.
You're in soo-sia-sum for helping Billy's quite touching.
Henry said you were Billy's girl.
That seems to be news to you.
Ed, it's the next alley, fourth door to your right.
You been there, with Billy?
We'll drop you off at the next corner.
I'll be right there.
We'll drop you off at the next corner.
I'll meet you back in the office about 11.
Sooner if I can make it.
Don't hurry on our account.
After the second speech, an emergency will be much appreciated.
Hiya.
Well, he seems very surprised to see us.
That poster bother you, cop?
No. Were you hoping they would?
You know, I think that's the point. I think they're to, uh, to antagonize needily old ones.
Or do you feel as if they have some kind of deep ideological commitment?
Don't put us down, cop.
That's fair enough. As long as it works both ways.
We want to help Billy. Prove him innocent, if he is.
You miserable phonies.
Who do you think you're kidding?
Not you, I can tell.
You think we don't know the cops are lap dogs for the businessmen?
Lap dogs? Just when I was getting used to a pig.
I don't suppose you'd care to document that with an example.
Look around, man. They own it all.
You don't work. You don't eat. You don't even breathe without their permission.
The cops bust us if we do anything about it.
Scared, baby? What do you do if we get mean?
Shoot us?
There's no way we're gonna help you, friend.
We're dumb, pushing around little shopkeepers who don't have much more than us.
But Billy, he showed him.
Killed one of the businessmen.
None of us had the guts to do that.
You telling us he's guilty?
We aren't telling you anything, cop.
You want to watch that? I'd push back.
Get back up the stairs.
Hiya, chief.
Sound of a man who scored.
A 98-yard run. Unfortunately, I'm getting a little static on the two-yard line.
But there is a pattern to the rip-offs, all right.
Two bars, two restaurants, clothing store, and courier shop.
Now, the game drove them all up against the wall and over the edge.
Here are the real estate records.
The places were all bought at distressed prices and are back in trouble-free operation under new management.
They were all bought by this holding company, North Beach Investment?
Sly as the word, I plowed through three dummy corporations before I found the North Beach Sleeve, an address on Sutter.
Now, here's the kicker.
The corporation commissioner ran the records for us.
Now, there is only one stockholder in North Beach, Mr. Saw Wajoon.
Want me to pick him up?
For what, being a successful businessman?
Now, check out that address.
But I don't think you'll find Mr. Saw Wajoon there.
You know something I don't?
I want to talk to you, Chief, outside.
Mark Sanger, meet Lori Lee, one of our undercover agents in the Chinatown detail.
Until you got me fired this morning. I don't think I deserve that.
I think I hear my name being called. Nice meeting you.
Do you think I deserve being fired for helping your people out of a jam?
Oh, young lady, just who asked for your help?
You could have blown your cover with a trick like that.
Didn't they teach you at the police academy not to charge right in whenever you happen to think you're needed?
Think I'm needed?
Yes, think you're needed. Your assignment was Chinatown gambling. That was your job.
We had our own case.
Didn't Ed and friend tell you what they'd gotten themselves into?
If they couldn't handle situations like that, they wouldn't be my assistants.
Now, you didn't save them.
And what you risked was more than we gained.
Besides endangering yourself personally, you risked months of your unit's work,
which is why your captain relieved you, not me.
So I'm put down? I don't think it's fair.
Perhaps not, but it is safe.
What do I do now? Start driving a three-wheeler and ride out parking tickets?
That is a distinct possibility. I have your record here.
Born in New York, Radcliffe grad, sociology major.
What made you pick police work?
A terror of nine to five.
This job seems to promise more involvement and excitement than social work.
Chief, couldn't you talk to my captain?
I mean, you never had made me if I hadn't helped them.
We knew who you were before you got into the van. We're kind of particular who leads us where.
Now, I noticed your father ran a karate school.
That was way back before anybody knew what it was.
I was the worst bully in the second grade.
What's your relationship to Billy?
I needed a cover, and Billy seemed perfectly harmless.
And I thought he'd be most fun.
But he took things more seriously than I needed.
I was going to face him out before I hurt him. Then...
Then he killed a man in cold blood.
I don't believe that.
Do you know something? Or are you just charging in to help homicide?
In my opinion, for whatever it's worth, Billy's just a nice kid.
All in the gang are immigrants, but him, he wants to do good.
He wants to help them.
You see, it's a very complicated situation over there.
Which we have been battling for years.
We were doing police work in Chinatown long before sociology majors came to our rescue.
Now, what about Phil?
He services the immigrant trade, spends twice as much as the bar brings in.
We don't have anything to nail him on yet.
Do you like him?
He scares me.
And when I heard Frank Chin got it by karate, I thought...
But Phil was in the bar all the time.
But he's mean enough to do it and enjoy it.
I need someone at Phil's.
If I let you go back, can you stay out of trouble?
Since the case is dovetailed, you will report directly to me.
Thanks, Chief. You won't be sorry.
Now, wait.
Laurie, I want you to be careful.
The department's not looking for its own Joan of Arc. Not yet.
Yes, sir.
Yeah. Yeah. All right.
Laurie, what are you hanging around here on your night off?
Just my luck. I don't have a date tonight.
Drink down the house. Thank you.
Truth. Get your jacket.
I'm going to get some beer.
Don't be a city.
Yeah.
Chewy.
I'm going to get some beer.
Taxi!
Stop here.
Taxi!
Hi. Chief, I talked to Migny. He says it's best.
Bothered him that you might think the businessmen put up the bounty.
Worries him, too, that some kook might hit Billy and come to the businessmen for payment.
I hope you reassured him that I didn't believe it.
Yeah.
Years ago, he'd promised that they'd go out of business before they'd hire killers.
That wasn't for them.
But if they aren't offering the bounty, who is?
Well, you called it.
The Sutter Street addresses vacant
Well, you called it. The Sutter Street addresses vacant desks in a real estate office.
Covers all the legal niceties.
Reception says rent comes by mills.
He's never seen anybody at the desk.
All right, son.
You did what?
I dropped by Phil's last night.
Why?
Just to hang around.
You mean snoop around, don't you? I thought we had an understanding.
I thought my free time was my own.
Wrong, officer.
Well, anyway, Phil gave Truman a briefcase.
He was going to a real estate office on Sutter Street.
He needs money. Tell him I'll do right by him.
But if he makes trouble, I'll kill both of you.
Ironside. Good morning, Henry.
Chief, I've been talking to Billy. He's willing to give himself up.
Where is he?
At the basement where I store groceries.
He'll be right over. Can you meet us there?
Yes, Chief. I was threatened last night.
I wouldn't want a lot of policemen seen here.
I understand.
I'd rather not face Billy.
I'd rather not leave you behind.
Billy?
Hello, Billy.
Laurie, how did you find me?
I came with Chief Ironside.
Hello, Billy.
I'm a cop, too.
You're putting me on.
Frank, then I don't know how.
How wasn't complicated.
You were hit on the head and stashed in a doorway near Frank Chins.
After the garbage was put out for the night, you were moved behind the cans.
And the killer waited for Frank to close up, and you were supposed to be caught there, but you came too.
Hold it.
Chief, here you go.
Thank you.
This is Officer Fong. He's been watching the warehouse since the first night.
You mean you knew Billy was here all the time?
If I had picked him up, I would have been doing what the killer wanted us to do in the first place.
Phil, why did you come after me?
He thinks you were trying to blackmail him.
I sent the note.
Billy doesn't know a thing.
Billy, you were framed for no personal reason. They just needed someone from the gang, right?
Right.
They wanted Frank's place, but he wouldn't sell.
They made the hit look like a gang killing, so it would keep the attention of the businessmen on the kids.
The bounty never existed, except there's a rumor you circulated.
All right, Ed, take him downtown and book him.
Les, take Billy along.
Right, Chief.
For his own protection.
Thank you, Chief.
I'm sorry. It was my job.
Chief, what have we solved?
Nothing. Everything.
Hi, Laurie.
Truman.
Something I can do for you?
Billy didn't find it in the alley.
Laurie cut it from your sleeve before you came in.
I needed to trap you into making a move.
You did, through your front man.
I couldn't understand why Phil would use two messengers to make his night deposit.
Truman could have done that himself.
Then a simpler thought occurred to me.
Phil was paying his boss.
You.
And you gave the money and the orders to another employee.
What's he talking about?
I imagine the blonde girl from the real estate office will clarify it for us.
The bounty rumor was clever.
Might have closed the case by getting Billy killed.
Might have made the gang madder at the businessmen, more willing to rip them off.
You're saying he owns this bar.
What are you accusing me of?
Murder.
Frank Chin's murder.
Well done, Laurie.
Thanks.
And thanks for something else.
For bringing me here without a backup.
I appreciate the confidence.
Laurie, I'm afraid you'll never learn.
What?
He's your caller.
Bring him in.
You see, Truman working as a bartender in his own establishment is an old Chinese trait.
No ostentatious display of wealth.
He stays in the background and lets someone else take the bows and the blame.
What was it that put you in a Truman?
You, when you told me North Beach Investment was owned by one man?
A man named Sawadjoong.
Now, Laurie isn't your real name, is it?
From what did you anglicize it?
Lang Lay.
That is a traditional quality name.
In China, they usually give names of beauty for girls and character names for boys.
Lang Lay.
That means that...
Please, Chief.
You promise you wouldn't tell anyone?
What about Sawadjoong?
Well, Wanjoong means tells the truth or truthful man or true man.
And Saw, when anglicized, becomes sad.
Laurie, I know before it wasn't for real, but is there a chance of us going again?
I might get assigned to Vice Squad.
Then I would have to arrest you every time we have a date.
Well, maybe you'll be assigned to us.
I hope so.
I'll use you on the right case.
Forgive all my goofs?
No.
But you've given me a perfect way to keep you in line.
And the first time you foul up, I'll use it.
Oh, you wouldn't do that?
I mean, you wouldn't tell them what my real name means?
He wouldn't do that, would he?
Oh, of course not.
So long, Chief.
Not a chance.
So long, Chief.
Look, if you can't trust a chief, who else can you trust?
Come on, Billy, let me show you genomes.
Oh, wait for me, you guys.
Henry, were things really better when we were there, Edge?
I wouldn't give a fuck once I do.