And in the area of education, over 500 angry people
crowded into City Hall tonight to protest a plan that
would make 12 month schools a reality
within the next two years.
Although the school board indicated that year round
classes seemed to be the only alternative,
parents vowed to take their fight to the courts
If it proved necessary.
Before we end this broadcast, I would like
to make a personal statement.
48 hours ago my daughter disappeared.
There was no sign of violence.
There's been no demand for ransom.
What there has been is an incredible display
of the most incompetent police work imaginable.
What the hell's she doing?
I don't know.
Well, you want to go to commercial?
We cut her off, she'll have us all fired.
So starting tonight, I intend to broadcast an update
on this continuing farce, until the chief of police
assigns someone to this case, other than a keystone cop.
I'm Mickey Croft for channel 8 News.
Have a good night, and we'll see you tomorrow.
How would you like to be the chief of police right now?
Lot better than the yutz he's going to put on the case.
[theme music]
THEME SONG: We never thought we'd never
find a place where we belong.
Don't have to stand alone, we'll never let you fall.
Don't need permission to decide what you believe.
I said jump, down on Jump Street.
Jump down on Jump Street.
Your friends will be there when your back is to the wall.
You'll find you need us cause there's no one else to call.
When it was hopeless a decision's what you need.
You'd better be ready to, be ready to jump!
21 Jump Street.
Why us?
Our lucky day.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: As if it weren't for bad luck,
we'd have no luck at all.
CAPTAIN FULLER: You got that right.
Captain Fuller?
CAPTAIN FULLER: Yeah?
Frank Walters.
CAPTAIN FULLER: Oh, Mr. Walters.
We've been expecting you.
This is Officer Tony McCann.
Well, where's this wonder cop who's
supposed to solve everything?
Mr. Walters, we've been expecting you.
This is Officer Tony McCann.
Come on, he's just a kid.
CAPTAIN FULLER: Mr. Walters, one of the reasons
the chief called us is because Mickey Croft's
daughter is 16 years old.
Now this unit sort of specializes
in people of that age.
Yeah, we have subscriptions the team beat an everything.
Yeah, also you got a smart mouth.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Sad but true.
It's been a problem for me ever since the first grade.
CAPTAIN FULLER: Understand this, Mr. Walters.
We'd just as soon pass on this investigation.
I mean our fellow officers aren't going to appreciate
being shown up by us.
FRANK WALTERS: They don't have a lot of choice do they?
I still feel that this should be handled by a real cop.
I'm a real cop all right.
It's just the only difference is instead
of salary they give me course credit at my community college.
You've been out of the first grade long, McCann?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: You know what they say, Frank?
You can take the boy out of the first grade but--
CAPTAIN FULLER: But you can't take
the first grade out of the boy.
Ixnay on the BS Mac, it's time to go to work, huh?
That an order, Captain?
CAPTAIN FULLER: That's an order.
Oh, well.
Those guys downtown never liked us anyway.
Oh!
No way, man.
Not in this world and not in the next.
All right?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Come on, Brian.
Why not share and share alike?
Because the word came down from the captain,
who passed it to the lieutenant, who passed it to all of us.
What word?
Then whoever the dragon lady got assigned to this case,
was persona non grata.
Hitler at a bar mitzvah, Andrew Dice
Clay at women's lib meeting.
You're not being reasonable here, all right?
You out of your mind?
Woman goes on television, makes us downtown guys
all look like fools.
You want reason?
Look, just tell me what you run besides a drill, OK?
It's been two days, Man.
We haven't had time to run anything else.
We checked kids' friends, the teachers,
one of the photos at the train station, the airport, it's me
and Larson on this, right?
We got five other cases hanging.
Brian?
I was just saying goodbye to McCann, Lieutenant.
And that's just what I want you to be saying.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Well, don't sweat it, Lieutenant,
he didn't tell me anything.
You know, I figured it would be one of you
Jump Streeters picking up this case.
Yeah? How so?
Made up two lists--
those that would be hungry enough to want it,
ones that would be stupid--
And let me guess?
Jump Street was the only one to make it on both lists, right?
Come on.
You got to update your act there, Donnelly.
Look, I didn't come down here do numbers with you, all right?
There's a missing kid out there.
I figure if we scratch each other's backs,
we can both come out looking good.
Look, we don't need any back scratching,
especially from you.
The more time that goes by, the less
chance we have of finding her.
What's your problem?
They going to send you back to Newark if you don't find her?
How do you know about that?
I've got friends back there.
They told me about this boy scout who
got himself in some trouble.
I had a little help with the trouble.
That's not the way I hear it.
You know, sometimes I wonder if I did
the right thing staying a cop.
Most days I feel good about it.
But then someone like you comes along
and I have to think it through all over again.
[theme music]
The way you drive, you don't sneak up on too many people,
do you?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Nope.
On the other hand, I don't have to ring a lot of doorbells
either.
Come on in.
I was fixing some lunch.
Frank, thought it'd be best if I didn't
go with him this morning.
He was worried you try and get out of taking the case,
and I'm not very good at taking "no" for an answer.
I tend to get nasty.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: So I gather.
You didn't make things any easier
with that little ad lib editorial.
The people downtown were getting nowhere.
I thought I'd ask for help from another unit.
Provide them with a little incentive.
Oh, you mean kind of like dating somebody else to make
your boyfriend jealous, right?
I never had a problem making my boyfriends
jealous, Officer McCann.
No, I'll bet you never did.
My mother used to cut the crust off for me.
What kind of a boyhood did you have?
Short.
Thank you.
Sharon and I moved back here two months ago.
I got my start in the local paper.
We've been gone for 14 years.
Sharon seems to have made the adjustment
pretty well, making new friends, doing well in school.
No problems with boys, no problems with drugs.
Believe me, I would know.
Wow, you know all the questions don't you?
The police went over them with me what
seemed several hundred times.
How much money would she have on her?
I gave her the week's allowance the day
she disappeared.
$20, she can't get very far on that.
Look, Mrs. Croft, I don't want to upset you
needlessly but there is a possibility
we have to consider here.
No.
We will not consider anything but finding Sharon
and bringing her back safely.
Is that understood?
I'd like to see Sharon's room, now, if that's OK?
I'll need a picture of her.
Anything else?
Not for now, no.
Let me know if there is.
OK.
[music playing]
MAN: Watch your step.
[music playing]
Sharon?
Hey, Sharon.
Hi.
Your mother sent me to find you. I'm Anthony McCann.
I'm a police officer.
She's going to be glad to see you're OK.
Have you been here a long time?
I bet you that popcorn sucks, huh?
Oh, right it sucks.
So do the hot dogs.
Oh, yeah?
That's too bad Sting has to stand up in a place like this.
Better here than nowhere.
Are you ready to go now?
OK.
Well, you better where this because it's cold outside.
Who is it?
Oh my god, you did it.
You found her!
Sweetheart, are you all right?
Here, let me look at you.
You're filthy.
We have to get you cleaned up and put some food in you.
Are you all right?
McCann, is she all right?
Yeah, she seems to be.
Go on upstairs, honey, and get out of those clothes.
It'll give me a chance to fix you something to eat
and thank Officer McCann.
Go on, honey, get up there.
All right, we'll see you, huh?
Is there any way I can pay you a bonus?
No.
You're sure?
I'm positive.
Well, then, let me walk you out.
Well, thanks again.
It's my pleasure.
I like it when things turn out like this.
MRS. CROFT: Me too.
We'll see ya. MRS. CROFT: OK.
Don't hit anybody.
Yeah.
Well, that's better.
Now, what can I get you to eat?
There's some leftover chicken in the icebox.
SHARON: I know.
What are you talking about?
I know.
[music playing]
OFFICER JOEY PENHALL: Thank you.
All right.
Bless you.
Cough it up.
Here.
- What's this? - Your cut.
- Cut of what? - The bets.
What bets?
We all put down money that you'd find that kid.
The other cops couldn't wait to bet against you.
Oh, that's very reassuring.
You guys all had faith in me.
Actually, we figured anybody with half a brain
could have found her.
Nobody, that talented qualified.
Here, take it.
No.
Here you guys go have a pizza on me, OK?
OK, I'll tell them.
Pizzas for everybody, on Mac.
Yo, Yo, Yo.
What?
You bet on me too, Captain?
Hey.
That's a pretty big bet.
No, not really.
I just got long odds.
I'm beginning to feel like a racehorse.
Yeah, and if you keep doing this good
we can all take early retirement.
I don't think I should take this.
Well I do and I'm your commanding officer.
OK.
OFFICER JOEY PENHALL: Yes, exactly.
That's exactly what I mean.
It's as simple as that.
Once I decided to risk failure, I became
a more complete person for it.
I mean all you gotta do is risk.
SHARON: Excuse me, is Officer McCann around?
See, you're looking into a better person
now because, I mean, how else are you going to grow up?
Hey.
Hey, how are you?
Fine.
I never thanked you.
Well, there's no need.
No, you were really nice.
I'd like to take you to lunch.
Are you free?
Sure.
Anywhere I want?
I have a credit card for emergencies.
Well, this is definitely an emergency.
This isn't what I meant.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Well, you said anyway I wanted.
Everyone's really impressed with how fast you found me.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Not quite everybody.
Mom said you searched my room.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Not exactly.
I just kind of looked around.
You tell her what you found?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: I wasn't assigned to take inventory.
So you don't have to always tell everything?
You know, sometimes the nicest thing you can do for somebody
is not tell them everything.
For a long time mom kept the truth about my dad a secret.
Said he died in a car accident.
It wasn't until I was 12 that she told me I was illegitimate.
Said it wasn't anything to be ashamed of,
that there are worse things.
Lots of them.
What I liked was that mom just decided
I was grown up enough to know.
It was nice to think she thought I was
grown up enough for something.
That's why it's so hard.
Sharon, if there's something you want to talk about--
Yeah.
No.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Look, it'll just be between me and you, OK?
No, forget it.
It's your choice.
I just--
I mean I called you because I'm afraid.
The thing that made you runaway?
Hey, you know if I can help, I will.
You can't.
Try me.
I said, no.
I think I want to go home, now.
OK.
It's cold.
Can I borrow your coat?
Sure.
[music playing]
Thank you.
Well, thank you for lunch.
I'm sorry.
Sharon?
Something's really bothering her.
I'm getting her to a doctor.
He'll help her with it.
I wonder, you know if--
Look, McCann, I haven't given Sharon the easiest childhood.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Well that hasn't hurt
the way she feels about you.
It's been one uprooting after another.
I didn't want to come back here.
We were happy on the east coast, but the offer
was just too good.
I talked to her about it.
I thought she understood, but obviously it's
having some negative reactions.
And seeing you seems to have upset her too.
No, that's not what's upsetting her.
MRS. CROFT: She'll be back in school tomorrow.
I wanted her to return to a normal pattern
as soon as possible.
And I think that, that excludes seeing you.
Well, that's your call.
I just I think that--
MRS. CROFT: I'm glad you understand.
Now if you'll excuse me, I better make sure she's OK.
OK.
[music playing]
Spare some change?
Thanks.
Hello, anybody home?
Hello?
[sirens]
Look, have you noticed anything unusual
in the last few days?
No, I did hear some noises.
OFFICER: Check the bottom?
OFFICER: No, good idea.
Let me try that.
I'm not going to see much, I don't think.
[sirens]
Who was the first one on the scene?
OFFICER: McCann.
OFFICER: How we doing here now?
OFFICER: Pretty good.
Let me check this, again.
OFFICER: That one there should do it.
- You found her. - Yeah.
My guess would be three maybe four days dead.
What were you doing here?
His name is Richard Watkins.
Cause of death seems to be that paperweight over there.
Crushed his head like an egg.
What were you doing here?
Meaning no disrespect Lieutenant,
but you have a tendency to repeat yourself.
Listen, wiseguy.
The last thing we need is a guy like you making us
out to be a bunch of screw-ups.
Back in Newark at the Academy we had this instructor,
Charlie Monroe.
He's a good cop, a great teacher.
First day he said to us all, work hard and do good work.
LIEUTENANT DONNELLY: What's your point?
I came downtown.
I said, let's do it together.
But you said no.
Foolish pride Lieutenant, it's your division's
second biggest problem.
And what's our first?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: You don't want to know.
The hell I don't.
But--
LIEUTENANT DONNELLY: But what?
Butt, tush, rear end.
It seems like you people are either covering your own
or kissing somebody else's.
Work hard and do good work.
Hell of a teacher, old Charlie.
[school bell rings]
Excuse me?
SECRETARY: Yes?
Yes I have a message for Sharon Croft.
Could you please see that she gets it?
SECRETARY: And exactly who are you?
I'm Anthony McCann.
I'm a friend of Sharon's.
SECRETARY: Really?
Melody?
Take this to Sharon Croft.
She's in room 220.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
What do you want with Sharon Croft?
You know Sharon Croft?
She's my girl.
Oh, you're lucky.
And I don't think she'd have some sleazeball like you
as her friend.
- Well, you're wrong. - No.
You are.
No one else is going to come on campus and hassle her.
Look, I'm not looking to put you
down in front of your friends. What's your name?
- Brandon. - Brandon.
OK, now when I let you go, you tell them you checked me out
and I'm OK. Got it?
Yeah.
Now, who came by and household her?
Some old guy.
Short, fat, never seen him before.
I don't think he'll be coming around again.
Well, it's good you're looking out for her.
So am I. Now, get back to your friends.
Listen--
SHARON: Please?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Sharon?
I don't have anything to tell you.
Why did you put that address in my pocket?
SHARON: I didn't.
Sharon, I'm on your side, all right?
SHARON: Fine, then just go away and leave me alone.
There's been a murder, Sharon, and it's not going to go away.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I want to help you.
Then just leave me alone.
Forget you ever met me.
I won't do that.
You have to.
Please, you can only make things worse.
Just get out of my life.
MRS. CROFT: Obviously, I didn't make myself clear.
No, you did just fine.
MRS. CROFT: Then why are you here?
She's in trouble, Mrs. Croft.
Nothing she and I can't handle.
Don't make it necessary for me to contact my lawyers, McCann.
Fine.
[school bell rings]
[school bell rings again]
Mac, you got anything you want to share with me?
Nothing I can think of, Captain.
Then how come I'm getting phone
calls telling me to order you to stay away from the Croft kid?
Beats me.
You're not keeping secrets from me, are you Mac?
Captain, secrets have to make sense and none of this does.
None of what?
Well, the kid comes to see me the day after I find her.
She wants to tell me something but can't.
And then I find this address in my pocket.
Did she put it there?
I think so.
CAPTAIN FULLER: But you didn't see her do it.
No.
I go to the address and there's a stiff.
Any connection to the Crofts?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: I don't know.
When I talked to the kid, she ran.
Then her mother starts getting nasty with me.
Who is handling the killing?
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Donnelly.
Fine.
Then let's leave it to him, OK? - Yeah.
Whatever you say, Captain.
Mac, I got read out on your homicide.
You on homicide?
Donnelly's homicide.
You want to hear it or not? CAPTAIN FULLER: No
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Yes.
OK, here it is.
Captain, you can cover your ears if you like.
Richard Watkins, age 58 at the time of death,
minor city official.
He was driven out of office 14 years ago,
some kind of scandal.
Worked for the party doing odd jobs ever since.
Real hand-to-mouth existence, if you know what I mean?
Well, what kind of scandal?
CAPTAIN FULLER: McCann!
OFFICER JOEY PENHALL: Computer didn't say.
Trust me, I looked.
You'll have to go to the library.
He's not going anywhere, right, McCann?
Right, Captain, no where.
Well, thanks for the info anyway.
Salmon.
Jump!
Spawning.
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Thanks for the information
I won't be needing.
Captain, you're right.
Have you ever got a popcorn colonel stuck
between your teeth, Captain?
Sure, it happens to me all the time.
Drives me crazy.
Yeah.
I don't want to get any more calls from downtown, McCann.
I don't like talking to the people downtown.
Is that understood?
Yeah.
Go to it.
Uh, yes sir.
[music playing]
Hey, ow!
[music playing]
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Brandon!
What were you doing up there?
I thought the cops were finished.
And that gives you the right to go on a scavenger hunt?
Where do you get off asking questions?
This give you a clue?
Now, back to the first question.
What were you doing up there, huh?
You have to read me my rights.
I'd be happy to when I'm booking you for assaulting
a police officer.
You weren't planning on going to college now were you?
OK.
Somebody gave me $100 to find something for them.
You want to play 20 questions?
Fine, we'll do it downtown.
Let's go.
Mrs. Croft.
She told me to look for this.
I don't know what she wanted with these.
[music playing]
OFFICER TONY MCCANN: Ooh!
Nice shot.
It takes a while to get the hang of it,
then you'll have it for the rest of your life.
Like golf, only easier.
Well, thanks for seeing me on such short notice.
Well, boy, in my age all I got is short notice.
Besides, I don't get too many visitors.
Those who aren't dead are still too embarrassed
to admit knowing me.
You'd think after all these years they'd of forgotten.
Well, not likely.
Hell, I even remember.
Even made the news back east.
Come on, you were just a baby then.
Almost 8 years old.
Hell, what did you know about hookers?
Not much, but I knew a lot more after hearing about you
and your pals in the city council.
I'll just bet you did.
I don't know what people ask more,
that we were cavorting with call girls
or doing it on city money?
Probably the money.
That was Watkins idea to charge it off to expenses.
Damn, fool.
He never had two dimes to rub together and all of a sudden,
he couldn't spend it fast enough.
Nice shot!
And this had to do with his murder?
Uh, take a look at this.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, this was the party group, sure.
Oh, there's old Watkins.
Wasn't much to look at, even then.
Can't say is any of us were.
Shallow boys are a lot like politics,
best shot you can make not only scores
your points, knocks your opposition on its keister, too.
Mr. Sellers, do you remember the name of the reporter
that broke that story?
Yeah, I wouldn't forget that one.
Croft.
Mickey Croft.
[music playing]
How about him?
Officer McCann.
You beg forgiveness for Mickey Croft?
It's not my thing begging.
I want it sometimes, but I never beg.
Uh, may I?
Help yourself.
Not yours either, begging I mean.
I'd like to think not.
MAN: Get me some nails will ya?
You used to be managing editor of the paper, here.
Yeah.
Mickey Croft hired you when she made network.
It's called, loyalty.
It's a very rare commodity in our profession.
Hey, sleep on your own time.
She, uh, she got her start with you.
She sure did.
She broke a story on some councilmen and some call girls.
Broke her into the big time.
She was just a kid then.
21 years old.
You know, I'm curious.
I mean, that was a pretty big story.
That's a pretty tricky thing for a new reporter, isn't it?
She brought it in, she got to write it.
Yeah, but that had to be one big time potential lawsuit.
She had all the facts and they were solid--
names, dates, hotels.
Yeah, but still, you would have had to put a lot of faith
in her.
I mean, what made you so sure that her information was
reliable?
You're not going to let this go are you?
I can't.
[music playing]
Come on.
[music playing]
Frank called and told me.
I wasn't sure whether it'd be you or the police.
I thought we should talk first.
Thank you.
Something for you?
Uh, soda if you got it.
I've got it.
Does this mean you're on duty, officer?
That's what it means.
You are good at your job aren't you?
Afraid so.
How much do you know and how much is guesswork?
Mostly I know.
How you are making your living back then, how you knew Watkins
and the other councilman.
And your guess is?
You wanted to become a reporter.
You saw a chance to break a big story and you took it.
It's not that simple.
Hardly ever is.
Back then we were just hanging on.
Sharon was two and it didn't seem like I was much older.
But I knew if we could just hold out
that I was going to make it.
Then Frank told me there were going
to be cuts at the newspaper and I was at the top of the list.
All that could protect me was coming up with a story,
a significant piece was how he put it.
It was significant all right.
Yeah, launched your career.
Oh, yeah.
Jumped me out of the hotel room and into the city room.
Everything I ever hoped for.
Nobody ever figured it out until Watkins
read that article about you becoming
the new local TV anchor.
Realized who broke that story all those years ago.
He came to me, threatened to expose what I've done.
And I knew once he started to bleed me it would never end.
So I went to his apartment, I took a paperweight,
and I killed him.
OK?
No.
No, I had the lab lift the prints
off the photo you gave me.
They weren't on the murder weapon.
So I wiped it clean.
I don't think so.
SHARON: It's all right, Mom.
He knows.
No, I'm guessing.
Based on what?
Based on Sharon's leather jacket at Watkins apartment.
Maybe I wore it there.
Maybe, but I don't figure you'd pay him blackmail.
You're too strong for that.
I already told you I didn't pay.
Here's what I think happened.
Watkins came to your mother and she turned him down cold.
Then he went to your school--
Right.
She's got a lot of money to give a blackmailer.
--to put pressure on your mother through you.
How did he get you his apartment?
He said he was an old friend of mom's.
Don't say anything.
He knew enough about her that I believed him.
When I got there, he showed me pictures of mom
and that group of people.
He said they used to party together.
Then he started saying things about what he and mom
used to do, awful things.
And I didn't want to hear them.
So I started to leave.
No!
And then he grabbed me, and he started to touch me.
So I picked something up and I hit him.
And there was blood everywhere and I ran.
You realize when I get her to retract
what she just said there's no prosecutor that
will take this case. - Probably not.
Then what's the point?
Why are you here?
You know what it's like to live with secrets.
You want to carry that around with her
for the rest of her life?
The point, McCann?
I think she should turn herself in.
I think she should tell the truth.
What truth?
That Watkins tried to hurt her to get back at you
for something you wrote years ago.
In her panic, Sharon killed him.
That's all?
It's all the truth the police will need.
Then you are not going to tell them anything more?
It's not my concern.
It's not even my case.
It's up to you.
[music playing]
CAPTAIN FULLER: Police Lieutenant Carl Donnelly,
said it was his--
his department's reputation for tenacity
that convinced the Crofts their only course of action
was to come forward.
Yeah, well, that's what downtown
is known for all right.
The kid going to be OK?
Assistant DA I talked to said they cut a deal--
involuntary manslaughter.
Probably a suspended sentence.
No, that's not what I meant.
Look, you got a mother and a daughter
fighting over who's going to take the rap for one another.
I'd say they're in pretty good shape.
I wouldn't mind having someone like that in my corner.
Yeah, well, maybe someday.
Yeah, maybe.
[music playing]