| The Pilot
Summary from official site, www.duesouth.com via Wayback Machine Due South is a fast-paced comedy/adventure in which Constable Benton Fraser, a polite, by-the-book Canadian Mountie from the frozen North is teamed-up with Ray Vecchio, a wise-cracking Chicago cop with a flexible sense of morality. In the premiere two hour movie of Due South, Fraser and Vecchio solve the mystery of the death of Fraser's father and unravel a complex story of corruption which reaches from the streets of Chicago to the frozen tundra. Joining them is Diefenbaker, Fraser's dog, part wolf, who also happens to be completely deaf. The two mismatched partners are thrown together when Fraser saves Vecchio from an internal sting operation. The favor is returned later when Vecchio shoots their way out of a vicious saloon donnybrook, when Fraser tries to arrest everybody with an unloaded gun and a courteous smile. The fine line between comedy and drama is underscored in the relationship between the two diametrically opposed cops -- the exemplary Mountie, and the street wise American cop. From the mean streets of Chicago to a thrilling dog sled chase across the Yukon, Due South will keep you laughing on the edge of your seat. Written by Paul Haggis
Regular Cast
Guest Stars
UNDERHILL - Jim Millington
RCMP SGT. - Johnathon Wittaker
CORONER - Keith Dinicol
FRANCESCA - Ramona Milano
Unofficial Transcript Pilot Doooooooooooo Mah [out on the ice, looking for clues] Robert: You're going to shoot a Mountie? They'll hunt you to the ends of the Earth. [BANG] [2,000 miles to the Northwest] [scenes of a dog sled going very fast, but you never see his face] RCMP Officer #1: You tell him the snow mobiles are frozen dead. He says,
'I'll take a dog sled.'
[Fraser brings in his man and dumps him in a cell] Fraser: That's the last time he'll fish over the limit. [Chief's office] Chief: And you felt it necessary to go out there and get him now? In the middle of one of the worst storms we've had this year? Fraser: Yes, sir. Chief: Fraser, you just tracked a man 300 kilometers because he caught to many fish? Fraser: He exceeded the limit by quite a bit, sir. Chief: How much could a man fish over the limit that would justify you recklessly endangering your life and the reputation of this police force. Fraser: Four and a half tons, sir. Chief: Fish? Fraser: Yes, sir. He was dynamiting the rivers, scooping the salmon from the surface with a back hoe. So I destroyed the plastic explosives, the nitroglycerin, fragmentary mines. I then donated the three and a half truckloads of fish to the local Inuit village. The tribal elder said he would call you with his thanks as soon as the local phone lines were restored. RCMP Officer #2: Sir, there's a tribal elder on the phone for you and this just came in over the wire. Chief: It's your father. Pilot: Time was, you could look out that window and see nothing but geese, thousands of them. That river down there? Beaver's used to cover it like hairy little ants. Government kinda put them out of business. Fraser: Yeah. Everything's changing. *** Gerard: Still don't know what the hell he was doing there. Ten below zero, middle of nowhere. Fraser: His log book. Gerard: Closed his last case over a week ago. Should have been catching up on paperwork but you know your dad. He'd rather freeze his rump off then have a desk. Thirty ought six standard hunting rifle. This first week of the season. Suddenly every damned idiot wants to kill something. Near as we can tell, he must have caught a stray bullet. Useless death. Son, every officer in this post spent the last three days combing that gulch. If there was evidence of foul play we would've found it. When was the last time you talked to him? Fraser: Christmas. Gerard: Well, I guess the more you know someone the less needs to be said. [same area where his father was killed] Dief: Woof Woof Eric: This is mine. You want meat, Mountie? Go to Supermarket. Fraser: You kill them? Eric: Nope. Fraser: See any hunters come through here? Eric: Yep. Fraser: They kill them?
Fraser: Then who? Eric: Nobody. They just drank too much. [airplane hanger] Pilot [on phone]: Honey, honey. Ya got milk. I brought home a gallon yesterday. Yeah, look in the fridge. I never should have bought the damn thing. Now it's bring milk, bring butter. I'm up at ten thousand feet and she wants me to stop at the Seven-Eleven. Eh, a week ago you say. Fraser: It would have been a party of six. Pilot: Eh, I brought some nuns up on a retreat, does that help? Fraser: Not unless they were carrying firearms. Pilot: You're sure they were Americans, eh? Fraser: They were all wearing new boots, they were driving a Jeep Wrangler and they carried big guns. Pilot: American's it is. [looks thru a bunch of loose pieces of paper] Now here you go. A bunch of dentists from Chicago came up for the weekend, killed their limit and went home early. Fraser: Do you have a passenger list? Pilot: Uh...yeah. [hands him a piece of paper] Uh, I'll need it back. Fraser: Thank you. Pilot: No problem. Pilot: Yeah. Wife: Foot powder. Pilot: Foot powder?!? [coroner's office. Fraser packs in a caribou] Coroner: Pet, was it? Fraser: You think you could tell me what killed it? Coroner: Toss it in the freezer. It'll be a few days. Charlie Underhill: Twenty-two years ago I came to the Northwest Territories as a Corporal. Even then the name Bob Fraser was spoken with awe among the ranks of the new recruits. It was said he could track a ghost across sheer ice and that a young officer would have to move fast and drive hard just to catch his shadow. Many have followed the spirit and traditions of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but few have embodied it. The name of Sergeant Robert Fraser will always be among them. [Wake after] Bartender: To Your father. May he never give the angels a moments peace. Gerard: Your dad and I spent too many nights in places like this. Fraser: What did they say? Gerard: I gave them your list of names, they'll sign them off and check them out. Fraser: With respect sir, the Chicago PD is not going to make this a high priority case. No, thank you. Gerard: Didn't fall to far from the tree, eh? Fraser: I understand that there's an opening at the Chicago consulate. Gerard: And you're going to go. Go charging across the border frisking sportsmen at random? Ben, man to man, if this really was a murder I'd like to find who ever did it and show them the view from the end of a rope, but I can't do that and neither can you. There were a hundred hunters out in the woods that day. Most from God knows where. You found six. They will check them out. Let them do their job. Fraser: I realize I wouldn't be allowed to work the case sir, but if I'm in the same city, I can at least check on the progress. Gerard: Tell me Constable, how many years you been on the force now? Fraser: Thirteen. Gerard: What was the biggest city you ever worked in? Fraser: Moose Jaw. Gerard: Yeah and you were transferred out after five weeks because you couldn't adapt to such an urban life style. You're like your father. Out there in no man's land, there isn't a better cop in the world. But in Chicago they'd eat you alive in a minute. Sorry. Fraser: I understand. But you also understand that nothing is going to stop me from finding my father's killer and bringing him to justice. *** Charlie Underhill: Give him the transfer. Gerard: Oh come on, Charlie. You think they're going to let him do anything? I have no jurisdiction. Charlie: Chicago PD is going to treat this like another request. The only way they're going to catch this guy is if he's picked up for a broken tail light and blurts out a spontaneous confession. This was Bob Fraser. Give him the transfer. [Chicago, Airport] Nun: Help feed the hungry. Food for the hungry. [to Fraser] What is it? Fraser: Pemmican. Now if you're still hungry when you finish it? Drink water. It expands in your stomach. Fraser: So they won't operate on your little girl unless you pay them
in advance?
Fraser: You promise to pay me back within the week? Airport Hustler: As God is my witness. Fraser: Well, I'm afraid all I can give you is a hundred. Airport Hustler: You're going to give a perfect stranger a hundred dollars? You're kidding? Fraser: Son, I never kid about a child's life. [getting a taxi] Fraser: Oh, you take it ma'am. Hi -- oh -- please. [27th precinct] Desk Sergeant: Look here's Nanook of the North. Fraser: Constable Fraser. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Desk Sergeant: No kidding. You got a dog? Fraser: He's in quarantine. Desk Sergeant: Shame. You like pigeons? Fraser: I don't have much experience with them. Deats: Sarge, you want to move it along? Desk Sergeant: Shut up, Deats. It's not that they're dirty. It's just
that I'm starting to
Fraser: I'm looking for an officer assigned to this case number. Desk Sergeant: Oh yeah. You're going to like this fella. Drop your stuff over there with Gruber. Through those doors, down the hall, third holding cell on the right. Fraser: His name? Desk Sergeant: You can't miss him. Just look for Armani.
Vecchio: Can you read that? Does the label not say Armani? Of course it's original merchandise. A friend of mine just sorta found a truckload sitting on the side of the road. Inmate: Isn't this kind of a strange place to do business? Vecchio: Hey, at least in here you know who you're dealing with, right? Fraser: Excuse me...I'm looking for a Detective Armani? Vecchio: [to the other occupants of the cell: Come on...You mean me? Guard! [bull pen] Vecchio: Okay, who let the Mountie in the holdin cell? Fraser: I'm sorry I believe the unfortunate confusion with an unfamiliar idiotic trade name. Vecchio: The confusion was, was down here you don't bust in on some guy when he's about to take down the biggest operator in the garment district for buying stolen merchandise. Fraser: Oh, so you were attempting to sell him a truckload of illegally obtained men's clothing. Vecchio: That's right. Fraser: Isn't that entrapment? Vecchio: What do you want from me? Fraser: I was told that you were in charge of this case. Vecchio: Ah yes, the dead Mountie thing, like I couldn't have guessed. Look. I've got your list of names in my basket here. The moment I get a chance I'm going to go to the computer, pick up the phone and call you with the information so you can go get your Boy Scout points. Now, is there anything else? Fraser: Yes. The dead Mountie was my father. And I would appreciate it if you'd check the names while there's still a chance of catching the man who killed him. Oh and by the way, he's not in the garment business. Vecchio: What? Fraser: Your man, in the cell. He had a hole in his shoe. I'm not familiar with your city but I'd assume a big garment buyer wouldn't be caught dead with a hole in his shoe, so, like you, he is pretending to be someone he's not. [Consulate] Moffet: So you want to be a Deputy Liaison Officer, eh? Fraser: It was my understanding I'd already gotten the position, sir. Moffet: No. You're the Acting Deputy Liaison Officer. You're on probation. Now I've read your reports, nobodies questioning your ability as a police officer but this us, um, big city USA and a consulate office is an entirely different kettle of ... Fraser: Fish? Moffet: Fish...uh...do you even know what we do here? Fraser: As Chief Liaison Officer you work closely with the local police and the various arms of the American criminal justice system and the intelligence community on matters of mutual interest. Moffet: Basically yes. However the FBI and CIA types are very picky about who they cozy up to. You've got to earn their respect. You've got to gain their trust and at the same time show them you're not anybody's lap dog. Fraser: Lap dog, sir? Moffet: These are American's, Fraser, if they think they can walk all over you they will. It's a delicate balance you've got to be just as shrewd and cunning and ruthless as they are and then being Canadians we have to be polite. Fraser: Polite? Sir? Moffet: What's the one thing you here American's say about Canadians over and over again. They're such nice polite people. So we use that against them. Fraser: I'm not exactly clear as how we do that sir. Moffet: We let them underestimate us. You'd be surprised at the number of people who underestimate me, Fraser. Fraser: I don't think so, sir. Moffet: How many times I've been at some diplomatic cocktail party when people start to say something and then suddenly stop, realizing I'm within hearing distance and then say 'Oh, it's just the Canadian.' It always works, though it never quite loses it's sting. So, it's a big job with a lot of ground to cover. You think you're up to it? Fraser: I'll do my best, sir. [Clears throat] As to my duties? Moffet: Oh, LeeAnn will give you a full briefing. She takes care of all that stuff. Have you met Constable Brighten? My right arm. She's the best assistant a man could have. LeeAnn: Yes, sir. Moffet: You'll, uh, give, um . . . Fraser: Fraser. Moffet: Fraser here a full briefing on all the , you know, the . . . LeeAnn: Yes sir. Moffet: I'll just, uh um take the um uh can well uh, can, well, uh...lunch. [showing Fraser his office] LeeAnn: This is your office. Fraser: It's very nice. LeeAnn: This is your desk. This is your phone. This is your rolodex. This is your tape dispenser. And this is your stapler. Fraser: Thank you. LeeAnn: Oh, there's more. This is your pencil sharpener. This is your appointment calendar. This is your combination pencil cup. These are your pencils. And this is your plant. Fraser: You know, I can do this. LeeAnn: Are you sure you don't want some help with your computer? Fraser: No, I don't want to -- LeeAnn: Well then, I'll be at my desk. Fraser: Well I-I appreciate the uh-- [slam door] LeeAnn: I want to apologize. That was uncalled for. Fraser: Well, I was a little curious, uh... LeeAnn: You see, this was to be my job. I put in four years behind that desk out there. Getting coffee, running errands, organizing every minuet detail of his life. I've paid my dues. I'm a cop, Fraser, picking up dry cleaning just doesn't come naturally. Fraser: Well I didn't-- LeeAnn: And then the job opens up and I'm finally going to get to do something other than show my legs and it's, 'Well, we're sorry, we don't think you're quite ready for the job now. We need someone with kayaking experience.' Fraser: I don't recall that-- LeeAnn: No, they didn't say that Fraser, they didn't have to. They hired you didn't they? Can I be frank? I've nothing against you personally, I'm sure you're a very nice person. You're very good at wrestling fur bearing animals. But I'm going to do everything in my power to have you fired because this is my job. I don't mean to sound like a bitch. Fraser: Oh -- no, no, not at all. LeeAnn: I'm not usually like this. Fraser: No, I can see that. [clear throat] Perhaps you can tell me a little bit -- unclear -- my--your--the job actually entails. LeeAnn: Well, that's the one good thing about this menial job of mine. I hold the duty roster. Which means your job is pretty much whatever I tell you it is. Fraser: Where do I start? [Fraser is outfront of Consulate doing guard duty] [Kid blowing raspberries at Fraser] Vecchio: Hey, what's up? It's you! I didn't recognize you standing there like that. Okay, I acted like a jerk. I didn't realize it was your father. I should have checked into it earlier. I'm sorry. Anyway you know you were right about the goomba in the cell. Now I dig around and I find that this guy is internal affairs trying to nail my butt for illegal entrapment. Can you believe that? This guy's trying to entrap me into intruding him. Cops. [sigh] In any case I figure I owed you one so here it is. Thanks. Come on, I'm apologizing here. What else do you want from me. You're kidding right? This is your job? This is, like, your real job? Do you believe it? This is his job. They actually pay people to do this in Canada. Sorry. [sigh] Anyway, I uh checked that list of names for you and I came up with something that night be something. So we should talk. [waits] Putting me on right? Okay, you just let me know when you get off and I'll come back. You got a break comin up soon or something. I'm talkin to a corpse here. Oh. [the bells chime and Fraser is off duty] [the elevator at the dental building] Vecchio: So I called the American Dental Association and everyone on your list comes up and members only one of them Dr. Laurence Medley isn't current with his dues. So I call the last number they have on the guy and the nurse says he can't come to the phone he's been dead twelve years. This makes me curious. Fraser: It only takes an extra second to be courteous. [climbing the stairs] Vecchio: My bets, there aren't a lot of high speed chases in Canada,
huh?
[bullpen, at a computer] Fraser: So, how do you know? Vecchio: I don't. I never said I did. I said I had a feeling I'd seen him before. Fraser: You recognized his face? Vecchio: Not so much his face as his nose. Fraser: His nose? Vecchio: Yeah. It's like I have this ability. Everyone's nose is distinctive. Now two people have exactly the same nose. I just have this thing where I never forget a nose. Call it a gift. You know how to type? Fraser: A hundred words per minute. Why? Vecchio: June eighty-six. I'm walking a beat. I get a call on this domestic violence case. Very very messy. The guy has his wife's arm in the car door and he's slammin it and slammin it. Now, when I see the guy in the photo. I flash on this guys nose. That's the puppy, Frankie Drake. What do you thing? Fraser: That's exactly the same nose. Vecchio: What did I tell you. Now it stuck in my mind because homicide has been tryin to nail him for a mob hit. Fraser: He's a hired killer? Vecchio: Well I don't think he hunts for relaxation, Fraser. Now someone wants your dad out of way enough to import a professional, you have any idea why? Fraser: No. Do you have an address? Vecchio: Yeah but it's not worth the cab fair to check. He'd a been long gone by now. Fraser: But you have an idea. Vecchio: One lead, okay? I'm going to follow up one lead and that's it because I don't have time to make a career of this case. And gettin my name in some Yukon Gazette ain't gonna do buttcus for my career, you understand? Fraser: I understand. Vecchio: Good. Now mush. Yee-ha or what ever you Canadians say. Fraser: Where we going? [on the street] Vecchio: There's this place I know where a lot of heavy weights hang out. Kind of people who can reach out and touch somebody like Frank. Now I been workin it for months, you know, hangin out, fittin in. They think I'm complete scum and down here? Your reputation is everything. Where the hell did I leave my car? Fraser: Thirty-two degrees south. Vecchio: Right. Uh, what's your first name anyway. I mean I can't keep callin you Fraser. Fraser: Benton. Vecchio: What's you're first name? Fraser: Benton. Vecchio: Do you have a first name? Fraser: Can we made a stop along the way? Vecchio: Sure. Fraser: Diefenbaker. Vecchio: He's on me! Fraser: Dief-- Vecchio: He's getting intimate with me! Did you see him? He was getting intimate with me! Fraser: I'm sorry, he's usually much better behaved. He's just excited about being out of that quarantine cage. Vecchio: You want to tell him to get off of me? Fraser: Diefenbaker. Vecchio: Oh, yeah, he's very well trained. Fraser: Well he is actually. He's just deaf. Vecchio: Huh? Fraser: And he's facing the wrong way so you just tell him yourself. Vecchio: I'm not real good with dogs. Fraser: Actually he's more of a wolf. Vecchio: WOLF! Fraser: Just try to enunciate. Vecchio: GET! OFF! ME! Fraser: Sorry. Vecchio: There is a deaf wolf in my back seat. Fraser: Yes. Fraser: Two years ago he jumped off an ice flow into Prince Rupert sound and pulled me out and his ear drums burst from the cold. Vecchio: Really? I didn't know wolves saved lives. Fraser: Well, he doesn't always. I mean, he'll save you if he sees you. Vecchio: Oh great! [parking outside a bar] Vecchio: Well you won't find this on most of your tourist maps. And I wouldn't go walking around here by yourself. Fraser: Really! Vecchio: Trust me on this, will you? That's the joint. Just tell him to stay here and not eat anything with an emblem on it, all right? Fraser: Stay. Here. Vecchio: He reads lips? Fraser: I've never been sure. If so, he's self-taught. Evening. Excuse me. My friend here tells me this isn't a very good neighborhood. So, I wonder if you would mind watching the car for us. Hood: Absolutely. Fraser: Thank you. [to Ray] I just asked them to watch the car. Vecchio: I think they were already watching it. [outside bar doors] Vecchio: Whoa, whoa, whoa, Red. You can't just go marching in there. I have a history with these people. They think that I'm one of them. You understand? Fraser: Ah. So you want me to blend into the crowd. Vecchio: You have a hat line embedded in your forehead. Fraser: Well, perhaps if we identified ourselves and then questioned them directly, they'd cooperate. Vecchio: And what would make them do that? Fraser [to Dief who has what appears to be a mans shirt in his mouth]: Did I not tell you to stay in the car? Let's go. Dief: urr? Fraser [comes back and looks directly at the wolf]: Let's. Go. [inside the bar] Vecchio: Hey Chuck how's it going? You still single? He he he. Life's a bitch huh. Listen, do me a favor. I'm looking for a friend of mine. Chuck: You're in the wrong neighborhood, Vecchio. You got no friends here. Vecchio: Aw come on Chuck. I got nothin but friends, everybody likes me. I do business with everybody. And um, I'd like to do a little business with Frankie Drake. You seen him around? Chuck: You know, Vecchio, the strangest thing. Every time I introduce you to someone the cops appear. Vecchio: I had some unreliable people working for me, Chuck. It happens. What can I say? Chuck: I don't know. Use your imagination. Vecchio: Hey, what the hell is going on? Chuck: You've been made man. Vecchio: Aw come on just because I carry a gun does that make me a cop? Okay. Okay, so maybe I offended some of you guys but uh, I know. I know. Let me make it up to you. I'll give five hundred dollars to anyone who knows what a moose sounds like. [Door bursts open] Fraser: Excuse me may I have your attention please. Thank you. Anyone carrying illegal weapons, if you would place them on the bar you are under arrest. [knife thrown, it's lands next to his head] You realize I'm going to have to confiscate that? Punk 1: Hey Dudley Do Right, you got no jurisdiction here. Fraser: Now that is true son. However, this gentleman does. Ray would you be so good as to show them your I.D. And now if you would all just step back, Detective Vecchio and I will collect your weapons. Punk 2: Would it be too much for us to ask you to show us your gun? Fraser: No, not at all. I carry a standard thirty eight caliber Smith and Wessen service revolver. Man: I got a Barretta, man, would you like to see it? Fraser: But without a local license, I am not permitted to use it. And that is why it's empty. Dief: Growl. Man: Whoa! Fraser: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, you're a good citizen. Vecchio: Okay, weapons on the bar. You heard the man. You, guns on the bar. Don't even think about it, Scarface. Fraser: Thank you. Thank you. I'll be back for those. Vecchio: Yo! Batman! [Drake starts shooting, Ray returns fire] Vecchio: Who carries an unloaded gun? Would I carry an unloaded gun? Would anyone I know carry an unloaded gun? What do they shoot people with in Canada, serviettes? Vecchio: Do the words bullets mean anything to you? Fraser: I think we're on the right track. [Drake ducks out the back] [phone booth] Drake: Francis Drake. Yeah -- like the explorer. Never heard that one before. Guess who? Well I thought you said there weren't going to be any complications. Yeah, yeah a big one. And it's wearin a hat. No-no. No-no. I'll take care of him myself but uh, I'm afraid there'll be an additional charge. Well yes, sir. My pleasure. [Walsh's Office] Walsh: One solid oak bar, sixteen tables, twelve chairs, one etched mirror, six by nine, one antique pool table, two doors, thirty two bottles of liquor and a Pabst Blue Ribbon neon clock. Does this seem like a fairly accurate list of the damages, Detective Vecchio? Vecchio: I don't believe the pool table was an antique, sir. Walsh: Oh, well, we'll never know now will we. Because all that's left is this bag of felt. Vecchio: I sought refuge of the item in question when the suspect pointed a shot gun in my direction and fired repeatedly sir. Walsh: Suspect. I'm glad we finally got around to that because I would hate to think we were responsible for all this damage without a very good reason. You say you identified him by his nose? Vecchio: Yes sir. Walsh: You didn't say something about his nose, causing him to fire repeatedly into the bar? Vecchio: Ah, no sir. Walsh: You just felt that his nose was so offensive that you decided to pursue and arrest him? Vecchio: Captain, the suspect is a known felon and you see I had this hunch that-- Walsh: You had a hunch? [laugh] A hunch! And you coupled your hunch with your positive identification of his nose. And this was the basis of your investigation. An investigation which resulted in injury of seven people. Three with gun shot wounds, two with broken limbs, one hospitalized with a concussion and one who claims to have been bitten by a wolf. Vecchio: The wolf was just trying to help sir. Walsh: They usually are. Fraser: If I could say something sir? Walsh: Well of course you can young man. I'm not sure exactly how a Mountie fits into this case but . . . I like to keep an open mind. Fraser: It was at my urging Detective Vecchio went to the bar. Walsh: Ah, so it wasn't just a hunch about a nose. You went there at the urging of a Mountie. Detective, how many open, unsolved crimes are on your desk right now? Vecchio: Forty one. Walsh: And how bout you Constable Fraser. How many open unsolved cases are you working on right now? Fraser: One sir. Walsh: One. Then as intrigued as I am by this case, let me suggest that you go back to your desk and you pick up any one of those open forty one files and you put your nose into it. And you keep it there until you have an epiphany. Vecchio: Yes sir. Walsh: Yes. [bullpin] Fraser: I'll write up a report. I'm sure he'll see this was all my responsibility. Vecchio: Yeah, thanks. You leave this number for a doctor somebody? Fraser: He called. Vecchio: So it says. Fraser: May I? [picks up phone] Coroner: Coroner's office. Fraser: This is Constable Fraser. Coroner: Oh, yeah, I was just about to put this in the mail to you. I uh I did that autopsy on that caribou you dropped off. It drowned. Fraser: I'm sorry? Coroner: Drowned. Lungs were full of water. That do anything for you? Fraser: It drank to much. Coroner: Yeah that's another way of looking at it. I'll uh I'll mail you the report. Fraser: Thank you. [hangs up phone. Then to Ray] How much do I owe you? Vecchio: Explanation. Fraser: A hundred yards from where my father died I found the carcasses of several dozen caribou. Coroner says they drowned. Vecchio: And I thought they were such great swimmers. Fraser: They didn't have to be. They drowned on dry land. For the call. I appreciate you putting yourself out for me.[Fraser is addressing envelopes and Dief is licking them shut. [LeeAnn watches. After Consulate closes, Fraser puts LeeAnn in a taxi] Fraser: Taxi! LeeAnn: You know. We even heard about your father down here. He was quiet the man. Fraser: Yes. He was a great man. Walk her to her door. Cabby: This is Canadian. Fraser: So is she. [sitting in a diner] Ten January, nineteen sixty nine. I tracked McClay up through Chilkat Pass. I found him at the top half a mile from the border. His ankle was broken, his ammunition spent. He just sat staring at the horizon. I took his rifle without a struggle. All he said was, 'Don't tell my son' and then he jumped. The man was falling to his death and all he cared about was how his son would remember him. I buried him there this morning. I'll tell Gerard he got away from me. The last time I saw Ben he was barely tall enough to reach my belt. When I said good-by, he shook my hand. Never a tear nor a complaint. Seven years old and he's already a stronger man than I'll ever be. Someday I'll tell him. [Vecchio shows up at the diner] Vecchio: You know I started thinkin when you left. Fraser: You solved all forty one cases? Vecchio: Well, I got restless, made a few calls. The truth? I checked every snitch I ever knew. No one's talkin. No one knows Drake, no one wants to know me. what's this? Fraser: It's my father's journal. I was just reading. Vecchio: Looking for something you missed? Fraser: Yeah. Vecchio: Nineteen sixty nine? Going back a ways. Find anything? Fraser: I don't know. Vecchio: Look. I know how you must feel. I mean if it was my old man? Well, if it was my old man, I'd be the last person you'd want on the case. He pretty much thought that I screwed up everything I ever touched. You know he's been dead for five years now and I still feel like I'm trying to prove myself to him? Your father want you to be a cop? Fraser: I don't know. All these years and I can't remember him asking me to do anything for him. Not one thing. This is the only time he's ever needed my help. Vecchio: You got any other family? Fraser: No. Vecchio: Well I'm gonna show you why you are a lucky man. Come on. [The Vecchio House] Mrs. Vecchio: Maria, you are not getting an annulment. Maria: Ma, how can you say that? The man is an animal. Mrs. Vecchio: You're among friends, use your fingers. Maria: Ma. Ma. He's a beast. Mrs. Vecchio: A man who buys his wife a leopard print house coat is no beast. Maria: For our anniversary? Five years we've been together. All he can come up with is a used house coat. Tony: It was not used. The guy just happened to sell lingerie out of the trunk. Vecchio: You make any sense out of the dead caribous? Fraser: Uh no. Um. Mrs. Vecchio: Francesca, you stay out of this. Francesca: Ma! Thank you! Fraser: Is it always like this? Vecchio: It's okay, they only attack the ones they love. Tony: I'll tell you ma Maria: Don't you call her Ma. And get your own Polenta. You ate it all. Tony: She's still my mother-in-law and I'll call her what I like. You understand. Mrs. Vecchio: All right, stop the arguing, I'll get the polenta. Francesca: No, Ma. Don't touch the polenta. He can get his own. Maria: He is my husband, I will tell him not to get the polenta. Francesca: Well maybe you should tell him not to get the polenta after all. Fraser: [clears throat] Perhaps I could get the polenta. Tony: Would you bring the pan please? Mrs. Vecchio: He's very nice . . . so polite. Vecchio: He's Canadian, Ma. Mrs. Vecchio: Oh, I thought he was sick or something. Francesca: Is he married? What?!? Fraser: Ray? Polenta? Vecchio: Uh, sorta like a yellow pemmican. Francesca: At least my husband never yelled at the dinner table. Maria: Maybe because he wasn't around long enough to have a full meal. Francesca: [Hey! No fair! It's Italian.] Vecchio: He broke her arm. He did? Fraser: I found the polenta. Vecchio: We gotta go. Fraser: I'll get my hat. Mrs. Vecchio: Who broke who's arm? Vecchio: Drake. He broke his wife's arm. Francesca: Of course he did, he's a man isn't he? Maria: Oh -- all men are evil just because you can't keep one. Francesca; Oh sure. Vecchio: Now if we find the ex-wife, we find Drake. This is a woman who'd love to see him behind bars. Fraser: Thanks for dinner, ma'am. Mrs. Vecchio: ooo You hardly ate anything. Wait I'll wrap it up. Francesca: It was very nice to meet you. Maybe next time you can bring your girlfriend. Fraser: Oh I'm afraid I-I don't-- Francesca: Oh really? Mrs. Vecchio: Raymondo. Vecchio: Maaaaa! [definite whine in his voice, but he comes back and kisses her cheek] Mrs. Vecchio: Hey. [more italian] [outside of Mrs. Drakes apartment house] Fraser: Looks dark. Vecchio: Eh driver's license says she still lives here. Now watch what you say to her you don't want to spook her. And take your lead from me you got to know how to play these people. [Fraser is tasting stuff on the street] Vecchio: What are you doing. Put that down you don't know where that's been. Oh no that is disgusting! Put that down. Don't do that. God! That is disgusting. Fraser: I'm sorry. Vecchio: Can't I take you anywhere? [Drakes apartment] Vecchio: Mrs. Drake, police may we come in? Thank you. Mrs. Drake: Do you have a warrant? Hey my kid is sleeping. Vecchio: We're looking for your husband, Mrs. Drake. Mrs. Drake: We're divorced he doesn't live here and get out of my house. Vecchio: But you know where he is. Mrs. Drake: Yeah we exchange love letters. I don't see him, I don't speak to him now get out of my house. Vecchio: Come on you don't want us taking you in. Wakin up the kid right?
Now has he seen his father?
Fraser: Ma'am we're sorry to disturb you. We won't keep you any longer. Let's go. Vecchio: What? Fraser: Ray. Vecchio: Great. You know maybe we shoulda had tea on your chesterfield instead. Fraser: Sorry, oh uh Mrs. Drake. When your husband was here this afternoon
did he threaten?
Fraser: We can protect you. Mrs. Drake: He's in Chinatown. Don't think you can just arrest him, kill the son of a bitch. [on the street] Vecchio: Okay. Okay. It was the mud, right? You knew it came off his shoe because when you sniffed it, it smelled like: Mud! I mean, what else does much smell like? Fraser: Perhaps it was something off the floor of the bar. Vecchio: Wood? No no no. Beer and maybe a peanut shells and when you tasted it, which by the way I can't believe you put that in your mouth you tasted the salt from the peanut shells and knew that he had been here, right? Fraser: Wrong. I guessed. I had a hunch. Vecchio: No no no no. You don't have hunches. I have hunches. Fraser: I had one of your hunches Ray. Felt good. Vecchio: And what was it with the mud? You put mud in your mouth. Fraser: Ray, she was looking out the window and I simply made her believe I found something. Vecchio: You made her believe you were a mud eater. I can't believe I'm sitting in the same car with you. Fraser: Where's this address? Vecchio: Why? What are you gonna do? Tell him to surrender or you're gonna eat something off the curb? [Mrs. Drake's apartment] Drake: It's very convincing. [to boy] Now let's put you and your mama to bed, huh? [Chinatown] Vecchio: One-two-seven hundred Franklin, one officer on the scene and tell 'em not to shoot the guy in the hat. Elaine: Back ups on the way. [on street] Vecchio: So where you from? Fraser: Is this a good time to be discussing this? Vecchio: Come on. We're two friends out for a walk. Where you from? Fraser: Well, I grew up with my grandparents in Inuvik. Vecchio: Really? Is that downtown Inuvik or the outskirts. Fraser: More the outskirts. Then when I was eight we moved to Alert and after that Tuktoyatuk. Vecchio: Ah, let me guess. Your grandparents were what -- nomadic glacier farmers? Fraser: Librarians. Do we have a warrant? Vecchio: Practically. [they break into the apartment] Vecchio: Here's a man who doesn't know how to spend his money. Fraser: You know Ray -- Vecchio: Fraser! [Then Ray pushes him out the window before the explosion] [hospital...with Vecchio in the bed] Vecchio: I uh I think this was a big mistake. Fraser: Yeah. Vecchio: I screwed up. I'm sorry. Fraser: Don't. Vecchio: Yeah. Gerard: Ben. You were suppose to work through the police. You'd no right to be in that apartment working this case. You'll have to come back with me. There'll be a fitness board hearing. I did what I could. Fraser: I know. Gerard: I'll get the car. LeeAnn: I'm sorry. Fraser: Diefenbaker. LeeAnn: Oh uh, I'll get him through quarantine. I'll have him back up north before you are. Fraser: Thank You. [Gerard's car] Gerard: You know what I was just thinking about? The first time I met your father. We were standing out for inspection and he had one boot on. Sergeant looks down at his feet and says - [Drake blows out the window] Fraser [to Gerard]: You okay? [Drake is in van, Fraser on the roof, they finally stop] Drake: Come on, come on, come on, move! Fraser: I've got him! Gerard: No, I got him. [and he shoots Drake dead] He reached for his knife. Fraser: There was no knife. Gerard: The man killed your father. He was reaching for his knife. We both saw it. [to arriving cops]: RCMP! [Canada]
Eric: This used to be a feeding ground for thousands of caribou. They lived off the land and so did we. Till the water came. They said it wouldn't change anything but now some nights the rivers run backward. Land becomes an ocean and the caribou die. And in the morning the ocean is gone all back here neat and tidy. Fraser: Why haven't you told someone. Eric: Told your father. He didn't do anything. Neither will you. Doo Mah! [on the road, near the dam] Fraser: He knew what they were doing at the dam. Gerard: Most people around here did. And they earn their livings off it. People want homes, jobs. You know how much money this dam brought into this community? How many people would be hurt if they shut it down? Progress has it's price. Fraser: And what was yours? They paid to keep quiet about it. He was going to turn you in. That's what I'm going to do. Gerard: I wasn't the only one they paid. Gave his whole life to the people up here. And all he ended up with was that shack of his. He wanted to buy a little piece of land up there some place. Ya blame him? Can you see your dad stuck in some government retirement home? Not likely. It wasn't easy to convince him to take the money but he finally did. [Gerard hold's out a bank book] Fraser: This is just a piece of paper. Gerard: Didn't start off such a big thing. They built the damn thing wrong. Can't hold that much water. So you twist a valve here press a button there you let out a little. Only it turned out to be more than a little and they had to keep doing it. I think when he saw what they were doing to the land he just couldn't live with it. He wanted out. They wanted me to do it. But I couldn't. I made the call. Fraser: He was your friend, you son of a bitch. [Holds a gun on Gerard, but he's shaking and you know he won't pull the trigger, he's just angry] Gerard: Yes, he was. Your father was a great man. A hell of a lot better man than me. And now he's only got one thing left. His reputation. Arrest me and you take away the only thing he loved more. It's your call. Check the bank, it's all there. I'm sorry. [town] Politician: The enormous prosperity which phase one of our operation has brought to this region will be more than doubled by phase two. A facility which will not only boon the economy of this unique community but which will when completed provide vital hydro electric power for the people and industries of most of the eastern seaport. Ladies and gentlemen with great pride I give you Phase two. Gerard: He won't cause any trouble.
Gerard: Yours or mine?
Vecchio: You ever think about getting a phone? We use em quite a bit in the states now. Maybe you seen the commercials for em. Fraser: Ray. Vecchio: Go ahead, shoot. Be a hell of a lot easier than getting out of this snowsuit. Fraser: You suppose to be out of the hospital? Vecchio: Figured out who did it. I was lying there and I just kept going over and over it in my head. Drake didn't have a phone in his apartment house. How did he do business. So I check out the pay phone at the bar we busted up. One call to Canada. Number in this area code. You know who he called? Fraser: Gerard. Vecchio: Exactly--You knew? Fraser: Yes. Vecchio: You couldn't have called and told me this? Fraser: I'm sorry. Vecchio: Dropped me a post card saying 'Hi, I've solved the case.' Fraser: My mistake. Vecchio: 'Don't bother crawling out of your deathbed and flying up to the armpit of the frozen north. I figured out who did it?' Fraser: Can I help you get out of that? Vecchio: Just point me to the john. [he looks around the room] Fraser: Well, uh . . . ***
Fraser: We wait for them to come. Vecchio: Yeah . . . and . . . Fraser: Then we arrest them. Vecchio: You see, that's such a simple plan that the American mind automatically tends to discount it, so let me run it back to you. We wait here. Gerard and God knows who else comes, sometime when? We're not sure. And then, when we least expect it, they shoot us dead with automatic weapons. Any part I left out? Fraser: Yes. I need Gerard alive to testify so we can't kill him. Vecchio: Oh, I don't think we're in any danger doing that. Fraser: When I graduated from the Academy, my father gave me one piece of advice. He said always . . . no, he said never . . . well actually he gave me two pieces of advice but I've forgotten the other one but the important one is, never chase a man over a cliff. Vecchio: That's suppose to mean something in Canadian, isn't it? Fraser: If you're going to take on a man, you'd better know more than he does. Our strength is I know this area better than anyone. There weakness is they think they have an advantage. Vecchio: Let me see that bag. Being an American, I also know where my strength lies, and that's in being as heavily armed as possible at all times. [dumps contents] It's all completely legal, I swear to you. Fraser: Time to feed the troops. [Vecchio makes it out a trap door and finds Fraser] Vecchio: You okay? Fraser: They're here. Vecchio: Yeah. They knocked. Fraser: This way. We're taking the sled. Vecchio: With dogs? Go go go. Mush mush. Yee-ha mush go. Fraser: Okay guys. [on sled, the chase continues] Fraser: Haw. Vecchio: Haw? What is Haw? Fraser: Left. Haw. Use that. [hands him a sled anchor] Vecchio: How? Fraser: Get down. Hang on. Vecchio: Watch the arm. Fraser: Hill. Haw. Look when we get past that bend, jump off. They'll follow me. Vecchio: Like Hell. Because I'll be dead from falling off the sled. Fraser: Just get this guy off my tail. I can take care of the other one. Vecchio: Alright. [jumps...groan...pant] aw geeze, geeze. I've got to have some more...[groan...he means bullets.] Gee! [throws a stick and gets the guy] Cool! Fraser: Ha ha [Man chaisng OFM goes over a cliff] Obviously your
father never gave you that piece of advice.
Fraser: It's over you cant cover this one up you shoot me and they'll hunt you to the ends of the earth. [gunshot] Innuit guy: Sorry I thought he was a caribou so many hunting accidents. Fraser: Hold on Diefenbaker... we'll get you fixed up open your eyes when I'm talking to you.. I said hold on... you never listen. Vecchio: Help me put him on the sled (Gerrard) Fraser: No we'll come back for him later. OK Guys. Vecchio: You know we just took out 7 guys 1 more and you qualify for American citizenship. [Reporter out side a court house] Reporter: In a stunning set back for the defence Gerrard pleaded guilty today and agreed to testify against his co defendent... now ... while attempting to distance itself from the murder trial the new government was quick to deny any wrong doing at its East Bay Power Plant... Maintaining that 10,000 caribou drowned in the forest as a result of a series of freak natural occurances... Phase 2 of the project is scheduled to begin construction this year... will flood a wilderness area the size of Germany. Shelley Perry Channel 6 news. The chief: You didn't make a lot of friends today. There is no record of your father making any withdrawals... None of the deposits were made in person... Ppl will believe what they want to believe, I know what I do. Fraser: I appreciate that. Chief: I talked to the super at your last job .. he suggested transfering you further north. Fraser: Well that would put me in Russia Sir. Chief: Seems the only ppl that do want you are in Chicago. If I were you I'd make do until things calm down. Fraser: How long will that be? Chief: You turned in one of your own.. It's not right but.... Fraser: Thanks for trying Sir... Chief: Everyone says he was the last of a breed... It's not true... you are. [The cabin... Ben nails up the shutters... Dief is whining] Fraser: I'm not carrying you... I'm not... All right *picks the wolf up* Just dont get comfortable. [Chicago... Fraser on sentry post... Ray trying to get a response from Fraser] Vecchio: Listen I just want to know if you can really smell whats in mud?? .. Cos I've been following this guy... Are you listening to me... I can't believe it I get my ass blown off for yu and you can't even nod... OK... How about winking... winkings against the law??? Guy who borrowed $100 dollars of B at the airport- Ah when he gets off work can you give him this ... its the hundred he lent me.... End
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