- It's Christmas Eve when Father Rojas at the Old Mission Plaza Church in Los Angeles discovers that the statue of the Infant Jesus is stolen from the crib. The statue's worth is only a few dollars, but it is of great sentimental value for the parish. Friday and Smith promise to try to get it back before mass on Christmas Day, but this means that they have less than 24 hours to catch the thief.—Maths Jesperson {maths.jesperson@bredband.net}
- Synopsis - The Big Little Jesus Season 3 Episode 17 12-24-53 Friday, Smith are small talking while Joe prepares his Christmas cards for mailing. They are working robbery when the phone rings, the Old Mission Church has had a theft, the baby Jesus statue was taken from the manger; gone. Friday, Smith are on the way to the church.
Joe narrates the church was at Sunset Blvd. and Main, it was there before the trains came to town; an old church. Father Xavier Rojas meets with the officers, saying the manger scene was put up every December 21st and taken down after the holy season; the infant statue was missing, it had been there thirty years. It was last scene the night before, the Father would like it returned before Christmas Day Mass, less than twenty-four hours. Friday, Smith say they would see what they could do. Father Rojas tells the men the statue can be replaced at a low cost, but it would not be the same, as children have come and some gone while the statue has been at the church.
Pawn shops are notified of the theft, one altar boy is questioned, he went home immediately after mass, the other altar boy was not at home, his father said he had a part-time job, but he would be able to meet the police afterward. Friday, Smith check with Mr. Flavin, a religious artifacts shop-owner, eccentric is Mr. Flavin, no luck with anyone selling him a statue.
Friday, Smith move on to their next possible lead. At HQ, Joseph Heffernan, the other altar boy comes in reporting the statue could have been there, but he was not certain. There was one person left in the sanctuary when he left, a familiar parishioner, no name given, a description given and a possible employer. Checking with the employer yielded nothing, but they did get his name, Claude Stroup. The altar boy noticed Stroup was carrying a bundle when he left the church.
The officers go to a transient hotel, where Stroup lives, talk to the desk clerk. He says Stroup is not in, telling the men of times long ago when Stroup was accused of a robbery. Friday thinks Stroup is their guy based on the bundle he was carrying and his past troubles. Friday, Smith leave word with the desk clerk to call them when he sees Claude, and not to say anything to him.
Friday narrates Stroup's name was run through records, there was no record of him under that name. The Captain insists they meet a criminal coming down from up north, priority over finding the statue even though the hotel clerk just called; Stroup is in the lobby. The Captain has a change of mind, says he can send two others to meet the bus, he orders Friday, Smith to attend to the missing statue.
Friday, Smith pick up Claud Stroup at his hotel and bring him downtown for questioning. He borrowed a friend's car, when he leaving, the car bumped another vehicle, that is what he thinks the police are questioning him. The bundle was his torn-pants in for repair. He says he would not take a statue. Friday says he does not think Claude would either; Friday tells him to go home, Smith says there is no report of any vehicle accident or otherwise. It is time they tell the priest they have been unsuccessful.
Friday, Smith go tell the priest they have had no luck finding the statue. The Father said he understood. A little boy is coming into the church, pulling a wagon, the statue is in the wagon. The Father addresses the boy as poquito. The boy's name is Paco Mendoza, he took the statue yesterday, saying he had promised the baby Jesus would have the first ride in the new wagon if his prayers were answered; he got the wagon. Paco Mendoza and Father Rojas return the statue to the manger.
Father Rojas explains the firemen fix old toys and give them to children. Paco's family is poor says Father; Friday replies, Are they Father? Friday, Smith walk out of the church; case closed.
Church interiors were photographed in the Old Mission Plaza Church, founded September 4, 1781, the founding date of The City of Los Angeles.
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