The Rookies (TV Series)

Blue Christmas (1974)

Bruce Fairbairn: Off. Chris Owens

Quotes 

• Off. Chris Owens : [Officers Chris Owens and Terry Webster are just beginning their Christmas Eve nighttime shift. Chris mentioned to Terry about how hungry he is]  Am I getting hungry.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is driving and he looks over at Chris, not believing what he's hearing]  You're always hungry.

  Off. Chris Owens : [Chris stares outside the window wistfully]  A couple of chili dogs would really go down now.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is astounded and stares over at Chris. His voice is flat as he speaks.]  You had chili dogs for lunch.

  Off. Chris Owens : I know... I got this thing for chili dogs.

  [as Chris finishes speaking, Terry pulls the car up to the curb] 

• Officer Terry Webster : [Officers Chris Owens and Terry Webster are pulling night duty on Christmas Eve. They're in their patrol car and Terry is driving. They're both very deep in thought as they patrol the city streets]  Mmmm... It's been a long night, huh?

  Off. Chris Owens : [Chris looks over at Terry, correcting his statement]  It's going to be one long night. It's only 10:00.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry had been teasing Chris earlier about his remembrances of his Christmases in Spokane. In an effort to break the monotony, he teasingly thumps the steering wheel to get Chris's attention]  It's been two hours since I've heard about a Spokane Christmas. So c'mon... let me hear about the snow and all that good trash.

  [Terry grins over at Chris] 

  Off. Chris Owens : [Chris assumes a mock-serious expression, as he's used to Terry's teasing him]  No, I don't think I'll talk about it.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is concentrating on his driving, but looks over again at Chris. He's trying to get him to loosen up]  Hmmm?

  Off. Chris Owens : I don't want to talk about it

  [Chris stubbornly refuses to play into Terry's bantering. Just then a call comes over the radio and he answers the call] 

• Officer Terry Webster : [Terry and Chris answer a call from an older lady about a prowler. She told them that he took off down her fire escape, and Chris goes to investigate. Terry re-holsters his revolver, then prepares to take her statement]  Can you tell me what happened, ma'am?

  Mrs. Lockett : [the woman is flustered as she looks up at Terry before answering. She walks into her kitchen]  Lockett. Mrs Margaret Lockett.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry follows her, then starts taking notes]  Mrs Lockett... Uh, what happened?

  Mrs. Lockett : [the lady turns around to face Terry. She's fairly calm, which Terry finds unusual, given that she called in about a prowler. Terry immediately picks up on that and handles his questioning of her carefully]  Well, I was baking some gingerbread men for my tree. I heard a noise. And there was a man standing on my fire escape. So I screamed, he ran, then I called you.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is gazing at the lady sympathetically. His voice is quiet]  Could you give me a description of him?

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett is quite flustered at Terry's question]  I really don't think I could... it all happened so suddenly. Officer, would you like a sandwich or something?

  [She reaches over and touches Terry's arm in a friendly gesture] 

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is slightly taken aback and he smiles at her, politely refusing her offer]  Oh, no... thank you, ma'am... no...

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett doesn't give up, as she's determined to show her thanks for the officers coming to her aid. She walks over to the kitchen counter, and picks up a tray of baked goods]  Well... how about a gingerbread man? I was just baking them...

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is still trying to get her statement and he once again politely refuses her offer. He walks into the kitchen as he's speaking]  No, thank you, Mrs Lockett...

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett is very determined that Terry accept some of her gingerbread men. She puts some into a bag as she's talking]  Well, I'm going to give some to take with you. Do you have children?

  [She looks back at Terry expectantly] 

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is flustered at this unexpected question, as he's a single guy with no kids. He manages to answer with a straight face]  No... I'm not married.

  Mrs. Lockett : Oh, that's too bad. I have a son, about your age and he's not married either. He's going to call me tonight. He's in New York. He calls me every holiday; he's a very good son.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is fairly sure that Mrs Lockett is very lonely and called the police as a diversion. He's very sympathetic and tries to draw her out]  I'm sure he is, ma'am.

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett walks to the refrigerator, talking all the while to Terry]  Would you like some turkey? I have lots of turkey...

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is touched by the woman's story, while trying to get her to answer his questions about the prowler. He attempts to proceed with his routine questioning]  Oh, no, thank you, ma'am. Umm, this man... you did say it was a man, didn't you?

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett removes a turkey from the refrigerator as she finally answers Terry's question. He closes the door as she walks over to the counter]  Well, he was about 6 feet, I'd say... You know, my son just loves turkey and dressing. Would you like some turkey and dressing? I make a very good dressing, if I say so myself.

  [She giggles as Terry leans on the counter, smiling at her] 

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is quite sure by now of just how lonely the woman is, tonight being Christmas Eve. He's very sympathetic as he gives up his questioning of her and asks her about her son]  How long has your son been in New York?

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett smiles, happy that she has someone to talk to]  Well, about 4 years. He's got a good job... he's very good to me. He pays the rent on this apartment.

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is touched, listening to Mrs Lockett and is sympathetic to just how alone she is. He gazes around the apartment thoughtfully]  Well, that's very nice.

  Mrs. Lockett : [Mrs Lockett looks up at Terry, a quizzical look on her face]  What time is it?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is smiling as he glances at his watch before answering]  Eight minutes past ten.

  Mrs. Lockett : [the older lady is slightly confused by Terry's answer. She smiles up at Terry apologetically]  I mean, New York time...

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry smiles indulgently as he answers quietly]  That would make it... eight minutes past one in the morning.

  Mrs. Lockett : Well, that's it, he's tied up in business. He always calls me... every holiday, never misses a one...

  [She shakes her head to emphasise her statement as Terry smiles at her pleasantly] 

  Officer Terry Webster : Maybe he'll call tomorrow.

  [Terry is listening intently to Mrs Lockett, at the same time quietly observing the apartment] 

  Mrs. Lockett : No, he always calls on Christmas Eve.

  [She smiles longingly, really wishing for her son to call] 

  Officer Terry Webster : Well it's very late in New York right now...

  [Terry is looking around the kitchen, waiting for Chris to return. At the same time, he's paying close attention to what Mrs Lockett is saying] 

  Mrs. Lockett : Well that's it, he's probably tied up with business. Probably a party at his boss's home.

  [She laughs nervously] 

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry is smiling at her sympathetically]  Probably...

  Off. Chris Owens : [Chris steps into the kitchen from the fire escape]  Terry, can I see you a minute?

  Officer Terry Webster : [Terry speaks politely to Mrs Lockett]  Excuse me...

  [He follows Chris into the living room. Chris proceeds to tell him how he found nothing unusual, to which Terry replies knowingly] 

  Officer Terry Webster : It's ok... It's ok...

  [the scene ends as the phone rings]