[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON RADIO]
MAN: Satler.
Reiss.
Maloney.
Murphy. Where the hell's Murphy?
Hey, Jafo!
Go find Murphy. Yes, sir.
[BEEPING]
Sir, Lieutenant Kress wants you on the pad.
Sir?
Lose something?
No. You're wanted on the pad.
Mind if I ask what you're doing? No.
I don't mind at all.
[♪♪♪]
Murph, feeling any pressure?
Yeah, about 15 pounds per square inch at sea level.
Where's Montoya?
Don't you check the duty board? He's on days.
Ooh, I forgot.
You're flying with that new guy, Lymangood.
The what? Me. Lymangood.
Outstanding.
[♪♪♪]
MAN [ON SPEAKER]: Captain Maloney and Officer Reiss, report to Operations.
[WHIRRING]
If it was me, I'd ground him.
He'll be all right.
Personally, I wouldn't fly with him for a bull that pissed Jack Daniels.
Is that right?
[♪♪♪]
All set? Yeah. Yes, sir.
You sure now? Yeah.
[♪♪♪]
MAN: Airship-12 rolling out at 1959 hours.
No, make that 2000 hours. Murphy and Lymangood.
Where the hell's Montoya?
They say he put in for days after that wingding that Murphy threw.
No shit. Let me call Departure.
L.A. Departure Control, Air-12 out at
22000. VFR 5000 will be coming to you 1.25.
Traffic advisory.
[♪♪♪]
MURPHY: Lymangood. Lymangood
what brings you to Air Support?
Oh, I don't know.
I just put in for observer. I kind of liked the idea of it.
No guns. No kicking in doors. You know, just quiet.
Oh, yeah.
LYMANGOOD: All these people! What do you suppose they're all doing down there?
Well, according to the latest statistics, 1,775,000 of them
are getting it on.
[LYMANGOOD CHUCKLING]
That many, huh?
The rest are waiting for Laverne and Shirley.
Well, let's see what we can see here.
Hey, I got a black guy in a beanie.
Looks like he's selling dope out of a van.
Is that a red beanie? Yeah, that's him.
This is primo, man. You want it?
He's ours. Undercover Buy Program.
Oh. Right, right. Right, right. Yeah.
You were at the briefing? Yes, sir. Guess I just forgot.
You're gonna fit right in.
WOMAN [ON RADIO]: Air-12, we have a 211 in progress
at the liquor store at Burbank and Vineland.
Suspect is a male Negro, orange shirt and cowboy hat.
That's for us. He's armed and has a hostage.
Well, call it in.
LYMANGOOD: Air-12 to Central. Proceeding to the 211 at Burbank and Vineland.
[WOMAN AND MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
MAN: Let's get out of here, man!
Bitch!
[WOMAN SCREAMING]
[SIREN WAILING]
MAN: You dumb idiot!
Air 12 to Ground: Your guy's heading toward the junkyard.
Orange shirt and a cowboy hat, huh? Whatever happened to inconspicuous?
Hit him! Hit him with the light.
LYMANGOOD: I got him.
Jesus Christ! Welcome to Air Support.
Ah!
Call an ambulance. Right.
[♪♪♪]
Look at that guy behind the dumpster.
Ground units! You got a man with a gun behind that dumpster there.
No, the other way!
All right, we're going down. We gotta dust him.
[♪♪♪]
MAN: Hit the ground, son. Hit it!
Code 4. They got it knocked.
[♪♪♪]
Sir, what was the business with the watch?
Back in the Ready Room, with the watch?
Sort of a test.
I read if you really think you're going over the edge
you lose your sense of time.
With your eyes shut, you can't tell 25 seconds from 5.
Oh, yeah, I get it, sir. Yes, sir.
Stop calling me "sir." You sound like David Copperfield.
Yes, sir. I mean, okay, sir.
Check that ride down there at 10 o'clock.
Which one? Underneath the tree.
LYMANGOOD: How do you see that shit?
MURPHY: See it? Yep.
It's got no plates on it. MURPHY: Well, call it in.
Abandoned vehicle. Right.
Air-12 to Central. Reporting an abandoned vehicle. It's a...
Come on, what kind of car?
LYMANGOOD: It's a light tan Chevy.
It's got no front plates. It's got no plates at all on it.
And it's near the top of the hill on Linden Road.
Very good.
Oh, thanks.
[DOG BARKING]
What time have you got? You got about 10:30?
Been talking to Montoya, haven't you?
Well, he did mention something about Encino.
Yeah, I suppose you deserve the full initiation.
You might as well have your picture taken.
LYMANGOOD: Montoya says he thinks she's some kind of movie actress.
Just my damn luck if they had her working overtime tonight.
Those bastards.
They're slave drivers. That's what they are.
They don't care how hard they work a person, just as long...
Oh, my God! There she is.
She's fantastic! Do you think she knows we're out here?
All she has to do is look out the window.
Ten-thirty, right on the dot!
If there's one quality that I admire in a person, it's punctuality.
And flexibility.
If a person says that they're gonna be at a certain place...
Oh, God!
How does she do that? How does she do that?
Beats the hell out of me.
Don't push on the pedals!
LYMANGOOD: Would you look at her tan?
It's so... Oh, it's so even!
Oh, my God!
What do you want? MAN: Get the briefcase!
I think she doesn't know.
Somebody does.
WOMAN [ON RADIO]: All units in the vicinity handle a rape in progress. 8792 Linden Road.
Damn it to hell. I knew it! Shit!
Identify and handle, code 3.
[♪♪♪]
Oh, shit! Come on, let's go, man!
MAN: Around the back.
Hold it! Freeze!
[GUNSHOTS]
MURPHY: He's bought it. Get on the other guy.
No, let them go! Please, let them go!
Over there. I got him.
[♪♪♪]
[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[SCREAMING]
Sir, you okay? Sir?
I'm fine. Fine.
Get him an ambulance.
LYMANGOOD: Air-12 requesting an ambulance at 3920 Linden Road.
How's the woman? LYMANGOOD: She looks bad.
Oh, hell! It's gone. LYMANGOOD: Sir?
MURPHY: The Chevy. The junker. The Chevy.
It's gone.
For God's sake!
MAN: Air-12, wind 150 degrees at 22, clear to land.
Air-14, 1150 degrees at 12, clear for takeoff.
The old man wants to see both of you. Right now!
I like your haircut. I like yours too.
BRADDOCK: You know, one of the really fun things about this job
is reading the complaints of the public.
For example, tonight here we have a fella
that didn't appreciate us disturbing his sleep.
I just hope I'm not called on by the chief to explain
why two of my people were hovering over Encino at 10:30
while Commissioner McNeely was getting the shit kicked out of her
in her very own front yard in fashionable Brentwood.
McNeely? That's her?
Of the mayor's special Task Force on Urban Violence.
A little touch of irony, if you like that sort of thing.
How is she? She was shot, Frank.
She's in Intensive Care. Shot by one of the rapists.
One of the rapists?
Assault. Attempted rape. That's what they're calling it downtown.
There wasn't any rape.
Case is closed. There's two toes tagged in the morgue.
That abandoned car we called in? The Chevy. That was a stakeout.
No stakeout. A make-out. Kids who couldn't afford a motel.
Kids go to Mulholland. They don't go to Brentwood. That's not the pattern.
Forget patterns, Frank. And get the hell off my desk, will you?
Get off!
All right.
It doesn't bother you that car has no plates?
That that car wasn't there when we came back?
That rapists don't travel in pairs?
What bothers me, Frank, is some son of a bitch may ask what you were doing
five miles out of your patrol area! Sir... Sir...
When I talk to you, I'll look at you.
It was my fault. I talked Murphy into taking us there.
You're supposed to be stupid, son. Don't abuse the privilege.
You think I haven't heard about that silly twit out there in Encino?
I had 20 years in this outfit when you were sitting in front of the TV
watching Bugs Bunny and gnawing on your Fudgsicle.
To jog your memory, Officer Murphy, there are people who don't like police officers.
They do not like the idea of helicopters flying over their homes
peeking in their windows.
You know what they'll do with this? They'll burn you,
me, your idiotic friend here, and my whole damn division.
I don't want my division burnt!
So here's the way it's coming down with you guys!
You're grounded. Both of you! Grounded?
I gotta figure out where the hell to hide you until this crap blows over.
Get out of here, Lymangood.
I mean, dismissed.
Stick around, Frank.
You know, the review board wants to have you up for psychiatric re-evaluation.
Oh, come on.
What do you expect after your little wig-out last month?
[♪♪♪]
But there's a bright side to this. And a moral.
I think morals are good for you. I love morals.
And the moral of this story is: If you are walking on eggs, don't hop.
That's it.
[♪♪♪]
Don't hop!
[♪♪♪]
[DOG BARKING]
WOMAN [ON MACHINE]: Hello. Listen, it's me.
I don't know whether a postcard from Laguna means that we're speaking again
but call me when you get in, okay?
Even if we're not speaking, call me. Please? Okay, huh? Please, huh?
[MACHINE BEEPING]
WOMAN: Hello. I'm back.
Is there no getting rid of this chick?
Uh, the reason I'm pressing is that I've got a really big favor I need.
I'm desperate! Desperate!
Uh, no matter what time it is, call me.
Please. Bye.
[CAR APPROACHING]
Freeze!
For chrissake, Murphy!
You wanna get yourself killed?
You bozo! How many burglars come in the front door with a key?
You scared the shit out of me. I'm sorry.
Came to make friends.
Here's your key.
Well, I guess that makes that official.
Where's my blender? I need it.
At 3:00 a.m.?
Well, Frank, you have this problem. You don't return phone calls.
It's in the kitchen.
Hold him for me, will you?
This kid must be deaf.
You coming? Where?
The Shocks' anniversary party. You remember.
Annie's been open for a year now. We're gonna have guacamole
and margaritas
and chili rellenos...
Fat chance, huh?
That must've been some leave you had down there in Laguna.
What did you do? Spend all your time on the pistol range?
Oh, here it is!
Hey, what's this?
[♪♪♪]
This is beautiful. Really!
Could I please borrow this...? No.
I'll wash it and everything.
No, you can't. It already belongs to you. I bought it for your birthday.
Really? I thought I gave you that damn thing.
Never mind. This is beautiful. I love it!
KATE: Frank, I miss you.
I don't eat. I don't seem to sleep.
MURPHY: Maybe you ought to trade me in on a surfer.
Well, I tried that once, but it didn't work.
Come to think of it, neither did he.
Good night, Murphy.
Oh. Good night, you little faker.
Watch your legs.
Frank,
we gotta get serious.
Now, I know you have a lot of problems right now
and I'd really like to help you.
Uh-huh. "You can run, but you can't hide."
Joe Louis. That's very good. That's what I mean!
Frank, I'm gonna have to get tough on you. Are you ready for that?
I'm ready.
[♪♪♪]
MAN [ON SPEAKER]: Five, four, three, two, one...
Cue Mario, take one.
MAN [ON TV]: The top story is still the assault and attempted rape of Diana McNeely
of the mayor's Task Force on Urban Violence.
McNeely's still on the critical list.
We spoke to Chief Jensen about the latest news.
JENSEN: We have nothing on the two assailants.
They were without identification,
probably Latin American and almost certainly illegal aliens.
Our fingerprint teams are going over their car
which was stolen from a Santa Monica parking lot.
MAN: It is unclear what impact this latest incident will have
on the minority community and the increasing racial tensions that...
We've just received word
that Alf Hewitt is standing by St. Joseph's for a live report.
Commissioner Diana McNeely died at 8:47 a.m.
due to complications from a gunshot wound which penetrated her neck
and lodged in her spinal column beneath the third cervical vertebrae.
Miss McNeely never regained consciousness
and if she had lived, she would've been totally paralysed.
This is Alf Hewitt, life from St. Joseph's Hospital.
[♪♪♪]
[BEEPING]
[♪♪♪]
[BEEPER BEEPING]
I've been trying to get you all night. Why don't you answer your beeper?
I just wanna tell you, Jack, that next time I'm suspended, so's my fucking beeper!
Feel better? Yeah, a little.
Then get your ass down here. We just came up with a hot mince pie under each arm.
[HELICOPTER HOVERING]
You're back on flying status. Oh?
You're assigned a special detail.
This is Mr. Icelan, Mr. Fletcher, from Washington.
Mr. Frank Murphy.
Yeah, we're glad we found you. We're due at the weapons testing range at...
What do they call that place? Pinkville.
Everything I'm about to tell you is highly classified.
You don't discuss it with anybody. We're testing a new helicopter prototype.
We've got our own pilot
but your city's been chosen as the testing area
and your mayor is very anxious that his people participate.
MURPHY: Ours is not to reason why
ours is but to submit to the vagaries of local politicians.
Smoke? Frank, is it?
No. Yes.
No: smoke. Yes: Frank.
[CHUCKLING]
I understand that you flew in Nam, Frank.
That's right.
Two tours, was it? One and a half.
Why the foreshortened tour, Frank?
You know what they say about a sucking chest wound.
Nature's way of telling you it's time to go home.
Yeah, right. Right.
You gonna tell us about this special detail?
Yeah, a lot of people are looking forward to the Olympics out here.
And for a few short weeks, the attention of the world is gonna be focused on this town.
And every nutcase and terrorist
and crazy with a pipe bomb and a cause is drooling about it already.
And that's what this detail's all about.
The potential for catastrophe.
We don't want any Munich massacres out here.
Are you talking about crowd control from the air?
Give that man a cigar.
That's been tried before. It didn't work out so hot.
Yeah, where was that? Vietnam.
Ah...
We added a few new wrinkles.
Such as? You'll see, Frank. You'll see.
[♪♪♪]
MURPHY: You say this thing has antiterrorist capabilities. You saying it's armed?
That I am. That it is.
That sounds like it now.
I thought it was illegal to arm police helicopters.
That would depend on the circumstances, wouldn't it?
MURPHY: A lot of people ain't gonna like this.
What do you call that thing, an "airbuster"?
The Special. But somebody hung a nickname on it.
MURPHY: What? Somebody hung a nickname on it.
Blue Thunder.
[♪♪♪]
MAN: Look, gentlemen, you wanna take your seats? Here she comes.
She don't look normal,
she don't fly normal, because she ain't normal.
This whole ship is heavily armored
with Nordoc NATO armor one inch thick.
This ship is equipped with a forward mounted 20 mm electric cannon.
Its six barrels are capable
of firing 4000 rounds of ammunition per minute.
And that, gentlemen, is one hell of a shit storm in anybody's language.
Now, let's take a look
and watch the lady strut her stuff.
The red dummies represent terrorists, the white are civilians. Innocent bystanders.
Now, the object is for our pilot to knock out
the red dummies and the black cars.
He shouldn't touch any of the others.
You see, in a riot situation, we just want to get the bad guys
and protect the innocents.
[♪♪♪]
Oh, my God!
That kind of firepower would only be used in our worst-case scenario
like armed insurrection.
It's comforting to know you got it on tap.
MAN: Gentlemen, let me have your attention.
Now notice the selectivity of the firing.
This is not a strafing run where you tear up a whole street.
This little lady picks her targets carefully. Now you watch.
[♪♪♪]
Look at that. All the red dummies are blown to hell.
Yeah, and a few white ones.
One civilian dead for every 10 terrorists. That's an acceptable ratio.
Unless you're one of the civilians.
MAN: All right. Last pass, gentlemen. Anybody wanna bet on the school bus?
We haven't told our pilot everything about the bus.
Let's see if he can pick up on what's wrong with it.
Damn it! Bloody gun!
MAN: All right, gentlemen, if you come down below, we'll take a closer look
and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Terrific shooting, colonel. It was beautiful.
Oh, beautiful, was it?
Goddamn it! I had another stoppage.
I nearly killed you on that second pass.
If it happens again, I'll have their balls for breakfast.
Come over here. There's somebody I want you to meet.
Well, what do you know.
Friend of yours?
An old war buddy. The bastard tried to have me court-martialled once.
Sorry I brought it up.
Well, well, look who it isn't.
Colonel Cochrane, this is Captain Braddock of Astro Division.
And Frank Murphy. Frank'll do the actual testing over the city.
Finally made colonel?
If you're a nice guy, nice things happen to you.
I'll try to remember that.
MAN: Step this way for any questions.
How did we draw him?
He was assigned to us, he and his observer.
I didn't realize you were acquainted. Only too well, I'm afraid.
I'd have had that bastard up on charges if he hadn't caught some shrapnel.
He's totally unsuitable for our purpose.
I'll call Mr. Holmes tonight.
No, don't bother him. I think we can handle it.
MAN: ...30 million candlepower night sun with an infrared filter.
Over here is your TV camera, with 100-to-1 zoom lens.
We could've used this in Nam. We could've used something.
Do you think you can fly it?
You flew it, didn't you?
I'll check you out myself tomorrow.
Be on the pad, 12 sharp.
Twelve sharp.
Catch you later.
Stand back from there.
Irritating little cocksucker, isn't he?
Hey, tequila breath! My man in the sky.
How do you like day shifts? My bride's happier. But me?
So, what's happening? I gotta go take a flight check.
But listen, what do you make of this?
What it is?
I don't know. I found it where Diana McNeely was killed.
I think it's about that urban violence stuff.
Can you translate this? It's all in Spanish.
I gotta log in, but I'll get back to you later.
All right. Keep it under your hat.
Boss, right under the hat. Look at this!
MURPHY: I gotta get dressed. I'll see you in a second.
Hey, thanks for the hat.
How's it going? What's this "JAFO" shit?
Look up. Look down. Look left. Look right.
I said, "Don't worry." What's JAFO?
You know what he told me the other day? Montoya?
He told me you looped one of those things. A helicopter.
You didn't. He's putting me on, right?
No, he wasn't.
You mean you actually looped a chopper?
That's right. When?
MURPHY: When I was young and stupid.
LYMANGOOD: You're telling me it was a complete 360? Right over the top?
A full loop. I thought that was impossible.
It is. It's aerodynamically impossible.
Anyone who tells you any different is a damn liar.
Now, you take the Ranger and I'll be in my bird.
We'll have a little game. Follow my leader.
[♪♪♪]
"Follow my leader."
Catch you later.
"Catch you later."
[♪♪♪]
COCHRANE: Murphy, this is Cochrane.
Join formation with me, echelon right. And keep it tight.
Roger that, colonel.
Wanna show me that loop, Murphy?
Negatory.
I thought so. Okay, slide over to my left.
[♪♪♪]
COCHRANE: Come on, keep it tight.
Christ!
Any closer, we start eating blades.
We're following his leader.
[LYMANGOOD CHUCKLING]
Okay. Now push it over and pick up speed.
[♪♪♪]
Now follow me through a high-speed climbing turn.
[♪♪♪]
[WHISTLING]
COCHRANE: Level out at 500 feet.
All right, Mr. Murphy. You take the lead.
Roger that.
[♪♪♪]
Whoa.
Damn! Damn it! Oh, shit!
We got a runaway!
Jeez! What was that?
Grab your ankles and kiss your ass goodbye. We're going down.
Shit!
Mayday! Mayday!
We're going down.
Willowbrook and Alameda. Request ambulance, fire.
Shut the fuel off. Shut the fuel off! What? Fuel?
[CHILDREN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[HONKING]
MAN: Heads up!
Jesus! Where'd that bus come from?
MURPHY: Steady. We're gonna make a little house call.
COCHRANE: Central, this is Blue Thunder.
It seems that we have a ship down, somewhere in the Watts area.
Are you all right? Huh? Huh?
Are you all right? Yeah.
Get the hell off me!
[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
MAN: I hope you broke your fucking neck!
Hey! Hey! hey!
MAN: You could've killed half of my crew!
You knocked down the whole damn shack! Get the hell out of here!
MURPHY: Listen, Dick. Thanks a lot. MAN: Be careful.
Take care. See you.
Rather a near thing today. I heard your turbine failed.
Or was it your flying?
Back off, asshole.
Oh. What's that I hear? Threats?
Well, what a change. We are acting brave nowadays.
Are you threatening me, Murphy?
No, I'm telling you. Back off.
Catch you later.
Can I see your watch? Sure.
You know where it is, don't you?
Are you losing weight?
Getting older too. I think you have to make a turn up here.
Getting enough sleep?
Are we having two different conversations or I am going nuts?
The train ride. The train ride. I'll find it.
If you don't run out of gas first. What?
When that little needle points to empty, it means you're out of gas.
KATE: That's broken. We got plenty.
Mommy! You missed the train ride.
Huh? Oh. Hang on.
MAN: Are you crazy? MURPHY: This a one-way street!
KATE: I won't tell if you won't tell!
Here we are. Jeez, look out.
MONTOYA: I'll tell you one thing, it's hard to read.
Yeah, I know. It's part of a letter.
It says something about strangers in the barrio making trouble.
I don't know. Something like that. Ah, here's a word
that isn't in Spanish: "Thor."
T-H-O-R.
Thor? Mean anything?
No.
Strangers in the barrio making trouble.
I don't know.
Maybe I've been in this too long, but I got a feeling something bad's coming down.
Practically the entire official family of Los Angeles, led by the mayor
and the city council, was gathered together with close family members
and members of the black community at the funeral of Diana McNeely
who was tragically murdered in her carport several days ago.
Food's up in a minute!
Although McNeely, who chaired the Commission on Urban Violence
was an outspoken critic of many of the police department policies,
the chief was in evidence, as were many of his department heads
As temperatures stay high and tempers continue to fray
fires continue in the Watts area,
the City of Industry, Pacoima and East Los Angeles.
Frank? You want ketchup on your sandwich?
Now where did he go?
Hey, Frank.
Frank, did you say you wanted...?
Frank?
[KNOCKING]
Frank, are you okay?
Frank?
Is this something kinky?
Goddamn your black Irish heart
Frances McNeil Murphy, if you've left!
[♪♪♪]
[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[♪♪♪]
MAN: These are your television monitors. You have three.
The one in the center ties into all your computer banks.
The switches:
Night vision.
Infrared filter. Target system.
Whisper mode so you can travel silent.
Audio, which controls your outside mikes which are here.
MURPHY: What's the sensitivity?
You can hear a mouse fart at 2000 feet.
[CHUCKLING]
Now, gentlemen. This is your Harrison fire-control helmet.
This baby is the heart of your system.
Let's take a look and see how she works.
Watch this.
It superimposes the gun cues on the real world.
Wherever you look, the guns follow.
You can zero in on any target you want
just by putting the green tracer line on your target.
You wanna give it a shot?
Yeah.
What's that, 3/4-inch video?
You know something about it?
That was my rate in the Navy. What ship?
Midway. No shit. I was on the Forrestal.
It's a hell of a setup. Let me show it to you here.
It goes in a locked memory bank here in the belly.
Each reel is code-numbered.
This little bug erases the tape on a signal from Central Command.
The tape's gotta be inside the case to erase.
LYMANGOOD: It only erases in the case? That's great.
MAN: Adjust for your eye until the red dot rides on your tracer line.
Then press the cannon button and zap! Where you look is where you hit.
Sunshine! Just blew your gizzard away.
What's all this shit I hear about you threatening Cochrane?
Thank you, sergeant.
What?
In the police garage. After your crack-up.
Feeling a little hostility, Frank?
I just told him to back off, that's all.
That's all? Well, it's enough.
You see, they don't care if you kill yourself. They got $5 million in this aircraft.
They don't want to see it totaled.
Some kind of bullshit.
Hey.
If you want my opinion
I think the feds are after your ass. Better watch it.
Okay, thanks.
[♪♪♪]
Hey, Matusek? How do you control the oscillation of the quartz here?
Oh, it's the difference between the output of the generator signals. See?
Hey, Jafo. This isn't any night school.
We got a test flight to make out there.
Good night. Good night, kid. Take it easy.
[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON RADIO]
Big Brother, on or off? What's Big Brother?
The cabin mike. It records everything we say.
I think we can lose that. Don't you?
Yeah, I got the fuse right here.
MURPHY: Get your hat off those circuit breakers.
Tell me what JAFO is. I'm putting the fuse under here.
You'll find out. Just be patient.
Night vision. Checked, okay.
Target systems checked, okay.
Let's see what's on HBO tonight, okay?
[BEEPING]
Blue Thunder to Tower, requests permission for takeoff.
Blue Thunder, Tower unable to issue departure clearance at this time. Hold your position.
MAN 1: This isn't a very good idea. He hasn't even got clearance.
MAN 2: It's just an orientation flight.
Holmes is arriving tonight. Let him take care of it.
MAN 3: What do you want to do? MAN 2: Clear him.
Blue Thunder, Tower. Wind 330 degrees at 15.
Cleared for takeoff.
[♪♪♪]
MURPHY [ON RADIO]: Roger, Tower. Blue Thunder off at 2030.
Be coming to you. Traffic advisories.
Let's hope he knows what he's doing.
How does she fly? It's nose-heavier than the ayatollah.
LYMANGOOD: You're crazy. This stuff's great.
MURPHY: Great, huh?
Okay, let's see what this turkey's got. Let's go!
[♪♪♪]
[CHUCKLING]
Mama!
Hey, hey. Orbit right. What?
Orbit right.
WOMAN: Hi there. LYMANGOOD: You gotta hear this.
MAN: I wondered if you knew where a guy could get something good to eat.
WOMAN: Well, it depends on what a guy's hungry for. Know what I mean?
I'm going to video.
MAN: A little sushi would be nice.
Sushi? Remember the last time we did this?
Try the zoom. Zoom, right.
MAN: Seventy-five?
Are we talking about American money?
WOMAN: We certainly are.
MAN: Come on, lady. You know...
Ba, ba, ba, boo. Do you see...? Look at this. Hot Chihuahua!
MAN: Honey, that's a little steep.
I want it! I want it!
Let's lose this asshole. He's breaking my heart.
No. no. Come on. We gotta go to work.
LYMANGOOD: Bye-bye.
[♪♪♪]
I dig this police work.
Yeah. You're breathing heavy.
[LYMANGOOD LAUGHING]
MURPHY: All right, here goes the whisper mode.
Whisper mode.
That's a check.
MURPHY: Ooh. Hey, that's smooth!
MURPHY: Forest Lawn.
Hey. Check this place out here at 3:30.
Is that a state cycle in the driveway?
Yeah. That's highway patrol. MURPHY: Can you make the license?
Can you bring it around? Yeah.
LYMANGOOD: That's 221 Bravo 6.
Hey, I know that cycle. Jack Moran. Double Dork.
Double Dork?
Try that thermograph.
Thermograph. Cutting in thermograph.
Coming in.
The motor looks hot.
MURPHY: Yeah, it hasn't been there too long.
Want me to see if the owner's home? Sure. Can we do it?
Yeah. That guy, Matusek, he cleared me this morning.
It'll do everything but cook your breakfast.
H23.
Let's see, the house is right here.
She's there!
MURPHY: How does the computer know?
They people here clear it with their security patrol
and then they zap it right to us.
[WOMAN AND MAN MOANING]
Oh! Oh!
Let the good times roll!
WOMAN: Yes. Yes.
[LAUGHING]
WOMAN: No, no!
Not yet. Not yet.
No, I'm not ready!
No!
[MAN MOANING]
WOMAN: Stupid putz!
Sounds like Double Dork is missing a step or two.
We recorded all this? LYMANGOOD: Yeah. It's all on tape.
It's locked in the memory in the belly.
MURPHY: Listen, old Double Dork's entitled to a quickie. Don't you?
LYMANGOOD: Absolutely.
MURPHY: Can you erase that tape? Yeah.
The memory bank's locked, but I can get in there.
MURPHY: Good.
Hears through walls, fires 4000 rounds a minute
and peeks down dresses at 1000 feet. Jesus Christ!
There is more than that. This terminal here is hooked into every data bank that there is.
A dozen of these and you could run the whole country.
Watch this. I feed it my name, right?
They got your whole life in here.
Hit mine.
Murphy.
Frankie.
[♪♪♪]
File under repair?
Did you break your file? That's weird.
COCHRANE [ON RADIO]: Base to Blue Thunder.
Yeah, Blue Thunder.
It's a wrap tonight. Come on home. LYMANGOOD: Ten-4.
Right, I'd better get going.
You'd better go too, Mr. Fletcher.
I'll come along when he's in. Yeah, right.
[♪♪♪]
MAN [ON RADIO]: Blue Thunder, wind 270 degrees at 12.
Blue Thunder to base, final approach.
Altimeter, two-niner-niner-five. Cleared to land.
[BEEPING]
Hey, does Cochrane drive a gray Corvette?
Yeah. Why?
Check 9:00. He's in some kind of hurry.
MURPHY: Oh, yeah.
Listen. Check Cochrane out.
On the computer? Yeah. I'm gonna tag along.
MAN: Blue Thunder, this is Tower.
Do you copy? Is there a problem?
That's Cochrane, F.E., U.S. Army. Cochrane.
F.E. What's F.E. stand for?
"Fuck Everybody."
LYMANGOOD: Gnarly!
We're almost there.
MAN [ON RADIO]: This is Tower. Do you copy?
Special Base, you're coming in very garbled. Can't read you.
LYMANGOOD: I got Washington.
Go for it.
Cannot read you, Special Base. Still garbled.
Blue Thunder, come in. Do you read me?
MURPHY: Breaking up, Special Base. Can't read you. Still garbled.
Here it comes.
MURPHY: "Sole survivor"? Is he kidding?
"Project Thor." Wait. Find out what that is.
LYMANGOOD: Request information:
Thor Project.
I got it. Here it comes.
MURPHY: "Tactical Helicopter Offensive Response."
Offensive response?
What does that mean?
Washington's jerking us around. They've got bigger plans for this.
MAN [ON RADIO]: Blue Thunder, you will acknowledge.
LYMANGOOD: Oh, shit!
Blue Thunder to Special Base...
[WHISTLING]
Oh, shit!
Oh. He's going in there. Yeah. Where are we?
Federal Building. Really?
Wanna see what's going on in there?
I certainly do. Here goes the whisper mode.
[♪♪♪]
You get anything?
I just had a good shot of a couple guys emptying trash.
Can't use it.
BRADDOCK: Goddamn it to hell! What's going on out there?
I'm holding you responsible for that man's behavior.
Dr. Haycock strongly recommended he be grounded.
For your information, Mr. Icelan,
there are no paranoid schizophrenics on duty here.
You know he checks his sanity with his wristwatch!
What do you check yours with? A dipstick?
I don't have to take crap from you.
He's finished as of now.
And if there's one scratch on that aircraft, so are you.
All right, try the thermograph. Yeah.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
LYMANGOOD: I told you it was cool.
Lovely, lovely!
Park here. I'll bring it around.
I think I got something!
[BEEPING]
Hey, it locked! Yeah. Hold it, hold it.
MAN 1 [ON RADIO]: I fail to understand.
MAN 2: The Astro Division is autonomous. The man was assigned to us.
McNeely complicated it. Fletcher!
MAN 3: I can't say you people have covered yourselves with glory so far.
If she hadn't started shouting, we wouldn't have had to rough her up.
Rough her up?
Is that the latest euphemism for "assassination"?
MAN 4: Well, she had street informants, and she'd made the connection
between our project and the trouble in the streets.
MAN 5: She was going public, on the record.
Who are these other guys? Shh!
They can't hear me. Shut up anyway!
MAN 1: This pilot, uh... MAN 2: Murphy. Frank Murphy.
MAN 1: Is that under control? I don't want premature attention.
Blue Thunder might be perceived as a threat.
MAN 3: Drop the hammer on him. HOLMES: What do you think?
I think, Mr. Holmes, that I should take him out.
You mean kill him? When?
COCHRANE: As soon as possible.
Jesus Christ, Frank!
The boy's crazy about me. You got all this on tape?
I got every word of it. Good.
HOLMES: Give him all the help he needs.
This conversation never took place.
If it gets back to me, I'll deny it.
Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
LYMANGOOD: Oh, shit!
Hold your nose, we're in deep shit! Let's get the hell out!
[♪♪♪]
MURPHY [ON RADIO]: Tower, we have 330 degrees and 15.
Altimeter still 3000. Clear to land?
MAN: Air-12 traffic, 1 o'clock two miles north-eastbound.
It's a Cessna 182 at 5000 VFR.
Blue Thunder down at 2130.
Captain wants to see you in the office right away.
LYMANGOOD: I'll get the tape's keycard.
MURPHY: Be careful.
Yes, sir. I will.
Well, sir, he's... He's not that...
[KNOCKING]
BRADDOCK: Very well, sir.
I will.
All right, sir. I will.
Yes, thank you.
Did you have a nice flight? I enjoyed it.
Well, I hope so. It's your last for a while.
Now listen, Jack... No, you listen.
That's how it is from now on:
Me captain, you cop. Me talk, you listen.
If I don't have an ass when I get out of this chair
it's because the old man chewed it off just like that.
I think you're beautiful when you're angry, but let's talk privately.
We don't have any secrets from Mr. Icelan.
You're off the program, Frank. You and your buddy Lymangood.
I'll be lucky if I'm not in Pacoima tomorrow
driving a black-and-white.
[PHONE RINGING]
Captain Braddock speaking.
Yes, sir. He's here, colonel.
Icelan.
Hey, guys, don't forget to check under the hood.
Just gonna get my cuff links.
Yeah.
Who are you conning with that phony radio bullshit?
For chrissakes, that went out three days after Marconi invented it!
[PHONE RINGING]
Captain Braddock speaking.
[♪♪♪]
BRADDOCK: Yes, sir.
It's taken care of.
ICELAN: Who unlocked the memory bank?
It was that tall numb-nuts cop.
Lymangood? You got it.
Son of a bitch!
[♪♪♪]
Hey!
MAN: Get his gun!
Take it easy.
Pay attention. Pay attention!
We don't wanna hurt you. We want the tape.
Let's be reasonable.
You're gonna tell us what we wanna know sooner or later.
And I think you'd rather it be sooner.
Because first, we're gonna break your fingers,
then your arm, and then maybe your knees.
Now, I know you don't believe me
so I'm gonna show you.
[GROANING]
Now, can it be sooner?
The tape.
It's in your car?
Check the car.
[♪♪♪]
You wanna tell us where it is?
Yeah.
You wanna write it down? Thattaboy!
[♪♪♪]
[MAN GROANS]
[♪♪♪]
[ENGINE STARTING]
[♪♪♪]
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
[♪♪♪]
WOMAN [ON RADIO]: All units, detain and hold for questioning
Officer Frank Murphy
in connection with the death of Officer Lymangood.
Possibly driving a black '79 Trans Am
California license, 909 King-Edward-Boy.
I want to get a confirmation on that.
This is Air-12 to Central.
Can we get a confirmation on that last dispatch, please?
WOMAN: Black '79 Trans Am. California license 909 King-Edward-Boy.
Frank Murphy. Detain and hold for questioning
in connection with the death of Officer Richard Lymangood.
[BEEPING]
COCHRANE [ON MACHINE]: So far, so good.
Check out Big Brother's tape in Blue Thunder to learn more.
KATE: I just heard about Lymangood. I'm really sorry.
Call me if you want to talk.
[MEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Here's your tea, colonel. Thank you.
Why don't we just blank the tape?
That's what it's designed for, right?
They tell me Lymangood changed the code numbers.
To go through every possible combination would take forever.
Ugh. The trouble is, we don't have forever.
LYMANGOOD: Hey, boss. How's it going?
Listen, I got the tape
but I can't take it home. It's not safe to take it home.
So I think I'm gonna take it... There's this drive-in that I go to
at Riverside and Victory, on the corner.
There's a dumpster in the back, behind the concession stand.
And I'm pretty sure they don't empty it until Monday.
So that's where I'm gonna stash the tape, okay?
This is getting kind of fun, huh? Cops and robbers, for real!
Well...
Good luck if you should decide to accept this mission.
This is Lymangood.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. I found out what "JAFO" is:
"Just Another Fucking Observer."
[KNOCKING]
You're not supposed to be in there. Get the fuck out!
You talking to me, asshole?
[♪♪♪]
Damn!
MAN [ON RADIO]: This is Special Base. Come in.
Shit!
WOMAN: Los Angeles mobile.
Mobile, listen. Get me KBLA-TV.
That number's listed in your directory.
Don't give me any static. This is a police emergency.
Get me KBLA-TV right now!
MAN [ON PHONE]: Good afternoon, KBLA-TV.
MURPHY: I want to speak to Mario Machado or Alf Hewitt.
They're not here, they're out in the field. Wanna leave a message?
Tell them this is Officer Frank Murphy calling. Astro Division.
I'm sending them a package. Do you read me?
That's Frank Astro?
No, no, Frank Murphy. Astro Division,
police emergency. You got it, sweetheart?
Yeah, I got it. MURPHY: Okay.
Mobile? Mobile? WOMAN: Los Angeles mobile.
MURPHY: Listen, I need another number.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello? MURPHY: Kate, it's Frank.
Frank, where are you? I've been worried sick.
I'm okay, baby. Do me a favor and pick up a package for me.
It's in a drive-in at the corner of Victory and Riverside.
It's right near the concession stand. It's in a dumpster.
Yeah? And then what?
Take it to KBLA-TV. To Mario Machado or Alf Hewitt.
Don't stop for anything or anybody. Got it.
Okay. Thank you, baby. KATE: Bye.
[♪♪♪]
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Where is he now?
Over the Hollywood and Ventura Freeway interchange.
Fletcher, get the mayor's office on the phone.
We're gonna get the Air Force, Braddock, and now!
He called Channel 8 first. The second call was to his girlfriend.
Look, forget about the police. Get our own cars to her place and that TV station!
Looks like the bastard wants to go public!
We'll stop that. Yeah, we'd better!
[HONKING]
[SIREN WAILING]
Come on, move out!
Move, move!
[SIREN WAILING]
MAN: Damn it, I can't see nothing! There she goes!
MAN [ON RADIO]: Air-7 to Special One.
[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]
No shit, pendejo!
Hey, you got to set that thing down, man.
We got two choppers full of SWAT guys.
Oh. It's getting real cozy up here.
Return to base or we're gonna open fire.
Come on, will you, Murphy?
All right, knock him down.
Okay, amigo, how's your auto-rotation technique?
Son of a bitch!
Damn it! Hang on!
Sorry about that, my friend.
Ah! Not again!
All right, chaps. How'd you like to follow my leader?
[♪♪♪]
[GUNFIRE]
[♪♪♪]
- Pull up now! - Pull up!
[♪♪♪]
[SIREN WAILING]
MAN [ON SPEAKER]: Okay, lady! Pull over!
KATE: Is there a problem, officer?
A den mother in a Vega, right?
Now play it very cool. I need your license and your registration.
Sure.
Maybe, I... I think I left them... Get out of the car.
[GUNFIRE]
[SIREN WAILING]
Channel 8 is bringing you live coverage of a helicopter hijacking.
Stay inside your homes. There's a sniper over the city of Los Angeles.
We've already lost one police car and two helicopters.
Well, what now, gentlemen?
I don't plan on losing more helicopters.
May I introduce Colonel Coe of the Air Force?
Colonel. Mr. Mayor.
We got a couple of F-16s standing by at March Field.
F-16s? We can take him out right now.
All you've got to do is say the word. The F-16 is armed with rockets.
The potential destruction of innocent life is unimaginable.
Sir, the F-16 is armed with heat-seeking missiles.
We can surgically remove him from the air. Like a tumor.
We're not talking about a tumor.
MURPHY: You gotta make a right there!
No, Kate!
[HONKING]
Oh!
You're really riding with the angels, sweetheart.
[♪♪♪]
Thattagirl. Good work!
Yes.
Ray Icelan at Astro says they've scrambled two F-16s out of March.
What about the tape? No sign of it.
But he called KBLA. Fletcher's there to intercept.
MAN: I'll take care of you one at a time.
We'll have more help down here. Just be calm.
Sir! Sir! I've got to give this tape to Mr. Machado or Abe Hewitt.
MAN: They're very busy right now.
KATE: Yes, but this is important. From Frank Murphy.
MAN: There's a crazy man in a helicopter. I'll tell somebody you're here.
The most dangerous thing is a man afraid for his job.
Hi, I'm Dick Fisher. I'll get that to Mario if you'd like.
Uh, no, I have to give this to Mr. Mocher or...
Machado. Machado.
I'm his producer. I'd be delighted to bring it up to him.
No, I don't think so.
MAN: Can't we simply erase it? Isn't that what the bug's for?
We don't know the code number.
Then erase them all.
MAN: Why don't you give it to me...?
KATE: No. Frank said to give it to Mr. Hewitt...
I'm Alf Hewitt. You're the lady with the tape from Frank Murphy?
Your producer said that Mr...
Who? Your producer...
I never saw this guy before. Come on, let's go.
Not so fast. That's government property.
Get your hands off me! KATE: Stop him!
Get this bastard off me!
Son of a bitch! I'll blow your head off!
[WOMEN SCREAMING]
Go, go, go! I got the tape!
[♪♪♪]
MAN: March Control, this is Little Brother One.
We have your target bearing 121 at 13 miles.
Request clearance to engage. Over.
MAN [ON RADIO]: Roger, Little Brother. This is March Control.
Affirmative. Engage and destroy.
I repeat, engage and destroy.
There he is. He's all yours, cookie.
[MAN HUMMING]
[SCREAMING]
Holy shit!
[HONKING]
BRADDOCK: What?
Well, I'll be damned.
One of your missiles just took out a barbeque shack down in Little Tokyo.
Francis, isn't that Ray's district? Yes, it is.
Do you have his number? Right here.
You better call him, or they'll call him and he'll call us
I'm on my way! and if we don't call...
There he is, right there!
MAN 1: Everybody, this is an emergency!
MAN 2 [ON SPEAKER]: Clear the area.
Clear the area!
Well, what do you know!
He froze.
Okay, he's all mine now, cookie.
Oh, my God!
[♪♪♪]
I'm hit, cookie! I'm hit!
He blew my damn wing off!
Mayday! Mayday!
This is Little Brother One. I'm ejecting!
We just lost an F-16 and the top of the Arco Tower. Now what?
That's it. Call it off.
May I remind you there is a crazy man up there with six 20 mm cannons?
I said, call it off.
Request permission for takeoff.
MAN [ON RADIO]: Colonel, hold your position. Operation canceled.
Repeat, hold your position. Do not take off.
[♪♪♪]
[MEN SHOUTING]
[MAN SCREAMING]
Back to base.
[GUNFIRE]
HOLMES: Rough her up? Is that the latest a euphemism for "assassination"?
MAN: She had street informants, and she'd connected our project to the trouble...
Jesus, Lollie, you ought to hear this stuff.
They sound like cops and feds.
They're stirring up the barrio to prove what that chopper can do.
It's all right here.
And you better tell Mario to go easy on that "mad-sniper" stuff.
That cop up there may be the hottest ticket since Horatius at the bridge.
[GUNFIRE]
[♪♪♪]
All right, let's try this.
Ah...
All right, where are you?
[GUNFIRE]
Oh, damn it!
[♪♪♪]
All right, Murphy. It's about time you put your money where your mouth is.
[♪♪♪]
One, two,
three!
Ah!
Come on, you tub of shit!
That's impossible!
Catch you later.
[TRAIN WHISTLE HONKING]
Okay.
And now it's your turn.
MAN [ON TV]: The $5 million prototype was destroyed when Officer Murphy, out of gas,
set the helicopter down on the tracks in front of a freight train.
That was the end of the special helicopter, but not the end of this story.
On the strength of a tape that Officer Murphy delivered to this reporter
the mayor has reopened the investigation into the death of councilwoman McNeely
which might also be connected with the death of Officer Lymangood of the Astro Division.
Half a dozen members of the local police department
and several officials of both the State and the Justice departments
have been detained for questioning.
Coming up, the weather
and a sneak preview of a bullet train soon to be seen in the Southland.
Maybe.
[♪♪♪]