"The partially, nearly Naked Gun 3 : 'They Saved Crumpf's Brain'..."
Summary: Frank Drebbin is out of retirement and on the case when he learns the fanatical former president and loser candidate Fred Crumpf may not be quite as dead as he left him and he and/or his crazies including his family threaten the newly elected President Woodrowmina Wilson.
Of course, Nordberg is no longer on the squad because of, well, we never talk about that...
Part XIV...
8:10 am, next morning...
Sounds of hysterical screaming, a crash from inside the Hockens' pleasant if not exceptionally well-to-do home. Captain Hocken standing by the open front door as he greeted the newly arrived Director Bailey, now in dark business suit and red blouse, with small pearl necklacd and hair piled, with two dark-suited aides in dark glasses, one tall male, one average-sized female, both in their twenties and looking extremely fit and alert...And quite lethal. Plus, a sober, thin, middle-aged, grey-haired man in grey suit whom the Director had introduced as a Dr. Krebkin, a neurologist from the NIH.
Another crash... "Ed! Who's out there?! Your lovers?! Or mine?! If it's yours I'll kill them all! If mine...Hello, boys." Howl dimishing to coo from within. "Susan, Henry, Xavier, Clevon, one of you let Mama loose!" renewed cry. "Ed! I'll cut off your balls and your...!"
"Lets just step out on the lawn while we talk..." Ed noted, closing door. "Edna's a bit fidgety this morning."
"Yes..." Dr. Krebkin nodded. "If I might examine her, with your permission, Captain? I've reviewed her records."
"You did? I don't remember giving permission...Though Edna has had so many docs...?" Ed began.
"Sorry, Captain...This became a National Security matter when the President's safety became an issue..." Director Bailey noted, cutting in. "But I also wanted to see if our people could help...I hope you understand. Mrs. Hocken's records were available via LA General's database and several others and we had to begin analyzing what's been done to her."
"Well...I guess I understand..." Hocken shrugged. "You really were able to get access to everything that fast?" Ed eyed Dr. Krebkin who smiled thinly, glancing at Director Bailey.
"Oh, yes at least as to her more legitimate medical records." Krebkin noted. "Nothing like the internet when you have an ultra high-peed connection and national security clearance."
"And you really think this stuff could help Edna?" Captain Hocken eyed the vial Krebkin had brought in a now open container.
"Well, I will need to examine your wife first and run a few tests..." Krebkin noted.
"I had it sent over special delivery from the NIH." Director Bailey explained. "It's experimental, of course, but it's had some success with patients with severe neurological damage, including deliberate medical torture, and with Alzheimer's patients. Naturally we won't proceed if you prefer not to, Captain. But I hope you'll at least let Dr. Krebkin run his tests and examine Edna while we begin our interviews. I promise my people will see both she and your kids are perfectly safe. I actually have extra security on the way though I can assure you these two are the best." She smiled at her aides.
"Well..." he eyed the two aides, then nodded. "If it can help her...I'll try anything."
"Naturally this would only be a temporary stopgap even if it succeeds." Dr. Krebkin noted. "But it should help curb her violent tendencies and her other symptoms to some extent, at least for a time."
"That would be great...I want the kids to see Edna back to herself. Some of them were born after all this started. They haven't seen her...The way she was. Though she tries, really tries, when she can manage it." Ed sighed, then reddened. "Those damned Nazi bastards...When I get my hands on any one of them..."
"Captain, we do need them...Intact..." Marjorie cautioned. "As does Edna if they can tell us anything about reversing her condition."
"If it can be...I know, doc." Hocken eyed Krebkin. "I'm no brain expert but I know it's not easy to fix brain damage."
"Well...These people seem quite advanced, beyond anything we've managed...And we have had some successes in neural regeneration." Krebkin offered faint smile. "We must hope for the best. Anyway, if I have your permission to proceed...?"
"Sure, sure...Just let me tell her and the kids. Maybe the younger ones not scheduled to stay with their ma should get off to their schools first before you get started?" he suggested.
"Probably wise...Though we'll not be doing anything too invasive." Krebkin nodded.
"And our security will be keeping a discreet eye on all of them in their schools." Marjorie added, with smile. "They'll be the safest kids in LA, I promise."
Hocken went to his door, opening... "Back in just a sec. Hey, honey!" he called up.
"Ed? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry. Why did you leave without sayin' goodbye, honey?" Edna's voice, plaintive, reached those outside as he went in.
"Oh, you know I'd never do that, baby..." Ed's voice as he closed door after him.
"The poor woman..." Marjorie sighed to Krebkin. "It must have been awful for them all."
"Clearly." He nodded. "We must put an end to this evil, Director Bailey." He frowned. "If these madmen and women are not stopped the world may be in grave danger. They obviously will stop at nothing. Nazis as evil as the original." He shook head.
"We intend to." She nodded. "I appreciate your dropping everything to come out here, Doctor. Though I know it's special to you, Henry. Given your grandparents..."
"Yes...They suffered terribly at the hands of the Nazis." He agreed. "I'm happy to do what I can but I don't wish to raise Captain Hocken and his children's hopes unfairly. Still, from what I saw of her records, this formulation may help her."
"Good..." she nodded. "As soon as Captain Hocken gets his family settled and Lieutenant Drebbin arrives..."
Sound of car squealing to a stop, Bailey, Krebkin, and the two aides looking to see Frank emerging from his small sedan. Yanked back as his tie got stuck in the door. Arggh...
Hmmn...Krebkin eyed the concerned look on Bailey's face. "Frank, you all right?" she called, hurrying down the stairs to the street as he managed to free himself and rise.
I'd say our Director of Presidential Security has lost her heart...Though hopefully not her head, Krebkin thought.
"Sorry I'm running late." He apologized, hurrying up to her. "I got a late start then caught three punks breaking into the high school down the street as I passed. Turned out to be the AV club coming in early, but they were ok, once I put my gun away and talked them out of that tree."
Krebkin blinking...
"Oh, Frank...This is Dr. Krebkin of the NIH." Marjorie turned to Krebkin who offered smile. "He's going to be examining and treating Mrs. Hocken while we begin our interviews of her doctors."
"Oh...Good to meet you, doctor." Drebbin nodded, offering hand which Krebkin shook firmly. "You think there's any chance for Edna?"
"Possibly...But it depends on the extent of her brain's damage and what we can learn through your and the Director's efforts, Lieutenant Drebbin." Krebkin nodded. "However, I will do all I can for the present to stabilize her condition."
"We hope an experimental drug we've brought may help, Frank." Marjorie explained. "It may at least help her condition some till we've found more."
"Good, good..." Frank, clearly just a bit nervous around the Director.
Still, no sign of an angry Jane spirit...Perhaps it was just a mix of dream and subconscious guilt last night, he thought.
"Oh, and this is Carl Benton and Angela Laramie..." Marjorie indicated the two rather grim-looking Agents in Black. "They'll be helping Dr. Krebkin with his work and guarding Mrs. Hocken and her children staying with her." she noted. "We have more people coming to monitor the kids at their schools, just in case."
"Great...So these are members of your security team, I presume?" Frank asked.
"Two of my best..." she nodded. "But of course I thought it best for our mission we keep our group to just us three."
"Right." Frank nodded. "Good. So, the three of us, not two? Naturally Ed would be coming, they're his wife's doctors. But, Director Bailey..."
"Marjorie, Frank...I think we'd to well to drop titles for this one." She smiled...Just a bit coyly.
"Sure...Of course..." he nodded. "But perhaps it might be best..."
"Hey, Frank!" Ed had emerged, closing door. "Well, doc..." he turned to Krebkin. "Edna's willing to try anything and she's all strapped in, good and tight in the new restraints, so you can go right in. The kids have gotten their breakfasts and they'll all be heading out, exceptin' Sue and Xavier who are staying with Edna today. I told them you were a new doc, here to look Edna over, so they're all set. Why don't I take you and your guys up?"
"Excellent, Captain." Krebkin nodded. "Mr. Benton? If you and Angela could bring up my equipment from the van..." he indicated the parked black van. "Just the two cases I told you about."
Both agents nodding and moving to van...Krebkin following Hocken into the house... "Be right out, Frank, Ms. Bailey." Ed called.
"I hope Krebkin can do something for her." Marjorie noted sadly to Frank as Benton and Laramie passed bearing two medium-sized metal suitcases.
"Yeah..." Frank sighed. "It's been hell on Ed and the kids...Including the ones he didn't father."
"I can imagine." She nodded. "Frank? You were about to say...?" she eyed him.
"Oh, yeah...Well...Marjorie..." he fumbled a little. "You being Director of Presidential Security, I was thinking..."
"I thought we settled that last night. And I showed you I can take care of myself." She eyed him.
"Oh, yeah...Sure." He nodded. "But you are essential to the President, I'm sure and I mean...Who knows what's going on with these Nazi/neo-fascist/grossly overpaid docs? They might be ready for us."
"I'm ready for them." She smiled. "Don't worry, Frank. It's sweet but no one is indispensable. Besides I get so little chance to hit the pavement these days, frankly..." smile... "I can't wait to put a coupla Nazi sobs in choke holds. If we should have to, of course." Grin.
"Well...Ok...I guess. I mean you're the Boss." He shrugged.
"I won't pull rank on your boys unless I have to." She grinned. "Just think of me as one of the guys. Till I have to summon in a small army."
"Well..." Ed emerged again, followed by two of the Hocken boys, one very likely his biologically...The other...Probably not.
"My guys, Chet and Harry...Say hello to Frank and our friend, Marjorie."
"You dad's new girlfriend or his...?" Harry pointed to Frank.
"Nope, just their partner..." Marjorie smiled.
"Harry? I don't have girlfriends, whatever Ma says when she's taken sick." Ed sighed. "I thought you said you believed me? I'd never lie about that, son."
Two more children emerged from the Hocken door, both girls...Both clearly not Ed's, a smiling tall dark brown-skinned girl, the other, Asian-featured. "Hey, Uncle Frank!" The darker girl called to Frank, cheerily. "Our Ma's all set for the day. Sue and Xavier got her her breakfast." The Asian-featured girl noted to Frank.
"Maxine! Alice!" Frank nodded, waving. "This is Marjorie Bailey whom I and your Dad'll be working for for a bit. She's the Director of Presidential Security."
"Hi, girls." Marjorie beamed. "I hope your Mom's well."
"Yeah...Maybe. But Ma..." Harry was shrugging to Ed. OW! He howled at a punch from the older Chet, he about sixteen.
"Don't say things about Ma, especially in front of people, dumbass!" Chet glared.
"Harry!" both girls frowning at him...
"Enough, boys!" Hocken commanded. Slight smile to Chet. Attaboy, kid. Ma'll be pleased when she's rational.
Though of course I love you guys all equally...
"Can that new doc help Ma, Uncle Frank?" Maxine asked, a bit nervously.
"We hope so, Maxine." Frank nodded. Marjorie looking on sympathetically.
"Yeah, yeah..." Harry frowned to Ed. "You like Chet better."
"Harry? I love you all." Ed shook head. "You know that. Don't be a putz and get on to school with Chet and your sisters. Chet?" He turned to him. "No fighting, even if the kids make a remark or two about Ma. I mean it. I can't be coming over to the school today. And this job's about Ma."
"What about Ma?" the tall, black Clevon had emerged with books from the house. "She's all set upstairs, Dad."
"Good..." Hocken nodded. "These guys really pitch in helping their Ma." He smiled to Marjorie, offering fond glance to the group beaming back at him.
I think I'm going to cry...Marjorie sighed, shaking head. Suck it in, girl. Nazis to threaten, and hopefully kill...The less useful ones.
Chet, Harry, Clevon looking curiously...Maxine and Alice eagerly at Ed...But all just a bit concerned... "Dad?" Maxine asked, carefully.
"You hunting down one of her...?" Harry began...Chet glaring at him. Clevon frowning...
We don't ever talk about Ma in front of strangers...Even nice ones.
"No, nothin' like that. We're going after the people who hurt your Ma." Ed noted.
"Who hurt Ma?!" Chet, furious. The girls and Clevon and Harry solemn now...
"Someone hurt her again?" Harry eyed Ed. "Dad?" Clevon asked.
"I mean people who made her sick originally." Ed noted. "And I'm gonna get some answers outta them to help her."
Chet looked at Harry, Clevon, Maxine, Alice...Harry, Clevon, and the girls at Chet.
"Are you gonna pound 'em, Dad? You and Mr. Drebbin?" Clevon asked. The girls and other boys intently eyeing Ed.
"Very protective of Edna, these kids." Frank noted to Marjorie, quietly. "Once they were all nearly ready to kill me when she was a bit off her rocker, claiming...Well...It's was just a delusion of course but..." he shrugged.
Cut to shot of Frank surrounded by grim-faced Hocken children eyeing him coldly. "Guys I would never..." he noted to the group.
"It's ok, kids!" Edna's voice calmly from her chair. "Sorry, Frank..." sheepish smile. "I was mistaken...That was another white-haired cop. Frank, you remember Tim Braddock?"
"He got shot last week on duty with Ed, sure." Frank noted.
Hmmn...They're still ruling on that one. But I'm sure Ed shot him by accident in the line of duty.
"Ok then..." Maxine then eyed him, nodding. "Good to see you, Uncle Frank!" warm smile.
Present...
"I understand..." Marjorie smiled, regarding the children clustered around Ed. "You're a good friend, Frank."
"Into pulp, if they don't give us some answers, guys." Ed nodded. "But that new doc upstairs with Ma, Sue and Xavier, has something that may help her for now. So, you all do me a favor and help Ma by acting like grownups today at school? Ok?" he eyed the group. "Ok. Love ya, guys." He hugged each in turn. "If I'm late, help the others with supper. Clevon? You can use the car if you just drive to the store for anything." Passing car keys. "Now, guys. Ma may be out of sorts a bit more till the doc helps her. He's trying something new and there might be side effects. You know your mother loves you whatever she may do or say? And boys? I mean help out." Firm look.
"Sure, Dad..." Harry, Clevon, Chet... "Pfft...Like these two would help cook." Alice noted. "We got this, Dad." Maxine nodded. "You and Uncle Frank go slap silly anyone who hurt Ma."
"Yeah!" the other children agreed. "Pound em, Dad!"
"After...?" he eyed them sternly.
"Readin' em their rights..." the kids chorused.
"Was the President as nice as she looks on TV, Uncle Frank?" Alice asked him earnestly.
...
