Original subtitles

Authorities believe Tommy Collette is responsible for as many as 10 crime

killings. The murders in which Collette has been implicated date back to 1962,

but the Justice Department has never been able to make its allegations stick.

Today, Collette dodged another bullet when an informant recanted, claiming

police forced him to testify against the reputed mob boss.

At 10 o 'clock this morning, as police and prosecutors watched in frustration,

Tommy Collette was free again.

Any comment on the trial, Mr. Collette?

Yeah, well, the system works.

Now I can spend Christmas with my family.

You maintain you have no connection with organized crime?

The only organized criminals I know work for the government. There's a rumor

that you're leaving Brooklyn.

Is that true?

Well, yeah.

I'm selling my vending machine business, and I'm moving upstate.

I've decided to lead the quiet life.

Where are you moving to exactly?

Well, I bought a nice home in a quiet little town.

So my family and I can be near the water, you understand?

It's a place called East Bridge.

Mr. Collette, expecting you?

Hey, I asked you a question. Don't get nervous.

I'm Collette.

Police Commissioner Scali, East Bridge PD.

Commissioner. How are you?

Well, when there's a grown man chewing gum, the doctor wants me to stop

You want some?

Oh, incidentally, congratulations on the low crime rate.

That's the reason we moved up here, you know. It's great for the kids.

Your children are grown.

My grandkids.

Say hello to my colleague, Charlie Stockton.

Grandpa, when's it going to be ready?

Pretty soon, honey. Can I have some hot chocolate? You got it. Charlie.

Who are you?

I'm a policeman.

Policeman?

Come on, William.

I'm a grandfather.

Does God put you something wrong?

I just want to let him know that the Eastbridge police are going to do

everything we can to make sure he has a nice, quiet retirement, just like he

says he wants.

What's a retirement?

That's when you stop doing whatever you were doing before.

And you're going to help?

Yes.

I'm going to help.

Isn't that nice?

Thanks a lot, Commissioner. I appreciate that.

Hey, would you like some hot chocolate or whatever?

No, thank you.

Well, thank you for stopping by, okay?

Hey, Commissioner, Merry Christmas.

All right, everybody, listen up. I want round -the -clock surveillance.

If Collette leaves the house, follow him.

Get a record of every vehicle that stops at his house and a headshot of everyone

that goes in or out his door.

Carmela, call the sanitation department.

Have his garbage delivered directly to us. We're going to go through it inch by

inch. I'll apply for a wiretap. He probably won't get it now, but it'll

way for later.

Sooner or later, he's going to make a move.

And when he does, we'll be ready.

The man is not moving in on our city.

That's all.

Basically, he's a good kid, you know. I mean, a bit of a temper, I suppose.

Drives too fast, maybe.

He bets a little more than he should, but nothing serious.

You got a record?

Small stuff, you know, from when he was a minor. But since he's 18, he's clean.

You know, a lot of tough guys want to stay straightened out.

Make good car.

Am I right?

Does he want to straighten out? Sure he does. But he won't listen to me. I'm

just his old man, you know.

That's why I thought maybe if he could talk to you, you know.

Yeah, I thought maybe if he could rub shoulders a little bit. Someone whose

means something, you know. If he could see that you can be tough and still be

decent. That's why I think the police academy is just what he needs.

I'd be glad to talk to him. What are you going to do about it?

Oh,

for crying out loud.

Hey, Dad.

Tony, it's my son, Don.

Don, this is Commissioner Tony Scali.

Hey.

So I hear you might want to recruit me for the department.

How much dough you guys pull down anyhow?

There's another chap in the kitchen.

I'll get it.

Hi, David. Hi, Mr. Watson.

Is Sheila around?

No, she's at cheerleading practice.

Say, what's that smell?

Hey, you tone, Rach.

Say, that's good.

Guess that's the only way I'll ever get to taste Scali cooking, huh?

Moved in three months ago, you still haven't had us over.

Just kidding you.

I know you're busy fighting crime.

You must like to cook, though, huh?

Surprised you don't have a food processor.

Well, ours broke down. We're getting a new one.

Well, let me give you a big hint.

Wait till after Christmas.

Well, they have all those big sales.

Well, gotta run.

Don't forget, don't buy the food processor till after Christmas.

What was that all about?

You don't think he's gonna buy us a food processor for Christmas.

We barely know them.

Well, they do live next door.

Don't remind me.

What else could it be?

I don't know. The guy's just weird. He likes to yodel in the middle of the

night. Who knows why people like that do anything?

Well, all I know is that if they get us something really nice like a food

processor and we don't get them anything, we're gonna be embarrassed.

Well... Maybe I should wander over there in the next day or two and, uh... What

do you mean?

Well, I could just sort of, uh, chat with Sheila.

See what I can find out about whether they're going to get us a present or

Yeah. Good idea. Do that.

Smart kid.

Well, so far we've got zero.

A few of Colette's associates drove up from the city for a few hours, then

right back.

The rest are contractors, repairmen... Did you leave the house at all?

Not so far.

Garbage report doesn't give us much either.

A lot of chewing gum wrappers, newspapers, food scraps.

You don't suppose... That he's really retired?

No. I bet the farm on it.

Callie.

Thanks. We'll be there.

I just won the farm.

Mr. Collette, you've seen these photos of you and Mr. Simmons.

You say you don't know this man.

I said I don't know him well, and there's a difference.

I have three different pictures that show you shaking hands.

If a man offers me his hand, I shake it. You know why? Because that's the way I

was brought up.

And you have no idea that he's being indicted for racketeering.

That's a term I don't understand, that racketeering. Would you kindly define it

for me?

And your own criminal record. I object to that. Mr.

Collette has no criminal record whatsoever.

He's been convicted of three felonies. And all three were overturned on appeal.

The district attorney's office has a stack of newspaper articles a foot

Here's saying rumor.

How can you deny a harbor permit to a man with a spotless record?

More than two dozen of Mr. Collette's known associates are convicted felons.

Oh, come on. All right.

I mean, a couple of friends of mine made mistakes.

What's that got to do with me? You sleep with enough dogs, you get fleas.

I made a couple of dollars with my vending machine business, so I decided

retire and move up here. And now, I want to start a little import business for

my relatives overseas in the old country.

So, what's the harm?

Mr. Collette's hand, a harbor permit would be a license to steal.

The only thing he'll be importing into Eastbridge will be trouble.

The DA's office agrees with Mr. Scali.

Mr. Collette.

I'd buy the Brooklyn Bridge before I'd buy the idea that you want a harbor

permit just to import a few trinkets from the old country.

Permit denied.

This is outrageous.

Feel if you want, Counselor. This second is over.

Mr.

Collette don't sleep with dogs.

No, he just hires him.

You didn't really think I'd give a permit to Tommy Collette, did you?

Some people might have been a little intimidated.

I can take care of myself.

What do you think he wanted the permit for?

Smuggling, probably.

But the important thing is, he didn't get it.

Tony, uh...

I'm really sorry for the way Don acted at the coffee shop yesterday. He's still

young. That don't make it right.

I can't say I was too impressed by our first meeting, but be patient.

I'll try.

Caucasian male, early 20s. One stab went through the back, probably into the

heart. He's been dead maybe an hour.

When is it?

A couple of people saw a red firebird peel out of the lot about an hour ago.

Had lightning bolts on the hood. Bill's checking it out now.

Wait a second.

What? What is it?

Jake Bell and son got in a fight with this guy yesterday.

Jake's son isn't named Don by any chance, is he?

How do you know?

We found this next to the body.

Dear Don, you did it.

Love, Dad.

I gave it to him after we won the county swim meet.

He's only 12 years old.

First watch he ever owned.

Oh, boy, another cop lesson.

Cut the crap.

Don, where were you tonight?

Why? The man you fought with yesterday was killed a little while ago.

You accuse me of murder?

Do you drive a red Firebird with lightning bolt decal? Yeah.

Is this your watch?

No.

I mean, it can't be. A guy wouldn't just like it, but I haven't worn it in

years. It's in my room right now.

Go get it.

He's got his problems, Tony.

But he's no killer

Kept

in there since I was a kid

Dad gave it to me the same day I won.

So he must have had it engraved beforehand.

I never wore it.

I was too afraid I might lose it.

He put you did it on the watch before I won.

It was the only time in my life he ever had any faith in me.

Any idea how it wound up next to a dead body?

Somebody must have stole it out of my room.

Oh. But left the box.

Looks like it.

Where were you last night?

At a movie.

Got a ticket sub?

No.

See anybody there who might recognize you?

No.

A red firebird with lightning bolt decals was seen leaving the lot.

Maybe somebody stole that, too, while you were in the movie.

Okay, okay, I was at the cafe.

I wanted to shoot a little dice.

I suppose my old man's gonna be on my case again, huh?

That's the least of your problems right now.

Some guy named Jimmy called me.

I didn't know him, but he mentioned a couple of guys that I hang with.

Said there might be some action.

Did you meet him? No, there was no game, so I took off.

Drove around a bit.

Bought some gas out near the parkway.

Drove on home.

What time did you buy the gas?

10 .30. I remember because there was a clock on the wall. And there was a guy

there, Barney. I talked to him about cars.

He'd remember.

That's all for now. Your father posted bail. You're free to go.

Okay, the coroner put the time of death between 10 and 10 .15.

Now, assuming Don's telling the truth, to get to the parkway by 10 .30, he had

to have been going about a hundred and fifty.

Yeah, which may be how fast this kid usually drives.

Still, you look for Jimmy. I'll check the gas station. All right.

Your name Bonnie?

Nope. Anybody by the name of Bonnie work here?

Nope.

Anybody named Bonnie ever work here?

Yep.

He work here last night?

Yep.

He worked here last night and this morning he doesn't?

Yep.

Can I talk to him?

Nope. Why is that?

You tried to call him? Yep.

His phone's been disconnected or something.

Yep.

Just like that. He got rich and dropped out of sight.

Yep.

You've been very helpful.

We're going to Florida in a month, and I just can't decide.

This bikini is nice, but so is the one -piece.

Which one do you like?

Yes.

I have to take one back.

My dad's going to get me the other one as a Christmas present.

It seems like your parents give a lot of Christmas presents.

They do.

What kind of presents, usually?

Whatever they feel like.

Usually something to do with cooking.

That reminds me.

I'll see if the popcorn's ready.

I'm sorry, hon.

I thought you were out shopping for a new dress.

No, I'm not going to the dance.

Why not?

The only person I want to go with is too shy to ask me.

Well, lost the fish in the sea, pumpkin.

You'll find the right one.

Just like your mama did.

Daddy, I've made up my mind. It's David or nobody.

My dad ate all the popcorn.

If only we had a microwave. I could make some more real quick, but I... Oh,

that's okay. I gotta get going.

Sorry. It's okay.

just sitting there under the tree? Did you see a card with our name on it or

anything?

David, are you okay?

She kissed me.

What? Sheila kissed me.

Where?

In the living room.

No, I mean on the mouth.

Well, what kind of kiss was it?

I mean, did she... It was a kiss.

How many kinds are there?

You'd be surprised.

She said she wants to go to the dance with me.

The Christmas dance?

The one at the high school?

She said it's me or nobody.

David, Sheila is a little bit older than you are, you know?

Love is blind.

I don't know if I like this, Tony.

I mean, Sheila is 15 going on 25, and he's only 12 years old.

I mean, this could mean trouble.

I know, Rach.

But the dance is a chaperone, and we can't just step in and put a stop to it.

could be traumatic for both of them.

Why can't she just go for someone her own age?

Well, here's a scally.

What

the

hell are you doing in my house?

The door was open.

We figured you wouldn't mind.

The door's never open, and you figured wrong. Now get out of here before I

you out.

I'd like to see that.

Oh, you

know,

I know what it's like when a kid goes bad.

You blame yourself.

You wonder, what could I have done different? Oh, your heart.

Your heart, it hurts.

It's got nothing to do with you.

Yeah. Sometimes a man in my position can find out things that the cops can't.

You know, find out things that, uh, can help Donnie.

I don't take bribe to collect.

There's the door.

Use it.

Oh, by the way, about that hopper permit, no hard feeling.

You should nail him for trying to bribe me. No proof.

Come on, Tony. He was offering to cook up some phony evidence to clear Don in

exchange for a permit. It's plain as day.

I know it. You know it. But we can never prove it.

It's like talking to a rattlesnake.

I mean, just hearing him say my son's name made my skin crawl.

He tried to do right.

He could go to church, stay in school.

I mean, how did it happen that he ended up like this?

Tony, do you think that Donnie killed that kid?

Truth.

The truth is I don't know.

It's better than I expected.

Any luck on the phone call from Jimmy?

Found a few lowlifes by that name.

None of them will admit to calling Don about a crap game.

Okay.

He threatened the guy.

He lied about being in the area.

On the other hand, his alibi disappearing from the gas station is

strange. And then... The watch.

Either the kid deserves an Oscar or he truly expected the watch to be in that

case.

If someone stole it and planted it next to the corpse, we're talking major frame

-up. Only one guy around could pull off something like that.

Tommy Collette.

Who showed up at Jake's last night to try to bargain.

So he frames the kid, offers to clear him in exchange for the permit.

Obviously, Collette didn't steal the watch himself, and I doubt if anyone

to him did it either.

Put the word out on the street.

See if anybody knows anything about a burglary for hire.

You got it.

See what I mean there? Yeah.

But, I don't know. Good. By the way, I should have Thompson ready for trial by

next week.

Good work.

What about the Belling case?

Well, I don't know. I think it's shaping up, but Commissioner Scali still seems

to feel there's some hold. Well, he's a big fan of Jake's. I am, too, but we

have to be objective.

Don't back off. Oh, I won't. Good night. Good night.

I feel like such a jerk.

I told you what a good kid he is down deep.

Then he tries to run down a D .A.

Thank God his mother isn't here to see this.

So what happens now?

He'll be transferred down to the county prison later on today.

How stupid can he be? I mean, he's got his whole life ahead of him. Dad,

I didn't do it. I didn't do anything.

Something we ought to talk about.

So you're saying the whole thing's a frame?

I can't prove it yet.

But I figure, given your reputation, Colette knew you'd deny him the permit,

he needed a plan B. So they paid that guy to pick a fight with Don?

Well, maybe the fight just gave him an opening. Either way, they stole the

watch, murdered the guy, and left it by his body.

Meanwhile, they called Don, get him to show up so his car would be seen in the

parking lot. What about the attack on the DA?

It's not hard to paint the car red and put a decal on it.

Bastards. They wanted to mix it up. They should have come with me direct.

That won't help Don.

What are we going to do, Tony? Because it's bound to have contacts in that

I've alerted the guards at county.

They'll keep an eye on Don.

Visit him tomorrow. Tell them we're going to get him out of this.

And leave the rest to me.

He's my son, Tony.

You don't want your grandchildren to know you're a criminal?

And don't commit crimes.

At least I broke through as I'm just your average retired businessman act.

He should have seen the look in his eyes.

Maybe he'll get careless now.

You don't think he'd send someone after you?

Nah, he's too smart for that.

But he is having me tailed, though. I picked up a blue sedan halfway back to

station. You want us to pick the guy up? No, no.

If Colette doesn't know we know, maybe we can use it somehow.

Boss, I think we got something here.

You know a little weasel named Benny Gorzo?

Bucky. Makes me look tall.

Yeah, well, we busted him about an hour ago.

He said, give me a break. We said, give us a break. So we talked.

Seems a friend of his, a guy named Al Coleman, got drunk, ran off at the

Somebody paid him 500 bucks to break into a house and steal a used watch that

wasn't worth more than 20.

Who paid you... steal a watch, Mr. Coleman?

Like I said, I never stole no watch. An innocent man is getting sent up the

river here.

You're bringing tears to my eyes.

Help us.

Someday we may be able to help you. How?

By paying my funeral expenses?

Because that's the only help I'll need if I talk.

And you've got something to say.

I didn't say that. Damn it, an 18 -year -old boy is getting framed for murder

because of something that you did.

Doesn't that matter to you?

Hey.

See this?

This is my skin.

That is what matters to me.

Then listen good, Al.

I'm going to have guys tailing you every second of every day for the rest of

your life. And when you slip up, and you will, I'm going to nail your hide to

the wall.

No plea bargains, no deals, no mercy.

I don't know the guy's name, okay?

But he was about six feet, dark hair, blue eyes,

skull on his temple.

So you'd recognize him if you saw him again? Oh, absolutely not.

And I could not pick him out of a lineup, and we never had this

Whatever you do to me, because I don't talk, they will do worse if I dare.

Bye, Commissioner.

Hey, Dad, check this out.

This is a nice one.

I don't know, David.

Do you really think we should get them a microwave oven?

Well, they're going to get us a food processor. We don't know that for sure.

Besides, they probably already have a microwave.

No, they don't. And I know they won't.

At least I know Sheila wants one. But that one costs 200 bucks.

Why don't we look at one of these more basic models?

You mean cheaper.

Hey, look.

Cheaper is not a dirty word.

I'll toss in my savings account.

The whole $40.

That way it can be from all of us to all of them.

David. And my emergency fund, too.

That'll come to a grand total of $43 .36.

Thanks, Dad.

Look, you find a salesman. I've got to make a call.

Start another IV stat and prep for a possible transfusion. You're still going

have to wait outside.

He was boarding the bus to the county jail. There was a disturbance. The

were distracted.

When it was over, he'd been stabbed.

Jake.

Good news, Mr. Bellen. It looked a lot worse than it is. The wounds are

superficial. He should be fine. All the blood?

He lost some, but not enough to be dangerous. A few weeks of rest and he'll

as good as new.

Thank God.

I promise you, whoever tried to kill Don will pay for it. Who are you kidding,

Tony? We both know nobody tried to kill him. If they wanted him dead, he would

be dead. This is just the final warning. How much more of this am I supposed to

take? How much more of this is he supposed to take?

Don't give up now.

We're getting close.

Then get it done, Tony.

Or I give the permit to Collette.

Just...

Not again.

I told you, I don't know nothing about nothing. And you can quote me.

That's why it's so sad that you're in all this trouble.

I ain't in any trouble.

The smart guy, after stealing the watch, might have wondered why Charlie

Stockton wanted it. I never ask questions like that.

The smart guy might have wanted a little insurance policy, so he might have

followed Charlie around a little.

I never.

But if you had,

You would have seen him murder a guy, and then you would have seen him dispose

of the weapon, like pros always do. And then you'd have had something on him if

you ever had to protect yourself.

Yeah. See, that wouldn't have been smart.

That would have been dumb.

Because if he ever found out, he would kill me before I could ever use the

information.

That's exactly what I'm afraid he's going to do, Al.

Yeah, but, see, I didn't follow him.

And I don't know nothing about no murder or no murder weapon.

I believe you, but I don't think he will.

What are you talking about?

You see a kind of blue overcoat kind of hanging around the bar?

That's Frankie Grinnell.

That's one of Colette's guys. She's been following me for a couple of days.

Not too bright, but he's loyal.

Hey, this ain't right.

He's going to be reporting to Charlie and Colette.

I ain't gonna think that you're telling me things you shouldn't be telling me.

But I ain't telling you a thing.

Tell that to Frankie Grinnell.

All right, I will.

Yeah, go ahead.

Walk right up to him and tell him you didn't tell me a thing.

You just really stink, Skelly.

Why don't you come down to the station?

We'll protect you. Oh, yeah, that'd look great. No, thank you for him staying

right here.

Hey.

No, you're right, Al.

Stay here.

You'll be fine.

Wait a minute.

You can't leave me here now after all this.

That's what I've been trying to tell you.

Guys.

Escort Mr. Coleman to the station. Maximum security.

He claims he knows where Thugton ditched the knife.

Well, if the doctor would have worn gloves, we'll never get pregnant.

You don't need them.

Fibers from the gloves would be enough to convict them.

It's heading west on Sumner like a bat out of hell.

This is X -ray 6.

He's going after the knife.

This is C -1 monitoring.

We'll move to intercept.

Don't lose him and don't spook him.

Chuckle around.

I'll be back.

It's over, Charlie.

No mistakes.

It's a great spot for a boat landing, isn't it? I mean, sheltered, out of

Perfect for a nice, quiet retirement.

Yeah. Too bad you won't be using it.

Huh?

Don Bellin will be released within an hour.

And you won't be getting that harbor permit after all.

I'm sorry, I don't follow you, Commissioner.

I mean, Don Bellin was released this morning.

And, uh... I already got my permit.

He came here. again last night.

Let me know that if I came through with the permit, then he would produce a

witness that would place Donnie miles from the crime.

If only you waited another few hours.

I thought about resigning, letting it be somebody else's problem.

But even that wouldn't have worked, not as long as Donnie was vulnerable.

Tony, all I had to do was sign a piece of paper, and my son was safe. It's not

just a piece of paper.

In his hands, it's a license to commit crimes, and you know it. You're so sure

of that. Why don't you do something to stop him? I will.

But how much effort and money and blood is it going to cost? And how many lives?

If it had been your son, would you have done anything different?

Maybe we should bring this over now.

Well, what time is the dance?

Seven. Can't wait to see her face when she finds out we're going together.

You didn't ask her yet?

I wanted to surprise her when we give her the, uh, them, the microwave.

She said it was me or nobody.

Hi, neighbor.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Sheila.

We got you something.

From all of us.

Oh, you shouldn't have done that.

Why not? We need one real bad.

Hey, Sheila, now you can make popcorn anytime you want.

Thanks. That's really great.

And we have a little something for you, too.

Oh.

Al.

It's my grandmother's eggnog recipe.

Best noggy ever tasted.

Takes a couple days to make, but it's really worth it.

Honey, it's David. Better hurry.

Well, I guess we'll take off now.

This is so great.

Enjoy the eggnog. Bye.

That was David Murray.

He's captain of the hockey team.

She must have met him all along.

Today,

A new word enters the English language.

To Wurzel, meaning to trick, manipulate, and bamboozle while seeming to be nice.

Guys, we've been Wurzel'd.

You really think that they could have done all of this on purpose?

I just happened to hear Sheila talking to her dad.

She didn't even know I was listening.

Did she?

I mean, they would have had to plan it from the very start.

really seem possible?

I don't know.

Maybe they did it on purpose.

Maybe not.

But I know one thing for sure.

We've been worse off.

Charlie Stockton was sentenced this morning.

25 years of state prison.

Charlie was a good man.

And I'm not going to forget what you did to him.

Good.

Because I'm not going to forget what you did to Jake Bellen.

It's not over, Colette.

Golly.

You can bet your life on it.