Original subtitles

Just being here with you two gives me so much nice, special joy.

It's enough already with the toad. To the love of my life, my best friend,

my idol, my fate.

To my cousin Rachel, who I love and adore and who has been the shining light

this family since the day they brought her home from the hospital.

Penny. Well, bottoms up. And to you, Tony.

The Wyatt Earp of the family.

Thank you for making this world a safer, better place.

Enough already.

I'm not drunk.

I just feel a lot of love at this table.

When I think of how close we came to losing the two of you, I...

Haven't done a lot of heroic things in my life.

But saving you, too, from that train wreck.

By the way, greetings from Izzy. He and Lillian just came back from three weeks

in Monte Carlo.

Well, say hello to them. My brother lives the life we mortals can only dream

Of course, who knows what I could have done if I wasn't held back by my asthma.

On me tonight.

No, Benny. I wish we could split it. Split nothing.

Early birthday present.

It's the big 4 -0, right?

That's the landmark, Bubba.

I had a good month, and when Benny Yazrak has a good month, the people he

loves have likewise, huh?

Get into silent treatment because you don't want to talk or because I'm in the

doghouse and I just don't know it yet.

I just think you could afford him a little harder for the check.

What was I supposed to do, wrestle him to the ground? You know he can't afford

to take us out.

It's not my place to tell him what he can and can't afford. He's a grown man.

I know.

When we were kids, my Aunt Belle and Uncle Jack used to parade Izzy in front

us like he was a combination of Albert Einstein and Sandy Koufax.

It was like Benny wasn't even there.

And on top of it, Benny's asthma. Oh, that was 30 years ago, Rachel. He's fine

now. No, he isn't. It's all show.

You know, Benny's a big dreamer.

All I'm saying is, if any of the guys at the precinct need a car, send them to

Benny. You do business with your relatives, you're asking for

All right, all right.

Oh, what's this now?

This is C -1.

Run plates on two vehicles.

New York, Zebra, Charlie, quick, 257. New York, Samuel, quick, Frank,

513.

Roger, C -1.

I'll be right back.

You got to get out of my face, woman. I will not.

I got nothing to say to you. You're going to hear what I have to say. You

messing with the wrong guy.

Hit the road, Jack. We don't need your help.

What seems to be the problem?

Hey, no problem, man. We're just having a conversation.

You all right, miss?

Yeah, fine.

What's the matter?

You see two black people together, you get nervous?

This is a no -stopping zone.

Yes, officer.

Oh, hey, Brad, you going down to records?

Uh -huh. You mind giving this to Reggie for me? Always, Dad.

Hello. I'm talking to you, Brad.

Keep up with current events, Kelly.

Lincoln freed the slaves.

Jerk.

Where's Bill?

Not out there.

What's up?

You ever eat at a place called Villa Kachina? All the time. They got great

spumoni. Well, all last night there's these hairy knuckle types tromping up

down the stairs.

So I go up to snoop around.

And the bouncer tells me that the area's off limits.

My guess is someone's up there booking bets.

Oh, I don't want to have to close down Villa Kachina. I really love that

spumoni. They slice it with the paper still on it.

I know.

All right.

Tell Stan to go over there tonight.

Run the plates of everyone who goes upstairs.

Right.

Oh.

Someone's birthday?

Day after tomorrow. My Aunt Ida always sends me a card early.

The Scallies don't trust the postal system.

Now, if I'm not mistaken, you had a birthday last year. Right around this

A 39th birthday?

Yes, I'm turning 40. No, I don't want it advertised.

Like I said to Rachel, it's just another day.

In an otherwise remarkable life.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My car broke down again. I had to call my sister.

Your car broke down?

I'm going to take my shotgun and put that wreck out of its misery.

What?

You got to say hello to Lucille.

She's my assistant.

The pleasure is all yours.

Joke.

Seriously, Rachel doesn't get jealous you spending all day with this fetching

creature?

Lucille's looking for a set of wheels.

Well, you came to the right place, darling. What are you looking for?

that will get me from here to there without breaking down.

That's nice.

Little blue job.

Already sold. But not to worry. I got a beauty with your name on it.

Right. Check out this interior.

Not a problem.

Ronnie!

It's nothing. Nothing.

Take care of that.

This damp weather's a killer.

You all right?

Oh, yeah.

Excuse me.

Scali, it's a good car.

I'll be right there.

I gotta go, you guys.

Go! I'll take Lucille back.

That's okay with you, young lady. If it's no problem.

No problem.

Okay, thanks. I'll see you.

You want to hear an engine, sir?

Start her up.

That's just a loose wire. Ronnie!

Fix it. Fix it!

Ask him. Like I said, we were right over there.

Nobody saw anybody leaving the building. Those kids were down here playing

around. They found the body over there.

Taking statements now.

Morning. be good.

Guessing she's been dead about eight to ten hours.

No apparent bruising.

Single shot to the back of the head.

Might have some traces of skin under the nails. Hard to tell yet.

Hey, I know her.

What? Last night when Rachel and I were coming home from dinner, I saw her on

the side of the road arguing with some guy.

About what?

They backed off when I flashed my badge.

Call dispatch.

We've got the guy's plates. Let's find them.

Tony, you are looking at one happy camper. I just bought the sweetest

top you've ever laid eyes on.

Dealer discounted, no money down, no payments for 90 days. Cousin Benny done

good. The man's a saint.

Augustine, Francis of Assisi, and Benny.

Now, now, he did save your life.

He did not save my life. Not what he says.

Ten years ago, Rachel and I were in Brooklyn.

Benny invited us down for a Sunday.

He didn't want to pick us up at the train station, so we drove.

The train derailed. Ten people out of the 400 who were on it were killed. That

doesn't exactly make the guy a hero.

He said he had a premonition.

Hey, boss.

We found a guy who was with Meredith Sands last night. His name is Percy

Rose is bringing him in now.

Good. Did you run him through the computer?

Oh, yeah.

Nice work, Steve.

Big man.

I see we meet again.

Oh, and the beautiful sidekick.

Celebrity perfume, right?

Cher. It's Cher, isn't it?

Sit down, Percy.

What should I call you, Luth?

Or is it Adonis?

Got so many aliases, I'm a little confused.

Life's too big a place to only be one person. Guess so.

One person wouldn't have enough time to do what you've done.

Interstate commerce violations, credit card scams, bootlegging, cigarettes.

Fix the rest.

Never convicted.

I'm a man of no conviction.

Call me the Teflon Brother.

I'd love to sweat it. I'd kick a time, right?

Put a designer's sock in it, Percy.

Tell me what you know about Meredith Sands.

Who? The woman you were talking to when I pulled up last night. I never met this

sister before. We had a little fender bender. She claimed I gave her whiplash.

Neither of the cars had any damage.

Exactly. It was a bogus claim.

Then why didn't you want to talk to me?

Now, why would I want to talk to you?

Look, neither one of us wanted to get the insurance companies involved. Why

we dancing here?

Because we found the body this morning.

She was murdered.

My condolences.

But I had nothing to do with it. What are you doing in Eastbridge?

Visiting my big brother, Ray Lewis.

Owns an auto parts store up on Vernon. Call him. I know Ray.

He's a good man.

Hey, mistakes can happen.

Trying to do our job.

Are we done?

Sure.

Nice good time.

You want 24 hours of balance?

I'll take the first shift myself.

Benny, what are you doing with him?

What's in the envelope, Benny?

Tony?

What are you doing here?

Following Percy Lewis.

Who? Don't give me who.

It all makes sense now.

Picking up tabs, flashing your money. You had a good month. Maybe, but it

selling cars.

I don't know what you're talking about. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

The guy came to pay for the blue Mustang.

He's going to pick it up in the morning. What's wrong with that? Nothing.

It's just not the truth.

What's in it, Ben?

Automatic transmission, power windows, air conditioning.

What? You were following this character and he came here.

Okay, small world.

Either you tell me or I come back here with the search warrant and I tear it

apart. Tear it apart?

Tony, it's me, Benny.

Tony, this is crazy.

I had no idea who this guy is.

That's weird.

What is it, Joe? This panel's welded shut.

Open it up.

Wait a minute, what are you doing?

This is scaring me, Tony.

I mean, what if you find something bad in there?

It'll look like I knew about it.

On the lives of the kids. I had no idea there was dope. What the hell did you

think would be in there? Candy bars?

Lewis shows up one day, says he'll pay me three grand a month. All I got to do

is put the paperwork through, drop the cars off at the harbor.

Paperwork, Tony. That's all it was.

Ah, Benny.

You've been a hustler your whole life.

You didn't know you were being hustled?

Let's go.

Tony, please.

You arrest me, they'll... They'll send me to jail.

I'll die in there.

Maybe the judge will show leniency. Maybe he won't.

You let guys off the hook if they give you inside information, right? What kind

of inside information do you have?

None yet.

But I'm in with Lewis. He's in town for a deal.

I can find out what it is. It's too dangerous. I can't put you in harm's

Prison's gonna be safe for a guy like me?

Please, Tony.

For Fay and the kids.

For Rachel.

Give me a chance to redeem myself.

You do it for some bum, do it for me.

Look, it's your butt on the line here. Do what you gotta do.

I mean, I'm not gonna stand here and remind you that I saved your life and

Rachel's life.

That's not fair, and I respect you too much.

What did Percy tell you to do with the cars?

What happens now?

Nothing. Go to the law tomorrow and wait for my call.

Always said you were the best, Tony.

You told Rachel not to marry me.

I was kidding.

Come on. I don't want you to mention this to anyone.

Not Faye, not Rachel, nobody. This is between you and me. My lips are sealed.

What's going on with Benny?

What? Faye just called me. She said that he's going to be working with you on

something. She said a frantic.

Faye gets frantic watching Wheel of Fortune.

Wait. Tony.

We're not working together. I just asked Benny to keep an eye out for stolen

cars. There's a ring I'm closing in on. No, no. She made it sound dangerous.

It's nothing, Rach.

It's just information.

You know Benny. He's the greatest self -promoter since P .T. Barnum.

Yeah. Would I put him in danger? Him?

I guess not.

He probably loved him.

Deputized. May God help us.

Something smells good.

Chicken primavera.

Hey, Brad, last one to finish the coffee, bruising your pie.

Ooh, did I commit a felony?

It's the way we do things around here.

We? Who's we?

Tony.

I got an idea on the Jane Doe we found yesterday.

Her name was Meredith Sands, a social worker from New York.

She worked with inner -city kids setting up community workshops, gang

alternatives. What was she doing at Eastbridge with Percy Lewis?

I think humanity's shaky enough. I'd hate to think she was doing a deal with

this guy.

Did you get Marty's report?

Yeah, it was a single shot, 9mm, from close range.

What about the skin under the fingernails? They're still running it

lab. Yeah.

Oh, um, by the way, I...

A couple of guys would like to take you for a little birthday lunch tomorrow.

I didn't say anything. I swear.

So that's a no?

Okay, I'll just take that as a no.

It's a no.

The word lemon mean anything to you? How about clunker, hunk of junk, death

trap? The car that Benny sold you? I'm driving to work and everything's fine.

Birds are chirping.

Gladys Knight's on the tape deck. I'm happy.

Then I turn the steering wheel to pull into the parking lot and... I

want these bugs to pick up

everything. Plant as many as you need. No dead spots.

Be careful with that.

It's a very expensive paperweight.

We're careful, Benny. Easy.

Izzy bought it for me in Hong Kong.

I mean, look at that.

You've got to calm down or this isn't going to work. Yeah, right. Calm down.

Tony, I'm a car salesman.

I don't know from all this stuff.

You'll never be out of sight or earshot. I'll have an effect up out there to

launch an invasion. No one's getting hurt.

Oh, God.

Look at me.

Bert Lahr and the Wizard of Oz.

Let's go over it again. From when Lewis enters.

He comes in.

He does his bit.

I do mine.

It starts to get heavy, I give you the signal. Which is?

I say, is it hot in here?

And the cavalry comes crashing in. Guns are blazing.

That's a last resort. The point is to get in with this guy.

Make him trust you enough to find out what he's up to.

Boss, we're done. Thanks, John.

What now?

Oh, we wait.

And you're sure Lewis will show?

He finds out his drugs aren't in the car, he will not pass go, he will not

collect $200.

Tony?

Nobody's ever done Benny Ezrak a favor.

You're the first.

Thanks, Tony.

You're family, Benny.

When this is over, you come down to the lot and you pick out any car you want.

It's yours at my cost.

All right, Lewis and his leg breaker are going in.

Don't forget, if he says it's hot in here, we move.

Is it hot in here?

He just went in.

Hibbs, is he all right?

Yeah.

Hold off. Hold off.

You held out on me.

Is it hot in here? What the hell are you talking about, hot in here? I called

your mud, Benny. I would have called you, but you don't leave a number.

That's the way you do business.

Fine. So I waited here for you.

I was driving to the dock, looked in the mirror, saw I was being followed.

No way I was going to take a chance, so I came back.

Figured you had more than a spare tire in the trunk, so I checked it out.

Didn't know if they were coming after me with a search warrant or what.

Come on.

If I ripped you off, I'd be halfway to Tokyo by now.

Good for you, Benny.

Put these in the car.

I'm about to complete a very sizable transaction.

I might need some help.

You listening?

Take me to the promised land purse.

20 cars.

Nondescript.

Clean paper.

Untraceable.

Easy to arrange.

You'll hear from me. When?

So I know when to be here.

Soon.

And one more thing, Benny. Uh -huh?

Now that you're going to know my business.

You're lucky I wasn't killed.

What was all that about the signal? Enough already. I'm fine.

I gave the signal.

You gave it before Lewis got through the door. Forget it.

What's done is done.

But I was great, right?

Officer Ben.

What do you think? Period change?

You did good.

To hell with good.

Superb. You heard Lewis.

something's going down, and I'm gonna be there, baby, under the hood, next to

the generator.

Make sure you run right home and tell Fay all about it.

So what's next?

Get the cars ready and wait for his call.

To when?

Fay's making lamb chops tonight.

I'm just saying. You're not off the hook until we get Lewis. Remember that.

Not a problem.

Hey, Tone?

You know...

Even though it hurts, it also feels good.

Didn't know I was so macho, did you?

As soon as you hear something...

I'm

running late, honey. I didn't get a chance to make your eggs.

I hope you don't mind.

Happy birthday.

Yeah, happy birthday, Dad.

Here. This is for me and Sarah.

Great tie.

Thanks, champ.

Open mine.

You like it?

Oh, it's nice.

Oh, I gotta run. I'm sorry, honey.

We'll have a nice dinner tonight.

If I could get home early enough.

Bye. See you, Dad.

Hey, boss.

Yeah, Sam.

I was at Villa Kachina. Sid asked me to stake it out. Right.

I ran flings on a couple of goons I saw going upstairs.

Their car's registered to the mill's import and export.

That's mob muscle all the way.

All right, put a tail on him. I'll get a wire tap and a search warrant for the

restaurant. You got it.

Your cousin, Benny? I don't want to hear it. He gave me a slick -looking loaner,

even picking up mileage.

Benny's okay. A little rough around the edges, but okay.

Yeah, and anchovies are a little salty.

Oh, and call Eli over at the DA's office. Some serious agitation happening

there. What?

That appeal you were waiting on.

Teddy Dalton, the person at you?

DA didn't get the additional affidavits he needed from our office in time.

They let Dalton go?

Why didn't they get the affidavits over there?

Talk to Brad.

We lost this guy because of Brad?

Come on, Brad.

One coffee.

You're going to be here all day.

All day?

Lisa, I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.

Brad, how you doing?

Hi, Commissioner.

You got those affidavits for the Teddy Dalton case?

Yes, I do, sir. Why didn't they get delivered over to the DA's office?

I've been busy with these reports.

Deliveries are low on my list of priorities.

I see.

Look, Brad, I need you to do me a favor. Sure, name it.

On your lunch break, I want you to drive down to the city and go to Lincoln

Center and find the guy who books the musical acts.

Is this for an investigation or something?

Something.

You know, technically.

I shouldn't have to do any work on my lunch break.

Eat first, then call me.

Happy birthday.

Very unnecessary.

Thank you very much.

Figaro, two of my favorites. I have them already. I'm sorry. I don't know

anything about opera.

If you want to exchange them. Exchange nothing. These are great.

I'll make sure to blast them extra loud to get back at Rach.

I came down to eat this morning. She barely croaked out a happy birthday.

I thought you didn't want a lot of fanfare.

I don't.

Well, maybe some.

I mean, it is kind of a milestone.

God, it must be depressing enough just turning 40.

Not to have it acknowledged.

Knowing how important family is to you.

Just surprised, that's all.

Surprise?

Rachel's going to throw me a surprise party, isn't she?

She's setting me up.

Oh, I don't think so, Tony. I'm going to come home tonight. The house will be

dark. I'll walk in, flip on the lights.

Don't worry, I won't blow it.

Oh, Tony.

Meredith Van's mother's up from New York to pick up the body. I told her you

have some questions.

Could you tell me what Meredith was doing in Eastbridge?

Trying to make the world a better place.

That's what she'd tell you.

I called it being a martyr.

I'm a little confused.

Gangbangers.

These were her children.

She came up here to protect them.

Said there was a man up here who was evil, who was trying to set her work

She wanted to stop it.

Percy Lewis?

That's right.

Set her back how?

That's all she told me.

I warned her not to get involved.

I told her, go to the police if this man is doing so wrong.

But she couldn't do that.

Said she'd lose face with her kids.

They wouldn't tract her anymore.

Do you have children, Commissioner?

A son and a daughter.

Well, do yourself a favor.

Don't teach them to care or to trust or to believe that the world can be a

beautiful place.

It makes them such easy prey for what the world is really made of.

We'll do everything we can.

According to her mother, Meredith was in Eastbridge trying to stop Lewis from

doing something. It had to do with the inner city kids she worked with. They

were shipping drugs out of the country. In return for what?

Boss, telephone.

Line one, Fred, from the Lincoln Center.

Put him over the speakers.

Hello? Commissioner, it's Brad.

Brad, where are you?

At Lincoln Center, like you said.

With the guy who books the musical acts?

Uh, yeah.

The singer's?

Yeah. What do you want me to do?

Ask him for a job.

A job?

Yeah, because he's the only guy I know who hires prima donnas.

Yeah.

Hi, honey.

I have a surprise for you.

Really?

Benny's here.

Benny? He's here?

Howdy! Happy birthday, boobie! For he's a jolly good fellow. Benny, please.

Rach, can you give us a few?

Police business.

Put on your seatbelt, Tony. You will never in a million years guess what

is bringing in.

Guns. How did you know?

There's only two things that are important to gangs.

Guns and drugs.

We knew drugs were going out. It only makes sense guns are coming in.

Not just guns.

Automatic weapons.

3 ,000 units. Talk about a volume operation.

He's going to distribute to every city in the country.

That's why Meredith Sands was here.

To make sure the gangs didn't get him.

Who? What's Lewis gonna do?

Offload the guns at the lot, put them into cars, then have his people

them. When?

Tonight. What's going on?

Uh, we're just talking, Sharp.

You're talking about guns.

You said nothing dangerous.

That Benny wouldn't be involved.

I know I did.

I was trying to protect you. I know how you feel about Benny.

And?

What is how I feel about Benny got to do with this?

What's going on here?

This is not about stolen cars.

A dealer from New York has been using Benny's cars to smuggle cocaine.

I didn't know, Rachel, and the lives of the kids, I swear.

Benny, why?

For Fay, you don't know what she's gone through over the years. Don't get me,

Fay. It was you, Benny. You wanted to be a big shot just like Izzy. And you

didn't care how. Let's face it, Rachel.

I was 16 when my father dropped dead at the dinner table.

Izzy was about to start college.

Mom felt that his education was more important than mine.

It's okay.

He was a small one.

So I quit school and started working at a fabric mill in Red Hook.

Some days, the dust was so thick, I could barely breathe.

Don't get me wrong, I love my brother.

But did he ever thank me?

Did he ever acknowledge my sacrifice?

He was too busy counting his money.

And everyone, including my mother,

bows and scrapes when he walks in a room.

I was the good son.

And I got nothing.

I'm sorry, Rachel. It's no excuse.

Rachel, we gotta go.

When are you coming back?

I'll call you.

Come on, Betty. Let's go.

Hey, Mike, what do you see?

Street's quiet.

Not that we expected to ring in the new decade, huh?

Yeah, turning 30 wasn't much better.

Called to a murder -suicide in the middle of blowing out candles.

Restive.

Someone's coming.

Someone's over there.

Four guys, that's it?

Hey, Mike, do you see anyone else coming?

No, that's it.

There's no 3 ,000 guns out there.

No, Lewis.

Damn it.

All right, all units, move in. Go.

Stop. You're under arrest. Put your hands over your head.

happen to know of Percy Lewis?

He's the guy going on a cruise while you rot in jail.

You guys gonna lay down for this bum?

Come on, talk to me.

I can whisper sweet nothings in the DA's ear.

Where'd you get the scratch?

I cut myself shaving.

You sure you did?

Call Judge Fenwick. I want a court order for a skin sample. What for?

Because you just became my number one suspect in the murder of Meredith Sands.

I want a lawyer. Oh, you'll get a lawyer.

Court date, the whole shot.

Your skin matches what was on Sands.

You're looking at life without parole, pal.

Or you can roll over on Lewis now, save us a lot of time, trouble.

Maybe I can help you get a deal with the DA.

Benny's fine. It went off without a hitch.

Sue.

I love you, too.

Woo -hoo!

We did it, baby! We got Lewis where it hurts!

Woo!

Come on, let's see the pearly whites.

There were only 80 guns tonight.

You said he was moving 3 ,000.

He said he'd be up from New York tonight, that it was gonna be big.

That's all I know.

This doesn't affect our deal, does it?

I owe you, Tony.

And not just for getting me out of the hot seat, for making me realize that

peace of mind means a whole lot more than money.

No more stupid stunts.

I hope you really mean that.

What a mensch you are.

So long, beautiful lady.

Don't kill me.

Please.

Put the finger on me tonight, Benny.

Not me.

I was booked like everybody else. Oh, man, that was a charade.

What, you thought I wasn't going to check you out?

Find out that your cousin's the police commissioner?

Actually, he's my cousin's husband.

I want to know everything you told Scali.

I didn't tell him anything, Purse, I swear.

You're messing with the wrong guy.

You're being arrested for the possession and trafficking of cocaine and

automatic weapons. And for the murder of Meredith Sands. Man, I had nothing to

do with that.

That's not what Denny Hollander told me when I busted him at Benny's tonight.

He's already signed a statement that you paid him ten grand to whack her.

You're about to become a man of conviction, Percy.

You all right?

How'd you know?

I had a feeling Lewis pulled a fast one at the lot.

Sacrificed a few guns to set up a decoy.

We knew we'd be on to you for the first bust.

My men have been covering you since you left my office.

Oh, man.

I thought I was down to my last heartbeat.

Guess you saw what a coward I was.

Benny, you weren't a coward. You did fine.

I'm all talk.

No action.

Like the story of how I saved your life.

I didn't save your life.

Just like I didn't have anything to do with this. You figured it all out.

I was just a patsy in the middle.

The flunky little brother.

Benny.

Hey, Bill, will you take Benny over to his car?

I'm gonna walk.

Come on, Benny, let us take you.

You all right?

I think so.

Coward, huh?

I'll bet you he's never pulled off anything like that.

Let's go.

What a day.

Not over yet.

Stan just called in a 10 -13 from Villa Kachina. He's in trouble.

Where's Stan?

Upstairs. Things got kind of crazy. The bouncer's got a gun on him. What

happened? I'm not sure. He must have gone upstairs and saw something he

supposed to.

Dispatch took the call. They said he got cut off in the middle of it. All right.

He in there?

Yeah. That guy says he'll only talk to the commissioner.

We got a name?

No.

This is Police Commissioner Scali. I'm coming in to talk to you. Come in alone.