All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S11E05.Return.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

In the criminal justice system

In the criminal justice system

the people are represented

by two separate
yet equally important groups:

the police,
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

You think
she had diseases?

What do I care?

Duh, I don't know.

Maybe because
if you were with her

you'll catch one?

Hey, this is
Mitchy Mitch.

I don't catch
anything

I don't want to
catch, all right?

Yeah, why's that?

Because, nitwit, I know what I'm doing,
all right?

Hey, are you okay?

Too loose to break. I'm fine.

All right, let's
go, come on.

I wonder who
left this open?

Look, I don't know, man

but I don't think
we should be here.

I'm going to check it out.

Dude, you're going to
get eaten by a freaking rat.

He's out of his mind.

Hey, we're leaving.

Oh, my God.

CSU Officer: Two gunshots: one to the
shoulder

one to the back
of the head.

He had a wallet on him,
$240 cash.

The name's Saul Caplan.

Becker & Caplan.

Anything missing
from the store?

Register's empty.
Looks like there might

be some merchandise
missing as well.

Forced entry?

We found a broken padlock
by the cellar doors.

There's an alarm,
but it wasn't set.

Yeah, I guess he wouldn't
activate it until he left.

If you're through,
we'll send him to the ME.

Yeah.

He was in the office

he heard something,
he grabbed a bat.

Yeah, looks like the pitcher
blew one by him.

A man builds a business, brick by brick

creates something
out of nothing.

For this, he's gunned
down like a dog.

Had you been robbed
before, Mr. Becker?

A couple of years ago,
we had a break-in.

Before that, some junkie
came in to hold us up.

Between Saul and me
and Ronnie in the stockroom

he's lucky he's
still walking.

So Saul just happened
to be here last night?

He was going over
the inventory lists.

He does it every Thursday.

Excuse me. One of the ones

who found the body said he needs to call
his parents.

Tell him
we'll be right there.

Is it possible to
do this another time?

I need to go be
with Saul's wife.

Sure.

Okay, what were you guys
doing on Orchard Street

at 4:00 in the morning?

Going back
to the dorm.

From where?

This bar.

What bar?

The Bowery Bar.

Orchard Street's not between the bar and
your dorm, fellas.

We were coming from
a hooker's apartment.

Oh, God.

Where?

Orchard near Delancey.

I'm the only one who went
through with it, though.

Is it possible our parents not be made
aware of this?

My father just
had a bypass.

Oh, sure, I'd hate
to see you get in trouble

seeing as how
you didn't even

get your hat
knocked off.

Look, we found the body,
we called 911, we stuck around.

What more
do you want from us?

What'd the hooker look like?

You see anybody else
last night who looked

like they might've
done a robbery?

Nuh-uh.

Come on, we know you were
working last night.

I didn't say I wasn't
working last night.

But you didn't
see anybody?

What kind of robbery?

A leather coat store.

Oh, I don't know nothing
about that.

Okay, we find out
you're holding back

you're going to take
a collar a week for a year.

I ain't been doing nothing but what I'm
doing.

Don't be taking your
frustration out on me

just 'cause you guys
got nobody else.

Fine, just remember
what I told you.

You guys know
a tall drag queen--

blonde hair

used to work the trucks-- named Toreador?

Toreador got herself
a new leather jacket last night

and the reason I know

is it wasn't the same skanky
old thing she used to wear.

I said something.

She was like,
"Oh, I can't be bothered."

Go check her sorry
ass out, why don't you?

Where can we find her?

Toreador?

Can you give a girl
some privacy, please?

You know, they've had indoor plumbing for
2,000 years.

Officers, I am so sorry.

Is it not permitted
to relieve one's self

out of doors?

What kind of jacket is that,
Dolce & Gabbana?

Oh, my, aren't we
something of a fashionista?

How much did you
pay for it?

It was on sale--

drastically reduced,
don't you know.

Is that what you call
murdering the shopkeeper?

Pardon?

You want to have
this conversation here

or you want to have it
down at the station?

All rights, all rights.

I found it.

Where?

By a dumpster.

You mind taking it off
so we can take a look at it?

Not at all.

Ooh, chilly morning, though...

not quite unpleasant.

The pills are female
hormone supplements

which are not,
I don't believe, illegal.

Becker and
Caplan tag.

Where'd you get it?

There's only two
possibilities

worth considering.

One has you committing
murder and robbery.

The other has you receiving stolen
property.

I certainly did not
murder anyone.

Then where did you get it?

Where were you
last night, Ronnie?

Home.

Do you have anybody
that can confirm that?

My wife, my kids,
my neighbor.

Does your wife know about your friend,
Jeffrey?

I don't know anybody
named Jeffrey.

Jeffrey, who
likes to dress up

in women's clothes and
calls himself Toreador?

So what do you want to know?

When did you take
the coat you gave her?

Last week.

You're sure it
wasn't last night?

Saul was like

a second father to me,
all right?

I mean, I took a coat.

Yeah, I took a coat,
but I don't kill this man.

I loved this man, okay?

His alibi checks out.

He might've been stealing,
but he's not our guy.

Has Street Crime Unit

Nothing.
come up with anything?

What about CSU?

No usable prints.

ME's report
confirms two shots:

one from about eight feet;
hit him in the shoulder

the other from two to three feet; hit him
in the back of the head.

The perp was probably
standing right above him.

Hmm, an execution.

He died

somewhere between
11:00 and midnight.

Van Buren. Okay, thanks.

Forensics has something
they want to show you.

This is the lock

that was found near
the cellar doors.

And?

The lock appears to
have been chiseled like this.

I know it looks like
a lot of damage

but this kind of lock
doesn't open that way.

You're sure?

We tried to replicate
the damage.

Remember that commercial

where they shoot a bullet
through the lock?

Truth in advertising, huh?

The only way to break
one of these things

is to severe
the shackle inside.

Otherwise, it's not
going to open.

So whoever damaged the lock
already had it open.

This isn't a good time
to be doing this.

We apologize.

There's just a
couple of things

we need to ask you.

We're sitting shiva here
because Saul's wife's

in no condition
to do it by her.

That's very nice of you.

It wasn't even
a question.

There's some indication
that this is an inside job.

I don't believe it.

Whoever accessed the basement had a
key.

It's possible a key
got lifted, no?

We know
something?

Nothing.

This is my wife.

How do you do?

You okay here?

Fine.

Would they
like something?

No, nothing, thank you.

If you could
provide us

with a list of
your employees

that would give us
a starting point.

They think it was
someone from the store?

Sylvia, they don't
think anything.

They're investigating,
that's all.

Well, the bookkeeper

was busted for
marijuana possession.

How long ago?

1974.

Hmm, well, here's something
a little bit more promising.

Sal Bonafiglio: arrested five
times, three times for burglary.

Did a pound at Dannemora.

So you're saying you like him
better than the bookkeeper?

See, Sal, whoever
broke into the store

worked in the store.

Now, you work
in the stockroom

and you have felonies
on your record.

It's been three years
since my last arrest, all right?

Mm-hmm.

Two of which you were in jail.

Burglary Three, Burglary Three,
Burglary Two.

Then, just for variety,
there's mail fraud.

Excuse me, but that
was reversed on appeal.

Duly noted.

Look, I got nothing

to do with this, you guys.

I never whacked anybody
in my life.

Hey, maybe you went
to rob the place

and you didn't know
Saul was going to be there.

All right, tell me the truth.

Is this because
my last name ends in a vowel?

Maybe you didn't mean
to rob the place.

Maybe you went there
for legitimate reasons.

Caplan thinks
you're going to rob him

and he comes after you.

You defend yourself.

Hey, maybe I
get drafted

by the Giants
to play linebacker.

What is it with
you guys and the maybes?

Where were you Thursday
night between 10:00 and 1:00?

I was with my nephew
in Uniondale.

Whether this guy's alibi
checks out or not

he's involved.

Well, he never used
a gun before.

Why does he use one
this time?

Well, maybe he didn't.

Well, check
his incident reports.

See who his
partners-in-crime were.

B and E in Westchester--

"Perp had apparently gained
access to house

by searching
for keys under doormats.

Partner backed truck
into the garage door."

What's the
partner's name?

Eddie Novello.

I just saw that name.

Uh...

"Assaulted a security guard
with a crow bar

"when he and an accomplice

were fleeing the scene
of the burglary."

His gun must've
been in the shop.

Hey, Lennie.

There he is.

Eddie.

What's happening, man?

I don't know.

We thought you were
still upstate.

I been back a while.
Do I know you?

You staying out
of trouble, Eddie?

Yeah.

What's in the bag? Nothing.

Mind if we
take a look?

It's my gym bag.

Oh, we can see
it's your gym bag, Eddie.

We just want
to look at it.

Why, you don't
want to let us?

I don't care.

Hmm, what you
doing with this?

Nothing.

Where'd you get it?

This guy.

Becker & Caplan.

Get in the car.

See, Eddie, the thing
about evidence is

you want to get
rid of it.

Here's the thing, Eddie.

We've got Sal's version.

Now we need yours.

You want to make
something up

start with that coat
we found in your gym bag.

Hey, what did I tell you?

You keep doing that

we're going to put
the cuffs back on.

Eddie, maybe you don't understand what's
going on here.

We don't need
your confession.

We've already got
enough to put you away.

We're just trying to
let you help us out

so we can help you.

You know, I killed a guy
in the ring once.

I mean, two punches: bang, boom!

All right, time...
time, Eddie.

See, what I don't understand is, why a guy
who could fight

like you needed
a gun anyway.

You never seen me fight.

Oh, but I heard
about you, though.

I heard you hit harder than any middle
weight since LaMotta.

Somebody said that?

Yeah.

See, what I don't
understand is

why a guy who
could hit like you

would need
to use a gun.

I told Sal I don't need no gun!

I said I could take that son
of a bitch out with my hands.

But he said he wanted it clean
or he wouldn't pay.

What else did Sal say?

That I could take
what I want.

Cash in the register,
merchandise.

Just make sure the guy's dead.

How much did
he pay you?

Five grand.

I bought my girlfriend
a big-screen television set.

It's over, Sal.

Eddie gave you up.

Now, unless you tell us
your version

we're going to have to take
his word for it.

You ever get the feeling
when you're talking to him

that maybe Eddie wasn't
quite right in his head?

He said you gave him
five grand to kill Caplan.

That's murder for hire, Sal.

First degree, whether he's
right in the head or not.

Guy's got eyes the
size of meatballs.

He told you what
you wanted to hear

so he didn't have
to talk no more.

You had access to the lock

plus you were arrested
with Eddie before.

How the hell am I going
to get five grand?

I make $8 an hour.

Then how did Eddie wind up
with the coat?

I hang out with him
at the gym sometimes.

He knows where I work.

He knows there's stuff
in the basement.

Who left the lock open?

I don't know.

You're the
friggin' detective.

I haven't been back here since
the night that Saul was killed.

I can't even offer you
a piece of cake.

We're actually all right.

We just need to ask you
a couple of questions

and we'll be out of here.

Ask.

When your husband worked
on the inventory at night

was there anybody
who worked with him?

Boy, are you asking

the wrong person.

The only time that Saul would
talk about the store with me

was if he would
bring home a coat

that he thought maybe
I would like.

I was his duchess.

Grandma?

Oh, come here, tatteleh.

You all right?

This is my grandson, David.

Hello.

These gentlemen
are the detectives

that are investigating
what happened with your zayde.

Did you ever work
with your zayde, David?

No. Did either of your parents?

His father worked

in the store one summer.

He's a very successful
cardiologist

with a big practice
in Los Angeles.

He was here for the funeral.

Then he had to get back.

David interested
in the business?

I'm leaning toward film school

right now.

If that doesn't work out,
I'd think seriously

about maybe taking over
the business.

He looks just like him,
this one.

We can hold them both for now

but Sal's right about one thing:
we've got no motive.

You believe him?

Well, I didn't say that,
but what do we have?

The testimony of a mentally
questionable coconspirator.

That's it.

Well, if Eddie's telling the truth

Sal either had
reasons of his own

to get rid of Caplan.

What they are,
we don't know.

Or he was doing it
for somebody else.

Who that is,
we don't know.

Yeah, what he said.

Go talk to the parole officer.

Sal was always on time
for his appointments.

Urine tests came back clean,
was holding down a job.

Anything to suggest
he had money problems?

No. The only time I
had to sit him down

was when I found out
he was frequenting

this after-hours joint.

I said it once-- that
was the end of it.

How'd you find out?

This goofball Frank
works there.

He dropped a dime on him.

What did you say
the name of the place was?

Red's, I think he said.

It's on Tenth Street
between A and B.

And it's an after-hours place,
huh?

Yeah. It doesn't open
till 2:00 in the morning.

You better get in a nap
this afternoon, Lenny.

We're looking for Frank.

Got me.

There wouldn't be
any illegal substances

being passed in this
establishment, would there?

He's in the bathroom.

You must be Frank.

You still got a little
right there.

Come on.

Sal Bonafiglio-- do you know him, Frank?

Is this a shakedown?

Listen to the question.

Sal Bonafiglio. Right.
What about him?

Do you know him?

Yeah.
Good.

Now, what can you
tell us about him?

Low-level coke dealer.

Says he's a wise guy,
but I doubt it.

Any idea who his friends are?

He was hanging around
with this bald guy, Eli.

Something of a coke fiend.

Comes in here periodically,
looking to sell

leather coats or something.

Says he owns a store,
but I doubt it.

Most of the people in here
pretty much lie on spec.

Well, that must
be pretty tough

on a straight arrow
like yourself.

Thanks.

We'd like to talk to
your son, Mrs. Becker.

Eli.

Uh, If you don't mind, we'd like to speak
to him privately.

Sure. Right this way.

How well do you know Sal?

Uh, not well
at all, really.

Do you ever go to
an after-hours club

on Tenth Street
called Red's?

Yeah. I think I've been
there a couple times, yeah.

You ever been there
with Sal?

Can I ask what
this is about?

Well, we think he might know
more than he's telling us.

Well, like I said

I really... I don't know
the guy all that well.

I mean, I-I just...
I couldn't really tell you.

Did you ever sell coats
at the bar?

No.

Somebody said they thought
you did that.

Well, people say
all kinds of things.

I mean, did I ever... give
some chick a coat as a gift?

Maybe I did.

But, I mean, that's
my family's business.

I'm entitled to do that, right?

What's going on?

We're just asking your son
a few questions.

This is a house of
mourning, Detectives.

The store will be open
for business tomorrow.

Ask him or me or anyone else
questions there, please.

I have to tell you.

I don't feel right doing this
without Mr. Becker here.

This search warrant
covers you.

You can tell him
you were legally bound.

Receipts...

orders, inventory lists.

Any way you could've missed
any stolen money?

Every night
someone stays late

to check receipts
against the register.

What about merchandise?

Not possible.

At the end of the week

I check the receipts
against those inventory lists.

I would know
if anything was missing.

Who makes the lists?

We checked Eli's inventory
lists against the orders

placed by Becker and Caplan
to their distributors.

It turns out Eli was accounting
for coats that didn't exist.

Why hadn't anyone noticed?

Well, Eli was in charge
of orders, too.

As long as nobody
questioned the accuracy

of the inventory lists, it could have gone
on for months.

How much money are
we talking about?

$5,000 a month.

If Caplan exposed him,
it would have ruined his chance

to take over the business.

Pick him up.

Where is he, Mr. Becker?

Where's who?

Your son.

He doesn't get in until 9:00.

The doorman in his
building saw him leave

in the middle of the
night with suitcases.

Where is he, Mr. Becker?

Somewhere you can't get him.

The police pulled the LUDs
from Mr. Becker's apartment

and found a phone call
to Hoffman Travel Agency.

An agent confirmed Eli
was on a flight to Israel.

Are we sure
this is our guy?

Eddie Novello says Sal
paid him to kill Caplan.

Sal didn't have the means
or the motive.

No question Eli was behind it.

Where's Sal now?

He's being held at Rikers.

Once we get Eli back, we can
turn them against each other.

Has a formal request
for extradition been made?

Yeah. We submitted it
to the Israeli Consulate.

Let's see what they do.

Israeli law grants
non-extradition

to a citizen of Israel
who is also a resident there.

How can Eli Becker be considered a
resident of Israel?

Well, he maintains an
apartment in Tel Aviv.

Wait a minute.

Israel is violating
its reciprocity agreements

to harbor a murderer?

No. We... we intend
to cooperate fully

with your office
and conduct a trial in Israel.

That's unacceptable.

This is murder for hire
committed on American soil.

The only reason Eli Becker
is in Israel

is to avoid prosecution

in an American court.

In 1935, the Nazis established
the Nuremberg race laws

depriving German Jews
of their rights of citizenship.

It was the beginning
of the discrimination

that would lead
to the Holocaust.

Now, when Israel was founded,
we established laws

to protect Jews from
being judged by non-Jews.

Given the current
political climate in Israel

the tenuousness
of Barak's coalition

the power
of the religious parties

it would not be a good time

to stand accused
of violating these principles--

even when it comes
to a murderer.

He completely manipulated the system.

If we can poke holes
in his residency claim

maybe the Israelis
will send him back.

Okay, let me see what I can get
from the parents.

What was Eli doing
in Israel back in 1995?

Living in Tel Aviv,
same as now.

No. What was he doing?

Living, working,
what anyone does.

Who was his employer?

Do me a favor:
talk to the lawyer.

He was working for himself, um,
trying to get established.

Established in what?

Um, jewelry exporting,
I think

and I think
he was starting

to do some
concert promotion.

Sylvia, we don't need to be doing her work
for her.

Can you tell me when he applied for his
travel visa?

I can't tell you anything.

Mr. Becker, after you purchased
Eli's plane ticket to Israel

you refused to tell the police
where he was.

Now, that's obstruction,
and it's a felony.

You're trying to
send my son to jail.

Do you think I'm
going to help you?

Even though he had
your partner murdered?

That's what you say.

Are you aware your son
has a drug problem?

That was years ago.
It's over with.

We also have proof your son was stealing
from your store.

Now, If I have to,
I'll come back

with detectives
and a search warrant.

I don't care if you come back
with the United States Army!

Nathan.
That's it!

What's the matter-- you people don't have
enough to do?

No, Councilman, we have plenty to do.
Please.

What is so terrible

if this person is tried
in the State of Israel?

Everyone's equal
before the law.

You can't treat one murderer like he's
special.

I have a murder case
starting next month

with a defendant
who's Korean.

Shall I send him
back to Korea?

Oh, so now I have to
give a history lesson

on what it means
to be a Jew.

I have a guy

who's looking at a lot
of years in prison.

I imagine he could give you
a pretty good one

about what it means
to be Korean.

You might remind
your deputy here

this is not the debating club at
Dartmouth.

I have a great many people
living in my district

and all through the City
of New York

who understand full well
what it means to be a Jew

and no, it is not the same as
what it means to be a Korean.

That a Jonathan Pollard sits
in an American prison

for trying
to help the State of Israel

is a disgrace, and whoever
finally manages to free him

will have themselves the undying
support of the Jewish people.

What about
a Samuel Scheinbein?

What about him?

Did allowing him to be tried
and sentenced in Israel

when he murdered,
dismembered

and burned his victim
in Maryland earn anyone

the undying support
of the Jewish people?

His exercising his right
as a Jew to return to Israel

hasn't prevented him
from being punished.

As we speak,
he's in an Israeli prison.

No, the way I see it,
as soon as you murder someone

you lose your right to return
to Israel or anywhere else.

Not according
to Israeli law.

Councilman, I uphold the law
of the State of New York.

I want Eli Becker extradited.

Becker, Eli.

Father helped him apply
for a travel visa

on September 12, 1995.

What if he was working there?

How long could he stay
in Israel on that visa?

Travel visa lasts
three months.

If he wanted
to stay longer

or if he wanted a work visa,
he would apply in Israel.

Okay.

What kind of documentation

did he show you
to get this visa?

Birth certificate.

Born January 5, 1965.

New York Foundling
Hospital.

In 1996, Eli Becker
was granted

Israeli citizenship

based on the fact
that he's Jewish.

But he was adopted.

His birth mother
was a woman

by the name of Mary
Elizabeth Kelly.

She's as Jewish as I am.

Given that the religion
of the mother

is controlling, we
may have an opening.

Did he convert?

Well, he didn't belong
to a synagogue on his own

and according to the rabbi

at his parents' synagogue

he hasn't been seen or heard
from since his Bar Mitzvah.

Which means maybe he didn't
satisfy the requirements

for an orthodox conversion.

Well, the Israeli Attorney
General wants to extradite.

Now, if he can provide proof
to the Ministry of Religion

that Becker's not a Jew,
it may do the trick.

So we turn over the information
on the adoption

and if the conversion
is defective, there's his proof.

No. Information from us won't
satisfy the religious parties.

What, it has to come
from a rabbi?

Exactly. There are
rabbinical courts

in Brooklyn that settle
divorces, contract disputes.

While the final say is with the Ministry
of Religion

let's give it a shot
that they'll take the word

of a few rabbis
in Brooklyn.

Good morning, Rabbis.

My name is Abbie Carmichael.

I'm here representing

the District Attorney's office
of New York County.

Before you are copies
of a birth certificate

attesting to the fact
that Eli Becker was born

to a Mary Elizabeth Kelly,
a Roman Catholic.

He then was adopted
by Nathan and Sylvia Becker

when he was six weeks old.

That is correct,
Mr. Feldman?

Yes, Rabbi.

Now, it's my understanding of
Halakic law

that there are three
requirements for conversion:

circumcision, Hebrew naming
and a ritual bath

known as a mikvah,
performed by a rabbi.

Please forgive me
if I've mispronounced anything.

You're doing fine.

Having reviewed
the documentation provided

by Mr. Becker's attorney

it's our position that

a conversion did not,
in fact, take place.

I don't know the basis for

Ms. Carmichael's presumed
expertise in these matters.

All I'll say is that before you
is a physician's affidavit

attesting to
Mr. Becker's circumcision

a rabbi's affidavit attesting
to his Hebrew naming.

As for the mikvah,
we don't have documentation.

We trust that won't be held out
as a fatal defect.

Mr. Becker, while not exactly
frum, had Hebrew training

and was Bar Mitzvahed.

Rabbis, it's our position that
Mr. Becker's

seeking refuge in Israel
is a cynical attempt

to avoid the consequences

of the murder
of his father's partner.

Except, even
a murderer

is entitled to return to Israel
if he's Jewish.

With all due deference, Rabbi

forgive me, but was it
ever the intention

of the Law of Return
to allow a criminal

to avoid having to answer
for his crime?

Let him answer for his crime--

assuming he committed one--

in Eretz Yisroel
as is his right.

He committed this crime
in the City of New York.

It's the obligation of my office
to the family of his victim

that he be tried here.

We offer no opinion

on the sincerity of
Mr. Becker's beliefs

or on who's entitled to try him where and
for what.

This is not up to us.

All we can determine
is whether the standard

for conversion
has been met.

Without proof of a mikvah,
we have to say it has not.

Also, we see no evidence that to this
point

Eli Becker has
been living

what we would call
a Jewish lifestyle.

Accordingly, Eli Becker
is ruled not Jewish.

A shandeh!

Rabbis, rabbis,
can I be heard?

Our ruling will be
put into writing

and made available
to both sides

by the end
of the day.

I had half my family
die in the ovens.

Who the hell are you to tell me
that my son is not Jewish?!

I'm sorry, Mr. Becker.

This is not up to us.

A stinking technicality

and these momzers
will hang him for it!

The Talmud has no
technicalities, Mr. Becker--

only laws.

Drop dead!

Nathan.

Israel's sending
him back.

I'm willing to make a deal
if Sal agrees to testify.

Right now all you've
got on my client

is the word of Eddie Novello.

In court, that counts for zero.

You don't have time
for games, Sal.

You're bluffing.

There's no way you'd

do all this
to get Becker back

then not go after him.

Then call my bluff.

You need Sal's testimony.

And Sal will never be
in a better position

to negotiate than he is now.

Someone's getting life, Sal.

You get to choose if it's
going to be you or Eli.

What's your deal?

Man One-- 15 to 25.

Not much of a deal.

You want to take your chances
standing trial for murder?

The answer to that
would be no.

Can you make it 10 to 20?

He's got to testify,
and that means truthfully

with nothing left out.

You got it.

If the case depends
on the jury

believing a career criminal
who's cut a deal

I'd say we're in trouble.

We have a defendant
who left the country

rather than stand trial.

Which the defense
will attribute

to a combination of panic
and religious fervor.

We can also establish that he was stealing
from the business.

A business his father
half owned.

Are we suggesting that
we offer him a deal?

After what we went through
to get him back here?

Not on your life.

Did you husband ever confront
Eli about his stealing?

Did you husband ever confront
Eli about his stealing?

He spoke to him about
it, but not rough.

That was not the way
that Saul did things

just to let him know

that he wasn't
fooling anybody.

Except for Nat.

Eli's father
didn't know?

I'm sure Eli begged Saul
not to say anything

and my grandfather, being the soft touch
that he was, didn't.

He has a lot of problems,
Eli, he always has.

Most of his problems are
of his own making.

You're talking
about drugs?

Oh, not just the drugs.

Eli was adopted--
he knew he was adopted--

so he was all the time
trying to make certain

that he wasn't
being treated different.

Did it seem to you that he was being
treated differently

or was that just
something in his mind?

I know Eli a long time.

Probably the less I say,
the better.

Do you think
he might be responsible

for your grandfather's murder?

I don't know.

Do you want to know?

Mr. Ortega, you make up
the inventory lists?

Yeah.

And what do you do
with them?

I give it to Eli.

He takes the numbers

puts them in his computer

then he prints out a list
to give to the manager.

Did you ever see the lists

after Eli printed them out?

Yes.

What did you notice
about them?

They were wrong.

We had all kinds
of merchandise

that wasn't listed.

If someone were stealing

would keeping merchandise
out of the inventory

be a way of concealing it?

Objection.
Speculative.

Overruled.

The witness can answer.

I guess it would.

Did you bring this discrepancy
to anyone's attention?

Yeah. I told Mr. Caplan.

I have nothing further.

You ever take any merchandise,
Mr. Ortega?

I squared whatever I did
with Mr. Becker and Mr. Caplan.

Let's try again.

Did you ever take
any merchandise?

Yes.

You give it
to your wife?

Objection.
Irrelevant.

Sustained.

Are you acquainted

with a certain
transvestite prostitute

that was he or she

the recipient of any
of this merchandise?

Objection.
Irrelevant.

Sustained.

The night Saul Caplan
was killed

wasn't one of the nights
you were stealing, was it?

No.

Nothing further.

It started out,
I'd get Eli coke.

Once in a while,
I'd set him up with a hooker

on account of he was afraid
to approach one on his own.

Did there come a point at which

Eli had you stealing
from the store?

Right. At first he'd throw me something as
a tip, kind of.

When I told him

I could move some quantity

he got hip to the money
to be made on the side.

How much was that?

Like $5,000
a month.

Would you describe the conversation

that took place
between yourself

and Eli on October 18th?

I saw him
at the club.

He said Caplan found out
we were stealing.

He asked if I knew someone
who could take him out.

What did you take
that to mean?

Have him murdered.

Is that when you contacted
Eddie Novello?

Right.

Eli gave me ten grand.

I gave five to Eddie.

I told Eli to leave
the basement doors unlocked

so Eddie could get in.

Nothing further.

You're not new to burglary,
are you, Mr. Bonafiglio?

Not really.

In fact,
you've been convicted

uh, three times.

Now, if Mr. Caplan found out

that someone was stealing
from the store

doesn't it make sense

that he would accuse
the convicted burglar

working for him?

Only Eli had
a lot more to lose.

You had access
to the basement doors

and being a three-time felon,
you had every reason

to make sure Caplan
never had you arrested.

The whole thing was Eli's idea.

I never would've done it
except for him.

Mr. Bonafiglio,
did the D.A. offer you a deal

for your testimony?

Yeah.

No further questions.

I don't know that he killed
my grandfather.

It sounded like you suspected that he
might have.

Not really.

Because it isn't
in his nature?

Right.

What if he thought
your grandfather

was about to blow the whistle on him
stealing?

I don't know.

You'd rather we didn't
put you in this position.

You're right. I'd rather make my little
film

and not have to
think about it.

You think maybe your grandfather
deserves better than that?

Eli took me to clubs.

He introduced me to girls.

I was this wide-eyed doofus,
and he showed me the ropes.

That was the old days.

He's the next witness up, David.

We want you to tell us
what you know.

Are you saying
you need me to?

We wouldn't be here
if we didn't.

What's your relationship with Sal
Bonafiglio, Eli?

I know him from work.

That's pretty much it.

You ever see him
outside of work?

I ran into him
at a club

called Red's one night.

Mm-hmm. Did you
talk to him?

Yes, I did.

Would you tell us
what you talked to him about?

Well...

I'd had a... pretty bad day
that day.

I was stressed, frustrated.

I... I had

a couple of drinks.

I was looking to unload.

Sal was there,
so I unloaded on him.

What'd you say?

Something to
the effect

of how I wished
that my father

and Saul would both retire

so I could run the business
the way I wanted to.

Did you say
you wanted Saul Caplan dead?

Absolutely not.

Did you offer
Sal Bonafiglio

money to kill him?

Absolutely not.

Did you pay Sal Bonafiglio money
to kill him?

No, I did not.

No further questions.

We've heard testimony

that together
with Mr. Bonafiglio

you were stealing merchandise
from the store and selling it

on the side.

Is there any truth
to that?

None whatsoever.

So, when Ronnie Ortega

testified there were
discrepancies in the inventory

attributable to you,
that was a lie?

Oh, there might
have been

discrepancies.

That doesn't mean
I was stealing.

Are bars and after-hours clubs

customary outlets
for leather coats

that started out
at Becker and Caplan?

Look, sometimes
the merchandise

in the store doesn't move, okay?

Y-you order more
than you can sell

a new shipment's coming in,
and you got to make room.

We've heard testimony

from half a dozen witnesses

that you sold coats
to get money for coke.

We've heard from
the individual

who sold you the coke,
who witnessed

with his own eyes

the transaction
from which you got the money.

Are you sure you want
to sit up here under oath

and tell us you were
just making room in the store?

What am I, the only person in
this room who's ever used drugs?

I've used drugs, okay?

On occasion I have
bought cocaine.

I'll tell you what
I've never done.

I never murdered anybody

because I-I was worried
about getting caught stealing.

I mean, stealing from who?

The store's half mine.

Do you know the victim's
grandson, David Caplan?

Sure, I know him.

At some point

did you offer
to buy out his interest

in the store
with promissory notes?

Assume I did.

And when
he declined to sell

did you resort to
physical intimidation?

Physical
intimidation?

Come... look,
we're like a family, okay?

We-we had a misunderstanding,
and he got upset.

I ask that this be marked
into evidence, Your Honor

as People's Exhibit Number 14--

a police report
in which David Caplan claimed

that Eli Becker threatened
to have his legs broken.

So ordered.

So, what,
is he feeding you all this?

Did you threaten him?

No, I didn't
threaten him!

I mean, t-the least

little argument, this kid,
he overreacts.

You've led a very sheltered
life, tatteleh, you know that?

Let me ask you something.

Have you ever lifted a finger?

Have you ever tried
unloading a truck?

Have you ever
tried selling?

Have you ever worked a day
in your life?

The keys to the kingdom,
this kid, he gets

because he-he looks
like his grandfather.

Did you ever think

if you were not adopted

that the keys to the kingdom
might have been yours?

No. I never thought that.

You're 35 years old.

You've worked in the store
since you were a teenager.

It never struck you
as a little odd

that your adopted father
didn't see fit

to reward your efforts

with a piece of the pie?

If I had ever asked, my father
would have given it to me.

Except that your father

had to answer
to his partner

and so you knew not to ask

because to them,
you were just an employee

like Sal Bonafiglio
or Ronnie Ortega--

someone to be trusted
to an extent

but never given a birthright
because there was no birthright.

Objection! Don't say "them," all right?

There was no "them."

If Caplan didn't want me
as a partner

that was all on him.

It had nothing to do
with my parents.

My parents would
do anything for me.

Is that why you wanted

Mr. Caplan killed?

I did not want
him killed!

I ju... I...

It was like I said before.

I was just...

I was unloading in a bar.

You were so adamant
he not be tried in Israel.

What I'm trying to see
if I can do

is broker an arrangement

where at least he serves
his sentence in Israel.

Well, he hasn't
been convicted yet.

Assuming he's convicted.

Given that his conversion was found
defective

why does Israel
still want him?

Well, there are those

in the State of Israel
who would like to apply

a more, uh, expansive reading
of the Law of Return.

If Mr. Becker has spent
his entire life

believing himself to be a Jew

and now wants to live
in the State of Israel as a Jew

there are those who would say it
would be a mitzvah to allow it.

Only a mitzvah?

What do you mean,
"only a mitzvah"?

I mean, there are no elections
riding on this?

The fate of nations isn't
hanging in the balance?

There are people
who would appreciate it

in Israel and in New York.

If that means
something to you

and maybe you
can help bring it about

and, uh, if it doesn't...
it doesn't.

Lev Berenson is
lobbying very hard

to let Becker serve
his sentence in Israel

and right now it's a concession
I feel inclined to make.

All due respect, Nora,
I think this is dead wrong.

This is religious authority
superseding civil authority.

We shouldn't just roll over.

That's a bit of
an overstatement.

Tell that
to the Iranians

who had to run for their lives
from the Ayatollah

or the Afghani girls
who can't go out

of their houses anymore.

Except that Israel is
run by civil authority.

It's the civil authority
we're responding to.

Well...
Excuse me.

If Becker knows he can
do his time in Israel

it might serve as an inducement
to a plea.

What does it look like
for a verdict?

It could go either way.

Make a deal.

He pleads to Murder Two.

No special circumstances,
no death penalty.

20 to life, and he serves
it in an Israeli prison.

He must be under the impression
they're winning.

It's a pretty high stakes
gamble if we are.

20 to life isn't

exactly a generous offer.

Considering this is

a murder for hire, I think
it's exceedingly generous.

It's only generous

if he committed a murder
for hire, and I say

he did not!

What does he say?

He doesn't
say anything

and he doesn't have
to say anything.

What happens if it goes
to the jury?

They look
at the evidence

they decide
he's not guilty

and they let him go home.

I'm asking them, Nat.

If they find your son
guilty of murder for hire

they'll remand him to custody.

The next step
is the penalty phase

where they will
try to determine

whether or not the death penalty is
warranted.

You want him to
run that risk?

He's innocent, Sylvia.

He knew Saul his whole life.

You think he
had him killed?

What's wrong
with you?!

Does Eli want to say anything?

Mom... Dad...

I don't know what to do.

If you're innocent, say
now that you're innocent

and we'll fight for you
as long as we have breath.

But, son

if you're not...
take their offer.

Dad?

What your mother said.

By this time
tomorrow night

he'll be on his
way to Tel Aviv.

The U.S. Marshall's Service
asked if we had any objection

to him being accompanied
by a rabbi on the flight.

Did you?

No, we didn't.

Do you still think he's
getting away with it?

I think we treated
him differently

because of
political pressure

under the guise of
religious devotion.

Do I think he got
away with it?

I think for the first time
in his life, he didn't.