All language subtitles for Law & Order s09e21 Ambitious.eng

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.

It's gotta be
in here someplace.

We're supposed
to be at City Hall in 15 minutes!

Don't worry, baby,
I'm gonna fix the flat and I'll get us there on time.

Well, watch out!
If you dirty up the tuxedo, they'll make me pay for it.

Yeah.

I think my brother
borrowed the jack.

Your brother?
I'm marrying a family of morons!

Maybe this guy
has a jack.

There's nobody in here.

Maria!

Door was unlocked.
This is how we found him.

Somebody did
a number on his head.

Defensive wounds
on the hands.

ID?

Not on the body.
No wallet, no money.

I've heard that song
before. No hits, no runs, no errors.

What about the van?

Registered to
a Donald Gibson. Brooklyn address.

Do we think
that's Mr. Gibson?

That or his twin brother.

Oh, yeah.
I see what you mean.

Hey, do me a favor.
Make my lieutenant happy and roll his prints.

So the witness
pulled in at 8:00 a. m., the van was sitting here.

Beside the
bride and groom,

he doesn't remember
anybody near it.

Oh, from the blood
smears on the floor,

it looks like
he was dragged in after the beating.

Anything turn up
in the parking area?

No blood,
no murder weapon.

Thanks.

Hell of a way to
start a life together.

Or end one.

M.E. makes the time of death
between 10:00 last night and 2:00 this morning.

How many blows
to the head did he take?

One. But he got
worked over pretty good before that.

Two shattered ulnae,
fractured ribs.

Internal bleeding
from his vital organs.

A little over-the-top
for a straight-up robbery.

Yeah. Maybe he forgot
to say "please" and "thank you. "

Oh, my God.

That's Donnie.

Look what they
did to him.

Can I get some water?

You okay to continue,
Mrs. Gibson?

When was the last time
you spoke to your husband?

Uh, yesterday morning,
when he left for the office.

He didn't come
home after work?

Donnie meets
clients at night.

We found your
husband's van.

He installs
audio systems?

For clubs, restaurants,
that kind of thing.

Was Donnie having
trouble with anybody?

Not like that.

Like what then?

We understand this
is hard, Mrs. Gibson.

Donnie's kind of loud.

People take it
the wrong way sometimes.

But he never means
anything by it.

Well, we noticed your
husband was convicted in a federal court

for buying
stolen goods.

That was seven years ago.

Donnie bought
a few amplifiers off a boat in New Jersey.

He didn't even
go to jail.

Is there
any reason to think that he'd be involved

in something
like that recently?

The only reason
he did that

was because
business was slow.

He was a good husband.

These are your husband's
personal effects.

His wallet's not here.

We assume it was
taken in the robbery.

Donnie kept our
wedding picture in there.

I was wondering
why Mr. Gibson didn't come to work today.

I tried
calling his wife.

Yeah.
She's at the precinct.

I hope she's okay.

Was Mr. Gibson having
any problems at work?

Not that I know of.

His biggest worry
was how to make the company grow faster.

Where was he yesterday?

He was doing
an installation in Flatbush.

A disco.

Mr. Gibson was
going to get me and my boyfriend

put on the guest list
when they opened.

He was nice like that.

Did he come
into work first?

Just for an hour or so.
He stopped at the bank on his way in.

He needed some cash
before he left for Brooklyn.

How much cash?

$4,000.

He gave me
the withdrawal slip to put in the books.

He say what it was for?

It came out of
the business account.

It must have had something
to do with the job he was working on.

Did he usually walk around
with that kind of money?

No.

Well, one time
he bought his wife a pearl necklace.

Oh, I feel
so bad for her.

Donnie pulled
in about 12:00.

Spent his day
wiring the DJ booth

and running sound
to the bathrooms.

When did he leave?

8:30, 9:00.
Big hurry.

Something important
to take care of.

He say what?
Nah, I'm not sure.

Take a guess.

Look, this guy is dead...

You don't need
to worry about his reputation.

So what? He went out to go
buy some audio equipment for your club here?

He took out $4,000
before he came here.

Now what do you need
that costs four grand? Four grand, hot?

Can I get in
trouble for this?

Relax. We're not
looking for a stolen property collar.

Speakers.
For the dance floor.

Did Gibson say
where he was gonna get 'em?

No.

You guys didn't happen
to come across

four audio-acoustic 960s
in that van, did you?

Sorry.
Then I'm screwed.

So, Gibson went to
pick up some speakers, at night, for cash.

Let's see if he
looked up his friends from New Jersey.

Donnie's dead?

He was killed
Tuesday night.

You know
anything about it?

Oh, man,
sorry to hear that.

We see you, uh,
converted your criminal know-how

into something
more productive.

Yeah, 30 months
in a jumpsuit,

tie and jacket looked
pretty attractive.

Your old pal
Donnie Gibson only got probation.

What are you sayin'?

You got cause
to be resentful.

Maybe he ratted you
out to get his deal.

I had priors,
Gibson was a virgin.

So where were you
Tuesday night?

Look, the only reason
I'm gonna tell you this

is 'cause I didn't
do nothing.

I was with Gibson
at a strip joint.

Guys and Dolls,
on the Upper East Side.

So, it's just a coincidence
Gibson was out with his old fence?

I haven't been near
a piece of swag since before Lewisburg.

Maybe you were
brokering the deal.

Look, fellas, Gibson
said he was gonna pick up some merchandise.

I told him I didn't
wanna know from it.

What time was that?

Around 11:00.

I hung out a while longer.
The girls will tell you.

You got
their names?

My first time there.

His girl was a blonde
wearing this schoolgirl thing.

Uh, plaid mini-skirt,
knee socks.

And yours?

Redhead, a cop outfit.

Lucky Martin?

Our clientele
don't have nicknames, detectives.

They have initials
after their names, M.D., J.D.

Yeah.
And they all come here to see the double Ds.

Oh, no. We're
not a strip club. We're a rudy club.

And what's that,
a poetry reading?

Is there something
I can do for you guys

or are you just here
to poke fun at how I make a living?

Did you see a guy named
Donnie Gibson in here on Tuesday night?

I don't know
if he was here, but I know the name.

What?
He's a regular?

Three years ago,
we bought the club, took it out of the gutter.

Donnie did our
sound system.

Oh, detectives,
my partner, Tom Wilder.

What's this all about?

Donnie Gibson
was killed Tuesday night.

Oh, my God.

They think
he was here, Tom.

Great. More bad press.
Just what we need with Guiliani cracking down.

You remember
seeing Gibson?

No, I don't.

One of your girls
was with Gibson.

Blonde, schoolgirl costume.

Kimberly.

Donnie Gibson?

Hmm. Doesn't ring a bell.

The men who come
here don't usually give their names.

How about a face?

Yeah. He kind of
looks familiar.

I don't remember him
from Tuesday.

Gibson's friend said
that you danced for him between 10:00 and 11:00.

I'm sorry,
I just don't remember the guy.

I work a 10-hour shift,
six days a week.

So, a lot of faces.

I have to change,
so if you don't mind...

Oh, you an actress?

Yeah. I'm trying to be.
I've been in a commercial and two indie films.

And I take classes. Why?

Oh, I got a nephew
in Hollywood. He's an agent.

He's always looking
for new faces.

Thanks.

Now the cop.

Can you guys
make it quick?

I gotta cram
for my psyche exam

before the
happy hour crunch.

Wouldn't you do
better in a library?

Hey, I'm covering my
tuition and fulfilling a public service.

Oh, which one's that?

Read the literature.

Clubs like this,
they boost a man's testosterone level.

He leaves here
feeling confident.

More productive.

And broke.

Then everybody's happy.

Tuesday night,
you were teamed up with Kimberly?

So?

Look, one of your
customers was murdered.

Kimberly asked me
to sit with her for a while.

She said she knew
one of the guys, Donnie.

How well did they
know each other?

I once saw them
picking out a baby doll

from the
Victoria's Secret catalogue.

Was she seeing Donnie
outside of work?

We're not really close.

So the two of you
just happened to be working this guy

the night he got killed?

She said he was
a good tipper.

Was he?

I never got a chance
to find out.

Kimberly broke up
the party when she went to return a phone call.

Any idea who
the call was from?

Not really.

Is that the best
you can do?

Donnie seemed to know
what was going on.

Right after that,
he got his coat.

And I saw him
talking to Kimberly before he left.

Thanks.

Sounds like the phone call
was Gibson's speaker connection.

Funny Kimberly
forgot to mention it.

Not if
she was the one who set him up.

Before we rattle her cage,
let's get the LUDs from the club

and find out
who she called.

Tuesday night,
there was nobody on the pay phone.

This would've been
a little before 11:00.

We close at 11:00.
There was nobody here.

Hey, Pete, didn't that
guy Sean order a pie right before we closed up?

I think your head's
spending a little bit too much time in the oven.

He wasn't
on the phone.

You remember this
Sean taking a call?

Yeah, the phone rang
and he picked it up.

Know who
he was talking to?

You recognize her?

She an actress?

She moonlights
at a hooter bar

when she's not playing
Lady Macbeth.

I think it's time
you shut your mouth, Augie.

Hey, you want to face
an obstructing charge?

I don't know her.

Where can
we find Sean?

Yeah. Probably in
the parking lot near the Spotsfield Mall sign.

Thanks.

Which one
of you is Sean?

Hey, you don't
like the band?

Not at 100 decibels.

Where you guys from?

NYPD.

Didn't yous guys
see the sign on your way here?

This is Westchester.

We're looking
for Sean.

Well, Sean ain't here.

So why don't you guys
go back where yous came from?

Shut up, Jason.

I'm Sean Russo.

Why don't we go somewhere
where there's a little more ambiance?

Gonna take a warrant.

Oh, let's see if
we can arrange that.

This your Explorer?

Yeah, pretty nice, huh?

Oh, what's this, Rey?
An open 40 on the front seat?

You're under arrest
for having an open

alcoholic beverage
container in your vehicle.

You're sure you
wanna do this?

Damn sure.

Never heard of this
Donnie Gibson.

Sit up.

He was banging
your movie star girlfriend.

Which one's that?

Kimberly, from
the strip joint.

I whacked this mope
'cause he's getting some from Kimberly?

I'm gonna let you
in on something.

Half the girls in Spotsfield
rock harder than that Barbie.

We know Kimberly called
you back at the pizza joint Tuesday night.

Big deal.

You had her
set Gibson up with a phony speaker deal.

Gibson met you and
you wailed on him.

The four grand
he was carrying was a bonus.

This is what happened.
I left the mall, went straight home.

By yourself?

I live with my mother.
Go do some police work, she'll tell you.

Yeah. We pulled
your sheet, Russo.

You've been picked up
three times for assault.

You and your friends,
you settle your disagreements with baseball bats.

That's it.
Interrogation's done.

Hey, why don't you
have a seat, Counselor?

Maybe we can get a couple
of straight answers outta your client.

Do you have any idea
who this is?

A punk kid who spends
his life drinking beer in a parking lot?

Dominic Russo's son.

Dominic "The Sledge" Russo?

Yeah, that's my pop.

Too bad
he's doing life.

You charging me
with something?

Write Mr. Russo
a citation for the motor vehicle violation

and send him
on his way.

I want these
sons of bitches sued.

We'll talk about it
on the way home.

And this one,

I want his badge.

Like they say,
genius always skips a generation.

If that's the future
of the mob,

we got nothing
to worry about.

Tell that to
Donnie Gibson.

Why would I lie?

I see Sean around the club.
That's as far as it goes.

He filled us in
on the two of you.

What'd he say?

Oh, you two think
the world of each other.

Why'd you lie to us?

Because you were seeing
Donnie Gibson and Sean Russo at the same time?

I wasn't seeing Donnie.

He just likes
a little attention from a pretty girl.

It's not what you think.

What did Russo think
when he saw you

in that slinky baby doll
you and Gibson picked out?

Baby doll?

Yeah.

Uh, no. That was
a Valentine's present for Donnie's wife.

Hey, we got
the phone records from the club.

You forgot to tell us
you called Russo Tuesday night.

Well, I didn't mean to.

Right. You were
covering for Russo.

You set Gibson up
so that Russo could stomp him.

You want to see
how he bashed Donnie's head in?

No, don't show me that.
Look!

Please!
Start being straight with us.

I think I'm just gonna
keep my mouth shut.

Oh, Russo's got you
scared to talk?

My shift starts
in 15 minutes.

Mr. Stahl gets mad
when I'm late.

Well, he's just gonna
have to learn how to manage his anger.

First we're gonna
check out your story.

Donnie got me a baby doll
for Valentine's Day. Why is that important?

Well, we think your
husband might've been having an affair.

With who?

Her name's Kimberly.
Uh, she's a stripper.

Well, we just thought
the name might be familiar, maybe she called?

Kimberly? No.

Well, could be we're
jumping to conclusions about your husband.

Yeah. It sounds like it.
Donnie wasn't like that.

Um, did Donnie
ever mention a guy named Sean Russo?

No. Who's he?

A mobster.

What did Donnie
get himself into?

Hey, right now
everything's very vague.

We'll call you
if we find out anything. Thanks.

Oh, I was gonna call you.

This came in the
mail this morning.

It's Donnie's wallet.

Our wedding picture's
still in there.

Do you still
have the envelope that it came in?

Uh, yeah.

No return address.

This stain here,
was it on the envelope when you got it?

Yes.

It's blood, isn't it?

The envelope's postmarked
Morningside Station, southwest Harlem.

That's 20 blocks north
of where Donnie Gibson's body was found.

So latent didn't get a hit
on the prints off the wallet or the envelope.

But that stain,
it's pig's blood.

There's that wholesale
meat district

around a 125th Street
on the West Side Highway.

Dominic Russo
has a brother in the meat business.

Yeah! The legit
side of the family.

So they say.

Our love triangle theory
didn't pan out.

So, what? We think
this is a mob hit?

After The Sledge
went to jail,

couple of guys were
found in the swamps.

There's been
a power vacuum in his old crew.

Yeah, but how
did Donnie Gibson get sucked into it?

My man found it out back
Wednesday morning.

I got the address
on the driver's license and stuck it in the mail.

So why didn't you
try to call, Mr. Russo?

Why didn't I call?

What do you think?
This guy got killed here?

This is where
his wallet was found.

You sayin' I did this?

There's no return address.

Well, why would
I kill the guy

and then mail
his wallet back to his wife?

Because one
of your workers picked it up.

You just don't believe
that I would do anything decent.

Let me explain something.
This last name I got, I'm me, that's them.

Two distinct situations.

Well, why don't you
just show us where your guy found the wallet?

I came out here
to take a smoke.

And it was
layin' right there.

Lennie. Looks like blood.

Well, we hose down
our trucks back here.

We'll bring our
technicians up here just to be sure.

Oh, great.

You tape off this area,
where am I gonna park my trucks?

It's the price of
being a good citizen.

Is your nephew
Sean ever up here?

Yeah, he worked for me
part of a summer when he was in high school.

He couldn't
handle the work.

Too much
blood and guts.

He got over it.

Time to check
Sean's alibi.

First you take away
my husband from me for life.

Now you want my son?

We're just trying
to establish his whereabouts, Mrs. Russo.

I got the number
of my husband's lawyer somewhere.

Uh,
once the lawyers get involved,

then we have to start
with search warrants,

the arrest warrants,
the subpoenas.

I mean, you went
through all that with your husband.

Yes, I did.
But Sean is not like his father.

Dominic promised me
he would never let Sean get involved in that life.

Well, if he's got
nothing to hide, Mrs. Russo,

then you can't mind
telling us where he was last Tuesday night.

He was with his friends.

I heard him come in
about 11:30.

What, you still
wait up for him?

I couldn't sleep.
I was watching TV.

Oh, yeah?
What were you watching?

A movie. I can't
remember the name.

Where's your TV?
In my bedroom.

What? You don't believe me?

Your
bedroom's upstairs?

Yeah.

Sean's is where?

Sean's room is down here.
But I heard him come up to use the bathroom.

Why? Because in
a house this big,

there's no bathroom
down here?

What do you
want from me?

That's what happened.

Forensics says
the blood outside

the uncle's meat business
matches Gibson's.

Can you put Russo
at his uncle's place?

His mother gives him
some half-baked alibi.

Oh, I'm sure she's
had lots of practice with her husband.

I'd like to get
a look inside Russo's Explorer.

Well, it sounds like
we have enough for a search warrant.

Marijuana residue
under the driver's seat.

Yeah, we already rang him
up on a nuisance charge. Anything else?

Not to the naked eye.
I sent some swabs down to the lab.

I'm waiting
for a callback.

You got something big
I can stretch out in?

When's my car
gonna be ready?

Getting all worked up
won't make it go any faster.

If there's anything wrong
with my car, these jerks are liable, right?

That's right, Sean.

Good.

I want my car, now.

Boy, this thing is loaded.
Two alarm systems, cell phone, CD player.

Yeah, he's got
three kinds of radar.

Yeah, maybe you could
accidentally disable a few of them.

Jackson.

How's the patient?

I'd check his
blood pressure.

Driver's side.
I'll let 'em know.

Lab didn't find any
blood off my swabs.

But the driver's side
floor mat showed traces

of ammonia and
liquefied Freon.

Is that unusual?

Yeah, this time of year.

Most likely source,
the driver stepped in a puddle from a refrigeration unit.

Russo was killing
Gibson near his uncle's meat trucks.

Thanks.

Finally.
Where's my car?

We'll be supplying
your transportation from now on.

You're under arrest
for the murder of Donald Gibson.

You have the right
to remain silent.

First you get me out,
then you get my car.

You have the
right to an attorney.

If you cannot afford one,
one will be appointed.

"Docket number 89254,
People v. Sean Russo. Murder in the First Degree. "

Mr. Russo is being
railroaded, Your Honor.

I'll take that as
a not guilty plea. Let's talk bail.

The People have
a solid case, Judge.

The defendant
lured the victim to an isolated area.

Forensics connects him
to the murder scene.

The People request remand.

The People's
forensic evidence

could have come from
a thousand places.

Mr. Russo intends
to fight this to the bitter end, Judge.

He's not going anywhere.

He's got strong ties
to the community as you can see.

Given Mr. Russo's
three assault arrests

and his reputation
for violence,

he poses
a distinct threat to our community.

When you don't have a case,
you argue reputation...

Would you ask Mr. Sklar
to get his finger out of my face!

Both of you, enough.

$1,000,000,
cash or bond.

Russo
commanded an audience.

Half the wise guys
in the five boroughs.

They were treating him
like he was the heir apparent to his father.

The heir apparent
to Dominic Russo

robbed and killed
a man for $4,000?

Then what's he doing
with Bernie Sklar?

Sklar's made a career
out of representing high-level mobsters.

Maybe we need to
re-examine our theory about motive.

First spend time
increasing his bail.

One million's not enough?

I want him
off the street.

If this punk
is trying to step in his father's shoes,

now's the time
to close him down.

$10,000,000?

The District Attorney's
on a vendetta here.

Bail's been argued
and decided.

You do need to demonstrate
some change in circumstance, Mr. McCoy.

It's apparent
from his arraignment that Mr. Russo

has ascended to
a dominant position in his father's crime family.

There's no crime family
run by Dominic Russo.

He was convicted
on multiple counts of racketeering,

extortion and
ordering the murder of his Mafia rivals.

That term is an ethnic slur
concocted by law enforcement

and adopted wholesale
by the media.

And the KKK is
a civic organization?

Show me where the mafia's
existence has been proven in any court of law.

Save it for your
summation, Mr. Sklar.

Your presence here
belies your argument.

Bail is raised
to $10,000,000, cash or bond.

We'll be ready to post
by the weekend.

If Mr. Russo plans to post
collateral by third parties, I want a surety hearing.

Why? To intimidate
anybody who's gonna stand up for my client?

No. To insure
they're not intimidated by Mr. Russo,

or pledging property
obtained from the proceeds of criminal activity.

You've been there
before, Mr. Sklar.

Hearing's set for Monday.

We'll need discovery first.

Ah, don't worry, Jack.
I'm not gonna stiff you.

Russo's ambassadors
of goodwill.

Just in case
the bail guarantors

forget why
they've put up their life's savings.

The discovery
I promised you, Jack.

Five minutes from
the hearing, Bernie?

Oh, they don't get it to me,
I can't get it to you.

Nobody had to
tell us what to do.

My wife's brother-in-law's
a first cousin of Sean's father, Dominic.

So you've offered
to post a $500,000 piece of real estate

for a distant relative?

Dominic's been
very good to us over the years.

We decided it was time
to repay his favors.

Did one of those favors
include giving you a bag full of cash

for a down payment
on your house?

No. I got that money
from my parents 35 years ago.

No further questions.

Who's next?

Jeffrey Stahl.

Mr. Stahl.

How did you acquire
the property

you're pledging for bail,
Mr. Stahl?

My partner and I
put down $500,000 in 1995

to purchase the
building where our nightclub's located.

Where did you
get the money?

We solicited certain
qualified investors.

But we drew the bulk
of the money from our own savings.

Were any of these
investors associated with the Russo crime family?

Object to the
characterization, Your Honor.

Overruled.
The witness will answer.

Our investors are high
net-worth individuals who work on Wall Street.

How about your initial
working capital,

where did that come from?

Family and friends.

Then I'm
a little confused, sir.

Why are you pledging
your company's main asset

for an accused murderer
like Sean Russo?

Mr. Russo is a customer
in my club who I've come to know and respect.

I feel he is deserving
of my assistance.

Did he or any of his friends
pressure you to pledge this collateral?

Absolutely not.

Just a moment,
Your Honor?

Donald Gibson filed
a mechanic's lien against Guys and Dolls

for $12,000
three months before he was killed.

What for?

Work performed
and not paid for. Nothing more specific.

Mr. Stahl, you owed $12,000
to the victim in this case, didn't you?

Objection. What's this
got to do with anything?

Goes to the relationship
between the witness and the deceased.

How does this
debt relate to Mr. Russo's bail?

I'd like to explore that.

It's a fishing
expedition.

Looks like that to me.

Objection sustained.

Anything more,
Mr. McCoy?

Then I'll rule on
the surety issue.

Mr. Russo
is very gratified at his release.

By going forward with
these unfounded charges,

it's obvious the D.A.
is still trying to punish his father.

Beyond that, we have
no further comment.

Thank you.

It was a long shot
anyway, Jack.

At least we turned up
that 12,000-dollar debt.

Stahl owes Gibson money.
Russo murders Gibson.

Let's get the story
behind this mechanics' lien.

Here. Guys and Dolls
was billed 15,000 at the beginning of the year.

We got checks
the next three months, 1,000 each.

Nothing's come
in since then.

They still owe
Mr. Gibson $12,000.

Wait a minute.

The payments stopped
a couple of months before Mr. Gibson was killed.

Did your boss usually
take out a lien

when someone
owed him money?

Only if they gave
him a hard time.

You know,
as a last resort.

So why'd you owe
Gibson the money?

Well, what does that
got to do with anything?

You were having
a billing dispute with the victim of a murder.

Look, it wasn't a dispute.

The mayor's crackdown
forced us to re-configure space

so we brought Donnie in
to redo the sound system.

But you never paid
him for the work.

Oh, I'm getting to that.
We made several payments.

We had a cash flow problem.

This new law
hurt our business.

So Gibson dropped
a mechanic's lien on you.

He filed it to
protect his interests.

Standard operating
procedure.

That's not what
his secretary says.

I don't know what to
tell you, Miss Carmichael. She's wrong.

You still haven't paid.
And I'm sure his widow could use the money.

We plan on
paying her in full with interest.

Now does that answer
your questions?

Let me see
if I understand this.

You're in
financial trouble,

defaulting on
your obligations,

but instead of tapping
into the equity on your building,

you pledge it
to get Sean Russo out of prison.

I explained
that in court.

Your explanation makes
even less sense now than it did then.

Well, maybe it'll make
more sense coming from my attorney.

We're done here.

My partner told me
you were snooping around.

He doesn't even want me
speaking to you.

By not cooperating,
you only increase our suspicion.

For God's sake, we are just
a couple of businessmen trying to make a living.

You own a strip club.

Do I look like
some degenerate, Miss Carmichael.

I would have rather
bought the Blue Note, it wasn't for sale.

Jeff talked me into this.

Did he talk you
into co-signing Russo's bail pledge?

I can't go into that.

If there's anything
illegal going on, you're responsible.

There's nothing going on.

Then why go to
bat for Russo?

Jeff explained it to you.

Unless you do a better
job than he did,

we're putting your business
under a magnifying glass.

You're not from
New York, are you?

You're being extorted.
Is that why you put up the building?

Do you know what
you're dealing with here, Miss Carmichael?

How'd it go?

Well, Wilder won't
say it directly,

but he and Stahl
are paying Russo to stay in business.

Even so, putting up
the building for bail's

above and beyond
the call of duty.

Yeah. And there's
something else bothering me.

If Gibson knew
the club was mobbed up,

why would he continue
to go there after hitting them with a mechanic's lien?

You're looking for
the answer in Gibson's business records.

Well, maybe he
had ties to Russo.

Here.

Gibson did some work
for one of Dominic Russo's underbosses,

Vincent Carpignano.

Gibson put in a sound
system in Carpignano's house in Staten Island.

Carpignano...

I don't remember him
being in court to pay homage to Sean Russo.

He knew Gibson,
he knows Russo. It's worth a shot.

I hired Donnie because
of some work he did in this club I managed.

For Dominic Russo?

Hey, that's all
behind me now.

We're not interested in
Dominic, Mr. Carpignano, just his son.

Pee Wee I call him.
That's not a term of endearment.

We noticed
you weren't in court for him.

If Pee Wee
whacked Donnie,

good luck
putting him away.

Did he have anything
to do with you leaving the business?

You might say that.

I remember Dominic
telling me one day Pee Wee became a made man.

I was sorry to hear that,
I told him.

He should've put the kid
in a real business, like I did with my boys.

Did Dominic know
Sean was shaking down Guys and Dolls?

It was known.

By Donnie Gibson?

Well, I knew Donnie
was doing work there. I might've said something.

Wasn't he worried?

Donnie was
a very cocky guy.

Said he had friends
who could protect him.

What kind
of friends?

Government friends.

From years back
when they grabbed him buying swag.

Thank you for
speaking with us.

Don't mention it.

You think Donnie
could mention his government friends

to collect a debt?

What are you saying, Jack,
that Stahl and Wilder panicked and ran to Russo?

If I'm wrong,
they can tell me why.

A jury will see
right through this, Miss Carmichael.

Legitimate businessmen
don't have a contractor killed over a few thousand dollars.

But your clients aren't
legitimate businessmen.

It's just a matter of time
before we turn up evidence of payoffs to Russo.

Assuming you do,
it's a minor league rackets prosecution.

Not if Donnie Gibson
threatened to take it to the feds.

It's a motive for murder.

You can't prove that.

Complete cooperation
against Russo, we'd offer man one.

On what theory?

Maybe your client's only
intent was to have Russo break a couple of kneecaps.

I don't care if you're
offering jaywalking. I'm not interested.

We charge
you with murder,

you're looking at
life without parole, if not the death penalty.

Highly unlikely.

But not impossible.
Twenty-five to life is my fall-back position.

I can't go to jail.

Then convince us
you shouldn't.

They approached us
while we were still under construction.

Who did?

Sean Russo
and his friends.

He said he knew
a few tradesmen who needed work.

Could we accommodate them?

It didn't seem
like a big deal.

We needed the
work done anyway.

Were any threats made?

Not then.

After we opened,
Russo recommended a liquor wholesaler we should use,

then a laundry service
for the linens.

Recommended?

It wasn't presented
as an option.

The next thing we knew,
we were paying Russo

a cut of the
coatroom revenues, the vending machines.

How much were
you paying out?

Over 100,000 a year.

They were bleeding us.
That's why we couldn't pay Gibson on time.

Why didn't you just
sell the club, get out from under Russo?

Jeff and I put
everything we had into this.

Our dream was to
own a night club.

We had customers
from the movie business, all the sports teams.

It was a blast.
And we were in the middle of it.

And the prerequisite
was going into business with mobsters.

I thought I was
giving them an inch.

I didn't realize
I was giving them a yard.

Then one night
I came home,

there was a bullet
on my coffee table.

I was living
every day in fear.

Either we'd get caught,
or Russo would do something violent.

And that's where
Gibson came in.

He threatened us
with exposure,

said he knew
someone at the FBI.

And you told Russo?

Not directly.
I talked it over with Jeff.

He went to see Russo.

Did you try
and stop him?

Jeff wasn't asking for
Gibson to be murdered.

I never thought
that this would get so out of control.

Can you help me
out of this?

Please, Mr. McCoy?

Wilder says they
only wanted to scare Gibson off.

The whole thing
got out of hand.

You believe him?

Wilder made some
bad decisions.

I don't see him
premeditating a murder.

Well, we can offer him
manslaughter in exchange for his testimony.

That's a problem.

Wilder wasn't privy
to his partner's conversation with Russo.

We don't have
the last link.

And Stahl won't cooperate.

Progress on
the Russo case?

Two more arrests.

The partners in the
strip club who set the murder in motion.

There's another player
on the field.

The feds are ready
to indict Mr. Russo for racketeering.

Who's handling it
for the US Attorney?

Bob Gervits.

From the
car-dragging murder.

This should be pleasant.

Make sure it is.

No hard feelings, Jack.

But now it's
payback time?

You think that's
why I'm going after Sean Russo?

Three days after
we arrest him, you convene a grand jury.

Our investigation
was in the works

long before Russo
murdered Gibson.

But you want
first crack at him, I can wait.

That's refreshing.

Makes my life easier
if you convict him.

Loosen him up for a plea on
my racketeering indictment.

Just keep me
in the loop.

Not to look
a gift horse in the mouth,

but anything less
than a murder conviction against Russo

and Gervits looks like
he's cleaning up our mess.

You're getting
the hang of this, Abbie.

But it's not
going to happen.

Stahl might
change his mind about cooperating

once he knows his partner
gave up the store.

It's simple,
Mr. Stahl.

You testify against Russo
and we cut you a break on jail time.

That's nice.
If Russo's boys don't get me in prison,

they'll be waiting for me
when I get out.

You'll serve your sentence
in a secure facility

and you'll get
federal witness protection after you're released.

I already told
Miss Carmichael, I can't do it.

I'm going to
testify, Jeff.

Against Russo?
I have to.

Don't be so stupid!

With or without you.

So I get screwed, too?

I'm sorry, Jeff.

You've got to
hang in there. We can beat them.

I've got a family
to worry about.

I've listened
to you all along. Look where we are.

Damn it, Tom, I'm not
moving to Arizona and working in a Kmart.

Don't you get it?
It's over.

This isn't going to
have a happy ending.

I can't believe
this is happening.

It's already happened.

You made your choices.
Now you only have one left.

What do you
need to know?

At this time,
the defendants would like to withdraw

their not guilty pleas
and enter pleas of guilty

to manslaughter
in the First Degree.

Mr. Wilder, are
you prepared to allocute to the reduced charge?

Well, I...

Judge, I ask that Mr. Russo
and his attorney be removed from the courtroom.

This is a public
proceeding, Your Honor.

The constitution
gives us every right to be here.

Not if you're here
to intimidate these defendants.

If they tell
the truth, they have nothing to be afraid of.

Given that Mr. Russo
is about to be implicated in their allocutions,

his presence here
is highly inappropriate.

Are you going to let
Mr. McCoy run your courtroom, Your Honor?

Please. Mr. Sklar,
you can stay

and report
the proceedings to your client.

Mr. Russo will have
to leave. Officers.

Hey, McCoy, what kind
of deal you giving these guys to lie for you?

Donnie came in one day
to ask why the payments stopped.

He said I had
till the end of the month

to come up with
the whole thing

or he'd go talk
to his FBI friend

about what was
going on at the club.

Just to make sure
he wasn't bluffing,

we confirmed that
Donnie got off easy in federal court.

That's when I told
Sean about the problem.

I just wanted him
to talk some sense into Donnie.

You know,
frighten him off.

I knew he might
rough Donnie up, something like that.

But, uh...

I never believed
this would end in a murder.

Mr. McCoy,
are you ready with a sentence recommendation?

We'd like to hold off
until after the defendants

have testified
against Mr. Russo.

Fine.

Pleas of guilty
to manslaughter

in the First Degree
are accepted.

Sentencing deferred.

Mr. Sklar, we'll
start your client's trial on the 15th.

Wilder and Stahl
have been cooped up for a week.

They're on
pins and needles.

They'll be fine once
they take the stand.

Did you prep the
forensic witnesses?

Last night. The stripper's
coming in this afternoon.

Carmichael.

Bob Gervits.
He wants to talk about Russo.

Now? Tell him we'll
be by after lunch.

Leonard Sklar
just called me with the last minute jitters.

He's desperate to
cut a deal for Russo

on my racketeering
indictment.

How desperate?

Russo's prepared
to name enough names

to put what's left of
his father's organization on life support.

That'll make Adam happy.
How many years are you recommending?

Assuming complete
cooperation, 10.

Plus whatever he
gets on the state murder conviction.

That's what I wanted
to talk to you about.

To get Russo to sign off,
I need you to get on board.

On board what?

Let him plead down
to man one on your murder charge, six to 12.

We'll stipulate the terms
be served concurrently.

Ten years for everything?

He's giving up
a dozen other guys.

We've got him dead
to rights on Murder One. Let me convict him first.

Russo says
it's now or never.

Let's see what he says
when he's staring at life without parole.

He'll deal on 25 to life.

I'm not risking
my case on that.

I've lined up
Stahl and Wilder

and they're ready
to put their necks on the line.

Out of the goodness
of their hearts.

You don't have the stomach
to call Russo's bluff.

I can't make this
happen without you.

I'm giving
my opening statement tomorrow morning.

What's up, Adam?

I just got off with the
United States Attorney.

She called you
an obstructionist.

Under the circumstances,
I consider that a compliment.

She wasn't
passing compliments.

She wants you to clear out
so they can flip Russo.

Does she want us to
offer him an apology?

You're just one piece
in the puzzle.

Their puzzle.
Russo will be getting a free ride for a murder.

I understand that.

He's also putting
an organized crime family out of business.

I already told Gervits no.

Tell him you
changed your mind.

I haven't.

Then I'll tell him.

Don't pretend it's
coming from me, Adam.

If you want to undermine me,
do it out in the open.

Consider it done.

Jack?

Call our witnesses,
tell them we won't be needing them.

Forces beyond
our control.

You should hear this.

Gervits just filed
a racketeering indictment against Wilder and Stahl.

That son of a bitch.

Withdraw the indictments
against Stahl and Wilder.

I can't do that.

If it wasn't for them,

Russo wouldn't be
talking to you about cooperating.

As soon as they
became targets,

you should've
given me a head's up.

Why? You were handling
the state murder charge. My claims are federal.

Don't hide behind
jurisdictional niceties. You ambushed them.

They should've considered
the consequences

before they went into
business with Russo.

You sat there
while I made a deal with them.

They held up their end
and plead guilty.

And they
deserve to go to jail.

You promised them
witness protection. You reneging on that, too?

I don't consider them
witnesses anymore.

So that no longer applies.

You lied to their faces!

That's not the way
I see it!

You made me
a party to it!

I'm sure you'll
get over it.

I have my priorities,
you have yours.

The front page
of the newspaper?

You give me way
too much credit.

You planned this
back when you gave us first crack at Russo.

You played me.

If that's the way
you want to look at it, guess we're even.

And it's out of
your jurisdiction.

What about the promises
you made, Mr. McCoy?

You still have your
deal for manslaughter.

What about
witness protection for my family?

As things stand,
there won't be any witness protection.

What?

We're going to
federal prison as rats?

Wrong, Tom.
We couldn't even make it as rats.

Russo's gonna
have us killed in there. You know that, don't you?

And it's going
to be on your head.

How is this possible,
Mr. McCoy?

We gave you
everything you wanted.

Now the feds are going
to use our guilty pleas as evidence against us.

Tom, you should've
kept your mouth shut.

Now we have nothing
left to offer anybody.

Jack, there must be
something you can do?

I can make a few calls.

That's not
good enough.

I wish I could do more.
I'm sorry.

Is that all you can say?

All we wanted
was to have a business.

Mr. McCoy,
how could you let this happen to us?

Please, I'm begging you.

It's not your fault.

Right.

Stahl and Wilder
swam with the sharks. They got bit.

They're not
the only ones.

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