Power of Attorney (1995) - full transcript
An attorney is hired to defend a notorious mobster which he has been trying to send away for years while working as a prosecutor.
(dramatic music)
- I believe there is justice in America.
That good will triumph over evil.
And that an individual's rights
are the pillar in which a society stands.
(jazz music)
(whistle blowing)
I believe we will fight for a society
that protects the weak and humble
and provides them with opportunity.
But I do not, ladies and
gentlemen, believe in being naive.
(gunfire)
For we are at war.
A war that remains unfinished.
A war that you can help win today.
For you have the weapon now.
A weapon more powerful than anything used
by professional killers like Carlos Luca.
Yeah.
That weapon, ladies and
gentlemen, is the law.
And the bullet it fires is justice.
Justice.
Justice.
- The courthouse
downtown is jammed full
as the city awaits the verdict.
Probably the biggest story
today would be the presence
of Joseph Scassi, who
showed up at the trial
of hitman Carlos Luca.
- The trial
that rocked the underworld
has reached a pinnacle as
experts predict the conviction
of hitman Carlos Luca, the man
who would be most affected,
America's number one king of slime,
mobster boss Joseph Scassi,
made an appearance today,
sending shockwaves through
the packed courtroom.
Kathleen Davis is downtown.
- Joseph Scassi,
reputed to be American's
number one mobster,
appeared in court today,
but only as a spectator at the
trial of hitman Carlos Luca.
Scassi, experts agree,
is probably a most interested spectator,
as a conviction of Luca could
lead authorities directly
to Joseph Scassi and his
vast underworld operation.
(tense music)
- The court will adjourn until the jury
has completed its deliberations.
(elevator bell dinging)
- Excuse me.
So who the hell do you think you are?
Summating your case without the testimony
of a key government witness.
- I changed my mind about his testimony.
- Who gave you the right
to change your mind?
I'm gonna look like a fool
to the attorney general.
- Relax.
We'll win this case, don't worry about it.
- And if we don't?
- Oh right, I forgot.
We paid good taxpayers'
money for that witness.
- How dare you talk to me like that.
- Can't you see that all we do
is give one murderer freedom
to put another one in jail?
- I said that's enough.
You wanna do things your way,
find yourself another job.
(elevator bell ringing)
- Next time, just feel
free to jump in, huh?
- Hey, wunderkind, you're the one
with the 12 straight convictions, not me.
Besides, screw Peters, I'd
apologize to Attila the Hun
if it got me the chance
to prosecute Joe Scassi.
- Yeah, well be my guest.
We don't even have a case against him.
- Paulie, everybody's got
a smoking gun somewhere.
We'll find his.
- And if not, we could
always buy one, right?
- How's Trace, Mr. District Attorney?
- You're next, Scassi.
I'm gonna make sure I find you a nice cell
right next to your friend.
- Mr. Peters, unless
you have an indictment
in your back pocket, I suggest
you watch what you're saying.
Harassment is a very serious offense.
- So is murder.
- Has the jury reached a verdict?
- We have, Your Honor.
We, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
(whispering)
- Court is adjourned.
(gavel banging)
- Hey, Joe, do you think
District Attorney Peters is serious
about retrying on the 1984 murder charge?
- Mr.
Scassi, isn't it true
that Carlos Luca works for you
as an enforcer in your crime family?
- Word on the street
says you ordered the hits on
Tony Bregaro and Joey Scallari.
- You
think District Attorney Peters
is serious?
- Get back.
Get back, hey, stay back, come on.
- Isn't
it true that Carlos Luca
works for you as an enforcer
in your crime family?
- Move along, people.
Move along.
Now you get back, hey, get back.
Stay back, come on.
- Get him.
- But, Joseph.
- Take off.
- Move back.
(ominous music)
- That's great.
(cars honking)
(dark dramatic music)
(car engine revving)
- Mr. Dell, I'm with
Stern, Jessup, and Gold.
Mr. Stern asked if you
would be kind enough
to give him a call, at
your earliest convenience.
You have a nice day.
- Yeah.
- Say hello to my little friend, man.
- Cute, Frankie, real cute.
- You know, you got no
sense of humor, man.
(ominous music)
That is very bad for you.
- Yeah, right.
How much?
- The usual.
(popcorn crunching)
- You're killing me, how am
I supposed to make any dough?
(bell ringing)
- Hey, paesan.
I'll get that to you later,
mister, when it comes in.
- All right.
- All right, yeah.
- Hey, mister, you forgot your tape.
- Thanks, man.
- He seemed a little
nervous, don't you think?
- Got something to say,
maybe you should say it.
- You've been in the joint
twice before, Frankie,
you screw up a third time,
it's over, I'm telling you.
- Paulie, Paulie, Paulie,
what's the matter, what's the matter?
Huh, you don't trust your older brother?
You didn't catch enough
bad guys today huh?
Come on, counselor, take it easy.
I'm rolling in dough.
Get Maria something nice, will you?
- Maybe I'm the one in the
wrong line of work, huh?
- Hey, don't you ever say that, ever.
- Yeah okay, come on, let's
go, we're late for dinner.
Come on.
- All right, I'll lock up, go ahead.
Ball-breaker.
- Nice hair.
- We did good today huh, Frankie?
- We did real good, pal.
Erase that tape, huh?
- Why?
- 'Cause my brother's on it.
He'd never set us up.
Here.
Don't spend it on a girl.
(phone ringing)
- Frankie?
- Snooks, where are you?
- I'm up Shit's Creek,
that's where I am, Frank.
Listen, we gotta talk.
I can't hold on much longer.
- Snooks, Snooks, relax, will you?
We're no rats.
- Neither was Tony or Joey
and look where they wound up.
- Those sons of bitches dug
their own graves, all right?
Now stop being so goddamn paranoid.
- That's easy for you to say,
I ain't got a brother
with the DA's office.
- Don't you ever, don't you
ever mention his name again,
you hear me, Snooks?
- Yeah, I hear you.
What, do you think I'm fucking deaf?
- Anybody following you?
- No, I made sure.
I made sure, Frank.
- You sure?
- Yeah yeah yeah, I made sure.
Frankie, please don't let
them make me dead, huh?
- Oh, Snooks, come on, don't start that.
Ain't nobody dying.
You're freaking me out with that.
Now stay calm, all right?
I got a plan, I got a way
to get us out of this,
but you got to stay cool, man.
You can't do nothing stupid.
All right, talk to you later.
- Okay.
(ominous music)
- What took you guys so long?
What, are you losers or something?
Were you dealing something
up there or what?
- I had to count all my drugs and money.
- Your what?
- I'm gonna race you to your car, man.
(laughing)
Oh my god.
- Oh man, I wonder
how much they're asking for.
- Oh, Paulie, I would
give my left nut for this.
- You almost did.
Remember?
- Our ride with you, me, and Snooks.
- Oh, Snooks,
you ever hear from him?
- Never, man.
- Hey, can you still hit two sewers?
- With my eyes closed.
(upbeat music)
- With my eyes closed.
- Come on.
Come on, batter up.
- Come on.
- Come on, let's see what they taught you
in law school, baby.
(grunting)
Oh.
Great call.
Come on, Dellacroce.
- This is too fast for you.
- Come on, college boy, let's see it.
(grunting)
Oh, strike, I can't believe it.
Down to the wire, baby.
(chuckling)
Nice and easy, baby, put it in here.
- All right, all right, this is the one,
it's the one, it's the one.
(grunting)
- Oh.
(whooping)
I told you.
(humming)
- Oh, that smells good.
- Oh, Paulie, I didn't see you.
- What's the matter?
- Oh nothing, it's just
dinner's almost ready.
You must be hungry.
- You and Papa had a fight?
- Oh.
One week he's back from the
hospital from a heart attack
and he's down there fixing shoes.
- I'll talk to him, okay?
Don't worry.
- No no no no, my son, the
District Attorney of New York,
can't be bothered with those things.
- I'm an assistant DA, Mom,
there's a big difference.
- I know what you are.
The only member of this family
who's ever gonna amount to anything.
The only one who hasn't broke my heart.
- She didn't mean that, man, it's just...
(chuckling)
- I know.
She never does.
- Why do you do that, Mom?
- What?
- Pick on him.
- What do I do?
- You know what you do, forget about it.
Frankie.
- I'm gonna get Pop.
(doorbell ringing)
Hey. Is this the most
beautiful girl in the world?
- Hey.
How are you doing?
- Some guys have all the luck, huh?
- Guess what?
- What's that?
- I got the tickets.
- You did?
You should've called, I've been worried.
- Well, I didn't want to miss my bus.
- You didn't?
Maria, how many times have I told you?
Take a taxi at night.
- Take a taxi at night.
- Yes.
- Well, great, but I don't wanna
spend all my money on taxis, so.
- So use my money, just
take a taxi next time.
- What's wrong, what's wrong?
What, did you lose the case?
You lost the case, didn't you?
Mm-hmm.
Oh.
- Eh, don't worry, kid, you
get that scumbag Scassi,
you get 'em all.
(sighing)
- I'm gonna go get the coffee.
- Cosa Nostra.
They should all be sent back to Italy.
- Pop, I'm gonna go check the score, huh?
- Oh, you mean you're gonna go find out
how much money you threw away.
- What's the matter with sports?
- Yeah, that's right.
- Sports?
That boy would bet on a cockroach race
with his hoodlum friends and his bookies.
- Are you finished with this, Pop?
- Forecast,
cloudy, windy, and cold.
- So, Maria, when's the happy day?
I'm an old woman who
wants her grandchildren
before she dies.
- We can't even afford our own house,
least as much a family.
- I am going to take the
coffee into the living room.
- I'm here in front of the
federal courthouse building
with today's not guilty
verdict of mobster Carlos Luca
has surely dealt a blow--
- Hey, Paulie,
they're talking about the trial.
- Here with me is District
Attorney Carl Peters.
How badly do you think today's verdict
will affect your case against Scassi?
Under federal RICO statutes,
prosecutors will attempt
to retry reputed mafia
chieftain Joseph Scassi.
- Oh, we're really not all that concerned.
What today proves is that the
closer we get to Joe Scassi--
- Paulie, I don't understand.
What's going on?
- The more difficult it
becomes to obtain a conviction.
Therefore I have decided
that when Mr. Scassi
is formally indicted, I will personally
prosecute the case myself.
Thank you.
(scoffing)
- That's his case.
- There you have it.
This is Allison Bibicoff live
from the federal courthouse.
(somber music)
(sighing)
- Man.
- Paul.
- Hey.
I'm sorry.
- Come here.
- Everything happens for a reason.
(whistling)
- Taxi.
Taxi, yo.
- Pretty big, huh?
- Yeah, a guy could get lost.
- Not if he knows what he's looking for.
- Charles Stern.
- Top floor.
(bird cooing)
- Bothered me the first time too.
- I don't know, it seems to
me that they've come this far,
they've earned the right
to rest awhile, you know?
- Harvard doesn't always
pay does it, counselor?
- I got no complaints.
- No?
(laughing)
Of course not.
I was an assistant DA quite some time ago.
Hungry, pure, eager to save the world.
Even convinced myself I was
right on the verge of doing it.
Fortunately, one of the good
side effects of growing older
is that you become a little wiser.
- Well, DA's office.
Great place to learn the ropes.
- As long as you get out
before they hang you.
- You trying to save my neck, Mr. Stern?
- I'm offering you a job.
- I got a job.
- At $200,000 a year?
Armstrong, could you come in here, please?
Ah.
Paul, this is Joan Armstrong,
one of our junior partners.
Joan, this is Paul Dell.
Paul works at the DA's office.
- Yes, I've seen him in action.
You're very good.
- Why don't you take a look
around and see for yourself
that we're not a bunch
of demons in black robes
plotting the end of the world.
Hope to hear from you soon.
- Come on, I'll show you around.
We'll take awhile.
- Yeah.
A guy could get lost.
- It's a little different
from downtown, isn't it?
This is our dining room.
- Yeah?
- Where we have one of
the city's best chefs.
- Is this a law firm or a country club?
- Is there a difference?
(sighing)
- So what law school did you go to?
- Harvard, don't
hold it against me.
- Harvard, really?
It's a pretty tough place to get into.
- Hey, I'm a pretty tough girl.
And this is our exercise room and spa.
Company-owned equipment.
- Excuse me.
- Hi, Dave.
- Hi, Joan.
- I should start working out.
- We all should.
- I hear he got 250.
- He's gotta be worth it.
I mean, Stern's the
cheapest bastard alive.
- He settled a municipal bond case
at Oppenheimer his first week.
- Where the hell did he go, Harvard?
- You ready for this?
City college.
- Come on, get the hell outta here.
- I'm telling you.
And Joan Armstrong is
in heat for this guy.
- You're crazy.
Joan Armstrong is a rich bitch.
I'm telling you, the guy's engaged anyway.
- So, when has that ever mattered?
Oh man.
- Oh, is he looking?
- Yeah, wave.
- Who are those guys?
- They're junior
partners at the firm.
- Oh.
- Pricks.
(chuckling)
So how are things downtown?
- Not bad, they're heating up a little.
- Yeah?
We got any witnesses?
- We, Paulie?
- Sorry.
You know, muscle memory.
- I'll bet it was.
Look, buddy, do yourself
a favor, forget about it.
It's not your problem anymore.
- Yeah.
♪ I've had enough this time ♪
What are you doing?
- I just wanted to be on the video.
Where you been?
- Out being stupid.
(beeping)
- Hey, Frankie, it's Paul.
Showing Maria the new apartment tonight,
you should come on by.
It's, where is it?
It's at 425 East 72nd.
- Going to my brother's huh?
- Frankie, it's Snooks.
Shit, where are you?
I'm being followed.
Jesus, I gotta see you.
Meet me tonight at nine at the boat.
Nine o'clock.
Don't be late, man.
- Shit.
All right, look, you
gotta lock up, all right?
I gotta go.
We'll go to my brother's another time.
Lock up good, Whoop.
- Frankie and
Whoopie might drop by.
- Oh, it's really
great the way your brother
takes care of Whoopie.
- Yeah, I guess.
He can hardly take care of himself.
What do you think?
- Um, I think it's a bachelor pad.
- Oh no no, it's just a
settler for six months.
Some view, huh?
- Is that Queens?
- Brooklyn, Queens.
The world's at your fingertips, sweetie.
- Uh-huh.
- Look at this.
Look at this.
- Wow.
But it's July.
- You want an air conditioner?
- No, no, no no no no.
- What about my brother?
- You know
Frankie, he's always late.
(groaning)
- Oh yeah.
(doorbell ringing)
Oh yeah.
(grunting)
Ah, Frankie.
No, don't stop, let it ring, let it ring.
No, stay here.
- Stay put, stud.
I'll be right back.
- Come on.
- Don't move.
You wanna tie the knot, Mr. Dell?
- Just answer the door.
- Surprise.
- Can I help you?
- You must be Maria.
- Yeah.
- I'm Joan.
I've obviously caught
you guys at a bad time.
- Yeah, you're batting a thousand.
- Hey.
- Thank you.
Ms. Armstrong.
- It's Joan.
- Yeah, yeah,
Joan works at the firm.
- Joan works late.
- Well, a girl has to nowadays.
I was just in the neighborhood,
so I thought I'd stop by.
You know, I live really close
and we're practically neighbors.
- Did you want to get some glasses?
- Sure, sure, sure, yeah,
give me those things, huh.
- Nice.
Very nice.
Fabulous view.
- Yeah, that's the general consensus.
- Well, you must be
very proud of Paul now.
- Oh, I've always been
proud of Paul, yeah.
- This is wonderful.
- Yeah, give me two.
(moaning)
Wow.
Why can't I find a girl like this?
Oh man, that's something.
I hate when they do that.
They don't clean up.
(ominous music)
- Goodnight.
- Yeah.
- It was nice of you to come over.
- Well, thank you, this was good.
- Yeah.
Thank you for the champagne.
- You're welcome.
Oh, before I forget.
- Okay.
- Stern wanted me to ask you a favor,
if you would babysit a
client with me tomorrow.
- Oh sure, no problem.
- Great.
- Won't you be needing this?
- Oh.
- Here, let me get that for you.
- Silly me, I forgot my briefs.
It was nice meeting you.
- Likewise.
- I'll find my way out.
- Okay, see you tomorrow.
She's very nice.
- Adorable.
(giggling)
(applause)
- Thank you.
Thank you all for coming.
- Why didn't you tell me it was Scassi?
- Simple, you wouldn't have come.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
Welda, how are you?
- Hardly seems like the
type who needs babysitting.
- You'd be surprised.
- Thanks.
In New York and the rest of the country,
they call Joseph Scassi a lot of things.
In New Jersey, we call him a friend.
We are here today to honor
this great man and his family.
They have given us a new
wing for cancer research
that will save countless lives.
That is not the act of a villain.
That is the act of a true American hero.
Please join with me in
a round of appreciation
for one who has not forgotten
his roots, Joseph Scassi.
(applause)
- Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thanks.
- I'm so proud of you, Joe.
- Oh thanks, sweetie.
- I'm proud of you too, Dad.
- Thanks, kid.
I'll see you later, okay?
Thanks.
- Take care, take care.
- Appreciate it.
Help the hospital.
- I thought the mayor was gonna be here.
- It's a little hard right
now with the indictment.
I'm sorry, Mr. Scassi.
- Yeah, I understand.
(speaking in foreign language)
You build us a hospital.
You are infecting your
neighborhood with the drug
that kill our children.
You go to hell, you bastard.
(speaking in foreign language)
What this gentleman just
said to me is very upsetting.
But what he said is true.
I was once guilty of this.
But I want you all to know
that I've been to hell,
to prison, for my crimes.
And what I do here today,
and from now on, is part of my atonement.
If you can't forgive me, I understand.
I pray God will.
- God bless you, Mr. Scassi.
God will forgive you.
- Too bad he's a crook, he
makes a great politician.
- Be careful, you might
be contradicting yourself.
- Thank you.
Thank you all for coming.
(applause)
It looks like Baratta's closed.
Check it out, Tino.
(ominous music)
- It's Mr. Baratta's kid, he got stabbed.
- This city's
becoming a fucking jungle.
- Snooks is dead?
- You knew him?
- Yeah, we used to run in
the same gang together.
- You were in a gang?
(chuckling)
- Yeah.
- That's funny.
- Fortunately, I outgrew it.
- What does that mean, you got taller?
- No, just smarter.
- That's good.
So did I.
- Paul, we should go.
- Yeah.
- No, no no no, let's
go for something to eat.
I know another place
right down the street.
- Thank you, Mr. Scassi,
but I've already got plans.
- What about you?
- I'm having dinner with my family.
- Take my car.
Tino, you don't mind taking
Mr. Dell for a ride, do you?
- Be my pleasure.
- No no no no, thanks anyway.
- Are you sure?
- I am positive.
- I'll get back to you on the mayor.
- Now let's get outta here.
- Hey, Paul, thanks again.
- See you tomorrow.
(dramatic music)
Taxi.
Yo, taxi.
- Come on, answer, you mother...
Answer, you son of a bitch.
Come on, an...
Buddha?
Yeah, man, it's Frankie, how are you?
Yeah, well I've been busy.
Hey listen, Buddha man, I
think we should have a meeting.
No, no, fuck that shit, man.
No more nickel dime, uh-uh.
Mm-mm, I'm talking the big screen, man.
- Is there a phone?
- It's in the back.
- Thank you.
(phone beeping)
Hey, Maria, how are you?
Hey, I'm sorry, honey, it's
I've been trying to hail a cab.
It's...
Yeah, I know, I know it's
been three times this week,
sweetie, I've been working.
Relax...
Where's Frank?
Where's Frankie?
- Espresso.
Anisette.
- Yeah, all right.
Right, okay.
Me too.
- Hey, lawyer, trouble in the family?
- No.
- Well, my wife is all
over me too, you know?
When I work late.
Have an espresso.
And I'll tell you, the
world's a crazy place.
It's gone nuts.
Look at this.
Three cops blown away this month.
I'll tell you, it's a real
breakdown of social order.
- Maybe you should make a donation
to the Policemen's
Benevolent Association then.
- That's a good idea.
Good idea.
Tino, remind me to send a donation
to the families of the
slain officers, huh?
- How much, Mr. Scassi?
- Make it 10,000.
- I didn't realize you had
such respect for the law.
- I don't respect the law.
It's justice I respect.
Come on.
Let's take a walk.
So how come you changed your name?
Paul Dellacroce.
- It's none of your business.
- You ashamed of being Italian?
Well, maybe you figured if
you put enough of us in jail,
that part of you might disappear.
- Everybody I put in jail deserves
to be there and you know it.
- If everybody got what they deserved,
the world would be over.
- Freeze.
- Freeze.
- Halt.
- Hold it right there.
- Come on.
- All right.
- Get the fuck off me, man.
Get off me.
- Easy, easy.
(glass shattering)
(siren wailing)
(tires screeching)
- Get off me.
- Don't get excited.
All right, all right.
- He's fine, he's fine.
Back off, back off, easy, easy, easy.
- What the hell are you doing here?
- We're walking down the street.
Is that a crime, Carl?
- If you're walking with me, it is.
- Not a good night to go for a stroll
in the old neighborhood, huh?
- What, indict him with
the whole world watching?
- You better get out of here,
Paul, or they're gonna lock you up.
- Get him out of here.
- You got a hair in your nose.
- Oh, very funny.
- Get a hold of Stern.
- You're a big man, Peters.
Where's Mr. Jessup and Mr. Gold?
They, call them at the country club.
Hello?
- Paul.
They're not gonna wait any longer.
- Well, it looks like you're on then.
- I've never argued a
criminal case in my life.
- Yeah.
Now's your chance.
Hm?
(gavel banging)
- Mr. Scassi, will you and
your attorney please rise?
Mr. Scassi, under the
Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations Act,
you're being formally charged
with committing crimes
as part of a pattern of racketeering
with a specific organization.
How do you plead to these charges?
- My client pleads not guilty, Your Honor.
- Very well.
I'll now hear arguments for the amount
of bail to be set for the defendant.
Mr. Peters?
- Your Honor, we request that
the defendant be remanded
to the county prison without
bail due to his well-documented
affiliation with violent criminals--
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Within his own organization.
- You have something
to say, Ms. Armstrong?
Mr. Dell, exactly what is
your capacity here today?
I do not allow cheerleaders
in my courtroom.
- I'm sorry, Your Honor.
- Perhaps I can help you, Ms. Armstrong.
Mr. Peters, is there a
specific reason why bail
should be denied to the defendant?
- We feel that Mr.
Scassi's freedom would pose
a direct threat to the
life of any witnesses
the government might produce in this case.
- Joan.
- Very well.
Since there's no argument
from the defense,
the defendant will be remanded
to the county courthouse.
- Objection, Your Honor,
the prosecutor is accusing
the defendant of committing a crime
which hasn't even taken place?
- Objection, Your Honor, this man is not
the recognized counsel to the defendant.
- Your Honor, the defendant's attorney
Charles Stern is unreachable.
As his associate, I beseech
the court to allow me
to stand in for this hearing.
(gavel banging)
You shoulda seen Carl's
face, it was priceless.
It was priceless, he
was just standing there.
I loved it.
- Paul, look, Paul, please tell me
you won't be representing Joseph Scassi.
- No no no no no no, I was
just standing in for Stern.
That'll never happen.
- Look.
- What?
- If you want a piece,
counselor, you have to
buy the entire cake.
- Oh yeah?
- Yeah.
- Oh baby, would you want to?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Mr. Scassi was very pleased with the way
you handled the situation in court.
He'd like you to be his
guest this afternoon
at the Bayview Hunt Club.
- You tell Mr. Scassi I
appreciate it, but I got plans.
- My instructions are not
to take no for an answer.
(chuckling)
- I'll be back in awhile.
Let me take care of this
bozo for a little bit, okay?
I'll be back before you know it.
- Okay.
Paul.
I'll see you later.
- We'll take good care of him.
(ominous music)
(tires screeching)
(horse whinnying)
(gunfire)
- Those fucking rats, they're everywhere.
- What the hell, are you crazy?
- You let one of them go,
there's 10 of them tomorrow.
Like a disease.
- You're under federal
indictment, for crying out loud.
You're riding around
like some fucking cowboy?
- You're a good lawyer.
- What am I doing here?
- I wanted to thank you for
standing in for Charlie.
- A phone call would've been sufficient.
- Well, I also wanted
to talk about my trial.
This is the only place
they haven't bugged.
You know, those guys know every
time I make it with my wife,
but I give them a good show.
- If you want to discuss your
case, you talk to your lawyer.
- I am.
- You got the wrong guy.
- I do?
I heard you that day in
court talking with the DA.
You know, you were right.
Nowadays, feds will make a deal quicker
than a two-bit whore.
- Sometimes they don't have a choice.
- That makes it right?
Yeah, that's justice for you.
- How the hell am I supposed to get back?
- What's the matter, are
you afraid of getting dirty?
- Yeah, you're damn straight I am.
- Hey, don't get holy with me.
Those witnesses you used to put
on the stand to win cases, what were they?
Murderers, pimps, child molesters,
animals that do things
I never even dreamed of.
- That's why I left.
- I know.
And I'm gonna give you
a chance to come back.
- By defending you?
- Yeah.
- You're trying to tell
me you're innocent?
- Why do you find that so hard to believe?
I don't need to bullshit you.
Everyone knows the bad
things I did with my life.
I did my time.
And not one of those country clubs.
Seven years away from my wife and kid.
You have any idea what that's like, Paul?
- Why should I?
- I never murdered Vinny Giacalla.
I wasn't even there.
That's why they'll never find
an honest witness to say I was.
- Oh, then you got nothing to worry about.
- Yes, I do.
My name ends in a vowel.
And to guys like Peters,
that makes me a target.
- Well, Charles Stern will get you off.
You don't need me.
- Yes, I do.
Charles is good, but in my
gut, I know you're better.
You know you're better.
Paul, we're all innocent
until proven guilty.
Even me.
- Yeah.
I gotta get back.
- Okay, let's go.
If you don't mind, there's someone special
I'd like you to meet.
- Who would that be?
- My don.
It's a question of honor.
I trusted you.
And in my heart of hearts, I
knew you wouldn't let me down.
And this is what I get?
You've disappointed this family.
And now I have to make a decision.
- I'm sorry, Dad.
I'll try harder.
- That's all I ever ask.
Now go tell your mother
we're ready for dinner.
We'll speak again later.
- Nice kid.
- He takes after his mother.
- Is he aware of what's going on?
- My son only knows that his
father is a good businessman.
- What happens if he finds out?
- Well, I pray to God
that day never comes.
Paul, if I'm lying about my innocence,
may God take him and everything
I care about away from me.
- I don't know, all anyone ever hears
about Joseph are the bad things.
Maybe they should see
what he's really like,
the charities he gives to,
the people he helps, it's incredible.
- I understand that, I mean,
it must be tough for you.
The trial and all the publicity.
- Well, I can handle it.
I mean, I've handled it before,
but you know, I worry about Donny.
- He idolizes his father?
- Yeah, he does.
Come here, sweetie.
Goodnight.
Oops, get that off of there.
- Is my father really gonna go to jail?
- Donny, come on,
sweetheart, it's bedtime.
(upbeat music)
- It's like it was made
for you, Mr. Dellacroce.
- This one, thanks.
- Dellacroce?
- Yeah.
Mr. Dell never did sound right.
I'm gonna wear this outfit.
- Don't even look like you, pal.
- And I'm gonna take it in gray as well.
Huh?
Huh?
- What's the occasion, sport?
- I took on a new client, man.
- Oh yeah, who?
- Let's get something for Maria.
All right.
- Would you like anything else?
- No.
I think that covers everyone.
- Oh come on, man, I'm
sure there's something
in this store you haven't bought.
- No, wait a second.
Maria, Mike Adams--
- How about Mom and Pop?
- I paid off their mortgage.
After all these years,
they finally own their own house, Frankie.
- What a guy, huh?
It's too bad he's taken.
Let's go.
Look at this, someone bought it.
- You're kidding.
- No, man, you think that's
gonna sit around here?
- Hey, Frankie.
For the good old days, huh?
Huh?
(upbeat rock music)
- Paulie, Paulie.
Paulie, I love you!
- Now, the government's got witnesses
that'll tell you that Joseph
Scassi is an extortionist.
They got others that'll
tell you that he's committed
blackmail, arson, grand theft, robbery.
They even have a witness that'll tell you
that Joseph Scassi is
not very kind to animals.
Listen, every one of
these witnesses is looking
at jail time for their own acts.
And their freedom depends
on what they say here today in court.
For all of them, Joseph Scassi is the key
that will unlock the cell.
- Excellent.
It's impressive, theatrical.
I think it's brilliant.
- Oh my god.
- What?
- Oh my god, Maria.
The theater, I gotta
meet her at the theater.
Oh shit.
(somber music)
Hey.
Sorry, baby.
- That's okay, we'll
just wait another year
and then we can see the
two acts you missed.
- No, all right, relax,
I'll get some more tickets next week.
- Okay.
- One second,
one second, one second.
- What, you're gonna get more tickets?
What, is Joe Scassi gonna get 'em for you?
- Come down here, come
down here for a second.
What was that supposed to mean?
- Figure it out.
- Listen, honey, I don't criticize
your line of work, don't criticize mine.
- Well, I don't defend murderers, Paul.
- Why are you doing this?
- Paul, let's move out of New York.
You could get a new job
representing farmers
with broken tractors or something and--
- I've busted my chops for seven years
working for nothing for that guy.
Now's my chance.
- Since when is doing what's
right worth nothing to you?
- What's right?
Don't be so naive, sweetie.
I mean, you would be surprised
what the justice department
will do just to make
the five o'clock news.
- What about what Joe Scassi has done?
I mean, are you gonna forget that?
(shushing)
- Hey, you do it one more time,
pal, I'll bust your face, you hear me?
- Okay.
- Maria.
Maria.
Hey, Maria.
- Taxi!
- Maria.
- Taxi.
- Don't do this.
- First you defend him,
then you dress like him,
now you even act like him.
What, has he become an
obsession for you, Paul?
(scoffing)
Taxi.
- What do you want me to do?
- Make a choice.
You can't be in bed with both of us.
Brooklyn.
- Maria.
(operatic singing)
(somber music)
Hey.
- Hey.
How was the show?
- Lousy ending.
Don't you ever quit?
- I can go all night.
(phone ringing)
- Is there anything to drink around here?
- Yeah.
Stern's office.
- Paul, it's Maria.
If you're there, please call me.
- Come on.
How you want it?
- What?
- The scotch.
- Straight up.
A little understanding.
- Well, there's only a
little bit of scotch but--
- That's good.
- There's a lot of understanding.
I'm sorry.
Oh.
(sensual rock music)
(moaning)
Yes.
(moaning)
- Last count of government witnesses.
- 86.
- What about the charts
of the prior convictions?
- They're all finished.
- Excellent.
- What about local muscle?
- Paul and I visited the mayor yesterday.
He's onboard.
- I'd like to say that everybody's work
in this room has been excellent
and I'm very proud to call
myself your colleague.
Now, I hope you'll all join me in what
has become a pre-trial
good luck ritual of mine.
Like a famous general
in the Army once said,
grab 'em by the balls
and their hearts and minds will follow.
Let the war begin.
Salud.
(ominous music)
(snorting)
- Didn't I say I was your man, Buddha?
- Yeah you did, Frankie.
To business.
- Yeah right.
- Where's the rest?
- Where's my money?
- Frankie, come on, you don't trust me?
- In God I trust, all right?
Everybody else pays cash, Buddha.
- Where's your sense of humor, Frankie?
- A cop, just what we need.
- Oh shit.
- Merry Christmas.
- Yeah, that's great.
Surprise, Frankie.
- Hold it.
- Wait.
(gunshot)
- Frankie.
Frankie.
(tense music)
(gunfire)
(tires screeching)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- You're a long way from home, aren't you?
- What the hell are you doing here?
- Just slumming.
Any objections, huh?
- This doesn't concern you.
- Anytime the mob makes
a hit, it concerns me.
- The mob?
What the hell are you talking about?
- Why don't you ask Joseph Scassi?
Or don't you know?
- Know what?
- Frankie used to work for him.
Small world, huh?
(banging)
(dog barking)
- What's the matter?
- My brother's dead!
- Shut up, shut up.
- My brother's dead.
- Act like a fucking man.
What do you mean he's dead?
- He's dead.
(sobbing)
- Okay.
That was 15 years ago.
He was just a kid, used to hang
around the club, do some strong arm stuff.
Then he got into drugs and
that was the end of it.
- Why didn't you tell me?
- What good would that have done?
It was another lifetime.
Can't you see why Peters sent you here?
He's trying to get you to turn on me.
On my family's life, I swear
to God, I did not kill Frankie.
- Who did?
- Well, the kid was into drugs.
I mean, he could've had a ton of enemies.
I don't want to go to jail.
I need you to be 100% in my corner.
Now, if you think I killed
Frankie, you quit now.
And I swear I'll never bother you again.
(gavel banging)
- The defense may now
present its opening argument.
- Nigger.
Chink.
Camel jockey.
Kike.
Mick.
Me, if you're wondering, I'm a wop.
So is my client.
The prosecution has heralded this
as the mafia trial of the century.
And the man on trial is
the modern-day godfather.
I think what we have here is much simpler,
much more basic than that.
Do you know what's really on trial here?
A man's heritage.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Hasn't the world seen enough of that?
Of course it has.
Of course it has.
Thank you.
(murmuring)
- Mr. Peters, your witness.
- Your Honor, the prosecution
calls Auggie Calvini.
- Do you swear to
tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?
- Yeah, so what about it?
- You see what I mean?
Fucking rats are everywhere.
- How do you know Joseph Scassi?
- He used to frequent a
gambling joint I used to run.
- And you became friends?
- Kinda.
I used to hang out at
the Bayview Social Club.
I had quite a few friends there.
- Social club, hm.
You mean they played
darts and bingo there?
- Not exactly.
- Is it true that you heard
conversations linking Mr. Scassi
with hijacking, loan
sharking, and extortion?
- Nothing went down at the Bayview
unless Joseph Scassi okayed it.
- Didn't you break the
legs of one Tony Aello
because he owed Joseph Scassi some money
from a bet he made on a
professional football game?
- Yes.
- Isn't it true that in exchange
for your testimony here today,
you were offered immunity
from a murder charge
for which you are still serving time?
- Yes.
- Have you ever seen Mr. Scassi engage
in any criminal activity?
- No.
- Speak up, please.
- No.
- Excuse me.
(whispering)
- Did you ever see
Joseph Scassi hurt anybody?
- I never seen Joe Scassi hurt anybody.
- And hasn't Joseph Scassi
financially supported
your family for 10 years
while you've been in jail?
- Yes.
- Who paid for your
rehabilitation from heroin?
- Joe did.
- And who did you once
describe in earlier testimony
as the best friend a guy could have?
- Joe Scassi.
- No further questions, Your Honor.
- That was good.
- Mr. Peters, the prosecution
may present its final witness.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
(chattering)
(ominous music)
- That's a lot of badge.
- Your Honor, I object to this
attempt by the prosecution
to create an environment of
terror in this courtroom.
This display of force at
a trial is a direct attack
on my client's character and innocence.
- Mr. Peters, I believe
Mr. Dellacroce has a point.
Is there a legitimate
reason for such a display?
- I apologize, Your
Honor, but this witness is
in great danger due to the
testimony he's about to give.
He's an eyewitness to a murder charge
for which Mr. Scassi is on trial.
Considering the circumstances,
we took the maximum effort to protect him.
- No, you mean you took
maximum effort to prejudice
this jury into seeing my
client as a dangerous man.
The district attorney, Your
Honor, not once in months
of pre-trial deliberations ever indicated
that such a witness existed.
- Mr. Peters.
- This witness has only
recently been granted immunity.
And until such an agreement was reached,
we felt it necessary to keep his existence
a matter of secrecy.
- No, you mean that it took you this long
to set up some cushy
relocation deal for this,
what is he, a repenting
murderer, a drug dealer?
(gavel banging)
- Mr. Dellacroce, you're out of order.
The witness will take the oath
and state his name for the record.
- Your Honor, I wish to
move that the witness
be made to remove his hood.
It's obvious, he's in
no physical danger here.
- I have no objection, Your Honor.
- The witness will now remove his hood.
(ominous music)
(gasping)
(chattering)
- Paulie.
- Franco.
- Papa.
- Seize the witness.
- Paulie.
- Papa.
Papa.
(gavel banging)
- Order.
- Those were your men in the car.
You knew he was alive?
- Congratulations, counselor.
- You son of a bitch.
(chattering)
- Stop those men from fighting.
- I'm all right, I'm all right.
All right.
- Somebody call the
paramedics for that man.
Mr. Dellacroce, Mr.
Peters, in my chambers.
Now.
- Your Honor, I could just say--
- Shut up and sit down.
I ought to remove both of you
from this trial right now.
Mr. Peters, what was the nature
of the deal you agreed
upon with the witness?
- Immunity from prosecution on the charges
of accessory to murder and
the dismissal of drug charges.
- He's not on witness protection?
- Don't think I don't
know what's going on here.
I will not allow this trial to become
a pissing contest for the two of you.
You have 24 hours to make
a motion for a mistrial,
which I will agree to.
If you choose not to do so, I assure you,
any such future requests will be denied.
Do I make myself clear?
- Yes, Your Honor.
- The judge's offer
is totally unacceptable.
No mistrial.
- Did you kill Giacalla?
- Vinny Giacalla planted a
bomb under my family's car.
The car my wife goes shopping in
and takes my kid to school in.
I should've ripped his fucking
eyes out before he died.
- You're right.
But you never should've lied to me, Joe.
- You wouldn't have taken the case.
- No, you're wrong.
I win this trial, my
problems, they're over.
- Paul, you're a good lawyer.
You're an exceptional lawyer,
but I need more than that.
It's Charlie's case now.
- Can Charlie give you a guarantee?
I can.
If I can have your word on
your son's life that nothing,
I mean nothing, happens to Frankie...
- How you gonna get to him?
He's sharing a bed with
the feds, your old friends.
- Don't worry about it.
I can get to him.
(dramatic music)
- I'm gonna hold you to your word.
- And I'm holding you to yours.
(beeping)
Papa, listen to me.
We have to help Frankie.
Papa.
- He can't hear you.
What are you trying to
do, kill him altogether?
It's not enough for you
to ruin your own life,
you have to drag them down too?
It's not enough?
- I am trying to save Frankie's life.
- Oh right, and get ahead for
yourself at the same time.
- You have to believe in me, Maria.
- Believe in you?
- Listen.
- Believe in you?
(laughing)
- Listen, listen, listen.
Listen, listen.
Everything you said about Scassi is right.
You were right about everything, okay?
You were, you were.
But Frankie's gonna die
unless Mom speaks to him.
- I don't understand.
- Mama's gotta tell Frankie to dummy up.
Where is she?
- I took her home.
She's exhausted.
- You gotta go get her.
The feds are coming over here
with Frankie to see Papa.
- Want all of them?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- Here.
- All right.
(sighing)
- Okay, give him the
pad, he likes to draw.
- Are you okay?
- Yeah, sorta.
- Let me get you some water.
- Thanks.
- Paul.
- Oh.
- They wouldn't let Mama speak to Frankie.
- Great.
Great.
(sighing)
Thanks.
(chattering)
Unbelievable what's going on here to me.
I'm fucking sinking into quicksand.
- Hey.
You okay?
- I'm okay.
- Good.
Good.
- State your full
name for the record, please.
- Franco Cici Dellacroce.
- Do you know the defendant Joseph Scassi?
- Sure.
That's him sitting there
in the expensive suit.
- Oh, I see two men sitting
over there in expensive suits.
Could you be more specific, please?
- Yeah, he's the one with the beady eyes.
And after that, I started
working at the Social Club.
You know, doing errands,
whatever Joseph wanted me to do.
- Did one of these errands involve a trip
to the Falcon Bar in
Brooklyn on June 29th, 1984?
- Yeah.
- Who accompanied you on that trip?
- There was me.
Tony Rigero.
Joey Scallieri.
And Snooks Baratta.
- Where are these men today?
- I hope they made it to heaven.
- They're all dead, aren't they?
- Objection, Your Honor, this
is immaterial to this case.
- I will allow you to continue,
Mr. Peters, but don't deviate.
- Frankie, was there anybody
else with you on June 29th?
- Objection, Your Honor, the prosecutor
is leading the witness's testimony.
- Sustained.
Mr. Peters, you will
rephrase the question.
- Was the defendant, Joseph Scassi,
with you and the other
men on June 29th, 1984?
- Yeah.
He was with us.
- And what was the purpose of your trip?
- Kill Vinny Giacalla.
- Who was Vinny Giacalla?
- He's a scumbag from New Jersey.
- Elaborate, please.
- He was the guy that was moving in
on Scassi's numbers action.
- No, objection, Your
Honor, that's hearsay.
- Overruled.
We've seen sufficient
proof that Mr. Scassi
ran gambling operations during this time.
The testimony will stand.
- Mr. Dellacroce, on June 29th, 1984,
did you see Joseph Scassi
execute Vinny Giacalla
at the Falcon Bar?
- Objection, Your Honor,
this is total manipulation
of a two-time loser who will say anything
to stay out of jail.
- Mr. Dellacroce, sit down,
please, you're out of order.
- Your Honor--
- I said sit down.
Repeat the question, Mr. Peters.
- Did you see Joseph
Scassi kill Vinny Giacalla
on the night of June 29th, 1984?
(tense music)
- Answer the question.
- No, I didn't.
- I beg your pardon?
- You can beg all you want,
I didn't see Joseph Scassi kill nobody.
He wasn't even at the Falcon Bar.
- You just said he was with you.
- He was with me at the movies.
- Then who killed Giacalla?
- Well, you're
gonna have to ask the others.
- They're dead.
- Life's a bitch, ain't it?
- I have a sworn affidavit from you.
Made just yesterday.
Stating that you saw Joseph Scassi
kill Vinny Giacalla at the Falcon Bar.
- Well, you said I'd go to
jail if I didn't sign it.
- Now, I don't know what
the hell is going on here,
but let me assure you, Mr. Dellacroce,
that if you have committed
an act of perjury
in this courtroom, you will be punished
to the full extent of the law.
- Well it can't be no worse
than what the feds already done to me.
(gasping)
(chattering)
I'm sorry, Paulie.
I wanna shoot those bastards.
It's not right.
You take the job, okay?
- Oh man, I already even started.
Entrapment, police brutality, you'll be
out on the street in 48
hours tops, don't worry, man.
- What, what are you
trying to do, kill me?
- What are you talking
about, I made a de...
You did this on your own?
- What did you think?
That I'm gonna let your
career go down the drain
over my sorry stinking ass?
- I'm not gonna let that happen.
I made a deal with Scassi.
- Oh, Paulie, so did Snooks.
- What, do you think I look stupid?
Scassi wouldn't dare touch
you until the trial is over.
So don't worry about it.
(sighing)
Now, you got a passport?
- Why, I need one to get into heaven?
- No.
Switzerland.
Italians, they hate the snow, right?
- Oh.
That look like a mugshot or what?
- You look great.
- Look like a mook.
- You are a mook.
- If I'm a mook, you're a marmaluke, pal.
- What's a mook?
- Or a marmaluke, for that matter.
- I think it's an animal or something.
Huh?
(sobbing)
Hey hey hey, come on now,
what's the matter, Whoop?
- I'm gonna miss you, Frankie.
- Hey, hey.
I'm gonna be back before you know it.
And if I'm not, don't be
surprised if I send for you.
- I gotta pick up the tickets, guys.
- Yeah, hang on, I'm
gonna come out with you.
- Mook.
Come here.
You're gonna miss him, huh?
Me too.
- How are things with you and Maria, man?
- I'm trying.
- Let me tell you something,
this girl loves you.
Don't be stupid.
- Yeah.
(sighing)
- Paulie, you gotta promise me
you're gonna take care of Whoopie.
- Whoopie?
- It ain't like he's a
pain in the ass or nothing,
man, but the kid, the kid's got nobody.
- You know, you're a
real tough guy, Frankie.
- Promise me.
- Yeah, I promise, I promise.
All right.
Frankie.
Eight o'clock, no luggage, all right?
- What, you think I'm stupid or something?
Good luck tomorrow.
- What's up with your hair, man?
- Good luck, okay?
- What's up with your hair?
It just seems a little off.
- I heard a rumor, counselor.
- Hey, what's that?
- That you've been named
the youngest senior partner
in this firm's history.
- Oh.
Well, I'm gonna turn it down.
- Why?
- I got my reasons, Joan.
- Does Scassi know?
- Mr. Dellacroce,
your ticket is ready.
Shall I send a messenger?
- Oh that's okay, I'll pick 'em up.
- Going on vacation?
- Yeah, I think I deserve it.
- Going alone?
- No.
- Oh.
Well, I better go.
Good luck tomorrow.
- Paul, you sure you don't
wanna come over to eat?
Angela's cooking up a storm.
- Yeah, I'm just working on
tomorrow's closing argument.
- Paul, I really appreciate
what you've done.
I don't forget.
- Yeah right.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Tino.
Get the car.
- Wait a minute. Where are
you going, I'm making dinner.
- Ah, I gotta go out for a few hours.
- Out?
- Can I pick you up something?
- No, I'm okay, I'm fine.
- How about a video?
- Yeah, pick up a video.
- No, I don't mean a porno
video, I mean a video.
(giggling)
Huh?
- Yeah, get a video.
- I'll get it, babe.
- Get a good, funny video.
- All right.
(ominous music)
- Come on, Frankie,
where the hell are you?
We're gonna be late for the airport.
(sobbing)
(dramatic tones)
- Our son did not commit suicide.
- Enough question, leave us alone.
- Papa, stop, stop, stop, stop,
stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.
- Stop him, Paulie.
Paulie.
- Stop, stop.
Stop, stop.
Stop, stop.
(sobbing)
- Oh my god.
(chattering)
- Make sure we're not disturbed.
- You look beat, Paulie,
why don't you freshen up?
- Freshen up?
(glass shattering)
- See if he's wired.
- Yeah, I'm clean.
- Okay, all right, get out.
Get out, no one comes in.
- But Joe--
- I said get out.
- Why?
- I told you.
You let one rat go, there's
10 of them tomorrow.
Like a disease.
- You could've killed
Frankie a long time ago.
- You don't whack the brother
of a district attorney.
But the brother of a two-bit
whore in a fancy suit,
now that's a different story.
Now let's go.
You don't wanna be late
for your closing argument.
- I'd rather die, man.
- No, no you wouldn't, no.
You like living too much.
- How'd you find out?
- A little birdie told me.
Oh, I think Charlie wants
to make you a partner.
(sighing)
(glass shattering)
(screaming)
- Paulie.
Jesus, Paulie.
What are you doing?
(screaming)
- Fuck.
- Paulie, what have you done?
(sobbing)
- Joseph Scassi has made
a joke of this trial
as he has made a joke of
the laws of this country.
If he walks out of this
court today a free man,
I have failed.
And the minions of corruption
that have so eloquently
defended him have won.
We are in the middle of an epidemic.
And corruption is the disease.
It has the power to infect
and destroy all of us.
No matter who we are.
(tapping)
(murmuring)
- Mr. Dellacroce.
- This is for you.
Ladies and gentlemen.
I believe there is justice in America.
That good will triumph over evil
and that an individual's
rights is the pillar
on which a society stands.
But I also believe that District
Attorney Peters is right.
We are in the middle of an epidemic.
And corruption is the disease.
But just where does this corruption lie?
In government, business?
In each of our own souls
inside, in there, digging.
Can any of you sitting
here today tell yourself
you don't feel it daily,
tugging at your heart?
Pulling at the threads of your conscience?
Of course you do.
So before you pass
judgment on Joseph Scassi,
you have to ask yourself
that basic question.
Is his corruption any different than mine?
Is it?
- Has the jury reached a verdict?
- We have, Your Honor.
- The defendant will rise.
You may read the verdict.
- We, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
(applause)
- You can write your
own ticket now, Paulie.
(upbeat jazz music)
- Whoa, wait, wait a second.
What do you mean we can't
use the tape as evidence?
(laughing)
Oh, all right, is that how it's gonna be?
You know what?
Screw Peters.
Screw him.
No, sorry's not good enough.
You know what, Mike,
thanks for everything.
All right, thanks for everything.
Okay.
- Paul, where are you going?
- I'm going to hell, Maria.
(beeping)
(upbeat jazz music)
- How do you like your steak, Colin?
- Well done, Joe.
You know I hate blood.
- Angela.
Any more wine?
- Yeah.
- Don't kill it, okay?
- Okay.
- Hey, hello,
Paul, you come to celebrate?
- Hey, I wouldn't miss this for the world.
- This is a hell of a party, eh?
You want some wine?
- Sure, sure.
Yeah, they really love you.
But then again, they don't know you
for the lying, murdering
bastard that you are.
(tense music)
- Hey, if you're gonna be a party poop,
why don't you get the hell out of here?
Hey.
- What do you want?
- Now, that better be a smoke.
- You can call it that.
- What's this?
- That's your death sentence.
- Oh yeah?
Or yours?
(chuckling)
(dramatic music)
(gunshot)
(glass shattering)
- Donny.
It's not what you think.
- The sins of the father.
- Take him to the marsh with
the rest of the fucking rats.
(dramatic music)
(horse galloping)
(gunfire)
(gunshot)
(chattering)
- He's not here, he went to the store.
- Look, don't play games
with me, Mrs. Scassi.
I already know he was here.
- Don't point your finger at me.
I don't know where Paul is.
- Please, Mrs. Scassi,
where did they take him?
- Look, I already told you.
My husband went to the store to buy wine.
- I heard them say they were
gonna take Paul down to the Hunt Club.
- Come on.
(tense music)
- I believe there is justice in America.
That good will triumph over evil
and that an individual's rights
are the pillar on which a society stands.
But I do not believe in being naive,
for we are at war, a war
that remains unfinished.
- Ow.
(gunshot)
(coughing)
- How does the rest of it go, Paul?
- You now have that weapon.
- Go on.
- The weapon is the law.
And the bullet it fires.
(gunshot)
(horse whinnying)
(grunting)
- Go on.
Shoot.
What are you waiting for?
You ain't gonna kill me.
You haven't got it in you.
- Is this how you killed Frankie?
Is this how you did it to my brother?
- No, no.
I had a smile on my face when I killed him
just like I'm smiling now.
(laughing)
(gunshot)
- Paul, no.
Paulie, no no, don't do it, don't do it.
We got him, we got him, we
all heard the confession.
- Yeah?
And what loophole is he
gonna fall through this time?
- Please, Paul, he's not worth it.
- This is for Frankie, Scassi.
The bullet it fires is justice.
(gunshot)
(somber music)
(panting)
Read him his rights, Mike.
- Joseph Scassi, you're under arrest
for the murder of Frankie Dellacroche.
Get him out of here.
(grunting)
- You motherfucker.
You're a dead man.
There's no place you can hide from me.
I'm gonna get you like I got
the rest of them fucking rats.
You're a dead man.
A dead man.
- All those things he did.
- Come on, come on.
(somber piano music)
- Underworld
kingpin Joseph Scassi
is back in the headlines today
just days after his win of murder charges
in the spectacular courtroom drama
that had America mesmerized.
As we speak, Scassi is being charged
with the first degree murder
of known drug dealer Frankie Dellacroche.
In a bizarre, ironic twist,
the victim is none other
than the brother of Paul Dellacroche.
- Today marks the
turning point in the underworld
as mafia chieftain
Joseph Scassi is charged
with the first degree murder
of Frankie Dellacroche.
Stay tuned for further details
on what promises to be
the trial of the century.
- America is safer today
as reputed mobster
Joseph Scassi is charged
with the murder of small
time hood Frank Dellacroche.
Prosecutor Peters said
that Scassi will not slip
through the cracks of the system again.
- Murder
charges, mobster Joseph Scassi
already faces at this time.
Prosecutor Peters claims that...
(slow dramatic music)
- I believe there is justice in America.
That good will triumph over evil.
And that an individual's rights
are the pillar in which a society stands.
(jazz music)
(whistle blowing)
I believe we will fight for a society
that protects the weak and humble
and provides them with opportunity.
But I do not, ladies and
gentlemen, believe in being naive.
(gunfire)
For we are at war.
A war that remains unfinished.
A war that you can help win today.
For you have the weapon now.
A weapon more powerful than anything used
by professional killers like Carlos Luca.
Yeah.
That weapon, ladies and
gentlemen, is the law.
And the bullet it fires is justice.
Justice.
Justice.
- The courthouse
downtown is jammed full
as the city awaits the verdict.
Probably the biggest story
today would be the presence
of Joseph Scassi, who
showed up at the trial
of hitman Carlos Luca.
- The trial
that rocked the underworld
has reached a pinnacle as
experts predict the conviction
of hitman Carlos Luca, the man
who would be most affected,
America's number one king of slime,
mobster boss Joseph Scassi,
made an appearance today,
sending shockwaves through
the packed courtroom.
Kathleen Davis is downtown.
- Joseph Scassi,
reputed to be American's
number one mobster,
appeared in court today,
but only as a spectator at the
trial of hitman Carlos Luca.
Scassi, experts agree,
is probably a most interested spectator,
as a conviction of Luca could
lead authorities directly
to Joseph Scassi and his
vast underworld operation.
(tense music)
- The court will adjourn until the jury
has completed its deliberations.
(elevator bell dinging)
- Excuse me.
So who the hell do you think you are?
Summating your case without the testimony
of a key government witness.
- I changed my mind about his testimony.
- Who gave you the right
to change your mind?
I'm gonna look like a fool
to the attorney general.
- Relax.
We'll win this case, don't worry about it.
- And if we don't?
- Oh right, I forgot.
We paid good taxpayers'
money for that witness.
- How dare you talk to me like that.
- Can't you see that all we do
is give one murderer freedom
to put another one in jail?
- I said that's enough.
You wanna do things your way,
find yourself another job.
(elevator bell ringing)
- Next time, just feel
free to jump in, huh?
- Hey, wunderkind, you're the one
with the 12 straight convictions, not me.
Besides, screw Peters, I'd
apologize to Attila the Hun
if it got me the chance
to prosecute Joe Scassi.
- Yeah, well be my guest.
We don't even have a case against him.
- Paulie, everybody's got
a smoking gun somewhere.
We'll find his.
- And if not, we could
always buy one, right?
- How's Trace, Mr. District Attorney?
- You're next, Scassi.
I'm gonna make sure I find you a nice cell
right next to your friend.
- Mr. Peters, unless
you have an indictment
in your back pocket, I suggest
you watch what you're saying.
Harassment is a very serious offense.
- So is murder.
- Has the jury reached a verdict?
- We have, Your Honor.
We, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
(whispering)
- Court is adjourned.
(gavel banging)
- Hey, Joe, do you think
District Attorney Peters is serious
about retrying on the 1984 murder charge?
- Mr.
Scassi, isn't it true
that Carlos Luca works for you
as an enforcer in your crime family?
- Word on the street
says you ordered the hits on
Tony Bregaro and Joey Scallari.
- You
think District Attorney Peters
is serious?
- Get back.
Get back, hey, stay back, come on.
- Isn't
it true that Carlos Luca
works for you as an enforcer
in your crime family?
- Move along, people.
Move along.
Now you get back, hey, get back.
Stay back, come on.
- Get him.
- But, Joseph.
- Take off.
- Move back.
(ominous music)
- That's great.
(cars honking)
(dark dramatic music)
(car engine revving)
- Mr. Dell, I'm with
Stern, Jessup, and Gold.
Mr. Stern asked if you
would be kind enough
to give him a call, at
your earliest convenience.
You have a nice day.
- Yeah.
- Say hello to my little friend, man.
- Cute, Frankie, real cute.
- You know, you got no
sense of humor, man.
(ominous music)
That is very bad for you.
- Yeah, right.
How much?
- The usual.
(popcorn crunching)
- You're killing me, how am
I supposed to make any dough?
(bell ringing)
- Hey, paesan.
I'll get that to you later,
mister, when it comes in.
- All right.
- All right, yeah.
- Hey, mister, you forgot your tape.
- Thanks, man.
- He seemed a little
nervous, don't you think?
- Got something to say,
maybe you should say it.
- You've been in the joint
twice before, Frankie,
you screw up a third time,
it's over, I'm telling you.
- Paulie, Paulie, Paulie,
what's the matter, what's the matter?
Huh, you don't trust your older brother?
You didn't catch enough
bad guys today huh?
Come on, counselor, take it easy.
I'm rolling in dough.
Get Maria something nice, will you?
- Maybe I'm the one in the
wrong line of work, huh?
- Hey, don't you ever say that, ever.
- Yeah okay, come on, let's
go, we're late for dinner.
Come on.
- All right, I'll lock up, go ahead.
Ball-breaker.
- Nice hair.
- We did good today huh, Frankie?
- We did real good, pal.
Erase that tape, huh?
- Why?
- 'Cause my brother's on it.
He'd never set us up.
Here.
Don't spend it on a girl.
(phone ringing)
- Frankie?
- Snooks, where are you?
- I'm up Shit's Creek,
that's where I am, Frank.
Listen, we gotta talk.
I can't hold on much longer.
- Snooks, Snooks, relax, will you?
We're no rats.
- Neither was Tony or Joey
and look where they wound up.
- Those sons of bitches dug
their own graves, all right?
Now stop being so goddamn paranoid.
- That's easy for you to say,
I ain't got a brother
with the DA's office.
- Don't you ever, don't you
ever mention his name again,
you hear me, Snooks?
- Yeah, I hear you.
What, do you think I'm fucking deaf?
- Anybody following you?
- No, I made sure.
I made sure, Frank.
- You sure?
- Yeah yeah yeah, I made sure.
Frankie, please don't let
them make me dead, huh?
- Oh, Snooks, come on, don't start that.
Ain't nobody dying.
You're freaking me out with that.
Now stay calm, all right?
I got a plan, I got a way
to get us out of this,
but you got to stay cool, man.
You can't do nothing stupid.
All right, talk to you later.
- Okay.
(ominous music)
- What took you guys so long?
What, are you losers or something?
Were you dealing something
up there or what?
- I had to count all my drugs and money.
- Your what?
- I'm gonna race you to your car, man.
(laughing)
Oh my god.
- Oh man, I wonder
how much they're asking for.
- Oh, Paulie, I would
give my left nut for this.
- You almost did.
Remember?
- Our ride with you, me, and Snooks.
- Oh, Snooks,
you ever hear from him?
- Never, man.
- Hey, can you still hit two sewers?
- With my eyes closed.
(upbeat music)
- With my eyes closed.
- Come on.
Come on, batter up.
- Come on.
- Come on, let's see what they taught you
in law school, baby.
(grunting)
Oh.
Great call.
Come on, Dellacroce.
- This is too fast for you.
- Come on, college boy, let's see it.
(grunting)
Oh, strike, I can't believe it.
Down to the wire, baby.
(chuckling)
Nice and easy, baby, put it in here.
- All right, all right, this is the one,
it's the one, it's the one.
(grunting)
- Oh.
(whooping)
I told you.
(humming)
- Oh, that smells good.
- Oh, Paulie, I didn't see you.
- What's the matter?
- Oh nothing, it's just
dinner's almost ready.
You must be hungry.
- You and Papa had a fight?
- Oh.
One week he's back from the
hospital from a heart attack
and he's down there fixing shoes.
- I'll talk to him, okay?
Don't worry.
- No no no no, my son, the
District Attorney of New York,
can't be bothered with those things.
- I'm an assistant DA, Mom,
there's a big difference.
- I know what you are.
The only member of this family
who's ever gonna amount to anything.
The only one who hasn't broke my heart.
- She didn't mean that, man, it's just...
(chuckling)
- I know.
She never does.
- Why do you do that, Mom?
- What?
- Pick on him.
- What do I do?
- You know what you do, forget about it.
Frankie.
- I'm gonna get Pop.
(doorbell ringing)
Hey. Is this the most
beautiful girl in the world?
- Hey.
How are you doing?
- Some guys have all the luck, huh?
- Guess what?
- What's that?
- I got the tickets.
- You did?
You should've called, I've been worried.
- Well, I didn't want to miss my bus.
- You didn't?
Maria, how many times have I told you?
Take a taxi at night.
- Take a taxi at night.
- Yes.
- Well, great, but I don't wanna
spend all my money on taxis, so.
- So use my money, just
take a taxi next time.
- What's wrong, what's wrong?
What, did you lose the case?
You lost the case, didn't you?
Mm-hmm.
Oh.
- Eh, don't worry, kid, you
get that scumbag Scassi,
you get 'em all.
(sighing)
- I'm gonna go get the coffee.
- Cosa Nostra.
They should all be sent back to Italy.
- Pop, I'm gonna go check the score, huh?
- Oh, you mean you're gonna go find out
how much money you threw away.
- What's the matter with sports?
- Yeah, that's right.
- Sports?
That boy would bet on a cockroach race
with his hoodlum friends and his bookies.
- Are you finished with this, Pop?
- Forecast,
cloudy, windy, and cold.
- So, Maria, when's the happy day?
I'm an old woman who
wants her grandchildren
before she dies.
- We can't even afford our own house,
least as much a family.
- I am going to take the
coffee into the living room.
- I'm here in front of the
federal courthouse building
with today's not guilty
verdict of mobster Carlos Luca
has surely dealt a blow--
- Hey, Paulie,
they're talking about the trial.
- Here with me is District
Attorney Carl Peters.
How badly do you think today's verdict
will affect your case against Scassi?
Under federal RICO statutes,
prosecutors will attempt
to retry reputed mafia
chieftain Joseph Scassi.
- Oh, we're really not all that concerned.
What today proves is that the
closer we get to Joe Scassi--
- Paulie, I don't understand.
What's going on?
- The more difficult it
becomes to obtain a conviction.
Therefore I have decided
that when Mr. Scassi
is formally indicted, I will personally
prosecute the case myself.
Thank you.
(scoffing)
- That's his case.
- There you have it.
This is Allison Bibicoff live
from the federal courthouse.
(somber music)
(sighing)
- Man.
- Paul.
- Hey.
I'm sorry.
- Come here.
- Everything happens for a reason.
(whistling)
- Taxi.
Taxi, yo.
- Pretty big, huh?
- Yeah, a guy could get lost.
- Not if he knows what he's looking for.
- Charles Stern.
- Top floor.
(bird cooing)
- Bothered me the first time too.
- I don't know, it seems to
me that they've come this far,
they've earned the right
to rest awhile, you know?
- Harvard doesn't always
pay does it, counselor?
- I got no complaints.
- No?
(laughing)
Of course not.
I was an assistant DA quite some time ago.
Hungry, pure, eager to save the world.
Even convinced myself I was
right on the verge of doing it.
Fortunately, one of the good
side effects of growing older
is that you become a little wiser.
- Well, DA's office.
Great place to learn the ropes.
- As long as you get out
before they hang you.
- You trying to save my neck, Mr. Stern?
- I'm offering you a job.
- I got a job.
- At $200,000 a year?
Armstrong, could you come in here, please?
Ah.
Paul, this is Joan Armstrong,
one of our junior partners.
Joan, this is Paul Dell.
Paul works at the DA's office.
- Yes, I've seen him in action.
You're very good.
- Why don't you take a look
around and see for yourself
that we're not a bunch
of demons in black robes
plotting the end of the world.
Hope to hear from you soon.
- Come on, I'll show you around.
We'll take awhile.
- Yeah.
A guy could get lost.
- It's a little different
from downtown, isn't it?
This is our dining room.
- Yeah?
- Where we have one of
the city's best chefs.
- Is this a law firm or a country club?
- Is there a difference?
(sighing)
- So what law school did you go to?
- Harvard, don't
hold it against me.
- Harvard, really?
It's a pretty tough place to get into.
- Hey, I'm a pretty tough girl.
And this is our exercise room and spa.
Company-owned equipment.
- Excuse me.
- Hi, Dave.
- Hi, Joan.
- I should start working out.
- We all should.
- I hear he got 250.
- He's gotta be worth it.
I mean, Stern's the
cheapest bastard alive.
- He settled a municipal bond case
at Oppenheimer his first week.
- Where the hell did he go, Harvard?
- You ready for this?
City college.
- Come on, get the hell outta here.
- I'm telling you.
And Joan Armstrong is
in heat for this guy.
- You're crazy.
Joan Armstrong is a rich bitch.
I'm telling you, the guy's engaged anyway.
- So, when has that ever mattered?
Oh man.
- Oh, is he looking?
- Yeah, wave.
- Who are those guys?
- They're junior
partners at the firm.
- Oh.
- Pricks.
(chuckling)
So how are things downtown?
- Not bad, they're heating up a little.
- Yeah?
We got any witnesses?
- We, Paulie?
- Sorry.
You know, muscle memory.
- I'll bet it was.
Look, buddy, do yourself
a favor, forget about it.
It's not your problem anymore.
- Yeah.
♪ I've had enough this time ♪
What are you doing?
- I just wanted to be on the video.
Where you been?
- Out being stupid.
(beeping)
- Hey, Frankie, it's Paul.
Showing Maria the new apartment tonight,
you should come on by.
It's, where is it?
It's at 425 East 72nd.
- Going to my brother's huh?
- Frankie, it's Snooks.
Shit, where are you?
I'm being followed.
Jesus, I gotta see you.
Meet me tonight at nine at the boat.
Nine o'clock.
Don't be late, man.
- Shit.
All right, look, you
gotta lock up, all right?
I gotta go.
We'll go to my brother's another time.
Lock up good, Whoop.
- Frankie and
Whoopie might drop by.
- Oh, it's really
great the way your brother
takes care of Whoopie.
- Yeah, I guess.
He can hardly take care of himself.
What do you think?
- Um, I think it's a bachelor pad.
- Oh no no, it's just a
settler for six months.
Some view, huh?
- Is that Queens?
- Brooklyn, Queens.
The world's at your fingertips, sweetie.
- Uh-huh.
- Look at this.
Look at this.
- Wow.
But it's July.
- You want an air conditioner?
- No, no, no no no no.
- What about my brother?
- You know
Frankie, he's always late.
(groaning)
- Oh yeah.
(doorbell ringing)
Oh yeah.
(grunting)
Ah, Frankie.
No, don't stop, let it ring, let it ring.
No, stay here.
- Stay put, stud.
I'll be right back.
- Come on.
- Don't move.
You wanna tie the knot, Mr. Dell?
- Just answer the door.
- Surprise.
- Can I help you?
- You must be Maria.
- Yeah.
- I'm Joan.
I've obviously caught
you guys at a bad time.
- Yeah, you're batting a thousand.
- Hey.
- Thank you.
Ms. Armstrong.
- It's Joan.
- Yeah, yeah,
Joan works at the firm.
- Joan works late.
- Well, a girl has to nowadays.
I was just in the neighborhood,
so I thought I'd stop by.
You know, I live really close
and we're practically neighbors.
- Did you want to get some glasses?
- Sure, sure, sure, yeah,
give me those things, huh.
- Nice.
Very nice.
Fabulous view.
- Yeah, that's the general consensus.
- Well, you must be
very proud of Paul now.
- Oh, I've always been
proud of Paul, yeah.
- This is wonderful.
- Yeah, give me two.
(moaning)
Wow.
Why can't I find a girl like this?
Oh man, that's something.
I hate when they do that.
They don't clean up.
(ominous music)
- Goodnight.
- Yeah.
- It was nice of you to come over.
- Well, thank you, this was good.
- Yeah.
Thank you for the champagne.
- You're welcome.
Oh, before I forget.
- Okay.
- Stern wanted me to ask you a favor,
if you would babysit a
client with me tomorrow.
- Oh sure, no problem.
- Great.
- Won't you be needing this?
- Oh.
- Here, let me get that for you.
- Silly me, I forgot my briefs.
It was nice meeting you.
- Likewise.
- I'll find my way out.
- Okay, see you tomorrow.
She's very nice.
- Adorable.
(giggling)
(applause)
- Thank you.
Thank you all for coming.
- Why didn't you tell me it was Scassi?
- Simple, you wouldn't have come.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
Welda, how are you?
- Hardly seems like the
type who needs babysitting.
- You'd be surprised.
- Thanks.
In New York and the rest of the country,
they call Joseph Scassi a lot of things.
In New Jersey, we call him a friend.
We are here today to honor
this great man and his family.
They have given us a new
wing for cancer research
that will save countless lives.
That is not the act of a villain.
That is the act of a true American hero.
Please join with me in
a round of appreciation
for one who has not forgotten
his roots, Joseph Scassi.
(applause)
- Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thanks.
- I'm so proud of you, Joe.
- Oh thanks, sweetie.
- I'm proud of you too, Dad.
- Thanks, kid.
I'll see you later, okay?
Thanks.
- Take care, take care.
- Appreciate it.
Help the hospital.
- I thought the mayor was gonna be here.
- It's a little hard right
now with the indictment.
I'm sorry, Mr. Scassi.
- Yeah, I understand.
(speaking in foreign language)
You build us a hospital.
You are infecting your
neighborhood with the drug
that kill our children.
You go to hell, you bastard.
(speaking in foreign language)
What this gentleman just
said to me is very upsetting.
But what he said is true.
I was once guilty of this.
But I want you all to know
that I've been to hell,
to prison, for my crimes.
And what I do here today,
and from now on, is part of my atonement.
If you can't forgive me, I understand.
I pray God will.
- God bless you, Mr. Scassi.
God will forgive you.
- Too bad he's a crook, he
makes a great politician.
- Be careful, you might
be contradicting yourself.
- Thank you.
Thank you all for coming.
(applause)
It looks like Baratta's closed.
Check it out, Tino.
(ominous music)
- It's Mr. Baratta's kid, he got stabbed.
- This city's
becoming a fucking jungle.
- Snooks is dead?
- You knew him?
- Yeah, we used to run in
the same gang together.
- You were in a gang?
(chuckling)
- Yeah.
- That's funny.
- Fortunately, I outgrew it.
- What does that mean, you got taller?
- No, just smarter.
- That's good.
So did I.
- Paul, we should go.
- Yeah.
- No, no no no, let's
go for something to eat.
I know another place
right down the street.
- Thank you, Mr. Scassi,
but I've already got plans.
- What about you?
- I'm having dinner with my family.
- Take my car.
Tino, you don't mind taking
Mr. Dell for a ride, do you?
- Be my pleasure.
- No no no no, thanks anyway.
- Are you sure?
- I am positive.
- I'll get back to you on the mayor.
- Now let's get outta here.
- Hey, Paul, thanks again.
- See you tomorrow.
(dramatic music)
Taxi.
Yo, taxi.
- Come on, answer, you mother...
Answer, you son of a bitch.
Come on, an...
Buddha?
Yeah, man, it's Frankie, how are you?
Yeah, well I've been busy.
Hey listen, Buddha man, I
think we should have a meeting.
No, no, fuck that shit, man.
No more nickel dime, uh-uh.
Mm-mm, I'm talking the big screen, man.
- Is there a phone?
- It's in the back.
- Thank you.
(phone beeping)
Hey, Maria, how are you?
Hey, I'm sorry, honey, it's
I've been trying to hail a cab.
It's...
Yeah, I know, I know it's
been three times this week,
sweetie, I've been working.
Relax...
Where's Frank?
Where's Frankie?
- Espresso.
Anisette.
- Yeah, all right.
Right, okay.
Me too.
- Hey, lawyer, trouble in the family?
- No.
- Well, my wife is all
over me too, you know?
When I work late.
Have an espresso.
And I'll tell you, the
world's a crazy place.
It's gone nuts.
Look at this.
Three cops blown away this month.
I'll tell you, it's a real
breakdown of social order.
- Maybe you should make a donation
to the Policemen's
Benevolent Association then.
- That's a good idea.
Good idea.
Tino, remind me to send a donation
to the families of the
slain officers, huh?
- How much, Mr. Scassi?
- Make it 10,000.
- I didn't realize you had
such respect for the law.
- I don't respect the law.
It's justice I respect.
Come on.
Let's take a walk.
So how come you changed your name?
Paul Dellacroce.
- It's none of your business.
- You ashamed of being Italian?
Well, maybe you figured if
you put enough of us in jail,
that part of you might disappear.
- Everybody I put in jail deserves
to be there and you know it.
- If everybody got what they deserved,
the world would be over.
- Freeze.
- Freeze.
- Halt.
- Hold it right there.
- Come on.
- All right.
- Get the fuck off me, man.
Get off me.
- Easy, easy.
(glass shattering)
(siren wailing)
(tires screeching)
- Get off me.
- Don't get excited.
All right, all right.
- He's fine, he's fine.
Back off, back off, easy, easy, easy.
- What the hell are you doing here?
- We're walking down the street.
Is that a crime, Carl?
- If you're walking with me, it is.
- Not a good night to go for a stroll
in the old neighborhood, huh?
- What, indict him with
the whole world watching?
- You better get out of here,
Paul, or they're gonna lock you up.
- Get him out of here.
- You got a hair in your nose.
- Oh, very funny.
- Get a hold of Stern.
- You're a big man, Peters.
Where's Mr. Jessup and Mr. Gold?
They, call them at the country club.
Hello?
- Paul.
They're not gonna wait any longer.
- Well, it looks like you're on then.
- I've never argued a
criminal case in my life.
- Yeah.
Now's your chance.
Hm?
(gavel banging)
- Mr. Scassi, will you and
your attorney please rise?
Mr. Scassi, under the
Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations Act,
you're being formally charged
with committing crimes
as part of a pattern of racketeering
with a specific organization.
How do you plead to these charges?
- My client pleads not guilty, Your Honor.
- Very well.
I'll now hear arguments for the amount
of bail to be set for the defendant.
Mr. Peters?
- Your Honor, we request that
the defendant be remanded
to the county prison without
bail due to his well-documented
affiliation with violent criminals--
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Within his own organization.
- You have something
to say, Ms. Armstrong?
Mr. Dell, exactly what is
your capacity here today?
I do not allow cheerleaders
in my courtroom.
- I'm sorry, Your Honor.
- Perhaps I can help you, Ms. Armstrong.
Mr. Peters, is there a
specific reason why bail
should be denied to the defendant?
- We feel that Mr.
Scassi's freedom would pose
a direct threat to the
life of any witnesses
the government might produce in this case.
- Joan.
- Very well.
Since there's no argument
from the defense,
the defendant will be remanded
to the county courthouse.
- Objection, Your Honor,
the prosecutor is accusing
the defendant of committing a crime
which hasn't even taken place?
- Objection, Your Honor, this man is not
the recognized counsel to the defendant.
- Your Honor, the defendant's attorney
Charles Stern is unreachable.
As his associate, I beseech
the court to allow me
to stand in for this hearing.
(gavel banging)
You shoulda seen Carl's
face, it was priceless.
It was priceless, he
was just standing there.
I loved it.
- Paul, look, Paul, please tell me
you won't be representing Joseph Scassi.
- No no no no no no, I was
just standing in for Stern.
That'll never happen.
- Look.
- What?
- If you want a piece,
counselor, you have to
buy the entire cake.
- Oh yeah?
- Yeah.
- Oh baby, would you want to?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Mr. Scassi was very pleased with the way
you handled the situation in court.
He'd like you to be his
guest this afternoon
at the Bayview Hunt Club.
- You tell Mr. Scassi I
appreciate it, but I got plans.
- My instructions are not
to take no for an answer.
(chuckling)
- I'll be back in awhile.
Let me take care of this
bozo for a little bit, okay?
I'll be back before you know it.
- Okay.
Paul.
I'll see you later.
- We'll take good care of him.
(ominous music)
(tires screeching)
(horse whinnying)
(gunfire)
- Those fucking rats, they're everywhere.
- What the hell, are you crazy?
- You let one of them go,
there's 10 of them tomorrow.
Like a disease.
- You're under federal
indictment, for crying out loud.
You're riding around
like some fucking cowboy?
- You're a good lawyer.
- What am I doing here?
- I wanted to thank you for
standing in for Charlie.
- A phone call would've been sufficient.
- Well, I also wanted
to talk about my trial.
This is the only place
they haven't bugged.
You know, those guys know every
time I make it with my wife,
but I give them a good show.
- If you want to discuss your
case, you talk to your lawyer.
- I am.
- You got the wrong guy.
- I do?
I heard you that day in
court talking with the DA.
You know, you were right.
Nowadays, feds will make a deal quicker
than a two-bit whore.
- Sometimes they don't have a choice.
- That makes it right?
Yeah, that's justice for you.
- How the hell am I supposed to get back?
- What's the matter, are
you afraid of getting dirty?
- Yeah, you're damn straight I am.
- Hey, don't get holy with me.
Those witnesses you used to put
on the stand to win cases, what were they?
Murderers, pimps, child molesters,
animals that do things
I never even dreamed of.
- That's why I left.
- I know.
And I'm gonna give you
a chance to come back.
- By defending you?
- Yeah.
- You're trying to tell
me you're innocent?
- Why do you find that so hard to believe?
I don't need to bullshit you.
Everyone knows the bad
things I did with my life.
I did my time.
And not one of those country clubs.
Seven years away from my wife and kid.
You have any idea what that's like, Paul?
- Why should I?
- I never murdered Vinny Giacalla.
I wasn't even there.
That's why they'll never find
an honest witness to say I was.
- Oh, then you got nothing to worry about.
- Yes, I do.
My name ends in a vowel.
And to guys like Peters,
that makes me a target.
- Well, Charles Stern will get you off.
You don't need me.
- Yes, I do.
Charles is good, but in my
gut, I know you're better.
You know you're better.
Paul, we're all innocent
until proven guilty.
Even me.
- Yeah.
I gotta get back.
- Okay, let's go.
If you don't mind, there's someone special
I'd like you to meet.
- Who would that be?
- My don.
It's a question of honor.
I trusted you.
And in my heart of hearts, I
knew you wouldn't let me down.
And this is what I get?
You've disappointed this family.
And now I have to make a decision.
- I'm sorry, Dad.
I'll try harder.
- That's all I ever ask.
Now go tell your mother
we're ready for dinner.
We'll speak again later.
- Nice kid.
- He takes after his mother.
- Is he aware of what's going on?
- My son only knows that his
father is a good businessman.
- What happens if he finds out?
- Well, I pray to God
that day never comes.
Paul, if I'm lying about my innocence,
may God take him and everything
I care about away from me.
- I don't know, all anyone ever hears
about Joseph are the bad things.
Maybe they should see
what he's really like,
the charities he gives to,
the people he helps, it's incredible.
- I understand that, I mean,
it must be tough for you.
The trial and all the publicity.
- Well, I can handle it.
I mean, I've handled it before,
but you know, I worry about Donny.
- He idolizes his father?
- Yeah, he does.
Come here, sweetie.
Goodnight.
Oops, get that off of there.
- Is my father really gonna go to jail?
- Donny, come on,
sweetheart, it's bedtime.
(upbeat music)
- It's like it was made
for you, Mr. Dellacroce.
- This one, thanks.
- Dellacroce?
- Yeah.
Mr. Dell never did sound right.
I'm gonna wear this outfit.
- Don't even look like you, pal.
- And I'm gonna take it in gray as well.
Huh?
Huh?
- What's the occasion, sport?
- I took on a new client, man.
- Oh yeah, who?
- Let's get something for Maria.
All right.
- Would you like anything else?
- No.
I think that covers everyone.
- Oh come on, man, I'm
sure there's something
in this store you haven't bought.
- No, wait a second.
Maria, Mike Adams--
- How about Mom and Pop?
- I paid off their mortgage.
After all these years,
they finally own their own house, Frankie.
- What a guy, huh?
It's too bad he's taken.
Let's go.
Look at this, someone bought it.
- You're kidding.
- No, man, you think that's
gonna sit around here?
- Hey, Frankie.
For the good old days, huh?
Huh?
(upbeat rock music)
- Paulie, Paulie.
Paulie, I love you!
- Now, the government's got witnesses
that'll tell you that Joseph
Scassi is an extortionist.
They got others that'll
tell you that he's committed
blackmail, arson, grand theft, robbery.
They even have a witness that'll tell you
that Joseph Scassi is
not very kind to animals.
Listen, every one of
these witnesses is looking
at jail time for their own acts.
And their freedom depends
on what they say here today in court.
For all of them, Joseph Scassi is the key
that will unlock the cell.
- Excellent.
It's impressive, theatrical.
I think it's brilliant.
- Oh my god.
- What?
- Oh my god, Maria.
The theater, I gotta
meet her at the theater.
Oh shit.
(somber music)
Hey.
Sorry, baby.
- That's okay, we'll
just wait another year
and then we can see the
two acts you missed.
- No, all right, relax,
I'll get some more tickets next week.
- Okay.
- One second,
one second, one second.
- What, you're gonna get more tickets?
What, is Joe Scassi gonna get 'em for you?
- Come down here, come
down here for a second.
What was that supposed to mean?
- Figure it out.
- Listen, honey, I don't criticize
your line of work, don't criticize mine.
- Well, I don't defend murderers, Paul.
- Why are you doing this?
- Paul, let's move out of New York.
You could get a new job
representing farmers
with broken tractors or something and--
- I've busted my chops for seven years
working for nothing for that guy.
Now's my chance.
- Since when is doing what's
right worth nothing to you?
- What's right?
Don't be so naive, sweetie.
I mean, you would be surprised
what the justice department
will do just to make
the five o'clock news.
- What about what Joe Scassi has done?
I mean, are you gonna forget that?
(shushing)
- Hey, you do it one more time,
pal, I'll bust your face, you hear me?
- Okay.
- Maria.
Maria.
Hey, Maria.
- Taxi!
- Maria.
- Taxi.
- Don't do this.
- First you defend him,
then you dress like him,
now you even act like him.
What, has he become an
obsession for you, Paul?
(scoffing)
Taxi.
- What do you want me to do?
- Make a choice.
You can't be in bed with both of us.
Brooklyn.
- Maria.
(operatic singing)
(somber music)
Hey.
- Hey.
How was the show?
- Lousy ending.
Don't you ever quit?
- I can go all night.
(phone ringing)
- Is there anything to drink around here?
- Yeah.
Stern's office.
- Paul, it's Maria.
If you're there, please call me.
- Come on.
How you want it?
- What?
- The scotch.
- Straight up.
A little understanding.
- Well, there's only a
little bit of scotch but--
- That's good.
- There's a lot of understanding.
I'm sorry.
Oh.
(sensual rock music)
(moaning)
Yes.
(moaning)
- Last count of government witnesses.
- 86.
- What about the charts
of the prior convictions?
- They're all finished.
- Excellent.
- What about local muscle?
- Paul and I visited the mayor yesterday.
He's onboard.
- I'd like to say that everybody's work
in this room has been excellent
and I'm very proud to call
myself your colleague.
Now, I hope you'll all join me in what
has become a pre-trial
good luck ritual of mine.
Like a famous general
in the Army once said,
grab 'em by the balls
and their hearts and minds will follow.
Let the war begin.
Salud.
(ominous music)
(snorting)
- Didn't I say I was your man, Buddha?
- Yeah you did, Frankie.
To business.
- Yeah right.
- Where's the rest?
- Where's my money?
- Frankie, come on, you don't trust me?
- In God I trust, all right?
Everybody else pays cash, Buddha.
- Where's your sense of humor, Frankie?
- A cop, just what we need.
- Oh shit.
- Merry Christmas.
- Yeah, that's great.
Surprise, Frankie.
- Hold it.
- Wait.
(gunshot)
- Frankie.
Frankie.
(tense music)
(gunfire)
(tires screeching)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- You're a long way from home, aren't you?
- What the hell are you doing here?
- Just slumming.
Any objections, huh?
- This doesn't concern you.
- Anytime the mob makes
a hit, it concerns me.
- The mob?
What the hell are you talking about?
- Why don't you ask Joseph Scassi?
Or don't you know?
- Know what?
- Frankie used to work for him.
Small world, huh?
(banging)
(dog barking)
- What's the matter?
- My brother's dead!
- Shut up, shut up.
- My brother's dead.
- Act like a fucking man.
What do you mean he's dead?
- He's dead.
(sobbing)
- Okay.
That was 15 years ago.
He was just a kid, used to hang
around the club, do some strong arm stuff.
Then he got into drugs and
that was the end of it.
- Why didn't you tell me?
- What good would that have done?
It was another lifetime.
Can't you see why Peters sent you here?
He's trying to get you to turn on me.
On my family's life, I swear
to God, I did not kill Frankie.
- Who did?
- Well, the kid was into drugs.
I mean, he could've had a ton of enemies.
I don't want to go to jail.
I need you to be 100% in my corner.
Now, if you think I killed
Frankie, you quit now.
And I swear I'll never bother you again.
(gavel banging)
- The defense may now
present its opening argument.
- Nigger.
Chink.
Camel jockey.
Kike.
Mick.
Me, if you're wondering, I'm a wop.
So is my client.
The prosecution has heralded this
as the mafia trial of the century.
And the man on trial is
the modern-day godfather.
I think what we have here is much simpler,
much more basic than that.
Do you know what's really on trial here?
A man's heritage.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Hasn't the world seen enough of that?
Of course it has.
Of course it has.
Thank you.
(murmuring)
- Mr. Peters, your witness.
- Your Honor, the prosecution
calls Auggie Calvini.
- Do you swear to
tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?
- Yeah, so what about it?
- You see what I mean?
Fucking rats are everywhere.
- How do you know Joseph Scassi?
- He used to frequent a
gambling joint I used to run.
- And you became friends?
- Kinda.
I used to hang out at
the Bayview Social Club.
I had quite a few friends there.
- Social club, hm.
You mean they played
darts and bingo there?
- Not exactly.
- Is it true that you heard
conversations linking Mr. Scassi
with hijacking, loan
sharking, and extortion?
- Nothing went down at the Bayview
unless Joseph Scassi okayed it.
- Didn't you break the
legs of one Tony Aello
because he owed Joseph Scassi some money
from a bet he made on a
professional football game?
- Yes.
- Isn't it true that in exchange
for your testimony here today,
you were offered immunity
from a murder charge
for which you are still serving time?
- Yes.
- Have you ever seen Mr. Scassi engage
in any criminal activity?
- No.
- Speak up, please.
- No.
- Excuse me.
(whispering)
- Did you ever see
Joseph Scassi hurt anybody?
- I never seen Joe Scassi hurt anybody.
- And hasn't Joseph Scassi
financially supported
your family for 10 years
while you've been in jail?
- Yes.
- Who paid for your
rehabilitation from heroin?
- Joe did.
- And who did you once
describe in earlier testimony
as the best friend a guy could have?
- Joe Scassi.
- No further questions, Your Honor.
- That was good.
- Mr. Peters, the prosecution
may present its final witness.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
(chattering)
(ominous music)
- That's a lot of badge.
- Your Honor, I object to this
attempt by the prosecution
to create an environment of
terror in this courtroom.
This display of force at
a trial is a direct attack
on my client's character and innocence.
- Mr. Peters, I believe
Mr. Dellacroce has a point.
Is there a legitimate
reason for such a display?
- I apologize, Your
Honor, but this witness is
in great danger due to the
testimony he's about to give.
He's an eyewitness to a murder charge
for which Mr. Scassi is on trial.
Considering the circumstances,
we took the maximum effort to protect him.
- No, you mean you took
maximum effort to prejudice
this jury into seeing my
client as a dangerous man.
The district attorney, Your
Honor, not once in months
of pre-trial deliberations ever indicated
that such a witness existed.
- Mr. Peters.
- This witness has only
recently been granted immunity.
And until such an agreement was reached,
we felt it necessary to keep his existence
a matter of secrecy.
- No, you mean that it took you this long
to set up some cushy
relocation deal for this,
what is he, a repenting
murderer, a drug dealer?
(gavel banging)
- Mr. Dellacroce, you're out of order.
The witness will take the oath
and state his name for the record.
- Your Honor, I wish to
move that the witness
be made to remove his hood.
It's obvious, he's in
no physical danger here.
- I have no objection, Your Honor.
- The witness will now remove his hood.
(ominous music)
(gasping)
(chattering)
- Paulie.
- Franco.
- Papa.
- Seize the witness.
- Paulie.
- Papa.
Papa.
(gavel banging)
- Order.
- Those were your men in the car.
You knew he was alive?
- Congratulations, counselor.
- You son of a bitch.
(chattering)
- Stop those men from fighting.
- I'm all right, I'm all right.
All right.
- Somebody call the
paramedics for that man.
Mr. Dellacroce, Mr.
Peters, in my chambers.
Now.
- Your Honor, I could just say--
- Shut up and sit down.
I ought to remove both of you
from this trial right now.
Mr. Peters, what was the nature
of the deal you agreed
upon with the witness?
- Immunity from prosecution on the charges
of accessory to murder and
the dismissal of drug charges.
- He's not on witness protection?
- Don't think I don't
know what's going on here.
I will not allow this trial to become
a pissing contest for the two of you.
You have 24 hours to make
a motion for a mistrial,
which I will agree to.
If you choose not to do so, I assure you,
any such future requests will be denied.
Do I make myself clear?
- Yes, Your Honor.
- The judge's offer
is totally unacceptable.
No mistrial.
- Did you kill Giacalla?
- Vinny Giacalla planted a
bomb under my family's car.
The car my wife goes shopping in
and takes my kid to school in.
I should've ripped his fucking
eyes out before he died.
- You're right.
But you never should've lied to me, Joe.
- You wouldn't have taken the case.
- No, you're wrong.
I win this trial, my
problems, they're over.
- Paul, you're a good lawyer.
You're an exceptional lawyer,
but I need more than that.
It's Charlie's case now.
- Can Charlie give you a guarantee?
I can.
If I can have your word on
your son's life that nothing,
I mean nothing, happens to Frankie...
- How you gonna get to him?
He's sharing a bed with
the feds, your old friends.
- Don't worry about it.
I can get to him.
(dramatic music)
- I'm gonna hold you to your word.
- And I'm holding you to yours.
(beeping)
Papa, listen to me.
We have to help Frankie.
Papa.
- He can't hear you.
What are you trying to
do, kill him altogether?
It's not enough for you
to ruin your own life,
you have to drag them down too?
It's not enough?
- I am trying to save Frankie's life.
- Oh right, and get ahead for
yourself at the same time.
- You have to believe in me, Maria.
- Believe in you?
- Listen.
- Believe in you?
(laughing)
- Listen, listen, listen.
Listen, listen.
Everything you said about Scassi is right.
You were right about everything, okay?
You were, you were.
But Frankie's gonna die
unless Mom speaks to him.
- I don't understand.
- Mama's gotta tell Frankie to dummy up.
Where is she?
- I took her home.
She's exhausted.
- You gotta go get her.
The feds are coming over here
with Frankie to see Papa.
- Want all of them?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- Here.
- All right.
(sighing)
- Okay, give him the
pad, he likes to draw.
- Are you okay?
- Yeah, sorta.
- Let me get you some water.
- Thanks.
- Paul.
- Oh.
- They wouldn't let Mama speak to Frankie.
- Great.
Great.
(sighing)
Thanks.
(chattering)
Unbelievable what's going on here to me.
I'm fucking sinking into quicksand.
- Hey.
You okay?
- I'm okay.
- Good.
Good.
- State your full
name for the record, please.
- Franco Cici Dellacroce.
- Do you know the defendant Joseph Scassi?
- Sure.
That's him sitting there
in the expensive suit.
- Oh, I see two men sitting
over there in expensive suits.
Could you be more specific, please?
- Yeah, he's the one with the beady eyes.
And after that, I started
working at the Social Club.
You know, doing errands,
whatever Joseph wanted me to do.
- Did one of these errands involve a trip
to the Falcon Bar in
Brooklyn on June 29th, 1984?
- Yeah.
- Who accompanied you on that trip?
- There was me.
Tony Rigero.
Joey Scallieri.
And Snooks Baratta.
- Where are these men today?
- I hope they made it to heaven.
- They're all dead, aren't they?
- Objection, Your Honor, this
is immaterial to this case.
- I will allow you to continue,
Mr. Peters, but don't deviate.
- Frankie, was there anybody
else with you on June 29th?
- Objection, Your Honor, the prosecutor
is leading the witness's testimony.
- Sustained.
Mr. Peters, you will
rephrase the question.
- Was the defendant, Joseph Scassi,
with you and the other
men on June 29th, 1984?
- Yeah.
He was with us.
- And what was the purpose of your trip?
- Kill Vinny Giacalla.
- Who was Vinny Giacalla?
- He's a scumbag from New Jersey.
- Elaborate, please.
- He was the guy that was moving in
on Scassi's numbers action.
- No, objection, Your
Honor, that's hearsay.
- Overruled.
We've seen sufficient
proof that Mr. Scassi
ran gambling operations during this time.
The testimony will stand.
- Mr. Dellacroce, on June 29th, 1984,
did you see Joseph Scassi
execute Vinny Giacalla
at the Falcon Bar?
- Objection, Your Honor,
this is total manipulation
of a two-time loser who will say anything
to stay out of jail.
- Mr. Dellacroce, sit down,
please, you're out of order.
- Your Honor--
- I said sit down.
Repeat the question, Mr. Peters.
- Did you see Joseph
Scassi kill Vinny Giacalla
on the night of June 29th, 1984?
(tense music)
- Answer the question.
- No, I didn't.
- I beg your pardon?
- You can beg all you want,
I didn't see Joseph Scassi kill nobody.
He wasn't even at the Falcon Bar.
- You just said he was with you.
- He was with me at the movies.
- Then who killed Giacalla?
- Well, you're
gonna have to ask the others.
- They're dead.
- Life's a bitch, ain't it?
- I have a sworn affidavit from you.
Made just yesterday.
Stating that you saw Joseph Scassi
kill Vinny Giacalla at the Falcon Bar.
- Well, you said I'd go to
jail if I didn't sign it.
- Now, I don't know what
the hell is going on here,
but let me assure you, Mr. Dellacroce,
that if you have committed
an act of perjury
in this courtroom, you will be punished
to the full extent of the law.
- Well it can't be no worse
than what the feds already done to me.
(gasping)
(chattering)
I'm sorry, Paulie.
I wanna shoot those bastards.
It's not right.
You take the job, okay?
- Oh man, I already even started.
Entrapment, police brutality, you'll be
out on the street in 48
hours tops, don't worry, man.
- What, what are you
trying to do, kill me?
- What are you talking
about, I made a de...
You did this on your own?
- What did you think?
That I'm gonna let your
career go down the drain
over my sorry stinking ass?
- I'm not gonna let that happen.
I made a deal with Scassi.
- Oh, Paulie, so did Snooks.
- What, do you think I look stupid?
Scassi wouldn't dare touch
you until the trial is over.
So don't worry about it.
(sighing)
Now, you got a passport?
- Why, I need one to get into heaven?
- No.
Switzerland.
Italians, they hate the snow, right?
- Oh.
That look like a mugshot or what?
- You look great.
- Look like a mook.
- You are a mook.
- If I'm a mook, you're a marmaluke, pal.
- What's a mook?
- Or a marmaluke, for that matter.
- I think it's an animal or something.
Huh?
(sobbing)
Hey hey hey, come on now,
what's the matter, Whoop?
- I'm gonna miss you, Frankie.
- Hey, hey.
I'm gonna be back before you know it.
And if I'm not, don't be
surprised if I send for you.
- I gotta pick up the tickets, guys.
- Yeah, hang on, I'm
gonna come out with you.
- Mook.
Come here.
You're gonna miss him, huh?
Me too.
- How are things with you and Maria, man?
- I'm trying.
- Let me tell you something,
this girl loves you.
Don't be stupid.
- Yeah.
(sighing)
- Paulie, you gotta promise me
you're gonna take care of Whoopie.
- Whoopie?
- It ain't like he's a
pain in the ass or nothing,
man, but the kid, the kid's got nobody.
- You know, you're a
real tough guy, Frankie.
- Promise me.
- Yeah, I promise, I promise.
All right.
Frankie.
Eight o'clock, no luggage, all right?
- What, you think I'm stupid or something?
Good luck tomorrow.
- What's up with your hair, man?
- Good luck, okay?
- What's up with your hair?
It just seems a little off.
- I heard a rumor, counselor.
- Hey, what's that?
- That you've been named
the youngest senior partner
in this firm's history.
- Oh.
Well, I'm gonna turn it down.
- Why?
- I got my reasons, Joan.
- Does Scassi know?
- Mr. Dellacroce,
your ticket is ready.
Shall I send a messenger?
- Oh that's okay, I'll pick 'em up.
- Going on vacation?
- Yeah, I think I deserve it.
- Going alone?
- No.
- Oh.
Well, I better go.
Good luck tomorrow.
- Paul, you sure you don't
wanna come over to eat?
Angela's cooking up a storm.
- Yeah, I'm just working on
tomorrow's closing argument.
- Paul, I really appreciate
what you've done.
I don't forget.
- Yeah right.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Tino.
Get the car.
- Wait a minute. Where are
you going, I'm making dinner.
- Ah, I gotta go out for a few hours.
- Out?
- Can I pick you up something?
- No, I'm okay, I'm fine.
- How about a video?
- Yeah, pick up a video.
- No, I don't mean a porno
video, I mean a video.
(giggling)
Huh?
- Yeah, get a video.
- I'll get it, babe.
- Get a good, funny video.
- All right.
(ominous music)
- Come on, Frankie,
where the hell are you?
We're gonna be late for the airport.
(sobbing)
(dramatic tones)
- Our son did not commit suicide.
- Enough question, leave us alone.
- Papa, stop, stop, stop, stop,
stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.
- Stop him, Paulie.
Paulie.
- Stop, stop.
Stop, stop.
Stop, stop.
(sobbing)
- Oh my god.
(chattering)
- Make sure we're not disturbed.
- You look beat, Paulie,
why don't you freshen up?
- Freshen up?
(glass shattering)
- See if he's wired.
- Yeah, I'm clean.
- Okay, all right, get out.
Get out, no one comes in.
- But Joe--
- I said get out.
- Why?
- I told you.
You let one rat go, there's
10 of them tomorrow.
Like a disease.
- You could've killed
Frankie a long time ago.
- You don't whack the brother
of a district attorney.
But the brother of a two-bit
whore in a fancy suit,
now that's a different story.
Now let's go.
You don't wanna be late
for your closing argument.
- I'd rather die, man.
- No, no you wouldn't, no.
You like living too much.
- How'd you find out?
- A little birdie told me.
Oh, I think Charlie wants
to make you a partner.
(sighing)
(glass shattering)
(screaming)
- Paulie.
Jesus, Paulie.
What are you doing?
(screaming)
- Fuck.
- Paulie, what have you done?
(sobbing)
- Joseph Scassi has made
a joke of this trial
as he has made a joke of
the laws of this country.
If he walks out of this
court today a free man,
I have failed.
And the minions of corruption
that have so eloquently
defended him have won.
We are in the middle of an epidemic.
And corruption is the disease.
It has the power to infect
and destroy all of us.
No matter who we are.
(tapping)
(murmuring)
- Mr. Dellacroce.
- This is for you.
Ladies and gentlemen.
I believe there is justice in America.
That good will triumph over evil
and that an individual's
rights is the pillar
on which a society stands.
But I also believe that District
Attorney Peters is right.
We are in the middle of an epidemic.
And corruption is the disease.
But just where does this corruption lie?
In government, business?
In each of our own souls
inside, in there, digging.
Can any of you sitting
here today tell yourself
you don't feel it daily,
tugging at your heart?
Pulling at the threads of your conscience?
Of course you do.
So before you pass
judgment on Joseph Scassi,
you have to ask yourself
that basic question.
Is his corruption any different than mine?
Is it?
- Has the jury reached a verdict?
- We have, Your Honor.
- The defendant will rise.
You may read the verdict.
- We, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
(applause)
- You can write your
own ticket now, Paulie.
(upbeat jazz music)
- Whoa, wait, wait a second.
What do you mean we can't
use the tape as evidence?
(laughing)
Oh, all right, is that how it's gonna be?
You know what?
Screw Peters.
Screw him.
No, sorry's not good enough.
You know what, Mike,
thanks for everything.
All right, thanks for everything.
Okay.
- Paul, where are you going?
- I'm going to hell, Maria.
(beeping)
(upbeat jazz music)
- How do you like your steak, Colin?
- Well done, Joe.
You know I hate blood.
- Angela.
Any more wine?
- Yeah.
- Don't kill it, okay?
- Okay.
- Hey, hello,
Paul, you come to celebrate?
- Hey, I wouldn't miss this for the world.
- This is a hell of a party, eh?
You want some wine?
- Sure, sure.
Yeah, they really love you.
But then again, they don't know you
for the lying, murdering
bastard that you are.
(tense music)
- Hey, if you're gonna be a party poop,
why don't you get the hell out of here?
Hey.
- What do you want?
- Now, that better be a smoke.
- You can call it that.
- What's this?
- That's your death sentence.
- Oh yeah?
Or yours?
(chuckling)
(dramatic music)
(gunshot)
(glass shattering)
- Donny.
It's not what you think.
- The sins of the father.
- Take him to the marsh with
the rest of the fucking rats.
(dramatic music)
(horse galloping)
(gunfire)
(gunshot)
(chattering)
- He's not here, he went to the store.
- Look, don't play games
with me, Mrs. Scassi.
I already know he was here.
- Don't point your finger at me.
I don't know where Paul is.
- Please, Mrs. Scassi,
where did they take him?
- Look, I already told you.
My husband went to the store to buy wine.
- I heard them say they were
gonna take Paul down to the Hunt Club.
- Come on.
(tense music)
- I believe there is justice in America.
That good will triumph over evil
and that an individual's rights
are the pillar on which a society stands.
But I do not believe in being naive,
for we are at war, a war
that remains unfinished.
- Ow.
(gunshot)
(coughing)
- How does the rest of it go, Paul?
- You now have that weapon.
- Go on.
- The weapon is the law.
And the bullet it fires.
(gunshot)
(horse whinnying)
(grunting)
- Go on.
Shoot.
What are you waiting for?
You ain't gonna kill me.
You haven't got it in you.
- Is this how you killed Frankie?
Is this how you did it to my brother?
- No, no.
I had a smile on my face when I killed him
just like I'm smiling now.
(laughing)
(gunshot)
- Paul, no.
Paulie, no no, don't do it, don't do it.
We got him, we got him, we
all heard the confession.
- Yeah?
And what loophole is he
gonna fall through this time?
- Please, Paul, he's not worth it.
- This is for Frankie, Scassi.
The bullet it fires is justice.
(gunshot)
(somber music)
(panting)
Read him his rights, Mike.
- Joseph Scassi, you're under arrest
for the murder of Frankie Dellacroche.
Get him out of here.
(grunting)
- You motherfucker.
You're a dead man.
There's no place you can hide from me.
I'm gonna get you like I got
the rest of them fucking rats.
You're a dead man.
A dead man.
- All those things he did.
- Come on, come on.
(somber piano music)
- Underworld
kingpin Joseph Scassi
is back in the headlines today
just days after his win of murder charges
in the spectacular courtroom drama
that had America mesmerized.
As we speak, Scassi is being charged
with the first degree murder
of known drug dealer Frankie Dellacroche.
In a bizarre, ironic twist,
the victim is none other
than the brother of Paul Dellacroche.
- Today marks the
turning point in the underworld
as mafia chieftain
Joseph Scassi is charged
with the first degree murder
of Frankie Dellacroche.
Stay tuned for further details
on what promises to be
the trial of the century.
- America is safer today
as reputed mobster
Joseph Scassi is charged
with the murder of small
time hood Frank Dellacroche.
Prosecutor Peters said
that Scassi will not slip
through the cracks of the system again.
- Murder
charges, mobster Joseph Scassi
already faces at this time.
Prosecutor Peters claims that...
(slow dramatic music)