Crime Story (1986–1988): Season 1, Episode 11 - Crime Pays - full transcript

A clip show recapping the story thus far. All major plot events and character development moments are covered and some previously cut scenes shown for the first time.

NARRATOR: "Crime Story."

A hood on the rise
and a cop who will

stop at nothing to put him away.

This is their story.

Tonight's episode, we'll recap
the history of their battle

for the streets of Chicago.

THEME SONG: As I walk along,
I wonder what went wrong

with our love, lives
that was so strong.

And as I still walk on,
I think of the things

we've done together oh,
while our hearts were young.

I'm a-walking in the
rain, tears are falling



and I feel the pain, watching
all the planes go by,

some live and others die.

And I wonder, I wa-- wa-- wa--
wa-- wonder why, why, why, why,

why I don't walk away.

And I wonder what makes me stay.

Runaway.

A run-- run-- run--
run-- runaway.

NARRATOR: Chicago 1963.

A city where violent crimes
were often the work of crews

of professional criminals run
by angry and ambitious men

anxious to make their way into
the hierarchy of organized

crime.

-Give it to me.

Give it to me.



Get over here.

MALE VOICE (ON RADIO): First MC
car on crime scene reporting.

-Police.

Police.

Police.

Police.

Police.

Police.

[inaudible]

NARRATOR: A ruthless,
independent operator

named Ray Luca is making
his first big move.

One man, Michael
Torello, leading

an overworked and understaffed
elite unit of detectives

is charged with overcoming
the work of organized crime

in the streets of Chicago and
stopping men like Ray Luca.

-Lieutenant Mike Torello, MCU.

-I've got serious
problems here, lieutenant.

-Who am I talking to?

-I need what I need now.

I want a car and I
want a million dollars

in cash in front right now.

-That's going to say some time.

-Say goodbye to her.

Say goodbye.

Say goodbye.

-Ah.

-Back off.

Back off.

-Hey, you.

You hurt anybody else,
when this is over,

I'm gonna find what you love the
most and I'm going to kill it.

Your mother, your
father, your dog.

Don't matter what it is.

It's dead.

[screaming]

-What was I supposed to do?

I held my position
as long as I could.

It wasn't my fault.

It was that crazy Indian.

-You begged me to
hire the Indian.

-Ray, he had a major
reputation in Phoenix.

-This is Chicago and two
guys I could trust are dead.

As far as I'm concerned,
it's your fault.

-Ray, how many things
have we done together?

Huh?

Haven't I always
carried my weight?

Huh?

-You should have
taken them cops out!

You gotta do whatever
you gotta do.

You understand that?

-Hey.

Hey.

Michael.

How you doing?

-OK, Tom.

How are you?

-Michael.

-Diane, how are you?

How you doing?

Whoa.

-Hey.

-Whoa.
Wait a minute.

What's this?

What's this?

You in school?

-Yeah.

Yeah, I'm over a
Wright taking a course,

how to be a millionaire.

NARRATOR: Lieutenant Torello,
the head of Chicago's

major crime unit, became
personally involved

in his pursuit of Ray Luca
when Johnny O'Donnell, the sun

of family friends, became
enmeshed in Ray Luca's

ever-widening
criminal enterprises.

-Well, I guess it works.

All right.

-Let's go get it.

-Heh.

It's a nice piece of work.

I'll let you know when
the money is ready.

-What's going on here, Ray?

-Isn't that a little
irregular, Mr. Bartoli?

-What do you think I reach in
my pocket, I pull out 300 grand?

-300 grand?

This piece right
here is worth 300.

What-- what's-- what's the
rest of this stuff, pizza?

-Every cop in town is
looking for this stuff.

It's got to moved in
just the right way.

There's risk and
there's expense.

And you've got a
smart mouth, kid.

-My smart mouth is
telling me you're

trying to stick it to me.

-Johnny?

-Yeah.

-Hold it.

Hey, Johnny, I said hold it.

Hold it will, you?

Relax.

-I am not going to
be pushed around

by that spaghetti in there.

I don't care if he
is Joe the Boss.

NARRATOR: Johnny O'Donnell
showed his disrespect

for Phil Bartoli's
authority by robbing

a Bartoli-owned jewelry store.

-Phil Bartoli isn't
going to like this.

-Never heard of the man.

-He's my partner in this joint.

-Think you're ready to move
up in the world, eh, kid?

-The time is right for me.

-Yeah?

Three punks hit a joint
of mine on the Gold Coast.

Like they think I'm not going
to find out who did it, right?

Like they're going
to steal from me.

Think you can handle that?

-They're gone.

It's done.

-One of them was your
friend O'Donnell.

-Hey, thanks a lot.

Have a nice Easter.

-That's prime sirloin.

Let it thaw, all right?

The stones are inside.

And I hope Bartoli
chokes on them.

Second rate anyway.

We got a deal?

-Yeah.

We got a deal.

Johnny, I'm glad to see
you handle it this way.

Now, you're using your head.

-Yeah, well, I'm
glad you're glad.

[chuckling]

-Hey, this car rides beautiful.

Hey, can I try it?

-You want to take a spin?

-If you don't mind.

-Nah, I don't mind.

-Listen, pull over here.

-Sure.

Hey, no hot roddin'.

-Don't worry.

I'll go easy.

[gunshot]

-Who did this, Johnny?

Tell me.

Who did this to you, Johnny?

[gasping]

-Luca, Mike.

Luca.

-All right.

-His personal things.

It's part of the museum score.

Glove compartment of his car.

-John?

-Nurse!

-Johnny?

Johnny?

-We could take him in.

Conspiracy.

-Worthless.

-Mike, it's murder.

-You posing for pictures or
you gonna pull the trigger?

-See how easy it is?

How really easy it is?

When I take you down, I'm
gonna take you down right.

I'm gonna take you
down all the way.

NARRATOR: Lieutenant
of Michael Torello

stops short of
committing homicide.

He let Ray Luca live.

And in the months that followed,
the ambitious young racketeer

began an upward climb a
violence, robbery, and murder

that would catapult him into
the upper echelons of organized

crime.

-We're in the bookie vague
we-rake-off-the-top business.

And what makes it big is
that we're nationwide.

What I'm proposing
is a nationwide,

book-making network.

This is how it works.

A man in Manhattan wise to
us in Nevada all the New York

action he's taken
on the Clay fight.

Let's say $4.2 million
on Clay at 5 to 3.

Now, because we're in touch
with the rest of the country,

that quick, we can lay off
$4.2 million on Clay at 3 to 5.

We don't try to win, and
we don't try to lose.

We're at no risk.

All we do is take our cut, 2%
off the top of all the money

bet on illegal
gambling nationwide,

week end and week out.

-This might not even be illegal.

[chuckling]

-It almost isn't.

You see, all we are is a
clearinghouse for people who

bet illegally in a State
where betting is legal.

-What's the hitch?

-We need ah, an existing
operation, one the bookies ah,

already have faith in
for an accurate line.

-Ganz and Hartman run the
best sports book in Nevada.

-The River Down Sports Book.

-Ganz is a bum.

You can't deal with him.

-I started his business on
a street corner in Las Vegas

in '45.

I took action from
truckers, from cowboys,

from GIs fresh out
of the war, anybody.

And it took me 20 years to
build this into the best

sports book in
Vegas, bet by bet.

This is my breath.

This is my life's blood.

I don't sell that.

-We're not asking you to sell.

We're saying you
can expand with us.

-I'm not interested
in your expansion.

-It's a new age, Mr. Ganz.

For a business to survive,
it needs to be flexible.

-Oh, do me a favor, will ya?

Don't lay that line on me.

-No, that's more than fair.

-I think Noah and I should
talk about your offer alone.

-There's nothing to discuss.

You know, you're not the first
guys to take a run on us.

Am I right, Max?

I mean, they send you
guys on a regular basis.

And you know what we do?

We chew yous up and
we spit yous out.

What I want to know is, when
is this garbage going to end?

When?

-It just did.

DADDY O'DAILY (ON RADIO): Daddy
O'Daily, your musical host

who loves you most
dropping by to say hi.

And for you to check
some of the swinging

sounds from our supply.

[MUSIC RAY CHARLES, "WHAT'D I
SAY"]

NARRATOR: When Noah Ganz
tried to have him killed,

Luca accelerated
his plan to take

over the River Down Sports Book.

-Ganz and them,
they're moving, Frank.

-I think I ate to
much for lunch.

-You know, you always eat
too much whenever I win.

-Where do you get some
antacid around here?

-Room service when we
get up to Luca's suite.

[chuckling]

-All right.

-(TOGETHER) Ho!

-Here we go.

-I like the way you do business.

I think we're going
to work well together.

-OK, Johnny.

Sure.

-Yeah.

-Here we go.

-You work for me, fellas.

-Pauli, get some champagne.

Join the celebration.

-Salute.

-Salute.

NARRATOR: As Luca's
star was rising,

Lieutenant Michael Torello
and his major crime unit

were plotting his downfall,
attacking Luca first

by going after his chief
henchman, Pauli Taglia

and Frank Holman and
then by turning up

the heat on Luca's
boss, Phil Bartoli.

-Hit the button.

Hit the button.

-What the hell is this arrest?

Who the hell are you?

-I'm a bad dream.

-I ain't putting a gun to my
head and pulling the trigger.

You want to do it,
go ahead, but no way.

No way am I going to
help you get Ray Luca.

Holman, I'll see what I can do.

Scores?

Yeah.

But Luca ain't making scores.

Luca's out of your reach.

So forget it.

NARRATOR: Luca and Bartoli,
using their underworld

earnings, bought into a
legitimate business interest

to launder their illegal cash.

-Here comes Kehoe
and Marilyn Stewart.

He's the guy Manny plugged
in from the pension fund.

He got us the bread
to get us in here.

She's the front
for the operation.

Now make nice, huh?

This is Ted Kehoe, Phil Bartoli.

-Bertoli, a pleasure.

-Right.

-I'd like you to meet my
associate, Marilyn Stewart.

-Greetings.

-Marilyn has been
keeping a close eye

on things for you, gentlemen.

-Now, are you
operating in public

or are you just second quarter?

It's very unusual
considering the outlay.

-That's the way I'm
used to operating

and I don't even
like this place.

-I don't understand.

-You don't have to understand.

I'm the boss.

What's in the bank?

-Ah, $200,000.

-You go to the bank and you
get that, you bring that to me.

-Why?

-A consulting fee.

[chuckling]

-But that will
bankrupt the whole--

-That's the point, my dear.

That's the point.

NARRATOR: Michael Torello knew
his close friend, Ted Kehoe,

was involved in Ray
Luca's illegal schemes.

-Remember we used to play
American Legion ball here?

We wanted to see our numbers
up there on the scoreboard?

-What's this about Michael, huh?

What's the matter with you?

-It's about the pension fund.

The factory.

Your deal with Manny
Weisbord for Luca.

-Hey, what the hell.

What are you, going
to push me around too?

What the hell is
the matter with you?

-I want to know what's going on.
-What, have you lost your mind?

It's business.

My business.

-You know what you're
getting into with Luca?

What are you an outfit
guy all of a sudden?

Business, what business can you
have with Luca and Weisbord?

-Weisbord is business.

That's all it is, Michael.

Don't know what
you're so upset about.

-Well, I'll make it
very clear for you.

He's an outfit boss.

Do you understand that?

-He's a legitimate businessman
when I deal with him,

all right?

The pension fund, the
factory, it's all legitimate

and a prudent investment, so
is the loan for the casino.

-What casino?

-Look, Michael, I accept I don't
know much about police work,

all right?

Now you should accept you
don't know much about business.

-You want to know
what I do know, Teddy?

That you don't make one
deal with Weisbord or Luca,

that once you're in, you're in
for the duration, which means

the contract
expires when you do.

-Yeah, thanks.

[growling]

-A little jumpy, aren't we?

-Ray, we gotta talk.

-Yeah, I know.

I'm going to expand
into another casino,

so we'll be submitting
for another loan.

-Another loan.

You promised me it
would cover the 200

grand you already
paid to Bartoli.

You haven't and that
loan is in fault.

If it's not cleared by the
beginning of the next quarter,

we could be in big trouble.

-I'll take care of it.

-Good.

You know, Marilyn
is beside herself.

She's worried she might
be criminally liable.

-I said, I'll take care of it.

That's all you need from me.

Now, I want to move
on the new loan.

-Yeah. whatever you say, Ray.

I'll ah-- I'll work it
through the board of trustees.

You know, ah--
Marilyn does not--

-Look!

Marilyn is your problem.

You make her understand or
I'll explain the facts of life

to her myself.

NARRATOR: But Marilyn Stewart,
concerned for safety and that

of her lover, Ted Kehoe,
refused to keep quiet.

-Excuse me, Marilyn Stewart?

-Yes.

Can I help you?

-My name is Lieutenant
Michael Torello.

I'm a friend of Ted Kehoe's.

-Oh, yes.

He speaks of you often.

-We have to talk.

-OK.

Ah, David, Julie,
stay in the yard.

-I came here because Ted is
in trouble and so are you.

I don't want to see either
one of you going to prison.

-What are you saying?

-Have you talked to the FBI
or to the federal attorney's

office?

-Well, why should I do that?

-Because you don't like
laundering mob money

and because Ted set
you up for all of this.

-Ted wouldn't do that and I
don't know anything about mob

money or federal
investigations or anything.

-What you and Ted do
with your personal lives

is not my concern, but I do
care about what happens to him.

-I appreciate your candor.

-You don't trust me, do you?

-It's not that.

-Then what is it?

Look, Miss Stewart,
Marilyn, I don't know you.

I don't know where
you came from.

But I do know that you and Ted
are involved up to your necks

with dangerous people
who will milk you

for everything that it's worth.

Very dangerous people.

-Lieutenant, Ted and
I are in a business.

We're insurance people
with other interests.

I think you're exaggerating.

-Here's my card.

When the heat gets too
unbearable, called me.

FEMALE VOICE (ON PHONE): United
States attorney's office.

-Yeah.

Mr. Harry Breitel, please.

HARRY (ON PHONE):
This is Mr. Breitel.

-Hi.

This is Marilyn Stewart.

A police officer just came to
my home, a Lieutenant Torello.

He tried to scare me.

You said this sort of thing
was not going to happen.

-Lieutenant Torello,
those are court orders.

You are to turn
over to my office

all files on or pertaining
to Ray Luca, Phil Bartoli,

Marilyn Stewart, and Ted Kehoe.

I'm waiting.

-Get out of here.

-Not without those papers.

-I have files on those people as
they relate to their activities

in the streets of Chicago,
which is none of your business.

Now, get out of here
before I lose my temper

and throw you out.

-Give her some room, Pauli.

-You're coming this close
to ruining my career.

You know, things ain't bad
enough in this investigation,

you gotta yank me out of
an important board meeting

like you're the Prince
of Division Street.

What's the matter with you?

-You want to identify her first?

-What's so important that
you had to come here?

-What did you do
to Marilyn Stewart?

How did you get in here?

What do you want?

-Talk.

-Now I know what I should do.

Let's go to the FBI
or the MCU and expose

you for what you really are.

-Don't tell me about you going
to the FBI or anybody else.

You understand me?

-What are you going
to do about it?

Ah!

NARRATOR: Grieved by
Ted Kehoe's murder,

Torello's determination
to take down Ray Luca

became an obsession.

And Torello began to close
the gap when he arrested Howie

Dressler, hired to rob a
jewelry salesman for Luca.

-So ah, you expect us to buy
your Mr. Innocent routine?

I mean, you clam up
like a seasoned con.

-That's my problem.

I'm not innocent.

I need help.

I don't know where to go for
it, but it can't be your watch.

-If you're more afraid of
them than you are of us,

you're making a mistake,
do you understand?

Do you?

-Mike, all right.

-I want to talk to you.

Keep talking to this guy.

-Yeah.

Smoke?

Tell me about your wife.

-She's real sick.

We have to pay for
help with the kids.

-What got you started?

-Forget it.

-What's the matter
with your wife?

-She got polio.

-Anybody know these guys?

-No.

New players.

I can't make any of them.

-We did identify one of them.

-Yeah?

-Sorry, Danny.

-Oh, my god.

-Hi, Danny.

-Hi.

Barto won't give me my keys.

-Barto's a pretty smart guy.

-I was wrong.

I was so damn wrong.

Stupid.

-About what?

-Social club.

I-- I should have never
stop you from killing Luca.

You should have killed him!

-You're right, Danny.

I should have killed him.

And I will kill him
one of these days.

-It's tough.

Dressler's--
Dressler's wife, she--

-You'll do just fine.

Come on.

Let me take you home.

-Yeah.

You're a good friend, Mike.

-We made those guys
from last night.

-That was quick.

-Yeah.

Nothing to it.

They all had
jackets, minor stuff.

-Backgrounds?

-Yeah.

They all lived in
Dressler's neighborhood.

-Thanks, Joey.

-My guess, Dressler
suddenly had a lot of cash

from the jewelry heist, so
they figured he was a big shot.

-I wonder how they
feel about that today.

-That was an ice cold hit.

-Yeah, the lab
report, two of them

received a coup de grace two
.22's a piece in the head.

-Like Marilyn Stewart
and Johnny O'Donnell.

Sounds like our pal, Ray Luca.

It wasn't a hit, it
was a demonstration.

But what's Luca whacking
other crews for?

-What do you want?

-You busy tonight?

-So what's it to you?

Do I know you?

-Yeah, now you do.

I'm your new boss, and
you've got a new business.

-You take your friends
and get out of here.

-Luca.

L-U-C-A. Now, you make some
calls and find out who I am

and any scores that come
through here, you clear with me.

You give them
$0.28 on the dollar

and we take 10%
from your action.

That's the deal and that's
your new business, Graveti.

And this fix is city wide.

Now, if any new crews come in
off the street, you call me.

And so I know that
you understand.

-Look, you've got a lock
on what goes down here.

You got a problem
make our money?

-I got a problem
when things happen

and I don't know about it.

-Phil, are you one
of the six bosses

who runs this town or what?

A Vegas operation is a goal.

We take a cut on any
action that goes down here

and you're making a mint.

You know what I think?

-What do you think?

-I think that you're feeling
guilty about all this money

you're making and
you've got no exposure.

Now, that's a pretty good
position to be in, isn't it?

[chuckling]

-Nah.

You want to eat?

-Nah.

I'll watch you.

Go ahead.

-Ivan Grastan is still here.

Now, we have the opportunity
to expand in Vegas

if we have the cash.

We need to fill that
union board's seat.

-I've called for the
convening of the committee.

Our last appointment
was immature.

We need to move
carefully now, and we

must include all our colleagues.

-Why?

We can't get those guys
to agree on anything.

-Nevertheless, we
owe it to them.

-But why do we got to go to them
about the union appointment?

They're going to be
sticking their noses

in places where
they don't belong.

Now that is inviting trouble.

-Those who invite trouble
have little future with us.

You in favor of
expansion in Vegas?

-I think we've reached a
point where we have to have

long-range plans instead
to grabbing at what's next.

-Good.

You come to the meeting, Ray.

It's time the committee met you.

-This is your moment, kid.

-Have we contacted everyone?

-All the arrangements
are in place.

-Personal favor, huh, Phil.

-Yeah.

-Stop calling me kid.

Get in the car.

Get in the car.

Get in the car.

Let's go, Pauli.

With that, Pauli, it happened.

-Good work.

We're in Park Ridge.

What could happen in Park Ridge?

-I'm going to meet
the central committee.

-Well, word of advice, Ray.

Don't trust them Russians.

-Keep your hands on
the wheel, you maniac.

Russians.

[chuckling]

-Does this mean you one of
them boss of bosses now?

-I've got a lock on
it and I feel good.

Ah.

That takes care of them.

Now, what do you want?

-I want it to
always be like this.

A family.

-What are you talking about?

Don't I provide for you?

-Yes, but I worry
about you and the kids

and all these cops and--

-All right, look, we'll
make the arrangements.

We'll sell the
house, the furniture.

We'll move to Vegas.

-The Vegas routine again.

[sighing]

-Look, it's done.

We're going to Vegas where
the sun shines all the time

and the snow doesn't
show its face.

All right?

Does that make you happy?

-Oh, then I can stay at home
alone and sit by a pool.

-You don't stop, do you?

Look, soon as all
the hustle is over,

I promise you we'll more
stuff like this all the time.

OK?

-That would make me happy.

-Yeah?

You know what would
make me happy?

-What?

-Promise me you won't
sell your bathing suit.

-This time it's for sure?

-This time it's for sure.

-Lieutenant Torello here?

Well, is he here?

-I'm Torello.

-What is this?

-Another subpoena to testify
before Breitel's grand jury.

This guys is acting like
he's really got a case.

-He could lose a
key witness, a key

suspect, but be damned
if he lose face.

-Right.

And he's got the nerve to have
me followed around the clock.

And now this.

-Where?

-Come here.

See the guy on the corner
in the government-issued,

inconspicuous suit with
the winged-tip shoes,

the whole bit?

-How long has he been there?

-All day.

He's not a problem, though.

I go around the
corner and I lose him.

-It's the principle
of the thing.

What's new with Holman?

-Krychek's working it.

Nate?

Where did he go?

-Look.

[laughter]

-Mr. Luca.

Mr. Luca, this is for you.

-What is that, boss?

-Just keep going.

You know, I think we've got
to get another place, Pauli.

-In Vegas?

-No, we're not
going to Vegas yet.

-This indictment thing?

-Yeah, the indictment.

And Bartoli.

-Hey, sweetheart.

Oh, I've got so
much to tell you.

-Hello.

Not now.

-But this is important.

I put the house on
the market today.

-Take it off.

-And I think I-- I got
the furniture sold.

-Forget it.

-What?

-We're not moving now.

-What?

-What, is there an echo in here?

I said we're not moving now.

-Why?

-Why?

Cause I say so, that's why.

-Yeah?

Well, I don't care what you say.

We're moving.

The plans are made.

I already signed the
contract with the realtor.

-I'll take care of the realtor.

-Oh.

What are going to do, shoot him?

I'm sorry, Ray.

I'm sorry.

The hell with you!

I'm moving!

You stay here.

You go to jail.

Do whatever makes you happy!

I'm out!

I'm taking the kids
and I'm leaving!

Do me!

Go ahead!

Kill me!

Kill me!

I don't care anymore!

-Don't give me any ideas!

-Go kill the children.

Come on.

You're a big tough man!

Kill the kids!

Go on.

Kill me then kill the kids!

-I wouldn't give you the
satisfaction, all right!

[muffled scream]

-I got an indictment.

-Big deal.

I got one too.

They got no case.

-A business we have to discuss
will be seated by loans

from the Midwest
Employees Pension Fund.

But since there is a
vacancy on that board,

we can discuss nothing until
that vacancy is filled.

So therefore, I have
chosen Steven Kordo.

-You are surrounded by good men.

As you see, I--
I'm standing alone.

-You know, ah, we
ought to talk more.

We ah-- we forget
to discussed things.

People get angry.

Um, no talk leads to no good.

-You telling me that
people who don't talk

must be blown to
pieces in elevators?

They were my friends.

Mr. Luca, Noah Ganz
and Hugh McManus

used to stand here by me.

You want me to forget that?

-This year we're going
to gross $20 million

from our sports book operation.

We act businesslike,
we got 10 times

that number waiting
for us in Vegas.

And if we build new ones, we
can double that number again.

We got to keep pace with
the future to profit by it.

And the future means
more for all of us.

When we forget that,
we get greedy with what

we made in the past.

Our friends got greedy.

They were blind to the future.

They stood in the way
of us profiting by it.

I mean, it's no surprise
to anybody in here

that blind guys can step
in to faulty elevators.

[theme music]