Crime Story (1986–1988): Season 1, Episode 14 - Fatal Crossroads - full transcript

NARRATOR: Last time
on "Crime Story."

-When did you give the
jewelry to Lieutenant Torello?

-Maybe the next day.

-How much?

-I don't know.

I figure 15 grand.

-Were there any other monies
given to Lieutenant Torello?

-Yeah.

I had to give Torello
10 grand in St. Louis.

[laughter]

-This cop don't
talk, he squeaks.



That's how straight he is.

-He'd make you a great witness.

-What do you mean?

-The cop.

Look, you said that bozo
was lying to get immunity.

You say that the cop is clean.

The cop is your witness.

He proves the bozo is a liar.

His testimony stinks.

I mean, who's the
jury going to believe?

-Run that by me again.

-Wake up.

You saying bozo is the
liar, they expect that.

But you and the
clean cop saying it,



they'll laugh the
prosecution out of court.

I mean, that's how
I'd play it, anyway.

-You're a genius, David.

-Yes.

Yes, I certainly am.

-Here.

Drink are on me.

Take care.

NARRATOR: This week
on "Crime Story."

FEMALE SPEAKER (ON
INTERCOM): Flight 211

is now arriving from Las Vegas.

-That's the flight.

Let's go.

FEMALE SPEAKER (ON
INTERCOM): Attention, please.

This is the last boarding
call for Flight 421.

All passengers holding
tickets for flight 421, please

proceed to Gate 240.

-Hey, how are you guys?

-What is this?

A guy gets his
picture in the paper,

he can't blow into town
without a crowd waiting?

-How you doing?

-Welcome home, Mike.

-How you doing?

-You got some color, huh?

-Oh, yeah.

The whether is really
nice out there.

-It looks good on you.

-Thanks.

-Hey, I was playing golf.

You hit this little
ball, chasing

around the desert all day long.

It makes you nuts.

You lose your mind and your
shirt if you're not careful.

They bet on everything
out there-- sunrise,

sunset, your body temperature.

They have a celebration if
the wind changes direction.

I'll tell you, I never seen
anything like it in my life.

Everywhere you go, slot
machines everywhere.

-Mr. Michael Torello?

-Hey, that's Lieutenant
Torello to you.

-Yeah, that's me.

What do you want?

-Excuse me.

-I doubt it.

-Val Thomas to have
two court secretaries

assigned to me alone.

-Mike, we'll get out of this.

The whole department
is behind you.

Breitel doesn't have a chance.

-Yeah, well this isn't
from Breitel, Danny.

-Oh, man.

Can you believe this?

The United States of
America versus Ray Luca,

Phil Bartoli, Pauli Taglia.

He's been subpoenaed as a
defense witness for Ray Luca.

[music playing]

-Your machine is out
of Luckies, Phil.

-Go get something else.

-Go get me a pack of Luckies.

Or do you have trouble
seeing in the daylight?

-Go ahead.

Luke, I'm trying to
have a peaceful lunch

before we go to court.

You got business?

-Yeah.

I got a problem.

-Don't we all?

-It still bothers me that
somebody tried to kill me.

-That would bother me, too.

-You know, if it
wasn't for a nosy cop,

my wife would have found a
pile of garbage in my garage

with a Ray Luca driver's
license in its pocket.

-Is that right?

-Why, Phil?

I mean, you know
about these things.

-You still think that I
lit up your garage, huh?

-Did I say that?

-You-- you're worked up, right.

It's because of
these indictments.

They make people crazy.

-Not everybody, Phil.

Just you.

-I want to talk to you.
-Who's this?

-He's a friend of
mine, David Abrams.

Not now, David.

I'm busy, huh?

-Well, you use your time
well, because you're

running out of it.

-There goes my lunch.

-I gave you free legal
advice, a hypothetical case.

I said put up a cop
as a defense witness.

You didn't tell me the
cop was Mike Torello

and you were the case.

-Hey, look, don't come in
here crying to me, all right?

Did I put a gun
to your head, huh?

-I've always been straight
with you, Ray, straight.

You took advantage of me.

You want me down at your level?

I'm there.

-You're gonna get
in trouble, kid.

-No, you're wrong.

You're in trouble.

-Hey, wise up, David!

You gave me good advice like
a good defense attorney.

The only difference was,
you didn't take any cash.

Hey, maybe now you'll
take the money.

-Hey!

Get over here!

Get over here!

Get this guy!

-They got a new guy to replace
Kehoe on the pension board

so that they can rape the fund
for their expansion into Vegas.

His name is Steven Cordo.

Danny, get busy
on his background.

Find out all you can about
him-- where he lives, who he

hangs out with, stuff like that.

-No flies on us, pal.

We've been busy while you
were away gathering facts.

While you've been vacationing
in Vegas, the guy is Mr. Clean.

-Yeah, like in the commercials.

-Steven Cordo, graduated
Phi Beta Kappa University

of Minnesota, Master's in
Business Administration, 1957.

Graduated Yale School of Law
in 1960 with a 3.95 grade point

average, honors
all over the place.

-Certified to practice law
in seven states, 7 bar exams.

-I checked his sheet.

No stains, not even
a parking ticket.

-Which states, Joey?

-Illinois, California,
New York, Florida,

Indiana, Missouri, and Nevada.

-Very interesting choices.

-Yeah.

Some other interesting
facts, too.

Like his family.

His father is Mitch Cordo.

-Kansas City mob.

Biggest outfit outside
of Cleveland and Chicago.

Goes all the way back
to the prohibition.

Does the fun ever stop?

[phone rings]

Torello.

INGER (ON PHONE): Michael.

-Hi, how are ya?

INGER (ON PHONE): Fine.

How was your trip.

-It was good.

I had a nice time.

-I saw the newspaper article.

-Well, I was going
to call you, but I

figured you'd read about it.

-Michael, are you all right?

Is there anything I can do?

-No, not really.

It's all on me.

-I hate reading this junk
about you in the paper.

Where do they get
off with this stuff?

Listen, I really
have to see you.

How about lunch?

-I can't.

I have to meet my attorney
in court in about an hour.

But I'll call you
later, all right?

Inger?

-Yeah?

-Thanks a lot.

-Why and how are
you defending me?

-Mike.

I got you into this, I'm
going to get you out of it.

-Won't you get in trouble with
the public defender's office?

-No, not really.

I quit.

-Quit?

-All rise, please.

This court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge
Archibald Flynn presiding.

Be seated.

-Counsel will approach
the bench, please.

Gentlemen, I will allow
Mr. Abrams' affidavit

for the severance of trial
for Lieutenant Torello.

I will set a date
aside next week.

We'll recess until
Monday morning.

And I expect your
testimony at the time.

-All rise, please.

-We got our severance.

You'll be tried after
Luca and the others.

-Good.

-Mr. Bartoli--

-Get out of here
with the cameras.

[interposing voices]

-Get out!

Get out!

Out!

-David.

-Dad.

Dad, what are you doing here?

-I came to see you
work, and maybe

see some old acquaintances.

-You should have called me.

I'd have picked you up.

-Walking is good for me.

I came to see you
work, and all I

saw was you whispering
at the judge.

-A pretrial motion.

It's over now.

We start the trial next week.

-Who's the guy that
the press chased after?

-That's Phil Bartoli, Dad.

-He got fat.

And bald.

See, that's what happens
when you get important.

-Yeah.

You never got
important, huh, Dad?

-Not me.

All I did was to help a couple
of people make a few bets.

-Sure.

That's all.

Come on, let's get
out of here, huh?

What are you going to do today?

-I don't know.

I was thinking of going
to an old movie, huh?

-In Papa's delicate condition?

You want to have lunch instead?

-Well--

-David, I'd like to talk to you.

-I don't want to talk to you.

-It will only take a minute.

It's important.

-Go ahead.

I'm going to walk home.

I'll see you Sunday morning.

We'll read the newspaper.

-All right.

-You're OK walking?

-Oh, yeah, yeah.

-What do you want?

-David, I don't want
a beef with you.

-Well, you should
have thought of that

before you used me
against Mike Torello.

-Hey, listen.

People don't hit
me and walk away.

-You threatening me?

-No.

I'm not.

It's just the opposite.

I'm willing to forget about it.

I'd like you to
forget about it, too.

I heard you quit the
Public Defender's Office.

Sounds like you took my advice.

Now, when you cool down
and this thing is over,

you can start at
$150,000 a year.

-In cash?

-Any way you want.

-You got a medical
and a dental plan?

-Anything you want
is OK by me, right?

-Wrong.

You got it wrong, Ray.

Yeah, I quit the Public
Defender's Office,

but not to go private
so I could whore

myself defending
parasites like you.

Nah.

Nah, I'm going to find
a job as a prosecutor

so I can put garbage like you
behind bars for the things

that you do to people.

As a matter of fact, I'd like
to find a position where I can

focus right in indirectly
on you, my friend.

-Ray, Ray, Ray.

Hey, big shot.

Big shot.

You want to start
something, why don't

you start something
with me, huh?

Huh?

[music playing]

-What's wrong?

What happened?

What the was that all about?

Huh?

-Will you shut up and drive?

David Abrams is going to
be a state's attorney.

-So what?

-So sooner or later, he's going
to come after me, all right?

-Him?

He's a punk.

-No, he's not.

This guy knows how I think.

When he gets to the DA's
office, I can't touch him.

-So?

-So we're going to
take him out now.

And there's somebody else
we're going to out too, Paulie.

-Who?

-Who's the last person
in the world anybody

would expect Ray Luca
to whack right now?

My chief witness for the
defense, Michael Torello.

[music playing]

-Gentlemen, I hope you
enjoyed your dinner.

It's not an easy crowd
to please, is it, Phil?

-Dinner was OK.

It's not as good as my
place, but it's not bad.

[laughter]

-I introduce Ray Luca.

He speaks in my behalf.

-Thank you, Manny.

We all know why we're here.

The success of the Vegas sports
book, it speaks for itself.

Now, to continue
with our plans, it's

going to take money and
cooperation from everybody.

This next, it's going to
be hotels and casinos.

Now, to make this
work for us, I'd

like to introduce our selection
to the Midwest Employee's Union

Pension Board, Stephen Cordo.

-Thank you, Ray, Mr. Weisbord.

It is an honor for me
and the pension board

to participate in
your expansion.

For starters, we're making
a $10 million matching loan.

With an additional
$10 million from you,

we can complete the
first stage of expansion.

Three hotels and casinos
by the end of next year,

and two the following
year for a total of five.

Now, not speaking for the
Pension Board but as Stephen

Cordo, let me tell
you what it is

that I bring to
your organization.

What I bring over the next
10 to 20 years in two stages

is the total legitimizing
of all our activities.

-Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

I got some problems here.

Why don't we send the kids out
for some pizza or something?

Then we can talk.

-Ray, you and Max take
Stephen out to celebrate.

My old friends and
I, we need to talk.

[suspenseful music playing]

-So talk.

-We don't need some
complicated plan

from some educated punk kid.

What do I care about
five years from now?

I care about money
in my pocket today.

You talk to me about five days.

Now, colored people
selling dope are

stealing millions
out of our pockets.

You talk to me about Vegas.

Great.

Only I wanted a backyard first.

-Educated punk, huh?

I bring you a star.

I bring you the
future and you talk

to me about negroes and dope?

-No, no, no.

I'm not the only one, Manny.

There are others.

-I want to see hands.

Bill?

-In my opinion, Manny,
I think that we forgot

all the basic business
ways, the things

that got us where we are today.

-In all these years, you
never changed your vote on me.

-Vote-- there's no vote.

You tear this organization
apart with no talk!

With educated hot shots!

You want our support?

There's money to be
made in the colored

neighborhoods of Chicago
right now, today.

It's time to take
over the streets.

We want our vote, Manny.

-I agree with Dominic.

-They want to sell junk
to high school kids.

-I hope this is the
way to the airport,

because that's where I'm going.

-Well, these old guys
have a tough time

dealing with the future.

-Let Manny talk to them.

Believe me, there
won't be any problems.

-I could take this
deal to New York.

They'd pour the
support in my hands,

and they could dominate Vegas.

I mean, Chicago's a logical
first choice, but not

if I've got to deal
with dinosaurs.

-That's funny, Steve.

-What's that?

-Phil Bartoli is one of
those things with a pinhead

and a great big body stuffing
his face all the time.

That's pretty funny, Steve.

Hey, you know what?

Why don't we go out,
get something to drink,

loosen up, have some fun, Ray?

-Yeah, this will all work out.

We're going to be
together for a long time.

So let's just forget
about it, all right?

-Right.

Forget about it.

-Forget about it.

-You're all right, Steve.

-There will be no
division in this room.

Forty years ago, we
made this business up

from the streets-- Luciano,
Costello, Seigel, Anastasia,

and me.

We made it work.

We invented the words
like organization

that comes out of
you mouth today.

We gave birth to this
while most of you

were still sucking a bottle!

You are nothing without me.

-Manny, what are you--

-Shut up!

Dominic, you have nothing
to say in this room.

None of you.

Before us, there were Mustache
Petes in the black hand working

in the Italian
neighborhoods, [inaudible],

and the remnants
of the Irish mobs,

and the Jewish mobs in the Bronx
and Brooklyn with the gambling,

and the Dutchmen and
Murder Incorporated.

We were the young ones.

We put it all
together and made it

like an American
business, coast to coast.

And soon, Cuba was also ours.

We got rid of the stupid
violence, violence

without a purpose, because
it made heat and no profits.

But when there is
a purpose-- you

are rich men today only
because of our efforts.

And today, you sit around
like bums collecting newspaper

photographs of yourself and
movie actresses and singers.

You embarrass me, Dominic.

I bring you the next generation.

I bring you talent and a total
legitimizing of what we do.

I bring you an
organization in 10 years

bigger than General
Motors, and you-- you make

faces like an Indian at
what you don't understand.

We are moving from the streets.

Drugs are for dirty people.

They can have it, and the
streets that go with it.

There will be no dissension
in this organization,

and no drugs.

Or I will personally bring
it down around your feet.

[music playing]

[sighs]

-OK, enough of this.

Grossman, play some music
with a little knock in it, OK?

No funeral music.

I try to match the
music to the ambiance.

-This round's on Bardo.

-Well, here's to us.

-To us.

-You know, I'm getting
pretty sick and tired

of reading about Torello the
dirty cop in the newspaper.

People are going to start
believing this crap.

-Well, you better
hope they don't

latch on to your personal life.

[laughter]

-That ain't funny, mate.

[phone rings]

-Hello?

-Inger.

Listen, I called because
I have to see you.

He's there?

-That's right.

-That's good.

He ought to be.

-Mike, are you OK?

Do you want me to meet you?

-You can't.

-Where?

-At a parking lot around
the corner from your place.

-OK.

-Where are you going?

-I have to go out.

I'm sorry.

-Where?

-To meet a friend.

-Who are you meeting?

-He's a friend, and
he needs my help.

-Why?

Why now?

-Because he needs me.

And I'm going to him.

You can wait here if you want.

If you don't, that's fine.

I understand.

I'm sorry.

But don't try to stop me,
because I'm going to him.

-What's it all about?

What the hell's going on?

Inger?

[music playing]

-Listen to me for a minute.

Everyone that I come into
contact with gets hurt.

And I don't want to hurt anyone
that I care about anymore.

-Oh, Michael.

-No.

This has got to end.

And it's got to end right here,
and it's got to end right now.

We're a great act, you
and I. We can't even

break up without making out.

-Where are we going?

-Oh, I don't know.

-Every night, I lie in bed with
the man I'm going to marry,

and I think about you.

And I say to myself,
what are you doing?

Why are you thinking
about Michael?

-I know it's wrong.

-And I ask myself what was I
doing involving you with me.

-I wanted to be.

-Yeah?

And how about the guy
you're going to marry?

I'm messing this guy's life up.

I don't even know him.

I'm encouraging you to
cheat on him, to put deceit

into the start of your marriage.

If I loved you, I wouldn't
ask you to do that.

-It's not our fault
we fell in love.

-I am supposed to be
responsible for what I do.

And all I do is cause garbage
to fall on everyone that I care

about, including the
guys that I work with.

-Oh, stop it.

-Is Breitel your fault?

-I can handle Breitel's
heap just fine.

But the whole MCU is smeared.

And all they did
was be loyal to me.

Listen to me, Inger.

The woman I love divorced me.

I'm messing up the life of the
woman that I'm in love with.

I can't let that happen.

You think your fiance is still
waiting for you at your place?

-Maybe.

-What are you going to tell him?

-The truth.

[music playing]

-This is goodbye, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Danny, get in here.

You wake up and you get
your feet off my desk.

Where's Waller?

-Oh, he went to pick up
some witnesses for court.

You know, that stickup case.

It's 7 o'clock in the morning.

What the hell is this, a drill?

-No, it's not.

We're going to work.

-You look like you've
been up all night.

Out on the job?

-No.

It's not one of those things.

It's what could happen.

-Well, aside from the
stickups we've been handling,

what's so special?

-Ray Luca.

-Well, this trial will
slow his action down.

-Oh, really?

Not necessarily.

Think about it.

What's the best
time to make a move?

A hit, or a score,
whenever-- when?

-When it's least expected.

-That's right.

And there is no reason
for us to believe

that they would
change their MO now.

In fact, I think I'm the
guy that might get hit.

-No, come on, Mike.

That's nuts.

-You don't testify,
Luca goes to the joint.

It don't make sense.

-Not necessarily.

He's got three to five years
of appeals, a smart lawyer.

The star witness could get dead.

He's got other ways--
not fast, not immediate,

but other ways to get out of it.

That is the very same reason why
they would want to hit me now.

Anybody in their right mind
would want to babysit with me.

Luca, in his sick mind,
would do just the opposite.

-So then we just stick with you.

-I would spot a
tail in a second.

I don't hang out at
that many places.

I don't have that many habits.

I'm either here, at
home, or at the orbit.

-So what are you saying?

-I'm saying that if
someone is watching me,

they would pick a
prime time to hit me.

It would have to be in
one of those places.

-Slow down.

Spell it out.

-I think I'm being followed.

The guy is real good.

When I left the Orbit
Lounge last night,

there was a green Chevy
parked down the street.

The guy leans against
the door when he drives.

-Come on, Mike.

-No, wait a minute, Nate.

I went home to get
cleaned up this morning,

and what do you think I saw?

-What?

-A black Mercury
parked down the block.

The guy sees me in the rearview
mirror, pulls out, drives away.

-Same guy?

-Without a doubt.

Leaning up against the
door when he's driving.

I'm going to go get
cleaned and go to court.

You guys split up and
check it out-- today.

-OK.

-They can't do it at the
Lieutenant's building.

-Yeah he can.

We don't know how
smart this guy is.

For all we know, he's a ghost.

-Well, he's got
to wait somewhere.

No cover.

He got to be able to
get off a clear shot.

No rooftops.

Can't sit in the park.

-Joey.

Mike usually parks his
car right there, right?

-Yeah, catercorner from
that apartment building.

-Now, if you were going to
ambush somebody, where would

you want to be?

-One of those
windows or on a roof.

-We're the police, ma'am.

-What is it?

-May we speak to
you inside, Miss?

[bird cawing]

-Do you rent your
apartments by the week?

-I don't want no
parties in here.

-For a week?

I don't have that
much left in me.

-I'll bet he has.

-No, no, no.

What we need to know is
if you have any vacancies.

-Filled the last one this week.

-Are all the other apartments
rented to regular tenants?

-Yeah.

I rented to a nice woman
upstairs in the back last week,

and my last apartment to a
nice man just the other day.

Come to think of
it, I don't remember

seeing the man move
in any luggage.

[music playing]

-Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

I intend to show you one of
the most unique and diabolical

relationships in the
history of Chicago crime.

You will hear testimony that
will link Philip Bartoli, Ray

Luca, and Paul Taglia to a
series of crimes that extend

far beyond the city of Chicago.

And how these three men
committed or conspired

to commit over 70 felonies,
including robbery,

transportation of stolen
property from cartage thefts

across the state line,
burglary, and yes, murder.

But you say, how is this
possible when Chicago boasts

of having one of the
finest law enforcement

agencies in the country?

That, ladies and
gentlemen, is one

of the key questions
in this trial.

And it will be answered.

You will hear testimony
of a law man so in tune

with the criminal mind that he
heads up one of the most unique

specialty task
forces in this city.

You will hear testimony of
how this man took bribes

in the form of cash, jewelry,
and other stolen merchandise,

therefore making him one of the
leading figures in organized

crime using his shield from
the Chicago Police Department

as camouflage for his
own personal gain.

-You going to be able
to keep your cool?

-It only makes me
more eager to testify.

-Ah, Dad.

I want you to meet Mike Torello.

Mike, this is my father.

-Hello, Mr. Abrams.

-You're a cop?

My son talks about you.

-That's right.

I am.

-You don't look like a cop.

You look like a nice guy.

Come on, I'll buy
you both a sandwich.

-Oh, I can't.

I have to show my
face at the office.

I'll take a rain check,
though, Mr. Abrams.

I'll see ya later.

-See ya, Mike.

Look, I'll take you up
on lunch if you come

to my house for dinner
and stay the night.

-You've got a deal.

-Hey, who's this guy
with David Abrams?

I know him.

-That's Izzy the Dancer.

I thought he was dead.

-It's Abrams' father.

-This guy wrote the book
on interstate gambling.

He knew Capone, he
knew Frank Niddy.

I'm going to talk to him.

Hey.

Izzy the Dancer.

I thought you were dead.

-And you used to have hair.

-What are you doing around here?

-I came to see if
they put you in jail.

-You don't really think that's
going to happen, do you?

-If my son was the
prosecutor, yeah.

-I love this.

A made guy with a
prosecutor for a son.

-Have a good laugh.

If Breitel screws
this up, I won't.

-Hey, I am a
legitimate man here.

I own a restaurant.

I've been out of the
rackets for years.

What do you think of this
son of yours as a prosecutor?

-What do you think I think?

I think it's terrible.

But Phil, the youth
of today, they

got no respect for tradition.

They rebel, they
do what they want.

They embarrass their parents.

I think it's the
rock and roll music.

-How about you and
I have a little talk

and try to convince you
son not to put me in jail?

-What's to talk, Phil?

My boy wants something,
he's going to get it.

So bye bye, Phil.

Because he goes after you,
you're going to take a fall.

-Come on, Pop.

-You scared the hell
out of me, boss.

-You scared me too, Paulie,
with this bomb in you

fat little hands.

-You're going to like this.

I got it working perfect.

-You never get anything
to work perfect.

-You know what I mean.

-No, I don't know
what you mean, Paulie.

-I replaced this
lightweight plastic wire

with this heavy
gauge copper wire,

and I made it longer so when
the heats goes through it,

it doesn't burn out so fast.

And that's all we do is we fill
it up with powder, and boom.

-Boom, huh?

-I tell you, it's
going to work perfect.

-It better.

-You want some dessert?

I bought a cake.

-You know what you
can do with your cake?

I'm comfortable talking
to you, not eating cake.

I worry about you.

You've got a temper.

You shouldn't make
threats against people

like Bartoli and Luca.

They're dangerous men.

-I'm dangerous.

-I'm tired.

I'm going to sleep.

-Good night, Pop.

-Give your Pa a hug
like you used to.

[music playing]

[screams]

[snoring]

-Open.

Open.

Open wide.

You think I'm easy?

Now, I may be down,
but I'm never out.

And that one of these days,
he's going to be all mine.

You go tell your punk
boss, do you hear me?

Do you hear me?

-Where's the cream cheese?

-Hey, Dad.

Where are you going?

-You got no cream cheese.

I'll be right back.

-Put on your gloves.

-Yeah.

-Dad.

Dad!

[screams] Oh my god!

My god, Pa!

No!

No!

No!

No!

[music playing]