Crime Story (1986–1988): Season 2, Episode 10 - Moulin Rouge - full transcript

if I should jump
into the ocean

right into the ocean

it ain't
nobody's business

if I do... Four. Pay the front line.

- Hey, look what-
- mercedes kid.

- Who's the singer?
- Man, are you serious?

Where have you been
the last 20 years?

I thought everybody
knew iris marshall.

- You know, I'm more of a
sinatra... Perry como, dean martin

- Type of guy.
- That's right, yeah.

She owns the place.
Word has it



That she raised every dime from her
east-coast recording connections.

Man, this place reminds me of the old days.

- Yeah, robert's show lounge.
- Checkerboard lounge.

- Teresa's.
- Wrigley field.

than for him
to jump up and quit me

ain't nobody's
business

if I do

I swear I won't
call no coppa

if I'm beat up
by my poppa

ain't nobody's
business

if I do

I'd rather my man
would hit me

than for him
to jump up and quit me

ain't- ain't-
ain't nobody's business



if I do

I swear I won't
call no coppa

if I'm beat up
by my poppa

ain't nobody's
business

if I do

nobody's business

if I do...

And there was
his dad

With an armful
of dirty diapers,

Baby food
all over his face

And this one, he's
sitting in his high chair

With a look on his face that says,
"daddy, what the hell are you doing?"

He made me promise not to
breathe a word to his mama.

He was
quite a guy.

- Quite a cop.
- Amen to that.

He'd be proud of you, byron,
if he could see you today.

That's quite a compliment
coming from you, mike,

- Seeing how you're a
perry como... Frank sinatra

Dean martin
kind of guy.

I know enough about music to know
a good musician when I hear one,

And he's a good musician.
What do you think?

I'll drink to that.

So, byron, what'd you think of vietnam?

- See any action?
- Oh, yeah.

We're fighting over there? I
thought we just had advisors.

Nobody ever asked me
for any advice. Iris!

Oh.

I'm so proud
of you.

Iris, I'd like you to meet
some very good friends of mine.

- This is mike torello, nate grossman,
- how do you do?

- Joey indelli...
- How do you do?

And walter, umm...

Clemmons.

They were tight
with my dad.

- It's nice to meet you all.
- Walter's a big fan of yours.

Yeah, I saw you singing
at robert's show lounge

About four years ago.

- Robert's is a pretty jumping spot.
- Yeah.

Well, welcome
to the moulin rouge.

- You like my little place?
Oh, yes.

Well, it's
a happening spot.

If you need anything,
you know where to come.

Let's go. Everybody out. Out!

All right, move, come on.

All right,
through this way, ma'am.

as I walk along

I wonder
what went wrong

with our lives

lives that were
so strong

and as I still
walk on

I think of the things

we've done together

while our hearts
were young

I'm a-walking
in the rain

tears are falling
and I feel a pain

watching all
the players go by

some live
and others die

and I wonder

I wah-wah-wah-wah-
wonder

why

why, why, why, why

why I don't walk away

and I wonder

what makes me stay

runaway

run-run-run-run-
runaway.

Have you fired
anyone lately, iris,

Or had any sore
losers at the tables?

I got no beef
with nobody.

Don't worry about it,
babe. I'll take care of it.

Rollie runs the joint.
He knows.

Everybody loves
iris, lieutenant.

Here's my card. If you think of anything,

I'd really appreciate
a call.

Hey, mike.
Walter.

- Van.
- How you doing, van?

This is a damn shame.
Look at this!

You know iris
marshall here?

Lieutenant vanalden,
nevada criminal bureau.

I'm really sorry
about all this.

I heard good things
about your place.

We've been
doing okay.

Well, I guess somebody
doesn't like the idea

Of the coloreds
owning a casino.

Do you think
it's a race thing?

I mean, face it,

Las vegas isn't exactly a
hotbed of liberal sentiment.

Look, van,
if you think of anything-

- Hey, I'll let you know.
- Thanks.

I think I'm gonna stick
around for a while, mike.

- Any reason in particular?
- Yeah.

I'm a big fan
of iris marshall's.

What do you say you go change your
clothes, I'll buy you a cup of coffee?

You forget
something?

I never got a chance to tell
you how much I admire your pipes.

Yeah, right.

- So, what is it?
- What's what?

Come on, honey,

You come to muscle me,
lean on me?

- You're the bad man? What?!
- Lady, who do you think I am?

A cop?

I don't know
what school you went to,

But you got cops
confused with robbers.

Where I come from,
policemen live poor

And they generally die
the same way.

Well, if you don't
mind, I'll just

Take care of myself, like
I've been doing since I was 15.

There's nothing wrong with a
little help every now and then.

Thanks for the offer,

But you don't know me.

And you wouldn't
like me if you did.

All my life, I've had people hitting on me,

Trying to take away
just what's mine.

Makes you tough.

You seem much too sweet
to be too tough.

You're a good cop-

Walter.

You know it.

Well, I'll
call you...

When I need you.

So how's your mother doing?

She's fine.
- That's good. Still living at the back of the yards?

- Still working the salsa games games in the summertime.
- Unbelievable.

Excuse me.

Miss?

Sells the best hot dogs
at comiskey park.

Yeah, you were always
her number-one customer.

- How often do you call her?
- Every couple of weeks.

No, no, no.
Listen, byron...

You have to call her
every week, no matter what.

Mm-hmm.

Ma'am, can we have
some coffee?

Byron, do you take your coffee
- do you take it with cream and sugar?

How do you take it?
Huh?

What do you think
you're doing?

Doing your job, since you
don't seem to want to do it.

- I've been busy.
- We've been sitting for 15 minutes,

Waiting for a stinking
cup of coffee!

These people just sat down
and they got served.

What's the matter?
You don't like white guys?

- What's going on here?
- He's breaking things. Look at this mess!

We've been sitting here
for 15 minutes

Waiting for a cup of coffee
and we've been ignored.

If you don't leave right
now, I'm calling the police.

I am the police.

And from where I'm standing, I can see

Seven or eight health
and safety violations.

And I'll bet you big money that
if I walk back into that kitchen

And I practice
my surveillance techniques,

I find 10 or 12 little
health and safety violations

Jumping out at me. Do
you want me to do that?

Do you?

Go ahead,
get them some coffee.

Actually, since we've been
sitting here, we got hungry,

And what we would really like is a couple
of steaks about this thick, medium-rare,

Baked potatoes,
extra sour cream,

Some nice hot
rolls and butter,

And dessert. What kind
of dessert? You like pie?

- What kind of pie do you like?
- Apple.

- Apple pie? A la mode?
- Yeah, a la mode.

Two apple pies
a la mode, go ahead.

And make sure
you clean up this mess.

But your money is safe.

Haven't you even read
the statements I sent you?

Another six months and
this place will be a goldm-

The investors found out
about the firebombing.

They want to back out.
What am I gonna do?

Well, we had a good
day tonight, babe.

We're gonna make it.

Maybe I just got
too much ambition.

Maybe what I need
is just be a singer

And leave this club
business alone, you know?

Yeah, I know
what you mean,

But I don't believe it.

We're gonna be all right to
open tomorrow, miss marshall.

Hallelujah! Now that's the
best thing I've heard all day.

I'll let you
out, buzz.

Thanks, babe.

Hello?

No, no,
that's okay, rollie. What's up?

Okay, I'll
meet you there.

- Look at these, baby.
- Oh.

- Don't close
the safe, man.

What do you want?!

Someone's coming.

Come on,
let's go!

Come on!

Rollie.

rollie.

Rollie.

"negro man killed in
alleged racial incident

At moulin rouge."

What we have
in the white house

Is a very angry,
very tall texan

Who's had it up to here with a bunch
of cracker sheriffs and governors

Who run their localities and states
as if they're independent countries.

Now, as far
as he's concerned, he runs it,

And there's one law
that goes across the land.

Does this have to do with the three
kids that were murdered in mississippi?

Absolutely, and the bombing
of churches in birmingham.

And the police dogs
and selma on the 6:00 news.

Every guy in this room believes
in what you're saying, pat.

That's right, but why the
visit? What's the new news?

The news is, from now on,
for all federal agencies,

All stops are out. We're
no longer waiting for,

We're no longer coordinating
with and we're no longer concerned

- About the sensitivities of the local people.
- It's about time.

I mean, it's just been 10 years since
brown vs. The board of education,

And only 100 years
since the civil war!

That's right.

What you have
is carte blanche.

If you can handle
alone, fine.

If not,
call washington,

And we'll send in the
82nd airborne to help you.

And mr. Johnson
ain't kidding.

Gentlemen,
that's it.

Mike...

Sorry about abrams. They
can't be here with us in this.

So am I.

Rollie used to own a little
jazz club in paris.

Everybody
jammed there-

Dizzy, bird, miles.

Negroes love
everything french.

You know why?

'cause the first time we
were treated with equality,

It was by the french,
after the war.

That's why dizzy gillespie
wears that beret...

Why this club
is called moulin rouge.

All the pictures
on the walls,

That was rollie's idea.

He was a good man.

A gentleman.

There ain't a whole lot of them around.

Iris, rollie called
and said he wanted

To tell me something.
Do you know what it was?

Do you think he may have
known who firebombed the place?

Well, it don't take sherlock
holmes to figure that one out.

Meaning what?

This is a successful
colored casino.

Well, you saw all the high rollers
spreading their lettuce around.

Who does that hurt?

- The white casinos?
- Thank you.

So, under general business,

There is the question of whether
to bar a certain card counter

Who's been hurting some of
us at the blackjack tables.

- Bar him?
We could plant him!

Gentlemen!

There is also the issue
of taxicabs overcharging.

Sorry for the interruption, but
I'm here to deliver a message.

- Leave it at the front desk. We'll pick it up later.
- Shut your mouth.

Torello,
we're busy.

Hey, tommy.

I took a friend of mine to your
joint the other night for dinner.

Waited 45 minutes
for a menu.

- Do you believe it? That's how busy it was.
- I heard.

But the food
was terrific.

What do you want
here, torello?

What do I want?

I'll tell you
what I want.

I want to know where it says
that a black-owned casino

Can't share
in your action

Without someone coming at
them with a tank or a mortar.

- That's what I want to know.
- Are you nuts?

Anything that keeps those people on the
west side should get a medal from us!

All right,
we'll leave it like this.

I don't want no more
trouble at the moulin rouge.

Washington doesn't want it.
And if necessary,

U.S. Marshals will block the front of your
casinos to show how much we don't want it.

- Hey, torello.
- What do you want, maxie?

- What are you getting all steamed about?
- You think I'm making jokes?

You got the wrong idea.

I was sneaking into back doors,
watching guys like bird, dizzy and monk

When your idea of music
was polka party.

I love that joint.
I think the music's great,

So don't make me out to
be some kind of racist.

- I wouldn't hurt those people.
- Somebody is.

It ain't these guys. You
can make book on that.

Then who is it?

I don't need the heat.
I don't know who it is.

You want
to help me, maxie?

- I'll think about it.
- You think fast.

Well, we got
a name on that gorilla

That you nailed at the
moulin rouge. Barnie walter.

- Who is he?
- Just got the name so far.

That's it?
That's it?!

What the hell are you doing, sitting
around writing parking tickets?

Did you ever think of putting
someone into the moulin rouge?

Look, I only got one colored
guy and he's on furlough.

Besides, look at this.
I got two bank jobs,

I got a hacked up hooker
and I got a possible arson,

- And that's just the last 48 hours!
- You're not the only guy

That's underworked
and understaffed!

- We're talking about a major
civil rights case!

Yeah. Oh, damn!

All right,
show him in.

Now I got a reporter from "newsweek"
who wants to talk about the bombing.

The captain dropped
that in my lap too!

- Susanne!
- Lieutenant torello.

- How are you?
- Just great, thanks.

- Walter.
- Susanne.

- You know each other?
- Sure, we're old friends from chicago.

Susanne terry,
lieutenant vanalden.

- How do you do?
- A pleasure.

"newsweek," huh?
- Yeah.

- Congratulations.
- Looks like you're moving up in the world.

Yeah, I'm doing
a story on the moulin rouge,

And I'm here
on a backup.

And I thought the las vegas
authorities would help me out.

Yeah, well, the captain
said something about that.

I'm always happy
to help the press.

- We got to go. Give us a call.
- I will.

I'd love to hear what the justice
department has to say about this case.

- By the way, how's david?
- I wouldn't know.

But I thought
you worked with him?

David's in
private practice.

I don't know what rollie was calling about.

What we have to do is get a
guy inside the moulin rouge.

Well, I think I pretty
much worn out my welcome.

Hi, guys.

We met at the beach,

And she bites.

Florida was great.
Wasn't it, honey?

What's up?

- Bourbon and water.
- Yes, sir.

- There you go.
Hi.

Phil, let me have a glass of water.

- What's happening?
- Having a good time?

- Always do.
- Good. Good.

- You know, I saw you fight in chicago.
- Oh, really?

- You had style, man.
- Thanks.

I like this place, too. It's
a great place you got here.

Why, you're studying
to be some kind of negro?

- That was very funny.
- We got the jokes here. We live the good life.

We got the women, we got
the music, we got the dice.

- Have a good time, man.
- You can count on it.

Oh, do not ask. What is it? Come on.

Hello, david.

Who's that?

Umm...
Look, why don't you-

I think it would be...

Uh, take a cab home,
all right?

- And I'll have...
- Champagne cocktail with a twist

- And I'll have bourbon on
the rocks. Right away, sir.

What happened
to your friend?

She had to go study
for a calculus exam.

I bet.

- When did you get in?
- This morning.

How long you staying?

I don't know.

I don't know why

but I'm feeling so sad

I long to try something

I've never had

never had no kissing

oh, what I've been missing

loverman,
oh, where can you be?

the night is cold

and I'm so all alone

I'd give my soul

just to call you my own

got a moon above me

but no one to love me

loverman,
oh, where can you be?

someday we'll meet

and you'll dry
all my tears

then whisper sweet
little things in my ear

a-hugging
and a-kissing

oh, what we've
been missing

loverman

oh, where...

can you be?

Take a walk.
Come on, take a walk!

- What do you want, mike?
- Let's go.

You're using stuff,
aren't you?

- Aren't you?
- No! Get out of my face!

You don't even know
what the truth is anymore.

You're a liar.
All junkies are liars.

Now where's it at? Where's
your outfit? Where is it?!

What are you doing?!

Knock it off, mike!
Torello, stop it!

What the hell's
going on here?

Here's your life,
you dummy.

Here's your life!
Now, where'd you get it?

Where'd you get it?!

Where did you get it?

- I want to go in there.
- I'm sorry.

- Where'd you get it? Where?!
- Buzz.

- Where does he get it? Where does he get it?
- I don't know!

It comes on Tuesday.
He calls it "fat Tuesday."

you've got two choices:

You can either die right now
or quit using stuff right now.

It takes me places
in my music

That I can't go
any other way!

Bull. Get up.

Open the door.
Open the door!

- Find me the key to the spare room.
- Yeah, yeah.

Buzz is our man. I want
him, I want his connection,

I want it fast. I don't care how you do it.

Turn him upside down if
you have to, but I want him.

Let's go, walter.

Sit down.

Okay, I'll see you
later, all right?

Okay.

From now on,
it's you, me,

Your habit
and channel 3.

I don't have the money.

If I did, I wouldn't be
needing the additional credit,

Would I?!

How am I gonna run a night club if I
don't have liquor to serve at my bar?!

They don't want to give
you any more credit?

They don't want to give me the time of day.

I will quit tomorrow. I just
need something now, torello.

I need something now!

torello!

You scum!

Place your bets.

That's all right. You
stay right where you are.

- Hey, byron.
- Yeah?

You okay in there?

Just sick.

Hi, how are you doin'?

It's here!

He says it's here!

Say, sweetheart, take a walk, will you?

The drawer's open!

Close it!

Let's go outside.

Hey, man. Hey.
Uh-huh.

make it stop!

Oh god, please
make it stop.

Change, 100.

It's a good crowd, huh? Good crowd.

You got
something for me?

- Hey-
- hey, man, huh?

What are you studying to be, huh?

Byron.

- You all right?
- Yeah.

I need my axe.

What does
that mean?

He wants to play.

Am I disturbing you?

No.
No, no.

Come on in.

I can only stay a moment.

Come on in and make
yourself comfortable.

Come on.
Come on in.

Have a seat.

No, I really
can't stay.

- Can I get you something?
- No, no.

No, I really got
to get back. No, don't.

- Please, don't bother.
- It's no bother.

Walter...

I was wrong about you.

- How's that?
- I heard what you did for byron.

That kid is worth it.

Wow.

Sartre, malcolm x...

Ralph ellison?

One of these days, I'll have to get
those books in alphabetical order.

You're a serious man,
aren't you?

It's a serious life.

This is a hard
time for me.

The club...

Rollie...

And now buzz.

I trusted that man.

It seems everything
I touch falls apart.

- What am I doing, walter?
- The best you can do.

But it's not
good enough.

Sometimes...

The hurt is
just too much.

I don't think
I can handle it.

Hold me.

Help me.

I thought you wanted to know who's
been hitting on the moulin rouge.

- I'm waiting.
- The word I get

Is that somebody's been
shaking down smaller joints

That don't have
the muscle to resist.

- You see what I'm saying?
- Yeah. But who?

Who?

I heard it was a cop from
the nevada criminal bureau.

Who is it?

- Who's who?
- The cop that's shaking you down.

I need to know.

I can't tell you.
I'll lose everything.

You've got
to trust somebody.

- Why?
- 'cause it's all coming down around you.

- It's vanalden.
- Vanalden?

What's he gotten?

My gaming license.

I was just starting
out in new orleans-

18...

I got a singing gig
at a private club.

Singing was all I had.

They said if I wanted to keep singing, I
had to go out with some of the customers...

- To be real friendly.
- You got busted.

Prostitution.

Somehow, vanalden
dug it out.

He said he would tell
the gaming commission

And I could have
my license pulled

Unless I paid him off.

I didn't have any choice.

Then when things
started getting better,

He wanted more.

I wouldn't pay.

So he tried to scare me.

The firebomb...

And the robbery.

Oh, walter, please don't let him
take the moulin rouge away from me.

- Where are you going?
- I'll be at the club.

I want to talk to you.
Sit down.

What's up, mike?
Something wrong?

Sit down!

I don't like shakedowns
and I hate dirty coppers.

Well, you can't
prove squat.

You think anybody's got to believe
a colored chick over a white cop?

Sit down!

Wake up, torello.

Get down off your high
horse and join the world.

If you had any brains,
you could tap into this too.

Let me tell you
something.

You take me down, your
friend's gonna down with me.

That broad's really
gonna sing the blues

When the gaming
commission hears

They got an ex-hooker
running a gambling-

Now, you listen to me.
No matter what it takes,

By the time I get through with you,
the only thing you're gonna have left

Is a six-digit number,
a tin cup and a toothbrush,

Courtesy of the united
states government.

And don't you ever,

Ever go near
iris marshall again

Or I'll pull
your eyes out.

We got a problem.

clemmons.

- I'll give you as much as you want.
- Mike, what's going on?

Two of vanalden's guys
just tried to take me out.

- You're kidding me?
- Ain't that enough for you?

- Shh. Are you all right?
- I'm fine. Where's iris?

- At the club.
- Tell her to stay there and lock the doors.

I'll meet ya.

Okay. Right.

You've been singing for
the wrong people, huh?

- Huh?
- No. Nobody.

Well, it doesn't
matter anyway

Because torello's
dead now,

And starting right now, we're
upping in the weekly payments

Or you'll find yourself
dead. You understand?

- Okay.
- Vanalden!

Torello!

- Drop it.
- No way!

I'll kill her.

All right.

All right.

- Thanks.
- Drop it!

Sorry I'm late.

What?

You work for ray luca,
don't you?

Yeah, I'm fine.
How are you feeling?

Don't play games.

- Who told you?
- I'm a reporter, remember?

So what? So what if I do work for luca?

He's a gangster,
for god's sake!

Is that a contract
for byron

I see sticking out
of rodstein's pocket?

Yeah. And he's
glad to see you.

So, what do
you think?

He's fabulous.
What can I say?

He's on another level,
ahead of his time.

He stands against everything
that you believe in.

Look, ray luca is entitled to same legal
protection as anybody else, and that's me.

Now, what the hell
is wrong with that?

I can't believe we're having
this discussion. He's a murderer.

All right, that's enough, susanne.

What happened to the man I knew in chicago?

- He grew up.
- He sold out.

Where do you come off being
so high and mighty, huh?

Look, I'm just tired of being a loser.

I'm sick and tired of going against
the tide. This is my time, right now!

- I guess everybody has their price, huh?
- Maybe.

- There's a name for that.
- I don't want to hear it.

- Gentlemen, I want you to meet my new partners.
- Partners?

Byron, it's real good to meet you, man.

- You are hot!
- Thanks.

Well, have fun. I'm gonna show them around.

As you can see, we have some
of the best dealers in town.

- I brought them from new orleans myself.
- Oh, really?

- Oh, would you please excuse me?
- Certainly.

How about a dance?

- You know something, mike?
- Yeah, I know.

- You don't like those guys.
- Right.

- Hey, all right, money winner.
All right, all right.

Give us some money.

Man...

We gonna get
fat off this hog.