Crime Story (1986–1988): Season 2, Episode 18 - Byline - full transcript

It's adventurers
and businessmen like you

Who make this country
what it is-

Who get to the top

With nothing but hard
work, sweat and blood.

No kidding? We're real good at that.

- Yo, jose.
- Yes, sir.

The lady ordered coffee.
Where's the whipped cream on top?

Oh, no, this is fine
this way, really.

You sure? Because we pay these
slobs a lot of money to do it right.

Knock it off, pauli.

Pauli...



Go tell max I'll see him outside
in a little bit, all right?

Yeah, sure, boss.

Listen, it was really nice
meeting the both of yous.

Well, have you known
each other long?

We grew up together
in chicago.

Oh, I see,
he seems real nice.

Yeah, he's a gem.

Well, any friend of yours, you
just mention his name to me, ray.

My door is always open.

That's good to know,
senator.

Listen, you'll have
to excuse me,

I have a very important
meeting to attend.

Why don't the both of you
stay, have an after-dinner drink

And enjoy the show
on me, huh?



We'll do that, thank you.

- Dixie, it was a pleasure meeting you.
- Likewise.

- We'll talk later, senator.
- Any time, ray, any time.

I don't like that man.

You like living in washington, so shut up.

Ray, ray, my friend.

- So- so good to see you.
- Good to see you.

- Welcome back to vegas.
- Thank you, thank you.

- How's my dear friend matt?
- He's well. He speaks of you often.

- Max!
- How are you?

- Pauli...
- Jorge!

Hey, we gotta make up
for old times.

The broads ain't stopped talking about
you since you were here last time.

Good, good.

To you, ray,
and the good life,

'cause it's about to end.

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 the 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

run, run, run...

in a wee little room

I sit alone
and think of you

in a wee little room

I sit alone
and think of you

I wonder
if you still remember

all the things
we used to do...

What kind of a hotel is this?
You're all out of bourbon.

- Krinsky.
- The one and only.

What're you doing here?

13 years, I owe you $53.

You know how many guys I
had to stiff in that time?

I just couldn't do it
to my kid's godfather.

How did you get so flushed?

It's an advance
on my memoirs.

- Krinsky.
- Mike.

k-x-r-x...

Well, it looks like
another beautiful day

Here in las vegas,
mostly sunny skies...

Look at this place, you're
a wreck, I'm embarrassed.

You're out of milk is what.

That's the most disgusting
thing I've ever seen.

Actually, it's pretty tasty.
And now you're out of beer too.

When you're around,
I'm out of everything.

Leave that on, you know I need
the news with my breakfast.

Me, I need quiet.

And besides that, I don't know how
you can keep cranking out those stories

With all of that noise
and beer in your cereal.

Stories?
They're masterpieces.

You read my piece on poverty in
mississippi, "atlantic monthly"?

June-
"buddhists in saigon"?

Where've you been?

So what are you
working on now?

Come on, it's too big
to tell you.

I'll tell you this...

- It'll get me a pulitzer.
- Yeah, yeah...

You never change, krinsky.

"krinsky, you're never
going to mellow out,"

That's what kathy
used to say.

Year and a half-

A year and a half
since I lost her, mike.

Look, joe...

Yeah, listen, there's a
lot of big guys out there.

This town don't look
too stable to me.

- Why don't you go to work?
- Yeah, sure.

Why don't you go with me?

The guys'll get a big kick out
of seeing you. What do you say?

Yeah, I'll come by later, eh? No
reflection on the guys, it's just...

I'm in vegas for the first
time, I wanna have some fun.

Sober fun, huh?

Sober?

What kind
of religion is that?

Sober...

Hey, mike, I really appreciate you
letting me flop out here, really.

It's good to see you, joe.

- Hi.
- Danny!

I don't believe it.
Somebody pinch me.

- What do you mean, why? Why?
- Pinch me.

It's Tuesday isn't it? And
you're away from the job?

I'm sorry.
That's why I'm here,

To say, I'm sorry.

Oh!

It's all right, I didn't mean
that, I was hoping you'd be here.

Come on.

Listen, I've been doing
a lot of thinking here

And about the job. You know it's
- it's just a job.

It's not the important
thing, you know,

What I mean is...

The important thing is...

- Do you have a camera?
- No.

- Hey, hey, let me use your camera. Wait.
- Hey! Harry!

Listen, let me buy your film.
I'll give you 20 bucks.

Oh, no, she's got some of the best
pictures ever taken of me on that film.

- Come on.
- Well, how about 50?

They aren't that good, harry.
For 50 you can have the camera.

You know, if you keep this up,
you're gonna have to deputize me.

And you can guarantee this, mr. Luca?

Every shipment
to the last ounce.

Mr. Chen,

If you'll ship your product
to mexico instead of oakland,

We can guarantee it'll be
flown back into this country

And distributed with no
danger of interdiction.

On se?or senterro's
planes?

Yes, that is
what we propose.

But there is one thing
I do not understand.

If se?or senterro
is also marketing his product,

Doesn't that make us
competitors?

Not at all.

Se?or senterro has a
sophisticated distribution network

That extends to several cities
like detroit and chicago,

Where there's a demand
for all the product

That both of you
are capable of delivering.

And what you expect for
your role in this, mr. Luca?

A percentage
of every shipment.

To be negotiated,
of course.

- I would have to think about this.
- Absolutely.

Excuse me for leaving
so soon, my friends,

But I have a plane to
meet. Mr. Chen, mr. Abrams.

I'll see you out. I'll
only be a moment, gentlemen.

I'll wait for words from
you on mr. Chen's decision.

Very good.

How is our dear friend
manny?

He's well.
He's resting.

He's following doctor's
orders for a change.

Do we have his blessing
on this plan?

Yes, we do.

I speak with full authority
for manny weisbord.

Good.
Say hello for me.

I will. Now don't forget I want
you here Friday night for a party.

The country club
is putting me on the board.

Such high society, ray. One
day you should run for politics,

Maybe become a big
senator or something, huh?

Why should I? I already own one of those.

Krinsky, I can't believe you did that.

What? What else
was there for me to do?

Huh? I needed
the interview, what?

But in the girl's bedroom
with her husband next door?!

Hey, there was a time when the kid
was in love with more than just beer.

By the way,
you've got one?

Hey, haven't you got some
work to go do somewhere, what?

Hey, mike, the guys enjoy
talking to a legend, what?

Besides, I'm a little dry.

Back to work, guys,

I'll see you later.

How about dinner?

- I'm buying.
- 8:00 sharp, be here.

- You got it.
- All right.

Later.

Hey, ain't you
forgetting something?

Half of everything I
own is in there. Thanks.

See you, joe.

- That guy's had some career,
huh? - Mm-hmm, I'll say.

You and that guy go back a
long way, don't you, mike?

He's like part of the family,
one of my best friends, walter.

It's a shame he lets
the booze get him.

Is that your krinsky
I saw leave here?

The one and only.

What happened? He looked
sober. Look at these.

- Oh...
Who's the chinese guy?

Max goldman wouldn't be picking him up
at the airport if he wasn't important.

Nate, I want you to get
these snapshots blown up

And start checking around,
find out who this guy is.

Joey, you go by goldman's and
keep track of him wherever he goes.

Maybe luca just hired
a chinese cook.

I don't think
chinese food is ray's style.

This gin rummy
is a gentlemen's game?

On occasion, yes.

And when is it not?

Sometimes when you play
for money.

I had better not
ask you a question then.

that's okay, go ahead,
you're still learning.

No, I'll expose my hand.

You have to trust me.

That's what our meeting
is all about, trusting you?

Your se?or senterro seems
to be an interesting man.

Yes, he is.

But what's more important
is that he's loyal.

I respect loyalty
above all else.

So do I.

I've considered carefully
your proposal, mr. Luca.

I admire your plans.

Hi, ray, how're you doing?

Krinsky, what the hell
are you doing here?

It's vegas. Everybody comes
to vegas. How are you doing?

How did you get in here?

I told them I was a friend of
yours, I hope you don't mind.

I put this drink
on your tab.

Joe krinsky, any friend
of ray's a friend of mine.

Excuse me,
I must make a phone call.

What's his problem?

He's allergic to drunks
and so am I.

That's why I wanna
talk to you, ray.

I wanna do a story
on your square business.

- Is that right?
- I mean a big feature-

You know,
poor kid from the westside,

Tailor street, two fists, fights
his way to the top, like that.

It'd be great
for you, ray.

I got an interesting
idea, joe.

How about an autobiography?

About a damn reporter who's
gonna drink himself to death?

Are you concerned for my health?
That's touching.

Yeah? Take a hike.

Come on, ray,
let me do the story.

- As a favor, ray?
- I'll do you a favor.

Here's $100.

Get yourself a case of
scotch and have a ball.

Your memory's slipping, ray
- bourbon, you know I drink bourbon.

What is this,
musical stares?

Excuse me, pal.

I'm starving to death.
Where the hell is he?

- Well, what do you think?
- I think he'll be here.

What'd you hear from joey?

Joey? Oh, he's staked out
at "the golden lady."

Luca and the chinese guy pulled
in and went up to luca's suite.

Merci, monsieur.

Okay, 14 calls to interpol
today, but it paid off.

His name is lee chen, hong-kong,
import-export business.

But he's also suspected
of being a broker.

Let me guess, drugs?

China white.

Looks like luca's graduated
from snatching old ladies' purses

To being a broker in international
drugs. Not a bad country, huh?

Give me
a magnifying glass.

That's the word, the first
thing that goes to papers.

It's not what I heard.

Nate, give me
your glasses, come on.

Take a look at this-
is this someone we know?

- It's joe krinsky.
- He told me he was here for pleasure.

Is torello there?

Yeah. Mike,
he's on the phone right now.

You want to tell me what's going on?
Which story you're really working on?

I'll tell you
about it later, mike,

- Right now I'm in trouble. I may need your help.
- Where are you?

I'm in a phone booth
outside the horseshoe-

Joe?

Hello, joe? Joe!

Well, whoever hit him
cleaned him out,

Emptied his pockets
and his briefcase.

If it was a robbery, how come
they didn't take the briefcase?

The coroner said
he was hit with a.38.

Two rounds,
right through the heart.

- It doesn't sound like a street heist to me.
- We got any witnesses?

No, they haven't come up
with anybody yet.

I always thought
the booze would kill him.

I'm sorry, michael.

Look, when somebody
roots a briefcase...

Why, because they didn't want
to take a chance on being seen?

It just doesn't make sense.

You're right, walter.

Whoever hit him was looking
for something very specific.

Look, take a look
around here.

Do you think that some street
punk is gonna wait for a mark

To come and use
the phone booth?

Do you think that maybe
he was being followed?

Joe was killed
because of something

Connected with that photo we
were looking at in the office.

We got a call over
at headquarters, over.

Krychek.

It's joey. The chinese guy and
goldman just left the hotel.

It looked like they're on the
way to the airport. What do I do?

Pick him up.

Pick him up.

We have nothing
to talk about.

I do not know this mister
krinsky you keep talking about.

I have never met him and have
no knowledge of his death.

What about ray luca?

I know mr. Luca. I sold tools
and furniture made in asia to him.

He imports heroin.

And you export heroin.

Heroin?
Of course not.

That would be illegal.

Do you like putting junk
into little kid's arms?

Let me tell you
something, wise guy.

You know you have
no right to do this.

He's being questioned about
the murder of joe krinsky,

- Maybe you remember him.
- Yeah, I remember krinsky.

Whatever happened to him has
nothing to do with mr. Chen.

- That's my decision.
- Uh-huh.

You're still bending or breaking the
law whenever you find it convenient?

At least I'm not a selfish
slob that sold out to the mob.

Hey, whatever.
The bottom line is this:

Mr. Chen had nothing to do with
the death of your drunken pal.

Now, if you're gonna
charge him, then charge him.

If you're not, we're gonna
leave. Is that all right by you?

- Get out.
- Thanks, lieutenant.

Let's go, mr. Chen.

Thanks, joe.

Here's to a good friend

And one hell of a slob.

I don't get it, mike.

In the last two months, he's traveled
to hong-kong, thailand, burma-

Look, joe told me that he
was working on a major story.

It turns out that
that major story is chen.

Now, that kind of
traveling takes big dough.

I knew joe all of his life
and he never saved a dime.

So someone had to be
footing the bill.

That's exactly right and whoever
it was that joe was working for

Should know more about
what he was doing.

So what do you want us to do, call every
newspaper and magazine in the country?

- Yeah, if that's what it takes.
- You bet.

Hey, mike, I found a car rented to
krinsky about a block from the diner.

"las vegas register"
is paying for it.

There is a god.

Did they find
what they were looking for?

Mike, I've been
trying to reach you.

Someone really took
this place apart.

How long has krinsky been
working for you, chet?

He was on a story
for about a month.

You want to tell us
about it?

Three months ago
he came here,

Said he was working
on something big.

Well, you know joe
- to him everything was gonna win him a pulitzer, right?

Did you know it was about ray
luca and the drug business?

Yeah, that's a hell of a
good story. I financed him.

He never gave me
any details.

He just said, give me
five grand and trust him.

Isn't that a bit
unusual, chet?

Danny, I know joe had
a drinking problem,

But if joe said he had
a story, he had a story.

And he got killed for it.

Yeah,
and whoever killed him

Didn't find what they were
looking for, did they, chet?

He never kept anything here.

By the way, mike,
there's something else.

When joe came here
yesterday,

He said the story was even
bigger than the drugs.

Now, I thought it was
a little crazy, but...

He implied that people
in our government

Know ray luca is
in the drug business

And are turning
a blind eye to it.

That's pretty far-fetched,
isn't it?

Stranger things have happened, huh, chet?

- Thanks, chet.
- Take it easy.

I think I know where
krinsky's notes might be.

Mike. Mike! I think we're
wasting our time here-

Look, the guy we chased
out of here killed krinsky,

Then he came back here to find something
joe left behind, just keep searching.

We tore this place apart.

- what the hell do you think
you're doing?

Just resting a minute here.

- Waiting for a dare or perry como?
- Probably hootenanny.

Looks like you got
a maxwell suite special here.

- quit beating on
my television.

Hey, it works with mine.

What the hell is this?

I think it's time
to call hallahan.

This circled area
is the golden triangle.

If you check krinsky's passport,
you'll see he was there.

Well, it ain't exactly the
kind of place you go for r & r,

But it ain't exactly
evidence either.

I came out here
all the way from washington

To see some hard stuff,
so what have you got?

The map shows that he was
following the opium trail.

Krinsky was checking
into the private armies

That run the opium trade
out of the shan mountains.

He discovered that
one of these armies

Was being led by
a general named lao li.

Lao li. Lao li was
chiang kai-shek's top honcho.

Yeah, and lao li's main man, the king
of china white is our very own mr. Chen.

Look at this photo that joe
took of some of our old friends.

The mexican guy with luca
is jorge senterro.

You probably know
the other guy named-

Yeah, our favorite
lieutenant colonel-

The eagle scout,
milton dance.

That's right.
Now look at this.

Some kind of schedule.

That's right, salair airlines
- senterro's operation.

Planes go down there, make
secret trips to and from mexico

And land in various parts
of the nevada desert.

So, what-
the cargo is heroin?

That's just
the northbound cargo.

The southbound cargo is
machine-guns, grenades, mortars.

The planes go down there
loaded with weapons,

And come back
packed with heroin.

Luca is brokering in mexican brown,
and now with chen in the picture,

He's probably gonna do the
same thing with china white.

Can you prove it?

We're trying.
Look, you once told us

That there were various
elements in our own government

Operating their own agendas
outside the law.

Krinsky was on to that.

Mike, that may be true, but what
you've got here is speculation

And what I need
is evidence.

Now, if you bring
that evidence to me,

I can convene
a congressional hearing.

I'll bring it
to the american public

And I can blow the thing
wide open.

Mike, my condolences
about krinsky.

It's a shame
he can't finish his story.

Yeah, well,
maybe we'll finish it for him.

Let's get
to the point, senator.

Where I come from there is
no such thing as a free lunch.

I knew that going in.

Good.

Then I can count on you
when I need you.

Yeah.
There are limits.

I poured over a million
bucks into your campaign.

For that kind of dough,

There are no limits.

Well, maybe a few.

I mean I'm not asking you
for your wife.

Oh, boss, it's
an important phone call.

- Not now, pauli.
- No, boss, it's important. It's dance.

Excuse me, senator. Pauli,
entertain the senator while I'm gone.

- Sure.
- Be right back.

You play for money?

You've got news
for me, dance?

Our objective
was not obtained.

The justice department
is involved now.

Listen, you, you said we
had a problem with krinsky,

And that you'd
take care of it.

What I said then is not
important, what we do now is.

Well, you do nothing,
you got it? Nothing.

You just wear your damn
uniform and look american.

- Boss, something wrong?
- No, nothing.

Hey, danny, mike, nate!

This is it, mike.

It matches the coordinates
on krinsky's map,

And it matches
the photograph.

Nice going.
- Way to go, wally.

Yeah.

All right.

Mike, it's 4:15.

- What, you got a date?
- Yeah, can I go?

Fat chance.

Hey, mike, danny's wearing a white
coat. Why'd you put him by me?

That's why
I'm a lieutenant.

I'm freezing my butt off out here
and I gotta go to the bathroom.

What do you want me to do,
joey, hold your hand?

It's right out there.
Watch out for the snakes.

Mike! Mike!

- We're right here-
- your headlights on.

- Over there, joey.
- It's done!

Come on, who long
does this take? Let's go!

Police officers, you're
surrounded, drop your guns.

Get down!
Get down! Down!

- Hands behind your head.
- Don't move, stay down!

Mexican brown, mike. It looks like
krinsky was on the right track.

Look at this.

Welcome to las vegas, jorge.

Help yourself, colonel.

I can't.
My stomach is in knots.

Marie, go in and get him
a brioski.

Pauli, offer him
a sandwich.

You had turkey with lettuce
and tomatoes in it?

I don't want a brioski,
I don't want a sandwich,

I just want to know, is
senterro gonna roll over on us?

I told you, dance, you've
got nothing to worry about.

Then why is there a cop
sitting outside your house?

Torello and his men spend
more time here than my wife.

If senterro talks,
he could destroy

The plausible deniability
of my entire operation.

Senterro won't talk.

Not today, not tomorrow,

Not in a million years.

I think we should call
gavin into this.

Hey, it was your
whacked out commander gavin

That got us in this position
in the first place.

Milton, he's a puss head.

He did the job on krinsky, he
could do the job on senterro.

He blew it, dance.

He made the hit, but
didn't get the information.

It was gavin who put this
whole operation into jeopardy.

Look, I know
senterro is a friend,

But he's got
to be dealt with.

If there's anything to be
dealt with, dance, I'll do it.

You practice your salute.
Senterro won't roll.

Now you relax and go home
and put your fancy uniform

And join me at the country
club tomorrow night.

Everything's gonna be
fine, milton, just fine.

But if it isn't,

You better find another
universe to hide out in.

This is for the big
money, senterro.

What do you, luca,
and the "g" have in common?

Please, se?or, my suit.
It is very expensive, eh?

You know what luca thinks about
you? You know what he thinks you are?

To him you're a cheap
baggage handler.

You're a mule.

Hey, luca's gonna walk

- And you're gonna do all
the time... 30 years of it.

I shake in my underwear.

You're very fierce, se?ores.

- Get this pig out of here.
- Come on, let's go.

See you around,
miguel torello.

Yeah, pat.

Senterro won't crack.
The guy's made out of granite.

Now, listen to me,

We're the only ones
that have to know that,

I want you to do me a favor

And pass the word around
in dance's circle

That senterro beefed
on everybody.

Yeah, right.

Count your money. Your job
is done here now, gavin.

So pack your trash
and move out, mister.

Speak to me.
This is colonel dance.

What?!

We have
a confirmation on that?

No.
I will take care of it.

Senterro...

That idiot, luca, said
senterro would never roll on us,

Well, they are taking him down to
talk to the federal magistrate tonight.

Luca's problem.

The hell with mr. Luca.

We will handle this
ourselves, gavin.

And this time,
we will handle it right.

I don't see anything,
do you, nate?

No, I think mike
may have made a bad call.

Yeah, maybe.

Hey, where're you
taking me, eh?

Someplace safe.
- Oh, yeah, safe for who, eh?

Once luca finds out we've
got you, you're a dead man.

Yeah, you're loco in la cabeza,
miguel torello, you're starting to see-

Where is he, nate?

He's on the rooftop,
right across from me.

Joey, you keep him here.

- When I give you the word, you give me cover, got it?
- Right, mike.

You still think luca
is gonna try to kill you?

Now!

Go ahead, pauli,
go welcome the senator.

How about his wife?

You let me welcome her, huh?

Glad to have you back.

Ray, we need to talk.

We'll talk later.

Dixie, it's good to see you.

And how is the newest member
of the board this evening?

Things couldn't be better,
senator. You know colonel dance?

- Good to see you again, colonel.
- Warren.

Senator baxter's one of our
military's staunchest supporters.

I do my best.

You'll excuse me, gentlemen.
It's showtime.

Ray, I need to talk to you
alone.

Whatever it is it can wait.
We'll talk later.

Dixie...

Hate to tear
you away there.

Is everybody
having a good time?

Yeah.

That's good, that's good,
because you're paying for it.

Seriously, friends, I want
to thank you for your support.

And I only hope
that once again

As your newly
re-elected senator,

I can continue the job
that dixie and I

Dedicated ourselves to
six years ago.

had a lot of words, huh, joe?

A lot of stories...

I...

I saved every one of 'em.

Even the ones
I didn't read I saved.

But I promise you, the best
one is still yet to come,

And I'm gonna finish it
for you, joe.

I didn't call you joe.

And now I want to introduce

The newest member of the board
of trustees of this gorgeous club,

And one of las vegas'
more sparkling personalities.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Excuse me, senator.

Your timing stinks
as usual, torello.

Hey, it's always a good time
to bring you bad news, ray.

Yeah?
Bad news from who?

Your friend jorge senterro.

He said next time
hire a guy that can shoot.

Boss... Not here.

You guys wanted krinsky dead,

He's more alive now
than ever.

By tomorrow morning, his story will
be in every newspaper in the country.

It's a story, torello,
it's only a story.

A story which jorge senterro
will happily corroborate.

Here you are, pauli.

Here you are, ray.

It's called a subpoena.
For you it's bedtime reading.

Here's one for you,
soldier boy.

What is this?
Who are you?

We're federal agents, senator.

We're serving subpoenas.

Subpoenas for what?

Senate racket hearings
in washington d.C.

Just think about it,
ray...

Senate racket hearings on national
television. Think about it.

You're out of your head,
torello.

Save it for a tv cameras,
you cheap punk.