Father Dowling Mysteries (1989–1991): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Mafia Priest Mystery: Part 1 - full transcript

(theme music playing)

♪♪

- (sportscaster talks on TV)
- Look at that move.

(laughs): No wonder he was
the MVP of the all-star game.

Oh, MVP?

Can you believe this is
the girl who never went

to a basketball game
until she met me?

(knocking)

Yes.

Mr. Coribini's here.

Send him in.



(turns off TV)

(sighs)

He and Pop are real close.

He has to come to Peter.

Excuse me, please.

Mrs. Luciani.

Peter Luciani,

it is my honor to inform you

of the coming marriage
of my daughter Patrice.

I realize with your
present difficulty,

you may be unable to attend.

Oh, you can put one
in here, and I'll take one.

That's okay.

Amy, uh, will you
go check on Blaine?



Thank you.

Don't glower.

Guido Coribini's been a
friend of this family for 40 years.

(chuckles): I have heard.

Chris, think about
how I feel, huh?

Sunday at home,
with your brother

and six armed guards?

Peter has a little problem.

But he's careful.

That little problem is

32 federal indictments
for racketeering.

(phone ringing)

Mom called yesterday.

Daddy won't let her
come over here anymore.

If she wants to
see the children,

I have to meet her.

Just got a call.

They're on their way.

(engine starting)

(police sirens wailing)

MAN: Okay, surround the house.

Some of you in the
back, some on the sides.

Mr. Guilliamo, Jerry
Brooks, Channel Nine News.

I'm here for the interview.

Well, as soon as we
serve him with the warrant,

I'll do the interview.

Fine, Mr. Guilliamo.
Mr. Douglas?

Would you care to
make a statement?

No, not right now.

This is Jerry Brooks with
an on the scene exclusive

for my three-part series
on crime in Chicago.

I'm coming to you
live from the compound

of the notorious Luciani family,

allegedly the leaders
of organized crime

in the entire Midwest.

Peter Luciani, the
leader of the family,

is under indictment
for racketeering.

Leading this operation
is Attorney General

Paul Guilliamo, head
of the strike force.

And with him is District
Attorney Douglas.

Let's stop camera here
until they actually arrest him.

Roll it.

Not there.

What do you mean, not there?

Like, in not home.

Mr. Guilliamo?

Could you tell us what
happened here today?

Somebody tipped him off.

But where is he?

We'll find him, and when we do,

I promise you I'll convict him.

(Dowling grunting)

STEPHANIE: It's okay, Frank.

Trick is not to look down.

DOWLING: Trick is
not to open my eyes.

STEPHANIE: No, the
trick is to pop the old socket.

DOWLING: Today, I
learned to climb a ladder.

Tomorrow, I'll learn
to pop a socket.

Hello?

Father Dowling?

I think so.

I'm John Luciani.

Yes?

I'm the priest they sent
here to train with you.

Oh, oh, this is
Sister Stephanie.

- Hi.
- Hi.

DOWLING: Are you sure?

I mean, I was expecting
a priest named Timothy.

Well, at the last minute there
was an opening in Oak Park.

Don't worry, I've
got the ladder.

Timothy always wanted
a suburban parish,

so he grabbed it.

Thank you.

I was hoping for St.
Michael's all along.

Well, we're not
a wealthy parish,

as you can see, but
the people are wonderful.

You're most welcome here.

Thank you.

Are you from the neighborhood?

Uh, my family started
out here and did very well.

I'd like to do
something in return.

Well, you'll certainly have
plenty of opportunity for that.

Why don't I start, uh, by
attacking that light socket?

I'm telling you, Frank,
it's the same family.

- Steve, are you sure?
- Yes.

Before they got filthy rich,

they lived right here
in this neighborhood.

Well, it could be coincidence.

Every one a rotten apple.

Now, I respect the
uniform of a priest,

but that family's a disgrace.

- Marie!
- Begging your pardon, Father.

They're in to every sin

known to man.

Excuse me, I was reading
and forgot all about the time.

I hope the roast isn't too dry.

Please.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,

bless these, your gifts
which we are about to receive.

And make us ever mindful
of the needs of others.

- Amen.
- Amen.

Oh, those vegetables
smell delicious.

John?

(clears throat)

God might be hungry
for his dinner, too.

I'd, uh, I'd like to say
something if I could.

Of course, if you don't mind
my carving while you're talking.

You, uh, you probably
recognize my last name.

Actually, we were
a little curious.

(phone rings)

I can't condone what
my family has done,

but they are still my family.

You don't owe us
any explanation.

But thank you.

Phone is for you.

Excuse me.

It's a man.

He wouldn't give me his name
even though I asked him twice.

Voice like rough cement.

This parish has enough
problems without having

his family mixed up here.

Now, Steve.

Is it hot in here?

I think it's hot in here.

I'm gonna go check
the thermostat.

JOHN: Look, I don't know
if I can make it tonight.

Are you sure the police
don't know that Peter's there?

All right. All right.

I'll-I'll come.

Now, why do I think
that you were just...

about to pass the gravy.

Is everything okay?

Fine.

Just a little family problem.

Father, would it be all
right if I went out tonight?

Uh, that's if you don't need
me around here, of course.

John, your personal
time is strictly your own.

(engine starting)

Oh, evening, Father.

Yeah.

Go on through.

(men talking quietly)

Come in.

I'm tired.

I want to retire.

I want to take the
family out of the...

I can't be involved in this.

You have got to go to Guilliamo.

I need an intermediary.

I want you to go to Guilliamo.
You cut a deal with him.

You give him the names of
the Colombians who supply us.

I walk away, and
the family's out

of the drug business for good.

(dogs barking)

- (barking continues)
- What's, what, what is that?

I'll check it out.

Why don't we
skip dinner tonight?

Sorry.

Public enemy number one told
me he was starving for lasagna.

That's not funny.

How long are you
gonna be like this?

I don't know.

Maybe until I get my life back.

Here.

He's your brother.

You mean you
actually followed him?

I'm telling you, Frank,
something is going on.

You know, forgetting
for the moment

what an invasion of
privacy that was, Steve,

you could have been hurt or...

I couldn't hear what they were
saying, but it was real serious.

- (door banging)
- Hmm.

DOWLING: Oh,
good morning, Marie.

Have you seen Father
John this morning?

He went out of here about a
half an hour ago lickety-split

without so much
as a piece of toast.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Hmm.
- (phone ringing)

St. Michael's, Father
Dowling speaking.

What?

Who is this?

Hello?

What is it, Frank?

Some woman.

She begged me to stop John.

Claims he's on his way
to the city building to...

to murder someone
named Guilliamo.

♪♪

(people talking nearby)

Cancel the 12:00.

Okay.

Uh, see if the mayor can
do lunch half an hour later.

All right.

And call Kaskowski
after we see the priest.

Father Luciani!

Paul!

(gunshots)

Stop! Stop!

What, I'm a priest.

Look, call the cops.

He just shot Guilliamo!

(indistinct radio transmission)

Father.

John.

JOHN: Bless me,
Father, for I have sinned.

It's been three days
since my last confession.

Tell me what is in
your heart, my son.

I have committed
the sin of pride.

My brothers asked
me to negotiate

a meeting for
Peter with Guilliamo.

I called him, and
he agreed to see me.

How was that prideful?

I thought I was better
than my brothers.

I thought I knew God's will,
and took it upon myself to do it.

Anything else?

No.

John, this is a most
sacred moment.

Your confession is not
just to me, but to God.

Tell me the truth,
did you kill Guilliamo?

I didn't know anything
about the murder.

Please believe me.

Please help me.

I'll help you, son.

Because I do believe you.

Be careful.

Sorry, Father, but after some
phony priest killed Guilliamo,

we, uh, can't take any chances.

STEPHANIE: Hey, Karnes!

- Steve, is that you?
- Yeah, sure is.

Give me a hug.

You look great.

Hey, I-I heard,

but I couldn't believe.

Yeah, it's the best thing
that ever happened to me.

Who's this?

This is Steve, from
the old neighborhood.

This is, uh, Mrs. Luciani.

I'm Father Dowling, and
this is Sister Stephanie.

Father, Sister Stephanie.

John Luciani has been
assigned to my parish,

and he asked me to come
and talk to his brother, Chris.

I'll tell him you're here.

It's Freemont and
those damn farmers.

It's got to be.

But why?

They know you want
out of drugs, Peter?

They killed Guilliamo
and they framed Johnny.

To make sure the Feds nail you.

I've got a surprise for them.

If they want a
fight, they had just...

- (knocking)
- What?

What is it?

John's priest is here.

Hide behind here.

I don't run from a priest.

Come in, Father.

Father, I can't thank you enough

for supporting John
the way you have.

It's very nice to meet you.

I'm sorry the circumstance
is such an unhappy one.

Who could do such a thing?

We have a pretty good idea.

Some farmers.

I'm sorry, I don't
believe we've met.

Old family friend.

Ah, I see.

Did you say the
farmers killed Guilliamo?

Yes, it sounds crazy,
but they were farmers,

and when they couldn't
pay their mortgages,

they started to raise marijuana.

They turned it
into a big business.

And they're killers?

Their leader's name
is Tom Freemont.

Very tough and
quite competitive.

I see.

Well, thank you so
much for your time.

By the way, where's
your brother, Peter?

Unavailable, Father.

Strange.

He has such a powerful presence,

I get the feeling that
he's right here with us.

I'll pass on your concern.

My only concern is for
John's spiritual well-being.

And to that end, I suggest
you look into your heart

to make sure you're
doing all you can for him.

You, too, Peter.

You scared me to
death, you know.

Well, not that I'm complaining,
but why didn't you give me away?

I don't know really.

Maybe because I
was raised by nuns.

It's because you're
not one of them.

Isn't it?

When I heard on the news
about John being arrested,

and the police came to
the house to talk to Chris,

I couldn't believe it.

I know.

It's been a nightmare.

Everyone says Peter did it

because he couldn't
buy Guilliamo.

(teakettle whistling)

I'd do anything to help John.

Do you know who
had Guilliamo killed?

- No, I can't.
- You must know something.

And I think you want to
tell me about it, don't you?

No, I-I...

I don't know anything.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

Mrs. Luciani, are you all right?

Yeah, Father, I'm okay.

Are you ready to go, Frank?

Mm-hmm.

All our prayers are with you.

If there's anything I can do,

even if it's just to listen,
I'm a phone call away.

Thank you.

(piano playing gentle melody)

So what are you thinking, Frank?

Well, besides being
sure that John is innocent,

nothing but
questions, I'm afraid.

I sure wish we knew who
that mystery woman was.

The woman that phoned, that said

John was going
to shoot Guilliamo.

Yeah. She's got to
be part of the frame.

It all comes down to who
really wanted Guilliamo dead.

- (car doors closing)
- That's this fellow Freemont.

Plus, of course, Peter Luciani.

- (door opening)
- And the, uh...

Mob?

(door closing)

Are you Father Dowling?

I am.

My only daughter,
Patrice Coribini,

nuptials are impending.

Guido Coribini would be honored

if you would perform
the ceremony.

Well, uh, it's just that I
guess I'm a little surprised

since you're not a
member of our parish.

I ask you as a sign of respect.

For your loyalty to
the Luciani family.

Oh, well, uh, that's very nice.

What I mean is, I am loyal
to John, of course, but...

Father, I think what
Mr. Coribini is saying

is that he'd like to throw
a little business your way.

Right, Sister.

What is your reply, Father?

I'd be delighted.

Thank you, Father.

I will take this as
a sign of friendship,

and will be in your debt.

(door opens)

(sighs)

(door closes)

How could I say no?

(country music
playing in background)

Frank, this is what is
technically known as a joint.

WAITRESS: You
running a tab, hon?

Uh, excuse me.

We're looking for
a Tom Freemont.

At the co-op they said
he was here all the time.

Do you know a Tom Freemont?

No, I suppose not.

Excuse me, uh, I'm
looking for Tom Freemont.

It's real important.
We got to talk to him.

Thanks anyway.

Have any ideas?

I think it's time
for a collection.

(whistles sharply)

Ladies and gentlemen, Sister
Stephanie from St. Michael's,

with a message of
charity and redemption.

Um, I'm collecting
money for the, uh,

for the Tom
Freemont relief fund.

The relief's not for
him, it's from him.

I'm talking widows and orphans

of men that have been
killed in his drug trade.

Please, be generous.

It's for innocent victims.

MAN: Hey!

That's enough.

And who might you be, sir?

Tom Freemont.

Bingo.

I assume you don't wish
to contribute, Mr. Freemont?

I never killed anybody.

Oh, you're not in
the drug trade, huh?

All I'm doing is trying to help
farmers hold on to their land.

Even if what you're
doing is illegal?

What about banks that
take away farms that families

have worked on for
two, three generations

'cause they can't pay
interest on the loans?

Loans that we
were told to take out

when things were good
so we could grow more.

So they could get more...

Ah...

I understand,
but it's still wrong.

You didn't come all the way
out here just to tell me that.

No, we came to ask you
about the Guilliamo murder.

I thought that priest
of yours did that.

He was on his way to a
meeting with Guilliamo

to get the Luciani family
out of the drug business.

(laughs)

That'll be the day.

They think that you
had Guilliamo killed

and then framed Father John.

I'll walk you to the door.

I'm not a believer in
your church, Father,

but I was raised to
respect all preachers.

This could get real ugly.

You don't want to
be in the middle of it.

That's my truck.

If this is what the
Lucianis call peace,

then you better start
praying for them.

Sorry, folks.

Just closing for the day.

You-you're the one
that got all the attention

about that young priest
who's arrested for murder.

I'm Father Dowling,
this is Sister Stephanie.

And you're certainly a
man with an eye for detail.

Well, 20 years
on the police force

ought to do something
for your ability to observe.

I really do have to lock up.

Were you on duty the
day the murder took place?

Sure was.

Well, it probably
all happened so fast

that you didn't really know
what was going on, huh?

Are you joking?

Shots sounded like dynamite.

I was in the stairway, action
ready, 20 seconds tops.

Well, the police told us
what happened, but, uh...

I have such a bad
sense of geography.

You don't suppose...

- No.
- What?

Well, I-I-I don't want
to impose, it's just that...

Well, I thought maybe
you could show us

where it was where
you helped catch...

You-You mean
reenact what happened?

Yeah.

Father, this man
is much too busy

to tell us how he was a hero.

Yeah.

I charged up from
the street level.

- Like Wyatt Earp?
- Exactly.

Now, I started up.

And I could smell the smoke
and the powder from the discharge.

Oh, what a smell.

Uh, no offense, Father.

Uh...

Nobody came down?

No, of course not.

Now, I see Douglas...
He's just grabbing your boy.

He sends me up on
the stairs to call the cops.

You found the bodies?

First I spot the gun.

Then Guilliamo's body.

And the woman was still alive.

The killer, he couldn't
escape by going upstairs?

No. Douglas was coming down,

and he didn't see
anybody but your priest.

And he just
happened to be there.

If I'd have had that
kind of break just once

in 20 years, I'd have
made lieutenant for sure.

Empty.

Well, the cleaning crew
cleans the stairwells first.

Now, I really do
have to take you out.

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah, we've imposed enough.

Would you happen to
know where we might be

able to find the cleaning crew?

Listen, could you tell me
what you're looking for, Father?

Something like this.

That's it, Frank.

I don't know, Father.

It looks like just a
piece of black cloth

- with a piece of card...
- But remember that the only

eyewitness who saw
a priest shoot Guilliamo

was his assistant, and she
admits that she only saw him

for a second before
she got shot herself.

Yeah, but... it's
circumstantial.

Plus, you didn't even
find it in the stairwell.

And it could have come
from anywhere, and...

Ah, Mr. Douglas.

You know Father
Dowling, don't you?

No, I don't think we've met.

Oh, you're the priest
from Luciani's parish.

I'm Father John's priest.

You've got your work
cut out for you, Father.

What did the lab say?

Are we keeping you
from anything, Father?

No.

It's okay.

Look at this GSR.

That's, uh, gunshot
residue, Father.

It's like, um...

It's like powder burns
on a person's hands

when they fired a gun.

Exactly.

And it looks bad
for your Father John.

The lab tested his right
glove and, uh, it's all over it.

Anything else, Father?

No. Not that I can think of.

Well, nice to have
met you, Mr. Douglas.

You'd be surprised how
much I've looked forward to it.

Oh, I'm just checking
on who's getting famous

- from the old neighborhood.
- Hmm.

How'd it go?

Suddenly, it's much
tougher than we thought.

Whoever fired that weapon
wore gloves just like John's.

It's got to be Douglas.

He's the only one that could
have switched the gloves.

Exactly.

And he took John's
gloves, threw them away,

and turned his own
gloves into the police

as evidence against John.

How do we prove that?

Well, we've either got
to find John's gloves,

or that woman who called us.

Well, what are we
looking for, Frank?

Douglas's office.

Yeah, but you just left
him across the street

with Sergeant Clancy.

That's what I'm counting on.

Hello.

I'm Father Dowling.

I'm Sister Stephanie.

We're from St. Michael's.

That's nice.

We'd like to see Mr. Douglas.

You just missed him.

When will he be back?

I wouldn't know.

Oh, dear.

I do need to see him.

Do you mind if we wait?

Have a seat.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Are you by any chance Catholic?

No.

Protestant?

Atheist.

Well, then perhaps you've
heard of Pascal's wager.

No.

It's a bet.

Wagering on the
existence of God.

To put it simply,
it means if you bet

that God does not exist,
and you win, you win nothing,

but if you bet

that God does exist,

and you win, you win everything.

I don't believe in
gambling, either.

Neither do I.

(line ringing)

WOMAN: Police Commissioner
Blair's office, good morning.

(dial tone)

(line ringing)

- MAN: Texas.
- What?

Texas Tavern, what do you want?

Is Douglas there?

Nah, he never comes
in during the day.

Who is this?

RECEPTIONIST: Sister!

I-I'm sorry, I was,
I was calling...

I was calling on
an act of charity

that's actually very close
to Mr. Douglas's heart.

Thank you.

Bye.

Bye.

Did you find anything?

Douglas frequents Texas Tavern.

What's that?

It's a rough place
and not a place

you'd expect to find an
assistant district attorney.

And it's not a place
to find nuns, either.

- I learned my lesson.
- Good.

I don't take chances
like that, anymore.

- I mean it.
- I know you do, Frank.

Absolutely not.

What do you know?

Don't suppose you'd
consider two out of three?

Think of it as a donation.

Looks like you got the touch.

Way he was playing,
I don't need it.

Let me tell you
how I play the game.

I could either be silky
slick or real mean.

I think you got the wrong game.

No. No, you do.

See, around here,
I run the game,

and you play by my rules.

You think I'm in here
looking for action?

You manage as
many ladies as I do,

you can smell it on the prowl.

Now, you got two choices.

The one you don't want is
leaving here damaged goods.

See, I'm working for
somebody else right now.

As a matter of fact,
he'd be real upset

if he knew that I was
here, talking to you.

- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.

Who is he?

Big Frank.

Never heard of him.

Big Frank's been
responsible for lots of funerals.

What outfit is he with?

The biggest.

I didn't know those guys were
taking over this neighborhood.

Slick.

Hey, Douglas, what's going on?

- Who's your new friend?
- She's no friend of mine.

You look real familiar.

You want this
quail, she's yours.

Don't even think
about paying me.

Maybe I would like to
get to know you better.

If you let me,

bet I could get you to paradise.

I'm ready.

Great. I got my car out back.

We'll take mine.

Why don't you follow me?

That way you don't have
to bring me back here.

Place I work out
of is real special.

Just walking through the
door, you're halfway to Heaven.

You know how to convince a guy.

Hey, where do you
think you're going?

Do I ever ask you
where you're going?

(horn honks twice)

Steve, where have you been?

I came back from communion
class and I found your note.

Father Dowling, you
remember Mr. Douglas.

I sort of bumped into
him at Texas Tavern.

You went...

After I specifically told you
not to get involved there?

I wasn't involved.

He just sort of
followed me home.

You live here?

STEPHANIE: Did I
forget to introduce myself?

I'm sorry, I'm Sister
Stephanie from St. Michael's,

at your service.

You think you're
pretty cute, don't you?

Father Dowling has
a theory on the murder

I think you'll find fascinating.

Yes, it's about a man who
puts on a false priest's collar

and shoots Guilliamo.

Yes, Clancy told me
about that. It's crazy.

You should know.

On the other hand,

you might have a chat
with the security guard.

STEPHANIE: Oh,
he was very helpful.

He told us exactly how
this mystery guy pulled it off.

Mmm. And when
the murder happened,

this phony priest had to be
very, very close to the killer.

What's that supposed to mean?

Why don't you come in for
some coffee, Mr. Douglas.

Man who's as close
to the priesthood as you

ought to feel right at
home in the rectory.

You're so free with advice,
let me give you some.

Leave murder to the
professionals, like you.

Guess you told him, Big Frank.

DOUGLAS: This
isn't a negotiation.

I'm telling you
that priest knows.

It isn't enough.

Make it twice that much and
have it there in half an hour.

You're lying to me, aren't you?

You're never coming back at all.

You're never coming back and
I'm never gonna see you again.

Beth, if you keep
this up, you won't.

Well, why won't you
take me with you?

Here, look, I'll call you
as soon as I get settled.

Come here.

(door opens, closes)

(gun cocking)

(gunshot)

(gunshots)

(yelling)

(animal howling)

(talking along with TV):
There it is again, Holmes,

that fiendish cry.

Courage, Watson.

(phone ringing)

What kind of a monster
would use such a sound?

(on TV): I don't know.

(as Holmes): St. M...

(normal voice): St. Michael's,
Father Dowling speaking.

(on TV): Over there.

Let's go back to the manor
house and tell Sir Jeffery.

Come now, Watson.

DOUGLAS (weakly): Father!

Over here.

Steve, call the paramedics.

No,

they'll be listening
for the radio dispatch.

They'll be here
before the ambulance.

Who did this to you?

That's why I called you, Father.

Get me to a hospital.

Are you Catholic, my son?

None of that last rites
business for me, Father.

Who did this to you?

Who's behind these killings?

Ego te absolvo.

Frank.

He wouldn't tell us who did it.

He's gone.

And so is our last chance
to save Father John.