Miami Vice (1984–1989): Season 3, Episode 20 - By Hooker by Crook - full transcript

( ♪ 30,000 Feet - Broken Homes ♪ )

Resync By Chuck :D

Look at that.
[Laughs]

You know,
more sociologists should come
to these charity bashes.

What, kind of like
reverse slumming?

Well, for the sake of enlightenment.
I mean, isn't it tribal?

Everyone trying not to step on
the wrong toes in a mating dance
for the overprivileged.

Are you just here to watch?

And to make a few
business contacts.

But I guess I am
a bit of a voyeur.

How about you, Mr. Burnett?
You have any confessions to make?



Well, me and my partner,
we're here to size up the situation,

and if, uh, something
should happen to turn up—

Does that something have
strictly to do with business?

Absolutely not.
Mmm.

In fact—
In fact, the gentleman
that we came here to see...

is leaving and going back
to his apartment.

Ah— Can't wait, huh?

Uh, Christine Von Marburg,
this is my partner, Ricardo Cooper,

who promises to
improve his timing.

Pleasure.
Hi.

Money is not made
lyin' in the shade.

My conscience.
Hmm.

Uh, I guess this
really is urgent.

I'll call you sometime.



I'm not listed.

Don't worry about it.

[Sighs]

So shut it off.
[Engine Stops]

I wish I had a nickel
for every minute I've spent...

out in front of
some joker's apartment,

waiting for him to come out
after having been...

in some nice, warm sheets.

Yeah, I hope Symington's quick.

C-Come on, Ali!
[Laughs]

Wait. Here.

Ali, not out here.

Come on.

Come on.

[Screams]

Is it Symington?

It ain't the bluebird of happiness.

He had an M.B.A. From Harvard.

Would've done him more good
if he'd have used it for a parachute.

He must've had
some very unhappy customers.

I thought guys in his line of work
got even by cheating at golf.

[Crockett]
Whoever gave him the flying lessons
wasn't a country-clubber.

I'm guessin' he was laundering money
for some new player and got sticky fingers.

The girl?
Gonzo.

She didn't even come down to
check the poor sap's pulse.

- Yeah, the only way she could've
killed him was in the bed.
- [Chuckles]

There's no other suspects?

Tubbs and I will check with
the society dame that threw the party.

Maybe she'll know
something about the girl.

[Typing]

Come on, Sonny.
We gotta step on it.
Rich women don't wait.

Yeah, I know. I know. I know.
[Paper Rips]

[Man]
You let her get away?

[Man #2]
She runs kinda fast.

Now his death looks like
what it was—murder.

And Ali is still wandering around
out there with a tale to tell.

But I thought you hired her.

Idiots!!
Both of you.

Are you so used to jail that you think
of it as some sort of vacation? Hmm?

If the police get to her,
she's going to identify you.

And if the police arrest you—

We're not that way,
Mr. Togaru.

Why not spare us all the anxiety
of waiting to find out?

Hmm?
Kill her.

[Woman]
Well, it certainly put
a damper on my party.

Honestly, I couldn't have
been more surprised.

Murder. Dear Charles.

You see, this type of thing
just doesn't happen in our circle.

We're more likely to get robbed.

"Give me your money."
"Hand over those municipal bonds."

But murder— Murder, it's just so...

lower-class.

[Chuckles]
You have to forgive me.
Sometimes I'm such a princess.

Yes, well, uh, just a couple more questions,
and then we'll let you grieve in private.

Oh. You're so kind.

Uh, the girl that was with Symington—
Do you happen to know her name?

Yes. Ali.

Oh, ravishing.

But definitely not a murderess.

Well, lady, we're not
accusing her of anything.
We just wanna talk to her.

Do you happen to know
where she lives or a phone number
or maybe even a last name?

No, no, I'm afraid not.

Did she ever say
where she worked?

She's a model.
That much I know.

Uh, as a matter of fact,
she was very excited.

She had just gotten some
new pictures for her portfolio.
[Chuckles]

Rather risqué,
from what I understand.

But, you know,
when you're a girl who looks like that,
you can get away with anything.

Uh, would you happen to know
the modeling agency she's with?

No.
Oh.

Okay.
Uh—

I do think I have
the photographer's name.

You know, actually I was thinking
of having some pictures taken myself.

You know, for my husband. A gift.

Yes, here it is.
DeLa Moreno.

Strange name, isn't it?

[Tubbs Laughs]

"Boudoir photography
by I. DeLa Moreno."
Oh, man.

"Paris, Rome, New York,
Miami and San Juan."

The only way this guy
ever got to any of these places
is from extradition.

This reminds me of my
first massage parlor bust.

You look on the rap sheet,
Izzy was probably runnin' the joint.

Izzy?

Go away, huh?

Come on. Open up.
You got no right.
You know that?

You're "defecating"
the First Amendment.

Open this door, or I'm gonna
pull you through that peephole.
You got it?

[Spanish]
Huh? Huh?

Come on!
One second.
It's stuck on this side.

Push on your side.

No, no, you're pushing
the wrong way.
Push on this—

Don't pull on itl

Open this door!
It's stuck.

You'll have to come around.
There we go. We got it.
Come on in.

Shh!! She's havin'
a private moment.

That's the—That's the cornerstone
of the Strasberg inner technique.

Dorinda. Dorinda, don't break
character now. Don't break it.
[Screams]

I thought we were
supposed to be alone!
Get up—

Back on that stage!

Get—

Izzy, what are you doing
with these women,

takin'it out in trade?

Have some respect,
Crockett, huh?

I will do whatever is necessary
to attain attitudinal pomposity,

and that includes the arousal of
certain photogenic voluptuaries.

Okay, enough of the mysto-babble,
you Hispanic Hugh Hefner.

[Tubbs]
You ever photograph
a model named Ali?

Brunette.
Lots of hair, lots of inseam.

Like a lawyer and a priest,
when I'm "immoralizing" women—

[Makes Whooshing Sound]
Sacred vows.

- Oh, I get it. Kinda like a monk.
- Exactly.

Uh-huh. The only difference is
the monastery you're gonna
go back to...

doesn't believe in
chastity... or abstinence.

Cops and priests.
Whenever I see 'em,
I got a weird feeling...

I gotta make some kind
of confession.
Now you're gettin' warm.

I'm sizzling, mon ami.

Ali. There you go.

Nice posture.
Mm-hmm.

Uh, does she have a last name,
or did that come off with her clothes?

Ali Ferrand, Ali Ferrand, Ali Ferran—

1207 Portofino. 14A.
You want me to go with you,
maybe knock on the front door?

Uh, thank you, no.
What happened to your neck?

Uh, this is the, uh,

Erich von Stroheim
school of directors.

It's European discipline.

It's a grand illusion, no?

Don't get your thumb
in front of the lens, pal.

Dorinda? Darling, come out.
It's all right.

Now, listen, this time remember
your subtext, okay?

[Crockett]
Aha. Looks like our
little lady left in a hurry.

Well, at least we know she can
pass a current events exam.

How far do you think
it scared her—

across town,
out of town?

I hope scared is all she is.

Come on. We'll put Switek
on the building.

[Crockett]
Yes, ma'am, I am persistent.

No, no, no, no, sorry. How I got
your number is a trade secret.

Tell you what though. We can
discuss it over dinner tonight.

You know Emilio's?

What do you mean "too well"?

By "too well," I meant that
this is where...

I broke up with
my last significant other.

[Laughs]
And how long were you
with this, uh, significant other?

For about a year, but I should've
moved out after a week.
And why is that?

Uh-uh. It's my turn
to ask questions.

Just what is it you do that gives you
access to unlisted phone numbers,

mine for example?

Oh, a little of this,
a little of that.

Let me guess.
You're a jewel thief...

or maybe a traveling evangelist
or maybe a gigolo.

[Laughs]
None of the above.

How about you?

I have a company called C.V.M. Enterprises,
and its existence makes me an entrepreneur.

- Meaning?
- Do a little of this—

and a little of that.
And a little of that.
Uh-huh. I got it.

We better get outta here before
somebody puts a lie detector on us.

[Both Laugh]

Um, at Brown, I minored in theater,

and, um, I was kinda hooked
on Shakespeare.

I can't believe anybody
reads all that.
[Laughs]

Thank you for
a wonderful night.

Ah. I guess that
means it's over.

For now.

Can I try again tomorrow night?

I'd be real disappointed
if you didn't.

Good night.

[Crying]

Ali?
What's the matter?

Christine, you—you always said
that you would help me, right?

Come here. What?

Chuck— Chuckie. Chuckie.
They killed Chuckie.

- What?
- They killed Chuckie.

Oh, God!
I got away.

Oh, God.
I'm so scared.

It's okay, honey.
It's okay. It's all right.

Oh.

Every time the light
hits her in a different way,
I see somethin'new about her.

She's read Shakespeare,
and she likes that, uh,

Postimpressionist art
or whatever the hell it is.

Then last night, she asked me
what I think about Buddy Holly.

As a singer
or as a totem figure?

Hey, suck eggs,
pal, all right?

Oh, boy. Sonny, man, you don't
even know what this chick
does for a living.

She makes mucho dinero.
I can tell you that.

Fine. Wonderful.

But what's Miss Make Plenty of Bucks
gonna say when you tell her you're a cop?

[Sighs]

So far we got zip.

The apartment must've
given you something.

Yeah, it told us she was gone.

Gina, Trudy, I want you to dig up
as much as you can on—

Ali Ferrand. F-E-R-R-A-N-D.

She's a model.

Ali as in Muhammad Ali?

What else?
[Chuckles]
I like her already.

According to Homicide,

everyone around Symington
said he was a Boy Scout.

Then it's gettin' harder
to win merit badges.

Keep me informed.

[Cowbells Clang]

[Panting]

Mes amis, man.
You can't leave.
We just got here.

I knew she was married.
Shut up and get back inside,
pip-squeak.

I knew that she was,
but, you know, it's okay, though.

I'm a boudoir photographer.
That's all. Boudoir.

You know what a boudoir is?
It's like a bed.

It's got, like, lacy curtains
and a tent over the top of it.

It's tremendous architecture,
and you know what they say
about architecture?

It's like frozen music.
Well, Goethe said it, not me.

You know what I mean?
It's just that—
that all boudoirs have—

The important thing is the bounty,
and that's a woman.

You know, women who are not afraid to
take off their clothes in front of people,
you know, and, uh—

- Ali Ferrand.
- No, that's not her.

Excuse me. Could you please
put that down, huh?

I-I thought we were gonna have
a meaningful "diabolical" here.

But, listen, I'm no
reluctant witness.

Ali Ferrand.

Yeah, the phone number's in
that desk right over there.

If you want, l—
Let me go, uh, help you get it.

What reward do I get, huh,

for telling you that Godzilla and Rodan
came by and "immortalized" me?

You ever seen 'em before?

How many times do I
have to tell you?

I photograph beautiful women,
not meatballs!
Those momos!

How'd they know
about you anyway?

The truth.

- She's a hooker.
- What?

She's a hooker!
Who?

Ali Ferrand!

Why didn't you tell me that
in the first place?

'Cause you didn't ask.

The next time you withhold
information from me, pal,

I'm gonna have a little chat
with your parole officer,

and then you're gonna get
to go play "hide the soap"!
You'd do that, wouldn't you?

You'd "defoliate" my freedom?
That's right. You've got it.

Was she freelance?
No, she worked for
this escort service.

Caprice. I do a lot of
their photos.

From now on, you're sending
copies to the Vice office.

That phone doesn't work.
You gotta use the pay phone.

You don't need any change.
I've already rigged it.

If you wanna call long distance,
you can use this one down here. I-

[Line Ringing]

- Switek.
- Yeah, you caught me right in
the middle of a magic trick.

Yeah, what a coincidence.
Get ahold of Gina and Trudy.

Have 'em track down and do a check
on the Caprice Escort Service.

Any sign of Ali?

No, if you ask me,
she's never comin' back.

Yeah, well, nobody asked ya.
And while you're at it,

keep an eye out for
the couple of leg-breakers
that just paid Izzy a visit.

Oh, they break his legs?

We couldn't get that lucky.

Ali, you know the last thing
that I wanna do...

is throw you out on the street.

But I just, um, really think
that I need a little bit of—

Privacy.
Privacy.

Don't worry about it, honey.
I'm leavin'.

I figured you were gonna
walk in with him last night.

I didn't know
which bedroom to hide in.

Is it serious?

I think so.

Yeah, it's serious.

Well, then maybe you can
keep me up to date.

That is, if you accept collect calls.

'Cause think I better
get out of town for a while.

You're sure?
Yeah.

God, yeah.

Well, you can always
come back here.

Really?
Mm-hmm.

Well, if I do, I'll certainly give you
plenty of warning.

I was telling a friend of mine
about you today.

Oh, yeah?
Yeah.

What were you doin',
describin' the noise my head made
when it ran into the Berlin Wall?

Berlin Wall?
Your front door.

[Laughs]
Come on. It wasn't
that bad, was it?

No, just painfully refreshing.

So you're not happy?
Oh, no, I'm happy.

Yeah?
I could be happier.

Is there anything that
I could help you with?
Yeah, I'm sure you could.

Do you have something
specific in mind?

Well, if pressed, I could probably
come up with something.

( ♪ Split Decision - Steve Winwood ♪ )

Explanations.

If I'd have gotten a little closer,
I might've been able to recognize her.

But you can't do a stakeout
from someone's front porch,
can you?

[Crockett] Listen, Marty,
there's no way he could've guessed
she was gonna wear a wig.

[Tubbs]
It was a long shot that
she'd even come back here.

The killers did not wear wigs.

Security's a rumor in this joint.
You could sneak a 747 in here
from a million places.

I talked to the neighbors.
There's a couple girls
about Ali's age...

said she was not trickin'
from this apartment.

They looked like they know
what they're talking about.

Thank you.
Tubbs and I'll
check out Caprice.

Caprice. Caprice, that's, uh, "C."
[Beeps]

Caprice.

Oh, look at this.
Christine's office is here too.

Does Christine know who
her neighbors are?

So what are you wearing?

Ooh, are they nice and tight?

Why don't you just relax for me?

Sinful Cindy.
Don't be afraid.
Okay.

Pain is pleasure.

I'll take care of you.

[Chattering]

I'll tell you anything you want to hear.
Just give me your credit card number first. ;)

If you want an escort,
let me have your name
and phone number,

and I'll call
you right back.

Fauntleroy? [Scoffs]
Is that your first name
or your last name, hon?

No, no.
I need your name.

Look, someone just came in.
Why don't you, uh,

call me back when you're ready
to tell the truth or, uh,

Fauntleroy gets its
own listing, okay?

Sorry, fellas. No walk-ins.
Strictly outcall.

Well, maybe you can make
an exception in our case?

For the police?
Anything.

Being a strictly legitimate
small business,

it's our pleasure
to cooperate with the man.

Well, that's good.

We got a little bad news
for ya though.

One of your girls got herself
killed last night—Ali Ferrand.

She was always
screwing something up.

How 'bout a list of, uh,
some of those somethings...

or someone she might have
been involved with in
the past week or so?

It's in the computer somewhere.

Well, I sure hope you're
computer friendly.

I'm just friendly.
How 'bout your boss?

Maybe he could help us?

Can't say.

Who is your boss?

I can't say that either.

Okay, I'll tell you what you do.

You tell your boss to get us
that information and phone it in
to this number.

Tell him not to make me
get a warrant now.

Because that'll make me mad.
And then I'm gonna clear
my desk of all my other cases...

and make his life one living hell
for the next six months.

So what do you think?

Well, I think since we're here,
I may as well stop in and say hello
to Christine.

Can I help you?
Yeah, Christine Von Marburg, please.

And do you have an appointment?
Uh, just tell her
Sonny Burnett's here.

[Woman]
Burnett.

Sonny?

Hi!! :D

Are you all right?
Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm fine.

I just had some
upsetting news.

This land that we wanted to buy
and build condos on,

the competition just outbid us.
Oh.

What kind of fool would sell to
your competition? Don't they know
you're businesswoman of the year?

You're kidding.
Front page.

Well, chamber of commerce
is easily swayed.
Well, congratulations.

Yeah, congratulations.
Thanks.

Well, this calls for
a little celebration.

How about if I take you
to dinner tonight?

[Sighs]
I don't think so.

Hey, hey, are you giving me
the brush-off, lady?
No, nothing like that.

Then I'll be by
at around, uh, 8:00...

with a pizza and a bottle
of champagne.

Okay, but no anchovies
on the pizza.

You got it.
Okay.

All I know about you
is that you drive a Testarossa
and you live on a boat.

I mean, I don't even know
where your office is.
[Chuckles]

Me and Cooper
move too fast to have one.

Well, what if I wanted to send you
a present for your birthday?

You don't even know when
my birthday is.

You see?
That's another secret that
you're keeping from me.

July 29.
There, you satisfied?

At last, the shroud of mystery
begins to lift.

Okay, your turn. You gotta tell me
one of your secrets now.

Tell me. Tell me somethin'.

Well, what are you interested in?

Um—
Oh, wait, wait. I know.

I'm a TV star.
What?

Tomorrow, I'll be on
Miami at Midday.

You know, from the—
that award I got.

No kidding?
Yeah, you promise
you'll watch?

I promise,
if you promise you'll remember me
when you make the big time.

There, there.
I promise when it's over,
I'll come right back to you.

You better.

If I don't, I'm crazy.

...doesn't take your breath away,
then I think you'd better
move to Cleveland for a while.

Greetings, everybody.
We're coming to you from
the Port of Miami,

and I think we have
a very special show for you.

"Special" certainly is an adjective
that's been used to describe
the woman to my right.

This is Christine Von Marburg.
She is a very successful businesswoman,

chairman ofher own corporation,
C. V.M. Enterprises,

and just named by
the Miami Chamber of Commerce...

one of the three outstanding
businesswomen of the year.

She's lovely, obviously,

and I think we're going
to find out that she's also
rather intriguing.

Comfortable?
Yes. It's too nice
of a day not to be.

I'd venture to say you've been
comfortable all your life.

- [Christine] Why is that?
- Your late father, Klaus Von Marburg,

heir to millions in
German munitions,

and, of course, your mother,
the former Elizabeth Babbitt,

with a pedigree that traces
all the way back to the Pilgrims.

And as for you, after one of
the decade's most lavish debutante parties—
Shh!

I think you should read this.
Trudy, not now.
I gotta watch this.

... graduated with honors in history.

And that's why I was frankly flabbergasted
at the report from our research people...

on a month-long investigation
into your background.

Why is that?
Well—

A goodly portion of your annual
high six-figure salary...

is derived from
ladies of the night.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Well, the telephone company may
call it the "Caprice Escort Service,"

which certainly
sounds respectable,

but you're running a string of prostitutes.

Ms. Von Marburg, you're a madam.

[Christine Clears Throat]
[Man] How did you get
into the business?

That's what I was
trying to tell you.

I'm sorry. I really don't—
don't know what you're
talking about.

Did you do any of this yourself?
Were you involved in actually
turning tricks yourself,

or was this just something you saw
as a business opportunity?

Um, l—I don't think that we should
continue this conversation.

[Trudy Sighs]
I-It was just luck that I found it.

I ran all Florida corporations—nada.

Then I ran all
the U.S. Corporations.

Finally, I tried foreign corporations
with subsidiaries doing business
in Florida.

Caprice is owned by a holding company
in the Dutch Antilles,

which is subsidiary of
a Delaware corporation,

and the principal stockholder
is Christine Von Marburg.

I just got a phone call
from downtown.

We're to pick up a madam
by the name of Christine Von Marburg.

Gina, Trudy, please.

First a junkie, now a hooker.

I think I've been in
the business too long.

I'm startin' to fall for the players.

Rico, do me a favor.

Pull the phone records
on Christine Von Marburg...

and Charles Symington.

What a tangled web these
criminal virtuosos weave.

Not exactly pimps cutting
hookers in half on vacant lots.

No, our guy has
a little different style.

He strangles them
and then drops 'em off buildings.

Christine made 42 calls
in three months.

Symington?
Yeah.

Eight calls in the past two weeks
before Symington took the big belly flop.

Guy named
Kenneth Togaru.

I never heard of him.
[Man]
You have now.

See, eight holding companies later,
there he is—

chairman and C.E.O.
Of the Bigham Group.

Got some interesting
associates too.
Charles Symington.

He was chief financial adviser.

And there she is—
Christine Von Marburg.

I'd like to talk to the lady.

Christine?

It's okay.

I'll be outside if you need me.
Fine.

A setup?

I never had a clue.

I tricked you, you tricked me.
I mean, pardon the pun.

Pretty clever, aren't we?

I got my reasons.
What are yours?

First, it was the excitement,

a private joke on my
oh-so-respectable family.

[Inhales, Exhales]
Then it became a job.

And the money was
just too good to be true.

And it was mine.

But, Sonny,

I never did any hooking.

It's your life.

It's the truth.

I want you to know.

Since you're in the mood
for telling the truth,
tell me about Symington.

I just arranged a date for him.

And made sure Togaru
knew all about it.

How'd Symington wind up
in the soup?

He was laundering money.
Not all of it came out in the wash.

Skimming?
Yeah.

What about your girl Ali?
What'd she have to do with it?

She was an innocent bystander.

Tell me about Kenneth Togaru.

He was a client who became a friend.

A very good friend.

[Sighs]
He was my mentor
in the corporate world.

I owed him.

Enough to take
a murder rap for him?

Business is business.
I don't wanna go to jail.

That's good.

So you'll set up a meeting
between Burnett and his Bahamian
banker friend, Mr. Cooper.

Tell Togaru that you want him
to make the deal...

because you need the cash
to get out of the country.

Tell him when we busted you,
all of your funds were frozen.

Good idea.

Gettin' out of the country?

Yeah.

Can't, if you're an accessory
to murder one.

Will this clear me?

I can't make that decision.

But there's a good chance.

Besides, you got no choice.

You'll also have to
wear a wire.

You don't trust me?

No, I don't trust him.

And the D.A. Will go to town on you
if we don't nail Togaru.

Sonny, you don't know
what you're asking.

He was in love with me.
It could get rough.

Like you say,

business is business.

[Door Closes]

That bug you put in her purse
is working great.

The storm will pass.

Not this time, Kenneth.

I gotta get out of here,

someplace where it's not so... hot.

[Togaru]
And you need me to
subsidize that journey?

[Christine]
Just until my assets thaw.

I've found someone to take
Symington's place.

Who?

He's a friend.
His name is Burnett.

Friend?
Acquaintance.

He has a banker,
a Mr. Cooper.

Burnett says he's a genius
at laundering money.

I've had enough of bankers.
They're so smarmy.

Kenneth, please.

If I can put you
together with them,

they'll give me a piece of the action.

Then I'll have some cash
so that I can leave Miami.

Will you do it for me?

And what will you do for me?

Remember, Christine,
the first rule of business?

Be a friend.

We can do better than that.

And, remember,
nobody can make a move...

until we strike
a hard deal with Togaru.

So it's simple. When Christine walks out,
everybody in. The party's startin'.

Any more questions?
That's it.

As we understand it, you're hurting
for a financial washateria.

Hurting?
That's right.

I mean, your banker proved
that he can't bounce
like a rubber ball.

And then Miss Von Marburg's
escort service...

gets its pants
pulled down on TV.

And now you're here
as a goodwill gesture?

[Caribbean Accent]
Not goodwill.
Good business.

I'm listening.

We can provide you
with what you're lacking—

legitimate business
for your—

let's see,
how shall I say this—

less-than-legitimate funds.

Is that the picture
Ms. Von Marburg
has painted?

Listen, pal, we don't care if
you call your funds cotton candy.

We just wanna keep them
from getting sticky...

for, let's say, uh, 15%.

Your rates are steep.

Who says crime doesn't pay?

Since you seem to be
in a philosophical mood,

I'd like to give you
my thought for the day.

It is unfortunate that
our mutual friend...

neglected to enlighten me
regarding her newly-discovered
love of the law.

A lie is an ugly thing.

Sonny!

[Groans]

Can I talk to you?

Sure. The fish aren't
bittin' anyway.

( ♪ Holding Back The Years -
Simply Red ♪ )

I wanted to say good-bye.

I'm leaving the country.

Yeah, you've been takin' a little
heat in the press lately.
I don't blame you.

Yeah. I still can't believe it.

You know the newspaper
that's been crucifying me?

Well, the publisher
was one of my biggest clients.

And so was that little worm that
does the editorials on Channel 8.

They're bastards,
all of'em.

Does that go for me too?

You might be
the biggest one of all.

Thank you for having
the charges dropped.

You held up your end.

Bye, Sonny.

Resync By Chuck :'(