Face Down (1997) Movie Script

(mysterious music)
(saxophone music)
(mysterious music)
(saxophone music)
(mysterious music)
(truck's bell dinging)
- Big bell going ding ding,
ding ding, ding, ding,
ding ding, man,
and all I was doing
was backing me truck up.
And everybody knows that our
bell goes ding ding, ding ding.
- I'm not talking about your bell.
I'm talking about the guy
whose head you fucking crushed.
- That's what I'm saying, man.
If he listened to the bell
he would not get mashed up!
(workers chattering)
- Come on, do it.
- Look, I don't wanna tell
you again! Shut up!
Get outta here!
- [Albert]
Everybody fucking knows that!
You know that! I know that!
And we check the bell
in the morning.
We do all the checkups
all the time.
Bing bing bing bing!
- Quiet!
Detective Cooper,
this is Albert St. DuBois.
He was just telling
us about his bell.
- All right, you must be
the boss man around here.
How long I gotta stay here for, huh?
- Relax, Mr. St. DuBois.
You'll live longer.
You still reside in Queens?
- Listen, I aint into
no shit, all right?
I'm an honest guy.
Ask the boys at the club.
In fact, I'm supposed
to be down there
playing dominoes right now.
- You kept your nose clean
since you been out?
- Aw, man, that armed
robbery rap was bullshit.
Some other dude did it!
- Okay, Mr. St. DuBois, beat it.
- What you mean? I can go?
- Prelim says the guy was
dead before you got there.
- Hey (laughs). All right.
Gonna party tonight.
(Albert chattering)
- I know how much this has broken you up.
Hey, hey.
- Okay, okay, okay. Me outta here, man.
- Have a nice day. Don't hurt anybody.
I enjoy the poetry here, Curtis.
A scumbag like this ends up dead in the gutter
crushed by a garbage truck.
Goddam, it's enough to make yourself
believe in justice again.
(mysterious music)
- It's a shock.
I had dinner with him just last night.
We talked about the future, together.
Now.
Maybe there's a mistake?
- There's no mistake, Connie.
- But you said positive identification was difficult.
- Well, we did receive documentation
just this morning from Dayton.
I'm sorry, Connie, um.
I'm afraid your fiance is already married.
(Connie crying)
- I don't understand.
- Well, Connie, you must have had some suspicion
before you came to us, um, right?
(Connie crying)
- Oh, sorry, Bob.
- Ms. Taubenfeld, you know my partner, Herb AAmes?
- Ms. Taubenfeld, please, excuse me.
(Connie exhaling)
- Oh, ha.
Well.
It sounds funny under the circumstances, but
thank you, Mr. Signorelli.
- Bob.
Listen, Connie,
strictly speaking, it is unethical,
but maybe I could take you out
for a couple of stiff drinks tonight.
I know a place.
- Oh.
Oh, I ...
I don't think so. I mean.
- You're probably right. It was just a suggestion.
(soft jazz music)
- Well, oh ...
Um.
Maybe I could meet you.
Just for a drink.
- The Blue Cage. Do you know it?
- Mm-hm.
- Good music, food.
Say, um, eight o'clock?
(soft jazz music)
Yes.
- We got subpoenaed on that Crawford deal.
(papers thumping)
You bastard.
- Me? I told you not to get mixed up with Crawford.
- I'm not talking about Crawford.
I'm talking about coming on to that Taubenfeld babe.
Strictly speaking, it's not ethical.
- Herbie, don't practice your eavesdropping
techniques on me, okay?
Gotta do something to make this job interesting.
- Hey, you know what?
I'm not in business to keep you entertained.
Look at this. You don't even keep track of the days anymore.
It's not Thursday, Bob. It's Monday, the 18th.
Christ.
(door slamming)
Hey, Emily, I'm gone.
(jazz music)
(dramatic jazz music)
(soft music)
- Just wait right there.
- Registration, out-of-state license renewal.
(muffled speaking)
Mr. Signorelli, I have something here
that's gonna make your day.
- Yeah, well, something better.
- Excuse me.
Could I see a detective please?
(soft jazz music)
- [Emily] I'm sorry, Mr. Aames is out,
and Mr. Signorelli has another appointment.
I could schedule one for you.
- How soon could I get in to see one of them?
It's kind of important.
- Miss Jones, my 11:45 canceled.
Did I happen to mention that?
- Uh ...
Perhaps you could see Miss uh--
- Lake?
Merre with two E's, M-E-R-R-E.
Or do you want my real name?
- Well your real name, unless you ...
- Meredith.
- Meredith what?
- Lake.
No, see the last part is real.
It's just that I always use Merre
because Meredith sounds so stuck-up or something.
- I understand. Robert Signorelli.
Bob.
- Robert's more distinguished.
- Won't you step into my office?
- [Emily] Eat shit.
- What?
- Oh, nothing.
(door closing)
(Emily snorting)
- Good morning.
- Dr. Pilch, I'm very sorry.
Mr. Signorelli had to cancel his 11:45
appointment with you.
It's just that something came up.
- And this car has been following you?
- It's never the same car twice.
The same kind of car, though.
Four door.
Like what somebody's grandma would drive or something.
But never exactly the same.
I started noticing it about a week ago.
- Miss Lake, Manhattan's a big place.
There's lots of cars that fit that description.
- Someone was in my apartment last week while I was at work.
- Did you call the police?
- No.
Nothing was taken, but somebody was in there.
You can tell when somebody's been in your place.
Even if nothing's messed up, you can just tell.
You have a very big fish.
I noticed it the moment I walked in here. Look at this guy.
Fish, fish, fish.
- And why did you come to us?
- You were the first ones in the phone book.
But more importantly, you were closer to the subway.
I work for Derek Fry Gallery, 77th and Lex,
so I can take the F train practically right here.
- I meant, what do you want us to do?
- Find out who it is and tell him
to leave me alone or something.
- Miss Lake, Merre, with two E's,
my partner and I get $50 an hour plus expenses.
Now that could add up pretty fast if you don't know
who you're looking for or why.
(soft dramatic music)
I'm sorry I can't be of more help,
but if you have something more to go on, give us a call.
We can, uh, talk again.
Anytime.
- Thank you for being honest with me.
Not many people have been.
- Aw.
- Thank you again.
(soft jazz music)
- Mr. Signorelli, Mr. Signorelli, I got the information
you wanted from the DMV.
- Great, thank you.
- It took me three hours,
but I got into their computer system.
- That's great.
- Yeah.
Thanks, Emily.
- Emily?
- Yeah.
- Call Connie Taubenfeld.
Tell her I won't be able to make it tonight.
(soft mysterious music)
(knocking on glass)
- [Derek] Yeah?
- Mr. Fry?
I was wondering if I might have a word with you.
It's about Meredith, or Merre,
whatever she's calling herself this week.
Frankly, in the last two weeks, she's become, well
somewhat of an embarrassment.
(soft music)
- How so?
- Last Monday, she said the Guy Desmond acrylics
looked like vomit.
(Derek chuckling)
Actually, puke was the word she used.
This comment was loud enough to be overheard
by others in the gallery.
- It's refreshingly honest, don't you think (chuckles)?
- No, Mr. Fry, I do not,
nor do I think this is any way to run a business,
bringing in people with no experience.
- Jacob.
Jacob, if I elect to extend a helping had to someone
I believe desperately needs a helping hand, I'll do so.
And as far as this business is concerned,
it's my name on the front out there, so
I'll run it any way I damn well please, okay?
Oh, Jacob.
There's no need to sulk.
- [Newscaster] The body of Manhattan attorney Richard Casio
was found in Chinatown early this morning
by a sanitation worker.
The exact cause of death has not been established
due to the condition of the body
at the time of the discovery.
But foul play is suspected.
This brings to 95 the number of murders
in the Triboro area--
- I'd like to introduce you to this piece.
It's by Henrik Gunter. He's a young artist.
(keys tapping rapidly)
(soft music)
(Merre humming)
(soft music and singing)
(phone ringing)
- Yeah?
Derek Fry Galleries, how may I help you?
Oh, hi.
- Hi, I was just standing here working,
thinking about you and ...
(shutter clicking)
Thought maybe you'd like to go out for drinks tonight.
You know, talk about, about your problems.
No charge.
I know this great place. Good food, great music.
What say I pick you up?
Seven o'clock? Perfect.
- Bye.
(soft music and singing)
(shutter clicking)
(phone beeping)
(gentle music)
(shutter clicking)
- Hey, hey you! What are you doing?
(gentle music)
(engine sputtering)
- [Woman] Get him!
- [Monty] Hey!
- [Woman] Monty!
Monty!
- [Monty] Come back here! Hey, get back here!
- Yo, Herb, yeah, it's Bob.
Listen, you can set up that meeting with Mr. Goldstein
regarding his wife's trips to the city to go shopping.
Oh yeah. Three prints of each.
- Yeah.
- Uh-huh.
(light music)
Dr. Pilch? Yeah, he canceled.
I don't know what the problem was.
Listen, Herb, about Goldstein and his wife,
do you think you could talk to him about that.
I've kinda had my quota of broken hearts this week.
Yeah, I gotta go, bye.
(light music)
- [Clerk] Thank you, and have a nice day.
- Thank you.
(soft jazz music)
- Hi, Robert, have a seat.
(cartoon talking gibberish on TV)
(door buzzing)
(door buzzing)
Hi.
Sorry I'm late getting ready. Come on in.
(laughing on TV)
I was so freaked out when I got home.
Somebody was in here again.
Nothing was touched. Just like before.
It's so weird. I'll be ready in a sec.
- How did you know?
- Someone was here?
- Well, like I said, you can always tell
about things like that, but I could especially tell
because of the remote control for the TV.
I was watching Letterman last night and looking
in the TV Guide, you know, to see if there was a movie.
There was nothing any good, so I decided to go to bed.
I put the TV Guide on the coffee table
and the remote control on top of it.
I always do that, because if I don't,
I can never find the remote.
(water running)
So I come home this afternoon and the remote was moved.
- Well, maybe last night you didn't put
the remote on the TV Guide.
- Mm-mm, nope, I'm dumb in some ways
but not about things like that.
It's the way my mind works.
Some people have that kind of mind.
Could you?
(zipper sliding)
So I figure whoever was in here musta moved it.
That would explain why it wasn't on the TV Guide.
- Yeah, maybe. You a model?
- Tried it for a while. Was in a few things.
Catalog stuff mostly.
Not exactly the big break I dreamed about when I moved here.
- Mind an observation?
- What?
- Well, for a girl who thinks her apartment has been
broken into twice and also thinks she's being followed,
you don't seem all that um ...
- What?
- Shook up.
- Yeah, I'm funny that way, huh?
- [Derek] She didn't say where she was going, did she?
- Just got a phone call and left.
- I'm sorry, Jacob. I feel I owe you an apology.
I think you may have been right about her behavior.
(jazz music)
- Well we'll just have to figure that out.
That's a problem that could be handled.
- I can't tell you what this means.
And I know you have more important stuff.
- No me? Nah.
The case this week, this babe suspects that something
was up with her boyfriend, but the reason she suspects this
is because he's put off them getting married
eight times in the last year.
Now, every three weeks, he puts off them getting married.
- [Merre] Oh no, really?
- And she begins to suspect something is up.
She's not sure, but she just suspects.
Now it turns out, this guy that she was gonna marry,
he already has a wife.
- [Merre] Oh no.
- A not-too-bright third grader coulda figured this out.
But no, I mean, she's gotta hire me to ...
Connie? Connie.
Didn't my office call you?
- No.
- Oh well I ...
I don't know what to say. Something just came up.
- I'm sure it did.
It's okay.
It's okay.
On second thought, it isn't okay!
(crowd gasping)
- Ow!
- What is this?
- Displaced aggression, honey.
I been looking to sock somebody all afternoon.
Get outta my way.
- Why'd she do that?
- [Connie] I'm going back to Bonneville.
- Talk about overreacting.
- Say hey, Bobby.
How's every little thing?
What you been working on, gumshoe?
- My income tax.
- Who's the blonde?
- As if it's any business of yours.
- I'm always interested in you, Bobby.
You and your friends.
(muffled jazz music)
(jazz music)
- Are you okay?
Gee, that must hurt a lot.
- Occupational hazard.
(Coop laughing)
- You know those guys?
- Some of them.
Look, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
This place is starting to get a little too crowded.
- Okay, sure, whatever.
Only, will we be eating sometime?
Like, I only ask because I have to take
this medication with food.
That's the only reason. Otherwise, it wouldn't matter.
- Yeah, sure, we'll go eat. Come on.
- I'd like to blow his fucking head off.
- Better watch saying shit like that.
IA's nosing around the division.
- What? Somebody rip off the parking meter receipts?
- No, worse, I heard.
(jazz music)
- So you try, you try and you try,
and you do everything you can, you know,
to try to keep pounds off, but no matter what you do,
they just sort of stick to you, you know?
Like this constant battle to stay fit.
You know what I mean?
- You look pretty good to me.
- No no no, for the camera. It's not just fat, though.
Fat you can deal with, but the bone structure
has a lot to do with it.
And God, what can you do about bone structure?
Either you've got it or you don't.
You have very good bone structure.
You have nice cheekbones.
You're Italian, right? Italians have good bone structure.
Generally.
I mean, God, look at Sophia Loren.
Talk about bone structure.
(Merre laughing)
What was I just talking about?
Modeling, you asked me about modeling.
Okay, well, generally it was the people.
You know, I had a couple of bad experiences.
You know, you get talked into things,
and then you wish you hadn't.
But I got lucky, because I got this job.
Came right outta the blue. It rescued me.
(soft mysterious music)
See, I told you.
It's one of them that was following me.
- [Female Diner] Oh, no, we're supposed
to be waiting outside.
- [Male Diner] Really?
- [Female Diner] She's always like wait outside,
wait outside, but be careful
because you don't wanna killed.
- [Male Diner] Yeah, sure.
(jazz music)
(suspenseful music)
- I'm sorry.
I thought it was.
I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
I understand.
(suspenseful music)
(train whooshing)
- Hey!
Wait!
Ooh!
- I'm sorry about this, but it'll be quicker.
The shows are out, so there won't be any cabs.
- I don't mind. Honestly I don't.
Sometimes I ride the subway for fun.
Yup, I do, the D train.
You know how it runs out to Brooklyn
and you can see the whole city?
Sometimes I ride it back and forth,
when I wanna think or be alone.
Sometimes when the train is coming,
I stand with my toes on the line here.
Closest they let you get to the edge.
Ever do that?
And you hear that rumble,
and the rails make that whipping sound.
And the wind rushes at you,
and the light's streaking across the tile.
At just the right moment, one step forward and ...
Haven't you ever wondered what it'd be like
in that last split second?
(soft jazz music)
- Strangely, no.
No.
- Yes you have, I bet.
Yes you have.
(train whistling)
I wanna talk about that big complicated thing
that you think about, just step forward.
(train clattering)
(jazz music)
(soft jazz music)
(girl screaming)
(dramatic jazz music)
(Bob gasping)
(dog barking in distance)
(siren blaring in distance)
(soft jazz music)
(train clattering)
(soft jazz music)
(dog barking in distance)
(mysterious music)
- It's mine.
- Dangerous keeping a loading gun.
(gun clicking)
- Yes, I suppose it is.
I don't know much about guns really.
Shouldn't even have it, I guess.
- Fired it recently?
- No.
Never.
(soft jazz music)
I'll get rid of it tomorrow.
Unless you really wanna talk about it now.
(soft jazz music)
What's this towel?
- Modesty.
- It's too late for that.
(soft jazz music)
No secrets.
- No doubt about it, entry wound, front cranial.
I know this much, it's a 22.
If you can find it, I can make it.
And I got good marks from the slug
embedded in the heart tissue.
Two shots, point black.
One in the head, one in the pump.
Bad ass stuff.
- Waldorf Astoria.
- [Artie] The only thing that doesn't fit is why
this guy would use some candy ass 22.
- Artie, it's your wife.
I can't talk to you now, honey.
I'll have to talk to you later.
- Very funny.
Hello, yeah.
- What makes us think that the shooter was a guy?
- Because this was a very precise, professional hit.
- Wouldn't rule out a crime of passion.
It's just a thought.
- [Artie] Yeah, send them in a cab for Christ sake.
- You're lucky it didn't break.
A new crown would set you back about 400 bucks.
- Jesus Christ, Bob, you stood up Dr. Pilch?
- Pilch? I know him, Charles Pilch?
He's a surgeon.
- Look, I know the business doesn't mean shit to you,
but it's my livelihood.
It supports my family.
Dr. Pilch can throw a lotta work our way.
- Surgeons are always being sued by somebody.
- I can't believe you're willing
to blow this off for some bimbo.
You know, she's down there right now?
- She is?
- She just wandered in.
Is this gonna be a daily occurrence in the office?
- I wouldn't, Bob. Epoxy waits for no man.
- Jesus Christ, Bob.
As soon as you get that stick outta your mouth ...
- [Dentist] Eight more minutes.
- [Herb] I want you in your car and over to Dr. Pilch's.
(muffled speaking)
- What?
- The battery's dead. The car won't start.
- Then take a cab.
You walk in the door oozing concern.
Whatever him and his lawyer want, you do it.
I want you over there by the end of the day.
I hope the fucking Novocaine wears off before he's done.
(door banging)
I am so sorry. Bob's tied up.
I'm just leaving. Can I drop you somewhere?
- I can wait for Bob.
(pair chattering)
- Can you hold the elevator please?
No, it'll be fine.
Here we go. We're going down.
- I just wanted to know, but I can wait.
- I'll take care of it, okay. I'm a professional.
(door opening)
(footsteps thudding)
(engine idling)
(mysterious music)
(wipers squeaking)
- Well, here we are.
Everything seems fine.
(soft jazz music)
Bye-bye now.
(gun firing)
(Merre gasping)
(horn blaring)
(Merre whimpering)
(horn blaring)
(dramatic music)
(jazz music)
(horn blaring)
(Merre squealing)
- [Man] The guy was shot.
(horn blaring)
(jazz music)
(crowd chattering)
(soft jazz music)
- [Man] Taxi!
(soft music)
(people chattering)
(soft music)
(train clattering)
- I don't know what more you need to see.
This guy's running up and down that ladder
like a circus bear.
- I have to say, Charles, I agree with Mr. Signorelli.
He's claiming injuries that preclude
that kind of physical activity.
- We need something to positively establish the date.
Video cameras can be reset.
I assure you. His lawyer will make that point.
- But we have Mr. Signorelli's sworn testimony, don't we?
- Mr. Signorelli's testimony may not
carry the required weight.
- I don't understand.
- Counselor's just trying to be delicate, Doctor.
A couple of years back, I was discharged by the NYPD
for providing false information.
- I see.
Would you excuse us for a moment, Mr. Signorelli?
(men murmuring)
(pages flipping)
(Ira clearing throat)
Under the circumstances, Mr. Signorelli, my attorney and I
would be happier if Mr. Aames were to take
the case from this point on.
There's no offense intended.
- None taken.
- Oh, is there something I can help you with?
- I was just curious about a drug.
Lithubib? A friend of mine is taking it.
- Prescribed by an MD?
- Regular prescription.
- How well do you know this friend?
- Acquaintance, more like.
- Well it's a lithium carbonate compound.
It's used to control certain types
of schizophrenic behavior.
There's no other application.
- Excuse me, gentlemen. There's a phone call.
Mr. Signorelli, it's for you.
It's the police.
- Please just let me go! - No, no, honey.
(woman shouting)
(upbeat dramatic music)
- [Officer] Excuse me.
- I know this guy. Come on!
- Hey, hey, come on.
(dramatic music)
(woman shouting)
- You son of a bitch!
- I didn't know.
- He took you in when nobody else would,
and this is what he gets for it!
He was your friend! The only one you had left!
(dramatic jazz music)
- Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.
- Coop.
- This is my partner, Curtis Lowell.
This is Bobby Signorelli, formerly of the NYPD.
- What happened?
- Somebody dropped a hammer on your partner,
split his head in two.
I hope you got some good answers,
because I got some great questions.
(Bob exhaling)
- Could have been some kinda payback.
Somebody wanted to get even with her,
and your partner just got in the way.
- Payback for what?
Listen, fellas, I'm trying to tell you,
this girl didn't have a clue about any of this.
All right, she might be a little goofy,
but if she was involved in anything, she would have told me.
- Is that right, Bobby.
Bobby loves a goofy kid. He's always up for a laugh.
Well, laugh this one off, pal.
We got three tapes like this.
They were all shot last year,
and they all got two things in common,
your girlfriend and a guy named Richard Casio.
- I guess I'm supposed to reach to that name.
Sorry, it means nothing to me.
- He was a lawyer. Notice the past tense?
- Really successful.
Among other things, he defended porno
producers and distributors.
Liked it so much, he decided to back a few.
He got a guy named Parker Frager to shoot them.
Nothing fancy.
Frager specializes in what you call amateur tapes.
Down and dirty.
You get a girl, guy or two, and you get a video camera.
- No business like show business, huh?
(Merre moaning)
- [Curtis] Two nights ago, Casio had a date for drinks
at the Cradle of China off Columbus Avenue.
His guest never shows.
Instead, he gets a phone call around 11:15.
We figure it's the guest canceling.
At any rate, the bartender said that when he left
he was really pissed off.
Never made it to his car.
- A setup?
- Shot twice, with a 22.
- [Curtis] Seen this before?
- If she was involved with anything, she woulda told me.
Goddammit, sounds like old times, doesn't it?
Yeah, just like two years ago.
Little bit different, little bit different!
You got your fingerprints, I'm all right,
you got your fingerprints all over the gun this time!
That babe who works for you, Emily Jones, she says to me
that you and this broad have got something going.
Let me tell you something.
If there's any fucking way, asshole,
you are going down this time!
- Go!
(door closing)
- Woo.
(Merre moaning)
Seen enough?
- Yeah.
- Look, Bob.
I don't know if you're aware of the deal with this girl.
She's schizoid.
Manic-depressive.
(lighter clicking)
She's totally fucked up.
She can control it with medication, but
we've got indications that she hasn't been taking it.
- Oh really?
- Yeah.
We found a bottle in her medicine chest.
Label says two times a day, one capsule every 12 hours.
But the bottle was full. Cotton still stuffed in the top.
- Hm.
- Obviously, Cooper's got his opinions about you,
but I'm gonna take a chance.
Coop's gonna scream, but I think that I can get you
out on the street if you'll just do one little favor for me.
- (smirks) Listen, Curtis. Your name is Curtis, isn't it?
Now in about an hour and 10 minutes,
you're either gonna have to charge me or let me go.
And you don't have enough to charge me.
- You sure about that?
- Well, I figure the DA told you no dice this morning.
My tip-off was your partner's attitude.
Now what is it you want me to do?
- Bring the girl in.
- Well.
Well somebody better, and pretty quick.
Because last night,
she was talking about stepping in front of a subway train.
(door slamming)
(officers chattering)
- Tell him Gary Ritter from Internal Affairs is here.
Hey, Signorelli. Long time no see.
I'd like to keep it that way.
(officers chattering)
- What's going on between you and Signorelli?
- Nothing.
- I got a right to know.
- Nothing.
- Bullshit nothing.
Last I heard he got booted for lying,
for covering for some guy.
- He killed a kid, a little Chinese girl, all right?
- What are you talking about?
- He was responsible, same as if he pulled the trigger.
They shoulda shipped his ass up the river.
Instead, they give him a bad conduct.
Hey, move the vehicle!
Hey.
- [Man] I'm coming!
- Coop, you gotta let this crap go. This is not worth it.
- Listen to me.
I was working the case with armed robbery.
Turns out the guy behind it is a snitch
that Signorelli was using.
The shit cries on Bobby's shoulder,
tells him some other dude done it or whatever
the bullshit is that they hand you,
and I tell Bobby this guy is dirty.
But he takes the word of the shit.
Now we never got along, me and Bobby,
but what the hell kinda thing is that?
Taking the word of a piece of shit
over a fellow officer, right?
I told him this guy is dirty.
He lies for the guy. He gives him an alibi.
The DA doesn't file, and that's that.
Three weeks later, the snitch sticks up
a mom-and-pop grocery in Chinatown.
There's a little girl there.
Something rattles the asshole. He starts shooting.
The little girl takes a--
- All right, all right.
- She takes one right in the chest.
But she doesn't die right away, see.
Her lungs fill with blood, and she drowns.
Could you imagine that, seven years old
and drowning to death in your own blood?
And that's why we don't like
Bobby Signorelli very much, huh, partner?
(door opening)
(papers rattling)
- I need this job like I need a hole in my head.
(items crashing)
Shit.
(door closing)
(door creaking)
I'm expecting friends here any minute.
Any second even. Just don't try anything.
- So, did you ask to see a search warrant
before you let the cops in here?
- I assumed they had one.
- And of course you gladly answered
every goddam question they asked you?
- Well, what was I supposed to do, stutter?
- You weren't supposed to stick a knife in my back!
You're fired.
- Like I really planned on hanging around.
- Aw, shut up.
- And I wouldn't touch any of Mr. Aames' things.
You already in enough trouble.
- Get outta here and take your donuts with you.
- I'll be back for the rest of my stuff later.
- Yeah, yeah.
(bell tolling in distance)
(engine sputtering and starting)
(engine idling)
(can rattling)
(soft dramatic music)
(engines idling)
(tires squealing)
(horns honking)
- [Cooper] His name is Bob Signorelli.
This is a picture for you.
All I need to know is if you saw this man
with her before last Thursday.
- All right, fine, I'll pass it along.
- [Derek] Is he involved in this?
- [Coop] Just something we're checking.
We know he's associated with Merre.
- You got anybody following Bob Signorelli?
- Yeah, I asked Frank Norris to keep an eye on him today.
- Yeah, well, he lost him.
Christ, Coop, I don't recall you getting any authorization
for surveillance from Captain McGuinness.
- Curtis, I thought I explained to you in some detail.
We don't like Bob Signarelli.
(traffic passing)
(knocking on door)
- All right, all right, I'm coming (mutters).
Randy, that you?
- My name is Bob Signorelli, Mr. Frager.
- Hey, sorry, I aint open to the public.
- Yeah, well, I'd like to talk to you.
I'm not with the police or anything.
I'd just like to ask you about a woman named Meredith Lake.
- Aw, beat it, man.
- No no no, it'll just take a couple of minutes, I promise.
- Hey, hey, you understand English? Get hosed.
- Why don't you just don't stand behind the door, okay?
- What?
- Just move a little over to the side.
I'm gonna shoot the deadbolt off.
- Whoa, whoa, fuck! Hold it, man, hang on a second.
Jesus.
- I'm onset right now.
- Look, what do you want from me, huh?
I mean, I've only seen her twice.
Once at a party Casio had.
And like once when we put her on tape, you know,
and that's all I know about that.
- [Bob] Well how did she behave
those two times you saw her?
- Hey, kinda cute at the party, I remember.
Maybe a little hyper, you know,
lathering up at the mouth like that.
She got a little weirded out when she was here,
you know, while we was taping.
That happens sometimes.
Bella.
Hey, sweet 16 and never been kissed.
- You're killing me here.
- There you go. Don't worry, go to the couch, good.
- Has she done this before?
- Hey, this is First-Time Foxes. You know, fresh tape.
And I never screw with the concept.
People trust me on that (sniffs).
- You got a cold?
- Fuck you.
- Casio back you on this?
- Yeah, well, I was a little short on cash,
so he paid for the tape duplication and distribution
on the stuff I did with that Meredith and that was all.
Look over here, honey. Up here.
It was a 50-50 deal.
I was supposed to get half the net
on those three tapes, and I got dick.
Between you, me and the lamppost,
the guy was a fucking bloodsucker and I aint
totally surprised at the way he ended up.
You know what I'm saying?
Randy! Get off the phone, get your ass over there.
Come on, let's go, let's go.
Don't be nervous, all right.
All right.
You're just doing what comes natural,
like with your boyfriend in the backseat
of the car, okay, honey?
- How you doing?
- [Parker] Let me see what you look like
on our knees there, honey.
- Come on.
What's your name?
- Sherri.
- Sounds like a pretty tough businessman.
Might have friends who wanna get to the person who got him.
- Yeah, well, I knew him as much as anybody,
and I hated his fucking guts.
I mean, Casio made a lot of his money in cash,
if you know what I mean.
On account of the type of clients he represented.
So he had cash, he could front you off the books.
That way, you don't gotta involve the IRS,
except the leech would charge
through the fucking nose for it, you know.
And I ...
Now, look, if you'll excuse me,
there's an issue of modesty here, huh?
You remember where the door is, right?
- Oh yeah.
- Good.
- Oops.
(camera crashing)
- [Parker] What the fuck? Hey, what are you doing?
- Oh, I bet that was expensive.
You've got insurance, right?
- Hey! Hey, you bastard!
- Yeah, I get that complaint all the time.
- I can't get parts for that sh ...
Aw, fuck me!
- We still happening or what?
- I woulda remembered somebody like her, for sure.
Absolutely.
- Well take another look. The face this time.
- I don't know.
Maybe.
Yeah, the conductor on the D train. He had me take a look.
There's too many homeless around, crazies.
You don't pay too much attention, you know what I mean?
- Well, you pay enough to see which way she went?
- Yeah.
Yeah, come to think of it.
Some sailors were hitting on her.
Some of these girls, out on the street,
they put out pretty easy, for a few bucks.
Maybe they made the same stop. That's all I know.
Oh, one of these sailor boys
was talking a lot about Zanzibar.
Guess he was trying to impress her
with what worldly guys they were.
Like they really been to Zanzibar!
(soft jazz music)
(jazz music)
(indistinct singing)
(jazz music)
- Come on, Vince man,
you can tell she's not right just by looking at her.
- She looks all right to me.
- Yeah, I can't so I'm fine.
- Hey, darling, you wanna 20 bucks the easy way?
- Let's just go, man.
- Come on, sweetums.
- What?
- Sure, I got nothing better to do.
Walk around with drunks trying to find some--
- Can you spare any change?
(jazz music)
Anything you got
would be fine.
(jazz music)
- Here, pal, everybody scores tonight. Knock yourself out.
- I can take a cab.
- Come on, sweetie.
- I mean if that's what this is for.
I, I have a place to live.
(jazz music)
What? It's filthy in here.
Hey, what are you doing?
(machine banging)
- Gotta be careful, right?
- I'm gonna go. I have to go, I ...
Stop it!
- Relax!
- No!
Let me out of here!
(dramatic jazz music)
Stop that!
- Hey!
(door breaking)
(Bob groaning)
(fist banging)
(body thudding)
Let's go.
- You bet.
(dramatic music)
- You better call the Shore Patrol.
There's a guy in the head with a fractured
skull and a hard-on.
- The whole time, I kept saying, Robert will be here.
- Shut up. - Robert will be here.
- I did, and here he is. Where are we going?
- Straight to the police. Taxi!
- Why?
- Because you're gonna tell them I had nothing to do
with shooting your pal Casio,
and then you're gonna tell us who whacked Herb!
He had a wife and kids. Does that mean anything to you?
(horn blaring)
(Merre screaming)
(Merre crying)
Merre!
(Merre screaming)
Merre, what's going on?
It's okay, it's all right. It's okay.
- No!
No!
- Everything's just fine. Come on.
(Merre crying)
Merre, it's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
It's all right. You all right?
You're safe.
It's okay. You're safe.
It's all right.
(siren blaring)
(jazz music)
It's okay.
(siren blaring)
It's okay.
(jazz music)
- [Man] Hey, you need a ride, honey?
- She's with me, pal!
Would you stay put?
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah, you and Brenda Lee. Keep the hands down.
(sign buzzing)
- He's a nice guy. I like him.
I like him. He's an honest guy.
Handsome.
Got a nice coat.
Sure likes to read stuff in books.
Look at him and that book.
(both shouting)
- [Merre] It's a rule, it's a rule, it's a rule!
- You're not doing anything! Come on!
- No.
- What do you mean no?
- [Neighbor] Shut up!
- No, no!
(group shouting)
- Come on!
I said I'm running outta patience!
You're taking the goddam medication!
- No!
- You take it, or I'm gonna shove it down your throat!
- I take medication after eating!
- Take it now!
- No, I don't want to!
I don't have to, stop it!
- You don't know what you're supposed to do!
You're fucking crazy!
- No!
- I'm gonna go out and get you food. You're nuts!
- No!
- Maybe you could get a job delivering pizza.
(bags rattling)
Thanks.
(bell dinging)
- You're not asking for a second chance, Armond.
This would be an eighth or ninth chance.
I know you're hurting, but I've got feelings too.
You never think about my feelings. You know why?
Because you're selfish. You're a selfish person, Armond.
And it's not just me that says this. Everybody knows.
A lot of people think this.
Okay, okay, okay.
Luann and Dez think this,
and they said this even before we were going out.
They said that you're a selfish person.
Armond.
Could you hold on? Hold on!
- Look, uh ...
- What do you want?
- Do you wanna make some money?
- Depends.
- I'm looking for clothes to fit somebody about your size.
You got anything you might wanna sell?
- Maybe.
200 bucks.
(bed creaking)
(soft jazz music)
(pills rattling)
(soft jazz music)
(siren blaring in distance)
(soft jazz music)
- I can handle this case on my own, Cap. And better.
- How long you been here, Curtis? Three years?
You been on homicide for what? 10 months.
John Cooper's been here for 20 years.
(workers chattering)
- Maybe I've only been in this division for 10 months.
Maybe, uh, maybe that means I'm not all hung up
on Bob Signorelli like everybody else is around here.
Cooper in particular.
You shoulda heard him the other day.
He was going on about the guy.
- It was a bad scene what happened with Signorelli.
- But that doesn't mean that he's behind the Casio thing.
- And it doesn't mean he isn't either.
- Cap, you seen Curtis?
We just got a call. Positive on the Lake woman.
Crystal Pharmacy, Signorelli was with her.
- Curtis.
We were about finished here, don't you think?
(door slamming)
Give me Internal Affairs, Gary Ritter.
It's McGuiness over at R and H.
Gary.
You guys been giving my department the eyeball
for the last couple of weeks.
I want you to tell me what's up.
(water running)
(water stopping)
(people shouting in distance)
- What day is it?
- Thursday.
- The?
- 21st of March.
Memory problems, Merre?
- Meredith.
- Oh, yes, Meredith, of course.
I forgot.
You remember who I am at all?
- Robert.
A policeman or something.
- Used to be.
Does the name Richard Casio mean anything to you?
Well I'll take that as a yes.
By the way, he's dead.
- Oh, is he?
Don't read too much into the hand tremor.
It's a reaction to the lithium, nothing more.
The only thing that concerns me about Richard Casio's death
is that it might not have been slow and painful.
- Your heart?
(children shouting at play)
- Not mine.
- Well you've worn it the last three days.
- I picked it up somewhere.
I have a habit of picking up junk.
What time did I take my medication?
- 10:30, 11 last night.
- Where is it?
- Your prescription? It's safe.
(engines revving)
(match striking)
(engines revving)
- The shaking's a problem with lithium.
But when you consider the options ...
- You been this way your whole life?
Meredith?
- All right, sure.
The gory details?
I started having trouble when I was 12.
I was diagnosed at 16.
Of course, that was after my grades
had gone from A's to F's.
After I'd run away twice and been in a major car wreck.
- If you know you needed lithium, why'd you stop taking it?
- I've been taking it.
For the last three months, I've been.
I got back on my medication, and I stayed on it.
I don't know why this is happening to me.
- Were you on your medication when you met Casio?
- I was short of money.
The prescription ran out,
and I thought I was doing okay without it.
I'd only remember pieces.
I met him, I guess, somewhere.
A club.
Knew a way I could make some money.
It's amazing what you can get talking into.
- And when you got back on your medication
and figured out what happened?
- If you're asking, did I wanna kill Richard,
the answer's yes.
But I didn't.
- Oh yeah? How do you know?
- I just know.
Look, I don't know where that gun came from.
But the one thing that I do know is that
I would never do something like that.
On medication or off. Never.
- Well, I bet once upon a time you mighta said
the same thing about humping a couple guys
while someone got it all on videotape.
(table banging)
Take it easy, Meredith.
I'm just giving you a preview of what
the DA's gonna tell the jury.
- Just forget it.
I don't need your help, and I for sure
don't need you prying into my life.
- Honey!
Look what you've done to your shoe.
You tore the sole away.
- [Officer] Two of them. Not both for me.
(phone ringing)
- Robbery homicide, Lowell.
(fingers snapping)
Yeah.
Yeah, we know you've got the girl.
When are we gonna get her?
- You wanna get the girl, Cooper wants to get me.
Gee whiz, anyone wanna get the guy who shot Herb?
- Sure we do.
So, you'll bring in the girl?
She can clear you, corroborate your story?
- [Bob] Oh please, that babe was so out of it
she couldn't corroborate with dog crap if she stepped in it.
My guess is it's all part of the frame.
- Oh, now there's a frame?
- Look, she had the gun. She had the motive.
She stopped taking her medication, she went schizoid,
she blows Casio away.
There's only one problem.
She never stopped taking her medication,
or at least what she thought was her medication.
Listen, you found a full prescription bottle
in her medicine chest?
When I saw that bottle, it was half empty.
Whatever she was taking, it wasn't lithium,
because she went nutsoid anyway.
- We checked those capsules. They contained lithium.
- Hello, Curtis, are you with me?
The capsules you found were lithium.
They'd been switched for the bogus stuff she'd been taking.
I hope you're writing all this stuff down.
- All right, all right, all right.
Yeah, yeah, I need to, I need to just check this out.
So can you just hang on, all right?
- Yeah, right.
Hey, you, come here, hey (whistles)!
You wanna make 10 bucks?
- Can you just, Bob, are you still there?
- Yeah yeah, yeah yeah, I'm still here.
Just hurry up, huh? Come here.
Just, stay on there for about a minute or two, okay?
That's it, just great. Go ahead, put it by your ear.
Yo, cab!
Yeah yeah yeah, good. You're doing good.
- Yeah?
- 120th and Lennox. Fastest way you can get there.
- Hello.
Yeah?
(siren blaring)
(traffic passing)
(door creaking)
(dramatic music)
- So.
If you're so good at this,
how come you're not on the police force anymore?
- I trusted someone once.
- Me too.
I was gonna call work. They're probably worried.
- I decide who gets called, understand?
Whoever got Herb is still out there
and still looking for you.
You put your head up, it's gonna get blown off.
- All right, I understand.
But you have to understand something too.
This is like waking up from a dream for me.
That's what it's like.
You say things happened.
I don't know.
You told me a lot about being at my place and finding a gun.
But you didn't go into anything about us.
- You're right, I didn't.
You know somebody named Jacob Knutson?
- Yes, he works for Mr. Fry.
- Friend of yours?
- Not particularly.
(soft jazz music)
Please wait.
Robert, be careful.
(soft jazz music)
(mysterious music)
(door slamming)
- Got a lead.
Signorelli got in a cab, was headed up to 120th and Lennox.
- Uh-huh. Somebody overheard him say that?
- Yeah.
- Relax, Curtis, Bobby got outta that cab
before it went two blocks.
- Hey, Coop.
That prescription bottle that you found
in her medicine chest, that was full, right?
- Yeah.
- You're sure?
- What do you mean am I sure?
(engine starting)
(soft jazz music)
(diners chattering)
(pulsing music)
(diners chattering)
- I don't know, if there was a god in heaven,
you'd be running that business.
Maybe you'll get a chance now.
- (scoffs) I wish.
Derek Fry always lands on his feet.
Last year he nearly lost his shorts.
The economy's fucked. He's in debt up to this capped teeth.
But somehow he pulls it out of the fire.
It's the way it is with him.
I hate that.
- Excuse me. Jacob Knutson?
Bob Signorelli, Aames Investigation.
I think it's a good idea if we have a little talk.
- Yeah, and it might be a good idea if I called the police.
What if I did that?
- Well, if you did that, they'd probably pick me up
and ask me a lotta questions.
But then they'd pick you up
and probably ask you a lotta questions.
Table for two.
- [Bob] Last month, you picked up a prescription
for Meredith Lake.
- [Jacob] You're crazy.
- [Bob] You signed for it.
I saw your name in the book at the drugstore.
- So what?
The second she shows up, suddenly I'm an errand boy.
Find an apartment. Pick up her medicine.
- Well, maybe you had a key to her apartment.
All right, all right, we'll let that one go, for now.
Now, when you picked up her medicine,
did you deliver it to her or what?
- I don't remember.
- (scoffs) Well, I think maybe you should remember, Jacob.
- I gave it to Derek. He gave it to her, I suppose.
I don't know.
As for the apartment, I only found some places.
He helped her rent it.
He had to co-sign because she didn't have credit.
- And you did say he had a key for her place, right?
(pulsing music)
- I didn't say anything about it.
(pulsing music)
I think I will call the police.
- Well I think you should.
(pulsing music)
- We don't really know what the colors
of the Sistine frescoes were like.
I mean, how could we?
Oh, but we do know that Michelangelo wasn't a colorist.
And yet these characters have all these
bright splashes of color everywhere.
Gives the old chapel that Loony Toons look, don't you think?
(group laughing)
Yeah.
(assistant whispering)
- Excuse me just for one minute.
(group laughing)
(soft music and singing)
Mr. Signorelli.
I've been expecting you before now, actually.
It's a bit awkward. I've got some dinner guests.
So perhaps you'd be so kind as to follow me through.
(soft music and singing)
(group laughing)
(soft music and singing)
This place is ridiculously large for one person, I know.
I took over the apartment one floor below,
made one large space.
At times like these, I love the privacy it affords.
I'm sure you understand that.
(soft music and singing)
Well, you have to excuse me.
I have to herd my lovely guests towards the door.
I have an 8:30 curtain to catch.
(soft music)
Let's go, everyone.
- Hail, hail, the gang's all here.
How long did you wait before you called him?
Two, three minutes?
- I'm sorry if you feel betrayed.
- Well, you can make up for it
by telling me what your relationship is with this guy.
(soft music and singing)
- Derek had business with Richard.
I don't know much about it,
but that's where I met him, at Richard's.
I'm sorry I don't recall details.
The important thing is Derek knew what my problem was.
- Oh, he a shrink too?
- His mother was the same way.
He grew up watching her go in and out of asylums.
He knows the symptoms.
I owe him more than you can imagine, Robert.
He saved my life.
- And what's he get out of it?
- He never took advantage of me, if that's what you mean.
I wonder if you could say the same.
- You know something, Meredith?
I liked you a whole lot better when you were nuts.
- The others have gone on ahead.
I really should be making a move myself.
I thought perhaps you'd like to share
my car, Mr. Signorelli.
- You staying here?
- It's safer.
- I asked her.
(soft music and singing)
Well at least your hands aren't shaking as much anymore.
(soft music)
Funny how that lithium changes from day to day.
(soft mysterious music)
- Yeah, occasionally I come into contact
with people like Richard Casio, a rotten individual.
Imagines he can elevate his scumbag status
by the acquisition of some fine art.
(chuckles) I just wish people like that
weren't so lucrative.
- And you told this to the police?
- Yeah.
(window whirring)
I disliked the fellow but not enough to kill him.
That is what you're thinking, isn't it, that I killed him?
- It crossed my mind.
- Yeah, of course.
- Last month, she got her medication from you.
- Yeah.
I told the police that.
Oh I'm sorry, that was the main thrust
of your case against me, was it?
No, no, in fact, it was three months I was giving it to her
just to make sure the prescription was filled
and it was in her possession at all times.
- And you got her an apartment.
- Yeah.
- And a gun?
- Oh ho ho. Oh, you are direct, aren't you?
Yeah, she did warn me about that.
(sighs) No, I didn't get her a gun.
Although she was always asking me for one.
For protection, against Casio possibly.
Mr. Signorelli, it is hardly likely
that I should in some way be able
to get her to own a gun, don't you think?
- Well, someone got her to do hard-core.
- Yeah, I take your point.
But if it comes down to it,
it'll be my word against hers, won't it?
(horns beeping)
(horns beeping)
- You can take the car if you wish. It's on my account.
- No, thanks. My own car is just a few blocks back.
So you did this all for her
just out of the goodness of your heart?
- When I first saw her, Mr. Signorelli,
she had a choke chain around her neck.
Casio was leading her around on a leash, bow wow.
He found it highly amusing.
I wonder what you would have done in that situation.
I'm risking a lot, taking her in under these circumstances.
I'm willing to do so because I think there may be
the off chance that you can sort things out.
However, there is something that you and I
both should be aware of.
She could actually have killed him.
She could easily have killed Richard Casio
and not even remembered it.
You may never have met anybody like her
or with her problem, but I have.
I have to tell you. It's a distinct possibility.
Now, if you will excuse me.
- Oh, just one more thing.
Last year, when your business was so bad,
how did you get by?
Did you get a loan or something?
(soft dramatic music)
- Business was never that bad. Good evening, Mr. Signorelli.
(engine revving)
(soft mysterious music)
(engine sputtering)
- Goddammit!
(keys clicking)
(remote clicking)
(soft mysterious music)
- Derek?
- I thought you were asleep.
You really ought to be.
- I heard you come in.
I wanted to know what you and Robert talked about.
- You.
I woulda thought that was plainly obvious.
- Does he really think that I'm innocent?
Does he really believe that I am?
- Yes.
Yes, Meredith, that was the impression he gave me.
- That's good, isn't it, that he thinks that?
It's good, don't you think?
- Yeah, it's good.
(soft music)
You know, I'm really sorry this is happening to you.
Really sorry.
(soft music)
(phone ringing)
(phone ringing)
(soft music)
Yeah.
(Merre crying)
What did you do that for?
No, the girl's not to be harmed.
(mysterious music)
(Merre crying)
No, no.
No, I have no idea where she is.
(Derek chattering)
(soft jazz music)
Meredith?
Something's happened, something very bad, I'm afraid.
(phone ringing)
- I don't understand.
- I know you don't understand.
But you must understand this.
No one must know that you're here.
If anybody comes to that elevator,
you let Esperanza deal with it.
(phone ringing)
Is that clear?
(phone ringing)
- Name's Jacob Knutson.
He was at this bar on the Upper West Side
earlier this evening, he and Signorelli, they mixed it up.
Lots of witnesses.
Knutson left shortly after that, and his friends say
that he wasn't very happy.
- And he ended up here?
- I don't know, maybe the plan was to dump
the body and the car wouldn't start, batteries dead.
- This cold weather's gonna be a problem
fixing the time of death.
Gory details?
Vomited during asphyxiation, pissed his pants,
marks on his wrists indicate that his hands weren't bound.
- Christ almighyy.
- Look, I call them as I see them.
- Listen, Coop, I don't know what to say.
Looks like you were right about Signorelli all along.
And I'm, um, I'm sorry.
- Okay.
- How come his hands were cut free afterward?
I mean, it's unusual bothering to do that.
- All right. Get a warrant.
- Auto body repair. Give you some body, okay.
Transmission rebuilder wanted.
- [Newscaster] Signorellli is wanted concerning the slaying
of Jacob Knutson and the associated murder
of prominent underworld attorney Richard Casio
and Herbert Aames.
(knocking on door)
Signorelli's former partner in the detective agency.
- Yeah.
- [Newscaster] I guess we'll be hearing
a lot more about that, Sharon.
- Yeah, who's there?
- [Bob] Super.
- Finally, I called you before, like 10 minutes ago.
- Emily. Wait, Emily, Emily.
- Go away!
- Emily!
Emily, you can't lock yourself in the bathroom all day.
- I can stay in here as long as I want to.
It's my apartment!
- Emily, think about it.
- No, you think about it.
- Do you really think I'm so stupid as to kill somebody
and then stuff their body in my own car?
- I don't know what you're stupid enough to do.
- Oh, well, if you really think that, then
I think you oughta call the police right now and turn me in.
Now, I am taking the phone,
and I am putting it
right here.
Now, I am walking away.
I am now in the kitchen.
The phone is there, and I am far away in the kitchen.
(door creaking)
Now you go ahead, pick it up.
I won't stop you.
Go ahead and call. 9-1-1.
(birds chirping)
- There's no dial tone.
- I unplugged it.
You might have called.
- What do you want?
- Emily, you liked Herb, right?
Now, I know you don't have any family here,
and Herb and Brooke, they would invite you
over for Christmas and parties for the kids
and stuff like that.
- What's your point?
- My point
is that I just thought you might wanna play a part
in getting the guys behind his murder.
(helicopter chopping)
(birds chirping)
- Okay, so what are we looking for?
- Money, honey.
- Banks.
Could take a while.
- Well, you gotta try for me.
This guy almost went belly up last year.
He came up with the money someplace.
My guess is Richard Casio.
- So, like, the guy mighta killed Casio
instead of paying him back, if there was money?
- Right, you got it, babe.
Except for one thing.
- What?
- Fry's not the type to get blood on his hands.
He set it up, provided Meredith Lake to take the fall.
He hired somebody else to pull the trigger,
and that card's face down on the table.
Well, you keep at it.
(birds chirping)
(keys clicking)
- Excuse me.
- Excuse me.
Cops, civil servants with guns.
They should clean this up every once in a while.
I'm telling you (shrieks).
- Look forward and take it easy, Artie.
- Everybody and his uncle is looking for you.
- Maybe I am a killer. You know what this is?
- Shit, Bob, come on.
- One question, pal.
- I'm not your pal.
- The police go into Meredith's apartment. They find a 22.
They send it to ballistics to be typed
against the slug taken out of Casio.
Now what I wanna know is, did this happen before or after
they made a connection between Richard Casio
and Meredith Lake?
Just think about it.
- Cooper already had a match on the gun.
Oh damn fine police work, matching a gun in a murder
before you know there's a connection between the two.
Man, that's hot.
Now, any thoughts as to why the Knutson kid's hands
were freed after he was dead?
- That's two questions.
- Like maybe his hands were bound with something unusual?
- Like what?
- Like handcuffs. Just a thought.
Now the last thing this kid said to me
was he was gonna call the cops.
- Yeah?
- Now you give that some thought,
in case something happens to me.
You oughta wash this car more often, Artie.
(soft dramatic music)
- [Emily] I been working on it all day,
but it's offshore accounts and I can't get into them.
- [Bob] But he was short on cash?
- Yeah. About to lose his house, looks like.
But he paid off a lotta things,
and he got himself out of the hole last February.
- [Bob] From the gallery?
- No, billing at his business wasn't great,
so the money had to come from somewhere.
- [Bob] Yeah?
- Yeah, these accounts probably, but like I said ...
- Honey, you gotta come up with something.
This is one frosty dude.
- [Emily] Come up with what?
I'm telling you all I've got here.
- [Bob] We're gonna have to rattle him pretty good
to get him to cross himself up.
- Okay, okay, there is one thing.
- [Bob] Anything, whatever you've got.
- Ah, in checking phone records, I saw that Derek Fry
made one late call the night Casio was killed.
Now, I checked the number, and it just seemed kinda funny.
- [Bob] What kinda funny are we talking about?
- Well, he called the Cradle of China at 11:18.
Now that's a restaurant on the Lower East Side.
- Son of a bitch.
- [Emily] Hey, I'm trying my best here.
- Oh, no, not you, Emily. You're a good man, sister.
- You're welcome. Bye.
(keys clicking)
(doorbell ringing)
Who's there?
- [Coop] Detective Cooper, Miss Jones, NYPD.
Can I come in for a minute?
I just need to ask you a few questions.
Miss Jones?
(doorbell ringing)
- Yeah, yeah.
- You seen Coop?
- Yeah, he should be in about seven, 7:30.
We were out pretty much all night last night.
- Yeah, I know.
Coop checks in, I wanna see him.
- Yeah, sure.
(door slamming)
- [Captain] No, he's not here!
He's not here!
(phone ringing)
- Robbery homicide, Detective Lowell.
No. No, Cooper's not here, why?
- Never mind why.
Listen, Curtis, I'm gonna tell you something,
but you can't open your yap to Cooper.
He can't know anything about this. Not for another hour.
(paper tearing)
- Right.
Right, yeah.
I got it.
(phone hanging up)
- What we're saying is we wanna talk to Cooper.
- You understand, you don't come in here and tell me
one of my guys is dirty and then tell me to butt out!
(Captain shouting)
(mysterious music)
- [Bob] What did you do, lay awake all night,
worrying that there was any trace,
anything to show money passing between Casio and you?
You just had to double-check, right?
- I told you and the police the extent
of my business activities with Casio.
- Oh yes, fine art. I remember.
And you had no contact with him
after you rescued Meredith Lake.
- [Derek] I had not reason to.
- You know, I told the police where they could find her.
- That was very stupid.
I cannot tell you just how stupid that was.
- You know, the first question they're gonna ask her
is if she was at your house when Richard Casio was killed.
- She wasn't.
I have no idea where she was that night,
and I very much doubt that she does either.
- Oh, then it was you that called
the Cradle of China restaurant the night he was killed?
Because the call was made from your house.
It's on the telephone company computer, 11:18 PM.
You set up Casio, and you set up the frame.
The gun was slipped out of her place
and then back the next day.
Casio had money he was willing to loan, off the books.
A loan that you never planned to pay back.
Now, when did you get the bright idea, Fry?
Was it when you met Meredith Lake
and saw what condition she was in?
When you remembered dear old Mother
and how she couldn't tell between right and wrong?
Is that when it occurred to you?
- Mr. Signorelli.
There was no bright idea.
- And when did your guy get nervous?
Was it when you told him she had come to see me?
- [Derek] What guy are you talking about?
- Oh please, the guy you're scared shitless of, pal!
Because he can't let you live now,
any more than he can let Jacob Knutson live.
You, me, Meredith Lake, we're all a threat to him now!
- Signorelli!
Put the gun down!
(guns firing)
(soft jazz music)
(upbeat jazz music)
- [Dispatcher] Attention units in the vicinity
of 77th and Lexington Avenue.
Investigate shots fired.
- Goddammit.
- [Dispatcher] The vicinity of 77th and Lexington Avenue.
Investigate shots fired.
(upbeat jazz music)
(chef speaking Chinese)
(upbeat jazz music)
- Stop! Hold it!
(diners screaming)
(fist thudding)
Let me get him!
(upbeat jazz music)
(body thudding)
(car alarm blaring)
- Give it up.
- Take it easy, Coop. You got witnesses here.
- You've got a lot of explaining to do.
- No, you've got a lot of explaining to do.
You can start with what you were doing in the Blue Cage
four nights ago when I walked in with Meredith Lake.
You just happened to be there. Did Fry tip you off?
- You're full of shit.
- Yeah? - Somebody call 9-1-1.
- Kind of a coincidence.
- What are you talking about?
It wasn't my idea to go to that place that night!
- Whose idea was it?
(Esperanza speaking Spanish)
(silenced gun firing)
(upbeat jazz music)
(mysterious music)
- Take the gun.
Take the gun, and put it in your hand now!
(Merre shrieking)
- No!
(Merre screaming)
(head banging)
Ah!
(upbeat jazz music)
(tires squealing)
- [Bob] This is not where he called.
- He could be outta the goddam car. Ever think of that?
It's bullshit!
- She was followed by the same kind of car
you guys check outta the motor pool every day.
- [Coop] I know, I know, we got them,
like about a million other people.
- Yeah, and how many 22 caliber guns
are there in the city, a couple of thousand?
But who decided to send that particular gun
to ballistics before there was a connection
between Meredith Lake and Casio?
- You're outta your mind!
- Wasn't Curtis' idea a wonder of free association?
- [Cooper] Turned out to be the right gun.
That's all that counts.
- The right guy counts.
- That's great. That's great, coming from you.
There's this little girl that would like
to hear that from you, asshole,
except she's fucking dead!
- [Dispatcher] Detective Lowell, five-nine,
please call dispatch.
Detective Lowell, please call dispatch.
(mysterious music and singing)
- [Artie] The woman she struggled with is blonde,
right down to the roots.
- [Coop] I want prints off that gun, fast.
- I can only do one thing at a time.
- He's not gonna leave his own prints around.
- Shut up. Just shut the fuck up!
- We got a location on his car.
The report just came in.
(train clattering)
(man playing harmonica)
- Thank you, thank you very much folks.
Thank you. God bless you, God bless you.
- The beat cops heard the call and saw the car.
He could be anywhere.
(train clattering)
(soft music)
(train clattering)
- Oh, Coop.
Shit, I, I had her. Have you seen her?
I lost her, totally screwed up.
I thought she mighta come down here.
He was saying how she was talking about suicides
and subways, and I thought maybe if I came
down here I might--
- Where is she?
- How about it, Curtis?
- What is this?
You, you throwing in with this guy?
After everything that you said,
you're gonna take his word over my word?
- Excuse me, may I have your attention please?
Police business!
Did anyone here see this man escort a woman,
about five foot five, blonde, through this station?
Please, a life may be in danger.
- Yeah, I did.
Took her down there.
Hey, hey, how about a little cheese?
I'm a veteran, goddammit!
- It's bullshit.
- [Man] I went to the Gulf for your ass!
- Curtis!
(gun firing)
(people screaming)
Get outta the way! Get outta the way!
Stay down!
(Merre humming)
- Meredith. Meredith, come on!
Get up, we gotta go!
(train clattering)
- Don't let anybody off this train!
(people screaming)
(gun firing)
(gun firing)
Get down, get down!
(gun firing)
Stay away from the windows! Get down, now!
Get this train outta here right now!
I got a shooter on the platform.
- I told him. I told him we were here before.
- Shit. - Remember?
(train clattering)
- Remember when I told you about the D train?
It came to my house.
- Listen, listen.
- What?
- I have to get the keys, okay.
You stay here. I'll be back.
I'll be back. I promise, I'll be back.
You'll be okay. Okay, I'll be back.
- Robert!
Don't leave me!
Robert, wait!
Come back!
Come back! Help me!
Robert, wait!
Help me please. Please don't leave me, Robert.
- It's okay.
Stop stop, stop stop.
Stop, it's okay.
(dramatic jazz music)
- Put it down, Curtis.
(gun firing)
- It's okay.
(gun firing)
(Curtis groaning)
(Curtis screaming)
(train horn blowing)
- It's all right.
(train clattering)
(brakes squealing)
(Bob breathing hard)
- I'm sorry. - It's okay.
- It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay.
(dramatic music)
- Remember me?
Robert.
You know, sounds distinguished.
(dramatic music)
She takes stuff for this.
It helps her.
- Bobby?
(soft dramatic music)
You've got something that belongs to the department.
- Yeah, right.
- You know, her little problem isn't going away?
(siren blaring)
Things may get better for her, but
one way or the other, she's gotta live
with it for the rest of her life.
I guess that's true for a lotta people, huh?
(soft jazz music)
Take it easy.
(soft jazz music)
- Thank God you're okay. Thank God.
Listen, I told that crooked detective
that you were at Fry's gallery.
I know you told me not to say anything, but I didn't know.
- Come on, kiddo.
I'll buy you some donuts.
(soft jazz music)
(soft dramatic music)
(jazz music)