Mob City (2013) s01e05 Episode Script
Oxpecker
Hmm? Joe.
Hey, Joe, wake up.
No! Joe! Stop! Stop! Don't! No! No! No.
It's just a dream.
You're back from the war.
You're home! You're just dreaming.
You're back from the war.
Please, please, let me help! Oh, my What did you do? Yeah? Say again.
Connection's bad.
I got an address 1014 North Wilcox.
You gotta knock Three short, two long, three short.
Sure about that? Sure I'm sure.
Make sure no cops get hurt.
And this is the last time, understand? I'm done.
Whatever you say.
Just tell me where you got the busboy stashed, then I'll be on my way.
He's in Carmen Miranda's hat.
The reason you wanna tell me If your stoolie makes his court appearance tomorrow, I'll tell all your cop pals who really killed Hecky Nash.
Yeah, that's right.
I know more about what happened in that oil field than you think Enough to put you away for all time.
The shoe's on the other foot, right? Just do what you gotta do.
Baseball fan, huh? You see, uh, Brooklyn's got a colored guy playing for them now? Personally, I never had a problem with the colored.
Black, white, yellow, whatever They all bleed red.
Someone's out there.
I think he's watching the house.
Come on, Max.
Come on, boy.
Good boy.
His dog just took a leak.
I'll call for backup.
Stop it, already.
You're making him jumpy.
Yeah, you are.
Quit it.
Sleeves are too long.
You don't have to look prefect tomorrow, just respectable.
My whole life, I never turned stoolienot once.
Now look at me.
A squealing rat in a cop's borrowed suit.
Why you making me do this? You don't even know this Carl Steckler.
Come on.
It's just us talking.
Why is a stoolie's life worth so much more to you than Hecky's? Why don't we just save ourselves the trouble, huh? Say we fought this one to a draw.
That what this is a draw? You can't sink me without sinking yourself.
Well, my boat's already taking on water Murder charge, racketeering.
I got two torpedoes in my bow.
I got nothing to lose.
You, on the other hand, you're a mystery at first glance.
You don't care about money or getting beaten.
You don't even care about going to jail.
Guy like you, a fella's got to dig a little deeper.
Dig deep enough, sooner or later comes the one thing thdoes matter.
So, what's it gonna be, soldier boy The stoolie or the girl? You're early.
Well, we were told 9:30.
Hell We thought we were late.
Relief's here, boys! Good night, Carl.
Good luck in court tomorrow.
Yeah, thanks.
Must have hurt Losing a woman like this to a nothing like Hecky Nash.
Especially a guy like you who serves his country with such distinction.
Silver star, two purple hearts.
You son of a bitch.
I'm not mocking these.
I got respect.
Hecky Nash.
You ever dwell on that, knowing that a walking toe fungus like him was banging your woman? Still, you go to these lengths to protect her.
That makes you either the biggest sap that ever drew breath or her the best piece of ass.
You touch her, and I will kill you.
You hear me? Come on.
We're just talking, huh? Your arm's gonna rip off before the radiator does.
- I'll kill you! - Then help us both out! Give up the stoolie! Yeah? You owe me a case of scotch.
Oh? Stay on the line and listen.
You'll like what you hear.
You guys hungry? I made chili Hey! Grab some utensils.
Carl, back of the house! Move now! Jack?! Jack! Jack! I won't talk! I swear, I swear! I ain't no rat.
I ain't no rat! I-I won't talk! I won't talk! No, no, no! No! No! No! No! Don't kill me.
Don't kill me.
Don't Looks like we skinned this cat another way, so, uh Never mind.
Joe? Are you all right? Jasmine.
Jasmine, run! Inside.
Now.
Joe! Oh, my God.
Operator, give me the police emergency.
Take this.
Tell them the neighbors are fighting Somebody's trying to kill someone, this address.
Police emergency.
It sounds like a murder happening next door 1155 Arcadia.
Please hurry.
Jack Dempsey, nice job.
You even chipped a tooth.
Take that.
The photo album You don't want the wrong people should see it.
I could keep quiet about it myself.
Depends on how friendly you're willing to be from now on.
Give it some thought.
Are you alright? We just gave him what he wanted.
What a bloody nose? An alibi.
Hey.
Get out of here.
Go.
Go now.
Go Sid Rothman.
There's a warrant out for me.
I'm surrendering peacefully.
That's him.
That's our APB! I got a gun under my left arm.
I got a permit for it.
That's him! That cop lives in this building! Joe Teague He kidnapped and tortured me! I want to press charges! I want to press charges! Sid Rothman.
He was in my apartment when I got there.
He tried to beat this place out of me.
Yeah, what'd you give him? A split lip for his trouble.
We're ready.
So much for not killing police.
Seems the [sighs.]
rules have changed.
That door swings both ways.
Damn right.
When do we start handing out payback? No.
That's how Horrall's goon squad does things.
We'll get the animals who did this by using real police work.
Anybody who steps out of line gets busted to traffic division.
Just keep your heads in the game.
We've got a court date tomorrow and a dead witness.
If we don't come up with something, Siegel's gonna walk.
We've still got Tug.
If he makes it, he'll I.
D.
The shooter.
If he does that, it takes us back to Siegel.
That's a lot of if's.
Every way we turn, it's another dead end.
Post guards at Tug's hospital room.
Let's help him live through the night.
The witness died.
He was trying to climb out the bathroom window, but I had it nailed shut.
It was our one blind spot.
That doesn't make it your fault.
Yeah, Jas, it does.
I was gonna give you hell about that photo album.
Now I don't have the heart.
Don't move, don't move.
This will sting.
I know.
I'm out of wisecracks, Joe.
I'm terrified.
Sid knows about us now.
He's Bugsy's right hand.
You heard what he said.
He's not gonna use it against you, he's gonna use it against me.
He wants to make me his pet cop.
He doesn't know you very well.
Does he? Any ribs busted? No, I don't think so.
Man's got skills, knows how and where to hit you, just so hard.
I was stupid, and you're paying the price.
Whatever trouble I'm in, I got myself into it.
Nobody else should have to suffer, especially not you.
Not like this.
What are we doing? What's it feel like? It feels like trouble.
No expectations beyond tonight.
Can you live with that? Lighten up, boys.
Right here.
They'll be locked in the safe during the summit.
You get them back when you leave.
All parties may frisk all parties.
I'm sympathetic to your grievances, but I can't be caught in the middle of them.
I'm not the one trying to muscle in on someone else's rackets.
They're not yours.
They're Ben Siegel's, and he's finished.
You see the morning paper, hmm? Cops got nothing! You better pray that it stays that way, because if Benny's gone, you're gonna have me to deal with.
You know what a oxpecker is, Mickey? It's a loud, little bird that rides around on a rhinoceros's back picking off pests.
That's what you are.
Without Ben, you're nothing.
You think you could take me, hmm? Come get me, you dago bastard.
Gentlemen, we're not here to settle all your differences.
We're here to assure Bunny that you won't settle them in his community, and to compensate his loss.
I have always spread my business fairly between the two of you, but I won't be bullied into choosing sides.
Convenient for you.
Middle of the road is a precautious place to be.
I disagree.
This is a big city.
Now, you can fight in Beverly hills, you can fight on the sunset strip, but if you bring the fight to Central Avenue, I'll shut you both out.
Now, I'm willing to make less money in exchange for peace.
Are you? That's a bluff.
No.
You have bruised egos and property damage.
Me I have a dead man and a lot of angry people.
If you don't want a race war on your hands, take me at my word.
Yeah, your guy getting killed, it was against my wishes.
Nevertheless, Smooth Watson's family lost a breadwinner, and there will be funeral expenses.
The right gesture here will ease a volatile situation.
I'll agree to a truce for the sake of business.
I'll pay five grand to the dead man's family and half the property damage, but I ain't paying for no moolie funeral.
No offense.
I'd never live that down.
That's it.
No deal.
Think.
You represent Ben.
You already made your point.
You already pushed back.
Now's an opportunity.
Yeah, to rip this prick's balls off.
To be the bigger man.
Solidify friendships on Central Avenue.
Mr.
Cohen will also pay $5,000 to the deceased's family and agrees to the split on damages.
Oh.
As for the funeral, it's on him.
Mr.
Cohen will pick up the entire tab.
Money's easy.
This here's the hard part.
Tell me about it.
Hey hal.
No, I'm uh I'm just in the middle of something.
But I can be right over.
How is he? That's great.
Yeah, that's great news.
When did they say he's gonna come around? Alright.
Thanks! Tug? He's gonna live.
I want to be there when he wakes up.
If we can connect that safe-house shooter to Bugsy, we nail his ass in court.
We'll do it today.
That's it? The big hope? - Well, we got other things in play.
- Like what? The guys put a bug in Mickey Cohen's office.
How the hell did they get into Mickey's office? Drilled down through the roof, put the mic in a ceiling lamp.
They hear anything interesting yet? Oh, they sure have.
Got hours of him yelling at the wait staff.
But it may give us something.
You never know.
Crying out loud, Jas.
Don't look so trapped.
What ever happened to "no expectations"? That still goes If that's how you want it.
You need to know I'm not that guy anymore.
No more dreams about the war? Less these days A lot less.
I notice I didn't get strangled to death in my sleep last night.
So we'd call that an improvement, right? Look, Jas You and me.
I'd I'd do it again All of it.
If you don't feel the same way, we can be done the moment I walk out the door.
Sure, Joe.
Maybe you'll get a job selling vacuum cleaners, and I'll learn to cook.
All right.
Teddy.
Teddy.
Velma? Here, honey.
We all are, partner.
Fat Jack? He didn't make it.
Tug.
Tug.
About the attack There were two Dressed like cops.
You dropped one of those bastards.
What about the other? I sh I shot him In the leg, I think.
His face Describe his face.
Blurry.
What? Blurry.
I lost my glasses.
I never saw His face.
Sid Rothman assaulted one of my officers.
That's got to count for something.
He claims your man kidnapped and assaulted him.
He's ready to press charges.
Let me guess.
He walks He drops those charges.
Gentlemen Do you really want the extra publicity of playing "your word against his" with Sid Rothman in open court? I've taken beatings before.
Let it go.
Your honor, given the lack of evidence, we move that the state drop all charges in this case.
Your honor, reluctantly, the state has no objection.
There he is Mr.
Siegel! Mr.
Siegel! I'm the victim of a gross injustice.
These cops they are the lowest kind of thugs, and Parker is the worst of them.
They've got a vendetta against me.
These so-called "public servants" do anything they want anytime to anyone.
Next time, it could be you Or even you.
And they call us criminals.
There's a joke.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Embarrassing day for Los Angeles.
Mayor Bowron and Captain Parker have seriously fumbled the ball.
If I were them, I'd be wondering how to explain this to the people of this great city.
We felt we had a strong case, but it didn't pay off.
You want to call this a gamble, you call it mine.
Siegel was arrested on my authority alone Not the mayor's, not anyone else's.
I take full responsibility.
Gentlemen.
Siegel's lawyers hailed the dismissal as a victory for the justice system.
Word has it that Bugsy is considering a lawsuit against the city for harassment and naked abuse of power.
L.
A.
cops, huh? More like Keystone Kops, you ask me.
Not those wine glasses.
What is this, rabbis'-and-old-ladies' night? Hey, you, bigger with them floral arrangements.
And no tulips This ain't no funeral.
What about whores? Benny can't celebrate without whores.
Yeah, Mick, we got whores.
What about picture gals? We got enough? We need lots of pictures taken tonight.
I don't know.
Uh, should I check? No, I'll do it.
Hey, dummy, can't you read?! Sorry, Mr.
Cohen.
Didn't see it was you.
I apologize.
What's that red light for? So we can see in here without the prints getting damaged.
Red's the only kind of light doesn't hurt 'em.
Every darkroom has that? Yeah.
What do you know? I seen the light.
Joe? What am I gonna do with you? Hey.
We're having fried-egg sandwiches.
Aren't we, honey? Sit.
Except for his one, Robinson is unbeaten.
I saw your cop spent the night.
You get my locker key? Why is she here? I'll kill her if you don't do what I tell you.
Simple enough? Key.
Allow me.
Aah! Aah! That hurt! Good.
Key.
Pocket.
You got what you came for.
Now leave.
I haven't got what I came for.
I'm still owed 45 grand, and you're gonna help me get it.
Get it? Get dressed.
Fix your hair.
We still got a few hours.
Where I can see you! You got nothing I ain't already committed to memory.
I was out on your fire escape all night.
You need a hobby.
I told you, I'm the silent partner in this deal.
You're gonna make sure I stay that way.
You're my new middleman.
The last guy who had that job wound up dead.
Hecky was stupid.
This time, it happens in a public place.
I got it all figured out.
You're gonna call siegel and say what I tell you.
My friend Joe You know, the cop? He tells me they've tapped Siegel's phones.
We do it your way, you're inviting extra guests The kind with badges.
Don't say I never did you a favor.
How, then? A singing telegram? The clover called.
They want me to work tonight.
Mickey's throwing Ben a welcome-home party, and he wants lots of pictures.
I'll go in and talk it over with Ben in person.
"Ben"? What's your in with him? You're looking at it.
Busy girl.
You're way better at this than Hecky.
I made a list All the people who knew about the safe house.
Someone on this list sold us out Got Tug shot, got fat Jack and our witness killed.
I see my name's on the top of that list.
Not alphabetical, I guess.
In order of most likely.
Maybe Rothman beat it out of you, and you just won't admit it.
That how this gonna be? It's how it is.
Looks like some party.
Don't be long.
"Pumpkin" might miss her bedtime.
Here you are.
Mickey's looking for you.
Brother, he's in a mood.
Are you in some kind of trouble? Mickey's office.
Now.
Mrs.
Jasmine Fontaine.
How are you? You said I should come to you if I had any idea who took those pictures.
Really? All this time goes by, and suddenly you want to talk to me about pictures? That's awfully decent of you.
I can't wait to hear your, uh your what-you-call your insight You being such a picture-taking expert and all.
Say, for example what a red light is for.
Like in a dark room.
I'm waiting here, Legs.
You know, you boys make me dizzy You and your stupid games.
Excuse me? No, I won't excuse you or Hecky.
Is this what you're grumbling about? It's yours.
Go screw it in a socket.
You gonna blame a girl for getting caught in the middle? Fine.
But don't kid yourself it's anything to do with me.
This is about you and Hecky being shitty friends.
If you'd been kinder to him and he'd been less greedy with you, none of this would have happened.
You're gonna turn this on me now? Hmm? We're past that.
You're right.
I lied to you about the pictures.
What choice did I have? It gets worse.
I made prints And duplicate negatives.
I'll stay calm.
Just tell us what you want for them.
Pest removal.
I'm on my way to pick up the pictures right now.
You get there ahead of me, you'll see the pest I'm talking about Leslie Shermer.
Ring a bell? He was in it with Hecky.
Now he thinks the money should be his.
He sent me here to set a drop The pictures for the cash.
50 grand? Not 50 cents if you play it right.
You get the money, the pictures, and your wayward boy.
Why you gift wrapping this guy for me? Once he gets that money, I'm as good as dead.
It's not just blackmail anymore.
He's kidnapped a little girl to get me to play along.
That's the gas chamber for him if he ever gets caught.
Gift wrap him? I'll even put a bow on him.
He's agreed.
They'll be there at 9:00 with the money.
Get going.
I want to be there plenty ahead of them.
Don't be stupid.
Here's where she gets out.
She doesn't know your name or where we're going.
She gets out now, or I hit the gas and crash us into that black-and-white up there, just to see what happens.
Go and tell the policeman to take you home.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Go on.
I gave you that.
It's nothing but corpses since you showed up Phil Holtz in church, Hecky Nash, Little Moe and Jerry Two-Tone, fat Jack and Carl the busboy in the safe house that you set up! You forgot the Black Dahlia I sawed her in half.
I'll fit her in.
Tell them to call back.
Detective Teague.
It's Eddy.
I think that girl of yours has gotten herself in bad trouble.
Right.
- You alone? - Not much.
Okay.
I talk.
You listen.
But you're gonna owe me some real answers.
- Agreed? - That's fine.
This just came in over the bug in Mickey's office.
Listen.
But it gets worse.
I made prints And duplicate negatives.
I'll stay calm.
Just tell us what you want for them.
Pest removal.
I'm on my way right now to pick up those pictures.
If you get there ahead of me, you'll see the pest I'm talking about.
That's it.
When was this? This was three minutes ago.
Two minutes ago, rothman and some goons hightailed it out the back.
Hey, you got something more important? Than listening to you blow hot air? Matter of fact, I do.
Joe, this ain't right.
There are too many questions that need to be answered.
Nick, you got no cause to believe me, but I did not put your partner in the hospital.
It is as simple as that.
Joe, you walk out that door, you're We're done here, Hal.
You'll have to draw on me if you want to stop me.
To hell with you.
Don't lose him.
Almost home free.
Get the pictures out, make the exchange, and then it's frisco, here we come.
I'll be watching you.
Anything goes wrong, it's your life.
Where are the pictures? They were here, I swear.
I don't know what happened.
Liar! Hey, les.
I missed you at church.
Double-crossing bitch.
You put me in a corner.
Your turn.
I'd say you're outgunned.
It ain't a gun.
Oops.
That's close enough.
I don't suppose you brought my money.
Slipped my mind.
Disappointing.
We'll have to try this again later.
What about the damn pictures? We'll be in touch After me and you have a chat about that very topic.
Aah! This guy bothering you, miss? Easy, fellas! It's Union Station, not the O.
K.
Corral.
What'll it be, Joe? Uh, I don't suppose any of you guys see a pin, do you? The kind that goes in a grenade? Anybody? Will this work? There's nothing to see here, folks Just a man choking on a bone.
Good thing I had a friend listening in tonight.
I didn't know you had a friend.
Neither did I.
You got to stop doing us favors.
It only confuses things.
I'll gut you.
When I see you again, I'm gonna gut you! Save it for the coyotes.
Come on.
Teague.
Not so fast.
You hurt your leg? How does it feel walking with a dead woman? Where the hell are my pictures? You switch them to another locker? You want them? Earn them.
Her life that's my price.
That's not my decision to make.
Then I'd talk to the man that can make it.
You know the one.
Don't waste your breath.
Hecky had a deal with these bastards, and they shot him in the back.
You didn't tell her? Sullivan, I owe you one.
You owe me a few.
San Francisco they'll have men waiting.
You're gonna get off somewhere between here and there, you're gonna switch trains.
What did he mean? Don't tell anyone you go you don't tell anyone.
If you have to call me, use a pay phone, but you call me only at the station, understand? - Joe.
- Listen to me.
You're running for your life now.
I'll try to fix things from here, but if I can't, y-you can't come back Ever.
What haven't you told me? The oil field.
The moment I saw negatives, I knew you took those pictures, even if they hadn't been in the plastic sleeves you love, you have to special-order from back east.
Hecky spouting off about Tri-X film like he's some expert.
"Push it to a stop, you can shoot most anything, even at night.
" It's words I've heard a thousand times out of your mouth.
If I'd arrested them that night like I was supposed to, your photos, they would have hit the front page by morning.
You'd be dead by the end of the week, or if I'd let hecky blow town with you and the money instead, the mob would have found you sooner or later.
Either way, it's the same Both of you dead.
No.
He had it worked out.
Oh, he had a lot of things worked out.
His plans got him killed.
Pardon my lack of faith.
You did it? He was headed for the grave! He was taking you with him! Yeah, I killed him.
And I'd kill him again.
To keep you safe, I'd kill 100 men like him and 100 after that! I'd burn down the world if I had to.
To Benny Siegel! He rides again! Tell me you got the pictures.
Teague has them.
He wants to work a deal with Ben The pictures for the girl.
These pictures are the bane of our fricking existence.
I thought this cop was your friend.
I thought hecky was yours.
Difference is, Joe wouldn't stab me in the back for money.
Look, somebody's got to say it.
It's not a bad deal.
Can we trust her not to talk? She knows what happens if she does.
Wouldn't be the first time we walk away from a witness for smart reasons.
Okay, fixer, go fix.
Broker a meeting.
Let's see how good you are.
If not, we'll have to kill everyone on general principle.
No pressure.
Don't stop on my account.
In fact Dutch courage.
You're here to fire me.
That's the smart play Distance yourself as much as possible from this God-awful mess.
I read your comments to the press.
You didn't have to take the fall for this, but you did.
You shielded me.
It was my play in the first place.
It backfired.
And you've got an election looming.
A screw-up this big, somebody usually has to fall on the sword.
I've had to make some compromises along the way, but you're not gonna be one of them.
You've spent your career eating shit because you refuse to look the other way.
That's the type of man this city needs as its chief of police.
Last I heard, that job's taken.
I read his comments, too.
I noticed that he didn't try to shield me.
Quite the opposite.
He didn't have any kind words for either of us.
I get the feeling he doesn't like you much.
As long as you're committed to exposing the corruption in his department, he'll be committed to showing you the door.
- Tell me something I don't know.
- Try this.
It's not just your job Mine, too.
He thinks "Mayor Horrall" has a nice ring.
It's pleasing to his ear.
What makes you think he'll run? He'll run, all right.
You know what that makes you and me? Allies.
I can't promise you the job, but I promise you this I want that corrupt son of a bitch gone.
I want his head on a pike for the crows to peck and the entire kingdom to see.
If you bring me his head, I will use every ounce of my political leverage with the police commission to give you what you want.
I'll go after Horrall But not because you promised me anything.
If that was your reason, Bill, I wouldn't want you for the job.
Who was the twerp with the hand grenade? Hecky's silent partner.
Tipped him to the Greenie hit.
So that asshole started this whole thing? Right now he's in a warehouse somewhere wishing he hadn't.
I told her about Hecky.
All of it.
How'd she take it? If I hadn't put her on the train, she'd still be slapping me.
You did her a favor.
It's funny, she doesn't see it that way.
Women.
I hear you want to talk deal.
Get us on the same side.
You mean the side that kills cops? We all got boxed in here.
It's not pretty, but it's where we are.
So, now what? I meet with Siegel.
Beg him for Jasmine's life Is that the approach? I don't beg.
And he backs off or I send him to the gas chamber.
I've got the pictures to do it.
That sounds like blackmail.
Yeah.
Well, you call it what you want.
All he's got to do is see reason.
With Ben, that might be asking a lot, but I'll call you in the morning.
You might wish you'd gotten on that train, too.
Where's the recording? In the glove compartment.
"Thanks for coming, Eddy.
" You're welcome, Joe.
How'd you know to call me? The night Hecky Nash died, we had Jasmine Fontaine in for questioning.
You brought her a cup of coffee.
The first thing anyone does when bringing a stranger coffee is ask them how they take it.
You didn't.
You just gave it to her like you already knew.
It doesn't take much digging to find a marriage license or a divorce decree.
All that from a cup of coffee.
I'm really good.
So what's in it for you? What's your angle? It's no angle.
Look, you're trying to protect her.
You still have feelings.
I get that.
I have a tender heart.
Not everyone does.
Look, you can't keep her a secret forever.
The truth always catches up.
You need to make things right before that happens.
Give hal the photos, turn over the evidence that brings down Ben siegel, and no one will hold a grudge Not even Mike.
He's pretty ticked off you punched him in the mouth, by the way.
I'll think about it.
Don't think too long.
You sit on this, I'll nail your hide to the wall.
You're not an easy man to do a favor for.
I know.
Hey! Is she worth it? It makes my blood boil.
Not the mobsters They're animals.
They don't know any better.
It's whoever gave up the location to our safe house.
That's somebody under our own roof A cop.
Hal says you turned this in.
He tells me you're resigning.
We talked it over My wife and I.
I'll go back and finish law school and maybe try for a job at the DA's office.
I've got friends there.
I can make some calls on your behalf if that's what you decide.
I'll be sorry to lose a good officer.
I'm not cut out for this.
I never was.
The mob threw their best killers at us.
You killed one and wounded the other, in spite of being wounded yourself.
What part of that do I view as a failure of resolve Or nerve? You weren't there.
I was.
Pinned down in that hallway, I've never been so scared in my life, and I couldn't even find my stupid glasses.
The thought of putting on my gun again makes me want to throw up.
I made my choice.
What if you never had to draw your gun again? We need to clean up the force from the inside.
I'm creating a new unit to do just that An intelligence division.
Intelligence? You can't fight crime with half the police on the mob's payroll.
We have to get rid of that half Keep the good guys, dump the bad, police the police.
It's a new idea never been done, not on the scale I'm thinking.
That won't be very popular.
Doing the right thing never is.
And you want me to work for this new unit? I want you to run it.
The division for internal affairs.
You'll determine policies, decide how it runs.
Your first task would expose the mole that got Fat Jack and our witness killed.
- Oh, is that all? - No.
Then you're gonna help me bring down our chief of police.
To clean out the rot, you got to start at the top.
Where do I sign up? Girls downstairs.
Someone's here.
Hey, hon, you come to join the party? I've come for Ben.
Benny! What?! There's some guy! He looks important! He a cop? Nuh-uh! All right! Hold on a sec! Thank you, my dear.
He's a gentleman yet.
Ladies, scram.
Meyer.
Ben.
Glad I found you.
I went to your house first.
Esta said you hadn't been home.
Since when are you on the West Coast? Since this morning.
I'm at the Biltmore.
If you get a chance, I'd love to talk.
Benny Bring pants.
What do you mean he's not available? What, are you kidding me? It's not his choice.
He's unexpectedly tied up for a few hours.
As soon as he's done, we'll deal with our situation.
Trust me, it's unavoidable.
So, where should I be? The Biltmore.
Wait in the lobby.
And stay out of the way until I tell you.
Can you do that? Yeah, I can do that.
Wait.
Nice picture, huh? This Greenberg business not so nice.
He had it coming, the prick, and I dealt with it.
Like a bull in a China shop string of witnesses.
Dead witnesses.
Which wouldn't have been necessary if you hadn't gone off half-cocked in the first place.
That's why we have hitters, Ben.
They get their hands dirty so you don't have to.
Some hitters yellow streaks up their back a mile wide! Benny, Benny, we're old friends here.
Say it calm.
Two years Greenie's been spilling his guts to the feds.
Imagine the case they were building.
Half the wise guys on the east coast would have been behind bars.
They should be kissing my ass.
Instead, they send you.
First, no one questions that you did a solid.
Yes, it could have been more subtle, but everyone sees it as a Mitzvah, me most of all.
Second, no one sent me.
I came of my own accord, cross-country by train and snuck into town like a refugee out of friendship to you.
Now, are you gonna hug me, or you gonna be an asshole? Come here.
It's good to see you, meyer.
Yeah, you putz.
Eat something.
It'll help your hangover.
Since when do refugees travel first class? You're a welcome sight, sid.
How's L.
A.
working out for you? Great, Mr.
Lansky.
- Couldn't be better.
- Good.
I know you didn't come 3,000 miles to rank me over Greenie.
It's about Vegas.
No kidding.
When is it not about Vegas? Ever since you started building this hotel.
It's not the Taj Mahal, Benny.
Is the Taj Mahal.
It's the Palace of Versailles.
It's a casino A place to separate rubes from their paychecks in the middle of nowhere.
That's where you're wrong.
It's in the middle of paradise Where gambling is legal.
It's a license to mint money.
You, of all people, should see the potential, meyer.
You've always been a man of vision.
You were the man who saw the way things were and how they could be.
You made it all happen.
Sid, tell him how it was back when.
Prohibition? It was idiots killing each other to control street corners.
Meyer brought them all together, ran it like a real business Meyer and Luciano.
No more spilling blood over nickels and dimes.
Everybody prospered because you, because of your vision.
And now I've got my vision, and what I see is bigger than anything that's come before.
Ben, the cost overruns on this hotel of yours.
When it started, it was gonna be $900,000 all in.
People thought that was a big number.
You spent 6 million bucks.
That's "million" with an "m".
The Taj Mahal didn't even cost that much.
For what some plumbing and some Chintz curtains? Meyer you remember the night we hijacked the Irishman's booze? You blew up the car with the dynamite? How could I forget? We were three meshuggeners with more balls than brains.
That was the start of something big, bigger than all of our dreams An empire.
It took us From the gutter to this presidential suite, eating lobsters off of silver trays.
"More balls than brains"? I disagree.
I say balls and brains in equal measure.
And violin lessons.
We made 100 grand on that haul, and that was 1925 money.
Remind me, sid.
What did we spend it on Clothes, fancy cars, loose broads? No.
We used it to build and expand our business.
We reinvested it.
Benny Millions Millions we've made since then, but that's peanuts! What I got going now in Vegas The payoff is going to rewrite the rulebook on what is possible.
It's gonna boggle the senses.
Billions.
Billions with a "b".
Ben They pulled the plug.
There's no more funding.
Not another dime.
That's what I came cross-country to tell you.
Also, there's a million and change that's unaccounted for.
They want that back.
They'll consider it a no-interest loan.
I stole it? That's the idea? Who's to say? But that broad you're banging, Virginia hill Word is she's dumping a lot of money into private Swiss accounts.
Jesus.
You son of a bitch! I'll cut your damn head off! Ben! I will cut your head off! We do not need a corpse today.
Give me the knife.
Ben, give me the knife.
Ben! I am only reporting what nobody else has the balls to say.
You could be more diplomatic.
You let this happen, meyer? There was a vote.
That's how we set up this empire, remember? No emperor, just a senate, majority rules.
- And how'd you vote, Meyer? - You're way out of line, Ben.
How'd you vote, meyer?! I voted my conscience.
I don't need you, Meyer! I don't need you or those nutless old women back east who call themselves men! Ben.
Meyer was the onvote in your favor.
He voted, knowing it would go against him.
He was willing to be humiliated for your sake, but that's the kind of friend he is.
That's right.
Meyer got outvoted first time ever.
Your Taj Mahal has diminished his standing more than you know.
Now, he's too proud to ever say it, so I'm gonna say it for him.
At a certain point, what happens to you will be out of his hands.
Is that a threat? There's no reasoning with you.
Whoever could? Don't you turn your back on me! Today I saw a man beg his friend not to commit suicide and that friend not caring if they both wind up in a hole.
You make me sick to my stomach.
Not now.
Take my word on this.
Joe! Hey! You don't blow by me.
Joe, another time.
I mean it.
This gets settled now.
Yeah, he's right.
Let's settle this.
Come on! Step up.
What do you got Prints, negatives? Show me.
Cameras, too The cause of all of my grief.
Grab him.
No! Hold him! That picture-taking bitch is already dead.
You got to make a decision.
You want to join her in the coffin? It's my final offer.
Looks like this man could use a little ice.
I'll follow in a cab.
Come on.
Come on.
Get up.
You know how many times you saved my life? Three times.
I counted.
Let me save yours.
Listen close, 'cause this is where it happens or it doesn't.
Every fighter knows sooner or later, there's a fight you can't win.
You got to accept that day is coming.
You told me that.
She's got a target on her now.
Stay down, gunny.
The fight's over.
Let the ref count to ten.
My final offer.
Stay down, stay down, stay down! I'm not gonna just leave him like that.
You can't be within 100 miles of this! I'm the face that talks to the cops! Terry, get him out of here.
And take this.
Dead or not, they never find these pictures, you understand? You understand?! Go.
Nice face.
What the hell? I got into it with a thug.
You look like you went 10 miles.
You should see the other guy.
I was in the hallway when I heard the shots.
I made it to the threshold there when he got hit.
I hear there's a stiff.
Anybody we know? At approximately 8:45 this evening, an unidentified gunman fired 11 rounds from a .
30-caliber rifle.
As many as nine of those rounds entered the body of Benjamin Siegel.
I'm not staying long.
It was good advice you gave, Ned "Stay down.
" But you gave it to the wrong guy.
That's one way to look at it.
Another way, you just created a power vacuum.
You think Jack Dragna's gonna sit on his ass and let Mickey Cohen inherit the rackets? You think Mickey won't push back and push back hard? You think bunny's gonna stay calm in the middle when he gets caught up in the crossfire? You don't know what a powder keg L.
A.
really is.
None of you cops do, but you'll find out.
Enjoy the drink while you can.
It's on me.
Good old Joe Always putting out the fire with gasoline.
Try not to take me with you when you go up in flames.
He was a crazy son of a bitch.
That's one of the things that I liked about him.
Guy like that, you get on his good side, makes you feel like a million bucks.
Class too.
Taught me how to dress.
Took an interest.
I know you were tight.
I offer my condolences.
Ben always praised you, Mickey, said you were a person who could be counted on.
He said that? That's how we know we're putting our trust in the right man.
I got to say this.
You got no resentment from me over what happened With Ben, I mean.
I don't like it But I know there were reasons, so I accept it.
Ben was a handful.
He did not understand compromise, didn't care who he pissed off.
But the thing is, Mickey It didn't come from us.
I'm not saying that it might not have gone that way.
I'm just saying that it didn't.
There has been no vote, no decision handed down, no action yet taken.
What this means Some motherless piece of shit, for reasons unknown to us, just murdered my friend Ben Segel.
You are gonna find out who.
You are going to find out why.
And you are going to cut us the pound of flesh that we are owed.
Hey, Joe, wake up.
No! Joe! Stop! Stop! Don't! No! No! No.
It's just a dream.
You're back from the war.
You're home! You're just dreaming.
You're back from the war.
Please, please, let me help! Oh, my What did you do? Yeah? Say again.
Connection's bad.
I got an address 1014 North Wilcox.
You gotta knock Three short, two long, three short.
Sure about that? Sure I'm sure.
Make sure no cops get hurt.
And this is the last time, understand? I'm done.
Whatever you say.
Just tell me where you got the busboy stashed, then I'll be on my way.
He's in Carmen Miranda's hat.
The reason you wanna tell me If your stoolie makes his court appearance tomorrow, I'll tell all your cop pals who really killed Hecky Nash.
Yeah, that's right.
I know more about what happened in that oil field than you think Enough to put you away for all time.
The shoe's on the other foot, right? Just do what you gotta do.
Baseball fan, huh? You see, uh, Brooklyn's got a colored guy playing for them now? Personally, I never had a problem with the colored.
Black, white, yellow, whatever They all bleed red.
Someone's out there.
I think he's watching the house.
Come on, Max.
Come on, boy.
Good boy.
His dog just took a leak.
I'll call for backup.
Stop it, already.
You're making him jumpy.
Yeah, you are.
Quit it.
Sleeves are too long.
You don't have to look prefect tomorrow, just respectable.
My whole life, I never turned stoolienot once.
Now look at me.
A squealing rat in a cop's borrowed suit.
Why you making me do this? You don't even know this Carl Steckler.
Come on.
It's just us talking.
Why is a stoolie's life worth so much more to you than Hecky's? Why don't we just save ourselves the trouble, huh? Say we fought this one to a draw.
That what this is a draw? You can't sink me without sinking yourself.
Well, my boat's already taking on water Murder charge, racketeering.
I got two torpedoes in my bow.
I got nothing to lose.
You, on the other hand, you're a mystery at first glance.
You don't care about money or getting beaten.
You don't even care about going to jail.
Guy like you, a fella's got to dig a little deeper.
Dig deep enough, sooner or later comes the one thing thdoes matter.
So, what's it gonna be, soldier boy The stoolie or the girl? You're early.
Well, we were told 9:30.
Hell We thought we were late.
Relief's here, boys! Good night, Carl.
Good luck in court tomorrow.
Yeah, thanks.
Must have hurt Losing a woman like this to a nothing like Hecky Nash.
Especially a guy like you who serves his country with such distinction.
Silver star, two purple hearts.
You son of a bitch.
I'm not mocking these.
I got respect.
Hecky Nash.
You ever dwell on that, knowing that a walking toe fungus like him was banging your woman? Still, you go to these lengths to protect her.
That makes you either the biggest sap that ever drew breath or her the best piece of ass.
You touch her, and I will kill you.
You hear me? Come on.
We're just talking, huh? Your arm's gonna rip off before the radiator does.
- I'll kill you! - Then help us both out! Give up the stoolie! Yeah? You owe me a case of scotch.
Oh? Stay on the line and listen.
You'll like what you hear.
You guys hungry? I made chili Hey! Grab some utensils.
Carl, back of the house! Move now! Jack?! Jack! Jack! I won't talk! I swear, I swear! I ain't no rat.
I ain't no rat! I-I won't talk! I won't talk! No, no, no! No! No! No! No! Don't kill me.
Don't kill me.
Don't Looks like we skinned this cat another way, so, uh Never mind.
Joe? Are you all right? Jasmine.
Jasmine, run! Inside.
Now.
Joe! Oh, my God.
Operator, give me the police emergency.
Take this.
Tell them the neighbors are fighting Somebody's trying to kill someone, this address.
Police emergency.
It sounds like a murder happening next door 1155 Arcadia.
Please hurry.
Jack Dempsey, nice job.
You even chipped a tooth.
Take that.
The photo album You don't want the wrong people should see it.
I could keep quiet about it myself.
Depends on how friendly you're willing to be from now on.
Give it some thought.
Are you alright? We just gave him what he wanted.
What a bloody nose? An alibi.
Hey.
Get out of here.
Go.
Go now.
Go Sid Rothman.
There's a warrant out for me.
I'm surrendering peacefully.
That's him.
That's our APB! I got a gun under my left arm.
I got a permit for it.
That's him! That cop lives in this building! Joe Teague He kidnapped and tortured me! I want to press charges! I want to press charges! Sid Rothman.
He was in my apartment when I got there.
He tried to beat this place out of me.
Yeah, what'd you give him? A split lip for his trouble.
We're ready.
So much for not killing police.
Seems the [sighs.]
rules have changed.
That door swings both ways.
Damn right.
When do we start handing out payback? No.
That's how Horrall's goon squad does things.
We'll get the animals who did this by using real police work.
Anybody who steps out of line gets busted to traffic division.
Just keep your heads in the game.
We've got a court date tomorrow and a dead witness.
If we don't come up with something, Siegel's gonna walk.
We've still got Tug.
If he makes it, he'll I.
D.
The shooter.
If he does that, it takes us back to Siegel.
That's a lot of if's.
Every way we turn, it's another dead end.
Post guards at Tug's hospital room.
Let's help him live through the night.
The witness died.
He was trying to climb out the bathroom window, but I had it nailed shut.
It was our one blind spot.
That doesn't make it your fault.
Yeah, Jas, it does.
I was gonna give you hell about that photo album.
Now I don't have the heart.
Don't move, don't move.
This will sting.
I know.
I'm out of wisecracks, Joe.
I'm terrified.
Sid knows about us now.
He's Bugsy's right hand.
You heard what he said.
He's not gonna use it against you, he's gonna use it against me.
He wants to make me his pet cop.
He doesn't know you very well.
Does he? Any ribs busted? No, I don't think so.
Man's got skills, knows how and where to hit you, just so hard.
I was stupid, and you're paying the price.
Whatever trouble I'm in, I got myself into it.
Nobody else should have to suffer, especially not you.
Not like this.
What are we doing? What's it feel like? It feels like trouble.
No expectations beyond tonight.
Can you live with that? Lighten up, boys.
Right here.
They'll be locked in the safe during the summit.
You get them back when you leave.
All parties may frisk all parties.
I'm sympathetic to your grievances, but I can't be caught in the middle of them.
I'm not the one trying to muscle in on someone else's rackets.
They're not yours.
They're Ben Siegel's, and he's finished.
You see the morning paper, hmm? Cops got nothing! You better pray that it stays that way, because if Benny's gone, you're gonna have me to deal with.
You know what a oxpecker is, Mickey? It's a loud, little bird that rides around on a rhinoceros's back picking off pests.
That's what you are.
Without Ben, you're nothing.
You think you could take me, hmm? Come get me, you dago bastard.
Gentlemen, we're not here to settle all your differences.
We're here to assure Bunny that you won't settle them in his community, and to compensate his loss.
I have always spread my business fairly between the two of you, but I won't be bullied into choosing sides.
Convenient for you.
Middle of the road is a precautious place to be.
I disagree.
This is a big city.
Now, you can fight in Beverly hills, you can fight on the sunset strip, but if you bring the fight to Central Avenue, I'll shut you both out.
Now, I'm willing to make less money in exchange for peace.
Are you? That's a bluff.
No.
You have bruised egos and property damage.
Me I have a dead man and a lot of angry people.
If you don't want a race war on your hands, take me at my word.
Yeah, your guy getting killed, it was against my wishes.
Nevertheless, Smooth Watson's family lost a breadwinner, and there will be funeral expenses.
The right gesture here will ease a volatile situation.
I'll agree to a truce for the sake of business.
I'll pay five grand to the dead man's family and half the property damage, but I ain't paying for no moolie funeral.
No offense.
I'd never live that down.
That's it.
No deal.
Think.
You represent Ben.
You already made your point.
You already pushed back.
Now's an opportunity.
Yeah, to rip this prick's balls off.
To be the bigger man.
Solidify friendships on Central Avenue.
Mr.
Cohen will also pay $5,000 to the deceased's family and agrees to the split on damages.
Oh.
As for the funeral, it's on him.
Mr.
Cohen will pick up the entire tab.
Money's easy.
This here's the hard part.
Tell me about it.
Hey hal.
No, I'm uh I'm just in the middle of something.
But I can be right over.
How is he? That's great.
Yeah, that's great news.
When did they say he's gonna come around? Alright.
Thanks! Tug? He's gonna live.
I want to be there when he wakes up.
If we can connect that safe-house shooter to Bugsy, we nail his ass in court.
We'll do it today.
That's it? The big hope? - Well, we got other things in play.
- Like what? The guys put a bug in Mickey Cohen's office.
How the hell did they get into Mickey's office? Drilled down through the roof, put the mic in a ceiling lamp.
They hear anything interesting yet? Oh, they sure have.
Got hours of him yelling at the wait staff.
But it may give us something.
You never know.
Crying out loud, Jas.
Don't look so trapped.
What ever happened to "no expectations"? That still goes If that's how you want it.
You need to know I'm not that guy anymore.
No more dreams about the war? Less these days A lot less.
I notice I didn't get strangled to death in my sleep last night.
So we'd call that an improvement, right? Look, Jas You and me.
I'd I'd do it again All of it.
If you don't feel the same way, we can be done the moment I walk out the door.
Sure, Joe.
Maybe you'll get a job selling vacuum cleaners, and I'll learn to cook.
All right.
Teddy.
Teddy.
Velma? Here, honey.
We all are, partner.
Fat Jack? He didn't make it.
Tug.
Tug.
About the attack There were two Dressed like cops.
You dropped one of those bastards.
What about the other? I sh I shot him In the leg, I think.
His face Describe his face.
Blurry.
What? Blurry.
I lost my glasses.
I never saw His face.
Sid Rothman assaulted one of my officers.
That's got to count for something.
He claims your man kidnapped and assaulted him.
He's ready to press charges.
Let me guess.
He walks He drops those charges.
Gentlemen Do you really want the extra publicity of playing "your word against his" with Sid Rothman in open court? I've taken beatings before.
Let it go.
Your honor, given the lack of evidence, we move that the state drop all charges in this case.
Your honor, reluctantly, the state has no objection.
There he is Mr.
Siegel! Mr.
Siegel! I'm the victim of a gross injustice.
These cops they are the lowest kind of thugs, and Parker is the worst of them.
They've got a vendetta against me.
These so-called "public servants" do anything they want anytime to anyone.
Next time, it could be you Or even you.
And they call us criminals.
There's a joke.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Embarrassing day for Los Angeles.
Mayor Bowron and Captain Parker have seriously fumbled the ball.
If I were them, I'd be wondering how to explain this to the people of this great city.
We felt we had a strong case, but it didn't pay off.
You want to call this a gamble, you call it mine.
Siegel was arrested on my authority alone Not the mayor's, not anyone else's.
I take full responsibility.
Gentlemen.
Siegel's lawyers hailed the dismissal as a victory for the justice system.
Word has it that Bugsy is considering a lawsuit against the city for harassment and naked abuse of power.
L.
A.
cops, huh? More like Keystone Kops, you ask me.
Not those wine glasses.
What is this, rabbis'-and-old-ladies' night? Hey, you, bigger with them floral arrangements.
And no tulips This ain't no funeral.
What about whores? Benny can't celebrate without whores.
Yeah, Mick, we got whores.
What about picture gals? We got enough? We need lots of pictures taken tonight.
I don't know.
Uh, should I check? No, I'll do it.
Hey, dummy, can't you read?! Sorry, Mr.
Cohen.
Didn't see it was you.
I apologize.
What's that red light for? So we can see in here without the prints getting damaged.
Red's the only kind of light doesn't hurt 'em.
Every darkroom has that? Yeah.
What do you know? I seen the light.
Joe? What am I gonna do with you? Hey.
We're having fried-egg sandwiches.
Aren't we, honey? Sit.
Except for his one, Robinson is unbeaten.
I saw your cop spent the night.
You get my locker key? Why is she here? I'll kill her if you don't do what I tell you.
Simple enough? Key.
Allow me.
Aah! Aah! That hurt! Good.
Key.
Pocket.
You got what you came for.
Now leave.
I haven't got what I came for.
I'm still owed 45 grand, and you're gonna help me get it.
Get it? Get dressed.
Fix your hair.
We still got a few hours.
Where I can see you! You got nothing I ain't already committed to memory.
I was out on your fire escape all night.
You need a hobby.
I told you, I'm the silent partner in this deal.
You're gonna make sure I stay that way.
You're my new middleman.
The last guy who had that job wound up dead.
Hecky was stupid.
This time, it happens in a public place.
I got it all figured out.
You're gonna call siegel and say what I tell you.
My friend Joe You know, the cop? He tells me they've tapped Siegel's phones.
We do it your way, you're inviting extra guests The kind with badges.
Don't say I never did you a favor.
How, then? A singing telegram? The clover called.
They want me to work tonight.
Mickey's throwing Ben a welcome-home party, and he wants lots of pictures.
I'll go in and talk it over with Ben in person.
"Ben"? What's your in with him? You're looking at it.
Busy girl.
You're way better at this than Hecky.
I made a list All the people who knew about the safe house.
Someone on this list sold us out Got Tug shot, got fat Jack and our witness killed.
I see my name's on the top of that list.
Not alphabetical, I guess.
In order of most likely.
Maybe Rothman beat it out of you, and you just won't admit it.
That how this gonna be? It's how it is.
Looks like some party.
Don't be long.
"Pumpkin" might miss her bedtime.
Here you are.
Mickey's looking for you.
Brother, he's in a mood.
Are you in some kind of trouble? Mickey's office.
Now.
Mrs.
Jasmine Fontaine.
How are you? You said I should come to you if I had any idea who took those pictures.
Really? All this time goes by, and suddenly you want to talk to me about pictures? That's awfully decent of you.
I can't wait to hear your, uh your what-you-call your insight You being such a picture-taking expert and all.
Say, for example what a red light is for.
Like in a dark room.
I'm waiting here, Legs.
You know, you boys make me dizzy You and your stupid games.
Excuse me? No, I won't excuse you or Hecky.
Is this what you're grumbling about? It's yours.
Go screw it in a socket.
You gonna blame a girl for getting caught in the middle? Fine.
But don't kid yourself it's anything to do with me.
This is about you and Hecky being shitty friends.
If you'd been kinder to him and he'd been less greedy with you, none of this would have happened.
You're gonna turn this on me now? Hmm? We're past that.
You're right.
I lied to you about the pictures.
What choice did I have? It gets worse.
I made prints And duplicate negatives.
I'll stay calm.
Just tell us what you want for them.
Pest removal.
I'm on my way to pick up the pictures right now.
You get there ahead of me, you'll see the pest I'm talking about Leslie Shermer.
Ring a bell? He was in it with Hecky.
Now he thinks the money should be his.
He sent me here to set a drop The pictures for the cash.
50 grand? Not 50 cents if you play it right.
You get the money, the pictures, and your wayward boy.
Why you gift wrapping this guy for me? Once he gets that money, I'm as good as dead.
It's not just blackmail anymore.
He's kidnapped a little girl to get me to play along.
That's the gas chamber for him if he ever gets caught.
Gift wrap him? I'll even put a bow on him.
He's agreed.
They'll be there at 9:00 with the money.
Get going.
I want to be there plenty ahead of them.
Don't be stupid.
Here's where she gets out.
She doesn't know your name or where we're going.
She gets out now, or I hit the gas and crash us into that black-and-white up there, just to see what happens.
Go and tell the policeman to take you home.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Go on.
I gave you that.
It's nothing but corpses since you showed up Phil Holtz in church, Hecky Nash, Little Moe and Jerry Two-Tone, fat Jack and Carl the busboy in the safe house that you set up! You forgot the Black Dahlia I sawed her in half.
I'll fit her in.
Tell them to call back.
Detective Teague.
It's Eddy.
I think that girl of yours has gotten herself in bad trouble.
Right.
- You alone? - Not much.
Okay.
I talk.
You listen.
But you're gonna owe me some real answers.
- Agreed? - That's fine.
This just came in over the bug in Mickey's office.
Listen.
But it gets worse.
I made prints And duplicate negatives.
I'll stay calm.
Just tell us what you want for them.
Pest removal.
I'm on my way right now to pick up those pictures.
If you get there ahead of me, you'll see the pest I'm talking about.
That's it.
When was this? This was three minutes ago.
Two minutes ago, rothman and some goons hightailed it out the back.
Hey, you got something more important? Than listening to you blow hot air? Matter of fact, I do.
Joe, this ain't right.
There are too many questions that need to be answered.
Nick, you got no cause to believe me, but I did not put your partner in the hospital.
It is as simple as that.
Joe, you walk out that door, you're We're done here, Hal.
You'll have to draw on me if you want to stop me.
To hell with you.
Don't lose him.
Almost home free.
Get the pictures out, make the exchange, and then it's frisco, here we come.
I'll be watching you.
Anything goes wrong, it's your life.
Where are the pictures? They were here, I swear.
I don't know what happened.
Liar! Hey, les.
I missed you at church.
Double-crossing bitch.
You put me in a corner.
Your turn.
I'd say you're outgunned.
It ain't a gun.
Oops.
That's close enough.
I don't suppose you brought my money.
Slipped my mind.
Disappointing.
We'll have to try this again later.
What about the damn pictures? We'll be in touch After me and you have a chat about that very topic.
Aah! This guy bothering you, miss? Easy, fellas! It's Union Station, not the O.
K.
Corral.
What'll it be, Joe? Uh, I don't suppose any of you guys see a pin, do you? The kind that goes in a grenade? Anybody? Will this work? There's nothing to see here, folks Just a man choking on a bone.
Good thing I had a friend listening in tonight.
I didn't know you had a friend.
Neither did I.
You got to stop doing us favors.
It only confuses things.
I'll gut you.
When I see you again, I'm gonna gut you! Save it for the coyotes.
Come on.
Teague.
Not so fast.
You hurt your leg? How does it feel walking with a dead woman? Where the hell are my pictures? You switch them to another locker? You want them? Earn them.
Her life that's my price.
That's not my decision to make.
Then I'd talk to the man that can make it.
You know the one.
Don't waste your breath.
Hecky had a deal with these bastards, and they shot him in the back.
You didn't tell her? Sullivan, I owe you one.
You owe me a few.
San Francisco they'll have men waiting.
You're gonna get off somewhere between here and there, you're gonna switch trains.
What did he mean? Don't tell anyone you go you don't tell anyone.
If you have to call me, use a pay phone, but you call me only at the station, understand? - Joe.
- Listen to me.
You're running for your life now.
I'll try to fix things from here, but if I can't, y-you can't come back Ever.
What haven't you told me? The oil field.
The moment I saw negatives, I knew you took those pictures, even if they hadn't been in the plastic sleeves you love, you have to special-order from back east.
Hecky spouting off about Tri-X film like he's some expert.
"Push it to a stop, you can shoot most anything, even at night.
" It's words I've heard a thousand times out of your mouth.
If I'd arrested them that night like I was supposed to, your photos, they would have hit the front page by morning.
You'd be dead by the end of the week, or if I'd let hecky blow town with you and the money instead, the mob would have found you sooner or later.
Either way, it's the same Both of you dead.
No.
He had it worked out.
Oh, he had a lot of things worked out.
His plans got him killed.
Pardon my lack of faith.
You did it? He was headed for the grave! He was taking you with him! Yeah, I killed him.
And I'd kill him again.
To keep you safe, I'd kill 100 men like him and 100 after that! I'd burn down the world if I had to.
To Benny Siegel! He rides again! Tell me you got the pictures.
Teague has them.
He wants to work a deal with Ben The pictures for the girl.
These pictures are the bane of our fricking existence.
I thought this cop was your friend.
I thought hecky was yours.
Difference is, Joe wouldn't stab me in the back for money.
Look, somebody's got to say it.
It's not a bad deal.
Can we trust her not to talk? She knows what happens if she does.
Wouldn't be the first time we walk away from a witness for smart reasons.
Okay, fixer, go fix.
Broker a meeting.
Let's see how good you are.
If not, we'll have to kill everyone on general principle.
No pressure.
Don't stop on my account.
In fact Dutch courage.
You're here to fire me.
That's the smart play Distance yourself as much as possible from this God-awful mess.
I read your comments to the press.
You didn't have to take the fall for this, but you did.
You shielded me.
It was my play in the first place.
It backfired.
And you've got an election looming.
A screw-up this big, somebody usually has to fall on the sword.
I've had to make some compromises along the way, but you're not gonna be one of them.
You've spent your career eating shit because you refuse to look the other way.
That's the type of man this city needs as its chief of police.
Last I heard, that job's taken.
I read his comments, too.
I noticed that he didn't try to shield me.
Quite the opposite.
He didn't have any kind words for either of us.
I get the feeling he doesn't like you much.
As long as you're committed to exposing the corruption in his department, he'll be committed to showing you the door.
- Tell me something I don't know.
- Try this.
It's not just your job Mine, too.
He thinks "Mayor Horrall" has a nice ring.
It's pleasing to his ear.
What makes you think he'll run? He'll run, all right.
You know what that makes you and me? Allies.
I can't promise you the job, but I promise you this I want that corrupt son of a bitch gone.
I want his head on a pike for the crows to peck and the entire kingdom to see.
If you bring me his head, I will use every ounce of my political leverage with the police commission to give you what you want.
I'll go after Horrall But not because you promised me anything.
If that was your reason, Bill, I wouldn't want you for the job.
Who was the twerp with the hand grenade? Hecky's silent partner.
Tipped him to the Greenie hit.
So that asshole started this whole thing? Right now he's in a warehouse somewhere wishing he hadn't.
I told her about Hecky.
All of it.
How'd she take it? If I hadn't put her on the train, she'd still be slapping me.
You did her a favor.
It's funny, she doesn't see it that way.
Women.
I hear you want to talk deal.
Get us on the same side.
You mean the side that kills cops? We all got boxed in here.
It's not pretty, but it's where we are.
So, now what? I meet with Siegel.
Beg him for Jasmine's life Is that the approach? I don't beg.
And he backs off or I send him to the gas chamber.
I've got the pictures to do it.
That sounds like blackmail.
Yeah.
Well, you call it what you want.
All he's got to do is see reason.
With Ben, that might be asking a lot, but I'll call you in the morning.
You might wish you'd gotten on that train, too.
Where's the recording? In the glove compartment.
"Thanks for coming, Eddy.
" You're welcome, Joe.
How'd you know to call me? The night Hecky Nash died, we had Jasmine Fontaine in for questioning.
You brought her a cup of coffee.
The first thing anyone does when bringing a stranger coffee is ask them how they take it.
You didn't.
You just gave it to her like you already knew.
It doesn't take much digging to find a marriage license or a divorce decree.
All that from a cup of coffee.
I'm really good.
So what's in it for you? What's your angle? It's no angle.
Look, you're trying to protect her.
You still have feelings.
I get that.
I have a tender heart.
Not everyone does.
Look, you can't keep her a secret forever.
The truth always catches up.
You need to make things right before that happens.
Give hal the photos, turn over the evidence that brings down Ben siegel, and no one will hold a grudge Not even Mike.
He's pretty ticked off you punched him in the mouth, by the way.
I'll think about it.
Don't think too long.
You sit on this, I'll nail your hide to the wall.
You're not an easy man to do a favor for.
I know.
Hey! Is she worth it? It makes my blood boil.
Not the mobsters They're animals.
They don't know any better.
It's whoever gave up the location to our safe house.
That's somebody under our own roof A cop.
Hal says you turned this in.
He tells me you're resigning.
We talked it over My wife and I.
I'll go back and finish law school and maybe try for a job at the DA's office.
I've got friends there.
I can make some calls on your behalf if that's what you decide.
I'll be sorry to lose a good officer.
I'm not cut out for this.
I never was.
The mob threw their best killers at us.
You killed one and wounded the other, in spite of being wounded yourself.
What part of that do I view as a failure of resolve Or nerve? You weren't there.
I was.
Pinned down in that hallway, I've never been so scared in my life, and I couldn't even find my stupid glasses.
The thought of putting on my gun again makes me want to throw up.
I made my choice.
What if you never had to draw your gun again? We need to clean up the force from the inside.
I'm creating a new unit to do just that An intelligence division.
Intelligence? You can't fight crime with half the police on the mob's payroll.
We have to get rid of that half Keep the good guys, dump the bad, police the police.
It's a new idea never been done, not on the scale I'm thinking.
That won't be very popular.
Doing the right thing never is.
And you want me to work for this new unit? I want you to run it.
The division for internal affairs.
You'll determine policies, decide how it runs.
Your first task would expose the mole that got Fat Jack and our witness killed.
- Oh, is that all? - No.
Then you're gonna help me bring down our chief of police.
To clean out the rot, you got to start at the top.
Where do I sign up? Girls downstairs.
Someone's here.
Hey, hon, you come to join the party? I've come for Ben.
Benny! What?! There's some guy! He looks important! He a cop? Nuh-uh! All right! Hold on a sec! Thank you, my dear.
He's a gentleman yet.
Ladies, scram.
Meyer.
Ben.
Glad I found you.
I went to your house first.
Esta said you hadn't been home.
Since when are you on the West Coast? Since this morning.
I'm at the Biltmore.
If you get a chance, I'd love to talk.
Benny Bring pants.
What do you mean he's not available? What, are you kidding me? It's not his choice.
He's unexpectedly tied up for a few hours.
As soon as he's done, we'll deal with our situation.
Trust me, it's unavoidable.
So, where should I be? The Biltmore.
Wait in the lobby.
And stay out of the way until I tell you.
Can you do that? Yeah, I can do that.
Wait.
Nice picture, huh? This Greenberg business not so nice.
He had it coming, the prick, and I dealt with it.
Like a bull in a China shop string of witnesses.
Dead witnesses.
Which wouldn't have been necessary if you hadn't gone off half-cocked in the first place.
That's why we have hitters, Ben.
They get their hands dirty so you don't have to.
Some hitters yellow streaks up their back a mile wide! Benny, Benny, we're old friends here.
Say it calm.
Two years Greenie's been spilling his guts to the feds.
Imagine the case they were building.
Half the wise guys on the east coast would have been behind bars.
They should be kissing my ass.
Instead, they send you.
First, no one questions that you did a solid.
Yes, it could have been more subtle, but everyone sees it as a Mitzvah, me most of all.
Second, no one sent me.
I came of my own accord, cross-country by train and snuck into town like a refugee out of friendship to you.
Now, are you gonna hug me, or you gonna be an asshole? Come here.
It's good to see you, meyer.
Yeah, you putz.
Eat something.
It'll help your hangover.
Since when do refugees travel first class? You're a welcome sight, sid.
How's L.
A.
working out for you? Great, Mr.
Lansky.
- Couldn't be better.
- Good.
I know you didn't come 3,000 miles to rank me over Greenie.
It's about Vegas.
No kidding.
When is it not about Vegas? Ever since you started building this hotel.
It's not the Taj Mahal, Benny.
Is the Taj Mahal.
It's the Palace of Versailles.
It's a casino A place to separate rubes from their paychecks in the middle of nowhere.
That's where you're wrong.
It's in the middle of paradise Where gambling is legal.
It's a license to mint money.
You, of all people, should see the potential, meyer.
You've always been a man of vision.
You were the man who saw the way things were and how they could be.
You made it all happen.
Sid, tell him how it was back when.
Prohibition? It was idiots killing each other to control street corners.
Meyer brought them all together, ran it like a real business Meyer and Luciano.
No more spilling blood over nickels and dimes.
Everybody prospered because you, because of your vision.
And now I've got my vision, and what I see is bigger than anything that's come before.
Ben, the cost overruns on this hotel of yours.
When it started, it was gonna be $900,000 all in.
People thought that was a big number.
You spent 6 million bucks.
That's "million" with an "m".
The Taj Mahal didn't even cost that much.
For what some plumbing and some Chintz curtains? Meyer you remember the night we hijacked the Irishman's booze? You blew up the car with the dynamite? How could I forget? We were three meshuggeners with more balls than brains.
That was the start of something big, bigger than all of our dreams An empire.
It took us From the gutter to this presidential suite, eating lobsters off of silver trays.
"More balls than brains"? I disagree.
I say balls and brains in equal measure.
And violin lessons.
We made 100 grand on that haul, and that was 1925 money.
Remind me, sid.
What did we spend it on Clothes, fancy cars, loose broads? No.
We used it to build and expand our business.
We reinvested it.
Benny Millions Millions we've made since then, but that's peanuts! What I got going now in Vegas The payoff is going to rewrite the rulebook on what is possible.
It's gonna boggle the senses.
Billions.
Billions with a "b".
Ben They pulled the plug.
There's no more funding.
Not another dime.
That's what I came cross-country to tell you.
Also, there's a million and change that's unaccounted for.
They want that back.
They'll consider it a no-interest loan.
I stole it? That's the idea? Who's to say? But that broad you're banging, Virginia hill Word is she's dumping a lot of money into private Swiss accounts.
Jesus.
You son of a bitch! I'll cut your damn head off! Ben! I will cut your head off! We do not need a corpse today.
Give me the knife.
Ben, give me the knife.
Ben! I am only reporting what nobody else has the balls to say.
You could be more diplomatic.
You let this happen, meyer? There was a vote.
That's how we set up this empire, remember? No emperor, just a senate, majority rules.
- And how'd you vote, Meyer? - You're way out of line, Ben.
How'd you vote, meyer?! I voted my conscience.
I don't need you, Meyer! I don't need you or those nutless old women back east who call themselves men! Ben.
Meyer was the onvote in your favor.
He voted, knowing it would go against him.
He was willing to be humiliated for your sake, but that's the kind of friend he is.
That's right.
Meyer got outvoted first time ever.
Your Taj Mahal has diminished his standing more than you know.
Now, he's too proud to ever say it, so I'm gonna say it for him.
At a certain point, what happens to you will be out of his hands.
Is that a threat? There's no reasoning with you.
Whoever could? Don't you turn your back on me! Today I saw a man beg his friend not to commit suicide and that friend not caring if they both wind up in a hole.
You make me sick to my stomach.
Not now.
Take my word on this.
Joe! Hey! You don't blow by me.
Joe, another time.
I mean it.
This gets settled now.
Yeah, he's right.
Let's settle this.
Come on! Step up.
What do you got Prints, negatives? Show me.
Cameras, too The cause of all of my grief.
Grab him.
No! Hold him! That picture-taking bitch is already dead.
You got to make a decision.
You want to join her in the coffin? It's my final offer.
Looks like this man could use a little ice.
I'll follow in a cab.
Come on.
Come on.
Get up.
You know how many times you saved my life? Three times.
I counted.
Let me save yours.
Listen close, 'cause this is where it happens or it doesn't.
Every fighter knows sooner or later, there's a fight you can't win.
You got to accept that day is coming.
You told me that.
She's got a target on her now.
Stay down, gunny.
The fight's over.
Let the ref count to ten.
My final offer.
Stay down, stay down, stay down! I'm not gonna just leave him like that.
You can't be within 100 miles of this! I'm the face that talks to the cops! Terry, get him out of here.
And take this.
Dead or not, they never find these pictures, you understand? You understand?! Go.
Nice face.
What the hell? I got into it with a thug.
You look like you went 10 miles.
You should see the other guy.
I was in the hallway when I heard the shots.
I made it to the threshold there when he got hit.
I hear there's a stiff.
Anybody we know? At approximately 8:45 this evening, an unidentified gunman fired 11 rounds from a .
30-caliber rifle.
As many as nine of those rounds entered the body of Benjamin Siegel.
I'm not staying long.
It was good advice you gave, Ned "Stay down.
" But you gave it to the wrong guy.
That's one way to look at it.
Another way, you just created a power vacuum.
You think Jack Dragna's gonna sit on his ass and let Mickey Cohen inherit the rackets? You think Mickey won't push back and push back hard? You think bunny's gonna stay calm in the middle when he gets caught up in the crossfire? You don't know what a powder keg L.
A.
really is.
None of you cops do, but you'll find out.
Enjoy the drink while you can.
It's on me.
Good old Joe Always putting out the fire with gasoline.
Try not to take me with you when you go up in flames.
He was a crazy son of a bitch.
That's one of the things that I liked about him.
Guy like that, you get on his good side, makes you feel like a million bucks.
Class too.
Taught me how to dress.
Took an interest.
I know you were tight.
I offer my condolences.
Ben always praised you, Mickey, said you were a person who could be counted on.
He said that? That's how we know we're putting our trust in the right man.
I got to say this.
You got no resentment from me over what happened With Ben, I mean.
I don't like it But I know there were reasons, so I accept it.
Ben was a handful.
He did not understand compromise, didn't care who he pissed off.
But the thing is, Mickey It didn't come from us.
I'm not saying that it might not have gone that way.
I'm just saying that it didn't.
There has been no vote, no decision handed down, no action yet taken.
What this means Some motherless piece of shit, for reasons unknown to us, just murdered my friend Ben Segel.
You are gonna find out who.
You are going to find out why.
And you are going to cut us the pound of flesh that we are owed.