Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) s01e12 Episode Script

Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man - Book ll": Someone knows about my father.
They won't stop till they get the whole story.
There is no way that anyone can connect you to Albert Dietrich.
Jordache planted that item about Claire's father.
Now, I can't prove that, but I know it.
Now I wanna know why Falconetti tried to kill the senator from New York.
Get me Falconetti.
Ben! Abbott, Greenway Records.
Miss Adams and I just flew in from New York - to lend a hand in a good cause.
- Very nice.
He has a stepson named Billy Abbott.
He's just bought into an outfit called Greenway Records.
I want Greenway Records.
Why should I believe you aren't gunning for Estep on your own account? Because Estep and Tricorp are ripe for a look and you know it! I made a mistake, worse for me than for you.
I knew that even even while it was happening.
But how can a mistake that didn't mean anything - nothing, Wes - how can it spoil everything forever? (Annie) Come here, Billy.
I'm gonna make love to you.
Be brave.
What I need is to be alone with Rudy Jordache and to take a good hard look at him.
I feel like I'm up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
You know, you're not the brat I thought you were.
I wanna talk to you.
You had a reason when you beat up Billy! You had a reason when you went to bed with a 16-year-old girl! You knew what you were doing and why you were doing it! You owe me an explanation! - Roy? Roy, it's me, Wes.
- Huh? Ease off, will you? Wes? Oh, man.
Wes, man, are you OK? Yeah.
What's the gun for? I never knew you carried a gun.
It just, uh, seemed like a good idea, that's all.
Damn, it's good to see you.
- It's for Falconetti, isn't it? - Yeah.
- Did somethir happen? - No.
I just, uh like the idea of beir prepared, that's all.
Say, what are you doir around here, anyhow? Lookir for work on a boat.
I've had some experience.
- What happened? - It was time.
Mm-hm.
The time came all of a sudden, didn't it? You show up at the crack of dawn with nothir but the shirt on your back.
(laughs) - If I don't fit into your plans right now - You always fit into my plans.
They serve coffee on this bucket? We even serve breakfast to new crew members.
Then request permission to come aboard, sir! - You got it, sailor.
- All right.
Ohh - Where is she? - In her room.
- Have you heard from Wes? - Not yet.
Thank you.
Oh, Rudy, I'm so sorry.
I mean, she's entitled to complicate my life, but she has no right to play havoc with yours, or Wes's.
It takes two.
Wes has his own share of the responsibility.
In my daughter's case, it takes just one to create total chaos.
Take it easy up there.
- (knock on door) - Who is it? (door opens) - What are you doing here? - I'm sure you know.
You're shocked and horrified that Wesley and I went to bed together last night.
- Well, big deal.
- Diane, it is a big deal.
You are 16 years old.
You are not 26 and you're not 36! I didn't know there was a legal age.
Do I need a licence? Would you just try to understand something? Senator Jordache has invited you here into his home as his guest.
You've repaid him by causing trouble between him and Wesley.
- I knew you'd blame me for that.
- I am not blaming you, Diane! I am simply trying to point out the consequences of your behaviour! For your information, I did not make Wesley leave and the senator should knock on people's doors before barging in! This is Rudy's house.
You did what you did under his roof! - Well, where do you do it? - That's enough! Do you go around hitting your clients when you don't like their questions? I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have done that.
I Diane, I can't accept what you've done.
Well, that's stupid, because you don't know anything about what we did! I think I know enough.
This is gonna come as a shock to you, Mother, but, you see, I haven't done that kind of thing before.
Not the whole thing.
Diane, I find that a little difficult to believe.
Well, so did most of my dates.
But you know what? I really think it's wrong to bring a child into this world when it isn't wanted.
And what if you should find yourself pregnant now? I would want this baby.
Oh, Diane, honey.
You're still a child yourself.
You know nothing about being a mother.
I'm sure you can teach me all about that.
Pack your things.
I'm gonna take you home.
(Mrs Rowe) Senator? Senator? It's after midnight, Senator.
Is it? Well, I'm going to turn in now.
And don't worry about the boy, Senator.
He'll come back.
(phone rings) Hello? Wes? (man) I am calling to extend my condolences.
- What? - On the death of Sarah Hunt.
Who is this? You're investigating Charles Estep.
- I can help.
- How? Meet me.
Construction site, First Avenue and 38th, in an hour and a half alone.
- Listen, I - (hangs up) Mrs Rowe.
I have to go out.
If Wesley calls, get a number where I can reach him.
Senator? Thank you for coming.
- Who are you? - John Franklin, Senator.
Charles Estep's chief financial officer.
- Not any longer.
- I see.
I doubt it.
Come on.
Senator, please.
I served the Estep organisation for 17 years.
A few months ago, I made my first major mistake.
I was in charge of keeping Sarah Hunt "contained", as Charles likes to put it.
- But she escaped containment.
- Due to no fault of mine.
But you lost your job.
And now you want revenge? Why should I want revenge? I was promoted, given a raise.
Charles waved away my apologies.
"After all", he said, "everyone can make a mistake", and that's a direct quote.
How touching.
I didn't know he had it in him.
He doesn't, which is why I risked contacting you, Senator.
Estep's retribution is swift and harsh.
Just how harsh depends upon the extent of one's mistake.
Sarah Hunt was not exactly, um, spilled milk.
No, she wasrt.
She knew too much about him.
- Which is why she was disposed of.
- Do you know as much? More, which is why I should be mouldering in my grave this very minute.
What is Estep waiting for? For your investigation to fizzle out, for the spotlight to be turned away, leaving him in his accustomed obscurity, and then pfft.
I get the picture.
I admire Charles Estep for one thing: The sheer ingenuity of his deviousness.
He wouldn't send one of his, uh, higher-ups to me, with a story like this, as bait for a setup, would he? He would, but he didn't.
My cards are on the table.
I'll do anything I have to to persuade you I'm playing straight.
What do you have? These represent money that found its way to several Justice Department prosecutors in exchange for advantageous treatment of Tricorp.
The word is payoffs.
I opened Swiss accounts for all those involved.
So? It's you who'll be indicted if this is presented as evidence, not Estep.
I want an arrangement with you predicated on a deal.
Let me guess - immunity and protection.
Swiss accounts only have numbers.
I'm gonna need the names that go with 'em.
Well, I've got names and I've got dates and amounts, all authorised by Charles personally.
And the amounts correspond exactly with the figures on those cancelled cheques.
You understand why I'll keep the rest of the evidence to myself until I'm, uh, sure of my end of the bargain.
- How will I reach you? - I'll contact you.
Mr Franklin, you're gonna need protection.
Not till this comes to a head.
Until then, it's best we see as little of each other as possible.
- How do I know I'll hear from you again? - Oh, Senator.
Right now, I need you more than you need me.
What do you know about Albert Dietrich? I never heard of him.
And I don't want to hear his name again.
- You havir fun? - Yeah.
Good, cos a couple hundred more hours of fun and we may be able to put her into service.
Was I complaining? I just don't wanna see you breakir your neck for nothir.
What, you gonna sail off without me? Hey, Wes, now, what's happenir with you, man? Are you goir or you stayir? - What do you mean? - When I saw you up in Whitby, you you had a heavy thing going.
You had a good thing with Rudy.
You had your girl.
When I asked you, uh, why you split, I seemed to hit a sore spot, you know? Yeah.
Two sore spots - Rudy and the girl.
- Ah.
Can you fix it? - Not now.
That bad, huh? I keep hearir my football coach at boarding school: "Jordache, you're a natural-born screw-up.
" A lot's happened since, but nothing's changed.
Hey, hey, now, you watch that.
That's a buddy of mine you're talkir about.
Look, I don't wanna stir anything up, man.
I just, um I just wanna get a feelir of where you're at.
- I'm not goir back.
- OK.
Stay, go somewhere else, do whatever you like.
As long as I know what's happenir.
Cos I don't wanna get used to seeir you here and wake up to find out you split.
- How long would it take to sail to France? - You mean in this thing? Well, with a short stop at the bottom of the ocean forever.
- Don't think it'd make it, huh? - No way.
Look, um it's not gonna be like it was.
I mean, with you and your dad and myself.
I know that.
I signed on here because this is what I want.
Because you're my friend.
The best I've got.
Guess I got myself a partner, then.
Well, what we should do is make it official.
What do you mean? Well, you know, like some kind of ceremony.
- Like what? - The same way they christen a boat.
- Come here, you - (chuckles) (ticking) Your wife told me I'd find you here, Senator.
Sometimes I wonder whose side she's on.
I won't take up much time.
You wouldn't wanna miss the latest instalment of my personal vendetta against Charles Estep.
- What are these? - Cancelled cheques.
I can see that.
They represent payoffs to certain Justice Department prosecutors - through Swiss bank accounts.
- How do you know all that? I'm in touch with the man who opened the accounts at Estep's direction, - and he'll swear to it.
- Under oath? Under oath.
Let me be sure I understand this.
You can prove that members of the Justice Department - accepted payoffs from Charles Estep? - That's right.
You're saying a private citizen is able to subvert an institution of the United States government? I'm saying what I've been saying.
You've been too complacent to hear.
Charles Estep has more power to influence this country than you or I, or maybe all of its elected representatives put together.
Where are you getting this information? From - how do they put it - an unimpeachable source? Those are his credentials.
What's his name? Are you going to open an investigation? - Name your source and I'll decide that.
- Decide and I'll disclose my source.
What kind of a game is this? Don't you trust me? In or out? Bring your witness to Washington.
I wanna get goir on this.
- (Roy) You finished? - (Wes) We got brass polish? Polish that later.
Let's go get something to eat.
By then the wheelhouse will be ready for the next coat.
You're gettir to be a work nut, you know that? Just holdir up my end of things.
Look, we're partners, man.
Nobody has to keep books on it.
OK.
Let's get some grub.
After we eat, I should stop by the hardware store.
I need some paint And some brass polish.
Oh, partner, you're relentless.
(Billy knocks on door) Annie? Annie, open up.
I know you're in there.
(knocking) Annie.
- Morning.
- It's noon.
Where the hell have you been? I've been here and there.
And I took a walk after breakfast.
You should see the fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets.
They're unreal.
I don't care about vegetables.
I just spent a year's royalty in pay phones looking for you.
- I left you a note.
Didrt you get it? - Yes, l-I got your note.
So? It said I'd meet you at the airport.
- You slept through my 3am telethon spot.
- Why didn't you wake me? Oh, it's OK.
I mean, I don't need you for every little thing.
I did fine all by myself.
Well why didn't you, um, come back afterwards? This is a lot nicer than a dressing room.
I know what's bugging you.
Typical male - makes love to a woman and just can't understand it, why she's not right back there begging for more.
Well, if you chased around town for the notices, it was OK.
Sure.
- What do you mean, sure? - I mean, it was OK.
That's what it was - OK.
Mm.
Mm.
Do you always cry after you make love? Look, Billy, if you think one session is gonna change anything between us - It isn't.
- I'm serious.
You push all the other buttons in my life.
I'll be damned if you'll push that one, too.
- Fine.
- I might have to need you in my career, but I don't have to need you in my bed.
- Right.
- As long as we understand each other.
We do.
And good luck with deciding what to want, how to feel and who to need.
Cos it doesn't usually work that way.
For most people, those things just are.
Now, I feel, I need, I want.
I have more willpower than you give me credit for.
Well, here's to willpower, and all the things it doesn't bring you.
(siren) (helicopter) Hey! Hold it! Hold it! - That's his boat.
- OK.
- Our boat.
- OK.
Take it easy.
- All right.
Where is he? - The black guy? - Yeah.
- He's OK.
He got thrown in the water.
Lost some flesh, but he didn't need first aid.
- Where is he? - Well, they took him home.
- Home? Home where? - Hoboken.
- Falconetti.
- What? (door buzzer) - Hello.
- Hello.
- Right on time.
- Punctual Porter, they call me.
- Do they? - Yes.
Thank you.
Do they also call you beautiful? Oh.
Hm.
- Well, things look a little brighter.
Yes? - Mm-hm.
Oh, you've heard from Wes.
- No.
- No.
- Not yet.
- I'm sorry.
But - I turned Paxton around.
- On the investigation? There were some new developments, and he gave me the green light.
Congratulations.
We'll have to put the electronics plant on the block to avoid any possible conflict of interest.
Other than that, the way is clear.
Great, great.
I suppose you'll be, um, putting the place on the market? My apartment? - Why? - You'll be in Washington full-time.
When you do come home, I suppose it would be to Whitby.
Whitby is a little short on privacy.
So is your place.
No.
I think I'll keep it.
For use maybe, what, once a month? It seems like an unnecessary expense.
Maggie.
What are you really trying to say? Oh, Rudy.
You know what they say about absence making the heart grow fonder? It just makes mine Ionely.
- I have to do this, Maggie.
You know I do.
- I know.
I'm so afraid of what it'll do to us.
You know, I miss you all the time now and you're right here.
All right.
Come with me, then.
- Come with you? - Yes.
Join the committee's legal staff.
Oh, Rudy, honey, I can't do that.
My life is here.
- Your life? - Yes.
I mean, the part that isn't you.
You know, my law practice has doubled in the last year.
I'm up for a promotion in Eddie Heath's firm.
Then there's Diane.
Look, I know the problems involved, and the sacrifices.
- Do you? - Yes.
And one way or another, we are going to make it work.
Look, it's only two hours, here to there.
And I'll have some weekends free.
One thing is certain - nothing is solved on an empty stomach.
Between filet and a good burgundy, we'll work out a solution.
- And I've lost my appetite.
- Now, look.
We are not going to let this beat us.
We are going to make it work.
Right? Right.
Right.
- Miss Falconetti? - What do you want? Is your brother here? I'm a friend from work.
We're supposed to get a beer.
- I don't know anything.
- I thought you'd know where he went.
Where he usually goes.
Well, you'd know better about that than I would since you're his friend.
What are you doing? What do you want? You you have no right to break in.
This is my house! - Where is he? - Get out of here! - A bar? - Let go of me.
- What bars does he go to? - Leave me alone! Oh! Oh.
(phone rings) - Hot stuff today, ain't ya, Anthony? - Red-hot.
Gimme.
Answer the phone, you porpoise! (man on TV) The tranquillity of Sheepshead Bay was abruptly shattered today when a large explosion - Falconetti, it's for you.
- Tell 'em to hang on a minute.
Officials would not speculate on the origin of the blast except to say that foul play has not been ruled out.
- Falconetti? - I told you to tell 'em to hang on! You hang on! It's your sister, and she's bananas.
Ever since, the generals have been arguing Did they say if anybody was killed in that explosion? Last week, they won their case.
What the Air Force wants is dubbed Yeah, Maria.
Yeah, what is it? Anthony, what have you done? What are you talkir about? You're in trouble again, aren't you, Anthony? Why? Why? Maria, what the hell are you talkir about? - That Jordache boy was here.
- Where? He came in and he looked all over the house.
Now he's out looking for you! You sure it was him? Anthony, I've got his picture right in my hand.
It was him.
- Anthony? - (hangs up) (gunshot) (Roy gasps) (groans) Roy! - I'm all right.
- Hang on, I'll go get some help.
No, no.
It won't do any good.
- We gotta get you fixed up, man.
- You can't.
I can't fix the Clothilde II, and I can't fix me.
It was Falconetti.
It don't matter.
He's gonna pay, man, if it's all I ever do.
No! You stay away from him.
You gimme your word.
OK? I got something more important I want you to do for me.
Like what? I want you to live the part I'm gonna miss.
OK? I know you're gonna do that well because you and your old man were the best times I ever had, man.
- Roy, let me go get s - No! It hurts.
It hurts.
I'm here, man.
I'm here.