Miami Vice s03e11 Episode Script
Forgive Us Our Debts
Judge Villaneuva's got the warrants.
Costa and Edwards will pick up Albierro, and we'll bag Hackman.
- Nobody knows where Barkley is.
- Well, let's not let Hackman get itchy feet.
I'll pick you up at 5:30, and we'll take this turkey while he's still in bed.
Hey, Sonny.
Yeah? - The good guys won for once.
- [Chuckles.]
Yeah, for once.
[Chuckling.]
Ah! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! Yeah! That's my sweetheart! [Muttering.]
Were you a good girl? Yeah.
I know you're a good girl.
[Imitating Helicopter.]
Oh! Look at all these toys.
Somebody gonna pick up all these toys in the living room? Yes, Daddy.
Somebody will.
I know that somebody will.
- Dinner's almost ready.
- Terrific.
Let's go wash up, huh? Once more.
Draw! [Imitates TVTurning Off.]
It's a strong case.
Good forensics and three witnesses who can put them in the area.
They real bad guys, Daddy? Oh! Real bad guys.
We still gonna be able to have dinner with Sonny and Caroline tomorrow? No problem.
We'll be finished with the paperwork by 5:00.
Sonny told me they've already got a sitter.
[Doorbell Rings.]
You expecting someone? [Woman Screams.]
[Man On TV.]
Jane, in virtually every opinion poll taken in the state of Florida over the last five years, the citizens have overwhelmingly supported the death penalty.
Now, I believe that the penalty of death is a significant deterrent to premeditated murder.
Donna, would you like some orange juice, honey? Yes, please.
And as this state's attorney general, I will do everything in my power to see that penalty enforced whenever and wherever it is warranted.
Oh, yes.
[Woman.]
Candidates, any comments? Hell, that isn't enough.
You want real deterrent value, you get public executions broadcast live so's all the criminal scum can watch.
- Are these guys serious? - Of course they're serious.
They're tryin' to get elected.
[Woman.]
Mr.
Clayborn, your thoughts? It's one thing to go down to the courthouse in Tombstone and watch a public hanging as a matter of personal choice.
But to broadcast the death of a human being into every home in this state where small children might be watching is an obscenity.
Thank you, gentlemen.
We now go to Raiford Prison and to the cell of convicted murderer Frank Hackman, who is scheduled to be executed this Friday.
Do we have to watch any more of this? Wait a minute.
- Hold it.
- [Woman.]
Good morning, Mr.
Hackman.
Good morning, Jane.
You've heard our panel.
Care to share your thoughts? Even though Mr.
Waldman and Mr.
Davis were part of the system that put me here, I agree with them.
[Woman.]
Do you mean to say that you'd be willing to have your own execution telecast? Death is God's will, and only God's will.
Even though I didn't commit the crime I've been convicted of, I want my death to count for something.
Broadcasting my execution might help people to see that any killing, even in the name of justice, is wrong.
Oh, man! What's wrong? Nothin' that 20,000 volts wouldn't cure.
Come on.
Let's get outta here.
You're not gonna eat your breakfast? You should have seen him, Rico.
He was lyin' through his teeth and hidin' behind the cross.
Hey, hey, amigo.
Be cool.
It's not our problem.
It is now.
A Father LaFrano called from Saint Ives church.
He's got some new information on the Hackman case.
He wants to talk to you.
What's to talk about? Hackman committed murder, and he's gonna fry.
Talk to him.
A parishioner has confessed to being in Daytona with Frank Hackman the night the detective was murdered.
I'm afraid an innocent man may be executed on Friday.
That's it? Well, by all means, let's run right over to the parole board.
What do ya say, huh? - Can you identify the parishioner? - I cannot violate the sanctity of the confessional.
He has released me to say only that much.
So why is this guy comin' forward now? He's very sick, possibly dying.
He read about Hackman's date coming up, and he decided his conscience would not allow him to go on.
- Marty.
- Excuse me.
The good father here is being played.
Frank Hackman blew away my partner in front ofhis wife and kids, and he deserves to get whatever's comin' to him.
Tell me somethin'.
Why doesn't this guy come to the police? He's afraid his family will be in danger if he's identified.
[Chuckling.]
I should have guessed.
Sure.
Good day, Father.
Thank you, Father.
I apologize if I caused any stress, but my parishioner insisted that I speak directly to Detective Crockett.
May I ask why? He put Hackman on death row.
[Crockett.]
Security armored car job back in '79.
[Tubbs.]
So how much was uncovered? Not a dime.
Very fast, very clean.
Old-school pros.
How'd you get Hackman? Me and another cop named Frankel.
We were workin' him.
Frankel went under as a fence.
Had a deal with Hackman for the whole job until his cover was blown.
Hackman blew him away with a 12-gauge in front of his kids.
[Mutters.]
Tight case? We were lucky to get a conviction.
Had a mountain of circumstantial to tie Hackman to it.
So you think he's guilty? You bet.
[Man.]
Paid for by the committee to elect Thomas Waldman [Man #2.]
That looked just super.
Now, we need at least 20 gross rating points with the 30's over the next two weeks.
I want you to mix in the 10's with the Sunday-Monday rotation of the final week, okay? Mr.
Waldman? Yeah? - A couple of detectives to see you.
- Here I come.
Sonny Crockett.
Good mornin', Tom.
This is my partner, Ricardo Tubbs.
Hello.
Ricardo.
Come on, guys.
Uh, to what do I owe this pleasure? Well, our soon to be late friend, Frank Hackman.
Oh.
Thanks.
Yeah.
He's become quite a hot topic these days.
Uh, no pun.
[Chuckling.]
Yeah, well, we got a hot tip this morning that, uh, our friend is innocent.
Come on, Sonny.
If we had a dime for every last-minute fabrication I know, I know, I know, I know.
Well, our lieutenant seems to think there's something to this one.
Hackman is a maggot.
He's been one step ahead of the chair his entire life.
Look, I'm not gonna defend this guy.
That's not the issue here.
He was convicted for a specific murder.
And he's guilty.
We had enough evidence to bury that guy alive.
- All of it was circumstantial.
- Circumstantial? We had shoe prints outside the apartment, fiber matches, a box of those double-aught Magnums in his car Tom.
Clothes to match a neighbor's description.
And need I remind you that his pal, Albierro, testified as to Hackman's intent? Look, I was the cop that arrested him.
But it was four hours later and more than three blocks away.
[Sighing.]
Look, this thing was dumped on me.
But I gotta do it right.
Are you telling me that I have to convince you that Hackman deserves to die? I'm just trying to maintain some objectivity here and do the right thing.
I would think that you would wanna do the same.
[Sighs.]
Well, if you're here for my blessing, you're not gonna get it.
My platform is pro-capital punishment.
The last thing in the world I need is an overturn on the biggest conviction of my career.
That's a hell of an attitude you've got there, counselor.
I prefer to think of it as a belief in the system, Detective.
[Crockett.]
So, our old buddy Mr.
Waldman isn't going to be any help at all.
As a matter of fact, the subject wasn't even open for discussion.
Guy doesn't want to confuse his constituency.
Is there anything more out of the priest? No.
We'll set up concentrated surveillance around the church, photo-fax anyone entering or leaving to Washington.
We need to find any connection we can to Hackman or his crew.
Uh, excuse me, but, uh, isn't this guy gonna be a little crispy day after tomorrow? - 9:00 a.
m.
- That doesn't give us a lot of time.
Is this guy a regular parishioner? Let's hope so.
Okay.
That's all.
Thanks, Switey.
Crockett.
Yes, sir? You've gotta be kiddin' me.
What the hell does he want? We got nothin' to say to each other.
See him.
Marty He may have a lead on the tip.
?? [Man Singing Slow Rock.]
?? [Continues.]
?? [Continues.]
?? [Ends.]
Good to see ya.
Save it, Frank.
There's no need for hard feelings, Crockett.
I've made my peace.
I know why I'm here.
Why'd you ask me to come here? A man's right to face his accusers.
Not many people have the luxury of knowing the exact hour of their death.
I'm losing interest.
You didn't put me here.
I want you to know that.
There'll come a time when you'll ask for forgiveness, to make your peace with God, and I want you to remember that I don't hold you accountable.
Now, that's dang nice of you, Frank.
I'll keep that in mind.
I didn't kill Frankel.
I did kill other people you don't know about.
And the way I figure it, that's what I'm dyin'for.
So I'm totally prepared, and I've accepted my death as just.
I'm telling you this so, now or later, you ought not to feel any guilt.
That's kind of ironic, don't you think? I go out for one I didn't do? Still say you were in Daytona? It doesn't matter.
None of it does.
[Knocks.]
When your days get down to single digits, your mind gets amazingly clear.
You begin to understand the balance.
I'm goin' to a better place, Sonny.
Thanks for comin'up.
?? [Man Singing.]
?? [Choir Vocalizing.]
[Bell Tolling.]
YGW 011.
Yank-Gulf-Whiskey-011.
[Gina.]
AOC 46F.
Alpha-Oscar-Charlie-46-Foxtrot.
Car's registered to Pepe Ferrar.
No criminal record, no wants, no warrants.
[Shutter Clicks.]
[Shutter Clicks.]
Another batch comin' in, Stan.
There was no sheets on the last two.
[Switek.]
Okay.
Barretto, Alejandro.
He's got three warrants.
Arrest record: A D.
U.
I.
In '84, driver's license suspended in '85.
Nada.
Next: Kirkl, David Michael.
[Muttering.]
Arrest record: 1982 income tax evasion.
He was indicted.
No wants, no warrants.
We're 0 for 2.
Here's one.
Albierro, Gus.
Here's our confessor.
Why, he's got a sheet as long as my arm.
Gus Albierro, age 57.
Divorced from Felicia Diaz in '78.
Remarried.
Two children.
Owns and operates an auto repair shop in North Miami.
F.
B.
I.
Links Albierro to as many as 14 possible jobs with Hackman.
We got armed robbery, extortion, laundering, trafficking, assault and battery, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
A lot of arrests, few convictions.
His guise reads like a Chicago businessman.
Twenty-year career, then moved to Miami for retirement.
Yeah, the American dream.
That's history.
I walked away from that part of my life.
I haven't talked to Hackman in years.
It must be kinda tough, seein' him on the news every night.
You get my age, you know a lot of people who die.
How about the ones that get framed, Gus? Did Hackman kill Frankel, Gus? What makes you think he didn't? I have no reason to think that.
You testified that he did the murder.
I testified to his intent.
Wait a minute, Gus.
You were the nail in the coffin.
We didn't have enough evidence to send him up without your testimony.
You know that.
Yeah.
You got somethin' on your chest, Gus? The man's about to watch his last sunset, Gus.
Did he kill him? He was with me in Daytona.
You perjured yourself? [Tubbs.]
Why? He was makin' it with my wife.
I wanted to kill him myself.
So who really killed Frankel? I got a new wife, family.
I'd be dead in a couple of hours if I told you that.
[Tubbs.]
Why the change ofheart, Gus? I got two months to go.
Pancreatic cancer.
I kinda know what it's like from where Hackman sits.
[Waldman.]
I don't care if Albierro is ready to recant.
That's not enough.
Not even for a sway of momentum, let alone a reopen of the case.
How about a stay, at least until we untangle this thing? At this stage, only the governor can grant stays or pardons.
And that's not gonna happen just because some thug comes up with an 11 th-hour alibi.
The man has cancer.
He wants to right himself before he dies.
He's willing to testify.
Well, you'd probably do the same thing for one of your buddies goin' to the chair, right? Listen, pal.
I'm not sittin' on this.
What's it gonna take to reopen? - It's not gonna happen.
- What's it gonna take? - Two corroborating witnesses.
- You got it.
Guys, you pry this thing open, we're not gonna have enough weight to reconvict, and that maggot's gonna walk.
And that'll be on your heads.
Well, then, you got nothin' to worry about, do ya? [Crockett.]
I'll tell you what it is, Gus.
We need someone else to back up your story.
Somebody that was with you in Daytona.
Okay, sport.
Time to help your mom.
Honey! Come on.
Get your brother.
[Spanish.]
Come on.
[Spanish.]
It's dangerous draggin' people out of the past.
Nobody wants to remember.
You said you wanted to save Hackman.
I do.
But I got a family.
If my name is in front of all that ghost hunting We'll do it quietly.
As far as the press is concerned, we dug it up and forced you to testify.
But we gotta move.
Hackman's scheduled to die in less than 48 hours.
Tommy Barkley.
He was with Hackman and me.
Why didn't he testify then? He didn't show up for the trial.
Disappeared.
I haven't heard a thing since '80.
Dead end.
Barkley was killed in a prison riot three years ago in Pensacola.
Damn! Albierro didn't mention this? Said he hadn't heard from Barkley in six years.
Well, that's it.
We got nothin'.
There's got to be somebody else.
Albierro was very specific.
He said there was just the three of them.
They're gonna kill somebody that I sent up for something I'm not sure he's done.
It's your past, and you refuse to let it die! I haven't heard from her in years.
Oh, yeah? Then why is she sending you this picture? I have no idea.
Well, you promised.
You swore when we got married you would be out.
No more contact! Carmen, please believe me.
I'll always take care of you and the children.
You're all I care about.
That's not good enough.
Not this time.
Please, Carmen No, Gus.
I'm going to my mother's.
And I'm taking the children.
Okay.
And I want a decision by tomorrow.
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
?? [Man Singing Slow Rock.]
?? [Continues.]
[Silenced Gunshots.]
?? [Ends.]
[Man.]
All right! Wait! Hold it! You're the guys from Vice, right? Yeah.
Hey, you guys eat yet? No.
Good.
I'd hate to have you lose your breakfast.
Albierro? Come on.
The rest of him is inside.
Three shots to the forehead.
Now, the slug lines suggest Albierro was on his knees.
Now, whatever he was thinking about is now splattered against the back wall.
Any eyewitnesses? Nah.
Reads like a contract job.
Did you interview the block? That's already been done.
The store owner next door said Albierro and his wife had a real roof raiser last night about closing time.
She stormed over to Mom's just before the hit.
We confirmed the alibi.
Anything else of interest? Not much.
Usual business records.
Excuse me.
A lot of past-due bills.
That's interesting.
You recognize her? No.
The wife's inside.
She might have an idea.
[Door Opens.]
[Crockett.]
Excuse me.
Mrs.
Albierro, could we speak to you a minute? Yes.
His ex-wife.
[Spanish.]
She was a bad person, dragging him down in her filth.
Gus had left all that behind him, but she wouldn't let go.
Albierro was gonna see her? Not and stay with me.
We had a good life going here.
A real good life.
I didn't want it ruined.
But I guess it's too late now.
Look, I don't know who killed Gus.
I just want to be with my children.
Lab can't find any third-party prints.
Ballistics confirms three .
380-caliber slugs, point-blank.
low sixes on neatness.
Whoever whacked Frankel must've got wind of Albierro's recant.
Somebody really wants to see Hackman smoke.
Albierro's statement will stand as a deposition, but we still need corroboration.
Well, you got less than 20 hours.
How about the postcard? Felicia, Albierro's first old lady.
They broke up after she got horizontal with Hackman.
- Any return address? - Postmark Stuart, F-L-A.
Stuart? That's my old stompin'grounds.
Trained up there with the local P.
D.
Until I got transferred here to the big leagues.
You know of any good seafood joints down there? Venus Clam Trap, uh, rolling roach coach out by the stadium.
Stop by Waldman's.
See if we can buy some more time.
Tom, we need a stay.
You got someone to corroborate Albierro's story? Albierro was hit last night.
Someone didn't want him to talk.
You happen to know who that someone is? 'Cause if you don't, I got absolutely nothing to go on.
Come on, Waldman.
Somebody is throwin' roadblocks in our way.
We need a little more time.
We're very close to provin' Hackman's innocence.
Close? You're not even in the parking lot.
You've got a guy who cooks up a very interesting confession, you've got no physical evidence and no one to back him up.
So Albierro gets hit.
Miami is the murder capital of the world.
One more reason for the death penalty as a deterrent.
Come on! Would you spare me the campaign rhetoric? You wanna turtle this issue until after the election.
And what do you want? Let loose a cold-blooded killer? That guy is wrong.
Everybody knows that.
The system worked.
Why can't you just let it go? Because I'm the cop that put him there.
And I'm the lawyer.
My conscience is clear.
No, no.
You're a politician.
A conscience is optional.
Man, that guy reeks of 30-weight.
I think we're chasin' our tails, man.
Oh, I don't know.
I don't know.
Somethin' isn't right, man.
It was a hell of a lot easier the first time.
You've gone the distance, partner.
That's all anyone can ask.
[Man On P.
A.
.]
Panthers, first down and 10 on their own 24-yard line.
Hand off to Wiggins.
[Continues, Indistinct.]
[Crowd Cheering.]
Roger Armstrong at the 27-yard line.
Second down, seventh, Memphis.
What do you say we wait till she closes up? Game'll be over soon.
Incomplete pass.
Catch by Mitchell.
I don't like the looks of that car.
Neither do I.
Make the call.
Get me MacGruder.
Looks like our lady.
[Siren Wailing.]
[Vehicles Approaching, Sirens Wailing.]
- Freeze! F.
B.
I.
! - Take it easy.
We're cops.
- Up against the car.
- Where the hell did the suits come from? Keep your hands on the car now! I.
D.
's in the left pocket.
Now that we've lost the element of surprise, what do you wanna do, partner? Think I'd like to have a little chat with one Thomas Barkley.
Looks pretty healthy for a corpse.
[Engine Starts.]
[Whispers.]
They are cops.
Surprise, surprise.
[Vehicle Departs.]
The guy caps a 20-year career of major-league theft by supposedly blockin' bullets in a prison riot, only to turn up three years later frying clams out in Stuart.
Barkley's on the Witness Protection Program.
What? [Scoffs.]
The prison death was fictionalized? F.
B.
I.
's most prized canary.
Helped bring down entire networks, fences, money launderers.
Well, that's fine.
But that doesn't explain why he's lettin' his buddy go to the chair.
Well, maybe Hackman figured into the feds' plan.
Doesn't follow.
Barkley's got enough names and dates not to feed 'em Hackman.
We have 14 hours to find out.
- Can you pull enough strings to get us Barkley's address? - Yes.
?? [Man Singing.]
Ready for your supper? Anything I can do for you? No.
Thanks, eh? Wilson.
I want you to have this.
I can't.
Please.
You made a difference here.
I got nobody else.
Take it.
Frank, really, I appreciate it, but I can't.
I'll lose my job.
?? [Continues.]
I thought we were just gonna talk to this guy.
I'm willin' to talk.
Sonny This guy knows the truth, Rico.
He's gonna tell me.
?? [Fades.]
[Hammer Cocks.]
It's rude to drop in unannounced.
[Hammer Cocks.]
This is our invitation.
Should have R.
S.
V.
P.
'd.
The way I figured it, anything goes wrong, Felicia's the only one walking out of this party.
- Who are they? - Cops or amateurs.
No self-respecting thief would be this stupid.
Let me see some I.
D.
Vice.
Miami.
Well, gentlemen, let's skip the lesson in manners and move right on to a short course in blanket immunity.
It's a top-dollar blanket.
Total immunity.
The law can't touch Thomas Barkley.
Hackman's the one on the hot seat.
Albierro told us he's innocent.
Albierro's an old fool.
From what I hear, sweetheart, you're the one who's been foolin' around.
Could, um, you and I take a little walk? Anything I can do for you? How about a power failure? [Laughing.]
Forget it.
Hey, I'm just a pre-Miranda kind of guy.
Back then there was a definite possibility that cops could get a guy to talk.
Not now.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
We're all a bunch of pussycats now.
[Groans.]
So I'm not gonna waste any more of the short time that Hackman has left [Groaning.]
By violating your civil rights.
I'm gonna make it real simple, pal.
You're gonna tell me the truth, or I'm gonna make one phone call to Chicago.
Then in four hours, a plane's gonna land in Miami, and then in six hours, you'll be dead.
[Gasps.]
What do you wanna know? That's better.
Who killed Frankel? A button man from Buffalo.
De Santis.
Everybody knew that Frankel was a cop.
A lot of people wanted him hit.
Now, Hackman was with you in Daytona? Yeah.
Me and Albierro.
Why didn't you show up for the trial? Felicia.
Nobody's that good, pal.
She is.
[No Audible Dialogue.]
Miami Vice.
Take it through channels, Crockett.
[Chattering.]
Governor, Miami Vice.
We have depositions that will exonerate Frank Hackman.
Governor, if I could recommend that this be handled through the appropriate channels.
Tom, this man has a little over an hour left.
Let's not worry about procedure.
Get me a phone.
Yo.
Sonny, come to see the crumbling dream? Check it out.
" Waldman down 10 points in polls after Hackman pardon.
" Made the front page.
- I came by to say I'm sorry about the way it worked out.
- Oh, that's big of you.
I'm not gonna apologize for doin' my job, Tom, or for doin' what I thought was right.
You think I care about your motivation? You cut the legs out of my career, man.
Since when is that more important than a man's life? Hackman is a slug.
The world would be that much lighter without him.
That's not a call you get to make, Tom.
You must feel good.
Yeah.
Yeah, I do.
You know, Rico, in 12 years, this is the first time I ever got anyone out of the slam.
Let's not make it a habit.
[Laughing.]
It sure as hell feels different playin' both sides of the field.
Well, we just catch 'em.
We don't cook 'em.
That's Waldman's job.
Hackman.
[Door Buzzing.]
Didn't expect to see you here.
Thanks, Crockett.
- Just doin' my job.
- Like I knew you would.
[Car Horn Honking.]
Gus was dyin'.
He wanted his family to be cared for.
I bought his confession.
You killed Frankel.
[Chuckling.]
Yeah.
I won't be needin' this anymore.
Maybe you can use it.
?? [Man Singing.]
?? [Continues.]
Costa and Edwards will pick up Albierro, and we'll bag Hackman.
- Nobody knows where Barkley is.
- Well, let's not let Hackman get itchy feet.
I'll pick you up at 5:30, and we'll take this turkey while he's still in bed.
Hey, Sonny.
Yeah? - The good guys won for once.
- [Chuckles.]
Yeah, for once.
[Chuckling.]
Ah! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! Yeah! That's my sweetheart! [Muttering.]
Were you a good girl? Yeah.
I know you're a good girl.
[Imitating Helicopter.]
Oh! Look at all these toys.
Somebody gonna pick up all these toys in the living room? Yes, Daddy.
Somebody will.
I know that somebody will.
- Dinner's almost ready.
- Terrific.
Let's go wash up, huh? Once more.
Draw! [Imitates TVTurning Off.]
It's a strong case.
Good forensics and three witnesses who can put them in the area.
They real bad guys, Daddy? Oh! Real bad guys.
We still gonna be able to have dinner with Sonny and Caroline tomorrow? No problem.
We'll be finished with the paperwork by 5:00.
Sonny told me they've already got a sitter.
[Doorbell Rings.]
You expecting someone? [Woman Screams.]
[Man On TV.]
Jane, in virtually every opinion poll taken in the state of Florida over the last five years, the citizens have overwhelmingly supported the death penalty.
Now, I believe that the penalty of death is a significant deterrent to premeditated murder.
Donna, would you like some orange juice, honey? Yes, please.
And as this state's attorney general, I will do everything in my power to see that penalty enforced whenever and wherever it is warranted.
Oh, yes.
[Woman.]
Candidates, any comments? Hell, that isn't enough.
You want real deterrent value, you get public executions broadcast live so's all the criminal scum can watch.
- Are these guys serious? - Of course they're serious.
They're tryin' to get elected.
[Woman.]
Mr.
Clayborn, your thoughts? It's one thing to go down to the courthouse in Tombstone and watch a public hanging as a matter of personal choice.
But to broadcast the death of a human being into every home in this state where small children might be watching is an obscenity.
Thank you, gentlemen.
We now go to Raiford Prison and to the cell of convicted murderer Frank Hackman, who is scheduled to be executed this Friday.
Do we have to watch any more of this? Wait a minute.
- Hold it.
- [Woman.]
Good morning, Mr.
Hackman.
Good morning, Jane.
You've heard our panel.
Care to share your thoughts? Even though Mr.
Waldman and Mr.
Davis were part of the system that put me here, I agree with them.
[Woman.]
Do you mean to say that you'd be willing to have your own execution telecast? Death is God's will, and only God's will.
Even though I didn't commit the crime I've been convicted of, I want my death to count for something.
Broadcasting my execution might help people to see that any killing, even in the name of justice, is wrong.
Oh, man! What's wrong? Nothin' that 20,000 volts wouldn't cure.
Come on.
Let's get outta here.
You're not gonna eat your breakfast? You should have seen him, Rico.
He was lyin' through his teeth and hidin' behind the cross.
Hey, hey, amigo.
Be cool.
It's not our problem.
It is now.
A Father LaFrano called from Saint Ives church.
He's got some new information on the Hackman case.
He wants to talk to you.
What's to talk about? Hackman committed murder, and he's gonna fry.
Talk to him.
A parishioner has confessed to being in Daytona with Frank Hackman the night the detective was murdered.
I'm afraid an innocent man may be executed on Friday.
That's it? Well, by all means, let's run right over to the parole board.
What do ya say, huh? - Can you identify the parishioner? - I cannot violate the sanctity of the confessional.
He has released me to say only that much.
So why is this guy comin' forward now? He's very sick, possibly dying.
He read about Hackman's date coming up, and he decided his conscience would not allow him to go on.
- Marty.
- Excuse me.
The good father here is being played.
Frank Hackman blew away my partner in front ofhis wife and kids, and he deserves to get whatever's comin' to him.
Tell me somethin'.
Why doesn't this guy come to the police? He's afraid his family will be in danger if he's identified.
[Chuckling.]
I should have guessed.
Sure.
Good day, Father.
Thank you, Father.
I apologize if I caused any stress, but my parishioner insisted that I speak directly to Detective Crockett.
May I ask why? He put Hackman on death row.
[Crockett.]
Security armored car job back in '79.
[Tubbs.]
So how much was uncovered? Not a dime.
Very fast, very clean.
Old-school pros.
How'd you get Hackman? Me and another cop named Frankel.
We were workin' him.
Frankel went under as a fence.
Had a deal with Hackman for the whole job until his cover was blown.
Hackman blew him away with a 12-gauge in front of his kids.
[Mutters.]
Tight case? We were lucky to get a conviction.
Had a mountain of circumstantial to tie Hackman to it.
So you think he's guilty? You bet.
[Man.]
Paid for by the committee to elect Thomas Waldman [Man #2.]
That looked just super.
Now, we need at least 20 gross rating points with the 30's over the next two weeks.
I want you to mix in the 10's with the Sunday-Monday rotation of the final week, okay? Mr.
Waldman? Yeah? - A couple of detectives to see you.
- Here I come.
Sonny Crockett.
Good mornin', Tom.
This is my partner, Ricardo Tubbs.
Hello.
Ricardo.
Come on, guys.
Uh, to what do I owe this pleasure? Well, our soon to be late friend, Frank Hackman.
Oh.
Thanks.
Yeah.
He's become quite a hot topic these days.
Uh, no pun.
[Chuckling.]
Yeah, well, we got a hot tip this morning that, uh, our friend is innocent.
Come on, Sonny.
If we had a dime for every last-minute fabrication I know, I know, I know, I know.
Well, our lieutenant seems to think there's something to this one.
Hackman is a maggot.
He's been one step ahead of the chair his entire life.
Look, I'm not gonna defend this guy.
That's not the issue here.
He was convicted for a specific murder.
And he's guilty.
We had enough evidence to bury that guy alive.
- All of it was circumstantial.
- Circumstantial? We had shoe prints outside the apartment, fiber matches, a box of those double-aught Magnums in his car Tom.
Clothes to match a neighbor's description.
And need I remind you that his pal, Albierro, testified as to Hackman's intent? Look, I was the cop that arrested him.
But it was four hours later and more than three blocks away.
[Sighing.]
Look, this thing was dumped on me.
But I gotta do it right.
Are you telling me that I have to convince you that Hackman deserves to die? I'm just trying to maintain some objectivity here and do the right thing.
I would think that you would wanna do the same.
[Sighs.]
Well, if you're here for my blessing, you're not gonna get it.
My platform is pro-capital punishment.
The last thing in the world I need is an overturn on the biggest conviction of my career.
That's a hell of an attitude you've got there, counselor.
I prefer to think of it as a belief in the system, Detective.
[Crockett.]
So, our old buddy Mr.
Waldman isn't going to be any help at all.
As a matter of fact, the subject wasn't even open for discussion.
Guy doesn't want to confuse his constituency.
Is there anything more out of the priest? No.
We'll set up concentrated surveillance around the church, photo-fax anyone entering or leaving to Washington.
We need to find any connection we can to Hackman or his crew.
Uh, excuse me, but, uh, isn't this guy gonna be a little crispy day after tomorrow? - 9:00 a.
m.
- That doesn't give us a lot of time.
Is this guy a regular parishioner? Let's hope so.
Okay.
That's all.
Thanks, Switey.
Crockett.
Yes, sir? You've gotta be kiddin' me.
What the hell does he want? We got nothin' to say to each other.
See him.
Marty He may have a lead on the tip.
?? [Man Singing Slow Rock.]
?? [Continues.]
?? [Continues.]
?? [Ends.]
Good to see ya.
Save it, Frank.
There's no need for hard feelings, Crockett.
I've made my peace.
I know why I'm here.
Why'd you ask me to come here? A man's right to face his accusers.
Not many people have the luxury of knowing the exact hour of their death.
I'm losing interest.
You didn't put me here.
I want you to know that.
There'll come a time when you'll ask for forgiveness, to make your peace with God, and I want you to remember that I don't hold you accountable.
Now, that's dang nice of you, Frank.
I'll keep that in mind.
I didn't kill Frankel.
I did kill other people you don't know about.
And the way I figure it, that's what I'm dyin'for.
So I'm totally prepared, and I've accepted my death as just.
I'm telling you this so, now or later, you ought not to feel any guilt.
That's kind of ironic, don't you think? I go out for one I didn't do? Still say you were in Daytona? It doesn't matter.
None of it does.
[Knocks.]
When your days get down to single digits, your mind gets amazingly clear.
You begin to understand the balance.
I'm goin' to a better place, Sonny.
Thanks for comin'up.
?? [Man Singing.]
?? [Choir Vocalizing.]
[Bell Tolling.]
YGW 011.
Yank-Gulf-Whiskey-011.
[Gina.]
AOC 46F.
Alpha-Oscar-Charlie-46-Foxtrot.
Car's registered to Pepe Ferrar.
No criminal record, no wants, no warrants.
[Shutter Clicks.]
[Shutter Clicks.]
Another batch comin' in, Stan.
There was no sheets on the last two.
[Switek.]
Okay.
Barretto, Alejandro.
He's got three warrants.
Arrest record: A D.
U.
I.
In '84, driver's license suspended in '85.
Nada.
Next: Kirkl, David Michael.
[Muttering.]
Arrest record: 1982 income tax evasion.
He was indicted.
No wants, no warrants.
We're 0 for 2.
Here's one.
Albierro, Gus.
Here's our confessor.
Why, he's got a sheet as long as my arm.
Gus Albierro, age 57.
Divorced from Felicia Diaz in '78.
Remarried.
Two children.
Owns and operates an auto repair shop in North Miami.
F.
B.
I.
Links Albierro to as many as 14 possible jobs with Hackman.
We got armed robbery, extortion, laundering, trafficking, assault and battery, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
A lot of arrests, few convictions.
His guise reads like a Chicago businessman.
Twenty-year career, then moved to Miami for retirement.
Yeah, the American dream.
That's history.
I walked away from that part of my life.
I haven't talked to Hackman in years.
It must be kinda tough, seein' him on the news every night.
You get my age, you know a lot of people who die.
How about the ones that get framed, Gus? Did Hackman kill Frankel, Gus? What makes you think he didn't? I have no reason to think that.
You testified that he did the murder.
I testified to his intent.
Wait a minute, Gus.
You were the nail in the coffin.
We didn't have enough evidence to send him up without your testimony.
You know that.
Yeah.
You got somethin' on your chest, Gus? The man's about to watch his last sunset, Gus.
Did he kill him? He was with me in Daytona.
You perjured yourself? [Tubbs.]
Why? He was makin' it with my wife.
I wanted to kill him myself.
So who really killed Frankel? I got a new wife, family.
I'd be dead in a couple of hours if I told you that.
[Tubbs.]
Why the change ofheart, Gus? I got two months to go.
Pancreatic cancer.
I kinda know what it's like from where Hackman sits.
[Waldman.]
I don't care if Albierro is ready to recant.
That's not enough.
Not even for a sway of momentum, let alone a reopen of the case.
How about a stay, at least until we untangle this thing? At this stage, only the governor can grant stays or pardons.
And that's not gonna happen just because some thug comes up with an 11 th-hour alibi.
The man has cancer.
He wants to right himself before he dies.
He's willing to testify.
Well, you'd probably do the same thing for one of your buddies goin' to the chair, right? Listen, pal.
I'm not sittin' on this.
What's it gonna take to reopen? - It's not gonna happen.
- What's it gonna take? - Two corroborating witnesses.
- You got it.
Guys, you pry this thing open, we're not gonna have enough weight to reconvict, and that maggot's gonna walk.
And that'll be on your heads.
Well, then, you got nothin' to worry about, do ya? [Crockett.]
I'll tell you what it is, Gus.
We need someone else to back up your story.
Somebody that was with you in Daytona.
Okay, sport.
Time to help your mom.
Honey! Come on.
Get your brother.
[Spanish.]
Come on.
[Spanish.]
It's dangerous draggin' people out of the past.
Nobody wants to remember.
You said you wanted to save Hackman.
I do.
But I got a family.
If my name is in front of all that ghost hunting We'll do it quietly.
As far as the press is concerned, we dug it up and forced you to testify.
But we gotta move.
Hackman's scheduled to die in less than 48 hours.
Tommy Barkley.
He was with Hackman and me.
Why didn't he testify then? He didn't show up for the trial.
Disappeared.
I haven't heard a thing since '80.
Dead end.
Barkley was killed in a prison riot three years ago in Pensacola.
Damn! Albierro didn't mention this? Said he hadn't heard from Barkley in six years.
Well, that's it.
We got nothin'.
There's got to be somebody else.
Albierro was very specific.
He said there was just the three of them.
They're gonna kill somebody that I sent up for something I'm not sure he's done.
It's your past, and you refuse to let it die! I haven't heard from her in years.
Oh, yeah? Then why is she sending you this picture? I have no idea.
Well, you promised.
You swore when we got married you would be out.
No more contact! Carmen, please believe me.
I'll always take care of you and the children.
You're all I care about.
That's not good enough.
Not this time.
Please, Carmen No, Gus.
I'm going to my mother's.
And I'm taking the children.
Okay.
And I want a decision by tomorrow.
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
?? [Man Singing Slow Rock.]
?? [Continues.]
[Silenced Gunshots.]
?? [Ends.]
[Man.]
All right! Wait! Hold it! You're the guys from Vice, right? Yeah.
Hey, you guys eat yet? No.
Good.
I'd hate to have you lose your breakfast.
Albierro? Come on.
The rest of him is inside.
Three shots to the forehead.
Now, the slug lines suggest Albierro was on his knees.
Now, whatever he was thinking about is now splattered against the back wall.
Any eyewitnesses? Nah.
Reads like a contract job.
Did you interview the block? That's already been done.
The store owner next door said Albierro and his wife had a real roof raiser last night about closing time.
She stormed over to Mom's just before the hit.
We confirmed the alibi.
Anything else of interest? Not much.
Usual business records.
Excuse me.
A lot of past-due bills.
That's interesting.
You recognize her? No.
The wife's inside.
She might have an idea.
[Door Opens.]
[Crockett.]
Excuse me.
Mrs.
Albierro, could we speak to you a minute? Yes.
His ex-wife.
[Spanish.]
She was a bad person, dragging him down in her filth.
Gus had left all that behind him, but she wouldn't let go.
Albierro was gonna see her? Not and stay with me.
We had a good life going here.
A real good life.
I didn't want it ruined.
But I guess it's too late now.
Look, I don't know who killed Gus.
I just want to be with my children.
Lab can't find any third-party prints.
Ballistics confirms three .
380-caliber slugs, point-blank.
low sixes on neatness.
Whoever whacked Frankel must've got wind of Albierro's recant.
Somebody really wants to see Hackman smoke.
Albierro's statement will stand as a deposition, but we still need corroboration.
Well, you got less than 20 hours.
How about the postcard? Felicia, Albierro's first old lady.
They broke up after she got horizontal with Hackman.
- Any return address? - Postmark Stuart, F-L-A.
Stuart? That's my old stompin'grounds.
Trained up there with the local P.
D.
Until I got transferred here to the big leagues.
You know of any good seafood joints down there? Venus Clam Trap, uh, rolling roach coach out by the stadium.
Stop by Waldman's.
See if we can buy some more time.
Tom, we need a stay.
You got someone to corroborate Albierro's story? Albierro was hit last night.
Someone didn't want him to talk.
You happen to know who that someone is? 'Cause if you don't, I got absolutely nothing to go on.
Come on, Waldman.
Somebody is throwin' roadblocks in our way.
We need a little more time.
We're very close to provin' Hackman's innocence.
Close? You're not even in the parking lot.
You've got a guy who cooks up a very interesting confession, you've got no physical evidence and no one to back him up.
So Albierro gets hit.
Miami is the murder capital of the world.
One more reason for the death penalty as a deterrent.
Come on! Would you spare me the campaign rhetoric? You wanna turtle this issue until after the election.
And what do you want? Let loose a cold-blooded killer? That guy is wrong.
Everybody knows that.
The system worked.
Why can't you just let it go? Because I'm the cop that put him there.
And I'm the lawyer.
My conscience is clear.
No, no.
You're a politician.
A conscience is optional.
Man, that guy reeks of 30-weight.
I think we're chasin' our tails, man.
Oh, I don't know.
I don't know.
Somethin' isn't right, man.
It was a hell of a lot easier the first time.
You've gone the distance, partner.
That's all anyone can ask.
[Man On P.
A.
.]
Panthers, first down and 10 on their own 24-yard line.
Hand off to Wiggins.
[Continues, Indistinct.]
[Crowd Cheering.]
Roger Armstrong at the 27-yard line.
Second down, seventh, Memphis.
What do you say we wait till she closes up? Game'll be over soon.
Incomplete pass.
Catch by Mitchell.
I don't like the looks of that car.
Neither do I.
Make the call.
Get me MacGruder.
Looks like our lady.
[Siren Wailing.]
[Vehicles Approaching, Sirens Wailing.]
- Freeze! F.
B.
I.
! - Take it easy.
We're cops.
- Up against the car.
- Where the hell did the suits come from? Keep your hands on the car now! I.
D.
's in the left pocket.
Now that we've lost the element of surprise, what do you wanna do, partner? Think I'd like to have a little chat with one Thomas Barkley.
Looks pretty healthy for a corpse.
[Engine Starts.]
[Whispers.]
They are cops.
Surprise, surprise.
[Vehicle Departs.]
The guy caps a 20-year career of major-league theft by supposedly blockin' bullets in a prison riot, only to turn up three years later frying clams out in Stuart.
Barkley's on the Witness Protection Program.
What? [Scoffs.]
The prison death was fictionalized? F.
B.
I.
's most prized canary.
Helped bring down entire networks, fences, money launderers.
Well, that's fine.
But that doesn't explain why he's lettin' his buddy go to the chair.
Well, maybe Hackman figured into the feds' plan.
Doesn't follow.
Barkley's got enough names and dates not to feed 'em Hackman.
We have 14 hours to find out.
- Can you pull enough strings to get us Barkley's address? - Yes.
?? [Man Singing.]
Ready for your supper? Anything I can do for you? No.
Thanks, eh? Wilson.
I want you to have this.
I can't.
Please.
You made a difference here.
I got nobody else.
Take it.
Frank, really, I appreciate it, but I can't.
I'll lose my job.
?? [Continues.]
I thought we were just gonna talk to this guy.
I'm willin' to talk.
Sonny This guy knows the truth, Rico.
He's gonna tell me.
?? [Fades.]
[Hammer Cocks.]
It's rude to drop in unannounced.
[Hammer Cocks.]
This is our invitation.
Should have R.
S.
V.
P.
'd.
The way I figured it, anything goes wrong, Felicia's the only one walking out of this party.
- Who are they? - Cops or amateurs.
No self-respecting thief would be this stupid.
Let me see some I.
D.
Vice.
Miami.
Well, gentlemen, let's skip the lesson in manners and move right on to a short course in blanket immunity.
It's a top-dollar blanket.
Total immunity.
The law can't touch Thomas Barkley.
Hackman's the one on the hot seat.
Albierro told us he's innocent.
Albierro's an old fool.
From what I hear, sweetheart, you're the one who's been foolin' around.
Could, um, you and I take a little walk? Anything I can do for you? How about a power failure? [Laughing.]
Forget it.
Hey, I'm just a pre-Miranda kind of guy.
Back then there was a definite possibility that cops could get a guy to talk.
Not now.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
We're all a bunch of pussycats now.
[Groans.]
So I'm not gonna waste any more of the short time that Hackman has left [Groaning.]
By violating your civil rights.
I'm gonna make it real simple, pal.
You're gonna tell me the truth, or I'm gonna make one phone call to Chicago.
Then in four hours, a plane's gonna land in Miami, and then in six hours, you'll be dead.
[Gasps.]
What do you wanna know? That's better.
Who killed Frankel? A button man from Buffalo.
De Santis.
Everybody knew that Frankel was a cop.
A lot of people wanted him hit.
Now, Hackman was with you in Daytona? Yeah.
Me and Albierro.
Why didn't you show up for the trial? Felicia.
Nobody's that good, pal.
She is.
[No Audible Dialogue.]
Miami Vice.
Take it through channels, Crockett.
[Chattering.]
Governor, Miami Vice.
We have depositions that will exonerate Frank Hackman.
Governor, if I could recommend that this be handled through the appropriate channels.
Tom, this man has a little over an hour left.
Let's not worry about procedure.
Get me a phone.
Yo.
Sonny, come to see the crumbling dream? Check it out.
" Waldman down 10 points in polls after Hackman pardon.
" Made the front page.
- I came by to say I'm sorry about the way it worked out.
- Oh, that's big of you.
I'm not gonna apologize for doin' my job, Tom, or for doin' what I thought was right.
You think I care about your motivation? You cut the legs out of my career, man.
Since when is that more important than a man's life? Hackman is a slug.
The world would be that much lighter without him.
That's not a call you get to make, Tom.
You must feel good.
Yeah.
Yeah, I do.
You know, Rico, in 12 years, this is the first time I ever got anyone out of the slam.
Let's not make it a habit.
[Laughing.]
It sure as hell feels different playin' both sides of the field.
Well, we just catch 'em.
We don't cook 'em.
That's Waldman's job.
Hackman.
[Door Buzzing.]
Didn't expect to see you here.
Thanks, Crockett.
- Just doin' my job.
- Like I knew you would.
[Car Horn Honking.]
Gus was dyin'.
He wanted his family to be cared for.
I bought his confession.
You killed Frankel.
[Chuckling.]
Yeah.
I won't be needin' this anymore.
Maybe you can use it.
?? [Man Singing.]
?? [Continues.]