Blue Bloods s03e14 Episode Script

My father's been asking for you.
How's he doing, Levi? It won't be long.
I'm sorry.
You remember my brother Jacob.
Commissioner.
Jacob.
Leave us.
Leave us.
Somebody call the police? How long we been friends, Henry? Over 30 years.
Never met a man I trusted more.
Hmm.
And a goy, no less.
The feeling is mutual.
Anything I can do? My final act as Grand Rebbe is to choose my successor.
I have two sons.
Jacob is older and by tradition would succeed me, but I know, in my heart, Levi is the true leader.
Oh, Solly, that's a tough call.
I'm praying for wisdom.
In the end I suppose all a father can give his sons is the truth.
Smell that? Smells like the good stuff.
Yeah.
Brings back memories, huh? Only thing I remember about that stuff was jamming a bunch of pizza in my face.
No, you You think they see us? Yeah, I think so.
I think they're just too stoned to care.
It's a good one.
Mm-hmm.
Got it from Billy's guy.
Oh, God, Rebecca, cops.
Relax, they don't bust people for smoking pot anymore.
Actually we do.
Uh, can we see some I.
D.
, please? You gonna put that out? We're really sorry, Officer.
Don't have a stroke, Bridge, it's cool.
Not really.
You mind opening your bag? Oh.
Some big green buds.
Must have set you back a few bucks, huh? Don't you guys have any real criminals to chase? Might want to ease up on the attitude, Rebecca.
You don't know who my father is.
I don't really care.
Seriously, my parents will kill me if I get arrested.
Trust me, these clowns are not going to arrest us.
Well, not till you said that.
Do me a favor-- get up, face the fence, please.
Put your hands behind your back.
Thanks a lot, Rebecca.
You're going to regret this.
You're going to regret ever meeting me.
Oh, I already do.
Your father was a great man, Levi.
I only hope I can live up to his leadership.
As I told my son when he took over for me, take what you can, then make the job your own.
Yes I got your messages.
The community is grieving.
It's my job to comfort them.
Everything else has to wait! Levi! Come through here.
Levi! No It's just us here.
Oh, my God.
When you coming home? Francis Levi Morgenthal was stabbed to death outside his father's funeral.
Anyone in custody? Not yet.
Want me to come down there? No, no, I just thought you should know first.
Oh, hey, I've got to go.
The detectives are here.
Don't wait up.
Sorry to get you out of bed.
No, are you kidding me? It's nothing.
Um, I know you were friends with the victim's father.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
Um, did you tell the old man I was coming down, and that you called me? He's the commissioner.
He knows everything that goes on in this city.
Right, well, unfortunately, you're not the commissioner anymore, so I'm gonna have to ask you to wait out here.
Okay? I know, I know.
Police only.
Yeah.
They come up with anything on canvass? No, not yet.
Who are you? I'm Detective Wolf Landsman.
The Chief of D's, I think, told you that I was gonna come down here.
Oh, right.
You grew up around here or something? I'm third generation Hasidic.
Really.
Hasidic.
Where's your beard and your, uh, ponytail things? Those are called payots.
Payots.
And I left them behind when I left the community.
Ah.
But I still know my way around here.
Well, I hope so, because it's not always easy to get cooperation around here, you know? The Hasidim are very suspicious of outsiders.
Yeah, I know.
Back in Europe, men in uniform tried to wipe them off the face of the earth.
Yeah, I know about that, too.
The Grand Rebbe controls the largest sect.
They have their own world and their own rules.
Rule number one: outsiders are not welcome.
Well, look, I'm not trying to disrespect anyone's religion, okay? But I got my own rules, and my rule number one is: no one gets away with murder.
Okay? I'm only here to help.
All right, this is the widow.
I'm Detective Reagan, this is Detective Landsman.
We're very sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
And who are you, sir? Uh, I was Levi's gabbai-- Asher Lefko.
That's his closest advisor.
Were you in the temple tonight, ma'am? No.
I was at home.
Levi called me right before.
What did you two talk about? He was upset about his father, doing his best to comfort everyone.
Do you have any idea who would have wanted to do this to your husband, ma'am? Only a godless animal could do s-such a thing.
Well, look, if you think of anything that might help us, would you call, please? It's my number on the She won't take it-- give it to him.
Thank you.
All right.
This officer will escort you out, all right? Standing room only in that temple tonight.
Somebody saw something.
But the trick now is getting them to step up.
Well, hopefully, that's where you come in.
Well, this should be fun.
Yeah.
Thank God Solomon Morgenthal didn't live to see this.
He even told me how difficult it was going to be for the community to accept Levi as the new rebbe.
Talk about an understatement.
Yeah.
What I would like to know, Pop, is how did Danny happen to catch this case? I thought I told you not to wait up.
How'd you know about that? I'm the police commissioner.
I know everything that happens in this city.
Yeah, okay, I called him.
Solomon wanted us to help Levi.
The least we could do is find out who killed him.
Former police commissioner, me, Danny-- it looks like special privilege, Pop.
My friend and my friend's son are dead.
Okay.
I understand.
Okay.
It's got to be hard on Jacob-- losing a father and a brother the same day.
Yeah.
Solomon hated choosing between them.
What father wouldn't? I suppose.
Why'd you and mom never have any more kids, anyway? What? Well Irish Catholic family, mid-1950s? Come on, Pop.
Did you ever ask your mother about that? Well, matter of fact, I did; couple of times.
And what did she tell you? She always said the same thing: "Mind your own business.
" Sounds like pretty good advice to me.
Glad you could join us, partner.
Sorry I'm late.
I basically had to show my piece to get in this place.
Women are rarely allowed in synagogue.
Unless it's a woman who's a New York City police detective.
Detective McElroy, Detective Landsman.
Okay, well, now that the gang's all here, who are these guys? Shomrim.
They're protecting the new Grand Rebbe.
Some of them are real animals.
Don't push them too hard.
Well, we got to do what we got to do, right? We're in a holy temple, and the rabbi is in mourning.
Okay, so I'll play nice.
You are not to be here.
Excuse me? With all due respect, we need to speak with the rabbi.
I know you.
You abandoned your people.
You're as much an outsider as they are.
It's all right, Benny.
You are the grandson of Henry Reagan? That's right, Rabbi.
He's been a great friend to us.
How may I help you? Well, we're here to investigate the murder of your brother.
We have some questions.
It'll be helpful if you could answer them.
Did Levi have any enemies? None of our people would commit such an atrocity against God.
We're not making any accusations.
Although your father did choose your younger brother to be his replacement, instead of you.
Must've been a little awkward for you, right? My father was a wise man, Mm-hmm.
and he made the choice that he felt was right.
And I didn't question it.
And if you are asking me if I had my brother killed so that I could take his place, then the answer is no.
I'd have sooner taken my own life than harm Levi.
Uh, he meant no disrespect.
Well, then we have very different definitions of that word.
Now, if you will excuse me.
I have to prayor the souls of my family.
That's your idea of going easy? Hey, this may be your world, but it's our case.
I'm gonna do what I got to do to solve it, capiche? It's working like a charm so far.
I'm not telling you how to run the case, Danny, but if you push these people, they're gonna shut down.
Well, I'll be sure to use plenty of pleases and thank yous, okay? Hey, guys, we got surveillance tape from the rear of the synagogue.
This is Levi leaving his father's funeral.
And check this out.
That's that side of beef from the, uh, synagogue.
Benny Roth, Jacob's main bodyguard.
Roth left 53 seconds after Levi.
Just in time for Levi to get dead.
This guy, he's always by Jacob's side, right? Most of the time.
I'll check with my confidential informant.
Knows everyone's business-- who's doing what to who and why.
Yeah, sounds like a real piece of work.
Do I insult your mother? You're kidding, right? If there's one thing a Jewish boy never kids about Commissioner, Robert Levitt.
Thank you.
Mr.
Mayor.
Not anymore, thank God.
I really appreciate you seeing me, Frank.
Sure.
And how are you, Garrett? Sir.
So I mean, the place looks the same and I'm not big on redecorating.
Please.
Oh, thank you.
So how are things at Ellison, Cohn? Uh, I go in a couple of days a week, make some calls.
Let's face it, uh, they're paying me a ton of money to put my name on the letterhead.
Anytime you want to switch jobs I'll take a piece of that.
You guys would die of boredom the first week.
So, how are you doing with the new guy? Makes me appreciate the way you handled the job.
That bad, huh? I kind of wish I hadn't given you such a hard time.
But it was just so damn fun.
I have also come to understand how tough it is being mayor.
Well, we did go at it, but, uh, I always respected the job you did.
Likewise.
Good.
Well, I've got that press, uh, thing.
Hey.
Good to see you, Mayor.
Thank you.
So I got a problem, and I'm hoping you can help me with it.
Of course.
My daughter, uh, Rebecca, she got herself in-into some trouble-- smoking marijuana in the park.
Sorry to hear that.
She's a really good kid, a little headstrong maybe, but she's really got a heart of gold.
She made a mistake, but it's been blown way out of proportion.
And, uh I mean, her mother is, uh, about to burst herself into flames; it just I'm sorry to hear that also.
I was hoping you'd talk to the arresting officer.
That would be such a break in the chain of command.
Not in this case.
The officer's your son Jamie.
So, Wolf, how is it that your mom knows that Benny Roth is gonna be at the sauna tonight? Hasidim are creatures of habit.
And it's called a schvitz.
A bunch of fat, naked guys sweating together? Good times.
The Talmud frowns on hot, naked women sweating together.
Is that why you left the Hasids? Can you think of a better reason? Police.
We need to speak to Benny Roth.
No goyim allowed.
You want to come in, get a warrant.
Look, I ain't a goy.
You ain't a Hasid either.
Okay, how about this? If we got to get back in our car and and leave, then the next shield you see is gonna belong to the health department, okay? Fine.
You two.
The shiksa stays out here.
You got to be kidding.
Bunch of fat, sweaty guys, right? Yeah.
I'll be right here.
With this guy.
Benny, no need to get up.
Got a few questions for you.
I got nothing to say to you.
We got you on tape following Levi out of the shul the night he died.
Since when is that a crime? Well, since the guy that you muscle for-- Jacob-- got the job of his dreams when you took out his kid brother Levi.
You cops are all the same-- stupid and lazy.
Yeah.
Put it on.
You're coming down to the precinct.
Yeah? Who's going to make me? You? You? A coward who spits on everything he is? If you were twice as smart, you'd still be a moron.
You know, uh, not for nothing, but what happened to going easy? Your way's more fun.
Oh.
That's true.
We're getting calls on the Morgenthal case.
Let me guess: "Did the Commissioner handpick his son Danny for this investigation?" What should I say? Say no.
Henry? I talked to him.
Is he penitent? Not especially.
I don't want to see this in the papers, Garrett.
I'll figure out a way to kill it.
I need you to run this down for me.
Find out everything you can.
Strictly confidential.
It's time to give it up, Benny.
Did you kill Levi so he could become Grand Rabbi? No way.
Me and Levi left shul around the same time.
But when I got into the car to go to the cemetery, Levi was alive, talking on the phone.
Uh-huh.
Men I was with will tell you the same thing.
We're gonna need those names.
I don't answer to women.
Well, you know, maybe you should try it.
You might learn something.
Look, even if you didn't kill Levi, we've still got you resisting arrest.
You want us to add disorderly conduct to that? Do you two, uh, shtup this girl at the same time or do you take turns? - What'd you say? - Danny, Danny, Danny What the hell did you say? Look, Danny.
You could beat this guy all night; he's not gonna give it up.
Let me give it a shot.
Go ahead.
Levi's killer isn't part of the community.
This needs something.
No, it's good.
Nah, something's missing.
Grandpa's touch? That must be it.
What did he call it? He's "sitting shiva.
" It's the blessing and the curse of getting to be his age-- you go to a lot of funerals.
At least they're not his own.
Yeah.
I got a visit from the former mayor today.
Yeah? How's he doing? He's kind of wound up.
His daughter got collared for smoking pot in the park.
Rebecca Levitt.
Yep.
It was legit all the way.
I'm sure it was.
But I didn't know who she was.
If you did know who she was, would you have handled it differently? Nope.
Good answer.
She was a real piece of work, too.
I've had gangbangers show me more respect.
People treat you like you're special your whole life, eventually you start to believe it.
Levi was into something that got him killed.
Maybe he was doing some business on the side.
But the Grand Rebbe's a very rich man.
Levi stood to inherit that fortune.
What about drugs? I mean, I remember the cartels using the Hasidics for drug mules or something.
Again, money's not an issue, so why take the risk? M.
E.
's report.
Anything we could use? They found a long, blond hair on Levi's groin area.
And his Rivka isn't a blonde.
So maybe our good little Jewish boy was taking a walk on the wild side.
Asher Lefko.
What is it now, Detectives? We got evidence that Levi Morgenthal was having an extramarital affair.
I don't know anything about that.
That's kind of tough to believe, Asher, considering the guy hardly ever left your sight.
Levi's dead.
Let him rest in peace.
It doesn't work that way.
Trust me, you do not want to lie to New York City detectives during the course of a homicide investigation.
Do you understand what I'm saying to you? Now, did he have a girlfriend or not? Her name is Karen Waters.
She's got a shop over on North 3rd.
So, when did you and Levi meet? Seven months ago, Levi came into the shop.
Um he was just browsing and we started talking.
He wasn't like anyone I'd ever met before.
And the feeling was obviously mutual.
He was an amazing guy.
You know, he was smart and funny.
And he called me his shiksa goddess.
At first, I took that as a compliment.
How serious did it get between you two? You mean, were we in love? I thought so.
So what happened? I wanted him to move in with me, you know? I wanted to see if we could make it work outside of the sneaking around.
But he wouldn't go along with that? No.
He said that I had no idea what I was asking of him.
That, even though he was in an unhappy marriage, that, uh he would never betray his people his father's will.
That's a big step.
Trust me.
So it was okay for him to have sex with me and convince me that he cared, but and all the while he knew that he was never gonna be with me? He said that it was a sin against God! I mean, do you have any idea how that makes me feel? Did you have sex with Levi the morning he was killed? Yes, I did.
Um, I'm sorry.
He was upset.
He was fighting with Rivka.
She suspected something.
She wanted a divorce.
She said that? Yes.
But, you know, Levi, he could never handle a scandal like that.
I guess Rivka and I had that in common.
Tell you right now, hell hath no fury like a shiksa scorned.
She's got a motive and no alibi.
Yeah, but she really loved Levi.
She doesn't exactly seem the type to gut a guy with a knife, either.
Karen did say something interesting, though-- that Rivka Morgenthal wanted a divorce.
Right-- is that something that's not allowed in the Hasidic community? No, the women can't ask for a divorce.
Only the husband can file for a get.
If the husband doesn't sign off, the woman is stuck.
Yet another reason I won't be converting any time soon.
So there was no way out of the marriage for her? The death of her husband.
Maybe we should call your mom again, see if she can tell us where we can find Rivka Morgenthal.
Rivka Morgenthal, we need to ask you a few questions.
Don't you people have any respect? Look, we know she wanted a divorce.
So, what happened? Did you find out Levi was having an affair? Hey, leave her alone.
Take it easy.
I loved my husband.
Yeah, but he didn't love you.
That must've made you angry.
Yeah.
Angry enough to kill him? I mean, that is the only way you could actually get a divorce, right? I would never do such a thing.
But he cheated on you, he humiliated you.
I could never please my husband.
I wanted children but Levi would never he he wouldn't be with me.
If he sinned with another woman, it's my sin, too.
Do you intend to arrest Mrs.
Morgenthal? Not yet.
No? Then this conversation is over.
Go ahead.
That went well.
Better than I expected.
The lab identified an animal hair on Levi Morgenthal's jacket-- some kind of rare gray fox.
So, what, the perp we're chasing's got claws and whiskers? Hasidim take a lot of pride in their shtreimels.
Yeah, don't all guys? No, shtreimels are traditional hats worn by Hasidic men on special occasions.
They cost a fortune.
Usually, they use mink, but if you've got serious money, the sky's the limit.
I think it's time we see Moishe.
Moishe? Hasidic hatmaker to the stars.
Good.
Hopefully, he can lead us to the Promised Land.
Hi.
Please.
Thank you.
The coffee here is still horrible.
So, I spoke with the arresting officer on Rebecca's case.
He reported that she was disrespectful, noncompliant She's 16, for God's sake.
Okay? Disrespectful and noncompliant is a badge of honor.
Not when you're dealing with police.
No, you're right.
Of course.
You think a you think a judge will send her to jail? Well, the girl she was with got off with a warning, but if Rebecca mouths off in court I am embarrassed to admit this, Erin, but Rebecca won't listen to me.
I used to run this entire city, yeah? I can't even control a 16-year-old kid.
Well, I have one of my own.
I also know from experience that being the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the city is not always easy.
You turned out okay.
Well, there were some close calls.
When I was 15, Margaret Connolly and I wanted to drive to a party on the Jersey shore.
I assume Frank didn't hand you his keys.
Never bothered asking.
Our next-door neighbor, Mrs.
Oliveri, kept her keys in the ashtray of her station wagon.
Oh, brother.
Uh-huh.
I made it seven blocks before I smashed into the construction barricade.
The wheel got stuck in a open manhole.
And when Frank found out? It was not pretty.
But he helped you out, right? No.
No.
He said "This is your mess.
I suggest you clean it up.
" So I had to beg Mrs.
Oliveri not to press charges, and I had to come up with $2,700 to fix her car.
As parents, our first instinct is to fix everything and sometimes that just makes things worse.
Yeah.
Moishe, this is Detective Reagan, Oh.
and this is Detective McElroy.
We're working on a case together.
It's an honor.
It's a joy to meet you, sir, a joy.
You, too.
Oh, I heard about the case.
They should string him up, that rotseyakh that killed him.
Wolf tells us that you make the hats for most of the community.
For the last 60 years.
Not ongepotchket schlock, you know, by me.
Everything is the best.
We found some gray fox fur on Levi's coat.
Do you ever use that in any of the hats that you make? Oh, hardly ever.
That stuff is very expensive.
Try to remember, Moishe; this is very important.
That's no problem.
I've learned one thing-- that you must write everything down.
You know, they got computers for that now.
Do you think I'm gonna let that meshuggener box here tell me what I'm supposed to think? Never happen.
I'll never go with this meshuggener box here.
Oh, wait a minute, here it is-- I got it! I got it! Four years, past July.
Quite an order, I see.
Mink, gray fox.
Boy, that was one hell of a shtreimel.
Do your records show who you sold it to? Of course.
Absolutely.
Levi Morgenthal.
The hairs were off of Levi's own hat.
He bought the hat.
I never said that he wore it.
What do you mean? He came back to pick it up, and I told him that I'll help him fit it on.
So he told me that he didn't buy it for himself, he bought it as a present.
Okay, do you remember who he bought it for? He bought it for his gabbai, Asher Lefko.
They were both mishpocha.
Best friends.
You've been a big help, Moishe.
Thank you.
We owe you one.
Ah, thank you.
And you do beautiful work.
Wait-wait-wait a minute.
You say I do great work? Yeah.
Do you see that hat, how beautiful it is? That's beautiful.
I love this hat.
Detective try it on.
No, I couldn't.
No, no, come on, come on.
Try it on.
Go for it.
Go for it, you'll love it.
Thanks.
It's not against the custom or anything? We don't have customs here.
All right.
Huh? There, you Huh? You see? What'd he say? Uh, it's an old Yiddish proverb.
If you put a shtreimel on a pig, would it be a rabbi? Yes.
That's funny.
Thank you again.
Oh, you're welcome.
All right, you've been a big help.
Thank you.
Come back.
All right.
Why would Lefko kill his best friend? Well, he knew about Levi's affair, right? And he obviously didn't approve, and you see the way he looks at the widow.
You think there's something going on between those two? There's a motive.
So, let's pick him up.
No, we can't.
Not a witness.
All we got on Lefko is some fur, and his lawyer's gonna say he was around Levi 24-7, and the fur proves nothing.
Lefko's definitely our guy.
How do we collar him? Maybe we got to get him to confess.
And how, exactly, do you propose we do that? Crime of passion, the way you get somebody is you go after what they love.
So, let's go after what he loves.
Oh, I haven't seen that for a while.
You used to be a pretty good-looking guy, Pop.
Still am.
Listen I've been thinking about something that Solomon Morgenthal said to me.
About how a father owes his son the truth.
Like telling Jacob he wasn't chosen? That must have been a pretty tough conversation.
But he had it.
It was the right thing to do.
I was married to your mother for 46 years.
I never betrayed a secret she asked me to keep.
But I'm gonna do that now.
You had an older brother, Francis.
Peter Christopher Reagan.
How the hell did you find that out? You never had much of a poker face, Pop.
I sent Garrett down to the Office of Vital Records.
I hope that was okay.
Peter was diagnosed with leukemia.
You were born the next year.
It was your mother's call.
The Irish and their secrets.
I don't have to tell you how much your mother loved you.
She didn't want you growing up missing someone you never knew.
Neither did I.
I'm calling a lawyer.
Yeah, well, I hope you're calling him for her.
Tell him to meet us downtown.
Cuff her.
Rivka Morgenthal, you're under arrest for the murder of your husband.
What is this, a joke? We've got a witness who saw a woman matching Rivka's description leave the scene shortly after the murder.
What, dark clothes? Floral headscarf? Every woman in Williamsburg matches that description.
Yeah, but only one woman in Williamsburg wanted to kill Levi for having an affair.
Now, back up.
But I told you I was at home.
Which no one can confirm.
That's right.
You were pissed off that Levi was screwing around, so you went to the synagogue to find him and kill him.
No.
Come on, leave her alone.
Asher takes good care of you, Rivka.
Is that why you killed Levi? So you could be with him? You know what, we'll sort this out down at the squad.
Get her out of here.
Stop, stop, stop! What? Stop! Or what?! It was me; I did it.
No, I'll be fine, Asher.
Don't make up stories.
I kill-- I killed him.
Asher Lefko, you're under arrest.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
My God, Asher.
Why? Because he treated you like dirt.
Listen to me.
He shamed you.
He doesn't deserve a woman like you.
Oh, but you did, right? Oh Asher I wa I wasn't a rebbe's son, but I-I always loved you.
Come on, get him out of here.
You sinned against God, and you No.
sinned against me! Take it easy.
Take it easy.
Back up, back up.
Look, we're sorry for your loss.
Truly.
Miss Levitt, it's alleged that you were in possession of and smoked a lighted marijuana cigarette in public view.
Do you dispute the charges? Whatever.
Excuse me? Yes, we were smoking pot, okay? The report also cites that you were disrespectful and uncooperative at the time of your arrest.
Care to explain? Uh not really.
Your Honor, my client's father has requested to address the court.
Of course.
It's an honor to have you in this courtroom, Mr.
Mayor.
Uh, thank you, Your Honor.
Um, I'd just like to say, Your Honor, that my daughter is a wonderful young woman who needs to learn to respect the law, and that actions have consequences.
I couldn't agree more.
Daddy! Robert No, this is way overdue.
Miss Levitt, I hereby sentence you to a $500 fine and 1,000 hours of community service.
There's a drug rehab facility at Battery Park City that's been closed since Hurricane Sandy.
I'm sure they could use a helping hand to clean things up.
Next case.
This roll tastes weird.
That's 'cause it's a knish.
What's a knish? It's like a potato pie.
It's Jewish food for Irish people.
You should try the kreplach.
Oh, it's amazing, right? I never eat anything with the word "crap" in it.
Ditto.
It's "krep," wisenheimer.
And I think it was very thoughtful of Jacob Morgenthal to send this stuff over.
He says thank you for the job you did, Danny.
Oh, well, I'm glad.
I was a little rough on him.
Can you imagine having to choose between two sons like that? No.
And that is not a choice I will have to make.
But if you did, who would make Commissioner? Danny or me? What am I, chopped liver? Well, hold on, you're a girl, you don't count.
I'm a girl? What does that mean, I'm a girl? A girl could never be Commissioner.
Okay, wait, wait, wait.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Oh, really? Wait, wait-- Dad, if you had to choose, who would it be? Danny, me, or Erin? Well, you have the perspective.
You have the tenacity.
Huh? Come on.
What do I got? You have the fire in the belly.
I got the fire in the belly.
Yeah, it's called gas.
Dad, who would you choose, seriously? Keep learning and ask me again in another year.
That's not an answer, Dad.
Yeah, epic fail, Dad.
That's a dodge.
Pass some more of, uh, whatever that is.
Here you go.
Mad at me? No.
Mad at your mom? No way.
I'm sorry you lost a son, Pop.
Well, we have that in common, too.
Been carrying this with me all these years.
I think maybe you should have it.
He was a good kid.
Just like you.