Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) s03e19 Episode Script
Fico Di Capo
In New York City's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad.
These are their stories.
One eighty-five, 190, 195.
Oops.
I'll be right back with the rest.
Runnin' out of time, Chops.
Hey, if he's breathin', we'll find him.
Don't even think about it.
Sorry.
Am I a bad accountant or what? See you next week, girlfriend.
You put up with that crap? It's not forever.
He's been in that apartment for a week.
He's going stir-crazy.
It'd be a nice gesture, considering what he's doing for us.
I just need him to sit still for another week.
If we don't get thrown another continuance.
Here she comes.
We go with her? No.
Go buy a cake.
So the big mystery's over.
Here's the address.
No stops on the way there or back.
Take him in and out through the back entrance.
Inside, stay close.
Here.
So, what do you think? I think she's gonna be very proud of you, Danny.
Danny, this is the best gift I could get.
I didn't think you'd come back from Florida in time.
Hey, anything for my nana.
This guy's still at it? I'm gonna put his head in that squeeze box he doesn't shut up.
Shut your mouth, punk.
I love that tune.
Don't screw with me, old man.
Or what? You sit down and drink your Shirley Temple.
You sit down before I rip your finger off and shove it up your Get down! Ma, you all right? Danny, did you Oh, my God.
! Law & Order CI This kid's a witness in a mob trial, and you bring him here for Sunday dinner.
Whose idea was that? Mine.
Thank you, Officer Tait.
Who knew Danny'd be here? His family? No.
They thought he was in Florida.
Not even my own guys knew until tonight.
Danny witnessed an arson of a meth lab? He was working across the street.
He saw Mikey Damiano run from the building.
We only found Danny 'cause our other witnesses recanted.
Nobody knew we had him.
If I knew who he was testifying against Mario Damiano's kid, of all people I never would've allowed that.
We understand.
Your son was brave, Ms.
Lucci.
We'll get justice for him.
Danny Lucci's protection detail said the shooter was standing right about here.
Male Caucasian, 50s, 60s, gold-tinted glasses.
It's Chianti.
No one drank from this.
Three shots, grouped together to avoid hitting unintended victims.
And enough boom-boom to make everybody duck.
Next shot, on the money.
He saved the last two rounds in case he ran into trouble getting out.
Old school pro.
Working with someone from the new school.
The other guy: 19, 20, dark hair, leather coat, collar turned up.
I can't believe it, Jim.
Your guys were supposed to sit on top of him.
- Now we're in for it.
- This is a disaster.
Mr.
Perez, this is neither the time nor the place.
Detective Farcas, the district attorney, the police commissioner have agreed Major Case will be investigating this murder.
It's my case.
You have your hands full with the Damiano arson case.
Now, why don't you and Mr.
Perez have a word with the young man's parents.
Come here.
I want to talk to you.
This began as an argument over an accordion player? A diversion.
It was a hit.
Probably ordered by the Damianos.
And Damiano Senior is in a hospice dying from cancer.
And his son Mikey? Somehow they knew Danny Lucci would be here tonight.
It's such a nice cake.
"Isabella's Italian Bakery.
" It's a special-order cake.
They had to know in advance where to deliver it.
ISABELLA'S ITALIAN BAKERY TUESDAY, MARCH 23 Ms.
Lucci came in Sunday afternoon to check on the decorations.
This guy kneadin' the dough Is he new? He's not using enough flour.
The dough's gonna stick.
Yeah, he's new.
What happened to the guy he replaced? Roberto never came back from his break yesterday afternoon.
His breakIt was after Mrs.
Lucci was here? Yeah.
He was in the alley talkin' to some guy.
He came in and he went out again.
- Why'd he come back in? - He looked in that fridge.
Is this where you kept Ms.
Lucci's cake? In the box with the address? Yes.
The guy in the alleyway What did he look like? White guy.
Young guy.
I couldn't see his face real good.
He had, you know, his collar up.
It's all the rage these days.
Here are the phone records for the cops on Lucci's security detail.
How're they stacking up? Mm, two of them are happily married.
One of them Tait got slammed in his divorce last year.
A wife and two teenage kids.
A lot of cops manage alimony without taking bribes.
Hey, the Damianos have their hands in a lot of pockets.
The great Damiano family.
Old man Mario with lung cancer.
His brothers long gone.
His eldest son dead.
His middle son serving life.
Now it's down to the runt of the litter.
- The officer with the alimony, that's Tait.
- Yes.
All right.
His cell phone shows a half dozen calls yesterday to and from a number in Cape May.
- It's registered under a Karen Loeser.
- Yeah.
That's his ex-wife.
There's no calls to her last month, month before two calls in nine weeks.
Then all of a sudden she's his best pal.
APARTMENT OF A.
D.
A.
GERALDO PEREZ BROOKLYN, NEW YORK TUESDAY, MARCH 23 A new dirt bike.
That's what the calls were about.
It was delivered to Tait's son the day after Danny Lucci was shot.
His kid says that it was a surprise birthday gift from his dad.
We're still tracking down the dealership, but there's no record of how Tait paid for itno check, no withdrawal from his bank.
Son of a bitch.
Sorry.
Didn't know you had company.
These are detectives from Major Case.
This is my wife, Nina.
We're just, uh, you know, swapping fish stories.
Take your time.
Nice to meet you.
So Tait was in a position to tell Mikey Damiano that Danny Lucci might be at his grandmother's dinner.
One of Detective Farcas's own men.
Bring him in.
Mikey handled everything like a real pro, Mr.
Damiano.
I always knew he was a chip off the old block.
Good boy.
Give me one of those figs.
You don't tell Mikey about your visits here, okay? No, sir, Mr.
Damiano.
Mikey's the last of my sons.
I see his flaws.
But you Maybe you're from outside the family, but you got the Damiano spirit.
We all come from the same earth, Mr.
Damiano.
I see bad days ahead.
We'll be nothing if we don't help each other.
I did not give up information on Danny Lucci.
Just out of curiosity, how much do you think that information would be worth? Fifty thousand? Forty? How about $6,542.
22? How did you arrive at that number? It's the price of a new dirt bike.
Gift wrapping not included.
It was delivered to your ex-wife's house.
An early birthday present for your son, Jason.
I didn't buy that.
Well, that's not what you told your son.
He said that you bought him a new bike.
Well, he thought I did Thinks I did.
It was the first time he called you in five months, right? He was angry about the divorce? What do you expect? He's just a kid.
Well, if he thought that you did something nice, that might turn things around, right, Raymond? I did not buy him that bike.
You let him think you did.
I know I should've reported it, but Jason You should've heard the kid.
I'll need the DD-5's by tomorrow.
I want to present to the grandjury as soon as possible.
Well, I'm not sure Tait was the leak.
- You bought that sob story? - I bought his affect.
Well, I'm sorry, but that's not evidence.
The motorcycle is.
A witness is dead.
The sooner we indict that guy, the sooner we can make a murder case against Mikey Damiano.
Now the shooting really starts.
No question we screwed up.
We lost a witness.
But not one of my guys is on the Damianos' payroll.
Then they have nothing to fear from a grand jury.
Don't sell me sunshine, counselor.
Perez is well-intentioned, but he's makin' enemies.
Detectives Goren and Eames happen to agree with him.
They think Tait was set up.
And the motorcycle? Cash purchase from a dealership in Hoboken.
Buyer was a male Caucasian, early 20s, black hair, just like Mikey Damiano.
Can you turn that into probable cause for a search warrant? - I'll talk to a judge.
- Good enough.
Any way to put the brakes on Perez? Your detectives bring me something, I'll try to cool him out.
Wa-Wa-Wait.
I don't want these guys messin' up my dad's stuff.
I'll show 'em where my room is.
They'll just follow the stench.
What'd you do? Give the maid the year off? It's just you livin' here, huh, since your dad went to the hospice.
This place must've been something back in the day when your mother was still alive, your brothers still around.
Don't-Don't talk about my family.
You're the last of the Mohicans, Mikey.
I don't have nothin' to say without my lawyer.
Oh, that's just adorable.
Probably the first words your dad taught you.
- The garage this way? - You figure it out.
You know, Mikey, you really dodged a bullet with this arson case.
We keep trying to figure out how a guy like you pulled it off.
Very clever of you use a dirt bike to dirty up a cop.
What dirt bike, huh? Do you see a dirt bike anywhere? Is this your defense strategy? Convince us you're too dumb to have pulled it off? Watch out.
You're gonna get dust all over your clothes.
You know, you should take better care of your dad's car for the resale value.
I'm not sellin' his car.
Well, I don't see you drivin' around in this boat.
And your dad's not gonna ride in it anytime soon.
My pops'll be back.
He'll be back strong.
You're in over your head, aren't you, Mikey? No.
I'm doin'just fine.
Fine? You turned your father's house into a pigsty.
You let his gambling operation slide.
And, best of all, you turned an arson rap into murder one.
Perez won't stop until he puts a hot shot in your arm.
Perez.
I'm not scared of Perez.
You know, he likes fishin' so much? You tell him, he keeps tryin' to reel me in, I'm gonna cram that hook down his throat.
He likes fishing? How do you know? Look.
I don't got nothin' to say without my lawyer, all right? Perez had fly-fishing equipment in his apartment.
I doubt Mikey just made a lucky guess.
They did their homework on Tait.
They probably did the same on Perez.
Does he have a history with the Damianos? No.
This is his first mob case.
Two weeks ago, somebody pulled Perez's marriage license from the county clerk's office.
Then they pulled his wife's birth certificate.
I don't like the sound of that.
Well, last year, one of Perez's assault cases was reassigned to another prosecutor - due to conflict of interest.
- What was the conflict? The arresting officer was Officer Nina Perez.
His wife was a beat cop at the 3-8.
Hate to think the Damianos got to her.
Check her creds.
Officer Nina Grotsky Perez.
She was transferred out of the She's not at the 7-1 anymore, or anywhere else.
She's not on leave.
But she's still drawing a paycheck.
What, she's off the radar? She's undercover.
you have a good weekend? very good what about you? how was your big date satruday? turned out not to be so big after all The duty sergeant at the 7-1 doesn't know what happened to Nina Perez.
Narco and Vice have never heard of her.
If she's undercover, it's not with them.
Whoever pulled her birth certificate could've followed the same trail that we did and come to the same place.
Deakins.
Hold on.
It's a reporter at the Ledger.
He says he got our number from your friends at the 7-1.
Put him through.
Yes, Mr.
Nossak? Right.
About Nina Perez.
No kidding? Well, I can't comment till I see it.
Can you fax it? Have you got the number? Right.
You won't believe this.
Nossak's running a column on A.
D.
A.
Perez in tomorrow morning's paper.
"A.
D.
A.
Perez's prosecution of Officer Tait has surprised many, "not the least of whom must be Perez's wife, Nina, a police officer "who sources say is currently working undercover in a heating oil company controlled by the Russian mob.
" They're blowing her cover.
Well, if the reporter knows, we have to assume everyone does.
Captain Deakins for the chief of detectives.
It's urgent.
They caught her just as she got home.
Three puncture wounds.
If you hadn't alerted us, we'd have gotten here too late.
This is her decoy apartment? Right.
She'd come home, change into her running sweats, take the stairs up three floors to her husband's place.
How many in your unit knew her identity? Four, including me.
And two more at the chief of D's office.
Nina? Nina? Oh, my God.
Baby, can you hear me? What have they done to you? They got her stabilized, Mr.
Perez.
Listen.
I know who did this.
I know who leaked her cover.
It was cops to get back at me.
This is the same thing as murder.
The same thing as murder! I don't know about all that, but I can tell you who tried to kill her.
The Russians.
If the Russians wanted her dead, she'd be dead.
I can't believe a cop would blow Nina Perez's cover.
Perez believes it.
So do a number of my colleagues.
We better get ahead of this before it turns into a war.
A war would play into the hands of the people who tipped off the reporter.
The same people who attacked Nina Perez.
The Russians? She was no threat to them.
Her supervisor said the Russians hadn't taken her into their confidences yet.
This attack wasn't about silencing her.
She was knocked unconscious.
Each knife strike was precise.
He hit no major organs, no arteries.
He let her live.
This was a display of power.
And so is orchestrating a war.
A single individual pitted the police against the D.
A.
's office.
Only the Damianos benefit from this, and I don't see Mikey pulling it off.
Maybe his old man.
His phone at the hospice is tapped.
His visitors monitored.
Mikey visits once a month.
That's it.
Everybody else is in the pen or dead.
Well, a ghost didn't do this.
FOREST HILLS HOSPICE QUEENS, NEW YORK WEDNESDAY, MARCH31 What are you violatin' a dyin'old man for? Don't you have enough problems in your own family? That young broad gettin' cut.
You heard about that? Who do you think did it? The Russians.
They're animals.
And who else would be so dumb? Right.
Goin' after a prosecutor's wife.
It's bad for business.
That's what you mean? So I hear.
Those are private! It's just about the only pleasure left for an old man.
Who brings you these? Sicilian blacks.
Fico di capo.
Fig of the don.
- Mikey bring them? - Yeah, Mikey.
Oh, that's a nice gesture.
It's too bad he's not as considerate with your home.
Mm.
It's like a frat house on a Sunday morning.
He never even bothers to wash your car.
Yeah, Mikey thinks that this is your last stop.
Where in the hell you been? I've been buzzin'for an hour.
! Sorry, Mr.
Damiano, sir.
Hey, you.
Give me that.
You lay off my boy.
He's gonna be an orphan soon.
Mikey hasn't been here in two weeks.
These figs are fresh.
Why don't you just tell us who brought 'em to you, Mr.
Damiano? It's somebody that you don't want us to know about.
Right? Somebody who sneaks in like a thief.
Move.
He didn't look happy about the attack on Perez's wife.
He seems to be happy enough about the figs, however they're getting in there.
Our fig man must have a friend on the inside.
Do you need help? Yeah.
That door over there The alarm is disconnected.
Uh, uh What? Pupils the size of pinholes, an orderly's salary.
I'm guessing methamphetamine.
Let-Let's go with that.
You know, seeing as you're the soldier on duty all night here, who brings Mr.
Damiano the figs? Green Jell-O, stewed prunes, I'm your guy.
But figs? No.
Sorry.
L If we checked that alarm box, whose fingerprints do you think we'd find? You cannot tell him that I told you this.
He would take me apart.
Tell who? Damiano? Not him.
This kid, Chops.
If I don't open the door for him, he said he'd kill me.
And you believe him, this kid? He deals meth to the regulars down at the bathhouses in the Village.
My friends have seen what he does to people who rip him off.
Uh, excuse me, Chops.
Hey, hey, the boys say that you're the guy to see if you need a boost.
Do I know you? No.
I just moved down here from Boston.
You know, I'm still makin' new friends.
Boston P.
D.
You're a cop, right? And her, your little friend? He made us.
Wasn't that the point? Have the little punk make us.
- Maybe he'll get cocky, drop his guard.
- Come on.
Come on.
What do you wanna do now, officers? A stop-and-frisk? Be my guest.
Hey, that was a preemptive offer.
You know, so we think he's clean; we don't wanna search him.
- Turn out your pockets.
- Whatever you want, officers.
I guess we could go at it all day, huh, Chops? Trying to outsmart each other.
You do good business selling meth.
I don't do that.
There's another reason why you're so popular in a bathhouse.
Something to do with your nickname "Chops"? Yeah.
Yeah, that must be it.
Is that how you met Mikey Damiano? In the sauna? I don't know a Mikey Damiano.
That blank look on your face When-When-When you got that look, what are you thinkin'? Nothin'.
/ I don't see any I.
D.
Here.
You got a name? You know my name.
It's Chops.
Well, he wanted a stop-and-frisk.
See, this is where it gets frisky.
So you say you don't know Mikey, right? Yet you sneak in and visit his father four times a week.
Oh, so now my imaginary friend has an imaginary father.
Why are you makin' a fist? Huh? So when you bring the old man figs, they any good? Look.
I'm a delivery boy, all right? That's what I do.
But I'm nothin', all right? He's clean.
You okay, Chops? Am I free to go, officer? You're free to go.
Give me your rag.
That a snake on your neck? My mother always told me to keep my paws to myself, so I wouldn't leave smudges.
We got deliveries to make, officer.
We almost got a nice set of his prints off the window.
I got partials on these when I uncurled his fingers.
We have Richard Chops Cozza.
"Chops" is actually on his birth certificate.
One arrest for possession of stolen goods.
Two chalices from a church.
Maybe he is just Mario Damiano's delivery boy.
A delivery boy that Damiano lied about, who sneaks in like a thief.
He's smart.
We gave him plenty of provocation, but he never took the bait.
He felt anger.
He just knew better than to show it.
And instead, he went blank, like he was flipping through an emotional Rolodex, searching for the socially appropriate response.
But anger, that is his only true emotional response.
For a guy with only one arrest, he's got quite a file.
His mother voluntarily terminated her parental rights when he was an infant.
He was adopted by his maternal uncle.
Mm, another hard luck story.
Grew up in Mikey Damiano's neighborhood until he was nine.
Then he went to a group home in Staten Island.
Wore out his welcome at his uncle's? Uncle Eddie.
He was sent up for first-degree assault.
Now he'd be about 60, the same age as the Lucci shooter.
Look him up.
HOME OF EDDID COZZA NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK MONDAY, APRIL 5 His car's still here.
Eddie ever mention his nephew? Chops? All the time.
Eddie loves that kid like he was his own.
Uncle Eddie.
You help your nephew kill a witness, and this is the thanks you get? Who's there? Who is it? You shouldn't come around.
The cops are all over me.
I brought you the newspaper.
Things are getting tough on the streets.
The other families are blaming us.
That cop broad You didn't have nothin' to do with cuttin' her, did you? It was Mikey, Mr.
Damiano.
I would've stopped him if I knew.
That stupid This is the end, Rickie.
The other families are gonna finish us off.
That won't happen.
I'll protect Mikey.
The Damiano family will be a great family again.
It's gonna take blood, Rickie.
You have to do somethin' for me.
The last thing I'll ever ask you.
Two stab wounds to the chest.
The killer left nothing at the scene.
Except another display of power.
The precise knife work two thrusts under the rib cage, into the heart.
And then, he left these where we would see them, to mock us.
Rickie would've been staring his uncle right in the face when he killed him.
Kid knows how to reward loyalty.
The question is, who's the loyalty to? Mario Damiano? Mikey? Whatever brings him closer to his goal.
He grew up in the Damiano neighborhood before they shipped him off to Staten Island.
Now, he might be trying to earn what naturally would have been his: A membership in the Damiano family.
A family on its last legs.
We're going to see about passing around the peace pipe.
Anything you'd like to share about your next move? Uncle Eddie's sister, Rickie's mother, she still lives in the old neighborhood.
Now, Eddie might have told her about the work he was doing for her son.
HOME OF GINA RIGATELLO QUEENS, NEW YORK TUESDAY, APRIL 6 I haven't talked to my brother.]
since he got out of prison.
If you don't mind, I got kids.
They're comin' home.
I have to make dinner.
Your kids You include Rickie? Chops is my kid on a technicality only.
I got two boys.
Good boys.
They're both in school.
Ms.
Rigatello, we found your brother a couple days ago in his house, stabbed to death.
We think Rickie did it.
My brother died the way he lived.
We noticed that "Chops" is one of Rickie's given names.
Was that your husband's idea? I wasn't married when I had him.
Um, it was your idea? Something to do with, um, the way the baby looked when he was born? The boy was born with a full set of teeth in his head.
Teeth! Can you imagine? They're called natal teeth.
They're rare, but Call 'em what you want, it's it's unnatural.
So that's why you you put him up for adoption? Because he was ugly? Did something happen? He bit you when you nursed him? The day I had him, he bit me.
He's a monster.
I used to see him hangin' around, bullyin' all the smaller kids, telling them that he was the king of the neighborhood.
Then their older brothers used to come out and beat the living crap out ofhim.
And I used to think, "Thank God he ain't my kid no more.
" That basement window Did someone, uh, go down into the window well recently? Because the-the grate Covering the well has been moved.
Uh, do you mind if we look in your basement? Be my guest.
This key ring Does it usually have a key on it? It's an extra house key.
One of my kids must've took it.
Do you notice anything missing from your house? Or out of place here? No.
Do you think you could go upstairs and see if you can find that extra house key? All right.
The other boxes are taped shut, but not this one.
Rickie's been here.
Broke in, stashed this, stole the extra key so he could get back in.
He's coming back to kill someone.
Oh, I can think of one candidate.
Well, killing his mother is not gonna make him king of the neighborhood.
But everything he's done has brought him closer to the seat of power.
There's only one obstacle left.
I don't know this kid Rickie Chops.
These figs I just open my eyes, and there they are.
Well, you better open your eyes a little wider, because he's setting your son up.
Oh, you don't know what you're talkin' about.
He doesn't care about Mikey.
He killed that witness to grab your attention, but he let Mikey take credit for it and for stabbing the undercover cop and starting a war.
Now the heat's on, he's gonna kill Mikey.
He's gonna blame it on the other families.
And when you seek revenge, you'll turn to him.
And he'll take all the power you have left.
And you'll put it in his hands, and that's what he's after.
Why are you tellin' me this? You think I'm gonna help you? We're not telling you anything you don't know already.
Are we? You already gave him the okay to kill Mikey.
This kid you talk about He terrifies me more than this cancer inside me, but I'm gonna give him what he wants.
As I leave this world, I unleash him on yours.
Have you thought of talking to Mikey Damiano? Once he knows there's a knife aimed at his jugular, he might decide to turn on his friend.
Assuming he was careless enough to say something.
Well, maybemaybe Rickie is the one to turn.
You know, kids like himabandoned kids sometimes their weakness is loyalty.
You know, they don't give it, but they expect it.
When they don't get it, they lose control.
What are you looking for? A fig salesman.
Mornin'.
We were just admirin' your car, Louis.
Especially the way it's parked so far from the curb.
Let's see your registration.
Don't think we don't know that look.
You think we're harassing you, right? And then we're gonna need to see your driver's license.
In fact, why don't you empty your pockets right here.
But we're not harassing you, you know? We're just giving you a heads-up.
We don't want you to end up like Uncle Eddie.
People at the restaurant remember his big goofy glasses.
That's why Chops got rid of him.
We don't want people to start remembering that snake on your neck.
Sooner or later, we're gonna come knocking on your door, Louis.
You better hope that we get there before Chops does.
You workin' on a problem? Me? No, Chops.
Everything's cool.
Today's it, man.
Don't screw it up.
Okay.
Let's go.
My pops has really been wantin' to meet you, Rickie.
I told him what a good friend you been to me.
This is a big day for me, Mikey.
Meeting your father.
Hey, I wanna get somethin' special for your dad at my mom's house.
It-It's on the way.
Yeah.
Sure.
Whatever.
Come on.
This is somethin' that my grandfather brought back from the old country.
Your old man's gonna get a real kick out of this.
I don't wanna be late, man.
Come on.
Sure.
My mother must've m-moved things around.
Easy, boys.
You boys smokin' cigarettes down here? This is my mother's house, officer.
I'm just gettin' my stuff.
She knows I'm here.
Until we verify that, why don't you put your hands down on that counter there.
What, you cops been watchin' us? What, Louis didn't mention it? We ran into him this morning.
Sorry, Chops.
It's okay, Lou-Lou.
They're just screwin' with you.
Oh, you brought the whole precinct? They're responding to a burglary call.
Oh, they're clean.
All right.
Now this stuff that you came here to get Where is it? It's none of your business.
Well, Gina Rigatello, the owner of the house That's your mother? Because the two of you don't have the same last name.
Did she divorce your dad? Or maybe she wasn't married when she had you.
What's up, Chops? What's the matter? Searching for the appropriate response? Try, uh Try lookin' hurt.
Now, you were standing right here when we came in.
Were you looking in this box? Huh.
Christmas decorations.
Were you getting a jump on trimming the tree? That puncture mark on the inside here Looks like it was made with a sharp-tipped object.
Yeah.
The cardboard along the cut, it isn't as discolored as the rest.
Looks more recent.
Were you keeping a knife in here? Is that what you were looking for? Did he take a knife from here? Then why were you poking around in the box? There's no knife.
Were you guys gonna throw a little party for Mikey? - Was that the idea? - We weren't plannin' nothin'.
Don't listen to this.
They're just screwin' with us.
What down here belongs to you? How about this hockey stick? This yours? Nope.
Got somebody else's name on it.
I didn't grow up here.
Your mother didn't raise you? She put you up for adoption? She had to.
Is that why you went to live with your uncle, Uncle Eddie? The late great Uncle Eddie who shot Dan Lucci.
That's a lie.
You know, Mikey, we found Uncle Eddie dead in his house, in the garage.
He had a knife in his heart.
That's the story of Rickie's life, you know.
Everyone's always leavin' him.
- They die, go to prison - Or they turn him out on the street.
Like his mother.
Uh sadness.
Sadness would be an appropriate response.
I got something here.
Oh, a.
22 auto.
Silencer, anti-fingerprint grip, a hitter's special.
Hang on.
It's only accessible from this side.
It's perfect for a left-handed shooter.
You're left-handed, aren't you, Mikey? No.
That ain't mine.
No.
You know, now I think I get it.
Chops, Mikey turned the tables on you.
I don't know what he's talkin' about.
All that time you spent suckin'up to his father, you know.
Those visits late at night, bringin' him figs.
You been to see my pops? You didn't tell me that.
Don't act like you didn't know, Mikey.
Come on.
You don't really believe that the don would let you kill his baby boy.
I mean, you really don't know anything about family.
Or loyalty.
- Well, how could you? - Shut up.
This is just lies.
You want proof of how little you know about loyalty? How do you think Mikey knew you were bringing him here? Chops, I swear Come on.
You can't blame Louis.
He saw how you turned on Uncle Eddie.
On my mother's grave, I didn't know Mikey was gonna pull this crap.
- What are you talkin' about? - Shut up, the both of you! Don't you lumps get it? They're just tryin' to set us up, man.
You don't get it.
You think fear is what binds people to you? It isn't.
It's respect.
- Louis doesn't respect you.
- That's not true, Chops.
You know, I just thought of somethin'.
Mikey, he was gonna pull his piece.
What were you gonna do? Huh? Do you have a weapon hidden somewhere? Maybe you missed it in the pat-down.
You know, I might have.
Maybe I should have another look.
You wanna be the king? A king rules by rewarding loyalty with loyalty.
They take care of their people, even their enemies.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, how would a guy like you be expected to know that? I mean, everything you learned about care you learned from your mother.
You ever ask her why she gave you up? She was too young to take care of me.
You're gonna love this, Louis.
It's the same reason why she named him Chops.
Because he was born with a mouthful of teeth.
Shut up about that.
The first day she took him home to nurse him, you know what he did? - I'm not listening to this, Chops.
- You wanna know? Huh? He bit her.
He bit her right on the breast.
- He made her bleed.
- You son of a bitch.
That's a lie.
You know, she found him repulsive.
She put him out like a dog on the street.
What's this? What'd you do in here? Geez.
I don't know how that got there.
Something's stuck on it.
It's not blood.
Seeds smell like fruit.
See the bits of black pulp? It's fig, right? Black fig? I don't eat figs.
This is what you brought Mr.
Damiano.
Black figs.
You been seein' the don behind my back? No, Chops! I swear! You know what, Chops? I think Louis has turned on you, just like everybody does.
You have been! I'll kill you, cut your eyes out! Keep him away from me! He's nuts! Faccia brutta I'll split you like a pig! You want protection? Huh? You wanna make a deal? Yeah, yeah.
I want protection from him.
I want a deal.
I'll bitch you up if you open your mouth! That D.
A.
's wife He stuck her.
He put her down and he stuck her.
And the Lucci kid It was all his idea.
You're never even gonna make it to the courthouse.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I got protection now.
You're under arrest, Rickie.
- You too, Mikey.
- Hey, what did I do? It was all this sick mutt! Who's talkin'? You should hear the way your father speaks about you.
He wants to put a bullet in your head.
I spit on you Damianos.
Hey, you got it! That's it.
Rage.
That's the appropriate response.
Rage.
He better save some of that.
He's gonna need it where he's goin'.
To hell? He's already there.
These are their stories.
One eighty-five, 190, 195.
Oops.
I'll be right back with the rest.
Runnin' out of time, Chops.
Hey, if he's breathin', we'll find him.
Don't even think about it.
Sorry.
Am I a bad accountant or what? See you next week, girlfriend.
You put up with that crap? It's not forever.
He's been in that apartment for a week.
He's going stir-crazy.
It'd be a nice gesture, considering what he's doing for us.
I just need him to sit still for another week.
If we don't get thrown another continuance.
Here she comes.
We go with her? No.
Go buy a cake.
So the big mystery's over.
Here's the address.
No stops on the way there or back.
Take him in and out through the back entrance.
Inside, stay close.
Here.
So, what do you think? I think she's gonna be very proud of you, Danny.
Danny, this is the best gift I could get.
I didn't think you'd come back from Florida in time.
Hey, anything for my nana.
This guy's still at it? I'm gonna put his head in that squeeze box he doesn't shut up.
Shut your mouth, punk.
I love that tune.
Don't screw with me, old man.
Or what? You sit down and drink your Shirley Temple.
You sit down before I rip your finger off and shove it up your Get down! Ma, you all right? Danny, did you Oh, my God.
! Law & Order CI This kid's a witness in a mob trial, and you bring him here for Sunday dinner.
Whose idea was that? Mine.
Thank you, Officer Tait.
Who knew Danny'd be here? His family? No.
They thought he was in Florida.
Not even my own guys knew until tonight.
Danny witnessed an arson of a meth lab? He was working across the street.
He saw Mikey Damiano run from the building.
We only found Danny 'cause our other witnesses recanted.
Nobody knew we had him.
If I knew who he was testifying against Mario Damiano's kid, of all people I never would've allowed that.
We understand.
Your son was brave, Ms.
Lucci.
We'll get justice for him.
Danny Lucci's protection detail said the shooter was standing right about here.
Male Caucasian, 50s, 60s, gold-tinted glasses.
It's Chianti.
No one drank from this.
Three shots, grouped together to avoid hitting unintended victims.
And enough boom-boom to make everybody duck.
Next shot, on the money.
He saved the last two rounds in case he ran into trouble getting out.
Old school pro.
Working with someone from the new school.
The other guy: 19, 20, dark hair, leather coat, collar turned up.
I can't believe it, Jim.
Your guys were supposed to sit on top of him.
- Now we're in for it.
- This is a disaster.
Mr.
Perez, this is neither the time nor the place.
Detective Farcas, the district attorney, the police commissioner have agreed Major Case will be investigating this murder.
It's my case.
You have your hands full with the Damiano arson case.
Now, why don't you and Mr.
Perez have a word with the young man's parents.
Come here.
I want to talk to you.
This began as an argument over an accordion player? A diversion.
It was a hit.
Probably ordered by the Damianos.
And Damiano Senior is in a hospice dying from cancer.
And his son Mikey? Somehow they knew Danny Lucci would be here tonight.
It's such a nice cake.
"Isabella's Italian Bakery.
" It's a special-order cake.
They had to know in advance where to deliver it.
ISABELLA'S ITALIAN BAKERY TUESDAY, MARCH 23 Ms.
Lucci came in Sunday afternoon to check on the decorations.
This guy kneadin' the dough Is he new? He's not using enough flour.
The dough's gonna stick.
Yeah, he's new.
What happened to the guy he replaced? Roberto never came back from his break yesterday afternoon.
His breakIt was after Mrs.
Lucci was here? Yeah.
He was in the alley talkin' to some guy.
He came in and he went out again.
- Why'd he come back in? - He looked in that fridge.
Is this where you kept Ms.
Lucci's cake? In the box with the address? Yes.
The guy in the alleyway What did he look like? White guy.
Young guy.
I couldn't see his face real good.
He had, you know, his collar up.
It's all the rage these days.
Here are the phone records for the cops on Lucci's security detail.
How're they stacking up? Mm, two of them are happily married.
One of them Tait got slammed in his divorce last year.
A wife and two teenage kids.
A lot of cops manage alimony without taking bribes.
Hey, the Damianos have their hands in a lot of pockets.
The great Damiano family.
Old man Mario with lung cancer.
His brothers long gone.
His eldest son dead.
His middle son serving life.
Now it's down to the runt of the litter.
- The officer with the alimony, that's Tait.
- Yes.
All right.
His cell phone shows a half dozen calls yesterday to and from a number in Cape May.
- It's registered under a Karen Loeser.
- Yeah.
That's his ex-wife.
There's no calls to her last month, month before two calls in nine weeks.
Then all of a sudden she's his best pal.
APARTMENT OF A.
D.
A.
GERALDO PEREZ BROOKLYN, NEW YORK TUESDAY, MARCH 23 A new dirt bike.
That's what the calls were about.
It was delivered to Tait's son the day after Danny Lucci was shot.
His kid says that it was a surprise birthday gift from his dad.
We're still tracking down the dealership, but there's no record of how Tait paid for itno check, no withdrawal from his bank.
Son of a bitch.
Sorry.
Didn't know you had company.
These are detectives from Major Case.
This is my wife, Nina.
We're just, uh, you know, swapping fish stories.
Take your time.
Nice to meet you.
So Tait was in a position to tell Mikey Damiano that Danny Lucci might be at his grandmother's dinner.
One of Detective Farcas's own men.
Bring him in.
Mikey handled everything like a real pro, Mr.
Damiano.
I always knew he was a chip off the old block.
Good boy.
Give me one of those figs.
You don't tell Mikey about your visits here, okay? No, sir, Mr.
Damiano.
Mikey's the last of my sons.
I see his flaws.
But you Maybe you're from outside the family, but you got the Damiano spirit.
We all come from the same earth, Mr.
Damiano.
I see bad days ahead.
We'll be nothing if we don't help each other.
I did not give up information on Danny Lucci.
Just out of curiosity, how much do you think that information would be worth? Fifty thousand? Forty? How about $6,542.
22? How did you arrive at that number? It's the price of a new dirt bike.
Gift wrapping not included.
It was delivered to your ex-wife's house.
An early birthday present for your son, Jason.
I didn't buy that.
Well, that's not what you told your son.
He said that you bought him a new bike.
Well, he thought I did Thinks I did.
It was the first time he called you in five months, right? He was angry about the divorce? What do you expect? He's just a kid.
Well, if he thought that you did something nice, that might turn things around, right, Raymond? I did not buy him that bike.
You let him think you did.
I know I should've reported it, but Jason You should've heard the kid.
I'll need the DD-5's by tomorrow.
I want to present to the grandjury as soon as possible.
Well, I'm not sure Tait was the leak.
- You bought that sob story? - I bought his affect.
Well, I'm sorry, but that's not evidence.
The motorcycle is.
A witness is dead.
The sooner we indict that guy, the sooner we can make a murder case against Mikey Damiano.
Now the shooting really starts.
No question we screwed up.
We lost a witness.
But not one of my guys is on the Damianos' payroll.
Then they have nothing to fear from a grand jury.
Don't sell me sunshine, counselor.
Perez is well-intentioned, but he's makin' enemies.
Detectives Goren and Eames happen to agree with him.
They think Tait was set up.
And the motorcycle? Cash purchase from a dealership in Hoboken.
Buyer was a male Caucasian, early 20s, black hair, just like Mikey Damiano.
Can you turn that into probable cause for a search warrant? - I'll talk to a judge.
- Good enough.
Any way to put the brakes on Perez? Your detectives bring me something, I'll try to cool him out.
Wa-Wa-Wait.
I don't want these guys messin' up my dad's stuff.
I'll show 'em where my room is.
They'll just follow the stench.
What'd you do? Give the maid the year off? It's just you livin' here, huh, since your dad went to the hospice.
This place must've been something back in the day when your mother was still alive, your brothers still around.
Don't-Don't talk about my family.
You're the last of the Mohicans, Mikey.
I don't have nothin' to say without my lawyer.
Oh, that's just adorable.
Probably the first words your dad taught you.
- The garage this way? - You figure it out.
You know, Mikey, you really dodged a bullet with this arson case.
We keep trying to figure out how a guy like you pulled it off.
Very clever of you use a dirt bike to dirty up a cop.
What dirt bike, huh? Do you see a dirt bike anywhere? Is this your defense strategy? Convince us you're too dumb to have pulled it off? Watch out.
You're gonna get dust all over your clothes.
You know, you should take better care of your dad's car for the resale value.
I'm not sellin' his car.
Well, I don't see you drivin' around in this boat.
And your dad's not gonna ride in it anytime soon.
My pops'll be back.
He'll be back strong.
You're in over your head, aren't you, Mikey? No.
I'm doin'just fine.
Fine? You turned your father's house into a pigsty.
You let his gambling operation slide.
And, best of all, you turned an arson rap into murder one.
Perez won't stop until he puts a hot shot in your arm.
Perez.
I'm not scared of Perez.
You know, he likes fishin' so much? You tell him, he keeps tryin' to reel me in, I'm gonna cram that hook down his throat.
He likes fishing? How do you know? Look.
I don't got nothin' to say without my lawyer, all right? Perez had fly-fishing equipment in his apartment.
I doubt Mikey just made a lucky guess.
They did their homework on Tait.
They probably did the same on Perez.
Does he have a history with the Damianos? No.
This is his first mob case.
Two weeks ago, somebody pulled Perez's marriage license from the county clerk's office.
Then they pulled his wife's birth certificate.
I don't like the sound of that.
Well, last year, one of Perez's assault cases was reassigned to another prosecutor - due to conflict of interest.
- What was the conflict? The arresting officer was Officer Nina Perez.
His wife was a beat cop at the 3-8.
Hate to think the Damianos got to her.
Check her creds.
Officer Nina Grotsky Perez.
She was transferred out of the She's not at the 7-1 anymore, or anywhere else.
She's not on leave.
But she's still drawing a paycheck.
What, she's off the radar? She's undercover.
you have a good weekend? very good what about you? how was your big date satruday? turned out not to be so big after all The duty sergeant at the 7-1 doesn't know what happened to Nina Perez.
Narco and Vice have never heard of her.
If she's undercover, it's not with them.
Whoever pulled her birth certificate could've followed the same trail that we did and come to the same place.
Deakins.
Hold on.
It's a reporter at the Ledger.
He says he got our number from your friends at the 7-1.
Put him through.
Yes, Mr.
Nossak? Right.
About Nina Perez.
No kidding? Well, I can't comment till I see it.
Can you fax it? Have you got the number? Right.
You won't believe this.
Nossak's running a column on A.
D.
A.
Perez in tomorrow morning's paper.
"A.
D.
A.
Perez's prosecution of Officer Tait has surprised many, "not the least of whom must be Perez's wife, Nina, a police officer "who sources say is currently working undercover in a heating oil company controlled by the Russian mob.
" They're blowing her cover.
Well, if the reporter knows, we have to assume everyone does.
Captain Deakins for the chief of detectives.
It's urgent.
They caught her just as she got home.
Three puncture wounds.
If you hadn't alerted us, we'd have gotten here too late.
This is her decoy apartment? Right.
She'd come home, change into her running sweats, take the stairs up three floors to her husband's place.
How many in your unit knew her identity? Four, including me.
And two more at the chief of D's office.
Nina? Nina? Oh, my God.
Baby, can you hear me? What have they done to you? They got her stabilized, Mr.
Perez.
Listen.
I know who did this.
I know who leaked her cover.
It was cops to get back at me.
This is the same thing as murder.
The same thing as murder! I don't know about all that, but I can tell you who tried to kill her.
The Russians.
If the Russians wanted her dead, she'd be dead.
I can't believe a cop would blow Nina Perez's cover.
Perez believes it.
So do a number of my colleagues.
We better get ahead of this before it turns into a war.
A war would play into the hands of the people who tipped off the reporter.
The same people who attacked Nina Perez.
The Russians? She was no threat to them.
Her supervisor said the Russians hadn't taken her into their confidences yet.
This attack wasn't about silencing her.
She was knocked unconscious.
Each knife strike was precise.
He hit no major organs, no arteries.
He let her live.
This was a display of power.
And so is orchestrating a war.
A single individual pitted the police against the D.
A.
's office.
Only the Damianos benefit from this, and I don't see Mikey pulling it off.
Maybe his old man.
His phone at the hospice is tapped.
His visitors monitored.
Mikey visits once a month.
That's it.
Everybody else is in the pen or dead.
Well, a ghost didn't do this.
FOREST HILLS HOSPICE QUEENS, NEW YORK WEDNESDAY, MARCH31 What are you violatin' a dyin'old man for? Don't you have enough problems in your own family? That young broad gettin' cut.
You heard about that? Who do you think did it? The Russians.
They're animals.
And who else would be so dumb? Right.
Goin' after a prosecutor's wife.
It's bad for business.
That's what you mean? So I hear.
Those are private! It's just about the only pleasure left for an old man.
Who brings you these? Sicilian blacks.
Fico di capo.
Fig of the don.
- Mikey bring them? - Yeah, Mikey.
Oh, that's a nice gesture.
It's too bad he's not as considerate with your home.
Mm.
It's like a frat house on a Sunday morning.
He never even bothers to wash your car.
Yeah, Mikey thinks that this is your last stop.
Where in the hell you been? I've been buzzin'for an hour.
! Sorry, Mr.
Damiano, sir.
Hey, you.
Give me that.
You lay off my boy.
He's gonna be an orphan soon.
Mikey hasn't been here in two weeks.
These figs are fresh.
Why don't you just tell us who brought 'em to you, Mr.
Damiano? It's somebody that you don't want us to know about.
Right? Somebody who sneaks in like a thief.
Move.
He didn't look happy about the attack on Perez's wife.
He seems to be happy enough about the figs, however they're getting in there.
Our fig man must have a friend on the inside.
Do you need help? Yeah.
That door over there The alarm is disconnected.
Uh, uh What? Pupils the size of pinholes, an orderly's salary.
I'm guessing methamphetamine.
Let-Let's go with that.
You know, seeing as you're the soldier on duty all night here, who brings Mr.
Damiano the figs? Green Jell-O, stewed prunes, I'm your guy.
But figs? No.
Sorry.
L If we checked that alarm box, whose fingerprints do you think we'd find? You cannot tell him that I told you this.
He would take me apart.
Tell who? Damiano? Not him.
This kid, Chops.
If I don't open the door for him, he said he'd kill me.
And you believe him, this kid? He deals meth to the regulars down at the bathhouses in the Village.
My friends have seen what he does to people who rip him off.
Uh, excuse me, Chops.
Hey, hey, the boys say that you're the guy to see if you need a boost.
Do I know you? No.
I just moved down here from Boston.
You know, I'm still makin' new friends.
Boston P.
D.
You're a cop, right? And her, your little friend? He made us.
Wasn't that the point? Have the little punk make us.
- Maybe he'll get cocky, drop his guard.
- Come on.
Come on.
What do you wanna do now, officers? A stop-and-frisk? Be my guest.
Hey, that was a preemptive offer.
You know, so we think he's clean; we don't wanna search him.
- Turn out your pockets.
- Whatever you want, officers.
I guess we could go at it all day, huh, Chops? Trying to outsmart each other.
You do good business selling meth.
I don't do that.
There's another reason why you're so popular in a bathhouse.
Something to do with your nickname "Chops"? Yeah.
Yeah, that must be it.
Is that how you met Mikey Damiano? In the sauna? I don't know a Mikey Damiano.
That blank look on your face When-When-When you got that look, what are you thinkin'? Nothin'.
/ I don't see any I.
D.
Here.
You got a name? You know my name.
It's Chops.
Well, he wanted a stop-and-frisk.
See, this is where it gets frisky.
So you say you don't know Mikey, right? Yet you sneak in and visit his father four times a week.
Oh, so now my imaginary friend has an imaginary father.
Why are you makin' a fist? Huh? So when you bring the old man figs, they any good? Look.
I'm a delivery boy, all right? That's what I do.
But I'm nothin', all right? He's clean.
You okay, Chops? Am I free to go, officer? You're free to go.
Give me your rag.
That a snake on your neck? My mother always told me to keep my paws to myself, so I wouldn't leave smudges.
We got deliveries to make, officer.
We almost got a nice set of his prints off the window.
I got partials on these when I uncurled his fingers.
We have Richard Chops Cozza.
"Chops" is actually on his birth certificate.
One arrest for possession of stolen goods.
Two chalices from a church.
Maybe he is just Mario Damiano's delivery boy.
A delivery boy that Damiano lied about, who sneaks in like a thief.
He's smart.
We gave him plenty of provocation, but he never took the bait.
He felt anger.
He just knew better than to show it.
And instead, he went blank, like he was flipping through an emotional Rolodex, searching for the socially appropriate response.
But anger, that is his only true emotional response.
For a guy with only one arrest, he's got quite a file.
His mother voluntarily terminated her parental rights when he was an infant.
He was adopted by his maternal uncle.
Mm, another hard luck story.
Grew up in Mikey Damiano's neighborhood until he was nine.
Then he went to a group home in Staten Island.
Wore out his welcome at his uncle's? Uncle Eddie.
He was sent up for first-degree assault.
Now he'd be about 60, the same age as the Lucci shooter.
Look him up.
HOME OF EDDID COZZA NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK MONDAY, APRIL 5 His car's still here.
Eddie ever mention his nephew? Chops? All the time.
Eddie loves that kid like he was his own.
Uncle Eddie.
You help your nephew kill a witness, and this is the thanks you get? Who's there? Who is it? You shouldn't come around.
The cops are all over me.
I brought you the newspaper.
Things are getting tough on the streets.
The other families are blaming us.
That cop broad You didn't have nothin' to do with cuttin' her, did you? It was Mikey, Mr.
Damiano.
I would've stopped him if I knew.
That stupid This is the end, Rickie.
The other families are gonna finish us off.
That won't happen.
I'll protect Mikey.
The Damiano family will be a great family again.
It's gonna take blood, Rickie.
You have to do somethin' for me.
The last thing I'll ever ask you.
Two stab wounds to the chest.
The killer left nothing at the scene.
Except another display of power.
The precise knife work two thrusts under the rib cage, into the heart.
And then, he left these where we would see them, to mock us.
Rickie would've been staring his uncle right in the face when he killed him.
Kid knows how to reward loyalty.
The question is, who's the loyalty to? Mario Damiano? Mikey? Whatever brings him closer to his goal.
He grew up in the Damiano neighborhood before they shipped him off to Staten Island.
Now, he might be trying to earn what naturally would have been his: A membership in the Damiano family.
A family on its last legs.
We're going to see about passing around the peace pipe.
Anything you'd like to share about your next move? Uncle Eddie's sister, Rickie's mother, she still lives in the old neighborhood.
Now, Eddie might have told her about the work he was doing for her son.
HOME OF GINA RIGATELLO QUEENS, NEW YORK TUESDAY, APRIL 6 I haven't talked to my brother.]
since he got out of prison.
If you don't mind, I got kids.
They're comin' home.
I have to make dinner.
Your kids You include Rickie? Chops is my kid on a technicality only.
I got two boys.
Good boys.
They're both in school.
Ms.
Rigatello, we found your brother a couple days ago in his house, stabbed to death.
We think Rickie did it.
My brother died the way he lived.
We noticed that "Chops" is one of Rickie's given names.
Was that your husband's idea? I wasn't married when I had him.
Um, it was your idea? Something to do with, um, the way the baby looked when he was born? The boy was born with a full set of teeth in his head.
Teeth! Can you imagine? They're called natal teeth.
They're rare, but Call 'em what you want, it's it's unnatural.
So that's why you you put him up for adoption? Because he was ugly? Did something happen? He bit you when you nursed him? The day I had him, he bit me.
He's a monster.
I used to see him hangin' around, bullyin' all the smaller kids, telling them that he was the king of the neighborhood.
Then their older brothers used to come out and beat the living crap out ofhim.
And I used to think, "Thank God he ain't my kid no more.
" That basement window Did someone, uh, go down into the window well recently? Because the-the grate Covering the well has been moved.
Uh, do you mind if we look in your basement? Be my guest.
This key ring Does it usually have a key on it? It's an extra house key.
One of my kids must've took it.
Do you notice anything missing from your house? Or out of place here? No.
Do you think you could go upstairs and see if you can find that extra house key? All right.
The other boxes are taped shut, but not this one.
Rickie's been here.
Broke in, stashed this, stole the extra key so he could get back in.
He's coming back to kill someone.
Oh, I can think of one candidate.
Well, killing his mother is not gonna make him king of the neighborhood.
But everything he's done has brought him closer to the seat of power.
There's only one obstacle left.
I don't know this kid Rickie Chops.
These figs I just open my eyes, and there they are.
Well, you better open your eyes a little wider, because he's setting your son up.
Oh, you don't know what you're talkin' about.
He doesn't care about Mikey.
He killed that witness to grab your attention, but he let Mikey take credit for it and for stabbing the undercover cop and starting a war.
Now the heat's on, he's gonna kill Mikey.
He's gonna blame it on the other families.
And when you seek revenge, you'll turn to him.
And he'll take all the power you have left.
And you'll put it in his hands, and that's what he's after.
Why are you tellin' me this? You think I'm gonna help you? We're not telling you anything you don't know already.
Are we? You already gave him the okay to kill Mikey.
This kid you talk about He terrifies me more than this cancer inside me, but I'm gonna give him what he wants.
As I leave this world, I unleash him on yours.
Have you thought of talking to Mikey Damiano? Once he knows there's a knife aimed at his jugular, he might decide to turn on his friend.
Assuming he was careless enough to say something.
Well, maybemaybe Rickie is the one to turn.
You know, kids like himabandoned kids sometimes their weakness is loyalty.
You know, they don't give it, but they expect it.
When they don't get it, they lose control.
What are you looking for? A fig salesman.
Mornin'.
We were just admirin' your car, Louis.
Especially the way it's parked so far from the curb.
Let's see your registration.
Don't think we don't know that look.
You think we're harassing you, right? And then we're gonna need to see your driver's license.
In fact, why don't you empty your pockets right here.
But we're not harassing you, you know? We're just giving you a heads-up.
We don't want you to end up like Uncle Eddie.
People at the restaurant remember his big goofy glasses.
That's why Chops got rid of him.
We don't want people to start remembering that snake on your neck.
Sooner or later, we're gonna come knocking on your door, Louis.
You better hope that we get there before Chops does.
You workin' on a problem? Me? No, Chops.
Everything's cool.
Today's it, man.
Don't screw it up.
Okay.
Let's go.
My pops has really been wantin' to meet you, Rickie.
I told him what a good friend you been to me.
This is a big day for me, Mikey.
Meeting your father.
Hey, I wanna get somethin' special for your dad at my mom's house.
It-It's on the way.
Yeah.
Sure.
Whatever.
Come on.
This is somethin' that my grandfather brought back from the old country.
Your old man's gonna get a real kick out of this.
I don't wanna be late, man.
Come on.
Sure.
My mother must've m-moved things around.
Easy, boys.
You boys smokin' cigarettes down here? This is my mother's house, officer.
I'm just gettin' my stuff.
She knows I'm here.
Until we verify that, why don't you put your hands down on that counter there.
What, you cops been watchin' us? What, Louis didn't mention it? We ran into him this morning.
Sorry, Chops.
It's okay, Lou-Lou.
They're just screwin' with you.
Oh, you brought the whole precinct? They're responding to a burglary call.
Oh, they're clean.
All right.
Now this stuff that you came here to get Where is it? It's none of your business.
Well, Gina Rigatello, the owner of the house That's your mother? Because the two of you don't have the same last name.
Did she divorce your dad? Or maybe she wasn't married when she had you.
What's up, Chops? What's the matter? Searching for the appropriate response? Try, uh Try lookin' hurt.
Now, you were standing right here when we came in.
Were you looking in this box? Huh.
Christmas decorations.
Were you getting a jump on trimming the tree? That puncture mark on the inside here Looks like it was made with a sharp-tipped object.
Yeah.
The cardboard along the cut, it isn't as discolored as the rest.
Looks more recent.
Were you keeping a knife in here? Is that what you were looking for? Did he take a knife from here? Then why were you poking around in the box? There's no knife.
Were you guys gonna throw a little party for Mikey? - Was that the idea? - We weren't plannin' nothin'.
Don't listen to this.
They're just screwin' with us.
What down here belongs to you? How about this hockey stick? This yours? Nope.
Got somebody else's name on it.
I didn't grow up here.
Your mother didn't raise you? She put you up for adoption? She had to.
Is that why you went to live with your uncle, Uncle Eddie? The late great Uncle Eddie who shot Dan Lucci.
That's a lie.
You know, Mikey, we found Uncle Eddie dead in his house, in the garage.
He had a knife in his heart.
That's the story of Rickie's life, you know.
Everyone's always leavin' him.
- They die, go to prison - Or they turn him out on the street.
Like his mother.
Uh sadness.
Sadness would be an appropriate response.
I got something here.
Oh, a.
22 auto.
Silencer, anti-fingerprint grip, a hitter's special.
Hang on.
It's only accessible from this side.
It's perfect for a left-handed shooter.
You're left-handed, aren't you, Mikey? No.
That ain't mine.
No.
You know, now I think I get it.
Chops, Mikey turned the tables on you.
I don't know what he's talkin' about.
All that time you spent suckin'up to his father, you know.
Those visits late at night, bringin' him figs.
You been to see my pops? You didn't tell me that.
Don't act like you didn't know, Mikey.
Come on.
You don't really believe that the don would let you kill his baby boy.
I mean, you really don't know anything about family.
Or loyalty.
- Well, how could you? - Shut up.
This is just lies.
You want proof of how little you know about loyalty? How do you think Mikey knew you were bringing him here? Chops, I swear Come on.
You can't blame Louis.
He saw how you turned on Uncle Eddie.
On my mother's grave, I didn't know Mikey was gonna pull this crap.
- What are you talkin' about? - Shut up, the both of you! Don't you lumps get it? They're just tryin' to set us up, man.
You don't get it.
You think fear is what binds people to you? It isn't.
It's respect.
- Louis doesn't respect you.
- That's not true, Chops.
You know, I just thought of somethin'.
Mikey, he was gonna pull his piece.
What were you gonna do? Huh? Do you have a weapon hidden somewhere? Maybe you missed it in the pat-down.
You know, I might have.
Maybe I should have another look.
You wanna be the king? A king rules by rewarding loyalty with loyalty.
They take care of their people, even their enemies.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, how would a guy like you be expected to know that? I mean, everything you learned about care you learned from your mother.
You ever ask her why she gave you up? She was too young to take care of me.
You're gonna love this, Louis.
It's the same reason why she named him Chops.
Because he was born with a mouthful of teeth.
Shut up about that.
The first day she took him home to nurse him, you know what he did? - I'm not listening to this, Chops.
- You wanna know? Huh? He bit her.
He bit her right on the breast.
- He made her bleed.
- You son of a bitch.
That's a lie.
You know, she found him repulsive.
She put him out like a dog on the street.
What's this? What'd you do in here? Geez.
I don't know how that got there.
Something's stuck on it.
It's not blood.
Seeds smell like fruit.
See the bits of black pulp? It's fig, right? Black fig? I don't eat figs.
This is what you brought Mr.
Damiano.
Black figs.
You been seein' the don behind my back? No, Chops! I swear! You know what, Chops? I think Louis has turned on you, just like everybody does.
You have been! I'll kill you, cut your eyes out! Keep him away from me! He's nuts! Faccia brutta I'll split you like a pig! You want protection? Huh? You wanna make a deal? Yeah, yeah.
I want protection from him.
I want a deal.
I'll bitch you up if you open your mouth! That D.
A.
's wife He stuck her.
He put her down and he stuck her.
And the Lucci kid It was all his idea.
You're never even gonna make it to the courthouse.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I got protection now.
You're under arrest, Rickie.
- You too, Mikey.
- Hey, what did I do? It was all this sick mutt! Who's talkin'? You should hear the way your father speaks about you.
He wants to put a bullet in your head.
I spit on you Damianos.
Hey, you got it! That's it.
Rage.
That's the appropriate response.
Rage.
He better save some of that.
He's gonna need it where he's goin'.
To hell? He's already there.