Father Dowling Mysteries (1989) s03e03 Episode Script

[PIANO PLAYING RANDOM NOTES]
Ah.
You know what I love
about the Catholic Church?
The candles,
costumes and the music.
And the Mass.
They give you a miracle
before breakfast every morning.
They've got communions,
confessions, processions,
holidays, holy days, feast days.
The smell of incense
and the roar of the crowd.
Now that's entertainment.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
WOMAN [OVER PA]: Mrs.
Phelps to admitting, please.
Dr. Prior, how's my brother?
He's got a broken arm, a
concussion, two broken ribs.
He'll be okay. Honest.
Thank God.
Do you know how to get in
touch with your brother's wife?
She's visiting her mother. I
don't know how to reach her.
- Can I see him, please?
- I don't see why not. 206.
EDDIE: Mm.
Hey, ugly.
[CHUCKLES]
Hi, Steve.
- Did you fall off the curb?
- Heh, hmm.
Somebody ran a red
light and hit you, or what?
Well, what happened?
It was no hit-and-run
accident, Steve.
What do you mean?
I'm in trouble
with a hood named Harry Deal.
What's he got on you?
Um, a couple of years
ago, me and a few buddies
we had nothing to
do on a Saturday night
tsk, so we robbed a supermarket.
- Oh, Eddie.
- I know.
The whole thing went sour.
The cops came, everybody
got busted except me.
I got out the back somehow.
I went to this bar, you
know, and I just sat there.
And I was drinking, you know.
- Waiting for the cops to come.
- Hmm.
And that's when this guy Harry
Deal showed up out of nowhere,
told the cops I'd been
drinking with him all night.
For some reason, they
bought it and backed off.
So why'd this guy
give you an alibi?
He said I reminded him of
himself when he was a kid.
He said he thought
I had potential,
all I needed was a break.
Made me feel like
Like you weren't a bum.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
He sent me to
electronics school, Steve.
[STEVE CHUCKLES]
He paid for the whole
I knew something was fishy,
but, you know, this was my chance.
Anyway, I didn't hear
from him for a long time.
I thought he forgot
about me, but he didn't.
It's payback time, Steve.
He asked me to do a job for him.
So what did you tell him?
I told him no. I
said I got a wife.
- I got a kid on the way.
- Yeah, yeah, you do.
So he sent his two
goons to run me down.
He's gonna kill me.
Eddie,
what did the two
goons look like?
I wanna see Harry Deal.
And if he wants his job done
right, he's gonna wanna see me too.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[PIANO PLAYING]
Why would a knockout like you
wanna wear an outfit like that?
Are you Harry Deal?
Put on a red dress, baby.
Be somebody.
You could have any man you want.
Do you know that,
Steve Oskowski?
How do you know my name?
It's my business
to be well informed.
You asked for this meeting.
What can I do for
you, pretty lady?
I'm here to tell you that I will
keep up Eddie's end of the bargain
if you lay off him.
[CHUCKLES]
You're gonna replace Eddie?
Baby, you're cute.
You see, thanks to me,
Eddie has certain skills
in electronics.
And as much as I would
enjoy working closely with you
it's Eddie I need.
Look, you got a job you need
done, I got skills of my own.
I can get into places that
you can't because I'm a nun.
Now, I'll help you,
but you've gotta
cut Eddie loose.
Honey, I can't do that.
The people that I do business
with would think I've gone soft.
[HARRY PLAYS PIANO]
Look, it's a trade.
It's a trade, all
right? Me for Eddie.
Baby, you sold me.
I'll take you for Eddie.
But I want something.
A token, to seal our bargain.
I don't have anything.
I'll take that cross you're
wearing around your neck.
I can't.
They gave this to me when I
took my vows. I never take it off.
Gotta have it or it's no go.
Why?
A sign of faith. My kind.
Oh, that's very nice.
You got a deal.
Me.
Hey, ugly.
Shut up!
How are you feeling?
I sort of feel like
I got hit by a car.
Oh, I called Janie in Cleveland.
She's on her way home.
No, Steve. No, you
can't let her come here.
- Harry Deal is still after me.
- Listen, I took care of it. All right?
Harry Deal is out of your life.
How'd you do that?
Told you I had connections.
Just put a little pressure
on him and he folded.
So listen, you take
a nap, all right?
I'll be back later.
EDDIE: Okay.
Bye.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[PHONE CLICKS]
I just called the convent. Steve
didn't sleep there last night.
Marie, Steve is a grown woman.
She's entitled to privacy and
we can't be checking on her.
Something's happened to her, I
know it. I had a strange dream last night.
Please, Marie. I'm sure that
there's nothing to worry about.
- I hope you're right, Father.
- I know I'm right.
[DOOR CLOSES]
- Are you all right?
- Steve! Where were you?
When you didn't
come for breakfast
STEVE: Hold on, hold
on, one at a time, okay?
You didn't sleep at the convent
last night. We were a little concerned.
My brother Eddie, had a car accident.
I stayed with him at his hospital.
- Oh, Steve. STEVE:
No, it's okay. He's all right.
Well, I'm glad to hear that, but I
wish you would have called me.
Frank, please. I'm okay.
Everything's all right?
[PHONE RINGS]
I'll get it.
Something's wrong
and I don't like it.
[DOOR OPENS]
Hello, friends.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Strawberry rhubarb strudel,
Marie. I hope you like it.
What's the occasion?
No occasion. I was just thinking
of my friends at St. Michael's
and I wanted to bring over
a small token of my esteem.
Told you there was
something wrong.
Heh, I can't blame
Marie for being skeptical.
Usually I just drop
in and then dash out
totally preoccupied with
my petty concerns, heh.
I've decided a friend like
you deserves better, Frank.
I'm going to spend some
quality time with you.
That's very nice of you, Phil, but
I've really got a busy schedule today.
Please, Frank. I'm trying very
hard to be less self-absorbed. heh.
It's the only way I can think of
to take my mind off my problems.
What problems?
There's a new priest at the
archdiocese, Father Xavier.
He majored in theology
and public relations
at the American
University in Rome.
Oh, I'm impressed.
So's the bishop.
But I've spent a little
time with Father Xavier,
and he is not the humble young
priest the bishop thinks he is.
Well, have you pointed
this out to His Eminence?
Not yet.
But believe me, this Father
Xavier is ambitious, insensitive,
and totally self-serving.
Seems to me I know
a young priest like that.
- Marie.
- I'll get the forks.
Phil, you think it's possible
that you could be a little
jealous of this Father Xavier?
Jealous? Heh, hardly.
I just have to find a
way to get rid of him.
[DOOR OPENS]
Another good friend.
Hello, Sister, how are you?
- How are things?
- Fine.
Frank, I have to run an errand.
Can you handle the
catechism class alone?
- Where are you going?
- I'll help Frank with your class, Sister.
Thanks, Phil.
Quality time, Frank.
Steve?
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Yes, may I help you?
Yes, hello. I'd like to see
Mr. Underwood, please.
Uh, do you have an
appointment, Sister?
Mm-mm, I'd like to
talk to him, though.
Our parish is having
a fundraising drive.
Please come in. I'll see
if Mr. Underwood is free.
Thanks.
[DOOR CLOSES]
I'm sorry, Sister,
Mr. Underwood is indisposed.
Perhaps you could
phone ahead next time.
I'll do that. Actually,
I wanted to ask
Excuse me, Sister.
Just put that in the
living room please.
Yes, ma'am.
MAN: To the left.
That's it.
That's an incredible painting.
The Temptation of
Christ, by Paluzzi.
Mr. Underwood purchased
it last month in London.
STEVE: Hmm.
I'll tell you a secret.
Mr. Underwood is hosting a
dinner for the bishop this weekend
and that painting is going to be
his surprise gift to the diocese.
Hmm, that's very
generous of him.
That is a secret. You
won't tell, will you, Sister?
- I mean, I can trust you, can't I?
- Hmm.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Is there something else I
can help you with, Sister?
Well, actually, there is, yeah.
I've been trying to get Father Dowling
to buy one of these for the rectory
but he just doesn't
want to go for it.
Does this really work? I
mean, how foolproof is it?
Oh, it's very effective.
Must be complicated
to operate though, huh?
No, not really.
Would you mind showing me?
Heh, uh
Yes, I just punch this button
and the system is functional.
Anyone opening any window or door
in the house would set off an alarm.
Like this?
[ALARM WAILING]
Heh, yes, exactly
like that, Sister.
Is there anything else
that I can help you with?
[PHONE RINGS]
No, that should do
it. I'll see myself out.
Thank you.
Hello?
Trust.
Thank you.
Eddie, I'm afraid. What's
gonna happen to you?
Oh, honey.
Father Dowling.
FRANK: Eddie.
Steve told me you were here.
Yeah. Uh, this is Janie,
my wife. Father Dowling.
- How do you do?
- Hello, Father.
How do you feel?
Oh, you know, uh, broken
arm, couple of cracked ribs
bang on the head.
Nothing much, I'm okay.
I know this is a shock to you
but I assure you
this is a fine hospital
and your husband will
get excellent care here.
But the men who did this,
they're gonna come back
and they're gonna do it again.
Only this time, they're gonna kill him.
No, she, uh, doesn't know
what she's talking about, Father.
You know, what with her being pregnant
and the accident, she's kind of a wreck.
Aren't you, honey?
Yeah, I'm nervous.
Hmm.
Well, I give you
both my blessing.
- If I can do anything, just call me.
- Yeah, we will. Thank you, Father.
- Bye-bye.
- Thank you, Father.
You all right, Steve?
- Fine.
- Hmm.
Frank, you're gonna have to
take my youth group tonight.
I gotta go somewhere.
Steve.
I've known you too long
and I know you too well
not to be able to tell
when you're in trouble.
And right now, you look
like that scared little girl
I caught shoplifting in
Woolworth's about 10 years ago.
- What's your point, Frank?
- Steve.
You know there isn't
anything you can't tell me.
MAN 1: It's time, Sister.
I know.
MAN 2: Ready?
Yeah.
MAN 1: Car's out front.
Who are they?
I can't talk to you
now, Frank, I gotta go.
Steve.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[PIANO PLAYING]
HARRY: Well, how'd it go?
I know how Underwood's
security system works.
If the alarm goes
off accidentally,
the security company calls
to see if there's a problem
and they ask for a password,
and you give it to them.
They know it was a mistake,
and they ignore it.
I know the password.
That's my kind of girl.
Mr. Underwood's
password is "trust."
That's it. I'm out of here.
Steve,
we're not finished yet.
I'm gonna lift that new
painting of his today.
We're gonna need you
at the Underwood house.
Why?
We're gonna need a
woman to answer the phone
when the security company calls.
Mr. Underwood's at his office.
The housekeeper will be
away. Family emergency.
No. No, I've done enough.
Sweetheart,
nobody's gonna get hurt,
including you,
if you do this.
And if you don't,
the bargain's off.
I'm gonna have to go see Eddie.
You do wanna do this for
me, don't you, sweetheart?
[DOOR CLOSES]
STEVE: Hello, Marie.
Hi, Frank.
Hi.
Would you excuse us, Marie?
You bet.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Just what do you
think you're doing?
- I can't tell you.
- You must!
Now those two new friends
of yours are clearly mob types.
And at the hospital
your brother's wife said
that someone was
out to get your brother.
Steve, you're doing something
to try and protect him, aren't you?
- Leave me alone.
- I won't leave you alone!
Let me help you.
There has to be a way we
can work this out together.
If there was, don't
you think I'd tell you?
There isn't!
You can only get hurt, Frank!
If this is what I think
it is, it's a mortal sin.
You gonna turn me in?
You know I wouldn't do that.
[SIGHS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
FRANK: Eddie.
Steve has gotten into a lot
of trouble trying to protect you.
- I don't understand.
- Neither do I.
Not all of it.
What I do know is that
she's involved with gangsters.
What gangsters?
She won't tell me.
But all of this has happened
since your accident.
Now, you tell me
what is going on?
All right.
I owe a hood named Harry Deal a favor,
a big one, and he called in his card.
I'll bet that Steve struck up some
kind of a bargain with Harry Deal.
Offered to help him if
he'd leave you alone.
Oh, no, no.
She can't do that,
Father. Not for me.
Where can I get a
hold of this Harry Deal?
I have a number that I always
called if I needed to reach him.
Yeah, here.
Deal's a very bad guy.
He'll hurt her.
Not if I can help it.
[DOOR OPENS THEN CLOSES]
Father Dowling, what a pleasure.
Do I know you?
Our paths have crossed many
times, but we've never met.
Ronald, Roland,
some refreshments for our guest.
I'm warning you, Deal.
Keep Steve out of your plans.
But I need her, Father.
Besides, the girl's
crazy about me.
You're asking her to break her
vows! To lose her immortal soul!
That would be terrible.
But unfortunately, Father, she
and I already have an arrangement.
Steve wouldn't do anything
to interfere with my plans.
I'll do it.
Whatever she was gonna do for
you, I'll do. Take me instead of her!
[CHUCKLES]
I'm so impressed.
Such self-sacrifice.
There seems to be so much
of it going around these days.
It's like the flu.
Would you care to
do the honors, Father?
That's blasphemy.
Deliberate blasphemy.
Don't knock it until
you tried it, Father.
As far as your
noble offer, Padre,
I'm afraid it's too late
to make a change.
The girl is mine.
- Where's Steve?
- She just rushed out the back way.
Did she say where she was going?
PHILIP: She got a
call. I took a message.
Uh, she went to a meeting.
What kind of a meeting? Where?
Uh, seventy-two
Montgomery Street,
6 pm.
Marie, you gotta drive
me there right now.
MARIE: We're on our way.
Where's the jam?
All that anyone ever thinks
about around here is themselves.
FRANK: Thanks, Marie.
[ALARM WAILING]
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello.
Yes, this is Mr. Underwood's secretary.
I set off the alarm accidentally.
Yes, of course I know
the password, it's "trust."
Thank you.
No!
Deal said nobody would get hurt!
[STEVE GRUNTS]
Hit the alarm and run like hell!
[MACHINE BEEPS]
[ALARM WAILING]
[PHONE RINGING]
Freeze!
Drop that gun. Drop it!
[ENGINE STARTS]
[SIREN WAILING]
[TIRES SCREECH]
Hold it, boys!
Cuff them and read
them their rights.
OFFICER: You have
the right to remain silent.
DOCTOR: Your pulse is normal,
along with your other vital signs.
However,
you do have a mild concussion
and we'd like to keep you overnight.
[PHILIP CLEARS THROAT]
This concussion,
it's not serious?
Nothing a good
night's rest won't cure.
Oh, thank God.
What about Steve? Sister
Stephanie. How is she?
She's still unconscious.
What's wrong with her?
At this point we're not
certain. We did a CAT scan,
but nothing
significant showed up.
Can't you do something?
For the moment we just have to
wait until she regains consciousness.
Dr. Prior,
is there any
possibility she won't?
All we can do, Father,
is hope for the best.
[FRANK SIGHING]
There's nothing for the two of you
to do here. Why don't you go home?
[DOOR OPENS THEN CLOSES]
[MACHINE BEEPING]
I should be very
angry with you, Father.
You messed up my job.
Both my boys have been arrested.
You've made a general
nuisance of yourself.
I am a man of infinite
patience, Father,
but you've pushed
me to my limit.
Just who are you?
Come on, now, Father.
You know me.
Listen to my voice.
You've heard it many times,
whispering to you in the night.
Who are you?
Father, you're smart.
You think you know who I
am but you want me to say it.
You know it wouldn't be to
my advantage to identify myself.
In God's name,
tell me who you are!
I have many names.
- Many aliases.
- Yes, I'll bet you have.
Like Beelzebub, or Scratch, or maybe
even the Scottish name for the Devil,
Deal.
Call me Harry.
We're old friends.
What do you want, Deal?
I came to collect what
belongs to me. The nun.
- She's mine.
- Steve does not belong to you.
Oh, but she does.
She made a
bargain. She broke it.
I must collect.
It's in the rules.
I challenge your right to her.
On what basis?
That every American
is entitled to a fair trial.
[LAUGHS]
You got a lot of
nerve, I'll give you that.
You know, I really don't
have to go along with this.
Unless,
you're willing to
raise the stakes.
If we have a trial,
and I win,
I get you too.
Now that would be
interesting. Wouldn't it, Father?
I agree to your terms.
But Steve must have
a jury of her peers.
You got yourself a deal.
Look at this.
What a waste of talent.
Let's get on with it, Deal.
What's the matter?
In a hurry to lose?
Showtime, Father.
Your jury, Father.
Billy the Kid.
Bonnie and Clyde.
Baby Face Nelson.
Lizzie Borden.
Charlie Starkweather.
Frank and Jesse James?
Leopold and Loeb.
Heh, Barbara Graham.
They're all criminals!
HARRY: They can all
be juvenile delinquents,
just as Miss Oskowski once was.
Jury of her peers, Father.
That's not what I
meant. This isn't justice.
You want justice? I can
just take the girl and go.
No.
It's all right.
I'll agree to the jury.
I thought you might.
Here comes the judge.
Why, that's Judge Roy
Bean, the Hanging Judge.
Old friend of mine.
I'm on.
Your Honor,
ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,
this young woman, Miss
Stephanie Oskowski,
came to see me.
She asked me to help her.
I made her the usual offer,
standard contract,
quid pro quo.
And she took it,
of her own free will.
[HARRY CHUCKLES]
I kept up my part
of the bargain.
I always do.
But she didn't.
She broke her word.
Stephanie Oskowski
double-crossed me!
I want
what belongs to me.
She made the same deal
that each of you made,
for the same price
that each of you paid,
without exception.
Now, I ask you,
ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,
why should Stephanie
Oskowski go free?
Thank you.
Go get them, Padre.
[HARRY CHUCKLES]
Your Honor,
ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,
I'm Father Frank Dowling
from St. Michael's Parish.
I'm a Catholic priest,
and at the moment I'm defending
Stephanie Oskowski,
who's a Catholic nun
of her own free will.
But I'm not here as a priest
defending a nun.
I'm here as a man
defending a young woman
whose soul is so pure and
whose heart is so loving.
But loving hearts,
rare as they are,
are not confined
to one religion.
Now, Harry Deal is right.
Steve, Sister Stephanie,
did come to him,
did ask him for help,
and did make a bargain.
Harry Deal, that infinite evil,
demanded from her
what he got from you.
Her soul,
in return for a favor,
which she offered gladly
of her own free will.
- But not for herself.
- Heh.
FRANK: It was for
her brother, Eddie.
It was Eddie who made
a deal with the devil.
Eddie, who in a weak
moment gave into temptation
and traded his soul
for personal gain.
But Eddie came to
regret what he had done,
as I'm sure all of you have.
And Eddie, who made the
same bargain that you made,
cried out to his
sister for help.
She didn't hesitate.
She told Eddie she loved him.
She told him she would help him.
So she went to Harry Deal
and offered herself
in place of her brother.
"Greater love hath no man
than that he lay down
his life for his brother."
But she not only
offered her life,
she offered her soul!
What Stephanie Oskowski
has done, ladies and gentlemen,
is the ultimate act of love.
The ultimate act
of selfless charity.
And that should be rewarded!
Not punished.
Now, Harry Deal has pointed out
that each and every one of
you is paying an eternal price
for the deal you
made with the devil.
And yet, I know
that each one of you
must've had one moment,
one moment,
when you clearly saw the
horror of what you'd done.
One moment when you
longed to cry out for help,
as Eddie did.
Only for you
there wasn't anyone there.
If each one of you
had had someone,
someone who loved you,
someone who forgave you,
no matter what your sins,
wouldn't your lives have
taken a different course?
Wouldn't that love have
given you the strength
to turn your back on the Devil?
And if that someone
were Sister Stephanie,
she wouldn't look upon
you with fear or disapproval.
With all her heart,
she would want to help you.
With all her heart,
she would pray for you.
This is your chance
to do for someone
what no one ever did for you.
You must free her.
You must.
ROY: The jury will now take
this case under deliberation.
Has the jury reached a decision?
MAN: Yes, we have, Your Honor.
We find the defendant,
Stephanie Oskowski
[SIGHS]
Sleeping in late this
morning, huh, Frank?
FRANK: Oh, Steve, Steve
Oh.
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine.
Little headache, you know?
I had a couple of
really weird dreams.
I really did it
this time, Frank.
What are we gonna do?
You don't have to worry
about Harry Deal anymore.
I've taken care
of that situation.
How'd you do that?
Well, I
I made him an offer
he couldn't refuse.
[FRANK CHUCKLES]
- Can I get out of this?
- No. Hospital rules.
- Yes, but it's so
- Frank, she didn't make the rules.
- It's her job.
- Thank you, Sister.
If you'll excuse me.
By the way,
- I think this belongs to you.
- How did you get this?
Don't ask, Steve.
CLANCY: Having a race?
- That's very funny.
- This will cheer you up.
Mr. Underwood has asked
me to express his gratitude
to you and Sister Stephanie
for preventing the robbery
and saving Mrs.
Blanchard's life.
I'll add mine to that.
Hmm, it was our pleasure.
What about Harry Deal?
The two hoods we
arrested aren't talking,
but it looks like Harry
Deal skipped town.
Hi. I'm sorry. I could've
been here sooner
but Father Prestwick
was late picking me up.
Where is Father Prestwick?
He's downstairs parking the car.
[WOMAN TALKING OVER PA]
Hiya, Phil.
Pardon?
Have we met?
Our paths have crossed
a couple of times.
I'm a facilitator.
I make things happen,
for a price.
A facilitator?
Yeah.
If you have a problem,
like a young priest
trying to edge you out,
give me a call.
Oh, my card.
It's in your top pocket.
Thanks.
[LAUGHING]