Miami Vice s04e13 Episode Script
Vote of Confidence
And what I envision is a day when there will be no neglect of the elderly, of Hispanics, of blacks, of women.
A day when Florida will stand as a beacon of enlightenment and understanding, in private industry as well as the public sector, education, housing, law enforcement, social services The list goes on.
[Sighs.]
A leader, not only to our Southern neighbors, but to the rest of the nation as well.
You know, you listen to any more of that crap, it's gonna melt your brain down.
[Continues, Indistinct.]
I'm checking the pulse of the body politics, partner.
You oughta give the guy a chance.
Gee, I'd love to, Rico.
But, you see, we have this date with these high-priced panty raids, and I don't want to keep the ladies waiting.
He's almost through.
to be not only envious, but proud.
And with your help, I believe with all my heart that I can show this grand and glorious state of ours the way.
Thank you.
Because the solution to your problems is right here in this bottle of snake oil, ladies and gentlemen.
Step right up here! Get your solution right here! Ah, get the hell out of here.
[Laughs.]
What is it with you, man? You like the other guy, Cowan? He's a fascist.
Yeah, well, at least he's a 100-percenter when it comes to the cops, not like this, uh, limp rag Pierce.
[Chuckles.]
I thought you didn't vote statewide.
I don't.
Can't bring myself to choose the least-dangerous mediocrity.
[Laughs.]
Everybody's in position.
[Train Whistle Blows.]
[Sighs.]
Yeah.
Circus is right on time.
[Locomotive Chugging.]
Sure you got enough firepower for all them hookers there, Switek? [Brakes Squealing.]
[Squealing Continues.]
This is the Metro Police Department.
You're about to be boarded.
Do not attempt to leave the train.
The party's over, folks.
[Chattering.]
Evening, ladies.
[Man.]
Come on, come on.
Move it.
Move it.
I wasn't trying to buy you.
I just wanted to take you away from all this.
You seem like such a nice girl.
I am a nice girl.
Yeah, I'll vouch for that.
[Man.]
Come on, come on, come on.
Well, we got an old friend of yours, Crockett.
Cha Cha Tangero.
Cha Cha.
?Qué pasa, dude? Well, so much for that fast rehabilitation, huh, and early parole? Kiss off, Crockett! What happened? You get lonely? You start missing them bunkmates? Well, don't worry.
Looks like you're gonna be reunited real soon.
Yep.
He's doing the best he can.
Talk about the caboose.
You know, you better be glad I didn't use this on you.
[Crockett.]
All right, it's good night for the love train.
Hey, sweetheart Grab her, will you? Come on, let's Hey, where the hell are you going? Hey, didn't you Where do you think you're going? Do you see this badge? [Laughing.]
I'll bet you do a hell of a bunny hop.
[Laughing.]
Get those hands right where we can see them.
All right, turn around nice and slow.
[Laughing.]
By God, he's got my vote.
[Laughing.]
[Crockett Laughing.]
[Gina.]
So there's this guy there, right, with this huge diaper and the big pins and everything, and he's lying in this gigantic crib.
And heAnd he weighs about 280 pounds.
He's got a pacifier in his mouth.
AndAnd he's crying out for his mother.
And there's this gigantic woman, and she's telling him, "Naughty, naughty.
" [Laughs.]
I'm looking for Detectives Crockett and "Stubbs.
" - You mean Tubbs.
- Who the hell are you? Hazlitt, does this clown have your seal of approval? - That's enough, Crockett.
This is official.
- I don't give a damn what it is.
O.
C.
B.
Is off-limits.
You bringing whoever the hell this is in here compromises everybody that works undercover.
David Macklin.
I'm Congressman Pierce's campaign manager.
Oh! Then you must be looking for a job.
[Chuckles.]
The tunnel vision of this cretin could deprive Florida of the governor it deserves.
[Laughs.]
Great.
A campaign speech.
Who put you up to it? To what? To your display of puritanism run amok.
That's police business.
Lieutenant Castillo.
Deputy Commissioner Hazlitt.
How are you? I need to know the, uh, reason for you being here.
It's about the badge controlling the brain.
[Hazlitt.]
Commissioner's orders.
In light of what happened last night, he thought it might be best if Mr.
Macklin had a chance to talk with the arresting officers.
Well, then Mr.
Macklin should improve his manners.
Now hit the bricks, bozo.
The next time you have a problem with any one of my detectives, see me first.
Follow the chain of command.
Come into my office.
[Sighs.]
[Chuckles.]
Well, gentlemen, I think it's time for what some football coaches call a gut check.
We're gonna be pushing the rock uphill from here on out.
Belaboring the obvious certainly won't help me out of this mess.
Have you decided on a strategy? Yeah.
Keeping questions like that to an absolute minimum.
[Sighs.]
Shouldn't be too difficult.
We just have to keep the people's eyes on the issues and off my sex life.
[Man.]
I got a call from Tallahassee.
The League of Women Voters is preparing a formal denunciation.
- How self-righteous.
- Unfortunately, Tom, they cannot be ignored.
- They reflect public sentiment, - Just keep pounding away on the issues.
My record has to be good for something.
All right.
What about the press? Annie will be here in a couple of hours.
I'll wait for her input.
How's she holding up? Look, this is nothing she hasn't been through before.
Well, it's nice to get an objective reading.
You are getting one.
Why do you think I have the highest conviction rate in this department? I don't take bad cases to trial.
And your case against Pierce wouldn't fly if you put wings on it.
The man was arrested on a rolling whorehouse.
And what was he doing there? Well, he wasn't passing out campaign fliers.
You don't know that for sure.
- Sarelli, the sheets were still hot.
- So? So his playmate and the other girls go to court, some of them get convictions, and Hot Pants Pierce doesn't get a call? Kind of a double standard thing, don't you think? If nothing else, the double standard is consistent.
A visiting fireman from Boise wouldn't face trial for frequenting a house of ill repute.
And a candidate for governor shouldn't either.
Well, what the hell is Vice doing in business? Selective prosecution isn't a difficult concept to understand.
Sounds more like selective protection.
Look, detectives, Pierce may be guilty of bad judgment and questionable taste, but there was no crime committed.
Find one that you can prove he committed, and I'll prosecute.
- [Castillo.]
Let it go.
- So he can hang a red light in the governor's mansion? We'll let the voters decide that, not you.
Lieutenant, I think what Sonny's trying to say is His pride's speaking.
Yours is too.
I think you're both good enough cops to realize it's a dead end.
There's something about the way that guy had Hazlitt lean on us that just strokes my feathers the wrong way.
Clean up the cases you already have.
Wanna see the best pictures of the night? Forget it.
Let me take a look, Stan.
[Chuckles.]
Kind of hard to find this exotic.
Well, his name's Barry Bloom.
He drove Pierce to the train station last night.
- [Tubbs.]
So? - Well, he works for Pierce, but he's got a real shaky reputation.
Meaning? Well, his specialty's dirty tricks.
Who told you that? Oh, a volunteer at Pierce's headquarters.
Said he's real good at screwing up a guy's campaign.
The other guy's campaign, I mean.
Whoa.
This guy's a real charmer.
Looks like he should be on a playground somewhere giving candy to little girls.
Angelica, if we didn't trust you, we never would have made the pitch in the first place.
But since we did, and since things came together better than we ever imagined You'd like me to keep my mouth shut.
It's more of a bonus for a job well done.
Did this come directly from Myles? WellAnd me, of course.
Of course.
So we were thinking No, thank you.
You want more? I don't want anything.
Be serious.
Everybody wants something.
I am serious.
I said I'd help Myles Cowan because he's an old and valued friend.
And frankly, Mr.
Bloom, I'd rather have the future governor of Florida for me than against me.
Beauty and brains.
I like that in a woman.
On second thought, Mr.
Bloom, there is something I want from you.
Well, that's what I'm here for.
I want you to leave.
You're quite detestable.
Now you know why I'm so good at what I do.
[Man Singing Dance Pop.]
[Patrons Chattering.]
I'd really like to find out how long those legs are.
I doubt you could do anything about it, Mr.
Tiny.
[Chuckles.]
So, you're the romantic type, are you? Yeah.
I developed my technique when I was covering cops.
[Chuckles.]
Maybe you and Pierce should compare notes.
Hey, I don't have to pay for it.
[Chuckles.]
Well, if you can get your mind out of your crotch, I'd like to know, how did Pierce get so far so fast politically? Well, I am desolate.
You haven't read my stories about the rise ofThomas Pierce.
It's on my list, right after War and Peace.
- Can we get a beer over here, please? - [Crockett.]
Two.
The man single-handedly brought the party together.
Started out as an errand boy.
You better believe Clark Kimball and Grover Watkins got their jollies having a kid from Harvard Law fetch their coffee.
Pierce is smart.
He made partner at Cannon-McCarthy in the speed of light.
And, uh, all the while he was becoming a political white knight.
He was on the right side of every issue.
So, why should he play referee for husbands and wives who want to boil each other in oil, huh? He chucked it all and made state senate, Congress, and he would have been governor if his hormones hadn't overheated.
Is that a regular occurrence? Hormones? Comes with the territory, my friend.
Power's an aphrodisiac.
You take some guy who's been living like a monk, plop him in political office, and six months later he thinks he's Warren Beatty.
Did, uh, Pierce throw his weight around? Well, not so anyone would get a rash.
Pretty much a straight shooter.
Politically, anyway.
Ooh, I gotta go.
Press conference waiting for me.
Why don't you kill an hour, tag along? Rare opportunity to see the implosion of a political supernova.
An hour from now, Thomas Pierce will be a black hole.
[Sighs.]
Yeah.
[Camera Shutters Clicking.]
[Pierce.]
So, with that in mind, knowing full well that there is so much to be done that I cannot allow myself to be sidetracked by small minds who wish to derail this campaign, I will continue to be your candidate for governor of this great state.
[Man.]
Yeah! Thank you.
[Cheering, Applauding.]
Thank you.
[Chattering.]
I still have friends in the police department.
I've heard all about you two birds.
[Chuckling.]
Sure I can't offer you some coffee? It's the official Grover Watkins recipe.
It's a little early in the morning for coffee for us.
You better hang on to that family recipe.
Cheers.
Cheers.
[Cup Rests In Saucer.]
[Sighs.]
So [Clears Throat.]
I guess y'all want to know about Tom Pierce, huh? My boy Tommy.
Really stepped in it this time, didn't he? With both feet.
I was his rabbi.
Introduced him to the briars and the brambles of the political hurly-burly.
Looks like he was a fast learner.
First met him, he didn't know the difference between a plain brown envelope and a bag of groceries.
Three years later, he ran my last campaign for me.
I didn't know it was my last until I found out Tommy had made off with all my staff.
That booger Pearl Harbored me.
Cause some bad blood between you two? What are you gonna do with a fast learner? He was just following through on what I'd taught him.
You should've taught him to keep his zipper up.
Try and understand something, both of you.
Tom Pierce is out on the edge.
He likes it there.
Maybe he's lost his balance.
[Saucer Rattling.]
Tommy Iost his balance a long time ago.
Look up some of his campaign contributors.
Sometimes I think the man will take money from the devil himself.
Funny thing is, I can't figure out where it's all goin'.
He's taking in way more than he's spendin'.
[Chuckles.]
This is the way it works, isn't it? He gets you, you get him.
Pretty fast learner yourself, Crockett.
You were right on.
Pierce is pulling in money from half a dozen dummy corporations.
You recognize any of the names? We could trace them, but I bet they'd lead to a dead end.
Isn't the fact that he's receiving from fronts somewhat incriminating? Yeah, it may not look entirely kosher, but it's certainly not illegal.
If it's not illegal, I'm not interested.
Lieutenant, we got some new leads.
Pierce looks dirty way beyond the bust.
He might be receiving illegal campaign funding.
That's difficult to prove.
Well, I think we should talk to the man himself.
It's worth a shot.
Take the day.
See what you come up with.
Thomas Pierce is going to survive.
That disappoint you? You've lost me.
Cut the crap, Mr.
Bloom.
I want your resignation.
And I don't want my husband knowing why you're leaving.
He has enough problems without becoming paranoid about his staff.
You're dropping a stitch.
He needs what I can do.
Try to understand something, Mr.
Bloom.
My husband and I want this very badly.
There are even times when I think I covet being first lady more than he covets the governorship.
- You've always been right there behind him.
- That's right.
And that's why you're history.
[Chattering.]
- Hold it.
Where do you think you're going? - I've got a couple of questions I'd like to ask Mr.
Pierce.
Yeah, well, he's on stage in under an hour, so you just make an appointment, and we'll get back to you, okay? Not this time, Macklin.
Every time, Frasier.
It's policy.
I don't think the cops are gonna be too happy about taking a number and waiting.
And what's that supposed to mean? It means I'm here to pitch Pierce batting practice so he'll be ready for the boys with the badges.
You wait here.
Hello, Tom.
Give me five minutes, Dave.
Excuse us, will you, please? [Woman Laughs.]
[Chattering.]
[Man.]
Here he comes.
[Man #2.]
All right.
He's out.
- [Man #3.]
He's out.
- [Chattering.]
Everything all right? Hey, what do we have to do, file harassment charges? We'd like to speak to you in private, Congressman.
No, no, no.
He has got a speech to give in 15 It's all right, Dave.
It's all right.
Look, this won't take long.
Stick around.
Be glad to talk to you when I'm finished.
- That'd be fine, sir.
Thank you.
- Excuse me.
[Pierce.]
These are unsettling times for those of us in public service.
[Camera Shutters Clicking.]
We find ourselves being subjected to the kind of microscopic personal scrutiny that only saints or children could withstand.
No longer are we judged by our performance in office or on our positions on the important issues of the day.
Rather, our private lives are invaded, and incidents that are nobody else's business, incidents that have absolutely no bearing on our public duty become swords on which to impale us.
The press dogs us all the way into our bedroom.
[Clicking Continues.]
And while the police continue to worry about these essentially victimless crimes, real criminals of every stripe, from drug dealers to corporate executives, operate unchecked.
Maybe all of this sounds like the whining of someone who has been caught and sees no way out.
But I do not beg your forgiveness.
If you're going to grant me that, it will have to come out of the goodness of your hearts.
[Clicking Continues.]
What I do ask, however, is that you appreciate the impossible nature of political life today, and that you understand why I am walking away from it.
[Reporters Murmuring.]
[Murmuring Continues.]
[Pierce.]
I'm sorry to say that recent developments have forced me to reconsider my earlier pledge to stand and fight.
The press and the police won't have Tom Pierce to kick around anymore.
[Reporters Murmuring.]
To my friends and supporters, I say thank you and good-bye.
[Camera Shutters Clicking.]
To all the rest, I say good riddance.
[Reporters Shouting Questions.]
Did you know that he was gonna pull the plug? He didn't say a word.
Sonny, we better grab this guy quick.
[Chattering.]
[Groans.]
I don't believe it.
Isn't that just like a politician? What do you mean? Never around when you need 'em the most.
Why is it that the department is always trying to protect its backside by hanging us? Detectives, Thomas Pierce is one of the most recognizable men in the state, and he has completely disappeared.
Plus, the rumor mills are heating up with regard to the train bust being a setup.
Maybe my partner and I are trying to overthrow the government.
Was the bust a setup? Every law enforcement agency in the state has known about that train for over a year.
And you just happen to bust it on the night that Thomas Pierce was on board? Luck of the draw.
And now Pierce has vanished just before he was going to talk to you two.
You wanna get to the point there, Millsie? [Sighs.]
The point is that it's not going to be very difficult for the Pierce people to start screaming harassment.
- And some of the press has already picked up the ball.
- Does the department think that we actually stepped outside the confines of our jobs? Well, that hasn't yet been determined.
Yeah, you be sure to let us know when it is.
You can bet on it, smart guy.
[Men Chattering.]
So much for the civic lesson.
If they were gonna suspend you, it would already have been a fact.
I think the I.
A.
D.
Got a permanent poker with our names stenciled on it.
Don't worry about I.
A.
D.
You two have enough business to take care of now.
What's the line that Switek's got on that, uh, prankster the merry prankster? Bloom.
Yeah, let's see if we can get him to do cartwheels.
Very efficient, Mr.
Frasier.
I owe it all to newspaper training.
I may have more use for the press than I ever imagined.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
I'm getting a little soft in the head about politicians.
I'd like you to stay that way.
Not that I mind you crucifying one of my rivals.
Ten thousand dollars in cash, as discussed.
I'll skip the count.
I mean, if you can't trust the next governor You have my word.
My final word.
Uh This is just for the primary, right? There's still the regular election.
I thought you were the political expert, Mr.
Frasier.
If I remember correctly, you wrote that whoever won the populist primary would be a shoo-in for governor.
Well, here I am a survivor and a shoo-in.
Things could change.
Like what? Well, the kind of things that could be prevented by having a reporter on your payroll.
If I didn't have my newfound respect for the fourth estate, I'd say that you were hinting at blackmail, Mr.
Frasier.
It was good enough for Pierce.
But the reporter I've had on my payroll is much too fair-minded to even consider blackmailing somebody who's been his benefactor.
You never can tell.
It's difficult to know someone I mean, really know him.
It wasn't hard to get Pierce out to the train.
All I had to do was tell him he could get his ashes hauled.
Yeah, it makes sense.
If his load was lighter, make it easier for him to run for governor.
Well, you've got to know Tom.
He wants to make sure he samples everything on the menu.
Who's he sampling now? I don't know.
I didn't think he'd fall off the planet.
How much did Cowan pay you? You guys are good.
Don't flatter yourself.
You ain't a well-kept secret, pal.
We know you were kicked off of Pierce's staff before he walked.
So? You get caught, you leave.
It's part of the game.
Advertise rallies that don't exist.
Distribute embarrassing pictures.
Hell, Tom would have done the same to Cowan if he had gotten to me first.
That's wonderful.
Such outstanding candidates we have for the voters to choose from.
How'd you know about the bust? A leak at the courthouse.
I probably knew the warrant had been signed before you guys did.
Ah, for the love of Who else is in this sewer? How about I go out with some dignity, huh? Don't ask me to drag other people down with me.
If this gets to the press, you all are gonna be garbage.
You tell that to your buddy Cowan.
Maybe we oughta try life without a governor.
Couldn't be any worse.
[Chuckles.]
The nerve of this bozo, huh? Cowan? Who the hell you think I'm talking about? You're not talking.
You're blathering.
Blather? Well, try this one on for size, sweetheart.
Way I figure it, you got plenty on Cowan.
You'll never know.
Look! Neither of us are virgins, right? You have any idea how much your trick book is worth? I don't ask them their names.
Like hell you don't.
If they want to tell me, then that's fine.
But I'm in the business to sooth nerves, not to put them on edge.
Well, now, how about I splash you all over page one? I think this conversation just ended.
[Glass Shatters.]
I will tell you when it's ended.
You don't know the value of anything, do you? Not a bottle of perfume.
Not even a man's life.
Shut up! Is this how you won all those journalism awards? Blackmail? Well, let me tell you something, mister.
Everybody knows what I am.
But youThey think you're a star reporter.
But we know that you're really just scum, don't we? [Man On TV.]
The phones, as always in the headquarters of a political campaign, are ringing off the hook.
Volunteers address envelopes.
Aids plan strategy.
But here at 1400 Ocean Avenue, the feeling persists that these campaign workers are only going through the motions.
They count the hours till Election Day, and each hour brings them closer to a confrontation with the unthinkable.
Well, maybe they should try a séance.
That'd be a good story.
"Pierce speaks from grave, told split the ticket.
" [Both Chuckle.]
[Man On TV.]
There are more questions than answers.
Is he being held against his will? Is he still alive? And if not, did he take his own life? Conspiracy theorists are having a field day.
Live from the Pierce campaign headquarters, David Jarvis, Channel 3 news.
[Sighs.]
Our friends at I.
A.
D.
Have their own conspiracy theory.
They're not still maintaining that we overstepped? They haven't yet said you haven't.
[Crockett Sighs.]
Great.
Now everybody's playing politics.
Nothing's changed.
Oh, man.
Oh, boy.
So what's next, Lieutenant? Has anyone spoken to Pierce's wife? The steadfast politician's spouse? Yeah.
Bet she could probably tell a tale or two about hubby, make our heads spin.
We'll give it a shot.
Behind every great man This be easier if we talked about this someplace else? If I got out of this chair, my reputation as the unflappable Mrs.
Pierce would fall apart.
We're very sorry to have to do this.
Uh [Sighs.]
Don't be.
Living without my husband will be easier eventually.
[Sighs.]
Do you have any indication that you won't see him again? Are you asking me if my husband took his own life? Well, there's been some speculation.
Not his style.
[Chuckles.]
He loved being Tom Pierce more than anything in the world.
So you think he ran away? Vanity breeds cowardice, can't it? - You tell us.
- Boy.
[Sighs.]
I never saw it demonstrated up close until this past week.
All of a sudden, things just started happening so fast, even Tom couldn't handle it.
- You mean the arrest? - It's not just that.
There were other things pressures that he wouldn't talk to me about.
He was afraid.
- Of what? - He wouldn't say.
I've been married to Tom Pierce for eight years.
I could tell.
Has he ever disappeared before? You mean for more than a weekend? No.
Does he have anybody that he confides in? Politically, I mean.
I don't know who he tells what.
All I know is that he came out of an interview the day that he disappeared, and he looked like his world had ended.
[Tubbs.]
An interview? Uh-huh.
- With who? - [Scoffs.]
That awful man What's his name? He's been pestering Tom and me for years.
He writes for the, uh, Record.
- Hank Frasier? - Oh, that's the one.
Thanks.
Thank you.
[Water Running.]
[Police Radio, Indistinct.]
[Police Radio, Indistinct.]
Well, it looks like your standard garden-variety strangulation.
No sign of anything sexual.
Place was ransacked, so it's hard to tell if anything was taken.
Whoever killed her just walked right in.
Do you think it was a friend, or maybe a business partner? Angelica Payson worked alone.
Lieutenant, the neighbors said they saw someone fitting Bloom's description leaving this house.
That campaign-killer? Yeah, and he was really in a lather.
Or that's how the lady remembered him.
[Car Phone Ringing.]
Excuse me.
Castillo.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Barry Bloom's been arrested.
I'm going in.
She was just somebody we were using another tool.
All I wanted to do was warn her, tell her things might get uncomfortable.
We don't believe that you killed her.
Maybe you should be a character witness.
If it goes that far, he might need one.
Just shut up, will you, Joel? I've got to trust somebody, and there's definitely no politician that meets my requirements.
Now, uh [Sighs.]
There was Cowan's dirty-tricks team.
And who else was in on it? I'm still not selling anybody out.
You tried to protect Angelica Payson.
Look how she wound up.
The stakes are a lot bigger now, Barry.
I wasn't the only one that infiltrated the Pierce campaign.
There were at least three others at lower-profile jobs.
[Sighs.]
We need names.
I'm not even sure who they were.
Anonymity was our camouflage.
Damn it, Bloom.
This is getting us nowhere.
I don't think we'll answer any more questions at this time.
- Fine.
- No.
I said this was what I wanted.
Our network went beyond the campaign.
There were people outside who could help us.
Who? A newspaper reporter named Frasier.
Hank Frasier? Yeah.
What did he do? Fed us dirt on Pierce.
What kind of dirt? The sexual stuff, of course, plus things about where he was getting his money.
He had a lot of shady contributors, and Frasier seemed to know them all.
Was he blackmailing Pierce? Possibly.
Say he was.
What was he blackmailing him for? Or was he just a wrong number? Debts.
He had gambling debts, and whoever he owed money was leaning on him as hard as he was leaning on Pierce.
I wish I could tell you I'm surprised.
You've had this problem with him before? Well, when he was working, he was fine.
He's working now, as a matter of fact.
He's in Atlanta with the Democratic National Committee.
He says he's got a king hell of a story about a power struggle.
What happens when his writing's finished? Let me put it this way.
I have a 19-year-old daughter, and if I saw Hank coming up the path on a Saturday night, I'd pray to God he was a process server.
So women aren't his only problem? No.
There's also gambling.
I'd put gambling in first place.
How's his luck? Lousy.
Does it affect his work? It only affects the accounting department.
I mean, he has to, uh, draw advances on his salary.
- Do the advances cover? - I doubt it.
So, if we told you that we think he might have, uh, blackmailed Pierce, that wouldn't surprised you? Yeah, it would.
Mr.
Chance, every good newspaper reporter knows things about powerful people - that could be used for blackmail.
- But they don't use it.
Frasier's the first person I know who might have done it, and that hasn't been confirmed.
And you don't believe in the law of averages? Newspaper people are like cops.
When they raise their right hand and take one step forward, it's like a a vow of poverty.
But they do it anyway because they love their work, and there's a small little voice inside of them telling them they're doing the right thing.
[Scoffs.]
Yeah.
Sorry I asked.
[Tubbs.]
What do you think Frasier's little voice says to him? Whirlaway in the eighth? [Chuckles.]
[Car Phone Ringing.]
Crockett.
Yeah, Stanley.
Do it right now.
He's patching through a call from Frasier.
Where are you? Chez Frasier.
Where else? Yeah, well, stay put.
You're gonna have company.
Yeah, well, you better hurry.
[Crockett.]
Now don't do anything crazy.
Look.
Save your advice for someone who needs it.
I'm not sticking my head in the oven.
But there are a couple of guys that might do it for me.
Are we talking bookie muscle? Oh, you heard, huh? You know how much I owe? I'm listening.
Seventy-five I don't have.
So they're coming over here to give me that much in medical bills.
Well, maybe you deserve to suffer.
Well, you're not coming to save me.
Uh, uh, forget it.
I don't have time to trade cheap shots.
I just wanna make sure you get my story straight.
I'm still listening.
Okay.
[Breathing Heavily.]
Uh Uh, first things first, okay? [Voice Cracks.]
I killed Angelica Payson.
I lost control.
L I needed what she had.
She wouldn't help me.
What did you get? Names, Crockett.
I needed big names.
For what? For Cowan? Cowan? Cowan was one of the ones I was trying to blackmail.
- No, for me.
- What did you use against him? He's been getting money from some of the same slugs as Pierce.
And you were blackmailing Pierce? Yeah, you bet I was.
Then the doofus decided a vanishing act was more appealing.
Oh.
Think you lost the race, Crockett.
You're gonna have to excuse me.
The bad guys are here.
[Knocking.]
All right, Frasier, listen.
You got a gun? [Knocking.]
Nah.
I'm a pacifist at heart.
[Panting.]
Uh [Chuckles.]
Just a minute.
I'm on the phone with my money man, okay? Uh Frasier? [Dial Tone.]
Frasier! [Dial Tone Continues.]
[Handset Settles In Cradle.]
What happened? [Phone Beeps.]
Go.
Is he dead? Yeah.
And so is the case.
[Both Sigh.]
[No Audible Dialogue.]
Sure.
Hey, Sonny, have you seen the morning edition? "Pierce to announce that he will resume his candidacy 'with a vengeance.
" ' Down but not out.
They never are for long.
Metro says they got the bookie muscle that killed Frasier.
Sounds very solid.
Prints and fibers match.
About time something broke on this.
Pierce's people just called.
He says he owes you two guys a talk.
He'll be more than happy to comply.
After three weeks? [Chuckles.]
What is this, unfinished business day? Sounds like they're trying to cover any toeholds in the character issue.
Don't you mean, uh, "Bless me, Detective, for I have sinned, and I need a clean press release"? You got it.
Well, I say we go see this gentleman before he changes his mind again.
Yeah, or becomes invisible.
[Chattering.]
[Sighs.]
So what do you think? All these people here to see the freak show? No way.
These people are the true believers.
[Chattering.]
Nice to have believers with checkbooks.
Yeah.
Slumming, fellas? Yeah.
How about you, Ms.
Sarelli? Tom Pierce is the party's best candidate.
I'd like to help him.
You already have, haven't you? Things are never what they seem, Crockett.
You ought to know that.
You also ought to know that we play by the same rules.
Mm-hmm.
And what about Pierce? - What rules does he play by? - The same ones as every other candidate.
- Does that make it okay? - Nature of the game, guys.
All these things you don't like.
All these people you don't trust.
Sooner or later, you got to put all that aside, and and believe in someone.
You mean sell yourself short? Sometimes that Shangri-la attitude does more harm than good.
[Applause.]
[Whistling.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
Maybe you'll learn something from this.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Annie and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
And let me add that it's good not to be the invisible man anymore.
[Crowd Laughing.]
[Pierce.]
Now, it's no secret that I've been gone for these past three weeks.
And during that self-imposed solitude, I've learned many things.
I've wandered the back alleys and streets of this great state, and I've gazed upon its sickened heart.
And that discovery led me to one conclusion a decision that was based upon the people's need for leadership, rather than my own comparatively insignificant need for privacy.
And it is with that in mind that I have returned.
And I have every intention of giving this grand state of ours what it needs to attain greatness.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[Applause.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
This should make for an interesting guest wing at the governor's mansion.
Thank you.
[Applause Continues.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
A day when Florida will stand as a beacon of enlightenment and understanding, in private industry as well as the public sector, education, housing, law enforcement, social services The list goes on.
[Sighs.]
A leader, not only to our Southern neighbors, but to the rest of the nation as well.
You know, you listen to any more of that crap, it's gonna melt your brain down.
[Continues, Indistinct.]
I'm checking the pulse of the body politics, partner.
You oughta give the guy a chance.
Gee, I'd love to, Rico.
But, you see, we have this date with these high-priced panty raids, and I don't want to keep the ladies waiting.
He's almost through.
to be not only envious, but proud.
And with your help, I believe with all my heart that I can show this grand and glorious state of ours the way.
Thank you.
Because the solution to your problems is right here in this bottle of snake oil, ladies and gentlemen.
Step right up here! Get your solution right here! Ah, get the hell out of here.
[Laughs.]
What is it with you, man? You like the other guy, Cowan? He's a fascist.
Yeah, well, at least he's a 100-percenter when it comes to the cops, not like this, uh, limp rag Pierce.
[Chuckles.]
I thought you didn't vote statewide.
I don't.
Can't bring myself to choose the least-dangerous mediocrity.
[Laughs.]
Everybody's in position.
[Train Whistle Blows.]
[Sighs.]
Yeah.
Circus is right on time.
[Locomotive Chugging.]
Sure you got enough firepower for all them hookers there, Switek? [Brakes Squealing.]
[Squealing Continues.]
This is the Metro Police Department.
You're about to be boarded.
Do not attempt to leave the train.
The party's over, folks.
[Chattering.]
Evening, ladies.
[Man.]
Come on, come on.
Move it.
Move it.
I wasn't trying to buy you.
I just wanted to take you away from all this.
You seem like such a nice girl.
I am a nice girl.
Yeah, I'll vouch for that.
[Man.]
Come on, come on, come on.
Well, we got an old friend of yours, Crockett.
Cha Cha Tangero.
Cha Cha.
?Qué pasa, dude? Well, so much for that fast rehabilitation, huh, and early parole? Kiss off, Crockett! What happened? You get lonely? You start missing them bunkmates? Well, don't worry.
Looks like you're gonna be reunited real soon.
Yep.
He's doing the best he can.
Talk about the caboose.
You know, you better be glad I didn't use this on you.
[Crockett.]
All right, it's good night for the love train.
Hey, sweetheart Grab her, will you? Come on, let's Hey, where the hell are you going? Hey, didn't you Where do you think you're going? Do you see this badge? [Laughing.]
I'll bet you do a hell of a bunny hop.
[Laughing.]
Get those hands right where we can see them.
All right, turn around nice and slow.
[Laughing.]
By God, he's got my vote.
[Laughing.]
[Crockett Laughing.]
[Gina.]
So there's this guy there, right, with this huge diaper and the big pins and everything, and he's lying in this gigantic crib.
And heAnd he weighs about 280 pounds.
He's got a pacifier in his mouth.
AndAnd he's crying out for his mother.
And there's this gigantic woman, and she's telling him, "Naughty, naughty.
" [Laughs.]
I'm looking for Detectives Crockett and "Stubbs.
" - You mean Tubbs.
- Who the hell are you? Hazlitt, does this clown have your seal of approval? - That's enough, Crockett.
This is official.
- I don't give a damn what it is.
O.
C.
B.
Is off-limits.
You bringing whoever the hell this is in here compromises everybody that works undercover.
David Macklin.
I'm Congressman Pierce's campaign manager.
Oh! Then you must be looking for a job.
[Chuckles.]
The tunnel vision of this cretin could deprive Florida of the governor it deserves.
[Laughs.]
Great.
A campaign speech.
Who put you up to it? To what? To your display of puritanism run amok.
That's police business.
Lieutenant Castillo.
Deputy Commissioner Hazlitt.
How are you? I need to know the, uh, reason for you being here.
It's about the badge controlling the brain.
[Hazlitt.]
Commissioner's orders.
In light of what happened last night, he thought it might be best if Mr.
Macklin had a chance to talk with the arresting officers.
Well, then Mr.
Macklin should improve his manners.
Now hit the bricks, bozo.
The next time you have a problem with any one of my detectives, see me first.
Follow the chain of command.
Come into my office.
[Sighs.]
[Chuckles.]
Well, gentlemen, I think it's time for what some football coaches call a gut check.
We're gonna be pushing the rock uphill from here on out.
Belaboring the obvious certainly won't help me out of this mess.
Have you decided on a strategy? Yeah.
Keeping questions like that to an absolute minimum.
[Sighs.]
Shouldn't be too difficult.
We just have to keep the people's eyes on the issues and off my sex life.
[Man.]
I got a call from Tallahassee.
The League of Women Voters is preparing a formal denunciation.
- How self-righteous.
- Unfortunately, Tom, they cannot be ignored.
- They reflect public sentiment, - Just keep pounding away on the issues.
My record has to be good for something.
All right.
What about the press? Annie will be here in a couple of hours.
I'll wait for her input.
How's she holding up? Look, this is nothing she hasn't been through before.
Well, it's nice to get an objective reading.
You are getting one.
Why do you think I have the highest conviction rate in this department? I don't take bad cases to trial.
And your case against Pierce wouldn't fly if you put wings on it.
The man was arrested on a rolling whorehouse.
And what was he doing there? Well, he wasn't passing out campaign fliers.
You don't know that for sure.
- Sarelli, the sheets were still hot.
- So? So his playmate and the other girls go to court, some of them get convictions, and Hot Pants Pierce doesn't get a call? Kind of a double standard thing, don't you think? If nothing else, the double standard is consistent.
A visiting fireman from Boise wouldn't face trial for frequenting a house of ill repute.
And a candidate for governor shouldn't either.
Well, what the hell is Vice doing in business? Selective prosecution isn't a difficult concept to understand.
Sounds more like selective protection.
Look, detectives, Pierce may be guilty of bad judgment and questionable taste, but there was no crime committed.
Find one that you can prove he committed, and I'll prosecute.
- [Castillo.]
Let it go.
- So he can hang a red light in the governor's mansion? We'll let the voters decide that, not you.
Lieutenant, I think what Sonny's trying to say is His pride's speaking.
Yours is too.
I think you're both good enough cops to realize it's a dead end.
There's something about the way that guy had Hazlitt lean on us that just strokes my feathers the wrong way.
Clean up the cases you already have.
Wanna see the best pictures of the night? Forget it.
Let me take a look, Stan.
[Chuckles.]
Kind of hard to find this exotic.
Well, his name's Barry Bloom.
He drove Pierce to the train station last night.
- [Tubbs.]
So? - Well, he works for Pierce, but he's got a real shaky reputation.
Meaning? Well, his specialty's dirty tricks.
Who told you that? Oh, a volunteer at Pierce's headquarters.
Said he's real good at screwing up a guy's campaign.
The other guy's campaign, I mean.
Whoa.
This guy's a real charmer.
Looks like he should be on a playground somewhere giving candy to little girls.
Angelica, if we didn't trust you, we never would have made the pitch in the first place.
But since we did, and since things came together better than we ever imagined You'd like me to keep my mouth shut.
It's more of a bonus for a job well done.
Did this come directly from Myles? WellAnd me, of course.
Of course.
So we were thinking No, thank you.
You want more? I don't want anything.
Be serious.
Everybody wants something.
I am serious.
I said I'd help Myles Cowan because he's an old and valued friend.
And frankly, Mr.
Bloom, I'd rather have the future governor of Florida for me than against me.
Beauty and brains.
I like that in a woman.
On second thought, Mr.
Bloom, there is something I want from you.
Well, that's what I'm here for.
I want you to leave.
You're quite detestable.
Now you know why I'm so good at what I do.
[Man Singing Dance Pop.]
[Patrons Chattering.]
I'd really like to find out how long those legs are.
I doubt you could do anything about it, Mr.
Tiny.
[Chuckles.]
So, you're the romantic type, are you? Yeah.
I developed my technique when I was covering cops.
[Chuckles.]
Maybe you and Pierce should compare notes.
Hey, I don't have to pay for it.
[Chuckles.]
Well, if you can get your mind out of your crotch, I'd like to know, how did Pierce get so far so fast politically? Well, I am desolate.
You haven't read my stories about the rise ofThomas Pierce.
It's on my list, right after War and Peace.
- Can we get a beer over here, please? - [Crockett.]
Two.
The man single-handedly brought the party together.
Started out as an errand boy.
You better believe Clark Kimball and Grover Watkins got their jollies having a kid from Harvard Law fetch their coffee.
Pierce is smart.
He made partner at Cannon-McCarthy in the speed of light.
And, uh, all the while he was becoming a political white knight.
He was on the right side of every issue.
So, why should he play referee for husbands and wives who want to boil each other in oil, huh? He chucked it all and made state senate, Congress, and he would have been governor if his hormones hadn't overheated.
Is that a regular occurrence? Hormones? Comes with the territory, my friend.
Power's an aphrodisiac.
You take some guy who's been living like a monk, plop him in political office, and six months later he thinks he's Warren Beatty.
Did, uh, Pierce throw his weight around? Well, not so anyone would get a rash.
Pretty much a straight shooter.
Politically, anyway.
Ooh, I gotta go.
Press conference waiting for me.
Why don't you kill an hour, tag along? Rare opportunity to see the implosion of a political supernova.
An hour from now, Thomas Pierce will be a black hole.
[Sighs.]
Yeah.
[Camera Shutters Clicking.]
[Pierce.]
So, with that in mind, knowing full well that there is so much to be done that I cannot allow myself to be sidetracked by small minds who wish to derail this campaign, I will continue to be your candidate for governor of this great state.
[Man.]
Yeah! Thank you.
[Cheering, Applauding.]
Thank you.
[Chattering.]
I still have friends in the police department.
I've heard all about you two birds.
[Chuckling.]
Sure I can't offer you some coffee? It's the official Grover Watkins recipe.
It's a little early in the morning for coffee for us.
You better hang on to that family recipe.
Cheers.
Cheers.
[Cup Rests In Saucer.]
[Sighs.]
So [Clears Throat.]
I guess y'all want to know about Tom Pierce, huh? My boy Tommy.
Really stepped in it this time, didn't he? With both feet.
I was his rabbi.
Introduced him to the briars and the brambles of the political hurly-burly.
Looks like he was a fast learner.
First met him, he didn't know the difference between a plain brown envelope and a bag of groceries.
Three years later, he ran my last campaign for me.
I didn't know it was my last until I found out Tommy had made off with all my staff.
That booger Pearl Harbored me.
Cause some bad blood between you two? What are you gonna do with a fast learner? He was just following through on what I'd taught him.
You should've taught him to keep his zipper up.
Try and understand something, both of you.
Tom Pierce is out on the edge.
He likes it there.
Maybe he's lost his balance.
[Saucer Rattling.]
Tommy Iost his balance a long time ago.
Look up some of his campaign contributors.
Sometimes I think the man will take money from the devil himself.
Funny thing is, I can't figure out where it's all goin'.
He's taking in way more than he's spendin'.
[Chuckles.]
This is the way it works, isn't it? He gets you, you get him.
Pretty fast learner yourself, Crockett.
You were right on.
Pierce is pulling in money from half a dozen dummy corporations.
You recognize any of the names? We could trace them, but I bet they'd lead to a dead end.
Isn't the fact that he's receiving from fronts somewhat incriminating? Yeah, it may not look entirely kosher, but it's certainly not illegal.
If it's not illegal, I'm not interested.
Lieutenant, we got some new leads.
Pierce looks dirty way beyond the bust.
He might be receiving illegal campaign funding.
That's difficult to prove.
Well, I think we should talk to the man himself.
It's worth a shot.
Take the day.
See what you come up with.
Thomas Pierce is going to survive.
That disappoint you? You've lost me.
Cut the crap, Mr.
Bloom.
I want your resignation.
And I don't want my husband knowing why you're leaving.
He has enough problems without becoming paranoid about his staff.
You're dropping a stitch.
He needs what I can do.
Try to understand something, Mr.
Bloom.
My husband and I want this very badly.
There are even times when I think I covet being first lady more than he covets the governorship.
- You've always been right there behind him.
- That's right.
And that's why you're history.
[Chattering.]
- Hold it.
Where do you think you're going? - I've got a couple of questions I'd like to ask Mr.
Pierce.
Yeah, well, he's on stage in under an hour, so you just make an appointment, and we'll get back to you, okay? Not this time, Macklin.
Every time, Frasier.
It's policy.
I don't think the cops are gonna be too happy about taking a number and waiting.
And what's that supposed to mean? It means I'm here to pitch Pierce batting practice so he'll be ready for the boys with the badges.
You wait here.
Hello, Tom.
Give me five minutes, Dave.
Excuse us, will you, please? [Woman Laughs.]
[Chattering.]
[Man.]
Here he comes.
[Man #2.]
All right.
He's out.
- [Man #3.]
He's out.
- [Chattering.]
Everything all right? Hey, what do we have to do, file harassment charges? We'd like to speak to you in private, Congressman.
No, no, no.
He has got a speech to give in 15 It's all right, Dave.
It's all right.
Look, this won't take long.
Stick around.
Be glad to talk to you when I'm finished.
- That'd be fine, sir.
Thank you.
- Excuse me.
[Pierce.]
These are unsettling times for those of us in public service.
[Camera Shutters Clicking.]
We find ourselves being subjected to the kind of microscopic personal scrutiny that only saints or children could withstand.
No longer are we judged by our performance in office or on our positions on the important issues of the day.
Rather, our private lives are invaded, and incidents that are nobody else's business, incidents that have absolutely no bearing on our public duty become swords on which to impale us.
The press dogs us all the way into our bedroom.
[Clicking Continues.]
And while the police continue to worry about these essentially victimless crimes, real criminals of every stripe, from drug dealers to corporate executives, operate unchecked.
Maybe all of this sounds like the whining of someone who has been caught and sees no way out.
But I do not beg your forgiveness.
If you're going to grant me that, it will have to come out of the goodness of your hearts.
[Clicking Continues.]
What I do ask, however, is that you appreciate the impossible nature of political life today, and that you understand why I am walking away from it.
[Reporters Murmuring.]
[Murmuring Continues.]
[Pierce.]
I'm sorry to say that recent developments have forced me to reconsider my earlier pledge to stand and fight.
The press and the police won't have Tom Pierce to kick around anymore.
[Reporters Murmuring.]
To my friends and supporters, I say thank you and good-bye.
[Camera Shutters Clicking.]
To all the rest, I say good riddance.
[Reporters Shouting Questions.]
Did you know that he was gonna pull the plug? He didn't say a word.
Sonny, we better grab this guy quick.
[Chattering.]
[Groans.]
I don't believe it.
Isn't that just like a politician? What do you mean? Never around when you need 'em the most.
Why is it that the department is always trying to protect its backside by hanging us? Detectives, Thomas Pierce is one of the most recognizable men in the state, and he has completely disappeared.
Plus, the rumor mills are heating up with regard to the train bust being a setup.
Maybe my partner and I are trying to overthrow the government.
Was the bust a setup? Every law enforcement agency in the state has known about that train for over a year.
And you just happen to bust it on the night that Thomas Pierce was on board? Luck of the draw.
And now Pierce has vanished just before he was going to talk to you two.
You wanna get to the point there, Millsie? [Sighs.]
The point is that it's not going to be very difficult for the Pierce people to start screaming harassment.
- And some of the press has already picked up the ball.
- Does the department think that we actually stepped outside the confines of our jobs? Well, that hasn't yet been determined.
Yeah, you be sure to let us know when it is.
You can bet on it, smart guy.
[Men Chattering.]
So much for the civic lesson.
If they were gonna suspend you, it would already have been a fact.
I think the I.
A.
D.
Got a permanent poker with our names stenciled on it.
Don't worry about I.
A.
D.
You two have enough business to take care of now.
What's the line that Switek's got on that, uh, prankster the merry prankster? Bloom.
Yeah, let's see if we can get him to do cartwheels.
Very efficient, Mr.
Frasier.
I owe it all to newspaper training.
I may have more use for the press than I ever imagined.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
I'm getting a little soft in the head about politicians.
I'd like you to stay that way.
Not that I mind you crucifying one of my rivals.
Ten thousand dollars in cash, as discussed.
I'll skip the count.
I mean, if you can't trust the next governor You have my word.
My final word.
Uh This is just for the primary, right? There's still the regular election.
I thought you were the political expert, Mr.
Frasier.
If I remember correctly, you wrote that whoever won the populist primary would be a shoo-in for governor.
Well, here I am a survivor and a shoo-in.
Things could change.
Like what? Well, the kind of things that could be prevented by having a reporter on your payroll.
If I didn't have my newfound respect for the fourth estate, I'd say that you were hinting at blackmail, Mr.
Frasier.
It was good enough for Pierce.
But the reporter I've had on my payroll is much too fair-minded to even consider blackmailing somebody who's been his benefactor.
You never can tell.
It's difficult to know someone I mean, really know him.
It wasn't hard to get Pierce out to the train.
All I had to do was tell him he could get his ashes hauled.
Yeah, it makes sense.
If his load was lighter, make it easier for him to run for governor.
Well, you've got to know Tom.
He wants to make sure he samples everything on the menu.
Who's he sampling now? I don't know.
I didn't think he'd fall off the planet.
How much did Cowan pay you? You guys are good.
Don't flatter yourself.
You ain't a well-kept secret, pal.
We know you were kicked off of Pierce's staff before he walked.
So? You get caught, you leave.
It's part of the game.
Advertise rallies that don't exist.
Distribute embarrassing pictures.
Hell, Tom would have done the same to Cowan if he had gotten to me first.
That's wonderful.
Such outstanding candidates we have for the voters to choose from.
How'd you know about the bust? A leak at the courthouse.
I probably knew the warrant had been signed before you guys did.
Ah, for the love of Who else is in this sewer? How about I go out with some dignity, huh? Don't ask me to drag other people down with me.
If this gets to the press, you all are gonna be garbage.
You tell that to your buddy Cowan.
Maybe we oughta try life without a governor.
Couldn't be any worse.
[Chuckles.]
The nerve of this bozo, huh? Cowan? Who the hell you think I'm talking about? You're not talking.
You're blathering.
Blather? Well, try this one on for size, sweetheart.
Way I figure it, you got plenty on Cowan.
You'll never know.
Look! Neither of us are virgins, right? You have any idea how much your trick book is worth? I don't ask them their names.
Like hell you don't.
If they want to tell me, then that's fine.
But I'm in the business to sooth nerves, not to put them on edge.
Well, now, how about I splash you all over page one? I think this conversation just ended.
[Glass Shatters.]
I will tell you when it's ended.
You don't know the value of anything, do you? Not a bottle of perfume.
Not even a man's life.
Shut up! Is this how you won all those journalism awards? Blackmail? Well, let me tell you something, mister.
Everybody knows what I am.
But youThey think you're a star reporter.
But we know that you're really just scum, don't we? [Man On TV.]
The phones, as always in the headquarters of a political campaign, are ringing off the hook.
Volunteers address envelopes.
Aids plan strategy.
But here at 1400 Ocean Avenue, the feeling persists that these campaign workers are only going through the motions.
They count the hours till Election Day, and each hour brings them closer to a confrontation with the unthinkable.
Well, maybe they should try a séance.
That'd be a good story.
"Pierce speaks from grave, told split the ticket.
" [Both Chuckle.]
[Man On TV.]
There are more questions than answers.
Is he being held against his will? Is he still alive? And if not, did he take his own life? Conspiracy theorists are having a field day.
Live from the Pierce campaign headquarters, David Jarvis, Channel 3 news.
[Sighs.]
Our friends at I.
A.
D.
Have their own conspiracy theory.
They're not still maintaining that we overstepped? They haven't yet said you haven't.
[Crockett Sighs.]
Great.
Now everybody's playing politics.
Nothing's changed.
Oh, man.
Oh, boy.
So what's next, Lieutenant? Has anyone spoken to Pierce's wife? The steadfast politician's spouse? Yeah.
Bet she could probably tell a tale or two about hubby, make our heads spin.
We'll give it a shot.
Behind every great man This be easier if we talked about this someplace else? If I got out of this chair, my reputation as the unflappable Mrs.
Pierce would fall apart.
We're very sorry to have to do this.
Uh [Sighs.]
Don't be.
Living without my husband will be easier eventually.
[Sighs.]
Do you have any indication that you won't see him again? Are you asking me if my husband took his own life? Well, there's been some speculation.
Not his style.
[Chuckles.]
He loved being Tom Pierce more than anything in the world.
So you think he ran away? Vanity breeds cowardice, can't it? - You tell us.
- Boy.
[Sighs.]
I never saw it demonstrated up close until this past week.
All of a sudden, things just started happening so fast, even Tom couldn't handle it.
- You mean the arrest? - It's not just that.
There were other things pressures that he wouldn't talk to me about.
He was afraid.
- Of what? - He wouldn't say.
I've been married to Tom Pierce for eight years.
I could tell.
Has he ever disappeared before? You mean for more than a weekend? No.
Does he have anybody that he confides in? Politically, I mean.
I don't know who he tells what.
All I know is that he came out of an interview the day that he disappeared, and he looked like his world had ended.
[Tubbs.]
An interview? Uh-huh.
- With who? - [Scoffs.]
That awful man What's his name? He's been pestering Tom and me for years.
He writes for the, uh, Record.
- Hank Frasier? - Oh, that's the one.
Thanks.
Thank you.
[Water Running.]
[Police Radio, Indistinct.]
[Police Radio, Indistinct.]
Well, it looks like your standard garden-variety strangulation.
No sign of anything sexual.
Place was ransacked, so it's hard to tell if anything was taken.
Whoever killed her just walked right in.
Do you think it was a friend, or maybe a business partner? Angelica Payson worked alone.
Lieutenant, the neighbors said they saw someone fitting Bloom's description leaving this house.
That campaign-killer? Yeah, and he was really in a lather.
Or that's how the lady remembered him.
[Car Phone Ringing.]
Excuse me.
Castillo.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Barry Bloom's been arrested.
I'm going in.
She was just somebody we were using another tool.
All I wanted to do was warn her, tell her things might get uncomfortable.
We don't believe that you killed her.
Maybe you should be a character witness.
If it goes that far, he might need one.
Just shut up, will you, Joel? I've got to trust somebody, and there's definitely no politician that meets my requirements.
Now, uh [Sighs.]
There was Cowan's dirty-tricks team.
And who else was in on it? I'm still not selling anybody out.
You tried to protect Angelica Payson.
Look how she wound up.
The stakes are a lot bigger now, Barry.
I wasn't the only one that infiltrated the Pierce campaign.
There were at least three others at lower-profile jobs.
[Sighs.]
We need names.
I'm not even sure who they were.
Anonymity was our camouflage.
Damn it, Bloom.
This is getting us nowhere.
I don't think we'll answer any more questions at this time.
- Fine.
- No.
I said this was what I wanted.
Our network went beyond the campaign.
There were people outside who could help us.
Who? A newspaper reporter named Frasier.
Hank Frasier? Yeah.
What did he do? Fed us dirt on Pierce.
What kind of dirt? The sexual stuff, of course, plus things about where he was getting his money.
He had a lot of shady contributors, and Frasier seemed to know them all.
Was he blackmailing Pierce? Possibly.
Say he was.
What was he blackmailing him for? Or was he just a wrong number? Debts.
He had gambling debts, and whoever he owed money was leaning on him as hard as he was leaning on Pierce.
I wish I could tell you I'm surprised.
You've had this problem with him before? Well, when he was working, he was fine.
He's working now, as a matter of fact.
He's in Atlanta with the Democratic National Committee.
He says he's got a king hell of a story about a power struggle.
What happens when his writing's finished? Let me put it this way.
I have a 19-year-old daughter, and if I saw Hank coming up the path on a Saturday night, I'd pray to God he was a process server.
So women aren't his only problem? No.
There's also gambling.
I'd put gambling in first place.
How's his luck? Lousy.
Does it affect his work? It only affects the accounting department.
I mean, he has to, uh, draw advances on his salary.
- Do the advances cover? - I doubt it.
So, if we told you that we think he might have, uh, blackmailed Pierce, that wouldn't surprised you? Yeah, it would.
Mr.
Chance, every good newspaper reporter knows things about powerful people - that could be used for blackmail.
- But they don't use it.
Frasier's the first person I know who might have done it, and that hasn't been confirmed.
And you don't believe in the law of averages? Newspaper people are like cops.
When they raise their right hand and take one step forward, it's like a a vow of poverty.
But they do it anyway because they love their work, and there's a small little voice inside of them telling them they're doing the right thing.
[Scoffs.]
Yeah.
Sorry I asked.
[Tubbs.]
What do you think Frasier's little voice says to him? Whirlaway in the eighth? [Chuckles.]
[Car Phone Ringing.]
Crockett.
Yeah, Stanley.
Do it right now.
He's patching through a call from Frasier.
Where are you? Chez Frasier.
Where else? Yeah, well, stay put.
You're gonna have company.
Yeah, well, you better hurry.
[Crockett.]
Now don't do anything crazy.
Look.
Save your advice for someone who needs it.
I'm not sticking my head in the oven.
But there are a couple of guys that might do it for me.
Are we talking bookie muscle? Oh, you heard, huh? You know how much I owe? I'm listening.
Seventy-five I don't have.
So they're coming over here to give me that much in medical bills.
Well, maybe you deserve to suffer.
Well, you're not coming to save me.
Uh, uh, forget it.
I don't have time to trade cheap shots.
I just wanna make sure you get my story straight.
I'm still listening.
Okay.
[Breathing Heavily.]
Uh Uh, first things first, okay? [Voice Cracks.]
I killed Angelica Payson.
I lost control.
L I needed what she had.
She wouldn't help me.
What did you get? Names, Crockett.
I needed big names.
For what? For Cowan? Cowan? Cowan was one of the ones I was trying to blackmail.
- No, for me.
- What did you use against him? He's been getting money from some of the same slugs as Pierce.
And you were blackmailing Pierce? Yeah, you bet I was.
Then the doofus decided a vanishing act was more appealing.
Oh.
Think you lost the race, Crockett.
You're gonna have to excuse me.
The bad guys are here.
[Knocking.]
All right, Frasier, listen.
You got a gun? [Knocking.]
Nah.
I'm a pacifist at heart.
[Panting.]
Uh [Chuckles.]
Just a minute.
I'm on the phone with my money man, okay? Uh Frasier? [Dial Tone.]
Frasier! [Dial Tone Continues.]
[Handset Settles In Cradle.]
What happened? [Phone Beeps.]
Go.
Is he dead? Yeah.
And so is the case.
[Both Sigh.]
[No Audible Dialogue.]
Sure.
Hey, Sonny, have you seen the morning edition? "Pierce to announce that he will resume his candidacy 'with a vengeance.
" ' Down but not out.
They never are for long.
Metro says they got the bookie muscle that killed Frasier.
Sounds very solid.
Prints and fibers match.
About time something broke on this.
Pierce's people just called.
He says he owes you two guys a talk.
He'll be more than happy to comply.
After three weeks? [Chuckles.]
What is this, unfinished business day? Sounds like they're trying to cover any toeholds in the character issue.
Don't you mean, uh, "Bless me, Detective, for I have sinned, and I need a clean press release"? You got it.
Well, I say we go see this gentleman before he changes his mind again.
Yeah, or becomes invisible.
[Chattering.]
[Sighs.]
So what do you think? All these people here to see the freak show? No way.
These people are the true believers.
[Chattering.]
Nice to have believers with checkbooks.
Yeah.
Slumming, fellas? Yeah.
How about you, Ms.
Sarelli? Tom Pierce is the party's best candidate.
I'd like to help him.
You already have, haven't you? Things are never what they seem, Crockett.
You ought to know that.
You also ought to know that we play by the same rules.
Mm-hmm.
And what about Pierce? - What rules does he play by? - The same ones as every other candidate.
- Does that make it okay? - Nature of the game, guys.
All these things you don't like.
All these people you don't trust.
Sooner or later, you got to put all that aside, and and believe in someone.
You mean sell yourself short? Sometimes that Shangri-la attitude does more harm than good.
[Applause.]
[Whistling.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
Maybe you'll learn something from this.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Annie and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
And let me add that it's good not to be the invisible man anymore.
[Crowd Laughing.]
[Pierce.]
Now, it's no secret that I've been gone for these past three weeks.
And during that self-imposed solitude, I've learned many things.
I've wandered the back alleys and streets of this great state, and I've gazed upon its sickened heart.
And that discovery led me to one conclusion a decision that was based upon the people's need for leadership, rather than my own comparatively insignificant need for privacy.
And it is with that in mind that I have returned.
And I have every intention of giving this grand state of ours what it needs to attain greatness.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[Applause.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
This should make for an interesting guest wing at the governor's mansion.
Thank you.
[Applause Continues.]
Thank you.
Thank you.