Original subtitles

Previously on The Commish.

I pushed a button, Scully.

You're a dead man.

Gee, Russ, I thought this was serious.

I'm not talking, just you.

Rachel, too.

Codename Iceman.

Iceman? What's this guy, Moonlight as a rapper?

It's not funny. This guy's a world -class assassin.

Judges, CEOs, international money men.

You're in bad company.

We got lucky with the FBI. They're sending an agent, Alan Bremmer.

I understand he took a shot at you a couple nights ago, huh? Yeah.

Fortunately, he missed.

Yeah, but that doesn't sound like the Iceman.

Is there any reason why he'd miss me on purpose?

The contract is on you and your wife.

So my guess would be he's trying to spook you into moving too fast.

Then you give away her location and he can get both of you.

I'm Dr. Nathanson.

Rachel. Rachel.

She's all right.

I can't swim.

They're all in the waiting room. Everyone's fine.

He was fine at all.

There were shots.

He's dead, Tony.

I performed your surgery.

And? Three inches to the right and we wouldn't be talking.

However, bone fragments were driven into your spinal cord at T7 and T8 and

there's... Mark the demides.

Any

sensation?

I can't feel anything.

Now, that's not unusual during the immediate post -operative period.

We begin therapy right away.

Your chances of limited mobility might... Limited to what?

Limited to what?

The boss is going to come do this. If anyone can, it's him.

I know, Andy.

If he needs anything, you don't have to ask. I mean, blood or whatever.

God, I can't believe it's him in there. I can't believe it.

We know this could happen any time.

To any of us.

Living with that?

That's what being a cop is all about.

On account of him, I became a cop. He turned my life around, Rach.

He got me into the academy.

I'd probably be in jail right now if it wasn't for him.

He's really proud of you.

I'm not doing any good hanging around here.

No, man, I'm staying. I gotta stay.

Aren't you on the chart now?

How are you guys doing on the Rudy Mendoza surveillance?

He's doing some kind of deal with Victor Kasabian.

Do you think maybe dividing up territory?

Well, we've been sitting on Rudy for a couple months with nothing to show for

it. Tony's been talking about pulling the plug, you know. A little more time.

Get a hang of it.

A little more time's all you got.

I could have spent the rest of my life in a wheelchair.

I don't care what the odds are.

What are they?

80 -20.

I thought they were stacked.

Don't doubt Rachel.

It's my policy to inform the spouse as soon as I... Don't.

Hey, pal.

How'd the angst do tonight?

Doctor said not to worry.

It better be better than no.

If that's possible.

Thank God.

Doctor says I'm gonna need a couple of months of rehab.

A couple?

You don't know who you're dealing with.

on my feet, dancing in a week and a half.

So I make a reservation at the Riverside Ballroom.

You look after your mother and your sister.

You're the man of the house until I get home.

A week and a half.

He's going to be all right.

He said to tell you to handle everything.

Rachel,

you've been so strong for everybody else. If you need a shoulder, you know.

Thank you.

Could you take the kids down to the car?

Sure. Come here, honey.

Thanks,

doctor.

Thanks for telling me the truth.

Mr. Scali.

Could I get a pitcher of water?

As soon as we can, sir.

I'm here, Mom.

We're throwing that on Rudy.

What do you think he'll get?

Fifteen? I figure at least.

Tommy Gallagher over in Pelham said Rudy brought in a load of crack last

February.

But they couldn't pin it on him.

Two kids died.

Oh, there's Kasabian again.

I don't think Victor ever heard of leaving the table hungry.

Eddie.

Eddie. I'm supposed to be working here.

I'm sorry, man. I'm sorry.

Tony's going to be okay, all right?

Maybe we ought to have to judge another tap on those guys.

I kind of wish they'd just start blasting.

See, if I send the text, there's a lot of trouble.

Water. I need water. Water?

It's empty.

I asked for water a quarter after four. At 7 .30, I asked for a pain pill. It's

10 to 9. I'm still thirsty. I'm still in pain.

It's a busy floor. Does a patient have to go into cardiac arrest before you

busboys leap into action?

A pain pill and a pitcher of water.

You want me to write it down?

I think I can remember.

Swell.

We saw them together, Rudy and Victor.

And they were having coffee, right? Like they've been doing for the last two

months. These guys hate each other. Don't you want to know why they're

coffee?

Kids are going to get hooked on the garbage they're bringing in, Sid.

I know what that can do to a family.

Look, I know you and Eddie have worked really hard on this case, but it's a

loser and we just don't have the manpower to waste.

You'll be getting a new assignment. No, you can't pull this off. This is a case

we can make. No, I'm going to keep you after, Sid. On my own time, I'm going to

nail him. What the hell did I become a cop for?

I already have a paperweight. Thank you.

You know, Joe's a good cop.

One of the orderlies could have brought that in. It's not a problem, Sal.

You're not an orderly?

This is Dan Boylan.

He's your physical therapist.

I'm the buff boy that's going to fold, spindle, and manipulate you right back

good health.

Okay, okay. Okay, that is good. Now pick it up. Pick him up. Pick him up. You

can do it. Come on.

Yeah. Yeah, see? Yeah.

Come on.

Good. All right.

Yeah. All right.

Hey.

Hey, Rachel.

What did I tell you? Dancing in a week.

All right. Oh, that's so good.

Enough, Superman.

That's enough for today. Let's go. All right.

See you there.

Rachel,

this is Dan Boyle. Oh, nice to meet you. Paul.

Would you take Mr. Scali back to his room, please? Oh, I'll do it. No, no,

okay. I need you to fill out some forms. I'll see you in a minute, honey.

Hey.

Hey.

Good job. Thanks.

Hi, I'm Ralphie.

Welcome to the club. Thanks, man. Tony.

I broke my back working construction, and I'll be catching rivets again in no

time. Hey, thanks for meeting me. It's amazing.

Thanks. You take care. It's temporary.

He's in denial. Once he realizes how hard it's going to be, he'll regress.

Most of them do.

I'm just trying to prepare you for the reality.

You know what you're putting in your body?

Nitrites. And enough cholesterol to make your veins look like the Lincoln Tunnel

in Russia.

Your body's a temple, Ronnie.

You're defiling your temple.

Thank God I'm an atheist.

Hey!

Toski.

X -ray 4, we got a 10 -13 on the corner of Livingston and Spruce. Officer down.

I repeat, 10 -13, officer down.

Roger, X -ray 4.

He's dead, Ronnie.

Joe, he's dead.

One shot to the back of the head.

If it's any comfort, he never knew what hit him.

Every ongoing investigation takes a back seat as of now.

Get NCIC plugged in.

I want vacations canceled.

Everyone's on the job. I want briefings in my office every hour.

No witnesses.

Happened over on Livingston and Spruce, where night blindness has been raised to

an art form.

That's Rudy Mendoza's territory.

That's why we're bringing him in.

What?

Joe said he was going to follow through on his own time.

I should have had Eddie keep an eye on him. You know, it's my fault. You gave

Joe an order.

He didn't obey it.

That doesn't matter right now. What matters is nailing Rudy Mendoza.

Sid.

How's Eddie?

He says he just wants to work.

He's handling it okay.

He had a three -year -old kid. A little girl.

Get out of here. Get over here. There is no place to be.

The intimidation will not go unreported as a district attorney.

Let it go, Allie. He's obsessed, all right?

I swear on my kids, I didn't kill that cop.

I'm a businessman, and I'm not stupid, which is what killing a cop is.

You want the guy that did it? It's Victor Kasabian. We found the body on

side of the tracks.

That's the extent of your case?

People can get killed elsewhere and then dumped. We live in the age of rapid

transit.

Victor and I are engaged in negotiations.

You know that? You've been tailing me for weeks.

He kills the kid to set me up. That way, he doesn't have to negotiate.

He can just take over my territory.

Look, I'm no saint. I'm the first to admit it, but I did not kill your boy.

Are we free to go, or are you going to file a charge based on your evidence?

And then I went with Julie to pick out Joey's casket.

Yeah, we picked out a nice mahogany casket with brass handles. Hey, hey,

Eddie! You've got to pull yourself together, you hear me?

For Julie and the kid. Now, come on.

Eddie.

I've

got

a job for you, Eddie.

I want you to tail Victor Kasabian.

Why?

Rudy is the one... We don't know that.

Kasabian could be involved as well. Come on.

That's your assignment.

Tail Victor Kasabian.

Back to work. Come on. Well, then.

Listen, head up the detail surveilling unit in Mendoza.

I'll get you the warrant to search his place.

And if Eddie comes within 100 yards of Mendoza, I want to know about it, okay?

You really think Kasabian's involved?

I don't know.

All I know is if I don't keep Eddie occupied, he may end up blowing his

out.

Or somebody else's.

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

Up and down. Come on.

Come on, you can do it.

Do it.

Leave him be.

He might be hurt. You hurt? No. Then leave him alone.

I'm okay, Rach.

I could do it before. Before doesn't count.

Do it now.

I don't know what your story is. Me?

I'm a blank page, Tony. You're the one with the story.

You want to go home. You want to go back to the job because some cop got wasted.

Not some cop.

A dedicated cop.

A guy with a family. A guy who wasn't worried about how busy the floor was.

He was working on his own time without any backup.

That kind of dedication is about as rare as hen's teeth.

Meaning what?

He's in the hood's territory, on his own, without backup.

Sounds like the guy's crossed over. He's sleeping with the enemy, you want my

opinion. You don't even know what you're talking about. He was an honest cop.

I'm merely speculating.

I'm sure he was a prince.

Our timing may leave something to be desired. But you don't.

You're the perfect candidate for the job.

The Oakport department is double decided.

And as commissioner, you'd be... I'm truly flattered, really. But I

couldn't possibly leave right now.

Not with Commissioner Scali in the hospital and us in the middle of this

investigation.

We admire your loyalty.

Do us and yourself a favor.

Think about it.

Excuse me.

Yes? Commissioner Scallion, too.

Think about it.

Thank you.

Hey, how you doing?

Terrific.

Therapists can't believe it.

But I'm going a little nuts in here, Sid.

Can I have one of the guys bring me over a scanner?

Sure.

Did we find anything over at Rudy Mendoza's apartment?

Yeah, a small arsenal.

Ballistics is running him for a match to the murder weapon.

Plus, we got fiber and hair samples. They're at the lab.

Go over to Joe Ratowski's house. Ask Julie if you can go through his desk,

files. She's all right with it. I'm there first thing in the morning.

Well, what's with Eddie?

I've got him tailing Victor Kasabian.

Just wanted to keep him busy and out of harm's way, you know?

Good thinking.

Learned at the feet of the master.

We'll all be working for you someday.

Right.

Sabian and his pals are a huggy bunch.

He might have killed Joe.

You think?

Anything's possible.

Could have been to set Rudy up.

Just like Rudy said.

Hey, where are you going?

Might be meeting someone a lot.

I could have taken him. In broad daylight.

Look, some bleeding heart goes by, and you're gone forever, pal.

Look, you don't even know that Victor killed Joe. Chances are it was Rudy.

I'd waste him, too.

Look, you are over the edge, man.

You've got to talk to somebody.

Who? Did the part of him shrink, huh? No, he's a clown.

Then who?

Keep Joe alive, Eddie.

You can do it.

You have to.

Tell this little girl who her father was.

Keep him alive for her.

Like he'll always be alive for you.

It's okay.

Let it out.

We were gonna buy this... this cabin.

Up by Cold Spring, we had it all picked out.

It was really nice.

He was... He was ready to finally start enjoying life, you know?

I thought things were pretty tough for him.

What do you mean?

Money. I thought things were tight.

No, no, he was okay.

I mean, you know, he got himself straightened out.

I'm glad he was okay.

Keep him alive, Betty.

Stuck on the railroad tracks or out on the highway?

I thought it was a 20 after 9.

Morning.

You've got to fix the thermostat in here.

Sid Madison will stand boiling.

How do you do? Hi.

I'll... Be back.

Look, fibers on Joe's jacket match ones that we found in Rudy Mendoza's

apartment. Could have gotten on the jacket when Rudy dumped him.

Or if Joe spent some time at Rudy's place.

Eddie was here last night.

He told me he and Joe were looking into buying a cabin together.

Joe had financial trouble as long as I knew him. He couldn't afford a cabin.

Dr. McLean.

Guess what I found in Joe's house.

Back of an old filing cabinet.

18 grand.

Thought his wife was going to keel over.

It's all in fives and tens.

Rudy Mendoza's in the arcade business.

Everything's in small bills.

He corrupted a cop and they killed him.

I want Rudy Mendoza under arrest.

Lieutenant Easton Larson headed towards the waterfront. I want units on that

pier. Cut them off.

You got nowhere else to go, man.

Now come on, don't make it any worse than it has to be. You guys think I

the cop?

I'm a dead man.

Rudy!

Boss, Rudy's in the wall.

He jumped off the dry dock.

Get a boot out there.

I want officers searching that river as far south as the falls. Get this guy,

Ronnie.

Damn it.

Come on, Eddie. Where did Joe get the money?

This is a witch hunt, boss. Eddie. I don't know where he got the money. He

out most nights. Maybe he's delivering pizzas.

I don't know. Why are we even talking about this with him in the room? Hey,

Would I care about cops? You could fit inside a nutshell and still have room

my accountant's heart.

Isn't it possible that Joe could have been on Rudy's path? No!

And he was squeezing Rudy for more money? I'm telling you, no. 18 grand,

You gotta deliver a lot of pizzas.

My partner is dead because he went beyond the call. You said so yourself in

papers. But if you're gonna turn this thing around and make it look like Joe

on the take...

Clive at the dragon the river, but so far they got nothing Eddie Pick up the

badge you want to help us prove the Joe was clean pick it up

Right off the bat, you peg Joe as being crooked. What makes you such a genius?

I'm not a genius, Tony.

I'm a cynic.

And it's not just about cops.

It's a universal thing with me.

Nice way to go through life.

It is.

Because no matter how rotten people get, I'm never disappointed.

We brought in Rudy's pals.

One -sided conversations.

Try his enemies?

They're the ones who'll sell him out.

I guess.

I don't know.

Talk to Victor Kasabian.

And find out what you can about Dan.

Okay.

Imagine that.

A pretty little girl like you, Uncle.

They put little girls like this when you went to law school, Counselor.

They all look like me.

Mr. Kasabian, we're looking for Rudy Mendoza.

Please, call me back down.

You know where Rudy is?

Tell the truth.

Okay.

No. But that's not to say I don't have sources of information.

Let's see how you utilize them.

What do you do for me, you pretty little girl?

I'll put your number one rival behind bars.

You dirty old man.

Hey, I'll let it go round for you, all right?

Hey.

Oh, uh... How many cops are on your pad?

All the crews.

None.

It's the woman's movement, the wonderful thing.

How's it going, Tony?

It's tough, Ralphie.

I didn't think it was going to be this tough.

That's why we got to be tougher.

Make a note.

We're in trouble, huh?

No, it's just... Mom, I can read.

We're going to be okay.

I'm supposed to be the man of the house, and you're treating me like a kid.

If Dad can't work... At this point, we don't know that. If he can't, even with

what they're going to pay him, we won't be able to live here anymore.

David, where will we go?

What's going to happen to us?

If that happens, we'll all still be together.

I'm telling you the truth, honey.

It's the best I can tell you.

Ted! Yeah?

We may have a witness to Joe's shooting.

Herman McCauley runs numbers.

Who turned him?

They travel over Morgan Heights.

Herman hangs out at a place called Bailey's on 7th Street.

Go.

Go work.

I think we're seeing the end of the recession.

People got a lot more discretionary income.

That's not what I hear, Herman. All I know is they're playing the numbers

So your health?

Hardy, I'm down, right?

I gotta think.

Bartender says Herman hasn't been here all night.

Any other places he'd like to hang out?

Try Harry O's at the block.

Let me know, John.

Got it.

Let's go.

How bad is it?

They must have think I saw a cop get shot.

Did you?

Artie, I'd like to visit my sick aunt out of state.

Could you fade me a few hundred?

You said you were fat.

Yeah, I'm fat, but I'm not liquid.

I don't have it on me. Come to my place. I won't forget this.

Think of them when you've been looking.

Hi, please. See you tomorrow.

Ow.

Improved degree of sensation.

I'm guardedly optimistic.

So when will I be walking?

Well, you might at some point achieve a reasonable range of muscle function.

Please, say it in English. Will I be walking out of here on my own two feet

not? You want a definitive answer. Well, there is none. But if I were you, I'd

try to prepare for either of the two eventualities. But if I can't walk...

could still live a full and active life.

Don't try to con me.

I've got a daughter and a son I want to play with. And don't tell me about

wheelchair tennis.

I won't be able to work. Nothing's wrong with your brain.

Your ability to lead hasn't been diminished by... I can't lead from a

All the guys say I'm just a beat cop in disguise.

It's the only way I know how to do the job.

I'll check on you tomorrow, Tony.

He thinks I'm going to make it.

He just doesn't want to commit himself.

He doesn't want to build me up for a letdown.

I've been reading people my whole life.

I've been reading pulp fiction.

Same thing.

Some more reading material.

Chicken soup.

Chewy penicillin.

Maybe I should soak my legs in it.

David called before.

Said he wanted me not to worry.

That no matter what, we'd be together.

What's that about?

He saw some papers he shouldn't have.

I was running our expenses. And how the disability was... I'm not going to need

the disability.

Well, in case the city decides you're not able to... Rachel.

Tony, I just think that we should be prepared.

Dr. Nathanson said I'm doing a lot better than he expected. Tony, stop it!

know what Dr. Nathanson really thinks.

I've known since the beginning.

So why don't we just stop lying to each other and to ourselves?

Even in the worst case. I'm walking out of here, Rachel.

But if that isn't... I'm walking out.

If I didn't believe that, how could I go through all the... Do you believe it?

I know how important... Do you?

I want to.

That's not what I asked.

Rachel, you have to believe that I'm going to walk again.

You have to.

by myself, if I have to.

But I'm not going to fight you two.

I can't fight you two. Tony!

It'll happen, Dan.

Give it time.

Yo, Ironside.

You want to get out of the chair or what?

I'm scheduled to work with you next hour and a half, but you want to bag it, I

can still be at Belmont for the beautiful.

Every time I think about working on these bars, it makes me want to throw

And you, come on, Tony, do it. You can do it.

What about Ralphie? Why don't you tell him he can do it?

Because he can't.

You walked in here, and you're going to walk out. You don't know what it's like.

That's right, Tony. I don't know anything.

Except this.

There are three kinds of guys in here.

Guys who can't get better.

Guys who can get better, if they're tough enough.

And guys who are going to use this joint as a place to hide it.

Cut the cheap analysis.

You get what you paid for.

Now, I'd love to stay in two to rag with you, but post time is rapidly

approaching, and I happen to have some very reliable intelligence on the first

race from the brother of the trainer's ex -wife.

Why don't you come out the track with me?

Set you up at the rail, got a nice section reserved for wheelchair access.

Soak up the sun.

What about my therapy? So we skip a day.

Dr. Nathanson said if I skip any session... Dr.

Nathanson? He tells you he's guardedly optimistic you might at some point

achieve a reasonable range of muscle function?

Bromides, Tony?

And you say you can read people?

You really think an hour and a half one way or the other is going to make a

difference?

This is it.

And you know it.

I got 90 minutes coming.

It's your job to give them to me.

Dozers. We found it three miles down river. What about his body?

I don't know. I mean, he could still be alive. If he is, he and Herman might

have crawled under the same rock.

But we know he hasn't gotten past the checkpoints.

What do you think?

Is the NCIC kick out?

I want Tony to do it.

What is that?

Salmi on rye, potato salad, and a large kosher dill. Something for him to munch

on while he reads.

We don't have Rudy.

We don't have Herman. We don't have a damn thing. We should be going back over

court files, finding any slug who ever knew these guys. Don't you think I'm

doing it? I don't know what you're doing.

The best I can. Well, I guess it's not enough.

Sid. Oh.

I did manage to find something out about your friend, Dan Boylan.

He was a homicide detective out on the island.

Yep, youngest gold badge on the force.

Six years ago, he was shot, sued the department for the disability he thought

was owed, lost the suit, went through therapy here.

Nobody believes in you more than I do.

More than I always have.

I've got to make a call.

If I had a quarter, I'd put it in.

Hello? You accept the charges from Herman McCullough? I'll accept the

Herman. I know who shot your cop.

Give me a name.

I want a deal. Herman, I'm stuck here in the hospital. I want a deal. And you're

the only one who can give it to me.

Now, meet me in a half an hour behind the warehouse.

An orchard at night.

Come alone or you'll never know who killed him.

I gotta get out of here.

That's the spirit. That's... I'm talking about right now. I need to get a van or

something or whatever you guys use to move people around.

You're out of your mind.

Dan, you gotta help me. Why is that? Because I have a witness to the murder

Joe Ratowski.

A cop who could have just as easily been me.

Or you.

I don't want this guy to spook. I'll go around the corner myself.

Do you have any idea what kind of hell I'm going to catch for taking this

It'll be worth it, Danny boy. Yeah.

For who?