Original subtitles

No one executes his own enemy.

The work will be left up to somebody else. A special group, experts with no

personal connection.

In 1931, Charlie Luciano summoned the leaders of organized crime to a meeting

in Chicago.

Michael Lasker.

Ben Siegel.

Dutch Schultz.

Al Capone. We have the power. We can have more power. We can have it all.

Frank Costello.

Vito Genovese.

We're going to put him in charge of the crazy bank robbery.

Lepke Buckhalter and Albert Anastasia all were there.

Luciano wanted to finally end the violence and killing between the rival

families.

He proposed that the old boss of all bosses concept be abolished in favor of

a confederation of equals.

Despite skepticism on the part of Al Capone and indifferent contempt from

Dutch Schultz, Luciano won a complete victory for his bold proposals and

emerged as the first prime minister of a gangster empire.

We'll see.

A few hours after the meeting in Chicago, Charlie Luciano, Michael

Lasker, and Ben Siegel were on their way back to New York.

That's all right. Forget it. Forget it.

You got the beds and the pullman made up here? Thank you, Mr. Siegel. And yes,

sir, the beds have been made up for some time.

Any girls on their own left in them?

No, sir, Mr. Siegel. I'm afraid not.

Let me know when things get better, okay? Yes, sir.

And what time you got back?

Four o'clock, Mr. Siegel. Thanks a lot.

It's four in the morning.

What are we toast to this time?

I think it's your turn this time, isn't it, Ben?

Sorry, Ben.

To America.

America.

America.

Anyhow, like I was saying, we look beyond 32, the end of Prohibition. We

look five, then ten years ahead. I mean, where do we want to be in 1941?

1950. Well, with what's just happened in Chicago, we have a chance of going into

gambling on a nationwide scale.

Not just a chance, Charlie. We'll do it.

We've got to organize the lending of money.

It's no problem.

We already have more money than the banks.

And the muscle that we're not wasting on gang wars, we can now take with us into

the labor wars.

That's right.

It's probably been a long four days for Rupert.

If we get into New York, I'd like to go directly to the house, okay?

That's no problem.

What about Dutch Phils? What's his story?

It's pretty obvious at the meeting.

He couldn't have cared less whether we failed or whether we succeeded.

I don't think we can ever expect him to fall on the line. He's going to be like

Vinnie Carl, Waxy Gordon, and Mike Simon.

You and Charlie, all four of them together.

They can screw up everything you just did in Chicago.

Don't worry about them, Ben.

The law is going to take care of them all.

Don't worry.

Yeah, Mike, but in the meantime, Phils is still moving south in Manhattan.

We're the only ones that stand in his way.

Right here.

Michael's right.

The government's going to take care of him.

It's not our problem anymore.

What a nice day, huh, Jimmy?

Oh, Legs, it is. Funny the paper said rain today.

Legs Diamond.

One of the four rebel gangsters who defied the new set of rules adopted in

Chicago.

Legs, who had organized his own gang nearly 15 years earlier, openly scorned

Charlie Luciano and went his own way.

I'm sorry I'm late, honey.

Oh, the Legs diamond is allowed to be late. Only his girlfriend's supposed to

be on time.

How is the attorneys again? We've been working on this federal appeal. Trying

to beat this date thing.

Tell me one thing, Legs.

When you go home to Alice after me, do you give her the same routine about the

attorneys?

Maybe.

She is my wife.

She's been through a lot with me. I can't exactly say. Well, I finally fell

in love with somebody, only not her.

Do you really mean that?

Good to have you home, Michael.

You look fine. I am fine.

How are you feeling?

All right.

You bought a new dress.

Huh?

Nice.

Joy bought it for me. She was shopping it and thought I'd like it.

It's gorgeous.

Richie upstairs in the nursery?

He's taking a nap now.

When I was in Chicago, one of the guests at the hotel we were working at was a

doctor from Johns Hopkins Hospital.

And I'm flying him in the early part of next week.

His name is Hendrickson, Dr. Richard Hendrickson.

I asked around.

He's supposed to be the best orthopedic surgeon in the country.

All right.

I'll remember his name if he calls here.

and run up and take a look at them.

Then we'll have the day together.

I'm not going into the club today.

I'm glad.

I'm really glad.

Did things go all right in Chicago?

Things went terrific in Chicago.

Charlie made a piece that covers all 48 states.

Is that possible?

It's possible.

It's done.

There'll be no more killing?

dead legs.

Oh, yeah. Listen, those are giant lucky skies.

I've never seen them before.

Oh.

He could have brought them in.

Find out one way or the other.

Legs, legs. We've got to get you to a hospital. Oh, yes.

This is the man. Yeah, I'm here. Get me another city. I will. I can't.

I will. I will. I promise.

Charlie Luciano established the five families of La Cosa Nostra in New York.

A distribution of power which still exists a half century later.

He also became convinced that Frank Costello's interest in massive political

power was important for a successful future.

And what I'm saying is that Al Smith is no longer a sure thing.

Now Roosevelt, he's got a rough way to go.

But if he can try to reform people of bone with the Seabury Commission and

make some kind of deal with Tammany.

Then he's got a shot at the nomination.

All right, then let's be sure we got people with both Smith's and Roosevelt's

delegations so we can play both of our options as long as possible and go with

the winner.

Salud.

All right.

Now, the other thing I want to explain now.

The family of our late friend, Salvatore Maranzano.

I've decided that his family be divided into two families.

One to be headed by Joe Profaci.

The second to be run by Joe Bonanno.

So now we're going to have five families in New York.

That's right.

Bravo. It's a great idea, Charlie. I think they're both ready for it.

And I think Tommy Lucchese should continue to help Gags run their family.

I'll do a job.

Best I know how.

I know you will, Tommy.

I thought that would please you.

You do a great job, Tommy. Thank you.

Tommy. Vito.

Benvenuto.

I'll let everybody involved know what's been worked out.

Grazie, Vito.

Buonasera.

Buonasera.

I mean, it's going to have to wait until after... Madge, Madge, Ben. Irene is the

blonde.

Well, it's going to have to wait until the club closes because the penal game

is over and Charlie's going to want to tell me how good he did.

Why can't you ever remember my name?

Rito. Hey, Rito.

Hey, Tom. Hey, Frank.

When did it happen, Chief?

Maybe an hour ago now, Charlie.

Hold on a minute.

Somebody pumped five of the best in a leg's diamond.

Is he gonna make it?

Yeah, so far.

Listen, Charlie, I'm gonna have to send a couple of detectives over to bring you

and Ben in.

Routine questioning.

I don't suppose that could be help.

Listen, uh, Michael's at home with his family. I'd appreciate it if you could

give him a pass.

He's got one.

Thanks, Chief.

Yeah, we'll see you at the precinct.

You know who got it?

Two Latins, not Italians. No IDs, nothing.

Could be Spanish Raymond.

He collects numbers for Schultz up in Highland.

Rigdon's sending up a couple of detectives. We've got to go down to the

precinct for questioning.

Oh, God.

Charlie, the legs would have to pick today to get hit.

What's the matter? You got something going?

No, it's just... Charlie, we're going to be in that precinct house all night.

Doesn't anything ever go right around here? I know it's inconvenient, Ben. Why

don't you just have a drink and relax?

Well, somebody almost did us a favor.

You want one?

Benny, you know a couple of guys, maybe Red Levine's people?

Somebody young, bright, who can run a quiet investigation for me.

Yeah, sure.

Where do you want investigated?

I want to find Chris Brennan.

Done. Didn't you see her in Chicago?

She's not in Chicago.

Welcome home, Charlie.

Sorry I'm late. The business at the precinct took longer than I expected.

The radio says that Legs Diamond's out of danger.

Oh, really?

I guess he's pretty hard to kill.

That's how he got his name. Did you know that?

Did you know that?

No, I didn't. Legs Diamond.

Because he can run so fast.

Actually, I haven't been home that long myself.

Where have you been?

I stopped by for a couple of drinks after the last show.

Somebody trying to beat my time?

Oh, it's one of the girls. She remembers Lucille.

Lucille.

Charlie! Are you going to put me down or what?

Oh, Lucille, the redhead. Ah, yeah.

She said Chris Brennan was in Chicago last week.

Did you see her?

Yeah, I saw her.

She stopped by my room for a couple of minutes. I was on my way to a meeting.

When I came back, she was gone.

Bye-bye, that. Do you give me a break on the Brooklyn Bridge?

Look, Joy, I spent half the night talking to a lot of people and the rest

of it talking to a bunch of cops. So do you mind?

Ah, I get it.

I'm sorry.

I'm tired.

You never got me by claiming to be a great conversationalist.

Meanwhile, two people who had played pivotal roles in Charlie Luciano's life

moved towards a strange rendezvous.

One was Chris Brennan, whom Charlie had known since his youth, who had loved him

and worked for him, and accordingly been beaten by Al Capone in a savage act of

vengeance against Luciano.

The second was Dutch Schultz, the most dangerous and unpredictable of all of

Charlie's rivals for complete control of New York City.

Well, you asked for the meeting, bright eyes.

All right.

Let me see.

Somebody did a job on you.

Yeah, one of Al Capone's people.

Capone found out you worked for Charlie?

Yeah. I thought maybe you told him, Dutch.

I don't know.

I may be a lot of things, but I'm no fink.

Drunk, a little crazy, I'm still no fink.

Is Charlie now?

Yeah, he knew.

He was in Chicago. He did nothing.

Charlie's building an empire.

Maybe he needs to use Capone a while longer.

Now... What do you want from me?

You want to get Charlie?

I can help you.

I can trust you.

You worked for Charlie for a long time.

The scars.

You can trust the scars.

I can fix the scars.

But I don't... Scars on the outside are not what I'm talking about.

Okay.

Now, do you still think you need that .38 pointed at my stomach?

.25 automatic.

No? Guess not.

Okay.

Let's go.

That would have been something, huh?

After all these years, guys shooting at me.

And then to have had it come from a woman.

I'd have died laughing.

I'm not asking for the world, Stella, but I think I'd do more for Ben than

drive his car around and go to the deli for takeout lunches.

Yeah, well, I'm sorry, Davey. I mean, I'm sure you're right, but at least you

see him.

Like his being hauled down to the precinct all night? I don't believe

that. No, Stella, that makes sense to me.

They must have hauled 50 people into the precinct after Legs got hit.

Ben and Charlie both, I'm sure. But he had already given you the night off

before that.

And he had called here earlier and he told me, Charlie and I have to work

late.

Terrific breakfast.

Well, you know Benny.

Yeah.

I know him pretty well by now.

Hey, I know my sister pretty good too.

What's wrong?

What's right, Davey?

I mean, you hadn't have stopped by. I'd have had eight more hours alone with the

baby for company.

Have you said anything to Ben?

Sure. He says he understands, and he goes out and buys me another fur coat.

Not that I don't like fur.

It's not so much, Davey, that he's shacking up with some little girl right

off the train from Chicago.

It's just my whole damn life.

I had to pull it out of her, Ben.

I know you're busy. I know Chicago's important, but she's going nuts in that

house up there.

I suppose I haven't been away a lot at night, Dave.

Even if you were there three or four nights a week.

Look, Davey, I got your point, all right?

I'm going to do just like you say. Let's just drop it, okay?

I think it was the idea of you coming straight from the train from Chicago

and... Damn it, she's my wife, it's my kid, it's my house, and I'm running it.

You just keep your damn nose out of our business, all right? She's my sister.

Baby, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I just lost my head for a minute.

I'm sorry.

Better a cold towel, Ben.

Come again?

Better a cold towel than a hot one on splitting.

Yeah, right.

Put some cold water on the towel. Move.

Here you go.

Look, Davey, I'm sorry. I gotta find a way to make it up to you, huh?

We say, um, look, I'm going to Phil Kronfeld's today.

We get a couple shirts, a couple ties, maybe. What do you think, huh? Would you

like that?

Sure, that sounds like a good idea, Ben.

Some shirts, a couple of ties.

Yes.

In 1931, Vito Genovese's wife died after a long illness.

Among those who attended her wake was one who was unexpected, Al Capone from

Chicago.

She was a good woman, Vito.

God has just taken her home.

I know that.

Thank you.

How's your throat?

Huh? Doctor says I gotta live with it.

Like

you

said it all, you know how I feel.

I know.

I'm grateful for that, Charlie.

I want to thank you for allowing me to attend your wife's wake and rosary.

I appreciate that you could.

As you know, my mother, she still lives in Brooklyn, and she sends her sympathy

and best wishes to you.

Thanks again.

How's it going, Charlie?

Going fine now.

Yeah, I thought so.

After all, everything was taken care of in Chicago, hmm?

How are you doing on finding Chris Brennan?

No luck so far.

It's like she fell off the edge of the earth.

Keep looking.

Sure.

Still don't know why Capone came here to see Vito's wife right now.

He didn't.

He came here to see me.

Now, there will be a slight scar, which you'll be more conscious of than

anybody. Yeah, that's right, Brennan.

It's the same thing with me.

I got three or four of these things.

Enough.

The first couple months, I thought you could see it right through the overcoat.

No, but then you don't even notice it.

The situation is somewhat different with a woman's face, Mr. Schultz, but your

point is well taken. I hope so.

You also took an arm and a leg along the way. I'm sure you're going to feel the

money was well spent.

Uh-huh.

Now, I want you to stay here for a few more days. I'll be in every day.

But if you feel that you want to call me at any time, just pick up the telephone.

Now I'll leave you two people alone.

Thanks, Doc.

Thank you. Sure, Chris.

I understand.

Sorry, Dutch.

I just couldn't keep it in any longer.

Oh, no.

That's all right. Forget it.

I pay twice the national debt and you're kissing his hand.

Hmm women

We

don't

kill this one Louie you got a hell

of a lot of letting you

But you're probably going to make it.

Last long enough to tell Charlie Lucky Luciano that Legs Diamond sends his

regards.

Now, let's move these troops. Come on, let's get out of here.

Dawn, upstate New York. A shipment of liquor from a distillery in Canada

partially owned by Charlie, Michael, and Ben was ambushed in the small city of

Utica.

Frankie, you got somebody with the families of those who were killed or

wounded, right?

Good. I'm gonna get back to you as soon as I talk to Michael.

Yeah, he just walked in.

Yeah.

What the hell's happened?

We just took a bad hit on a load that went into Utica.

We had several men killed. We lost a few.

And lost some trucks.

They left Louis Palmer alive so he could send his diamonds regards.

Charlie, we gotta make a move. He's hitting Schultz's trucks, too. He needs

the money for all those high-priced lawyers, you know? What the hell

difference does that make? He's been hitting the Dutchman, he's got money

problems, that's an excuse? It's an explanation we have to consider. Oh,

consider mine.

Michael, ask.

Just a minute.

I hear you people having a few problems out there.

Nice and peaceful here in Chicago.

Oh, we had some liquor hijacked, Al. It's not the end of the world.

Yeah, I guess it still happens, huh?

Well, Legs must have gotten out of his sickbed to pull this one.

Well, he's on his last legs in any case.

That's a good one, Charlie. I like that. I guess you'd like it too if you weren't

having so many other problems like Schultz and Vinnie Cole and old Waxy out

there in Jersey.

You're right, Al.

These are our problems.

Look, Charlie, you sold us a bill of goods in Chicago.

You said everybody puts away his guns and we all make money.

We all get our houses in order, but it looks like your house is in a hell of a

mess.

Maybe we ought to forget the whole thing, Charlie. I'll handle it, Al.

I'll do whatever I have to to handle it.

Thanks for the call.

Sure, anytime.

I'll say one thing for Charlie Lucky.

He sure can handle a lot of pressure.

Capone is talking about pulling out of the Chicago deal altogether.

What did I tell you?

Capone pulls out, the rest of the country is watching. What do you think

they're going to do, Charlie? He won't pull out.

He's needling.

New York's a mess.

Chicago's under control. He's looking better than the other look, but he won't

pull out.

Mike, what's it going to take?

Diamond took us for 80 grand less than a year ago.

He was supposed to buy liquor for us.

Then he tried to buy dope and he winds up with nothing. So you want to kill

somebody for 80 grand? All right.

All right, Michael.

What do you suggest?

Dewey already has a federal conviction on Diamond.

He's looking at four years and a federal pen.

Governor Roosevelt's brought in a special state prosecutor.

Try him for kidnapping, robbery, and murder.

That could put him in a chair.

Federal charge is under appeal.

Legs has beat the state rap once already.

He won't beat it again.

That's what the special state prosecutors for how long before he's

convicted if he's convicted I'd have to check but I'd say the case will come to

the jury by the end of next week Oh wait

Charlie, I don't believe you. I'm going to wait.

Great.

My friend's in Washington. They haven't forgotten about Capone, have they?

He's going to jail, too. Good.

May take a little bit longer, but it's all part of the same federal package,

you know. We'll wait. May take a little longer. Not to worry.

It was simple in the old days, you know. You get hit, you hit back. You think you

might get hit, you hit first.

I was better off in an alley with a lead pipe.

It's too late for lead pipes in alleys, Ben.

You've got to realize that.

You're a little late.

Yeah, I had a couple of drinks with Lucille at the club again.

Help you unwind?

It's a good idea.

Lucille shared an apartment with Chris Brennan a couple of years ago.

Two men came to her apartment today.

I guess they traced her from two years back.

Anyway, they were very polite.

And, of course, they ask her not to tell anyone.

But she talked to you, huh?

Yeah. Shows you what a couple of drinks will do, huh?

Charlie, they asked her all about Chris.

They wanted to know if she had any contact with him since she came back

from Chicago.

They said if she heard anything, it'd be worth $1,000 to them.

She knows who they work for.

Ben Siegel.

Why would Benny be looking for Chris?

Only if Charlie Lucky told him to find her.

Why are you looking for Chris?

That's not good enough this time, Charlie.

Might be good enough for the girls in the dark shawls from the old country

just off the boat.

Might be good enough for Ruth and Stella, and it may even be good enough

for me most of the time.

But it's not just business this time, Charlie.

What is it, then?

Why are you having someone find her?

You're pushing it too far, Joy.

I wish I could stop.

Then stop.

Chris told me she worked for you, Charlie.

Was she working for you in Chicago?

With Capone, but working for you still?

You know, you said that she was gone from your hotel room when you came back

from that big meeting. That wasn't true, was it?

Well, what happened to her?

Why did she leave Chicago and drop out of sight?

Did Capone find out she was working for you and have her beaten up?

Or was it worse than just a beating?

Was it like the time when they found you all cut out? All right, that's enough.

Can I ask a question? No, you cannot.

Not about Chris, about you and me.

Charlie, suppose it was me in that hotel room with you.

What would you have done then?

What are you getting at?

Is there a difference?

I love you.

Chris loved you.

And you like sleeping with both of us.

Is it different, for example, because you love me?

Can you say that, Charlie?

Say you love me and maybe I won't have to leave.

You don't understand, do you, Joy?

I... You can't say it.

It's not your fault.

It's inside you.

What did I tell you?

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

Just a second.

Thanks, Doc.

Thanks. There's nothing special you have to do now, only...

Stay in touch with me.

All right.

Now we get out of here.

Thank you.

I'm a little scared to go out there.

Of course.

But you'll make it.

I always have, huh?

Well, thanks, Doc, for everything except the bill. I need you myself again. I'll

give you a call.

Tom Dewey, the federal prosecutor, determined to stop the leaders of

organized crime in New York.

I guess you got the word, Mr. Dewey. Legs Diamond did it to them again.

Innocent on all counts. Yes, I heard, Tony.

Okay, we're going to have to move fast on this one. Call the clerk of the

Federal Court of Appeals.

Have him move the date of Legs' appeal hearing up as fast as possible. Right.

I want to get him into a cell in Atlanta before someone finally gets to him.

What about the press?

Draft a statement this afternoon.

We'll get it to them before the late additions.

Now, there are two points that we have to make.

First... Diamond was accused of kidnapping, robbery, and murder, and the

whole country is sick and tired of seeing these gangsters walking out of

our courtroom scot-free.

Yes, sir. Then what we want to say, without making it obviously partisan, is

that the state under Roosevelt has tried to convict Diamond twice and failed

miserably.

The government, with the Republican prosecuting, is sending him to a federal

penitentiary.

I'll rough out a draft right after I call the appeals court.

But far more important to Tom Dewey than the fate of Legs Diamond was the arrest

and conviction of Charles Luciano, whom he believed was the most dangerous of

all the gangsters he must bring to justice.

I tried it your way, Michael. This time it didn't work.

If somebody got to the jury, there's no end to Legs' luck. I don't know.

Whichever way. I made some phone calls this afternoon to Chicago, Detroit, and

Boston.

It's going to be settled within the framework that we agreed on in Chicago.

You mean Lepkin-Anastasia, huh?

Murder Incorporated.

I don't want to hear that term again. You set up a thing like this, Charlie,

it's like the genie, you know?

You might not be able to get it back into the bottle.

Mike, listen, if Charlie doesn't use those other troops, I'm going to whack

legs myself.

You know Louie Palmer, those shotguns for Vito?

He just died after another go around on the operating table.

When are we going to start acting like men again, Charlie? All right, hey, I

don't want to talk about this anymore tonight. We're going to the theater,

we're going to see a musical, we're going to have a good time.

How's my tie?

It's terrible. Come here.

Still on our way in?

Yeah, sure.

Speaking of Ruth, too.

Good. You know, Charlie, you never said anything to me about back in the

musical. No? No.

Thought I'd mention it.

It's gonna be a good night.

We know what room he's in, Lepke.

I had enough trouble finding the hotel.

We're in farm country, you know.

I know. Come on.

Albany, New York.

Lepke Buckhalter and Albert Anastasia, the leaders of what the country would

later know as the infamous Murder Incorporated, on Charlie's orders,

waited for Legs Diamond.

I know you're throwing a party for me, but what can I do? I'm still with the

attorneys.

I can't tell. Probably half an hour.

Look, the whole idea is that Dewey may try to have my federal bail revoked now

that I beat the state.

I'll be there just as soon as I can.

I love you too, Ellis.

I'm sorry about your wife.

And the party.

But you asked me to come all the way up here.

And we have only had a few hours together during this trial, and the rest

of the time I have been staring at these four walls.

Should have been finished hours ago.

Well, the problem is that he's still in there with the girl, and you said you

don't want to hit.

I mean, if you want me and Al to go in there, we can do it that way, Charlie,

but I think she's going to have to go, too.

No, I want you to just hang in there. He'll be out.

It's all ready, 5 a.m.

We'll get him, Charlie.

We're going back to Capone's way, Charlie.

He said we would have to, and that's the way it's happening.

No, Michael. You forget I cleared everything with everybody all over the

country.

Not with me, Charlie.

Time, Michael. I ran out of time. I had to move.

Thank you.

So tell me, Charlie.

Which one of these gorgeous girls is yours?

All of them, Stella.

Let me out.

We ain't got all that much time.

Looks like you have a hit, Charlie.

Let's hope so.

At 6 a.m., Legs Diamond left a hotel in Albany, New York. His luck had run out.

Nice car.

I'm glad you could make it.

Thank you, Charlie. It was a wonderful evening.

Take care, Mike.

Sure. I'll see you at the club, okay?

Say hi to the baby for me.

Business must be good, huh?

I talked to Lefty.

Everything is taken care of.

That makes it perfect.

I want you to be happy, Ben.

Charlie, I'm happy.

Good night, though. Oh, Charlie, it was so nice getting out of the house, and I

loved your play.

We'll do it again sometime.

Great.

Take care of that.

Take care, Charlie. Lucky.

I'm going to take a walk. I'll see you later.

As Charlie Luciano walked towards Central Park, he knew that his first

attempt to let the government dispose of the rebel gangsters had failed.

The tabloids would carry banner headlines trumpeting Legs Diamond's

murder and the raging gangland war.

Dutch Schultz's bloody war with Mad Dog Call was another problem for Luciano.

Schultz and Call were two of the three remaining rebels against the rules set

by Luciano.

But Schultz had made Harlem his colony, and it was no longer safe territory for

Call or his brother Peter.

Tell your brother Dutch Schultz such as...

chance, Mr. Cole.

No chance at all.

Thank you.

Did you have a good time at the club?

Yeah, a very good time.

It's good. You like this place?

You can't get to the Dutchman and get to his people.

Now.

Charlie Luciano, Michael Lasker, and Ben Siegel were hardened criminals.

They lived in a violent world.

Like the others in that world, they lived by the gun and by a cruelty that

was someday to destroy them.