Original subtitles

Early 1932, the Democratic Convention in Chicago was months away.

But the economic condition of the country was such that it seemed certain

whoever gained the nomination would be the next president.

Organized crime wanted to control that convention.

Meanwhile, Charlie Luciano had delayed his plan of using mad dog Vincent Call

to kill Dutch Schultz.

Luciano was still uncertain what he felt about Chris Brennan.

But he knew how much he missed beautiful Joy Osler.

I'm through with love, I'll never call again Said I do to

love, don't ever call again For I must have you on no

one And so I'm through with love

I've locked my heart, I've kept my feelings rare.

I've stocked my heart with icy frigidaire.

And I mean to care for no one.

Hello, Alex.

Oh, good evening, Miss. I've gone through with love.

Why did you leave me to think you could care?

You didn't need me for you had your share.

Deep emotion, devotion to you Goodbye to spring and

all it meant to me It can never bring the thing that used to be

For I must have you

Alex, I'd like you to ask Miss Osler if she'll have a drink with an old friend.

Be glad.

I'm sorry, Mr.

Luciano. I'm a social assistant. Thank you. But she's leaving the club for the

evening. Thank you, Alex.

Will you be having dinner with us, sir?

that's it. The word is out.

Carl is desperate for money and Charlie Lucky is well aware of this fact.

Well, I appreciate you coming over to tell me this, but Vinnie's gone to hell

in a hand wagon ever since he left me.

Even though we whacked Peter's brother, this guy still keeps coming. Relax.

Thank you, Fred. Hello.

Hello. How are you doing? Good.

So what did you buy yourself?

No, this time it's not for me. It's your turn.

Open this one.

Yeah? Uh-huh.

Kind of an early Christmas, that's funny.

I never had silk in my life.

I never thought I would see Dutch shoes and silk pajamas.

Well, you probably won't, Bo.

I'll be the one to see them. I know.

It's silk.

That's good, huh?

Easy, easy, easy, tiger, easy.

I think you're taking on more than you can handle.

That's a nice-looking dog, Mr. Costello.

Yours looks like a champion.

But if we've met... He is, and we haven't. My name is William Benton.

Oh, yes.

Your father lives in the same apartment building I do.

Is he still an assistant U.S. attorney? No, retired last year.

I'd like to meet Charles Luciano.

Benton, you know the apartment that I live in.

You probably know when I go to the barbershop.

And you've taken the trouble to find out when and where I walk my dog.

So I imagine what you want to talk to Charlie Luciano about is fairly

important. Yes.

It's the presidency of the United States.

Yeah, well, I don't think Charlie's interested in running.

I'll talk to him and I'll get back to you. I can give you my number.

I have the number of Benton and Burnett.

I have the address of your law firm on Broad Street.

You see, when somebody takes an interest in the pattern of my life, I take an

interest in the pattern of theirs.

Mr. Benton.

Sir, only natural?

Come on.

Let's face it, Seabury's been kicking the hell out of a lot of people, and

some of the people he's been kicking are friends of yours.

Now, we've heard you're unhappy about it.

That's understandable.

But the thing to keep in mind is that Governor Roosevelt is going to be in a

position to replace the people that Mr. Seabury is getting kicked out of office.

Now, if you and the governor are on friendly terms, who knows, you might be

in a position of influence, too.

Friendship isn't a one-way street, Mr. Benton. Surely the governor feels that

we could be of some service.

The governor wants friends in New York City.

Friends with votes at the Democratic Convention.

You might be able to tell us who some of those friends are.

Mr. Benton, it's no secret that the Seabury Commission is bad for business.

But you seem to be overlooking one thing.

You mean Al Smith?

We were with him last time around, and I don't make a practice of deserting my

friends. But Al Smith isn't going to win.

You seem pretty sure of that, Mr. Benton.

I wouldn't be a very good advisor if I weren't sure of it, would I, Mr.

Costello?

Make no mistake about it, gentlemen.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt will win the Democratic nomination, and he'll be the

next president of the United States.

The only question is how close the vote will be come convention time.

I admire your confidence, Mr. Benton, but I find it hard to share.

Roosevelt's going to be going into that convention without even knowing if his

own state is backing him.

We'll need a margin of safety.

But with your influence in New York, that margin could be quite comfortable.

You're going to need more than a margin of safety, Mr. Ben.

New York City vote is crucial.

You know that.

Without it, Roosevelt hasn't got a chance.

As I said, the governor wants friends in New York City.

It's been very interesting, Mr. Ben.

We'll talk again.

I'm looking forward to that, Mr. Luciano.

One other thing, gentlemen.

The governor is a Democrat, but he's got the memory of an elephant.

He'll not only remember who came over to his side, but when they came over.

You guys are missing the fight.

What fight is that, Benny?

Canary and Joe Welch.

On that fight, I already know who's going to win.

What do you think, Mike? He's arrogant.

I don't think he likes Jews or Italians, but he doesn't mind using them, you

know. You were right in saying we'll go with Smith.

Al lost last time.

How do you know who's going to win? Benny, in November, every four years,

you know who won.

No, the fight, Charlie. I'm talking about the fight.

No, the country wasn't in the middle of a depression in 28.

Round six.

I'll knock him out in round six. Stick with one subject, will you, Charlie?

Son of a gun. How did you know that?

Because I own a piece of Carnera. You've got a piece of Carnera? Yeah, along with

Tommy and Gags and a couple of others. He's coming over to the club tonight.

Carnera's coming to the club tonight?

Can you think of a better place?

Can I meet him?

You want to meet Carnera? Yeah.

Sure you can meet him.

I'll get changed and we'll go over there.

Good. Over here.

What do you think of the next champion of the world, huh?

You want to know what I really think?

Sure.

I could have beat Welch myself.

I think you could have beat him.

I know everybody's going to start somewhere, but I want to know about the

rest of our investment.

Welch, Welch is just the beginning. We figure eight matches in the next eight

months.

Yeah, he fights the bum of the month each month.

Every bout's a knockout.

Then we give him the big build-up, try to get him right until he's gone for the

championship. Primo Canera, the heavyweight champion of the world.

I'm telling you, Charlie, bringing that hunk of beef over to the States was a

stroke of genius.

He's going to be worth a goldmine.

Tommy, the title bout is going to put him in the ring with Jack Sharkey.

Sharkey is no bum. He's going to knock him out of New York State.

I don't think so.

Even Jack Sharkey got one weak spot.

He likes to keep on breathing.

He goes down for us, he gets a nice little surprise when he checks his bank

account.

It's no problem, Charlie.

There ain't nothing in this world that money can't buy.

A little fear can't manage.

You'll meet him.

Primo, I want you to meet your other sponsor.

It's Charlie Luciano.

Ah, Signore Luciano.

Primo? Yes, General.

That was a very good fight you fought tonight.

Molto bene.

Grazie. My associates and I, we have a lot of faith in you.

We think we can spot a new world champion when we see one.

Ah, I'm happy you say that.

Grazie. Prego.

Michael, Ben, I want you to meet the next heavyweight champion of the world,

Primo Carnana. Hello, Primo. Primo.

Yeah, Jim.

Well, I think that we better get this boy back to the tables and to the girls,

huh? Yeah, come on.

We got to talk, Charlie.

You mind, guys?

No, do my gags. Hey, guys.

What's this? You can't talk in front of guys?

I think this is something we should discuss privately.

It's okay, Charlie. No offense.

All right, what's so private that you can't discuss in front of guys?

We hear Vito's getting married.

That's right.

He's getting married on my orders.

He made a mess and I was cleaning it up.

Cleaning it up?

You think having Vito marry Cesare Barone's widow cleans it up?

It's a matter of honor, Michael.

Honor?

Charlie, Vito had two men killed in cold blood.

He went out of his way to do it as cruelly and as publicly as he could.

So he's telling the world, I'm Vito Genovese. I do what I want and I kill

who I want and nobody can do anything about it.

He's your right hand.

He can't let them get away with it.

It's not your affair, Michael. What are you talking about?

None of my affair.

Vito made those hits on his own. No permission, no sanction from anyone.

Why? So he could get his mistress's husband out of the way.

And you reward him by having him marry the woman?

Twelve days after she becomes a widow? Wait a minute, Mike. Maybe there's two

sets of rules.

One set for Charlie, and another for everybody else.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by that, Ben.

I seem to remember getting a lecture once, Charlie, about not letting my love

life interfere with business.

Now, Vito, he gets mixed up with this Mary Broad and he ices her husband. I

don't hear any lectures.

Try to understand how we feel.

We thought you'd come down like a hammer on Vito.

What he pulled makes us all look bad. And if he gets away with it, other

people try to get away with it, then it's back to the mattresses.

Right? Bullets in the street.

Charlie, don't let Vito get away with this.

Now I'll tell you both something.

What happens to Vito Genovese is not the concern of Michael Lasker or Ben Siegel.

I took care of it the way it had to be taken care of.

Even if we're not going, I think we should have at least acknowledged his

invitation. You mean the invitation to Vito's wedding?

We don't get that many.

Stella, look.

Tell me the honest-to-God truth.

Are you all that anxious to go to a guinea wedding down in the village?

We were only invited out of courtesy in the first place. Vito doesn't like views

anyway. My answer to that ought to be no. I've got a lot more interesting ways

to spend my time, but I don't.

Look, why don't you get in the car with me and Davey, and we'll go downtown and

buy a couple dresses.

Spend some money. What do you think?

Benny, I got a closet full of dresses, and besides, we've been spending money

like crazy already.

Well, is there anything wrong with that?

I mean, Stella, there's a depression going on out there.

It's a lot of housewives scrambling around trying to put meat and potatoes

on the table for the kids.

I'm sorry that wasn't fair. I'm sorry.

Yeah, life's not fair.

You think it's going to be one thing, and it turns out to be something else.

Come on, Stella, buy a couple of dresses. You'll feel better.

Banny, suppose I bought something else instead.

You remember the first time that you came to my parents' house?

What was the biggest item of furniture in the living room?

The biggest?

Very big.

Grand piano.

Used to take less.

Banny, I could maybe start up again, huh?

Order it today.

I'll tell you what.

I'll buy you the biggest, most expensive piano in the country.

And you start taking lessons from the best teacher you can find.

Yeah?

Only in America, huh? That's what I've been telling you.

I gotta go, honey. Okay. All right, bye-bye.

Congratulations. Gracias.

A moment, please.

Of course.

I'll be right. Excuse me. Yes.

One minute.

I congratulate you, Brian, but I don't congratulate you.

All I do is say this for Charlie.

There'll be no dancing, Vito.

No drinking, no nice restaurants.

Under happier circumstances, that would have been an envelope for you and your

bride.

But you already got your envelope, Vito.

Charlie gave it to you that night in the warehouse.

When he decided not to kill you.

Ci vediamo.

thing, Charlie.

I did the only thing, Frank.

Nice long honeymoon.

The old country.

Vito comes back.

All the trouble will be forgotten.

Did you hear from Michael or Ben?

Yeah, Michael left word at the club that he wasn't going to come.

Ben didn't even decline the invitation.

Well, it's just as well.

Vito didn't really want them there anyway.

Vito didn't deserve to have them there.

Gangster Vincent Mad Dog Call, one of the three remaining rebel gangsters who

threatened Lucky Luciano's domination of the New York underworld, tries to get at

Luciano by kidnapping his close associate, Tommy Lucchese.

Hello.

Okay, put him on. It's Call. His people made the snatch already.

Yeah, Vinnie, I'm listening.

How much time do we have?

Yeah, I understand, Benny.

Won't be any of Gagliano's people.

Right.

Tommy's okay.

A hundred grand gets him back. Otherwise, we have to fish him out of

the river. That's it.

Charlie, we gotta pay.

Relax, Gags. We're not gonna lose Tommy, okay?

Cole's got us. We pay. Agreed? We pay. Not a hundred thousand.

No. Michael, this creep is gonna have... Sure he will.

Carl's been in the red for months.

Grabbing Tommy for ransom only proves how badly he needs the money.

He'll settle for 30.

Okay, I'll handle it then.

Myself.

Carl doesn't want you or any of your boys involved.

Tommy's your underboss. We understand how you feel, but it's no good. Look,

the important thing is to get Tommy back, all right? Now, Carl doesn't want

anybody in your family to deliver the mail. The best man for the job is Benny,

all right?

Right.

I'd appreciate it. We know that, Gags.

You make the arrangements.

I'll get in touch with Cole. We'll work something out, all right?

Thanks. Yeah, one of the things Cole says, he wants to see one car, two

people. That's it.

I want you to have somebody good with you. I got Davey Lillian. Stella's

brother? Yeah.

He doesn't have the experience, Benny.

He's a good driver, Mike.

Rest, I'll take care of my own, all right?

Look, Gags, I said I'd take care of him.

I'll take care of him.

Michael, go get some ice cream.

I'll be down in a minute.

Hello.

Mr. Lasker?

Yes. This is the man who works for your uncle in Washington.

I thought you'd forgotten all about us.

It's good to hear from you. What can I do for you? I just wanted to tell you

that Al Capone was arrested tonight at about 8 p.m. by a combined force of IRS

agents and the Chicago police.

You'll be reading all about it in the papers, I'm sure. Thank you. It's very

thoughtful of you. You gotta call me.

Good night.

Capone. They just picked him up.

Why fight your enemies when you can arrange to have the government fight for

you, right?

I love this country.

Poor Al. Off to the slammer, courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service.

Like they say, there are two things that can't be avoided.

Death and taxes.

Taxes and death.

I'll take that ice cream.

Mr. Resnick?

No.

Oh, I'm sorry. I was expecting a Mr. Resnick.

No, Mr. Resnick's my father.

My name's Paul.

Hello, Mrs. Siegel. It's nice to meet you.

Well, let's just make it stellar then, huh?

Sure. Come on in.

Looks like you cared.

Or somebody cared enough about you to get the best.

That's a good start.

Can I take your coat?

Sure, Stella.

You can take my coat.

Well, just hang it up, then.

Leave your hands free, right?

Yeah.

Your turn.

My turn?

Oh.

Well.

I don't know what Davey told you about my ability, but... He said you had

perfect pitch and a natural aptitude for the piano.

My brother tends to exaggerate a lot. Actually, I can barely manage my scales.

see what you're up against.

Well, I've seen worse.

Do you read music?

Yes, that I can do.

Okay, we'll start with a little Cole Porter.

I play, you watch my hands, and keep your ears open.

I was right. This is a beautiful instrument.

My husband bought it for me. He thought... Well, I need something to do,

so it's... What's your husband do?

He's in textiles.

Keeps him away a lot, so... Shall we?

You ready?

Ready.

Watch my hands.

Nationwide attention focused on the arrest of Al Capone in Chicago.

Charlie Luciano suddenly saw in Vincent Call's kidnapping of Lucchese not only a

challenge to his rule, but perhaps a unique opportunity to strengthen that

rule. He obtained Michael Lasker's reluctant consent, explaining that what

he did was a business decision unrelated to Chris Brennan.

There was no problem with Ben Siegel.

How do we know Lucchese's even alive?

I know Carl wasn't waiting there with 50 guns.

That could take us out and still keep the money.

That's what I would do.

It is, huh?

Sure.

Let me tell you something about Vinnie Carl.

He's crazy, but he isn't stupid.

Getting us to be the dumbest thing he could do.

To meet an open warrant, he hasn't got the guns or the money to go to the map

with Charlie and come out alive.

Let's stop here and kill the Indian.

Why don't you turn the lights out and stay in the car?

Hello, Benny.

You all right, Tommy?

I'm okay, Ben.

A couple of bruises.

Got the 30,000?

Right here.

Do we need him?

First time he goes to the car.

Sure, I don't want to catch pneumonia.

Go ahead, Tom.

Go

ahead,

Connor.

Why would I want to do a thing like that?

You don't think I trust Charlie Luciano?

Matt?

What's the matter? Don't you want your bonus?

Well, it depends on what it is.

20 grand to get Schultz.

20 grand to do a job that I do for nothing?

Andy, that doesn't sound like good business.

I'd hate to take a look at Charlie's books.

You forget Charlie's books.

Schultz is dead, right?

Schultz is dead.

Isn't life just full of surprises?

Hello.

Hi. I'm sorry I should have telephoned.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

No, it's okay.

I don't have any plans. Come on in, Joy.

Oh, you have a very nice place.

Yeah.

Not bad, is it?

I have a very generous friend. He takes good care of me.

I've been there myself.

Sure, it's a way of life. A fact of life.

Would you like a drink?

Yeah.

Have a seat. What would you like?

Whatever you have in mind.

Are you having second thoughts about this visit, Joy?

Oh, not exactly.

It's just that I... I never called you after what happened in Chicago.

I'm sorry about that. Don't be. It's ancient history.

Here you go.

Thank you.

I don't know. It just doesn't seem fair for me to come to you now when

I'm the one in pain.

Oh. You haven't seen Charlie at all, huh?

Once recently.

Came to the club where I've been working.

I wanted to go to him so much.

Yeah.

Instead, I ran out.

Well, you aren't the first, and you won't be the last.

It's just tough. You can't stop loving him.

Just like I did once.

I loved him, and I lost him.

But in Chicago, when... Oh, I'm not talking about Chicago.

I lost Charlie Luciano a long time ago in a basement.

The basement of Mr.

Goodman's hat factory.

Maybe... No, it doesn't matter now anyway.

Well, I think we've covered the subject of first loves pretty well.

You haven't told me what a beautiful job you think the plastic surgeon did.

Don't you know that?

Well, I hear it a lot from men, but men have been known to lie for little or no

reason.

You don't find it unattractive?

I don't find it unattractive at all.

Listen, Joy, what was between Charlie and me ended a long time ago.

That doesn't mean it has to end for you.

We all have just so much time, and when it's gone, it's gone.

One thing's for sure.

You may never get another grab at the old brass ring.

Big blindfold, though.

You a long time coming over, Davey.

It's not so easy.

We're talking about my sister and her husband.

Is that what we're talking about?

I thought you had some information I'd be willing to pay for.

You want me down on my knees, Dutch?

You've been there long enough.

What is it, Davey?

Charlie Luciano is giving Vinnie Call a contract to hit you.

That keeps it outside the families.

That's it?

Well, I can't exactly say I'm surprised, Davey. Oh, no.

Bam.

That's a terrific plan Charlie's got, Davey.

The only trouble is I'm going to hit Cole before he hits me.

And then when it makes sense, I'm going to hit the Guinea Luchano, too.

That might not be so easy.

Charlie's a careful man.

Well, I'm a careful man, too, Davey.

Careful and patient.

We'll be in touch.

Or stupid crumb.

Dutch.

When you hit Charlie, could you make sure Joey Osler isn't with him?

Yeah, sure.

Yes.

I never did give you back the key.

I guess there's a little larceny in all of us.

I changed my mind about that drink with an old friend.

Same as usual?

Thank you.

Joy, you left me once.

When you ran away from me at the club, maybe it was a good idea both times.

I haven't changed, you know.

I didn't think you would.

I want you back.

I really don't think I need this drink right now.

What, you made your filter fish too?

You shouldn't be doing all this yourself.

Now, tell me, why does Michael hire people to do these things for you? You

end up doing them all yourself.

Because I like to do them. And because I think I can cook the things you like

better than almost anybody.

Well, that's true.

Well, how's my girl?

Fine. Everything's fine.

Everything? Yes, Papa.

Then you told Michael about the baby?

No, not yet.

Ruthie, it's three weeks now. You know you're pregnant. You don't tell your own

husband. It's not right.

How long are you going to wait? He has a right to know.

I know.

It's just that... What?

I'm afraid.

Ruthie. I don't think I could stand it if anything were wrong with this child.

I don't think my marriage to Michael could stand it.

When you and Michael stood together that day in the temple, you were joined in

the eyes of God.

Maybe that's the problem.

Sometimes I think that God doesn't like what he sees.

I worry about you.

Don't. Everything will be fine.

Ruthie, you shouldn't keep your troubles to yourself.

You should share them with Michael.

That's what a husband is for.

I will.

I promise.

And you, how's business?

Business is fine. Business is not the problem.

You're not even better at lying than I am.

What's wrong?

Nothing you should worry about.

Papa, tell me, please.

It's the bank.

They turned me down.

In the middle of a depression, they haven't got enough money for Standard

Oil of New Jersey. You think they got enough for a loan for a green grocer?

Papa, if you need money, go to Michael.

He'll help you.

No, no, no, no, no.

I could never do that. How would it look?

Who cares how it would look?

Who's going to know? Go to Michael and ask him. A man doesn't go to his son-in

-law with his hat in his hand.

Papa, that's just silly. If you don't talk to Michael, I will. No!

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice, but I got my pride.

I don't want you talking to Michael about this. You understand?

Papa.

I don't understand.

You knew how important it was to me, to us.

You waited three weeks, then you told your father first.

I'm sorry, Michael.

I was wrong.

I do so many things wrong.

Try to understand.

Try to forgive.

No, no.

I will understand. There's nothing to forgive.

Would you rather I'm pregnant again?

Of course I'm glad.

Part of me feels like calling up everybody I know to help.

The other part?

The other part wants to be here with you.

Just the two of us.

Always.

It will be all right, Ronnie.

Our second son.

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine.

Michael, do you remember when we first met, I said I didn't like puzzles

without answers?

Sure. And that you believed in God and in love?

Maybe that's part of the problem.

Maybe there are no real answers.

I think about it all the time, Michael.

Could you stop thinking about it for me?

Feels like winter day, and Vinnie went in for some ice cream.

You know, sometimes I think he's cold-blooded.

Hello, ladies.

What'll it be, sir?

Telecom.

Coming right up.

Evening Mail.

Hot off the presses.

I'd like to see the look on Schultz's face right now.

We're lucky you missed.

We were lucky.

How about Vinnie Call?

Call's gonna go after him even harder and faster now.

Yeah, with three fewer soldiers, Charlie.

Well, I gotta get back downstairs.

A lot of action on the bike jack table tonight.

What do you want to bet a lot of action at the blackjack tables is three of the

girls from my show?

What's the matter, Michael?

I'll tell you something I'd rather everybody else didn't know for a while.

Last night, Ruthie told me she was pregnant again.

I came in here today ready to tell the whole world. You know, it's this mess we

have to deal with.

Hi, Michael.

Come on.

What?

The first thing is wonderful news. And you tell people whenever you feel like

it. And the second?

That's business.

And it's got nothing to do with the first.

Huh?

Stay tuned following these messages for more exciting action as the Gangster

Chronicles continue.