All language subtitles for Cold.Case.S06E06.The.Dealer.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track3_[eng]

[Billy Squier singing
"The Stroke"]

♪ Now, everybody ♪

♪ Have you heard ♪

♪ If you're in the game ♪

♪ Then the stroke's the word ♪

♪Don't take no rhythm ♪

♪ Don't take no style ♪

♪ Got a thirst for killing ♪

♪ Grab your vial yeah ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Put your right hand out ♪

Hey, got any glazed
in there, Donna?

You got any fries
with that shake, baby?

That's funny, Bruce.

I just heard a guy
say that..

...to your mother
at the drive-thru window.

Oh, yeah?

Alright, listen up.

♪ Both far and wide ♪

End of the month, fellas.
Crunch time.

Gotta move some serious steel

before the new
inventory arrives.

Top man on the board..

...gets a fat bonus,
$1,500 cash.

'Bottom fish? You don't sell
a car this weekend..'

[blows raspberry]
...hit the bricks.

Or you can get out now.

♪ You got your number down ♪

'It's simple, men.'

Get...them...
in...the car.

Get 'em to, to smell it.

Then you get 'em to drive it.

Then you get 'em to buy it!

The feel of the wheel..

[mimics engine revving]

...seals the deal!

The feel of the wheel.

Rice burners got us beat
on price and mileage, Mickey.

Yeah, we're busting
our humps out there

but we're losing
loyal customers

'with these new, uh,
K-cars.'

The cars?

The cars don't lose customers.

Lousy salesman do!

[laughs]

You think guys walk on this lot

because they're thinking
about mileage?

Guys walk on this lot

because they wanna
buy American.

'To give us their money.'

And you know what you do?

You take it, damn it!

Take it!

People want cars
to project an image.

Cars to make 'em...
look younger or more powerful.

'Men want cars
that women just wanna..'

[grunts]

...get into.

[chuckles]

Ain't that right, Donna?

Yeah, but I would have never
got knocked up at 17

in some K-car.

It ain't go no curves,
no back seat.

Never take no
for an answer!

'Someone says
they're just looking?'

You tell 'em that's how
you met your wife.

What-what if they say they have
to check with the wife?

Then you tell 'em to go get
their pants back!

You get 'em in a box
and you close these bastards!

And if you can't do it,
then you find someone who can!

But you do not...
and I repeat..

...you do not let them walk
out that door!

- Are we clear?
- Yeah.

- Are we clear?
- Yeah!

Shall we go sell some cars?
Let's go sell some cars.

[cheering]

Mickey! Mickey! Mickey!
Can I talk to you a sec?

The phones aren't gonna answer
themselves, sweetheart.

I know, it's just, um, things
are real tight for me right now.

- Oh, looking for an advance?
- Just for this week.

- But I'm ready to take on more.
- That's great.

I'll tell you,
why don't you start by, uh..

...cleaning this mess up
right here?

Look at it,
pigsty right here. Look.

♪ Stroke me stroke me ♪

♪ Say you're a winner ♪

[John]
'Classic car buff trolling
for parts found more'

than he bargained for
in the trunk of this old beater.

Adult female?

Looks like blunt force
trauma to the skull.

'The tire iron
was in the trunk.'

It's a '73 Eldorado.

Guy probably wanted
the taillights.

Donna D'Amico, age 22,
went missing back in '81.

Anyone notify next of kin?

[John]
'We're trying
to locate her mother'

'who filed
the missing persons report.'

The car don't belong to her.
The keys don't fit.

And the VIN number
plate's gone.

A '73.

Cars had confidential
VIN numbers that far back?

Should be buried
in there somewhere.

It's probably on the frame
or under the engine block.

Whoever dumped her knew
what they were doing.

The fat slob
at the gate said

they don't inspect cars
at intake.

The place should
advertise to criminals

Dump-Jobs-R-Us.

Let's tow the car. Let the Auto
Squad

take it apart in the garage.

[Scotty]
'What is it?'

A scrap of paper with
some names and some numbers.

Still make out the ballpoint.

"Lester, 1200 bucks."

Somebody she owed money?

The address at the top's
faded out.

See if QD can
pull it up?

I'll run the name Lester
against titles

on '73 Eldorados.

Donna's mother passed away
eight years ago.

Only surviving next of kin
is her daughter, Marisa.

How old was she back in '81

when her mom disappeared?

Five.

I'll handle
the notification.

It was a good thing we got
to her before the crusher.

[rattling]

[theme music]

Donna D'Amico, 22-year-old
single mom took the bus

to Steed Motors where
she worked as a greeter.

Boss says she left at 7:00 P.M.
the day she disappeared.

Never returned to pick up
her daughter from the sitter.

Witness statements back in '81?

Nothing indicating foul play.
Like she vanished.

Only after she emptied
her bank account, 400 bucks.

Any guys
in the picture?

No husband, no degree..

bad credit, crap job
with limited prospects.

[Will]
'Assigned figured
she skipped town'

ditched the kid
and a miserable situation.

[Nick]
'Wouldn't be the first.'

We got any other friends
or family?

[Will]
'Friend Paula coming in.'

She was sitting the kid
the night she disappeared.

- What about the daughter?
- Marisa D'Amico.

She's not returning our phone
calls. Rush is hunting her down.

Checked registrations
on all '73 Eldorados.

No hits
on the name Lester.

Check the dealership.
See if there ever was a guy

that name worked
on that lot.

I hate car salesman.

You could use
a new ride.

What's wrong
with my car?

Nothing, if you like
being single.

- Excuse me, is that Marisa?
- Mm-hmm.

Marisa?
Lily Rush.

I've called before
about your mother.

My mother walked out
when I was five.

We just found
her body.

Where?

In the trunk of a car
out in Elmwood.

Might explain
what happened to her.

Can't say it's a real shock.
given her choice in men.

Anyone in particular?

I was referring
to the loser

who knocked her up
in high school.

Your dad.

Got to be around
to earn that title.

- Never even met him.
- Who'd you grow up with?

Grandmother raised me...
who wasn't expecting to.

'Reminded me constantly.'

I know you were young,
but if there's

'anything you can remember
about your mom'

'what she was
involved in..'

Only thing I remember
was we never had any money

'or a place of our own.'

The name Lester
mean something to you?

No.

Did she leave anything behind,
personal effects?

Sorry, all I know is
the police said

she cleaned out
her bank account.

Couldn't get away fast enough.

You think of anything,
let me know.

Always knew something
must have happened.

Donna never would have
just taken off.

She loved that kid.

You were babysitting Marisa
the night she disappeared?

'We were good friends
in high school.'

Dodged a baby bullet myself.

'Figured I'd help her out
whenever I could.'

Any guys she was
involved with at the time?

Dating was a hassle for her,
the kid and all.

She was really struggling
to make it on her own.

Any idea why she
emptied her bank account

before she disappeared?

No, but it couldn't have
been much.

Donna didn't have two nickels.

She owe anybody?
Someone named Lester?

Wasn't like her.
She hated to borrow.

Was a real blow when she had
to move back in with her mom.

I wouldn't wish that woman
on anyone.

You worked with her
at the dealership?

Helped her get
the job as a greeter.

Quit 'cause I couldn't
stand it anymore.

Bunch of sexist sharks.

No idea why she wanted
to swim in that tank.

♪ Crack that whip ♪

[phone ringing]

Steed Motors. I'll transfer you
to Service. Hold.

Hi, Mommy.

Aw, geez, Paula,
I totally forgot. Hi, boo!

I gotta run, Donna. I told you
I got a date tonight.

Yeah, I just gotta close out.
Just a few things.

Donna, hold all my calls,
will you, doll?

'Clear my next appointment.'

'Tell Mickey
the fleet sales can wait.'

I want to make sure
we get Mr. Callahan here

all squared away tonight.

Certainly, sir.

Now, George, if I can get him
to throw in the floor mats

with the rustproofing,
do we have a deal?

'Come on, Frank.
I stole that guy's trade-in.'

The deal should have been
two-pounder, easy.

Would you lower
your voice, please?

You got a problem,
take it up with Mickey.

Please, sir, wait.
Sir, please.

Someone has misplaced
Mr. Hathaway's keys

to the Chevy Nova.

I'll get right on that, Sanil.
Perhaps Mr. Hathaway would like

to take one of our vehicles
home tonight, huh?

Tell you what, sir.
Take the car home.

'Bring it back
tomorrow, huh?'

- Donna.
- Yeah.

Stay late tonight?

Yeah, you know,
about that, Mickey.

I've been busting my hump
around here.

We all appreciate
your hump, babe.

Just give me a chance, alright?
Let me sell a car.

Who's gonna do your job,
sweetheart, hmm?

You know that Lincoln Mark
trade that came in yesterday?

I know someone right now
I could flip it to.

Alright, we'll see.

What about tonight?

Hey, you want your shot?

Pay your dues.

I gotta stay late.

Can you drop Marisa off
at my mom's, please?

Alright, alright.

Bye, baby.

Single mom, no degree,
what are you gonna do?

We found Donna's body
in the trunk of a '73 Eldorado.

'You know anybody who drove
that kind of car?'

No, but I wouldn't know
a K-car from a Corolla.

'That was Donna's thing.'

She could tell the car
a guy drove

by the shoes he wore.

Lot of late nights
at the dealer?

Maybe too many.

I know it was really hard
on little Marisa.

But her mom did the best
that she could.

Boss, Auto Squad found
a VIN number on that Eldorado.

Tracked the DMV records
on the owner.

Marshall Brooks.
We got him?

He died a couple
years ago

but he traded in
the Caddy to Steed Motors

the week before
Donna disappeared.

What's was the name
of that sales manager

who gave a statement
back in '81?

'It was Mickey Thompson'

today the proud owner
of Steed Motors.

Thank you.

You boys let me know
when the Philly PD

is ready to upgrade.

I'll get you into something
with real punch.

'New Charger, 0 to 60
in five seconds.'

'Volume deal,
below invoice.'

Brass gets the new cars.

We drive the beaters
till the wheels fall off.

Personally, I prefer
the American classics

like the '73 Eldorado we found
Donna D'Amico's body in.

That's a shame.

That gal was a real pistol.

You gave a statement,
said, uh

she left work at 7 o'clock
that night.

Sounds right.

Failed to mention it was
in the trunk of the Caddy

headed for the salvage yard.

Title traced back to this lot

when you were
sales manager, Mickey.

Lot of cars come through, guys.

The beaters go in one door
and out the next.

Sold off for parts.

But before or after
you stripped the VIN number?

[chuckles]
Hey, hold your horses.

Now, who's the owner
that traded that car in?

Marshall Brooks.

No, I don't remember the car,
but I remember him.

Repeat customer.
One of Bruce's clients.

- Bruce?
- Bruce Donnelly.

Must have taken the Caddy
off trade.

Lot of cash slipped away
on used cars back then.

You're saying this guy
dumped the Caddy?

Well, if it was a clunker

he could have had it stripped
for parts and sent to salvage.

And this Bruce
had a problem with Donna?

Not when she was
getting him coffee.

Donna was a go-getter.

Hey, you wanna play
with the boys..

[chuckles]

...you gotta roll
with the punches.

[Blue Oyster Cult's singing
"Burnin' For You"]

Yo, Donna.

I just talked to the Tower.

He sees you've been working
your tail off.

I told him you could have
the next up.

Come on.
Mickey went for that?

Yo, Mickey.

Yeah, give it
to the green pea.

'Guy's looking
for his daughter.'

'I sold him a car
two years ago.'

'He's a whale.'

I thought Sanil had next up.

Sanil couldn't close a door
with two hands and an arm.

Look, you work this right

this could be worth a pound
or maybe two.

I know everything
about that car, inside out.

Get him on the hook.

You tell him
to follow you inside.

Don't even turn around,
alright?

Go on.
Go make me proud.

Thanks, Bruce.

Show time.

Come inside?

So the guy wants to know if
we'll take a check, full amount.

Damn! I knew that guy
was a laydown.

How about that? Didn't even have
to get him in the box.

That's gotta be some kind
of a record

writing the check
on the hood of a car.

Don't I still have to get him
inside? Sign paperwork?

Yeah, why don't you get him
to wallpaper the showroom

with his checks
while you're at it?

I thought Bruce
sold him a car.

Every schmuck on the lot
sold that flake a car.

Every month
for the past five years.

What are you guys
talking about?

The guys a major hoople.

He just likes talking
to car salesmen.

[all laughing]

Oh, you think
that's funny, Bruce?

Oh, you can't handle it,
why don't you go back inside

and answer the phone,
sweetheart?

Alright. I think
I'll call your wife first

tell her about all
the female customers

'you've been
test-driving, huh?'

- You wouldn't dare.
- Wouldn't I?

[laughs]

Salesman should never mess
where he eats.

Especially with the lady
who transfers his calls.

Bruce and Donna had a thing?

'Thing or fling.'

Bruce was a dog.

He always had women
calling the office.

Donna ever get to tell
on his wife?

All I know
is that he took two weeks

after she disappeared.

Bruce was a closer.
He never took a vacation.

- You never told the cops?
- 'He was still married.'

And at the time,
my top salesman.

Is he still selling cars?

'Last I heard, up the street.'

German luxury sedans,
so screw him.

[Kat]
'Excuse me.'

- Do you have an appointment?
- Don't need one, Bruce.

Excuse me. I thought
you were customers.

[Will]
'We can tell.'

[Kat]
'Here about a car.'

Remember this one?
'73 Eldorado?

Can't say I do.

[Will]
'You took it as a trade-in
from Marshall Brooks'

back when you worked
at Steed Motors.

Long time ago. Maybe I did.

We found Donna D'Amico's body
stuffed in the trunk.

'Greeter girl you had a thing
with before she disappeared?'

I knew Donna. But we
definitely didn't have a thing.

Your old boss, Mickey,
says different.

Then he's mistaken.

He's also a jealous schmuck.
Nothing more than a piker.

You can tell him
I said that.

Told us you were the last one
to handle that Cadillac.

That's a crock.
Look, I sold cars.

I didn't process trade-ins.

And I had no problem with Donna.

Way we heard it, she screwed up
your marriage pretty good.

I screwed up my marriage.

All four of 'em.
Didn't need any help with that.

Truth is, I tried
to help Donna.

'Nobody was moving American
back then.'

'Gas prices..'

...the economy in the toilet.

But she saw something
none of those other jokers

on the line did.

[The Pretenders singing
"Brass in Pocket"]

♪ I got brass in pocket ♪

Come on. The guy's
a tire-kicker. Look at him.

What?
'Cause he's a Puerto Rican?

He won't even come inside.
He hates all the new models.

- Deadbeat.
- Yeah, it's a waste of time.

Well, get rid of him
before Mickey sees.

He's on the warpath today.

Just let the parts manager
go this morning.

Your kidding. Why?

'Because the parts
keep disappearing, that's why.'

Blaming him for the break-in
last month?

Hey, just get the chiseler
off the lot, alright?

Mickey called.

Actually, Donna,
you're up. For real.

Mickey said you can't do
any worse than Sanil.

♪ Gonna make you make you ♪

This is no place
for a lady.

You like that car, sir?

I don't know
about these K-cars.

It's a lot of money
for all that plastic.

What's this
leatherette thing?

I can't say
that I blame you.

Let me show you
something else.

See, I, myself,
I prefer a car

with a little more
meat on its bones

you know what I mean?

- This is a used car.
- And it's priced right.

I mean, forget those
little four-bangers.

What I like is a big V-8.

Some real power
under the hood.

It's a big car.

[Donna]
'You look like the kind
of man that can handle it.'

'I mean, look
at these lines.'

That is real leather inside.
Power everything.

Curves and chrome.

I mean, I think
I lost my virginity

'in the back of one of these
babies, you know?'

- I'm Donna.
- Esteban.

[Donna]
'You wanna talk price?'

Follow me.

♪ Ooh, oh ♪

She sold that sled
for a pound over Blue Book.

Nobody was moving
the used stuff back then.

And she was smart.

Those American cars
are classics now.

Nothing after 1980 is.

That break-in
you mentioned.

Anybody ever find out
who did it?

Nope.

- Cops interviewed everybody.
- Inside job?

That car lot, everybody
was working some kind of scam.

[Scotty]
'I dug up the old
burglary report.'

The break-in happened a month
prior to Donna's disappearance.

They killed the guard dogs?

Yeah. Threw poisoned
meat over the fence.

Stole two grand
worth of parts.

- Insurance cover it?
- Yeah.

The lock on the gate
wasn't even broken.

Trying to track down
the insurance investigator.

Inside job, Donna could have got
caught up in the mix somehow.

Well, whoever did it
had to know

where to flip
stolen auto parts.

The salesman, Oscar Anderson,
called in the burglary.

And was questioned extensively.

Well, history's about
to repeat itself.

QD recovered the address
on the Lester receipt

in Donna's jacket.

Receipt?

A business address?

[John]
'482 Ridge Avenue.
Today, it's a Wawa.'

But back in '81,
it was a Goodwill.

Marisa D'Amico came by,
dropped that off.

'Said you asked for it.'

'Personal effects
from her mother.'

I guess she thinks about her
more than she let on.

Now, all you would need to do

to collect your luxury spa
vacation getaway prize

'Mrs. Hanover, is attend
a brief presentation'

'upon your arrival
at our Las Vegas resort.'

'Thankyou.'

Bye-bye.

Once a salesman, always
a salesman, huh, Oscar?

Oh, I just do this
to keep me young.

There's nothing quite like
the rush from a good sale.

You remember Donna D'Amico?

I remember the day
the police came

said she'd gone missing.

Yup. Left that
little girl behind.

It's just awful.

You see her
the night before?

No, I had a big day
on the board.

Took the boys out
for drinks.

There was a burglary
earlier that month.

- You called it in?
- I was first one on the lot.

Had to prep a car
for a customer.

- You think Donna was involved?
- Do you?

Well, I know people
were desperate.

'You see,
after the oil crisis'

we were selling
an inferior product.

Hell, the government
had to bail out Chrysler.

What does that got to do
with Donna?

A lot of guys were struggling
just to feed their families

and then Mickey lets this lady
start selling cars.

Created some resentment.

The day she went on the board

the timing
could not have been worse.

We gotta squeeze more
out of every deal.

Get 'em in the box.

Work the four square.

Price, down payment,
monthly, trade-in.

And you hammer away.

Start high,
you wear 'em down.

You confuse them!

'When they're ready
to give up'

you call in a closer.

It's not working, Mickey.

They don't like the cars.

What'd you say?

He means they can't trust us

when they don't trust
the product.

I-I took a guy on a test drive.

I cranked up the window,
and the handle broke.

You want to sell?
They you do whatever it takes!

Cold canvass!
Work the phones!

No shown appointments,
no more ups.

- I'm trying, Mickey.
- No.

No, what you're doing

is that you're failing,
my friend, okay?

I mean, the coffee girl
could sell cars better than you!

Yeah, because you let her
take my last up!

- Whoa! I didn't take anything.
- Shut your mouth, woman.

'Haven't you done
enough already?'

I only closed that deal
'cause you couldn't.

You couldn't close
a window, Hoover.

I've carried you
long enough.

You know what?
Why don't you..

...why don't you try
selling vacuum cleaners?

[Queen singing
"Another One Bites the Dust"]

Mickey, Mickey...
please..

♪ Are you happy?
Are you satisfied? ♪

I-I-I need this job.

Now you need a new one.

Why are you still here?
Go on, hit the bricks.

♪ Another one bites the dust ♪

I told her not to worry.
It wasn't her fault.

But Sanil felt otherwise?

I guess I never thought
he'd hurt her.

[Nick]
'So Donna got promoted,
Sanil got canned.'

[Oscar]
'It's either in the blood
or it's not.'

Some guys just can't close.

Hmm.

[Sanil]
'1979, I came here
with nothing.'

Tried to sell cars
to make a living.

- Chrysler.
- Perfect timing.

Nobody wanted to buy
American anymore..

...especially from me.

Donna D'Amico sold cars.

I understand you had
a big problem with that.

It wasn't personal.

We were all struggling.

- I realize that now.
- You were humiliated.

They fired you
and you blamed her.

No, I went to night school

to learn computers.
Programming.

1981... Now, that
was perfect timing.

You ever see Donna again
after they let you go?

Day when I came back
to get my last check.

I hated that place.

You didn't bleed
the customer dry

somebody else
would do it for you.

Esteban, what are
you doing here?

I can't afford
the car you sold me.

What do you mean? We went over
the numbers, it's a good deal.

But then they called me
to come back in.

Told me there was a problem
with my trade-in.

Problem?

The man said it was worth
less than what you told me.

That I owe more money.

Who called you,
the finance department?

With this loan, I can afford to
make my payments and make rent.

Please, por favor,
could you do something?

Yeah, just, uh...
just give me a minute, okay?

What is this, Frank?

Uh, floor mats,
dealer prep fee..

'24% on his loan..'

Hey, I did my job.

Mickey, come on, you got to do
something for this guy.

'The bank's gonna repo his car
that he needs to get to his job'

'and it's going to
wreck his credit.'

You, uh..
You sign for this?

That your name right there?

You, uh, looking
for a good buy, huh?

Well... good-bye.

You own it, buddy.

Welcome to America.

If they didn't get you
on the front end

F and I got you
on the way out.

Donna told him
she would never

send a customer
in to him blind again.

[Will]
'Big profits on used cars.'

So Donna started cutting
Frank out of the loop?

[Sanil]
'Sure, he figured it out.'

I could think of a lot
of names for Frank.

But stupid...
isn't one of them.

Donna's compact, baby bracelet
from the hospital

phone bills.

It looks like the grandmother
swept it into a box

after Donna disappeared.

Kind of sad.

All she has left
of her mom.

Christmas card
from the dealership.

Doesn't say who sent it,
but the address is handwritten.

Nothing else
with the name Lester.

Are Donna's keys in there?

There's uh..

...grandmother's apartment..

...car..

...and then there's this one.

[Nick]
'Kind of looks like it fits one
of those old steamer trunks.'

[typing]

Huh!

Finally found your Lester.

Thanks for bringing
that stuff in.

I'm sorry.
It's all I had.

Your grandmother by any chance
own a piano, Marisa?

A piano? No.

Why?

This is a key to a piano.

The one your mother
put a down payment on..

...the day before
she was murdered.

I don't get it.

A Lester piano.

The reason your mom
cleaned out her bank account.

She bought a piano?

[Marisa]
'She said we didn't have
any room for it.'

She was looking
for a new place.

I remember her
telling me that.

I just wanted it
to be true.

[playing piano]

Let's do it again.

We can't, boo.
I have to be at work.

I want a piano,
a real one..

...to play at home.

Well, maybe someday..

...when we find
a place for it.

Grandma doesn't
have enough space.

And that is another reason why
mommy has to go to work now.

I don't like it
when you got to work.

I don't either,
you know, but..

everybody's got a job
they gotta do.

Do you like
your job, Mommy?

I like that I found
something that I'm good at.

You know, it's
real important in life

that you find something
that you're good at.

She always had
to go away.

I used to think
she went to work..

...to get away from me.

I know what it's like to have
a parent walk out on you

as a kid, Marisa.

But that's not what
your mother did.

Now, I'm gonna find out
whoever took her away from you.

I was in mortgages until
the sub prime thing blew up.

Never thought I'd find
another business

that would tank as bad
as American cars, but I did.

Cars, caskets, still dinging
them on the way out, huh, Frank?

Your line of work

should the bereaved
ever need a referral.

You were the numbers guy
at Steed Motors

back in the '80s?

The numbers stunk.
That's why I got out.

See, and we thought it was
'cause of that burglary in '81.

You saying I robbed the place?

Well, probably made
the boss money

on that insurance claim.
Win-win.

Donna figure it out, too?

All those calls of yours
she transferred?

That what this is about,
Donna D'Amico?

She cut you out.

Kept you from screwing
the customers on the back end.

She didn't get it.

Customers have all the power.

They can leave any time.

Our job was no different
than yours.

Come again?

Get 'em in the box,
get as much as you can

get 'em to sign before
they walk out the door.

Do I look like a salesman
to you, Frank?

You do what you have to do.

Befriend, persuade,
control, lie.

But once they sign..

...they're gonna
pay for it for years.

Oh, Donna got it, Frank.

She just did it her way.

It just turned out to be
bad for your business.

Donna figured out how the real
money was made on the lot.

And that put her
in direct conflict

with someone a lot more
dangerous than me.

Who the hell do
you think you are?

Telling customers not to buy
add-ons or financing.

Why, so you can
rape my customers

on the back end, Frank?

You don't know
when to quit.

Hey, she's right, Frank.

All you young sharks
are destroying our business.

You rip a customer's head off
on a deal, they never come back.

Stay out of this, Oscar.

Kills all our referrals,
all our repeat business.

You don't sell a man one car.

You sell him a dozen cars
over a lifetime.

That's a profession,
damn it.

Go blow a sale,
you old bag of wind.

Why would I help you, Frank?

You're selling cars
out from under me.

What are you talking about?

I had a guy on the hook
the other day

selling a '72 Chevelle
only to find out

it had already
been sold.

That wasn't my call. That car
was promised to the wholesaler.

For a song. I know
the Blue Book on that car.

I could have sold it
for twice that.

Talk to the Tower.

Who, Mickey?

Why would we dump a good car
for that much less?

If you know what's
good for you, lady..

...you talk to your boss before
selling another used car.

Donna figured out
the sales manager

was giving the best trade-ins

to the wholesaler for peanuts.

Mickey?
Why would he do that?

Kickbacks. He was
lining his pockets.

Screwing over
the dealership owner

and Donna knew it.

But you signed her timecard.

Said Donna left
at 7:00 that night.

Mickey had me do that
for everybody.

I closed a deal that night.

She was there at least
till 10:00.

He had you take care of that
old Cadillac too, Frank?

Me? No.

Mickey decided what happened
to every trade-in.

Whether it went to the lot,
wholesaler..

...or the salvage yard.

[chuckles]
Got me in the box,
Detective?

Yep.

Well, I've done this
to thousands of customers.

Unlike those schmucks,
I know I can walk anytime.

Yeah, you made quite
a living ripping people off.

People always think
they're getting ripped off.

Look, you're trying
to get the best deal

I'm trying to make a living.

I just don't like to lose.

Talking about you
ripping off your boss off..

...the dealership owner.

Stole so much
you became one yourself.

Bunch of twaddle.

The smart owner knows
every guy on the lot

is working some kind of scam.

Too bad Donna figured out
your big used car scam.

'She didn't leave
at 7 o'clock like you said.'

'She stuck around
to confront you.'

You got nothing.

One of your old lackeys clued
us in as to how you worked

the break-in, the inside job,
insurance fraud.

Sounds like I need
better lackeys.

Willing to testify
that you sent

that '73 Caddy
to the salvage yard.

'With Donna's body
in the trunk.'

[Nick]
'The only thing we care about
here is the homicide, Mick.'

Who told you this nonsense?

Frank?

Let's see..

[clears throat]

The price for homicide
is life.

Plus fees, which..

...you'll be paying
on the inside.

'Now your down payment
so far, is zero.'

What do you want your
monthly payment to be?

Unless of course,
you're offering a trade-in?

Do you have anything
to trade, Mick?

'Except a bunch of bull?'

See..

I'm willing to go
to bat for you

but you gotta
give something up.

You gotta...you gotta
meet me in the middle.

My boss..

[chuckles]
...he's gonna
hammer me on this one.

So this is your best offer.

'I don't think it's gonna
get this deal done.'

I liked Donna.

Gotta hand it to her.
She was a hell of a salesman.

In some ways, too good.

- 'At selling cars?'
- Used cars.

She had an eye for it.

She knew what a car
was really worth.

Like the ones you sent back to
the wholesalers for kickbacks?

Couldn't let her kill
the golden goose.

So I offered her a deal.

I know what you're
doing, Mickey.

You know just enough
to get yourself in trouble.

Close the door.

Me? You're the one
stealing this place blind.

You're screwing over
the owner.

The owner thinks
I'm a hero

'cause I make him
a lot of money.

You?

Well, he doesn't even know
your name, sweetheart.

All I wanted was
a chance to sell, you know.

A chance to prove myself.

Yeah, yeah, and you got that.
Thanks to me.

Huh? Congratulations.

You got your bonus.

Fair and square.

Tops on the board,
profit-wise.

And there's plenty more
where that came from.

You know, Oscar was right.

We keep doing business
like this

and there ain't gonna be
any business left.

Oscar? Why you listening
to Oscar for?

He hasn't
sold a car in months.

What do you mean? I thought
you took him off the board

to handle fleet sales.

Oscar couldn't handle
a yard sale.

'Would've fired him
a long time ago'

but I felt bad
for the old guy.

Let him wash cars
to earn his keep around here.

I earned this.

For me and for 'Riss.

- Sure, kid.
- Yeah.

Hey, hey..
But in the future?

You check with me before
you sell a trade-in.

Never came back.

Thought she took
the money and ran.

Tell me about this Oscar,
the has-been.

Tough racket, selling cars.
Game just passed him by.

Was he there the night
that Donna disappeared?

Every night.

He had a lot of cars to wash.

Even let the old guy lock up.

They pulled DMV records
on an Oscar Anderson.

Found his name registered
to a 1971 Cadillac Eldorado.

'71? Donna's body was found
in the trunk of a '73.

Right, a salvage yard beater.

But the models share a lot
of the same parts

and those require upkeep.
You know, seats, wheels

'bumpers, you name it.'

It's possible Oscar was
taking parts off the beater

for a '71 Caddy.

Yeah, didn't know
he was gonna need it

that night to hide a body.

Power locks, power
steering, power roof.

It's a car ahead
of its time.

Won it back in '71.

'Top man on the board.'

'Nine out of 12 months.'

- A real classic.
- Oh, yeah.

Bet you Donna could appreciate
a car like this.

She turned out to be
a pretty shrewd sales gal.

'Got to admit that.'

Kind of a shame how it
ended for you there, Oscar.

'At the dealership.'

Oh, I had my cold spells.

'But I'll tell you this.'

When I was on a roll,
there was nobody hotter.

Mickey told us you hadn't
sold a car in months.

You lied to us, Oscar.

[Rush]
'Said you were out
celebrating some sale.'

Boozing with the boys
the night Donna disappeared.

Well, that's ridiculous.

I don't remember if
it was that exact night.

You should, 'cause you
were there on the lot.

Out back washing cars.

You were the next Hoover.

One step away from hawking
vacuum cleaners.

- Magazines, telemarketing--
- Now, wait just a damn minute.

I had a run of bad luck
is all.

But my customers
always came back to me.

You were done, Oscar.

Doing chores for Mickey.

Locking up, taking
the beaters to salvage.

Yeah, like that '73 Caddy.

And when you stripped
the VIN number off

'probably some parts, too.'

'71 never had
an egg-crate style grill.

It's 'cause it's from a '73.

Oh, come on.

We take this car apart
we're gonna find

more parts from that '73?

- You can't do that.
- You got careless, Oscar.

You dumped the body,
but you took the parts.

Stole her money, and left her
to rot in that junkyard.

But, hey, you sent Donna's
family a Christmas card.

Marisa saved it. It's got
your handwriting on it.

Did you really think that would
make up for killing her mother?

I didn't kill that woman.
And I did not steal her bonus.

What bonus, Oscar?

How'd you know she got
a bonus, Oscar?

You just told me.

'No, we said
you took her money.'

Now how'd you know about
the bonus she got that night?

Now hold on a minute.
Just wait a second.

I'm trying to explain.
I... I want to..

[exhales sharply]

It wasn't me that changed.

You know, it...
it was the business.

You give me a quality car

bet your ass, I could
still close 'em.

Sure you could.

We can work something
out here, right?

We...we can work
something out?

Yeah, we can work
something out.

Just a spell of bad luck,
that's all it was.

If I could have just
broken through..

I'd have been right back
on top of that board.

Hey, Oscar.

Oh, hey, Donna.

Just prepping a car
for an appointment tomorrow.

It's good to see you
still get repeat business.

Well, it's the only way.

You build a reputation

it's about repeats
and referrals.

Matter of time, I'm back on
a roll bucking for that bonus.

Hey, who won it this time,
by the way?

I sold another car
today, Oscar.

- I got the bonus.
- What?

- Really?
- Yeah.

I..

That's great, kid!
Congratulations!

Yeah.

So how'd you close
that baby?

You know, I just knew
what the guy wanted.

And I let the sale
come to me.

Like you say.

Get a real charge
out of it, too.

Oh, don't I know it.

That feeling
never gets old.

You see this car here,
came on the lot today?

- 'Yeah, the Impala.'
- Yeah.

Back in '72, I must have
sold 20 of these babies

the minute they
hit the lot.

Still a good car.

People just don't, uh..

...hold on to them anymore.

Harold Bloom.
Look at that.

Yeah, that's his trade-in.

That's the guy
I sold the car to today.

I know Harold.

I sold him this car.

- You sold him this car?
- This Impala?

Harold's my client!

You know what I had to do
to make this sale?

- Look, he just came in.
- He didn't ask for you.

- Why the hell not?
- I don't know.

Look, I feel terrible.
I am so sorry.

I'll split the commission
with you.

I don't want your charity!

You know,
it's just, it's not right.

It's not
how you do business.

I feel horrible.

- You don't have to do this.
- Do what?

You don't have to
wash cars for Mickey

'you know, you could do
something else.'

How dare you?

You know, I'm not some vacuum
cleaner salesman.

Who do you think
you're talking to?

I was selling cars
when you were in diapers.

I have been a closer
since before you were born!

[grunts]

[panting]

[Journey singing
"Who's Cryin' Now?"]

♪ It's been a mystery ♪

♪ And still they try to see ♪

♪ Why somethin' good
can hurt so bad ♪

♪ Caught on a one-way streets ♪

♪ The taste of bittersweet ♪

♪ Love will survive somehow
some way ♪

♪ One love feeds the fire ♪

♪ One heart burns desire ♪

♪ Wonder who's cryin' now ♪

♪ Two hearts born to run ♪

♪ Who'll be the lonely one ♪

♪ Wonder who's cryin' now ♪

♪ Only so many tears
you can cry ♪

♪ 'Til the heartache is over ♪

♪ And now you can say
your love ♪

♪ Will never die ♪

♪ Whoooooa-oh-whoa ♪

♪ Whoooa-oh ♪

♪ One love feeds the fire ♪

♪ One heart burns desire ♪

♪ Wonder who's cryin' now ♪

♪ Two hearts born to run ♪

♪ Who'll be the lonely one ♪

♪ Wonder who's cryin' now ♪

[theme music]