All language subtitles for Miami4x (12)

And what I envision is a day
when there will be
no neglect of the elderly,

of Hispanics, of blacks, of women.

A day when Florida will stand
as a beacon of enlightenment
and understanding,

in private industry
as well as the public sector,

education, housing, law enforcement,
social services—

The list goes on.
[Sighs]

A leader,
not only to our Southern neighbors,
but to the rest of the nation as well.

You know, you listen to any more of that crap,
it's gonna melt your brain down.
[Continues, Indistinct]

I'm checking the pulse
of the body politics, partner.

You oughta give the guy
a chance.

Gee, I'd love to, Rico.

But, you see, we have this date
with these high-priced panty raids,

and I don't want to keep
the ladies waiting.

He's almost through.
... to be not only envious,
but proud.

And with your help,
I believe with all my heart...

that I can show this grand
and glorious state of ours the way.

Thank you.

Because the solution
to your problems...

is right here in this bottle
of snake oil, ladies and gentlemen.

Step right up here!
Get your solution right here!
Ah, get the hell out of here.

[Laughs]
What is it with you, man?

You like the other guy, Cowan?
He's a fascist.

Yeah, well, at least
he's a 100-percenter
when it comes to the cops,

not like this, uh, limp rag Pierce.

[Chuckles]
I thought you didn't vote statewide.

I don't.
Can't bring myself to choose
the least-dangerous mediocrity.

[Laughs]

Everybody's in position.
[Train Whistle Blows]

[Sighs]
Yeah.

Circus is right on time.
[Locomotive Chugging]

Sure you got enough
firepower for all them
hookers there, Switek?

[Brakes Squealing]

[Squealing Continues]

This is the Metro Police Department.
You're about to be boarded.

Do not attempt
to leave the train.

The party's over, folks.

[Chattering]
Evening, ladies.

[Man]
Come on, come on.
Move it. Move it.

I wasn't trying to buy you.
I just wanted to take you
away from all this.

You seem like such a nice girl.

I am a nice girl.

Yeah, I'll vouch for that.
[Man]
Come on, come on, come on.

Well, we got an old friend
of yours, Crockett.
Cha Cha Tangero.

Cha Cha.
¿Qué pasa, dude?

Well, so much for that
fast rehabilitation, huh,
and early parole?

Kiss off, Crockett!
What happened? You get lonely?

You start missing them bunkmates?

Well, don't worry.
Looks like you're gonna be
reunited real soon.

Yep. He's doing the best he can.

Talk about the caboose.

You know, you better be glad
I didn't use this on you.

[Crockett]
All right, it's good night
for the love train.

Hey, sweetheart—
Grab her, will you?

Come on, let's—
Hey, where the hell are you going?

Hey, didn't you—
Where do you think you're going?
Do you see this badge?

[Laughing]
I'll bet you do a hell
of a bunny hop.

[Laughing]

Get those hands
right where we can see them.

All right, turn around
nice and slow.

[Laughing]

By God, he's got my vote.
[Laughing]

[Crockett Laughing]
[Gina]
So there's this guy there, right,

with this huge diaper
and the big pins and everything,

and he's lying in this gigantic crib.

And he—And he weighs about 280 pounds.

He's got a pacifier in his mouth.

And—And he's crying out
for his mother.

And there's this gigantic woman,
and she's telling him,

"Naughty, naughty."
[Laughs]

I'm looking for Detectives
Crockett and "Stubbs."

- You mean Tubbs.
- Who the hell are you?

Hazlitt, does this clown
have your seal of approval?

- That's enough, Crockett.
This is official.
- I don't give a damn what it is.

O.C.B. Is off-limits.

You bringing whoever the hell
this is in here compromises
everybody that works undercover.

David Macklin.
I'm Congressman Pierce's
campaign manager.

Oh! Then you must be
looking for a job.
[Chuckles]

The tunnel vision of this cretin
could deprive Florida
of the governor it deserves.

[Laughs]
Great. A campaign speech.

Who put you up to it?
To what?

To your display of puritanism
run amok.

That's police business.

Lieutenant Castillo.

Deputy Commissioner Hazlitt.
How are you?

I need to know the, uh,
reason for you being here.

It's about the badge
controlling the brain.

[Hazlitt]
Commissioner's orders.

In light of what happened last night,
he thought it might be best...

if Mr. Macklin had a chance to talk
with the arresting officers.

Well, then Mr. Macklin
should improve his manners.

Now hit the bricks, bozo.

The next time you have a problem
with any one of my detectives,
see me first.

Follow the chain of command.
Come into my office.

[Sighs]

[Chuckles]
Well, gentlemen,

I think it's time for what
some football coaches
call a gut check.

We're gonna be pushing the rock
uphill from here on out.

Belaboring the obvious
certainly won't help me
out of this mess.

Have you decided on a strategy?

Yeah. Keeping questions
like that to an absolute minimum.

[Sighs]
Shouldn't be too difficult.

We just have to keep the people's eyes
on the issues and off my sex life.

[Man]
I got a call from Tallahassee.

The League of Women Voters
is preparing a formal denunciation.

- How self-righteous.
- Unfortunately, Tom,
they cannot be ignored.

- They reflect public sentiment,
- Just keep pounding away on the issues.

My record has to be good
for something.

All right.
What about the press?

Annie will be here in a couple of hours.
I'll wait for her input.

How's she holding up?

Look, this is nothing
she hasn't been through before.

Well, it's nice to get
an objective reading.

You are getting one.

Why do you think I have
the highest conviction rate
in this department?

I don't take bad cases to trial.

And your case against Pierce
wouldn't fly if you put wings on it.

The man was arrested
on a rolling whorehouse.
And what was he doing there?

Well, he wasn't passing out
campaign fliers.

You don't know that
for sure.

- Sarelli, the sheets were still hot.
- So?

So his playmate and the other girls go to court,
some of them get convictions,

and Hot Pants Pierce doesn't get a call?

Kind of a double standard thing,
don't you think?

If nothing else,
the double standard is consistent.

A visiting fireman from Boise
wouldn't face trial for frequenting
a house of ill repute.

And a candidate for governor
shouldn't either.

Well, what the hell is Vice
doing in business?

Selective prosecution
isn't a difficult concept
to understand.

Sounds more like
selective protection.

Look, detectives,

Pierce may be guilty
of bad judgment and questionable taste,
but there was no crime committed.

Find one that you can prove
he committed, and I'll prosecute.

- [Castillo] Let it go.
- So he can hang a red light
in the governor's mansion?

We'll let the voters decide that,
not you.

Lieutenant, I think
what Sonny's trying to say is—

His pride's speaking.
Yours is too.

I think you're both good enough cops
to realize it's a dead end.

There's something about
the way that guy
had Hazlitt lean on us...

that just strokes my feathers
the wrong way.

Clean up the cases
you already have.

Wanna see the best pictures
of the night?
Forget it.

Let me take a look, Stan.

[Chuckles]
Kind of hard to find this exotic.

Well, his name's Barry Bloom.
He drove Pierce to the train station
last night.

- [Tubbs]
So?
- Well, he works for Pierce,

but he's got a real shaky
reputation.

Meaning?

Well, his specialty's
dirty tricks.

Who told you that?

Oh, a volunteer
at Pierce's headquarters.

Said he's real good
at screwing up
a guy's campaign.

The other guy's campaign,
I mean.

Whoa. This guy's a real charmer.

Looks like he should be
on a playground somewhere
giving candy to little girls.

Angelica, if we didn't trust you,
we never would have made
the pitch in the first place.

But since we did,
and since things came together...

better than we ever imagined—
You'd like me
to keep my mouth shut.

It's more of a bonus
for a job well done.

Did this come
directly from Myles?

Well—And me, of course.
Of course.

So we were thinking
10 grand would be nice.

No, thank you.
You want more?

I don't want anything.
Be serious.
Everybody wants something.

I am serious.

I said I'd help Myles Cowan
because he's an old
and valued friend.

And frankly, Mr. Bloom,
I'd rather have the future
governor of Florida...

for me than against me.

Beauty and brains.
I like that in a woman.

On second thought, Mr. Bloom,

there is something
I want from you.

Well, that's what I'm here for.

I want you to leave.
You're quite detestable.

Now you know why I'm so good
at what I do.

♪♪ [Man Singing Dance Pop]

[Patrons Chattering]

I'd really like to find out
how long those legs are.

I doubt you could do anything
about it, Mr. Tiny.

[Chuckles]
So, you're the romantic type,
are you?

Yeah. I developed my technique
when I was covering cops.

[Chuckles]
Maybe you and Pierce
should compare notes.

Hey, I don't have to pay for it.
[Chuckles]

Well, if you can get
your mind out of your crotch,
I'd like to know,

how did Pierce
get so far so fast politically?

Well, I am desolate.
You haven't read my stories
about the rise ofThomas Pierce.

It's on my list,
right after War and Peace.

- Can we get a beer over here, please?
- [Crockett]
Two.

The man single-handedly
brought the party together.

Started out as an errand boy.

You better believe Clark Kimball
and Grover Watkins got their jollies...

having a kid from
Harvard Law fetch their coffee.

Pierce is smart.

He made partner
at Cannon-McCarthy
in the speed of light.

And, uh, all the while he was becoming
a political white knight.

He was on the right side
of every issue.

So, why should he play referee...

for husbands and wives who want
to boil each other in oil, huh?

He chucked it all and made
state senate, Congress,

and he would have been governor
if his hormones hadn't overheated.

Is that a regular occurrence?
Hormones?

Comes with the territory,
my friend.

Power's an aphrodisiac.

You take some guy who's been
living like a monk,

plop him in political office, and six months
later he thinks he's Warren Beatty.

Did, uh, Pierce
throw his weight around?

Well, not so anyone
would get a rash.

Pretty much a straight shooter.
Politically, anyway.

Ooh, I gotta go.
Press conference waiting for me.

Why don't you kill an hour,
tag along?

Rare opportunity to see the
implosion of a political supernova.

An hour from now,
Thomas Pierce will be a black hole.

[Sighs]
Yeah.

[Camera Shutters Clicking]
[Pierce]
So, with that in mind,

knowing full well
that there is so much to be done
that I cannot allow myself...

to be sidetracked by small minds
who wish to derail this campaign,

I will continue to be
your candidate for governor
of this great state.

[Man]
Yeah!
Thank you.

[Cheering, Applauding]
Thank you.

[Chattering]

I still have friends
in the police department.

I've heard all about
you two birds.

[Chuckling]
Sure I can't offer you
some coffee?

It's the official
Grover Watkins recipe.

It's a little early
in the morning for coffee for us.

You better hang on
to that family recipe.

Cheers.

Cheers.

[Cup Rests In Saucer]
[Sighs]

So—
[Clears Throat]

I guess y'all want to know
about Tom Pierce, huh?

My boy Tommy.

Really stepped in it this time,
didn't he?

With both feet.

I was his rabbi.

Introduced him to the briars
and the brambles of the political hurly-burly.

Looks like he was a fast learner.

First met him,
he didn't know the difference...

between a plain brown envelope
and a bag of groceries.

Three years later,
he ran my last campaign for me.

I didn't know it was my last...

until I found out Tommy had made off
with all my staff.

That booger Pearl Harbored me.

Cause some bad blood
between you two?

What are you gonna do
with a fast learner?

He was just following through
on what I'd taught him.

You should've taught him
to keep his zipper up.

Try and understand something,
both of you.

Tom Pierce is out on the edge.

He likes it there.

Maybe he's lost his balance.

[Saucer Rattling]
Tommy...

Iost his balance
a long time ago.

Look up
some of his campaign contributors.

Sometimes I think the man
will take money from the devil himself.

Funny thing is, I can't figure out
where it's all goin'.

He's taking in way more
than he's spendin'.

[Chuckles]

This is the way it works, isn't it?
He gets you, you get him.

Pretty fast learner yourself,
Crockett.

You were right on.

Pierce is pulling in money
from half a dozen
dummy corporations.

You recognize any of the names?

We could trace them,
but I bet they'd lead
to a dead end.

Isn't the fact that
he's receiving from fronts
somewhat incriminating?

Yeah, it may not look
entirely kosher,
but it's certainly not illegal.

If it's not illegal,
I'm not interested.

Lieutenant,
we got some new leads.

Pierce looks dirty
way beyond the bust.

He might be receiving
illegal campaign funding.

That's difficult to prove.

Well, I think we should talk
to the man himself.
It's worth a shot.

Take the day.
See what you come up with.

Thomas Pierce is going to survive.

That disappoint you?
You've lost me.

Cut the crap, Mr. Bloom.

I want your resignation.
And I don't want my husband
knowing why you're leaving.

He has enough problems
without becoming paranoid
about his staff.

You're dropping a stitch.
He needs what I can do.

Try to understand something,
Mr. Bloom.

My husband and I want this
very badly.

There are even times when I think
I covet being first lady more than
he covets the governorship.

- You've always been
right there behind him.
- That's right.

And that's why you're history.

[Chattering]

- Hold it. Where do you think you're going?
- I've got a couple of questions
I'd like to ask Mr. Pierce.

Yeah, well, he's on stage in under an hour,
so you just make an appointment,
and we'll get back to you, okay?

Not this time, Macklin.
Every time, Frasier.
It's policy.

I don't think the cops
are gonna be too happy
about taking a number and waiting.

And what's that supposed to mean?

It means I'm here
to pitch Pierce batting practice...

so he'll be ready
for the boys with the badges.

You wait here.

Hello, Tom.

Give me five minutes, Dave.

Excuse us, will you, please?

[Woman Laughs]
[Chattering]

[Man] Here he comes.
[Man #2]
All right. He's out.

- [Man #3]
He's out.
- [Chattering]

Everything all right?

Hey, what do we have to do,
file harassment charges?

We'd like to speak to you
in private, Congressman.
No, no, no.

He has got a speech to give in 15—
It's all right, Dave. It's all right.
Look, this won't take long.

Stick around. Be glad to talk
to you when I'm finished.

- That'd be fine, sir. Thank you.
- Excuse me.

[Pierce]
These are unsettling times...

for those of us in public service.
[Camera Shutters Clicking]

We find ourselves
being subjected to the kind
of microscopic personal scrutiny...

that only saints or children
could withstand.

No longer are we judged
by our performance in office...

or on our positions
on the important issues of the day.

Rather, our private lives
are invaded,

and incidents that are
nobody else's business,

incidents that have absolutely
no bearing on our public duty...

become swords on which
to impale us.

The press dogs us all the way
into our bedroom.

[Clicking Continues]
And while the police
continue to worry...

about these essentially
victimless crimes,

real criminals of every stripe,
from drug dealers to corporate executives,
operate unchecked.

Maybe all of this sounds like
the whining of someone
who has been caught...

and sees no way out.

But I do not beg your forgiveness.

If you're going to grant me that,
it will have to come out of
the goodness of your hearts.

[Clicking Continues]

What I do ask, however,
is that you appreciate...

the impossible nature
of political life today,

and that you understand
why I am walking away from it.

[Reporters Murmuring]

[Murmuring Continues]

[Pierce]
I'm sorry to say that recent developments
have forced me...

to reconsider my earlier pledge
to stand and fight.

The press and the police
won't have Tom Pierce
to kick around anymore.

[Reporters Murmuring]

To my friends and supporters,
I say thank you...

and good-bye.

[Camera Shutters Clicking]
To all the rest,

I say good riddance.

[Reporters Shouting Questions]

Did you know that he was
gonna pull the plug?
He didn't say a word.

Sonny, we better
grab this guy quick.

[Chattering]

[Groans]

I don't believe it.

Isn't that just like
a politician?

What do you mean?

Never around
when you need 'em the most.

Why is it that the department
is always trying to protect
its backside by hanging us?

Detectives, Thomas Pierce
is one of the most recognizable
men in the state,

and he has
completely disappeared.

Plus, the rumor mills
are heating up...

with regard to the train bust
being a setup.

Maybe my partner and I
are trying to overthrow
the government.

Was the bust a setup?

Every law enforcement agency
in the state has known
about that train for over a year.

And you just happen to bust it
on the night that Thomas Pierce
was on board?

Luck of the draw.
And now Pierce has vanished...

just before he was going
to talk to you two.

You wanna get to the point
there, Millsie?
[Sighs]

The point is that it's not going
to be very difficult...

for the Pierce people
to start screaming harassment.

- And some of the press
has already picked up the ball.
- Does the department think...

that we actually stepped outside
the confines of our jobs?

Well, that hasn't yet
been determined.

Yeah, you be sure to let us know
when it is.

You can bet on it, smart guy.

[Men Chattering]

So much for the civic lesson.

If they were gonna suspend you,
it would already have been a fact.

I think the I.A.D. Got
a permanent poker with our names
stenciled on it.

Don't worry about I.A.D.
You two have enough business
to take care of now.

What's the line that Switek's
got on that, uh, prankster—
the merry prankster?

Bloom.
Yeah, let's see if we can
get him to do cartwheels.

Very efficient, Mr. Frasier.

I owe it all to newspaper training.

I may have more use
for the press than I ever imagined.

Yeah, I know the feeling.
I'm getting a little soft in the head
about politicians.

I'd like you to stay that way.

Not that I mind you crucifying
one of my rivals.

Ten thousand dollars in cash,
as discussed.

I'll skip the count.
I mean, if you can't trust
the next governor—

You have my word.

My final word.

Uh—

This is just for the primary, right?

There's still the regular election.

I thought you were
the political expert, Mr. Frasier.

If I remember correctly,
you wrote that whoever won
the populist primary...

would be a shoo-in for governor.

Well, here I am—
a survivor and a shoo-in.

Things could change.
Like what?

Well, the kind of things
that could be prevented by
having a reporter on your payroll.

If I didn't have my newfound respect
for the fourth estate,

I'd say that you were
hinting at blackmail, Mr. Frasier.

It was good enough for Pierce.
But the reporter
I've had on my payroll...

is much too fair-minded
to even consider...

blackmailing somebody
who's been his benefactor.

You never can tell.

It's difficult to know someone—
I mean, really know him.

It wasn't hard to get
Pierce out to the train.

All I had to do was tell him
he could get his ashes hauled.

Yeah, it makes sense.

If his load was lighter,
make it easier for him
to run for governor.

Well, you've got to know Tom.
He wants to make sure
he samples everything on the menu.

Who's he sampling now?

I don't know.
I didn't think
he'd fall off the planet.

How much did Cowan pay you?

You guys are good.

Don't flatter yourself.
You ain't a well-kept secret, pal.

We know you were kicked off
of Pierce's staff before he walked.

So? You get caught, you leave.
It's part of the game.

Advertise rallies that don't exist.
Distribute embarrassing pictures.

Hell, Tom would have done the same
to Cowan if he had gotten to me first.

That's wonderful.

Such outstanding candidates
we have for the voters
to choose from.

How'd you know
about the bust?

A leak at the courthouse.
I probably knew the warrant
had been signed before you guys did.

Ah, for the love of—
Who else is in this sewer?

How about I go out
with some dignity, huh?

Don't ask me to drag other people
down with me.

If this gets to the press,
you all are gonna be garbage.

You tell that to your buddy Cowan.

Maybe we oughta try
life without a governor.

Couldn't be any worse.
[Chuckles]

The nerve of this bozo, huh?

Cowan?
Who the hell you think
I'm talking about?

You're not talking.
You're blathering.

Blather? Well, try this one
on for size, sweetheart.

Way I figure it,
you got plenty on Cowan.

You'll never know.

Look!
Neither of us are virgins, right?

You have any idea how much
your trick book is worth?

I don't ask them their names.

Like hell you don't.
If they want to tell me,
then that's fine.

But I'm in the business
to sooth nerves,
not to put them on edge.

Well, now, how about
I splash you all over page one?

I think this conversation
just ended.

[Glass Shatters]
I will tell you when it's ended.

You don't know the value
of anything, do you?

Not a bottle of perfume.
Not even a man's life.
Shut up!

Is this how you won
all those journalism awards?

Blackmail?
Well, let me tell you
something, mister.

Everybody knows what I am.
But you—They think you're
a star reporter.

But we know that you're really
just scum, don't we?

[Man On TV]
The phones, as always in the headquarters of
a political campaign, are ringing off the hook.

Volunteers address envelopes.
Aids plan strategy.

But here at 1400 Ocean Avenue,
the feeling persists that these
campaign workers...

are only going through the motions.

They count the hours
till Election Day,

and each hour brings them closer
to a confrontation with the unthinkable.

Well, maybe they should
try a séance.

That'd be a good story.

"Pierce speaks from grave,
told split the ticket."

[Both Chuckle]
[Man On TV] There are
more questions than answers.

Is he being held against his will?

Is he still alive?
And if not, did he take
his own life?

Conspiracy theorists
are having a field day.

Live from the Pierce
campaign headquarters,
David Jarvis, Channel 3 news.

[Sighs]
Our friends at I.A.D.
Have their own conspiracy theory.

They're not still maintaining
that we overstepped?

They haven't yet said you haven't.
[Crockett Sighs]
Great.

Now everybody's playing politics.
Nothing's changed.

Oh, man.
Oh, boy.
So what's next, Lieutenant?

Has anyone spoken
to Pierce's wife?

The steadfast politician's spouse?
Yeah.

Bet she could probably
tell a tale or two about hubby,
make our heads spin.

We'll give it a shot.

Behind every great man—

This be easier if we talked
about this someplace else?

If I got out of this chair,
my reputation as the unflappable
Mrs. Pierce would fall apart.

We're very sorry to have
to do this. Uh—

[Sighs]
Don't be.

Living without my husband
will be easier— eventually.
[Sighs]

Do you have any indication
that you won't see him again?

Are you asking me
if my husband took his own life?

Well, there's been
some speculation.

Not his style.

[Chuckles]

He loved being Tom Pierce
more than anything in the world.

So you think he ran away?

Vanity breeds cowardice,
can't it?

- You tell us.
- Boy.

[Sighs]
I never saw it demonstrated
up close until this past week.

All of a sudden, things just started
happening so fast,
even Tom couldn't handle it.

- You mean the arrest?
- It's not just that.

There were other things—

pressures that he wouldn't
talk to me about.

He was afraid.

- Of what?
- He wouldn't say.

I've been married to Tom Pierce
for eight years.
I could tell.

Has he ever disappeared before?

You mean for more
than a weekend?

No.

Does he have anybody
that he confides in?
Politically, I mean.

I don't know
who he tells what.

All I know is that he came
out of an interview
the day that he disappeared,

and he looked like
his world had ended.

[Tubbs]
An interview?
Uh-huh.

- With who?
- [Scoffs]

That awful man—
What's his name?

He's been pestering
Tom and me for years.

He writes for the, uh, Record.

- Hank Frasier?
- Oh, that's the one.

Thanks.
Thank you.

[Water Running]

[Police Radio, Indistinct]

[Police Radio, Indistinct]

Well, it looks like your standard
garden-variety strangulation.

No sign of anything sexual.

Place was ransacked,
so it's hard to tell
if anything was taken.

Whoever killed her
just walked right in.

Do you think
it was a friend,

or maybe
a business partner?

Angelica Payson worked alone.

Lieutenant, the neighbors said
they saw someone fitting Bloom's
description leaving this house.

That campaign-killer?
Yeah, and he was
really in a lather.

Or that's how the lady
remembered him.
[Car Phone Ringing]

Excuse me.

Castillo. Yeah.

Thank you.
Barry Bloom's been arrested.
I'm going in.

She was just somebody
we were using— another tool.

All I wanted to do
was warn her, tell her things
might get uncomfortable.

We don't believe
that you killed her.

Maybe you should be
a character witness.

If it goes that far,
he might need one.

Just shut up, will you, Joel?
I've got to trust somebody,

and there's definitely
no politician that
meets my requirements.

Now, uh—
[Sighs]

There was Cowan's dirty-tricks team.
And who else was in on it?

I'm still not selling anybody out.

You tried to protect
Angelica Payson.
Look how she wound up.

The stakes are a lot bigger
now, Barry.

I wasn't the only one
that infiltrated
the Pierce campaign.

There were at least three others
at lower-profile jobs.

[Sighs]
We need names.

I'm not even sure who they were.
Anonymity was our camouflage.

Damn it, Bloom.
This is getting us nowhere.

I don't think we'll answer
any more questions
at this time.

- Fine.
- No. I said this was what I wanted.

Our network went beyond
the campaign.

There were people outside
who could help us.

Who?

A newspaper reporter
named Frasier.

Hank Frasier?
Yeah.

What did he do?
Fed us dirt on Pierce.

What kind of dirt?

The sexual stuff, of course,

plus things about where
he was getting his money.

He had a lot of shady contributors,
and Frasier seemed to know them all.

Was he blackmailing Pierce?

Possibly.

Say he was.
What was he blackmailing him for?

Or was he just a wrong number?
Debts.

He had gambling debts,
and whoever he owed money
was leaning on him...

as hard as he was leaning
on Pierce.

I wish I could tell you
I'm surprised.

You've had this problem
with him before?

Well, when he was working,
he was fine.

He's working now, as a matter of fact.
He's in Atlanta with the Democratic
National Committee.

He says he's got a king hell of a story
about a power struggle.

What happens
when his writing's finished?

Let me put it this way.
I have a 19-year-old daughter,

and if I saw Hank coming up the path
on a Saturday night,

I'd pray to God
he was a process server.

So women aren't his only problem?

No. There's also gambling.
I'd put gambling in first place.

How's his luck?
Lousy.

Does it affect his work?

It only affects
the accounting department.
I mean, he has to, uh,

draw advances on his salary.

- Do the advances cover?
- I doubt it.

So, if we told you
that we think he might have, uh,

blackmailed Pierce,
that wouldn't surprised you?

Yeah, it would.

Mr. Chance,

every good newspaper reporter
knows things about powerful people...

- that could be used for blackmail.
- But they don't use it.

Frasier's the first person I know
who might have done it,
and that hasn't been confirmed.

And you don't believe
in the law of averages?

Newspaper people are like cops.

When they raise their right hand
and take one step forward,
it's like a—

a vow of poverty.

But they do it anyway
because they love their work,

and there's a small little voice
inside of them telling them
they're doing the right thing.

[Scoffs]
Yeah. Sorry I asked.

[Tubbs]
What do you think Frasier's
little voice says to him?

Whirlaway in the eighth?
[Chuckles]

[Car Phone Ringing]

Crockett.

Yeah, Stanley.
Do it right now.

He's patching through
a call from Frasier.

Where are you?

Chez Frasier.
Where else?

Yeah, well, stay put.
You're gonna have company.

Yeah, well, you better hurry.

[Crockett]
Now don't do anything crazy.

Look. Save your advice
for someone who needs it.

I'm not sticking my head
in the oven.

But there are a couple of guys
that might do it for me.

Are we talking bookie muscle?

Oh, you heard, huh?
You know how much I owe?

I'm listening.
75 large.

Seventy-five I don't have.

So they're coming over here
to give me that much
in medical bills.

Well, maybe you deserve
to suffer.

Well, you're not coming
to save me.

Uh, uh, forget it.

I don't have time
to trade cheap shots.

I just wanna make sure
you get my story straight.
I'm still listening.

Okay.
[Breathing Heavily]

Uh—

Uh, first things first, okay?

[Voice Cracks]
I killed Angelica Payson.

I lost control.
L— I needed what she had.
She wouldn't help me.

What did you get?

Names, Crockett.
I needed big names.

For what? For Cowan?

Cowan? Cowan was one of
the ones I was trying to blackmail.

- No, for me.
- What did you use against him?

He's been getting money
from some of the same slugs as Pierce.

And you were blackmailing Pierce?
Yeah, you bet I was.

Then the doofus decided
a vanishing act was more appealing.

Oh.
Think you lost the race,
Crockett.

You're gonna have to excuse me.
The bad guys are here.
[Knocking]

All right, Frasier, listen.
You got a gun?

[Knocking]
Nah. I'm a pacifist at heart.

[Panting]

Uh— [Chuckles]
Just a minute. I'm on the phone
with my money man, okay?

Uh—
Frasier?

[Dial Tone]
Frasier!

[Dial Tone Continues]

[Handset Settles In Cradle]
What happened?

[Phone Beeps]

Go.

Is he dead?

Yeah.
And so is the case.

[Both Sigh]

[No Audible Dialogue]
Sure.

Hey, Sonny, have you seen
the morning edition?

"Pierce to announce that
he will resume his candidacy
'with a vengeance." '

Down but not out.
They never are for long.

Metro says they got
the bookie muscle that killed Frasier.

Sounds very solid.
Prints and fibers match.

About time something
broke on this.

Pierce's people just called.
He says he owes you two guys a talk.

He'll be more than happy
to comply.

After three weeks?
[Chuckles]

What is this,
unfinished business day?

Sounds like they're trying
to cover any toeholds
in the character issue.

Don't you mean, uh,
"Bless me, Detective,
for I have sinned,

and I need a clean press release"?

You got it.

Well, I say we go see
this gentleman before
he changes his mind again.

Yeah, or becomes invisible.

[Chattering]

[Sighs]
So what do you think?

All these people here
to see the freak show?

No way. These people
are the true believers.

[Chattering]

Nice to have believers
with checkbooks.
Yeah.

Slumming, fellas?

Yeah. How about you,
Ms. Sarelli?

Tom Pierce is the party's best candidate.
I'd like to help him.

You already have, haven't you?

Things are never
what they seem, Crockett.
You ought to know that.

You also ought to know
that we play by the same rules.

Mm-hmm.
And what about Pierce?

- What rules does he play by?
- The same ones as every other candidate.

- Does that make it okay?
- Nature of the game, guys.

All these things you don't like.

All these people you don't trust.

Sooner or later,
you got to put all that aside, and—

and believe in someone.

You mean sell yourself short?

Sometimes that Shangri-la attitude
does more harm than good.

[Applause]

[Whistling]

Thank you. Thank you.

Maybe you'll learn
something from this.
Thank you. Thank you.

Annie and I thank you
from the bottom of our hearts.

And let me add that it's good
not to be the invisible man
anymore.

[Crowd Laughing]

[Pierce]
Now, it's no secret that I've been
gone for these past three weeks.

And during that self-imposed
solitude, I've learned many things.

I've wandered the back alleys
and streets of this great state,

and I've gazed upon
its sickened heart.

And that discovery led me
to one conclusion—

a decision that was based upon
the people's need for leadership,

rather than my own comparatively
insignificant need for privacy.

And it is with that in mind
that I have returned.

And I have every intention
of giving this grand state of ours...

what it needs to attain greatness.

Thank you. Thank you.

[Applause]

Thank you.

Thank you.

This should make for
an interesting guest wing
at the governor's mansion.

Thank you.

[Applause Continues]

Thank you.

Thank you.