Original subtitles

- [Narrator] Tonight on Wiseguy--

- Don't you just love the crackle of an open fire?

Kind of reminds me of Christmas time at Grandma's.

(smashing)

- You sleep with him if you have to,

but don't fall in love with him.

- It'll be a hell of a storm.

Just don't know whether it's gonna be rougher out there,

or in here.

- Push her off the boat!

- No.

- You don't seem to understand, Vinnie.

You don't have a choice.

- You're wrong, Mel!

- You don't think I'll kill you, do you?

(hard-hitting orchestrated music)

- [Roger] Ever tell you what my favorite

time of the year is?

- [Vinnie] No, but I wish you would.

I'm sure it'd make life worth living.

- Oh, this gig getting to you?

- You know what, you wake me up in the middle of the night,

you pull me out of a dream

that's worth at least 10 Hail Marys,

it's the third time this month,

you tell me there's a bomb on Mel's yacht.

(Roger laughs)

Maybe it is getting to me a little bit.

- My favorite time of year is

anytime Mel's depressed.

Did you know, three or four days, maybe a week,

he'll be lying in his bed,

covers over his head,

paralyzed because he can't decide what shirt to put on!

The only trouble with Mel's depressions is

that he comes out of them.

- You mean, like now?

- Exactamente!

He still thinks that half the civilized world

is conspiring against him.

- Well, if it's just paranoia then what are we doing here?

- Suppose he's right.

There's gonna be a 100 people on this boat

day after tomorrow,

among them my most favorite person in the whole wide world.

- How many times you swept this tub?

- Oh, more times than I can count.

- And how many bombs have you found?

- None.

Until now.

(grave music)

Ever think about how you're gonna die?

- Yeah, always hoped it'll be old age.

What do you think of this?

- I don't know.

Might be a timer,

or a trembler switch.

I don't want to take a chance on moving it.

(sighs) It's no timer.

I don't see any wires in the tape.

Course they could be using microcircuitry.

Those wires are tenth the size of a human hair.

Damn near invisible.

(sighs)

(hard breathing)

(sighs)

(sighs)

Okay.

Now, when I remove the lid,

if there's no tripwire inside and we're still alive,

I want you to shine a light inside,

so I can see the detonator.

(ominous music)

- Here's to adrenaline.

Nectar of the gods, Mel.

That son a bitch!

(Door knocks) - [Man] Vinnie!

- All right!

What?

- Hey! How you doing Vinnie?

What you been up to?

- Oh, not too much, Mel.

Just watching my life flash before my eyes,

while Roger was taking apart your phony bomb.

- (snickers) So you found it.

Good. I'm glad.

I was worried that security had been slacking off.

- Mm-hmm.

- You got to admit,

I'm fun to be around.

- Good night, Mel.

- (chuckles) There's nothing like palpable death

to get the old juices flowing.

Exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

It's kind of like love, I suppose.

Don't be mad.

I don't want you to be.

Now put your sneaks on, we're gonna go hit a few balls.

Wade Boggs' mound.

- Mel, it's four o'clock in the morning!

- Well, this place has lights.

- I'm sure it's closed.

- Well, ordinarily, yeah.

But I gave the guy 10 grand so--

it's open.

Show him the heat!

Yeah!

That's solid Vinnie!

Come on, come on!

(baseball cracks)

Hey, you know, you look good in double knits.

- I was raised in 'em.

(giggles)

- Hey, Bobbie, remind me to thank you later

for letting us in the locker room!

Come on, come on, come on, come on.

Oh yeah! We got a hitter here!

(giggles)

You played organized ball, didn't you?

- Yeah, American Legion.

- Yeah, hot corner?

- No, I'm one of the tools of ignorance.

- A catcher?

I can see it.

I can see you blocking the play

from those runners coming in from third.

- Oh yeah?

See me in traction too?

(laughs)

- Alright, Bobbie, look alive!

Gonna have some rockets coming back at you!

Come on, Bobbie!

- I hope Mel didn't take you away from anything important.

(chuckles)

- I was alone, Susan.

Alright, Mel!

- That's a dinger!

400 yards over the left wall!

The crowd's going wild!

(mimics crowd roar)

- (chuckles) 400 yards?

- Come on, Mel, I'm exhausted, let's go.

- Alright, well you go wait in the car, honey.

We'll be done in a minute.

- So Mel, what positions you play?

- We moved around too much.

We were never one place, so,

you know, there was the sandlot stuff,

but, uh-- - Yeah.

(cracks)

- What I wanted more than anything

was to wear a number on my back, you know what I mean?

A big number seven, just like The Mick.

Okay, last pitch!

Bottom of the ninth, two out, full count, bases loaded.

There is no joy in Mudville.

You know,

I used to fall asleep at the radio,

listening to the games from Yankee stadium,

I could see Mantel and Berra and Ford,

performing their magic.

God, it was as clear as if I had box seats.

Those were the days, Vinnie.

Those were the days heroes walked the earth.

I can't wait anymore.

I gotta tell ya.

- What? - I'm gonna buy a team!

- What?

- Yeah, there's a new franchise in Sacramento.

I'm gonna buy 'em, I'm gonna buy this place too.

- Mel, we're in Vancouver.

- Yeah, I know, but I'm gonna move 'em here.

That's why I've coming out here nights.

I gotta get myself in shape!

- Mel, just 'cause you own a team,

doesn't mean you could play.

- But you're wrong, Vinnie.

That's exactly what it means.

(laughs)

Thanks a lot, it was a great fun.

- Is he serious about buying a Sacramento franchise?

- When it comes to acquisitions,

Mel is always serious.

- Yeah, I know he likes the game,

but why does he wanna be an owner?

- The most important reason?

Because it's something he doesn't have.

- Oh.

- Isn't that what we all want?

- What are the other reasons?

- Darling--

- Yeah? - Friday night?

- The cruise?

I want you to deliver a guest.

- Who?

- Eddie Van Platt.

It's very important to Mel that he'd be there, okay?

- Having fun kids?

(glasses shattering)

- Mel!

(shattering)

Stop it right now!

(glass shatters)

What is the matter with you!

- I can turn this place into a junkyard in five minutes

and not you or anyone else can stop me!

Everything here is mine,

and I can break it if I want to!

- Mel!

- Everything here is here because it pleases me!

And it's here for as long as it pleases me!

And when it stops pleasing me,

I'll get rid of it!

- Mel! You're breaking my neck!

(sighs)

- You're not falling in love with him, are you?

Please tell me you aren't.

If you fall in love him then I'd be alone.

I'd disappear.

We've known all of this couldn't last.

We've always known it.

When you're standing on top of Everest,

there's only one direction left.

Stay with me, Susie?

Until it's over?

- Mel.

I'm not going anywhere.

- You promise?

- Yeah.

- You know what happens if you break your promise.

- Yeah, grow a very long nose.

- You sleep with him if you have to,

but don't fall in love with him.

I couldn't bear that.

I couldn't.

- Smell it.

The city smells.

- Ah, it's fresh air, Frank.

You'll get used to it!

Just a matter of time!

- Time, I'll give you some time.

There's a three hour time difference

between here and Atlantic city.

And the RD wants a daily report file.

I call him, he's out to lunch.

He calls me back, I'm grabbing a sandwich.

By the time I get back,

he's on the way home and the next morning,

we start the whole thing all--

(jacket pops)

(sighs)

You know,

you pay $150 for a suit,

you expect the buttons to stay on.

- That's why they sell needles and thread, Frank.

Well, Frank, relax.

You know, it's just a button.

- It's not just a button.

We're talking about the collapse of national pride here.

We've already lost the auto industry.

Nobody in the States can make a stereo,

and now, they can't keep my buttons on!

- Frank, what's bugging ya?

- [Frank] Nothing!

- The hell's the matter with Frank?

- Ah, he's grumpy.

So what's new among the lifestyles of the rich and vicious?

- Listen, you know anything about a guy

named Eddie Van Platt?

- Yeah, a real estate magnate,

born with a silver spoon in his mouth

that he's turned into service for a thousand.

- Any indication that he did any business with Profitt?

- I don't know of any.

I mean the guy's become a legend in his spare time.

Builds condos, he's got two shipping companies,

dog tracks in Florida,

a new franchise in the American League, and--

- Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.

He owns a baseball team?

- Yeah, in Sacramento I think.

- Profitt said he wanted to buy that franchise.

- Well, all I know is that Van Platt

is ready to break ground with the stadium.

- May I interject a point here?

Who cares?

- Look, Frank, I'm supposed to pick up this Van Platt guy

and bring him to Mel's boat for a party on Friday.

Now, I wouldn't want to be the guy that has what Mel wants,

you know what I mean?

- Hey, wait a minute.

And if Van Platt is connected to Profitt,

and then you can get him to turn over--

- No, no, what kind of carrot am I gonna be able to dangle

if I don't even know he's dirty?

- Well, we'll find something, Vince.

As I recall, the third letter in FBI

stands for investigation.

Now you get on that boat,

you don't let Van Platt out of your sight.

- Yeah, well, that's gonna be tough Frank.

People at Mel's parties tend to get naked in groups.

You know, from certain angles they all look the same.

- Oh yeah?

- Well, I'll talk to Lococco.

Maybe he knows what Profitt and Van Platt have going.

- Hello, Roger.

Jacqueline Devries?

I met you at the Profitt's two summers ago?

In Montro?

- Ah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Did you and I have a thing or were you with, Mel?

- Mel.

Thank you.

- Never expected to see you again.

- [Jacqueline] I can tell by the warmth of your greeting.

- A lot of faces go through those revolving doors.

After awhile they-- - Look, I have to see him.

I have to see Mel.

- Oh, sweet thing.

You know the way it works.

When you're gone, you're gone.

You had your moment, it's over.

- Just take me to him, Roger.

- How important is it to you?

(chuckles)

- Everything is still a test.

- We all have our limits.

I would just like to see what yours are.

(banging)

Meeting Mel was like going into a toy store

for the first time, wasn't it?

Everything shiny, new.

And all you had to do was reach out

and grab hold of all the goodies.

Well, how long did it take you to figure it out?

That the toy

was you?

(banging)

Lovely to look at!

(bangs)

Thrilling

to hold.

(bangs)

But nothing so useless as a toy that's grown old.

(banging)

She's not an old toy to you, is she?

Jacqueline, Vinnie!

Who knows?

Maybe she's still good for a couple of laughs.

(concerning music)

(motorcycle revs)

- Roger's just your basic all American boy.

Took a sharp right somewhere.

- Roger and I were new in this thing together.

I'm surprised to hear he was still around.

Mel and Susan usually clean house every year or so.

What did you say your name was again?

- Vinnie. - Vinnie.

- I like Vincent better, do you mind?

- Now look, why don't you let me get you a hotel room?

You look beat.

- I'm not completely.

So, Vincent, how long have you been around?

- Long enough to know the players from the payers.

- Is there a difference?

- Jackie, come on, you let that guy throw

those ball bearings six inches from your head,

you never even flinched.

- He's either losing his eye or his nerve.

He used to part people's hair with those.

Do you ever wonder why he does things like that?

- I wonder why people let him.

- DiStephana feels that the gold market

presents an excellent opportunity.

We have a fiscal possession of 200,000 ounces in the vaults

in London and The Hague.

- You make arrangements to get Van Platt to the boat?

- Yes.

Vinnie's going to take him.

- Van Platt is such a smug little bastard, don't you think?

He's got no idea what's coming.

No idea that I've known about his treachery for two years.

- You have no proof that Eddie Van Platt--

- The Mexican deal was mine!

Until he let Vazzina and Calderon move in.

The proof is they're moving the dust

into Texas and Louisiana and I'm not!

My god Susan, am I the only one that can see it?

Am I the only one who isn't fooled and blinded

by treachery and selfishness?

I'm glad I didn't have him killed

when I first discovered the truth.

What a waste that would've been.

Did you get all the names of the casinos

that have extended him credit?

- Yeah, Slater's working on it.

- I must have them before we cruise.

Thanks, Mark.

(laughs)

An announcement will be made within 48 hours

that the Department of Defense is canceling

its jet fighter contract with UniDAQ Industries.

It's some problem with substandard parts.

- Where did they come from?

- Friends of ours.

Get Tony on the phone,

have him liquidate our position immediately.

UniDAQ stock is all gonna but disappear.

Which one do you like better?

- The pinstripes are nice.

- Yeah, they're my favorites too.

You know why the Yankees wear them?

- Mel, you haven't had an hour of sleep

in four days.

- Because Babe Ruth got fat.

The owner knew that if you put a fat man in pinstripes,

he's gonna look thinner.

So, it'll be pinstripes for the home uniform.

Oh, and get Roger for me, will you Susie?

There's something I want him to do for me tonight.

(sighs)

Susie,

forgive me for shouting.

- Just the usual, I suppose.

New York at 16.

I lived with a photographer who shot my covers.

Then Paris, then Geneva.

I almost married the grandson of the last king of Italy.

- Didn't you go through with it?

- He was killed.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- By a bottle of champagne.

We were making love in his parent's villa,

and a magnum of Dom Perignon fell,

and fractured his skull.

(snickers)

- I guess it beats getting hit by a garbage truck.

- I wasn't in love with him though.

But marriage seemed like a good idea at the time.

I never told anybody that before.

- So how'd you meet Mel?

- Oh, you know the line from Casablanca?

Everybody comes to Rick's.

Well, I lived in a world of glamor.

His was a world of wealth.

Worlds collide.

Beng with Mel was like riding the tail of a comet.

- Yeah, but you decided to leave.

And from what I've seen,

most people hang on as long as they can.

- After one night of particularly strenuous depravity,

I looked in the mirror.

I didn't recognize myself.

You know, all my life, I've been an ornament

for one man or another.

I just wanted to see if I could live by myself, for myself.

Truth is, I can't.

I need the rush, Vincent.

I'm addicted to the life.

I have no choice.

- Come on.

There are only choices you wanna make,

and choices you don't.

- When he's in the mood,

nobody lives like Mel Profitt.

And once you've lived with him,

the rest of the world seems very dark and very cold.

- But you live too close to the flame,

you're gonna get burned.

- But before you burn,

at least you get warm.

- Eight minutes 40 seconds.

Pathetic!

- The hell are you doing here?

- I've been looking for you.

I called you here, you were gone.

Went back to my place and the sweet thing was gone.

- You know you could've killed her

with that ball bearing stunt.

- She's alive, isn't she?

- Yeah, but she's hurt and scared,

and the last thing she needs is be out of that circus

floating in the harbor.

- What do you think I was trying to tell her?

Hope you two don't have any early plans for tonight.

Mel's got a job for us.

- What is it?

- There's a construction site on Beech and Lafayette.

Gonna be a condo complex except it's not.

- What, we're gonna blow it?

- Too much noise and I hate the dust.

So we're gonna sing a torch song.

- For what?

- I forgot to ask.

Pick you up at 11:30.

Don't worry we won't be late.

She can light your fire after we light this one.

(sighs)

- Agent 4587, day code,

USA entertainment,

box, nation, thriller.

- Well, how's it goin', Sergeant Preston?

- Listen, I need McPike to alert some uniform locals

to patrol the area around Beech and Lafayette

tonight at midnight.

- Why uniforms?

- Profitt wants a building torched

and Lococco and I are gonna be the firebugs.

- Beech and Lafayette.

I got it Vinnie, we'll cover.

- So he says to her, "$100?

"$100?

"Since when does the price include a $98 tip, huh?"

(chuckles)

(groans)

Alright, so I'm no comedian.

- Well, that I already know.

- This is McPike, my watch says 11:55.

Alright, now, let's nobody get antsy, girls.

Wait for him to get inside the fence

and start futzing around first.

- Frank, what's going on?

Hey, you been snapping at me

for the past couple of days now!

So I figure,

you either read a book about Pearl Harbor,

or you're homesick.

(chuckles and snorts)

- You have kids?

- Yeah.

- I have a boy.

Good boy.

He's in the school orchestra.

He plays the oboe.

School had a concert tonight.

It was his first concert.

And I missed it by 3,000 miles.

There'll never be a first concert again.

I think he and I got cheated out of a memory.

(car brakes)

(crickets chirp)

- What are we doing here, Roger?

Beech and Lafayette's 12 blocks from here.

- I know the city.

- This isn't even the place we're suppose to torch.

- Yes, it is!

- Well, what was the charade all about?

- I don't know.

Ask Mel.

- Perimeter units, have you seen any activity?

- [Cop On Radio] Unit Two, negative.

- [Another Cop On Radio] Unit One, negative.

- This is real subtle Roger.

Why don't we just get some napalm and really do the job?

- I believe the point is being lost by you.

Mel wants to make sure that even a blind man

could see this was arson.

Man, this place is gonna go up like a rocket!

Plenty of time for you and the sweet thing.

- Perimeter units, you guys awake or what?

- [Cop On Radio] Nobody's even walked past the fence.

It's dead out here.

(ominous music)

(fire booms)

- Eh, the last thing this town needs is more condos.

Maybe Eddie will build a playground for the kiddies.

- Eddie?

- Van Platt, one of Mel's old associates.

Don't you just love the crackle of an open fire?

Kinda reminds me of Christmas time at grandma's.

- I don't like this, Kenny.

- Mel's meshuga.

I mean he probably changed the whole deal.

Just call Lifeguard.

Vinnie's probably--

(sirens blaring)

(laughs)

- Hey! Morning pal!

- [Vinnie] Say, Mel.

- What do you think, huh?

- That looks good on you, Mel.

- It's a lot better than the clown suits

we had on the other night.

Hey, hey!

Let it billow out a little till I drop a few pounds.

The best.

- Oh yeah.

- Now you pick any number you want.

Now, where do you think we oughta have spring training?

I hate Florida, it's only good for business.

How about, Arizona, New Mexico?

What do you think of Santa Fe?

- Yeah, sure. - Yeah, yeah.

- Santa Fe.

Alright, enough!

- Thank you Mr. Profitt.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Very good job you and Roger did last night.

Over three million dollars damage.

I'm very impressed, Vinnie.

- I can't take credit for this one, Mel.

Roger ran the show.

- But you learned something.

That's why I wanted you to go along.

Every experience should be a learning experience.

- Listen, do you remember anybody by the name--

- Good morning.

- [Vinnie] Hi.

- Oh, you look so cute!

(kisses)

- You like it kid?

- Well, it has a certain elegance.

Don't you think so, Vinnie?

- Oh yeah, that's definitely the word I'd use, yeah.

- I'm looking forward to seeing you in it.

Listen, I made plans with Van Platt's people.

Vinnie and Roger are gonna pick 'em up tonight at nine,

and take 'em directly to the boat.

- Well, wait a minute, you don't need the both of us

to pick up one guy.

- Eddie knows Roger, it'll make him feel more comfortable.

Here you go, here's the address.

- Oh, Vinnie, you wanted to ask me about something?

- Oh no, it's not important.

I'll see you tonight.

- Alright, try it on, let me know how it fits.

- Okay Mel.

- I checked with the captain.

He's expecting rough seas tonight.

- Perfect.

- Listen, Roger and I are supposed to pick up

this guy tonight for the cruise.

His name's Eddie Van Platt.

- You're kidding?

After the way Mel carried on about their Mexican deal?

- What, they were business partners?

- Once.

Eddie owned a baseball team down in Mexico.

He may still own it.

He used it to bury cocaine.

He supplied Mel's Southern California operation.

But there was a problem.

Mel said that Eddie's split the market.

- Did he?

- Does it matter?

Mel thought he did.

- Well, they must've patched up their differences.

What are you gonna do if Mel doesn't wanna see you?

- Oh, I'll remember him of what he said when I was leaving.

I wouldn't make it on my own,

and sooner or later I'd be back.

(chuckles)

Mel loves hearing he's right.

- I wanna buy dinner tonight.

I hear there's a great new sushi joint nearby.

- You really eat that stuff?

- [Vinnie] Frank!

- Now, you tell me what the hell happened last night.

We were all the way across town when the fire started!

- Yeah, I know, I know.

This isn't a trusting environment, Frank.

Either Mel gave Roger the wrong address,

or Roger was doing a number on me.

I couldn't try to get a hold of you,

I would've given myself away!

You know who owned that complex?

- Eddie Van Platt.

- Yeah, well, he owns a baseball team

in the Mexican league too.

He was using it to transport drugs.

He and Mel were partners,

until they had some kind of a falling out.

- Where did you get this?

- From a source who have no reason to lie,

don't worry about it.

- Yeah, well, it's gonna take a little time to check it out.

- We'll be cruising just outside the breakwater tonight.

We should be back by two, three in the morning.

- You stay clear of Van Platt when you dock,

in case we want to make the grab.

- Alright.

- And Vinnie, if these guys got old scores to settle,

you find yourself a neutral corner and you just watch.

(sighs)

- How about a taco?

(upbeat 80s pop music)

(thunder booms)

- Eddie Van Platt!

Excuse me.

Hey, hey, hey, you look terrific!

Cabo?

- No, no, I sold that shack when the blue hairs moved in.

(chuckles)

I bought an island off the Yucatan.

I'm building a house there designed by Warnick.

25,000 square feet.

- Nice!

- Mel! Look who's come back to us.

You remember Jacqueline, don't you?

- Sure, you were away?

25,000 square feet, what are you gonna do,

put it in a gift shop or what?

(chuckling)

- Come with me,

I'd like you to meet some of the newer people.

- Hi, baby.

There's a group gathering in the playroom.

Wanna play?

(laughs)

- Alright, tell you what, why don't you keep

a place warm for me, alright?

- I'll do that. - Okay.

(wind howling)

(thunder rumbles)

- The captain says he can't get inside the breakwater

before the storm hits.

He suggests that we drop the anchor and ride it out.

- Alright, tell anyone who wants to leave,

that the cigarette will take him back to port.

Hey, Eddie, you wanna get something to eat?

- Yeah, sure.

- Mel, could we go to the stateroom and talk?

(chuckles)

- That's nice meat.

She looks familiar.

- Yeah, don't they all.

Hey, listen, Eddie, I hear you got the Sacramento franchise.

- Yeah, I was so smooth with those owners,

you could've skated on me.

I'm gonna build the largest dome stadium in the country.

75,000 seats.

- You're gonna ship the dope in the bats like the old days?

- What, are you kidding?

This is major league ball.

It's 100% legitimate.

At the winter meetings,

I'm gonna be sitting next to Steinbrenner.

(laughs)

- I want it.

I want your team.

Fill in any number you want, Eddie.

2,400?

- You just bought yourself two season box seats.

See you at the ballpark.

(chuckles)

They're gonna be ferrying people off this barge.

Why don't you come back to town with me?

I own the regency.

Van house is plenty big for two people.

- I'm with Mel tonight.

- Has anybody told him?

(laughs)

- He seems attracted.

What did you say her name was again?

- Just a girl who wants to come in from the cold.

(thunder cracks)

- Roger.

I don't care who leaves on that cigarette,

but Eddie and that girl aren't going anywhere.

- I always wondered why you left us.

Mel was very, very hurt.

- Mel doesn't remember who I am.

- No, you know showing affection,

especially in front of other people,

has always been difficult for him.

But he missed you, Jacqueline.

And he's very glad that you're back.

You'll stay onboard with us, won't you?

(chuckles)

- Yeah, I'll stay.

- Wish I was on that cigarette.

Hurts to admit it but I'm not a rough weather sailor.

- Where's Mel?

- Try the playroom?

Hear they're breaking out the vegetable oil.

(thunder rumbles)

- Hesaid he was gonna hold that boat for me.

- The ship's as seaworthy as they come, Mr. Van Platt.

You got nothing to worry about.

- I don't want to be stuck here all night.

- That cigarette comes back, you'll be on it.

- Yeah.

- They're predicting a bad storm.

- I never heard of a good one.

(whispers)

- Aw, you're feeling good, baby?

Yeah, you're feeling good.

- Gonna be a hell of a storm.

Just don't know whether it's gonna be rougher out there,

or in here.

(thundering)

- Do you forgive me, Mel?

- Forgive you for what?

- For taking so long to realize that this is where I belong?

- Sure, I forgive you, baby.

- Like to get to the rail but I don't think I'd make it.

- I want off this boat, Mel, now.

- The cigarette will be right back, Eddie.

- That's what they said two hours ago.

- Why don't you relax, Eddie?

You're among friends, have another drink.

You reconsidered my offer?

For the team?

Would 10 million be a fair price?

- That wouldn't even cover the cost of the balls and bats.

- Alright, 20 then.

- You're wasting your time, Mel.

The team is not for sale.

(chuckles)

- Everything's for sale, Eddie.

Suppose I add a little sweetener to the deal.

- What kind of sweetener?

- An extra player.

A player to be named now.

Why don't you take Eddie up to the playroom, huh?

Make him happy?

- Mel.

- What do you say?

- Sounds like a prospect worth considering.

- Mel, please.

- Hey, consider it your readmission price.

Huh?

I'm presenting you with an option.

You can come back to the world that offers you nothing

but the excitements you crave,

or you could go back to the world that offers you nothing.

Choice is yours.

(thunder rumbles)

- Hit me again, will you?

(drink pouring)

- What's wrong?

Looks like you just lost your best friend.

(typing number)

- [Frank] Yeah?

- Frank, yeah, I got the report from the Federales

on Van Platt's Mexican ball team.

In the last year and a half,

the manager and four players have been arrested

for transportation with intent.

- Okay.

You fax me a copy stat,

we'll put the pieces together from here.

Alright, Kenny, let's roll.

We got ourselves a Mexican connection to Mel Profitt.

- Seems like you're going through an awful lot of trouble

just to get a baseball team.

- It's worth the trouble.

It's what I've always wanted.

- Oh yeah?

What happens after you get it?

What'll be the next thing you've always wanted?

I mean, what is it that you want, Mel?

More power, more money?

Or just more, what is it?

- What, you major in Psychology, Vinnie?

- No, but I learned a lot from umpires.

I call 'em the way I see it.

(thunder rumbles)

- You're an insightful man, Vinnie.

Insightful man can be valuable assets.

Or crippling liabilities.

- The pause that refreshes.

- Now we got a deal to discuss.

- Um, (grunts)

more I think about it, the less I feel like selling.

- You want the team that much, huh?

- Come on, Mel, it's not the team.

It's having something that the other guy wants.

Something they want and they can't have.

That's why I wouldn't sell it for 30 million,

or 50 million.

Last thing I need is your money.

(snickers)

- But you're wrong, Eddie.

You need my money more than you can possibly know.

Your fire the other night, the three million dollar loss,

the insurance will never pay on an arson.

- I had nothing to do with that fire.

I was having some union problems.

- No one will ever believe it was the union.

Not with the financial problems you have.

- What financial problems?

You son of a bitch!

Where's that cigarette, I'm getting out of here!

- You're not going anywhere Eddie.

Strike one.

Vegas and Reno, they're calling in your markers.

Almost three million dollars, that's strike two.

- All that stuff your sweet sister is shooting

in between your toes,

I think it must've killed off a couple of brain cells, Mel.

I'm no rookie in this game.

You can't muscle me.

Couple of markers are called in,

the cash is no problem.

The team is mine.

And it's gonna stay mine.

- What did UniDAQ Industries close at today?

- 165, 170.

- 180, 250.

By tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, it'll barely be listed.

- You're out of your mind.

- Oh, I guess you haven't heard.

The Department of Defense canceled its contracts.

Now, since your investment portfolio is almost

exclusively margined with UniDAQ shares as collateral,

(clears throat) and now that UniDAQ is uni-dead,

you can't cover your margin calls.

You can't get off this boat.

Can't call your brokers.

You're gonna lose by my calculation,

over $96 million.

That's strike three, Eddie.

(thunder rumbles)

- You knew you were gonna do this.

You had this all planned.

Why didn't you--

- Because I was enjoying myself too much.

Because we were playing a game you had no chance of winning

and because I loved every minute of it!

You cut me out of the Mexican deal

and now I'm paying you back!

- That isn't true!

- You let Vizzine and Calderon onto my territory!

My territory!

I've known the truth and I've known it for two years.

Now, you will sell me that team, won't you?

But come to think of it,

I think $20 million is much too high in price.

I think I outta be able to pick it up for five.

Six million, max.

Nothing compared to what you owe.

- You can't do this, Mel.

- I already have.

Roger?

Take Eddie down to the playroom and lock him in.

And make sure the telephone is disconnected

and there aren't any sharp instruments around.

I wouldn't want him to cut himself accidentally!

(thunder rumbles)

- Mr. Van Platt, please.

(concerning music)

- I did what you wanted me to.

I made love to him like you wanted me to.

- Apparently, you weren't very good.

I want you out of my sight.

Vinnie, get rid of her.

- Mel?

- I want her off the boat.

- [Jacqueline] We're in the middle of the ocean.

- I want her gone now.

You push her Vinnie.

I want to hear her body hitting the water!

Push her off the boat.

- No.

- I said, push her, Vinnie.

(tense music)

You don't think I'll do it, do you?

You think I'm playing like the last time?

It's a full load, Vinnie.

You don't think I'll kill you, do you?

- I don't know what you're gonna do, Mel.

I only know what I'm not gonna do.

- She's nothing Vinnie, she means nothing.

- The way you see things, that's probably true.

- Do what I say.

You don't seem to understand, Vinnie.

You don't have a choice.

- You're wrong, Mel!

I have the clearest choice in the world.

(gun fires)

- I'm tired.

I'm very tired.

I'm gonna go to sleep now.

(thundering)

(shaky breathing)

- So have you figured it out yet?

- What's that?

- Why Mel didn't kill you.

- Ah.

I quit trying to figure him out

five minutes after I met him.

- Well, I have two theories.

The first is that,

he really wants somebody to stand up to him.

Just somebody to say no.

I mean, we're talking down deep.

- Yeah, well, that's so deep you can get the bends.

What's your second theory?

- Susan.

I know I have choices to make and I didn't before.

Thank you, Vinnie.

- Sure.

Take care of yourself.

(car engine starts)

- When told Van Platt we knew about Mexico,

he practically begged us to testify against Profitt.

We're processing him through the witness

protection program now.

- Good.

- Hey, did you read the sports page?

Listen to this.

International financier Melvin Profitt's bid to purchase

the new Sacramento franchise of the American League,

was rejected by committee of team owners.

Those who could be reached for comment

sighted Profitt's lifestyle which they felt by cast

doubt on the integrity of the game.

- What did Mick Jagger say?

You can't always get what you want?

Not even if you're Mel Profitt.

- Mel, what's wrong?

- Don't let the light in, Susie.

I want it to be dark.

I want it to be dark forever.

(ominous music)

(hard-hitting orchestrated music)

(grand boisterous music)