"Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man" " Book ll"" "We are here for the most disagreeable duty, to pass judgment on a fellow member of the United States Senate." "Estep's sending an army of witnesses, all lying through their teeth, and there isn't a single thing I can do to disprove them!" "Mr Franklin, how did Charles Estep force you to change your story?" "Did he threaten to have you murdered like Sarah Hunt?" "I can't get over Maggie, the way she fought for you." "You know, it really is all right." "What?" "For you to have two women in your life at once." "After the incident in Vietnam, I instigated an SEC investigation" " into his company, Tricorp International." " What did that investigation reveal?" " The fact that Charles Estep was terrified." " Terrified?" "Terrified of what?" "His past." "The manner in which Tricorp was founded." "You've been lying to me ever since I came into this country!" "If I hadrt lied for your father, he would be in prison right now - or worse." "Was it out of love for me?" "Or was it the six million dollars he paid you?" "The investigation had barely begun when he arranged to meet me." "He asked me to stop my investigation." "When I refused, he tried to bribe me." "If you go after him, he's gonna kill you." "He'll try." "And Sarah Hunt knew - about the bribery, and the payoffs, about the internal structure of Tricorp, about a man named Albert Dietrich, who funded Tricorp." "That night you were working in Whitby..." "I opened your safe." "I phoned Estep with Franklirs name." "You've always been so damn good to me!" "You're telling us a lot of things, and you don't have one piece of evidence." "The pieces are all there!" "They are all there, and Albert Dietrich is the key!" "I can't make head nor tail of these insane ramblings." "The only insane thing are these hearings!" "Charles Estep is out there murdering people." "He is buying his way through this government!" " Help me." " I have to protect my legislation." "That legislation is won'thless." "Because if Estep is running this country, what you do in Congress doesn't mean a damn thing." "Albert Dietrich, Albert Dietrich." "Dammit!" "And he's the key." "Rudy, do you wanna go over these?" "They're Monday's procedures." "If I could just figure out who he is, all the pieces would fall into place." "Solving the Times crossword would be about as useful at this point." "These need your signature." "When I had Claire Estep on the stand, she was very shaky." "Shaky?" "Wait till you see yourself on Monday." "If I could get just one more shot at her, I bet she'd crack." "Rudy, look." "The final vote is Monday afternoon." "Now, if you lose that, the identity of Albert Dietrich and a subway token will get you to your nearest unemployment office." "Now, could we please deal with the problems at hand?" "Anybody want a drink?" "How about a nice, relaxing drink?" "No, thanks, Billy." "Why don't you help yourself?" "No, I'm fine." "Rudy." "Uh..." "Would it help to have a piece of evidence?" "On Estep?" "You got one?" "He must keep records." "The important ones he probably keeps with him." " So?" " Let me have a try at it." " You?" " I have experience." "There's a plane from Dulles to McCarran." "If I leave now, I can be on it." " Rudy, I got you into this." " Yes, you did." " And I'm over my head now." " I'll play it very close to the belt." ""Play it close to the belt"?" "Billy, this isn't a game." " The man kills people." " I know exactly who he is, and what he does." "No, I am not going to resort to that route." " I'm too big to need your permission." " Billy!" "You know, I really would like a drink." "Rudy?" "Did you ever wanna have a certain kind of feeling and you just... just couldn't drum it up?" "My problem is usually getting them to go away." "I'd like to forgive him, and forget it." "And I can't." "Well, you know what they say:" "For everything there's a season." "It's too soon." "But seasons change." " So do people." " Yes, they do." " You've changed." " I know." " I like it." " I didn't change for you." "Ah..." "That was meant as a compliment." "It's ironic that people change most when things are at their worst." "Diane leaving, you and Kate..." "Sitting there with the rug pulled out from under me," "I was able to face some truths about myself." " For instance?" " For instance," "I haven't been a good mother." "That's a tough one." "And my being guilty about it simply made it worse." "And for a lady who fought so hard for her independence," "I not only lost mine in our relationship but then I tried to take away yours." " Arert you being a little hard on yourself?" " No, I think I'm just seeing myself straight, and trying to take responsibility for who I am." "That's an ambitious undertaking for anyone." "Well, it ain't exactly a forward march into the sunset, but it's a start." "And what is the new Miss Porter doing with what's left of the evening?" "Getting a very solid five hours' sleep." "Can I buy her a late supper?" "Rudy, I think we should wait until these hearings are over before we try any late-night, um, suppers." "You're taking a chance." "After, I may not be able to afford supper of any description." "Consider that when you weigh the case of Kate Jordache versus Maggie Porter." "Can she support you?" "Hm..." "Is Mr Estep in?" "Do you know where he can be reached?" "Is Mrs Estep in?" "Tell her this is urgent business." "Well, when can I speak to her?" "All right." "Never mind." "OK, OK." "I'm coming." "Just a minute." " Who is it?" " Billy." " What's the matter?" "I get you out of bed?" " No..." "Yeah." "What do you want?" "First I wanna get out of this hallway before maid service runs me over." "Some other time, huh?" "I've been thinking about Estep's offers to you" " TV and films." "And I thought:" ""Hell, I got you this far." "So, why should he jump on for the cushy part of the ride?"" " That's terrific, Billy, but..." " That's not it." "I'm here to do good deeds." "Only since it's not my usual style, it doesn't come that easy." "Have you ever tried to turn over a new leaf?" "Just because you're so sick of yourself that you think it's fatal?" "I haven't had my second cup of coffee and I don't know what you're talking about." "I've been a tap dancer all my life, moving in circles at the speed of sound." "I wanna learn to walk..." "One foot in front of the other in a straight line, like normal people." "Only I need some help, from somebody who really knows me." "Who'll recognise when I'm doing my old thing" " and tell me to cool it." " We'll talk some other time." "I don't really know what loving somebody means." "But... you mean more to me than anyone." "And I need you." "So how about you and me...?" "Hello, Billy." "My timing's off." "Looks like it's the early worm who gets around here." " How's Washington?" " It stinks, from something rotten." " And the senator?" " You know how he is." "You can't help him now, Billy." " He's made his own bed." " If there's any way..." "I'll see that you lie in it, in state." "If you don't want me, fine." "But if you take him, you're gonna lose everything you have, maybe even your own life." "Please, Annie." "For the long way we've been together... don't." "I'm just not supposed to let you by, Mrs Estep." "I'm sorry..." " Mrs Estep?" " Would you tell him to get out of my way?" " She just wants to run a short errand." " Is there anything I can get for you?" " I can get it myself." " I'm afraid you can't, ma'am." " What do you mean, I can't?" " I have orders to take care of you here." "Orders?" "What orders?" "Get my husband on the phone." "Ma'am, they're your husband's orders." "And what if I just walked over to that elevator?" " Mrs Estep, please." " What would you do?" "I'd have to stop you." " That won't be necessary." " Thank you." "Can you handle this detail, sonny, or should I get a man to do it?" "I can handle it, sir." "Then stop looking like you just pushed your mother off the bridge." " I just hate to treat a lady like that." " There's things you'd hate a lot worse." "Like how her husband would treat you if you didn't." "Mrs Estep?" "Mrs Estep!" "Judging by the dust, these have gotta be 100 years old." "Ask a silly question." "Now, what have Nazi concentration camps have to do with Arizona land transactions of 1949 and gifts to the Holy Order of St Francis?" " What are you looking for?" " Just two more pieces of the puzzle." " Can I help?" " Yes." "Cover the doors, the phones." " No interruptions." " You got it." " Jordache Salt Mines?" " Almost." " Kate..." " Lunchtime." " No, not today." " Aw, come on." "You know what they say about all work and no play." "I'll have to take my chances." "I'm getting used to a caffeine and nicotine diet." "Exactly why we're going to the health-food emporium." "Carrot juice, seeds, sprouts..." "It'll make a new person out of you." "Well, the restoration of Rudy Jordache will have to wait." "OK." "I wouldn't want to drag you away from important business." "On the other hand... you leave me no choice." "Come on." "Get up." "Come on." "Dammit, Kate, cut it out!" "I'm fighting for my life here." "Don't you understand that?" "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." " I was being selfish." " No..." "You were being Kate." "I shouldn't expect you to understand what I'm going through now." "I guess Maggie must understand, since she works with you." "Now, come on." "That's got nothing to do with us." "You're right." " Forget I said it?" " Mm-hm." "OK, go back to work." "Hey." "I'm sorry about lunch." "That's all right." "I'll tell you what." "Tonight I will cook you a meal that will make you forget you even missed lunch today." "OK." "Give me a hint, so I have something to look forward to." "OK." "Picture a plate." "Steaming, aromatic, heaped high with a juicy..." " pile of tripe!" " Tripe?" " And kelp." " Help!" " Topped with turnip mash." " Ugh!" " Oh, and for dessert..." " I can hardly wait." "A slightly chipped fortune cookie with the message "I love you"." "My God!" "Ken?" " Get me on the next flight to Montreal." " What's in Montreal?" "With any luck..." "Albert Dietrich." "In the sitting room." "My God." " Claire, is she all right?" " Apparently." " What do you mean?" " She disappeared during the fire." "In the confusion, nobody saw her leave." " When did this happen?" " This morning." " Why wasrt I notified?" " We tried." "We couldn't find you." "I was in the hotel all the time with Ms Adams." "Next time you decide to bed down with a headliner, please let somebody know!" "All right." "All right, I want to talk to the fireman who was in charge." "There were no firemen." "Security put it out." "Security?" "Why?" "I didn't think you'd like to read in the morning papers, uh..." ""Wife of billionaire sets hotel suite ablaze."" " Claire did this?" " Al Barber says she wanted out, badly." " Do you know where she is now?" " She's gone to Jordache, to testify." "What the hell are you talking about?" "She bought a one-way ticket to Washington, under the name Claire Dietrich." "Dietrich?" "Ohh..." " Do we have any way of stopping her?" " It's too late." "She's landing now." "All right." "I may not be able to stop Claire... but I sure as hell can stop Jordache." "Find Falconetti, get him up here right away." " Is that phone working now?" " Yes." "This is Estep." "I'm in the suite." "Put me through to Washington to Dillon." "Dillon?" "This is Charles." "Claire is about to arrive there." "She's on her way to see Jordache." "See if you can stop her." "If you can't, find out who she talks to and what she says." "Right." "Get back to me as soon as you can." " Come in." " Mr Raymond said that you wanted to..." "I didn't have anything to do with this." "Nobody accused you, Anthony." "I know, sir, but... people are always laying stuff like this on me, and..." " it makes me... it makes me nervous." " Well, relax." "How have you been?" " I've been fine." "I've been fine, sir." " Been treated well?" "Sure." "I have a nice room, and, uh... the chow's good." "So, you've enjoyed your stay with us?" " There've been some pleasant moments." " Good." "Mr Estep?" " You're not cutting me loose, are you, sir?" " On the contrary, Anthony." "The best is yet to come." " I made a promise to you, remember?" " That's a promise I'll never forget." "And I'm a man of my word." "And you, Anthony Falconetti..." " have been as good as your word." " Thank you, sir." "And your patience is about to pay off." "Now?" "Now." "Thank you." "Thank you, Mr Estep." "Thank you, sir." "I'll be going now." "Where are you going, Anthony?" "I'm going East to find Jordache." "Well, since there are warrants out for your arrest in six - or is it, um... seven - Eastern states, do you think that's very wise?" " I see what you mean, sir." " So..." "Why not bring the senator out here, to you?" " How do I do... how do I do that, sir?" " He has a nephew living here, if I'm not mistaken." "Yes, sir." "A young blond boy." "I know where he lives, I know where he works..." "I know everything about him." "Sounds like you've been doing some advance work, Anthony." "Well, I suppose that would bring the senator running out to..." " our little part of the world." " How's that, sir?" "If something were to happen to his nephew." " Oh..." " Do you think you could arrange for that?" "It'd be my pleasure, sir." "Boo!" "Hey, it's me." "You wouldn't want to shoot your own wife, would you?" " Don't ever do that." " I'm sorry." "I just don't want any accidents." "Well, we're not gonna have to worry about Falconetti any more." " Oh, yeah?" " Hey, Wes, it's me, Diane, not Falconetti, OK?" "I found us a place." "It's kinda near the tracks, but we'll get used to the trains." "It's got a living room, a separate bedroom, there are a lot of young married couples around, and it's only $80 a month." " That's great." " It's someplace we can really settle into." "And the landlady said that I can paint the kitchen and I can put up curtains..." "And Falconetti's never gonna find us there, because you know what?" "I said we were Mr and Mrs Jones." " Jones?" " Yeah." "And with that name we'll blend right in and nobody will ever find us." " Did you put down a deposit?" " Part of it." "But the rest of the money you gave me I spent on a present for our new home." "What?" "Isn't it pretty?" "I bought a whole set." "And it's unbreakable." "It'll last us the rest of our lives." "No." "Don't you like it?" "I can take it back." " What is it, Wes?" "What are you doing?" " There isn't gonna be a "rest of our lives"." " Why not?" " I'm leaving." "No!" "We don't have what it takes to spend our lives together." "Yes, we do." "You said you loved me." "Love's a lousy word to cover a lot of different feelings." "I wish there was another word, cos I care for you, I care about you..." "But I don't love you the way a man loves a woman that he makes his wife." "You deserve somebody that belongs to you 100% ." "And who do you belong to?" "It was my mistake." "But piling one mistake on top of another won't solve anything." "Ramona." "Are you going to her?" " Yeah." " Why?" "I thought you couldn't leave." "I thought you had business with Falconetti." "I do." "It's gonna change my life." "Maybe end it, I don't know." "First I have to see Ramona and tell her what I should've told her before." "Wes, if you leave me, God knows what will happen to me." "What happens to you now is up to you." "You can go back to hustling, you can hurt yourself, you can be good to yourself..." "I hope you choose to be good to yourself, but I can't make that choice for you." "Wes?" "Wes?" "Where is he?" "Now boarding at gate 15, flight number 274 for New York City." "Now boarding." "Mr Jordache." "Mr Wesley Jordache, white courtesy telephone." "Mr Jordache." "Mr Wesley Jordache, white courtesy telephone." "Yeah, this is Wes Jordache." "Wha...?" "Thanks." "Ow!" "I got your lady here with me." "We're having some fun, me and her." " Falconetti..." " I thought you might like to join us." "The Crow Canyon turnoff on 266." "Ow!" "Listen..." "I hope you can make it." "Excuse me." " I'm Senator Jordache, from New York." " Welcome." "Is there a man here named Albert Dietrich?" "Yes." "You would like to see him?" "Yes." "There is Mr Dietrich." "Thank you." "Albert Dietrich?" "What can I do for you?" "Are you a German Jew?" "Did you survive the Nazi concentration camps?" " Who are you?" " Are you the Albert Dietrich who entered the United States in 1949 with his daughter Claire?" " Why are you here?" " Are you that Albert Dietrich?" "All I want is a simple yes or no." "Are you that Albert Dietrich?" " Why do you ask these questions?" " Yes or no?" " Yes." " No!" "Albert Dietrich died in Bergen-Belsen in 1944." "I am Albert Dietrich." "You took Albert Dietrich's identity, after you'd taken everything he owned, and you did it with the help of a young army lieutenant named Charles Estep." "Tell me, how many other poor, helpless Jews did you profit from as they tried to buy their way out of the gas chambers?" "You are angry, and misinformed." "How did you do it?" "Promise them safe passage out?" " I can't answer questions..." " Tell them you'd spare their children?" "Tell me, just how does a Nazi paper-pusher rip off dying people..." "Ernst Dettmer?" "Allow me to answer those questions." "Charles Estep found himself in a position to destroy your military service records, and Ernst Dettmer simply became a name on a war crimes list who had vanished." "And all it cost you was six million dollars." "A mars life is won'th whatever he can pay for it." "You had discovered Albert Dietrich owned land in the United States." "400,000 acres in Arizona." "That's why you came to this country, to lay claim to his land, and to sign it over to Charles Estep." "An acceptable payment for services rendered?" "Well, he was a shrewd young man." "And the rest of your spoils you deeded to this order." "Why was that?" " Why do you think?" " Are you going to tell me it was remorse?" "Perhaps it was, or perhaps it was only expediency," " the price to pay for a place of refuge." " Well, you are no longer safe, because I am going to drag you right out in the open." "If you can find the evidence to prove this wild tale." "I found you, Dettmer." "I found your name on the order that sent Albert Dietrich to his death." "I found the Arizona land transfer in Dietrich's name that you made your own, and I found your name on the Nazi war crimes list." "So you found a name." "That's all you found, because that's all that exists!" "No photographs, no fingerprint files..." "no survivors!" "So tell me, my self-righteous young friend, will you send a name to prison?" "Huh?" "Falconetti!" "Falconetti!" "You wanted me here, I'm here!" "Wes!" "Go back!" "Go back!" "Diane." "Over here." "Don't move." "Stay here." "May I talk with you?" "How long have you been here?" "Long enough to figure out where to hide if they came looking." "Please, come in." " Would you like to sit down?" " Thank you." "When I was a little girl, my father used to bring me sugar." "It was very hard to get during the war." "And he'd hold them behind his back and make me guess which hand." "And then he'd say, "Sag nichts zum Führer."" ""Don't tell the Führer."" "Near the end of the war, things happened very quickly." "My mother died." "The Allies came." "We fled on foot, walking at night, hiding during the day." "And my father often carried me, and I loved him then, very much." "And now?" "A child loves whoever protects her." "My father was not Albert Dietrich." "He's Ernst Dettmer." "You knew that?" "Not soon enough." "I've seen your father." "I know the whole story." "And there isn't a thing I can do to prove it." "I'll testify to my father's crimes, and to Charles'." "I know he was responsible for that union leader's death." "I know enough to tell an incredible story." "I've been telling incredible stories for months, without any evidence to prove them." "Did you know that your husband is a benevolent businessman?" "That you're Claire West... and I'm crazy?" "Would these help you?" "Where did you get these?" "After my father told me he was destroying our past, burning all our papers," "I took them and I hid them." "The past was all I had." "And after he left me in America, I used to take them out and look at my mother's signature and my father's face, and remember the times before she died and he used to bring me sugar." "Diane." "My God." "What happened?" "Falconetti." "He got me, and then Wes came to help... and he got Wes." "Then he drove us here." "He drove you?" "Falconetti beat you both up and then he drove you to the hospital?" "Nurse, let's get a blanket on this lady." "We want to keep you warm, Mrs Jordache." "Lie down, will you, please?" "Are you related to the Jordache boy?" "Yeah, I'm his brother." "How is he?" "Uh..." "He's in intensive care." "He, uh, has internal bleeding, congested lower left lobe, concussion..." " It's not too good." " What are his chances?" "I never know how to answer that question." "Are you gonna stick around?" " I'll be right here." " Then I'll keep you informed." "Nurse?" "See that she stays put." " Billy, stay with me." " I'll be right back." " Yes?" " Rudy." "It's me, Billy." "I'm in a hospital." " What happened?" "Are you hurt?" " It's not me, it's Wes." " Wes?" " He's here." "And Falconetti got him." " How bad is it?" " Bad." " I'll be on the next plane out." " I'll get the police on it." "Maybe they can pick up Falconetti." "He's working as a guard at the Tricorp Hotel." "Don't involve the police." "I'll take care of Falconetti myself." "Last on "Rich Man, Poor Man" " Book ll":" "I may not be able to stop Claire... but I sure as hell can stop Jordache." "If you leave me, God knows what'll happen to me." "What happens to you now is up to you." "You can go back to hustling, you can hurt yourself, you can be good to yourself..." "I hope you choose to be good to yourself, but I can't make that choice for you." "Why not bring the senator out here, to you?" " How do I do... how do I do that, sir?" " He has a nephew living here, if I'm not mistaken." "I thought you might like to join us." "The Crow Canyon turnoff on 266." "Falconetti!" "You want me here, I'm here!" "Wes!" "Go back!" "Falconetti." "He got me, and then Wes came to help... and he got Wes." "Then he drove us here." " How bad is it?" " Bad." " I'll be on the next plane out." " I'll get the police on it." "Maybe they can pick up Falconetti." "He's working as a guard at the Tricorp hotel." "Don't involve the police." "I'll take care of Falconetti myself." "Brand-spanking new, and no way to trace it." "The serial number's been burned off with acid." " How much?" " Two bills." "Shells?" "Enough?" "Hey." "If you know anybody else that needs a little self-protection, send them to me here." "Yes?" "Ask her to come in." "Charles Estep's swan song, lyrics courtesy of his wife." "It's all right here in her deposition." "Dietrich's identity, Estep's involvement in Scotty's death." " Enough to pique a grand jury's interest." " Where is she now?" "In a house in Maryland, under guard." "She doesn't leave until she's ready to testify." "Now, when the hearings resume," "I will make a short but eloquent speech outlining the charges against you, then you will take the witness chair and lower the boom on Mr Estep." "I'm afraid you'll have to take it from here." " What do you mean?" " I'm going to Las Vegas." " You're going to Las Vegas?" " My plane leaves in an hour." "Are you insane?" "This is it." "This is what we've been struggling for." "We finally have the ammunition to put Estep away and you won't be here?" "Wesley's in Vegas." "He's been hurt." " How badly?" " He's on the critical list." "Oh, Rudy, I'm sorry." "What happened?" "I don't really know." "Maybe I can get the hearings postponed." "How long will you be gone?" "I'm not sure." "Can you give me any idea?" "A day, a week, a month?" "I'm not thinking that far ahead any more." "Rudy, is it just Wesley, or is there something else?" "Give 'em hell at the hearings." " Need a lift to the airport?" " I have a ride already, thanks." "Anyone I know?" "Kate." "When the hearings are over, I don't suppose there'll be much point in my sticking around in Washington, will there?" "Not professionally." "Do we have any other kind of relationship?" "What is it you called us the first time we had dinner?" "Uh..." "A couple of overachievers in the romance department?" "I guess we both tried a little too hard to make it perfect." "Maybe we should have gone with the feeling, seen where it took us." " The way you did with Kate?" " Yes." "She happened to come along at exactly the right time." " I know." " I needed her." " And now?" " Now..." "Now I'm not thinking past Las Vegas." "Well, there's only one problem with that, Rudy." "Neither one of us knows whether I'll be here when you get back." "Maggie, I'm not thinking past Las Vegas." "I hope Wesley will be all right." "Maggie." "You are a very special woman." "Oh, Rudy." "Well, that's just about the nicest brushoff any girl could ask for." "Don't be too sure it's over." "Don't worry, we'll make it." "You know, when you phoned, I felt as if I had won one of those sweepstakes." "You know, an all-expense-paid vacation to Dulles airport." "It doesn't take much to please you, does it?" "Well, I figured that Maggie might be taking this ride with you." "Why?" "Cos I thought I probably scared you off with what I said yesterday." " The fortune cookie?" " The message inside the fortune cookie." "Something about "I love you"?" "It was a misprint." " Was it?" " Mm-hm." " If that's what you want to hear." " I want to hear what you want to say." "I swore to myself that I'd never say that." "You've got enough on your mind without me falling in love with you." " Is that what happened?" " Without me looking." "Oh, Rudy, I can't compete with Maggie." "She's a grown-up." " That's true." " And she's beautiful." "And she's intelligent, and she does things, important things." "And all I want is to love a man and die in bed with him when I'm 90." "That's no great shakes as a long-range goal, is it?" "It has its advantages." "Especially for the man, if you're lucky enough to be him." "I don't think I could change... not even for you." "I wouldn't want you to change." "Could you stand it for the rest of your life?" "I don't know." "But it's a tempting thought." "How tempting?" "You know..." "Sometimes I think the Mormons have the right idea." " You mean marrying us both?" " Mm-hm." "The thought's crossed my mind, usually around three in the morning." "If you could put the two of us together, you would probably have the perfect Mrs Rudy Jordache." "Mm-hm." "Unfortunately it can't be done." "No, it can't." "And so it's up to you." "And sooner or later, you're going to have to make the choice." "I know." "Do you want my advice?" "Punt." "Mrs Jordache... did anyone ever tell you you're nuts?" " What are you doing?" " I'm checking." " I'm expecting a call." " It'll just take me a minute." "Put it down." "Now!" "What's the matter with you?" "I'm the one who's supposed to have opening night jitters." "I apologise." "I'm sorry." "But right now, I cannot agonise over your poster and your wardrobe and whether or not the audience will love you." "Are you always this warm the morning after?" "Annie..." "Charles, I'm beginning to believe you don't care about me or my career." "You just wanted to use me so you could hurt Billy." "Annie, if you knew how totally unimportant Billy Abbott was in the grand scheme of things," " you would never say that." " How important am I?" "You're very important." "Yes." "Speaking." "That should put him in here about three o'clock our time." "No, that's all at your end." "Thank you." "If you're that worried about the audience tonight, why don't you go downstairs and check the reservations in person?" "Sure." "Barber, please." "Estep speaking." "Al, Jordache is due in at three o'clock from Washington." "Have someone at the airport." "I wanna know where he is minute by minute." "Right." "Hey, hey." "Everything is gonna work out just fine." "You'll see." "No change." "I don't understand it." "Why can't they stop the bleeding?" "Falconetti ruptured Wes's kidney." "They're pumping coagulates into him, they're just not taking." "Hey, why don't you go home and get some shuteye?" "I'll stay and mind the fort." " How's Wes?" " The same." "Billy, I'm sorry about the other morning." "The last thing in the world I want to do is to hurt you." "This isn't exactly the place to talk about that." "That's not what I came here for." "Some things you were telling me about Charles, about him being dangerous." "Well, it takes things a while to sink in, but now I'm finally beginning to believe you." "Did you know your stepfather is coming to Vegas?" " Yeah, I called him about Wes." " Charles knows he's coming too." "He's sending someone to follow him." "Estep?" "Why is he keeping track of your stepfather?" " Do you know what flight Rudy's on?" " Gets in at three." "Thanks, Annie." "Billy." "Don't give up on me yet." "You know me." "I never give up till the last chorus." "Rudy." " How did you know what flight I was on?" " I didn't, but Charles Estep knew." " How's Wes?" " Still critical." "Can't stop the bleeding." "Rudy, one of these charming tourists is here to follow you." " You got a car?" " Yeah." "Let's go to the hospital." "Why does Estep want to keep tabs on you?" "Ask him." "Rudy." "What are you doing here?" "I was in the neighbourhood, thought I'd drop by." "Who told you?" "Billy." "You shouldn't have come." "Now, that's a hell of a greeting." "It's a setup." "Falconetti could have killed me 20 times out there." "He brought me here instead." "He knew once you'd heard, you'd come after him." "Rudy..." "I don't... want to lose you the way I lost my father." "Promise..." "Promise me." "What?" "Promise me you won't go after Falconetti." "I promise." "Rudy, my whole life has been one long line of mistakes." "That's not true." "What about us?" "I blew that." "I couldn't talk." "I didn't listen to reason." " I just split." " Well..." "The mistakes were made on both sides." "I don't really think we ever lost the feeling we had for each other." "Your know, your father and I were at each other all the time." "But when I left for college, there wasrt a day that went by when I didn't think about him." "The same with you." "Wes." "Yeah?" "My father once asked me if I thought the sons were responsible for the sins of the father." "You think that's true?" "No." "I don't think so." "That's exactly what I said." "Better get some rest." "Yeah." "I'll be back later." "You know that, uh... family..." "I was always looking for?" "It was there all the time." " Was he awake?" " You can see him later." "He needs rest." " I'll go to the hotel." " I'm not going to a hotel." "Let me buy you a drink." "I don't want company, Billy." "Rudy, leave it alone." "Vicki, what was the name of that guy Wes used to find Falconetti?" "Never mind why, just give me his number." "Yeah." "Who?" "Tell him I'm in a meeting." " Falconetti, Anthony Falconetti." " Senator, nice..." " He's been working here." " I'm sorry, I didn't get the name." " He's wanted for murder." " I don't think he's..." "You've been harbouring a fugitive." "Where is he?" "Listen, friend." "How'd you like to explain his presence in your casino to the county sheriff?" "Don't threaten me, Senator." "See, I was a cop for 18..." "I haven't started threatening you, friend." "How'd you like a Senate investigation on your doorstep?" "I'd love it, cos there ain't nothing to investigate." "No?" "We can start with skimming, and then work our way to the gentlemen who spend time in your private cottages, the ones who bring in that pension fund money." "That's all been tried before, you can't prove nothing." "I can put this clip joint under a spotlight, and that would make you an unpopular fella with Mr Estep and company." "You'd go to all that trouble for some creep?" "That's right, so you'd better start digging him up." "Now." "All right, back off a minute." "Let me make a couple of phone calls, huh?" "I'll be at that number." "Call me in an hour." "And you'd better say more than hello." "I just went a couple of rounds with that senator." " He's here." "Good." " Good?" "He threatened to haul me in front of the sheriff and investigate the hotel unless I hand over that creep Falconetti." " We'll have to give him what he wants." " That'll be my pleasure." "Only not quite the way he expects it." "In case you wondered, I've kept Falconetti around for a very good reason." " Yeah?" "What?" " To kill Jordache." "The senator has complicated my life no end." "It is about time he starts to pay for that grief." "Boss, there's got to be some other way." "No." "Falconetti's perfect." "He has a motive." "All we have to do is supply the means." "I want it to happen in front of people, someplace crowded, so there's no mistake about who did the shooting." "The casino, I think, just before Annie's ten o'clock show." "And then after Falconetti's dropped the senator, you step in." "And you drop Mr Falconetti." " Are you crazy?" " No." "After he kills Jordache, he's useless." "Except to tie me into the whole thing." "We're talking about a United States senator." "You're not going to do anything to him." "You're going to kill the man who killed the United States senator." "You'll be a hero." "You could probably be elected governor of this state." "In fact, here is your first campaign contribution." "$100,000." "Make it neat, Al." "Well, say something, anything." "Just so I know I'm not going deaf down here." "You're gonna hit Jordache tonight." "Well, I heard that loud and clear." "When?" " Ten o'clock." " Where?" "The casino." "Come on, I'm gonna go up there and shoot him with all them people?" "That's right." "Hey, it's all been worked out." "Oh, yeah?" "By who?" "Mr Estep." "Look, here's a map of the casino." "Jordache is gonna come through here." "You're gonna be there." "When he heads for my office, you drop him." "All those people." "Hey, can you just see those old broads at the slot machines?" "When you come out blasting, they'll scream like they just hit a $10,000 jackpot." "Maybe even the crap players will pay attention." "Barber." "What happens to me, huh?" "Huh?" "With all that pushing and screaming that's going on, you're going to go right out through the kitchen and get away." "Yeah, with all them people." "Estep worked this out himself." "He figured this is the easiest way for you to do the job and then split." "Hey, besides, I'm going to be right there, watching your back." "How did Wes know Falconetti worked at the Tricorp?" "For God's sakes." "You talked to the hospital." "They've stopped the bleeding." "There has to be a name, a number, something." "Wes is going to be all right." "There's no point to this." "You think it's over just because Wesley pulled through?" "What about next time?" "Maybe one of us won't be so lucky when it happens again." " Then get the police to arrest Falconetti." " So he'll be bailed out?" "I'll be filling out the forms, he'll be back out." "You're a senator." "You stood up in Washington making laws, telling people what's right and what's wrong." "You can't just ignore everything you are." "Well, I can't live with it any more, Billy." "I am not going to spend all my life pretending Falconetti doesn't exist." "Do you know what this is going to do to you?" "It'll be all over for you." "Everything." "Washington, everything." "Because you played Falconetti's game." "Maybe that's the game I was meant to play." "No, dammit!" "Look, if you want to cut somebody down, start with me." "I'm the one that sold you out to Estep." "I can't buy that back for you, Billy." "You're going to have to make peace with it yourself." "I'm sorry." "For all those wasted years." "I should have taken more time to be a father to you, and I didn't." " Hello." " Senator?" "Yes." "I've located that package we've been looking for." "It'll be in my office at ten o'clock." "I'll be there to pick it up." "Falconetti?" "He'll be in Barber's office." "Ten o'clock." " Care for the same?" " Lucy." "What?" " You ain't been a nice girl." " I don't work for you, Al, so buzz off." "Ow!" "You told that blond kid where Falconetti was stashed." "What kid?" "Now, talk straight." "There ain't a big market for one-armed waitresses." "So I told him." "So what?" "So you feel bad about it because he's in the hospital." " Is he all right?" " Who cares?" "You know who Senator Jordache is?" " I've seen him on TV." " He's gonna be in here about ten o'clock." "I want you to keep an eye out for him." "So you want me to tell you when he comes in?" "No." "I want you to tell him how sorry you are about his nephew, and how it was you who tipped him to Falconetti." " Why?" "Ow!" " Do it." "I just want you to keep him occupied for a while." "Over there." " You think you can do it, honey?" " What do I get out of this?" "Your arm - it stays in one piece." "Ten o'clock." "Thank you, gentlemen." " Charles Estep?" " Yes." "We're federal marshals." "We have a warrant for your arrest." " Well?" " Well, it was tough." "You don't know how tough it was." " Where is he?" " I mean, I covered the whole city." "You know?" "From one end to the other." "Shoe leather alone has gotta be won'th another 50 bucks." "There's my throat, I'll probably have to go to a throat doctor or something." "Cos when I wasrt walking, I was talking." "Calling, I must have spent 30, 40..." "You don't wanna know what I had to go through." "You want a kick in the head?" "He never left the hotel." "Falconetti, he's in the basement of the Tricorp hotel." "Gimme." "It's gonna cost you a little more than I told you." " How much?" " Another yard." "Taxi." "Downstairs." "Just play that." "How you doir?" "Mr Barber, first time for you." "Deal." "Hey, what are you doing this for, kid?" "Look, you're gonna get yourself in real trouble." "Do you know what you've done?" "You kidnapped me." " You kidnapped me." " Just till 11 o'clock." "What happens then?" "Rudy'll be gone, I'll turn you over to the police." "Relax." "You've got a while yet." " Senator Jordache?" " Yes." "Hi." "I didn't know it was gonna turn out like that." "If I did, I wouldn't have done it." "What are you talking about?" "Hey, is it OK if I have a cigarette, kid?" "Sure." "Cigarette." "Look, you got me a little shook, kid." "I'll admit it, I'm sorry." "They're not that good for you anyway." "Look, I need it, please." "Please." "Yeah, go ahead." "Slow." "So then he says to me..." "So I figure..." "Excuse me, I've got an appointment." "I'll never forgive myself if anything happens." "How is he?" "I just told you." "He's fine." "Thank God for that, huh?" "Rudy!" "Are you OK?" "Never better." "Falconetti!" "Please." "Please, look, it wasrt me, sir." "I swear it wasrt me." "I swear it." "Estep made me do it." "I didn't want to hurt that kid." "I'm on my knees to you." "I'm begging you." "Get up." "I'm begging you for my life." "Please." "Please." "You want something?" "Anything?" "What do you want?" "You want Estep, Senator?" "You want him, I'll get him for you." "I don't want you on your knees." "Get up, now." "And now for the news." "From the natiors capital, the censure hearings against Senator Rudy Jordache collapsed today under a mountain of evidence indicating that Charles Estep engineered the proceedings with perjured testimony." "Estep was subsequently arrested in Dallas, Texas, on charges ranging from bribery to murder." "The White House issued a statement congratulating Senator Jordache on the outcome of the censure hearings." "Jordache is being hailed by fellow senators as the new conscience of the Senate." "As of this report, the senator was unavailable for comment." "It's presumed he's in seclusion, celebrating his victory."