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*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the home page or heywoodgould.com

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

PART IV

ACT FOUR

INT. THE STORK CLUB. NIGHT

New York’s swankiest “nitery.” Patrons in EVENING DRESS dance to a “sweet” band. Suddenly, the band stops and the room goes dark.

        BANDLEADER
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Stork
Club welcomes an old friend…

The band strikes up. A FOLLOW SPOT  picks up Charley and Gay entering the club. The CUSTOMERS leap to their feet, cheering as they are taken to their ringside table. “Go get ‘em Lucky…” etc. One man pounds him on the back, wishing him “good luck.”

        CHARLEY
Not so loud, everybody. I’m
supposed to be in jail…

Charley clasps his hand like a boxer and they applaud like mad.

INT. DEWEY KITCHEN. NIGHT.

Frances pours a glass of milk and brings it over to Tom, who is disconsolately picking at a sandwich.

        FRANCES
I think the laughter was
just a way of breaking the
tension.These people had
been listening to some
pretty horrible stories all
day.

        TOM
I was trying to get them
to sympathize with the
girls and hate Luciano.
But it backfired. You
should have seen the way
they cheered him on. Like
he was a movie star or a
prize fighter.

        FRANCES
Every man secretly wishes
he had the charm and power
of a Lucky Luciano

        TOM
That’s the problem. They
like Luciano and don’t like
me. I’ve never lost a case
or won a popularity contest
in my life.

        FRANCES
Except with me.

        TOM
Even you don’t like me
when I’m on trial…I
have to win this one,
Frances. I’m finished
if I don’t.

INT. COURTROOM. DAY

The next morning. Nancy testifies to a packed courtroom.. She is clean, modestly dressed. She turns away to avoid
Charley’s glance.

        NANCY
We would have sex once in
awhile, but he mostly wanted
to talk.

AT THE DEFENSE TABLE (CROSSCUT)

With an appreciative look, Charley leans over to Polakoff.

        CHARLEY
They dress her way down,
but she’s still the best
lookin’broad in the room.

        TOM
What did he talk about?

        NANCY
About his life, you know.
How he got started. How he
was gonna organize the
rackets into one big company
with him on top.

        TOM
Did he ever discuss the
prostitution business?

        NANCY
Once. I told him this pimp
Ralphie Liquori was beatin’
on the girls. He said he
would take care of it and
the guy never touched nobody
again.

AT THE DEFENSE TABLE

Polakoff looks to Charley for confirmation. Charley nods, ruefully.

        TOM
Did Mr. Luciano ever have
any visitors?

        NANCY
Everybody came to see him.
All the big shots, He’d make
me go into the bathroom and
run the water so I wouldn’t
hear nothin’.

        TOM
Did you ever listen?

        NANCY
I never cared what they
were sayin’?

        TOM
(prompting)
Never?

        NANCY
(picks up the cue)
Oh yeah. Well once when
Little Davey was there I
heard Charley sayin’: ‘the
take ain’t so good. We’re
gonna have to raise the two
dollar houses to three and
boost the five and ten buck
joint, too.

        TOM
Thank you, Miss Presser.
And I’d like to commend you
for the courage and strength
of character you have shown
in coming forward.

AT THE DEFENSE TABLE

Polakoff starts to rise, but Charley grabs his arm.

        CHARLEY
Go easy on her, Mo. Dewey
made her lie.

        POLAKOFF
She’s their star witness,
Charley. I’ve got to
discredit her.

He rises and walks slowly toward Nancy, demonstrating his contempt for her to the jury.

        POLAKOFF
How old are you, Miss
Presser?

        NANCY
Twenty six.

        POLAKOFF
How long have you been a
prostitute?

Unnerved, Nancy looks at Tom. He nods encouragement.

        NANCY
I started when I was
thirteen…

        POLAKOFF
Thirteen years takes its
toll. You’re not as attractive
as you used to be.

        TOM
Objection, Your Honor. Is
Mr. Polakoff running a beauty
contest?

        POLAKOFF
Withdrawn. Miss Presser, what
do you get for your services?

        NANCY
I got two bucks per visit.
We had to knock it down to
a buck fifty ‘cause of the
Depression.

        POLAKOFF
A dollar fifty. Now, Miss
Presser, would you agree
that Mr. Luciano is a well
known man about town?

        NANCY
Man about town. Yeah, sure…

        POLAKOFF
A man who is famous for
escorting beautiful women
(points to Gay Orlova)
His fiancee Gay Orlova has
been a featured performer
on Broadway. Do you really
want the jury to believe
that when Mr. Luciano was
lonesome he called a buck
fifty hooker to keep him
company?

        TOM
(leaps to his feet)
I object to Mr. Polakoff’s
insidious and demeaning
characterization…

        POLAKOFF
Withdrawn. How many times
would you say you visited,
Mr. Luciano at the Waldorf?

        NANCY
I don’t know, fifty maybe.

        POLAKOFF
Where is the Waldorf?

        NANCY
It’s on the East Side I
think. Charley always gave
me cab money.

        POLAKOFF
Fifty times, but you don’t
know the address. When you
got out at Mr. Luciano’s
floor did you turn right
or left?

        NANCY
I don’t know my left from
my right that good.

        POLAKOFF
Describe the furniture in
his suite.

        TOM
Objection, the witness is
not an interior decorator.

        MCCOOK
(reluctant)
Overruled. It’s a fair
question.

        POLAKOFF
What kind of bed does Mr.
Luciano have? Double? King?
Queen?

        NANCY
I don’t know beds.

        POLAKOFF
You should. You spend enough
time in them.

        TOM
Objection!

        MCCOOK
Sustained. Every witness in
my courtroom is to be treated
with respect.

        POLAKOFF
Especially the prosecution
witnesses You’re a heroin
addict, aren’t you, Miss
Presser?

        NANCY
No more. As of February
first I was cured, thanks
to Mr. Dewey.

        POLAKOFF
Mr. Dewey promised to send
you away to regain your
health and normalcy.

        NANCY
He’s been good to me.

        POLAKOFF
But he wouldn’t have been
so good if you didn’t
testify against Mr. Luciano

        TOM
Objection!

        POLAKOFF
And he’ll only be good to
you if Mr. Luciano is
convicted. If the jury sees
through Mr.Dewey’s little
scheme you’ll be going back
to the gutter where he found
you, won’t you Miss Presser?

        TOM
I will not permit this
woman to be abused, Your
Honor. Whatever benefit she
may derive cannot equal the
risk she is taking…

Tom’s words are lost in the excited buzz of the gallery, the pounding of the gavel and McCook’s futile calls for order.

EXT. CRIMINAL COURT BUILDING. DAY

Charley and Polakoff emerge into the late afternoon sunshine to be besieged by REPORTERS and cheered by FANS who are being kept back behind barricades. Charley waves to the crowd while Polakoff goes to the MICROPHONES.

        POLAKOFF
This is a case of an over-
ambitious prosecutor trying
to advance his political career…

        CHARLEY
Dewey wants to send me to
jail, but I’m going to send
him back to Michigan…

EXT. CARMINE’S RESTAURANT. DAY

An excited crowd greets Charley and Polakoff.

        CHARLEY
You guys hungry? You like
pizza?
(to CARMINE, the owner)
Carmine, make ten pizzas for
my friends. Ah, make it
twenty…Case of beer, too.
Not that swill I used to
sell you either…

INT. PRIVATE ROOM.DAY

Meyer, tan and fit in a light summer suit, jumps up to greet them.

        MEYER
Excuse me, Mr. Popularity,
can I have your autograph?

        CHARLEY
Look at you, Mr. Miami.
Brushin’ up on your polo
game?

        MEYER
I bet the horses. Let the
schmucks ride ‘em. So far
so good, huh? That little
tart the best they got?

        CHARLEY
It’s not her fault. She’s
a junkie, got no will power…

        POLAKOFF
You never know how the jury
reacts to that sob sister
stuff. But I’ve got the hall
maid and the manager who’ll
say she was never there…

        CHARLEY
You won’t need no rebuttal
when I get off the stand…

        POLAKOFF
(with a look at Meyer)
You’re not thinking of
testifying?

        CHARLEY
C’mon, Mo, you know I been
thinkin’ about it. That’s
why you got Meyer up here
to talk me out of it.

        MEYER
I don’t understand, Charley,
you’re doin’ great.

        CHARLEY
That’s ‘cause my lawyer’s
better than their’s.

        POLAKOFF
I should hope so.

        CHARLEY
But I don’t want people to
say Lucky’s smart lawyer got
him off. I want ‘em to say,
Charley was framed. He’s
innocent

        MEYER
What do you care what they
say?

        CHARLEY
I got my pride. I been
knockin’ around New York
since I’m eleven. I love
every loose cobblestone,
every dark alley. All the
joints, all the grifters
from the bums on the corner
to the smart guys in the
penthouses. And they love
me, too. You’ll see, they’ll
stand up for me.

        MEYER
(shakes his head)
You can handicap a race,
figure odds on a card. But
trustin’ people. That’s a
sucker bet.

INT.COURTROOM. DAY

The next day. In a hushed courtroom, Polakoff steps to the bench and with an apprehensive look at Tom:

        POLAKOFF
Your Honor, I call Charles
Luciano to the stand.

AT THE PROSECUTION

Tom and his staff look up in astonishment at their good luck. As Charley walks by with a defiant look, Tom mutters to Gurfein:

        TOM
Get me that cross examination
we prepared, Mr. Gurfein.

        GURFEIN
(shuffling through a
mountain of papers)
It’s here somewhere. I
didn’t think we were going
to need it.

INT.COURTROOM. DAY

A short time later. Charley is completing his testimony. The JURORS look on with knowing, sympathetic smiles.

        CHARLEY
When you’re a New York boy
from a tough neighborhood you
make mistakes. I sold narcotics,
but I did my time and except
for a little gambling problem
in Miami I’ve never been
arrested since.

        POLAKOFF
Do you know Flo Brown?

        CHARLEY
I do not.

        POLAKOFF
Do you know any of the men
who testified against you?

        CHARLEY
I’ve met them, but what
they said wasn’t true.

        POLAKOFF
Have you ever taken a nickel
from prostitution.

        CHARLEY
(tries a joke)
I gave, but I never took.
(then gets serious)
I swear I have never
profited from prostitution.

        POLAKOFF
Thank you, sir…

Tom rises slowly, the tension growing. He takes a dramatic pause, savoring the moment.

        TOM
Just a gambler. Broadway
Charley. Another colorful
character, is that what you
want this jury to believe?

        CHARLEY
It’s the truth.

        TOM
You started out peddling
dope, didn’t you? Prostitutes
would turn a trick and turn
their two dollars over to
you for a shot of liquid
opium, wouldn’t they?

        CHARLEY
I was seventeen. I quit
doin’ that when I got out
of jail.

        TOM
Just a harmless, colorful
character…Does the date
June 2, 1923 mean anything
to you?

Charley is startled. He begins to realize he’s made a mistake.

        CHARLEY
How’d you know about that?.

        TOM
It’s the day you sold two
ounces of heroin to Special
Agent John Lynch, isn’t it?

        CHARLEY
I was never charged…

        TOM
No. You made a deal, didn’t
you? Gave a statement that
at 163 Mulberry Street they
would find a whole trunk
full of dope. Turned stool
pigeon, didn’t you?

        POLAKOFF
Objection…Irrelevant…

        MCCOOK
Overruled.

        TOM
You weren’t peddling drugs.
You just happened to know
where a whole trunkful could
be found.

        CHARLEY
I knew things.

        TOM
Now you say that from 1920
to 1925, you weren’t doing
anything else in the world
but running a crap game.

        CHARLEY
That’s right.

        TOM
Did you ever go to the
horse races?

        CHARLEY
I went to the track, sure.

        TOM
Do a little bookmaking on
the side?

        CHARLEY
Just as part of the crap
game.

        TOM
Did you ever earn an honest
dollar in your life?

        POLAKOFF
Objection…

        TOM
Withdrawn…While you were
shooting crap and booking
horses did you ever sell
alcohol?

        CHARLEY
I got some for my friends.

        TOM
A little side business. So
the hundreds of police
reports and news articles
that identify you as the
boss of the billion dollar
bootlegging racket are
incorrect.

        POLAKOFF
(desperate)
Your Honor, may we have a
brief recess…

        MCCOOK
You may not.

        CHARLEY
You know the papers
exaggerate everything…

        TOM
And you don’t know any
bootleggers yourself…

        CHARLEY
(looking to the jury for
support)
In New York it’s hard not
to bump into a bootlegger.

        TOM
Al Capone is in Chicago.
Are you acquainted with
him?

        CHARLEY
I’ve met him.

        TOM
Met him? Isn’t it a fact
that you worked closely
with him for five years?

        POLAKOFF
Objection…

        TOM
You’re pretty well
acquainted with  Louis
Buchalter, aren’t you?

        CHARLEY
I know him. I wouldn’t say
well acquainted.

        TOM
Did you know that he and
his partner Gurrah Shapiro
are the biggest racketeers
in the clothing industry?

        CHARLEY
Didn’t know that.

        TOM
Doesn’t Buchalter have to
pay you tribute to operate
his labor rackets?

        POLAKOFF
Objection…

        MCCOOK
Overruled.

        CHARLEY
I have no business relations
with him.

        TOM
How about Bugsy Siegel?
Know him?

        CHARLEY
He’s a friend of mine.

        TOM
What’s his business?

        CHARLEY
I know he’s been puttin’
on some shows.

        TOM
(savoring the sarcasm)
Do you really expect this
jury to believe that Bugsy
Siegel makes his living
producing Broadway shows?

        POLAKOFF
Your Honor I object to Mr.
Dewey’s use of insult and
innuendo…

        TOM
Oh alright, Mr. Polakoff,
I’ll withdraw the question.
(bears down on Charley)
Ever tell a lie?

        CHARLEY
Everybody lies about little
things.

        TOM
You lied under oath to get
a pistol permit. Big or
little lie?

        POLAKOFF
Objection. Calls for a
conclusion.

        TOM
You were stopped in upstate
New York on May 11, 1927.
They found four revolvers,
a shotgun and a Thompson
Machine Gun in your car.
You told the officers you
were hunting. What were
you hunting?

        CHARLEY
Peasants…

The gallery titters at this mispronunciation. Charley winces in humiliation.

        TOM
Pheasants you mean and
they’re not usually hunted
with a Tommy Gun. How many
times have you been taken
for a ride?

        POLAKOFF
This is a violation of Mr.
Luciano’s Fifth Amendment
rights.

        TOM
Police reports say you were
beaten and left for dead on
a street in Staten Island.
You told police it was done
by a jealous husband. Was
that a lie?

        CHARLEY
It was a private dispute.

        TOM
How did you resolve it?
Kill the jealous husband?

        POLAKOFF
Objection.

        TOM
All the men and women who
have testified about you.
Were they lying?

        CHARLEY
Yes.

        TOM
Was Nancy Presser lying?

        CHARLEY
She was…confused.

        TOM
You’re an admitted liar, a
bootlegger, a gambler and
a narcotics peddler. But
you want this jury to
believe you’ve never
taken a nickel from
prostitution.

        CHARLEY
I’d never sink that low.

        TOM
It’s not low to sell heroin
to gullible girls?

        POLAKOFF
Objection.

        TOM
Do you think this jury
or anyone will believe
the sanctimonious act
you have just put on?

        POLAKOFF
Your Honor, you must stop
this abuse.

        TOM
Do you think anyone has
any doubt that before them
stands not a gambler or a
racetrack man, but stripped
stark naked the greatest
gangster in America?

        CHARLEY
I don’t deny what I am.
But I never took a nickel
off a prostitute.

        TOM
You never had a day when
you didn’t. You’re dismissed.

Tom turns away in scorn. The JURORS whisper to each other, shooting hostile looks. Charley sags, a broken man. A SOB punctures the shocked silence. All eyes turn to:

THE FRONT ROW

where Gay Orlova weeps quietly.

NEWSREEL (STOCK FOOTAGE)…Outside, the courthouse, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE  wait for the verdict.

        NEWSCASTER
Hundreds of people gathered
in the park outside the court-
house waiting for the verdict.

INT.COURTROOM. DAY

The jury glares, stonefaced and vengeful. Charley stares with grim, unseeing eyes as the charges are read and the JURY FOREMAN responds to every one with:

        FOREMAN
Guilty…

AT THE PROSECUTION TABLE

Dewey and his staff stand at dignified attention, but there is no mistaking the triumph in their eyes.

        GURFEIN
(whispers)
You won, Chief.

        TOM
Guilty…Got a nice ring
to it, Mr. Gurfein…

INT.COURTROOM. DAY

The next day. At the Prosecution table Tom is looking at a TABLOID FRONT PAGE that reads: LUCIANO, NINETY TIMES GUILTY. Charley and Polakoff stand at the bench as Judge McCook reads the sentence.

        MCCOOK
Since there is no excuse
for your conduct and no
hope for your rehabilitation
I sentence you to a total
of thirty to fifty years in
the state prison.

The SPECTATORS shout out, some in protest, some in support.

        POLAKOFF
I strenuously object Your
Honor. The maximum mandatory
sentence for this offense
is ten years…

        MCCOOK
You can appeal, Mr. Polakoff.
But I don’t hold out much
hope for you. No judge in
this state will ever let Mr.
Luciano out on the street
again.

Charley turns and nods at Tom, crushed but defiant. As the Court Officers escort him out he turns to Meyer in the front row.

        CHARLEY
You were right, Meyer.
It was a sucker bet.

END ACT FOUR

END PART FOUR

Next: Part 25/Act 1: Dewey Makes A Move

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

PART IV

ACT TWO

INT. TOM’S OFFICE. NIGHT.

Tom listens intently as a Dave Miller tells his story.

        MILLER
It’s all organized. We pay
ten bucks per girl for a
bail fund that gets them
out of jail. Ten bucks
goes for paying off the
Vice Squad. Three hundred
a week to Bettilo.

        TOM
Who’s he?

        MILLER
The collector. Comes around
after a big Friday night.
If you can’t pay he saps
you down.

        TOM
Luciano ever sap you down?

        MILLER
No he don’t do his own rough
stuff.

        TOM
So how do you know he’s
Bettilo’s boss?

        MILLER
I seen ‘em together. I
brought a broad to the
Waldorf for Luciano.
Nancy Presser…

INT.TOM’S OFFICE. DAY

Dawn. An argument has been raging for hours. Tom watches, trying to make up his mind as his staff fights it out.

        HURWITZ
It’s a known fact that Luciano
runs every racket in the city.

        GURFEIN
We still need to establish a
direct connection to
prostitution.

        HURWITZ
Miller gives us the connection.
He brought a girl to Luciano.

        GURFEIN
That only proves that Luciano
is a good customer. We need
to see him taking money,
making day to day decisions.

        TOM
Miss Carter, you worked in
Woman’s Court. Did the
prostitutes ever mention
any ties to the Syndicate?

        CARTER
All I heard were the most
heartbreaking stories.

        TOM
Which would sound very
moving on a witness stand.
These women are on the
lowest rung of the criminal
ladder. They are fragile
souls…

        CARTER
Anyone who can drink a quart
of gin and sleep with twenty
men a night is hardly fragile,
Chief. But they are downtrodden
and abused.

        TOM
For five years I’ve turned
down the idea of going after
the prostitution racket. It
seemed like small potatoes.
But I overlooked the human
aspect. People wouldn’t like
their Good Time Charley so
much if they saw how he
ruined the lives of young
girls. I can see a parade of
fallen women marching into a
courtroom and pointing their
fingers at Charley Luciano,
saying:”you did this to me.”
Let’s see if he can stand up
to that.

INT.BROTHEL. NIGHT.

Towels are jammed into the window cracks and under the door. Nancy  and two YOUNG PROSTITUTES are smoking opium. There is a KNOCK.

        NANCY
Oh God, I don’t feel like
workin’.

Opens the door and a bunch of DETECTIVES shoulder in.

        DETECTIVE
Get your coats, ladies, this
is a raid.

        NANCY
I don’t get it. We paid
everybody off.

        DETECTIVE
Not Tom Dewey, you haven’t.

INT. FREIGHT ELEVATOR. NIGHT.

Nancy is jammed in with a bunch of complaining PROSTITUTES and bored cops. The door opens on the HOLDING ROOM. The floor is crowded with raucous PROSTITUTES and harried COPS. Eunice Carter stands at the door with a welcoming smile.

        CARTER
Good evening ladies. Give
your names to the officers
at the tables. There’s coffee
and donuts if you’re hungry…

        NANCY
We’ll be bailed out before
the coffee starts perkin’…

INT. HOLDING ROOM. NIGHT.

A short time later. Nancy is in a crowd of angry PROSTITUTES mobbing the cops. “Let us out.” “You can’t keep us here.” TOM walks into the midst of the angry crowd and raises
his hand.

        TOM
Ladies please, we want to
help you.

He is greeted by hoots of derision.

        TOM
Ask yourselves, where will
you be in two years? In
prison? Sick from drugs and
rotgut booze?

        A PROSTITUTE
We’ll all be dead, what do
you care?

The women jeer and shout: “Yeah, what do you care?”

        TOM
We care and we’ll prove it.
We’ve brought doctors here
to give you a good check up.
(points to CLERGYMEN behind
him)
When was the last time you
spoke to a priest or a
minister or a rabbi?
(points to SOCIAL WORKERS)
Some of you have kids in an
orphanage. These social
workers can get them back
for you.
(the women grow quiet)
Some of you have families
who are trying to find you.
Husbands looking for wives.
Mothers for their daughters.
A woman in Auburn, New York
put in a missing person
report for her daughter,
Nancy. Is there a Nancy
Presser here? Your mother
wants you back, Nancy, no
questions asked.

IN THE CROWD

Nancy chokes back a sob.

INT. OFFICE. NIGHT.

Outside the glass window the PROSTITUTES mill, restlessly. Inside, Nancy daubs at a tear as Tom tries to convince her to testify.

        NANCY
It’s a dirty trick bringin’
my mother into this.

        TOM
Luciano’s playing a worse
trick on you, Nancy.

        NANCY
Go peddle your papers, Boy
Scout, I don’t know no
Luciano.

        TOM
Dave Miller told us all
about you and Charley.

        NANCY
That rotten stoolie..!

        TOM
He’s your friend, Nancy. He
told us how you came to the
city a frightened kid with
no money and no place to go.
How they grabbed you and put
you on the hustle. Fed you
dope so you’d be their slave
forever. You girls hate
yourselves. You think it’s
all your fault, but it’s not.
You had a bad break.

        NANCY
Yeah, yeah, don’t hand me
that bull. You just want me
to rat on Charley. Well, I
got bad news for you: he
don’t have nothin’ to do
with the houses. Charley
Luciano don’t need no
nickel dime action.

        TOM
He’s your friend, huh?

        NANCY
I’m his number one, ask
anybody.

        TOM
Does he take you out a lot?

        NANCY
He likes to stay home.
Listen to the radio shows…

        TOM
Broadway Charley a homebody?
He’s in the clubs every night.
I see his name in the columns
all the time.

        NANCY
With me it’s different. I’m
kinda like his wife…

        TOM
C’mon Nancy, he only wants
you for one thing…

        NANCY
(faltering)
No, it’s not like that…

        TOM
He’s ashamed of you. When
he wants to be seen in
public he goes with Gay
Orlova from the Follies.
He bathes her in jewels
and furs. What does he
give you?

        NANCY
Charley’s been good to me…

        TOM
He whistles and you come
running. Then when it’s
time to go he slips you
a few dollars and sends
you back to a filthy hotel
room to turn more two dollar
tricks, doesn’t he?

        NANCY
It’s not that way.

        TOM
He’s using you, Nancy. When
he gets bored he’ll dump you.
You’ll end up a syphilitic
drug addicted old whore dying
alone and forgotten in a
charity ward.

        NANCY
You wouldn’t be no better.
No man would.

        TOM
I’m no saint. But here’s
the difference: you work
with me you’ll have respect.
You’ll be reunited with your
family. You’ll be clean.
You’ll be able to start a new
life. I’m the best friend you’ve
got right now, Nancy. Give me
a chance to prove it.

Nancy stares at him, trying to make up her mind.

INT.BEN MILLER’S. NIGHT.

A swank casino where New York’s elite is trying its luck. Charley and Gay Orlova enter in evening clothes. Waving and shaking hands they make their way to the roulette wheel where Meyer is watching anxiously as Walter Chrysler makes huge bets.

        MEYER
He took a hundred G’s
credit. Said you would
okay it.

        CHARLEY
Whaddya kvetchin’, the guy
owns the Chrysler building.
(waves to Chrysler)
Tell ‘em where you got it,
Walter.

        MEYER
Polakoff’s losin’ his shirt
again.

        CHARLEY
That’s good, ain’t it?

        MEYER
It’s money we’ll never see.
He’ll just take it off our
legal fees.

        CHARLEY
So what, we’re still ahead.

        MEYER
It doesn’t go on the books,
so it affects our cash flow
and our winning percentage…

        CHARLEY
Stop thinkin’ like a
bookkeeper…

At the crap table, Polakoff rolls snake eyes and the CROWD MOANS in sympathy.

        CHARLEY
Uh oh, I hate to see my
lawyer losin’ money. Means
my fee’s gonna go up…
(hands Gay a roll of bills)
Here y’are, baby, give the
dice a little kiss, that’ll
make ‘em jump…

The crowd laughs as Polakoff steps away from the table and follows Charley and Meyer into:

INT.BACK OFFICE. NIGHT.

BOOKKEEPERS in eyeshades are pounding adding machines. Without being asked they step out. The three men confer in the shadows.

        POLAKOFF
Dewey’s getting big headlines
with his anti Luciano campaign.

        CHARLEY
He pinched every small timer
in town and couldn’t get
nothin’.

        POLAKOFF
Now he’s raided all the
brothels. Arrested hundreds
of prostitutes.

        CHARLEY
What a catastrophe. What
are all the johns gonna do
for company?

        POLAKOFF
He’s got your girlfriend
Nancy Presser.

        CHARLEY
So what? All she can tell
him is what a great lay I
am.

        MEYER
Cover your ears, Mo.

        POLAKOFF
(stepping out)
I’ll be outside losing
money…

        MEYER
(waits for him to leave)
Maybe we should have let
Dutch have his way.

        CHARLEY
If we killed Dewey they
woulda shut us down for
good. This way I’m takin’
the heat for organization.

        MEYER
So take a little vacation
instead.

        CHARLEY
You keep tryin’ to get me
to leave town. Whaddya you
lookin’ to take over while
I’m gone?

        MEYER
That’s a nice thing to say
when I’m wrackin’ my brains
tryin’ to keep you outta
jail. Don’t you realize:
we’re done here. Dewey’s
not gonna let us breathe.

        CHARLEY
So what am I supposed to
do?

        MEYER
Cash out. Go to Miami, out
west, where there’s easy
pickings and a quiet life.

        CHARLEY
That’s what you want, Meyer.
A quiet life. Grow old
gracefully. Die in bed with
your grandchildren all
around you. Capone was right.
You don’t know who you are.

        MEYER
I’m a business man, Charley.

        CHARLEY
You run your rackets like
a business, but that don’t
make you a business man.
You’re a desperado, just
like me. You were born
schemin’, you’ll die
schemin’.

        MEYER
What do you wanna do,
conquer the world, Charley.?

        CHARLEY
Just a piece of it. I wanna
build this business up so
that every time somebody
makes a bet he’s bettin’
with me. You know who gave
me that idea? You did.

        MEYER
Things have changed.

        CHARLEY
I wanna build it up so
that every time a guy
goes out for a night on
the town he’s doin’ it
in my clubs, drinkin’ my
liquor, listenin’ to my
bands. I like this life,
Meyer. Sittin’ on the
third base line at Yankee
Stadium, the owner’s box
at Belmont, ringside at
the Garden. Walkin’ into
a club with a chorus honey
in a mink coat. Two on the
aisle at a show I’m backin’.
Everybody wavin’ and callin’
‘Hey Charley…

        MEYER
Those days died with
Prohibition, Charley.

        CHARLEY
People are still comin’ to
us for a good time and they
always will. They know the
only way they can get rich
is if they get lucky with us.
You’ll see: The people won’t
let Dewey put us outta
business.

INT. GRAND JURY. DAY

REPORTERS, PHOTOGS and NEWSREEL CREWS rush forward as Tom steps out of the Grand Jury room with Nancy and a few of her FRIENDS. In a plain dress, scrubbed clean without make up, Nancy looks like the small town girl next door. Tom guides her toward the cameras.

        TOM
Just step right up here,
ladies and pose for the
newsreel boys.
(to the REPORTERS)
Nancy Presser has become
our most zealous advocate.
She’s convinced many of her
friends to clean up and
testify…

The REPORTERS clamor for a statement. Nancy looks hesitantly at Tom, but he nudges her forward with a reassuring smile.

        TOM
Go ahead. Say what’s in
your heart.

        NANCY
(halting)
I’m not a bad girl, I
just got some bad breaks.
But Mr. Dewey stepped in
and saved me from a life
of depravity and disease.
As Mr. Dewey says, God
always has mercy on a
repentant sinner. I’m
telling the truth at
last and I pray God
forgives me…

She looks back at Tom. He pats her, approvingly on the hand.

        TOM
Charles Luciano is the czar
of prostitution. His
syndicate controls more than
two hundred brothels,
employing three thousand
prostitutes grossing twelve
million dollars a year.
People say prostitution is a
victimless crime, but these
women are its victims. They
are ruined, exploited, then
abandoned when they can no
longer earn money for their
brutal masters. They have
come forth at great personal
risk to expose Luciano’s
vicious racket.

EXT. DARK STREET. NIGHT.

Gay Orlova sits in the back of a sedan, bundled in furs. Charley Workman throws suitcases into the trunk. Meyer and Charley walk to the car, talking excitedly.

        MEYER
You change cars in Philadelphia
and Cleveland. Then take the
train into Hot Springs. Owney
Madden’s got the whole state of
Arkansas locked up for you.

        CHARLEY
I got nothin’ to do with
these whorehouses. What am
I runnin’ for?

        MEYER
We need time to pull strings.
Maybe squash this thing.

        CHARLEY
Dewey’s knows I’m innocent.       

        MEYER
He’s a grifter like us,
Charley. He’s got no morals…

        CHARLEY
How about those newspaper guys
howlin’ for my blood. I was
always nice to them…

        MEYER
You know how they are. They
go the way the wind blows.

        CHARLEY
I can’t get over Nancy
turnin’ on me like that.
She don’t owe me nothin’,
but still, I always
thought she kinda liked
me…

        MEYER
Wait’ll this is over and
you’re back on top. You’ll
be Mr. Popularity all over
again..Gimme a call when
you get to Hot Springs…

They shake hands through the window and Meyer watches Charley’s car speed away, his reassuring smile fading to a look of concern.

INT. MEYER’S APARTMENT. DAY

Early the next morning. Meyer walks in, sleepless and haggard. His children, PAUL, SANDRA and BUDDY, on crutches and braces, are in the vestibule with their coats on and suitcases. They look at him, eyes wide with fright.

        MEYER
Hey kids, what’s the matter.

Meyer’s mother, YETTA, comes out.

        YETTA
Oy Maier, where were you?
Two days we’ve been trying
to find you.

        MEYER
I had business, ma. What
happened?

        YETTA
(takes him away from the
children)
Annie had a breakdown.
Screaming, banging her head,
pulling out her hair. The
kinderlach were so scared.
An ambulance came. They took
her to Bellevue…

INT. BELLEVUE. DAY

Meyer follows a NURSE down a gloomy corridor and into:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. DAY

where Anne is in a gray hospital robe, staring out the window.

        MEYER
Annie…

She turns with a dull, emotionless look.

        ANNE
You finally showed up. Where
were you traipsing around
this time?

        MEYER
I had to get Charley out
of town.

        ANNE
Oh yeah, your old friend,
who gave such a nice toast
at our wedding. Charley,
the white slaver…

        MEYER
What happened to you?

        ANNE
I got sick and tired of them.

        MEYER
Sick and tired of who?

        ANNE
The people listening on the
phone. I hear their voices
when I pick it up. The men
following me on the street.
Sometimes I walk right at
them and they turn around
or make believe they’re
reading the paper.

        MEYER
Did you tell the doctors?

        ANNE
They think I’m hearing voices,
imagining things. But you know
I’m not, Meyer. Dewey put those
people there, didn’t he?

        MEYER
They can’t do nothin’ but
watch, Annie. Try and forget
about ‘em.

        ANNE
Look Meyer…

Anne reaches under her gown and comes out with a JEWEL BOX filled with RINGS and BROOCHES  and PINS.

        ANNE
They tried to take my jewels,
but I hid them.
(holds up a DIAMOND NECKLACE)
You gave me this on our
honeymoon, remember?

        MEYER
Sure I do…

        ANNE
We were happy when the
babies were coming. You
were home every night.
Walter Winchell lived in
the building. Remember he
came for bagels and lox
one Sunday? He talked so
respectful to you. Always
took his hat off when I
saw him in the elevator.

        MEYER
Everybody loved us during
Prohibition. The party
didn’t start until we
showed up.

        ANNE
But now he’s on the radio
calling you a sewer rat
and saying there’s no
place for snakes like
you in FDR’s America…

        MEYER
These guys blow with the
wind. It don’t mean nothin’.

        ANNE
It does to your children,
Meyer. I had my doubts…Oy,
if I had only known…

        MEYER
(takes her hand)
It’ll be good again, Annie,
I promise. I got a few
things to take care of and
then we’ll move to Cuba…

        ANNE
All of a sudden Cuba is
the Promised Land? Next
year in Cuba?

        MEYER
Annie, why do you think
I’m knockin’ my brains
out goin’ back and forth..?
I’m doin’ it for you and
the kids.

        ANNE
Don’t splurge on a big house,
Meyer because we aren’t coming.

        MEYER
Annie, believe me. Cuba is
our chance to be respectable.

        ANNE
It’s too late, Meyer, don’t
you see? They’ll never let
you change…You should live
like Charley. Out every night,
girls coming and going. A man
like you can’t have a family.
It’s wrong, Meyer…

She turns away and goes back to the window, fondling her jewels, shutting him out.

MONTAGE…

CHARLEY drives south, GAY sleeping on his shoulder.

GURFEIN shows the staff a BANNER HEADLINE: DEWEY INDICTS LUCIANO

TOM gives a major press conference.

        TOM
Lucky Luciano is Public
Enemy Number One in New
York. He is to be arrested
on sight wherever he has
lighted.

RAILROAD STATION

A sign reads HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS…GET WEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY. Charley and Gay get off the train and are greeted by mobster OWNEY MADDEN and a delegation of SOUTHERN POLITICIANS. As FLASHBULBS POP:

        MADDEN
Welcome to Hot Springs, Charley.
This is your town now. Dewey
can’t touch you here.

NEWSREEL…Tom behind a BANK of MICROPHONES.

        TOM
I have today issued a request
to the state of Arkansas for
the immediate extradition of
Charles Luciano…I don’t
think the good citizens
realize that their Governor
is offering safe haven to
the worst criminal in America.

NEWSREEL…HOT SPRINGS COURTHOUSE…Charley and Mo Polakoff emerge smiling and meet Owney Madden on the steps.

        NEWSCASTER
Lucky Luciano may be Public
Enemy Number One in New York,
but here in Arkansas he’s a
solid citizen. The state court
refused to extradite him, the
Governor has allowed him to
stay and the Mayor of Hot
Springs has given him the key
to the city. Here he meets
with old pal Owney Madden, a
former New York bootlegger
who runs the Warm Springs spa
and resort, a weekend hideaway
for all the best people in the
South, Lucky Luciano included.

INT.OWNEY MADDEN’S CASINO. NIGHT

A banner over the bandstand, reads WELCOME LUCKY. The band strikes up a FANFARE as Charley, in a white dinner jacket and Gay in a strapless gown, walk into the club. Charley waves to the applauding crowd as Owney escorts them to a ringside table. A WAITER pops CHAMPAGNE.

        CHARLEY
I hope that ain’t the stuff
we used to make, Owney.

        MADDEN
French, right off the boat.
(they sit down)
I heard from Meyer today.
Polakoff’s workin’ to dismiss
the indictment. Meyer’s gonna
look out for your interests.
We’ll give you twenty five G’s
a month walkin’ around money.
I’ll advance it and get it
back from the boys…

        CHARLEY
I really appreciate what
you’re doin’…

        MADDEN
Hey, us old knockaround guys
gotta stick together, right?
You’re gonna like it here,
Charley. All the comforts of
home.

        CHARLEY
Got any corned beef?

        MADDEN
We’re workin’ on it.

        CHARLEY
What do you think, Gay?

        GAY
It’s beautiful down here.
I love the weather.

        CHARLEY
Yeah, it’s beautiful.
(shakes his head, sadly)
But it ain’t Broadway.

END ACT TWO

Next: Part 23/Act 3: On Trial

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder” “Fort Apache, The Bronx” “Boys From Brazil” and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

PART III

ACT FOUR

INT. HAVANA HOTEL. NIGHT.

Cuba…A CONJUNTO BAND plays a Mambo. Anne Lansky sits morosely at a table  watching the graceful CUBAN COUPLES.

IN A DARK CORNER

Meyer is talking to FULGENCIO BATISTA a young Army Sergeant.

        MEYER
We’re still making alcohol,
Sergeant Batista and we
still need sugar…at the
right price.

        BATISTA
Cuba is a big plantation,
Mr. Lansky. A hundred tons
will never be missed. Give
me half the American price
per ton in cash, we will
ship it to a port of your
choice.

        MEYER
New Orleans. We control
Customs there. Will you
do business only with me?

        BATISTA
If it continues to be
profitable…

        MEYER
With all due respect,
Sergeant Batista, I think
I might need a General.

        BATISTA
This money you give me
will make me a General
very soon, Mr. Lansky.

Meyer smiles. He and Batista understand each other.

        MEYER
Beautiful country. But
not many tourists.

        BATISTA
They find it too hot.
Too many mosquitos. And
bandidos in the hills.

        MEYER
We could kill the mosquitos
and the bandidos. Build nice
hotels with gambling. Could
that be done?

        BATISTA
As long as it is profitable,
Mr. Lansky.

INT. HOTEL ROOM. NIGHT.

The Havana moon shines through the window, but Anne is inconsolable. She sits on the bed twisting a tearstained handkerchief as Meyer tries to convince her:

        MEYER
Cuba is the answer to
our prayers, Annie.
Charley’ll never leave
New York, Benny is happy
in Hollywood. We’ll have
the whole place to ourselves…

        ANNE
What can we do down here?

        MEYER
We’ll build a big hotel,
ours alone, no partners.
Right on the beach with a
pool and high class
entertainment…

        ANNE
And a casino?

        MEYER
People like to gamble, honey,
I’m not putting a gun to their
head.

        ANNE
Then Charley and Benny and
all your gangster friends
will come like flies to honey…

        MEYER
I’ll control the franchises.
I’ll decide who’s in or out.

        ANNE
Can you think of your children
for once? Where will Paul and
Sandra go to school? Where
will we find doctors for
Buddy?

        MEYER
We’re an hour plane ride
away from Miami, Annie.
There’s a big American
colony here with good
schools…

        ANNE
They won’t accept the
children of a notorious
criminal. When the police
find out they’ll hound us
and persecute us until we
have to run away.

        MEYER
Not from Cuba. We’ll be
safe here. We’ll be happy.

        ANNE
(with a mournful look)
Oy Meyer, this is the life
you gave me. Always running.
It’s too late for happy. And
safe we’ll never be…

INT. DA’S OFFICE.DAY

A line of YOUNG LAWYERS waits to be interviewed.

INT. TOM’S OFFICE. DAY

MONTAGE…Tom interviews young lawyers. First: MURRAY GURFEIN, an earnest young man from Brooklyn.

        GURFEIN
First, I have to tell you,
sir, I’m a lifelong Democrat.

        TOM
Most New Yorkers are, Mr.
Gurfein. More to the point:
Why are you willing to work
twenty hours a day seven
days for week for one tenth
what you could make on Wall
Street?

        GURFEIN
I hate those hoods. I hate
the way they strut around
my neighborhood showing
their money off. Everybody’s
scared of them and in America
that shouldn’t be.

Next: BURTON TURKUS, young, idealistic, intense.

        TURKUS
I’ve been an Assistant District
Attorney for three years and I
can tell you how rotten the
system is. You can’t try a case.
Everyone thinks you’re for sale.

        TOM
Don’t you feel any loyalty
for your former colleagues,
Mr. Turkus?

        TURKUS
Not after what they’ve done
to the profession.

VICTOR HURWITZ, a cocky street kid

        HURWITZ
I have the experience, I
have the energy and I’m
just about the best
investigator you can find.
And frankly, I see big career
possibilities in this job.

        TOM
You’re an arrogant sonofabitch,
Mr. Hurwitz, but then again so
am I. And I have to admit I also
see the possibilities…If we
succeed.

EUNICE CARTER, an intense young black woman

        CARTER
I know every numbers runner
in every poolroom on Harlem.
I’ve had seven years in
Woman’s Court working with
con artists and hustlers.
Nobody can fool me..

        TOM
You realize you’ll be the
only female and the Negro
on our staff.

        CARTER
I’m used to being lonely.

EXT. GOLF COURSE. DAY

A sparkling, sunny morning. Charley, in yellow and black golf clothes, tees off and watches his ball with satisfaction. His companions, JIMMY HINES and WALTER CHRYSLER, squat, bespectacled with a shrewd look, applaud.

        HINES
Great shot, Charley.

        CHRYSLER
Looks like I’m going to
lose my bet.

        CHARLEY
I’m bettin’ you come out
a winner today, Mr. Chrysler.

        CHRYSLER
(as they walk down the fairway)
I hope so. As I was saying:
I’m putting up a big building,
giving work to thousands of
people. You’d think the unions
would be grateful, but they’ve
increased crew size and now
they want time and a half for
overtime.

        HINES
These bums should get on
their knees and thank Mr.
Chrysler for givin’ em jobs..

        CHARLEY
Workin’ guys don’t think
past their stomachs. Don’t
worry about crews or overtime.
You tell me how many floors
you’re puttin’ up, I’ll give
you a price per floor.

        CHRYSLER
And what’s your price,
Charley?

        CHARLEY
I don’t want nothin’. I’m
just happy to grease the
wheels.

        CHRYSLER
Just one more question.
Our arrangements are so
informal. What will happen
if you have a…problem?

        CHARLEY
What kind of problem?

        CHRYSLER
Well, it seems that there
a lot of people who want
to put you out of business.
Thomas Dewey for one…

        CHARLEY
Lemme ask you a question, Mr.
Chrysler. Say you’re sick and
layin’ in the hospital, who
runs your company?

        CHRYSLER
I do. Until the day I die.

        CHARLEY
Same with me.  They can
throw me in a deep, dark
dungeon, I’m still the
boss and nothin’ gets
done without my say so.
That’s how my organization
works.

INT.CORRIDOR. DAY.

Tom gives his new staff a tour of their headquarters..

        TOM
We operate in complete
secrecy. There’s a guard
on the floor twenty four
hours a day. Nobody, not
even the cleaning woman,
gets in without a pass.

SUB BASEMENT…Tom walks his staff through a jungle of pipes and boilers to a steel door.

        TOM
This door leads to a stairway
that connects to the subway
tunnel across the street.
It’s a secret entrance for
your informers and witnesses.

IN THE OFFICE…Tom opens a cast iron safe.

        TOM
All work documents must be
locked in this safe at the
end of the day. Remember.
There are certain powerful
interests in this city that
want us to fail. Consider
everyone your enemy until
they win your trust. Stay
out of nightclubs. When
speaking in public use code
names for your associates,
especially me.

        CARTER
We’ll call you chief. How’s
that?

        TOM
(with a smile)
Chief…Got a nice ring to
it…

EXT. DESERT. DAY.

Desolation as far as the eye can see. A ROAD SIGN reads, WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS miles. Benny and Meyer stand in the broiling sun.

        BENNY
I drove through here three
times before I knew what I
was lookin’ at.

        MEYER
Too hot, Benny.

        BENNY
It’s the desert. You freeze
your ass off at night.

        MEYER
We’ll have to pipe in water.
Pipe in customers, too.

        BENNY
It’s the Promised Land, Meyer.
This is where we’re gonna
build our temple…

INT. RESTAURANT. DAY

At a corner table Abe Landau watches intently as Tom has a quick lunch with an anxious Medailie.

        TOM
They couldn’t convict Dutch
Schulz last time because
they didn’t have enough
hard information. That
won’t happen again.
(takes a chart out of his
brief case)
My staff has worked up an
organizational pyramid on
Schulz, who works for him
and where they do business.
We’re going to cover each of
these men, tap their phones,
bug their private hideaways.

        MEDAILIE
You’ll need warrants.

        TOM
Too risky. If one of the
judges is crooked he’ll
leak it to Schulz…

        MEDAILIE
But if the taps aren’t
legal they’ won’t be
admissible.

        TOM
We’re not going to use
them in court. We’re
going to use them to
blackmail people into
informing and testifying.

        MEDAILIE
That’s against the law, Tom.

        TOM
We’re in a war, George,
outnumbered by hostile
forces. If we stick to
the letter of the law
we’ll never get these
guys. We have to win
this any way we can.

INT. CHARLEY’S OFFICE. NIGHT.

Benny and Meyer are trying to sell the idea of Vegas to Charley, Dutch Schulz and Frank Costello

        BENNY
Cows can’t eat it and you
can’t plant oranges on it,
but it’s the best real
estate deal in the world.

        SCHULZ
Whaddya gonna do, open a
cactus factory?

        CHARLEY
We backed you in California,
Ben. That market’s still not
payin’ off.

        MEYER
It will. Between the wire
service and the crap games
we’re already clearin’ forty
G’s a week in LA.

        BENNY
And that ain’t a spit in
the ocean compared to what
we can do in Vegas.

        COSTELLO
Vegas is a buncha cowboys
playin’ penny slots, Benny.

        BENNY
Not when I get done with
it. There’s this Hollywood
guy Wilkerson, opened a
joint called the Flamingo.
I took it off him. It’s
ours now. A million bucks
buildsus the biggest, most
luxurious hotel in the world.

        MEYER
Benny sees something here,
Charley Let’s give him a
chance.

        CHARLEY
Why take money you make
one place and piss it away
someplace else?

        MEYER
It’s an investment. It’ll
get us outta New York, one
step ahead of Dewey and his
lynch mob.

        SCHULZ
You scared of Dewey, Meyer?
(takes out a wad of CASH)
Tellya what, I’ll buy you
out of all your interests
in New York. You can build
your castle in the sand, I’m
stayin’ right here. No hayseed
shyster’s gonna chase me out.

MONTAGE…NEWSREEL…

Schulz, Abe Landau and CRONIES, surrounded by SHOWGIRLS, pop champagne at a lavish nightclub.

        NEWSCASTER
Mob boss Dutch Schulz rings
in the New Year at the famous
New York nitery Chez Paree.
‘34 was a good year for the
Dutchman, but if Tom Dewey
has his way, 35’ll be a bust.

TOM’S OFFICE

HYMAN GROSS, a frightened restaurateur, is telling his story as Tom’s staff watches, sympathetically.

        GROSS
A hundred thousand dollars
I put into that restaurant
and then Schulz’s thugs told
me to get out, he was taking
over.
(sobs)
They beat up my chef, threw
stink bombs down my chimney.
Insurance wouldn’t pay my claim.
They ruined me…

        TOM
(gently)
You realize that if you
testify your life might
be in danger…

        GROSS
What life? I don’t have a
life anymore.

NIGHT CLUB

A REPORTER intrudes on Schulz’s riotous party.

        REPORTER
Hey Dutch, see the morning
paper? Dewey’s says he’s
gonna indict you.

        SCHULZ
(drunken doggerel)
Who’s Dewey?/Just a lotta
hooey…His cronies laugh
and repeat “a lotta hooey…”

        SCHULZ
Dewey’s a hoodoo/Phooey on
Tom Dewey….

They laugh uproariously as if it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever heard.

TOM’S OFFICE

SIDNEY GOTTESMAN, a union organizer, a bloody bandage on his head, trembling with rage.

        GOTTESMAN
They threw me down the stairs.
Said ‘you don’t run the union
no more. Dutch Schulz’ll take
care of the waiters from now
on.

        TOM
Mr. Gottesman, I feel obliged
to tell you that our wiretaps
have picked up Schulz
threatening your life.

        GOTTESMAN
I don’t care what happens to
me. I just wanna put that bum
in jail.

PRESS CONFERENCE… Tom faces the press, his staff behind him.

        TOM
For months lawyers and
agents under my command
have worked tirelessly to
bring a racketeering
indictment against Dutch
Schulz. We have subpoenaed
three thousand witnesses,
gone over hours of wire-
tapping and surveillance
evidence. Many brave
citizens have come forward
at great personal risk to
testify. I have requested
the empaneling of a separate
Grand Jury. I make this
promise to you New York: I
will bring Dutch Schulz to
justice.

INT. CHARLEY’S PENTHOUSE. NIGHT

DANCE MUSIC  purrs softly on the radio. Charley lies on the couch with his head in Nancy’s lap. She tousles his hair, bored to distraction.

        CHARLEY
We could be anybody right
now. A nice married couple
enjoyin’ a quiet evening at
home…

        NANCY
Can’t we go out for once?

        CHARLEY
What for, we got everything
here. You wanna eat, you
wanna drink? You want a show?
I’ll call Al Jolson to sing
you a lullaby.

        NANCY
You take that chorus girl
out all the time…

The DOORBELL RINGS. Nancy gets up to answer it.

        NANCY
You just don’t want nobody
to see you with your hopped
up girlfriend…

She opens the door on Dutch Schulz, Landau lurking behind him.

        SCHULZ
Hiya gorgeous…

Charley jumps up, coldly angry.

        CHARLEY
I thought they closed the
Bronx zoo for the night.
(to Nancy)
Baby, do me a favor…

        NANCY
(walking out)
Yeah, I know, go in the
bathroom and run the water…

Charley waits until she’s gone, then turns on Schulz.

        CHARLEY
What are you nuts, comin’
here?

        SCHULZ
It’s the only place I can
go these days that ain’t
bugged. I hear Dewey’s gonna
spring a tax rap on me.

        CHARLEY
I told ya a million times.
You gotta have somethin’
legit. You show income,
you throw Uncle Sam a
coupla bucks…

        SCHULZ
I can’t operate, Charley.
He’s got all my phones tapped.
He’s backtrackin’ my joints,
gettin’ an earful from every
crum with a grudge.

        CHARLEY
Whaddya cryin’? You been
dodgin’ cops all your life.

        SCHULZ
Not like this guy. He’s
nuts and he’s got all the
yokels on his side.
(lowers his voice)
I been casin’ him, Charley.
Goes to the same drugstore
for coffee same time every
day. One guy with a silencer
and our troubles are over.

        CHARLEY
You know the rule about
killin’ cops.

        SCHULZ
That’s cause it’s always
been live and let live.
But this guy’s on a holy
war. Look, I’ll take care
of it. You tell the boys
it’s that crazy Dutchman,
you can’t control him.

        CHARLEY
Leave Dewey alone, Dutch.

Schulz’s expression closes and gets cunning.

        SCHULZ
Okay Charley, if you say so.

        CHARLEY
Do what I say. Don’t backdoor
me.

        SCHULZ
Would I do that? I get a
little antsy sometimes,
but I always play ball,
you know me.

        CHARLEY
(not buying it)
To know you is to love you,
kid…

INT. DUCORE’S DRUGSTORE. NIGHT.

A DELIVERY BOY walks up to Charley Workman.

        DELIVERY BOY
Lindy’s delivery…

INT. CHARLEY’S OFFICE.NIGHT.

Smokefilled, tense. Charley is at his desk, Meyer pacing as the Delivery Boy enters.

        CHARLEY
On the desk, kid.

Charley sticks a bill in his pocket and looks in the box.

        CHARLEY
You want cheesecake or danish?

        MEYER
Danish…This is a big move,
Charley. The Dutchman’s nuts,
but we’ve always done business
with him.

        CHARLEY
He’s old fashioned. Got a
problem dump it in the river…

        MEYER
He’s your cover. As long
as they’re gettin’ headlines
with him they’ll leave us
alone. If he’s eliminated
you’re gonna stand out like
the Emperor who just lost his clothes.

        CHARLEY
If we let him hit Dewey
we’ll be back on Page One
as mad dog killers. The
politicians will drop us
and the cops’ll shut us
down for good.

        MEYER
He says he won’t touch him.

        CHARLEY
I gotta think of the
Organization. We built
this thing and now we
got two guys tryin’ to
tear it down—Dutch and
Dewey. And I don’t know
which one’s worse.

INT. DRUGSTORE.DAY

The next day. Tom enters and is greeted by the CUSTOMERS. “Hiya Mr. Dewey…” “You’re doin’ great work, Mr. Dewey….” A man with his collar up and his hat over his eyes walks in as Tom goes to the counter. The
COUNTERMAN lays a cup of coffee down in front of Tom.

        COUNTERMAN
Did you hear Winchell on
Dewey? He gave you a new
nickname, Gangbuster…Tom
Gangbuster Dewey…

        TOM
Gangbuster…Got a nice
ring to it…

The man with his collar up walks to the end of the counter and turns. It is Abe Landau. He puts his hand
in his pocket and moves toward Tom. But suddenly a
CUSTOMER steps in front of him.

        CUSTOMER
Hey Mr. Dewey, maybe you
can help me. The Dutchman’s
shylocks have been hitting
me for three hundred a week…

         TOM
Give me a couple of months
and they’ll never bother
you again.

A SECOND CUSTOMER elbows Landau aside.

         SECOND CUSTOMER
All well and good, Mr. Dewey,
but you know sometimes a
loanshark is the only guy
who’ll give you credit.

         TOM
You’re right, that’s a
real problem. And we’ll
have to address it.

Other CUSTOMERS come over to join the discussion.
LANDAU is thwarted. He steps away from the group,
pulls his collar up even higher and walks out of the
drugstore.

AT THE MAGAZINE RACK

A man turns to watch him go. It is CHARLEY WORKMAN.

END PART III

Next: PART IV

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.