Whose idea was this?
What idea?
Meeting here.
Theirs.
-Why? -It looks like we're dealing dope.
You like static?
It's tough getting FM, okay?
Under a freeway and high tension wires.
These guys are late. What time were they going to meet you?
-7:00. -Yeah, they're real late.
Okay, what do I do about it now?
Why don 't you just back up and see if you can get K-EARTH?
Boy, this is not cool. He ought to lower his brights, at least.
Lights, goddamn it!
Jesus Christ! We're just meeting here...
... to make sure we weren 't followed.
Christ, how did I get here?
He's got the cash. Now we got to go weigh it and test it.
Why notjust do it on the hood of the car?
Stop here.
What are you looking at?
Peanut shells.
Right! Jesus!
Go in the room and leave the door unlocked. I'll be there soon.
What were you doing?
Who is it?
It's Leland, Dan.
-Andy, how you doing, baby? -Great.
Say hello to Nick. Nick's my partner.
Hold it.
Who the fuck is that?
It's a friend.
He's not my friend. And I got all the friends I need.
He's my ride. He drove me, that's all.
Let him wait in the car. I don't like meeting strangers.
Really, he's just a friend of mine.
Hey, that's cool.
Just let me take a quick leak and I'll be out of here.
Deal's still good.
How do you want to weigh and test it?
We'll work it out, Andy.
Maybe you shouldn't be looking for any new faces in your life, either.
Fine with me. I'll wait outside.
-I thought you retired. -I am retired.
-Then what are you doing here? -A favor.
You mean, a felony favor.
A client paid him with coke.
I'm holding his hand while he sells it.
Man, that is one flimsy fucking excuse.
He also says his customer asks more questions about me than the dope.
My phones have funny little noises on them.
You're setting me up, Nick.
Not tonight, pal. I got here by accident.
Talk about a flimsy fucking excuse!
Later. This is going down right now.
And do yourself a favor. Don't go back to the car.
Don't you go back to the room. There's no evidence.
I'm sorry. I couldn't afford to have him busted, as dumb as he is.
He's my lawyer.
Who authorized this shit?
You did, lieutenant.
Look, that's what we were told, okay?
What a waste of time.
Units 3, 4 and 5, return to parking lot.
Units 6 and 7...
...check all of the exits and the stairwell. Look at those vents....
Got a runner going across the freeway!
Fucking-A! 45 minutes.
Must be the only fucking phone I've ever met that don't. . . .
Get in there!
-Vallenari's. Good evening. -Hi, this is Dale McKussic.
Mr. McKussic, I'm sorry. It's a little noisy in here.
Aren 't we seeing you this evening?
I don't think I'll make my reservation.
I'm going to be a little late.
How late will you be?
I don't know. How late is the kitchen open?
Tell me something, Hal.
When you asked me to help, did you know who you were asking me to bust?
I knew who it was. Why didn't you bust him?
You know that too.
He's a friend of mine.
I'll tell you what I heard when I came to L.A.
Nick won't work South Bay because he won't bust McKussic.
Tonight you proved that. You not only let him walk. . .
. . .you kicked him out and gave him a personal escort. Why?
Because you're predictable, Hal. You're very predictable.
Mac saw you coming a mile away.
How did you know he wasn't holding?
Was Andy Leonard? You busted him.
No coke. No sale. No conspiracy to sell.
All you've got is a conversation. . .
. . .with a chickenshit Century City lawyer.
And an entrapment lawsuit.
Mac's lawyers would make mincemeat of you.
I let him walk to save you from a bad bust.
I did you a favor.
-Mr. McKussic, how are you? -Fine, thanks.
What is it?
It's McKussic.
You're kidding.
He's in and out of this place all the time.
Andy Leonard's the lawyer for this restaurant.
McKussic and the Vallenaris talk drugs and money?
They're careful what they say.
Let me hear.
I told you they're real careful.
I'm sure you're right. Could I hear?
Yeah, sure!
In that case, why don 't I give you a taste...
...of something different tonight?
How about...
...rigatoni?
Rigatoni?
Rigatoni quattro formaggi, a creamy blend of four Italian cheeses.
Fontina, taleggio, gorgonzola, and parmigiano.
Sounds good.
Sounds good to me too.
Look, before we spend another $5,000 to hear what Mac eats. . .
. . .take my guys off the clock and let me ask him.
Unless you guarantee the Feds are picking up the tab tonight.
What's good?
Everything. Why, are you hungry?
I missed dinner.
-What are you having? -Pasta.
Something like rigatoni quattro formaggi?
Good guess.
Dinner's over, Bart. Pay the tab at the bar.
L.A. Narcotics and the D.E.A. . . .
. . .are arguing about what you're doing here.
Why?
You deal drugs and don't pay taxes.
I'm not active these days.
But you're a legend around here. Not only that, you're white.
They figure they'll be able to see your picture in the paper.
So what do you figure, Nick?
I made lieutenant.
It'll be announced next week.
I'm the head of Narcotics for L.A. County.
Congratulations.
That's all you got to say?
What about your law degree? Getting into the D.A.'s. . . .
Forget about my career. The Feds swear you're doing business here.
I'm not, here or anywhere. And you couldn't catch me if I was.
Try the sand dabs.
Here, look. Watch!
That's terrific.
You know, I just. . .
. . .think something's going on.
I'm still a detective even when there's no crime.
What do you think's going on?
Something you don't want me to know.
How are we treating you this evening, Mr. McKussic?
Fine, thank you.
-Can I offer you anything more? -More?
There are two excellent fish you haven't tried.
-Sure. -What are they?
I thought I'd surprise you.
This is my friend, Nick Frescia.
A pleasure, Jo Ann Vallenari. A plate for you?
I've got to be going.
-Try us another night. -What I tried tonight was terrific.
I'm pleased to hear it.
She's attractive.
So, how about it?
How about what?
Whatever you're doing. . .
. . .do it somewhere else, and don't make me look bad.
There is one last thing.
There's no new business. It's an accounting problem.
The Colombians. Another discrepancy about money.
Sure. They don't know how to count.
I got your word?
Yeah.
One more thing.
How about another bite of that fish? That's great!
-I give him two drinks. -That's two too many.
If my brother sees Nino like this. . . .
What will he do, fire him?
He won't fire the chef, Arturo.
But one less bartender is not a problem.
-He can't drive that car. -He can have mine.
Your Cadillac? You want to kill him?
I'll drive.
I go dance.
-No, you're going home. -Why?
In the course of last night. . .
. . .something came up which persuaded me. . .
. . .that Mac dining in that place is a non-drug related activity.
He won't get away with what he's done for 15 years and just retire.
What do you suggest?
I suggest you make sure we have a case.
After all, what are friends for?
We haven 't seen you in a while.
I've been a little busy lately. And I took a break, you know?
Did you go away for Thanksgiving?
Yeah, I went up to Aspen and put the skids on.
-Put skids on? -Yeah, I went skiing.
-Are you good? -No.
Well, passing.
I'm not an expert. Are you?
No.
You should go sometime. It's fun.
Maybe I will.
What the fuck is the matter with you?
I don't need you flying in from Washington. . .
. . .taking over my office, telling me to manufacture evidence.
This is my backyard, Hal! I don't grow weeds in it so I can pull them.
I swear to God I wasn't using you. I was just trying to pay some bills.
Now you got another one to pay.
And if I don't come through, these guys'll kill me.
They won't kill you. They'll probably just break your legs.
Here comes the money junkie.
I've been calling and calling. I just broke a fucking nail!
I sent your lawyer the check, Shaleen.
Tomorrow's the first. You might as well write another one.
I'm at a critical point. This business requires cash.
So do I. Sorry, I'm not starving so you can tell your little boy. . .
. . .you're a rubber hose salesman, not a drug dealer.
Cody gets old enough to ask what his father does for a living. . .
. . .suddenly he has a conscience.
Greg, I'll deal with that other stuff later.
Leave my kid out of this.
Our kid.
Anyway, I need another 10,000.
-The Mercedes burned up. -The SLC?
It's under warranty. Take it back, make them fix it.
You know those assholes. They claim l didn't have any oil in the engine.
I made an improper suggestion.
I overreacted. It was uncalled for.
No. It was my fault.
Look, I'll lay my cards on the table.
Any questions about our operation. . .
. . .go ahead, ask me. Shoot.
Who's your snitch?
I can't tell you that.
We got to start somewhere.
How about. . .July 17, 1963?
''Frescia and McKussic were arrested. . .
. . .for curfew violation on Hermosa Beach. ''
7 years later you were with Mac. . .
. . .when he was busted for drugs on Rosarito Beach.
No, he was on the beach.
I was in the water.
Otherwise I'd have ended up in the same Mexican jail for 2 years.
What can I say?
You have really done your homework.
This is not about you being a cop.
I know you're one of the best.
You're close to Mac.
Mac is close to Carlos, who is coming to town.
Who says?
He's getting ready to move 1 200 kilos of coke. . .
. . .personally.
That's the word.
For $1100 a week,
a local snitch will tell you anything you want to hear.
I'm hearing it from the Federal Mexican Police,
and I'm not paying them.
You say this is your back yard.
Has CarIos ever made a move in it without Mac's heIp?
If Carlos is back in town, Mac's back in business.
What do you want?
-Use Mac to get to Carlos. -How?
Any way you can.
If Mac's clean, it will do him a lot of damage.
Say he is working with Carlos and we bust him.
I will personally guarantee that Mac. . .
. . .doesn't stand trial in federal court.
You're liable to save him 15 years of his life.
I cleared out of your office.
-It's me, Mac. -Hey, my buddy. Qué pasa?
No, you called me, buddy.
Not now. They watch me everywhere I go.
I'm telling you, there's renewed interest in me here.
My cousin used my name as a guarantee of delivery.
I'm not worried about my cousin. It's you.
Don't come here now. Not now.
Your chef's visa has expired.
He has a work permit.
My brother has an immigration lawyer working to get Nino his green card.
Andy Leonard?
Have you seen Andy Leonard in your restaurant with Dale McKussic?
Yes, they're both very good customers.
-What's that? -What's what?
A ''good customer. ''
Someone who is on time.
Who doesn't make personal requests or demands for unusual dishes.
In other words, you're telling us. . .
. . .you've never had to satisfy any personal requests for Mr. McKussic.
No, he usually orders off the menu. Who are you and what's this about?
Agent Maguire.
Federal Drug Enforcement.
Has Andy Leonard been arrested on some sort of drug charge?
We arrested him.
You think my restaurant is involved?
Leonard's in there all the time.
So is the District Attorney. Does he sell drugs in my restaurant?
Leonard doesn't have dinner with the D.A. He does with McKussic.
You think Mr. McKussic sells drugs there?
Maybe.
All I do is see him eat.
Miss Vallenari, we know how important your chef is to you.
We have our problems. We certainly. . .
. . .don't have to help lmmigration with theirs.
In other words, if I'll spy on my customers. . .
. . .my chef won't be deported for drunk driving?
I didn't say that.
Don't bother to explain.
At 8:00, I'll be seating my lawyer and his ex-partner, a federal judge.
I'm sure they'll explain to me what you meant.
Hello, I'm Lieutenant Frescia from the Sheriff's Department.
We've met. . .with Mr. McKussic.
Absolutely. And when you sue him. . .
. . .I don't want to be anywhere in sight. Get me out of here.
Arturo will come for it.
-Take care of it. -Everything okay?
Somebody dropped last night's evidence. . .
. . .including Nino's urine specimen.
What's that mean?
It means we'll have to drop the case.
No court?
No court.
Take it easy, for Chrissake! I work here.
What's on your mind?
The way I met you with Mr. McKussic. You seemed like friends.
I'm sorry. It's really none of my business.
You've been terrific.
Don't worry about it.
Just buy me dinner one of these days.
Any goddamn day you want.
Thank you so much.
We got the word your friend has got a deal cooking.
We're going to nail him.
If anybody can do it, you can.
Why'd you let her chef go?
She's tough, isn't she?
-She beat the shit out of you. -The hell she did.
The hell she didn't. Ask anybody.
What you got going on here?
Where've you been? I've been looking for you.
In Chula Vista, selling farm equipment.
What are the Sin Sisters doing here?
Just cranking on the coke.
I'm just kidding. They're just leaving.
What can I do for you? I'll do anything.
Name it.
Start by cleaning off that table, and get some new paddles and balls.
Suddenly up for Ping-pong?
And drop something off at Vallenari's for me.
-Who for? -Jo Ann Vallenari.
-Aren't you going there tonight? -I want to clean up first.
Besides, she can look that over before we talk.
-Could you give it a rest? -Whatever, man. I hear you.
What is it?
The cop. He's waiting for you.
How nice.
Not nice, he thinks he did you a favor.
And cops are the worst barflies.
It's not worth it, I tell you.
You just don't like his looks, Arturo.
It's quite an experience to watch you work.
Like you're in a play, everything's on cue.
You're kind of letter-perfect.
Do you ever flub your lines?
Are you politely suggesting I lack spontaneity?
Have you seen Mac?
He's going to ask you to cater a party.
That is our business.
We think it involves his business.
Are you suggesting I refuse because it's a party for drug dealers?
But if it's for this one particular guy, he's particularly unpleasant.
-You mean violent? -No, I doubt that.
Unless he doesn't like your lasagne.
I'm sure Mr. McKussic's friend will be well-behaved.
Why would you call him a friend?
A figure of speech. Who else would you give a party for?
A business associate.
As it happens, Carlos and Mac are friends.
And you and Mac are friends.
That's right.
Sounds like a friendly situation all around.
Not exactly.
Nobody knows Carlos. Nobody knows what he looks like but Mac.
You want me to spy on a customer so you can find out what he looks like?
Absolutely not!
Let's not discuss my business or his business or your business.
But that leaves nothing to talk about.
Let's eat.
She's having dinner with him.
She can't be.
The chef is with them right now checking out their Caesar salads.
Do you want me to drop off the envelope anyway?
Yeah, I'm beat. I'll never make it in there.
Thanks.
You meet at Orville and Wilbur's every Christmas.
He throws his Chevrolet keys on the bar.
You throw your Porsche keys on the bar.
You pick up your drink with a gold Rolex on your wrist.
He wears a Timex.
Even if he wasn't a cop he'd hate your guts.
Deputies seized over 700 kilos of cocaine...
...a street value of $27 million.
Street value $27 million.
What street is that?
You show me how to get there just once.
Man, aren't you listening to me?
Nick Frescia came in that restaurant looking for a way to bust your buns.
He's going to have to drag me out of bed to do it.
I'm under the weather. . .heavily.
What I'm telling you is for your own good.
-That swordfish was great. -Excellent piece.
-And the Cristal. -You know it.
We serve it at the Lomita station.
What do cops drink?
Depends. I tell my men to avoid vodka.
-And stick to Scotch and bourbon. -Why?
So the brass will know they're drunk, not stupid.
-You have an answer for everything. -So do you.
You answered Maguire's questions like you were reading off a menu.
Your keys.
And yours.
Want me to lock up?
I will. Make sure the kitchen is closed.
Good night, Arturo.
You were saying.
You're still suspicious of me and Mr. McKussic.
You think we're in business together.
I don't date the customers, Nick.
Especially when they drive $50,000 cars and always pay in cash.
Then you'd heard about Mac.
You hear everything in a restaurant.
He's never asked you out?
You're still suspicious.
lf I was, you'd talk me out of it.
That's not it.
No, you're suspicious of any woman who hasn't slept with you.
Jo Ann. . .
. . .that is a wildly off-the-wall assumption on your part.
What is it? Do you need some Chap Stick or lip gloss?
Your lips get stuck on your teeth, or is that your idea of a smile?
That's my idea of a smile.
You are, you're tough.
You're a bad boy, Nick.
You're a very bad boy.
What's this mean?
Redondo Union High.
You smoked in high school?
We were a bunch of rowdies, Jo Ann.
How about an espresso?
I've got to lock up and I'll never do it like this.
Oh, no!
What are you doing?
I want this under there.
You'll get dirty.
The skylight's indented so rain. . .
. . .fills it up into a puddle until it becomes a pond, and then. . . .
And then what?
And then you're all wet.
I'm sorry. I should have just left it.
I don 't know what it is...
...about going to high school with someone...
... that makes you feel you're automatically friends for life.
Who says?
Who says friendship lasts forever?
We'd all like to, maybe...
...but maybe itjust wears out like everything else.
Like tires.
There's just so much mileage in them and then you're on nothing but air.
Keep your shirt on.
Any word on where McKussic's giving the party?
How would I know? I'm waiting to hear it from your snitch.
I keep coming back to this. What do you think?
Excuse me. This is a personal call.
How about a movie?
I can 't tonight. We're booked solid.
This afternoon.
-Don 't you ever work? -Yeah, I'm working now.
Don't say that or I'll believe you. I always believe the worst.
I'm going to die if I don't see you.
We can't have that.
Check out the competition with me this week. . .
. . .and we can both keep working.
-Where's Jo Ann? -She's taking a few days off.
Your table is ready. I'll have the drink sent over.
Where the fuck have you been?
Working my ass off.
Mac's party is next week at his house at 1 :00 P.M. for 56 guests.
You like cappuccino?
We got two coming out.
Down front, two males.
I got them.
She won 't talk as long as the checks keep coming.
Surprise!
-What's so funny? -That dogcatcher.
-He's not catching the dog. -That's right.
Wrong size handcuffs.
I'm leaving right now.
Thank you. Nice food.
Thank you. Nice party.
You're a real magician. I was surprised.
Well, it was a surprise party.
-Did it surprise your boy? -Oh, yes.
Not as much as it surprised the 25 cops on the beach.
You're going to tell me that's a surprise?
No.
Mr. Frescia said it was possible the police might be watching you.
Did he say why?
Yes.
Do you want me to be specific?
I'd appreciate that.
He said that you were a serious drug dealer.
You promised to quit, but you lied and are still doing it.
He called me a drug dealer and a liar?
Bummer! I guess I can't blame you.
For what?
Telling Nick about the party. Thanks again.
I didn't tell Nick about the party.
He told me.
What was I supposed to do?
I didn't know it was for your child's birthday.
I didn't even know you had a child.
I thought it was for a ''Carlos. ''
Just pretend like none of this ever happened.
The harbor patrol is involved?
To do surveillance in the marina.
Boats are in the marina.
You see, this is a house.
A house is not going to float away. It's not going to fucking move!
Yeah, put him through.
How you doing?
In my office. And you?
In my office.
I was wondering if we can get together somewhere?
Yes, any particular time?
How about right now?
Sure, why not?
You say he's giving a party soon.
Hang on.
-And Carlos is coming to town soon. -Who's your snitch?
He hasn't gotten a damn thing right.
You look for Mac in L.A., he's in San Francisco.
You go for Carlos, you get Mac's kid.
Sin Sisters?
Listen, I'm not authorizing any more county funds. . .
. . .unless you get someone who can actually identify Carlos.
What are you talking about? Is he right there?
Just about.
Everything all right?
Why did you try to get me kicked out of my favorite restaurant?
You told Jo Ann about me, didn't you?
Yeah, I did.
You got a reason?
I didn't want her getting hurt.
Is that why you told her about Carlos?
So she could identify him?
Is that your way of making sure she doesn't get hurt?
Okay, I fucked up.
I've been seeing a lot of Jo Ann and it affected my judgment here.
If you want to go after Carlos, go after him.
Just don't use me to do it, okay?
I don't get it.
He saves your life in a Mexican prison, so you owe him for 20 years?
-None of my business. -Exactly.
By the way, you told Jo Ann about the party, didn't you?
No. You got it backwards.
She told me.
Then I guess she got it backwards, huh?
That's understandable.
You confronting her like that, she probably got flustered.
After all. . .
. . .she's not used to that.
She's a very traditional girl.
By the way, wish Cody a happy birthday for me, will you?
Sure.
Would you hold, please?
What do I do with Mr. McCussky's tip?
McKussic. Divide it among the waiters, like you normally do.
-It was a pretty good tip. -What do you mean?
His bill is $2500. . .
. . .and his tip is $2500.
There's $5000 in there?
Must have been a pretty good party.
Arturo, give me that envelope.
If you want Mac. . .
. . .he's down at the competition.
Cody, get away from the pier!
-Holy smoke, it's you! -Yes, it is.
Look, I don't want your money. I don't want any of it.
How come?
What did you think you were paying for?
What? If it's not enough. . . .
No, it's not enough. Did you think you could buy me?
-Buy you what? -There's $5000 in there!
Lower your voice. Someone will think something's going down. $5000?
-Right! -I must have grabbed the hundreds.
You owe me.
What? This was a mistake?
Wrong envelope. Shaleen must have the fifties.
She'll be pissed.
What did you think I was trying to buy for $5000?
-Man, you all right? -Yeah, I'm fine. He's hurt.
Could you get everybody out of here?
I'll get the gate.
What do you see?
A Kleenex.
Blow your nose on that!
Still hurt?
I feel like shit. Mom's going to blame this on you.
Cody, watch your language.
How about I send over some angel hair pasta?
Would you like that?
Thank you.
Be well, Cody.
I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't come along.
Greg had my car.