The Big Easy

LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS

# Mais tout partout au ras du bayou

# La mousse-la balance Aux les gros chenes verts

# Le cocodris dormir Dans la cypriere

# Les bebes, filles Les grands bonard

# La fille belle crie Des loups devant

# Les cocos de grand-mere Mais touts la-bas

# Moune-la connait Y'ole zydeco

# Milattes ape Grouiller aux os

# Zydeco chaud Ape vini plus chaud

# Et gens de couleur Ole plus...

# La grande eau

# Plie Ben frette Qu'ape mouilli

# Pas capab' froidir Sang qu'ape...

# Bouilli

# Beaux et belles ape Fait zo projets

# Et maman fait grand...

# Gris-gris!

# Loin, loin En cypriere noire

# Tout quequ'n creole Crie pour plis...

# Zydeco!

# Rrrrr-aahh! Aahh! Aahh! #

SHIP'S HORN BLOWS

SHIP'S HORN BLOWS

All right, hold it.

Oh, sorry, Lieutenant.

RADIO DJ: 'It's two AM in New Orleans,

'the Big Easy, and we're stirring up that gumbo.'

Hey, Remy!

CAMERA CLICKING

Hey, where you at?

Where you been? Don't you ever go home?

Only when the music stops.

Hey, who's the dead meat?

Let's see if you can make him.

Oh, man, yeah. Hello, Freddie.

That's Freddie Angelo, wise guy, scumbag.

Works for Vinnie "The Cannon" d'Imoti.

Handles Mexican imports for the family.

Mama!

Can't find any bullet hits, spent shells. Very little blood.

We figure they lit him up someplace else,

then brought his body here.

Here's the wallet. They just got through liftin' the prints.

The driver's licence... is missing.

I guess they took it for proof of the hit.

Standard wise-guy procedure, right, Remy?

If you're gonna wrap him in a concrete overcoat

and dump him in Lake Pontchartrain,

but Freddie is in the middle of Piazza d'Italia.

What's that gonna tell us, huh, given the surroundings?

Somebody is sending a message.

To the president of the Italian-American Renaissance Association.

Vinnie "The Cannon" d'Imoti.

There you go.

Pick up Vinnie "The Cannon" tomorrow morning at his barbershop

and bring him in for questionin'.

Hi, Remy.

Cavanaugh, where you at?

I'm doin' it.

What is this? The Dodge and De Soto Follies?

Who would know what you were thinkin' about?

Captain, it was Andre's idea.

Is he the brains in the partnership now?

What did they do now?

Impounded a boat. They spent half their shift at the police dock.

What am I gonna do with them?

Why don't we shoot them?

Yeah! No. They're too much fun at Mardi Gras.

Who's that in my office?

Assistant District Attorney Anne Osborne.

Hmm, nice neck.

We have orders to cooperate.

Her be part of a special task force

that's investigating police corruption.

Corruption in the police department? Where'd she get that idea?

She says she's here about the Angelo murder.

I'm going to get some coffee. Give her whatever she needs.

She's in good hands, cher.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Anne...

Hi.

I'm Remy McSwain.

Oh! I'll get it.

Ow! Ow!

Your pencil.

Lieutenant -

Ah, ah...Remy.

Lieutenant, any progress on the Angelo murder?

What's your hurry? He's not even stiff yet.

He's dead though, isn't he?

Last time I saw him, yeah.

Is that it? You have no leads?

No. I've seen dozens of these wise-guy jobs.

We usually find out why the hit went down.

Sometimes who did it, but we never have enough to take to court.

DOOR OPENS

He wasn't at the barbershop, so we picked him up at home.

Bring him in.

Thank you for comin', Mr d'Imoti.

This is Miss Anne Osborne,

with the DA's office.

My lawyer's gettin' me out of here in five minutes.

I got nothin' to say till then. Nothin'.

Why? You're not under arrest.

Did McCabe give you that impression?

McCabe, apologise to Mr d'Imoti.

I'm sorry about the misunderstanding, Mr d'Imoti.

You're free to go any time you want, sir.

Again, we really do apologise.

Ohh!

We just wanted to express our sympathy about Freddie.

About who?

Freddie Angelo, the guy found floatin' in the fountain

behind your office.

He used to work for me. Terrible.

Nobody's got any respect for monuments any more.

Mr d'Imoti, isn't it true that Mr Angelo worked for you

for nearly 2O years, and was, in fact,

still in your employ at the time of death?

Can I go?

Kid, your father would never drag me down here.

He wanted to see me, he'd come to the house!

He knew a little something about respect.

DOOR SLAMS

Get out of my way!

I cannot believe you were so obsequious with him!

What does obsequious mean?

It means a high-ranking member of the Mafia

was in your office, and you kissed his ass.

Oh, yeah? Let me point out a few things.

First, nobody uses the word Mafia any more. We call them wise-guys.

You're not from here, are you? I only say this to save embarrassment.

I'll bear that in mind, Lieutenant.

Anything else?

Hey, you like spicy food?

Why don't we have dinner tonight?

Just relax, Romeo.

Just tell me what you've learned

from two minutes of ass-kissing.

Actually, I learned a lot from that little interview.

Oh, really? You read minds?

No, I read people. After seeing "The Cannon",

I can probably tell you why Freddie sprung a leak.

I suppose you know the killer, too?

No, but I bet we find him in Lake Pontchartrain soon.

Then what will you do?

Nothin'. We never have enough to take to court.

Hell, I'd close the case now,

except for one thing.

And what's that?

I'll tell you over dinner.

CAJUN MUSIC PLAYING

Hey, come on. We don't have to stand in line.

Hey! Hey!

This is embarrassing.

No, that's what's great about being a cop.

SINGING IN CAJUN FRENCH

All right, Willie!

Yeah!

We're gonna work up an appetite, all right?

I thought we were gonna discuss business?

Business and pleasure.

What's wrong with that, huh?

I can't do this.

Wait a minute.

Didn't they dance where you're from?

No. We barely spoke.

This is New Orleans, the Big Easy.

Down here, dancing's a way of life.

Feel the music.

Now you're gettin' it.

That's right.

# Look in your eyes

# Whoa, yeah

# Girl, I realise... #

My grandpapa on my mama's side, he was a real Cajun,

born and deaded on the bayou teche.

I thought you came from a family of Irish cops.

No. That was on my daddy's side.

He was the first one to become a cop.

Followed by three brothers, one son, and four nephews.

My cousin Terry joined the fire department.

He's the black sheep of the family.

You were the youngest detective

in the NOPD to make lieutenant.

I had an in in the department.

Careful who you say that to.

Yeah, that's right.

You bust cops... for a livin'.

I'm not embarrassed to put bad cops behind bars.

Why don't you tell me somethin'

about your life?

It's not as colourful as yours.

Oh, yeah?

You want me to tell you why

I'm not closin' the Angelo case?

That's supposed to be why I'm here.

It's you.

Oh, please!

No, no, no, no, no, chere. It's you.

I mean, er...

how come...

an Assistant District Attorney

and her corruption strike force

is suddenly so interested

in a routine Mafia hit?

Routine wise-guy hit, remember?

Whatever. What gives?

We have the jurisdiction

to investigate any crime we see fit.

You got some kind of police corruption angle?

No comment, Lieutenant.

You got any evidence?

No comment again.

Hey, Remy, how's everythin'?

You like that gumbo?

Remy's great-aunt Emeline, she teach me my gumbo.

She uses more sassafras filet in her gumbo.

Watch your mouth! You don't get no dessert!

We got dobosh cake.

No, thanks.

I have to be up very early tomorrow.

We gonna just take the check.

What you talkin' about?

I mean I want the check, Paul.

Remy done lost his mind.

He knows his money's no good here.

Why not give me the check?

Paul, have you met Anne Osborne with the DA's office?

Oh, really?

You lookin' for that check? Right here it is.

You honestly don't see the harm in any of this?

No, I don't. These are the perks.

But the restaurant will expect extra protection in return.

Oh, big deal.

And expect the officer to overlook code violations.

If all the codes were enforced,

every restaurant would be closed.

So now you're defending organised corruption.

I'm not defending anything. This is New Orleans, darlin'.

Folks have a way of doin' things down here

people like to show their appreciation.

Oh, really? How does it work? Do you get free suits?

You get an envelope from Chef Paul every week?

Are you wearin' a wire in there or somethin'?

ENGINE REVS

HORN BLARES

I'm serious. How far does this go?

Is everything for sale?

What's it cost to beat a murder rap these days?

Is that what you think about cops?

You got a real serious attitude problem.

Being around you for an evening hasn't improved it.

I've never seen one person

break so many laws in such a short space of time.

Forget the laws for a minute. It's simple on the street.

There's good guys and bad guys.

And you're the good guys? You're damn right!

We're all that stands between you and them.

Just drop me off at the corner up there.

Yeah.

BRAKES SQUEAL

Don't think that I'm naive. I know how the system works,

but things can change.

Oh, yeah? You gonna change it?

Don't you dare be amused at me.

Hey, is this your building?

No, I live up the street, but I need to get a few things.

I'll wait for you. I'll drive you home.

No, thank you. I'd rather walk.

Well, I'll walk with you.

No.

And thank you very much for a very illuminating evening.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

< WOMAN: Stop!

My purse!

Ugh! Aah!

Aah!

Let's go, blood!

Somebody help!

Let go, woman!

Ugh! Aah!

Police!

Don't screw up!

Scumbag, get your face on the pavement now!

You stay down a second.

Uh!

Oh!

Aha! Aha!

You a cop?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank God you were here.

I just cashed my pay cheque.

Stay here. A patrolman will take your statement.

You think I'm crazy or what?

I'm not taking any chances! No police!

All right...

a patrol car is gonna come by for you.

Now, if you do anything to my car,

if you even get your fingerprints on it,

they are gonna beat the ever-livin' shit out of you.

Now, do you fully understand

each of these rights as I've explained them to you?

BOTH: Yes, sir!

Good thing I'm such a pushy guy, huh?

Hey, Remy, listen to this.

Remember Laverne Williams

who stabbed her husband last week?

We tell her, "Your husband died,

"and you're busted for homicide."

TELEPHONE BUZZES

She said, "That bastard!

"I stabbed him before, and he never died."

HE LAUGHS

Homicide, McSwain.

Hello, Lieutenant.

'Anne, you must be psychic.'

I was thinkin' about you.

'What's new on the Angelo case?'

Oh, not a thing.

'Why not? Aren't you working on it?'

I got a poisoned heiress in the garden district,

'a strangled transvestite in the French quarter,

'and a suspicious asphyxiation.

'Angelo has to wait his turn.'

The Angelo murder was supposed to take priority.

'When can I see your report?'

The Neville Brothers are playing at Tipitina's tonight.

'I could give it to you then, huh?'

I think that we ought to keep this relationship strictly professional.

'Hey, why? I thought we passed a good time last night, chere.

'Didn't you like the music?'

It was very nice.

'Didn't you like the crawfish?'

Food was delicious,

but, look, Remy,

let's just forget about last night.

There's too much possibility for conflict of interest.

'Oh, really?'

Why? You investigatin' me, chere, huh?

'Of course not.'

I'll pick you up at eight.

'And don't be late, huh?'

No. Just have somebody send me a copy of the report.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Hmm...

THUNDER RUMBLES

ENGINE STARTS

HONKS HORN

Hey!

Annie!

HONKS HORN

What are you doing here?

HONKS HORN

MAN: What the hell you think you're doin'?

I got a large pizza.

Pepperoni, extra cheese.

HONKS HORN

Move your god-damned car, will you?

It's not that easy, Lieutenant. Where's my report?

Right here.

Where?

Under the pizza.

You got to eat the pie to get to the report.

Go on, girlie,

get in the car!

You write a pretty good report.

Does that mean we go to Tipitina's now?

No.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Now, Angelo was shot at a downward angle

with a Mac ten pistol.

What are you thinking? Dope smugglers?

Possibly, but a lot of your younger wise-guys

use Mac ten pistols, too.

You found his car on Tchoupitala Street.

Tchoupitoulas street.

Tchoupitoulas.

But you couldn't find any evidence of a crime?

Yeah, but what it doesn't say in there

is that Angelo's car was parked across the street

from a wharf warehouse owned by Carmine Tandino,

a well-known hit man

in the family of our mutual friend

Vinnie "The Cannon" d'Imoti.

I'll check out that warehouse tomorrow.

Why isn't that in your report, Lieutenant?

We're not supposed to draw conclusions.

You know that.

If someone asked you,

what conclusion would you draw?

Well...Freddie imported heroin for a livin'.

Carmine Tandino's warehouse is on the river.

Sometimes heroin comes up the river.

You draw your own conclusions.

What?

I'm impressed.

By what?

You've obviously given this a great deal of thought.

You're doing a really thorough job.

Oh, thank you!

You think I'd do a very lousy job?

No. I didn't mean that.

Why don't you like me, Anne?

I do like you.

Why don't you trust me?

Huh?

What? You think I'm a rotten,

don't-give-a-shit,

dishonest,

no-good,

dirty cop?

Is that what you think of me?

No.

I do trust you. I do. I-

THUNDER RUMBLES

# Lace curtain blowin' on a river breeze

# Slips across the bed and it rustles the sheets

# Seems everything nowadays

# Just reminds me of you

# Smell of the mornin' in a rainy land

# The touch of satin across my hand

# Just makes me... #

Aah!

Sorry. I'm not very good at this.

Shh!

# ..Closer to you

# Closer to you... #

I can't do this.

I'm-I'm, er, too nervous.

I can't relax.

I'm very embarrassed.

Oh, no...

don't be embarrassed, chere.

Just relax, darlin'.

This is the Big Easy.

Folks have a certain way

of doin' things down here, huh?

I noticed.

Oh, stop that.

Stop what?

That.

What?

That.

What? That?

Or that?

Ohh!

Ah!

Ahh!

Uhh!

Ahh!

Ahh! Ah!

Uhh!

# If I said that I loved you

# Would you turn away?

# Afraid of what you think you're supposed to say

# Well, that's all right, baby

# Cos I already know

# I can see it in your eyes

# I can hear it in your voice

# Believe me, baby

# You got no choice... #

PAGER BEEPS

ANNE: Yours or mine?

REMY: Mine.

Shit!

McSwain. This better be good.

What? Slow down a minute!

All right, I'll be right there.

Shit!

What is it?

Triple murder... in Storyville.

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.

It's OK.

I never did have much luck with sex, anyway.

You're luck's about to change, chere.

Ooh-la-la!

Ooh!

How long does a murder take?

Oh...

a couple of hours at least.

Come back.

What?

You sure?

I'm sure.

We'll, er, talk about the Angelo case.

Sure!

Oh!

SIREN

Get out of the way!

Get out of the car, man!

Get out of our neighbourhood!

Hey, Hollywood!

Why don't you call your mother on the telephone?

She hasn't heard from you in over a week.

When you gonna make an honest woman

out of her, cher?

She ain't gonna marry me until I retire.

Oh, yeah? That'll be the day.

BOTTLE CRASHES

What? We got a carnival goin' on here?

Hey, what the hell's goin' on?

There's a rumour that the killers

were in an unmarked police car.

Great. That's all we need.

MAN: Y'all be lookin' at us,

but y'all did it!

OK to roll him over?

Yeah, roll away.

WHISTLES

Jamaal Washington, huh?

Hey, Jack!

Everything under control out there?

Oh, yeah. Our riot's turned into a party.

I love this town.

You remember Miss Anne Osborne?

It's nice to see you again.

Yeah, you, too.

The DA'S office is interested

since there's an allegation of police involvement.

You believe every rumour you hear?

Do you have evidence one way or another?

Oh, right now, we got two unknown white suspects-

not officers, suspects-

and one unsubstantiated rumour.

Anything on the victims yet?

Yeah.

You don't want to see him.

He kind of lost his face.

We're goin' to have to wait

for a fingerprint ID on him.

The third victim- a Nobilier brother.

Also narcotics, also a runner for Daddy Mention.

Who's Daddy Mention?

He handles the black side of New Orleans' narcotics.

Vinnie's got the white action.

Why don't you believe the killers were cops?

If they were cops, they'd have stayed here.

When we arrived, we'd have found plants-

guns, knives, evidence that they resisted arrest.

Every cop knows how to do that.

That doesn't surprise me.

You probably know how to bribe jurors,

though you probably never have.

Hey, Remy!

Look what I got.

Feels like about a key.

Well, that's really great work, dodge,

really great work.

Let's just pass it around

and get everyone's fingerprints on it.

What's this?

Heroin. Mexican brown.

Somebody's been using shotguns here,

so...

I figure Tandino.

Mm-hmm.

Carmine Tandino,

hit man for Vinnie "the Cannon".

Shotguns are his signature.

Resulting in... spaghetti sauce.

Captain, you want to take over here?

I'll take Miss Osborne home.

Oh, thank you.

Watch your step.

Don't they make a lovely couple?

Hey, we'll go to my apartment. It's closer.

All right? Huh?

After a while, you get used to it.

You get hardened.

Everybody gets sick the first time.

Don't be embarrassed, huh?

I'll be fine.

If you're gonna throw up,

I'll pull over.

I'm not going to throw up.

THROWING UP

Ugh!

You think that Carmine Tandino

killed those men tonight?

Even with your head in the toilet,

you still want to talk business?

Yeah, I think that Carmine Tandino

killed those boys tonight.

Therefore they must have murdered Angelo.

What does that do to your theory

that Angelo's murder was a message for Vinnie to retire?

Now we know who sent it- Daddy Mention.

Now we're dealin' with somethin' more

than one wise-guy killin' another wise-guy.

We sure are.

What's that mean?

Is Carmine Tandino the only person in the world

who uses a shotgun to kill people?

No, but he's one of the few

who turn a profit at it.

You don't think the cops had anything to do with this?

No. Cops don't do that sort of thing.

People accuse cops of everythin'.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

How do you feel now, huh?

Does this stuff ever get to you?

Who, me?

Bullets bounce off me.

You're never afraid?

All the time.

Look out for the gator, baby!

Hee hee hee!

Gotcha!

# Allons danser, colinda

# Danser colle, colinda... #

SQUEAK SQUEAK

# Allons danser colle, colle

# Pour faire facher les vieilles gens

# Mais c'est pas tout le monde qui connait

# Danser les danses de bons temps

# Allons danser colle, colle

# Ah, va c'est legere

# Allons danser

# Allons danser

# Allons danser

# Allons danser

# Allons danser... #

Aah!

Oh! Shit!

Who are you?

I'm Bobby. Remy's brother.

You scared the hell out of me.

Where did you come from?

I spent the night here on the couch.

Oh, my God!

Excuse me.

I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

# Allons danser

# Yeah, yeah. #

Hey, chere!

I was getting us some breakfast.

I'm late for a meeting.

I have to get to work.

I'll drive you.

It's OK. I'll take a cab.

You meet my brother?

Kind of.

Hey, sugar, somethin' wrong?

# Allons danser

# Allons danser... #

What's for breakfast?

# Allons danser. #

Your ass!

# Allons danser. #

Jesus Christ! You scared the shit out of me!

Don't walk into an interrogation room without knocking.

Where are the Storyville witnesses?

I heard you saw somethin'

last night in Storyville

when those three guys got stovepiped.

You saw an unmarked police car?

We don't know what you're talking about.

Me and my brother was home watchin' TV.

We didn't see nothin'.

Yeah? Andre, you take their statements,

you let them go home.

Be nice to Andre.

That's "we didn't see nothin'.

"We was home watchin' TV." Is that right?

# You say you love me once

# But I want to hear it twice. #

Get me out of here. I hate this job!

Property's a dirty job. You're next in line.

Remember the guy who lost his face last night?

The morgue guys found this in his pocket.

Ah, Freddie Angelo's driver's licence.

Beautiful! I knew those guys killed Freddie.

All right!

What time did he leave?

You're sure?

# Scoo do do do

# Bop bop a do. #

Carmine Tandino has an airtight alibi.

He was at Mosca's with his wife till 4am.

I got 12 witnesses who corroborate his story.

You know who owns Mosca's?

Carmine Tandino's nephew.

It's a popular spot for alibis.

I'll talk to Carmine myself.

I got Anne Osborne on line.

You want me to tell her you're not here?

No. I'll take it myself.

I can tell her you're not here.

No. I'll take it.

Yeah, Miss Osborne,

I haven't got the forensics

or the ballistics reports back yet.

ANNE: I didn't call about that.

I'm sorry about this morning,

the way I just ran out.

Me, too.

I'm just sort of confused.

Oh, no. Don't be confused, chere, no.

'Things like last night don't happen to me.'

Me, either.

Oh, please.

No, I mean it. I really do.

I know too much about your reputation to believe you.

DIAL TONE

Gol!

You want get out of my office, huh?

Jesus.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Anne Osborne.

Look, I'm gonna take you to lunch.

You look into my eyes,

and you tell me whether you believe me or not.

No, I can't.

Great! I'll make us a reservation

for Antoine's at 1.00.

What did she want?

Who, Anne?

Anne he calls her.

She's got everybody scared shitless,

and he's calling her Anne.

She's using the Angelo murder

as an excuse to sniff around our widows-

Shh!

Widows and orphans' fund.

Why don't you relax?

Remy's got the lady wrapped around his finger.

Which reminds me... what's the beef?

I got a call from the sho-bar.

The new owner's having some trouble.

He wants to talk to you.

I got laryngitis.

He's got this thing about rank.

He don't talk to no sergeant or flatfoot.

Don't look at me, Lou.

I got to go talk to Carmine Tandino.

For the widows and orphans.

It's right on your way.

All right, dude, but you owe me one.

Oh, come on!

Watch out! Loose ball.

Aah!

Hey, that's 200 bucks!

HONKY-TONK PIANO PLAYING

Hi, darling.

I'm lookin' for George Joel.

You got him.

I think your mother's callin' you.

I wanted to see the captain.

Hey, wait a minute. Come back.

I didn't mean to offend you.

I got a different cop in here every night

shaking me down.

I can't stay in business like that.

You got cops botherin' you? Just send them to me.

I want to pay one guy one amount once a month,

not half the cops in the city.

Settle down. I'll take care of it.

I'll give you a number you can call any time.

I knew I should talk to you.

What's this?

It's my way of saying thanks.

You wearin' a wire?

Help!

Hold it! Freeze!

Get down!

Internal affairs! Hold it!

What's he chewin'?

Spit it out!

Chew all you want, asshole.

We've got everything on videotape.

GULPS

Miss Osborne? Telephone call.

SIGH

Jesus, Hugh,

can't I leave the office for an hour?

What?

I'm sorry. What?

Keep movin'! Go!

Step up, boys.

Hey, hold up!

I got to talk with this man.

What's the special treatment?

Come on, man!

It's a cop.

What the hell happened?

They set a trap. I got caught, Jack.

The thing that Dodge was talkin' about?

That was supposed to be me.

I can handle it.

Lamar Parmentel's defending you.

Lamar?

I know, he's beat your brains 1,000 times,

but he knows what he's doing.

The guys have agreed

the widows and orphans' fund

is payin' his fees.

You want to keep your voice down, huh?

Thanks.

MAN: Look at them shoes.

Make room for the clyde.

Remy...

We take care of our own.

Remember that.

I'll take care of you.

We got the bribery conviction locked up.

I don't know.

It skirts the edge of entrapment.

The wrong judge will throw it out.

Maybe he'll make a deal.

We shouldn't offer a deal now.

I think we should get a conviction.

Then we can offer a deal.

Anne, ask for very high bail.

Let him sweat.

Help! Help!

BAILIFF: All rise.

JUDGE: These are the custodies?

Be seated.

OK, what have we got?

Thibodeaux.

Two Thibodeauxs, your honour.

Unrelated cases.

Sit down. We'll get back with you.

You.

You look familiar.

I'm certainly sorry to see you before me, Lieutenant.

Extortion, bribery.

Do you have counsel?

I'm his counsel, Your Honour.

We waive rights and plead not guilty.

We petition the court

for the earliest possible date

for a preliminary hearing.

The 22nd is the earliest date I've got.

Your Honour,

every day my client

is suspended from the force

does great damage to his reputation

as well as his investigations.

All right. All right.

We can get you in day after tomorrow,

before Judge Garrison,

if that's all right with the State.

We're ready, Your Honour.

Giving due weight to the seriousness of the charges

against a public official,

the state asks for 50,000 bail.

Your Honour,

defendant has been a police officer

for 11 years

and has very strong ties to the community.

Bail is set at 500.

All right. Thibodeaux, Andrew.

That girl's after your ass.

Why don't you let me make a deal?

What kind?

Plead you guilty to an unlawful

acceptance of a gratuity.

Is that a misdemeanour?

A felony. You get maybe three months' jail time.

One felony conviction, and I'm off the job.

I'm a cop. It's all I know.

Remy, Remy, they've got a videotape.

You ever seen a juror watch a videotape?

It's like watching Mike Wallace

on 60 Minutes.

Lamar!

I can't go to jail.

WHISTLING

Help you?

Yeah, I called about,

er...

alnico magnet.

I got it. Are you wearing a quartz watch?

What?

Uh...

it's a powerful magnet it will ruin a quartz watch.

I ain't got time for no watch.

Good. 183.

Yeah, I know.

ALARM RINGS

# Oohh, ohh, oh, oh

# Er! Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh!

# Ho, haa! #

Hey, brother.

Don't you recognise

your own brother, brother?

Jesus, Remy.

You know Mardi Gras ain't till February.

What are you doin' in that get-up?

A little undercover work.

I thought you was suspended.

Who told you that?

Mama.

She said you were framed.

Look, bro,

this is hard for me to explain to you.

You don't have to explain.

I want to be honest with you.

In this particular case...

it was a set-up.

But I been on the take

in little bitty ways since practically

the first day on the job.

I know that.

Oh, yeah? Who told you?

What? Do you think I'm stupid?

Nobody had to tell me.

I know you give Mama the money for my tuition.

It sure don't come out of your salary.

I'm just glad I can finally thank you.

I didn't want you

to know about that.

Shit.

I remember once...

I must have been about six or seven...

and I was looking in Daddy's pocket

for a candy bar,

and I found 78 10 bills.

You knew about Daddy?

Yeah, about Daddy and the relatives.

I just... I figured it was understood.

I didn't understand it.

I didn't know Daddy was on the take

till I was on the job myself.

You serious?

You were eight when Daddy died.

I should have asked you.

Want to ask me about anything else?

Sex?

Drugs?

You been having sex?

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Don't you want to introduce your mama

to your lawyer, cher?

Mama, this is Lamar Parmentel.

The renowned queen of the McSwain clan.

Delightful to meet you in the flesh.

I know all about you.

You got the governor acquitted.

You gonna do a fine job defending my Remy.

Yeah, Mama, yeah.

You know his outstanding record,

but did he tell you about when he saved that drowning boy...

He knows-

Hey, there.

Who is that?

The prosecuting attorney, Mama.

Ain't she cute?

Oh, yeah.

BAILIFF: Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

Criminal district court

for the parish of Orleans is now in session.

The Honourable Jim Garrison presiding.

ANNE: What occurred next?

I clearly saw George Joel

hand the defendant the white envelope.

And what did the defendant do?

He accepted the envelope.

And from the balcony

you were unable to hear the conversation

between this George Joel

and the defendant, right?

Yes.

You testified that there were eight

50 bills in the envelope.

Correct.

Can you produce this money in court?

The defendant dropped the money in the bar.

The people in the bar took the money,

but we couldn't search everybody who was there.

Thank you.

MURMURING

LAUGHTER

Mr Joel,

did the defendant promise that uniformed officers

would stop harassing you?

Yeah. If I paid him, he would.

What would happen

if you didn't pay the defendant?

If I don't pay, the police close me down.

Have you ever been arrested?

The prosecution will stipulate

that the witness is under indictment.

I don't have to remind the court

that clergymen and bankers are seldom witnesses

at criminal trials.

Is it not true that you would say anything

the prosecution wanted you to

to avoid being sent to prison?

Yeah.

Objection!

I mean no.

Sustained.

ANNE: Lieutenant, you said you went to the tavern

to see an informer.

Yes, ma'am.

Why did you run away

from the internal affairs officer?

He did not identify himself as a police officer.

I thought he was a mugger.

LAUGHTER

Were you armed?

Yes, I was.

And you ran away from a mugger?

I was calling for assistance,

which is proper police procedure.

Was it also proper police procedure

for you to swallow the envelope?

What envelope?

Lieutenant, earlier today, Officer Krinkey swore under oath

that he saw you accept an envelope.

Were you here for that testimony?

Yes, I was.

Are you calling your fellow police officer a liar?

No. I just don't know what envelope you're talking about?

The envelope Mr Joel gave you

that contained eight 50 bills.

Objection, Your Honour!

Counsel is drawing conclusions.

Sustained.

The eight 50 bills that you threw into the air.

The envelope that you ate.

Objection!

Sustained.

MURMURING

I have no further questions.

The witness may step down.

Tomorrow the prosecution will present a videotape

that will not only corroborate every state's witness,

but will refute every statement the defendant has made

and show that in addition to the crime charged,

the defendant has perjured himself

before this court.

This court is adjourned until 10.00 tomorrow morning.

TELEPHONE RINGS

RING

It's 3.00 in the morning.

'Yes, but this is McCabe, Remy.'

Somebody blew up Carmine Tandino's warehouse,

with him in it.

No kidding.

There's another body. No ID.

Maybe you can make him.

I'll be right down.

You'd better not, Remy.

Deputy supe's talkin' to the TV guys.

Film at 11.00?

Meet us at the morgue in an hour.

I'll meet you at the scene in 15 minutes.

CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING

TELEPHONE RINGS

Anne Osborne.

Carmine Tandino was just killed

at his warehouse down on the Third Street wharf.

I thought you'd want to know.

Hey, Remy!

SHIP'S HORN BLOWS

Psst. Hey!

Come here! Come here!

I told you not to come.

I'm not here. Where are the bods?

This way. It looks like this-

the killer sets the fire to destroy the bodies,

the fire explodes a drum of paint thinner,

the explosion blows out the fire.

How'd you identify Tandino?

Oh, yeah!

He had a glass eye.

Ain't that a beautiful shooter?

This is the guy we can't make.

He must have been hiding back here.

Oh, God.

I know who that is.

It's Tandino's older brother.

I didn't know he had a brother.

Yeah. Poor guy's retarded.

Family kept him at home.

Did a little work

sweeping up the warehouse.

Now they killin' retards!

Then why ain't you dead?

They work up floats here-

watch your step-

Mardi Gras stuff and all that.

Some of these- hold it!

CRASH

You OK?

Who does this remind you of?

That's part of the world's fair.

Let me show you this one.

When I was a kid, we used to...

Wait! Hey!

Miss Osborne...

Look, are you sure

that you want to see this?

What the hell is this man doing here?

What the hell is this man doin' here?

Better yet, what are you doin' here?

Yeah. What are you doin' here?

I got an anonymous phone call.

Anne.

They ripped the heart right out of his chest.

Why?

Voodoo.

Daddy Mention.

The heroin dealer?

And voodoo priest.

Black magic... gris-gris.

That's Daddy Mention's thing.

The heart of your enemy makes you strong.

What you're saying is

that Daddy Mention killed Carmine Tandino,

supporting your theory

that Tandino murdered Daddy Mention's men.

We got a cute little drug war.

Doesn't satisfy you, Miss Osborne?

Not particularly.

I'll see you in court tomorrow, McSwain.

CRASH

That's women for you, Jack.

Never satisfied.

BAILIFF: Order in the court.

All remain seated.

What's her problem?

It seems her key piece of evidence was erased

when a powerful magnet was placed beside it

in the police property room.

Really?

What? The videotape?

Unusable?

New Orleans is a marvellous environment

for coincidence.

Your Honour, because the key piece of evidence in this case

has been suspiciously tampered with,

the state is compelled

to withdraw its charges against Lieutenant McSwain.

JUDGE: The defendant is ordered released,

and bond is vacated.

Court is adjourned.

Praise God!

Lamar, Lamar.

Told you I'd get him off!

# Look at my king all dressed in red

# Iko, iko, unday

# I betcha five dollars he'll kill you dead

# Jockamo fee nane

# Talkin' 'bout hey, now

# Hey, now Hey, now

# Iko, iko, unday

# Oh

# Jockamo feeno ai nane

# Jockamo fee nane

# Talkin' 'bout hey, now

# Hey, now Hey, now

# Iko, iko, unday

# Oh

# Jockamo feeno ai nane

# Jockamo fee nane... #

Miss Osborne.

Yes?

Would you come with me, please?

What? Where?

Well, I really can't tell you right now.

Is this a joke?

No, it's no joke.

Well, am I under arrest?

What are the charges?

Well, you were jaywalking over there.

Then when you run across the bridge, that's trespassing.

Get out of my way!

That I'm gonna call resisting arrest.

You don't happen to be Remy McSwain's relative?

Look, chere. Listen to your uncle Sos.

Put your pretty face in the car, huh?

# He negresse!

# Quoi tu veux, mon homme?

# Ayou toi t'as ete hier au soir

# Ma negresse?

# J'ai ete au bal, negre

# T'as arrive a ce matin

# Quelle heure!

# Que t'es toute passe?

# Ca me fait de la peine pour toi. #

Whoo!

Do these Cajuns know how to throw a party or what?

Yeah!

I want to be serious for a minute.

Most of y'all know that a policeman's life

is made up of short pay, long hours, mortal danger,

and little thanks from the public which we serve,

but once in a while, we win one.

Once in a while, justice triumphs!

Remy, come here.

I want you to raise your cup or your glass.

Raise your nose if you have to.

I give you the New Orleans police department!

< And the fire department!

Oh, yeah. Fire department, too!

Get some of this food over here.

Come on, let's party!

MUSIC PLAYS

Now you're adding kidnapping

and false arrest to your crimes!

You're not under arrest.

Uncle Sos give you that impression?

Uncle Sos, you apologise.

I'm sorry.

Now you'll tell me I'm free to go anytime?

Absolutely. Anytime you want.

Where's the telephone?

On the porch. I'll show you.

I'll get it myself.

Whoo!

That pretty girl kind of mad, huh?

MAN: Where is she comin' from?

WOMAN: She got some nerve.

Annie, you were great in court today.

I want to be a lawyer...

I lost.

What the hell is she doin' here?

She's a pushy broad. I told you.

Look at this.

She don't look bad in those short shorts.

When can you be here?

Fine.

You were sayin' some pretty hard things

about my boy in that courtroom today.

Yes, I did.

He's a good boy.

Could be a hell of a lot better.

What you gonna do? You gonna help him?

You got your work cut out for you, chere.

What did he do, chere?

Drag you out the bathtub or what?

No. I was running.

Running?

MUSIC PLAYS

# You used to call me in the mornin'

# You used to call me late at night

# Now you don't call me anymore

# Talk all night long

# On the telephone

# But now you don't call me anymore

# You know you used to call me daddy

# Oh, Daddy

# Oh, Daddy

# But now you don't call me anymore

# Why, oh, why?

# Why?

# Tell me why

# Why you don't call me anymore... #

Et toi!

Et toi, fille moi,

danse avec moi.

Dance with me. Come on.

No.

I cut a hell of a rug, you know?

Take your hand off of me!

Dance with him, chere.

He's a good dancer.

Allons danser, everybody!

# Quoi fa? Quoi fa?

# Chere, quoi fa?

# Toi, qui m'appelle plus d'un telephone... #

Aren't you going to look at me?

# Talk all night long

# On the telephone

# But now you don't call me anymore

# Why, oh, why?

# Why?

# Tell me why

# Why you don't call me... #

Are you satisfied?

You still mad at me, chere, huh?

You don't get it? You're a cop.

You're supposed to uphold the law.

Instead you bend it

and twist it and sell it.

I saw you take that bribe,

resist arrest, tamper with evidence,

and perjure yourself under oath.

Don't forget I ran a red light, too.

You still think it's funny.

HORN HONKS

You're not one of the good guys anymore.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Remy, good to see you back.

I want you to do me favour.

Sure, Remy.

Take me off the widows and orphans' fund.

Jesus Christ, Remy.

What do you mean, take you off?

I don't mean nothing. Just take me off.

Widows and orphans will do fine without me.

Hey, don't even think about it.

Remy.

Yeah.

Look at this.

What's this? Retirement papers?

You finally did it? No!

As of December 31st,

you're the ranking officer of the homicide bureau.

I don't believe you.

Your mother didn't believe it either.

You're finally gonna marry the girl?

New Year's Day. Will you be my best man?

You bet I would, you huggie bear!

Bye, Daddy!

What's so funny? Come here.

Dodge, De Soto, McCabe, Foster - my office.

Welcome back, Remy. >

APPLAUSE

Foster has an interesting angle on the Angelo murder.

Two floaters were pulled from the canal last night.