Absence of Malice Page #6

Yep.

That Medicaid arraignment

is tomorrow.

Yeah.

You want art?

You betcha.

I think they ought to get

their pictures in the paper.

I want you to think about the editing.

You're a good newspaperwoman,

Meg.

And if you delete "newspaper"?

I like you all right.

[]

Your meeting, your agenda.

I want a deal.

What you got in mind?

Whatever I find out,

you get. After that,

you're on your own.

But none of this

federal-witness stuff.

I wanna stay in town.

I don't wanna testify,

and I don't wanna deal

with anybody except you.

Why with me?

Maybe I don't trust this guy.

What's his name? Rosen?

What do we do for you?

The investigation you guys

are running on me is over now.

I want you to make

a statement clearing me.

I want it in the papers.

What do you think

you can come up with?

Well, whatever it is,

it's more than you've got.

We don't make statements

clearing people.

We don't talk about an investigation

until somebody's been indicted.

Well, someone sure as hell

talked about this one.

This Waddell, does he go with

that newspaper lady?

The one that wrote about me?

Megan Carter?

They used to see each other.

I don't think they do anymore.

Who knows you're here?

Nobody.

You know what

would happen to me

if this leaks?

We can protect you.

[LAUGHING]

Oh, yeah, sure, sure. Heh.

Okay, um...

We can call off

the investigation.

I'm not sure about

a statement in the paper.

Then we've got

nothing to talk about.

Here's a number.

Leave a message.

When I read

in the paper what I want,

you get in touch.

QUINN:

Let me think about it.

Gallagher?

[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING

OVER SPEAKERS]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Would you like to come in?

Yeah.

Could I fix you a drink?

Oh, I don't think so.

You work long hours.

I was just writing a letter

to my father.

The loan shark.

Yeah.

Keep in touch, huh?

Yes, we do.

Most people

nowadays telephone.

It's not the same.

It's easier to phone,

but then what have you got?

Yeah, my daughter

used to write letters.

I mean, you know, she'd stick crayon

to paper, but she phones now.

How old is she?

Sixteen.

I was, um...

trying to explain to my father

what happened.

You know, the other day

when I took it all out on you...

uh, it isn't that simple.

That's not an apology.

I just wanted to set

the record straight.

That cost you, didn't it?

Telling me about Rosen.

Well, thanks.

I didn't do it for you.

I know that. Anyway...

It's a new blouse.

Oh.

I'll get you your sweater.

Thanks.

Okay.

What I told you about the story,

was it of any help?

Yeah.

Oh.

Maybe see you

one of these days.

I'd like that.

It's not against the rules?

I'd like it anyway.

Michael?

I'd like it to be your idea.

[CHATTERING]

Candidate's coming out

of the closet, huh?

Come on in, Elliott.

Get everybody in the courtyard.

See you guys in 10 minutes.

WOMAN:
Gentlemen.

You want my endorsement?

I'm flattered.

I'm terminating

the Gallagher investigation.

Like hell you are.

Okay, let's call Washington.

And say what?

QUINN:

You say whatever you want.

I'm gonna say you're running

a bogus investigation,

that you're trying to coerce

a private citizen into becoming

a federal witness.

You knew what I was doing.

Yeah.

I should have stopped you then.

I'm gonna stop you now.

You wanna join me

in a statement?

No, thanks.

They're your cards.

You play them.

I have a short, very short,

statement to read.

The Organized Crime

and Racketeering Strike Force

has completed an investigation

of Michael Colin Gallagher

with regard

to his possible involvement

in the disappearance

of Joseph Diaz

and has found no grounds

to proceed against Mr. Gallagher.

Because this investigation was

inadvertently reported in the press,

it is the feeling of this office

that it is only proper

to acknowledge its conclusion.

That's it.

WADDELL:
I don't get it.

You don't?

Quinn blew the whistle

on both of us. You went

after the wrong guy.

I wrote about it.

What the hell's going on?

Good question.

You ought to join the FBI.

I don't know either.

It doesn't make any sense.

Got any ideas?

Sure. Early retirement.

I got a couple.

I want 24-hour surveillance

on Gallagher, not close.

And I want taps on three phones:

Gallagher's warehouse,

Gallagher at home, Quinn's house.

Wait a minute. Where are we gonna

find a judge who'll let us tap Quinn?

I'm not gonna ask a judge.

It's no good in court.

I'm not in court, not yet.

You really think

Gallagher bought him?

I don't know.

Do you think he's for sale?

Mr. Gallagher?

Yeah.

A letter from the Standard.

[]

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]

What are you doing?

Are you leaving?

What time is it?

Five-thirty. I gotta go.

Why? What happens at 5:30?

I'll call you.

I'm free every night but Friday.

How about Friday?

Okay.

[PHONE RINGS]

MICHAEL [ON RECORDING]:

Uh, this is Michael Gallagher.

I'm somewhere else right now.

If you wait for the tone,

leave your name and number,

I'll get back.

[MACHINE BEEPS]

QUINN:

This is... This is Webb.

We'd better get together to talk.

[]

Just keep watching, buddy.

[MACHINE BEEPS]

MICHAEL [IN DISGUISED VOICE]:

Our boy's getting nervous.

He wants a meeting.

And then there's one

that says, "Our boy

is getting nervous.

He wants a meeting."

"Our boy," huh?

Unbelievable.

[BEEPS]

MICHAEL [IN DISGUISED VOICE]:

Matheson Hammock,

day after tomorrow.

[IN NORMAL VOICE]

That's Thursday, 11 a.m.

[]

Nine thousand

in cashier's checks

payable to the

Committee for a Better Miami.

Committee for a Better Miami?

Wait a minute.

Anonymous contributions

to a nonprofit organization

with political interests,

specifically Mr. James Quinn.

Absolutely legal.

Nicely laundered.

Except we caught him.

All of it arranged

on a Code-A-Phone so

we can't prove he got them.

Gallagher's no dummy.

Oh, yeah? Your meeting's arranged.

Eleven tomorrow,

Matheson Hammock.

Well, it's a professional job.

QUINN:

We know that.

There's talk that

it might be two guys

from New Jersey.

We know that too.

The papers said that,

for chrissake.

MICHAEL:

Well, maybe they're right.

I got my neck stuck out

for you, Gallagher,

and you'd better deliver.

Now, I held up my end.

You'd damn well better

start holding up yours.

Hey, you've been

on this job for six months.

I've been on it for a week.

Now, I need something,

and you'd better start

delivering soon.

Soon as I know.

[]

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]

WADDELL:

Hey, Meg.

Hi, Bob.

Sorry, I'm late.

I think you'll wanna hear this.

What?

Between us.

They can have my job for this.

What are you talking about?

Gallagher paid off Quinn.

That's why he called off

the investigation.

I don't believe you.

Get in the car.

[]

WADDELL:

Those are his checks, Meg.

Political contributions to Quinn.

He's under surveillance,

and when you're with him,

you're...

Rosen will bust him if he can.

Get out of it, Meg.

Why are you telling me this?

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