The murder of a "corporate raider" appears to be connected to a Brooklyn factory he took over and then shut down. But the DA's office uncovers a connection to a banking scandal that leads al... Read allThe murder of a "corporate raider" appears to be connected to a Brooklyn factory he took over and then shut down. But the DA's office uncovers a connection to a banking scandal that leads all the way to a former governor.The murder of a "corporate raider" appears to be connected to a Brooklyn factory he took over and then shut down. But the DA's office uncovers a connection to a banking scandal that leads all the way to a former governor.
Photos
- Alice Cantwell
- (as Toni DiBuono)
- Kevin Morehead
- (as Anthony Cummings)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the following events:
- The 1989 "Keating Five" scandal and the subsequent savings and loan crisis. The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger savings and loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators-Alan Cranston (Democrat of California), Dennis DeConcini (Democrat of Arizona), John Glenn (Democrat of Ohio), John McCain (Republican of Arizona), and Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (Democrat of Michigan)-were accused of improperly intervening in 1987 on behalf of Charles H. Keating, Jr., Chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of a regulatory investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB). The FHLBB subsequently backed off taking action against Lincoln.
- The Michael Milken case. Milken, was an investment banker who dominated the junk bond market in the 1980s, was sentenced to jail in 1990 after pleading guilty to a number of securities and tax-related felonies. In the preceding decade, Milken had helped usher in a new wave of leveraged buy outs (LBOs) and greatly changed the structure of corporate America. By the late 1980s, though, Milken and junk bonds became more heavily scrutinized, and Milken was eventually implicated in a number of felonious acts. Milken was later pardoned by President Donald Trump on February 18, 2020.
- The 1986 Ivan Boesky case. Boesky was a former American stock trader who became infamous for his prominent role in an insider trading scandal that occurred in the United States during the mid-1980s. He was charged and pled guilty to insider trading, was fined a record $100 million, and later became an informant.
- The 1986 Bank of Credit and Commerce International money laundering scandal. The BCCI was the seventh-largest private bank in the world and came under the scrutiny of financial regulators and intelligence agencies in the 1980s, due to concerns that it was poorly regulated and had illegally gained the controlling interest in a major American bank. BCCI became the focus of a massive regulatory battle in 1991, and, on the 5th of July of that year, customs and bank regulators in seven countries raided and locked down records of its branch offices. Subsequent investigations revealed that it was involved in massive money laundering for figures such as Saddam Hussein, Manuel Noriega, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, and Samuel Doe, and for criminal organizations such as the Medellin Cartel and Abu Nidal. Police and intelligence experts nicknamed BCCI the "Bank of Crooks and Criminals International" for its penchant for catering to customers who dealt in arms, drugs, and hot money. A supporting character was based on Clark Clifford, a successful Washington lawyer, who was a key figure in the BBCI scandal. Although Clifford maintained his innocence, he did face criminal charges of fraud, conspiracy, and taking bribes. These charges were dropped in 1993 because of Clifford's ill health. In 1998, the year of his death, he and his partner, Robert A. Altman reached a $5 million settlement with the Federal Reserve and settled the last of several civil lawsuits against them.
- Inspired by the life of American Financer Asher Edelman.
- Inspired by the life of American businessman Carl Icahn.
- GoofsWhen reading a memo, Logan pronounced "RE" as "ray". It is an abbreviation of "regarding" and should be pronounced "ree".
- Quotes
Paul Robinette: So what's the story? What's with this pro se nonsense?
Simon Vilanis: [loftily] I want my day in court, to show what that bastard did to us.
Paul Robinette: But you didn't kill McFadden.
Simon Vilanis: Nope. But I'd make a hell of a scapegoat. Me and my big mouth.
The season ends with a bang with one of its best episodes "The Working Stiff". Which was a wonderful episode in every way and boasted one of the best guest star turns of the early seasons, let alone of Season 2. "The Working Stiff" also as has been said already signalled the first time that Adam Schiff was showcased properly, in one of the episodes where it is difficult to not empathise with him, and more than a supporting character that pops up here and there.
Although everything about "The Working Stiff" is brilliant, Eli Wallach (yes that Eli Wallach) really stands out. He gives a performance that has subtle intensity but is also very moving, one of not many major suspects at this early stage of the show to be easy to feel sorry for or certainly his situation. William Prince is not quite as memorable but also does a fine job, his sordid character being quite chilling.
While all the regulars are great, this is a rare episode of Steven Hill in one of his best appearances as Schiff outshining Michael Moriarty. Moriarty as ever is full of authority but Hill is remarkably understated and quite affecting, did feel bad for Schiff here. The tight and clever dialogue really does help the cast though, the issues raised being handled in a way that isn't one-sided or superficial and Vilanis and Schiff especially of the characters have a good deal of depth. The story is not over-deliberate and the many turns taken are not obvious, confused or unnecessary.
Had no issues with comprehending what was going on in "The Working Stiff" while appreciating its intricacy, and connected with it emotionally. As always, it's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction keeps the tension of the storytelling burning, especially in the legal scenes, while letting the more emotional moments shine too.
Overall, wonderful and one of Season 2's finest. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 20, 2020