How It All Goes Down
Fine Food, Fine Wine, Dirty Money
- At this point, "the boundary lines between the good and bad guy" has been thoroughly blurred (2.9.1).
- While Connolly embraces his new edge with aplomb, Morris still can't get over his sense of guilt.
- In '81, word spreads that Bulger is dipping his toes in the cocaine business. This contradicts Connolly's claims about Bulger, as well Bulger's own stated anti-drug stance.
- In particular, these claims revolve around two men: Nick Femia, who we met back in the Lancaster Garage, and a local hitman named Brian Halloran.
- Naturally, Morris removes all of Bulger's identifying details from any internal reports on his drug ties.
- At the same time, Connolly spruces up every single one of Bulger's small claims to make it seem like the evidence of the century. They're a well-oiled machine.
- Connolly likes to claim, for example, that Bulger saved Gianturco from certain death, which is quite the exaggeration.
- Ever since their first dinner party in 1979, the crew has continued to meet each other off the clock, often at Morris' house. Morris' wife is about ready to throw her hubbie out the window.
- The gangsters also start exchanging gifts with the agents, which is so corrupt it hurts.
- It's usually something small: a case of wine here, a fancy new belt buckle there.
- But then, one day, while on a business trip in Georgia, Morris asks Bulger to buy plane tickets for Debbie Noseworthy, his secret girlfriend, so she can visit him.
- And, with that, John Morris' trip to the dark side is complete.