JACKIE COLLINS' LUCKY/CHANCES {PART 3 OF 3} (TV)
Summary
The third part of this three-part miniseries based on the novels “Chances” and “Lucky” by Jackie Collins about the rise and fall of a Las Vegas casino mogul and his family.
In Las Vegas in 1970, a criminal trial in the Clark County District Court finds Lucky not guilty for killing Enzio on the grounds that it was self-defense. Everyone seems to be elated at the verdict except for Santino, who warns Lucky that she will face consequences for killing his father. Steven is reassigned to Los Angeles to keep an eye on Santino, who has taken over Enzio’s mob. He spots Eden accompanying Santino and grows curious; she tells him that she and Lenny have split up. She also says that Santino is producing a movie she is to star in, much to Steven’s distress. Santino tells Steven to stay away from her and they leave. Gino is happy at Lucky being declared innocent and invites her to a lavish dinner party at the hotel in honor of actress Francesca Fern. Later Steven catches up with Lenny, who is to perform at the Magiriano’s lounge. At the dinner party, Gino introduces Lucky to his latest girlfriend, an older woman named Susan Martino. Dmitri and Olympia are there as well, although Olympia is still peeved at Lucky for bringing Gino and Dmitri to come pick them up from Saint-Tropez. Dmitri notes that Olympia has already been through several husbands; Susan believes she knows “everything” about Gino and Lucky, although Lucky is not so sure. She has a talk with Costa about securing legitimate funding for the casino, and Lucky suggests asking Dmitri to be an investor, although Gino says that his involvement would be unnecessary.
Lucky overhears some of Lenny’s act and is disgusted by his sexist material. She finds his dressing room and tells him to reconsider his anti-woman jokes, although he refuses and talks back to her. She leaves and orders her staff to fire Lenny. The next day, Dmitri takes Lucky out on his yacht for lunch, and he reveals that Gino called him to ask about investing in the casino, much to Lucky’s surprise. She is angry that Gino seemingly co-opted her idea and phones him to call him out on his deception. Lucky tells her that she will handle the business deal and refuses to be ordered around by him. Steven offers to let Lenny stay at his place in Los Angeles, and they move in together. Steven reveals that he saw Eden with Santino, and that he is concerned about her association with him. He asks Lenny to try to convince her to break off her ties with Santino, although Lenny does not believe that Eden will listen to him. Santino has Eden convinced that he is gathering investors for a film project and is exploiting her trust in him for sex.
Gino tells Susan about his recent issues with Lucky, and she advises him not to let the power struggle between the two of them consume him. They attend a charity ball together and Susan spots Carrie in the crowd; her presence in fashion and style magazines has been increasing as of late. Susan goes over to meet her and Carrie and Gino pretend that they haven’t met. In private Gino compliments her and invites her to lunch the following day. Lucky has dinner with Dmitri and says that she has plans to start building a casino in Atlantic City. Dmitri confesses that he is attracted to Lucky, and they end up having sex. Dmitri invites her to move to New York with him, allowing her to construct her new casino. However, she feels that she must first resolve her argument with Gino. Gino thanks Carrie for warning him about the tax evasion investigation, and he says that he saw both Steven and Whitejack at Lucky’s trial. Steven is still unaware that Gino is his father, but Gino says that Steven can come to him if he needs anything.
Lenny catches up with Eden and tries to warn her about Santino, but she is still convinced that he is a producer and not a mobster. He gives her Steven’s number before she goes, brushing off Lenny’s warnings. Gino tells Lucky that he intends to marry Susan, although Lucky is unhappy at this news, as she believes that Susan is interfering in Gino’s life. She resents Gino’s attempt to take back control of the casino from her, as well as Gino’s assertions that she should get married and have children. Bernard dies and Steven is booked on a flight back to New York for his funeral. After the funeral, Carrie finally reveals to Steven that Gino is his father, and that he saved her from a life of prostitution many years ago. Steven is shocked and angry at this revelation, unwilling to accept the truth. Just before leaving for New York, Lucky discovers that she is pregnant with Dmitri’s child. She and Dmitri travel to Greece to get married, and Olympia expresses her distaste for Lucky’s decision.
Three years later, in 1973, Lenny performs at the Magiriano again, this time at the main room and to a cheering crowd. He sits with Steven in the audience and they spot Santino and Eden; Steven tells Lenny that Santino has been putting Eden in pornographic films. Eden comes over to Steven and admits that she made a mistake and wants to disentangle herself from Santino. Olympia is frustrated with her marriage to a rock musician, and they two of them fight in the hotel, ending when she gets up and walks off. She goes over to see Gino and Lenny, whom she seems to be attracted to. They spend the evening dancing and drinking together, and eventually they decide to get married at a roadside wedding chapel along the Vegas strip. In Greece, Lucky is frustrated that she and Dmitri have not returned to the United States to build her new hotel. However, her responsibilities to Dmitri and their son Bobby occupy much of her time. Jennifer tells her that Gino has become lonely since his marriage to Susan, and that he misses Lucky. Gino spends much of his time in Las Vegas separated from Susan, and their relationship has become strained. He decides to call Lucky and they are happy to speak to each other. She plans to invite Gino to a party held at Dmitri’s villa in France, and he accepts.
Olympia and Lenny awaken in the morning and try to recall the events of the previous night. They realize that they are married, and decide to try to give their new relationship a try. A now-elderly Whitejack visits Carrie at home and tells her that he recognized her from her photograph on one of her books. She tells him to get out, but he tries to intimidate her into giving him a large sum of money. He threatens to reveal the truth about her past if she doesn’t comply, which would hurt Steven’s career as a DEA agent. Dmitri holds his party, and Lucky grows suspicious of his apparent affection towards Francesca. Later Gino arrives and Lucky brings him to meet Bobby for the first time. Olympia and Lenny arrive in France for the party, and they seem to be constantly argumentative with each other. Gino tells Lucky that he plans to divorce Susan, much to Lucky’s appreciation. Olympia arrives and introduces Dmitri to Lenny, revealing that they are now married. Dmitri seems dismissive of Lenny, and Lenny argues with Olympia about her treatment of him and her bad attitude.
Later Lenny happens to meet Lucky on a beach, although neither of them recognizes each other. They commiserate about their respective problems, but discuss them in vagaries and leave without exchanging names. Later Lucky has dinner at Dmitri’s villa and meets with Lenny again, and they recognize each other. They speak in private and realize that they met once before just after Lenny’s first show at the Magiriano, and Lucky reveals that she was the one who ordered that he be fired. Lenny intuits that Lucky is unhappy with her marriage to Dmitri, and confesses that he made a mistake marrying Olympia. They end up sharing a kiss. Steven returns to see Carrie, although they have not spoken since Carrie revealed the truth about his parentage to him. She tells him about Whitejack’s threats, and Steven promises to take care of the matter.
Lucky introduces Lenny to Bobby, although Olympia is displeased at seeing them together. Lucky accidentally walks in on Dmitri and Francesca in bed together, and she immediately announces that she is leaving him. She goes to see Gino, who is also leaving for New York after hearing from Steven, and tells him that she is returning to Las Vegas with Bobby. Olympia gets in contact with her ex-husband about getting back together with him, and makes no effort to conceal this from Lenny. She believes that he is after her money, but he insists otherwise. Steven visits Gino in New York to discuss how to help Carrie. Gino tells Steven exactly where Whitejack will be found the following night with a large shipment of cocaine, allowing the DEA to easily arrest him. They share an awkward conversation before Steven leaves. The next night, Steven participates in the bust against Whitejack, and he is shot and killed when he pulls a gun on the DEA agents. Steven tells Carrie about Whitejack’s death, but does not tell her that Gino was the one who tipped him off.
Lenny comes to visit Lucky in Las Vegas and they sleep together. Olympia reunites with her ex-husband, as well as Santino and Eden. Santino discovers that Lucky is Dmitri’s wife and that she is in Las Vegas. Eden warns Santino that she intends to leave him, but he tries to threaten her into staying with him. Santino kidnaps Bobby and calls her to let her know that he has him. Eden manages to call Steven and leave a panicked voice message about the kidnapping. Steven makes calls to the DEA to try to stop Santino and Eden at the airport while Lenny calls Lucky to tell them that they are working to get Bobby back and to meet him at the airport. Steven manages to get the police to intercept Santino as he emerges from his private jet. Santino realizes that Eden was the one who tipped Steven off and swears revenge on her. Lucky and Gino arrive at the airport and are reunited with Bobby. Eventually Lucky and Lenny get married, and Gino gives them a toast celebrating their union. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 9, 1990 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:33:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:40788
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Families; Las Vegas, Nev.
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV miniseries, 1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Susan Baerwald … Executive Producer
- Jackie Collins … Executive Producer, Writer, Based on the books "Chances" and "Lucky" by
- Daniel Franklin … Co-Producer
- Deborah Edell … Associate Producer
- Les Green … Associate Producer
- Buzz Kulik … Director
- Billy Goldenberg … Music by
- Vincent Irizarry … Cast, Gino Santangelo
- Michael Nader … Cast, Enzio Bonnatti
- Anne-Marie Johnson … Cast, Carrie Dimes
- Eric Braeden … Cast, Dmitri Stanislopolous
- Sandra Bullock … Cast, Maria Santangelo
- Stephanie Beacham … Cast, Susan Martino
- Tim Ryan … Cast, Lenny Golden
- Phil Morris … Cast, Steven Dimes
- Shawnee Smith … Cast, Olympia Stanislopolous Golden
- Alan Rosenberg … Cast, Costa Zennocotti
- David McCallum … Cast, Bernard Dimes
- Luca Bercovici … Cast, Santino Bonnatti
- Richard Anderson … Cast, Mr. Duke
- Leann Hunley … Cast, Eden
- Harold Pruett … Cast, Dario Santangelo
- Grant Show … Cast, Marco
- Jimmie F. Skaggs … Cast, Whitejack
- Audrey Landers … Cast, Marabelle
- Charles Frank … Cast, David Richmond
- Wendy Cutler … Cast, Jennifer
- Jake Dengel … Cast, Ferragami
- Mary Frann … Cast, Clementine Duke
- Nicollette Sheridan … Cast, Lucky Santangelo
- Nick Angotti … Cast, Eddie Lucci
- Wanda de Jesus … Cast, Suzita
- Tony di Benedetto … Cast, Pinky
- Heather Hasse … Cast, Cindy
- Liliana Komorowska … Cast, Francesca Fern
- Robert Duncan McNeill … Cast, Craven Richmond
- Debi Monahan … Cast, Lucille
- Virginia Morris … Cast, Sandra
- Raymond O'Keefe … Cast, Leroy
- Jane Marla Robbins … Cast, Judi
- Robert Sampson … Cast, Fred Lester
- William Shockley … Cast, Flash
- Perry Sheehan Adair … Cast, Court Clerk
- Raquel Alessi … Cast, Maria - Age 6
- Jack Angeles … Cast, Fat Larry
- Tony Auer … Cast, Preacher #2
- Joshua Baerwald … Cast, Bartender
- Ralph Cardinale … Cast, Jury Foreman
- James D. Cohen … Cast, Hotel Messenger
- Nick Georgiade … Cast, N.Y. Detective
- Linda Hoffman … Cast, Girl #1
- Anthony S. Johnson … Cast, Security Guard
- Eric Kohner … Cast, Catto
- Sarah Beth Kulik … Cast, Little Girl
- Stu Levin … Cast, Doctor #1
- Irene Olga Lopez … Cast, Maid #1
- Peter Mamakos … Cast, Greek Priest
- Pamela Mant … Cast, Miss Vane
- Lisa Melilli … Cast, Girl #2
- Elisabeth Moss … Cast, Lucky - Age 6
- Michael Mann Munoz … Cast, Bobby
- Gunnar Peterson … Cast, Henry
- Stephen Prutting … Cast, Doctor #2
- Theresa Ring … Cast, Hatcheck Girl
- Edmond Stoiber … Cast, Judge
- Lisle Wilson … Cast, L.A. Detective
- John Winston … Cast, Smythson