Final Justice 1984

Escape across the border after assassination

Joseph Palermo and his brother Tony flee across the border after killing a building contractor. Their car crashes during the escape, and facing mounting pursuit they hijack a car from a local police station. This sequence sets off a violent, escalating chase that spans the border region.

Firefight ends with Tony dead and Joseph captured

In the ensuing firefight, Palermo shoots and kills the sheriff who is pursuing them. The gang is chased across the border by the sheriff's deputy, who relentlessly pursues. The deputy shoots Tony dead and captures Joseph, breaking the initial escape attempt.

Geronimo assigned to escort Palermo to Italy

To capitalize on the gangster's notoriety, US State Department official Wilson orders Geronimo to escort Palermo to Italy as a publicity stunt. The mission is framed as a high-profile transfer rather than a standard legal handover. Geronimo accepts, determined to see justice served.

Plane sabotage forces a Malta landing

En route to Italy, the plane is sabotaged and forced to land in Malta. The dramatic derailment upends the original plan and strands Palermo and Geronimo in a foreign land. The publicity stunt quickly morphs into a renewed pursuit on unfamiliar ground.

Arrival in Valletta; Palermo escapes custody

Upon arrival in Valletta, Malta, Geronimo is ambushed by gangsters and Palermo escapes custody. The Maltese authorities are slow to respond, complicating Geronimo's efforts to recapture him. The chase shifts from the US border to Maltese soil.

Maltese authorities promise recapture; Wilson orders him back to Texas

The Maltese police assure Geronimo that Palermo will be recaptured with local help. Meanwhile, Chief Wilson phones and orders Geronimo to return to Texas, attempting to regain control from afar. Geronimo remains resolved to pursue Palermo himself despite the orders.

Maria Cassar aids the pursuit; to Don Lamanna estate

With assistance from local policewoman Maria Cassar, Geronimo sharpens the pursuit and tracks Palermo to the estate of Don Lamanna, a Maltese bigwig. The trail exposes Palermo's ability to mobilize a local network. Geronimo's pursuit becomes a tense game of cat and mouse on Maltese soil.

Arrests and evasions in Maltese jurisdiction

Geronimo is repeatedly arrested by Maltese authorities but always manages to escape. Each escape deepens the sense of impractical justice and complicates the chase. The Maltese authorities struggle to keep up with Palermo's evasive maneuvers.

Palermo's collaboration with Wilson revealed

It becomes clear that Palermo was in cahoots with Wilson, and that Wilson never intended for Geronimo to deliver Palermo to Italy. The publicity mission is revealed as a political maneuver rather than a direct path to justice. The pursuit shifts from capturing a gangster to exposing a broader conspiracy.

Cassar kills Wilson

Maria Cassar takes decisive action and kills Wilson, eliminating one of the central planners behind the ruse. The death reorders the power dynamics of the pursuit and signals a turning point in Malta's stake in the drama. The loss forces the remaining players to reassess their positions.