Rules of the Road

Georgia becomes a getaway driver, delivering millions of dollars and doing “pick ups” for the Gambinos.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Teleforce Productions and I Heart Radio presents Wheel Woman Confessions
of a Getaway Driver. So ultimately with Sammy g who
was responsible for you driving for the Gambino crime family.
I mean, it was a series of events that led
to that, but sure you could say Sammy was the

(00:21):
final push. What was your first job behind the wheel?
It started slow, innocent, little drop offs. I would leave
Tony with my parents and Rochister a couple of times
a month as I left for so called modeling jobs,
anything to get out of town. But things escalated pretty quickly.

(01:00):
H How did you first get into driving? I think

(01:32):
my attraction to speed and racing came from spending time
with my father, well, Tony my stepfather. As I mentioned,
my real father split before I was even born, but
my mom married Tony when I was only five. I
may not have known my real dad, but I never
felt the lack of a father figure. But in the
eyes of the town gossips, I was still the bastard

(01:53):
child of one of the Paroon sisters. It doesn't matter
that Tony was there from the beginning of my life
and was more of an un failingly loving dad than
most of the kids in the neighborhood had. Part of
the reason I was such a tomboy was because all
I wanted to do was hang out with him, and
didn't help much that some of the mothers wouldn't let
their kids play with me and called me a putana

(02:14):
a whore. Anyway, I idolized Tony. He was quiet and
soft spoken, but accepted my wild side, something my mother
didn't have as easy of a time doing. The summer
before modeling became my focus, I spent every day at
the golf course. My dad was training me for the
Woman's Tour. I didn't care much for it, but I

(02:35):
was good at it, and I did it to please
my father, and I enjoyed spending the time with him.
But what I really enjoyed was tearing down the fairway
in the electric golf carts. There were little bridges designed
to be just wide enough for golfers on foot, but
I became obsessed with making it across in the carts,
calculating the width and my speed. There were so many

(02:55):
complaints that my dad had to take the keys away,
but that didn't stop me. I figured out how to
hot wire them. A love of driving developed, and I
moved on to stealing my parents car from midnight joy rides.
That summer, I also became friends with some kids whose
mom worked at the club with my dad, Mike and Patty.
I started sneaking out of the house to hang out

(03:16):
with Patty and Mike's garage, where he and his friends
built race cars. When the guy saw I was interested,
they let me participate, explaining everything, and on Saturday nights
they'd haul the race car down to the local speedway.
Patty and I would hang out there every weekend and

(03:36):
had a blast cheering the guys on from the pits.
But soon that wasn't enough. I was itching to get
behind the wheel myself. Hey, Mike, what's up, Georgia? What
do you think about me getting behind the wheel sometime? Sweetie?

(04:00):
Are here to race? I am looking for competition, not
to beat out some broad in two minutes flat. M Well,
if that's what you think, what's the harm and humoring me? Alright, fine,
I'll race you, but when I win, I get a kiss.
If you win, Georgia, you think this is a good idea,

(04:20):
give me your keys. Be careful, m h. I remember.

(04:42):
I could hear my heart pounding as I gripped the
wheel tightly. Those seconds waiting for the race to begin
where some of the longest of my life. M hm hm.

(05:05):
I wasn't really as confident as I seemed, just gutsy
and determined. He was ahead right out of the game,
but he got cocky and I crept up aside him quickly.

(05:27):
It was the most exhilarating feeling I ever had, and
it only got better as I pulled ahead. My hands
were white. They were grouping so hard, and I don't
think I took a breath until I crossed the finish line. Yeah,

(06:01):
I slowed to a stop, bathed in euphoria. I won
in record time. Look at that. Everyone was yelling my name.
As the second car finally joined me. Georgia, Georgia, Georgia, George.

(06:21):
All I could think was, how do I do that again? Wow? Georgia,
Holy ship. That was pretty amazing. We could take the

(06:42):
wheel anytime. I was going easy on you. Uh huh,
So I was about that kiss, I said, if you want.
I raced every weekend for the rest of the season,
and I never lost even once. But the next summer

(07:11):
things changed. I was busy modeling and the gang wasn't
hanging out anymore. But I never stopped missing that rush.
Probably spent the rest of my life chasing it. And
I always had a thing for bad boys and nice cars.
But I wanted to be in the driver's seat, even
though I didn't know when. Somehow I knew that one

(07:32):
day i'd find myself back behind the wheel. What were
your first few jobs driving for the mom Like in
the beginning, I was only delivering letters and packages. I
never knew exactly what I was transporting, but sometimes I
got lucky and caught someone's face when they read the letter.
The money was good, but I could make money modeling.

(07:53):
It was the intrigue that reeled me in. Oh yeah,
take this to Frank on thirty eight Street, watch his

(08:14):
face as he opens it, and then call me. You
got it. The rules were simple. Don't talk to anyone,
don't ask questions, always park a block away, make sure
you're not being followed. I realized things were different now.
I wasn't just following the rules as someone in the world.
I was employed. That meant the stakes were higher, no

(08:37):
room to mess up. At first, I was nervous, but
whenever I noticed that feeling of being scared, the feeling
of being excited was even larger. I was eager to
keep going to see what else was next. Finally, after
doing enough deliveries, I graduated to pick ups. What did
you do to work your way up? Well, I didn't

(09:00):
ever funk up for starters, but my personality was the
right fit. My thirst for adventure led me to say
yes to any job anytime they like that, and I
knew how to act around the guys because I've been
around people like them long enough. With time, I wasn't
just a dumb kid anymore. I was a dumb kid
who could be trusted, and the more comfortable they became

(09:21):
with me, the more serious the job became. Such chance,
the Gambino crime family did a lot of business in
and out of JFK. Before long, it was my job
to meet the cargo planes as they came in. Sal

(09:52):
would call me that morning with the location of a car.
I'd pick it up somewhere in Manhattan and head towards
the airport. I'd pull into long term parking and drive

(10:14):
up to the top floor, and there I would see
a group of men in suits standing in front of
a car. We barely spoke. I didn't know who they
were what I was picking up. But these guys never
looked like regular gangsters. I knew that much. I waited

(10:40):
silently as they unloaded heavily packaged boxes into my trunk.
This was always the worst part, waiting good to go,
and then I would take them wherever Salad told me
too earlier that day. It was always somewhere different. I'd

(11:03):
either leave the keys in the wheelwell or make a
dead drop a couple of days later, so that would
swing by with an envelope of cash and my next assignment.
Do you know what was in the boxes? At the time,
I had no idea. I knew better than to look
and gave it no thought really, But later I learned

(11:24):
I was transporting millions of dollars. Can you believe that,
having no idea, you were carrying around their kind of cash.
It's a good thing I didn't know at the time.
I would have actually been nervous millions. It was all
facilitated by the CIA. Those were the guys I met
at the airport, Real government officials who no I was

(11:45):
later told our government was setting up bank accounts for
the mob in Switzerland and getting paid quite handsomely for
their involvement. Not only in the form of money, I
might add, so before you keep judging me, you take
them all and think about her you're working for. Makes
you think who the bad guys here are? Huh, I'm

(12:07):
not judging you, Mr Ante. Yeah, well, can you tell
me about the car what you wore? It was the
era of the muscle car, big block engines pushing ten
tons of steel. These cars had the trunk space to
fit a family or several bodies, and we're usually stick

(12:31):
shift without power steering, so swinging these things around was
no easy task. Cars were status item for the first
time and could tell you a lot about the people
driving them. Sure there were imports, but the American auto
industry was king, and typically you only saw him in
behind the wheel. At first, the guys were suspicious I
could handle the bigger cars. They weren't ladylike to say

(12:53):
the least, but they quickly realized their concerns were unfounded.
But you usually I was given the keys to a
black Buick, something inconspicuous, not to mention the fact that
it was reliable, with good pickup in a tight suspension.
As for what I wore, that was even more of
an anomaly. It was nothing specific, just the fashion of

(13:16):
the time, which was mostly comprised of many skirts and
tall boots. They said they didn't care what I looked
like as long as I got the job done. Sure,
sometimes they let me know how much they appreciated my outfits.
To be fair, I was definitely their only driver who
dressed like that. Caught them off guard sometimes, but with time,

(13:37):
they respected the work I did and stopped acting like creeps,
even if it took a minute. And the other unintentional
benefit to my wardrobe was I felt almost invisible to
the cops. I knew they'd never suspect someone who looked
like me. If anyone is suspicious ever pulled up next
to me, I would just apply some lipstick in my
rear view mirror until they passed on. And what did

(14:00):
you stopped doing deliveries and begin driving people like I said,
After a few months, I graduated into doing pickups. That's
when I would drive some of the guys around to
make pickups. Pretty self explanatory. I assumed they were just
picking up money and delivering threats, standard stuff, but I
had a sneaking suspicion it was often something worse, And

(14:21):
you still didn't ask questions, are you kidding? I knew
the rules, and I wanted to be where the action was,
and the money only got better, and it was a
hell of a lot more exciting than standing under hot
lights all day. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it was
a little boring, but then there were days when my
driving really came in handy. The rules were mostly the same,

(14:45):
but I had to be ready to go if things
turned at a moment's notice. Sal told me where to
pick up the guys, and usually where to take them.
Sometimes I knew who I picked up, but often they
were strangers. I dropped them in front and pull around
the co wanted to wait. Sometimes it was minutes, sometimes hours,
and sometimes things didn't go quite as planned. Pull over,

(15:16):
wait here. I always waited out of sight with the
engine running. I knew a lot of my pickups involved
my passengers teaching someone a lesson, probably breaking legs, I thought,
which seemed a standard response when people didn't pay the vague,
which was just interest to the loan sharks. But this

(15:38):
day I realized there was more to it. As I
idled in front of some construction site, I fixed my
lipstick in the rear view mirror, Suddenly, I hear an
alarm sounding. That can't be a good sign. Then came
shouting in the distance, and the guys came charging back
towards me. I froze, waiting as they threw themselves into

(16:00):
the car. Come on, let's go step on it. At first,
I assumed the men's side had simply outnumbered them and
they were running from a beating Go go, go go.
I quickly caught on when I heard the sirens and

(16:22):
when they pulled out their guns, they weren't just collecting
the vague. They were robbing the place. Marie, George go
and I did. My only thought was to create distance
between us and those cops or someone was going to
get killed. Let's go, Yeah yeah. If Academy awards were

(16:52):
given for driving performances, I would have won hands down
that day. Ride baby Oh, I got him fucking pigs.
I let go and let Georgia Black take over. She
had nerves of steel and took each turn with a vengeance.

(17:18):
Come on, now, Everything played in my mind like watching
a video and fast forward. I drove at high speed
through traffic and up and over sidewalks. If I let
myself think about it, I would be nervous. My life

(17:40):
was endangered. Not to mention the fact that I was
breaking the law, but I was so focused on the
task at hand. My mind was blank. Come on, fucking whacktle,
what are you going? Come on, go go God the

(18:00):
gaining on us. Up ahead, I saw a space between
two buildings. It looked like there wasn't even enough space
for a bicycle to squeeze through. But I saw our
opportunity to get lost. Holy ship watching. But we made
it through. I think we lost them. Good job, Georgie Go.

(18:32):
I finally took a breath. Adrenaline coursed through my veins.
I liked that feeling. Even as Georgia Black receded. I
was able to enjoy my victory. But somewhere in the
back of my mind, I realized I was getting in
way over my head. This was something new. I had

(18:53):
just run from real danger, and I knew I wasn't
actually at the finish line. Yeah, drop us here be
it Tony's later, tonight, you got it. Later. I met

(19:48):
them at one of the frequented after hours clubs, Tony's.
It was dark and dingy, and suddenly I got nervous.
I didn't know what It was about the adrenaline from
earlier had worn off, and I was a little ship
a key. But they were having a grand old time.
They took over the back to boots and a ton
of guys crammed in, admiring large bottles of champagne and

(20:09):
loose women. But when I approached, all eyes landed on me.
There she is to Georgie girl. Here you go, kid,
do a job, well done it. Thank you. He hands
me an envelope. My jaw almost dropped to the floor

(20:31):
when I opened it. It was full of one bills
three grand total. Let's get this girl a drink. What's
you're drinking, honey. I celebrated that night, and I took
their money and their praise, but not without guilt. If

(20:57):
you felt guilty, why didn't you it? It was the
first moment I knew I would eventually, but that thought
was far in the back of my mind. I was
nowhere near ready Why I finally felt like I was
in After a lifetime of people talking ship and excluding me,

(21:19):
I was on the inside, and it was not enough.
I wanted to know more. I won't pretend the money
wasn't nice, and I needed an excuse to get out
of town, but I was hooked on the rush, the
exhilarating feeling of defying death. Turns out, even after I quit,
I would spend my life chasing it. Did you see

(21:41):
Frankie again? During this time? Every time I went into
the city to do a job, I thought I might.
It felt like it was inevitable, But eventually I saw
him out. One day, I went into Beanots tavern. Right
when I walked in, I was hit with a wave

(22:02):
of nostalgia. Beanos took me instantly to my own mother's kitchen,
to the warmth always surrounding her, the richness of that world,
the safety. Beno's mom, Rosa was in her usual place
in the kitchen, and the guys were all sitting on
the same bar stools where I had left him, all
except Frankie. Beno saw me first, girl, What are you

(22:25):
doing here? Time? Bino? Hey, guys, bide ma, look a
there's troga girl. Hey, cook up her favorite macaroni. I'm
making the for all the boys. We're gonna have a celebration. Georgia.
It's no the same without you, Bella, I Rosa. You
got a bambino now? No? Yes, her name is Tony.

(22:47):
She's beautiful like her mama. Tony. That's a good Italian name. Sit,
I go cook for you. You look at the skinny
pino bringing the olives in the bread o mom coming?
But what you're doing here? Joji girl? Just Frankie, No,
you're in town? No, Flipp. I thought i'd surprise him.

(23:08):
Are you coming around? We should be walking in the
door any minute. How is he flipp? Oh? You know, Frankie,
he's fine to be honest with you, Georgia girl. He's
been embarrassed since you left. Georgie Girl, what a surprise? Baby?
What are you doing in the city? I Frankie, I'm

(23:30):
here for a modeling job. How long are you here for?
I'm leaving tonight tonight. You gotta be kidding. You just
got here my note. But I'm not taking no for
an answer. Baby, You're gonna need Tomorrow. We are going
to the play alouds tonight. My favorite band is still playing.
We'll get Flip on stage and a few songs. It'll
be just like old times. Okay, maybe sit sit Manja, manja?

(23:57):
How you let this one? Girl? Frankie? What's the matter
with you? A question? Rosas? How do you keep one
like this, you a man? No, you know, think of something.
I was filled with joy. Time had stood still there,

(24:18):
and I got to feel like a young and care
free kid again. I went to the play lounge and
the whole gang was there. We drank and danced until
all hours of the morning, and I laughed like I
hadn't for a while. But I also realized that I
now had my own secrets. Somehow I was keeping the
same kind of secrets from Frankie that he once kept

(24:40):
from me. Did you think about telling Frankie? Oh? No,
too much time had passed. What do you think he
would have thought about it. He would have hated it,
been furious with Sammy for getting me into it. Frankie
really thought that by ending things with me, he was

(25:00):
keeping me out of that world. Do you think he
ever found out it was because of Sammy? Frankie had
been over the protective of you when he want revenge.
I don't know. I don't know, but I do know
that he would have hated to find out that I
was putting myself in that kind of danger. But it
was danger that kept you in it. Yeah, I loved

(25:22):
the thrill of it and the mystery. But with time
I became used to it. I actually even started to
dread it. I couldn't keep ignoring what I was asked
to turn a blind eye too, and I started to
feel guilty about spending so much time away from Tony.
But I didn't know how to quit. I was like

(25:43):
an adrenaline junkie. I needed to replace it with another fix.
Then finally I found another way to get my blood
pumping with Joe, Yeah, Joe. I learned that the only
thing more dangerous than driving for the mob was marrying
into it. Wheel Woman is written by Lars Jacobson and

(26:10):
Sabrina Jagulin and directed by Sabrina Jagulin, Produced by Lars
Jacobson and Sabrina Jagulin, Executive produced by Georgia Duranty and
Noel Brown for I Heart Radio. Wheel Woman stars Lelia
Symington as Georgia, with additional performances by Tanner Beard, Zachary Webber,
Simon Jagulin, Chase Mullins, Nick Williams, Gabe Greenspan, Dylan McCullum,

(26:34):
Garrett Bear, Nora Garrett, Duncan Caldeen, Victoria Foyt, Max, Georgie,
Mariah Bess, and Max Jacoby, edited by Chris Childs, with
sound design and theme music by Chris Child's. Adapted from
the book The Company She Keeps by Georgia Duranty. Wheelwoman
Confessions of a Getaway Driver is an i Heeart radio production.

(26:55):
For more podcasts from iHeart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app,
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