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Describes the security guard business, a $15 billion industry that has become a virtual dumping ground for the unstable, the dishonest and the violent. The industry is fragmented, intensely competitive and unwilling to police itself adequately.Profiles of three `problem' guards; Recent expansion in the industry; Problems at Burns International Security Services; Weapons training, screening, and weak legislation. INSET: A man the guard firms love to hate (Guardsmark)..

Presents an interview with Nicholas (`The Crow') Caramandi, a Philadelphia hitman who fingered his Mafia boss to save his own skin. Killed one of his best friends; Testified in 11 trials that have brought 52 convictions; Righthand man to Nicodemo(`Little Nicky') Scarfo.

Focuses on the Church of Scientology, started by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard to `clear' people of unhappiness, and portrays itself as a religion. In reality the church is a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner. More insidious and pervasive than ever; Mainstreaming; New leader David Miscavige, 31, cunning, ruthless, paranoid; IRS audit; Front groups and financial scams. INSET: The bridge to enlightenment..

Presents a special report on organized crime which argues that while John Gotti may get the headlines, Vincent Gigante's Mob family ranks as the real powerhouse in a $100 billion industry. Convictions and bloodletting; Penchant for privacy; Ridding the unions of mobsters. INSET: Is the Godfather insane, or crazy like a fox?.

Speculates on the resignation of Nicholas J. Nicholas Jr., 52, sole heir to Steve Ross as head of Time Warner Inc., and his replacement by Gerald Levin, 52. Timing of the Nicholas ouster; Death of board member James F. Bere; Levin's background at Time Inc.; Changes not expected; Wall Street's reaction; Comments from Nicholas on his overthrow; Outlook for the merged company.

Describes the Harken Energy Corp., a Dallas-based company established in the late 1970s primarily made up of investors including the Bass brothers, the Rupert family of South Africa, the Harvard University endowment fund, and George W. Bush, the President's oldest son. Harkin's exclusive 35 year contract to explore for crude in Bahrain; Harkin's freewheeling history; Lack of a refinery; Financing the drilling.

Discusses how the Teamsters Union is at last cleaning up its act, thanks to the prodding of court-appointed officers who have forced dozens of Mob-connected officials out of the union. Deal with the government in 1989 to settle massive racketeering suit; First free election of president and 17-member executive board; The candidates for president; About the union; Lawyer James P. Hoffa, 50; Current president, William McCarthy. INSET: `The Members Have Been Hurt So Badly.'..

Reports that while the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was supposed to stem the tide of shipments of human cargo into the United States, the number of illegals apprehended by federal agents is rising sharply. Smuggler-assisted trade reaping as much as $1 billion in annual revenues; The Noriega scheme; Flexible cap for legal immigration.

Recounts the testimony of Salvatore `Sammy the Bull' Gravano, 46, at the John Gotti trial in Brooklyn. Gravano, originally supposed to stand trial with Gotti and Frank (Frankie Locs) Locascio, struck a deal with the feds and agreed to testify in Gotti's trial and others to come for a 20 year sentence in a high-security witness-protection block. Testimony regarding ten killings ordered by Gotti; Bribe for a juror in Gotti's 1987 trial; Others turning state's evidence.

Presents an interview with Harvard Medical School psychologist Steven Berglas, which considers the rise of pathological narcissism and outlines the attributes of people who achieve stellar successes without the psychological bedrock to prevent disorder. The four As: arrogance, a sense of aloneness, the need to seek adventure and adultery; Authentically healthy levels of narcissism; Berglas' book `The Success Syndrome'; Success and a fatal flaw.

Considers the effects of the short war in the Persian Gulf on the American economy. Areas showing signs of a thaw: consumer confidence, Wall Street, oil, housing, trade and manufacturing, cars, travel. Instilling aggressiveness into business competitiveness.

Details the current crop of money-makers from Hollywood, which, burned by big-star salaries and fancy productions, has found a hitmaking formula in films that are warm, playful and cheap to make. Top-grossing films `Home Alone,' `Ghost,' and `Pretty Woman'; Rethinking the approach to stars and scripts; Disney memo; Paramount and Warner Brothers.

Comments on a forgiving rabbi who is trying to enlighten four teenagers who defaced his home and temple. Discusses the rise in hate crimes in New Jersey, and elsewhere in America, where contradictions and insensitivities are getting harder to contain as American society grows more ethnically diverse. Rabbi Eugene Markovitz, 67, had his garage and temple defaced along with a car and a local delicatessen; Teens sentenced to 25 hours of classes on Jewish culture, taught by Markovitz.

Focuses on the smear campaign of Terry Reed which centers on allegations that Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton allowed a covert `resupply network' to Nicaraguan contras to function out of a small rural Arkansas airport in return for ten percent of the profits from the operation. Reed's allegations based on a slim foundation of truth; Reed's background and part in the alleged network; His vendetta against Thomas Baker and Raymond Young; Why people take Reed seriously.

Summarizes the swift fall from grace of lawyer Harvey Myerson, 52, a trial lawyer who stands accused of swindling $3.5 million from clients and partners and faces as much as 20 years in prison. While Myerson drew $1.4 million from his law firm, Myerson & Kuhn, he kept five homes, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces and a string of expensive mistresses. A master at proving deception in others; Myerson's background; His craving for power and wealth; Steven Kumble's `Conduct Unbecoming.'

Recounts the arraignment in federal courts of 18 individuals in ten states who were participants in what may be the largest government-data theft ever uncovered. So far the network includes Social Security employees, police officers, private eyes and so-called information brokers from New York City to Tampa to Chicago to Seattle. Types of information available; Indictment of IRS official Robert Roche for selling non-public marital records; Other members of the ring.

Focuses on the organization established by Stephen Anthony Saccoccia in 1988 which became one of the biggest, savviest and most efficient money laundering operations in the US. A five state assault on Saccoccia's organization netted 50 people, millions of dollars' worth of property and as much as $750 million in narcotics proceeds. Other laundering operations for Colombian drug money; Saccoccia's arrest; Cooperation from the financial industry; Heritage Loan & Investment Co.

Announces Salvatore (Sammy Bull) Gravano, the most trusted adviser to reputed Gambino boss John Gotti, has become the federal government's latest protected turncoat, the latest blow to La Cosa Nostra in a decade's worth of prosecutions and internal backstabbings. Instead of going to trial in January, Gravano, 46, will turn canary. Defection of Nicholas (the Crow) Caramandi; Mafia groups hurt most; Leadership changes in the Lucchese family; The Genovese gang.

Announces the resignation of Hill & Knowlton chief executive Robert Dilenschneider, 47, after 24 years with the company, a man who, the more powerful he became, the more he believed in his own greatness. Background of the advertising firm Hill &Knowlton; Pressure for profits and the recession; Morale under a brilliant yet cunning bully who compulsively lied and reneged on promises; An obsession with growth at any cost; New man in charge: Thomas Eidson, 47.

Describes an arrangement called a rights offering that Time Warner, the parent company of `Time,' said could raise as much as $3.5 billion by selling current stockholders the rights to buy 34.5 million new shares. Price will depend on how many accept the offer; Time Warner's objectives; Market's initial response; Rights offerings virtually nonexistent in the US; Investing fresh cash; Some shareholders irked; Time Warner executives restricted from publicly discussing details.

Considers three works of modern retailing art that are bucking the trend by using novel retailing ideas that have captured the attention of otherwise moribund buyers. The Wet Seal: trendy merchandise constantly turned over while employees are handed weekly bonuses to help push it out the door. The Nature Company: riding the wave of the environmental movement. Safety Zone: security devices from a safe-within-a-safe to pocket-size alarms.

Describes one source of funds for the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, the notorious, self-regulated stock exchange in Vancouver, British Columbia, often called the scam capital of the world. Two Scientologists who operate there: Kenneth Gerbino and Michael Baybak, 49; Pattern: take over the company, hype the stock, sell their shares; Athena Gold, Skylark resources, NETI Technologies.

Details the problems author Richard Behar has had with various branches of Scientology since his decision to work on this assignment. Problems journalist Paulette Cooper had after publication of her 1971 book which triggered a Scientology plot called Operation Freak-Out; Church's `national trial counsel' Earle Cooley; Questioning of neighbors, friends, colleagues; Taped conversations, church affidavits and a comment to a `detective,' `the church trains people to lie.'

Comments on the jobs, perks and other pleasures awaiting Gulf victors, just now returning from the desert. Congressional bills including health care, increased GI Bill education benefits and better access to home loans. Payments from employers for reservists; `A very high high, followed by a natural letdown'; Freebies, perks and primal desires.

Considers the money problems at MGM-Pathe, acquired last fall by mysterious mogul Giancarlo Parretti, which is unable to release two completed films because it doesn't have the money to pay for prints or advertising. Operating losses, future marketing costs and release of held-up films; Appeal to European investors; Dud films released since Parretti's acquisition; Problems in Italian courts.

Considers the current office glut across the US, including vacancy rates in San Bernardino (33 percent), New Haven (30 percent), New Orleans (28 percent), nationally 17 percent downtown with 540 million square feet unrented across the country. Another broken leg of the savings and loan crisis; Deep discounts, huge renovation allowances and better services; Houston's first new tower since 1986.

Details the growing visceral animosity most people feel toward America's major oil companies. Profits for 1990s fourth quarter; Consumers understandably livid about leaping gasoline prices shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait; No proof of profiteering found; Resentment against powerful entities that control necessities, such as oil, `gain(ing) psychological control by hating them.'

Details some of the money Carolco Pictures' chairman Mario Kassar, 39, has spent on a yacht, jewelry, fireworks, a corporate jet, and body guards. Recent claims by investors that he is squandering money; Sylvester Stallone's salary for `Rambo III'; Arnold Schwarzenegger's take for `Total Recall'; Interest free notes, frozen assets and dwindling public appetite for its stock-in-trade films.

Profiles First Investors Corp., one of the country's largest managers of junk-bond mutual funds, inhabitant of the lower end of the food chain that fed Michael Milken and a handful of others hundreds of millions of dollars in personal profits. Staving off 270,000 clients lured in by deceptive tactics; New York and Massachusetts fraud charges; No comment from Glenn Head and David Grayson, First Investors' chairman and president, respectively.

Announces the departure of Walter Yetnikoff, for 15 years the colorful and fiery head of CBS Records, from Sony, the firm which bought the record giant in 1988 for $2 billion. Power hungry, profane and played out.

Discusses the recent patent granted to Gilbert Hyatt, 52, which gives him a certificate of intellectual ownership for a single-chip microprocessor that he says he invented in 1968. Millions in royalties; Setting history straight; Protracted courtroom battles; Two decades of objections by patent examiners.

Discusses the problems Eastern is having attracting passengers and the effect that 60 counts of falsifying repair records and failing to maintain its aircraft is going to have on revenues. Malicious strikers and exaggerated claims; Suitor Northwest Airlines.

Examines the resignation last week of William Jovanovich, 70, as chairman of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ) due to his inability to sell assets to help with a $1.7 billion debt.

Discusses the accessory trade of the United States drug industry, which includes the production of vials, crack pipes and polyethylene bags for heroin, included in a 1986 federal statute making it a felony to move paraphernalia in interstate trade, but not banning its manufacture. Greenpoint (Brooklyn) crack-vial factory; Customs Service seizures; American harsher attitude toward drugs.