The Deuce (2017) s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
1 Come on, baby.
Come on.
- Ask your wife.
- She ain't you.
Come on.
Give me something I can't get at home.
Vin, you want me to stick? I can make the drop on my way out.
That's all right, hon.
You go on home.
- See you.
- All right.
Uh-huh.
You know what this is, barman.
The night money, man, give it up.
- Look, I'm sor I already made the drop.
- The money, ginzo.
I would if I could.
I'm sorry.
Please, I've got two little kids.
On your knees.
Beg.
Please don't shoot me.
Please, for my kids.
God damn it.
Fuck.
Do you believe in ghosts? I don't know.
Well, I agree with what that doc says.
You can spook yourself.
I've done it in planes.
Seen things that weren't really there.
Or were they? What are you gonna do with your 10,000 if we get it? What do you mean if we get it? Where's Andrea? She asked me to watch the kids.
- What for? - She went out.
Out where? Where's your daughter? Boy, I've never seen so many doors.
Go to sleep, Vinnie.
You look tired.
Closet.
God damn it.
- Hello? - Kim, it's Vinnie.
Oh.
Yeah, listen, I can't be there for the distributor this morning.
Just send Duk or the other guy, your cousin.
All right, listen to me, I got robbed tonight with a gun.
All right? My head got banged up real good.
I'm still bleeding.
Kim, I nearly got fucking killed.
Why? I'll tell you why.
I gotta work both sides of the river seven fucking nights a week to make enough for me and my fucking family! Kim! God I see the Walker Red.
Black's still on the truck.
We got two more after this.
Get rid of the crème de menthe already.
Nobody drinks that shit.
Fucking happy now, Kim? - Hey, darling.
- Other guy looks worse, right? He got my blood on his shoes, I know that much.
Nah, man, that's some bullshit.
Man, every move that man make, he already got it mapped out.
No, he ain't being crazy.
He ain't being crazy at all.
He's acting like a motherfucking fox.
- You think? - Nixon? You can see right where the man coming from.
Shit makes perfect sense to me.
- How you figure? - He president.
- So he got to front some being the man, right? - Right.
So, like, on the one hand, he got his people over there in Paris talking peace.
That shit's the carrot.
Now, the stick? He got to make those slopes think he crazy enough to do all kind of shit bomb the shit out of Vietnam, take over Cambodia, whatever the fuck.
So you think he fronting.
That man want out of the war just like everybody else, but he can't play it like that.
See, he got to make those motherfuckers think he do any God damn thing they can imagine, shit.
If I was him, I'd be flashing nuclear weapons and shit.
- For real? - I'm not saying I would use that shit.
I'm saying I'd be like, "Do not fuck with President Reggie Love because the nigga's crazy and he will drop that big motherfucker on you.
" - Right on.
- I mean, it's like this here.
I mean, C.
C.
, you ever really want to have to cut a bitch? Sometimes you want a bitch to think you might, but, pshh, shit.
So, Nixon pimping? Well, shit, yeah.
That makes good sense to me.
Of course, I was in the shit for a year.
You know that, right? Americal Division.
They had me up in them central highlands.
Yeah, Nixon know what he doing in Vietnam, bro.
He know the game.
What do you suppose her problem is? I ain't even know, and I ain't interested.
You could turn her ass out.
I ain't met one yet couldn't be broke.
No, I'm looking for product, not a challenge.
- You just lazy.
- No, bro, practical.
Damn.
- Shit don't work for me.
- You couldn't handle that? Oh, I'd handle the shit out of that motherfucker, ride that bitch like Man o' War.
But, um, the clientele? I'm talking about them white boys.
She's too intimidating for them.
Bitch got too much ass.
Shit, I ain't even know there was such a thing.
I think I'm gonna get me a Chinese ho.
I want my herd to be international.
You speak Chinese? I know a few Vietnam words.
That shit's like a cousin to Chinese.
What you fucking around for, man? Just get a couple of white bitches and a fine black bitch, and work 'em.
Ain't no one man can handle but two or three bitches anyway.
And if you got 'em, you better speak their language.
Reggie, I'm gonna catch you later.
Solid.
Excuse me, baby.
This your first time in New York? Does it show? A little, yeah, but that's cool.
Everyone here came from somewhere else.
Where you from? Minnesota.
I need to find a place to stay.
Ah, you can't be making those kinds of decisions until you get some food in your stomach.
Let me buy you breakfast.
I know a spot serves it all day.
It's just breakfast, that's all.
Keep me company.
C.
C.
don't like to eat alone.
C.
C.
That's right.
And you are? - Lori.
- Lori.
Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lori.
Let's get going.
I want you to check out my short.
Is that a Cadillac? God damn right it's a Cadillac.
Customized El-D, to be exact.
Yo, what it look like, little man? - Damn.
- That's it.
I never rode in a Cadillac before.
Well, gonna ride in one now.
Watch your head, baby.
Pretty, right? Why do you have all this stuff? Oh, I'm in sales.
Look here, baby, I'm not being critical or nothing like that.
You a lovely young lady, but that outfit you're wearing, it says "small-town girl," see what I'm saying? Tell you what, I'm gonna let you pick out some new things from that rack so you can look, you know, more New York.
You'd like that, wouldn't you? Shit, C.
C.
! I'm from Minnesota, and I wouldn't be caught dead in most of that shit.
Is this really New York fucking City, or did I fall off the Greyhound in Cleveland? Hmm.
Wow.
Ain't no need for the rest of the sales pitch, is there? Breakfast.
Yeah.
As you see, there are a number of equivocation fallacies either traveling from the general to the specific, or vice versa, but even more common is the manipulation of a syllogism in which different meanings of a key term are substituted.
Etymological fallacies Uh, hell, where was I? Syllogisms.
- Etymological fallacies.
- Right.
Yes, etymological fallacies.
- Think you're pretty funny, don't you? - What? The fourth had already run at Monticello.
- You past-posted me.
- Monticello? That bet is dead.
It's killed.
You still owe Tommy everything including today's fig.
He's fucking sick of this bullshit.
- Okay, guys? - You still being funny, Frankie? Gonna get another dent in that head.
- My name's Vincent.
- He's the mook, right? Yeah.
I think so.
Look.
You got a brother? Last I heard, yeah.
Where the fuck is he? Vietnam.
Fuck you say.
Frankie he enlisted, joined the Marines because he owes everybody in New York fucking City.
Yeah, I hear he's already a war hero.
They're gonna make him a sergeant or colonel or whatever.
You done? Mm-hmm.
What you think, baby? Real good.
You can burn.
What was that sausage thing? That's a half-smoke, girl.
Guess they don't have those up in the Lakes, huh? First time for me.
Onliest thing they got up in Minnesota is hockey players and heifers.
- What it look like, Richie? - Everything is everything.
Everything is everything, man.
He's different.
Yeah, Richie just go with the flow, you know.
Ain't the aggressive type.
That's why he only has one girl.
Not everybody gets to be successful, see what I'm saying? But you gonna be.
You know when I saw you come off that bus, I knew we was meant to be together.
You ain't gotta worry about nothing.
All right, we got fried eggs, bacon, and we got a cup of coffee.
Two creams and one sugar.
- We're playing the odds, girl.
- Excuse me, baby.
This is important.
We about to have a new attitude around here, all right? Got that, Loretta? Steady on it.
We straight, right? - Yes, Larry.
Gonna be a big night.
- All right.
Now, Darlene, ain't no laying back tonight, you hear me? Not for you, Daddy.
You know I got a regular tonight.
See, that's one in the tank.
- Give me that, Barbara.
- When I'm done, girl.
Larry Brown gonna buy you girls a nice dinner in return, all right? - Hear me, Loretta? - We got you, Daddy.
- Larry All right.
- two fried eggs and bacon.
Here you go, baby.
Take a hit of this freeze and wake your ass up.
Thank you, Daddy.
Don't fall in love with it.
- Okay, come on.
- Give it here.
Ah! Plate's up, Marie.
Plate's up! What do you say? No, baby, this ain't no thing.
She's just someone I met that I need to settle, that's all.
She's not gonna take your place.
You can believe that.
Look here, girl, you're my bottom, you know this.
I be tired, C.
C.
Yeah? You know what? When you come home from work tonight, I'm gonna give you a bath and then I'm gonna fuck you so good, you gonna remember why we together.
On the for-real side.
How that sound? Just you and me? Just you and me, baby.
Getting fucking groceries like every fucking day.
Middle of the fucking day, he's outside.
We fucking make eye contact.
We look eye to eye, right? He knows what I want to fucking do.
And I know what he wants to fucking do.
I think he's gonna fucking run.
He's looking at me with these big fucking googly mongoloid eyes, right? I got the drop tonight.
Don't worry about that, Vinnie.
Can I give them last call? Them guys? No, you pour till they're done.
Do a lock-in, if you have to.
Oh, come on, boss.
Vinnie, are you out of your fucking mind? That's Twist and his crew.
Carmine and them.
If you toss them before they're done, I'll be eating Carmine's asshole until I'm dead.
Fuck, no.
You stay until they go.
Fuck nuts, where's our drinks? And I'm like, "I'm not going over there.
Fucking thieves!" Yo, Frankie! Hey, where the fuck's Jersey? Ain't seen him.
Heya, Ronnie.
Baby, I'm in love! The fuck? Been looking for you all over.
You found me.
Want action? Fuck is this? That's a pretty shirt.
What'd you do, you fly down to Puerto Rico to get that? You want something? Yeah, the Mets are at the Reds in Cincy, right? - What's the line? - Reds in one.
New York's due.
Who's pitching tomorrow? Seaver? Tug.
Hmm.
What do you think? I don't think.
- You want the action? - All right, all right.
Give me 100 on the Metropolitans.
I heard you used to play.
Yeah, I got drafted by the Dodgers.
Slotted me for single-A ball.
I never even drank the cup of coffee.
Fuck it.
Too many rules, right? I really do like that shirt.
Yeah? Yeah, my sister's got one just like it! Run him over! I know you workin' - Rodney, come on.
- Hey.
Don't you want to be a part of something bigger, huh? Between my expertise and your good looks, shoot, thoroughbred like you, we would own this damn street.
I'm doing fine.
Fine ain't good enough for a woman like you.
Hey, I'll make you a star.
Ali MacGraw gonna want your autograph.
Rodney, you're not listening.
- I take care of my own self.
- As well you should.
Hey, you're looking hungry.
- You looking for a date? - How much? Talk to Thunderthighs.
She'll tell you.
- 30 and 10.
- I ain't been nothing but good to her.
- What? - Mm-mm.
Where you going? Where you going, baby? Shit, shit.
Rodney.
I told you, scary world out here, baby.
Volatile.
A girl could get her arm broke or she could get cut.
This one girl I knew thought she could handle it herself.
Got served a Drano cocktail.
You fucking threatening me? No, never.
Just the opposite.
I'm threatening anyone that would ever threaten you, baby.
Rodney, sugar, nobody makes money off of my pussy but me.
I'm gonna keep what I earn.
I don't need you.
I don't need anybody else to hold my fucking money for me.
Now let me do my thing.
You're busting on my groove, Rodney.
- Say "money" for me again.
- Money, money, money Yes, ma'am.
Hey, baby.
What do you think? I think you're beautiful.
That's what I think.
You looking for a date? - With you? Oh, yeah.
- Yeah? Talk some other time.
- 30 and 10? - Okay, come on.
Everything I own smell like pussy, baby.
Now I'm a smell like pussy, too.
Hey, sweetheart, come fuck with a pimp.
I'll get your hair did, baby.
Oh, here we go.
Well, here we go.
Hey, Chris, you wanna pick a number? Five? - Friday.
- All right.
Let's see if the fat one can get out by himself.
- Mm-hmm.
- Nope, he gonna need help.
Wow.
There he go.
Watch the car go up when he get out.
There he go.
Ha! Officer.
- You, too, Lon.
- Watch it, shitbird.
"Cannon," a Q.
M.
Production.
Be cool, Lonnie.
We're good.
Right, fellas? Yeah, we right as rain, man.
- We right as rain.
- Everything is everything, man.
Yo, Officer Alston, why don't you come up here? Yeah, have those city-issued kicks cleaned up.
- Sam.
- Hey, Chris.
Mm-mm, nope.
No, you couldn't pay me enough to wear those okey-doke-ass kicks or be a cop.
You think you could pass the psych exam, brother? Pshh, the Army took Reggie Love.
That's the Army, man.
Same.
Police just like the Army.
There's this dude back in my hometown, used to ride the special bus.
Soon as he turned 18, those military motherfuckers gave him a uniform and an M16.
They do take retards and shit.
They didn't take you.
You think you funny.
Don't laugh, don't laugh.
He ain't funny, Sam.
He ain't funny.
- Mm, those gators? - What you think? 'Cause I saw the same pair in the window at Thom McAn's.
Bullshit! These here are imports.
See that? Imported, all right? Handmade in Italia.
You didn't even know I I speak Italian.
You didn't know that.
They brought these from overseas.
Look at that.
Yeah, that's what "import" means, right, Sam? That's true.
Hey, let go of me, man.
- It's a nice day.
- It's out of sight.
Damn sure is.
I'm holding up my end.
But we're dying here.
I have mortgage, two car payment.
Son wants to go to MIT.
MIT.
Now I have to tell him community college, maybe.
Don't look at me.
Bar pulls money.
Some, anyway.
If you didn't make me run off the whores and the street people before 11:00, it'd make more.
They gotta drink, too.
- Family restaurant.
- Yeah.
Where's the fucking families? I think it's that kimchi shit you're serving, or the dog meat or cat or whatever.
No dog.
Beef.
Marinated beef.
All right, well, no one eats Korean food, Kim, probably not even in Korea if they can fucking help it.
Why don't you get someone in here, cook up some steaks or Italian? No good.
Lunch empty.
Dinner empty.
All right, easy.
Just keep calm, all right? One more month, we close.
Hey, hey, hey, keep your head, all right? Don't get all excited, for fuck's sake.
Just give me a chance to think.
I'm in this with you.
Okay.
Okay.
What? That expression on your face when you came.
That look.
Okay.
If people stopped for a minute and realized what they look like during sex, they'd lose it.
I mean, if it wasn't fun, it'd be ridiculous.
Oh, my God.
I shouldn't be doing this.
Fucking? Fucking you.
You're 19, for God's sake.
20, and that argument is begging the question.
Petitio principii.
I could damn near be your father.
Argumentum ad hominem.
Jesus Christ, Abby, if anyone ever found out, I Argumentum ad misericordiam.
An appeal to pity if I ever heard one.
Got the fallacies and the rhetoric down, don't I? Exam's gonna be cake.
Here, I got it.
I got it.
You know, I could've been a dancer if I was taller.
You're perfect, doll.
So, I'll see you later? I want to.
I just I'm kind of tired.
Yeah? Here.
You take one, you're wide awake.
You take two, you're gonna wanna redecorate the house.
And it keeps you trim.
Come on.
So - Tonight.
- Yeah.
All right.
- Thanks, Vin.
- Here you go.
- What do you guys want? - Vincent Martino, right? All day.
You got a brother named Frankie? Yeah.
Your brother's been very active in the wire services lately.
How much? 20 Gs, give or take, plus the interest rate, which I'll admit is unreasonably high.
It's now 30.
It compounds.
So, why come to me? Your brother, as limited a gambler as he is, he's also irresponsible in the bargain.
He can't make good.
You, however, you're a working man.
You're a barman here and in Brooklyn.
You're always around some cash.
I don't steal from Kim, and I don't steal across the river.
I'm not a thief.
Well, you or your brother's gonna have to come up with something.
All right, look, I got a bar I need to tend.
I gotta think about this, so maybe we can talk when it's quieter.
Okay.
I'll come by tomorrow when you open.
But just to be clear, this is not a situation we can ignore.
I got it.
I'll take that drink now.
Scotch rocks.
And not from the well.
Candy, hey.
It's your, uh, friend from Jersey City.
I was wondering if you had time for a date tomorrow night or the night after.
Call my office.
You got the number.
Say your name is, uh Samantha.
Thanks.
Hey, Miss Merrell.
This is Jimmy, the super.
I wanted to bring a plumber by tomorrow around 3:00 to fix the faucet in your bathroom.
Let me know if that would be all right with you or if you're gonna be home or if we should just come in and do it while you're out.
All right? Eileen, this is your mother.
I thought you'd like to know that your father left town today on business.
Your son has been asking for you.
Shit! The fuck?! Get off me! You fucking whore.
Here you go.
- Okay, we'll see you, Lynda.
- 'Night, Vin.
Where do you think you're off to looking like Vic Damone? I'm taking Andrea to Luger's for a late dinner.
I'm gonna surprise her.
I told you a week ago.
That was a week ago.
We're getting busy.
Lynda's gonna need some help.
I need you behind the bar.
I I got plans.
Your plans are you're working tonight.
I'm taking my wife to dinner.
You leave now, you're done here.
I think it's gonna swell.
It already swole up, right? That was a little rough.
Yeah, I know.
It got away from me there this time, I guess.
My wrist also hurts.
Oh, jeez, Darlene, you know I'm sorry.
You got me going tonight.
Have an extra 20 for it, okay? I got you going, huh? I think it was the shoes.
Shall I tell you why you're heavier? You've been cheating, sneaking things into your mouth.
- Where is she? - Candy, soda pop, pizza, munch.
Gowanus, right? Or at the other bar down in Bensonhurst? Hell you want from me? I read a magazine about these pills - that kill your appetite.
- What pills? - Well, what about hypnosis? - Kimberly It's like a cherry.
- That red one.
- Oh, yeah? Mm-hmm.
You just missed it.
Just couldn't close the deal.
Come on, we're going home.
- All right? - I haven't finished my drink.
You had enough.
What the fuck are you wearing? I'm not naked or nothing.
I can't play pool in my skirt.
- It's too tight.
- All right.
I can't bend.
You're a real fucking piece of work, you know that? The lady said she's still drinking.
- Hey, fucko! - Shit.
Look at this mongoloid.
I like your Beatle boots.
Real boss.
Which Beatle are you? He's Ringo.
Oh, you look a little angry, Ringo, but the thing is, what are you gonna do? Me and the lady was playing 8 Ball.
I had a couple solids left.
Her name is Andrea.
She's my wife.
I said I got a couple balls left.
You know what it's like to be playing a game and still have balls, right? Take it out on the fucking arches.
- You miss me, honey? - You know I do.
So, I'll check you out next week, baby.
He didn't mean it, Larry.
He just got excited.
You call this excited? Shit, I'm gonna show him excited.
He's a regular.
Every two weeks, A hundred to play pretend.
You saw.
He gave me an extra 20 for it.
He didn't mean it.
Extra 20? Before you do him next time, you let him know he fucks you up like this again, he gonna have me raise up on him, you heard me? Regular or no.
I'll tell him, Larry.
I will.
All right, baby, make that money.
That's you.
Y'all dating? We got a birthday boy over here.
How much? 30 and 10.
30 for the date, 10 for the room.
You ready? He wants her.
Hey, Candy.
They want you.
Birthday boy.
Hey, honey, you looking for a date? Hey, gentlemen.
It's going to be 40.
What's your name, honey? Uh, Stuart.
Were gonna party, Stuart.
Yeah! Yeah.
Come on, baby.
They've accused have you seen this? Something like 75 or 80% of New York restaurants, they said, are unhealthy.
Do you believe that? And there's gotta be some truth to it when you see one of those Shell pest strips hanging underneath the table.
Come on.
I don't bite.
This will be nice.
No, none of that.
You can touch my tits.
Only if you want to.
Take a breath.
Mm.
That's nice.
Touch my nipples.
Mm-hmm, feels good.
That's nice, mmm.
Let's see what we got here.
Oh, yeah, you're ready.
Now, you gotta wear this.
I can do it.
No, no, Candy's gonna fit it on you just to be sure.
Oh! Wow, you really were ready.
Can I get a few minutes? I'll be ready again.
One ticket, one ride.
You want to go again? It's only 30 for the second go.
The room's already paid.
I don't have 30.
We already all pooled what we had.
It was my birthday today.
Yeah? Well, happy birthday to you.
Doesn't seem fair.
- Fair? - You barely had to do anything.
And it costs just as much as someone who takes longer.
What do you do, Stuart? I'm in school.
What's your daddy do? He sells cars.
He's got a dealership.
And that's his job, right? Someone comes in, knows just the car he wants, doesn't dick around, doesn't need a long test drive, doesn't argue about the color or whatever, does he give him the car for less? Does he pay less than the guy who comes in, takes forever, gotta drive five or six cars, talk about radio, the whitewalls, everything else before he's done and ready to buy? No.
He doesn't give the easy customer two cars for the price of one, right? This is my job, Stuart.
I got a check from my grandma for 50.
But you could give me back 20 and I can sign it over.
Would you take a check? A personal check? No.
Ordinarily.
But for you, Stu you know, I think I would.
Thank you.
Oh, local bank, right? Men, how would you like to join my team? The Noxzema team? - Hey.
- The world's best-shaved men all belong.
We have a cheer on the Noxzema team.
- Hourly or nightly? - Take it off, take it off.
Take it all off.
- Give me a month.
I'll pay up front.
- Sis-boom bah, Noxzema.
That's the sort of thing that I'm against.
.
lumberjacks coming to town between jobs with rum and women on their minds.
They told us two years ago we should have a police force.
Abby, finally.
Studying or getting your heads up? Pacing ourselves.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that.
Have you guys even read this yet? We'll just cram our asses off.
Kind of hungry.
Who wants pizza? - I'm up for John's.
- Oh, man, I hate their crust.
- You have a better idea? - Yeah, Ray's on Prince.
Like you can taste the difference - between John's and Ray's.
- Seriously, you guys are done after the second slice.
Who can cop some speed? I know a guy.
Mister, you can't park here! Move it on! You said 43rd and 9th? No, 44th.
Bob said our man would be there.
- Yeah, right, Bob said.
- Do you even know who Bob is? - Okay, come on.
- No, who is this dude? - Fuck you, Cecelia.
- You've never met him.
- I know who he is.
He's a nice guy, all right? - Let's just get it done.
Let's just get it done.
First one's free tonight.
Show that glass to your barman.
First one's on the house, gentlemen.
Show the glass to your barman.
Yeah, so now I gotta get my ass grabbed all night carrying drinks.
Fuck you, Vin.
Hey, don't bust balls, all right? I'm trying to save this joint.
You look great.
Gentlemen, first drink free.
Show that glass to the barman.
That's gotta be him.
Bob says he's always in the middle of the block.
Guess I'm elected.
Well, if we all go, it'll look like something's happening.
I got something for you.
All right, here.
Thanks.
You set me up? No, I'm fucked, same as you.
Hey, kids, what's going on? All right, asshole, get over here.
Hey, uh, can I just explain? I-I'm a student, NYU.
I have a test in the morning.
I just needed something to stay awake so I could study.
That's all.
If I can just call my father You get a phone call.
But it doesn't matter to me who your father is; I'm gonna do my job, miss.
It's Abby, and I wasn't suggesting you wouldn't do your duty, Officer Fla-nah-ga.
It's Flanagan.
They left the "N" off the end there.
Yeah, I've been meaning to get that fixed.
Get in the backseat, Abby.
I gotta take you to the station.
Aren't you gonna cuff me? You gonna try and rabbit on me? Damn, boy! What happened? This is my joint for a late-night cocktail.
Now, shit.
Now you overrun with suits.
- Leotards.
- Say what? Put the girls in leotards and heels.
Parade a couple of them down the sidewalk as it was getting dark.
- That's all? - Yeah.
You ain't selling pussy, just dancer clothes? How much she making? Tonight? 200 in tips, easy.
Don't even think about it, bitch.
I'm a sporting man.
Ain't no sport in this.
None at all.
Drinks on me tonight, guys.
Sorry I don't have a stool open for you.
Vinnie! Vincent Martino, come here.
- You ducking me? - Not at all.
Had some shit go badly across the river.
- My home life.
- Sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
The fuck can you do? I'd complain, but I know that's not what you're here for.
Christ, you blew this place up tonight, didn't you? I must say I'm enjoying the ladies in the tight outfits.
It's very nice.
Yeah.
All right, listen.
- About my brother - And his 32 five large.
It accrues, as I said.
Look, I'll cover the original bets, all right? A thousand a week for the next 20 weeks, but on my salary there's no way I'm gonna catch up to the vig.
Let me start with the money on the bets, then I'll lean on him to get it right with the rest as soon as he's flush.
Personally, I hear you, but I'm afraid the others I work for, they won't listen.
The fuck can I do? Look, I keep this bar hot, maybe I'll clear 1,000 a week, if I'm lucky.
You want more, it's gonna take more time.
I will take that message back to my people.
But if you see your brother, tell him that he's cut off until he gets right.
The word is out on the Deuce.
- His bets do not play.
- That's fine with me.
Right.
Place looks good.
Observed copping amphetamines from a known West Side skel.
I got something to do.
My partner, Officer Alston, will look out for you while I'm gone.
Student? NYU.
Hmm.
NYU.
Trying to cop speed in Hell's Kitchen.
You're obviously not stupid.
But do you know how stupid that is? I think you'll be all right.
Duck salad.
No, thank you.
Hey, baby, how you doing? You like what you see? Uh-huh? You looking for a date tonight? I'll show you a little bit of fun, huh? Hey.
You looking for a date, baby? Yeah? Hey, you playing my song, baby? You lonely tonight? Hey, hey.
Hey.
You got a light? If you're passing those out, we do.
That is what I need.
You're, uh Thunderthighs, as advertised.
Hey, give me one of those, will you? Here, baby.
C.
C.
said I should come rap to you all some, get myself up to speed.
- Thanks, sugar.
- What's your name, girl? Lori.
You? Candy.
You got "new in town" stamped on your forehead.
Fucking C.
C.
snapped you up quick.
I make a mistake in that? C.
C.
wants women just like the rest of them.
Same suit, different day.
It's not like you haven't been around the block before, right? Not this block.
I met some of the players at Leon's.
This guy named Reggie Love and some dude in a brown suit.
Larry Brown.
Stay away from Larry.
He raises up quick.
His girls got daddy issues.
Don't we all? Some, uh, hippie-looking cat.
- Uh, Richie? - Gentle Richie's cool, but you ain't gonna make no money with Richie.
Who are you with? Me and Tiffany are with Rodney.
What about you? Who's your man? No man, just me.
No man? How's that work? You gotta work a little harder.
You gotta be a little more careful.
Sometimes a guy will burn you for some cash or a player will press you for a moment or two, but it works for me.
Me, I need pimping.
Otherwise I tend to get lazy.
Huh Can I make a phone call? You're not gonna need it.
It's your lucky night.
You caught me at the end of my shift, so.
I don't understand.
Officer Flanagan doesn't want to bother with processing and fingerprinting.
He's got other fish to fry.
I'll drop you off at your dorm.
Subway's not safe this time of night.
Let me guess, you're gonna stop and have a cocktail on the way, an aperitif, perhaps? Hey, there's an idea.
Yeah, give Abby here some counseling over a drink or two.
Thanks for the water.
Mind yourself out there, hear? Boo! Hey.
Ellen! How about a ginger ale? Put a little Crown Royal in it, you know, for color.
Hey, baby brother.
Working stiff.
- Where the fuck you been? - Queens.
- Fuck you doing in Queens? - Well, they still take my bets there.
- You're still betting? - Winning.
I'm up 4,000.
Bullshit.
Let me see.
Bullshit? Look at that.
- What the fuck? - This is going to that unhappy dago sitting down on that barstool a couple hours ago looking for you, leaning on me for 30 large.
Who? Tommy Longo? He came to you? Why the fuck did he come to you? Maybe because you were in Queens.
Fuck him.
No, Frankie.
We don't fuck him.
This is gonna buy your ignorant, degenerate ass a week or two.
You know, I always said you was no fun.
You just proved it.
- Yeah? Well, Ma ruined you.
- Yeah.
Thanks, doll.
Mmm.
What? Well, well, well.
So, what's new? Me? Quit on Dominic.
Oh, yeah, moved out of the house on Andrea.
- Really? - Yeah.
I got a room this side of the river.
I'm done, out for good.
- You sure? - Positive.
I'm don't wanna say nothing bad about your wife, have you two get back together and have you mad at me forever.
The marriage is dead.
Say what you feel.
- Dead? - Yeah.
- Like, for real dead? - Dead dead.
- Hundred percent? - Hundred percent.
- Never going back? - The fuck? Yes.
All right.
Well, Drea kept her looks, I'll give her that.
And considering her brothers are upstate, her father's a Shylock, rest of her family's a pack of fucking scumbag assholes, she ain't that bad.
Uh-huh.
But if she had as many pricks sticking out of her as she's had stuck in her, she'd be a fucking porcupine.
Fuck you.
Still serving, Vinnie? - For you, Officer? - Okay - What are you guys playing? - What can I get you? Gin Rickey? Grasshopper? Fuck you.
Right.
How about you? You wanna hear about my day? Yes, I do.
- You won't believe it.
- Wow.
Well, here we go.
What's happening, baby? Have a good night? - All right? - Mm-hmm.
What you got for me? What you got? What is this? Oh, shit.
It's a Franklin.
Three-piece suit was easy money.
Yeah, I guess so.
Thank you, baby.
- Ashley, honey - Hmm? You wanna get a look at this? It's a hundred-dollar bill.
I don't think you've seen this kind in a while.
Look here, baby.
Gonna make you nostalgic.
That ain't funny, C.
C.
I've pulled in as much as her tonight.
Yeah, I know, I know.
I'm just fucking with you.
- Yeah, can we call it a night? - Yeah, I'm tired, too.
Come on, one more each, ladies.
Up and at 'em, up and at 'em.
Let's go.
Before the sun catches us all.
Who you waiting on, Larry? Darlene.
Keep your eyes on me.
Mind nothing else.
- I can bear it so long as I'm near you.
- Oh, jeez.
But when I go, will they be quick? I know, she's terrified.
But watch, he's gonna get her through it.
Goodbye.
God bless you.
She loves him, right? Does he know that she loves him? Oh, jeez.
Nobody loved him until right now, at the end.
It's a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done.
It's a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.
It's pretty great, huh? You ever read the book? There's a book? No, no, but you're an excellent card player.
Well, no luck so far, but still excellent.
One of these days, you're gonna have all my money.
Hey, what the fuck? So, what'd you do? Spit on the sidewalk? She tried to purchase amphetamines over on 10th.
Oh.
I needed to stay up for an exam tomorrow.
Try coffee next time.
What are you studying? My exam is for econ, but I'm an English major.
You speak English pretty good already.
You gotta go to more school for that? I'm studying literature.
Like books? Mostly modern stuff.
Um, this semester I'm taking a class called Existentialism and the Absurd.
We read "The Stranger.
" You know Camus? I know Sabu.
Saw his pictures when I was a kid.
"Jungle Book," like that.
Who has time to read a book? This your place, Vincent? I manage it.
You asked them to dress like that? Oh, that? That's a whatchamacallit.
Innovation I came up with tonight.
See, the better they look, the more tips they make, and it brings in the suit-and-tie trade into the bar.
Ever wonder what it's like for them to be objectified? Objecto-who? You gotta slow down, kid.
I'm just a guinea from Brooklyn.
It means treating a person as a thing.
Ever wonder what they think about that? I don't know what they think.
All I know is they made more money tonight than any night in here in months.
You know, you could do what they do.
I'd put you behind the stick in a second.
I know I could.
But would I? Right.
I wouldn't want to make you feel like, you know, a thing.
You're smarter than you let on.
No one's ever called me smart before.
Not ever, but thank you.
Christ.
I'm three sheets.
You ready to go? I'm ready.
Um, I think I'll stay here, have one more.
I'll get her a cab, Danny.
Hey, your money's no good here, Officer.
You can get me here any time, Abby, in case you get jammed up or whatever.
Or, you know you just want to talk.
Thanks for giving me a break.
That's me, Officer Friendly.
See you soon, Danny.
Not if I see you first.
I think this is what you were looking for.
Now, next time, you don't go down to Hell's Kitchen and deal with scum, all right? Thanks, but I'm okay.
The speed wasn't for me.
It was for my friends.
Don't you gotta study? I know that econ shit inside out.
All right.
You know, you should get back.
It's gonna be light soon.
Catch the dawn, you feel like a vampire.
I think I'll sit here with you for a little while, if you don't mind.
Let me get rid of this for you.
You sure you don't want to do nothing tonight, Louis? Nothing? I liked watching the movie with you is all.
Nothing? Not even a handjob? No.
Uh, listen, Louis I've been up here so long watching a movie that I'm kind of worried that my man might get upset with me if I only come back to him with the usual price.
So, um do you think you could advance me now so he'll be cool with me and I'll come past for free next week? Hey, you want the rest of the pizza? Oh, no, honey, I'm good.
I gotta race.
Thanks, miss.
Yeah.
Remember, you have 20 minutes for each section, so if there's something you get hung up on, move on and come back to it later.
Oh, it's for the month.
Where is he? He was taking a nap.
He had a little fever this morning, but he's okay.
He's allergic to school is all.
All right, we'll don't wake him up.
He woke up when he heard the doorbell.
Go.
Put your coat in your room.
Mom's here.
She's in your room, waiting for you.
- Mom! - Hi, hey.
Oh, kiddo.
Oh! Mm.
Let me see you.
You don't look so sick to me.
- How you feeling? - Okay.
You think maybe you should've gone to school today? Maybe? It's not like you can blame me.
I can't? I'm working seven nights a week.
I'm trying to hold down a couple jobs Seven nights a week.
That's right.
Seven nights a week I'm supposed to be home with the kids every night, and where are you? I'm working.
You could've done that thing with my father.
- Oh, shit.
- He'd have got you made, maybe.
Or at least you'd been in a crew, Vinnie, instead.
You know what? Fuck that shit, okay? Every time I turn around, there's some asshole dago thinks he owns the world 'cause he's in some fucking crew.
And your dad's a fucking asshole.
And both your brothers are upstate from that shit.
And you're a barman.
I'm more than that now.
I'm managing a joint in Manhattan.
I should thank you for kicking me out of the nest.
I'm at the center of things now.
I'm building something.
- You're from Brooklyn.
- So what? Francis Albert's from Hoboken.
He owns New York.
You're not Frank Sinatra.
Junior maybe.
You're not even Tony Martin.
I'm still young, Vin.
And you don't never come home to me.
And it ain't like you ain't out there fucking around on me when you can.
I know, okay? I know.
I know about Marie DiParma.
I know about all of 'em.
You ain't fooling nobody.
Vin, you got a home.
You got a family.
A color TV, and you're living in some shitty Times Square hotel with whores and drunks? Look, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for some of the shit I done.
I am.
You know we could be good if we tried.
- Tell the kids - Tell them what? Just tell them I had to go.
And I'll see them again.
- You need another round? - Sure.
It's raining, C.
C.
Raining hard.
No one likes to get wet, but we all gotta work, baby.
I don't wanna work tonight.
I know, baby, I know.
Look here, uh why don't we go somewhere where we can talk about this, just the two of us, hmm? - Mm-hmm.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, let's go.
Ooh.
Yeah, yeah.
Vinnie.
- Go.
- All right, all right.
.
I'll go look.
Ashley, honey, what you crying for? Hey, shh! Shit, now, everything all right.
We're just talking.
We're talking, that's all.
That's all.
Shh.
How that feel? - Hurt.
- Yeah? Next time I'll open your face.
You'll never make another penny.
Could send you back to West Virginia and let your daddy ass-fuck you all over again.
- C.
C - I ain't say you could speak! When I say to get out there and retail, you do it.
You don't like working in the rain? I don't give a good fuck if you wet or cold or on fire, you get me my goddamn money.
Vincent.
When you were little, didn't you always want to be in the movies? A lot of stars got their start this way.
Everybody goes tonight! Aw, come on! I will make sure to cover my brother's debt.
I'm gonna hold you to that.
I'm just sick and tired of the whole pimp thing.
All I need is one good woman and I'm gone.
Until then, I'm gonna be out there like a warrior for my scratch.
- Pow! - Oh!
Come on.
- Ask your wife.
- She ain't you.
Come on.
Give me something I can't get at home.
Vin, you want me to stick? I can make the drop on my way out.
That's all right, hon.
You go on home.
- See you.
- All right.
Uh-huh.
You know what this is, barman.
The night money, man, give it up.
- Look, I'm sor I already made the drop.
- The money, ginzo.
I would if I could.
I'm sorry.
Please, I've got two little kids.
On your knees.
Beg.
Please don't shoot me.
Please, for my kids.
God damn it.
Fuck.
Do you believe in ghosts? I don't know.
Well, I agree with what that doc says.
You can spook yourself.
I've done it in planes.
Seen things that weren't really there.
Or were they? What are you gonna do with your 10,000 if we get it? What do you mean if we get it? Where's Andrea? She asked me to watch the kids.
- What for? - She went out.
Out where? Where's your daughter? Boy, I've never seen so many doors.
Go to sleep, Vinnie.
You look tired.
Closet.
God damn it.
- Hello? - Kim, it's Vinnie.
Oh.
Yeah, listen, I can't be there for the distributor this morning.
Just send Duk or the other guy, your cousin.
All right, listen to me, I got robbed tonight with a gun.
All right? My head got banged up real good.
I'm still bleeding.
Kim, I nearly got fucking killed.
Why? I'll tell you why.
I gotta work both sides of the river seven fucking nights a week to make enough for me and my fucking family! Kim! God I see the Walker Red.
Black's still on the truck.
We got two more after this.
Get rid of the crème de menthe already.
Nobody drinks that shit.
Fucking happy now, Kim? - Hey, darling.
- Other guy looks worse, right? He got my blood on his shoes, I know that much.
Nah, man, that's some bullshit.
Man, every move that man make, he already got it mapped out.
No, he ain't being crazy.
He ain't being crazy at all.
He's acting like a motherfucking fox.
- You think? - Nixon? You can see right where the man coming from.
Shit makes perfect sense to me.
- How you figure? - He president.
- So he got to front some being the man, right? - Right.
So, like, on the one hand, he got his people over there in Paris talking peace.
That shit's the carrot.
Now, the stick? He got to make those slopes think he crazy enough to do all kind of shit bomb the shit out of Vietnam, take over Cambodia, whatever the fuck.
So you think he fronting.
That man want out of the war just like everybody else, but he can't play it like that.
See, he got to make those motherfuckers think he do any God damn thing they can imagine, shit.
If I was him, I'd be flashing nuclear weapons and shit.
- For real? - I'm not saying I would use that shit.
I'm saying I'd be like, "Do not fuck with President Reggie Love because the nigga's crazy and he will drop that big motherfucker on you.
" - Right on.
- I mean, it's like this here.
I mean, C.
C.
, you ever really want to have to cut a bitch? Sometimes you want a bitch to think you might, but, pshh, shit.
So, Nixon pimping? Well, shit, yeah.
That makes good sense to me.
Of course, I was in the shit for a year.
You know that, right? Americal Division.
They had me up in them central highlands.
Yeah, Nixon know what he doing in Vietnam, bro.
He know the game.
What do you suppose her problem is? I ain't even know, and I ain't interested.
You could turn her ass out.
I ain't met one yet couldn't be broke.
No, I'm looking for product, not a challenge.
- You just lazy.
- No, bro, practical.
Damn.
- Shit don't work for me.
- You couldn't handle that? Oh, I'd handle the shit out of that motherfucker, ride that bitch like Man o' War.
But, um, the clientele? I'm talking about them white boys.
She's too intimidating for them.
Bitch got too much ass.
Shit, I ain't even know there was such a thing.
I think I'm gonna get me a Chinese ho.
I want my herd to be international.
You speak Chinese? I know a few Vietnam words.
That shit's like a cousin to Chinese.
What you fucking around for, man? Just get a couple of white bitches and a fine black bitch, and work 'em.
Ain't no one man can handle but two or three bitches anyway.
And if you got 'em, you better speak their language.
Reggie, I'm gonna catch you later.
Solid.
Excuse me, baby.
This your first time in New York? Does it show? A little, yeah, but that's cool.
Everyone here came from somewhere else.
Where you from? Minnesota.
I need to find a place to stay.
Ah, you can't be making those kinds of decisions until you get some food in your stomach.
Let me buy you breakfast.
I know a spot serves it all day.
It's just breakfast, that's all.
Keep me company.
C.
C.
don't like to eat alone.
C.
C.
That's right.
And you are? - Lori.
- Lori.
Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lori.
Let's get going.
I want you to check out my short.
Is that a Cadillac? God damn right it's a Cadillac.
Customized El-D, to be exact.
Yo, what it look like, little man? - Damn.
- That's it.
I never rode in a Cadillac before.
Well, gonna ride in one now.
Watch your head, baby.
Pretty, right? Why do you have all this stuff? Oh, I'm in sales.
Look here, baby, I'm not being critical or nothing like that.
You a lovely young lady, but that outfit you're wearing, it says "small-town girl," see what I'm saying? Tell you what, I'm gonna let you pick out some new things from that rack so you can look, you know, more New York.
You'd like that, wouldn't you? Shit, C.
C.
! I'm from Minnesota, and I wouldn't be caught dead in most of that shit.
Is this really New York fucking City, or did I fall off the Greyhound in Cleveland? Hmm.
Wow.
Ain't no need for the rest of the sales pitch, is there? Breakfast.
Yeah.
As you see, there are a number of equivocation fallacies either traveling from the general to the specific, or vice versa, but even more common is the manipulation of a syllogism in which different meanings of a key term are substituted.
Etymological fallacies Uh, hell, where was I? Syllogisms.
- Etymological fallacies.
- Right.
Yes, etymological fallacies.
- Think you're pretty funny, don't you? - What? The fourth had already run at Monticello.
- You past-posted me.
- Monticello? That bet is dead.
It's killed.
You still owe Tommy everything including today's fig.
He's fucking sick of this bullshit.
- Okay, guys? - You still being funny, Frankie? Gonna get another dent in that head.
- My name's Vincent.
- He's the mook, right? Yeah.
I think so.
Look.
You got a brother? Last I heard, yeah.
Where the fuck is he? Vietnam.
Fuck you say.
Frankie he enlisted, joined the Marines because he owes everybody in New York fucking City.
Yeah, I hear he's already a war hero.
They're gonna make him a sergeant or colonel or whatever.
You done? Mm-hmm.
What you think, baby? Real good.
You can burn.
What was that sausage thing? That's a half-smoke, girl.
Guess they don't have those up in the Lakes, huh? First time for me.
Onliest thing they got up in Minnesota is hockey players and heifers.
- What it look like, Richie? - Everything is everything.
Everything is everything, man.
He's different.
Yeah, Richie just go with the flow, you know.
Ain't the aggressive type.
That's why he only has one girl.
Not everybody gets to be successful, see what I'm saying? But you gonna be.
You know when I saw you come off that bus, I knew we was meant to be together.
You ain't gotta worry about nothing.
All right, we got fried eggs, bacon, and we got a cup of coffee.
Two creams and one sugar.
- We're playing the odds, girl.
- Excuse me, baby.
This is important.
We about to have a new attitude around here, all right? Got that, Loretta? Steady on it.
We straight, right? - Yes, Larry.
Gonna be a big night.
- All right.
Now, Darlene, ain't no laying back tonight, you hear me? Not for you, Daddy.
You know I got a regular tonight.
See, that's one in the tank.
- Give me that, Barbara.
- When I'm done, girl.
Larry Brown gonna buy you girls a nice dinner in return, all right? - Hear me, Loretta? - We got you, Daddy.
- Larry All right.
- two fried eggs and bacon.
Here you go, baby.
Take a hit of this freeze and wake your ass up.
Thank you, Daddy.
Don't fall in love with it.
- Okay, come on.
- Give it here.
Ah! Plate's up, Marie.
Plate's up! What do you say? No, baby, this ain't no thing.
She's just someone I met that I need to settle, that's all.
She's not gonna take your place.
You can believe that.
Look here, girl, you're my bottom, you know this.
I be tired, C.
C.
Yeah? You know what? When you come home from work tonight, I'm gonna give you a bath and then I'm gonna fuck you so good, you gonna remember why we together.
On the for-real side.
How that sound? Just you and me? Just you and me, baby.
Getting fucking groceries like every fucking day.
Middle of the fucking day, he's outside.
We fucking make eye contact.
We look eye to eye, right? He knows what I want to fucking do.
And I know what he wants to fucking do.
I think he's gonna fucking run.
He's looking at me with these big fucking googly mongoloid eyes, right? I got the drop tonight.
Don't worry about that, Vinnie.
Can I give them last call? Them guys? No, you pour till they're done.
Do a lock-in, if you have to.
Oh, come on, boss.
Vinnie, are you out of your fucking mind? That's Twist and his crew.
Carmine and them.
If you toss them before they're done, I'll be eating Carmine's asshole until I'm dead.
Fuck, no.
You stay until they go.
Fuck nuts, where's our drinks? And I'm like, "I'm not going over there.
Fucking thieves!" Yo, Frankie! Hey, where the fuck's Jersey? Ain't seen him.
Heya, Ronnie.
Baby, I'm in love! The fuck? Been looking for you all over.
You found me.
Want action? Fuck is this? That's a pretty shirt.
What'd you do, you fly down to Puerto Rico to get that? You want something? Yeah, the Mets are at the Reds in Cincy, right? - What's the line? - Reds in one.
New York's due.
Who's pitching tomorrow? Seaver? Tug.
Hmm.
What do you think? I don't think.
- You want the action? - All right, all right.
Give me 100 on the Metropolitans.
I heard you used to play.
Yeah, I got drafted by the Dodgers.
Slotted me for single-A ball.
I never even drank the cup of coffee.
Fuck it.
Too many rules, right? I really do like that shirt.
Yeah? Yeah, my sister's got one just like it! Run him over! I know you workin' - Rodney, come on.
- Hey.
Don't you want to be a part of something bigger, huh? Between my expertise and your good looks, shoot, thoroughbred like you, we would own this damn street.
I'm doing fine.
Fine ain't good enough for a woman like you.
Hey, I'll make you a star.
Ali MacGraw gonna want your autograph.
Rodney, you're not listening.
- I take care of my own self.
- As well you should.
Hey, you're looking hungry.
- You looking for a date? - How much? Talk to Thunderthighs.
She'll tell you.
- 30 and 10.
- I ain't been nothing but good to her.
- What? - Mm-mm.
Where you going? Where you going, baby? Shit, shit.
Rodney.
I told you, scary world out here, baby.
Volatile.
A girl could get her arm broke or she could get cut.
This one girl I knew thought she could handle it herself.
Got served a Drano cocktail.
You fucking threatening me? No, never.
Just the opposite.
I'm threatening anyone that would ever threaten you, baby.
Rodney, sugar, nobody makes money off of my pussy but me.
I'm gonna keep what I earn.
I don't need you.
I don't need anybody else to hold my fucking money for me.
Now let me do my thing.
You're busting on my groove, Rodney.
- Say "money" for me again.
- Money, money, money Yes, ma'am.
Hey, baby.
What do you think? I think you're beautiful.
That's what I think.
You looking for a date? - With you? Oh, yeah.
- Yeah? Talk some other time.
- 30 and 10? - Okay, come on.
Everything I own smell like pussy, baby.
Now I'm a smell like pussy, too.
Hey, sweetheart, come fuck with a pimp.
I'll get your hair did, baby.
Oh, here we go.
Well, here we go.
Hey, Chris, you wanna pick a number? Five? - Friday.
- All right.
Let's see if the fat one can get out by himself.
- Mm-hmm.
- Nope, he gonna need help.
Wow.
There he go.
Watch the car go up when he get out.
There he go.
Ha! Officer.
- You, too, Lon.
- Watch it, shitbird.
"Cannon," a Q.
M.
Production.
Be cool, Lonnie.
We're good.
Right, fellas? Yeah, we right as rain, man.
- We right as rain.
- Everything is everything, man.
Yo, Officer Alston, why don't you come up here? Yeah, have those city-issued kicks cleaned up.
- Sam.
- Hey, Chris.
Mm-mm, nope.
No, you couldn't pay me enough to wear those okey-doke-ass kicks or be a cop.
You think you could pass the psych exam, brother? Pshh, the Army took Reggie Love.
That's the Army, man.
Same.
Police just like the Army.
There's this dude back in my hometown, used to ride the special bus.
Soon as he turned 18, those military motherfuckers gave him a uniform and an M16.
They do take retards and shit.
They didn't take you.
You think you funny.
Don't laugh, don't laugh.
He ain't funny, Sam.
He ain't funny.
- Mm, those gators? - What you think? 'Cause I saw the same pair in the window at Thom McAn's.
Bullshit! These here are imports.
See that? Imported, all right? Handmade in Italia.
You didn't even know I I speak Italian.
You didn't know that.
They brought these from overseas.
Look at that.
Yeah, that's what "import" means, right, Sam? That's true.
Hey, let go of me, man.
- It's a nice day.
- It's out of sight.
Damn sure is.
I'm holding up my end.
But we're dying here.
I have mortgage, two car payment.
Son wants to go to MIT.
MIT.
Now I have to tell him community college, maybe.
Don't look at me.
Bar pulls money.
Some, anyway.
If you didn't make me run off the whores and the street people before 11:00, it'd make more.
They gotta drink, too.
- Family restaurant.
- Yeah.
Where's the fucking families? I think it's that kimchi shit you're serving, or the dog meat or cat or whatever.
No dog.
Beef.
Marinated beef.
All right, well, no one eats Korean food, Kim, probably not even in Korea if they can fucking help it.
Why don't you get someone in here, cook up some steaks or Italian? No good.
Lunch empty.
Dinner empty.
All right, easy.
Just keep calm, all right? One more month, we close.
Hey, hey, hey, keep your head, all right? Don't get all excited, for fuck's sake.
Just give me a chance to think.
I'm in this with you.
Okay.
Okay.
What? That expression on your face when you came.
That look.
Okay.
If people stopped for a minute and realized what they look like during sex, they'd lose it.
I mean, if it wasn't fun, it'd be ridiculous.
Oh, my God.
I shouldn't be doing this.
Fucking? Fucking you.
You're 19, for God's sake.
20, and that argument is begging the question.
Petitio principii.
I could damn near be your father.
Argumentum ad hominem.
Jesus Christ, Abby, if anyone ever found out, I Argumentum ad misericordiam.
An appeal to pity if I ever heard one.
Got the fallacies and the rhetoric down, don't I? Exam's gonna be cake.
Here, I got it.
I got it.
You know, I could've been a dancer if I was taller.
You're perfect, doll.
So, I'll see you later? I want to.
I just I'm kind of tired.
Yeah? Here.
You take one, you're wide awake.
You take two, you're gonna wanna redecorate the house.
And it keeps you trim.
Come on.
So - Tonight.
- Yeah.
All right.
- Thanks, Vin.
- Here you go.
- What do you guys want? - Vincent Martino, right? All day.
You got a brother named Frankie? Yeah.
Your brother's been very active in the wire services lately.
How much? 20 Gs, give or take, plus the interest rate, which I'll admit is unreasonably high.
It's now 30.
It compounds.
So, why come to me? Your brother, as limited a gambler as he is, he's also irresponsible in the bargain.
He can't make good.
You, however, you're a working man.
You're a barman here and in Brooklyn.
You're always around some cash.
I don't steal from Kim, and I don't steal across the river.
I'm not a thief.
Well, you or your brother's gonna have to come up with something.
All right, look, I got a bar I need to tend.
I gotta think about this, so maybe we can talk when it's quieter.
Okay.
I'll come by tomorrow when you open.
But just to be clear, this is not a situation we can ignore.
I got it.
I'll take that drink now.
Scotch rocks.
And not from the well.
Candy, hey.
It's your, uh, friend from Jersey City.
I was wondering if you had time for a date tomorrow night or the night after.
Call my office.
You got the number.
Say your name is, uh Samantha.
Thanks.
Hey, Miss Merrell.
This is Jimmy, the super.
I wanted to bring a plumber by tomorrow around 3:00 to fix the faucet in your bathroom.
Let me know if that would be all right with you or if you're gonna be home or if we should just come in and do it while you're out.
All right? Eileen, this is your mother.
I thought you'd like to know that your father left town today on business.
Your son has been asking for you.
Shit! The fuck?! Get off me! You fucking whore.
Here you go.
- Okay, we'll see you, Lynda.
- 'Night, Vin.
Where do you think you're off to looking like Vic Damone? I'm taking Andrea to Luger's for a late dinner.
I'm gonna surprise her.
I told you a week ago.
That was a week ago.
We're getting busy.
Lynda's gonna need some help.
I need you behind the bar.
I I got plans.
Your plans are you're working tonight.
I'm taking my wife to dinner.
You leave now, you're done here.
I think it's gonna swell.
It already swole up, right? That was a little rough.
Yeah, I know.
It got away from me there this time, I guess.
My wrist also hurts.
Oh, jeez, Darlene, you know I'm sorry.
You got me going tonight.
Have an extra 20 for it, okay? I got you going, huh? I think it was the shoes.
Shall I tell you why you're heavier? You've been cheating, sneaking things into your mouth.
- Where is she? - Candy, soda pop, pizza, munch.
Gowanus, right? Or at the other bar down in Bensonhurst? Hell you want from me? I read a magazine about these pills - that kill your appetite.
- What pills? - Well, what about hypnosis? - Kimberly It's like a cherry.
- That red one.
- Oh, yeah? Mm-hmm.
You just missed it.
Just couldn't close the deal.
Come on, we're going home.
- All right? - I haven't finished my drink.
You had enough.
What the fuck are you wearing? I'm not naked or nothing.
I can't play pool in my skirt.
- It's too tight.
- All right.
I can't bend.
You're a real fucking piece of work, you know that? The lady said she's still drinking.
- Hey, fucko! - Shit.
Look at this mongoloid.
I like your Beatle boots.
Real boss.
Which Beatle are you? He's Ringo.
Oh, you look a little angry, Ringo, but the thing is, what are you gonna do? Me and the lady was playing 8 Ball.
I had a couple solids left.
Her name is Andrea.
She's my wife.
I said I got a couple balls left.
You know what it's like to be playing a game and still have balls, right? Take it out on the fucking arches.
- You miss me, honey? - You know I do.
So, I'll check you out next week, baby.
He didn't mean it, Larry.
He just got excited.
You call this excited? Shit, I'm gonna show him excited.
He's a regular.
Every two weeks, A hundred to play pretend.
You saw.
He gave me an extra 20 for it.
He didn't mean it.
Extra 20? Before you do him next time, you let him know he fucks you up like this again, he gonna have me raise up on him, you heard me? Regular or no.
I'll tell him, Larry.
I will.
All right, baby, make that money.
That's you.
Y'all dating? We got a birthday boy over here.
How much? 30 and 10.
30 for the date, 10 for the room.
You ready? He wants her.
Hey, Candy.
They want you.
Birthday boy.
Hey, honey, you looking for a date? Hey, gentlemen.
It's going to be 40.
What's your name, honey? Uh, Stuart.
Were gonna party, Stuart.
Yeah! Yeah.
Come on, baby.
They've accused have you seen this? Something like 75 or 80% of New York restaurants, they said, are unhealthy.
Do you believe that? And there's gotta be some truth to it when you see one of those Shell pest strips hanging underneath the table.
Come on.
I don't bite.
This will be nice.
No, none of that.
You can touch my tits.
Only if you want to.
Take a breath.
Mm.
That's nice.
Touch my nipples.
Mm-hmm, feels good.
That's nice, mmm.
Let's see what we got here.
Oh, yeah, you're ready.
Now, you gotta wear this.
I can do it.
No, no, Candy's gonna fit it on you just to be sure.
Oh! Wow, you really were ready.
Can I get a few minutes? I'll be ready again.
One ticket, one ride.
You want to go again? It's only 30 for the second go.
The room's already paid.
I don't have 30.
We already all pooled what we had.
It was my birthday today.
Yeah? Well, happy birthday to you.
Doesn't seem fair.
- Fair? - You barely had to do anything.
And it costs just as much as someone who takes longer.
What do you do, Stuart? I'm in school.
What's your daddy do? He sells cars.
He's got a dealership.
And that's his job, right? Someone comes in, knows just the car he wants, doesn't dick around, doesn't need a long test drive, doesn't argue about the color or whatever, does he give him the car for less? Does he pay less than the guy who comes in, takes forever, gotta drive five or six cars, talk about radio, the whitewalls, everything else before he's done and ready to buy? No.
He doesn't give the easy customer two cars for the price of one, right? This is my job, Stuart.
I got a check from my grandma for 50.
But you could give me back 20 and I can sign it over.
Would you take a check? A personal check? No.
Ordinarily.
But for you, Stu you know, I think I would.
Thank you.
Oh, local bank, right? Men, how would you like to join my team? The Noxzema team? - Hey.
- The world's best-shaved men all belong.
We have a cheer on the Noxzema team.
- Hourly or nightly? - Take it off, take it off.
Take it all off.
- Give me a month.
I'll pay up front.
- Sis-boom bah, Noxzema.
That's the sort of thing that I'm against.
.
lumberjacks coming to town between jobs with rum and women on their minds.
They told us two years ago we should have a police force.
Abby, finally.
Studying or getting your heads up? Pacing ourselves.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that.
Have you guys even read this yet? We'll just cram our asses off.
Kind of hungry.
Who wants pizza? - I'm up for John's.
- Oh, man, I hate their crust.
- You have a better idea? - Yeah, Ray's on Prince.
Like you can taste the difference - between John's and Ray's.
- Seriously, you guys are done after the second slice.
Who can cop some speed? I know a guy.
Mister, you can't park here! Move it on! You said 43rd and 9th? No, 44th.
Bob said our man would be there.
- Yeah, right, Bob said.
- Do you even know who Bob is? - Okay, come on.
- No, who is this dude? - Fuck you, Cecelia.
- You've never met him.
- I know who he is.
He's a nice guy, all right? - Let's just get it done.
Let's just get it done.
First one's free tonight.
Show that glass to your barman.
First one's on the house, gentlemen.
Show the glass to your barman.
Yeah, so now I gotta get my ass grabbed all night carrying drinks.
Fuck you, Vin.
Hey, don't bust balls, all right? I'm trying to save this joint.
You look great.
Gentlemen, first drink free.
Show that glass to the barman.
That's gotta be him.
Bob says he's always in the middle of the block.
Guess I'm elected.
Well, if we all go, it'll look like something's happening.
I got something for you.
All right, here.
Thanks.
You set me up? No, I'm fucked, same as you.
Hey, kids, what's going on? All right, asshole, get over here.
Hey, uh, can I just explain? I-I'm a student, NYU.
I have a test in the morning.
I just needed something to stay awake so I could study.
That's all.
If I can just call my father You get a phone call.
But it doesn't matter to me who your father is; I'm gonna do my job, miss.
It's Abby, and I wasn't suggesting you wouldn't do your duty, Officer Fla-nah-ga.
It's Flanagan.
They left the "N" off the end there.
Yeah, I've been meaning to get that fixed.
Get in the backseat, Abby.
I gotta take you to the station.
Aren't you gonna cuff me? You gonna try and rabbit on me? Damn, boy! What happened? This is my joint for a late-night cocktail.
Now, shit.
Now you overrun with suits.
- Leotards.
- Say what? Put the girls in leotards and heels.
Parade a couple of them down the sidewalk as it was getting dark.
- That's all? - Yeah.
You ain't selling pussy, just dancer clothes? How much she making? Tonight? 200 in tips, easy.
Don't even think about it, bitch.
I'm a sporting man.
Ain't no sport in this.
None at all.
Drinks on me tonight, guys.
Sorry I don't have a stool open for you.
Vinnie! Vincent Martino, come here.
- You ducking me? - Not at all.
Had some shit go badly across the river.
- My home life.
- Sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
The fuck can you do? I'd complain, but I know that's not what you're here for.
Christ, you blew this place up tonight, didn't you? I must say I'm enjoying the ladies in the tight outfits.
It's very nice.
Yeah.
All right, listen.
- About my brother - And his 32 five large.
It accrues, as I said.
Look, I'll cover the original bets, all right? A thousand a week for the next 20 weeks, but on my salary there's no way I'm gonna catch up to the vig.
Let me start with the money on the bets, then I'll lean on him to get it right with the rest as soon as he's flush.
Personally, I hear you, but I'm afraid the others I work for, they won't listen.
The fuck can I do? Look, I keep this bar hot, maybe I'll clear 1,000 a week, if I'm lucky.
You want more, it's gonna take more time.
I will take that message back to my people.
But if you see your brother, tell him that he's cut off until he gets right.
The word is out on the Deuce.
- His bets do not play.
- That's fine with me.
Right.
Place looks good.
Observed copping amphetamines from a known West Side skel.
I got something to do.
My partner, Officer Alston, will look out for you while I'm gone.
Student? NYU.
Hmm.
NYU.
Trying to cop speed in Hell's Kitchen.
You're obviously not stupid.
But do you know how stupid that is? I think you'll be all right.
Duck salad.
No, thank you.
Hey, baby, how you doing? You like what you see? Uh-huh? You looking for a date tonight? I'll show you a little bit of fun, huh? Hey.
You looking for a date, baby? Yeah? Hey, you playing my song, baby? You lonely tonight? Hey, hey.
Hey.
You got a light? If you're passing those out, we do.
That is what I need.
You're, uh Thunderthighs, as advertised.
Hey, give me one of those, will you? Here, baby.
C.
C.
said I should come rap to you all some, get myself up to speed.
- Thanks, sugar.
- What's your name, girl? Lori.
You? Candy.
You got "new in town" stamped on your forehead.
Fucking C.
C.
snapped you up quick.
I make a mistake in that? C.
C.
wants women just like the rest of them.
Same suit, different day.
It's not like you haven't been around the block before, right? Not this block.
I met some of the players at Leon's.
This guy named Reggie Love and some dude in a brown suit.
Larry Brown.
Stay away from Larry.
He raises up quick.
His girls got daddy issues.
Don't we all? Some, uh, hippie-looking cat.
- Uh, Richie? - Gentle Richie's cool, but you ain't gonna make no money with Richie.
Who are you with? Me and Tiffany are with Rodney.
What about you? Who's your man? No man, just me.
No man? How's that work? You gotta work a little harder.
You gotta be a little more careful.
Sometimes a guy will burn you for some cash or a player will press you for a moment or two, but it works for me.
Me, I need pimping.
Otherwise I tend to get lazy.
Huh Can I make a phone call? You're not gonna need it.
It's your lucky night.
You caught me at the end of my shift, so.
I don't understand.
Officer Flanagan doesn't want to bother with processing and fingerprinting.
He's got other fish to fry.
I'll drop you off at your dorm.
Subway's not safe this time of night.
Let me guess, you're gonna stop and have a cocktail on the way, an aperitif, perhaps? Hey, there's an idea.
Yeah, give Abby here some counseling over a drink or two.
Thanks for the water.
Mind yourself out there, hear? Boo! Hey.
Ellen! How about a ginger ale? Put a little Crown Royal in it, you know, for color.
Hey, baby brother.
Working stiff.
- Where the fuck you been? - Queens.
- Fuck you doing in Queens? - Well, they still take my bets there.
- You're still betting? - Winning.
I'm up 4,000.
Bullshit.
Let me see.
Bullshit? Look at that.
- What the fuck? - This is going to that unhappy dago sitting down on that barstool a couple hours ago looking for you, leaning on me for 30 large.
Who? Tommy Longo? He came to you? Why the fuck did he come to you? Maybe because you were in Queens.
Fuck him.
No, Frankie.
We don't fuck him.
This is gonna buy your ignorant, degenerate ass a week or two.
You know, I always said you was no fun.
You just proved it.
- Yeah? Well, Ma ruined you.
- Yeah.
Thanks, doll.
Mmm.
What? Well, well, well.
So, what's new? Me? Quit on Dominic.
Oh, yeah, moved out of the house on Andrea.
- Really? - Yeah.
I got a room this side of the river.
I'm done, out for good.
- You sure? - Positive.
I'm don't wanna say nothing bad about your wife, have you two get back together and have you mad at me forever.
The marriage is dead.
Say what you feel.
- Dead? - Yeah.
- Like, for real dead? - Dead dead.
- Hundred percent? - Hundred percent.
- Never going back? - The fuck? Yes.
All right.
Well, Drea kept her looks, I'll give her that.
And considering her brothers are upstate, her father's a Shylock, rest of her family's a pack of fucking scumbag assholes, she ain't that bad.
Uh-huh.
But if she had as many pricks sticking out of her as she's had stuck in her, she'd be a fucking porcupine.
Fuck you.
Still serving, Vinnie? - For you, Officer? - Okay - What are you guys playing? - What can I get you? Gin Rickey? Grasshopper? Fuck you.
Right.
How about you? You wanna hear about my day? Yes, I do.
- You won't believe it.
- Wow.
Well, here we go.
What's happening, baby? Have a good night? - All right? - Mm-hmm.
What you got for me? What you got? What is this? Oh, shit.
It's a Franklin.
Three-piece suit was easy money.
Yeah, I guess so.
Thank you, baby.
- Ashley, honey - Hmm? You wanna get a look at this? It's a hundred-dollar bill.
I don't think you've seen this kind in a while.
Look here, baby.
Gonna make you nostalgic.
That ain't funny, C.
C.
I've pulled in as much as her tonight.
Yeah, I know, I know.
I'm just fucking with you.
- Yeah, can we call it a night? - Yeah, I'm tired, too.
Come on, one more each, ladies.
Up and at 'em, up and at 'em.
Let's go.
Before the sun catches us all.
Who you waiting on, Larry? Darlene.
Keep your eyes on me.
Mind nothing else.
- I can bear it so long as I'm near you.
- Oh, jeez.
But when I go, will they be quick? I know, she's terrified.
But watch, he's gonna get her through it.
Goodbye.
God bless you.
She loves him, right? Does he know that she loves him? Oh, jeez.
Nobody loved him until right now, at the end.
It's a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done.
It's a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.
It's pretty great, huh? You ever read the book? There's a book? No, no, but you're an excellent card player.
Well, no luck so far, but still excellent.
One of these days, you're gonna have all my money.
Hey, what the fuck? So, what'd you do? Spit on the sidewalk? She tried to purchase amphetamines over on 10th.
Oh.
I needed to stay up for an exam tomorrow.
Try coffee next time.
What are you studying? My exam is for econ, but I'm an English major.
You speak English pretty good already.
You gotta go to more school for that? I'm studying literature.
Like books? Mostly modern stuff.
Um, this semester I'm taking a class called Existentialism and the Absurd.
We read "The Stranger.
" You know Camus? I know Sabu.
Saw his pictures when I was a kid.
"Jungle Book," like that.
Who has time to read a book? This your place, Vincent? I manage it.
You asked them to dress like that? Oh, that? That's a whatchamacallit.
Innovation I came up with tonight.
See, the better they look, the more tips they make, and it brings in the suit-and-tie trade into the bar.
Ever wonder what it's like for them to be objectified? Objecto-who? You gotta slow down, kid.
I'm just a guinea from Brooklyn.
It means treating a person as a thing.
Ever wonder what they think about that? I don't know what they think.
All I know is they made more money tonight than any night in here in months.
You know, you could do what they do.
I'd put you behind the stick in a second.
I know I could.
But would I? Right.
I wouldn't want to make you feel like, you know, a thing.
You're smarter than you let on.
No one's ever called me smart before.
Not ever, but thank you.
Christ.
I'm three sheets.
You ready to go? I'm ready.
Um, I think I'll stay here, have one more.
I'll get her a cab, Danny.
Hey, your money's no good here, Officer.
You can get me here any time, Abby, in case you get jammed up or whatever.
Or, you know you just want to talk.
Thanks for giving me a break.
That's me, Officer Friendly.
See you soon, Danny.
Not if I see you first.
I think this is what you were looking for.
Now, next time, you don't go down to Hell's Kitchen and deal with scum, all right? Thanks, but I'm okay.
The speed wasn't for me.
It was for my friends.
Don't you gotta study? I know that econ shit inside out.
All right.
You know, you should get back.
It's gonna be light soon.
Catch the dawn, you feel like a vampire.
I think I'll sit here with you for a little while, if you don't mind.
Let me get rid of this for you.
You sure you don't want to do nothing tonight, Louis? Nothing? I liked watching the movie with you is all.
Nothing? Not even a handjob? No.
Uh, listen, Louis I've been up here so long watching a movie that I'm kind of worried that my man might get upset with me if I only come back to him with the usual price.
So, um do you think you could advance me now so he'll be cool with me and I'll come past for free next week? Hey, you want the rest of the pizza? Oh, no, honey, I'm good.
I gotta race.
Thanks, miss.
Yeah.
Remember, you have 20 minutes for each section, so if there's something you get hung up on, move on and come back to it later.
Oh, it's for the month.
Where is he? He was taking a nap.
He had a little fever this morning, but he's okay.
He's allergic to school is all.
All right, we'll don't wake him up.
He woke up when he heard the doorbell.
Go.
Put your coat in your room.
Mom's here.
She's in your room, waiting for you.
- Mom! - Hi, hey.
Oh, kiddo.
Oh! Mm.
Let me see you.
You don't look so sick to me.
- How you feeling? - Okay.
You think maybe you should've gone to school today? Maybe? It's not like you can blame me.
I can't? I'm working seven nights a week.
I'm trying to hold down a couple jobs Seven nights a week.
That's right.
Seven nights a week I'm supposed to be home with the kids every night, and where are you? I'm working.
You could've done that thing with my father.
- Oh, shit.
- He'd have got you made, maybe.
Or at least you'd been in a crew, Vinnie, instead.
You know what? Fuck that shit, okay? Every time I turn around, there's some asshole dago thinks he owns the world 'cause he's in some fucking crew.
And your dad's a fucking asshole.
And both your brothers are upstate from that shit.
And you're a barman.
I'm more than that now.
I'm managing a joint in Manhattan.
I should thank you for kicking me out of the nest.
I'm at the center of things now.
I'm building something.
- You're from Brooklyn.
- So what? Francis Albert's from Hoboken.
He owns New York.
You're not Frank Sinatra.
Junior maybe.
You're not even Tony Martin.
I'm still young, Vin.
And you don't never come home to me.
And it ain't like you ain't out there fucking around on me when you can.
I know, okay? I know.
I know about Marie DiParma.
I know about all of 'em.
You ain't fooling nobody.
Vin, you got a home.
You got a family.
A color TV, and you're living in some shitty Times Square hotel with whores and drunks? Look, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for some of the shit I done.
I am.
You know we could be good if we tried.
- Tell the kids - Tell them what? Just tell them I had to go.
And I'll see them again.
- You need another round? - Sure.
It's raining, C.
C.
Raining hard.
No one likes to get wet, but we all gotta work, baby.
I don't wanna work tonight.
I know, baby, I know.
Look here, uh why don't we go somewhere where we can talk about this, just the two of us, hmm? - Mm-hmm.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, let's go.
Ooh.
Yeah, yeah.
Vinnie.
- Go.
- All right, all right.
.
I'll go look.
Ashley, honey, what you crying for? Hey, shh! Shit, now, everything all right.
We're just talking.
We're talking, that's all.
That's all.
Shh.
How that feel? - Hurt.
- Yeah? Next time I'll open your face.
You'll never make another penny.
Could send you back to West Virginia and let your daddy ass-fuck you all over again.
- C.
C - I ain't say you could speak! When I say to get out there and retail, you do it.
You don't like working in the rain? I don't give a good fuck if you wet or cold or on fire, you get me my goddamn money.
Vincent.
When you were little, didn't you always want to be in the movies? A lot of stars got their start this way.
Everybody goes tonight! Aw, come on! I will make sure to cover my brother's debt.
I'm gonna hold you to that.
I'm just sick and tired of the whole pimp thing.
All I need is one good woman and I'm gone.
Until then, I'm gonna be out there like a warrior for my scratch.
- Pow! - Oh!