Godfather of Harlem (2019) s02e04 Episode Script
The Geechee
1
♪
I guess things are going well
with you and Mr. Gigante.
- Let's hope it holds.
- What are you afraid of?
That they're gonna
call you a nigger lover?
- Is that what you're afraid of?
- I'm not afraid of that.
It's this thing of ours.
You know. No colored allowed.
- Praise the Lord. We made it.
- What's wrong? You okay?
White cops came out of nowhere
and started beating
on a bunch of kids.
- [grunts]
- They beat Cecil.
Aah!
I'd do anything to advance
the cause of the Negro.
- [both panting]
- I could smell Amy Vanderbilt
on your clothes last night.
- She don't mean nothing.
- You know how men are.
They get tired of
the filet mignon at home,
so they go out for
a greasy cheeseburger.
My heart remains open.
But what about yours?
Captain Henry said
you were defiant today.
He's a liar.
They threw rocks
through our windows,
put poison into Elijah's ears.
You will either follow my hand,
or you will be out on your own.
Your wife is helping me organize
a sit-in at the 27th Precinct.
Oh, freedom
We need to activate
the entire community.
[all] Oh, oh, freedom
-Oh, freedom
-[whimpers softly]
[singing continues indistinctly]
What the fuck is this?
An eye for an eye, motherfucker.
They got three great
natural resources in Florida
tits, ass, and oranges.
I brought you a bag.
Hey, so that's
his fucking punishment
for killing Teddy,
is three months in Miami?
I'm gonna get justice for your son.
Are you out of your mind?
This is for Teddy,
you fucking asshole.
[grunts]
What the fuck did you do?!
Fucking shoot her! No, no!
[gunshot echoes]
[fingers snapping rhythmically]
[sirens wailing]
[mellow jazz music plays]
♪
[engine shuts off]
♪
Keep it close.
♪
[indistinct chatter]
[door closes]
[laughter, chatter]
[silverware clinking]
[band continues playing
mellow jazz music]
I just got a phone call
from the guys
down at the other space.
♪
Chance.
Chance!
Yo, we got a phone call.
- I just told you that.
- [indistinct chatter]
♪
You got taste, Johnson.
Mayme had a lot
to do with the design.
♪
Geechee What's this
"Geechee" shit?
Geechee's my ancestors
from South Carolina.
They were particularly rebellious
against their slave masters.
[chuckles] That's who
you got it from, huh?
♪
[chuckles]
And it must have cost a bundle.
I can afford it.
♪
I got to admit, you were right.
This business idea
fucking quadrupled profit.
Mm.
♪
Maybe you should start
your own nightclub.
If it has two floors,
you can call it Double Chins.
[laughter]
Double Chins.
[chuckles]
Fuck you.
[laughs]
Sorry to interrupt.
Bump, we've got a problem
over at the warehouse in the Bronx.
Let's get out of here.
[dog barking]
[metal clangs]
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
Yeah
Change
Yeah
Open up my window again
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God,
things ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case
[rapping] Lay on my back
watchin' the ceilin' fan ♪
I had a dream to
touch a kilo gram ♪
Still at odds with the Irish mob ♪
Rolls-Royce down
Malcolm X Boulevard ♪
Lord, these really
out here preyin' on me ♪
Got the .40 on me
and his hand on me ♪
Snow-white mink
like I'm Dutch Schultz ♪
Run the books and let me
show you how the numbers look ♪
You can't be Lucky
like you Luciano ♪
The kilos slammin'
like they new pianos ♪
And Fat Boy got the big body
Coast-to-coast,
I could shoot product ♪
Open up my window again
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God,
things ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case
[Jehan] They killed one of yours,
and they killed one of yours.
Obviously, someone doesn't
like you two are in business.
Yeah, but how did they discover
where we process the dope?
One of your workers sold you out.
- Obviously.
- Fuck you.
All our dope-packers
are blindfolded,
packed up in a van with no windows.
They know the consequences
for talking.
Other than the people in this room,
only you French fucks know
where we kept the dope.
[chuckles] I've been shipping dope
into New York Harbor
for over [sniffs] 20 years.
The Feds don't even know I exist.
That's because
I'm cautious and discreet.
Must be one of the Italian bosses.
What are you talking about?
I been expecting them
to make a move.
Are you saying they'll risk
starting a war with me?
Nothing was stolen.
It was to send a message.
We'll be hearing from someone soon
with a offer to make it stop.
Well, I don't think anybody
would fuck with my business.
Bonanno would.
He's got more soldiers than you.
I think Monsieur Johnson is right.
You've created
a profit center so powerful
with your Ten Harlems
that all the other families
must feel that their
very existence is threatened.
It could also be
Lucchese or or Gambino,
or that that, uh, new boss
That Profaci boss.
Uh, what's his name? Magliocco.
I hear he's ambitious.
I helped bump Magliocco
up to be a boss.
Been my friend for 20 years.
If you can't clean up this mess,
I'll be forced to cut off
the connection.
♪
We gotta stick together.
'Course.
'Course.
[band playing lively jazz music]
[indistinct conversations, laughter]
♪
- [chuckles]
- [laughs, gasps]
Well, this is fabulous.
Well, I may have my quarrels
with Bumpy Johnson,
but I cannot dispute,
he knows how to throw a party.
I don't see him.
Well, uh, the real reason
I brought you here
is to meet his wife, Mayme.
She's the perfect person
to prepare you
for the Mike Wallace interview.
- Bumpy's wife?
- Yes.
Ah, there she is.
I'm sure she's gonna love you.
♪
Mayme Johnson, meet Amy Vanderbilt.
We've met.
Amy is the featured guest
on Mike Wallace's
special report this week.
I was hoping that you could give her
some of your insights
into the civil rights struggle.
You know, the struggle
from the vantage point
of a Black woman.
Last I checked, she wasn't Black.
I'm speaking about the role
of whites in the movement.
Then why would she need me?
- I don't.
- Ladies, I
Congressman Powell,
I appreciate your effort.
I trust you'll have a pleasant
evening at the Geechee.
Reverend Powell,
I'm sure we'll speak soon.
Mayme.
♪
[dog barking]
♪
[male reporter on radio]
Well, the World's Fair
will open on April 22nd
in Flushing, Queens,
and city officials expect
an enormous turnout.
It's taken 44 months
and nearly $500 million
to build the fair,
and if conditions are good,
between 250,000 and 500,000 people
are expected to attend
on opening day.
It's been 25 years since
New York last hosted the fair
-[gate creaks]
-almost to the exact date,
- and it will be remembered
- [sighs]
either as an exciting look
into the future or the
♪
Man, that smells delicious.
Are we expecting company?
Just trying to use up everything
in the refrigerator.
Hmm.
This came today.
[sighs] Oh, boy.
They're shutting off our power?
The Nation pays for this place
and everything in it.
Guess they've stopped
footing the bill.
This must be a mistake.
[paper rustling]
I'll look into it.
Another one came, too.
[pot lid clangs]
♪
"I've had sexual relations
with your husband for over a year.
Recently, I learned
I am pregnant with his child."
I know we've had our
difficulties over the years,
but I never thought
you'd be unfaithful.
This is a lie.
- What part of it?
- All of it.
So you don't know
a woman named Elise?
I do know a woman named Elise
very well.
She's Bumpy Johnson's daughter,
but we are not having an affair,
and she's not pregnant
with my child.
Well, then, why would she write
to me and tell me she is?
She hasn't.
This is the work of someone
trying to divide us.
Who? Why?
The Nation. Maybe the FBI.
- For what purpose?
- To discredit me.
To cause confusion.
To cause us to argue.
[sighs]
Betty, there is abs
♪
Betty, there is
absolutely nothing going on
between me and Elise.
♪
I want to believe you. I do.
[inhales deeply]
You have to.
♪
♪
[car horns honking]
[birds chirping]
[Ernie] Your pop said
anything to you?
He seems to think Benny went
back to Florida for business.
- [lighter flicks]
- Say something to you?
[exhales slowly]
He's gonna find out eventually.
Look, I told your pops
Benny went to Miami
to make some girl he was chasing.
After a few weeks,
when he doesn't return,
I'll just say he got whacked
by a jealous boyfriend or something.
He's got friends in Miami.
He'll check that out.
I fucking know that.
Look, the most important
thing right now
is that we keep our mouths shut.
This is a secret until
the day we die, Stella.
Of course.
You can't say nothing to no one.
- You haven't said anything?
- No, of course not.
Secret to the day we die.
You get that money and flowers
to Tyrell's widow?
Yes, sir.
- And his kids?
- Boy and girl.
Make sure they're taken care of.
I don't want them
to want for nothing.
Right away.
Just like you predicted.
He's here, Bumpy.
- [truck horn honks]
- [indistinct chatter]
Let him in.
[man] No, no, no. Nothing's goin'
[indistinct chatter]
[gate squeals]
♪
[engine shuts off]
♪
[metal creaking, clanging]
[man] Let's get that
on that truck over there.
♪
Yeah, grab these tanks, JB.
♪
[man 2] That goes over there.
[Bonanno] When I make a mistake,
I like to admit it.
I see.
I should have came in
on your Ten Harlems deal
- when I had the chance.
- [chuckles]
That's a fair assessment.
Well, I'm humble when I need to be.
But I'm also an optimist.
Yeah, but are you also a killer?
Hmm?
Did you hang two of our guys
to send a message to me?
Lucchese or Gambino
or the other families,
maybe, but not me.
I don't need to kill anybody.
I just want you to be
straight with me
and admit that you made a mistake.
How so?
[scoffs] How so?
Chin's a fucking bum.
A fucking chauffeur that got lucky.
He doesn't know the first thing
about business,
how to treat a partner fair
especially one that's
doing all the work.
Oh, you think he's
being unfair to me.
You're splitting 50/50?
Yeah, I figured that's
what he was gettin'.
I'll tell you what
I'll give you 60/40.
60 for you.
Plus, you keep the Ten Harlems
all to yourself.
You've made yourself
a very valuable asset
here today, Bumpy.
Keeping your word is also an asset.
Chin's my partner,
and I don't go back on my word.
[sighs]
Let me give you some inside info.
Chin's going down.
I thought you had to get
sanctions from the commission
to take care of something like that.
Yeah. Well, you let me handle that.
You just think about my offer.
Believe it or not,
I respect you, Bumpy.
You're a smart guy for a colored.
♪
The answer
is no.
♪
Okay. [sighs]
I'll tell you what
I'm going to give you
a day to reconsider.
I guarantee you'll change your mind.
♪
[car door slams]
Ahh. I had more fun at your wedding
- than I did at my own.
- [laughter]
Well, that's 'cause
you got so drunk,
-you passed out.
-Que bella, huh?
At least your wife
has aged beautifully.
My Mary-Francis,
she's let herself go.
Got flappy arms.
Got bags under the eyes.
A huge ass.
But Olympia. Still gorgeous.
Well, she's sorry she missed you.
Yeah? Well, fuck her, then.
[chuckles]
I called you because
we need to talk business.
[sighs]
Drink?
A Fernet. My stomach.
[mellow Italian music
playing over radio]
Heard about your trouble
at the warehouse.
Oh, yeah? How'd you hear about that?
Oh, come on.
The families are jealous
of all that business
you're doing with that Negro.
♪
So? Tell me what you heard.
♪
Come on.
Joey, I helped you
get bumped upstairs.
Tell me.
♪
Lucchese and Gambino.
Oh, come on.
Mother Mary of Jesus.
Those two families combined
are very strong, Vincent.
But there is a way we can
beat Lucchese and Gambino
at their own game.
♪
How so?
You partner with me and Bonanno.
[sighs]
Boy, you just
Yeah, you're spreadin'
cheer today, huh?
Now, listen. Partner with us
now that I'm on the commission.
I know you hate Bonanno,
but it's the right move.
♪
Y-You know, I got business
with Johnson.
It's unnatural,
you partnering with a nigger.
We're not supposed to mix like this.
The other bosses won't tolerate it,
I'm telling you.
You team with Bonanno and me,
you keep Lucchese
and Gambino at bay, huh?
And everyone's happy.
Not Johnson.
Who gives a flying fuck
about Johnson?!
Right now, we need Johnson
for those Ten Harlems.
But one day soon, we'll bury
that nigger as well. Come on.
♪
What do you say?
♪
You know, I was [sighs]
Yeah, uh Uh, I'll think about it.
♪
Eh.
♪
Let me take a look
at that picture of you
in that fuckin' hat
you used to wear.
Where is that thing?
Ohh! [laughing]
♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪
[sirens wailing]
♪
- Those motherfuckers.
- What?
Chin just smooched Magliocco
before he got into the goddamn car.
- For real?
- That's typical guinea shit.
Act all macho,
but as soon as they say
hello and goodbye,
they start smooching
like little girls.
Mm-hmm.
Try that shit on me, I cut you.
Do I look like a guinea?
Mm.
Let's just follow this guy.
See where he goes.
- Yeah.
- [engine starts]
Let's see which guinea motherfucker
he gon' kiss next, huh?
♪
[train clattering]
[car horns honking]
[indistinct chatter]
Who would write something like this?
About us? For what purpose?
To sow confusion.
This information is meant
to keep people agitated
and turn them against each other,
among other things.
This is terrible. Terrible.
Do you know who sent it?
It could be from the FBI
or someone from Temple Number Seven.
Someone who definitely knows
about our friendship.
[indistinct chatter]
That's funny.
Captain Henry called me
to a meeting this afternoon.
[mellow music playing over speakers]
I have a favor to ask.
Rather than follow me
out of the Nation,
as dozens are considering,
I'd like you to think about
staying at the Temple.
I don't want to stay
if you're not there.
I understand, but I'd like
to have someone
be my eyes and ears
about what mischief
they're cooking up.
It's possibly dangerous,
and I'm torn about
even putting you in this situation,
so you should feel free to say no.
Yes.
I'll stay.
♪
You have to be careful, Elise.
Promise me.
When you form your own group,
I am going to be there by your side.
♪
In good time, Sister.
In good time.
♪
Make sure the safety advisory
goes in the packet
for the Freedom Summer volunteers.
Yes, Mrs. Johnson.
We need to talk about what happened
at the Geechee Club last night.
I mean, it's clear that you and Amy
don't see eye-to-eye.
Why?
We can start with the love letters
she wrote my husband
while he was in prison.
No. She didn't.
I don't care how rich she is.
That dusty-ass cracker
needs to stay away from my husband.
Well, at least that explains things.
[indistinct chatter]
Uh, Mayme, can we have a word
in my office, please?
[typewriter keys clacking]
Please, have a seat.
I'm sorry.
I know my attitude
isn't very Christian.
Well, Matthew reminds us
that we must forgive other people
who sin against us.
And what does Matthew say
when you just don't like someone?
Well, question her motives
as you might,
this woman is backing
our voter registration drive.
She has donated millions
to the passage of
the Civil Rights Act.
A fortune built on the back
of her family's slaves.
She's one of the good ones, Mayme.
Not only financially.
She is doing
a Mike Wallace interview
on the role of whites
in the Civil Rights movement.
That's what bothers me there.
Why does Mike Wallace
have to do an interview
about our rights with a white woman?
Because it's the white people
we're trying to change.
Even you can't be that naive.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
And yet, the Romans still
found time to crucify Jesus.
And what did Jesus do?
He forgave them. [sighs]
She needs to know
about your youth programs
here in Harlem
The "get out the vote" initiative.
She needs to see this thing
from a Black woman's perspective.
[sighs] In light
of the circumstances,
I understand why you'd have
no interest.
♪
[scoffs] No, I'll do it.
That white woman in her glass bubble
needs to hear
how the other half lives.
♪
[grunts]
[car door closes]
Pastry? What's that?
Hamantaschen.
Hamantaschen?
A Jew pastry. It's fucking good.
Fuck that kike pastry!
Did Chin agree to let us in?
I'm working on it. I'll handle Chin.
Leave it to me. Come on.
He's a dumb fucking chauffeur.
No offense, Gilberto.
None taken.
Deep down, Chin knows he
can't partner with a nigger
without cutting us in.
Yeah. What about Johnson?
Eh.
Chin'll deal with Johnson.
He won't like it,
but what's he gonna do?
[scoffs] Chin and this Black bastard
think they're so smart.
We'll cut 'em down to size.
[radio announcer]
has bounced to third, and
Watch this.
Yankees down 4-1.
[chuckles]
[lighter flicks]
So, what do you think?
You can beat me now
'cause you got
a new fucking haircut?
Fuck you.
[door creaks, slams]
[radio announcer continues]
I need a word.
[pool balls clack]
What's wrong?
There's something
I forgot to mention.
You forgot?
I didn't think it was important,
and then I realized maybe it is.
What is it, Stella?
I was having lunch
with Delia last week
and I mentioned Benny's dead.
Who the fuck is Delia,
and why would you do that?
She's Teddy's mother.
I know nothing can make it better,
but I thought she should know.
It's not a problem, is it?
Fuck yeah, it's a problem.
Your father'd kill
anyone and everyone
involved in Benny's death.
You know that.
She's not gonna say anything.
You don't know what she's gonna say.
Things get around.
You've endangered us
and her, Stella.
What do we do?
We get rid of her.
Are you crazy? You want to kill her?
No. Fuck, no.
I don't want to kill her.
She's gotta get out of town.
I'll give her some money
or something.
Let me handle this.
Tell me where she lives.
You won't hurt her?
Stella, tell me where she lives.
♪
[telephone rings]
[man] Hello? Chicago office.
Well.
That's a nasty piece of business.
Yeah, you're telling me.
- Is any of it true?
- Adam.
I'm sorry. I had to ask.
[chuckles] Of course not.
They've tried this stuff
on me in the past,
but in my case, it was true.
But be that as it may,
it hurts to have people
rummaging through
your dirty laundry.
Well, I'd like to make it stop.
I have very little truck
with J. Edgar Hoover.
He hates my guts almost
as much as he hates yours.
I have it on good information
that he personally
requested surveillance
and wiretaps on your ass.
But why? He knows I'm no longer
with the Nation.
Even worse. You're now unfettered.
You're seeking real
political solutions
to our problems
with the ever present
threat of violence.
But how would they know
about my personal
friendship with Elise?
Obviously, there are those
at the NOI who are working
with the FBI or have been
infiltrated by them.
Who knows?
The point is
you must be careful, Malcolm.
Why? The FBI usually parks
a car outside my house,
watching me 24/7.
Shouldn't I feel safe?
They are, after all, an organization
supposedly devoted to our safety.
[chuckles]
Their safety.
Not ours.
I'll do what I can, Brother Malcolm.
♪
God bless you.
Well, thank you, Adam.
♪
[bells jingle]
♪
♪
♪
Mayme.
I'm so grateful you agreed
to meet with me.
To be honest, Reverend Powell
twisted my arm.
[chuckles]
Before we start
♪
I just want to say, um
I know this is awkward.
What happened between
your husband and I
is ancient history.
- Why are you telling me this?
- Because it's true, and
because I don't want you
worrying about that.
I didn't agree to meet you
so you could unburden your soul
or go over all of our personal shit.
I am here for
a higher purpose my cause.
I understand.
You're a rich white woman
with millions of dollars,
and for some reason,
people listen to you.
But I will gladly accept
help for civil rights
from any corner, even yours.
♪
So, what do you want
to talk about with Mike Wallace?
♪
How the Civil Rights movement
and the feminist movement
intersect with the issues
facing Black women today.
Things like that.
Okay.
Well, let me ask you a question.
Have you read
"Their Eyes Were Watching God"
by Zora Neale Hurston?
No.
"The Street" by Ann Petry?
Mm-hmm.
"A Raisin in the Sun"?
Yes, I have seen that play.
Good. Let's go.
- Where are we going?
- My place.
There's some reading you need to do.
♪
♪
♪
Sister Elise, we called you here
for a simple reason.
To ascertain where
your loyalties lie.
♪
My loyalty is with the Nation.
♪
Mm.
Now, as you very well know,
Malcolm X has turned his back
on the Dear Holy Apostle
and this mosque.
He seeks to split the Nation
and steal our members for his own.
I know nothing about that.
Your father is known to be
a good friend of Malcolm's.
Do you deny this?
I am not my father.
If your loyalty lies with Malcolm,
you must leave this mosque at once.
I stand with the Dear Holy Apostle.
Why should we believe you?
I don't. She's lying.
I've seen the way she looks at him.
♪
No different from you
or any of you before all this.
So now you're defending him.
I think that's evidence enough.
Gather your things. You're leaving.
No.
I will not.
♪
And I'll tell you why.
♪
Anyone, even Malcolm X,
who ignores the words
of the Dear Holy Apostle
is a fool.
And I do not follow fools.
Malcolm's behavior has
shown him to be a hypocrite.
And as the
Honorable Elijah has said,
a hypocrite is worse
than a disbeliever,
because a disbeliever has not lied.
You think I would follow a fool,
a hypocrite, and a liar?
♪
Whether you kick me out
of this mosque or not,
I will not follow such a man.
♪
♪
Fine words, Sister Elise.
You may stay.
But I warn you
any contact with Malcolm
will be met with
serious repercussions.
♪
[Chance] We followed
Magliocco from Chin's house
over to Brooklyn.
Magliocco met with Joe Bonanno.
Then he went back
to Chin's social club.
Yeah, something
fucked up's going on.
We just don't know what's what.
The thing about rats is that
they'll always get hungry
and show themselves eventually.
When they do,
that's when we exterminate.
You did good.
What are we gon' do?
♪
You say Magliocco went back
to Chin's social club?
Yeah. He's there right now.
Get the car.
It's time to find out what's what.
[Magliocco] Look at it like
this. You cut in me and Bonanno,
you have protection against
the other families.
You split profits with two
families instead of all four.
No, I don't know.
- It's your best play.
- [door opens]
- The fuck is going on?
- Take it easy, Johnson.
We talked about staying strong,
and you already done sold me out.
My men followed this
motherfucker from your house
over to Bonanno's
and then back here.
All right, slow down
and show some respect.
You made a deal behind my back!
No, I'm doing that
for the both of us.
We need to do this, okay?
We need to give
the families a piece.
- I don't even know this guy.
- You stronzo!
Those other families,
they'll drive us
into the fucking ground!
You think I want to
cut in with Bonanno?!
I don't want to cut in with Bonanno!
But I want a war less!
Don't you?
This man here, I trust him.
♪
If you trust me,
you'll take my word.
I never would have
thought you'd cave
to these motherfuckers.
I thought you was tougher than that.
Hey, you're lucky he even let you
make as much as you did.
Now, why don't you just
shut the fuck up
and be grateful for whatever
we decide to give you?
You don't even have
the Ten Harlems without me!
- [overlapping shouting]
- I'll shut it down!
You hear me?! I'll shut it down!
- Calm down! Put
- Hey, it's okay.
This is unnecessary. Calm down.
A fucking hothead, this guy!
- All right, look.
- It's okay.
It's all right.
Put your guns away.
Listen.
Would you rather be dead?
You know how to play the game.
The strong devour the weak,
and and Bonanno
and those other families,
they're too strong!
I'm worried about
my family's safety.
The money ain't worth it to me.
Nothing would be off-limits.
I don't want my family dead,
and neither do you!
- You motherfuckers.
- Yeah, right!
We're motherfuckers.
♪
So
we'll meet at Bamonte's,
and we'll figure out the split
and, uh, make sure
it's fair for everybody.
- Bamonte's?
- Yeah.
You think I'm fucking stupid?
You just threw me over,
and now you want me to go
into the lion's den?
You're right.
We can go to your club, all right?
The whattayacallit.
- The Geechee.
- Yeah.
Look, it's gotta be done, all right?
We had our run, and now it's time
to give the family
a taste, all right?
[breathing heavily]
That's just the way it works.
♪
[door creaks]
What, are you waiting for a tip?
Get the fuck out of here.
Get the fuck out of my shop!
- [indistinct chatter]
- [coughing]
[moaning softly]
[tap squeaks, water running]
[water shuts off]
Sister Elise?
[patients coughing]
You upset?
No.
- No, I'm fine.
- Mm.
The words you spoke moved me
deeply. Malcolm has
disgraced the Nation
and the Lamb of God.
Did you [sighs]
Did you hear the
Dear Holy Apostle's speech
where he said he wished
Malcolm would go away?
Yes.
I think I know what
he was trying to say.
The
[chuckles]
message within his message.
♪
What are you saying,
Brother Charles?
♪
That soon you won't have to worry
about that hypocrite anymore.
♪
[woman moans softly]
[patients coughing]
[knock on door]
[distant children shouting]
Who are you, Sister?
My name is Elise Johnson.
May I speak with you inside?
[car horn honks]
[children laughing, chatting]
You say this man at the Temple
Brother Charles
made a threat against my husband?
I tried to call,
but the operator said
your line was disconnected?
The Nation turned off
our phone service.
Malcolm gets threats all the time.
You see our window?
Someone threw a brick
through there
scared us half to death.
This is more serious.
I'm worried about him.
And I'm not?
I didn't say that.
I got sent a letter.
In the letter, it said
you're in love with him.
That letter is a lie.
Maybe. But I'm no fool.
I can see it in your eyes.
You love him.
♪
I respect him.
Hmm.
He
changed my life.
He is a great man,
and I am telling you
that his life is in danger.
That's why I'm here.
♪
What's going on?
I believe Brother Charles
has it in his mind to kill you.
♪
Why shouldn't I compare
the Civil Rights movement
to the feminist movement?
Because when you get
your women's rights,
I'll still be Black.
But when you get your civil rights,
won't you still be a woman?
A Black woman.
That's the problem, Amy.
We lose either way.
Have you read "The Feminine
Mystique" by Betty Friedan?
Yes, And it makes
a lot of good points.
But, amazingly, it didn't
change the color of my skin.
- Okay.
- Hmm.
I get your point.
[elevator bell dings]
[door opens]
♪
Ladies.
Ellsworth.
♪
- [cup clatters]
- [clears throat]
Amy.
Hello, Bumpy.
♪
What the hell's going on here?
Amy is appearing on
The Mike Wallace show tomorrow
and asked for my help.
And you agreed?
Bumpy, your wife is amazing.
She's opened up my eyes
to so many important issues.
That's wonderful.
She believes that a white woman
can be an ally to
the Civil Rights movement
if she has "compassion
for an experience
she can never truly grasp."
A white woman can support
but first she must listen.
A Black woman is her
own savior not us
and she must not be overlooked.
Well put.
[chuckles]
Maybe you should tell that
to Mike Wallace.
Maybe I will.
No, no, no. No, not you.
♪
You.
♪
♪
[car horns honking]
♪
[sirens wailing]
♪
♪
[door opens]
♪
♪
♪
- Excuse me. Delia?
- [gasps]
Lord, you scared
the bejesus out of me.
I brought you this.
[suitcase latch snaps]
That's a gift from Stella Gigante.
It's $5,000.
All you gotta do is leave town,
start a life somewhere else.
Is this about the man she shot?
I need you to leave town.
My life is here.
My young boy goes to school here.
Don't you got relatives somewhere?
I got a sister in Ohio.
Then go there.
Believe me, it'd be a lot safer.
Why in the hell should I run away?
I didn't do nothing wrong.
That's probably more money
than you've ever seen in your life.
I'm not leaving Harlem.
This here is blood money.
I can't profit
off the death of my son.
And I will [breathing shakily]
♪
Okay.
I'll take the money.
♪
[dog barking]
[radio announcer]
theme of the fair
bringing together people
and cultures from
will be a great opportunity
for all Americans and visitors
to see the latest in
technological and architec
♪
[panting]
♪
[sighs]
♪
[grunts]
♪
[sniffs, grunts]
♪
[gun cocks]
Look at me.
I said look at me!
[breathing heavily]
My wife and I, we share this car.
She drives my daughters
to school in it.
My wife, Brother.
My children.
Boy, you lucky I don't
blow your head off.
Yes.
Now, you've heard me speak
at the mosque many times
about how the white man
tries to foment division
between himself and us
to justify his continued
violence against us.
♪
So when we fight amongst ourselves,
we are doing
the white man's work for him.
Is that what you want?
Is that who you want to be?
The white man's whip?
- [weeping]
- Get your ass out of my car.
♪
- [car door slams]
- [dog barking]
♪
Give that to Hoover.
Let him know how good a job
you're doing protecting me.
♪
[engine shuts off]
Pettigrew and Junie are inside,
but Chin's men are
responsible for security.
[laughs] I'm gonna get searched
going into my own club.
[laughs]
You really think you can trust Chin?
- I mean
- [laughs]
how do you know you ain't
walking into a death trap?
Can you ever really
trust a white man?
- [car door opens]
- [distant car horn honks]
[engine turns over]
♪
[man] Shit don't feel right
This shit don't feel right
This shit don't feel right ♪
Shit don't feel right
Shit don't feel right ♪
This shit don't feel right
This shit don't feel right ♪
Shit don't feel right
Comin', comin' for ya
♪
Motherfuckin' good luck
Yeah, oh
Watch when I pull up
Motherfuckin' good luck
Yeah, oh
Bumpy Johnson.
I'm glad you came around.
♪
Have a seat.
♪
What's he doing here?
I asked him here.
We had no choice.
Because of the new arrangement,
I wanted to work with him directly.
I didn't agree to no new
arrangement, all right?
You will.
What's the maximum load
that you could, uh, ship
at any one time?
Anything more than 600 kilos
is risking seizure.
There are only so many cars
we can use
without being detected.
As a make-good
for the past few months,
Magliocco and I,
we're gonna take over
the next shipment entirely.
Bumpy Johnson here
will distribute it
to his, uh, Ten Harlems crew
for 5%.
Fuck that!
You take it, or you won't
walk out of here alive!
Hey, everybody, just relax, okay?
No need for ruffled feathers, huh?
We're all friends here, right?
- [Chin] Yeah.
- We're all here to make money.
I mean, life shouldn't
be so serious.
Come on.
I mean, Johnson, he's right.
I mean, you and I,
we started this thing.
On one hand, you know,
we had great success,
but it's true
we were a little greedy.
On the other hand, you know,
it wasn't fair to us.
Johnson came to you
a few months ago,
and you turned him down.
[laughs] And now you're angry?
[laughing]
In poker, we call that a sore loser.
What the fuck you trying to say?
Am I right, Mags? Come on.
I've known this guy for 20 years.
He comes to me, makes an offer
I trust him. I like him.
I mean, he's a new boss.
New bosses make mistakes sometimes.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What What mistakes?
Well, I mean, for instance,
y-you went to him,
knowing that this bastard
has been fucking me since birth.
You were at my wedding,
for Christ's sake.
Yeah, but the minute you find out
that I'm making money for myself,
you go straight to him,
and you make a deal.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
It's not like that.
And that makes me doubt
our friendship.
Huh?
You know, when I doubt friendships,
there is no friendship.
- [gasps]
- [blade scrapes]
Don't move, motherfucker,
or you're next.
♪
You thought you could
team with Magliocco
and shake us down?
Well, guess what.
You can't, you dumb motherfucker.
From the jump, we were playing you.
You can't kill me.
Consider that a warning.
And unless you want
the other families to know
that you tried to cut them out,
you better keep this quiet.
Capiche?
[film whirring]
Hello, America.
I'm Mike Wallace.
Today on the program, we have one
of the wealthiest women in America,
who is also a strong supporter
of Negro rights
Miss Amy Vanderbilt.
Thank you, Mr. Wallace.
Sometimes, the best way
to represent a good cause
is to let the cause do the talking.
I want to introduce you to a woman
from the Harlem community
who can speak
to the plight of Negroes
in this country
far better than I can.
Mrs. Mayme Johnson.
I want to thank Amy
for not only supporting
the cause of civil rights,
but for understanding
the limits white people will have
in empathizing
with the Black experience.
And, truth is, they simply can't.
But they can listen.
By listening, I believe
our cause for equality
will advance at a much quicker pace.
-[camera snaps]
-First and foremost,
we must believe that the pain
of the Black experience in America
thorough multiple generations
of oppression is real.
We must have faith
that the good in people
outweighs the bad.
Otherwise, we can never learn
to trust each other.
And without trust, we can never
truly live in harmony.
Bonanno ain't finished with us yet.
You know that, right?
I ain't worried about Bonanno
as long as we stick together.
♪
Yeah.
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
I guess things are going well
with you and Mr. Gigante.
- Let's hope it holds.
- What are you afraid of?
That they're gonna
call you a nigger lover?
- Is that what you're afraid of?
- I'm not afraid of that.
It's this thing of ours.
You know. No colored allowed.
- Praise the Lord. We made it.
- What's wrong? You okay?
White cops came out of nowhere
and started beating
on a bunch of kids.
- [grunts]
- They beat Cecil.
Aah!
I'd do anything to advance
the cause of the Negro.
- [both panting]
- I could smell Amy Vanderbilt
on your clothes last night.
- She don't mean nothing.
- You know how men are.
They get tired of
the filet mignon at home,
so they go out for
a greasy cheeseburger.
My heart remains open.
But what about yours?
Captain Henry said
you were defiant today.
He's a liar.
They threw rocks
through our windows,
put poison into Elijah's ears.
You will either follow my hand,
or you will be out on your own.
Your wife is helping me organize
a sit-in at the 27th Precinct.
Oh, freedom
We need to activate
the entire community.
[all] Oh, oh, freedom
-Oh, freedom
-[whimpers softly]
[singing continues indistinctly]
What the fuck is this?
An eye for an eye, motherfucker.
They got three great
natural resources in Florida
tits, ass, and oranges.
I brought you a bag.
Hey, so that's
his fucking punishment
for killing Teddy,
is three months in Miami?
I'm gonna get justice for your son.
Are you out of your mind?
This is for Teddy,
you fucking asshole.
[grunts]
What the fuck did you do?!
Fucking shoot her! No, no!
[gunshot echoes]
[fingers snapping rhythmically]
[sirens wailing]
[mellow jazz music plays]
♪
[engine shuts off]
♪
Keep it close.
♪
[indistinct chatter]
[door closes]
[laughter, chatter]
[silverware clinking]
[band continues playing
mellow jazz music]
I just got a phone call
from the guys
down at the other space.
♪
Chance.
Chance!
Yo, we got a phone call.
- I just told you that.
- [indistinct chatter]
♪
You got taste, Johnson.
Mayme had a lot
to do with the design.
♪
Geechee What's this
"Geechee" shit?
Geechee's my ancestors
from South Carolina.
They were particularly rebellious
against their slave masters.
[chuckles] That's who
you got it from, huh?
♪
[chuckles]
And it must have cost a bundle.
I can afford it.
♪
I got to admit, you were right.
This business idea
fucking quadrupled profit.
Mm.
♪
Maybe you should start
your own nightclub.
If it has two floors,
you can call it Double Chins.
[laughter]
Double Chins.
[chuckles]
Fuck you.
[laughs]
Sorry to interrupt.
Bump, we've got a problem
over at the warehouse in the Bronx.
Let's get out of here.
[dog barking]
[metal clangs]
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
Yeah
Change
Yeah
Open up my window again
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God,
things ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case
[rapping] Lay on my back
watchin' the ceilin' fan ♪
I had a dream to
touch a kilo gram ♪
Still at odds with the Irish mob ♪
Rolls-Royce down
Malcolm X Boulevard ♪
Lord, these really
out here preyin' on me ♪
Got the .40 on me
and his hand on me ♪
Snow-white mink
like I'm Dutch Schultz ♪
Run the books and let me
show you how the numbers look ♪
You can't be Lucky
like you Luciano ♪
The kilos slammin'
like they new pianos ♪
And Fat Boy got the big body
Coast-to-coast,
I could shoot product ♪
Open up my window again
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God,
things ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case
[Jehan] They killed one of yours,
and they killed one of yours.
Obviously, someone doesn't
like you two are in business.
Yeah, but how did they discover
where we process the dope?
One of your workers sold you out.
- Obviously.
- Fuck you.
All our dope-packers
are blindfolded,
packed up in a van with no windows.
They know the consequences
for talking.
Other than the people in this room,
only you French fucks know
where we kept the dope.
[chuckles] I've been shipping dope
into New York Harbor
for over [sniffs] 20 years.
The Feds don't even know I exist.
That's because
I'm cautious and discreet.
Must be one of the Italian bosses.
What are you talking about?
I been expecting them
to make a move.
Are you saying they'll risk
starting a war with me?
Nothing was stolen.
It was to send a message.
We'll be hearing from someone soon
with a offer to make it stop.
Well, I don't think anybody
would fuck with my business.
Bonanno would.
He's got more soldiers than you.
I think Monsieur Johnson is right.
You've created
a profit center so powerful
with your Ten Harlems
that all the other families
must feel that their
very existence is threatened.
It could also be
Lucchese or or Gambino,
or that that, uh, new boss
That Profaci boss.
Uh, what's his name? Magliocco.
I hear he's ambitious.
I helped bump Magliocco
up to be a boss.
Been my friend for 20 years.
If you can't clean up this mess,
I'll be forced to cut off
the connection.
♪
We gotta stick together.
'Course.
'Course.
[band playing lively jazz music]
[indistinct conversations, laughter]
♪
- [chuckles]
- [laughs, gasps]
Well, this is fabulous.
Well, I may have my quarrels
with Bumpy Johnson,
but I cannot dispute,
he knows how to throw a party.
I don't see him.
Well, uh, the real reason
I brought you here
is to meet his wife, Mayme.
She's the perfect person
to prepare you
for the Mike Wallace interview.
- Bumpy's wife?
- Yes.
Ah, there she is.
I'm sure she's gonna love you.
♪
Mayme Johnson, meet Amy Vanderbilt.
We've met.
Amy is the featured guest
on Mike Wallace's
special report this week.
I was hoping that you could give her
some of your insights
into the civil rights struggle.
You know, the struggle
from the vantage point
of a Black woman.
Last I checked, she wasn't Black.
I'm speaking about the role
of whites in the movement.
Then why would she need me?
- I don't.
- Ladies, I
Congressman Powell,
I appreciate your effort.
I trust you'll have a pleasant
evening at the Geechee.
Reverend Powell,
I'm sure we'll speak soon.
Mayme.
♪
[dog barking]
♪
[male reporter on radio]
Well, the World's Fair
will open on April 22nd
in Flushing, Queens,
and city officials expect
an enormous turnout.
It's taken 44 months
and nearly $500 million
to build the fair,
and if conditions are good,
between 250,000 and 500,000 people
are expected to attend
on opening day.
It's been 25 years since
New York last hosted the fair
-[gate creaks]
-almost to the exact date,
- and it will be remembered
- [sighs]
either as an exciting look
into the future or the
♪
Man, that smells delicious.
Are we expecting company?
Just trying to use up everything
in the refrigerator.
Hmm.
This came today.
[sighs] Oh, boy.
They're shutting off our power?
The Nation pays for this place
and everything in it.
Guess they've stopped
footing the bill.
This must be a mistake.
[paper rustling]
I'll look into it.
Another one came, too.
[pot lid clangs]
♪
"I've had sexual relations
with your husband for over a year.
Recently, I learned
I am pregnant with his child."
I know we've had our
difficulties over the years,
but I never thought
you'd be unfaithful.
This is a lie.
- What part of it?
- All of it.
So you don't know
a woman named Elise?
I do know a woman named Elise
very well.
She's Bumpy Johnson's daughter,
but we are not having an affair,
and she's not pregnant
with my child.
Well, then, why would she write
to me and tell me she is?
She hasn't.
This is the work of someone
trying to divide us.
Who? Why?
The Nation. Maybe the FBI.
- For what purpose?
- To discredit me.
To cause confusion.
To cause us to argue.
[sighs]
Betty, there is abs
♪
Betty, there is
absolutely nothing going on
between me and Elise.
♪
I want to believe you. I do.
[inhales deeply]
You have to.
♪
♪
[car horns honking]
[birds chirping]
[Ernie] Your pop said
anything to you?
He seems to think Benny went
back to Florida for business.
- [lighter flicks]
- Say something to you?
[exhales slowly]
He's gonna find out eventually.
Look, I told your pops
Benny went to Miami
to make some girl he was chasing.
After a few weeks,
when he doesn't return,
I'll just say he got whacked
by a jealous boyfriend or something.
He's got friends in Miami.
He'll check that out.
I fucking know that.
Look, the most important
thing right now
is that we keep our mouths shut.
This is a secret until
the day we die, Stella.
Of course.
You can't say nothing to no one.
- You haven't said anything?
- No, of course not.
Secret to the day we die.
You get that money and flowers
to Tyrell's widow?
Yes, sir.
- And his kids?
- Boy and girl.
Make sure they're taken care of.
I don't want them
to want for nothing.
Right away.
Just like you predicted.
He's here, Bumpy.
- [truck horn honks]
- [indistinct chatter]
Let him in.
[man] No, no, no. Nothing's goin'
[indistinct chatter]
[gate squeals]
♪
[engine shuts off]
♪
[metal creaking, clanging]
[man] Let's get that
on that truck over there.
♪
Yeah, grab these tanks, JB.
♪
[man 2] That goes over there.
[Bonanno] When I make a mistake,
I like to admit it.
I see.
I should have came in
on your Ten Harlems deal
- when I had the chance.
- [chuckles]
That's a fair assessment.
Well, I'm humble when I need to be.
But I'm also an optimist.
Yeah, but are you also a killer?
Hmm?
Did you hang two of our guys
to send a message to me?
Lucchese or Gambino
or the other families,
maybe, but not me.
I don't need to kill anybody.
I just want you to be
straight with me
and admit that you made a mistake.
How so?
[scoffs] How so?
Chin's a fucking bum.
A fucking chauffeur that got lucky.
He doesn't know the first thing
about business,
how to treat a partner fair
especially one that's
doing all the work.
Oh, you think he's
being unfair to me.
You're splitting 50/50?
Yeah, I figured that's
what he was gettin'.
I'll tell you what
I'll give you 60/40.
60 for you.
Plus, you keep the Ten Harlems
all to yourself.
You've made yourself
a very valuable asset
here today, Bumpy.
Keeping your word is also an asset.
Chin's my partner,
and I don't go back on my word.
[sighs]
Let me give you some inside info.
Chin's going down.
I thought you had to get
sanctions from the commission
to take care of something like that.
Yeah. Well, you let me handle that.
You just think about my offer.
Believe it or not,
I respect you, Bumpy.
You're a smart guy for a colored.
♪
The answer
is no.
♪
Okay. [sighs]
I'll tell you what
I'm going to give you
a day to reconsider.
I guarantee you'll change your mind.
♪
[car door slams]
Ahh. I had more fun at your wedding
- than I did at my own.
- [laughter]
Well, that's 'cause
you got so drunk,
-you passed out.
-Que bella, huh?
At least your wife
has aged beautifully.
My Mary-Francis,
she's let herself go.
Got flappy arms.
Got bags under the eyes.
A huge ass.
But Olympia. Still gorgeous.
Well, she's sorry she missed you.
Yeah? Well, fuck her, then.
[chuckles]
I called you because
we need to talk business.
[sighs]
Drink?
A Fernet. My stomach.
[mellow Italian music
playing over radio]
Heard about your trouble
at the warehouse.
Oh, yeah? How'd you hear about that?
Oh, come on.
The families are jealous
of all that business
you're doing with that Negro.
♪
So? Tell me what you heard.
♪
Come on.
Joey, I helped you
get bumped upstairs.
Tell me.
♪
Lucchese and Gambino.
Oh, come on.
Mother Mary of Jesus.
Those two families combined
are very strong, Vincent.
But there is a way we can
beat Lucchese and Gambino
at their own game.
♪
How so?
You partner with me and Bonanno.
[sighs]
Boy, you just
Yeah, you're spreadin'
cheer today, huh?
Now, listen. Partner with us
now that I'm on the commission.
I know you hate Bonanno,
but it's the right move.
♪
Y-You know, I got business
with Johnson.
It's unnatural,
you partnering with a nigger.
We're not supposed to mix like this.
The other bosses won't tolerate it,
I'm telling you.
You team with Bonanno and me,
you keep Lucchese
and Gambino at bay, huh?
And everyone's happy.
Not Johnson.
Who gives a flying fuck
about Johnson?!
Right now, we need Johnson
for those Ten Harlems.
But one day soon, we'll bury
that nigger as well. Come on.
♪
What do you say?
♪
You know, I was [sighs]
Yeah, uh Uh, I'll think about it.
♪
Eh.
♪
Let me take a look
at that picture of you
in that fuckin' hat
you used to wear.
Where is that thing?
Ohh! [laughing]
♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪
[sirens wailing]
♪
- Those motherfuckers.
- What?
Chin just smooched Magliocco
before he got into the goddamn car.
- For real?
- That's typical guinea shit.
Act all macho,
but as soon as they say
hello and goodbye,
they start smooching
like little girls.
Mm-hmm.
Try that shit on me, I cut you.
Do I look like a guinea?
Mm.
Let's just follow this guy.
See where he goes.
- Yeah.
- [engine starts]
Let's see which guinea motherfucker
he gon' kiss next, huh?
♪
[train clattering]
[car horns honking]
[indistinct chatter]
Who would write something like this?
About us? For what purpose?
To sow confusion.
This information is meant
to keep people agitated
and turn them against each other,
among other things.
This is terrible. Terrible.
Do you know who sent it?
It could be from the FBI
or someone from Temple Number Seven.
Someone who definitely knows
about our friendship.
[indistinct chatter]
That's funny.
Captain Henry called me
to a meeting this afternoon.
[mellow music playing over speakers]
I have a favor to ask.
Rather than follow me
out of the Nation,
as dozens are considering,
I'd like you to think about
staying at the Temple.
I don't want to stay
if you're not there.
I understand, but I'd like
to have someone
be my eyes and ears
about what mischief
they're cooking up.
It's possibly dangerous,
and I'm torn about
even putting you in this situation,
so you should feel free to say no.
Yes.
I'll stay.
♪
You have to be careful, Elise.
Promise me.
When you form your own group,
I am going to be there by your side.
♪
In good time, Sister.
In good time.
♪
Make sure the safety advisory
goes in the packet
for the Freedom Summer volunteers.
Yes, Mrs. Johnson.
We need to talk about what happened
at the Geechee Club last night.
I mean, it's clear that you and Amy
don't see eye-to-eye.
Why?
We can start with the love letters
she wrote my husband
while he was in prison.
No. She didn't.
I don't care how rich she is.
That dusty-ass cracker
needs to stay away from my husband.
Well, at least that explains things.
[indistinct chatter]
Uh, Mayme, can we have a word
in my office, please?
[typewriter keys clacking]
Please, have a seat.
I'm sorry.
I know my attitude
isn't very Christian.
Well, Matthew reminds us
that we must forgive other people
who sin against us.
And what does Matthew say
when you just don't like someone?
Well, question her motives
as you might,
this woman is backing
our voter registration drive.
She has donated millions
to the passage of
the Civil Rights Act.
A fortune built on the back
of her family's slaves.
She's one of the good ones, Mayme.
Not only financially.
She is doing
a Mike Wallace interview
on the role of whites
in the Civil Rights movement.
That's what bothers me there.
Why does Mike Wallace
have to do an interview
about our rights with a white woman?
Because it's the white people
we're trying to change.
Even you can't be that naive.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
And yet, the Romans still
found time to crucify Jesus.
And what did Jesus do?
He forgave them. [sighs]
She needs to know
about your youth programs
here in Harlem
The "get out the vote" initiative.
She needs to see this thing
from a Black woman's perspective.
[sighs] In light
of the circumstances,
I understand why you'd have
no interest.
♪
[scoffs] No, I'll do it.
That white woman in her glass bubble
needs to hear
how the other half lives.
♪
[grunts]
[car door closes]
Pastry? What's that?
Hamantaschen.
Hamantaschen?
A Jew pastry. It's fucking good.
Fuck that kike pastry!
Did Chin agree to let us in?
I'm working on it. I'll handle Chin.
Leave it to me. Come on.
He's a dumb fucking chauffeur.
No offense, Gilberto.
None taken.
Deep down, Chin knows he
can't partner with a nigger
without cutting us in.
Yeah. What about Johnson?
Eh.
Chin'll deal with Johnson.
He won't like it,
but what's he gonna do?
[scoffs] Chin and this Black bastard
think they're so smart.
We'll cut 'em down to size.
[radio announcer]
has bounced to third, and
Watch this.
Yankees down 4-1.
[chuckles]
[lighter flicks]
So, what do you think?
You can beat me now
'cause you got
a new fucking haircut?
Fuck you.
[door creaks, slams]
[radio announcer continues]
I need a word.
[pool balls clack]
What's wrong?
There's something
I forgot to mention.
You forgot?
I didn't think it was important,
and then I realized maybe it is.
What is it, Stella?
I was having lunch
with Delia last week
and I mentioned Benny's dead.
Who the fuck is Delia,
and why would you do that?
She's Teddy's mother.
I know nothing can make it better,
but I thought she should know.
It's not a problem, is it?
Fuck yeah, it's a problem.
Your father'd kill
anyone and everyone
involved in Benny's death.
You know that.
She's not gonna say anything.
You don't know what she's gonna say.
Things get around.
You've endangered us
and her, Stella.
What do we do?
We get rid of her.
Are you crazy? You want to kill her?
No. Fuck, no.
I don't want to kill her.
She's gotta get out of town.
I'll give her some money
or something.
Let me handle this.
Tell me where she lives.
You won't hurt her?
Stella, tell me where she lives.
♪
[telephone rings]
[man] Hello? Chicago office.
Well.
That's a nasty piece of business.
Yeah, you're telling me.
- Is any of it true?
- Adam.
I'm sorry. I had to ask.
[chuckles] Of course not.
They've tried this stuff
on me in the past,
but in my case, it was true.
But be that as it may,
it hurts to have people
rummaging through
your dirty laundry.
Well, I'd like to make it stop.
I have very little truck
with J. Edgar Hoover.
He hates my guts almost
as much as he hates yours.
I have it on good information
that he personally
requested surveillance
and wiretaps on your ass.
But why? He knows I'm no longer
with the Nation.
Even worse. You're now unfettered.
You're seeking real
political solutions
to our problems
with the ever present
threat of violence.
But how would they know
about my personal
friendship with Elise?
Obviously, there are those
at the NOI who are working
with the FBI or have been
infiltrated by them.
Who knows?
The point is
you must be careful, Malcolm.
Why? The FBI usually parks
a car outside my house,
watching me 24/7.
Shouldn't I feel safe?
They are, after all, an organization
supposedly devoted to our safety.
[chuckles]
Their safety.
Not ours.
I'll do what I can, Brother Malcolm.
♪
God bless you.
Well, thank you, Adam.
♪
[bells jingle]
♪
♪
♪
Mayme.
I'm so grateful you agreed
to meet with me.
To be honest, Reverend Powell
twisted my arm.
[chuckles]
Before we start
♪
I just want to say, um
I know this is awkward.
What happened between
your husband and I
is ancient history.
- Why are you telling me this?
- Because it's true, and
because I don't want you
worrying about that.
I didn't agree to meet you
so you could unburden your soul
or go over all of our personal shit.
I am here for
a higher purpose my cause.
I understand.
You're a rich white woman
with millions of dollars,
and for some reason,
people listen to you.
But I will gladly accept
help for civil rights
from any corner, even yours.
♪
So, what do you want
to talk about with Mike Wallace?
♪
How the Civil Rights movement
and the feminist movement
intersect with the issues
facing Black women today.
Things like that.
Okay.
Well, let me ask you a question.
Have you read
"Their Eyes Were Watching God"
by Zora Neale Hurston?
No.
"The Street" by Ann Petry?
Mm-hmm.
"A Raisin in the Sun"?
Yes, I have seen that play.
Good. Let's go.
- Where are we going?
- My place.
There's some reading you need to do.
♪
♪
♪
Sister Elise, we called you here
for a simple reason.
To ascertain where
your loyalties lie.
♪
My loyalty is with the Nation.
♪
Mm.
Now, as you very well know,
Malcolm X has turned his back
on the Dear Holy Apostle
and this mosque.
He seeks to split the Nation
and steal our members for his own.
I know nothing about that.
Your father is known to be
a good friend of Malcolm's.
Do you deny this?
I am not my father.
If your loyalty lies with Malcolm,
you must leave this mosque at once.
I stand with the Dear Holy Apostle.
Why should we believe you?
I don't. She's lying.
I've seen the way she looks at him.
♪
No different from you
or any of you before all this.
So now you're defending him.
I think that's evidence enough.
Gather your things. You're leaving.
No.
I will not.
♪
And I'll tell you why.
♪
Anyone, even Malcolm X,
who ignores the words
of the Dear Holy Apostle
is a fool.
And I do not follow fools.
Malcolm's behavior has
shown him to be a hypocrite.
And as the
Honorable Elijah has said,
a hypocrite is worse
than a disbeliever,
because a disbeliever has not lied.
You think I would follow a fool,
a hypocrite, and a liar?
♪
Whether you kick me out
of this mosque or not,
I will not follow such a man.
♪
♪
Fine words, Sister Elise.
You may stay.
But I warn you
any contact with Malcolm
will be met with
serious repercussions.
♪
[Chance] We followed
Magliocco from Chin's house
over to Brooklyn.
Magliocco met with Joe Bonanno.
Then he went back
to Chin's social club.
Yeah, something
fucked up's going on.
We just don't know what's what.
The thing about rats is that
they'll always get hungry
and show themselves eventually.
When they do,
that's when we exterminate.
You did good.
What are we gon' do?
♪
You say Magliocco went back
to Chin's social club?
Yeah. He's there right now.
Get the car.
It's time to find out what's what.
[Magliocco] Look at it like
this. You cut in me and Bonanno,
you have protection against
the other families.
You split profits with two
families instead of all four.
No, I don't know.
- It's your best play.
- [door opens]
- The fuck is going on?
- Take it easy, Johnson.
We talked about staying strong,
and you already done sold me out.
My men followed this
motherfucker from your house
over to Bonanno's
and then back here.
All right, slow down
and show some respect.
You made a deal behind my back!
No, I'm doing that
for the both of us.
We need to do this, okay?
We need to give
the families a piece.
- I don't even know this guy.
- You stronzo!
Those other families,
they'll drive us
into the fucking ground!
You think I want to
cut in with Bonanno?!
I don't want to cut in with Bonanno!
But I want a war less!
Don't you?
This man here, I trust him.
♪
If you trust me,
you'll take my word.
I never would have
thought you'd cave
to these motherfuckers.
I thought you was tougher than that.
Hey, you're lucky he even let you
make as much as you did.
Now, why don't you just
shut the fuck up
and be grateful for whatever
we decide to give you?
You don't even have
the Ten Harlems without me!
- [overlapping shouting]
- I'll shut it down!
You hear me?! I'll shut it down!
- Calm down! Put
- Hey, it's okay.
This is unnecessary. Calm down.
A fucking hothead, this guy!
- All right, look.
- It's okay.
It's all right.
Put your guns away.
Listen.
Would you rather be dead?
You know how to play the game.
The strong devour the weak,
and and Bonanno
and those other families,
they're too strong!
I'm worried about
my family's safety.
The money ain't worth it to me.
Nothing would be off-limits.
I don't want my family dead,
and neither do you!
- You motherfuckers.
- Yeah, right!
We're motherfuckers.
♪
So
we'll meet at Bamonte's,
and we'll figure out the split
and, uh, make sure
it's fair for everybody.
- Bamonte's?
- Yeah.
You think I'm fucking stupid?
You just threw me over,
and now you want me to go
into the lion's den?
You're right.
We can go to your club, all right?
The whattayacallit.
- The Geechee.
- Yeah.
Look, it's gotta be done, all right?
We had our run, and now it's time
to give the family
a taste, all right?
[breathing heavily]
That's just the way it works.
♪
[door creaks]
What, are you waiting for a tip?
Get the fuck out of here.
Get the fuck out of my shop!
- [indistinct chatter]
- [coughing]
[moaning softly]
[tap squeaks, water running]
[water shuts off]
Sister Elise?
[patients coughing]
You upset?
No.
- No, I'm fine.
- Mm.
The words you spoke moved me
deeply. Malcolm has
disgraced the Nation
and the Lamb of God.
Did you [sighs]
Did you hear the
Dear Holy Apostle's speech
where he said he wished
Malcolm would go away?
Yes.
I think I know what
he was trying to say.
The
[chuckles]
message within his message.
♪
What are you saying,
Brother Charles?
♪
That soon you won't have to worry
about that hypocrite anymore.
♪
[woman moans softly]
[patients coughing]
[knock on door]
[distant children shouting]
Who are you, Sister?
My name is Elise Johnson.
May I speak with you inside?
[car horn honks]
[children laughing, chatting]
You say this man at the Temple
Brother Charles
made a threat against my husband?
I tried to call,
but the operator said
your line was disconnected?
The Nation turned off
our phone service.
Malcolm gets threats all the time.
You see our window?
Someone threw a brick
through there
scared us half to death.
This is more serious.
I'm worried about him.
And I'm not?
I didn't say that.
I got sent a letter.
In the letter, it said
you're in love with him.
That letter is a lie.
Maybe. But I'm no fool.
I can see it in your eyes.
You love him.
♪
I respect him.
Hmm.
He
changed my life.
He is a great man,
and I am telling you
that his life is in danger.
That's why I'm here.
♪
What's going on?
I believe Brother Charles
has it in his mind to kill you.
♪
Why shouldn't I compare
the Civil Rights movement
to the feminist movement?
Because when you get
your women's rights,
I'll still be Black.
But when you get your civil rights,
won't you still be a woman?
A Black woman.
That's the problem, Amy.
We lose either way.
Have you read "The Feminine
Mystique" by Betty Friedan?
Yes, And it makes
a lot of good points.
But, amazingly, it didn't
change the color of my skin.
- Okay.
- Hmm.
I get your point.
[elevator bell dings]
[door opens]
♪
Ladies.
Ellsworth.
♪
- [cup clatters]
- [clears throat]
Amy.
Hello, Bumpy.
♪
What the hell's going on here?
Amy is appearing on
The Mike Wallace show tomorrow
and asked for my help.
And you agreed?
Bumpy, your wife is amazing.
She's opened up my eyes
to so many important issues.
That's wonderful.
She believes that a white woman
can be an ally to
the Civil Rights movement
if she has "compassion
for an experience
she can never truly grasp."
A white woman can support
but first she must listen.
A Black woman is her
own savior not us
and she must not be overlooked.
Well put.
[chuckles]
Maybe you should tell that
to Mike Wallace.
Maybe I will.
No, no, no. No, not you.
♪
You.
♪
♪
[car horns honking]
♪
[sirens wailing]
♪
♪
[door opens]
♪
♪
♪
- Excuse me. Delia?
- [gasps]
Lord, you scared
the bejesus out of me.
I brought you this.
[suitcase latch snaps]
That's a gift from Stella Gigante.
It's $5,000.
All you gotta do is leave town,
start a life somewhere else.
Is this about the man she shot?
I need you to leave town.
My life is here.
My young boy goes to school here.
Don't you got relatives somewhere?
I got a sister in Ohio.
Then go there.
Believe me, it'd be a lot safer.
Why in the hell should I run away?
I didn't do nothing wrong.
That's probably more money
than you've ever seen in your life.
I'm not leaving Harlem.
This here is blood money.
I can't profit
off the death of my son.
And I will [breathing shakily]
♪
Okay.
I'll take the money.
♪
[dog barking]
[radio announcer]
theme of the fair
bringing together people
and cultures from
will be a great opportunity
for all Americans and visitors
to see the latest in
technological and architec
♪
[panting]
♪
[sighs]
♪
[grunts]
♪
[sniffs, grunts]
♪
[gun cocks]
Look at me.
I said look at me!
[breathing heavily]
My wife and I, we share this car.
She drives my daughters
to school in it.
My wife, Brother.
My children.
Boy, you lucky I don't
blow your head off.
Yes.
Now, you've heard me speak
at the mosque many times
about how the white man
tries to foment division
between himself and us
to justify his continued
violence against us.
♪
So when we fight amongst ourselves,
we are doing
the white man's work for him.
Is that what you want?
Is that who you want to be?
The white man's whip?
- [weeping]
- Get your ass out of my car.
♪
- [car door slams]
- [dog barking]
♪
Give that to Hoover.
Let him know how good a job
you're doing protecting me.
♪
[engine shuts off]
Pettigrew and Junie are inside,
but Chin's men are
responsible for security.
[laughs] I'm gonna get searched
going into my own club.
[laughs]
You really think you can trust Chin?
- I mean
- [laughs]
how do you know you ain't
walking into a death trap?
Can you ever really
trust a white man?
- [car door opens]
- [distant car horn honks]
[engine turns over]
♪
[man] Shit don't feel right
This shit don't feel right
This shit don't feel right ♪
Shit don't feel right
Shit don't feel right ♪
This shit don't feel right
This shit don't feel right ♪
Shit don't feel right
Comin', comin' for ya
♪
Motherfuckin' good luck
Yeah, oh
Watch when I pull up
Motherfuckin' good luck
Yeah, oh
Bumpy Johnson.
I'm glad you came around.
♪
Have a seat.
♪
What's he doing here?
I asked him here.
We had no choice.
Because of the new arrangement,
I wanted to work with him directly.
I didn't agree to no new
arrangement, all right?
You will.
What's the maximum load
that you could, uh, ship
at any one time?
Anything more than 600 kilos
is risking seizure.
There are only so many cars
we can use
without being detected.
As a make-good
for the past few months,
Magliocco and I,
we're gonna take over
the next shipment entirely.
Bumpy Johnson here
will distribute it
to his, uh, Ten Harlems crew
for 5%.
Fuck that!
You take it, or you won't
walk out of here alive!
Hey, everybody, just relax, okay?
No need for ruffled feathers, huh?
We're all friends here, right?
- [Chin] Yeah.
- We're all here to make money.
I mean, life shouldn't
be so serious.
Come on.
I mean, Johnson, he's right.
I mean, you and I,
we started this thing.
On one hand, you know,
we had great success,
but it's true
we were a little greedy.
On the other hand, you know,
it wasn't fair to us.
Johnson came to you
a few months ago,
and you turned him down.
[laughs] And now you're angry?
[laughing]
In poker, we call that a sore loser.
What the fuck you trying to say?
Am I right, Mags? Come on.
I've known this guy for 20 years.
He comes to me, makes an offer
I trust him. I like him.
I mean, he's a new boss.
New bosses make mistakes sometimes.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What What mistakes?
Well, I mean, for instance,
y-you went to him,
knowing that this bastard
has been fucking me since birth.
You were at my wedding,
for Christ's sake.
Yeah, but the minute you find out
that I'm making money for myself,
you go straight to him,
and you make a deal.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
It's not like that.
And that makes me doubt
our friendship.
Huh?
You know, when I doubt friendships,
there is no friendship.
- [gasps]
- [blade scrapes]
Don't move, motherfucker,
or you're next.
♪
You thought you could
team with Magliocco
and shake us down?
Well, guess what.
You can't, you dumb motherfucker.
From the jump, we were playing you.
You can't kill me.
Consider that a warning.
And unless you want
the other families to know
that you tried to cut them out,
you better keep this quiet.
Capiche?
[film whirring]
Hello, America.
I'm Mike Wallace.
Today on the program, we have one
of the wealthiest women in America,
who is also a strong supporter
of Negro rights
Miss Amy Vanderbilt.
Thank you, Mr. Wallace.
Sometimes, the best way
to represent a good cause
is to let the cause do the talking.
I want to introduce you to a woman
from the Harlem community
who can speak
to the plight of Negroes
in this country
far better than I can.
Mrs. Mayme Johnson.
I want to thank Amy
for not only supporting
the cause of civil rights,
but for understanding
the limits white people will have
in empathizing
with the Black experience.
And, truth is, they simply can't.
But they can listen.
By listening, I believe
our cause for equality
will advance at a much quicker pace.
-[camera snaps]
-First and foremost,
we must believe that the pain
of the Black experience in America
thorough multiple generations
of oppression is real.
We must have faith
that the good in people
outweighs the bad.
Otherwise, we can never learn
to trust each other.
And without trust, we can never
truly live in harmony.
Bonanno ain't finished with us yet.
You know that, right?
I ain't worried about Bonanno
as long as we stick together.
♪
Yeah.
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪