Godfather of Harlem (2019) s03e05 Episode Script
Angel of Death
1
[COLOMBO] Cops don't give a flying fuck
about black or white.
It's all about green.
No one could move dope in
Harlem without the 27th.
As it is, Monsieur 98 is coming soon
to work out an arrangement
with anyone that has
the organization and
the police protection
to move the junk into the neighborhoods.
Everyone down on the
fucking floor right now!
[PEOPLE SCREAMING]
[BUMPY] This is about the heroin.
Colombo's making his play.
You can't control all of the cops.
I control more than you.
[BUMPY] If you can't keep
your cops under control,
you can bet your black ass that I will.
♪
Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan
Africa's starting to
feel like my real home.
It is high time to choose
whether we will ignore
our commonality in this struggle
and be divided
or work in solidarity
as African brothers and sisters.
Want Joe Colombo out
of your hair for good?
We've been picking up chatter
about a huge shipment of heroin.
Connect him to that shipment,
and we'll put him away for life.
- What the fuck is this?
- I did everything you said.
Well, did he say anything
about the heroin shipment?
He didn't know anything about it.
What's this? Resignations.
From the two crooked
cops who shot up my club.
They told me the name of every
single cop in this precinct
who's taking money from
the mob, including you.
And what are you gonna do with that?
Motherfucker,
you work for me.
♪
["PLAY WITH FIRE" PLAYS]
Wake up, darling.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
Breakfast is ready.
Well, you've got your diamonds ♪
And you've got your pretty clothes ♪
And the chauffeur drives your car ♪
What the hell is this?
I read it. It's about the heroin.
"Angel of Death Comes to Harlem."
[LAUGHS EVILLY]
Everyone knows the streets are dry.
Duji's coming soon, though.
Isn't that right, darling?
Yeah. Right.
Oh, I'm going to see that new
artist I was telling you about.
Have a good day at work.
[SMOOCHES]
You take the paper, I don't need it.
And your father'd be there with her ♪
Is he here?
[LAUGHS]
Bonjour, Bumpy.
I'm so glad you're here, man.
Thanks for coming.
I apologize for the delay.
The bosses in Corsica are ready
for the biggest shipment
of heroin, just for you.
We have to test it first.
- Of course.
- Mm-hmm.
Junie! Bring the Vein.
He's chompin' at the bit.
Thank you, Bumpy. I been so sick.
Thank you, Bumpy.
Get him ready.
Them streets been crazy dry, huh?
Them skag-heads were ready to
kill this man to take his place.
Hurry up, baby. Hurry up, please.
Not in Knightsbridge anymore ♪
Ah, thank you.
So don't play with me ♪
Oh, that's good.
Oh, that's real good.
- No, no.
- Oh, shit.
Whoa. Stay in the chair.
Strongest shit ever.
[GASPS]
- Ohh.
- [MAN] Fuck.
And you will have some others ♪
But you'd better
watch your step, girl ♪
He dead.
I told you it was good shit.
But he's dead.
We'll all be dead sometime.
It's just a question of when.
So don't play with me ♪
'Cause you're playing with fire ♪
So don't play with me ♪
Who did you think it was?
'Cause you're playing with fire ♪
[GASPS]
♪
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 ♪
More coffee?
I'm good.
Did you see the paper?
What do you mean?
Take a look, it's unbelievable.
"U.S. boosts Vietnam War efforts."
Well, there's that.
But I meant in the arts section.
In the back.
Oh, okay.
- Hm.
- Carvens Aldridge
is a genius young artist from Harlem
who came up through the HARYOU program.
They say he's leading the start
of a whole new Harlem Renaissance.
Isn't that wonderful?
Yeah, it is.
Just what this city could use right now.
An An explosion of culture,
paintings, dance, and poetry.
Couldn't agree more.
He had a horrible drug
problem and overcame it.
He's been free of heroin
for almost two years.
That's great.
I hope you don't mind
I commissioned a painting from him.
Of course.
Thank you.
Helping this young man
will inspire other artists
in our community who
struggle with addiction.
I'm going to see him today.
[CHUCKLES]
[SMOOCHES]
♪
[MAN] Malcolm X, having recently
completed his trip to Mecca
and participated in a
Pan-African unity conference,
returns to his home in Harlem,
an international figure
whose message now reaches
the far corners of the earth.
Oh, Malcolm!
It's felt like ages.
I couldn't wait another minute.
Elise! Welcome home.
I can't wait to hear
all about your trip.
- It was spectacular
- Where are the children?
I, um, sent them up to your sister's.
- It's been bad, Malcolm.
- What happened?
They're fine,
- but we've had so many
- [TELEPHONE RINGS]
That.
Phone's been ringing off
the hook, day and night.
Death threats.
That's why I sent them away.
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Who is this?
[MAN] Your days are numbered, nigger.
[CLICK, DIAL TONE]
Call Ella.
Tell her to bring the
girls home immediately.
Why?
You see what's happening.
We've had threats before.
Bumpy's men are here to protect us.
We'll be fine.
I just want the children here with us.
- Uh
- [TELEPHONE RINGS]
We'll discuss this later.
Let's get you home, Elise.
I'm sure you're exhausted
from your long trip.
I am, yes.
Quite tired.
[RINGING CONTINUES]
- [RINGING CONTINUES]
- [DOOR CLOSES]
[CROWD CHEERING]
[SALSA PLAYING]
♪
[MAN] Yeah!
[CHEERING CONTINUES]
♪
Guapa!
♪
- [MUSIC ENDS]
- Eso!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Whoo! You are an amazing dancer!
[CHUCKLES]
And you have amazing hair.
Yeah? Aww.
♪
[LAUGHS]
Mm. Hey.
♪
Marina.
Marina? Marina.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Nathaniel.
Y
Mm.
Salud, Nathaniel.
Salud, Marina.
♪
Mm. Well, are you ready
to dance with me again?
[LAUGHS]
Amorcito.
Uh, look, it's almost noon, hmm?
And I have to get back to the office.
I mean, I've been up all night dancing.
Here, let me share something with you.
Oh.
Here. Try this.
- Cocaína.
- Oh.
Where'd you get that?
[INHALES DEEPLY]
♪
Here, now you.
♪
No?
♪
[INHALES DEEPLY]
♪
[CHUCKLES]
I don't feel anything.
[LAUGHS] Give it a minute.
♪
Hello?
Anybody home?
Elise, you're back! Oh!
Oh. God.
Oh, I wanna hear all about your trip,
but I'm terribly late for a meeting.
Can we talk about it tonight?
Of course. Where's Daddy?
He's out, per usual.
He'll be so excited you're back.
I must've sent Margaret
20 postcards from Africa.
I hope some have arrived by now.
I know they have.
That's all she talks about on the phone.
Oh, good.
She used to go on about
baking pies and climbing trees.
And now, it is all about,
"I wanna go to Africa,"
like Elise.
It was like nothing
I've ever experienced.
You look different.
Something in your eyes.
I'm jet-lagged.
No, that's not it.
It's the trip.
You've expanded your
horizons. I can feel it.
I want to hear every bit
about it when I get back.
Oh, by the way
you got some mail yourself
while you were gone.
I did?
No return address.
I noticed that, too.
Six letters, all in the same hand.
Methinks you have a secret admirer.
Not so secret.
Omar.
♪
[MAN] Bring it up!
Hurry up!
Mr. Russo called.
He can't meet you tomorrow
'cause he's having emergency
gallbladder surgery.
[SCOFFS]
- Bullshit.
- He owes you money?
You're a fast learner.
Here. I, uh I got you something.
But it's too late
to say you're sorry ♪
What's this?
It's a thank you.
For the dinner you made
the other night, you know,
and all the work you
been doing around here.
The Eiffel Tower.
Yeah. Belonged to my grandma.
She loved Paris just like you.
Went there on her
honeymoon with my grandad.
He got it for her.
18-karat gold, real diamonds.
My grandad He might
have been a bastard,
but he wasn't a cheap bastard.
I can't accept this.
Sure, ya can.
It's a family heirloom.
You need to save it for a
special woman in your life.
What could I do? ♪
Well, no one told me about her ♪
Joe, if you wanna thank
me, you could do me a favor.
But it's too late
to say you're sorry ♪
What's that?
You could let me see
the real Eiffel Tower.
On your own?
The other Families,
they must know by now
my father's aware of
the threat against me.
They're not gonna touch me.
Well, we don't know that for sure.
Well, I'm willing to take that risk.
Please
Joe, I want my freedom.
You're not happy here?
You've been kind, but I'm begging you.
I can't keep living in a cage like this.
I'll look into it.
♪
[CLEARS THROAT]
Thanks, Joe.
But it's too late
to say you're sorry ♪
How would I know? ♪
This heroin is the finest
we have ever produced.
I trust your word, but
you know we have to verify.
Come on, come on. Please hurry up.
Hey. Hold your horses, Vein.
Come on, man. I been
dope sick for so long.
Streets is dried up.
Shit. And that methadone
shit don't do nothin'.
♪
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
♪
Don't nod out, man.
[JUNIE BYRD] Give us the scoop.
That shit dynamite.
That's the best shit ever.
Can you give him a few bags?
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
God bless you.
Let's talk.
♪
How much can I get?
How much do you want?
Same as last. 3,000 keys.
I won't have any left for the Italians.
I'll buy it all. They can come to me.
We would require all the money
up front again. I'm sorry.
It's not a problem.
I got a rich partner.
- Security?
- Police captain in my pocket.
We'll be in touch.
With dope like that, we'll be kings.
Get him outta here.
[JUNIE BYRD] Come on, man. Wake up.
[VEIN] Thank you, Bump.
God bless you, Bumpy.
God bless you.
Yo ♪
Top 10 ♪
The one, not the two, not the three ♪
Fuck with me, shorty,
who you got to be? ♪
Say it with me ♪
- Top 10 ♪
They love me out West, back East ♪
From my state to your
city, back streets ♪
Niggas know I'm ♪
- Top 10 ♪
The cops want to
put me in the morgue ♪
Not 'fore they put me in the force ♪
- Sure ♪
- Top 10 ♪
When I was living on the streets,
I used to draw abstract images
on anything I could find.
You know, pieces of
paper, a sidewalk, a wall.
What did you use for paint?
Whatever I could find.
You know, there was
always something around.
If there wasn't,
I'd use my own blood, or dirt.
Wow.
And that's when you
discovered you loved painting?
I used my imagination to survive.
You see, when I was high,
I saw all these beautiful colors.
I went to a better place in my head
and wanted to capture that, you know?
But then you kicked heroin.
And those images went away,
and I stopped painting.
But something amazing happened.
As I started to see life
the way it it really was,
I started painting that, you know?
I wanted to find the
beauty in what's real.
Your images of Harlem
are just breathtaking.
That is why they say you're starting
a New Harlem Renaissance in art.
I'm just happy to be alive, you know?
Besides, the Harlem Renaissance died.
And you can't bring back the dead.
But you can start something new.
How's it going with the painting?
Oh, it's it's not finished yet.
I hope you and your husband like it.
Oh, we are so excited.
The moment it's done,
I'll bring him right over.
You know, it's ironic. [CHUCKLES]
I used to buy my heroin from his people.
And now he's paying me to paint.
My husband and I are so proud of you.
And we consider it an
honor to both support you
and hang one of your works in our home.
I
I've been thinking about
this idea for a long time.
I-I really think it's
some of my best work.
[BUMPY] It's simple.
I'm gonna need your police officers
to secure the Harbor when
the shipment comes in.
You've got your nerve.
It's an easy assignment.
They come in, you keep
everybody back. That's it.
Then you flood Harlem
with your narcotics.
Heroin is a fact of life,
Captain, whether I bring it in or not.
But the result is still the same.
Do you know how many Negroes
in Harlem die because of dope?
Thousands every year.
Not to mention the rise in crime
from burglaries and killings
from junkies just trying
to finance their next fix.
- That's not my problem.
- It's my problem.
Drugs are crippling this city,
creating an endless
cycle of hopelessness.
I didn't create heroin, Captain Fields,
or the desire for it.
It's the junkie who makes the choice.
So you take no responsibility?
You claim you want to uplift
the community and help people.
I send kids in Harlem
to school to educate them
so that they never make
the choice to use drugs.
Can you say the same thing about Colombo
or any of the other mob bosses?
Maybe you do that just
to soothe your conscience.
You know, a few good deeds
don't wipe your soul clean.
Before me, you were
on the Italians' pad.
You took their money.
Maybe you need to take
a look in the mirror.
You know what? I don't want
to have to get you fired.
You gonna do what I say?
Mm-hmm.
But this is the last time
I do any bidding for
you or the Italians.
Just secure the Harbor.
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪
I'm telling you, Del, never
felt better in my life.
Marina and I danced and
danced two, three hours. Mm.
Then I took her back to my place.
And?
What do you mean, "and"?
You know "and."
[CHUCKLES]
And then some.
- Come on. Oh, man.
- Yeah.
Man, I hope you put a
rubber on that thing.
- One of you is enough.
- [SIGHS]
The point is, I was dead tired.
And the cocaine picked me up.
You know, Bumpy don't allow drugs.
I know, but this shit
ain't like duji, man.
And if this Colombo
motherfucker landed the duji,
then we need to find
something else to sell.
Only rich white folks buy that shit.
Hm.
Only rich white folks
can afford that shit.
You see any rich crackers
walkin' around here?
Look, let's just run the idea by Bumpy.
No, I can't let you do that.
Why? Huh? 'Cause it's my idea?
Because I know Bumpy better than you.
What pisses him off.
What's that?
The lack of "due diligence."
Where's the market for this?
'Cause it sure ain't Harlem.
And where would you get a steady
supply even if there was one?
You just can't go to
Bumpy squawking nonsense.
Okay. Fine.
I'll do my motherfucking due diligence.
You just wish it was your idea.
♪
Elise. Uh
I didn't think you'd come.
I wasn't going to.
But then you said you wanted to
join Malcolm's new organization.
I understand he has
plans for a new mosque
and alliances with African leaders.
I humbly submit I'd like
to be a part of that.
Do you understand how
delusional you sound?
You tried to kill him.
What makes you think he'd welcome you
into his house of worship?
He might not, and I'd
have to accept that.
But more than Malcolm's
approval, I want yours.
You're a grown man. You
can do as you please.
I'm here to take
responsibility for my actions
toward him and toward you.
You said vile, heartbreaking
things when you rejected me.
Your pretty letters can't change that.
As I said in those letters,
I was acting out of fear and jealousy.
I don't need to replay this.
I shouldn't have come here.
You came because you
still have feelings for me.
- That's a lie.
- Is it?
To be honest, I wish my
father had killed you.
Well, I praise Allah he didn't.
Otherwise my house would've gone
to my little brother in Chicago.
[LAUGHS]
- Oh, that's not fair!
- I know.
- He doesn't deserve it.
- No. You can't make me laugh.
I'm sorry.
Truly, Elise.
♪
Just think about my words.
♪
[VEHICLE DOOR OPENS]
♪
[VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES]
[MONSIEUR 98] How is
this plan going to work?
We'll have police protection at
the Harbor both here and here.
My fishing boats will come in at night,
so nobody's gonna see them.
These waters are strong.
Your boats are small.
My men are used to
negotiating the Atlantic.
The Hudson River is not
gonna be any problem.
Can your fishing boats
handle 3,000 kilos of heroin?
My men have transported guns, artillery,
even human beings in boats like these.
They'll meet your
steamship from Marseilles
at about 20 nautical miles out.
We have radar, so Coast
Guard will be nowhere near.
This plan is safe, and it will work.
This is all good.
But, uh, my bosses insist
I meet with the Italians to
see what they have to say.
The Italians will never
pay for the duji up front.
You know that, right?
Maybe, but I must first
hear them out of respect.
Whoever controls the
heroin, controls Harlem.
That has to be us.
Whatever Colombo says, we'll do better.
You know me.
I paid up front last
time. I'll do it again.
Agreed.
I respect your offer.
But I must hear him out.
It's just business, as you know.
♪
So you two motherfuckers are
gonna stick together on this?
Bumpy has offered to pay
the full price up front.
Well, the Families
have been doing business
with the Corsicans for decades.
We've never paid more than half.
I'm afraid Bumpy Johnson
has changed all that.
Ah.
You tell your bosses that
if they sell to Johnson,
they're gonna have a
problem not just with me,
but all Five Families.
Listen, the men I work
for are businessmen.
We don't get involved in such things.
Oh, yeah? Well, I think
you're pretty involved.
Work it out with Bumpy Johnson, not me.
You do realize I take this
as a sign of disrespect?
His offer is better.
If you beat his offer,
there will be no problem.
Oh.
You mean if I bend over and
let you fuck me in the ass?
What would you do in my place?
Listen to reason.
There was a man you used
to work for, Jean Jehan.
You remember him?
Bumpy Johnson put a bullet in his head.
Can you trust him not
to do the same to you
if he doesn't get his way?
I trust Bumpy Johnson.
I'm not sure that isn't a mistake.
But what will it take to make
you trust me just the same?
A better offer.
Then that's what you'll get.
♪
Hmm.
He wants to join Malcolm's new mosque.
Be a part of the political struggle
as well as the spiritual one.
I don't believe it.
Do you still have feelings for him?
No. Not at all.
Listen. Sometimes the
heart is irrational.
I don't have feelings.
In my opinion, Black men
have had it really rough.
They're often misguided.
I sometimes think they
need, how should I put it,
extra special care.
You didn't have that
problem with Malcolm.
[LAUGHS] Didn't I?
You should have seen
the way he courted me.
It was ridiculous.
He was awkward, standoffish,
in a word lost.
He asked me to marry him over the phone.
- No.
- It's true.
[LAUGHS]
Yes, but Omar
Omar tried to do something unforgivable.
All I know is, there are
too many Black Muslims
who despise Malcolm because
of lies they've been told.
When Malcolm has their
best interests at heart.
And Omar fell right into that trap.
Exactly.
And maybe he's come to his senses.
People can change.
They can.
But he's lost my trust.
Then he has to get it back.
- How?
- Not words.
Deeds.
♪
Yeah.
♪
[CHUCKLES]
Yesterday was amazing.
Mm. [CHUCKLES]
Mm-hmm.
You want a cigarette?
Nah. Nah.
You know what I would like?
Hmm?
I would like some more of that shit.
What shit?
You know.
Cocaína.
Ay, papi, I wish I had some,
but that's impossible to find.
Where'd you get it?
I don't remember. [CHUCKLES]
What, it just fell into your lap?
Yeah. Something like that.
So tell me more about your job
at the extermination company.
I asked you a simple question
and you're acting all jinky and shit.
Who'd you get the cocaine from?
I got it from a guy who
hangs out here sometimes.
He works for Jose Battle.
And? He has a name?
- Reuben.
- Reuben.
But, Nat, he tried to
date me until I found out
he was a gangster.
And I don't go with gangsters, you know?
And he's very jealous.
♪
Amorcito.
♪
No gangster could ever
be good enough for you.
♪
Maybe you could tell
me what he looks like.
♪
So, the word is out on the
streets that dope's coming.
Junkies are goin' crazy!
- [CHUCKLES] That right?
- Yeah.
We better cut that shit thin,
or else we're gonna sell out fast.
♪
You ever remember your dreams?
My dreams?
Only when I dream about the war.
I got the same one every time.
The Battle of Chosin.
Lost a lot of men that day.
I been told I sometimes shout out.
Why are you asking me that?
Been having a lot of dreams lately.
Sometimes about Elise.
[BUMPY] Hey there, little one.
I'm high, Daddy.
Leave me alone.
Sometimes [CHUCKLES] about junkies.
Well, them junkies are about
to make all your dreams come true.
We'll be having the Italians
eating out of our hands.
Speak of the devil.
What the fuck?!
Table for three?
Oh, sister, we're just
gonna drop in on a friend.
Uh, you mind if I sit?
My life won't ever be the same ♪
Tell me, what's the
use, what's the use? ♪
I'm the type of guy that likes
to deliver bad news in person.
I'm the type of guy who
likes to hear it, quick.
Yeah, real fast.
You won't be participating
in the next shipment.
[LAUGHS]
Says who?
The Corsicans have agreed
to make me their sole buyer
at the usual rate
half up front, half later.
Monsieur 98 already accepted my offer.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
I went over his head.
♪
Take a look.
♪
[GASPS]
- Ugh!
- Oh!
Fuckin' fuckin' fuck!
So, you see, if you
want to sell any dope,
you're gonna have to buy from me
like every other
motherfucker in this town.
Retail.
On my terms.
Or I don't know
maybe I won't sell to you at all.
Enjoy your meal.
[HANDS POUND]
Motherfucker!
♪
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
♪
Haven't seen that in a while.
I was just thinking
how much I've changed
since I wore this uniform.
Mm.
In Africa I wore my own clothes,
and I met with world leaders
and they respected me as a woman
who could be a leader herself.
That is wonderful.
Did I tell you in Ghana
I met a black woman
who had one of the highest
positions in government?
Susanna Al-Hassan.
She and President Nkrumah
did everything together.
Oh, that's inspiring.
You know the feeling, Mayme,
'cause of the work you're
doing in politics for HARYOU.
I want to do the same for Malcolm.
I am so happy that Malcolm
sees you as so capable
he can trust you with all
the things he's dealing with.
Which is why I feel a responsibility
to protect him, if I can.
Like my father's doing.
Omar wants to work for Malcolm,
and even if he's sincere,
my feelings get in the way.
Well, no one reads people
better than your father.
And if you are anything like him,
you'll be able to tell if he's sincere.
You have that gift.
It is your birthright.
Use it.
♪
Hm.
♪
[SIGHS]
Did you get word to my father?
Yeah, yeah.
Well, what'd he say?
He wants to play it safe.
He doesn't wanna take any chances.
He wants me to look after you.
You're lying.
Excuse me?
Well, who'd you talk
to? How'd you get word?
Through his Jew lawyer.
- Goldman?
- Yeah.
That's not his name.
Oh, whatever. I talked to him.
Don't bullshit me. I
know how to read people.
Look
if I let you go and something
happens to you, I'm dead.
I can't do what you ask, Stella,
so shut the fuck up about it
and make the best of things!
You're so full of shit!
[DRAWER OPENS, CLOSES]
You wanna go to Paris
this is as close as you're gonna get.
You know, when your
boss gives you a gift,
it's wise to accept it.
I'm trying to be friendly here!
I let you go where you
want, do what you want.
But never alone! There's
always someone fucking with me,
and it's driving me insane!
Then maybe you shouldn't
have called the Feds
in the first place.
You did this to
yourself, Stella, not me.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Answer the fucking phone!
[DOOR SLAMS]
Colombo's gonna come to
you to protect his shipment.
[FIELDS] He already has.
He wants me to turn a
blind eye, just like you.
Whatever he's paying
you, I'll triple it.
What, so you can just steal it from him?
[CHUCKLES] That's my concern.
Either way, the dope is
coming into this community.
It will kill and leave
destruction in its wake.
Crime will rise, along with despair
and a never-ending cycle of pain.
Dope addiction is gonna be here
long after you and I are gone.
Just tell me what his plan is.
♪
[SIGHS]
I was first in my
class. Did you know that?
I figured as much.
And one of only three black cadets.
They treated us like the
academy was forced to hire us.
Like we were unqualified.
And I spent my entire
life proving them wrong.
What do you care what those
white motherfuckers think?
It matters what I think of myself.
And if I don't do what you ask,
you will expose me as the fraud
that I am and get me fired.
And if I don't help the Italians,
they'll do the same, or worse.
If I'm in control of the dope,
then I got leverage over them.
They can't touch you.
Well, that won't be necessary.
- I'm resigning.
- What do you mean?
Now I'm no use to either one of you,
and you both can go straight to hell.
You would throw away your whole career?
Everything that you've worked for?
That's right.
My conscience won't allow me
to be a party to this evil.
♪
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪
[SALSA PLAYS]
♪
¿Quién es Reuben?
♪
[WOMAN SINGING IN SPANISH]
♪
Reuben?
Who the fuck are you?
My name's Nat Pettigrew.
I hear you have something
I'm very interested in.
I only want to buy a little bit.
I don't know what the
fuck you're talking about.
I work for Bumpy Johnson.
Shit.
Why didn't you fucking say so, man?
- [CHUCKLES]
- My man.
I wanna start off small.
Maybe you can sell me a key.
[SCOFFS] A key?
Mm-hmm.
You know how hard it is
to get this shit, man?
The leaf is grown in Peru.
Then it's processed in
Chile, then off to Cuba,
then on a boat or a plane
to Miami, then Harlem.
We deal in ounces, hermano, not keys.
How much is an ounce?
$3,000.
$3 Are you out your fuckin' mind?!
That's the price, amigo.
Take it or leave it.
[SIGHS]
Okay. All right.
I'll take an ounce.
You're in luck.
I just had a Pan Am
stewardess put two ounces
in her panties, just yesterday.
Meet me at Mount Morris,
135th Street entrance,
10:00 tonight, okay?
Mount Morris. Okay.
Okay. Okay.
By the way, who gave you my name?
You know, not too many
people deal in this stuff,
and now I see why.
$3,000 a fuckin' ounce?
Specifically, who told you about me?
I don't know, man.
Maybe it was one of the bartenders here.
Hmm.
All right.
- Salud.
- Salud.
♪
It's, uh, j-just such
an honor to meet you.
My wife's talked a lot about
your work, and about you.
When Mayme gave me this commission,
I was flabbergasted.
Everybody in Harlem knows Bumpy Johnson.
You know, some fear you,
some see you as their savior.
I'm neither of those things. [CHUCKLES]
What he is is a very busy husband.
Carvens, why don't you show
us what you have so far?
Okay, uh, okay.
It's not finished yet.
Uh, I still have some background to do.
I hope you like it.
I do think it's the
best work I've ever done.
♪
I-I hope you don't mind,
but this is how I see you.
A A man of many contradictions.
You know, good and evil.
You think my husband is evil?
I see duality in every
person, even myself.
When I was a drug addict,
I did things to myself and others
that I would consider evil.
And as a supplier of drugs,
I'm sure you feel the same way.
Go fuck yourself!
How dare you?!
We paid money for this shit?
For this insult?
♪
You don't know shit about me
and I could give a fuck
about your two-bit psychology.
♪
I grew up with chumps like you.
You blame me for your weakness.
You blame drugs, you blame society.
Look at yourself.
♪
You ain't nothing but a
fucking talentless junkie.
Pay him the rest of his
money. I'm out of here.
I'm sorry.
I'm I'm so sorry.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
Thank you for meeting with me.
I should be thanking you.
I'm still not sure if
I can trust you, Omar.
I can understand that.
What I've written are just words.
They can only do so much.
You need to see those words in action.
That's true, but words
are also important.
I wish I could put into
words all that I'm feeling,
but I'm afraid I can't.
You see, I have to admit something.
Putting you to the test is one thing.
And I intend to do that.
But I have to put
myself to the test, too.
In what way?
I loved you once.
I believed in you.
I thought the feelings
in my heart were real.
When you imagine a life with someone,
you create a future in your mind.
And even if those feelings die,
that future still lives on somewhere.
In mine, too, Elise.
I didn't dare mention that.
What are you really after, Omar?
Me or the cause?
[SIGHS]
I believe in what Malcolm
is doing with all my heart.
But I'm not gonna lie to you, Elise.
I still love you. I do.
I can't help it.
This isn't about us.
It can't ever be.
This is about the cause.
This is about Malcolm and his mission.
About the fate of our people.
About justice and equality.
This is about everything that is
so much more important than you or me.
Do you understand that? I do.
♪
What's that?
The Holy Quran.
I'm gonna make you swear on it.
I want you to swear that
you will never do anything
to harm Malcolm.
I swear before Allah,
and on pain of death.
Now it's your turn.
Swear you don't love me anymore.
I'm not ready for that just yet.
♪
[VEHICLE DOOR OPENS]
Pettigrew.
Sorry I'm late.
Hey. [SPEAKS SPANISH] You got the stuff?
You got the money?
Yeah, I got the money, man.
I got the money right here.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Lemme see the coke.
- It's in the car.
All right, well, then go get it.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
All right.
You know, I got somebody
I want you to meet.
Whoa. What the fuck you doing, man?
No, no, no, no, no.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
What's she doing here?
I found out how you got my name.
Come on, man. Let her go, man.
Go ahead and tell him.
Tell him!
He's my husband.
Okay, l-listen, I-I didn't
know that was your wife, okay?
Reuben, I just want to do business
You're gonna gimme that fuckin' 3 grand
or I'm gonna kill her.
That's the price you owe me
for fucking my wife, yeah?
What the fuck you doing, man?
I'll blow this fucking puta's
head off in three seconds.
Three
two
one Whoa, whoa! Okay, okay.
Here. All right?
You want the money, take the money.
Now let her go. Come on.
- Let her go?
- Yeah. Let her go.
- So you can fuck her again?
- Come on.
I don't think so.
- Now, I know you're packin'.
- Come on, man.
Toss over your piece, yeah?
All right. I'm gonna reach for it, okay?
Don't do nothing stupid, man, all right?
[GRUNTS]
Fuck! Aah!
♪
Hey.
You okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Come on. Get up.
♪
[MARINA] Now what are you doing?
♪
Goddamn.
Look at that.
It's beautiful.
I guess we both lied to each other.
You didn't tell me you had a husband,
and I told you I wasn't a gangster.
Adiós, chica.
♪
[ENGINE STARTS]
♪
[VEHICLE DEPARTING]
♪
[DOOR OPENS]
♪
So now you're gonna
fix yourself some booze?
- You gonna start drinking again?
- I don't wanna hear it, all right?
What you did to that
boy's painting was wrong.
What has gotten into you?
He was insulting me!
He is an artist!
It is how he sees you.
And I am beginning to think
he is not far from right.
What's that supposed to mean?
I think you know.
You don't want me to be
in the heroin business?
Is that it?
It's not good for you,
for your for your
for your image,
for your political [LAUGHING] work?
[LAUGHS]
No, it is not good for me.
It is not good for anything but money!
Well, so now you get your wish.
I lost the duji to Colombo.
Now if I wanna sell it,
I got to buy it from him.
Like Like I did when I was a nobody.
A nothing.
I mean
♪
Drug addicts are addicted to dope.
And drug dealers are
addicted to selling it.
♪
Okay, Ronnie, you got
two keys coming your way.
You put 50% down, rest is on commission.
You got it, boss.
Anybody hear from Bumpy Johnson yet?
Not yet. The other Black gangs in Harlem
are already puttin'
in orders without him.
None of his men have approached you?
Nah.
Strange.
Without heroin, all of his
businesses will start to fail.
He's too smart for that shit.
Who needs Bumpy Fuckin' Johnson?
Word's out on the
street about this dope.
Junkies are crawling all
over themselves to get it.
[CHUCKLES]
♪
I know you miss me ♪
Who it's gon' be if it
ain't me, lil' baby? ♪
I'm in your city ♪
'Cause I need it one more time ♪
Might lose it all, I swear ♪
I need it tonight ♪
Ooh ♪
Ah ♪
♪
I need it one more time ♪
Might lose it all, I swear ♪
I need it tonight ♪
I need it one more time ♪
Thinkin' how we played out ♪
Really I feel awful about
it, but ain't never said it ♪
We ain't gotta talk about it ♪
They'll never know,
when I'm with you ♪
I play a different role ♪
Can't move off emotion,
this shit deep now ♪
I got self-control ♪
I ain't never tried to hold you ♪
Niggas try to high and low me ♪
I can break it down in dumbest terms ♪
And show you how you owe me ♪
Still try and back door me ♪
I know how to go about it ♪
I know everything, but I treat
you like I don't know about it ♪
Wildin' in Skyami, we
took shrooms and caught ♪
A different vibe ♪
Bitches can't fuck with
you, you the one, for real ♪
I peep your style ♪
I gotta get to it, I'm OT,
so it's gon' be a while ♪
It feel a lil' better when
I ain't seen you, yeah ♪
I know you miss me ♪
Who it's gon' be if it
ain't me, lil' baby? ♪
I'm in your city ♪
'Cause I need it one more time ♪
Ooh ♪
[COLOMBO] Cops don't give a flying fuck
about black or white.
It's all about green.
No one could move dope in
Harlem without the 27th.
As it is, Monsieur 98 is coming soon
to work out an arrangement
with anyone that has
the organization and
the police protection
to move the junk into the neighborhoods.
Everyone down on the
fucking floor right now!
[PEOPLE SCREAMING]
[BUMPY] This is about the heroin.
Colombo's making his play.
You can't control all of the cops.
I control more than you.
[BUMPY] If you can't keep
your cops under control,
you can bet your black ass that I will.
♪
Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan
Africa's starting to
feel like my real home.
It is high time to choose
whether we will ignore
our commonality in this struggle
and be divided
or work in solidarity
as African brothers and sisters.
Want Joe Colombo out
of your hair for good?
We've been picking up chatter
about a huge shipment of heroin.
Connect him to that shipment,
and we'll put him away for life.
- What the fuck is this?
- I did everything you said.
Well, did he say anything
about the heroin shipment?
He didn't know anything about it.
What's this? Resignations.
From the two crooked
cops who shot up my club.
They told me the name of every
single cop in this precinct
who's taking money from
the mob, including you.
And what are you gonna do with that?
Motherfucker,
you work for me.
♪
["PLAY WITH FIRE" PLAYS]
Wake up, darling.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
Breakfast is ready.
Well, you've got your diamonds ♪
And you've got your pretty clothes ♪
And the chauffeur drives your car ♪
What the hell is this?
I read it. It's about the heroin.
"Angel of Death Comes to Harlem."
[LAUGHS EVILLY]
Everyone knows the streets are dry.
Duji's coming soon, though.
Isn't that right, darling?
Yeah. Right.
Oh, I'm going to see that new
artist I was telling you about.
Have a good day at work.
[SMOOCHES]
You take the paper, I don't need it.
And your father'd be there with her ♪
Is he here?
[LAUGHS]
Bonjour, Bumpy.
I'm so glad you're here, man.
Thanks for coming.
I apologize for the delay.
The bosses in Corsica are ready
for the biggest shipment
of heroin, just for you.
We have to test it first.
- Of course.
- Mm-hmm.
Junie! Bring the Vein.
He's chompin' at the bit.
Thank you, Bumpy. I been so sick.
Thank you, Bumpy.
Get him ready.
Them streets been crazy dry, huh?
Them skag-heads were ready to
kill this man to take his place.
Hurry up, baby. Hurry up, please.
Not in Knightsbridge anymore ♪
Ah, thank you.
So don't play with me ♪
Oh, that's good.
Oh, that's real good.
- No, no.
- Oh, shit.
Whoa. Stay in the chair.
Strongest shit ever.
[GASPS]
- Ohh.
- [MAN] Fuck.
And you will have some others ♪
But you'd better
watch your step, girl ♪
He dead.
I told you it was good shit.
But he's dead.
We'll all be dead sometime.
It's just a question of when.
So don't play with me ♪
'Cause you're playing with fire ♪
So don't play with me ♪
Who did you think it was?
'Cause you're playing with fire ♪
[GASPS]
♪
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 ♪
More coffee?
I'm good.
Did you see the paper?
What do you mean?
Take a look, it's unbelievable.
"U.S. boosts Vietnam War efforts."
Well, there's that.
But I meant in the arts section.
In the back.
Oh, okay.
- Hm.
- Carvens Aldridge
is a genius young artist from Harlem
who came up through the HARYOU program.
They say he's leading the start
of a whole new Harlem Renaissance.
Isn't that wonderful?
Yeah, it is.
Just what this city could use right now.
An An explosion of culture,
paintings, dance, and poetry.
Couldn't agree more.
He had a horrible drug
problem and overcame it.
He's been free of heroin
for almost two years.
That's great.
I hope you don't mind
I commissioned a painting from him.
Of course.
Thank you.
Helping this young man
will inspire other artists
in our community who
struggle with addiction.
I'm going to see him today.
[CHUCKLES]
[SMOOCHES]
♪
[MAN] Malcolm X, having recently
completed his trip to Mecca
and participated in a
Pan-African unity conference,
returns to his home in Harlem,
an international figure
whose message now reaches
the far corners of the earth.
Oh, Malcolm!
It's felt like ages.
I couldn't wait another minute.
Elise! Welcome home.
I can't wait to hear
all about your trip.
- It was spectacular
- Where are the children?
I, um, sent them up to your sister's.
- It's been bad, Malcolm.
- What happened?
They're fine,
- but we've had so many
- [TELEPHONE RINGS]
That.
Phone's been ringing off
the hook, day and night.
Death threats.
That's why I sent them away.
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Who is this?
[MAN] Your days are numbered, nigger.
[CLICK, DIAL TONE]
Call Ella.
Tell her to bring the
girls home immediately.
Why?
You see what's happening.
We've had threats before.
Bumpy's men are here to protect us.
We'll be fine.
I just want the children here with us.
- Uh
- [TELEPHONE RINGS]
We'll discuss this later.
Let's get you home, Elise.
I'm sure you're exhausted
from your long trip.
I am, yes.
Quite tired.
[RINGING CONTINUES]
- [RINGING CONTINUES]
- [DOOR CLOSES]
[CROWD CHEERING]
[SALSA PLAYING]
♪
[MAN] Yeah!
[CHEERING CONTINUES]
♪
Guapa!
♪
- [MUSIC ENDS]
- Eso!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Whoo! You are an amazing dancer!
[CHUCKLES]
And you have amazing hair.
Yeah? Aww.
♪
[LAUGHS]
Mm. Hey.
♪
Marina.
Marina? Marina.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Nathaniel.
Y
Mm.
Salud, Nathaniel.
Salud, Marina.
♪
Mm. Well, are you ready
to dance with me again?
[LAUGHS]
Amorcito.
Uh, look, it's almost noon, hmm?
And I have to get back to the office.
I mean, I've been up all night dancing.
Here, let me share something with you.
Oh.
Here. Try this.
- Cocaína.
- Oh.
Where'd you get that?
[INHALES DEEPLY]
♪
Here, now you.
♪
No?
♪
[INHALES DEEPLY]
♪
[CHUCKLES]
I don't feel anything.
[LAUGHS] Give it a minute.
♪
Hello?
Anybody home?
Elise, you're back! Oh!
Oh. God.
Oh, I wanna hear all about your trip,
but I'm terribly late for a meeting.
Can we talk about it tonight?
Of course. Where's Daddy?
He's out, per usual.
He'll be so excited you're back.
I must've sent Margaret
20 postcards from Africa.
I hope some have arrived by now.
I know they have.
That's all she talks about on the phone.
Oh, good.
She used to go on about
baking pies and climbing trees.
And now, it is all about,
"I wanna go to Africa,"
like Elise.
It was like nothing
I've ever experienced.
You look different.
Something in your eyes.
I'm jet-lagged.
No, that's not it.
It's the trip.
You've expanded your
horizons. I can feel it.
I want to hear every bit
about it when I get back.
Oh, by the way
you got some mail yourself
while you were gone.
I did?
No return address.
I noticed that, too.
Six letters, all in the same hand.
Methinks you have a secret admirer.
Not so secret.
Omar.
♪
[MAN] Bring it up!
Hurry up!
Mr. Russo called.
He can't meet you tomorrow
'cause he's having emergency
gallbladder surgery.
[SCOFFS]
- Bullshit.
- He owes you money?
You're a fast learner.
Here. I, uh I got you something.
But it's too late
to say you're sorry ♪
What's this?
It's a thank you.
For the dinner you made
the other night, you know,
and all the work you
been doing around here.
The Eiffel Tower.
Yeah. Belonged to my grandma.
She loved Paris just like you.
Went there on her
honeymoon with my grandad.
He got it for her.
18-karat gold, real diamonds.
My grandad He might
have been a bastard,
but he wasn't a cheap bastard.
I can't accept this.
Sure, ya can.
It's a family heirloom.
You need to save it for a
special woman in your life.
What could I do? ♪
Well, no one told me about her ♪
Joe, if you wanna thank
me, you could do me a favor.
But it's too late
to say you're sorry ♪
What's that?
You could let me see
the real Eiffel Tower.
On your own?
The other Families,
they must know by now
my father's aware of
the threat against me.
They're not gonna touch me.
Well, we don't know that for sure.
Well, I'm willing to take that risk.
Please
Joe, I want my freedom.
You're not happy here?
You've been kind, but I'm begging you.
I can't keep living in a cage like this.
I'll look into it.
♪
[CLEARS THROAT]
Thanks, Joe.
But it's too late
to say you're sorry ♪
How would I know? ♪
This heroin is the finest
we have ever produced.
I trust your word, but
you know we have to verify.
Come on, come on. Please hurry up.
Hey. Hold your horses, Vein.
Come on, man. I been
dope sick for so long.
Streets is dried up.
Shit. And that methadone
shit don't do nothin'.
♪
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
♪
Don't nod out, man.
[JUNIE BYRD] Give us the scoop.
That shit dynamite.
That's the best shit ever.
Can you give him a few bags?
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
God bless you.
Let's talk.
♪
How much can I get?
How much do you want?
Same as last. 3,000 keys.
I won't have any left for the Italians.
I'll buy it all. They can come to me.
We would require all the money
up front again. I'm sorry.
It's not a problem.
I got a rich partner.
- Security?
- Police captain in my pocket.
We'll be in touch.
With dope like that, we'll be kings.
Get him outta here.
[JUNIE BYRD] Come on, man. Wake up.
[VEIN] Thank you, Bump.
God bless you, Bumpy.
God bless you.
Yo ♪
Top 10 ♪
The one, not the two, not the three ♪
Fuck with me, shorty,
who you got to be? ♪
Say it with me ♪
- Top 10 ♪
They love me out West, back East ♪
From my state to your
city, back streets ♪
Niggas know I'm ♪
- Top 10 ♪
The cops want to
put me in the morgue ♪
Not 'fore they put me in the force ♪
- Sure ♪
- Top 10 ♪
When I was living on the streets,
I used to draw abstract images
on anything I could find.
You know, pieces of
paper, a sidewalk, a wall.
What did you use for paint?
Whatever I could find.
You know, there was
always something around.
If there wasn't,
I'd use my own blood, or dirt.
Wow.
And that's when you
discovered you loved painting?
I used my imagination to survive.
You see, when I was high,
I saw all these beautiful colors.
I went to a better place in my head
and wanted to capture that, you know?
But then you kicked heroin.
And those images went away,
and I stopped painting.
But something amazing happened.
As I started to see life
the way it it really was,
I started painting that, you know?
I wanted to find the
beauty in what's real.
Your images of Harlem
are just breathtaking.
That is why they say you're starting
a New Harlem Renaissance in art.
I'm just happy to be alive, you know?
Besides, the Harlem Renaissance died.
And you can't bring back the dead.
But you can start something new.
How's it going with the painting?
Oh, it's it's not finished yet.
I hope you and your husband like it.
Oh, we are so excited.
The moment it's done,
I'll bring him right over.
You know, it's ironic. [CHUCKLES]
I used to buy my heroin from his people.
And now he's paying me to paint.
My husband and I are so proud of you.
And we consider it an
honor to both support you
and hang one of your works in our home.
I
I've been thinking about
this idea for a long time.
I-I really think it's
some of my best work.
[BUMPY] It's simple.
I'm gonna need your police officers
to secure the Harbor when
the shipment comes in.
You've got your nerve.
It's an easy assignment.
They come in, you keep
everybody back. That's it.
Then you flood Harlem
with your narcotics.
Heroin is a fact of life,
Captain, whether I bring it in or not.
But the result is still the same.
Do you know how many Negroes
in Harlem die because of dope?
Thousands every year.
Not to mention the rise in crime
from burglaries and killings
from junkies just trying
to finance their next fix.
- That's not my problem.
- It's my problem.
Drugs are crippling this city,
creating an endless
cycle of hopelessness.
I didn't create heroin, Captain Fields,
or the desire for it.
It's the junkie who makes the choice.
So you take no responsibility?
You claim you want to uplift
the community and help people.
I send kids in Harlem
to school to educate them
so that they never make
the choice to use drugs.
Can you say the same thing about Colombo
or any of the other mob bosses?
Maybe you do that just
to soothe your conscience.
You know, a few good deeds
don't wipe your soul clean.
Before me, you were
on the Italians' pad.
You took their money.
Maybe you need to take
a look in the mirror.
You know what? I don't want
to have to get you fired.
You gonna do what I say?
Mm-hmm.
But this is the last time
I do any bidding for
you or the Italians.
Just secure the Harbor.
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪
I'm telling you, Del, never
felt better in my life.
Marina and I danced and
danced two, three hours. Mm.
Then I took her back to my place.
And?
What do you mean, "and"?
You know "and."
[CHUCKLES]
And then some.
- Come on. Oh, man.
- Yeah.
Man, I hope you put a
rubber on that thing.
- One of you is enough.
- [SIGHS]
The point is, I was dead tired.
And the cocaine picked me up.
You know, Bumpy don't allow drugs.
I know, but this shit
ain't like duji, man.
And if this Colombo
motherfucker landed the duji,
then we need to find
something else to sell.
Only rich white folks buy that shit.
Hm.
Only rich white folks
can afford that shit.
You see any rich crackers
walkin' around here?
Look, let's just run the idea by Bumpy.
No, I can't let you do that.
Why? Huh? 'Cause it's my idea?
Because I know Bumpy better than you.
What pisses him off.
What's that?
The lack of "due diligence."
Where's the market for this?
'Cause it sure ain't Harlem.
And where would you get a steady
supply even if there was one?
You just can't go to
Bumpy squawking nonsense.
Okay. Fine.
I'll do my motherfucking due diligence.
You just wish it was your idea.
♪
Elise. Uh
I didn't think you'd come.
I wasn't going to.
But then you said you wanted to
join Malcolm's new organization.
I understand he has
plans for a new mosque
and alliances with African leaders.
I humbly submit I'd like
to be a part of that.
Do you understand how
delusional you sound?
You tried to kill him.
What makes you think he'd welcome you
into his house of worship?
He might not, and I'd
have to accept that.
But more than Malcolm's
approval, I want yours.
You're a grown man. You
can do as you please.
I'm here to take
responsibility for my actions
toward him and toward you.
You said vile, heartbreaking
things when you rejected me.
Your pretty letters can't change that.
As I said in those letters,
I was acting out of fear and jealousy.
I don't need to replay this.
I shouldn't have come here.
You came because you
still have feelings for me.
- That's a lie.
- Is it?
To be honest, I wish my
father had killed you.
Well, I praise Allah he didn't.
Otherwise my house would've gone
to my little brother in Chicago.
[LAUGHS]
- Oh, that's not fair!
- I know.
- He doesn't deserve it.
- No. You can't make me laugh.
I'm sorry.
Truly, Elise.
♪
Just think about my words.
♪
[VEHICLE DOOR OPENS]
♪
[VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES]
[MONSIEUR 98] How is
this plan going to work?
We'll have police protection at
the Harbor both here and here.
My fishing boats will come in at night,
so nobody's gonna see them.
These waters are strong.
Your boats are small.
My men are used to
negotiating the Atlantic.
The Hudson River is not
gonna be any problem.
Can your fishing boats
handle 3,000 kilos of heroin?
My men have transported guns, artillery,
even human beings in boats like these.
They'll meet your
steamship from Marseilles
at about 20 nautical miles out.
We have radar, so Coast
Guard will be nowhere near.
This plan is safe, and it will work.
This is all good.
But, uh, my bosses insist
I meet with the Italians to
see what they have to say.
The Italians will never
pay for the duji up front.
You know that, right?
Maybe, but I must first
hear them out of respect.
Whoever controls the
heroin, controls Harlem.
That has to be us.
Whatever Colombo says, we'll do better.
You know me.
I paid up front last
time. I'll do it again.
Agreed.
I respect your offer.
But I must hear him out.
It's just business, as you know.
♪
So you two motherfuckers are
gonna stick together on this?
Bumpy has offered to pay
the full price up front.
Well, the Families
have been doing business
with the Corsicans for decades.
We've never paid more than half.
I'm afraid Bumpy Johnson
has changed all that.
Ah.
You tell your bosses that
if they sell to Johnson,
they're gonna have a
problem not just with me,
but all Five Families.
Listen, the men I work
for are businessmen.
We don't get involved in such things.
Oh, yeah? Well, I think
you're pretty involved.
Work it out with Bumpy Johnson, not me.
You do realize I take this
as a sign of disrespect?
His offer is better.
If you beat his offer,
there will be no problem.
Oh.
You mean if I bend over and
let you fuck me in the ass?
What would you do in my place?
Listen to reason.
There was a man you used
to work for, Jean Jehan.
You remember him?
Bumpy Johnson put a bullet in his head.
Can you trust him not
to do the same to you
if he doesn't get his way?
I trust Bumpy Johnson.
I'm not sure that isn't a mistake.
But what will it take to make
you trust me just the same?
A better offer.
Then that's what you'll get.
♪
Hmm.
He wants to join Malcolm's new mosque.
Be a part of the political struggle
as well as the spiritual one.
I don't believe it.
Do you still have feelings for him?
No. Not at all.
Listen. Sometimes the
heart is irrational.
I don't have feelings.
In my opinion, Black men
have had it really rough.
They're often misguided.
I sometimes think they
need, how should I put it,
extra special care.
You didn't have that
problem with Malcolm.
[LAUGHS] Didn't I?
You should have seen
the way he courted me.
It was ridiculous.
He was awkward, standoffish,
in a word lost.
He asked me to marry him over the phone.
- No.
- It's true.
[LAUGHS]
Yes, but Omar
Omar tried to do something unforgivable.
All I know is, there are
too many Black Muslims
who despise Malcolm because
of lies they've been told.
When Malcolm has their
best interests at heart.
And Omar fell right into that trap.
Exactly.
And maybe he's come to his senses.
People can change.
They can.
But he's lost my trust.
Then he has to get it back.
- How?
- Not words.
Deeds.
♪
Yeah.
♪
[CHUCKLES]
Yesterday was amazing.
Mm. [CHUCKLES]
Mm-hmm.
You want a cigarette?
Nah. Nah.
You know what I would like?
Hmm?
I would like some more of that shit.
What shit?
You know.
Cocaína.
Ay, papi, I wish I had some,
but that's impossible to find.
Where'd you get it?
I don't remember. [CHUCKLES]
What, it just fell into your lap?
Yeah. Something like that.
So tell me more about your job
at the extermination company.
I asked you a simple question
and you're acting all jinky and shit.
Who'd you get the cocaine from?
I got it from a guy who
hangs out here sometimes.
He works for Jose Battle.
And? He has a name?
- Reuben.
- Reuben.
But, Nat, he tried to
date me until I found out
he was a gangster.
And I don't go with gangsters, you know?
And he's very jealous.
♪
Amorcito.
♪
No gangster could ever
be good enough for you.
♪
Maybe you could tell
me what he looks like.
♪
So, the word is out on the
streets that dope's coming.
Junkies are goin' crazy!
- [CHUCKLES] That right?
- Yeah.
We better cut that shit thin,
or else we're gonna sell out fast.
♪
You ever remember your dreams?
My dreams?
Only when I dream about the war.
I got the same one every time.
The Battle of Chosin.
Lost a lot of men that day.
I been told I sometimes shout out.
Why are you asking me that?
Been having a lot of dreams lately.
Sometimes about Elise.
[BUMPY] Hey there, little one.
I'm high, Daddy.
Leave me alone.
Sometimes [CHUCKLES] about junkies.
Well, them junkies are about
to make all your dreams come true.
We'll be having the Italians
eating out of our hands.
Speak of the devil.
What the fuck?!
Table for three?
Oh, sister, we're just
gonna drop in on a friend.
Uh, you mind if I sit?
My life won't ever be the same ♪
Tell me, what's the
use, what's the use? ♪
I'm the type of guy that likes
to deliver bad news in person.
I'm the type of guy who
likes to hear it, quick.
Yeah, real fast.
You won't be participating
in the next shipment.
[LAUGHS]
Says who?
The Corsicans have agreed
to make me their sole buyer
at the usual rate
half up front, half later.
Monsieur 98 already accepted my offer.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
I went over his head.
♪
Take a look.
♪
[GASPS]
- Ugh!
- Oh!
Fuckin' fuckin' fuck!
So, you see, if you
want to sell any dope,
you're gonna have to buy from me
like every other
motherfucker in this town.
Retail.
On my terms.
Or I don't know
maybe I won't sell to you at all.
Enjoy your meal.
[HANDS POUND]
Motherfucker!
♪
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
♪
Haven't seen that in a while.
I was just thinking
how much I've changed
since I wore this uniform.
Mm.
In Africa I wore my own clothes,
and I met with world leaders
and they respected me as a woman
who could be a leader herself.
That is wonderful.
Did I tell you in Ghana
I met a black woman
who had one of the highest
positions in government?
Susanna Al-Hassan.
She and President Nkrumah
did everything together.
Oh, that's inspiring.
You know the feeling, Mayme,
'cause of the work you're
doing in politics for HARYOU.
I want to do the same for Malcolm.
I am so happy that Malcolm
sees you as so capable
he can trust you with all
the things he's dealing with.
Which is why I feel a responsibility
to protect him, if I can.
Like my father's doing.
Omar wants to work for Malcolm,
and even if he's sincere,
my feelings get in the way.
Well, no one reads people
better than your father.
And if you are anything like him,
you'll be able to tell if he's sincere.
You have that gift.
It is your birthright.
Use it.
♪
Hm.
♪
[SIGHS]
Did you get word to my father?
Yeah, yeah.
Well, what'd he say?
He wants to play it safe.
He doesn't wanna take any chances.
He wants me to look after you.
You're lying.
Excuse me?
Well, who'd you talk
to? How'd you get word?
Through his Jew lawyer.
- Goldman?
- Yeah.
That's not his name.
Oh, whatever. I talked to him.
Don't bullshit me. I
know how to read people.
Look
if I let you go and something
happens to you, I'm dead.
I can't do what you ask, Stella,
so shut the fuck up about it
and make the best of things!
You're so full of shit!
[DRAWER OPENS, CLOSES]
You wanna go to Paris
this is as close as you're gonna get.
You know, when your
boss gives you a gift,
it's wise to accept it.
I'm trying to be friendly here!
I let you go where you
want, do what you want.
But never alone! There's
always someone fucking with me,
and it's driving me insane!
Then maybe you shouldn't
have called the Feds
in the first place.
You did this to
yourself, Stella, not me.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Answer the fucking phone!
[DOOR SLAMS]
Colombo's gonna come to
you to protect his shipment.
[FIELDS] He already has.
He wants me to turn a
blind eye, just like you.
Whatever he's paying
you, I'll triple it.
What, so you can just steal it from him?
[CHUCKLES] That's my concern.
Either way, the dope is
coming into this community.
It will kill and leave
destruction in its wake.
Crime will rise, along with despair
and a never-ending cycle of pain.
Dope addiction is gonna be here
long after you and I are gone.
Just tell me what his plan is.
♪
[SIGHS]
I was first in my
class. Did you know that?
I figured as much.
And one of only three black cadets.
They treated us like the
academy was forced to hire us.
Like we were unqualified.
And I spent my entire
life proving them wrong.
What do you care what those
white motherfuckers think?
It matters what I think of myself.
And if I don't do what you ask,
you will expose me as the fraud
that I am and get me fired.
And if I don't help the Italians,
they'll do the same, or worse.
If I'm in control of the dope,
then I got leverage over them.
They can't touch you.
Well, that won't be necessary.
- I'm resigning.
- What do you mean?
Now I'm no use to either one of you,
and you both can go straight to hell.
You would throw away your whole career?
Everything that you've worked for?
That's right.
My conscience won't allow me
to be a party to this evil.
♪
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪
[SALSA PLAYS]
♪
¿Quién es Reuben?
♪
[WOMAN SINGING IN SPANISH]
♪
Reuben?
Who the fuck are you?
My name's Nat Pettigrew.
I hear you have something
I'm very interested in.
I only want to buy a little bit.
I don't know what the
fuck you're talking about.
I work for Bumpy Johnson.
Shit.
Why didn't you fucking say so, man?
- [CHUCKLES]
- My man.
I wanna start off small.
Maybe you can sell me a key.
[SCOFFS] A key?
Mm-hmm.
You know how hard it is
to get this shit, man?
The leaf is grown in Peru.
Then it's processed in
Chile, then off to Cuba,
then on a boat or a plane
to Miami, then Harlem.
We deal in ounces, hermano, not keys.
How much is an ounce?
$3,000.
$3 Are you out your fuckin' mind?!
That's the price, amigo.
Take it or leave it.
[SIGHS]
Okay. All right.
I'll take an ounce.
You're in luck.
I just had a Pan Am
stewardess put two ounces
in her panties, just yesterday.
Meet me at Mount Morris,
135th Street entrance,
10:00 tonight, okay?
Mount Morris. Okay.
Okay. Okay.
By the way, who gave you my name?
You know, not too many
people deal in this stuff,
and now I see why.
$3,000 a fuckin' ounce?
Specifically, who told you about me?
I don't know, man.
Maybe it was one of the bartenders here.
Hmm.
All right.
- Salud.
- Salud.
♪
It's, uh, j-just such
an honor to meet you.
My wife's talked a lot about
your work, and about you.
When Mayme gave me this commission,
I was flabbergasted.
Everybody in Harlem knows Bumpy Johnson.
You know, some fear you,
some see you as their savior.
I'm neither of those things. [CHUCKLES]
What he is is a very busy husband.
Carvens, why don't you show
us what you have so far?
Okay, uh, okay.
It's not finished yet.
Uh, I still have some background to do.
I hope you like it.
I do think it's the
best work I've ever done.
♪
I-I hope you don't mind,
but this is how I see you.
A A man of many contradictions.
You know, good and evil.
You think my husband is evil?
I see duality in every
person, even myself.
When I was a drug addict,
I did things to myself and others
that I would consider evil.
And as a supplier of drugs,
I'm sure you feel the same way.
Go fuck yourself!
How dare you?!
We paid money for this shit?
For this insult?
♪
You don't know shit about me
and I could give a fuck
about your two-bit psychology.
♪
I grew up with chumps like you.
You blame me for your weakness.
You blame drugs, you blame society.
Look at yourself.
♪
You ain't nothing but a
fucking talentless junkie.
Pay him the rest of his
money. I'm out of here.
I'm sorry.
I'm I'm so sorry.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
Thank you for meeting with me.
I should be thanking you.
I'm still not sure if
I can trust you, Omar.
I can understand that.
What I've written are just words.
They can only do so much.
You need to see those words in action.
That's true, but words
are also important.
I wish I could put into
words all that I'm feeling,
but I'm afraid I can't.
You see, I have to admit something.
Putting you to the test is one thing.
And I intend to do that.
But I have to put
myself to the test, too.
In what way?
I loved you once.
I believed in you.
I thought the feelings
in my heart were real.
When you imagine a life with someone,
you create a future in your mind.
And even if those feelings die,
that future still lives on somewhere.
In mine, too, Elise.
I didn't dare mention that.
What are you really after, Omar?
Me or the cause?
[SIGHS]
I believe in what Malcolm
is doing with all my heart.
But I'm not gonna lie to you, Elise.
I still love you. I do.
I can't help it.
This isn't about us.
It can't ever be.
This is about the cause.
This is about Malcolm and his mission.
About the fate of our people.
About justice and equality.
This is about everything that is
so much more important than you or me.
Do you understand that? I do.
♪
What's that?
The Holy Quran.
I'm gonna make you swear on it.
I want you to swear that
you will never do anything
to harm Malcolm.
I swear before Allah,
and on pain of death.
Now it's your turn.
Swear you don't love me anymore.
I'm not ready for that just yet.
♪
[VEHICLE DOOR OPENS]
Pettigrew.
Sorry I'm late.
Hey. [SPEAKS SPANISH] You got the stuff?
You got the money?
Yeah, I got the money, man.
I got the money right here.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Lemme see the coke.
- It's in the car.
All right, well, then go get it.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
All right.
You know, I got somebody
I want you to meet.
Whoa. What the fuck you doing, man?
No, no, no, no, no.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
What's she doing here?
I found out how you got my name.
Come on, man. Let her go, man.
Go ahead and tell him.
Tell him!
He's my husband.
Okay, l-listen, I-I didn't
know that was your wife, okay?
Reuben, I just want to do business
You're gonna gimme that fuckin' 3 grand
or I'm gonna kill her.
That's the price you owe me
for fucking my wife, yeah?
What the fuck you doing, man?
I'll blow this fucking puta's
head off in three seconds.
Three
two
one Whoa, whoa! Okay, okay.
Here. All right?
You want the money, take the money.
Now let her go. Come on.
- Let her go?
- Yeah. Let her go.
- So you can fuck her again?
- Come on.
I don't think so.
- Now, I know you're packin'.
- Come on, man.
Toss over your piece, yeah?
All right. I'm gonna reach for it, okay?
Don't do nothing stupid, man, all right?
[GRUNTS]
Fuck! Aah!
♪
Hey.
You okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Come on. Get up.
♪
[MARINA] Now what are you doing?
♪
Goddamn.
Look at that.
It's beautiful.
I guess we both lied to each other.
You didn't tell me you had a husband,
and I told you I wasn't a gangster.
Adiós, chica.
♪
[ENGINE STARTS]
♪
[VEHICLE DEPARTING]
♪
[DOOR OPENS]
♪
So now you're gonna
fix yourself some booze?
- You gonna start drinking again?
- I don't wanna hear it, all right?
What you did to that
boy's painting was wrong.
What has gotten into you?
He was insulting me!
He is an artist!
It is how he sees you.
And I am beginning to think
he is not far from right.
What's that supposed to mean?
I think you know.
You don't want me to be
in the heroin business?
Is that it?
It's not good for you,
for your for your
for your image,
for your political [LAUGHING] work?
[LAUGHS]
No, it is not good for me.
It is not good for anything but money!
Well, so now you get your wish.
I lost the duji to Colombo.
Now if I wanna sell it,
I got to buy it from him.
Like Like I did when I was a nobody.
A nothing.
I mean
♪
Drug addicts are addicted to dope.
And drug dealers are
addicted to selling it.
♪
Okay, Ronnie, you got
two keys coming your way.
You put 50% down, rest is on commission.
You got it, boss.
Anybody hear from Bumpy Johnson yet?
Not yet. The other Black gangs in Harlem
are already puttin'
in orders without him.
None of his men have approached you?
Nah.
Strange.
Without heroin, all of his
businesses will start to fail.
He's too smart for that shit.
Who needs Bumpy Fuckin' Johnson?
Word's out on the
street about this dope.
Junkies are crawling all
over themselves to get it.
[CHUCKLES]
♪
I know you miss me ♪
Who it's gon' be if it
ain't me, lil' baby? ♪
I'm in your city ♪
'Cause I need it one more time ♪
Might lose it all, I swear ♪
I need it tonight ♪
Ooh ♪
Ah ♪
♪
I need it one more time ♪
Might lose it all, I swear ♪
I need it tonight ♪
I need it one more time ♪
Thinkin' how we played out ♪
Really I feel awful about
it, but ain't never said it ♪
We ain't gotta talk about it ♪
They'll never know,
when I'm with you ♪
I play a different role ♪
Can't move off emotion,
this shit deep now ♪
I got self-control ♪
I ain't never tried to hold you ♪
Niggas try to high and low me ♪
I can break it down in dumbest terms ♪
And show you how you owe me ♪
Still try and back door me ♪
I know how to go about it ♪
I know everything, but I treat
you like I don't know about it ♪
Wildin' in Skyami, we
took shrooms and caught ♪
A different vibe ♪
Bitches can't fuck with
you, you the one, for real ♪
I peep your style ♪
I gotta get to it, I'm OT,
so it's gon' be a while ♪
It feel a lil' better when
I ain't seen you, yeah ♪
I know you miss me ♪
Who it's gon' be if it
ain't me, lil' baby? ♪
I'm in your city ♪
'Cause I need it one more time ♪
Ooh ♪