04x07 - The Pawn Goes First

[bunniefuu]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[STELLA] I left you breathing

so that you could keep
me one step ahead.

How come we got to hear
about this all secondhand?

That's just gonna get
you a shallow grave

on the Eastern Parkway, you hear me?

I don't know, Frank, you in biz
with all these Italians,

you playing with fire.

- [GRUNTS]
- Aah! sh*t! Ah!

- Did a good piece of work.
- You almost got me k*lled.

It's a risky business.

You think I'd dime you
over f*cking ledgers?!

But I can't leave room for no error.

[THUD]

Joe Colombo.

But there's no active
investigation against him.

Care to explain?

The New York Fine Arts Board

is a very influential group of people.

I imagine that's why you're
trying so hard to get on it.

I am trying to get on it
to help Black artists

get the recognition they deserve.

If you're gonna keep hanging ot
with these militants,

you're not gonna be
welcome at the house.

So, you agree
with the Panthers' mission,

but you don't want me to be a
part of it 'cause I might get hurt.

I can't have this around Margaret.

You think there's room
for me to crash here a while?

I don't see why not.

- You got a son?
- [SADIQ] Rodney.

Chewed him up in basic training,

spit him out into the Big Muddy.

- f*ck!
- Bumpy, you all right?

- Whoa, whoa.
- Oh, sh*t.

Hey! Hey, talk to me, Bumpy.

Mr. Johnson, you've had
a minor heart attack.

[MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY]

I figured Colombo
would send your sorry a*s.

[MALCOLM X] The real enemy is
not our fellow Black man,

but the system
that pits us against each other.

[PANTING]

Get out.

[MONITOR CONTINUES BEEPING]

Thank you all for coming

to the groundbreaking
for Club St. Clair,

Harlem's new culture
and entertainment center.

- [ENGINE RUMBLING]
- [WHISTLING]

[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]

[WHISTLING CONTINUES]

♪ Who runs streets,
It's young God ♪

- ♪ Who want beef, come forth ♪
- ♪ Who ♪

♪ Doberman living, I'm big dog ♪

♪ Wrestling life,
These the memoirs of the... ♪

- ♪ Black mafioso in-laws ♪
- ♪ Let's go, Cross ♪

♪ It's across 110th Street,
Turn 'em into mincemeat ♪

♪ I got kissing cousins that
Be tellin' me they missin' me ♪

♪ Hoppin' out the cherry V,
Everything Louis V ♪

♪ Flyest n*gga on the block,
Every time they see me flee ♪

[ECHOING]
♪ Every time they see me flee ♪

♪♪♪

[BUMPY, AMPLIFIED VOICE]
Together, we're building

a New Harlem Renaissance,
prosperous and vibrant,

where our legacy is defined
by both individual achievements

and solidarity.

The future of Harlem...

is us.

[APPLAUSE]

Thank you,
and welcome to Club St. Clair.

[APPLAUSE CONTINUES]

[UP-TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS]

Monique?

Look at you, girl.

sh*t! [LAUGHS]

On the come up!

Look at this chain, girl.

Mm. It was a gift.
Frankie here, he treat me right.

- I'll be back, all right?
- Okay.

♪♪♪

[LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

I'll say, Mayme, this is
all quite impressive.

I sourced everything from artists

based right here in Harlem.

So... eclectic.

Mayme, your...

extensive knowledge of art

is one reason why

we'd like you to join our board.

- [LAUGHS]
- Oh.

Uh... [GASPS] Thank you.

Thank you. I am honored. [LAUGHS]

Well, I'll put you in touch
with my girl Friday

to arrange the paperwork...

and the payment of dues.

Dues?

Just a one-time fee of a hundred.

A hundred...

$100,000...

Sweetheart.

♪♪♪

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪♪

[FLASHBULB POPPING]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ I don't need no doctor ♪

♪ 'Cause I know
What's ailing me ♪

♪♪♪

♪ I don't need no doctor,
no, no ♪

Look at this f*cking clown.

Guy thinks he's
the f*cking king of Harlem.

Oh, he's definitely
moving junk for somebody.

The question is who.

Mr. J.

You sounded aces up there.

I apologize if me coming in
stepped on your speech.

- It's all right.
- Yeah.

I mean, I got to say, this place?

Real nice. You done good.

Looks like you done good, too.

I'm gon' be good.

Yeah, you see, I'm a fighter.

I'm gon' fight for what's mine.

- You know what I'm saying?
- I can guess.

No duji in the club, all right?

I ain't here for that, man.

I ain't here to sell nothin'.

I'm just here to
celebrate you. That's it.

You got a new coat.

Yeah, yeah. Chinchilla.

You like that?

Know what chinchilla is?

[INHALES SHARPLY] Some kind of fox.

Chinchilla is a rodent.

♪ ...medicated lotion,
But it didn't soothe ♪

♪ It didn't soothe ♪

♪ My emotion ♪

♪ I don't need no doctor ♪

- ♪ I don't need no doctor ♪
- ♪ I don't need no doctor, oh ♪

[LAUGHTER]

Ooh, Frankie.

I think I'm-a keep you.

[CHUCKLES] I'm gon' keep you.

- Oh, you are?
- I'm-a hold you real tight.

Oh, okay.

- Go on, get in this car.
- Don't keep me waiting now.

- Get you on home.
- And then what?

Hey, man, Lucas.

Slim Lou.

That damn coat.

Ain't nobody tell you
it's summertime, man?

You out here swinging pelt?

- Yeah.
- Go ahead with your bad self.

Somebody got to do it.
But I got to take off, man.

You be safe.
You know how these streets is.

Come on, you ain't... You ain't
got no time for your boys?

You see what's in that car.
Come on, now.

Man, I guess I ain't
as pretty as her, man.

[CHUCKLES]

Monique!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪♪♪

[CHOIR] ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Change ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

[SWIZZ BEATZ]
♪ Open up my window again ♪

♪ Open up my window again ♪

♪ I can hear death
Calling my name ♪

♪ I can hear death
Calling 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 ♪

[RICK ROSS RAPPING] ♪ Lay on my
Back watching the ceiling fan ♪

♪ I had a dream
To touch a kilogram ♪

♪ Still at odds
With the Irish mob ♪

♪ Rolls-Royce down
Malcolm X Boulevard ♪

♪ Lord, these... really
Out here preying 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 ♪

♪ Fat Boy got the big body ♪

♪ Coast to coast,
I can sh**t product ♪

[SWIZZ BEATZ]
♪ Open up my window again ♪

♪ Open up my window again ♪

♪ I can hear death
Calling my name ♪

♪ I can hear
Death calling 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 ♪

Whoever done this sh*t
gon' f*cking pay!

No, f*ck that!
You know who did it, huh?

Who did it? Who was it?!

Look, we don't know who it was.

Bullshit! I think you're lying to me.

Some Italian heads gon' roll
for this sh*t.

You gon' feel my pain.

Somehow they found out

that you were selling
our dope out of state.

I wonder how that f*cking happened.

Yeah, I was making
more money selling those kilos

than you ever had
in your f*cking life.

That's right, but the other families,

they wanted that dope for themselves.

We've been shorting them.

And they come after me for it?!

Maybe 'cause they seen
you strutting around town

like a fuzzy f*cking peacock.

This is your fault.

- f*ck you!
- f*ck you!

- I'll cut your...
- All right, calm the f*ck down,

the both of you.

This is what's gonna happen.

Frank, until we know
who's behind this,

we're gonna have to cut you off.

How the f*ck you mean, cut me off?

Means you're on your own.

The Genovese family want
nothing more to do with you.

Until we find out what's going on

with the other families.
I'm sorry, Frank.

I'm really sorry about your girl.

[SIGHS]

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

[UPBEAT JAZZ PLAYING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪♪

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS, LAUGHTER]

Thought that expl*si*n would
keep folks away from the club.

You know what they say.

There's no such thing
as bad publicity.

Who's winning?

I am.

Who's losing?

That'd be me, too.

You got it going both ways, huh?

At the end, we all lose.

Thinking about your mortality?

Having had a heart attack

makes a man think
about a lot of things...

what comes before, what comes after.

You're the king of Harlem, Bumpy.

The crown lies heavy on your head.

♪♪♪

[MUFFLED SHOUTING,
SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[POUNDING ON DOOR]

Who the f*ck is it?

[MAN] Landlord.

What you want?

Got a pipe leaking in the bathroom.

[HORNS HONKING IN DISTANCE]

[CLICK]

What the hell you talking about?

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING CONTINUES]

[GRUNTING CONTINUES]

[CLICK]

[GRUNTING]

Who sent you?

Who the f*ck sent you?

f*ck!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[PANTING]

Why the f*ck you let him in here?

He was gonna k*ll me.

- Please, please.
- Huh?

I never seen him before, I swear.

Please, I swear. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

It's rent money.

Either you know how
to get rid of a dead body,

or you should go ahead and
get the f*ck outta here now.

Go on, get!

[HORNS HONKING IN DISTANCE]

I don't understand.

How does Frank Lucas survive
a car b*mb and a hit man?

No one's got a clue.

- Yeah?
- Yep. Streets are silent.

Interesting.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hey, hey. What the f*ck?!

[MAN] Keep your hands
where I can see them.

What are you doing?

- You got a warrant, for what?
- There he is.

Mr. Colombo, you have numerous
code violations here, so...

You wanna see my paperwork?

I got permits, approvals,
whatever you want.

Yes, I seem to have found this
in your office, actually,

this, uh, Certificate to Operate.

- Yeah, it's legitimate.
- It looks legitimate.

[SNIFFS]

What the f*ck?

You have unsafe working conditions.

- Bullshit!
- ill*gal dumping of scrap metal.

- Bullshit.
- Selling stolen car parts.

Bullshit! You guys have been
on my a*s for months

for this, for that, for nothing.

And you've been on a k*ll crazy spree

since you got out of jail.

So, I'll continue to be on your a*s

until I can solve the murders
of Mickey Campanella,

Earl Brantley, and others.

You're gonna hear from my lawyer.

Lock it up, boys.

[MAN] All right. Let's go, boys.

[MAN 2] All right, close it up.

Come on.

All right, we'll be back.

♪♪♪

[DOOR CLOSES AND LOCKS]

♪♪♪

Mom, you okay?

Just taking it in.

I wanna make something
like that one day.

And that is why I wanna join
the Fine Arts Board,

to help showcase Harlem artists,

which someday could be you.

What's wrong with
keeping the work here?

Art that's for us, by us.

When did you grow up on me?

Come.

Oh, you can feel her pain.

Her voice, silenced.

These artists,
which someday could be you,

they deserve to be seen
by the entire world,

not just by us.

So what's stopping you?

From joining the board?

Money.

How much?

A queen's ransom.

Can't you just go to Daddy?

Your father's business
is barely off the ground.

Well, it seems like it's going well.

Yes, but he's got partnerships,
bills, obligations.

The early days of a business are,

you know, they're a sensitive time.

I don't wanna tap his dream
before it finds its rhythm.

So, your dream has to stay on hold?

No.

No, I guess it doesn't.

Darling, when you get older,

whatever it is you wanna do,

you make sure you don't need
a man to make it happen.

You hear me, sweetheart?

♪♪♪

Look at this.

How they made me out like?

And look at Bumpy and the other prick.

Like f*cking kings of England.

Isn't this kind of publicity
frowned upon by your associates?

f*ck them.

Point is, I look like a criminal.

Maybe that's why the FBI
is singling you out.

They could lay charges on
any junkyard in New York City.

They chose yours.

Yeah, this f*cking ADA,

he's all over my a*s
like I'm some sort of finocch.

I had to break into my own office!

You got to make it stop.

They're harassing you

because they don't have anything else.

I have seen this time and time again.

The law has it in for Italians.

So, what do we do about it?

Well, not much can be done legally.

But, uh, regarding the ADA Mr. Pike,

perhaps you have
other methods of pushing back?

You gonna charge me for this advice?

- [DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
- [FRANK] Thanks for seeing me.

I'm always interested
how a Cackalacky boy

is making it in the big city.

I'm still breathing.

For now, but that can change.

Del, the man just lost someone.

That said, next time

I hope they try to k*ll you
somewhere else.

Yeah.

Them Italians.

You know just like how I know,
they ain't good for Black folk.

You finally realize that?

Look...

I know I done made a lot of mistakes.

Been making a lot of wrong choices.

But I'm gon' learn from them.

Can't learn sh*t if you're dead.

[CHANCE] Or just a damn fool.

Pettigrew, Chance.

Let's hear the boy out.

So, I figure...

since I done got schooled
by the Italians,

hell, by you...

maybe I done learned enough
to come work under you.

[CHUCKLES] You want to work for me?

And I'm gon' be honest with you.

I don't really got nowhere else to go.

So...

yeah, I'm asking you.

You don't wanna work for me.

You want me to protect you.

Well, that come along with
working with you, don't it?

What's wrong with that?

There's one problem.

I don't trust you.

And nothing you've done
so far has impressed me.

Maybe, uh...

Give me one more chance.

Yeah, I think
I could change your mind.

I don't think you can.

Good luck, Frank.

You're gon' f*ck' need it.

This man has humbled himself.

That's one thing I can respect.

Goodbye, Frank.

♪♪♪

Best of luck.

♪♪♪

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[SOUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE]

[AFENI] Listen up, everyone.

All right, now, come on.

Oh, I read in the paper
that your old man's club

had a hell of an opening.

You go?

I'm not for all that bougie sh*t.

Right on.

♪♪♪

Where's Sadiq?

The meeting's about to start.

♪♪♪

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE]

- Hmm.
- Your son?

I feel like I don't
even hardly know him.

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

Rodney's moms used to
keep me away from him.

She didn't like my influence.

I'm too political.

How often did you get to see him?

Me and Rod, we'd see
each other on the sly.

I taught him how to fix cars.

That's what he's doing in Nam.

Vehicle maintenance. [LAUGHS]

You must be so proud.

Of Rodney? Hell, yeah.

But my boy... he like us.

He'd rather be fighting
for Black folk here at home.

He ain't got no quarrel
with no Vietcong.

So, what have you been saying
to Rod in your letters?

I ain't never been much for words.

Well, it's a good thing I am.

[CHUCKLES] What, you gonna
help me write him?

Sure.

But not now. We have a meeting.

Well, all right.

Thanks.

We should go.

You know how Afeni gets
when you're late.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Mrs. Johnson, we can't
possibly fulfill your request

for a loan of $100,000.

I'm well aware that women
typically need their father

or husband to act as cosigner.

We've never made a loan to any woman.

I can offer collateral that
more than covers the amount.

The jewelry my husband
has given me over the years

is worth more than that amount.

And once Ellsworth's club
starts raking it in,

and all indications
are very promising...

Mrs. Johnson, this isn't a pawnshop.

It's a bank.

Bumpy's up to his neck in debt.
He could default any day now.

We're very sorry, Mrs. Johnson.

The answer's no.

You've gotten millions
of dollars from the government

to revitalize Harlem, have you not?

Yes, that's true. What of it?

Well, I am trying
to revitalize artistic culture

for the people in this community...

a community that includes you.

Think about that.

We don't have to think about that.

The answer's no.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[MOSES] This is quite
the collection, Mrs. Johnson.

I reckon there's a story
behind every stone.

How much?

[DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES]

[SIGHS] This jewelry here
your husband gave you?

Guess life ain't all glitz
and glam at the new club.

Just tell me what it's worth.

Uh, respectfully,
I can't take any of this.

Well, this is Michel Painés.

Especially the Painés.

I can't afford to pay you
what any of this is worth.

And my customers sure can't neither.

Well, what do you recommend?

Go on down to 44th Street.

Wright's Diamonds & Gems.

They buy tons of this stuff.

Rich white folk eat it up.

- Okay, then.
- All right.

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS IN DISTANCE]

[VEHICLE ENGINE STARTS IN DISTANCE]

Any word yet on
who tryin' to do me in?

No. But word on the street is
there's ten grand on your head.

They came into my f*cking home.

What am I supposed to do?

I think you should leave town.

And go where?

I don't know, but just don't
stay here in Harlem.

So, you're telling me
you can't do nothing for me?

Look, I'll keep my ear to the ground,

but the other families,
they ain't exactly open with me.

They've been jealous of our success.

And they don't like that
a woman's running things.

Yeah, well, that don't
too much help me.

Look, Frank,
you've been a great earner.

The idea to branch out
and sell in Philly,

it almost doubled our profits.

You're good at this.

When you decided to show off,

you put a target
on your back... and mine.

Damn.

Is what it is.

My pops always says that
when a man's showing off,

he's masking his insecurity.

Maybe you should think on that.

Insecurity?

I've been looking over
my shoulder my whole life.

See, we're from two different worlds.

I don't expect you to understand that.

But when you come from nothin',

sometimes you just wanna
know what it feel like

to have somethin'.

Still... you need to get
out of New York City.

I don't do too much running or hiding.

I know, but you're smart.

Good luck, Frank.

Way I see it, a man
in charge of his own luck.

Good luck with that, too.

♪♪♪

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Bets! Oh, thank the Lord.

I found her wandering around
over by the gas station.

That's not a safe place
for a kid all alone.

I was so worried
when she didn't get off the bus.

Thank you so much.

Oh, don't thank me, ma'am.

Thank Joe Colombo.

[SUSAN] It was the strangest thing.

This man came by.
He said he found Elizabeth

wandering over by the gas station.

The gas station?

I'm just so relieved she's safe.

Apparently,
we're to thank Joe Colombo.

Honey, uh, lock all the doors.
Don't leave the house.

I'm gonna send some men over,
all right? Okay.

♪♪♪

[RECEIVER CLATTERS]

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[MAYME] Put your arm into it, honey.

Hey, baby. Long day, huh?

You could say that.

[THUNDERCLAP]

Margaret, something you want to share?

No, darling. Everything's fine.

Margaret, why don't you
keep on mashing those potatoes?

Mama needs a ton of money
to join the art board.

Margaret.

How come you didn't just ask me?

You have enough
on your plate, Ellsworth.

How much we talking?

- 100 grand.
- That's more than our mortgage.

I could damn near buy
Lenox Terrace for that.

That's what it costs, Daddy.

Keep mashing.

Those white so-and-sos
should be begging

to have you on that board,

not trying to extort you
out of my hard-earned money.

All charitable boards
require a financial commitment.

That's why I didn't
bother you with it.

You or your hard-earned money.

- Mama, I think the chicken...
- I didn't mean it like that.

So, how did you mean it?

Those ladies are a bunch of
pretentious downtown socialites

- with vapid causes.
- [SIGHS]

- [LAUGHS]
- You have spent months

courting white downtown swells,

and me joining an arts board

to promote Black art is vapid?

- I support what you're doing.
- Mama, I think the...

Why do you want to spend a fortune

buying a seat at a table
that they didn't set for you?

- Mama, the...
- And what are you doing?

Kowtowing to Italians.
I have always supported you.

I'd like you to do the same for me.

Mama, I...

My money's all tied up
in knots right now.

I just need a minute.

I am well aware of
your obligations, Ellsworth,

which is why, again,
I didn't bother you with this.

Mama, the chicken is burning.

Oh!

[SIGHS]

Oh, God.

Just, oh, forget about it.

[COUGHS] I'm gonna go
talk to your mother.

"Dear Rodney, I'm so proud of you."

Well, hold up. Don't write that.

Why?

'Cause he ain't gonna believe it.

I wasn't really there for him
when he was coming up, so...

Sadiq, your son

is across the world fighting a w*r,

and you're fighting
a w*r here at home.

If this letter is the only thing
you get to say,

what do you wanna say?

"Son...

I'm so damn proud of you." [CHUCKLES]

What else?

Well, then say...

say something like...

Damn, I don't know. I ain't...

I ain't never been good
at, like, expressing stuff.

Do you wanna say,

"I wish we could have spent
more time together"?

Yeah. Yeah. Can you say that?

"I wish we could have
spent more time."

[POIGNANT MUSIC PLAYS]

Okay.

So, what's next?

Maybe something like...

..."I never told you
all the things I should have

when you were little
about how I feel."

Yeah.

- Can you write that?
- Mm.

[SCRIBBLING]

"And when you come home,
I'll tell you."

[CONTINUES SCRIBBLING]

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

That's beautiful, Elise.

♪♪♪

That's exactly what I wanna say.

♪♪♪

I don't know
if you know much about these,

but, uh, this is real nice.

It's worth at least $1,000.

Hmm.

Ooh-whee. It is a beauty.

Come on, now. I told you.

It's real nice.

Still, I can't give you much for it.

You know, I mean, ain't no buyers

for sh*t like this around here.

All right, well, look,
I don't need much.

I just need enough
to get a bus ticket on home.

Getting the hell out of here.

Oh, yeah? You hightailing it? Why?

That ain't too much
your business, is it?

[CHUCKLES] Yeah.

How much for the damn coat, now?

A bunch of big-ticket items
coming through here today.

You know, I guess folks
are going through

some hard times, see?

Yep.

You won't believe this,

but Bumpy Johnson's wife, Mayme,

was in my shop today trying
to pawn her valuable jewelry.

Had to send her way downtown.

Oh. Why you telling me this?

- You say downtown?
- Mm-hmm.

Where?

Nah, I can't tell you that.

Why not?

That's privileged information.

I mean, my transactions
are held in strict confidence.

How much for the damn address?

You know... [CHUCKLES]

My wife, she tells me
I'm a terrible businessman.

- And she's right, you see.
- Now, look.

Either we can come to an agreement

about this here address,

or I can go about getting it
a whole different way.

I'm gon' leave that up to you.

You know...

this coat would do nicely.

♪♪♪

Anyway, after we dropped the kid
off, we get a civics lesson.

On the radio,
the Blacks on some program

talking about their rights and sh*t.

[DOM] Some real enlightening stuff.

Yeah, we're a minority group,
too, you know?

I mean, we're cut out
of legit society,

and then we're punished
every time we find a workaround.

[SIREN WAILING]

What the hell is that?
The f*cking cops?

Hey, hey, listen. Don't react.

You hear me? Stay calm.

[SIREN STOPS WAILING]

[TIRES SCREECH]

[GLASS SHATTERS]

Oh, what the f*ck?

Good morning, gentlemen.

How you doing?

What seems to be the problem, officer?

You got a broken taillight.

A broken taillight?

Really?

Yeah, all right.
Thanks for the heads-up.

[GLASS SHATTERS]

You got a headlight out, too.

Step out of the car.

♪♪

So, what's the matter, you boys short

on f*cking money for lunch
or something? [GRUNTS]

That's a message from Pike.

Stay the f*ck away from his family.

Yeah, all right, listen, hey,
I got a message

for you to take back to the ADA.

Tell Jonathan Pike
to suck my fat f*cking...

[MEN GRUNTING]

[YELLING]

[GRUNTING CONTINUES]

All right, that's enough.

[GROANING]

You have a nice day.

[LAUGHS]

- [INHALES SHARPLY]
- [CAR DOORS OPEN, CLOSE]

[GROANS]

[ALICE] The next order of business...

approvals for new members.

[CHARLOTTE] Mayme, we've had some...

Developments.

Yes, in the processing
of your application,

which may complicate moving
forward with you on our board.

Complicate how?

Well, you see, my husband...

Of course, all this is irrelevant

if the more pressing matter
of dues isn't satisfied.

And unfortunately, the deadline is...

I have the money.

[LATCHES CLICK]

[GASPS SOFTLY] Oh, cash.

[CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]

Very nice.

Well, in that case...

Mayme, we'd like
to officially extend a position

on the board of
the New York Fine Arts Museum.

That's... Thank you.

I am thrilled, Alice.

Alice, shouldn't we discuss...

Mayme, the concern
Ginny is referring to

is the issue of your husband
and his past.

Certainly, that doesn't reflect
well on the museum's reputation.

My husband is a well-respected
businessman in Harlem.

He's quite a bit more than that,
wouldn't you say?

Why should my husband's past
have any bearing on my future?

Aren't we women with our own
reputations and ambitions?

That we are. [SIGHS]

Which is why there's
an easy way around this.

Mayme, we'll list you in our roll

as "Miss Mayme Hatcher."

But Hatcher is my maiden name.

I put my marriage
on the line to be here.

Miss Hatcher...

we'd be delighted to have you
on the board with us.

But, of course, it's your decision.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[BUMPY] Joe. Vinnie.

Two Macallans.

[BLUES MUSIC PLAYING]

♪♪♪

[CHUCKLES] I don't get it, you know?

You got gambling, you got girls,
who knows what else?

And cops, they give you a pass.

So, I get pinched,
and you sit here untouched.

I pay for my peace.

And some of that goes to you.

I mean, look, good for you,

as a Black man, your success.
[CLEARS THROAT]

Me, I'm over here, I got to
sweat f*cking parking tickets.

What do your problems
have to do with my success?

Well, I'm just saying, the Blacks,

they get everything they want
handed to them,

no offense, you know.

Me, I get squeezed
like a f*cking grape.

- That's an injustice.
- Yeah.

You think my people get
everything that they want?

Well, all right,
maybe not every little thing,

but a lot of things.

How many of your civilians
are being m*rder*d by cops?

I'm just saying, you can't say

that I don't experience
prejudice, too, a lot.

[SIGHS] You wanna complain?

Go march the f*ck on Washington.

♪♪♪

Come on, Vin.

Hey, you know what?

You got a point, Johnson.
I'll give you that.

♪♪♪

[UNDER BREATH] f*ck' idiots.

[HORNS HONKS IN DISTANCE]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

♪♪♪

Guess you can take the day off, huh?

♪♪♪

[SNIP]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

We got a call about your alarm system.

Some kind of problem with it.

Sure like to check it out.

Okay. Yeah. Follow me.

♪♪♪

Well, this... this is it over here.

But I'm surprised, 'cause we really

- haven't had any issues wi...
- [g*n c*ck]

Open it up.

Go on, now. You deaf?

Ah, you got to go a whole lot faster.

I'm trying.

[CLICK]

There it is.

Go on, scoop out all that jewelry

you hauled in this week
and put it in that bag.

Hey, don't be no hero.

♪♪♪

[WHISPERS]
Put your f*cking hands down!

Okay, okay.

- Act natural.
- Okay.

Business as usual.

♪♪

Stop, thief!

[WOMAN SCREAMS]

♪♪

[FRANK GROANING]

[WINCES]

That bag.

I got your wife's jewelry in that bag.

You took a b*llet getting this for me?

Bump, he probably got
a whole squad on his tail, too.

Yeah, this m*therf*cker's trouble.

He came all the way up here
with a b*llet in his gut.

Now, help the doctor.

- What do you need me to do?
- Pressure right here.

- Right here?
- Yeah.

[FRANK GROANING]

[b*llet CLINKS]

He's lost a lot of blood,
but he'll be all right.

Pressure here.

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

[HORNS HONKING,
DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]

[GASPS]

[GROANS]

You still want my protection?

Hell, I could sure use it.

Why'd you do it?

Steal my wife's jewelry back?

I don't know.

Feel like I need to
prove somethin' to you.

I don't wanna run no more.

My daddy done ran his whole life.

Well, you're a damn mess,
you know that?

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[INHALES SHARPLY]

But you got something.

And if you can learn better
to fight your enemies,

you'll quit fighting yourself.

I'll be back.

[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]

[HORN HONKS IN DISTANCE]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

Babe.

What's wrong?

I've done a terrible thing.

What? Selling your jewelry
to get on the board

with those white ladies?

[CRYING] I did.

Everything's all right. It's okay.

I got it back.

From Frank Lucas, no less.

♪♪♪

[GASPS]

I'm sorry.

[CRYING]

I'm so sorry. [SNIFFLES]

It's okay.

[ELISE] Dear Daddy...

it's hard for me to feel
this distance between us again.

It feels like every time
we get a little closer,

an ocean opens up between us,

and we're back where we started.

You and I are trying
to do the same thing...

honor Malcolm's memory
by helping Black folks out

of the oppression they suffer
in their own community.

Pawns, they go first.

They the weak ones.

They're the smallest, yeah.

Even if you don't like
how I'm fighting,

can you just be
proud of me for trying?

Ladies and gentlemen,
today marks a huge step forward,

a new beginning.

- Yes, sir.
- That's right.

Today, the Italian American
community stands proud...

- That's right.
- Yes, sir.

...and determined to fight injustices.

We have watched the n*gro community

fight valiantly
for their civil rights.

Is this a f*cking joke?

I tell you, their courage...

What the f*ck is he doing?

...and their determination
has inspired us.

♪♪♪

[BUMPY] Good. That was smart.

This game is like the streets.

You got to think three,
four moves ahead.

New York City
and federal law enforcement

have unfairly targeted, marginalized,

and persecuted
the Italian American community,

chief among them

Assistant District Attorney
Jonathan Pike.

- You son of a b*tch.
- They have falsely labeled us

- as criminals and gangsters...
- [BUZZER]

What is it?

[SECRETARY]
Deputy Director is on line one.

...our families, our children.

Checkmate.

The pawn goes first.

But the most important thing
to remember about the game

is to play every piece
as if it's family.

[ELISE] I miss you, Daddy.

And I hope one day
we can fight together.

♪♪♪

[SNIFFLES]

♪♪♪

[PAPER CRINKLES]

[COLOMBO]
And now as Italian Americans,

we, too, must fight for
our rights and our dignity.

- Yes.
- Yes, sir.

There is no such thing as the Mafia.

We are not criminals.

We ask only to be defined
by our actions,

our integrity, and our unity!

[CROWD CHEERING]

[FLASHBULBS POPPING]

[APPLAUSE ON TV]

[MAN] Stay off Joe Colombo.

He's making us look bad.

Understood.

[INHALES DEEPLY]

Well, just, uh...

We'll find some other
way to take him down.

Come on, let's do another one.
Set it up.

[OPTIMISTIC MUSIC PLAYS]

♪♪♪

- ♪ Who on beef, come forth ♪
- ♪ Who ♪

♪ Doberman living, I'm big dog ♪

♪ Wrestling life,
These the memoirs of the... ♪

- ♪ Black mafioso in-laws ♪
- ♪ Let's go, Cross ♪

♪ Nana was in the living room,
I was in the kitchen ♪

♪ She thought
I was pouring cereal ♪

♪ But I was frying chickens ♪

♪ Hard for me to listen,
They ended up in the prison ♪

♪ Threw the line out the cell,
They call it fishing ♪

♪ Two more drinks
And then gone ♪

♪ Two-door whips,
We in foreign ♪

♪ Rich sports,
I'm ballin' Spaldin ♪

♪ In the hills with Black girls,
Lauren aura ♪

♪ In the hills with Black girls,
suits and fedoras ♪

♪ It's across 110th Street,
Turn them into mincemeat ♪

♪ I got kissing cousins that be
Tellin' me they missin' me ♪

♪ Hoppin' out the cherry V,
Everything Louis V ♪

♪ Flyest n*gga on the block
Every time they see me flee ♪