Down to the Felt (2025)

[bunniefuu]

[ticking]

[suspenseful music]

[ticking continues]

[exhales] Hey.

-[man] Close your eyes.

-Come on.

[ticking continues]

Close

your eyes.

[tense music]

[g*n c*ck]

[winces]

[music builds]

[ticking continues]

[pensive music]

[exhales]

[pensive music continues]

Paulie, your father knew when to fold.

Well, I'll tell you something, Georgie.

I'm not my father.

[chips clacking]

[player laughing raucously]

[chips clacking]

[laughter continues]

[laughter fades]

[keys jingle]

[exhales]

["Miss Me with That Bullshit" by RJD2]

[engine turns over]

[song continues]

[Wynette over phone] Paul, $40,000?

The down payment on the house?

[stutters] Uh, you know what?

I, I can't, I can't do this anymore.

[Seamus] Paulie, it's Seamus.

What the hell is going on?

I got Jimmy Good Hair

breathing down my neck

about the bet you got for tonight's game.

Call me, or get your a*s over here.

[automated voice] This

message is for Paul Murphy.

This is the Columbus Collection Agency

regarding an outstanding

balance on your account.

Please contact us to

discuss payment options

to avoid further action.

[Wynette] We're done! That's it!

If, if you want your sh*t,

it'll be in the dumpster, on fire,

just like your life!

[Burt] Hey, Paulie, it's Burt.

Hey, I hope you're on your way, man.

Marcy's looking for you.

And I don't think

it's about a raise.

[song continues]

[suspenseful music]

[shutter rolls, clanks]

-Hey, Paulie.

-Burt.

So you got any money left to

bet the game this weekend?

How do you...[snickers]

[laughs] I'm sorry, man.

Couldn't resist. Word got out fast.

-It was a bad beat?

-Oh, God, in the history

of bad beat.

-[Marcy] Murphy.

Nice of you to make it in on time.

Oh, no, you didn't. Again.

-I, uh... Traffic.

-You know,

maybe I should play poker.

I can read you like a f*ck' book, Murphy.

When you win, you're early,

and when you lose, you're late.

I think that's called a

"tell." Do I have that right?

You know, Marcy, I gotta

tell you, your father's pep talks

were far more effective.

Can I please just get to work?

You have to be the

unluckiest son of a b*tch I know.

God knows what my father saw in you.

I was just starting to think

the same thing about you.

-[Burt] Hey, Paulie. Lettuce is here.

-You're g*dd*mn right it is.

Come have a good look,

Marcy, 'cause you're about to see

how a bet pays off.

Mexican lettuce. It's got no legs.

[scoffs] Un-f*cking-believable.

-[Paul] Okay, you know what?

-[Marcy exhales]

Let me just get on the phone with Santos

and fix this, okay? He f*cked us.

You're not calling anyone.

Santos didn't f*ck us.

He f*cked you, and then you f*cked us.

-Okay, Marcy, just give me...

-No, Paul. I am sick and tired

of you treating my family's business like

your own f*cking line

of credit at the casino.

It's the g*dd*mn peaches all over again!

That wasn't my fault. They

put 'em on the wrong truck.

Oh. [Scoffs] -And besides,

your dad gave me a pass on that.

Oh, yeah, I remember.

And I also remember thinking

that he should have fired your dumb a*s.

But for some reason, my father loved you.

Maybe because you ate

with him, drank with him,

-played cards with him...

-Yeah, or maybe he wishes

I was running this place, but,

hey, you got the right last name.

[scoffs]

You know, before my father died,

he made me promise to keep you on,

and I did. Out of respect.

But I never promised how long.

Working here for as long as you have

is probably the best

f*cking run you'll ever have.

But now it's over.

Pack your sh*t and go.

Oh, and take all the lettuce you want.

Sanfillipo's gift for

your years of disservice.

[slow tense music]

[clipboard clatters]

[door slams]

Maybe stay away from football this weekend.

[music continues]

[siren wailing in distance]

[music continues]

[clinking]

[clanks]

[clicks]

[clanks]

[tires squeal]

-[air hissing]

[muffled] What the f*ck?

[suspenseful music]

[air hissing]

[horn honking in distance]

Oh, f*ck!

[muffled g*nsh*t]

-[thuds]

[sighs]

[reciting Mourner's Kaddish]

[tense music]

[tires squeal]

[engine turns off]

[exhales]

[lighter clinks]

[exhales]

Seamus.

Mr. Four-of-a-kind.

-You heard.

-Yeah.

The Greek won't shut up about it.

Keeps talking about how he's gonna open up

a second location with your money.

Well, it was a bad beat.

Yeah.

You know what goes along with a bad beat?

Bad luck.

Come on. Let's get inside.

[children yelling]

All right.

You still got ten large

riding on the Knicks game

with Jimmy Good Hair.

You want me to call it off, right?

No. No, no, no. Leave it.

Are you sure?

Yeah. I'm sure.

-Oh, Christ.

-Wh... what?

Your old man knew when to fold and...

How many times do I have to hear

what my old man would have done?

You know what?

-Double it. Double it.

-Oh, Paulie, come on.

-Double it. Double it, Seamus!

-You are in the woods here.

-You just lost 40 grand to the Greek.

-Okay, you don't wanna do it,

-that's fine. There's other bookies in this town.

-You wanna go another 20

-with Jimmy Good Hair?

-I can go to another bookie.

You gonna do it or not?

I shouldn't.

I hope you know what you're doing.

You know what? I don't.

Are you gonna do it or not?

Thank you.

And, uh, now I have a favor to ask.

Oh, jeez. [Laughs][sheepish chuckle]

You got f*cking ba*ls,

kid. I'll give you that much.

I need a place to stay.

Just for a couple of days. Come on, Seamus.

-Just for a couple of days.

-Nah, until

it turns into a couple of weeks.

No. You ain't staying here.

Well, where am I supposed to go?

[birds chirping] -Dreams

really do come true.

My adult son moving back in with me.

-Good to see you too, Ma.

-Yeah.

Smoking again, huh?

It started back on today. [Blows]

Coincidence?

You should quit, Angie.

Those things are gonna k*ll you.

When?[Chuckles wheezily]

[door creaks]

[sighs]

Oh. [Chuckles]

Wow.

[Angie] Mm.

Ah.

Jordan. Jesus, that guy

was money in the bank.

-Yeah, now you got LeBron.

-Nah, nah.

Jordan was with the Bulls for 13 years.

I like commitment.

[chuckles] What, uh, no Pamela Anderson?

Ah, no, this lady made me take it down.

Thought I was gonna jerk my youth away.

Oh, don't be disgusting.

You could see her nipple, for God's sake.

-Who do you think changed his sheets back then?

-[chuckles]

And I ain't gonna start changing 'em now.

I don't know what you did

to that nice girl Jeanette.

-Wynette, Ma. Wynette.

-Whatever.

-I don't know what you did to get tossed out...

-[sighs]

but if you start pulling that

same crap under my roof, mister,

you're gonna get a room at the Y.

Capiche?

[door latch clicking]

All right, buddy. Always

good to see you, Angie.

Yeah, always good to see you, Seamus.

And don't be a stranger.

Come by anytime you want.

If you want a cookie,

you better get one now.

I'm gonna put 'em away.

[chuckles wheezily]

You be a good boy.

[laughs]

[Angie] Paulie, shut the

door. You're letting the air out.

[door shuts]

[somber music]

[crow cawing]

[Paul] What are you doing?

[sighs] Looking for a

seven-letter word for "bothered."

Starts with an A.

"Annoyed."

An...

Perfect.

Ma, where's your bread?

I still have to work 20

hours a week at the bakery.

You think I wanna come

home and make more bread?

Stop bothering me.

There's a loaf of store-bought in the box.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

What happened?

-I thought you didn't want me to bother you.

-Yeah, well,

that ship sailed the day you were born.

Why'd you get fired?

-Marcy Sanfillipo's had it out for me forever.

-Oh, Paulie...

-Ever since her dad died.

- what did you do?

-Why's it always got to be something I did?

-Look, you can say

what you want about Marcy Sanfillipo,

but you and I both know she

wouldn't fire you for no reason.

-Did you steal money?

-Ma!

-Well, then what did you do?

-I had a chance to make a sweet deal

and it went south.

-You gambled.

Okay, yeah. Here we go.

Yeah, Ma. That's right.

Everything I do is a bet.

Everything I do is a gamble.

It was a good deal.

Oh, God.

"A good deal."

You know how many times I

heard that from your father?

God rest his soul.

The car we didn't need.

The extra fridge out in the garage

that still doesn't work.

Your confirmation suit.

I was up all night

hemming that thing so you,

you wouldn't look like you were

wearing a, a tent with sleeves.

It was always about the deal.

[sighs] Oh, God.

I wanted it to be different with you.

But I don't know what I

did. But obviously I failed.

[scoffs] What do you mean you failed?

You're a grown man

who's, who's gambled away

a chance for a house, a family, a job.

And now, look, you're

living back here with me.

I know. So, okay, but

how is that your fault, Ma?

That's me.

I mean, what do they say?

What's bred in the bone...

Oh, is that what you think?

-That I'm comparing you to your father?

-Yeah.

Which is why I don't get you

busting my ba*ls all the time.

-Because you were with Dad 'til the day he died...

-[scoffs]

- and he was a gambler.

-You may think you're a gambler

like your father, but you are nothing

like your father.

Yeah, sure, he did some stupid things.

But your father never

put this house at risk.

Your father always put food on that table.

He was never, never late on a bill.

Your father...

[clicks tongue, voice breaking] Your

father cared more about other people

than he cared about himself.

[mouthing] Yeah.

[gulps softly]

[cutlery clunks]

[pensive music]

[exhales slowly]

[sighs]

[music continues]

[shredder clicks]

[shredder whirs]

Excuse me.

Is this the right place for,

uh, Davis and Associates?

Yeah, I work there. You new?

Yeah. I thought I'd bring

some donuts, you know.

Make a good impression.[Chuckles]

It's your lucky day. You get first pick.

Ooh! Jelly filled.

[clicking]

-[muffled g*nsh*t]

[body thuds]

[tense music]

[sighs]

[box thuds]

[sighs]

[reflective music]

[sighs]

[inhales]

-[g*n c*ck]

[shredder clicks]

[whirring]

[Saul] And as we approach

the High Holy Days

and prepare to fast and pray and confess,

it is this last thing that has been

on my mind most this past week.

Confess.

What is it to confess?

On Yom Kippur, we come together

to confess our sins to God

and seek forgiveness.

But what about outside these walls?

What place does forgiveness

have in our personal lives?

Consider this.

It is only when we forgive ourselves

and fully accept

responsibility for our errors,

that we can be kind and merciful to others.

For most of the wrongs done to

us, we have done to ourselves.

Is this not why you seek forgiveness

from those you have wronged,

so that you may become a better person?

For if you're not a better person

tomorrow than you are today

what need have you for a tomorrow?

And to this I hope you will all say Amen.

[all] Amen.

[somber music]

[indistinct commentary on TV]

-What can I get for you?

-Gin. Chilled. Neat.

Gotcha.

[commentator on TV] They're

all out there on the court tonight.

-You've been watching this game?

-Knicks are up by four.

-Is that a good thing?

-Yeah, that's good.

Knicks fan, huh?

No.

No, sorry, if you don't

mind, we're getting down

to the last two minutes here.

You took the Knicks?

-Yeah.

-Not the Cavs?

Well, it's not the same

team since LeBron left.

Not that the Knicks are

any better. They suck too.

I'm just hoping they suck less.

Now, if you'll... If you don't mind.

[woman on TV] Dive into fall with new looks

and fresh takes on

classics for the whole family.

[exhales] Okay.

Sorry. Just, uh,

had a sh*t day, and I got

a lot riding on this game.

It always seems like it comes down

to the last two minutes in basketball.

What does it matter if

it's basketball or football?

Bottom of the ninth with two outs

or the Kentucky f*cking Derby.

The last two minutes.

It's always the most

exciting. When the bet's in,

time's running out,

everything's on the line.

-What about ties?

-f*ck ties.

That's why I never bet on soccer.

[chuckles softly]

Well, here's to the last two minutes.

Oh, yeah, can you, can you

turn it up, please?

[commentator on TV] Milosevic back

on the hunt, looking and finding Sampson.

Sampson, mobbed with

coverage, tries to find Hart,

but Pearson again with the steal...

-Murphy.

-Oh, Frick and Frack.

What, did you come to

pay me? Save me a trip?

-Game ain't over yet.

-Yeah, Knicks are up.

Not with your minus two, they ain't.

Like he said, game ain't over yet.

All right, Murphy, I'll

give you a few seconds.

Let it never be said that I

don't give a loser one final shot.

[commentator on TV] They got to try

to keep that forward momentum going

and grind it out to the last second.

-First one's up, and it's good.

-f*ck yes!

-Up by three.

-Okay. Come on.

Come on, suck less, god damn it!

Shot is up, and it is good.[Laughs]

Knicks 5-4.

-Okay. Okay. Okay. Here we go.

[commentary continues indistinctly]

[dramatic thud]

-f*ck!

No! No, no!

-[commentator on TV] 103 to 102.

-Hey!

Come on, get your hands off of me!

What? Do you think I got it on me now?

Whoa, but the Knicks won.

When I come back, I'll explain the spread.

[commentator] ...what

you want, but you can't say

they don't have heart.

Well, that'll do it for us as we...

[tense music]

[man grunts]

-[clangs]

[Paul groaning]

Give the man a chance, for Christ's sake.

Yeah, come on. What, do you think

I carry around cash? I'm not that stupid.

[sighs softly]

-A grand.

[exhales]

-It's a start.

[ticking]

[grunts]

[coughs]

You don't wanna pay back what you owe

so you try to win it all

back and then some.

The juice starts running after tomorrow.

Okay. Okay.

So, are we done here?

Almost.

[grunts, groans]

Uh, hey, hey. No, no,

not the watch. Come on.

Why? You already got a grand.

I don't like you, Murphy.

Wha...[clatters]

Figures. Piece-of-sh*t watch

for a piece-of-sh*t loser.

[grunting]

[Paul grunts]

-[groans]

[grunting]

[grunting continues]

-[groaning]

[g*n clicks]

-Oh, sh*t.

Hey.

Now, this doesn't seem like a fair fight.

[grunts]

-[screams]

[groans]

Whoa, whoa, whoa,

whoa. It's okay. It's okay.

[tense music]

-[ticking]

[Paul grunts]

[groans]

[groans]

[g*n clicks]

-God! [Groans]

[Paul coughs]

[panting]

So

tell me about this spread.

[soft music]

I think this is yours.

Oh, sh*t. Yeah. Thank you.

This belonged to my old man.

Sorry, I think it's broken.

No, actually, no. It's been 10:08

since he gave it to me.

So, it's right twice a day.

More than I can say for myself.

So, let me see if I got this straight.

This morning, you lost

$40,000 at a poker game

which led you to getting

kicked out of your apartment

and dumped by your girlfriend.

Lost your job at the produce company

because of a truck of bad lettuce.

You doubled a bet with your bookie,

moved back in with your mother,

and now you're in 20 grand to

someone with really good hair

because the Knicks didn't win by four?

I think, technically I was

dumped first, then kicked out,

but, sounds about right.

[scoffs, chuckles]

[inhales, exhales]

How was your day?

You don't wanna know.

Oh, actually, I'd love to know.

I mean, come on, it's

gotta be better than mine.

Probably worst f*cking day in my life.

It was a normal morning routine.

Workout, two-mile run, shower, breakfast,

gratitude journal.

Put a b*llet in an informant's head.

Had a great little salad

at the Brown Bag Deli.

Picked up some donuts.

Point-blank, blew the

brains out of a slimy attorney.

Went to Friday night services

for my weekly dose of Jewish guilt.

[clicks tongue]

Then here.

[Paul scoffs softly]

[rock music playing indistinctly]

[pool ba*ls clack]

[chuckles]

You know, when we were back

there and you had the g*n on the guy,

I saw it. I saw the look.

You're... a hitman.

David Solomon, at your service.

Paul Murphy. Hey, humbly

grateful. You saved my a*s.

[chuckles] Nah, you were

doing all right for yourself.

If it weren't for the g*n.

[scoffs] g*dd*mn hitman.

Do you have a problem with that?

No. No. Come on.

I mean, everybody's got to work.

So

what are you gonna do now?

You wouldn't happen to have

19 grand on you, would you?

[chuckles] No, sorry.

Yeah, well, I gotta come up with that.

-Plus the vig.

-The vig?

Yeah, it's, uh, gamblers' interest,

but it's not as generous as a bank.

And you think you can come up with that?

I mean... [scoffs]

Not if things keep going

the way they have been.

And if I don't, I mean,

eventually he'll k*ll me.

Which I could give a sh*t, but

he'll make it look like a suicide.

Then my ma won't even

get the insurance money.

f*ck my luck!

I can't even die right.

[sighs]

[chuckles softly]

I know the feeling.

-What do you mean?

-I can't either.

Well, you can't k*ll yourself because

of the insurance money for your mom.

For me, I wouldn't be able to

be buried in a Jewish cemetery.

I know this.

After all I've done.

I know that I deserve to

be buried with the righteous.

Convert.[Scoffs]

Catholics forgive everything.

Yeah. [Chuckles]

I'm afraid it doesn't work that way.

It means that much to you, huh?

It does.

[music continues indistinctly]

[pool ba*ls clacking]

[dull, moody music]

I'm never gonna get out from under this.

I'm just gonna keep f*cking

up, keep hurting people.

Good people.

f*ck that.

I'm done.

[pensive music]

You could do it.

-Do what?

-k*ll me.

-Yeah, I know.

-No, I mean, you k*ll me.

In two weeks, you k*ll me.

You make it look like a

wrong place, wrong time,

whatever it is you do,

so that my ma gets the insurance money.

What's with the two weeks?

Well, I got enough cash to go two weeks.

I mean, not enough to pay off Jimmy,

but enough to take a run at it

and then some if I get lucky. I mean,

think of it as the last two

minutes of my game of life.

[scoffs] -Either I

take it down to the felt

or I go out a winner.

But either way

when those two

weeks are up, I gotta die.

And you die making things right?

I don't know about right, but... better,

for everyone.

Except you. I, I can't pay you.

It would be righteous.

Righteous, yeah. Righteous,

like, like community service.

[David scoffs softly]

This is an agreement

between you and me.[Sighs]

And if you choose to make this

agreement, there's no turning back.

It's a one-way street. No U-turns.

[slow tense music]

[Paul sighs]

It's a good plan.

Right?

It's your plan.

Yes. Yep.

It's my plan. Yeah.

[stool clattering]

-Okay, well...

-That's all right. I got it.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, okay.

I'll see you in two weeks.

Wait. Actually, uh, will I see you or...

'Cause if you come, it might be better

if I didn't even see you, you know?

Just... [mimics g*nsh*t]

You know?

But whatever. Okay.

["Un Verre De Trop" by Julien Veyrac]

[exhales]

[plastic rustling]

[sloshing]

Mm.

[song continues]

[song stops abruptly]

-[car alarm blaring]

[car alarm chirps]

[unsettling music]

[bones crack]

[dramatic whoosh]

[pen clatters]

[hurried footsteps]

-Morning, Ma.

-Morning.

What happened to you?

Nothing.

Oh, nothing, huh?

You didn't get blood

on my counter, did you?

Like you wouldn't have seen

it first thing in the morning.

No, Ma, I didn't.

Well, you look nice.

Let me fix you something to eat.

So I gotta look nice for you to act nice?

If you're gonna be looking for a job,

you need to do it on a full stomach.

I gotta get to it, Ma.

Well, you need to eat something.

I gotta go.

And bring back my mug.

[door opens]

[soft music]

[cell phone chimes]

[music continues]

[notification bloops]

[sighs]

[ticking]

[exhales softly]

[music continues]

[ticking continues]

[chips clacking]

Thanks for staking me, man.

Just don't embarrass me.[Sighs]

[woman] Double Mossburn. Neat.

It's my poker face.

Mm.

You playing tonight?

Winning tonight.

[music continues]

[mouthing] Wow.

[man groans]

Hey, Paulie. Double stacked.

Go big or go home, huh?

More like go big or go homeless.

Surprised to see you here tonight.

Aren't you normally shoving 20s

into the Wheel of Fortune machine?

Hey, I play poker too.

Tommy, you play cards.

She apparently plays poker.

[upbeat suspenseful music]

[music fades]

[Paul] You're raising the

flop. But checking on the turn.

Are you slow playing me?

Because I'll tell you right

now, I've got the straight.

But I'm thinking you're holding hearts.

Go ahead and bet your straight.

That is, unless you're bluffing.

I'm gonna call you anyway.

Aw, wrong suit. Pretty sure

it doesn't match your shoes.

Cute.

[chips clacking]

-I call.

I got the straight.

Well, this heart doesn't play,

-but these two do.

-Nice. Very nice.

[inhales] I did have you

in the flush draw, though.

-You did, and you weren't lying about the straight.

-I was not.

Mm-mm. We should both

be ashamed of ourselves,

letting civility dictate a hand like that.

My dad, he would have smacked me.

My dad would have raised me on the turn.

My father would have said,

"Why don't the two of you

get a room?"

[woman clears throat]

Well, it was nice playing with you all.

-It was nice playing with you...

-Paul.

-And you are?

-Leaving.

Stay civil, Paul.

Jesus, finally.

You know what your problem is, Tommy?

You don't recognize a lesson

when you're getting one.

-What lesson?

-Well, like I said, you play cards.

That lady just schooled

you on how to play the player,

and you didn't learn a g*dd*mn thing.

Hey, I still got chips in front of me.

That's only 'cause I'm getting up too.

[chips clacking]

You didn't stay.

It got less interesting after you left.

Hm. You left a lot of money on that table.

You could have cleared those guys out.

I could say the same thing for you.

Oh, I don't do it for the money.

I mean, it's nice, but...

Some people read books, I read people.

Keeps me sharp.

Huh. I do it for the money.

-[woman] Ah.

-[Paul] Looks like you're buyin'.

[woman] That's very presumptuous of you.

I've been called worse.

[bartender] What can I get ya?

A Mata Hari, please.

[bartender] A Mata who?

One and a quarter ounce

cognac, one ounce sweet vermouth,

three quarter ounces pomegranate

juice, one half ounce simple syrup,

three quarters ounces

lemon juice, freshly squeezed.

Shake it, strain it. Glass. Chill.

Watershed, rocks. You can make mine first.

You realize we're in Columbus, Ohio?

Ah, it's a test.

Whenever I relocate, it's a great way

to gauge the culture of the city.

[ice clinking]

-You're looking at it.

-Mm-hm.

So

how many times

have they gotten it right?

Uh, let's see...

New York, San Francisco, Chicago,

uh, Wichita.

-Really?

-Mm-hm.

And...

Mm. [Gulps]

Now, Columbus.

So, wait, uh, New York,

Chicago, then Columbus?

-Did you get demoted?

-I go where the work takes me.

What kind of work is that?

Corporate restructuring.

-That's nice and vague.

-Downsizing.

Basically, when CEOs don't

want to look bad, they call me.

Wow, I bet people just love

seeing you walk in the front door.

That's why I sneak in the back.

[chuckles]

And what about you, Paul?

What is it that you do?

I am a professional gambler.

-Really?

-Mm-hm.

Hm.

-For how long?

-Well, uh,

two hours. This is my first day.

Mm. And, uh, what did you

do before you turned pro?

I got fired.

Yeah. And before that,

-I lost 40 grand in a poker game.

-Mm.

Which led to the loss of a

down payment for a house,

my girlfriend, a place to live, my dog.

And left me with no choice but

to move back in with my mother.

[clears throat] -[chuckles softly]

I can't believe I just told you that.

Uh, I know what you're thinking.

Quite the catch, right?

Depends what your takeaway from all that.

I miss the dog.

So, what's your read on me now?

Refreshingly honest.

Does that mean I get your name?

[chuckles]

-Erica.

-Well, Erica, listen.

I'd love to see you again.

Oh, you might find me

at Moscone's on Monday night.

At what time?

Don't even tell me. I'll

just go now and wait.

7:30.

[chuckles softly]

And what do you think the

over/under of that happening was?

I would've lost money.

If I was you, I would not be late.

[suspenseful music]

[over phone] Levine Produce. This is Irv.

[David] Hi, this is Mike Reynolds

calling from the Bureau of Unemployment.

I'm following up on a

claim filed by a Paul Murphy.

-Paul who?

-Murphy.

Yeah, I think you got the wrong place, man.

We don't have anybody by that name.

Sorry. My mistake.

This is Mike Reynolds with

the Bureau of Unemployment.

Yeah, hey, this is, uh,

Mike Reynolds calling

from the Bureau of Unemployment,

following up on a claim filed by a Paul...

Yeah, I'm just following up

on a claim for a Paul Murphy.

[Marcy] Wow. He didn't waste

much time, did he? [Laughs]

Yeah, he was employed here.

Whether he worked or not is up for debate.

Well, he filed a claim, and

I'm just following up to confirm

that he actually worked there

and that he was fired from there.

Oh, yeah. He was fired.

Got it. One more thing. Uh,

can you confirm his current address?

Uh, yeah, unless he's a miracle worker,

he's not at that address anymore.

Last I heard, he was

living with his mother.

Well, uh, could I trouble

you for the address, please?

[sighs] Yeah, sure.

[keys clacking]

-[clears throat]

It's 353 Tracy Lane.

Got it. Thank you for your time.

-Hey, there.

-Hi. Do you have a reservation?

Uh, I'm meeting someone.

Um, and I see her.

That's not a Mata Hari.

It is not.

-Watershed, rocks.

-Embracing the local culture.

-Nice.

-[Server] c*ck, sir?

-Uh, yeah. Same as the lady.

-Right away, sir.

Okay, I gotta be honest.

I was not sure you'd be here.

That makes two of us.

[clicks tongue] Well, I'm glad you are.

Me too.

-You can tell me what's good.

-Everything.

Everything is good tonight.

[Erica] And I'm sitting on pocket aces.

But I've already taken most of

these guys' money and dignity

so they're praying to see me lose.

-Mm.

You'd gotten in their heads.

-Completely.

-Mm-hm.

So, the turn.

[clicks tongue] Ace of diamonds.

I've got three aces, but I bet small.

The big blind, he's chasing a straight

and, uh, river card comes, four aces.

Monster hand.

And I go to bet. And I, uh, you know...

[Paul] Reverse tell.

-And he falls for it.

-[Softly] Oh.

He goes all in.

I just love being underestimated.

And proving them wrong.

[smacks lips] And making 'em pay for it.

[both chuckle]

So how's your tiramisu?

Yeah, it's, uh, it's good.

But, you know, it's not my mother's.

Oh, I take it she knows

her way around a kitchen.

-Oh, yeah.

-Mm.

She always cooked

for us growing up.

But then after my dad died,

I mean, there's cooking out of love,

and then there's cooking out of necessity.

But she works at this

bakery. Cookies, bread,

all very good, but her tiramisu...

I mean, she can't make it

fast enough. It always sells out.

It reminds me of my Nana.

She'd probably give your

mom a run for her money.

Her drop-dead brownies...

[blows] My favorite.

She was my favorite.

I miss her.

Mm. You're fond of your mama. I like that.

Yeah. Um, you know, we're roommates

[chuckles] ...which

makes it a little, um...

Yeah, yeah. How long

do you see that lasting?

No longer than two weeks.

Yeah, I'm... It's about

as far ahead as I can see.

Well, the good thing about

being home is the cooking, right?

-Is that right?

-Um, yeah. Well, you would think so.

-Here, try, try some of this.

-Mm.

See, I'm not my mother's favorite child.

Oh. Got siblings?

[clicks tongue] Nope.

[both chuckle softly]

But there always exists a phantom child

who could be better. You know, in her mind.

[Erica chuckles softly]

Just the ones that she imagines

she could've had.

[old-timey song]

That was really great. Thank you.

Oh, you picked a great

place. If it was up to me,

we would have gone to White Castle.

What's not to like? I mean,

it's, it's open 24 hours a day.

They serve you your food very quickly.

Uh-huh. Yeah, again, very refreshing.

So, what do you do now?

Uh, going home, I guess. You?

-I got to get to work.

-Oh, that's right.

-You're a professional gambler.

-Yeah. But there's, uh,

-there's a special promotion at the casino.

-Really?

Yeah. It's

bring-your-girlfriend-to-work night.

Oh, I'm not your girlfriend, so...

-And that's not a real promotion, so...

-Oh.

You know my love is true

The stars have fallen From above

The golden moon turned blue

My cryin' heart Keeps cryin'

My arms, they long for you

I'm lonely as that little man

They say that's in the moon

Why don't you come home?

For I'm oh so alone...

[engine turns over]

-[David] Eyes forward.

Who the f*ck are you?

You know who I am.

Tell Mario I'll get him his money.

I'll get it back. All of it.

It's too late for that now.

No, it's not. I swear I can get it.

I'll take you there now.

It's not there.

Wha... what do you mean, it's not there?

[David sighs]

Like I said

it's not there.

Please. Please, man. Please don't do this.

Please. I have a wife and kid. Please.

Rebecca and Max.

I know they're in Cleveland,

visiting her parents.

Which is why I'm here when they are not.

Freddy? Baby? What are you doing?

[grunting]

[muffled g*nsh*t]

-[tires screeching]

[woman screams]

-[thuds]

[gasps]

[exhales]

[exhales]

f*ck.

[somber music]

[exhales]

[sighs]

[exhales heavily]

[music continues]

["Cold Eggs" by RJD2]

[all cheering]

[laughs]

-[song continues]

[muted]

[sports commentary on TV]

Yeah![All cheering]

[man] Unbelievable!

Unbelievable!

[song continues]

[muted]

-[woman] May us both win.

-You sound a little too excited.

[woman chuckles]

[song continues]

[muted]

[Paul exhales]

-[Erica] Hey.

-Hey, how are you doing?

Listen. Um, do you wanna try this new place

for great Italian food?

Sounds good.

Okay. Okay, great.

Yeah, it's very authentic.

-Really?

-I'll, uh, I'll make a reservation for us.

-Okay.

-Okay. Hey,

and maybe don't fire anybody today.

Be nice.

You bet.[Chuckles]

Okay. I'll text you.

-All right.

-Bye.

[suspenseful music]

So it was almost time

for the bakery to close,

and he says, "What do you

mean, you're out of bread?"

And I said, "Oh, Father Mike,

how many times have

you been in this bakery?

You know my bread sells

out every time before it closes."

And he goes, "I know,

but I was prayin' on it."

[all laughing]

Oh, so you liked it?

Not at all.[Laughs]

Oh. Better than your nana's?

It's, um...

-No, don't answer. That's fine. [Laughs]

It's delicious. Thank you.

So, tell me more about this job of yours.

You said you, you what...

You, um, you fix companies?

Ye... yeah, in a way. I help with problems

and keep an eye on things that

companies don't wanna deal with.

Wow. Sounds like a good job. Important job.

Yeah, I guess it's important

for the people who hire me.

[Angie] Mm-hm.

So, you're good at what you do, and smart.

What are you doing with this guy?

Ma...

-No, now, I'm asking a question.

Mind your business.[Paul groans]

I love my son, but he

isn't working right now.

I don't think he's even

trying to find a job.

So, why is someone

successful like you with a man

who has so much potential

-but isn't doing anything with it?

-[clicks tongue]

You don't have to answer that. [Chuckles]

[chuckles softly]

Because he makes me laugh.

Which I don't do often enough.

And he's honest, which

I don't see often enough.

And,

for now, that's enough.

Well... okay.

That's how I raised him.

Where are you going, Ma?

You think I made all

this food and no dessert?

I got tiramisu in the fridge.

Wow.

Okay, so that means she likes you.

'Cause otherwise, we'd be having cookies.

Oh.

[suspenseful music]

[footsteps approaching]

David?

You're in my favorite spot.

Oh, sorry. Rabbi Berkman, I, uh...

Please sit. Sit.

And, please, it's Rabbi Saul.

[Saul exhales]

I like to sit here.

Gives me perspective.

Yeah, it's peaceful.

Quiet. I can think.

And pray?

And get perspective.

I also like to sit here

and look at the ner tamid,

the eternal light.

When I deliver my sermons, it's behind me.

But you know it's there.

Of course.

But it's nice for us to

actually see confirmation

that Adonai is always present.

[scoffs softly] -I know

it's just a 40-watt bulb,

but it can be a very

faith-warming thing, that light.

Yeah, well, I wish I

had one in Afghanistan.

You know, a little travel version.

You know, I had a job,

and it should have been as

easy as changing a light bulb.

[David sighs]

[mumbles softly]

I am struggling. [Breathes shakily]

I'm struggling with the collateral damage.

[scoffs]

I can't begin to comprehend

what you must carry,

other than to assume it

involves the loss of the innocent.

You know, they give you all the training,

all the equipment to k*ll the enemy,

but they don't give you

anything to deal with it.

[clicks tongue] I don't know who could.

Other than Adonai himself.

It's a heavy thing, having

to decide in a moment

who lives and who dies.

It's not an everyday

decision for the common man.

But when it must happen, one hopes

it is for the better of the many.

I didn't ask to play God.

Nor were you asked to.

A wise young girl once said,

"We are fashioned by our choices.

First we make our choices,

then our choices make us."

You were trained to do

a thing, a terrible thing.

And your struggle is with the aftermath.

Six million innocent lives

were lost in the Holocaust.

You, you think God didn't

weep in the aftermath of that?

We all make choices, David.

It's a choice to turn away from the light,

to look into the shadows.

But the light is still there.

God is always with us.

His presence cannot be extinguished.

It was your choice to join the army. Yes?

Yeah, it was my choice to join the army,

and then I had to make

a lotta other choices,

choices that extinguished a

lot of lights. Innocent people.

Innocence, whether it's a

child or an adult, is pure,

but it's not protective.[Mumbles]

What am I supposed to do with that?

You're asking questions. That's good.

Yeah, and I'd like some f*cking answers!

Because all I get is more questions.

And more questions. And still I suffer.

We're Jews. That's what we do.

You're a rabbi. Isn't that your

job, to ease people's suffering?

Isn't that why you became one?

I became a rabbi

because I had a calling.

[clock chimes]

And I like the hours.

[scoffs softly]

[pensive music]

See you Friday night?

Do I have a choice?

[Paul] Boom.

-What's this?

-For you.

Two weeks, all expenses paid.

Why?

Ma, what do you mean,

why? 'Cause you always

wanted to go. Now you're going.

Well... take it back. Get your money back.

-What do you mean? It's paid for, Ma.

-Wait, with what money?

I'm making money, Ma.

I didn't ask for this.

You know what I want?

I want you to get your life back in order.

I want you to move out of your

mother's house, for God's sake.

How long do you think

Erica's gonna put up with that?

Ma, will you stop worrying about me?

Let me do something nice for you.

You wanna do something nice for me?

[thuds table]

-Return this,

get your money back and get a job!

Take it or leave it. I don't, I don't care.

[indistinct chatter]

-Hey, Paulie. I cleaned up the other night.

-[Paul] Hm.

Good for you, Tommy.

[music playing faintly]

[man] f*ck yeah.

-How are you?

-Hi, there.

[suspenseful music]

[chip rake scrapes]

[shredder whirs]

[dollar bills rustle]

[exhales]

[chips clatter]

-[indistinct chatter]

[brooding music]

[shredder whirring]

[somber music]

I... don't know.

Yeah. Yes. I'm, I'm handling it.

Yep.

-Hey.

-Can't find the f*cking Arborio.

Ahem.

Here you go.

[exhales, chuckles]

-[chuckles]

Okay. Sorry.

-It's my mother's risotto.

-Mm-hm.

Special recipe. You're

gonna f*cking love it, okay?

-You got the wine?

-Yep.

Okay, good.

[pensive music]

This is a fun one,

'cause it's very, like...

-You have to be very focused, you know?

-Yeah.

-Constant stirring. You have to watch the pot.

-Yeah.

-You keep adding more.

-Can't be distracted?

-Yeah.

-[Erica] Mm.

[suspenseful music]

[cashier] All right, that'll be 45.38.

Would you like to round

up for the food bank?

-Yeah.

-[Cashier] Okay.

[tense music]

Let's go.

[slow suspenseful music]

-You good? Okay.

-No. I'm good.

Really drinking that wine up, huh?

[inhales] Hm?

-See ya.

-Hey, are you sure

you don't want to stay

and watch something or...

-I just have a big day tomorrow.

-Yeah.

You really are slow playing me, huh?

Look, I just want you to know,

these, these last two weeks

have been, like... It's been, like,

the best two weeks of my life.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Never better.

[footsteps receding]

[lively jazz music]

I got 15 wins And

most were on the floor

One poor fellow tried to run

But he couldn't find the door

O'Malley Donohue Skinny Jim and Roy

They swung, they missed

Dreamland's where they deploy

Oh, ring that bell And watch me glide

I slip, I duck

I sing my stride

A shuffle...

[song continues faintly]

Come on, man.

Don't you wanna make it a fair fight?

[song continues faintly over earphones]

[exhales softly]

But one by one they line up

And one by one they fall

I'm the king of the canvas

Ain't no mistake at all

They call it The sweet science

But, honey, it's a show

With the bright lights Flashing

And the horns a-blow

I dance to the left...

[both grunting]

I bop to the right

And watch the poor devil

Kiss the floor good night

[song continues]

[yells]

[grunting]

[thuds]

-[high-pitched ringing]

[muffled yelling]

[high-pitched ringing continues]

[muffled grunt]

[song continues muffled]

So line up the next man

I'm raring to go

I've got a stage to

command And a story to show

When that final blow lands

And the rafters all shake

Just remember Whose ring this is

There's only room For one great

[song ends]

-[muffled g*nsh*t]

[body thuds]

[sighs softly]

[whispers] f*ck.

[shredder whirs]

[suspenseful music]

[muffled indistinct chatter]

[pensive music]

[tray clatters]

-[glass shatters]

[players chattering, cheering]

[player] Thank you.

[player] Yeah!

[muted]

[winner shouting]

[players cheering]

[player] Thank you.

[music continues]

[whoosh]

[exhales]

[cell phone vibrating]

-Hey.

-What are you doing here?

What's going on here?

I can't catch any cards.

-Right.

-What?

I don't know. You tell me.

You're holding back, or

something is holding you back,

and this is not the person

I met two weeks ago.

You're right.

Yeah. [Scoffs]

[breathes deeply]

Yeah, maybe I played it all wrong.

All of it?

No. No, not all of it.

Okay. Um...

So

I made this deal.

-Um...

-What?

What do you mean, you made a, a deal?

Uh...

You know what? Can we talk outside?

Okay.

Oh. Ah.[Muffled g*nsh*t]

[glass shatters]

[car roaring]

[tires squealing]

f*ck!

-[Man] What the f*ck?

f*ck!

-[Man] Hey!

Paul, what the hell is going on?

-Who did you piss off?

-I piss off a lot of people.

No, no, we are not going anywhere

until you tell me what

the hell is going on.

Why does somebody wanna k*ll you?

Because I f*cking asked him to.

What? Why?

I don't know. I didn't want to

disappoint anyone anymore.

I didn't think anything

else good could happen.

And then it did.

Get in the car.

Oh, that was, that was really close.

You need to calm down, okay?

I shouldn't be here. It's

not safe. It's just not safe.

-I should go.

-And, and do what?

And find him and, and call it off.

You know, tell him that

I, that I changed my mind.

And how do you propose to do that?

Well, what, should we just wait for him

to come back and try again?

-f*ck that.

-No.

You were safe here, okay?

I gotta find him.

Yes, I know. And you will.

-I will. I mean, I have to.

-Yes, you do.

-But do you even know where to start? Hm?

-[sighs]

-No, but I should start tonight.

-No, no.

Can't start tonight.

-Oh, I can't?

-No, you can't.

Not tonight.

-Not tonight?

-No.

[softly] And if you try to

walk out that door tonight,

I will k*ll you myself.

["Keep That Coffee Hot"

by Scatman Crothers]

[both moan]

Just keep that coffee

hot -A-keep it hot

Be sure you make a

lot -A-make a lot

Your coffee hits the

spot -It hits the spot...

[grunting angrily]

So keep it hot -

I love your coffee pot

I love your pot -

So keep that coffee hot...

[yells]

Just got my pay today

A-just today

But I don't plan to stay

Ain't gonna stay

I'm leaving right away

Yeah, right away...

[screaming]

-My night to play

-I love your coffee pot

I love your pot -

So keep that coffee hot

Got some troubles to lose

Gonna live down those blues So goodbye

Bye, bye, bye

What are you thinkin' about?

Honestly, someone's trying to k*ll me,

so I was thinkin'

what if that's the last

time I have sex before I die?

[Erica chuckles]

Then I'd say you did

pretty well for yourself.

[chuckles] Yeah, I guess.[Chuckles]

Who knew fear of death

was such an aphrodisiac?

[Erica] Hm.

[snickers]

Is that your parents?

Yeah.

Are they still alive?

[sighs] My mom died of cervical cancer.

Oh, no. And your dad?

Shot and k*lled coming out

of a backroom poker game.

Oh. I... Wow. I'm sorry. I...

Yeah. It's okay. You didn't know.

The guy who would raise on the turn, huh?

Yep.

Wish he was still here to do it.

[Paul] Mm.

So, it was just you and

your mom after that?

Yeah... for a while.

Until Frank.

Hm, no photos of him, huh?

[sighs] Oh, no.

I got enough memories of him.

[Paul] Hm.

Where's... Where is he now?

Dead.

How'd he die?

Does it matter?

No.

[Erica] Mm.

[chuckles softly] It's a nice picture.

[Erica] Yeah. Nice reminder

that no matter how ugly the world is,

there's always something to treasure.

[clicks tongue] I don't wanna die.

Then don't.

[both chuckle]

-Morning.

-Morning.

-Coffee's ready.

-Oh. Thank you.

[Paul sighs]

Not bad.

I could get used to this.

-Me too.

-Hm.

With a few minor adjustments.

-Adjustments?

-Toilet paper.

Yeah, I mean, I, I saw that

you're an over-the-roll gal.

Under the roll is the way to go.

I've got a really strong

opinion about this.

But I solve problems for a

living, so I have a solution.

Separate bathrooms.

A bigger house.

I like the way you're thinking.

Mm-hm. [Clicks tongue]

What's with the money?

[sighs] I owe it to Jimmy Good Hair.

Jimmy who?

He's the biggest bookie in town.

This is BE money, Before

Erica, when I couldn't win sh*t.

I'm thinking maybe he can

point me in the right direction

for finding this guy. But

not if I don't pay what I owe.

And what if he doesn't know anything?

I still owe it.

I like the positivity.

-What do you mean?

-I mean that if someone knew

they were gonna die, why

would they pay off a debt?

-I'm coming with you.

-No, no, no.

No. I, I got this.

Besides, don't you have

someone's day to ruin?

-Paul.

-No, no, no.

Go to work. I got this.

[door closes]

[sighs]

[traffic noise]

-[hurried footsteps]

Hey. Hey! Hey!

Murphy! God damn it!

[man] I'm sorry, Jimmy. I

don't know how he got by.

What the f*ck, Murphy? Manners.

Knock, for Christ's sake.

My apologies. Uh,

here's the rest of

what I owe, plus the vig.

Um, I'm sorry that it's late.

I've been busy. [Chuckles]

Busy winning, from what I hear.

Oh, yeah. You're all the talk these days.

"You hear about the

win streak Murphy's on?"

"Murphy can't lose."

Why do you think I haven't

sicced these two on you?

I figured, "Ah, he's winning.

Let the vig run a little."

But I gotta be honest with you.

"Murphy on a win streak?"

[chuckles] It don't sound right

when you say it out loud.[Men chuckle]

Well, listen, it's, it's all there.

Plus a little extra for some

information if you got it.

You paid for it. Go ahead and ask.

I'm trying to find a sh**ter.

I don't know if he's a g*n for hire

or if he's with an outfit,

but I gotta find him.

You tell me anything about?

You know what? Ask Thelma and Louise.

-He's the guy from the night of the game.

-f*ck you, Murphy.

I should have popped

you when I had the chance.

[Paul] That didn't go too

well for you, as I recall.

Are you telling me

somebody's trying to k*ll you?

-That's right.

-You're making bank right now.

-That ain't right.

-[Paul] Wow.

Jimmy, careful. That

almost sounded heartfelt.

I'm just looking out for my investment.

You see, you can't win forever.

And when you lose,

most of that money's coming back to me.

Now, why would I wanna k*ll the

goose that's bringing me money?

Get outta here.

If I hear something, I'll get word to you.

[Seamus] Hold on.

This can't be good.

-I got a problem.

-No sh*t.

Meet me around back.

Around back.

Why would somebody wanna k*ll you?

You, you are not into anybody, are you?

Nobody, for the first time in a long time.

Did you clean out the wrong guy?

No, it ain't that.

I...

-Just spill it, kid.

-Okay.

-What the hell is going on here?

But just

don't "What the f*ck?" me.

Let me explain first, all right?

All right.

I kind of put a hit on myself.

What the f*ck?

You know, about my height.

Uh, gray beard, straight nose...

-What else do you remember about this guy?

-That's it.

I don't know. Uh, it's...

That's everything I know.

-You know everything now.

-Yeah, but what, what was he eating?

-What was he drinking?

-Uh...

Come on, come on. Come on, Paulie, think.

Wait a minute. He's Jewish.

How do you know he's Jewish?

Because he said that

if he ever k*lled himself,

he couldn't be buried in a Jewish cemetery.

And it was real important to him.

Dangerous but devout.

f*cked-up combo.

There's only one guy that could be.

They call him "The Rabbi."

Yeah, ex-Special Ops.

You, you know what? No,

I'm not sure it's even him.

Why? Why? Why do you say that?

'Cause you're still sittin' here.

The guy doesn't miss.

-I gotta find him, Seamus.

-No.

If it's him, he's gonna find you first.

And your girlfriend.

Yeah, I know all about her.

And if I know about her,

trust me, he does too.

Paulie, what are you doing?

Paul... Paulie.

Paulie, watch your a*s!

Pick it up, pick it up.

Hey. It's me. Uh, I'm still

trying to track this guy down,

but just call me and, you know, let me know

when you're safe, okay?

[muted]

[slow music]

[woman vocalizing]

-Not that I remember.

-No? Not at all?

Well, if anyone comes in asking

about me, will you let me know?

you know, a Jewish

guy. All right. Thanks.

Ring a bell specifically?

-No.

-Okay.

Excuse me. Uh, Do you know

where, uh, this might be?

Uh, there's two of them.

Okay. Thank you.

Um, yeah, so...

Maybe down the road.

Down the road. Okay.

[Paul] Hey, I'm, uh, following a lead.

Not sure it's gonna go

anywhere, but, uh, stay safe, okay?

[sighs]

[vocalizing continues]

[music fades]

[sighs]

[child shouting in distance]

[Emily] And I know they had an amazing time

at the two-week long summer

camp in Zionsville, Indiana.

And if you go to our

website, you'll find a full gallery

of really great photos and

videos from their time there.

And we are just so

excited for our youth group

to be taking their annual...[gasps]

[whispers] Hi. Can I help you find a seat?

[whispers] Oh, thanks. I...

Actually, I think I see my

[Emily] donations to their travel fund.

But that is all the news I have for today.

Rabbi Berkman?

Thank you, Emily.

Those are such special opportunities

and connections for our youth

as they prepare to go out...

-Shabbat shalom.

Shabbat shalom.

[clears throat]

I'm impressed. You found me.

Yeah, when you narrow

it down to Jewish hit men

called The Rabbi, it's not so hard.

-[Saul] Shabbat shalom.

-[all] Shabbat shalom.

Tonight, I wanna talk to you

about decisions and choices.

Are the decisions we

make from our own free will...

Listen, I'm so sorry to bother you here.

I just wanna tell you

that I'm, I'm calling it off.

[Saul] ...tell ourselves

something is fate...

I'm sorry. Did you hear me? I'm calling,

I'm calling it off.[Woman clears throat]

Sorry.

It's a balanced choice

between right and wrong.

[clicks tongue] I can't do that.

[Saul] The capacity to choose

between two courses of action...

Um, what do you mean, you can't do that?

[Saul] ...teaches us that

today our fates are sealed...

What kind of man do you

consider yourself to be?

[Saul] ...choices we have

made, both good and bad...

Right now, I... A, a man

who doesn't wanna die.

That wasn't the agreement.

[Saul] ...we stand before divine...

Okay. Right. But, um...

This is on you. You made a decision.

You asked me.

You made a choice to

do something righteous.

Righteous?

How is it righteous to k*ll someone

who doesn't wanna die?

[inhales deeply]

-I changed my mind.

-[Saul] In the Torah

[woman clears throat] ...Adonai says,

"I have set before you life and death,

blessing and curse.

"Therefore, choose life."

Okay.

Okay. You choose to live?

-Yes, yes, yes, I choose life.

-[clears throat]

I choose to live. She

hears me. She heard me.

I choose to live. You heard it, okay?

Yes, I choose life.

You wanna live?[Seat creaks]

[clicking] [suspenseful music]

You have to k*ll me.

What? No, no, no, no, no, no.

I'm not a k*ller.

-I didn't think I was either.

-I don't want this.

[suspenseful music]

[Saul] Let it remind us that we

have the power to choose life,

to make decisions that align

with our values and our faith.

[Paul sighs]

-And to that I say,

may we all be sealed for another year

in the book of life.

-Pack a bag.

Just pack a f*cking bag!

Don't open the door for anyone.

I'll explain everything when I get there.

I'm on my way.

[music continues]

[Erica exhales]

[sighs heavily]

[exhales]

[music continues]

Erica?

-Erica?

-I'm back here.

-Are you okay?

-Uh, yeah.

-Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I'm okay.

-You are not okay.

-Oh, no, no, I'm not. Where's your bag?

-It's right here.

-Okay, good. You need to go.

-What? No.

What, what did you find

out? What, what's going on?

-Uh, well, you know what? This is what's going on.

-Okay. Whoa!

-Where did you get that?

-Funny story. The Jewish hitman gave it to me.

Told me that the only

way he's not gonna k*ll me

-is if I k*ll him first!

-He wants you to k*ll him?

-Yeah.

-Okay, you know what? Just breathe.

Yeah, well, I don't know

how to breathe 'cause

I don't know how to use this!

Then put the g*n down. Okay?

Hey. Hey, look at me. Calm down.

Take a breath. Okay?[Exhales]

Everything is gonna be okay.

-Okay.

Okay. But that starts with

you getting out of here.

What? No. I'm not gonna...

-Erica.

This time you gotta go.

[Erica stutters]

-Please?

And just call me when you

get somewhere safe, okay?

Just remember to breathe.

[suspenseful music continues]

f*ck.

[music builds]

f*cking kidding me.

f*ck. [Grunts softly]

[panting]

[pensive music]

[sighs]

[clicking]

[exhales]

[music continues]

[exhales]

[traffic noise]

[g*n c*ck]

[Paul] God damn it.

[exhales]

Turn around.[Sighs]

Turn around.

Oh.

Jesus Christ.

It's time.

[clicks]

-[breathing heavily]

[sighs heavily]

[whispers] I can't.

[sighs] I...

-Close your eyes.

-Come on.

-Come on.

-[Softly] Close

your eyes.

[music builds]

[muffled g*nsh*t]

-[David grunts]

[thuds]

[groaning]

[groaning]

Thank you.

[clicks]

[muffled g*nsh*t]

[music crescendos]

What the fu...

["Catch the Exit Door" by RJD2]

No, no. It's a total sh*t

show, but I handled it.

Yeah, I'm on my way.

[cell phone beeps]

[sighs]

Babe. You forgot your sil*ncer.

Oh. No, I packed the seven. That's a five.

Oh, okay. Uh, well, have fun.

-And remember, dinner at my ma's on Thursday.

-Wait, no.

-I thought that was this weekend.

-No, babe,

I got the poker tournament

in Cleveland this weekend.

Okay, this is not good,

'cause I've got the Gomez hit

-on Thursday.

-Well, we've already canceled twice.

-[sighs] I'll see if I can reschedule.

-Okay.

And, hey, I was having

some trouble with the safe.

You didn't change the code, did you?

I don't know. Did I?

Well, I gotta go get

warmed up at the casino.

Uh-huh. And you really

think I'm gonna leave you

with easy access to stacks of cash?

Just stake me 10K. I'm good for it.

Not a chance in hell. Love you.

Love you.

[song continues]

[indistinct rapping]

[music fades]