Luderdale (2025)

[bunniefuu]

They say trust

is earned, you know,

and I kind of agree.

But he trusted me

right from the start.

Don't know why,

but he just did.

Maybe it was

his whole fate thing,

or it could have been he just

needed someone new to talk to.

Unearned loyalty, I called it.

Now, it's my turn

to finally earn it.

But I'm getting

ahead of myself here.

First, the Feast.

The Feast happens

every fall, downtown.

Hey, bud.

Hey, nice shirt, Whitey.

Baker's here.

Let's make some dough.

It's showtime.

Quarter to play,

quarter to win, step right up.

Now, why would a guy like me,

clearly not Italian,

be working at an Italian

Feast in the first place?

Let it go!

Money. I knew how

to make it, for them.

And that's the only

resume you needed down there.

I mean, yeah,

I made a little for

myself, too.

Oh, better luck next time.

Try again. Come on.

But no matter how much

I took, I still brought in more

for them than any

of their other booths,

which is probably why

I made it the whole two weeks.

Maybe we don't.

Come on, fellas, win

a big one for your favorite gal.

She'll thank you for it later.

And it was all

profit for them anyway,

since Vi was the only

"customer" that ever won.

There goes another one!

Take your pick, pretty lady.

I want the bear.

- This booth, 142...

- Thank you!

The whole thing was

a big f*cking hustle

on a street full of them.

- There you are.

- Something for you.

But you gotta be careful

when you're stealing

from thieves,

because they're always

watching.

Good. Let 'em.

That's something to run

the booth.

Yeah, I had a good thing going.

It's pretty heavy.

Almost made me forget

why I was really there.

Hold up.

Almost.

Tough night, huh?

Mm. Yeah, you should

see the other guy.

I did.

Not a mark on me.

"Is this gonna affect my bonus?"

You got some ba*ls,

kid, saying that

to the boss after

you just stole from him.

I'll give you that.

Everybody takes a beating.

You got off easy, considering.

I swear, I gave you guys

everything I took.

Everything you took tonight.

What about the last three weeks?

That was the first--

Don't insult me. Don't--

Don't you ever f*ck' do that.

We both know you took three,

four hundred out of there

every night of the Feast.

What am I gonna do with you?

I--

Calm the f*ck down.

Everybody steals down there.

Some get caught, some don't.

I'll teach you how

to not get caught next time.

I don't give a f*ck how much

you took from that prick,

the new boss.

Same as the old boss.

Not my doll.

But I hired you for him.

And when somebody I bring in

makes me look bad,

that I do not tolerate.

Ever.

So, what you're gonna do

to make things right,

You're gonna

come in with me now.

You'll work off

this personal slight.

-Doing what?

-Anything I say is what,

for as long as I say.

That a problem for you?

Not k*lling nobody.

Just... errands.

Stuff even a dumb mick

like you can handle.

Otherwise,

if he hears you're heading

to the cops,

with that hard-on D.A.

putting away everybody

and their sister right now,

he'd probably call a ride

out to the woods for you.

Just to be safe.

You understand?

Good.

Eight a.m. tomorrow.

Hey.

Don't you run from me.

Or even think it.

'Cause this, this old-school

bullshit is P's way.

It's nothing.

Oh, and keep your mouth shut.

This is just me and you.

Not them.

I own your Irish a*s now.

Hey, look who showed.

Three to one had you

in Nebraska by now.

Oh, watch the car, huh?

The crime's getting out

of control around here.

That's how you steal.

He's gonna have himself

one hell of a headache.

I make my end

one way or another.

They want to punish me

after all I've done for them?

They'll all pay.

A new era's coming.

I'm forming my own thing,

my own family.

And show 'em what

a real boss looks like.

And you, you're with me

until I say otherwise.

Yeah, you own me, I know.

Don't be such a p*ssy.

You work hard,

stay loyal, there may even

be a few bucks in it for you.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

After your little

prison sentence.

But listen, now.

If anybody asks,

presses you on anything

about us working together,

keep your mouth shut.

If they put

your head in a vise...

Keep my mouth shut.

Keep your mouth shut,

g*dd*mn right.

Don't worry.

I'll keep you safe

from those animals.

You like Chinese?

The people?

The people.

The food!

The people.

Yeah. Yeah, 100%.

Why not?

Why not?

Heading to Limelight.

Wanna come?

Nah, I think I'll scare people

looking like this.

You can't scare me.

Bonus time. Woo!

Probably not a dime

stolen tonight

at the whole Feast,

thanks to you.

P says your face is like

a billboard for not f*cking up.

Well, Whitey.

These bruises will

be gone in about a week.

You're gonna have

to live with that ugly mug

for the rest of your life.

These assholes aren't

gonna get away with this.

-I'll go to the cops!

-Easy, Vi.

You can't be talking

like that around here.

Get-- Get away with what?

Our bonuses.

There aren't any.

Somebody broke

into P's warehouse.

Stole the safe.

Like, a thousand plush.

Took everything.

Sucks, right?

That's bullshit,

and you know it.

You were probably in on it.

Look at what they did to you.

I did this to myself.

Get away from them, Hutch.

Before you become one of them.

I'm getting my money.

Whoa, whoa.

Careful, little girl.

I was gonna give

that crazy b*tch my number.

Break it down.

Hey. Hey!

You guys open?

Tommy.

Yeah, that's fine.

I'll just, uh...

Just wait here.

Hey.

You wanna buy some ludes?

They're 714s.

Get you super horny.

Yeah? That's cool.

Uh, not really my thing,

but, uh...

- What's your name?

- Hey!

I told you to

stay off the property!

Come on, man.

I was just...

-Get your--

-What the hell?

Oh! Yeah.

Hey, it's cool. It's cool.

It's cool. We're good?

I tell you when it's good,

Goldilocks.

You don't tell me.

Now, what were you doing

banging on the door before?

-I-- I knocked.

-Banged.

You think I don't know a f*cking

bang from a f*cking knock?

I just don't want any trouble.

Answer the question.

Or you got some.

Sit.

Sorry about the welcome.

Friends call me Nicky.

Nicky, Nick, whatever you like.

Did you buy anything

from that lude girl?

Oh, yeah, her, um...

No, no, I didn't.

Smart. She sells fakes.

These-- These tourists,

they don't know any better.

Welcome to paradise.

You a dropout

or a trust fund kid?

-I'm sorry, I don't...

-October, that's usually a sign

of a college tank,

that or mommy and daddy

handed over

their no-limit credit card.

Am I close?

Uh, yeah, um... 100%.

The first one, uh, school

didn't really work out for me.

Ah, welcome to the club.

One semester at NYU before

they politely asked me to leave.

Family name.

Like I was ever

gonna teach philosophy.

You ever been to the city?

Uh, no. Um...

I actually never

got up there from Jersey.

Make it all the way down here,

but you can't cross the Hudson?

Come on.

I'm sorry, I, uh,

I didn't catch your name?

He didn't say it.

Guest, here.

Tommy, please.

We don't get many. Yeah.

Right, uh, sorry, um...

My name is... I'm Hutch.

No kidding,

like, from that TV show?

Like from that cop show.

Short for Hutchinson.

Sure, that makes sense.

So, who sent you over?

Was it Mikey from The Monkey?

No, uh, actually

I met a girl, and--

Met a girl?

Of course you did.

It's Lauderdale.

So, uh, how did mom and dad

take it when you told 'em?

About the college nosedive?

Uh, yeah,

it's actually just my mom now.

Uh, dad died when I was a kid.

But, um, I haven't

really gotten around

to talking to her

about that yet.

Yeah, it's a conversation

you gotta have, buddy.

She's a mom, she'll understand.

Sorry about your father.

Maybe you're better off.

Ah!

Geez, Cuz,

it's only one o'clock.

You haven't

even had your lunch yet.

Here you go.

Oh, no, I probably shouldn't.

- Cop for sure.

- Enough back there.

Okay, yeah. Maybe just one.

Remember what they taught

you at the academy, rook.

No sampling product.

Tommy, go get us

some lunch.

- I'm not hungry.

- Not hungry?

In what century

are you not hungry?

Ah!

Ah!

Primo, right?

So, who the f*ck

sent you over here, huh?

To a closed hotel?

Now would be

a good time to talk.

With details.

Yeah, yeah, okay, sure.

Um...

So, uh, after

everything happened, uh,

I thought maybe the beach

would be the best thing for--

place for me to go.

Um, so I took

the bus down last month,

and I found a room

for myself downtown,

but it was too far

from the beach.

A couple of weeks ago,

I got a job

at a T-shirt shop just around

the corner, and, uh,

-I've been looking around since.

-Looking for what, huh?

A-- A place. What else?

Yeah, uh,

and I've been thinking about...

Am I-- am I talking too much?

It's just the blow, Hutch.

That's kinda what it does.

Enough details for you?

Sounds rehearsed.

Go on.

Um...

So, a couple of days ago,

I met this girl.

I think she was a lifeguard.

Uh, she told me that you guys

were renting some rooms.

I think her name was Candy.

Oh, why didn't you say so?

Cand's our girl.

Yeah, and it was

really weird too, Nick,

because where I've been parking

my bike ever since I got

the job, is right out

front of your door.

Of all the places, you know?

Like, it was meant to be,

or something.

Give me a f*cking break.

It's the only bike rack on A1A.

Language, Tommy.

And that? Cancer, please.

What you were

talking about there,

Hutch, that's called fate.

Socrates believed in it,

so do I.

It's also

called bullshit.

Narc-y cop bullshit.

We're done here.

Take this stink outside.

This stink.

He's not goin' anywhere.

Hutch, go upstairs

and check out Room Number Three,

it's yours if you want it.

You're losing it, Cuz,

and the blow ain't helping any.

You done?

Almost.

Almost, I am.

So, what do you think?

Yeah, it's, um...

A dump, I know.

Right now, at least, but, uh...

Have a look at this.

Now, we're gonna fix 'em

all up real nice,

and with views like this,

I mean, we're gonna be

booked solid come break.

Cool.

Hey, I'm sorry about

all that down there, earlier.

You can't be too careful,

you know?

The law's been a thorn

in our family's side for, uh...

Well, forever, actually.

My old man's

a lifer in Strasbourg.

It's a prison.

They told me he died in there.

We're still a bit cautious.

Tommy is, anyway,

enough for, uh...

the both of us.

His nature.

Not always a bad thing,

though, you know?

We'll get you some new ones.

So, you want the room or not?

Yeah, of-- of course, but...

100%, but...

Nick, to be honest, I don't...

I don't think I could

afford a view like this.

Believe me, you can.

Tell you what,

why don't you try it out

tonight for free, and then

we can talk about it more

upstairs, on my beach tomorrow.

Upstairs?

Yeah, I mean, uh...

I could use the sleep.

I'm sorry,

you remind me of somebody.

My brother, he had

the blond hair, just like you.

My mom's Sicilian, and...

I'm glad you're here, buddy.

Rest up.

Morning, Hutch.

You found my beach.

Yeah, just followed

your directions.

It's a nice view, huh?

As long as you look this way.

And as you can see,

we still have some work to do.

That's why I told

Tommy to let you in yesterday.

Believe me,

nobody gets through that door.

But I have a good feeling

about you being here.

To help.

To help?

I-- I don't understand--

I mean, you need a job, right?

And not some t-shirt shop

for five bucks an hour.

We need help getting this

place set up by Spring Break.

It's fate.

If we roll up our sleeves,

we'll be ready to cash in.

Speaking of which,

300 bucks cash, a week.

Plus 25 a head

for every customer you bring in.

And the best part,

that room you can't afford?

It's free.

Go on, get outta here.

You ain't welcome here.

Gonna clean up that trash, too.

So, what do you say?

Uh...

Nicky, this is a very

generous offer.

I appreciate it, but...

That cousin of yours,

he kind of has it out for me.

Ah, don't worry about Tommy.

I'll square things.

It's just gonna take some time.

It's a trust thing, you know?

And he gets these ideas

in that big head of his.

He's like a dog with a bone.

He can't let it go.

But all kidding aside, Hutch...

He is right sometimes.

Just not this time, right?

Right.

And back to the station house

the sad little rookie goes.

Nope. Just grabbing my stuff.

Looks like we're

gonna be working together.

Where's lunch, Cuz?

Get your new

errand boy to do it, Cuz.

Okay. I see now.

You know, bad enough you bring

a stranger in here like this.

Now you hired him?

Don't block my sun.

And yeah, he's working with us.

End of conversation.

Wow.

You know, you sound like

a real boss now.

Who's that remind me of?

Don't say that again.

Ever.

I'm going back to the city.

Again with that?

Yeah, again with that.

You know you're gonna

k*ll yourself with those.

Oh, yeah?

Have another line.

Some tourists

just got very lucky.

-Oh, just like that, huh?

-Yeah, just like that.

I'm gonna be sick

as hell for a few days,

but, uh, I need to clean up.

Now it's time for business.

We got help now.

Fate walked through the door--

Don't start up with

that fate sh*t again, Nick.

He's a f*cking cop.

You think every

Irish guy's a cop.

Well, most of 'em are.

He's a college kid.

He wants to be a writer.

Give him a break.

He is no threat to us.

Did you forget

your own rule, huh?

Trust no one but each other.

Remember?

Things were hot when

we were stuck in Davie, yeah.

That was then.

This, this is now.

Look where we are,

Cuz, we are on a beach.

We're free.

There's no law looking for us.

If there ever even was.

No reason to.

What about Brooklyn?

Those idiots probably don't

even remember who I am anymore.

They're too busy

running the whole thing.

Exactly, it ain't your daddy

making the decisions

-anymore, it's them.

-Tommy.

They find out about us,

what we're doing down here--

-Tommy, it's over!

-Then why can't we go back, huh?

To what?

Go back to what?

There's nothing there for us.

There never was for me, okay?

Face it, Cuz.

Our family's finished there now.

It's best we look forward.

The view's not bad.

We ain't finished.

I know.

Not if we go back.

Rebuild things.

Tommy, right or wrong,

I agreed to the deal.

I gave my word,

that's all I have left.

That, and the money

they send every month

to keep us down here.

I'm never going back there.

But I'm not gonna try

to stop you anymore,

if that's what you really want.

It'd be a shame, though.

We could really

do something here.

Hey, you know, the hotel's

your thing, not mine.

Besides, you've got

Goldilocks now.

He's not your brother, you know.

Yeah, I know.

Like, he's just--

he's help. That's all.

I mean,

you and me, we're family.

To be honest, Cuz, I...

I don't know if I want

to do this without you.

I understand.

After all you sacrificed,

I have no right

to ask you for anything.

But I'd really appreciate

if you could at least

stay until we get it open.

And no more "boss".

I promise.

Stupid I said that, Nick.

You're nothing like him.

Never were.

Forget about it.

Plus, this Hutch,

he'll do half your work for you.

Your life just got a lot easier.

This f*ck' guy.

Yo! Nick, you up there?

The Monkey Bar

over at the Hilton.

Go over, introduce

yourself to Mikey.

You can have a drink on my tab.

When you're done, bring us

back two bottles of red.

He knows what I like.

And-- And get a-- hold on.

Enough target practice.

You hungry?

Yeah, I could eat.

Bring us back

three meatball subs!

Where are you?

Hey, d*ck Tracy's

on his way back up.

All right, enough with that.

And this, close it up.

Come on, please.

I'll tell you what. Ah!

Take the rest

of the afternoon off.

That's how it works now

with him being here.

Well, we gotta let him

in if we want to eat, right?

-Yeah, I got it, that's fine.

-No, wait, I--

f*ck.

Hey, Nick!

Nick, I think I broke my key!

You gave him a key?

Unbelievable.

Hey, uh, you okay, Nick?

Fine.

You have another run to do.

-What, like, right now?

-Yeah, right now.

You took the job, right?

Newsstand on Oakland Park.

Get me The Post,

the daily, and some scratchers.

Post, daily,

and some scratchers.

Okay. Hey, Nick,

I'm really sorry. Please--

f*ck.

Yo, where's lunch, Cuz?

I could get used to this.

That's to-go,

you're back on duty.

What?

He said he's never

been to the city,

but he's got a New York license?

Oh, f*cking heat, I knew it!

I'm kinda wobbly over here.

Come on, come on, just stop at

the red lights, you'll be fine.

-Okay.

-He's going for the papers.

Fate.

Sorry.

Do you want to buy some ludes?

The usual price is ten,

but you're pretty cute,

so I could do... eight?

Uh, yeah. Um...

No, I'm good still, thanks.

Uh, but I didn't

catch your name yesterday.

Her name is f*ck Off,

which is what

she's gonna do right now.

f*ck!

That's three calls

you've made now.

What, Sarge won't answer?

-Tommy, I thought we settled--

-Hey, you a f*cking moron?

Don't use my name outside, ever.

And we ain't settled sh*t.

Gimme this.

The Washington Post?

Yeah, that's what Nicky said.

The New York Post.

Are you f*cking with me now?

No, no, I wouldn't--

wouldn't do that.

I'm starting to think

you're not the law after all,

even they ain't this stupid.

You know what, though?

You're gonna prove it

to me right now.

You're gonna hop

on that tricycle of yours,

and head downtown.

You're doing a f*cking pickup.

No, no, I-- I can't do

anything like that.

-You don't understand.

-I understand this much.

You want to stay in

that room of yours

for more than a night,

you'll start f*cking peddling.

Maybe a futon,

a couple matching chairs,

something simple, but nice.

Light blue has a good energy.

Ocean-y.

Ah!

Yeah, that's, uh-- that's good.

The more of this stuff I do,

it seems like

it affects me less and less.

Mm-hmm. If you say so.

You know, you also have

to think about housekeeping,

linen services, all that.

Yeah? Of course.

I could maybe talk to one of

the girls at the Hilton for you.

I guess they'd do both.

You know, if this

is gonna work, Nicky,

you gotta run it

like a real business.

No credit cards, though.

I draw the line there.

Okay. And at doing

your taxes too, I'm assuming?

Is that a problem?

You ever heard of the IRS?

They're the real mob.

So, this is what we meant

by getting back to business.

-Hi, Tommy.

-Hmm.

Don't be rude.

Where are your manners?

Yeah, we got...

We gotta talk about that thing.

What thing?

The thing, thing.

Okay. Uh, I'm gonna go.

And leave you

to your secret business.

-We're done, right, Nick?

-Sure.

Actually, just can you tell

him what you told me before?

Oh, yeah.

So, this guy, Hutch,

he told me he just

started working

at Andy's T-Shirt Shop

near The Button.

And yes,

Tommy, I checked it out.

But he's walking the beach,

and he stopped at my stand.

So I told him...

Right across the street

on Fifth, there's a hotel.

Well, there's gonna be.

My friends, Nicky and Tommy,

they're fixing it up.

Nicky and Tommy?

Yeah.

Anyway, it's gonna be

real nice, and cheap.

Like, way cheaper than anything

near the beach is cheap.

Nice views, too.

A view?

Wow. Very subtle.

Better get back to it.

Uh, hey.

You ever save anybody?

Not yet.

Okay, well, watch out for me,

because I'm a terrible swimmer.

I will.

At the hotel.

I live there, too.

Even better.

Hey.

Don't let the big one

scare you, okay?

He'll try.

Not a chance.

So?

What, she sent him over?

I'm right here, Tommy.

You could just ask me yourself.

Yeah, I sent him over.

You wanted customers,

I found you one.

You're welcome.

Good, and we appreciate it.

Mystery solved.

Okay, I guess.

Well, if we're done with

whatever this interrogation was,

I'm gonna go

work on that thing.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. What thing?

Oh, just-- just a thing.

-Thanks, sweetheart.

-Yeah.

-Sorry about the, uh...

-Hmm.

You don't have to be.

Look, I followed him.

He made three calls.

What? Hutch? You heard Cand.

Case closed.

The New York license, Nick.

I had five fakes.

It means nothing.

Oh, a couple hours ago,

it meant a shitload.

Okay, look, you want

to keep an eye on him?

Fine, I'm good,

but you do what you need to do.

Either way, we all

start work around here tomorrow.

Three friggin' musketeers.

Four.

Cand's going to do

a little decorating.

Some feminine touch

couldn't hurt.

Why don't you hire

a few more people?

Huh? We got nothing

but money to burn.

Excuse me.

I don't know who he was calling.

But I'm gonna find out.

Oh, thanks.

That was my last one.

We can only hope.

That's twice today.

Thing's like

a friggin' boomerang.

I can't really expect

you to quit

if I don't try myself, right?

Yeah.

If we do this thing,

like, really do it,

we never lie

to each other, right?

Of course.

Like always.

It's still in your hand.

I just need your help.

That's all.

Up late again, huh?

Yeah, I had some,

uh, stuff to handle.

You've been handling

Tommy's stuff for a month now.

But enough's enough.

No more, whatever it is.

Yeah, fine, Nick.

Hey, don't "yeah" me.

If he asks you again,

you come to me, that's final.

Have a look.

First one on that beach every

morning, last one off most days.

Imagine.

You two have been paying

each other some visits lately,

I hear?

Literally.

-Uh...

-Thin walls, Hutch.

No secrets in this place.

Just make sure

you treat her right, okay?

She deserves it.

Yeah, 100%.

Hey, uh, Nick, uh...

Candy's not, like,

a real lifeguard, is she?

Does it matter?

She's special.

That's what matters.

She looks out for us,

and we do the same for her.

The world could use

more of that, don't you think?

The whole lifeguard thing,

it's-- it's complicated.

Lost her mom. Happened right

over there, drowned.

She-- she never told me.

Me, neither.

Get down!

Where's Tommy?

It's seven in the morning, Nick.

-He's sleeping.

-Get him, now!

I walked the block

like, six times, Nick.

There's nobody

out there, are you sure?

Yeah, it had to be.

Maybe, I-- I don't know.

What the hell would

he even be down here for? Hmm?

Nah, Cuz, that--

that don't make sense.

I mean, you said so yourself.

It's over.

Why don't you just

go upstairs, huh?

I got things

handled down here now.

Come on.

Go with him.

He likes to talk to you,

you know it.

Calms him down.

Yeah, sure.

Take this.

-Tommy, don't--

-Just take it.

Okay, just in case.

You know how he gets.

-Yeah, but...

-Don't worry.

I mixed it with baby powder.

It's like 10% now, okay?

God, where are you, you b*stard?

Don't sweat it.

You know I trust you, right?

Appreciate that, Nick.

Back when the casinos

were going up in A.C.,

my old man,

the big boss there,

he sent my brother down

to work the F&B split.

He wouldn't

let me near any of it.

But Paulie...

couldn't say no,

so he snuck me down.

His business goes great,

deal's done,

he's back in the room

sleeping by 10 o'clock.

Not me.

Like some stonato,

I go out to the club.

I'm not in there for more

than five minutes

before this wise guy from

Brooklyn starts talking sh*t

about my family.

This psycho.

He had out-of-town hits

for all the families back then,

because they were

scared if they took him

off the payroll,

then he'd come after them, too.

Except for my family,

was the first one

who refused to use him.

And that's why

he was hassling you?

Followed me all

the way back to the resorts.

Blocked my way in.

I was scared.

Me, too. I mean--

I would have been.

He's just about to kick my a*s.

When out of nowhere, like

some angel, Paulie just appears.

Gets right in this guy's face.

Fearless.

Tells him to go home,

sober up, it's over.

See, he wasn't gonna push it.

He knew what

he was down there for.

It was time for business,

and the reason he was

in that situation was me.

So, he sent me back up

to my room,

where I should have been

in the first place.

I didn't make it through

my door before I heard a shot.

My brother was dead

before he hit the boardwalk.

And that k*ller's just gone,

disappeared in the night

like he was never even there.

Nick, uh, I'm sorry.

You know, I never held

one of these before in my life.

But I got this, and I went

all the way after him.

I got all the way up to his door

before they stopped me.

I almost started a w*r.

Me, can you believe that?

Except my old man, he swallowed

what Brooklyn told him.

That their guy

was never even there.

Had nothing to do with Paulie.

He believed them

instead of his own blood!

He wanted to.

See, there's too much

money to be made in A.C.

Why let the m*rder

of your favorite son get

in the way of a business deal?

So the families

do what they always do

when there's cash on the table.

Patch things up.

Except this time

there was an exception.

I had to disappear.

You and Tommy?

You know Tommy,

he'd never leave me.

Here he is.

The one from the beach today.

He k*lled Paulie,

and now he's back for me.

You never want

this guy looking for you.

It's just for protection.

Sure.

Like every other tourist.

Don't worry, I won't tell.

Hmm!

I didn't figure

you for one of them, though.

I'm not one of them.

Hm.

How do you think

they do the things they do?

You know, hurt people, k*ll?

Destroy families?

And then just act normal?

Helpful?

To a stranger?

I don't know.

Probably why Nicky and Tommy

aren't a part of it, though.

I better get down to the beach.

Oh, Candy, you don't have

to do that with me, you know?

Do what?

I... nothing,

you know, forget it.

Look, Hutch.

It's okay.

Things change.

So...

if our special deliveries aren't

so special anymore, then...

We can just be friends.

Without that.

You okay?

Tommy.

God, I thought you were Hutch.

They took away my stand.

After all this time, I...

I just keep

looking out there for her.

You know, hoping she'll...

Pop out of the water with...

Her big smile.

Like she used to.

Where am I gonna watch from now?

Hey.

Hey, look at me, hey.

I'm right here.

Who needs the stand?

All right,

run those things up to Nick,

get back down here to paint.

I gotta go out for something.

What, Western Union?

Nick already sent me down there.

They don't have

anything for you guys.

It comes in later--

What am I saying?

You don't do that run no more.

That's mine.

Whatever you say.

It's looking

pretty nice in here.

Not a drop

of paint on your jacket.

Are you still here?

You okay?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, sh*t.

Don't move.

We'll be back for you.

I'm comin', boy!

Get outta here, boy!

What, you got a piece now?

-I only--

-Stop talking.

This ain't cop issue,

that's for damn sure.

What the hell were

you planning on doing, huh?

sh**ting some hicks

over a parking spot?

If Nick found this...

Instead of me, your a*s

would be out on the street.

No question.

But for now,

we'll keep it between us.

Thanks.

- Yeah.

- I appreciate that.

Uh...

Tommy, where's--

where's your Caddy?

It's being washed.

These clowns have had

eyes on the place all day.

I figured they'd show up

if I wasn't around.

Why would they be watching us?

It don't matter.

It won't be

a problem after tomorrow.

You want some help?

A g*n with blanks,

and you want to help?

No, thanks.

I think I got this.

I'll see you later.

Okay.

There he is.

I hope you're hungry.

I could eat.

Derringer.

How many people are coming?

How many people?

Just us.

What, you never had

Christmas Eve dinner

with Italians before, huh?

Mangia.

Open up

the day after New Year's,

and with no room service,

no phones, no A.C.,

it's just rooms on the beach.

Kids on a budget.

They can pile ten

in a room, all I care.

And that's, uh,

it's going to be 12 rooms--

-Can you write this down?

-Yeah.

12 rooms,

a hundred bucks a pop.

That's 1,200 a day,

30 days a month.

-That's a lot of money.

-f*ck!

That's 36,000 a month.

Minus 30% for Cand, you know,

with it being her place and all.

Not like she needs it, but yeah.

What, her place?

This?

She owns it?

Come on, you knew that, right?

Her dad is loaded,

gave this all to her.

I mean, what did you think

she was doing down here?

At least someone's old man

was looking out for 'em.

No, no, no, no. Now you guys

are f*cking with me.

No, no. Her mom was going to

open the place years ago, but...

then, you know.

Cand's been living

here since high school.

Alone.

'Til we showed up.

You know, just like you did.

Ah, this one right here.

f*ck bangs.

I knocked.

Now we get

to return the favor

and do something

for ourselves, too.

Still got to figure

out the name, though.

I'm not quite feeling it.

Mm!

Midnight on the dot.

Merry Christmas, gentlemen.

Merry Christmas.

Same to you.

Looks like Santa

made an early delivery.

Hey, Nick. I didn't get

anything for you this year.

I feel bad.

Hey. You being down here

to help get it set up

is more than enough.

Maybe I stay

a little longer, eh?

Go ahead.

Try 'em on.

Oh, this is too much, Cuz.

Way too much.

Yeah, Nick, I...

First the meal and now this.

I mean... Thank you.

No excuse to be late now.

Cand picked them up

for me over on Las Olas.

Go, yeah,

put them on, put them on.

Three Musketeers.

It's official.

Uh-oh.

Four, Nick. Cand, too.

Right. Four, look at you.

Right, right, right.

Four Musketeers.

Yeah, where is she, anyway?

She's up in

West Palm with her dad.

She'll be back later.

All right, time to

bring out the good stuff.

-I...

-Relax.

I'm just going

downstairs, all right?

But if I'm not back in five,

maybe they got me.

Don't even joke like that.

Wants to open up a hotel,

can't even open

the friggin' front door.

Hey, you know,

I think he's doing better.

Some days, yeah.

He's clean.

So...

And this place...

It's been good for him,

you know?

So there's that.

Hey, what did Nick

mean by they got me?

You ain't seen today's paper?

D.A. playing games.

His father, an as*h*le.

But he's no rat.

Not possible.

If he was,

we'd all be dead already.

It's that f*ck' New York D.A.

trying to get somebody to talk.

Only thing we gotta worry about

down here is watching out for--

Yeah, I know.

Cops. Yeah.

You just keep your eyes open.

Okay?

Especially with our thing.

It's...

It's not our thing, Tommy.

Okay? It's yours.

Three runs downtown,

that was the deal.

That's it.

Okay, I'm done.

All right, fine.

If it makes you feel any better,

it's my thing.

There's no more

money coming in, is there?

That's why

you're running the ludes.

What are you saying now?

Western Union guy.

He told me that you guys

haven't had anything

sent to you in months.

Hey, listen.

Nick don't need to

know nothing about that.

Okay?

I got everything handled.

Understand?

They stopped sending

last summer.

Nick wouldn't be

able to handle that.

So, he don't have to.

And I got a new watch.

That I paid for.

Well, hey, it's nice you're

looking out for him, you know?

Hey, Tommy, what the...

Stay here.

Where'd they go?

Oh, Nick, you alright?

f*ck, you're bleeding bad, man--

Calm down, it's wine.

I fell, I fell.

I ruined a '70 Penfold.

Oh, f*ck.

Hey, look at me.

Look at me. I'm fine.

Nobody got me. All right?

We're all right,

we're all right.

We're fine.

Nick. I never had one.

Not this nice.

I had a Casio once,

but that's it, that's it.

A man should always

wear a belt and a watch.

It separates us

from the barbarians.

Who told me that?

Who, your dad?

Please.

No, my mom did.

No, the only thing

he ever taught me is

how to stay out of his way.

He was a real pro at that.

Paulie kind of gave him

a formal excuse to disown me.

Exile me down

here to Davie, you know?

Nah, I doubt that, Nick.

Well, yeah,

you talk to him often?

No, I just...

Fathers and sons, you know?

No. What the hell

would you know?

Yours croaked when

you were six, right?

You don't know sh*t.

Yeah, well,

I guess I don't know sh*t.

I'm an idiot.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

No, no, it's not all right.

It's no excuse.

No, no, no, Nick.

You're right.

I don't know sh*t about him.

He never gave me a chance

to know anything about him.

You know, the worst

part for me wasn't him dying.

A few years

before that, he left.

Ran away, really.

He gambled a lot.

When the money ran out,

he borrowed a lot.

Got involved with

some guys that--

that you and Tommy

probably know.

And when they came to collect,

he just took off.

Said it was

to protect me and my mom.

Eventually,

he came back sick as a dog.

Probably didn't care

to get caught by then.

A month later, he died.

Two years.

Two years I could

have had with him.

I hate what they do.

What we do.

You don't do it, Nick.

I benefited from it.

Hutch, I'm sorry for all of it.

You ever been to Davie, Hutch?

This is much better.

Believe me.

What'd I tell you about

selling on my street, huh?

Your business

belongs on the other side

of the Federal Highway.

Yeah, no,

I thought about what you said,

actually, for like 10 seconds.

And then-- and then I just

decided I was gonna prospect

wherever the f*ck I want.

Yeah, as a matter of fact,

I was thinking about grabbing

one of these tables

right outside your hotel.

What'd you think of that?

What do you think of that?

That piece don't mean

sh*t to me.

You know what I got in there?

Goat and a tub of moonshine?

Take offence to

that kind of stereotype.

-Oh, yeah?

-Yeah.

Earlier today you had

three bags of shame,

2,000 count,

what you got for five bucks

a pop at the food

truck off Sunrise,

Hey, how do you know all that?

Who do you think sells

your sh*t, sh*t for brains?

f*ck you, man.

So like I said.

Stay off our beach.

And you and your band

of missing teeth misfits,

you get back in that

r*pe van of yours,

and you f*ck off

back to Louisiana,

'Cause you got nothing

to sell without me.

Make sense to y'all?

Hey, big guy!

Get up off of that, now.

Shut you up.

Get him down, get him down.

I caught him, now get that.

Look at him.

All right, get him on up now.

Get!

You think you're

the only source down here?

This is Luderdale.

Okay.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, let's go.

Nick, wake up! Tommy's hurt!

Okay,

you're okay, you're okay.

I got him, I got him.

I can't leave you here

alone, Nick.

Hey, I got that piece upstairs.

I'll be fine, all right?

If they come looking for me,

it'll be like whack a mole

up there. You'll be good.

It's not what you think, Nick.

Nick, it's not--

Hey. Listen, listen,

you've been

hovering over me my whole life.

I can handle myself

for a couple hours.

I'll let 'em get some meds

in you, stitch you up.

-We'll get you home soon. Okay?

-Okay.

Oh, shh, shh, shh.

You know

how to handle that piece?

- It's just for protection.

- Can you use it?

Forget it.

Get back here fast. Go! Now!

I messed things up for Nick.

Soft opening and all.

You did quite

a number on yourself.

Tommy, you're pretty lucky.

One more inch to the left--

Ah, they always say that sh*t.

That's how

they pad the frigging bill.

I swear, I'm gonna

get those scumbags

soon as I get out of here.

Hey, don't worry

about that right now.

Why do you care? Huh?

It's my thing. Remember?

You shouldn't

even be down here.

Yeah, I'm going right back to--

Florida.

You shouldn't be in Florida.

Prison?

I had you pinned for the law.

How'd you find out?

Star 69, dumbass.

Call you made last

week at the Monkey.

Parole officer answered.

Stroudsburg, PA.

Same joint my dad did.

That's some coincidence.

What the hell

were you doing in there, huh?

You steal somebody's milk money?

Financing my education.

Stupidly.

Guy in my dorm,

he was selling black beauties

to stay up, study.

Next thing

I knew, I was selling for him.

Wasn't very good at it.

No sh*t. You got caught.

Yeah, but I only made it through

because somebody on the inside

was looking out for me

the minute I stepped in.

I'm just...

Just trying to repay the favor.

I don't need looking after.

Nothing's happening down here.

Tommy, use the thing.

I don't want it.

My old man must have been

pretty sick

by the time you knew him, huh?

Let's push this...

All right,

that's how, okay?

That's how.

You're awake.

How you feeling?

Bit better now that

you're here, buttercup.

Got my smokes like I asked?

The gift shop didn't

have any. Sorry.

Go look after Nick.

Uh...

I should be going back.

Um, you--

you gonna be okay here?

It's a hospital.

Yeah, um...

Hey, I, uh-- I wanted to say

I know I haven't been to

your room in a long time,

and after all this is done, I--

Hutch, it's-- it's okay.

I'm, uh...

sort of with Tommy now.

We had fun, you and me. Right?

But wasn't going anywhere.

You know that.

It's-- it's different with him.

He gets me. All of me.

The beach. Everything.

Maybe I won't have to be

over there so much anymore.

And If I do, he said

he'd build me a new stand.

Yeah. Yeah. No, uh...

That's great.

I'm-- I'm really

happy for you. Both of you.

Thanks.

You better

get back there for Nick.

Uh, Candy.

When he wakes up,

tell him it's our thing now.

Hey, Nick, you there? Nick?

Hey, you in here, man?

Where the hell have you been?

At the hospital,

like you told me.

Nine hours I'm sitting here,

wondering who's gonna

walk through that door.

How is he?

Broken ribs, doc says.

Internal bleeding.

He's got a lot

of stitches, but...

he'll be all right, you know?

In time.

He's pretty doped up.

Hey. You know,

as bad as he's hurt,

I think he feels worse

about the hotel, you know?

Grand opening and all.

We're not opening sh*t.

What are

you talking about, Nick?

Sure-- sure we are.

You know, you want this.

As soon as Tommy's back, we're

gonna roll up our sleeves and--

We're not doing sh*t.

We never were.

That's us. We just...

sit, sit, sit,

sit and f*cking do nothing!

And now I'm the son

of the biggest f*cking rat

in the world and all I can do is

sit here some more

and wait for them

to put a f*cking b*llet

in my head, Hutch!

They almost k*lled Tommy

to get to me

and they'll be f*cking back!

I'll do whatever you need, Nick.

You know that.

But I gotta tell you.

Everything that happened

outside, that wasn't...

No one was after you.

You don't know what

the hell you're talking about.

No, I do.

I do.

It was those guys

in the van, that's all.

Tommy was into something

with them and it went bad.

He's still dealing?

Both of you.

Lying to me now.

Why are you here?

To help, Nick.

Try to, at least.

That a lie, too?

No, that's real.

So were the b*ll*ts I took out

of this the day you snuck it in.

You're gonna tell me everything.

But right now,

I'm going after them for Tommy.

I already did.

Already did what?

Well, you know,

there was a van fire.

Pretty bad one. Um...

You know, the kind that could

put you out of business.

Permanently.

Are you sure

you're from the suburbs?

You know.

Jersey.

Makes sense.

Let's go fix the lobby.

Hey!

Two for one drinks

tonight at the Playpen,

if you get there before nine.

You still don't remember me?

-Oh, crap! Yeah, hey.

-Hey.

Switch businesses?

Those creeps got

busted and left me hanging

and our van got torched, so...

Whatcha gonna do?

Better, you know?

You're away from all that stuff.

Those guys were

some really bad bosses.

Um...

Is that guy, like, dead?

Oh, no, no, no, he's fine.

On his way to being.

Cool.

Anyway, on to

bigger and better things.

I have to move these.

Daphne.

What was that?

You're always asking me my name.

It's Daphne.

My name.

How's our boy doing?

Tommy?

You know.

Grumpy as hell.

But probably

means he's getting better.

Until he sees

his bellboy outfit.

Two weeks?

You're gonna have

this place filled up.

Eh. I don't feel

like waiting that long.

You ready for some recruiting?

What, right now?

What, right now?

Yeah, right now.

Yeah, sure.

I'll go down there.

No. We will.

It's time to see what Lauderdale

looks like for myself.

Yeah, it's

right down the corner. Um--

There's a t-shirt stand, and

it's right down the sidewalk.

Hey.

They're paying

200 down at the Hilton,

so they're

gonna come have a look.

Sea and Sun's

gonna be a goldmine.

Water's nice.

I've never even been down here.

Just only seen it from up there.

Lot of wasted time.

Yeah, you're here now.

There's a lot of ways a person

can be in prison, Hutch.

Even if it's just in your head.

Yours was real, though.

I was looking for

the right time to tell you.

I always knew your little

fake story was BS, but...

I didn't really mind.

It felt good. I needed it.

So, why did my uncle send you?

Did he know

my old man was flipping?

No, your uncle

never sent me, Nick.

I never even met him.

He'd already died.

It was your dad.

Yeah, he, uh...

He told me to come down.

He was looking after me

the moment I got in there.

No one ever messed

with me because of him.

And I couldn't

understand why,

until he started

talking about you.

His son in Florida.

His son in Florida?

Yeah.

Surprised he even

remembered he had a second one.

Yeah, he told me that...

He told me

that you deserved better.

Better than how he treated you.

And either way, I owed him.

So...

Came down here because

I had nowhere else to be.

But he never told me why...

Or what to do when I got here.

You know,

he just told me to find you

and try to help as best I can.

He's under federal protection.

Testifying soon.

I'd say he sent you down

because he knew

you'd only be in there

for a couple of months.

Got you down

here to soften me up,

not screw up

his deal with the Feds.

I don't know where

the bodies are buried,

but the cash, that's something

I know a little bit about.

Never trust a rat.

Yeah. Yeah, maybe, but, uh...

Why'd he tell me

to never let you know?

Well, I'm glad

you're here, Hutch.

Whatever the circumstance.

That's enough for one night,

don't you think?

Ampersand.

That's all it needed.

Tell you what.

Go next door, grab us

two filets from the Hilton.

Grill them up

on the roof. Use--

The kitchen door.

Yeah, Nick,

I think I get the drill by now.

And hey, tonight's on me, okay?

All right, just this one time.

Go ahead before

they close the kitchen.

Hey, you know, I was, uh...

I was thinking, um...

It kinda was

meant to be, though.

Finding you.

I didn't know

where you guys were.

I looked in Davie, Boca,

all over, and just nothing.

And then, one day,

I parked my bike right out front

of the front door.

That's... That's crazy.

That's crazy, right?

No.

That's fate.

Ow, f*ck.

Yo, Nick!

Hell of a time for a workout.

Finished everything?

No, not yet.

Then back to work.

We got a delivery

to take down the woods.

Thanks, hon.

The way you eat, you're

gonna put me in the poorhouse.

What can I say, J?

When you're paying,

it just tastes better.

You're gonna be a world-class

wiseass, you know that?

But this is a celebration,

so you get a pass tonight.

Oh, yeah? Uh...

What are we, um...

Yeah, what are we celebrating?

Me.

Finally got a real job

coming down the shore.

Gonna be number 21.

Yeah, nice.

The, uh, gold-plated one.

What?

What do you mean, gold-plated?

Uh, gold, I meant, right.

Cricket's finally

sending me some real work again.

Guess my little slap

on the wrist is over, huh?

Chin-chin.

Whoa.

Whoa, whoa.

You should

have got her number.

She was looking at you.

What do you call these,

kamikoozies?

Yeah, yeah, kamikaze.

k*ller, right?

Like you?

They do not suck.

Ah...

Hey, so, J.

Uh, you ever, uh,

pop anybody famous?

Ah. Just chumps had it coming.

Yeah. Yeah, there was this

one thing I did down there

in Florida a year ago.

Oh, yeah? Yeah, who was the guy?

Guys, two.

Ah, you never heard of 'em.

The one guy I went down

there for, his rat father.

The rat.

You heard of him.

J, that was you?

Yeah, I...

The boss who ratted.

I-- I read about that.

I wish I got that call.

He got his a*s popped

right there at the courthouse.

Nah, I went

down there for his spawn.

The little prince.

Threw in his bodyguard, too.

Hated that c*ck f*ck for years.

Some bodyguard, he turned out.

He was laying

in his hospital bed like a slug.

Stoned out of his mind.

Guys down there beat the sh*t

out of him a few weeks back.

That was fun.

Got me this little souvenir.

Ah? So now it's

the little prince's turn, right?

But this nutjob,

he never leaves his hotel.

Never. He's like

a f*cking brachnophobic,

been hiding so long.

From spiders?

f*ck, what

are you talking about?

Spiders? No.

From outside.

You don't go out.

But get this, as I'm pulling...

There he is.

He's like la-dee-f*cking-da

with some other jerk off.

Outside.

Guy who never goes.

Wow, that sounds like fate.

Yeah, so now this guy,

he's gotta go too, right?

Never leave a witness, right?

Pour.

The f*ck do I pay

your mick a*s for?

Mm.

So I'm waiting, I'm waiting.

And a half hour later,

there he is.

Except this time

without his little boyfriend.

Luckiest day

of that schmuck's life.

The little prince.

I knew it.

It's over, Joey.

I have nothing to do

with him anymore.

You're his blood, little prince.

You got everything to

do with that rat scumbag.

Just like

that brother of yours did.

You know how that turned out.

Oh.

Turns out, Pops never made it

to the grand jury after all.

It'll be in the papers tomorrow.

But you're gonna

miss that issue.

The families are

gonna thank me for this.

The families?

They laughed at you.

You know that?

I even knew that as a kid.

You with your big mouth,

your special g*n,

your plans, Joey.

No.

You were nothing

but a punchline to them.

You were only

ever good for one thing.

And still am.

Turn around.

Nick...

Three times I went down

in that miserable heat,

waiting for them

pricks to take out the rat.

No respect.

All I got was

another souvenir for it.

f*cking prince showed

some ba*ls in the end.

Well, the bosses

must have been happy. Huh?

Who'd you do that job for?

You ask a lot of f*cking

questions, you know that?

It's gold.

Like me.

You understand?

Yeah, Joey.

That's why-- That's why

they're calling you again.

You know? No one's better.

Don't you ever forget it.

Pull over, I gotta puke.

f*ck.

You know, excuse me

for saying, J, but, uh...

You know,

I just think it's bullshit

the way they treated you,

you know?

After all you did for them.

Whoever it was that hired you.

They're probably

still talking about it.

Job like that.

Probably taking all

the credit for it, too.

No one hired me.

They wanted

nothing to do with it.

Even when I told them...

I did it on my own.

Me.

Showed them all how you stop

a problem before it starts.

You know how they thanked me?

Shut me out. A year.

No more calls,

no more jobs, except...

watching over punks like you

at the feast.

- What time is it?

- Early.

Yeah, no sh*t, early. How early?

Dunno.

Why don't you check the watch

you took off a dead guy?

I tell you about

being a wiseass?

Shut up!

For once.

Oh, what?

Doesn't feel so good, does it?

Oh, hey.

Just tell me

what's going on here, yeah?

A little job down in Florida.

What? Florida?

When did that happen?

I was f*cking drunk.

-It was just bullshit.

-No.

No, I've been listening

to your bullshit every day

for the past six months.

I know exactly

what it sounds like.

Why the f*ck

would you even care?

Loyalty.

But not for you,

for someone who actually

f*cking deserves it.

My friend.

The one you shot

and pushed off a f*cking roof.

Did the world a favor

with that little prince.

Nicky!

His name...

is Nicky.

Why don't you

just give me the piece?

Or else you're gonna join him.

f*ck! f*ck.

You had your chance with me, J,

down in Lauderdale.

You missed.

Why Violet?

Crazy b*tch showed up to

P's club trying to embarrass me.

Get my money.

Yeah, it was her money.

The money that you stole.

That we stole.

You know what

that prick boss did?

In front of everyone?

f*cking tells me

I gotta give her the money.

Like a mook.

She got paid, all right.

Why don't you k*ll P too, huh?

He's the one

that made you look bad.

Oh, he's on the list.

They all are.

He's not gonna be too happy

when Tommy tells him that.

Hold up, hold up. Just--

Why don't you take

all the money in the safe.

Yeah, the key's in

the drawer. Just walk.

Just-- just walk.

You'll never

see me again. Never.

Tommy. What do you mean, Tommy?

I stole the money

in the booth, J,

so you'd bring me in.

Just like he said.

I did your runs.

I poured your f*cking wine.

I even took your beating

when I didn't have to.

So, I owned your a*s.

From the f*cking start.

Blanks.

Nicky's.

Just in case.

Everybody takes a beating, J.

You told me that once.

Looks like now it's your turn.

Motherfuck!

Ugh.

Herbal.

Tastes like a cow pie.

What are you gonna do, huh?

Here. I just quit.

You're all right, Hutch.

For a cop.

Dog with a bone.

What's that now?

Nothing.

Compliment.

Something Nicky used to say.

Miss that kid every day.

Yeah. So do I.

You meant a lot to him,

you know that.

Gave him...

hope.

I owe you for what you did here.

Anything you need,

a job, anyth--

Good.

This life...

It ain't for you.

Cand always said you were smart.

How's Candy, uh...

doing now?

Good, good.

She's doing good down there.

Running the place.

It's good for us.

We're gonna do weekends.

Turns out she is a real

lifeguard after all, huh?

Yeah.

Mine.

Tommy.

Tommy!

Oh.

Oh, my God, Tommy.

Come on, no, no.

Nurse! Oh, my God.

Oh!

Stay out of trouble.

-You too, Tommy.

-Not likely.

But hey.

Go back to school.

Do that writing thing.

You know, Nick liked that.

Write about the beach.

Our beach.

Don't ever use my name.

Tommy,

whose name wasn't really Tommy,

ended up

running the whole thing.

And Nicky?

He probably knew more

about me than he ever let on,

Whether he swapped out

those blanks to keep me safe

or himself, who knows.

Maybe he didn't trust me

as much as I thought.

In the end, though,

I hope I earned it.