Godfather of Harlem (2019) s03e06 Episode Script
Spooks
1
♪
My father was responsible
for my husband getting killed.
- [GUNSHOT]
- Lombardi, no!
[LOMBARDI] What's the matter,
boss? It's what you wanted.
Please, Joe, I want my freedom.
I can't keep living in a cage like this.
If I let you go and something
happens to you, I'm dead!
So shut the fuck up about it
and make the best of things!
You're full of shit!
Omar wants to work for Malcolm.
And even if he's sincere,
my feelings get in the way.
I believe in what Malcolm
is doing with all my heart.
But I'm not gonna lie to
you, Elise. I still love you.
The U.S. government trying to
intimidate me, even overseas.
It means I'm getting under their skin.
Here, let me share something with you.
- Oh, qué es eso?
- Cocaína.
This shit ain't like duji, man.
And if this Colombo
motherfucker landed the duji,
then we need to find
something else to sell.
Only rich white folks buy that shit.
Just run the idea by Bumpy.
You won't be participating
in the next shipment.
The Corsicans have agreed
to make me their sole buyer.
If you want to sell any dope,
you're gonna have to buy from me
like every other
motherfucker in this town.
♪
Ask me, life is like a hand of cards.
You play the hand you're dealt.
Can't win by folding.
Sometimes you gotta take a
chance if you want to win.
Would you stop messing
with my concentration?
I'm not. I was just
I know your tricks, Ellsworth.
[LAUGHS]
Gin.
[CHUCKLES]
104. I win.
I've taken just about as
many losses as I can today.
You're not talking about gin rummy.
No, I'm not.
I am proud of you.
Getting out of the duji
business was the right move.
Both practically and morally.
Without the duji, my other
businesses have suffered.
My relationship with Jose
Battle, it's suffered.
There are other growth
opportunities all around
if you really take a look.
What about Palmetto Chemical?
That is a legitimate
business that can grow.
Mayme, it does well,
but it's a small concern.
Not if you get a federal contract.
I have heard through Powell's
office that after the riots,
they're giving them out
to more black businesses.
- They'll never give me one of those.
- We can try.
I got a criminal record.
Those kind of contracts
go out to white businesses
with political contacts.
I have contacts, too, you know.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
- Got contacts?
- Yeah, I do, I do.
And a federal contract could
mean millions of dollars.
You're so sexy when
you say "millions." Hm.
Maybe I'll surprise you.
You surprise me all the time.
[COLOMBO] Bumpy fucking Johnson.
His pride, it gets in the
way of his business sense.
You ain't got that blind spot.
That's why you're here?
Look, I got the French connection.
I mean, if Bumpy Johnson doesn't
want to deal with me, fine.
But what's to stop you?
You could flood the Barrio with
this stuff and make millions.
Bumpy's my partner.
I don't stab my partner in the back.
I respect that.
Loyalty is everything in our world.
But, Jose, so is survival.
[SIGHS]
My father used to say,
"Un hombre no es un plátano."
"A man is not a banana."
You don't just eat the fruit
and throw away the skin.
[CHUCKLES] You don't want
to choke on it either.
Here's my offer.
Last year, I made $12 million
on my car operation alone.
Come in with me.
Bring your own hombres.
50-50 on whatever you bring in.
Plus the heroin.
Very generous.
And a 300K cash bonus
just for the opportunity
to earn your friendship.
I appreciate the offer.
But I must say no.
Come to me when you realize
you're supposed to toss
the fuckin' banana peel.
Nobody eats that shit.
Not even the apes.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
♪
Yeah ♪
Change ♪
Yeah ♪
Open up my window again ♪
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case ♪
[RAPPING] Lay on my back
watchin' the ceilin' fan ♪
I had a dream to touch a kilo gram ♪
Still at odds with the Irish mob ♪
Rolls-Royce down Malcolm X Boulevard ♪
Lord, these really
out here preyin' on me ♪
Got the .40 on me and his hand on me ♪
Snow-white mink like
I'm Dutch Schultz ♪
Run the books and let me
show you how the numbers look ♪
You can't be lucky like you Luciano ♪
The kilos slammin' like they new pianos ♪
And Fat Boy got the big body ♪
Coast-to-coast, I
could shoot product ♪
Open up my window again ♪
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case ♪
[SIGHS] Colombo's cops cut off the duji
coming in from the
Canadians and the Turks.
And the Chinese don't fuck with nobody
but their own, so that it?
We outta the dope game.
Bump, we get you don't
want to buy from Colombo.
But outta the game? Shit.
Nat and Junie are both too
damn old to learn how to sew.
- Ya dig?
- [LAUGHS]
[PETTIGREW] Plus, we're losing
business everywhere, Bump.
The Geechee, the cat
houses, the numbers.
Shit, without drugs, them
guineas gonna wipe us out.
I know. That's what I'm tryin'
to figure the fuck out here.
Then I think you should hear Nat out.
He's got something.
I think we can work with it.
Go on.
- Cocaine?
- Yeah.
Shit's got some action in the Barrio.
It's not like duji, but
folks is starting to buy.
Who can afford cocaine in the Barrio?
It's getting doled out small amounts.
Exactly. It's impossible to get in bulk.
Right, Junie?
The Latins smuggle it in by the ounce.
Ain't no real money in that.
But if we can get it in bulk,
I think we can move it, Bump.
Plus, cocaine don't turn
folks into fiends like duji do.
No, it's a pick-up.
Lights a wick up your ass.
I know what it does.
How'd you get it?
This dude who knows Battle.
But he's no longer in the picture.
I'd talk to Battle before Colombo
starts whispering in his ear.
I'm sure he already has.
Hmm.
[STELLA] Look. Look at that.
I can't go anywhere without
one of his goons on my tail.
Can't imagine how difficult
this must be for you.
No. You can't.
It's like I'm under house arrest.
Stella, your father's
number-one concern,
over and above
everything, is your safety.
Get me out of here.
I could speak to your father
again, but in his eyes,
Joe Colombo's doing a very good job,
minding the store and
also protecting you, and
He's trying to fuck me.
I find it difficult to
believe he could be so stupid.
He comes onto me nonstop.
He even took me out to a fancy dinner.
All right, this is important.
Did he make a direct
sexual advance on you?
Would you call telling me he has
a large penis a sexual advance?
Well, that depends.
Look, all I'm saying is,
I don't want to be under his protection.
I can protect myself.
Tell my father that's all I want.
And, please, don't
mention the sex stuff.
I'm just sharing that with you.
Promise?
I will do what I can.
♪
References, receipts, ledgers.
It seems simple enough to me.
Save for one debilitating factor
your husband.
What about my husband?
Bumpy is a convicted felon.
That automatically disqualifies him.
He is also a pillar of this community.
No one mentioned his prison record
when he donated thousands
of dollars to your campaign.
I am very grateful
for Bumpy's generosity,
but that does not absolve
his criminal record.
How can a man move forward
if the government keeps
shutting the door in his face?
Palmetto Chemical
is a legitimate extermination business
that has been in Harlem for decades.
Why can't it be considered
for a government contract?
Bumpy's name on a bid
for government funds
will never happen.
What if it were in someone else's name?
My name?
Eh.
I can't advise you to
do something like that.
But on the other hand,
a lot of these contracts
go to mob-controlled entities
with supposedly legitimate front men.
Hmm. Do they now.
Eh, look, I am not a lawyer, so you
You didn't hear it from me.
I tell you something, man.
You better figure out something fast,
because you're gonna drag
me down the toilet with you.
Colombo tell you that himself?
Upstairs, over a cafecito?
Yeah, man. He came, he wanted to talk.
I said, "Okay, let's talk."
I listened to him. You know what I said?
I said, "I don't fuck my partners."
I'm sure he made you
an extremely generous
and bullshit offer.
Hey, what the fuck is
your problem now, man?
Now you suddenly too good to sell dope?
That was your fucking
pitch in the first place!
Have you seen the streets of Harlem?!
Junkies half dead on every corner.
Tell me, Jose, if you
could reclaim your homeland,
would you pump poison
out on the streets?
I'm done with the duji business.
But I got a solution.
Please.
My man Pettigrew,
he got this off of one
of your associates here.
♪
[CHUCKLES]
Cocaine?
Who the fuck is gonna buy that shit?
If that keeps moving through the Barrio,
even in small quantities,
you got a possible gold mine.
By selling ounces?
You know what a pain in the fucking ass
it is to bring cocaine
up to New York City?
It's manufactured in Colombia and Peru
and has to go through Cuba
as a transshipment point.
Yeah, and whatever's left is seized
and burned the fuck
up by the CIA, right?
I read it in the paper.
It could be used to fund your
operations against Castro.
Come on.
♪
Okay, man.
Okay.
But I gotta do something first.
Yeah, let me guess
Consult with your advisor.
♪
♪
Something is clearly on your mind.
Omar's asked me out on a date.
I don't think I should go.
Oh, you're afraid you'll
fall into temptation?
Yeah, right. Afraid I'll
toss my drink in his face.
I thought you'd forgiven him.
A few lines of poetry and an apology
hardly seem like enough to
absolve him after all he's done.
Omar's doing his best.
But if I can forgive him,
Elise, then you can, too.
He ain't asking you out on a date.
Well, my instinct tells me
that Omar's sincerely
seeking redemption.
The courting phase of a relationship
is such a precious time.
It builds the foundation for
the years you'll spend together.
Do I even want years with Omar?
Only you can judge that.
But I want to see you happy, Elise.
You deserve that.
Don't get in your own way.
♪
♪
[SHELLS RATTLING]
♪
[SHELLS RATTLING]
♪
How's it looking?
♪
She's saying betrayal is
never an act of an enemy,
but of a friend.
She's saying I'm gonna betray you?
No, no. She's saying
we need to be cautious
with both enemies and friends.
What about the cocaine business?
Is that good for us?
Madrina
♪
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
♪
She says no warning
against cocaine business.
Th That's a good thing, right?
[CHUCKLES]
We can move forward.
I'm gonna introduce you
to my man in the CIA.
They call him "Wild Bill."
What do you got?
Alpha 66 claims it has a mole
inside the kitchen of Castro's compound.
A mole in Castro's kitchen?
Yeah, okay. Tell me more.
It says a new member of Alpha 66
has a "nephew inside the kitchen staff
who has access to Castro's ice cream."
- Could be credible.
- Yeah, Castro likes ice cream.
Sounds like bullshit.
What new member of Alpha 66?
A Gustavo Martinez in Union City.
Arrived on a raft two months ago.
Two months?
Well, who's he got here at home?
A wife, kid? How old?
No family listed, no
date of birth, no address.
Then how the fuck can
you say he's credible?
He's a double agent
working for Castro, not us.
- Get rid of him.
- You don't want to question him
before we put him on
a boat back to Cuba?
No, and no, not a boat. A bullet.
You're pissing me off.
What else?
Jose Battle called.
Now, that is a tough son of a bitch.
That's how we're gonna
kill that cocksucker Castro.
Motherfuckers like that.
Jose Battle does not fuck
around with chocolate ice cream.
He's all about getting on
that soil with artillery
and making the kill-shot.
Says he wants you to meet with
him and his business partner.
Bumpy Johnson.
Yeah, my guys told me about Johnson.
He can help us, too.
Bumpy Johnson can help us?
Jose.
¿Cómo estás, hermano?
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Hey, Stella.
How you doing?
- Fine.
- Mind if I come in?
Yeah, sure.
Hey, you got the palm on the wall.
My mother does the same thing.
She would bug me to get
ashes on Ash Wednesday.
You get the ashes, right?
Yeah. I do.
- Every year.
- Mind if I sit?
I used to hate getting that big cross
right smack in the
middle of your forehead.
They'd put it right fuckin' there.
Ba-boom.
Right above this big nose.
You just come from my father?
Yeah.
Fineman told him about
what's going on with Colombo.
Needless to say, he's
Well, he's none too happy.
So am I free of Colombo's protection?
Your father wanted me to
come here and reassure you
That's no longer gonna be a problem.
♪
What are you saying?
What I'm saying is, you're
not gonna have to worry
about Joe Colombo anymore.
Wait, no.
I want him off my back.
I never said I wanted him hurt.
Well, Stella, he did it to himself.
I mean, he's got to go.
Your pops doesn't like the way
he's running business either.
He don't trust him anymore.
I'm gonna be your
protection going forward.
Hey.
Listen, Colombo's guys,
they're dangerous, and I'm defenseless.
I need a gun.
[LAUGHS] A gun?
Look, I'm gonna have two of
my guys outside at all times.
Besides, your father would kill me.
Kill you? He'll kill you if I get shot,
is what you should be thinking.
Come on, Lombardi.
I know how to use a gun.
Don't leave me defenseless.
[SIGHS]
♪
[SIGHS] I gotta be crazy.
Okay.
Here.
That's a 380 Walther.
You didn't get this from me.
♪
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
Mmm. These eggs are divine.
I can never get my poaching water right.
A pinch of salt does the trick.
Mm.
With what you're asking for, it
it shouldn't be difficult to transfer
Palmetto's ownership to your name.
And Ellsworth approves of this?
Oh, I believe I have his full blessing.
Landing a contract like this
could really change things for us.
You're right. A government contract
for extermination services
would be extremely lucrative.
However, we have a longevity issue.
How do you mean, "longevity"?
I can't simply put the
company in your name.
I mean, I could, but the
government does due diligence
on awarding contracts.
They'll look at least 10
years into a company's past.
I see.
So they wouldn't award
that kind of money
to someone who'd only owned
the company for two days?
No, but there is a way
to "massage" the records
so it seems like you've
owned it for a lot longer.
Well, that's not legal.
Let's just say it's legal-adjacent.
Nothing a little clever
bookkeeping won't fix.
Archie does things
like that all the time.
Everyone does it.
Of course, my services
are pro bono for now,
but if you are awarded the contract,
I'll need 5% of the gross.
3%.
Well, 3% of $5 million
is still $150,000.
[LAUGHS] You have a deal.
Jose says you have a proposition for us.
The CIA incinerates hundreds
of kilos of cocaine a month.
How about you turn it over to us?
We sell it, a quarter
of the profits go to you
and the fight against Castro.
Who the hell are you gonna sell it to?
Cocaine's a novelty in New York.
You don't have buyers.
Don't worry. That's on me.
[SIGHS] If you can't move
the shit and you get caught
with that kind of volume,
the Feds get involved,
it's in the papers,
and we're all fucked.
I'll move it. Trust me.
Harvey, imagine the army we
could build with that money.
It's an attractive proposition.
Siltations like this,
usually there's a
little, uh, tit for tat.
Quid pro quo.
I'm listening.
We have something you want.
You have something we want.
And what would that be?
Intimate access to Malcolm X.
[LAUGHS]
We're aware of your history.
We know that you've been
providing him with protection.
Yeah. So?
So what we don't know is
what he achieved in Africa.
We need who he met with, when, and why.
We assume a record has been
kept by your daughter, Elise.
You get us that, you boys can
have all the coke you want.
♪
[STELLA] I lied to my
father about Joe Colombo.
I can't be responsible
for another murder.
There's already too
much blood on my hands.
Stella, I've known you
since you were a baby.
I know your heart, as does the Lord.
You're not a murderer.
Death seems to follow me everywhere.
I feel trapped by it.
There's no curse upon you.
Only you can bring evil upon yourself.
You must pray for redemption.
Pray for help.
I've done that.
[VOICE BREAKING] Over and over.
And it doesn't do any good.
You mustn't say that.
I'm speaking to you as your uncle,
as your blood, as your family.
Not just a priest.
Get ahold of yourself.
If you think that you've done something
that's going to cause harm,
then you must do everything
in your power to undo it.
What if it's too late?
[SIGHS]
There's no such thing as "too late."
Life is eternal.
Our time on this Earth is limited.
So you must use your time to do good,
and as best you can
right wrongs.
♪
So the CIA wants to know who
I met with, where, and when,
and the contents of these
private conversations.
That's right.
What about what I had for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
Or how many times I used the toilet?
It's not funny.
I think the CIA has already
tried to kill Malcolm.
He was poisoned in Cairo.
And if you think they're after
me now, wait a few more days.
What's in a few more days?
I'm working with my new
friend Che Guevara to expose
the United States government
at the United Nations
over their human rights
abuses all over the world.
Created through alliances
with leaders from Egypt,
Tanzania, Nigeria,
Ghana, Guinea, and Kenya.
I didn't run into any
closed doors, closed minds,
or closed hearts.
Except the CIA's.
Now I get why they wanted
me to snitch about Africa.
Well, if the heat wasn't on
before, it's certainly on now.
Look
I'm gonna give the CIA information.
False information.
False information to the CIA?
Do you have any idea what
you're getting yourself into?
I'm sure as hell not
gonna cooperate with them.
I think the question is, brother
Can't you just say no and walk away?
No.
For business reasons.
Of course.
For you, it's always about business.
The CIA is just another
criminal organization.
They just have to be
dealt with. That's it.
But giving false
information to the CIA
That could put you in jail, or worse.
You build your alliances your way,
and I'll build mine my way.
♪
Mm.
♪
Oh. [CHUCKLES]
Hello, Elise.
I'd offer you a glass, but
I know you don't drink wine.
Are you okay?
I'm fine.
I'm just doing some
business for your father.
Daddy's up to all kinds
of business these days.
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing.
I am submitting Palmetto Chemical
for a government contract.
And you think the
government's gonna award
Bumpy Johnson with a contract?
No.
That's why I'm putting
the company in my name.
I mean, it's not entirely legal,
but Ellsworth deserves
this as much as anyone.
I'm just I'm trying to right a wrong.
With a wrong.
If your father had the
right opportunities,
he could build an empire.
Legitimately.
You can't change him, Mayme.
Better to accept him for who he is.
He can change.
By forging documents?
The only one changing here is you.
♪
[SCOFFS LIGHTLY]
♪
So, how's this gonna happen?
Harvey will meet us
Friday at the facility.
If you bring the
information on Malcolm X,
he's gonna give us 12 kilos
of cocaine Friday night.
12 kilos for a test run.
That's what I wanted to hear.
But here's the thing, Bumpy
You gotta be straight with them.
Explain.
♪
You, your daughter, and
Malcolm X one hour ago.
You gotta be really
careful with these spooks.
I wouldn't be surprised if
they have a picture of you
scratching your ass
in your silk pajamas.
Harvey give this to you?
That's good to know.
These guys have eyes everywhere.
♪
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
♪
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
♪
- Thank you, good brother.
- Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
♪
Elise.
You are absolutely stunning.
So are you.
Elise, this is my mother, Khadijah.
As-salamu alaykum.
Thank you for being our chaperone
to keep halal for our date.
Wa-Alaikum-Salaam.
You are just as beautiful
as Omar said you were.
♪
♪
He's spoken so highly of you,
and the great influence
you've had on him.
Omar can't say enough
wonderful things about you.
- Is that so?
- [LAUGHS]
He hasn't smiled so much
since Zahira was still with us.
I was worried he'd never
find happiness again,
but then, Mashallah, he found you.
- Mashallah.
- Mashallah.
Omar! Haram!
You know you mustn't touch
her until you're married.
Forgive me, Mother. I don't
know what came over me.
That's why I'm here.
I raised my son to be a
proper Muslim man before Allah.
You did a very good job.
The only shameful thing he's ever done
was to get himself exiled
from the Nation of Islam,
all because of that roguish Malcolm X.
Mother, please
That evil man has slandered
the Messenger just too many times.
Malcolm is risking his life
to fight for our freedom.
He deserves respect,
regardless of his quarrel
with Elijah Muhammad.
Omar, I thought you said
Elise was an intelligent woman.
Mother, I beg you
Allah forbids you join your life
to someone who follows
the promises of a fool,
and clearly, this woman is a fool.
Mother, that's enough!
As-salamu alaykum. Can
I interest you in
♪
[SIGHS]
♪
♪
I need you to see my father now.
What's the matter?
Tell him I said to call
off this hit on Colombo.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I do not know what that means. A hit?
- What is that?
- Oh, would you cut the shit?!
I I do not know
what you're referencing.
I am not involved in
whatever you are referring to.
I was lying about him trying to fuck me.
I did it because I can't stand
being under his protection.
That was a grave mistake.
I know.
And since you obviously
told that to my father,
now you've gotta get him to call it off.
The die has been cast.
As his attorney, I am obligated
to tell Mr. Gigante everything I hear.
Your father flew into a rage.
He was put into solitary confinement.
I have no way to access him.
There's nothing I can do.
Get me a meeting with Lombardi.
I don't want to get
in the middle of a
Or I'll tell my father that
you tried to fuck me, too.
You threatening me?
Yes.
Okay. Okay.
I-I will make sure
Lombardi comes to see you.
Good.
I have to tell you, for the first time,
you really remind me of your father.
♪
[CHANCE] This ain't the
police or the Feds, Bump.
And if you give 'em
some bullshit information
and they find out, you can
kiss all that coke goodbye.
We gotta be real
careful about this, Bump.
Those CIA cats do not play.
This ain't no tit-for-tat
like we do on the streets.
[CHUCKLES] Think I don't know that, Del?
Chin told me that these
motherfuckers killed Kennedy
- with the help of the mob.
- Damn.
Hey, word in Spanish Harlem
is that the CIA got mobsters
to take a whack at Castro in Cuba.
Said they was pissed
because Castro knocked them
outta Havana, cost their asses millions.
Where'd you hear that?
Yeah, I heard it from one of
Battle's men over at Casa Havana.
Said it was some kinda
hush-hush operation.
Del, get me Carlo Gambino on the phone.
I wanna set a meeting.
Yeah.
So you've owned Palmetto
Chemical for 10 years,
and you employ 50 people?
Yes.
I expanded the number of
workers so that the government
would deem us capable
of a large contract.
Yes. I see.
Mr. Marshall?
My specialty is evaluating
procurement contracts,
and a sudden rise in the workforce
could be flagged, Congressman.
Oh. How many people really work there?
Oh, I don't know.
It's probably closer to 20.
Well, then let's put
down 30, uh, to be safe.
I mean, they know when
awarding these contracts
to small businesses
that they are allowed
to expand their workforce.
More jobs for Harlem.
- That's wonderful.
- Wonderful.
I'm not sure creating
facts is a good idea.
Guess who gets these
extermination contracts
from the government.
The mob. The white mob.
The Luccheses, the Gambinos.
Why not let a Black
mobster get it for once?
So now you're advocating equal
opportunity to Black mobsters?
I am advocating jobs for
unemployed Harlem workers
by any goddamn means necessary!
As a lawyer, I have to recommend
you wash your hands of this.
Is Palmetto Chemical
a legitimate business, or is it not?
It is very legitimate.
It's done legitimate
work in Harlem for years.
And according to rumor,
laundered money as a drug front.
Can you prove that?
No.
Submit the application.
And, Mayme, good luck.
[LOMBARDI] Stella, that's not
how things work in our world.
You're given an order, you follow it.
What, you're telling
me like I haven't lived
my entire life in this world?
Eh, you know where the guys
who don't follow orders are?
The bottom of the Gowanus Canal.
No, guys botch jobs all the time.
That's not me. I'm sorry.
When your father says,
"Take care of Colombo,"
I take care of Colombo.
Nothin' I can do about it.
I can't be responsible
for another person's death.
[SIGHS]
Hey.
I know you've been through a lot.
What happened to Ernie was awful.
But for what it's worth, it
was very painful for me, too.
- It was?
- Yeah.
You guys just got married.
Plus, I liked Ernie.
I didn't want to off him.
But I had to do it
'cause I had an order.
Your father, after he gave me
the order, changed his mind,
tried to get to me, but it was too late.
I thought my father killed Ernie.
No.
Your father tried to stop it.
Breaks my heart.
Breaks your father's heart, too.
Truth is, Stell, this Colombo,
he could never be trusted.
I advised your father against it.
I think Colombo's gonna
make a play for Harlem,
all the while playing nice with Chin.
- You do?
- Yeah.
Now, don't you want to protect your dad,
after all you put him through?
Yes.
Okay.
Okay, here's the plan.
Now, it's just you and
him in the office, right?
He's got guys outside, but
yeah, it's just me and him.
Okay.
I'm gonna tell Colombo
I'll be by about 7:00 p.m.
with instructions from Chin.
When I walk in, you walk out.
Say, uh I don't know.
Say you have to go to the
ladies' room or something.
Before you know it, it's over. Boom.
The men outside won't even hear the shot
over the fucking car crushers
you got in the junkyard.
[BUMPY] We've known each
other for a long time, Gambino.
It hasn't always been peaceful.
True.
A lot of ups and downs, huh? [LAUGHS]
We haven't talk just
the two of us for years.
The pleasure of that
being that you and I,
we don't, uh, bullshit each other.
Want some walnuts?
No, thanks.
That's right.
We don't bullshit each other.
We never have.
Which brings me to this
Wh What the fuck do you want?
I mean, Colombo tells me that
you're no longer
interested in narcotics.
Ask me, that's your
uh, your lifeblood.
I got a different agenda right now.
My, uh, partner,
Jose Battle he's got a plan to
to kill Castro.
What's that gotta do with me?
I hear that the CIA
went to you back in '63
to try to take Castro out.
Battle wants your help.
I mean, it comes with a huge payday,
and if everything works out as planned,
you get Havana and all
of your casinos back.
Why are you all of a sudden
brokering political hits?
'Cause I just cut a deal with the CIA.
They're in with Battle,
so I'm in with them.
Why fight the government when
you can partner with them?
Who's your point man at the CIA?
"Wild Bill" Harvey.
Bill Harvey? For real?
What, you know him?
Know him?
I mean, he was the guy.
He was the the puppet master.
He tried to kill Castro
with poisoned wetsuits.
He'd do anything to whack that guy.
He called it Operation
Mongoose. [LAUGHS]
Harvey told me that you
were the guy to go to
to get details on what
fucked up the last time,
and how to try to avoid it on the next.
[SIGHS]
All right.
You got a few hours, I'll lay it on you.
Mm.
But what a goat-fuck. [LAUGHS]
I got all the time in the world.
♪
- Adam?
- Mayme.
Uh, pardon my intrusion,
but I wanted to come by
to speak to you in person.
Is, uh, Bumpy here?
No, he stepped out.
Please. Can I offer you a drink?
No. Uh, thank you.
I wanted to come by
personally to let you know
that your application has been rejected.
Oh.
Did they say why?
Falsifying records.
It seems that they caught
on to our little scheme.
Well, what does this mean for us?
A-Are we in trouble? Am I?
Mayme, I'm always in trouble.
Oh, God, you do so much
good for our people,
I can't bring you down like this.
- Mayme
- I'm so ashamed.
I will never do anything criminal again,
I swear it, as God as my witness.
I just I pray to Jesus, "Forgive me."
- Mayme
- Will you forgive me?
Mayme, I don't think you understand.
Riverside Refuse got the contact.
They are run by the Luccheses.
When they found out that
your bid was going to win,
they used their corrupt connections
to sabotage your application.
So it's not because I
lied on the documents?
No.
Some other liars won this round.
The point is to keep on fighting.
Yes, Congressman.
I don't like playing
dirty any more than you do,
but the Good Lord knows
what we're up against,
and the Good Lord, and myself,
expect to see you in the office
bright and early tomorrow morning,
because we have our work cut out for us.
Yes. We do.
Mm.
[SIGHS]
Good night, Mayme.
Good night.
♪
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪
♪
♪
What's wrong?
What, you got a date or something?
You know, you don't have
to stay this late, Stella.
No, I'm, um, just
finishing up some things.
[CLEARS THROAT] All right, well,
I'm gonna need you out of here anyway.
Your father's guy Lombardi's
coming by for a meeting.
Oh? Really?
Okay.
[CLOCK TICKING]
♪
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
♪
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
♪
♪
[TICKING CONTINUES]
♪
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
♪
Hey! Look what the cat dragged in.
Hey, Joe. Stella.
Stella, give us some privacy, will you?
Have a nice night.
♪
So, how's Chin holding up?
♪
He said to send you this.
[GUNSHOT]
[THUD]
Jesus fucking Christ!
He was the one who killed my husband,
and he was gonna kill you.
Why? Why? Why would he do that
without Chin's permission?
♪
I want my freedom.
♪
[WOMEN RAPPING IN SPANISH]
♪
Bravo's arrived.
♪
♪
♪
♪
[MAN SINGING IN SPANISH]
♪
[WOMEN SINGING IN SPANISH]
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
Clear the room.
Evening, gentlemen.
Bumpy.
On time, to the minute, I see.
Warm in here.
Let's get straight to it.
Were you able to acquire the information
I requested about
Malcolm's visit to Africa?
About Malcolm X?
Yeah.
Well, I was happy to see
you and he and your
daughter met for lunch.
Yeah, I saw the photograph.
You guys have some real
long-range lenses there.
[LAUGHS] Well, yeah.
Welcome to working with the CIA.
We got all the best shit. Right, Jose?
Yeah, man. Top notch.
What'd you get?
The question isn't whether or not
I got information from Malcolm.
The question is where you
got the audacity to think
that I would fuck over
my friend for cocaine.
♪
You got a real live wire here, Jose.
He surprises me all the time.
Yeah, I get it. I did the research.
You and Malcolm,
you're longtime friends.
The two of you go way, way back.
We do.
Here's the situation.
I'm gonna get that Africa information,
one way or, you know, another way.
Is that so?
I just thought it would be more pleasant
for Malcolm and your daughter
to have you be the
one that extracted it.
That's very kind of you, Bill,
but, uh, I've done some research, too.
Is that so?
Yeah, about your failed
assassination attempts
against Castro.
Poisoned ice cream, poisoned wetsuits,
the, uh, exploding cigar.
[LAUGHS]
Think you called it, uh,
Operation Mongoose.
It's a real long game, Johnson.
If I was you, I'd be very careful.
You even got the
Italian mob to help you,
which would make headline news
if I were suddenly to disappear.
See, I got connections with the press
through my friend Congressman
Adam Clayton Powell.
Let's just say it's my
life insurance policy.
So keep the fuck away from Malcolm,
and, uh, Jose and I,
we'll sell the cocaine,
you'll get 25%, and there'll be no fuss.
♪
Secure the material.
Load it into Mr. Johnson's
car when he is ready.
You got some fucking balls, my man.
You just took me for a ride.
I'm fucking impressed.
Let's get this shit out of here.
Junie'll cut it up.
We're taking back Harlem.
♪
♪
♪
[ZIPPER CLOSES]
[TRUNK CLOSES]
[HARVEY] Goddamn it.
Who's that fucking spook think he is?
Does he know who he's fucking with?
Billy, relax, man. Don't worry about it.
I get a threat when I'm expecting intel.
After the speech he gave in Africa,
Malcolm X is as much of a
fucking communist as Castro.
Bumpy was never going
to betray his friend.
You should've fucking
known that in advance.
However, I'm close to Bumpy.
He's close to Malcolm X.
I'm listening.
Me, I got no fucking problem
giving up information
on that commie Negro.
- [LIQUID POURING]
- Let us drink to that.
Salud.
- Salud.
- [GLASSES CLINK]
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
My father was responsible
for my husband getting killed.
- [GUNSHOT]
- Lombardi, no!
[LOMBARDI] What's the matter,
boss? It's what you wanted.
Please, Joe, I want my freedom.
I can't keep living in a cage like this.
If I let you go and something
happens to you, I'm dead!
So shut the fuck up about it
and make the best of things!
You're full of shit!
Omar wants to work for Malcolm.
And even if he's sincere,
my feelings get in the way.
I believe in what Malcolm
is doing with all my heart.
But I'm not gonna lie to
you, Elise. I still love you.
The U.S. government trying to
intimidate me, even overseas.
It means I'm getting under their skin.
Here, let me share something with you.
- Oh, qué es eso?
- Cocaína.
This shit ain't like duji, man.
And if this Colombo
motherfucker landed the duji,
then we need to find
something else to sell.
Only rich white folks buy that shit.
Just run the idea by Bumpy.
You won't be participating
in the next shipment.
The Corsicans have agreed
to make me their sole buyer.
If you want to sell any dope,
you're gonna have to buy from me
like every other
motherfucker in this town.
♪
Ask me, life is like a hand of cards.
You play the hand you're dealt.
Can't win by folding.
Sometimes you gotta take a
chance if you want to win.
Would you stop messing
with my concentration?
I'm not. I was just
I know your tricks, Ellsworth.
[LAUGHS]
Gin.
[CHUCKLES]
104. I win.
I've taken just about as
many losses as I can today.
You're not talking about gin rummy.
No, I'm not.
I am proud of you.
Getting out of the duji
business was the right move.
Both practically and morally.
Without the duji, my other
businesses have suffered.
My relationship with Jose
Battle, it's suffered.
There are other growth
opportunities all around
if you really take a look.
What about Palmetto Chemical?
That is a legitimate
business that can grow.
Mayme, it does well,
but it's a small concern.
Not if you get a federal contract.
I have heard through Powell's
office that after the riots,
they're giving them out
to more black businesses.
- They'll never give me one of those.
- We can try.
I got a criminal record.
Those kind of contracts
go out to white businesses
with political contacts.
I have contacts, too, you know.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
- Got contacts?
- Yeah, I do, I do.
And a federal contract could
mean millions of dollars.
You're so sexy when
you say "millions." Hm.
Maybe I'll surprise you.
You surprise me all the time.
[COLOMBO] Bumpy fucking Johnson.
His pride, it gets in the
way of his business sense.
You ain't got that blind spot.
That's why you're here?
Look, I got the French connection.
I mean, if Bumpy Johnson doesn't
want to deal with me, fine.
But what's to stop you?
You could flood the Barrio with
this stuff and make millions.
Bumpy's my partner.
I don't stab my partner in the back.
I respect that.
Loyalty is everything in our world.
But, Jose, so is survival.
[SIGHS]
My father used to say,
"Un hombre no es un plátano."
"A man is not a banana."
You don't just eat the fruit
and throw away the skin.
[CHUCKLES] You don't want
to choke on it either.
Here's my offer.
Last year, I made $12 million
on my car operation alone.
Come in with me.
Bring your own hombres.
50-50 on whatever you bring in.
Plus the heroin.
Very generous.
And a 300K cash bonus
just for the opportunity
to earn your friendship.
I appreciate the offer.
But I must say no.
Come to me when you realize
you're supposed to toss
the fuckin' banana peel.
Nobody eats that shit.
Not even the apes.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
♪
Yeah ♪
Change ♪
Yeah ♪
Open up my window again ♪
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case ♪
[RAPPING] Lay on my back
watchin' the ceilin' fan ♪
I had a dream to touch a kilo gram ♪
Still at odds with the Irish mob ♪
Rolls-Royce down Malcolm X Boulevard ♪
Lord, these really
out here preyin' on me ♪
Got the .40 on me and his hand on me ♪
Snow-white mink like
I'm Dutch Schultz ♪
Run the books and let me
show you how the numbers look ♪
You can't be lucky like you Luciano ♪
The kilos slammin' like they new pianos ♪
And Fat Boy got the big body ♪
Coast-to-coast, I
could shoot product ♪
Open up my window again ♪
Open up my window again ♪
I can hear death callin' my name ♪
I can hear death callin' again ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I swear to God, things
ain't gon' change ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
I keep a revolver with your name ♪
Just in case ♪
[SIGHS] Colombo's cops cut off the duji
coming in from the
Canadians and the Turks.
And the Chinese don't fuck with nobody
but their own, so that it?
We outta the dope game.
Bump, we get you don't
want to buy from Colombo.
But outta the game? Shit.
Nat and Junie are both too
damn old to learn how to sew.
- Ya dig?
- [LAUGHS]
[PETTIGREW] Plus, we're losing
business everywhere, Bump.
The Geechee, the cat
houses, the numbers.
Shit, without drugs, them
guineas gonna wipe us out.
I know. That's what I'm tryin'
to figure the fuck out here.
Then I think you should hear Nat out.
He's got something.
I think we can work with it.
Go on.
- Cocaine?
- Yeah.
Shit's got some action in the Barrio.
It's not like duji, but
folks is starting to buy.
Who can afford cocaine in the Barrio?
It's getting doled out small amounts.
Exactly. It's impossible to get in bulk.
Right, Junie?
The Latins smuggle it in by the ounce.
Ain't no real money in that.
But if we can get it in bulk,
I think we can move it, Bump.
Plus, cocaine don't turn
folks into fiends like duji do.
No, it's a pick-up.
Lights a wick up your ass.
I know what it does.
How'd you get it?
This dude who knows Battle.
But he's no longer in the picture.
I'd talk to Battle before Colombo
starts whispering in his ear.
I'm sure he already has.
Hmm.
[STELLA] Look. Look at that.
I can't go anywhere without
one of his goons on my tail.
Can't imagine how difficult
this must be for you.
No. You can't.
It's like I'm under house arrest.
Stella, your father's
number-one concern,
over and above
everything, is your safety.
Get me out of here.
I could speak to your father
again, but in his eyes,
Joe Colombo's doing a very good job,
minding the store and
also protecting you, and
He's trying to fuck me.
I find it difficult to
believe he could be so stupid.
He comes onto me nonstop.
He even took me out to a fancy dinner.
All right, this is important.
Did he make a direct
sexual advance on you?
Would you call telling me he has
a large penis a sexual advance?
Well, that depends.
Look, all I'm saying is,
I don't want to be under his protection.
I can protect myself.
Tell my father that's all I want.
And, please, don't
mention the sex stuff.
I'm just sharing that with you.
Promise?
I will do what I can.
♪
References, receipts, ledgers.
It seems simple enough to me.
Save for one debilitating factor
your husband.
What about my husband?
Bumpy is a convicted felon.
That automatically disqualifies him.
He is also a pillar of this community.
No one mentioned his prison record
when he donated thousands
of dollars to your campaign.
I am very grateful
for Bumpy's generosity,
but that does not absolve
his criminal record.
How can a man move forward
if the government keeps
shutting the door in his face?
Palmetto Chemical
is a legitimate extermination business
that has been in Harlem for decades.
Why can't it be considered
for a government contract?
Bumpy's name on a bid
for government funds
will never happen.
What if it were in someone else's name?
My name?
Eh.
I can't advise you to
do something like that.
But on the other hand,
a lot of these contracts
go to mob-controlled entities
with supposedly legitimate front men.
Hmm. Do they now.
Eh, look, I am not a lawyer, so you
You didn't hear it from me.
I tell you something, man.
You better figure out something fast,
because you're gonna drag
me down the toilet with you.
Colombo tell you that himself?
Upstairs, over a cafecito?
Yeah, man. He came, he wanted to talk.
I said, "Okay, let's talk."
I listened to him. You know what I said?
I said, "I don't fuck my partners."
I'm sure he made you
an extremely generous
and bullshit offer.
Hey, what the fuck is
your problem now, man?
Now you suddenly too good to sell dope?
That was your fucking
pitch in the first place!
Have you seen the streets of Harlem?!
Junkies half dead on every corner.
Tell me, Jose, if you
could reclaim your homeland,
would you pump poison
out on the streets?
I'm done with the duji business.
But I got a solution.
Please.
My man Pettigrew,
he got this off of one
of your associates here.
♪
[CHUCKLES]
Cocaine?
Who the fuck is gonna buy that shit?
If that keeps moving through the Barrio,
even in small quantities,
you got a possible gold mine.
By selling ounces?
You know what a pain in the fucking ass
it is to bring cocaine
up to New York City?
It's manufactured in Colombia and Peru
and has to go through Cuba
as a transshipment point.
Yeah, and whatever's left is seized
and burned the fuck
up by the CIA, right?
I read it in the paper.
It could be used to fund your
operations against Castro.
Come on.
♪
Okay, man.
Okay.
But I gotta do something first.
Yeah, let me guess
Consult with your advisor.
♪
♪
Something is clearly on your mind.
Omar's asked me out on a date.
I don't think I should go.
Oh, you're afraid you'll
fall into temptation?
Yeah, right. Afraid I'll
toss my drink in his face.
I thought you'd forgiven him.
A few lines of poetry and an apology
hardly seem like enough to
absolve him after all he's done.
Omar's doing his best.
But if I can forgive him,
Elise, then you can, too.
He ain't asking you out on a date.
Well, my instinct tells me
that Omar's sincerely
seeking redemption.
The courting phase of a relationship
is such a precious time.
It builds the foundation for
the years you'll spend together.
Do I even want years with Omar?
Only you can judge that.
But I want to see you happy, Elise.
You deserve that.
Don't get in your own way.
♪
♪
[SHELLS RATTLING]
♪
[SHELLS RATTLING]
♪
How's it looking?
♪
She's saying betrayal is
never an act of an enemy,
but of a friend.
She's saying I'm gonna betray you?
No, no. She's saying
we need to be cautious
with both enemies and friends.
What about the cocaine business?
Is that good for us?
Madrina
♪
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
♪
She says no warning
against cocaine business.
Th That's a good thing, right?
[CHUCKLES]
We can move forward.
I'm gonna introduce you
to my man in the CIA.
They call him "Wild Bill."
What do you got?
Alpha 66 claims it has a mole
inside the kitchen of Castro's compound.
A mole in Castro's kitchen?
Yeah, okay. Tell me more.
It says a new member of Alpha 66
has a "nephew inside the kitchen staff
who has access to Castro's ice cream."
- Could be credible.
- Yeah, Castro likes ice cream.
Sounds like bullshit.
What new member of Alpha 66?
A Gustavo Martinez in Union City.
Arrived on a raft two months ago.
Two months?
Well, who's he got here at home?
A wife, kid? How old?
No family listed, no
date of birth, no address.
Then how the fuck can
you say he's credible?
He's a double agent
working for Castro, not us.
- Get rid of him.
- You don't want to question him
before we put him on
a boat back to Cuba?
No, and no, not a boat. A bullet.
You're pissing me off.
What else?
Jose Battle called.
Now, that is a tough son of a bitch.
That's how we're gonna
kill that cocksucker Castro.
Motherfuckers like that.
Jose Battle does not fuck
around with chocolate ice cream.
He's all about getting on
that soil with artillery
and making the kill-shot.
Says he wants you to meet with
him and his business partner.
Bumpy Johnson.
Yeah, my guys told me about Johnson.
He can help us, too.
Bumpy Johnson can help us?
Jose.
¿Cómo estás, hermano?
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Hey, Stella.
How you doing?
- Fine.
- Mind if I come in?
Yeah, sure.
Hey, you got the palm on the wall.
My mother does the same thing.
She would bug me to get
ashes on Ash Wednesday.
You get the ashes, right?
Yeah. I do.
- Every year.
- Mind if I sit?
I used to hate getting that big cross
right smack in the
middle of your forehead.
They'd put it right fuckin' there.
Ba-boom.
Right above this big nose.
You just come from my father?
Yeah.
Fineman told him about
what's going on with Colombo.
Needless to say, he's
Well, he's none too happy.
So am I free of Colombo's protection?
Your father wanted me to
come here and reassure you
That's no longer gonna be a problem.
♪
What are you saying?
What I'm saying is, you're
not gonna have to worry
about Joe Colombo anymore.
Wait, no.
I want him off my back.
I never said I wanted him hurt.
Well, Stella, he did it to himself.
I mean, he's got to go.
Your pops doesn't like the way
he's running business either.
He don't trust him anymore.
I'm gonna be your
protection going forward.
Hey.
Listen, Colombo's guys,
they're dangerous, and I'm defenseless.
I need a gun.
[LAUGHS] A gun?
Look, I'm gonna have two of
my guys outside at all times.
Besides, your father would kill me.
Kill you? He'll kill you if I get shot,
is what you should be thinking.
Come on, Lombardi.
I know how to use a gun.
Don't leave me defenseless.
[SIGHS]
♪
[SIGHS] I gotta be crazy.
Okay.
Here.
That's a 380 Walther.
You didn't get this from me.
♪
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
Mmm. These eggs are divine.
I can never get my poaching water right.
A pinch of salt does the trick.
Mm.
With what you're asking for, it
it shouldn't be difficult to transfer
Palmetto's ownership to your name.
And Ellsworth approves of this?
Oh, I believe I have his full blessing.
Landing a contract like this
could really change things for us.
You're right. A government contract
for extermination services
would be extremely lucrative.
However, we have a longevity issue.
How do you mean, "longevity"?
I can't simply put the
company in your name.
I mean, I could, but the
government does due diligence
on awarding contracts.
They'll look at least 10
years into a company's past.
I see.
So they wouldn't award
that kind of money
to someone who'd only owned
the company for two days?
No, but there is a way
to "massage" the records
so it seems like you've
owned it for a lot longer.
Well, that's not legal.
Let's just say it's legal-adjacent.
Nothing a little clever
bookkeeping won't fix.
Archie does things
like that all the time.
Everyone does it.
Of course, my services
are pro bono for now,
but if you are awarded the contract,
I'll need 5% of the gross.
3%.
Well, 3% of $5 million
is still $150,000.
[LAUGHS] You have a deal.
Jose says you have a proposition for us.
The CIA incinerates hundreds
of kilos of cocaine a month.
How about you turn it over to us?
We sell it, a quarter
of the profits go to you
and the fight against Castro.
Who the hell are you gonna sell it to?
Cocaine's a novelty in New York.
You don't have buyers.
Don't worry. That's on me.
[SIGHS] If you can't move
the shit and you get caught
with that kind of volume,
the Feds get involved,
it's in the papers,
and we're all fucked.
I'll move it. Trust me.
Harvey, imagine the army we
could build with that money.
It's an attractive proposition.
Siltations like this,
usually there's a
little, uh, tit for tat.
Quid pro quo.
I'm listening.
We have something you want.
You have something we want.
And what would that be?
Intimate access to Malcolm X.
[LAUGHS]
We're aware of your history.
We know that you've been
providing him with protection.
Yeah. So?
So what we don't know is
what he achieved in Africa.
We need who he met with, when, and why.
We assume a record has been
kept by your daughter, Elise.
You get us that, you boys can
have all the coke you want.
♪
[STELLA] I lied to my
father about Joe Colombo.
I can't be responsible
for another murder.
There's already too
much blood on my hands.
Stella, I've known you
since you were a baby.
I know your heart, as does the Lord.
You're not a murderer.
Death seems to follow me everywhere.
I feel trapped by it.
There's no curse upon you.
Only you can bring evil upon yourself.
You must pray for redemption.
Pray for help.
I've done that.
[VOICE BREAKING] Over and over.
And it doesn't do any good.
You mustn't say that.
I'm speaking to you as your uncle,
as your blood, as your family.
Not just a priest.
Get ahold of yourself.
If you think that you've done something
that's going to cause harm,
then you must do everything
in your power to undo it.
What if it's too late?
[SIGHS]
There's no such thing as "too late."
Life is eternal.
Our time on this Earth is limited.
So you must use your time to do good,
and as best you can
right wrongs.
♪
So the CIA wants to know who
I met with, where, and when,
and the contents of these
private conversations.
That's right.
What about what I had for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
Or how many times I used the toilet?
It's not funny.
I think the CIA has already
tried to kill Malcolm.
He was poisoned in Cairo.
And if you think they're after
me now, wait a few more days.
What's in a few more days?
I'm working with my new
friend Che Guevara to expose
the United States government
at the United Nations
over their human rights
abuses all over the world.
Created through alliances
with leaders from Egypt,
Tanzania, Nigeria,
Ghana, Guinea, and Kenya.
I didn't run into any
closed doors, closed minds,
or closed hearts.
Except the CIA's.
Now I get why they wanted
me to snitch about Africa.
Well, if the heat wasn't on
before, it's certainly on now.
Look
I'm gonna give the CIA information.
False information.
False information to the CIA?
Do you have any idea what
you're getting yourself into?
I'm sure as hell not
gonna cooperate with them.
I think the question is, brother
Can't you just say no and walk away?
No.
For business reasons.
Of course.
For you, it's always about business.
The CIA is just another
criminal organization.
They just have to be
dealt with. That's it.
But giving false
information to the CIA
That could put you in jail, or worse.
You build your alliances your way,
and I'll build mine my way.
♪
Mm.
♪
Oh. [CHUCKLES]
Hello, Elise.
I'd offer you a glass, but
I know you don't drink wine.
Are you okay?
I'm fine.
I'm just doing some
business for your father.
Daddy's up to all kinds
of business these days.
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing.
I am submitting Palmetto Chemical
for a government contract.
And you think the
government's gonna award
Bumpy Johnson with a contract?
No.
That's why I'm putting
the company in my name.
I mean, it's not entirely legal,
but Ellsworth deserves
this as much as anyone.
I'm just I'm trying to right a wrong.
With a wrong.
If your father had the
right opportunities,
he could build an empire.
Legitimately.
You can't change him, Mayme.
Better to accept him for who he is.
He can change.
By forging documents?
The only one changing here is you.
♪
[SCOFFS LIGHTLY]
♪
So, how's this gonna happen?
Harvey will meet us
Friday at the facility.
If you bring the
information on Malcolm X,
he's gonna give us 12 kilos
of cocaine Friday night.
12 kilos for a test run.
That's what I wanted to hear.
But here's the thing, Bumpy
You gotta be straight with them.
Explain.
♪
You, your daughter, and
Malcolm X one hour ago.
You gotta be really
careful with these spooks.
I wouldn't be surprised if
they have a picture of you
scratching your ass
in your silk pajamas.
Harvey give this to you?
That's good to know.
These guys have eyes everywhere.
♪
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
♪
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
♪
- Thank you, good brother.
- Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
♪
Elise.
You are absolutely stunning.
So are you.
Elise, this is my mother, Khadijah.
As-salamu alaykum.
Thank you for being our chaperone
to keep halal for our date.
Wa-Alaikum-Salaam.
You are just as beautiful
as Omar said you were.
♪
♪
He's spoken so highly of you,
and the great influence
you've had on him.
Omar can't say enough
wonderful things about you.
- Is that so?
- [LAUGHS]
He hasn't smiled so much
since Zahira was still with us.
I was worried he'd never
find happiness again,
but then, Mashallah, he found you.
- Mashallah.
- Mashallah.
Omar! Haram!
You know you mustn't touch
her until you're married.
Forgive me, Mother. I don't
know what came over me.
That's why I'm here.
I raised my son to be a
proper Muslim man before Allah.
You did a very good job.
The only shameful thing he's ever done
was to get himself exiled
from the Nation of Islam,
all because of that roguish Malcolm X.
Mother, please
That evil man has slandered
the Messenger just too many times.
Malcolm is risking his life
to fight for our freedom.
He deserves respect,
regardless of his quarrel
with Elijah Muhammad.
Omar, I thought you said
Elise was an intelligent woman.
Mother, I beg you
Allah forbids you join your life
to someone who follows
the promises of a fool,
and clearly, this woman is a fool.
Mother, that's enough!
As-salamu alaykum. Can
I interest you in
♪
[SIGHS]
♪
♪
I need you to see my father now.
What's the matter?
Tell him I said to call
off this hit on Colombo.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I do not know what that means. A hit?
- What is that?
- Oh, would you cut the shit?!
I I do not know
what you're referencing.
I am not involved in
whatever you are referring to.
I was lying about him trying to fuck me.
I did it because I can't stand
being under his protection.
That was a grave mistake.
I know.
And since you obviously
told that to my father,
now you've gotta get him to call it off.
The die has been cast.
As his attorney, I am obligated
to tell Mr. Gigante everything I hear.
Your father flew into a rage.
He was put into solitary confinement.
I have no way to access him.
There's nothing I can do.
Get me a meeting with Lombardi.
I don't want to get
in the middle of a
Or I'll tell my father that
you tried to fuck me, too.
You threatening me?
Yes.
Okay. Okay.
I-I will make sure
Lombardi comes to see you.
Good.
I have to tell you, for the first time,
you really remind me of your father.
♪
[CHANCE] This ain't the
police or the Feds, Bump.
And if you give 'em
some bullshit information
and they find out, you can
kiss all that coke goodbye.
We gotta be real
careful about this, Bump.
Those CIA cats do not play.
This ain't no tit-for-tat
like we do on the streets.
[CHUCKLES] Think I don't know that, Del?
Chin told me that these
motherfuckers killed Kennedy
- with the help of the mob.
- Damn.
Hey, word in Spanish Harlem
is that the CIA got mobsters
to take a whack at Castro in Cuba.
Said they was pissed
because Castro knocked them
outta Havana, cost their asses millions.
Where'd you hear that?
Yeah, I heard it from one of
Battle's men over at Casa Havana.
Said it was some kinda
hush-hush operation.
Del, get me Carlo Gambino on the phone.
I wanna set a meeting.
Yeah.
So you've owned Palmetto
Chemical for 10 years,
and you employ 50 people?
Yes.
I expanded the number of
workers so that the government
would deem us capable
of a large contract.
Yes. I see.
Mr. Marshall?
My specialty is evaluating
procurement contracts,
and a sudden rise in the workforce
could be flagged, Congressman.
Oh. How many people really work there?
Oh, I don't know.
It's probably closer to 20.
Well, then let's put
down 30, uh, to be safe.
I mean, they know when
awarding these contracts
to small businesses
that they are allowed
to expand their workforce.
More jobs for Harlem.
- That's wonderful.
- Wonderful.
I'm not sure creating
facts is a good idea.
Guess who gets these
extermination contracts
from the government.
The mob. The white mob.
The Luccheses, the Gambinos.
Why not let a Black
mobster get it for once?
So now you're advocating equal
opportunity to Black mobsters?
I am advocating jobs for
unemployed Harlem workers
by any goddamn means necessary!
As a lawyer, I have to recommend
you wash your hands of this.
Is Palmetto Chemical
a legitimate business, or is it not?
It is very legitimate.
It's done legitimate
work in Harlem for years.
And according to rumor,
laundered money as a drug front.
Can you prove that?
No.
Submit the application.
And, Mayme, good luck.
[LOMBARDI] Stella, that's not
how things work in our world.
You're given an order, you follow it.
What, you're telling
me like I haven't lived
my entire life in this world?
Eh, you know where the guys
who don't follow orders are?
The bottom of the Gowanus Canal.
No, guys botch jobs all the time.
That's not me. I'm sorry.
When your father says,
"Take care of Colombo,"
I take care of Colombo.
Nothin' I can do about it.
I can't be responsible
for another person's death.
[SIGHS]
Hey.
I know you've been through a lot.
What happened to Ernie was awful.
But for what it's worth, it
was very painful for me, too.
- It was?
- Yeah.
You guys just got married.
Plus, I liked Ernie.
I didn't want to off him.
But I had to do it
'cause I had an order.
Your father, after he gave me
the order, changed his mind,
tried to get to me, but it was too late.
I thought my father killed Ernie.
No.
Your father tried to stop it.
Breaks my heart.
Breaks your father's heart, too.
Truth is, Stell, this Colombo,
he could never be trusted.
I advised your father against it.
I think Colombo's gonna
make a play for Harlem,
all the while playing nice with Chin.
- You do?
- Yeah.
Now, don't you want to protect your dad,
after all you put him through?
Yes.
Okay.
Okay, here's the plan.
Now, it's just you and
him in the office, right?
He's got guys outside, but
yeah, it's just me and him.
Okay.
I'm gonna tell Colombo
I'll be by about 7:00 p.m.
with instructions from Chin.
When I walk in, you walk out.
Say, uh I don't know.
Say you have to go to the
ladies' room or something.
Before you know it, it's over. Boom.
The men outside won't even hear the shot
over the fucking car crushers
you got in the junkyard.
[BUMPY] We've known each
other for a long time, Gambino.
It hasn't always been peaceful.
True.
A lot of ups and downs, huh? [LAUGHS]
We haven't talk just
the two of us for years.
The pleasure of that
being that you and I,
we don't, uh, bullshit each other.
Want some walnuts?
No, thanks.
That's right.
We don't bullshit each other.
We never have.
Which brings me to this
Wh What the fuck do you want?
I mean, Colombo tells me that
you're no longer
interested in narcotics.
Ask me, that's your
uh, your lifeblood.
I got a different agenda right now.
My, uh, partner,
Jose Battle he's got a plan to
to kill Castro.
What's that gotta do with me?
I hear that the CIA
went to you back in '63
to try to take Castro out.
Battle wants your help.
I mean, it comes with a huge payday,
and if everything works out as planned,
you get Havana and all
of your casinos back.
Why are you all of a sudden
brokering political hits?
'Cause I just cut a deal with the CIA.
They're in with Battle,
so I'm in with them.
Why fight the government when
you can partner with them?
Who's your point man at the CIA?
"Wild Bill" Harvey.
Bill Harvey? For real?
What, you know him?
Know him?
I mean, he was the guy.
He was the the puppet master.
He tried to kill Castro
with poisoned wetsuits.
He'd do anything to whack that guy.
He called it Operation
Mongoose. [LAUGHS]
Harvey told me that you
were the guy to go to
to get details on what
fucked up the last time,
and how to try to avoid it on the next.
[SIGHS]
All right.
You got a few hours, I'll lay it on you.
Mm.
But what a goat-fuck. [LAUGHS]
I got all the time in the world.
♪
- Adam?
- Mayme.
Uh, pardon my intrusion,
but I wanted to come by
to speak to you in person.
Is, uh, Bumpy here?
No, he stepped out.
Please. Can I offer you a drink?
No. Uh, thank you.
I wanted to come by
personally to let you know
that your application has been rejected.
Oh.
Did they say why?
Falsifying records.
It seems that they caught
on to our little scheme.
Well, what does this mean for us?
A-Are we in trouble? Am I?
Mayme, I'm always in trouble.
Oh, God, you do so much
good for our people,
I can't bring you down like this.
- Mayme
- I'm so ashamed.
I will never do anything criminal again,
I swear it, as God as my witness.
I just I pray to Jesus, "Forgive me."
- Mayme
- Will you forgive me?
Mayme, I don't think you understand.
Riverside Refuse got the contact.
They are run by the Luccheses.
When they found out that
your bid was going to win,
they used their corrupt connections
to sabotage your application.
So it's not because I
lied on the documents?
No.
Some other liars won this round.
The point is to keep on fighting.
Yes, Congressman.
I don't like playing
dirty any more than you do,
but the Good Lord knows
what we're up against,
and the Good Lord, and myself,
expect to see you in the office
bright and early tomorrow morning,
because we have our work cut out for us.
Yes. We do.
Mm.
[SIGHS]
Good night, Mayme.
Good night.
♪
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪
♪
♪
What's wrong?
What, you got a date or something?
You know, you don't have
to stay this late, Stella.
No, I'm, um, just
finishing up some things.
[CLEARS THROAT] All right, well,
I'm gonna need you out of here anyway.
Your father's guy Lombardi's
coming by for a meeting.
Oh? Really?
Okay.
[CLOCK TICKING]
♪
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
♪
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
♪
♪
[TICKING CONTINUES]
♪
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
♪
Hey! Look what the cat dragged in.
Hey, Joe. Stella.
Stella, give us some privacy, will you?
Have a nice night.
♪
So, how's Chin holding up?
♪
He said to send you this.
[GUNSHOT]
[THUD]
Jesus fucking Christ!
He was the one who killed my husband,
and he was gonna kill you.
Why? Why? Why would he do that
without Chin's permission?
♪
I want my freedom.
♪
[WOMEN RAPPING IN SPANISH]
♪
Bravo's arrived.
♪
♪
♪
♪
[MAN SINGING IN SPANISH]
♪
[WOMEN SINGING IN SPANISH]
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
Clear the room.
Evening, gentlemen.
Bumpy.
On time, to the minute, I see.
Warm in here.
Let's get straight to it.
Were you able to acquire the information
I requested about
Malcolm's visit to Africa?
About Malcolm X?
Yeah.
Well, I was happy to see
you and he and your
daughter met for lunch.
Yeah, I saw the photograph.
You guys have some real
long-range lenses there.
[LAUGHS] Well, yeah.
Welcome to working with the CIA.
We got all the best shit. Right, Jose?
Yeah, man. Top notch.
What'd you get?
The question isn't whether or not
I got information from Malcolm.
The question is where you
got the audacity to think
that I would fuck over
my friend for cocaine.
♪
You got a real live wire here, Jose.
He surprises me all the time.
Yeah, I get it. I did the research.
You and Malcolm,
you're longtime friends.
The two of you go way, way back.
We do.
Here's the situation.
I'm gonna get that Africa information,
one way or, you know, another way.
Is that so?
I just thought it would be more pleasant
for Malcolm and your daughter
to have you be the
one that extracted it.
That's very kind of you, Bill,
but, uh, I've done some research, too.
Is that so?
Yeah, about your failed
assassination attempts
against Castro.
Poisoned ice cream, poisoned wetsuits,
the, uh, exploding cigar.
[LAUGHS]
Think you called it, uh,
Operation Mongoose.
It's a real long game, Johnson.
If I was you, I'd be very careful.
You even got the
Italian mob to help you,
which would make headline news
if I were suddenly to disappear.
See, I got connections with the press
through my friend Congressman
Adam Clayton Powell.
Let's just say it's my
life insurance policy.
So keep the fuck away from Malcolm,
and, uh, Jose and I,
we'll sell the cocaine,
you'll get 25%, and there'll be no fuss.
♪
Secure the material.
Load it into Mr. Johnson's
car when he is ready.
You got some fucking balls, my man.
You just took me for a ride.
I'm fucking impressed.
Let's get this shit out of here.
Junie'll cut it up.
We're taking back Harlem.
♪
♪
♪
[ZIPPER CLOSES]
[TRUNK CLOSES]
[HARVEY] Goddamn it.
Who's that fucking spook think he is?
Does he know who he's fucking with?
Billy, relax, man. Don't worry about it.
I get a threat when I'm expecting intel.
After the speech he gave in Africa,
Malcolm X is as much of a
fucking communist as Castro.
Bumpy was never going
to betray his friend.
You should've fucking
known that in advance.
However, I'm close to Bumpy.
He's close to Malcolm X.
I'm listening.
Me, I got no fucking problem
giving up information
on that commie Negro.
- [LIQUID POURING]
- Let us drink to that.
Salud.
- Salud.
- [GLASSES CLINK]
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪