The Deuce (2017) s02e05 Episode Script
All You'll Be Eating is Cannibals
1 OFFICER: We're gonna raid these parlors.
CHRIS ALSTON: This is the deuce.
They had the word out on the street even before you could drive home to wherever you mow a lawn.
RUDY PIPILO: You should warn Paul.
If they wanna come at us, they might go after our people.
PAUL HENDRICKSON: Just let me know the risk of having anything out here on my own.
CANDY MERRELL: This is about the hunger, and terror and the risk.
What big ideas you have.
- (FUNK MUSIC PLAYS) - (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS) CANDY: All right everyone, let's do it.
LORI: I just wish that you could rep me.
You wanna tell him? [GASPS.]
(MUSIC ENDS) [RHYTHMIC PANTING.]
[GRUNTING.]
Tell you what, you free from acting today, right? Mm-hmm.
Let's you and I go get somethin' to eat.
But not Leon's.
I'm thinking something more upscale, maybe maybe the Greek's.
OK.
All right, then.
Can't look good on camera if you're all scrawny.
[SLAPS BUTTOCKS.]
Speaking of which, that female agent came to chat to me.
Who? Kiki Raines? Hooo! [LAUGHS, SNAPS FINGERS.]
I tell ya, that bitch got a nose for cash on her.
One sniff of what we got goin' on, and she wants in.
What does that mean? It means she knows she can't poach you, so she's willing to take what she can get.
I'm almost sorry for her.
- Why? What did she say? - You and I proceed as is, but when she brings in a job, she takes half her usual fee.
I said I'd run it by you, but now I'm thinkin', fuck it, let's do it.
Let her tag along, as long as there's money to be made.
I met her once with Shana, and she seemed all right to me.
Did she? Mm-hmm.
I'll get dressed so we can go.
I'm getting This is one thing I'm having a hard time with.
She says she finds us a gig, I can't come to set with you no more.
Seems that's how she do.
You know? Clients go do their thing reps keep their distance.
Hmm.
Really? And she wouldn't make an exception? Nah.
I mean, I'll put up with it for the here-and-there shoots, but I'm more concerned about you.
You think you'd be all right on your lonesome? If you're all right with it, I think I could manage.
I mean, it wouldn't be all the time.
When I used to do street work, I did it alone, so I guess it'd be sorta like that, ya know? Different business, same setup.
Hmm.
- You think I'm a fool? - What? The two of you think you can play me? - Hmm? - I don't know what you're ta Okey-doke me? Like some fuckin' chump?! - Oh! - She wants half? [SCREAMS, CRIES.]
Well, she can have the half that's bleeding.
[SOBBING.]
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE.]
See her picture in a thousand places 'Cause she's this year's girl You think you all own Little pieces of this year's girl Forget your fancy manners Forget your English grammar 'Cause you don't really give a damn About this year's girl Ahh-ee-ahh Still you're hopin' that she's well-spoken 'Cause she's this year's girl You want her broken with her mouth wide open 'Cause she's this year's girl Those disco synthesizers Those daily tranquilizers Those body-building prizes Those bedroom alibis All this But no surprises For this year's girl All this But no surprises For this year's girl Hey! SMOKEY: Why do you go to the line every Friday? I have to hear this shit again? Why do you go to the line every Friday? Well Because the finance man is gonna be at your house on Saturday, right? Shit, yeah.
And that's exactly what the company wants.
To keep you on the line.
They'll do anything to keep you on their line.
They pit the lifers against the new boys, the old against the young, the black against the white, everybody, to keep us in our place.
I mean, can't you understand that? PAUL: So what are we supposed to do, just not have a dance floor? I'm saying you just install a normal floor, like what I wanted in the first place.
Oh, normal.
I'm not going for normal.
Normal isn't why I had striped blackwood tiles flown in from fucking Tanzania! Might have been helpful to know they would shrink and crack in this climate before you blew the whole budget.
Look, Paul, I get the vision, I do I thought we weren't gonna talk about this tonight.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING.]
- So how'd you do last night? - Are you kidding me? - Yeah.
- Are you fucking kidding me? - Yeah.
- Are you pulling my leg? - So? - So tits out to here, so.
- Twenty, a couple years old.
- You gotta be foolin'.
- Nope.
- You devil.
- You think she hadn't been around? - Yeah.
What? Nothin'.
Always with the long face.
It's only money, Bobby.
It should buy me somethin', at least.
You tipped me to a raid that never happened.
I shut down the parlors for days, waitin', no one ever came.
I lost a ton of dough.
The fuck do you want outta me? I heard the raids were a go, and then they weren't.
You complaining ' because we didn't kick in your door? I just want some reliable information, is all.
Fuck you, buy me a drink.
And not the piss you pour into that bottle for the suit-and-tie johns.
Real J.
W.
Black.
[DOO-WOP PLAYING OVER STEREO.]
That's why they're called "life experience" credits.
But if your final journal is riddled with errors, misspellings, poor usage Sorry, Charlie, it's a do-over.
Now, please note you'll be handing in pages every week for review.
Typewriters are available for you on the first floor.
They need to be You came! I can't believe it.
I thought you'd be too occupied with the new place.
I've been meaning to stop by the bar.
No, you've been busy with rehearsals, obviously.
I mean, listen, you were great.
- Incredible, really.
Yeah.
- Yeah? Not bad for an understudy, right? I don't know how you do it.
It won't be for long.
We close next week.
- Sucks.
- Yeah, just my luck.
Look at this.
You're a star.
"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr.
DeMille.
" [CHUCKLING.]
All right, put your clothes on, let's go consume some alcohol.
- OK.
- Hey.
LARRY BROWN: "'Cause the finance man's gonna be at your house on Saturday, right? And that's exactly what the company wants.
To be on their line.
Everybody stay on their line.
They pit the lifers against the new boys, the old against the young, the black against the white.
Everybody put us in our place.
I mean can't you understand that?" I mean can't you understand that? Can't you understand that, jack? No, he ain't say "jack.
" I mean, can't you understand that? [CHATTER, CAR HORNS HONK.]
[DRAWERS CLATTER.]
IRENE: These clean? - Yeah, I can do that.
- Nah, I got it.
OK.
What about these? You need these? Nah.
So you feel OK? Feel good? I feel like shit.
Yeah, no, of c Of course.
I mean, do you feel ready? Sure.
Let's book this dump.
I'm jonesin' for White Castle.
L.
A L.
A Dead.
Left the business.
L.
A.
Junkie.
Bitch.
Jenny Cole's cute.
She's got some of that innocence you're looking for.
No, I don't know.
Serena would be fuckin' perfect.
Her rate is really high now.
Yeah.
- Carol Connors.
- L.
A.
Lori Madison.
She's on her way up.
- Yeah, I thought about Lori.
- But? No, she's in the running.
Definitely.
Look, I know you want big stars, but they can be a headache, and expensive.
You're already saddled with Lance Minx, god love you.
Yeah, I think I can handle him.
How about John Seeman - for the Wolf? - Would you fuckin' stop? I need a real actor in that role.
- Hmmm.
- So, what do you think? Ten percent of my budget for salaries? More if you want stars.
Lance alone is gonna run you 300 a day, easy.
Fuck, Kiki, I just want it to be good.
Stars, no stars, I just want it to be right.
All eyes are gonna be on this.
Who knows? We could even cross over.
- [LAUGHS.]
- No, we fuckin' could! We do an R-rated version, play drive-ins, so it has got to pop.
- I hear you.
- All right.
Let's go through and pick our top three.
OK FLANAGAN: Look, I'm sorry, I just Can you keep your voice down, please? ANITA: I'm not yelling.
You're the one making a scene.
All right, calm down So I need an answer about the clinic.
Can we use the 366, or what? Yeah.
Why can't we do it in the Hi-Hat? Because I'm open for business when they need the space.
And what's gonna go down again? I told you.
Check-ups, vaccinations, birth control basic stuff.
How many people? A hundred, maybe.
- Oof.
- I mean, over the course of the day.
Why can't they go to a regular doctor? Just askin'.
Some of these doctors sexually abuse the women.
It's true.
Field clinics are safer.
Yeah, whatever you need.
Just, uh, how involved in this thing you gonna get? Yes or no? Yeah, you don't get blood anywhere, you're out by 10:00 or 11:00, I don't give a fuck.
- Thank you.
- ANITA: I've gotta go.
You can't just run away every time things get hot.
Look who's fucking talking.
All you do is run.
I'm not running! IRENE: All right, here is good.
Rodney home? [EXHALES.]
Unh.
CABBIE: Thanks.
- Which floor? - Third.
You're not goin' in there.
I live there.
It's gonna suck you right back.
You're gonna be on that shit again in ten minutes.
- Nah.
- It's no good.
I can feel it.
Look, Shay, just stay with me.
I want you to stay with me.
Uh Driver, keep goin'.
Where to? What do you think? I think it's clever.
But isn't it kind of - all about the Wolf? - Yes.
He's got all the best lines.
He's got most of the lines.
Right? All Little Red Riding Hood does is get chased, suck dick, and have orgasms.
I think he missed the whole point, which is that in this, the hero is the fuckin' heroine.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Red is a powerful creature.
She's gotta be as dangerous as anyone else in that fuckin' forest.
Yeah.
And then she's gotta realize that she could turn the tables anytime she wants.
- And when she does - That wolf is dead meat.
Let me warm those up for you ladies.
Nah.
CANDY: You think you could do better? Yeah, actually, I do.
And do you understand the feeling I'm going for? Like an erotic "Taxi Driver" vibe? Mmm.
Yes.
OK, here's the bad news.
Right now I don't have dime one to pay another writer.
You were gonna pay me? [DOOR OPENS.]
Surprise.
Got somethin' for you.
- In a minute, OK? - No, now.
You'll like this.
Come on, close your eyes.
- C.
C.
, I really have to get ready.
- Come on.
Close your eyes.
Keep 'em closed.
OK open.
Wow.
They're big.
That ain't all.
Come here.
Look in there.
- What the hell? - Just look.
What? [LAUGHING.]
Pure breed.
From the Upper East Side, some French place.
- C.
C.
I - Yo, check that collar.
- It's wet.
It peed.
- Well, you gotta train it.
- I can't train a dog, C.
C.
- [DOG WHIMPERS.]
I mean, I've never had one.
I don't know how.
Well I thought you loved dogs.
They're OK.
- I can take it back.
- No.
It's I've got him.
Anyway, it's yours.
Do what you want with it.
[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
You'll be more comfortable when we open it up.
It's a Castro, so Uh Is this OK? I I don't wanna I thought you No, it's fine.
You ever been with a woman? Not for fun.
I mean, sometimes for work, but I'm into it.
You sure? It's fine.
It's good.
I mean, you're a little like a guy, anyway.
Except you got boobs kinda.
And no dick.
That's a relief.
Really.
Dicks are assholes.
I'm so sick of dicks.
If I never see another dick for the rest of my life, I swear You don't have to.
I could take care of stuff for a while.
You could just veg till you're ready.
And then you can get another job, maybe, another type of work, you know? Like what? Whatever you want.
It could be anything.
Yo, I saw on the news they even got woman astronauts now.
So I should become an astronaut? That's not what I mean.
I'm just I'm talkin' out loud.
Thinkin'.
You're thinkin' out loud.
RADIO DJ: 102, and that was a little taste of Blondie Come here.
with "Bermuda Triangle Blues" off their album Plastic Letters.
And before that, we heard The Clash, with "Janie Jones.
" 102, Megan Shelley is me, P.
I.
X.
is us Now, the entrance is all the way on this side, so we won't be disturbing that building at all.
- But you have the side door.
- It's a fire exit only.
- I'm still stuck at go.
- OK.
You're abutting a wide residential zone here.
- A nightclub isn't really - It's more of a lounge.
There's liquor, music, dancing.
We know where this goes, especially with this clientele.
It's the wrong place for it.
There are plenty of other bars and restaurants around.
Not nightclubs.
OK, I think I threw everyone with that word.
I'm going for a kind of quiet glamour, ya know? Old Hollywood.
Screwball comedy feel.
You expect Carole Lombard to come wafting in any minute.
I have a question.
We're gonna open the floor for questions in a few.
My sister lives across from one of these type bars on 10th Street.
- It's not a bar.
- There's too many bars, period.
And every time a store closes, it becomes a bar.
May I speak? They walk around, no shirt, grab each other right in the open.
- It's everywhere now.
- Let me stop you right there.
We're all thinking it.
Someone has to say it.
That's enough Mary.
I think she's right.
I think everyone is thinking it.
- But I don't know how to approach - Let me butt in here.
This is taking a strange turn.
- PAUL: Thank you.
- I'm gay, OK? I'm a homosexual.
Are there other homosexuals on this committee? OK, so that's two.
And there are more on the full board, trust me.
So this is not an issue as far as I'm concerned.
- OK.
- Can we proceed? For the record, if you're implying that my comments were I'm not implying anything.
I have ears.
And I have been living as a gay man in this city for the last 20 years, OK? I've heard it all about 800,000 times.
- My concerns are purely practical.
- Fine.
Then we agree.
Shall we get back to it? Tell us again your target opening date? [CHUCKLES.]
Um So I get the vaccinations, the birth control [LAUGHS.]
I don't know about all that.
I could probably handle food.
Can you get sandwiches or Yeah, I can do that.
CANDY: Hey, Abby.
Hey.
What's it gonna be, Candy? Abby.
All your friends, with their music and their films and their gallery shows, where do they come up with the money? [LAUGHS.]
Most of them get it from their parents.
VINCENT: Strapped, Candy? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm short on my movie money.
I got about half of what I need.
Maybe.
So what do you say, Vince? - What? - You want in? - [LAUGHS.]
- Come on! It's no more risk than investing in a fuckin' restaurant.
The bar business is enough of a gamble for me.
You sure? I will take a Myer's and tonic.
You got it.
I hate to say it, but you do know that Frankie sold his dry cleaning store, right? Frankie had a dry cleaning store? Won it in a card game, then sold it back to the original owner.
So he's flush for once.
At least he was.
- Do you know where he is? - Got his haunts, but I can't guarantee he'll be at any of 'em.
I know Christina.
- No, no, no.
- I'm gonna call her.
It won't do you any good.
She's lookin' for Frankie, too.
- Look here.
Write this down.
- Yeah.
First place I'd check is the card game - Thanks.
- On 49th between 8th and 9th.
- Between 8th and 9th.
- If he's not there, any of the theaters RENTON: I thought maybe you didn't like me.
DARLENE: Like you? I don't even know you.
Ah ha! That was going to be my defense.
Your defense? You're not on trial.
We are all on trial, baby.
That sounds like something from our reading list.
OK, you got me.
So, what are you in for, Donna? Job certification? Union upgrade? Uh, like, communications, maybe? I'm not sure.
Are you? Well, the long goal: registered nurse.
- OK.
- So I'm working on my A.
D.
N.
now, and hopefully start on the B.
S.
N.
by next spring.
- Wow, you have a whole plan.
- Yes, that is how it's done.
And speaking of plans you and me, tomorrow night.
Renton, you seem really nice, and we can help each other in class or what have you, but I have a man, so it can't be like that.
Say no more.
I never pressure a lady.
Doesn't anyone want to take our order? Hello? [GRUNTING, PANTING.]
That's right, baby.
That's it! - Unh! - Ohh! Ohh! [PANTING.]
Yeah.
[GRUNTS.]
Yeah! [BOTH PANTING.]
Mmm.
- Mmm.
- [LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
Now that you're all relaxed, you wanna know about that thing? Talk about it.
Apollo 12 Lounge, it's just a house? Gaming, poker, sometimes craps, and a bar.
Maybe a few girls.
- Anyone else? - Straight family.
Miss Cookie, her boyfriend, and her son.
Round-the-way hustlers, gang boys, dope men, macks, chop-shoppers, a few fences.
They all makin' money out there, but they don't like to leave the neighborhood to spend it.
Mm-hmm.
And the pot? Depends who's there.
[CHUCKLES.]
Could be 20 40 G's on the table.
- Cash money.
- Guns? No guns.
Cookie's Uncle Morris checks everybody at the door.
That's why you need me to bring in your hardware, stash it for you in the coat check.
[SPITS.]
Uncle Morris got a gun? A machete.
And you don't want to see him swing that thing.
- Oh, yeah.
Fuck a machete.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
Come on, baby.
Stop by and check it out.
All bad actors, huh? Don't worry, stud.
All you'll be eating is cannibals.
[CHUCKLES.]
MAN: I got something for you.
Been working on this all weekend.
Koufax goes into his motion, it's right down the alley.
Tony Kubek goes down swinging.
[IMITATES CROWD NOISE.]
Havin' your second childhood? - What do you mean? - I'm just messin' with ya.
You heard about the movie I'm makin', right? - The Big Bad Wolf.
- Yeah.
I'm havin' some fuckin' money troubles.
Yeah, welcome to my world.
That's not what I heard.
Oh, yeah? What'd you hear? How much you make sellin' that dry cleaners? Depends who's askin'.
Yeah, I sold it for twelve and a half G's.
Down to ten, as of this morning.
- I got a proposition for you.
- Hmm? How'd you like to be a movie producer? - Me? - Yeah, you.
- What's a producer do? - Nothin' much.
No, he invests in a movie, kicks back till it opens, gets to see his name in lights.
Uh-huh.
And maybe hits the jackpot, maybe loses his shirt.
A gambler gambles.
That's what he does, right? That ten K down from twelve and half this morning, how long do you think it'd take you to blow through all that? Well, you never know.
[LAUGHING.]
You remember the last time you lost that much cash? Which last time? - That's what I'm sayin'.
- Uh-huh.
Come in with me.
Come on.
Be my co-producer.
Even if you lose it all, this will be the one blown bet you'll be tellin' stories about for the rest of your fuckin' life.
Co-producer.
You said I was gonna be a producer.
We're gonna be partners.
That makes me a co-producer, too.
Yeah, what the hell.
Sure.
Shake.
- [LAUGHS.]
- You got it on you? - Wow, you're pushy.
- [LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
Lookin' out for our fuckin' movie.
All right.
- I'm comin' to get it.
- All right, partner.
We all agree raids are worthless without the element of surprise.
"Surprise" and "raid" are two words that never go together in this zone.
And once these clap factories get that heads-up, all they need to know is how many cops are coming through the door so they can leave out enough liquor to cover the crew.
That's why I canceled the first operation.
Now, I want you on this new one.
This raid is vice-related, correct? Right.
The parlor people will be charged with promotion of prostitution and violations of liquor laws.
But I want you taking the door.
Vice will be on the scene, but you're the lead.
You really think something positive will come from more raids? We'll see.
I plan on announcing them at the very last moment.
What do you say? I'll do it as long as my boss agrees.
Deputy Inspector? So ordered.
One more thing, Detective.
Our friend Gene Goldman was a little ticked off when I canceled the raids the first time.
But he stood down when I convinced him we were about to be compromised.
I'd like to show him I appreciate his cooperation.
Throw Goldman a bone and keep him in the loop.
I got, like, an infection.
How much it cost for some pills? We just gotta get you looked at, but everything's free.
I didn't believe it myself.
Shit.
Penicillin.
Make sure to take them all.
This is the first time I got medicine and didn't have to blow the doctor.
Could I also get some cough syrup for my daughter? I'm sorry, I'm a little uncomfortable with that.
Goes great with a shot of vodka.
I'm givin' away free ones.
You think you're joking, but I had a client once, he wanted I don't need to hear.
You really don't.
Satisfied? I'm just gettin' started.
Next we're gonna try to broker the terms between the working girls and the residents over at that complex on the West Side.
- Slow down, will ya? - I don't wanna.
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE.]
For such a fashionable guy, I thought you'd have better decorating sense.
I'm not trying to advertise my presence.
The locals aren't big fans of change.
What brings you here? I'm about to head up a raid on the parlors.
Thought you'd like to know.
That's uncharacteristically forthcoming of you, Detective.
You keep telling me about your plans.
Maybe you'd like to observe an actual police operation.
See what we do.
They're not gonna be expecting us this time.
It's on but I'm gonna need you to leave it to me.
Can I at least make one suggestion? I could call a couple of people I know in the press.
People I trust.
They could be there, too.
That is, as long as it's all right with you.
Only if you call 'em an hour before we kick the doors in.
No sooner.
I don't want any leaks.
Agreed.
BIG MIKE: There's a quote-unquote "gentlemen's club" - up in the Bronx.
- Whereabouts? Corner of Broke-Ass and Strung Out.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Where exactly? Barretto off of Spofford.
They run a fat game.
I wanna hit it.
- Who you bringin'? - Just Frankie.
Frankie? A black Frankie, man.
You wanna rob some titsuns, that's on you.
- Why am I here? - I just wanna make sure that the target isn't somebody you know.
- If it's on Barretto, no.
- I figured.
But I didn't want to step on anybody's toes.
That's good you asked.
Anything I can do to help? Yeah, actually I need a wheel.
Can you loan me Carlos? - That buys me a slice.
- Of course.
- After the score, pay Tommy.
- You got it.
[WOMAN LAUGHING.]
Is that $3 for the bananas? [COP #1 WHISPERS.]
Take your positions.
Move.
Let's go.
[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING.]
- ALSTON: Police! - HADDIX: Don't move.
- COP #2: I got the left.
- What the fuck is this? - BERNICE: Police here! - Nobody told us.
Jesus Christ.
You gotta be fuckin' kidding me.
REPORTER #1: Here they come, here they come.
Here's one right now.
Miss! REPORTER #1: Miss, is there anything you want to say? REPORTER #2: Tell me what your charges are! - [REPORTERS CLAMORING.]
- Get back, everybody.
Get back! [CLAMORING CONTINUES.]
REPORTER #3: Do you want your wife or daughter working here? REPORTER #1: Miss, do you have anything to say? You wanna drink something? No, I'm OK, thank you.
- No? - Unh-unh.
Come sit.
So, um, I want to talk to you about this part.
Uh, yeah, Kiki said you wanted me to play Little Red.
- It's the lead, right? - Well, I wanna talk to you about it.
- Maybe read a couple of scenes.
- Like an audition.
Yeah.
Also, we start pretty soon.
[GRUNTS.]
I heal really fast, and, um with some makeup, in a few days or maybe a week - it'll be fine.
- OK.
I just don't understand the audition part, 'cause you've already seen me in plenty of movies.
Yeah, like we do.
But this one I actually give a shit about this one.
You live here alone? Yeah.
It's nice.
Hey.
Was that C.
C.
? Mm-hmm.
So, you need a different plan, don't you think? Can I use your bathroom for a minute? Yeah, sure.
It's right there.
You know what, it's easy for you to say shit like that.
You don't have somebody breathing down your back.
You have your own money.
You can just come and go however you please.
You think somebody handed me this? This is the life I chose.
You chose something different.
You think it's a choice? Yeah? OK, what am I supposed to do now? Just say, "Oh, hey, C.
C.
, sorry, I changed my mind.
Catch ya later.
" What the fuck kind of advice is that?! Do you have any fucking idea what the fucking reality of this is? Everything I do, everywhere I go, every penny I spend, everything, belongs to him.
He is on me.
He is in my head.
He knows everything.
What I wear, where I sleep, who I fuck.
There is nothing about me that belongs to me.
It all belongs to him.
[CRYING.]
[SNIFFLES.]
I'm sorry.
Hey, it's OK.
I'll get you a drink.
I could use one, too.
[CABINET DOORS OPEN, CLOSE, GLASSES CLINK.]
Why are you looking at me like that? What do you mean? Wha Shit, Lori, for a second there you sounded like a in-over-her-head kid traipsing through the woods, with a bad-ass wolf hot on her tail.
I wasn't acting.
Yeah, no one's that good.
Well, no one we work with, anyway.
LARRY: And you didn't mention me? DARLENE: She's aware of who you are, Larry.
- Candy knows how good I am.
- Everybody does.
They do? HUSTLER: Check it out, check it out.
Well, all right.
Then why didn't she ask me to be in her movie? - Why don't you ask her? - No, no, no.
Larry Brown don't beg.
Go on ahead, so you're not late for your regular.
I gotta say, as hard as I've been workin' in the films, I'm getting tired of having to trick, too.
I'm barely making my nut as it is, you know? We got a family to maintain.
So go.
All right, babe? HUSTLER: Fresh-made IDs, everybody, anybody, who wants 'em? Switchblades, butterfly knives [DOOR OPENS.]
FRANKIE: Hey.
Anyone home? Where the fuck were you the last couple of days? At the track, movies You knew when you met me.
I'm free.
Like the wind.
I'm not living like this anymore, Frankie, I told ya a thousand times.
I know, I know.
I'm sorry.
I brought pizza.
What kind? What kind ya think? Mushrooms and anchovy? [LAUGHS.]
When it comes to you, I got a mind like a trap.
Huh? Come on.
Dig in.
So guess who's in the film business? Me.
Oh, yeah? Doin' what? I'm a co-producer on Candy's movie.
I bought in for next to nothin'.
What's a co-producer do? A little bit of everything.
Look, it's my money, so I'm in charge.
You think there's a part for me? Of course.
I have to audition though, right? Hmm Hmm [LAUGHS.]
You just passed.
Congratulations.
[LAUGHING.]
Ahh mm-hmm! - [MOANING.]
- What do you think, Darlene? - What the fuck? - It's closed circuit.
I called down to the desk and ordered it up.
No.
No.
I thought you'd be pleased.
I I had this wild idea that we could get in bed and, you know, fuck while we watch you fuck.
You need to get that idea out your head.
So I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna go.
I'm gonna ride you with my back to the TV set, I don't wanna see the movie, and I don't want to hear it, either.
Anything else? Yeah, as a matter of fact.
Two of me in this room is like havin' me twice.
So it's gonna cost you double.
Give it here.
What? [DOG BARKING.]
[CHATTER, LAUGHTER.]
[CHATTER CONTINUES.]
- MAN #1: Gonna raise you 300.
- MAN #2: 300, that's it? You gotta bring more money than that.
- Scared money don't make no money.
- I heard that before.
Uh-huh.
I'ma say it again.
I'ma say it again.
[CHATTER CONTINUES.]
TV NEWSCASTER: Well, Chris, the NYPD really made a dent in Sin City today, raiding five massage parlors just a stone's throw from the Theater District and Restaurant Row and arresting over 20 individuals, including women suspected of being prostitutes and their managers.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING.]
REPORTER: Let the girls make a statement.
Please! You're not gonna use that.
Talkin' a lot of shit for a man with some heat on him.
What you gonna do with this, give a nigga tetanus? - Stick it up your ass.
- Sit your ass down.
You two, get over here! Get over here! - The faggot in the coat room.
- Honey! No! Please, no! Please don't hurt me.
- Please.
Don't hurt me.
- Let's go.
BIG MIKE: All right, now, y'all gonna empty your pockets, put both hands on the table, palms up.
Naw.
Fuck you motherfuckers.
I ain't doin' shit.
Mm-hmm.
[OBJECTS CLATTER ON TABLE.]
Lemme see that.
"Omica" ain't no Omega.
Big difference, my brother.
BIG MIKE: Negro, can you not count? I said two hands.
Come on! Come on, come on, come on! [DOG BARKING.]
- Let's go, Carlos.
- [TIRES SCREECH.]
- [HORN HONKING.]
- MAN: Fuckin' shit! BARKER: Pussy hounds, come on back to You got demoted? You the change girl now? What's up, Rodney? You here for a show? Since when I gotta pay to look at pussy? Shit, I'm Hot Rod.
Pussy pay to look at me.
- What booth Shay at? - Shay ain't here.
So where she at? I ain't seen her.
I know her ass done by now.
Bitch need to hit these streets, recoup back some of that lost revenue.
I'm sure she's lookin' forward to that.
This the comedy booth? Drop a coin, your silly ass make a joke? You see her, tell her I'm lookin'.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
This some nasty shit.
You wanna wait till I'm finished? There's some good shit in here, bro.
How much again? Give or take, 40 G's.
[WHISTLES.]
That's very nice.
Did Carlos hold up his end? I had to send him home.
Drunk damn near killed us.
FRANKIE: The fuck am I over here, chopped liver? You guys gonna tell me what this is? - We had an adventure.
- An adventure? - Yeah.
- Vince, check this out.
Holy shit.
Somebody die? - Almost.
- Well, I gotta say, last night you stuck to your plan, pulled together and earned.
Which is my book makes you a bona fide crew.
Don't forget to pay your boss.
Yeah, whatever you did, I don't want any part of that.
All right, I'll take his cut.
OK, all right.
Just deal me in next time, huh? VINCENT: Tommy, be well.
Lock it up behind you, Mike.
I'm out.
Gotcha.
- Here's Rudy's cut, Mr.
Longo.
- All right.
Listen, any of you gentlemen interested in co-producing a major motion picture? I'll see if I can find the Tenant's Council lady.
- We'll get started here.
- OK.
[WOMAN SHOUTING.]
Hey, fellas.
[MOCKING.]
"Hey, fellas.
" We just came by to see if we could help you out.
Uh-huh.
[SNIFFING.]
What's that? Hai Karate? Ha! I'm a Brut man myself.
All right, guys, here's the thing.
You upset the neighbors, the neighbors call the cops, the cops pick up your girls.
And round it goes.
You like it like that? Fine.
You wanna change it, make it better, maybe we can help you do that.
That's all.
What's your name, sweet thing? - RODNEY: Uh-oh.
- PIMP: Oh, shit.
Abby.
Abby.
Baby, you talkin' to Al Polite and Al Polite knows what's right.
These streets is public.
Can't no one tell us shit.
Yeah, this what what they do every day.
They hang out, they smoke dope, they put the girls on the streets.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
Let's just be realistic.
OK? How many people live here, like a few hundred? More like a thousand, in all of these buildings.
- So that's pretty big.
- ASHLEY: We can do some practical planning, make agreements, take shifts, even.
You have the park from this hour to this hour No, no, no, we want them gone.
We want you gone, mommy.
DAVE: Doesn't work like that.
ABBY: We can figure out a way to Tell 'em, Dorothy.
ASHLEY: We can, uh We can work this out.
ABBY: Help you negotiate.
I don't have the skin for this kind of weather, and I get sunstroke.
Not sunburnt, sunstroke.
JOCELYN: You can wear one of those visors.
HARVEY: You can put me in a bathtub full of ice What happened with the Mayor's Office? Hmm? You get your permits? Nope, they turned me down.
The film's context and subtext wasn't up to their standards.
What did I tell you? The city doesn't want to be known for its fuck flicks.
Is that an I-told-you-so? You know what? Fuck them.
Fuck them and their fuckin' permits.
I'm gonna shoot wherever I want whenever I fuckin' want.
HARVEY: And get fined or arrested.
You got bail money included in this budget? I got this, Harvey.
I got it.
Worry about the budget when you run out of money, right? That's a good plan.
Here's the bottom line, OK? Your girls aren't doing much business here in the daytime anyway.
- So maybe this is more of a nighttime spot.
- ANNA: No, we don't want that.
Hold on.
Dorothy, tell 'em about that building in the Mission, the deal we helped broker.
Yeah, it actually It worked out good, because what we did Excuse me.
What? Hang on He don't want your ass no more.
- You put out to pasture! - DAVE: Let's get back to it.
JULITO: Looks like she's going back to it right now.
- My little runaway.
- Do you see me running now? Shit.
You just got here.
You were staring at me over there like you wanted to kill me.
Do you want to kill me, C.
C.
? 'Cause here I am.
Bitch, best tread light.
Maybe you got something you want to say to me.
You got anything to say, C.
C.
? You know, Ash, you're bold with a crowd around you.
I got something I want to say to you.
I want to say thank you.
Thank you.
Because all those years livin' with you, all the head-fuckin', and the cuttin's, and the beatin's that I took, and I survived it? That just all showed me how strong I really was.
That just all led around to me being who I am today, which is your worst nightmare.
- Who you are, huh? - Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Nah.
- Nah, who you are - [CHUCKLES.]
who you were and who you'll always be is my beggin'-for-love, "I'll do anything you say, C.
C.
" bottom-dog bitch.
Damn, girl you was the easiest turnout I ever had.
- Wanna know why? - Hmm? Because from day one I had your number.
Hmm.
My worst nightmare? Shit, Ash, I could take you in the back of my short right the fuck now, put your legs in the air, no time at all have you shoutin' my name like you was in church, baby, then send you out in a hurricane to make me my money.
Shit, girl people don't never change.
Don't you know that by now? And all that nonsense over there? [SCOFFS.]
Come on, Ash.
That's just you playing pretend.
Mmm, you're right.
You're right.
'Cause the real me, she just wants to see you buried.
[SNORTS.]
- MAN #1: You seen the edger? - MAN #2: Over there.
[HAMMERING.]
KENNETH: You're supposed to be uptown with Cal looking at drapes.
PAUL: Shit! I spaced it out.
What's goin' on with you? I think I can win over this crusty old board if I trim operating hours and fudge capacity.
What's our new max? 140? 150? - 120.
Tops.
- No And I had to blow the fire department guy to get that.
Kidding.
Not really.
You're full of shit.
It was 130, even before we added the alcove.
Why are you jinxing us? Jinxing us.
Is that what I'm doing? - Kenneth - I'm trying to keep us from fucking ruin, if you want to know, and I'm doing my best.
- Really.
- But this is bullshit.
- You're running amok.
- I'm running amok? - I'm trying to realize our vision! - You're ordering wood from the African jungle, crushed velvet sofas, marble urinals This is not the Vanderbilt mansion.
You need to come down out of the fucking clouds! Keep your voice down.
[SIGHS.]
I'm sorry.
I gotta go see Cal.
We need to finish this discussion, Paul.
Well, I can't.
[DRILL WHIRRING.]
Just fucking can't.
BOBBY: Where are the rest of the kids? They ate earlier.
Patrick, drink your milk.
DAUGHTER #1: Stop! You're gonna break it! - [DAUGHTER #2 LAUGHS.]
- Over here! Pass the yams.
- DAUGHTER #1: Give it! - DAUGHTER #2: No! I'm done.
Can I go watch TV? Not tonight.
Go upstairs, the both of ya.
Fine.
You motherfucker.
What? Like this was a big goddamn secret I was keepin' from ya? You said as long as I wasn't nailing the women you could live with it.
- And you said you were protected.
- I am.
That's why I'm here, taking your shit, instead of sitting in a holding cell right now.
They made my bail right after the arraignment this mornin'.
And in case you were worried about me Just in case I'm not gonna do a day of time.
My lawyer's gettin' me an A.
C.
D.
What the fuck is that? An Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal, or somethin'.
Means all I gotta do is pay some fines.
Bobby, you were on the fuckin' television! - Yeah, I heard.
- You have children! They have friends, they have teachers.
How are they supposed to show their faces tomorrow? How am I supposed to show my face?! You don't have to! You can fuckin' hide in that silver fox stole you bought yourself last week! DAUGHTER #1: Mommy! She's taking my toy! Sorry.
I shouldn't have said that.
You wouldn't believe the stress I'm dealin' with.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
- [DAUGHTERS ARGUING.]
- I'm goin' out! [UPSTAIRS DOOR SLAMS.]
TAXI DISPATCHER: Port Authority.
Got two for the Hilton.
TAXI DRIVER ON RADIO: Bernie, I'll take Port Authority.
Driver, take me to West Street and 11th.
DRIVER: You got it.
Damn, Loretta, a baby lives here.
You should go outside if you're gonna smoke.
What happened to you? Better question? Ask me what Larry did about it.
The answer? Not a fuckin' thing.
And if some john put a beating on you instead of me, you know he'd be all up in that guy's shit in a heartbeat.
Well, you need to take that up with him.
This acting thing with you two? Taffy and me, we're like ghosts around here.
What are you talkin' about? Larry don't hardly even fuck me anymore.
It's like living with the Absent-Minded Professor.
Well, like I said, that's between you and him.
So he's an actor now, huh? Well, someone should make him play a pimp.
- Hey, Cecil.
- Ooh, child, what you doin? Ooh, you said what? Ooh! [CHUCKLES.]
I'll see you around.
Bye, baby.
PAUL: Hey.
[MEN MOANING, PANTING.]
[GRUNTING, MOANING.]
[MEN LAUGHING.]
[PANTING LOUDLY.]
MAN: Yeah, man, yeah.
Ohh.
Right there.
Right there.
That's good.
That's good.
[PANTING, GRUNTING.]
[GASPS.]
Ohh Seven and Seven.
Hello? What's up her ass? - Annette! - Yeah? - Seven and Seven.
- OK.
I get enough grief at home.
I don't need it here, too.
Here we go.
Hey.
I want him banned.
Why, because of the TV thing? He didn't deserve that.
He didn't deserve that? The guy runs a fucking whorehouse, Vince.
No.
He's there to make sure the girls are protected.
He doesn't cheat them, he doesn't fuck them And what the fuck is your involvement in all this? Nothing.
Nothing? Some of those girls come in here to drink.
And when they do, they talk.
I know all about the envelopes they're handing you every week.
What?! Those envelopes aren't for me.
That's for the building inspectors, the health inspectors, the contractors, the cops.
The envelopes I get from you are no different from the ones I get from Bobby.
- [SIGHS.]
- All that money, that goes to grease the same palms, it goes into the same pockets.
What are you saying, Vince? Is this place backed by the Mob? I never said that.
I'm not even implying that, all right? Abby.
Abby, you like having the run of this place? You like being able to promote your musician friends? Your artists? You like having time and money to give to your causes? Then this is how it is.
You cannot walk ten feet in this city without running into some kind of toll booth.
But if you want me to stop takin' envelopes from Bobby, fine.
I'd be happy to.
In fact, I would love to stop.
I want him banned.
You own the Hi-Hat, fine.
Ban whoever you want.
But you don't own the Hi-Hat.
I do.
And Bobby's family.
I don't 86 family.
Eighty-six this.
"He goes or I go," right? She serves fuckin' pimps in here.
All of a sudden I'm lower than a nigger pimp? She's a fuckin' hypocrite.
Bobby, I need a favor.
The balls on her.
I need you to stay away for a few days until it blows over.
And the balls on you for askin' me that! Two fuckin' hypocrites in a pod! I need peace in the kingdom.
For at least a few nights.
Bartender.
Another.
You know what? Drinks for everybody on me! - MAN: Salud! - [PATRONS CHEER.]
Hey.
[CHATTER.]
CANDY: OK.
All right, everyone, let's settle.
Ready to get to your ones? You ready? All right.
- Let's roll camera.
- MAN #1: Roll sound.
- MAN #2: Sound speed.
- Rolling.
"Red Hot.
" Scene one take one.
And action.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
(ECHOED FOOTSTEPS) (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING) [WOLF HOWLING.]
[MACHINE WINDING DOWN.]
You got somethin' here.
(FUNK MUSIC PLAYING) So, all the envelopes go to the mob? I don't know how to get out.
We're negotiating with the pimps.
Making the pimps part of the conversation is how we stop these arrests.
FRANKIE MARTINO: The Deuce has got me learning a lot about responsibility.
This is the new me, Vincent.
- No business like show business.
- [LAUGHS.]
(MUSIC CRESCENDOS)
CHRIS ALSTON: This is the deuce.
They had the word out on the street even before you could drive home to wherever you mow a lawn.
RUDY PIPILO: You should warn Paul.
If they wanna come at us, they might go after our people.
PAUL HENDRICKSON: Just let me know the risk of having anything out here on my own.
CANDY MERRELL: This is about the hunger, and terror and the risk.
What big ideas you have.
- (FUNK MUSIC PLAYS) - (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS) CANDY: All right everyone, let's do it.
LORI: I just wish that you could rep me.
You wanna tell him? [GASPS.]
(MUSIC ENDS) [RHYTHMIC PANTING.]
[GRUNTING.]
Tell you what, you free from acting today, right? Mm-hmm.
Let's you and I go get somethin' to eat.
But not Leon's.
I'm thinking something more upscale, maybe maybe the Greek's.
OK.
All right, then.
Can't look good on camera if you're all scrawny.
[SLAPS BUTTOCKS.]
Speaking of which, that female agent came to chat to me.
Who? Kiki Raines? Hooo! [LAUGHS, SNAPS FINGERS.]
I tell ya, that bitch got a nose for cash on her.
One sniff of what we got goin' on, and she wants in.
What does that mean? It means she knows she can't poach you, so she's willing to take what she can get.
I'm almost sorry for her.
- Why? What did she say? - You and I proceed as is, but when she brings in a job, she takes half her usual fee.
I said I'd run it by you, but now I'm thinkin', fuck it, let's do it.
Let her tag along, as long as there's money to be made.
I met her once with Shana, and she seemed all right to me.
Did she? Mm-hmm.
I'll get dressed so we can go.
I'm getting This is one thing I'm having a hard time with.
She says she finds us a gig, I can't come to set with you no more.
Seems that's how she do.
You know? Clients go do their thing reps keep their distance.
Hmm.
Really? And she wouldn't make an exception? Nah.
I mean, I'll put up with it for the here-and-there shoots, but I'm more concerned about you.
You think you'd be all right on your lonesome? If you're all right with it, I think I could manage.
I mean, it wouldn't be all the time.
When I used to do street work, I did it alone, so I guess it'd be sorta like that, ya know? Different business, same setup.
Hmm.
- You think I'm a fool? - What? The two of you think you can play me? - Hmm? - I don't know what you're ta Okey-doke me? Like some fuckin' chump?! - Oh! - She wants half? [SCREAMS, CRIES.]
Well, she can have the half that's bleeding.
[SOBBING.]
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE.]
See her picture in a thousand places 'Cause she's this year's girl You think you all own Little pieces of this year's girl Forget your fancy manners Forget your English grammar 'Cause you don't really give a damn About this year's girl Ahh-ee-ahh Still you're hopin' that she's well-spoken 'Cause she's this year's girl You want her broken with her mouth wide open 'Cause she's this year's girl Those disco synthesizers Those daily tranquilizers Those body-building prizes Those bedroom alibis All this But no surprises For this year's girl All this But no surprises For this year's girl Hey! SMOKEY: Why do you go to the line every Friday? I have to hear this shit again? Why do you go to the line every Friday? Well Because the finance man is gonna be at your house on Saturday, right? Shit, yeah.
And that's exactly what the company wants.
To keep you on the line.
They'll do anything to keep you on their line.
They pit the lifers against the new boys, the old against the young, the black against the white, everybody, to keep us in our place.
I mean, can't you understand that? PAUL: So what are we supposed to do, just not have a dance floor? I'm saying you just install a normal floor, like what I wanted in the first place.
Oh, normal.
I'm not going for normal.
Normal isn't why I had striped blackwood tiles flown in from fucking Tanzania! Might have been helpful to know they would shrink and crack in this climate before you blew the whole budget.
Look, Paul, I get the vision, I do I thought we weren't gonna talk about this tonight.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING.]
- So how'd you do last night? - Are you kidding me? - Yeah.
- Are you fucking kidding me? - Yeah.
- Are you pulling my leg? - So? - So tits out to here, so.
- Twenty, a couple years old.
- You gotta be foolin'.
- Nope.
- You devil.
- You think she hadn't been around? - Yeah.
What? Nothin'.
Always with the long face.
It's only money, Bobby.
It should buy me somethin', at least.
You tipped me to a raid that never happened.
I shut down the parlors for days, waitin', no one ever came.
I lost a ton of dough.
The fuck do you want outta me? I heard the raids were a go, and then they weren't.
You complaining ' because we didn't kick in your door? I just want some reliable information, is all.
Fuck you, buy me a drink.
And not the piss you pour into that bottle for the suit-and-tie johns.
Real J.
W.
Black.
[DOO-WOP PLAYING OVER STEREO.]
That's why they're called "life experience" credits.
But if your final journal is riddled with errors, misspellings, poor usage Sorry, Charlie, it's a do-over.
Now, please note you'll be handing in pages every week for review.
Typewriters are available for you on the first floor.
They need to be You came! I can't believe it.
I thought you'd be too occupied with the new place.
I've been meaning to stop by the bar.
No, you've been busy with rehearsals, obviously.
I mean, listen, you were great.
- Incredible, really.
Yeah.
- Yeah? Not bad for an understudy, right? I don't know how you do it.
It won't be for long.
We close next week.
- Sucks.
- Yeah, just my luck.
Look at this.
You're a star.
"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr.
DeMille.
" [CHUCKLING.]
All right, put your clothes on, let's go consume some alcohol.
- OK.
- Hey.
LARRY BROWN: "'Cause the finance man's gonna be at your house on Saturday, right? And that's exactly what the company wants.
To be on their line.
Everybody stay on their line.
They pit the lifers against the new boys, the old against the young, the black against the white.
Everybody put us in our place.
I mean can't you understand that?" I mean can't you understand that? Can't you understand that, jack? No, he ain't say "jack.
" I mean, can't you understand that? [CHATTER, CAR HORNS HONK.]
[DRAWERS CLATTER.]
IRENE: These clean? - Yeah, I can do that.
- Nah, I got it.
OK.
What about these? You need these? Nah.
So you feel OK? Feel good? I feel like shit.
Yeah, no, of c Of course.
I mean, do you feel ready? Sure.
Let's book this dump.
I'm jonesin' for White Castle.
L.
A L.
A Dead.
Left the business.
L.
A.
Junkie.
Bitch.
Jenny Cole's cute.
She's got some of that innocence you're looking for.
No, I don't know.
Serena would be fuckin' perfect.
Her rate is really high now.
Yeah.
- Carol Connors.
- L.
A.
Lori Madison.
She's on her way up.
- Yeah, I thought about Lori.
- But? No, she's in the running.
Definitely.
Look, I know you want big stars, but they can be a headache, and expensive.
You're already saddled with Lance Minx, god love you.
Yeah, I think I can handle him.
How about John Seeman - for the Wolf? - Would you fuckin' stop? I need a real actor in that role.
- Hmmm.
- So, what do you think? Ten percent of my budget for salaries? More if you want stars.
Lance alone is gonna run you 300 a day, easy.
Fuck, Kiki, I just want it to be good.
Stars, no stars, I just want it to be right.
All eyes are gonna be on this.
Who knows? We could even cross over.
- [LAUGHS.]
- No, we fuckin' could! We do an R-rated version, play drive-ins, so it has got to pop.
- I hear you.
- All right.
Let's go through and pick our top three.
OK FLANAGAN: Look, I'm sorry, I just Can you keep your voice down, please? ANITA: I'm not yelling.
You're the one making a scene.
All right, calm down So I need an answer about the clinic.
Can we use the 366, or what? Yeah.
Why can't we do it in the Hi-Hat? Because I'm open for business when they need the space.
And what's gonna go down again? I told you.
Check-ups, vaccinations, birth control basic stuff.
How many people? A hundred, maybe.
- Oof.
- I mean, over the course of the day.
Why can't they go to a regular doctor? Just askin'.
Some of these doctors sexually abuse the women.
It's true.
Field clinics are safer.
Yeah, whatever you need.
Just, uh, how involved in this thing you gonna get? Yes or no? Yeah, you don't get blood anywhere, you're out by 10:00 or 11:00, I don't give a fuck.
- Thank you.
- ANITA: I've gotta go.
You can't just run away every time things get hot.
Look who's fucking talking.
All you do is run.
I'm not running! IRENE: All right, here is good.
Rodney home? [EXHALES.]
Unh.
CABBIE: Thanks.
- Which floor? - Third.
You're not goin' in there.
I live there.
It's gonna suck you right back.
You're gonna be on that shit again in ten minutes.
- Nah.
- It's no good.
I can feel it.
Look, Shay, just stay with me.
I want you to stay with me.
Uh Driver, keep goin'.
Where to? What do you think? I think it's clever.
But isn't it kind of - all about the Wolf? - Yes.
He's got all the best lines.
He's got most of the lines.
Right? All Little Red Riding Hood does is get chased, suck dick, and have orgasms.
I think he missed the whole point, which is that in this, the hero is the fuckin' heroine.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Red is a powerful creature.
She's gotta be as dangerous as anyone else in that fuckin' forest.
Yeah.
And then she's gotta realize that she could turn the tables anytime she wants.
- And when she does - That wolf is dead meat.
Let me warm those up for you ladies.
Nah.
CANDY: You think you could do better? Yeah, actually, I do.
And do you understand the feeling I'm going for? Like an erotic "Taxi Driver" vibe? Mmm.
Yes.
OK, here's the bad news.
Right now I don't have dime one to pay another writer.
You were gonna pay me? [DOOR OPENS.]
Surprise.
Got somethin' for you.
- In a minute, OK? - No, now.
You'll like this.
Come on, close your eyes.
- C.
C.
, I really have to get ready.
- Come on.
Close your eyes.
Keep 'em closed.
OK open.
Wow.
They're big.
That ain't all.
Come here.
Look in there.
- What the hell? - Just look.
What? [LAUGHING.]
Pure breed.
From the Upper East Side, some French place.
- C.
C.
I - Yo, check that collar.
- It's wet.
It peed.
- Well, you gotta train it.
- I can't train a dog, C.
C.
- [DOG WHIMPERS.]
I mean, I've never had one.
I don't know how.
Well I thought you loved dogs.
They're OK.
- I can take it back.
- No.
It's I've got him.
Anyway, it's yours.
Do what you want with it.
[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
You'll be more comfortable when we open it up.
It's a Castro, so Uh Is this OK? I I don't wanna I thought you No, it's fine.
You ever been with a woman? Not for fun.
I mean, sometimes for work, but I'm into it.
You sure? It's fine.
It's good.
I mean, you're a little like a guy, anyway.
Except you got boobs kinda.
And no dick.
That's a relief.
Really.
Dicks are assholes.
I'm so sick of dicks.
If I never see another dick for the rest of my life, I swear You don't have to.
I could take care of stuff for a while.
You could just veg till you're ready.
And then you can get another job, maybe, another type of work, you know? Like what? Whatever you want.
It could be anything.
Yo, I saw on the news they even got woman astronauts now.
So I should become an astronaut? That's not what I mean.
I'm just I'm talkin' out loud.
Thinkin'.
You're thinkin' out loud.
RADIO DJ: 102, and that was a little taste of Blondie Come here.
with "Bermuda Triangle Blues" off their album Plastic Letters.
And before that, we heard The Clash, with "Janie Jones.
" 102, Megan Shelley is me, P.
I.
X.
is us Now, the entrance is all the way on this side, so we won't be disturbing that building at all.
- But you have the side door.
- It's a fire exit only.
- I'm still stuck at go.
- OK.
You're abutting a wide residential zone here.
- A nightclub isn't really - It's more of a lounge.
There's liquor, music, dancing.
We know where this goes, especially with this clientele.
It's the wrong place for it.
There are plenty of other bars and restaurants around.
Not nightclubs.
OK, I think I threw everyone with that word.
I'm going for a kind of quiet glamour, ya know? Old Hollywood.
Screwball comedy feel.
You expect Carole Lombard to come wafting in any minute.
I have a question.
We're gonna open the floor for questions in a few.
My sister lives across from one of these type bars on 10th Street.
- It's not a bar.
- There's too many bars, period.
And every time a store closes, it becomes a bar.
May I speak? They walk around, no shirt, grab each other right in the open.
- It's everywhere now.
- Let me stop you right there.
We're all thinking it.
Someone has to say it.
That's enough Mary.
I think she's right.
I think everyone is thinking it.
- But I don't know how to approach - Let me butt in here.
This is taking a strange turn.
- PAUL: Thank you.
- I'm gay, OK? I'm a homosexual.
Are there other homosexuals on this committee? OK, so that's two.
And there are more on the full board, trust me.
So this is not an issue as far as I'm concerned.
- OK.
- Can we proceed? For the record, if you're implying that my comments were I'm not implying anything.
I have ears.
And I have been living as a gay man in this city for the last 20 years, OK? I've heard it all about 800,000 times.
- My concerns are purely practical.
- Fine.
Then we agree.
Shall we get back to it? Tell us again your target opening date? [CHUCKLES.]
Um So I get the vaccinations, the birth control [LAUGHS.]
I don't know about all that.
I could probably handle food.
Can you get sandwiches or Yeah, I can do that.
CANDY: Hey, Abby.
Hey.
What's it gonna be, Candy? Abby.
All your friends, with their music and their films and their gallery shows, where do they come up with the money? [LAUGHS.]
Most of them get it from their parents.
VINCENT: Strapped, Candy? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm short on my movie money.
I got about half of what I need.
Maybe.
So what do you say, Vince? - What? - You want in? - [LAUGHS.]
- Come on! It's no more risk than investing in a fuckin' restaurant.
The bar business is enough of a gamble for me.
You sure? I will take a Myer's and tonic.
You got it.
I hate to say it, but you do know that Frankie sold his dry cleaning store, right? Frankie had a dry cleaning store? Won it in a card game, then sold it back to the original owner.
So he's flush for once.
At least he was.
- Do you know where he is? - Got his haunts, but I can't guarantee he'll be at any of 'em.
I know Christina.
- No, no, no.
- I'm gonna call her.
It won't do you any good.
She's lookin' for Frankie, too.
- Look here.
Write this down.
- Yeah.
First place I'd check is the card game - Thanks.
- On 49th between 8th and 9th.
- Between 8th and 9th.
- If he's not there, any of the theaters RENTON: I thought maybe you didn't like me.
DARLENE: Like you? I don't even know you.
Ah ha! That was going to be my defense.
Your defense? You're not on trial.
We are all on trial, baby.
That sounds like something from our reading list.
OK, you got me.
So, what are you in for, Donna? Job certification? Union upgrade? Uh, like, communications, maybe? I'm not sure.
Are you? Well, the long goal: registered nurse.
- OK.
- So I'm working on my A.
D.
N.
now, and hopefully start on the B.
S.
N.
by next spring.
- Wow, you have a whole plan.
- Yes, that is how it's done.
And speaking of plans you and me, tomorrow night.
Renton, you seem really nice, and we can help each other in class or what have you, but I have a man, so it can't be like that.
Say no more.
I never pressure a lady.
Doesn't anyone want to take our order? Hello? [GRUNTING, PANTING.]
That's right, baby.
That's it! - Unh! - Ohh! Ohh! [PANTING.]
Yeah.
[GRUNTS.]
Yeah! [BOTH PANTING.]
Mmm.
- Mmm.
- [LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
Now that you're all relaxed, you wanna know about that thing? Talk about it.
Apollo 12 Lounge, it's just a house? Gaming, poker, sometimes craps, and a bar.
Maybe a few girls.
- Anyone else? - Straight family.
Miss Cookie, her boyfriend, and her son.
Round-the-way hustlers, gang boys, dope men, macks, chop-shoppers, a few fences.
They all makin' money out there, but they don't like to leave the neighborhood to spend it.
Mm-hmm.
And the pot? Depends who's there.
[CHUCKLES.]
Could be 20 40 G's on the table.
- Cash money.
- Guns? No guns.
Cookie's Uncle Morris checks everybody at the door.
That's why you need me to bring in your hardware, stash it for you in the coat check.
[SPITS.]
Uncle Morris got a gun? A machete.
And you don't want to see him swing that thing.
- Oh, yeah.
Fuck a machete.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
Come on, baby.
Stop by and check it out.
All bad actors, huh? Don't worry, stud.
All you'll be eating is cannibals.
[CHUCKLES.]
MAN: I got something for you.
Been working on this all weekend.
Koufax goes into his motion, it's right down the alley.
Tony Kubek goes down swinging.
[IMITATES CROWD NOISE.]
Havin' your second childhood? - What do you mean? - I'm just messin' with ya.
You heard about the movie I'm makin', right? - The Big Bad Wolf.
- Yeah.
I'm havin' some fuckin' money troubles.
Yeah, welcome to my world.
That's not what I heard.
Oh, yeah? What'd you hear? How much you make sellin' that dry cleaners? Depends who's askin'.
Yeah, I sold it for twelve and a half G's.
Down to ten, as of this morning.
- I got a proposition for you.
- Hmm? How'd you like to be a movie producer? - Me? - Yeah, you.
- What's a producer do? - Nothin' much.
No, he invests in a movie, kicks back till it opens, gets to see his name in lights.
Uh-huh.
And maybe hits the jackpot, maybe loses his shirt.
A gambler gambles.
That's what he does, right? That ten K down from twelve and half this morning, how long do you think it'd take you to blow through all that? Well, you never know.
[LAUGHING.]
You remember the last time you lost that much cash? Which last time? - That's what I'm sayin'.
- Uh-huh.
Come in with me.
Come on.
Be my co-producer.
Even if you lose it all, this will be the one blown bet you'll be tellin' stories about for the rest of your fuckin' life.
Co-producer.
You said I was gonna be a producer.
We're gonna be partners.
That makes me a co-producer, too.
Yeah, what the hell.
Sure.
Shake.
- [LAUGHS.]
- You got it on you? - Wow, you're pushy.
- [LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
Lookin' out for our fuckin' movie.
All right.
- I'm comin' to get it.
- All right, partner.
We all agree raids are worthless without the element of surprise.
"Surprise" and "raid" are two words that never go together in this zone.
And once these clap factories get that heads-up, all they need to know is how many cops are coming through the door so they can leave out enough liquor to cover the crew.
That's why I canceled the first operation.
Now, I want you on this new one.
This raid is vice-related, correct? Right.
The parlor people will be charged with promotion of prostitution and violations of liquor laws.
But I want you taking the door.
Vice will be on the scene, but you're the lead.
You really think something positive will come from more raids? We'll see.
I plan on announcing them at the very last moment.
What do you say? I'll do it as long as my boss agrees.
Deputy Inspector? So ordered.
One more thing, Detective.
Our friend Gene Goldman was a little ticked off when I canceled the raids the first time.
But he stood down when I convinced him we were about to be compromised.
I'd like to show him I appreciate his cooperation.
Throw Goldman a bone and keep him in the loop.
I got, like, an infection.
How much it cost for some pills? We just gotta get you looked at, but everything's free.
I didn't believe it myself.
Shit.
Penicillin.
Make sure to take them all.
This is the first time I got medicine and didn't have to blow the doctor.
Could I also get some cough syrup for my daughter? I'm sorry, I'm a little uncomfortable with that.
Goes great with a shot of vodka.
I'm givin' away free ones.
You think you're joking, but I had a client once, he wanted I don't need to hear.
You really don't.
Satisfied? I'm just gettin' started.
Next we're gonna try to broker the terms between the working girls and the residents over at that complex on the West Side.
- Slow down, will ya? - I don't wanna.
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE.]
For such a fashionable guy, I thought you'd have better decorating sense.
I'm not trying to advertise my presence.
The locals aren't big fans of change.
What brings you here? I'm about to head up a raid on the parlors.
Thought you'd like to know.
That's uncharacteristically forthcoming of you, Detective.
You keep telling me about your plans.
Maybe you'd like to observe an actual police operation.
See what we do.
They're not gonna be expecting us this time.
It's on but I'm gonna need you to leave it to me.
Can I at least make one suggestion? I could call a couple of people I know in the press.
People I trust.
They could be there, too.
That is, as long as it's all right with you.
Only if you call 'em an hour before we kick the doors in.
No sooner.
I don't want any leaks.
Agreed.
BIG MIKE: There's a quote-unquote "gentlemen's club" - up in the Bronx.
- Whereabouts? Corner of Broke-Ass and Strung Out.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Where exactly? Barretto off of Spofford.
They run a fat game.
I wanna hit it.
- Who you bringin'? - Just Frankie.
Frankie? A black Frankie, man.
You wanna rob some titsuns, that's on you.
- Why am I here? - I just wanna make sure that the target isn't somebody you know.
- If it's on Barretto, no.
- I figured.
But I didn't want to step on anybody's toes.
That's good you asked.
Anything I can do to help? Yeah, actually I need a wheel.
Can you loan me Carlos? - That buys me a slice.
- Of course.
- After the score, pay Tommy.
- You got it.
[WOMAN LAUGHING.]
Is that $3 for the bananas? [COP #1 WHISPERS.]
Take your positions.
Move.
Let's go.
[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING.]
- ALSTON: Police! - HADDIX: Don't move.
- COP #2: I got the left.
- What the fuck is this? - BERNICE: Police here! - Nobody told us.
Jesus Christ.
You gotta be fuckin' kidding me.
REPORTER #1: Here they come, here they come.
Here's one right now.
Miss! REPORTER #1: Miss, is there anything you want to say? REPORTER #2: Tell me what your charges are! - [REPORTERS CLAMORING.]
- Get back, everybody.
Get back! [CLAMORING CONTINUES.]
REPORTER #3: Do you want your wife or daughter working here? REPORTER #1: Miss, do you have anything to say? You wanna drink something? No, I'm OK, thank you.
- No? - Unh-unh.
Come sit.
So, um, I want to talk to you about this part.
Uh, yeah, Kiki said you wanted me to play Little Red.
- It's the lead, right? - Well, I wanna talk to you about it.
- Maybe read a couple of scenes.
- Like an audition.
Yeah.
Also, we start pretty soon.
[GRUNTS.]
I heal really fast, and, um with some makeup, in a few days or maybe a week - it'll be fine.
- OK.
I just don't understand the audition part, 'cause you've already seen me in plenty of movies.
Yeah, like we do.
But this one I actually give a shit about this one.
You live here alone? Yeah.
It's nice.
Hey.
Was that C.
C.
? Mm-hmm.
So, you need a different plan, don't you think? Can I use your bathroom for a minute? Yeah, sure.
It's right there.
You know what, it's easy for you to say shit like that.
You don't have somebody breathing down your back.
You have your own money.
You can just come and go however you please.
You think somebody handed me this? This is the life I chose.
You chose something different.
You think it's a choice? Yeah? OK, what am I supposed to do now? Just say, "Oh, hey, C.
C.
, sorry, I changed my mind.
Catch ya later.
" What the fuck kind of advice is that?! Do you have any fucking idea what the fucking reality of this is? Everything I do, everywhere I go, every penny I spend, everything, belongs to him.
He is on me.
He is in my head.
He knows everything.
What I wear, where I sleep, who I fuck.
There is nothing about me that belongs to me.
It all belongs to him.
[CRYING.]
[SNIFFLES.]
I'm sorry.
Hey, it's OK.
I'll get you a drink.
I could use one, too.
[CABINET DOORS OPEN, CLOSE, GLASSES CLINK.]
Why are you looking at me like that? What do you mean? Wha Shit, Lori, for a second there you sounded like a in-over-her-head kid traipsing through the woods, with a bad-ass wolf hot on her tail.
I wasn't acting.
Yeah, no one's that good.
Well, no one we work with, anyway.
LARRY: And you didn't mention me? DARLENE: She's aware of who you are, Larry.
- Candy knows how good I am.
- Everybody does.
They do? HUSTLER: Check it out, check it out.
Well, all right.
Then why didn't she ask me to be in her movie? - Why don't you ask her? - No, no, no.
Larry Brown don't beg.
Go on ahead, so you're not late for your regular.
I gotta say, as hard as I've been workin' in the films, I'm getting tired of having to trick, too.
I'm barely making my nut as it is, you know? We got a family to maintain.
So go.
All right, babe? HUSTLER: Fresh-made IDs, everybody, anybody, who wants 'em? Switchblades, butterfly knives [DOOR OPENS.]
FRANKIE: Hey.
Anyone home? Where the fuck were you the last couple of days? At the track, movies You knew when you met me.
I'm free.
Like the wind.
I'm not living like this anymore, Frankie, I told ya a thousand times.
I know, I know.
I'm sorry.
I brought pizza.
What kind? What kind ya think? Mushrooms and anchovy? [LAUGHS.]
When it comes to you, I got a mind like a trap.
Huh? Come on.
Dig in.
So guess who's in the film business? Me.
Oh, yeah? Doin' what? I'm a co-producer on Candy's movie.
I bought in for next to nothin'.
What's a co-producer do? A little bit of everything.
Look, it's my money, so I'm in charge.
You think there's a part for me? Of course.
I have to audition though, right? Hmm Hmm [LAUGHS.]
You just passed.
Congratulations.
[LAUGHING.]
Ahh mm-hmm! - [MOANING.]
- What do you think, Darlene? - What the fuck? - It's closed circuit.
I called down to the desk and ordered it up.
No.
No.
I thought you'd be pleased.
I I had this wild idea that we could get in bed and, you know, fuck while we watch you fuck.
You need to get that idea out your head.
So I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna go.
I'm gonna ride you with my back to the TV set, I don't wanna see the movie, and I don't want to hear it, either.
Anything else? Yeah, as a matter of fact.
Two of me in this room is like havin' me twice.
So it's gonna cost you double.
Give it here.
What? [DOG BARKING.]
[CHATTER, LAUGHTER.]
[CHATTER CONTINUES.]
- MAN #1: Gonna raise you 300.
- MAN #2: 300, that's it? You gotta bring more money than that.
- Scared money don't make no money.
- I heard that before.
Uh-huh.
I'ma say it again.
I'ma say it again.
[CHATTER CONTINUES.]
TV NEWSCASTER: Well, Chris, the NYPD really made a dent in Sin City today, raiding five massage parlors just a stone's throw from the Theater District and Restaurant Row and arresting over 20 individuals, including women suspected of being prostitutes and their managers.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING.]
REPORTER: Let the girls make a statement.
Please! You're not gonna use that.
Talkin' a lot of shit for a man with some heat on him.
What you gonna do with this, give a nigga tetanus? - Stick it up your ass.
- Sit your ass down.
You two, get over here! Get over here! - The faggot in the coat room.
- Honey! No! Please, no! Please don't hurt me.
- Please.
Don't hurt me.
- Let's go.
BIG MIKE: All right, now, y'all gonna empty your pockets, put both hands on the table, palms up.
Naw.
Fuck you motherfuckers.
I ain't doin' shit.
Mm-hmm.
[OBJECTS CLATTER ON TABLE.]
Lemme see that.
"Omica" ain't no Omega.
Big difference, my brother.
BIG MIKE: Negro, can you not count? I said two hands.
Come on! Come on, come on, come on! [DOG BARKING.]
- Let's go, Carlos.
- [TIRES SCREECH.]
- [HORN HONKING.]
- MAN: Fuckin' shit! BARKER: Pussy hounds, come on back to You got demoted? You the change girl now? What's up, Rodney? You here for a show? Since when I gotta pay to look at pussy? Shit, I'm Hot Rod.
Pussy pay to look at me.
- What booth Shay at? - Shay ain't here.
So where she at? I ain't seen her.
I know her ass done by now.
Bitch need to hit these streets, recoup back some of that lost revenue.
I'm sure she's lookin' forward to that.
This the comedy booth? Drop a coin, your silly ass make a joke? You see her, tell her I'm lookin'.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
This some nasty shit.
You wanna wait till I'm finished? There's some good shit in here, bro.
How much again? Give or take, 40 G's.
[WHISTLES.]
That's very nice.
Did Carlos hold up his end? I had to send him home.
Drunk damn near killed us.
FRANKIE: The fuck am I over here, chopped liver? You guys gonna tell me what this is? - We had an adventure.
- An adventure? - Yeah.
- Vince, check this out.
Holy shit.
Somebody die? - Almost.
- Well, I gotta say, last night you stuck to your plan, pulled together and earned.
Which is my book makes you a bona fide crew.
Don't forget to pay your boss.
Yeah, whatever you did, I don't want any part of that.
All right, I'll take his cut.
OK, all right.
Just deal me in next time, huh? VINCENT: Tommy, be well.
Lock it up behind you, Mike.
I'm out.
Gotcha.
- Here's Rudy's cut, Mr.
Longo.
- All right.
Listen, any of you gentlemen interested in co-producing a major motion picture? I'll see if I can find the Tenant's Council lady.
- We'll get started here.
- OK.
[WOMAN SHOUTING.]
Hey, fellas.
[MOCKING.]
"Hey, fellas.
" We just came by to see if we could help you out.
Uh-huh.
[SNIFFING.]
What's that? Hai Karate? Ha! I'm a Brut man myself.
All right, guys, here's the thing.
You upset the neighbors, the neighbors call the cops, the cops pick up your girls.
And round it goes.
You like it like that? Fine.
You wanna change it, make it better, maybe we can help you do that.
That's all.
What's your name, sweet thing? - RODNEY: Uh-oh.
- PIMP: Oh, shit.
Abby.
Abby.
Baby, you talkin' to Al Polite and Al Polite knows what's right.
These streets is public.
Can't no one tell us shit.
Yeah, this what what they do every day.
They hang out, they smoke dope, they put the girls on the streets.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER.]
Let's just be realistic.
OK? How many people live here, like a few hundred? More like a thousand, in all of these buildings.
- So that's pretty big.
- ASHLEY: We can do some practical planning, make agreements, take shifts, even.
You have the park from this hour to this hour No, no, no, we want them gone.
We want you gone, mommy.
DAVE: Doesn't work like that.
ABBY: We can figure out a way to Tell 'em, Dorothy.
ASHLEY: We can, uh We can work this out.
ABBY: Help you negotiate.
I don't have the skin for this kind of weather, and I get sunstroke.
Not sunburnt, sunstroke.
JOCELYN: You can wear one of those visors.
HARVEY: You can put me in a bathtub full of ice What happened with the Mayor's Office? Hmm? You get your permits? Nope, they turned me down.
The film's context and subtext wasn't up to their standards.
What did I tell you? The city doesn't want to be known for its fuck flicks.
Is that an I-told-you-so? You know what? Fuck them.
Fuck them and their fuckin' permits.
I'm gonna shoot wherever I want whenever I fuckin' want.
HARVEY: And get fined or arrested.
You got bail money included in this budget? I got this, Harvey.
I got it.
Worry about the budget when you run out of money, right? That's a good plan.
Here's the bottom line, OK? Your girls aren't doing much business here in the daytime anyway.
- So maybe this is more of a nighttime spot.
- ANNA: No, we don't want that.
Hold on.
Dorothy, tell 'em about that building in the Mission, the deal we helped broker.
Yeah, it actually It worked out good, because what we did Excuse me.
What? Hang on He don't want your ass no more.
- You put out to pasture! - DAVE: Let's get back to it.
JULITO: Looks like she's going back to it right now.
- My little runaway.
- Do you see me running now? Shit.
You just got here.
You were staring at me over there like you wanted to kill me.
Do you want to kill me, C.
C.
? 'Cause here I am.
Bitch, best tread light.
Maybe you got something you want to say to me.
You got anything to say, C.
C.
? You know, Ash, you're bold with a crowd around you.
I got something I want to say to you.
I want to say thank you.
Thank you.
Because all those years livin' with you, all the head-fuckin', and the cuttin's, and the beatin's that I took, and I survived it? That just all showed me how strong I really was.
That just all led around to me being who I am today, which is your worst nightmare.
- Who you are, huh? - Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Nah.
- Nah, who you are - [CHUCKLES.]
who you were and who you'll always be is my beggin'-for-love, "I'll do anything you say, C.
C.
" bottom-dog bitch.
Damn, girl you was the easiest turnout I ever had.
- Wanna know why? - Hmm? Because from day one I had your number.
Hmm.
My worst nightmare? Shit, Ash, I could take you in the back of my short right the fuck now, put your legs in the air, no time at all have you shoutin' my name like you was in church, baby, then send you out in a hurricane to make me my money.
Shit, girl people don't never change.
Don't you know that by now? And all that nonsense over there? [SCOFFS.]
Come on, Ash.
That's just you playing pretend.
Mmm, you're right.
You're right.
'Cause the real me, she just wants to see you buried.
[SNORTS.]
- MAN #1: You seen the edger? - MAN #2: Over there.
[HAMMERING.]
KENNETH: You're supposed to be uptown with Cal looking at drapes.
PAUL: Shit! I spaced it out.
What's goin' on with you? I think I can win over this crusty old board if I trim operating hours and fudge capacity.
What's our new max? 140? 150? - 120.
Tops.
- No And I had to blow the fire department guy to get that.
Kidding.
Not really.
You're full of shit.
It was 130, even before we added the alcove.
Why are you jinxing us? Jinxing us.
Is that what I'm doing? - Kenneth - I'm trying to keep us from fucking ruin, if you want to know, and I'm doing my best.
- Really.
- But this is bullshit.
- You're running amok.
- I'm running amok? - I'm trying to realize our vision! - You're ordering wood from the African jungle, crushed velvet sofas, marble urinals This is not the Vanderbilt mansion.
You need to come down out of the fucking clouds! Keep your voice down.
[SIGHS.]
I'm sorry.
I gotta go see Cal.
We need to finish this discussion, Paul.
Well, I can't.
[DRILL WHIRRING.]
Just fucking can't.
BOBBY: Where are the rest of the kids? They ate earlier.
Patrick, drink your milk.
DAUGHTER #1: Stop! You're gonna break it! - [DAUGHTER #2 LAUGHS.]
- Over here! Pass the yams.
- DAUGHTER #1: Give it! - DAUGHTER #2: No! I'm done.
Can I go watch TV? Not tonight.
Go upstairs, the both of ya.
Fine.
You motherfucker.
What? Like this was a big goddamn secret I was keepin' from ya? You said as long as I wasn't nailing the women you could live with it.
- And you said you were protected.
- I am.
That's why I'm here, taking your shit, instead of sitting in a holding cell right now.
They made my bail right after the arraignment this mornin'.
And in case you were worried about me Just in case I'm not gonna do a day of time.
My lawyer's gettin' me an A.
C.
D.
What the fuck is that? An Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal, or somethin'.
Means all I gotta do is pay some fines.
Bobby, you were on the fuckin' television! - Yeah, I heard.
- You have children! They have friends, they have teachers.
How are they supposed to show their faces tomorrow? How am I supposed to show my face?! You don't have to! You can fuckin' hide in that silver fox stole you bought yourself last week! DAUGHTER #1: Mommy! She's taking my toy! Sorry.
I shouldn't have said that.
You wouldn't believe the stress I'm dealin' with.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
- [DAUGHTERS ARGUING.]
- I'm goin' out! [UPSTAIRS DOOR SLAMS.]
TAXI DISPATCHER: Port Authority.
Got two for the Hilton.
TAXI DRIVER ON RADIO: Bernie, I'll take Port Authority.
Driver, take me to West Street and 11th.
DRIVER: You got it.
Damn, Loretta, a baby lives here.
You should go outside if you're gonna smoke.
What happened to you? Better question? Ask me what Larry did about it.
The answer? Not a fuckin' thing.
And if some john put a beating on you instead of me, you know he'd be all up in that guy's shit in a heartbeat.
Well, you need to take that up with him.
This acting thing with you two? Taffy and me, we're like ghosts around here.
What are you talkin' about? Larry don't hardly even fuck me anymore.
It's like living with the Absent-Minded Professor.
Well, like I said, that's between you and him.
So he's an actor now, huh? Well, someone should make him play a pimp.
- Hey, Cecil.
- Ooh, child, what you doin? Ooh, you said what? Ooh! [CHUCKLES.]
I'll see you around.
Bye, baby.
PAUL: Hey.
[MEN MOANING, PANTING.]
[GRUNTING, MOANING.]
[MEN LAUGHING.]
[PANTING LOUDLY.]
MAN: Yeah, man, yeah.
Ohh.
Right there.
Right there.
That's good.
That's good.
[PANTING, GRUNTING.]
[GASPS.]
Ohh Seven and Seven.
Hello? What's up her ass? - Annette! - Yeah? - Seven and Seven.
- OK.
I get enough grief at home.
I don't need it here, too.
Here we go.
Hey.
I want him banned.
Why, because of the TV thing? He didn't deserve that.
He didn't deserve that? The guy runs a fucking whorehouse, Vince.
No.
He's there to make sure the girls are protected.
He doesn't cheat them, he doesn't fuck them And what the fuck is your involvement in all this? Nothing.
Nothing? Some of those girls come in here to drink.
And when they do, they talk.
I know all about the envelopes they're handing you every week.
What?! Those envelopes aren't for me.
That's for the building inspectors, the health inspectors, the contractors, the cops.
The envelopes I get from you are no different from the ones I get from Bobby.
- [SIGHS.]
- All that money, that goes to grease the same palms, it goes into the same pockets.
What are you saying, Vince? Is this place backed by the Mob? I never said that.
I'm not even implying that, all right? Abby.
Abby, you like having the run of this place? You like being able to promote your musician friends? Your artists? You like having time and money to give to your causes? Then this is how it is.
You cannot walk ten feet in this city without running into some kind of toll booth.
But if you want me to stop takin' envelopes from Bobby, fine.
I'd be happy to.
In fact, I would love to stop.
I want him banned.
You own the Hi-Hat, fine.
Ban whoever you want.
But you don't own the Hi-Hat.
I do.
And Bobby's family.
I don't 86 family.
Eighty-six this.
"He goes or I go," right? She serves fuckin' pimps in here.
All of a sudden I'm lower than a nigger pimp? She's a fuckin' hypocrite.
Bobby, I need a favor.
The balls on her.
I need you to stay away for a few days until it blows over.
And the balls on you for askin' me that! Two fuckin' hypocrites in a pod! I need peace in the kingdom.
For at least a few nights.
Bartender.
Another.
You know what? Drinks for everybody on me! - MAN: Salud! - [PATRONS CHEER.]
Hey.
[CHATTER.]
CANDY: OK.
All right, everyone, let's settle.
Ready to get to your ones? You ready? All right.
- Let's roll camera.
- MAN #1: Roll sound.
- MAN #2: Sound speed.
- Rolling.
"Red Hot.
" Scene one take one.
And action.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
(ECHOED FOOTSTEPS) (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING) [WOLF HOWLING.]
[MACHINE WINDING DOWN.]
You got somethin' here.
(FUNK MUSIC PLAYING) So, all the envelopes go to the mob? I don't know how to get out.
We're negotiating with the pimps.
Making the pimps part of the conversation is how we stop these arrests.
FRANKIE MARTINO: The Deuce has got me learning a lot about responsibility.
This is the new me, Vincent.
- No business like show business.
- [LAUGHS.]
(MUSIC CRESCENDOS)