A Bronx Tale

-All right, you got the note?

-Yeah.

-Nice and tight. Two, three, four...

DOO WOP SINGING

This film contains very strong language

'This is the Fordham section of the Bronx. My home.

'A world unto itself.

'You could get to any borough in 15 minutes,

'but they might as well be 3,000 miles away.

'That's Mount Carmel Church,

'and the sound of the bells would fill the neighbourhood.'

# On the streets of the Bronx

# Is where I wanna be... #

'It was 1960, and Doo Wop was the sound on the streets.'

# Standing on the corner... #

'It felt like there was a Doo Wop group on every corner back then.

'What a time it was.

'The New York Yankees were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates

'in the World Series, and Mickey Mantle was like a god to me.

'My dad would take me to Yankee Stadium

'and we watch the Yankees win.

'That's the Chez Bippy.

'That's where all the guys hung out - but I'll tell you about them later.

'That's my building. I live right there on the third floor.

'667 East 187th Street.

'There's my stoop.

'And on warm summer nights, all through the neighbourhood

'you would hear young Italian men romancing their women.'

Hey, Marie!

Get in the fucking car!

No!

-Get in the car!

-Leave me alone!

Come on, baby, you know I love you.

-Yeah, bullshit!

-Will you get in the fucking car?!

'And right there,

'right there under that lamppost stood the number one man in the neighbourhood.

'Sonny.

'Everybody loved Sonny, and they treated him like a god.

'And in my neighbourhood he was a god.

'I would sit on my stoop and watch 'im - all day and night.

'He would never even look at me. Never. Until one day.'

MUSIC: "I Wonder Why" by Dion and the Belmonts

-Pull over!

-You got room for us?

You wish!

MUSIC DROWNS OUT SPEECH

MUSIC DROWNS OUT SPEECH

FIRECRACKERS EXPLODE

MUSIC: "Little Girl Of Mine" by The Cleftones

Hey! Hey!

Oh, shit!

'That's my dad, Lorenzo Anello.

'His bus route was the 187th Street,

'and I used to love to ride the bus with him.

'That's me - Calogero - at nine years old.'

HE RINGS BELL

-See you later, Pop.

-OK.

-Go right upstairs, son.

-OK, Pop.

'That's my mom, Rosina.

'She met my dad at a dance.

'They fell in love and they've been together ever since.'

THEY DEBATE

FAINTLY AUDIBLE AUDIBLE

MUSIC: "Same Old Song And Dance" by Frank Sinatra

CROWD CHATTERS

MUSIC DROWNS OUT SPEECH

'The Chez Bippy. This is where all the guys hung out.'

HE SHOUTS

'Tony Toupee was the owner of the bar in name only.

'It was really Sonny's place.

'Tony was a frustrated singer and everyone hated his voice,

'so just for spite he never uttered a spoken word - he'd only sing.

'They called him Tony Toupee because he wore the worst hairpiece in the world.

'Eddie Mush was a degenerate gambler.

'He was also the biggest loser in the whole world.

'They called him Mush because everything he touched turned to mush.

'He would go to the racetrack and the teller would give him his tickets already ripped up.'

I had the Yankees. They lost.

Wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.

'Jojo The Whale.

'As they say - you don't walk with Jojo, you walk among him.

'If you stared long enough, you'd see him get fatter by the hour.

'Legend has it his shadow once killed a dog.'

MUSIC: "Don't You Know" by Della Reese

'They called him Frankie Coffeecake because his face looked like a Drake's Coffeecake.

'He was tough to look at.'

Hey, kid! How you doin'?

'His name was Jimmy Whispers and he was Sonny's main man.

'They called him Whispers because everything was a secret to him.

'Danny KO loved to knock guys out,

'and Bobby Bars spent half his life behind them.

'This was Sonny's crew, and nobody fucked with these guys.'

What are you doing here? Didn't we tell you a million times not to come here?!

Didn't I tell you to come upstairs? Wait till I tell your father!

-What were you doin' here?!

-I was lookin' for Daddy.

Oh, looking for Daddy. Very nice(!)

I have to get something in the store. Don't move, you wait right here. You hear me?

'Every time I saw Sonny I'd imitate him. But he never looked at me.

'Sonny had five fingers,

'but he only used three.'

Come on, let's go, move, upstairs!

I'm not in the mood for steak.

Oh, you're not in the mood for steak(?)

You know how many times I drive that bus back and forth

-each day so this family can eat steak once a week?

-Seven.

Who told you that?

Nobody. I counted.

-Calogero, your father wants to talk to you.

-About what, Dad?

Your mother told me she caught you by the bar.

I wasn't by the bar.

Tell him the truth.

I was by the bar.

So why'd you lie?

I took a shot.

-You want to do something here?

-He took a shot. Nice try, son.

Thanks, Dad.

Lorenzo, come on, please!

-How am I going to keep him away? It's two doors away.

-Daddy's right. You should listen to him.

-You should shut up, nobody's talking to you.

-Gimme your plate.

I want you to listen to me... Hey!

Do not go near the bar.

-Stay on the stoop, but keep away from the bar. When you're older you'll understand why.

-Yes.

You don't see me go near the bar, do you?

Mommy won't let you go there either?

What do I do with this kid?

I dunno. I got him all day.

I'm just kidding. I won't go near the bar.

Look what I got. Two tickets, Yankee Stadium, centre field.

-Behind the Mick?

-Right behind number 7. Now eat your steak.

Yeah!

'That's Phil the Peddler. 'He'd call everybody Mary.

'And me and my friends would love to break his balls.'

MUSIC: "Don't You Just Know It" by Bobby Marchan and The Clowns

'Slick and Crazy Mario were my best friends.

'Slick got his name cos of his hair. And Mario got his because he was just crazy.

HEEEEYYY-O!

I'll kick your little fuckin' asses!

-# Do-Bah Do-Bah Do-Bah!

-Do-Bah Do-Bah Do-Bah... #

Get away! Get your hands off that fruit!

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

I'll kick 'em loose - your berries! The three of you!

HEEEEYYY-O!

You little fuckin' ball-breakers!

What do you think this is? Wait a minute!

Go make your mothers and fathers feed you!

Fuckin' ball-breakers!

Oh, boy, Coffeecake's in trouble again.

-Someone's going to get their ass kicked.

-Guys, check it out - who's this?

BOTH: Ah, that's Jimmy Whispers!

THEY ARGUE

Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait here.

It's Sonny.

You do somebody, big mouth.

Somebody hard - like Coffeecake.

I can't do Coffeecake!

That's hard.

Put a screen in front of your face while I throw shit at it!

Oh, shit!

These niggers got some balls comin' in our neighbourhood.

They don't live here. They just passin' from school.

How the fuck do you know?

My father told me.

My father told me that's how it starts.

Get the fuck out our neighbourhood, you fucking niggers!

-Go back to Webster Avenue where you came from.

-You're lucky you're on that bus.

Ha! Ha! You missed!

THEY CONTINUE TO HURL ABUSE

WHISTLE

Why?

THEY ARGUE

Nobody's cooler than you, Sonny.

CAR HORNS TOOT

What the fuck is wrong wit' you?!

Fuck you, you freehold!

Fuck you, motherfucker! I'm gonna bust your fuckin' head!

I'm gonna bust your fuckin' head!

GUNSHOTS

TWO GUNSHOTS

Sonny, gimme the gun!

Move the fuckin' car!

-Come on!

-Come on!

'When Sonny looked at me for the first time, I went deaf.

'I couldn't hear. All I could see was Sonny with the gun in his hand.'

Dad!

-What happened? Is he all right?

-Dad, it was just a parking space!

-Is he all right? Baby, are you OK?

-He's all right. Let's go inside.

-What happened?

-I'm OK, Mom. I'm OK.

My God, I got so scared!

I'm OK, Mom.

You don't understand, Dad, they were fighting over a parking space!

A parking space?

-Daddy, why?

-It wasn't over a parking space. They met at a bad time.

-What kinda answer's that?! He coulda got killed!

-Let's mind our own business. He's OK.

I can't believe somebody would do this.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Who is it?

Police. This the Anello residence?

Yeah. Can I help you?

-We're detectives. We'd like you to answer some questions.

-About what?

Just open the door.

How ya doin'? Detective Belsik. This is Detective Vella - son, ma'am.

-We'd like to ask your son a few questions.

-About what?

There's been a shooting and we believe your son was there.

Really? Well, he don't know nothin'.

We feel he does. People saw him.

-They're wrong. He don't know nothing.

-Listen, we can do things the nice way or the hard way.

I don't care how you do it, he don't know nothin'!

Daddy, I know everything.

Kids! Sometimes they make believe...

We didn't pick your name out of a hat. We know your son was there so come on, let's go.

Son, listen, here's what I'd like you to do.

Take a walk downstairs with us and your father,

and pick out the person you saw

with the gun in his hand. That's it. Could you do that for us?

Yeah.

Good. Let's take a walk.

Mr Anello. Take a walk downstairs.

-We won't be long.

-Officer, is he going to be OK?

It'll be fine. They'll be back in two minutes.

Now, fellas, turn around.

You two, take your hats off.

Hey, head up! Straight ahead! Look this way!

-Is it him?

-HE MOUTHS

How about this guy?

Straight ahead, fella. How about him?

No.

Straight ahead, you!

How 'bout this guy?

Gimme an answer.

How about him?

No.

How about him?

Is it this guy?

Gimme an answer.

-No.

-OK.

Hey!

Put your eyes up!

How about this guy?

-No.

-No. Let's go.

Hey! Straight ahead! Over here.

Look at me! That's it.

Is it this guy?

-How about this guy?

-No.

-OK.

Look at this guy. How about him?

Hey!

Straight ahead!

How about this guy?

Was it him?

Gimme an answer.

No.

-Satisfied, Officer?

-No, I'm not satisfied.

-He don't know.

-Yeah, he doesn't know. I know all about that.

-He said, "No".

Tell you what, take a walk. Go ahead. Go.

Come on, son. Let's go.

All right, you guys can breathe again. Go on, beat it!

We fooled 'em, Dad. We really fooled 'em.

Yeah, we fooled them.

I didn't rat, Dad. I didn't rat.

No, you didn't rat.

I did a good thing, right?

Yeah. You did a good thing. You did a good thing for a bad man.

'I did "a good thing for a bad man".

'I didn't understand that, not at nine years old.

'All I knew was a rat was the lowest thing in my neighbourhood.

'And I didn't rat.'

Hey.

Daddy, why did you say I did a good thing for a bad man?

Because sometimes in life you got to do certain things that you got to do even though they're not right.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

No, it's just that I thought I did the right thing.

And now I'm not sure I did.

You did do the right thing. When you're older you'll understand why.

Your mother and I love you very much.

Tomorrow you take a ride on the bus with me, OK?

'City Island was the last stop on my father's route.

'It was one of our favourite places.

'It was like goin' on a vacation for a day.

'My dad would listen to his jazz and we'd talk about baseball.'

MUSIC: "Flamenco Sketches" by Miles Davis

Dad, could I have an ice cream?

We do our job first, then I get you an ice cream.

OK, Pop.

There.

Let's play the game, Dad.

OK, how good you are today? Who last won the Triple Crown?

Mickey Mantle. Batting average .353.

RBIs 130.

Home runs 52.

Pretty good, son.

-He's the greatest ball player that ever lived, Dad.

-No, Joe D was the greatest.

-The Yankee Clipper - 56-game hitting streak.

-That's right.

Nobody beat that. Right, Dad?

Nobody beat that, son.

And why was Joe D so great?

Cos he was Italian?

Well, that's part of it.

Then why?

-Because he had more talent than anybody.

-Talent?

That's right.

Do I have talent, Dad?

Of course. All the talent in the world.

Can I be a baseball player?

You can be anything you want to be.

Remember, the saddest thing in life is wasted talent.

You could have all the talent in the world, but if you don't do the right thing, nothing happens.

But do right, good things happen.

-You hear me?

-You're right.

-Let's go for that ice cream.

-Yeah, good!

Can I shut the doors, Dad?

Yeah.

Ready? Watch your head.

Got it?

I got it.

'Wasted talent. That was something my father talked about all my life.'

Let's hurry so we catch the start of the game.

BASEBALL COMMENTARY: '36,683 here to see the final game of the '60 Series.

'And what a ballgame!'

COMMENTARY CONTINUES

HE RINGS BELL

-See you later, Pop.

-OK.

Go right upstairs, son, and watch the game.

No hanging out, son.

Hey, Lorenzo, how you doin'?

Keep drivin', I want to talk.

Your kid? He's a good kid, that kid.

Thanks.

Sonny really appreciates what he did for him.

That's all right. Just glad it worked out.

In return he's offering you to drop off numbers for 150 a week.

Don't even have to leave the bus.

Well, I appreciate it, but if I get pinched, I lose my job.

-At least think about it.

-I can't do it. It's not for me.

-150 a week - you don't want to think about it?!

-No, I can't do it. It's not for me.

-Sonny's going to be disappointed. I'll tell him what you said.

-OK.

Stop the bus, I want to get off.

-They offered me a job today.

-Doin' what?

Numbers.

I'd pick up a piece of paper and drop it off on my route, for 150 a week.

150? What'd you say?

I said forget it. It's not for me.

What?

I dunno... 150 dollars? It's only numbers.

You think I shoulda took it?

I dunno.

Yeah, but you get involved with those guys, next thing... Nah, nah.

Maybe you're right.

I'm going to go check on the baby.

-Come here.

-What?

You're not sorry you got stuck with a bus driver, are ya?

I fell in love wit' your uniform.

Yeah(!)

WOMAN SOBS

'The day of the funeral I felt really bad.

'I realised a man had died and I had lied and committed a mortal sin.

'I wanted God to forgive me.'

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

It's been one month since my last confession, and these are my sins.

I missed Mass on Sunday twice. I lied about a murder once.

And I ate meat on Friday once.

Wait, can you back up a little?

I ate meat on Friday once?

No, not that. Back up a little more.

I lied about a murder?

Yeah. Do you realise what you said?

It was only once, Father.

Do you know what the Fifth is?

Yes, Father. "I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may..."

The Fifth Commandment!

"Thou shall not kill."

That's right. Now, I want you to tell me what happened.

No. I'm tellin' nobody nothin'.

Don't be afraid, my son. Nobody's more powerful than God.

I dunno about that, Father.

Your guy's bigger than my guy up there,

but my guy's bigger than your guy down here.

Good point. Five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys for your penance.

For a murder rap? That's not bad.

-What did you say?!

-Bye, Father!

'Catholic confession was great. You could start over every week.'

Hey, kid!

Sonny wants to see you. Come on.

Nobody's going to grab that bike. Come on!

MUSIC: "For Your Precious Love" by Jerry Butler

Here's the kid, Sonny. (Go ahead. Don't be afraid.)

How you doin', kid?

Good.

We finally meet face-to-face.

Yeah.

Are you afraid of me?

-No.

-That's good.

What's your name?

Calogero.

That's a big name! You got a nickname?

No.

What do your friends call you?

Calogero.

That makes sense.

You a Yankee fan?

Yeah.

Sit down.

No, come over here and sit next to me.

So you must be pretty upset after the Yankees lost?

Bill Mazeroski.

I hate him. He made Mickey Mantle cry.

The paper said that The Mick was cryin'.

Mickey Mantle, is that what you're upset about?

Mickey Mantle makes 100,000 a year. How much does your father make?

I don't know.

If your father can't pay the rent, go ask Mickey and see what he says.

Mickey Mantle don't care about you, so why should you care about him?

Nobody cares.

Can I ask you something?

Sure.

Did you shoot that man over a parking space?

When you get older you'll understand.

Mmm-hmm.

'From that day on, I never felt the same way about the Yankees again.'

MUSIC: "Ain't That A Kick In The Head" by Dean Martin

'I started spending a lotta time with Sonny.

'I would come home from school and sneak away any chance I got.

'I would serve the guys drinks and coffee, and they'd give me tips.'

CHATTERING

Come on, Sonny!

Son of a bitch!

I don't believe it!

Here, kid. This is for you.

Sonny, loan me a hundred?

You know what'll happen!

-But I feel lucky!

-Give him 100!

I'm in! I'm in!

Give 'im the dice.

It's fuckin' hot.

C'mon, Mush, get this over with!

C'mon, dice. Baby needs a new pair o' shoes!

Seven! Hail Mary full of grace.

C'mon, dice - a seven!

I'm out! I'm out!

Get him outta here!

That man never had a fuckin' number in his life!

In his life!

Bring the dice up. Where's the kid?

Sonny, put this coffee on my tab?

All right. Now get the fuck outta here! Where's the kid?

The kid's gonna throw my dice.

THEY ALL PROTEST

-Anybody got a problem with that?

-No problem.

-No. No problem.

I want you to throw the dice for me.

I dunno how to play dice, Sonny!

You don't have to know.

-Just listen to me. OK?

-OK.

Put 500 down on the kid.

I got 100.

EVERYONE PLACES BETS

Hey, hey! Can you stop fuckin' leanin' on me, please! You're breathing all over me, all right?

-Hey, Jojo - relax, huh?

-I want to play too, y'know!

You got to hit the wall, kid.

C'mon, you can do it.

Wait, wait, wait. I'm bettin' on Sonny.

Hey! I don't want your money touchin' my money!

What, my money's no good? Why?!

You're a fuckin' jinx! Here, put him in the fuckin' bathroom!

THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE

Leave him in there!

OK, shoot the dice.

Shoot the fuckin' dice!

Yes!

Bring the dice up. Put a thousand down.

Hey.

THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE

You can do it, you can do it.

Jojo, stop fuckin' breathin' on me! You're killin' me over here!

Bobby, put him in the bathroom!

Mush is in there, he ain't going to fit!

I don't give a fuck, put him in!

EXCITED HUBBUB

Shoot the fuckin' thing!

We got a four. That's all right.

Four's OK.

THEY ALL CHATTER

What's wrong with this money? What is he, crazy?

I say the kid makes the four. Put another 500 on the four.

FLURRY OF BETTING CALLS

OK.

THEY CONTINUE TO BET

I say the kid makes the hard four.

I need the points. You can do it!

Don't worry. I'll throw a seven.

No! No! No sevens!

-Yeah, hit a fuckin' seven(!)

-Shut up! He ain't throwin' sevens!

Hey, I don't want anybody laughing at this kid, all right?

No sevens. Sevens are not good now. We want that four.

You got to make the point.

No, no, no...

Frankie Coffeecake, no good. His face is not lookin' at that face when he's throwing my dice.

No. Jimmy, put a towel over his head.

C'mon, Sonny - a towel over my head? It's embarrassing.

Put him in the fuckin' bathroom, c'mon.

Wait a minute, whoa! I got money here!

Get the fuck outta here!

Get him the fuck outta here!

-That bastard locks us in the bathroom!

-What's the point?

C'mon, I need that point.

Listen to me. See that money? Are we going to make this point?

C'mon! We're going to make this. Attaboy!

Come on! You can do it.

OK, two-two on the hard four.

Hey, don't get cocky, kid.

Just make the point.

Just make the point, c'mon.

THEY CHEER

Can you fuckin' believe that?!

'11.

'I made 11 passes in a row.

THEY CHEER

'I don't know how much money Sonny won, but it was a lot.

'He said the workin' man was a sucker and I was at the world's best school - University of Belmont Avenue.

'He said I was gettin' two educations - one from the street

'and one from school. That way I'd be twice as smart as everybody.'

THEY ALL CHATTER

THEY CHEER

Hey, kid. You did good.

Thanks.

Here.

That's it?

Here.

All right?

-Go home. It's gettin' late.

-See you later, Sonny.

Listen.

We gotta do something about your name.

From now on your name is C.

C?!

That's right. Go home. Go ahead.

So long, Sonny.

'Sonny took me everywhere and introduced me as his boy.

'Strange things started happening in the neighbourhood.'

Hey, Calogero!

Come on over, I want to talk to you.

My name is C.

I mean C!

How are you today, my boy?

Good.

I've got some nice peaches for your mom.

I don't have any money on me, Phil.

You don't need money with me, kid.

Don't ever embarrass me like that again.

Just tell Sonny that I took care of you.

OK.

'That's when it hit me -

'it was because of Sonny that everyone was treatin' me so nice.

'I liked it. I liked it a lot.'

Mommy! Look what I got - some peaches for...

free.

What's this?

What's what, Dad?

Where'd you get this? Your mom found this behind the drawer.

It's money I've been savin', Dad.

600? What, you become a brain surgeon?

Tell your father where you got it.

Dad, I worked for it.

-Doin' what?

-Things.

What d'you mean, "things"?

Oh, things. You know, things.

Hey. Don't lie to me. Tell me the truth and I won't get upset.

You promise?

I'm your father. Would I say it if I didn't mean it?

I work the crap games and get tips.

Crap games?

What crap games? What crap games? What tips?

What crap games?!

-You said you wouldn't get upset.

-I lied. Now, tell me everything.

I worked for Sonny and he gave me tips.

I knew it!

Weren't you told not to go near the bar?!

-But, Ma, I worked for it.

-You're not supposed to be in that bar!

I'm takin' this back to the bar.

-Wait, let's just think about this.

-What are you talkin' about?

We could use the money. He didn't do something bad. We could use it.

Think where the money comes from!

Listen, let's just think about it.

-That's it. Come on!

-Wait a minute! Listen to me!

Lorenzo, please! Why have you got to do this?

Calm down! Lorenzo, please!

(I don't believe this!)

Lorenzo!

Lorenzo, please!

Sonny around?

Yeah. I think he's in the back.

We can't accept that.

I didn't give it to you. I gave it to your son. He worked for it.

Yeah, my son. I don't want him involved in what goes on here.

What d'you mean?

Please. I'm not a stupid man, OK?

You know what I'm talking about. Just stay away from my son, OK?

Hey! You step over here.

C, wait outside. I want to talk to your father.

I'll speak to my own son.

Calogero, wait outside.

I respect you, Lorenzo. You're a stand-up guy. But don't ever talk to me like that again.

I tell your son to go to school, college.

It's not that, it's what he sees - the clothes, cars, money...

He tried to throw away his baseball cards

-cos Mickey Mantle would never pay my rent.

-He said that to you?

It's not funny when your nine-year-old has a bigger bank account than you do.

I offered you a job, you said no.

And I say no now. Leave my son alone. Please.

Hey, don't you see, I treat that kid like he's my son!

-He ain't your son. He's my son!

-He's what?

-He's my son!

-Get the fuck outta here!

-I'm not afraid of you.

-You should be.

Oh, I know what you're capable of. I would never step out line, you can ask anyone who knows me.

This time you're wrong. You don't fool with a man's family. He's my son!

-You gonna fight me?

-Stay away from my son!

-Get out or I'll fuckin' slap you!

-Stay away from my son!

-Go ahead!

Stay away from my son!

Where's my money, Dad?

-I left it in there.

-How could you, Dad? It was mine!

It's bad money. You're not having that money.

Dad, I earned that money!

I want you to stay away from him!

Dad, listen...!

You stay away from him!

DAD! LISTEN TO ME!

D'YOU HEAR?! STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

Sonny's right. The workin' man is a sucker! A sucker!

He's wrong! It don't take much strength to pull a trigger, but let him try workin' for a livin'.

Then we'll see who's the tough guy! The workin' man!

Your father's the tough guy!

But everyone loves him, just like they love you on the bus.

It's not the same!

People don't love him. They fear him. There's a difference.

HE SOBS: I don't understand, Daddy.

You will when you're older.

I'm sorry I hit you.

Want me to take care of him?

Nah. Leave him alone.

'Sonny and my father never spoke again.

'I didn't listen to my father about staying away from him.

'The bar was so close, I'd sneak away any chance I got.

'Eight years passed, and as I grew, Sonny grew in power.

'He became a boss, and I was his friend.'

MUSIC: "A Beautiful Morning" by The Rascals

'It was now 1968. Dion topped the charts. The Beatles were changing the way we lived.

'The Yankees were in last place and I didn't give a shit.

'Change was everywhere, but my neighbourhood was the same.'

-COMMENTARY:

-'And they're off!

'Kryptonite is first from the gate.'

Here comes the kid. We didn't get shut out.

C! Come here! You get it in?

Yeah. It's on Kryptonite.

Beauty.

Look at this horse go!

-Let's go, baby! Take it home!

-Look!

-This horse can't lose!

-You can do it, Kryptonite!

Look, it's a lock. Beautiful.

-I'm not even going to look cos I know we can't lose.

-Come on!

-Come on, Kryptonite!

-Come on!

-C'mon, Kryptonite! Take it home!

-Take it home! Let's go, come on!

That's it, Kryptonite!

Come on, number one! Come on, Kryptonite! Hang in there!

Come on, Kryptonite! C'mon, number one! Hang in there! Go, number one!

He backed the fuckin' horse?! He backed Kryptonite?!

Gimme the tickets!

But, Sonny, we're winning!

We can't win! The Mush backed him.

Fuckin' jinx!

He's five lengths in the lead!

We've been Mushed.

Come on.

Hang in there! Hang in there! Come on, one!

Hang in there!

Come on, one! You can still do it. C'mon, Kryptonite!

C'mon, Kryptonite! Hang in there! Hang in there!

Hang in there! Hang in there!

NO! NO! SHIT!

Fuck! This fuckin' close! Fuckin' lost!

I don't fuckin' believe it!

C, I got a tip in the next race for you.

Go fuck yourself!

Oh, you get very emotional.

MUSIC: "Tell It Like It Is" by Aaron Neville

'We finally got our own social club - The Deuces Wild.

'Drinks were a buck. The jukebox and cigarette machine paid the rent.

'All we cared about was hangin' out.

'We'd cut class and hang out all day and all night.

'Nobody wanted to go home. God forbid you were the first to go home

'then found out the next day you missed something.'

Whoa, whoa, whoa, fellas! Look at those broads!

Beautiful!

THEY WHISTLE

Amore mio, vieni qua, vieni!

Damme nu bace!

THEY CONTINUE TO WHISTLE AND SHOUT

Come over here!

Those fuckin' broads are both pigs!

-How the hell do you know?

-Fuck you, C!

-How the hell do you know?!

-They'd fail my test in a second.

What test are we talking about?

If you want to know if you can trust a girl and she's good enough to marry, you use the test.

I call it the Mario Test.

What is this test?

You take a girl like that for a ride in your car.

On the highway, you pull up beside a big fuckin' 18-wheeler.

Get the attention of the driver. Make sure he's lookin' at you.

At the same time, put your hand behind the broad's head and start

pushing her head down firmly between your legs.

It's for her own good!

Now, if she goes down on the old brachiol'

knowin' that guy's watchin' - she's a pig and can't be trusted.

You're a sick maniac!

When they get into it - do something with their hand, you can see they did it before.

Believe me, they're fuckin' pros.

That happened to me before.

SOUL MUSIC FROM CAR

That's the second time those niggers passed.

Who gives a fuck?

I give a fuck, that's who gives a fuck!

Did they get out and bother you? No.

Today one car, tomorrow two. Next thing they're fuckin' our broads.

They shouldn't come through. Period.

..invite them in and make them have a drink.

Baseball bat to their fuckin' heads.

Louie! Dumps! Where's my money?

I gotta... I can't... I gotta...

What's up?

He owes me 20 bucks. It's been two weeks! YOU CAN'T DODGE ME FOR EVER!

Fuckin' piece of shit!

HORN TOOTS

HE MOUTHS

-I gotta talk to my father. I'll be right back.

-OK. See ya.

Go ahead. Come back.

Take a ride with me. I got one trip left.

Do I have to?

Yeah. C'mon.

Where you sitting? sit over here.

JAZZ PLAYS ON RADIO

Dad, do we have to listen to this? It gives me a headache.

You kids don't know what good music is.

This is good music.

You want to go to the fights tomorrow night?

Calogero?

MUSIC: "I Only Have Eyes For You" by Gerry Niewood

Huh? You listenin' to me?

Calogero! Hey!

Dad, why can't you call me C? Everyone does.

Cos you got your grandfather's name. Not this "C", or whatever it is.

You want to go to the fights tomorrow?

Can I let you know tomorrow?

No. Do you want to go or not?

All right, all right, I'll go.

Don't say it like that!

I won't twist your arm.

Don't do me no favours(!)

MUSIC: "Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won't Do)" by Wilson Pickett

SHE PRESSES BUZZER

'She was tall, she was beautiful and she was classy.

'But she was black.

'And that was a no-no in my neighbourhood.'

Jackie, what's the first?

Two o'clock, fellas.

Two. Your friend's number.

-Who?

-Your pal.

-Don't fuck around! See Johnny bet 228 again this week?

-Again?

-Again.

I'll try to have some better music for you next time.

I'm only kidding. It's OK, Pop.

See ya later.

Louie!

-My grandma's sick. I'll talk to you later. I gotta go do something...

-Where's my fuckin' money?!

You're fucking dead, you piece of shit!

C! Come here!

What's the matter with this kid? Get over here!

-Ah, the kid wants his fuckin' money.

-I got to talk to him.

-You got to stop babying him!

He owes me money.

-Hit him with a fuckin' bat!

-Knock 'im round the fuckin' block!

Is that the advice you give a kid? You fuckin' hoodlums! Come on.

Don't listen to these hoodlums.

I'm going to go to Gino's. I'll be right back.

What's the matter?

This guy owes me 20. It's been two weeks! He keeps dodgin' me.

-Yeah.

-He's bein' a real pain in the ass. Should I crack him one, or what?

What's the matter with you?

Hurtin' somebody ain't always the answer.

Is he a good friend of yours?

Nah, I don't even like him.

You don't even like him. There's your answer.

Look at it this way, it cost you 20 to get rid of him.

Right? He's never going to bother you again. He's never going to ask you for money again.

He's outta your life for 20. You got off cheap. Forget it.

You're always right.

If I was always right how come I did ten years in the joint?

What did you do every day?

Only three things you can do -

lift weights, play cards, or get into trouble.

What did you do?

I read.

What did you read?

-Ever hear of Machiavelli?

-Who?

Machiavelli. Famous writer from 500 years ago.

Availability. That's what he said.

-Availability?

-That's right. Listen to me.

I could live anywhere. You know why I stay round here? Availability.

I want to stay close. Being on the spot, I can see trouble fast.

Trouble's like cancer, you got to get it early.

If you don't, it grows and kills you. You got to cut it out.

Capisce? Huh?

Come on. Forget about Louie Dumps.

Nobody cares. Nobody cares!

Worry about yourself, your family, the people that are important.

That's what it comes down to. Availability.

People round here see me every day and are on my side, they feel safe cos I'm close.

It gives them more reason to love me.

But the people that want to do otherwise, they think twice.

Because they know I'm close.

That gives them more reason to fear me.

Is it better to be loved or feared?

That's a good question.

It's nice to be both, but it's very difficult.

But if I had my choice, I would rather be feared.

Fear lasts longer than love.

Friendships bought with money mean nothing.

You see it - I make a joke, everybody laughs.

I'm funny, but I'm not that funny.

It's fear that keeps them loyal. The trick is not to be hated.

That's why I treat my men good, but not too good. I give them too much, they don't need me.

I give them just enough so they need me, but they don't hate me.

Don't forget what I'm tellin' you.

Sonny, I got some beautiful veal chops today.

Some nice linguine frutte di mare...

MOTORCYCLES REV

MOTORCYCLES DROWN OUT SPEECH

MUSIC "Come Together" by The Beatles

Sorry, fellas. You're improperly dressed.

Jimmy, what's up?

These fellas are going to have to leave.

Is there a problem here?

Your man says we're not properly dressed. We just wan' a few beers.

A few beers. That's it?

Then we're on our way.

We ain't lookin' for trouble.

Spoken like a gentlemen. Get 'em their beers.

I appreciate it.

You got some brews down here? Nice cold ones.

Nice cold brews. C'mon.

THEY ORDER DRINKS

One more, one more beer!

All right, brothers. If I may - a toast to our host.

In the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost!

RAUCOUS LAUGHTER

THEY SHOUT

Hey!

-Oh, you again.

-That wasn't very nice. Now yous go to leave.

I tell you when the fuck we leave. Get the fuck away from me.

THEY LAUGH

Go watch the bikes.

THEY LAUGH AND JEER

HE LOCKS DOOR

THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE

THEY QUIETEN DOWN

Now yous can't leave.

'I will never forget the look on their faces.

'All eight of them. Their faces dropped.

'All their courage and strength was drained from their bodies.

'They had a reputation for smashing bars, but they knew then

'they made a fatal mistake.

'This time they'd walked into the wrong bar.'

Come on, motherfuckers!

THEY HURL ABUSE THROUGHOUT SCENE

NEEDLE SKIDS ACROSS RECORD

MUSIC: "Ten Commandments of Love" by The Moonglows

Come on! Get 'em outta here!

Drag 'em the fuck out! Move!

Watch my car!

THEY CONTINUE TO SHOUT

Look at me!

I'm the one who did this to you.

Remember me.

Come on, Sonny.

They ruined my whole fuckin' lunch!

Sonny! Come on!

Leave 'em there like the bums that they are.

Take a look at this gun right here. It's a .45.

It could stop a fuckin' elephant drivin' a truck and the truck too!

'Nicky Zero was the neighbourhood thief.

'His mother called him Zero cos she said he'd never amount to nothin'.'

You probably want this one.

You need this.

ALL: Whoa!

What the fuck is wrong wit' you?

I got it on safety!

Don't ever do that! Lemme see the fuckin' gun.

This is you, man. This is class.

What's this? Let me see this.

This feels nice.

I'm going to fuckin' shoot somebody!

I want to shoot someone, too. And that's the gun to do it.

What're you guys doin'?

What, are you fuckin' stupid, or something?!

Why the fuck are you sellin' guns round here?! Are you fuckin' stupid?!

You're going to make this whole place hot and get us all fuckin' pinched! Get outta here!

-Stay here! Don't move, all o' yous!

-Sonny!

I want no fuckin' guns!

Now, get the fuck outta here!

C! Get over here!

Come here. I want to talk to you.

Sonny, Sonny!

You think you're a tough guy with these guns?

-No. But after what just happened in the bar, I thought...

-You thought what?

Think a gun makes you a tough guy? Let me tell you something. I see more guys with guns wet the bed.

When the other guy has a gun, then you see who the tough guy is.

Sonny, you don't understand.

I do. This is not for you.

-And those fuckin' kids are trouble.

-But they're my friends.

They're jerk-offs.

Look at me.

Jerk-offs!

And Slick is the biggest jerk-off.

What have I always told you?

I know. Stay in school. Get two educations.

That's right. Don't do what I do. This is my life, not yours.

I do what I have to do. This is not for you.

All right, I'm sorry.

Want to go to the fights with me tomorrow?

Ah, I dunno.

I got a piece of a good middleweight. We can sit down front.

I'd like to, but I told my father I'd go with him.

Well, you come by and say hello.

-All right.

-You know where I'm sittin'.

-Yeah.

Sit here.

-Nice seats, Dad(!) I'll be careful I don't get a nosebleed.

-Hey, they're the best I could do!

Ah, Pop, I'm only kiddin'.

Hi, C. How ya doin'? Hey, Lorenzo. How's everything?

How you doin'?

Sonny's got a coupla seats by the ring. He'd like yous to come down.

Well, um... Tell him thanks, but we're good where we are.

OK.

Tell Sonny thanks anyway, but we're good where we are.

Well, yous welcome to come down any time during the fight.

OK, thanks.

Dad, he's got seats for both of us. He's tryin' to be our friend.

I like my seat. I paid for it.

You want to go down there, you go. Go ahead. Go down there.

MC INTRODUCES FIGHTERS

I bring you here - first thing you wanna do is go with them. Well, go.

Think I wanna sit here with you when you wanna be with them?

How d'you think that makes me feel?

I'm sorry if I hurt you, Dad.

Everything I been tellin' you...

HARMONISED DOO WOP SINGING

Fuckin' guy's ducked me for two weeks. I'm going to break his face!

-You like him?

-He's a fuckin' jerk-off!

You got rid of him for 10. He's out of your life.

I'm still going to break his face!

HE CONTINUES TO MOAN

'I couldn't believe it! There she was, right in front of me.

'I'd never forgotten her since the first day I saw her.

'I wanted to talk to her,

'but she was with her friends and I was with mine.'

DOO WOP SINGERS: # I only have eyes

# For you, dear... #

HE CONTINUES MOANING

Come on, let's go.

Come on, C.

No, I can't. I got a test.

Come on. Fuck the test.

Nah. I missed it last week.

Sure? OK, see you at Deuces.

See you at Deuces.

# Are the stars out tonight?

# I don't know if it's cloudy or bright

# I only have eyes

# For you, dear... #

'We were alone for the first time and I knew I had to say something to her.

'This chance might never come again.

'I wanted to be cool, but I didn't even know her name.

'I thought she must have an exotic name like Monique, or Danielle.'

You go to this school?

I'm Jane.

Jane? That's it? That's your name?

Yeah. What's wrong with that?

No, n-n-nothing. I love that name.

I just moved here.

Yeah, cos I seen you on the bus.

And you're...?

Me, I'm Calogero.

Ca-who?

Calogero.

What kind of name is that?

-It's Italian. Well, actually, it's Sicilian. My family's from Sicily.

-Sicily?

Yeah. Y'know how Italy is a boot?

Well, the island that looks like it's getting kicked is Sicily.

I like Italians.

-You do?

-Mm-hm.

Are you waiting for someone?

Yes, I am.

Oh, you are. All right, well, I better go.

Wait. I was just waiting for my brother.

Sometimes we walk home together.

-That's no problem, I could walk you home.

-OK.

I live down Webster Avenue. Is that all right?

That's no problem.

-Let's go.

-OK.

So, you wait for your brother, huh? That's great.

What's so great about it?

Well, I dunno, it's just great.

Where did you get that hat from?

You don't like it?

It's kinda funny.

Maybe it'd look better another way. Hold this.

# I only have eyes

-# For you... #

-You have beautiful eyes.

Thanks. So do you.

Yeah.

That's better.

So, do you want to go to the movies?

You want to go to the movies with me?

Yeah. I told you I like Italians.

You want to go right now?

No, of course not now.

How about...tomorrow?

Six o'clock. We'll meet in front.

All right, I'll be waitin' here till tomorrow then.

Oh, I mean I'll meet you in front tomorrow.

-OK.

-I'm just sayin' stupid stuff cos I'm nervous, you know?

You're not sayin' stupid things. You're doin' OK.

Think so?

Mm-hm.

So, where are you from?

Brooklyn.

-What part?

-East New York.

-Where's that?

-It's far. Way out.

Cos I got relatives in Brooklyn, but I never heard of that part.

-Guess they're Italians, too, huh?

-Yeah.

-That figures.

-What's your last name?

-Williams. Very easy. Very simple.

Jane Williams. Yeah, that's a pretty easy name to say.

Can't say mine's that easy.

Lemme see...

Ca-logero...Anello?

-Yeah.

-Got it.

-My friends call me C.

Well, I like Calogero better.

-These books are heavy.

-That's why I'm glad you're carrying them.

MUSIC: "Hawg For You" by Otis Redding

Well...

I guess this is it.

I really had a great time.

Me, too.

I think you're very nice.

Thanks. So are you.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I can't walk you all the way home.

That's all right. I only live a block down.

So I'll see you tomorrow?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow night, six o'clock?

You're getting better!

I just wanted to double check!

Well... Bye.

Bye.

Hey, white motherfucker!

THEY PLAY A NUMBERS GAME

MUSIC: "Nights In White Satin" by The Moody Blues

That was fuckin' late. It was late.

Was it late, Mario? Tell me!

THEY BICKER

I'm givin' him malocchio. No winnin' now.

-I'm fuckin' broke!

-He's got all my money!

-I don't know.

-What?

What the fuck, man?!

Those fuckin' spooks can't ride in their own neighbourhood?!

Leave 'em alone.

What the fuck is it wi' you and niggers?

-They ain't bothering nobody.

-They're bothering me!

They ain't botherin' me.

This is our FUCKIN' neighbourhood, you fat bastard!

Let's go get these fuckin' niggers!

Get the fuck out of the neighbourhood!

Get the fuck out of here!

THEY HURL ABUSE THROUGHOUT THE SCENE

Hey, C! C!

Leave me alone!

Get this motherfucker!

Stay down! Stay down! I really don't wanna hurt you.

C! What are you doin'?! Get off!

Hey, you crazy bastards - the blues are comin'!

I can see 'em! Go! Go!

I can see the lights!

Come on! Get the fuck off 'im, they've called the cops!

Let's go, let's go!

What the fuck...?! You'll kill him!

I don't care!

I wanna kill 'im!

The cops are comin'!

Come on!

Didn't I tell you Slick was trouble?

Yeah, but he's my friend. I just...

Your friend...(!) I'm your friend, kid.

Gettin' caught up in this shit... You gotta think for you.

I'm tryin', but we hate these people.

I mean, I don't hate 'em...

What...?! What's on your mind?

I met this girl.

Yeah. So?

So I like her, but she ain't white. She's from Webster Avenue.

She's a coloured broad.

Yeah.

You like this girl?

Yeah, but I don't wanna hear the guys.

Fuck 'em! Look, half those kids are gonna end up dead or in jail. Nobody cares.

What matters is what's good for you, and how you feel about each other.

When you're alone at night, you and her, under the covers...

that's all that matters, C.

You gotta do what your heart tells you to do.

You only get three great women in your lifetime.

They come along - like the great fighters - every ten years.

Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis.

Sometimes you get 'em all at once.

Me, I had my three when I was 16. That happens.

That's the way it goes, you know.

I tell you right now, this girl... Maybe she puts wind in your sails.

Maybe she's your first great one.

Thanks, Sonny. I'll go for it.

She a good kid?

Well, we just met. But I hope so.

OK. Tomorrow you borrow my car.

Lend me your car?!

Yeah. You'll make a good impression.

And then you give her the test.

The Mario test?!

Mario's a fuckin' psycho! Why listen to him?

My test. The door test.

What's the door test?

You pull up right where she is.

Before you get out, you lock both doors.

Get out o' the car, walk over to her, bring her to the car...

Take out the key, open the door, let her get in, close it.

Walk behind the car and look in the rear window.

If she doesn't reach over, lift up that button for you - dump her.

Just like that?

If she doesn't lift up that button for you, she's a selfish broad.

It's the tip of the iceberg. Dump her. Fast.

What about the beautiful stuff about followin' your heart?

She could be a great one.

Bullshit, kid. The door test's what counts. You dump her, and fast.

Dump her?

Dump her...?!

Dad. Can I ask you something?

Yeah.

-You know Joey Orso?

-Yeah.

-He asked me what I thought about him

datin' a coloured girl. What d'you think?

Can't he find a nice white girl?

That's no answer, Dad. What's the problem?

Hey, I get along with everyone.

But I think you should marry your own. I'm not prejudiced...

Hey, don't tell me that. You are.

What if I wanted to go out with a coloured girl?

You'd never do that.

Hey, this girl might be one of the three greats you get in a lifetime.

Who told you that?

Joey Orso.

Joey Orso?

Well, you tell him

that sometimes the little head tells the big head what to do.

But the big head should think twice.

All right.

Be careful.

MUSIC: "Baby I Need Your Loving" by The Four Tops

You OK?

No. My brother got beat up in your neighbourhood.

What are you talkin' about?

Yesterday he got beat up in your neighbourhood.

What's that got to do with me?

Were you there?

No, I wasn't there.

Calogero, please don't lie to me!

Jane, I wasn't there!

We'll see.

My brother came when I told him I was goin' out with an Italian.

He recognised you. He said you beat him up. You!

Jane, I didn't touch him. I swear, I didn't touch him.

OK, we'll see.

WILLY!

We'll get this straight right now.

Yeah, that's him.

That's him.

-You did this to me, man.

-I did not!

-Yes, you did!

-I didn't!

Willy, are you sure it was him?

Positive!

Please, believe me! I swear.

You were there?

Yeah, but I didn't do anything.

-Believe you?!

-You lied to me! You said you weren't there!

Look, I tried to help him!

So, what's this?

I tried to fuckin' help you!

Bullshit, man!

You know I didn't do anything!

You fuckin' got on top of me!

It was the other guys!

It was you, you, you!

I fuckin' helped you! You repay me like this?!

Motherfucker! Fuck you!

It was fuckin' you!

Fuck you, you fuckin' nigger!

See what I'm talkin' about?

Just like the rest of them!

How come you're back so fast?

The keys are in the car. I gotta go.

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Come here. What happened?

It didn't work out. I gotta go.

What about the girl?

Everything went wrong.

You wanna go to the trotters?

No, I rea... I can't, I gotta go.

C, you sure?

Maybe next time, Sonny.

Come on.

Take my car.

Bobby, you drive.

OK, Sonny.

What are you doin' drivin' Sonny's car?

What are you talkin' about?

I just saw you. I don't want you doin' that.

I'm not in the mood for this.

I don't care! We just had that biker fight in the bar.

I don't want you in that bar!

What was I gonna do? Run? Like I got no heart?

You think they care if you got heart or not?

You don't know Sonny.

If you fuck up he'll hurt you like anybody.

Sonny trusts me!

He can't trust anybody! You gotta remember that!

People don't respect him, they fear him. Big difference.

A real somebody works, takes care of his family. Yeah, look away(!)

Look, you're my only son. I want what's best.

And the saddest thing in life is wasted tal...

I don't wanna hear this.

Well, you're gonna hear it!

I might not have a Cadillac, but I don't have to watch my back.

My folks came here with nothin'...

And they died with nothin'.

Don't you dare disrespect your grandparents! Hear me?!

They tried to give me a better life.

What better life?! We don't have a car, money, nothin'!

Don't take it out on me cos you're a bus driver.

The working man is a sucker!

C, look at what these black motherfuckers did to our club.

Can you believe these niggers' balls?!

Come on. We're gonna go fuck 'em up.

Come on. Get in!

< Oh, it's Sonny and Jimmy. Shit!

Quick, back up! Get outta here! Get outta here!

What's goin' on, Sonny?

Where'd you go in my car?

I drove round to pick up Jane. Why?

Was there really a Jane? Talk!

Sonny, what is it?!

The car didn't start. There was something on the engine.

It didn't go off.

Now, you tell me how the fuck that got on there?!

I just drove to the school, locked the doors, like you said...

Don't lie to me! Where did you go?!

Sonny, I didn't do anything! Sonny, please!

Don't fuckin' lie to me!

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I SWEAR!