Original subtitles

Joe is gonna retire. He's gonna leave town for good.

Archie's been doing some work for me.

Well, is he in danger?

Elise, I don't want you to come see me anymore.

I'm not gonna abandon you.

There's justice waiting for you,

I know it, for you and for Malcolm.

Mayme, we'll list you in our roll

as "miss may me hatcher."

I'm concerned with this fucking family,

the genovese family.

Just like your father wanted me to,

I'm gonna be here taking care of business.

You, I don't give a flying fuck what you do.

I won't join the military if I can join the panthers.

At least you'll be home.

Look at that country suck-up motherfucker.

Seriously, man, you think since that heart thing,

something's wrong with bumpy's judgment?

Don't even think that.

You can't say that I don't experience prejudice, too.

- A lot. - You wanna complain?

Go march the fuck on Washington.

Today, the Italian American community stands proud

and determined to fight injustices.

He's trying suing me for the ownership of the St. Clair.

Ellsworth, if you lose the St. Clair,

the bank can call in the mortgage.

We lose everything

palmetto chemical, this apartment, everything.

We good?

Yes, we are.

Good.

What the fuck, Joe?!

Fellas, let me take these off your fucking hands.

That's my money.

Now that you're broke, you can go back

to doing what you do best... selling dope in Harlem.

And feel free to stop by the St. Clair whenever you want.

Drinks are on me.

Bumpy, I'm sorry.

The current loan-to-value ratio on your collateral

doesn't meet our underwriting standards.

Gentlemen, I've had a recent setback with club St. Clair.

Ownership has been transferred to another party.

But I've activated a plan to recover the club.

Archie always said dealing with you was playing with fire.

I guess he was right.

What's Archie got to do with this?

That painting reminds us of the foolish risk

we took to engage with you at all.

That's what happens

when you deal with a disreputable gangster.

Gentlemen, we're not here to litigate the past.

Let's get back to the matter at hand.

Bumpy, it says here in black and white

that your assets, including palmetto chemical

and your apartment, were pledged against the loan,

and defaulting means both are at risk.

I'm asking for the short term

for you to cover my interest payments out of your pockets.

Our pockets?

You must be out of your actual mind

clink scale, be quiet.

That would be against bank regulations.

But it ain't against bank regulations

to finance a gangster?

'Cause gangsters have a way of resorting to gangster tactics.

Ask Archie.

Hey. What's going on?

- How'd it go? - They're covering

the loan payments for the next couple of months.

They gave you an extension?

Let's just say that they see the value in keeping us afloat.

You got moving boxes?

I was sure they were going to say no.

I thought I was gonna have to start packing.

Mayme, I'm sorry.

I fucked this whole thing up. I let Colombo outplay me.

I told you I would live in one of those boxes with you

if it came to that.

I love this apartment, but I don't need it.

I need you.

Dang, I love you.

I love you, too.

Ellsworth, how are we going to get out of this?

Best way to beat a devil like Colombo

use another devil.

He makes any funny moves, you kill him.

All right, Nico?

My pleasure, boss.

Thanks for flying back.

Yeah. Go fuck yourself, Johnson.

What the fuck you want?

Something here ain't right, chance.

What's that?

Why the fuck would bumpy be talking to Joe bonanno,

of all people?

What the fuck business is it of yours?

That's exactly it, chance.

We got no business.

Joe bonanno, who that is?

Our worst enemy. As bad as Colombo.

Bumpy is obviously gonna use bonanno to help him.

I gotta say, you got some set of balls.

You should talk.

You tried to kill every boss in the commission.

Right, and you stopped me, okay?

And because of that, the fucking commission,

they put me on the shelf in some fucking desert.

That was then. Things have changed.

Yeah, well, things haven't changed with me, bumpy.

Right now, I feel like having Nico come over here

and put a bullet in your fucking brain.

Thanks to me, you ended up in Arizona rather than in a grave.

Bumpy, look, stop the bullshit.

What the fuck was so important

that you had to see me in person?

Colombo... he's making moves.

Colombo.

I see that cocksucker on TV every day

talking about this civil rights bullshit.

He's making a play for Harlem.

- You got any proof? - He stole my club.

With me gone, there's no guardrails.

Do the other families know about this?

I called you first.

The other bosses may not like you, but they fear you.

Help me stop Colombo before none of us can.

Coming!

Did you get my flowers?

Yeah. Thanks.

Yeah. You got it.

Place looks great.

You look even better.

What are you doing here, Joe?

I don't know. Just thought we could talk.

Talk about what?

Well... I'm now in control of the St. Clair.

Really? How did that come about?

I'm not gonna bore you with all the details,

but the important thing to know is that

your father's deal with bumpy Johnson is over.

Did you talk to my father about that?

I'm coming to you.

Whether you have feelings for me or not,

there's business we can do.

All right. I'm listening.

A union between our families.

You and me.

Joe, that's not... look, your family has the connection

with the corsicans, and I'm taking Harlem.

The ports, the cops, the unions

it's all coming under my control.

You sound pretty sure that you can do that.

I'm pretty sure. Yeah.

Look, the Italian American civil rights league

really resonates with the people in Harlem.

They see me as one of them... a brother in the struggle,

fighting for our rights like they're fighting for theirs.

So, are you saying that I should marry you

and join this insanity?

Well... every king needs a queen.

What if I don't wanna be nobody's queen?

It's fine. Do whatever you like.

But, Stella, you know that... This thing of ours,

it's a man's world. That's just the way it is.

There's never gonna be a place for you at the table.

Unless, of course, you're by my side,

in which case you'll have all the power you want.

But you're never gonna get there as daddy's little girl.

You're coming at me with a lot.

You and me could run this town, kid.

All you gotta do is say yes.

My boy, he walked right up on that stage,

and boom, blasted that pious motherfucker

like a dog that needed to be put down.

Man, he get paid?

Shit, he got paid.

Got himself new threads and a car.

I never liked that fucker, Malcolm.

I saw him speak up in Harlem.

- He was arrogant as shit. - Yeah, exactly.

Fuck you looking at?

I'm with bumpy Johnson.

You best leave.

Ooh, I don't want no problems.

What's up?

That friend of yours, what's his name?

What the fuck are you doing?

Your man who shot Malcolm... tell me his name.

Who the fuck are you?

One more time before you die.

What is his name?

It's going to be absolutely magnificent.

500 of society's most interesting

and influential names gathered in the ballroom

of the Plaza hotel. A black and white ball.

Truman, you've really outdone yourself this time.

Who wouldn't wanna be on that list?

Thank you.

Truman, you sure know how to stir up the pot.

Stop it, and to spice things up a bit,

it's going to be a masquerade.

You know how much I love an anonymous good time.

Tru, you are such a naughty boy.

I can't help myself.

And soon I'll be announcing which of you ladies

will be crowned queen of the ball.

We must have one.

All good soirees do.

I'm sorry, Mr. Capote,

but I'm just looking at your guest list,

and, well, might I make a suggestion?

Sammy Davis Jr. and Ralph Ellison

are the only two black folks I see on here.

Aren't there going to be cameras?

And who might this dazzling creature be?

This is may me hatcher, our new addition to the board.

Miss hatcher, I have carefully selected

each and every name on that list.

Are you suggesting I left someone off?

I'm just saying,

you might want a few more black faces in attendance.

Some notable artists, for example.

Gordon parks, Aaron Douglas, Archibald motley.

Mayme, it's not your place to

no, no, she has a point.

You're right, darling. I love the idea.

I'm going to invite Gordon and the rest,

and also you, my ravishing angel.

I came into town because

we got a big problem on our hands.

The way I see it, this commission has gone to shit,

and I'm here to restore order.

What the fuck are you talking about?

What's going to fucking shit?

Any of you guys own a fucking TV?

Because our friend Joe Colombo

has his ugly mug all over every fucking station.

He's like Martin Luther fucking king, for Christ's sakes.

I don't agree. I think what he's doing is genius.

I mean, if he could pull it off, why the fuck not?

Really?

While you guys are sucking Joe's cock in admiration,

he's making moves against us.

What the fuck you talking about? What kind of moves?

He took bumpy's club. He's trying to control Harlem.

The commission was created for shit like this,

to keep each one of us in check.

Joe, we all got a fucking piece of Harlem.

Colombo ain't taking shit from us.

Tommy, with me out, you got no eyes or ears on the ground.

Colombo can do whatever the fuck he wants.

So, what are you suggesting?

If Colombo brings the attention he's getting up to Harlem,

we're fucked.

Bumpy's right.

Cops, newspaper reporters, even the fucking mayor's office.

Harlem's a gold mine

because nobody gives a shit what goes on up there.

We gotta put Colombo in his place...

Before it's too late.

Bonanno, I don't know what kind of deal

you got going with bumpy, but I do know this

taking down Colombo does ugatz for me or my family.

Last I checked, it was chin's family.

And he despises Colombo.

Yeah, well. Fuck you.

- Fuck you. - Chin put me in charge, no?

Yeah.

So, my judgment call is chin's call as well.

Now, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen.

I got some fucking business to attend to.

I'm surprised you called.

You said you didn't wanna see me again.

I wouldn't have if it wasn't important.

But I think about you a lot.

I think about you, too.

What's going on?

I got a name, Elise.

A name of...

One of Malcolm's shooters.

I think it was the one who killed him

with that first blast.

How did you... Where?

I overheard a few inmates talking in the yard.

You sure they wasn't just talking?

Yeah, I.

I made sure.

What's his name?

I'll tell you, but you have to be careful.

I know there are powerful forces at work in Malcolm's death,

but this could be a chance to find out exactly who they are.

What is his name?

Karim Hassan.

Karim Hassan?

Never heard of him.

Maybe this is all part of Allah's plan

for you to help me get out so that we can...

Finally be together.

I mean, I couldn't believe it myself.

An invitation from Truman capote

to the biggest event of the year.

I mean, maybe even the decade.

I don't know whether to send my congratulations

- or my condolences. - What do you mean?

This "black and white ball," which should be called

the white, whiter, even whiter still ball, is a farce.

A coming together of a lifetime of hypocrisy

by one of literature's most notorious scoundrels.

Are you talking about Truman capote?

I thought you two liked each other.

He was kind to me at first

until I started to become popular.

Then he called my prose "boring and crude."

But I know that's just because he's jealous

that I write with an actual voice and have something to say.

That's terrible. I don't understand that.

Nobody understands that man.

Wait, did I call him a man?

Forgive me. I'm not a taxonomist.

I'm not sure what the exact classification

it is filed under.

Listen, James, I asked him

to invite more black artists to the ball, and he agreed.

- Well, he didn't invite me. - He should have.

I'm used to being sidelined by our cultural elites.

Ain't no skin off my back.

Well, it is off mine. I won't stand for it.

Truman has taken a liking to me.

God knows why.

I want you to come with me.

You're crazy. Why should I?

Because you are the cultural elite.

It's a black and white ball, for god's sake.

I mean, maybe we should even the score, don't you think?

- There you go, bumpy. - Thank you.

Stella, can I get you anything?

No, thank you, Delia.

You know, I never thought I'd see you two together.

Bumpy and my father go way back.

Through good and bad.

Well, if either of you need anything, just holler.

Bet you're wondering why I called.

Why did you invite bonanno back without telling me about it?

I heard you and Colombo have been getting cozy.

In Joe's dreams, not mine.

I needed bonanno to persuade the families

to help me to get back what Colombo took.

But your boy pino wouldn't fall in line.

That man never does anything you expect him to.

I need you to change his mind.

Colombo needs to be stopped.

I don't know if I can.

Pino don't like taking advice from a woman.

Get your father to do it.

My father don't want any headaches right now.

Pino's trying to take over. You don't see it?

I think you're trying to get me to clean up your mess.

He referred to your family as his family.

And he's got the respect of lucchese and gambino.

It's a complicated situation.

And it's only going to get more complicated

if you don't side with me on this.

Who's in charge, Stella, you or him?

I talked to some contacts who still have ties to the nation.

Apparently, karim Hassan lives

in the Grant houses on Amsterdam.

What's the plan? You gonna show up without warning?

We come in peace, but we're prepared for anything.

Look, we don't even know if karim Hassan

was a part of this in the first place.

Two brothers just talking smack in a joint

it could be just that.

If we don't look into it, an innocent man is gonna rot

in prison for something he didn't do.

That troubles me, too, but we're not a vigilante group.

If we don't seek to fight injustice,

- what are we, then? - Can I talk to you?

Alone.

This information you were given,

you sure it's credible?

- Yes, I'm sure. - Where'd you get it from?

From Omar.

That's exactly what I thought.

Look, I know you disagree,

but he was convicted as a shooter.

How do you know he's not playing you?

I just know.

You still got feelings for him.

No.

Maybe.

You don't gotta lie to me, Elise.

I care for him, and I care for you.

Don't force me to make choices right now.

Did you ever consider

that he'll say whatever he's got to

to get somebody to help him?

- He would never do that. - Elise.

I said he would never do that.

I know him... Better than I know you.

I need your help, wherever this might take us.

Don't you look gorgeous?

It's not me, halston. It's you.

I mean, it's just... well, it's magnificent.

Of course it is.

Everyone looks better in a halston.

Except for me. I just look like myself.

Alice, you know how Truman

told you he'd invite more black artists to the ball?

Well, I was thinking of inviting James Baldwin.

Dear. I wouldn't do that.

Why not?

Everyone knows they hate each other.

But why?

Who knows with writers. They're a weird lot.

Spending their lives toiling over words

and then getting competitive and jealous

over who can type the best ones.

But for the record, I love James Baldwin.

We all do. But... But we mustn't piss off the boss.

Truman gets pissy, as you know.

Yes, may me, you were lucky enough to be invited yourself.

I wouldn't push it.

Well, it's a shame they don't get along.

What would be a shame is

if you got yourself kicked off the list.

Leave it alone.

I know you don't drink booze,

so I got you a ginger ale.

You've made yourself right at home.

Yeah. You know, I especially like

this vip room you built for yourself.

It's very nice. It's my new office.

Look, Joe, I came here looking for a resolution,

not a conflict.

That's a smart place to be.

So, then let's make this right.

Give me the money you took, or give me my club back.

See, this is exactly why

I didn't blow your fucking brains out

next to that asshole Fred straub.

Why, you got grit, Johnson.

I like that, and you're very smart, you know?

You're no dummy, which is gonna be very useful

once we figure out what our new partnership's gonna be.

- Partnership? - Yeah.

All that "going legitimate" bullshit you were doing?

Waste of your fucking time and talents.

No, you were born to deal drugs.

And you saw before anyone else

why Harlem was the key to controlling all the rackets.

I need you on my team doing what you do best.

I think you're pretty smart, too,

but there's no partnership to be had, Joe,

and I ain't gonna deal duji for you.

So, you're telling me I got no use for you, then.

I'm saying I ain't gonna sit back and do nothing.

That sounds like a threat.

You put my back against the wall. What do you expect?

Motherfucker!

You put me in jail!

What the fuck did you expect?

I'm just gonna let that go?

There's not gonna be any payback?!

You know, chin and I, we had our battles over the years,

but eventually we found common ground.

I hope we can do the same.

Well, if you ain't selling junk,

don't hold your fucking breath.

Do I get one?

Sorry, young blood. You just joined up.

You on the bench for this one.

Who is it?

Hi. It's your neighbor from a few doors down.

Ya ilahi!

Search the apartment.

As-salaam alaikum, sister. Apologies.

Are you alone?

Where is your husband, karim Hassan?

I don't know. I haven't seen him for months.

He's not here.

- I'm calling the police. - We should get out of here.

Mosque 25. I know where he is. Let's go.

Mayme hatcher. What a joy this is.

Thank you for coming up here. I would have

I would have been happy to meet you at la côte basque downtown.

I'm sick of that place.

I'm exactly where I want to be...

With you, my new friend.

Well, I am flattered.

Well, Truman, about your guest list

I'm completely underwater. It's catastrophically full.

So many mouths to feed and egos to stroke.

Yes.

Well, what about Aaron Douglas or Archibald motley?

Not in town. Next time. Let's talk about you.

Alice tells me you live a scandalous life.

Alice said that? I can't imagine why.

Hatcher.

Cute name, but I've done some digging.

You're married to one of the most notorious gangsters

in Harlem, bumpy Johnson.

And what if I was?

Darling, it took me six years to write in cold blood.

They're clamoring for a follow-up.

Any good murders I could write about?

Anything you've witnessed? I'd love to meet your husband.

Mr. Capote, to be honest,

I'm not involved in my husband's affairs,

but I would love to talk to you about your guest list.

That's all anyone wants to speak to me about.

I wanna hear about crime.

And I want to invite James Baldwin.

Baldwin. Ooh, that sow.

Ooh! He makes me so angry.

Why?

The two of you have so much in common.

Two of the greatest writers living in america.

Mayme, James Baldwin isn't coming to my party.

I want you to bring bumpy Johnson.

End of story.

I can't wait to meet him.

So he's a kid, right? And I got him down there,

and I'm like this.

I hear you sat down with Colombo.

I gotta tell you, ballsy move.

I had to turn every stone.

Okay. And?

He proposed a partnership.

One where I'd deal his drugs.

I see. What about Stella? Did she flip pino?

I don't think so.

Well, then you're left with only one move.

What's that?

When there's an obstacle in the way,

you remove the obstacle.

You suggesting I whack a boss?

You wanna eat?

'Cause as long as this guy's above ground, bumpy,

you ain't gonna eat.

Seems like you want me to remove your obstacle.

Bumpy, are you listening to what I'm saying here?

This benefits both of us.

That's why I'm giving you a license to whack this guy.

- What about the other families? - Don't worry about that.

Gambino and lucchese... they couldn't say it,

but they're with us.

The only problem is pino.

But he's a paper hat.

Easy fix.

Can we talk?

Yeah. I'm heading over to the cropsey lounge.

You wanna come?

Can't tonight.

What you wanna talk about?

I heard about the sit-down at bamonte's.

Yeah? What about it?

Why didn't you tell me that you sided with Colombo?

I don't know. Slipped my mind.

Any decision made on behalf of this family

- needs to be discussed. - Come on. Why are you worrying

your pretty little head about it?

I did what I figured you'd want done.

You don't know what I would have done.

Really? Colombo told me

he proposed an alliance between our families

when he went to your apartment.

So, you spoke to Colombo.

As did you.

Is there a fucking problem?

No.

Good.

Congratu-fucking-lations, then.

I know how your father felt about Colombo.

This right here, this is a good thing for our family.

By the way, way to use what you got, Stella.

Whack a boss? Bonanno really said that?

Yeah.

Sounds like a fucking setup, if you ask me.

It could be.

Or not.

Maybe he just wants you to do his dirty work.

Look, bonanno benefits with Colombo gone.

We all do.

They gave permission to whack Colombo,

what more are we waiting on?

I need more than just bonanno to approve.

Otherwise, I'll be signing our death warrants.

Even if we had that,

Colombo is guarded wherever he goes.

It's gonna be a tough shot.

I can do it.

I can still get into the St. Clair.

Middle of a rush. No one will see me coming.

I'll shiv that motherfucker in the kidneys

and be gone, and no one will know it.

Crazy motherfucker. How you supposed to do that?

Want me to show you?

Put that shit away. We're not whacking a boss.

Then what are we gonna do, bump?

I don't know!

Well, we gotta figure something out.

Look, we got nothing right now, bump.

No duji, no St. Clair, no money, nothing.

We gotta eat.

Doing nothin' ain't no solution.

I hear you.

But you hitting Colombo in the St. Clair,

that's the wrong move,

unless I can get two families to back me.

Well, I think you're wrong on this one, bump.

Think you ought to show some respect.

Man, shut the fuck up, you country backwards motherfucker.

You know what? I've had enough

of your sucking up and your betrayals.

Think you ought a put a leash on him.

- You think that's funny? - Relax.

Pettigrew, shut up! I'm with frank on this one.

Frank's right. Zip your lips.

Really?

Yeah.

So, you gonna take sides with this motherfucker?

Frank's right.

Fuck you, too.

- What are you doing here? - Looking for karim Hassan.

Karim? I don't know where he is or what he's doing.

He belongs to this mosque. Where is he?

I have nothing more to say to you.

This way.

That's him.

Get your motherfucking hands up.

Karim Hassan, you coming with us.

I told y'all

I ain't had nothing to do with shooting Malcolm.

No, I recognize you. I was there that day.

I saw you with a double-barrel shotgun.

We need to know who's behind this!

I ain't saying shit.

Let's see if I can't jog your memory.

Wait.

The truth is, I don't know who was behind it.

- A lot of people. - Who? CIA, FBI, NYPD?

Who the fuck knows?

There was a white man who told us if we did it,

there'd be no investigation.

- Who was he? - I don't know his name.

Do you know how to contact him?

Call the motherfucker.

Set up a meet... Or I'll cut your fucking throat.

What's a good time and place for us to talk?

Well, it turns out her husband had been engaged

in quite the clandestine affair. I said, "don't divorce him.

You milk that son of a bitch for every penny he's worth."

Is that may me hatcher I see before me?

I love these little games.

Hello, Truman. So grateful to be here.

Your outfit is divine. So elegant, so iconic.

Well, you can thank Mr. Halston for that.

I would, but he's off on a cocaine frenzy somewhere.

Is this, I pray, Mr. Hatcher? Or should I say...

The great bumpy Johnson?

Neither.

James Baldwin.

Mayme, you have stabbed me in the back.

It's a black and white ball, Truman.

You wanted more black artists.

- Yes, anyone but him. - I knew this was a mistake.

Can't the two of you see you're both doing the same thing?

Courageously, as outwardly gay men.

You see people wearing masks, and you reflect that,

and you want to rip the masks off people's faces.

We need great writers, both black and white,

to show people that underneath the masks, we are all the same.

Now, I want you to make up and shake hands.

A gangster move, may me, worthy of a queen.

Thank you.

I do wanna meet your husband, though.

Of course.

Well, in that case, Baldwin can stay.

Shall we?

There's no turning back now.

How have you been?

Let's see if karim's handler shows up

so we can question that motherfucker.

What time is it?

8:15.

How much time you wanna give it?

As long as it takes.

All right, bumpy. What the fuck is it now?

I've been thinking about your offer,

giving me that pass.

Yeah?

How do I know you're not hanging me out to dry?

I take out Colombo, and then you flip sides?

Listen, remember, you called me back here.

- I didn't call you. - I need a guarantee.

What guarantee can I give you?

I need someone else to vouch for me if this goes sideways.

All right, and who's that gonna be?

We got action.

- There's the car. - That's his handler.

Let's move out.

- Thanks for meeting me here. - Hello, karim.

Fuck.

This one's for my good pal, Joe Colombo.

He has my back, and I have his.

All due respect, Stella, I like you,

but I think you should keep your tits out of this.

Same way you're keeping your little prick out of this?

We know Colombo is coming for all of us.

Yeah. You see, but this doesn't concern you, okay?

'Cause pino's the head of your family.

Not for long.

You're a bad girl, Stella.

All right. What's the plan?

What it is, is we're gonna whack a boss.

Bravo! Bravo!

- Joe Colombo. - Yeah?

We need to talk.

Talk about what?

A partnership between you and me.