Original subtitles

In every corner of America, there's a small town struggling with people trying

to make a life for themselves.

And this town ain't no different.

We get up in the morning, we work hard all day, and we say our prayers every

night.

But it's not 40 years ago, and fortunes around here have been fading fast.

Blessed or cursed, it was my father.

who won this bar in a card game over Blitzer's German Bakery.

But lately I've been wondering whether it's my luck, her pulse,

or time's magic kiss that'll restore her charms.

The friends I've kept over the years have stayed the same.

Some would call that noble.

To others, it'd be foolish.

But to me, they're all I've ever known.

There we were, just five guys going together in separate directions, just

trying to work out an understanding of who we are and what's best for us in

life.

Yeah, Lenny, I got your page, buddy. Let me back this out for you, okay?

Vikings plus ten, Eagles at the points, two -dime parlay.

Okay, hot sides, both Bears and Tampa Bay.

Four o 'clock, you want the Pats over the Niners or the Pick 'em?

It's two and eight against the spread. You can't live without it?

Well, I'm not going to tell Missy a goddamn thing.

No, hey, on the off chance that you come out ahead, buddy, I still pay off. One

o 'clock Monday is the four and two.

Badass Bobby Williams.

Moving around like he's got the whole town on lockdown.

Look at him.

Filling his ribbon on the street.

Well, this explains why my numbers are all cheated down at the high schools.

Same kid used to book bets at McManus, right?

What's that?

You know, 20 years ago, you'd draw around a guy with a rep, wind up with a

second asshole.

Now, every narrow -back motherfucker and his brother make a move on you.

Hey, pretty.

Just the asshole I want to see.

What's up, Pop?

You trying to make a monkey out of me?

No, whatever gave you that impression?

Well, my wallet, for one. Don't fuck me off.

Listen, I ain't skipping or nothing. I just got jammed up with these broads.

know how that goes, right?

No, not really. You know, I wasn't banging broads a week before my fights.

Listen, it's $2 ,200 since the final four.

Unless you want to be picking up your teeth with broken hands, I'd pay me.

I'm not hanging you out. You know that. Listen, I got a purse coming my way this

week, Friday.

And when it comes, I promise you'll get a slice of it.

i know we'll really get moving on things a big slice with all the toppings

because i'm getting real hungry these days oh and pretty if we're not smooth

saturday morning after the fight claude and coke are gonna read about it if they

can so he overplayed his

head no big deal he don't know that the price of poker has just gone up hey

whitey did you know what the eighth wonder of the world is

Frankie, I don't know.

Let me guess.

The electric pocket pussy.

No, but I like the way you're thinking.

No, my friend, it is compound interest.

That's the great invention you wanted to tell me about?

Part of it.

Okay, so here's what I was thinking.

Say you and me throw our lives in together.

Get us a small stake. I'm thinking a few grand, right?

We lay it out on the street for a percentage.

Soft loans.

They can maybe deuce a week, you know, keep it working.

Push it back out.

Whack it back up. Do you have any idea how much fucking money you and I would

have after five years?

Don't move your head.

What?

Well, I figure if you tilt it over to one side or the other, your fucking

brain's gonna fall out. Fuck.

Look, man, you're fucking big alone. We'll eat your kids. Look at that.

Um, did you do all this stuff for Molly for the wedding?

Yeah, the flowers?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I did. The altar.

Listen, my cousin Dookie, his girlfriend, she got a piece of an FTD.

get into his car.

So Wednesday before the wedding, we'll go over there like a pack of fucking

monkeys. Pick that place clean.

I do appreciate it.

Load off my mind.

Thanks, Frank.

Anytime.

I mean it.

You can count on me.

What's up Whitey's ass with his wedding? They come together. It's a last -minute

affair. He's gone for a long throw on it, you know. Jack ain't got two nickels

to love together.

And for Whitey, it's his only sister. You know how he is. He's from a tribe.

keeps his people.

Why in the world would Whitey want to hire a cozy for this fucking wedding?

I don't know.

He's traditional. He's Catholic.

Yeah, he's Catholic, all right. He was at the Last Supper. He just didn't stick

around for the picture.

Let me run a name through your meter. Tell me what you think.

Nicky Napolitano.

Fucking Victor Moon.

Exactly. Without the paycheck. He's a young Dean Martin. He knows how to carry

himself. Is Nicky expensive?

Yeah. He owes me heavy, though. I'll get him in a bargain.

The apron?

That's Miss Fuck Eyes?

I just tell you things, you know, that are really heading that way. I'm

that to a wedding.

Okay?

I might still have to ask her, but... I don't mean to pull your cards, Trippie.

What do you know from love, you know?

A broad like that, who knows what she wants?

A guy with a car, someone to smack her around, money with a big dick?

Dangerous for a guy like you. Bobby, I'm trying to date her, not outwit her. She

ain't a cyclop. She's what? A counter -waitress.

How hard is that?

Broad like that? She's a fucking nightmare.

You know what she's good at?

Walking. Because she ain't stopped for two fucking seconds since I got here.

Oh!

Bobby, did you hear?

Teddy Finn?

All right. Okay, my mother's at the 630 every day. Father Coy lets out with

Teddy Finn's coming back to town.

The altar boy? You've got to be kidding me. That's what I hear. I guess things

didn't work out for him. He's supposed to be heading back east.

You don't think he knows Molly's getting married, do you?

I don't know.

You didn't tell Whitey.

What are the odds of that? What are the odds of that motherfucker blowing into

town now?

Teddy fucking Finn.

Oh.

Oh, my God, look at this. I can't believe it.

And gas.

And Stripper, he's got balls.

Who?

Yeah, Uncle Danny's bringing his... dancer friend.

Exotic dancer.

Oh, my God, where are we gonna seat them?

Well, why don't we put them at Trisha's table?

No, because Mike and Kelly are sitting there, and she's Joanie's cousin, and

we'll get through the salad course before Michael starts in on them. Yeah,

are you... But, though, when you leave your wife with some 19 -year -old

stripper, what, no one's going to talk about it? You know, I met her, and she's

nice. I just don't know what she sees in a creep like that, you know?

Brenda, he's Molly's uncle.

Not by blood.

Yeah, but I was the flower girl at his wedding, okay?

I was at that wedding, too, and he hit on me.

You were five years old.

I was almost six.

He did not hit on you.

You know, you... Ow!

This is my wedding.

And I just want it to go really well with no drama. So seat them wherever you

want as long as they're far away from me, okay?

The kiddie table.

He's great with kids, right?

He's great with kids, obviously.

Come on, he belongs at the kiddie table.

Ring them bells, sweet mother, for the poor man's son.

Ring them bells so the world will know that God is one.

For the shepherd is at sleep where the willows weave.

And the mountains are filled with lost seed.

Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf.

Ring them bells for all of us who are left.

Ring them bells for the chosen few who will judge

the many when the game is through.

Ring them bells for the time that flies, for the child

that cries.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

I haven't confessed in 100 years.

I haven't heard that voice in a long time.

Is there anything you want to talk about?

I might have any problems with the faith or impure thoughts,

but if you could call down a blessing, I sure could use a

place to stay for a few days.

And maybe you know.

Help out around the church.

The foxes have their holes.

The birds have their nests.

But the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.

Is that it?

Yeah, something like that.

You've still got that long second toe.

Yeah.

Teddy?

Yes?

Stay here for as long as you like.

Until your heart's touched a bit of the good again.

If you need anything, just ask.

If it's money, make sure it's only a little.

May the peace of God be with you always.

And also with you.

I don't care where McCullough's line's at.

You got to honor your bet, Vinnie.

Where are you going?

I'm looking for a quarter so I can walk a half mile to use a payphone, thank you

very much.

John Wexler? Yeah, yeah, hold the line.

I'll be off in a minute. That's what you said over an hour ago.

I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your word.

Appreciate it? Well, honey, that's a 50 -center.

You learn that in high school?

I'd appreciate a lot of shit, too.

You're in, you're out. You were this one, you were that one.

This fucking wedding's got everybody's head screwed right up their asses. Let

tell you something. Look at this place. It's like a fucking shithouse in the

street. No, this fucking wedding's got nothing to do with this.

I'm busy. I work 48 hours a week. It's what's known as a J -O -B.

Oh, are we gonna go over that again?

God forbid. What'll Mrs. Grundy think?

Let me tell you something, Vicki.

Regardless of what you think, there's nothing wrong with what I do. I book a

horses, I write a few bets, and I cover football each week. The big crime in

that, honey, I'm missing.

Sitting judges bet the pros. Little old ladies in church hats with flowers on

them. They play the ponies. A nice little Irish priest. They still got

brogues. They bet the dogs.

Honey, even the Pope plays the notes.

No, he does. Seriously, honey. I hear he doubles up on Christmas.

You're going to wind up in jail, Bobby. Jail, jail. That's a fucking joke. They

can't even put murderers in jail. No, the fucking judges are too busy shaking

down the lawyers.

Vicki? Vicki!

God damn it.

Yeah, John, I'm back.

Let me explain some more.

I'm not a random creature.

I love money.

I love pussy.

I love having a home field advantage.

I've been coming up here about 30 years, and every time I turn around, someone's

looking to get over on me, like I'm a fat bag of popcorn.

Look, I hold a note on this bar.

And as good as your old man was, he lost the fair and square.

And the arithmetic that you agreed on to get it back is all fucked up.

I'm behind, that's a fact.

But that ain't for you to decide on your own.

You don't call shots on check.

The fuck is wrong with you?

If you're a tough guy, nobody told me.

I'm just trying to get by. I'm trying to get out from under.

The business is slow. My sister's getting married.

Maybe you should grab a boost from that enterprising young friend of yours,

Bobby.

Mr. Badass has just about hung out a shingle.

Someone should tell that kid his fucking head's screwed out crooked.

Look, people still come here, right?

You got customers, they grab a beer, they read the funnies, pick a horse.

Seems to me you got more opportunity meeting people, customers, than, say, a

like me.

Lay off some of this stuff.

Middle it out.

Probably help you with all this bleeding you got on your hands.

And help towards some of the money you owe me.

Wouldn't it?

And maybe I wouldn't be as insulted as I am.

Maybe you should call Toby.

He's a fence.

Toby ain't into me for 12 fucking grand.

Boy, then you are.

Look, I didn't want to put it in your ear like this.

But I'm going to need about $6 ,000 of the money you owe me.

Or else I'll just bust this fucking joint out.

Up to you, kid.

Put that anywhere for now.

Hey, ain't a party the film broke, right?

My friend and I over here, you say you're putting down some gas line near

old rock quarry?

Near it? In it.

Who you with, EPA?

Well, I look square -ass to you, huh?

No, but, uh, Vivian McDuffie was telling me that the feds were around, squeezing

the stones over some lease fees and all.

Bibby McDuffie, huh?

There's a Latin scholar for you.

Bibby McDuffie?

He's a ten -pound bag of shit in a five -pound bag.

And you tell him I said so.

Jimmy fucking Christmas, I'm funning you, you bastards.

Come on.

Bibby McDuffie?

Bibby and I go back 10, 15 years.

Asshole buddies.

Where is he?

Hey, you tell him Billy said hi, all right?

No.

Fuck him.

Don't tell him anything.

He'll be there this afternoon.

Where's that?

By the quarry.

Off Old Sawmill Road, where Monument crosses 63, near the mattress factory.

the old mattress joint.

Yeah, and an ex -wife used to work there.

Quality control.

Really?

I'm taking a pitch out of you, bastard.

For Christ's sake.

Hey, but listen, you know, I'm going to scoot by there.

You know, my home gets today, probably tomorrow.

Do me a favor.

Don't tell Bippy that I'm coming.

I don't want to surprise him. I ain't seen the fuck six, five years now.

I'm going to have a little fun with him, all right?

You know, I used to work at the munitions plant. The asshole congressman

contracts.

And do you believe they don't need any more cannonballs?

No way. No more. So I had an inn over here. So I used my inn over here.

My grandfather was a statuary.

He carved a lot of these himself. This is one of my favorites.

There you go.

He did that? Fucking awesome.

Goddamn work of art right there.

Did that one.

Wow.

That one.

My God.

Um, I don't get it. Why didn't you, uh, follow in his footsteps?

Uh, because he had big feet.

Sorry, it's not funny either. Watch this.

Um, no, you know, people gotta spend so much just to get somebody's bones in the

ground these days.

Nobody's got anything left over for details, stuff.

I guess a lot of people really, you know, don't want to think about it.

Yeah, I think, you know, I think a lot of people don't want to think about a

of shit these days.

It's Ruby. Oh, no, I know, I know. We talked about this, I know.

Sorry. Oh, wait, wait.

There it is. He had it in his will. Paid for himself.

So, where are you from?

Did they have anything like this where you're from?

Yeah, well, I mean, we moved around a bit.

Your father is an army guy or something?

No, he was a heart surgeon.

Very professional.

You know, it seems the only heart he couldn't fix was my mother.

Sorry.

Oh, she... She killed herself.

Hey.

You should, um... Think about good stuff, you know? Think about...

Can we just go?

Yeah. You want to go? Yeah. Let's go.

Hey, it's a new kid.

Not your fault the world doesn't devote itself to making him happy.

He doesn't want to hear the truth any more than you want to tell it to him.

And if he was ever going to have this attack of conscience, don't you think he

would have had it by now?

It's just...

We shared a lot of things together.

Including a mattress.

I've heard this all before.

Once standing up, once lying down.

Look, he wants you sitting at home, clipping coupons and house two articles.

Then going outside and making a life for yourself.

He's scared of you.

And it's about time you woke up and saw that.

I did.

And I feel great.

You do?

Sometimes.

How do you end something with somebody after so long?

Ten years.

You decide to.

Decide to?

Vicki, you gotta have a bigger imagination. He's got balls.

Baby, you're miserable. You ought to do something about it.

Gunny tooth.

I couldn't tell you because there was so much going on.

Oh, I don't know.

Okay.

Why don't you just call me later?

I know. I love you too.

I don't know. Hey, John.

Going back five,

six months here.

That ain't so much, Whitey.

Well, I think it's fair enough to say that it is.

Enough.

I mean, you're still getting your checks, yeah?

None of your goddamn business.

My finance.

Listen, I'm just a little backed up.

I'm just trying to get out from under.

I mean, how many times did I buy you back tonight?

I just thought maybe you could work with me a little bit and we could get the

numbers going in the right direction.

I know everybody's doing the best they can.

Rita, what are you doing?

Come back. Would you please come back?

I got one here with your name on it, okay?

Here, sit down. John, what are you drinking?

Oh, you can touch me off with a little of that old granddad.

Christ Almighty.

John and Rita have been drinking here since before you were in diapers. You

no business putting them through something like that.

The road gets rough out there.

Why, it ain't life beats a man down.

It's rare you'll ever win back some measure of what it all really means.

The bar brings forth a lot in people, Whitey.

Opens them up.

Hell, you can drink booze anywhere but a bar.

That belongs to them.

That is a good thing it does.

Thank you for paying me, Whitey.

Love you.

Guys, take care.

See you next week.

480. Those inspection stickers I gave you last spring, they move out fast

enough? 100 miles an hour.

All right.

Happy cooking?

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Got two grand there.

Bought it for 10 cents and a dollar, face value.

This is good shit.

It's the ink.

It's cured right in the paper. There's all the security threads, all the

It's the shits, man.

Clean as new money all the way from Montreal.

You didn't cook this up yourself.

No, no, no, no.

A friend of mine named Paris.

Him and his partner get him over at a card game in Pittsburgh.

But that's it for the month, though. You don't want to burn out the area.

These guys are smart.

If you can get 30, 40 points in those notes of sleep, it's like selling ice

cream at the beach.

Finally made yourself a deuce in life, eh, Jack?

Very unforgiving.

Very, very, very unforgiving.

I'm referring to the table, of course.

Most of them aren't made here anymore.

All this crap's from Asia now.

India, subcontinent countries.

Fucking shame that is.

These balls?

It's been made out of ivory.

Imported and manufactured stateside.

Now it's all acrylic.

Crap. Garbage.

Is that a house stick?

You know, I was watching you for a few minutes.

You got yourself a pretty sweet stroke there.

It's fluid.

Keep your elbow tucked in? Where do you pick that up?

I've been playing all my life, you know.

Who told you how to bridge?

Nobody.

Myself, I guess.

You want to say it again, only louder so the whole class can hear?

It's a fundamental, kid.

You're doing it all wrong.

There was a day I'd run 100 balls for breakfast.

That was a bad day.

Big dollar guy.

Big dollar player.

One pocket, bank pool, three -time nine -ball tournament champ out of Vegas late

70s.

I was so good, I'd spike God the eight ball.

Good things happen.

They started to crumble, you know? It got so fucking weird, I can hear the

fibers bending as the balls ran over the felt.

Methamphetamine. All day, all night.

Fucking kookaboo thought I was crying.

Things started closing in.

I had to quit.

Place my faith in higher things.

I think of the money those motherfuckers made off my arm.

Wow.

Really chaps my ass.

Your aunt pissing and moaning, getting all rummy on you like a fucking little

girl scout.

I didn't catch you in there.

Oh, Frankie.

Hey, uh, they call me Frankie Eyelash.

You're good looking.

Yeah. You from around here?

Yeah. Well, you, uh, you mix it up any? You know, shoot for money?

No, no, no, I'm just killing time.

Good. I don't think you'd look as snazzy with your ass hanging out, no.

Can I buy you a drink in the lounge?

You gonna live, buddy?

I had this cold since the preakness. I can't seem to shake her.

Why, you're sitting next to a goddamn meat logger.

Draft alone is enough to knock a fucking hat off your head.

Thermostat's broke.

But you know me, Bobby.

I bring my own heat.

Nick, I need you to score a favor with me.

What's the dance?

I need you to sing at the wedding reception for Molly Riley and Jack the

on the 22nd of the month.

Let's have the question.

That's next weekend.

I got the boat show. A thousand people come to see me.

A thousand people come to see boats, Nick.

They get you, but they come to see the boats.

Any other weekends fine.

I'm booked.

For years I've been solid over there. I gave them my word.

Who are you, Pike Bishop and the Wild Bunch?

Well, who the hell am I going to get to cover the date?

I already did it.

Called Abe Moby at the Civic Center.

And he's gonna book our stumble -bum friend, uh, Cozy Miller.

Cozy Miller?

The guy can't hold my laundry.

His church dance is beef and beer shit.

Besides, Cozy, he won't do it.

No. The money's right.

But it's my crowd.

They'll throw his ass in the trout pool.

I'm telling you, every worm, rat, and snake in that joint may not accept us.

Why pay a man a living wage?

You can hire a Chinese kid out of a prison camp to work his ass off for nine

cents a week. How do these people sleep at night?

Don't know.

Don't get it.

My old man.

23 years. Call on time.

You know who he's got to show for his time on this planet? What's that?

Limp dick, a lollipop, and two sticks of bubblegum.

Picture of good living, huh?

Cocksuckers. Now, this is the best thing that happened to you anyway.

I mean, you could sit around here all day, call them all the motherfuckers in

the world, and they're still going to do the right thing. For who?

For them.

What do you mean?

You're playing beneath your speed, Frankie.

Their game is designed to let you down. Gives them no greater pleasure. And for

what, anyway, huh?

A nowhere's job?

Life without prospects?

Living out your days like a fucking zombie?

For what, a little spending cash?

Huh?

Let it go.

Let it fucking go. You're right.

Count your blessings, Jesus Christ.

What do you want out of life, anyway?

What would it take for you to feel successful?

Feel like a man.

I don't know.

But a lot.

You don't know?

Well, that's the dumbest dog shit.

I don't know.

Mentality like that get you a good job driving a peanut truck.

Frankie, you sound like everybody else.

Like you're stuck between a shit and a sweat.

Timid. Dreaming.

It's all about disappointment.

Dashed hopes. Hard luck.

Never turning over the coin. Never seeing an opportunity.

Never peeking at the seeds of triumph.

Frankie, they're there.

For you. For me.

For everybody.

They are there.

Come back, Jack!

You know, that river is very long, but it's skinny.

We just don't want you to make the same mistake everybody else has made when

they take the plunge.

Which is what? Which is disappearing up your own ass, Jack.

All in the name of love.

You know what a decision like this means?

You know where the handicapped is, wedding valors?

Let's say you're blowing your ass off at McManus'. You told Molly you'd be home

by 9 .45.

Fuck it. Fuck that. We would say fuck that.

Five hours later, you roll in, half a nut on you, smiling from ear to ear.

Jack, her head then?

Okay, that's spinning. So fucking fast, she's not gonna know whether to shit or

blow her nose. And I like Molly.

Don't get me wrong, man.

Hey, Jack.

You see, some women need to be needed, Jack, and that just can't be. You'll be

spending your whole life together, you know, trying to avoid her driving you

nuts.

She'll resort to a whole circus full of tricks.

She'll say this, she'll try that, blah, blah, blah, fuck that, blah, blah,

blah.

Jack, just smile and scratch your ass and say, honey,

did you remember putting gas in the fucking car?

Did you?

The more shit she pulls.

The more shit you let her know. You just let her.

But it ain't gonna be so bad.

Marriage and all.

Not as a train wreck, as long as you ain't in it.

Jack!

Jack!

Hey, stop! Hey!

Calm down, son.

Jack is here!

Jack is back! Jack is great!

That's me, boy.

See,

Jack? Who said all the good ones would take it?

Absolutely not, Jack.

That's me now, right?

I dreamed of you.

Jack?

Bobby. I told you to take them out.

Frankie,

Frankie, get a mirror. Put it under his nose.

Then do the other side.

Take the cork out of your ass. You're acting like I killed a pet.

It's a party.

Bobby, let me tell you something.

There's a proper way to conduct business, and this ain't it.

I'm just charging my bandages, buddy.

I don't trust you anymore.

What's that supposed to mean, Whitey? I mean, what the fuck is that supposed to

mean? You've always been a tolerant, decent guy, right?

Well, where the fuck's it gotten you?

And don't worry about me, buddy. I'm the only guy I know that knows what the

fuck he's doing.

You leave him with your chin on this Joe situation.

The guy's like a fucking cancer. Did you know that?

You remember what happened to my daddy?

I remember.

But he's giving me the elbow. Big deal. He's a fucking aviator. He's a fucking

jerk -off.

Started with a jukebox, a candy machine, and a quarter pool table.

You don't think I know who the fuck I'm playing chicken with?

He ain't crowding you, is he? Because if he is, I'll lump the motherfucker.

I wish you would.

Fucking guy needs a beating, I'm telling you.

Look, I'm just raising his hand a little.

Nothing to worry about.

Says you.

If I, uh... If I roll this thing on, can I then go fuck myself?

Whatever makes you happy.

Here's the time.

Why? Where's it been all night? We've been waiting for you for a long time,

God's sakes.

Well, Jack was busy.

Yeah, I can see that.

So I'm set up with Cozy, right?

I gotta be honest with you, Whitey. I'm allergic to the whole idea of this

bastard singing anywhere, let alone a wedding on that.

This guy's got crowds around him.

If Molly were my sister, and I was shopping for a night of music, Cozy'd be

first mistake.

You can't dance Cozy Miller.

We shouldn't even be having this conversation.

I mean, you know how I feel.

Go play with the girl.

Brings back time, doesn't it?

And picked by God.

I thought you dropped out, man.

No. I said some things going on. Some distance.

Some distance.

I didn't do right by people.

You know?

I didn't do right by Molly.

At all.

I ain't proud of it.

It's just the way I went down.

I figured I'd call, you know, if I had some good news.

I never did.

Sorry if I let you guys down.

So, is everybody all right?

Well, other than that, Mr. Lincoln, how'd you like to play?

What do you mean, all right?

You know.

Some things are good, some things are bad, you know?

Some things are different, you know?

Some things are real different.

Molly?

You mean getting married next weekend, Molly?

Really?

I don't want to say there's a price on your head, because nobody knows your

back, but I think there's a lot of people who might feel a whole lot better

she made herself scarce for the time being.

Who's she marrying?

Jack Ryan.

Oh, he's a nice guy. Yeah.

He's a plumber. Yeah. He's a plumber, right?

Right. He's a plumber. Yeah.

Where's Stan and Hamilton?

Me and Bobby and Frankie and Whitey.

He loves to tag.

I don't know.

Cool it, bro.

He's a stand -up guy.

He's a bad guy.

And Whitey?

He's coming down hard, Teddy.

Well, not like that, no.

But you know how he is.

Still behind the stick?

Yeah.

Quarantine. Still creeping along. Still breathing.

You seeing anyone?

You seeing anyone?

Teddy. You seeing anyone?

This girl?

Wait, just wait.

She's a dog.

Really?

This girl can make you want to run home and shoot your whole family. Oh, really?

That's good.

Bang.

She's pretty,

you know.

Hold this one.

She's pretty, you know what I mean?

Any girl in any magazine, forget it.

It doesn't come close.

You see her, you hear music in your head. You hear church music, more church

music.

How long has it been going on?

Quite some time.

It's good.

You want to study?

What are you doing right now?

You want to come with me?

I'm supposed to meet her.

I'm going to do nothing.

Come on. She works at Needleman.

Fuck,

you've been gone. Needleman's which is now Dina's, right?

The old Jew died fucking throat cancer. Yeah.

Goddamn Greeks came in.

I'm sitting in this grave with these people. I know this because I work in

cemetery.

Well, obviously doing things your own way ain't exactly worked out for me, has

it?

You know who you are, pretty?

You're a guy that owes me money.

That's crooking the house, Bobby.

You're buying dollars. It's washing money.

And more importantly, it takes my foot completely out of your ass.

Victor Grauman's, right?

Thursday night.

Joe's got a bunch of tables there. He runs some heavy dice action. When you go

in, don't go in double -fisted. Just relax. Have a few drinks. Enjoy

And then slowly, slowly load the wagons.

You're going to get even on this.

It's a good deal for you.

Trust me.

All right?

All right.

I knew I could count on you.

You really hit as hard as everyone said you did?

No.

Harder.

What happened got you out of the game?

It's a long story.

Your eye, right? Your retina?

Yeah, it was my eye.

Be careful, Pretty.

You can see everything in a man's eyes.

When you stop looking for something, Frankie, you know where you normally

it?

Right in front of you.

Hundred years of tradition unhampered by progress.

Louisiana tail meat.

Small -scale crayfish farm.

What's in there?

Cajun popcorn?

Mm -mm.

Crawdads.

An eight and a quarter pound?

Without that tariff, those chapped trawlers can't compete.

What price to move? This shit?

Out of them some.

In less than two years, every kid in America is going to be eating it like

french fries.

Wall Street Journal calls it paycheck of the future.

All this, and without getting your shirt dirty.

Hey!

Phil!

Say hi to Carol for me.

Godfather to both his boys.

You know, the potato head looks over this land and he sees the fucking

That's why he stays a clown ass all his life.

But what we're talking about here, it's pure.

It's flawless.

Immutable. And way beyond guys like you and me.

Talking about three ponds, 40 acres, 60 ,000 pounds of fish per year.

Set up right, you're fishing with St. Pete.

Profits roll in like water down a hill.

You set the net out a little farther, probably talking about a pondside

restaurant, gift shop.

All sorts of horse shit.

Monkey trick here, Frankie, is to keep Castro's army here on the move, working

all the time.

That way, late January, the pond is stocked for peak season in June.

Then we double back in December, and we're in the black.

Problem is, I'm running through money like Grant through Richmond.

I know some people I could ask around.

Frankie. Come on, you're on the balls of your ass. I know that.

Ain't fair.

You going out there trying to goose some bread up for me. Anyway, it's

dangerous.

Dangerous, man.

I mean, next thing you know, every mayonnaise -eating motherfucker and his

cousin will be out here like a truffle pig horning in on our action.

I ain't from around these parts.

I can't afford another partnership. I gotta keep a lid on this tight.

Anyways, I'm only looking for five, six grand cash tops to push me through.

Hey, Frankie, I'll secure it up.

Believe me.

Thanks, honey.

Appreciate the offer, really.

Well, it means a lot to me.

You know, doing turn -away businesses, I suspect, maybe I could use a guy like

you.

Cream me up a bit.

You know, I don't want to wind you up or nothing, but if things work out well

for me, maybe you lucked into something good.

Remember, this stands for something other than itself.

You believe any of that shit? That what?

You know, soulmate, life partner, all that crap, you know? Because to me, it's

all hocus -pocus, you know? Life, what, life, especially my life, it's a roll of

the dice, you know?

Sometimes you win the bet, sometimes you don't. That's true.

Right? What, you plan on settling down?

What, you know?

Can you picture it?

I think I might. I think I'm gonna try, you know?

Cap a few kids, raise a family.

My family.

Be patient.

It's got to be a hell of an undertaking, don't you think?

Look at that. Look at that, huh?

What a beauty.

Here we go.

Come, come, come, come.

Look at that. Look at... So beautiful.

Claire?

Um...

I want you to meet just one of my oldest and dearest friends, Teddy Finn.

Teddy Finn, this is Claire.

Now, just do me one favor, okay?

Whatever you do, under no circumstances, do not look at what is behind Teddy,

right on the car, right behind Teddy. Don't. Do not look, okay? Because you

might... What are you doing? Because who knows what you might... Look at that.

This, Claire, is for you, my dear.

Truby, I really, honestly, I don't want to do it. I want you to have it.

So,

uh, tear it open.

Hey, that's nice.

Very nice to have met you. Oh, yeah.

I got it. I got it. You got it? You got it.

It was really nice meeting you two.

He's a great guy.

Gotta go.

I'll tell you where Billy Clune's place was, Whitey. It was in Brown's Mills.

You walked in there with a dolly, you had the world.

Boy, was he good with his mitts.

Beat the shit out of Frank DeBrosis one night.

Made quite a few friends in here when he did.

Never told her I knew about him, though.

Who's that?

Hank Debrosis.

All my years I've been faithful.

Not so much as look at another broad.

1953 over on Fern Boulevard.

We lived above Grouse's pharmaceutical soda shop.

She worked the fountains there.

Used to see them strolling along Superior Avenue, wanting to tear off

them, kick the Italian half to death.

I didn't do it.

Lost my nerve.

I'll only admit this to you now, Whitey.

Only now. I thought if I did that, I'd lose her.

So I let it go on.

She thought it had to do with her getting old. She cried for every new

across her face.

I tried to tell her she looked good to me.

I guess it wasn't enough.

After the Italian was another guy and after him

some...

Hungarian felon.

Yes, I done pretty well the drinking and all, by then, so...

Just stop and laugh.

Because I never saw her again.

You know, I hate to think of her.

Spending her days like some old whore, lying in a filthy bed, crying about

the one that slipped away.

All the while I'm clinging to some faint memory of a beautiful...

28 -year -old girl working the soda fountain making a lime recce.

Pinkest blouse you've ever seen.

Maybe you let each other down.

Billy Clune.

Whipped his ass up in terrible ways.

You should have seen him.

As soon as God makes green apples, you're going to get all my fucking money

to me.

Got that?

That's how fucking put your lights out, kid.

And tell Chubby the same thing, okay?

What's up?

Okay.

You told me once if I ever had anything, you know, it was interesting that I

could... Well, I got this thing, right? And it's... On paper, it just looks

good. It's so good, it brings tears to your eyes.

You want to put down a move and you want me to float you the cash, right?

I don't want you to lend it to me. It's just I need to borrow it.

For a couple of days, you know, for, like, show purposes, you know?

You just fall out of your mom's ass?

On this side, we don't do things like that.

What's the knockdown?

What's your end?

Well, it's kind of hard to say, really.

I'd like to, kid. Only my business dick says no.

It's the future, Joe.

There's money in it.

Yeah, there's money in pay phones, too, Frankie. I don't see you getting any of

it. Shit out of luck, kid.

Sorry I can't help you.

We're fucked. The motherfucker fucked us.

You mind telling me what you're talking about?

Bogus money, funny money, shit money.

There's 87 guys over at Starbright Vending, and they all want their money

Oh, Daniels gave me that, $280.

He wants it returned, dollar for fucking dollar, today.

How big did we get here?

It'll be all over town by sundown.

People have been waiting for this for a long time.

I should have known at the minute he didn't split aces.

I didn't fucking react.

The boxer, pretty little young fuck.

For his life, he couldn't cover a $2 bet.

Thursday night, he comes in there like a nigga with a hit record.

Doubling down, betting stacks of blacks.

Had to be him. Who else could it have been?

I beat ten motherfuckers.

This is some shit.

This is some fucking shit.

That's it.

She just said she didn't want it.

It was the way she said it.

Like she said, no, I want a car.

I did nothing to trick this girl right.

I know.

So maybe you ought to, you know, let it go.

Let go?

Her?

I don't want to go out with you anymore.

Okay.

You know, you can't fit a square peg into... A fucking square?

A fucking square peg, man.

I don't... What? I don't need a kissing list, okay, Teddy? Fuck it.

Tooby, calm down, man. You're getting your balls up over nothing. You know,

she... She ain't into the world.

Jesus Christ.

How is it that I've been smothering you?

What?

Can you tell me that, please?

How is it that I...

Look,

Trudy, I can't get into this right now, okay? All you need to get into is how

have I been smothered.

Look, you're a very nice guy.

No, you're such... You are. You're such a nice guy. But I'm sorry if you

misinterpreted anything.

I am not a nice guy. Do you feel sorry for me? Is this what this is? You feel

sorry for me?

Did I ask? Claire, pick up.

Look. You're going to get me fired, okay? You know what? I'm trying to be

and explain it to you. You're going to shut the fuck up.

Oh, you're walking away?

You're walking away? I'm talking to you. I don't need it. We're talking to you

right here.

We're talking right here. This is talking.

Hey, asshole!

Fuck you! Can you not see right here I am talking to the lady?

You stay there! You stay there! Come on!

You stay there! Come here, Popeye! Come here! You stay there! You know I won't

say fuck to me. Oh, yeah.

You never say fuck to me.

I'm a fucking American.

Okay. Calm down. Come on, man.

Come on.

Truby.

Hey, Truby.

Son of a bitch.

Here's your friend.

Yeah. He's crazy.

Everybody's crazy.

You're crazy, too.

It's over.

What? It's over.

Why it's over?

Yeah, well, I don't even know why I'm taking a bet that small town.

All right, Purdue in the points. I'll let it.

Vicky, did Phil call here for me today?

You're out getting a six -pack.

What are you doing?

I'm going to be staying with my sister Bonnie and her kids for a few weeks.

Just a few things I need to work out.

I don't know.

Relax. I mean...

Oh, Connie, I know we've been under the gun lately, you know. It's just we've

got to get through this bullshit and we've got to live like people again,

all.

Bobby, I don't really even know who we are anymore or who we ever were, for

matter.

On Saturday, Molly's going to stand up on that altar and she's going to promise

to love Jack for the rest of her life.

And I think I'd like to be able to do that myself one day.

There's just a whole lot of things going on, that's all.

Like what?

Like... Like when I think back and I remember how hard my mother worked and

struggled to raise six kids without a husband.

And now that nobody's on drugs or in jail, I think how hard and tough that

have been for her, you know?

To lead a decent life.

And she did it.

We did it.

I'm better than this, Bobby.

And I thought you were, too.

And I'm not walking away from you. I'm just not going to walk away from myself

anymore.

Vicki, I just... No, don't say a word.

And let's keep this a secret until after the wedding, okay?

We had our dance.

Now let Jack and Molly have their...

You're still there.

You still going out with Laura?

Oh, they broke up?

That's sad. They seem so tight.

Look, I'm...

Really sorry about today. You know, thanks for, you know, helping me out and

stuff, you know.

Oh, no big deal.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Fine. I used to be fine, too, you know.

Fucked up, insecure, neurotic, and empty.

I didn't like being fine, though.

Oh? So you're not anymore?

Hey, you know, you look okay to me.

Really?

You ought to see me in my cape.

You ought to see me in my glass slippers.

Oh, I'd like to.

So about Truby... Hey, I know he's your friend and everything. I know, I know.

He overrates things.

He's a great guy, though. He's one of the greatest guys who's ever walked the

face of the earth. You know, he just hasn't walked very far on it.

Those simple guys that don't have all those simple answers, but that's part of

their charm, though, I guess.

I guess so.

So I could use like us that uh keep the world all screwed up

Yeah,

it's really blue gasket on you know She's a reporting

address But you got a phone number right

Do you know her last name

Yeah, I can see how you'd be all broke up about that.

You'd be all right.

What are you doing?

I'm making a list of my enemies.

I could be here for quite some time.

Hey, Franklin.

Put this in the safe. Wait, will you?

Watch it.

And then I'll knock some sense into you.

Hey, Whitey, you, uh... You know about that?

That's the, uh, balance for the caterer. For Dombrowski, for the wedding. I

gotta drop it off.

Oh, shit, I'm going out there tomorrow. I can take it out. I'm getting my breaks

done. It's just across the street.

Your breaks went out?

Yeah.

Nah, that's a lot of money. I'll take it myself.

Why can't I go 30 minutes out of your way when I'll already be there? Come on.

That's four big ones in there, Frankie.

You know what you're doing, yeah?

Yeah.

Okey -doke.

That's done.

So, I...

What's with you?

I was just thinking that you should, you know, I think you should probably know

something. You think I should know something?

Yeah.

Everything's, you know, it's no big deal.

Everything's just cool beans and... Well, what the hell is it, all right?

it out.

It's Teddy Finn.

Teddy Finn's back in town.

He's at the church.

But, you know, I think he's... I think he's cool.

He's at the church.

Now

I

got a cousin near Butler.

So maybe I'll bust down there. I'm actually, I'm thinking Saturday now.

I really do want to wish you the best of luck, Claire, because it really is a

long waltz, no matter who it is you're dancing with.

It took me a long time to find out the tail I was chasing.

It wasn't really attached to a dog.

It wasn't really attached to anything.

They're expecting sleep tonight. I gotta get up early.

Stop the walk for the parishioners. Keep them happy.

Gotta serve somebody, I guess.

So, um, if you, uh, you know, wanna give me a call over there before you leave,

I don't know, you know, maybe get a cup of coffee.

That is if, you know, someplace serves coffee.

Okay, I split.

Hey there, Teddy.

Hey, Whitey.

She's moved on with things, and I

hope you're going to respect that.

We were good altar boys once.

Yeah, once upon a time.

You know, the night before I left, I was over at your house.

I was, uh... I was sitting on that... couch glider you got out

front.

I flicked on that AM radio of yours.

Steam here was blowing.

And, um...

I had your sister's hand in mine.

I saw my future that night.

I didn't come back here to win your respect

because of what I've been through in my time on the road because it was

bullshit.

But I appreciate it if I don't have to fall on anyone's spirit to do the things

I've got to do.

It's like any decent man. I just want to do what's right.

Get on with things.

And I thought that you'd understand that.

Got a lot of you and me winding up back in the church, huh?

I'm going to call down a blessing for you.

Yeah, I could use it.

Thanks a lot.

I'll be seeing you around.

You'll be seeing me around.

They're all 55 series. The same serial number, but they've been spending real

nice. Particularly at the colleges, bookstores and shit.

Only problem is, the motherfucker I get them from works about as much as Santa

Claus. So the next batch I get in, I gotta get 20 points on.

Too heavy for you?

No. Chicky said you used to box.

Long time ago.

Said you ran into some troubles.

Kid named Carpenter.

Why'd you quit?

I didn't quit.

I got knocked out.

Marysville, Ohio.

Had the kid out on his feet. He was all opened up. Didn't even know what state

he was in.

You couldn't put him away?

He was away. What, did he get shit in your ears?

But, uh, I lost respect, you know?

Got caught.

Woke up in the eye hospital.

Where do you hear what happened to the other guy you know him Kenny Carpenter

from Dayton tattoos up his fucking arms.

That's a guy Everybody had a piece of that motherfucker Can he never had much

sense be it too much sense to take that kind of shit when to go his own way?

So they fucked him Yanked his license.

Oh, I'm out.

Where's he at now?

He's dead

Got his brains blown out trying to take off some tipping touch outside of

Cleveland. Off -duty cops.

That's going back four or five years now, huh?

Heard he was on the pipe pretty good, too.

So I guess it was expected.

Hey, Mills, your turn to tell a sad story.

Yeah, here's my sad story.

If I need any more of that stuff, I'll get in touch with you through Chickie.

Hey, remember, 20 points on the next batch.

I got steroids if you need them, too.

Bootleg.

Hey,

Angel Eyes.

Hey, why don't you fix old Billy Boy here some spaghetti, a little coffee.

me a little sliver of that layer cake over there.

And fix my uncle over here a malted and a bowl of macaroni.

What the hell got you so out of breath that you couldn't wait till Monday?

All right, look, I know you're busy and everything.

You know, because you've been out there covering yourself, getting the dough

together and all that.

I wanted to show you what a guy like me would be willing to do for a guy like

you, you know, in the pitch.

Until he finds and when he finds he will become trouble

And when he becomes troubled he will become astonished

Gospel according to st. Thomas

I had you all wrong, Ken.

You know, this is gonna come back to you.

Big time.

You count on that, okay?

Yeah,

Frankie.

Look at that stupid son of a bitch who left his parking lights on.

I'm gonna go tell him.

I'm gonna be back.

Look at that.

You know, if you were a woman, I'd kiss you right now.

You don't happen to have anything that don't belong to you now, do you?

Now keep your hands where I can see them, clown.

Pull off the road.

Now put everything back just the way you found it.

Put it back.

And slide it back to me.

I'll shoot you.

You don't think I will?

I'll shoot you, man.

Okay, I'm gonna leave now.

You're gonna leave.

And we're never gonna see each other again, okay?

Okay?

But if you get a dumb idea like coming back on me, I'm gonna get an equally

idea. And I'm gonna blow big holes in your head.

Okay?

Okay?

Cool, cowboy.

Didn't see it coming.

Did not see it coming.

Oh boy, what an asshole.

You didn't know this was my mother's dress?

No, the only thing that was missing was two buttons.

And I found them.

Yes!

Wait, hang on a second.

I gotta call you back.

Okay, bye.

Oh my God, Teddy.

Still overdressing, huh?

I already know. I heard.

You're getting married.

Yeah. Yeah. The whole tongue's talking.

Jack Ryan?

Yeah. Yeah.

Can't think of a more deserving guy.

Hey, look, I feel like an asshole, okay?

But I'd feel like a bigger asshole, you know, if I didn't tell you a few things.

I was afraid of, um... What?

I could never have made you happy.

I couldn't make myself happy. How could I make you happy?

I couldn't.

And, um... I didn't have the guts to tell you then, so... I'm sorry.

I mean, I guess things have a way of working out in the end.

Yeah.

Listen, thanks.

Thanks for coming by.

And I'll see you down the road.

Christ, talk about the road.

I got you something.

Consider it your first wedding present.

It kept me good company over the years.

I'm sure it can do the same for you.

That you come far through wind so

hard.

Near you as dead as you

were.

How you wish I was here.

That day is gonna break. It'll wash you away.

It'll wash you away.

Yeah, one day soon, that day is gonna break.

And it'll wash you away.

It'll wash you away.

What are you doing here?

I'm asleep.

Can I get you something?

No.

I just wanted to be here.

I guess you got kind of a big day tomorrow, huh?

Yeah, it's a big day for everybody.

Yeah. Well, I'm going to miss you, kid.

This can be down the block, Whitey.

Yeah, well... When people get married...

Sometimes... Just down the block can seem like I'm the other

side of the earth.

I never told you this before, but... You know, after Dad died...

I don't really think that I could have made it.

Without you.

I mean, can't you just see him right now?

Facing back and forth with him.

His lucky strike hanging out of his mouth.

He'll be going on about the wedding and probably telling me

to get married.

Give me that big speech about how one day everything's gonna be mine and I

Miss him

Sometimes when I'm in here at night and by

myself and I swear I can hear him speaking to me

Once we stand now

He's telling me to take care of my baby sister.

Take care of your people.

If there's one right thing that I ever do in this lifetime,

it'll be that.

You're making me cry.

I just thought it would be just the right time to say it.

I'll always be there for you, Whitey.

You going to be holding my hand tomorrow?

Until that drunken plumber takes it away.

He's not.

He loves me.

Yeah, I know he does.

I love you, Mom.

I love you too, Whitey.

I'm gonna sweep up and... You can hang around if you want, huh?

Yeah.

I'm gonna... I'm gonna finish up around here.

It's the morning I have lived my life for Waking up

looking in your eyes And I know that you

feel the way I do I'm not sure that I believe my

eyes

And I'm not even always lying to me. One minute we're talking, everything's

great. I'm seeing my future, you know, and it's looking good. It's looking

pretty good. And then I look up and he's like this and they're like that. And

all I'm seeing is break love.

And that's the truth.

Well, that is without a doubt one of the greatest fish stories I've ever heard.

You see this?

That's an imaginary tear running down my cheek.

I've heard enough goat shit in my day to fill up Lake Erie. I didn't bread pork

chops for 27 years. You're barreled by some punk like you.

You got sandbagged, shanked, tough shit.

It means nothing to me.

I don't have the money, cash in hand in 10 minutes. I'm pulling a plug on the

Dago and personally throw each and every last one of you deadbeat motherfuckers

out of here.

Sorry it had to be like this, buddy.

I had a reputation to protect.

What are you sorry about?

Well, you know, Nicky.

Are you kidding me? He's the best.

He's the greatest.

I mean, I'm surprised we got him.

Working the boat show and all.

Things worked out good.

Fucking guy's better than Frankie Valli.

Know him, Whitey? What?

You look sharp.

Thanks, Bobby.

So do you. I love you, buddy.

What do you want?

What do you want?

I'm getting the old glad eye.

Oh, yeah? Cool.

I'll have to lay up this Skeeter's cousin, you know, the blonde from

she's from, Philly or something. Uh -huh. Uh -huh. She's sharp? What's her

Nancy something.

You want to see something or other?

It's an interesting name.

What are you going to do?

John, you're getting balled up. You're getting ready. Here I am.

Easy for me. I've got a little advice for you.

Take your time.

Try to be friends with her. I'm fine.

Learn her last name.

Right?

Hey, she wants the same things out of life you do, buddy.

Trust me.

All right?

Go get her.

Did you look at that?

Yeah.

I've got a low price on Hail Mary this week.

You know, Frankie, in all the years I've watched you boys grow up, all the

battles you've been in, I'm amazed at the one truth you all keep returning to.

Which is what?

That there's not a question in this life that you can ask that God isn't already

the answer to.

You want that?

Denying your faith?

Give it a shot.

Close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

That's it.

Act in full faith and with purpose that you will receive this

blessing.

And give thanks to Almighty God for this wonderful gift, no matter how unworthy

your soul may be.

It works when you want it to.

So, Sandy Mungridge?

Sandy Mungridge? Yeah. Okay.

Sandy Mungridge. Truby.

Truby. That's what my friends call me.

Both of them.

Whitey, I got something for you here.

over 11 grand there.

Whitey, the day your father died, I never told anyone this.

There were two things in his side pocket.

A racing form with Sly Cindy circled in the fourth, the chalk, and $320

cash.

Do you want to know the name of the horse that came across first in the

race that day?

Sliced meat?

No.

Bald cat.

The long shot.

Something your old man would never have done.

I had a hunch, so I called it in.

Marty Daly's outfit took the action. Damn, I broke him.

Took him three weeks to pay me off.

It'll go all sitting aside for you ever since.

Why'd you wait so long to pass it on?

Oh, it's a long story, Whitey.

And with life being so short and me being so thirsty, I had no sense of

into it.

I think today I'm truly blessed.

Sorry you

People

like you people like me

We build our lives around a dream, a fantasy.

What do we know?

What do we feel?

How will we...

Can I get you another drink?

No, I'm fine. Thanks.

That thing's over at Bonnie's.

That dress.

Looks great on you.

Hey, Jack.

Can I talk to Jack a second?

All right.

I haven't told him anything yet.

You're a very lucky man today.

Vicki, I'm going to be taking some time off, putting some things behind me.

Like what?

Like a lot of things.

Ways of life.

Things I've been doing, things I never should have done.

I haven't had a lot of time to think about this, but...

I know you don't get many chances in life like us.

Bobby, don't do this.

Not now, okay?

I have to do this now, Vicki.

I know I love you, and I think you still love me.

And, uh,

I know I got a lot wrong with me. I do.

But it's nothing that what's right can't fix.

Big I want to learn be friendly

Goodbye, my darling.

Goodbye.

They say a bar is a place where people come together to share things, to be

thankful, to know that they're not alone.

And I guess it's this everyday grace of ordinary people that'll sustain us for

now.

We've awakened to the fact that we're not young anymore, and perhaps our

is no longer limitless.

But was it ever?

Tonight, in this tightly defined little corner of the world, the lights of my

father's bar burn bright.

Because we've come to learn what he must have known all along.

And that is that life's not always about holding good cards.

It's about playing well, the ones you've got.

Well, I sought gold and diamond rings.

My own drug detained that living brand.

Walked from the mountain to the valley floor.

Searching for my...

Pretending for my beautiful reward.

From her house.