Original subtitles

But of organized crime in America, the story focuses on three leading

characters who are from immigrant families.

It in no way reflects on the many positive

contributions ethnic groups have made to our society.

What you are about to see deals with aspects of

violent crime, parental discretion is advised.

Tonight, the dramatic story that spans seven decades begins.

But gangster chronicles, it was the roaring twenties.

Prohibition is now the law of the land.

A time when the country went dry and three young men made their move.

I'm in business.

And I got the best merchandise.

That's the sum of them out, you got the kid.

I guess the firm's in business.

Charlie Lucky Luciano, Benny Bugsy Seagull, and Michael Lasker.

Childhood friends who knew how to play the game and make it work.

We're going to be in every business there is, and nothing hurts us, Charlie.

Not as long as we keep using our heads.

They had guts.

They had style.

They formed an underworld-sendative breeding power and romance.

I don't mind being your part-time mistress, Charlie.

What I don't like is being your doormat.

It's the rules of the game, baby.

Part-time mistress, you get yourself a part-time lover.

Michael Lasker, I think you're married.

Their fortunes grew, and so did the pressure.

Next time we meet Luciano, you're my friend, or you're my enemy.

Just keep with your friends.

No fighting.

Just make money.

It's a war, Charlie.

Everybody takes care of himself.

And it was always the innocent that got hurt.

I know who you are.

It's enough, Ruth.

Are you going to shoot me, Michael?

They were pitted against themselves.

They're bonds of friendship, the target of jealous rivals.

Charlie's going to leave us hanging by our phones.

Your associates, Lasker and Bozy Siegel, get rid of them.

We'd kill for each other.

This is their story.

A lifetime of success and anguish.

And now...

But gangster chronicles.

This is an American story.

It begins on the lower east side of New York, people

by immigrants from southern and central Europe.

They came to this place searching for freedom and opportunity.

What they found here was hard, often cruel, sometimes corrupt and unjust.

Still, most would pour their labor into their

adopted land, giving it more than they took.

Others would burst from these surging blocks of poverty as gunmen and gangsters.

A few would become the leaders of a vast and violent criminal conspiracy.

This is the story of three men who created the

secret American Empire we call organized crime.

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

Go.

Check hands with my friend.

Masariya.

Maki?

He's good, Jamie.

Oh, no.

Let's go see it, though.

Hey.

That's ours.

Come on.

Hey.

Take it easy.

We split.

Okay?

That's an Italian.

You don't understand.

Indisturbed.

I think that might be true, but it is.

This is being friends, Benny.

Everybody understands friends.

Split.

You.

Benny.

Michael.

You.

Michael.

Michael.

Cops.

Cops.

Cops.

You understand, Cops?

Cops.

Cops.

Just a dead walk.

Take a look around.

Oh.

Hey.

Yo.

Boy, shoot up.

He helped us, Demi.

Friends.

Ben Siegel.

Michael.

Michael Laskin.

Charlie Lucien.

Come.

Take it.

Friends.

Friends.

You see Benny?

You see?

Everybody understands friends.

Oh.

My friend.

Come in.

Come in.

That's for me.

Well, thank you.

What is that?

Oh.

That's what I love.

Lucien.

What is?

You got a good heart, Charlie.

You tell your mama and papa they got a good son.

Wait.

That's for you.

From Mr. Goodman.

No?

Well, you want to see Shiba?

That's why you can't.

Go play.

Be a boy.

Closed.

I'm closed.

I'm closed.

What's so important?

Please.

I'm sorry.

I don't know you.

Sorry.

My name is Valentin.

I call for Mr. Sayet.

I don't know any Sayet, huh?

Booboo.

You know the wolf?

I'm sorry.

I have my work.

Please.

Mr. Goodman.

It's not for me.

It's for Mr. Sayet.

It's for Lupa.

It's respect.

This is itself.

It's too much.

I told the other men.

At three we spent too much.

I had too much.

But my wife is sick.

I have no money.

We got money.

We got money for Lupa.

Maybe next week.

Sure.

Maybe next week.

Oh, you're buying it.

Hey, here's mine.

Don't you need to join?

No!

You stay here.

Caviche.

Right here.

You're good.

All right.

Hallelujah, Santucci, Santaro, Dabarini, Materi, Avolino, Therafina,

and your brother... You too, you.

That's all.

No more work.

Hey!

What about me?

What's wrong with me?

Hey, you son got a big mouth.

No work today.

Got time to teach him a lesson.

That's okay.

Mr. Goodman, okay.

My school, eh?

Go.

Go to the school.

You're stupid.

You'll never learn.

You know what stupid means.

Stupido?

Is that Italian enough for you?

You don't even know what country you're in.

Get out.

Take your pencil box.

Get your box, or you'll be sorry.

This infamy would turn Americans towards joining the World War, which was

destroying the old order in Europe, despite President Wilson's dream of

keeping America's sons from that bloodbath.

But wait.

I was setting up another look.

Another look.

It's time for something else, Chuck.

You could make a salesman.

You could learn production.

I like the streets.

I don't mind deliveries.

I mind.

Come to dinner Friday night.

We'll talk.

We'll play over.

I'll tell you, Mr. Goodman, my nose is still sore from last time.

You eat with the boss, you'll learn to play peanut.

You get beat.

You get it in the nose.

One of these days I'm going to win, and then it's going to be your nose.

By the time you win, Sonny Boy, you'll be a rich man.

Then we'll play for money.

Go.

Make your deliveries.

It's getting better out there.

That fat hoodlum, that Joe Masseria, the one who works for Sieta.

I hear the police finally got him.

You still believe in the police, Mr. Goodman?

Friday night, Charlie.

Sorry, Blake.

Big shot.

Sit down, Benny.

I thought we were going at these seats down.

I just work here.

We'll go to eat when the boss says they should eat.

Okay.

You're getting out of the street.

I don't like your friends.

This last girl in Lachiano.

I've got jobs.

Don't give me jobs.

What do you do at night?

What are you carrying on at night?

Girls, you know, we talk to girls.

Where do you talk?

In a busted warehouse with a crowbar.

We got a customer.

Wait.

What can I do for you?

A suit, please.

Excuse me.

A suit.

You have to speak up.

I can't hear you.

I need a suit.

Good.

What size?

I don't know.

Maybe 40.

Say that again.

I don't hear so, but 40.

Now, fully, take this off.

These are all foolish.

Here we are.

The very best merchandise.

The very highest quality.

The very finest.

How much?

There, Mr. Lynch.

How much when XK92?

XK92, that's $31.

That'll be $21.

I like it.

Mm-hmm.

He likes it.

From more streets.

From more football and friends.

School, man.

School.

Good looking boy like you.

If you could be anything you want.

But honest and decent.

Maybe I ain't no scholar.

But honest and decent, I can teach you.

Sure probably you bet.

You teach me all about it.

Good.

Too well.

You like tonight?

Mr. Paulus, I'd like to come in tomorrow morning if I could.

I got some plans tonight.

Who keep me?

I'd like to improve myself.

You've got good hands.

I like numbers too.

Numbers?

Yeah, all kinds of numbers.

You should have come in now.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Ten.

Come on.

Ten.

Sixty-four to point two to one odds.

Two to one odds.

Come on.

Get over there.

He'd leave the money.

Michael Lasker.

Yeah, Sergeant Green.

Common gambling's against the law.

Sergeant, we're all friends here.

Why don't you try your luck?

I'd break the law myself.

Give me the dice.

Try it hard, eh?

Make two fours, ten to one on a dollar.

I'm a poor man, young Michael.

How would I have a dollar to gamble away?

I trust you.

Give me the hat.

Stand there.

Two fours or winner.

All ready and go.

Shoot or wins.

Pay the gentleman.

Go on, Pam.

Game's over for this night.

Michael.

Shoot this game move from place to place.

You'll be sure and keep me informed?

Yeah, sure.

Don't make really make two fours.

Yeah, sure.

What do you think?

Oh, of course he made two fours.

You keep it.

You bought it.

Danny, what?

I don't catch a call.

Hi.

You're

a Roger Reed and showed up.

How's this ten bucks?

You made a dollar?

You want a plate?

You got a bag.

Weren't you investment back or something?

I'll let it back.

You know, Charlie, I got a lot of spare cash for

somebody who pulls his hands from it to the good.

I deliver a lot of hats.

Hey!

Thanks a lot, Tommy.

Hey, you guys here, bro?

Somebody like Sergeant Reardon the alley last night?

That's too bad for Sergeant Reardon.

You got to complain a little for the wolf.

Hey, Charlie.

I could never hold out on you.

Not you.

I

don't talk to him right back.

Him?

Him?

Him?

You?

Me?

What?

It's our money, ain't it?

You're about stops in an alley.

You're as crazy as a bed bug, Benny.

I don't even know you.

I don't even know.

I don't even know you.

You're a buzz in you.

I'm a buzzy.

I'm a buzzy.

Okay.

A buzzy-seakling, all right?

I miss you.

What are you?

Huh?

What are you?

Black.

You're all black.

We'll give you black.

Have you cleaned out the basement strolling lately?

Is Mr. Goodman wanna clean?

I think it'd be a real good idea.

Okay, maybe I will.

Charlie?

Don't you like me, Charlie?

I don't like this place.

Gonna take you and I through town?

Hey, hello, Chris.

Maybe I'll surprise you.

It means time.

You really are crazy.

Because I like you so much.

You like everybody.

What do you want, Charlie?

What do you want more than anything?

Yes.

You want out?

You want money?

Money's the same as out.

I know what I've got.

I bet I could make money at it, too, so could you.

What are you talking about?

Well, I know some other girls.

And we can get a place of town right out of the neighborhood.

And you're so strong.

You could find us the right men.

Men with money.

And you'd protect us.

Yeah, sure.

I could do all that.

Charlie, the protector.

Lucie, out of bed.

Thanks for the compliment you wanted my parents.

Why don't you try and look with that slob myself, either?

I forgot.

You got arrested.

Why don't you try Sayanta?

Maybe you could work one of his crips.

You want to go peddle yourself, have a good time.

Whatever I am, whatever I'm going to be, I don't deal in women.

What do you do in Charlie?

Hats?

Come on, what do you put in the hat, Foxit?

Nah, I ain't going to hit you.

I don't want to hurt you.

Because I don't want you to hurt me.

And I want to forget what you just said.

And you forget too, you understand me?

How much do I owe you for the visit?

If you paid for it, Charlie...

Couldn't begin to afford it.

But no hard feelings.

No hard feelings.

I'll teach you how to operate a solar machine.

I'll make a life, Michael.

Couldn't mean to wake you.

Oh, I was vague.

Want some tea?

I'll make us some eggs.

How about some eggs?

If Ryan Benny brought me some milk.

He did, huh?

A nice boy.

Sure, he's nice.

He brought you some milk, can you?

No.

There's been plenty of milk.

You need enough eggs, you're going to get better.

It's a scientific fact.

The two best doctors in the world have come with sugar.

He works out.

And you come home to watch.

I'm so sorry.

What are you sorry about?

I'm missing those cars like Pokemon and some good old Pokemon.

Yeah.

You know where you're going?

The country.

One of them farmhouses and the cat's skills here.

Set on the front porch for weeks and do nothing but to watch the sun sets.

Count the trees.

They feed you four times a day.

Maybe five.

The food is fresh.

Everything's good for you.

Now they say you're away.

Nobody gives anybody anything, Ma.

Not in Poland, not in America.

Maybe we shouldn't have brought you here.

Ma.

America is the best place.

It's the biggest machine that there is.

And I'm just learning how some of the parts go together.

It may be a kill, Pa, but it's not going to

kill me and it doesn't have to kill you either.

And we don't have to be poor.

I'll prove that to you.

You'll see.

And you're sitting in the country.

You'll see.

Someday.

Someday.

Yeah.

The loophole the wolf's shooter, Joe Massawea,

was now the strong man of the Italian ghetto.

Now he wanted to be boss of these streets.

Charlie Luciano's streets.

Luciano.

Everything go with you, all right?

Fine.

Fine.

I heard you had some trouble.

Police.

Oh, no trouble.

The police are there sticking their nose in the wrong place.

I put them back in there at the place.

What are they going to do to me, eh?

Sure, sure.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Is that the car?

Mama, what are you doing here?

Get to your face and you're ready.

What's the matter?

Where's my smart?

You'll come home for lunch.

No,

I don't come home for lunch.

I take you both out to lunch.

We'll go to a nice restaurant.

You are so rich, eh?

All of a sudden.

Who is the funeral?

Somebody die?

Just stand over there, Charlie.

Who are these guys?

Over there.

Hey, Miss Malaucci, how are you?

What are they doing here?

They ask about you, Salvatore.

You won't mind if we look at your hats.

Oh, now they're not my hats.

Mr. Goodman's hats.

I'll just deliver them.

What's going on here?

What else do you deliver?

Salvatore Luciano, you're under arrest for violation of the Harrison Act.

Okay.

No, clearly.

No, no, no, no, please.

Okay, just clap, see ya.

Where's

this guy Luciano?

Hey, Luciano.

Let's go.

Forget it.

Must be for Frank.

I don't get visitors.

It doesn't say Costello.

It says you.

Maybe it's your old man, Charlie.

I told you, give him a chance.

He waited this long.

He can wait a little longer.

He can't.

I can.

You're coming and not.

He's coming.

I don't, Mr. Goodman.

Sorry, I'm not your father.

That's all mine.

How is he?

Fine.

He's fine.

You're fine, too.

You know that.

How's Mama?

She says her love.

He doesn't want her to come here.

Trucks, Charlie.

How did it get to be Trucks?

I was delivering that hat.

Somebody asked me to deliver something else.

Is that Harrison Act?

All of a sudden, it's a crime.

Couple years ago, there was someone that suffered right over the counter.

You learned that lesson?

Not about the drugs.

He had his laws and his laws, Mr. Goodman.

Some of the cops, he turned their backs on.

The drugs.

And I learned lesson.

The police.

How did they know?

Maybe a girl, I don't know.

Maybe Joe Masariya.

Masariya?

He was arrested and all of a sudden he wasn't arrested no more.

Maybe he traded me off.

Listen, sonny boy.

I learned a few things in my time.

You go for revenge.

You better dig two graves.

All for your enemy, all for yourself.

I teach you that in the hat business.

When you come out, Charlie, you'll come back to me.

You'll make us salesmen.

You'll count on a job.

You'll count the dinner?

Well, be knuckle.

You'll get it in the note.

Thanks for thinking about me.

I appreciate it.

But...

I got out of plans.

What plans?

This is the land of opportunity.

That's when my folks came here from Sicily.

You don't pick up the gold off the streets.

And I'm looking to fight nobody.

I just want my opportunity.

Just like the cops and the politicians and the businessmen with their sweatshops and

everybody else who isn't standing around waiting for gold brick to fall on them.

Croaks, Charlie?

I eat three meals a day.

I made a business.

Am I a crook?

You work hard, Mr. Goodman.

And look what they did to you.

You want to be like them?

Is that what you want?

I'll never be like them.

I don't disrespect, but I'm not like you either.

After they burned you that time, did you pay them off?

Say yes, people.

That was a long time ago, Charlie.

And you're still paying them?

Who's going to protect me?

Tell my mother that I love him.

Yeah.

I'll tell Papa, too.

Tell him, Mom.

I'll make it right by him.

Just give me a few years.

Is a girl that works for you, uh, Chris Brennan?

Oh, yeah, the pretty one.

Yeah, she's still there?

No, she went the way.

Oh, man.

Then say she went to Chicago.

Thanks for coming, Mr. Goodman.

I forgot to ask how's business.

They say we'll be in the vault in France and Vietnam.

I'll make hats.

They'll be taking young men.

They only won't be taking me.

I'm a criminal.

Ask the police.

They don't lie to you.

1920, the guns of World War I were silent.

And the young men who survived it returned to the

normalcy promised by President-elect Warren Hardy.

But peace did not bring prosperity.

And unemployment would reach record numbers.

Life would not be easy for a young man with a prison record.

But Charlie Luciano celebrated his release with a

last legal drink with his friend, Michael Lasker.

Yeah,

what I believe, Mikey, I believe this whole damn country is going to jail.

Either that.

There are a lot of people that are going to get very rich selling bootleg boots.

And you're on a Ross team that's got warehouses full of them.

I know Ross team may be a big brain, but he's not the only one who's got a warehouse.

I'm a businessman now, child.

No more warehouses, a ton of them more.

Mikey, I'm talking about broad data.

It's legal as a church.

And with the right partner.

Who's really got all of the liquor coming?

The government.

The government of the United States.

They made all of this, Mikey.

They made it just for you and for me.

Thank you.

Thanks all the same.

Listen,

just make sure you bring the cash.

Let's go get some ice cream.

Let's go get some ice cream.

Oh, Charlie!

Charlie, don't you like ice cream?

I like ice cream.

Why do we have to do ice cream?

Charlie Luciano, Michael Lasker and Ben Siegel were hardened criminals.

They lived in a violent world.

Like the others in that world, they lived by the gun.

And by a cruelty that was some day to destroy them.