Original subtitles

To them, Harlem is a cotton field,

and I'm the house nigger.

How you doin'? Joe Colombo.

Hey.

Make up your debt to the Families by working with me.

Otherwise...the Families will need to be paid

in full by Friday.

Omar.

[Malcolm X] You betrayed me,

you betrayed this woman,

and you betrayed Islam.

I lost the woman I love,

the mosque I loved,

and the brother I grew up with in this faith.

I just want your forgiveness before I die.

As much as I want to, I can't spill a Black man's blood.

Let Allah decide his fate.

[Gambino] With Chin up in Lewisburg,

everything has gone to shit.

They fuckin' got him poppin' his own assoc--

You have helped throw the Five Families

into total disarray.

I hope they all kill each other.

[Olympia] She'll fucking rat.

She put her own father away, Tommy.

This is your husband Chin's fucking problem.

Why isn't he taking care of it?

You don't think that he knows she should go?

♪♪

Aaah!

The Reverend was just telling me

that he got government funding for Harlem.

The Negro bank is going to receive

a huge influx of cash.

That's great.

Hands up!

Here's the money.

Harlem? It's mine.

[Malcolm X] We don't feel that in 1964

that we should have to sit around and wait

for some degree of civil rights.

No. We want it now,

or we don't think anybody should have it.

[crowd shouting]

- How goes it, Kev? - It's all good.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Alright.

How my men been behaving?

Well, they scared the mailman a few times.

[chuckles]

The neighbors were upset.

Until they realized they now live

on the safest block in Queens.

[both chuckle]

Good, good.

Yeah, my neighbors are almost as grateful as I am.

You know I won't be able to protect you

if you go on this foolish trip to Africa, right?

The only reason I'm going is because I know

your men will be here to protect my family.

They will. You got my word.

And I'm going to want to take Elise with me,

as my secretary.

She can join me after my trip to Mecca.

Elise?

Can't allow that.

She needs to be here, look after Margaret.

I'm sure Mayme can handle things for a week or two.

This is an incredible opportunity.

She has so much potential, Bumpy.

In many ways, she's just like you.

That a compliment?

[chuckles softly]

My friend, the decision should be hers, don't you think?

[sighs]

The reason for this trip is not foolish.

It's to seek alliances with the African Leaders.

I need their help if we are going to win our fight

for freedom here at home.

It's a good idea.

Maybe they can lend me a couple of men

to fight off the Italians. What do you think?

[laughs]

Ah, I've come to realize that you and I believe

we can solve all our problems by ourselves.

We can't.

♪♪

Thanks for everything, Mrs. Allen. See you Sunday.

[indistinct chatter]

Excuse me. Mrs. Johnson.

My boss would be honored with just a few minutes of your time.

And who are you? Who's your boss?

Don't worry. I assure you you are in no danger.

Leg of lamb doesn't keep well in the heat.

- I should really be going. - We could give you a lift.

You live right over in Lenox Terrace, right?

It's no trouble at all.

Mrs. Johnson.

I'm Joe Colombo. It's my pleasure to meet you. Come on.

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Yeah

♪ Change

♪ Yeah

♪ Open up my window again

♪ Open up my window again ♪

♪ I can hear death callin' my name ♪

♪ I can hear death callin' again ♪

♪ I swear to God, things ain't gon' change ♪

♪ I swear to God, things ain't gon' change ♪

♪ I keep a revolver with your name ♪

♪ I keep a revolver with your name ♪

♪ Just in case

[rapping] ♪ Lay on my back watchin' the ceilin' fan ♪

♪ I had a dream to touch a kilo gram ♪

♪ Still at odds with the Irish mob ♪

♪ Rolls-Royce down Malcolm X Boulevard ♪

♪ Lord, these -- really out here preyin' on me ♪

♪ Got the .40 on me and his hand on me ♪

♪ Snow-white mink like I'm Dutch Schultz ♪

♪ Run the books and let me show you how the numbers look ♪

♪ You can't be lucky like you Luciano ♪

♪ The kilos slammin' like they new pianos ♪

♪ And Fat Boy got the big body

♪ Coast-to-coast, I could shoot product ♪

♪ Open up my window again

♪ Open up my window again ♪

♪ I can hear death callin' my name ♪

♪ I can hear death callin' again ♪

♪ I swear to God, things ain't gon' change ♪

♪ I swear to God, things ain't gon' change ♪

♪ I keep a revolver with your name ♪

♪ I keep a revolver with your name ♪

♪ Just in case

♪ Well, I'm a king bee ♪

[Colombo] How's that butcher?

I hear they got the best top round in Harlem.

Would you like a drink?

My husband is gonna have something to say

about you picking me up in broad daylight.

That's what I want to talk to you about--your husband.

Ain't a secret he confides in you.

I hear that you're, uh, as we Sicilians say,

his "consigliere."

[scoffs] Hardly.

I figured you could help him see the value

of the deal I'm offering.

I don't have that kind of influence.

My car-parts business made $12 million last year.

I offered your husband a piece.

A real piece.

In return for sharing the profits of narcotics in Harlem.

I got judges.

I got cops.

I can keep your husband out of jail.

♪♪

♪ Well

I'll have that drink.

Whiskey neat okay?

[bottle pours]

- [glasses clatter] - ♪ Sting you bad

Just talk to him.

Tell him I want friendship and not any kind of violence.

Salud.

♪ Well, I'm a king bee

♪♪

He's dead!

Ellsworth!

My nerves are shot enough as it is.

The man is off the hinges, no question, but he didn't hurt me.

I don't give a fuck if he invited you to tea.

You are off-limits.

You're one to talk about limits.

You hid a gun under Margaret's piano?

It ain't loaded. But it will be.

You know, maybe you and this Colombo

are more similar than you think.

A man bold enough

to yank Bumpy Johnson's wife off the street

isn't so different than one

who's willing to rob his own people

to pay off a debt to a white man.

Yeah, I know what you did.

Do you think I'm stupid?

The bank won't miss a beat.

It's the government's money to begin with.

They'll pay it back.

They owe us anyway. Just call it reparations.

You robbed a federal institution,

plain and simple.

You are sliding down a rap sheet to hell.

At least this Colombo guy said he had enough pull

to get you out of prison.

And you believe that motherfucker?

Of course he said that.

He would say anything to put me in his pocket.

I don't want you in anyone's pocket.

Hell, if I could put you behind a desk, I would.

It would certainly reflect better on me and my ambitions.

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Just think about it. That is all I'm asking you.

You better cool down before you go anywhere.

[door opens]

[door slams]

"The muddled whisper of one's soul

may finally be heard clearly in the Holy Land."

Or so I've been told.

I'm sure Allah will speak wonders to you

while on the Hajj.

What a privilege to be going.

Does the idea of traveling interest you, sister?

I could pick up three languages just riding the A-Train.

I've never even been to Brooklyn.

[chuckles]

I would love for you to come with me to Africa--

after my trip to Mecca.

I'll need an executive assistant to coordinate my affairs.

Travel to Africa with you?

Who better than you?

We'll have to get you a passport.

You, me, and Betty in Africa.

Uh, Betty will be staying home.

Is everything okay? Does she approve of this?

It was actually her idea.

Mm, maybe she knows you'll keep a close eye on me.

Margaret and I just started geography.

She's doing really well.

I've been homeschooling her.

What better way of teaching Margaret

than visiting the places you've been showing her on a map?

[Lucchese] That fuck did what?

You got to be fucking kidding me!

Is this what you motherfuckers are now?

Snatching wives off the goddamn sidewalk?

Bumpy, we don't get women and children involved

with our fucking business.

That's part of our-- Get the fuck away!

Everybody, get the fuck out, everybody!

I am showing the commission the respect to tell you

in advance that I'm gonna kill this motherfucker.

Stop.

Nobody's gonna kill a fucking boss.

Come on. Sit down.

Do you really think we need a fucking war right now?

We've got this scumbag heeb, fuckin' Morgenthau,

with all his little toy soldiers up our ass.

Do we need this now?

Till you get Colombo in line,

I'm gonna assume that the gloves are off

when it comes to you guineas.

Stop it. I'm on your side.

What Colombo did with your wife is a fucking disgrace.

But as wrong as it was,

he never laid a hand on your wife, Bumpy.

Tommy, we've known each other for decades.

Would you allow a man to take your wife on a ride

against her will?

Bumpy, I promise you,

I will put the fucking hammer down on Colombo.

That's not good enough.

Hey, I tell you what.

7:00--you be here Friday night.

You, me, and the Family heads right here,

and we'll straighten this whole Harlem thing out.

That's better.

But if he takes the gloves off,

you've all taken the gloves off,

and I will fight you bare-knuckle

like a motherfucker.

♪♪

Malcolm invited you to Africa?

I'd be his assistant.

Can't believe he'd trust me that much, like a confidant.

Oh, it's an incredible opportunity,

but was Betty okay with it?

It was her idea that I go with Malcolm.

Pack your bags. You two and Margaret

got to go to your mother's in South Carolina.

- What are you talking about? - South Carolina?

I got a feeling that me and the Italians--

we're about to go to war.

What happened to Colombo's offer?

He's a loose cannon. God knows what he'll do next.

It took weeks for Margaret to get over the riots.

She just started sleeping through the night.

We are not leaving, Ellsworth.

There is too much on my plate.

A man can just yanked you off the goddamn street,

and you're worried about playing Powell's secretary?

Reverend Powell and this community are counting on me.

I am staying put.

Look, it's not a request, alright?

Last time we went down South, I barely slept, Margaret either.

The nightmares we had.

And now--now with a war, one you could easily avoid--

Alright.

Elise, why don't you take Margaret down South

to Mayme's mother's?

At least until things cool off a bit, okay?

Malcolm has invited Elise to join him on his trip to Africa.

Yeah, he told me.

But that ain't gonna fly right now.

- [telephone rings] - [indistinct chatter]

How much manpower we got?

Fifty-five of our own, if you including the warehouse guys.

Gangs?

We got the Comanches

and the East Side Boys in our pockets,

plus the 12 of our best on Malcolm X's detail.

That's where they're gonna stay.

How about these other gangs?

Since we couldn't deliver on the duji,

they've been buckin' us.

We gettin' blowback from the Reapers,

the Savage Skulls, and the Gulleymen.

And Colombo's gonna promise them a direct line to the duji

when it gets in from Marseilles.

If he gets to them, we're fucked.

Get the leaders down here.

Kingston, Bone, and Gerald from the Skulls.

- I want to meet with them. - What are you gonna do?

You say they're buckin' us because of the duji, right?

Yeah.

I'm gonna give them what they want.

Hey.

I knew your father.

Oh, yeah.

The old man used to talk about how you two were friends.

Friends? He was never my fucking friend.

He was a piece of shit.

He never followed fucking orders.

Eh, he was loyal and you know it.

Didn't deserve to die the way he did.

In a car with his pants around his fucking ankles,

his goomah's head in his lap?

Too good of a death, if you ask me.

Tell that to my mother, who grieves to this day.

Your mother's gonna have something else to grieve for

if you're not fucking careful.

See, your father--

he thought he knew more than the fucking bosses.

I'm starting to see the apple don't fall far

from the fucking tree.

I'm a boss now myself, don't forget.

What the fuck were you doing with Bumpy's wife?

You trying to start a war with these niggers?

I'm trying to prevent one.

Stay the fuck away from Bumpy and his wife.

Otherwise, you can end up like your father, capisce?

Here I am trying to bring you Harlem,

and all you do is criticize.

Colombo, I speak for all the bosses, okay?

Just so you know, it was a friendly conversation

between me and Mrs. Johnson.

Did you not fucking hear me?

Don't worry. I get the point.

Enjoy your lunch, Tom.

Just so you know, I'm nothing like my father.

♪♪

Why you got us down here, Bumpy?

You'll see.

Why we here, mon?

Take a look.

Made a deal with the Rizzuto Family in Montreal

for 300 keys.

This should make up for the mishap with the duji.

Bumpy, you came through.

One more thing before I front you as much as you want.

Kingston, I heard we have a problem.

Colombo promises a piece of his next shipment--

wholesale.

That was before you came through.

So we're good.

Long as this shit's proper.

Yeah.

It's proper.

- Here's your duji. - Oh, shit!

What the fuck?

[gargling, retching]

Go back to your men.

You're either with me or you're dead.

♪♪

♪♪

[Colombo] Well, it looks good.

Looks like he got some sleep.

Where the fuck did you get this?

Some hotshot painter down in the village

owed Chin a couple of thousand, so he gave me this instead.

Y-You think it was worth it?

No. He paid up after I broke his nose,

but I took the picture anyway.

Gentlemen, my time is limited.

Eh, these Jew lawyers--

they get paid by the hour, you know?

All lawyers do.

Yeah, alright, uh, give us a minute.

Shut the door.

[indistinct shouting in distance]

[door shuts]

Did you give Mr. Gigante my message?

Yes. Chin understands your problem with the other bosses

and your desire to secure Harlem.

So he knows that my interests and his are the same.

He indicated as such, but--

But what?

If he wants me to secure Harlem and Bumpy Johnson,

I'm gonna need his influence over the other bosses.

They know Harlem's a fucking gold mine.

Mr. Colombo, my understanding is that Mr. Gigante

would be willing to give you his support under one condition.

What's that?

That you protect his daughter.

His daughter? Why the fuck would she need protection?

We are aware that there is a threat to her life

from one of the other Families.

- Why? - That's irrelevant.

She's gone missing.

You find her, keep her safe, Chin will do what you ask.

Any idea where she is?

That's your job, Mr, Colombo.

But the last person who saw her was Chin's wife, Olympia.

I thought it would take years to get used to living in Philly,

but it ain't that much different than Harlem.

- How so? - Riots--we got 'em.

The cops beat up a woman not two blocks from here.

Odessa Bradford.

Folks started to protest,

and before you know it, the city's on fire.

That's terrible.

And we got the Italian mob, too, but I'm sure you knew that.

Yep, it's just like home.

All the more reason why I need to get away as soon as possible.

- And go where? - Paris.

When I can scrounge up enough money.

The City of Light.

But why so far away?

Something horrible happened back in Harlem.

I can never go home.

I gathered that, but what is it?

Please tell me, Stella.

My imagination is gonna be a lot worse

than whatever it is you say.

I killed a man.

There was a hit out on me, and it was self-defense.

Your father did that?

My stepmother.

No shit.

That's a nice family, huh?

I thought Italians considered family sacred or some shit.

Not mine.

That's why I need to get as far away as possible,

start my life over.

I understand.

Although, you know what they say.

Wherever you go, you bring yourself and your past.

- Is Daddy in trouble again? - Daddy's not going anywhere.

He just wants to keep you safe

while he takes care of some important business.

Am I in trouble?

Since when are you ever in trouble?

Your Mee-Maw said she'll have your favorite,

biscuits and gravy, waiting for us when we get there.

And they're your favorite, too. Right, Mom?

Oh, I'm not going, sweetheart.

Your daddy really needs my help this time.

But you'll have Elise with you.

Yeah. And we'll keep studying the world's capitals.

We'll work on Africa next.

But I can help Daddy, too.

Oh.

We are gonna miss you terribly, Margaret,

but we have to keep you safe.

Who's gonna keep yousafe?

I'll be fine.

Please, Mom.

Please come with us. Mee-Maw has an extra bedroom.

The guard out front said

two Italian-looking motherfuckers

just dumped them at the front gate.

They fucking whacked Bone and Stokes?

Make no mistake, we're on the edge of war.

This--this is Colombo.

- Why? - He's been talking to the gangs.

Kingston said so himself.

Probably found out what I did to Kingston,

so he's making his own play to intimidate.

Even if we could keep the gangs in line,

we still wouldn't have a chance against all five Families.

We're losing our grip on Central Harlem.

[sighs]

We got to go outside.

Set a meet with Jose Battle.

Spanish Harlem?

Jose Battle don't want nothing to do with us,

especially after you had to knock off his boy Guapo.

Besides, don't he work with the guineas?

They got a peace agreement.

He probably pays a percentage to be left alone.

But he's got men. He's got guns.

He can help us change the balance of power.

Boss, is it possible we'd be better off

striking a deal with the guineas?

I mean, if Jose Battle did it, why can't we?

Just set the fucking meet.

No.

This cannot be true.

I mean, who would want to hurt my Stella? You tell me.

Your husband believes it was one of the other families.

He doesn't know which one.

For all we know, your life could be in danger, too.

Oh, my God. Are you sure?

According to his lawyer.

Oh, my God. I can't believe this.

I mean, what is happening in this world

when families are not even off-limits?

Yeah, no one respects the rules anymore, I guess.

Oh, my God. But you do, right?

[sighs]

Of course.

No, that's good.

That's good.

That's good. Good.

I mean, this is why I turned a blind eye

to my husband's business, you know?

I never ask him any questions,

because I don't want to know for nothing.

Mm-hmm.

That's how it should be.

Mrs. Gigante, you have any idea where Stella could have went?

Oh, my God. That is a good question.

I mean, this kid-- she has no friends.

I love her to pieces, but she's like--

She's so awkward around people, you know?

Mm.

Can I see her room?

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Who's Delia Greene?

Yeah, go ahead, you take the corner, alright?

It's like I wasn't even in the room.

In Margaret's eyes, Mayme's still her mother.

I'm just a bonus.

At what point does it switch over?

Margaret's just trying to make sense of a world

that keeps changing.

You have to be patient.

I wish I could forgive myself as freely as Allah forgave me.

What would you do as a mother?

When I sent the girls up to Boston,

I cried the moment that bus rolled away.

Then I went home and slept for hours.

I finally had a moment of peace.

Sometimes, a little separation is necessary.

I think you should go to Africa.

Boston is four hours away.

I can't phone Margaret from Ghana.

Ghana will be breathtaking.

The lush, green mountains, the flowing rivers,

all the beautiful black faces in bright fabrics.

I wish I was going.

Why aren't you?

I have enough to worry about here.

And Malcolm needs to focus.

You'll be a great blessing-- to us both.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[gunshots]

[speaking Spanish]

Jose.

Thanks for giving me a meet.

Long time.

You remember my men-- Chance, Pettigrew?

A gift.

I've been told that it's a Cuban tradition

to keep a horseshoe by the door.

To ward off the devil.

I see you got that covered already.

I have many doors, and there are many devils.

I can always use another one.

Thank you.

Government-issue M16s.

It looks like they come from the U.S. Army.

It's hard to get. I'm impressed.

You have a good eye.

And I have friends in high places.

Come. We'll go upstairs.

We talk, have coffee.

You make good money,

but the Italians get the better end of the deal.

Why do you care so much about my business?

[Bumpy] I think we can help each other.

The Italians got East Harlem.

I got Central.

You got Spanish Harlem.

But they got their fingers in everything,

all of our businesses that we built.

They leave me alone. That's worth a percentage.

What if I offered you half of my operations?

You want to be partners with me?

Equal partners.

And that's something that the Italians would never allow.

You ever wonder why?

Because my skin is brown, and yours is black.

And our blood is red, just like theirs.

Blood is gonna flow.

There's gonna be a war in Harlem.

Over narcotics. But this is not my war.

Maybe not now, but trust me--

they'll call on you for your men and your guns,

whether you like it or not.

The only war I'm interested in fighting

is the one to take back my country, Cuba.

I'd give my life to kill Castro. I care nothing for heroin.

We're both fighting to take back our homelands.

Mine is Harlem.

In Cuba, we call somebody like you an Alzado.

Uh, the Cuban fighters who died

kicking out the Spaniards, right?

You're very knowledgeable.

And as Alzados, together, we'll be so strong

that the Italians won't even dare start a war.

Hopefully no blood will be spilt,

and you'll be a hell of a lot richer.

It's a very tempting offer.

Before I can accept, I have to consult with my adviser.

♪♪

Santería is my religion.

In my faith, it is customary to consult the Orishas

before making any important decisions.

Have a seat, my friend.

She is asking the Orishas for guidance

regarding our union.

[speaking Spanish]

She's saying those three have landed with their mouths up,

representing Ogunda.

Ogunda we see as problems and resolving conflicts.

So this is positive, I assume.

Patience.

[hand pounding]

Ogunda tetura.

[speaking Spanish]

That's Ogunda tetura. We see that as negative.

Police. Legal issues. Problems.

I've had plenty of those. That ain't no reason to worry.

Madrina.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[hand pounding]

♪♪

♪♪

Osogbo.

That...

is bad energy.

I'm sorry. I cannot accept your proposal. Gracias, Madrina.

You make all your business decisions based on seashells?

Only the important ones.

I guess these Orishas-- they're never wrong.

Listen, my brother,

maybe the spirit of my friend Guapo that you killed

has entered and influenced the outcome.

Regardless, I have to obey the shells.

I'm sorry.

Guapo was a snitch.

The shells should have factored that in.

A white girl acting like the help.

If that don't beat all.

It's the least I can do.

I'll take care of it. I want to give you something.

♪ The day you moved away

This enough for a plane ticket to France.

Delia, I can't take your money.

It's Gigante money.

That crazy white boy you married give it to me

with a gun to my head. I got plenty more.

I've already taken too much from you. I--

You're all I got left of my son.

Teddy would want you to be safe.

I want you to be safe.

♪ Oh, what a mournful song

Thank you.

♪♪

Maybe in a different time,

you could have been my daughter-in-law.

You might as well go on and see all the things

Teddy never got to see for us both.

Thank you.

♪♪

[knocking]

♪♪

♪♪

Stella Gigante? Come with me.

She ain't got to go nowhere with you.

I'm afraid she does.

♪♪

Hey.

I'm not turning down Malcolm's offer.

I'm going with him to Africa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

You're not going anywhere but down south with Margaret.

She's a big girl. She can take care of herself.

Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm going.

You and Malcolm have lost your damn minds.

I can barely keep him alive in Queens.

Now he wants to go speak to the kings of the world,

where anybody could be hiding in the bushes?

I can't protect either of you in Africa.

Africa, Harlem, Queens, South Carolina -- anywhere I go your shit can catch up to me.

You have never kept me safe, Daddy.

And you are not gonna get in my way now pretending to.

Hey! Come back here.

Do you know why I barely slept in Alcatraz?

Because you were surrounded by men who were just like you?

'Cause I didn't know what happened to you.

I dreamt the worst-- raped, beaten, killed.

Now I'm about to lose Harlem, and if there's a war...

I can't protect any of us.

Do you see?

I see you, Daddy, all too clearly.

It's okay if you hate me.

As long as I keep you alive.

- It's just not fair. - I know.

I'm sorry.

But, please, we got to do better for Margaret.

She's both our second chance.

In a small town, word gets around fast.

You must know, growing up in Cuba.

Well, Cuba's actually a very big island,

but keeping secrets is difficult no matter where you live.

Of course. No-No disrespect.

I hear Bumpy Johnson paid you a visit.

He did.

No doubt to make you an offer.

Am I wrong?

A very generous one.

What did you say?

He seems to think a war is coming to Harlem over narcotics.

Here's what you need to know.

I gave Bumpy Johnson a square deal.

He turned me down.

He's right about something.

There is gonna be a war if he doesn't make a deal.

A war in Harlem is not good for business.

It's one he can't win.

Unless he tries to get someone like you and your guns

and your men on his side.

Relax.

I told him no.

There's gonna be a sit-down with Bumpy Johnson

and the Families tomorrow night.

You should be there, too.

I'll talk to the Families about cutting you a better deal.

Eh?

Fuck.

You Cubans really make a great cigar.

Pardon me.

♪♪

Madrina.

Mayme said Mee-Maw's gets cold at night,

so I washed all your warm socks and pajamas.

You think it gets cold in Ghana?

I imagine it's always sunny.

Kings live there.

In the capital, Accra.

My friend Malcolm says that the great kings of Africa

meet in Ghana to discuss how to unify their nations.

Hmm.

You think if Harlem had a king, everybody get along?

Well, that's what Malcolm wants to do.

He wants to get the African kings' advice

so he can bring unity here.

Malcolm sounds pretty smart.

Smartest man I know.

I can see why you'd want to go with him.

I'd want to go, too.

I'd rather be with you

than all the kings and queens of the world.

We're gonna have the best time at Mee-Maw's.

Maps are cool.

You can take them anywhere.

But it's not the same as actually being there.

When you're really there, the ground remembers your feet.

So I want to walk on as many places as I can

so that the whole world will know me.

♪♪

♪♪

[indistinct chatter]

Stella Gigante?

No one told me you were this beautiful.

Joe Colombo, a friend of your father's.

- What do you want from me? - I want to help you.

By kidnapping me?

Eh, it's only kidnapping if you try to run away.

Come on.

So, until your father can assure your safety,

you'll stay under my care.

My father told you this?

Through Fineman, his lawyer.

- What do you get out of it? - Your father's goodwill.

He's a very powerful man, your father.

And you're happy to take advantage of his weakness

while he's in jail.

- I want him to like me. - And you, too.

Well, if you want that, you should let me go.

I'd be a lot safer in Europe.

Can't do that.

You need to stay in Harlem with me.

Please, Joe.

You don't understand my family.

I think I do.

We don't get to pick our parents, Stella.

My father was a violent man,

a drunk.

He never loved me.

He even tried to rat me out to the cops

for a crime he committed.

[mumbles indistinctly]

I'm still paying for his foolishness.

But that's life.

Why don't you tell my father you didn't find me?

I can just leave the country.

But I want him to know I found you

and that I'm keeping guards on you,

giving you a place to live.

You mean keeping me prisoner.

No.

Keeping you safe and treating you with respect.

♪♪

It's very important your father trusts me, Stella.

So I'm gonna need you to trust me, too.

♪♪

Somebody's favorite treat

with extra cherries and chocolate sauce.

Is that a sundae or a fruit salad?

I'd like to fit in my suit in the morning,

thank you very much.

Someone here wants ice-cream soup.

Need some help with that, little one?

You still full from lunch, Margaret?

Mm-hmm.

She's just making room for Mee-Maw's good cooking.

We're all packed and ready for the bus.

All that good Southern food and green grass,

you're hardly gonna miss us.

I am gonna miss you.

And Mama.

And Elise.

I'm going with you, Margaret.

You should go to Africa with Malcolm.

And go see all the African kings and queens.

I told you, you are way more important to me

than any of that.

I'll be here when you get back.

Then you can tell me all their secrets.

You'll be safe with Malcolm.

I'll be safe with Mee-Maw,

and Mama and Daddy won't have to worry about us.

Worry less until you are safe in South Carolina.

We Johnsons do best when we're together.

But Johnsons are tough. Like you, Daddy.

You said we're born with iron in our ankles

and that nothing can knock us down.

[chuckles]

I can take the bus by myself, keep up with my schoolwork,

and make my own bed.

And Elise can get on a plane and fly across the world.

♪♪

We're Johnsons.

We can do anything.

Yes, we can, sweetheart.

♪♪

Well, pardon me for getting in the way of Johnsons

doing Johnson things.

Oh, no, there's three cherries in there.

I knew it.

- Every time. - [all chuckle]

I can't believe Margaret's leaving in the morning.

She'll be a grown woman before we see her again.

I hate it, too. But we got to protect her.

Shit's about to explode.

And whose fault is that?

What are you talking about?

You could consider Colombo's offer.

You could prevent an all-out war,

a war that is set up for you to lose.

My men are ready for what's to come.

You are sending them on a suicide mission.

Is that what you want? Are you ready to die, too?

Of course not.

The solution's been right in front of your face,

and you keep on running from it.

- What solution is that? - Partnership.

You can't run Harlem alone, Ellsworth.

You need an alliance.

Someone else needs to be fighting these battles with you.

[sighs]

♪♪

[sighs]

♪♪

♪ I can't explain the way the fame could change ♪

♪ As I float lane to lane

♪ It ain't the same, learn to embrace the pain ♪

♪ Or just remain to blame

♪ Let's shock the world from countertops with dust ♪

♪ I still could smell the bust

♪ They not as thorough, I can't explain the rush ♪

♪ But for this life, I lust

♪ Damn, niggas tryna stick me for my paper ♪

♪ Damn, niggas tryna stick me for my paper ♪

♪ Damn, crib too big, I hardly see my neighbor ♪

♪ Damn, niggas tryna stick me for my paper ♪

♪♪

♪♪

Seashells tell you to be here?

Well, well, well. He showed up.

Of course he did. He isn't stupid.

Bumpy, thank you for gracing us with your presence.

Let's put all those unpleasantries behind us.

Let's focus on our deal and the next shipment of narcotics

from Marseilles.

Yeah.

Hey, a smart businessman, right?

This man tried to intimidate my wife!

That can never happen again!

Agree, Joe?

For that, you have my sincere apologies.

Bumpy, let's talk terms.

When the French dope comes in,

myself and the rest of the Families

will charge Bumpy Johnson 25% of his profits

for the right to distribute in Harlem.

Now, as a special favor for our friend Jose Battle,

I would suggest the Families kick him a percentage. Say 10%.

[Gambino] Hold on. Colombo, wait.

Wait just a second.

Battle ain't in the dope.

Times have changed, Don Carlo.

We need to be more magnanimous.

We need Jose Battle to keep the peace.

We need Bumpy Johnson to sell our dope in Harlem.

I think the terms are fair.

Are we all in agreement?

The Luccheses agree.

On behalf of the Bonanno Family, yes.

Gambino's a yes.

I obviously speak for Chin while he's away,

so...yes.

Bumpy, I think this is a very generous deal for all of us.

What do you say?

I appreciate you gentlemen sitting down to a meet.

I should say yes to this deal.

It's fair.

And if I say no, there'll be a war.

They say a lion doesn't know that he's caged

until he's let out.

I got a taste of that on the last shipment

when I was made an equal partner.

I got a taste of freedom.

Now I just can't go back into the cage.

So to this deal...

I respectfully say...

go fuck yourselves.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

That was some speech in there.

Your friends ask you to come and try to change my mind?

I'd rather be friends with an Alzado.

What about the shells?

Not always right.

They told me to marry my two ex-wives.

Alzado?

Alzado.

You're built "Johnson tough," little one.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪