Original subtitles

- [Announcer] Tonight on Wiseguy.

- You're thinking of serving up our business for dinner.

That's insane.

- It's my business before it's our business.

(pounds)

- Now, this is a chance for us to get into the rag trade

at a level we've never been before.

- You want to give this to Terranova.

(pounds)

- You can't selectively cooperate.

- And you can't use me as a trough to feed gumbas

to the Justice Department.

What are you doing to me, Vinnie?

What do I have left when you're done?

- David, I will not let that happen.

Believe me.

(pounds)

("Wiseguy Theme Music" by Mike Post)

- This business is a jungle.

You hustle or you die.

Trucker, cutter, rack jobber, the broad on the runway

with a metronome cervix, and the I'm too stupid

to be anything but bored punim.

Nobody gets a pass, honey. (cries)

Don't do that.

I'm teaching you something.

It's a jungle, shoulder to shoulder at the watering hole,

and everybody's lookin' for their own personal delta.

My father came here lookin' for the Jordan.

Maybe you're looking for the Yangtze.

Any event, it's the same thing.

You hang onto this machine and hope.

You hope the pattern's right, the cutter followed it,

and your sweat doesn't drip on it.

And if the stars favor ya, you'll get a piece of material

that'll feed your family through another season.

Now, when something goes wrong, you don't cry about it.

You fix it.

You don't think about it.

You do it.

Like this, like this, (snaps) you--

- Dad?

Dad?

She doesn't speak English.

- Dammit, where's Bill?

- You sent him home to make the Sukkot.

- He used to be the best cutter in the business.

Now, he's taking advantage of me.

(phone rings)

Let me see.

Turn around.

Oh, here, work it, sweetheart, work it.

You took care of customs.

- There's a lot of red tape.

- You don't know how to deal with anything

that isn't neat and clean, do ya?

- What I certainly don't know how to do

is finish a sentence around you.

- So finish.

- The Korean order came in on Japanese documents.

Japan's exceeded quota.

I've already talked to the international

trade guy at Hiam's office.

It could take month.

- A month?

I'm needing a couple a million dollars.

How many times have I told you?

Do not take no for an answer.

- 14,000.

- Mr. Jackson's here.

(upbeat instrumental music)

- Did you see Coke Bottles?

- Yeah, he doesn't have the money.

- Can't you do anything right?

- I made the dean's list.

- I was thinking this decade.

(upbeat instrumental music)

It's a beaut, huh, George?

- It could sell in the window,

so what have we got here?

- Poly, ray, cotton.

Profit's built in.

Take a good look.

- Does it feel good?

- Very good.

- You want to have dinner?

- I have to check my calendar.

- What do you think you want to take, George?

- You think she'll go out with me?

- George, you've got great charisma.

Let's do the order first.

- I don't want your casuals.

But I'll take 300 units each on the career line.

And you can give me that in a vibrant blue and green?

- Of course.

- All right, 200.

I need it on the floor in three weeks.

- Three weeks?

Put a gun to my head.

- Anything else, Eli?

- What about tonight?

- Three weeks, George?

- Tack on the overtime, and I'll cover it.

- Tonight's just fine, Mr. Jackson.

(phone rings)

- Half million dollar short order?

And two million mildewing in the harbor?

- Coke Bottle's will cover it.

- No problem with the 500K.

- [Eli] Good, what about the two million?

- You're dreamin'.

- I'm dreamin'?

Who do you think you're talking to?

- God, I'm talking to God.

He's hiding in the refrigerator.

- Johnny, I gotta reproduce and deliver

on that order in 10 days or I eat it.

- You want the 500?

No problem.

The two mil, it ain't there.

- Johnny, 25 years, Johnny.

I helped you get started.

- You want two mil, huh?

There's only place in Seventh Avenue

to get that kind of cash.

- We don't do business there.

- I'll make that decision.

Come on.

Come on.

- You want the 500 or not?

- [Eli] Yeah, I want the five.

You know what you are, Johnny?

- Yeah, I know what I am, a survivor.

(phone rings)

- [Woman] Mr. Pinzolo's office.

- Mr. P, Johnny Coke Bottles calling.

- I got over a 125,000 in T bills and stocks

I can borrow against.

You got over 100,000 in equity on your castle.

- You don't put your personal property at risk for business.

- Oh, that's smart.

That is really smart.

You put your life at risk, but you keep your estate intact.

- I've been doin' business with Pinzolo for 40 years.

- With his father for trucking.

Going to Rick for money is stupid.

- I won't have you using that tone of voice with me.

What you know about this business

you could put in a thimble.

- And what's going to be left of this business

after Pinzolo is through with it, you can put in a thimble.

Dad, I went to school with Rick.

He's not his father.

He keeps score by consumption.

You're thinking of serving up our business for dinner.

That's insane.

- It's my business before it's our business.

- Look, Dad--

- David, David, it will work out.

It always does.

Forget about it for now.

Let's have a nice Sukkos.

(light instrumental music)

(yells and laughs)

- Aye, Davie.

How are you, baby?

- You made a beautiful Sukkot again, Uncle Phil.

- Same old Sukkot.

Hey, what is wrong with your father?

- [David] Who knows?

- Who knows?

He's usually all teeth at this things

showing off his latest shiksa wife.

Business is bothering Eli?

- You've been through it before.

- I was there at the beginning.

- [David] (laughs) Uncle Phil.

- I was the beginning, David.

- Carol?

- David.

- [David] Hi, sweetheart.

- [Carol] Hi.

- You look great.

Lil, Lil, you look wonderful.

Such a warm woman.

- (laughs) Don't pick on my mother.

You know she hates these family things.

- What she hates is my father who is certainly

not Ben-Gurion but hate?

- She wouldn't be happy if she wasn't hating somebody.

- I gotta talk to you confidentially.

Ira, do me a favor.

Will you take this?

- Sure.

- What's up?

- Carol, you're pretty directly involved

in some major takeovers, right?

- Yeah.

- We got a problem with Elrose.

We're in the position of not making deadline

on an order without a two million dollar line of credit.

We've got a solid contract to borrow against.

You know anybody we can turn to for an assist?

- David, there's nobody in this family

I care about as much as you.

- It's a no, right?

- I put together 250,000.

You can have it all.

- I need two million.

- I'm about to put together the biggest deal of my life.

If I go in asking for this kind of favor,

it's gonna dilute my position with the company.

- I understand.

- What about the shiksa goddess?

Isn't she old money?

- She's all pretense.

She's just another Midwest buy who saw Dad

as the best bet for her new fall line.

- Well, rumor has it that she tried you on first.

- Carol.

- Well, is it true?

- Carol, how?

Well, (laughs) come on.

You remember how it used to be,

hopping bars on Columbus Avenue.

Three o'clock in the morning.

A little too much champagne.

A little too much smoke.

(laughs)

And, you know, three years later,

who remembers who you're bumping into?

You know, you don't remember names or faces or,

actually I do remember a little mold.

- David. (laughs)

Where are you gonna get this money?

- We'll get it.

Hey, come on, gornicht.

I don't want you feeling guilty.

It's out there.

Somebody will sell us the money.

- The money is no problem.

The money's a pleasure.

Dr. Sternberg's is an opportunity.

Okay, this is the deal.

Money at two points above prime.

Consulting fee of 1% a month on the full loan

while money is outstanding.

All checks to all vendors will be drawn

directly from this office for which there

is a one point monthly service fee.

And your contract with Amichi trucking will be updated

to reflect contemporary charging practices,

four cents a unit.

- That's more than double what we're paying Amichi now.

- I know, yeah.

- I had an agreement with your father.

- Going back 40 years, I know.

My father (clears throat) God bless him.

He had a heart of gold, but as a business man,

and I mean no disrespect.

He was an idiot.

So maybe you should shop the deal before you decide.

- Who's got time for shopping?

You got a deal.

David, redo the deal.

- I didn't know you collected art.

- Oh, yeah, yeah, art.

Art's something you keep your money in

while you're looking for a better place to put it.

Would you like some juice?

- Oh, no thank you.

When do you think, Rick?

- I'll have the paperwork this afternoon.

You can cut the checks the minute you sign.

- Fine, come on, David.

- Dave?

Stick around for a minute.

I'd like to talk if that's?

- Yeah, talk now.

I'll meet you later.

Yeah?

- What's the matter with you?

You object to this arrangement?

- I'm gagging on it.

- Why?

- Who are you kidding, Rick?

Tell me your intent isn't taking over

Elrose draining its assets?

You show me once where you haven't done that.

- This is a business.

- This is my future.

It's not another collectible you can hang on your wall

while you're looking for a better place to put your money.

My father's convinced himself he can deal with you

'cause he's dealt with your father.

He's so desperate he's obliviating

that little bit of telling nostalgia.

Calling your father an idiot business man?

- I didn't know you harbored such deep resentment.

- Resentment?

Try fear.

I've seen the gun in your hand, Ricky.

- Oh, yeah. (laughs)

That was a long time ago.

Come on.

There's no gun here.

- It's still there.

I can see it in your eyes.

I can read you.

I've been able to read you since college.

- We were kids then.

Those were goods times, huh?

- They were worthless.

The world wasn't real to me then.

- Well, it is now, David.

Let me tell you something.

Old college buddies will only cut you so much slack.

Okay, David?

Don't stand in my way.

(juicer hums)

- Mr. Sternberg, rest assured the government

sympathizes with your situation.

- Sympathy I can get from my mother.

I came to you because my business is--

- I thought it was your father's business.

- It will be my business.

I'm trying to prevent it from being bled white.

- Who by?

- Look, Mr. Epstein, I don't know

how much you know about the rag trade,

but I've got two million dollars worth of winter coordinates

floating out in the harbor because some jerk

in customs made a mistake on a bill of lading.

Three months ago, we had a fire at our factory

in Wilkes-Barre, a few weeks before that

at our place in Redding, two of our cutting machines

went down at the same time.

- Has Elrose been making enemies lately?

- What I need you to understand

is what kind of man my father is.

When he was a kid, his bedroom was a closet,

literally a closet.

There's no difference between business and personal.

With him, everything is personal.

Every time he gets an order,

he's back in Flatbush again fighting to get out.

- Do you have orders to fill?

- 500,000, three week turnaround.

- Good startup, fires, machine breakdowns,

it sounds like Elrose is in need of ready cash.

You go to your factor.

- It's a guy named Johnny Pakula.

- You go to Coke Bottles.

Maybe he doesn't have it,

or maybe he does and he won't give.

You have a delivery date.

If you're one day late, they can refuse to accept,

and you've got bupkis, so you go elsewhere

because you need the money.

Where does your father go, Dave?

Feinstein?

Palegra?

You came to us.

Am I right?

You know, I was in the Navy, and after six months

at sea, you're so horny you could deflect bullets.

You don't care who.

You don't care what.

You need a broad.

You've seen the films.

You know the risk.

This means nothing because you need it, so you do.

Then, later you realize you got a souvenir.

Maybe you notice it in time, you get rid of it.

But maybe you don't.

Before you know it, it eats away inside you

until your brain looks like Swiss cheese.

And then boychik you die a death I wouldn't wish on Hitler.

All because of need.

- Look, Marv, bubbale, you don't have to boychik me.

I came in here ready to blow the whistle.

I'm not an idiot.

I read the papers.

The guys who are dirty, they continue to eat at 21,

and the whistle blowers get nailed to the cross.

- Where did your father go?

- I want your word my father won't be prosecuted.

- I can't give you that, not until

I know who the players are.

- I want your word my father won't be prosecuted.

- [Marv] Give me the right name, and you've got it.

- Ricky Pinzolo.

My father borrowed money from Ricky Pinzolo.

We've used their trucks for 38 years, but we never,

we never went to them for money.

(light instrumental music)

I told my father to wait it out.

We'll get the money somewhere else,

but he's a real stubborn son of a bitch.

He's ruled by his emotions.

His ego tells him he can get out of Pinzolo's grip.

Nobody else has been able to.

Why him?

- Well, it took a lot of guts to open up like that.

Thanks to Marv Epstein, the bureau's

version of sodium pentothal.

All right, now, what we have here is a partial breakdown

of the garment industry in New York.

It generates 20 billion dollars a year annually.

These are some of the guys that slice up the pie.

Now, the broken lines indicate suspected connections,

but nothing that'll stand up in court.

Now, this Elrose Fashions.

That's Eli and David Sternberg.

The subsidiaries are Stylish Juniors and Missy Renee.

Now, they ship with Amichi Trucking,

which is one of the six companies controlled,

if you follow the yellow brick road

far enough, by Ricky Pinzolo.

- Pinzolo has never been charged with any criminal activity.

- He inherited control of trucking.

Union organizing, loan sharking, political corruption

from his father, Carmine.

Now the point is that David Sternberg is so worried

about his father, the businesser himself,

that he's willing to throw out the welcome mat for us.

- That would mean that David Sternberg knows

our undercover operative.

- Correct.

- What about Eli Sternberg?

- As far as Eli Sternberg is concerned or anybody else

at Elrose our operative is a former bent nose who is now

a corporate securities specialist.

Now, this is a chance for us to get into the rag trade

at a level we've never been before.

We get to fill in some of these broken lines.

- You want to give this to Terranova.

- [Frank] Yep.

- What makes you think he'll take it?

- Pinzolo is the pinnacle of organized crime

in a multi-billion dollar industry.

If Vinnie feels like he can trust Sternberg, he'll take it.

- Thanks, Jason.

I won't be that long.

(doorbell rings)

Vinnie Terranova?

- Yeah.

- I am David Sternberg.

- Yeah, I know.

Send your limo back to the office.

- What?

- I don't want it parked in front of my house.

- Jason, go back to the office.

I'll take a cab.

You know what they say.

Less is more.

My grandmother had a house like this.

- It was my mother's house.

She gave it to me when she remarried.

I like being in the neighborhood.

Anything else you want to know?

- No.

- Now, why should I make you

the most important man in my life?

All I know about you is what's in your file.

You're a rich man's kid who likes beautiful people

and the club scene, and you like to take flanks,

promote concerts, run restaurants, produce an off Broadway.

But when things go sour, you come runnin' home to daddy.

- Look Mr. Terranova, with all due respect,

you don't know what you're talking about.

- What I don't know is why I should walk

into your world and trust you to keep me alive.

- Because that's your job.

Look, I didn't ask to come here.

Epstein told me to do it, so I did.

You're not doin' me any favors.

I put my father's my life, my own, and our business

on the line by letting us become your conduit to Pinzolo.

I don't need any favors from you.

- You're right, David.

- Look, I got a friend can get you a deal on some blinds.

You wanna do verticals?

- Does Eli know I'm joining the firm?

- Yeah, when we get to the office, don't worry.

It won't be a problem.

- Fire that son of a bitch.

- Dad, Dad, Dad. - Without talking to me,

you hire an ex-con that's a security specialist,

and you tell him about the business.

- There are problems, Dad.

- There are always problems.

I take care of them myself.

Fire him.

- I can't.

- Well, then get him in here.

I'll do it.

- He's already cashed his paycheck.

Fire him, you're out 10,000 bucks.

- Have you ever wanted anything that I didn't give you?

When you were 16-years-old, you went to Europe.

You wanted the red Alpha in college, you got the red Alpha.

- Dad, this isn't about what I drove 20 years ago.

- Then, what is it about?

- It's about what you started and what I'm gonna finish.

Every day you remind me.

It's your business.

It's your business.

Well, some day it's gonna be my mine.

It's my future.

I have the right to protect it even from you.

- All right, David, where is he?

- Vinnie Terranova, this is my father, Eli Sternberg.

- How do you do?

Glad to know you.

Welcome aboard.

- Thank you, good to be here.

- [Eli] Security specialist, huh?

- That's right.

- Would you like to tell me about your qualifications?

Or better yet, why don't you just make a muscle?

My son here thinks we have problems I can't handle.

Now, I'm busy.

I have to go to work.

And since you've already cashed your check,

I'd like you to see Johnny Coke Bottles.

He used to be my factor.

Tell him I sent you.

Then beat his head in.

Then I never want to see you again.

(ominous instrumental music)

- [Johnny] What's this? (yells)

- Two's all I have.

It's all I have.

- It's not enough.

$3,500 a week's your tab, Fashid.

- Please, it's been a bad month.

- If you had a bad month, I have to suffer, huh?

I want the money you owe me.

I don't get the money you owe me, your wife

and kids aren't gonna be safe hiding at Fort Lee.

You got one more week Fashid.

And then things start to get rough.

Say goodbye.

Immigrants, you want to help 'em

and you take it up the ying.

What can I do you for?

- I want you to tell me why you won't cooperate

when it comes to lending Eli Sternberg money.

- Who the hell are you?

- My name's Vinnie Terranova.

I work for Mr. Sternberg in an advisory capacity,

and I advise you to tell me why

all of the sudden you're well ran dry.

- Close the door, Vinnie.

Terranova, Terranova, where did I?

You're the prick that run down in Atlantic City.

Didn't ya.

That clown steel grade, it went up like a Christmas tree.

Same Terranova?

- Yeah, so what?

- Let me illuminate you.

This is the real world.

There is no glamour here, no showgirls in the casinos,

and you don't come around asking questions

without prior approval.

And that approval don't come from Eli Sternberg.

(buzzes)

(ominous instrumental music)

Batter up.

(yells)

I said get out of here.

(ominous instrumental music)

(grunts)

(light instrumental music)

(doorbell rings)

- [Vinnie] Who is it?

- [Rick] Rick Pinzolo.

- Who?

- [Rick] Mr. Pinzolo.

- Come on in.

- Vinnie Terranova?

- Mr. Pinzolo.

- Why are you so rude to me, Vince?

- Oh, I'm sorry.

I'd get up, but I'm working on one wheel right now.

You want a beer or something?

- No, no, no, no thanks.

So what are you doin'?

You're working my business, huh?

Had to find this out second hand.

- And you're 100% correct, Mr. Pinzolo.

I'm sorry.

It was rude not to call on you.

I didn't think I was workin' your business.

David Sternberg hired me to keep an eye on his father.

He's under a lot of pressure.

If the problems the Sternbergs have are with you,

I'll quit immediately.

- The industry's problems are my problems.

You see, we're all singular parts of a unified

holistic community called Seventh Avenue.

And as much as you work for them, you work for me.

Now, Eli does not need to know this.

You see what I'm sayin', Vince?

- Yeah, it's very clear, Mr. Pinzolo.

- Okay.

Rick.

- Rick.

- Vince,

I want you to wear this, okay?

It's my private little connection with you,

and I don't want to hear that, you know,

like the batteries have gone dead or something.

- That's not a problem.

Is there anything else?

- No, no, that's it.

Just do your job, and I'll be back in touch.

- Okay.

Hey, Rick?

This come from you?

- What happened?

- I got kissed by a Louisville Slugger.

- Oh, really? (laughs)

Business should be in simple black and white, huh.

No, no, no, I have my dilemmas dealt with bluntly.

Intimidation is not my style.

I had nothing to do with that.

- So then you don't have a problem

if I collect on this debt, huh?

- No, no, go ahead.

Knock yourself out.

Oh, by the way, didn't your mother marry Raphael Ayupo?

- Yeah.

- Well, welcome to la familia.

- Well, thank you.

- See ya, Vince.

- [Vinnie] Take care of yourself.

(beeps)

- Pinnzolo came to your house and gave you this?

- Yeah.

- It's a bug.

- It's not a bug, Frank.

It's just a normal everyday pager.

I checked it.

I'm gonna get this guy.

- It cannot be that easy.

- I'm settin' a personal goal for myself here.

- All right, well, while you're chummin' with Pinzolo,

anything else swims your way, you send it to me.

- (mumbles) Johnny Coke Bottle, you know the lending

he does with the Sternbergs is legitimate,

but this guy is definitely a shilock.

I interrupted him bouncing

a guy's head off his refrigerator.

Then he took a baseball bat to my leg.

- All right, Vince, just how bad is this?

- Probably be gimpin' around for a couple of weeks.

Anyway, the victim's name is Aaron Fashid.

He's probably an Iranian refugee.

You play your cards right, he'll cave.

- All right, Aaron Fashid, any idea where I can find him?

- Yeah, he's out in Fort Lee.

Coke Bottles threatened his wife and kid.

- All right, I'll work him.

Now, I've got something for you.

Elrose's embargoed goods, the shipping documents

and labels were tampered with somewhere

between Korea and New York.

Customs didn't bother to look past the dotted line.

And I can realize the Sternberg whenever you want.

- But who tampered with 'em?

- I don't know, maybe Pinzolo.

- Nah, Pinzolo's too big to be wasting time bleeding Elrose.

- All right, is there anybody else in this play that's

capable of forging international trade documents at sea?

- I don't know.

- Well, you want the goods released or not?

- Not yet.

I think we can get some mileage out of this.

- All right, I'll work Fashid.

We'll see if we can bring down Johnny Coke Bottles.

- After what he did to me, I'm livin' for it.

I'm gonna drive him right into your arms,

and he's gonna give us Pinzolo.

- You're awful sure of yourself.

- Frank, Pinzolo tried to put a collar on me.

I don't like bein' led around at the end of a leash.

- Gee.

I would have never known that.

- I said 10 days, not 10 working days.

Don't you people ever work weekends?

For crying out loud.

Phil, you want me to roll my sleeves up?

- You're not a cutter, Eli.

- And what is that supposed to mean?

- Dad, I talked to Morty.

His Sakakah shops will assemble.

We can meet Jackson's deadline.

- Good, you did something right.

- You noticed.

- Yeah, one in a row.

And you, I send you to see Pakula,

and you come back on the disability list.

That's perfect.

- Obnoxious, isn't he?

- I bet he was tough to grow up with.

- It's amazing I don't have menstrual cramps.

- Listen, I need to talk to you privately all right?

- Yeah.

- Johnny Coke Bottles Pakula.

- Hold it.

Why?

- This guy is a shilock that hurts people.

I can testify to that.

- I didn't come to you to about Johnny Coke Bottles.

- I know why you came to us.

- Then let's stick to the agenda.

- You can't selectively cooperate.

- And you can't use me as trough to feed gumbas

to the Justice Department.

You let that geek zap you.

He's braggin' about it all over town.

And now, I'm supposed to help you

with some petty getting even?

This stinks, my friend.

Is this the price I'm supposed to pay for protection?

Becoming an informant?

What are you doin' to me, Vinnie?

What do I have left when you're done?

- Ah, you're right.

Absolutely right.

I'm climbing a mountain here, David.

If you can't help me get my footing,

then how am I supposed to help you?

(sighs)

- I love being an adult.

- Yeah, me, too.

- Want to go to a Nick game?

- Yeah, sure.

- Want to get out of this business?

- Yeah.

- Yes!

(laughs)

Ah, I'm gonna spend the next three years

up to my pupik in depositions, interrogatories,

and federal courts, or eternity in a cornerstone

of some Statin Island social club.

- David, I will not let that happen.

(laughs)

- Why do I believe this guy?

(sighs)

- Johnny Coke Bottles Pakula is the moral equivalent

of sludge, which makes him indistinguishable

from most people in his line of work.

- Yeah, I know that.

But is he directly connected to Pinzolo?

- Pinzolo's got his hands in just about everybody's pocket.

So to that degree, he probably has his own strange

relationship with Coke Bottles.

Maybe you're right to go after him.

I mean, maybe Johnny didn't give us the money

because Pinzolo told him not to.

- Well, why would he do that?

- 'Cause we're here.

I mean, to use your mountain climbing analogy,

he's a conqueror of rag merchants.

We're here.

He'll conquer us.

That's reason enough.

- Hey, Johnny, where's your stun gun?

Pinzolo gave me permission.

- Okay, okay, now, we're even.

- No, no, not even yet, Johnny.

There you go, there, there.

Now, we're even.

Batter up.

Get out of here, pretty boy.

- [Woman] Mr. Pinzolo's office.

- [Johnny] Mr. P.

- [Ricky] Yeah, Johnny?

- Fashid talked, Johnny.

I'm sorry.

Johnny's gonna have to call you back.

Right now he's being arrested.

(light instrumental music)

(dial tone hums)

(ominous instrumental music)

- Dad?

Vinnie just called.

He wants us to meet him down at the loading dock.

- Morty's factory was hit with a wildcat strike.

They never talked to him.

They just walked.

We'll never make the Jackson delivery date.

David, we've lost a half a million dollars.

Why is this happening?

It's like, it's like I'm a leper.

Our goods are still stuck on the ship.

I never missed a delivery date.

In 40 years, I never missed.

- You'll make it work.

You always do.

- Let me ask you something, David.

I'm your father.

How could you ever think of me as an enemy?

I mean, when you said that you had to protect

your future from me, that hurt me very much, David.

- Dad, we say things when we're upset.

All of us.

- Not me.

- Not you, no.

- David, we have to try to be nicer to each other.

(light instrumental music)

- Okay.

Vinnie's waiting for us down at the dock.

- His week is over tomorrow.

I want him out of here, okay.

Okay.

- [Vinnie] Yo.

- I'm in a production crisis, Terranova.

What is it?

- I got your Korean merchandise.

- Everything's here?

- Every snap, button, and zipper.

(laughs)

- How did you do that?

- I made a muscle.

- I love this man.

At last, we got a guy with some moxie.

Consider yourself employed on a longterm contract.

- Thank you very much.

- So Dad, what are we gonna do about Jackson's order?

- Tomorrow morning, I pay off Pinzolo.

I go to the bank, and I borrow against this merchandise.

Then, I have the cash I need to go to cutters

as far away as Carolina.

The hell with Morty's wildcatters.

I can fill Jackson's order without them.

But I'm gonna have to pay Pinzolo 35 grand

for one week's VIG because you were

sittin' on your brains in customs.

(laughs)

I made a muscle.

I love that man.

(laughs)

- Take it from me.

Love is fleeting.

- [Eli] Here's your lunch money.

- [Rick] I don't eat lunch.

- Oh, that's right.

You puree it, don't you?

- How did you get the money so fast?

- Oh, my little problem with customs was resolved.

Your father, may God rest his soul, and me,

if we had a problem, we handled it ourselves.

We got our hands dirty.

- Yeah, that relationship served you well.

Didn't it?

You skated for years paying bargain basement trucking rates.

- I agreed to pay the going rate.

- The going rate is gone.

It'll be eight and two.

- How the hell am I gonna live at eight and two?

- I guess you'll have to get your hands dirty.

- Well, I'm not gonna pay it.

I'll get independence.

I'll pick up drivers on the street.

- You'll pay it, Eli.

Because as far as you're concerned, Amichi trucks

are the only trucks in town.

Are you gonna get somebody else to drive for you?

Who?

The union won't allow it, and you're a little too old

to get behind the wheel yourself.

- Your father would never do this.

Punk.

- Where 10 years ago, half of what walked in here alone

wouldn't wake up that way.

10 years ago, I wouldn't have walked in here at all.

You married?

- No.

- [David] Ever?

- No.

- You should.

Everybody should.

They should go home and be with their kids at night rather

than this every other weekend we better have fun routine.

- How old are your kids?

- Five and seven.

Boys.

- That's nice.

- Yeah.

The other day, the older one says, Dad,

when I grow up, I'm gonna come into the business with you.

And I say, honey, you can be whatever you want to be.

I'll be happy as long as you're happy.

He thinks it over for a little while,

and he says, no, I don't think so.

I said, why?

He said, then because then we couldn't be friends.

- [Margo] David?

- Margo.

Well, you look great.

- [Margo] Thank you.

Why don't you give me a call later?

- I will.

- [Margo] Bye.

- So who's that?

- [David] CPF.

- CPF?

- Close personal friend.

- That's the twelfth CPF tonight.

We've only been here 10 minutes.

- Fringes of the trade.

- Fringes of my trade are tattoos and cigars.

- I'm talking about girls.

- Yeah, so am I.

- Oh, oh. (laughs)

- I didn't order any champagne.

- I did.

Thanks, Bobby.

I'll pour.

- Woo, look at this here.

Last time I checked, this stuff

was goin' for 100 and a half a bottle.

- You saved Elrose two million dollars.

I can splurge.

- Just another day at the office, David.

You know what I mean?

- So, (mumbles) how long do you think it will take

to find what you're looking for?

- You mean, how long 'til I'm gone, right?

Listen, David, Pinzolo didn't stay out of the slammer

all these years because he's stupid.

- No, he's far from stupid.

So there's no time frame on this?

- I don't know.

- No, what I mean is it could take months, years?

- Dave, I don't know.

- You don't know, okay.

(sighs)

Thanks for the two million.

'Shlit"a'

- L'chaim.

Did I say that right?

- Fine.

- So how long you been divorced?

- Four years, three and a half months.

Probably the first decision I ever made

that my father agreed with.

The day that my father divorced my mother,

he gave her a diamond necklace,

and he said, this is for all the years I couldn't afford it.

You talk to your father?

- Nah, he died when I was 18.

- I'm sorry.

- He wasn't much of a talker anyway.

Even when he screwed up, he didn't talk.

He hit, but he didn't talk.

- Was your dad proud of you?

- At the time he died, I don't know.

I guess I wasn't much to be proud of.

- You were his son.

You know how hard it is to make money off Broadway?

It's real hard.

I did it, but it wasn't good enough.

Nothing is ever good enough regardless of what I do.

Wasn't good enough.

The play didn't go to Broadway.

Not good enough.

Six years ago, he begs me to come into the business.

The man sat at the front table

at Ratner's crying for me to come into the business.

- You know, the business has grown 30% since then.

- Oh, but I'm sure I had nothing to do with that.

I mean, we both know I have absolutely

no talent for this business.

You know what I really don't have?

I don't have his hunger for it.

He looks at me.

He sees the one thing he can never have again.

His youth.

Looks at me.

He sees the future without him.

It drives him nuts.

I only want one thing from him.

I just want him to acknowledge that I have value.

- We all want that, David, you know,

but your father's still alive.

You've still got that chance.

- I just,

I just,

I just want him to be my father.

I love that son of a bitch so.

(juicer hums)

- You know, I just figured that if Eli gets his merchandise

off the boat, he's happy.

He pays you back, so you're happy, too.

You know, to be perfectly honest with you,

I thought you were calling me up here to thank me.

(laughs)

- I rarely thank people.

The release of Eli's goods was done

without my knowledge or consent.

- If you want me to do things or not do things,

it'd be good if you'd let me in on it.

I don't walk around with Ouija board.

- Where's Johnny Coke Bottles?

- He's nursing the beatin' I gave him.

- Oh, you think so?

- Yeah.

- He was arrested by federal agents.

- What makes you say that?

- Because if the NYPD had him, I'd know it.

I have led an unblemished life.

This man could hurt me.

(ominous instrumental music)

Good night, Vince.

- Good night.

(ominous instrumental music)

- [Frank] Fashid's testifying.

You're gonna do hard time, Johnny, unless you testify

against Pinzolo, and we'll protect you.

- Don't tell me about protection, McPike.

Tell Jimmy the weasel he sings,

you'll protect him for life.

So he makes like Caruso.

And all of the sudden, you don't want

to protect him anymore.

- I give you my word.

- Your word.

You don't have the juice to make your word stick.

- Pinzolo has a contract on you.

- You're lying.

- He wants you dead, John.

- You know how I know you're lyin'

'cause if the guy did have a hit out,

you'd never get a smell of it.

That's the beauty of the guy.

- You're out of here.

- [Johnny] What?

- You're out of here.

You're not gonna talk.

I'm not payin' for your smokes and your beer.

You're out on your own recognizance.

- You're lettin' me go?

- I'm not lettin' you go.

I'm kickin' you out.

- No, you can't.

You can't send me out there.

You can't send me out there like this.

- Why not?

Pinzolo's not after you.

That's what you said.

You got nothin' to worry about.

- You'd never know if he had a hit out.

How could you?

- We got a man inside his organization.

(light instrumental music)

- I talk to you, I'm a dead man.

- Yeah?

You don't talk to me, you're out that door.

- Hold this, will ya?

- John, John!

John!

(thuds)

- Go ahead.

I'll see you later.

Good morning, Sticks.

- Good morning, Mr. Pinzolo.

Hey, you hear about Johnny Coke Bottles?

- Yeah, front page, huh.

- Oh, thank you, thank you, Mr. Pinzolo.

(ominous instrumental music)

- You're welcome.

(ominous instrumental music)

(somber instrumental music)

("Wiseguy Theme Music" by Mike Post)

(light instrumental music)