I'm talkin'about friendship.
I'm talkin'about character.
I'm talkin'about-- Hell, Leo, I ain't embarrassed to use the word.
I'm talkin' about ethics.
You know I'm a sportin' man.
I like to lay the occasional bet.
But I ain't that sportin'.
When I fix a fight-- Say I pay a three to one favorite...
to throw a goddamned fight.
I figure I got the right to expect that fight to go off at three to one.
But every time I lay in bed with this son of a bitch Bernie Bernbaum,
before I know it, the odds is even up.
Or worse, I'm bettin' on the short money.
The sheeny knows I like sure things.
He's sellin' the information I fixed the fight.
Out of town money comes pouring in.
The odds go straight to hell.
I don't know who he's sellin' to-- maybe the Los Angeles combine.
I don't know. The point is,
Bernie ain't satisfied with the honest dollar he can make off the vig.
He ain't satisfied with the business I do on his book.
He is sellin' tips on how I bet.
And that means part of the payoff that should be riding on my hip...
is riding on someone else's.
So, back we go to these questions--
friendship, character,
ethics.
So, it's clear what I'm saying?
As mud.
It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight.
Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?
For a good return,you gotta go bettin'on chance,
and then you're back with anarchy.
Right back in the jungle.
That's why ethics is important-- what separates us from the animals,
the beasts of burden, the beasts of prey.
Ethics.
Whereas, uh, Bernie Bernbaum is a horse of a different color,
ethics-wise, as in he ain't got any.
- You sure it's Bernie selling you out? - It ain't elves.
- No one else knows about the fix? - No one that ain't got ethics.
What about the fighters you pay to tank out?
We only pick fighters we know we can put the fear of God in.
Any other bookies know? You play anyone else's book?
I-I lay an occasional bet with Mink Larouie.
- But it ain't Mink. I'll vouch for that. -How do you know?
It ain't Mink. Mink is Eddie Dane's boy.
Of course the Dane always knows about the fix.
And what the hell is that supposed to mean?
Let it drift. All it means is a lot of people know.
I guess you ain't been listenin'.
Sure, other people know.
That's why we gotta go to this question of character...
to determine just who, exactly, is chiselin' in on my fix.
And that's how we know that it's Bernie Bernbaum, the shmatte kid--
'cause ethically, he's kinda shaky.
- So you want to kill him. - For starters.
Sorry, Caspar. Bernie pays for protection.
Listen, Leo, I ain't askin' you for permission.
I'm tellin' you as a courtesy. I need to do this thing, so it's gonna get done.
And I'm tellin' you, as a courtesy, you'll have trouble.
You came here to see if I'd kick if you killed Bernie. Well, there's your answer.
I pay off to you every month like a greengrocer
a lot more than the shmatte,
and I'm sick of gettin' the high hat.
You pay off for protection just like everyone else.
As far as I know, and what I don't know in this town ain't worth knowing,
the cops haven't closed any of your dives...
and the D.A. hasn't touched any of your rackets.
You haven't bought any license to kill bookies,
and today I ain't sellin'any.
So take your flunky and dangle.
You think I'm some guinea fresh off the boat, and you can kick me.
But I'm too big for that now. I'm sick of takin' the strap from you, Leo.
I'm sick of marching into this goddamn office...
to kiss your Irish ass,
and I'm sick of the high hat!
You's fancy pants, all of youse.
Johnny?
You're exactly as big as I let you be and no bigger,
and don't forget it, ever.
That's right, Leo.
You're the big shot around here,
and I'm just some schnook likes to get slapped around.
Twist a pig's ear, watch him squeal.
- Bad play, Leo. - Who got up the wrong side, huh?
-Same side as always. - That's what I mean. Still owe money to--
Who is your bookie, Lazarre? I could put it right for you.
- Thanks, Leo. I don't need it. - In a pig's eye.
You haven't played a winner in six weeks.
People will speak ill of me if I let him break your legs.
- People will say I had it coming. -And they'll be right, but that ain't the point.
Call me a bighearted slob, but I'm gonna square it for you, yeah.
I think I'll do that this very same night.
Lookin' at you mopin' around takes away all my--
What do you call it? "Joy de veever"?
-Joie de vivre. - Well, if you're gonna laugh at me, the hell with ya.
The hell with you.
I'll square myself with Lazarre, if you don't mind.
That's why God invented cards.
- There is one thing you can do for me. - Name it.
Think about what protecting Bernie gets us.
Think about what offending Caspar loses us.
Oh, come on, Tommy. You know I don't like to think.
Yeah.
Well, think about whether you should start.
Wake up, Tommy.
- I am awake. - Your eyes are shut.
Who you gonna believe?
- How'd I do? - What do you think?
You are a millionaire. You gonna remember your friends?
- Where's me hat? - You bet it, mug.
Good thing the game broke up before you bet your trousers.
- Who made off with me hat?
Verna. Verna and Mink.
- Who? - Mink and Verna.
Is Thunderclap running tonight?
Thunderclap? Yeah.
What's she leaving at?
Three to one, more than likely.
Lay off, Tom. You shouldn't go deeper in the hole.
Tell Lazarre...
I want 500 on the nose.
You would have it.
I want me hat.
Is that all you came for?
Yeah. I want me hat.
It's mine. I won it.
- What are you gonna do with it? - Drop dead.
I need a drink.
Why didn't you say so?
Hello, Tommy. Sorry about the hour.
- I'll live. What's the rumpus? -Can I come in?
Sure.
- Drink? - I wouldn't mind.
I tried callin' earlier.
I got home late.
- Well, uh, I'm sorry about the hour. - Uh-huh.
- Not bad. - Better than the paint we sell at the club.
That it is. That it is.
- You thought about cutting Bernie loose? - Can't do it, Tommy.
Can't do it.
That's sort of why I'm, uh--
Tommy, I don't know where Verna is.
- Uh-huh. - I know what you're thinkin', what else is new?
But the situation now-- I'm worried.
Verna can take care of herself, maybe better than you can.
- What does that mean? - Want another one?
No.
What does that mean?
How far she got her hooks into you?
That's a hell of a question.
It's a grift.
If she didn't need you to protect her brother from Johnny Caspar,
you think she'd still be going on slow carriage rides with you through the park?
That's the deal, isn't it? You keep Bernie under wraps till Caspar cools down?
Jesus, you're a prickly pear. What's wrong with her wanting her brother taken care of?
Nothing. I don't blame her.
She sees the angle, which is you, she plays it.
She's a grifter, just like her brother.
Probably had grifter parents and grifter grandparents...
and someday they're each gonna spawn little grifter kids.
Stop it, Tommy. I don't like to hear my friends run down, even by other friends.
- Friendship's got nothing to do with it. - The hell you say.
You'd do anything to help your friends, like you'd do anything to kick your enemies.
- Wrong, Leo. You do things for a reason. - Okay, Tom.
You know all the angles, Christ, better than anybody.
But maybe you're wrong about this. You don't know what's in Verna's heart.
Leo, if she's such an angel,
why are you looking for her at 4:00 in the morning?
I put a tail on her this afternoon.
- Uh-huh. - I asked Rug Daniels to follow her around,
just, you know, to keep her out of trouble.
I was worried. After that meeting with Caspar, you can't be too careful.
- So what did Rug say that has you scurrying over here? - That's just it.
- Nothing. He's disappeared. - So you lost your lady friend and the tail you put on her?
I guess it does sound pretty sorry at that.
Help me out, Tom. I wouldn't know where to start lookin'.
You know Rug's crowd. You know the people Verna runs with.
It's just I'm worried now with things the way they are between me and Caspar.
You shouldn't be confronting Johnny Caspar. That's what I've been trying to tell you.
You can't trade body blows with him. He's gotten too strong.
I reckon I can still trade body blows with any man in this town.
Except you, Tom.
And Verna.
Okay. Give me the needle.
I am a sap.
I deserve it.
Thanks for the drink.
Let me know if you hear anything.
- Who was that? - Leo.
He's lookin' for you.
Did you tell him I was here?
No.
Did you put in a good word for my brother?
No.
- You said you would. - I said I'd think about it.
What did you tell him?
Did you see Rug Daniels last night?
No.
What did you tell Leo?
I told him you were a tramp and he should dump you.
You're a son of a bitch, Tom.
- Hello, Tom. What's the rumpus? - Mink.
- I see you got your hat back. - Yeah, what of it?
Not a thing. Look, if it ain't my business, I got not a thing to say.
Listen, Bernie wants to see you. It's important.
Yeah, well, I'm right here. I'm not made of glass.
He's nervous walkin' around in public. He's a right guy, but he's very nervous.
I mean, who wouldn't be? In the spot he's in, who wouldn't be?
He asked me to ask you to ask Leo to take care of him.
Leo listens to you. Not that Leo wouldn't help a shmatte anyway.
A guy like Bernie? A straight shooter like him?
- I don't get it, Mink. - What's to get? It's as plain as the nose on your face.
- I thought you were Eddie Dane's sycophant. - Yeah, Tom, that's right,
but a guy can have more than one friend, can't he?
Not that I want the Dane to know about it, but the shmatte, he's a right guy, Tommy.
He's got a mixed reputation, but for a sheeny, he's got a lot of good qualities.
- What's goin' on between you and Bernie? - Nothin', Tom.
We're just... friends, you know, amigos.
You're a fickle boy, Mink.
If Eddie Dane finds out that you got another "amigo"--
- Well, I don't peg him for the understanding type. - Find out?
How's he gonna find out? Damn it, you and me ain't even been talkin'!
Jesus, Tom! Damn it!Jesus!
Hello, Tommy.
- You know O'Doole and the mayor? -I oughta.
Voted for him six times last May.
And that ain't the record, either.
Oh, Verna turned up. She's downstairs.
- She say where she'd been? - No. I didn't want to press her.
- You hear about Rug? - Yeah. R.I.P.
They took his hair, Tommy.
Jesus, that's strange. Why would they do that?
- Maybe it was injuns. - "Eye-ties," more like it.
Giovanni Gasparo.
So you figure Caspar bumped Rug.
- Well, it's pretty obvious, ain't it? - Yeah?
- So what's the plan? - Well, we'll jump on the guinea hard with both feet.
- Give him the lowdown, Dale. - Yes. Well, um,
Leo here just reminded us that Mr. Caspar operates...
several clubs in our city,
wherein the patrons imbibe of rum and play at games of chance.
And we're supposed to stop the party.
- They don't look to happy about it, Leo. - Oh, no, it ain't that, Tom.
-Jesus, Tom, we do as we're told. - Maybe they're right not to like it.
Stirring up this hornet's nest won't be good for anyone, and it'll mean killing.
I'm not thrilled about it either, but I can't just lay down to Caspar.
You could do worse. You might not like it, but giving up Bernie Bernbaum...
is a pretty small price to pay for peace.
Business is business, and a war is going to hurt everybody.
Bernie plays with fire, he's got to deal with the consequences.
even if that means he gets bumped off.
SweetJesus, Tom, that ain't even the point anymore. Caspar pooped Rug.
The day I back down from a fight, Caspar's welcome to the rackets,
this town and my place at the table.
- I didn't start this thing, but-- - You did start it.
- You and Verna. - We can dangle, Leo, if you'd prefer.
Sit down, Dale! We're all friends here.
And Caspar hasn't broken the rules, Bernie has, and you, too, by helping him.
And if that isn't enough, consider that if you make this a war,
you have more to lose than Caspar.
Okay, but more to beat him with. Jesus, Tom, the two of us have faced worse odds.
Never without reason. It helps to have one.
Well, it's your call.
My opinion used to count for something around here.
But it's always yours to take or leave.
Come on, Tommy. It's not like that.
Goddamn it!
Goddamn kid's just like a twist.
Get me a stiff one.
No small talk, huh?
- They shoot your horse? - If there's any justice.
- Verna around? - She stepped into the ladies' room.
- You got Lazarre's 500? - You'll have to carry me for a few days.
He ain't gonna like that. Couldn't you get it from Leo?
It's not Leo's debt. I'll pay me own way.
I admire a man of principle.
Does this go on the tab?
- - Close your eyes, ladies. I'm coming through.
- Who's the war paint for? - Go home and dry out.
You don't need it for Leo, believe me.
He already thinks you're the original Miss Jesus.
- What the hel"s the matter with you? - What's the matter with you?
- Afraid people might get the right idea? - Leo's got the right idea.
I like him. He's honest and he's got a heart.
Then it's true what they say-- opposites attract.
- Do me a favor. Mind your own business. - This is my business.
Intimidating helpless women is part of what I do.
- Then find one and intimidate her. -Leo's upstairs...
getting ready to shoot himself in the foot on your account.
-I don't know what you're talkin'about. - He's gonna go to the mat...
for your brother, and it's gonna hurt him.
I don't know Leo's business, but he's a big boy.
- He used to be. - Look, what do you want, Tom?
You want me to pretend I don't care what happens to Bernie?
Well, I do. He's my brother. I don't want to see him get hurt.
If Leo wants to help out, I'll step out with him, show him a good time in return.
- There's no harm in that. - There's a name for that kind of business arrangement.
Look, I'll do what I have to do to protect Bernie.
There's no reason for you to try and queer that.
Regardless of what you think about me, Bernie's a decent guy.
- A straight shooter, huh? A square "G." - Yeah.
Sneer at him like everyone else, just because he's different.
People think he's a degenerate. People think he's scum.
- Well, he's not. -Poor misunderstood Bernie.
What is this about, Tom?
You want me to stop seeing Leo? Why don't you just say so?
I want you to quit spinning Leo in circles and pointing him where to go.
- I forgot. That's your job. - I'll do what I have to do to protect Leo.
I'm asking you politely. Leave him alone. I don't have to ask.
If I told him about our little dance last night, your pool would pretty soon dry up.
So would yours. I don't like being threatened.
I don't like being taken for a sucker. That might work with Leo, but it don't work with me.
Do you think last night was just more campaigning for my brother?
I can see the angles.
You know, if there was a market for little old ladies,
you'd have Grandma Bernbaum first in line.
- You're a pathetic rumhead. - And I love you, angel.
I suppose you think you raised hell.
Sister, when I've raised hell, you'll know it.
- Yeah. - Lazarre wants his money. He wants it now.
- I need a couple of days. - Yeah? How come is that?
- Because I don't have it. - All right, welsher, how do I know you ain't got it?
- Because I say so. - That ain't gonna be good enough.
- What would be good enough? - Lazarre ain't gonna like it one bit.
Tell Lazarre if he's not happy, he can send someone over to break my legs.
I won't squawk.
- Hello, Bernie. - Hello, Tom.
- What's the rumpus? -Come on in. Make yourself at home.
Yeah, you weren't here, so I thought I'd do that.
I didn't want to answer the phone, though. I figured...
it wasn't for me.
I get it. Get to the point, huh?
Okay. The point is, I'm a good guy.
I've heard that from a lot of people today.
Good guy, lots of friends. That's the way it works.
Maybe if you appreciated me a little more, you wouldn't be making waves with Leo.
It's a bad time to be doing that. Right now, we're both in a jam.
I hear you're on a bad streak. Short of funds.
Well, I got that crazy dago mad at me.
Don't ask me why. I'm just a small-timer...
trying to get by like everyone else.
I need help from my friends like Leo and you.
Leo gets your sister. What are you sellin' me?
Come on, Tom. It's not like that at all. It wasn't my idea.
She'll sleep with anyone. You know that.
She even tried to teach me a thing or two about bed artistry.
Can you believe that?
My own sister.
Some crackpot idea about saving me from my friends.
She's a sick twist, all right.
- She speaks highly of you. - Yeah, well, you stick by your family.
The point is, I can help you with your debts if that would make us friends.
My motto is, "A guy can't have too many."
Big payday Saturday, Tom. You could be in on it.
Another fix? Which fight?
That's confidential at the moment. But it doesn't have to stay that way.
How come you know so much about it?
Caspar isn't laying any more bets with you.
You really must have Mink jumping through hoops.
Like I say, you can't have too many.
- We got a deal? - I'll think about it.
I wouldn't want it any other way.
Hey, Adolph.
- My credit still good with you? - Mmm.
Give me a hundred across on Tailor Made in the third tonight.
- Lazarre won't like it. - Try 50 across.
I'll try. It's another 1 50 you'll owe him.
- Only if I lose, Adolph. - Tommy, the way you're goin'--
- Hey, horses got knees? - I don't know. Fetlocks.
Well, if I was a horse, I'd be down on my fetlocks praying you don't bet on me.
- Drift, small guy. - Drop dead, ape.
Come on, Tom. Boss wants to see ya.
He didn't have time to engrave nothin' formal.
What you mean, he's eatin' too much? What's the goddamn doctor know?
- What you eat for lunch? - A hot dog.
-Just a hot dog? - A hot dog and mustard.
A hot dog and mustard.
A hot dog and mustard!
You hear that, Dane? My kid is as smart as a whip.
Even Uncle Eddie thinks that's funny.
Okay.
Go ahead. Which hand is the penny in?
Choose again.
Okay. Here you go. Take the penny. Shiny new penny.
Take the kid, wait in the car. Give him a penny, boys!
- I ain't got a penny, boss. - That's a penny you owe him.
Hello, Tom. What's the rumpus? You like kids?
- No. - Have a seat. Go ahead.
Well, you're missin' out on a complete life.
I know, kids, big deal.
Still, I'm telling you.
Anyways, thanks for comin' by.
I just wrote this check out to your bookmaker Lazarre.
It's for an even 1,500, which is more than I hear you owe him,
but I figured you could always use some money on the cuff, a high roller such as yourself.
- What do you say? - Thanks.
Always the yapper, huh?
Well, you're welcome. You wanna know why I'm puttin' you square with Lazarre?
- Not particularly. - I want everybody to be friends.
I do this, you're friends with Lazarre,
he's friends with you, you're friends with me.
All you gotta do to show you're a friend is give me Bernie Bernbaum.
You know it's the right thing anyway. The shmatte steals from me.
I can't have Leo giving him a shiny new penny.
So the deal is, I give you Bernie,
smooth it over with Leo and you bail me out with Lazarre.
Yeah. Then we're all friends again.
You, me, Leo, the Dane.
- We can maybe have tea sometime. - Come on, Eddie.
Friends is a mental state.
- What do you say, kid? - I'll think about it.
You'll think about it.
You hear that, Dane? The kid's a thinker. That's terrific.
- Does he want a pillow for his head? - Okay, kid. Think about it.
It's a mental state. If it'll help you think,
you should know that if you don't do this thing,
you're not gonna be in any shape to walk out of here.
Would that be physically, or just a mental state?
That ain't friendly, kid. I make you a nice offer,
you give me the high hat.
Hold it.
Jesus, Tom.
Just in the nick of time, huh?
Well, no harm done. Unless your friend broke his foot.
- Where am I? - Where are you? Johnny Caspar's pleasure dome.
Same as when you left us about ten seconds ago.
Hello, Tom. How are ya?
Care to scrape a knuckle on your playmate here?
- No. Thanks though, Andy. - Well, if you change your mind,
we'll be interrogating for a while.
- What was that party about, anyway? - We do this every weekend.
Jesus, what is the matter with you people?
Well, they said make it hurt, so we make it hurt.
Drink, O'Doole?
I'm on duty.
To Volstead.
- - Any news about Rug?
Still dead, far as I know.
- Get a slug out of him? - Yeah, .22.
Listen, Tom, I'm just the chief around here,
so don't bother tellin' me if you don't happen to feel like it,
but what the hell is Leo doin'?
Make him listen to you, Tom. It ain't right, all this fuss over one sheeny.
Let Caspar have Bernie. What's one Hebrew more or less?
We're burnin' our meal ticket here.
Leo will do what suits him, and you'll do what he tells you.
Last I heard, Leo was still running this town.
Yeah, well, he won't be for long if this keeps up.
It's no good for anyone. You said as much yourself.
First off, O'Doole, I can say what I please to Leo and about him.
You can't.
Second, once Leo decides, that's that.
If that sticks going down, there are plenty of coppers I know...
who wouldn't mind bein' chief and could swallow it clean.
Jesus, Tom, I was just speculatin' about a hypothesis.
I know I don't know nothin'.
It's just a-- just a damn mess, is all.
Hello, Officer. I'd like to report an intruder...
at 346 West Lewis--
Who's this? Hello, Shad. Tom Reagan here.
- You need the booze? - No, we won't be needing any today.
- False alarm, huh? - Yeah. My mother. She didn't recognize me.
Let me talk to Mulveany. Miss me?
Drop dead.
- Mulveany here. - Sean?
Tell O'Doole to get a car over to Leo's tonight.
If we're banging away at Caspar, we oughta be ready for him to bang back.
- - What do you want?
I was in the neighborhood, feeling a bit daffy,
so I thought I'd drop in for an aperitif.
- Rug Daniels is dead. - Gee, that's tough.
Don't get hysterical.
I've had enough excitement for one night without a dame going all weepy on me.
- I barely knew the gentleman. -Rug?
A bit of a shakedown artist, not above the occasional grift.
Bet you'd understand that. All in all, not a bad guy,
if looks, brains and personality don't count.
- You better hope they don't. - Yeah, well--
We're none of us the saint I hear your brother is.
- Who killed him? - Leo thinks Caspar did.
- But you know better. - I do now.
You see, Caspar just tried to buy me into fixing his tiff with Leo,
which he'd hardly do if he was waging war.
So I figure you killed him, angel. You or St. Bernard.
Why would I or my brother kill Rug Daniels or anybody else?
Rug was following you. He knew about you and me,
and that wouldn't help your play with Leo, would it?
You think I murdered someone?
Come on, Tom. You know me a little.
Nobody knows anybody. Not that well.
You know, or you wouldn't be here.
Not at all, sugar. I came to hear your side of the story.
How horrible Rug was, how he goaded you into it, how he tried to shake you down.
- That's not why you came either. - Tell me why I came.
- The oldest reason there is. - There are friendlier places to drink.
- Why can't you admit it? - Admit what?
That you don't like me seeing Leo 'cause you're jealous.
Admit that you've got a heart,
even though it may be small and feeble...
and you can't remember the last time you used it.
If I'd known we were gonna cast our feelings into words,
I'd have memorized the Song of Solomon.
Maybe that's why I like you, Tom.
I never knew anybody that made being a son of a bitch...
such a point of pride.
Though one day you'll pay the price for it.
Okay, Verna. But until then, let's get stinko.
Let's do something else first.
Yeah. Let's do plenty.
- Who's winning? - We are, for the nonce.
- What's the "disposish"? - Last night, four to one. Dana Cudahy went up with the house.
- And theirs? - One burned.
- The other three? - Lead.
- Whose? - Leo's.
The old man's still an artist with a Thompson.
Yeah, do that.
Well, find him, goddamn it! Go and see if he fell in the john.
Son of a bitch. No chief.
- Who's mindin' the goddamn store? -Can't raise O'Doole?
No, nor the mayor either.
- That's not good. They're running. - They wouldn't dare!
I don't know, Leo. I warned you not to hit Caspar's club.
- I'm still here, ain't I? -Caspar's play hurt you anyway.
That sorry son of a bitch just slit his own throat.
Listen to me, Leo. Last night made you look vulnerable.
You don't hold elected office in this town. You run it because people think you run it.
Once they stop thinking it, you stop running it.
Jesus, Tom. It sounds like a bad break for me I wasn't killed!
I mean it, Leo. Start taking Caspar seriously.
I know, I know. Retreat to win, give up Bernie. That'll solve all our problems.
Won't anymore, I'll grant you that.
But going toe-to-toe with a psychopath will get you nowhere.
It'll force people to choose sides just when you're looking shaky.
- The hell I do! - Then where's the mayor?
Why aren't there any police here?
Why weren't there any police at your place last night?
- I didn't ask for any. - I did.
Mother hen, huh? What's the matter, Tommy?
- Don't you think I can take care of myself? - I know you can't.
Here's the smart play, Leo. You lay back, you give Bernie up,
you let Caspar think he's made his point.
- Then you wait for him to show a weakness. - Please, Tom.
You're sticking on Bernie. You're sticking your neck out...
for a guy who'd chop you off at the heels if there was two bits in it.
Tom,
things aren't as, uh, clear-cut as you make it.
Bernie's-- Well, hell,you know about me and Verna.
Things now are, uh--
Not that I haven't been a gentleman, but--
I plan to ask her to marry me, Tom.
I guess you think that's a bonehead play.
- You think she wants you to? - How the hell do I know?
I think she does. Yeah, of course she does.
I know you think different, but, well, we just, uh--
We just differ on that.
Leo, Caspar didn't kill Rug.
- Course he did. - No. Think about it just this one time.
- Who was Rug following? - Huh?
It needn't have been that sinister. Strange man follows her down a dark alleyway.
- I told you she can look after herself. - Verna wouldn't panic,
shoot someone just because he was following her.
Nah, it wouldn't have happened like that, and if it had she would have told me.
They pulled a .22 slug out of him. A pop gun, Leo, a woman's gun.
I know you don't like her, Tom,
but I trust Verna as much as I trust you.
Okay, Leo.
Maybe it wasn't that innocent.
Maybe Rug knew something she didn't like him knowing and wouldn't want you to know.
Rug was following her. Maybe he knew where she was sleeping,
and who with.
Maybes don't make it so.
There's more than maybes.
You've trusted me before, you've never lost anything by it. Trust me on this.
- This is too important. - I don't ask much, and I don't ask often.
Trust me on this.
- Tommy. - Trust me on this, or to hell with you.
You don't mean that.
She was with me...
the night Rug was following her,
the night you dropped by.
Oh.
Okay, Leo. Okay. I'll throw him out.
Yeah, do that.
It's the kiss-off.
If I never see him again, it'll be soon enough.
- Hello? - Hello, Frankie.
It's Tom. How's the flunky business?
I've had worse. Your ventilator mending?
- - Tell Caspar it's forgotten.
- I'd like to see him.
Ah. All right, let me know.
It worked, whatever you did.
Leo says we're quits.
But you know I didn't have anything to do with Rug.
Maybe not.
Anyway, that isn't what soured him on you.
Oh, you and me, huh?
You always take the long way around to get what you want, don't you, Tom?
You could have just asked.
What did I want?
Me.
Yeah?
Yeah, yeah.
When?
Okay.
You still up?
Yeah.
What are you chewin' over?
Dream I had once.
I was walking in the woods. I don't know why.
Wind came whippin'. Blew me hat off.
And you chased it, right?
You ran and ran.
You finally caught up to it.
And you picked it up, but it wasn't a hat anymore.
It had changed into something else, something wonderful.
No, it stayed a hat.
And no, I didn't chase it.
Nothing more foolish than a man chasin' his hat.
Where are you going?
Just have to do a few things.
- You and Leo might still be able to patch things up. - Me and Leo are finished.
-Nothing's gonna change that. - You never know.
- He's got a big heart. - We're quits as far as I'm concerned, never mind him.
And if Leo did want me back, he's an even bigger sap than I thought.
Then why don't we just pick up and leave town?
There's nothing keeping you here.
I know there's nothing keeping me.
- What about Bernie? - He could go with us.
You, me and Bernie? Where would we go, Verna?
Niagara Falls?
Why do you hate him?
- I don't hate anyone. -Or like anyone.
Where is Bernie?
- Why? - Leo can't protect him anymore.
I oughta tell him to skip.
The Royale, room 302.
I guess we both double-crossed Leo, huh?
There's no gettin' around that.
I guess he's well rid of both of us.
The two of us, we're about bad enough to deserve each other.
Are we?
We're a couple of heels, Tom.
Yes, we are.
So he says, "Screw him. Give him a dollar. This was my idea. "
Hello, Tom.
Uh, you know O'Doole and the mayor.
- Hello, boys. - Tom's a big booster. Always has been.
That's fine, that's fine. Well, Tom and I got the proverbial fat to chew.
-Just let us know if you need anything. - Yeah. Happy days.
Have a seat, kid. Yeah, that's it.
So,you had enough time to think about things?
- Yeah, well, uh, circumstances have changed. - Don't I know it.
Last night I know the Dane was disappointed the bulls showed up...
before Frankie and Tic-Tac really pinned your ears back,
but I said, "Relax, Eddie. I got a feeling about this kid.
The kid and Leo are gonna go bust-o. Matter of time."
I said, "The kid is too smart for Leo." That's what I said.
Like a psychic. Ask the Dane if I did. Like a goddamn psychic.
-Go ahead, ask him. - You vouch for that psychic business?
- That's right, smart guy. -I know you knew...
protecting the shmatte was a dumb idea.
I know you've been wise to all of Leo's dumb ideas lately.
Only a matter of time-- bust-o.
That's why last night we didn't put the arm on you, only Leo.
Seeing how you squiffed your play on Leo, I can only be so grateful.
- Oh, that's real brave coming from Little Miss Punching Bag. - Okay, Eddie.
- Friends now, huh? - Nuts.
So, I guess you'll be looking for a job, eh, kid?
I might be.
You got references? You been to college?
We only take yeggs what's been to college. Ain't that right, Dane?
I'm joking, of course. We all know you could be useful to us,
a smart kid such as yourself.
The man who walks behind the man, who whispers in his ear.
- I guess you could be useful in spades. - Yeah, I can do plenty for you.
- Can you get Leo off me? - I'm tellin' you not to worry about Leo.
- We got plans for him. - Oh,yeah?
- Like what? - Not so fast there, "kaputnik."
I-I think what the Dane is trying to say is,
there'll be time to talk about that.
We can table that for a later date.
See, last time we jawed, you gave me the high hat.