"Ahh!" "God blast it!" "Well, it is fixed?" "No, it's not fixed." "The nut is stripped." "I need water for to make the Cream of Wheat." "I'm bleeding, dear." "Could you please get him to stop crying?" "He is hungry." "Well, then, go in the bathroom and use the water from in there." "The bathroom is for bathing, the kitchen is for cooking." "Is that really a meaningful distinction?" "When you will fix the pipe?" "The Sears Roebuck Company..." "The Sears Roebuck does not live in the house." "I live in the house, for months and months, and nothing fits together." "I have to get ready for work." "The flowers, yes?" "The big important job for Mr. O'Banion." " Is that what you think I do?" " Oh, yeah." "You're the strongman who gets the money." "Mr. O'Banion gives $1,000 for you to hurt the people's head." "What if he did?" "Then there would be water in the kitchen." "Jazzin' baby blues are drivin' me insane" "There's nothing to them but that lonesome blue refrain" "But when that corner and that flute begin..." "Have you ever considered it was Purnsley acting alone?" "It was Narcisse." "I know it." "That's what the girl says?" "I'm asking if you can prove it." "This ain't no court of law, Nucky." "That doesn't change the fact that you're asking me to impose a death sentence." "I wasn't asking'." "Let's get something straight here." "You move against Narcisse, you risk losing everything you have." "He ain't comin' after what's yours." "That's because I mind my business." " What that mean?" " Look." " Let me get him in here, sit him down..." " What that mean?" "It means when I'm conducting business, I mind it." "It and only it." "Not some piece of ass with a sugary voice, not my pride, my business." "Heard a lot of "we" last year." "When you was in trouble." "Now it just you." "How do you like your fucking nightclub, on the boardwalk?" "You have any idea the bullshit I had to put up with?" "The strings I had to pull, the palms I had to grease to make this happen?" "Already said thank you by saving your ass." "And this place evens the score." "You've got a family, Chalky." "Children." "A wife who loves you, a daughter about to be married." "What we gonna do about Narcisse?" "Let me talk to him, feel him out before you do anything." "I'll give you a minute for that." "Just" "Of course, they were fairies." "They picked that kid up, and when he wouldn't bend over, that was that." " Leopold, maybe, not the other one." " Nah!" " How about the ransom note?" " Look, they're sheenies." "They're not gonna do anything without a payday." "Twelve hundred." "Take the truck, drop that hooch by Paulson's." "What's wrong with Tarzan here?" "I got a rush job on this wreath." "That truck." "Sometimes I wonder if it's bad hoodoo." " Beg pardon?" " The one Stu was in the day we found him." "Oh, yes." "23 shots they hit him with." "Fuckin' believe that?" "That was unfortunate." "Unfortunate?" "Guy had a wife, a kid." "Well, maybe he didn't have a kid, but still." "Fuckin' massacre." "Yeah." "I'm taking the children to see the new Buster Keaton." "That was the day you disappeared with the Capones." " What?" " The day Stuey got killed." "I..." "I don't know anything about that, sir." "Guilty conscience, Mueller?" "Sir?" "I didn't say you did." "I was just stating a simple fact." "Your tone, it can be quite accusatory sometimes." "201 South Racine, apartment 12." "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the historic and legendary Atlantic City boardwalk..." "A man's selling Eskimo Pies." "The sun is all I need right now." "Where are you?" "My first kiss was under this boardwalk." "Should I be jealous?" "He was a freckle-faced boy from Philadelphia on holiday with his parents." "I sold him three Luckys for a nickel, and he smoked them all before he had the nerve to lean in." "We carved our names somewhere under here." "You never came back to look?" " It was a long time ago." " At least tell me his name." "I'll cross it out and chisel mine in its place." "His name was James." " You're blushing." " Am I?" "Maybe it's the sun." "We were supposed to meet the night before he left, in our secret spot." "What happened?" "The next day was the Opening of the Sea." "It was a silly ceremony for tourists." "I pushed my way to the front of the crowd, and I was chosen as one of King Neptune's consorts." "I can just see you doing that." "The sheriff approached me." "I thought for sure I had done something wrong." "Didn't know what." "So he took you to jail?" "He took me to a man." "The most powerful man in the city." "Oh, this is quite the yarn." "Except it's true." "The Commodore, they called him." "He ravaged me that night." "It was six weeks before my 13th birthday." "Oh, Gillian, I'm sorry." "If you'd rather not say..." "I want you to know." "Nine months later, I gave birth." "I named the baby James, the last pure thing I could remember." "He and, uh..." "He and I..." "I don't know how I can say it." "Uh, just let the words out." "We lived for each other." "A child and a child." "Where is he now?" "He enlisted, fought in France." "Very bravely." "Didn't make it back?" "He came back." "He struggled to find his place." "He overdosed on heroin in my bathtub." "That's how you found him?" "I think I will take that Eskimo Pie after all." "Has this ever been used?" "It is ceremonial, as far as I know, but there is a first time for everything, Mr. Madden." "Glad you're open-minded." "I spoke to Rothstein." "He can't help you." "Is my money not good?" "He's bust, out of the heroin business." "Masseria squeezed him out." "I was of the understanding that they had been partners in this endeavor." "Even Lewis and Clark went their separate ways eventually." "Hmm." "He's your friend as well, is he not?" "Masseria?" "Sure." "But he ain't as comfortable selling to the darker types like Rothstein was." "The Jew, like the Libyan, must remain pliable if he is to survive." "I should like to meet with Mr. Masseria nonetheless." "You come to the Cotton Club." "We'll see what's what." "That for me?" "It's, uh for a Mr. Dob." "Dob." "Dean O'Banion." "Take a seat." " I don't have time to..." " Sit your ass down." "Tell us everything you know about O'Banion." " His whole routine." " When he wakes up, where he takes his meals." "How many times he takes a shit." "I'm not privy to his personal..." "We asked you what you know, not what you don't." "Hit me again, you'll regret it." "You hear that?" "Cut the mouthy shit." "I didn't come hereto be smacked around." "Who the fuck you think you are?" "The man who stood beside your brother at Western Electric." "And you're still breathin'." " So are you." " I'll cave in his fuckin' face." "Then you won't find out the best way to kill O'Banion." "That's what you want, isn't it?" "That's for me to decide." "Frank was against it." "Frank's gone, and that mick's still here." "And I don't fuckin' trust you." "$1,000." "I clear that seven days a week." " Not you, me." " For what?" "For going into work tomorrow and blowing O'Banion's head off." "Why would I let you do that?" "Because he thinks I'm a coward." "Ain't you?" "Ask Frank." "That's 161 people." "Odd numbers are bad luck." "Should we trim the invitations?" "These got an edge on 'em now." "You didn't have to bother." "You want everything spic and span." "I'm sure the Crawfords will appreciate it." "Is there anything you want me to say to them?" "About what?" "Your appearance." "He was moving all of that lumber in the shed and the shelf broke." "That's right." "Whatever you say." "What you got there, baby girl?" "The guest list." "Mother's worried about the odd number." "Bad luck, that's all." "Mr. Purnsley on there?" "You said you wanted him." "Well, take him off." "That solve the problem right there." "Sir?" "Mr. Rothstein." "Will you be needing the car?" "No, not this evening." "Are you feeling all right?" "I'm fine, thank you." "Is Mrs. Rothstein awake?" "No, sir." "She retired early." "May I ask you a question, Peter?" "Of course, sir." "Why is it you don't gamble?" "Because I don't have the stomach for it." "The first time I ever played craps, I won $32." "I was nine years old." " Lucky little boy." " Yes." "Or at least I used to think so." "I need to talk to you." "It's what I'm here for." "There might be a problem with Chalky." "What problem?" "He took his man Purnsley for a walk in the marsh." "How come?" "He was getting out of hand." "Well, good riddance." "Trouble from the get-go." "He puts Narcisse behind it, wants to return the favor." "How do I agree to that?" "What's our concern?" "Narcisse has business with Owney Madden." "Couldn't say who else." "And Madden goes to bat for some shine who knows the Bible?" "Is that a bear we need to poke?" "I warned him once." "Couldn't have been clearer." "Now he comes to me with this, and always about how I owe him." "That debt's paid, isn't it?" "I'm not saying there isn't a bond, but I'm not bringing him my problems." "If he can't manage his side of the fence..." "The answer is no." "Has to be no." "What else?" " Hmm?" " What else is going on?" "Anything I should know?" "Willie's doing all right?" "Yeah." "Yeah, good." "Everybody's happy to have him home." "Did you call the Sears Roebuck?" "You could knock, dear." "On the door that's not being here yet?" "The curtain was closed." "Do you not know what that means?" " What were you doing?" " Getting dressed." "I've seen this many times." "Did you want something?" "I ask if you call." "Yes, yes, I did." "I spoke to Mr. Roebuck himself." "He apologized profusely and told me he would send a dozen of his top men over immediately to remedy the situation to our total satisfaction." "Really?" "This is true?" "No." "This is sarcasm." "I was orphaned at a young age, and what I learned, I had to learn for myself." "I married young." "Too young." "And I haven't lived a blameless life." "I wonder if anyone has." "I've turned my back on many things in anger." "In envy." "In fear." "But love sustains us." "We thrive on it." "We need to give it back." "How else can we live?" "That's all I have to offer my grandson." "I think it's all that matters." "Your Honor, may my client speak?" "Go ahead." "Your Honor, when Tommy talks about home, it's our home he's thinking of." "When he goes to sleep, we're the ones who tuck him in." "When he wakes up from nightmares, and he does wake up, Your Honor, we're the ones who tell him it's going to be all right." "And he believes it." "Your Honor, Mrs. Darmody is the child's paternal grandmother..." "No one disputes that, Mr. Ferry." "Miss Sagorsky, according to Judge Varick's notes, you're employed at Blatt's department store?" "Yes, Your Honor." " At $12 a week?" " That is correct." "Unmarried." "Pardon?" "You are unmarried." "Well, obviously, I'm..." "Yes." "And Mr. Sagorsky, what do you do?" "Veteran's pensions." "Could you speak up, please?" "Veteran's pension, sir." "Uh, $37." "37.28, yeah." "$85 a month between you." "85.28." "As I hope your respective counsels advised you, in cases such as these, the law presumes it is in the child's best interest to remain in the custody of blood relatives." "I will review all Judge Varick's notes, along with my own, and render a decision within the month." "Mueller." "What'd I tell you?" "Phil, Mr. Gulliver, I..." "Ralph." " You son of a bitch!" " No, gentlemen, please!" " This is not a good time." " Not a good time for what?" "You're upset." "Two months this took to heal." "His wife bawled her eyes out." "I didn't make a sale for months." "I..." "Not such a tough guy now, are you, Mueller?" "Mr. Gulliver, do something." " You got it coming, George." " I apologize." "I'm sorry." "If we could just..." "No!" "Enough!" "That's it!" " You don't like it, huh?" " I've warned you to stop!" "You hear that, Phil?" "He warned us." "Whoa!" "Easy, Mueller." "Settle down, George." "Now, George, be reasonable." "Relax." "I am relaxed." "No!" "Mickey Doyle is worth half a million dollars?" "Well, not while he's breathing." ""The Rothmere Insurance Company."" "One of my subsidiaries." "So I gather." "So what are you waiting for?" "Kill him." "At the very least, I wanted to extend you the courtesy of obtaining your permission." "Do I get a out?" "That's a rather callous attitude." "He's an imbecile whom I'd be glad to be rid of." "I was under the impression Mr. Doyle was an integral part of your organization." "Not half a million integral." " Make me an offer." " To not kill him?" "How's a plug nickel sound?" "You could buy the policy from me, making yourself the beneficiary." "Money troubles, Arnold?" "Just the usual ebb and flow of the stock market." "But more ebb at the moment." "It appears I'm the victim of an unscrupulous broker." " So plot your revenge." " That takes cash." "My bankroll is waning at present." "Ten cents on the dollar." " Twenty." " That's 100 grand, Arnold." "Yes, it is." "It's probably the best investment I'll ever make." "I know a dozen people who'd kill Mickey for free." "Good, but line it up at the bottom." " Well?" " Yes." "You want to check behind my ears?" "I'm sure you cleaned thoroughly." "Maybe there are some splinters left." "I'll get it." "We'll both go." " What the hell's going on?" " I don't know." "I'm not sure that I want to know." "I do." " We're not early, are we?" " Oh, no." "I got him!" "I got him!" "I got him!" "Ever since you came home." "You think I made him start?" "No." "But for some reason, your being here makes it easier." "It's what he wants, and..." "I don't know how you stop him." "What do you two talk about?" "How do you mean?" "I can hear you downstairs at 3:00 in the morning." "What do you talk about?" "Hmm..." "Things we've been through." "It helps him." "And you." "He worries about you." "We talk about that." "Why is he worried about me?" "You're very bad at hiding things." "I thought I was pretty good at it." "From the drinking?" "You need to hear it from him." "He'll never tell me." "He'll tell you when he's ready." "So he expects you to take care of us?" "We just talk, that's all." "I have a job, you know." "One of the girls, she started two months before me, and they just made her a white flower." " A what?" " A floor manager." "$15 a week." "Hmm." "You could do that." "I know I could." "And you wouldn't need me." "Didn't you hear the judge?" "It would be better if I was married." "Hmm." "To who?" "You might do in a pinch." "If you don't say something now, this is going to be very awkward." "No, I..." "I didn't..." "Yes." "I'm saying yes." "Mr. Purnsley never arrived?" "No, Doctor." "All through the long lovers' night?" "I couldn't make him stay." " He started getting worried." " About what?" "His wife." "She would ask questions." "Really?" "His oldest girl is getting married." "That's important to him." "Is that what he talks to you about?" "I let him say what he wants." "You listen, he talks." "The night wears on." "Wouldn't keep him." "And you haven't seen him since?" "You know my wish is never to involve you, to keep you separate." "Above the muck that I have walked through here in Babylon, where we each of us have been exiled." "I know." "The things I do, just simply to stand up and look my equals in the eye." "They are not your equals." "Then why must I struggle?" "You..." "Will be clothed in glory." "How well I've trained you." "I will keep him here next time." "You remember what we pledged to each other the day we traveled out from New Orleans?" "Many years past now." "We sat in a carriage more fit for cattle than for human beings, and we vowed..." "You would protect me." "Always." "And that you would be free..." "Free to lie down with any man." "But your heart..." "Your heart..." "Was yours." "Always yours." "Your rug, glass shards still in the carpet there." "Mr. White is alive, and you, you have crushed me." "Utterly!" "These men, do they rob you?" "No, dear." "Then why does this happen?" "They tried to rob me." "They..." "Does it really matter?" "You are frightening Chester." "Why isn't he napping?" "Because you have waked him." "You know, I think I'm just going to say this now." "I've put up with an awful lot that most men would..." "Mueller!" "Take him." " To where?" "Wherever it is he gets put." "Du forsta!" "Mueller' open up." " No, no, no, no!" " What the fuck happened, huh?" " My family's here." " That's your problem." " I was attacked." " What, by O'Banion?" "No, by some men." "Hooligans." "I couldn't see them." "They were laying in wait." "Look, it's not good if O'Banion knows what's coming." "You understand what I'm saying to you?" "No..." "Yes." "I mean, I do." "Give me till tonight." "I'll wait till after closing." "If you botch this up again, you know what happens, right?" "I won't." "I swear." "Sorry, this part's rather tricky." "It sounds lovely to me." " He's very talented, isn't he?" " Mmm-hmm." "Only three weeks of lessons." "By the wedding, I expect we won't need the band." "Speaking of which, shall we go over the table assignments?" "We'll certainly have to have the pastor on the dais." "Hello, White residence." "This is Maybelle speaking." "He's with guests right now." "I'd be happy to take a message." "Who is it?" "Mr. Coates, the piano player." "Hello?" "You stay where you are." "Is everything all right?" " Is he calling for me?" " My apologies." "Matters at the club need attention." "Daddy." "Mrs. Crawford came here all the way from Newtonville." "Perhaps Mr. Purnsley can attend to it?" "Afraid he can't." "I'll be back directly." "You keep these good people entertained, son." "Why even bother posting the hours?" "There's to minutes left." "This is going straight into the complaint box." "Sorry, folks." "Had to step away for a moment." "Are you sure about this?" "It's just a hunting license' isn't it?" "Be easy now, Mr. White." "Let me see you, girl." "I can't." "Come on, now." "It's okay." "Doctor done this to you?" "It was the right hand of the Lord." "The doctor and Miss Daughter got their ways." "Know how to tend to her?" "Been doing it longer than I wanted." "You make her comfortable till I get back." "YES, sir." "Black man goes to church, says a prayer and gets a visit from God himself." ""Now, son, I know you're curious," God tells him," ""So I'm going to allow you to ask me three questions."" "And so the black man said to God, "Lord," ""why is my skin so black?"" "And God replied, "My son," ""that is so the intense sun of Africa won't burn you."" "So then the black man said, "Lord," ""why is my head covered with all this kinky hair?"" "And God replied, "My son," ""that is so the African mosquito cant bite your head."" "So then the black man says," ""Then, Lord, what in hell's name" ""am I doing in Atlantic City?"" "Oh, yes, the Lord loves us colored folk." "Mr. Thompson, may I join you?" "What did God say when he made the first Negro?" "Why don't you stand up?" "I don't believe I should have to." ""Oh, no, I think I burned one!"" "What is it you're doing, Doctor?" " Enjoying the ribaldry." " You know you can't sit here." "What do you call a Negro woman whose husband just died?" "A black widow." "Where I am from, there are no such things as niggers, Mr. Thompson, and I refuse to be treated like one." "Your friend, his days are numbered." "Why do Negroes refuse to go on sea cruises?" "Is that a threat?" "Come on, we ain't gonna fall for that one again!" "It is merely a fact." "The people of the Northside have lost confidence and his political power is abating." "You saw to that yourself by pushing heroin." "Stand up." " Chalky..." " Stand your ass up!" "Not here, not now." "You gonna take your hands from me." "Apologies, ladies and gentlemen." " I'm calling you out, Doctor." " Come on now, fellas." "You beat a woman, let me see what you do to a man!" "Mr. Thompson, can you not control your friend?" "I can't even sit in my club, and you in the front row with this saditty motherfucker?" "Think about what comes out of your mouth next unless you are ready for a war, one that you will fight alone." "Mueller." "Sir?" "Tell me again what happened." "I was coming to work and I was approached by three men..." "No, the night Stuey bought it, when you were on your frolic with the Capones." " I told you, Mr. O'Banion..." " I know you did, but..." "I don't believe you." "How's about the truth, Mueller?" "Hmm?" "One more "I'm sorry," "I don-t know"" ""I'm not lookin' for any trouble,"" "and I will pop your head open like a melon." "I didn't kill Stu." "Al Capone did." "But I have killed other men." "The one you know about, the three that attacked me," " and my partner." " Your what?" "I was a Prohibition agent." "I drowned him with my bare hands." "My name isn't Mueller." "I'm not legally married to my wife." "I used to believe in God, but now I don't believe in anything at all." "Sweep up the trimmings." "Anything I can do you for, boys?" "Just deciding." " How about I make you up..." " What do you got that says you're sorry and won't ever do it again?" "Here's a man in need of roses." "Roses are for my girlfriend." "What do you got for my wife?" "You want chrysanthemums, friend." "That get me out of Dutch?" "If it doesn't, your money back." "Deal?" " Get a couple of extra men out here." "Something up?" "Just wouldn't hurt to be careful." "I'll call around." "One out front, another one on..." "Don't." "What do you want?" "I came to see you." "Why?" "I got married today." "Congratulations." "Thank you." " You came to tell me that?" " No." "I need a job." "What?" "Who built this house?" "It's late." "Who built it?" "You did." "Who pays the bills?" "You do." "Who's holding $1,000 in his hand?" "You are." "Who am I?" "You are my husband." "My name is Nelson Van Alden." "Take off your nightgown." "I know." "Me too." "It won't be much longer." "Yes, that'll be fine, sir." "I will take care of that immediately." "Who was that?" "Ah, just business." " At this hour?" " They're working late in Memphis." "You okay?" "No, actually." "You're fightin' the urge." "I need to be strong, for Tommy." "And if you lose him?" "No." "No." "The decision will be made for you, Gillian." "You need to prepare." "What I've done for that boy..." "It can't all have been for nothing." "It brought you to me." "Doesn't that count for somethin?" "Go home." "I'll be fine in a day or two." "You'll be fine sooner than that." "The doctor, what he did..." "That wasn't nothing but for my own good." "He sees things we don't." "Divination." "I think you and me must've gone to a different church." "Don't act the fool again, girl." "You hear me?" "Don't kill him." "Promise me you won't." "Make a promise to you, break another to myself." "I can't lose you too." "Don't." "MAYBELLE;" "Daddy, it's me." "I know you're there." "Maybelle, this is Miss Maitland, one of the acts from the club." "She had an accident, so I come by to..." "What'd you come to do, Daddy?" "Baby girl, look..." "Wheet." "Thompson." "How are tricks, Thompson?" "It's foggy here." "Did you call to talk about the weather?" "I just called to talk." "Thunderstorm this evening." "Cooled things off a little." "Sunny and hot tomorrow." "Is this exciting you?" "Keep going." "It's a clear night." "The moon's out." "I'm sleeping on the porch." "You're not sleeping now." "Somebody woke me up." "Your turn." "What does a man do down there in Florida?" "Aside from gator fights?" "You didn't like those?" "I won 50 bucks." "Well..." "A man does what he wants." "Or maybe he doesn't do anything at all." "Would you put up with a man like that?" "Maybe." "Not for too long." "I could come down." "You could." "Check on the operation." "Business is business." "I should let you get back to sleep." "Call me tomorrow." "Maybe a little earlier, though." "I might do that." "Don't get lost in the fog now."