Bucktown (1975) - full transcript

Hey, Clete, Sam.

Here, come over here.

Sam, Sam.

This is Sam.

Nigger hustler done ripped

off the Poker Palace.

Son of a bitch!

Oh, yeah.

You know, boy, crime just

don't pay in Bucktown.

Hey, Clete, you sure do enjoy your work.

Yeah, you got that right.

Gents.

Hey, you know, this is a real bad cat.

He almost killed a

couple of high rollers.

You gonna be in town long?

Why?

Are you the welcoming committee?

Hey, well, you have a good

time while you're here.

Better get his ass to the hospital.

You know where the club Alabam is?

Yes.

Son, do you believe in God?

Yeah, sure, why not?

Then you're in the wrong place.

Why didn't you tell me it was closed?

You didn't ask, did you?

Place's been closed since Ben died.

Where can I find a good hotel?

We ain't got one.

Well, how about one that changes sheets

at least every other night?

Hm, that would be the old Dixie.

It's just a couple of blocks down.

I'll take you.

No, thank you.

I'll walk.

Baby, is that really all you?

Sweetie, what you see is what you get.

But first I want to see

the color of your green.

And I'll show both of you

a time you'll never forget.

I'll help you with this, mister.

No charge.

I'm glad to help.

But if you want to tip me a half a buck,

I'll tell you where to

get your act together

and where to get it on.

Oh, yeah?

Get what on?

You name it, I got it.

Nah.

No, thanks.

Okay, how about cards?

If you go to doc Anderson's,

check the deuces and nines.

They're marked.

Little man, I ain't interested.

Okay, women.

The best in town is

Sonora over at Ruby's.

But don't let her get on top

or she'll buck your brains out.

Where do you get all this

information from, anyway, huh?

You sell penicillin, too?

Thanks, man.

See Arnetta.

She'll get you the

best room in the house

and be sure and tell

her Stevie sent you.

Is that yours?

Yeah, why?

Because you're the only pimp I ever seen

that drives a motorbike.

Hey, I ain't no pimp.

I'm Walt Disney, and this is Disneyland.

Ooh.

Got a room?

How many nights, honey?

Just one.

That'll be $15 in advance.

That's room 204.

You can take the stairs.

It's a little bit quicker.

Thank you.

Say, baby, you know,

if you?re interested,

I could turn you on

to a whole lot of fun.

No, thanks.

Well, you know it ain't my business,

but what's a fine black

thing like you doing in town?

I'm just here to bury

my brother, that's all.

Ooh.

Yeah?

A fella just checked in by the name

of Johnson, Duke Johnson.

Did he say anything?

- No, he didn't talk too much,

but he said he's here for Ben's funeral.

I'm glad you called, Arnetta.

Well, you told me to check with you

and now that's what I'm doing.

Goodnight.

Yeah.

Your dinner is ready, Chief Patterson.

Almighty God in heaven above,

I thank thee for what

you've set before me,

and I give...

Unto you, O Lord, the

soul of this good man,

this humble man, Ben Johnson,

a man of the people, all peoples,

who always held his

hand out to help others,

who gave like you and

asked naught in return.

The lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie

down in green pastures.

He restoreth my soul.

So we know, Almighty God,

that you will continue

to love Ben as we have loved him,

to embrace him, to take him

into your kingdom this day.

Amen.

In the name of the Father,

the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Those were good words, reverend.

Thank you.

Excuse me, sir.

I'm Waldo Harley.

Might you be a friend

of our beloved Ben there?

Yeah, I'm Duke Johnson.

Duke?

That's just what I figured.

Aretha.

Aretha, you and Stevie

say hello to the Duke.

That's Ben's brother.

You really Duke?

Ben told us all about you.

Says you're the smartest

one in the family.

You know, how you've been all

over the world and everything.

So you're the one.

When was the last time you saw Ben?

Five years ago?

No, it was more like six.

Some hotshot brother!

Aretha, please.

Where were you when he needed your help?

What kind of help?

There's nothing you can do about it now,

except for to find the

time to come and bury him

and collect his stuff and split.

Aretha, now, let's this

st- - Aren't you gonna stay?

No, he's not gonna stay,

he wouldn't dirty that

shoeshine in this cow pasture.

Would you, Mr. Duke Johnson?

Aretha, please!

Don't mind her, Duke.

Ben was good to her.

His dying kind of put a

pain of grief into her.

Don't mind her.

No, I can't mind a lady

that speaks her mind.

Right, Duke.

Duke, you're absolutely right.

And according to this will,

left everything to you:

an estate consisting mainly

of a lot and frame house,

a hand-tooled leather

wallet containing $39.43,

and a savings account pass book

in the name of Benjamin A. Johnson.

Okay, all of Ben's things

belong to me now, right?

To sell, use, anything I want, right?

In about 60 days.

60 days?

Man, you gotta be kidding.

That's the state law.

Takes that long to close an estate.

What am I supposed to do?

Stick around this rat

trap for two months?

Of course, we could

relax the rules a bit,

allow you the use of

your brother's property.

Huh.

How much?

Uh, let's say you sign

for an empty hand-tooled

leather wallet.

You run a nice business

around here, don't you?

Hi, Duke.

We've been over there waiting for you

and telling Stevie here all about it.

Yeah, about what?

Oh, how you're gonna stay on,

open the club and everything.

Man, I can't wait for them

good times start rolling again.

Place was really like a

home to some of us, you know,

especially Stevie here,

because he lives in the back.

Your brother Ben made a

right smart living from it.

Gonna do the Same thing for you, Duke.

I figure life owes me

more than just a living.

All I want from that bar

is for somebody to buy it.

Look, I'm gonna be stuck

here for two months.

You really want to help me?

Sure, Duke.

Then you find me a

buyer for the club Alabam

so I can get the hell out of here.

Okay?

Sure, Duke.

You take care.

Mr. Duke.

Mr. Duke, sir.

Is it all right if we

walk a piece with you?

We thought you were cool.

A wise dude like you.

Shows how wrong you can be.

Stevie, you speak for yourself.

Something bothering you two?

Oh, no, Duke, everything is expubident,

except that, it's gonna be a little hard

to find a buyer for the club

with that closed sign on the door.

That's the way it is, bro.

But it don't have to be.

Really, Duke, if the joint was open,

people would be having fun

and partying real

good and catching good.

Why, a sucker come in then

and want to buy the joint.

He know he gonna have to get

down with some heavy bread.

You could be playing sweet

music on the cash register.

You guys are dreaming, man.

Hey, Duke, why do you

think those tourist dudes

come over here from across the river?

It's because they know they

can swing till broad daylight.

Sh.

Could get four or five

times what you're asking

if the club was open.

And don't forget all

those army reservers

over at the armory.

One night a week, after

marching and drilling,

they're hot and they're thirsty,

and where do they head for?

The club Alabam, for some relaxation.

Relaxation, huh?

You know something, little man?

You remind me of me when I was your age.

Trying to be somebody,

always jiving and hustling.

I ain't hustling.

I'm just trying to grow

up fast in a fast town.

And me?

I ain't nothing but an

old football player, Duke.

Maybe drink too much every now and then.

But if you open that club,

it sure would make me

feel like I was somebody.

Opening the club can't hurt, can it?

You said yourself you?re stuck here,

so you ain't got

nothing to lose, do you?

Do you?

I ain't some dumb broad, I got rights.

Honey, we told you before,

don't rip off the marks.

It's bad for business.

It ain't fair, you making me spend time

in this goddamn hole.

We've got to think of

Bucktown's reputation, honey.

You keep clipping the tourists,

and pretty soon none

of them will be coming

across the river no more.

But that freaky bastard

wanted to wear my underwear.

This place got a chief?

You got an appointment?

No.

What's the matter, boy?

Somebody pick your pocket?

I'm here about the closed

sign on the club Alabam.

Oh, you must be Ben's brother.

Everybody liked Ben.

He was real people, wasn't he, Merle?

Sure was.

Good citizen Ben.

Well, that's mighty nice

of you fellas to say that.

Now what about that closed sign?

No problem.

All you gotta do is

take out a city license.

That's right.

How much is that?

How much was that,

Merle, for a city sticker?

That was $400, wasn't it?

More like $450, I thought.

Damned if you?re not right.

I'll make sure they get your message.

Do that, Duane, you just do that.

You the main man?

Yeah.

Hey, now just a damn minute.

You're the one I wanna talk to.

Duke Johnson?

Yeah.

Come in.

You're not much for manners, are you?

I give what I get.

This what you want?

However, nothing is for nothing.

I guess those two crackers

out front were serious, huh?

Sam!

Yes, sir.

What's the charge for a city sticker?

450 good old American green.

Not one drop is poured in this town

unless each bottle has a city sticker,

and the sticker comes from this office.

Now, Ben's renewal fee was

due two days after he died,

so now it's overdue.

What happens if it isn't paid?

Place stays padlocked.

And if I decide to sell it?

When I see some dollars on this desk,

you can do whatever you

like with that flea trap.

Good.

I like dealing with a reasonable man.

I'd like to get that

ugly bitch Ruthie alone.

I'd teach her some manners.

Right.

She always been like it?

She always did think she was hot shit!

She's got a bug up your ass.

You got it?

I got it.

Get it out, get it out!

It's gonna be five next week,

you understand that, boy?

- All right.

Shit!

Come on, loverboy, let's go.

Evening, Woodrow.

Woo!

Hi, sweetness.

Cleo, Cleo, here I come!

God...

Goddamn, Cleo, you

always was my favorite.

Hey, hey, hey!

Everybody have a drink and be somebody.

Say, boy, put a quarter in the jukebox.

And make goddamn sure you

pay for those drinks, y'all.

I am pleased to make the announcement

that the man has done his

thing, and it's gonna happen

as soon as he gets...

Poopoodoopoo.

Look out, girl, what you doing?

Harley, what you running

your mouth about now?

I am pleased to make the announcement

that the club Alabam is now open.

No.

Yeah, yes.

So how long is he gonna stay?

That ain't important.

Huh, that's what you think.

He only did it so he could

sell it for a better price.

No, no, he listened when I told him

how good business was

gonna be and everything.

Just bait to hook the

fish that's gonna buy it.

Why you got to be so cold?

Every time I mention Duke's

name, you gotta put him down.

Because he's just another big-city,

jive-ass spook, that's why.

Forget him.

But this is Ben's brother,

he deserves a break.

Harley, listen, I've met

100 guys just like him.

Takers, every goddamn one of them,

and I got the scars to prove it.

Uh, sh.

You don't know him.

This is a different kind of man.

Harley, there ain't no

different kind of man.

Hey, Sam.

Hey, y'all, Clete, Sam.

Hey, I'm telling you,

there ain't no one

like that Cleo of mine.

Man, she has got a mouth soft

and sweet as an overripe plum.

And I'll tell you, that tongue,

sweet Jesus-

- Shit.

If you weren't the Chief's cousin,

she wouldn't give you a smile for free.

Ain't that the truth? -You go to hell!

Hey, the dude's opened the Alabam.

You think it's time Mr.

Johnson joined the club?

Yeah, you go on with Sam.

Me and Merle got some business.

Oh, come on, Clete, let me go with you.

I always miss out on all the fun.

Uh-uh.

Leave this one to the men.

Get in the car, Warren.

Damn!

2021.

Let me have one of them.

That tastes like that been

flushed down the toilet.

What do you think, Clete?

Well, if you, uh...

Smell and look like a pig,

I guess you gotta act

like one, don't you?

All right, fellas, get out.

You want me to tell him, Clete?

No, I'll tell him, Merle.

Fact is, I'm gonna

tell him real friendly.

I'm even gonna call

him by his first name.

Nigger!

You want to do business in Bucktown,

you gotta pay for the privilege.

Well, you see, I've already paid.

Hey, that was just

to take down the sign.

Hey, hey, hey, everybody do their thing.

Every Saturday night you

come up with 100 bucks.

Come Saturday, you don't

give me my Saturday money,

I'm gonna slap a sign on that door.

That sign gonna say,

"Nigger, read and run.

"You can't read, run anyway."

First nigger touch that sign,

first nigger try to

come through that door,

I'm gonna kick his head

till his eyes pooch out

like an eagle's ass in a power dive.

You understand what

I'm talking about, boy?

Oh, yeah, I understand.

It's that cheap, smelly,

funky cigar you're smoking

that's making you talk so funny.

This boy has a mouth.

Alligator mouth and a hummingbird ass.

Just like his old brother Ben.

He sure is stubborn like him.

Yeah, don't kick this

boy in the head, Merle.

You know you can't hurt niggers

when you kick them in the head.

All right, clowns,

you've had your laughs.

Now, either go out

the door or through it.

Your choice.

Step aside, boy.

I'm checking that cash register.

The price you have to pay to do that,

cracker, ain't worth it.

Why you palefaces always together?

You faggots?

Oh, you little shit.

Ah!

Duke, look out!

Watch it, Duke!

Sucker.

You know something?

You two are a couple

of real sweethearts.

What kind of jive are you talking about?

Why wasn't I told about

what's coming down here?

Oh, Duke, I'm sorry about that.

I didn't say nothing because

I didn't want you to leave.

Aretha here she figured

you were gonna go anyway,

so why should she say anything?

That's all that went down, man.

Cops strong-arm the whole goddamn town,

dealing in payoffs, and you

don't tell me nothing about it?!

I'm sorry about that, Duke.

No, you're not sorry, Harley.

What do you expect us to do?

We have to live here!

Okay.

You two can eat the

crap that they dish out,

but not me, baby.

No way.

Oh, now, wait a minute, Duke.

Duke.

- Oh, shoot, Harley!

Damn!

Hey!

Now, you get this, and

you get it straight.

I ain't paying off anybody:

not your flunkies, not you, nobody!

Now, settle down, Mr.

Johnson, settle down.

Now, what do you mean?

Now, you can just can the bull.

$450 was my first and

last payment, chump!

You may not believe this,

but we run a pretty

busy department here.

Public service takes money,

and we don't get it all

from writing parking tickets, you know.

Now, we're not a big town

like where you're from,

but we have plenty of

work to keep us busy.

For example, take your brother's case.

We're not giving up.

What do you mean, you're not giving up?

I thought you knew.

Some unknown assailant beat

him and left him for dead.

I was told he died of

natural causes, pneumonia.

True.

Due to exposure and loss of blood.

Naturally, we did what we could, but...

Mr. Johnson, you look to

me to be an intelligent man.

You've been around, you know the ropes.

And you know a smart man

always avoids trouble,

tries to get along.

Doesn't he, Mr. Johnson?

It's a little warm out tonight, man.

I thought you might want this.

Come on in.

You and I haven't gone out

of our way to be friends.

It's all right.

Forget it.

Here's looking at you, sweetheart.

This ain't an easy town

to live in, you know.

Yeah?

What town is?

Well, what I'm trying to say is...

Is I was wrong.

Everybody pays the man in this town.

Nobody tells me.

Honkies run this town.

Nobody tells me.

My brother Ben is found

dead in the gutter.

Nobody tells me how or why.

Well, I'm not proud of the

fact that I didn't say nothing.

How do you tell somebody that

their brother was beaten up

by some goons at the police department

and left to die in the freezing rain?

I wanted to tell you, but-

But you gotta hustle

just for a living, right?

And you want to play it safe.

Play it safe?

You damn right I play it safe.

I'm tired of leading the charge.

You ever heard of pride?

You want to go through

life being trampled, baby,

that's your business.

Well, what do you know about scuffling

and hustling and breaking

your back for peanuts

and taking it all, but

still going on living

and hoping and dreaming?

What the hell do you know about that?

You think you got a

monopoly on hard times?

I mean, who promised you a free ride?

You think you're really

something, don't you?

The super-successful young brother.

Everyone kowtowing to you.

Ben told us all about you till

we were sick of hearing it!

I must be some kind

of simple-headed fool

for coming in here and

trying to apologize to you,

for misjudging you, thinking

you were just some kind

of big city dude coming

down here to parade

in front of us small town folk.

Now you think different, huh?

Well, I saw different.

I saw you stand up for your rights

and show that you were your own man.

And what do I get for it?

Just dumped on.

What do you want from me?

My blessing, or the keys to the city?

You bastard!

Get your black ass out of town, nigger!

Wahoo!

Go get them, Merle!

Right on.

Hold it, boys.

Hold it!

Hey, Clete. -Yo.

Come on over here.

All right.

We don't want him killed, do we?

Well, we may have to.

You know, he's pretty stubborn,

he's just like his old brother Ben.

Be easy, wouldn't it?

Nothing to it.

Hell, what's one dead

nigger more or less?

That's just the point, boys.

After Ben, people might get too curious,

especially up in the capital,

and we don't want that.

I just wanted him

taught a little lesson.

We'll see how well he's learned it.

Right, Chief.

Get off the car.

You all right, baby?

Yeah, but, Duke, you gotta run.

They're gonna kill you.

I never ran from nobody, and

I don't intend to start now.

But, Duke, you can't do it by yourself!

Please, Duke, you gotta run.

Please.

No chance, baby.

Ease up, ease up.

Excuse me.

Yeah?

Duke.

Duke!

Aw, man, where you been?

Listen, man,

everybody's been saying, "Where's Duke?

"When's he coming home?"

Yeah.

Listen, I got two or three

very sweet propositions waiting

for us when you return.

Like always, huh?

Listen to one of them here.

Roy, man, I didn't call you

up to jive with you, brother.

We got to talk serious business, man.

All right, all right.

What's the matter, man?

Don't you laugh anymore?

Look, focus in on Detroit.

Remember?

You kidding?

We were outnumbered,

what, three, four to one?

Man, you was something else.

Well, the odds here

are a lot longer, man.

It's a jive town with

a bunch of crackers.

I need your help.

You really are serious.

Excuse me.

When?

Yesterday, brother, yesterday.

Well, I owe you one, buddy.

I'm on my way.

Roy,

bring muscle.

I'm looking at a dead man.

Boy,

where would one find the club Alabam?

It's right, it's right

down there in town.

Where there?

It's in town.

Do I take a taxi or a stagecoach?

Cab's broke down.

Figures.

Hey, that's my hat.

Kind of sloppy there, boy.

I've seen better-looking

places in the slams.

Roy, what's this cat

Duke got on you anyhow?

Hey, fresh meat?

What you need?

Gambling?

Girls?

Back off, little kid.

You name it.

Poker?

Pinochle?

Poontang?

Half-pint, didn't I tell

you to haul your ass.

Hey, hey, ease up, T.J.,

the kid's just trying

to make his hustle.

I started like that, too.

Hey, Duke, I think you got some company.

Roy?

Hey, Roy!

Oh, hey, man, how you doing?

Thanks for coming, man.

- Hey, what could I do, huh?

Hey, Harley, the dude I

was telling you about, man,

this is him, Roy.

How you doing, Mr. Roy?

- Harley.

Oh, uh, this is Aretha.

Roy.

Aretha.

Hi, Roy.

Oh, excuse me, um, this

is Josh, Hambone,T.J.

How you doing, fellas?

Man, I have never seen

anything like this at home.

Me and this cat, we

practically grew up together.

Mm, went through some real, real scenes.

From the streets all the

way up to the top, huh.

Yeah, right on, right on.

But good times, right?

Good times, yeah.

Come on, let's have a drink.

- Right.

Man, you're really a sight.

I don't know what trouble you got,

but we're here with the cure.

How you like these little cutie pies?

Man, are you crazy?

Get rid of this jailbait.

Sorry, girls, we're

gonna have to party later.

Come on, we got to take

care of some business.

Get your act together. -Yeah.

Okay.

So four cops and the Chief.

That's five.

What about the guy who hired them?

His honor, the mayor?

No, you won't have to worry about him.

He brought the Chief

in to clean up the town

for the tourists.

Afterwards, he, uh, saw

he had a good thing going

and moved right in.

Mm-hm.

So he'd be the happiest of anybody

to see him run out of town.

Then we don't have any problem, do we?

Remember that little situation

we had a couple of years ago?

You want to work it the same way?

Why not, man?

No sense in dragging it out.

Besides, I want to see if you?ve, uh,

slowed down in your old age.

Huh.

No way.

Hey, there's another one out there now.

Man, this cat's gonna go blind

squinting up at me

with his big blue eyes.

Duke, what about the boss

of these tin soldiers?

Well, as far as I can tell,

man, he's all spit-and-polish.

Still thinks World War II is going on,

but I wouldn't play him too cheap, man.

He didn't get this far being dumb.

Want to chill him first?

No, we'll hook that up

after we get the locations.

You sick animal!

What the hell's wrong with her?

They haven't budged for hours.

Nobody stays in that hotel that long.

Where's Duane?

He's over there.

They're trouble, Brian,

they don't look right.

You worry too much, Sam.

No coon looks good to a decent man.

Just remember, we're the law.

And God is on our side.

Yes, sir.

See you later, Sam.

Gets off work after midnight.

Usually makes a beeline

straight for this place.

That's his old lady dancing up there.

He usually takes her

home about two o'clock.

That'd be a good time to

nail his ass in the sack.

Man, you got a mean

streak in you, brother.

To the bone.

Like, you babies want a little action?

We got each other, mama.

Uh, excuse me, sir.

My name is Roy Williams.

This is Duke Johnson.

I'm sure you know him.

He's a friend of mine.

We were just taking a

stroll down the street here.

We would very much like it

if you would join us, huh?

Oh, ooh, uh...

Light, huh?

No, thanks, I don't smoke.

Think we should ditch him?

No, he's fat enough, let

him get some exercise.

Give him a little nod here.

Sam likes to spend

evenings over at the hotel.

There's always a big

money game going on.

He gets a piece of the take.

Bet five, you want to call?

Then there's Merle.

Lives over at Ruby's whorehouse.

Owns a chunk of it.

- Where's the money?

A bad mother.

That Merle boy, he gets

his kicks leaning heavy

on the ladies.

How many times have I

told you not to be late?

I swear, I wasn't honest.

Don't you never lie to me, you hear?

Never!

Usually this time of night,

there's only one cop manning the fort.

Oh, yeah?

Well, there's no sweat, huh?

He's probably sleeping on the job.

Maybe, uh...

Maybe we ought to try

to make it permanent.

Permanent?

Damn, brother, you have

become one violent dude.

True.

Lover of all mankind, right?

The way I see it, man,

first thing we gotta do

is take their radio out. -True.

Last thing we need is the

state police snooping around.

Somehow, I don't think

they'd understand.

Well, what you think, home?

It's cool.

Like stealing candy from a baby.

Oh, yeah? -Yeah.

Merle!

Clete!

No, no, no, no, I'll

break your ass, man.

Don't hit me again, don't

hit me again, please, I don't,

ugh!

Please, God.

Please, God, I'm just like you.

Like hell.

Honey, where are the cigarettes?

They're on the dresser, baby.

Fire escape.

Listen, you dumb sambo,

I'm gonna explain it just once more.

I don't want my

hamburgers without mustard.

I want them without

ketchup, but with mustard.

Now, get it right this time

or I'm gonna kick your ass.

Not an inch.

Don't move an inch.

You know any prayers, cracker?

Shame on you if you don't.

You should have had the ketchup.

I want to call.

There's another one.

Give me a raise.

Come on.

Keep the money, I want him!

Drop the gun, dammit, or

I'll blow her head off!

Drop it.

Duke.

I mean it.

Now, back up.

Back up and let me out of here.

I'm going out and I'm

taking her with me.

Move back.

Move back or I'll blow her head off.

You stay back, you

stay far back, you hear?

I must be losing my touch.

Got to hit him where it hurts, my man.

That's a good shot.

No use wasting good ammo.

What the...

Rise and shine, Chief.

The war is over.

Company.

Well, well.

Bucktown's own private tin soldier.

In your butt!

What do you think, Duke?

Well, how about 10 in the morning?

Why, that's too early.

Well, uh, how about high noon?

What, and spoil our lunch?

Damn, let's shoot him

at one o'clock, then.

How about right now?

You're not gonna kill me.

News travels fast.

It's bound to get to the state troopers.

If they ask any questions,

you're gonna tell your

black mayor to tell them

that you're holding the chief of police

for breaking the law.

No, you're gonna keep me alive,

because I'm gonna keep your black asses

from burning in hell!

prostitution.

I can't tell you how much we appreciate

what you boys have done

for our little old town.

We were all being, uh...

Well, you know, we were being, uh...

The word is screwed, Mr. Mayor.

Exactly, just the right word.

Excuse me, sister.

gambling.

Before I forget,

the badges from your

used-to-be police department.

We do thank you.

If only there was some way to thank you,

I mean, uh, for our town

to express our appreciation

for what you've done, before you leave.

Think real hard.

You'll come up with something.

Mr. Mayor, last night's receipts come

to a total of $6,319.

Fine.

A parade.

What?

Down the main street.

With the high school marching band

and our pompom girls and baton twirlers

and you and your boys

waving and smiling,

and bringing up the rear,

the Buchanan volunteer fire department.

No parade.

- No parade.

No parade?

No.

No parades.

I think I can suggest a better way

for you to show your

appreciation, Mr. Mayor.

Duke.

Duke, wake up.

Get your buns up.

Duke.

What?

Get up!

Come on, all right, come on.

Any time's the right time, come on.

Duke, I didn't come

here to get in your bed,

I came to get you out of it.

Out of it?

It's too early.

Roy don't leave till twelve.

But, Duke, that's what

I came here to tell you.

The train's leaving, but Roy ain't.

Duke.

Roy?

What are you talking about?

They're all staying here.

Now, what they gonna

do in this hick town?

They're gonna wear

badges in this hick town.

Badges?

Roy conned the mayor.

Now he's wearing the Chief's badge.

Josh,T.J., and Hambone are policemen.

I'll be damned.

All four of them, huh?

Yes.

And all of them with a

rap sheet a yard long.

And, you know, that old Roy

is really up to something.

Well, that's not hard to figure out.

You want my opinion?

No.

Well, you're gonna get it anyway, dummy.

Your buddy saw what a good

thing the Chief had going

for him, and now he

wants it for himself.

No, they're brothers.

The Chief and his boys, they were-

Honkies.

Well, let me tell you something

about people, big shot.

Whether they're white, black,

green, yellow or purple,

when they smell a few

dollars, they all act alike.

Uh?

Mm.

Get up!

I won't tell you anything.

Bucktown's pure gold, Chief,

and you've been squeezing

and milking it dry.

So come on,

for the last time, where's the dough?

Paying off street scum was easy.

Giving in to them, impossible!

A man who won't talk

doesn't need his tongue.

Hambone?

Hey, partner.

Welcome to the Promised Land, huh?

Hey, baby, why don't you go and, um...

Put something on a little sweeter, huh?

For my man.

Sure, honey.

What is it, uh, we're

gonna be partners in, buddy?

I thought you were

gonna leave town, man.

What happened?

Considerable.

Considerable.

Man, listen, when I got the

telephone call back in Philly

that my partner needed some help,

how was I to know that

he was gonna cut me in

on a soft touch that I had

been waiting for all my life.

A touch?

What are you talking about, man?

I just called you to this town

to help me get rid of some

jive crackers, that's all.

All right, all right.

So you know what the good book says:

"The lord helps them

that helps themselves."

And that's what we're doing, man.

We're helping ourselves.

We own this town.

And thanks to his honor,

we even got the badges here to prove it.

Huh?

Here's yours.

No, man.

That's not my way, Roy.

What's the matter, man?

Huh?

You don't like money?

Or are you beginning to fall

for this small town jive?

Here we got a pot of gold

at the end of the rainbow,

and my homeboy's going soft on me.

Oh, come on, Roy, you

know better than that.

How do I know?

You don't even act like

the cat I grew up with.

Man, it's just that...

This is my brother's town, man.

His friends.

I mean, I wouldn't feel right

leaning on his people, man.

Oh, yeah?

Okay, if that's the way you want it,

that's the way it'll be.

Now, I'll tell you what.

I won't lean on them too hard.

Just enough to pay the rent.

Yeah, like Robin Hood!

Rob from the rich, give to the poor.

Me.

But you, you just keep

running that little club

of yours down there, see?

And we'll take your share of the money

and put it in the

safe down at city hall.

And when you decide you want it,

it'll be there waiting for you.

You're serious, ain't you?

I'm serious as a heart attack.

Oh, man, I ain't gonna

be no more trouble

than the tax collector.

Come on, brother.

Shit, we supposed to be friends, man.

I come all this way to help you out.

Come on, hey.

A toast, huh?

To beautiful Bucktown.

You're short.

$300 short.

Last night was lousy.

- You know what Roy said.

How the hell can I come

up with an extra 50%

when the girls didn't even make it?

Just open your piggy bank, baby.

Everybody's gotta come up with

the new dues or you're dead.

Man, this town is something else.

Like every night is

bank night, you know?

The town clipping the tourists

and us clipping the town.

There's just one thing wrong.

Roy's friend.

Uh, you're talking about Duke?

Yeah.

He's got a big hand in the money,

and he doesn't do a damn

thing to help us earn it.

Nothing we can do, because

that's the way Roy wants it.

Well, maybe there is.

I mean, they're good buddies, right?

Mm-hm.

What say they weren't such good buddies?

Then we could step in and do something.

Listen,T.J., no two

dudes ever been closer.

So how could we change anything?

Man, I already got something going.

Josh is working it right now.

I say you and I gotta give him a hand.

Then I'll show you how to

change things, all right?

All right.

All right, I'm gonna try to explain it

to your satisfaction.

Now, the quarterback come

up to the line of scrimmage.

You see, they're all

covering on the right,

so he called a covering

color, which is green.

Signals three, 45,

and number four was the right halfback

coming over the right hole.

And number five was mine,

because I'm the only one

somebody can take out two mens.

Harley here keeps telling

me he threw that key block

in the championship game.

Expects me to believe him.

Big lying nuisance.

Big phony.

Your mama's a nuisance.

She the biggest nuisance you ever met.

I say you lying, big man.

I ain't lying, punk.

And you a punk.

And you, you a sissy.

And you, you son of a gun,

you a punk and a sissy!

Lying lush.

I say you're a lying lush.

Big star football player.

I tell you I was the star

of that game, motherfucker!

Harley.

Are you all right?

Harley.

Stevie.

Harley.

- No.

Stevie.

Harley.

Harley!

Stevie, Stevie, Stevie, let go.

Stevie, no.

Stevie,.

We're gonna go with him.

If business gets any better,

we're gonna need a bigger safe.

Listen, add this up right here.

Now, Roy.

What are you waiting for?

For you to tell me

why you sent your goons

to beat up on Harley.

Why would I do a thing like that?

Listen, Harley is in the hospital, man,

and if he don't make it- -

Oh, come on, man, cool it.

Cool it.

You're making a lot

to do out of nothing.

The way I get it, Harley

was getting drunk in the bar.

Right?

He was causing a disturbance.

There was a complaint.

Look, what are my men

wearing those badges for

except to keep the peace?

Oh, come on, Roy, you know that's b.s.

You calling me a liar?

No, man, I'm not calling you a liar.

I'm just trying to find out the truth.

So am I.

What's wrong, Duke?

I mean, what's happening?

I mean, after all

we've been through, man,

why would I wanna lay our friendship

on the line behind some bullshit?

I'm not coming down on you, Roy.

I just want you to control

your clowns, that's all,

because if they push

my people around again

they gonna have to tangle with me.

That's all I'm saying, man.

Okay.

All right.

What did happen to Harley?!

Hey, man, like I told you,

the big man can't handle his sauce.

We went in to make an arrest,

and he began throwing his weight around.

So it took three of us to get him out.

That's all?

Would I lie to you?

Dr. Edward Coll,

please call your answering

service immediately.

Oh, Harley.

How do you feel?

All right.

What happened?

I know you didn't start that

fight like they said you did.

I don't rightly remember, Aretha.

I do know we...

We was all in the bar there, drinking.

I was telling them how...

I was the star of that game.

And they said I was a liar.

Hey, look.

You know something?

They say it took 45

stitches to sew me up.

That's some kind of record, ain't it?

Yeah, Harley, that's

some kind of record.

I'm sorry, Aretha.

I feel like a stomped down fool.

Oh, Harley.

You my number one.

Looks like your friend

Roy is building up an army.

Poor old Bucktown.

Things were bad enough

under the old Chief,

but now they're 10 times worse.

There's no way that we can fight them.

No way.

No way.

Can I buy you a drink, lady?

Suit yourself.

Two of the same.

Where's your man?

Not here.

He's at the hospital

looking in on Harley.

How is Harley?

He's making it.

No thanks to you.

Thank you.

Maybe you could do yourself

and your man a big

favor, if you, uh, would.

Like how?

Get him to leave town now.

Huh.

Why should he leave town?

Well, there are a lot

of big reasons down

in that vault at city hall.

His cut of the pie.

You could live real high on

his share of the money, huh?

Fine diamonds.

Jewelry.

High living.

Suppose I want to stay.

Well, you got a pretty nice

choice any way you look at it.

If you go, you got Duke

and all that heavy bread.

And if you decide to

stay on here in Bucktown,

I'd be willing to, uh, make

you a very sweet proposition.

I mean, seriously.

What if we both decide to stay?

Me and Duke?

I don't think that'd be too pleasant.

Man, oh, man, I'm gonna enjoy this.

Now, you're going about

it the wrong way,T.J.

Oh, man, Duke'll think

Roy set it all up.

You wait here.

First, I'm gonna break your arms.

Then I'm gonna break your legs.

I'm gonna start on your face.

Duke, baby.

I thought we're your friends.

And we come down here to help you out.

Yeah, Josh, you can help.

You get this idiot out of here

before I blow his brains out.

This is just between me and you.

Hey, wait a minute, man.

Wait a minute, what's wrong?!

- Sit down.

I want your full attention.

All right, man, you've got it.

I called you here to do me a favor,

and you take over the

whole goddamn town!

You had bright ideas

right from the start,

didn't you, old buddy?

And I fell for all

that crap about you, uh,

not leaning hard on the town.

But it's worse now

than it ever was, man,

because now it's brothers doing it!

So what good did it do bringing

you here in the first place?

Well, go on, man, don't stop talking.

I'm listening.

You send your punks to beat Harley up.

Then you send them after Aretha.

I did what?

Now, you listen, because I'm

only gonna say it once, Roy.

I want your punks gone, out of town!

Or I swear, man, I'll plant

them in their own stink.

Let me tell you something.

Ever since we helped

you get rid of that Chief

and them goddamn rednecks,

you've been acting like a goddamn fool.

You won't do this, you won't do that.

You won't even take any of the money

we're trying to give you.

And now you bust in my place

and accuse me of pulling

all kinds of weird shit!

Well, I am tired of it,

and I ain't gonna

stand for no more of it.

Now, just get this, get

this in that head of yours.

I am running this town, I'm running it!

And I got the mayor

and everybody else right

by the balls, including you.

And if anybody's gonna leave,

it ain't gonna be old Roy.

It's gonna be you.

You dig?

Yeah.

That's the way it is, huh?

You called it.

All right, buddy.

All bets are off.

Give me the police department.

T.J., this is Roy.

You wanted me to set an

example for this town.

From now on, everybody

pays, so lean on him.

Hey, hey, hey, everybody

have a drink and be somebody.

Make goddamn sure you pay for it.

Look at it, we got some

white people in the joint.

You guys have a good time, all right?

What's going on?

I'm really fast just to

show is good to be home, boy.

Hey, Aretha.

How you doing?

The doctor said you're

supposed to be resting.

Aw, shit, I'm tired of resting.

I wanna be here with my friends.

Right on, man!

All right, all right, I'm

not gonna argue about it.

Say, where's the Duke?

Uh, he's taking care of business.

We're looking for the big shot.

He ain't here.

We came early.

T.J.?

Yeah?

- Josh?

Yeah.

We got a special message for him.

Go get word to Duke.

Where is he?

Show them what we're talking about, T.J.

It only takes one little match.

You bastards!

You can't, you motherfuckers!

Imagine that, assaulting a lawman.

Take him in.

Harley!

Somebody!

Please, somebody!

Help me!

- Harley!

Harley!

Don't let them take me!

Please!

Please, don't let them take me!

Harley!

Harley.

What the heck are you doing here?

Aretha sent me.

T.J., Hambone, and Josh

are over at the club Alabam.

Come on, she needs you.

How many out front?

One.

All right.

Hey, kid, hold it.

Oh, thank God you're here.

What's happened here?

Roy's three hoods came in here

and they tried to burn the place down.

Harley tried to stop them

and they dragged him out.

Dragged him where?

To jail.

You gotta talk to Roy,

make him let Harley go.

Roy's your friend.

No, he's gone too far now.

It's too late to talk.

No, you can't fight them alone.

There'll be five or

six of them at the jail.

I've got a plan that should

even up the odds a little bit.

But, Duke, what good

is it gonna do Harley

getting yourself killed?

Duke!

Stevie, you know that armory

you was telling me about

across the river?

You know where it is?

Yeah, I can find it.

Come on, let's go.

Roy, I wanna talk to you.

Please, Roy, it's important.

Go ahead, I'm listening.

I'm asking you to let Harley go.

It wasn't his fault.

He just got a little crazy

when your boys came in the bar

and tried to burn it down.

Well, maybe you ought to

blame Duke for that, not me.

Well, don't take it out on Harley

because of your feelings for Duke.

Well, since you're pointing

fingers for what happened,

woman, it wasn't my choice, it was his.

I mean, Duke's got his head

in a weird kind of place.

No, no, he does not

wanna go against you.

He says you're his friend.

But, we've been tight.

But that comes with respect,

and respect comes from knowing

how it is in the streets,

what you have to do

to get by and doing it,

and doing it well, damn well.

That's what it's all about.

But it doesn't make any sense!

It's just your damn ego!

Ego?

No.

It's how you survive.

Well, I want Duke to survive.

I wanna love that man.

I don't wanna bury him.

You just don't give a

damn about anybody, do you?

You listen, Aretha,

you show me anybody who gives

a damn about anybody else,

and I'll show you a fool, a damn fool,

who'll go through life

with their hands out begging

instead of grabbing.

Do you think anybody here in

this town is any different?

They don't give a damn who gets killed,

just so long as the dice keep rolling,

the 'hos keep 'hoing, and

the money keeps flowing.

It all revolves around the

big G, baby, the big green.

Everybody everywhere is

scratching for what they can get.

I'm just scratching a little harder.

You poor, selfish, ignorant man.

Haven't you ever had the

guts to love somebody else?

Maybe.

Maybe I never had a woman

like you to fight for me.

Maybe I even envy Duke for that.

I'll be seeing you.

Isn't it beautiful?

Oh, man, that monster could

open up the gates of hell.

Well, what can I do for you?

Where's T.J.?

T.J., I wanna talk to you.

Well, um, I haven't been too

friendly with you, and I...

I thought I'd come by and apologize.

Is that right?

Yes, that's right.

And I need a favor.

Well, they cost.

Well, you do me this

one little old favor,

and I'll do anything you want, and some.

Like what?

Harley.

He's just an old drunk

that I feel sorry for.

He's no good to anybody.

Let him go.

All right.

Have it your way.

After, uh-

- Uh-huh.

Before.

You let him go now, and it'll

be good between you and me.

All the way.

Okay.

We'll do it your way.

Follow me.

Harley.

Harley.

Aretha.

What you doing here?

This ain't no place for a woman.

I came to keep Duke from getting-

Duke?

Would you please let him go now?

I gotta get him to a doctor.

Dumb broad.

You come here trying to deal.

I don't make no deals.

I take what I want.

And then I'm gonna kill Duke.

Just like this.

Now, what about all that

honey you promised me,

that sugar and milk?

Beg.

Beg!

Come on, beg.

I don't beg for nothing!

Oh, no more!

Tighten up, nigga.

Now beg!

Beg!

- No!

Beg!

Son of a bitch!

Now, you freeze, nigga!

Harley.

You all right, Aretha?

Yes.

Where's the ammo?

In the chariot.

Hambone!

You two stay back.

Did you get them all?

All except one.

I always knew my buddy was a real man.

If anybody had told me, Roy,

that we would be on opposite

sides, fighting each other...

You might not believe this,

but I never lied to you.

I never sent anyone to

hassle Harley or Aretha.

How did it happen, then, Roy?

T.J.

He wanted us to tangle.

Looks like he did a good job, didn't he?

It's down to me and you now, right?

I don't wanna shoot you, Roy.

I just wanna beat the hell out of you.

It's your deal.

Winner take all.

Loser get out of town, never look back.

Deal?

Deal.

Ah!

Roy.

# You're my friend and

I want you to know #

# I do my best for you #

Hey, hey, Stevie.

Come here.

Duke and Aretha want to

be alone for a little bit.

Besides, you and I gotta go

home and and get some sleep

so we can get up and

go to school tomorrow.

School?

That's right.

Don't you wanna grow up to be somebody?

I am.

What?

A man.

Okay, man.

# Woman over there is mighty fine #

# She's always on my mind #

# Things are getting

better in Bucktown #

# I see the people

laying their money down #

# Things are getting

better in Bucktown #

# I think I'm gonna hang around #

# Things are getting

better in Bucktown #

# I see the people

laying their money down #

# Middle of nowhere

and I walked right in #

# On the sheriff who

had a hold on the town #

# It might take a tank

to loosen his grip #

# I might have to tear it down #

# I didn't come for a good time #

# Since I'm here I'll get mine #

# Woman over there is mighty fine #

# She's always on my mind #

# Things are getting

better in Bucktown #

# I see the people

laying their money down #

# Things are getting

better in Bucktown #

# I think I'm gonna hang around #

# Things are getting

better in Bucktown #

# I see the people

laying their money down #