Marty (1955) - full transcript

Stuck as the last of six children at home with an overbearing Italian mother, the only child still unmarried, 34 year old socially awkward Bronx butcher Marty faces middle age with no prospects of marriage, and he faces permanent bachelorhood. But when he is goaded by his mother into going to the Stardust Ballroom one Saturday night, Marty unexpectedly meets Clara, a lonely teacher. Suddenly, Marty's future seems bright.

Hello, Sam.

Hi, Marty.

Thanks.

Your kid brother got
married sunday, huh, Marty?

That's right, mrs. Fusari.

It was a very
nice affair.

The tall fella
with the mustache?

That's my other brother, Freddie.

He got married 4 years ago.

He lives on Webb Avenue.

The one who got
married sunday is Nicky.



Didn't I meet him here
one time?

A big, tall, fat fella,

tried to sell me
life insurance?

No. That's my sister
Margaret's husband, Frank.

Margaret married
the insurance salesman

my sister, Rose,
married the contractor.

They moved to Detroit
last year.

My other sister, Frances,
got married

about 21/2 years ago
in st. John's church.

Oh, that was a very nice affair.

Well, let's see, now.

That'll be $1.79.

How's that with you,
mrs. Fusari?

Well...



Marty, I'm in a hurry.

You're next, mrs. Canduso.

When are you
getting married?

All your brothers
and sisters younger than you.

They get married.
They got children.

I met your mother
in the fruit store.

She asked me,

"you know a nice girl
for Marty?"

What's the matter with you?

Mrs. Fusari-

you get married.
You hear what I say?

My boy, Frank, was 19 years
old when he get married.

That's swell, mrs. Fusari.

You should be
shame yourself.

Marty, I want
a nice, big, fat pullet,

about 4 pounds.

Your kid brother
got married last sunday?

That's right.
It was a very nice affair.

You should be
ashamed of yourself.

All your brothers and sisters
married and got children.

When are you
gonna get married?

Over in the national league,
double-headers everywhere

except in Milwaukee.

Giants are playing
st. Louis.

The giants are going to
wind up in the cellar.

Hey, Lou,
turn on the dodger game.

The Giants took
the first game,

3-2 in 10 innings.

The game over?

Yanks won 'em both.
They murdered 'em.

Any homers

whoo!

Leo and me were in the bar,
and these two girls...

hey, Angie come in yet?

Hey, Angie-
you want a beer?

I look over...

Lou...

hiya, Marty.

Hi, Ralph.

Leo and me picked up
two nurses-

Lou, two beers.

Marty, let me tell you
about these two nurses.

Man, oh, man.

What'd you read there, Joe?

They shouldn't sell
magazines like this.

S imagine the effect this ha

on adolescents

now that's something, huh?

I went out with a girl
that looked like that.

Hey, Richie
- the yankees took two today.

Hey, Marty.

Leo and me got a date
with these two nurses tonight.

We got to take them
somewheres first.

I'm kind of hard up
for cash right now,

and i... I owe you
10 bucks already, don't i?

I'll find it somewhere else.

Hey, hey, Richie.

That Ralph, boy.

He's always got girls
but no money.

cut it out, will you?

See you, Ralph.

What do you feel
like doing tonight

I don't know, Ange.

What do you feel
like doing?

We ought to do something.

It's saturday night.

I don't wanna go
bowling like last saturday.

Hey, how about
calling up that big girl

we picked up in the
movies a month ago?

Which one was that?

That big girl
sitting in front of us

with the skinny friend

oh, yeah, yeah.

Her name was Mary Feeney.

We took them home
to Brooklyn.

You think we ought
to call them?

I'll take the skinny one

she maybe got
a date already.

What can we lose?

I didn't like her.

I don't feel like
calling her up.

Well, what do you feel
like doing tonight?

I don't know, Ange.

What do you feel like doing?

We're back to that

I say, "what do you
feel like doing?"

And you say back,
"I don't know."

"What do you feel
like doing?"

Then we wind up at your house

with a couple of cans of beer,

watching hit parade on television.

I'll tell you what
I feel like doing.

I feel like going up
to see Mary Feeney.

She likes you.

What makes you say that?

Man, I could see
she likes you.

Yeah, sure.

Call her.

You call her yourself.
I don't wanna call her.

Well, how about
going down 72nd street?

See what we can find
down there?

Ralph says you got to
beat them off with clubs.

Boy, you're getting
to be a real drag!

I've been looking for a
girl every saturday night.

I'm 34.
I'm tired of looking.

I'd like to find a girl.

Everybody's always
telling me, "get married."

I wanna get married.

Everybody drives me crazy!

I don't wanna wreck
your saturday night.

You go ahead.
I don't wanna go.

My old lady, too.

Every word out
of her mouth-

"when you gonna get married?"

My mother drives me crazy!

So...

what do you feel like
doing tonight?

I don't know, Ange.

What do you feel
like doing?

Hello?
Yeah, he's here.

Marty, your mother's
on the phone.

My mother?

He's coming now,
mrs. Piletti.

Marty, I'm going home.

Ange, come on over
about 7:30.

We'll think
of something.

Hello, ma.
What's the matter?

Your cousin, Thomas,
and his wife, Virginia-

they're here.
They're waiting to see you.

I'll be over
in 2 or 3 minutes.

Tell Thomas to stick around.

Ok. You come on home, huh?

Ok.

Marty's coming right home.

So what happened,
aunt Theresa,

about this milk bottle,
with my mother-in-law-

she begins poking her head
over my shoulder

and she tells me
I waste money, I can't cook,

and I'm raising my baby
all wrong.

She got me so nervous,
I spilled the baby's milk.

Tommy, your mother, she's
my sister, but sometimes-

she kept talking about these
drops of milk I spilled.

I got so mad I said,

"you want to see me
really spill some milk?"

So I threw the bottle
against the door.

I didn't throw it at her.

She tells everybody I threw
a bottle of milk at her.

I didn't throw it
anywhere near her.

I was sorry right away,

but she ran
out of the house-

I don't know
what you want me to do.

If you want me to,
I'll talk to her tonight.

Aunt Theresa,
we-

let me tell it, Tommy.

Ok

aunt Theresa, we want you
to do us a big favor.

Sure.

You got this big house
just for you and Marty.

I thought maybe Tommy's mother
could come here

and live with you
and Marty.

Well...

I talked
to Tommy's brother, Joe.

I said,
"she's driving me crazy!"

"You got to take her."

He says, "oh, no!"

I may sound
like a terrible woman-

I know just how you feel.

I can't stand it anymore.

Every minute of the day-
"do this, do that."

We don't have
any privacy.

We can't even have a fight.

Everybody's miserable
at our house.

Ginnie, don't get so excited

she's right.
She's right, Tommy.

Young husband and wife
should have their own home.

My sister, Catherina,
she's my sister,

but I must say
she's an old goat.

Plenty of time I feel like

throwing the milk bottle
at her, myself.

But, I tell you right now,

if Catherina wants to come
and live here with Marty and me,

it's all right with me.

That's very nice
of you, aunt Theresa.

We got to
ask Marty first.

Sure.

You just sit here.

I go turn a little fire
under the cooking.

That's very nice of you.

How's Marty been, aunt Theresa?

Oh, he's fine.

You know a nice girl
he can marry?

Oh, don't worry.

He'll get married, aunt Theresa.

I don't know.

He sits around the house
all the time.

You know a nice place
where he can get a bride?

Well, there's
the stardust ballroom.

That's a big dance hall.

Every saturday night
it's loaded with girls

it used to be 77 cents.

Probably $1.50 now

you go there and ask
some girl to dance with you.

That's where I met Virginia

tell Marty to go to
the stardust ballroom.

It's loaded with tomatoes.

The stardust ballroom.
It's loaded with tomatoes.

Right.

This is so nice of you.

I want you to know
we appreciate it.

He's here.

Hello, Marty.

Hello, ma.

Thomas and Virginia are here.

They had another big fight

with your aunt Catherina

they ask me if it's ok

Catherina come live here.

I say, all right with me,
but we got to ask you.

Marty, she's
a lonely old woman

everybody's throwing
her out the house.

Sure, ma.
It's ok with me.

You got a good heart.

Marty say it's all right.

That sure takes a
load off my mind.

We got plenty of room.

It's going to be nice.

I come over your
house tonight.

Everything will work out ok.

The situation was
becoming impossible.

Sit down, Thomas.

I appreciate
what you're doing.

Things that were
happening at our house-

Virginia was making
milk for the baby,

and my mother comes in-

I promised
the babysitter 6:00.

Before you go,
I need a little advice.

Sure, what

you're the accountant
in the family.

My boss wants
to sell his shop to me.

Yeah?

His kids are married, and
him and his wife live alone.

They want to move
to california.

So he wants
to sell me his shop.

He wants $5,000 down,

although I think I can
knock him down to 4.

Marty, I got to run.

I'll meet you
at mass tomorrow,

and afterwards we'll
sit down and discuss it.

It sounds like
a good proposition

he wants an answer
by monday.

Sure.

We'll work out an
arrangement about my mother.

I want to pay
you for her.

We'll talk later.

Thanks again.

Goodbye, Virginia.

Goodbye, aunt Theresa.

Goodbye, Tommy.
Goodbye, Virginia.

Hello.
Is this Mary Feeney?

Well, could I speak
to miss Mary Feeney?

Just tell her
an old friend.

Oh, hello there.
Is this Mary Feeney?

This is Marty Piletti.

I wonder if you recall me.

I'm kind of a stocky guy.

The last time we met
was in the RKO Chester.

You was with a friend.

I was with a friend of mine
named Angie.

This was about a month ago.

The RKO Chester
on West Farms Square.

You was sitting
in front of us.

We was annoying you,
and you got mad, and...

I'm the fella who works
in the butcher shop.

Oh, come on.
You know who I am.

That's right.

We went to Howard Johnson
and had hamburgers.

You had a milk shake.

Yeah, that's right.

I'm the stocky one,
the heavyset fella.

Yeah.

Well, I'm glad you recall me

because I had a nice time
that night,

and I was wondering
how everything was with you.

How's everything?

That's swell.

Yeah, well, I'll tell you
why I called.

I was figuring on taking in
a movie tonight,

and I was wondering
if you and your friend

would see a movie tonight
with me and my friend.

Yeah, tonight.

I know it's a little late
to call for a date,

but I didn't know myself
till...

yeah, I know.

Yeah, what about-

well, how about
next saturday night?

Are you free
next saturday night?

Well, what about
the saturday after that?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know.

Oh, I mean,
I understand that...

yeah.

Yeah.

So, what are you
gonna do tonight, Marty?

I don't know, ma.
I'm all knocked out.

I may just han
g around the house.

Why don't you go
to the stardust ballroom?

What?

Go to the stardust ballroom.

It's loaded with tomatoes.

It's loaded with what?

Tomatoes?

Who told you about
the stardust ballroom?

Tommy. He say
it's very nice place.

Oh, Thomas

ma, it's just
a big dance hall.

I've been there a 100 times.

Loaded with tomatoes.

You're funny, ma.

I don't want you hanging
around the house tonight.

Shave and go dance.

Ma, when will you
give up?

I ain't never
getting married.

You're gonna get married.

Sooner or later, a man's
got to face some facts.

Whatever it is
that women like,

I ain't got it

I went to enough dances.

I got hurt enough.

I just called up a girl
this afternoon.

I got a real brush-off

I thought I was past
being hurt, but that hurt.

Some stupid woman who i
didn't even want to call up,

she gave me the brush.

I don't want to go to
the stardust ballroom.

Girls there made me
feel like I was a bug.

I got feelings.
I had enough pain.

No thanks, ma.

Marty-

I'm gonna stay home tonight

watch the hit parade.

You'll die without a son.

So be it.

Put on the blue suit.

Blue suit. Gray suit.

I'm just a fat, ugly man.

You not ugly.

I'm ugly, I'm ugly,
I'm ugly!

Leave me alone

ma, what do you
want from me?

I'm miserable enough
as it is.

So I'll go to
the stardust ballroom.

I'll put on
a blue suit and go

you know what I'll
get for my trouble?

A big night of heartache.

Loaded with tomatoes.

Boy, that's rich.

Not a bad crowd tonight,
you know?

Yeah.

There's a nice-looking one
over there

with the black dress
and the beads on,

but she's dancing now.

There's a nice-looking short
one for you down there.

Where?

That little one down there.

Oh, yeah.

What do you say?

Wanna ask 'em?

I'll take the one with
the flowers on her dress.

I think this music's
a little fast.

Just a minute.

Yeah, I think it's all right.

They still over there?

What do you say?
You want to dance?

Excuse me, would you care to dance?

I don't feel like
dancing just yet.

Sure.

Clara, have you decided
about tomorrow afternoon?

You know I go to the movies
with papa on sunday.

But you could have
a lot of fun.

Herb, she isn't
especially attractive,

but she has a good deal of charm.

She's really a nice girl.

She's all right, Andy.

It's just I get one saturday
night off every 3 weeks.

I was expecting
something better.

Do you like him, Clara

yes. He seems very nice.

Millie's been after me to fix her up-

all right.

I'm having a fair time.

I get one saturday night
off in 3 weeks.

I wanted to wind up
with something tonight.

So I'm sorry.

I came up with-
what's her name?

Herbie, have you
ever been here before?

Hey!

Herbie! What
are you doing here?

I come up to dance.
What do you think?

You here with somebody?

With another girl.

Where are you going now?

To get some cigarettes
from my coat.

I'll see you around.

Yeah, I'll see you.

Oh, that's a girl
I used to know.

Boy, it's sure
packed in here, huh?

Some of these kids
are awfully young.

Aren't you afraid you'll
run into your students?

I wouldn't think so.
I teach in brooklyn.

You've been here before, Clara?

Yes, twice.

You want to get a table,

or you want to start dancing?

Well, Herb?
Herb!

Want to grab a table,
have a drink first?

You people go grab a table.

I'll be back in a minute.

Come on.
We'll grab a table.

You here stag or with a girl?

You say something?

You here stag or with a girl?

Oh, I'm stag.

I got stuck on a
blind date with a dog,

and I just met a girl
I used to know,

and I'm wondering how
to lose the girl I'm with.

I need somebody
to take her home.

I'll pay you 5 bucks if
you take her home for me.

What?

I'll introduce you
as an army buddy of mine,

and then I'll cut out.

I've got this other girl
waitin' for me at the hat check.

I'll pay you 5 bucks.

Are you kidding?

No, I'm not kidding.

You just can't walk off
on a girl like that.

In that case, as long as
she's going home alone,

give me the 5 bucks back.

You paid me the 5 bucks.
The 5 bucks is mine.

Excuse me, miss.

Would you care to dance?

Miss?

You come up here often?

Twice before.

Once I came up
with a friend of mine,

and once alone.

The last time...

do you see that
girl sitting over there

in the gray dress?

Yeah.

The last time I was here,

that's where I sat

I sat there for
an hour and a half

without moving a muscle.

Now and then some fellow
would come up to me

and then change his mind.

I'll never forget sitting
there for an hour and a half

with my hands in my lap.

Then I began to cry.

I had to get up and go home.

I've begun to cry a lot lately.

I cry a lot, too.
I'm a big crier.

This is very recent with me-

bursting into tears
at the slightest thing.

I cry all the time,
any little thing.

My brothers,
my brothers-in-law

always tell me what a
good-hearted guy I am.

You don't get that by accident.

You get kicked around long enough,

you get to be a professor of pain.

I know exactly how you feel.

I also want you to know
I'm really enjoying myself.

You see, you're not such
a dog as you think you are.

I'm having a very good time, too.

So there you are.

I guess I'm not such
a dog as I think I am.

You're a very nice guy.

I don't know why some girl
hasn't grabbed you off long ago.

I don't know either.

I think I'm a nice guy

I also think I'm smart,
in my own way.

Excuse me.

You know, 2 people get married,

and they'll live together
40, 50 years.

It's got to be more than whether
they're good-looking or not.

You think you're
not so good-looking.

My father was an ugly man,

but my mother adored him.

She used to get
miserable sometimes,

like everybody

and my father always
tried to understand.

I used to see them
sitting in the living room,

talking and talking.

I used to adore my old man

because he was always so kind

that's one of the most
beautiful things in my life-

the way my parents were.

And my father was
a real ugly man.

It doesn't matter if
you look like a gorilla.

We ain't such dogs
as we think we are

I'm 29 years old.

How old are you?

I'm 34

aunt Theresa, come in.

Is Catherina here?

We didn't tell her anything yet.

We thought you'd put it

like how you were lonely,

and why doesn't she
come and live with you.

It'll look like
she's doing you a favor

instead of being thrown out.

And it won't be so cruel on her.

You want Tommy and me
to stay with you?

You and Tommy go out.

Otherwise, she might
start to fight with you.

Hello, aunt Theresa.

Hello, Thomas.

Who's there?
Who's there?

It's me, Catherina.

What are you doing here?

I come to see you.
How you feel?

I got pain on my left side.

My leg throb like a drum.

I've been getting pain
in my shoulder.

Me, too.
I got pain in my hip

my right arm aches
so much I can't sleep.

It's a curse to be old.

We got a postcard from my
son, Nicky, and his bride.

They're in Florida
on their honeymoon.

I got a letter from my
husband's cousin in abruzzi.

His mother die

oh.

You remember
Emilio di Giorgio,

who own a tavern
in Abruzzi?

He die.

Oh.

You know
who else die?

Who?

You know, the old man

who live upstairs
in this house.

Old irishman, always drunk.

He gets pleurisy.

He stay 2 weeks
in a hospital.

Yesterday, he die.

I like to visit you,
Catherina,

because you always got
such cheerful news.

Hey, kids,

why don't you 2 kids
go to the movies?

We be babysitter.

Let's go down to Kaplans'.

Sure. Sure

ma, we'll be down
at the Kaplans'

if you want us
for anything, ok?

I wake up this morning.

I hear the baby cry,
so I wake up.

I come in their room,

and that girl is shaking
her hand at the baby.

I said, "don't you
strike my son's baby!"

That's her baby, too.

That's Thomas's baby.

But it's not your baby

she throw a bottle
of milk at me.

I know.

I tell you wha
t she do yesterday?

She give m
e the evil eye.

I keep one eye open
when I sleep,

because she's gonna
stab me in my bed.

Catherina.

I want you to come
and live with me.

Hmm?

Thomas and his wife,
they come to my house today.

They say things
are no good in this house.

Catherina,
your son is married.

Leave them in peace.

He wants to be alone
with his wife.

They don't want
no old woman.

My son Thomas come to
see you this afternoon,

and he say to you

he's gonna throw his
mother from this house?

Catherina, don't make
an opera out of this.

The 3 of you and a little
baby in 3 little rooms.

You know this is no good,

old woman living
with a husband and wife.

2 women
in the Same kitchen,

and the house burns up.

So I'm a garbage bag
put in the street!

Catherina,
don't make a tragedy.

Come and live in my house

where you know you'll
be happier yourself.

It pains
they should do this.

I know it pains.

These are the worst years,
I tell you.

Catherina,
you are very dear to me.

We cried
lots of times together.

When my poor husband die,

I would be crazy
if not for you.

I ask you
to come to my house

because I know
I can make you happy.

Please come to my house.

These are the worst years,
I tell you.

It's gonna happen to you.

I'm afraid to look
in the mirror

and see an old lady
with white hair

like the old ladies
in the park-

little bundles
in black shawl

waiting for the coffin

I'm 56 years old.

What I got to do
with myself?

I got strength in my hands.

I want to make dinner
for my children.

Am I an old dog to lay near
the fire till my eyes close?

These are terrible
years, Theresa,

terrible years

Catherina, listen to me.

It's gonna happen to you.

It's gonna happen to you!

What are you gonna do
if Marty gets married?

What are you gonna cook?

Where's all the children
playing in all the rooms?

Where's the noise?

It's a curse to be
a widow, a curse.

What are you gonna do
if Marty gets married?

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna put
my things in a bag,

and I come to you
tomorrow.

Don't worry
about your sister.

We'll get some coffee
and come right back.

You teach chemistry.
What school?

Benjamin Franklin
high school.

Where's that, Brooklyn?

I went to
Theodore Roosevelt.

It's around
the corner from my house.

My cousin's a teacher.

He teaches latin in Chicago.

He was studying to be a priest,
but he gave it up.

I was pretty good
in high school.

I sound like a jerk now,

but I graduated
with an 82 average.

I was accepted
at city college,

but my old man died,
so I had to work.

You want some cigarettes?

German was
my best class.

Der, die, das.
Des, der, des.

I still remember.

I was good in math
in high school.

You know how long ago
I graduated?

June 1937.

Holy cow!
What is that?

15, 17 years ago!

Holy cow! 17-
let's see, is that right?

Yeah, 17. that's right.

Where did it all go?
I'm getting old.

I'll be 35 years old
november the 8th.

35! Wow. Time goes on, boy.

Yeah, june 1937.

My old man died
december 1937.

2:00 in the morning
he died.

Front doorbell rings,

and I knew something
was wrong right away

because I had to
answer the door,

and there was mr. Stern.

He lived down a block.
He moved out, though.

My old man used to play cards
with him and some other old guys.

He was a jewish fella.

He said,
"is your mother home?"

I knew there was
something wrong.

I turned exactly
18 years old the month before.

I said,
"is something wrong?"

I was in my pajamas,
you know, so he said,

"Marty, your father died."

My father died in the
middle of playing cards.

He had a heart attack.

He had low blood pressure.
He used to faint a lot.

Boy, am I talking!

Excuse me. I never
talked so much before.

Usually everybody
tells me their troubles.

I'll shut up now
and let you talk.

Yeah, 17 years ago

what I been doing with
myself all that time?

There I go again.

I must be driving you crazy!

Most of the time
with girls,

I can't find a word to say.

I'm going to shut up now
and let you get a word in.

Usually I'm not like this.

Usually, l-
there I go again.

I'm on a jag,
for pete's sakes.

You'd think I was loaded!

Like I started to say-

I...

I can't stop my mouth!

Isn't this stupid?

You got a real
nice face, you know?

Really, a nice face.

Thank you.

Hey, Mac, anything good inside?

Oh, a bunch of dogs.

Hey, Marty.

Marty, you in here?

So I'm in
a kneeling position.

If you try shooting a b.a.r.
That way-

you know what I mean?

I can't hold
a steady position.

I'm wavering back and forth.

So the guy next to me,

he's shooting
from a prone position,

and he's cross-eyed
like I told you.

So just then-

so just then
I hear 5 shots go off

from the guy next to me.

My target goes down.
The flag comes up.

I got 5 bull's eyes!

That's how I got
the reputation

of being the best shot
in the whole battalion.

So when I got
out of the army,

I was lost.

I didn't know
what I wanted to do.

I was 25 years old.

I couldn't go back to my
old job at 40 cents an hour.

I thought I'd go to
college under the GI Bill,

but my brother Freddie,
he wanted to get married,

and I had 3 unmarried sisters.

In an italian house,
that's a terrible thing.

So I just went to pieces.

I used to walk the streets

till 3:00,
4:00 in the morning.

My poor mother used to be
so worried about me.

God forgive me
what I'm gonna say now,

but I used to think
of doing away with myself.

I used to stand
in the subway sometimes,

and god forgive me,
I used to feel the tracks

sucking me
down under the wheels.

I'm catholic, you know.

Even to think about
suicide is a terrible sin.

Yes, I know.

So then mr. Otari,

he offered me this job
in his butcher shop.

Everybody pleaded
with me to take it.

So that's what happened.

I didn't want to be a butcher.

There's nothing wrong
with being a butcher.

Why, it's not
an elegant profession.

It's in a lower social scale.

People look down on butchers.

I-I don't

the point is, mr. Otari
wants to sell his shop

because... why,
it's a nice little shop.

I handle his books for him,

so I know he has a 35 markup,

which is not unreasonable.

Takes home net maybe 100,
150 bucks a week.

Of course, you gotta worry
about the supermarkets.

There's 2 in the neighborhood
now and an a&p coming in.

Marty, it's my feeling

that you really want
to buy this shop.

Well, that's true.
I do.

But it means I got to
take a loan of $8,000.

That's a big note to carry.

Marty, I've known you
for 3 hours,

but I know
you're a good butcher.

You're an intelligent,
decent, sensitive man,

and, well, I have
a feeling about you.

Like, well, like
sometimes one of my kids

comes in to see me about
something or other,

and some of these kids
in my classes,

they have so much warmth

and so much capacity.

Well, that's the feeling
I have about you.

If you were
one of my students,

I'd say, "go ahead and
buy the butcher shop."

"You're a good butcher."

There's lots of things
I could do with this shop.

I could organize
my own supermarket,

get a bunch of neighborhood
merchants together.

That's what a lot
of them are doing.

What do you think?

I think anything
you want to do

you'll do well.

I'm catholic.
Are you catholic?

Yes, I am.

Look, I only got
about 3 bucks on me now,

but I only live
about 8 blocks away.

Why don't we walk
back to my house?

I'll get some dough,
and we'll step out.

I should get home.

It's only 11:45.

The clock's right up there.

I really should get home.

I told my father...

well, I suppose a
little while longer.

Do you suppose there's
someplace around here

I could put on some makeup?

Hey, mac-you got a
ladies' room around here?

In the back.

So she told me,
at the risk of her life.

She was always
a little thin in the hips.

The doctor said if she
had any more babies,

she'd risk her life.

When she told me,
she already had 6.

She was always
going to the hospital

or coming from it.

She was hatching them
out like eggs.

Her husband's
a skinny fellow.

I saw her.
She was big as a barrel.

Hey, Lou. You seen Marty?

No.

I ain't seen him
all night.

Where is everybody?

Didn't you tell me
having another would kill you?

And her husband's
a little bit of a man.

Last tuesday she
gave birth to her baby

a fine, healthy boy.

9 pounds.

So the doctor was wrong.

Oh, no. She died
there in the hospital.

Oh, that's a sad story.

And her husband's
that little fellow,

works in peter reeves?

That's the one

oh, that's a sad story.

It would mean moving
out to port chester.

It's silly to think
of commuting.

I'd have to take
the subway to 125th,

then the bus
to the railroad,

then take the new
haven out to port chester.

Then I have a 20-minute
bus ride out of port chester.

Somebody suggested
that I buy a car,

but I'm terrified
of cars.

I'm always afraid
I'll kill someone.

Of course, it is
a fine opportunity for me.

I could never hope to be
the head of a department

in the new york city system,
especially in science.

Of course, I'm not sure i
want to be a department head.

It's mostly executive
and administrative work.

On the other hand-

well, anyway,
I told you about my father.

And, well, he depends
on me a great deal.

Let me tell you, Clara

I think you're
kidding yourself.

I used to thin
k about leaving home

that's what I would say
- "my mother needs me."

But when you really
come down to it,

that ain't it at all.

We're afraid
to go out on our own.

It's a big step
to go out on your own.

I think you're
kidding yourself

when you say your
father needs you.

Actually, you
need your father.

You know what I mean?

You're living at home now,

and you got your father
and mother there.

You could go o
n being a little girl.

I'm afraid
of being lonely.

You won't be so lonely

you'll make friends
right away.

Well, actually,
I don't make friends easily.

What are you
talking about?

You're a real
likeable person.

You'll make friends in
port chester, 1, 2, 3.

You'll have people
visiting you all the time.

I'll come up
and visit you.

I'll get m
y brother's car,

or you can call me when you
feel blue, or I'll call you.

It'll be real nice

don't be so afraid

hey, Marty!

Marty, over here!

Hello, Ralph.

Come over here
a minute!

Excuse me a minute

sure.

You'll like this guy.
He's a nice guy.

Who's this Marty?
This guy's a nice guy.

Hi, Ralph.
Hello, Leo

hey, come here
a minute.

We got an odd squirrel.
You interested?

What do you mean, Ralph?

Hey, Louise, I want you
to meet Marty Piletti.

That's Louise Kelly.

Hiya.

Are we gonna
sit around all night?

Listen, Marty, these
here squirrels are nurses.

Money in the bank, man.

We're all going over
to Leo's house later

because there's
nobody there.

These are the girls
I told you about.

Wanna get in the car?

She's a nice-looking doll.

I'm with a girl, Ralph

get rid of her.
This is money in the bank.

I can't. Somebody already
brushed her off tonight.

This is
a good deal here.

I can't do it, Ralph.

Thanks anyway, huh

nice seeing y'all.

Let's get out of here.

We might as well
get going, Ralph.

See you, Leo.

So long, Ralph

so long, Marty.

Wait a minute.
I'll find the light.

I guess my mother
ain't home yet.

My cousin, Thomas,
and Virginia-

they won't be home
till 1:00.

This is the kitchen.

Yes, I know.

Come on in the dining room.

Sit down.

You want something to eat?

We've got a whole
half chicken in the ice box.

No, thanks.
I shouldn't stay long.

Oh, sure.

Just take off
your coat a minute.

My kid brother, Nicky,
got married last sunday.

They had this statue
of some woman.

There was whiskey
spouting out of her mouth.

I never saw anything so grand.

And what a meal.

I know a good hunk of meat
when I see it,

and this was choice filet,

$1.80 a pound.

For a cheaper cut of meat,
get rib steak.

It comes to $1.25 a pound,

if it's trimmed.

Listen, Clara,
make yourself comfortable.

You look all tense.

No, I'm fine.

You want me to take you home,

I'll take you home.

Maybe it would be a good idea.

No, Marty, please.

I like you.

I been telling you all night.

All I want's a little kiss.

All right! I'll take you home.

All I wanted was a Lousy kiss.

You think I'd try
something serious?

My mother coming
home any minute.

I just didn't feel like it,
that's all.

Well...

I'm old enough to know better

comes New Year's Eve,

everybody starts arranging parties.

I'm the guy they got
to dig up a date for.

I'll just get a pack
of cigarettes and take-

I'd like to see you again...

very much.

The reason
I didn't let you kiss me

was because I just
didn't know how to...

handle the situation.

You're the kindest man
I ever met.

The reason I tell you this

is because I want
to see you again...

very much.

I know that
when you take me home,

I'm just going
to lie on my bed

and think about you.

I want very much to see you again.

What are you doing
tomorrow night?

Nothing.

I'll call you up tomorrow.

Maybe we'll go see a movie

I'd like that very much.

The reason I can't
be more definite now

is because my aunt Catherine'

probably coming over tomorrow.

I may have to help out.

I'll wait for your call.

I better take you home now.

It's getting late,

and the buses only run
about one an hour.

All right.

I'll just get
a pack of cigarettes.

What are you doing
New Year's Eve?

Nothing.

Hello?

Hello Marty?

Hello, Marty.
When you come home?

We just got here
about 10 minutes ago.

Ma, I want you to meet
miss Clara Snyder.

She's a graduate
of New York University

she teaches chemistry at
benjamin Franklin high school.

Sit down, sit down.

You want some chicken?

We got some chicken
in the icebox.

No, thank you.
We were just going.

Well, sit down
just a minute.

I just come in.

How'd you come home?

Thomas give you a ride

sure.
Is a sad business.

My sister Catherina,

she no get along
with her daughter-in-law,

so she gonna come
live with us.

She's coming, ma?

Sure. Sit down.

Marty, tell her sit down.

Might as well
sit down a minute.

You offer young lady
some fruit?

Yes. She don't want nothing.

No, thank you.

Is a very sad business,
I tell you.

A woman, 56 years old,

all her life
she had her own house.

Now she's just
an old woman

sleeping on
her daughter-in-law couch.

It's a curse to be
a mother, I tell you.

Your children grow up,

and what is left
for you to do?

What's a mother's life
but her children?

Is a very sad thing
when your son

has no place for you
in his house.

Couldn't she
find a hobby

to fill out her time?

Hobby?
What can she do?

She cook and she clean.

But you gotta have
a house to clean.

You gotta have children
to cook for.

These are the terrible
years for a mother,

the terrible years.

You mustn't
feel too harshly

against
her daughter-in-law.

She probably also wants
a house to clean

and children to cook for.

You don't think
my sister, Catherina,

should live in
her daughter-in-law house?

I don't know them,
but as a rule,

I don't think
a mother-in-law

should live
with a young couple.

Where you think a
mother-in-law should go?

I don't think a mother should
depend upon her children

for her rewards in life.

Well, that's what
they teach you

in New York University.

In real life,
it no work out like this.

You wait till
you are a mother.

It's silly of me
to argue about it.

I don't know
the people involved.

It's getting late,

I better
take her home.

The buses only run
about one an hour.

Good night, mrs. Piletti.
I hope I see you again.

I'll be back in about
an hour, an hour and a half.

Good night, mrs. Piletti.

Good night.

Hey!

Hey, Marty! Hey!

Hey, Ange!

Where you been,
for pete's sake?

I been looking for you!

Well, I looked for you.

Well, I was looking for you.

We thought we were
going for a walk

and come right back,
but we got to talking.

Angie, meet Clara.

Clara, this is
my best friend, Angie.

Yes. How do you do?

Hello. What are we
gonna do now?

I'm taking Clara home.
It's close to 1:00.

You want me to
ride down with you?

What for?

It's early

it must be 1:00.

It's saturday night. There's
still plenty of action around.

By the time I get Clara
home, it'll be 1:30.

When I get home,
it'll be 2:00.

I gotta get up for
10:00 mass tomorrow.

Ok.
I'll see you.

Hey, well, where you goin'?
Hey, Ange!

Hey, I'll see you
tomorrow after mass, huh?

You got an elevator
in this house?

We only live
one flight up.

Ok, so, I'll see
ya tomorrow.

Ok.

I'll give you a call
about 11:00, 11:30-

as soon as
I get out of mass.

Well, you better make it
around 2:30 because, well,

I won't be home from
my aunt's till then.

Oh, ok.

Ok, so I'll see you
tomorrow night.

Ok.

Good night.

Good night

taxi!

Hey, taxi!

Taxi!

Hey, taxi!

Hey!

Hey, ma, you know
what I'm gonna do?

I think I'm gonna
buy Patsy's shop.

You hear
what I said, ma?

Because this is
how I figure-

we got $33-odd hundred
in the bank.

I'll have to take it
out to buy the shop.

I don't know.

I'm a good butcher.
I'll make out pretty good.

I want to ask Thomas,

but I got
my own ideas.

Hurry because
it's 9:00.

Ma, you mind coming home
alone from church?

I want to find Angie.

I think he's sore at me.

Ma, is Thomas bringing
aunt catherine over here?

I want to see him.

I think Thomas is bringing
aunt Catherina here,

but I don't know.

Now go outside. I got
to put on my clothes.

What are you getting
so sore about?

Marty, please
excuse what I say.

Ok, ma.

I feel Lousy
about this, too.

Virginia, I don't want
to talk any more about it!

I don't think I got
an hour's sleep.

Last night
was the first time

I ever heard
my mother cry.

Tommy, I-
I don't want to talk about it.

I know what you're
gonna say-

a man can't be his
mother's baby forever.

She's my mother. I have
some feeling about her.

You make me the Louse!

I love you,
and I know you feel lousy,

but we're never
gonna be happy

unless we can work out
our own lives.

We can't keep talking
in whispers like this.

We gotta have
some privacy!

Can't you wait five
minutesI'll drive you.

I just got
to put on a shirt.

Go to mass.

I'll go to 11:00 mass.

Let me drive you over.

Thomas, leave me alone

get dressed because we're
driving my mother over.

Why couldn't you
get along with her

why couldn't you make
just a little effort?

She's a little hard
to get along with.

All I asked you was to try.

Tommy!

I don't want to
hear any more about it

hello, aunt Theresa.

Hello, Tommy.
How you feel?

Ah, my mother
drives me crazy.

I begged her to
let me drive her here.

She's always
the big Martyr

please,
go to mass, huh?

He wake up this morning
with salt in his nose-

do this, do that!

Please leave me
alone, huh?

Oh, hello, Thomas.

Hello, aunt catherine.
You going to mass with us?

I was to mass already.

Just make yourself at home.

The refrigerator's loaded.
Take any room you want.

Thomas.

You want
a cup of coffee?

Oh, hi, Virginia!
You brought him over, huh?

Let me hold him
a minute.

Hey, petey boy!

Yeah! You're sure
getting fat, you know that?

You're bigger than
a leg of lamb now.

Oh, tom, like I was
telling you yesterday,

mr. Otari, my boss,
wants to sell his shop

because he wants to
move out to california-

what are you
sore about?

Oh, shut up!

He does about 1,200,
1,300 gross. The rent's 102.

The problem
is the supermarkets.

If I get together
with some other merchants-

what about when you wouldn't let
her make dinner for my brother?

What are you
talking about?

Once a month
she couldn't use the kitchen?

She could use the
kitchen any time she wanted!

You had to be boss

listen, she won't use
my pots and pans!

Should I buy some more?

Give me a few minutes.

I promised mr. Otari
I'd tell him tomorrow.

You can fight any time.

I want to know about
individualized markups.

Now, say I'm the butcher,

and aldo capellI's
the dairyman and the grocer.

I work on a 35markup-

do you know what
you're talking about?

No. That's why
I'm asking you.

What do you want
a shop for?

You got a job, no wife,
no responsibilities!

I wish I was you!

Take the baby, will you?

He wants 5,000 down?

You'll need a mortgage
- $60, $70 a month.

You're single with
no responsibilities!

Stay that way!

Don't yell at him.
He's only asking advice.

Patsy's shop-that's
a specialized trade.

Supermarkets don't
carry italian meat

who buys italian
meat anymore?

My wife goes to the a&p,
gets a lamb chop,

opens a can,
and that's dinner!

All right!

I understand the supermarkets problem,

but I was talking
to this girl and-

will you see that my mother
is comfortable?

Sure. This girl-

what does she know?

Marty, take care
of my mother, will you?

Ma, get ready because
I'll be down in a minute!

Hey, Catherina

Huh?

Last night, when i
come home from your house,

Marty was here
with a girl.

Who?

Marty.

Your son Marty?

Well, which Marty you think
would be here with a girl?

Were the lights on?

Oh, sure. This girl
is a college graduate.

They're the worst.

College girls are one
step from the street,

I tell you.

My son, joseph, wife, you
know, she type on a typewriter.

Pff! One step
from the street.

This is the first time
Marty brang home a girl.

She look like
a nice girl.

You know,
I think Marty

has a feeling
for this girl.

You heard him sing?
Sing like that all morning

well, that's all.
You'll see.

Today, tomorrow,
in a week,

he's gonna say to you,

"hey, ma. I'm tired
of running around."

"It's no good
to be a single man."

Then he'll say to you,

"ma, why do we need
this old house?

"Let's sell this house and
move in a nicer part of town,

"nice little apartment?"

I don't sell this house!

This is my
husband's house.

I had 6 children
in this house.

You'll see.
In a couple of months,

you're gonna be
an old lady

sleeping on a couch in your
daughter-in-law's house.

Ah, Catherina!
Where you go, rain go.

Someday, you're gonna smile.

We'll have a big holiday.

Ma, it's getting
a little late, huh?

Boy, this place is
really coming to pieces.

You know, ma, I think
we ought to sell this place.

The whole joint's
going to pieces.

Plumbing's rusty-
everything.

Now I'm gonna have to
replaster this whole place.

You know what
we ought to do, ma

we ought to get one
of those new apartments

they're building
on southern boulevard

a nicer part of town.

You all set, ma?

I'm set.

Goodbye, aunt catherine.

Goodbye.

We got a couple
of minutes yet, ma.

Hi, Marty.

Hi. Ma, fix your collar.

We'll sit in the back
on account of the baby.

We'll see you
afterwards.

That was a nice-looking
girl last night, huh?

She wasn't a very
good-looking girl,

but she look like
a nice girl.

I said she wasn't a very
good-looking girl, not pretty.

I heard you, ma.

She look a little bit
old for you-

about 35, 40 years old.

She's 29, ma.

She's more than
29 years old, Marty.

That's what
she tells you.

She look 35,
40 years old.

She don't look like
italian girl.

I say,
is she italian girl?

Well, I don't know.
I don't think so, ma.

She don't look like
italian to me.

What family she comes from?

Tch! I don't know.

Something about her
I don't like.

It's funny.

The first time
you meet the girl,

she comes to your
empty house alone.

These college girls,

they all one step
from the street.

What are you
talking about?

She's a nice girl.

She don't look
italian to me.

I don't like her.

Oh, you only met her
for 2 minutes!

Don't bring her
up to the house no more.

Well, what
didn't you like?

She don't
look like italian.

Plenty nice
italian girls around.

Let's not
fight about it

what are you getting
so worked up about?

I only met her
last night.

Probably not gonna
see her again anyhow.

Come on.

Hello, Lou.

Hi, Marty.

Hi, Ralph.

Lou, let me have a coke.

Marty, I hear you really got
stuck with a dog last night.

Who told you that?

Angie. Said she was
a scrawny-looking thing.

She wasn't so bad.
Was Angie here already

he was here last night
till about 2:00.

Oh.

Hey, Ralph,
how did you make out

with those nurses
last night?

Oh, Marty.
Man, didn't I tell you?

You know that one
that was for you?

We went over
to Leo's house,

so she got loaded drunk.

You should have seen
what she was doing.

The people downstairs
started banging on the walls.

So, in the middle of it,
the landlord comes in.

These crazy girls
are running around drunk,

so we got to get rid of her.

Leo's talking to the
landlord in the kitchen

while we're trying to
get her out the window.

This crazy girl, she even
left her shoes up there.

Heh heh heh!
Heh heh heh!

So how'd you make out?

I had a nice time.

Yeah?

She's a nice girl.
I didn't try anything.

I just met her last night, you know.

She's a nice girl.
We just talked.

Uh...

w-w-we just talked

uh, listen, Ralph-

if you see Angie,
tell him I went home.

I'll see him
after lunch, huh?

Marty, I want to talk-

I don't want to talk now.

So the book winds up-

Marty hey, Marty?

So the book winds up,

mike hammer's in there
with this doll.

So he says, "you rat.
You're the murderer."

She begins to con him.

She tells him
she loves him.

Then bam! He shoots her
in the stomach.

So she's
laying there gasping,

and she says, "how
could you do that?"

He says,
"it was easy."

Boy, that mickey spillane,
boy. He could write.

I read everything
he ever wrote.

We got a whole pot
in the kitchen!

I couldn't eat nothing.

My mother stuffed me
up to the gills.

Mickey spillane knows
how to handle women.

In one book,
he picks up this tomato.

She's been hit by a car.

She throws a pass at him.

He meets
two beautiful twins,

and they throw a pass.

He meets a beautiful
society dame,

and she throws a pass.

Boy, he could
really write.

Anybody want to watch
the ball games?

It's only a little bit after 2:00.

Where are you going?

To call that girl. Thought
I'd take her to a movie.

You kidding?

Listen, Angie. You were
very impolite last night.

I introduced you
to that girl.

You just turned right
around and walked off.

You got me mad

hey, Jerry.
Show Marty that picture.

Put it away!
My mother's on the porch!

I wonder where
they find those girls.

They're
Hollywood starlets.

My mother will walk in!

Marty, let's go down 72nd
street area tonight.

I thought I'd take
this girl to a movie.

You must have
made out good.

We just talked.

She must be some talker.

She must've been about
50 years old.

A guy should marry a girl

20 years younger than he is.

When he's 40,

she's a pretty doll of 21.

He'd have to marry her
when she was 1.

You're right.
I never thought of that.

She wasn't
so bad-looking.

She must have kept you
in the shadows.

Don't hang around
with dogs.

Gives you
a bad reputation.

Let's go to 72nd street.

I told this dog
I'd call her up today.

Brush her!

Want to come with me
or that dog?

I looked all over
for you last night

another book I rea
d by mickey spillane-

I can't remember
the name of it.

He finds this redheaded
doll in the street.

He gives her some dough

because he feels
sorry for her.

Wait a minute.

I think that's
the Same book

I was telling you
about before.

You didn't
like her at all?

A nothing.
A real nothing

you know something?
This mickey spillane,

boy, he sure can write.

So what are you gonna
do tonight, Marty?

I don't know, ma.
I'm all knocked out.

I may just hang around
the house and...

maybe I'll go down

and see what Angie
and the boys are doing.

I'll see you later, ma.

So we had-

I don't want to talk
like that fellow, now.

We had the extreme privilege
of having jackie gleason

make his tv debut
on our show.

So, tonight on our
anniversary show...

I'm doing it, huh?

Aw, now,
leave me alone, will you?

You know, he scares
the life out of me.

What time is it?

About 8:00.

You don't feel like
going to 72nd street?

It'll take an hour.
The whole evening's gone.

What's playing
on fordham road?

There's a good picture
in the loew's paradise.

You guys feel like
a game of cards?

Let's go
to 72nd street.

We'll wind up
with something.

I'll never forgive
la guardia

for cutting burlesque
out of new york city.

There's a burlesque in
union city. Let's go.

You don't want to ride
a 1/2 hour on the subway.

Now you want to
go to union city?

I feel like
playing cards.

That's what richie
rizzo feels like doing.

I don't feel like
playing cards.

What do you
feel like doing, Angie?

I don't know.
What do you feel like doing?

George, what are you
doing tonight?

"What are you doing tonight?"
"I don't know."

The burlesque!
Loew's paradise!

Miserable and lonely
and stupid!

What am I,
crazy or something?

I got something good here!

Why am I hanging around
with you guys?

What's the matter?
What's the matter with you?

You don't like her!
Ma don't like her!

She's a dog,
and I'm a fat, ugly man!

Well, I had a good
time last night!

I'll have
a good time tonight!

If we have
enough good times,

I'll beg her
to marry me!

If we make a new year's
party, I got a date!

You don't like her,
that's too bad!

Hey, Ange
- when are you gonna get married?

You oughta be
ashamed of yourself.

You're 33 years old. Your
kid brothers are married.

You oughta be
ashamed of yourself.

Hello?

Excuse me, Ange.

Hello, Clara?

What happened?

Hey, Marty?

Hey, Marty,
what happened with you?

Saturday,
we had a party?

A party?

Frankie and Lou?

Everybody but you?

Where was you thursday?

Hey, Marty?

Hey, Marty?

For our bowling game?

It seems like a year?

Since we've
chug-a-lugged a beer?

Hey, Marty,
you must have a dame?

A dame?

Hey, Marty,
you must have a dame?