The Valachi Papers (1972) - full transcript

You're out of bounds, Johnny.

Go fetch your ball,
Johnny.

Hey, I just got in yesterday.

I didn't expect no brass band
or anything like that,

but at least a come va.

What makes you think you
got the right, you son of a...

What?
What'd you say?

You act like
this is a morgue.

I guess
I'll go talk to Don Vito.

What makes you think
he'll talk to you?

28648,



report to the warden's office.

28648, report to
the warden's office.

Hey, everybody out, quick.

I'll kill this guinea bastard,
so help me, God.

Open up! Open up!

Get me out of here.
I want solitary.

First, you let go
of that man, Valachi.

Like hell.
I want a promise of solitary,

or this knife goes
right through his neck.

Aah.

Look, I can't stop him
going in the hole if he wants it.

Okay.

You got your promise, buddy.

Come on, come on!



You don't like our cooking?

Maybe you think it's poisoned.

Listen, I want a meeting
with Vito Genovese.

If Mr. Genovese
wants to see you,

he'll let you know.

All right, then.
I want to talk to a lawyer.

Sure, why not?
Tomorrow, after exercise.

You telling me it's easier
to talk to my lawyer

than it is to Don Vito?

36849, you have a visitor.

36849, you have a visitor.

Valachi, drop that pipe!

Valachi! Drop that pipe!

Valachi!

At least I got Salerto.

Joseph Saupp, you mean.
You hit the wrong guy, Valachi.

Saupp's a check forger
from Alabama.

No connection whatsoever
with your people.

I'm telling you,
Salerto tried to kill me.

A dope charge
and now a homicide.

You bulls don't give me protection,
there's gonna be more.

You let an animal
talk like that?

No wonder we've got trouble
in our prisons.

- Who the hell you calling an animal?
- You got a better word for it?

Father an alcoholic,
two brothers in insane asylums,

two others killed
in a gunfight with the police.

Screw you!

I don't need nobody else
climbing on my back,

and you leave my family
out of it, you hear me?

I hear.
You got me real scared.

Who the hell are you?

Ryan, federal board.

Oh, big deal.

I seen you someplace?
I know you?

I know you.

So, you want to dance?

Want to talk.

I ain't a talker.

Like to bet?

Did you hear what happened
to your friend Tony Bender?

- Who?
- Tony Bender.

He's an underboss of
Vito Genovese, that's who.

He's disappeared.

You call lost and found yet?

Word is out... rat.

Vito, what happened?

Vinny was there at the dockside.

Joe Valachi, Tony Bender.

Salerto caught a slug.

He was dropped,
but I hear he's doing fine.

The only two that got away

were Tony Bender
and Joe Valachi, capisce?

They're rats.
An open contract.

No price. Anybody sees them,
they can have them.

Vito Genovese.
Nice voice.

Mickey Mouse.

Want to hear the punch line?

Genovese thinks
you set them up to get busted.

Bullshit.

I'm the only guy can
save your life now, Valachi,

but I'm gonna want to know
about Genovese, his drug operation.

Why don't you ask
your friend?

He knows a model prisoner
when he sees one.

Okay.

Warden, looks like we got ourselves

another shortsighted,
mobbed-up punk.

I told you.

Take him back to the can
and not solitary anymore.

If he meets up with
a knife on the way,

send him a dozen roses
with my compliments.

You want to tell me something?

Yeah.

Screw you.

Come on, Valachi.

Where you taking me?

You been asking enough.
This time he's ready to see you.

Genovese?

Mr. Genovese.

Mr. Valachi.

Don Vitone.

What did they ask you,
Joseph?

Ah, the usual stuff.

Who do I work for?
Where's Tony Bender?

Of course, you didn't talk?

How can you ask me that,
Don Vito?

May God strike me dead.

That Tony, guys like him,
they can't take the time.

Between ourself, Joseph,
I think he talked.

What do you mean?

What does it matter?
He disappeared.

Hell, Tony was a sick guy.

To have to take orders
from a sick guy like that, Joseph,

can be a very bad experience.

So who gives him
the orders, huh?

Listen,

Bender promised me
a deal for five years.

I pulled 15.

Now...

they're gonna give me life.

Bender was wrong.

All I know is he tells me
about some narcotics job

and suddenly there's cops
all over the place.

Vinny's arrested,
Frank's arrested, Salerto.

Then I find out you're arrested.

I figure, what the hell
is this world coming to?

That's what I'm asking you, Joe.

All this time,
I don't know anything.

Nothing.

After my 30 days
in quarantine,

I enter the population,
and he tries to take me.

I say I gotta see you.

Once I see the right man,

maybe I'll know what the hell's
going on around here,

and 'cause you're the only one
who could put a stop to them.

Joe...

sometimes I have
a barrel of apples...

and one of these apples stinks,

so it has to be removed,
or it stinks up the rest of the apples.

Capisce?

If I've done something wrong,
Don Vito,

show it to me
and leave me the pills.

I'll take them in front of you.

Who said you did anything wrong?

Joe, how many kids you got?

One.

How many you got?

Six.

That's a good thing to know.

You just made up my mind,
Don Vito Genovese.

$20,000 for Joe Valachi.

Pass the word.

All that for my protection, huh?

Hell, no.
It's for mine.

All right, you guys,
keep moving.

Come on,
don't stand around.

Break it up.

- Geez...
- You know the rules.

I ain't stood like this
and looked out a window in months.

That's very expensive, Valachi.
It'll cost you all you know.

For a start, take a look
through these mug shots.

What the hell's
the hurry?

I want this over.
The sooner the better.

Place and date of birth.

Place and date of birth.

Born in New York.

September 22, 1903.

School.

I went till the seventh grade.

After seventh grade?

Hey, what the hell is this,
some who's who kinda bullshit?

I thought we were
gonna get Genovese.

Talk, Valachi.

After the seventh grade,
I worked on a sandboat...

for one of your potato friends.

The O'Brien Brothers.
30 South Street.

So far you're batting
a thousand, wop.

You ever finish school?

Yeah, didn't you?

Where?

Sing Sing.

My name's Tony Bender.

That's my bed.

Those are my things.

Be polite.

Introduce yourself.

My name is Joe Valachi.

- You happen to know Joe the Boss?
- Joe the what?

You've never heard
of Joe Masseria?

Don't lie to me, Valachi.
I hate a liar.

I never saw him before.

Okay...
The Gap looks after you.

Tony Bender's a strong-arm
for Mr. Maranzano.

We gotta be careful
you're not a Masseria man.

I don't know what the hell
all this crazy war talk is about.

In my gang, the gang I got,
everybody's pals.

Joe the Boss has been
moving in on Maranzano.

A nice pal.

Some Mustache Pete
from the old country.

Some time I'm gonna tell
you about my outfit.

Very big, huh?
You got a lot of men working for you.

Yeah.

I got seven guys.

They call us the minutemen

because it only takes us
a minute to pull a job,

and it takes the cops two minutes,
maybe more, to show.

And what do you do?

You go out and throw
milk cans at windows?

Bender's boss has
400 guys in his gang,

most of them torpedoes.

Now, that Mustache Pete
you were talking about,

let's see, he's got 600.

As the paper says,
there's a war on.

Guys from Sicily,
guys from Naples.

Anytime you want to mob up,
ask for The Gap.

Paradise Restaurant.

Times change, Joey, and awful fast.

The Gap was sure right.

Times were changing.

One week out of Sing Sing,

I got a tip on a silk factory
in Brooklyn,

so I pick up a couple Irish guys
to fill in part of my gang

that's been arrested,
and away we go.

All right, lady, let's have
your dough and your watch.

What the hell's
the matter with you?

I take you
out on a job,

and you act like
a couple of kids?

Stupid bastard,
son of a bitch!

You know,
the police had radios?

Cut my time
in less than a minute.

You haven't been out a week
and already in trouble?

- I'm on the run.
- I got eyes.

Come on.

What's all this?

I met that guy in Sing Sing.

Who is he?

A friend of Gap's.

Who is he?

A friend of Gap's.
They met him in Sing Sing.

Why he's wet?

Mr. Maranzano wants
to know why he's wet.

I don't know why he's wet.

Why's he wet, Gap?

I don't know.

He don't know why he's wet.

Oh.

Salute.

You gentlemen
are looking for something?

Sorry to disturb you,
Mr. Maranzano,

but did you see a man come
in here dripping wet?

He had horns.
Like this?

Nice.

This wet man, what he do?

He tried to rob
a silk shop.

We chased him
a couple blocks.

Racked up one
of our cars.

Ditched his in the river
and got away.

I sincerely regret I have
not met with such a man.

Well, if you do...

What do you think?

I give him a job.

Good night, Officer.

Good night, sir.

The first contract I worked on

was to hit a guy named
Steve Ferrigno.

He was one of the lieutenants
who worked for Joe the Boss.

Ferrigno? We were on to him
for at least five killings.

Bendergot me to rent an apartment

same place where Ferrigno lived,
on Pelham Parkway.

One month's rent
with a different name.

There's Ferrigno's apartment.

Right across the courtyard.

First floor opposite.
Well, he could...

Like I said, I got a tip-off
he moved in there last week.

Make some coffee,
will you, Gap?

Sure, I'll make coffee,
spaghetti, meatballs, anything.

You expected a little music or what?

You look musical.

You think so, huh?

Oh, uh, Buster,

why don't you go take a look
and see if the view's right from there?

That's no problem.

Buster from Chicago.

Go easy with him.

To date, nine killings.

Oh, yeah?

Still looks musical to me.

Okay, Tony, this one's
gonna be easy.

Hey, none of my business,
but I rent this apartment.

If he shoots him from there,
they trace it to me.

Now, everybody's seen me.

The neighbors, the doorman.

Okay.

We'll use this place as a stakeout,
and we'll hit him from somewhere else.

Staircase, window,
corridor, anyplace.

So?

Come on, Joe.
You go upstairs,

the corridor outside
Ferrigno's apartment.

And give us the sign
when they come in.

Oh, uh, you got
those pictures?

Yeah.

Here's a little homework
to memorize.

Joe Masseria and family.

I never knew anybody
could have such an organization.

Masseria's outfit
went as far west as Chicago

with Capone.

And how in hell

Maranzano ever expected
to destroy Joe the Boss,

that was beyond me.

Hold it!

What floor
you want?

Punch yours.

Holy smokes, holy smokes,
guess what.

What's wrong?

I just saw that guy Masseria
and these other two.

These other two.

Luciano and Genovese.
Oh, it's not possible.

- Yeah.
- No, impossible.

- They got on the elevator with me.
- No, impossible.

I pretended I was going
to the third floor.

They went up to the sixth.

Come and take a look.

They pretended
to go to the sixth.

Full house.

Must be having a meet.

Easy aces. What the hell?

Why don't we cross over that side
and take Ferrigno in the back?

Hey, Mr. Bender, if you ask me,
why don't you take 'em all?

You and I can
hit 'em from the top.

And, Gap, you can take them
from the downstairs.

But they're all up there
in that one room.

All you have to do
is spray the place.

You want to be the boss?

Okay, I make a call
to Mr. Maranzano.

Keep him quiet, Gap.

I'm getting restless.

Boy, oh, boy,

you ought to think it over,
Mr. Bender.

You're only the wheel man, capisce?

When I give the word,
you bring the Packard out to the front.

Until then, I don't want to hear
another word outta you.

Please.

Okay, Joe.

Have the engine running,
doors open.

Hold it a minute.

You run up and tell the boss
the coast is clear.

Boy.

Whew!

What's the matter?

Uh, nothing.

Something's
bothering this guy.

Why do you talk?

Let him drive, Tony, huh?

I want to know why
he said "boy" like that.

Joey, why do you
say "boy" like that?

Because we really
had a chance to hit.

Hit everybody!

Luciano, Genovese,
Joe the Boss!

What the hell is wrong
with you, Bender, eh?

Only the new guy,
he has the thought.

Why you didn't listen?

You said hit Ferrigno,
so we hit Ferrigno.

I believe in iniziativa.

- "Initiative."
- Initiative.

What organization,
it means anything

without its people
have initiative, eh?

Valachi,
he's a good driver?

Of course he is.

You said get the best.

I get the best.

You got a suit and tie?

Sure, Mr. Maranzano.

Go away.
Come back two hours.

- Yes, sir.
- Hey!

I swear by this man
Tony Bender.

You understand?

He was right to do
the wrong thing.

He was thinking what's good
for the organization...

but you were
a little more right, eh?

From this day on, Joe Valachi,

you live by the knife and the gun.

You die by the knife and the gun.

Throw a finger from one to five.

Well, Joe,

Gaetano Reina,
he's now your goombah.

He is responsible for you.

You have a problem,
you see him.

With what finger you shoot?

Give me your hand.

With the spilling
of the blood, Joe Valachi,

we are now one family.

Now, repeat after me
in the language of our fathers

or otherwise in English.

This is the way I will die...

...if I betray the secret
of La Cosa Nostra.

I will burn like
the fires of hell...

...if my tongue speaks
like Judas.

This being a time of war,
I make it short.

Two things the most important
to remember.

First, to betray secret of Cosa Nostra
means death without trial.

Second, to violate
any member's wife, the same.

And never use violence
with anyone in the family.

We help you.

Because of this,
now you are family.

Your job is to be a personal driver
for my underboss Gaetano Reina.

He is a fine man
worthy of respect.

We are here together
because Joe Masseria

has sentenced us to die.

So now, whether from
Castellammare or not,

we are all one today.

What happened at Pelham Parkway
has got them confused.

They don't know how
we discovered their meet,

so now we concentrate
to get their main bosses,

Luciano, Genovese,
but the most important...

Joe Masseria himself.

He say he will make no deal with us.

So until we kill him once and for all,

the war, it goes on and on forever.

Geez, Bender, you missed one.

The same afternoon,
we hit Dino Roselli

and Peter "Brown Eyes" Ellioni.

Next day, we took, uh, Charlie Ansaldo.

He had a nice car.

It's a shame we had to spoil it.

That's Frankie Baretta.
"The Enforcer," they called him.

Nice day's work.

Sometimes it was
straightforward and easy, no sweat.

You let Masseria come in
and take over our machines.

Mr. Maranzano won't like that.

I didn't want
no trouble.

You know the number
you have to call.

We're ready to service
our machines day and night...

unless you want to change
your supplier, huh?

Okay, Joe,

put back
the Maranzano stickers.

Like that, my dear friend?
You can sleep better nights.

That right, Charlie?

Tell me, who came calling?

Who was it left his card?

You don't have to talk.

You only have to deny
it was Carlo Torrio.

Pity.

Carlo Torrio is a nice boy.

Doesn't look so nice there.

And with him,
Johnny "Golf Bag" Ponti,

Sam Petrelli.

But these were our boys
who were getting it, also,

Johnny Buono, Pete Gianola...

but somehow we managed
business as usual.

Oh, that was big of you.

Well, sometimes you guys
gave us a little help yourselves.

Only two cases?

That's all.

When do we get
some more?

Next week.

All right, break it up.

Screw you, mister.

This son of a bitch did
a hundred bucks' worth of damage.

Look here, mister,
break it up!

You can see yourself.

Okay, okay.

Clear the road.
Clear the road.

- Clear the road. Go on. Go on.
- Okay, okay.

Get 'em running!
Get 'em running!

Come on! Come on!

Ninety.

47.

Come on!

92.

I got so as
I knew every bank in the city.

Before, I could do the Bronx
with my eyes closed.

Now, it's like I am very capable
of Wall Street, too.

28. 128 napkins, 43 tablecloths.

And they say they
served only 73 dinners.

Some people ain't honest.

Chez Aldo.

Second time they gave us
the wrong count.

Someday we go beat them
on the head.

Hey, hey, hey, can't you see
this is private? Move! Move!

Next time, the right count,
understand?

Tomorrow when I call you,

have the counted money ready.
Remember.

Very reasonable, Valachi.

What are you talking?

We were dealing straight,
and they wasn't.

I mean, for instance,
take the fish market.

This guy Tony, uh...

I forgot his last name.

He paid for protection.

Some of Masseria's honkies
start to lean on him pretty good.

He gives us a call...

Pack it up!

...and we deliver.

Just like the cavalry
and the Boy Scouts, Valachi.

Aah!

Just like the cavalry
and the Boy Scouts.

You know, we hit
nearly 35 of Masseria's men

the first couple of months?

The Castellammarese War,
they called it...

and Joe the Boss was gonna get
every guy from Castellammare.

Any guy who was Sicilian, that is.

Must've been bad for business.

It was terrible.

Car!

Aah!

Signoral Signoral..

Come on. Bring him in.
Put him on the couch.

My God! Papa!
Papa! Papa!

Put him there.

- Oh, God. Papa.
- Be silent!

Show dignity.

They hit us just when your husband
was gonna open the garage door.

You are my husband driver?

You are Joseph Valachi?

Yes, ma'am.

Papa.

Remember this, Maria.

Always he lived with death.

Always he wait
for this to happen.

I have learned to wait with him.

Buongiorno.

We know who do it,
Donna Letizia.

Don Salvatore, I have lost him.

Bring him back to me.

I cannot
bring back the dead,

only kill the living.

Daughter, my love for
your father was without end.

I don't stop until I find...

Too many good men
are dead.

These killings,

very bad...

for everything.

With all respect for the widow...

we did not seek this war.

Who sent you, Mr. Luciano?

Nobody sent him.

Is true, Mr. Luciano?

Like he said.

Salvatore, we are from
the same country...

and now we've...

come to kill each other
far from home.

It's our people who died,

the blood of our blood.

And with the cops on our tail...

it's hurting all the business.

So, even if Joe Masseria
doesn't want to talk about peace...

Mr. Maranzano...

we do.

While Joe Masseria live...

no peace.

Please believe me
when I tell you

I held your husband
in the highest respect.

My condolences.

Hurry!

No!

They come in peace.

Look at that Anastasia.

He wants somebody
to start something.

He's nuts.

Charlie Lucky and Genovese
said they came for peace,

and one day at Scarpato's in Coney Island,
they set out to prove it.

How about a game of cards,
Mr. Masseria?

Yeah. We play Tresette.

Oh, I have to go
to the john.

Vito, there's a deck
in the car.

Why don't you
go get it?

Don't you think someone
should, uh, call the police?

So that's how
Joe the Boss died.

We never knew for sure.

Is that so?

Well, don't expect me
to do no more talking.

Anyhow, I'm tired
and I'm gonna get some rest.

- Sit down.
- What the hell...

We got a lot more talking to do.

I ain't gonna eat that.

So starve.

- I don't eat poison.
- You don't?

You taste.

How do I know you ain't eating
only the good part?

I want to do
my own cooking, Ryan.

Maybe.
If you keep on talking.

And I want a hot plate
and I want a refrigerator,

and like I said,
I'm not talking anymore.

My rules, Valachi.

You want to starve here or go back
to where you came, be my guest.

What happened after
Masseria's death?

What the hell's that got to do
with Genovese?

- Ryan, I want to get Genovese.
- My rules!

All right.
We got organized.

- Organized?
- Yeah.

In the borgates.

Territories.

Big deal.
You know Italian.

That make you
an honorary wop?

One territory for each family.

That's right,

and all the families were responsible
to the capo dei capi.

The boss of all the bosses.

And it is with humility

I accept this title.

But as a father,
I'm also obliged to remind you

that all of us here
are in a foreign country,

and if we don't help
each other like brothers,

nobody will.

While we were killing,

others outside
were making their moves.

The Irishmen,
they own the politician,

the Jews like Lepke, Shapiro,

they tie up the garment center
and the unions,

and the Dutchmen,
they beat us at the numbers.

So what we do?

We sit still?

We hit them.
We hit them!

You're right, Anastasia,
but first we prepare ourselves.

From now on,
we divide to form new families.

Each borgata
will have capo, a boss,

sotto capo, underboss,

and then comes lieutenant.

Under them...

It's a nice setup,
like an army.

Yeah, except their own guy
is on the top.

In each city will be one family.

I already spoke with our friend
John Gianola in St. Louis.

Capone will be in.

Sam Garolla in New Orleans,

and Pirelli in Detroit.

Only here, in New York,
will be different.

Because we are so many,
we'll be five families.

Charlie Luciano will head one...

Tom Gagliano another...

and the others
will be under Joe Profaci,

Joe Buona, and Vince Mangano.

Think of it that we will provide
service for the public.

Everything what the public wants,

women, the best,

to gamble, the horse, the numbers,

everything what the public wants
and we give them a fair deal.

Everything except...

la droga.

The drug, it can destroy all,

all what progress we make.

Sure.
Afterwards, we go and get laid.

And remember, what happened
in the past is finished.

If your own brother
was killed in this war,

you don't look to find out
who did it to get even.

You do,
you pay with your life.

From now,
it's forgive, forget for my family.

You soldiers want
to see my sotto capo...

you see Tony Bender.

Now I pick for my bodyguard,
The Gap.

There goes my spare time.

And for my driver, I pick Joe Valachi.

- Congratulations, Joe.
- Thanks.

- You have question?
- Very good. Very good.

Hey, didn't we meet
somewhere before?

Vito Genovese.

I don't remember,
but nice to meet you.

Fine.

With the help of God,

let us bring success to ourselves

and to this thing of ours,

great honor.

Forever, Cosa Nostra!

"From the captured spoils,

he distribute one

to each of the soldier
of the Army."

It's from Julius Caesar.

That's the way you learn
the real command.

Everything I learn,
I learn from Caesar.

No kidding?

You remember what Caesar say

when he destroy the tyrant Pharnaces?

Oh, can't say I do,
Mr. Maranzano.

Uh, it slips me.

He say,

"Veni, vidi, vici."

"I came, I saw,

I conquered."

"I came, I saw,
I conquered."

Oh, that's terrific.
Hmm.

Never know when a line
like that might come in handy.

Do you...
You mean you read

all these books,
Mr. Maranzano?

Yes, when I was studying
to be a priest.

Oh, yeah. I heard that
someplace, Mr. Maranzano.

What kind of language
is this?

Oh, it's Lucretius.
Is in Greek.

Greek? You speak Greek?

I speak seven language.

Uh, Mr. Maranzano,
who are all those guys?

Oh, this is Caesar
as the high priest of Jupiter.

This is Caesar
as a Roman counselor.

This is Caesar as a dictator
and architect of the Roman empire.

Which remind me, boys,

tomorrow I have a meeting
with Genovese and Luciano.

I want you both to be there, huh?

In case.

Maybe we don't make arrangement, eh?

They betray their own boss.

If you was a boss, you trust them?

Why didn't you break up
the family at the meet?

It would start another war.
I don't know yet who's on their side.

But tomorrow, I find out.

You no tell anyone, yes?

Good.

I no like guns in my office,
but tomorrow...

And tomorrow, Tony Bender,
he pick me up at half past 1:00.

You meet me in the office
a little before 2:00, huh?

Yes, sir.

And here, read this book.

Roman Civil War in English.

- Thanks, Mr. Maranzano.
- Ahem.

Ahem. Don't I get a book?

Some men are born to read,
some not.

Oh.

You found me out,
Mr. Maranzano.

Some things are hard
to find out, but some not.

Good night.

- Good night.
- Night, Mr. Maranzano.

Bet you can get five bucks
for that book, the leather alone.

What the hell's
the matter with you?

It's a present from him.

I don't read so good,
but I'm gonna try.

For him? Tell me all about it
when you finish, please.

You got a cock for a brain.

So I'm a genius.
What can I do?

Open up! Open up!
It's the police.

Yeah, yeah.

It's about time.

You're late.

Veni, vidi, vici, kiddo.

Jane, Mary-Lou, meet Joe.

- Hi, Joe. Greetings.
- Hi, Joe.

Wait, wait, wait!

We're supposed to be
in Maranzano's office at 2:00.

Don't worry.
The meeting's called off.

Mary-Lou,
make breakfast on him.

Boy, am I hungry.

I don't believe you.
I don't believe you.

Relax. Tony Bender will tell you.

You better get rid
of that chewing gum.

Lay off, Jane.

Baby, I'm ticklish.

Hello, Tony? One second.

Tony? Hi.

The meeting's canceled.

Yeah, I'll let you know
when the old man needs you.

- Have a swell time.
- Yeah, okay.

- Take it off, Jane.
- Hey, you're right.

Okay, Mr. Maranzano.

Salerto...

...remember, you
and the Mad Dog,

you wait at
the drugstore telephone.

I give the order.
You hit, no miss.

Or we go back
on the mattress again, eh?

I hope you don't
decide to call it off.

Genovese's boys
took my brother.

Valachi, The Gap,
they're late.

On their way over.

I just got through
talking to them.

I don't like they're late.

When they come in,
send them in.

Yes, sir.

Well, what've we got here?

Mad Dog Coll and
Steff Salerto out for a walk?

There's a law against that?

Move.

Try me.

I'll cover him.

Where's Maranzano?

Sit down.

That's what I ask.

What do you want?

You got a warrant?
Let me see.

You're not cops.

Come on!

Aah!

I said no guns!
Come on.

Help me, Judas.

Make the cross.

I no want sins
on my children.

So who really
killed Maranzano?

I guess you could say
it was Luciano and Genovese.

They hired the Bugsy Siegel boys
to pose like cops.

Hey...

when those phony cops
stopped Salerto and Mad Dog Coll,

they were on their way to do
the same thing to Luciano and Vito.

Yeah.

A matter of timing,
I guess.

We always called him
Lucky Luciano.

Yeah, yeah. Go on.

First, I eat something.

Okay, Valachi, you have
your new toys I promised you.

I'm in a hurry,
so let me remind you,

maybe you're 99% safe.

That doesn't mean
your wife is,

or your kid,
what's his name?

You son of a bitch.

Magician, Valachi.

You start talking or I'll pull
some more rabbits out of the hat,

like these letters from home maybe.

You hold back letters
from my wife?

Well, it's nice
to know you care.

Do you care about
their safety as well?

I want a guarantee
they'll be safe.

That's up to you, Valachi.

Now, I was asking you...

All right.

After Maranzano,
there was no more capo dei capi...

just Luciano,
the Mangano boys,

Profaci, Venuto, Calliato.

The underbosses
were Genovese, Anastasia,

Charlie Calesi,
and the three Franco boys.

The lieutenants were
Johnny Gardena, Tony Bender,

Mick Moretti,

and Joe Adonis,
you heard of him.

Good. okay.

Now, after Maranzano's murder,
which family did you go with?

What kinda dummy are you?

After the murder, I ran.

- Mrs. Reina?
- Yes?

You remember me?
I'm Joe Valachi.

Yes, I know.

They shot Mr. Maranzano,

and your husband was
my goombah, so I...

Come on. Come in.

Be careful, Mrs. Reina.
These steps are pretty steep.

Let me help you, Mrs. Reina.

Yes.

Thank you.

Hey, this is terrific.

Eh, it will do for the moment.

Just until things
quiet down.

We will bring you food.

Oh, you don't have to
do that, Mrs. Reina.

I can always sneak out
and get something to eat.

Ah, even the windows have eyes.

Hey, yeah.

And Joe Profaci is my brother.

Joe Profaci is your brother?

Mmm, and he always eat here.

I see what you mean.

Thanks, Mrs. Reina.

My husband would do the same.

He was a good man.

Those pictures
really told me a lot about Maria.

You know, I never knew a kid
could do all those things.

I mean,
have all those hobbies.

When I was a kid,
I was just Joe Cargo.

- Cargo?
- Yeah,

'cause I used to make these carts
out of soapboxes.

"Cargo," get it?

You know,
I hardly knew my father.

Only saw him
when we went on trips.

But I did have a lot
of respect for him.

Oh, me, too.

Everybody had respect
for your father.

Even the men that killed him?

Oh, sure, they had respect.

You really are a good soldier,
aren't you, Joe?

Yeah, I try to be.

Maybe it's a feeling you don't
understand that I have for these guys.

It's like we're all pieces
of one another.

They make me feel like I belong.

Before now, you might
say I was a nothing.

Oh.

Maria!

- Maria.
- Oh, God.

Go to your room.

Mama, I'm not a child.

Sit. Finish. Sit down.

Maria is no toy, Mr. Valachi.

I wasn't playing with her,
Mrs. Reina.

Come on.

Yes?

Good evening,
Mrs. Reina.

I'm looking
for Joe Valachi.

I don't know anybody called...

He's the guy who's been living
in your attic, Mrs. Reina.

Mr. Joe Valachi.

What the hell
do you want, Gap?

You, Joey.
Put the gun down.

It's okay. You're back
in the driver's seat.

Who says?

Come with me.
I'll show you.

Proof.

The proof is I could have shot you
in the back a week ago

being a big man on campus, okay?

Okay.

Andiamo.

Uh-huh.

No, no.

No.

No.

Charlie, this is Joe Valachi.

Ask him what he wants.

- Right now I'd like...
- Uh, we talked it over.

He and The Gap want
to go partners

on the numbers
and the slot machines.

Give him
20 machines.

But for the numbers,
they need the bankroll.

Okay.
Hand them 10 Gs.

Mr. Luciano is giving you
20 machines, his own labels.

That means
no police interference

and the credit for a month.

You plant them,
pay us 50%,

and they are yours.

Any problem,
talk with Tony Bender.

He's your lieutenant.

That's pretty good.

I already got a few places
picked out in East Harlem.

Thanks, Mr...

Mr. Genovese.

- Bye, Charlie.
- Oh, wait a minute.

I got a call from Joe Profaci,

brother of
Gaetano Reina's widow.

According to him, Valachi
has been seeing the daughter,

and he's not stated
his intention.

- Can I talk?
- Yeah.

I gotta be straight.

I don't know nothing
about my intentions,

but I sure would like
to marry that girl.

Very fine.

A nice Italian girl,

and the good blood
doesn't go wasted.

Yeah, but the mother,
she thinks I'm a nobody.

Not now, she won't.

Now you're
one of the family.

Nice ring.

Very nice ring.

Paid for?

Yes, Donna Letizia,
paid for.

Cash or with the credit?

Ahem.

Cash.

Hmm.

I always pay cash.

I got a receipt.

No need, no need.

Made by the hands
of my daughter, Maria.

My friend and I,

withering to the gracious ladies
of this house...

To the gracious ladies.

It's time
for me to speak.

I speak now for the future,

not for the past,

which has sometimes been,
uh, unhappy.

From today, Donna Letizia,
I wish to be your friend...

for friendship is everything.

Friendship...

Friendship is more than beauty,

more than talent,

more than government,

more than anything
except the family.

And perhaps, one day,
Donna Letizia,

you and your fine daughter

may have need of friendship,

need of a friend,

a friend rather than a lawyer,

who will lead you in circles
and take your money...

or the police,

who will end up only by offending
and upsetting you.

And if such a day
should come,

I trust that you will turn to me,

a friend of Joseph Valachi...

a member of your family,

and the man whose friends

can be counted among
those who have respect,

not only in this city,
in this country,

but beyond the seas.

Donna Letizia,

I await your answer.

Damn it, Mama! Say yes.

Yes.

Mr. Genovese,

you'll never know
today what you just did.

I know anytime
you give an order, that's it,

but if ever there's
something special...

Maybe there is
something special.

I want you and Gap
to make a hit...

a special hit.

Ah, there's my ladies.

Ah, you eat now.

Nice, nice.

All right, my ladies,
Daddy's going to feed you.

Maybe you ought to leave,
Mr. Genovese.

The lights will go down
in two minutes.

Hold them.

Don Vito, we saw the doctor.

Ah, did you?

Yeah, it's bad news.

I don't think our friend's
gonna recover.

As a matter of fact,
he's gone already.

Natural causes, I hope.

Oh, yeah,
you might say that.

Shortage of breath.

Sit down, boys.

Vito, I don't think
you ought to stay.

No lights.

Mmm, relax.

Tonight I want
to see the show.

Uh, you know
her husband?

No.

Oh, sure you do, Joey.

No, I don't.

The special hit.

I have no long speeches.

Just want to drink a toast
to Joseph and Maria.

Happiness, long life,
and male children.

Thanks. Thanks. Grazie.

Mama, thanks.

How about some nice gifts, folks, huh?

To set up this
tremendous couple, huh?

Thank you.

Salutiamo.

Why'd you do that?

Albert,
what's going on?

Excuse me, please.
Excuse me.

The service is lousy.

People always bumping into me.

Behave yourself,
Albert,

or we won't let you
out at night.

It's just I don't like
people crowding me.

Mrs. Valachi.

- Good luck.
- Thank you.

Good luck, Valachi.
Long life to the both of you.

Like I said, Joe,

you've showed
you sure got taste.

Thank you, Mr. Luciano.

Shall we cut
the cake, honey?

Sure. Sure, sure, sure.

This way, please.
Hold it.

Bene. Bene.

Hey, Joey, you remember
these friends of ours?

Hey, what's the matter with him?

He didn't recognize you
with your clothes on.

Oh.

So Lucky Luciano became the boss.

Nah, he appointed a commission,

a kind of board of directors.

Was he a good leader?
Better than Maranzano?

I was doing okay,
so I guess he was good.

How okay?

I was pulling
2, 500 a week on the slots.

Oh, yeah, and this new DA,

he gets ahold of Luciano
and gives him 30 years

for running cathouses.

Can you believe it?

I figure that was a frame,
'cause Lucky wasn't a pimp.

So, after Maranzano,
there was Luciano? Then?

Genovese,
but before we knew it...

I give half an hour, tops.

The judge is now
getting you the warrant.

Benedetto, could you come here
a moment, please?

Ciao. Yes, Mr. Hewitt?

It's official.

We'll have the court order
in half an hour.

Hewitt. Hewitt.

It's the only name
I hear these days.

Hate that son of a bitch.

I'd like to have one shot,
so help me.

- I'd nail him myself...
- Donna, do you have my bags?

- Give me a minute, huh?
- We don't got a minute!

Calm down, Albert!
Valachi's driving me to the docks.

Then I'd better bring
the car around now.

What can the son of a bitch
get you for, Vito?

Everything's legitimate.

Legitimate!

He figures somebody has
to be minding the store

now that Charlie Luck is gone,
and he figured me.

You ought to know, Albert,

even if they nail you
on a technicality,

they still nail you.

Tickets.

Tickets!

Where's his tickets, Tony?

In your coat pocket,
Vito, honey.

You just sew up the courts
and keep the politicians greased.

I'm seeing Naples and Marseille.

When I come back,
we'll have a whole network for drugs.

I want to walk across that border.

But we don't need
the drugs, Vito.

Even Charlie Lucky
taught me.

Don Vito,
you've got to get out of here.

Albert...

I want a good report.

You make it nice and easy
when I return. Capisce?

Darling, anything you want,

you talk with Albert,
and you will get it.

Jesus, will you go already?

All right, all right,
all right.

Good report, huh?

Come on.

At least I don't have to see
any unemployment in Italy.

My good friend, Benito Mussolini,

he could talk some sense
into that Roosevelt.

Well, ciao, everybody.

Ciao, caro.

Well, I guess
that makes me the boss.

But Genovese stayed in Italy
till after the war,

so the drug thing
didn't get started till '46 or '47.

You tired?

I think I talked too much.

Too much, too much.

Well, then let me
go on for you.

In the war,
you were a loan shark.

You muscled in
on one of your customers.

Guy named Matty,

ran the Prospect Dress
and Negligee Company.

They set it up for you
so that, uh,

Local 25 didn't bother you,

long as you stayed in the Bronx.

So now you were
a legitimate businessman.

You bought into
the old Paradise Restaurant.

Did all your shy locking there,
peddled all your gas-ration stamps there.

Big profits.

You bought a new house in Yonkers...

on Shawnee Avenue.

The house cost 48 grand.
Later on, you added five rooms.

How much did that cost?

10 grand.

The awnings cost 2,500.

Then you went into horse races,

which is known in the trade
as the big fix.

I never threw a race!

'Cause that'd be crooked.

Son of a bitch.

Your information's so tight,
you go ask anybody.

My Knight's Duchess was one of
the best horses on the East Coast,

and I ran her fair!

Starring Margaret O'Brien.

Goddamn it, listen.

Salerto came to me
one day with orders

from Tony Bender
to throw a race.

You think I listen?

I wouldn't pull that horse!

Knowing you to be the sportsman's
sportsman, I wonder.

You want to hear
what I said or don't you?

All right, Valachi, what did you say?

You son of a bitch!

I don't pull a horse
for nobody!

Joe, you don't lay
a hand on a friend!

- Those are the rules!
- It ain't rules to throw a race.

You tell Bender he can go to hell.

You tell him.

There's gonna be a table, Joey.

There's gonna be a judgment.

And Anastasia's
gonna be the judge.

Send those bastards in,
and quick!

Now, everybody knows
that Anastasia, he's crazy.

With him, it's always,
"Killl Killl Killl...

Hit 'eml Hit 'eml"..

Boy, I didn't think I'd have
a chance at the judgment.

- The hell's wrong with you, Valachi?
- I'll tell you the way it was. Salerto...

Shut up!

You've been in this life
for last 20 years.

You should know better
than to hit another guy.

- I know that, but Salerto...
- You don't know shit!

A rule's a rule.

Taking a swing
at one of the family.

He said that Tony
wanted me to fix a race.

You told Valachi
to go fix himself?

I had 15 grand
on that race, Albert.

For 15 grand, you tell
your own soldier to fix himself?

Well, we all done it for less,
Albert, one time or another.

Not funny. You are gonna
pay Valachi 15 grand.

- I?
- And you owe Salerto an apology.

Sure. Hey, Salerto, I'm sorry.

- Ah, it's okay.
- But... But this is a sol...

Shut up, Tony. Shut up.

Lucky you're Vito's man.

I had a lieutenant talk back,
I'd have him hit.

Yes, Albert.

Now out. All of you!

Valachi, come.

I want to talk to you.

I got a message
from Don Vito.

Oh, from Italy?

Mm-hmm.

He's been hearing
rumors about Donna.

I want you boys
to look after her,

starting this evening
at the club.

Story is that she's
been screwing around

and I'd like to see her put away,

but that's not my business,

so forget I ever said it.

You understand?

You understand?

Nobody ever knew

why Anastasia was
in such a good mood that day.

But one thing
he was right about, though,

it was that girl of Genovese's.

She was trouble.

So?

Good evening, Donna.

I'm an agent for Phil Spitalny
and His All-Girl Orchestra.

We're looking for a cymbal player.

Get the hell out.

Actually,
I'm your new bodyguard,

and I promised Don Vito
I wouldn't bite off more than I could.

I gotta ask you a question.

How can you do it?

I mean, physically...

with another dame, huh?

I follow the bouncing ball.

Boy, oh, boy.

I'll be out in the car.

Uh, I mean,

looking at it my way,

I can only think of me
in the middle.

Come back
tomorrow, honey.

We'll put on a show.

Donna...
Get your hands off me!

Next time, pick on
somebody my own size.

Call Eddie.

Tell him to throw
these bums out.

Okay.

Baby, you don't have
to worry about The Gap.

For one thing, I...

I wouldn't know how to
explain it to Don Vito.

For another,
he'd have you killed.

All of a sudden,
the son of a bitch

sends me
a goddamn watchdog.

Oh, you know how
it is, honey...

when you have
a bitch in heat.

Oh!

Everything okay, folks?

Sure.

It's all Emily Post,

you schmuck.

Ain't that right,
little flower?

That's right.

Right.

Right.

Boy, oh, boy.

That all you can say?

I can say a lot worse.

As far as I was concerned,

that girl was a black widow,

you know what I mean?

Gap became so far gone,
he didn't even care

whether he was seen
in public with her or not.

Where's Gap?

Where's Romeo?

Mr. Romeo.

Excuse me.

Everything seemed to be going great.

Everybody was into
legitimate rackets, politics, unions.

Anastasia, he was happy
playing the boss.

None of us ever thought Genovese
would come back from Italy.

But, uh, you guessed.

- Hello, darling.
- Ciao, honey.

- Go wait in the car.
- Okay.

Hello, Bender.

You look pretty good and fat.

Trying to look our best
for you, Don Vito.

What are you doing
with our friends?

Lots of things.

Name five.

Well, uh...

Who do we get to make
drug connections?

Geez, Don Vito,

Albert's kind of told us
to lay off drugs.

- Hello, Valachi.
- Don Vito.

How's business?

I got a restaurant, some horses.

Ah. How many horses
he got, Tony?

I don't know.

You should.
You're his lieutenant.

How about you, Gap?
What have you been up to?

Oh, you know,
couple of numbers.

That's what I've been hearing.

We shall have to lose
a lot of weight around here.

Don't like it.

A shame Anastasia,
he didn't come to meet me.

All right.

A lot of time to make up,

but I'm in no hurry,
even if it takes years.

We got to get back like it was.

You are a good friend of The Gap's,
aren't you, Joe?

Yeah.

Know where he is?

Geez, Don Vito.

When you see him,
give me a call.

Sure. Sure.

You're involved in this thing,
too, Joseph.

Get out of here with respect.

I want to hear that you saw him.

Shall I hit the lights,
Mr. Valachi?

No, I'll take care of that.
You lock the back door on the way out.

- Good night, Mr. Valachi.
- Good night.

Joey!

Joey, please let me in.

Joey, it's The Gap. Please.

Please let me in, Joey.

Joey, please.

You must be crazy.
They got to know you'd come here.

Lock the door.

That goddamn broad
told everything.

Yeah. What the hell
did you expect from her?

Now Vito has an open
contract on you.

I had a shoot-out with Bender.

Can you believe it?
With Bender!

Holy hell, Gap. Holy hell...

Oh, it was crazy.

Like 30 years ago
had never happened.

You know I'm supposed
to hit you?

Do me...
Do us a favor.

Leave the country.

Right on Pelham Parkway.

Remember once
when we hit Masseria's boys?

It's bad for me.
It's bad for my wife and my kid.

You just can't believe it, Joe.

Jesus. I get off the L,
and there they are.

Have one from me.

Hey, goddamn, Tony.
I don't want shooting here.

You can only help
the guy just so much.

Then you're out of line.

Look, Bender,

we've been together for...

Christ, how many years?

20, 30?

At least give me a choice.

What choice?
Dead is dead.

The way you're going to hit me.
Want to shoot me?

Get it over with.

Oh, shooting's terrific.

You always loved playing
with guns, eh, Tony?

Not having any friends at all.

Yeah, I'd just as soon
shoot you, Gap.

If it were up to me, I'd say,

"Okay, whatever you want."

But Don Vito wants a present
for a girlfriend of his.

Shoot me!

Come on, Salerto, shoot me!

No! No!

Cut it off.

Jesus, no!

You'd better apologize
to Don Vito.

No!

No! No!

No!

You can't leave him like that.

There's his gun.

Use it.

Jesus Christ, Gap.

Christ, Gap. I'm gonna
take you to the hospital.

- Let's go.
- No...

- Yeah.
- No way.

- Come on.
- Leave me alone.

They're gonna fix you up.
Come on.

The gun.
The gun, please.

They'll fix you up.
Come on, Gap.

The gun.

Joey, the gun.

Oh, hell, Gap.
I told you about that broad.

- You should have stayed away.
- Jesus. Anything else?

The gun, please.

The gun.

Joey, shoot me, please.

Oh, God.
Joey, please shoot me.

Holy hell, Gap.

- Holy hell.
- Joey...

Joey, please.

Ah, it's gonna be okay.
It's gonna be fine.

How long has he had the fever?
And what about the doctor?

He said he'd be back
in the morning.

I wanna sleep.

Yeah, that's right.
You sleep, boy.

Go ahead. Sleep.

Me and your mommy are
gonna be right here all the time.

You go ahead and sleep.
I'll leave this here.

You and the boy
get out of here, go away.

Just for a short time.

Take the boy
and go someplace.

It'll be good.

They're closing in
on you again, Joe?

You don't tell me I'm wrong.

Jesus.

I don't know who the hell's side
I'm on anymore.

It used to be so good...

the feeling,
everybody working together,

belonging together.

Oh, Joe, once and for all,
get out of it.

Would your mother
ever say that to your father?

My father was a lieutenant.

Like you said yourself, Joe,

things were different
in those days.

Now...

every time you try to build
something, they take from it,

some kind of self-respect when somebody's
telling you how to live your life.

I'm not gonna bother
explaining it to you

because you don't know
anything about it.

I try not to.

What the hell's that
supposed to mean?

Joe, there are days you come in
and there are nights...

I know your hands
have been covered with blood.

Does Mr. Genovese
or Mr. Bender give you

some kind of magical power

so you don't feel anything?

I never hit nobody that never deserved.

Honest to God, Maria.

We only hit the guys
who cheat on the family.

What do you want me to do?

Do you want me to say,
"Hey, Vito,

I'm only going to hit
the following guys"?

You can't do that.

You see, if you believe in the family,
then you fight for it.

It's no different
than being in the Army.

Then why are they closing in
on you again, Joe?

Jesus, I don't know.

You don't?

Honest, I don't know.

That's why I want you
to take the boy

when he's feeling better
and you go to your cousin's.

And I'll call you after.

Fine.

After what, Joe?

After what?

After it's over.

Son of a bitch.

Now I'm gonna tell you

why it was necessary
to hit Double-A.

Before I went away,

we had an organization,

a structure.

Everybody had a place.

Everybody had a position.

Everybody was responsible
to everybody.

And when I come back,
I learned that

nobody knows what
anybody else is doing

'cause nobody cares.

And when nobody cares,
that's how people get fat.

That's anarchy!

Shh!

Anastasia commercialized
this thing of ours.

He brought in hundreds

'cause they were
willing to pay money

for the privilege of belonging.

Anybody.

Lot of nobodies.

But I can only tell you this,

I wouldn't pay a nickel
to join this outfit.

I look upon it, I look upon you
without respect.

Don Vito.

Shut up!

First...

I want to see these people out.

Get rid of them.

Give them back their money.
They don't belong.

Next...

Anastasia was shot because
he made a second mistake.

I am talking about drugs.

With our influence in the unions,

in the courts, and with the cops,

we can walk right in and start to deal.

I got suppliers from China
to my street waiting for the word.

So, starting right now...

Get out! Get out!
Everybody out!

Quick! Police!
Police! Get moving!

Don Vito, come on! Hurry!

Valachi!

Don Vito, we gotta
get away. Come on.

- Hurry.
- Where is Valachi?

Valachi!

- Valachi!
- Come on!

What the hell's going on?

Somebody tipped the cops,
Don Vito.

I wanted to meet in Chicago,

but that goddamn Maggadino said,
"Upstate's cool."

It's cool, all right.

They disgust me.
They've got no dignity.

I am not gonna lose my self-respect
because of small-time yokels.

Hold it.
Where do you think you're going?

All right, let's get the hands up.

Come on, let's go.

Hands over your head!
Get 'em up.

All right, stop.
Stop right there.

Hold it. Hold it.

Hold it right there.

What's the problem,
Officer?

Did you just come
from that house?

As a citizen of
the United States...

I am aware of my rights
under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth,

and 14th Amendments
of the Constitution.

Unless you have
an arrest warrant,

I can sue you
for infringing on my rights.

Drive on, Joe.

What the hell did he say?

Jesus Christ.

No matter how hard they lean,

no matter how hard they squeeze,
you just took it like a dog.

When they made you kill your
best friend after they cut his balls off,

you just pointed that trigger
and called it an act of charity!

Oh, what the hell
do you know about it?

And what'd you ever have
that was any better?

Nothing, Valachi.

My parents traveled steerage
just like yours.

They went through poverty
just like yours.

I fought every day before,
during and after school.

Big deal.
Instead of being called a wop,

I was paddy, I was a mick.

The difference
between us, Valachi,

is that I stopped
spreading my legs.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then you joined Hoover's team
and became Jack Armstrong,

all-American boy.

Screw you, Valachi.

I don't have a wife
who's going into hiding.

I don't have a son who
doesn't know who his father is.

I don't check the windows
before I leave my house.

If I ever had to kill
to save my own neck,

I'd make goddamn sure
I killed the right man.

Face the facts, Valachi,
you're one dumb guinea.

Shit. You were a snap to break.

What?

I'm the guy that started squeezing you
from the other side.

Don't you remember?

After Appalachian,
we were picking everybody up.

We got over 100 guys,
nobody would talk.

I still don't get it.
What are you talking about?

We wanted to know about Vito
and the drug operation.

I figured we had
to start at the bottom.

And I'm the guy that
sent those two agents to visit you.

Yeah.

Uh, we notice you're
enlarging the restaurant.

It's illegal, huh?

You got a record.
You have to have a license.

License ain't in my name.

Then you won't care one way or the other
when it's revoked, will you, Joe?

First, you find some tax clause
to close my dress factory,

now you're hustling me
about the restaurant?

What have I ever done
to you guys?

Tell us about the Vito organization,
his drug network,

and we'll forget that license.

Yeah. Come on.

How much?

Everything you know.

I don't know
anything about Vito,

and I don't know anything
about any organization.

Okay, all you don't know,
what is it worth?

Five thousand.

Fifteen.

- Shit.
- Apiece.

Tell them
we're closing this place down.

Give me a call when you've
thought it over. Come on, Di Savio.

My boys did a good job on you.

You thought they were
really on the take.

Wouldn't be the first time.

Some bunch, I'm telling you.

Putting the squeeze
on a respectable businessman.

Oh, sure.

Anyway, you didn't have the $30, 000,
so we guessed where you'd have to go.

Hey, Bender.

I'm in a bind. I need
30 grand by tomorrow.

Okay, if you do me a favor.

Sure, I'll do you a favor.

Meet me at the docks,
Monday at 3:00, capisce?

Tony, if you're gonna
connect with the shipment,

and that's where the money is,
then I'm gonna stick with you.

Okay.

That's how you got
into the drug business, Joe.

I gotta thank
the FBI for that, huh?

No, I'll give you
credit for initiative.

I'd rather be
driving the car, Tony.

Shut up
and let me handle it.

The one with the red mark, that's it.

Okay, take it away!

It don't smell good.

Shut up.

Come on.
Let's go, let's go. Come on!

Mac, the one with the red stripe.
Put it in the car.

Hey, where's Tony?

Gee, I don't know.

Aah!

Open up.
Come on. Open up there.

Hurry up.
It's the police.

What do you want?

We got a search warrant.

Search warrant for what?

Narcotics.

Push it.

Uh, come on, come on.

Just lay off my stuff, guys.

I'm very neat.

He's the slob.

High grade.

- Donna?
- Yeah? What is it?

Somebody stashed that.
Who was up here?

Nobody.

Yesterday, Tony Bender

and Joe Valachi.

Bender...

Joe Valachi.

It was all too pat.

Looked too easy.

Good thinking, Joe.

I guess it was you.

Sort of.

We had a tap on your line
all the time.

Wasn't too difficult to find
that the meeting was at the docks.

Son of a bitch.

You guys are twice
as crooked as we are.

...casualties or damage. New York City.

This morning, government agents
arrested Mafia kingpin Vito Genovese.

Reported to be directing the flow
of drugs on the eastern seaboard,

Genovese is being questioned

about the pre-dawn shoot-out
on Pier Two in Brooklyn.

Police officers state that
half a million dollars worth of heroin

was seized in Genovese's apartment,

and $2. 5 million worth
was found on the docks.

Arrested were Steff Salerto,
Vincent Maro, and Fred Vilac.

Our news. Tehran University
Geophysics Institute...

- Hello?
- Hey, Bender.

Call me at 6:00
at the old lady's.

...about 3 10 miles west of Tehran.

The quakes, one measuring five
on the Richter scale and the other four,

struck only a few minutes...

Hey, Maria.

Just talk. Say anything.
I want to hear your voice.

Why, hello, Helen. How are you?

I didn't know you were back.

We're all fine, honey.

Take care of yourself.

All I could do was drive around
until I got through to Bender.

My own line was tapped.

There was no telling
who they'd picked up.

All but Tony Bender.

- Hey, Tony.
- Where are you?

- In the country.
- Where?

Outside Hartford.

What's your number?
I'll call you back.

It's, uh...

642-3948.

Boy, there'd
been so many new guys

in the family coming and going,
could've been anyone squealing.

All I thought about
was trying to keep cool,

keep from getting burned.

Somebody set us up.

Don Vito says, if he's arrested,
wants everybody with him.

What kind of crazy order is that?

Don't worry.
You'll get off light.

It's already arranged.

Oh, no, Tony, I'm not taking
the rap for somebody else.

Therefore, this court
sentences Joseph Valachi

to the federal penitentiary,

there to serve
not less than 15 years

from this day forth.

You get me an appeal.

I think I can stand for five,
but if that 15 sticks,

I'm not going into the can alone.

You tell Bender that.

What do you have to do
before you fight back?

Told you everything
I had to say.

Your books are up-to-date.

That's not enough, Joe.
Think about Appalachian for a minute.

Think about all those heroes
running through the woods.

I thought about that a lot.

Stand up, for God's sake.

Joe, listen, there's
a Senate hearing commission.

They can make a law.

That law will cut them down, prohibit
their activities once and for all,

but you'll have to speak, Joe.

You have to tell them
what you told me.

What's in it for you?

The same thing that's in it for you,
a kind of a peace.

You want to stay in hell,
that's your business.

I'm offering you a way out
the other side.

Aye!

Suppose I talk to this,
uh, commission.

Then what?

The law goes on the books,
and I guarantee it'll be enforced.

Yeah, and I'm still in solitary
confinement the rest of my life.

At least you won't go in there blind.

What about Maria?
My kid, huh?

Wherever she wants to go,

I give you my personal guarantee
that she will get there safely

with a new name, a new passport,
enough money for the rest of her life.

You think it'll really happen?

What do you think
I've been after, Valachi?

Christ, everything you say

has tremendous implications
for the Justice Department,

for the country itself.

You can make a break, Joe,

not only for everybody else,
but for yourself.

You can get out of it.

- When do I take the bat?
- Tomorrow.

Okay, Ryan, looks
like you're on.

See you later.

When did you become a member
of this organization?

1930.

1930.

What's the name of it?

Cosa Nostra.

In Italian.

Cosa Nostra, in Italian.

I think that it's
an important question

that there is
no particular pattern

which would make you feel

the crime is in
any way a problem

associated with those
of Italian extraction.

Senator,
I'm not talking about Italians.

I'm talking about the Mob.

Continue.

He gave me this piece of paper.

I was to burn it.

Demonstrate what you did.

In other words,
I took this piece of paper.

And it's burning.

It's lighted in your hand.

And that was symbolic of the fate
that was to befall you

if you betrayed the organization?

Senator, what I'm telling you,

what I'm exposing to you,

to the press and to everybody,

this is the promise I'm breaking.

Even if I talked,
it... it's...

I shouldn't
tell you this.

Hey, Ryan, this
thing's fabulous.

They're trying to make
a monkey out of him.

I hope they nail
his ass 10 times over.

They're after headlines,
for God's sake.

They're after votes.

So, Genovese was your godfather?

No.

Godfather is different.

When you, uh...

When you go to the church,
you baptize a baby.

This is a godfather.

The sworn testimony
you have just heard

came from the lips
of Joseph Valachi,

lips that were supposedly sealed
more than 33 years ago

when he joined the Cosa Nostra.

But today, before a nationally
televised Senate hearing,

the 60-year-old convicted burglar,
dope peddler and murderer

talked in such a way

that he seemed to draw
the sympathy of the crowd

and the crime committee.

Valachi said he was talking
because he wanted to,

but it's possible that he is talking

to protect himself from his
syndicate boss, Vito Genovese,

who had ordered him
killed as an informer.

But how safe do you feel?

How do I feel now? Right now?

How safe do you feel?

- Now, at this moment?
- Yes?

I feel... fine.

How would you feel
if you were back in prison?

I would have to protect myself
against them, Senator.

I would have to kill
or be killed.

Now, would it be fair to say
that if you went back to prison,

that you would be a dead man?

If they got to me,

I wouldn't be
in prison five minutes.

Two.

Now, here
we show you the Genovese family,

broken down into its various units,
demonstrating the wide range...

Listen carefully.

$100,000 for Joe Valachi.

Hold it.

You were fine.
No fault of yours.

Oh, from your wife.

- Room's clear, sir.
- Cheer you up.

...pattern

which would make you feel
that crime is in any way

a problem associated with
those of Italian extraction.

Senator,
I'm not talking about Italians.

I'm talking about the Mob.

Continue.

In other words,
I took this piece of paper.

And it's burning.

It's lighted in your hand.

And that was symbolic
of the fate that was to befall you

if you betrayed the organization?

Senator,
what I'm telling you,

what I'm exposing to you,

to the press
and to everybody...

Didn't have time to see it all.

You were lucky.

It was kind of ridiculous.

Like a bad comic strip.
That's what it was.

I'll see you.

Guard! Guard!

Help! Get in here!

Take the weight
off his legs.

Get the chair up.

- I got his legs. Got him.
- Cut him down. Cut him down.

You have him?
Slowly. That's it.

Easy.

- Steady now.
- Put him on the table there.

Put him on the table.

Where's the doctor?

- All right. Right here.
- Get the doctor!

Okay, boys.
Thanks a lot.

Attaboy.

Come on, buddy.

Open up.

- Joe?
- Okay, I'll take care of him.

- Come on, buddy.
- Move over.

We gave him some
letters from his wife,

but he just tore 'em up.

Look.

You knew he was in a depressed state.
Why wasn't he given sedation?

Look, Mr. Ryan,
I can't have a doctor,

a psychiatrist, and 24 guards

watching your canary
for the rest of his life.

I know you can't. I'm sorry.
Wait a minute.

He'll be all right.
He's as strong as a bull.

As soon as he feels better,
take him down to the infirmary.

- All right, Doctor. I will. Thank you.
- Thank you.

Come on, Joe.
Let me give you a hand.

Take it easy.

Get over on the bed.
Come on. Let me help.

Come on. I'll help you.

Here.

Joe, I was just...

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- You were just following orders.
- Joe, I don't make the laws.

Christ, don't look to me
for any more alternatives.

You got burned, Ryan.

You wanted a law,
but they wanted a gangster story.

I thought maybe
you had something better.

I admit I've been had all along.

Yeah, well, you
weren't the only one.

I've been taken, too.
Believe me, Joe. I'm sorry.

Oh, hell. It's like you said.

I'm gonna spend the rest
of my days in prison,

but I don't go in blind.

Anytime you want to come visit,
we'll crawl together.

Well, at least you get
Genovese on the run.

I hear he's got
$100,000 out for you.

Anybody else,
it would be a million.

Genovese, he's a cheap guy.

Joe, you son of a bitch,

you know what
you almost just did?

Yeah.

No, no. You almost took
your own contract.

If you had committed suicide,

that bastard wouldn't have
had to shell out a nickel.

Hey, Ryan, you scored 100%.

Listen, Joe. I'm gonna keep
you alive just to spite that punk.

Yeah, and that's not
a bad reason to live.

Sheer goddamn spite.

Joe, let's get you
to the infirmary.

I'm okay.

I say you're not.

Guard.

Now, the first thing we do
is get you back in shape.

I'll have you moved, Joe.

Somewhere in the country.

I'll handpick the guards myself, Joe.

Make sure none of those Cosa Nostra
bastards ever gets at you again.

That's gotta be
the one thing I do, Joe,

make sure you live long after
Genovese's dead and gone.