Godfather of Harlem (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - The Nitty Gritty - full transcript

So, I want you to talk to me...

about how they locked you
in a cage like an animal.

Baby, nobody does that time
and comes out fine.

I was scared.

Baby, we have got
a lot to lose.

And I need you to control
your temper.

The Italians.

They're creating a problem
for us, Bumpy.

That's Chin Gigante's crew.

Harlem's mine.

Times have changed.



I haven't.

He went away
on a narcotics rap.

He never snitched.
Bumpy is protected.

I knew that cat before he changed his name,

before he got that "X."

Shutting down drug corners
where children grow up

is the Nation's cause.

Think if it was yours.

I'll speak to Costello

about getting you
on the ballot.

And what do you want
in return?

We can...
thank Bumpy Johnson for this.

I'm saving your ass.

I'm gonna send him
down South for awhile,



till things cool off.

Now, this is Richie Zambrano.

He's my capo.
He come down from Detroit.

He's my cousin.

I'm gonna give Johnson 110th

to 160th Street.

Your daughter's fine.

I want to help you.

I'm high, Daddy.

Leave me alone.

I can't.

Del Chance.

What? You come here
to wish me happy birthday?

Happy birthday,
Big Earl.

Chance here about
the hardest motherfucker

who ever walked
the streets of Harlem.

I want you
to meet somebody.

Big Earl Ison,
this is Bumpy Johnson.

Bumpy Johnson.

Shit, I've been hearing
stories about you

since I was in britches.

Chance told me about how
you took the Parkside Houses.

It's impressive.

You mind if I bend your ear
for a minute?

Earl...
you know the one thing

that the guineas have
always had over us?

They were organized.

Capos, consiglieres,
soldiers --

it's a hierarchy.

It's that organization --

that organization that got them
where they are today.

But we -- we've always
been disorganized.

I mean, how else
could the white man

snatch millions of Negroes
out of Africa?

Instead of coming together
and crushing them,

we're so busy warring
amongst ourselves.

I mean, we rely
on the Italians

for our numbers banks,
for the dope.

We pay a tax for all the women
that we put out on the street,

for the dice games
in the alley.

I mean, this shit --
This shit -- Come on!

This shit gotta stop,
right?

And you're gonna be
the boss man?

I've been on this street
for 30 years,

and what we need
is organization.

You and me...

You'd make more money,

and you'd have protection --

the kind of protection you get
when we got each other's backs.

This is what
I want to accomplish.

What about the duji?

Can't control Harlem unless
you got a steady source of duji.

The guineas, they --

they'll sell you a key
for $27,000...

but I can get it
from the spics

for $21,000.

Come on!
That second-class shit?

I get that
grease ball dynamite.

How you think
I took over Parkside?

You cut that shit
80%, ooh.

Still knock a motherfucker
on his ass.

It's your choice, Earl.

You the legend, Bumpy.

Just a little
outta step.

Besides, the guineas do
just right by me.

So, if you will excuse me,
I need to...

get back to my ladies.

Alright.

Happy birthday.

Take that nigger out back.

One thing Earl was right about...

we need that duji.

Aw, fuck!

Fuck.

Officers...
I can explain.

Quite honestly, I work
with juvies in my spare time.

I gave this kid
a ride to the airport

to visit his grandmother
in Syracuse.

I had no idea
he left that in there.

Tell it to your attorney.

Fellas, come on.

We gotta be able
to work this out.

You O'Halloran's brother?

Chuck O'Halloran
from the 27th?

That's my man.
We got to the Copa together.

We chase the ladies.
He'll vouch for me.

Shut the fuck up.

Hey, boyos!
It's Detective Ryan Clark.

Special Investigative Unit.

We heard your call
to dispatch.

Congratulations.

You just helped to close
a three-months investigation.

We'll take it from here,
fellas.

Come on, Schoolboy.
Let's go.

Get that white boy?

Chin: You want to
sell me back my dope?

How much?

We seized three keys.
The buyback's $20,000 a key.

That's 60K.

No, 30.
10 a key.

Your guy only got arrested
by beat cops, not us.

We gotta make that
go away, too.

45.

We don't negotiate.

The fuck? If one of yours gets pinched,

you buy back your dope.

That's the rule.

Yeah.

It's a deal.

Get the money.

In the old days,
your delivery guy

would've been
in a '52 Chevy.

In that Karmann Ghia blastin'
that nigger music...

his license plate might as well
have said "Pusher."

Yeah, so what?

What, you never had fun
when you were a kid?

Come on.

I forgot.
You're -- You're a cop.

No fun for cops.

Hang on a second.

There's a guy in Harlem,

and I can't touch him

'cause he's protected
by the families.

We're not button men.

50 grand.

50 grand to send that nigger
back to Alcatraz.

I only ever buy my coke
from the Colombianos,

but they're telling me
their heroin --

pretty good.

I need some good duji, Guapo.Trust me.

My Colombiano friend says
his shit is good.

Alright, let's see what
The Vein gotta say.

Go ahead, man.

I don't mind if I do.

This ain't it.

What the fuck is this?

This wrong.
It's bad.

Give him a shot
of that good shit.Fuckin' bullshit!

Hurry it up.

Come on, man.What is this, man?

Calm down.
My man, calm down.

- Give me some real shit.
- Hey, come on, man.

You're supposed to be
helping me out here.

I need that good duji,
Guapo.

The good shit!

She really loves me.

Can you focus, Guapo?

I heard about this Cuban pusher
up off 58th and Lenox.

Bump, you ain't moving
no serious weight

without the guineas.

I'm through with
the guineas, man.

What about this...
Cuban pusher?

Feo Gomez?
Yeah.

That's one strange
motherfucker.

He hates cold-callers.

Who don't?

I'll give Feo a call.

Please, I need it.

One more shot.

Baby, knock that monkey
off your back.

Come on.
Kick the habit.

Kick whitey
off your back.

Please, one more shot.
One more shot.

Please!

How long
will she be here?

I can't give you
an exact date or time.

And how come?

Because it depends.

On what?

On how long it takes her

to admit to herself
she's an addict.

She don't gotta admit nothing.
Elise is dope fiend.

You ever wonder why there are
more addicts in Harlem

than anywhere in
the Western world?

We narcotize ourselves against
being black in America.

Alright, alright.

The white man uses narcotics
to subjugate us

just as firmly
as a master's whip and chain.

Minister, I appreciate you
taking the time.

Ellsworth has always
spoken highly of you.

But I believe
that Jesus Christ

is our Lord and Savior.

Ellsworth has tried to help
that girl six ways to Sunday

and white man
or no white man,

she ain't never getting
that monkey off her back.

Well, she is not
lost to Allah.

She is his child
just as much as she is yours.

My child?

Do I look old enough
to be her mother?

Forgive me.

Ellsworth had Elise
long before we met.

We adopted Margaret
because Elise wasn't in no shape

to be a proper mother.

She is the one who needs forgiven.

Pettigrew: Come on, Chance.
You need to get with the times.

Nigga, I don't eat no forbidden fruit.

Get with it, man.
You need to eat the pussy.

Raw meat?

I ain't no Jap stuck on Okinawa,
motherfucker.

Women want more
these days, Chance.

Unless you can put it
in a frying pan

with some onions
and some gravy...

I ain't eating that shit.

Money's in the trunk.

I'm gonna talk to this Feo Gomez.

If I ain't out in 10,
then something's wrong.

Bumpy Johnson.

They call me Feo.

You got the money?

It's nearby.

Guapo said
you're alright.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm alright.

You're supposed
to bring the money.

After I see the duji.

Guapo said
you did Alcatraz.

What we talkin' about?

What does that have to do
with anything?

Just being friendly.

Sample right there.

So-so, man.

Get the money.

Why you sweatin'?

It's cold as witch's tit
in here.

Why are you sweatin'?High blood pressure.

I got a heart condition.

What's down there?

Bedroom.

Mind if I go check it out? Hermano!

I got a three-month-old baby
in there.

My wife will kill my ass
if I wake that kid up.

Now go get the money,
pendejo.

If you want the junk!

Gotta make sure, man...

Hands up, nigger.
Don't fucking move.

He said he would kill
my wife and baby

if I didn't set you up.

Lo siento.

He's sorry.

You're under arrest
for drug possession

and murder.

- Are you Bobby Robinson?
- Who's asking?

Stella Gigante.

Vincent Gigante's daughter.

So, what can I do for you, Miss Stella?

In my opinion,
you're the best judge of talent

in the music business.

Teddy Greene is special.

The minute you listen,

you're gonna want
to sign him, too.

Just take a listen.

Hello? Teddy?

Baby?

I see why my mama
left here.

If I was with you,

I'd be hanging from
a tree right now.

Teddy, baby, listen to me.

Bobby Robinson's gonna
listen to the demo.

Are you serious?

I'm telling you... he's gonna listen to it,

he's gonna love it,
and it's all gonna happen.

I'll be in Harlem
on the next bus back.

Baby, you can't do that.

Not until all this stuff
with my dad is settled.

Even now, he's got
one of his soldiers

following me around.

But don't worry.
I have a plan.

I'm gonna convince him
we broke up.

What?

It'll get him
off our back.

I couldn't sleep
last night.

I miss you bad, Stell.

I don't care about him.

Right now, I'm thinking
it'd be all right to die

if it meant I'd get
another night with you.

Teddy, you know
we gotta play it safe.

And you know
my father.

There's something
that's been bothering me,

'cause...

I thought about
killing her.

Your daughter?

Yeah, who fucked
the nigger.

Yeah. Vincent.

Don't turn your back.

She's the prodigal.

Yeah, prodigal.

Yeah, I remember
Sister Rose

used to drill that story
into my head.

God often uses
the prodigals in our lives

to bring us closer to him.

They are the iron
that sharpens our faith.

You cannot argue
your daughter back

or shame her back.

She won't come until God
decides it's done.

I'll pray for it.

One day...
just like the prodigal son...

she will
come to her senses.

Cheer up, Vincent.

It'll all work out
in the end.

Thanks, Louis.

- I'll see you at Ma's next Sunday, right?
- Yeah.

She's making
the manigott and braciole.

Nice.

Name and address.

Name!

Do I gotta beat it out
of you, nigger?

You know who this is?

This is
Ellsworth Raymond Johnson.

D'Alessandro.
They made you captain?

I thought you'd be on
foot patrol your whole career.

Hello, Johnson.

I see you're back in cuffs,
where you belong.

How's the house you bought
in the Jersey Shore

with all that pat
that I used to pay you?

Bigger than a six-foot cell
on Alcatraz.

He killed Feo Gomez,
Captain.

You killed Gomez?

Come on.
They set me up.

What the fuck are you
talking about?

Vincent Gigante has it out
for my ass.

I think that he hired your boys...

to send me back to jail.Fuck you.

You know what I hear?
You know what I hear?

I hear that these --
these so-called detectives

took over an arrest
on 125th

in front of a whole crowd
of black folks.

They arrested a Genovese courier
with three kilos,

which I'm betting are no longer
in the evidence locker.

That's Chin's dough.

So, I figure your boys...

they're working with Chin.

It's true what they say
about micks --

featherweights.

Don't pack nothing
in a punch.

If City Hall finds out

that your cops are in
with the guineas,

you're gonna have
an investigation

that brings this
whole precinct down.

This is clean, right?

Damn right, it is.

Weapon with prints?

He wiped 'em.

Make it stick.

I need my phone call,
D'Alessandro.

I want my phone call.

Fuck you!

You want the case
to stick?

Give the man
his phone call.

I remember one day
back in '47,

I ran into your father in front
of the Woolworth's on 125th.

He pointed to my reflection
in that plate glass window

and laughed at me.

Yeah.

I had my zoot suit on,
my hair conked red.

"Boy, get your
bow-legged black ass

outta Harlem."

So I went up to Boston,
did more foolish things...

...but his words
set me on the path.

If I can change,
you can, too.

When Daddy was inside,

I thought of him
in that little cell,

and it made me cry.

I wrote him a letter,
told him I was clean,

I had a job.
I was all right.

And I was lying.

I wrote that letter
high as a kite.

Y'all allowed to
smoke reefer in Islam?

I could use a reefer.

No, Sister.

We Muslims are forbidden

all substances
that dull the mind.

Then it ain't
gonna work.

I ain't been clean
since I was 12.

That's all right.

Sister Marny got you beat.

She was addicted straight
out of the womb.

No matter what
your story is...

someone got worser.

Your struggle, Elise,

is to find why
you use narcotics.

Feels better than
anything I ever felt.

Feels like God.

Do you feel God...
on those cold-turkey mornings,

searching the streets for
someone who might be holding?

Do you feel God in the white man
who ushers you into his car

and treats your body
like a garbage can?

Fulfill that letter.

Get clean.

Get a job.

Get all right.

I have faith
in you, Elise.

Those cops really
set me up good.

Chin accused you
of killing Richie Zambrano,

and now this.

To top it all off,

you want to organize
the Negroes in Harlem.

I got a right
to do my business.

Rights...

Funny thing about you

and your people
and "rights."

We all got rights.

And Chin has a right
to protect his territory?

So do I.

Look, the more you go at him,
the more he will have ammunition

to convince the Families
that you are a liability.

Chin's gonna keep
coming at me,

no matter what
the Families say.

Did you kill Zambrano?

Of course not.

He's a made man.

Bumpy, I didn't know my phone was tapped!

I should fuck you up, Guapo!
Bump, Bump, I'm sorry.

How those motherfuckers
got a-a bug in my phone,

I-I-I don't know.

I'm the one who's been in jail
for 11 years.

You're supposed to be up on what
the flatfoots are doing, man!

Yeah, all this modern
technological shit

is making me crazy, man.

I had to drop 20 large
on that judge.

I'll pay you back.

No, man, I'm not asking you
to pay my bills.

I can't keep control the streets
without drugs.

I need the duji.

Given that you
just got popped,

you think it's a good idea
you should be scoring right now?

They won't be watching me
now that I'm out on bail.

These cops, man,
they're fucking animals.

They're robbing
and killing dealers.

I mean, there's more smack
in that evidence room

than anywhere on
Pleasant Avenue.

They're selling dope.

Kill one dealer,

sell their stash
to another.

These cops are competing
with the guineas.

We could've squeezed Feo Gomez

for another 10 years.

Instead, you gotta kill
that fuckin' spic

and saddle up
with Gigante?

Do not listen
to Ellsworth Johnson.

Bumpy's right.

If City Hall finds out
about this, we're fucked.

They ain't gonna.
Shut up, you fuckin' paddy!

You shut up!

We're not working
with the guineas.

You got a precinct
full of coppers

who give you a piece
of every score.

Back the fuck off,
or you'll end up

with a bullet in the back
of your fuckin' head.

You got that?

I still can't understand
why you stole the drugs.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

Yeah, I don't know what
you were thinking.

Well, Teddy
had a contact

who could sell it
on the street.

So we figured we could turn
a key into 40 grand,

and then buy a new key
to replace it.

So I went
to Aunt Carola's.

When she was
in the kitchen,

I went to that -- that closet
where you keep it hidden.

How the fuck do you know
any of this shit?

Daddy, I have eyes,
and I have a brain.

What, so you steal
from your family

like the fuckin' niggers do?

Dad!

Forgive me.

Where is he?

Where is he?

I don't know.

Meaning what?
I don't know.

It's over with us.

I swear.

So, what, you got,
like, a...

You got, like,
a thing for black guys,

or, what, this was
one time?

It was...

It was his music.

You know I love music.

And he has this beautiful voice.

So does Sinatra.

Frank Nunzi's son...

he always had
the warms for you.

He's a good kid.

You remember Ernie.

He's doing well
for himself.

You want my forgiveness?

You let him
take you out.

Alright.

Reverend Powell...

all people talk about
is Martin Luther King,

but you are the true force
behind civil rights legislation.

Well, I can't thank you enough
for pushing through

the Harlem Youth
Opportunities Act.

The work I am doing with
the HARYOU organization

is essential to the youth
in our community.

Well, the committee couldn't
have made a better choice

in making you
the fundraising chair.

Or...

a more lovely one,
Mrs. Johnson.

I've got the boxer
Doug Jones' support.

He's going to donate
his gloves for auction

after his fight
with Cassius Clay.

But we are still facing
a significant operating deficit.

Well, I must be honest
with you, Mayme.

Is it all right
if I call you Mayme?

I have squeezed every last dime
out of Washington on this one.

I can't get another dime
for HARYOU.

There are thousands of children
depending on these programs.

And if we can't
get more funding,

we'll have to
shut some down.

You're known as the man
who can get things done

in Washington.

You know, I'm... I'm terribly sorry.

I hate to disappoint you.

But I've squeezed
all the money I can.

I am so happy you got
back on the ballot,

what with all the work you do
to serve the people.

You know, Bumpy mentioned he put
in a word with Frank Costello,

and your problems
with Tammany Hall went away.

Let me see what I can do,
digging up some more funding.

Good day, Mrs. Johnson.

Good day.

Let us toss the gauntlet
before the feet of tyranny,

and I say, segregation now,
segregation tomorrow,

and segregation forever.

The Washington, D.C.,
school riot report

is disgusting and revealing.

We will not sacrifice
our children

to any such type
school system --

and you can write that down.

Why you watching
that cracker?

We're waiting for "Wagon Train"
to come on.

We always watch "Wagon Train"
on Wednesdays.Okay.

- Honey, I have to talk to your father.
- Mama...

We'll watch it next week, baby.

For you.

Thank you.

And I got something for you,
too, little one.

I found a Negro doll.

Thank you.

I guess I'll go do
my homework now.

Alright.

We gave all her dolls

to the Handmaidens of Mary
two years ago.

So, what does she
like to do now?

Read books.

Just like you.

Okay.

Chance called.

I got jammed up.

How'd you
get out?

Costello got
a judge downtown.

Look, you always think
three moves ahead,

but the landscape is
different now.

You have got to take that
into account.

Now I know.

Honestly, I --
I don't know what's with you.

Getting roped by police,
taking Elise off the street.

Elise? What does Elise
got to do with this?

What is your plan,
Ellsworth?

If she stays clean,
which I doubt,

what's she gonna do?

What, is she gonna
show up here?

Want to be some
kind of mother?

I'll take care
of that, alright?

You keep her away
from Margaret.

For the child's sake.

You understand?

I used to feel
the street.

It used to whisper in my ear,
you know?

But I can't feel nothing
right now.

That'll come back.

Youngbloods out there,
guys in their 30s,

hungry like I was.

I'm outta step.

I don't know if you can
teach old dogs a new trick.

But sometimes you can

fool a new dog
with an old one.

Come here.

Hey, little one.

Daddy?

How you doing,
little girl?

Okay, I guess.

You look --
You look good.

After you leave here,

I'm gonna set you up
with a --

an apartment...

money for food...

a job.

Been years out there,

eating outta bins,
having hell inside my skull.

I want to get better.

You will.

I want to see my daughter.

I want to see Margaret.

Down the road,

you will.

She's all
I think about --

seeing her...

talking to her,
holding her.

I sit here, remembering
what she smelled like.

What she sounded like
when she was happy.

What did you
tell her about me?

What you want me
to say to her?

I mean, she's just --
she's just a little girl.

She don't need to know
all this kind of stuff.

You know?

Margaret don't know
I'm her mama.

She was just a year old
when we took her in.

Mayme thought
that it was best

for her to think that
we were her folks.

That bitch been playin' house
with my kid for 11 years?

She raised the child
that you gave away

when you chose
that needle!

Get out of here.

I'm sorry. Look.

Elise... get the fuck out of here!

Leave her alone.
Hey, what are you doing?

Excuse me.
This is my daughter, alright?

I'm gonna go by.

She's just so angry.

Well, she's going
through detox, Bumpy.

Junkies are fools.

You saw that,
so you got clean.

Why can't she see?

Well, I identified the causes.

My addiction was born out
of intense lack of self-esteem

and childhood trauma.

I wasn't a good father,

alright?

I was too busy trying
to make a dime.

Hey, I'm hip to the game,
brother,

but don't you realize
the hypocrisy?

I didn't put a needle
in nobody's arm.

That's their choice.

Was it her choice
her father wasn't around?

If we could do things over...
the world would be

a better place, now,
wouldn't it?

I have never said
the path was easy,

but it's simple.

No offense, Malcolm,

I don't see Elise
becoming a Muslim.

How do you see her?

Or do you see her
at all?

What's that supposed
to mean?

Who is she to you?

Hey, Stell.
What's kickin'?

Ernie Nunzi.
You grew.

You, too.
You're even more beautiful.

I haven't seen you
since Loyola.

I'm better-lookin'.

Better car.

This a Volkswagen?

They had to get
with the times.

It's a Karmann Ghia.

So, where to?

The Village, maybe?

Listen to some
Negro music?

You like Negro music?

Smokey Robinson,
The Shirelles --

I'm not a wop who can't
listen to nothing

but Damone and Sinatra.

Where you wanna go?

Your old man just wants
what's best for you.

He doesn't know what's best --
he's got millions of dollars,

and his idea of a vacation
is to roll up his pants

and wade in the water
at Ocean Park.

What's
wrong with that?

What's wrong with that?

He's got no interest
in the world

outside Pleasant Avenue.

Pleasant Avenue ishis world.
Little Italy, too.

It's who he is.

Thank you. Thank you!

Thank you.

You mind if I go
to the ladies'?

Of course.

Hey, Lionel.

Hey, Lionel.
Hey.

Hey, it was a great set.

Thank you.

Have you heard
from Teddy?

I talked to my auntie
in Charleston.

She says he misses you
something awful.

Really?

Alright, gorgeous,

I gotta split
for my next gig.

They're gonna love you.

Wallet was in the car.

Drinks are cheap here.

Hands up,
motherfucker.

Just here to see Chin.

Yeah.

Yeah, wait.
No, wait.

No, no, no.
It's okay.

Yeah.
Alright.

To what do I owe
the pleasure?

You broke our agreement.

Which was that I was free
to operate in Harlem.

Yeah, well,
not at my expense.

Come.
Sit down.

You want espresso?

So, why are you here?

I was sentenced
to 11 years

on a drug deal
that your people fucked up.

I could've walked in two
if I'd have snitched.

Now you're framing me

with the cops.

Come on.

You kidnapped my daughter.

You forced me to cover for you
for killing Richie Zambrano.

I can speak just as much truth
as you, Johnson.

You want truth?

That might be the only thing
we have in common.

You and me are gonna be at war

till one of us is dead.

That, my Negro friend,

is the truth.

If you continue
to use the cops against me,

I am going to retaliate
against you.

Sully.

You killed Richie Zambrano.
It's a made man.

Costello covered for you
with the Families.

And I'm not allowed
to touch you,

but it could come out.

And when it does,
I will be there

with a fuckin' bone saw
to cut your fuckin' hands off.

Zambrano?

Who's that?

I mean, you want me to put
the word out on the street

to find out who did him?

I will.

In fact...

"JK5...

0175."

Now I got your number.

And I know how
to reach you.

Still don't know why you wanted
to go see Chin.

His number might
come in handy.

How?

If we can't get duji
from the guineas,

we need to get it from
the next best source.

And who's that?

The NYPD.

Listen.

You just follow my instructions
to the letter.

If we pull this off,

there's a lot of money
for both of us.

You just got to do
what I say, a'ight?

Sometimes to be the new dog,

you need an old trick.

Hello?

Mrs. Johnson, I was just calling to say

that we looked under a rock,
and I found more funding...

for your Harlem Youth Advancement project.

Why, thank you.

$10,000, to be exact.

I appreciate it.

Drugs are the scourge
of our community,

and whatever can be done

to mitigate the problem
must be done.

Our children's lives
are at stake.

Just a second.

Just a second!

I'm here to see Margaret.

No.

I got a right to see her.
She's my daughter.

The hell she is.

I took that poor,
innocent little baby,

and I raised her.

Sang to her, read to her,
changed her diapers,

washed her clothes,
cooked her dinner.

Don't matter what
you did for her.

You ain't her mother, Mayme.

I am.

You ain't no mother.

You are nothing.

I'm her mama.

Hold on.

I got something for you.

Here.

$100.

You think you
can buy me?

I know I can.

You bitch!

Don't move.

Take it.

Take it.

Old dogs.
New tricks.

$20,000 down.

When do I get
the rest?

I'll cut the duji, bag it,
take it down to the street.

You'll get $300K
in two, three weeks.

Kramer was gonna
make a move on me.

Did you put down his badge number?

Fellas,
if I stole the dope,

I wouldn't leave
my fucking badge.

Then why do you have Chin's number?

Fuck that.

Old dogs gotta move fast.

Yeah.

You were right.

She led me straight
to that nigger boyfriend.

Took care of it?

He's gone.

New York City.

125th Street.

Take me home.

You motherfucker.

Next time, I'll kill her.