Godfather of Harlem (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - It's All in the Game - full transcript

Mrs. Greene,
I'm Stella.

I brought you a gift.

But I have to tell
the world that I'm a Muslim.

It's It's my faith.

So you're gonna
take a dive.

What do you want me to do,
Malcolm?

Well, I want you
to get the tape.

Fight your fight.

I'll take care
of that tape.

You sell to Johnson
or anyone else,

you're gonna have a seriousproblem on your hands.



Let's not forget you're
just the "acting boss"

while Vito's in the can.

You were his fuckin' driver,
for Christ's sakes.

I'm trying to walk the line
with Mayme

this time around,
you know?

I'm sureI'll be seeing you soon.

You want to talk about
your illegal numbers operation?

The guineas,
they run the banks,

but the Blacks
and the Latinos,

they get pinched off the street
every day.

I'll sign you right nowif you cut that for me

as your first single.

You were a shitty father.

But I'm a shitty daughter,
and I know that, too.



Get clean.

Get a job.

Get alright.

I have faith in you.

You and me are gonna be
at war

until one of us is dead.

Winner by unanimous decision

Cassius Clay.

Hey! Coming in!

Get to the loading dock.

Alright, we're coming.

Alright, y'all,
you heard the man.

Let's move. Go!

Come on, guys!
Move it!

I told you to have the guards
check every truck

from top to bottom.

I know, I'm sorry.

He was off-duty Just shut the fuck up!

Shut up!

This is fucked up.

Roy?

Roy.

My man.

Damn.

Damn.

My man.

Bumpy Johnson
had the balls to hit us,

we hit him back
twice as hard.

It was fuckin' beautiful.

We opened up
with those Thompsons,

the niggers
dropped like turds.

I told youthis guy was special.

Remember? When we made him
an associate,

I said,"This guy is special."

You did.
You said he was special.

And now we got
Johnson on the run.

We got to press
the advantage,

and we really got to put
his ass in a sling now.

Think this will put me
over the top?

Top of what?

Making my bones.

The books are closed.

It's all I dream about
getting made, you know?

That's all
you dream about?

I thought all
you thought about was Stella.

You wanna get
into her underpants?

What?

You, uh

You heard me.

No, of course not.

So you're only interested
in her

because you think
I'm gonna bump you up?

I'm interested in her because
I've been in love with her

since the fourth grade.

So you dowant
to get in her underpants.

Huh?

Alright, alright, alright.Very nice. Enough, enough.

You know,
I'll make your fuckin' bones.

You're butchering the song.
Stop it.

How do I look?

I advise against this.

Why?

Because it clashes
with my robe?

Take this issue on,
they'll come after you.

You'll need
a police bodyguard.

I don't need anyonedressed in blue next to me

as long I got God
at my side.

God cannot protect you

from a bullet
to the back of the head.

Now, can you explain to me
why on Earth you're doing this?

Because our peopleare being treated like shit.

Take a woman,
let's call her Mildred.

Mildred had a dream
last night

that a big, old catfish

jumped right outta the river
onto Eighth Avenue.

This morning
she goes to her dream book

A-And don't lie.
I know many of you have one.

And next to "catfish,"
it says "514."

She places her bet
with a numbers runner,

$1 on 514 straight.

514.

This is
our homegrown Negro lottery

and the largest single employer
in Harlem.

With a faith as powerful

as Jesus' walk to Gethsemane,

our Mildred, well, she waits

for the day's number
to be announced.

A number that is determined

by the betting tally
at the race track.

Ahead in first position.

Running along the outside.

Now swinging around
the clubhouse turn...

These last three digits

are published in the newspaper

and become...

Here's betting total
for the day, boss.

...the day's number.

A number that most often
results in a lost dollar.

But once in a while,

just as Jesus began
his journey to heaven

from the garden,
Mildred begins hers.

And just like Jesus was betrayed

by Judas
in the Garden of Gethsemane,

we are betrayed in Harlem.

Betrayed..Amen! Amen!

...by a government
and police force

that arrests, fines,
and incarcerates Negroes

while letting
the Italian bankers

who make the real money
remain untouched.

-That's right.
-Amen.

Now, I am against
numbers betting in any form.

Amen!

But until the day the numbers

is wiped out in Harlem,

I will fight
for the right for the Negro

to have the same chance
as an Italian.

Amen!

I will use
my Congressional immunity

to enter into
the Congressional Record

the name of one Italian
numbers operation each week

that the police do not raid.

Amen!

Amen! Amen!

Hallelujah.

That's good, Teddy.
We'll move the mike,

get a little distance,
and go again.

He's killing it in there.
It's gonna be a great demo.

We'll get it to some deejays
for some airplay,

start Teddy on some "hops,"
local clubs,

build word of mouth.

Says here you get publishingand master rights to the song.

Standard.

Not necessarily.

I heard Sam Cookeretained his master rights.

Teddy's no Sam Cooke.

He will be.

What the hell do you know
about this industry?

I know when my man'sgetting ripped off.

Your man?

Sister, you need
to get off this kick,

least while
he's up and coming.

Negro's writing a song
about fighting whitey,

and he's got Betty Crocker
on his side?

World's changing, old man.

You think the sun comes up
just to hear you crow.

Ain't nothing more difficult

than telling a womanher man is gone.

Nobody does it better
than Bumpy.

Yeah.

He's had practice.

I know it's hard,
but, your mom,

she's gonna take care of you,alright?

Roy was a friend.

I know he'd want youto have this.

It's okay. Hey.

You need anything,come to me, alright?

Talk to me.

Here he comes.

Get that street gang,
the Copians,

to protect our runners.

Consolidate all our spots
with 'round-the-clock security.

Bump,the Copians are just kids.

They ain't the muscle
we need.

I got the muscle.

Who?

The United States government,
that's who.

Get the fuck out of here,
guys.

Oh!Well, thank you, darlin'.

Who's the first?

The first what?

The first Italian
numbers banker

you're gonna enter into
the Congressional Record.

Well, how the hell do I know?

You promised the congregation
one Italian a week.

Why is Jack Kennedy
playing possum

with my addendum tothe Civil Rights legislation?

Adam, you're evading.

Now, as much
as I hate to admit it,

you hit a nerve
with that sermon.

And some people put names
in the suggestion box.

You're gonna have
to name names.

Well, who'd they putin the suggestion box?

That's the problem.

No one
named any Italians.

Too frightened, I guess.

But a Negro woman
got named several times.

Esther James.

Apparently
she delivers bags of cash

between the Italians
and the cops.

They call her
"The Bag Lady."

Well, what damn goodis that gonna do me?

I'm supposed to be fightingfor Negroes,

not ratting them out.

Don't worry, Roy.

I got a call
from Bumpy Johnson.

The guineas fucked uphis store over on Lenox,

and he's ready to help.

I don't think
Johnson's the right resource.

He's a criminal.

If I was afraid of rubbingelbows with criminals,

I wouldn't have becomea Congressman.

It sounds so good.

It did, didn't it?
It did.

It's happening, Teddy.

-Stella.

How long do we have?

As long as my father thinks
you're dead, we're safe.

It's gonna bekinda tough if I get

as famous
as Sammy Davis Jr.

Oh, Christ.

This your pimp?

...had experience prior to
going into the penitentiary.

I'm quite sure of that. The only experience

that we can find, Mr. Hoffa, is experience in armed robbery.

Well, Mr. Hoffa, did you arrange for him

to come to work
for Local 332

after he came out of the penitentiary for armed robbery?

I don't believe,
if my memory serves me right,

that he went to work
at 332...

Why would you want
to do anything

to draw
federal attention?

'Cause I can workwith Adam Clayton Powell.

...uncle, Herman Kierdorf,

he came to work
for the Local 332

shortly after he got out of the penitentiary.

Mr. Kierdorf...

You're gonna offer up names
of Italian numbers men.

Chin's gonna be first.

...Frank Kierdorf...

That's never been your way.

You're not a snitch.

I had to visit
four widows today

'cause of that motherfucker.

And Kierdorf was recommended for the...

I wish you'd considered
doing that

before you went
to Alcatraz.

I would've had you home
a lot sooner.

...had experience.

Why, Mr. Hoffa?

Wasn't there another man that could serve

the position of business agent for the Local

other than someone who just came out of the penitentiary?

Fuck 'im.

We needed
an experienced organizer...

Go for it.

...in the position.

And there are plenty of men
in Flint

capable
of handling this job.

Is it a good training to be serving time

in the penitentiary for armed robbery

to serve as a business agent...

Thanks.

Here go you.

No problem.
Thank you.

1 1/2.

One.
Alright.

828.

Good morning, ladies.

-Good morning.
-Good morning, Reverend.

You see the headlinethis morning?

The March on Washingtonis set for August 28th.

You're gonna get a boatloadof bets on that number

8/28.

Same thing happened
when Willie Mays hit .380.

Everybody in Harlem
bet 380.

And they all lost.

How is the incomparablylovely Mrs. Johnson?

She's fine.

I never thoughtI'd be fighting for equality

in the numbers business,but this thing is on fire.

I have an interview at myoffice today with Lester Wolff.

Certain of my congregantstell me that there's a woman,

Esther James.

They say she deliversbags of cash for the Italians

damn near every day.

I wouldn't play
with Esther James.

She's liable to knock you out.
You hear me?

I'm not talking about
Esther.

I am talking the Italians.

Now, you offered
to give me names.

Alright, I need you
to take every name I give you,

launch an investigation
into every single one,

make sure that
they go out of business

and straight to prison,
right?

I'm sure you've heardof the Congressional hearings

that I'm chairingwhere a Mr. Joseph Valachi

has decided to spillthe beans on the Mob.

Well, you will havethe same blanket immunity

that we've given Valachi.

I mean, that snitchwill live to be 100.

Us brothers got to look outfor each other, right, daddy-o?

Right.

Now fess up those names.

Well, come on, man.

This is
between you and me

and the Congressional Record.

I'm waiting.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

I'm not a snitch, man.

This is not snitching.This is good business.

If this is good business,
I'd rather be dead.

Bumpy...

what have you donefor the community lately?

I mean, handouts to the pooraren't community service.

That's just giving backa little bit of what you stole.

Good day,
Reverend Powell.

Every defeat,every heartbreak,

every loss,contains its own seed,

its own lesson on howto improve your performance

next time.

I don't know
what brought me back here.

I fucked it up
last time.

I don't see a path
for myself out there.

I hate myself out there.

Who taught you
to hate yourself

from the top of your headto the soles of your feet?

I know you gonna say
the white man,

but he ain't responsible.

Who else?
My father.

Elise, your fatheris a complicated man.

All of that
payin' people's rent,

puttin' kids into college,
the turkeys on Christmas.

That don't cost nothing
to a man with money.

I've often thought of Bumpyas a stone with many facets.

Intellect, rage,

pent-up emotion.

You forgot pride.

Pride.

You wanna know
the key to my father?

He may be big man
in Harlem,

but if he go south
of 110th Street,

he just another nigga.

I don't think
he can ever get over that.

You say you love movies, and
you haven't seen "Cleopatra"?

Elizabeth Taylor's
costumes are gorgeous.

Did you know she made

65 costume changes
in that movie?

-65?
-Yeah.

Well, I'd change 65 times ifI got to fuck Richard Burton.

Did you ever see
"The Great Escape"?

I loved that flick.

Steve McQueen did
all that motorcycle stuff.

I should know your namebefore I cruise you any harder.

I'm Peter.

Gordon.

Uh, hey, speaking of movies,did you see "Victim"?

God, I hated that film.

Even the title.

It was another tragic movie

where homosexuals
are the victims.

Enough.

We should be like
the Negroes.

You know, protest.
March and sit-in.

Be seen as real people.

Yeah.

I feel pretty alone
sometimes.

I'm talking too much.I do that.

No, no, no, no.
Don't apologize.

Can we go somewhere?

You scream, and I'll blow
your fucking face off.

You hear me?

Now, my name
is not Peter,

and yours sure as hell
ain't Gordon.

Tomorrow morning,
I'm gonna tell your boss

and your boss' boss

what a fucking deviant,
cock-sucking queer you are.

Your marriage, over.

Your job at the race track,
gone.

And that's just
for starters...

unless you can do me
a favor...

Jason.

Hey, my man.

What they get you for?

Fucking a white girl.

Damn.

What about you guys?

We're with

the Student NonviolentCoordinating Committee.

They arrested us for "loitering"at the sit-in at Woolworth's.

We'll get bailed outwithin the hour.

We gonna headright back down there.

Wanna join?

Nah, I'm a musician.

I'm not political.

Change is coming, brother.

You're a Negro man
living in America.

You don't have the optionto not be political.

Don't you want
to live in a world

where you don't get thrown injail for fucking a white girl?

Hmm?

I tried to get other bankers

to take some of our action,

but we can't lay off this bet,
Bumpy, to nobody.

I went to Madam Sables,

Slade,the Brantley Brothers

Nobody's touching
this number.

I hearChin Gigante's runners

haven't takenthis number all day.

His doors
are closed to 828.

I don't get what the fuss
is all about.

Out of
a thousand possibilities,

what are the chances
828 actually hits?

Maintains the lead.

Kelso now approaching third.

At the 16th pole.

Kelso moves up right alongside.

If Chin won't take this bet,
something's going down.

Maintains the lead.

Kelso now approaching third.

At the 16th pole.

Kelso moves up right alongside.

And that's Kelso in the lead.

Hospitality moves into fourth.

And as we approach
the finish line,

it's Kelso the winner
by one length.

Here's the betting total
for the day, boss.

$2,345,828.

The running time per mile is 1:37.

We did it.We fixed the fucking number.

What an exciting finish today!

828.
That is victory.

Good work, Ernie.

You know,
that proves two things

Niggers fuck with us,

they rue the day
they fucked with us.

And Ernie Nunzi

makes a very good finocchio.

Maybe too good.Alright, watch it.

Hey, we broke
Bumpy Johnson's bank.

Now he's gonna need money.

He's gonna seek out
a partner.

Who's gonna helpthat son of a bitch?

That's exactly what we need
to find out.

I saw that junkie Izzybetting $10.

That motherfucker never hastwo nickels to rub together.

Chin's boys
gave him money to bet.

He fixed the whole thing
to wipe me out.

I didn't see it coming.

So if it was a fix,
we ain't gotta pay folks off.

That's ourproblem,
not the folks who bet.

We start
with partial payments.

People understand.

25 cents on the dollar,

we'll make full payment
by the end of the day.

Now, how can
you promise that?

Look. Nearly 875 people
hit the fucking number.

At 600-1,
that totals nearly $300,000.

We ain't got
that money.

I'll find it.

You hit!
Find him?

You hit!
Did you find Teddy?

The numberyou asked me to get?

828? It hit.

Momma, we rich!

Stella Gigante?

Where the fuck
have you been?

I've been asking for someone
for the last nine hours.

Do you have any idea what
my father's gonna do to you?

I didn't see your name on thebooking log till this morning.

Don't worry,this is all gonna go away.

I need to make
a phone call.

So, you're a musician, huh?

Whatcha got?

Mm-hmm!

Dig it, brother.

That's what
I'm talking about.

Right on.

"Did you call anybody?"

I ain't got nobody to call.

Hello? Who's this?

It's Stella Gigante.

Where's Teddy?

He's in jailat the precinct on 116th.

Don't worry.It's It's a false arrest.

It's all gonna go away.

But you need to go
and bail him out.

Quickly.

Yes. Yes. I'm going.

Why are you calling me?

'Cause we both love him.

And we're the only oneshe has.

Stay away from my boy!

Your Muslim Girl Trainingwill serve

as your introductioninto the faith.

You'll attend classesthat will bring out

your natural,God-given skills and talents.

You'll receive instructions

on speech, dress,hygiene, and etiquette.

Why is it called
Muslim GirlsTraining?

The name "Girls" is usedto connect our submissive nature

to God's will.

It's a word of honor.

I see you're in good hands,Sister Elise.

Sister Marny is one

of our finestand most respected sisters.

Thank you,
Minister Malcolm.

Absolutely.

So, how are you?

It's all new to me.

I'm trying to learn.

The theme of the Nationis "know thyself."

It is the pathwayto becoming whole again.

As-salamu alaykum,
Sister Elise.

Sister Marny.

You're not the first.

The first?

The first to be swept awayby him.

Flirting will get you nowhere.

I wasn't flirting.

Malcolm is
a friend of my father's.

Don't be lured.

He's just a man.

What are you doing here?

You're lucky it was me

who took the sergeant's callat the club.

He said you got arrested

with a young Negro
named Teddy Greene.

I won't tell your father'cause it'll break his heart.

You're not gonna tell
my father,

and you're not
gonna touch Teddy.

'Cause if there is one thing
my father would hate

even more
than me fucking Teddy

it's that you fucked up
and killed the wrong guy.

You got it?

Well, it's goodto see you, Lester.

Good to see you, too,
Reverend.Welcome to Harlem.

How are you?I'm doing really well,thank you.

Good, good, good.High time you made it up here.

Yeah.
Mm-hmm.

Well, you know,
I was all set

to talk about your
European trip with Miss Ohio.

Oh, Miss Ohio. Very nice girl....then you changed
the dialogue.

Well, if you don't set the toneof the conversation, Lester,

it sets you. Oh.

That's what American politicsis all about.

One incendiary commentsets the press all atwitter.

And then you enact
your real agenda

while they gab like schoolgirlson sorority Sunday.

You know, next time
you're in Sag Harbor,

you'll have to spend
some time on my boat.

I'll teach you
how to water ski.

Water ski? Don't you knowNegroes can't swim?

Okay, you ready to go?I'm ready when you are.

And in three, two, one.

Hello. I'm Lester Wolff
and this is "Wolff At Large."

Today, I'm at the Harlem
congressional office

of Congressmen and Reverend
Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Good day, Reverend.

Hello, Lester!

Now, recently,
Reverend Powell,

you made headlines
with your assertion

that the Italian Mob
controls

the illegal numbers
operations in Harlem.

It's more than an assertion.

It's a stone cold fact!

And, it's your belief
that Negroes are arrested

and incarcerated
at a far greater rate

than the men who control
the gambling operation.

If you don't believe me,
check the police logs.

In the last three days,

more than 100 Negro
numbers runners

have been arrested.

Not a single
white Italian.

Who are
these Italians?

At the appropriate time,
my team will lay bare

those names
to the American people.

You offered to enter the
name of an Italian banker

into the Congressional
Recordevery week,

but, thus far, none
have been entered.

We continue
to gather information.

Without specific names,
it appears you're

stirring the pot
so reporters will gab

like schoolgirls
on sorority Sunday.

I have names.

Who?

-I'm not at liberty
-Not a single one?

Not one single name
to convince this reporter

that this story
merits attention?

In fact,

through my very
well-placed sources,

we've identified a woman
aNegro woman, actually

who is the key go-between,

the bag-lady,
if you will,

for the Italian Mob.

Her name

is Esther James.

I hope you don't mind
I'm havin' a martini.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Have a seat, honey.
Make yourself comfortable.

Ahem.

So,

$312,000.

Mm.

You're in quite
a pickle.

Pay you back
with interest.

Six months,
at the most.

I trust you.

I'll get my checkbook,
change out of this dress.

You make yourself
at home.

Take off your shoes.

Or more.

Damn.

Fuck!

Did you get the money?

No.

It's not like you haven'tfucked her before.

There were so many
centuries where

we didn't own
our own bodies.

to give it away.

So, no,

I couldn't do it.

I love you, too.

I need to ask you
for a loan, Frank.

I'm sorry, Bumpy,

but I can't
give you the money.

The Feds are watchingevery move I make.

They're everywhere
but up my ass.

Understood.

Yeah.

Castling so soon?

Don't try to fuck
with my head.

All I've got is
my rep, Frank.

If, uh, I don't pay
my bettors off

by tomorrow,

my rep is gone.

You crossed the line

when you broke in
to his social club.

Mayme,
how is it possible

that,every time I see you,

you look
even more beautiful

-than the last time?

Thank you, Frank.

It's always nice
to have you over.

I'll leave you gentlemen
to your match.

I helped shut down that
ruckus at Fidler's store

in return for Chin
granting me the right

to get heroin
from Italian sources.

But, this guy,

he's still threatenin'

to kill anybody
who sells to me.

Yeah, that's Chin's way.

He's threatening
Bonanno now.

Bonanno's thinking
about moving into Harlem?

Yeah.

Bonanno's gonna haveto pay Chin a tax

and Bonanno
doesn't like it.

Messed up your pawn
structure here.

Long time.

Yeah.

When Lucky passed awaylast year,

I went to Naples
for the funeral.

Lucky's dead.

Vito Genovese is
in jail for life.

It's a whole new world
out there.

You know, Lucky told me

that you're
a stand-up guy,

so that's why I'm here.

I'll get straight
to the point.

I hear

that you gotta sell
your dope in Harlem

through Chin.

It's his territory.

I can sell
more dope than him.

I got connections
with Negroes

up and down
the East Coast,

from Florida
to Detroit.

Chin'll go to war
over that.

The Families
don't want a war.

If he starts it,
they'll side with you.

It's too risky.

You were an innovator,
like Lucky Luciano.

Established
the dope pipeline

from Marseille
to New York.

I mean, Chin?

He's just Vito's driver,
for God's sake.

What do you propose?

I can move your junk
for $28,000 a kilo.

No taxes.

Only profit.

That's two grand
over market value.

Now, why are you beingso generous?

You and Lucky,

never miss a
a trick.

Alright.

I'm in a jam.

I need $300,000 cash
in advance

with the product.

But I agree to 12-point
interest, per week,

and that's
two points better

than what they're doin'
out on the street.

To a new world.

To a new world.

Don't fuck me.

Let's get outta here.

If it's alright

There you go, baby.

We'll find out.

Alright.

Everybody gets paid.

You heard Bumpy.
Everybody get paid,

down to the last person.

Vincent Gigante's here.

Yeah?

Heh.

Go ahead.

Put your guns down.

It's alright.

I don't got shit
to say to you.

It's funny, isn't it?

We're both protectedby the Families.

I can't kill you;
you can't kill me.

That makes thingsvery interesting.

What the fuck
do you want?

I'm goin'
in my pocket here.

Goin' in my pocket.

I came to collect.

Looks like I hitthe number straight on.

Looks like you did.

Yeah, and I heard youdon't welsh your payouts.

I don't.

You know,you killed Zambrano.

You covered it
to the Families.

Course,
you sell your dope

on my territory;you don't pay me taxes.

And you put a stop
to the

the fix in the Clay
fight, didn't you?

All that must give yaa lotta confidence.

Huh? Keeps you busy,lookin' down on me.

You're so busy,

you couldn't see
that I'm above you.

I don't know where
you got the money

to meet your
obligations, but,

I respect that.

Does raise a question.

Who in the world

would loan money

to a broke nigger?

Who?

I got names that keepgoin' around in my brain,

but only one comes
to mind

Joe Bonanno,

who refuses
to pay me taxes

for the dope
he wants to sell.

I think that youfound out about that.

I think you met him

and I think youarranged a dope deal.

Well, guess what,
Johnson?

I got there first.

All those kilos

that he was gonna
advance you

are now
in my possession.

Let that sink in.

So you owe him whateverhe was gonna front you

for your numbers crisis

anda shitloadof fuckin' kilos of dope.

That's me!
above! you!

You know,
I heard your friend

Malcolm X on the radio.

He was talkin'
about pride.

Black pride.

Pride's a funny thing.

You know,it can mean dignity.

It can mean self-respect.

It can mean...

those feelings
that you get

toward things thatare most dear to you.

I hope
she was worth it.

Or,

it can meanwhat the Bible says.

Pride goes
before destruction,

and a haughty spiritbefore a fall.

Come to churchon Sunday, now.

How you doing,
dear lady?

What's your name?

My name is Esther James.

If I was you,

I would keep
that haughty spirit

under control, Johnson.

Becausethat's me above you!

Get the fuckin' door.

Let 'im out.