Mob City (2013): Season 1, Episode 5 - Oxpecker - full transcript

♪ I know you think
that you know me well ♪

♪ you got some stories that
I would not have you tell ♪

♪ but when push comes to shove,
baby ♪

♪ who can ring your bell?

♪ Today is a brand-new day

♪ and today is the day

♪ that we say

♪ hello again

[ gunshot ]

[ Machine gun fire ]

[ Plane engine roars ]



[ Joe muttering ]

Jasmine: Hmm?

[ Sighs ]

Joe.

Hey, Joe, wake up.

[ Grunts ]

No!

[ Gasps ] Joe!

[ Breathlessly ]
Stop! Stop!

[ Sobbing ] Don't!

No!

[ Sobs ]

No! No.

[ Sobbing ]



It's just a dream.
You're back from the war.

You're home!

[ Sobbing ] Please, please,
let me help!

Oh, my...

[ Gasps ]

[ Sobbing, panting ]

What did you do?

[ Crying ]

[ Telephone rings ]

Yeah?

Say again.
Connection's bad.

Man: I got an address --
1014 north wilcox.

You gotta knock --

three short, two long,
three short.

Sure about that?

Sure I'm sure.

Make sure no cops get hurt.

And this is the last time,
understand?

I'm done.

Whatever you say.

[ Phone thuds lightly ]

[ Paper rips ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Handcuffs click ]

[ Sighs heavily ]

Just tell me where you got
the busboy stashed,

then I'll be on my way.

He's in
Carmen Miranda's hat.

[ Chuckles ]

The reason
you wanna tell me --

if your stoolie makes
his court appearance tomorrow,

I'll tell all your cop pals
who really killed hecky Nash.

Yeah, that's right.

I know more about what happened
in that oil field

than you think...

Enough to put you away
for all time.

The shoe's on the other foot,
right?

Interesting.

Just do what you gotta do.

Baseball fan, huh?

You see, uh, Brooklyn's
got a colored guy

playing for them now?

Personally, I never had
a problem with the colored.

Black, white, yellow,
whatever --

they all bleed red.

[ Grunting ]

Someone's out there.

I think he's watching
the house.

Man: Come on, Max.
Come on, boy.

Good boy.

His dog just took a leak.

I'll call for backup.

Stop it, already.
You're making him jumpy.

Yeah, you are.

Yeah.

[ Sighs ]
Sleeves are too long.

You don't have to look
prefect tomorrow,

just respectable.

[ Sighs ]

My whole life, I never turned
stoolie -- not once.

Now look at me.

A squealing rat
in a cop's borrowed suit.

[ Slow, instrumental music
plays on radio ]

[ Radiator creaks ]

Sid: Why you
making me do this?

You don't even know
this Carl steckler.

[ Groans ]
Come on.
It's just us talking.

Why is a stoolie's life
worth so much more

to you than hecky's?

Why don't we just save ourselves
the trouble, huh?

Say we fought this one
to a draw.

That what this is --
a draw?

You can't sink me
without sinking yourself.

Well, my boat's already
taking on water --

murder charge,
racketeering.

I got two torpedoes
in my bow.

I got nothing to lose.

You, on the other hand,

you're a mystery...
At first glance.

You don't care
about money...

Or getting beaten.

You don't even care
about going to jail.

Guy like you,

a fella's got
to dig a little deeper.

Dig deep enough,

sooner or later comes
the one thing that does matter.

So, what's it gonna be,
soldier boy --

the stoolie or the girl?

[ Slow, instrumental music
plays ]

[ Knock on door in code ]

You're early.

Well, we were told 9:30.

Hell [Chuckles]
we thought we were late.

Relief's here, boys!

[ Clears throat ]

Man: Good night, Carl.
Good luck in court tomorrow.

Yeah, thanks.

Must have hurt --

losing a woman like this
to a nothing like hecky Nash.

[ Grunts ]

Especially a guy like you

who serves his country
with such distinction.

[ Grunting loudly ]

Silver star,
two purple hearts.

[ Grunts loudly ]
You son of a bitch.

I'm not mocking these.
I got respect.

[ Gasps ]
[ Photo album clatters ]

Hecky Nash.

You ever dwell on that,

knowing that a walking
toe fungus like him
was banging your woman?

[ Grunts ]
Still, you go to these lengths
to protect her.

That makes you either
the biggest sap that
ever drew breath

or her
the best piece of ass.

[ Panting ] You touch her,
and I will kill you.

You hear me?

Come on.
We're just talking, huh?

Your arm's gonna rip off
before the radiator does.

I'll kill you!
Then help us both out!

Give up the stoolie!

[ Grunts ]

[ Telephone rings ]

[ Panting ]

Yeah?

Man: You owe me
a case of scotch.

Oh?

Stay on the line
and listen.

[ Slow, instrumental
music plays on radio ]

You'll like what you hear.

You guys hungry?
I made chili.

Hey!
Grab some utensils.

[ Gun cocks ]

[ Grunts ]

[ Clatter ]

[ Gunfire ]

[ Gun clicks ]

Man:
Carl, back of the house!

Move now!

[ Gunfire ]

[ Glass shatters ]

Jack?!

Jack!

[ Shell casing rattles ]

[ Grunting ]

Jack!

[ Grunts ]

[ Gun clicks,
shell casing rattles ]

[ Gun cocks ]

[ Glass shatters ]

I won't talk!

I swear, I swear!

I ain't no rat.
I ain't no rat!

I-I won't talk!
I won't talk!

[ Choking ]

No, no, no!
No! No! No! No!

Don't kill me.

Don't kill me.
Don't --

[ sputters ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Gunshots ]

[ Panting ]

[ Screams ]

[ Groans ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Screaming continues ]

[ Groans, glass shatters ]

[ Gun clicks ]

[ Panting ]

[ Panting ]

Looks like we skinned this cat
another way,

so, uh...

Never mind.

[ Grunts loudly ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Knock on door ]
Jasmine: Joe?

Are you all right?

[ Weakly ] Jasmine.
Jasmine, run!

Inside. Now.

Joe!

Oh, my God.

[ Telephone tapping ]

[ Chuckles ]

Operator, give me
the police emergency.

Tell them the neighbors
are fighting --

somebody's trying to kill
someone, this address.

Woman:
Police emergency.

It sounds like a murder
happening next door --

1155 arcadia.

Please hurry.
[ Replaces receiver ]

Jack dempsey, nice job.

You even chipped a tooth.

[ Fabric rips ]

[ Sighs ]

Take that.

The photo album --

you don't want the wrong people
should see it.

I could keep quiet
about it myself.

Depends on how friendly

you're willing to be
from now on.

[ Keys kingle ]

Give it some thought.

[ Door opens, closes,
radiator rattles ]

[ Panting ]

What?

We just gave him
what he wanted.

What -- a bloody nose?

An alibi.

[ Insects chirping ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Sirens wailing ]

[ Handcuffs click ]

[ Panting ]

[ Keys jingle ]

[ Sirens continue ]
Hey.

Get out of here.

Go. Go now.
Go...

[ Sirens approaching ]

Sid rothman.

There's a warrant out for me.
I'm surrendering peacefully.

That's him.
That's our apb!

I got a gun
under my left arm.

I got a permit for it.

[ Grunts ]

[ Handcuffs click ]

[ Handcuffs click ]

That's him!

That cop lives
in this building!

Joe teague --

he kidnapped
and tortured me!

I want to press charges!

I want to press charges!

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

It was rothman.

He was in my apartment
when I got there.

He tried to beat this place
out of me.

Yeah,
what'd you give him?

A split lip
for his trouble.

Medic: We're ready.

So much
for not killing police.

Seems the [Sighs]
rules have changed.

That door
swings both ways.

Mike: Damn right.

When do we start
handing out payback?

No. That's how horrall's
goon squad does things.

We'll get the animals
who did this

by using real police work.

Anybody who steps out of line
gets busted to traffic division.

Just keep your heads
in the game.

We've got a court date tomorrow
and a dead witness.

If we don't come up
with something,

Siegel's gonna walk.

We've still got tug.

If he makes it,
he'll I.D. The shooter.

If he does that,
it takes us back to Siegel.

That's a lot of if's.

Every way we turn,
it's another dead end.

Post guards
at tug's hospital room.

Let's help him live
through the night.

[ Knock on door ]

[ Sniffs ]

The witness died.
[ Chain lock rattles ]

He was trying to climb out
the bathroom window,

but I had it nailed shut.

It was our one blind spot.

That doesn't make it
your fault.

Yeah, jas, it does.

I was gonna give you hell
about that photo album.

Now I don't have
the heart.

Don't move, don't move.
This will sting.

I know.

[ Inhales sharply ]

I'm out
of wisecracks, Joe.

I'm terrified.

Sid knows about us now.

He's bugsy's right hand,

and that's too close
for comfort.

You heard what he said.

He's not gonna use it
against you,

he's gonna use it
against me.

He wants to make me
his pet cop.

He doesn't know you very well.
Does he?

[ Sighs ]

Any ribs busted?

No, I don't think so.

Man's got skills,

knows how and where to hit you,
just so hard.

I was stupid,
and you're paying the price.

Whatever trouble I'm in,
I got myself into it.

Nobody else
should have to suffer,

especially not you.

Not like this.

What are we doing?

What's it feel like?

It feels like trouble.

No expectations
beyond tonight.

Can you live with that?

Lighten up, boys.
[ Taps table ] Right here.

They'll be locked in the safe
during the summit.

You get them back
when you leave.

All parties may frisk
all parties.

[ Metal rattles ]

I'm sympathetic
to your grievances,

but I can't be caught
in the middle of them.

I'm not the one
trying to muscle in

on someone else's rackets.

[ Clears throat ]
They're not yours.

They're Ben Siegel's,
and he's finished.

You see the morning paper,
hmm?

Cops got nothing!

You better pray
that it stays that way,

because if Benny's gone,

you're gonna have me
to deal with.

You know what
a oxpecker is, Mickey?

It's a loud, little bird

that rides around
on a rhinoceros's back

picking off pests.

That's what you are.

Without Ben,
you're nothing.

You think
you could take me, hmm?

Come get me,
you dago bastard.

Gentlemen, we're not here to
settle all your differences.

We're here to assure bunny

that you won't settle them
in his community,

and to compensate his loss.

I have always spread my business
fairly between the two of you,

but I won't be bullied
into choosing sides.

Convenient for you.

Middle of the road is
a precautious place to be.

I disagree.
This is a big city.

Now, you can fight
in Beverly hills,

you can fight
on the sunset strip,

but if you bring the fight
to central Avenue,

I'll shut you both out.

Now, I'm willing
to make less money

in exchange for peace.

Are you?

That's a bluff.
No.

You have bruised egos
and property damage.

Me -- I have a dead man
and a lot of angry people.

If you don't want a race war
on your hands,

take me at my word.

Yeah, your guy getting killed,
it was against my wishes.

Nevertheless, smooth Watson's
family lost a breadwinner,

and there will be
funeral expenses.

The right gesture here will ease
a volatile situation.

[ Sucks teeth ]

[ Whispering indistinctly ]

I'll agree to a truce
for the sake of business.

I'll pay five grand
to the dead man's family

and half
the property damage,

but I ain't paying
for no moolie funeral.

[ Grunts ]

[ Chuckles ]

No offense.

I'd never live that down.

[ Sighs ]

That's it. No deal.

Think.
You represent Ben.

You already made
your point.

You already pushed back.
Now's an opportunity.

Yeah, to rip
this prick's balls off.

To be the bigger man.

Solidify friendships
on central Avenue.

[ Chuckles ]

Mr. Cohen will also pay $5,000
to the deceased's family

and agrees to the split
on damages.

Oh.

As for the funeral,
it's on him.

Mr. Cohen will pick up
the entire tab.

Money's easy.

This here's the hard part.

Tell me about it.

Joe: That's great.
Yeah, that's great news.

When did they say
he's gonna come around?

Tug?

He's gonna live.

I want to be there
when he wakes up.

If we can connect that
safe-house shooter to bugsy,

we nail his ass in court.

We'll do it today.

That's it?
The big hope?

Well, we got other things
in play.
Like what?

The guys put a bug
in Mickey Cohen's office.

How the hell did they get
into Mickey's office?

Drilled down
through the roof,

put the mic
in a ceiling lamp.

They hear anything
interesting yet?

Oh, they sure have.

Got hours of him yelling
at the wait staff.

But it may
give us something.

You never know.

[ Keys jingling ]

Crying out loud, jas.
Don't look so trapped.

What ever happened
to "no expectations"?

That still goes...
If that's how you want it.

You need to know
I'm not that guy anymore.

No more dreams
about the war?

Less these days --
a lot less.

I notice I didn't get
strangled to death

in my sleep last night.

So we'd call that
an improvement, right?

[ Chuckles ]

[ Chuckles ]
Look, jas --

you and me.

I'd...

I'd do it again --

all of it.

If you don't feel
the same way,

we can be done the moment
I walk out the door.

Sure, Joe.

Maybe you'll get a job
selling vacuum cleaners,

and I'll learn to cook.

All right.

[ Sighs ]

[ Door closes ]

[ Inhales deeply ]

Velma?

Here, honey.

We all are, partner.

Fat Jack?

Nick:
He didn't make it.

Tug.

Tug.

About the attack...

There were two...

Dressed like cops.

You dropped
one of those bastards.

What about the other?

I sh-- I shot him...

In the leg, I think.

His face --
describe his face.

Blurry.

What?

Blurry.

I lost my glasses.

Never saw...

His face.

Sid rothman assaulted
one of my officers.

That's got to count
for something.

He claims your man kidnapped
and assaulted him.

He's ready
to press charges.

Let me guess. He walks --
he drops those charges.

Gentlemen...

Do you really want
the extra publicity

of playing
"your word against his"

with sid rothman
in open court?

I've taken beatings before.

Let it go.

[ Indistinct conversation ]

Your honor,
given the lack of evidence,

we move that the state drop
all charges in this case.

[ Spectators murmuring ]

Woman:
[ Crying ] Oh, my God.

Your honor, reluctantly,
the state has no objection.

[ Camera shutter clicking,
spectators exclaiming ]

[ Scattered applause ]

Man: There he is --
Mr. Siegel! Mr. Siegel!

I'm the victim
of a gross injustice.

These cops -- they are
the lowest kind of thugs,

and Parker
is the worst of them.

They've got a vendetta
against me.

These so-called
"public servants"

do anything they want
anytime to anyone.

Next time,
it could be you...

Or even you.

And they call us criminals.

There's a joke.
Now, if you'll excuse me.

Horrall: Embarrassing day
for Los Angeles.

Mayor bowron and captain Parker
have seriously fumbled the ball.

If I were them, I'd be wondering
how to explain this

to the people
of this great city.

We felt we had a strong case,
but it didn't pay off.

You want to call this a gamble,
you call it mine.

Siegel was arrested
on my authority alone --

not the mayor's,
not anyone else's.

I take full responsibility.

[ Reporters clamoring ]
Gentlemen.

Reporter: Siegel's lawyers
hailed the dismissal

as a victory
for the justice system.

Word has it that bugsy
is considering a lawsuit

against the city for harassment
and naked abuse of power.

L.A. cops, huh?

More like keystone kops,
you ask me.

Not those wine glasses.

What is this,
rabbis'-and-old-ladies' night?

Hey, you, bigger with them
floral arrangements.

And no tulips --
this ain't no funeral.

What about whores?

Benny can't celebrate
without whores.

Yeah, Mick, we got whores.

What about picture gals?
We got enough?

We need lots of pictures
taken tonight.

I don't know.
Uh, should I check?

No, I'll do it.

Hey, dummy,
can't you read?!

Sorry, Mr. Cohen.
Didn't see it was you.

I apologize.

What's that red light for?

So we can see in here

without the prints
getting damaged.

Red's the only kind of light
doesn't hurt 'em.

Every darkroom has that?

Yeah.

[ Chortles ]

What do you know?
I seen the light.

Joe?

What am I gonna do with you?

Hey. We're having
fried-egg sandwiches.

Aren't we, honey?

[ Eggs sizzling ]

[ Radio chatter ]

[ Indistinct sports commentary
on radio ]

Sit.

Except for his one,
Robinson is unbeaten.

I saw your cop
spent the night.

You get my locker key?

Why is she here?

I'll kill her if you don't do
what I tell you.

Simple enough?

Key.

Allow me.

[ Grunts ]

Aah!

[ Groans ]

[ Panting ]

Aah!

That hurt!

Good.

Key.

Pocket.

You got what you came for.
Now leave.

I haven'tgot
what I came for.

I'm still owed 45 grand,
and you're gonna help me get it.

Get it?

[ Gasps ]

Get dressed.

Fix your hair.

We still got a few hours.

Where I can see you!

You got nothing I ain't already
committed to memory.

I was out on your fire escape
all night.

You need a hobby.

I told you, I'm the silent
partner in this deal.

You're gonna make sure
I stay that way.

You're my new middleman.

The last guy who had that job
wound up dead.

Hecky was stupid.

This time, it happens
in a public place.

I got it all figured out.

You're gonna call Siegel
and say what I tell you.

My friend Joe --
you know, the cop? --

he tells me they've tapped
Siegel's phones.

We do it your way,

you're inviting
extra guests --

the kind with badges.

Don't say I never did you
a favor.

How, then?
A singing telegram?

The clover called.
They want me to work tonight.

Mickey's throwing Ben
a welcome-home party,

and he wants
lots of pictures.

I'll go in and talk it over
with Ben in person.

"Ben"?
What's your in with him?

You're looking at it.

Busy girl.

You're way better at this
than hecky.

I made a list --

all the people who knew
about the safe house.

Mike: Someone on this list
sold us out --

got tug shot, got fat Jack
and our witness killed.

I see my name's on the top
of that list.

Not alphabetical,
I guess.

In order of most likely.

Maybe rothman beat it out
of you,

and you just won't admit it.

That how this gonna be?

It's how it is.

[ Thunder rumbles ]

Don't be long.

"Pumpkin" might miss
her bedtime.

[ Mid-tempo, instrumental
music plays ]

Here you are.

Mickey's looking for you.

Brother, he's in a mood.

Are you in some kind
of trouble?

[ Snaps fingers ]
Mickey's office.

Now.

[ Switch clicks ]

[ Radio static ]

Jasmine: You said
i should come to you

if I had any idea
who took those pictures.

Mickey: Really?

All this time goes by,

and suddenly you want to talk
to me about pictures?

That's awfully decent
of you.

I can't wait to hear your, uh --
your what-you-call --

your insight --

you being such a picture-taking
expert and all.

Say, for example...

What a red light is for.

I'm waiting here, legs.

[ Scoffs ]

You know,
you boys make me dizzy --

you and your stupid games.

Excuse me?

No, I won't excuse you...
Or hecky.

Is this what
you're grumbling about?

It's yours.
Go screw it in a socket.

You gonna blame a girl for
getting caught in the middle?

Fine. But don't kid yourself
it's anything to do with me.

This is about you and hecky
being shitty friends.

If you'd been kinder to him

and he'd been
less greedy with you,

none of this
would have happened.

You're gonna turn this
on me now? Hmm?

We're past that.

You're right.

I lied to you
about the pictures.

What choice did I have?

It gets worse.

I made prints...

And duplicate negatives.

Sid:
[ Sighing ] I'll stay calm.

Just tell us
what you want for them.

Pest removal.

I'm on my way to pick up
the pictures right now.

You get there
ahead of me,

you'll see the pest
I'm talking about --

Leslie shermer.

Ring a bell?

He was in it with hecky.

Now he thinks the money
should be his.

He sent me here
to set a drop --

the pictures for the cash.

50 grand?

Not 50 cents
if you play it right.

You get the money, the pictures,
and your wayward boy.

Why you gift wrapping
this guy for me?

[ Static crackles,
line screeches ]

Once he gets that money,
I'm as good as dead.

It's not just
blackmail anymore.

He's kidnapped a little girl
to get me to play along.

That's the gas chamber for him
if he ever gets caught.

Gift wrap him?
[ Chuckles ]

I'll even put
a bow on him.

He's agreed.

They'll be there at 9:00
with the money.

Get going.

I want to be there
plenty ahead of them.

[ Engine turns over ]

[ Gun cocks ]

Don't be stupid.

[ Gun clicks ]

Here's where she gets out.

She doesn't know your name
or where we're going.

She gets out now, or I hit
the gas and crash us

into that black-and-white
up there,

just to see what happens.

[ Engine revs ]

Go and tell the policeman
to take you home.

It's okay.
It's okay. Go on.

I gave you that.

It's nothing but corpses
since you showed up --

Phil holtz in church,
hecky Nash,

little moe
and Jerry two-tone,

fat Jack
and Carl the busboy

in the safe house
that you set up!

You forgot the black dahlia --
I sawed her in half.

I'll fit her in.

[ Telephone rings ]

Tell them to call back.

Detective teague.

It's eddy.
I think that girl of yours

has gotten herself
in bad trouble.

Right.

You alone?
Not much.

Okay.
I talk. You listen.

But you're gonna owe me
some real answers.

Agreed?
That's fine.

This just came in over the bug
in Mickey's office. Listen.

Jasmine:
But it gets worse.

I made prints...

And duplicate negatives.

Sid: I'll stay calm.

Just tell us
what you want for them.

Jasmine: Pest removal.

I'm on my way right now
to pick up those pictures.

If you get there ahead of me,

you'll see the pest
I'm talking about.

That's it.

When was this?

This was
three minutes ago.

Two minutes ago,

rothman and some goons
hightailed it out the back.

[ Telephone slams ]

Hey, you got something
more important?

Than listening to you
blow hot air?

Matter of fact, I do.

Joe, this ain't right.

There are too many questions
that need to be answered.

Nick, you got no cause
to believe me,

but I did not put your partner
in the hospital.

It is as simple as that.

Joe, you walk out that door,
you're --

we're done here, hal.

You'll have to draw on me
if you want to stop me.

To hell with you.

Don't lose him.

[ Body thuds ]

Almost home free.

Get the pictures out,
make the exchange,

and then it's frisco,
here we come.

I'll be watching you.

Anything goes wrong,
it's your life.