Public Morals (2015): Season 1, Episode 1 - A Fine Line - full transcript

♪ When a moth finds a flame ♪

♪ Midnight city life ablaze ♪

♪ A shot in the dark ♪

♪ Is all that it takes ♪

Hey, baby, you looking
for a party?

I got what you want.
I got what you need.

Hi, handsome.

Let me...
let me party with you, baby.

Just come on.
Why are you pushing me?

♪ I am ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm a back door man ♪



If it ain't Officer O'Bannon.
What brings you in tonight?

Doesn't concern you,
Bobby.

Sean, buddy boy,
this is not the place...

- ♪ I'm a back door man ♪
- Get the hell out of my way!

Hey, Pop.

I wanted to come by,

- ♪ The men don't know ♪
- wish you congratulations.

You're still undefeated
against Mom.

♪ But the little girls
understand ♪

- ♪ Hey, all you people ♪
- Good to see you, kiddo.

- ♪ That tryin' to sleep ♪
- Typical.

Let's go.

♪ I'm out to make it ♪

♪ With my midnight dream, yeah ♪



Pull him off!

Come here,
you little prick!

- ♪ 'Cause a back door man ♪
- Get him out of here.

You son of a bitch.

You ever
hit Mom again,

and I swear to God
you're a dead man!

Get that cop out of here!

- All right, all right, all right!
- Go home to your mother.

- ♪ The men don't know ♪
- Have her teach you to throw a punch.

♪ But the little girls understand ♪

Next time,
I'll kill you, Pop.

You got me?

I swear...

- ♪ All right, yeah ♪
- I'll kill you.

Hey, pal, how are you?

We'd like a quick word,
if you don't mind.

What...
what's this all about?

You want to tell us who
you were visiting in there?

- Nobody. I was just, uh... I don't know...
- Okay, look.

Here is how
this is going to go...

you are either going
to cooperate with us,

or you're
gonna get locked up.

Whoa, whoa.
Okay, Officers, look,

I-I got a wife,
I-I got a family.

- I can't be caught up in this kind of...
- You got a wife?

All right, then do exactly
what we tell you to do.

Yeah, of course. You got it, guys.
I'll... I'll do anything you need.

I just... I-I can't have anybody
find out about this.

I mean, you're sympathetic,
I'm sure.

Sympathetic?

Yeah. Yeah, sure. We're plenty
sympathetic, aren't we, Bull?

Yeah, we're a couple
of bleeding hearts.

All right, so, here's
what you're gonna do...

you're gonna go back,
you're gonna knock on the door

and say you left your keys
somewhere inside, okay?

- And... and then... and then what?
- Just do it.

Hello?!

Hey, sweetheart,
it's me.

I-I think I must have left my
keys somewhere in the apartment.

Come on in.
The door's open.

All right, Miss,
bad news...

Guess who's
under arrest.

What?
A-are you kidding me?

Billy is just a friend.

I-is there a law against
having a friend come over?

Please, let's not make this more difficult
than it needs to be, okay, sweetheart?

But I haven't done anything
wrong. He's just a friend.

I got kids, Fortune.
I can't get caught up in this.

He... he's lying.

Don't blame him. We've gotten
a number of complaints from your neighbors.

Why don't you go get dressed,
we'll take you down to the station house,

and get
this over with?

Please.
I-I can't be arrested.

This isn't something
I do all the time.

It's just
once in a while.

Oh, I don't doubt it.

You're probably just
a regular, sweet kid, right?

New to fun city, had to turn a couple
tricks to make ends meet. Am I right?

Yes, that's exactly
what happened.

Charlie, please
take her to the bedroom,

have her get dressed.

Come on.

So, what do you want?

If I give you a blow job,
can we forget about this?

Sorry, Miss.
It doesn't work like that, okay?

Please,
just get dressed.

I'll do
whatever you want.

You can come over any time
for a freebie.

You or your partner.

You guys want to party,
I can be your girl.

Just please
don't arrest me.

I'm sorry, Miss.
Just please...

just get dressed,
and then maybe we can talk.

You must
be married, huh?

That's none
of your business.

I heard most cops would work out
a deal if you got busted.

Well, most cops would.

- So, why won't you?
- 'Cause, like my partner said,

we've been getting a lot of
complaints from your neighbors,

and our boss
wants an arrest.

So, I'm going to jail?

Yeah,
that's how it works.

Do you mind?

What, you can't
do this yourself?

No.

That good?

Yes. Thanks.

So, y-you never
been locked up before?

No.

- Who do you work for?
- Nobody. I work alone.

What, you don't have
a madame or a pimp?

No. Like I said,
I just do this part-time.

Every hooker we arrest
gives us the same line of shit.

But I'm telling you the truth!

All right,
sure you are.

Come on. Let's go.

Y-you want proof?
Here.

That's my union card.

Holy shit.

You're a schoolteacher?

Hey, Petey, I want you
to take a ride with me.

We're gonna meet my buddy Duffy
for a cup of coffee.

Duffy? I thought that skell
was still in the can.

Yeah, well, he's out, and
we're just gonna talk to him.

I didn't make him
any promises.

You promised him
a meeting.

All right, thank you.

The... the local guy in the
precinct's never heard of her.

He did a name check
and nothing came up.

She ain't never been collared
before.

I mean, this kid might really be
a schoolteacher.

Take a look around
this apartment.

You really think a schoolteacher
lives here?

Well, she showed me
her union card.

We still need an arrest.

All right, well, let's just
grab her on loitering,

say we picked her up
outside the building.

That way, it covers the
complaint from the Lieutenant.

Yeah, and that way
your sob story

doesn't need to go to the tombs,
either.

You know, you're too soft
for this job, you big kraut.

All right, Romeo,
you're coming with me.

All right,
she's your responsibility now.

Officer, I beg of you, I...
it... I would do anything

if we could just forget
about this, anything at all.

Then what were you thinking going
with a hooker in the first place, dopey?

I'm in from out of town.
I just...

I had a little too much booze
at lunch.

- I just got carried away.
- And you know what?

Sometimes you have to take
responsibility for our actions.

Officer, please. Listen to me.
I'm a good man.

Back in Minnesota, I'm the
president of the father's club.

My... my wife,
she's on the school board.

How would this look
if my kids...

if my kids found out
about this?

Yeah,
and what would happen

if I got jammed up
for letting you go?

How's that gonna look to my wife
and kids?

Minnesota isn't the only place
where appearances count.

Look, I-I have over $300
in my wallet,

and I can get more
from the bank.

Okay, look, that shit might work
in your hometown,

but you're
in New York City now.

We got different rules here.

Come on.
Let's take the stairs.

Look, I-I-I wouldn't
have to...

I wouldn't have
to tell anyone.

Please, please,
you have to let me go.

Okay, first of all, I do not
have to do anything, all right?

But let me see
your wallet.

All right, Mr. Ford.

Because I am a sympathetic man,
here's the deal...

I'm gonna take $200
with the understanding

you take the remainder
and get your ass

on a flight back
to Michigan tonight.

Minnesota.

Quiet honestly, I don't give
a shit where you go.

But hopefully
you've learned your lesson

not to screw around with whores
in New York.

Yeah, thank you.
Thank you so much.

I really appreciate this.
Thank you.

Just get the hell
out of here.

A little donation from
Minnesota's father of the year.

- Guess who's back in town.
- Ah, Paddy D.

- Come on. Scooch, scooch, scooch, scooch.
- Good to see you, man.

Yeah.
You remember Petey Mac?

Yeah, 'course,
'course, 'course.

Man, it's good to see you.
Beantown.

Listen, before we talk shop,
I wanted to tell you,

Big Red is throwing me
a little welcome-home party

tomorrow night
at the Old Town.

There's gonna be a ton of
broads there, so you got to come.

Yeah, and my old
man, no doubt.

Yeah. I heard you gave him a beating.
What... what happened there?

Nothing, other than the fact that he's
a piece of shit, but you already knew that.

Yeah.

So, what else is going on? You said you
had something you want to talk about.

Yeah, what do you think is going on?
I'm looking to get back to work.

I'm looking to set up a new game,
and I wanted to take care of business

- so we don't have any trouble.
- Already? Duff,

you're not even out 48 hours.

- Yeah. A man's got to make a living.
- Make a living?

Yeah. My old crap game
made me a nice living.

Talk to Patton about this?

Yeah. That was my first order
of business. My second is,

I was seeing if my nearest and dearest
would still be willing to help me out.

Depends on what you're asking.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What I'm asking?

I'm asking for protection
for the game.

It's the least he can do
for his oldest friend.

I don't care how far back
you go, business is business.

Okay.

Duff, what are you
thinking?

Tuesday nights over at
my girl's place, 68th Street.

- Oh, uptown!
- Yeah.

Yeah. How'd you meet
this broad?

Eh, it's just
some chick I know.

Yeah? And you trust her enough already
to have the game at her place?

She's a good girl. I got
to know her in the joint.

How'd you manage that?

- She wrote me letters.
- Ah. I didn't know you could read.

- That's funny. That's funny.
- All right, all right, all right.

Hey, listen to me.
Listen good.

I'm gonna see
what we can do on our part,

but I'm telling you, if you're
lying about this Big Red stuff,

he's gonna see to it that
you're floating in the river.

Wouldn't be
the worst thing in the world.

Are you kidding me?

Hi, handsome.

Let's go. Move your ass.

Officer Shea, reporting
for Plainclothes.

Third floor, superstar.

You must be Shea.
Come on in.

I'll talk
to you soon.

Have a seat, son.

You look like
a goddamn altar boy.

Your C.O. up in the 15th
says you're a good cop.

Is that true?
Are you a good cop?

Or are you some kind of mutt
that I got to worry about?

No, sir. You don't have to
worry about me.

I hope not, 'cause this
is a choice assignment.

I hope you're
aware of that.

Uh, yes, I am.
My father filled me in.

Good man, your father.

I saw him last week at the
Holy Name Communion Breakfast.

He said you
just had a baby.

Uh, yes, sir,
a baby boy, James Jr.

Ah, good for you.

It's important for a young cop
to have a family,

especially in this city.

Otherwise, it's too easy
to become a jerk-off.

And I don't need
a jerk-off in this office.

Lieutenant.

- It's your new man, Shea.
- You got it, Captain.

Be smart
out there, son,

but not too smart.

Take a seat.

Close the door.

"The laws governing
the mores of the people

"are known as the laws
relating to public morals.

"These are
restrictive laws

"designed to control the actions
of the people of the city

to establish a peaceful
and harmonious order of social living."

Now, what that means is,

it's our job to curb
all kinds of vice.

That includes prostitution, pornography,
degeneracy, and the blue laws.

- You got that, my man?
- Yes, sir.

Good. It also includes
any games of chance.

That's betting on sporting
events, poker, Blackjack,

four-card Monte, dice,
birdcage, banker/broker,

chuck-a-luck, roulette...
any of the similar games.

- You still with me, youngblood?
- Yes, sir.

You now work
for Plainclothes.

We work everything

from 86th Street down to
the Battery, river to river.

That's the heart
of this big town, my man.

- Can you understand that?
- Yes, sir.

Are you sure about that?
'Cause you don't look so sure.

No, sir, I got it.

You're gonna partner
with Vince Latucci.

He thinks he's hot shit,
but he's a good cop.

And he killed more Japs in the Pacific
than we got WOPs on Pleasant Avenue,

so don't piss him off.

Anything else you need to know,
he will explain it to you.

Or maybe he won't,
depending on his mood.

- You waiting for an invitation?
- No, sir.

Then step lively, young man.

- Latucci, come meet your new partner.
- Right here, Lieu.

- Know how to drive?
- Yes, sir.

Hey.

Go give 'em hell,
baby.

- Hey, Tooch.
- Hey, Bull.

Wow! That is
a gorgeous-looking girl.

I'll let you know
when I want your opinion.

Until then,
keep your goddamn mouth shut.

Hey, Terry.

What, you need me to hold your hand?
The car's right there.

Stupid kid.

Uh, your wife called,
said something happened at the school.

You should call her
right away, all right?

You better not scratch the goddamn thing.

Hello?

Hey, Chris, it's me.
What's go... what's going on?

It's James.
The school called.

He's in trouble again.

Geez. What'd the comedian
do this time?

I'm sure it's nothing.

That nun you love so much
just has it in for him.

Why don't you just tell me
exactly what Sister Paul said?

Oh, she
wouldn't tell me.

She insisted she needed
to speak to Mr. Muldoon directly

regarding this
very important matter.

She wants you there
right after dismissal.

Uh, a-are you serious?
I'm at work.

You don't think
you can deal with this?

No. I've got to pick up Kate,
take her to dance,

then do
the food shopping...

Okay, okay, okay.
I got it, I got it.

I will take care of it.

I'm giving you a summons
for loitering.

It's like
a traffic ticket.

You're not gonna get
photographed or printed,

but you got to see the judge
in a couple of weeks, all right?

And I'm not
going to jail?

You're not
gonna go to jail.

Just pay the ticket.

Thank you.

All right.

Full name?

Stacy Potter.

Stacy Potter.

Address is?

- 45 West Fifty...
- ...First Street.

Occupation?

Schoolteacher.

Stacy Potter
the schoolteacher.

Your kids
are beautiful.

Take after
their mother.

That's all?

That's all.

You're free to go.

You've been so sweet
and understanding to me.

Um, do you think

I could buy you a drink sometime
to say thank you?

Just a drink.

Please follow me.

Look, don't ever call here,
but just take this number,

and if you ever
need anything,

just ask for
Charlie Bullman.

For anything.

All right, I'm going
to the schoolyard.

Yeah, but why can't
I come with you guys, too?

You're not coming with us.
Go hang out with your own friends.

Well, then I'm gonna tell Daddy
about what happened at school today...

- Hey, hey!
- You better not say anything to him

about that, you little shit!

And you better
get your goddamn hands off him

unless you're looking
for a trip to the hospital!

You, stay here,
do your homework.

You...
you're coming with me.

Move it.

Sister Paul.

Please come in, Mr. Muldoon.

Thank you for coming in
on such short notice.

Sit.

Please take a seat.

We have a lot
to discuss.

You know, your son here
has become quite the comedian.

Sit up.

Apparently, he can do
these funny, little voices.

He has the whole class
laughing.

Why don't you... why don't you
do one for your father?

Do... do the one
you did of me.

I'm sure he'd love
to see it.

You hungry, kid?

Why? Are you hungry?

Never answer a question
with another question, stupid.

I-I don't know. I grabbed
something before I came in,

but, I mean, if you are,
then I-I guess I am.

- Are you some kind of shithead?
- What? No!

Because we don't let just
any shithead into this unit.

We asked around about you.

The other guys
called your old partners,

spoke to other cops
you've worked with,

and everybody said you were
a smart kid and a good cop.

And your old man
is a boss.

I am sure
he did not become a boss

by being some kind of shithead,
did he?

No, probably not.

So, let me
ask you again...

are you hungry?

Yeah, I'm hungry.

Excellent, Officer Shea.
Let's go grab a bite to eat at John's.

Park over here
on the left.

Ooh, I know John's.
Isn't that on 12th?

Let me drive around the corner.
I'll find... find a spot over there.

Stop the goddamn car!

Kid, if this
is how we start out,

you are not
gonna last with me.

When I tell you
to do something,

you don't question it,
you do it!

Now pull over
the goddamn car!

Now, I am well-aware
that John's is on 12th.

The reason I want you
to park over here

is that I don't need the whole freaking
neighborhood knowing my business.

- Capisce?
- Yeah, I guess so.

- You guess so?
- Okay.

Because of your inability
to answer a question

with a simple
"yes" or "no" answer,

you don't get
to eat today.

You're gonna sit in the car
while I go eat.

Douchebag.

I want you to know I'm...
I'm proud of you.

You know,
when you were born,

my hope, my dream
was that you, my oldest son,

would grow up
to be an asshole.

And you've done that,
and it makes me proud.

You know, you can't imagine
the joy I felt

sitting
in that classroom,

listening
to Sister Paul

and hearing all the stories
about what a fool you are.

You are the school fool.
You are the class ass.

You are the moron
whose job it is

to interrupt
the teacher and the class

with your asinine jokes
and comments.

And that just... it...
it just makes me so proud.

You know, I was hoping
that I was...

I was doing a good job
raising a-a complete imbecile,

and... and you've shown me
that my hard work has paid off.

So... just want
to thank you for that.

Now stop your crying

and get your goddamn ass
out of this car

so I can
get back to work.

Good morning, all-stars.

- Good morning, Dad.
- Good morning, Dad.

I said good morning.

Good morning.

Don't start with him, Terrence.
He feels bad enough already.

- Don't you, Jimmy?
- Does he? Does he?

How do you think I felt
having to sit in that classroom

and hear about the class ass

- and all of his antics?
- Enough!

How about one of your jokes,
funnyman, huh?

How about one of
your hysterical one-liners

- that gets the class all riled up?
- All right. He gets it.

Does he? Does he?

What, all... all of a sudden,
you're too shy?

Apparently, our boy does
these really funny impressions.

Leave him alone.

He does a great
John Wayne, Dad.

You mind
your own business.

Does he?

Well, I hope
it serves you well, young man,

because
from this day forward,

you and I are done until
you earn back my respect.

You two,
have a good day at school,

listen to the nuns.

I will speak
to you later, okay?

Mnh-mnh.
Don't run out of here so fast.

I want to talk to you.

What? You think I'm being
too tough on him, right?

Yes. He's going through
a hard time.

All of his friends have
moved out of the neighborhood

except for Conner
and the Gilroy boys.

Oh, please, do not start
with that right now.

We can't afford
to make a move right now.

First of all,
that's nonsense and you know it,

but I'm not talking about that.
Try a softer touch with him.

Chris, he needs to learn to take
responsibility for his actions

because those actions

- are gonna be what defines him.
- He's not that bad a kid.

He didn't hold up a liquor store.

Not yet, but he might be
headed in that direction.

He's at a critical moment in his life.
He's going to high school soon,

and it's gonna be harder and harder
for me to get through to him.

And you think you're getting
through to him like this?

The line between the good guys
and the bad guys is very thin.

And the decisions about

what kind of man
he's going to be

- are made at this age.
- Are you kidding me?

I think you're
overreacting, Terrence.

Am I?
Look at your brothers.

Leave them out of this.
You can't compare it.

Well, weren't they about his age when they
started running numbers for Mr. Dolan?

That was different.
We didn't have a father around.

Yeah, but James does.

So, please
let me do my job.

♪ You used to love me
all day and night ♪

♪ You put your arms around me,
hold me tight ♪

- How you doing, Boss?
- All right.

♪ You whisper words in my ear ♪

Take a look
at table two.

♪ Words I wanted to hear ♪

♪ Well, come on ♪

♪ Well, come on ♪

♪ Well, come on, come on ♪

♪ And love me
like you used to do ♪

Hey, Mr. O'Bannon,
how's it going?

I wanted to talk to you.

Listen, I don't know
if anybody told you,

but I'm back in business,

and I even got
your boy Seany

helping me out
with things on his end.

What do you say we just
let bygones be bygones?

♪ Well, come on ♪

All right.
So, what's this favor you got?

Talk to him, Seany.

You remember my friend
Pat Duffy...

You know, the guy that was
hooked up in Patton's crew?

Yeah, yeah. You went
to school with him.

And if I remember correctly,
he was a jerk-off,

just like his father
was a jerk-off.

- No, he just screwed up. That's all.
- Screwed up?

You don't think that was
a little bit more than a screw-up?

He nearly
killed that guy, Seany.

The guy welshed on him.
What else was he supposed to do?

He could have been a hell
of a lot smarter about it.

No, no, no, no. Petey,
that would be impossible,

given that our man Duffy
has always been as dumb as a stump.

I know. But he did his time,
and now he's back,

and he wants
to set up a game again.

Are you under the impression
that we're running a social service here?

Terry, what am I
supposed to do?

He's my oldest friend
in the entire world.

- Uh-huh.
- I got to help him out.

Now, is this serious money,
or is it nickel-and-dime bullshit?

No, the old game
was pretty serious.

- On the West Side?
- Yeah, yeah, of course.

And when
does he want to do it?

Just one night a week...
Tuesday nights.

Has he taken it to Patton,
or is he looking to be a cowboy?

- He says he's good with Big Red.
- And you believe this?

Yeah, yeah. He wouldn't lie
to me about something like that.

No, he wouldn't lie.

All right.

This is your deal, though,
okay?

We'll just add it
to Patton's nut.

Start it at $500,
we'll see if it's a real game,

but you let him know
we want the money up front.

If he cannot pay,
he cannot play.

- You understand that, right?
- Yeah.

- Make sure he understands that.
- I will.

Hey, Bull, um,
you got a phone call.

Hello?

Yeah?

What?

No.
Hey, listen to me.

Listen, go back to
your apartment right now.

I'll meet you there.
Right now.

Holy shit!
W-w-what happened to your face?!

Who did that to you?!

- Who do you think?
- What's his name?!

I don't know. He got my number
from a friend. He's from out of town.

Stacy, listen to me, you don't
have to protect this guy.

What's his name, okay?
'Cause I'm gonna go give him a talking to.

He's never gonna bother you again.
What's his name?

He said his name
is Mr. Smith.

I met him at the Randolph
on Lex and 44th.

Mr. Smith?
Oh, it's a bullshit name.

Well, what room's
he in?

305.

And what
does he look like?

He's big...

- bigger than you.
- Oh, yeah?

He had this greasy, curly,
brown hair.

He said he's in town
for the jewelry convention.

Jesus. I'm sorry.
Let... let me see your face.

Ah, y-your mouth
is all busted up.

Look, y-you got to go
to the Emergency Room.

No. I-I don't want
to go to the hospital.

All right, well, then,
let me call this guy we use.

He'll come down here
and stitch your lip.

And... and he threw me
to the ground, and he kicked me.

He kicked you?

All right, I'm gonna call
my guy, Dr. Baker.

He's gonna come down here
and fix you up, all right?

And I'll be back after I
go deal with this prick, okay?

But if you arrest him,
won't I have to press charges?

No. Don't worry about that,
all right?

I'm just...
I'm gonna go talk to him.

Cap, I recognize this new man
is a contract from an old friend.

Who happens to be
an inspector.

I understand that, but there's
something about this kid.

I didn't trust or like the punk
the minute he walked into my office.

What about you,
Vince, huh?

You've been out with him.
You got a read on him?

- He's not our kind of guy.
- Meaning what?

He's everything that's wrong with
too many of these young cops nowadays.

I mean, the kid went to college,
for Christ's sakes.

He lives
in the suburbs.

Jokes aside, gentlemen,
is this the kind of guy we can trust?

To be honest, I can't tell
if this kid is a complete stunad

or if he's
trying to play me.

But what I do know is that
he thinks he knows everything

and he don't know dick,
and that concerns me.

As well it should.

So until we dig
a little deeper on him,

don't take him anywhere
we can be embarrassed.

My suggestion
is this, Cap...

we give it seven days to see
if the kid is worth keeping,

if that works
for you and the Boss.

We don't need this smartass
causing us any headaches.

Muldoon, why don't you
have a little talk with him?

Get a feel
for this college prick.

See if he has any clue
what this job's about.

I'll leave it to you three
to make the call.

And don't worry about
my contract with the old man.

We gave him a shot,
if it doesn't work out,

then as my dear, old
grandmother Octavia used to say,

"Tough shit."

How you doing, kid?

Vince just gave me some cagey
mug shots to look through.

Oh, yeah? Most of those guys
were in Latucci's wedding party.

Let me ask you, Shea...

why did you want
to get into Plainclothes?

My father thought
it'd be a good idea.

He says it's the fast track
to make detective.

Yeah, well,
it certainly helps.

And you know
what we do here?

Yeah. The... the colored
Lieutenant gave me the talk.

Okay.

Why don't we call him
Lieutenant King, all right?

Y-yes, sir.
Lieutenant King.

Your old man
tell you anything else?

He said I was gonna have
a lot of fun.

Well, he was not
bullshitting you there.

And the reason is,

the people of our good city
like to have a lot of fun.

Sex, drinking, gambling...
you name it, they want it.

However, as you well know,
a lot of that shit's illegal.

After-hours joints,
prostitution, gay bars,

crap games, numbers...

every one of them
is against the law.

Which has never really
made much sense to me,

given that these are all
victimless crimes. Wouldn't you agree?

Yeah, I guess.

- Yeah, I mean, who's getting hurt, right?
- Nobody.

Besides, do you want to lock up
a couple of old-timers

for having a drink
on a Sunday morning

or the hardworking guy

who wants to place a wager
on a ballgame

or some poor broad
who ends up hooking

because life has dealt her
a shitty deck?

What about the queers?
You want to collar these poor bastards

because they want to get together, have
a few beers, and play a little grab-ass?

I know I don't want to.

I'm guessing
you don't want to, either,

because it's my understanding
you're a college kid

and therefore
must be pretty bright.

So, then, what exactly
do we do here?

Well, as I'm sure your father
must have explained to you,

we do what has been done
for the last hundred years...

we manage it
for the city.

Think of us
as the landlords.

And if you want
to be in business...

...you got to pay your rent.

Do you understand
what I am telling you?

- Yes, I do.
- Good.

Now, I am only going
to ask you this this one time.

Are you in?

Yes, sir.

- Who is it?
- Hi. It's maintenance.

You seem to have a leak
coming from your bathroom.

I don't see how that's possible.
Everything seems fine here.

Yeah, it's coming from
the pipes in the walls.

It will just
take a second, sir.

Sorry
for the inconvenience.

Oh! Hey!
Aah!

- You like hitting girls, huh?
- Okay, take it easy!

You like beating up on girls?
Where's your wallet?

- My wallet?
- Your wallet.

You're gonna pay
that girl's doctor bills.

Are you crazy, buddy?!
I already paid her!

You already paid her?!

Where is it?

Okay!

It's in my jacket
by the desk.

Oh,
come on, man.

D-don't take it all.

You're gonna
compensate her

for the work
she's gonna lose, asshole.

What's this?

Oh, please, man.

You can't take that, too,
all right?! Come on!

I can't? Huh?

Bitches.

♪ I'm gonna tell you a story ♪

♪ I'm gonna tell you
about my town ♪

♪ I'm gonna tell you
a big fat story, baby ♪

♪ Aw, it's all about my town ♪

♪ Yeah, down by the river ♪

- Patton's a no-show.
- Looks like it.

Didn't he tell you
that he was gonna be here?

Didn't you tell him that we had
some business to discuss?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Where the hell is he?

You know that thing
we talked about?

Get it done.

- Tonight?
- Tonight.

Tonight.

So, how far can I go?
How far you want me to go?

Take his legs out.

Seany, glad you could make it.
It's a great party.

Hey, Fitzy, bring us a round,
keep them coming.

I told you there'd be
a ton of broads here.

One in particular's
very excited to see you.

- Yeah? Who's that?
- My sister Dee.

Oh, there's no way in hell
that that's Deirdre.

Sure as shit is.
All grown up, too.

Hey, but don't get any ideas.
She's got the clap.

Oh, that's real nice.

They taught you manners
in the joint, didn't they?

This guy... Seany, so, uh,
what's the word on the game?

The nut's gonna be $500,
and we get that money up front.

If there's no money,
there's no game.

I'll have it for you
Tuesday night.

No. They're gonna have it for me
on Sunday at the diner.

And make sure
you're alone.

Yeah.

Excuse me, but were you
just gonna ignore me all night?

Dee, we're talking
business.

Eh, that's no excuse,
Mr. O'Bannon.

After all,
it's been over five years.

And a lot has changed
in five years.

Aww, shucks.
I'm glad you noticed.

So, are you gonna buy me
a drink?

He can get you a drink.
That's all he's getting.

He's not my keeper
anymore, Sean.

I'll have a 7 and 7.

Hello?

Hey,
it's your Uncle John.

I was wondering if you could
get together for a little talk.

John, I am already
in for the night with the kids.

Eh, it won't take long.
Uh, just give me five minutes.

All right.
I'll meet you at the pool hall.

♪ I love that dirty water ♪

♪ I love Boston ♪

♪ I love that dirty water ♪

♪ Have you heard about
the strangler? ♪

♪ I love that dirty water ♪

Terrence,
how you doing?

Oh, better than you
by the look of that shiner.

My own kid coldcocked me.
Can you believe it, huh?

You'd think the Jesuits
would have taught him better.

Yeah, well, you're lucky
he only gave you a beating,

but I am guessing
that is not why you dragged me

away from my children
tonight.

No.
This is about the, uh...

the celebrated return
of his jackass friend, Duffy.

What about him?

He... he's a bad kid,
Terry, you know,

and you shouldn't let Sean
get involved with him.

Uncle John, I got no idea
what you're talking about.

What do you take me for,
a schmuck?

Uh, do you think that anyone can
take a piss on the West Side

and I don't know about it?

Come on, now,
heed my warning.

Oh, y-y-you're
warning me?

Did you suddenly lose control
of your senses?

Maybe I'm...
I'm hard of hearing.

I'm just offering you
some advice.

Sean should take a walk
away from him.

And there are a lot of people
in this neighborhood

that are none too happy
that he's back.

Yeah, well, you can count me
as one of them.

You're not likely
to take a bat to his head.

But who's gonna touch him

if he's got Patton
protecting him?

Well, Patton's getting soft,
all right?

He's too busy hobnobbing
with politicians,

high-class people
across town.

He is not keeping a proper eye
on the neighborhood.

Maybe so, but,
I don't know,

do you know anyone
who might be dumb enough

to think they could make a move
on the big guy?

Yeah, I mean,
you know, the kids...

they come in here,
they get to talking.

Well,
'maybe they got somebody

whispering
in their ear.

No, no, no, no, no.

Not at all, not at all.

But as they're always saying
to me,

the times,
they are a-changing.

You're quoting the hippies now?
Oh, that's funny.

That is funny, Uncle John,
especially coming from you.

But listen to me.

We don't need anybody
rocking the boat right now.

Everybody is making money,
and no one is getting hurt,

and I fully expect it
to remain that way.

Understood.

It's just that
in my business...

sometimes
people get hurt.

Is that that little shit
right there?

Yeah, that's him.

Go get that prick!

You better run, Duffy!
You better run!

A knife? What are you gonna do
with that, huh?

You didn't think you'd actually be able
to catch me, did you, Hopkins?

I'll catch you soon enough,
you little shit.

And when I do, I'm gonna take
your goddamn head off.

Hey, if I was you,

my head wouldn't be the one
I'd be concerned about.

Is that really
how you see it?

No, no.
That's the way it is.

If your brother does not have
his game on the pad,

there's a very good chance
he's gonna go back to jail.

At least this way, I can keep
an eye on him and keep him safe.

Oh, and you think
you're helping him

by allowing him to set up
another illegal crap game?

What are
you worried about?

What do you think
I'm worried about?

I'm worried
about my brother.

He's not out of jail
for a week,

and already he's back in the
life, and you're helping him.

Deirdre,
what else is he gonna do, huh?

H-he never finished
high school.

He's already been in and out
of jail a few times.

He wanted to be in Patton's crew
ever since we left Holy Cross.

Yeah, I blame your father
for that one.

Well, that prick is responsible
for everything rotten

that's ever happened
in my life,

so why not blame your brother's
plight on him, too?

Charlie, Charlie,
it's not a good idea.

I should be going in with you.
I should meet this guy.

I don't know.
He said I had to come alone.

Eh, who gives a shit?

We're in this together,
ain't we?

Besides

after what happened
the other night,

you're gonna need me
around.

All right, yeah,
you can come,

but, uh, wait by the counter
till I call you.

Seany, Seany, Seany.

How's it going?
How you doing?

You... you eat yet?
Listen, I'm starving.

So, uh... so, listen.

Yeah, I-I got
what we talked about.

- I'm a little bit shy.
- Yeah, you're a little shy?

What you're shy on is brains.
And your game is done.

Hey, Sean.

Sean, Sean, come on, come on!
What's going on?

What did I tell you,
huh?

What did I tell you?
I told you to come alone,

and you bring this Guinea
greaseball that I don't know!

What the hell
is wrong with you?

No, he's not a WOP...
Anderson...

what the hell is that?
He's German. He's a Pole...

What the hell?
What does it matter, Seany?

He's a good guy.
I got to know him in the joint.

We're working together
on this thing.

Well, you're working it
together without me.

Sean, I'm sorry.

I thought you'd want to meet him
if I was bringing him in.

You know what?
This is what always gets you

in trouble, Duff...
you don't use your head!

I'm sticking my neck out
for you,

but you don't
think about that,

'cause all you can think about
is yourself!

You were right.
I made a mistake trusting Duffy.

No shit.

I'm starting to think maybe
all that time up in Boston

affected
your better judgment.

Come on, Terry,
I had to try and help him out.

No, you did not
have to do shit for him.

What you need to start doing
is using your head.

God...

I brought you into Plainclothes
because you're my cousin,

but this kind of bullshit
makes me look bad.

Okay, I get it.
Duffy's out.

Yeah, well,
what about that bullshit

the other night
with your old man?

You didn't think
I was gonna hear about that?

You got a beef with him, you
take care of that in private.

Did you hear what he did?
Came home with his load on

and beat the crap
out of my mother.

And I'm not saying
he didn't deserve it.

But the number-one rule
in our office

is you do not draw attention
to yourself.

You have to take care
of something or somebody,

you do it
out of the spotlight.

All right, Terry,
I get it.

But I'm telling you,

if he ever
touches my mother again,

I'll kill him.

Uh-oh.
You okay?

You got that look
on your face.

Eh, you know,
it's my cousin Sean.

I'm just worried
I made a mistake

of bringing him
into Plainclothes with us.

You know,
he's one of these kids.

He doesn't think
before he acts.

And now we got this other
new kid in the office

that's got everybody worried,
as well, so, you know?

Mm-hmm.

And here I was thinking you were
concerned about your son James.

All right,
that is not fair, Chris.

I am concerned about him.

But what I do find
very interesting is,

like these young cops, he, too,
has no respect for authority.

He, too, doesn't think
before he acts.

But he's not a cop.
He's your 13-year-old son.

So maybe you should go in
and say good night to him.

He's still upset.

You really think
that will help?

Yeah, I do.

All right.

All right, funnyman...

...don't pretend
you're still sleeping.

Look, James, the world is filled
with assholes, all right?

I should know. I have to deal
with them all the time at work.

And I do not want
to deal with one under my roof.

And it's a fine line.
It's very hard to see sometimes.

You and your friends, you're out
on the street, jerking around,

having what seems like
harmless fun

until one day, you wake up
on the wrong side of that line

to discover
that you have joined

the ranks of the imbeciles
and the assholes

and the most likely
to end up incarcerated.

And I know
you don't want that, do you?

You are at a major fork
in the road right now, kiddo,

and you have a big decision
to make.

Are you ready to put
being an asshole behind you

and start being the kind
of person I know you can be?

I can be
a better person.

Yeah,
I know you can.

This is why
I'm so tough on you.

Kill the light.
Tomorrow's a new day.

Yeah?
All right.

What the hell
you doing here, huh?

I got it.

Muldoon.

Aw, shit.

I'm pretty sure it's him.

He has
no identification on him,

so I figured you'd want
to I.D. him yourself.

Yeah,
that's him, all right.

You got any ideas?

♪ If you've ever been
to New York City ♪

Yeah, I got a few.

♪ You know
what I'm talking about ♪

♪ Yes, you do ♪

♪ Well, if you've ever been
to New York City ♪

♪ You know
what I'm talking about ♪

♪ They got such pretty little
girls in that big town ♪

♪ Make a man wanna jump around
and shout ♪