Show Me a Hero (2015): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript
A new mayor pledges to oppose the housing, even though it is never quite clear what he might be able to do in that regard. Meanwhile, Nick Wasicsko tries to reconcile himself to life out of power as construction of the town-homes begins.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING)
(CLASSIC SONG PLAYING ON STEREO)
That's my cousin's house.
Really?
(LAUGHS)
Well, whoever it is, I'm guessing
they don't get invited to the block party.
- We're on the East Side, Nick.
- Yeah, I know.
(PEOPLE CHANTING SLOGANS)
PEOPLE". No justice, no peace.
No peace...
The best thing is, he has to rely
on the districts that never vote.
He had everything to the east
where no one ever misses an election there.
- 'Cause they give a shit, right?
- This year they do, for sure, Hank.
REPORTER: You're not an easy man
to catch up with, Councilman.
I've been calling to talk with you
for a few days.
Yeah, well, you know
how these campaigns go.
We're always running somewhere.
Speaking of which,
we're late for some radio we have to do.
Oh, come on, Councilman. A couple
questions and I'm out of your hair.
Yeah? What would be the point?
The point? It's an election.
You're running. I'm covering it.
Yeah, for The New York Times.
See, if you were one of the Yonkers guys,
I'd talk to you. You know why?
No, why?
Because that would mean
that you lived in Yonkers,
that you worked in Yonkers like me,
like they do.
But all you guys telling us
what you think we should do,
you're all actually from someplace else.
You know, thatjudge, he
lives in Westchester.
And Sussman and them lawyers,
they live where they do.
You know, I'm guessing you got yourself
a nice little place in Manhattan somewhere,
or Park Slope? Am I right? (CHUCKLES)
But, you see, we live here.
And when I pick up
a copy of The New York Times
and I read what you are writing about me, and
about this kid mayor who's gone all wet,
and about the housing thing,
I know that it's got nothing to do
with what's going on here.
And what's going on?
People working for their homes,
for their neighborhoods.
They want to keep what they have.
And you really think that building
a couple hundred units of public housing
is gonna wreck those neighborhoods?
(SCOFFING)
Yeah, I do. And the voters do, too.
MAN: Go get 'em, Hank.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
All right, guys. All right.
Make a way. Make way.
- Wasicsko, you ain't shit. You fucking bum.
- Come on.
Get the fuck out of here.
Go away, Mr. Wasicsko.
Wasicsko, why don't you
go fuck your mother?
- Go on.
- Why do you even have to talk like that, uh?
- (SPITS)
- CROWD: on!
- MAN 2: Come on, man, you can't do that.
- You son of a bitch.
MAN 3: Come on, you don't spit on a man.
- MAN 4: He spit in his face.
- Yeah, go on.
- Stay out, you bum. We had enough of you.
- MAN 5: You're done in this town!
WOMAN: Fuck, that nigga bugging out, son.
- Hey, Ma.
- NORMA: Dwayne.
Ms. Ramirez is ready to leave.
She was waiting in the hopes
you'd walk her to her car.
Of course. Sorry I'm late.
Thank you, Mrs. O'Neal.
If it didn't get so dark so early...
I understand.
I'll be back, Ma.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(MUSIC BLARING)
(HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING)
So we'll see you again Thursday?
I know that she wanted to do a
little shopping before the weekend.
MAN: Yo, you guys crazy, man.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
- MAN: Okay...
- (KNOCKING)
Yeah, come in.
- Hey.
- NICK: Hey, what's up, guys?
- Jesus.
- Yeah, I shoot the messenger.
- Who are you?
- This is Jeffrey Conlon, our best poll man.
Right, right, right. Nick Wasicsko.
How's it going? Have a seat.
That's right, you were a cop.
Yeah, Westchester County,
until I decided I needed a bigger gun
and I went to law school.
You see how that turned out.
All right, what's the bad news?
Wait a second. When is this sample from?
This week, through Tuesday.
Holy Jesus. Really?
I'm sorry, I've just been riding around
in forests of Spallone signs.
(CHUCKLING) I'm finding it hard to believe.
No. Citywide, we've got 48% who support
accepting Judge Sand's housing order.
And only 39% who want the city
to still keep fighting it.
Yeah, and 12% with no opinion.
How the fuck does 12% of Yonkers
not have an opinion on their housing?
I mean, where do they find these people?
Under fucking rocks?
On the issue, you've won.
Spallone's flogging a dead horse here.
You know something? I
ride around this city,
I look at all the signs,
I hear these people yelling, but you forget
that there's, like,
this whole silent majority out there.
Especially when you got these other
bastards shitting on you every day.
Spallone's got to know
about these numbers, right?
I mean, this is gonna take the wind
right out of his sails.
JIM: He and his people probably have
some idea how far he's trailing, yeah.
But I bet the money people don't.
Of course, we could enlighten them.
Like, leak the poll?
Herald Statesman?
You know what I mean.
I'm nothing but a burn.
But I love you. And you told me...
Yo, I'm telling you
I ain't good enough for you.
You need to forget about me.
(TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY)
(SNIFFLES) I'm pregnant.
I wasn't gonna tell you.
Wait. You don't have to worry.
I'm gonna get rid of it.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(LIGHTS HUMMING)
(DOG BARKING)
(KNOCKS)
(KNOCKS LOUDLY)
- Why you ain't tell me?
- Does it matter?
Look, I know it's your decision and shit,
but if you want to have
it, I'll stick by it.
Fuck, I mean that.
You're gonna stick by it?
Do you even know what the fuck that means?
Hmm? You want a kid?
You're gonna have to step the fuck up
and be a father.
Stop all your bullshit
and be a fucking man for me.
I'm not doing this on my own.
Damn, girl.
Okay. I hear you.
Yeah, you damn well better.
(DOG BARKING)
You've never come up here before.
To my mother's apartment.
- What you mean?
- You ain't never come up here for me.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Your mom's home?
- Why don't you come find out?
- (CHUCKLES)
Republican?
- (KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Wait, what the hell are you talking about?
Oh, that son of a bitch.
All right, let me call you back.
- Shit!
- Well, you heard.
Fucking Spallone. I'm all set to wipe the
floor with that asshole in the primary
and now he switches parties?
Are you fucking serious?
I didn't see this one coming.
- When is he gonna announce?
- Later today.
Listen, local GOP didn't
see it coming either.
They're rip shit over it. They don't want
him. They already got Longo, Chema, Fagan.
Now, with Spallone switching Republican,
they're afraid they're gonna be known
as the party of defiance.
Jim, we should have never leaked
those poll numbers. That's what did this.
Well, think of it this way. You just
saved yourself $75,000 in the primary.
What the fuck are you talking about?
I'm gonna need twice that
and then some come November,
when all the Neanderthals
crawl out of the woodwork for Spallone.
Plus, who knows how much of a fight
lannacone's gonna put in the primary now,
or how much money Ralph Arred's gonna put
behind him just to derail me?
Well, if politics were easy,
everyone would be in politics.
Bullshit. Nobody sensible
would ever put themselves through this.
(SIGHING)
Oh, God.
HANK: This question of individual right
is being trampled on by an unfairjudge.
Judge Sand's this...
(SCOFFS) This philosopher king.
Now it's time we restored
- the people's government to Yonkers.
- (SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
And I promise you,
I will continue to appeal
against this off-the-wall judge's decision
to the Supreme Court,
and I will unconditionally oppose
construction of public housing.
We've all seen what this mayor has done.
It's time you recognized
your failure as a leader.
And if the good people of Yonkers
vote for you again...
- MODERATOR: Time.
- You will be a disaster upon this city.
Time, Mr. Spallone.
- Mr. Wasicsko.
- (STOPWATCH CLICKS)
(CLEARS THROAT) Uh, certainly.
My opponent is a one-dimensional candidate.
He can only talk about one issue, housing,
and he doesn't even get that right
most of the time.
He keeps trying to dupe
the people of Yonkers
by telling them that the Supreme Court
can change the situation,
but the Supreme Court has already ruled
on all issues of liability and remedy
in this case that is forever closed.
Yet Mr. Spallone, in order to advance
his own personal political career,
is willing to bankrupt the entire city
in the process.
There is a silent majority out there
that's ready to put this issue behind them
because they know that there's more
important issues in this election.
But they are being intimidated by the mob
which is the loud minority.
Well, it's time for the good people of Yonkers
to take back the ground lost by these...
- This very narrow, lunatic fringe element.
- (SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
(MELLOW SONG PLAYING)
I got endorsed by The New York Times.
I got endorsed by Moynihan,
by Governor Cuomo.
I got the teachers, I got the unions,
and I kicked his ass in the debate. (SIGHS)
What the fuck does it take?
Whatever happens,
you know you did the right thing.
And if you lose, it won't be to stop
the housing. It'll be to punish you.
You see that, why can't they?
Well, they aren't in love with you.
- Why?
- (SCOFFS)
Why aren't they? I'm lovable.
- Yeah, to me.
- To everybody.
I'm the most lovable politician in America.
That says next to nothing.
Oh, come on. Don't go there.
There are plenty of lovable politicians.
Reagan is a lovable politician.
FDR, Tip O'Neill, Kennedy.
- Lovable, lovable, lovable.
- (LAUGHING)
Ed Koch. He's a fat, wrinkly fuck and
they love his lovable ass down the river.
- (HIGH-PITCHED) "Hey, how am I doing?"
- (CONTINUES LAUGHING)
Really, what...
How am I not lovable?
NAY: You are.
Do you think I'm gonna share a bed
with Ed Koch or Tip O'Neill?
Or Kennedy?
Kennedy I might.
- He's dead, Nay.
- Just a quickie then.
Hey, how...
(SIGHING)
If I'm not the mayor of Yonkers,
will you still love me?
Because I'm... Listen, I'm...
I might lose this one, Nay.
Calm down, okay?
The latest polls have you and Spallone
neck-and-neck.
Yeah, but it might be
his neck and not mine.
Come here. Come here.
(WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Hi.
- Be strong.
- Next.
Barman.
- Dorman'?
MEW-
Saint John's Ave.
- You have a ballot, ma'am?
- Oh, no, no, I know my vote.
Okay.
- Curb.
- I know it's a curb.
Just ahead.
Testers. Got the testers.
One a person. Yellow tops ain't no trifle.
- Tell your friends about it.
- Over here.
Easy. Easy, man.
- Fuck, y'all.
- Fuck!
- Drop my shit.
- Yo, fuck you, nigga.
Give me that shit.
Now declaring David Dinkins the winner
over Rudy Giuliani
in the race for mayor of New York.
ANCHORMAN: So, if that call is correct,
it looks as if Dlnklns
will replace Mayor Ed Koch,
the man he defeated
in the Democratic primary,
when the mayor leaves office
at the end of the year.
Dinkins' apparent win means that voters today
elected the first black mayor of New York.
ANCHORWOMAN:
With nearly all of the districts
reporting to you live,
Dinkins is leading...
- Okay. Thank you.
- (PEOPLE TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
ANCHORMAN: That was not the only
big win today for black...
Well, that's the ball game.
MICHAEL: What do you mean?
East Side results are still out,
West Side is almost all in, and I'm down
a couple thousand, so... (SCOFFS)
- Is he sure?
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, he's sure.
Sorry, Ma. Your son is now
the youngest ex-mayor in America.
Nicky, it's just a bump in the road.
Yeah, Nick, who knows, maybe you'll
take the mayor's seat back after two years.
I need an honest job.
We gotta find something for you
outside the mayor's office.
Out of civil service.
Maybe Parking Authority.
You, too, Mike.
There's a YPA spot open on the board.
Finally get you that cushy
job I promised you.
(CHUCKLES)
MAN: Here it is, Nick.
ANCHORWOMAN:
in the race for mayor of Yonkers...
- Here we go.
- Democratic incumbent Nicholas...
Break out the parachutes, everybody,
'cause this plane is going down.
ANCHORMAN: At this point, Spa/lone...
The fact is that this was not an easy time
for Yonkers,
but I am honored to have served my city
when it needed me and I have no regrets.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you.
You know how you know
you're doing the right thing in Yonkers?
- No, how?
- They make you pay for it.
(CHUCKLES)
If there was a hero in any
of this, it was Nick.
Show me a hero and I will
write you a tragedy.
- You come up with that one?
- I wish. Fitzgerald said that.
Who, the guy from New Rochelle?
The one who's running for state Senate?
Any way I might be able to help to do so.
And I will be at Mr. Spallone's disposal.
- Thank you for all your hard work.
- (APPLAUSE)
- (PEOPLE CHEERING)
- HAN K: And furthermore, we have been right
and we are still right.
I believe the decisions of the Supreme
Court will come down in our favor
and we will have struck a blow
against the housing.
But if the decision is not in our favor,
then we will abide by the decision.
But we will see this appeal...
What did he say?
What did he mean "abide by"?
(LOUD CHEERING)
Now, I'm being told
that this housing fight is over.
CROWD: No!
Well, for as long as these decisions
are before the Supreme Court,
they are very real.
(CHEERING)
(KNOCKING)
- Hey, Pete.
- Hey.
NICK: Come on in. Have a seat.
- NAY: Hi, Peter.
- No, no. No, I
know you guys are busy.
I really... I just wanted to drop off
this set of the working drawings
for the first phase of the housing.
These are the approved bids.
Figured you'd want a copy.
I mean, after all you've done for this.
After all this is forgotten,
those are gonna be there.
I know it's been a lonely fight.
- NICK: Appreciate it.
- Nay.
See ya.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
WOMAN: Carmen, sit. Eat with me.
How are things in the DR?
What have you heard from your babies?
Well, a neighbor's dog bit Maria
and it got infected.
Thank God somebody finally saw the bite
and took her for antibiotics.
And Roberto, he went to the hospital, too.
He and his friends were fooling around
with an old truck
- and thought they'd push it to get it started.
- (CHUCKLES)
Ran over his foot.
Boys.
As soon as I get the money
for two plane tickets, they come home.
- This is no way to be family.
- Ask Paul for an advance.
- You ask him.
- (SCOFFS)
Me? I'm just the wife.
You're his best worker. Me, he can divorce.
(BOTH LAUGH)
(KNOCKING)
NEIL: Getting out quick, huh?
Yeah, well, Martinelli let me in early.
I could do the same for Mayor Spallone.
- What is this, fucking Christmas?
- (CHUCKLES)
Ah.
You shouldn't have.
What I mean by that is,
you really fucking shouldn't have.
Fuck you, DeLuca. If it's not parked
out front and candy-apple red,
then you really shouldn't have.
First copy of the charter amendment
you worked up and we passed.
Because of you, this place won't be
half as fucked-up as it is now.
Well, I was just trying to get rid of you
as city manager.
It's easier to eliminate your job in the
charter than round up four votes to fire you.
NEIL: Yeah, four votes are pretty elusive
around here, aren't they?
Yeah.
If that had been there for us, none of this
shit with the housing would have happened.
You had no patronage.
But two years from now?
Nick, even Angelo couldn't get
the strong mayor amendment passed.
It's been a lonely fight, I know.
- What?
- Pete Smith said the exact same thing.
"Lonely fight."
Well, don't be a stranger, Mr. Mayor.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SIGHS)
(KNOCKS RHYTHMICALLY)
Girl, where the hell have you been?
I've been looking for your ass all night.
- All right.
- Your boy locked up.
- What?
- John is locked up.
Something about a robbery charge
and some girls in a car.
What the fuck are you talking about, Meeka?
John is locked up in Rikers.
That's what Mambo said.
My God, I gotta go see him.
You realize that's all day
to get there and back, right?
You can't just show up at Rikers.
It's Rikers.
You gotta figure out visiting hours
and when you can see him.
Meeka, shut the fuck up!
- MAN: You shut the fuck up!
- (SIGHS) Be stupid.
(COUPLE ARGUING)
WOMAN: Nothing at all?
I thought he was your friend.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(WHISTLES SHARPLY)
WOMAN: Kamasa, come here!
KAMASA: What's up, girl?
WOMAN: No, come here.
I wanna talk to you about the deal...
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE)
- (DOOR BUZZES)
- JOHN: it starts raining,
and I tell them, "Yo, we can take the
train." But they didn't want to.
Then like that,
these four girls drive by in a car.
Stash gets them to stop.
They said they might give us a ride.
Do you know them girls?
- No, they was just girls, you know?
- (SCOFFS)
So we get in their car.
This boy up front with two girls,
me and Stash in the back with the other
two, and we start laughing and shit.
And so they asked
for our names and numbers.
And you gave them your name?
No, not my real name. Just Hot.
But I gave the real number.
I ain't know Stash and the other boy,
they didn't give their real numbers.
But later, Stash's friend,
he tries to rob one of them girls
and they're like all screaming and shit.
I'm like, "What the fuck?
What's going on here?"
Then they take off
and I got nothing to do but follow.
I thought that was the end of it,
but one of them went to the cops.
I guess I'm the only one they could find
'cause I'm the only one
that gave a real number.
Now, shit, they got me on robbery two.
Why you gave them your number?
- (GAVEL POUNDING)
- Well, they're clearing the land
for the housing and what are you doing?
HANK: What can I do?
MARY: What do you mean?
You tell them we're not gonna take it.
You stop the Housing Authority
- from making a claim.
- Mr. Spa/lone.
- (GAVEL BANGS)
- All right! All right!
You think I should just lie down
in front of a bulldozer? Come on, Mary.
Well, how is this any different
from when Nick Wasicsko was mayor?
HANK: I'll tell you. That kid was all Wet.
He ran saying he would fight
and then he didn't fight.
- And you're the same way now, Hank.
- Come on, you know where I stand.
- (GAVEL POUNDING)
- But what can I do if the court won't hear it?
Mr. Mayor, if you please.
We'd like to start the meeting now.
All right.
If we start late, we end later.
Hold your horses.
Come on now. You know me.
- You know me. Come on.
- (GAVEL BANGS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
Yeah, give me the hammer.
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
What's first?
Call to order, then the pledge,
then the proclamations.
Oh, Christ, wake me
when there's something that matters.
Council meeting of the city of Yonkers
is now in session.
Please all rise for the
Pledge of Allegiance.
(TRUMPETS SOFTLY)
(SIGHS)
(DISTANT TRAIN HORN BLOWING)
(WATER RUNNING)
(TURNS FAUCET OFF)
Hmm.
That's not good.
(ROCK SONG PLAYING)
(COUGHS)
Cowboy blanco
to cowboy negro.
I got four fucking cowboy negros.
Okay. First time's a charm.
Can you imagine either of us being afraid
- to go to a client any-damn-where?
- (CHUCKLES)
- I mean, really.
- (BELL TOLLING)
I don't understand.
Maybe it's because I've been living there
so long, I don't see it anymore.
But nobody's gonna mess
with a home nurse coming to see a client.
- Even the hoodlums know why you're there.
- (LAUGHS)
- If you could move, would you?
- My home is my home.
'Cause those new houses, Norma,
the ones the city's been fighting about,
they're coming.
Not to this neighborhood, they ain't.
That's the point.
They're all gonna be over to the east.
- Amongst the white folk.
- So?
So, Pat, honey, you would want to live
where people were angry at you?
This isn't about them.
It's you I'm talking about.
Reverend George gonna do a march,
going from Messiah Baptist over to the
housing site over by the raceway.
I don't know nothing about that.
This Saturday. I'm going for sure.
Now why would you want to do that?
How come the only people talking
about this damn housing thing are white?
How come the only faces
you see on television about this are white?
They don't want us living over there.
But they don't know us.
Ain't never even seen us before.
And whose fault is that?
Marching around the East Side
is just gonna make it worse.
Well, like you said, back in the day,
we weren't scared to go anyplace
we needed to go.
- And I ain't gonna scare now.
- (SCOFFS)
- And what about you?
- Me?
I like being with my own.
You writing again?
I wouldn't do that shit for nobody.
- Well, he writes me every day.
- Mmm-hmm.
- Public defender wants him to take a deal.
- Oh, yeah?
Says if he takes a plea
to second-degree robbery,
he'll be out in September, maybe.
- (LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)
- Well, that won't be too long at all.
The baby will be born by then.
Be a nice coming home, I suppose.
I really don't know what to do next.
Hang my shingle?
Take some cases? Maybe teach?
(SIGHING HEAVILY)
It's hard.
You know?
As miserable as they can make it for you
when you're in the middle of things,
at least you're in the middle of things,
you know?
And the thing is, when you lose,
people will say,
"Oh, it's nothing personal," you know?
"It was just that issue or this thing
that happened." But you know what?
People either vote for you
or they vote for the other guy.
What's more personal than that?
Anyway, I'm all right. I'll figure it out.
Don't worry about me.
See you later, Pop.
(BABY CRYING)
We're gonna put you down
for a nap, little man.
Don't you worry,
we're gonna put you down for a nap.
Don't you worry.
- Don't you worry.
- (CRYING CONTINUES)
(PEOPLE ARGUING INDISTINCTLY)
MAN: Fuck!
MAN 21 Chill. Chill, nigga. Chill!
He's just overtired is all.
I want to thank you for helping me
with the groceries this month, Daddy.
When that man got my purse
at the Palisades bus stop,
he took my whole check.
I had just cashed out.
Those damn things.
They're all over the building
from the damn junkies.
In the hallway, in the elevator.
You're always kicking them.
Tracking them in when you walk.
Tell the little man I said good-bye.
Your mother and me,
we're here when you need us.
(ARGUING CONTINUES)
(MOANS)
Hey, come... Come back.
Why do you keep turning around?
I'm not.
Come on. You're so bad at this.
I'm a guy and I'm better
at the cuddle than you are.
You're a disgrace to your gender.
Nick, I gotta be at work tomorrow.
- Come here.
- (SIGHS)
Hey-
(SIGHS) What's the matter?
Nothing. I just... I love you.
You know that?
Yeah. I love you, too.
(SIGHS)
- I couldn't function without you.
- Oh.
You keep me grounded.
- You keep me organized.
- I keep you organized?
Yeah, like, grounded. You know, when you...
- Oh.
- You're a stabilizing influence.
And you smell nice, too.
And you also make
- a really good BLT sandwich.
- (SNORTS)
Not too much mayo
and the bacon is just so crisp.
Aren't you the romantic one?
(SIGHS)
Will you marry me?
Hmm?
I was thinking maybe in May, in the spring.
Nay, you're the only one...
Shut up. Of course I'll marry you.
We're going to sleep now, okay?
I don't think so.
(NAY GROANS)
I don't think so.
(NAY MOANS)
(NAY LAUGHS)
- (SING-SONG) I don't think so.
- (LAUGHS)
Stop.
(WOMAN SPEAKING IN SPANISH OVER PA)
WOMAN: (OVER PA)
American Airlines passenger Eric Lauren,
please pick up a courtesy phone.
Eric Lauren.
- (CARMEN LAUGHING)
- Ma'am. Excuse me, ma'am.
You can't come through here, ma'am.
Okay, you need to all go out,
if that would be all right.
If you could all go out of here,
- that would be wonderful.
- This is the last time, okay?
Last time for this ever, okay?
Hi, nice to meet you. Let's
all go out this way.
Here, I'll take your bags.
- CARMEN: Okay, okay.
- I'll take your bags. Come on. Okay. All right.
How about this one? Okay.
Okay, I'm gonna take this one.
You have a beautiful family.
- (LAUGHS) Come on.
- ATTENDANT: All right. Okay.
Let's all go over there.
- Welcome to New York.
- CARMEN: Thank you.
(CROWD CHANTING)
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
Nojustice, no peace. Nojustice, no...
Do you know who is leading them?
Al Sharpton. The Tawana Brawley guy.
Now we got that asshole to deal with.
Hi.
(CROWD CONTINUES CHANTING)
No justice, no peace. No justice...
I'm Pat. I'm Pat Williams.
- Pat.
- Nice to meet you.
(CHANTING CONTINUES)
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace.
Nojustice, no peace. No...
REPORTER: (ON TV)
Reverend Sharpton was joined
by New York activist Alton Maddox
as well as Yonkers' own
Reverend Darryl George
to lead the protest against
Mayor Henry Spallone's opposition
to thwart ordered housing desegregation.
The three led a crowd
of nearly 400 chanting protesters
on a three-and-a-half-mile
march towards Yonkers.
(CROWD CHANTING) We're moving in!
REPORTER: The group marched
from Messiah Baptist Church...
(REPORTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
About 100 police officers in riot gear
lined the marchers around,
but no trouble was reported
and no arrests were made.
The marchers said they were protesting
Mayor Spallone
and other councilmen drinking champagne
to celebrate their January 10th victory...
(CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
MAN: We love you, Mayor!
Thank you very much.
I'm here tonight to announce
I'm running for re-election
- as mayor of Yonkers.
- (LOUD CHEERING)
- I'm coming out.
- (WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
I'm running.
And those who think I'm a dead turkey,
come on, bring it on.
(CHEERING)
MAN: Go, Hank!
I'm gonna be campaigning tonight,
tomorrow, and the day after,
- and every day until next year's election.
- (PEOPLE CHEERING)
Jesus, 14 months out,
he's already announcing.
He's running scared already.
At City Hall, they're saying he did
it early to scare off competition.
Well, yeah, he heard
that Martinelli was running again.
There'll be a dozen or so others lining up
before it's all over.
But this shit?
This makes Spallone look desperate.
Desperate is no way to kick off a campaign.
JACK: (ON TW Spallone sold us out
and as far as we are concerned...
Check it out. Jack O'Toole.
He's finished. We believed in him.
We backed him and his campaign last year,
but he has been a complete disappointment.
He said he'd never give up.
He said he'd never give in to the judge.
That's it. That's it.
Spallone lost O'Toole. Stick a fork in him.
He's done. That's his base right there.
O'Toole scares me.
Like, more than the others.
Yeah, 'cause he's more dangerous.
You will never hear Jack O'Toole
utter a racist phrase
'cause guys like that,
they learn how not to say the bad words.
No more coon. No more nigga.
Nothing out of his mouth
that'll give it away, you know?
It's all property values,
and life and liberty,
and people only living
where they can afford and all that talk.
But underneath it all, it's fear.
Same as it ever was.
I played into that fear, too.
When I got in for mayor, I did.
It chewed me up.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Man.
What I would do
with a second chance at that brass ring.
They're getting ready
to knock School 4 down.
This beautiful old building.
I mean, it's 104 years old. It's...
It's a sin to tear this down, Buddy.
Yeah.
Well, do you think there'll be any,
you know, trouble when they start?
They did some demolition
over at the site by the raceway,
but that was just a vacant garage.
When people see this go down...
Well, is Jack O'Toole planning anything?
He says we should be at every site,
protest every single change.
- I'm late.
- I'll see you later.
- Bye.
- Take care, doll. All right.
I think I'm gonna drive out there, okay?
I think... I feel like I
need to see it for myself.
BUDDY: Okay. Well, be safe.
- I'll see you later.
- I'll see you.
(INAUDIBLE)
(MIMICKING ENGINE RUNNING)
Oh, boy.
(SIGHS)
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(CAR E N G I N E STARTS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(DOOR BUZZES)
(MAN SPEAKING OVER PA)
Man, yo.
Oh, my God. Your cheek. You cut?
Ain't nothing.
What do we got here?
- This is John Billie Santos.
- (CLICKS TONGUE)
(BABY (zooms)
Look at that.
(CHUCKLES)
I don't know.
It's a hard thing
giving someone else your name.
Well, he has both our names.
That's right.
I'm on the wait list for Schlobohm
for a place of our own.
The housing lady say with the baby
I go to the top of the list.
- Yeah?
- Just about.
(FUSSING)
Come here.
- Come here. Let me do it. I'm gonna tell her.
- (DOOR OPENS)
Hey. Oh, hey, Anne.
- Hi.
- Hi.
(CHUCKLES)
Okay, why are you smiling like cats?
Um, I don't know. Maybe it's this
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
What?
- I'm a finalist. I haven't...
- Shh!
- I think Moynihan must have nominated me.
- Shh!
(LAUGHING)
(NAY GASPS)
All right, "While only 28 years Old,
"you demonstrated political courage
by your leadership
"and your unrelenting support
for the rights of minorities and the poor."
"Despite calls for your resignation
and threats to your personal safety,
"you forged a path to
equality of opportunity
"and access to public housing in all
parts of Yonkers, the committee found."
- It comes with a $25,000 check if I win.
- (LAUGHING)
Jackie Onassis herself
handed out the award last year.
If I'm gonna meet Jackie Kennedy,
I gotta go shopping.
Okay, Mom.
NAY: You deserve this so much.
If I win this, I'm running for mayor again.
- Yeah.
- No question.
No question.
(ANNE CHUCKLING)
Look at this. Look.
- (PEOPLE ARGUING)
- MANI Yellow.
Got that yellow.
How you doing this evening?
I'm all right. Are you up again?
MAN: Got them yellow tops.
Yeah, but, um, I'm a
little short right now.
I mean, I'll be good later in the week,
but now...
- I think we can work something out.
- MAN: Yellow.
Cool.
I'll get right with you
later this week, for sure.
Nah, I mean work it out.
You know, a little something something.
MAN: Yellow tops here.
- I don't...
- Come on, girl, you ain't want the rock?
- What's up?
- I'll get you money later this week.
There ain't no later. Ain't no free.
You and me just got to
step around the corner.
MAN: Yellow.
MAN 21 Jimmy D!
MAN 33 Yo.
MAN: Yellow.
MAN 2: Yo, get your ass over here.
MAN 3: Come on, man, what you want now?
MAN: Got that yellow.
MAN 4: What's up, man? (LAUGHING)
(TRACTOR BEEPING)
(CROWD CHANTING) No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won. No rest
- till we've won.
- Jack!
- No rest till we've won.
- Jack O'Toole!
- No rest till we've won. No rest till we've won.
- What are we doing here?
They started building already.
We're letting them know
that this doesn't end.
They're never gonna be welcome here.
What are we trying to accomplish?
(CROWD CHANTING) No rights for the Whites!
JACK". We will remember in November.
(CROWD CHANTING)
We'll remember in November.
We'll remember in November.
We'll remember in November.
We'll remember...
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN: Most of the work is done at the plant.
The whole kit and caboodle will be done
by the time they truck down here.
OSCAR: You'll have this done in one day?
Oh, yeah. We'll weld them in place,
hook up the utilities,
and then we're good to go.
How quickly can you set the rest?
Oh, after this,
we'll be setting two or three a day.
We'll have the first 142 up
by the end of the year. No problem.
(MELLOW SONG PLAYING)
I'm surprised they showed up.
- Profile in Courage.
- (BOTH LAUGH)
(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)
(BABY (zooms)
(INDISTINCT)
(LINE RINGING)
(TEARFULLY) Mama.
I need to come home. (SOBBING)
(DOG BARKING)
OFFICER; (OVER RADIO) 10-4.
DISPATCH: I've got a 10-18
at the Cross County Shopping Center,
- Kimball Avenue side, no exact location.
- (DISTANT SIREN WAILING)
OFFICER: 601 to headquarters.
DISPATCH: 601.
OFFICER: Building 25
is a scene of vandalism.
I got a 10-16 here...
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING)
(CLASSIC SONG PLAYING ON STEREO)
That's my cousin's house.
Really?
(LAUGHS)
Well, whoever it is, I'm guessing
they don't get invited to the block party.
- We're on the East Side, Nick.
- Yeah, I know.
(PEOPLE CHANTING SLOGANS)
PEOPLE". No justice, no peace.
No peace...
The best thing is, he has to rely
on the districts that never vote.
He had everything to the east
where no one ever misses an election there.
- 'Cause they give a shit, right?
- This year they do, for sure, Hank.
REPORTER: You're not an easy man
to catch up with, Councilman.
I've been calling to talk with you
for a few days.
Yeah, well, you know
how these campaigns go.
We're always running somewhere.
Speaking of which,
we're late for some radio we have to do.
Oh, come on, Councilman. A couple
questions and I'm out of your hair.
Yeah? What would be the point?
The point? It's an election.
You're running. I'm covering it.
Yeah, for The New York Times.
See, if you were one of the Yonkers guys,
I'd talk to you. You know why?
No, why?
Because that would mean
that you lived in Yonkers,
that you worked in Yonkers like me,
like they do.
But all you guys telling us
what you think we should do,
you're all actually from someplace else.
You know, thatjudge, he
lives in Westchester.
And Sussman and them lawyers,
they live where they do.
You know, I'm guessing you got yourself
a nice little place in Manhattan somewhere,
or Park Slope? Am I right? (CHUCKLES)
But, you see, we live here.
And when I pick up
a copy of The New York Times
and I read what you are writing about me, and
about this kid mayor who's gone all wet,
and about the housing thing,
I know that it's got nothing to do
with what's going on here.
And what's going on?
People working for their homes,
for their neighborhoods.
They want to keep what they have.
And you really think that building
a couple hundred units of public housing
is gonna wreck those neighborhoods?
(SCOFFING)
Yeah, I do. And the voters do, too.
MAN: Go get 'em, Hank.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
All right, guys. All right.
Make a way. Make way.
- Wasicsko, you ain't shit. You fucking bum.
- Come on.
Get the fuck out of here.
Go away, Mr. Wasicsko.
Wasicsko, why don't you
go fuck your mother?
- Go on.
- Why do you even have to talk like that, uh?
- (SPITS)
- CROWD: on!
- MAN 2: Come on, man, you can't do that.
- You son of a bitch.
MAN 3: Come on, you don't spit on a man.
- MAN 4: He spit in his face.
- Yeah, go on.
- Stay out, you bum. We had enough of you.
- MAN 5: You're done in this town!
WOMAN: Fuck, that nigga bugging out, son.
- Hey, Ma.
- NORMA: Dwayne.
Ms. Ramirez is ready to leave.
She was waiting in the hopes
you'd walk her to her car.
Of course. Sorry I'm late.
Thank you, Mrs. O'Neal.
If it didn't get so dark so early...
I understand.
I'll be back, Ma.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(MUSIC BLARING)
(HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING)
So we'll see you again Thursday?
I know that she wanted to do a
little shopping before the weekend.
MAN: Yo, you guys crazy, man.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
- MAN: Okay...
- (KNOCKING)
Yeah, come in.
- Hey.
- NICK: Hey, what's up, guys?
- Jesus.
- Yeah, I shoot the messenger.
- Who are you?
- This is Jeffrey Conlon, our best poll man.
Right, right, right. Nick Wasicsko.
How's it going? Have a seat.
That's right, you were a cop.
Yeah, Westchester County,
until I decided I needed a bigger gun
and I went to law school.
You see how that turned out.
All right, what's the bad news?
Wait a second. When is this sample from?
This week, through Tuesday.
Holy Jesus. Really?
I'm sorry, I've just been riding around
in forests of Spallone signs.
(CHUCKLING) I'm finding it hard to believe.
No. Citywide, we've got 48% who support
accepting Judge Sand's housing order.
And only 39% who want the city
to still keep fighting it.
Yeah, and 12% with no opinion.
How the fuck does 12% of Yonkers
not have an opinion on their housing?
I mean, where do they find these people?
Under fucking rocks?
On the issue, you've won.
Spallone's flogging a dead horse here.
You know something? I
ride around this city,
I look at all the signs,
I hear these people yelling, but you forget
that there's, like,
this whole silent majority out there.
Especially when you got these other
bastards shitting on you every day.
Spallone's got to know
about these numbers, right?
I mean, this is gonna take the wind
right out of his sails.
JIM: He and his people probably have
some idea how far he's trailing, yeah.
But I bet the money people don't.
Of course, we could enlighten them.
Like, leak the poll?
Herald Statesman?
You know what I mean.
I'm nothing but a burn.
But I love you. And you told me...
Yo, I'm telling you
I ain't good enough for you.
You need to forget about me.
(TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY)
(SNIFFLES) I'm pregnant.
I wasn't gonna tell you.
Wait. You don't have to worry.
I'm gonna get rid of it.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(LIGHTS HUMMING)
(DOG BARKING)
(KNOCKS)
(KNOCKS LOUDLY)
- Why you ain't tell me?
- Does it matter?
Look, I know it's your decision and shit,
but if you want to have
it, I'll stick by it.
Fuck, I mean that.
You're gonna stick by it?
Do you even know what the fuck that means?
Hmm? You want a kid?
You're gonna have to step the fuck up
and be a father.
Stop all your bullshit
and be a fucking man for me.
I'm not doing this on my own.
Damn, girl.
Okay. I hear you.
Yeah, you damn well better.
(DOG BARKING)
You've never come up here before.
To my mother's apartment.
- What you mean?
- You ain't never come up here for me.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Your mom's home?
- Why don't you come find out?
- (CHUCKLES)
Republican?
- (KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Wait, what the hell are you talking about?
Oh, that son of a bitch.
All right, let me call you back.
- Shit!
- Well, you heard.
Fucking Spallone. I'm all set to wipe the
floor with that asshole in the primary
and now he switches parties?
Are you fucking serious?
I didn't see this one coming.
- When is he gonna announce?
- Later today.
Listen, local GOP didn't
see it coming either.
They're rip shit over it. They don't want
him. They already got Longo, Chema, Fagan.
Now, with Spallone switching Republican,
they're afraid they're gonna be known
as the party of defiance.
Jim, we should have never leaked
those poll numbers. That's what did this.
Well, think of it this way. You just
saved yourself $75,000 in the primary.
What the fuck are you talking about?
I'm gonna need twice that
and then some come November,
when all the Neanderthals
crawl out of the woodwork for Spallone.
Plus, who knows how much of a fight
lannacone's gonna put in the primary now,
or how much money Ralph Arred's gonna put
behind him just to derail me?
Well, if politics were easy,
everyone would be in politics.
Bullshit. Nobody sensible
would ever put themselves through this.
(SIGHING)
Oh, God.
HANK: This question of individual right
is being trampled on by an unfairjudge.
Judge Sand's this...
(SCOFFS) This philosopher king.
Now it's time we restored
- the people's government to Yonkers.
- (SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
And I promise you,
I will continue to appeal
against this off-the-wall judge's decision
to the Supreme Court,
and I will unconditionally oppose
construction of public housing.
We've all seen what this mayor has done.
It's time you recognized
your failure as a leader.
And if the good people of Yonkers
vote for you again...
- MODERATOR: Time.
- You will be a disaster upon this city.
Time, Mr. Spallone.
- Mr. Wasicsko.
- (STOPWATCH CLICKS)
(CLEARS THROAT) Uh, certainly.
My opponent is a one-dimensional candidate.
He can only talk about one issue, housing,
and he doesn't even get that right
most of the time.
He keeps trying to dupe
the people of Yonkers
by telling them that the Supreme Court
can change the situation,
but the Supreme Court has already ruled
on all issues of liability and remedy
in this case that is forever closed.
Yet Mr. Spallone, in order to advance
his own personal political career,
is willing to bankrupt the entire city
in the process.
There is a silent majority out there
that's ready to put this issue behind them
because they know that there's more
important issues in this election.
But they are being intimidated by the mob
which is the loud minority.
Well, it's time for the good people of Yonkers
to take back the ground lost by these...
- This very narrow, lunatic fringe element.
- (SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
(MELLOW SONG PLAYING)
I got endorsed by The New York Times.
I got endorsed by Moynihan,
by Governor Cuomo.
I got the teachers, I got the unions,
and I kicked his ass in the debate. (SIGHS)
What the fuck does it take?
Whatever happens,
you know you did the right thing.
And if you lose, it won't be to stop
the housing. It'll be to punish you.
You see that, why can't they?
Well, they aren't in love with you.
- Why?
- (SCOFFS)
Why aren't they? I'm lovable.
- Yeah, to me.
- To everybody.
I'm the most lovable politician in America.
That says next to nothing.
Oh, come on. Don't go there.
There are plenty of lovable politicians.
Reagan is a lovable politician.
FDR, Tip O'Neill, Kennedy.
- Lovable, lovable, lovable.
- (LAUGHING)
Ed Koch. He's a fat, wrinkly fuck and
they love his lovable ass down the river.
- (HIGH-PITCHED) "Hey, how am I doing?"
- (CONTINUES LAUGHING)
Really, what...
How am I not lovable?
NAY: You are.
Do you think I'm gonna share a bed
with Ed Koch or Tip O'Neill?
Or Kennedy?
Kennedy I might.
- He's dead, Nay.
- Just a quickie then.
Hey, how...
(SIGHING)
If I'm not the mayor of Yonkers,
will you still love me?
Because I'm... Listen, I'm...
I might lose this one, Nay.
Calm down, okay?
The latest polls have you and Spallone
neck-and-neck.
Yeah, but it might be
his neck and not mine.
Come here. Come here.
(WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Hi.
- Be strong.
- Next.
Barman.
- Dorman'?
MEW-
Saint John's Ave.
- You have a ballot, ma'am?
- Oh, no, no, I know my vote.
Okay.
- Curb.
- I know it's a curb.
Just ahead.
Testers. Got the testers.
One a person. Yellow tops ain't no trifle.
- Tell your friends about it.
- Over here.
Easy. Easy, man.
- Fuck, y'all.
- Fuck!
- Drop my shit.
- Yo, fuck you, nigga.
Give me that shit.
Now declaring David Dinkins the winner
over Rudy Giuliani
in the race for mayor of New York.
ANCHORMAN: So, if that call is correct,
it looks as if Dlnklns
will replace Mayor Ed Koch,
the man he defeated
in the Democratic primary,
when the mayor leaves office
at the end of the year.
Dinkins' apparent win means that voters today
elected the first black mayor of New York.
ANCHORWOMAN:
With nearly all of the districts
reporting to you live,
Dinkins is leading...
- Okay. Thank you.
- (PEOPLE TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
ANCHORMAN: That was not the only
big win today for black...
Well, that's the ball game.
MICHAEL: What do you mean?
East Side results are still out,
West Side is almost all in, and I'm down
a couple thousand, so... (SCOFFS)
- Is he sure?
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, he's sure.
Sorry, Ma. Your son is now
the youngest ex-mayor in America.
Nicky, it's just a bump in the road.
Yeah, Nick, who knows, maybe you'll
take the mayor's seat back after two years.
I need an honest job.
We gotta find something for you
outside the mayor's office.
Out of civil service.
Maybe Parking Authority.
You, too, Mike.
There's a YPA spot open on the board.
Finally get you that cushy
job I promised you.
(CHUCKLES)
MAN: Here it is, Nick.
ANCHORWOMAN:
in the race for mayor of Yonkers...
- Here we go.
- Democratic incumbent Nicholas...
Break out the parachutes, everybody,
'cause this plane is going down.
ANCHORMAN: At this point, Spa/lone...
The fact is that this was not an easy time
for Yonkers,
but I am honored to have served my city
when it needed me and I have no regrets.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you.
You know how you know
you're doing the right thing in Yonkers?
- No, how?
- They make you pay for it.
(CHUCKLES)
If there was a hero in any
of this, it was Nick.
Show me a hero and I will
write you a tragedy.
- You come up with that one?
- I wish. Fitzgerald said that.
Who, the guy from New Rochelle?
The one who's running for state Senate?
Any way I might be able to help to do so.
And I will be at Mr. Spallone's disposal.
- Thank you for all your hard work.
- (APPLAUSE)
- (PEOPLE CHEERING)
- HAN K: And furthermore, we have been right
and we are still right.
I believe the decisions of the Supreme
Court will come down in our favor
and we will have struck a blow
against the housing.
But if the decision is not in our favor,
then we will abide by the decision.
But we will see this appeal...
What did he say?
What did he mean "abide by"?
(LOUD CHEERING)
Now, I'm being told
that this housing fight is over.
CROWD: No!
Well, for as long as these decisions
are before the Supreme Court,
they are very real.
(CHEERING)
(KNOCKING)
- Hey, Pete.
- Hey.
NICK: Come on in. Have a seat.
- NAY: Hi, Peter.
- No, no. No, I
know you guys are busy.
I really... I just wanted to drop off
this set of the working drawings
for the first phase of the housing.
These are the approved bids.
Figured you'd want a copy.
I mean, after all you've done for this.
After all this is forgotten,
those are gonna be there.
I know it's been a lonely fight.
- NICK: Appreciate it.
- Nay.
See ya.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
WOMAN: Carmen, sit. Eat with me.
How are things in the DR?
What have you heard from your babies?
Well, a neighbor's dog bit Maria
and it got infected.
Thank God somebody finally saw the bite
and took her for antibiotics.
And Roberto, he went to the hospital, too.
He and his friends were fooling around
with an old truck
- and thought they'd push it to get it started.
- (CHUCKLES)
Ran over his foot.
Boys.
As soon as I get the money
for two plane tickets, they come home.
- This is no way to be family.
- Ask Paul for an advance.
- You ask him.
- (SCOFFS)
Me? I'm just the wife.
You're his best worker. Me, he can divorce.
(BOTH LAUGH)
(KNOCKING)
NEIL: Getting out quick, huh?
Yeah, well, Martinelli let me in early.
I could do the same for Mayor Spallone.
- What is this, fucking Christmas?
- (CHUCKLES)
Ah.
You shouldn't have.
What I mean by that is,
you really fucking shouldn't have.
Fuck you, DeLuca. If it's not parked
out front and candy-apple red,
then you really shouldn't have.
First copy of the charter amendment
you worked up and we passed.
Because of you, this place won't be
half as fucked-up as it is now.
Well, I was just trying to get rid of you
as city manager.
It's easier to eliminate your job in the
charter than round up four votes to fire you.
NEIL: Yeah, four votes are pretty elusive
around here, aren't they?
Yeah.
If that had been there for us, none of this
shit with the housing would have happened.
You had no patronage.
But two years from now?
Nick, even Angelo couldn't get
the strong mayor amendment passed.
It's been a lonely fight, I know.
- What?
- Pete Smith said the exact same thing.
"Lonely fight."
Well, don't be a stranger, Mr. Mayor.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SIGHS)
(KNOCKS RHYTHMICALLY)
Girl, where the hell have you been?
I've been looking for your ass all night.
- All right.
- Your boy locked up.
- What?
- John is locked up.
Something about a robbery charge
and some girls in a car.
What the fuck are you talking about, Meeka?
John is locked up in Rikers.
That's what Mambo said.
My God, I gotta go see him.
You realize that's all day
to get there and back, right?
You can't just show up at Rikers.
It's Rikers.
You gotta figure out visiting hours
and when you can see him.
Meeka, shut the fuck up!
- MAN: You shut the fuck up!
- (SIGHS) Be stupid.
(COUPLE ARGUING)
WOMAN: Nothing at all?
I thought he was your friend.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(WHISTLES SHARPLY)
WOMAN: Kamasa, come here!
KAMASA: What's up, girl?
WOMAN: No, come here.
I wanna talk to you about the deal...
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE)
- (DOOR BUZZES)
- JOHN: it starts raining,
and I tell them, "Yo, we can take the
train." But they didn't want to.
Then like that,
these four girls drive by in a car.
Stash gets them to stop.
They said they might give us a ride.
Do you know them girls?
- No, they was just girls, you know?
- (SCOFFS)
So we get in their car.
This boy up front with two girls,
me and Stash in the back with the other
two, and we start laughing and shit.
And so they asked
for our names and numbers.
And you gave them your name?
No, not my real name. Just Hot.
But I gave the real number.
I ain't know Stash and the other boy,
they didn't give their real numbers.
But later, Stash's friend,
he tries to rob one of them girls
and they're like all screaming and shit.
I'm like, "What the fuck?
What's going on here?"
Then they take off
and I got nothing to do but follow.
I thought that was the end of it,
but one of them went to the cops.
I guess I'm the only one they could find
'cause I'm the only one
that gave a real number.
Now, shit, they got me on robbery two.
Why you gave them your number?
- (GAVEL POUNDING)
- Well, they're clearing the land
for the housing and what are you doing?
HANK: What can I do?
MARY: What do you mean?
You tell them we're not gonna take it.
You stop the Housing Authority
- from making a claim.
- Mr. Spa/lone.
- (GAVEL BANGS)
- All right! All right!
You think I should just lie down
in front of a bulldozer? Come on, Mary.
Well, how is this any different
from when Nick Wasicsko was mayor?
HANK: I'll tell you. That kid was all Wet.
He ran saying he would fight
and then he didn't fight.
- And you're the same way now, Hank.
- Come on, you know where I stand.
- (GAVEL POUNDING)
- But what can I do if the court won't hear it?
Mr. Mayor, if you please.
We'd like to start the meeting now.
All right.
If we start late, we end later.
Hold your horses.
Come on now. You know me.
- You know me. Come on.
- (GAVEL BANGS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
Yeah, give me the hammer.
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
What's first?
Call to order, then the pledge,
then the proclamations.
Oh, Christ, wake me
when there's something that matters.
Council meeting of the city of Yonkers
is now in session.
Please all rise for the
Pledge of Allegiance.
(TRUMPETS SOFTLY)
(SIGHS)
(DISTANT TRAIN HORN BLOWING)
(WATER RUNNING)
(TURNS FAUCET OFF)
Hmm.
That's not good.
(ROCK SONG PLAYING)
(COUGHS)
Cowboy blanco
to cowboy negro.
I got four fucking cowboy negros.
Okay. First time's a charm.
Can you imagine either of us being afraid
- to go to a client any-damn-where?
- (CHUCKLES)
- I mean, really.
- (BELL TOLLING)
I don't understand.
Maybe it's because I've been living there
so long, I don't see it anymore.
But nobody's gonna mess
with a home nurse coming to see a client.
- Even the hoodlums know why you're there.
- (LAUGHS)
- If you could move, would you?
- My home is my home.
'Cause those new houses, Norma,
the ones the city's been fighting about,
they're coming.
Not to this neighborhood, they ain't.
That's the point.
They're all gonna be over to the east.
- Amongst the white folk.
- So?
So, Pat, honey, you would want to live
where people were angry at you?
This isn't about them.
It's you I'm talking about.
Reverend George gonna do a march,
going from Messiah Baptist over to the
housing site over by the raceway.
I don't know nothing about that.
This Saturday. I'm going for sure.
Now why would you want to do that?
How come the only people talking
about this damn housing thing are white?
How come the only faces
you see on television about this are white?
They don't want us living over there.
But they don't know us.
Ain't never even seen us before.
And whose fault is that?
Marching around the East Side
is just gonna make it worse.
Well, like you said, back in the day,
we weren't scared to go anyplace
we needed to go.
- And I ain't gonna scare now.
- (SCOFFS)
- And what about you?
- Me?
I like being with my own.
You writing again?
I wouldn't do that shit for nobody.
- Well, he writes me every day.
- Mmm-hmm.
- Public defender wants him to take a deal.
- Oh, yeah?
Says if he takes a plea
to second-degree robbery,
he'll be out in September, maybe.
- (LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)
- Well, that won't be too long at all.
The baby will be born by then.
Be a nice coming home, I suppose.
I really don't know what to do next.
Hang my shingle?
Take some cases? Maybe teach?
(SIGHING HEAVILY)
It's hard.
You know?
As miserable as they can make it for you
when you're in the middle of things,
at least you're in the middle of things,
you know?
And the thing is, when you lose,
people will say,
"Oh, it's nothing personal," you know?
"It was just that issue or this thing
that happened." But you know what?
People either vote for you
or they vote for the other guy.
What's more personal than that?
Anyway, I'm all right. I'll figure it out.
Don't worry about me.
See you later, Pop.
(BABY CRYING)
We're gonna put you down
for a nap, little man.
Don't you worry,
we're gonna put you down for a nap.
Don't you worry.
- Don't you worry.
- (CRYING CONTINUES)
(PEOPLE ARGUING INDISTINCTLY)
MAN: Fuck!
MAN 21 Chill. Chill, nigga. Chill!
He's just overtired is all.
I want to thank you for helping me
with the groceries this month, Daddy.
When that man got my purse
at the Palisades bus stop,
he took my whole check.
I had just cashed out.
Those damn things.
They're all over the building
from the damn junkies.
In the hallway, in the elevator.
You're always kicking them.
Tracking them in when you walk.
Tell the little man I said good-bye.
Your mother and me,
we're here when you need us.
(ARGUING CONTINUES)
(MOANS)
Hey, come... Come back.
Why do you keep turning around?
I'm not.
Come on. You're so bad at this.
I'm a guy and I'm better
at the cuddle than you are.
You're a disgrace to your gender.
Nick, I gotta be at work tomorrow.
- Come here.
- (SIGHS)
Hey-
(SIGHS) What's the matter?
Nothing. I just... I love you.
You know that?
Yeah. I love you, too.
(SIGHS)
- I couldn't function without you.
- Oh.
You keep me grounded.
- You keep me organized.
- I keep you organized?
Yeah, like, grounded. You know, when you...
- Oh.
- You're a stabilizing influence.
And you smell nice, too.
And you also make
- a really good BLT sandwich.
- (SNORTS)
Not too much mayo
and the bacon is just so crisp.
Aren't you the romantic one?
(SIGHS)
Will you marry me?
Hmm?
I was thinking maybe in May, in the spring.
Nay, you're the only one...
Shut up. Of course I'll marry you.
We're going to sleep now, okay?
I don't think so.
(NAY GROANS)
I don't think so.
(NAY MOANS)
(NAY LAUGHS)
- (SING-SONG) I don't think so.
- (LAUGHS)
Stop.
(WOMAN SPEAKING IN SPANISH OVER PA)
WOMAN: (OVER PA)
American Airlines passenger Eric Lauren,
please pick up a courtesy phone.
Eric Lauren.
- (CARMEN LAUGHING)
- Ma'am. Excuse me, ma'am.
You can't come through here, ma'am.
Okay, you need to all go out,
if that would be all right.
If you could all go out of here,
- that would be wonderful.
- This is the last time, okay?
Last time for this ever, okay?
Hi, nice to meet you. Let's
all go out this way.
Here, I'll take your bags.
- CARMEN: Okay, okay.
- I'll take your bags. Come on. Okay. All right.
How about this one? Okay.
Okay, I'm gonna take this one.
You have a beautiful family.
- (LAUGHS) Come on.
- ATTENDANT: All right. Okay.
Let's all go over there.
- Welcome to New York.
- CARMEN: Thank you.
(CROWD CHANTING)
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
Nojustice, no peace. Nojustice, no...
Do you know who is leading them?
Al Sharpton. The Tawana Brawley guy.
Now we got that asshole to deal with.
Hi.
(CROWD CONTINUES CHANTING)
No justice, no peace. No justice...
I'm Pat. I'm Pat Williams.
- Pat.
- Nice to meet you.
(CHANTING CONTINUES)
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
No justice, no peace.
Nojustice, no peace. No...
REPORTER: (ON TV)
Reverend Sharpton was joined
by New York activist Alton Maddox
as well as Yonkers' own
Reverend Darryl George
to lead the protest against
Mayor Henry Spallone's opposition
to thwart ordered housing desegregation.
The three led a crowd
of nearly 400 chanting protesters
on a three-and-a-half-mile
march towards Yonkers.
(CROWD CHANTING) We're moving in!
REPORTER: The group marched
from Messiah Baptist Church...
(REPORTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
About 100 police officers in riot gear
lined the marchers around,
but no trouble was reported
and no arrests were made.
The marchers said they were protesting
Mayor Spallone
and other councilmen drinking champagne
to celebrate their January 10th victory...
(CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
MAN: We love you, Mayor!
Thank you very much.
I'm here tonight to announce
I'm running for re-election
- as mayor of Yonkers.
- (LOUD CHEERING)
- I'm coming out.
- (WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
I'm running.
And those who think I'm a dead turkey,
come on, bring it on.
(CHEERING)
MAN: Go, Hank!
I'm gonna be campaigning tonight,
tomorrow, and the day after,
- and every day until next year's election.
- (PEOPLE CHEERING)
Jesus, 14 months out,
he's already announcing.
He's running scared already.
At City Hall, they're saying he did
it early to scare off competition.
Well, yeah, he heard
that Martinelli was running again.
There'll be a dozen or so others lining up
before it's all over.
But this shit?
This makes Spallone look desperate.
Desperate is no way to kick off a campaign.
JACK: (ON TW Spallone sold us out
and as far as we are concerned...
Check it out. Jack O'Toole.
He's finished. We believed in him.
We backed him and his campaign last year,
but he has been a complete disappointment.
He said he'd never give up.
He said he'd never give in to the judge.
That's it. That's it.
Spallone lost O'Toole. Stick a fork in him.
He's done. That's his base right there.
O'Toole scares me.
Like, more than the others.
Yeah, 'cause he's more dangerous.
You will never hear Jack O'Toole
utter a racist phrase
'cause guys like that,
they learn how not to say the bad words.
No more coon. No more nigga.
Nothing out of his mouth
that'll give it away, you know?
It's all property values,
and life and liberty,
and people only living
where they can afford and all that talk.
But underneath it all, it's fear.
Same as it ever was.
I played into that fear, too.
When I got in for mayor, I did.
It chewed me up.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Man.
What I would do
with a second chance at that brass ring.
They're getting ready
to knock School 4 down.
This beautiful old building.
I mean, it's 104 years old. It's...
It's a sin to tear this down, Buddy.
Yeah.
Well, do you think there'll be any,
you know, trouble when they start?
They did some demolition
over at the site by the raceway,
but that was just a vacant garage.
When people see this go down...
Well, is Jack O'Toole planning anything?
He says we should be at every site,
protest every single change.
- I'm late.
- I'll see you later.
- Bye.
- Take care, doll. All right.
I think I'm gonna drive out there, okay?
I think... I feel like I
need to see it for myself.
BUDDY: Okay. Well, be safe.
- I'll see you later.
- I'll see you.
(INAUDIBLE)
(MIMICKING ENGINE RUNNING)
Oh, boy.
(SIGHS)
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(CAR E N G I N E STARTS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(DOOR BUZZES)
(MAN SPEAKING OVER PA)
Man, yo.
Oh, my God. Your cheek. You cut?
Ain't nothing.
What do we got here?
- This is John Billie Santos.
- (CLICKS TONGUE)
(BABY (zooms)
Look at that.
(CHUCKLES)
I don't know.
It's a hard thing
giving someone else your name.
Well, he has both our names.
That's right.
I'm on the wait list for Schlobohm
for a place of our own.
The housing lady say with the baby
I go to the top of the list.
- Yeah?
- Just about.
(FUSSING)
Come here.
- Come here. Let me do it. I'm gonna tell her.
- (DOOR OPENS)
Hey. Oh, hey, Anne.
- Hi.
- Hi.
(CHUCKLES)
Okay, why are you smiling like cats?
Um, I don't know. Maybe it's this
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
What?
- I'm a finalist. I haven't...
- Shh!
- I think Moynihan must have nominated me.
- Shh!
(LAUGHING)
(NAY GASPS)
All right, "While only 28 years Old,
"you demonstrated political courage
by your leadership
"and your unrelenting support
for the rights of minorities and the poor."
"Despite calls for your resignation
and threats to your personal safety,
"you forged a path to
equality of opportunity
"and access to public housing in all
parts of Yonkers, the committee found."
- It comes with a $25,000 check if I win.
- (LAUGHING)
Jackie Onassis herself
handed out the award last year.
If I'm gonna meet Jackie Kennedy,
I gotta go shopping.
Okay, Mom.
NAY: You deserve this so much.
If I win this, I'm running for mayor again.
- Yeah.
- No question.
No question.
(ANNE CHUCKLING)
Look at this. Look.
- (PEOPLE ARGUING)
- MANI Yellow.
Got that yellow.
How you doing this evening?
I'm all right. Are you up again?
MAN: Got them yellow tops.
Yeah, but, um, I'm a
little short right now.
I mean, I'll be good later in the week,
but now...
- I think we can work something out.
- MAN: Yellow.
Cool.
I'll get right with you
later this week, for sure.
Nah, I mean work it out.
You know, a little something something.
MAN: Yellow tops here.
- I don't...
- Come on, girl, you ain't want the rock?
- What's up?
- I'll get you money later this week.
There ain't no later. Ain't no free.
You and me just got to
step around the corner.
MAN: Yellow.
MAN 21 Jimmy D!
MAN 33 Yo.
MAN: Yellow.
MAN 2: Yo, get your ass over here.
MAN 3: Come on, man, what you want now?
MAN: Got that yellow.
MAN 4: What's up, man? (LAUGHING)
(TRACTOR BEEPING)
(CROWD CHANTING) No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won.
No rest till we've won. No rest
- till we've won.
- Jack!
- No rest till we've won.
- Jack O'Toole!
- No rest till we've won. No rest till we've won.
- What are we doing here?
They started building already.
We're letting them know
that this doesn't end.
They're never gonna be welcome here.
What are we trying to accomplish?
(CROWD CHANTING) No rights for the Whites!
JACK". We will remember in November.
(CROWD CHANTING)
We'll remember in November.
We'll remember in November.
We'll remember in November.
We'll remember...
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN: Most of the work is done at the plant.
The whole kit and caboodle will be done
by the time they truck down here.
OSCAR: You'll have this done in one day?
Oh, yeah. We'll weld them in place,
hook up the utilities,
and then we're good to go.
How quickly can you set the rest?
Oh, after this,
we'll be setting two or three a day.
We'll have the first 142 up
by the end of the year. No problem.
(MELLOW SONG PLAYING)
I'm surprised they showed up.
- Profile in Courage.
- (BOTH LAUGH)
(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)
(BABY (zooms)
(INDISTINCT)
(LINE RINGING)
(TEARFULLY) Mama.
I need to come home. (SOBBING)
(DOG BARKING)
OFFICER; (OVER RADIO) 10-4.
DISPATCH: I've got a 10-18
at the Cross County Shopping Center,
- Kimball Avenue side, no exact location.
- (DISTANT SIREN WAILING)
OFFICER: 601 to headquarters.
DISPATCH: 601.
OFFICER: Building 25
is a scene of vandalism.
I got a 10-16 here...
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)