Absence of Malice Page #4

we don't like you.

So work without us.

I had nothing to do with Diaz.

That's not what we hear.

And we don't work for you.

Joseph Diaz was a saint for us.

Joey was a loudmouth

and a jerk, but there was

nothing bad between us.

I hope you will be many years

in the prison.

That goes for you too.

I don't want you

crossing no picket line.

Come on, guys.

We may have had problems,

but it was strictly business.

I had nothing to do with Diaz.

It ain't about Diaz, Mike.

They pull our card,

we don't work. Nowheres.

MAN:

You pick up at Gallagher's,

you're handling struck work.

Gallagher's is closed.

[MEN MURMURING]

Jesus Christ.

[DOOR OPENS]

Am I out of work?

Close.

What are they going to do?

They ain't working.

JOHN:

What are we gonna do?

MICHAEL:

We're going hunting.

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING

OVER SPEAKERS]

[CHATTERING]

Hi.

I'm just saying, it's messy.

Were you all there when

Contini walked up to me?

He starts quoting

from the union rules

about how he must get paid

time and a half.

He's just going on and on.

Are you just

passing through?

It's a nice joint. Free nuts.

Oh, John Orrega,

Megan Carter.

You've heard of her.

Nice meeting you.

Nice meeting you.

Are you looking for me?

Is that the only thing you got on?

You're crazy, man.

MAN:

He's gonna be in there all night.

He would lay on the front lawn...

Ha, ha, ha.

- With the lights off

so I wouldn't know he was there.

He was trying to catch me.

One night,

I was on my third date,

and I opened the door

to shake hands with Ralph,

and I happened to turn on

the lights.

There was my father

laying on the front lawn,

spread-eagle. Ha, ha, ha.

And the guy didn't

say anything...

WAITER:

Are you finished

with your dinners?

Yes. So we just all stared at him.

Nobody said anything for a long time.

And then Ralph said,

"Good night, Mr. Carter."

And I said, "Good night, Dad."

And I just shut the door

and locked him out.

[LAUGHING]

Oh.

[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING

OVER SPEAKERS]

Your friend John

doesn't like me very much.

He's kind of scratchy today.

The longshoremen struck us.

I didn't know

those guys could read.

Is your old man still?

Oh, yeah, he's still around.

Does he work?

Oh, yes.

He's an investment banker.

My old man did that too.

You're kidding.

Only it was called loan-sharking.

Oh.

There must be a difference.

My old man did time for it.

Mine just hasn't been caught yet.

Let's see, I was 15

when they sent him up.

And during

this little extended vacation,

a couple of kids and me

stole a car, went joyriding.

And when he got out,

he found out about it.

He took me

in the woods to a cabin.

It had a dirt basement.

He locked me in and left.

Three days.

Who was he to preach?

He wasn't preaching.

He said if I wanted to be a thief,

I ought to know what the life was like.

Huh.

This guy Quinn, this DA,

what's he like?

Oh.

What?

I see.

What?

[SIGHS]

You're hustling me.

And you aren't even hustling me.

I don't know

what you're talking about.

I'm very sorry you got struck,

but it's not my fault.

I will not tell you

where that story came from.

It's the truth. That's enough.

Okay, quiet down...

Quiet down?

Is that the only way you like

your women? Nice and quiet?

Hm?

Are you getting a little crocked?

You want me to?

What I want...

I'm not hustling you.

I just need you to get

to know me fast. Okay?

Okay.

Waiter? Check.

Oh, no, no, no. I'll pay.

Unless you think

that would make you impotent.

You got some mouth.

We would be there

about 8:
00.

[]

Where's your car?

Back at The Pen and Pencil.

Okay.

[]

Are you gonna follow me?

Uh, not tonight.

You said you wanted me

to know you fast.

You're not interested?

Maybe I'd like to think it was my idea.

I'd like that too.

Gallagher, I'm 34 years old.

I don't need courting.

I'm from the Stone Age.

I guess I do.

I'll send you a dozen roses.

[]

[HORN HONKING]

I can save you a lot of time.

Tell Santos I'll meet him tomorrow.

At the ball game.

Light's green.

[CROWD CHEERING]

He's gonna steal.

He's gonna steal.

MICHAEL:

How are you, Uncle Santos?

MAN 1:
All right, here we go.

MAN 2:
Come on.

BOY:

Come on.

You look good, Michael.

You too.

Everybody asks for you.

They wanna know how you are.

How are you?

I'm okay. I've been better.

What do you got guys

following me for?

[CROWD CHEERING]

I told you he was

gonna steal. Wake up.

Tony, don't fall asleep on me

out there, please.

I don't like to read about you

in the newspapers.

I'm not crazy about it myself.

Is somebody setting me up?

Heh.

What are you talking?

Well, you know,

maybe somebody you know.

You got a lot of friends.

What are you talking?

You're my nephew.

Heh, heh.

You're family.

You're looking

in the wrong place.

[CROWD CHEERING]

Know what I think?

It's downtown.

They got nobody for Diaz.

They're in trouble.

They're embarrassed.

Maybe they think you'll help

if they push you.

You know a lot of people.

That's why your guys

are following me, huh?

What are you gonna do?

Are you gonna help them?

It's not my business.

They can make you think

it's your business.

Don't sell them short.

They got ways.

Nope.

Good.

Good, good.

A lot you remind me of Tommy.

You're all right.

Thanks.

[SPEAKING IN ITALIAN]

Be well. Take good care.

[]

I'm Teresa Perrone.

I'm Megan Carter.

Thank you for meeting me like this.

Sure.

Would you like a cigarette?

Oh, no, no, I'm trying to quit.

Well, Michael hates it.

I have a story for you.

Michael Gallagher is innocent.

You were with him

the night they got Diaz,

you'll swear to it in court.

I'm used to dealing

with girlfriends.

Why do you think

I'm a girlfriend?

Just a hunch.

No, I've never been

Michael's girlfriend.

I've known him since

childhood. We're friends.

Of course you think

he's innocent.

No, I know he's innocent.

How?

Well, because I was

with him at the time.

But I don't want you

to say it was me.

I see.

Where were you?

I can't tell you that.

Well, how do you remember this?

I mean, it was 10 months ago.

Do you remember

where you were the day

Kennedy was shot?

Can you prove it?

I don't know.

Ms. Perrone, you're very loyal,

if that's what it is.

But I can't write that someone claims

to know Michael is innocent

and won't say how or why

or even give her name.

I am assistant to the principal

at San Ignacio School,

and the publicity would be...

I just can't.

Suit yourself.

But you printed that other story.

That was different.

I knew where it came from.

You don't believe me?

I've never met you before.

You want me to write

that Michael is innocent,

and I can't use your name.

You say you were with him

and won't tell me where.

What would you do?

If I told you,

I mean, just you, would it

have to be in the paper?

Probably.

Why?

If it has nothing to do with Diaz...

I mean, it's private.

I can't promise anything.

I'll speak to my editors,

but I can't promise anything.

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