Bugsy Page #2

- Sure, and more.

- Who's is that?

- Lawrence... The opera singer.

- Not Melchoir, the other guy.

- Lawrence Tibbett? Stop.

- What are you doing?

- Paying my respects.

I'm looking for Lawrence Tibbett.

My name's Ben Siegel.

- Is he expecting you?

- Not unless he's psychic.

Would you excuse me a moment?

- How far is your house from here?

- Half a mile. What are you doing?

Mr. Siegel.

You have no idea

what an honour it is to meet you.

I took my family to hear you sing

"Rigoletto" at the Met last year.

- It was a great evening.

- You overwhelm me, Mr. Siegel.

- That's beautiful.

- Are you related to Bugsy Siegel?

- "Bugsy"? What do you mean?

- I beg your pardon.

A bug is nothing.

The word has no meaning.

A bug is a colloquialism.

It has no basis in reality.

Insects include a wide variety

of living creatures.

None of them can be called a bug!

I certainly didn't mean

any offence, Mr. Siegel.

Mind if I look around, Larry?

- Do you mind if I call you Larry?

- All my friends call me Larry.

- What brings you to L.A., Ben?

- Curiosity.

A wonderful house. What do you

think of the Beverly Hills Hotel?

- It's the best hotel in town.

- A bungalow or a suite?

- A bungalow. Which do you have?

- I don't. You do. Bungalow 5.

- I don't understand...

- I'm buying this house.

- This house isn't for sale.

- Sure it is. Everything's for sale.

- How much do you want?

- Mr. Siegel...

- Ben.

- Ben...

Why are you looking at me like that?

Are you going to hurt me?

I would protect you

from anyone who tried to hurt you.

Your voice makes life justifiable.

I'm just trying to give you money.

- What did you buy it for?

- $35,000.

But that was a few years ago.

I could probably get $40,000.

It's not really a financial issue,

Mr. Siegel. Ben...

One, two, three, four...

That's $50,000. Is that enough?

This should be a pleasurable day

for the both of us. Here's $60,000.

It makes me sick inside when I don't

bring pleasure to someone I admire.

Doesn't this bring you pleasure?

Why don't I see you smiling?

- You spend money like crazy.

- So? It's only dirty paper.

- You'll only be here for four days.

- Maybe I'll stay a little longer.

- I've got to get to Jack Dragna's.

- I'll drive you.

No, this is business.

- Nice car.

- Thank you.

- Louie.

- What the hell is this?

I'm looking for Jack Dragna.

I'm Ben Siegel.

I'm Lou, Jack's brother.

I'll tell Jack you're here.

He'll just be a few seconds.

Jack's finishing eating.

We run a smooth little operation.

With all due respect to Lansky, -

- Luciano, Joey A., and whoever

the f*** else you represent, -

- I suggest you spend your time here

looking for broads.

We've got the finest in the world.

I understand that's what you like.

I can help you out

with phone numbers.

But if you want to do business,

I'm completely disinterested.

"Uninterested".

Disinterested means impartial.

You've got two alternatives:

You and your guys can work for us.

Your little operation

will then be a big operation.

20 betting parlours, not three.

Owning your own wire service.

It means taking risks.

Meyer, Charlie and I, we take 75%.

You keep 25%, but that's got to be

three times more than you make now.

- What's the second alternative?

- The second alternative...

The second alternative is here.

- Squeeze the trigger and kill me.

- Kill you, that's an alternative?

- You've an unusual sense of humour.

- What they say about you is true.

You're out of your f***ing mind.

Take another five seconds

to make your selection.

I guess that means you're working

for us. May I have my gun back?

Let's get started. Time is vicious

when taken for granted.

Bugsy, if we break off this thing

with Transcontinental...

I'll assume you didn't know

that no one calls me that.

- Very nice meeting you, Jack.

- The f***ing guy's crazy.

- Should I shoot him in the back?

- Lansky and Luciano would flip.

Play along.

Sooner or later he'll blow his lid.

When we get him,

nobody will give a f***.

- Hello?

- Virginia, it's Ben...

Meyer, I know we said 12 days.

Things got a little complicated.

Was that good?

You're from "The Herald", right?

See that they run that, and not one

of those sinister mugshots.

- I'll try my best.

- I'd really appreciate it.

- May I have the next dance?

- Charmed. Have you met Mr. Siegel?

- I've been admiring his movements.

- My husband. Count Di Frasso.

I'm surrounded by titles.

How can I pick one up?

Darling, get him a title.

Make him a duke.

Why not?

- Are you ready to come to Italy?

- Italy! I'll get my parachute.

That's wonderful.

You know who one of the count's

best friends is?

Mussolini.

No... That clown knows Mussolini?

Do they play golf together?

Tell jokes about the gas chambers?

- I stay out of politics.

- Politics? This is war.

He's Hitler's partner, and this

effete count pals around with him?

Don't get worked up over something

you can't do anything about.

This is Hollywood.

Telephone call from Mr. Dragna.

I've placed a phone at your table.

Have you met our number-one

crime fighter James McWilde?

- He's up for re-election as D.A.

- I wish I could contribute.

You can contact Donald Mitchell.

He handles all the money.

Have him call me in the morning.

If you'll excuse me, I see about

six women that need to talk to me.

Mr. McWilde, as a man of the world,

what do you make -

- of all these friends of Mussolini

flitting around America?

Are you talking about spies?

Come Jim, the senator

would like a word with you.

- Keep me posted on that.

- I will, we've got to do something.

See the redhead?

Put it in her hand.

What is it?

I'll see you.

- How do you know it was Cohen?

- He had a mask on, but the voice.

He robbed five guys of $56,000

and got away scot-free?

- He took us by surprise.

- It certainly seems like it.

- He'll be dead within 24 hours.

- No, I want to talk to him.

- You say 56,000?

- The exact figure was 56,143.

Hello...

Hi, honey.

Maybe you should stop thinking about

when I'm coming back to Scarsdale.

Start thinking about when you

and the girls will come out here.

As soon as possible.

But is this is the right time

to take the kids out of school?

Maybe we should play it by ear

and see what happens.

We don't have

to settle everything now.

All right, we'll see each other

before you know it.

Right? I love you too, Esta.

Goodnight.

Ronald, turn off the projector!

Ronald? Where are you?

- Am I coming at a bad time?

- Not at all. Come on in.

I don't want to interrupt

your pantomime.

What are you watching?

A newsreel, but it's over.

Why don't you come on in?

- Too fast with the ring?

- Nothing's too fast that fits.

Do you always carry around

a spare ring?

I figured I'd run into you.

Would you ever have called me?

I was planning to wait a while.

About ten years.

Why?

If all we're going to do is bring

each other misery and torment...

Why would we

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