Goodfellas Page #5

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FREEZE ON MAILMAN'S face, smeared against the hot stove.

RENKY (V.O.)

That was it. No more letters from

truant officers. No more letters

from school. In fact, no more

letters from anybody. How could I

go back to school after that and

pledge allegiance to the flag and

sit through good government

bullshit.

EXT. MOB SOCIAL CLUB - DAY

WE SEE HENRY entering a mob social club, nodding to a

friendly COP lounging outside, past WISEGUYS in sleeveless

underwear sunning themselves in front of the club. WE SEE

A COUPLE OF MENACING HOODS smile and nod hello at HENRY.

REAR YARD OF SOCIAL CLUB

HOODS are cooking sausages and peppers on grill. There are

bottles of homemade wine and keg of beer.

WE SEE PAUL VAHIO holding court while eating a sausage

sandwich. There are HOODS standing around him at a

respectful distance. Only TODDY approaches him with ease.

WE SEE A HOOD talk to TODDY. WE SEE TODDY relay the message

to PAUL. WE SEE PAUL say something to TODDY, who nods back

to the HOOD and then motions to HENRY to come over. WE

SEE TODDY bend down a little and whisper in HENRY's ear.

DOLLY IN ON PAUL's face.

HENRY (V.O.)

Hundreds of guys depended on Paulie

and he got a piece of everything

they made. It was tribute, just

like the old country, except they

were doing it in America. All

they got from Paulie was protection

from other guys looking to rip

them off. That's what it's all

about. That's what the FBI can

never understand -- that what Paulie

and the organization does is offer

protection for people who can't go

to the cops. They're like the police

department for wiseguys.

EXT. USED CAR LOT - NIGHT

WE SEE TUDDY in his car, hand HENRY a hammer, some rags, -

and a five-gallon can of gasoline.

TODDY:

(driving away)

I'll be up at the corner.

WE SEE HENRY break the windows of about six cars parked

facing the sidewalk.

HENRY (V.O.)

People locked at me differently.

They knew I was with somebody.

HE SEE HENRY shove the gas-soaked rags through the broken

car windows. HENRY looks up the block where TODDY has

parked. HE SEE TODDY (from HENRY'S LOT) look around and

nod. HENRY immediately begins tossing lighted matchbooks

through the smashed car windows.

HENRY (V.O.)

I didn't have to wait on line at

the bakery on Sunday morning anymore

for fresh bread. The owner knew

who I was with, and he'd come from

around the counter, no matter how

many people were waiting. I was

taken care of first.

Suddenly the night explodes in orange brightness. WE SEE

HENRY begin to run toward TUDDY"s car as the cars he has

ignited begin to explode behind him.

HENRY (V.O.)

Our neighbors didn't park in our

driveway anymore, even though we

didn't have a car. At thirteen, I

was making more money than most of

the grownups in the neighborhood.

I had more money than I could spend.

I had it all.

FREEZE ON HENRY'S a silhouette against the darkness like a

man in hell.

HENRY (V.O.)

One day some of the kids from the

neighborhood carried my mother's

groceries all the way home for

her. It was out of respect.

CUT TO:

EXT. HENRY'S HOUSE - DAY

HENRY'S MOTHER opens door of house, bright daylight.

MOTHER'S POV

She sees grey lizard shoes, grey pinstriped trousers, grey

silk shirt, Billy Eckstein collar, yellow silk tie, and

double-breasted jacket. She looks up and sees HENRY'S

smiling face.

MOTHER:

(aghast)

My God! You look like a gangster.

CUT TO:

SCREAMING MAN:

Running toward the pizzeria, holding his hand.

EXT.:
PIZZERIA - DAY

WE SEE HENRY standing near front of store.

MAN:

(screaming)

I've been shot! Help! Help!

TUDDY:

(from rear of store,

to Henry)

Close the door. Don't let him in.

HENRY grabs a chair, takes it outside for the MAN to sit

on and closes the pizzeria door.

The MAS collapses in the seat and HENRY immediately starts

wrapping the MAN'S shredded and bleeding hand in his apron.

The MAN is turning white and praying.

HENRY:

(soothing the man)

It's okay. It's okay. They're

getting an ambulance.

WE SEE HENRY prop the MAN in his chair and race into the

pizzeria for more aprons which he takes outside and wraps

around the MAN'S bleeding hand, just as an ambulance pulls

up.

WE SEE TODDY come up behind HENRY as the MAN is rushed

away.

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