Knockaround Guys

Nervous, huh, kid?

Matty,

when your father went away...

I welcomed him asking me

to look after you.

I considered it an honour.

And not because

he was Benny Chains...

or because your mother was

my sister, but because of you.

Ever since you were

a little kid, you been nails--

tough as f***ing nails.

When you go down there,

be decisive...

because that is

the motherf***er...

who is responsible

for your pop being sent away.

Matty, tonight is the night

that you become a man.

This is all wrong.

Totally all wrong.

Teddy, you know.

You got to know.

Guys, this is Bobby Boulevard.

That's the life, Matty.

It's always the guy

you don't want it to be.

Hey, Matty.

How you doin', kiddo?

Hey, Bobby.

Oh, no, Matty. Matty, come on.

Why would l want to rat

on anyone? No.

Come on. Hey, hey, Matty...

who taught you

the hook serve, huh?

Got you 7 points off your dad

first time you ever set foot...

on a handball court

with him, huh? Who?

You did, Bobby.

You remember the time l got you

that bundle of "Hustlers," huh?

You made a f***in' fortune...

selling 'em to those kids

at Aquinas Prep.

Wasn't me, l swear.

I'm no informant.

Shut the f*** up!

I feel better already.

Come on, Matty. Now's the time

for stomach, son. OIK?

You gotta decide,

does this guy live or die?

Come on.

Just give the trigger

a gentle squeeze.

I'm sorry, Uncle Teddy.

It's all right. It's fine.

Don't worry about it.

Look, you're not cut out

for this. We know that now.

Go on outside.

What are you gonna do to him?

Nothin' much.

Bang him around a little bit.

Move him outta town.

It's your f***in'

lucky day, Bob.

Go on. Here.

Make yourself a phone call.

Sure. OIK, Jill.

Right. I'll see you

at the stadium. Bye.

So, Mr. Demaret.

-Matty.

-Matty. Fine.

So, personnel tells me you were

up for an assistant's Job...

but you got Joanne over there

to convince me to meet with you.

-So...

-Excuse me.

So, l want to be an agent,

you know, a sports agent.

And why am l gonna

make you that?

Well, honestly, Mr. McCreedle...

I think l been preparing for it

my whole life.

When l was a kid,

l started going to ball games...

and l remember spending

a lot of time alone...

but l could always count on

ball season to keep me company.

I had this uncle in the ushers

and ticket taker union...

Local 1 76, so l got to know

all the ushers...

at Yankee Stadium and Shea, too.

Before l knew it,

l was wired at the Garden...

and l never missed

a Rangers or a IKnick game.

As far back as l can remember,

working with ball players...

was really

all l ever wanted to do.

Well. Good patter. Yeah,

let's see what's on the page.

"Bachelor in sports marketing."

-Work..."Ubonne Plumbing"?

-That's right.

Now defunct.

You were the president.

"White's Taxi and Livery."

Also president.

"Gianda's Catering Hole."

That's Benny Chains' place,

right?

Yeah, that's correct.

He owns it.

So, are you, like,

related to him?

Yes, l am. He's my father.

Well, that's

a pretty close relation.

Well, you've got enthusiasm...

but there's nothing in

your Job experience for me to--

-Listen, l know--

-No, l'm glad that you came in.

I know what you're thinking,

because l've heard it before.

It's always

the same story for me.

I get cold-cocked the minute

my father's name is mentioned.

You gotta Just--

you can do this, all right?

Look past the name

and Just hire yourself a guy...

who's gonna bust his hump

every day for you. Gimme a--

Let me stop you right there.

You put on a good show...

but l think l know what

you're really trying to do here.

You come on all nice

and respectable...

then l hire you, and then

you lay the strong arm on me.

Would you Just hear me out?

When my father started

this place...

you know how many guys

like you and your father...

tried to break off a piece?

I'll tell you what he told them:

go whistle.

All respect,

but you've got me wrong.

Do l?

I'm here for a Job, all right?

Just a f***ing Job.

In what prosecutors

are calling...

a death knell

for organised crime...

indictments have been

handed down across the board.

The government's case

is only the latest blow...

to the weakening

power structure of--

That's game!

I set you up for that.

Nice f***in' yonkas, Benny.

Too good.

The man is too f***ing good.

That's why he is the boss.

Towel.

You know why

your dad's so hard to beat?

Most guys let it bounce,

but Benny Chains anticipates.

He charges, no hesitation.

What's that, Manganaros?

Yeah. I was in the city

on an interview.

Got you guys

some of the good stuff.

-Another sport agency?

-Yeah. Last one, too.

F*** 'em. You know, Teddy,

in the last year...

I been to over fourteen

interviews.

Various companies,

same result--door slammin'.

Listen, to those cocksuckers,

you are what we are.

Yeah, well, they're right.

It's time

l did something about it.

-Hey, all right.

-Hey, the champ!

What about another one?

Jesus, that was quick.

Mercy rule?

Well, you know, closed 'em out!

The man was outclassed.

What can l tell ya?

I got somethin' for ya.

OIK, Just in time. Here.

Couple of scoots, huh?

That from Cristian?

Yeah. The man's a sport,

a gentle, likeable guy.

I never paid a check

in his Joint in the old days.

I feel half-bad

about collectin' this.

So, why did you?

We got to.

We're collectin' everywhere.

Guys supposed

to be comin' across...

with a set amount every week

aren't hittin' their figures.

How are we gonna

kick it up above...

if it doesn't flow

into us first?

You figure they're holdin' out

or Just not earnin'?

Not earnin'?

There is no not earnin'.

You think people

stopped f***in'...

and stopped bettin' and stopped

borrowin' this month?

What the f***'s the matter

with you? You don't get it?

Someone's stealing from us.

Look, Pop,

is there anything l can do?

Nah. Nothin' for you to sweat.

We're workin' it out.

Come on. Teddy,

would you help me out here?

You said it yourself.

Outside of Brooklyn,

no one's gonna give me a shot.

What are you complainin' about?

You drive a Cadillac.

Look, Pop, l got a handle

on the low-level stuff...

keepin' the taxis running,

overseeing the crap games...

the odd union meeting,

but it's time.

I'm ready to step up.

If you're Jammed up here...

there's gotta be somethin'

l can do, right?

You brought us the sandwiches!

What else can you do?

Listen, l'll see you later.

Hey, Tony.

These ladies--their check

is on us today, OIK?

Of course.

For dessert,

you can go powder your noses.

Just leave your numbers

with Tony.

Listen, Chris,

not for nothin'...

but your old man's

not gonna like this.

He says no more checks

on the arm for random broads.

You're hurtin' him too much

ever since that bachelor list...

came out in the "Post."

What do you want me to tell ya?

The ladies love me.

What's up?

Why is it every Junkie

thinks newspaper cleans glass?

Couldn't tell ya.

Here ya go. Thanks, chief.

No, don't do that.

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