Mean Streets Page #6

-You know, when you're on, I--

-Excuse me.

I really think you're a terrific performer.

Fine.

Hey, no, I'm serious.

You're really very good.

I know.

Groovy.

In a little while I'm gonna have

the opportunity of openin' my own place.

Much nicer.

Much nicer than this.

Uptown, sort of a nightclub restaurant

and everything.

I was thinkin' you'd do much....

You'd do very nicely for the place.

Dancin'?

No, as the hostess. That's nice.

Hostess?

The people come in, you greet 'em

and you show 'em to the tables.

Listen, why don't we get together later on?

We'll talk about it a little bit.

-Chinese food?

-Hey, Chinese food.

Where do you want me to drop you off?

No, don't stop.

Just pass by real slow, okay?

Hey, stop there.

What, am I crazy?

Would you take me back

to where you picked me up?

-Sorry.

-All right.

Hey, you crazy?

That's all I need now:

to get caught in the village with a--

Hi, Lou.

-Come sta?

-Fine, thank you.

-Good to see you.

-Good to see you.

Here you go, Lou.

-How are ya, kid?

-Nice to see you.

-Giovanni, can I sit?

-Sure.

Can I talk?

What is it?

It's about Groppi.

I know all about it.

We'll discuss it later, huh?

Sure, I understand.

Shall I serve the tripe now?

-Anytime. Thank you, Oscar.

-You're welcome.

They are not like us.

They know where to come

when they need us.

I realized this a long time ago,

during World War II.

Charlie Lakey was working for

the government, taking care of the docks.

What did he do?

He was there, that's what he did.

I said the same thing to your father

20 years ago.

He didn't listen.

You're still around that kid, Johnny Boy.

This Johnny Boy is named after me.

Nice, huh? Oh, sure.

But this Johnny Boy is a little bit

like your friend, Groppi-- Half-crazy.

I understand you try to help him out

because of our family and his family.

Well, that's nice. I understand.

But watch yourself, don't spoil anything.

Honorable men go with honorable men.

Don't forget that.

His whole family has problems.

His cousin, the girl who lives

next door to you....

Teresa. The one who's sick in the head.

No, she's got epilepsy.

That's what I said. She's sick in the head.

Her mother and father came to me

for advice.

She wants her own apartment.

What am I gonna tell 'em? Lock her up?

You know I'm compato with them.

So I listen.

I have to take an interest.

You live next door. Keep an eye open.

But don't get involved.

Charlie, why don't you take a look

around the place if you want to?

I've been in and outta this place

about 50 times already.

Well, maybe you missed something.

After all, you should get to know the place.

Yeah.

Jesus Christ, you are disgusting!

Hi, Charlie, how are ya?

Hot enough for ya?

Yeah, how are ya doin' there, Cookie?

Fire.

Teresa!

Downstairs.

Meet me downstairs now. Yeah.

What is it?

Come on.

I can't make it tonight.

All right, so, is that all?

So I'll see you on Friday?

Friday...

...I can't make it Friday either.

What do you mean?

I can't see you for a while.

Don't tell me that.

-Teresa.

-Why?

Because you're f***in' things up!

Between you and Johnny...

-...you're gonna ruin everything for me.

-What?

Ruin what...?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Rucco, pardon me.

Come on inside.

Why am I ruining everything?

Because. Be quiet! I'll give you

a slap in the mouth, Teresa! Shut up!

Listen to me for a minute.

My uncle wants me to run a restaurant,

but I gotta stay away from you and Johnny.

-Does he know about you and me?

-No.

Does he know about Johnny

and those loans?

No, what are ya kiddin' me?

Of course not.

He doesn't understand, Johnny.

You know, he's just a kid who needs to be--

Answer me!

What do you want from me?

I said:
Do you feel the way

he does about me?

No!

I don't feel that way.

I don't want to stop seein' you.

What are you afraid of?

I love you.

-Don't ever say that.

-What?

-That.

-What? That you love me?

Let's just get out of here.

Let me get the restaurant first, all right?

Then I think things are gonna be easier.

Okay.

So, where have you been?

Around.

You heard what happened to Groppi, huh?

Groppi? No, what?

Well, Oscar found out where his partner is.

It seems Groppi went to visit his mother.

He went to her room

where she was watching television...

...and he says to her that he's sorry.

That's all. Just, he's sorry.

He goes into the next room, gets a gun,

puts it in his mouth....

That's it!

How do you like that? I tell you

that Groppi was always half-crazy...

...half-crazy to say the least.

What is it?

Not now, huh?

Doesn't he see that we are talking?

A couple of minutes, will ya? Outside.

What does he want?

He wants to talk to me about somethin'.

Hey, you spit on my shoe.

Okay, Charlie, lot of aggravation though,

you know.

Like Johnny Boy...

...I figure...

...I give him all the breaks I can give him.

-Oh, look, Michael....

-No.

No, Charlie, it's no good, see?

He's a punk bastard, Charlie.

I call them down there at work

and I ask them...

...if Johnny Boy's there.

He doesn't even show up anymore.

-They told ya that down at his place?

-Yeah.

How's he gonna pay me, Charlie?

I've talked to him, I've talked to him.

-What more can I do?

-I don't know.

Tonight at the party,

the three of us get together...

...and we knock some sense into his head.

Okay?

All right, Charlie. You know I don't like

bein' taken advantage of.

I mean, you're inside there

with your uncle and all that.

It's kind of embarrassing to me, you know?

I apologize, Michael.

We had some business.

Private. Ya know what I mean?

I'm late. I gotta meet someone.

All right. We'll settle it tonight.

-Okay.

-Ciao.

And, Michael, I appreciate

what you're doin' for me.

All right.

-Very intelligent, too, you know?

-Yeah.

She's goin' to college.

She's gonna be a school teacher.

I've been out with her a few times.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Let me see that picture.

-Yeah, she's gonna be a teacher.

-Oh, I know this girl.

-Yeah?

I seen her kissin' a n*gger

under the bridge in Jersey.

What are you talkin' about?

A n*gger, that's a--

A black, a n*gger.

What do ya mean, kissin'?

I mean kissing. Her lips on his lips.

Kissing.

-You sure?

-I'm sure.

I kissed her.

Don't worry about it, brother.

Hallelujah, I've come to create order.

Carl, J& B and soda, please.

God be with you and with his spirit.

-Let me ask you somethin'.

-What?

Art thou the king of the Jews?

Does thou say this of thyself

or have others told thee of me?

Am I a Jew?

My kingdom's not of this world.

Jerry, hey, how ya doin'?

To Jerry...

...who served in Vietnam.

The immortal words of John Garfield:

''Get him in the eyes,

get him right in the eyes.''

Came back with a silver star.

From the boys.

Drinks for everybody!

Hey, drinks for everybody!

Could make a shirt outta that, Jerry.

-We drink and then we bullshit!

-We bullshit!

George, my man.

Watch this.

Put your mouth down there.

-Michael.

-What?

Play only old ones tonight.

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