Mobsters Page #3

MIKE SHANE:

I go where I want.

Meyer struggles to breathe, the cholent shaking in his hands.

MIKE SHANE:

Bringin' me dinner, Jew Boy?

Meyer shakes his head "yes".

UP THE STREET:

Frank and Charlie turn around to check out the commotion.

SHANE LOOSENS HIS GRIP ON MEYER

who gasps for breath.

SHANE:

So, give it to me.

As Shane reaches for the pot, LANSKY LIFTS IT OVER HIS HEAD

AND SMASHES IT ACROSS SHANE'S FACE. The pot cracks in two

and falls to the sidewalk. Shane stumbles backwards, screaming

as the hot cholent burns into his skin.

UP THE STREET:

Lansky darts through the crowd, nearly knocking over Charlie

and Frank as he flies past. As Shane's buddies come by in

pursuit, Charlie and Frank start swinging, and the crowd

scatters as the brawl ensues.

CUT TO:

EXT:
EAST RIVER DOCKS - DUSK

Frankie, clad only in a pair of shorts, races down a pier

and leaps out over the water, howling as he sails through

the air then crashes into the river amidst a pack his jeering

pals.

CHARLIE LUCIANO CLIMBS ONTO THE PIER

and spies Meyer Lansky standing on the next pier. Bugsy Siegel

and a few other Jewish kids frolic off the pier. Lansky waves.

CLOSE - ON THE FACE OF MIKE SHANE

as he watches Lansky dive into the water from behind the

second pier. His once perfect nose now listing to the left.

His skin scarred and discolored. He turns and nods to his

gang.

FACING TOWARD THE DOCKSIDE WAREHOUSES - CHARLIE LIMBERS UP

As he turns to make his run down the pier, he spots Shane

and his gang stripping behind the next pier. He shouts and

waves to the Jewish kids. They look over, puzzled.

SHANE AND HIS GANG

race down the next pier, diving in after Lansky. Charlie

dives into the water. The other Italians follow.

OFF THE OTHER PIER

Siegel struggles to escape from three Irish kids who restrain

him, as Shane and two others surround Meyer. As they move in

on him, Lansky dives underwater.

AS THE ITALIANS SWIM INTO THE WAR ZONE

Charlie scans the scene looking for Lansky.

CHARLIE SWIMS:

under the wildly kicking legs of the surface combatants.

CLOSE ON MIKE SHANE'S ENRAGED FACE - UNDERWATER

As he uses a choke hold around Lansky's neck. Meyer's legs

kick listlessly as life drains out of his body. Suddenly

Shane's head JERKS BACK and his mouth widens in a silent

scream.

CHARLIE PULLS A KNIFE FROM SHANE'S BACK

with a violent twist, drops it into the void, and grabs

Lansky.

CHARLIE GASPS FOR BREATH

and Lansky throws up water as they surface in the middle of

melee. Shane's body surfaces beside them. The fighting quickly

dies out, and everyone falls silent. Then, as if a starter's

gun had sounded, everyone swims like hell for the pier.

AS THE OTHERS DISAPPEAR INTO THE NIGHT

Siegel, Costello, and Luciano lift the comatose Lansky up

onto the pier. Lansky regains consciousness, kicking his

legs and flailing his arms. The guys struggle to hold on to

Meyer, to little avail. Exasperated, they toss him back into

the water.

LANSKY SURFACES IN THE RIVER

Cursing and sputtering as he comes to. As Meyer climbs up

onto the pier, Bugsy breaks out laughing. Charlie and Frank

join in. Mad as a wet cat, Meyer goes nose to nose with

Charlie.

LANSKY:

I THOUGHT I TOLD YA TA KEEP YOUR

F***IN' DAGO PROTECTION!

Bugsy, Charlie, and Frank exchange a look, then, as one,

push Lansky backwards off the pier.

CUT TO:

INT:
WAREHOUSE BASEMENT - DAY

Charlie, Frank, and Bugsy are draped over sacks of flour, in

a tiny brick-walled hideout. Their bodies glisten with sweat

as they stew in their boredom. Bugsy stirs from his stupor.

SIEGEL:

How much longer we gotta be shut up

in this f***in' sweatbox?

FRANK:

Long as Charlie says.

CHARLIE:

When the stiff's an Irish, the cops

take it kinda personal.

SIEGEL:

Can't we get a couple whores over?

Contemptuous, Frank holds up his little finger and wiggles

it.

FRANK:

You ain't even a man yet.

SIEGEL:

That ain't what your mama said.

Frank leaps up.

FRANK:

You slimy f***in' kike!

Bugsy regards Frank cooly, fondling his own crotch.

SIEGEL:

Until I met her, I thought Catholics

didn't eat meat on Friday.

Frank knocks Bugsy off his perch, and they roll to the floor,

punching and kicking. Charlie doesn't stir from his spot.

CHARLIE:

(emphatic)

ENOUGH!

Frank and Bugsy back off, continuing to stare each other

down.

CHARLIE:

Just like the f***in' slammer. Lock

guys up in a room together an'

everybody goes fruity.

Frank slumps back across his flour sack, still shooting Bugsy

the evil eye. There are three quick KNOCKS at the window.

MEYER LANSKY:

hands a pot through the window to Bugsy and climbs down into

the room. Bugsy doles the contents out into bowls.

FRANK:

Where'd ya get this funny ravioli?

SIEGEL:

Ya ignorant Guinea, it's kreplach.

Charlie bites into a piece. Nods approvingly to Meyer.

CHARLIE:

When we get outta here, I'm gonna

steal somethin' nice for your mom.

MEYER:

Why wait? Ain't ya still got it hard

for that Moliari fella?

CHARLIE:

Sure. But John Law's got it hard for

us.

MEYER:

There's a lotta other folks they

ain't looking for.

Puzzled by the drift of the conversation, Bugsy objects.

SIEGEL:

What the hell you talkin' about?

Ignoring Bugsy, Meyer smiles sweetly at Charlie.

MEYER:

Guess I owe ya one, Charlie.

SIEGEL:

Would somebody here please speak

f***in' English?

Frankie leans over to bait Bugsy.

FRANK:

Why I gotta be hooked up with the

only stupid Jew in New York.

Bugsy takes a swing at Frankie.

CUT TO:

EXT:
MULBERRY STREET - DAY

Moliari exits his apartment building and heads down the

crowded street. Four Orthodox Jewish boys in black suits and

hats, cross the street and enter the vestibule.

CHARLIE, MEYER, FRANK, AND BUGSY

Incongruous, yet weirdly convincing in their sober attire,

survey the building directory. Most of the names are Italian,

but a few are Jewish.

MEYER:

Fourth floor.

INT:
FOURTH FLOOR LANDING - DAY

Meyer kneels in front of Moliari's apartment door, picking

the lock. It pops open.

INT:
MOLIARI APARTMENT - DAY

Overawed by the middle class trappings, the boys wander

silently, Bugsy feeling the fabric of the sofa, Frank opening

the ice box, Meyer watching the caged parakeet. In contrast,

Charlie looks around appraisingly, like a smart thief.

CHARLIE:

Let's get to work.

IN THE LIVING ROOM

Bugsy and Frank pull boxes out of a closet while Meyer combs

through the drawers of a Victorian sideboard. Finding a small

jewelry box, Meyer empties the contents into his pockets.

IN THE BEDROOM:

Charlie searches fruitlessly through a bureau.

CUT TO:

INT:
APARTMENT VESTIBULE - DAY

As Don Maranzano enters and heads up the stairs.

INT:
MOLIARI BEDROOM - DAY

Charlie feels the underside of the dresser drawers, finding

nothing. He calls to Meyer in the living room.

CHARLIE:

He lends money. Gotta be a bank.

Charlie kneels beside the bed, running his arm under mattress.

DON MARANZANO REACHES THE THIRD FLOOR LANDING

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