Road To Perdition

There are many stories

about Michael Sullivan.

Some say he was a decent man.

Some say there was no good

in him at all.

But I once spent six weeks

on the road with him...

...in the winter of 1931.

This is our story.

Thank you, sir. Much obliged.

Man dies in factory accident!

Get your paper here!

Hot off the press, only 5 cents!

Thanks, Mr. Miller.

I'll help you with it later.

You go fetch your father.

Pa?

Dinner's ready.

Thank you.

Bless us, O Lord, for thy gifts

we are about to receive...

...through the bounty of Jesus Christ,

our Lord. Amen.

-Michael?

-Sir?

It's a wake, so I don't want to see

those dice.

No, sir.

Hello.

I don't wanna go.

-Come on, it's all right.

-No. I'm scared.

Ice helps preserve the body.

So...

...who's got a hug

for a lonely old man?

Now then, which is which?

Don't help me.

-Peter and Michael.

-No!

Annie, Mike, good to see you.

-Did you bring the necessary?

-Yes.

If you'll excuse me, I have urgent

business with these young gentlemen.

-Yeah!

-Winner!

Call the cops!

I know hustlers when I see them.

-I don't hustle, old-timer.

-Pay the man.

Upstairs.

Jacket pocket, in my study.

Before I change my mind.

-Hello?

-Hello.

Remind me,

which little Sullivan are you?

-Michael, sir.

-Sir? You don't have to call me sir.

I'm not your pa.

No, Mr. Rooney.

Call me Connor.

No, call me Uncle Connor.

What do you want?

Mr. Rooney sent me to get his jacket.

You come back later, huh?

I'm busy.

Yes... Sir.

Hello, hello.

I want to welcome all of you

to my home.

It's good to have so many friends

in this house again.

Since Mary died, it's...

Well, it's just been me and my boy

rattling around in these rooms.

I had this speech prepared,

but it would be...

...dishonest of me to say that

I knew Danny well.

But lose one of us, it hurts us all.

I'll tell you what I do remember, though,

and Finn will remember this too...

...and that's Danny

on the high school football team.

A championship game. Down six points,

...four yards to go,

Danny tackles his own quarterback.

Mistakes, you know...

We all make them. God knows.

Let's drink to Danny's honor.

Let's swig him to God and hope

that he gets to heaven...

...at least an hour before

the devil finds out he's dead.

-Amen.

-To Danny!

And now, I would like to ask

a dear and a trusted friend...

...Finn McGovern, to say a few words...

...words that I'll wager

got more poetry than mine.

Get over here.

Thank you, John.

"My brother Danny wasn't wise.

Nor was he gentle.

And with a skinful of liquor in him,

he was a pain in the ass.

But he was loyal and brave.

And he never told a lie.

He'd have enjoyed this party.

Me and the family, we wanna say

thank you to our generous host.

Where would this town be

without Mr. John Rooney?"

I've worked for you

for many years now, John.

Nearly half my life.

And we've never had a disagreement.

I've come to realize

that you rule this town...

...as God rules the earth.

-You give, and you take away...

-Lovely. Lovely speech.

I'm gonna bury my brother.

Then I'm gonna deal with you.

Sure, Finn, sure.

You'll take care of all of us.

Once you get a good night's sleep.

-He all right?

-Yeah, he's fine.

Just too much to drink.

I'll talk to him.

-Take Mike with you.

-No, Pa...

Take Mike with you.

Just talk, nothing more.

Why are you always smiling?

'Cause it's all so f***ing hysterical.

Michael.

What?

I had a nightmare.

It was about Mr. Rooney's house.

It's just a house.

A big house.

Go back to sleep.

Is Mr. Rooney rich like the Babe?

Richer.

Are we rich?

No, stupid.

What's Papa's job?

He works for Mr. Rooney.

Why?

Well, Papa didn't have a father...

...so Mr. Rooney looked after him.

I know that, but what's his job?

He goes on missions for Mr. Rooney.

They're very dangerous.

That's why he brings his gun.

Sometimes even the president

sends him on missions...

...'cause Papa was a war hero and all.

-You're just making that up.

-I am not.

It's all so f***ing hysterical.

Peter, I can't come to your concert

tonight. I'm working.

Working at what?

Putting food on your plate, young man.

All right, boys, come on,

clear the plates.

You're a good lad.

-You want a shot?

-No.

We're just talking to him, right?

Sure.

Don't get me wrong, Finn.

I feel for you. I do.

You can't let a thing like that

give you cause to go mouthing off.

You and my dad,

you go back many years...

...and he is a just man.

So, what do you say?

Come on now, Finn.

Make this easy.

We can't hear you.

-All right.

-Good.

Thank you.

I am sorry. I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry for this misunderstanding.

And I'm sorry your brother was

such a f***ing liar.

-My brother was not a liar.

-Excuse me?

To protect my family and keep my job,

I'll stay quiet.

But don't think I don't know

something's going on.

-Don't think I won't find out what it is.

-Whoa, buddy...

Easy, easy.

Easy.

We're just talking. You tell your father

my brother never stole from him.

I've checked the books. He never sold

booze to no one. It's all accounted for.

-If he sold it, where's the money?

-F*** should I know?

-Did you check his mattress?

-Maybe you should check yours.

There's something immoral here,

don't you think, Mike?

My beloved father throws your

undeserving little brother...

...the wake of his life, and this...

This is your thank-you?

-What a hideous world this is.

-You think you're so smart.

You think we don't know? You're

spending so much time in Chicago...

What was that?

We're out of here.

Jesus Christ, Connor,

what the hell are you thinking?!

Jesus.

Michael.

Are you hurt?

You saw everything?

Jesus.

You are not to speak of this to anyone.

You understand?

Not to anyone!

Who's this?

It's one of yours?

He must have been hiding in the car.

Well, can he keep a secret?

He's my son.

Well, that's good enough for me.

You take him home.

Think I'll walk.

Perfect night for a stroll.

Does Mama know?

Your mother knows I love Mr. Rooney.

When we had nothing...

...he gave us a home, a life.

We owe him.

Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Yes.

Well, come on inside, then.

Boys, clear your plates, please.

I'll do it later.

-It's time for school now...

-It's only a plate!

What's he doing here?

Michael was hiding in the car...

...when I went out last night.

Jesus, Mike.

I've spoken to him.

It won't happen again.

Mom. Mom!

Just the feller...

Our secret, right?

I'm talking about the dice.

A man of honor always pays his debts.

And keeps his word.

I'm gonna be late for school.

How is Michael? Is he okay?

I've spoken to him.

He understands.

That's tough...

...seeing that for the first time.

Well, you turned out.

You can't protect them forever.

If it wasn't this,

it'd be something else.

Natural law.

Sons are put on this earth

to trouble their fathers.

John's also made it clear that

Finn McGovern's operation...

...will be divided up locally...

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