Zarra's Law Page #2

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I mean, that's the endgame.

You don't hope.

You make things happen.

Yeah.

I gotta get going soon.

Why don't you stay over?

- Stay over?

- Yeah, why not?

Uncle Tony,

I live in Hackensack.

It's not that far.

And it takes you two years

to go 18 miles.

You miss me, huh?

There's something I wanna talk

to you about before I go though.

The zabaione will be ready

in five minutes.

Enough grappa, Ma.

I'm thinking about taking

a battered woman's case.

I might need a little help

with the evidence.

Maybe I can help.

Vanessa Andreoli.

Married to Frankie Andreoli?

You remember

our boy Frankie, huh?

Yeah. He's still the same punk

he was back then,

shaking down shops,

restaurants.

Lately he's been

hanging out at Roma.

Eats there with his crew.

Never pays.

Are you planning

to take care of that?

I told you, Ma, I'm retired.

If Roberto was still here,

he would take care of it.

Nonna...

If there's one thing

that he didn't like,

it's disrespectful punks.

They killed your brother.

Your father.

My son.

And nobody did anything

about it. Anything!

And now those people that killed

Roberto are walking around free!

Ma...

Oh!

My zabaione!

You made me burn the dessert!

What's with the Lucky Strikes?

I thought you quit.

I did, two years ago.

Keep those right there

in the desk.

Buy a new pack once in a while.

Used to be

when I tried to quit,

I wouldn't have

any cigarettes in the house.

When I get a craving,

I'd run to the store

and light up on the way home.

But if they're sitting

right there on the desk,

I know I can have one

if I wanna, so I don't.

What's that?

Your father's favorite piece.

I keep it locked in the drawer

to remind me

that my brother was no saint.

That's a funny thing there,

Uncle Tony.

What's that?

You, me, and my father,

we all carried guns,

but for different reasons.

A gun's

just some piece of metal.

It's the person who's holding it

who makes it dangerous.

Hey, so what was Nonna

talking about downstairs?

Who's walking around free?

Didn't wanna tell you.

Bobby Stax is

getting out on appeal.

After two years?

What grounds?

Don't know,

but I'm gonna find out.

I'm going to Roma's.

You coming?

Yeah.

Now he's bringing

half his family to eat free,

that son of a b*tch.

Mr. Z!

How about a nice booth?

Gaetano!

- Nino, how you doing?

- I'm fine.

It's you

we're all worried about.

Come on in, gentlemen.

Make yourselves comfortable.

Gaetano! Our hero!

How you doing, Frankie boy?

Me? I'm doing good.

You see, things have changed

around here a bit,

and I'm on the right side

of things now.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah, you see them?

They're with me now.

And you see this?

All mine.

And you see this?

I use it to instruct people

that it ain't

"Frankie boy" no more.

It's "Mr. Andreoli,"

even to you,

so you better know your place

around here.

I know my place around here,

Frankie.

I think it's you who's

a little mixed up though.

See, I'll beat the sh*t out of

you in front of those guys,

then I'll take this...

and I'll blow your f***ing

brains out with it,

and then I'll take that money.

I'll take anything

I want from you, Frankie,

just like when we were younger.

Don't you ever f***ing

forget it, Frankie boy.

Go ahead and shoot.

No, no, no, please, not here.

Relax, Nino.

We're just playing around.

Right?

Old times.

Say, let me buy

you two heroes a drink.

To safe passage home,

from wherever it may be

that you are coming from.

Frankie, I heard

you and Vanessa broke up.

That's none of

your f***ing business.

How you treat your wife,

yeah, you're right,

that is none of my business.

- Enough, G.

- No, I gotta let him know...

- I said enough!

- Listen to your uncle.

And you should lighten up,

Frankie boy.

I heard your boss

is getting out,

and you'll be back

to running errands.

Ronnie, let's go.

That motherf***er.

We're not gonna let him

get away with that.

In time.

In time he's gonna

end up like his father.

That bastard.

You want to stay?

Have a good time.

But if Frankie comes back...

Hey, no, I'll be nice.

Come here.

Good to see you.

Why don't you let me pour you

something stronger?

Hey, Mr. Friendly.

Sorry, no, I was just...

I was... unwinding.

I've been away

for a little while.

Yeah, a lot of people around

here been away for a while.

What'd you do?

Join the Army.

Really?

I joined the Army.

I'm sorry.

I just thought...

No, no, no, it's okay.

Yeah, I know you thought.

Don't worry about it.

Gaetano.

You can call me G.

Christine.

You can call me Crissy

or Crystal.

Take your pick.

Tough decision.

Yeah.

I'll let you know tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Yeah, tomorrow.

What'd you have in mind?

I'll keep those to myself

right now.

So what brought you to New York

and Roma's, of all places?

Bright lights, big city.

Wanna come out

and do some theater,

maybe get on Broadway.

And then I realized

about a million other girls

had the exact same idea.

But I know that Roma's is about

one step above purgatory,

but it pays the bills,

especially when you got

big shots like Frankie coming in

and tipping well.

Frankie's a lot of things,

but big shot's not one of them.

Not as big as he makes himself

out to be anyway. Trust me.

Oh, guys, look who's in town.

Sure, retirement's

getting too much for you.

Can you use a caper?

Matter of fact, I wouldn't mind

a part-time job.

You know, Officer Jimmy here is

working on a real crime stopper.

- I bet he could use your help.

- Yeah? What is it, James?

Oh, Nathan's is missing

some hot dogs.

Case of the century.

- Still a pain in the ass, huh?

- Yes, he is.

Up in the office?

He's waiting on you.

- Chief.

- Tony, how's Ma?

Thanks for asking.

Ma's great...

when she's not drinking grappa.

She is a great lady.

Jim, I need your help

with something.

- With what?

- Bobby.

We're not talking about

Bobby Stax now again, are we?

I have to find a way to

get this guy off the street.

You really don't know, do you?

Know what?

What don't I know?

The FBI's been through those

files with a fine-tooth comb,

and the case is closed.

Why would the FBI be involved?

So what do you think?

Some guys are lucky

or maybe not?

Doing eight,

getting out in two?

Keep an eye on this guy.

Bobby!

Look at you in a suit.

Come on, let's go,

open the door.

I wanna get cleaned up

before this party.

Oh! Nino, how you doing?

Look who's here!

Bobby Stax is back!

That's right!

Yeah, shut the f*** up.

How you doing?

All right, all right,

my boys, all right.

And from the looks of things

around here,

it's none too soon, all right?

'Cause things were

a f***ing mess, but as of now,

we are back in business.

What business is that,

Mr. Stax?

What the f***

are you doing here?

It's a restaurant.

I must be here to eat something.

Well, the place is closed.

This is a private party, so why

don't you just get the f*** out?

Yeah, you're having

a private party, all right.

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