Godfather of Harlem

Colombo--he's making moves.

I see that cocksucker on TV every day

talking about this, uh, civil rights bullshit.

He's making a play for Harlem.

Help me stop Colombo before none of us can.

I'm taking Harlem-- the ports, the cops,

the unions. It's all coming under my control.

So, you're saying that I should marry you

and join this insanity?

Every king needs a queen.

I won't join the military if I can join the Panthers.

Do I get one?

Sorry, youngblood. You just joined up.

Give me the money you took, or give me my club back.

You were born to deal drugs.

There's no partnership to be had, Joe,

and I ain't gonna deal duji for you.

When there's an obstacle in the way,

you remove the obstacle.

You suggesting I whack a boss?

This benefits both of us.

That's why I'm giving you a license to whack this guy.

We got nothing right now, Bump.

No duji, no St. Clair, no money, nothing.

Think you ought to show some respect.

I've had enough of your sucking up and your betrayals.

Relax.

Fuck you, too.

I need someone else to vouch for me if this goes sideways.

Let's whack Colombo.

- Joe Colombo. - Yeah.

- We need to talk. - Talk about what?

Partnership between you and me.

What I need to know...

is why would you betray a man

who's been your boss for so many years,

especially while we're in the middle of a fucking war.

It don't make sense to me.

I've known Bumpy a long time.

Never seen him like this.

Way I see it, he's betrayed me.

How so?

By giving up the only thing that put money in my pocket,

the duji, which led to you taking over the Saint Clair.

Now it's obvious.

You're the man gonna control Harlem.

Not very loyal, are you?

Well, in case you ain't noticed,

it's chaos out there on the streets right now.

The morgue is full of bodies, black and Italian.

As long as there's a chance we might get popped at any second

walking around Harlem,

I know for goddamn sure we ain't gonna be making no money.

So, no, it ain't about loyalty.

It's about survival.

So, what the fuck is it you think you can do for me?

You guys stand out in Harlem.

Not me. I know the neighborhood--

the Reapers, the Chancellors,

the Copians, all the street gangs.

Let me tell them you wanna put

all this tit-for-tat bullshit behind us,

that you wanna go back to makig money in the best way possible.

Not with war, but with order.

You gon' take over Harlem?

You gon' need someone like me to help you.

I see.

So, you'll be like the new Bumpy Johnson.

Call it that if you will.

How do I know that I can trust you?

That you're not some mole he sent in here

just to fuck me up?

I'm risking my neck to be here.

If you wanna kill Bumpy Johnson, you're gonna have to trust me.

It's been too long since we all got together for breakfast.

I've missed it. I missed being at home.

Then come back.

- Mm. - Hmm.

You see the news?

Oh, Ellsworth, don't show them that.

Your mother's a miracle worker,

getting Capote and Baldwin together like that.

Aw, you look so beautiful.

Very impressive.

They must love you on that museum board.

Well, there's still work to do.

They've asked me to put together an exhibit

featuring Black artists.

- Oh, wow. - You deserve it.

Especially after all that butt-kissing you did.

Margaret.

Hope y'all hungry.

- Starving. Thank you. - How's Jerome?

Better he's with the Panthers than in Vietnam.

Though if I had my druthers, he'd join a sewing class.

What you looking at?

What kind of a cop gonna eat at a joint like this here?

'Cause they get to eat for free

and leave a five-cent tip, if the waitress is lucky.

That ain't no cop.

Yes.

Yes, I see. Thank you.

Please let us know immediately if anything changes.

Delia just got out of surgery. They removed the bullet.

Thank God in heaven, she's going to survive.

Oh, praise Allah.

This could have been a lot worse.

You guys could all have been...

That motherfucker Joe Colombo is gonna die!

Daddy, be quiet, please. Margaret's in the next room.

We are fine. I'm just worried about you.

What is this all about?

Somebody must have told Colombo

that I was planning to put a hit on him.

What, a rat?

If Joe Colombo is out to kill you,

it's not safe for Margaret to be here.

Should we send her down South?

We did that before. It hurt bad.

I wanna take her to the Panthers.

- She'll be safe there. - Are you crazy?

How are they gonna defend her

against a bunch of Italian gunmen?

Elise is right. They won't know she's there.

I'll send over some men to guard the place as well, just in case.

Mayme... you should go with them, all right?

Not a chance. My place is here with you.

Then it's settled. I'll tell Margaret.

No. Let me do it.

Is Delia okay?

Yeah, she's gonna be fine.

She'll be out of the hospital soon.

But I need you to pack a bag.

You're gonna stay with Elise for a while.

- With the Panthers? - Yeah. You'll be safe there.

Just for a little while.

Why is someone trying to kill us?

It's hard to explain.

There are bad men in this world.

Are you a bad man?

Why would you say that?

People talk, Daddy.

This boy Reggie is bothering me at school,

and one of my teachers told him,

"Don't go picking on Margaret or her dad will kill you."

Things like that.

People have both good and bad inside 'em.

Sometimes one comes out more than the other.

But I need you to know...

I'm your father,

I love you...

...and I only want good for you.

Now be a good girl and pack up your things.

Frank Lucas was there. He recognized me.

But I had a clean shot,

and then this fucking waitress gets in the way

and takes the fucking bullet.

This motherfucker took a shot in front of his wife and kids?

You're the one who told me he ate breakfast there!

Motherfucker, I didn't tell you to do anything!

You should know better than to shoot a man

when he's with his family.

Look, I thought...