Romanzo Criminale

Look at him,

the genius who thinks he can walk through my territory without paying.

Make your mind up. Either you pay with blood,

or with a kick up the ass like the kid you are.

- You want to croak then? - We'll see who croaks!

Did you see Catena's face when we ran off without giving him anything?

- And thank goodness we didn't. - Why?

Look: Pizzaballa, Castano, Scala...

I had them all, never mind the rare stickers!

Reckon he wanted to cheat us?

We have to show him he can't treat us like kids.

- That's Pomata. What's he doing? - I don't know,

but I'd leave him be if I were you.

No, I won't leave him be.

Right, kid. I won't tell you again. You're going to croak...

Dad!

Come on, run! Run!

Why did you come to my aid? I don't even know you.

That's what I'd like to know.

Pomata always takes it out on the younger kids,

and he pisses me off.

But now when he gets me on my own, he'll have my scalp.

No, because you're not on your own any more, there are three of us now.

My name's Pietro, but everyone calls me Libanese.

I'm Mario. Mario De Angelis.

- My name's Claudio. - You won't run away from a fight?

- I'd rather die. - I can see that.

You fight like a buffalo.

Patrizia, wake up! Wake up!

- What's wrong? - None of my suits will do.

And you wake me at dawn to tell me that?

Tell your faggot friend to get hold of a suit for Libanese.

And not just any old suit!

Libanese has to go wearing the best.

When was he shot?

A few hours ago, outside his mother's home.

- Who do you think shot him? - I don't know, Nero.

But there's time for that later. I want to ask you something.

- What? - I'm cleaning up the bar.

But we have to clear out his place before the cops do.

- Have you cleaned it all up? - These are the last.

Do you want my advice? Pack your bags, get your girl, and get out.

- I'm gonna avenge Libano first. - What good will that do?

- Then I'm out of this. - No, either you're out of it now,

or you're in it for life. Here they are now.

Keep your ears pricked, and let me know what people say about Libano.

You'd better leave the back way.

Three bullets through the chest and one in the head,

that's how your friend was killed.

Aren't you going to look at the photos?

I've already seen him dead.

We both know that, so let's get this over with.

- Have you nothing to say? - Like what?

If I knew who killed him, I wouldn't be here chatting to you.

I thought you'd left Rome already.

- No, I'm still here. - Why?

To avenge Proietti's death?

No, to say my farewell.

Where were you last night?

I told you, at home with my wife and kid.

- Have we finished now? - No, you're talking bullshit.

You were on the scene of the crime last night with the rest of the gang.

- When was the last time you saw him? - Yesterday, he called in at the bar.

- What time was that? - It must've been...

about 4 or 5 o'clock.

Then what? Who else did you meet?

We had a beer and then we went home.

- What time was that? - One o'clock, I think.

- What did you talk about? - I don't remember.

It was only a few hours ago.

We just dealt a few hands.

- A few hands of what? - Poker.

What the fuck are you looking at?

Agame of poker? Why didn't you say so before?

Because it wasn't relevant.

- Who were you playing with? - I don't remember.

Tell me who you were playing with, or I'll have you arrested.

Please yourself, I don't remember.

What do you bet I find out for myself?

I know nothing about this game.

That's not what Ruggero Buffoni said.

- Why, what did Buffoni say? - That you were there, and Libanese.

I think something happened between you two.

That's bullshit. Libanese didn't lose his rag with me.

With who then?

So Maurizio Gemito swore it to Libanese after the poker game?

Not in so many words.

But you should've seen the way he looked at him.

- Ricotta? - What can I say?

He didn't like being treated like a dog.

I say we get rid of them, straight away.

I'll do it on my own.

I'm saying we should be cautious,

and spill blood only when we're sure it should be spilled.

- Well? - You, Fiero and Scrocchia

will go for them, take them to the hideout and tie them up.

But don't touch a hair on their heads. Is that clear?

Let's go.

If you're not convinced, you can always say so.

We're thinking about what we want, and not what Libanese would want.

He wanted to make life comfortable for his mother, a life of a lady.

That's what he wanted. Instead he died outside her home.

- Sorcio, you take care of it. - No, I'll see to it.

Here's another of them! This guy's a jinx.

- Well? - Libanese's place is clean.

But there's a problem. I didn't do it.

The place was upside-down when I got there.

Someone got there before me.

Remo and Maurizio Gemito, I think they're behind this murder.

- Why? - Two killers on a motorbike,

two men like them. And Ricotta gave us a motive.

Maurizio Gemito played poker with Libanese the evening before he died.

Libano lost, but wouldn't pay up, and he humiliated him before the others.

If we want to nail this gang

and work out their ties with the secret services, we need a witness.

And those two are professional traitors.

If we nail them for Libanese, they'll be so scared they'll talk.

Have them arrested, sir.

If we waste any more time, the gang will move before we do.

And all we could be left with are their corpses.

- Let's go. - Wait.

- What are you doing? - Do I have to explain?

Didn't you hear what Freddo said? No blood until we're sure.

I don't give a fuck what he says.

- Don't you want to avenge Libanese? - Not like this.

- I get it. Let's go, Scrocchia. - No.

I don't want anything to do with it.

That's all right, I'll do it myself.

What do these guys want?

What shall we do?

That's terrible news. Do we know who's responsible?

The Gemito brothers, it seems.

Where's Libanese's money?

- Why? What do you want it for? - None of your fucking business.

Just hand it over.

I'm sorry, there is none, Libanese invested it all.

He had no liquid assets left.

There's no liquid at all now.

I tell you what, disinvest it and the problem is solved.

It's not that easy, it'll take some time.

I have news for you.

You don't have time.

Okay, I'll see what I can do. I might be able to get something back.

Good man, get enough back, and hurry up about it.

So you're in charge now?

Have you taken Libanese's place?

Get that money back instead of talking bullshit.

Let's go.

They beat us to it. It's all that fucker Ricotta's fault.

- Who are you calling a fucker? - You.

I wasn't the first to mention the poker game.

- Right, Buffoni? - Are you saying I'm a snitch?

- You're saying it. - Rico'...

That's enough! You're both to blame. We won't get anywhere like this.

Call Vasto and tell him to help the Gemitos.

You're sending them a lawyer now! Are you nuts?

Not yet. And don't do anything stupid, we have to use our heads.

I told you, we had nothing to do with this business.

We used to play cards now and then, as friends, nothing else.

Is it true Libanese had a gambling debt with you?

Yes, but it wasn't much. We only play for small change.

That's not what I heard. What did you do after the poker game?

He went home. We were there until you came for us, to bring us here.

Have you finished?

You must have realised my clients had nothing to do with this murder.

That's not for you as a lawyer to decide.

In the meantime we'll do a paraffin test on you.

To see if you've fired a gun in the last few hours.

And with this, you'll serve a spell in jail.

Are you arresting them?

Don't worry, I'll have you out in a couple of days.

You've got a cheek coming here.

Tell me what we're going to do with this bungler.

I'm sorry, I did all I could. They're doing a paraffin test.

I wipe my ass with the paraffin test.

If the results come out positive, it means they fired the gun.

Then not even the can can save them.

- All we have to do is wait. - No.

I'll find out for myself if they killed him.

Your friends are in a hurry to get you out of here.

If I were you, I'd ask myself why.

And then I'd ask myself if I'd be better off talking.

You're better off in jail than in the morgue.

I've been looking for you all day.

I was all on my own, with the police in the house looking for you.

- Libano's dead. - I know.

But I found out from the radio.

That's why I rushed off, and that's why they're looking for me.

Why the fuck didn't you tell me?

I went looking for you in all the hospitals!

Thank goodness I called Gigi who told me to try Bar Franco.

What's the meaning of this?

Go home, Roberta, we'll talk about it later.

I've got business to do.

But I promise you I'll make up for it.

- Where's Dandi? - He's busy. What's up?

Don't ask me, ask Zio Carlo.

I haven't got long, tell me what he wants.

- He's got some important business. - Business?

Tell Zio Carlo something for me. And tell him to listen carefully.