Ash Wednesday

Let me ask you something. How much does this guy owe?

A couple a hundred.

A couple a hundred?

That's what you brought me down here for?

Hey, this cocksucker told Moran to go fuck himself.

- No one tells my cousin to go fuck himself. - I guess not.

Thinks he's a tough guy because he's the son of John Sullivan.

He thinks he can go and do and say whatever he wants.

Thinks Whitey Smith and those old-timers

are going to protect him again.

- Not tonight. - I just want you to promise me one thing.

I'm the one who gets to put the bullet in this guy's head.

You mean to tell me this guy's old man is the John Sullivan?

And they're all right with this?

- What they don't know, they ain't ever gonna know.

I got it, kid. It's for me.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay, I got it. Her, too?

Okay.

It's all set. He's there now.

All right, let's go.

I got to take a piss.

Me too.

We've been here a couple of hours now... now you guys got to piss.

I'm with you.

Bless me Father, for I have sinned.

I've done a terrible thing.

Give me a hand here.

Hey, Murph.

Did you see the Johnny Carson show last night?

No, no, I missed it. Who was on?

- Dolly Parton. - Ohh.

Fuckin' a.

Hospitalization, you retard!

He's got his own show.

- Morning, gents. - Hey, Francis.

Murph was late again.

What's up, Murph?

I see you've been to mass already, huh?

Yeah, 6:30. You getting your ashes today?

Yeah, yeah. I got to take Grace

and the kid to the 10:00.

Father Mahoney was looking for you this morning after mass.

Said he had something to ask you.

Said it was important.

Did he say what it was about?

Nope.

- Morning, lads! - Whitey.

- Francis. - Whitey.

A word with you?

Murph, give the lads the usual.

Whitey, thanks.

Sit down.

What brings you in here so bright and early these morning?

We've got a problem, Francis.

- What kind of problem is that? - You don't know?

No, I paid Brian Murphy everything I owe him already.

I don't give a shit about Brian Murphy.

I got a phone call last night.

Fascinating phone call as a matter of fact.

- Do you know what it was about? - I haven't a clue.

Well, someone thinks that your brother is back in the neighborhood.

- What brother could that be? - What brother could that be...

the only fucking brother you've got, wise ass.

Well, that's what I'm saying.

You and I both know that's impossible,

seeing as Sean's dead.

Some people think so, and other people don't think so.

Well, who's not thinking so all of a sudden?

The same fucking people

who wanted him dead in the first place.

Do you know anything about this?

No, I don't know anything.

Don't fuck with me.

Maggie Shea says she saw him over

at Red Kelly's on the Avenue last night.

Now you're going to go over there

and check that out later, right?

Yeah, yeah, I'll go check it out after mass.

Good. Then you'll come by and see me

and let me know what you found out.

Because, Francis, I don't need this kind of trouble right now.

And this neighborhood doesn't need this kind of trouble.

Do you understand what I'm telling you?

Don't fuck around with me on this one. All right?

- The best, lads. - All right, Whitey.

Everything all right?

Yeah, yeah, everything's fine.

Morning, Fran.

Who the hell is it?!

It's your nephew. Open up!

Don't worry, it's me.

I like what you did with the place. It still looks like shit.

Don't start with the bullshit, pal, it's too early.

What the hell are you doing here, anyhow?

You're not thinking of dragging me off to mass, are you?

No, I've got a question for you.

How's your aunt, by the way?

- Did she ask about me? - No. And she's fine.

She never comes by to see me anymore.

Look, she's probably just busy, that's all.

Busy with what? Want some toast?

No, no, I'm fine. What do you want me to say, she likes the suburbs.

What's to like about long island?

Look, I don't know. Maybe she likes the trees and having a backyard.

Backyard my ass. It's disgraceful.

Leaving the neighborhood to the spics and the niggers.

One day there'll be no Irish left here... what will she say then?

You know what? Then she'll be dead.

It sickens me, Francis. It sickens me.

I'll tell her you said so.

But look, I've got something I got to talk to you about.

Whitey Smith came by my place this morning.

Himself?

I don't know why your father ever liked him.

Thought it made him look more legit, I guess...

Whitey Smith and his new suits and phony smile,

off the boat, donkey prick that he is.

Where was he for your father when the feds came after him?

He's always been good to me, you know that.

Helped me out of my toughest jam, right?

That was guilt... guilt for abandoning your father,

letting him die in prison. What was he asking?

He was asking about my brother, Sean.

Asking what?

He heard a rumor that Sean is back in the neighborhood.

What?! The shit-for-brains doesn't know he's dead?

- No, he knows. - He knows.

Why was he asking then?

I was hoping maybe you might know.

What do I know? How a man rises from the dead?

Did they ever find his body?

They found an arm!

Didn't they?! An arm!

Yeah, but not the rest of him.

Sean was never found because by the time

that those animals got through with him,

there was nothing left to find.

Maybe a hand here and an arm there.

But that would be about it! God rest his soul.

What do you think this is about?

I got to go back over to Whitey's

and give him some kind of explanation.

Go tell Whitey that you asked around the neighborhood

and unless his ghost is haunting the streets,

young Sean has not been seen in Hell's Kitchen since 1980.

Right?

Okay.

Hey, Red, how you doing, man?

I'm still here, ain't I?

Good night, last night?

How you doing? What can I do you for?

Here to talk about your brother?

I heard you had a guy in here last night who looked like him?

Looked a lot like him. But, I mean, it wasn't him.

I know what Sean looks like. I grew up with the kid.

So, you have any idea who this guy was?

I never saw him before.

He was just some kid in a black peacoat.

You now, he's off one of the ships...

shore leave, you know.

- You have no idea who he is then? - I have no idea.

All I know it was not your brother. It's ridiculous.

I know, it's weird, 'cause of Whitey coming by my place asking questions.

- I don't know what it's all about. - Don't worry. It's nothing.

- I don't know what Mag is talking about. - What do you mean, Maggie?

Maggie was tending bar... she's the one who talked to him.

- She talked to him? - Yeah.

She swears it was him, but I wouldn't listen to her.

That's interesting. All right.

- All right. - Thanks a lot, man.

- Sure, Francis. - All right.

Whitey, he's here!

All right, come on. Come on, pal.

Francis, have you seen the ghost?

No, Mrs. Diaz, what ghost is that?

Your brother's ghost.

I saw it last night. He was here.

He came and bought some cigarettes

- and then he left. - The ghost did?

- Yes, the ghost. - This ghost have a peacoat on by any chance?

- Yes, like a sailor. - That wasn't a ghost, Mrs. Diaz.

It was just some guy that looked like Sean.

I saw him, too.

It wasn't Sean. It wasn't any ghost, comprende?

He was a ghost from the dead.

I was not the only one who saw him.

Maggie Shea was here and she said that she too saw the ghost.

- Maggie Shea? - Yes.

That figures. Put this on my account.

What the fuck are you doing to me?

- What are you talking about? - Are you doing this to get back at me?

Fran, I've got no need to get back at you.

Then why are you telling anyone who will listen that you saw Sean?

- Because I did see him. - You realize what a fucking sick thing that is to say?

- You think I didn't know what I saw? - What is wrong with you?

You think this is easy on me or Grace or anyone who cared about him?

You go around telling people he's back from the grave.