The Avenue

**

No.

No.

**

What's the matter?

What?

-Why are you not eating anything?

-I've never been crazy about the food here.

You know that.

-I would have taken you to my Uncle Peaches' place.

I told you that on the way here.

-This is the only place you ever take me,

and every time you tell me

about how you used to come here with your mother

and your grandmother when you were a kid,

back when you were a shoobie and the seat cushions were blue.

Okay, so you're not as excited about the remodel as I am.

You don't have to get nasty.

-I'm not excited about anything anymore, Eddie.

What are we doing?

What's your problem?

-This town, the w-way we live, everything.

-This is where you're from, Sandra.

This is your home.

-I've been thinking a lot about when we first got together.

-We had a lot of good times. -It was more than that for me.

You were larger than life, Eddie.

You're better than this.

I'm sitting here waiting for that guy to show back up.

Somewhere along the line, something changed.

Listen...

I know that things have been rough

since we lost the apartment,

and we both know that was my fault.

You don't think I want things to be better for us?

-Then why won't you call your cousin Dominick?

-Why! -Because he could get you back

in the carpenter's union in, like, two minutes.

-And then I could be like my cousin?

Carry a lunch pail to work, punch a clock?

He's a strunz, my cousin.

Strunz!

**

-Good luck, gentlemen, this hand.

Twenty.

-I ain't complaining. -Look at this shit.

-Sixteen -- split 'em? -Split 'em, split.

-3,000, sir. -3,000. Look at this.

3,000. -Ooh, big shot, look at him.

Playing for another 3,000.

Good luck this round.

Eighteen.

Eighteen.

Thirteen. Nineteen.

Twenty.

-All right, all right. -Like that?

-That's -- That's a tough one, buddy.

Hey. Can't win them all, man.

Only Rocky Marciano. -How about that answer?

-Hey, how about that? -Yeah, very funny.

I am.

My apologies.

-It's the second time in two weeks.

Last week same shit. He's cheating me. He's cheating.

-Nobody's trying to cheat you, relax.

-I'm a dues-paying member in this joint.

-We all are. -We all pay the dues,

and you know what, you just paid some more dues just then.

Relax. -Ease back, Eddie.

-No shame. You got to split eights.

-Come on, calm down. -"Split eights"...

It's a friendly game.

-Looks like you're out now. -Yeah, you see that?

Yeah, I am out. Give me a marker.

-What's your pleasure Mr. M.? -Ten.

-10,000? -No, ten dollars.

Yes, 10,000. -He's a wise guy.

Would you relax?

-Sir, you're good for $5,000 tonight.

-5,000? -Sir, that's your balance.

-Angelo, are you nuts? It's bad enough this motherfucker

is robbing me all night! -Oh! Relax.

-Are you fucking nuts?! Are you fucking nuts?!

-Get him out of here! -What the fuck?!

-Hey! Get your fucking hands off me.

-See you next week, Eddie. -Yeah, I'll see all

you motherfuckers next week. -Tell a friend!

-Fuck all of you. I'll see you next week.

I'll see you next week!

**

You're slipping, Giancarlo.

I could have capped you right here.

Tony, Jesus. You scared me.

Rough night?

-Rough month. -How many times I've got

to tell you to take it easy with that booze?

Moderation. It's going to kill you,

but you don't want to hear that, do you?

-I'll take it under advisement. -Come on. Let's walk.

Let's talk.

-Hey, thanks for coming again. -That's what friends are for.

Too many ears.

You know about the poker game in my house on Wednesday nights?

Mm-hmm.

-This guy had a really bad night last week.

He's in to me for 100 grand.

I graciously gave him a couple extra days.

Now the prick won't even return my phone calls.

Okay, what guy?

-Your pop's buddy from the gang from Philly.

-Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on. Hold on.

You want me to go back home?

Ton, you know you have my loyalty,

but I can't go home, and you know that.

-Still? -Yeah, still.

-You worried about those knuckleheads from way back when?

Let me ask you a question,

what does never set foot here again mean to you?

To me, it means don't go back, so I haven't.

-I've got your back going there.

Don't even think that thing ever happened.

Look, this guy has known you since you were a kid.

Maybe you can get him to understand

the seriousness of the situation.

-All right, I'll take care of it.

-You know where his bar is at, right?

-Yeah, I know where he's at. -He probably closed it down

a few times back in the day, right?

-A few. -I want you to go there,

wait for him,

when he's closing tomorrow night, you follow?

If he don't cooperate with you,

you rough him up however you need to,

but don't walk out of there without my money, you got me?

He's got a safe on the second floor.

Blow the motherfucker up, I don't care, but I want my money.

-I got you covered. -Bastard's making it really

difficult for me to make payroll this week.

**

Salut.

-You remember that marina job two years ago?

Who could forget that?

"In and out, 10 grand apiece."

Those were Tony's exact words to us.

-How we're both not sitting in prison cells

right now over that deal?

-I got pneumonia hiding in that water.

I'm still not right over it.

Well, this job is on dry land.

Restaurant owner in Philly,

used to be good buddies with my pop,

owes Tony 100 big ones.

He's giving Tony the runaround.

What aren't you telling me?

It's got to get done tonight.

-What if he doesn't have the cash?

What if he's not there?

You know how crazy Tony gets when things don't go right.

-Look, the time to get him is when

he's getting ready to close up shop.

That's our time.

You still got the, uh, bat right?

Yeah, what do I need it for?

Christ.

Terry.

Be a pal, keep your hands where I can see them.

Both of them.

Eddie.

Is that you?

I got the stairs.

Collecting for "The One and Only," Terry.

He wants his money.

And he sent you out for it?

I'll be gobsmacked.

You know, if your father was still alive,

he'd be smacking you around for even coming round here.

-I don't want to be here right now.

I'm here 'cause I got to be.

You had a bad night and you owe.

-You -- You tell that son of a bitch

that I'll bring his money round

to him first thing tomorrow morning, swear to God.

But for tonight, I'm about to be in the middle of something,

and for the love of Jesus, you can't be here.

I --

You little piss ant piece of shit.

What was that?

I'll give you what I've got.

Jesus.

Here goes my last ever, swear to God.

It's 50,000 or 60,000.

I don't really know.

So, all righty then.

It was good to see you there, Eddie,

and --

Not going to get it done.

Oh, well, now...

where am I going to get another $50,000?

I've got an idea -- the fucking bank,

which isn't fucking open.