A Piece of the Action

Numbers, girls, cigarette bulk ads, secured loans.

78,283.

- How's the pharmacy business? - Higher and higher.

- South Chicago... terrific. - Good. Okay, let's go.

- Now. - Check.

They're hot as baby sis.

Can I get you something, Mr. Bruno?

No. Thank you, Mrs. Foster.

- You, Mr. Louie? - No, thank you, Lucy.

Just leave some coffee on the stove.

It's a raid! We got fuzz all over the place!

What? Lock the doors!

- Yeah? - What the hell's going on?

I've been trying to reach you. It's a bust. Burn the books.

The money from the last six months is marked.

- Stash the books. - Yes.

Move, move!

Mrs. Foster?

You could do me a big favor. This case, I almost forgot.

I need to have it taken to my cousin, the florist. You know, Mr. Richie.

- Sure, Mr. Bruno. No trouble at all. - It's right by the bus stop.

I appreciate it.

And here is a little something for you. I don't want to keep you.

See you tomorrow, Mr. Bruno.

They're gone.

They called it off.

They called it off!

- Lt. Shorter. - What the hell is going on?

- What are you calling me here for? - What do you mean? I just talked to you!

You talked to me? No.

What is this? You told me there was going to be a bust!

This place was swarming with cops a couple of minutes ago...

and now there's nobody here!

You better find out what the hell is going on. I think I've been had.

I can't do that.

Do it. Now.

Hold on.

Hey, Josh.

You guys hit anyplace this afternoon?

No, why?

I hear there was a big bust.

- Who got busted? - I heard it was Bruno.

- Yeah, but not from our guys, right? - No, not that I know of.

No, there's no bust from here. You've been conned.

Look, I got to go. Try not to call me here.

We've been screwed.

I been trying to reach you. There's gonna be a bust. Burn the books!

Big Bruno is bleeding mad!

Bleeding?! He pissed his pants!

That is what I dig, baby!

475,000!

- To the dollars! - The dollars!

Right on!

Bea!

Bea, snap it up or you'll miss your plane.

I'm coming, I'm coming.

Jesus, thank you.

For you, anytime. You in New York, Manny...

our barrio is your home.

You're beautiful, baby.

You're the only one that Bruno's got a make on, so be careful.

I'm long gone. The only one I'll miss is my grandson...

and he won't lack for a thing. I'm retiring in style, thanks to you.

If I were you, I wouldn't go to the Caribbean or Africa.

Those are the first places they'll look.

Don't worry. Where I'm going...

Don't tell me, Bea. I don't wanna know.

Thanks, Manny.

Goodbye, Bea.

All right. All right. Quiet! Quiet!

Men and ladies of the 33rd...

Drunken people, settle down.

Here's to Joshua Burke, retiring today.

Hear, ye!

How time flies. Twenty-five years working with a man.

Depending on him, bumming his cigarettes, borrowing his money.

You think you know a guy, turns out he had me listed as a dependent.

Smart guy! All right.

- Here's to Josh Burke. - Hey!

Thanks, everybody. I'm gonna miss this place.

But I'll probably run into you guys.

I'll stumble in here a few times just out of habit.

But before I go, I want to confess something.

Shorter still owes me $4.

Josh! Hey, come on, Josh!

Oh, my goodness. I tell you, if they ever get air condition...

- Letter for Mr. Anderson. - Thank you.

If they ever get some air conditioning in this place...

you may have fun.

I'll be back in a minute.

Mr. Anderson.

- Where did you get this? - A gentleman. He's at the bar.

Who? Who? What? Where?

Well, he must have gone. He's not here now. Why, what's wrong?

Nothing.

I want to talk to you about a 12-story leap...

with $ 90,000 from the Consumer Credit Company...

and also the bank messenger who lost $ 205,000.

I expect you tomorrow, 6 p. M...

at the Drake Hotel, suite 11-300.

Be there. It's important to you.

Honey, please. What's in it?

- You'll find out. - I can't wait! It's killing me!

- Don't go through my pockets. - I was hanging up your jacket.

- I couldn't miss it. - This is for a 29-year old woman...

and you won't be that for another 72 hours. So there.

Give me a hint.

What do you need?

I got all I need. And I'm looking at him.

All right, I'll wait. If you insist.

I'll tell you what I don't want. Another party.

Don't plan no surprises. I don't like surprises.

Messenger delivered it, Mr. Durrell. Said it should come up right away.

Thank you. Thank you.

I want to talk to you about a staged bust, a Mr. Bruno...

and $475,000 in a shopping bag.

I expect you tomorrow, 6 p. M...

at the Drake Hotel, suite 11-300.

Be there. It's important to you.

You want to see me?

- Well, who are you? - I don't like games. What do you want?

Hold it. You asked me to come here.

I'm here because you sent me that letter.

You sent me a letter.

I don't even know you.

Well, I'm getting the hell out of here.

- Hello. - Anderson.

- Who is this? - I see you got my note.

I got your note. Now, what do you want?

I want you to come to lunch tomorrow at 1:30 at the voisin.

What is this? I have no time for this crap.

You don't come, you got nothing but time.

I'll think it over.

Yeah, well, while you think about it, let me talk to your friend there.

- Yeah. - Manny.

Be at lunch tomorrow, 1:30, the Voisin.

- Who's this? - Never mind.

- What's this about? - I got your butt nailed.

I know people who'd pay money for the guy who conned Vic Bruno.

They wanna run a dumdum bullet up his nose.

I'd rather not put him in touch with you or the old lady or the Puerto Ricans.

But I could, so that is why you'll be at lunch tomorrow at 1:30 at the voisin.

And that is where you'll find out what this is all about.

Now, put David on the extension. I wanna talk to both of you.

What?

Gentlemen, I want to be fair and relieve your minds.

Neither of you knows what I want with the other.

Therefore, you are safe from each other.

This is confidential. I will keep it that way. Trust me.

Oh, yeah. Anderson...

I reserved the suite in your name, so pay for it on your way out.

And Durrell, lunch tomorrow is on you.

Be on time, fellas.

Do you know her?

No, I thought you did.

Well, she better have one hell of a deep voice.

Good afternoon, I'm Lila French. Which of you is David Anderson?

- I am. - Very pleased to meet you. Lila French.

- You must be Mr. Durrell. - Manuel Durrell.

Pleased to meet you.

I must say, this is the most interesting offer we've had in a long time.

- I'm dying to discuss it. I'm curious. - Oh, yes. We must discuss it.

- We have to. - Needless to say, your note made my day.

- What was in it? - In your note?

We agreed in principle, you know. But his secretary...

See, Manny has never read it...

and I was wondering if you'd let us... Let him read it.

Oh, by all means!

Oh, let me read it. May I? I love it.

It's inspiring. It's more like a poem.

Well, old Dave always was better with words.

- How did he put it to us? - He put it beautifully.

- I'm sure he did. - Here's the beautiful part.

"We will dedicate eight hours a day, five days a week..."

For six weeks, to your community improvement center...

free of charge.

If at the end of six weeks our work has been helpful...

and the center finds we have indeed been helpful...

"in realizing the aims of the center's project..."

- How modest. - Oh, well...

Go on.

"Then we pledge to continue that contribution free of charge...

for an additional period of time. Five years in the case of Mr. Anderson...

and four years, six months in the case of Mr. Durrell."

Oh, yeah. He put it beautifully.

- How'd he come up on them figures? - Statute of limitations.

- I beg your pardon? - He said there's got to be limitations.

- You're so modest, it's unbelievable. - Yes, it is unbelievable.

This part is so touching. Listen.

"If at the end of six weeks we have not made a real contribution...

we shall have to withdraw and offer our services...

to a state or federal institution."

You write a hell of a letter.

Isn't it thrilling?

We try so hard to get people to donate two hours a day...

a week, a weekend, anything.

Then two successful men of your money and stature...

come along and decide to devote eight hours a day...

five days a week? There's so much to do.

- I'm dying to show you the center. - I'm dying too.