HeywoodGould.com » screenplay writing

Movies You Will Never See/Coney Island Bluefish/Part 6

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:30:51 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to April 4.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

CONEY ISLAND BLUEFISH

By Heywood Gould

ACT TWO

IN BLACK…11:21:54…JETS LANDING…PA ANNOUNCEMENTS.

RADIO
Anti crime units 1 and 2
respond to La Guardia,
Terminal 7…

INT.AIRPORT TERMINAL.NIGHT.

SURVEILLANCE PHOTO. A YOUNG BLONDE WOMAN standing by a car.

OLGA
(o.s.)
This is the undercover.

TILT UP to a bench where Olga and Burke dressed as tourists with backpacks and boomboxes are looking at the photo.

BURKE
Cute…

OLGA
(with a little slap)
Keep your mind on the job.

She snuggles up, but Burke slides away.

BURKE
Cool it. Everybody’s lookin’…

He points across at Third and Derek, business suits, laptops, sitting across from them, smirking.

OLGA
So what? We’re playin’ young
lovers on a world tour.

BURKE
Let’s play lovers havin’ a
fight

ACROSS THE AISLE

Third and Derek check out the FBI contingent.

DEREK
We’re just around in case of
World War III, right?

THIRD
Plan is she’s takes ‘the guy
into the bar. She passes the
money, he gives her the
diamonds. Then, the FBI moves
in…

WEARY PASSENGERS trickle out of the gate. Then comes LENA, a tall, striking blonde in a black dress carrying an attache case.

DEREK
Oh, this is a star.

THIRD
Don’t get drippy on me again.
Don’t burn where you earn.

Lena is met by a HEAVYSET MAN in a black suit.They shake hands and she turns toward the bar. But the Heavyset man takes her arm again and pulls her in the opposite direction.

DEREK
Change of plans.

THREE MEN and a WOMAN emerge from the bar and surround her. They walk her toward the exit. Third puts headphones in his ears and walks by the group..There is a TINY MICROPHONE on his laptop case. As they pass he hears:

HEAVYSET MAN
(thick accent in headphones)
Too many people here, too
crowded. We have a quiet
place in the parking lot.

LENA
(Russian accent)
I have to catch a plane back
to Phoenix.

HEAVYSET MAN
We always change the routine.
Don’t worry…But don’t make
a problem.

Following the group Third sees the Heavyset Man produce a GUN. Signaling to Derek, he makes the shape of a gun with his hand. Then he turns his hands as if on a steering wheel. Derek jumps up, and heads for the exit.

OLGA AND BURKE

walk parallel to the group, while Third follows them out, signaling to the FBI men to keep their distance.

EXT. PARKING LOT, NIGHT.

Derek peels off into the darkness as the group goes to a quiet corner where the SMUGGLER, a sour middle aged man in a leather jacket waits by a car.

OLGA AND BURKE

cross the street and move down a row of cars.

THIRD

drops down under a car, points his laptop and turns up the gain as Lena faces the Smuggler. He hears:

SMUGGLER
Give me your shoes.

LENA
(slipping out of her shoes)
This is not the deal we made.

SMUGGLER
(looking in the shoes)
We have to be careful.
(to the Woman)
Search her.

LENA
But this was all arranged in
Phoenix.

WOMAN
Pull up your skirt.

Lena complies. The Woman checks her for a mike.

WOMAN (cont’d)
Your bra.

LENA
No bra.

WOMAN
She’s clean.

SMUGGLER
So you are not police.

LENA
I told you.

SMUGGLER
Just a thief. No one will
miss you.

Points the remote toward a SEVILLE. The trunk pops open. The Heavyset Man grabs Lena. She jabs him in the eye, tries to run, but the Smuggler steps out and punches her in the face.

THIRD

turns on his radio and waves to Olga and Third.

THIRD
I’m goin’…

He jumps up, gun out and runs toward the group.

THIRD (CONT’D)
Freeze! Police!

THE SMUGGLER

looks up and sees Third running toward him. Olga and Burke weaving through cars. He jams the gun against Lena’s head. She talks fast.

LENA
Shoot me. They’ll shoot you…
Give up now, a good lawyer
gets you five years. Think
fast.

The Smuggler thinks fast. Sees the cops running towards him. The feds rushing out of the terminal. Drops his gun.

THE HEAVYSET MAN

tries to slip away in the confusion. Weaving through the cars into the darkness he is suddenly confronted by Derek moves in.

DEREK
No exit, pal.

The Heavyset Man reaches into his belt, but Derek grabs his wrist and smacks him hard on the side of a head with a “slapper” (blackjack). Then throws him over the hood.

AT THE SCENE

Confusion. LIGHTS and SIRENS. Third, Olga and Jerry are holding the PRISONERS as the feds run up. Lena has her head tilted back to stop the bleeding from her nose. She turns as

Derek hustles the handcuffed Heavyset Man back to the scene. Takes the blackjack out of his hand.

LENA
May I?

DEREK
Be my guest.

Lena walks over to where the Feds are searching the Smuggler. Without warning she smacks him in the face with the “slapper.” The Smuggler’s knees buckle and the feds jump at Lena in alarm. “What do you think you’re doing…?” Lena hands the “slapper” back to Derek.

LENA
Thank you…

And walks away. Derek watches her go, then turns to Third.

DEREK
I think I’m falling in love.

END ACT TWO

CONEY ISLAND BLUEFISH By Heywood Gould

I pitched a show about how cops deal with the new ethnically diverse New York.

The executives looked up from their blackberries…

Thought Coney Island–home to refugees from the former Soviet Empire a burgeoning Mexican population, Indians, Pakistanis, Hasidim, not to mention retired garment workers, Mafia holdouts, yuppies, hipsters and health nuts who want to be by the sea–would be a good arena.

The executives leaned forward in their chairs—a good sign.

Police precincts field sports teams that play other city departments and go to a state championship every year.

The executives had never heard of that.
“Great hook,” someone said.

I wrote the script. Joy was unconfined. We were on our way.

Then it was bounced down from the “upstairs.”

The verdict:
“Is he kidding?”

Enjoy
Best,
Heywood

Our first script was EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development was a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

Click on EMPRIES OF CRIME link below for the entire script.

EMPIRES OF CRIME

Movies You Will Never See/Empires Of Crime/Part 41

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:58:10 +0000

FINAL HOURS 5&6
(Below links to 2 hr. Pilot, Hours 3&4)

For every movie that is released there are hundreds of scripts that were commissioned, “developed”, written, restructured—and rewritten; reconceived, redeveloped—and rewritten; restored to their original state and—rewritten; Acquired in “turnaround” by another production entity which redeveloped, reconceived, rewrote, rejected, rescued, restored and finally—shelved them.

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House. Who hunted Luciano for years, using wiretaps and bugs, informers and tainted witnesses to send him to prison. And then released him into exile, enduring vicious accusations by his political enemies and dooming his chances of the Presidency, while never revealing the reason for his sudden turnabout.

The entire script is up on the blog, starting on October 13th and ending March 12th. Here are the links to Parts 3 & 4 for your review. Links to the earlier blog: Parts 1 & 2:The Pilot are also included. Links to the final two parts will follow. Vote at anytime. Would you have liked to see this movie? Use the Contact Us button at the menu at the top of the page. Reply yes or no. Or the Comments.

Hours One & Two: The Pilot
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1491

Hours Three & Four
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1511

Hours Five (5 Parts) & Six (9 Parts)
Hour Five

Part 25/Dewey Makes A Move
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1219
Part 26/Operation Underworld
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1245
Part 27/Charlie, The Hero
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1272
Part 28/Secret Mission
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1309
Part 29/Dewey Does The Right thing
http://heywoodgould.com/pages/?p=1339

Hour Six

Movie You Will Never See/Empires Of Crime/Part 38

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:33:44 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the Home page.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT FOUR (Con’t)

INT. DA GIACAMINO’S RESTAURANT. DAY

Charley poses for the PAPARAZZI with his arm around Igea.

CHARLEY
Take one with my fidanzata.
We’re gonna get married and
make bambini like good
Italians…

Martin Grayson runs up with an armful of NEWSPAPERS…

GRAYSON
Home run, Charley. We made
every paper and every
column…Winchell Louella
Parsons, Hedda Hopper,
Variety The Hollywood
Reporter…”

The Waiter pushes his way through the crowd around Charley’s table, carrying a pot of espresso.

CHARLEY
You know the guy who owns
the Hollywood Reporter.
Wilkerson? Benny stole the
Flamingo right out from
under him…What’s this
producer’s name again?

GRAYSON
Marty Gosch. He’s done a
lot of Spanish language
movies.

The Waiter pours coffee.

CHARLEY
So he ain’t exactly Jack
Warner.

GRAYSON
He knows everybody in the
business, Charley. Can we
show him a good time?

Charley takes a sip and makes a face.

CHARLEY
What kinda broads does he
like..? Wait a second the
fleet’s in…

Charley has seen a familiar face across the crowded room. He rises and weaves his way through the crowd to the bar where RED HAFFENDEN is nursing a drink. They greet each other, cautiously. “Hey Red…” “Hi Charley…”

HAFFENDEN
Haven’t seen you since we
won the war.

CHARLEY
Yeah, you and me,
singlehanded. Some
coincidence you showin’ up
in my joint after all these
years.

HAFFENDEN
Just passin’. Thought I’d
drop in.

Charley smiles; he knows that’s not true.

CHARLEY
You’re still doin’ the same
thing, I see. How come they
make you guys wear them
baggy suits?

HAFFENDEN
It’s the uniform of the
day…They’re watching you,
Charley. They got your phone
tapped, your house bugged.

CHARLEY
Get to the point, Red. You
didn’t come here to tell me
what you know I already
know.

HAFFENDEN
Scuttlebutt is you’re
selling your life story.
You gonna talk about the
war?

CHARLEY
It’s part of my life story,
no?

HAFFENDEN
People aren’t ready to know
what really happened…

CHARLEY
You mean Dewey don’t want
‘em to know.

HAFFENDEN
The Navy, too. There’s a
three hundred and fifty
page secret report on your
activities. You guys have
something called the code
of silence. We have
something called
classified material.

CHARLEY
There’s also something
called respect. And I
didn’t get any from Dewey.
He called me a skulking
dog in front of my guys…

HAFFENDEN
The Navy is not responsible
for Dewey’s bad manners.

CHARLEY
They send you here?

HAFFENDEN
I kinda volunteered,
Charley. For old time’s
sake.

CHARLEY
Okay for old time’s sake
I’ll tellya what. My
brother’s real sick in San
Francisco. You get me
temporary visa to go visit
him I’ll forget the war
ever happened.

HAFFENDEN
The Navy doesn’t make deals.

CHARLEY
I was never in the Navy.
You guys never even gave
me a uniform to impress the
broads…

HAFFENDEN
I’m telling you as a friend,
Charley. I know you want to
get back in the limelight,
but this isn’t the way to
do it.

CHARLEY
That sounds like a threat,
Red.

HAFFENDEN
The Navy doesn’t make
threats. C’mon Charley, you
got a great life here.
Beautiful weather, great
food, a gorgeous girlfriend.
Why make trouble for
yourself?

CHARLEY
I guess I like the action.
Get me a visa, Red. If not
I’ll send you two seats to
the world premiere of the
Lucky Luciano story. If you
can’t get a date, take
Dewey.

INT. NAPLES AIRPORT. DAY

Grayson and Charley enter, followed by Rizzo and several BODYGUARDS. Charley grimaces as they walk and clutches his side.

GRAYSON
Gosch has called all the
studios. If you can get out
to Hollywood they’ll roll
out the red carpet…

CHARLEY
I got the Navy workin’ on
a visa for me.
(stops)
Slow down a little, my lunch
is talkin’ back…I’d just
like to see New York again.
Get a corned beef sandwich,
walk around Times Square…

Suddenly, a bolt of pain shoots through him. He gasps and staggers. Grayson stops him from falling.

GRAYSON
Charley, you okay?

CHARLEY
Pain…Can’t breathe…

RIZZO
I’ll get a doctor…

Grayson and the Bodyguards take him to a chair. He has gone dead white under his tan; sweat pours off him, but he manages a smile.

CHARLEY
Yeah…I thought that waiter
was actin’ nervous…

GRAYSON
This is just a heartburn…

CHARLEY
Guess my life story was
worth more than I thought.

GRAYSON
Don’t talk…

CHARLEY
There was this guy named
John Barrett. In the
Tombs squawkin’…We didn’t
know how to shut him up. So
Meyer had a bright idea:
send him a poison chicken.
See that’s how that
started…Now they done it
to me.

GRAYSON
Lie down, Charley…

Charley lies back, eyes glazed as he looks back into the past.

CHARLEY
I shoulda done it legal. I
coulda made twice as much
money and I’d be sittin’ in
Lindy’s right now eatin’ a
piece of cheesecake.

INT.TOM’S STUDY. DAY

Next morning. In his bathrobe, Tom is on the phone with a reporter, while Frances watches.

TOM
I did not frame him. I
convicted him on the
evidence…Of course I’m
proud. It was probably the
best thing I ever did in
public life. Yes you can
quote me.
(slams down the phone)
What a country! As soon as
anybody dies they become a
saint.

FRANCES
Don’t be cranky, Tom.
Charley was always good
copy…

TOM
He was a drug dealing
murderer. How many times do
I have to tell people that?
How many times do I have to
tell you?

A MAID enters.

SECRETARY
The Associated Press is on
the phone and a man from
NBC News.

TOM
See that? Day after day I
sit here in solitude, Tom
Dewey, the man who lost to
Truman. But Lucky Luciano
drops dead and all of a
sudden I’m in demand.
(resigned)
Put them through. I’ll talk
to everybody…

INT. LANSKY BUNGALOW. DAY

Late afternoon. Meyer sits in the gloom staring at the photo of Charley, Benny and himself in their dapper, younger days. Teddy looks in.

TEDDY
Meyer, you got company…

She ushers in Agents Snyder and Whitman (from Part I).

MEYER
Hey, you got a guys got a
warrant?

WHITMAN
We don’t want to intrude.

MEYER
Since when does the FBI
ever intrude?

SNYDER
We just wanted to tell you:
Lucky Luciano just died.

MEYER
In bed with a chorus girl,
I hope.

WHITMAN
He had a heart attack at
the Naples Airport.

MEYER
At least it was quick…

SNYDER
Our bureau chief would like
you to come down and answer
some questions, Meyer.

MEYER
Can’t help you, boys.

WHITMAN
Well… We just thought you
oughta know..

MEYER
Thanks it was a nice
gesture…

He reaches for a cigarette as Teddy escorts them out. When she returns.

MEYER
I knew they weren’t gonna
let him write that book…

TEDDY
Meyer, you know you can’t
smoke..

MEYER
Just takin’ one for Charley.
He started me on this. Got
me my first girl, too. He
was always talkin’, always
up to somethin’. Always
laughin’. I betcha he was
laughin’ at the end.

With a sigh he gets up. He opens a drawer and puts on a YARMULKE. Then, takes out a PRAYER BOOK.

MEYER
Cover the mirrors, Teddy.
I’ll say the prayer for
the dead and then we’ll
get a corned beef sandwich
in Charley’s memory.

And with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, Meyer walks to the window, murmuring in Hebrew…

CLOSING MONTAGE… Charley narrates the destinies of those who survived him.

CHARLEY
(v.o.)
Empires rise and fall. You
gotta know when your time
is up…

FRANK COSTELLO…Dapper, impatient…Walking through the lobby of his apartment building.

CHARLEY
Frank wanted to take over.
Vito had other ideas.

An ASSAILANT steps out from behind a pillar and shoots him in the head. He runs out as Costello crawls , a bloody gash in his temple.

CHARLEY
Chin Gigante, the guy he
sent to kill Frank, couldn’t
shoot straight, so he ended
up giving Frank a haircut.
That was good enough. Frank
retired and died in bed at
the age of 82…

GENOVESE…Scowling behind dark glasses he is escorted, handcuffed to a waiting PADDY WAGON by two COPS.

CHARLEY
Vito owned every racket in
Manhattan, but it wasn’t
enough. His eyes were bigger
than his stomach. So he got
into heroin smuggling and
was ratted out by a small
time dealer. He died in
the Atlanta Penitentiary…

Cradling Bruzzer in his arms MEYER walks on the beach at sunset with TEDDY.

CHARLEY
All Meyer wanted was peace
and quiet, and a nice piece
of broiled chicken, but the
feds had unfinished business.
He took it on the lam to
Israel, but they threw him
out. Then he flew around
South America offering a
million bucks to any
dictator that would take
him in. No luck so he came
home half dead from
emphysema and a bad heart.
The feds tried him three
times, but each time he
got off. He had coffee
and shmoozed with the old
timers in Miami until he
passed at the age of 83.

TOM…in his black suit, brooding at his oaken desk in his large, gloomy office.

CHARLEY
There’s nothin’ worse than
a favorite who runs outta
the money. Dewey never
lived down the loss to
Truman. But in the end
he did the right thing
by me.

ST. JOHN’S CEMETERY…Charley’s TOMB, a large white stone crypt, built in the classical style with pillars and plinths. The name “LUCANIA” is carved in the lintel.

CHARLEY
He let them bury me in the
family plot me. St.John’s
Cemetery, Queens, New York.
Back to the name I was born
with. Back with my mother
and father. A lotta guys I
knew are layin’ around here.
Some of ‘em I put in the
ground myself. It was a
little late, but I got my
wish. I came home…

THE END

Next: All links to script and voting.

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

Movie You Will Never See/ Empires Of Crime/Part 37

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:00:06 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the Home page.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT FOUR (Con’t)

SEPTEMBER 1958

INT. RIVIERA CASINO. NIGHT.

BANNERS herald the GRAND OPENING. The MUSIC is frenzied. Every table is jammed with GAMBLERS. Meyer patrols the floor in a white dinner jacket,checking,the tables, joking with the Gamblers. He approaches a ROULETTE TABLE where THREE SOLDIERS stand guard, arms folded, over a CUBAN COLONEL in full dress uniform, who is betting huge sums at the wheel. Suddenly a WAITER comes out of the crowd and tugs on his arm.

WAITER
Stay away from the roulette,
Senor.

A WOMAN

pushes through the crowd at the wheel. She pulls a small SILVER AUTOMATIC out of her purse and fires. The COLONEL is hit. THREE YOUNG MEN run behind the Guards, firing. The Guards fall. The Assailants fire wildly to cover their retreat. Gamblers duck and scatter, screaming in fear.

THE WAITER

draws Meyer into a corner, speaking quickly before he runs away.

WAITER
You’re a fair man, Senor
you treat us better than
our own grandees. But
Fidel has said he would
rather execute the
gangsters than expel them.
Get out now before it’s
too late…

INT. RIVIERA CASINO. NIGHT.

A few hours later. The Casino is empty. Sheets cover the bodies Batista, deeply agitated, complains to Meyer.

BATISTA
They’re communist trouble
makers, nothing more…

MEYER
I know a professional job
when I see one. Who is
this Fidel?

BATISTA
He’s a gnat! A nothing!
I could wipe him out in
a week, but President
Eisenhower won’t send
troops to help me.

MEYER
I got a lotta money sunk
in this town, Fulgencio.
I gotta know if my
investment is safe.

BATISTA
Hundred per cent, Meyer,
you have my word. I have
been too gentle with these
Fidelistas, but I will crush
them now, I promise.

NEW YEARS’ EVE 1959

INT. RIVIERA CASINO. NIGHT.

New Year’s Eve and the casino is packed. As the confetti swirls and the band plays a mambo version of “Auld Lang Syne…” Teddy fights her way through a crowd of well wishers to:

INT, OFFICE. NIGHT.

Where Meyer is counting cash, and pounding on an ADDING MACHINE.

TEDDY
Meyer it’s New Year’s. Come
out and have a dance for
God’s sake.

MEYER
(exultant)
We’re three million ahead
for the year, Teddy. And
you know what’s even better?
The winnings have gone up
every week. We’re a smash.

INT. RIVIERA CASINO. NIGHT.

Pandemonium…Dancing in the aisles. Meyer and Teddy come out. Meyer looks around, anxiously.

MEYER
Band’s too good. It’s
keepin’ people away from
the tables…

TEDDY
Oh, stop worrying and enjoy
yourself for God’s sake.

Meyer kisses her.

MEYER
I love you, Teddy.

They kiss again, but are startled by an EXPLOSION. The building shakes. Plaster rains from the ceiling. ANOTHER EXPLOSION shatters the glass doors of the casino. Several CUBAN REVOLUTIONARIES in BATTLE FATIGUES burst in, waving rifles.

REVOLUTIONARY
Nobody move. This casino is
under the control of the
Revolutionary Government of
Cuba.

Meyer pulls Teddy back toward the office.

MEYER
Go upstairs and stay with
the boys.

INT. OFFICE, NIGHT

Meyer runs in and finds the Waiter, who warned him, now in BATTLE FATIGUES, placing a small dynamite charge by his safe. The safe blows. The door swings open.

MEYER
What’s this a stick up?

WAITER
An expropriation. This
money belongs to the people
of Cuba.

MEYER
It belonged to American
gamblers. Now it belongs to
the Riviera. And a piece of
it goes to President Batista.

WAITER
Ex President Batista has
loaded three planes with
everything he could steal
and escaped to his friend
Trujillo in Santa Domingo
(empties the smoking safe)
I warned you, Senor, but
you preferred to put your
money on Batista. Now you
will go home with nothing…

INT. CASINO.NIGHT.

A few hours later.MEYER AND TEDDY stand on the bar, trying to calm a crowd of distraught AMERICAN GAMBLERS, who are shouting angry questions…”When will we get our passports back?” “Is Eisenhower sending the Marines?”

MEYER
We’re all gonna get out of
here safe and sound.
There’s a bus coming from
the American Embassy to
take you to the airport.

TEDDY
Meanwhile, if anybody’s
hungry there’s chicken soup
and sandwiches in the
kitchen…

INT. CASINO. DAY.

Wrecked and empty and deathly still. Meyer stands at a shattered crap table, rolling the dice aimlessly. Teddy runs in carrying a small overnight bag

TEDDY
Meyer, the bus is waiting.

MEYER
We didn’t have time to
break even. We’re out
seven million…

TEDDY
(takes him by the arm)
Don’t sit shiva yet. The
Ambassador says Castro will
let us stay in business.
He won’t turn his back on
millions of dollars.

MEYER
Nobody knew who Castro was
six months ago, now
everybody’s readin’ his mind.
(as they leave the casino)
Fourteen million dollars I
spent on this hotel. You
know much I sunk into
those Mosaic bricks?

TEDDY
So next time use linoleum…

He turns for one last look.

MEYER
I always played the odds. I
made one come bet in my
whole life. And I crapped
out.

Next:Act 4 (cont):

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

Movies You Will Never See/Empires Of Crime/Part 36

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:10:06 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the Home page.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT FOUR

OCTOBER 1957

INT. TURISTICO RISTORANTE. NIGHT.

Charley is holding court at a round table to a crowd of AMERICAN TOURISTS, REPORTERS and ITALIAN HUSTLERS. Giving detailed instructions to the WAITER.

CHARLEY
I want the branzino. Fresh
not a week old like the
bacalao you give the
tourists.

Everybody laughs. Charley waves at two MEN IN BAGGY SUITS sitting at a small table. They wave back.

CHARLEY
And send my two friends a
bottle of Chianti. The cheap
stuff they stick a candle in.

MARTIN GRAYSON, the young slick producer we saw in Part I approaches with IGEA LISSONI, a buxom showgirl in tow.

GRAYSON
Excuse the intrusion, Mr.
Luciano, My name is Marty
Grayson. My friend wanted
to meet you, but her English
isn’t so good…

CHARLEY
See the difference? Italians
want a favor, they bring you
a salami. Americans know what
gets ‘em in the door. We
won’t need a translator, will
we honey?

Ralph Rizzo appears with two chairs. Charley kisses Igea’s hand.

CHARLEY
Como se giamma bellisima?

IGEA
Igea Lissoni, Signore
Luciano.

CHARLEY
Igea…Like a beautiful
song. Call me Charley, Igea.
Say it in my ear.

Blushing furiously, Igea whispers “Charley” in his ear.

CHARLEY
(looks to the heavens)
Oh mama, wherever you are, I
finally got an Italian girl…
Spit it out, Marty. What
are you sellin’?

GRAYSON
I’m a movie producer. I
want to do your life story.

CHARLEY
I tellya my life story my
life will end the next day.
(his arm around Igea)
You should put this beauty
in a movie…

IGEA
Oh no Signor…
(in his ear)
Charley…You are so much
more interesting.

CHARLEY
(laughing)
Oh, you got everybody in
on the con. Tomasso
bring another bichere for
my Hollywood friend…Who
wants to see a movie about
a broken down old bootlegger?

GRAYSON
Everybody, that’s who.
You’re a legend, Mr. Luciano.
I could set up your story at
any studio in town.

CHARLEY
It couldn’t be the way they
always play guys like me.
You know , wearin’ gaudy
suits, talkin’ outta the
sides of their mouths and
slappin’ broads around…

GRAYSON
It would be the way you
wanted it. Your story. In
your own words.

CHARLEY
(tempted)
My own words, huh?…Not
that I’m gonna do it, but
if I did, marrone!, what a
story that would be.

EXT. MOTT STREET. NIGHT.

A crowded street in New York’s Little Italy. Lansky gets out of a cab in a hat and overcoat and enters the SAN MARINO restaurant.

INT. PRIVATE ROOM. NIGHT.

Frank Martorano greets Meyer at the door and takes his coat.

MARTORANO
Good evening, Mr. Lansky…

Meyer nods coldly and walks into the room. Anastasia jumps to greet him. They exchange hugs and exuberant greetings.

ANASTASIA
What’d you find the fountain
of youth? What’s your secret?

MEYER
Black coffee, cigarettes and
a lotta aggravation, Albert.

ANASTASIA
Sounds good,I’ll tell my
doctor. What do you wanna
eat?

MEYER
Chicken…They got the
skinniest chickens in Cuba.
Like they been racin’ them
or somethin’.

ANASTASIA
Chicken cacciatore, chicken
scallopini, chicken
scapariello?

MEYER
Just a plain broiled
chicken…

INT. PRIVATE ROOM. NIGHT.

A few hours later. The men eye each other behind clouds of cigar smoke.

ANASTASIA
These Cuban cigars are
somethin’ huh. You bringin’
em in?

MEYER
It’s an old Cuban family
business.

ANASTASIA
So make yourself a partner.

MEYER
You don’t choke the goose
that lays the golden eggs.

ANASTASIA
Charley always said you made
money ‘cause you weren’t
greedy. I never understood
that.

MEYER
Charley know about the moves
you’re making in Cuba,
Albert?

Anastasia smiles; he knew this was coming.

ANASTASIA
Charley’s in semi-retirement.
You run a store you gotta be
there all the time.

MEYER
Cuba belongs to me, Albert,
just like Brooklyn belongs
to you.

ANASTASIA
Brooklyn belongs to me
because nobody can take it
off me. Now I’m buildin’ in
Havana and nobody’s gonna
take that either.

MEYER
It’s a big investment.

ANASTASIA
I’ll use the Teamster Fund.

MEYER
The Commission has to approve….

ANASTASIA
They will. Since Charley’s
gone I run New York. Nothin’
comes in on wheels or on the
water without my approval
You can’t beat me, Meyer..
You got no guns, no real
estate.

MEYER
(gets up)
I get my power from the
money I make for other
people. Marcello in New
Orleans, Accardo in Chicago,
Trafficante in Tampa, Tocca
in Detroit, Lombardo in
Kansas City…They’ll vote
with me and you know it…
You’ll have to kill me to
get me out of Cuba.

ANASTASIA
One thing about you: you
come to the point.

MEYER
You do it out of your
territory, Miami or Havana.
Wait a coupla months, then
go to the Commission and say
‘Lansky’s dead. Time to make
a new arrangement for Cuba.’

ANASTASIA
Be careful you’ll give me
ideas.

MEYER
It won’t work. Killin’ me
is like cuttin’ a hole in
their wallets. After a
coupla months they’ll be
bleedin’ money and they’re
gonna know who to blame…

ANASTASIA
(walks Meyer to the door)
I got nothin’ against you,
Meyer. If you take a long
trip I won’t try to find
you. Take that pretty wife
of yours to Israel. Sit on
the beach, dip your feet in
the Red Sea like Moses did…

MEYER
Thanks for dinner, Albert…

INT. WARWICK HOTEL ROOM. NIGHT

The lights of New York twinkle outside the window. Meyer sits smoking in the dark. There is a knock.

MEYER
It’s open.

Trafficante enters. Meyer switches on a lamp.

MEYER
Did you see him?

TRAFFICANTE
Yeah. It’s like you said,
he wants me to clip you in
Havana… I kinda feel like
a rat. We Italians got this
thing we gotta be loyal to.

MEYER
I make a lotta money for
the people in your thing.

TRAFFICANTE
I know. You’re almost like
one of us…

MEYER
So how much am I worth?

TRAFFICANTE
Two hundred and fifty G’s.

MEYER
Albert’ll turn Havana into
Brooklyn, Santo. He’ll bust
it out and you’ll lose
millions. He’s kill crazy.
He dumped the Mangano
brothers in a vacant lot
with their throats cut.
Killed that kid who turned
in Willie Sutton the bank
robber ‘cause he said he
didn’t like stoolies. Now
he wants to kill Walter
O’Malley for takin’ the
Dodgers out of Brooklyn.
You do this for him one of
these days he’s gonna look
at you and decide you know
too much.

TRAFFICANTE
That’s why I’m talkin’ to
you. What’s your counter
offer?

MEYER
No fee, Santo.

TRAFFICANTE
No fee. That means I gotta
pay the mechanics outta my
own pocket.

MEYER
Think of it as an investment.
Once Albert’s gone his points
will be up for grabs. If you
figure the Tropicana, the
Riviera, the Desert Inn and
The Sands in Vegas, it comes
to between five hundred and
seven-fifty a year. And I’m
the one who gives out the
points.

TRAFFICANTE
Yeah, but still… no fee,
Meyer…

MEYER
I’m just a contract,
Albert’s an annuity. It’s
a good offer, Santo. If I
can’t get any takers I’ll
do it myself.

EXT. MIDTOWN STREET. DAY.

A bright, sparkling Manhattan morning. A BLACK CADILLAC pulls up. Martorano jumps out and opens the door for Anastasia puffing on an after breakfast cigar. Martorano watches through the window as the BARBER help him off with his coat.

INT. BARBER SHOP. DAY.

JOE BOCCHINO, Anastasia’s barber helps him settle into the chair.

ANASTASIA
Gimme the works today, Joe…

BOCCHINO
(with a smile)
Comin’ up, Don Umberto…

Still smiling, he walks to the hot towel dispenser at the back of the shop where TWO GUNMEN in top coats, hats pulled low, scarves covering their faces, are holding the other BARBERS at gunpoint. Bocchino’s hands tremble as he takes a hot towel. But he regains his composure and walks back to Anastasia with a smile.

ANASTASIA
I’ll take a manicure, too…

BOCCHINO
(drapes the towel over his face)
I’ll get Teresa for you.

He scurries away and cowers against the wall. The Two Gunmen walk quickly into the shop. Alarmed by the sound of footsteps Anastasia sits up and removes the towel. Too late. The Gunmen fire methodically. Anastasia kicks the footstool, screaming with rage and fear. Staggers against the shattered mirror, scattering bottles. Falls face first. The Gunmen empty their revolvers into his twitching body, then run out, dropping the weapons as they flee. Through the window we see Martorano watching…

INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT.

Teddy is asleep.. A SHADOW appears over. A HAND slides over throat. She awakens with a start and sees Meyer standing over her, a NECKLACE glittering in his hand.

LANSKY
A little bauble for the
Queen of Havana.

TEDDY
My God, it’s gorgeous…

He slides into bed next to her.

MEYER
I’m gettin’ out, Teddy.
Benny’s dead, Charley’s
outta action. There’s no
deals, no give and take,
just keep killin’ and the
last man alive gets it all.
I’m gonna let it ride on
Havana. Havana’s our
future…

TEDDY
Anything you do is okay
with me, Meyer.

INT. CAFE. DAY

The Roman sun glares outside, but inside Charley and Martorano sit in the shadows in a tense conversation.

MARTORANO
Albert sent me for
cigarettes. Next thing I
know the cops were all over
the place. I was with Albert
a long time. It was a shock…

CHARLEY
Carlo Gambino’s boss now,
but you still got your same
job.

MARTORANO
I got to know him over the
years. He trusts me. He’s
makin’ big changes.
(slips him an envelope)
He said to tell you he’s
cuttin’ the allowance in
half. After all these years
twenty five G’s seems
reasonable.

CHARLEY
Yeah, I guess I’d do the
same. I’m gonna earn real
good on this other thing
anyway…

MARTORANO
He wants you to know he’s
droppin’ outta that, too.
Too much exposure.

CHARLEY
Tell him don’t be hasty.
This is a hundred and fifty
million dollar business. If
he comes over here I’ll lay
it out for him.

MARTORANO
He won’t come. He says
they’re watchin’. Lookin’
to shut you down.

CHARLEY
They always were. They
never did.
(frustrated)
If I could just have five
minutes with him I could
explain. But I’m stuck in
this hick country…I ran
things better from the can.

MARTORANO
Carlo says you should drop
outta that business, too.
He says this Anslinger has
a lotta influence and could
make trouble for everybody.
We’re doin’ good with the
other things…

CHARLEY
Maybe you are, but this is
the only thing I got.

MARTORANO
Carlo says to drop it.

Charley realizes he’s being warned.

CHARLEY
So he sends the guy who
bumped Benny. The guy who
was gettin’ cigarettes when
Albert got it.

MARTORANO
I’m just a messenger…

CHARLEY
Yeah and the message is
everywhere you go somebody
dies. Tell Carlo he’s new
to runnin’ a family. He’ll
find out he can’t control
his soldiers when they smell
money. When I get over to the
States I’ll bring ‘em all
over to my way of thinkin’…

MARTORANO
If you get over to the
States…

CHARLEY
See these guys sittin’ here?
I feed ‘em all. You’re the
guy who should be worryin’
about gettin’ home.

Rizzo slides in with smile.

RIZZO
You’ll never guess who’s in
town.

EXT. ROMAN STREET. DAY.

A brilliant, sunny day. Tom and Frances walk hand in hand relaxed and happy like young lovers.

FRANCES
They’re doing Aida tonight
in the Coliseum with real
live elephants and lions…

TOM
Opera every night. Who
could ask for a better
vacation?

RIZZO
Governor Dewey…

Rizzo is hurrying across toward them with a servile smile.

RIZZO
Excuse me, Mrs. Dewey. You
don’t know who I am, sir…

TOM
But I know what you are…

RIZZO
I’m not lookin’ for anything
for myself. It’s for my
friend…

ACROSS THE STREET

Charley is standing in a shadowy doorway.

RIZZO
He offers his apologies for
interrupting your vacation,
but he’d like to ask a
favor. His brother is very
sick in San Francisco and
he was wondering if you
would approve his request
for a temporary visa to go
see him…

TOM
Sick brother, huh…

FRANCES
Tom, let it go…

But Tom stalks angrily across the street and confronts Charley.

TOM
You got one favor from me,
Luciano and it’s one more
than you deserve.

CHARLEY
You could at least make a
humanitarian gesture after
what I done for this country.

TOM
Don’t try to pass yourself
off a patriot…

CHARLEY
I’m just as patriotic as
you. You wanted power and
waved the flag to get it.
You wouldn’t have sung
‘God Bless America’ if
there was nothin’ in it
for you…

TOM
You think I don’t know
what you’ve been up to?
Smuggling narcotics.
Think I’m stupid enough
to let you go back and
pick up where you left
off? You stay out of the
light of day. Move from
hole to hole like the
skulking dog you are, or
I’ll throw you back in
prison where I should have
let you rot in the first
place!

Tom turns and walks back across the street. Charley watches, burning in humiliation.

CHARLEY
(to Rizzo)
That movie producer still
around?

END

Movies You Will Never See/Empires Of Crime/Part 35

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:36:19 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the Home page.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT THREE (Cont)

INT. CANNERY.DAY

A pair of HANDS deftly smooths a plastic packet of WHITE POWDER into a square sheet. Then slips it into an empty SARDINE CAN. TILT UP to Charley demonstrating for Ralph Rizzo and several WORKERS.

CHARLEY
You gotta keep it flat so
you can fit the false
bottom in…Capeesh?

RIZZO
Yeah sure, Charley…

CHARLEY
Where it says producto
d’Italia you put the little
circle around the dot.
That’s the hot shipment.
It goes to Carlos Marcello
in New Orleans. The rest is
sardines. Don’t mix ‘em up.
(walks to an empty barrel)
What do we do with this?

RIZZO
Put a kilo in the false
bottom, fill it with olive
oil and ship it to Profaci
in Brooklyn…

CHARLEY
I gave you a pharmaceutical
scale, accurate to the
microgram. You weigh
everything that comes in
from Beirut or Istanbul,
make sure we ain’t gettin’
cheated. And weigh everything
that goes out.
(points to the workers)
You tell the paisans here
no skimmin’. If I get a
complaint about a short
load I’m gonna cut their
balls off and stick ‘em in
their mouths.
(to the workers)
New dish coulliones in boca…

NOVEMBER 1948

NEWSREEL(STOCK)…HARRY TRUMAN holds up a copy of the Chicago Sun Times, predicting a Dewey victory and mimics the commentator who predicted his defeat.

INT. DEWEY CAMPAIGN HQ. DAY

The morning after Dewey’s defeat. The banners are drooping, the balloons and confetti float aimlessly. There are piles of food, basins of champagne. Tom and Frances are wandering in the debris.

FRANCES
We can give the cold cuts
to the Veteran’s Hospital.
We’ll save the champagne,
though, for the next
victory…

TOM
(with a sad smile)
It’ll be flat by then.

FRANCES
Oh Tom…You were ahead in
every state, in every poll.

TOM
I’m not a front runner. I
only do well as an underdog.
They never thought I’d make
the football team. Never
thought I’d get elected
Governor. Or that I’d get a
conviction against Luciano,
although that came back to
haunt me.

FRANCES
You should have told them
how the Navy pushed you to
pardon him. What he did
during the war.

TOM
That’s top secret classified,
Frances. No one can ever
reveal it.
(picks up a discarded banner,
reading DO DO WITH DEWEY)
Funny…I always wanted to
be president. Pretty
presumptuous, huh for a
kid from Oswosso. I guess
it’s because I’m a Dewey
and our family has done so
much.

FRANCES
You’ve done great things,
Tom.

TOM
Greatest thing I did was put
Luciano in jail. Got me
elected Governor, but it
couldn’t get me to the White
House.

INT. NACIONAL CASINO. NIGHT.

Santo Trafficante stands behind Meyer as he breaks in a new crew of CUBAN pit bosses. Meyer spots the Drab Man and waves.

MEYER
Come a little closer, FBI,
you’ll hear better.

DRAB MAN
I can hear fine from here,
thanks.

MEYER
(turns back)
The key to this business is
collection. Every night we
collect all the markers. We
accept checks, signed IOU’s,
anything equal to the sum of
the losses. Mr. Cellini here
takes the 6 a.m. flight to
Miami. When the banks open
he deposits the checks and
verifies the collateral.
Within an hour we know if
any of the checks have
bounced. Our gamblers will
just be waking up when we
make a polite phone call and
arrange a meeting.

YOUNG CUBAN
What if they can’t pay?

MEYER
You make a settlement,
fifty, sixty cents on the
dollar. Their names go on a
list. They can’t gamble in
Havana or Vegas until they
pay in full.

YOUNG CUBAN
Maybe we have to sometimes
push them around a little…

Meyer sees Batista in full uniform, entering his private office.

MEYER
No. The threat of violence
is always better than
violence itself.
If the individual is
unreasonable refer the
situation to Mr.
Trafficante…Excuse me…

BLACKJACK PLAYER
Hey Meyer, I’m runnin’ cold…

MEYER
Double down, pal, as long
as you’re losin’.

The crowd laughs. The Drab Man steps out with a smile.

DRAB MAN
You never lose do you,
Meyer?

MEYER
I’m the house, my friend
and the house always wins.

INT. MEYER’S OFFICE. NIGHT.

Plain, serviceable. Batista is waiting anxiously as Meyer enters.

MEYER
You don’t have to come,
Fulgencio. We offer free
delivery…

BATISTA
I wanted to talk to you.

MEYER
(opening a safe)
As long as you’re here, let
me show you the plans for
the new hotel. The Riviera.
Twenty one floors, four
hundred and ninety rooms.
The biggest hotel outside
of Vegas… I’m financing
it entirely on my own.
Construction budget is
fourteen million, almost
every cent I’ve got. But
when it’s completed it will
be wholly owned by the
Lansky family. With you as
a silent partner, of course…

He takes neat stacks of hundreds out of the safe and puts them in an attache case. Batista snaps the case shut.

MEYER
Don’t you want to count it?

BATISTA
From you it is always
correct.

MEYER
Next month there’ll be more.
Investors are banging down
the doors…

BATISTA
Some times you can have too
much success. The Americans
don’t like what is going on
down here.

MEYER
I don’t have a lotta fans
in the government.

BATISTA
The American Ambassador has
been to see me again. He
says gangsters are investing
secretly with you.

MEYER
I have to take care of
these men because of my
interests in Las Vegas and
because I use their services
for debt collection. They
have hidden shares in the
form of points. If a man’s
points equal, let’s say,
fifty thousand dollars, we
give him a marker equal to
that sum to collect. He goes
directly to the debtor and
collects the money privately.
The transaction is never
recorded in the casino books.

BATISTA
Is this the agreement you
have with Albert Anastasia?

MEYER
Anastasia is part of a New
York group that has points
in our casinos. I guarantee
you his interest will never
be uncovered.

BATISTA
I have learned that
Anastasia has made an offer
to the Mendoza family to
finance the hotel they are
building.

MEYER
He can’t do this. My
associates have given me
sole authority in all Cuban
business.

BATISTA
He has promised the Mendozas
an investment of four to
five million dollars in
exchange for a fifty per
cent interest in the hotel.
They of course, see an
opportunity to take control
of gambling away from me.

MEYER
(stunned)
That’s a violation of
Commission rules. He’d be
voted down.

BATISTA
Maybe he has made a secret
agreement. I don’t know what
goes on in your world. But
in mine those stupid greedy
Mendozas won’t listen to
reason. You have to stop
Anastasia, Meyer, or the
US government will put us
all out of business.

INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT.

Teddy helps Meyer pack for the trip.

MEYER
Tell me one more time about
the safe deposit boxes.

TEDDY
I know this by heart already.
Boston at the Bank of New
England, New York at National
City, Miami, Hallandale,
Vegas at the Flamingo in
Benny’s old safe. And here
behind the your mother’s
picture…

MEYER
It’s just in case the plane
crashes or something happens.

TEDDY
No plane would dare crash
with Meyer Lansky on it…
(suddenly concerned)
What else could happen?
Are you in trouble, Meyer?

MEYER
You kiddin’, things couldn’t
be better. Don’t make that
sad face.
(kisses her)
I’ll be back on Sunday with
bagels and cream cheese.
Don’t worry. The house always
wins.

END ACT THREE

Next:Act 4:

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

Movies You Will Never See/ Empires Of Crime/Part 34

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:25:25 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the homepage.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT THREE

INT.BENNY’S FLAMINGO OFFICE. DAY

A PHOTO of Benny’s bloody corpse on the front page of the Las Vegas Journal. TILT UP to Meyer going through stacks of papers while he cradles a phone in his ear.

MEYER
Room three twelve, please…
Where’s accounts payable?

Greenbaum drops a bulging folder on the desk.

GREENBAUM
It’s mostly contractors,
suppliers. Benny ignored
them.

LANSKY
Pay’em off. They’ll give it
back at the tables…That’s
all. Hi Charley… See the
news?

INT. CHARLEY’S SUITE.DAY (CROSSCUT)

Charley is on the phone looking at Benny’s photo on the front page of El Diario de Havana. Genovese is sitting across the room.

CHARLEY
I’m gonna miss the crazy
bastard. Did you say a
blessing over him?

MEYER
Yeah. Then I started cursin’
him for the mess he left.
I’m gonna stick around, get
the new management settled
in. Hold off on that export
thing until I get back.

CHARLEY
Can’t do that, it’s a done
deal. I need you to run
things at this end. Let’s
talk when you get back.

He hangs up with a troubled look.

GENOVESE
He don’t want in, more for
us.

CHARLEY
He’ll come around when he
sees how I got this
organized. I’ll put a price
on the shipment, let’s say
a million bucks. The
families’ll put in their
orders. A guy wants eight
per cent he pays eighty G’s
and so on until the whole
thing’s bid up. The money’ll
come to you and you’ll send
it to me. I’ll ship from
three different locations to
Havana and then from here to
three or four different
locations in the States where
the stuff’ll be cooked and
packaged and shipped to you.

GENOVESE
I don’t like bein’ the middle
man..

CHARLEY
You’ll make money. I picked
you ‘cause you have
experience in this.

GENOVESE
Picked me? You’re usin’ my
network.

CHARLEY
You were a delivery boy,
Vito. A package here, a
package there like in the
old days. I’m shippin’ tons
all over the world.

GENOVESE
You’re not the boss, Charley.
I don’t care what that
kangaroo court said. Anything
to do with babbania comes
through me now.

CHARLEY
So now I’m workin’ for you?

GENOVESE
You ain’t workin’. You’re
retired, You’re livin’ on
my charity and you better
keep your nose clean if you
want that envelope.

CHARLEY
Uh huh. And if I start this
thing without you?

Genovese pulls out a .38 and holds it to his head.

GENOVESE
You know how easy it would
be to take you out? You got
no soldiers. Only that
little Jew in Vegas. One
squeeze and like you said
about Maranzano:’Julius
Caesar is dead.’

CHARLEY
Be careful with that thing…

But then in a lightning move, he jams his lighted cigarette into Genovese’s hand. Genovese yelps and swings back, but Charley jumps up and twists his wrist. The gun GOES OFF and flies out of Genovese’s hand. Charley grabs Genovese by the hair, pulls his head back and kicks his legs out from under him. Genovese goes down hard and tries to get up, but Charley smacks him down. Then kicks him in the ribs…once, twice, three times…Grabs a lamp and brings it crashing down on Genovese’s head. There is thumping at the door, urgent voices call “Charley, you okay?” Charley leaves Genovese moaning on the floor and opens the door onto Anastasia and Costello.

COSTELLO
Charley, you okay? We heard
a shot.
(sees Genovese)
Jeeze, what happened?

They rush to Genovese’s aid.

CHARLEY
He pulled a gun on me.

ANASTASIA
You’re kiddin’…

CHARLEY
He’s outta this thing I’m
doin’. You wanna cut him in
it comes outta your end…
Get him patched up and put
him on the first plane to
Miami. Don’t let the other
guys see him. I don’t want
them to think there was any
disagreements. Joe Bonanno
will front for me in the
States. Get him outta here.

They pick Genovese up and start to help him out. Charley grabs the gun and waves it in Genovese’s face.

CHARLEY
Real easy, huh Vito?

And slams the door.

INT. HAVANA NIGHT CLUB. NIGHT.

A hot spot for Cuba’s elite. ARMY OFFICERS, ARISTOCRATS, AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN. PAN TO Charley, in a white dinner jacket, taking mambo lessons from a CUBAN BRUNETTE.

BRUNETTE
One two, back two…Look how
fast you learn.

CHARLEY
It’s like a fancy Lindy….

A FLASH BULB pops in his face.

CHARLEY
See doll, we’re gonna make
the society pages…

A crowd of AMERICANS calls to him. “Hey Lucky, come on over and have a drink…Bowing and backing away with a ”Gracias senor Lucky”, the PHOTOGRAPHER retreats into the shadows and hands the camera to the Man in the shabby gray suit.

INT. DEWEY CAMPAIGN HQ. DAY

BANNERS urging DEWEY FOR PRESIDENT, DEWEY IN ‘48, etc. CAMPAIGN WORKERS on phones, typing, rushing about. Frances has piles of NEWSPAPER ARTICLES on the floor and is pasting them into a scrap book as Tom and Medailie enter,rumpled and weary from a long day of campaigning. She jumps up to greet him.

FRANCES
My conquering hero!

TOM
Hardly. What a day.

He flops on the couch, exhausted.

TOM
Outside Springfield I saw a
bunch of school kids so I
tried to make one of my
little jokes. ‘You kids
should thank me for getting
you a day off from school,’
I said. Then one of the
little angels pipes up:’it’s
Saturday, you jerk.’

FRANCES
Oh so…Did you see the
Times?
(reading)
“Dewey’s election as
president is a foregone
conclusion….” The
Democrats ought to concede
the election to Dewey and
save the wear and tear of
campaigning…”

TOM
Yes, but did you see what
Congressman Macy said? “The
deportation of Charles
Luciano was a criminal
mistake.” He said Luciano
was “the lethal black widow
spider in the center of the
world narcotics web” and I
was responsible for releasing
him.

FRANCES
It might be a good idea to
remind people that you’re the
original gangbuster.

MEDAILIE
Might be. Luciano has reared
his ugly head again…Called
a big meeting in Havana.

TOM
Probably about the Siegel
killing.

MEDAILIE
Anslinger of the Bureau of
Narcotics wants to arrest
him.

TOM
Can’t touch him. He has an
Italian passport. He has a
right to go anywhere he
wants. But we can put
pressure on the Cubans to
expel him.

INT.HOTEL HALLWAY. NIGHT

Charley, tipsy and festive, comes down the hall with two giggly CUBAN beauties. Charley does a comic dance step.

CHARLEY
That’s the Charleston. They
named it after me. And the
Black Bottom. They named
that after you…

Smacks the giggling girl on the behind, causing her to giggle even louder, and opens his door.

INT. CHARLEY’S SUITE.NIGHT.

Charley stops dead and sobers up instantly. THE CUBAN POLICE are going through his suite, packing his clothing.

CHARLEY
Whatsa problem? Didn’t I pay
my parking tickets?

POLICE COMMANDER
I regret to say we must ask
you to come with us, Senor
Luciano…

INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. NIGHT.

Charley watches calmly as Batista argues heatedly on the phone.

BATISTA
This is a violation of my
nation’s sovereignty…Mr.
Luciano is here legally. He
is helping us develop our
resort industry…That is
the most insidious form of
blackmail. I’ll bring you
before the International
Court of Justice.
(suddenly docile)
But hundreds of innocent
people could die…Yes, Mr.
Anslinger, I’ll call you in
the morning.

He hangs up with a defeated look.

BATISTA
Thomas Dewey made a speech
that you were trying to turn
Cuba into a base for
narcotics smuggling.

CHARLEY
My old pal, Tom Dewey. I’m
the best campaign issue he
ever had.

BATISTA
Anslinger says he will stop
the delivery of all medicine
to our hospitals if we do
not expel you immediately.
He says if people die it
will be my fault…

CHARLEY
So I’m gettin’ the bum’s
rush.

BATISTA
I have no choice, Charley.

EXT. HAVANA HARBOR. DAY

Charley, Meyer and Teddy get out of a CUBAN TAXI. Charley hugs Teddy. He and Meyer walk toward a RUSTY OLD FREIGHTER.

CHARLEY
This looks like the tub I
came to America on.

MEYER
Me too…

CHARLEY
(suddenly suspicious)
You didn’t exactly bust a
gut tryin’ to keep me here,
Meyer.

MEYER
There was nothin’ I could
do once the Bureau of
Narcotics got into the act…

CHARLEY
Remember, when you got those
two IRS guys to hang Waxey
Gordon? Maybe you did the
same thing to me.

MEYER
It’s the dope business that
hung you, Charley. I been
tellin’ you for thirty years:
they’ll let us gamble ‘cause
we kick back to the
politicians. They’ll let us
run unions ‘cause we control
the workers for them. But
they won’t let us sell dope.
(hands him an envelope)
Here’s the first dividend
from Havana. With the
Flamingo in Vegas under
control there’s more comin’.

CHARLEY
It’s still clippin’ coupons.

MEYER
At least you got coupons
to clip.

CHARLEY
I ain’t gonna live on your
pension, Meyer. I’m gonna
use dope like we used booze.
To build another Commission.
Only bigger. You’ll see,
they’ll all come back with
their hats in their hands
beggin’ me to take over
again.

MEYER
Hope so, Charley. If you
need me I’ll be at the
pool..

TEDDY

watches them hug. She waves as Charley walks up the gangplank and Meyer comes down to join her.

TEDDY
It’s so sad seeing him go.

MEYER
It’s for the best. We don’t
want heroin in Cuba. We
wanna be hundred per cent
kosher.

Next:Act 3 (Cont): Dewey For President

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

Movies You Will Never See/Empires Of Crime/Part 33

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:55:27 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the homepage.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT TWO (Cont)

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS—POOL. DAY.

Meyer follows a white coated HOUSEBOY onto the patio and watches Benny and Virginia Hill cavort in the pool. Benny waves.

BENNY
Hey Meyer…This beats
jumpin’ in the East River,
don’t it?

INT. LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.

Sunset. Meyer sits on the couch, shuffling papers. Benny, stylish and immaculate in a tuxedo comes out, fixing his gold cuff links.

BENNY
Gotta run to a party at the
Coconut Grove. You shoulda
called.

MEYER
The trip came up on short
notice. We had a big meeting
in Havana.

BENNY
Nobody told me nothin’ about
it.

MEYER
You were the main topic…

BENNY
(his smile fades)
Okay, what’s the beef?

MEYER
Let’s begin with the markers…
(waves a handful of notes)
Two hundred and eighteen
thousand dollars from your
Hollywood pals.

SIEGEL
They come to hang around
with me, so I book their
action privately…

LANSKY
When they lose they pay you.
When they win the hotel pays…

SIEGEL
It’s a business expense.
They draw people. Suckers
wanna rub elbows with the
Hollywood crowd.

MEYER
The boys think you’re
skimmin.

BENNY
I sent money back east last
month.

MEYER
Drop in the bucket and they
know it. They trusted you
with their money, Benny.
They have a right to a fair
share.

BENNY
Fair share? What are you, a
lawyer?

MEYER
I’m a businessman with an
investment to protect.

BENNY
I been hearin’ this crap
from you for thirty years.
When you gonna get wise to
yourself? You’re a criminal.
You obey the laws you can
live with like not spittin’
on the sidewalk. The laws
you don’t like you break,
like stealin’ from the
government, fleecing the
suckers. Killin’ guys who
get in your way.

MEYER
If I make a deal I stick to
it.

BENNY
Why are you in this life,
anyway? Just to make a
dollar, mach a leben as
your old bubbe used to
say? Just a normal
American businessman.
Gotta go shoot a coupla
guys, honey. I’ll be back
for supper. Not me, Meyer.
I don’t take risks just so
I can live like Joe Schmuck…

VIRGINIA HILL enters, pouting and disheveled in an evening gown.

VIRGINIA
C’mon Benny, we gotta go…

BENNY
See this beauty? This is
why you do it. For a house
like this that knocks
peoples’ eyes out. For
clothes made by the best
tailor in the world. The
Prince of Wales gets his
hunting jackets from my guy.
For big shot Hollywood
friends who treat you like a
star.
(grabs Virginia)
For a broad that every man
wants…

Virginia tries to pull away.

VIRGINIA
You’re rippin’ the dress…

Laughing, he takes out wad of cash and shoves it down her dress.

BENNY
Buy yourself a new one.

She storms out, cursing him.

BENNY
How many guys I kill? You
think I did it for the
Commission? I sold my soul.
You think I did it to make
some fat slob in Brooklyn a
millionaire?

MEYER
Last time I spoke to you
were on your knees beggin’.

BENNY
I don’t have to beg no
more. I got a cinch
proposition. Pay the
best entertainers top
dollar, they give it
back double at the tables.
Charge the suckers a buck
for a steak dinner, they
give it back a hundred
times and you don’t have
to declare the income…

MEYER
I invented that proposition.

SIEGEL
Yeah, but I made your pipe
dream come true. So you tell
those guys to be happy with
what I throw ‘em or I’ll snap
my finger and it’ll all go up
in smoke…

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS. NIGHT.

Meyer comes out of the house and crosses to a waiting car where Frank Martorano waits behind the wheel.

MEYER
Take me to the airport.

INT. AIRPORT. NIGHT.

Meyer dials a pay phone.

MEYER
This is Meyer Lansky. Is
Gus Greenbaum on the floor?

INT. FLAMINGO. CASINO. NIGHT.(CROSSCUT)

Greenbaum comes to the phone.

GREENBAUM
This is Gus, Mr. Lansky.

MEYER
I want you to call a staff
meeting Make an announcement
that Ben Siegel is no longer
in charge of the operation.
Tomorrow call a meeting of
the Board of Directors and
have yourself elected
president, Moe Sedway vice
president.

GREENBAUM
Got it.

LANSKY
Put the best collector you
got on those Hollywood
deadbeat friends of Benny’s.
I want every penny owed. I
don’t care how you get it…

INT. AIRPLANE. NIGHT.

A darkened cabin. Everyone is asleep but Meyer, who lights a cigarette and looks out of the window.

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS—POOL. NIGHT.

A few hours later. OFF SCREEN, car doors SLAM, VOICES call.

BENNY
Everybody, come in for a
nightcap. Let’s keep this
party goin’…

The lights go on in the house, splashing onto the patio, illuminating the face of FRANK MARTORANO, moving stealthily toward the french windows. He watches as:

BENNY

Virginia Hill and a group of FRIENDS burst in laughing.

VIRGINIA
Howard Hawks promised to
give me a screen test.

SIEGEL.
He’s wants to see how
well you act on your
knees…

VIRGINIA
(swinging at him)
You sonofabitch…

SIEGEL
(pushing her away)
Go see what everybody’s
drinkin’..
(plops down on the couch)
Let’s liven things up a
little.

ON THE PATIO

Martorano moves toward the French doors. Over his shoulder we see Benny on the couch. Martorano raises a rifle to his shoulder.

BENNY
Don’t tell Virginia, but
George Raft’s gettin’ me
a part in his next movie.
I’m gonna be the star in
this family.

Martorano FIRES…

INT.AIRPLANE. NIGHT

Meyer winces as his friend goes down in a hail of bullets.

END ACT TWO

Next:Act 3: Bugsy’s Last Chance

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

Movies You Will Never See/Empires Of Crime/Part 32

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:34:38 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the homepage.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT TWO

EXT. HAVANA AIRPORT.DAY

TOURISTS and GAMBLERS arrive for a weekend in Havana. In the festive crowd we recognize Albert Anastasia attended by Frank Martorano, Frank Costello and some FLASHY FEMALE COMPANIONS; Vito Genovese, alone and aloof in tinted glasses. None of them notice a PHOTOGRAPHER scurrying around snapping pictures.

INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. DAY

SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS pop into frame. TILT UP to Meyer flipping through them. Behind a huge desk in this ornate room, Batista watches him.

MEYER
Tony Accardo from Chicago.
Steve Maggadino from Buffalo.
Joe Lombardo, Kansas City.
Dalitz, Zwillman. Big
turnout.

BATISTA
These men are known criminals.
We can have a problem with the
US Embassy.

MEYER
They can bring millions of
dollars of investment into
the country. But they’ll
have to be controlled…

EXT. HOTEL NACIONAL POOL. DAY

A sumptuous buffet in the bright Cuban sun. CUBAN DIPLOMATS and OFFICERS mingle with the RACKETEERS as a CONJUNTO plays. Meyer, and Teddy are shepherding Yetta through the buffet.

TEDDY
This is Pompano, mom, they
only catch it in the Gulf.

YETTA
Do they have maybe a nice
piece of plain broiled
chicken..?

Meyer sees a HOTEL CLERK lurking, respectfully.

CLERK
There is a man in the small
meeting room asking to see
you, Senor.

As Meyer follows him, Richard and Buddy run past in their bathing suits. Meyer grabs Buddy.

MEYER
I told you: No swimmin’
until two hours after you
eat.

INT.MEETING ROOM. DAY

Meyer enters, squinting into the gloom. He is stunned to see Charley come out of the shadows, haggard and disheveled.

MEYER
Charley, where were you? We
expected you two days ago.

CHARLEY
I wanted to make sure them
crums from Narcotics weren’t
tailin’ me so I took the
scenic route. Freighter to
Caracas, cleaned out the crew
playin’ gin. Flight to Mexico
City, then got on a plane right
away to come here. Where am I
stayin’?

MEYER
Presidential Suite, where
else?

CHARLEY
Take care of the boys?

MEYER
Fruit basket and a bottle of
champagne in every room.

CHARLEY
Broads?

MEYER
Can’t go wrong in Havana.
Even when I’m pickin’ ‘em.

CHARLEY
I need a barber, manicure.
Away eleven years. Outta
sight, outta mind, outta
luck. I gotta make a big
impression. Can you front
me a hundred and fifty G’s?

MEYER
Anything you want. I only
ask one thing: let me keep
Havana for myself.

CHARLEY
It’s open territory, can’t
keep ‘em out. But we can
make ‘em pay for the
privilege. Stick with me,
kid. It’s you and me against
the world,

MEYER
How about Benny?

CHARLEY
We’ll talk about him
tomorrow.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM. DAY.

The blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico twinkle right outside the bay window. CUBAN HOSTESSES circulate with drinks and h’ors deuvres for the members of the Commission. Meyer, resplendent in a white suit greets Dalitz and Sedway.

MEYER
Landsman, how are ya?

DALITZ
So this is where you been
hiding.

SEDWAY
Like Miami, only no taxes,
no cops.

MEYER
Look again. There’s a cop
under every rock.

He moves over to Anastasia and Costello.

MEYER
Gentlemen. Accommodations
satisfactory?

COSTELLO
Little slice of paradise.

ANASTASIA
I can sail across from
Miami on my yacht. Pick up
my envelope. Nice dinner,
Cuban broad and I’m back in
Miami for the first at Hialeah.

Genovese is standing alone, dark suit, dark glasses.

MEYER
Vito, lemme get you a pair
of shorts so you can enjoy
the sun.

GENOVESE
You look healthy. How’s
business?

MEYER
Could be better. Heard you
had a problem in Italy.

GENOVESE
They arrested me on that old
murder rap, After all I done
for this country. Lucky for
me their big witness got
food poisoning. Nice joint.
We got a piece of it?

MEYER
You have to take that up
with Charley.

GENOVESE
I’m takin’ it up with you.
I’m not second banana no
more. Every month a thousand
guys pay me twenty bucks tax
just for the privilege of
doin’ business…

MEYER
So you’re a big man? So
what?

GENOVESE
You’re in charge down here.
I want you to get me a joint
on the strip.

MEYER
You’ll need a Cuban partner.

GENOVESE
I can live with that as long
as I’m keepin’ the books…

Charley enters, looking sleek and rested in a white suit.

CHARLEY
Gentlemen…

He gets a big greeting. The men cluster around him. “Great place, Charley…” Meyer listens in alarm as he replies:

CHARLEY
Like it? This is gonna be my
new base. Let’s call this
meeting to order. We got a
lot to talk about.

The men take their seats, leaving the head of the table for him.

CHARLEY
Last time we got together
was Atlantic City, in ’29,
remember? Started a little
corporation that worked out
pretty well. There have been
some changes. In ‘29 Tony
Accardo was Al Capone’s
chauffeur. Now he runs
Chicago.

ACCARDO
I learned a lot at that
meeting. Learned a lot
from you.

CHARLEY
We did business together a
long time. The war was a
temporary inconvenience.

DALITZ
Especially for Hitler…

The men laugh…

CHARLEY
But now the country’s
stronger and so are we. I
feel I’m in a good position
to help us expand into the
international markets. Just
as a formality, I’d like to
renominate myself as Chairman
of the Board.

ANASTASIA
(jumps up)
I second…

The other men raise their voices in assent. “Glad to have you back, Charley…” Charley takes charge smoothly.

CHARLEY
First item is to honor this
beautiful place and the man
who has developed it and will
run it for us. Great job,
Meyer.

Again, smiles and assent. Charley slides an envelope across the table to Meyer with a wink.

CHARLEY
Here’s my hundred and fifty
G’s for a thirty three per
cent interest in the Nacional.

DALITZ
Is a hundred and fifty G’s
the buy in price in Cuba,
Charley?

CHARLEY
It’s the floor, Mo. Out here
the rooms have high ceilings…

The men laugh.

CHARLEY
Now about this Siegel thing.
We gotta recognize that Benny
discovered the potential of
Vegas. Not just them one arm
cowboy joints, but a big
resort like the Flamingo that
can make money in a lotta
different ways.

COSTELLO
We backed him, Charley. When
he ran over budget we gave
him more money.

CHARLEY
How much did Benny spend,
Meyer?

MEYER
Four and a half million. But
he gave away points…

ACCARDO
Charley, if you’ll excuse me,
I put Gus Greenbaum in Vegas
to look after the Chicago
interests. He can give us an
idea of what’s goin’ on. Go
ahead, Gus.

Greenbaum clears his throat nervously.

GREENBAUM
Last week the Flamingo had
winnings of four hundred and
eleven thousand dollars.
Under a system put in by Mr.
Lansky we can skim between
twenty and twenty-five per
cent depending on cash
winnings versus markers.
That works out to be between
sixty-five and seventy-six
thousand dollars to be divided
among the five partners.

ACCARDO
How much did Siegel send, Gus?

MEYER
As operating partner Benny
has discretion to withhold
money…

CHARLEY
How much, Gus?

GREENBAUM
Thirty-two five….

ANASTASIA
So he’s skimmin’ fifty per
cent off the low end every
week.

ACCARDO
Tell everybody how much he’s
taken out over the last six
months, Gus.

GREENBAUM
I estimate the number to be
between one point five and
two point two million…

ANASTASIA
That’s about three hundred
and fifty grand he’s stolen
from each of us.

MEYER
To be fair, Benny doesn’t
feel he has to account to
you as long as he clears
things with Charley.

CHARLEY
Benny’s not clearin’ nothin’
with me, Meyer. I haven’t
spoken to him in a year and
a half.

Meyer is stunned that Charley is not going to cover for Benny.

DALITZ
I was out there last month.
He wouldn’t open the books.
Said it was his joint and
the rest of us were catchin’
a free ride.

SEDWAY
His girlfriend, Virginia
Hill’s been goin’ to Zurich
every month. She says it’s
to buy rugs and furniture,
but I think she’s saltin’
money in a Swiss bank.

CHARLEY
Gus, can you step out for a
second?

As Greenbaum picks up his papers and leaves the room…

MEYER
That Virginia Hill’s got him
crazy.

COSTELLO
Everybody’s got a broad
whisperin’ in their ear.
That don’t mean you steal
from your friends.

MEYER
He’s been with us a long
time. He’s done a lot of
dirty work for the Commission…

ANASTASIA
A lotta guys do dirty work,
but when they break the rules
they gotta be judged.

CHARLEY
How many chances we give him?

DALITZ
How many? Every time he came
around begging for money.
Five, six times?

ANASTASIA
He’s defyin’ the Commission,
Charley. We gotta make a
statement.

CHARLEY
Who’d handle this thing?

ACCARDO
I’ll give it to Jack Dragna
in LA

ANASTASIA
No, this is my party. I been
waitin’ sixteen years for
this.

CHARLEY
We’re not settlin’ grudges.
This has gotta be
professional…

MEYER
Wait a second before you do
this. Benny’s identified
with the Flamingo. You pull
him out you’re gonna hurt
business just when it’s
startin’ to pick up.

COSTELLO
Who cares how good it’s doin’
if we ain’t seein nothin’?

MEYER
Okay look. Over the years
I’ve made a lotta money for
you guys and never asked a
favor. Let me get Benny to
step down…We’ll take his
points in the Flamingo,
give him a settlement and
let him disappear with that
slut who’s taken his mind
away. I’ll even throw in my
end until you’re all paid
off…

Silence. The men look to Charley for a decision.

CHARLEY
No settlement. He’s outta
the Flamingo and all the LA
gambling.

MEYER
You gotta leave him somethin’.

CHARLEY
He can leave town with the
shirt on his back. If he
says no, you give us the
go ahead…

The men smile, gloating at Meyer‘s dilemma.

MEYER
I start out pleadin’ for
Benny’s life and end up
bein’ the one who pulls
the trigger. Smart,
Charley.

CHARLEY
That’s why I’m the boss,
kid.

Next:Act 2 (Cont): Board Meeting

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.

Movies You Will Never See/ Empires Of Crime/ Part 31

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:25:55 +0000

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13

For easy access to the beginning of the script and older excerpts go to the homepage.

*Heywood Gould is the author of 9 screenplays including “Rolling Thunder,”Fort Apache, The Bronx,”Boys From Brazil”and “Cocktail.”

EMPIRES OF CRIME

By Heywood Gould

HOUR VI

ACT ONE (Con’t)

INT. STATLER HOTEL (PHILADELPHIA). DAY

On a bed, the Page One headline of the Philadelphia Inquirer reads: NY GOV. DEWEY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. OFF SCREEN we hear:

TOM
This is humiliating…

PAN TO

Tom sitting on the bed in his signature black suit, trying to force his feet into a pair of ornate COWBOY BOOTS under Medailie’s watchful eye.

MEDAILIE
It’s important for the folks
from Wyoming and Nevada and
Montana to get to know you
better. To feel that you
understand them.

TOM
I’m a small town boy from
Michigan, George. I’ve
stepped in just as much
horse manure as any of
them…

MEDAILIE
To them you’re still a city
slicker. You’re going to
have to explain this
Luciano thing. They have a
morbid fear of gangsters…

TOM
God! Is Luciano going to
haunt me for the rest of
my days?

MEDAILIE
(jams a Stetson on his head)
Tuck the pants in the boots…

Frances enters with an amused look.

FRANCES
Tom, a bunch of cowboys just
galloped in…
(breaks into laughter)
Oh Tom darling, no…No…

TOM
That settles it!

He kicks off the boots and throws the Stetson across the room.

TOM
They’ll have to take me
for what I am, or not at
all.

He stomps out, barefooted. Frances picks up his shoes and follows.

FRANCES
Tom dear, you forgot your
shoes…

INT. HOTEL BAR. DAY.

The BOSSES nurse drinks, smoke and glare resentfully at Meyer. Among them SANTO TRAFFICANTE, a sleek Florida hood.

MEYER
Now Mr. Trafficante, I know
about your activities in
Miami. But drugs and
gambling are very different
businesses.

TRAFFICANTE
They both deal with addicts.

MEYER
Yeah, but the gambler is an
educated addict. He can shop
for the best product. The
beauty of the gambling
business is you don’t have
to break the law to make
money. Craps, blackjack,
slots, if the winners equal
the losers, which never
happens anyway, the house
has a built in winning
percentage of four percent.

TRAFFICANTE
Four per cent is peanuts.

MEYER
What’s your club, the San
Souci? How’d you do last
night.

TRAFFICANTE
We just opened.

Meyer turns to NORMAN ROTHMAN, a clumsy New York hood.

MEYER
And you, Mr. Rothman. How’d
you do at the Montmartre?

ROTHMAN
It was raining.

MEYER
Only in your casino. You ran
crooked crap games and
goulash parlors in the Bronx
for Dutch Schulz, Rothman.
There won’t be any chiselin’
in Havana while I’m in
charge.

TRAFFICANTE
Oh yeah, who died and made
you boss?

MEYER
Nobody yet.
(lets that sink in)
You know the best thing
about gamblers?

TRAFFICANTE
Their money.

MEYER
Not when they’re spendin’
it some place else, wise
guy. Best thing about
gamblers is that they’ll
lose their shirt over and
over again in the same game
as long as they know it’s
honest and they got a shot
to win. So we’re gonna make
Cuba the cleanest place to
gamble in the world. First
thing, I’m runnin’ the
Nacional, You guys are out.

TRAFFICANTE
You can’t do that. We bought
a concession from Batista.

MEYER
I’ll get you your money back
and let you keep your clubs,
but I get the Nacional. Next,
we fire all the dealers and
croupiers. Send them back to
Miami on a banana boat. Get
local kids and train ‘em
right. Dump the rigged
roulette wheels and the phony
dice. Start dealin’ blackjack
out of a six deck shoe.

ROTHMAN
But that’ll give players the
edge.

MEYER
Only way they have an edge
is by stayin’ outta the
casino. No gambler ever
died ahead. I’m goin’ on
vacation to Europe.I want
this stuff done by the time
I get back, or there’s a
line formin’ to take your
place.

SEPTEMBER 1947

NEWSREEL…Pier 42, New York. Meyer and Teddy sail on THE ITALIA. They walk toward the gangplank, brushing past the PHOTOGS.

NEWSCASTER
The president of Princeton
University sailed for Europe
on the Italia last week, but
all eyes were on the couple
in the luxurious five room
Royal Suite. Mr. and Mrs.
Meyer Lansky. She, the
former showgirl. He, rumored
to be the boss of National
Crime Syndicate…

A group of LONGSHOREMEN move in and push the PHOTOGS away.

NEWSCASTER
Lansky had some tough
chaperones…

A group of hard eyed DETECTIVES watches.

NEWSCASTER
And some pretty tough guys
from DA’s office were also
on hand.

DETECTIVE
(at the MICROPHONES)
We just want Mr. Lansky to
know that we’ve got an eye
on him and anyone who might
come down to see him off.

INT. NAPLES RESTAURANT. NIGHT.

A FLASH BULB blinds the lens. Then, we see Charley, Meyer and Teddy at a table being surrounded by PAPARAZZI.

TEDDY
Wow, you’re like a movie
star.

CHARLEY
They chase me down the street…
(laughs at Meyer)
Look at this guy. He hates
gettin’ his picture taken.

MEYER
My nose is too big…

INT. HOTEL SUITE. NIGHT.

Crowded with FLOWERS and FRUIT BASKETS. Charley is pouring black coffee. Teddy gives him a peck on the cheek.

TEDDY
None for me. I’m goin’ to
bed.

CHARLEY
‘Night, doll. Don’t worry
I won’t keep him long.

Meyer kisses Teddy. Both men wait until the bedroom door closes. The smiles fade and the atmosphere changes. Meyer opens a trunk and pulls away a false panel, revealing stacks of bills.

CHARLEY
Great. Just when I was
runnin’ short. How much
is there?

MEYER
Twenty five from the
Commission. I put in
twenty five from our
interests in Saratoga
and Florida.

CHARLEY
How about Vegas?

MEYER
We should start seein’ money
soon.

CHARLEY
I need the cash, now. I’m
lookin’ to make a big move
here.

MEYER
Black market?

CHARLEY
I’m talkin’ about a big
export operation. Remember
the Mancuso brothers from
Brooklyn? They set up
Vito’s network for him.
They produce the opium in
Turkey and Yugoslavia.
Bring it in nice and legal
to the big pharmaceutical
companies in Milan. Put a
little extra in the order
for us. We ship to labs in
Kansas City, New Orleans,
Miami. They cook it and cut
it and put it on the street.
Twenty G’s gets you a
hundred and fifty . Heroin
creates it’s own market.
Sky’s the limit…

MEYER
I never liked that business.
Too many mouths to feed, too
many people to trust. Now
they got the Bureau of
Narcotics, this guy
Anslinger, workin’ with the
FBI. Ten to one they’re
watchin’ you, Charley.
They’ll trace the shipments
and watch the ports.

CHARLEY
That’s why we need a detour.
We can use Cuba. Feds can’t
touch it. We can ship to
Havana, then trans ship
through Mexico and New
Orleans and Miami.

MEYER
Havana will be full of
pushers. It’ll hurt the
gambling business.

CHARLEY
I’m not in the gambling
business. I’m gettin’ an
envelope from you.

MEYER
What’s wrong with that?

CHARLEY
I wanna build somethin’ I
control so nobody can wake
up one morning and say:’what
are we carryin’ Charley for?
Let’s dump him.’

MEYER
That’ll never happen while
I’m alive.

CHARLEY
I wouldn’t sell you life
insurance, kid. Not with
Benny runnin’ through
millions in Vegas. You and
he are like Siamese twins.
If he goes you gotta go,
too. But as long as I’m the
boss that’ll never happen.

MEYER
I know that.

CHARLEY
Spread the word. I want a
meeting in Havana. I want
everybody to see I’m still
Chairman of the Board.

MEYER
They might not go for it.

CHARLEY
Get’ em in a room, I’ll
sell ‘em.

INT. HOTEL BEDROOM. NIGHT.

A few hours later. Teddy awakens in an empty bed. Worried, she goes into the LIVING ROOM. Meyer is on the couch, his cigarette glowing in the dark. She sits next to him and rubs his back.

TEDDY
Can’t sleep? Too much
coffee?

MEYER
Too much Charley. Too much
Benny.

TEDDY
They’re a handful, huh?.

MEYER
Magnetic personalities.
People wanna be around
‘em. We were a good team.
They had the big ideas. I
made the numbers work.
They got crazy, I talked
sense to them. But now
they won’t listen to
reason…

The PHONE on the coffee table RINGS. Meyer answers warily.

MEYER
Hello…Benny..?

INT. FLAMINGO CASINO. NIGHT(CROSSCUT)

Benny, a highball in one hand, VIRGINIA HILL draped tipsily around him, is on the phone.

BENNY
Hey you little schnorrer,
havin’ fun with Charley?

MEYER
Did you open, you sonofabith?!

BENNY
Before you bust a gut, listen…

He holds the phone out and we see that the casino is packed. Slots are ringing, people are shouting…

BENNY
That’s the sound of money
pourin’ in. We’re packed,
every room’s booked.

MEYER
Benny, that’s great. But
tell Moe he’s gotta keep
the hotel cash separate
from the casino winnings.

BENNY
Everybody in Hollywood’s
showed for this. We’re a
smash!

MEYER
Benny, listen. Stash the
skim in the safe…

But Benny has hung up. Meyer He turns to Teddy with a dazed smile.

MEYER
We’re a smash. Go figure…

END ACT ONE

Next: Act 2:Power Moves SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/patriciagould/Desktop/EmpiresOfCrime/EOCPostNames.doc @font-face { font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } BOYS FROM BRAZIL, bugsy seigel, cocktail, FORT APACHE the bronx, free scripts, HEYWOOD GOULD, lucky luciano, Mafia, Meyer Lansky, movies, rolling thunder, screenplay writing, screenplays, thomas dewey

In a new department the Daily Event will reoffer some of these scripts. Read them and decide: would you like to have seen this movie?

Our first script is EMPIRES OF CRIME. Seven years in development it is a six part mini-series commissioned by a broadcast network and later reacquired by a cable station.

The story is about the founders of Organized Crime, Meyer Lansky, and “Lucky” Luciano, their fifty year partnership and the empire they created. Their friendships and families, lives and loves. It is also about their implacable enemy Thomas Dewey, a young Republican attorney who built a political career prosecuting the Mob that propelled him to the NY Governor’s Mansion and almost to the White House.

*For Introduction with submission guidelines go to Oct 13. Use Contact Us, above, for submissions.