Original subtitles

- Up yours! - Get out of the way!

Fine time piece, brother?

Goodbye.

"Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?

"Shaft

"Damn right

"Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man?

"Shaft

"Can you dig it?

"Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?

"Shaft

"Right on

"They say this cat is a bad mother

"Shut your mouth

"I'm talking about Shaft

"Then we can dig it

"He's a complicated man

"No one understands him

"But his woman

"John Shaft"

What's happening, Marty?

Same old sixes and sevens, Shaft.

Two guys were looking for you like 10 minutes ago.

Harlem cats?

How the hell should I know? Everybody looks the same to me.

Take it easy, Marty.

Take care, Shaft.

Thanks, brother.

Too much sugar this morning.

Then don't drink it, baby.

A couple of dudes from uptown looking for you.

Know them?

Not by name.

Seen them around uptown. Come in here when I was opening up.

Asked where they could find you.

What did they look like?

One was wearing a funky plaid coat. Other one was sharp.

$50 shoes. Black coat, gray flares.

- Is that all? - They had heat on them.

The one in the plaid coat had his hands in his pocket.

Pulled his coat tight, you dig?

Had some heavy iron in his belt.

You got a scuff on the toe of this left shoe.

What time you got, Tom?

8:16.

Pull over in front of that shoe-shine parlor. He usually hangs out there.

Okay.

- You want me to go in? - No. We'll wait.

Got yourself a nice shine. You can go out and make something of yourself, man.

Go out and get rich and fat like you? We're straight, baby.

Got a minute, Shaft?

Got no use for no dirty postcards, Vic. Get off my back.

I just want to talk to you.

Call me up. You know my number.

Come on, I'll buy you a cup of coffee. Go sit in the park a minute?

Hell, no. Just tell me what you got to say right here!

Tom, go get us two cigars. What kind do you smoke?

Just say what you've got to say.

Get us a couple of El Garcia's.

Look, I'm late.

What are you trying to lay on me?

Just love, Shaft. Nothing but love and sympathy.

Then we're even. Go on, get on with it.

I thought you might know something I want to know.

Seems there's been a lot of low, quiet rumbles going on uptown.

Our people have been able to pick up the sounds of it, but not words.

That's 'cause us black folk talk mush mouth, Lieutenant.

I thought we'd get to it.

We did. But, you want me to pigeon. I just said, "Up yours, baby."

How come two cats from Harlem came downtown this morning...

...looking for John Shaft?

They're soul brothers. They came down so I could teach them the handshake.

They find you?

Of course, I wasn't hiding.

If you find out anything, give me a call. I'm still at the 38th Precinct.

Right on.

Where the hell are you going?

To get laid. Where the hell are you going?

That boy's got a lot of mouth on him.

The boy's man enough to back it up, too.

What did he tell you?

Nothing.

Got to lean on that kind.

You don't lean on that kind.

Give me a package of gum.

Make a noise, I'll cut you. Back up.

- Something wrong, Mr. Shaft? - Sick friend here.

Jim, can you get us a car up?

I'll take that.

Now, be cool, man.

Where is your partner?

Open the door.

You've got about a half a minute to tell me what the hell you want with me.

The police will ask why you threw that son of a bitch out the window.

They can find you dead or alive. Now, what's your goddamn story?

Bumpy...

Bumpy says to bring you uptown.

Did he tell you to mess me up?

I was to bring you.

It doesn't make sense.

You arrive at your office. You have a sick friend with you.

Suddenly, another man you don't know rushes up and a fight starts.

Your sick friend goes out the window. Why, Mr. Shaft?

Ask the man who started the fight, Mr. Leibowitz.

Your friend, the only name you know him by is "Tex"?

- No last name? - That's right.

I don't buy that, Shaft.

I think you know more than that. Why the fight started, for instance.

What you think and what you can prove are two different bags.

All your friends walk around with weapons like that?

That depends.

My Negro friends don't walk around with rabbits' feet no more.

Don't get wise with me. There's a simple way for me to go.

- I'll put your goddamn ass in! - I'll sue your goddamn ass for false arrest.

You want me to believe the man fell out the way you said he did?

- What do I look like? Some kind of klutz? - Don't ask, and I won't tell you.

You're licensed by the city and the state.

No one licensed can afford to be a wise ass where a felony case is involved.

Are you suggesting I'd lose my license?

You are damn right I am! You better believe it and level with me!

Threatening my livelihood is a violation of my rights, isn't it?

Byron...

Let me have a talk with him in private.

You got an assailant to interview.

Start that and I'll join after we talk.

I think you are b.s.-ing me, too. This thing stinks.

Maybe he didn't like the handshake you taught him.

You know you can get your rump in a sling for this mess?

- Static, a lot of hassle. - You'll save me, Vic.

Well, I can try.

If?

One hand washes the other.

All the hassle in the world wouldn't make me sing a song to the police.

No way, baby.

That cat you threw out the window was a flunky for Bumpy Jonas.

I didn't throw no cat out no window, Lieutenant.

Bumpy isn't gonna like it.

I don't care what he likes! What the hell are you pumping me for?

Two weeks ago we started picking up rumbles.

- You already said that. - We know it's not the Panthers.

Or the Young Lords. But, something's on the boil.

I want to know what it is...

...before we need an adding machine to count the bodies.

Bumpy wants you for something.

He knows what's going on. And that's what I want to know.

Not who, just what.

It warms my black heart to see you so concerned about us minority folks.

Come on, Shaft. What is it with this black shit?

You ain't so black.

And you ain't so white, baby.

All right.

You want to play your super heavy black number.

I'm gonna play mine.

We can nail your tail for manslaughter with what we've got on you right now!

You can waltz Leibowitz, but you know the law. You could be charged.

Charged, Lieutenant.

Yeah, but your license'll be suspended.

You'll be out of business for six months.

You want to be out of business for six months?

Out on the street.

No gun permit. Six months!

With Bumpy looking for you when all hell's about to break loose?

You want it, you got it.

You scare me to death, Lieutenant.

You're buying trouble not only for yourself, but a blood bath up in Harlem.

You want that?

All I'm asking you is to let me know what's going on!

No names, no places, just what!

I'm not asking you to sell out.

Tell me the name of the game, so I know the rules.

I'll think about it.

All right, I'll settle for that now.

That buys you 48 hours on the street, and then we're gonna talk again.

You got the number of Bumpy's private phone?

All right.

Take off. I'll see to Leibowitz.

Right on.

I'll see you.

Look at that.

- Wrong number. - Don't bull me, I got the right number.

This is Shaft.

How did you get this number?

Off a bathroom wall in the goddamn subway.

I'm looking for you.

I've got an office.

Here you are.

Thanks.

Bag of chestnuts, please. Cold as hell today, huh?

Yeah, yeah. Good chestnuts.

How much?

Two bits.

- Here you go. Take it easy. - Thanks.

Hey, taxi!

What the hell is this?

You white mother!

Taxi! Taxi!

Cat say he gonna be here, he should be here.

Open it up.

Cat say he gonna be here...

...and he ain't.

It ain't right, Boss.

We'll wait.

You take crap off of him...

...he'll give you more crap.

We'll wait.

That's some cold shit...

...throwing my man, Leroy, out the window.

Just picked my man up, and threw him out the goddamned window.

Got us standing around and waiting to say thank you.

Glad you let yourself in, Bumpy.

Give me a bad name, have you hanging around in the hall.

If the man ever comes down here...

...again to see you...

...you make sure you be here.

Waiting.

You're in my chair.

Wait outside.

Sims and Leroy tried to muscle you, Shaft?

Well, I got no grudge about Leroy.

I couldn't give a damn.

I got a job for you.

I'm not on the hustle, Bumpy.

A detective job.

- What kind? - Your kind. You take it.

Don't jive me. What are you talking about?

Somebody kidnapped my daughter, Marcy.

Done in a couple of people.

Didn't leave no ransom note or nothing. Nobody saw nothing.

I want you to find her. That's the fucking job.

The police do that for free.

Not for me. You know I can't go to the cops.

And you want me?

The spade detective.

Yeah, I want you 'cause you're a black spade detective.

I want you 'cause you got your other foot in whitey's trough! She can be anywhere.

Got any idea who grabbed her?

A lot of cats hate my guts.

A sweet, loving dude like you?

Sweet talking a man's lady...

...as you beat her man out of his paycheck in the back room of a horse parlor?

Feeding his kid shit to shoot in his arm?

Who could hate you, Bumpy?

My baby never sold nothing to nobody. Never took nothing from nobody.

She's a straight kid. She's going to college.

Whoever grabbed her, got her to get at me.

They have a beef with me, they should come to me.

So you got a rule that somebody else don't.

Is that all you know?

There's a piece of Harlem I can't get at. The one them militants got their arm on.

They could have my baby. She's been into some of that stuff.

Bunch calls themselves the "La Mumba's."

Ben Buford's thing.

I could send my people to ask them.

Shit.

It'd come to a shootout and when it's all over, a bunch of dead cats.

And maybe they'd kill Marcy.

Yeah, you're Papa pimp to them.

They want to see you burn as bad as they want to see the police burn.

But kidnapping sisters, that ain't their thing.

The only reason anybody grabs anybody for is money.

What other bunch in Harlem needs money bad enough to grab my baby?

If you believe that, what's all this about me having a foot in whitey's trough?

I said I think they had her. I didn't say they had her in Harlem.

They ain't dumb enough to take her someplace uptown.

It don't lay right.

What the hell you think I need you for if I knew who had her?

I'm guessing.

If they don't have her, all right.

Maybe they know something.

I got nothing.

That's the job, Shaft.

Will you take it, or no?

I get $50 an hour.

Plus expenses.

And no questions asked about how I spend it.

You got it.

I get a free hand to move any way I want.

You find my baby.

That's all I want.

I got money.

You spend it.

And you find her.

That'll get you started.

When will I hear from you?

When I got something to say.

One more thing:

You send another cat after me with a gun, I'll kill him and I'll come looking for you!

And I'll get you, Bumpy.

You believe it.

Fake mother.

"Black man born free"

You seen Ben Buford around?

"The way it's supposed to be

"Chains that bind him are hard to see

"Unless you take this walk with me

"The place where he lives

"It's got plenty of names 'Slums"'

Ben Buford used to live here. He live here anymore?

No, why?

I'm looking for him.

I am, too. He owes me six months' rent.

Take it easy.

"Any kind of job is hard to find

"And that means an increase in the welfare line

"Crime rate is rising too

"If you are hungry, what would you do?

"Rent is two months past due

"And the building is falling apart

"Little boy who needs a pair of shoes"

Hello, ma'am. I'm looking for a guy named Ben Buford. You know him?

Yeah, I know him.

- Seen him around here lately? - Not in a long while.

"Some of the brothers got plenty of cash

"Chicks on the corner gonna see to that

"Some like to smoke, some like to blow

"Some even strung out on a $50 jones

"Some are trying to ditch reality

"By getting so, so high

"Only to find out that you can never touch the sky"

I'm looking for Ben Buford. You seen him around?

No, I ain't seen him.

Thanks.

Know what the number was today?

"Every Sunday morning

"I can hear the old sisters say

"Hallelujah, hallelujah

"Trust in the Lord

"He'll make a way

"I hope that he hears their prayers

"'Cause deep in their souls they believe

"Someday he'll put an end

"To all this misery

- "That's in - Soulsville

"Soulsville"

- What's happening? - Man, how's it going?

Seen Ben?

Ben? Ben who?

Ben Buford. You know who I mean.

Look, man, I don't know no Ben Buford.

$20.

That Ben Buford.

He's holed up on a place on Amsterdam, 710.

What apartment and what time?

Third floor. There's a meeting at 9:00.

I can't guarantee it.

I just heard some cat tell another cat.

They're both in the movement with Ben.

Yeah, well, stay loose, baby.

You all right?

Baby, are you all right?

I got to feeling like a machine. That's no way to feel.

Come here, baby.

Had a visitor from uptown this afternoon.

What're you having?

A dog with mustard and onions.

No.

Hold the onions.

Cold, huh?

Well, John, what did you get?

I got laid.

Uptown, brother. Amsterdam Avenue. Take your time. I'm early.

Champ, you lost?

No.

You live around here?

Yeah.

You look cold.

Get something to eat.

Gee, thanks, mister.

Okay, champ.

- Who is it? - John Shaft, Ben.

Unless you want more visitors, better split up that pair out front.

Put somebody on the basement door.

How did you find me?

Wasn't hard. You got a big mouth.

- Cool it, man. - You cool it, boy.

Don't let your mouth get your ass in trouble.

- I got nothing to say to you. - Don't jive me.

- We've put in a lot of street time together. - That was a long time back.

I don't know you no more.

A lot of hard years, man. The kind you don't forget.

Now, I'm gonna give you one minute to say what you came here to say.

Then you go back out that door you came in or I'll throw you out.

You know Marcy Jonas?

- Yeah, why? - You know where she is?

- What do you mean? - Somebody grabbed her.

Bumpy thinks maybe it was you.

We don't do that kind of thing.

You know anything about it?

Tom, you used up your minute. Get out!

Don't "Tom" me, man!

- Where are the guns? - None here.

I'll be goddamned!

Sonny! Sonny!

They're coming!

- Up on the roof? - Yeah. Go!

He's dead.

Come on, come on!

Not the roof, this way!

Stand back.

- What is this? - Everything will be fine.

- What is this? - Go over there and be quiet.

Everything's okay, ma'am. No need to worry.

Sorry about your door.

That'll take care of it.

You set us up, man!

Young man, please.

Don't do that.

Don't ever threaten me again! And don't call me Judas!

Come on. It's no time to count your dead. Come on!

Look.

Come on!

This way, this way!

One of yours?

- No. - Probably a finger man.

When you lead that revolution, whitey better be standing still...

...'cause you don't run worth a damn no more!

We're done running, man.

What the hell do you call this, man?

I got to find out if they're after you or me.

I'll leave you with some friends. They're straight people.

So don't you lay any of that Uncle Tom jive on them.

I don't know what's connected to what. I can't piece them together.

Answer that.

It's only a half an hour since it happened. How could I have something this soon?

I'm not paid enough to worry about what the Commissioner or the Mayor thinks!

It's Shaft. You want to talk to him?

I got a call. I might have something. Hold on.

No, better I call you back.

I'm coming to see you.

You've been holding out on me.

I'll wait. Listen, several cats were killed in Harlem.

You know anything about it?

I was there, Lieutenant.

The Captain's at home. Call him back. Tell him I left to chase down a lead.

- Where are you going? - Nowhere. Just get him off my back.

A reporter from the News wants an interview.

Tell him to call the Captain. Serves the old bastard right.

This is that list from the intelligence section.

What about the pictures?

They're getting them together now. Said about five minutes.

Shaft's coming down. Send him right in.

Dina'll get you a bed made up. Why don't you get some sleep, man?

Got some dead brothers laying out there.

And this ain't where I should be.

Till we find out why they're dead, this is the only place for you to be!

You think like a white man!

You don't think! You want to get wasted?

If that's what it takes!

Marvin's sleeping.

I'll find out what I can and pick you up in the morning.

If you think I'll owe you for this, you're wrong.

You got nothing I want!

You can have the girls' room.

I got to go out. Got an extra key so I don't wake you when I come back?

This'll open the downstairs door, too.

Watch your mouth.

I'll say anything I want.

Not in this house. Not here, you won't.

Have a chair.

I don't like your chair.

You gave me nothing, Vic.

You want to lock me up for manslaughter 'cause someone went out of my window...

...go ahead.

You got no deal.

I have nothing else to give you, then. That's straight.

What do you got now?

One question first.

Anyone who could've identified those guys with machine guns got wiped out!

Yeah?

Five of Ben Buford's people and probably the guy that fingered you.

Me? Are you sure it's me?

I'd be sure if I knew if the guys were black or white.

I'd make it 80-20 they were after you.

But Bumpy could probably tell you that for sure.

Just say what you got, man.

A few things that may fit.

Do you remember I told you that Bumpy was doubling his crews up in Harlem?

So?

So, downtown we get some visitors.

Three guys from LA, two from Phoenix, a guy from Decatur, Illinois...

...four guys from Philly. Altogether about 15 that we're sure of.

Special guys, huh?

All suspected being guns for the Mafia.

Just got into town.

Most of them staying at a hotel in the Village. Taking in the sights.

Is that it?

No, one thing more.

A couple of dudes from Harlem go across to Jersey.

Try to kidnap some Mafia bigwig. They blew it.

They killed the guy's runner.

But the man says his runner was in Florida on a fishing trip.

- Looks like war coming. - It's a bad thing.

Mafia against Bumpy. It's hood against hood, on the inside.

On the outside, it's black against white.

We could have tanks and troops on Broadway if this thing breaks open.

Yeah, you got a point.

This is what some of our visitors look like.

Be a good time for it.

What? War?

Fishing down in Florida.

It might help if I knew what Bumpy hired you for.

- Never said he did. - He did.

It's against my ethics to say yes or no.

- He put you on the spot, Shaft. - He did?

You're a very wise Caucasian, Vic.

I'll be here. If I'm not, call me at home.

That's a comfort.

- Hello? - Hello, baby.

I waited up.

- Sorry, I can't make it. - Got problems?

Yeah, I got a couple of them.

I was born black and I was born poor.

I love you.

Yeah, I know.

Take it easy.

Get up.

We've got a man to see.

See who that is, will you?

It's Shaft.

Let him in.

- I have an appointment with Bumpy. - I know all about it.

I've got to see if you're clean before you can see the man.

Better get yourself six more helpers then.

That's how it's done.

Who searches you?

Nobody.

Then get the same cat to search us.

I've got to see if you got a gun on you before you go in.

Tell Bumpy we were here. Come on, Ben.

You gonna let them walk now, Willy?

Bumpy'll have your tail.

Wait here, I'll call in to the man.

What do you want, Willy?

- Shaft's out here with some dude. - Send them in.

He won't let me see if they are clean.

Let them in.

Go on, you heard him.

Listen, Snow White...

...we're gonna tangle sooner or later.

Did you hear what I said?

Why don't you stop playing with yourself?

You ain't gonna do shit!

You're a cagey spook, Bumpy.

You ride a tall horse, Mr. Shaft.

This is Ben Buford. Your little caper cost him five friends last night.

- We'll take it out of your ass, pimp. - You're pushing me a little far.

I found out some things, Bumpy.

You knew who grabbed your daughter, and that it wasn't Ben or his people...

...when you laid all that jive on me in my office.

I told you, there was no note. I still don't know who has her.

You're lying, man!

Now, deal them up straight, or don't deal them at all!

You grabbed the dope hustle up here from the Mafia.

Made yourself some big bread.

Now the Mafia wants to move in on you.

So what?

So, the Mafia grabbed your daughter.

You knew it.

You knew it when you hired me.

Yeah.

You tried to snatch one for a trade.

But your flunky friends out there blew it.

They burned some kid. Missed the man we wanted to grab for a trade.

Then you wanted to hustle old Shaft.

I hired you for a job. I conned you, but I never lied to you.

My baby was grabbed.

You'll get her back. You bought that deal. You're gonna live with it.

Not at these prices, baby.

I told you what it costs, it costs.

A lot of hyped-up black people give you that money you're spending, pimp!

Don't you try to bullshit me, boy. We're all on the hustle.

I sell broads and dope and numbers.

You sell crap and blue sky. It's all the same game.

You knew the Mafia cats would come after me, didn't you?

But it doesn't shake me up.

They made a good move to take out my front man.

They'll probably try again. I would.

You been using me, Bumpy. Suckered me.

That's okay. We stood face to face.

But, I want to know why you wanted me to hook up with Ben.

'Cause you're gonna need an army to get my baby back.

Ben's got one.

My people ain't worth a damn outside of Harlem.

If you think I'd risk some of the brothers...

...just 'cause your daughter's black, you're wrong, man.

We need money.

I got a lot of brothers and sisters in jail.

Set a price.

$10,000 a head.

That's what the honky government pays a cat in the Army for insurance.

$10,000 a man.

That's our price.

All right.

You telling me you're willing to lay out that kind of bread for Marcy?

Don't jive me, man.

I can always get more money.

I only got one baby.

That means you already owe him $50,000 for the men he lost last night.

All right.

We can get a lot of brothers and sisters out of jail with that.

How many of his you'll need?

Depends on whether the Mafia will take a ransom.

- They want Harlem, nothing less. - It ain't yours to give. Not anymore.

Mine or not, it's not gonna be theirs.

All I gotta do is find out where they've got her and bring her home.

That's it.

If he's worth $10,000, I'm worth $20,000.

You got it, COD.

Half now, half when I bring her home.

All!

Right now!

Half, that's the best I'll do.

You just been hustled, Bumpy.

Deliver the money tonight.

I'll have my boys drop it off.

At these prices, you blow it, Shaft, I'm not gonna like it.

Not even a little bit.

I thought the money didn't matter to you. Just getting your baby back.

Money always matters.

This is where I get off, man.

One thing we got to get straight. If it comes to a fight, we do it my way.

For that kind of bread, the brothers'll play.

As long as you remember we owe them five.

I said, my way!

I'll call you.

- Hey, man! - Hey, Billy? Come here.

- Do me a favor. - Sure.

- Go up to my place and turn on the... - Hey, no, man. I've already turned on.

No, Billy, turn on the lights.

Lights.

- About two minutes, okay? - Got it.

How are we doing, love?

That's nice. Don't make any trouble.

- Johnny! - What do you say, Rollie?

Gorgeous coat!

How about letting me take over the bar for a while?

There's nothing I wouldn't do for $20.

Have funzies.

You look ready.

Yeah, okay. Scotch and water, both.

On the house, gents.

And since the house is buying, I'll have one.

To the big-hearted owner of the No Name Bar.

Whether he knows he's generous or not.

That's all booze!

Right on.

All booze. One zillion percent.

Hold on.

Hold on.

No, he ain't here. Right.

Ho there, innkeeper?

Two gin and tonics, and a Virgin Mary...

...for moi.

I'm thirsty. Parched.

There's a girl over there...

...with the dark hair and the groovy boobs...

You really turn her on, if you're interested.

I ain't dead.

Her friend, Valerie, says she's hot for my body. I told her I was gay.

You know what she said? She'd straighten me out.

That's what she said.

It's not enough that I'm lovely, she wants me to play character parts.

The one with the titillating boobs is named Linda.

Man can't walk on one leg.

Hate drinking alone.

Vic, private line.

Hey, sweet baby?

This is your lover man.

Who the hell is this?

Two sweet guesses.

That you, Shaft?

You bet your lovely self it is. And I'm ready. Can you dig it?

Got troubles?

- I got what you want. - Where are you?

No Name Bar in the Village.

On Jane Street.

- What do you want me to do? - Haul your beautiful self down here.

How many are there?

About two.

I'll close up and we'll go over to my pad.

You walk in that front door, I'll close up right now.

- I'll have a car there in a few seconds. - That's what I want to hear.

A lot of loose stuff around here?

All a man can handle, deacon.

What are you looking at?

Get lost.

Go do something.

Where are my manners?

I didn't even introduce myself to you gentlemen.

My name is John Shaft.

Freeze!

Throw me a towel.

There's two of them. We're generous around here.

It's not so bad.

It's a nice pad you got here.

I'm going upstairs to take a shower. I'll be right back.

I just couldn't wait.

- What do you say, Vic? - 'Morning.

Both of them had guns, licenses to carry them.

"Jewelry couriers," the licenses say.

Detroit people.

- Will you turn them loose? - I have no choice.

They'll leave town.

You'll have strangers looking for you, not them.

Can I have a private talk with them?

What you'll do to poor Carmen now? Give him cancer?

You busted his head, settle.

I want to find out his views on urban renewal.

All right.

I'm speaking for Bumpy Jonas.

He wants to be sure his daughter's okay.

My word is all he'll take. No phone calls and no letters from her.

I've got to see her.

Then maybe he'll deal.

Nothing I want to say in this rat hole.

- People might be listening. - That's a risk we'll have to take.

Now give me a number so I can let you know where I'll be.

I'll call you at 12:30 sharp!

And meet you at 12:45 somewhere in the Village.

Hey, baby?

- Come here. - Party's over.

You got to split.

Some other time. Same feeling, same place.

Right now I've got to take care of some business.

Put Ben on.

He's asleep, who wants him?

Wake him up, it's John Shaft.

You're really great in the sack, but...

...you're pretty shitty afterwards.

I'm trying to take care of some business.

Come on!

I need two good men. Are you ready?

Yeah.

They'd better be tough.

Baby, please close the door.

Close it yourself, Shitty.

- Tell me where and when. - At Café Reggio in the Village.

- Know where it is? - I'll find it.

12:30. Five minutes late would be too late.

I'll be there. 'Bye.

It's Vic Androzzi.

What the hell are you doing here?

I got no time for chats.

You had time for a chat with Carmen and Patsy in my office this morning.

You got me in one hell of a mess.

- Did you have the room bugged? - No, not me.

Me? I could turn the other way.

Not hear what I heard.

It's that big-eared Captain I got who was listening.

He thinks he heard you discussing a kidnapping.

He thinks the Mafia's involved.

And he knows Bumpy Jonas is involved.

Tell him to ask Bumpy then.

Yeah, I did.

But he wants to ask you.

Now. At the station.

Lousy timing, right?

Gonna take me in?

I will if I find you.

Are you home?

Hell, no.

That's too bad.

Call me when you get home.

I will.

"Close it yourself, Shitty."

This is Shaft. Now get this straight!

I'll be at Café Reggio on McDougall street at 12:45.

- Got it? - Reggio, 12:45.

Right.

Menu?

Espresso.

Don't you want a sandwich or something with it?

Just espresso.

I hope you don't like lemon peel.

Let it go.

I think you like it. I'll go get you some.

I always forget the lemon peel.

I'm looking for a nigger named John Shaft.

You just found him, wop!

Sit down.

I have to take you to visit a lady. Come on.

I haven't finished my espresso.

Why don't you have some?

Maybe they'll put a little garlic in it, if you're nice.

No, thanks. But you go ahead.

We've even got time for you to have your soul food.

Espresso?

No, thanks.

Keep it.

Thanks, baby.

Let's go.

Come on.

After you, man.

You stay here.

You get around the back, keep an eye on the alley door. Stay out of sight.

What if they come out our way?

You follow them. Remmy, you come back for me. Now move it!

No noise. Now, answer me straight.

No lies and no con.

How many men you got in there with her?

Two.

Okay.

When I tell you, you open that door like this gun was about to blow your head off.

No signal or you're gone. Got it?

Yeah.

Gin!

Open it.

Turn her loose or he goes.

- Tell them to turn her loose. - He won't.

He won't shoot, Marcy, come here.

There's nothing you can do, Shaft.

Except go back to Harlem and tell Bumpy his little girl is fine.

- When I leave, she leaves with me. - No way, Shaft.

She's our ace. You never give up your ace.

Maybe you're right.

I should take you uptown and turn you over to Bumpy.

Change your mind, you can walk right now.

You try to take the girl or me along, you're dead.

You trying to tell me they'd blow you away to get me?

That's right.

I halfway believe you. But, you're my ace, so I got to call you.

The only thing that's keeping you alive right now is...

...you got to be fit enough to go tell that black punk in Harlem...

...that he's got 24 hours to deal or he's got a dead daughter!

And a war!

You hear me?

Come on, let's go!

Let's go!

Back door.

Come on.

Come on!

You all right? Come on.

Come on.

You all right?

Get me up out of here.

The place'll be stinking with cops in a minute.

Grab those guns. Let's get out of here.

- Ellie! Ellie, open up! - Yes!

My God! What happened?

He's been shot.

Put him on the couch.

Didn't want to tell you on the phone.

Ellie, call Sam.

- You need a real doctor, baby. - I said, call Sam.

Easy.

Blade.

Get on the phone.

We gonna need some more brothers. With guns this time.

Bumpy'll handle the transportation.

Had to bring you to, Johnny.

Can't fix anything else, till you tell me where you hurt.

Wall to wall, Sam.

Ellie, give me that phone.

- Get those boys? - Got eight.

Know where they took her?

One of the brothers tailed them. He's watching the place now.

What about the back exit?

Everything's cool, baby. Don't worry.

Did you run into a train?

Tight as you can get it. I got to get up soon as you're done.

Damn, those were some tough white boys.

You're gonna have one hell of a time.

Got a bad sprain on that right wrist.

Tape it.

I did, damn it. What do you think I am, an amateur?

Too good of a job, Sam. I didn't even feel it.

Wrong number.

Cut the crap, man. This is Shaft. I saw Marcy.

Is she all right?

Scared to death, but okay.

I need three cabs, on the corner of Ninth and Washington.

- To pick up some of Ben's people. - How soon?

Now, man, now!

Okay, you two! Outside! Move, move!

Let's go!

Tie them up!

All right, where are the uniforms?

- Who's that? - The night janitor. He's okay.

Use him to find out which room they got her in.

- Getting it together? - Yeah, right on.

Beautiful.

Just beautiful.

Jerry, how are you doing, baby?

Hey, boy?

Send up two coffees and a Coke.

Glass or a straw?

For the Coke.

Make it a straw.

Straw?

You heard me, straw.

Right.

You're a shrewd cat, Shaft.

You and your boys blow it and I'll be one dead cat!

You all know the plan. No mistakes.

Let's go.

There you are, sir. Two coffees, a Coke and a straw.

- Want me to take it in? - Whoa.

Right.

Hey, thank you!

- I'll be seeing you. - Okay.

Shut up!

- What do you guys want? - Your coat.

Rope and harness.

Go ahead down.

Did you hear anything?

This damn thing won't burn hot enough.

You got something else in there that'll burn?

It's gin, man.

What else you got?

Gasoline.

Come on!

Give me a cigarette.

- You know what to do? - Yeah.

Let's get out of here!

Come on!

Let's go!

Androzzi, here.

- Vic, your case just busted wide open. - So close it for me.

Cut the crap, man. This is Shaft.

"You'll have to close it yourself, Shitty! "