Original subtitles

What are you looking at?

Oh, just some old pictures.

That's my graduation Picture from the academy.

Hey.

Uh, which one are you?

I'm the one in the back.

No, no, on the right side.

Behind the plants.

Oh, right.

You know, it was 20 years Ago yesterday I became a cop.

Hey, congratulations.

It's okay. It was yesterday.

I guess you must have

A lot of great memories And anecdotes, huh, nick?

Oh, yeah, sure.

Now listen. I'm a Legitimate pawn broker.

We've, uh, gotten some reports

Of increased loan Sharking activities

Why would I know anything?

Well, I mean, you Do have a history

Of making loans at rather, Uh, whimsical interest rates.

I don't force anybody To do business with me.

They come to see me

Because the banks and The finance companies

Won't touch them.

I see.

You know, I get a Lot of you people.

- pardon me? - cops.

They're always coming and Pawning guns, gold badges.

Anything to get some money.

Nice rings.

Nick, didn't I ask you to do Something about that board?

Yeah, but you didn't specify.

I think what I had in mind

Was putting it in some Sort of rational order.

I mean, look at it.

There are suspects up there We captured two years ago,

Memos out of date, one Circular covering another.

Look at that.

I like to think of It as a collage.

Just take care of it.

Oh, uh, barney, I've Got nicholas dellarosa.

He owns that Pawnshop over on 14th.

Claims he's completely unaware Of any loan-shark activities.

Dellarosa... Dellarosa...

I am a law-abiding member Of the merchants community.

Of course.

Wasn't it last year That mr. Dellarosa

Was arrested for receiving Stolen merchandise?

Mm-hmm.

Look, I try to check. People bring me things.

I ask them, "You didn't Steal that, did you?"

They say no.

What more can I do?

How conscientious of you.

Yeah, I got it.

Barn, disturbance Over on lexington.

All right, you and dietrich.

Am I free to go now?

Do we have any further need Of mr. Dellarosa's presence?

No, barn, we know Where to find him.

Thank you for coming Down, mr. Dellarosa.

We really appreciate Your cooperation.

My pleasure.

Look forward to seeing You both real soon.

Lovely watch.

Jewelry fetish.

Butcher... That's what you are.

You are a cretin.

All right, all right,

There's no need to Indulge in name-calling.

What do we got?

Got a couple of bozos here.

They were fighting Over on lexington.

George willis, leo fallon.

He was trying to Mutilate my body.

I was trying to give Him a piece of art,

A thing of beauty.

Such as?

Tattoo.

Mr. Fallon here Runs a tattoo parlor

Over this porno shop.

I told you. It's a studio.

Who cares?

Apparently, mr. Willis Was in the middle

Of getting a tattoo when He had second thoughts.

And he wouldn't take it off.

These are not decals, buddy.

When he first started Doing it, I just had no idea

How disgusting This thing really is.

I mean, look at that.

"Moth"?

There's supposed to Be a "E-r" on it, you know?

I figured out for myself, Thank you very much.

What about the assault Thing? Who's charging?

It's mutual.

All right, dietrich, do You want to take mr...

All right, mr. Willis, Have a seat over here.

Yeah, mr. Fallon, you Can sit over there.

Thank you.

Oh, we confiscated His dyes and needles.

Artistic repression.

I told you...

Tattooing is illegal In new york city.

A tattoo is a work of art, And it's protected from laws,

Like a painting or a Piece of sculpture.

Not in this town, it ain't.

And if you saw michelangelo Painting the creation,

I suppose you'd arrest him, too.

If he was doing it on Someone's body, yeah.

Have a seat, mr. Fallon. I'll be with you in a second.

I saw so many guys in the Service get those things.

Yeah, I bet.

Paying some guy to burn A picture on your body...

Now, that's sick.

Well, to each his own.

Pretty grotesque, right, barn?

Well, I haven't really Given it much thought.

I mean, if you think about it.

All right, if You insist, I will.

You will what?

Think about tattoos.

Oh, no, I...

Why don't you just Tag this stuff, wojo?

See, that's the Kind of guy that I am.

I go whichever Way the wind blows.

Like, sometimes, in The middle of the day,

I'll jump on a bus and go Right down to atlantic city,

Just like that.

Impetuous.

I know I look Pretty conservative,

But underneath all of This, I'm a pretty flaky guy.

I just try and keep That a secret. That's all.

Occupation?

Accountant.

Good cover.

I'm gonna put you In the cage now.

- where? - in the cage.

Oh. You know something?

You'd look great

With an american eagle Across your chest.

- no, thanks. - oh, the girls love tattoos.

Gives them something Different to look at.

Yeah, I ain't had Any complaints.

Nick, can't you do that outside?

It's illegal outside.

Uh, barney, I went Through the files

And found, uh, some Possible suspects

Who worked down on the Docks, but nothing definite.

Take a run down there, See what you can find out.

Ahem!

That an opinion?

Oh, no. I was just Bringing up some chalk.

Okay, I give up, nick.

Where'd you put the Current arrest file?

Nick, we're out of coffee.

Hey, come on, nick.

No coffee.

Oh, really?

I'm sure you'd love to have Me make you some more.

And I know you fellas want me To file your records for you,

But as it happens, I'm Gonna have a little lunch.

I might have my shoes shined.

I got a horse in the third Race called disco danny,

And I'm gonna put $20 right on his nose

To commemorate the 20 years That I served on this force.

And I'll be back later.

And if the horse wins...

Possibly much later.

Uncharacteristic behavior.

He usually never says More than two words.

Uh, wojo, I'd say that Pretty much was two words.

Harris still out?

Yeah.

Nick's not back yet, either.

No.

I guess he just got Tired of being the one

That had to do the Piddly junk around here...

Fixing the coffee, taking Care of the roster board.

Yesterday was his Anniversary, too.

What anniversary?

20 years on the force.

Well, I would have appreciated If someone had told me.

It was 20 years ago yesterday.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Finished tagging That tattoo stuff.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

November 2, 1993.

In case I'm still here.

I'll make a note of That on my calendar.

It's a strange Custom, tattooing.

Yeah.

Some people consider it

An atavistic reversion to An earlier primitive state.

Others submit to it Because of peer pressure.

There's probably other Reasons I haven't thought of.

I seem to be carrying on The bulk of this conversation.

It's okay. I'm used to it.

All my life I had To. I don't mind.

Well, I'm gonna go check Those guys for priors.

Good idea.

All right, come on. Inside here, turner.

Man, what are you Hassling me for?

I'm just trying to Keep off welfare.

Very commendable.

This is our loan shark?

Yeah, it's one of them, barney.

Leland turner, age 14.

14. I'm captain miller, turner.

Hey, man, everybody gonna Be honkies from now on?

Probably.

Oh, barney, I spoke to a Couple of the dockworkers,

And master turner's name came up

In a number of The conversations.

I found him down near pier 70 waving this pipe at a wino.

Well, look, he Missed two payments.

What would you do?

He was also carrying this.

It's just over $7,000.

$7,000.

Disgusting, isn't it?

Look... Look, those Are my operating funds.

I want a receipt for that.

Get a preliminary statement.

See if you can find his family.

Okay, junior, come on. Have a seat over there.

Oh, man, what About my phone call?

You don't get one.

What about my lawyer?

You don't get one.

I'm afraid, as a juvenile,

You have very few Rights, mr. Turner.

Well, then, what do I get?

An ice-cream cone If you're very nice.

Hey, mr. Harris...

Try that with the Ice-cream cone.

Kids... They say the Darndest things.

Sit down!

Oh, hi, nick.

Hi, harris.

Well, I'm back.

Nick, if you care To talk, I've got...

Hold his calls.

I guess you can't blame you cops

For being the way you are

When you got to live like this.

Full name?

Mohammad x.

What happened to turner?

That's a slave name. You can have it.

Mine's mohammad x.

How do you spell that?

X.

Thank you.

So, this is it, huh?

This is what?

The office.

You've been here before.

Just briefly. Not Like wojo and harris.

They spend the better Part of the day here.

Because your conduct Never required it.

Till now.

Nick, I swear to you,

If I knew that Yesterday was 20 years...

No, no, no. That's not it.

What I want is my Contribution to this squad

Is recognized and respected.

Come on, you know I depend on you

For 100 different things.

Coffee, filing, spring cleaning.

Yeah.

But also for your experience,

Your sense of humor that Gets us through the day,

Your composure.

Why don't you mention It once in a while?

All right, I will.

You know, I wasn't Coming back here today.

Why did you?

Mostly because I felt a sort Of special obligation to you

On account of all the Time we've worked together

And the high regard I have for you.

Thank you.

And besides, disco danny Blew it in the stretch.

Address?

I have a number of residences.

Wherever you're wintering.

546 east 23rd.

Is that where your parents live?

No.

Where can I reach your father?

Try calling attica any time Between 9:00 a.M. And 1981.

What about your mother?

This time of day, I'd Say you could find her

Around 44th and broadway.

Hey, look, don't go Sighing for me, brother.

I got $7,000 sitting In that safe.

You got $7,000?

I got a lincoln Continental. You got one?

Eh, they guzzle gas.

So, level with me, man.

What are you Pulling, $20,000 a year?

I don't think that's Any of your concern.

Place of birth?

Less than that, huh?

Hey, look, I need Your place of birth.

$18,000?

Look, junior, I'm asking The questions here.

Born in newark.

$16,000?

$23,000.

That's not bad.

Thank you.

Hey, hey, hey.

Is that including bribes?

Oh, yeah.

Yes?

Fallon had some previous Citations for the parlor.

Other than that, They're both clean.

All right.

Just relax, nick.

Gentlemen, sergeant Dietrich informs me

That you both have Relatively spotless records.

Of course.

Well, as soon as we Issue another citation

For your parlor, mr. Fallon,

It would appear to me that Both of you could leave,

Were it not for the Outstanding assault charges.

I'll forget it if you'll Just get this thing off.

How many times do I have to tell you?

They don't come off.

Of course, there are Methods to remove them.

Oh, yeah?

Sure. Tell him.

Well, a tattoo can Be treated with acid,

Usually carbolic or sulfuric.

Yeah, you want to burn it off?

There must be another way.

Well, there's surgery.

Partial incision to fold Back the flap of the skin

And scrape the Ink from the tissue.

Oh, my god.

Or a tattoo can simply Be sliced off and...

All right, dietrich.

I think we understand The alternatives.

Can't you see you're Upsetting mr. Willis?

Sorry if I was unduly graphic.

Listen, maybe I'll Just keep it, okay?

Fine. Mr. Fallon, What about you?

He wants to walk Around the rest of his life

With "Moth" on his Arm, it's okay with me.

All right. Write them Up. Turn them loose.

Right.

Barn, I finished Processing turner.

The wino wasn't really injured,

So I figured I'd Call it assault 2.

The d.A. Will probably Recommend family court.

Whatever you think is best.

Neither of his parents Is exactly available,

So I'm gonna run Him up to spofford.

Fine.

What gets me, barn, is...

Turner... I mean, He's not a stupid kid.

He's just a smart-mouthed Little kid who could go either way.

Reminds you a little of Yourself at his age, huh?

No, barney.

Oh, well, I meant...

I was always as you see me now.

Beg your pardon.

What are you staring at, honky?

"Honky"? That has an Interesting etymology.

It was coined by Blacks in the 1950s

In reference to the Nasal tone of caucasians.

Hey, man, don't mess With me, all right?

Okay, let's go, turner.

You talking to me?

Yeah, we're taking a Trip up to the bronx.

I'm going to spofford, huh?

Familiar with the Accommodations?

Yeah, man, I was there last Year for about half a second.

You know, turner,

You didn't get $7,000 being stupid.

I mean, you got something Going for you up here.

So?

So you got a chance to get out,

A chance to make something Good out of your life.

Man, you're not Gonna do it this way.

Hey, you want to Drive my continental?

You know, give yourself A thrill, brother.

Hey, listen to me, You little twerp.

What good is your Car and your money

When you're doing Time in the slammer?

Yeah, well, that's better Than sucking up 9:00 to 5:00

To some whitey.

Hey, listen, I don't Suck up to anybody.

Well, you got to suck up,

'cause if you don't, they Don't throw you your bread.

A child who ain't got His own, he ain't nothing.

I don't care what you Think of me or what I do,

But you are headed nowhere fast.

And you still got nothing.

I may not have money,

But I got something That you will never have.

Oh, yeah? What's that?

Credit.

Say what?

You remember this, short stuff.

You are just another loser

Until you can sign for Something with dignity.

Come on. Move out. Come on.

Uh... I made some coffee.

Oh, yeah?

Try a cup?

Sure.

You know, uh, sometimes people Work together for a long time,

And they never ever Say how they really feel.

Yeah.

No sugar.

Right.

So, uh... So, I want you to know

That I feel really lucky To be working with you.

I mean it. I learn A lot from you.

Thanks.

Here goes.

Not too good, huh?

All these years, I Thought it was me.

Hey, you can both go.

Moth.

I'm stuck with it now.

Hey, I could finish it.

Finish it?

And outline it in magenta. It'll look fantastic.

I don't know.

And anyway, they've Got all your needles.

I got some old Needles at the studio.

Okay, but just a quick "E-r."

Okay.

So what if they're not electric?

Uh, barn...

Would you like to try Some polish coffee?

Oh, hey. Right.

Do you want me to get Rid of this stuff, barn?

Uh, yeah, sure.

Pretty good.

Welcome back, nick.

I bet one of these things hurts.

A little.

I got a tattoo.

No kidding.

Well, we were 15 years old.

It was v.E. Day.

Just celebrating.

A few beers too many, you know.

I see.

I'm not about to sit around Feeling guilty about it

30 years later.

It would seem counterproductive, To say the least.

The least.

Uh... Where'd you get it?

Asbury park.

No, I mean, where?

Oh. Under there.

What's it say?

Just a "V" and an "E."

Little rose under it.

Very tasteful.

You know, you had to Appreciate the atmosphere,

The excitement, the comradery.

You know, the war was over.

We just wanted to do something To remember it, you know?

Yeah, right.

All right, before we Close the subject forever,

Are there any other questions?

Did you get one for v.J. Day?

Me, either.