10 the Hard Way---------------->

Setting: A palatial office. An elegant, silver-haired man is standing at a picture window, smoking a cigar. He waves to someone in his view, grins, then frowns.

Micheal Vincenze: I don't care what you want to do - you're going to take Gabe. 

Carlo shrugs. He is playing with a gold lighter, flipping it up and down and tapping it against the desk. His feet, ensconced in crocodile cowboy boots are up on a gorgeous hand carved rosewood desk.

Carlo: Gabes's a "moustache Pete", let me take Joey or Nicky.

Mike whirls away from the window and crosses the space between them. He slaps the cigarette out of Carlo's mouth, and then grabs his face in one hand to slap it again. Carlo just sits there dumbfounded. Mike is incensed.

Mike: This isn't one of your joyrides, to put thousands up your nose, and sleep around with whores!

Carlo: Geez, Dad..

Mike: Ah!

Mike throws his hands up in frustration, then knocks Carlo's boots off his desk.

Mike: You have no manners, no respect, you've learned nothing from me.

Carlo: Pop, take it easy.

Mike: What do you think? That we are in this business to have a good time? Do you know how many sleepless fucking nights I spent in the old days dealing with the Bonanos, and the Gambinos. We have people stepping all over our action. This fucks with our legitimate interests. You are going to get a decent business suit instead of that cowboy shit, you are going to buy a briefcase, and you are going to pretend to be a businessman, representing legitimate business interests, instead of the jag-off you are.

Carlo: So, why are you sending me if this is so important? Why not my brother, the nice one, the college fucking graduate!

Mike: Watch your mouth. 

Carlo: Pops, I would just as soon go to Vegas, and look over things there. What's in Reno?

Mike: Where do you think your money comes from? Huh? You certainly didn't earn it. Every housewife that goes to Reno her once a year puts her dollar in the slot and pulls the handle. Honest, hardworking tax-payers. Things you know nothing about. 

Carlo is silent while Gabe fumes.

Mike: Our mother in heaven!

Carlo waits.

Mike: Gabe is going to help you, guide you, protect you. He's been with me from the beginning, I trust him completely. He will watch out for my interests out there. You are going because you are my eldest son. Now, Teddy Goldman assured me that there would be no problems with the building permits or the licenses, but something is holding them up. You are going to go, and just make an appearance. You are going to stay in the penthouse, order room service, entertain. Classy. And whoever is stepping on our action will cool out, when they realize the family is there day to day.

Carlo: And if they don't.

Mike doesn't answer him for a moment, but just looks at him with leaded eyes.

Mike: And that is why you are going instead of your brother. 

Carlo stands up, excited, shakes out his sleeves.

Carlo: That's more like it. I knew I had my uses.

Mike comes from around the desk, and puts his hands on his son's shoulders, looks into his eyes, almost tenderly.

Mike: Little Carlito. Just this once do everything you're told. I now you can do it. 
Send in Gabe on your way out.

Carlo opens the door and motions Gabe inside.

Gabe is wisps of grey hair combed over his dome. He stands and waits, saying nothing.

Gabe: I have something special for you, old friend.

Still he waits.

Mike: What do you think of my son?

Gabe: Excuse me, Mike?

Mike: My son, what do you think of him?

Gabe: Good looking boy, all the girls love him.

Mike: Fuck!

Mike smashes his hand down on his desk.

Mike: What can I do, Gabe? That one won't work, won't pay attention, drinks, does coke, parties with whores!

Gabe: Your Father, God forbid, took a strap to you, and you were already a young man.

Mike smiled at the memory.

Mike: Those were different days, my friend, different days. And I wanted to learn, wanted to work, wanted his approval for everything I did.

Gabe: He was hard on you.

Mike: And I was soft on Carlo.

Gabe shrugged his shoulders.

Mike: This is the favor I need, my old friend. And it's the last one - shouldn't take more than a few months, then you get to go that hunting lodge of yours and never look back. 20 large a month for the rest of your life, not bad. Who says nobody ever retired from this business?

Gabe tries to smile. 

Mike: I need you to go to Reno with Carlo, stay at the Penthouse, it's got more than enough room for both of you. Just hold his hand for a few months, until our permits and licenses get cleared up.

Gabe: Do we have time to drive? I could take some more stuff out with me.

Mike: Yeah, sure, why not. Couple of days here or there…

Gabe: Too bad it's not you and me, huh? Like the old days. 

Mike laughs.

Mike: Remember that little whore in Saigon. What was her name?

Gabe&Mike: Miss(insert something funny here)
They laugh. Mike puts his hands on Gabe's shoulders.

Mike: I'm going to miss you, old buddy. You've been by right hand since the beginning. How many guys you killed?

Gabe: Counting Nam?

Mike: Nah - our boys.

Gabe: I don't know, thirty or forty.

Mike: More than that, Gabe, a lot more than that.

Gabe: I stopped counting.

Mike: Yeah, me too.

They both, deep in thought for a moment. Mike changes the subject.

Mike: We are just going to have a subtle presence, Gabe. No army, no war, no lawyers - just family showing up and being there. Just a subtle reminder that we are still players, and they had better decide to do it our way, fast.

Gabe: Of course.

Mike: Thanks, Gabe. Oh, and take Jimmy with you too.

Gabe: You got it.

Ext. Vincenzo family mansion. Gabe is loading the trunk of a Black Lincoln. Carlo steps out with the bags.

Carlo: We taking that to the airport? 

Gabe: We're driving out.

Carlo: What? That's a load of shit. I'm flying first class, get there, right now.

Gabe: Indian summer, best time of year. You ever make this drive before? 

Carlo: When I can't stay in Chicago, I go to New York. What is it with you? A fucking drive. Am I a fucking tourist.

Mike walks out on the porch, smoking one of his big cigars.

Mike: It will do you good. You never go anywhere, except downtown. 
Carlo: It's a couple of days on the road, pop.

Gabe: It will be fun.

Carlo: Fun? You've never had fucking fun in your entire miserable life, you fucking(insert Sicilian insult here)

Gabe just gives Carlo the look. Mike recognizes Gabe's thoughts and unsettles. He cuffs Carlo on the side of his ear.

Carlo: Ow! What the fuck was that for.

Mike grabs him around the back of the neck and walks a few feet away from the car.

Mike: That man has worked for this family since he was a child. He saved your grandfather's life, and my life, more than once. You will show him respect, or by God, I'm going to come out there and beat you half-to-death myself.

Carlo: Take it easy!

Mike: No, you take it easy! If you ever become half the man that Gabe is, you might contribute something to this family yet.

Mike walks Carlo back to the car.

Mike: Apologize.

Carlo: Fucking apologize.

Mike slaps the back of Carlo's head. 

Mike: Apologize.

Carlo: Fuck, Ok! Hey ya know…..you wanna drive, we'll drive. I didn't mean it.

Gabe: It's alright.

Mike: Have a great trip. Here is a little something for the road. 

Mike hands them both a stack of cash. He slaps Carlo gently on the cheek.

Mike: Don't put this all up your nose!

Carlo: Pops, c'mon.

Gabe: Thanks, Mike. We will call you when we get to Reno.

They get in the car and drive away.

Ext. Evening. Mike and Gabe are parked near a gas station, leaning on the trunk of the car, looking out over a corn field, eating a sandwich and drinking a beer. Gabe is saying nothing, just gazing calmly out at the view. Carlo finishes, throws his beer bottle out in the field in front of him and fishes for a cigarette. Gabe gives him a disgusted glance, and walks out to retrieve it. Carlo makes the shooting sign behind his head, blows smoke off his finger. Gabe turns back around, a slight look of disgust on his face.

Carlo: So? 

Gabe: You should change into something less conspicuous, make some effort to look like middle America.

Carlo: What are you, some kind of fag from House of Style, you gotta worry about how I'm dressed. 

Gabe: You look like a fucking movie gangster. Were did you learn how to dress, Scarface?

Carlo: Good fucking movie, man. Don't be knocking Al Pacino.

Gabe just shakes his head in amazement. 

Gabe: Let's go.

Int. Car. Night.

Carlo: Hey, I want to stop in Denver. I got a buddy there.

Gabe: No stops.

Carlo: Who fucking died and made you king? I'm the Don's son. 

Gabe: I'm responsible for you, period. I don't know these people.

Carlo: Well, you will get to meet them.

Gabe: No.

Carlo gets really pissed - killing mad. Gabe can see it in his eyes.

Carlo: Look motherfucker. I didn't even want to make this trip. I'm being fucking insulted here, sent to fucking Reno. And then you got to drive, like this is fun or some such shit. And once I get there, I'm going to have to listen you say "Carlo, don't do this, don't do that. Dress like this, impress the locals! I get one thing! One fucking thing! We are stopping in Denver!

Gabe: I gotta clear it with your father.

Carlo: Do you check with him when you take a shit too?

Gabe pulls the car over, and just glares at Carlo, saying nothing, his hands clenched around the wheel.

Carlo: You want to hit me? Go ahead, it's your fucking funeral.

Gabe says nothing, does nothing. 

Carlo: We stop in Denver.

Gabe says nothing, but puts the car in gear and starts driving again. After a few silent moments and a lit cigarette he speaks.

Gabe: Ok, this one stop. But, I gotta call and get some people to check this out, that sort of thing.

Carlo: Whatever.

Gabe: Who are these people?

Carlo: Buddies of mine, from Joliet. 

Gabe looks at Carlo incredulously, but with warning in his eyes. 

Gabe: We've got business. I know your father wouldn't like this.

Carlo: My father isn't in this car! I'm going to have to sit on my hands when I get to Reno. I'm going to have some fun here.

Gabe: Absolutely out of the question.

Carlo leans close to Gabe in a threatening manner.

Carlo: I'm not a child that you can order around. You are not in charge of me. I'm the fucking son of the don, and you're a fucking errand boy!

Gabe says nothing.

Carlo: You think I haven't watched you all these years? Yes, Don Vincenze, No, Don Vincenze.? 
Gabe: You obviously don't understand. 

Carlo: You ever wonder why Pops is giving the orders and you are taking them? Because back in Sicily, your family were peasants, and mine were lords! Things haven't changed. You're still a(insert insulting Italian phrase here that denotes low class) . Hired fucking help.

Gabe stops the car. Carlo has touched a nerve. Gabe gives him the evil eye, and smokes a cigarette.

Carlo: What the fuck are you eye-balling me for? Some day you are going to be kissing my ring, and saying "yes, Don Carlo, No, Don Carlo".

Gabe: This is my last job, babysitting your irresponsible ass. 

Carlo laughs, lights his own cigarette.

Carlo: You think so? My father may think it's ok, but your going to work for this fucking family until the day you fucking die! 

Gabe slams the car into gear, and races back out on the freeway. Carlo nearly pokes his own eye out with the cigarette.

Carlo: Got you thinking now, you fucking (insert Italian insult here).

Gabe: I serve your father, and your grandfather before him, because they were worthy of it. They had respect, and never did they disrespect me. You think because you are their whelp that you automatically get everything? This isn't some feudal kingdom and you aren't the fucking lord of the manor!

Carlo: Fuck, for you, that's practically a speech. I didn't know you could string that many sentences together, all at once.

Gabe: No, my time is almost done. And a good thing too. Because when your father dies, somebody is going to wack you out. 

Carlo: How dare you talk to me like that!

Carlo pulls his gun, but Gabe is too fast for him. He rabbit punches Carlo in the nose, then grabs Carlo's hand and takes the gun away from him. Carlo is gushing. 

Carlo: You're gonna die for this, you stupid fuck. You broke my fucking nose.

Gabe: Mike was too soft on you. Always doted on you. Shit, I remember he used to let you scream, would never tell you to shut up. This is the fruit of it.

Carlo: What do you know?

Gabe: I know he shoulda pulled down your pants and paddled your little bottom. Lots of times, lots of shit you got away with. I thought that stint in Joliet would have taught you something.

Carlo: For what? Banging that 14 yr old? Little fucking whore is what she was.

Gabe: You were 20 years old.

Carlo: Yeah, for how many centuries have old fucks been banging the new talent? This century we decide that eighteen is some magical line that you can't cross?

Gabe: You raped her. 

Carlo: That was never proven! Besides, she really was saying yes, it was in her eyes.

Gabe: I'm not in the mood for any of that shit while we are out here. No women problems, you here me? For starters, everybody's got to be over 21. 

Carlo: Shit, all kinds of things are legal out here. You're going to try and clip my wings?

Gabe: I'm warning you. You rape, you beat up any women out here, and you and me are gonna dance, Mike's first born or no.

Carlo: Fuck you, and you're fucking warnings. 

Gabe: Listen to me, for your own good. This is important. Reno/Tahoe mean a lot of money to us. Out here we are just businessmen, we need to keep it clean and low profile.
You gotta behave.

Carlo: I don't have to do fucking anything. If somebody doesn't like it, we will just wack him.

Gabe grabs Carlo's nose between his fingers.

Carlo: OW, OW, OW! Fuck!

Carlo slaps his hand away.

Gabe: Who do you think has been doing the killing in this family for thirty years? I never killed anybody that didn't deserve it, and even then, it was always about business. I've seen your father and your grandfather eat humble pie on more than once, just to keep the peace. 

Carlo: Bullshit! What about the time that that guy was scamming on Mom at the restaurant. You guys took him out back, and beat the shit out of him. He was in a fucking wheelchair for months.

Gabe: It wasn't about your mother.

Carlo: Yeah? How many times have I listened to you torture somebody to death, just to get a little piece of information. You're full of shit.

Gabe: You don't understand.

Carlo: I don't understand? 



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