The Continental: From the World of John Wick (or simply The Continental) is an American crime drama television miniseries developed by Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward and Shawn Simmons that serves as a prequel spin-off in the John Wick franchise.
Episode aired September 22, 2023
1970s New York City. After being separated for 20 years, brothers Winston and Frankie Scott are about to be violently reunited. Frankie’s just stolen a priceless object from Cormac Fitzpatrick, the Continental Hotel’s present hotel manager and a ruthless mobster from the brothers’ past. To retaliate, the brutal crime boss sends henchmen to London to bring Winston back home to locate Frankie. The Scott brothers, along with Frankie’s fierce wife Yen, use their street-smart skills and dark underworld contacts to try and outrun Cormac’s army of assassins. But just before all three are caught, Frankie must make the ultimate sacrifice.
* * *
[tense music]
♪ ♪
[distorted sounds]
[through intercom]
[boy crying]
[phones ringing]
Frankie, what’s gonna happen now?
Shut up.
They’re watching us right now.
A bunch of stupid cops are gonna tell us a bunch of fucking lies.
[breathing heavily] What do you mean, Frankie?
They’re gonna try to scare us into saying shit.
Just don’t say nothing, OK?
Nothing.
But I didn’t know.
You didn’t do anything.
That’s all I want you to think about, Winston.
I did it. You got that?
I did it. [Winston crying]
I did it.
[somber music]
[softly] I did it.
[intense music]
♪ ♪
You’re not supposed to be down here, Frankie.
Yeah, I know.
I’m not supposed to be balling married ladies, either.
You tell me.
Where’s the best place to take a lady you’re not supposed to be with?
A place you’re not supposed to be?
Exactly. Now… you’re not gonna tell on me, are you, Lawrence?
After all, I’m not the only one that’s slipped and fallen in someone else’s front yard now, am I?
Hmm?
[chuckles]
So tell me.
How do I look?
Get your ass outta here before I shoot you.
[chuckles]
All right.
Well, Happy New Year, Lawrence.
Should be a good one.
[men and women moaning]
[Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” plays]
[crowd noise, loud music]
♪ I feel love ♪
Frankie!
Darling.
How you doing?
How you doing, Frankie?
Hey, Frankie!
Happy New Year, Frankie!
[music pounding, background chatter]
♪ ♪
[all whooping, cheering]
♪ ♪
Hey, Frankie, my boy. Come here.
Hey, everybody, I picked this one off the street when he was yay high.
Trained him myself, and now look at the son of a bitch.
[laughter]
Here.
Teaghlach. Family, huh?
Family.
Family.
Hey, Corine, how you been?
♪ I feel love ♪
♪ I feel ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ I feel ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ I feel love ♪
[traffic sounds]
[distant siren, background chatter]
[percussive music]
♪ ♪
[chatter] [woman vomiting]
[bell ringing]
Yeah, that’s right.
♪ ♪
Don’t fucking hit me.
♪ ♪
[overlapping shouting, chatter]
[bluesy/funk chords]
♪ ♪
[dark music]
♪ ♪
All right, New York City, start the countdown.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…
[intense music]
[watch ticking]
♪ ♪
[train whistle blows]
[fireworks popping]
Happy New Year.
[crowd cheering]
Move it, let’s go.
Lad, look at all this gold.
I’m not here for that.
[breathing heavily]
[trigger cocking]
[intense chords]
Gimme the piece.
You really wanna do this?
This isn’t the kinda thing that we just walk away from.
[whack]
[groans]
That’s a good boy.
Not so tough now, are you?
I always thought you was a reasonable man.
The piece.
[crowd screaming]
Frankie. [triggers cocking]
Lawrence.
[alarm sounding]
Red light active.
[men shouting]
[overlapping shouting]
Invicus on Continental grounds.
Red light has been activated.
Invicus on Continental grounds.
Red light has been activated.
Thank you.
Aah!
Uhh…
[indistinct shouting]
Aah! Damn it, Frankie!
[bullets ricochet]
Frankie, stop!
[muffled]
Frankie!
Aah!
[click]
Aah…
[metallic clanging]
[dramatic chorus]
Uhh…
Aah… aah…
[music intensifies]
♪ ♪
[dramatic chorus]
♪ ♪
[distant dog barking]
[tires squealing]
[speaking Vietnamese]
[Baby Huey & The Babysitters’ “Hard Times”]
♪ ♪
♪ Cold, cold eyes upon me ♪
♪ They stare ♪
♪ People all around me, and they’re all in fear ♪
♪ They don’t seem to want me, but they won’t admit ♪
♪ I must be some kind of creature ♪
♪ Up here having fits ♪
♪ From my party house, I’m afraid to come outside ♪
♪ Although I’m filled with love ♪
♪ I’m afraid they’ll hurt my pride ♪
♪ So I play the part I feel they want of me ♪
♪ And I pull the shades ♪
♪ So I won’t see them seeing me ♪
♪ Having hard times ♪
♪ In this crazy town ♪
♪ Having hard times ♪
♪ There’s no love to be found ♪
♪ There’s no love to be found ♪
♪ ♪
[church bells]
My job is to see the future.
Now, we’re all aware with the height restrictions being lifted here, there’s a building boom going on.
And if you want to be part of the dick measuring contest to see who can build a taller building than the next guy…
And I get it… I’ll even buy you a ruler.
[light laughter]
But while everyone else is scrambling to get closer to the clouds, they’re all missing the obvious.
And what’s that?
Where the hell are they going to park?
So… car parks?
4,700 parking spaces filled every day of the week.
Central to all those oversized skyscrapers everyone’s so eager to build.
I’ve secured the land, the concrete, the permits.
I know 2 million pounds is a lot of money, Mr. Davenport.
Numbers don’t scare me, boy.
But handing my money over to a little firm that I’ve never heard of who do business with people I’ve never heard of doesn’t exactly soothe me.
[dinner music playing]
Well, who wants more dessert? Hmm?
How about another dirty martini?
You have fine taste in spirits, Mr. Scott.
And I admire a man who spends money to make money.
But I’m afraid I’m not convinced.
Oh…
But I really think you’d be missing out on…
Ugh. I was bored over there,
so I thought I’d come over here… mmm… and be even more bored.
Be nice, dear.
Don’t call me dear.
You call your mother dear.
So what are you trying to lay off on my husband, mister…
Scott.
Winston Scott.
So what are you trying to lay off on my husband, Winston Scott?
A piece of London. A big one.
Car parks.
[chuckles] Car parks?
Gosh. [snickers]
It is an interesting proposition.
Really, hon?
Car parks?
Winston…
Do you know what my husband deals in?
I do.
Right.
Then you’ll realize that this old duffer, despite his overpriced suit and bald patch, has a brand.
And that brand is… excitement, sex.
You know David Bowie was at our disco the other night.
And did you know that my husband has a piece of his current tour?
I did not, no.
Mmm. He does.
And it’s not because he’s in the car park business.
Wait. So you must know Tony DeFries then, David’s business manager.
He handles David, The Who.
Mm-hmm. Lou Reed.
Yes, Tony. Of course we know Tony.
Then should be of interest to you that Tony is actually one of my biggest investors.
Mm-hmm.
Come to think of it…
I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being made aware of other exciting investors thinking about joining the party.
[clears throat]
Tony. I-it’s Winston Scott.
Yes, I’m sorry for bothering you.
Listen, I was wondering, would you mind saying a quick hello to Mrs. Davenport?
Yes. Yes, that Davenport.
Uh, well, no, she and her husband are contemplating joining our venture, and I thought maybe you…
Will do, Tony.
Tony? Rosalind Daven…
Right.
Yes.
Mm.
Oh, he did, um…
He did say… mm.
Right.
Well, thank you for your time.
And we’ll see you soon, lovie. Yes.
Yes, you too. Bye-bye.
Well, I came here to be bored.
Ta-da.
No need to be rude.
Rude?
I’ll tell you what’s rude.
Me calling you a fucking moron.
He has just torn you a new asshole.
Congratulations.
You, call me a car.
Yes, ma’am.
I-I really do appreciate you taking the time to meet and consider my prop…
[edgy music]
♪ ♪
Wire the money.
Fuck’s sake.
♪ ♪
[soft bluesy instrumentals]
♪ ♪
[knock on door]
Told you he’d do the opposite of what I’d say.
I haven’t seen that side of you.
You were amazing.
[laughs] Me?
You’re the one who had me convinced.
Well, not one acting lesson.
Can you believe it?
Yeah, you should move to Hollywood.
You’re a natural talent. Good looks…
The ability to cheat people out of their hard earned cash.
Oh, yes. You’d fit right in.
Yes, well, lucky for me, all of those same things apply right here in London finance.
Cheers.
Now get your own.
Mm.
What did you see… when you were watching me?
Your little mark?
Be honest.
Honest?
Mm-hmm.
I saw a woman that was a bit sad… and a bit lonely.
And a woman that deserved better.
Who may have just needed to hear that from someone.
Now you’re just trying to get a girl into bed.
Oh, absolutely.
Mm. Well done.
Thank you.
[bluesy music continues]
♪ ♪
Well, what are you waiting for?
I haven’t finished my drink.
Tick tock.
Oh. Yes…
[gasps]
[bells tolling]
♪ ♪
[shower water running]
You know, for being such a smooth talker, I don’t know why I trust you, but I do.
[wind howling lightly]
[tense music]
Come on, I want to know all about your family.
Your mom, your dad, your siblings.
I told you about my pervy uncle.
Mm-hmm.
I don’t know what you think that you have in your past, darling, that could possibly turn me off.
Especially considering you know my husband.
Winston?
Darling.
Are you ignoring me?
[gags]
[grunting]
[object shatters]
[fighting sounds continue]
[object clatters]
[Wire’s “Strange”]
♪ ♪
[gunshot]
♪ ♪
[engine starts]
[tires screech]
[R.E.M.’s “Strange”]
♪ ♪
♪ There’s something strange going on tonight ♪
♪ There’s something going on that’s not quite right ♪
♪ Joey’s nervous and the lights are bright ♪
[bird twittering]
♪ There’s something going on that’s not quite right… ♪
♪ ♪
[sighs]
Step forward for me, would you?
Me, sir?
Yeah, yeah.
Mr. Flynn, shoot Mr. Avery for me.
But sir… the rules.
Oh, yeah. The fucking rules, yeah.
Hmm. You got me on a technicality there.
Hey, Charon, it’s kinda stuffy in here.
Could you open the veranda doors?
[inhales] Oh. That’s better.
Ooh. A breath of fresh…
Where was I?
The rules, sir.
You are speaking of the rules.
Oh, yeah. Right.
Thank you.
This grand institution is part of a very old and sacred fabric.
What a mess I would have made if I was to tear that fabric.
How disappointed my superiors’d be.
Because no matter how angry I am that you four have not retrieved that coin press
like I asked you to…
I can’t kill you.
Not here.
Charon, what becomes of someone who breaks that particular rule?
Excomunicado, sir.
That’s Latin for you’re fucked. I’d be persona non grata, deprived of all the privileges and protections that this hotel has to offer.
Imagine me walking out these doors, you know, alive… but suddenly unprotected from all the people that I’ve hurt over the last 40 years.
My enemies’d hunt me down.
Or worse. What if they found my family?
Oof. A wife, son, a daughter.
Or two.
Luckily, I have no one, just Charon here, who is only a teenager, and I would miss him.
But you? Well… you got a family.
You got a whole tribe in Tribeca.
So you got a choice to make.
You could walk outta here right now, leaving your family at grave risk.
Or… you can spare their lives.
Simply find the nearest balcony… [whispering] and jump.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
Get off, man. I just fell asleep.
[construction noise, drilling]
Good morning, Mr. Scott.
I trust your journey wasn’t too unpleasant?
First class.
The manager of the hotel has requested the pleasure of your company.
Aah!
Gentlemen.
Aah!
Aah!
Ah… the scenic route.
[buzzer]
[upbeat funk]
Mmm. Smells good in here.
What degree? Come on now.
I just wanted a pastry.
I’m walking. I’m walking.
♪ Buck-buck-buck buck-ah, keep on ♪
♪ Buck-buck-ah, buck-ah just keep on ♪
♪ Buck-buck-buck buck-ah ♪
♪ Keep on ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Ah, just a keep on ♪
♪ Ah ♪
♪ Buck buck buck buck ah hoo ♪
♪ Buck buck buck buck ah cah cah ♪
♪ Buck buck buck ah bah-cah ♪
[crowing]
Cormac.
Winston.
[exhales] ah.
[click]
[clears throat]
[inhales]
You got old.
Yeah, I’m wearing a diaper.
You know, they oughta call this place the In-continental.
[light laughter]
Ah.
Where’s Frankie, Winston?
You know, usually when a bunch of guys in masks drug me and throw me in the back of a truck and fly me over the Atlantic, they at least offer me a cup of coffee.
Yeah, of course.
Charon, bean the man.
You look good, son.
You done well for yourself there in London, huh?
Looks like you pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps.
I like to think I had something to do with that.
And with what happened to Frankie.
Your brother became quite an asset to me.
The war made him efficient, cold, earned him a promotion.
Well, if he’s such a good soldier, what am I doing here?
Well, recently I noticed he was, you know, distracted, you know.
I mean, I just chalked it up to drugs or the times.
You know, there was rumors of a girlfriend, some Khmer Rouge bitch with an agenda, you know.
Got him sideways and probably every other position.
But I let it slide.
You know I got a soft spot for the boy.
Then he stole something from me, something that holds this entire establishment together, an establishment that wields power beyond your imagination.
This is not my problem.
It is now.
What Frankie took is very important to a lot of very dangerous people.
Ah, I see what this is about.
You’re in trouble, and I’m the bait.
Frankie doesn’t give a shit about me, and I don’t give a shit about him.
I don’t believe you.
Find him. ‘Cause if you don’t, I’ll bring the weight of this whole institution down on you both.
No, you see.
I don’t think you’re hearing me.
I don’t know or care where Frankie is.
So find him yourself.
Are we done here?
Yeah.
Charon, show our guest the, uh…
Eh, show him the elevator.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
[dark, ominous music]
♪ ♪
[door closes]
Follow him.
I’m guessing you don’t usually see many people speak to your boss that way.
Not the ones I see again, no.
You’ll forgive me if I don’t escort you to the door myself.
Please let me know if you plan on joining us any time in the near future or if I can assist you with anything else.
Well, I assume a return ticket is out of the question?
Yes? Is that a yes maybe?
Thanks for the coffee.
[ambient background noise]
[Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now”]
♪ If you leave me now ♪
♪ You take away the biggest part of me ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh no ♪
♪ Baby, please don’t go… ♪
[sirens, chatter, indistinct shouting]
[muffled speech]
[whispering]
[moaning]
[slap]
Ah…
[groaning]
Fuck.
[moaning]
[softly] Oh, fuck.
[sighs]
[vehicle approaches]
[door closes]
[dog barks]
Come on, come on.
Get over here.
There ya go.
Fucking Buick guy.
Ugh.
Here we go again.
He’s not gonna pick it up.
Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying the shit show over there, but can we take these off please?
He’s not gonna pick it up.
Son of a bitch.
Oh, I’m shocked.
Hey, my hands are going fucking numb here.
You know, I asked nicely.
I left him notes.
Douche bag.
[huffs]
I gotta get to work.
Thought you were a big fancy detective now, you can come and go as you please.
Yeah, well, I’m still a woman.
My male superior is an asshole.
[Tommy James’ “Crimson and Clover”]
♪ Crimson and clover… ♪
♪ ♪
Sorry.
Don’t be.
I told you, I don’t care.
Just leave it on.
Yeah, well, maybe I want you to care.
You ever think of that?
You know what I mean.
Look, you know, it’s, uh…
Ugh. I-I don’t know what the fuckin’ point is.
Hey.
I just…
Hey, hey, hey.
♪ Over and over… ♪
Look at me.
All I need from you is to lock my door on the way out, all right?
You can have the rest of my coffee.
Oh, and don’t forget to turn the radio off.
[song continues]
♪ ♪
Disgusting!
♪ Yeah, ah ah ah ♪
[laughs]
Guess we’re not letting things go.
So much for getting in and getting out.
We’ll get out.
I say 51% chance.
Quiet!
Let’s hope these guns shoot as good at your fucking mouths do.
Now… I’m going to teach you… stupid Americans a lesson in business.
It’s called… removing the middleman.
Uh… I’d be careful with that.
Yeah? Sure.
Yeah, I’ll be careful… in selecting who dies first.
That’s a big gun for a little man.
[small laugh]
Well, it looks like you just made the choice for me.
Really?
Bringing a woman to a gunfight.
Fucking amateurs.
Small and sexist.
Now I’m afraid.
[intense music]
[gunfire]
Aah!
Shoot him. Shoot him.
Shoot him, shoot him!
[grunts]
You know they have bullets in those things, right?
Oh, she knows, but she don’t care.
[panting, grunting]
Oh! Are these your fingers?
Who’s the amateur now, Uzan?
Playing around with spiked ammo.
Normally, I woulda kept these as a souvenir, but I don’t want you to leave empty-handed.
Aah! [groans]
Pick up your finger!
You live only to tell your boss don’t fuck with us.
Oh, take your time.
Want a glass of water or something?
Get the fuck outta here!
[bluesy funk playing]
♪ ♪
[groaning]
[lens snapping]
♪ Ooh, I been hurt ♪
♪ ♪
♪ And I don’t care ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Ooh, I been hurt ♪
[indistinct police radio chatter]
♪ And I don’t care ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ‘Cause I ♪
♪ Yes I… ♪
[grunting]
Di Silva for Mayhew.
Yo.
You in the middle of anything?
I’m trying to get rich in the financial industry.
You?
You… park the fucking car!
I’m tailing the buyer.
Do you have evidence that contraband traded hands?
Nah, not yet.
First female detective in the precinct, you’re already fucking it up.
Yeah, well, I told you. My superior’s an asshole.
Ha ha ha. Fuck you.
Hold on.
Anything?
Couldn’t get a word out of him ’cause his jaw was busted. [light laughter]
All right, buyer’s on the move.
I’m in pursuit on foot.
What’s your 20?
Uh, close by. Pearl and Leva.
Do not pursue. I repeat, do not pursue.
[car door closes]
Di Silva.
KD.
Shit.
[edgy music]
♪ ♪
[siren blaring]
[car horn honking]
Yo, what the hell are you doing?
Get in the car.
Excuse me?
Excuse me… no, you’re not! [muttering]
Get in the fucking car. [car horns honking]
We’re all right. Be outta your hair in seconds.
[tires screeching]
What? You want a fuckin’ conversation in the alley?
You want to talk about this shit?
Yeah? Yeah? You wanna talk?
Fucking talk. What the hell?
Huh? What the fuck is wrong with you?
Stop talking.
Get your hands off of me, Mayhew.
You coulda had these guys a long time ago.
What do you think you’re doing?
Look, I’m looking for the supplier.
And I think he’s in there. His name is Francis Scott, and he is a ghost.
We have no authority here.
Whatever goes on there goes on.
So you think I’m just going to drop a case and go back to making it with you like this conversation never happened? My job is to fuck you.
Is that what’s going on?
Keep your voice down?
Who are you protecting?
I’m not protecting anybody.
It’s not like that.
So tell me what it is like, huh, Mayhew.
You stay the fuck outta there.
You understand me?
[dark music]
♪ ♪
Hey, Charlie,
you gonna open up this gate?
Winston? [chuckles]
It is you, right?
I’m freezing out here.
Geez, you’re all grown up, huh?
You gonna let me in?
Of course I’m gonna let you in.
Come here.
Jesus, look at you.
Ha. Look at you.
It’s good to see you.
Hey, guys. You remember Winston, right?
Right.
This little prick used to take money off me.
Took money from all of us.
Charlie thought it’d be a good idea teach poker to a ten-year-old.
Yeah, my wallet still regrets that shit.
Well, Charlie, you had a tell.
You always bite your lip.
What?
Oh!
Mother of fucking Jesus.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
I still play cards with these idiots.
I don’t have a tell.
Oh, whoops.
Ha ha.
Hey, heard you were up in London.
Mm-hmm.
Looking like you’re doing all right.
Yeah, maybe you brought back a little good with you, huh?
New York these days is a proper shit-hole.
Fucking garbage strike is crushing us.
Cal. We’re doing OK.
We got a hustle going up with the East Side people.
Proper garbage disposal.
Yeah, one of those guys pays me to fly his rich ass in and out of the city in a chopper.
Sure beats getting shot at in Da Nang.
So tell us, Winston.
What are you doing back home?
[siren blaring]
Oh, I think you need a new coffee guy.
Well, I’m sorry I don’t have tea for you, my Lord.
Look…
This is where he may be, OK?
Chinatown. It’s a rough neck of the woods, but that’s where he’s having his VA check sent, so…
“Burton Karate.”
You think this is where he lives?
I don’t know where he is.
But there’s a rumor going around that he’s running guns with some of his war buddies.
I ain’t seen your brother in three, four months.
For all I know, Winston, he’s working with that crooked cocksucker.
Well, apparently, he was.
And then he stole something from him.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
What’d he grab?
I don’t know.
Whatever it was, it was important enough for Cormac to send a few guys to pull me out of London.
[laughs] I’m sor…
It must have been a very interesting trip.
No, what’s the point?
Really.
I feel like I’m getting dragged back into another one of Frankie’s hornet’s nest.
The point is, he’s your family.
He’s family?
That’s the point.
I don’t even know who he is anymore.
And I’m supposed to throw away everything that I’ve built because my brother returns from Vietnam and goes back to work for the monster that ruined our lives?
Took our house, put our family on the street and let him rot in jail.
Why don’t you give your brother a break, OK?
He didn’t get a golden ticket to someplace posh like you did.
Just… look he got rat tunnels and he got prison bars.
I mean, Jesus Christ, what’s it been?
20 some-odd fucking years, and neither one of you picked up a fucking phone?
Winston, life has got a real fucked up way of picking that phone up for you.
So enough, please, OK?
You didn’t come here to drink my coffee.
What are you gonna do?
I’m gonna find Frankie before Cormac does.
All right.
And how can I help you?
I’m going to need a car.
Well, that’s the one thing I can’t do.
But I can give you a coat to keep your ass warm.
So no car?
[edgy music]
Oh, fuck.
[ZZ Top’s “La Grange”]
♪ ♪
My God.
Now I need you to hear me right now, OK?
This is the love of my life.
This is Maria. You understand?
You take care of her. One rule…
You put the cover on every time you park, all right?
You got my word.
That’s all I need, I guess.
Except for this.
It’s a rough neighborhood.
Charlie, I can handle myself.
It ain’t for you. It’s for her.
You protect her with your life, or don’t come back.
[engine rumbling]
♪ ♪
♪ Have mercy ♪
♪ ♪
♪ A-haw, haw, haw, haw ♪
♪ A-haw, haw, haw, haw ♪
♪ Well, I hear it’s fine ♪
♪ If you got the time ♪
♪ And the ten to get ♪
♪ Yourself in, a-hmm hmm ♪
♪ And I hear it’s tight ♪
♪ Most every night ♪
♪ ♪
♪ But now, I might be mistaken… ♪
♪ ♪
[music stops]
Dim sum, anyone?
Dinner for one it is.
Again.
Flamethrower was awesome back there.
I can’t do this shit anymore, Miles.
Look, there’s always gonna be kinks to work out.
Slaughtering a roomful of thugs is not kinks.
Having a gun pressed against my head is not kinks.
I’ll find another buyer.
[huffs] Another buyer?
Oh, so you don’t think there’s about to be blowback from the shit that just went down back there?
This shipment makes us whole for the next 18 months, two years if we stretch it.
You know the war’s over, Miles.
You survived.
Does that disappoint you?
Look, I don’t want this in our house anymore.
We done.
Not until we move this product, we’re not.
This’ll be the last one.
Bullshit, and you know it.
Where you goin’?
[rock music from car]
[background chatter]
God damn! Again?
[door bell jingles]
Here. Let me help you with that.
I got it.
OK.
You know, you’re right.
The war is over, and my connections… they’re drying up fast.
That’s real.
So if we wanna keep these Dojo doors open…
You don’t give a shit about keeping these doors open.
You got another option? Huh?
I’m here waiting.
‘Cause the only thing anybody’s kicking up around here is dust.
Hello!
Look, we made a promise to Dad.
No, you made a promise to Dad.
This was his Dojo… but now it’s just some money pit that you can’t seem to let go.
I don’t owe him shit.
No, this is just about the rush for you, and you know it.
And you gon’ get us all killed.
[Yes’ “Roundabout”]
[hisses] Oh, shit.
♪ ♪
♪ I’ll be the roundabout ♪
♪ The words will make you out ‘n out ♪
♪ I’ll spend the day ♪
♪ Your way ♪
♪ Call it morning driving through the sound ♪
♪ And in and out the valley ♪
♪ In and around the lake ♪
♪ Mountains come out of the sky ♪
♪ And they stand there ♪
Hello?
♪ ♪
♪ Twenty four before my love, you’ll see ♪
♪ I’ll be there with you ♪
Can I help you?
Yes.
Are you the owner?
That’s my name on the sign.
Also the custodian, bookkeeper, and maybe your new instructor.
Is that you there?
Yeah. Yeah, I grew up in the place.
I see business is a bit sparse.
Ebbs and flows.
City’s getting rougher every day.
Oh, I’ve noticed.
So if you’re interested in taking some classes, I might have a good looking white boy discount.
I could probably use your instruction.
My last fight didn’t go so well.
[chuckles]
I’m Winston.
Lou.
Well, if you do have the time, I could give you a personal tour.
Unfortunately, I have other business here today.
I’m looking for my brother. I thought you could help.
His name is Frankie.
[uneasy music]
Yeah, I see it now.
Around the eyes.
Take your ass outta here.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, now hold on.
No, no. Uh-huh.
I haven’t seen that piece of shit in months.
And he stopped picking up his mail.
And if you’ve got his blood in you, you probably trouble too.
So get to getting.
Well, could you just tell me the last time you…
I said go.
[muffled gunshots]
That’s how it is?
Take me.
Listen, Frankie’s brother…
Now.
[uneasy music]
♪ ♪
Clever.
What kind of dojo is this?
Hey.
Who the fuck are you?
Second time today a muh’fucker pulled a gun on me.
Who’s this?
Frankie’s brother.
My name is Winston Scott, OK?
I heard gunshots down here.
I thought my brother might be in trouble.
Let’s fuck him up.
So you come in here pointing a gun at my sister?
In hindsight, that was a mistake.
No.
That ascot was a mistake.
It’s a cravat.
Fuck you.
Look, I was told Frankie was working here and that you all are friends, all right?
Were friends.
You know what?
This gun thing ain’t my scene.
Y’all deal with him.
Well, no love lost between her and my brother, it seems, huh?
Ha ha.
How do we know you’re Frankie’s brother?
His full name is Francis Patrick Scott, named after our father, which is why we called him Frankie.
I’ve seen his dog tags.
Look…
Keep your hands up.
My brother cut me out of his life a long time ago, so I shouldn’t even be here.
But I need to find him, and I need all the help I can get.
In there.
Cravat.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
You know, if you’re trying to scare me, the very large machine gun you’re holding already did the trick.
Now this just feels like overkill.
Lemmy, relax.
Put the gun down.
Your brother cut me out, too.
And I looked out for him when we got back.
Hooked him up with the kinda work I was doing over there.
Running guns, I’m guessing.
There wasn’t much else out here for a dope head and a Black vet.
Can’t imagine my brother was the most reliable co-worker.
Oh, we had a gun buy one night.
Frankie was supposed to pick it up, but he never showed.
Lemmy ended up getting hurt.
Shot in my perineum.
Right in between my balls and my ass.
Lost my product, my money.
Wasn’t the first time your brother fucked up.
Yeah, and that’s the last saw of him?
Yeah, if he’d actually showed up that night.
A little while after that, I heard from a buyer that he, uh, moved into a hotel.
The Continental.
So you know what kinda people are holed up in that place?
Most of the guys over there had to get used to all the killing.
But Frankie just took to it.
There’s people that just pick things up and can do it.
If he picked up a gun, a knife, shit, anything you see here, the gun’s gon’ be trying to keep up with him.
Well, that’s a hell of a thing to be good at.
Were you close with him over there?
Saving each other’s lives enough times’ll do that.
If you need someone in charge of saving your life, I’ll take Frankie every time.
Every time.
For a minute, seemed like he was getting himself straightened out.
Met a girl overseas, cleaned up, started talking all this hippy dippy stuff about fate.
Then he lands in New York and ends up getting into some shit.
I’m starting to see what that’s like.
You ain’t the only one looking for him, you know.
Guy like Frankie, a skill set like he’s got…
You’re not gonna find him unless he wants you to find him.
He’s like Casper, the… unfriendly ghost.
Well, I have to start somewhere.
Well, he used to roll around down in Alphabet City.
Huh. Our old stomping ground.
Alphabet City.
Well, that’s where I’m headed I guess.
May I?
You may.
But, uh…
you might wanna take this with you also.
[dramatic chords]
A lot of people offering me guns today.
Not like this one.
[background chatter]
[engine starts]
[chime]
[footsteps]
[distant punching and grunting]
Where is it?
I already told you.
Frankie took it.
I fucking swear.
You thought you could outsmart the High Table?
How foolish of you.
I’m telling you the truth.
I got paid to do a job, and that job got fucked up.
And that motherfucker left me in there to die.
Are you talking about the motherfucker that you were paid to betray?
You’re surprised that I know.
Are you even aware of what it is you stole?
May I ask you how much you got paid to steal it?
40 grand.
[laughs]
Keys to the world for a pittance.
Not that anyone can put a price on it…
The value of an artifact that could topple an organization that predates the Roman Empire.
What I’m sharing with you is very privileged information, information I only share with one kind of person.
The kind who are about to die.
No, please. Please, you don’t have…
[chokes]
Shh.
What do you want me to do about Cormac?
Nothing.
Perhaps his reign is finally coming to an end.
[static, channels changing]
[Baccara’s “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie”]
♪ But I will give you one more chance ♪
♪ Oh, yes, sir ♪
♪ I can boogie ♪
♪ But I need a certain song ♪
♪ I can boogie ♪
Aah!
♪ Boogie woogie all night long ♪
♪ Yes sir, I can boogie ♪
♪ If you stay, you can’t go wrong… ♪
[ambient background noise]
♪ Yes, sir, I can boogie ♪
♪ If you stay, you can’t go wrong… ♪
[uneasy music]
♪ ♪
[engine revving]
[car horn honking]
[tires squealing]
[car horn honking]
[bicycle bell dings]
Look out, lady.
♪ One, two, get down ♪
[James Brown’s “The Boss”
♪ ♪
♪ Paid the cost to be the boss ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Paid the cost to be the boss ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I was paid the cost to be the boss ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Look at me ♪
♪ And know what you see ♪
♪ You see a bad mother ♪
♪ ♪
[clears throat]
♪ Look at me… ♪
What can I get you?
Uh, yeah.
Can you get me a scotch neat, please?
[uneasy music]
♪ ♪
[speaking softly]
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
How can I help you, miss?
Yeah, can I get a room, please?
I’m sorry. We’re fully booked.
But there are many fine hotels in the area I can recommend, if you’d like.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
[clink]
[coin clatters]
Miss?
Um…
No, I’m good, thanks.
♪ ♪
[distant siren wailing]
[motor humming]
[cartoon theme playing]
[rapid tapping]
Guess who.
♪ ♪
[Woody laughing]
♪ ♪
Frankie?
[projector clicking]
♪ ♪
[dark music]
Aah…
[groans]
[speaking Vietnamese]
[Winston grunting, wheezing]
Winston?
Frankie.
A little help?
What are you doing here, Winston?
It’s nice to see you too, Frankie.
Thanks for the warm welcome.
I know it’s been a while, Winston.
But I need to know why you’re here.
I’m here because apparently you fucked up, Frankie.
Oh, yeah?
Oh…
Says who?
Cormac.
Spill.
His goons bagged me in London.
He told me to find you or he’d kill you.
Look, I don’t care what you lifted from him or why.
But you need to get the hell out of here.
You see, we’re staying.
You hear me?
Yes.
‘Cause I got us into this mess, and it’s better to die on your own terms…
[groans]
Than get shot down like fucking rats.
You wanna hole up in this place until they come and kill you?
That’s not a plan, Frankie.
That is an unscheduled funeral.
You made a big mistake coming here, Winston.
Well, it’s too late for that because we’re all running now.
I can help you.
Both of you. Trust me.
Yeah?
Well, we’re not big on trust.
Tough shit.
You already know what we’re up against here, Winston.
Cormac isn’t the same guy you knew when we were kids.
He’s bigger than goons or bookies or broken fingers.
And he’s part of this criminal world that expands beyond that hotel, beyond your city, and beyond your imagination.
Frankie, you sound fucking paranoid.
Oh, do I?
A little bit.
Frankie!
[engine revving]
[car horns honking]
There’s the car. That’s his Mustang.
[tense music]
A group called the Nile has promised us a way out if I stole this for them.
They were gonna give us some money, enough to start over.
Enough so that Cormac couldn’t find us.
And then they fucked me.
Frankie.
What is it?
It’s an ancient coin press.
Cormac wants you dead over this thing?
Now Cormac’s one thing, but the people he works for, the people that he fears, after what I did to him…
Winston, they control everything.
They have eyes and ears everywhere.
They make people disappear.
They make whole buildings disappear.
Well, I have money, Frankie. A lot of it right now.
I can buy you that way out that you were robbed of.
You can go anywhere you want. You can be anyone you want.
That’s not gonna work, Winston.
You have another plan?
[boom]
We need to get the hell out of here.
Fire again.
Yen.
Frankie.
Let’s go, let’s go.
Open the fucking door right now, Yen.
Frankie, we have to go.
Now.
Go, go, go, go!
We’re clear here. [overlapping chatter]
No one, no one, no one.
Seems clear here.
‘S empty.
I got nothin’.
All clear up here.
We hit the wrong building.
It’s not the car.
You get it now?
Yeah.
I think I get it.
[engine starting]
Now what?
Well, we’re going to see Charlie.
Captain reliable? The guy that was supposed to look after us when we were kids… that’s your plan?
Part of it, all right? I’m working on it.
You sure know how to pick ’em.
That’s my wife you’re talking about, Winston.
She’s delightful.
And you know, if Cormac dragged your ass back here, why didn’t you just leave when you had the chance?
You’re my brother, Frankie.
You’re all I have left.
[Boney M’s “Daddy Cool”]
♪ She’s crazy like a fool… ♪
[chatter]
Hey, now we’re talking.
[song continues on TV] [vehicle approaches]
Cal, touch the fucking cards, I will stab you in the fucking neck.
I didn’t do shit.
[exhales] Unscathed.
Thank you, Lord.
Frankie.
Charlie.
Good to see you, kid.
Yeah.
I’m glad you’re back with your brother, honestly.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Let’s just go inside.
[melancholy music]
♪ ♪
The fabric lined with the internal Kevlar ballistic filler in an effort to prevent bunching.
It’s light.
Forgive me for interrupting.
We found it?
Unfortunately, they eluded our team and escaped.
[sighs] OK.
It’s time to outsource.
Perhaps some of our guests are available.
Get me the Weirdos.
Sir?
Oh, yeah.
You’re right. They’re all weird.
The Twins. Get me those twins.
Hansel, Gretel… whatever the fuck they’re called.
Yes, sir.
[dark, moody music]
♪ ♪
[TV playing]
Good evening.
I’m pleased to see you returned from…
Work.
Mr. O’Connor wondered if you had room in your very busy schedule for another assignment.
♪ It’s fun, it’s a wonderful toy ♪
♪ It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky ♪ [cracking knuckles]
♪ It’s fun for a girl and a boy ♪
[cracks neck]
♪ Fun for a girl and a boy ♪
[thud]
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
Where’s Captain Reliable?
Oh, he’s readying our ride.
Yeah, we have to meet him soon.
Remember when you used to steal Charlie’s baseball cards and sell them to the neighborhood kids?
Always the businessman, even then.
Yeah. We were supposed to take over New York together.
Remember?
Yeah.
Well, Dad put that in your ear.
I don’t know if you remember, but losing your family home because you took a loan from Cormac O’Connor
isn’t exactly the mark of a great businessman, is it?
Then why the hell did you go back to work for him?
Because I had a plan, Winston.
So did Dad.
Don’t you ever compare me to him again, you hear me?
You didn’t tell Yen about me.
No.
So I come to New York to help my brother and he didn’t even tell his wife that I exist.
You didn’t come to New York on your own will, Winston.
But I stayed.
And I found you.
Unlike you, you wouldn’t let me visit you when you were locked up.
You didn’t come for me when you got out.
And I get it. You took the fall for me.
It’d be easy for you to resent me for that.
Oh, is that what you think?
That I just resented you?
Yes.
We were kids, Frankie.
We had no parents. No one.
Why would you just cut me out like that?
For you.
So that you could escape this life.
So that you could lead a better one, which is exactly what you did, Winston.
I mean, look at you with your fucking suit and your shiny watch.
This is all appearances, Frankie… I needed a big brother.
That was me being a big brother.
I mean, don’t you fucking get that?
I kept you alive by keeping you out of all this shit.
And here you are just seeking it out anyway.
[moody music]
♪ ♪
You know, sometimes, Winston, you gotta make choices you don’t want to protect the people you care about.
Maybe you’ll get to understand that one day.
Yeah, Frankie and his brother.
They’re both here.
Are you sure they have it?
What do you want me to do?
Got it.
[distant train horn]
Thank you.
Listen, I’m going to get you and Yen out of here so you both can just start over.
OK?
And you and me, we’ll start over too.
Are you with me, Frankie?
Yeah.
Yeah, I’m with you, Winston.
Where’s Yen? We gotta go.
What the hell are you doing, Yen?
Motherfucker sold us out.
[engine revving]
[gunfire]
Oh, fuck!
[tires screeching]
Hold on!
Aaaaaaaah!
Oh, shit.
Go, go, go, go, go, go.
Light ’em up.
Go, go, go, go.
Move, move, move. Up there, up there.
Let’s go.
[men whispering]
Get him.
Hold it!
Give me the coin press.
Look behind you.
[men grunting]
[elevator bell dings]
[pleasant Muzak plays]
♪ ♪
[TV playing in background]
[thud] [baby cries]
Lite-Brite from Hasbro.
♪ Sometimes you feel like a nut ♪
♪ Sometimes you don’t… ♪
[both grunting]
♪ Almond Joy’s got nuts ♪
♪ Mounds don’t ♪
[song continues]
♪ Mounds got deep dark chocolate ♪
♪ And chewy coconut ooh ♪
♪ Sometimes you feel like a nut, yeah yeah yeah ♪
♪ Sometimes you don’t ♪
[baby gurgles]
[song continues]
♪ Because sometimes you feel like a nut ♪
♪ Sometimes you don’t ♪
[Muzak continues]
♪ ♪
[both moaning, grunting]
[motor humming]
Aah!
Frankie. Frankie.
What are you going to do with that little gun?
[groans]
[gunshot]
Okay… oka…
You know, pretty soon it’ll be like riding a bike.
We never had bikes.
[ding]
This way. This way.
Come on. Hurry up.
Where’s Charlie?
I-I-I thought he was with you.
No.
Take her. I got it.
Come on. We’ve got to move.
[murmurs] wheels up, let’s go.
[gunshot] Uhh…
I’m hit.
[gunshot]
Everyone hold on!
Keep the pressure on.
You both need to look after each other.
You hear me?
What?
What are you saying?
That they want me…
And this.
Frankie!
Frankie!
[gunshot]
Aah!
[somber music]
♪ ♪
[click]
Aaaaaah!
Jesus Christ.
I need guns.
Lots of guns.
[Black Sabbath’s “Children of the Grave”]
♪ Revolution in their minds ♪
♪ The children start to march against the world ♪
♪ In which they have to live, and all the hate ♪
♪ That’s in their hearts ♪
♪ They’re tired of being pushed around ♪
♪ And told just what to do ♪
♪ They’ll fight the world until they won ♪
♪ And love come flowing through, yeah ♪
