What are you asking me, huh? You wanna know what happened?
You wanna know what kind of man he was?
Was he bad? Did he have it coming?
Sure, I was there. I saw it all.
But can I say what went around came around?
Can I say karma bit him in the ass?
Listen, pal, in my experience, unless you happen to be in India or China...
... that kind of thinking gets you nowhere.
Around here, we're not concerned with cause and effect.
We don't believe in karma.
So long as you show up Sundays and say a few Hail Marys...
... we figure the big guy has us covered.
Like, basically, Jesus died so we could all be assholes.
All I can tell you is what happened.
Not the rights, not the wrongs.
Not morality. Facts.
If it wasn't for this man, I wouldn't be here in this moment in time.
I'm a member of the un-dead because of him, you follow?
And because I'm alive...
...you know, he went away.
He had a woman.
And now I got her.
Am I saying I deserved her?
Am I saying things worked out for the best? I don't know.
I don't know. L...
I don't know.
Hey, baby.
Hey, AJ.
Remember this?
Bruce Becker. City Park. Steak knife. Eighth grade.
No, seventh grade.
But you're close.
You got any new ones?
Prison riot, three years ago.
You?
No, man, I don't have any new ones. Only new ones I have are in here.
Welcome back.
- What's this? - It's ugly. Yes.
But, you know, it reminded me you were in there.
- Thank you. - For what?
You kept me sane in there.
The canteen money. The letters. The packages. The books. All of it.
Come on. Forget about that, okay?
It's not something you forget.
Come on. Let's go. Let's go.
Tell you what, you don't know what alone is...
...until you're locked in a cage with 2000 assholes.
You know, I tried to come see you. I really did, you know?
I even wrote my congressman about it.
- Yeah? - Yeah, it's unconstitutional.
You know, I did that felony a long time ago.
I did my time in county.
My probation went off without a hitch.
And all of a sudden, I'm a security risk?
- I can't come visit my best friend? - Yeah, well, you did enough.
I mean, 13 years they took away from us.
Thirteen years.
She looks good.
Good? Come on, man. She looks great.
You could eat off this thing.
Wait till you see the mileage.
Do I keep my promises or what?
- Yes, you do. - Yeah.
Hey, what's in the box?
- Pickles. - Pickles?
You've been away for a long time. They sell pickles in stores nowadays.
What are you doing?
All right, you could drive today because it's your day.
Oh, man.
Can you roll up the window and turn on some a.c.? Please.
I'm not putting the a.c. On.
You know how long it's been since I've had wind in my face?
Come on, it's so hot.
My balls are gonna be stuck to my thigh by the time we get to this place.
Please, I'm getting crotch rot. Swamp ass, all right? Please.
- Just deal with it. - Jesus.
You never specifically said I couldn't.
And I promise you, when you were together with her...
...I never even looked at her like that.
It's like when you went away, it just happened.
You know, I didn't plan it. It was just, you know, you were gone...
...and we would sit around and talk and she would cry...
...and it was just like, boom.
You know, it was just like a classic case...
...of, you know, of love the one you're with.
You know, but I didn't feel like good or, you know, proud about it.
It was just... And I always felt like I was coming off the bench for you.
You know, then the kid came and, you know, I had to do the right thing.
And you should see.
I mean, we have a daughter and she's really beautiful.
I mean, she's cute. You know, and she runs track...
...and, you know, she's fast like me and...
What? Can you just say something?
When the hell were you fast?
I was fast.
Just look at the check.
Exactly.
Why am I the way I am?
Why is your mother the way she is?
Bye, idiot.
How much?
It's not an issue.
How much?
A lot.
Tell you something. I don't care how bad prison was.
Middle class is worse.
You know, I could handle being broke, but humiliation is another thing.
I mean, before you went down...
...we had a piece of everything north of Baton Rouge, am I right?
- Am I right? - Yeah.
Yeah, well, it's all gone now.
You know, I hate to say it, but my old man has lost his balls.
He came, he said something about cigarettes.
Yeah, right. Cigarettes.
That's his new big thing.
We get a load of Camels and Marlboros untaxed...
...and we sell them to convenience stores. It's a joke.
Really, that bad?
It's embarrassing. I was waiting for you to get out...
...so you can convince him to do some respectable work.
I'm not coming back to work.
Yeah. So, what are you gonna do?
Gonna make pickles.
All right, well, you make pickles.
I'll flip the burgers.
And get someone to make the special sauce, we'll be in business.
I need you to hear me on this. I'm not coming back to work.
I can't watch your back anymore.
That's all right because I've been taking care of myself now for 13 long years.
Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'm still here, right?
No scars on my face.
Still looking good.
Don't worry about me.
Welcome to the burbs.
All right?
You missed the meet.
What? What are you talking about? That wasn't today.
Then why'd they give me this?
Crap. I'm sorry. I thought it was tomorrow.
- Really? All the other parents got it right. - I know...
- You said you'd be back in time. - I know.
I'm so sorry. Look, we had a crazy day and I was picking him up...
...and things got out of control. I want you to meet AJ.
AJ, I want you to meet the love of my life.
This is my daughter, Pepper. Look at her.
And she just won. She won a first place in the quarter mile.
Can you believe it? I told you she was fast.
Awesome. Sure you're much faster than he was.
Fast enough to be on time at least.
I'm sorry, okay?
I really am sorry. Come on.
- It's nice to finally meet you. - It's my fault. I drive too slow.
Is your mom inside? I'll bet you she's pissed off too.
- Claire. - Hi.
- Look who's here. - Hi, AJ.
Hey.
Yeah.
He's back.
Sorry, the place is kind of a mess.
I didn't really have time to clean.
I thought I'd cook you dinner.
This is great. It's really good to have a place to go.
I really appreciate it.
No problem.
- You wanna grill some steaks? - Yeah, I'll grill.
When was the last time you had a good steak?
It's been a while.
Yeah, a long time, I bet.
Yeah, I'm gonna get that going now, all right?
So how's your mom?
I don't know. Dying, I think, but...
Sorry. I don't know.
This is nice.
- Jack, you missed Pepper's meet. - I know, I know.
I talked to her about it and I'm gonna make it up to her...
...and she got first place again.
So that's good. Just like I used to do.
- Pickles? - Yeah. Got room in your refrigerator?
Why? I thought you were in prison.
Pepper, put the pickles in the fridge.
So we're... So we're gonna put him in the guest room, right?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's real small, though.
No, no, no. He's used to small. We're happy to have you.
Yeah, yeah. I'm sure it's fine. I don't wanna put anybody out.
Oh, you're not. You're not.
Jack said you guys used to date.
The guest room is down the hall and there's towels on the bed...
...if you wanna take a bath or shower.
Are you throwing up?
No, I'm trying to fix the toilet.
- What's wrong with it? - It drips.
You have the toilet in the cell with you?
So everybody can, like, see you do stuff, like your roommate?
Yeah. Roommates and all.
Okay, well, that pretty much nixes "life of crime" off my list.
Did it drip? Your toilet?
- Yes, which is why I'm done with drips. - Totally get it.
So you dated my mom in high school?
He dated Mom in high school. But it wasn't weird.
We were like the Three Musketeers.
Which one were you?
He was Athos.
Figures.
Good night, sweetie. Hey, you actually read Three Musketeers?
Prison's a lot like sitting on the john. A good book can help pass the time.
All right, well, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow we rock 'n' roll.
The old man is gonna bust one of his wrinkly nuts when he sees you.
What the hell you think you're doing? You better get on away from there.
Mind your own business. What the hell's wrong with you?
It's all right, baby.
Welcome back to the real world, AJ. Let's go.
This is the latest in low-rent eastern European enforcement technology.
That's Re, that's Tard.
Okay.
Your roll.
Irena, this is AJ. AJ, that's Irena.
Could we go in there?
Thanks. Looking good.
How many years I've been waiting for this?
I'd offer you a drink...
...but it would just remind me every time I took one I puke blood.
- So to the future. - Future.
Attaboy.
Now, our friend, Sylvester.
- What's going on with him? - It's all handled, Pop.
- You sure? - Yes, yes.
I told you already, it's all taken care of, Dad, under control.
I don't want no trouble with this guy. You got it?
Not like the old days.
Just get my money, shake his hand, okay?
Okay. I mean, you already told me like 15 times, Dad, I got it, okay?
We already went over this. You don't have to keep telling me.
He's a major pain in my ass. No trouble with this guy this time.
- Copy that. - Now, outside. I'd like a minute with AJ.
- Okay. - Irena.
You know, I thought that... I don't know, maybe I misunderstood.
But the last time that we talked, when I came to see you?
I thought that, I don't know, you might reconsider.
No, Vic. I'm done.
It costs too much. I'm sorry.
Oh, boy, AJ.
You don't have a clue about these cigarettes.
Really. I mean, it's amazing.
I buy them for 2, sell them for 4.
No bodies.
No cops.
The lawyers take care of all the tax problems.
What I need now is quiet.
You get to be my age, you'll want your family around you.
You want your people around you. Don't you understand?
Vic, I had 13 years to think about it.
I know, but l...
I'm gonna try something else.
After all I did?
AJ.
I got no one else.
What about Jack?
Come on.
Of all the people, you?
You know better than that.
He's my son, I love him, but I can't trust him.
Too much booze. Too much stress. You I trust, Claire I trust.
Without her, this entire place, including Jack...
...would have gone bust years ago. I'm sorry.
Let me tell you something, AJ, and I don't know if you know this.
I was never in favor of this thing with Claire and Jack...
...but truth be told, it saved Jack's life.
And you know why?
Because Claire took over where you left off.
She protects him.
We should go if we're gonna take care of...
- Excuse me. Excuse me. - I know, Dad, but we talked about...
I would like a word with you, now!
All right.
Please.
I'll wait outside.
What did the old man say after I left? He seemed pissed.
Don't worry about it. He's pissed off about everything.
He loves you, so don't worry.
Yeah, well, he was good to me.
When you gonna go see your mom, man?
Come on, it's been long enough. You need to go see her.
You know, the old neighborhood looks, what...
Old, like they haven't even touched it.
Yeah, well, what's the point, right? Hey, you gotta make that left up there.
- For what? - Going to Carlo's.
I gotta take care of that thing to get him off my ass.
Besides, Carlo's dying to see you. He's stuck in senior year or something.
- It was a pretty good year. - It's pretty pathetic.
Jesus Christ.
- Watch where you're going. - It's called pedestrian right of way.
- This is a pedestrian right of way! - Hey!
Come on, AJ.
I'll be right here, man.
What do you mean? Say hello to this guy.
- Just go do your thing, I'll wait. - What? He knows you're out of here.
Say hello to Carlo. He'll piss himself if you don't say hello.
- I'm gonna wait here. - Come on.
Let's start the re-socialization process. Your parole officer will be proud.
Let's go. Come on. Just have a drink or something. Let's go. Come on.
There you go.
Come on.
- Jack. - Sit down.
- I got it all. - I got it. Sit down.
- Where's this guy? - Holy mother of God.
- Hello. - I don't believe it.
- Welcome home, brother. - How you doing?
Good to see you.
Is this place self-serve? What do I gotta do to get a drink?
- Excuse me, Jack... - I look ready to have this conversation?
- Check it out. Am I pretty or what? - You look good.
What a season. Hey, you've been working out, huh?
- Unlike some of us? - Trying.
Carlo, enough with the blast from the past.
- Can I get a drink or what? - Absolutely.
For you.
- One for you. - Yeah.
And one for my man.
To the Panthers.
All right.
Panthers.
So how's your dad, man?
Gone. Five years.
- Sorry. I didn't know. - It's all right. Mom's upstairs.
- No, next time. Next time. - Sure. So you're back, huh?
You haven't moved the bathroom since I've been gone?
Haven't cleaned the bathroom since you've been gone.
I'm gonna go too.
What, with this? You wanna hold it for me?
See that? You take a piss, you flush it down the toilet.
Don't even think twice about it. In India or China, they don't take a piss...
...without knowing that taking a piss has its consequences.
I'm not saying they get all weepy or worked up over such a thing.
They understand something on the most fundamental level that we don't.
And that's like everything else in life...
...taking a piss can also have its consequences.
- I'm glad you're back. - I'm not back.
You gotta meet this guy, Sylvester. Buys Vic's cigarettes by the truckload.
This guy's a real sweater.
He looks like a freaking hound dog, this guy.
Do your thing. I'm gonna go hang out with Carlo.
I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm just asking you say hello to the guy.
- I'm not back. - I know you're not back, I'm just...
Would you relax, AJ?
Come on, have a little fun.
You've been away for a long time. Everything's good, okay?
I'm not trying to peer-pressure you, buddy.
- Sylvester. - Hey, Jack.
AJ, can you please sit down? Please, just say hello to this guy.
Come on, can't you just sit down with the guy, please?
- Don't you wanna say hello to him? - Jack, it's all here.
I'm really sorry it took so long. It was just a cash-flow thing.
I swear to God, it won't happen again.
- Please tell Vic. - Oh, I'll tell him.
I believe you, Sylvester.
You could save all that God crap for somebody else.
Notwithstanding my Holy Names education...
...I have doubts about that God crap, you know what I mean?
I mean, where the hell was God when they outed Valerie Plame, huh?
Please, take the money, Jack.
- Oh, you don't think I'm gonna take it? - No, no. L...
- I'm gonna take it. - Jack, come on.
Just count this. Make sure it's not filled with phone books.
You never know with a guy like this.
I've known AJ since I tried to steal his lunch money in second grade.
It's actually sort of a funny story, maybe even what you call a teaching story.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah, you know, AJ was twice my size.
I walk up to him, I go, "Hey, big boy, you're gonna give me 2 bucks...
...or I'm gonna punch you in the face."
I don't know what I was thinking. What the hell was I thinking anyway?
I have no idea.
For some reason, he just handed it over like he was hypnotized or something.
Which worked out good for me, except for 10 seconds later...
...this fourth-grader named Piggy Sanchez walks up to me...
...punches me in the face and takes the money right back.
Look at Sylvester. You're smiling, huh?
You like that? Yeah, that's funny.
Some vicious bully shames me in front of the whole school.
- You got a kick out of that, don't you? - No, I was just listening to the story...
It got even funnier, you know?
I'm laying down on the lunchroom floor...
...and everybody was laughing at me, pointing at me and teasing me.
And then I got this idea, go over to AJ who was bigger than the fourth grader.
And I say, "Hey, that asshole has got your money.
You should kick his ass."
So AJ chases him down hall, he beats the crap out of him.
Gives him a bloody lip, chipped tooth and a bloody nose.
It was unbelievable. Whatever happened to Piggy Sanchez?
- I have no idea. - Yeah, yeah.
Carlo, can you give us the rest of that bottle, please?
So who got the money?
- What? - You're saying the money...
Who ended up with the money?
That's not the point.
Sylvester...
The point is that an ironic chain of events...
...resulted in a very lasting, very valuable friendship between me and this guy.
Well, that's nice.
It's right. It's nice. I mean, this guy just did 13 years...
Oh, it's okay. It's okay.
You should wish him good fortune.
Hey, what are you doing? Don't do this. Don't do this.
Wish him good luck.
Hey, good luck, AJ.
- He's starting a pickle-making venture. - That's nice.
Jack.
Jack, are you okay?
I didn't mean for that to happen.
I swear I didn't...
AJ. That wasn't supposed to happen. Why did that happen to me?
That wasn't supposed to happen. Sylvester. Why did that happen?
Counterfeit cigarettes are produced in China and Uruguay...
...for less than a dollar a pack.
Vic Small buys them by the container load for $2 a pack...
...and smuggles them into Louisiana.
He sells them at convenience stores, liquor stores, gas stations.
The consumer pays full price. Say, $4 a pack.
So, what is missing?
The taxes, gentlemen.
All of the taxes that the state collects...
...on cigarette importers, manufacturers and sellers.
It's tens of millions of dollars a month.
I mean, there's more money in it than heroin...
...and there's less risk because, you know, cigarettes are legal.
I'm sure we're all fascinated...
- But can I just finish my point? - Miss Twiss...
Okay, the upside of this is far more than revenue.
You know where the overseas profits from this business go?
Taliban, Hezbollah, FARC in Colombia.
I mean, we've got buy-in from CIA, from Customs, from Homeland Security.
Everybody is interested in this thing.
If we get Vic Small, we get more than a few dollars.
We get a window into an international smuggling juggernaut.
It's a fascinating tale. It makes me wanna run out for popcorn and a soda.
But you're five months into this thing and Louisiana doesn't have an extra penny.
- Well, Arthur... - What are we doing here?
- Who authorized this? - She has no plan.
Let alone a revenue strategy.
Let alone an exit strategy.
We're just boring old tax collectors, Miss Twiss.
Your mandate is not international smuggling or counterterrorism.
Wanna know where Osama bin Laden gets a big portion of his funding?
Profits from cigarette smuggling.
Terrifying, but irrelevant.
If you wanna work for the CIA, you have my blessing.
Send me a postcard from Islamabad. While I'm still signing your paychecks...
...I expect you to justify your existence by making Louisiana richer.
I say we shut it down.
Five months.
For heaven's sakes.
Okay, I need one more month.
I've got an informant on the inside who can give me everything I need.
I'm very sorry, Miss Twiss.
My father is in a hospice...
...less than a mile from here choking to death with lung cancer.
These people, they destroy lives.
I mean, doesn't that warrant at least a few dollars?
You have our sympathies.
But you're really gonna have to shut it down.
Well, sir, I'm sorry, but I think that's gonna be a little bit problematic.
- Why? - Because in the last few hours...
...my informant paid off a $250,000 debt to Vic Small...
...with Franchise Tax Board money.
- Why? - Sir, he has a huge shipment coming in.
And we're on it.
But Small couldn't do the deal without the 250,000 from my informant.
That was an accident. I swear to God, it's the gun.
This is a cheap gun, l...
Damn it, you're an asshole.
Okay, so just leave, okay? I'll deal with it.
I don't know what you got going on, but you better grab ahold of your balls, man.
- You're gonna end up dead. - So what? So what?
Carlo, get the blinds.
Walk away, all right, I'll be fine. I'll deal with it.
Yeah, you'll deal with it. What about me, man? This is my place.
- You got it? This is all I got! - You shut up.
Enough. Carlo, just get the blinds.
Forget about it, okay? Just go, AJ.
Jack, who knows you're here?
Just my father.
He knows you're here at Carlo's now?
No, he just knew I was meeting Sylvester at some point.
But not specifically here, now?
No. Not now.
- Is he dead? - Yeah, he's dead.
We won't make any excuses. We'll just tell like it is.
We'll just... It's a colossal, monumental error. It's just a mistake.
I didn't mean to shoot him. I'm not gonna go to jail.
This isn't worthy of the death penalty, it's just an accident.
I'm not going to jail. I can't do that, AJ. I'm not like you.
- You gotta go talk to him. - Jack, quiet now, okay? Quiet.
Carlo.
- You good for a little bit? - No, AJ. I don't want nothing with Vic.
I got enough of my own problems with my mother, please.
I need you with me on this.
Okay.
All right.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
Hi. This is the third message that I'm leaving for you.
This is getting a little bit annoying.
That's my money, Sylvester, in case you forgot.
Please call me.
Excuse me.
- You need something? - Yes, your undivided attention.
I'm looking for Sylvester Herman.
I haven't seen him since yesterday.
Oh, man.
Well, when you do...
...please have him call me.
Yeah, sure.
I mean, it's very important.
Shit.
In the old days, I'd be a hero for killing someone like that. You know that?
You string me on repeatedly.
- This is your fault. - Jack. Jack. Jack, please just shut up.
So I killed you like you deserve in any respectable world.
Because things are all screwed around, I'm the opposite of what a hero is.
It's not right.
I got pain.
Police. Open up.
Police.
All right.
Get some plastic and big tablecloths if you got them, all right?
What do you want to do about Carlo?
- I mean, he's... - Not Carlo, all right?
- You understand? - He's the only one...
Well, don't.
Don't.
All of a sudden you're the decider about everything, right?
- It's my problem. It's my body. - Really?
Hey, do me a favor. Just tell me to go.
All right?
And, Jack, stay off it until we get this done with.
Carlo, you couldn't have pulled the car up to the door?
I didn't think about it.
Think.
All right. All right.
We good?
All right. Listen.
I'm sorry about this. We'll get it cleaned up.
- And Vic? - Get your mop.
Easiest 20 grand you'll ever make.
Why do I gotta drive the hybrid?
Didn't you just tell me this was your body?
Come on. God gave us the internal combustion engine for a reason.
These things give me the creeps.
- Thanks, man. - No problem.
All right.
Everybody is happy.
Whoa, what are you doing?
- Put it back. - What do you mean, put it back?
- I'm not putting this back. - Put it back.
I'm not putting the money back. Have any idea what I'm dealing with?
I got mortgage payments. I got two car payments.
I got credit cards plus interest. We're keeping the mo...
Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how much private school cost?
It's like 2 grand a month. I have to pay. I'm not giving away this money.
- Not keeping it. - I'm taking the money.
What are you doing?
- Get out of the car. - No, you're...
- Get out of the car! - I'm not getting out of the car.
You gotta crush me in here.
At least leave the case.
But we'll keep the money.
All right. Just get out of the car.
That's what I'm talking about. A little compromise.
- You're like a little kid. - I'm like a little kid with 250 grand.
The money costs too much.
- What? - Something I read inside.
Yeah?
Well, what about money makes the world go round, huh?
Done trading aphorisms?
I'm starting to think killing Sylvester was a blessing. You know what I'm saying?
No, I don't.
L... You know, we got a little taste of that old magic.
A glimpse of how well-oiled life can be.
I know. I know you're into pickles.
All right, I'm not saying anything.
They're... I'm just saying.
Well, the good news is I got 30 grand for you now...
...and I can give you the rest shortly.
Thank you.
I'm working the best I can too. All right.
Understood. All right.
Thank you.
Top 10 worst things about prison?
Pepper.
It's okay.
How about top three?
Food, heat in the summer, waiting.
- Waiting for...? - Waiting for more waiting.
So how do you make a pickle, anyway?
Shit.
Yeah, talk to me.
Where's the money?
Dad, listen to me.
It's a long story, all right?
But I'm gonna come see you in the morning with AJ.
That money was for a shipment.
Listen, Dad, I don't wanna talk to you about it on the phone, but he...
He went away, all right?
You see, you take anything, cucumber, cabbage, an onion.
You put it in saltwater...
...you add some spices.
- Then you wait. - You said you don't like to wait.
- Salt? - Top right.
You see, bacteria in the air gets into the brine and it makes a pickle.
It's like magic. Think Criss Angel without the trick.
So you're old enough to have boyfriends, right?
- Sure. - Does that mean you have one?
It means I could.
Just not sure that I want them.
But you like boys, right?
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
Just... I'm not sure I wanna put up with them.
I'm gonna come see you in the morning. I'm sorry. Don't worry about it.
I can't do any business until I cleaned it up.
I'll see you later.
- I'll show you how to do this. - You made this?
No. The guy that made this is doing life without the possibility of parole.
But nobody can touch his half-sours.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get any of those. This...
...is your garlic dill.
Now, it's not his masterpiece, but it's an impressive pickle.
Nice.
And I hate pickles. I pick them off my burgers.
Look at this.
The whole family is back together again.
- All right. Good night. - Look at my wife.
Look at my daughter.
All right.
- I'll be back. - Bye.
All right.
- Listen, I think we're gonna be all right. - Pops?
I told him a slightly tweaked version of the events that happened today.
He wasn't happy, all right, but he wasn't homicidal either.
- You didn't tell him where? - No, no, I'm not that stupid.
You know, but that Irena chick, she has a habit of blowing things up.
If you didn't tell him, he will figure it out.
We took care of Carlo. I think we're good.
I might have forgot to tell him the part...
...where Sylvester brought in the 250K.
But that's all right. There's always tomorrow.
Okay? And I don't wanna argue with you. It's been a very confusing...
...and emotional day already, okay?
But I'm telling you I need that money.
Okay? I need that money right now.
What are you doing here?
- I'm sorry. I was just gonna get... - No. What are you doing in my life?
- Jack said... - Jack's an idiot.
We're in trouble, AJ.
He's drinking all the time.
We're broke. So is his dad.
And he's getting careless.
The ship is sinking fast.
And I'm gonna do what I have to do to save my kid, you understand?
- Claire, I just... - Just don't complicate my life, okay?
I mean...
At first I pretended you coming back would have a good effect on him...
...but he's not well.
No, he's not.
Can I have a pickle?
Yeah, be my guest.
- Homicide? - Oh, sure. Just keep straight.
- Thank you. - All right.
Hi.
I'm an investigator with the State Franchise Tax Board.
Look, lady, my wife does the taxes.
I ain't taking it for her.
Yeah, no.
Sylvester Herman, he owns several convenience stores around town.
I arrested him a couple months ago for evading sales tax...
...on cigarette sales.
Is someone dead?
- I don't know. - I can't help you.
Is someone missing?
- Yeah, I think so. - How long?
Last night. He was my informant.
I gave him $250,000 to pay off a debt to Vic Small.
Vic Small.
Did you know that profits from smuggling...
...are a big source of funding for terrorism?
Vic Small is removing dog testicles in Gretna.
He hasn't been in the game for years.
Vic Small is smuggling cigarettes into Louisiana worth millions.
- Well, cigarettes are legal. - That's very true...
...but the State of Louisiana is to collect $2 per pack which Vic Small is stealing.
- You think Small did your snitch? - I don't know.
He was to meet with someone to drop off the money...
...and I haven't heard from him.
The bar looks like it closed in a hurry.
You got no body, no missing person.
Most likely Sylvester whatever-his-name...
...is buying cocktails in Aruba with your money.
Actually, with my money.
So your meet was with Small?
No, not with Vic. With his son, Jack.
You know how they finally got Al Capone, right?
He had a loser for a kid?
Look, technically, we can't open a file without a body.
But we'll see if we can drag Jack Small in here for a little sit-down.
Oh, Jesus.
Too late for Jesus.
Did I tell my father we were gonna come see him today?
He called twice already.
- Oh, God. Did you speak to him? - Claire.
Oh, God. How am I gonna go see him?
- I'll go with you. We'll work it out. - Dude, you're living in fantastic land.
I really think that the only reason why my father hasn't had me killed yet...
...is because of you and Claire.
Oh, this thing with Sylvester, this is not good.
Look, I'm thinking about disappearing for a few days, okay?
That's not a terrible idea.
- I'm gonna go to that place... - I don't wanna know.
That's true.
So, what are you gonna do without me?
Start by not killing anybody for a couple of days.
That's true.
You gonna go see your mom?
You gonna sleep with my wife?
You guys probably have some unfinished business anyway.
It's not like I'm getting any around here.
Good Lord, this is good.
- You're going to the cabin? - Yeah.
I am, but just keep it between us.
Tell Pepper I had to go back East on business or something.
- You're gonna survive this one? - Who you talking to? I'll be all right.
I can't tell you, but I promise you...
...I’m gonna make things better, okay? You deserve better.
You're right.
All right. You know where the guns are, right?
You're the one leaving, who'd I shoot?
You know where they are and Pepper does too?
- Yeah. - Okay.
I spent a lot money teaching her how to shoot, so just...
I gotta go.
You're an idiot, but you're our idiot.
Don't go dying, okay? I love you.
I love you.
I understand. But... Yeah, go ahead.
Well, you don't really need to yell, sir. Okay. Fine.
Damn!
- Hi, ladies. How are you doing? - Hi.
Hi, Paul. How's he doing today?
Hi.
Do you need anything?
You want the latest?
Oh, Pop, it's not pretty.
You always said that I should've been a cop.
I should've gone to the academy like you and Joe and Harry.
Well, you were so wrong.
Pull over.
White male, 6 feet, 36 years old.
He's wanted for questioning of possible 10-20...
How are you, officer?
Hands on the steering wheel. Now!
Okay. Just trying to get my paperwork.
Late for a business meeting.
All right, keep your hands there. Do not move!
No problem. I'm not trying to get shot on my way to work, chief.
- All right. Turn the car off. - I'm gonna turn it off.
- Keys out the window. - Keys are gonna come out the window.
Arlo? Arlo. Oh, my God.
I can't believe it. Am I dreaming?
Jackie said that you'd be stopping by. But you know Jackie.
- How are you doing? - Well, at this very moment...
...I am doing real good.
- How are you? - Fine.
- Yeah? Are you done? - Yeah.
You know, this place looks really nice from the outside and everything...
...but it's really a jail.
No booze, no cigarettes.
The food is terrible.
They got no meat here, Arlo. Can you believe it?
Not even chicken.
Of course, chicken ain't meat, is it?
If I leave it in my room, they find it.
Jackie leaves it for me.
He stops by.
Have you seen Jack yet?
- Yeah, I've seen Jack. - Yeah.
I swear to God, Arlo. He has been like a son to me the whole time.
He does it for you. You know that, right?
This is ridiculous. I have to hide like a criminal.
I'm here to enjoy myself before I die, right?
So, what are they worried about? I'm gonna get cancer?
I gotta go. I've got some stuff I gotta do.
No, no. Go? So soon?
- I'll come back, all right? - When?
- Soon. - Tomorrow.
Or I swear to God, I'm gonna kill myself.
You should've brought him to me.
It's best to just let it cool down a bit, Vic.
He's your son, you forget that?
I wish I could. I don't need these headaches.
Now, where the hell could he be?
- I didn't ask him. - Does Claire know?
Come on, Vic. Just leave it be. Let's get this cleaned up and move on.
I mean, I don't get it. How hard can it be?
Just get the money.
Shake the man's hand.
He pulled a gun.
- What was Jack suppose to do? - Come on. Who you talking to, AJ?
- He did not pull a gun. - I was there. I saw it. I emptied the clip.
Where's the money?
Doesn't make sense, AJ.
Because that money...
...was for a new shipment that I got coming in.
You hear me? The man was my partner.
So you know what this is. This is Jack playing one of his games.
We're gonna be all right on this.
- We took the... - Look. Don't tell me. I don't wanna know.
If anyone of the other owners suspects that I had anything to do with this...
...I’m done.
And I have three containers coming in very soon.
And no one can tie me to this at all.
Do you understand that?
I'm done. Do whatever the hell you wanna do.
Make pickles, eat pickles. I don't care.
But you, sir, are gonna do one thing before this is over.
You're gonna clean this whole thing up...
...and then, you're gonna keep my son away from me permanently.
I never wanna see his face again.
You got that?
Yeah, I got it. I'll clean it up my way.
- Any idea? - Let's go find out.
No, no, no. It could be nothing.
Best to let it play out.
What?
- What? - Not long ago...
...Vic Small was dropping stiffs all over town.
He was on every wish list in the city, but we never got him.
- Never even got close. - And...?
I don't care if he's in diapers, if he's out of retirement...
...there's a reason to be scared.
You're scared?
Yeah.
Damn.
Police!
Open up.
You know what luminol is?
It's a chemical.
They spray it all over. Maybe over here by the mop.
Now, if there's been blood anywhere around here...
...even a tiny amount, the whole thing lights up like a Christmas tree.
Pretty cool stuff.
I don't know what to tell you. I don't know any Sylvester.
Why all the cleaning?
It's a bar. People treat it like a bathroom.
Look, we know Sylvester was here sometime p.m. Yesterday.
He met with a guy named Jack Small.
Probably you don't know him either.
Sylvester had a briefcase full of money which you never saw.
We figure Sylvester's dead.
And either it happened here...
...or it didn't.
Now, I bring in my forensics boys and we find it did happen here...
...well, with you so ignorant and all...
...that makes you an aider and abettor.
Next time you get back to this place...
...it's gonna be in a pine box delivered by Louisiana Department of Corrections.
It was Jack Small.
Who was that huge guy we just saw leaving the bar?
- AJ had nothing to do with it. - Who's AJ?
Arlo Jane.
- Where is Sylvester? - I don't know.
They put his body in his car. Look. Vic Small...
...Jack's old man, finds out I said anything...
...he'll kill me. You know that, right?
They have no way of knowing that we even knew about the meeting.
All right?
You'll be okay.
I feel responsible.
Did you ever lose a snitch?
You're not responsible.
At least now you can open a file.
We open a file, maybe even close one.
It's a rarity these days.
What do you want?
We're closed.
What?
Just a minute.
Yes?
Can I help you?
Look, I'm flattered, but...
...not today, okay?
Do you understand? Hello?
Back the hell up!
You know me?
- Yeah. - Good.
Sorry for all the nonsense with your bat.
Worst thing about it...
...can't laugh.
What's going on down there?
- Tell her you'll be right there. - I'll be right there, Ma.
The man who got shot...
...he came with money? - Yeah.
My son...
...shot him. Why?
I don't know.
How would I know that?
And Jack and AJ, they left with the money?
Yeah.
And the body?
Yeah. But I cleaned it up.
I mean, the police won't find anything. I swear.
That's good.
- What are you doing? - Carlo! What the hell is going on?
Don't come down here, Ma.
What the hell's going on?
Get the hell out of here!
Jesus, what did they do to you?
You can't breathe.
- I'll get a knife. - Oh, no!
Hey! Hey!
It's time, dear.
- So why did you go to prison? - Pepper.
- I killed somebody. - Why?
Well, I was trying to help a friend.
And, well, in the court, they called it manslaughter.
It means I didn't mean to kill the guy, just caused it to happen, you know.
He's a bad guy.
But it was the dumbest thing I ever did and it pretty much ruined my life.
Were you together?
- Yes. - No.
It was a long time ago.
- No or yes. - Yes. Now enough.
- Were you as buff then? - Your mom's always looked this good.
What was my dad like when you were kids?
Highly entertaining and lovable. Pretty much same as now.
Like a circus animal.
Yeah. Just like you.
And my mom?
We didn't meet until later. Eleventh grade.
You loved her?
Yeah. We both did.
She's fine. AJ's being really nice.
Jack, stop it.
For someone who is an irritating drunk...
...you sure do spend a lot of time drinking.
He's a good dad, right? You love him a lot?
Almost always.
He tries to be a good dad.
I think he wants to, but...
I love you too.
Okay, I will. Bye.
It's Claire.
Tomorrow.
Yes, I'm sure.
What happens then?
Eventually, he'll figure out it.
Someplace without snow, if that's possible.
Davis.
Pardon me.
So, what are you in for?
Just waiting, like everyone.
Yeah.
I'm really bad at waiting.
I was the kind of kid who ate all their Halloween candy in one night.
How much time did you do?
- You're kidding me, right? - I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm really bad at this.
Sorry.
Thirteen years.
- I just got out this week. - Congratulations.
I hope it all works out for you.
Thank you.
I'm Martha Twiss.
- AJ. - AJ.
Jayne, Arlo?
"Jayne, Arlo, K43221, manslaughter."
Everyone calls me AJ.
So, Jayne, Arlo, K43221, manslaughter...
...how does it feel to be a free man?
Somebody wants to see you in reception before you leave.
- Who? - Not my business, Jayne, Arlo, K43221.
- See you next week. - Hey, AJ. We meet again.
And so soon.
We know about Carlo too.
- What about Carlo? - You were in the bar...
...an hour before it blew up. You had no knowledge...?
You didn't, did you?
Well, you can just imagine. The mother too.
Somebody blew the place to smithereens.
Obliterated any evidence we might have found relating to Sylvester.
Three bodies in 24 hours.
That's pretty impressive, even for Vic Small.
Oh, and that idiot kid of his, your BFF...
...tried to run over a rookie cop the other day.
We thought you might be looking for a way out of this mess.
And you're looking for a way in.
I'm in. I've been in Vic's office for a year. Just wait.
The smuggling charges should tie him up for a while.
Not long enough to make a difference, really.
What we don't have is a murder charge.
That would tie him up permanently.
That's where we thought you could help out.
Jack Small killed Sylvester.
Carlo told us it was an accident. I believe him.
Bring Jack in.
The cop he tried to run over looks like he's gonna be fine.
The cop says he got a shot off at Jack, so he may not be so fine.
Assuming Jack is still alive, he gets lucky...
...pleads to a manslaughter charge, and you give us the father.
Or...?
Or we decide not to believe Carlo about you...
...and we charge you for three bodies. Meaning you die in the cage.
Someone gave up the shipment, AJ.
You know what that means.
I can't do any business until I clean it up.
And that's irritating.
You said you'd let me handle it.
My crazy dog, Jack, pissed all over my leg.
And then he turned out to be a rat.
What do you want?
You lied to me. You both lied to me.
I mean, after all that we've been through together.
What did I ever do to deserve that?
Taking you in.
- Vic, what do you want? - I'm 78 years old.
We got a sick dog on our hands.
What you do with a sick dog?
When you love him, you know what you do?
You put your hands over his eyes...
...and you tell him you love him...
...and then you put him down.
Where is Jack?
How the hell should I know?
Someone gave up a shipment Vic had coming in.
They arrested Vic at the port.
He figures Jack snitched it off. He's gonna make bail soon.
What about Irena?
Out. There's a murder warrant out for Jack.
It's a 15-year offer. If I can find him, I can protect him.
- I'll call him. - No.
You trust him?
I need to be there.
He specifically told me not to tell you.
I'm his last chance.
He can't do 15 years. He's not you.
I wasn't me, either. Remember? He'll survive.
Claire.
He's at my parents' place, up in Tunica.
Remember?
I could practically see the place from the yard at Angola.
The thought of you and me up there nearly drove me crazy.
Drop him! Drop him!
Let him go.
Dear Claire, I need you to know that AJ had nothing to do with any of this.
I'm so sorry for putting you and Pepper in the middle of this mess.
I'm gonna clean this up, and I'm gonna make it right by all of you.
What are you doing here?
I thought a lot about this place while I was down.
Yeah, I bet.
When you first got locked up, Claire and I didn't come here.
Reminded us of you too much.
- Is that a fact? - That's a fact.
You know, she waited for you all these years.
I tried, believe me.
I did try, but I just...
I can never get her attention.
So my father send you here to kill me?
Yep.
So is it my time or yours, brother?
Put it away.
You're not gonna shoot me, I'm not gonna shoot you.
I love the country.
You can do crazy stuff up here. Don't you love it?
They got your old man on some kind of tax thing.
They got somebody in his office. He figures it's you.
Me?
Who, then?
How do I know? I don't know.
Probably one of those Serbs.
They snitch each other out just to get green cards.
He got to Carlo.
That sucks. Carlo's a good guy.
Not before Carlo could give us up to the cops.
That son of a...
Yeah, we should have killed him when we had the chance.
I made a deal with the cops.
I gave them your dad. You get 15 for doing Sylvester.
- You're out in 13, but you gotta go now. - No.
No. What are you talking about? That's bullshit. I'm not doing that.
I'm not doing that. What is this, a merry-go-round?
I go one way, you go the other, we say hello on the way past?
- No, I'm not doing that. - It's the only way.
I'm not gonna go live in the zoo. It's not happening. And what about you?
Open a place, make pickles. Take it as it comes. I don't know.
Right, make pickles. That makes perfect sense.
How the hell am I gonna do 13 years? Look at me.
It passes. You just sit there and it passes.
No, I'm not doing it.
I can't do it.
At least I was a good dad, right? At least I didn't screw that up.
I know. Pepper told me.
She did?
She loves you, Jack.
She said that?
- Mr. Vic Small? - Yes, ma'am.
You're under arrest for conspiracy to murder Sylvester Herman...
...and the murders of Carlo and Sylvia Genoa.
I didn't have nothing to do with that.
Yes, you did.
We're closed, I'm sorry.
I'm with Vic Small.
Thank you, Arlo.
- For what? - Come on.
I know what you've been through.
I know I've been a terrible mother.
Only thing I ever gave you worth anything were your looks.
Oh, I just hope that all this stuff about heaven and hell is a bunch of baloney...
...because otherwise, I am in deep trouble.
You can handle yourself.
Are you gonna be all right?
You did the right thing, you know, protecting Jack the way you do.
He's a sweet boy...
...but he's not strong like you are.
Maybe I...
"Small was thought to be a leading narcotics distributor in Louisiana..."
...but police were never able to charge him.
Authorities report that Small is implicated in three recent homicides...
...of a bar owner and his mother...
...as well as of convenience-store owner Sylvester Herman...
"...and that murder charges are imminent."
You did good.
- You think? - Even I never closed three homicides...
...in a couple of days. - Well, they're not closed yet.
And we're still out the $250,000.
- I'll probably lose my job over that one. - Still.
I don't know what to do.
I mean, even if they don't fire me, they're gonna kick me back to audits.
- You want me to make a few calls? - I don't know.
Let me think about it.
I still feel like it's my fault about Sylvester.
I mean, what do you do with that?
You bury it forever.
His dad?
He's such an idiot.
Someone gave up a load of cigarettes coming in this morning.
Vic figured it was Jack.
It was me.
We got audited.
I went to see some tax lady. She told me I was going to jail.
The whole thing was falling apart.
I tried to tell Jack, he wouldn't listen.
What was I supposed to do?
I have Pepper. What am I supposed to do?
Why did you leave us?
Why did you never come to see me?
I was alone, I was broke, scared, pregnant and heartbroken.
And Jack was there for me.
And he loved me and I loved him.
But it wasn't like it was with us...
...and he knew that and the guilt was just eating us alive. It was...
What did you just say?
- I couldn't face you. - No, no, no.
Before that. You said you were pregnant and Jack was there for you.
Pepper's yours, AJ.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you.
I honestly thought it would bring you more pain.
- Say hi to your mom. - Okay. Thank you.
- Bye. - Bye-bye.
All this time, he knew I never stopped loving you, and he never said a word.
He knew Pepper was yours and he never talked you down.
She was the only thing he loved more than you.
And you stood there and let them murder him.
Claire, that's not what happened.
AJ. What's going on?
Come on, AJ. Open this door.
What are you doing here?
- Where's Claire? - I don't know. I don't know.
- What about Jack? - I don't know.
For a guy living in their house, you don't seem to know a lot.
You hung over, or you always look this bad in the morning?
AJ, please. Focus.
Claire was feeding us information about Vic Small.
And we've arrested him for murder.
The others are in immigration custody.
But we can't find Irena. And we know Claire is gone.
- You understand? - I haven't seen them at all. I gotta go.
AJ, please. No.
Oh, AJ, come on.
No more dead people.
He knows.
- He seemed drugged or something. - What's he doing there?
- We get a warrant, search the house. - It'll take too long.
I'll post a car on the street. We'll see if he leads us someplace.
Yeah, I need to report a shooting. 616 Decatur.
Yeah.
I tried to call. The phone was dead.
Jack left a letter explaining everything. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
I had to get Pepper out of there.
I'm sorry I couldn't save him.
We should take you to the hospital.
I'm freezing.
There's no propane for heat.
- I need my coat. - You need an ambulance.
She cried all the way here.
She was in the hallway listening. She heard everything.
- I think she's still in shock. - She gonna be okay?
Yeah, she's strong. Like her dad.
There's been an accident.
I was cleaning my gun and it went off.
No, no, he's a friend. He's lost a lot of blood.
Claire! Get out!
- What is it? - Pepper. Pepper.
Move, move, move!
- Get her out of here. - You're not coming?
Go. No.
- You sure? - Get in. She's not gonna stop.
- I've gotta finish this. - AJ, please be careful.
Go!
No!
- You okay, Mom? - Yeah, these are my good shoes.
- I'm gonna go to the car now. - Okay.
So the question remains:
Did things turn out for the best?
Yeah, well, if I'm making the call, absolutely.
I was just a placeholder.
Yeah, guy buying time. You know, trying to keep things together...
... and I think I did that.
And I know they love me.
And I loved them and...
- You got those pickles in the back? - Yeah.
Yeah, a pickle would be good right about now.
... I know I made things right.
Mom, I think we're out of pickles.