I just came to write poetry. . .

Lucky Luciano: You wanted to see me?

Arnold Rothstein: Yeah, it turns out my sister-in-law's nephew, for a time at least, survived the shooting in the woods.

Lucky Luciano: Well, I'm sorry about your loss. Obviously, if there's anything I can do...

Arnold Rothstein: There is actually. You can kill someone for me to settle a debt. I have it on good authority that a James Darmody of Atlantic City was one of the two shooters.

Lucky Luciano: Who was the other one?

Arnold Rothstein: I don't know. But I'd bet you're persuasive enough to get Darmody to tell you.

Lucky Luciano: That's a good bet.

Arnold Rothstein: The only kind I make.

Arnold Rothstein: Meyer, Charlie, I believe you know Mr. Masseria.

Lucky Luciano: Everybody knows Joe the boss.

Arnold Rothstein: Then perhaps you also know, though it is of course news to me, that a card game you operate is located in territory that Mr. Masseria considers to be his.

Joe Masseria: Not considers! Is mine.

Arnold Rothstein: My thinking was, before any more blood is shed, that a compromise can be reached.

Meyer Lansky: More blood?

Joe Masseria: Tompkins Square Park, my two nephews?

[imitates throat-cutting]

Lucky Luciano: I don't know what you're talking about.

Arnold Rothstein: Apparently two of Mr. Masseria's emissaries to your establishment were murdered shortly after their visit.

Meyer Lansky: We do operate a game in what might be termed a grey area territorially. But as to any violence in the neighborhood...

Joe Masseria: They stab themself, eh?

Lucky Luciano: A coincidence then. It happens.

Joe Masseria: On my streets, no coincidence.

[indicates Charlie]

Joe Masseria: This little prick, since he's 10 years old he causes problems.

Arnold Rothstein: It seems to me you boys ought to extend a token of goodwill towards Mr. Masseria. Shall we say a one-time fee of $2,000 for the families of those gentlemen and a tax of 10% on the game going forward?

Lucky Luciano: Hold on a fuckin' second...

Arnold Rothstein: Charlie.

Joe Masseria: 10% is okay. For now.

Arnold Rothstein: Then we have an agreement?

[shake hands]

Joe Masseria: [in Italian] What are you doing with these Christ-killers? Come with me, I'll make you rich.

Lucky Luciano: [in Italina] With your other hand in my pockets.

Joe Masseria: [in Italian] I'm watching you, boy. Every fucking step.

[Luciano stands up angrily]

Arnold Rothstein: Charlie.

Lucky Luciano: A.R., two grand is bad enough, but 10% of the fucking game?

Meyer Lansky: We already pay half the take on that game to you.

Arnold Rothstein: Yes. And now you boys know why.