The Mob and the Robot

Crime Drama • Science Fiction • 111 pages • Set in 1967 South Philadelphia

The Mob

The Robot

In 1967 South Philadelphia, after the Mafia murders two members of his fugitive family, a brilliant robotics student turns his advanced robot against the Sicilian and Philadelphia crime families hunting them.

Synopsis

When the patriarch of the Rossi family refuses to pay protection money, the Mafia murders him in Palermo, Italy. The surviving Rossis retaliate by killing Don Giuseppe Bontade, but their revenge makes Italy too dangerous for them. They flee to South Philadelphia, assume new identities, and try to build ordinary lives.

Don Giuseppe’s son, Anthony Bontade, receives permission to avenge his father’s death. He enlists South Philadelphia’s Annaloro crime family to locate the fugitives, and two more members of the Rossi family are murdered as the Mafia closes in.

Vincenzo Rossi—now living as James DeMeo—studies artificial intelligence and weaponized robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. When the Bontade and Annaloro families discover the truth, James and his advanced robot make a stand against the Mafia—and turn the hunters into the hunted.

FADE IN:

INT. HOME OF FRANCESCO AND ANNA ROSSI, SUMMER, CAFACI,

PALERMO ITALY- MORNING

ANNA ROSSI, 29, married at 17, classic Italian looks, dearly

loves her husband and children

BENITO ROSSI, 12, wiry, oldest child, very protective, oldest

male in an Italian family

ANNA ROSSI

Benito, you are going with your father

to the shop today to help so get

dressed and have some breakfast

BENITO ROSSI

Yes, mama.

INT. 1960 CHEESE SHOP OF FRANCESCO ROSSI - MOB ENFORCER

VISITS- MORNING

MARIO BRUSCA, Mob enforcer, His face shows a lifetime of

violence

FRANCESCO ROSSI, 29, husband to Anna, owner of cheese shop,

serious, a man of principle

ENFORCER MARIO BRUSCA

Francesco, I come as a friend. As

you know, recently, some store owners

have had unfortunate accidents.

Their stores have burned down, they

have tripped and fallen down basement

steps, their produce has rotted. I

am here to offer you protection.

You have a family to feed and it

would be unfortunate if something

were to happen to your store or

yourself and you could not make a

living. We would only ask for twenty

percent of the money you take in

each week and I will guarantee that

nothing bad will happen

FRANCESCO ROSSI

I know who you are and who you work

for. I do not need your protection.

I want you out of my store. You are

Mafia scum. You have no honor. You

feed off of honest people. Get out.

ENFORCER MARIO BRUSCA

You have a beautiful family Francesco.

It would be a shame if there was an

accident. These things happen

sometimes. I will leave and give

you until tomorrow by noon to decide.

Believe me when I say I am only

thinking of your welfare and your

family.

FRANCESCO ROSSI

Get out

ENFORCER MARIO BRUSCA

I will be back tomorrow at noon for

your answer Fancesco. I would think

long and hard before saying no.

INT. HOME OF FRANCESCO AND ANNA ROSSI - LATER

FRANCESCO ROSSI

Anna, I had a visitor from the Bontade

family. He offered me protection

for twenty percent of my income. He

threatened my store and our family.

I threw him out but he will be back

tomorrow by noon for an answer.

ANNA ROSSI

Francesco, I know the Bontade family.

My father also refused and he was

murdered. We must pay, Francesco.

Think of our children.

FRANCESCO ROSSI

I will not pay un centesimo. I am

not afraid. My brothers will fight

with me against these feccia

(scum)

ANNA ROSSI

I am afraid Francesco. They will

murder you and destroy our shop.

They will murder our children. They

have no honor.

INT. 1960 CHEESE SHOP OF FRANCESCO ROSSI - DAY

ENFORCER MARIO BRUSCA

It is noon Francesco and I have

returned for your answer. Are you

willing to accept our protection?

Please my friend, for your family's

sake, say yes.

FRANCESCO ROSSI

(to Benito)

Go to the back Benito and tend to

the shelves.

(to Enforcer Mario

Brusca)

FRANCESCO ROSSI

I accept nothing and again, I say,

get out before I throw you out.

You are not welcome here. If any

harm comes to my family, I will

personally cut your throat and feed

your body to the pigs

ENFORCER MARIO BRUSCA

You have been warned Francesco.

There is nothing more I can say.

You have chosen your fate and that

of your family

EXT. 1960 CHEESE SHOP OF FRANCESCO ROSSI - NIGHT

Mario Brusca and a soldier of the Bontade family drive by

Francesco's cheese shop and throw a bomb through the window.

It explodes killing Francesco and destroying the shop. Benito

in the back is not harmed but he remembers the name, 'Bontade'

INT. HOME OF FRANCESCO AND ANNA ROSSI -NEWS OF FRANCESCO

MURDER LATER

GIOVANNI ROSSI, 26, brother of Francesco Rossi

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Anna, I have to tell you something

bad. Francesco has been murdered.

The cowards threw a bomb through his

shop window

Anna Rossi falls to the ground grief stricken Giovanni lifts

her to a chair

ANNA ROSSI

Oh no Giovanni, Benito was with

Francesco. I had sent him with his

father. Is he murdered too? Please

no, not my husband AND my child

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Benito is unharmed Anna. He was in

the back of the shop behind shelves

when the bomb exploded but he saw

everything after the explosion He

is not the same boy

ANNA ROSSI

It was Don Giuseppe, Giovanni. His

enforcer, Mario Brusca came to the

shop selling protection and Francesco

threw him out.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Why didn't Francesco tell me? We

would have come to the shop today.

ANNA ROSSI

He was going to tell you. He thought

there was time. It all happened so

fast

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We will handle Don Giuseppe. He

thinks he is a pezzonovante

(man in power)

But he is a coward. It is not safe

here for you and the children. We

have a cousin in America who will

help you. Quickly, pack for yourself

and the children. Take only what

you will need and I will drive you

to Naples to board a boat for America

INT. HOME OF FRANCESCO AND ANNA ROSSI -MAKE PLANS TO LEAVE

ITALY -MORNING

ANNA ROSSI

Benito, we have to make plans to

leave Palermo. It is not safe for

us here. Don Giuseppe will harm us

if we stay. Your father has a cousin

in America and he will help us. We

do not have much time. We can tell

the children we are leaving to visit

with relatives in America and your

father will join us later.

BENITO ROSSI

I am not afraid mama. I will protect

you and my brothers and sisters. I

will kill Don Giuseppe

ANNA ROSSI

You will kill no one Benito. God

and your uncles will deal with Don

Giuseppe. But now we have to prepare

the children for this long trip.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOME OF FRANCESCO AND ANNA ROSSI - EVENING

Francesco's four brothers, Giovanni, 26, Bernardo, 23,

Antonio, 21 and Vincenzo, 19, armed with rifles and knives

stand guard.

Two of Don Giuseppe's soldiers approach the house, guns out

but are met by Bernardo and Antonio Rossi who first wound

and then cut their throats as a message to Don Giuseppe and

to avenge their brother's death.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Vaffanculo Stronzi

(pronounced va fan

gool -fuck you,

assholes)

EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOME OF FRANCESCO AND ANNA ROSSI - MORNING

Anna and her children walk with their bags to a waiting car

driven by Giovanni Rossi with VINCENZO ROSSI riding shotgun.

Bernardo and Antonio Rossi stay behind to slow down Don

Giuseppe's men. Anna and the children are driven to the

Port of Naples where they will board the SS Independence to

travel to New York. They will be met there by Carmine Rossi,

their American cousin.

EXT. THE WHARF WHERE THE SS INDEPENDENCE IS DOCKED - MORNING

Spoken softly so the children can't hear

ANNA ROSSI

Grazie Giovanni, please be careful.

Don Giuseppe will not forget. He

will send his soldiers after you and

your brothers

ANGELICA ROSSI, 10 years old

ANGELICA ROSSI

Mama, where is papa? Why isn't he

here? We can't leave without papa.

CARMINE ROSSI, Anna and Francesco's 2nd son

CARMINE ROSSI, ANNA'S SON

Where is papa mama?

BENITO ROSSI

Papa will come later. We are going

to see our relatives in America. We

are going on a vacation. Papa must

work but he will join us.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We will be careful Anna. We are

going to the mountains to hide.

Please let us know when you are safe

in America.

ANNA ROSSI

He has many soldiers and money. He

will put contracts on your lives.

You will not be safe.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We will be fine Anna. Protect your

children. Our Philadelphia cousin

Carmine is expecting you and he knows

about the danger.

Anna and the children board the ship and find their cabins

EXT. CAMPSITE, MADONIE MOUNTAINS OUTSIDE OF PALERMO - NIGHT

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Vincenzo, you stand guard first.

Fire your gun into the air if you

see any of Don Giuseppe's men We

will take six hour shifts

Don Giuseppe has sent four of his soldiers to kill the Rossi

brothers They are quietly sneaking up on the Rossi camp

site. Bernardo who is standing guard spots them and fires

his gun and he is immediately shot and killed by Giuseppe's

men

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Wake up, they are here. Bernardo

has fired the warning shot

Giuseppe's men start to run the remaining 200 yards to the

Rossi campsite The brothers grab their rifles and take aim

killing two of Giuseppe's men immediately

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We have shot two of them The rest

are in the bushes We will have to

flush them out

The brothers set the bushes on fire and wait with rifles

ready. The remaining two assassins run out of the burning

bushes and the brothers shoot and kill one and capture the

other.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Now we will send another message to

Don Giuseppe

(to the remaining

live soldier)

So, your boss has sent you to kill

us and you sneak up like cowards in

the night You have no honor You

are Don Giuseppe's whores

ANTONIO ROSSI

(Out of breath, running

back to the campsite

after discovering

Bernardo's body)

Giovanni, Bernardo is dead, they

have killed Bernardo

GIOVANNI ROSSI

That is the last 'Rossi' Don Giuseppe

will ever kill. He is about to meet

the devil.

Giovanni quickly cuts the remaining prisoner's throat and

watches as he slowly bleeds out

EXT. DON GIUSEPPE'S HOUSE -CAR WITH FOUR DEAD MOBSTERS

MORNING

A car with four dead men, Don Giuseppe's assassins, has been

parked all night outside the fence at Don Giuseppe's house

with the message repeated on the windshield-

Vaffanculo, stronzi

EXT. DON GIUSEPPE'S HOUSE -DON GIUSEPPE MURDERED BY ANTONIO

ROSSI AFTERNOON

Antonio who is the best shot of the Rossi brothers perches

in a tree 100 yards from Don Giuseppe's home with a clear

view of the front door He sees Don Giuseppe exiting his

home surrounded by bodyguards. He aims and fires hitting

Don Giuseppe in the head who dies instantly

EXT. MADONIE MOUNTAINS OUTSIDE OF PALERMO -WE HAVE KILLED A

DON LATER

ANTONIO ROSSI

It is done Giovanni, Vincenzo

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We have killed a Don. Our lives are

worth nothing now We must leave the

country They will send many men to

these mountains to kill us

ANTONIO ROSSI

And where would we go? It is not

safe for us anywhere in Italy now.

The black hand will find us

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We will go to America and join

Carmine, Anna and the children

ANTONIO ROSSI

Don Giuseppe has connections in

America He will find us there too

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Then we will do what is necessary.

We will learn how to protect our

family If we are going to die anyway,

we might as well do it fighting.

EXT. ON THE SS INDEPENDENCE AS IT COMES INTO PORT -

AFTERNOON

Anna Rossi stands by the ship railing looking for Carmine

Rossi, Francesco's Philadelphia cousin who her son is named

after She sees a sign with her name on it carried by Carmine

and waves furiously

EXT. NEW YORK DOCK- MOMENTS LATER

CARMINE ROSSI, 35, cousin to Rossi brothers, makes his way

to Anna and the children and they hug

ANNA ROSSI

Carmine, it is so good to see you.

The children are tired but excited.

They think we are on vacation and

Francesco will join us later. Benito

knows the truth but the rest do not.

INT. HOME OF CARMINE AND MARIE IN SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - LATER

MARIE ROSSI, wife to Carmine, 30

MARIE ROSSI

Anna, welcome. And just look at

these children. They will liven up

this house. Carmine and I want to

have children but we are still

practicing until we get it right.

Anna speaks to Marie quietly out of ear shot

ANNA ROSSI

Marie, thank you. You and Carmine

have saved us from death. Don

Giuseppe would surely have murdered

us as an example to others. I have

some money that Francesco and I saved.

I know the cheese business and I

want to open my own shop here in

Philadelphia so we can pay our bills

and pay you back.

MARIE ROSSI

Don't worry about that now. Just

rest and settle in. Tomorrow we

will take the children to Atlantic

City

ANNA ROSSI

Benito knows about Francesco Marie.

He was in the back of the shop when

it happened. He saw everything. He

is acting like the man but he has a

lot of anger. I am worried he will

grow up hating.

EXT. ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY BEACH - AFTERNOON

Anna and the children play on the beach with Carmine and his

wife as Benito just sits on a blanket staring into space.

INT. ITALIAN MARKET, 9TH STREET -LOCATIONS FOR CHEESE SHOP

MORNING

Anna and Carmine scout locations for Anna's cheese shop.

They are walking in the South Philadelphia Italian Market

CARMINE ROSSI, THE UNCLE

The Italian Market is a good site

Anna. Everyone comes here to shop

especially tourists. It is always

busy and you will be with other

Italians. The children will be safe.

ANNA ROSSI

I like this location. And I can

bring the children here during work.

INT. THE HOME OF DON SALVATORE ESPOSITO, PALERMO -PERMISSION

TO KILL -NIGHT

Don Salvatore is the reigning Don in Sicily Other Dons go

to him for advice and permission to act

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

Don Salvatore, the Rossi brothers

have killed my father, Don Giuseppe

and I want satisfaction. They shot

him like a dog from up in a tree

Only a coward would kill like that.

I learned today that they have left

Italy for America.

DON SALVATORE ESPOSITO

They have murdered a 'Don'. We will

reach out to our friends in America

and we will find them. If we allow

this to go unpunished, it will send

a message that made men can be killed

at will. We cannot allow that. You

have permission to avenge your father.

(to his Consigliere)

Station men at the airports and docks

in New York and Philadelphia If the

Rossisarrive I want to know

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

I want to be the one to kill these

men Don Salvatore It was MY father

they murdered

DON SALVATORE ESPOSITO

You will Anthony but first we must

find them

EXT. THE DOCK NEW YORK ROSSI BROTHERS LAND IN AMERICA -

AFTERNOON

Giovanni, Antonio and Vincenzo have arrived in New York via

the SS United States. They are wearing overcoats with the

collars pulled way up and hats pulled down low covering faces.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We have made it this far but we still

have to be careful The Black Hand

has a long arm and it reaches across

the ocean We must constantly look

over our shoulders

Carmine is there to meet the brothers. Two soldiers from

Don Angelo's family are also waiting at the dock, spot the

brothers and write down Carmine's license number

INT. DINNER AT HOME OF CARMINE AND MARIE IN SOUTH

PHILADELPHIA - AFTERNOON

ANNA ROSSI

Giovanni, Antonio, Vincenzo, where

is Bernardo?

ANTONIO ROSSI

He did not make it Anna. Don

Giuseppe's men killed him as we fought

them in the mountains.

ANNA ROSSI

I am sorry. I only wish Francesco

were here with you

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We have killed Don Giuseppe Anna.

We have killed a 'Don' and they will

hunt for us even in America. We

cannot be near you and the children

Our presence puts your lives in

jeopardy

ANNA ROSSI

I understand but family is important

Giovanni. We must find a way to

stay together

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Don Giuseppe's son by now has gone

to Don Salvatore for permission to

avenge his father. They will attack

when we least expect it so we have

to be vigilant

ANNA ROSSI

Where will you live? Where will you

work Giovanni?

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We will find work and a place to

live and try to stay out of sight

ANTONIO ROSSI

We must fight back Giovanni. We

cannot wait for them to make the 1st

move

GIOVANNI ROSSI

But who do we fight? We don't know

who will come after us. We don't

know the enemy yet Antonio. We have

to wait and see. We have to listen

for our enemies.

VINCENZO ROSSI

And what kind of work can we get?

We are dumb immigrants from the old

country. Who will hire us? We have

no skills.

GIOVANNI ROSSI

You Vincenzo will go to college.

You will become a lawyer. We will

need a lawyer in the family in this

new country.

VINCENZO ROSSI

Giovanni, me, college?

GIOVANNI ROSSI

Yes Vincenzo, you, college. We will

need legal counsel someday to deal

with the police and politicians once

we start our businesses

VINCENZO ROSSI

Well my brothers, we have a plan but

no prospects for work yet

GIOVANNI ROSSI

We will have to change our names

before we apply for work, a name

that is very different from Rossi We

don't want to make it too easy for

them to find us. It has to be simple

enough for the children to remember.

Our new last name will be Demeo. I

am now John Demeo, Vincenzo, you

will be James Demeo and Antonio,

you'll be Tony Demeo. If asked, our

home was Camini in Calabria, not

Cafaci, Palermo.

(to Anna)

Anna, your new name will be 'Lucci'.

Soon enough and they will be hunting

anyone with the name 'Rossi'.

INT. LOCAL 54 UNION HEADQUARTERS EMPLOYMENT OFFICE -JOHN A

NEW JOB MORNING

John Demeo (aka Giovanni Rossi) applying for work in

construction

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

I am new in this country and I need

work

UNION CLERK

What skills do you have? Bricklaying?

Carpentry?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

I don't have skills. I farmed in

the old country

UNION CLERK

How long have you been here?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

About three months.

UNION CLERK

Are you a union member?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

No, I'm not. How do I become a union

member?

UNION CLERK

No problem John. We'll have you

fill out an application and then

we'll see about a job

John Demeo (aka Giovanni Rossi) fills out the paperwork and

is now a member of the local 54 and hired as a gopher on a

construction site

INT. THE DEMEO BROTHERS' APARTMENT 1964 -JAMES DRAFTED

MORNING

An official draft notice comes in the mail for James Demeo

(aka Vincenzo Rossi). James opens it

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

It looks like I'm going to war

Antonio. They want me to report for

my physical in 10 days. College

will have to wait for a couple of

years.

TONY DEMEO (AKA ANTONIO ROSSI)

You've only been here four years and

they are already sending you to fight?

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

I don't have a choice brother. The

government knows I'm here and that's

better than the Black Hand.

INT. THE DEMEO BROTHERS' APARTMENT TWO DAYS LATER-TONY

DRAFTED MORNING

Another official draft notice comes in the mail, this time

for Tony. James opens it

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

It looks like I'm going to have

company in Vietnam brother. You

have to report for a physical on the

same day that I do.

TONY DEMEO (AKA ANTONIO ROSSI)

Well, now it's official. We are

American. We have the right to die

for our new country

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

It will be strange Antonio if we

were to die fighting the Vietnamese

and not La Cosa Nostra. We should

tell Giovanni that he will be alone

for a while. Maybe the whole Don

Giuseppe thing will go away.

TONY DEMEO (AKA ANTONIO ROSSI)

Young Bontade will not forget. He

will not give up looking for us as

long as he believes we are alive.

EXT. LA DRANG VALLEY, SOUTH VIETNAM, NOVEMBER 14, 1965 -

MORNING

James Demeo (aka Vincenzo Rossi) of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry

Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division and his unit, after two days

and nights of fighting, repulsed the North Vietnamese

inflicting heavy losses. James survives and is going home.

His time in the military is up.

EXT. LA DRANG, NOVEMBER 17, 1965 NORTH VIETNAMESE ATTACK -

TONY MORNING

The North Vietnamese overrun American forces. Tony Demeo

(aka Antonio Rossi) of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry watches

as American soldiers die in large numbers. Tony is severely

wounded and is sent home.

MEDIC

This one is still alive but needs

medical attention right away. He's

going home.

EXT. SOUTH PHILADELPHIA STREET CORNER, 1968 -TONY ON STREET

CORNERS NIGHT

Tony Demeo (aka Antonio Rossi), back home after active duty,

starts hanging on south Philadelphia street corners with mob

wannabes. Young turks, John Vecchi, Billy Vecchi, Michael

'Mickey Bats' Gianola, Salvatore Tasca and Tony Demeo (aka

Antonio Rossi)

JOHN VECCHI

There's a lot of money in drugs like

meth

MICHAEL 'MICKEY BATS' GIANOLA

That's true but Don Angelo won't let

us deal drugs

JOHN VECCHI

Don Angelo doesn't have to know

SALVATORE TASCA

If he finds out, you're dead

JOHN VECCHI

Yeah, but who is gonna tell him

MICHAEL 'MICKEY BATS' GIANOLA

It'll get out. Eventually someone

will rat

JOHN VECCHI

Yeah but Don Angelo will just tell

us to stop. There are guys dealin'

drugs and he looks the other way but

he takes his cut anyway.

(to Tony Demeo (aka

Antonio Rossi) (aka

Rossi) (aka Rossi)

Tony, you ever done drugs?

TONY DEMEO (AKA ANTONIO ROSSI)

Some, in Vietnam. They were easy to

get and all that time in a foxhole

waiting for the VC... I ain't done

drugs since I got back.

JOHN VECCHI

I have a supplier. We'll put it out

on the street Times are changing -

and Don Angelo isn't changing with

them

INT. THE SOCIAL CLUB OF SOUTH PHILA. -PICK UP CARMINE

AFTERNOON

'Wiseguys' playing cards, TV on in background

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Our friends in Palermo have reached

out to us to help them with a problem.

It seems that Don Giuseppe Bontade

was murdered by a civilian and his

son, young Bontade wants revenge.

He has been granted permission by

Don Salvatore to avenge his father.

They have confirmed that these men

have made it to our shores and are

somewhere in south Philadelphia.

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

We traced the license plate they

gave us to a Carmine Rossi, a cousin

to these Rossi brothers. He was at

the dock to meet them

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Then, we pick up this 'cousin' and

talk to him. We will find out where

these 'brothers' are

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

What if he don't cooperate?

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Then we will convince him it's in

his best interest to talk to us.

Find out if he has a family. We can

use them if he does not cooperate.

EXT. OUTSIDE CARMINE ROSSISHOUSE AS HE GOES TO WORK -

MORNING

Big 'AL' Mangano and two mob soldiers jump out of a van and

grab Carmine Rossi forcing him into the van and quickly drive

away

INT. ITALIAN SOCIAL OF SOUTH PHILADELPHIA BACK ROOM -

MOMENTS LATER

Carmine Rossi is tied to a chair in the back room of the

Italian Social Club and two wise guys are questioning him

FRANK 'BIG TUNA' AMATO

Where are your cousins, the Rossi

brothers?

CARMINE ROSSI, THE UNCLE

I don't know what you're talking

about

FRANK 'BIG TUNA' AMATO

We saw you meet them at the dock.

Where did you take them?

CARMINE ROSSI, THE UNCLE

My cousins live in Italy. We don't

talk. We ain't close

A wise guy hits Carmine's kneecap with a pipe Carmine screams

FRANK 'BIG TUNA' AMATO

Ya gotta understand that we ain't

foolin' around. If you wanna walk

out of here alive, ya gotta tell us

what we need to know

CARMINE ROSSI, THE UNCLE

fongoul cazzo

(fuck you dick)

A wise guy hits Carmine's other kneecap with a pipe Carmine

again screams in pain

FRANK 'BIG TUNA' AMATO

This is your last chance tough guy.

We ain't gonna ask no more. Where

are these Rossi brothers?

CARMINE ROSSI, THE UNCLE

Va fan Culo

(Go Fuck Yourself))

Frank (Big Tuna) Amato gives the signal and a wise guy shoots

Carmine twice behind the ear. Carmine Rossi is dead

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

You gotta give it to him. This guy

died like a man You didn't use his

wife, why not

FRANK 'BIG TUNA' AMATO

He pissed me off and I forgot. We

still don't know where these bastards

are

EXT. PHILA. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ALITALIA FLIGHT ARRIVING

FROM ITALY - AFTERNOON

Airplane coming in for a landing from Italy

INT. PHILA. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CUSTOMS- - MOMENTS LATER

Anthony Bontade arrives with two soldiers of the Bontade

family and are clearing customs. Two of Don Angelo's men

meet them and drive them to The Italian Social Club.

INT. THE ITALIAN SOCIAL CLUB OF SOUTH PHILADELPHIA BACK ROOM -

LATER

Anthony Bontade and his two soldiers seated with Don Angelo

and his underboss and consigliere in back room talking

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Welcome young Bontade. I was sorry

to hear about your father. We have

killed the American cousin of these

Rossi brothers

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

Did you find out where the Rossi

brothers live?

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

No, we did not get that information.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

You killed the cousin before he told

you where the Rossi brothers are

hiding? Why would you kill him

without getting information? In my

country these men would be dead.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

My men acted without orders. They

have been dealt with. We have the

word out on the street, but so far,

nothing.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

They most likely have changed their

name. Have any new families moved

into your territory Don Angelo?

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Families are constantly moving into

our area.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

We have checked all of the passenger

lists from ships docking in New York

after my father was murdered and we

found Anna Rossisname. We have also

found the three Rossi brothers but

we do not know where they are now,

just that they got off the boat in

New York

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Do you know what these Rossi brothers

look like?

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

No, I never met them in Palermo but

I have a description of Anna Rossi.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Give us a description, we will have

our people look out for this woman

and she will lead us to the brothers.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

I also want the male children of

Anna and Francesco Rossi.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Why the children? We do not kill

children.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

Young boys will eventually grow up

and want to avenge their father. It

is better to kill them now.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

You will not kill children young

Bontade.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

I have permission from Don Salvatore.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

I respect Don Salvatore but he is in

Italy. In America, if you kill

children, you will bring down the

full force of the law. No, you will

not kill the children of Anna Rossi

EXT. SOUTH PHILA. 9TH STREET- ITALIAN MOBSTERS LOOKING FOR

ANNA - DAY

Anthony Bontade Jr. and two Italian mobsters are walking up

and down 9th street looking for Anna, a woman around 35,

five feet three inches, dark brown hair, brown eyes

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

We are looking for a woman, five

feet three, dark brown hair and eyes

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

This is like looking for the, how do

you say, 'needle in the hay'. All

of these women have dark brown hair

and brown eyes. They are all Italian.

Italian women all look like that.

We need a picture.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 2

Why don't we ask some store owners

about new customers.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

Look around you. How many tall or

blond women do you see?

ITALIAN MOBSTER 2

I get it but this is getting us

nowhere. I am hungry for some good

prosciutto.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

Let's stop in that cheese shop up

the street.

The two mobsters enter Anna's cheese shop and are a few feet

away from her with no idea she is their prey.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

A half pound of Provolone and a pound

of Prosciutto.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

(sensing these men

are foreigners from

Italy)

I'll be with you soon after I cut

the Mozzarella for Mr. Pascalini

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

We ain't got all day lady. He can

wait.

STORE CUSTOMER

Wait your turn.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

Only in America do we get talked to

like this from a 'Pezza Di Merda'

(Piece Of Shit)

STORE CUSTOMER

Who are you calling a 'piece of shit'?

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

So, you understand Italian

STORE CUSTOMER

You dumbass, this is 9th street. We

all understand Italian, even a fucking

low class dialect like yours.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

You bastardo, kiss my ass.

STORE CUSTOMER

Kiss your ass? You fuckin' old

country scum.

The Italian mobster stabs the customer six time in quick

succession and the two mobsters run out of the store

INT. ITALIAN SOCIAL CLUB OF SOUTH PHILA. - LATER

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

You are in our country only three

days and you kill a civilian?

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

He was being disrespectful, Don

Angelo.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

That is not what was reported to me.

You were impatient, would not wait

your turn in the cheese shop. You

provoked this man.

ITALIAN MOBSTER 2

I swear, we were just minding our

business. We just wanted some

provolone and prosciutto.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

You have brought the police into our

lives, you stupid "cretino's"

(idiots)

This is not Palermo. The polizia

will not look the other way when a

civilian is murdered by the Black

Hand. There will be an investigation.

You three must return to Italy. You

cannot be associated with us.

Already, the newspapers have the

story on page one. There are eye

witnesses.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

We cannot go back to Italy until our

job is done here

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

You either go back or you die

INT. THE HOTEL ROOM OF ANTHONY BONTADE - EVENING

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

Why do we take orders form these

Americans. They are not the true La

Cosa Nostra

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

Let them believe that we are following

their orders for now. When the time

comes, we will do what is necessary

ITALIAN MOBSTER 1

This Don Angelo has many soldiers.

This would be dangerous.

ANTHONY BONTADE JR

I WILL avenge my father's murder.

We will return and take care of the

Rossi brothers. We do not take orders

from these AMERICANS.

INT. CABIN OF AIR ITALIA FLIGHT TO ITALY -MOBSTERS RETURN TO

ITALY MORNING

The three Italian mobsters board the flight and await takeoff

to return to Italy

INT. HOME OF ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI) - MORNING

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Giovanni, three men from Palermo

came into my shop yesterday. They

were La Cosa Nostra. They murdered

one of my customers.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

How do you know they were from the

Palermo?

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

By their dialect. No Italians here

speak like that. I grew up with

that dialect. I would know it

anywhere.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

Then they are here and they have

help. Anthony Bontade has gotten

permission from Don Salvatore to

kill us and your sons.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

(very agitated)

They will not kill my children,

Giovanni. I will kill them first.

They have taken my husband and

Carmine. That is all they will have.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

Don't worry Anna. We will protect

you.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

How will you do that Giovanni? Will

you be here every minute? Will you

guard the house like you did in

Palermo? You had three brothers

then. Now you have two brothers and

one brother is in three hundred miles

away at college. Carmine is dead

and Benito and young Carmine cannot

fight these gangsters. No, I will

buy a gun.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

I will ask friends in my union for

help.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

You cannot do that Giovanni. Don

Angelo controls the union. They

will know we are the Rossisand will

find out where we live and then we

are all dead.

INT. EXPERIMENTAL ROBOTICS LAB, CARNEGIE MELLON - MORNING

James has returned from Vietnam and has been accepted as a

PhD. Candidate at The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon

in Pittsburgh under the GI bill.

CLASSMATE 1

Why are you studying robotics?

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

I was in Vietnam. I've seen men

without arms, legs--

CLASSMATE 1

--And now you want to help make them

whole again

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

I owe that much to them. It was

heartbreaking to watch them try to

be men again. No one should have to

live like that.

INT. HOME OF ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI) - NIGHT

ANGELICA LUCCI

Mom, I want to follow uncle Jim to

Carnegie Mellon. I want to study

Artificial Intelligence

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

What is this Artificial Intelligence?

ANGELICA LUCCI

It is where we can make machines

listen to us. We can make them work

for us, make them smart.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

What do you mean, 'make them smart'?

'Smart' like people?

ANGELICA LUCCI

Yes, well almost as smart as people

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

And what will you do with this

knowledge, once you can make machines

smart?

ANGELICA LUCCI

It is the future mom. In the future

robots will clean houses, fight wars

and even operate on people

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Basta

(Stop, enough)

And what will people do then? Will

we just lay around and eat grapes?

Who ever heard of such a thing.

What will they think of next.

ANGELICA LUCCI

No, mama, it's true. I have been

reading about it for a year. Uncle

Jim is studying it now.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

And how will we pay for this

education? The cheese shop barely

makes enough to pay rent and buy

food.

ANGELICA LUCCI

Uncle John said he would help and I

could get a part time job. I could

apply for scholarships. There is a

big demand for this knowledge and

they pay a lot of money to people

who know this.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

They pay women a lot of money? You

daydream my child. Meet a handsome

boy, make babies and settle down.

It is what women have been born to

do. Let the men go out and make the

money. You take care of the babies

ANGELICA LUCCI

Please madre, I want to do this.

There will be plenty of time to make

babies. You just want grandchildren.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

I wouldn't mind a few grand babies.

ANGELICA LUCCI

Let me do this first and someday,

I'll make babies for you.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Look at you, talking so cocky. Women

in the old country would never talk

like that. My generation were trained

to obey and be silent for our husbands

and we got along just fine

ANGELICA LUCCI

This is America mama. It is different

here for women. We can go to college

and make money.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Bene. If that is what you want my

child, You should do it. Bear with

me Angelica. I have been trained

differently than American women.

ANGELICA LUCCI

Thank you. I got my brains from you

and papa and I should use them for

something else besides only making

babies

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI) (ROSSI)

Madonn, what have I created

ANGELICA LUCCI

I love you madre. It will work out.

You will see

INT. LUCCI'S CHEESE SHOP 9TH STREET -BLACKS IN SOUTH PHILA

MORNING

Time has passed. The Angelo Bontade junior has not returned.

It is 1968 Benito, 19, is cutting cheese for a customer

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Mr. DeLuca, the usual? Gorgonzola?

One pound?

CARLO DELUCA

Yes Benito. You know me well

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

I should Mr. DeLuca, you have been

coming here every Friday for the

same order for the past three years

like clockwork and always for one

pound of Gorgonzola.

Benito cuts one pound from the Gorgonzola cheese block

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Here is your cheese Mr. DeLuca, see

you next Friday

CARLO DELUCA

Grazie Benito. Please say hello to

your mother for me.

Benito's friend, Dominic comes into the store

DOMINIC MORETTI

Benny, we have to meet tonight and

plan our fight with the melon

johnnies.

(blacks)

They are coming to our territory and

botherin' our Italian girls. We

have to teach 'em a lesson they won't

forget.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Dom, I can't get in any more trouble.

I go to prison the next time I'm

arrested. I got a record for fighting

and the police are watching me.

DOMINIC MORETTI

We have to do this Benny or they'll

be coming here anytime they want and

attacking our women. We gotta teach

'em they ain't welcome on our turf

and if they don't listen, then--

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

--OK Dominic, I will get our friends

and meet you at Packer Park at seven.

INT. CAR WITH BENITO, DOMINIC AND THE GANG-SEE BLACK BOY

WITH WHITE GIRL LATER

Benito, Dominic and three fellow gang members drive through

south Philadelphia streets looking for blacks and find a

black boy with a Italian girl walking on 11th street

DOMINIC MORETTI

Madone, will you look at that. One

of our puttana's with a nigger.

(two beats)

What the fuck! Benny, that's your

sister, Angelica.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

He ain't gonna make it outta here in

one piece.

EXT. SOUTH PHILADELPHIA STREET -ANGELICA, MARKUS BEATING

CONTINUOUS

Benito stops the car, jumps out and runs to the couple, his

sister Angelica and Markus her black friend

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

What are you doing with a bingo-bongo

Angelica? Have you lost your fuckin'

mind? Go home. I will deal with

you later

ANGELICA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

No Benito, I am not leaving. He is

my friend. You are not going to

hurt him. You are still living in

Palermo. This is America. You can't

tell me who I can see

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

You are going home even if I have to

carry you. No sister of mine will

date niggers.

MARKUS, ANGELICA'S BLACK FRIEND

Wait Benito. We go to school

together, that's all.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Shut up nigger. If this were down

south, you'd be dead already. We

have to teach you a lesson you won't

forget.

Benito grabs Angelica and forces her into the car where she

is held back by Benito's friends.

Benito, Dominic and the rest of the gang beat Markus with

fists, feet and baseball bats

ANGELICA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

You are killing him, you bastardos.

He did nothing to you. You bastardos!

A home owner is watching and calls the police who arrive as

Markus is being beaten The others run but Benito can't stop

his rage. He looks possessed as he keeps kicking Markus

even as the police arrive The police have to pull him

away He is the only one arrested The others get away

POLICE OFFICER 1

Well, Benito, it's been a while,

maybe three months since we last

met. It looks like you're at it

again. You wops can't stay out of

trouble, can you. I knew you'd

eventually fuck up again but I thought

it would take longer. This makes

you a three time loser and your going

into the system

Benito stays silent He will take the blame It is the street

code for hoodlums not to rat

INT. PHILADELPHIA JUVENILE COURT, BENITO TO ENLIST-

AFTERNOON

LEON V. HAMILTON, JUVENILE COURT JUDGE

Mr. Lucci, you have been before this

court on two previous occasions for

aggravated assault and battery. You

have put two men into the hospital

by beating them mercilessly. You

cannot control your anger. This is

your third offense, strike three Mr.

Lucci.

BENITO'S COURT APPOINTED LAWYER

Your honor, we have reached a plea

deal with the prosecution. We believe

that Mr. Lucci is a danger to society

and to himself but prison would only

make him a more hardened criminal.

We think that he can be rehabilitated

by enlisting in the military. We

think a tour of duty would force Mr.

Lucci to grow up quickly and

eventually join society as a

contributing member.

LEON V. HAMILTON, JUVENILE COURT JUDGE

Anything to get Mr. Lucci out of my

district. Does the prosecution agree

with this assessment?

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

We do your honor.

LEON V. HAMILTON, JUVENILE COURT JUDGE

Then, so be it. Have Mr. Lucci enlist

in the military and bring the

paperwork back so the court can

verify.

BENITO'S COURT APPOINTED LAWYER

Thank you your honor

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

Thank you your honor

LEON V. HAMILTON, JUVENILE COURT JUDGE

Next.

INT. ARMY BARRACKS AT SAIGON -BENITO IN VIETNAM MORNING

SARGEANT O'MALLEY

Lucci! Is that eye-tal-yan? Is

that a wop name? This ain't

Philadelphia Lucci. Welcome to my

world greaseball.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Yes sir Sargeant O'Malley

SARGEANT O'MALLEY

That's just Sargeant to you Lucci.

I know my last name, you don't have

to repeat it or this is gonna be a

long war for you

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Yes sir Sargeant

SARGEANT O'MALLEY

That's better Lucci. You dago's

learn fast. You might last a week

if you're lucky

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Yes sir

SARGEANT O'MALLEY

Yes sir what Lucci?

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Yes sir what sargeant

SARGEANT O'MALLEY

So, that's the way it's gonna be, a

wise ass. You're on latrine duty

Lucci until I tell you your done.

You will clean the head every day

with a tooth brush. You got that

Lucci?

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Yes sir sargeant

SARGEANT O'MALLEY

Welcome to the army Guido

EXT. VIETNAM 1965, 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SAIGON -BENITO

WOUNDED MORNING

Benito is in a foxhole fighting as the Viet Cong overrun his

position. His rage kicks in seeing his friends killed. He

wounds a VC and continues to bash his skull with his rifle

over and over. He stabs him repeatedly after the VC is dead.

Eventually, Benito is shot by the enemy and he is left for

dead but he is still breathing Medics eventually find him

EXT. VIETNAM 1965, 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SAIGON -BENITO

ALIVE -LATER

MEDIC

This one is alive.

2ND MEDIC

Let's stabilize him and get him in

the wagon for transport to a MASH

unit ASAP

MEDIC

This guy just got an honorable

discharge but he doesn't know it

yet.

EXT. OUTSIDE OF LUCCI'S CHEESE SHOP -BENITO, CARMINE WANT

REVENGE MORNING

1968, Benito, 20, back from Vietnam, Carmine, 19, and Enzo,

16 are carrying supplies into the store from a delivery truck

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Those bastards have murdered our

father and our uncle. We have to

make them pay Carmine.

CARMINE ROSSI , ANNA'S SON

Benito, we're kids. How are we gonna

stop them? They got an army and

guns. We got nothin'.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI) / DEMEO

Yeah but someday we'll have guns too

and we can get an army. If they can

do it, those dumb mafankulo's.

(Mother Fuckers)

CARMINE ROSSI / DEMEO, ANNA'S SON

Benito, you don't know what you're

talkin' about. We can't make them

pay and you know what mom and uncle

John will say if they find out.

ENZO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Hey, you guys stop talkin' and help

me carry these boxes. They're heavy.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Uncle Tony is back from Nam and he's

workin' the streets bookmaking and

loan sharking. We can do that.

CARMINE ROSSI / DEMEO, ANNA'S SON

Yeah but Uncle Jim is in college.

It's not like we have enough Rossisto

challenge the mob Benito

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI) / DEMEO

We don't have to have a lot of guys.

It just takes one bullet from a dark

alley to kill one of these bastards.

They won't see us when we pop 'em.

CARMINE ROSSI / DEMEO, ANNA'S SON

YOu been reading too many detective

magazines. I want to grow old, not

dead.

INT. MELROSE DINER IN SOUTH PHILA. -VECCHI STABS

LONGSHOREMAN -AFTERNOON

Tony and the gang are sitting in a booth and making a lot of

noise about how they are gonna become wise guys

TONY DEMEO (AKA ROSSI)

Are we sittin' in the 'No Shoot'

section?

Laughter from the gang

JOHN VECCHI

What the fuck? You mean they shoot

people in here?

BILLY VECCHI

Nah, they just write that shit to

sell newspapers.

IRISH LONGSHOREMAN IN NEXT BOOTH

Hey, can you punks keep it down?

You ain't the only guys in this place.

JOHN VECCHI

Did that white nigger call us punks?

Hey 'pot licker', who're you talkin'

to You Irish faggot?

The longshoreman gets out of his booth and grabs John Vecchi

and starts to beat him with his fists and then gets him in

strangle hold. John grabs a butter knife from the table and

with all his strength stabs the longshoreman in the chest.

At first, it won't penetrate but then after repeated tries,

he stabs him. The longshoreman goes to the floor with a

butter knife in his chest. The gang quickly run out of the

diner. As they are running.....

BILLY VECCHI

You stabbed him with a butter knife.

Nobody uses a butter knife to kill

someone.

JOHN VECCHI

The guy was a bull. He was gonna

strangle me. It was the only thing

I could find.

MICHAEL 'MICKEY BATS' GIANOLA

A fuckin' butter knife. You're

somethin' Vecchi. Nobody is gonna

fuckin' believe this. You're gonna

be a legend.

INT. THE SOCIAL CLUB OF SOUTH PHILA. -BRING VECCHI HERE

AFTERNOON

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

I heard about this kid killing a

Mick with a butter knife. Is that

true?

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

I heard that too. It was the Vecchi

kid, the younger one, the one built

like a bull.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

He actually killed the guy with a

butter knife?

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

The guy was a longshoreman, a bull

himself. This kid has cujones.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

We can't let these kids just kill in

our territory. The police are gonna

investigate. The micks are gonna

blame it on us and start a war. We

don't need the publicity. Go get

him and bring him here. I wanna

talk to this kid.

INT. THE SOCIAL CLUB OF SOUTH PHILA. -DO YOU DESERVE RESPECT

LATER

John Vecchi, Billy Vecchi and Tony Demeo are seated

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

So, you guys like to kill people.

You know, you just can't kill who

you want in our territory. You're

gonna start a war with the Irish and

worse than that, the police are now

involved.

JOHN VECCHI

Don Angelo, he was calling us wops,

grease balls. He had no respect for

us.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

And why the fuck do you think you

deserve respect? You think you earned

respect? You punks are gonna turn

yourselves in to the cops while we

try to turn the heat down with the

'Micks' and you better pray that

there's no war.

BILLY VECCHI

We're sorry Don Angelo.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Sorry ain't good enough if this blows

up. There's no place you gonna be

able to hide

INT. POLICE STATION SOUTH PHILADELPHIA -GIVE UP FOR MURDER

MORNING

John Vecchi, Billy Vecchi and Tony Demeo (aka Rossi) at front

desk, talking to a Sargeant

JOHN VECCHI

We're here to give ourselves up for

the murder of that Irish guy in the

Melrose.

POLICE SARGEANT BRUNO, FRONT DESK

(Looking confused,

bemused)

Have a seat We'll be right with you

(to a detective)

Hey O'Malley, you ain't gonna believe

what just walked in the door

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

I ain't got time for fuckin' riddles

Bruno. Just tell me and you better

not be wastin' my time

POLICE SARGEANT BRUNO, FRONT DESK

Three kids just walked in and gave

themselves up for the Melrose Diner

murder, a first.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

What! You mean they just came here

on their own and confessed?

POLICE SARGEANT BRUNO, FRONT DESK

That's pretty much it O'Malley

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

Put 'em in interrogation 1 and let

them stew for a while

POLICE SARGEANT BRUNO, FRONT DESK

You got it

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - LATER

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

So, no one made you come in, right?

You're here on your own accord.

JOHN VECCHI

That's right detective but it was

self defense. The 'Mick' was choking

me to death so I grabbed the first

thing I could find.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

And it was a butter knife.

JOHN VECCHI

Yeah, that's right. He was fuckin'

killin' me. I had to defend myself.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

And I'm just taking a long shot here

in thinking that that's how you two

saw it too.

BILLY VECCHI, TONY / (ROSSI) DEMEO

That's right detective. John-John

had to defend himself

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

Why didn't you help your friend?

BILLY VECCHI

'Cause the 'Mick' had four friends

standin' between us and John.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

How the fuck did you get a butter

knife into his chest?

JOHN VECCHI

I don't know. All I know is that I

just swung as hard as I could so the

fucker would stop chokin' me.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

(to Tony Demeo)

And you, what were you doing while

all this is goin' on?

TONY / (ROSSI) DEMEO

I was watchin' and waiting for my

chance to jump in and club the 'Mick'.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

How did it start?

TONY DEMEO

We was minding our own business and

they just started yelling at us to

shut up.

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

That's not the report we got. People

said you were loud and braggin' and

disturbing the customers, said you

called him an 'Irish Faggot'.

BILLY VECCHI

There ain't no law against that, is

there, being loud, Callin' names?

DETECTIVE O'MALLEY

No, there ain't no law against that.

We ain't gonna book you but we're

gonna set a court date and you better

show up. We can't charge you with

anything because it sounds like self

defense and customers back up your

story that he was choking you but

we'll be watching you.

INT. THE DEMEO BROTHER'S APARTMENT -YOU STUPID DAGO TONY

MORNING

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

Let me get this straight. You were

hanging out with the Vecchi brothers

and John Vecchi murdered a man in

public in a restaurant in broad

daylight?

TONY DEMEO

Giovanni--

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

--Don't call me Giovanni anymore.

My name is John.

TONY DEMEO

Sorry John, I forgot. John and Billy

Vecchi are my friends.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

They're not your friends. They're

wise guy wannabe's and they're gonna

get you in trouble Tony. We can't

afford this. We gotta keep a low

profile or the Bontade's will find

us.

TONY / (ROSSI) DEMEO

I know John. I wasn't thinkin' but

if I can get made, we can be

protected. The 'family' will make

sure we don't get whacked.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

The 'family' may be the ones who

whack us Tony. We don't know who

the Bontades contacted here in the

states. It could be the New York,

Philadelphia or New Jersey families.

These guys all know each other.

You're gonna get us and your nephews

killed.

TONY DEMEO

I know what I'm doing John, you'll

see. Once I get 'made', no one can

touch us

John Demeo (aka Giovanni Rossi) slaps Tony in the face

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

You stupid Dago. You're not gonna

get 'made' while I'm alive and if I

ever see you with the Vecchi's again,

I'll kick the shit out of you.

INT. DAN'S ITALIAN BAKERY -SONIA VECCHI SELLS DRUGS' MORNING

John Vecchi's mother, Sonia, owns the bakery and along with

Canoli and rum cakes, she sell 'Meth'

SONIA VECCHI

Billy, take John and Tony and sell

these drugs. You get eighty-five

dollars for a tenth gram. A thousand

for the pure stuff.

BILLY VECCHI

OK mom. We'll hit the streets tonight

SONIA VECCHI

Good, and watch out for the 'wise

guys'. They won't like you selling

in their territory. They'll protect

their own junkies

EXT. STREET CORNER AT 8TH AND PASSYUNK AVE. -NIGHT

TONY DEMEO

How much do ya want

METH CUSTOMER 1

I need a 'G bag'

TONY / (ROSSI) DEMEO

That'll be eighty five bucks

Tony takes his money and gives him the Meth

EXT. CAMAC AND MOORE STREET CORNER -JOHN VECCHI SELLING METH

NIGHT

VECCHI CUSTOMER

I need 'crank' right away. I'm

startin' to come down

JOHN VECCHI

Let me see your money

VECCHI CUSTOMER

All I got is fifty dollars

JOHN VECCHI

That won't get you even one bag. Go

away and come back when you have

eighty five.

VECCHI CUSTOMER

Ya don't understand, I need it bad.

JOHN VECCHI

What do you have that's worth thirty

five bucks? Maybe the watch

VECCHI CUSTOMER

That watch was a gift from my parents.

It cost two hundred dollars.

JOHN VECCHI

Do ya want the meth or not.

The customer hands over the watch and fifty dollars, takes

his meth and disappears into the night

EXT. PASSYUNK AND TWENTIETH STREET -BILLY VECCHI SELLING

METH NIGHT

A late model Mercedes stops on the corner

BILLY VECCHI

How much ya want

BILLY VECCHI CUSTOMER

I need 'crystal', three grams

BILLY VECCHI

That'll cost you

BILLY VECCHI CUSTOMER

I don't care. How much?

BILLY VECCHI

Three grand, cash

The customer peels off thirty one hundred dollar bills and

hands them to Billy Vecchi

BILLY VECCHI CUSTOMER

Here you go, three grams of 'crystal'.

You always know where to find me

INT. ITALIAN SOCIAL OF SOUTH PHILA. -CONTRACTS ON VECCHI'S

AND TONY DAY

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

We got a problem Don Angelo.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

What is our problem Big Al?

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

We got kids on the corners dealing

meth in our territory and they don't

got permission and they ain't paying

the tax. They're taking money from

the regular junkies that we shake

down. They're only doin' small stuff

but it's just a matter of time before

they start gettin' braver

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

Who are there kids breaking our rules?

Do they know how serious this is?

BIG 'AL' MANGANO

These are some Italian punks who

think they can do anything they want.

The Vecchi brothers are two of them.

Their fuckin' mother sells it from

her Bakery shop on ninth street.

This Demeo kid is another one.

DON ANGELO ANNALORO

We have to send a message so other

pompinara

(cock suckers)

don't get the idea they can get away

with this. Let's call a meeting and

assign contracts on the Vecchi

brothers and this Demeo kid. Get

word to 'The Five Squad' that the

mother is dealin'. Cops don't have

a problem beating women and they'll

take her out of our hair

INT. HOME OF SONIA VECCHI -POLICE COME A-KNOCKIN' NIGHT

POLICEMAN

Where's the drugs

SONIA VECCHI

I don't have any drugs

POLICEMAN 2

We know you got drugs. Just tell us

where they are and we'll leave

SONIA VECCHI

I'm tellin' you, there ain't no drugs

The police throw Sonia to the floor and kick her in the face

a number of times knocking some teeth out

POLICEMAN

Open your safe

Sonia opens the safe and the officers find $25,000 which

they steal

POLICEMAN

OK, now tell us where your drugs are

or we're gonna take your kids away

Sonia can't lose her boys so she shows them where the drugs

are and the cops leave with the drugs and the $25,000

EXT. CORNER OF 12TH AND POLLOCK -JOHN VECCHI GOES FOR A RIDE

EVENING

TONY 'PAJAMAS' CUTICELLI, 6'3", 300 POUNDS, drives up as

John Vecchi is dealing drugs

TONY 'PAJAMAS' CUTICELLI

Hey, kid, ya got a couple a grams of

'Meth'?

John takes two packets from his pocket as Cuticelli points a

.45 at his head

TONY 'PAJAMAS' CUTICELLI

You're comin' with me kid. We gotta

take a ride. Get in the car.

JOHN VECCHI

Where we goin'?

TONY 'PAJAMAS' CUTICELLI

We're just gonna ride. We gotta

talk about the drugs. We wanna get

in on the action.

John has no choice and gets in the front passenger's seat,

Cuticelli in the driver's seat and John 'Boo Boo' DeMayo is

already in the back. They drive around south Philly and

pull into a dark alley. 'Boo Boo' shoots John in the back

of the head three times

JOHN VECCHI

What the fuck!

John grabs the back of his head. His hand is bloody He

turns around to face John 'Boo Boo' DeMayo

JOHN VECCHI

You fuckin' shot me

TONY 'PAJAMAS' CUTICELLI

You're dead John, just sit there and

die. You can't deal drugs without

our permission and you ain't got it

(to wise guy)

Shoot him again

John is turned around and John 'Boo Boo' shoots him again

this time in the chest. Vecchi grabs the gun and squeezes

the trigger until the gun is empty. 'Boo Boo' starts pistol

whipping John.

JOHN 'BOO BOO' DEMAYO

You're dead. Why are you still

fighting?

John hits 'Boo Boo' in the eye each time he is hit with the

pistol

JOHN VECCHI

I ain't dead yet.

John opens his door and starts to run. Tony 'Pajamas' catches

him and has him in a bear hug.

TONY 'PAJAMAS' CUTICELLI

Cut his fuckin' throat

John brings his knees to his chest and when 'Boo Boo' DeMayo,

gets close, Vecchi kicks him as hard as he can and sends

'Boo Boo' flying as Tony Pajamas falls backward.

John has a folding razor knife and as 'Boo Boo' puts a choke

hold on him, John stabs him in the face. Boo Boo screams in

pain.

JOHN 'BOO BOO' DEMAYO

I can't see, I can't see. Don't

kill me.

John makes it home to his mother's house later

SONIA VECCHI

John, what happened to you?

JOHN VECCHI

They tried to kill me. They shot me

in the head, in the chest

Sonia immediately calls 911 and miraculously, John survives

but his dealing days are over

INT. BILLY VECCHI'S CAR -BILLY MURDERED MORNING

Billy Vecchi is at a stop sign and about to continue on when

two men run to his black Cadillac sedan and fire eleven shots

through the side windows. Billy is dead

INT. DAN'S ITALIAN BAKERY -TONY MURDERED MORNING

Tony is opening Dan's Italian Bakery at 7 A.M. The street

is deserted except for two gunmen who enter the shop and

TONY DEMEO

What can I get you

GUNMAN 1

Nothin' Demeo. This is from Don

Angelo.

The two gunmen pump eight bullets into Tony, killing him

instantly. They quickly leave and get in a van that pulls

up

INT. LUCCI'S CHEESE SHOP BENITO WANTS REVENGE- MORNING

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

They killed Uncle Tony?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

Yes Benito. The word on the street

is that he was dealing drugs and

didn't get permission from the mob

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Where did he get drugs?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

His friend John Vecchi's mother was

dealing from her bakery and had her

two sons, John and Billy, and Tony

on the streets dealing

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

What happened to the Vecchis?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

They killed Billy in broad daylight

but when they shot John, he fought

back and escaped. No one has heard

from him since. The police beat up

Mrs. Vecchi and stole her drugs and

money so she is out of action. The

police will be watching her from now

on.

BENITO LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

We have to get revenge Uncle John

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

This is the mob, Benito. They have

hundreds of men. How would we avenge

Tony or Carmine or your father? No,

for now, we have to sit and wait for

an opportunity.

INT. EXPERIMENTAL ROBOTICS LAB, CARNEGIE MELLON -JAMES TALKS

ROBOTS MORNING

James Demeo (aka Vincenzo Rossi) sits in class programming

an experimental military robot

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

This is amazing. I can make this

device turn on a dime. It can tell

what is human by using facial

recognition. It has GPS functionality

so it can be programmed to find a

place and seek out sentient beings.

BILLY MEYERS

I have been trying to program my

robot to react to verbal commands.

I want it to respond only to one

voice. It will eventually be able

to read voice patterns.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

How do you do that? Will it respond

over a telephone?

BILLY MEYERS

Yes. All you have to do is call it

up and talk to it. I am almost there.

You can also see what it sees through

its camera.

James experiments with his military robot in the classroom

turning it, having it seek humans, looking through its lens.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

That is amazing. If we only had

these in 'Nam, we would have saved a

lot of lives.

BILLY MEYERS

They weren't perfected back then and

they still need some work but now it

just needs some tweaking of the code.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

How big can these get?

ROBOTICS STUDENT

They can be most any size but it

gets expensive as they get bigger.

Some day, every home will have one.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

A robot that can kill?

ROBOTICS STUDENT

No dummy, a robot who cleans house,

cooks dinner.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

I can't believe I'm living in this

age. Just a few years ago I was in

a small town in Italy with donkeys

carrying food and water.

ROBOTICS STUDENT

And you can equip these with any

combination of weapons. We just

have to build a sophisticated

controller.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

You think we could build a robot

with a designated gender?

ROBOTICS STUDENT

You mean like a female robot?

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

Yeah. That might solve a lot of

problems. Think about it. We can

program her to always obey and not

talk until we give her permission.

The upkeep would only be some oil

and occasional software updates.

What a concept.

ROBOTICS STUDENT

I know you're joking but I wouldn't

talk like that around campus.

JAMES DEMEO (AKA VINCENZO ROSSI)

And who knows, they will become cheap

enough so every man can have one

sitting at his feet, cooking his

dinner, cutting the grass and of

course, always obedient in bed.

INT. ST. PAUL PARISH MAY ITALIAN FESTIVAL - DAY

Angelica Lucci is crowning the Blessed Mother with flowers

at the 10 A.M. Mass. Seated in reserved pews purchased by

Don Angelo is the Annaloro family. Don Angelo, his wife

Marie, his son Angelo Jr. and his daughter Aldona. Young

Angelo is smitten with Angelica. He just sits and stares at

her.

EXT. THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL 9TH STREET PHILA - MOMENTS LATER

St. Paul Parish in the background as the Blessed Mother is

carried through the streets. Angelica is part of the

procession. Angelo Jr. joins the procession a few feet behind

Angelica. Anna and John Demeo (aka Giovanni Rossi) are

watching as they pass by

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

Isn't she beautiful, John?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

Yes, Anna, your little girl has grown

into a beautiful young woman.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

And this year she will start college.

We will have two scholars in our

family now. How is James?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

He is doing well. All he talks about

are these robots he is creating.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

He has gotten Angelica excited about

'robots'. Is the world passing us

by Giovanni?

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

I think it is Anna. It is becoming

our children's world.

ANNA LUCCI (AKA ROSSI)

I want to see a robot cut cheese and

make wine. They will not do

everything.

JOHN DEMEO (AKA GIOVANNI ROSSI)

I don't know Anna. Anything is

possible in this new world. Our

children will teach us.

INT. LUCCI'S CHEESE SHOP ANGELO ANNALORO JR. ASKS ANGELICA

OUT - EVENING

Angelo Annaloro Jr. comes to the cheese shop when Angelica

is working

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

Hello.

ANGELICA LUCCI

What can I get for you

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

I saw you in the procession at the

festival.

ANGELICA LUCCI

Can I help you?

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

I didn't come here to buy cheese. I

wanted to meet you, to introduce

myself. My father is Don Angelo.

Angelica knows his father and that he is the Don of the south

Philadelphia mob. She does not know that her family is being

hunted and Don Angelo is aiding the Bontade family.

ANGELICA LUCCI

I have heard of your father. He is

a powerful man

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

Where did you come from?

ANGELICA LUCCI

(aware who Angelo is

and lies about her

town)

I was born in Calabria. My family

migrated to America eight years ago.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

That is strange. I am always on the

streets and I have never seen you

before. How is that possible?

ANGELICA LUCCI

I don't know. I have been here

working in my mother's cheese shop

most days.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

What does your father do?

ANGELICA LUCCI

My father died when I was young.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

How did he die?

ANGELICA LUCCI

(again lying)

He had an automobile accident.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

I am sorry.

ANGELICA LUCCI

That's OK. It was a long time ago.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

I would like to see you outside of

work.

ANGELICA LUCCI

I am sorry, I can't. Between working

here and my studies, I don't have

time.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

Are you telling me you won't go out

with me?

ANGELICA LUCCI

It's not you. I just don't have the

time. I will begin college this

fall.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

Why do you want to go to college?

What do women need college for?

ANGELICA LUCCI

I will forget that you just said

that.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

Please call me Angelo.

ANGELICA LUCCI

Angelo.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

What are you going to study, home

economics, maybe nursing?

ANGELICA LUCCI

I am going to study Artificial

Intelligence.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

Artificial what?

ANGELICA LUCCI

Artificial Intelligence.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

What artificial intelligence? Why

not real intelligence? Why not

intelligence that comes from the

streets? Why not study something

you can use later?

ANGELICA LUCCI

I don't want to become another Italian

woman with a lot of babies and a

wise guy husband who has a mistress

on the side and who I see maybe once

a week.

ANGELO ANNALORO JR.

What's wrong with wise guys?

ANGELICA LUCCI

(again realizing who

she is talking to)

I'm sorry. It's just that I want