03x02 - Anything Short of a Blow to the Head

[bunniefuu]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Morning, gentlemen.

What's going on here?

I'm Special Agent Moseley.

This is Special Agent Donaldson.

We're with the United States

Secret Service.

Secret Service?

Mm-mm.

Never heard of it.

Yeah, we get that a lot.

The reason you haven't heard

of the Secret Service

is, well, because it's secret.

We're part of the Treasury Department

Which I can see

doesn't ring a bell, either.

What kind of cargo

you boys hauling today?

We don't load it.

If there's a paycheck in it,

we don't ask.

You mind if I check the back?

Just a quick look,

you'll be on your way.

Go on, then. Get it done.

Ahh!

Oh, God!

Oh

You sh*t me in the hand!

Well, you sh*t my partner.

And the only reason I'm not wiping

your brains off my boots right now

is that we haven't

finished our conversation.

Jesus Christ.

Your dead friends were

printing counterfeit bills in here.

I'm guessing the press was right there.

Now someone's absconded with it,

along with the plates for those bills.

And I need to find them.

I don't know. Everything was

here when I picked up the money.

That's disappointing.

Was that all the men,

or were there more?

I don't know.

You don't know much, do you?

There was a guy.

What guy?

Ah, f*ck!

Ah!

I don't know, some Chinese fella.

Ah, f*ck

Tell me about this Chinese fella.

You've been at it f*cking night and day,

and this is the best you've got?

These onions don't know

what they're f*cking doing.

We need people who specialize

in this kind of work.

No, no outsiders.

You want to do this?

Or you want to do this right?

If you got the chop you promised us,

we wouldn't have to do it at all.

We can bring in someone local,

someone we can control.

But Chao's right.

We can't do this on our own.

It's your call.

I want you on this.

Get me?

I get you.

It sounds like you have someone in mind.

Maybe.

Ah!

Nobody f*cking move!

Get up!

Here, you relax!

We're the San Francisco

Police Department.

Get the hell out of here!

This building and all its tenants

are in violation

of the Cubic Air Ordinance,

and this property must be

vacated by order of the mayor.

Now round 'em up and get 'em out!

What's this?

How can anyone live like this?

Get over here!

Is this really necessary, sir?

He threatened an officer of the law.

He waved a f*cking spatula!

Are you questioning

my method, Sergeant O'Hara?

I am just trying to figure out

what we're doing here is all.

Well, it's not your job to figure.

It's your job to follow my orders!

Hit him again!

Now!

"Despite only recently

entering the public sphere,

"Mr. Thayer has displayed

both a refreshing

"plainspokenness and an almost

pathological lack of guile.

"One might worry about

such a man among the pit vipers

"of San Francisco politics

if not for the sense

"that his unabashed

Americanness will provide

sturdy enough armor to withstand them."

Jesus,

with press like this, why even bother

with the campaign?

Well, he's young,

handsome, good lineage.

You can see why he's popular.

Maybe you'd prefer to work for him.

Of course not.

Just because a man knows

how to present himself

does not mean he knows the

first thing about running a city,

though I'm not quite sure the voters

will appreciate the distinction.

He's got a good deal of support

among the industrialists.

Well, of course he does.

I'm saddled with cleaning up

an entire city.

They're only concerned

with their finances.

Speaking of finances,

the state attorney,

for the late Mayor Blake

has been questioning recent expenses.

Will it be a problem?

I don't think so.

But you custodianship

of the Blake estate

is still predicated on his oversight and

justification of all expenditures.

Mayor Blake would have wanted me to keep

his political legacy alive,

as would his wife,

had she not fallen ill.

That should be justification enough.

I can sell that.

Let's just hope she doesn't

recover anytime soon,

'cause you'll need every last dime

of Blake's fortune to mount a

winning campaign against Thayer.

She's not going anywhere.

I'll make sure of that.

There he is. Mr. Mayor!

This way, please. One by yourself.

Mr. Mayor?

Chief Atwood, excellent work today.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

And hold.

Thank you all for coming.

Today, our new chief of police,

Colonel Benjamin Atwood,

carried out a successful raid

in Chinatown,

shuttering yet another breeding

ground of vice and disease.

Can I help you gentlemen?

We're looking for someone

I'm told might be employed hereabouts,

name of Lee.

Doesn't ring a bell.

I see.

Maybe a picture will help.

Good-looking fella, ain't he?

All you gotta do is point us

in the right direction.

Well, all right, then.

You all right?

Richard?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm good.

Are you?

- Fine.

- Yeah.

Did anyone hear?

I don't think so.

Lock up behind me.

Whoa. Where you going?

To get Jack.

We knew what might happen

if men came looking for you.

Now we gotta deal with it.

Are you sure we can trust him?

A couple of dead white men in his bar?

He'll take care of it.

Don't worry.

I'm not gonna tell him

why they were here.

Are you settling in?

You've been most welcoming.

Well, I'm grateful to have you with us,

especially during

such complicated times.

Thank you.

What are your thoughts on the Hop Wei?

You lost quite a few men the other day,

from what I understand.

Yes, Li Yong thinks

we're being too aggressive.

What do you think?

Li Yong is a great fighter

because he knows when to strike

and when to hold his ground.

So you agree with him?

Young Jun isn't half

the leader his father was,

or that you are, for that matter.

Flattery?

It's more about him than you.

Under his leadership,

the Hop Wei's fortunes have suffered.

They're growing more desperate

every day.

My advice would be to let them

bleed out naturally.

Hmm.

Well, patience has never been

my strong suit.

My mother used to say, have patience,

and the grass will be milk soon enough.

What does that mean?

I don't know,

but it sounds wise, doesn't it?

Mr. Merriweather,

I got word you were looking for me.

Yes, thank you for coming, Mr. Leary.

So, as agreed, I hired

the men you recommended.

But since then, they've

given me nothing but grief

taunting the Chinese, starting fights.

I'll talk to them.

Those Donahue boys,

they b*at up two skilled laborers today.

I've lost hours I can't afford to lose.

I gave you my word, Mr. Leary.

If your men can't make it work

I'll take care of it, all right?

Donahues!

Mr. Leary.

Those chinks you knocked around

cost Merriweather a day's work.

It's coming out of your pockets.

Mr. Leary, please.

I promised you jobs.

You got jobs.

Keep your mouth shut

and your hands to yourself,

and f*cking do 'em.

- You wouldn't.

- What the f*ck you say to me?

It ain't right that we gotta

work with these f*cking chinks.

And we're not the only ones

who feel that way.

Is that right?

Put your shovel down

and both of you get out.

You can't you can't fire us.

You think there aren't 10 other Irishmen

waiting to take your place,

you ungrateful pricks?

Get the f*ck out!

And that goes for every one of you!

You don't want this job,

I'll give it to someone who does.

If you've got a problem with that,

well, you know where to f*cking find me.

Let's go inside.

Sergeant, a word, please.

What is it?

I'm trying to accomplish something here.

And I can only do so if

my chain of command is strong.

I know you wanted the job.

And if that's gonna be an issue,

well, I'm sure there's plenty of work

out there for a man of your experience.

I'm friends with the Pinkertons.

I can put in a good word.

Is that all?

I hope so.

Who let you in here?

Rutherford B. Hayes.

I'm joking, sort of.

I'm Agent Edmund Moseley,

United States Secret Service.

We're part of the Treasury.

Yes, I know who the Secret Service is.

What's your business here?

Right to the point.

Okay, then.

I understand you have a division

assigned solely to Chinatown.

I'll need to see their personnel files.

For what purpose?

Well, because I'm gonna need

some of them to assist me.

I'm also gonna need

an office and a holding cell.

Mr. Moseley, is it?

Whatever your business is here,

it's got nothing to do

with me or my men.

We have our hands full as it is.

And there's no time to give you

a f*cking tour of Chinatown.

So if there's nothing else,

I've got work to do.

So it's gonna be that kind of meeting?

Yes, I'm afraid it is.

I came in here as a courtesy,

Chief Atwood.

The truth is I don't need your

permission or your blessing.

In fact, I've already taken

a holding cell and an office.

Who the f*ck do you think you are?

I am a federal officer empowered by

the President of the United States,

and you will render

any assistance I ask for

with a f*cking smile,

or I'll have you working

out of the basement

while I make this office mine own.

Yeah,

I guess it is that kind of meeting.

Easy, Uncle.

I'm not here to collect.

We're having some trouble

with the printing press.

Thought maybe you could come

take a look.

What does the Tong need with a press?

That's not important.

What's important is

I can clear your debt,

if you can make it work.

That's very generous of you,

but these machines,

each one is different.

I really wouldn't know where to start.

And my boy, he's only just beginning.

If you need to print something,

why not just use ours?

Yeah, that won't work.

Of course.

Ah, I wish I could help.

Yeah, me too.

Guess I'll have to find someone else.

Are you stupid?

Me?

He could have wiped out our debt.

I crossed the South to get

away from gangsters like him,

not to work for them.

Father's right. We don't need

that kind of trouble around here.

No one asked you.

Why don't you go and make dinner?

Ah.

Why don't you say that to me again, huh?

I dare you.

That's enough, the both of you.

Go back to work.

- Ah!

- Black four!

Okay, step up.

Who's next?

Here we go.

Two whiskey, please.

Yeah, all right.

From far away across the sea ♪

A certain song keeps haunting me ♪

Here you go.

It brings me back

once more to Monte Cristo ♪

The music of your voice, it seems ♪

Rings softly to me in my dreams ♪

I can't forget those nights

in Monte Cristo ♪

Though many moons

have passed since then ♪

We'll meet again, I wonder when ♪

Beneath the scarlet skies

in Monte Cristo ♪

And then I'll hold you close

once more ♪

The same as many moons before ♪

Beneath the scarlet skies

in Monte Cristo ♪

Hong, let's get the f*ck out of here!

What about the drinks?

We'll get some at Ah Toy's.

This place is bad luck.

I want to f*ck it away.

Hong, let's go!

Do you know these assholes?

Never seen either of them before.

People around here know

not to rob one of my places.

Must be from out of town.

Where you taking 'em?

I know a guy.

Pays good money for fresh corpses.

No questions.

Then I guess it's your lucky day.

Hey, cop.

I'm not a cop.

People try to rob you at my place,

you let them f*cking rob you.

n*gro woman sh**t white man,

nobody cares if it was self-defense.

Her husband, my brother,

got k*lled for less.

I didn't know.

There's a lot you don't know.

So know this.

I no like you.

I no like you live here.

I no like you with her.

You hide it well.

Just give it time.

Maybe I'll grow on you.

You okay?

What's done is done.

We didn't have to do it that way.

If I didn't pull that trigger,

you'd be on your way

to Georgia right now.

Far as I'm concerned,

wasn't much of a choice.

If they found me, others will too.

Look, I know what you're gonna say,

but maybe we should just

get out of town.

And where would we go, Richard?

I don't know.

It's a big country.

The price on your head says

it isn't big enough.

Besides, where else

is a n*gro lady gonna run

a bar like this,

make the money I do?

There's nothing out there for me.

My only question for you is

am I worth the risk?

You read the duck paper now?

If we're gonna be working

with duck businesses,

we have to understand their world.

Muchen reached out.

He asked to meet.

Really?

I was surprised as you.

Three Brothers are one of the

last tongs to resist joining us.

You don't like Muchen?

Our men have discipline, honor.

Not everyone can become Long Zii.

And once he answers to you,

he'll change.

Zing didn't.

Take the meeting.

Bring Kong Pak.

And if you think Muchen is serious,

I'll meet with him myself.

This.

If the ducks don't get us one way,

they'll get us another.

Yet we're still here.

We can't buy, we trade.

They close our shops,

we sell in the streets.

We're survivors.

Maybe, but it gets pretty

exhausting after a while.

Surviving?

Being hated.

Don't say it.

They worship you.

Hmm.

They don't know me.

They know you fought back.

How's Lai?

She plants.

She stomps grapes.

She has friends.

She smiles.

She hasn't touched a sword

since she left Chinatown.

How about you?

Think you'll pick one up again?

I don't know.

Out in Sonoma, away from all of this

Nellie and I may actually

have a chance at something.

Something

More than this?

Yeah.

Ah.

Good for you.

I'm not entirely sure

what you'd like me to do, Mr. Leary.

What you f*cking promised!

Outlaw Chinese labor once and for all.

I built my platform around it,

but I can only accomplish

so much as interim mayor.

Once I win the election, I will be armed

with the mandate of the people.

These half measures, they're

they're not gonna cut it.

Don't forget,

you need my votes.

Oh, I'm well aware.

But unfortunately for the both of us,

Thayer supports Chinese labor.

If I lose, the Irish lose too.

You may not like it,

but we're stuck with each other.

You're right.

I don't like it.

You're just gonna have to trust me.

Trust you?

Trust you?

You are a f*cking politician!

So are you, Mr. Leary.

If you f*ck me on this

You're the, uh, printer's daughter?

My name is Yan Mi.

I'm Ah Sahm.

Yeah, I know who you are.

So where's your broken press?

But your father said

He didn't want to get

mixed up with gangsters.

Can you blame him?

And you do?

I just want what you promised us.

So where's your press?

You sure you can fix it?

Not out here, I can't.

Look, is there someone else

I should be talking to?

Just me.

- Hmm.

- Hmm.

Come on.

Great.

Well, it's not broken.

Then what are we doing wrong?

How much time do you have?

Your press is fine.

You just have no idea

how to fine-tune it

for the bills you're trying to print.

Who said anything about bills?

Green ink, scraps lying around.

It's pretty obvious.

You think you could do better?

No.

I know I could.

What makes you so sure?

Because I'm a printer,

and you're a bunch of gangsters.

You believe this girl?

It's obvious from the ink

splatter all over your press

you're pouring your ink from the top.

You really should be dabbing

it on with a palette Kn*fe.

You're over-inking like crazy.

Go on.

Well, if you don't know not to pour,

you're probably also

not letting the ink roll out

long enough before you start printing.

Also

I'd be willing to bet

that your bills are turning out

thicker than real ones.

We're using the same paper stock.

No, you're not.

It's close.

Not close enough.

I know what you need.

And I know where to get it.

Sounds like she knows her sh*t.

I guess we'll see.

What's your end?

I want you to leave

my father's shop alone.

No more protection money,

no collections of any kind,

ever.

Take her to get whatever she needs.

Guess that means you're hired.

Mr. Leary, thank you for coming.

What can I do for you, Mr. Pierce?

What did Lymon tell you?

Only that you have

a business proposition for me.

Hmm.

As an entrepreneur,

I have my hand in

a number of different pies.

But the cornerstone of my business

is infrastructure,

which is railway lines,

all of which require

Steel.

Precisely.

Unfortunately, there are only

so many manufacturers

who can supply me with the

quality of steel that I require.

And one of my competitors is using

his considerable purchasing power

to strongarm these manufacturers

into making him their sole client.

You'll forgive me if I don't

take up a collection for you.

My point is,

this competitor of mine

is not playing fair.

So I can't afford to, either.

We all have families to feed, Mr. Leary.

What I'd like is for you

to pay this man a visit

and convince him to play fair.

Mm.

Is that what you and your

fat cat friends think of me, huh,

that I'm just some thug

that'll do your bidding?

What I think, Mr. Leary,

is that I need men to build

my bridges, lay my track

working men in great numbers.

But I can't hire 'em

if there's nothing to build.

Let me take her.

Thanks, Maggie.

She's crawling now.

Is she?

Everywhere.

- I can barely keep up.

- Hmm.

I think she may be

the one that breaks me.

Well, we knew she'd be trouble.

I need my family, Lucy.

This is t*rture.

You have a big heart, Bill,

and a short memory.

We'll come home when things are settled.

It was settled.

That job was mine,

and then f*cking Buckley!

I

I am trying to make things right.

I swear I am.

I know you are.

Sorry, Luce.

She's fussing again.

It's good to see you.

Bill.

Evening, Horace.

Can I say something?

Is there anything short

of a blow to the head

that could stop you?

I was just wondering,

would you ever consider

quitting the force entirely?

A man of your experience,

I'm sure you could find

a less dangerous line.

You know, you're the second

person today to suggest that.

Hmm.

You could always come work for me.

I could use the extra help

at the factory.

And who better than family?

Did Lucy put you up to this?

Can you blame her?

In either case, the offer stands.

Calm the f*ck down.

He f*cked us over.

We'll find another job without him.

Bill.

Whiskey.

Sure thing, Bill.

You can't say sh*t like that here.

I don't give a f*ck!

What the f*ck are they on about?

Calm down!

I can say whatever I want.

You're gonna get us kicked out.

Settling up and going home,

if they know what's good for 'em.

f*ckin'

Rough day?

I'm out there all hours

trying to get things done for this lot,

and all they do is just bitch and moan,

not a shred of f*cking gratitude.

For men like you and me,

never appreciated for what we're doing.

But if we stop doing it,

the whole world falls apart.

It's falling apart anyway.

Mm.

Mr. Leary!

You said at the factory that

if any of us had a problem,

we'd know where to find you.

Well, I do.

I have a big f*cking problem.

Go home, boy.

I really don't want

to have to explain to your dad

what I did to you.

What's the matter?

Afraid I'll b*at your ass

like that chink did?

Connor

bring your f*cking brother.

Just had to open

your f*cking mouth, didn't you?

Come on.

Silly boys.

Come on!

Get up!

Get the f*ck up!

Let's go!

Leary! Leary! Leary!

Clean yourselves up, boys.

Next round's on me.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Douglas, welcome.

Look at you,

a Winslow Homer painting come to life.

The country suits you.

I wasn't expecting you in person.

Well, I wanted to see

this new venture of yours for myself

and maybe sample

whatever it is I'm buying.

I'm sure we can accommodate that.

Come, have a drink while

your men fetch the crates.

So what's the verdict?

A little plum, a little spice.

It's magnificent.

Well, spread the word.

God knows we need to sell

as much as we can.

In that case, why don't I

just buy you out entirely?

Excuse me?

Nellie, the federal government wishes

to build a railroad

up the coast of California.

Their survey identified this valley

as being the ideal route.

They want to build

a railroad through my vineyard?

They do, and they will.

Now, I know it's a great inconvenience,

but I would like to see you profit

from this inevitability

by paying you fair market value

for the property

before the state declares eminent domain

and forces you to take

pennies on the dollar.

And why would you want to buy a property

that you can't keep or sell?

You're building the railroad.

I was awarded the contract

a few weeks ago.

And while this does put me

in the awkward position

of having to inform you,

it also puts me in the position

to help an old friend.

Well, if you really want to help,

then find another route.

Believe me, I've tried.

I lobbied Sacramento myself.

This land is not for sale.

Not to you, not to anyone.

Nellie, this expansion

is going to happen.

It's out of my hands.

Well, so is my land.

I have a room full of lawyers

who will make that clear

to anyone who says otherwise.

I understand it's a lot to consider.

I'll do what I can for you.

Thank you for the wine.

Thank you.

Mm.

How'd she take it?

She'll come around.

How's it going?

She's been at it all night.

These look like dog sh*t.

Those are the scraps.

This is the product.

Holy f*cking sh*t.

We're in business.

The truth is,

there is no such thing

as a harmless Celestial.

Mayor Blake d*ed

at the hands of a meek,

unassuming Chinaman

his wife had fed

and sheltered for years.

They simply cannot be trusted.

If elected, I intend

to honor the Blake legacy

of American jobs for American workers

and keep our women and children safe

from these foreign invaders.

Of course, we all bemoan

the tragic circumstances

of Mayor Blake's passing,

but perhaps we should spend less time

focusing on what is wrong with this city

and more on what is

very right with it

you, its people,

the American family.

Like you, I believe

in the American family.

That's mine right over there.

My wife, Celeste, and our

children, Miles and Annabelle.

You deserve a mayor

who will fight for your family

as hard as I do for mine.

People like a family man.

There's no getting around it.

Which doesn't mean they won't eventually

recognize you as the candidate

of true substance.

But you gotta get out there,

press the flesh.

You can't win a w*r without

getting a little bloody,

I'm afraid.

Thank you.

Thank you for your

Mayor Buckley.

Pardon me.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming out today.

Catherine Archer.

I volunteered for Councilman Waithe,

promoting his educational policies.

I see.

I know you think

that didn't go your way,

but stay the course.

Thayer is just a pretty face

spouting platitudes.

Any voter with half a brain

can see that.

It's obvious you understand

the economics of San Francisco,

the deep quandary we're in.

And I intend to help your cause,

in whatever way I can.

Well, thank you for saying that.

My card.

Mr. Mayor, we should keep moving.

Wait.

There.

Now you're ready to greet your public.

Mr. Mayor?

It was my first time ever

on a ship of any kind.

I was terrified.

I didn't know what to expect.

But I knew that whatever

happened to me in America,

well, it couldn't be any worse

than what had already happened

to me back in China.

Being forced into marriage

by a violent w*rlord,

chained to his bedside,

you know, sometimes for days.

How did you survive such horrors?

A part of me didn't.

But that part was weak.

And when it d*ed,

why, I became stronger.

Well, I'm sure our guest is spent.

And I promised her a tour of the house.

So, ladies, until next week.

And here's the dressing room.

My goodness.

I know.

It's a bit much.

My husband works

for the Bank of California.

We have so many occasions to attend.

So he allows me my indulgences.

Do you have dresses

of this sort in your culture?

No.

I'd like you to have this.

Really?

It's just an evening dress,

dear, not the Hope Diamond.

- I couldn't.

- I insist.

Why don't you try it on?

You never know when you might

need a good evening dress.

May you outlive all your enemies.

Li Yong, I know Mai Ling

wishes to absorb us,

but I have a different proposal.

We acknowledge the Long Zii's takeover

of all Three Brothers' businesses.

But in exchange, we will retain our name

and control of all enforcement

and collections in our territory.

k*ll them.

Ahh! Ah!

Kong!

Enough!

You all know me.

Make no mistake.

Joining the Long Zii is the

only path forward, for Chinatown,

for all of us.

Tell them.

She may have your balls in a box,

but she'll never have mine.

I understand.

I don't like being followed.

Yes, you've communicated that

very clearly.

Secret Service?

You've heard of us?

Good.

That'll save me some time.

It took me four months

to trace the counterfeit plates

to San Francisco,

two more to locate the operators

and the transport routes

from print to distribution.

Unfortunately, by the time

I actually caught up with them,

the plates were gone,

and most of the operators

went down sh**ting.

What does this have to do with me?

The last surviving idiot

told me his boss

had been buying g*ns from the Chinese.

So here I am,

talking to a man who knows the terrain.

You need the Chinatown Squad.

I'm not a cop anymore.

It might help you with this conversation

if you just assume

I know a little less than God,

but a lot more than you think.

I know all about the Chinatown Squad,

and I know you quit

after socking your superior in the jaw.

I'm guessing that makes you

a different sort of fella,

the kind I could work with.

Not interested.

Sure, you are.

Yeah, why is that?

Because I'm the one man who can keep you

from being dragged

back to Georgia in chains.

Like I said, assume I know

a lot more than you think.

Relax, Lee.

Here's my offer.

You guide me through Chinatown,

help me find those missing plates,

and I clean up

your Georgia mess permanently.

Be nice, wouldn't it,

to live a quiet life out here

with that pretty colored girl,

never looking over your shoulder again?

I'm wanted for m*rder.

You know that, right?

Nobody's perfect.

Take the night.

Think about it.

I'll be in touch.