Assassination Tango

John J.:
At this age in my life I've finally decided to settle down.

Manuela:
Just with one?

John J.:
With one what?

Manuela:
One woman.

John J.:
Two women.

Manuela:
Wow.

John J.:
She has a daughter. Terrific.

Manuela:
One and a half women.

John J.:
Yeah.

Cop at Newsstand:
How's the club doin' these days?

John J.:
Real good although I-I-I'm gettin' a little too much lately.

Cop at Newsstand:
[Sheepishly] You know, I'd come by although I don't think Frankie likes me around that much.

John J.:
[Reassuringly] Why not come on in? Frankie's all right once you get to know him.

Cop at Newsstand:
Yeah?

John J.:
Yeah.

Cop at Newsstand:
Still dancin'?

John J.:
Some. Not like I used to but some. Yeah.

Cop at Newsstand:
You look a little more tired than I remember, John... a little worn out... all those late hours you're keeping...

John J.:
[Annoyed about the remark] Ah, whatever.

Cop at Newsstand:
I couldn't keep those kind of hours myself. I gotta hand it to you.

John J.:
[Slightly short] It all depends on what you're used to. Okay? [He continues talking as he is walking away] Well, come out to the club anytime. Frankie's not a bad guy. [Dismissively] Say hello to your partner whatever his name is. See yuh around. [after taking a few more steps, he stops and comes back, clearly upset over something] Hey, wait a minute! Hold on, hold on, hold on! Hey, com'ere. [Confrontationally] I want to make sure we understand each other. Did you say something about my face? [He laughs edgily]

Cop at Newsstand:
[Not comprehending] Whatta mean - your face? Whatta mean?

John J.:
[Agressively] Just because you're a f***in' cop, where do you get the right to tell me I got wrinkles on my face?

Cop at Newsstand:
[In an apologetic manner] All I said was you look a little tired, John... a little worn out. I didn't say anything about wrinkles. [Shakes his head in the negative]

John J.:
You didn't?

Cop at Newsstand:
No.

John J.:
Well, whether you meant exactly that or not, I don't know, but that's pretty much whay you meant. Wouldn't you say that?

Cop at Newsstand:
[Still apologetically] If you misinterpreted what I said, I'm sorry.

John J.:
[Indignantly] No, no, no! In the future if there is a future, it would behoove you to keep your opinions to yourself about my face or anything else about me - all right?

Cop at Newsstand:
Com'n, John, whatta yuh talkin' about? Com'n.

John J.:
[Almost threateningly] OK, enough of your sh*t! Keep your remarks to yourself - understand? OK?

Cop at Newsstand:
[With a little more confidence] Listen, you ot a problem.

John J.:
I wouldn't want that problem to become yours, so remember what I said, and keep your opinions to yourself! [as he walks past three men loitering and talking he gstures toward them] You should clean the streets up! [shouting as he continues to walk] Hey, guys, once a cop, always a F***IN' cop! [as he goes up the stairs] Hey, hey, hey!

Tia Maria:
[Talking about Manuela and her sister] They were already dancing in their mother's womb.

Miguel:
Tomorrow we're going to get rid of a very, very bad person.

John J.:
[Muttering inaudibly] All right. OK.

Miguel:
This country's going to be a better country because of it.

John J.:
Whether that guy's rotten to the core should make a difference, but it doesn't. My job doesn't depend on a list of character references. My job is my job, and that's it. Tomorrow evening I intend to do my job.

John J.:
[All in Spanish] So what is tango? It is something new to me. Tango is new in America. I love it.

Tia Maria:
Tango is life.

John J.:
Life?

Tia Maria:
Tango is love. It's hate. Tango is everything.

John J.:
Ay?

Tia Maria:
[Making a hand gesture] It's a lot of things together.