The Irishman

Bill Bufalino:
Frank, I want you to meet my cousin, Russell Bufalino.

Frank Sheeran:
How are you? [shakes hands]

Russell Bufalino:
Hi, nice to meet you.

Frank Sheeran:
You helped me with my truck a couple of months ago.

Russell Bufalino:
Oh, yeah, yeah, that's right. The timing chain.

Frank Sheeran:
Yeah.

Russell Bufalino:
Did you get it fixed?

Frank Sheeran:
I fixed it the next day, yeah.

Russell Bufalino:
That a boy.

Frank Sheeran:
Thanks again.

Russell Bufalino:
Ah, you're welcome. It's my pleasure. I'm glad you fixed it. [pause] Better watch. There's a lot of tough guys around here. Did he [Bill] tell you? You're not afraid of tough guys, are you?

Frank Sheeran:
No.

Russell Bufalino:
I didn't think so. I'll see you around.

Bill Bufalino:
Thanks, Russell.

Frank Sheeran:
You're cousin saved my ass. I could'a lost the whole load.

Bill Bufalino:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, he knows everything about trucks, really. Yeah, he worked at Canada Drive for a long time.

Frank Sheeran:
[voice over] Russell had a piece of everything. He had this store in Pittston called Penn Drape & Curtains. And he ran everything out of there. Who knew what it all was? I mean, I'm sure the man had partners. They always have partners. Nobody keeps all the money. But everybody listened to Russ. That I can tell you. You wanted to bribe a judge, you asked Russell. You didn't know how much to bribe him, Russell was gonna tell you. You wanna promote one of your guys, Russ would tell you you could or you could not. You wanna make somebody disappear, you gotta get Russell's permission. You know, no two ways about it. And when you did something for Russ, you did it yourself. Like Russ used to say...

Russell Bufalino:
[cuts to Russell, explaining straight to the camera] When I ask somebody to take care of something for me, I expect them to take care of it themselves. I don't need two roads coming back to me.

Frank Sheeran:
Hello?

Jimmy Hoffa:
Is that Frank?

Frank Sheeran:
Yes.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Hiya, Frank. This is Jimmy Hoffa.

Frank Sheeran:
Yeah, yeah. Glad to meet you.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Well, glad to meet you, too, even if it's over the phone. I heard you paint houses.

Frank Sheeran:
Yes. Yes, sir, I... I do, I do, and I, uh, I also do my own carpentry.

Jimmy Hoffa:
You wanna be a part of this fight?

Frank Sheeran:
Yes, I do, sir.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Would you like to be a part of this history?

Frank Sheeran:
Yes, I would. Whatever you need me to do, I'm available.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Who said it?

Frank Sheeran:
Don't matter who said it.

Jimmy Hoffa:
It matters. Was it Russell?

Frank Sheeran:
No.

Jimmy Hoffa:
No. Of course it's not Russell. And the little cocksucker from the Miami fiasco? No? Not him? No? Then who?

Frank Sheeran:
I'm gonna tell you. Tony.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Tony? Which Tony? They're all named Tony. I mean, what's the matter with Italians that they can only think of one name?

Frank Sheeran:
The other Tony.

Jimmy Hoffa:
What Tony?

Whispers DiTullio:
To tell you the truth, I'm a little concerned.

Frank Sheeran:
[narrating] Whenever anybody says they're a little concerned, they're very concerned.

Whispers DiTullio:
As a matter of fact, I'm really more than a little concerned.

Frank Sheeran:
[narrating] And when they say they're more than a little concerned, they're desperate.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Where are you going?

Frank Sheeran:
What do you mean where am I going? I f***ing quit, that's where I'm going!

Jimmy Hoffa:
What are you quitting for?

Frank Sheeran:
You gonna call me a motherf***er? If you can talk to them like that, you can't talk to me like that!

Jimmy Hoffa:
No! That didn't apply to you!

Frank Sheeran:
It didn't apply?

Jimmy Hoffa:
No!

Frank Sheeran:
You gotta let me know it didn't apply to me. I'm standing right there...

Jimmy Hoffa:
I didn't even see you standing there!

Frank Sheeran:
I was standing right there, Jimmy, what are you talking about?

Jimmy Hoffa:
But it didn't apply to you! What else can I say?

Frank Sheeran:
You... you... you got a problem, you pull me aside, you don't insult me and then you say it didn't apply to me!

Jimmy Hoffa:
How am I going to pull you aside? I didn't even see you there!

Robert Kennedy:
[during congressional hearing interrogation of Hoffa] Are you saying you don't remember doing any favors for Johnny Dio, or you don't remember the conversation?

Jimmy Hoffa:
[nonchalantly] I'm saying, to the best of my recollection, I must recall on my memory, I cannot remember.

Robert Kennedy:
Then where did this $20,000 come from?

Jimmy Hoffa:
Individuals.

Robert Kennedy:
[losing patience] Which individuals, Mr. Hoffa?

Jimmy Hoffa:
[pretending to think] Uh... off hand, that particular amount of money I borrowed... I don't know at this particular moment. But the record of my loans, which I requested, I have, and out of all the moneys I loaned during this period of time I went into these ventures.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Ah, sh*t! Just as I predicted. They f*** up Cuba, Boobie starts coming after me and the union. He's looking for some cheap publicity. That's all it is. That's what he's doing.

Bill Bufalino:
Okay. Well, it's all gonna blow over, Jimmy.

Jimmy Hoffa:
No, it's not gonna blow over. How's it gonna blow over?! They're never gonna forget that I gave money to Nixon!

Bill Bufalino:
Calm down. Jimmy, please. We're gonna handle this. Couple of the old timers, they're gonna get to Old Man Kennedy now. Okay? They're gonna get to him. He's a little sick, but...

Jimmy Hoffa:
Sick?

Bill Bufalino:
Yeah. But...

Jimmy Hoffa:
He had a f***ing stroke! That's not sick! That's you're... you're, you're close to the grave, is what. He's turning into a f***ing eggplant.

Bill Bufalino:
Okay. Well, you can't blame anybody for that. That's...

Jimmy Hoffa:
I'm not looking to blame anybody. But if there's any blame going around, it's the Kennedy's. His kids killed him. Let me tell ya that. He's not dead, but he's going. He's going. They killed him! They'd give anybody a heart attack!

Russell Bufalino:
It was the best move we made, getting this red wine vinegar from Angelo's guy. Great Italian olive oil we got from that other mooch was not bad either. Catania olives, what better.

Frank Sheeran:
The best.

Russell Bufalino:
You don't need money, do you?

Jimmy Hoffa:
It's not about money.

Russell Bufalino:
Well, if it's not about money, then I'm really having trouble understanding, because I don't know what all the talk is about?

Jimmy Hoffa:
It's my union. Is that hard to understand?

Russell Bufalino:
No, no. It's your union, that's right. It'll always be your union. You could step down and still run it...

Jimmy Hoffa:
No, you don't step down.

Russell Bufalino:
What do you mean?

Jimmy Hoffa:
Russ, you don't step down to run a union. You step down to go to your grave.

Russell Bufalino:
Well, listen. I still think... I can't help but think, I'm sorry, but is there another reason or something?

Jimmy Hoffa:
This is my union! What do you mean another reason?! [short pause] This is my union! All right, let's start with that! And then try to understand things!

Russell Bufalino:
Listen, some people, not me. But some people, they're a little concerned. Some people, not me. They think that you might...

Jimmy Hoffa:
I might...

Russell Bufalino:
You might be demonstrating a failure to show appreciation.

Jimmy Hoffa:
[short pause] I'm not showing appreciation?

Russell Bufalino:
According to, you know, some people...

Jimmy Hoffa:
I went to school for five f***ing years.

Russell Bufalino:
Yes, you did.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Five f***ing years! I didn't name one f***ing name!

Russell Bufalino:
You did the right thing.

Jimmy Hoffa:
I did the right thing.

Russell Bufalino:
You did the right thing.

Jimmy Hoffa:
[pointing to Tony Pro] Sat there everyday with that whining cocksucker from New Jersey, talking to me about his woes, his problems, and all I wanted to do was finish my ice cream in peace. This cocksucker shows up at a meeting! Fifteen minutes late! Wearing f***ing shorts! Who wears shorts to a meeting?

Russell Bufalino:
Nobody.

Jimmy Hoffa:
That's right.

Russell Bufalino:
Nobody.

Jimmy Hoffa:
I'm not showing appreciation.

Russell Bufalino:
It's not me. According to some people.

Jimmy Hoffa:
No, I know it's not you! Some people, some people say I'm not showing appreciation. Well, then f*** them.

Russell Bufalino:
I'm trying to help you, Jim.

Jimmy Hoffa:
I know you are. But nobody threatens Hoffa.

Frank Sheeran:
Tony told the old man, to tell me, to tell you, "It's what it is."

Jimmy Hoffa:
[pause] What it is?

Frank Sheeran:
It's what it is.

[pause]

Frank Sheeran:
Please, listen to me.

Jimmy Hoffa:
[pause] They wouldn't dare!

Frank Sheeran:
Don't - don't say that.

Jimmy Hoffa:
They wouldn't dare!

Frank Sheeran:
Jimmy don't....

Jimmy Hoffa:
Please, Frank, come on.

Frank Sheeran:
Don't say they wouldn't dare.

Jimmy Hoffa:
No, don't - don't tell me they can. That's fairytales, please.

Frank Sheeran:
Don't say they wouldn't dare. Please.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Something funny happens to me, they're done. You understand that? And they know it. Because I got files. I got proof. I got records. I got tapes. Anytime I want, they'll be gone. These guinea motherfuckers spend the rest of their lives in jail, and they know it. They know it.

Frank Sheeran:
But what you're saying is what they're concerned about.

Jimmy Hoffa:
What I'm saying is I know things. I know things they don't know I know. Please...

Frank Sheeran:
Do you wanna take that chance?

Jimmy Hoffa:
What chance am I on?

Frank Sheeran:
Jim...

Jimmy Hoffa:
Why should I be taking a chance?

Frank Sheeran:
They're saying this is it.

Jimmy Hoffa:
They're saying this is it, and then it's it?

Frank Sheeran:
Yeah.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Bullshit. Bullshit, Frank.

Frank Sheeran:
Jimmy, I'm trying to tell you something.

Jimmy Hoffa:
I know you are. You're telling me that they're threatening me, and I gotta do what they say, which is absolute...

Frank Sheeran:
It's more than a threat. It's the bottom line.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Bottom line?

Frank Sheeran:
It's what it is.

Jimmy Hoffa:
They do something to me, I do something to them. That's all I know. I don't know anything else. Do you?

Frank Sheeran:
[short pause] So what am I gonna do? What am I gonna tell McGee? That you're not gonna listen? He ain't used to people not listening to him.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Well, neither am I.

Frank Sheeran:
What?

Jimmy Hoffa:
Neither am I.

Frank Sheeran:
Then I don't know what to do. I mean, maybe you should get some bodies around you for protection.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Oh, come on, please. I'm not gonna go that route. [laughs] Don't do this to me, Frank. What do you mean bodies around me? You put bodies around you then they go after your family. It doesn't matter. You worried?

Frank Sheeran:
I'm worried.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Get some bodies around you. I'll tell you why. This could happen to you. They could come after you, since you're with me. No?

Frank Sheeran:
[short pause] I'm worried.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Tell Russ I got nothing but respect for him. I got a little trouble with him. We were talking before, I just got a little crazy. You know how I am. I just blow, sometimes.

Frank Sheeran:
Yeah.

Jimmy Hoffa:
I just walked away like that. But I get that way. I get abrupt. Maybe you could just tell him how much I respect him. I have nothing but respect for this guy. I would never hurt him, no matter what I do with files, or whatever I do with anything.

Frank Sheeran:
No, but you should tell him, yourself.

Jimmy Hoffa:
No, I'm not gonna tell him myself.

Frank Sheeran:
Please.

Jimmy Hoffa:
Oh, come on.

Frank Sheeran:
It'll go a long way.

Jimmy Hoffa:
He's your rabbi. Because of him, you're here. You tell him. Listen to me. At the end, there's only one thing that's real. This is my union. This is my union, Frank. Very simple when you say it that way.

Frank Sheeran:
[voice over] When I was young, I thought house painters painted houses. What did I know? I was a working guy, a business agent for Teamster Local 107 out of South Philly. [speaking] One of a thousand working stiffs, until I wasn't no more. And then I started painting houses myself.

Frank Sheeran:
Nowadays, young people, they don't know who Jimmy Hoffa was. They don't have a clue. I mean, maybe they know that he disappeared or something, but that's about it. But back then, there wasn't nobody in this country who didn't know who Jimmy Hoffa was.

Frank Sheeran:
[about his boss to be] I thought maybe he owned the gas station. 'Cause he owned something, you could tell. Yeah, it turns out he owned the whole road.

Jimmy Hoffa:
You always charge a guy with a gun! With a knife, you run away.

Jimmy Hoffa:
If I said it once, I said it a thousand times, I don't care they're Irish. I don't care they're Catholic. If there's one person you can't trust in this life, it's millionaires' kids.

Jimmy Hoffa:
You don't keep a man waiting. The only time you do is when you want to say something. When you want to say f*** you.

Jimmy Hoffa:
I am sitting in a room... full of f***in' idiots. You dumb motherfuckers! You know what you did? You take Johnny O'Rourke's kid and you put him on as general organizer, pay thirty-six f***ing grand, at the same time... you let him sell insurance to his f***ing father's...[leans over the table shaking his head] To his f***ing father's... to his f***ing father's... LOCALS! [slams table] Damn it! How do you do that? How STUPID can you be? That f***ing cocksucker Kennedy has got his nose up my ass everywhere I go! You don't know that they're hounding me? They're looking at everything I do, and you let this happen in public! You're giving it to him! [in a calmer tone] I'm going to jail. You understand? I'm going to prison... because of you. You dumb motherfuckers. This is what you wanted. You wanted to put me in jail. Tell me now so I can kill you... right here. [slams table again] Right here!

Russell Bufalino:
It's at a point where your gonna have to talk to him and tell him, "It's what it is". It's what they want. It's where it's gotten.

Russell Bufalino:
If they can whack a President, they can whack a president of a union. You know it and I know it.

Russell Bufalino:
Frank, I had to put you into this thing, or you would never let it happen, and I know you wouldn't. [pause] But it's gonna happen. Either way, he's going. [pause] I know how you feel, Frank. Trust me. I know how you feel. I told you before, we tried everything to help him, you know that. You tried. He brought this on himself. And it's landing on us. [pause] The only reason they agreed to this, is out of respect to me. But you and Reenie will be okay. Cuz you're with me. You're with me.

Russell Bufalino:
Jimmy was a good man, you know? He had a nice family too, huh? I never wanted it to go that far. [pause] I picked us, over him. F*** 'em. F*** 'em. F*** 'em.

Russell Bufalino:
Mangia, che cresci. Figlio mio, mangia. - (Eat, so you'll grow. Eat, my son.)

Frank Sheeran:
[after a flashback in which Hoffa's body is secretly disposed of by incineration] It was no more complicated than that.