Shaft (1971)

1. Up yours!

2. Get out of the way!

3. Fine timepiece, brother?

4. Goodbye.

5. Hey, what's happening, Marty?

6. Same old sixes and sevens, Shaft.

7. Two guys were looking for you, like, ten minutes ago.

8. Harlem cats?

9. How in the hell should I know? Everybody looks the s-s-same to m-m-me.

10. Take it easy, Marty.

11. Take care, Shaft.

12. Thanks, brother.

13. Too much sugar this morning, Cul.

14. Then don't drink it, baby.

15. Couple of dudes from uptown looking for you.

16. Know them?

17. Not by name.

18. Seen 'em around uptown.

19. Come in here when I was opening up, asked where they could find you.

20. What did they look like?

21. One was wearing a funky plaid coat. Other one was sharp.

22. Fifty-dollar shoes. Black coat, gray flares.

23. - Is that all? - Oh, they had heat on 'em.

24. The one in the funky plaid coat had his hands in his coat pocket.

25. Pulled his coat tight, you dig?

26. Had some heavy iron in his belt.

27. You know you got a scuff on the toe of this left shoe?

28. What time you got, Tom?

29. 8:16.

30. Hey, pull over in front of that shoeshine parlor.

31. He usually hangs out in there.

32. Okay.

33. - You want me to go in? - No. We'll wait.

34. Got yourself a nice shine. You can go out and make something of yourself, man.

35. Go out and get rich and fat like you, huh?

36. We're straight, baby.

37. Got a minute, Shaft?

38. Got no use for no dirty postcards, Vic.

39. - Get off my back, huh? - I just want to talk to you.

40. Call me up. You know my number.

41. Come on. I'll buy you a cup of coffee, huh?

42. - Go sit in the park a minute? - Hell no.

43. Just tell me what you got to say right here.

44. Uh, Tom, why don't you go get us a couple of cigars?

45. - What kind do you smoke, Shaft? - Just say what you've got to say, Vic.

46. Get us a couple of El Garcias, huh, Tom?

47. Look, I'm late.

48. What you trying to lay on me, huh?

49. Just love, Shaft. Got nothing but love and sympathy.

50. Then we're even. Go on, get on with it.

51. I thought you might know something I want to know.

52. Seems there's been a lot of low, quiet rumbles going on uptown.

53. Our people have been able to pick up the sounds of it, but no words.

54. That's 'cause us Black folk talk mushmouth, Lieutenant.

55. - I thought we were gonna get to it. - We did.

56. But you want me to pigeon. I just said, "Up yours, baby."

57. How come a couple of cats from Harlem

58. come downtown this morning looking for John Shaft?

59. Well, they're soul brothers.

60. They came down so I could teach them the handshake.

61. They find you?

62. Of course. I wasn't hiding.

63. You find out anything, give me a call. I'm still at the 38th Precinct.

64. Right on.

65. Hey, where the hell are you going, Shaft?

66. To get laid. Where the hell you going?

67. That boy's got a lot of mouth on him.

68. Boy's man enough to back it up too.

69. What did he tell you?

70. Nothing.

71. Gotta lean on that kind.

72. You don't lean on that kind.

73. Uh, give me a package of gum.

74. Make a noise and I'll cut you in two. Back up.

75. - Something wrong, Mr. Shaft? - Sick friend here.

76. Jim, can you get us a car up?

77. I'll take that.

78. Now be cool, man.

79. Where's your partner?

80. Open the door.

81. You got about a half a minute to tell me what the hell you want with me.

82. The police are gonna be up here

83. asking why you threw that son of a bitch out the window.

84. Now, they can find you dead or alive. Now, what's your goddamn story?

85. Bumpy...

86. Bumpy sent us to bring you uptown.

87. Did he tell you to mess me up?

88. Said I was to bring you.

89. It doesn't make sense.

90. You arrive at your office. You have a sick friend with you.

91. Suddenly, another man you don't know rushes up and a fight starts.

92. Your sick friend goes out the window. Why, Mr. Shaft?

93. Ask the man who started the fight, Mr. Leibowitz.

94. Your friend, the only name you know him by is "Tex"?

95. - No last name? - That's right.

96. I don't buy that, Shaft.

97. I think you know more than you're letting on.

98. Why that fight started, for instance.

99. What you think and what you can prove are two different bags.

100. All your friends walk around with weapons like that in their pockets?

101. That depends.

102. My Negro friends don't walk around with rabbits' feet no more.

103. Don't get wise with me, Shaft. There's a very simple way for me to go.

104. I'll pull your goddamn ass in!

105. And I'll sue your goddamn ass for false arrest.

106. Do you expect me to believe that man went out the window the way you said he did?

107. - What do I look like? Some kind of klutz? - Don't ask, and I won't tell you.

108. You're licensed by the city and the state.

109. Nobody who's licensed

110. can afford to be a wise ass where a felony case is involved.

111. Are you suggesting I could lose my license?

112. You're damn right I am. You'd better believe it and level with me.

113. Threatening my livelihood is a violation of my rights, isn't it, Vic?

114. Uh, Byron...

115. why don't you let me have a talk with him in private?

116. You got an assailant to interview.

117. Start that and I'll join you after we talk.

118. I think you're BS'ing me too, Vic. This thing stinks.

119. Maybe he didn't like the handshake you taught him, huh, John?

120. You know you can get your rump in a sling for this mess?

121. Static. A lot of hassle.

122. - Ah, you'll save me, Vic. - Well, I can try.

123. If?

124. One hand washes the other, John.

125. All the static and hassle in the world

126. wouldn't make me sing a song for the police, Vic.

127. No way, baby.

128. That cat you threw out the window was a flunky for Bumpy Jonas. You know that.

129. I didn't throw no cat out no window, Lieutenant.

130. Bumpy isn't gonna like it.

131. I don't give a damn what he likes. What the hell are you pumping me for, huh?

132. Two weeks ago, we started picking up rumbles.

133. - You already said that. - We know it's not the Panthers.

134. Or the Young Lords. But something's on the boil, John.

135. I just want to know what it is before we need an adding machine

136. to start counting up the bodies.

137. Bumpy wants you for something. He knows what's going on.

138. And that's what I want to know. Not who, just what.

139. Warms my Black heart to see you so concerned 'bout us minority folks.

140. Oh, come on, Shaft. What is it with this Black shit?

141. Huh? You ain't so Black.

142. And you ain't so white, baby.

143. All right.

144. You want to play your super heavy Black number?

145. I'm gonna play mine.

146. We can nail your tail for manslaughter on what we got on you right now.

147. Now, you can waltz Leibowitz, but you know the law.

148. You could be charged.

149. Charge, Lieutenant.

150. Yeah, but your license will be suspended.

151. You'll be out of business for six months.

152. You want to be out of business for six months, Shaft?

153. Out on the street. No gun permit.

154. Six months,

155. with Bumpy looking for you and what sounds like all hell about to break loose.

156. If you want it, you got it.

157. You scare me to death, Lieutenant.

158. Hey, you're buying trouble not only for yourself, but a bloodbath up in Harlem.

159. You want that?

160. All I'm asking you is to let me know what's going on.

161. No names, no places, just what.

162. I'm not asking you to sell out.

163. Just...

164. tell me the name of the game, so I know the rules.

165. I'll think about it.

166. All right, I'll settle for that now.

167. That buys you 48 hours out on the street, and then we're gonna talk again.

168. You got the number of Bumpy's private phone?

169. All right.

170. Take off. I'll see to Leibowitz.

171. Right on.

172. I'll see you.

173. Look at that.

174. Wrong number.

175. Don't bull me, man. I got the right number.

176. - This is Shaft. - How the hell did you get this number?

177. Off a bathroom wall in a goddamn subway.

178. - Been looking for you, Shaft. - I got an office.

179. Here you are.

180. Thanks.

181. Bag of chestnuts, please.

182. - Cold as hell today, huh? - Yeah, yeah.

183. Good chestnuts. Good chestnuts.

184. - How much? - Two bits.

185. - There you go. Take it easy. - Thanks.

186. Hey, taxi!

187. What the hell is this?

188. You white mother.

189. Taxi! Taxi!

190. Cat say he's gonna be here, he should be here.

191. Open it up.

192. Cat say he gonna be here...

193. and he ain't.

194. It ain't right, boss.

195. We'll wait.

196. You take crap off of him, he'll give you some more crap.

197. We'll wait.

198. That's some cold shit...

199. throwing my man Leroy out the window.

200. Just picked my man up and threw him out the goddamn window.

201. Got us standing around and waiting to say thank you.

202. Glad you let yourself in, Bumpy.

203. Give me a bad name, have you hanging around in the hall.

204. Look,

205. if the man ever comes down here again to see you,

206. you make sure you be here,

207. waiting.

208. You're in my chair.

209. Wait outside.

210. Sims and Leroy tried to muscle you, Shaft?

211. Yup.

212. Well, I got no grudge about Leroy.

213. I couldn't give a damn.

214. I got a job for you.

215. I'm not on no hustle, Bumpy.

216. A detective job.

217. - What kind? - Your kind. You take it.

218. Don't jive me, man. What kind of fucking job you talking about?

219. Somebody kidnapped my daughter Marcy.

220. Done in a couple of people.

221. Didn't leave no ransom note or nothing. And nobody saw nothing.

222. I want you to find her. That's the fucking job.

223. Police got a whole unit does that kind of work free.

224. Not for me. You know I can't go to the cops.

225. And you want me, huh?

226. Spade detective.

227. Yeah, I want you 'cause you're a Black spade detective.

228. And I want you 'cause you got your other foot in whitey's trough.

229. Now, she could be anywhere.

230. Got any idea who grabbed her?

231. A lot of cats hate my guts.

232. Sweet, loving dude like you?

233. Sweet-talking a man's old lady

234. while you're beating her old man out of his paycheck

235. in the back room of a horse parlor?

236. Feeding his kid shit to shoot in his arm?

237. Who could hate you, Bumpy?

238. My baby never sold nothing to nobody. Never took nothing from nobody.

239. She's a straight kid. She's going to college.

240. Whoever grabbed her got her to get at me.

241. They have a beef with me, they should come to me.

242. So you got a rule that somebody else don't.

243. Is that all you know?

244. There's a piece of Harlem I can't get at, the one them militants got an arm on.

245. They could have my baby. She's been into some of that stuff.

246. Bunch calls themselves the Lumumbas.

247. Ben Buford's thing.

248. I could send my people to ask them.

249. Shit.

250. Come to a shoot-out, and when it's all over...

251. a bunch of dead cats.

252. And maybe they'd kill Marcy.

253. Yeah, you're papa pimp to them.

254. They want to see you burn just as bad as they want to see the police burn.

255. But kidnapping sisters, man, that ain't their thing.

256. Look, the only reason anybody grabs anybody for is money.

257. Now, you tell me,

258. what other bunch in Harlem needs money bad enough to grab my baby?

259. If you believe that, what's all this shit

260. about me having one foot in whitey's trough, huh, Bumpy?

261. I said I think they had her. I didn't say they had her in Harlem.

262. They ain't dumb enough to take her someplace uptown.

263. Nah. It don't lay right.

264. What the hell you think I need you for if I knew who had her?

265. I'm guessing.

266. If they don't have her, all right.

267. Maybe they know something.

268. I got nothing.

269. That's the job, Shaft.

270. You take it or no?

271. I get 50 bucks an hour,

272. plus expenses.

273. And no questions asked about how I spend it.

274. You got it.

275. I get a free hand to move any way I want.

276. You...

277. You find my baby.

278. That's all I want.

279. I got money.

280. You spend it.

281. And you find her.

282. Now, that'll get you started.

283. When will I hear from you?

284. When I got something to say.

285. One more thing.

286. You send another cat after me with a gun,

287. I'll kill the motherfucker and I'll come looking for you.

288. And I'll get you, Bumpy. You believe it.

289. Fake mother.

290. Hey, Joe. You seen Ben Buford around?

291. Ben Buford used to live here. He live here anymore?

292. No. Why?

293. I'm looking for him.

294. Hell, I am too. He owes me six months' rent.

295. Take it easy.

296. Hello, ma'am. I'm looking for a guy named Ben Buford. You know him?

297. - Yeah, I know him. - Seen him around here lately?

298. - Mmm, not in a long while. - Thank you.

299. Looking for a guy named Ben Buford. Seen him around?

300. No, I ain't seen him. I ain't seen him.

301. Thanks.

302. Hey. Know what the number was today?

303. - Hey, Bunky. What's happening? - Hey, man. How's it going?

304. Seen Ben?

305. Ben? Ben who?

306. Ben Buford. You know who I mean, man.

307. Hey, man, I don't know no Ben Buford.

308. Twenty.

309. Oh. That Ben Buford.

310. He's holed up on a place on Amsterdam, 710.

311. What apartment and what time?

312. Third floor. There's a meeting at 9:00.

313. I can't guarantee it.

314. I just heard some cat tell another cat.

315. And they're both in the movement with Ben, dig?

316. Yeah, well, stay loose, baby.

317. Hi.

318. You all right?

319. Baby, are you all right?

320. I got to feeling like a machine. That's no way to feel.

321. Come here, baby.

322. Had a visitor from uptown this afternoon, John.

323. - What are you having? - Give me a dog with mustard and onions.

324. No. Hold the onions.

325. Cold, huh?

326. Well, John, what did you get?

327. I got laid.

328. Uptown, brother. Amsterdam Avenue. Take your time. I'm early.

329. - Hey, champ, you lost? - No.

330. - You live around here? - Yeah.

331. You look cold.

332. Cold.

333. Get yourself something to eat, okay?

334. Gee, thanks, mister.

335. Okay, champ.

336. - Who is it? - John Shaft, Ben.

337. Get the door.

338. Unless you want more visitors, you better split up that pair out front.

339. Put somebody on the basement door.

340. - How did you find me? - Wasn't hard. You got a big mouth.

341. - Cool it, man. - You cool it, boy.

342. Don't let your mouth get your ass in trouble.

343. - I ain't got nothin' to say to you. - Don't jive me.

344. We've put in a lot of street time together.

345. Yeah, well, that was a long time back. I don't know you no more.

346. A lot of hard years, man. The kind you don't forget.

347. Now, I'm gonna give you one minute to say what you came here to say.

348. And after you've said it, you go back out that door you came in

349. or I'll throw you out.

350. - You know Marcy Jonas? - Yeah, why?

351. - You know where she is? - What do you mean?

352. Somebody grabbed her.

353. Bumpy thinks maybe it was you.

354. We don't do that kind of thing, man.

355. You know anything about the kidnapping?

356. Okay, Tom, you used up your minute. Get out!

357. Don't "Tom" me, man.

358. - Where are the guns? - None here.

359. I'll be goddamned!

360. - Sonny! Sonny! - They're coming!

361. - Up over the roof, Ben? - Yeah, yeah. Go!

362. - He's dead. - Come on. Come on!

363. Not the roof. This way!

364. Stand back.

365. - What is this? - Everything's gonna be all right, ma'am.

366. - What is this? - Just go over there and be quiet.

367. Everything's okay, ma'am. No need to worry.

368. I'm sorry about your door.

369. That'll take care of it.

370. You set us up, man!

371. Young man, please.

372. Don't do that.

373. Don't ever threaten me again.

374. And don't call me Judas.

375. Come on, man. It's no time to count your dead. Come on.

376. Look.

377. Come on!

378. This way. This way!

379. One of yours?

380. - No. - Probably a finger man.

381. When you lead that revolution, whitey better be standing still,

382. 'cause you don't run worth a damn no more.

383. We're done running, man.

384. What the hell do you call this, man?

385. I gotta find out if they're after you or me.

386. Gonna leave you with some friends. They're straight people.

387. So don't you lay any of that Uncle Tom jive on them.

388. I don't know what's connected to what, Captain. I can't piece them together.

389. Answer that.

390. Look, it's only a half an hour since it happened.

391. How the hell do you figure I should have something this soon?

392. Yeah, but he's on the other line.

393. - I don't get paid enough to worry... - Hang on.

394. about what the police commissioner or the mayor thinks.

395. It's Shaft. Do you want to talk to him?

396. I got a call. I might have something. Hold on.

397. No. Better I call you back.

398. - Shaft? - Coming down to see you, Vic.

399. - Think you been holding out on me. - I'll wait.

400. Listen, several cats were killed up in Harlem tonight.

401. You know anything about it?

402. I was there, Lieutenant.

403. Um... the captain's at home. Why don't you call him back?

404. Tell him I had to go out, chase down a lead.

405. - Where you going? - Nowhere. Just get him off my back.

406. A reporter from the News wants an interview.

407. Tell him to call the captain. Serves the old bastard right.

408. This is that list from intelligence section.

409. What about the pictures?

410. They're getting them together now. Said about five minutes.

411. Uh, Shaft's coming down. Send him right in.

412. Dina will get you a bed made up. Why don't you get some sleep, man?

413. Got some dead brothers laying out there.

414. And this ain't where I should be.

415. Till we find out why they're dead, this is the only place for you to be.

416. - You think like a white man. - And you don't think at all.

417. - You want to get wasted? - If that's what it takes, yeah!

418. Marvin's sleeping.

419. I'll find out what I can and come back and pick you up in the morning.

420. If you think I'm gonna owe you for this, man, you're wrong.

421. Ben, you got nothing I want.

422. Ben, you can have the girls' room.

423. Dee, I gotta go out. Got an extra key so I don't have to wake you when I come back?

424. This will open the downstairs door too.

425. - Watch your mouth, man. - I'll say any damn thing I want.

426. Not in this house. Not here, you won't.

427. - Have a chair, John. - I don't like your chair.

428. You gave me nothing, Vic.

429. You want to lock me up for manslaughter

430. because some dude went out my office window...

431. you can go ahead and do it.

432. We got no deal.

433. I had nothing else to give you then. That's straight.

434. - So what do you got now? - One question first.

435. Anybody who could identify those guys with machine guns got wiped out.

436. Yeah. Five of Ben Buford's people and probably the guy that fingered you.

437. Me? Are you sure it's me?

438. I'd be sure if I knew if the guys were Black or white.

439. I make it 80-20 they were after you,

440. but Bumpy could probably tell you that for sure.

441. Just say what you got, man.

442. Couple of things that may fit.

443. Do you remember my telling you that Bumpy was doubling his crews up in Harlem?

444. So?

445. So, downtown we get some visitors.

446. Three guys from LA, two from Phoenix, a guy from Decatur, Illinois,

447. uh, four guys from Philly.

448. Altogether about 15 that we're sure of.

449. Special guys, huh?

450. All suspected of being guns for the Mafia.

451. Just got into town.

452. Most of them are staying at some hotel down in the Village. Taking in the sights.

453. - Is that it? - No, one thing more.

454. Couple dudes from Harlem go across to Jersey.

455. Uh, try to kidnap some Mafia bigwig. They blew it.

456. They killed the guy's runner.

457. But the man maintains that his runner was in Florida on a fishing trip.

458. - Looks like war coming, huh? - It's a bad thing, John.

459. Mafia against Bumpy. It's hood against hood, on the inside.

460. But on the outside, it's Black against white.

461. Could be we could have tanks and troops on Broadway if this thing breaks open.

462. Yeah, you got a point.

463. Here's what some of our visitors look like.

464. - Be a good time for it. - What, a war?

465. Fishing down in Florida.

466. You know, it might help if I knew what Bumpy hired you for.

467. - Never said he did. - He did.

468. It's against my ethics to say yes or no, Vic.

469. - He put you on the spot, Shaft. - He did?

470. You're a very wise Caucasian, Vic.

471. I'll be here. Uh, if I'm not, call me at home.

472. That's a comfort.

473. - Hello? - Hello, baby.

474. I waited up.

475. - Sorry. I can't make it. - You got problems, baby?

476. Yeah, I got a couple of them.

477. I was born Black

478. and I was born poor.

479. I love you.

480. Yeah, I know.

481. Take it easy.

482. Hey. Get up.

483. We've got a man to see.

484. Yeah.

485. See who that is, will you?

486. Shaft.

487. Let him in.

488. - I've got an appointment with Bumpy. - I know all about it.

489. Got to see if you're clean before you can see the man.

490. Better get yourself six more helpers then, Willy.

491. That's how it's done.

492. Who searches you?

493. Nobody.

494. Then get the same cat to search us.

495. Got to see if you got a gun on you before you go in.

496. Tell Bumpy we were here. Come on, Ben.

497. You let them walk now, Willy, Bumpy will have your tail.

498. Wait here. I'll call in to the man.

499. What do you want, Willy?

500. - Shaft's out here with some dude. - Send them in.

501. He won't let me see if they're clean, Bumpy.

502. Let them in.

503. Go on. You heard him.

504. But listen, Snow White...

505. me and you gonna tangle sooner or later.

506. Did you hear what I say?

507. Why don't you stop playing with yourself, Willy?

508. You ain't gonna do shit.

509. You're a cagey spook, Bumpy.

510. You ride a tall horse, Mr. Shaft.

511. This is Ben Buford.

512. Your little caper cost him five friends last night.

513. We're gonna take it out of your ass, pimp.

514. You're pushing me a little far.

515. I found out some things, Bumpy.

516. Like you knew who grabbed your daughter,

517. and you knew it wasn't Ben or his people

518. when you laid all that jive on me in my office.

519. I told you there was no note. I still don't know who has her.

520. You're lying, man.

521. Now, deal them up straight or don't deal them at all.

522. You grabbed the dope hustle up here from the Mafia.

523. Made yourself some big bread. Now the Mafia cats want to move in on you.

524. So what?

525. So the Mafia grabbed your daughter, Bumpy.

526. You knew it. Knew it when you hired me.

527. Yeah.

528. Tried to snatch one for a trade.

529. But your flunky friends out there blew it.

530. Ah, they burned some kid.

531. Missed the man we wanted to grab for a trade. Yeah.

532. Then you wanted to hustle old Shaft.

533. I hired you for a job. I conned you, but I never lied to you.

534. My baby was grabbed.

535. You're gonna get her back.

536. You bought that deal, Shaft. You're gonna live with it.

537. Not at these prices, baby.

538. I told you, what it costs, it costs.

539. A lot of hyped-up Black people give you that money you're spending, pimp.

540. Don't you try to bullshit me, boy. We're all on the hustle.

541. I sell broads and dope and numbers.

542. You sell crap and blue sky. It's all the same game.

543. You knew the Mafia cats would come after me, didn't you?

544. Mm-mmm. But it doesn't shake me up.

545. They made a good move to take out my front man.

546. They'll probably try again. I would.

547. You been using me, Bumpy. Suckered me.

548. That's okay. We stood face to face.

549. But I want to know why you wanted me to hook up with Ben.

550. 'Cause you're gonna need an army to get my baby back.

551. Ben's got one.

552. My people ain't worth a damn outside of Harlem.

553. If you think I'd risk some of the brothers

554. just 'cause your daughter's Black, you're wrong, man.

555. We need money.

556. Got a lot of brothers and sisters in jail.

557. Set a price.

558. $10,000 a head.

559. That's what the honky government pays a cat in the army for insurance.

560. Ten grand a man.

561. That's our price.

562. All right.

563. You telling me you're willing to lay out that kind of bread for Marcy?

564. Don't jive me, man.

565. I can always get more money.

566. I only got one baby.

567. That means you already owe him $50,000 for the men he lost last night.

568. All right.

569. We can get a lot of brothers and sisters out of jail with that kind of bread.

570. How many of his you gonna need?

571. Depends on whether or not the Mafia will take a ransom.

572. - They want Harlem, nothing less. - It ain't yours to give. Not anymore.

573. Mine or not, it's not gonna be theirs.

574. So all I gotta do is find out where they got her, bring her home.

575. That's it.

576. Well, if he's worth ten, I'm worth 20.

577. You got it. COD.

578. Half now and half when I bring her home.

579. All.

580. Right now.

581. Half.

582. That's the best I'll do.

583. Just been hustled, Bumpy. Deliver the money tonight.

584. I'll have my boys drop it off.

585. At these prices, you blow it, Shaft,

586. I'm not gonna like it, not even a little bit.

587. Thought the money didn't matter to you. Just getting your baby back.

588. Money always matters.

589. This is where I get off, man.

590. Look, one thing we gotta get straight, Ben.

591. If we gotta make a move and it comes to a fight, we do it my way.

592. For that kind of bread, the brothers'll play.

593. Just as long as you remember we owe them five.

594. I said, my way.

595. I'll call you.

596. - Hey, man. - Hey, hey, Billy, come here.

597. - Do me a favor, huh? - Sure.

598. - Go up to my place and turn on the — - Hey, no, man.

599. I've already turned on.

600. - No, Billy, turn on the lights. - Oh, lights.

601. - About two minutes, okay? - Got it. Got it.

602. How are we doing, love?

603. That's nice. Don't make any trouble.

604. - Johnny! - What do you say, Rollie?

605. Gorgeous coat.

606. How about letting me take over the bar for a while?

607. There's nothing I wouldn't do for $20.

608. Have funsies.

609. You look ready.

610. Yeah, okay. Scotch and water, both.

611. On the house, gents.

612. And since the house is buying, I'll have one.

613. To the big-hearted owner of the No Name Bar.

614. Whether he knows he's generous or not.

615. - That's all booze. - Right on.

616. All booze. One zillion percent.

617. Hello?

618. Hello?

619. Hold on.

620. Hold on.

621. No, he ain't here. Right.

622. Ho there, innkeeper.

623. Two gin and tonics

624. and, uh, a Virgin Mary for moi.

625. I'm thirsty. Parched.

626. There's a girl over there with the dark hair and the groovy boobs.

627. You really turn her on, if you're interested.

628. Well, I ain't dead.

629. Her friend Valerie says she's hot for my body.

630. I told her I was gay, and you know what she said?

631. She'd straighten me out.

632. That's what she said.

633. It's not enough that I'm lovely. She wants me to play character parts.

634. The one with the titillating boobs is named Linda.

635. Man can't walk on one leg.

636. Hate drinking alone.

637. Vic. Private line.

638. Hey, sweet baby. This is your lover man.

639. Who the hell is this?

640. Two sweet guesses.

641. That you, Shaft?

642. You bet your lovely self it is. And I'm ready. Can you dig it?

643. You got troubles?

644. - I got what you want. - Where are you?

645. The No Name Bar in the Village. On Jane Street.

646. - What do you want me to do? - Haul your beautiful self down here.

647. How many of them are there?

648. Um, about two.

649. I'll close up, then we'll go over to my pad.

650. Hell, you walk in that front door, and I'll close up right now.

651. - I'll have a car there in a few seconds. - That's what I want to hear, baby.

652. A lot of loose stuff around here, Jim?

653. All a man can handle, deacon.

654. What you looking at, man?

655. Get lost, huh?

656. Go do something.

657. Where are my manners?

658. I didn't even introduce myself to you gentlemen.

659. My name is John Shaft.

660. Freeze!

661. All right, you. Come on.

662. Lift 'em up.

663. Hey, throw me a towel.

664. There's two of them. We're generous around here.

665. It's not so bad.

666. It's a nice pad you got here.

667. Look, baby, I'm going upstairs and take a shower. Be right back.

668. I just couldn't wait.

669. - What do you say, Vic? - Morning.

670. Both of them had guns, licenses to carry.

671. "Jewelry couriers," the licenses said.

672. Detroit people.

673. - You gonna turn 'em loose? - There's no choice.

674. Oh, they'll leave town.

675. Yeah, you're gonna have strangers looking for you, not them.

676. Can I have a little private talk with 'em?

677. What are you gonna do to poor Carmen now? Give him cancer?

678. You busted his head. Settle.

679. I just want to find out his views on urban renewal.

680. All right.

681. Tom.

682. I'm speaking for Bumpy Jonas.

683. He wants to make sure his daughter's okay.

684. My word is all he'll take. No phone calls and no letters from her.

685. I've got to see her.

686. Then maybe he'll deal.

687. Nothing I want to say in this rathole.

688. - People might be listening. - That's a risk we'll have to take.

689. Now give me a number so I can let you know where I'll be.

690. And I'll call you at 12:30 sharp.

691. Meet you quarter to 1:00 somewhere in the Village.

692. Hey, baby.

693. - Come here. - Party's over.

694. You got to split.

695. Some other time, huh? Same feeling, same place.

696. Right now, I gotta take care of some business.

697. Yeah?

698. Put Ben on.

699. He's asleep. Who wants him?

700. Wake him up. It's John Shaft.

701. You're really great in the sack, but, um...

702. you're pretty shitty afterwards, you know that?

703. Yeah?

704. Look, I'm trying to take care of some business, baby. Okay?

705. Hello?

706. Come on.

707. Ben.

708. I need two good men. You ready?

709. - Yeah. - They'd better be tough.

710. Hey, baby, please close the door, huh?

711. Close it yourself, shitty.

712. Hey, man, just tell me where and when.

713. Front of Caffe Reggio down in the Village. You know where it is?

714. - I'll find it. - 12:30.

715. - Five minutes late'd be too late. - I'll be there. Bye.

716. Yeah?

717. It's Vic Androzzi.

718. What the hell are you doing here, man?

719. Got no time for chats.

720. You had time for a chat with Carmen and Patsy in my office this morning.

721. You got me in one hell of a mess, John.

722. - Did you have the room bugged? - Oh, no, not me.

723. Me? I could turn the other way.

724. Not hear what I heard.

725. It's that big-eared captain I got who was listening.

726. Thinks he heard you discussing a kidnapping.

727. Thinks the Mafia's involved.

728. And he knows Bumpy Jonas is involved.

729. Tell him to ask Bumpy then.

730. Yeah, I did. But he wants to ask you.

731. Now. At the station.

732. It's lousy timing, right?

733. Gonna take me in?

734. I will if I find you.

735. Are you home?

736. Hell no.

737. That's too bad.

738. Call me when you get home.

739. I will.

740. "Close it yourself, shitty."

741. This is Shaft. Now get this straight.

742. I'll be at Caffe Reggio on MacDougal Street at quarter to 1:00.

743. - Got it? - Reggio, quarter to 1:00.

744. Right.

745. Menu?

746. Espresso.

747. Don't you want a sandwich or something with it?

748. Just espresso.

749. I hope you don't like lemon peel.

750. Let it go.

751. I think you like it. I'll go get you some.

752. I always forget the lemon peel.

753. I'm looking for a nigger named John Shaft.

754. You just found him, wop.

755. Sit down.

756. I'm supposed to take you to visit a lady. Come on.

757. Haven't finished my espresso.

758. Why don't you have some?

759. Maybe they'll put a little garlic in it, if you're nice.

760. No, thanks.

761. But you go ahead.

762. We even got time for you to have your soul food.

763. Espresso?

764. No, thanks.

765. Keep it.

766. Thanks, baby.

767. Let's go.

768. Come on.

769. After you, man.

770. Okay. Davies, you stay here.

771. Remmy, you get around to the back of the building

772. and keep an eye on the alley door.

773. And stay out of sight.

774. What if they come out our way?

775. Davies, you follow them. Remmy, you come back for me. Okay, now move it.

776. No noise. Now, answer me straight.

777. No lies and no con.

778. How many men you got in there with her?

779. Two.

780. Okay.

781. When I tell you, you open that door like this gun was about to blow your head off.

782. No signals or you're gone. Got it?

783. Yeah.

784. Ha! Gin.

785. Open it.

786. Okay, turn her loose or he goes.

787. - Tell 'em to turn her loose. - They won't.

788. They won't shoot, Marcy. Come on over here.

789. There's nothing you can do, Shaft.

790. Nothing except go back to Harlem and tell Bumpy his little girl is fine.

791. - When I leave, she leaves with me. - No way, Shaft.

792. She's our ace. You never give up your ace.

793. Maybe you're right. Maybe I ought to take you uptown and turn you over to Bumpy.

794. Change your mind, you can walk right now.

795. You try to take the girl or me along, you're dead.

796. You trying to tell me they'd blow you away to get me?

797. That's right.

798. I halfway believe you. But you're my ace, so I gotta call you.

799. The only thing that's keeping you alive right now, the only thing,

800. is you gotta be fit enough to leave here to tell that Black punk in Harlem

801. that he's got 24 hours to deal or he's got a dead daughter.

802. And a war. You hear me?

803. Come on. Let's go.

804. Let's go!

805. Back door.

806. Come on.

807. No! No!

808. - Come on. - No!

809. Come on. In front of me.

810. John, you all right? Come on.

811. Come on. You all right?

812. - Huh? - Get me up out of here.

813. Whole place'll be stinking with cops in a minute.

814. - John? - Grab those guns, will you?

815. Let's get the hell out of here.

816. Ellie!

817. - Ellie! Ellie, open up! - Yes!

818. My God! What happened?

819. Been shot.

820. Put him on the couch.

821. Didn't want to tell you over the phone.

822. Ellie, call Sam.

823. - You need a real doctor, baby. - I said call Sam.

824. Let's get it off.

825. Easy.

826. Blade.

827. Ben, get on the phone.

828. We're gonna need some more brothers — with guns this time.

829. Bumpy will handle transportation.

830. Had to bring you to, Johnny.

831. Can't fix anything else till you tell me where you hurt.

832. Wall to wall, Sam.

833. Ellie, give me that phone.

834. - Get those boys? - Got eight.

835. Know where they took her?

836. One of the brothers tailed them. He's watching the place now.

837. What about the back exit?

838. Everything's cool, baby. Don't worry.

839. Did you run into a train?

840. Tight as you can get it. I gotta get up soon as you're done.

841. Oh! Damn.

842. Damn, those were some tough white boys.

843. You're gonna have one hell of a time.

844. - Got a bad sprain on that right wrist. - Well, tape it.

845. I did, damn it. What do you think I am, an amateur? For Chrissakes.

846. Too good a job, Sam. I didn't even feel it.

847. Wrong number.

848. Cut the crap, man. This is Shaft. I saw Marcy.

849. Is she all right?

850. Scared to death, but okay.

851. Look, I need three cabs on the corner of Ninth and Washington

852. to pick up some of Ben's people.

853. - How soon? - Now, man. Now!

854. Okay, you two, outside! Move, move!

855. Let's go!

856. Tie 'em up!

857. All right, baby, where are the uniforms?

858. - Who's that? - Night janitor. He's okay.

859. Use him to find out which room they got her in.

860. Right.

861. - Getting it together? - Yeah, baby, right on.

862. Beautiful.

863. Perfect.

864. Nice.

865. Just beautiful.

866. Hey, Jerry, how you doing, baby?

867. Hey, boy.

868. Send up two coffees and a Coke.

869. Uh, glass or straw?

870. For the Coke.

871. Make it a straw.

872. Straw?

873. You heard me. Straw.

874. Right. Right.

875. You're a shrewd cat, Shaft.

876. You and your boys blow it, and I'll be one dead cat.

877. Now, you all know the plan. No mistakes.

878. Let's go.

879. Here you are, sir. Two coffees, a Coke and a straw.

880. - Want me to take it in? - Whoa.

881. Right.

882. Hey, thank you.

883. - Be seeing you. - Okay.

884. Ah, shut up.

885. - What do you guys want? - Your coat, man.

886. Rope and harness.

887. Go ahead down.

888. Did you hear anything?

889. This damn thing won't burn hot enough.

890. See if you've got something else in there that'll burn.

891. This is gin, man.

892. What else you got?

893. Gasoline.

894. Come on!

895. Now give me a cigarette.

896. - All right, you know what to do? - Yeah.

897. You mother...

898. You bitch.

899. Let's go! Go!

900. Get out of here! Go! Get out of here!

901. Come on!

902. Let's go!

903. Go!

904. Androzzi here.

905. - Vic, your case just busted wide open. - So close it for me.

906. Cut the crap, man. This is Shaft.

907. Looks like you're gonna have to close it yourself, shitty!