Noricum Ripense.
Ass-end of the ancient Roman province of Noricum;
Corresponds roughly with modern-day Austria and Slovenia.
The mountainous region south of the Danube
that also just happens to be the place that party ended
for the Roman Empire.
By 476 AD the Roman Empire was
disappearing and there was this garrison in Batavis,
a Roman colony of Noricum Ripense,
that had a fort full of soldiers
that hadn"t gotten the memo about Rome"s 401k plan.
You see, the troops they"re paid with public money;
I.e. Taxes. You get it?
I"m still with you.
So they sent two scouts to Italy
to check on their paychecks,
but on the way, they get whacked by new local talent
that dropped their bodies by the river.
The message was clear: No More Money.
And being as that these troops in this fort
were the last line of defense for
the Roman citizenry, they had a choice:
They either join up with said local talent or die.
This is how the party ended for the Romans.
You know how it ends for us?
Same way.
You want to know when it ends?
When the last drinks to be bought.
When the "“last call" ” light flickers
and we realize in our heart-of-hearts that we"re going
home alone to sit in the dark with our dicks in our hands.
When you fuck with the money.
I saw that happen in the crash of "75."
You saw it happen again here, in "08, Detective Third Grade."
But this time is different.
We may have fallen too far.
Because something is new on the rise
outside our fair, battered fort.
The speaks, the speaks are taking over from the bars.
There"s an ocean of shit moving through them.
And the game floats.
It"s detached itself from our now defunct
brick and mortar economy,
God bless its quaint, dead soul.
And you can"t pin it down.
It"s a shadow economy, and it just keeps growing
and spoiler alert, it gets worse,
it"s too sophisticated for our local talent.
Our home-grown bottom feeders that live from score to score
don"t have the brains, the muscles and the money,
and there"s that word again
in case you weren"t paying attention
to start a whole new economy.
Something"s new is at work here.
And the NYPD"s elite Organized Crime Intelligence Division
which you and every other swinging dick
who volunteered for this unit want to transfer to
should be all over this and it"s not.
Something"s wrong.
The machine"s not doing its job.
The wheels are coming off.
Something is rancid in OCID.
And you, Detective Third Grade,
are gonna to be my long right arm
that I bury up to the shoulder in the ass of this beast
that burdens our time.
You want me to ghost OCID?
Eventually, I do.
I can"t just stick you in there now.
You gotta earn it.
How?
You get a handle on the speaks,
find out who"s running them,
how they"re supplied, where they"re going to pop up next,
And you crack a couple of them,
you disrupt their supply chain,
get some middle management to flip,
and then you hunt down the money.
But Anticrime"s not supposed to do investigations.
I said I"d give you a shot at CAB Group One
if you did something for me.
This is that something.
If don"t like it, you can go back to traffic.
Or maybe spend some more personal time on that
second job you have downtown.
Security, right?
Look, it"s very simple.
You"re here to ensure this experiment in law and order
continues to hold because right now
it"s shitting all over itself.
Noricum Ripense. Remember that.
The NYPD are the troops in that fort,
trying to hold off the new local talent.
But the money"s drying up;
And if we don"t do something fast it"s gonna to be last call
and we"re going home blue-balled and fuck-less.
Right now, we"re tea-bagging Charybdis.
It"s only a matter of time
before she deep throats us whole.
What"s a "“Charybdis?"”
Game time.
Aren"t you going to tell me something
about the new partner you assigned me?
He"s ESU.
That"s something.
Glad we had this talk.
You"re walking with Dante now son,
Who?
Get the fuck outta here.
I"m Detective Sixto Santiago.
I just transferred to CAB Group One from Traffic.
Captain McKeutchen says we"re gonna be working together.
You uh, you don"t talk much, I"m guessing.
It"s cool.
We don"t need to talk.
Ground rules.
When we"re out there, no matter what kinda shit we"re in,
I get a call that my family needs help,
we drop everything we"re doing and we roll there, code two.
You got people here in town, we do the same thing for them.
Fuck police business, we take care of family first.
You understand?
Hey, conyaso, I"m talkin' to you, man!
Excuse me, Sir.
Is it alright we take Broadway
all the way down to fifty-seventh street?
Fifth is mashed-up right now.
Indulge me.
Repect.
We"ve already ordered, Renny.
Basil Hayden Manhattan with a dash of sweet Tribuno,
three teardrops of Angostura orange bitters shaken to a froth
over as much ice will fit, served in stemmed Waterford.
Are you sure you"re not gay?
Wrong. Fix.
Renny, we"ve booked Johnny Retch and Miyuki
for the Christmas cover.
All next year, it"s Dolce, Canali and Giovanni Kwan.
What are you looking for?
We want what you did for Diazanon.
The Hollywood issue.
With less motion.
That same urban backwash effect you"ve been doing,
but not so much that it detracts from Johnny and Miyuki.
A bit less action in the background,
a bit more contrast to bring focus
to the actors and the clothes.
You understand?
Of course.
You"re looking for something maybe a little more toned down.
Maybe fewer lightscapes.
No lightscapes.
Glad to see you haven"t gone all sentimental on me.
I"m the sentimental one, don"t you know.
This is how it happens.
How what happens?
Renny, foreplay"s over.
The Christmas cover"s yours.
Twenty grand.
Right.
We should probably get back to Manhattan.
Okay. McKeutchen tells me you"re ESU.
Why don"t you go ahead and show me...
What the fuck!
Renny!
Joss.
I didn"t think you'd all be out on a Tuesday night.
Tuesday"s the new Thursday.
Monday"s the new Friday.
Wednesday"s the new Saturday.
And every hour is happy hour!
So, Dr. Feelgood, you got the new number yet?
You"ll be the first to know.
Your profile hasn"t changed yet.
That"s because I haven't changed it yet.
So, where"s the next one?
Yeah, Renny, don"t be so secretive.
I should be getting it later tonight.
You always get it later.
He"ll let us know.
I"ll be in touch.
But you will let us know first, right?
I said, I"d be in touch.
Our COMSTAT intel says this is hot spot,
lots of partying, lots of arrests.
Makes sense.
We"re downtown, near the tunnel,
and that"s the most popular bar in this sector.
So the best thing for us to do now is set up and...
That shit is not exactly standard issue, is it?
I don"t even know your name.
More.
You have a first name, More?
Don"t forget the code word.
Stigmar, I know the fucking code word, Stigmara.
Coño.
Twas not my intention to drive off
potential playmates for the evening.
No worries, good sir.
They know how to find me.
One, if not both of them.
All roads eventually lead to me.
Looking forward to our next engagement?
Counting on it. You?
Supply and demand, collecting payment for services rendered.
Still on Fast Forties?
I am.
Still happy with that?
If it ain"t broke...
That"s one way to look at it.
What"s the other?
Do you remember that loft,
the one in the Mink building
I told you I was going to get?
I do.
I got it.
That right?
Rolled two double default mortgages into a down payment.
Not a penny out of my pocket.
That"s how slick you are.
All without our employer, I might add.
To say I cleaned up is an understatement.
Your decision to settle for less even more so.
What"s wrong with less?
By definition, it"s lacking.
What do you suggest?
A sideline opportunity.
A, An independent joint venture.
With me.
I"m in the market for a partner I know I can work with.
You"re not suggesting.
I already have. Thoughts?
Do try and pay attention my son, this is about your future.
This is all fascinating but you know the drill: "“Ladies first."”
My dear, Renny, you are truly fucking incorrigible.
We aim to please.
Well, as you momentarily succumb to the business of pleasure,
try not to forget the pleasure of business.
Enough is never that, I"m afraid.
Toodle pip.
Stand the fuck down!
Go, go, go, fucking go!
More, what the fuck happened out there?
This isn"t over, man.
You going to tell me.
We pay for our own gas and ammo?
Are you fucking kidding me?
You"re referring to the department"s inability
to provide essentials to it"s fine, hard working officers.
What a charming pre-crash sentiment,
you two are so fucking precious.
Fucking department can tongue my taint.
The fucking department thanks you.
And little-miss-meter-maid from Traffic gets to go out
on drag hauls and score credits while the real cops
are on standby mode with our thumbs up our asses
in order to save precious department dollars.
Who the fuck you calling meter-maid?
He means you, Affirmative Action.No.
Fuck you, pendejo.
Shit-sucking, drag-fucking spic! No!
Not cops! Not cops!!
More! My office! Now!
Were you humming?
What kind of gun was it?
I don"t know.
I wonder what was going on?
Just another night in the city.
I"m sure you're right.
What the fuck.
Fucking More.
Stand down. Stand the fuck down.
Stand down.
Hey, where the fuck were you?
Hey, you deaf, dumb and stupid?
I"m talking to you asshole.
Where the fuck were you?
What the fuck.
Hey asshole! I"m talking to you.
My old man.
How are you, Mom?
Oh my sweet boy. You"re here.
You look thin. Are you eating?
Just fine, Mom.
Are you taking your pills?
Yes.
All of them?
Yes, yes. All of them.
Ma, the neighborhood really looks rough.
Please, let me help you move out.
Absolutely not. This is my house.
My homes, this is where you grew up.
How could I leave here.
It"s not safe.
Enough.
It"s been so long since I"ve seen you.
Tell me all your big news.
How are things?
Things have never been better.
Big new job, another cover shoot.
For Round Off Magazine.
Oh Renny, that"s wonderful.
Your father would be so proud.
I know, Mom. I know.
Look, I"m just checking in.
You have everything you need?
Is everything okay in the neighborhood?
Yes, yes, everything"s fine.
I have everything I need.
In fact, it"s more than I need.
Here, you take this. Ma, come on.
Now Renny.
You listen to your mother.
You take this and put it away.
Your father wanted you to have this and you will.
Don"t argue with me.
Take this and you put it in the bank.
You save it for, tomorrow.
None of us know what that brings.
That"s why you take it, you go on, you take it.
Oh, my sweet boy. You"re here.
I haven"t seen you in so long.
Yeah, Mom.
I"m here. Sending a pin now.
I just can"t figure him out.
Renny.
Fast Forty.
Usual place, yeah.
You better hope Reza doesn"t catch you smoking on the job.
Oh man, please, what Reza doesn"t know
is of no concern to me.
And did you hear about Eyad?
Nope.
He"s moonlighting for LA now.
Eyad knows LA?
Did he say what she looks like?
He didn"t mention details, man.
He"s stupid.
That would depend, wouldn"t it?
On?
His reason.
What reason would be worth risking
the shit storm of Reza if he ever found out?
I am just a cab driver, man.
I drive. I smoke. That"s it.
Makes my rich parents very unhappy.
Personally, I don"t care, nor is that the point.
What"s the point?
People are taking sides, Renny.
Why would anyone need to do that?
LA promotes the parties we sell in them, there"s no conflict.
Everybody gets paid.
There"s enough to go around.
Like I said, I don"t bother myself with things like this.
Eyad has.
Other people have, too.
And me? My cab. My smoke.
That"s more than enough for me.
I"ll leave the race to the rats.
You have one new message.
First message.
Hey Renny, it"s your dutiful assistant, Marty.
I just got off the phone with Diane and we"re all set
for the Round Off Cover Shoot one week from tomorrow
at the Eyrie from eleven to four.
Good news: We booked Tony Quinones as our stylist,
he"s back from Cannes early.
Bad news: The powers-that-be, they want us to use
the oscillating icosahedron again.
Fucking soccer-ball lights.
I know, I know.
Just breathe, It"ll be fine as long as it doesn"t break.
I"m just kidding.
This is how it happens.
How do I...
No, no, you don"t.
He will tell you.
You just need to let him, Sixto.
Twas not my intention to drive
off any potential playmates for this evening.
No worries, good sir.
They know how to find me.
One, if not both of them.
All roads eventually lead to me.
Looking forward to our next engagement?
Counting on it.
You?
Supply and demand, collecting payment for services rendered.
Will I see you later?
Brooklyn heights has too many Russians now.
What"s wrong with Russians?
You obviously don"t know about the history
between Poles and Russians.
What about Park Slope?
Out by Greenwood Cemetery, by the highway.
I heard it"s cheaper.
Too many Serbs.
Forget Brooklyn.
Try the Bronx. Arthur Avenue.
And live with a bunch of Albanians?
Don"t be ridiculous.
Dagmara darling, have you ever considered the possibility
that maybe your standards are too high?
Don"t be stupid, Renny.
My standards are bred.
One can"t escape the history of one"s breeding.
You do know people come to America
to leave their history behind,
not carry it around like a diseased badge of pride.
You say that like pride is a bad thing.
It is one of the seven deadlies.
Poor, stupid, Renny. I gave up on God several economies ago.
I"m surprised to hear you, of all people...
So... You just happened.
Is that what that was?
How is it you"re alone?
I seem to be very well attended at the moment.
There you are, Renny.
I see you"ve met one of my absolute favorites.
This is the fabulous N.
We met at the supper club.
N, this is Renny.
Renny is a fantastical photographer.
An absolute visionary.
How would you like to accompany me to Le Yef tonight?
You know Le Yef?
Renny, darling, you didn"t tell me you"re on your way Le Yef?
Yes. We"ll see you there.
Dagmara.
Artfully done.
I am an artist.
Is this sort of thing typical for you?
Only on Wednesdays.
May I get you a drink?
You may.
Don"t go anywhere.
Right here.
Right back.
You get to go first.
I get to figure out how much it"s going to hurt.
Alright. It"s on.
You fucking ready to go.
Yeah. We"re going to go eight.
No, we ain"t going eight.
You want to fucking kill me.
No, I don"t want to kill you.
I want you to feel it though.
Four, alright four.
We"ll do five.
Ready, here we go.
That"s fucking awesome.
You fucking did it.
We fucking did it, man. We fucking rock!
Fucking More.
Four, five, six.
That bulge is a little north
of the one I"m supposed to be interested in, isn"t it?
Tell me, when you were growing up,
did you always do what you were told?
Never.
Hello suckers.
We"ve never formally met.
I"m LA.
Duty calls, Renny. Run along.
I"ll keep her warm for ya.
Saw you talking to McKeutchen in his office.
Thanks for... saving my ass the other night.
We"re all out of Specials, Renny.
That guy in your cab says you need to re-up.
Okay. I"ll be right back.
Not to worry, Renny.
I have not spoiled her for you.
Do tell your boss to start playing nice.
Renny, come on. Do your job.
Change of scenery?
Yes.
Just five minutes, just five minutes.
This is beautiful.
No. You are.
Nice one.
Yeah, show us that some time.
Fucking More.
Where"s More from in ESU?
Who"s his CO?
Captain, I"ve watched him lock his service weapons
in the glove box and pulled out this other gun,
no one ever seen before.
We know nothing about.
Clearly non regulation like the rest of his gear.
No that it matters,
cause he obviously doesn"t give a fuck about Regs anyway.
You seen what he does to those drags he brings in?
It"s just a matter of time before he kills one of them
and I"m on the receiving end of a police brutality buttfuck.
More doesn"t talk, doesn't piss, doesn"t shit, doesn't eat,
he doesn"t even make any fucking noise,
even when he moves; Which he rarely does.
He doesn"t even want the credits from our drag hauls.
Captain, what the fuck is going on?
What the fuck is this?
Compliments from our friend Caspita in homicide.
Congratulations, you just got your first murder, Detective.
My what?
Body of a cab driver was reported on Dominick street.
What about Homicide?
Their too busy.
They don"t give a fuck about a dead cabbie.
Anti-crime not supposed to be...
You"re welcome.
Now get the fuck outta here.
Renny, how many women have you fucked this month?
I don"t view relationships conventionally.
When people meet, they interact,
they come together and drift apart,
That"s the nature of the universe we inhabit,
and our social patterns reflect that.
So when you start, imposing conventions on that movement,
even worse yet, legislating, and then the trouble starts.
So, more than four?
That didn"t come out right, did it?
It came out very well rehearsed.
I"ve answered that question before.
I think it"s the most you"ve ever said
at one time all evening.
Was that the finale speech?
Is this my cue to get dressed and leave?
No, no. A thousand times no.
I"ve had a truly exceptional time with you
and I want it to continue.
Do you ever get the feeling
that your direction in life is preordained?
That you"re not really free, you"re just playing a role
in a script that"s already been written?
She asks the guy who just recited
a previously written script to her.
Ow.
I know what you mean.
Is that why you did what you were doing tonight?
For the one she calls your boss?
Yes, and in a few hours I"m going to have to get up
and do it all over again.
Well then, we better do more of what we came here to do,
while we still can.
Try to contain your excitement here, but hey, hey.
This mother fucker.
Yeah, he"s right over there.
Okay.