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Carlito's Way (1993)
In director Brian de Palma's gangster film, told in
flashback:
- the beginning credits sequence of wounded Puerto
Rican drug-dealing criminal Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino), on a
Grand Central Station train platform after being shot, being wheeled
on a stretcher - with his lengthy voice-over - before the film's
major flashback on his life: ("Somebody's pullin' me close
to the ground. I can sense, but I can't see. I ain't panicked.
I been here before. Same as when I got popped on 104th Street.
Don't take me to no hospital, please. F--kin' emergency rooms don't
save nobody. Son of a bitches always pop you at midnight when all
they got is a Chinese intern with a dull spoon. Oh, look at these
suckers scramblin' around. What for? My Puerto Rican ass ain't
supposed to have made it this far. Most of my crew got washed a
long time ago. Don't worry. My heart, it don't ever quit. I ain't
ready to check out...")
- the confrontation one night in Carlito's nightclub/restaurant
"Club Paradise" between insistent, obnoxious Bronx punk Benny
Blanco (John Leguizamo) and Carlito, when Benny desired to have Steffie
(Ingrid Rogers), now the girlfriend of Carlito's lawyer Dave Kleinfeld
(Sean Penn); Carlito harshly insulted Benny and refused his offer of
champagne: ("Maybe I don't give a s--t. Maybe I don't remember
the last time I blew my nose either....What, you think you're like
me? You ain't like me, motherf--ker. You're a punk. I've been with
made people, connected people. Who you been with? Chain-snatchin',
jive-ass, maricn motherf--kers. Why don't you get lost? Go ahead, snatch
a purse. Take a f--kin' walk")
- after Benny was dragged from the club, Carlito's ultimatum:
("OK, Benny Blanco from the Bronx. The chick Steffie belongs
to the club. And if I ever, I mean if I ever see you here again,
you die, just like that"). Blanco threatened: ("You're
over, man. You're f--kin' in the history books. That's where you
are, man. So you might as well f--kin' kill me now, 'cause if I ever
see you again, I swear to God, I'm gonna f--kin' kill you");
angered by the insult, Carlito retaliated and pushed Benny down a
long flight of stairs
- in the next moment, Carlito spoke in voice-over about
his poor judgment in dealing with Benny: ("Dumb move, man. Dumb
move. But it's like them old reflexes comin' back. I know what's
supposed to happen now. Benny's gotta go down. And if I don't do
it, they're gonna say: 'Carlito, he's flaky, man. Slacked-out. A
used-to-be bad guy. Joint got to Carlito.' The street is watchin'.
She is watchin' all the time")
- although tempted to kill Benny in the alleyway, Carlito
decided in the end to let him go: ("Let him go. Get him outta
here") - followed by more of his voice-over: ("Any other
time, that punk would die, but I can't do that s--t no more. Don't
want to burn nobody, even when I know I should. That ain't me now.
All I want is to get my $75 grand and get out")
- the concluding cat-and-mouse chase through the subway
and Grand Central Station, including a shootout on an escalator,
before Carlito was shot dead in the stomach on the train platform
by Benny Blanco: ("Hey, remember me, Benny Blanco from the Bronx?)
and died in ballet dancer/stripper Gail's (Penelope Ann Miller) arms;
at the time of Carlito's demise, Gail begged over his body: ("Charlie.
Don't leave me, Charlie. Not yet, Charlie. Don't leave me, Charlie.
Don't go, Charlie. Oh, Charlie. Charlie, please don't leave me. Charlie,
don't go. No Charlie, you can't do this to me. Oh, God. Don't leave
me...")
Carlito's Death on Train Platform
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- Carlito's voice-over at the time of his death -
although his eyes were open for a short while as he was taken away
on a stretcher bound for the hospital, with his dream of "Escape
to Paradise" (as he looked up at a billboard with a Caribbean
beach depicting a band and a woman dancing before a sunset, that
in his mind came to life) just before the end-credits: ("...Sorry,
boys, all the stitches in the world can't sew me together again.
Lay down. Lay down. Gonna stretch me out in Fernandez Funeral Home
on 109th St. Always knew I'd make a stop there, but a lot later
than a whole gang of people thought. Last of the Mo-Ricans. Well,
maybe not the last. Gail's gonna be a good mom. New, improved Carlito
Brigante. Hope she uses the money to get out. No room in this city
for big hearts like hers. Sorry, baby. I tried the best I could.
Honest. Can't come with me on this trip, though. Gettin' the shakes
now. Last call for drinks. Bar's closin' down. Sun's out. Where
we goin' for breakfast? Don't wanna go far. Rough night. (His eyes
slowly closed) Tired baby, tired.")
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Credits Sequence Before Lengthy Flashback
Confronting Bronx Punk Benny Blanco in Club
Benny Dragged Away and Pushed Down Stairs
Outside in Alleyway, Carlito Decided to Let Benny Go
Chase and Exciting Escalator Shootout Throughout Subway
and Train Station
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