made man

Made Man

WRITER RUDOLF MESTDAGH
DIRECTOR RUDOLF MESTDAGH

SYNOPSIS :

Anthony Russo wants a straight, new life. Starting a new life would be easy one would think, and it would be, if not for his family…

Anthony grew up between mobsters, and this sort of youth puts a certain kind of pressure on an man. Because if you want to quit, and your family is the mob, there are only so many places you can run.

Atlantic City, filled with neon; even the moon looks like a cheap lighting effect around here. Anthony puts everything at stake with a suicidal loan: his entry into the world of boxing. Shady arenas full of hard boiled guys, ready to smack your face. Anthony enters this world, and walks right into the arms of a pretty, blonde wrestler.

And Anthony thought the life with the mob was dirty and hard. Well, he hasn’t seen nothing yet because boxing is a dirtier, a much dirtier game than being a mobster. So Anthony has to learn fast; very fast if he wants to live…

‘Made Man’ brings the story of a man caught between the two hardest worlds imaginable: the mob and boxing. It’s up to him to survive both…

TREATMENT :

Take A Chance. The sign of a casino in Atlantic City. A man, Anthony, looks at the sign.

Anthony, a young handsome man in his early thirties, is working into the construction business, mostly chasing contracts, struggling hard to make a living for himself, his wife Carla, their two kids, and the one on its way. Business is slow, too slow to bring enough food on the table. So Carla is forced every now and then to go ask for money to her uncle Teddy, the godfather of the casino maffia in Atlantic City, controlling half the unions and most of the drug trade in town.

Anthony's life starts to get out of trouble when he's asked to come in for a meeting with his father Vincent and Richie. Vinnie is actually Anthony's stepfather. His real father Mike disappeared under mysterious conditions when Anthony was a kid. The only thing Anthony knows is that his dad used to be with the mob, like almost anyone around his life, his stepfather Vinnie included, who is Teddy's underboss. Anthony has made up his mind though. He's not gonna live the life of a mobster. He'll do anything to earn a decent living, and stay away from the shady business of Vinnie and his surroundings. So, Anthony is asked in for a meeting with his stepfather for the following reason: Vinnie has arranged a meeting with Larry who apparently stole from the money coming from the union pension fund, which upsets up the bosses in New York a lot, which upsets Teddy accordingly, which finally upsets Vinnie as well. The idea is now that Anthony comes into the picture to kill Larry, which Vinnie can use to show Teddy that Anthony deserves to be accepted in the 'family'. Vinnie has been trying a long time to persuade Teddy to put Anthony on the payroll. But Teddy can't do anything, Anthony has no Sicilian blood, the bosses in New York will never allow it, period. Although Anthony knows what's expected from him, he is not even gonna consider to touch Larry. Everyone waits for Anthony to get up and do the job, but Anthony doesn't move, so the meeting ends with Vinnie killing Larry and Vinnie pretending afterwards to Teddy that Anthony actually did the killing to prove he's worth to be on payroll. But Teddy's opinions about Anthony can't change like that. He's never liked Anthony and he's never going to like him, bottom line. He makes Teddy thinks of his real father, Mike.

Anthony has reasons to distrust Teddy. Years before he had a legit job managing buildings, Teddy muscled in on it, the buildings got burned down for the insurance money; a few months later Anthony was running boat tours, Teddy got interested and all the boats sank. No, Anthony has other places. He wants to make on its own, pulling a boxing business off, managing Big Elijah, a former champion. Anthony met his brother John who has serious proof that Elijah is on his way to a comeback. All it needs is $ 50.000 to get going. But where does he get the money? Not from Teddy, Anthony owes him already because Teddy loaned $ 60.000 to go to college and start his own business.

Anthony is very angry when he finds out at Teddy's birthday party that Vinnie lied about what happened to Larry. At the party, it comes to an open conflict between Teddy when Anthony tells him he's better things to do with his life, than helping out stealing money from the casino's. The discussion results in Teddy asking his loan back in six months time, otherwise ise Anthony will have to start working for Teddy full-time, which means he'll have all the risks and none of the protection of a made guy. Now Anthony has twice as much pressure to pull this boxing business off in six months time.
When Anthony goes to a girl fight to look for money, he stumbles upon Paulie who informs him that Larry's son Nicky is very upset about his father's death. He says he's gonna cut the heart out of the guy who did it. Anthony is intrigued by one of the girl fighters, Rosemary. Anthony starts spending more and more time talking with her, as he ends up working behind the cash register of the same casino the girl works at.

The atmosphere is tense when Jackie, the new mob boss from New York, and Sal, his underboss, come to pay a visit to Larry and Vinnie. Teddy has bought plenty of food to welcome the gentlemen, but hardly anyone eats. Jackie brings bad news for Teddy. The Commission decided that the hotel workers union should now belong to New York and that they will handle that envelope from now on. Teddy can't believe his ears. It means a lot of money he will be losing from now on. And it is already very difficult as it is.
John, Elijah's brother, introduces Anthony to Sam, an executive of an outfit that sponsors boxing events. He has a huge contest coming up, a perfect occasion to get Elijah started, to fight for the title against Terrence The Monster. But Sam can't do anything if Elijah is no longer ranked in the top ten. And to have him ranked is a decision of the World Boxing Federation. Eddie could arrange it to have Elijah ranked, but is gonna cost in the neighborhood of $ 10.000. Call it bribe, or call it building bridges.

Detective Pete Farley, known as Pig Fucker, is investigating about the murder on Larry. He interrogates Teddy. Teddy says that he's got nothing to do with it, that Larry was a friend. At the same time Pig Fucker wonders what happened with Mike (Anthony's real father), he used to be a friend of Teddy too.

Anthony is upset when he comes home and sees his wife Carla spent a huge amount on a brand new, horrible couch. Carla is upset because she got a call from the bank informing her that Anthony is taking a second mortgage on the house to loan $ 35.000. Anthony says it's for a new business he plans to start up.

Teddy and Vinnie are eating in a hamburger place. Teddy tells that Anthony didn't go to pick up the envelope Larry used to pick up, so from now on Richie will be handling it. Nicky, Larry's son, walks up to the booth and puts his gun on them, hidden under the table. Teddy says they have nothing to do with the killing. Nicky doesn't believe it; he heard Anthony is picking up the envelope. Teddy says Nicky has to arrange his problems with Anthony then. Nicky stands up, takes the soda out of Teddy's hands, pours it out on Teddy's lap, and leaves.

Anthony drives Rosemary home. She tries to kiss him. He feels something rise in his pants and knows his life and wedding vows will never be the same. Anthony's car is followed by Nicky. He stops the car and threatens Anthony, saying he will hurt his whole family.

17. Teddy pays a visit to Carla. They wonder why Anthony isn't home yet. Teddy gives Carla a gun (the one Vinnie used to kill Larry) to protect herself. Teddy sees the peels of paint on the ceeling, looking like fish gills.

18. Anthony goes on a night walk with Rosemary. Before he knows it, she has her zipper down and her skirt up. She guides his cock into her, more easily than it ever went with Carla in 8 years of marriage. If anybody who knew him saw him doing this he'd be a dead man. The thought of death just makes him fuck harder. He explodes into her like a canon blast.

19. After Nicky's threath, Anthony moves Carla and the kids over to her mother's house. Vinnie gives Anthony a gun to finish off Larry's son, together with Richie.

20. Teddy checks everything to see if Richie has everything. Richie has the .45. Teddy explains him how to operate: bang, bang. Get in, get out. He adds that if Anthony gives him trouble, to whack him too.

21. Anthony and Richie are sitting in a borrowed car, waiting for Nick to come home. Nick arrives together with his grandma. Richie walks up to them, Nick runs off, grandma attacks Richie with her nails. Richie orders Anthony to follow Nick. Nick escapes, limping. Anthony catches up with him. Nick begs him to let him go; he knows Anthony didn't do the killing. Anthony shoots Nick. The noise is lost in the fireworks a casino has set up.

22. An investigation starts on who killed Nick. FBI-Agent Wayne asks Pig Fucker if he can ask around who did it.

23. Anthony wakes up with a terrible hangover, next to Rosemary, in his own house; Carla and the kids are gone for the night. Rosemary looks at the tv, at a mugshot of Nick. Anthony hopes she hasn't recognized Nick. Anthony drives Rosemary home. She asks why he killed Nick. Anthony explains he's struggling hard to get away from that life.

24. Anthony has dropped Rosemary off. She sees a car following him.

25. Richie meets up with Teddy and Vinnie. Teddy wants to officially accept him in the family. Richie says Anthony did the job. Teddy is angry. He says he'll have to be cautious.

26. Richie is stopped for speeding. They find Larry's clothes in his trunk. Richie is brought to jail.

27. Anthony's marriage is dead. He has a murder on his conscience. Every time the phone goes, he thinks it's time to be arrested. Anthony can't stand the heat. He starts drinking at 9am. Anthony's kid asks why he and mom are not sleeping together any more. Because she snores?

28. (After a few weeks), Wayne checks with Richie to see if he's ready to say who killed Larry and Nick.

29. Anthony meets this loan shark Danny, who could lend him the money he needs. Danny happens to have a testicle being amputated because Teddy kicked him in the balls while Vinnie held his arms. But he agrees to lend him the money because he knew Anthony's dad Mike. Anthony asks what happened. He was in the war and got hurt...

30. Teddy's wife Camille has a dream. She's loosing her son Charly, who committed suicide by talking an overdose, because he couldn't stand being the son of a maffia boss. The cops wake her up out of her dreams. They slap the cuffs on Teddy and read him his rights. They arrest him for racketeering and tax evasion. Surrounded by 8 agents, they haul him off, while two dozen reporters stand by. Camille goes on looking for Charly in her dreams.
31. With the borrowed money, Anthony is able to pay for Elijah's training expenses and fees. First thing to do is to drum up the press and show Elijah is in good shape. But Anthony notices Elijah doesn't look to good, he looks like punchdrunk. At first he starts out boxing real good, so Anthony relaxes, but after a while his eyes are rolling back in his head, knocked out, on his way to oblivion. (Champion Terrence The Monster walks by and laughs with Elijah having no breath and fighting like an old woman).

32. Teddy is sitting in the office of his lawyer Burt, who got him out of jail. The conversation is interrupted frequently by telephone conversations. Teddy is even more upset when he sees a contract he doesn't know anything about, although it's one of his own companies. And he learns from Burt that Anthony is managing a boxer. And no one is giving Teddy a percentage? If no one gives him a percentage, what made him the boss? Burt informs Teddy of the fact that he has an outstanding bill of $ 27.000. Teddy has a breakdown.
33. Anthony drives his kid to school when he hears some other fighter is getting the title shot against Terrence. Anthony drives almost off the road. With Elijah's brother, John, Anthony goes to see the promoter to confront him with the fact that they made a handshake deal the day before. The promoter figures that Elijah is an old over-the-hill warhorse, who couldn't draw flies to a dump.

34. Teddy sits on an examination table for a prostate check up. Now he has to accept to lower his pants while the doc sticks a finger up his ass.

35. Anthony can figure the picture with Danny asking the loan back from Teddy, he'll be owing Teddy $ 100.000. Anthony tells Rosemary is life is over, they're going to cut his heart out and throw it in the ocean. Rosemary says Terrence asked her to go fuck their brains out on coke. If she'd do it, they could take his title away, if he got tested. Anthony is so desperate he wants Rosemary to do it; he could get the coke. She's sad. He's exactly the same, like his family, pulling the same kind of scam.
36. Anthony goes to the beach with Rosemary and her kid. She says she'll do it if she gets half of what he makes off the fight. Anthony agrees.

37. The doctor informs Teddy they'll have to examine him to see if he has prostate cancer. Teddy hits the floor.

38. Rosemary is in bed with Terrence. He talks and talks with a huge hard on. She offers coke. They make love.
39. Vinnie visits Teddy at the hospital. Teddy has prostate cancer. Teddy tells Vinnie about the boxing business of Anthony. He says Anthony's getting at least a million from the fight. He wants half.

40. Anthony goes to see the promoter. He says Terrence is on drugs, he knows the girl who can prove it. They make a deal to reinstall Elijah as the challenger.
Anthony comes home in the night. He sees a glowing cigarette in the dark. A golfclub hits him on the knee. Vinnie puts on the light. Anthony says he'll come up with money after the fight, but for Vinnie, not for Teddy, he's never pledged himself to Teddy. Vinnie heard about Anthony having an affair with this blonde. Anthony says he's through with her anyway.

41. Vinnie comes to see Rosemary. He says her to leave his son alone. He forces her to take her bags and leave.

42. Anthony is in Frank's expensive hotel room, talking about the deal. Frank tries to rip off Anthony like a shark. From the $ 20 million, he offers Anthony $ 300.000. Anthony wants a million and a half. Frank will get back to Anthony, after thinking it over.

43. Rosemary is working, doing a show, fighting drunk guys they send in the ring to pinch her tits. Anthony watches the show. Rosemary jerks a guy off, in public.

44. Anthony goes to see Rosmeary in her dressing room. She shouts at him because he sent his dad after her, threatening her. She doesn't believe Anthony has nothing to do with it. From now on, they're no lovers anymore. They're business partners. She wants half the money from the fight.

45. One morning, Teddy is sitting in Anthony's kitchen. He wants to talk about 3 things. If someone is talking to the cops, if Anthony is screwing another girl, if he's making money on another business without paying back, he'll cut his head. Teddy asks if it true about the boxing business. Anthony says no. Teddy says Anthony has 90 days to pay him back the $ 60.000. Anthony is certain now that Teddy killed his real dad.

46. Pig Fucker drives by Teddy's. He informs Teddy Anthony is planning this boxing gig, without the proper licenses.

47. Teddy's health is worse again. Vinnie visits him at the clinic. Teddy says he saw Anthony on tv, when they announced the fight. Teddy is angry Vinnie lied to him. Teddy wants Vinnie to whack Anthony. Vinnie wants to talk to him once more. Teddy wants 65% what Anthony makes off the fight.
48. Anthony has an appointment with Vinnie. Vinnie tells him Teddy wants part of the money of the fight. Anthony refuses. Vinnie pulls a gun. But when Anthony starts reasoning, Vinnie tells how Teddy killed Anthony's dad Mike. Anthony says he doesn't owe Teddy anything anymore.

49. Carla comes to see Rosemary with a gun, threatening her to stay away from her husband.

50. Seven hours before the fight. Anthony's son shows his dad a miniature roulette wheel Teddy gave him to rip off the children at school and give Uncle Teddy the cash. Pig Fucker comes by to question Anthony.

51. Teddy stands before court. The district attorney says the jury considered adding homicide charges.

52. Three hours before the fight. Anthony asks Frank for his advance. He gets a suitcase from the casino, filled with chips worth $ 300.000. Where's the rest? Expenses, scoring judges, printing tickets, overhead! Anthony wonders what will be left from his million. Somewhere around $ 120.000. What's left of Anthony's world, is collapsing.

53. Teddy sits in a car with his two soldiers, Joey and Tommy. They're up for a mission: kill two birds, one stone, Vinnie and Anthony. Joey tries to stop Teddy, saying Vinnie loves him.

54. Celebrities arrive at the fight. Anthony is introduced to the famous casino owner Dan Bishop, who started from scratch. He treats Anthony like shit.

55. Elijah prepares himself for the fight. Pig Fucker tells him he won't last more than one round.

56. Joey, Tommy and Teddy are waiting in the car before Vinnie's place.

57. Anthony gave Rosemary a job at the fight as a round-card girl. They have an argument about Carla. Rosemary is through with him. They'll meet one last time in the garage over the fight so he can give her her share.
Elijah begins working the crowd. Anthony sings the national anthem: land of the free and home of the brave; (not being sure if being brave was what set you free).
Elijah fights quite well.

58. Teddy, Vinny, Joey are watching the fight on Vinnie's tv. Joey goes to the bathroom a lot. Teddy asks if Vinnie talked to Anthony. Vinnie says Anthony's confused. Teddy asks if it means Anthony's not gonna give anything. Joey shoots Vinnie in the back of the head, in the mouth, and in the chest.

59. 3rd Round. Teddy keeps coming. Elijah drops his hands, exhausted, gets smashed in the mouth, blood gushing from his mouth. His brother wants to give up the fight, afraid for brain damage. Elijah jumps up, asks to point him in the right direction.

60. Rosemary looks like a cheap Vegas showgirl. She watches Terence. He's wasted. He whispers they'll have another round in the sack after the fight.

61. Teddy and Joey pick up Richie. They go towards Anthony's home. Teddy tells Richie to shoot Anthony in the face.

62. Elijah stands up to Terrence, trading blows, like beasts. Terrence has difficulties to defend himself.

63. Elijah makes it to the final bell. The ring looks like a slaughterhouse. Frank would have to give him a rematch. Finally Anthony is respectable. Tommy pushes himself through the crowd, coming towards Anthony. Someone stops him. Anthony lost his security badge to go on the ring. A guard hits him. Anthony falls, blacks out. When he wakes up, the ring is empty. A janitor mops the canvas.

64. Teddy sits in Anthony's house, on the couch with Carla. Teddy is crying. He just wet his pants; he can't control his bladder anymore. Teddy's dream, controlling all of Atlantic City, is gone now.

65. A doctor examines Elijah to see if the blindness or hearing loss is permanent. Frank meets with FBI-man Wayne. Frank files charges against Anthony because he set up his fighter with this girl. Wayne asks if he paid Anthony's part. Frank points out at least five places where they violated the contract.

66. Anthony waits for Frank in the dressing room. He doesn't show up. Anthony checks his filofax: it's the right time. He runs to the casino, hoping he won't meet with Tommy. Anthony is in panic. He goes to get his suitcase with chips. They ask him to sign. When they see his name, he has to wait. He hears the guy asks for the FBI. Anthony runs off and finds John, who doesn't want to talk to him because the cops are after Anthony.

67. FBI-agent Wayne looks for Anthony at the casino. He asks Pig Fucker if he saw him.
68. Anthony waits in the garage for Rosemary. He notices he still has a gun in his glove compartment (the gun he killed Nicky with). She asks if he has the money. He says no. She says there's nothing else to talk about. He puts the gun on her. When she asks if she'll have her daughter grow up like Anthony, losing someone she loves, he puts the gun down. He gives her half the money.

69. Rosemary runs off.

70. Anthony rings at Vinnie's door, to give him the money, so he can split it with Teddy and Carla. Anthony goes in and finds pieces of brain on the floor. He thinks they had someone killed in there, happens often. Then he sees Vinnie's comb. He knows Vinnie's dead. He cries. Then he's calm, accepting what has to be done. It had all been decided a long time ago, anyway.
Anthony goes home to say goodbye to his family. Richie opens the door, saying Teddy is waiting for him. Anthony says he's got something to say to Teddy himself, to give Teddy what he gave his father and Vinnie. Teddy wants his cut. Anthony throws the chips at him. Anthony kills him. Carla watches.

71. Anthony's in shock when Pig Fucker arrests him. He finds out Teddy had cancer. He'd thrown away the rest of his life to kill a dead man. Anthony watches the casino sign. Take A Chance.


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