Men of Respect (1990)

Katherine Borowitz: Ruthie Battaglia

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mike Battaglia : She had the gift. I could feel it. I wanted to talk to her more. Get more out of her, but... I don't know. I, I don't know if it's good or bad. On one hand, you feel like it bolsters your chances. And, on the other, it brings up all these bad thoughts. Still, the old lady was right on the money. Charlie laid it right in my lap. Cordaro's out and I'm in. So, it's half-true already. But the rest of it, Padrino Battaglia. I don't know. It only stands to reason. Charlie's at the top of his game, and then he's got his sons there. How do you get around that? I can't think about it. Whatever happens, happens. If it's meant to be, it'll be. What, you don't think so?

  Ruthie Battaglia : How can you say that? You see, this is what worries me for you. You have all these reasons to hesitate when you should be trying for something.

  Mike Battaglia : It don't need me to interfere.

  Ruthie Battaglia : He's gonna dick you around.

  Mike Battaglia : You don't know that. Charlie's always been fair with us. We're part of his family. Charlie stood up for me, all right? I swore to Charlie.

  Ruthie Battaglia : I've stepped in shit on the street cleaner than Charlie D'Amico.

  Mike Battaglia : This is Padrino D'Amico here, all right? We have respect.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Charlie respects the fat end of a bat. The sharp end of a stick. Charlie respects what he fears. And that ain't you.

  Mike Battaglia : You just wait and see what he has in mind.

  Ruthie Battaglia : All Charlie cares about is number one, him and his. That's why Charlie is Charlie, and you're not. Why do you have to wait for other people to give you? Why does everything always have to pass through somebody else's hands? Show a little ambition.

  Mike Battaglia : Stop it, all right! I'm as ambitious as the next guy. More, all right! My time comes, I'll know it, and I'll know what to do.

  Ruthie Battaglia : This is the time and you better know it now. This is it. Staring you in the face. Don't close your eyes.

  Mike Battaglia : You don't know what you're asking.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Tell me... Tell me you don't want it. If I was the man, I'd know what to do.

  Mike Battaglia : There's no guarantee if Charlie's out of the picture, we'll be any better off.

  Ruthie Battaglia : In this life, Michael, there's no safe standing still.

• Mike Battaglia : Was he asking for me?

  Ruthie Battaglia : What do you think?

  Mike Battaglia : I think I better get downstairs.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Wait a minute. You're not losing your nerve?

  Mike Battaglia : Just let it go, all right?

  Ruthie Battaglia : I can see it in your face. You're fighting yourself over this thing.

  Mike Battaglia : Hey, what am I going to do, put a gun to his head now? The man is applauding me. I should be watching his back, not sticking the knife in myself.

  Ruthie Battaglia : He's throwing you a bone because he's desperate.

  Mike Battaglia : He's showing me respect, all right? I want I should enjoy it already.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Charlie's just keeping you down. The D'Amicos are always gonna keep you down. It makes me sick how they use you. You do everything. They do nothing. But they have everything, and we don't have anything. If you could take it from them, take it. You deserve it. I want you to have it.

  Mike Battaglia : It's not yours to give, babe.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Don't mock me, Michael.

  Mike Battaglia : Why don't you understand how impossible this is? It's not the time for this.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Don't tell me how impossible it is. Don't tell me it's not the time!

  Mike Battaglia : I don't understand.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Because I've heard it all before, and I do understand.

  Mike Battaglia : Don't... Don't go into that.

  Ruthie Battaglia : I will. I will go into it.

  Mike Battaglia : I don't want to hear about this now.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Well, you're going to hear about it, 'cause I know what it is to do something so it can break your heart.

  Mike Battaglia : Don't!

  Ruthie Battaglia : I know what it is to have a life inside me and squashing it out because it's not the right time.

  Mike Battaglia : It's too difficult.

  Ruthie Battaglia : I know what it is to kill for you, Michael. So don't tell me I don't understand.

• Ruthie Battaglia : Mikey?

  Mike Battaglia : I did it. Did you hear him? Noise. When he started to scream?

  Ruthie Battaglia : The cat screamed. I stepped on a damn cat.

  Mike Battaglia : No, before that. Who's across the way?

  Ruthie Battaglia : [Notices Mikey still holding the knife]  What are you doing with that? You're supposed to leave it. Give it to me. Michael, give it to me! Give it to me! Michael, fix yourself. Go on! Go on!

  Mike Battaglia : What is it with me? I can't stop shaking!

  Ruthie Battaglia : It's over. It's done. I got blood on me, too. I'm not crying about it. It's that prick's blood. I should dye my hair with it. Now, get that off.

  Mike Battaglia : The rain ain't washing it clean.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Take it all off. Come on. Come here.

  Mike Battaglia : He saw it was me. He looked right at me.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Water, and it's all gone. You see how easy that was?

  Mike Battaglia : If I had bought it yesterday, it would have been a good life.

  Ruthie Battaglia : Now we'll see.