Sonny is sitting down having a bite to eat. He is constantly looking around for anyone that may recognize him. He isn't sure how long he will have to hide out but one thing is certain, he cannot go back to the city until this blows over. As he is eating, the bell over the entrance door is heard ringing as 2 men walk in. The men are Steve Mazzone and Slick Rick. They see Sonny in the corner but he doesn't see them. They walk over to his table and sit down with him. He looks up at them and is visibly nervous.

Sonny: Steve? When did you get back? And how did you find me?

Steve: (Smiles at him) What do you think?

Sonny: That fuckin bitch.. so much for loyalty.

Steve: You can't blame your sister, she is worried about you. We all are.

Sonny: (Looks at Rick) Why you here?

Rick: I was over at my Uncle's in Yonkers. Steve offered to pick me up.

Sonny: Convenient, so you both come here to rail road me? After all we been through?

Steve: Whoa, who said we were here to rail road ya? The Ole man wants you to come in.

Sonny: FUCK THAT! You think I fell off the truck yesterday?

Rick: Sonny, your family is worried about you.

Sonny: (Looks at Rick) You shut the fuck up, nobody is talking to you!

Sonny Stands up and throws a twenty dollar bill on the table and walks out of the coffee shop. Steve and Rick follow close behind. As they get outside, Sonny turns around and is holding a gun in his hands. Both Steve and Rick stop in their tracks.

Steve: What the fuck you doing?

Sonny: Don't follow me Steve. I swear to god I will kill you both if you follow me.

Steve: Take it easy man, we are trying to help you.

Sonny: I won't tell you again Steve.

Sonny gets into his car and drives off. Steve looks at Rick and can see his frustration. Both men get into their car and drive off.

Scene 2: Totino's Club

Totino is in his club sitting at the bar with a few friends. They are watching the girls dance and they are casually talking when Sonny comes walking in. Totino and Sonny make eye contact and Totino motions for him to go into the back. Sonny goes into the back room and is joined by Totino within seconds.

Totino: Word on the street is you're supposed to be dead already?

Sonny: Yeah, well if some people had their way I would be. No way I'm going out like that!

Totino: So what brings you to my side of town?

Sonny: I need your help.

Totino: That's rich, you need my help?

Sonny: I'm fuckin serious. You do this for me, I got a little over four hundred thousand stashed, you do this and it's yours.

Totino: Four hundred thousand? I got a feeling I am not going to like your favour.

Sonny: I want Stone to disappear.

Totino: (breaks into laughter, then stops when he sees Sonny is not laughing) You're fuckin serious?

Sonny: Jay wants me dead, that much I know. I don't know if Joe is involved or not and I am not about to contact him just in case. I think making Stone disappear will make my other problems go away.

Totino: Or make new ones...I'm sorry, I'm out.

Sonny: That's it? Just like that?

Totino: Just like that.. now get the fuck outta my club before I do Jay a favour.

Sonny gets up and leaves, as he is leaving, he turns to look at Totino. They stare each other down and Sonny leaves the club. As he is leaving the club, two guys come running up from behind. They hit Sonny from behind, sending him to ground hard. They begin to kick and punch him as he is fighting back for all he is worth. One of them grabs a bat from the back of a truck parked near them. He begins to hit Sonny with it as the other guy keeps kicking him. As they are beating him, a man walking by hollers at them to stop. They both stop and turn to say something to the man when Sonny suddenly gets up, grabs the bat from the other guy and swings for all he is worth  hitting one of the men in the head, killing him with one blow. The other man, seeing this, begins to run off but Sonny manages to grab him and pull him back to the ground. Sonny then grabs the bat and begins to beat the man into a bloody pulp. As he is hitting him, the sound of the bat hitting raw flesh is echoing through the alley way. Sonny finally stops and is standing over the 2 dead bodies and he realizes that the man who tried to help him is still standing there, he looks at Sonny and he nods his head and in that moment, both men have a mutual respect. Sonny leaves the scene as the sound of sirens can be heard in the background. The scene ends.

Scene 3: Merlino's Bistro Grand Opening

Joey Merlino has just opened his new Restaurant. Several wiseguys and their wives are in attendance for the grand opening. Jay and his wife can be seen talking with Joe and Steve in the corner. As the camera pans around the room you can see several Degrazzio family members and associates as well as members from other families in the city. The atmosphere is calm and everyone seems to be having a good time. The camera pans closer to Jay and you can hear the conversation unfolding as the camera gets closer to them.

Jay: The property we got tied up down in Billie's side of town..what we looking at to flip it?

Joe: A few coats of paint, a little elbow grease..I'd say we are lookin at a cool mill if we do it right.

Steve: I could give Rusty a call. He could pave the way for us.

Jay: Call Rusty, tell him I'd like to have it sold by next week. I have that fuckin court date comin up and I am gonna need the cash. Fuckin lawyers have cost me over 600k already!

Steve walks away from Joe and Jay as he is making his phone call. Jay turns to Joe.

Jay: Look at her, my wife, not a care in the world. She wants to have a kid, you know that?

Joe: I'm gonna be an uncle?

Jay: I didn't say she was going to..I said she wants to. You think I want to bring a kid into this?

Joe: You don't want to wait too long either, You're not exactly a spring chicken. You are gonna be 50 in 4 years, I think you should reconcider.

Jay: Maybe you're right. Besides, making her happy right now is important. With the death of her father last year, she hasn't been the same.

Joe: Does she know?

Jay: Fuck no.. if she knew, she would have left me a long time ago.

Joe: you will have to tell her one day, you know that.

Jay: Tell her that her father was a fucking rat and I had to kill him? Never..not in this life time kid!

As they are talking Steve comes back over to them.

Steve: Rusty says he can do it, but he says only if his end is 200k.

Jay: 200k? Is he fuckin serious? Just to help me flip it?

Steve: He says if you can do it..then you wouldn't need him.

Joe: Slippery fuck, I never liked him.

Jay: Rusty is smart, he didn't make it to Boss of his family by doing everyone free favours! Cocksucker! Tell him it's a deal, let's get it over with.

Steve leaves them again and makes the call. Joe and Jay walk over to his wife and the scene fades out as they are joined by Merlino and they begin to eat.

Scene 4: Jay's house the next morning

Jay is sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast. His wife comes into the kitchen and announces that Steve is there. Jay motions for her to tell him to come in and he puts his breakfast away. Steve comes in and both men head out the back door and go into Jay's shop out back. Jay turns the radio on fairly loud before they start talkin.

Jay: you didn't say anything at the restaurant so I assume you have good news for me?

Steve: I wish I did..

Jay: (Shakes his head) So he is still alive..motherfucker!

Steve: He is careful, i will give him that. You want us to try again?

Jay: No, it's too risky. He will come to us sooner or later. When he does, I will deal with him then. For now, I got somethin for you to do. I may need to get out of the country if this shit i am facing does,t get squashed.

Steve: What do you want me to do?

Jay: I need to to go back to Palermo. Go see Don Tirino. Tell him I may need to come to Palermo to stay for a while. Tell him i need his help. He is an old friend of my father, he will help us if we need it.

Steve: You gonna tell Joe about Sonny?

Jay: What Joe don't know, won't hurt him.

The scene ends with Jay hugging Steve, and the both of them leaving the shop.

Scene 5: Jay's club downtown

Jay is in the back office waiting for a phone call when Joe comes in looking somewhat upset.

Joe: When the fuck were you going to tell me?

Jay: Calm the fuck down.

Joe: (Yelling) Don't fuckin tell me to calm down, you were gonna kill him and not even say anything to me? Did it ever occur to you that he might not be at fault?

Jay: First of all, DON'T EVER TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! Second, it is MY decision and mine alone to decide his fate, not yours and the sooner you accept that the sooner we can move past this mess.

Joe: I told you I would handle this.

Jay: I am not about to take a chance with the safety of this family Joe.

Joe: Let me bring him in, it is Stone that is the problem, not Sonny. I am pleading with you..don't kill Sonny.

Jay sits in silence for a while then looks at Joe.

Jay: I hate to say this little brother, but If I give him a pass..it is up to you to make Stone go away..if you fail, you and Sonny will have to go. You ready for that responsibility?

Joe: Consider Stone gone!

 At that moment a lot of commotion can be heard out front. Joe peeks out the door and can see federal agents running around the club arresting people. Jay and Joe run out the back door and there are a few officers standing there to meet them. As they are about to be arrested, Merlino comes driving up the alley way and hits the 3 officers with his truck sending them flying. All three officers are out cold, but alive. Joe and Jay jump into the truck and they drive off. Jay looks back just as more officers come piling out the back and tend to their men. Jay looks over at Merlino and Merlino just smiles..

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK..........