Okay. Keep your eye on the queen, right?
-Yeah, yeah, yeah. -Eye on the queen. Eye on the queen.
But watch the jacks. Watch the jacks.
'Cause you hit the jack and you don't come back.
God damn...
-Damn it. -Want me to go slower?
-Shut up. -Is that it?
-Yeah? -Deal the cards.
Can I ask you something?
Shoot.
Are you, like, a hitman for Homeland Security?
All that Punisher stuff?
That's their name, not mine. And I don't work for anybody.
Are you kidding me?
So do we have a plan here?
If we're not running, what are we doing?
Just deal the cards.
Come on, come on, come on, come on. Do it.
-All right, just... -Got it.
Queen.
-It's right... -Oh, my God.
-You're not seeing it. -You gotta be kidding me.
-You're not seeing it. -What do you mean?
-You're cheating. -Come on. Really?
Everybody knows that three-card monte's a scam.
But they still come back to the table.
'Cause they think they can outsmart the game.
Or they need the money. Every mark has a reason.
Yeah
You think you can beat anybody, no matter how stacked the deck.
And you're bored.
And you drink too much coffee.
The frustration keeps you playing.
You hardly ever see girls playing this game, right?
It's always guys, 'cause they want to win.
What's the alternative?
-Be smart. Don't play. -Yeah.
Seriously, though, what...
What are you planning to do about our situation here?
I don't know. What is our situation
It all goes back to Konchevsky, right? The guy who hired us.
I call him for help, and suddenly there's goons everywhere.
So, I don't know, maybe he didn't want to pay for the job.
Or he didn't want any witnesses left to know what he had.
Are you palming the queen?
-Is that what you're doing? -No. Look.
So, what
Then, they're all jacks.
-You gotta be kidding me.
It's a really simple sleight, actually.
-Yeah? -Yeah, let me show you.
Look, two cards in one hand, right?
Always the queen.
But you throw the jack.
That's it.
Oh, that pisses me off.
You've just been looking in the wrong place.
God damn it.
So this Konchevsky, you said you called him.
Does that mean you know how to find him?
No. But I know he's from here.
Excuse me?
He's from New York.
Some creepy white old guy. Russian gang dude.
What
Why do you think I tried to run?
God, I couldn't believe when you brought me here, of all places.
Shit.
That makes things easier.
You're going after him?
Got to.
Do it again.
You can't win, Frank.
See, that's the thing.
Knowing the move won't help you.
If I know you know...
Christ.
Like I said, the only way to win is to not play.
Yeah, that's not an option.
Just got to make sure we're the dealer.
Oh, hell no.
Oh, hell yeah.
I don't know what you've heard, but I ain't done nothing to nobody.
Ask around. I'm head-to-toe legit.
That's good, Turk. But I need to find a Russian.
I know before you found this, uh... straight and true path you're on,
you used to sell guns to the Russian vory.
I look like the United Nations to you?
Nah, you look like an asshole to me.
Konchevsky. You heard of him?
Mmm-hmm.
I need to meet with him.
Or maybe I make a phone call.
NYPD and National Guard,
they'll have tanks rolling down Fifth Avenue after your ass, Castle.
Hey.
You make that call, I kill you before you hang up the phone.
You know I'll do it.
Konchevsky and his crew work out of Kazan's Gym in Brooklyn.
They are not good people.
You want to take 'em all out, the gym is the place.
-Why is that? -None of them are packing in there.
Cops are in and out of their business all the time.
Fish in a barrel for a guy like you.
Okay. You gotta go see him.
You gotta tell him that you got a guy who's got what he needs from Chicago.
Nah, man. I ain't going anywhere near those crazy bastards.
Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Turk, there's money in it for ya.
I'm talking about a big payday, Turk. Big money.
All you gotta do is tell him that this guy, he's got the photos
and he's got the girl, man. Say it.
You got the photos and the girl.
And he's gonna know what that's about?
Yes, he will.
You set up a safe place, make the exchange.
I'll let you negotiate the price, yeah?
Give you 10% of whatever you come up with.
Ten? Forget it. Try forty.
How about twenty-five?
My man.
-You good with that? -I'm great with that.
-All right. -Shit.
So, what Hustling and shit?
Oh, yeah, Turk. I'm all about that life.
You call me on this number when you get it all set.
Don't drive angry, now.
Billy?
-Billy!
You're safe.
Do you know who I am?
You're... Dumont. You're Dr. Dumont.
Good.
No, don't go back to sleep.
-Don't want to talk about it. -I understand.
Don't engage the imagery, just the feelings.
I don't want to feel. I wanna kill it.
All right. Okay, kill what?
I said I don't wanna talk about it.
Five blue things.
What
Count five blue things in the room. Tell me what they are.
Okay. The, um, the-the painting.
It's blue. -That's one. What else?
-The book. -Two.
-The candle. -Three.
-The walls. -And?
And your robe is... Your robe.
-Good. -Yeah.
Remember what we talked about. Pause when agitated.
Try not to let yourself instantly react to your impulses.
Why are you doing this?
It's my job, Billy.
So why didn't you call the cops
We both know they're out there.
-We both know they're looking for me. Why? -Just be here with me. Be in your body.
I don't know why I let you in.
My best answer is that it seemed like the right thing to do.
You know you could get in serious trouble, right?
I know.
Could I have some more water, please?
Of course.
Thank you.
You know,
you might be the only person in the world who gives a shit about me right now.
Hey. Morning.
Hey. What are you doing?
Eh...
I was up late bullshitting with the kid.
-You good? -Good morning.
You're making yourself at home?
Yes. I mean, it's a really nice place you have here.
I'm so glad you like it.
What's going on, Madani?
Russo killed the old man. The stickball guy.
I got there too late, and he had already ghosted.
Hey, good riddance.
Not going to lose any sleep over some child molester,
and neither should you.
No, I was there every day, morning and night,
waiting for him to slip.
And, actually, he's exactly what he looks like.
Broken, pathetic, most likely crazy.
Uh, you know, I'll finish the coffee.
I'm not sure what difference that makes, Madani.
Maybe none, but I still have to find a way to put him behind bars.
What's that gonna do
Uh...
Hey, listen, um...
So it sounds like this whole Billy thing isn't gonna get resolved any time soon.
So I was just thinking, you're Homeland, right?
So maybe she could help us with the Russians.
Like, deport them or something.
Jesus Christ.
What was I thinking?
Pulling you out of whatever new war you've started and bringing you here?
You are no use to me with Russo, are you?
Are you? And now... Now, whatever shit you've gotten into,
I have brought it right back to my doorstep.
Say something, Frank.
I think you should get some sleep.
You have got 24 hours to get out of New York.
Yeah.
And you better clean this shit up before you leave.
Yeah.
Wow. She is really messed up, huh?
You got a big mouth, kid.
Gotta watch out for that.
Yahtzee.
Dad.
Mr. Schultz is here.
Thank you, Lemuel.
Better than when I last saw you.
You've never been one for false speech, Eliza.
No need to start now.
"You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if so the Spirit of God dwell in you."
You are strong with that.
So very strong.
Some days.
Is there anything I can do?
Everything is being done, thanks to you.
You know...
I've made peace with it all.
The pain, the fear on my husband... and children's faces.
All of it.
Except for one thing.
This man and the girl, what they carry...
it must still be addressed.
They are in New York.
New York.
I believe your faith is strong enough to pass through any storm,
even a return to New York.
-It's an unclean place. -Hmm.
But you have given me a good man's life.
I will do what needs to be done.
-She's resting. -Good.
Thank you. Both of you.
It's what we do.
-We look after one another. -Amen.
If only the rest of the world could do as much.
But we can rest easy knowing that if God continues to smile on our path...
that day will soon come.
Yes.
Agent Dinah Madani. Homeland Security. Down on the ground, punk!
Don't move. Don't even breathe.
No rep, bro!
Only messing, my brother.
Mr. Kazan.
It's been a while, Turk.
I know. I know. I was uptown for a minute.
Way uptown.
Konchevsky around?
I got a line on something from Chicago he is going to love.
-Chicago? -Yeah, Chicago.
Windy City, right?
Or is that Detroit? Nah, Chicago.
Shitty pizza.
So is Konchevsky around, or what?
Funny you should ask, Turk.
Konchevsky's dead.
-Someone killed him.
In Chicago.
Billy?
Billy!
I brought you some clothes.
You didn't have to do that.
Well, you need something till we figure out what to do next.
-I'm not going back. -We don't have to--
I'm not going back, ever. They'd have to kill me first.
What? That's the truth.
You don't know.
You don't know how it feels.
To be scared Hurt?
You don't have a monopoly on those emotions, Billy.
Guess we've all got our shit, huh?
Well, that's not the clinical term, but yes.
Difference is whatever's messed you up,
at least you remember it, huh?
Yes.
What is all this shit? It's a mess in here.
What -I did not.
-So how did it get here? -I don't know.
You can get pretty much anything delivered these days.
Delivered?
Here.
I got you something, too.
I figured you weren't into experimenting with color in your wardrobe, so...
Who paid for this?
Christ.
What is that?
So this lady, she puts you up at her house, and you steal from her.
That's what you do?
-You're something else. -Not like she can't afford it.
Have you seen her shoe closet?
What's that gotta do with anything
I don't know. Is she ever happy about anything?
-For Chrissake. Unbelievable. -Like, ever?
Is that Lombardi's?
Sausage and mushroom.
Holy shit.
-Well... -"Well," what?
Well, I don't know. How'd it go?
Shit. God damn it.
Can you... My phone's in my back pocket. Just grab it for me. Come on.
Hurry up. Come on.
I guess we're gonna find out. Hit the button.
Yeah?
Hey, it's Turk.
I got in touch with the man of the Eastern European persuasion you're looking for.
-He's good to meet. -Yeah
All good. My man wants to get his hands on what you got.
All right. He give you a price?
Figured you two will work that out.
Where at?
My place. Five o'clock.
I'm taking a risk, letting you use my crib.
Hope you appreciate that.
Oh, I do, Turk. I surely do.
All good.
You remember to take care of old Turk, all right?
Hey, you got it.
Sounds pretty sketchy.
The guy's lying through his teeth.
Hey, you know, I've been thinking. None of the angles add up here.
How so?
-At the bar in Michigan... -Mm-hmm.
...all those scary people showed up, like,
ten minutes after I talked to Konchevsky on the phone.
Yeah?
So why didn't he just show up and take care of me quietly himself?
Well...
All those guys that showed up? None of 'em were Russian.
And the guy at the sheriff station?
I don't know what he was, but he sure wasn't Russian.
You know, I just... I keep turning it all over in my head,
and I keep coming up with the same conclusion.
You think Konchevsky's dead, huh?
-Yeah. -Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense.
-So, then, it's a trap? -It might be.
-And you're still going? -Yes, I am.
It'll be my trap.
At least I know it's coming, right?
-How long?
Not long, I promise.
I told Eliza today that I'm at ease.
All of it. Except...
And I know this is prideful and selfish.
I want the last thing I see in this world to be you.
I have obligations.
"To whom much is given..."
Yeah, I know. "Much is required." I...
My love...
if you do this task quickly,
if you stay strong in your faith,
I promise I will be here waiting when you return.
No one cares about being on time or keeping their desks neat or anything.
Nothing matters. It's all bullshit people, one bullshit day after the next.
I understand that.
Compared to the military, real life can be sloppy, in its way.
I can't handle anything.
Mmm.
You seem upset, Jake.
Where are you feeling that, in your body?
My stomach.
What does it feel like?
A monster eating my guts.
Are you still drinking, Jake?
One place I'm welcomed is McFeeny's.
What's with the snakes?
Well, that is the rod of Asclepius.
Asclepius was a healer. The greatest there was.
But the gods were the only ones allowed to have dominion over life and death,
so they killed him for it.
The snake is thought to represent the rebirth of healing.
Like the snake shedding its skin,
the sick are transformed by the healer's art.
That what you think's happening here?
I'm being... transformed?
How you heal depends on how you accept this painful, world-shattering change.
It's not easy.
But you have the tools.
Are you still going to your support group?
Yep.
Straight after this.
I know it feels like it,
but you are not the only person dealing with this.
You a little nervous, Mr. Hoyle?
No, just careful.
It's a crazy city, you know?
Yeah, I know.
Uh, Dinah Madani. Homeland Security.
Feels like I know you already, even though we never met.
Yeah, well, the same guy who shot you, shot me.
We got a few people in common, I guess.
Billy Russo.
And, uh, Frank Castle.
Have you... Have you heard from him lately?
Nah. He's not much of a guy for postcards.
You?
No.
What brings you down here?
Uh... To be honest, I'm desperate.
Turning over any stones I can find.
You sure you want to see what's underneath 'em?
Look, I--
Are we still meeting?
Yeah. Yeah, just grab some coffee. We'll start in a sec.
Look, I'm sorry. We're gonna have to do this--
Look, it'll only take a few minutes.
Look, if I make them wait for you,
then I'm making them feel like they don't matter.
And that's pretty much how these guys feel 24/7.
I'm not gonna do that.
So, if you wanna talk, catch me after the meeting.
Or better yet, how about you sit in?
Who knows?
You might get something from it.
High school sucked.
You know, my dad was, um... is...
Whatever... An asshole. You know what I mean?
And I don't want to stay in Mastic. You been to Mastic?
Uh-uh. No way. Whole town full of losers. I-- I had to get out.
I figure there was a way to get my mind right.
Get good at life.
The army. Infantry.
Do shit. "Army Strong."
Right on.
Then, poof...
discharge...
other than honorable.
You know you can appeal your status, right?
No shit?
No shit.
I want to know what the tourist is doing here.
I mean, you're obviously a civilian, right?
You serve?
Not in the military, no.
On some sort of research trip, honey?
Jake, I asked her to be here. How about a little respect--
Hold on. I can speak for myself.
I get it. What you've done makes you special.
No one else can understand, because they weren't there.
You think guys stuck in OPs were the only ones fighting these wars?
Like you were the only ones who'd ever seen bad shit?
You ever got sent to a desert country
to fight a war you can't win and no one can tell you why?
They don't tell you how getting shot burns.
In the face of massive damage, maybe the body just registers heat.
Or how a corpse feels in your arms. The way it shifts.
They're there and then they're not.
They don't tell you fighting for something you believe in
will ruin your life, because...
belief never stopped a bullet.
Still think I need to do my research?
I'm sorry, ma'am. I sincerely am. I didn't realize.
You had some things to say, huh, Agent Madani?
Thank you.
Yeah, it, uh, it turns out I did.
Better out than in.
You know, I... I look at all those guys, myself,
so messed up by what we've done...
what we were sent to do.
It makes me wonder how anyone just comes back and carries on.
Hmm.
Listen, with... with someone like Billy...
was he a broken man before he went to war, or did war turn him into something else?
Russo was probably the most natural Marine I've ever seen.
Except for maybe Frank.
It wasn't the war that twisted Billy. It was greed.
If I knew where Billy was, I'd tell you.
Yeah, but would you tell me first, or someone else?
-I'm not sure I know what you mean. -No?
Look, Curtis, come on. I just want to find a way to end it.
And what way would that be, Agent Madani?
Billy Russo behind bars.
I thought maybe you would say something different.
Yeah?
Because I wish Frank ended the whole damn thing right on that carousel.
Hmm.
It still doesn't look so good.
It's fine.
It's almost like you were looking forward to it.
Assholes.
Look, no offense, but if it's all the same to you...
What?
Nothing.
Knock yourself out.
Whiskey and a beer, please.
You earn that jacket?
Or you buy it in some army surplus store?
Earned it.
Can you say the same for that face?
You should see the other guy.
I'd offer to buy you a drink, but wouldn't want to further any airborne alcoholism.
You drink with Marines, soldier?
Only if I have to.
Set 'em up again, both of us.
This ain't even right. I came here in good faith.
You have no beef with me. And I've done everything you asked.
This may be shocking for you, but I don't trust you.
This your friend?
Not the word I'd use.
I think you're in the wrong place, my friend.
Yeah, well, I wonder what was waiting for me at Turk's, huh?
What could that be?
What does the Punisher have to do with my business in Chicago
-Did you kill Konchevsky? -No.
Did you?
Dima is my nephew. I wouldn't lay a hand on that boy.
Someone did.
Someone who's chasing the girl, photographs.
It's time to start talking.
I'm not the one who's gonna be talking.
-Alive, please. -Yes.
-You ready? -Come on.
Come on, you piece of shit.
You want to talk now?
How about now? Come on!
I'm...
I'm not your enemy.
Those photos.
Who paid for 'em
They would kill me if I told--
Think I'm gonna do?
Poloznev. Nikolai Poloznev.
Where do I find him?
Try the Internet.
Yeah.
-Swear to God, they made me do it, man. -Yeah.
Don't worry, Turk. You did exactly what I wanted you to.
Shit. I really don't ever want to see you again.
Yeah, well, the feeling's mutual.
I shouldn't get this hammered.
Why
Never again.
You miss it?
Every day.
Every goddamn day. You know what I miss most?
Miss my boys, you know?
I hear you.
You don't make friends like that back in the world.
Instead, you got to deal with soft assholes like this.
Want a little go-fast?
I'm good, man.
There's an army out there.
On the streets, in bars like this.
And they all feel the same as you and me.
All they ever do is tell us we're the problem,
we're the ones that need to change.
Maybe we're not the problem.
Maybe it's the bullshit we came back to.
You ever wonder what would happen...
if we all just stood up right at the same time...
-and gave the entire world the finger?
That would be some next-level shit.
Guess I shouldn't be surprised, coming from you.
I mean, Billy Russo has always been a next-level son of a bitch, right?
I knew who you were the second you sat down.
It's a real pleasure to meet you...
sir.
Oh, good, you're back.
Wow.
Did that go really good or really bad?
Well, what does bad look like?
Konchevsky's people aren't after us.
Somebody came after them. I got a name.
Yeah?
Nikolai Poloznev.
Let's see.
I don't think the Russian vor have, like, a LinkedIn though, you know?
Oh. S-H-one-T.
Says, "Nikolai Poloznev is a former Russian state policeman
turned industrialist with interests in oil, gas and shipping,
valued at several billion dollars.
A personal friend of the Russian president,
he has homes in several countries, but currently resides in New York."
So what now?
I'm not sure this guy plays three-card monte.
Where are we going?
My buddy Curtis. He's got a place for us.
Madani's gonna be pissed we didn't leave town.
Yeah. She won't know the difference.
Well, I put her credit card back, so that should make her happy.
When is that woman ever happy?