Slight side track, but I wonder how much Bugsy Malone, the 1976 musical starring Scott Baio and Jodie Foster, played a part in writing Miller's Crossing.

I was going to submit this scene. SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER (if you haven't seen this movie, don't read on: watch it first. Trust me). This scene is great because it sets up a consequence, than another scene for the payoff. Tom spares Bernie, who runs away. Bernie then comes back to Tom's apartment and tells him that if Tom doesn't kill somebody for him, he's going to appear in public, which would screw Tom. Bernie leaves, Tom chases him and gets knocked down. Bernie look at Tom's gun and says, " . . What were you gonna do if you caught me, I'd just squirt a few and then you'd let me go again." Tom sets a trap which gives Bernie what he wants. Then springs the trap on Bernie. Realizing what's about to happen, Bernie really does "squirt a few" and again says, "Look into your heart," begging. Tom says, "What heart?" and blasts him. There's more to the inter-relationships throughout this (EXCELLENT) film. But the 'look into your heart' scene, which is strong by itself, is expertly used as a setup with a superb payoff. Love the Coens.

How about saying something like, "F**K You!" Or, "I'll be bock!" Anything but begging. If you can't fight for your friggin' life without begging, you will die! At least in my scripts. But that's why I'm TorchyBlane, see, and not a hugely talented Coen Brother!