A duo of desperation walked the streets of New York City on Christmas Eve 1968, their spirits dampened by financial woes and the looming threat of prison time. Johnny Machine, skinny with a stubble and a nose that resembled a tugboat prow, sat at a bar in the Christopher Street area sipping coffee with Jameson's, his eyes sunken from sleepless nights. Across the bar, Beansie, a stout man with a crew cut and round features, expressed frustration with Mikey, an associate who had supposedly provided them with a .38 caliber gun for their next heist.
Their conversation revolved around a plan to rob a Buffalo Roadhouse, a hip bar on Seventh Avenue that would be crowded with affluent patrons flashing cash. The duo was familiar with the setup; they had previously attempted to hit a similar joint and were now looking to capitalize on their bad luck. As they hatched their plan, Johnny's financial woes came into focus – he had loan sharks on his tail in Hell's Kitchen, the Lower East Side, and other areas.
Their meeting eventually shifted from the 55 Bar to the Salvation Army storefront near Broadway, where the duo donned Santa suits and began ringing bells. The cold was biting, but their strategy remained intact: carry a shotgun concealed within a sack of presents and walk into the Buffalo Roadhouse. Johnny believed this plan could succeed, but Beansie expressed skepticism over his partner's logic.
The latter was concerned about Johnny's striking resemblance to himself – a problem they might not have anticipated when donning Santa hats. The plan was put on hold as the duo navigated through snow-covered streets, dodging pedestrians and avoiding the police. At LaGuardia Place, they encountered a cop who offered them a ride but politely declined.
Johnny eventually found himself face-to-face with Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, an infamous bookie in the West Village. When Beansie noticed Johnny's nose had been adorned with clown balls to conceal his identity, he was less than optimistic about their chances of success. As they entered Gigante's residence, Beansie realized that getting into a fight or running away would be counterproductive.
Johnny offered Gigante an ultimatum: he could either pay off the two thousand dollars in debt or come up with another plan to repay him within 24 hours. Gigante was displeased but remained calm and non-confrontational – "Mooks," like Johnny, were not worth the trouble.
In this precarious situation, the Christmas Eve robbery on Buffalo Roadhouse may yet be averted.
Their conversation revolved around a plan to rob a Buffalo Roadhouse, a hip bar on Seventh Avenue that would be crowded with affluent patrons flashing cash. The duo was familiar with the setup; they had previously attempted to hit a similar joint and were now looking to capitalize on their bad luck. As they hatched their plan, Johnny's financial woes came into focus – he had loan sharks on his tail in Hell's Kitchen, the Lower East Side, and other areas.
Their meeting eventually shifted from the 55 Bar to the Salvation Army storefront near Broadway, where the duo donned Santa suits and began ringing bells. The cold was biting, but their strategy remained intact: carry a shotgun concealed within a sack of presents and walk into the Buffalo Roadhouse. Johnny believed this plan could succeed, but Beansie expressed skepticism over his partner's logic.
The latter was concerned about Johnny's striking resemblance to himself – a problem they might not have anticipated when donning Santa hats. The plan was put on hold as the duo navigated through snow-covered streets, dodging pedestrians and avoiding the police. At LaGuardia Place, they encountered a cop who offered them a ride but politely declined.
Johnny eventually found himself face-to-face with Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, an infamous bookie in the West Village. When Beansie noticed Johnny's nose had been adorned with clown balls to conceal his identity, he was less than optimistic about their chances of success. As they entered Gigante's residence, Beansie realized that getting into a fight or running away would be counterproductive.
Johnny offered Gigante an ultimatum: he could either pay off the two thousand dollars in debt or come up with another plan to repay him within 24 hours. Gigante was displeased but remained calm and non-confrontational – "Mooks," like Johnny, were not worth the trouble.
In this precarious situation, the Christmas Eve robbery on Buffalo Roadhouse may yet be averted.
When you know you're in over your head, just go ahead and dive on in 
. Their plan might not be the brightest, but at least they're trying to make the best of a bad situation 
. And honestly, who can blame them for taking risks when you've got loan sharks breathing down your neck? 
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! I mean, who tries to rob a bar during Christmas when everyone's already in a festive mood? The guy with the clown nose is literally begging to get caught 
. And what if Gigante decides to have a little fun at their expense too? This plan is just begging for trouble 
I'd rather get stuck in an elevator with a bunch of accountants than try that plan. And what's up with Johnny's nose, looks like he stuck his face in a plate of spaghetti 
. Beansie's concerns about Johnny's resemblance to him, though, are totally valid – it's like they're trying out for a double as Santa 
. Gigante's response is always on point, by the way – who needs trouble when you can just chill? 
Now if I had two grand to pay off, I'd be willing to try out this whole "paying it forward" thing 
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and i'm just like "bruh what r u even doing??!" 
... These guys are basically living proof that desperation can lead to some pretty questionable decisions 
. But let's not forget, it's in moments like these when we're forced to confront our own vulnerabilities 
. The plan to rob the Buffalo Roadhouse? Yeah, it was probably a bad idea 
... but the real question is: why did they feel like that was their only option in the first place? 
It's a tough lesson to learn, but sometimes we have to face our own financial struggles and figure out ways to get back on track before things spiral out of control 
i can feel how desperate those guys are 
they're just trying to make ends meet but it's like, noooo life ain't fair sometimes 
beansie is right to be skeptical about that plan tho 
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. I'm guessing this whole situation is going to end in a pretty dramatic way 
. But let's be real, that's probably not going to happen 
️ I mean, I get it, desperate times and all that, but come on! Beansie's concerns about Johnny's nose being mistaken for him are literally the most relatable thing ever. And Gigante being all chill while still basically saying "nope" to their robbery plan? That's some next-level negotiation skills right there 
And poor Gigante, he's just trying to mind his own business and then these two mooks show up on his doorstep. Like, dude, you're not even worth the trouble?