TONY
(points with his fork)
Watch yourself. You’re soundin’ like one of those whack jobs with the aluminum hats. Next thing you’ll be tellin’ me birds ain’t real.

PAULIE
(furious)
Fuck you, Tone. I got eyes. I ain’t stupid. They want us distracted, talkin’ about TikToks and fuckin’ weather balloons, while they scrub names off flight manifests.

TONY
(calm but firm)
You know what I see, Paulie? A guy obsessin’ over shit he can’t control, instead of watchin’ his money. We got collections to make, not conspiracies to chase.

PAULIE
(throws up his hands)
I swear to Christ, this country’s finished. Can’t trust nobody anymore.

TONY
(deadpan)
You just figured that out now?