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Tear Jerker / GoodFellas

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As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.


  • The two scenes of Henry and Karen fighting in front of the kids; first, when Karen shouts at Henry to get out while their daughter watches from her bedroom, and later when Karen smuggles drugs to Henry in prison and their new baby cries while she rants about how Henry's lover on the side came to see him in prison.
  • Similarly, the scene where Karen visits Janice Rossi's apartment and repeatedly shouts over the intercom that Janice is a whore. Karen and Henry's daughters are present.
  • The scene directly following has Karen wake Henry up to find her straddling him and cocking a revolver aimed squarely in his face. The fact that she still loves him and wants him to herself keeps her from pulling the trigger. Henry, for his part, desperately reassures her that he loves her, but as soon as he's out of danger, he flips out, berating her for the insane act and even slapping her one. He walks out while she sobs in a hysterical heap on the floor.
    Henry: What are you, fucking crazy, Karen? Are you crazy? I got enough to worry about getting fucking whacked on the street! I gotta fucking come home... FOR THIS?! I should fucking kill you!
    Karen: (beat) I'M SORRY!!! (sobs)
  • The ruthless, sociopathic Jimmy Conway, breaking down and sobbing when he hears of Tommy's murder and how he can't do anything about it. Only an actor of Robert De Niro's capabilities could make at least some of the audience feel sympathy for this remorseless killer's grief.
  • It's a small moment. When Lois tells Henry that she won't fly to Pittsburgh unless she goes home to get her "lucky" hat, Henry tells her point-blank, "Do you understand what we are involved in here?" After a whole movie of excusing his criminal behavior, Henry is so exhausted and worn that he can't help but acknowledge that what he's doing is dangerous.
  • Henry and Karen breaking down after Karen tells him she threw away $60K worth of cocaine, realizing that they're dead either way (from his Mafia associates or his drug dealing ones). Cut to them the next morning, half asleep on the bedroom floor, wrapped in each other's arms, with a gun in his hand, ready to defend his family against whoever might be coming for them.
  • Paulie disowning Henry after his drug bust. They're not related by blood, but Paulie clearly saw Henry as a son, and looks remorseful when he tells Henry he has to turn his back on him.
    • When Henry points Paulie out in court, Paulie's look isn't so much a Death Glare as it is a look of hurt and disappointment.


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