r/movies • u/pa7rick96 • 23h ago

Spoilers Can someone explain to me the ending of Serpico (1973)

Can someone please explain to me the whole ,,deal" at the end of the movie when he got shot? At first I thought they are going to bust a deal with corrupt cops, where they split their money, but I guess I'm wrong. I really liked the movie, I think it's maybe top 3 roles by Pacino, but not understanding the end just drives me crazy....

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6

u/LonoHunter 23h ago

Here, this should help

Serpico for Dummies

4

u/PhoenixTineldyer 22h ago

Feast your ears on that Spin Doctors mix

2

u/pa7rick96 23h ago

lol...

4

u/aMimeAteMyMatePaul 22h ago

He goes to bust a drug deal and his partners leave him out to dry because he's a whistleblower, so he quits the force.

2

u/pa7rick96 21h ago

So why when the police officer was explaining the deal to Serpico in the car, he searched him for a wire? What was the point if this was all a police work?

4

u/aMimeAteMyMatePaul 20h ago

The cops are corrupt. They check Serpico for a wire and then explain the corruption to him.

He assumes they'll have his back since they want the money. They let him walk in on his own and get shot.

He quits, they go back to corruption as usual.

2

u/pa7rick96 20h ago

So, it turns out I get it right? The whole drug deal was not a legal police raid, it was just a way for the corrupt cops to get the money of the dealer?

4

u/aMimeAteMyMatePaul 20h ago

They witnessed a drug deal happen, so they are legally authorized to raid the place.

They obviously would not be legally authorized to then keep the drug money for themselves.