"METRO"
Screenplay by
Randy Feldman
SHOOTING DRAFT
FADE IN:
CLOSEUP OF SCOTT ROPER
He's listening to the stretch call of a horse race, and he's
into it.
TRACK ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
...at the top of the stretch it's
Cozy Girl in front with Backtrack
coming on... Cozy Girl by a length,
Backtrack closing...
ROPER
Come on. Stay up there, Cozy Girl...
The CAMERA GRADUALLY pulls back to reveal that Roper is
driving his Trans Am across the Bay Bridge. HELICOPTER SHOTS
give a soaring view of the San Francisco skyline.
TRACK ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
At the eighth pole it's Cozy Girl by
half a length... Backtrack closing...
INT. CAR - DAY
Roper's police radio SQUAWKS.
DISPATCHER (V.O.)
One-one-four to Roper.
He picks up the radio.
ROPER
Dig in, Cozy Girl...
(into the radio)
Roper go.
DISPATCHER (V.O.)
One-four, Roper. Code 2.C.P. 4th and
Grand.
TRACK ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
It's Cozy Girl holding on... Cozy
Girl and Backtrack...
ROPER
I'm en route. E.T.A. in five.
He tosses the radio down. Punches the accelerator.
ROPER
Stay up there, Girl...
TRACK ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
Cozy Girl in front by a neck... Now
a head...
EXT. TRANS AM - DAY
Weaving through traffic on the bridge.
ROPER (V.O.)
Where's the damn wire?!
TRACK ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
Here comes the wire... and...
Backtrack gets up in the last jump.
Cozy girl a very game second.
ROPER (V.O.)
SHIT!
The Trans Am streak off toward the city.
EXT. BANK - DOWNTOWN - DAY
A hostage situation. Police barricades. Dozens of squad cars,
ambulances, spectators, SWAT team. It's a stalemate. Roper's
Trans Am pulls to a stop at the barricades. He hops out,
weaves through the spectators and past the barriers.
A FEMALE DETECTIVE, EIKO KIMURA, rushes up to him.
KIMURA
Hi, Roper.
ROPER
Hi, Kimura. Where's the command post?
Kimura points to the diner in the middle of the block. Roper
heads toward it. As they walk Kimura briefs him...
KIMURA
The suspect came in shortly after
the bank opened. Botched robbery. A
teller hit the silent alarm. He took
seven hostages. Shot one -- the guard.
He's still alive. So far he's asked
for...
ROPER
...a car.
KIMURA
That's right, and a plane waiting at
the airport. If he doesn't...
ROPER
...get 'em, he's going to start
shooting hostages in five minutes...
KIMURA
That's right.
ROPER
What's the suspect's name?
KIMURA
Earl.
INT. DINER - DAY
Across from the bank. This is where the "command post" is
setup. About a dozen cops and the accompanying support staff
are here. Lieutenant SAMUEL BAFFERT is in charge. Roper
saunters in.
ROPER
Hello, guys.
BAFFERT
Hello, Roper. Glad you could join
us.
Roper walks over to the counter where Baffert is standing.
ROPER
Do we have a profile on Mr. Earl?
Baffert hands him a folder. Roper opens it.
BAFFERT
This guy is no genius.
Roper scans the profile.
ROPER
They're not usually graduate students.
BAFFERT
SWAT wants to go in.
ROPER
What's the rush? They haven't killed
anybody yet this week?
Roper refers to the folder.
ROPER
We got a guy who's probably on drugs.
He's got a record of 459's and he
was busted on possession. But he's
never been busted on a major felony.
What's his demeanor?
KIMURA
Well he's a little fucking agitated --
he ripped the phone out.
ROPER
I have to go face to face.
BAFFERT
No -- you can't do that.
ROPER
You got 7 hostages in there, 1 of
them's wounded -- We don't know how
bad it is -- The guy ripped the phone
out -- SWAT said he's got a gun to
the head of a female hostage. If
SWAT makes entry now, you're gonna
lose 1 hostage, maybe 2. I gotta go
in. Maybe I can see what's going on
in there.
BAFFERT
I don't know.
ROPER
He's never offed anybody. His rap
doesn't show any violence.
BAFFERT
Not that we know of.
ROPER
We don't know how much time we have.
If I can get in to talk to him --
maybe we won't lose anyone.
BAFFERT
Maybe we can get a throw phone in
there.
KIMURA
SWAT says it's broken -- The perp in
the last situation rendered it
inoperable.
BAFFERT
What do you mean?
KIMURA
He urinated on it and shorted out
the circuits.
ROPER
We gonna stand here and talk about
it or let the guy in there bleed to
death.
(beat... beat)
Give me a dozen donuts.
Roper pulls out his gun and places it on the counter.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Roper eats the donut as he crosses toward the bank.
EXT. ROOFTOP ACROSS THE STREET - DAY
A team of two SWAT TEAM MEMBERS, FORBES IS A SPOTTER AND
MCCALL IS A SHARPSHOOTER. KEVIN MCCALL, is the one we're
interested in. He's 25 years old, handsome, all American.
He's the best the SWAT team has.
He crouches motionless, staring through the scope of his
rifle, watching as Roper calmly walks toward the bank.
FORBES
What do you think he's got in the
bag?
MCCALL
Donuts.
FORBES
You can't take a guy down with a
donut.
INT. BANK - DAY
A tense situation. A wild-eyed, white punk, fuck-up of a
BANK ROBBER, EARL, is holding a pretty, young TELLER around
the neck with a cocked gun held to her temple.
The other bank employees are cowering on the floor. A few
are giving aid to the wounded bank guard who is half-conscious
and oozing blood from his side.
Roper strolls right through the front door and walks toward
Earl, very sociable.
ROPER
Hi, Earl, I'm Scott Roper. Wanna
donut? I ate the glazed but there's
a bunch of chocolate and a --
Earl swipes the donuts out of Roper's hand and starts frisking
Roper for weapons with his free hand. The other hand still
has the gun poised at the young teller's head.
ROPER
I'm a negotiator, Earl. I don't carry
a weapon.
Roper smiles reassuringly at the pretty teller. It seems to
help. Earl finishes patting Roper down, straightens back up
and puts his hand around the teller's neck.
EARL
Where's the car?
ROPER
I need to get something straight
first.
Roper looks over at the other bank employees huddled on the
floor.
ROPER
Who's the manager?
A balding, middle-aged MAN sheepishly raises his hand.
MANAGER
I am.
Roper takes a step toward him.
ROPER
When did you start keeping longer
hours?
MANAGER
Last spring.
ROPER
Really! Because I've been thinking
of moving to this branch. It would
be really convenient for me --
EARL
HEY, SHUT UP!
Earl wags his gun against the Teller's ear.
EARL
Do you want me to start killing
people?!
Roper holds his hand up defensively.
ROPER
It's my job to see that no one gets
killed, Earl... Including you.
EARL
Then where's my FUCKING car!
Earl is pouring sweat. His gun hand is shaking uncontrollably.
ROPER
I'm getting it, Earl, but we have to
do this the right way.
Roper keeps his eyes locked on Earl. His voice is calm.
ROPER
First I need you to point that gun
away from --
(to the teller)
What's your name?
TELLER
(voice trembling)
Debbie...
ROPER
Point the gun away from Debbie.
EARL
Debbie's brains are going to be
splattered all over the floor if I
don't see a car in five minutes!
Roper takes a long look at Earl. The guy is a hair trigger.
ROPER
Alright! But let's be clear about
one thing. If you kill someone, I
can't help you. The SWAT guys will
take you out.
Earl glances at the army of cop cars poised outside. Reflects
for a moment on the reality of the situation.
EARL
What are my chances of getting out
of here?
Roper calmly moves toward where the wounded guard is laying.
ROPER
Not bad. Last month, a guy robbed a
bank in Daly City...
Roper crouches down, smiles at the blurry-eyed guard.
ROPER
How ya doin'?
The guard groans. He's not doing very well. Roper peels back
the bloody handkerchief, takes a look. Winces.
ROPER
(to Earl)
...Cops gave him a car, and he lost
them on the freeway.
Earl is encouraged by that.
EARL
Really?
ROPER
Absolutely. Bank robbers are generally
your smartest criminals.
Roper looks directly into Earl's eyes.
ROPER
He didn't kill anybody, though.
Roper bends over the guard.
ROPER
This is gonna hurt.
He grabs the guard under the arms and starts dragging him
across the floor. The guard MOANS piteously.
EARL
Hey, leave him alone. What are you
doing?
Roper keeps dragging the guard toward the front door.
ROPER
It's part of my negotiator's oath.
If there's an injured party and I
can help them, I'm duty bound by my
oath to do that. You can shoot me if
you want, but the next negotiator in
here is going to tell you the same
thing.
Earl is unsure what to do, but he guesses an oath is an oath.
He lets Roper drag the guard to the door.
ROPER
I'll be right back, Earl. Point that
gun away from Debbie.
Earl compliantly moves the gun away from the teller's head,
then re-thinks and jerks it back against her temple.
EXT. BANK - DAY
Roper drags the guard out the front door and deposits him on
the sidewalk. Two SWAT OFFICERS rush up to give aid. One of
them is Jennings.
ROPER
(whispering to Jennings)
Give me your gun.
(NOTE: The method of disarming Earl is still to be determined)
Jennings inconspicuously pulls his gun out and slips it to
him. Roper quickly cocks it and shoves it in his waistband
under his shirt and vest.
ROPER
I haven't had to shoot anyone in
three years.
JENNINGS
Why not keep the streak alive?
ROPER
Because this strung-out junkie is
too stupid to get out of this without
killing somebody.
INT. BANK - DAY
Earl watches Roper through the window. He can only see Roper's
back. He's getting very agitated.
EARL
(yelling)
HEY, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING OUT
THERE!
The two cops hustle off with the wounded guard, and Roper
calmly walks back into the bank. Stops about five paces from
Earl.
ROPER
As a rule, I need one hostage released
as show of good faith.
Roper glances at Debbie. Gun pressed against her head. Tears
start rolling down her cheeks. She's being tremendously brave.
ROPER
Give me Debbie.
Earl squeezes the gun even tighter against the side of her
head.
EARL
Take the old guy.
The other hostages watch this exchange tensely.
ROPER
The Old Guy? What kind of show of
faith is that? I want Debbie.
EARL
Am I gettin' the car?
ROPER
You're gettin' the car.
Earl thinks about it, his gun hand twitching. He points at
two of the female employees cowering against the counter.
EARL
Take them.
Roper decides that this is the best he's going to get.
ROPER
You two, leave.
The two women don't need any extra encouragement. They jump
up and rush out the front door.
EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY
McCall and Forbes watch through their rifle scopes as the
two released hostages are whisked away by uniformed cops.
FORBES
This guy is good.
MCCALL
That's what they say.
INT. BANK - DAY
ROPER
That was fine, Earl. Now I'm going
to get your car.
Roper turns around and walks toward the front door. He stops
and looks over his shoulder.
ROPER
Oh, there's one last thing.
Earl looks like he's right on the edge.
EARL
What?!
ROPER
You want a convertible or hardtop?
Earl thinks about that for a beat...
ROPER
Hardtop.
Roper turns around, starts walking again. He keeps his eyes
focused on the reflection of Earl in the front window of the
bank.
ROPER
(without turning around)
Manual or automatic?
EARL
Automatic.
ROPER
You got it.
In one swift motion, Roper turns, aims and FIRES!...
One SHOT. It tears into Earl's shoulder. One inch from
Debbie's neck. Earl is blown back against the counter. Debbie
shrieks at the top of her lungs.
SWAT guys pour in from every entrance. YELLING for everybody
to "GET DOWN"! Pointing guns. They pounce on Earl.
EARL
I give up! I give up!
Roper goes to Debbie, puts his arm around her and gently
leads her out of the bank.
EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY
McCall and Forbes still have their rifles trained on the
bank door. Their police radio squawks...
RADIO
The situation is secured. Suspect in
custody. Repeat. Situation secured.
McCall lowers his rifle as Roper guides Debbie through the
wave of cops rushing into the bank.
EXT. STREET - SHORT TIME LATER
Roper is exiting the bank and putting back on his gun when
he hears the sound of a CAMERA SHUTTER. He turns to see
VERONICA (RONNIE) TATE holding the camera. She snaps one of
Roper with Earl in the b.g. being placed in a squad car.
RONNIE
There's one for the front page.
Roper puts his hand over his heart as if stricken with love...
which he in fact is.
ROPER
Ronnie, why are you torturing me? I
can't live without you.
Ronnie rolls her eyes. She doesn't take Roper all that
seriously.
RONNIE
Don't start.
She slings the camera over her shoulder and starts to walk
off. Roper dogs her.
ROPER
This baseball player you're going
out with...
(shaking his head)
He's no good for you.
RONNIE
Really?! He's a wonderful guy. He
makes two million a year, and he
worships me.
ROPER
I worship you.
RONNIE
You worship yourself.
ROPER
Ronnie, forget this what's-his-name.
RONNIE
Greg.
ROPER
Did you know he's already got a bad
knee? In another 10 years you're
going to be pushing him around in a
wheelchair.
Ronnie stops. Looks him in the eye.
RONNIE
You know what I think? I think you
only want me now, because I'm with
somebody else.
ROPER
Who cares what you think. I want you
back and that's all that matters.
Ronnie smiles, but offers no response.
ROPER
Let me take you out tomorrow night...
Pleeease.
RONNIE
I'm going out with Greg tomorrow.
ROPER
(frowning)
This Greg is really getting in my
way.
Roper gets down on his knees.
ROPER
Please. I'm begging you.
RONNIE
Oh, I've got to get a shot of this.
She takes the lense cap off her camera. Roper primps his
hair to make sure he looks good for the picture... CLICK!
Suddenly Roper notices that his Trans Am is being towed. He
rushes over to his car.
ROPER
Hey, that's my car.
A REPO MAN stands off to the side watching dispassionately.
REPO MAN
Not anymore. Now it belongs to Silver
Hills Financial.
Roper sadly watches the tow truck drive off with his beloved
Trans Am.
INT. METRO DIVISION HEADQUARTERS - DAY - RAINING
Lots of activity. Officers in cubicles; talking on phones;
typing reports on computers. Most are plain-clothed. Roper
weaves through the room. Passes by Baffert's desk.
ROPER
Hey, Baffert, what's the story for
tonight?
Baffert pulls two tickets for the Warriors' game out of his
pocket.
BAFFERT
Floor seats.
ROPER
You're my hero.
BAFFERT
Dinner's on you.
ROPER
Deal.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY - RAINING
A quiet contrast to the squadroom. This is the executive
branch of Metro. All the big-wigs are officed here. Roper
walks down the carpeted hall. No one here except Kevin McCall
quietly sitting outside Captain Solis' office. Roper and
McCall make brief eye contact. Roper thinks nothing of it.
He goes into the Captain's office.
INT. CAPTAIN SOLIS' OFFICE - RAINING
CAPTAIN FRANK SOLIS is on the phone. There's a file on the
desk in front of him. He motions Roper to sit down.
SOLIS
He just walked into my office.
(looks over at Roper)
The Chief says, "Good work this
morning. Congratulations."
Roper smiles as he sits down.
ROPER
Tell him to give me a raise.
SOLIS
(into the phone)
He says, "Thank you very much."
(a beat)
I'll discuss it with him right now...
Good-bye, Chief.
Solis hangs up. Looks across the desk at Roper. A long pause.
He knows he's got leverage.
SOLIS
Roper.
ROPER
What?
SOLIS
Are you going to make this hard for
me?
ROPER
Depends. What's up?
SOLIS
There's been some concern about you
continuing to work without back-up.
ROPER
Define concern.
Solis dumps his cards on the table.
SOLIS
What if you die and no one can do
what you do as well as you do it?
ROPER
Your concern is heartwarming.
SOLIS
It's been decided that you take on
another partner and train him to be
able to take over for you.
ROPER
Is that what the guy in the Sunday
School suit is doing outside?
SOLIS
His name's Kevin McCall. Every Metro
Captain agrees that he's their top
sharp-shooter and most likely to
succeed.
Roper grabs McCall's folder off the desk.
ROPER
Let me see that.
Roper scans it.
ROPER
Tested high on his intellectual
aptitude... Not as high as me but...
National marksman finalist... Attended
N. Y. C... Went to college. Very
impressive. F.B.I. sniper school...
Mayorial commendation.
INT. HALLWAY - SAME - RAINING
McCall turns around in his chair. He can see Roper and Solis
through the glass walls of the office, but he can't hear
their voices.
INT. SOLIS' OFFICE - SAME - RAINING
ROPER
"Additional Skills": Biathelete,
marathoner, lip-reading, speaks
Spanish...
Roper throws the folder back on the desk.
ROPER
Great, send him to the Marines. This
guy's not a negotiator. He'll quit
in two weeks.
SOLIS
You let us worry about that.
ROPER
Is there going to be an expression
of your appreciation?
SOLIS
(gloomily)
What kind of appreciation are we
talking about?
ROPER
The financial kind. I figure I'm
going to be working extra hours. All
sorts of overtime... training
sessions... Not to mention the extra
stress...
SOLIS
What do you think would be in order?
ROPER
Like ahh... I don't know...
(boldly)
Five thousand dollars.
SOLIS
(calmly)
Okay, I think I could swing that.
Uh-oh, Roper thinks maybe he sold short.
ROPER
(quickly)
And a car.
SOLIS
Hey, you just got a five thousand
dollar raise. Get a car of your own.
ROPER
You know you've got nothing but cars
down there in impound.
SOLIS
Impound isn't a rent-a-car company.
ROPER
(firmly)
The car is part of the deal.
SOLIS
What happened to your Trans Am?
Solis gets up and taps the glass, motions for McCall to come
in.
ROPER
Repoed this morning.
SOLIS
(relenting)
I'll provide you with transportation.
ROPER
And even if this doesn't work, I
want all the money. These SWAT guys
don't have the temperament. They
don't have the background...
McCall enters the office.
ROPER
(instant character
change)
Hey, glad to meet you. I've heard
nothing but good things about you...
Roper reaches out. They shake hands.
MCCALL
Same here. I've watched you in action.
Very impressive.
ROPER
You've got a lot of hard work ahead
of you if you want to be a negotiator.
MCCALL
I'm ready to do it.
(a beat)
And I'm going to be here more than
two weeks.
Roper's face darkens.
ROPER
Don't go reading my lips, man. That's
an intrusion. Save that shit for the
sniper school. Comprende?
MCCALL
Sorry... Habit.
SOLIS
(intervening)
Let's move past this, gentlemen.
Roper smiles.
ROPER
We're already past it, aren't we,
Kevin?
MCCALL
If you say so.
SOLIS
Then you'll have to excuse me. I
have other work to do.
Roper and McCall head out the door.
SOLIS
Roper...
Roper turns back around.
SOLIS
About the transportation issue...
You check with the impound sergeant.
Roper smiles. Total victory.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY - RAINING
MOVING with Roper and McCall.
ROPER
You ever been in a hostage situation?
MCCALL
Only at the very end.
ROPER
How do you feel after a shooting.
MCCALL
(self-assured)
Like it had to be done.
They enter the squadroom, wind through the cubicles.
ROPER
It rarely has to be done.
MCCALL
I've rarely shot anyone.
ROPER
SWAT is a lifesaving unit, you know.
MCCALL
(flatly)
I know.
ROPER
Try to remember that.
They arrive at Roper's desk.
ROPER
Okay, "Dead Eye", lesson one...
Roper grabs an empty soda bottle from a neighboring desk. He
takes the cap off a ball point pen and drops it into the
empty bottle. He places the bottle on his desk.
ROPER
Extract that pen cap without touching
or moving the bottle.
McCall looks at the bottle quizzically.
MCCALL
What's the point of this?
ROPER
A little exercise in lateral thinking.
The obvious solution isn't always
the only solution... See you tomorrow.
Roper grabs his jacket and walks off, leaving McCall to ponder
the problem. McCall looks over at another cop who has been
observing. The cop shrugs his shoulders. He hasn't got a
clue. McCall sits down and thoughtfully peers into the bottle.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE - NIGHT
Roper and Baffert walking past the row of cars, including
Solis' cadillac, searching for Roper's "new" transportation...
Roper is holding the keys in his hand.
BAFFERT
Mind if we make a stop on the way?
We busted Frank Antonucci on
possession. He gave us a lead on
that Polk Street jewelry heist.
ROPER
"Phoney Frank"? Don't waste your
time. He'd tell you his granny was
in on the Kennedy assassination if
he could dodge a collar.
BAFFERT
I still gotta do it. Wasting time is
half my job.
ROPER
Yeah, okay.
Roper is looking at the numbered parking spaces.
BAFFERT
This SWAT guy might be a good idea.
He may be able to take a little
pressure off you. I worry about you.
ROPER
You worried about me, too? The chief's
worried about me. Solis is worried
about me. Maybe you guys should start
some kind of organization.
BAFFERT
Speaking of which. I saw you talking
to Ronnie this morning. Why can't
you get it back together with her.
You've gotta be out of your mind not
to get with that one.
ROPER
It's not me. It's her. She's going
out with this baseball player --
Greg Barnett.
BAFFERT
(impressed)
No shit! He's good!
ROPER
Fuck him. He swings at anything in
the dirt. I could strike him out.
BAFFERT
Don't give up on her. You're getting
to the age when you ought to be
thinking about these things.
Roper bends over like an old man.
ROPER
Yep, my rheumatism's been acting up.
They arrive at their destination. A parking space with a
1957 DODGE PICKUP.
BAFFERT
This is it. Space 742.
Roper looks at the pickup truck in disbelief.
ROPER
Then he didn't say 742. He must have
said 724 or something, because this
can't be right.
Baffert unlocks the pickup and offers the keys to Roper who
is crossing to the truck.
ROPER
Oh man! What am I, Red Foxx? I'm not
riding in this shit. I can't roll in
no shit like this.
He takes the keys from Baffert who moves around to the
passengers side. He opens the door.
BAFFERT
Where's the stereo?
ROPER
Fuck the stereo. What's that smell?
BAFFERT
Come on. Just get in. We gotta go.
EXT. MARKET STREET - NIGHT
The pickup in traffic.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
EXT. KORDA'S BUILDING - NIGHT
It's a four story twenties style walk-up. It's evening now.
The pickup pulls to a stop out front.
INT. PICKUP - NIGHT
Baffert pulls out a slip of paper.
BAFFERT
Apartment 306.
ROPER
You want me to go up with you?
BAFFERT
Nah, It probably won't turn up
anything. I'm just gonna talk to
him.
ROPER
Good. I don't want to be late.
Baffert gets out. Roper grabs his cell phone.
ROPER
You want anything on the game?
Baffert turns back around.
BAFFERT
What's the line?
ROPER
It was Warriors plus 6 this morning.
BAFFERT
I'll take half of your action.
Baffert goes into the building. Roper dials his cellular
phone. Beep! Beep!
DETAIL SHOT
A message on the display reads: RECHARGE BATTERY.
Roper looks around. There's a payphone across the street. He
gets out of the truck and crosses to it.
INT. BUILDING - NIGHT
Third floor hallway. Nice, middle class place. Well kept up.
Baffert walks over to room 306. Knocks.
INT. KORDA'S APT. - NIGHT
Jazz is playing. MICHAEL KORDA sits motionless in a chair
listening to the music. There's a KNOCK. Korda responds as
if pulled from a trance. He rises and moves to the door.
KORDA
Who is it?
BAFFERT (V.O.)
It's Lieutenant Sam Baffert from the
San Francisco Police Department.
A slight hesitation from Korda. He glances around the
apartment. For what reason, we don't know. Maybe to make
sure there's nothing incriminating around. He opens the door.
KORDA
What happened? Is there a problem?
BAFFERT
May I come in? I would just like to
ask you a couple of questions.
Korda steps aside and lets Baffert enter. Korda closes the
door. Baffert scans the place. Not bad. He listens to the
music. A smile grows on his face.
BAFFERT
Count Basie?
Korda smiles back. Another jazz aficionada.
KORDA
Duke Ellington. "Things Ain't What
They Used To Be", recorded July 30,
1945.
BAFFERT
Yeah... Yeah... Now I can hear it.
Korda goes to the stereo, turns it down. Duke Ellington plays
low.
BAFFERT
Where did you find an old recording
like that?
KORDA
Used record shop down on Turk Street.
I was in there looking for some Robert
Johnson.
(searching for the
name)
Memories... Memory Lane or
something...
BAFFERT
I've got to stop in there... Mr.
Korda, do you know Frank Antonucci?
KORDA
You mean Frank who owns the bakery
down the street?
Baffert smiles.
BAFFERT
No, this is a different Frank. This
is a man who deals in jewelry. Stolen
jewelry usually. You wouldn't know
anybody like that?
Korda drifts to the other side of the room. Takes a look out
his front window...
HIS POV
Nobody there. Just the truck.
KORDA
I certainly wouldn't.
He says it as if the very idea disturbs him. He turns away
from the window. Baffert feigns a coughing spell.
BAFFERT
Could I please have a little water?
KORDA
(the perfect host)
Of course.
Korda heads toward the kitchen area. Baffert uses this as an
opportunity to drift around the room. Do a little snooping.
BAFFERT
The reason I'm asking you is because
we arrested him with some stolen
jewelry. It was traced to the robbery
of a store down on Polk Street. He
said he was fencing it for you.
Baffert notices something in the trash can.
HIS POV
Several glassine envelopes used for raw jewels. They have
jeweler's markings on them indicating gem weight and grade.
INT. KITCHEN
Korda, pouring the water, notices Baffert's discovery, but
his face betrays nothing.
KORDA
(calmly)
There's obviously some mistake. I
have a cousin who has had run-ins
with the law.
Korda re-enters the room with the glass of water.
KORDA
Perhaps for his own reasons he
entangled me in this... situation.
BAFFERT
This cousin of yours... What's his
name?
KORDA
(forthrightly)
Clarence Teal.
They look at each other a beat. Korda is still holding the
water.
KORDA
Your cough seems to be better.
A real repressed tension here. Someone's about to get hurt.
Baffert takes the glass of water.
BAFFERT
Thank you.
He takes a sip. Korda watches him like a cobra. Baffert puts
the glass down on the table.
BAFFERT
Well, I'm on my way to the game. I
appreciate your cooperation, Mr.
Korda.
Korda smiles. Baffert walks to the door. Opens it to leave...
KORDA
Lieutenant...
Baffert turns back around.
KORDA
Do you believe that story about Robert
Johnson...? That he made a deal with
the devil at the crossroads?
Baffert muses along with Korda.
BAFFERT
Could be.
Baffert moves off down the hall and Korda closes his door.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Baffert gets into the elevator.
INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
Baffert takes out his cell phone. Dials.
BAFFERT
(as the elevator
descends)
Hello, Judge Stone... This is
Lieutenant Samuel Baffert. I'm at a
suspect's residence. I'm requesting
a telephonic search warrant in
connection with an armed robbery at
a jewelry store. There's visible
evidence on the premises. Glassine
envelopes with jeweler's markings
were seen in the trash can...
The elevator hits the first floor.
BAFFERT
...I believe a full search of the
premises will turn up some stolen
property...
The elevator opens.
Korda is standing there with a knife.
Baffert has no time to react...
The knife hand slashes forward... Stabbing the chest and
slashing across the throat.
EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT
Korda calmly exits the building as Roper crosses the street,
returning from the payphone. Neither of the men take any
particular notices of each other. A WOMAN carrying her
groceries enters the building.
Roper gets to the truck. A SCREAM from inside the building.
INT. BUILDING - NIGHT
Baffert is laying in the open elevator, knife wounds to his
neck and chest. Roper rushes over to him. It doesn't look
good.
The woman with the groceries is standing halfway up the first
flight of stairs. Frozen. Roper pulls out his gun and rushes
by her up the stairs.
ROPER
(to the woman)
Get an ambulance!
INT. THIRD FLOOR HALLWAY - NIGHT
Roper arrives at the top of the stairs. Korda's door is ajar.
Duke Ellington can be heard faintly.
INT. KORDA'S APT. - NIGHT
Roper nudges the door open, takes a step inside, gun ready...
No one there. Suddenly, from the hallway, the click of a
door. Roper races out.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Roper sprints to the door at the end of the hall, KICKS it
open. Gun aimed.
INT. APT. 302 - NIGHT
A five year old stares up at him. Scared stiff. Roper holds
up a reassuring hand, and, as quickly as he arrived, he
leaves.
EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT
Roper burst out the front. Down the stairs to the sidewalk.
Looks both ways down the street... Realizes in dismay that
Korda is long gone. A SIREN approaches.
INT. SOLIS OFFICE - NIGHT - RAIN
Angle outside window to Roper sitting in a chair by the window
looking out to the rain. Solis is in the b.g. on the phone.
SOLIS
(on the phone)
Yes sir. Every resource will be
brought to bear. We will find this
guy... Yeah, he's here now. I'll
tell him.
Solis hangs up the phone.
SOLIS
The chief says to tell you how sorry
he is. He knew Sam Baffert was a
good man.
ROPER
(still looking out
window)
He said he was just going up to talk
to him. He said...
(beat; turning to
Solis)
I want to be put on this case.
SOLIS
I can't do that.
ROPER
(emphatic)
I want to be put on this case.
SOLIS
You know I can't assign you to this.
You're much too close to it. You
were much too close to Sam. The
department will take care of it.
ROPER
Who's running it?
SOLIS
Roper...
ROPER
Who's running it!
SOLIS
Kimura and Glass will head the
investigation.
Roper turns to leave.
SOLIS
Scott. Go home. Get some sleep.
Roper pauses at the door. Then pulls out two basketball
tickets and lays them on the table in Solis' office. He exits.
CUT TO:
INT. METRO OFFICE AREA - NIGHT
Two detectives. A female named KIMURA and a tall guy named
GLASS, try to make a getaway as they see Roper coming.
ROPER
Hey, hey, hey...
Roper intercepts them.
ROPER
Anything on Korda so far?
KIMURA
Solis said to keep you clear of this.
Roper responds louder than necessary with a half turn toward
Solis' hallway.
ROPER
I don't give a damn what Solis said.
(to the detectives)
If you get a lead, I want to know.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO STREET - NIGHT - RAINING
Roper's pickup drives by.
INT. PICKUP
Thru the windshield. We see Roper as the windshield wipers
flap back and forth. His face seems dazed and lost.
INT. RONNIE'S HALLWAY - NIGHT
Roper knocks. Ronnie's cheerful voice can be heard.
RONNIE (O.S.)
Just a minute.
Roper makes no effort to pull himself together. The door
opens and Ronnie's face registers surprise. She's dressed
casually in jeans, a nice shirt, but wears make-up and
earrings.
RONNIE
Hey.
ROPER
Hey yourself. Came by to see Troy.
RONNIE
(like hell)
A little late for that, Scottie.
He's asleep.
(smells his breath)
Jack Daniels?
ROPER
I'm not drunk. Yet.
RONNIE
Maybe you should be.
ROPER
You heard.
She nods, sympathetic, but doesn't leave the doorway.
RONNIE
Yeah. I'm sorry.
ROPER
Can I come in?
Ronnie opens the door reluctantly.
INT. RONNIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Roper enters. Instantly we see he's at home here. He hangs
his coat in the closet, puts his keys on the table, notices
a photograph on the wall. Quite imposing. Very unique style.
ROPER
That a new picture?
RONNIE
About 4 months old. I'm working in a
new style.
Roper gazes at it indifferently. He falls silent. Thoughts
turned inward. Suddenly, TROY, (the dog), bounds in. He's
ecstatic to see Roper. He puts his front paws on the couch
and his head in Roper's lap.
ROPER
Hey, Troy. How ya doin' boy?
(to Ronnie)
He heard my voice.
Roper smiles briefly, pats the dog, taking comfort from his
presence. His words are light. His tone isn't.
ROPER
How's the good dog. I miss you buddy.
You miss me?
Ronnie watches them, suddenly showing the sadness she's
carefully buried.
ROPER
He misses me.
She nods. A moment's silence.
ROPER
I won't stay long. I had to talk to
someone.
RONNIE
(a bit surprised at
his openness)
You don't usually talk to anyone
when you're hurting.
ROPER
It was my fault. I was right
downstairs. I should have gone up
with him.
RONNIE
Scott, You can't save everyone.
ROPER
I've proved that, didn't I?
She's not coming closer. She wants to, but she won't do it.
She seems uneasy, glances towards the door. Roper rises.
ROPER
Oh, hell, forget it. This won't work.
RONNIE
(gentle)
What do you want from me?
ROPER
Something I guess I can't have
anymore.
RONNIE
Don't try to make me feel guilty.
The whole time we were together, you
went out of your way to prove you
didn't need me. Now, suddenly, for
one night, you need me again. I can't
do it. I can't be more than your
friend. Because I know what will
happen. In a few weeks you'll be
back on top, and you'll shut me out
just as soon as you don't need me
again.
ROPER
(surprised, hurt)
You think I didn't need you?
RONNIE
If you did, you never showed it.
ROPER
Ronnie...
He reaches for her and she looks like she might give in to
him, but at that moment there's a KNOCK ON THE DOOR. Ronnie
pulls back, confused and guilty.
ROPER
You expecting someone?
Her silence is the answer... A flash of pain from Roper.
ROPER
This day just keeps getting better.
Ronnie watches as he searches for his keys in his pockets.
RONNIE
(soft)
They're on the table where you always
leave them.
He grabs the keys as she opens the door. GREG stands outside
waiting. He's a big, good looking guy with a smile on his
face.
GREG
Hey, baby, I thought maybe you were...
Greg's smile fades as he sees Roper.
ROPER
I was just leaving.
Roper strides past Greg who remains in the doorway. Ronnie
makes brief eye contact with Greg, but then moves past him
to follow Roper. She calls after him.
RONNIE
Scottie... take care of yourself.
Roper doesn't look back. He just goes.
EXT. PIER 26 - EARLY MORNING
A huge warehouse. Sun coming up over the East Bay, CLARENCE
TEAL rides up on a HARLEY MOTORCYLE, carrying a large cup of
coffee to go. He enters the warehouse.
INT. WAREHOUSE - SAME
Car and Boat parts stacked in aisles ten feet high. Clarence
shuffles through to his watchman's quarters which are
connected to the end of the warehouse.
INT. WATCHMAN'S QUARTERS - SAME
Built on pilings with a panoramic view of the bay. Korda is
waiting behind the door as Clarence enters. He seizes Clarence
from behind and slams him against the wall and spins him
around. Hot coffee soaks the front of Clarence's shirt.
KORDA
If you weren't family I'd kill you.
Clarence is scared. He offers no defense.
KORDA
You told Antonucci that shit came
from me.
CLARENCE
So that we could get the best price.
He's got respect for you. He's gonna
try to lowball me, Mike.
Korda tosses Clarence down onto the cot.
KORDA
You fucking idiot! Why do you think
I use you?... To be a walking
advertisement.
CLARENCE
I'm sorry, Mike. I never heard of
LaMarra flipping on anyone before.
He said he had the cops paid off.
Antonucci never flipped on anyone
before. He had the cops paid off.
KORDA
Not the fucking cop that showed up
at my door!
CLARENCE
What happened, Mike.
KORDA
You don't want to know.
Tears start to come to Clarence's eyes.
CLARENCE
I'm sorry, Mike.
Clarence sincerely feels bad. It's kind of touching in a
twisted way. Korda moves over to the window to keep from
striking Clarence again. He looks off across the bay.
KORDA
God damn it! I still needed to case
that fucking store. It's too risky
to show my face now.
CLARENCE
I got a couple thousand bucks. You
could leave town.
KORDA
Leave town? They're going to know me
in fucking Des Moines now!...
(a beat)
They got over ten million in jewels
in that place. That's freedom, man.
I could go anywhere I want.
Clarence watches Korda warily. Things are beginning to add
up in his head.
CLARENCE
Did you kill him, Mike?
Korda turns to Clarence with a penetrated stare that answers
the question. Clarence is shaken by that. He starts to whimper
again.
CLARENCE
I'm sorry, Mike. I'm really sorry...
We're talking major fear here...
Korda moves to him and we think he's going to bash him around
again, but, surprisingly, he hugs Clarence's head against
his chest.
KORDA
It's not your fault you're stupid.
Tears of relief from Clarence.
INT. METRO DIVISION HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Roper enters the squadroom. His mood is contained. He walks
to a desk where Kimura and Glass are huddling.
A couple desks over, McCall is reclining in Roper's chair,
reading a book entitled, "Strategies and Counter Measures in
Hostage Situations". On the desk in front of him is the bottle
with the pen cap still in it.
ROPER
(to Kimura and Glass)
What do you got on Korda?
KIMURA
We ran a search on relatives. He has
a cousin in town -- Clarence Teal.
Smalltime thief. Last known address
was on Pine Street. He moved out a
month ago. We've got a couple leads
on him to check out.
ROPER
(rapid fire)
Did you check out DMV for any vehicles
registration?
KIMURA
Being faxed over now.
ROPER
How about the record room for any
incident reports? He might be a
victim. We can get medical records.
Check with burglary detail and see
if anyone else knows him, knows his
habits.
KIMURA
Roper...
ROPER
And what about bars? We can talk to
neighbors to see what bars he
frequents.
KIMURA
Roper, we're into it...
Suddenly Solis appears at their side.
SOLIS
We've had this conversation once,
Roper. You're not active on this
case.
Roper looks at him icily.
SOLIS
It's in everyone's best interest.
McCall, Kimura, Glass all watch this confrontation tensely.
After a beat, Roper gives in. Indicates his compliance. Solis
heads back to this office.
ROPER
(softened)
You guys are doing good work.
He moves toward the desk. McCall gets up when he sees him
coming.
MCCALL
I'm sorry about your friend. I had a
friend in SWAT killed. I know how it
can be.
ROPER
I appreciate your concern. Let's
leave it at that.
McCall respectfully drops it. Roper looks down at the soda
bottle.
ROPER
I don't see much progress here.
McCall holds up a finger. Not so fast. He picks up a pot
from a nearby "Mr. Coffee" machine. It's filled with water.
He takes the water and slowly pours it into the bottle.
CLOSE ON THE BOTTLE
The pen cap floats to the top and McCall plucks it out without
touching or moving the bottle.
ROPER
Very nice... You get an "A". Notice...
No force required. No damage.
Just then a SERGEANT calls to Roper across the squadroom.
SERGEANT
Roper, domestic disturbance at 472
6th Street. Possible hostage
situation.
McCall grabs his duffel bag. Roper starts away from the desk,
then notices the book on "Hostage Strategies". He looks at
the title, then makes a demonstration of dropping it in the
trash can. He and McCall head out.
EXT. MARKET STREET - DAY
The pickup is weaving through traffic.
INT. PICKUP - DAY
Start on one of those air freshener evergreen trees hanging
from the rear view mirror. PULL BACK to show a police bubble
flashing on the dashboard.
Roper weaving through traffic. McCall is sitting calmly as
ever.
ROPER
So, McCall, how come you ended up in
San Francisco?
MCCALL
They recruited me. Promised me fast
advancement.
ROPER
Recruited you from where?
MCCALL
National Marksman Competition.
ROPER
With your qualifications you must
have had a lot of offers. Why here?
MCCALL
Furthest point I could find from New
York.
ROPER
You don't like New York?
MCCALL
Spent my whole life there. I just
wanted to get out for a while.
ROPER
You'd never been out of New York?
MCCALL
Been to Toronto. My mother was born
there.
ROPER
How did you like Toronto?
MCCALL
It was okay.
ROPER
You're a real excitable sort, aren't
you?
MCCALL
You caught me on an "up" day.
(a beat)
How about you? How did you end up in
San Francisco?
ROPER
I grew up in Oakland... Crossed the
Bay Bridge and here I was.
(a beat)
So you're looking for "fast
advancement".
MCCALL
Is there something wrong with that?
ROPER
I'm not sure.
EXT. 6TH STREET - DAY
Several Patrol Cars are parked in front of an unappealing
apartment building. A crowd has begun to gather. UNIFORMED
POLICEMEN hold them back. TWO COPS are questioning a man
wearing only green slacks. No shirt. No shoes. Just the
slacks. He is very agitated.
The pickup screeches up. Roper and McCall hop out. Roper
flashes his badge to the OFFICER in charge. (OFFICER #1)
ROPER
Roper. Metro Division. Hostage
Negotiator. Give me the short version.
OFFICER #1
Husband came home. Found that guy
and his wife "in flagrante". Now
he's holding her at knife point.
ROPER
Which apartment?
The Officer points up to the third floor.
OFFICER #1
That one with the bars on the windows.
Roper nods. Walks back over to the pickup. Looks up. Eyeballs
the building.
ROPER
How are we gonna get him out of there?
MCCALL
We could fill it with water.
Roper throws him a look. McCall walks to the back of the
pickup, reaches into the cab and digs around in his duffel
bag.
ROPER
(to Officer #1)
Have you evacuated anyone?
OFFICER #1
Only that floor.
ROPER
Is the hostage injured?
OFFICER #1
Don't know. She keeps screaming to
stay out. He keeps screaming to stay
out. We decided to stay out.
ROPER
Well, there's a good amount of
agreement on that.
McCall slams the truck door, sniper rifle in hand.
MCCALL
I'll take "highground" until SWAT
gets here.
(surveying the area)
I can get a good sight-line from
that roof across the street.
McCall marches off across the street.
ROPER
Remember, Quick Draw, we're trying
to limit the force here.
McCall calls back over his shoulder.
MCCALL
I know my job.
At that moment, a scream echoes down from the third floor
window. Roper heads for the front door of the building.
INT. APT. HALLWAY/STAIRCASE - (ACROSS THE STREET)
McCall bounds up the stairs of the building to the rooftop.
INT. 6TH ST. APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY - DAY
The screams are getting more panicky. Roper comes down the
hall quickly. The door to the apartment is open. It's been
that way since the guy in the green slacks fled. Roper hurries
toward the door.
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
The WIFE is in bra and panties and the HUSBAND is 6'4". He's
giving her a good beating. It's a studio apartment. Unmade
bed. Belongings strewn all over. Window open with sun
streaming in, and a good view of the building across the
street. We hear ROPER'S VOICE from out in the hall.
ROPER (V.O.)
I'm coming in. I'm not armed.
The husband snatches his wife by the hair and holds a knife
to her throat.
WIFE
(shrieking)
No, Raymond!
RAYMOND
(to Roper)
Stay the fuck out of here!
But Roper steps into the apartment. Sees the wife. Face
swollen. Knife to her neck. The enraged husband, contemplating
murder. One inch from committing the act. Roper doesn't bat
an eye.
ROPER
I know how you feel, Ray.
RAYMOND
You don't know shit, and I suggest
you leave.
He presses the knife against the wife's throat. She winces.
Her chest heaves.
ROPER
I can't leave, Ray. It's part of my
negotiator's oath. Once I'm in the
room with the hostage, I have to
stay.
RAYMOND
You don't want to see what I'm going
to do to her.
ROPER
Let me show you something, Ray.
Roper reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. He
extracts a photo.
CLOSEUP PHOTO
Wife. Two kids. A little dog-eared. Nice touch.
ROPER
holds it up so Raymond can see it.
ROPER
Same thing happened to me, man. She
cheated on me, but I forgave her.
You know why?
RAYMOND
I ain't interested in your life story.
ROPER
Because I was partially to blame. I
wasn't around as much as I should
have been. I forgot how to love her.
RAYMOND
She's the one to blame. Not me.
EXT. ROOF ACROSS THE STREET - ON MCCALL
In prone position. Rifle in hand. Eye to scope.
POV THROUGH SIGHT
of Raymond's open window.
INT. RAYMOND'S APARTMENT
Everyone where we left them. Roper looks at Ray with utter
sincerity.
ROPER
Ray, think about how she looked when
you married her. Think about how
happy you were. Don't lose that,
man. Don't give up everything.
RAYMOND
What am I giving up? I'm laid off
last year. I'm down to my last
unemployment check. I'm out on the
streets looking for work and this
bitch is banging some asshole in my
bed.
And now Ray is crying. Blubbering actually. And he's not
that coherent.
RAYMOND
I'm down at Consolidated and I'm
begging. I'm saying I'll take half
my pay. Eight years, man. I don't
even have to work the loading docks
anymore. I'll do maintenance. "We're
cutting back. We're streamlining,
Ray. West Central's running things
now. It's out of our hands" Fuck
them! Fuck them! FUCK THEM!
(deep sigh)
I'm gonna kill her and then I'm gonna
kill myself, 'cause I don't wanna
live anymore.
Roper reaches out to him.
ROPER
Ray, if you walk out of here with
me, I'll get you a job.
RAYMOND
Doing what? Cleaning toilets?
ROPER
I can't guarantee you what it will
be. But I swear on my life, I'll
find you work.
RAYMOND
And why the fuck would you do that
for me?
ROPER
Not for you, Ray. For me. A close
friend of mine was killed this week.
The way I figure it, I stop you from
doin' what you said, I'm one up on
body count.
RAYMOND
Who the fuck are you, Mother Teresa?
ROPER
My name's Scott Roper.
Ray stares blankly at Roper's outstretched hand, the knife
clutched tightly in his fist... The wife squeezes her eyes
closed. Everything waits for an excruciatingly long beat...
Then...
RAYMOND
I need my coat.
It's on a coat rack in the corner. But to get there he has
to pass by the window. Ray drops his wife on the bed, turns
and goes to get his coat.
He crosses in front of the window... Reaches for the coat.
POP! A bullet slams into his skull. Ray falls to the floor.
The wife runs out of the room, screaming!
ROPER
NOOOO!!
He rushes over to Ray. Circle of blood soaking into the
carpet. Ray's empty eyes. His hand still wrapped in his coat.
He was dead instantly. Roper slams his fist into the wall. A
couple of cops, guns drawn, arrive at the doorway. Roper
bolts out of the room... Pounds down the hallway... Pounds
down the stairs... down another flight...
EXT. APT. BLDG.
McCall comes across the street. Roper sees McCall, cool as
ever. Rifle slung over his shoulder. Roper steps into his
path.
ROPER
WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
McCall gives no answer. He pushes past Roper and continues
into the building.
INT. APT. BUILDING - HALLWAY - DAY
Roper follows, screaming his head off.
ROPER
Do you think because the police
department issued you a sniper rifle,
it makes you God! What the fuck goes
on in your head?
McCall, still stone-faced, reaches the apartment. Yellow
"crime scene" tape is being placed across the doorway. Cops
are tiptoeing around, surveying evidence. McCall ducks under
the tape. Roper follows.
INT. APT. - DAY
McCall goes over to Ray's body. Crouches down. Roper comes
up behind him. McCall picks up the coat covering Ray's arms.
Clutched in Ray's hand is a gun "Saturday night special"
variety. McCall looks up at Roper.
MCCALL
SWAT is a lifesaving unit, remember?
I just saved a life. Yours.
Roper doesn't miss a beat.
ROPER
(still angry)
You think I've never had a gun pulled
on me?! You think every fucking time
someone pulls a gun they use it?!
McCall gets to his feet.
MCCALL
Eighty-five percent of domestic
disturbances of this nature end in
murder/suicide.
ROPER
(fiercely)
Not the ones I'm at.
McCall and Roper glare at each other. Toe to toe. A beat.
McCall's face softens just perceptibly.
MCCALL
Sorry. My mistake.
He walks out of the room. Roper whips the sheet off the bed,
contemplates the gun gripped in Ray's hand... Then tosses
the sheet over Ray's dead body.
INT. METRO DIVISION - NIGHT
Roper seated in the hallway, waiting outside a door marked
"Internal Affairs". Things are quiet. Roper stares at the
floor. Waiting.
The door opens. McCall comes out, escorted by two internal
affairs INVESTIGATORS. One of the investigators pats him on
the back.
INVESTIGATOR
Looks like a clean shoot. Go home
and get some rest.
McCall shakes hands with the investigators and they disappear
back into the office. Roper approaches McCall. He's cooled
off considerably. Even a tad friendly.
ROPER
Come on. Let's go for a drink.
MCCALL
I don't really like to drink.
ROPER
You have to. It's a tradition.
MCCALL
Well, if I have to, I have to.
INT. BILLY GOAT TAVERN - NIGHT
A neighborhood bar. Roper and McCall are playing pool. Half-
finished beers are on a nearby table. McCall is bent over
the table trying to make a particularly tricky shot. Roper
studies him.
ROPER
You got a girlfriend?
MCCALL
Why? You like my ass?
McCall misses the shot.
ROPER
Better than your pool game.
Roper lines up his shot.
ROPER
You wouldn't want to put a small
wager on this, would you?
MCCALL
I don't gamble.
Roper smiles. Sinks his shot. Moves around the table.
MCCALL
Yeah, I've got a girlfriend.
ROPER
You living together?
MCCALL
She's back in Jersey... going to
graduate school.
ROPER
Explain how that works.
MCCALL
She's going to come here when she
graduates and then we're gonna get
married.
ROPER
She grow up in Livingtston, too?
MCCALL
(as if that were
unthinkable)
No, no, no...
(a beat)
She's from Hoboken.
ROPER
Oh, "city girl". Don't you ever long
for companionship with her such a
long way away in New Jersey?
MCCALL
We see each other every couple of
months.
ROPER
Every couple of months, huh?
A couple of months sounds like an awful long time to Roper.
ROPER
That's a lot of commitment. I admire
that.
MCCALL
Do you really?
ROPER
No. Actually I think it's fucking
crazy, I don't know if I could do
it.
MCCALL
Thanks for clearing that up.
(a beat)
I hear your former girlfriend is
going out with Greg Barnett.
ROPER
Where did you hear that?
MCCALL
Around. Barnett's tough competition.
ROPER
Yeah, well that's a sore subject,
and therefore out of bounds to a
young sprout of a hostage negotiator
under my tutelage.
A beat and then McCall realizes that this comment is a major
acknowledgement of acceptance from Roper. Roper misses his
shot. Picks up his beer glass.
ROPER
Lesson two, "Dead Eye"... should
have been lesson one. Never exchange
yourself for a hostage.
MCCALL
I think I can handle that one.
ROPER
Yeah, you think so, but it comes up.
Roper takes a drink of beer. Nears the bottom of his glass.
Calls to the BARTENDER.
ROPER
Zack, another round.
Roper turns back to McCall.
ROPER
My partner gave himself in exchange
for a ten year old girl. He got caught
in the crossfire. Two dead. My partner
and the bad guy...
(takes the last sip)
Weird thing is, if he was alive,
he'd probably do it again.
(a beat)
Some people never learn.
Roper puts down his glass.
ROPER
You think you can learn, McCall?
MCCALL
I think so.
Roper nods. Maybe he can.
INT. ROOM - DAY
We're looking at a door. It's not clear where we are. McCall
enters. We only see his face. Determined.
MCCALL
I'm Officer McCall, what's going on?
REVERSE ANGLE
It's a training room. It's built to approximate a convenience
store. Several mannequins are placed around the room to
represent a hostage situation. The "BAD GUY" has a walkie-
talkie strapped around his neck. Roper's voice CRACKLES out
of it.
BAD GUY
What the fuck do you think is going
on, turdhead? I'm about to waste
everyone in this place.
McCall hesitates, trying to figure out a response. He seems
stiff and awkward.
MCCALL
H... how can I help you? Tell me
what...
(looks off to his
right)
I feel stupid talking to a dummy.
Roper enters the training room from a side door. He's holding
the other walkie-talkie.
ROPER
What did you think? I'm going to let
you practice on real people?
Roper comes up beside him.
ROPER
First things is, don't say, "What's
going on?" Everybody knows what's
going on. I come into this situation,
I say,
(addressing the
mannequin)
"I'm glad to see nobody's hurt. That's
good. I'm here to help you."
(turns back to McCall)
Second: You hesitated. Don't hesitate.
If you're thinking, talk while you're
thinking, or else he's going to think
you're plotting. Which you are. If
he thinks you're plotting, you're
going to make him nervous. You don't
want him nervous. Got that?
MCCALL
No.
ROPER
It'll come. Try again.
INT. TRAINING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
ANGLE ON THE DOOR. McCall comes in. The room has the same
set-up. McCall takes a look around. Launches immediately
into...
MCCALL
My name's McCall. I'm a hostage
negotiator. I'm here to help you.
Roper's voice crackles back at him hostilely.
ROPER (V.O.)
How are you going to help me?
McCall's confidence is growing.
MCCALL
Tell me what you need.
ROPER (V.O.)
I need you to bring me the scumbag
who ran off with my wife so I can
cut off his nuts.
Now he's stumped.
MCCALL
(hesitantly)
I can't do that.
ROPER (V.O.)
Then get out of my face you worthless
piece of frogshit.
McCall looks up to his right.
MCCALL
Is all the name calling necessary.
Roper re-enters the training area.
ROPER
Nah, I just throw that in because I
enjoy it.
MCCALL
(exasperated)
So what do I say to this guy?
ROPER
You could say something like,
(addressing the dummy)
"Tell me what the scumbag's name is.
Maybe we can work something out."
MCCALL
What? Bring somebody in so he can
cut his nuts off?
Roper turns to McCall.
ROPER
If you want to be a successful
negotiator, you've got to learn to
lie.
MCCALL
I'm not good at lying.
ROPER
Get good at it.
MCCALL
It's against my nature.
Roper gives him an amused smile.
ROPER
You know the ten commandments?
MCCALL
Yes.
ROPER
What's the first commandment?
MCCALL
Thou shall have no other God before
me.
That's not the answer Roper wanted.
ROPER
Okay, forget that. What's the main
one.
McCall is tired of guessing.
MCCALL
You tell me.
ROPER
Thou shall not kill... You've killed,
right?
MCCALL
Yes.
ROPER
Why?
MCCALL
To save lives.
ROPER
So why would you hesitate to lie to
save lives?
McCall can't argue with that one. Roper turns and heads back
to the side door.
ROPER
Let's try it again.
INT. TRAINING ROOM - LATER
McCall comes through the door. Hands in the air. The setup
in the room has been changed a bit. The bad guy is behind
the counter. Several hostages in various positions on the
floor.
MCCALL
My name's McCall. I'm unarmed.
ROPER (V.O.)
Okay, stop.
Roper comes through the side door.
ROPER
Close your eyes.
McCall is surprised by the command but closes them. Roper
turns him away from the hostage scene.
ROPER
What did you see?
MCCALL
(rapid-fire)
A dirtbag behind the counter holding
a sawed-off. A Berretta nine
millimeter in his belt. A female
hostage, red dress, on the floor in
front of the cereal display. Male
hostage, jeans and blue checked shirt,
three feet to her right. Another
male hostage, white pants, green
shirt, Nikes, laying in front of the
magazine rack. A female dirtbag with
a gun under her shirt, sitting against
the beer cooler, trying to pass
herself off as a hostage, and there's
a special on toilet-paper, four for
a buck twenty-nine.
McCall opens his eyes. Roper's impressed.
ROPER
Very good. You've got good eyes.
That's important.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Roper and McCall are sitting in the dark watching a video
tape. It's grainy footage of a hostage situation in a sporting
goods store. A negotiator confronted with a gunman holding a
ten year old girl hostage. The negotiator holds his hands
out imploringly... Carefully moves toward the gunman. The
negotiator exchanges himself for the little girl. The gunman
grabs the negotiator around the neck, holds the gun to his
head. The little girl runs out of the picture to safety.
Roper remains dead silent during all this. McCall looks over
at him. The blue light flickers over Roper's motionless face.
MCCALL
Was that your partner?
Roper nods.
MCCALL
Why did he do it?
ROPER
(quietly)
Because he knew the little girl had
zero chance of survival and his
chances would be a little better...
We had a plan, but SWAT opened up
too early. He got caught in the
crossfire.
(a sad beat)
Let's move on... Notice this. Always
use the eyes to keep the connection.
It almost like hypnosis. That's the
most important thing. Create a
connection. You're always on their
side...
McCall watches him for a beat, then turns his attention back
on the screen.
EXT. GOLDEN GATE RACETRACK - DAY
Beautiful day. Roper and McCall leaning against the rail at
the walking ring. The horses are being paraded and saddled.
Roper scrutinizes them with an expert eye. McCall seems
totally disinterested.
ROPER
You know why I like the track?
MCCALL
You're a compulsive gambler?
Roper ignores that.
ROPER
Because there are a multitude of
possibility's. Everything is there
to see if you know what to look for.
You have to read the conditions,
just like in a hostage situation.
Roper points across the ring to a particular horse.
ROPER
See the four horse. Dropping in class.
No works. Front wraps. Looks like
he's broken down. But notice the
woman in the sun hat. She's the owner.
She wouldn't have come if her horse
was broken down. He's live. We use
him.
McCall listens indifferently.
ROPER
See the favorite? Tail up. Washy. He
doesn't want to run today. Cross him
off... Now the Six looks good. On
his toes. Coat shiny. This
trainer/jockey combo does well. We
can't leave him out.
(turns to McCall)
What do you think?
MCCALL
I have two words for you... Seek
help.
ROPER
I have three words for you... Ex-ac-
ta.
INT. BETTING WINDOWS - DAY
Roper is buying tickets. McCall is with him, watching the
other bettors, the odds board, all the monitors... Strange
place. Roper finishes and turns away from the window. Hands
McCall a ticket.
ROPER
I bought you a four-six exacta box.
You owe me twenty bucks.
MCCALL
(puzzled)
I do.
EXT. SEATING AREA - DAY
Roper and McCall pass by a gambler.
GAMBLER
Hey, Roper.
ROPER
How you doin', Marv?
They sit down in a box right up front.
ROPER
We need the 4 and 6 to finish to
first and second.
MCCALL
(no enthusiasm)
Fine.
Roper uses his binoculars to watch the horses warm up on the
backstretch.
MCCALL
I'm told that newspaper photographer
is your former girlfriend.
Roper looks over at him. What's this about?
ROPER
Ronnie... Yeah, so.
MCCALL
Now she's going out with Greg Barnett?
ROPER
So what do you want?... An autograph.
MCCALL
I don't know why she'd pick him over
you.
Roper throws McCall a skeptical look.
MCCALL
(straight-faced)
I'm just practicing my lying.
ROPER
Still needs work.
MCCALL
(downcast)
You're right. I'll never be as good
a liar as you.
TRACK ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And they're racing!
ON THE TRACK
The horses spring from the gate. (The track announcer's call
plays through race)
IN THE STANDS
Roper watches intently through the binoculars. McCall sits
impassively.
ROPER
Okay, we're in good shape. We're in
good shape.
McCall looks across the track.
MCCALL
The 6 horse is last.
ROPER
That's okay. That's his style.
MCCALL
To run last?
ROPER
To run late!
Roper follows the horses into the turn.
ROPER
The favorite's fading. I told you he
wasn't going to run today... The
four horse has got the lead!
McCall sits like a wax figure.
MCCALL
(cynically)
The 6 horse is still last.
ROPER
He'll be running at the quarter pole.
ON THE TRACK
The horses head into the stretch. The FOUR is on the lead
and the SIX is starting to unleash a big run. Passing horses
with every stride.
ROPER (V.O.)
There he goes.
IN THE STANDS
McCall sits forward slightly.
MCCALL
They need to run first and second?
ROPER
Yeah, first and second.
Roper gets to his feet.
ON THE TRACK
The horses thunder down the stretch. The FOUR horse is in
front and the SIX is coming on from behind.
IN THE STANDS
Roper is on his feet screaming.
ROPER
Come on, Russell! Come on, Russell.
McCall jumps to this feet and joins him.
MCCALL
COME ON RUSSELL!...
(to Roper)
Who the fuck's Russell?!
ROPER
The jockey!
MCCALL
COME ON, RUSSELL!
Roper and McCall cheer together.
ON THE TRACK
The FOUR horse crosses the finish line in front. The SIX
horse is flying... Needs to beat one horse to be second...
He's running out of room... With one last surge he hits the
wire and... It's too close to call.
IN THE STANDS
McCall, really excited, turns to Roper.
MCCALL
We won!
ROPER
(disheartened)
We lost.
MCCALL
(confidently)
We won.
ROPER
How much you wanna bet?
MCCALL
You want to bet on whether you won
your bet? This is getting sick.
ANGLE ON TOTE BOARD
As the photo finish light goes out and the numbers come on...
4-6-8. They won.
IN THE STANDS
ROPER
Yes!
High fives.
ROPER
That's eight hundred bucks.
INT. BET/CASH WINDOW - DAY
Roper and McCall collect their money. Four hundred a piece,
not bad. McCall pockets his money.
MCCALL
How long you been coming here?
ROPER
About six years. My partner took me.
MCCALL
Is it always like this?
ROPER
Occasionally you lose.
Suddenly Roper's BEEPER goes off. He checks it, takes out a
cellular phone and dials.
ROPER
(into the phone)
Roper here.
(he listens)
I'm on my way.
He hangs up and turns to McCall.
ROPER
We gotta go.
EXT. JEWELRY STORE - UNION SQUARE - DAY
Marble facade. Tastefully reinforced windows and door.
Choppers circle overhead. Both ends of the street are sealed
off. Barricades are up. Spectators and news crews crowd behind
those. Numerous police circulate. This is a major operation
in full swing.
INT. TRAVEL AGENCY - COMMAND CENTER - DAY
It's across the street from the jewelry store. Second story.
The walls are plastered with travel posters. A poster of
Tahiti is the most prominent. Members of police and SWAT are
standing over a blueprint of the jewelry store spread out on
a table. Right behind them is a TV monitoring the front of
the store. Solis is at another desk, on the phone. He's
talking to the suspect.
SOLIS
We're working on that, Joe. These
things aren't quite that simple.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Roper and McCall push through the barricades and come walking
down the cordoned-off street. McCall takes a look at the
jewelry store. Well fortified, foreboding.
MCCALL
This does not look good.
Roper looks over there, gives no reaction. They reach Solis'
convertible Cadillac. It's parked out front of the travel
agency building.
ROPER
See this. Solis has me driving the
shit-mobile, and he picked this up
straight out of impound for fourteen
grand. Probably worth thirty.
MCCALL
Police corruption. It's everywhere.
INT. COMMAND POST - DAY
Roper and McCall enter. McCall joins the men who are studying
the blueprint. Roper stands by Solis and listens, takes note
of the poster of Tahiti. Looks inviting.
SOLIS
This will take time to setup. I'll
have to get authorizations.
(he listens)
Okay, you relax, and I'll --
Solis pulls the phone away from his ear. Joe has obviously
hung up.
ROPER
What do we got?
SOLIS
32 minutes ago the silent alarm went
off, then the fire alarm. A unit was
a block away, and the suspect got
trapped inside.
ROPER
Any verification on numbers.
SOLIS
We've only seen and talked to one
suspect. He calls himself "Joe".
There's two jewelers, two salespeople,
the manager, a security guard, and
an elderly woman. This particular
store is where they do a lot of
jewelry making and repair. They have
anywhere from 8 to 10 million in raw
stones on any given day, so they
sure as shit didn't just wander in.
They knew what they were coming for.
ROPER
What have you promised them?
SOLIS
Just that I'd talk to my superiors.
McCall returns from checking out the blueprints.
ROPER
Any good points of entry?
McCall shakes his head.
MCCALL
The place is designed to be a vault.
Roper picks up the cellular phone. It dials automatically.
ROPER
(into the phone)
My name's Roper. How are you people
doing in there?
(he listens)
Solis is off the job now, Joe. I'm
the guy authorized to give you
whatever you want.
(listens)
That's right, but first I need to
come down there to talk to you.
INT. JEWELRY STORE - DAY
We don't see anything but the suspect on the other end of
the phone. He's wearing a ski mask and gloves. Totally
unrecognizable to the audience. We will find out soon that
he is, in fact, Korda. He appears very cool and collected.
KORDA
You don't have to come here.
INT. COMMAND CENTER - DAY
ROPER
Yes, I do. That way there's no
misunderstandings. I need to make
sure no one's hurt, then we can take
care of business.
A long pause... Then a bit sinister.
KORDA (V.O.)
Alright, Roper. You want to come...
come.
ROPER
Good. I won't be armed. We gotta
operate on trust here. We're going
to wrap this up and have you guys
out of here as soon as possible.
Roper clicks off the phone. He already doesn't like the sound
of this guy.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE JEWELRY STORE - DAY
Roper, bulletproof vest, hands in the air, walks across the
eerily deserted street straight toward the jewelry store.
It's quiet now. The choppers have been pulled back.
Roper reaches the sidewalk right in front of the store. Korda
cracks the door open.
KORDA
(warningly)
Stay there.
Roper stops in his tracks.
ROPER
I'm going to put my hands down, okay.
Roper slowly lowers his hands.
INT. COMMAND CENTER
Everybody watching through the window.
EXT. JEWELRY STORE - DAY
Korda takes a half step out the doorway. The gloved hand
that is visible is not holding a weapon. The other half of
his body is hidden inside the doorway. He wears jeans, a
black shirt, and black Nike tennis shoes. He stares fiercely
from behind the ski mask. There's no sign of fear in him.
KORDA
Are you in charge, Roper?
ROPER
Yep.
KORDA
I want a car. Like a four wheel drive.
I want it in perfect condition. I
want a uniformed cop to drive it up
right here. I want him to leave the
engine running and walk to the end
of the street. Then we'll come out.
I don't want any remote control
devices in it. I know all the tricks.
If it's not in perfect condition,
and I mean if its even low on wiper
fluid, I'm going to kill somebody
and we're gonna start again.
Korda lets that sink in.
KORDA
I want a plane waiting at the airport.
I'll tell them where I want to go
when I get there.
ROPER
Is that all?
KORDA
For now that's all.
ROPER
You'll get it. But, Joe, I want you
to do something for me. Let me take
a look around inside. Make sure
everybody's okay.
KORDA
No. You just do shit for me right
now.
Korda's eyes glare from behind the ski mask. He's an ominous
figure.
ROPER
Joe, I'm doing a lot for you. I think
you could give me something to cement
the deal... One hostage.
KORDA
I'll give you something.
Korda pulls a wadded-up handkerchief out of his pocket and
tosses it to Roper. Roper unwraps the handkerchief.
DETAIL SHOT
It's a human ear.
KORDA
In fifteen minutes it'll be a bigger
piece. I assume there are no
"misunderstanding".
Roper is as serious as we've ever seen him.
ROPER
I understand you completely.
Korda disappears back behind the door.
EXT. COMMAND CENTER - DAY
Roper trudges back in. Things are more active now. Logistical
officers are making flow charts. Photos of the hostages are
being posted on a bulletin board. Roper approaches Solis,
McCall and the SWAT CAPTAIN who are anxiously waiting for
his report.
ROPER
(flatly)
We're going to have to take this guy
out.
That draws a long silence. That's something Roper rarely
says.
SOLIS
Can't we wear him down?
Roper hands Solis the handkerchief with the ear in it. Solis
eyes it with dismay.
ROPER
I believe there's at least one
fatality in there already. The fire
alarm was probably set off by gunfire.
I believe he's working alone, both
from his conversation and the fact
that he wouldn't come out beyond the
doorway. He was holding a gun on the
hostages while he was talking to me.
His demeanor is calm and controlled,
that's what really scares me. The
other bad news is that he also
indicated a familiarity with our
techniques.
(a beat)
So, do you want to go in or wait for
him to come out?
McCall calmly offers his opinion.
MCCALL
Let him come out. Too many unknowns
in there.
Solis nods. That'll be the plan.
MCCALL
When we drive up the car, make sure
it's at an angle about three feet
from the curb.
(to SWAT Captain)
Put our best man "highground", Twenty
degree down angle.
The SWAT Captain motions and turns to one of his UNDERLINGS.
SWAT CAPTAIN
Have Anderson prep it and notify us
when he's on line.
The underling hurries off to take care of it. Solis looks at
Roper dejectedly.
SOLIS
I feel this thing going sideways on
us.
Roper tries to buck him up.
ROPER
There is some good news. He's wearing
a ski mask, so he's protecting his
identity and hasn't determined to
kill all the hostages...
(big pause)
Yet.
INT. JEWELRY STORE - DAY
The jewel thief pulls off his ski mask to reveal he is Korda.
His face is sweaty. Hair matted. ANGLE WIDENS to show five
very scared hostages: A JEWELER, middle-aged, balding. The
male MANAGER, good-looking, thirties, three piece suit. TWO
SALESGIRLS, nicely dressed, late twenties. A FEMALE CUSTOMER,
gray-haired Hillsborough matron. They are all seated against
the wall. There are two fatalities lying on the floor. The
guard and one of the jewelers.
Korda points his gun at the manager and the other jeweler
and motions to the dead bodies.
KORDA
Drag them behind the counter.
The two men reluctantly get to their feet and commence the
grim task. The two salesgirls watch Korda fearfully. The
older female customer seems to be in a lesser state of
reality. Her eyes are a bit far away.
Korda moves over to the remaining display cases that haven't
been looted. With the barrel of his gun, He SMASHES the glass,
reaches in and picks out the jewelry. He dumps it in an open
satchel already half-filled with packets of raw gemstones
and gold chains. Suddenly, the older woman customer gets to
her feet. She seems fairly out-of-it. Maybe in shock. She
starts walking toward the front door frowning with
dissatisfaction.
WOMAN CUSTOMER
I'm not staying here another minute.
SALESGIRL #1
(panicky)
No, Mrs. Dotson.
Korda rushes around the display case.
KORDA
Come here, hag.
He grabs a handful of the woman's coiffed gray hair and drags
her away from the door. She shrieks. The manager takes a
step toward Korda.
MANAGER
Leave her alone!
Korda pistol whips her across the forehead and drops her
unconscious to the floor then turns the gun on the manager.
KORDA
You're a brave one, aren't you?
The manager glares at him. He's about Korda's size. He thinks
about making a run at him.
SALESGIRL #2
(pleading)
Sit down, Doug.
A long beat... The manager sits back down on the floor with
the other hostages. Salesgirl 1 is giving aid to the old
woman. Korda looks down at her.
KORDA
If she's not conscious when it's
time to leave, I'll have to kill
her.
Korda goes back to the display cases to collect the rest of
the gems.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Cops clear spectators out of the way as a green FORD EXPLORER
RUMBLES through the barricade and heads down the deserted
street.
INT. COMMAND CENTER - DAY
Roper and McCall at the window, attention fixed on the store.
The Explorer crawls to a stop in front of the jewelry store.
Parks at a slight angle. The uniformed police officer gets
out, leaving the engine running, and walks off back to the
barricade.
ROPER
Okay. Time to give this fucker a
call.
Roper picks up the phone, waits. Everybody tensely watching
the store.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. BUILDING - SAME
A sniper team watching the store from a third floor window.
INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME
Roper holding the phone. It's still ringing.
EXT. ROOFTOP - DIFFERENT BUILDING - SAME
Another sharpshooting team. Poised. Waiting.
EXT. ANOTHER ROOFTOP - SAME
And still another sharpshooter team.
INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME
The phone is still ringing.
ROPER
This fucker's not answering.
Just then, the front door of the jewelry store swings open.
A spray of white vapor shoots out the doorway. Korda is
discharging a fire extinguisher.
MCCALL
There's your answer. He's smart.
ROPER
He's cutting down the visibility.
MCCALL
And doing a very good job of it.
A thick cloud of white hangs over the sidewalk obscuring the
front of the jewelry store. Roper puts down the phone.
MCCALL
Come on. Give us one clean shot.
SWAT CAPTAIN
(into his radio)
All positions, you have the green
light.
MCCALL
They're out.
Roper grabs a pair of binoculars.
HIS POV
Through the haze, we catch glimpses of the hostages circled
around the figure in the ski mask. They slowly shuffle toward
the Explorer.
McCall watches intently.
EXT. ROOFTOP - SAME
A sniper watches through his scope. Finger poised on the
trigger.
ANGLE THROUGH THE SCOPE
Low visibility through the haze. The figure in the ski mask
wavers in and out of the crosshairs, shielded momentarily by
the jeweler, then he flashes back into the crosshairs. The
sniper tries to lock him in.
INT. COMMAND CENTER - ROPER'S POV - BINOCULARS - SAME
The figure in the ski mask leans slightly and Roper catches
a glimpse of the hostage right behind him. Roper recognizes
him instantly.
ROPER
It's Korda.
McCall sees him now, too.
MCCALL
They switched clothes.
Roper drops the binoculars and grabs his police radio.
ROPER
(urgently)
Hold your fire! Hold your fire!
Too late. A SHOT rings out. The figure in the ski mask goes
down, hit by the bullet.
ROPER
Shit! Where'd that shot come from?
Hold your fire!
More SHOTS ring out.
DOWN ON THE STREET
The white vapor cloud swirls. The hostages, spattered with
blood, scream and scatter. The figure in the ski mask lies
dead on the sidewalk. Korda, dressed in the manager's three
piece suit, holding the satchel of jewels in one hand and
his gun in the other FIRES back at the snipers. He grabs
salesgirl 1 and drags her into the Explorer.
INT. COMMAND CENTER
Roper sees Korda move toward the car with one of the hostages.
MCCALL
He's got the girl.
ROPER
Damnit!
As Roper turns into the room he notices a set of keys on
Solis' desk.
ROPER
(grabbing the keys;
to Solis)
Are these yours?
SOLIS
Yeah, they are but...
ROPER
(to McCall)
Come on!
As Roper and McCall move toward the door...
SOLIS
Roper, what are you going to do?
Don't take my...
And Roper and McCall are gone.
SOLIS
...car.
DOWN ON THE STREET
Police come rushing onto the street. Guns drawn. The Explorer
ROARS off down the block. Roper and McCall burst out of the
command center building, leap into Solis' Cadillac and tear
off after the van. McCall is behind the wheel.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
EXT. POLICE BARRICADES - DAY
The Explorer comes barreling toward it. Spectators scatter.
Two squad cars SCREECH up behind the barricades, trying to
block Korda's escape. The Explorer PLOWS through the metal
barricades. BASHES the squad cars out of the way. And screams
off around the corner.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
EXT. STREET - DAY
The Explorer careens up an alley and bursts into the congested
traffic of a side street. HONK-SCREECH! A Toyota swerves to
miss it and broadsides a parked car. The Explorer fishtails
off down the street.
INT. VAN - DAY
The salesgirl is terrified. Korda checks the rear view mirror.
No one on his tail... At first. Then the Cadillac comes
speeding up behind...
INT. CADILLAC - DAY
Roper and McCall have the Van in sight, about a block ahead.
Roper picks up the radio.
MCCALL
Suspect heading west on Sutter now
passing Jones. Can we get an
intercept?
A voice comes back.
VOICE (V.O.)
R-32-David. We are proceeding south
on Hyde. Will intercept.
INT. VAN - DAY
Korda has one eye on the road and the other on the rear view
mirror. The Cadillac is making up ground.
UP AHEAD
a squad car SCREECHES into the intersection and smokes to a
stop. Korda jerks the wheel, pulls a SCREAMING right turn
and heads up the hill.
EXT. STREET - DAY
The Cadillac is only about a hundred feet behind the van...
Brakes SQUEALING, it swerves around the corner in pursuit.
THE VAN
hits the top of the hill and goes airborne... SLAMS back
down to the pavement.
INT. VAN - DAY
Korda floors it, and we get a frightening view out the
windshield as they head straight downhill. The salesgirl is
beyond petrified.
THE CADILLAC
reaches the top of the hill. Going fast.
INT. CADILLAC
As it rocks forward violently. Front bumper slamming against
the pavement. McCall sees the van ahead. Hammers the
accelerator. No fear.
VAN
Korda sees traffic ahead... Intersection jammed. He pulls a
hard left.
THE VAN
cuts straight across the corner... up on the sidewalk...
shears a mailbox... a row of newspaper machines fly through
the air... The van speeds off down a one-way street...
THE CADILLAC
arrives at the intersection a few seconds later...
Intersection still jammed... People now standing on the corner
gawking at the damage. The Caddy SCREECHES to a stop. McCall
HONKS... The people scatter... The Cadillac drives through
the corner.
THE VAN
Wrong way down a one-way street. Cars coming right at us in
every angle. Frantic HONKING. Salesgirl SHRIEKS. Tires
SMOKING... No way to avoid collision... Except Korda pulls a
left an instant before impact... The van speeds back up the
hill.
THE CADILIAC
Down the same one way street... Comes up on the head-on
traffic, now stopped, paralyzed with fear from the near
collision with Korda...
EXT. STREET - DAY
The Cadillac roars around the corner and heads up the hill.
INT. VAN
Korda, checking the rear view mirror. The Caddy is a short
distance behind. Attention still focused behind, Korda enters
an intersection, running a red light... CROSS-TRAFFIC...
Korda stiffens... Pulls on the wheel
THE STREET
The van swerves... But not quick enough... GRINDING metal...
SHATTERING glass... The van rolls over another car...
BRIEF CUT - LOOKING OUT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD
Korda and the salesgirl tossed about as the van does a
dizzying roll...
THE VAN
...and CRASHES back down to the street upside down. After a
beat, Korda crawls from the wreckage carrying the satchel of
jewels. The salesgirl does not emerge. He spots a cable car
reaching the top of the hill and starting its long descend.
He heads toward it...
INT. CABLE CAR
As Korda comes toward them from the wreckage, some of the
passengers view him uneasily.
THE CADILLAC
hits the top of the hill just in time for Rope and McCall to
see Korda leap onto the moving cable car.
CABLE CAR
other passengers give Korda room. They can sense that he is
not here merely for the ride. Korda looks out the back...
Roper and McCall haven't lost track of him. The Cadillac is
making up ground on the cable car.
Korda moves to the back exit, pulls his gun and FIRES off a
couple of shots at the Caddy.
INT. CADILLAC
A bullet fractures the windshield. McCall swerves.
BACK ON THE CABLE CAR
That makes up the minds of many of the passenger. They leap
off the cable car.
Korda takes aim on the Caddy again and FIRES!
The brakeman charges down the aisle while Korda has his
attention focused out the back and tries to shove him off
the cable car...
Almost works... but Korda is able to hang on by one hand...
He swings around toward the Brakeman who turns involuntarily
as he sees the barrel of the gun pointed at him... BANG!
Korda shoots him in the back.
The brakeman staggers down the aisle and slumps across the
brake lever, releasing it more.
EXT. UNDER CABLE CAR
The brakes are stressed.
EXT. STREET
Now driverless, the cable car picks up speed... Broadsides a
car... Pushing it into parked cars...
THE CABLE CAR
Korda and the remaining passengers are rocked around.
THE CABLE CAR
THUNDERS towards us... Filling the FRAME...
A SIDE ANGLE
Shows the cable car leaving the wreckage in its wake.
CADILLAC
It passes the smashed car. McCall looks at the speedometer
as he paces the cable car. It's going at 45 mph.
MCCALL
What the fuck is going on.
ROPER
I don't know, but I've got to get on
there.
MCCALL
You're crazy.
ROPER
Pull up alongside.
EXT. INTERSECTION
The cable car barrels through... Plows into two cross-traffic
cars... Knocks them aside... Keeps picking up speed.
THE CADILLAC
Weaves through the wreckage... Makes up ground on the cable
car, trying to pull alongside.
THE CABLE CAR
For the moment, Korda is not shooting at the Caddy. His
attention is now focused downhill as...
KORDA'S POV
The cable car nails another vehicle sending it spinning off
to the side.
THE CADDY
dodges the spinning car... Jumps up onto the sidewalk...
Mows down parking meters... Jumps back onto the street.
THE CABLE CAR
Korda leans out the door, takes aim at the Caddy... Another
jammed intersection up ahead...
INT. CAR OF MAN TRAPPED IN INTERSECTION
He sees the cable car coming in his rear view mirror. He
bails out...
THE CABLE CAR
SLAMS into the back of the car. Major impact.
THE CABLE CAR
Korda and the passengers are thrown to the floor.
THE REAR-ENDED CAR
Tumbles down the hill... Hits a car coming uphill and rolls
into a parked car.
THE CADILLAC
Speeds up alongside the cable car. Roper climbs over the
windshield, onto the hood and leaps onto the cable car.
INT. CABLE CAR
Korda sees him coming. FIRES. Roper dives out the other side
of the cable car.
CABLE CAR
Roper hanging off the side. He gets his gun out of his
holster...
Up ahead, a car pulls away from the curb...
Roper swings around to get back into the relative safety of
the cable car. As he does his gun is raked out of his hand
by the car which avoids a collision by a millimeter.
CABLE CAR
Korda aims as Roper re-enters...
CABLE CAR
As it CRASHES into the back of a car turning left.
Everyone is thrown toward the front of the car. Korda's gun
goes flying. Roper dives on top of him. They trade punches.
McCall is in b.g. with the Caddy pacing the cable car.
INTERSECTION
Pedestrains bolt out of the way as the cable car streaks
through...
THE CABLE CAR
Roper hammers Korda into unconsciousness. Outside McCall is
honking and yelling like crazy. Roper looks over... McCall
points ahead...
ROPER'S POV
The cable car.
ROPER
Leaps to the brake lever. Pulls on it.
ANGLE UNDER THE CABLE CAR
The clamp tries to slow the descent. It whine and smokes...
Then disintegrates before our eyes.
THE CABLE CAR
Roper feels the lever go slack in his hands. The cable car
is speeding toward the end of the line... No way to stop
it... Roper turns and takes a running leap into the Caddy...
INT. CADDY
He lands in the passenger seat. Roper pounds his foot down
on the accelerator. The Caddy lunges ahead of the cable car...
McCall can't figure out what he's doing. Roper yanks the
steering wheel hard right...
EXT. STREET
The Caddy collides with the front of the cable car. Tires
SCREAM. The steel wheels CLATTER. A cloud of burning rubber
forms. The cable car grinds forward pushing the Cadillac...
But it's working. The cable car is slowing.
BOTTOM OF STREET
The crowd now sees the Caddy and cable car bearing down on
them. General hysteria as they flee.
THE CABLE CAR
Korda regains consciousness. Sees what's going on. He grabs
the satchel and bails out of the cable car...
STREET
...Onto the hood of a passing taxi. The taxi slams on its
brakes. Korda rolls off the hood, picks himself up and runs
into an underground garage.
THE CABLE CAR
Grinding to a halt just short of the end of the line. Roper
grabs McCall's gun off the seat and leaps out of the Caddy
to pursue Korda. People approach to ogle the two vehicles in
astonishment.
INT. GARAGE - DAY
Roper moves up an interior stairway, gun in "ready" position.
He knows Korda is somewhere in the parking structure. He
glides up the stairway to the third level. Checks back over
the rail... No one around... Then a sound from inside the
garage... Footsteps maybe.
Roper carefully opens the door... Swings in with his gun...
INT. THIRD LEVEL - GARAGE
Lots of cars, but no one in sight. Roper moves quickly to
the protection of a row of cars... He crouches down. Scans
beneath the cars... No sign of Korda.
Roper searches between two rows... Comes up beside a van...
Thinks he hears something stirring inside. Whirls a gun toward
the window.
A dog lunges at the CAMERA... Snarling... baring teeth...
Roper moves on.
NEW ANGLE
As a BMW crawls through the parking structure. Roper steps
into the FOREGROUND, right into its path, gun visible. The
BMW rolls to a stop. Roper approaches with caution.
Roper comes up beside the car and sees a very frightened 30
year old blonde. Roper takes a check out of the backseat.
ROPER
Sorry, go.
INSIDE THE CAR
The woman rolls up the window and hits the gas. She drives
off.
INT. GARAGE
Roper stands in the middle of the garage and takes a final
scan... He has the discouraging feeling that Korda might
have escaped.
He heads toward the exit... Suddenly a SCREECH of tires...
Roper whirls to see a sedan bearing down on him. He drives
and FIRES! Bullets shatter the windshield.
The car continues toward Roper. He has to roll out of the
path of the car. The car swerves past Roper. Tries to make
it down the ramp. Roper fires again, taking out the rear
window and a rear tire. The car slides along the guard rail
and continues down to the next level. Roper runs after it.
GARAGE - 2ND LEVEL
As the car reaches the next level, Korda loses control and
piles into a parked car.
Korda crawls out of the car clutching his precious satchel
of jewels. Dazed, he staggers away from the wreck.
Roper moves to him with a face grim as death. He strips the
satchel from Korda's hand and slams him against the open car
door. Korda goes to his knees. Roper holds the barrel of his
gun right up between Korda's eyes.
ROPER
Give me one reason why I shouldn't
kill you right here.
Korda stares back at Roper defiantly. He knows a cop won't
kill him in cold blood...
What he doesn't know is that Roper doesn't give a shit about
those rules at this moment.
ROPER
You know Sam Baffert was a friend of
mine. He had a wife... and he had a
daughter.
Korda stares past the barrel of the gun.
KORDA
I don't give a shit about you or
your fucking friends.
And that makes Roper even angrier... But he keeps it all
inside. His expression is as cold as a San Francisco night.
He yanks back hard on Korda's hair. Pushes the gun tighter
against Korda's forehead. He's on the verge of executing
this guy.
KORDA
You can't kill me like this.
ROPER
What if you and me got into a
struggle... and my gun went off?
In a flash, Roper points the gun upward and fires off a SHOT!
ROPER
Could I kill you then?
(beat, beat)
Could I kill you then?
Roper jams the gun back under Korda's chin. A pull of the
trigger would send a bullet straight up through Korda's skull.
And now Korda is fully convinced. He squeezes his eyes closed.
Face straining so hard, he looks like he's going to burst
out of his skin.
ANGLE - MCCALL
moving across garage into position.
MCCALL
Roper! Put it down!... Put it down
man, we got him.
(beat)
Come on... Put it down.
Long, long beat. Roper eases up and Korda smiles. Just when
we feel the scene is over, Roper turns back quickly and kicks
Korda in the stomach, then grabs Korda by the hair, pulls
his head back and shoves the gun in his face.
ROPER
We do this shit by the book, but you
ain't gonna be smiling.
Korda is doubled up coughing, spitting up blood. Roper walks
away as McCall moves in to put the cuffs on Korda.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. METRO DIVISION - NIGHT
Roper is sitting in a cubicle doing paperwork. A group of
reporters and photographers move down the hallway adjoining
the squadroom. One of them is Ronnie. Through the glass walls,
she notices Roper sitting alone at the computer. She bids
good-night to the reporters and comes into the squadroom.
RONNIE
You weren't at the press conference.
Roper keeps tapping away at the computer.
ROPER
I wanted to get this out of the way.
RONNIE
You got a bet on the game tonight?
ROPER
As a matter of fact, I do.
She nods knowingly.
RONNIE
It's already started.
ROPER
I was going to catch the last half
on TV.
Ronnie watches him for a moment. He stops typing, looks at
her and smiles. She suddenly becomes self-conscious. Guess
it was something she was thinking.
RONNIE
Good-night.
She turns abruptly to leave. Roper finds himself rising from
his chair.
ROPER
You having dinner with Mr. Baseball?
She turns back around.
RONNIE
Greg is on a road trip. I was just
going to make some pasta.
He takes a few steps toward.
ROPER
That kind with the garlic and the
oil that I like so much?
RONNIE
No. The kind from Kraft, with the
macaroni and the cheese.
ROPER
I've been craving that stuff all
week.
RONNIE
And it's hard to get.
He looks at her innocently.
RONNIE
Just dinner.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ronnie is making macaroni. Roper helps to prepare a dressing
to go with the salad. He is mixing oil, vinegar, sugar and
spices. He lets her have a taste.
ROPER
What do you think?
RONNIE
Mmm, needs a little something.
ROPER
What are you talking about? This is
it. This is the stuff right here.
(beat; he tastes)
Well, maybe just a pinch more sugar.
RONNIE
Yeah that's it.
ROPER
Why don't you just stick your finger
in and stir it up.
RONNIE
(laughing)
Scottie...
There is a long pause as he looks at her.
ROPER
What would you say if I quit gambling?
Ronnie stirs the macaroni.
RONNIE
I'd say you'd be miserable... It's
not the gambling. It's what the
gambling got in the way of. The track
is where you'd take your troubles
instead of sharing them with me...
Ronnie puts the lid on the macaroni. There is a beat before
she continues.
RONNIE
Scottie, remember the day you lost
that hostage in union square. You
came over that night and we made
mad, crazy love. But I didn't even
know what happened... 'til I heard
it on the news the next morning.
ROPER
It's because I wanted to keep you
away from that world.
RONNIE
It's not that world. It's your world.
It's part of who you are.
ROPER
(beat)
Veronica, it's not easy for me... I
don't know if I can change overnight.
But what I'm telling you is that I
want to share everything with you,
because I don't ever want to be
without you again.
The dog yawns. They laugh. Roper moves closer to her. He
kisses her and she responds.
INT. RONNIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The lovemaking is over. Roper is gazing at the ceiling,
thinking. Ronnie is cuddled around him. A comfortable
moment...
ROPER
What about Greg? What are you gonna
tell him?
RONNIE
It's okay. We broke up.
ROPER
(surprised)
When?
RONNIE
Just now.
INT. COUNTY JAIL VISITING ROOM - DAY
Clarence Teal, Korda's cousin sits in front of the plexiglass
wall. He's edgy, fidgety. Clarence doesn't like to make visits
to jail.
Korda, wearing prison clothes, is led in by a guard. Korda
takes a seat at the other side of the plexiglass wall and
picks up the receiver. Clarence picks up his receiver.
CLARENCE
How ya doin', man?
Korda grips the phone, leans forward and stares through the
wall.
KORDA
You gotta do something for me...
this fucker, Roper, he's gotta
girlfriend. She works at the
newspaper. I want you to take care
of her.
Clarence is totally unnerved by this request.
CLARENCE
Hey, Michael, that's not my thing.
Korda glares at him murderously.
KORDA
You gotta do this for me. I'm in
here because of you.
CLARENCE
Man, what's this about? Ya know, you
were robbing a store. It wasn't
personal. It was his job.
KORDA
(exploding)
Fuck you! You know what he did to
me?!...
Korda starts to draw the attention of the guard. He controls
himself, lowers his voice. But the viciousness is still there.
KORDA
He held a gun to my head and said he
should kill me right then... He made
me...
He doesn't finish that thought.
KORDA
You do this for me Clarence.
Clarence is getting very upset.
CLARENCE
Don't make do it, Mike.
KORDA
Are you going to turn on me too? Who
helped you when you were strung out?
Who gave you money? Who bailed you
out of jail?
CLARENCE
I won't get away with it.
KORDA
Nobody knows who you are. Make it
look like a robbery.
Clarence holds back tears, because he knows he's going to
have to do this.
EXT. RONNIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A gray San Francisco evening. It starts to rain.
INT. RONNIE'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
She's cooking some kind of sauce. She has a taste.
EXT. RONNIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A subjective POV watching through the window as she moves
around the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ronnie pours some oil in a pan. The phone RINGS. She crosses
the kitchen to answer it.
INT. PICKUP - NIGHT
Roper on his cell phone. Paco is on the seat beside him.
ROPER
Hi, I'm going to stop at the corner
for some wine.
Roper notices the rain, searches for the windshield wiper
switch.
INT. RONNIE'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
RONNIE
How's Paco doing?
INT. PICKUP - NIGHT
ROPER
He was going nuts at the park. He
met this very attractive poodle.
They made plans to meet again next
weekend.
Paco sits there panting. Roper pulls the pickup over in front
of the store.
INT. KITCHEN - STORE
RONNIE
Okay, dinner will be ready when you
get here.
She hangs up.
EXT. RONNIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Through the window we watch her cross back to the stove.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ronnie lifts the lid on the sauce. Stirs. It spatters on her
blouse. She regards the stain with dismay. Puts the lid back
on and leaves the kitchen.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Ronnie unbuttons her blouse as she moves to the...
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
She takes off the blouse, goes to the closet door... throws
it open. She looks around. Something's not right. She takes
a step into the closet and finds what she's looking for -- A
laundry basket -- tucked away in the corner. She puts the
soiled blouse in the hamper and takes a fresh one off a
hanger. She buttons the clean blouse as she walks to...
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
Dark. She turns on the light. She goes to the mirrored
medicine cabinet.
IN THE REFLECTION
Behind her the shower curtain is drawn, fluttering ever so
slightly. She opens the medicine cabinet. Takes out some
perfume. Dabs some on her neck. She puts back the bottle and
closes the cabinet. We fully expect someone to be standing
right behind her in the reflection... There's no one there.
She turns off the light as she walks out of the bathroom.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Ronnie walks back to the kitchen... Notices something on the
floor further down the hallway... What is it? She moves
closer... And now we get to the POV that tells us someone is
in the house... Watching her through a cracked doorway.
BRIEF CUT
A hand opening a buck knife. Water drips from the fingers.
BACK IN THE HALL
Ronnie bends down. It's a wet spot. Like half a shoeprint.
She reaches down to touch it...
BUZZZZZ!!!! The oven timer. She hurries back to the kitchen.
INT. RONNIE'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
She turns off the timer and pulls some chicken out of the
oven. She puts it down on the counter and cross to the
refrigerator. She opens the door and looks inside. The
refrigerator door obscures half the FRAME... She digs around
for something... We're sure that when she closes the door,
he's going to be behind it... She takes out a head of lettuce
and... Closes the door... Still no one there.
She turns... Clarence is standing there. Dripping wet. Ronnie
shrieks... The knife flashes forward... She grabs the lid
from the sauce pan and CLANG... Fends off the blade. She
bolts for the hallway. Clarence grabs her by the blouse...
RIP! She pulls away.
IN THE HALLWAY
She races down the hall. Clarence lunges into FRAME. She
goes down... He goes down... the knife goes skidding down
the hallway... Ronnie scrambles to get it... Clarence has
her by the ankle... She claws for the knife... Just out of
reach.
EXT. RONNIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Roper's pickup pulls up in front. He gets out. Paco jumps
out behind him. It's raining harder. They hurry up the walkway
toward the house. Suddenly Roper realizes he forgot the wine.
He goes back to the truck. Paco pads after him.
Roper opens the driver's side door, reaches in and grabs the
wine. He closes the door, starts away, but pauses to check
himself in the window.
Suddenly, a floodlight comes crashing through Ronnie's front
bay windows. It SPARKS and FLASHES. Still plugged in, it
bungees to a stop hallway down the front of the house.
FLICKERING and FLASHING.
Roper rushes toward the house... Crashes through the front
door... Up the stairway... Paco bounds after him... Roper
hits her front door running... Wham! He bounces off. He
shoulders it again... The door doesn't give... He pulls out
his gun... BAM! BAM! Shoots off the lock.
INT. RONNIE'S APT. - NIGHT
A QUICK SHOT of Clarence's hand grabbing the knife.
INT. STAIRWAY - NIGHT
Roper kicks open the door. Charges in.
INT. RONNIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Ronnie is laying on the floor, gasping for air. Choke marks
around her throat. Roper rushes to her side. Paco is on his
heels.
ROPER
You okay?!
She nods. Points out the back way.
ROPER
(to Paco)
Stay.
The dog obediently stays with Ronnie. Roper dashes out the
back.
EXT. BACK OF RONNIE'S - NIGHT
Raining more heavily now. Roper bursts out onto the back
porch. Sees Clarence leaping off the last rung of the fire
escape to the alley. Roper flies down the fire escape...
Vaults the last flight and races after Clarence.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Clarence sprints down the block... Through the intersection...
HONK! SCREECH! A car barely misses him. It does a one-eighty
on the rain-slick pavement. Clarence disappears into the
shadows. Roper arrives a beat later... Streaks through the
intersection... Into the shadows.
EXT. ANOTHER STREET - NIGHT
This one is steep. Clarence huffs and puffs as he labors. He
shoots into a doorway. Tries the door. Locked. He looks back.
Roper is coming. Relentless. He rushes across the steep
street. Almost slips on the reflective asphalt. Roper spots
him crossing and picks up the pace. He can see that Clarence
is faltering.
NEAR THE TOP OF THE HILL
Clarence staggers into an alleyway...
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
Narrow, dark and dripping with rain. Roper arrives at the
mouth of the alley. Gun ready, he moves cautiously, eyes
adjusting to the darkness. The PATTER of rain off the
rooftops. His FOOTSTEPS. No other sound.
He reaches the end of the alley... A brick wall. No way out.
Or so it would seem. However, Clarence is nowhere in sight.
Roper turns back. Brick walls tower on both sides, rising
into darkness. Roper checks a steel door. Locked. He checks
another one on the opposite side of the alley. Also locked.
Where did Clarence go? He moves back toward the misting light
of the street... Slowly...
The FAINT RATTLE of a fire escape... And Clarence leaps down
out of the shadow. Slashing with the knife. He catches Roper
across the arm.
Rips through his clothes right down to the skin. Roper's gun
CLATTERS under a parked car and into the street. Clarence
has first jump. He scrambles into the street, around the car
and grabs the gun...
Roper dives over the hood of the car and knocks Clarence
down before he can aim. They roll into the middle of the
street. Both have a death grip on the weapon. Clarence fights
like a trapped animal. Thrashing desperately. Roper pins him
on his back, but can't pry the gun out of his fingers.
WIDER SHOT
Headlights radiate over the crest of the hill. Coming quickly.
Roper sees this. He rolls out of the way, abandoning the
battle for the gun. Clarence struggles to his knees. Turns
the weapon on Roper... A speeding cab lunges over the top of
the hill. Clarence turns, trapped in the searing headlights.
Tires squeal. Brakes lock. Clarence is transfixed... WHAM!
He's launched through the air like a ragdoll... His body
lands limply 30 feet down the street. The CABBY gets out of
his vehicle.
CABBY
Jesus Christ. What was he doing?!
Roper walks down the hill to the body. The cabby follows.
CABBY
There was no way I could miss him.
Roper ignores the cabby. He looks down at Clarence's body,
contemplating something.
CABBY
This isn't my fault.
ROPER
Shut the fuck up!
The cabby immediately clams up.
ROPER
Get on your radio and get the police
here.
Roper stares at Clarence's body, steel-eyed.
INT. COUNTY JAIL VISITING ROOM - DAY
Korda is led in again. An expression of surprise registers
on his face when he sees who's waiting for him.
KORDA'S POV
Roper is sitting stoically behind the plexiglass wall.
KORDA
Dons a smug expression and takes a seat. He picks up his
receiver as Roper picks up his.
ROPER
If you try again to hurt me or anyone
I know, I'm going to have you killed.
Korda feigns total innocence.
KORDA
What in the world are you talking
about, Mr. Roper?
Roper takes out a photograph and holds it up against the
glass.
ROPER
Here's a picture of your cousin
Clarence. That gentleman standing
over him is the coroner.
Korda's face tightens. He drops the innocent act. His
countenance is now a study in hate.
KORDA
I used to have an apartment, a car,
jewelry. I had a fucking eight
thousand dollar watch. Now look what
I have.
He motions around.
KORDA
You're threatening me? You think I
give a fuck? You think you can scare
me off?
(a laugh)
Why don't you come in here and kick
my ass? Get some of your guard friends
in here to help. I'd like that.
Roper glares at him mounting rage.
KORDA
(smirking)
He really shook you up, didn't he?...
I've got ten years worth of appeals
to figure out how to fuck with you.
Who knows? Maybe some scumbag lawyer
will get me out on a technicality.
Roper sits there, suddenly feeling powerless.
KORDA
You came here to threaten me? That's
a laugh. Maybe you should BEG me...
Go ahead. Get down on your knees.
Roper leaps from his chair and smashes the receiver against
the plexiglass wall.
ROPER
You motherfucker, I swear I'll kill
you!
The guard rushes over and restrains Roper. Wrestles him away
from the glass wall. Roper pushes him off and gathers himself.
He gives Korda one last stare. Korda sits there smirking
back at him... Roper turns his back and walks out.
INT. ROPER'S OFFICE - DAY
McCall is practicing his negotiating techniques in a mirror.
MCCALL
I'm here to help you.
Not quite right. He adjusts his stance. This time puts a
little hand movement into it.
MCCALL
I'm here to help you. Talk to me.
He's still not satisfied.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. ROPER'S OFFICE - DAY
Captain Solis pokes his head in the door, he's been looking
for McCall.
SOLIS
We got a situation at the V.A.
Hospital. The responding officer has
requested a negotiator.
MCCALL
Where's Roper?
SOLIS
He's on his way. Get over there.
EXT. VETERAN'S HOSPITAL ROOFTOP - DAY
A VETERAN wearing green fatigue is dangling another WHEELCHAIR
BOUND VET over the edge. Fourteen floors up. The two front
wheels are literally hanging out there in space.
VET #1
(rambling incoherently)
I can't fight this technology. They
have microprocessors made in totally
sterile environments. I've seen those
places. Everyone is dressed in white.
It's like paper clothing, man. They're
not even human.
Vet 2 is struggling to stay in the chair and not be tipped
into the street 150 feet below. He is, needless to say, very
panicky.
VET #2
Dave, don't do this, bro. Pull me
in. We'll do a few laps in the park
and figure out some other way.
But he's not getting through to his friend.
VET #1
I can't help this, man. Do you have
any idea what those microchips look
like? How small they are when they
put them in your brain?
INT. STAIRWELL - DAY
Leading to the roof. A COUPLE OF COPS and MEMBERS OF THE
HOSPITAL STAFF peek out at the vet as he continues to rant
and rave. McCall arrives at the top of the stairs. OFFICER
#4 sure looks happy to see him. McCall takes a peek out onto
the roof. He isn't happy about what he sees.
OFFICER #4
When we got here, he was already
doing his balancing act. I was talking
to him, but it made him more agitated
so I backed off.
MCCALL
Why is he up there?
OFFICER #4
Something about a microchip in his
brain.
MCCALL
Who is he?
A NURSE answers him.
NURSE HERRIN
David Adler. He likes to be called
Dave. The other guy is Walter
Sinclair.
We hear the urgent cry of the vet in the wheelchair.
VOICE (V.O.)
Somebody help me out here. Somebody
stop him.
The nurse turns to McCall.
NURSE HERRIN
What are you waiting for?
MCCALL
Another negotiator is on his way.
NURSE HERRIN
We can't wait for another negotiator.
You have to do something.
MCCALL
What about the doctors?
NURSE HERRIN
He hates all the doctors. He says
they're in on the conspiracy.
VET #1 (O.S.)
Where is everybody? He's going to
kill me!
McCall takes a deep breath and steps out onto the roof.
EXT. ROOF - DAY
McCall moves slowly across the tar paper roof. Clouds overhead
threaten rain. Vet 1 turns to him suddenly, wobbling the
wheelchair. Vet 2 shrieks and nearly goes over. McCall's
heart jumps into his mouth.
DAVE
Get the fuck out of here!
McCall is tense and stiff. He stammers.
MCCALL
I... I'm Kevin. I 'm here to help
you, D... Dave.
DAVE
You can't help me, man.
So much for McCall's opener. Now what?
WALTER
He's high on something, man. Give
him some thorazine or something.
Dave ignores Walter.
DAVE
No one can help me. They're
controlling my mind.
McCall moves a couple steps closer.
MCCALL
Who's controlling your mind?
DAVE
Whoa!... The government. They control
everybody's mind. You're too fucking
stupid to know that?
McCall fumbles for the right response.
MCCALL
This has nothing to do with Walter.
DAVE
They want Walter dead!
EXT. STREET BELOW - DAY
Cops keep spectators back from the building. Fire trucks and
rescue vehicles are on the scene. Everybody looking straight
up watching the wheelchair with its occupant dangling over
the side of the building.
EXT. ROOF - DAY
Walter sits stock still in the wheelchair drenched with sweat,
eyes closed, praying.
MCCALL
Dave, look at me.
Dave obliges. He looks at McCall with eyes that have lost
the battle for sanity. McCall is momentarily frozen by those
eyes. Beads of sweat have formed on his forehead.
MCCALL
Tell me what's wrong.
DAVE
Particles, man. I feel them all the
time. I feel them in my arms and
legs man, that's how they punish me.
MCCALL
How can I help you with the particles?
DAVE
It's not just the particles man,
it's the whole fucking machine, this
is how they get assassins to operate.
It's been this way since the cuban
missile crisis.
Dave starts to look over into the street, he tips Walter
forward, Walter shrieks in mortal fear. White knuckles the
armrests of his wheelchair and then:
MCCALL
(blurting out)
They have less power over you if you
look into my eyes.
DAVE
Huh?
McCall even surprises himself with that one. It was a sheer
act of desperation. He holds his breath and waits to see
what the effect is. Dave turns back around.
DAVE
Huh?
EXT. STREET - THAT MOMENT
Roper's truck comes speeding down the street, lurches to a
halt. He leaps out and speaks to a FIREMAN.
ROPER
Whata ya got?
FIREMAN
Some nuts dangling a guy over the
edge in a wheelchair.
ROPER
Can you get a net out here?
FIREMAN
Negative. It's 14 floors up. No nets
gonna hold a fall from that high up.
EXT. ROOF - DAY
McCall nods slowly. Sweat pouring off him.
MCCALL
We've been onto them for a long time.
A glimmer from Dave. Maybe McCall is a kindred spirit.
MCCALL
Let me show you something.
Now he's got Dave's interest. McCall slowly takes out his
beeper.
MCCALL
See this. I'm jamming them, Dave.
I'm jamming their frequency so they
can't control your mind anymore.
Don't you feel that? You don't have
to do what they say.
Dave listens to his head.
WALTER
He's jamming them, Dave. Pull me
back in.
MCCALL
You see, the particles are gone,
they can't punish you anymore.
Dave tries to feel for particles. Tears form in Dave's eyes.
DAVE
Tell my dad.
MCCALL
Tell him what, what do you want me
to tell him?
DAVE
Tell my dad I'm sorry about the watch.
MCCALL
I'll tell him. Where does he live.
We'll get him on the phone right
now.
Dave is suddenly lost in thought again. His expression turns
to a frown:
DAVE
I hate fucking Springfield.
MCCALL
Is that where you're family lives?
Then with sudden swiftness.
DAVE
I still hear them, man. You can't
jam them. They've got the technology,
man. They've got the satellites,
Jack. They keep shooting beams off
those satellites. What power do I
have?
Dave pushes the wheelchair forward. McCall LUNGES for the
wheelchair but doesn't make it. Walter SCREAMS as he falls.
MCCALL
NOOOO!
WALTER AND HIS WHEELCHAIR
freefall down toward earth in SLOW MOTION. The wheelchair
turns end over end. People SCREAM as Walter IMPACTS with the
pavement. The wheelchair CRASHES down nearby.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
EXT. ROOF - DAY
McCall looks over the edge at Walter's twisted body below.
Then he grabs Dave and wrestles him down, cuffing his hands
behind his back. The Cops and Medical Staff Members rush out
to restrain.
INT. LOBBY - DAY
The crowd is dispersing. Roper is talking with some of the
other cops. McCall storms out of the Vet Hospital and down
the stairs. Roper moves toward him.
ROPER
McCall!
No response. McCall gets into his ND Sedan car and fires it
up.
ROPER
McCall!
Roper races over and manages to jump in just as the car
screeches away from the curb.
BAY BRIDGE - DAY
McCall doesn't even seem to have registered that Roper is in
the car with him. He drives. Stone-faced. Roper studies him
for a beat.
ROPER
Where are we going?
INT. CAR - DAY
Moving POV thru windshield of car, we see a freeway sign
that says "Golden Gate Racetrack."
EXT. RACETRACK
Establish grand stands.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. BETTING AREA - DAY
McCall pounds over to the betting window. Roper leans up
against the window beside him. Watches.
MCCALL
Give me a twenty dollar four-six
exacta.
TELLER
The six is scratched.
This throws McCall for a beat.
MCCALL
Then give me a fucking four-seven
exacta.
The teller punches out the ticket. McCall takes the ticket
and pounds over to box seat area. Roper follows a couple of
steps behind, giving him some space.
EXT. BOX SEAT AREA - DAY
McCall sits down in the same box as the last time. Roper
sits down next to him.
EXT. TRACK - DAY
The horses go into the gate.
EXT. BOX SEAT AREA - DAY
McCall watches intently as the horses spring from the gate.
(The track announcer's call plays over the scene.)
MCCALL
Come on four horse! Come on Seven
horse!
Roper isn't watching the horse. He's watching McCall. Watching
him redirect all his pent up emotion. Understanding exactly
how he feels.
McCall is screaming his head off.
MCCALL
Come on four-seven... Come on...
Come on... Come on...
The horses cross the wire. The four and seven finish mid-
pack. McCall hangs his head in despair. He didn't give a
shit about the race. He looks inconsolable.
ROPER
It might have happened no matter who
was up there.
MCCALL
Bullshit! Would it have happened to
you?
ROPER
Maybe... There's one thing you have
to remember... You don't create the
situations. You can only try to save
people from them.
MCCALL
I thought I could do it. I was so
damn sure of myself. But I didn't
know what to say. The words wouldn't
come. My mouth turned to mush. You
make it look so easy, Roper. But it
is not. It's not easy.
(beat)
It's a different job than looking
through the rifle scope.
ROPER
That it is.
A long silent beat.
MCCALL
How many have you lost?
ROPER
I look at it as how many I've saved.
That's the way you've got to look at
it.
MCCALL
And what about the ones you don't
save?
ROPER
You live with it... and they haunt
you. It doesn't leave.
MCCALL
And what if you can't live with it?
ROPER
You've got to decide that for
yourself.
McCall squeezes his eyes closed. He can still see that vet
falling to his death. Roper can see McCall's pain.
ROPER
I've lost three. One of them was my
partner. I think about them every
time I go into a situation.
(a beat)
There's a million people in this
city with all kinds of twisted shit
going on in their heads, and the
bitch of this job is that we expect
to go out every day and do the
impossible -- to somehow control all
this craziness... and we can't.
(a beat)
Nobody's faulting you for this,
McCall. My advice is you let yourself
off the hook.
McCall hears him but is still undecided.
MCCALL
I don't know... I don't know...
Roper gets up, stands over McCall, puts a hand on his
shoulder.
ROPER
Let's get out of here.
McCall slowly gets up and they walk out.
INT. JAIL - DAY
It's a small interview room. Korda sits opposite bail bondsman
JOHN HAWKINS (white, grizzled, forty).
HAWKINS
What the fuck... You bring me all
the way over here to tell me you've
got no collateral! What do I look
like to you -- Santa Claus? I'm a
bail bondsman!
KORDA
No, no, see what I'm sayin' is, I've
got the --
HAWKINS
Pick up a fucking phone for chrissake!
You think I got time for this crap?
KORDA
Hey, hey, I got shit on the outside.
I got somebody cashing it in for me
and --
Hawkins gets up and goes to the door.
HAWKINS
Gimme a fuckin' break.
KORDA
Alright, alright, look, man, look,
just leave me your card. I can get
it to you by tomorrow night.
Hawkins looks at him skeptically for a beat. Then pulls out
his BUSINESS CARD and hands it to him. He walks out the door
as we HOLD on Korda -- pocketing the card.
EXT. POSTRIO - NIGHT
Establishing shot.
INT. POSTRIO - NIGHT
CLOSE-UP of a glass of wine being poured. PULL BACK to reveal
Roper and Ronnie all dressed up for a special evening. The
waiter hovers as Roper tastes the wine.
ROPER
(snootily)
It has a nice "nose".
WAITER
The special this evening is braised
sweetbreads with a white truffle
sauce on cracked bulgar.
Roper looks at him a long beat.
ROPER
That's my favorite.
(smiles)
Why don't you give us a minute.
The waiter retreats. Roper looks across the table at Ronnie
as she sips her wine.
ROPER
You like this place?
RONNIE
It's very nice.
ROPER
I guess you realize that there's
something special that I want to
talk to you about.
She didn't realize that. Now she's getting nervous.
RONNIE
There is?
ROPER
For the last week things have been
going pretty well between us. I think
we've been doing a good job getting
intimate and all that stuff...
Now she's really worried.
RONNIE
Yeah?
ROPER
...Let me just show you.
Roper reaches into his coat pocket.
RONNIE
Scottie, we should think this over
before we...
He pulls out two airline tickets.
ROPER
Tahiti.
Ronnie is immensely relieved.
RONNIE
Ohhh... A vacation... Yeah that sounds
like a great idea.
Roper notices her relief and for the first time realizes
what she was thinking.
ROPER
Oh you thought I was going to ask
you...
Ronnie averts her eyes, a bit embarrassed.
ROPER
Oh, no-no-no-no-no... Let's go to
Tahiti first and see if that works
out...
Roper picks up his menu and peruses it.
ROPER
I assume you're having your usual --
the "air dried venison".
INT. HALLWAY JAIL - DAY CLOSE ON
The wheels of a laundry cart, moving slowly down the hall. A
white metal door slides open, and the cart passes through.
INT. PROPERTY ROOM JAIL - CONTINUOUS
As the cart rolls into the room TILT UP to see
KORDA
pushing the cart. He stops. A GUARD (guard #3) stands with
his back to Korda. He's on the phone.
KORDA
Got another load.
JAIL GUARD #3
Rack 'em up.
(into the phone)
Look, man, if it doesn't make it
down here by five it's not my problem.
As the guard continues, Korda hangs several garment bags,
zipped and tagged, onto an ELECTRIC TROLLEY -- similar to
the kind used by dry-cleaners to move clothing.
KORDA
All done.
Korda pushes a button and the trolley STARTS TO MOVE. The
guard, still on the phone, buzzes open the door.
ON THE GUARDS BACK
We hear Korda wheeling the cart out the door.
CLOSE ANGLE
on the door sliding shut.
ON THE GUARDS BACK - CLOSE
Hold a beat. PANNING SLOWLY around the room to FIND -- suit
bag's moving on the trolley. BOOM DOWN to FIND Korda's feet
just as they lift off the ground and disappear behind the
bags.
ANGLE ON KORDA
hanging onto the trolley as it moves along the wall and then
down through an opening in the floor and into...
INT. BASEMENT JAIL - CONTINUOUS
as it loops around a large room, carrying him toward the
back wall. The metal ridges of the trolley CUT into his
fingers, drawing blood. Then he drops down, and quietly
rummages through other bags of clothing. He tries on a pair
of pants but they come up to his ankles. He looks like he's
about to go wading. As he rips them off and reaches for
another pair...
CUT TO:
INT. LONG HALLWAY JAIL - LATER
Korda appears around a corner, dressed in street clothes,
holding a CLIPBOARD -- moving steadily toward camera.
KORDA'S POV - DOWN THE HALLWAY
A female civilian EMPLOYEE heading in his direction. As they
pass he nods and she nods back. Then Korda passes through a
door at the end of the hallway and into...
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. CELL BLOCK - CONTINUOUS
The door closes behind him and locks with the loud SNAP of
metal.
Slowly, with deliberate steps, he moves down the corridor
toward the door at the other end, past the first GUARD (guard
#3) -- enclosed in bullet proof glass.
TRACKING - KORDA'S FEET
step by step. The voices of prisoners, muffled behind thick
glass.
CLOSE ON KORDA'S FACE
trying to stay cool, his heart pounding. Then...
A VOICE (O.S.)
Hey!
Korda FREEZES, then slowly turns to FIND... A prison GUARD
(#1) moving toward him.
THE GUARD POV - MOVING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO KORDA
KORDA
...Yeah?
The guard then stops in front of him and holds up his hand.
JAIL GUARD #1
You dropped your card.
Korda takes THE CARD given to him by the bail bondsman.
JAIL GUARD #1
You guys are the scum of the earth.
KORDA
Just tryin' to make a living.
Korda turns and walks out the door into...
INT. SECURITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
It's the final step before getting out of the building. A
small room with another GUARD (Latino; guard #2) behind glass,
and several TV monitors. A BLACK WOMAN (forty-five) is arguing
with a LATINO GUARD.
JAIL GUARD #2
I don't know what to tell you, mam,
your brother ain't here. Try San
Bruno.
WOMAN
I just came from San Bruno -- they
sent me here!
JAIL GUARD #2
I'm sorry. Then I don't know where
he is.
Korda, fidgeting behind the woman impatiently, holds up his
card...
KORDA
Listen, can I just sign outta here?
WOMAN
What do you mean, you don't know
where he is?! You can't just lose
somebody!
JAIL GUARD #2
(to Korda)
Who are you again?
KORDA
Johnny Hawkins. Bail Bonds. I gotta
be over at county in fifteen minutes,
alright?
JAIL GUARD #2
Johnny who?
WOMAN
(to Korda)
Can you believe these people?
KORDA
It's the criminal justice system.
What can I tell ya? It's a mess.
The guard shoves the sheet under the glass.
JAIL GUARD #2
Alright, alright, just sign.
Korda signs the sheet. The guard pushes a button. The metal
lock SNAPS, and the door POPS open. Korda takes his card and
sticks it in the woman's coat pocket.
KORDA
If you find him, gimme a call.
And Korda walks out.
EXT. JAIL SALLY PORT - CONTINUOUS
It's a small parking area, with security gates on either
end, and a ceiling of heavy steel wire open to the sky. There
are three or four CARS parked against the wall. Korda checks
inside the first car, looking for keys and finds none. Then
the second, and the third until...
A VOICE (O.S.)
Hey!
Korda turns sharply to find the LATINO GUARD (guard #2),
holding a clipboard, walking quickly toward him.
JAIL GUARD #2
Hold on a second here.
KORDA
Is there a problem?
The guard walks up to him. They're standing between the cars.
JAIL GUARD #2
You signed out twice.
KORDA
I what?
JAIL GUARD #2
Look, why don't you just come on
back inside for a second.
KORDA
Wait a minute, lemme see that.
As the guard shows him the sign-in sheet, Korda removes the
PEN from his own clipboard.
KORDA
Well, that's funny, I wonder how
that happened.
In a flash, Korda PLUNGES the pen DEEP into the guard's
throat. The BLOOD jumps out of his throat, onto the window
of the car as the guard, gagging in stunned silence, slumps
to ground. He then falls backward between the two cars,
drowning in his own blood.
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. RONNIE'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Empty. New front door. Unpainted. Frame splintered from when
Roper shot it open. We hold a beat... HEAR ROPER & RONNIE
coming up the stairs. Laughing. The door opens. They enter.
ROPER
How come in those foreign movies the
young girl is always with some fat,
old guy.
RONNIE
In Europe women find older men very
sexy.
Roper closes the door.
ROPER
When I get old and fat, I'm moving
to Europe.
Ronnie suddenly remembers something.
RONNIE
I forgot to leave food for Paco.
He's probably starving.
She walks back toward the kitchen. Roper takes a seat on the
couch. Flips on the TV. Rubs the back of his neck.
ROPER
Damn, my eyes are tired from reading
that movie.
FOLLOWING RONNIE
She moves down the hall to the kitchen.
RONNIE
(doggie voice)
I'm sorry, Paco. I forgot --
But Paco isn't lying on his pillow like she expected. Curious.
RONNIE
Paco?
She turns around walks back down the hall... Where could he
be?... She walks into the bedroom.
RONNIE
Paco?
He's not in here either... She walks back into the hallway.
Frowns.
SUDDEN CUT
A figure leaps out of the bathroom doorway!... Big scare.
It's Paco. He nearly knocked her over. He stands on his hind
legs, paws on her shoulders. Breathing in her face.
RONNIE
Paco, have you been eating my face
soap, again?
RACK FOCUS
Roper standing at the other end of the hallway. Tense as a
wire. Gun at his side. One look at his demeanor tells Ronnie
something is very wrong.
RONNIE
(very concerned)
What is it, Scottie?
Roper untenses. Puts away his gun.
ROPER
Korda escaped.
RONNIE
And you think he'll...
Her voice trails off. He can see she's worried now, too.
ROPER
Hey, I'm on edge a little. Let's
relax. I'm sure he's just going to
try to get out of town. Anyway we
leave tomorrow.
He puts his arms around her waist.
ROPER
Why don't we do some of that European
movie stuff.
She puts her arms around his shoulders.
RONNIE
I don't think you're old and fat
enough for me.
ROPER
Use your imagination.
EXT. RONNIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
ANGLE looking up at her window... The light goes out.
EXT. RONNIE'S DOORSTEP - DAY
A suitcase THUMPS to the ground. Looks like somebody packed
for a six month trip around the world.
ANGLE WIDENS
McCall grimaces as he lugs the bag toward the truck.
MCCALL
You sure you packed everything? Maybe
you forgot your bowling ball.
Ronnie stands on the doorstep.
RONNIE
I sent that ahead, wise guy.
Paco is on the sidewalk exploring from tree to tree. Roper
calls to Ronnie from the stairway.
ROPER (V.O.)
Why don't you come back up with me,
Ronnie.
RONNIE
I think I'll stand out here in the
sun.
INT. STAIRWAY - DAY
Roper is still very edgy.
ROPER
It's better if you stay inside.
She climbs up the stairs toward him.
RONNIE
You've got to calm down --
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. RONNIE'S HALLWAY - SAME
Roper reaches the top of the stairs.
ROPER
Ronnie, come on baby, we gotta go.
Time to get movin'.
INT. RONNIE'S APT. - SAME
Roper moves into the room, listening. There's no response.
ROPER
(continuing)
Ronnie?
She doesn't answer. He calls out again, moving through the
living room.
ROPER
(continuing)
Ronnie, where are you? Time to go.
No answer, the room is very quiet. Roper eases his PISTOL
out from under his shirt, moving more urgently now, checking
out the bathroom, bedroom...
ROPER
(continuing)
Ronnie.
Then he HEARS Paco, WHINING. He moves around the entrance to
the kitchen. The back door is open, Paco standing in the
doorway. Roper rushes forward, quickly looking outside, the
alley way empty. He senses a presence behind him, spinning...
McCall standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
Roper's lowers the weapon...
ROPER
(continuing)
She's gone.
McCall sees on the kitchen table, a folded piece of GLASSINE
PAPER, just like the one Korda gave Roper at the jewelry
store.
MCCALL
(nodding)
Scott...
Roper sees it, approaching, barely able to unfold the edges,
a momentary tremble in his hand.
ROPER
That son of a bitch. If he...
We PUSH IN as his fingers open the paper... revealing inside
a MICRO CASSETTE TAPE.
ROPER
(continuing; to himself)
He's fucking with you, Scott, be
cool... keep your head.
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON a TAPE RECORDER, Korda's VOICE heard over the
speaker.
KORDA (V.O.)
(filtered)
I got your lady, Roper.
(laughs)
Roper and McCall are listening closely to the tape.
KORDA (V.O.)
(continuing)
You got something that belongs to
me, and I want it back.
(beat)
Twelve-fifteen, Mare Island, North
Entrance off Dixon. Building twenty-
eight, by the dry docks.
(beat)
I so much as smell another cop, I'll
be sending you parts of this bitch
for a month.
Roper punches off the tape.
ROPER
He's gonna kill her no matter what.
If I take him these jewels he's gonna
kill me and her.
MCCALL
So what do you want to do?
ROPER
That's a chance I gotta take.
MCCALL
Then we better get moving... But
there's no way we can get the jewels
out of evidence.
Roper stares at him, the wheels beginning to turn...
CUT TO:
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
INT. POLICE PROPERTY/EVIDENCE ROOM - DAY
Roper is standing at the counter to the steel-caged property
room. On the other side is FRANK, the property sergeant on
duty. The two men speak in hushed, urgent tones...
FRANK
Scott, we go back a long way but you
can't expect me to do this!
ROPER
Frank, this guy is a psychopath and
he's got Ronnie. It's the only way
I'm going to get close to him.
FRANK
Then go to the Lieutenant or the
D.A. with it, for Christsakes. You're
asking me to put my fucking job on
the line!
ROPER
They'll never approve it, you know
that. Besides, I involve the
department and she's dead. I got one
chance with this guy, Frank, alone.
(beat)
He killed Sam and he'll kill her.
Frank just stares at him, compassion and anger tearing at
him.
ROPER
(continuing)
What if it were Mary?
(beat)
You'd break every fucking rule in
the book... wouldn't you?
Frank continues to stare at him, a long beat.
FRANK
I hope to God I never have to make
that decision...
He pushes back from the counter.
FRANK
(continuing)
...and this conversation never
happened. I never saw you today. Now
I gotta go take a leak.
He turns and walks away. Roper looks down, SEEING that the
drawer beneath Frank's counter has been left slightly open.
Roper reaches over, easing it further open -- inside a set
of KEYS. He looks around, then takes the keys.
ROPER
I owe you one, Frank.
He walks down the hallway.
CUT TO:
INT. ROPER'S PICKUP - DAY
CLOSE ON the SATCHEL Korda used in the robbery.
WIDEN TO REVEAL Roper and McCall, Roper at the wheel, McCall
reading a folded MAP featuring MARE ISLAND.
MCCALL
Mare Island is an abandoned shipyard,
cranes, high buildings... he'll be
in place where he can see everything.
(to Roper)
How are we going to get me in there?
ROPER
Good question.
Roper thinks a moment, then turns, looking out the back of
the pickup, in the bed a loose CANVAS TARPAULIN. He and McCall
study the tarp a beat, then turn, looking at each other...
EXT. MARE ISLAND - DAY
WIDE VIEW reveals the immensity of the abandoned facility.
At one end near the chain link fence, Roper's pickup
approaches the gate.
EXT. MARE ISLAND - NORTH GATE - DAY
Roper cautiously drives toward the gate -- the CHAIN securing
the gate has been cut. Roper swings open the gate.
As he drives past we see that the bed of the truck has been
loosely covered with a TARP.
Roper drives on, winding through the maze of roadways, huge
buildings and equipment dwarfing the truc PRODUCTION NOTE:
The idea is to take us into the facility to sell that it's
abandoned, immense, eerie in it's scale -- a ghost town. We
end up wherever we want for the next scene.
INT. ROPER'S PICKUP - DAY
As he rounds a corner, approaching the dry dock area, huge
CRANES and mothballed SHIPS in the b.g. He parks near a
building, a weathered SIGN reading: BLD 28. Roper shuts off
the engine, leaving the keys in the ignition. Taking the
satchel he opens the door.
EXT. DRY DOCK AREA - DAY
Roper steps out, eyes scanning the buildings, the cranes...
Korda could be anywhere up there, watching.
INT. BUILDING - UPPER LEVEL - DAY
KORDA'S POV through the filthy windows, Roper far below,
standing beside his pickup.
EXT. ROPER - DAY
As he moves away from the truck, holding the satchel.
ROPER
Korda!
In response he HEARS Korda's VOICE, eerie, almost a whisper,
coming from everywhere and nowhere as if emanating from the
ground and the buildings all at once.
KORDA (O.S.)
(filtered)
Nice of you to make it, Roper. Take
your jacket off, put it on the hood.
Roper complies, his eyes searching the buildings, where is
his voice coming from?
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
Now, over to the chains, to your
left.
Roper SEES a chained off section nearby. Roper takes a few
steps when Korda's voice stops him...
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
But first, let's have a look under
the tarp. Pull it back.
A momentary anxious look from Roper, then he walks to the
bed of the truck, pausing a moment, gripping the cover before
whipping it back, revealing... Ronnie's LUGGAGE.
CUT TO:
LOW ANGLE BENEATH THE TRUCK
McCall supported under the frame by a makeshift HARNESS around
his waist and legs.
KORDA (O.S.)
All right, move it.
McCall watches as Roper heads away, then releases the harness,
lowering himself to the ground. Quickly he moves the SMOKING
LEATHER GLOVES he was wearing, burned by contact with the
hot exhaust pipe.
ROPER
Reaches the the chained area, REVEALING an empty DRY DOCK,
easily one hundred feet deep and five hundred long.
At the bottom of the dry dock is a PORTABLE RADIO, the
acoustics of natural amphitheater so intense you could hear
a whisper -- the source of Korda's voice.
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
Throw in and your piece.
Roper tosses his PISTOL into the dry dock.
KORDA (O.S.)
And your back up.
Roper removes the PISTOL from his ankle HOLSTER, tossing it.
Korda's VOICE cuts the eerie silence.
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
Walk under the cranes and down the
alleyway. At the end, turn right.
Building thirty-six.
The RADIO CLICKS OFF.
Roper walks towards the megalith CRANES, passing under them,
then heads down the alleyway created by the tall buildings.
EXT. ROPER'S TRUCK - DAY LOW ANGLE BENEATH THE TRUCK
McCall, his RIFLE CASE on his chest, watches as Roper turns
the corner and heads down the alley way.
OUTSIDE THE TRUCK
McCall rolls out, scrambling for the cover of the building.
Slinging the case over his shoulder he finds a LADDER leading
up the side of the building, beginning to climb.
EXT. ROPER - DAY
Walking down the alley way, nearing the end.
EXT. ROOFTOP - BUILDING - DAY
McCall moving along the edge, looking down. He spots Roper,
moving fast to keep him in sight.
He comes to the edge of the building, having to walk across
a narrow RAMP to get to the next building.
He looks down, Roper turning the corner, McCall moves on,
removing the RIFLE from its case as he goes.
EXT. ROPER - DAY
Leaves the alleyway, a complex of hanger-like buildings
revealed. To his far right is a building, a SIGN reading:
BLD 36. He clutches the satchel, heading towards it.
EXT. ROOFTOP - BUILDING - DAY
McCall negotiating another precarious crossing between
buildings. He spots Roper, eyes quickly searching the roof
tops and buildings for the sniper's position. He sees it,
across the way, a location covering the buildings where Roper
is now walking. He heads out.
EXT. ROPER - DAY
Walking towards building 36, passing by a towering, glass
fronted building on his right, his eyes are searching the
roof tops of the buildings around him.
ROPER
(to himself)
Where the hell are you, McCall?
As Roper passes a set of partially open ROLLING DOORS to the
glass-fronted building, he's startled by Korda's VOICE from
within:
KORDA (O.S.)
Right there, Roper.
Roper's eyes go to building 36, still fifty yards away.
ROPER
Shit.
Roper stops, slowly turning towards the doors.
KORDA (O.S.)
Come on in, there's someone just
dying to see you.
Roper hesitates. He turns a bit in profile, eyes searching.
ROPER
(loudly)
Where are you?
EXT. HIGH VANTAGE POINT - DAY
POV TELESCOPIC SIGHT: Focusing on Roper, his lips moving...
McCall, heaving for breath, has just dropped down into
position, providing a view of Roper and the inside of the
glass fronted building.
MCCALL
Right here, Scott.
He touches the LASER SIGHTING attachment to his scope, a red
beam activated...
ROPER - DAY
From inside the building Korda's VOICE:
KORDA (O.S.)
Get your ass in here, Roper.
Just as Roper starts to move he SEES the red laser DOT on
the back of his hand -- McCall is up there, right behind
him. Roper moves inside.
MCCALL - DAY
Lying prone inside the operator's booth, steadies his RIFLE,
looking through the scope.
TELESCOPIC POV: He can see Roper enter, his field of vision
limited inside the building where the light penetrates, the
room cast in HARD SHADOWS.
He MOVES to the windows, all either painted white or so
obscured with grime and dirt he can only see vague shapes
and shadows inside. He MOVES BACK to the opening, Roper now
just inside.
MCCALL
Stay cool, real easy...
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Cavernous and dark, a jungle of huge MACHINES, LATHES and
EQUIPMENT once used in the design of nuclear submarines.
Roper moves a few feet inside, remaining in the light and
keeping his face in three-quarter profile to McCall's
position.
ROPER
Where is she, Korda? I want to see
her.
From the darkness beyond...
KORDA
Walk to the table.
Roper walks to a steel SHOP TABLE.
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
Open your shirt.
ROPER
I'm not wearing a wire. This is just
between you and me.
KORDA (O.S.)
Shut the fuck up and do what I say!
Roper puts down the satchel, unbuttoning his shirt, holding
it open.
ROPER
Satisfied?
KORDA (O.S.)
Open the bag, dump everything on the
table.
Roper opens the bag, the JEWELRY and the dozens of GLASSINE
ENVELOPES spill out onto the table. He lays the satchel on
its side, the bottom facing Roper. Taped to the bottom is a
short barreled .45 AUTOMATIC.
ROPER
It's all there.
KORDA (O.S.)
Spread it out.
Roper spreads the pile out across the top of the table.
ROPER
Only the jewels, Korda, you've got
my word.
A long beat...
KORDA (O.S.)
Show me something.
Without looking Roper reaches to the pile of GLASSINE
ENVELOPES...
CLOSE ON ROPER'S HAND
Palmed in his hand, the ENVELOPE containing Ronnie's diamond.
Roper, without looking, 'digs' into the pile, holding up the
GLASSINE ENVELOPE between his fingers, still holding the
palmed envelope. He starts to toss the envelope in his
fingers...
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
Not that one.
Roper hesitates, then drops the envelope, his hand moving
over the pile...
ROPER
(continuing)
Right there, the one in front...
yeah, that one. Toss it.
Roper reaches for the envelope.
CLOSE ON ROPER'S HAND
As he flips the palmed envelope into his fingers with the
skill of a card shark, exchanging it for the one Korda
indicated. He tosses it across the room...
From the shadows Korda's hand reaches out, picking it up. A
long beat.
KORDA (O.S.)
(continuing)
I'm impressed. I didn't think you
could do it. What did you have to
do, steal them?
ROPER
Yeah.
KORDA (O.S.)
(wry)
That's not going to look too good on
your service record.
ROPER
I'll worry about that. Let's get on
with it.
Korda LAUGHS as he slowly emerges from the darkness.
KORDA
My sentiments exactly.
EXT. MCCALL'S TELESCOPIC POV - DAY
On the floor he SEES a shadow cast - Korda. He moves to the
windows... inside the vague, blurred OUTLINE of a man. His
scope goes back to the satchel and the .45 taped to the
bottom.
MCCALL
Wait for the right moment, Scott...
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Korda moves closer to the light, tossing an ATHLETIC BAG to
Roper, in his hand an AUTOMATIC PISTOL.
KORDA
Fill it up. Just in case there's a
homing device in the other one.
Roper slides the jewels into the second bag, eyeing the .45
on the bottom of the satchel.
KORDA
(continuing)
Now bring it over here.
Roper hesitates, but all he can do at this point is play for
time, he moves forward...
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY TELESCOPIC SCOPE
Watching Roper as he moves away from the satchel and the
gun.
MCCALL
Oh, shit...
He moves the SCOPE ahead of Roper, SEEING Korda's shadow
cast on the floor, still unable to see him.
MCCALL
(continuing)
All right, Scott, bring him out.
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Roper growing closer to Korda's position.
KORDA
That's far enough. Bag on the floor.
Roper hangs onto the bag -- there's 'four million in jewels'
in there -- all he has to bargain with.
ROPER
I've kept my end. Ronnie first.
Korda reacts in mock surprise.
KORDA
Oh, shit, in all the excitement I
almost forgot. She right here...
A LIGHT SWITCH is thrown, a bank of lights behind him coming
ON, illuminating a massive FLAT BED CIRCULAR LATHE. Roper's
eyes in horror go to...
RONNIE
Tied to the lathe bed spread eagle. Some distance from her
body a CUTTING DEVICE is positioned over the lathe bed.
Roper looks into Ronnie's terrified eyes.
ROPER
Be cool, Ronnie, I'm gonna get you
out of this.
He turns back, Korda grinning at him.
KORDA
No shit, this I gotta see...
Korda swings into position a CONTROL BOX, the buttons held
down with TAPE.
Korda pulls free the tape, the huge lathe beginning to TURN,
very slowly, the cutting device activated... if the table
keeps turning, Ronnie's body will soon be under the blade.
(PRODUCTION NOTE: Lathe will be cutting into a section of
steel plate, demonstrating what will happen to Ronnie.
Korda presses the STOP BUTTON, the lathe stopping. He releases
his finger again, the lathe turning. He stops it.
We can see that Korda is immensely proud of his 'creation',
his focus more on sadistic payback than anything else at
this point.
KORDA
(continuing)
Fuckin' cool, huh? I rewired the
switch. You see, you have to keep
your finger on the button or the
little lady gets cut...
He releases the button, the lathe turning towards the cutting
device. He stops it again, holding the button.
KORDA
(continuing; grins)
Right in half.
He eases towards Roper, extending his arm on the control
box, holding the button down.
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
Through the SCOPE, he can see Korda as he steps into view.
The CROSSHAIRS settle on Korda's upper forehead.
MCCALL
Hold it right there...
His finger tightens on the trigger...
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Korda holds the control box towards Roper.
KORDA
But then, that's not my problem.
He releases the button and the box, the lathe turning, Korda
grinning at Roper...
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
The RED DOT centered on Korda's forehead...
MCCALL (O.S.)
Light's out, fucker...
And then Roper's HEAD fills the scope, the red dot GLOWING
on the back of his head.
In shock, McCall releases his finger...
MCCALL
Jesus!
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Roper moving to the control box, pressing the stop button,
stopping the lathe...
KORDA
You see, it's out of my hands.
Roper looks at the box, Ronnie's life literally in his
hands...
OMITTED
Sequence omitted from original script.
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
Through the SCOPE, Roper's head blocking the shot to Korda.
MCCALL
Roper, move...
EXT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
But Korda bends down, picking up the BAG, stepping back away
from Roper, clearly out of McCall's line of fire.
KORDA
Well, hate to run but I've got a
plane to catch. You take good care
of the little lady, hear?
As Korda walks down the corridor of the huge machine shop,
we now SEE a CAR parked near the end facing us. Korda suddenly
stops, turning, gesturing to the car.
KORDA
(continuing)
How careless of me. You see, there's
only one way out of here, and you're
standing right in the way.
(grins)
You could move, but then...
He shakes his head at Roper.
KORDA
(continuing)
Sure hate to be in your shoes.
He turns, walking quickly towards his car, TALKING, LAUGHING,
to himself.
Roper looks to the car, then back at the SATCHEL where the
.45 is still taped to the bottom. But Roper can't move, unable
to change his position more than a foot or two. He looks
around him, no way to stop the lathe if he releases the
button.
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
He can see Roper holding the box, but nothing else.
MCCALL
What the hell's going on?
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Now Korda reaches his car, hopping inside, STARTING it up.
In desperation Roper looks back at the satchel, then turns,
calling out...
ROPER
McCall, stop him, stop the car!
Korda REVVING the engine...
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
McCall reading Roper's lips...
MCCALL
What car?
He swings the SCOPE up but the back of the machine shop is
blocked by his vantage point.
Then he HEARS the faint SQUEALING of tires. He lowers his
scope, holding, waiting...
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Korda at the end of the long building, beginning to
accelerate.
ROPER
Turns toward McCall's position...
ROPER
McCall!
The CAR now screaming down the long corridor...
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
McCall still can't see the car...
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
The car now closing in on Roper, but Roper holds his ground...
ROPER
McCall, shoot the son of a bitch!
INT. KORDA'S CAR - DAY
Korda bearing down on Roper.
KORDA
Bye, bye, cop...
ROPER
Holding his position, eyes widening in fear...
EXT. MCCALL'S TELESCOPIC POV - DAY
The CAR comes into view, the CROSSHAIRS on the windshield...
but the glare off the window is obscuring any shot of Korda.
McCall takes aim and FIRES...
INT. KORDA'S CAR - DAY
The bullet punches through the window, catching Korda's left
shoulder, BLOOD flying. Korda whips the wheel in shock...
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY KORDA'S CAR
Spinning out of control, hitting a table piled with MACHINE
PARTS, sending them flying...
But the car is now swapping ends, still flying right towards
Roper, who can't move...; who won't move.
The car flies past him, the SIDE MIRROR catching Roper's
shirt, tearing it, a flash of BLOOD from his arm...
The car then collides with a series of PIPES crossing the
floor, STEAM erupting in every direction as the car then
slams into several PROPANE BOTTLES stacked near the benches,
a series of EXPLOSIONS ripping through the building. . .
ROPER
Thrown to the floor by the explosions, releasing the button,
as...
THE CAR
Hits the GLASSED-IN ROLLING DOORS.
EXT. MCCALL'S POV - DAY
The CAR explodes from the building, GLASS FLYING, the car
rolling, flipping over, coming to a rest on its wheels,
driver's side away from McCall's position.
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY ROPER
On the floor, recovering. He catches a quick glimpse of the
bottom section of the lathe, a GEARBOX, the gears turning...
THE LATHE
Turning, the cutting blade inching towards Ronnie...
ROPER
Staggers to his feet, grabbing the control box, pressing the
button... nothing happens, the lathe still turning, SPARKS
coming out of the box, it's SHORTING... Only a few more
seconds...
Desperately his eyes search the floor, SEEING a HUGE WRENCH.
He grabs the wrench, jamming it between the GEARS in the
gearbox, the gears shuddering violently, threatening to crush
the wrench...
Roper runs to Ronnie's side, frantically pulling at her bonds,
the cutting blade now paused an inch away from her...
THE GEARBOX
Hammering and clanking, the wrench can't last a heartbeat
longer...
ROPER
Pulls the last of the restraints away...
THE GEARBOX
Just as the massive gears crush the wrench, the table
turning...
THE LATHE
The blade passing directly over Ronnie's position as Roper
hauls her away, holding her in his arms.
EXT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY MCCALL'S TELESCOPIC POV OF CAR
Korda is slumped over the wheel. He looks dead. McCall slings
his rifle over his shoulder and moves towards a DRAIN PIPE
attached to the side of the building.
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
Roper holding Ronnie, easing her away from the still turning
lathe.
RONNIE
Scottie, Scottie...
ROPER
It's all over, babe, it's all over.
EXT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY
McCall slides to the ground via the drain pipe, but...
KORDA'S CAR
Korda is not quite dead...
The door eases open, Korda rolling to the ground, bag in one
hand, AUTOMATIC in the other. He looks up, SEEING McCall.
He OPENS FIRE, McCall hitting the deck and taking cover as
BULLETS hit the wall around him.
McCall whips out his REVOLVER, RETURNING FIRE, a GUN BATTLE
ensuing.
INT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY ROPER
HEARING the shots outside, hauls Ronnie out of the way,
keeping her low to the ground.
ROPER
Stay here, don't move.
RONNIE
Scottie...
ROPER
Do it!
He pushes her towards the cover of some machines, then
crouching low to the floor, recovers the .45 from the bottom
of the satchel. He heads out towards the other side of the
cavernous, machine-choked building.
EXT. MACHINE SHOP - DAY MCCALL
FIRES a round at Korda, then trying to close in on the car,
runs from his cover into the opening...
KORDA
Leaps up and FIRES, McCall taking a slug in his leg, knocking
him to the ground. The SLIDE to Korda's AUTOMATIC has kicked
open, out of bullets. He drops the gun, picks up the BAG and
runs alongside the machine shop.
ROPER
Exits the machine shop, SEEING McCall on the ground, Korda
nowhere in sight. Combat-style Roper runs to McCall, dropping
to his side.
ROPER
McCall, you all right?
MCCALL
(in pain)
I'm okay. Korda... went down the
side of the building...
ROPER
Stay put.
Roper sprints towards the building, racing alongside it,
catching a glimpse of Korda just as he disappears around the
other end. Roper charges on...
EXT. MACHINE SHOP - REAR - DAY
Korda runs past the building, still clutching the BAG. He
runs past another building, heading towards the dry dock
area and Roper's pickup. A moment later Roper emerges from
the machine shop just in time to see Korda round the corner
of the next building.
KORDA
Clearing the building sees Roper's PICKUP. He runs to it,
jumping inside, finding the KEYS in the ignition. He starts
the truck, pulling out, just as Roper runs into view.
ROPER
With the truck accelerating towards him he raises and FIRES,
two bullet holes in the front WINDSHIELD, missing Korda, the
truck still speeding towards him. Roper's gun jams. Roper
leaps, sliding forward on the hood, almost falling as he
grabs on to the empty window frame and the windshield wiper
blades for support, his WEAPON flying from his hand.
KORDA
Speeds around the buildings and down the alleyways, whipping
from side to side, trying to shake Roper off, Roper hanging
on for dear life.
ROPER
(shouting)
Give it up, Korda, you got away with
nothing! Nothing but a bag of shit!
It's all fake!
Korda can't help but look at the OPEN BAG beside him.
ROPER
(continuing)
Go on, you stupid fuck, look at it!
It's all shit! A hundred dollars
worth of glass!
Korda reaches in, grabbing a handful of the COSTUME JEWELRY.
He can't believe it, it's all fake!
KORDA
You fuck!!!
Korda goes crazy, slamming the truck into the side of a
building, trying to throw Roper, but Roper hangs on.
Korda then caroms off the sides of buildings, left, right,
SPARKS flying, then smashes into BOXES, CRATES, anything he
can see stacked alongside the road way, but Roper stays put,
clinging on with all he's got, swinging from side to side to
avoid the obstacles.
Then Korda SEES ahead a huge pile of BOXES, WOOD FRAMING,
PALLETS, TRASH, stacked at the side of a building. He hammers
the pedal, driving the right side of the truck into the
pile... BOXES, WOOD, PAPER, DEBRIS flying everywhere, through
the open fron window as well, Korda shielding his eyes with
his arm as OBJECTS fly around in a mad flurry inside the
cab...
ROPER
In the maelstrom lets go his grip, grabbing the upper frame
of the window and assisted by the speed of the truck, rolls
over the top of the cab, landing in the bed of the truck
along with BOXES, LUMBER, and TRASH.
KORDA
Clears his eyes, looking up, Roper is gone! He LAUGHS
hysterically... he knocked him off!
ROPER IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK
Leaning out the passenger's side SEES they are approaching
the dry dock area.
In the bed of the truck, along with the BOXES, SUITCASES and
other objects, he sees several long 2x4's. Grabbing a BOARD
he braces himself against the cab and then in one swift
movement, stands, swinging to the driver's side, driving the
2x4 through the side window, through the steering wheel,
past the dash and catching the tip of the ACCELERATOR PEDAL,
pinning it to the floor.
As Roper releases the board it WEDGES inside the door frame,
locking the wheel and the accelerator, the engine SCREAMING
wide open. Korda reacts in panic...
Roper clings to the cab, looking over the top, the DRY DOCK
looming towards them. He prepares to jump...
KORDA
Suddenly SEES the approaching dry dock. He jams on the brakes,
but it's not enough, the truck racing towards the edge...
IN SLOW MOTION THE TRUCK
Vaults over the edge of the dry dock as Roper runs down the
bed, leaping off the tail gate, arms windmilling as he goes
airborne...
The truck plummets towards the bottom...
ROPER
Lands in a huge pile of CARGO NETS and CARDBOARD BOXES, piled
near the edge of the dry dock...
KORDA
SCREAMS in wide-eyed terror as...
THE TRUCK
Hits the bottom of the dock, EXPLODING into flames.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TAHITI - DAY
Roper and Ronnie lay on a gorgeous white sand beach, drinking
from coconuts with umbrellas in them.
RONNIE
I've never seen sea so blue. Tahiti
is magnificent, Scottie.
ROPER
Yeah, I could get used to this
Paradise shit.
Roper hails a waitress, serving the hotel guests.
ROPER
(to waitress)
I'll have another Pena Colada. And
this time could you shave the ice,
please.
WAITRESS
Oui, Monsieur. Right away.
Roper stretches back into his chaise lounge, adjusting his
Ray Bans. A purring cat without a care in the world.
RONNIE
Scottie?
ROPER
Hmm?
RONNIE
I've been thinking.
TWO GORGEOUS FRENCH GIRLS unstring their bikinis, flopping
topless on the beach in front of them.
ROPER
Hmm?
RONNIE
Things have been going pretty well
between us, haven't they?
ROPER
(sensing something's
up)
Yeah.
RONNIE
You've changed you know. I don't
think there's anything you can't do
once you put your mind to it.
Uh-oh. He removes his shades to get a better look at the
curve ball.
RONNIE
I was just thinking...
(here it comes)
There's something special I want to
talk to you about.
(he's listening)
I think it's time we went to a whole
other phase in our relationship.
(pointedly)
A deeper level.
ROPER
(no longer relaxed,
sitting up)
A deeper level?
RONNIE
That's right. We've got to bare it
all. Here and now. 'Cause I think
I'm finally ready to go for it...
ROPER
(cutting her off at
the pass)
Whoa! Wait a minute, Ronnie. Hold
on. I know it's beautiful here. The
sun, the sand, the sea and all that
nature shit can really get to you.
But we've got to keep our perspective
here. This place isn't real. This
isn't reality.
RONNIE
Scott...
ROPER
I mean I said this trip should be a
'roadtest'.
RONNIE
...the hell are you talking about?
ROPER
I'm talking about... What are you
talking about?
RONNIE
I'm talking about me 'n' you stripping
down on this beach and gettin' you
know... 'naked in Tahiti'.
ROPER
You talkin' about gettin' 'nekked?'
(off her look)
Shit, I thought you were talkin'
bout, you know... the "M" word.
RONNIE
You thought I was talking about
getting married?!
She laughs her amazing laugh.
RONNIE
I'm talking about taking our clothes
off, silly. You said you would.
AD LIBS dialogue below as CAMERA CRANES BACK and we ROLL
CREDITS over...
ROPER
You crazy? With all those people
around?
RONNIE
Know what you are?! You're a prude,
Roper.
ROPER
The hell I am!
RONNIE
(amused)
Prude.
ROPER
First you want me to put on one of
those skinny ass bathing suits --
tongs or thongs or whatever you call
them -- with my butt cheeks wrapped
around a piece of dental floss... No
way.
Over her laughter we...
FADE OUT:
THE END
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